Abimelech Attempts to Become King

¹ And Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem, to the relatives of his mother, and he said to them and to the house of his mother’s father,

² “⌞Speak to⌟¹ the lords of Shechem, ‘What is better for you, that seventy men all from the sons of Jerub-Baal rule over you, or that one man rules over you?’ Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”

1. Literally “Speak into the ears”

³ And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words concerning him ⌞to⌟¹ all the lords of Shechem; and ⌞they supported Abimelech⌟,² for they said, “He is our relative.”³

1. Literally “in the ears of”
2. Literally “it reached their heart after Abimelech”
3. Or “brother”

⁴ And they gave to him seventy pieces of silver from the temple¹ of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them² worthless and reckless men, and ⌞they followed him⌟.³

1. Or “house”
2. That is, the pieces of silver
3. Literally “They went after him”

⁵ And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerub-Baal survived, because he hid himself.

⁶ All the lords of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered, and they went and made Abimelech as king, near the oak¹ of the pillar that is at Shechem.

1. Or “terebinth”

⁷ And they told Jotham, and he went up and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and ⌞he cried out loud⌟¹ and said to them, “Listen to me, lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

1. Literally “he lifted his voice and called”

⁸ “The trees went certainly, to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Rule over us.’

⁹ And the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, which by me gods and men are honored, to go sway over the trees?’

¹⁰ Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You, come rule over us.’

¹¹ But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my sweetness, and my good crop, to go sway over the trees?’

¹² And the trees said to the vine, ‘You, come rule over us.’

¹³ But the vine said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my wine that makes the gods and men happy, to go sway over the trees?’

¹⁴ So all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You, come rule over us.’

¹⁵ And the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If in good faith¹ you are anointing me as king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; if not, may fire go out from the thornbush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

1. Or “honesty”

¹⁶ “So then, if you have acted in good faith¹ and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerub-Baal and his house, and have dealt with him ⌞according to his accomplishments⌟²—

1. Or “honesty”
2. Literally “according to the dealings of his hand”

¹⁷ for my father fought and ⌞risked his life⌟¹ for you and delivered you from the hand of Midian;

1. Literally “he threw his life in front”

¹⁸ but today you have risen against the house of my father and killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, a king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your relative¹—

1. Or “brother”

¹⁹ if you have acted in good faith¹ and sincerity with Jerub-Baal and his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

1. Or “honesty”

²⁰ But if not, let a fire come out from Abimelech and let it devour the lords of Shechem and Beth-Millo; and let a fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth-Millo, and let it devour Abimelech.”

²¹ And Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; he remained there because of Abimelech his brother.

The Downfall of Shechem and Abimelech

²² Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

²³ And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem, and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

²⁴ so that the violence done to the seventy brothers of Abimelech would be avenged and their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, ⌞who helped⌟¹ to kill his brothers.

1. Literally “who strengthened his hands”

²⁵ And the lords of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along the road; and it was reported to Abimelech.

²⁶ And Gaal son of Ebel and his relatives came, and they crossed over into Shechem, and the lords of Shechem ⌞gave him confidence⌟.¹

1. Literally “put confidence into him”

²⁷ They went out into the field and harvested their vineyards and trod them, and they ⌞held a festival⌟.¹ And they went into the temple² of their god, and they ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

1. Literally “made a rejoicing”
2. Or “house”

²⁸ Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul his chief officer?¹ Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem. Why should we serve him?²

1. Or “overseer”
2. That is, Abimelech

²⁹ If only this people ⌞were in my command⌟!¹ Then I would remove Abimelech, and I would have said,² ‘Increase your army and come out!’ ”

1. Literally “were in my hand”
2. Hebrew “he said”; the translation “I would have said” follows the LXX

³⁰ When Zebul the commander of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, ⌞he became angry⌟,¹

1. Literally “his nose became hot”

³¹ and he sent messengers to Abimelech in Tormah, saying, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.

³² So then, get up by night, you and the army that is with you, and lie in ambush in the field.

³³ And in the morning at sunrise, get up and rush the city; and look, when he and the troops who are with him come out to you, ⌞you must act according to whatever opportunity offers itself⌟.¹

1. Literally “you must do to him just as it will find your hand”

³⁴ So Abimelech and all the army that was with him got up by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four divisions.¹

1. Or “companies”

³⁵ Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the army that was with him got up from the ambush.

³⁶ When Gaal saw the army, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the top of the mountains!” And Zebul said to him, “⌞The shadows of the mountains look like people to you⌟.”¹

1. Literally “the shadows of the mountains you are seeing as men”

³⁷ ⌞And Gaal spoke again⌟¹ and said, “Look, people are coming down from Tabbur-erez, and one division² is coming from the direction of Elon-meonenim.”³

1. Literally “And he did again again Gaal to speak”
2. Or “company”
3. Or “the Sorcerer’s Oak”

³⁸ And Zebul said to him, “Where then ⌞is your boast⌟,¹ you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the army that you rejected? Please, go out now and fight against them.”²

1. Literally “is your mouth”
2. Hebrew “against him”

³⁹ So Gaal went out before the lords of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.