Abimelech Kills His Brothers

9 And ^(A)Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s ^[a]relatives and spoke to them and to the whole family of the household of his mother’s father, saying, ² “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that ^(B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am ^(C)your bone and your flesh.” ³ And his mother’s ^[b]relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and ^[c]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is ^(D)our ^[d]relative.” ⁴ So they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of ^(E)Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him. ⁵ Then he came to his father’s house at Ophrah and ^(F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, ^(G)seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. ⁶ Then all the lords of Shechem and all ^[e]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the ^[f]oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.