Judges 9:42-57
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
42 On the following day the people went out into the fields. When Abimelech was told, 43 he took his troops and divided them into three companies and lay in wait in the fields. When he looked and saw the people coming out of the city, he rose against them and killed them. 44 Abimelech and the company that was[a] with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed on all who were in the fields and killed them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.(A)
46 When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the temple of El-berith.(B) 47 Abimelech was told that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the troops who were with him. Abimelech took an ax in his hand, cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the troops with him, “What you have seen me do, do quickly, as I have done.”(C) 49 So every one of the troops cut down a bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, 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 encamped against Thebez and took it.(D) 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the lords of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and came near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.(E) 54 Immediately he called to the young man who carried his armor and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so people will not say about me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So the young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home. 56 Thus God repaid Abimelech for the crime he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers;(F) 57 and God also made all the wickedness of the people of Shechem fall back on their heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.(G)
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- 9.44 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb companies that were
Judges 9:42-57
New American Standard Bible
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 [a]his people and divided them into three [b]units, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and [c]saw the people coming out from the city, he [d]attacked them and killed them. 44 Then Abimelech and the [e]company who was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate; the other two [f]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 (A)tore down the city and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the [g]leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber of the [h]temple of (B)El-berith. 47 And it was reported to Abimelech that all the [i]leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (C)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [j]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 [k]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 [l]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 (D)a woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54 Then (E)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 [m]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 [n]home. 56 So (F)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 [o]upon them.
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- 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
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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