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.

Read full chapter

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 Punishment

22 When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years, 23 God sent an evil spirit(A) between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully, 24 so that the crime against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers. 25 The lords of Shechem rebelled against him by putting people on the tops of the mountains to ambush(B) and rob everyone who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

Read full chapter