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| [1]and Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, |
[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, |
| [2]`Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you -- the ruling over you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal), or the ruling over you of one man? -- and ye have remembered that I [am] your bone and your flesh.' |
[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. |
| [3]And his mother's brethren speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclineth after Abimelech, for they said, `He [is] our brother;' |
[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. |
| [4]and they give to him seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hireth with them men, vain and unstable, and they go after him; |
[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. |
| [5]and he goeth into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slayeth his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is left, for he was hidden. |
[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. |
| [6]And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] in Shechem; |
[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. |
| [7]and they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifteth up his voice, and calleth, and saith to them, `Hearken unto me, O masters of Shechem, and God doth hearken unto you: |
[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. |
| [8]`The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us. |
[8]The trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. |
| [9]And the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees? |
[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? |
| [10]And the trees say to the fig, Come thou, reign over us. |
[10]Then the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and be king over us. |
| [11]And the fig saith to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees? |
[11]But the fig tree answered them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to advance me above the trees? |
| [12]`And the trees say to the vine, Come thou, reign over us. |
[12]Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and be king over us. |
| [13]And the vine saith to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is rejoicing gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees? |
[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? |
| [14]And all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us. |
[14]Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. |
| [15]And the bramble saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not -- fire cometh out from the bramble, and devoureth the cedars of Lebanon. |
[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. |
| [16]`And, now, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted, when ye make Abimelech king; and if ye have done good with Jerubbaal, and with his house; and if according to the deed of his hands ye have done to him -- |
[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, |
| [17]because my father hath fought for you, and doth cast away his life from [him], and deliver you from the hand of Midian; |
[17](For my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hands of Midian. |
| [18]and ye have risen against the house of my father to-day, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he [is] your brother -- |
[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) |
| [19]yea, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and he doth rejoice -- even he -- in you; |
[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. |
| [20]and if not -- fire cometh out from Abimelech and devoureth the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire cometh out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devoureth Abimelech.' |
[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. |
| [21]And Jotham hasteth, and fleeth, and goeth to Beer, and dwelleth there, from the face 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]And Abimelech is prince over Israel three years, |
[22]So Abimelech reigned three year over Israel. |
| [23]and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech, |
[23]But God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem break their promise to Abimelech, |
| [24]for the coming in of the violence [to] the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and of their blood to place [it] on Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren. |
[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. |
| [25]And the masters of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the hills, and rob every one who passeth over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech. |
[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. |
| [26]And Gaal son of Ebed cometh -- also his brethren -- and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him, |
[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. |
| [27]and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech. |
[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. |
| [28]And Gaal son of Ebed saith, `Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? is [he] not son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of Shechem, and wherefore do we serve him -- we? |
[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? |
| [29]and oh that this people were in my hand -- then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, `Increase thy host, and come out.' |
[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. |
| [30]And Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth, |
[30]And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his wrath was kindled. |
| [31]and he sendeth messengers unto Abimelech deceitfully, saying, `Lo, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming into Shechem, and lo, they are fortifying the city against thee; |
[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. |
| [32]and, now, rise by night, thou and the people who [are] with thee, and lay wait in the field, |
[32]Now therefore arise by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field. |
| [33]and it hath been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, thou dost rise early, and hast pushed against the city; and lo, he and the people who [are] with him are going out unto thee -- and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.' |
[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. |
| [34]And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem -- four detachments; |
[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. |
| [35]and Gaal son of Ebed goeth out, and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech riseth -- also the people who [are] with him -- from the ambush, |
[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. |
| [36]and Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, `Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;' and Zebul saith unto him, `The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.' |
[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. |
| [37]And Gaal addeth yet to speak, and saith, `Lo, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.' |
[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. |
| [38]And Zebul saith unto him, `Where [is] now thy mouth, in that thou sayest, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out, I pray thee now, and fight against it.' |
[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. |
| [39]And Gaal goeth out before the masters of Shechem, and fighteth against Abimelech, |
[39]And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. |
| [40]and Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded -- unto the opening of the gate. |
[40]But Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. |
| [41]And Abimelech abideth in Arumah, and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem. |
[41]And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren that they should not dwell in Shechem. |
| [42]And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech, |
[42]And on the morrow, the people went out into the field: which was told Abimelech. |
| [43]and he taketh the people, and divideth them into three detachments, and layeth wait in a field, and looketh, and lo, the people are coming out from the city, and he riseth against them, and smiteth them. |
[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. |
| [44]And Abimelech and the detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and smite 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. |
| [45]and Abimelech hath fought against the city all that day, and captureth the city, and the people who [are] in it he hath slain, and he breaketh down the city, and soweth it [with] salt. |
[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. |
| [46]And all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god Berith, |
[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. |
| [47]and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together, |
[47]And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. |
| [48]and Abimelech goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth [it] on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who [are] with him, `What ye have seen I have done -- haste, do ye like it.' |
[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. |
| [49]And all the people also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set [them] at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, about a thousand men and women. |
[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. |
| [50]And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth against Thebez, and captureth it, |
[50]Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and besieged Thebez, and took it. |
| [51]and a strong tower hath been in the midst of the city, and thither flee do all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower. |
[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. |
| [52]And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire, |
[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. |
| [53]and a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh his skull, |
[53]But a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and break his brainpan. |
| [54]and he calleth hastily unto the young man bearing his weapons, and saith to him, `Draw thy sword, and thou hast put me to death, lest they say of me -- A woman slew him;' and his young man pierced him through, and he dieth. |
[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. |
| [55]And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and go each one to his place; |
[55]And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his own place. |
| [56]and God turneth back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brethren; |
[56]Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren. |
| [57]and all the evil of the men of Shechem hath God turned back on their head, and come unto them doth the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal. |
[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. |