| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, | 1Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother, |
| 2"Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your flesh and blood." | 2“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.” |
| 3When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, "He is related to us." | 3And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” |
| 4They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. | 4So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him. |
| 5He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. | 5He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. |
| 6Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king. | 6Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king. |
| 7When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. | 7When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you. |
| 8One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' | 8One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ |
| 9"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?' | 9But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’ |
| 10"Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.' | 10Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’ |
| 11"But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?' | 11But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’ |
| 12"Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.' | 12Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’ |
| 13"But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?' | 13But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’ |
| 14"Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.' | 14Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’ |
| 15"The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!' | 15But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’ |
| 16"Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? | 16Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves— |
| 17Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. | 17for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian, |
| 18But today you have revolted against my father's family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. | 18but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother— |
| 19So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! | 19if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you. |
| 20But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!" | 20But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.” |
| 21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek. | 21Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech. |
| 22After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, | 22After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years, |
| 23God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. | 23God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully, |
| 24God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. | 24in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. |
| 25In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek. | 25The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech. |
| 26Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. | 26Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him. |
| 27After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. | 27And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech. |
| 28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn't he Jerub-Baal's son, and isn't Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelek? | 28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech? |
| 29If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, 'Call out your whole army!'" | 29If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’ ” |
| 30When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. | 30When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger. |
| 31Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, "Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. | 31So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. |
| 32Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. | 32Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields. |
| 33In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them." | 33And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.” |
| 34So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. | 34So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. |
| 35Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place. | 35Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places. |
| 36When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men." | 36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.” |
| 37But Gaal spoke up again: "Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners' tree." | 37Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.” |
| 38Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?' Aren't these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!" | 38“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!” |
| 39So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. | 39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech, |
| 40Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. | 40but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate. |
| 41Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem. | 41Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. |
| 42The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. | 42The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech. |
| 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. | 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them. |
| 44Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. | 44Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down. |
| 45All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it. | 45And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt. |
| 46On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. | 46On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. |
| 47When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, | 47And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there, |
| 48he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have seen me do!" | 48he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.” |
| 49So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died. | 49So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women. |
| 50Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. | 50Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it. |
| 51Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women--all the people of the city--had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. | 51But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower. |
| 52Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, | 52When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. |
| 53a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. | 53But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. |
| 54Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can't say, 'A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he died. | 54He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died. |
| 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home. | 55And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home. |
| 56Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. | 56In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers. |
| 57God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them. | 57And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them. |
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