Judges 9
New American Standard Bible
Abimelech’s Conspiracy
9 Now (A)Abimelech the son of [a]Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the entire family of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the [b]leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” 3 So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the [c]leaders of Shechem; and [d]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our relative.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, [e]on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. 6 All the [f]leaders of Shechem and all [g]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [h]oak of the memorial stone which was in Shechem.
7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of (H)Mount Gerizim, and raised his voice and called out. And he said to them, “Listen to me, you [i]leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my fatness with [j]which God and mankind are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my sweetness and my good [k]fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I give up my new wine, which cheers God and mankind, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If you [l]really are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Now then, if you have acted with [m]honesty and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (I)Jerubbaal and his house, and [n]have dealt with him [o]as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you, and [p]risked his life and saved you from the hand of Midian; 18 but in fact you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed (J)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, (K)the son of his female slave, king over the [q]leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— 19 so if you have acted with [r]honesty and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, be joyful about Abimelech, and may he also be joyful about you. 20 But if not, may fire come out of Abimelech and consume the [s]leaders of Shechem and [t]Beth-millo; and may fire come out of the [u]leaders of Shechem and from [v]Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; and he stayed there because of his brother Abimelech.
Shechem and Abimelech Fall
22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 (L)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the [w]leaders of Shechem; and the [x]leaders of Shechem (M)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (N)so that the violence [y]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come, and the responsibility for (O)their blood would be placed on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the [z]leaders of Shechem, who [aa]encouraged him to kill his brothers. 25 The [ab]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.
26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the [ac]leaders of Shechem trusted him. 27 So they went out to the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trampled them, and held a festival; and they went into the house of (P)their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the 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 Zebul not his governor? Serve the men of (Q)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [ad](R)If only this people were under my authority! Then I would do away with Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Enlarge your army and come out!”
30 When Zebul the leader of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31 So using deception, he successfully sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are [ae]stirring up the city against you. 32 So now, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and attack the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall (S)do to them [af]whatever you can.”
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up at night, and lay in wait against Shechem, in four [ag]units. 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “[ah]Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were people.” 37 And Gaal spoke yet again and said, “Look, people are coming down from (T)the [ai]highest part of the land, and one [aj]unit is coming by way of [ak]the diviners’ [al]oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where then is your [am]boasting with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you rejected? Go out now and fight them!” 39 So Gaal went out [an]in the sight of the [ao]leaders of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40 But Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech stayed in Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not stay in Shechem.
42 Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech. 43 So he took [ap]his people and divided them into three [aq]units, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and [ar]saw the people coming out from the city, he [as]attacked them and killed them. 44 Then Abimelech and the [at]company who was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate; the other two [au]companies then attacked all who were in the field and killed them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city that whole day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he (U)tore down the city and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the [av]leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber of the [aw]temple of (V)El-berith. 47 And it was reported to Abimelech that all the [ax]leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (W)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [ay]an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and put it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you saw me do, hurry and do [az]likewise.” 49 So all the people also cut down, each one, his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on top of the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the [ba]leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it down with fire. 53 But (X)a woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54 Then (Y)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So [bb]the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 Now when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each left for his [bc]home. 56 So (Z)God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 God also returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came [bd]upon them.
Footnotes
- Judges 9:1 I.e., Gideon
- Judges 9:2 Or landowners
- Judges 9:3 Or landowners
- Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
- Judges 9:5 Perhaps a mass human sacrifice
- Judges 9:6 Or landowners
- Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
- Judges 9:7 Or landowners
- Judges 9:9 Lit which by me
- Judges 9:11 Lit produce
- Judges 9:15 Or sincerely
- Judges 9:16 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:16 Lit if you have
- Judges 9:16 Lit according to the accomplishment of his hands
- Judges 9:17 Lit threw his soul away
- Judges 9:18 Or landowners
- Judges 9:19 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:20 Or landowners
- Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:20 Or landowners
- Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:23 Or landowners
- Judges 9:23 Or landowners
- Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
- Judges 9:24 Or landowners
- Judges 9:24 Lit strengthened his hands
- Judges 9:25 Or landowners
- Judges 9:26 Or landowners
- Judges 9:29 Lit And who will hand this people over to me
- Judges 9:31 Or besieging
- Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand finds
- Judges 9:34 Lit heads
- Judges 9:36 Lit Behold
- Judges 9:37 Lit center
- Judges 9:37 Lit head
- Judges 9:37 Heb Elon-meonenim
- Judges 9:37 Or terebinth
- Judges 9:38 Lit mouth
- Judges 9:39 Or at the head of
- Judges 9:39 Or landowners
- Judges 9:43 Lit the
- Judges 9:43 Lit heads
- Judges 9:43 Lit behold, the
- Judges 9:43 Lit rose against
- Judges 9:44 Lit heads
- Judges 9:44 Lit heads
- Judges 9:46 Or landowners
- Judges 9:46 Lit house
- Judges 9:47 Or landowners
- Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
- Judges 9:48 Lit like me
- Judges 9:51 Or landowners
- Judges 9:54 Lit his
- Judges 9:55 Lit place
- Judges 9:57 Lit to
Jueces 9
La Biblia de las Américas
Conspiración de Abimelec
9 Y Abimelec, hijo de Jerobaal(A), fue a Siquem, a los parientes[a] de su madre, y les habló a ellos y a toda la familia de la casa del padre de su madre, diciendo: 2 Hablad ahora a oídos de todos los habitantes[b] de Siquem: «¿Qué es mejor para vosotros, que todos los hijos de Jerobaal, setenta hombres(B), reinen sobre vosotros, o que reine sobre vosotros un solo hombre?». Además, acordaos que yo soy hueso vuestro y carne vuestra(C). 3 Y los parientes de su madre hablaron todas estas palabras por él a oídos de todos los habitantes de Siquem; y ellos se inclinaron a seguir a[c] Abimelec, porque dijeron: Es pariente nuestro(D). 4 Y le dieron setenta piezas de plata de la casa de Baal-berit(E), con las cuales Abimelec tomó a sueldo hombres indignos y temerarios que lo siguieron. 5 Luego fue a la casa de su padre en Ofra y mató a sus hermanos, los hijos de Jerobaal, setenta hombres(F), sobre una piedra. Pero Jotam, el hijo menor de Jerobaal, se libró[d] porque se escondió(G). 6 Y se reunieron todos los habitantes de Siquem y todo Bet-milo[e], y fueron e hicieron rey a Abimelec, junto a la encina[f] del pilar que había en Siquem.
7 Cuando se lo informaron a Jotam, fue y se paró en la cumbre del monte Gerizim(H), y alzando su voz, clamó y les dijo: Escuchadme, habitantes de Siquem, para que os oiga Dios. 8 Una vez los árboles fueron a ungir un rey sobre ellos, y dijeron al olivo: «Reina sobre nosotros». 9 Mas el olivo les respondió: «¿He de dejar mi aceite[g] con el cual[h] se honra a Dios y a los hombres, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?». 10 Entonces los árboles dijeron a la higuera: «Ven, reina sobre nosotros». 11 Pero la higuera les respondió: «¿He de dejar mi dulzura y mi buen fruto, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?». 12 Después los árboles dijeron a la vid: «Ven tú, reina sobre nosotros». 13 Pero la vid les respondió: «¿He de dejar mi mosto, que alegra a Dios y a los hombres, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?». 14 Dijeron entonces todos los árboles a la zarza: «Ven tú, reina sobre nosotros». 15 Y la zarza dijo a los árboles: «Si en verdad[i] me ungís por rey sobre vosotros, venid y refugiaos a mi sombra; y si no, salga fuego de la zarza y consuma los cedros del Líbano».
16 Ahora pues, si habéis procedido con verdad[j] e integridad al hacer rey a Abimelec, y si habéis procedido bien con Jerobaal(I) y su casa, y si habéis procedido con él como él merecía[k] 17 (pues mi padre peleó por vosotros, y arriesgó su vida[l] y os libró de la mano de Madián, 18 pero vosotros os habéis rebelado hoy contra la casa de mi padre y habéis matado a sus hijos, setenta hombres(J), sobre una piedra, y habéis hecho rey sobre los habitantes de Siquem a Abimelec, el hijo de su sierva(K), porque es vuestro pariente); 19 si habéis, pues, procedido hoy en verdad[m] e integridad para con Jerobaal y su casa, regocijaos en Abimelec, y que él también se regocije en vosotros. 20 Y si no, salga fuego de Abimelec y consuma a los habitantes de Siquem y de Bet-milo[n]; y salga fuego de los habitantes de Siquem y de Bet-milo[o] y consuma a Abimelec. 21 Entonces Jotam escapó y huyó, y se fue a Beer y permaneció allí a causa de su hermano Abimelec.
Reinado de Abimelec
22 Y reinó Abimelec tres años sobre Israel. 23 Pero Dios envió un espíritu de discordia(L) entre Abimelec y los habitantes de Siquem; y los habitantes de Siquem procedieron pérfidamente con Abimelec(M), 24 para que viniera la violencia hecha a los[p] setenta hijos de Jerobaal(N), y recayera la sangre de ellos sobre su hermano Abimelec que los mató, y sobre los habitantes de Siquem que fortalecieron las manos de él para matar a sus hermanos(O). 25 Y los habitantes de Siquem pusieron emboscadas[q] contra él en las cumbres de los montes y robaban a todos los que pasaban cerca de ellos por el camino; y se lo hicieron saber a Abimelec.
26 Y Gaal, hijo de Ebed, vino con sus parientes, y pasaron a Siquem; y los habitantes de Siquem pusieron su confianza en él. 27 Y salieron al campo y vendimiaron sus viñedos, pisaron las uvas e hicieron fiesta; y entrando a la casa de su dios(P), comieron y bebieron y maldijeron a Abimelec. 28 Entonces Gaal, hijo de Ebed, dijo: ¿Quién es Abimelec y quién es Siquem para que le sirvamos? ¿No es acaso hijo de Jerobaal, y no es Zebul su oficial[r]? Servid a los hombres de Hamor, padre de Siquem(Q); pero ¿por qué hemos de servirle a él? 29 ¡Quién pusiera este pueblo en mis manos(R)! Entonces yo quitaría a Abimelec. Diría a Abimelec: Aumenta tu ejército, y sal.
30 Y cuando Zebul, gobernante de la ciudad, oyó las palabras de Gaal, hijo de Ebed, se encendió en ira. 31 Y envió encubiertamente mensajeros a Abimelec, diciendo: He aquí que Gaal, hijo de Ebed, y sus parientes han venido a Siquem, y he aquí que están incitando[s] a la ciudad contra ti. 32 Ahora pues, levántate de noche, tú y el pueblo que está contigo, y pon emboscada en el campo. 33 Y sucederá en la mañana, en cuanto salga el sol, que te levantarás temprano y arremeterás contra la ciudad; y he aquí, que cuando él y el pueblo que está con él salga contra ti, harás con ellos lo que te venga a mano(S).
34 Se levantó, pues, de noche Abimelec, y todo el pueblo que estaba con él, y pusieron emboscada contra Siquem con cuatro compañías[t]. 35 Y Gaal, hijo de Ebed, salió y se paró a la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad; y Abimelec y el pueblo que estaba con él salieron de la emboscada. 36 Al ver Gaal a la gente, dijo a Zebul: Mira, viene gente bajando de las cumbres de los montes. Pero Zebul le dijo: Estás viendo la sombra de los montes como si fueran hombres. 37 Y volvió a hablar Gaal y dijo: He aquí, gente que baja de la parte más alta[u] de la tierra(T), y una compañía viene por el camino de la encina[v] de los adivinos[w]. 38 Entonces Zebul le dijo: ¿Dónde está ahora tu jactancia[x] con la cual decías: «¿Quién es Abimelec para que le sirvamos?»? ¿No es este el pueblo que despreciabas? Ahora pues, sal y pelea contra él. 39 Y salió Gaal delante de los habitantes de Siquem y peleó contra Abimelec. 40 Abimelec lo persiguió pero Gaal[y] huyó delante de él; y muchos cayeron heridos hasta la entrada de la puerta. 41 Y Abimelec se quedó en Aruma, pero Zebul expulsó a Gaal y a sus parientes para que no se quedaran en Siquem.
Captura de Siquem
42 Aconteció al día siguiente que el pueblo salió al campo, y se lo hicieron saber a Abimelec. 43 Y él tomó a su[z] gente, la dividió en tres compañías y puso emboscada en el campo; cuando miró y vio al pueblo salir[aa] de la ciudad, se levantó contra ellos y los mató[ab]. 44 Entonces Abimelec y la compañía[ac] que estaba con él se lanzaron con ímpetu y se situaron a la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad, y las otras dos compañías se lanzaron contra todos los que estaban en el campo y los mataron[ad]. 45 Y peleó Abimelec contra la ciudad todo aquel día, capturó la ciudad y mató a la gente que había en ella; entonces arrasó la ciudad y la sembró de sal(U).
46 Al oír esto todos los habitantes de la torre de Siquem, se metieron en la fortaleza[ae] del templo[af] de El-berit[ag](V). 47 Y le dijeron a Abimelec que todos los habitantes de la torre de Siquem estaban reunidos. 48 Abimelec subió entonces al monte Salmón(W), él y toda la gente que estaba con él; y tomando Abimelec un hacha[ah] en su mano, cortó una rama de los árboles, la levantó y la puso sobre su hombro. Y dijo a la gente que estaba con él: Lo que me habéis visto hacer, apresuraos y haced lo mismo[ai]. 49 Y todo el pueblo cortó también cada uno su rama y siguió a Abimelec, y las pusieron sobre la fortaleza[aj]; prendieron fuego a la fortaleza[ak] sobre los que estaban adentro, y murieron también todos los[al] de la torre de Siquem, como mil hombres y mujeres.
Muerte de Abimelec
50 Después Abimelec fue a Tebes, la sitió[am] y la tomó. 51 Pero había una torre fortificada en el centro de la ciudad, y todos los hombres y mujeres, todos los habitantes de la ciudad, huyeron allí, se encerraron y subieron al techo de la torre. 52 Y Abimelec vino a la torre, la atacó y se acercó a la entrada de la torre para prenderle fuego. 53 Pero una mujer arrojó una muela de molino sobre la cabeza de Abimelec(X) rompiéndole el cráneo. 54 Entonces él llamó apresuradamente al muchacho que era su escudero, y le dijo: Saca tu espada y mátame(Y), no sea que se diga de mí: «Una mujer lo mató». Y el[an] muchacho lo traspasó, y murió. 55 Cuando los hombres de Israel vieron que Abimelec había muerto, cada cual partió para su casa[ao]. 56 Así pagó Dios a Abimelec por la maldad que había hecho a su padre al matar a sus setenta hermanos(Z). 57 Dios también hizo volver sobre sus cabezas toda la maldad de los hombres de Siquem, y vino sobre[ap] ellos la maldición de Jotam, hijo de Jerobaal.
Footnotes
- Jueces 9:1 Lit., hermano(s), y así en el resto del cap.
- Jueces 9:2 O, jefes heb., baalim, y así en el resto del cap.
- Jueces 9:3 Lit., sus corazones se inclinaron tras
- Jueces 9:5 O, quedó
- Jueces 9:6 O, toda la casa de Milo
- Jueces 9:6 O, al terebinto
- Jueces 9:9 Lit., grosura
- Jueces 9:9 Lit., con el cual por mí
- Jueces 9:15 O, sinceridad
- Jueces 9:16 O, sinceridad
- Jueces 9:16 Lit., conforme al proceder de sus manos
- Jueces 9:17 Lit., echó su alma por delante
- Jueces 9:19 O, sinceridad
- Jueces 9:20 O, la casa de Milo
- Jueces 9:20 O, la casa de Milo
- Jueces 9:24 Lit., de los
- Jueces 9:25 Lit., asechadores
- Jueces 9:28 O, supervisor
- Jueces 9:31 Lit., sitiando
- Jueces 9:34 Lit., cabezas, y así en el resto del cap.
- Jueces 9:37 O, del centro
- Jueces 9:37 O, el terebinto
- Jueces 9:37 Heb., Elommeonenim
- Jueces 9:38 Lit., boca
- Jueces 9:40 Lit., él
- Jueces 9:43 Lit., la
- Jueces 9:43 Lit., y he aquí el pueblo salía
- Jueces 9:43 Lit., hirió
- Jueces 9:44 Lit., las cabezas; singular en la versión gr. (sept.)
- Jueces 9:44 Lit., hirieron
- Jueces 9:46 Lit., cámara interna
- Jueces 9:46 Lit., de la casa
- Jueces 9:46 I.e., del dios Berit
- Jueces 9:48 Lit., las hachas
- Jueces 9:48 Lit., como yo
- Jueces 9:49 Lit., cámara interna
- Jueces 9:49 Lit., cámara interna
- Jueces 9:49 Lit., toda la gente
- Jueces 9:50 Lit., sitió a Tebes
- Jueces 9:54 Lit., su
- Jueces 9:55 Lit., lugar
- Jueces 9:57 Lit., a
Judges 9
International Standard Version
Abimelech Attempts to Become King
9 Then Jerubbaal’s son Abimelech went to his mother’s relatives in Shechem. He spoke to the entire family of his mother’s father, telling them, 2 “Ask all the “lords”[a] of Shechem, ‘What’s better for you? That 70 men, each of them Jerubbaal’s sons, rule over you? Or that one man rule over you?’ Keep in mind that I’m like your own close relative.”[b]
3 So his mother’s relatives spoke all of this on his behalf in the presence[c] of all the “lords” of Shechem. Since they were inclined to follow Abimelech, they said, “He’s our relative!” 4 and they gave him 70 silver coins from the temple that they had built to[d] Baal-berith. Abimelech hired some worthless and useless men, who followed him 5 to his father’s house in Ophrah. There he murdered his own brothers, Jerubbaal’s sons—all 70 of them—in one place.[e] But Jerubbaal’s youngest son Jotham survived by hiding himself.
6 All the men from Shechem and Beth-millo[f] gathered together and set up Abimelech as king near the pillar erected[g] in Shechem. 7 When Jotham was informed about this, he went out, took his stand on top of Mount Gerizim, and cried out loudly, “Listen to me, you “lords” of Shechem, and God will listen to you.
“So they told the olive tree,
‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree asked them,
‘Should I stop producing my rich oils
by which both God and men are honored
and go take dominion over trees?’
10 “So the trees told the fig tree,
‘Hey you! Come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree asked them,
‘Should I leave my sweet, good fruit
and go take dominion over trees?’
12 “So the trees told the grape vine,
‘Hey you! Come and reign over us!’
13 But the grape vine asked them,
‘Should I leave my new wine,
which cheers God and man,
and go take dominion over trees?’
14 “So all the trees told the bramble bush,
‘Hey you! Come and reign over us!’
15 Then the bramble bush replied to the trees,
‘If you really are consecrating[j] me to rule you,
come and put your confidence in my shade;
but if not, may fire spring out from the bramble bush
and burn up the cedars[k] of Lebanon…’
16 “Now then, if you have been acting in good faith and integrity by making a king out of Abimelech, if you have treated Jerubbaal and his household appropriately by acting toward him as he deserved[l]— 17 because my father fought on your behalf, throwing away all concern for his own life, and delivered you from Midian’s domination.
18 “But now as for you, you’ve rebelled against my father’s house today. You’ve murdered his sons—70 men—in one place,[m] and you’ve installed Abimelech, the son of his mistress, as king to rule over the “lords” of Shechem, since he’s related to you. 19 So if you’ve acted in good faith and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his household today, then you’re welcome to[n] Abimelech, and he’s welcome to[o] you… 20 But if not, may fire spring out from Abimelech and consume the “lords” of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire spring out from the “lords” of Shechem and Beth-millo to consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped by running away. He went to Beer and remained there because of his brother Abimelech.
The Destruction of Shechem
22 Abimelech dominated Israel for three years. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit to divide Abimelech and the “lords” of Shechem 24 so that the violence committed against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come back on their brother Abimelech, who murdered them, and so it might come back on the “lords” of Shechem, who provoked him to murder his brothers. 25 The “lords” of Shechem sent out men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who came by them along the roads, and this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Meanwhile, Ebed’s son Gaal arrived with his relatives and crossed over into Shechem. The “lords” of Shechem put their faith in him. 27 They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, made some wine, and threw a party. Then they went into the temple of their god, ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Then Ebed’s son Gaal remarked, “Who is this Abimelech? And who is Shechem? Should we serve him? Isn’t he Jerubbaal’s son? Isn’t Zebul his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem’s ancestor—but why are we serving him? 29 If only authority over this people were given to me. Then I would remove Abimelech!” Then he challenged Abimelech: “Build up your army and then come out and fight!”
30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Ebed’s son Gaal had said, he flew into a rage. 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech in secret[p] and told him, “Look out! Ebed’s son Gaal and his family have arrived here in Shechem. Watch out! They’re stirring up the city against you. 32 So get up at night, take your soldiers with you, and wait in ambush out in the field. 33 Tomorrow morning when the sun is up, get up early and attack the city. When Gaal[q] and his army come out to fight you, do whatever you can to them.”
34 So Abimelech and his entire army got up that night and waited in ambush against Shechem in four separate companies.
35 Ebed’s son Gaal went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate while Abimelech and his army were creeping out of their ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the army, he observed to Zebul, “Look there! People are coming down from the top of the mountains.”
But Zebul replied to him, “You’re looking at morning shadows cast by the mountains. They just look[r] like men to you.”
37 Gaal spoke up again to say, “Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and there’s a company approaching from the diviner’s oak tree.”[s]
38 So Zebul replied, “Right... So where’s your boasting now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelech? Should we serve him?’ Isn’t this the army that you insulted? So go out right now and fight them!”
39 So Gaal went out in full view of the “lords” of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many fell wounded right up to the entrance to the city gate. 41 Afterwards, Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul expelled Gaal and his family so they couldn’t remain in Shechem.
42 The next day, the people went out to the field, and Abimelech learned about it. 43 So he took his army, divided it into three separate companies, and laid in ambush out in the field. When Abimelech[t] noticed the people coming out from the city, his[u] army attacked them and killed them. 44 Then Abimelech and the soldiers who were with him rushed forward and commandeered the entrance to the city gate while the other two companies ran out to kill everyone who was in the field. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the “lords” at the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they retreated into the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. 47 Abimilech was told that all of the “lords” of the Shechem Tower had assembled there. 48 So he[v] went up to Mount Zalmon, accompanied by his entire army. Abimelech had an axe in his hand, so he cut down a branch from a tree, lifted it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he told the army that had accompanied[w] him, “You’ve seen what I just did. Hurry up! Do the same thing!”
49 Then his entire army also cut down a branch for each soldier, followed Abimelech to the inner chamber, and set fire to it[x] while they were inside. As a result, all the men of the tower of Shechem died, including about a thousand men and women.
The Death of Abimelech
50 Later on, Abimelech went to Thebez, set up a siege encampment there, and captured it. 51 But there was a fortified tower in the center of the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city escaped to it, shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech approached the tower, attacked it, and approached the tower’s gate, intending[y] to burn it down. 53 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelech’s head, fracturing his skull.
54 So he cried out to his young armor bearer and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me that ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 When the men of Israel noticed that Abimelech was dead, they each left for home.[z] 56 That’s how God repaid Abimelech for the evil thing he did to his father by killing his 70 brothers. 57 God also repaid[aa] the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and the curse of Jerubbaal’s son Jotham came true for them.
Footnotes
- Judges 9:2 Lit. baals; i.e. the leaders—a pun contrasting the Heb. word lords with Baal, the chief male Canaanite deity; and so through v. 47
- Judges 9:2 Lit. your skin and flesh
- Judges 9:3 Lit. hearing
- Judges 9:4 Lit. temple of
- Judges 9:5 Lit. them—on one stone
- Judges 9:6 Or and from the household of Rampart; and so throughout the chapter
- Judges 9:6 I.e. a cultic object of worship
- Judges 9:8 The Heb. lacks Once upon a time
- Judges 9:8 Or anoint
- Judges 9:15 Or anointing
- Judges 9:15 I.e. a genus of coniferous evergreen in the family Pinaceae; and so throughout the book
- Judges 9:16 Lit. as his hands acted
- Judges 9:18 Lit. men—on one stone
- Judges 9:19 Lit. then rejoice in
- Judges 9:19 Lit. and let him rejoice in
- Judges 9:31 Or in Tormah
- Judges 9:33 Lit. he
- Judges 9:36 Lit. mountains. You are seeing
- Judges 9:37 Or from Elon-meonenim
- Judges 9:43 Lit. he
- Judges 9:43 Lit. the
- Judges 9:48 Lit. Abimelech
- Judges 9:48 The Heb. lacks had accompanied
- Judges 9:49 Lit. set the inner chamber
- Judges 9:52 The Heb. lacks intending
- Judges 9:55 Lit. each man left to his place
- Judges 9:57 Lit. repaid on the heads of
Judges 9
King James Version
9 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
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