Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 (A)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the [a]leaders of Shechem; and the [b]leaders of Shechem (B)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (C)so that the violence [c]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come, and the responsibility for (D)their blood would be placed on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the [d]leaders of Shechem, who [e]encouraged him to kill his brothers. 25 The [f]leaders of Shechem set up men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed everyone who would pass by them on the road; and it was reported to Abimelech.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:23 Or landowners
  2. Judges 9:23 Or landowners
  3. Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
  4. Judges 9:24 Or landowners
  5. Judges 9:24 Lit strengthened his hands
  6. Judges 9:25 Or landowners

Abimelech’s monarchy fails

22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 Then God stirred up ill will between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and they acted like traitors toward Abimelech. 24 This occurred because of the violence done to Jerubbaal’s seventy sons. Their blood came back on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who supported him when he killed his brothers. 25 As an act against him, the leaders of Shechem set ambushes on the hilltops that robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. This was reported to Abimelech.

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22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity(A) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,(B) the shedding(C) of their blood, might be avenged(D) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him(E) murder his brothers. 25 In 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.

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