Judges 9
1 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
And he went Abimelech [the] son of Jerub-Baal Shechem towards to [the] brothers of mother his and he spoke to them and to all [the] clan of [the] house of [the] father of mother his saying.
2 “Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
Speak please in [the] ears of all [the] citizens of Shechem what? [is] good for you ¿ to rule over you seventy man all [the] sons of Jerub-Baal or? to rule over you a man one and you will remember that [am] bone your and flesh your I.
3 His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”
And they spoke [the] brothers of mother his on him in [the] ears of all [the] citizens of Shechem all the words these and it turned aside heart their after Abimelech for they said [is] brother our he.
4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.
And they gave to him seventy silver from [the] house of Baal-Berith and he hired for them Abimelech men unprincipled and undisciplined and they went after him.
5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
And he went [the] house of father his Ophrah towards and he killed brothers his [the] sons of Jerub-Baal seventy man on stone one and he was left Jotham [the] son of Jerub-Baal young for he hid himself.
6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
And they gathered all [the] citizens of Shechem and all Beth Millo and they went and they made king Abimelech to king near [the] great tree set up which [was] in Shechem.
7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
And people told to Jotham and he went and he stood on [the] top of [the] mountain of Gerizim and he lifted up voice his and he called out and he said to them listen to me O citizens of Shechem so he may listen to you God.
8 The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Certainly they went the trees to anoint over them a king and they said to the olive tree (reign! *Qk) over us.
9 “But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
And it said to them the olive tree ¿ will I cease fatness my which by me people honor gods and men and will I go to sway over the trees.
10 “The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
And they said the trees to the fig tree come you reign over us.
11 “But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
And it said to them the fig tree ¿ will I cease sweetness my and fruit my good and will I go to sway over the trees.
12 “The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
And they said the trees to the vine come you (reign *Qk) over us.
13 “The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
And it said to them the vine ¿ will I cease new wine my which makes glad gods and men and will I go to sway over the trees.
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
And they said all the trees to the thorn bush come you reign over us.
15 “The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
And it said the thorn bush to the trees if in truth you [are] anointing me to king over you come take refuge in shade my and if not let it go out a fire from the thorn bush and let it consume [the] cedars of Lebanon.
16 “Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
And now if in faithfulness and in integrity you have acted and you have made king Abimelech and if good you have done with Jerub-Baal and with house his and if according to [the] dealing of hands his you have done to him.
17 (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
That he fought father my on you and he threw life his from in front and he delivered you from [the] hand of Midian.
18 and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
And you you have risen up on [the] house of father my this day and you have killed sons his seventy man on stone one and you have made king Abimelech [the] son of female slave his over [the] citizens of Shechem for [is] brother your he.
19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;
And if in faithfulness and in integrity you have acted with Jerub-Baal and with house his the day this rejoice in Abimelech so he may rejoice also he in you.
20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”
And if not let it go out a fire from Abimelech and let it consume [the] citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and let it go out a fire from [the] citizens of Shechem and from Beth Millo and let it consume Abimelech.
21 Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
And he fled Jotham and he ran away and he went Beer towards and he dwelt there [away] from before Abimelech brother his.
22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
And he ruled Abimelech over Israel three years.
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
And he sent God a spirit evil between Abimelech and between [the] citizens of Shechem and they dealt treacherously [the] citizens of Shechem with Abimelech.
24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
To come [the] violence of seventy [the] sons of Jerub-Baal and blood their to put on Abimelech brother their who he killed them and on [the] citizens of Shechem who they strengthened hands his to kill brothers his.
25 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
And they set to him [the] citizens of Shechem ambushers on [the] tops of the mountains and they robbed every [one] who he passed by on them on the road and it was told to Abimelech.
26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
And he came Gaal [the] son of Ebed and brothers his and they passed on in Shechem and they trusted in him [the] citizens of Shechem.
27 They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
And they went out the field and they gathered grapes vineyards their and they trod [them] and they made rejoicings and they went [the] house of god their and they ate and they drank and they cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
And he said - Gaal [the] son of Ebed who? [is] Abimelech and who? [is] Shechem that we will serve him ¿ not [is he] [the] son of Jerub-Baal and [is] Zebul? deputy his serve [the] men of Hamor [the] father of Shechem and why? will we serve him we.
29 I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
And who? will he give the people this in hand my and I will remove Abimelech and he said of Abimelech make numerous army your and come out!
30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
And he heard Zebul [the] official of the city [the] words of Gaal [the] son of Ebed and it burned anger his.
31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.
And he sent messengers to Abimelech in treachery saying here! Gaal [the] son of Ebed and brothers his [are] coming Shechem towards and here they [are] shutting up the city on you.
32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
And therefore arise night you and the people which [is] with you and lie in wait in the field.
33 It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
And it will be in the morning when rises the sun you will rise early and you will make a raid on the city and there! he and the people which [is] with him [are] going out against you and you will do to him just as it will find hand your.
34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And he arose Abimelech and all the people which [was] with him night and they lay in wait on Shechem four companies.
35 Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
And he went out Gaal [the] son of Ebed and he stood [the] entrance of [the] gate of the city and he arose Abimelech and the people which [was] with him from the ambush.
36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
And he saw Gaal the people and he said to Zebul there! a people [is] coming down from [the] tops of the mountains and he said to him Zebul [the] shadow of the mountains you [are] seeing like men.
37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
And he repeated again Gaal to speak and he said there! a people [are] coming down from with [the] center of the land and a company one [is] coming from [the] direction of [the] great tree of [the] soothsayer.
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”
And he said to him Zebul where? then [is] mouth your O [you] who you said who? [is] Abimelech that we will serve him ¿ not [is] this the people which you rejected it go out please now and fight against him.
39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
And he went out Gaal before [the] citizens of Shechem and he fought against Abimelech.
40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
And he pursued him Abimelech and he fled from before him and they fell [those] fatally wounded many to [the] entrance of the gate.
41 Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
And he dwelt Abimelech at Arumah and he drove out Zebul Gaal and brothers his from dwelling at Shechem.
42 On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
And it was from [the] next day and it went out the people the field and people told to 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.
And he took the people and he divided them into three companies and he lay in wait in the field and he saw and there! the people [was] going out from the city and he rose up on them and he struck down 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.
And Abimelech and the companies which [were] with him they made a raid and they stood [the] entrance of [the] gate of the city and [the] two the companies they made a raid on all [those] who [were] in the field and they struck down 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.
And Abimelech [was] fighting against the city all the day that and he captured the city and the people which [was] in it he killed and he pulled down the city and he sowed it salt.
46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
And they heard all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem and they went into [the] underground chamber of [the] house of El-Berith.
47 Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
And it was told to Abimelech that they had gathered together all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem.
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!”
And he went up Abimelech [the] mountain of Zalmon he and all the people which [was] with him and he took Abimelech the axes in hand his and he cut off a branch of wood and he lifted up it and he put [it] on shoulder his and he said to the people which [was] with him whatever you have seen I have done hurry do like me.
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.
And they cut off also all the people everyone own branch his and they went after Abimelech and they put [them] over the underground chamber and they set on fire over them the underground chamber with fire and they died also all [the] men of [the] tower of Shechem about a thousand man and woman.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
And he went Abimelech to Thebez and he encamped at Thebez and he captured 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.
And a tower of strength it was in [the] middle of the city and they fled there towards all the men and the women and all [the] citizens of the city and they shut [the] door behind them and they went up on [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.
And he came Abimelech to the tower and he fought against it and he drew near to [the] entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
And she threw a woman one a mill-stone of an upper mill-stone on [the] head of Abimelech and it crushed skull his.
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.”
And he called quickly to the young man - [who] carried armor his and he said to him draw sword your and kill me lest people should say of me a woman she killed him and he pierced through him young man his and he died.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
And they saw [the] man of Israel that he was dead Abimelech and they went everyone to own place his.
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
And he repaid God [the] evil of Abimelech which he had done to father his by killing seventy brothers his.
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.
And all [the] evil of [the] men of Shechem he repaid God on head their and it came to them [the] curse of Jotham [the] son of Jerub-Baal.
