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.