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The Geneva Bible (1560) Geneva	Jewish Publication Society (1917) JPS
← Judges Jdg 9 →
[1]Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family, and house of his mother's father, saying,	[1]And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying:
[2]Say, I pray you, in the audience of all the men of Shechem, whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are seventy persons, reign over you, either that one reign over you? Remember also, that I am your bone, and your flesh.	[2]'Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.'
[3]Then his mother's brethren spake of him in the audience of all the men of Shechem, all these words: and their hearts were moved to follow Abimelech: for said they, He is our brother.	[3]And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said: 'He is our brother.'
[4]And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows which followed him.	[4]And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
[5]And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, the sons of Jerubbaal , about seventy persons upon one stone: yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left: for he hid himself.	[5]And he went unto his father's house a Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
[6]And all the men of Shechem gathered together with all the house of Millo, and came and made Abimelech king in the plain, where the stone was erected in Shechem.	[6]And all the men of Shec assembled themselves together, and all Beth-millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the terebinth of the pillar that was in Shechem.
[7]And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lift up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, you men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.	[7]And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them: 'Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
[8]The trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.	[8]The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree: Reign thou over us.
[9]But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to advance me above the trees?	[9]But the olive-tree said unto them Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?
[10]Then the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and be king over us.	[10]And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.
[11]But the fig tree answered them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to advance me above the trees?	[11]But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees?
[12]Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and be king over us.	[12]And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
[13]But the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, whereby I cheer God and man, and go to advance me above the trees?	[13]And the vine said unto them Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?
[14]Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.	[14]Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
[15]And the bramble said unto the trees, If ye will indeed anoint me king over you, come, and put your trust under my shadow: and if not, the fire shall come out of the bramble, and consume the cedars of Lebanon.	[15]And the bramble said unto the trees: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
[16]Now therefore, if ye do truly and uncorruptly to make Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and with his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands,	[16]Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands—
[17](For my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hands of Midian.	[17]For my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
[18]And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his children, about seventy persons upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother)	[18]And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—
[19]If ye then have dealt truly and purely with Jerubbaal, and with his house this day, then rejoice ye with Abimelech, and let him rejoice with you.	[19]If ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
[20]But if not, let a fire come out from Abimelech, and consume the men of Shechem and the house of Millo: also let a fire come forth from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and consume Abimelech.	[20]But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.'
[21]And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother.	[21]And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
[22]So Abimelech reigned three year over Israel.	[22]And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
[23]But God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem break their promise to Abimelech,	[23]And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
[24]That the cruelty toward the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and their blood might come and be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which had slain them, and upon the men of Shechem, which had aided him to kill his brethren.	[24]That the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
[25]So the men of Shechem set men in wait for him in the tops of the mountains: who robbed all that passed that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.	[25]And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them; and it was told Abimelech.
[26]Then Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and they went to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.	[26]And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went on to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
[27]Therefore they went out into the field, and gathered in their grapes and trode them, and made merry, and went into the house of their gods, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.	[27]And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
[28]Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech? And who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? And Zebul is his officer? Serve rather the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?	[28]And Gaal the son of Ebed said: 'Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
[29]Now would God this people were under mine hand: then would I put away Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.	[29]And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech.' And he said to Abimelech: 'Increase thine army, and come out.'
[30]And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his wrath was kindled.	[30]And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
[31]Therefore he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem, and behold, they fortify the city against thee.	[31]And he sent messengers unto Abimelech in Tormah, saying: 'Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they will incite the city against thee.
[32]Now therefore arise by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field.	[32]Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
[33]And rise early in the morning as soon as the sun is up, and assault the city: and when he and the people that is with him, shall come out against thee, do to him what thou canst.	[33]And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt be able.'
[34]So Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him by night: and they lay in wait against Shechem in four bands.	[34]And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in companies.
[35]Then Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the folk that were with him, from lying in wait.	[35]And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
[36]And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains: and Zebul said unto him, The shadow of the mountains seem men unto thee.	[36]And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: 'Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains.' And Zebul said unto him: 'Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.'
[37]And Gaal spake again, and said, See, there come folk down by the middle of the land, and another band cometh by the way of the plain of Meonenim.	[37]And Gaal spoke again and said: 'See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of Elon-meonenim.'
[38]Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the people that thou hast despised? Go out now, I pray thee, and fight with them.	[38]Then said Zebul unto him: 'Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst: Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.'
[39]And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.	[39]And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
[40]But Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.	[40]And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
[41]And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren that they should not dwell in Shechem.	[41]And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
[42]And on the morrow, the people went out into the field: which was told Abimelech.	[42]And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.
[43]And he took the people, and divided them into three bands, and laid wait in the fields, and looked, and behold, the people were come out of the city, and he rose up against them, and smote them.	[43]And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people were coming forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
[44]And Abimelech, and the bands that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other bands ran upon all the people that were in the field and slew 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 when Abimelech had fought against the city all that day, he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and destroyed the city and sowed salt in it.	[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 it, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.	[46]And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
[47]And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.	[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 axes with him and cut down boughs of trees and took them, and bear them on his shoulder, and said unto the folk that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste , and do like me.	[48]And Abimelech got him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took 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]Then all the people also cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire with them: so all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.	[49]And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold 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 besieged Thebez, and took it.	[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 the chief of the city, and shut it to them, and went up to the top of the tower.	[51]But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, even all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
[52]And Abimelech came unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to set it on fire.	[52]And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went close unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
[53]But a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and break his brainpan.	[53]And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
[54]Then Abimelech called hastily his page that bear his harness, and said unto him, Draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his page thrust him through, and he died.	[54]Then he called hastily unto the young man his armour-bearer, 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 own place.	[55]And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
[56]Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.	[56]Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
[57]Also all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God bring upon their heads. So upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.	[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.
Source: archive.org	Translation: Jewish Publication Society (1917) See information...