Add parallel Print Page Options

42 On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck them. 44 Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. 47 Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!” 49 All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.

54 Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”

55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place. 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers; 57 and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:43 Lit the
  2. Judges 9:43 Lit heads
  3. Judges 9:43 Lit behold, the
  4. Judges 9:43 Lit rose against
  5. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  6. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  7. Judges 9:46 Or landowners
  8. Judges 9:46 Lit house
  9. Judges 9:47 Or landowners
  10. Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
  11. Judges 9:48 Lit like me
  12. Judges 9:51 Or landowners
  13. Judges 9:54 Lit his
  14. Judges 9:55 Lit place
  15. Judges 9:57 Lit to