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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Notas al pie

  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

42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And 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 upon all that were in the field, and smote them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. 47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took [a]an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and brake his skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. 56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren; 57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

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Notas al pie

  1. Judges 9:48 Hebrew the axes.