Judges 9 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Abimelech Kills His Brothers

1 And Abimelech ^H40 the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 went ^H1980 to Shechem ^H7927 to his mother’s ^H517 [fn]relatives ^H251 and spoke ^H1696 to them and to the whole ^H3605 family ^H4940 of the household ^H1004 of his mother’s ^H517 father ^H1, saying ^H559,

2 “Speak ^H1696, now ^H4994, in the hearing ^H241 of all ^H3605 the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, ‘Which ^H4100 is better ^H2896 for you, that seventy ^H7657 men ^H376, all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378, rule ^H4910 over you, or ^H518 that one ^H259 man ^H376 rule ^H4910 over you?’ Also, remember ^H2142 that I am your bone ^H6106 and your flesh ^H1320.” 3 And his mother’s ^H517 [fn]relatives ^H251 spoke ^H1696 all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697 on ^H5921 his behalf ^H5921 in the hearing ^H241 of all ^H3605 the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927; and [fn]they were inclined ^H5186 to follow ^H310 Abimelech ^H40, for they said ^H559, “He is our [fn]relative ^H251.” 4 So they gave ^H5414 him seventy ^H7657 pieces of silver ^H3701 from the house ^H1004 of Baal-berith ^H1170 with which ^H1992 Abimelech ^H40 hired ^H7936 worthless ^H7386 and reckless ^H6348 fellows ^H376, and they followed ^H1980 H310 him. 5 Then he came ^H935 to his father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 at Ophrah ^H6084 and killed ^H2026 his brothers ^H251 the sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378, seventy ^H7657 men ^H376, on one ^H259 stone ^H68. But Jotham ^H3147 the youngest ^H6996 son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 was left ^H3498, for he hid ^H2244 himself. 6 Then all ^H3605 the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 and all ^H3605 [fn]Beth-millo ^H1037 assembled ^H622 together, and they went ^H1980 and made ^H4427 Abimelech ^H40 king ^H4428, by the [fn]oak ^H436 of the pillar ^H5324 which ^H834 was in Shechem ^H7927.

7 Then they told ^H5046 Jotham ^H3147, so he went ^H1980 and stood ^H5975 on the top ^H7218 of Mount ^H2022 Gerizim ^H1630 and lifted ^H5375 his voice ^H6963 and called ^H7121 out ^H7121. Thus he said ^H559 to them, “Listen ^H8085 to me, O lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, that God ^H430 may listen ^H8085 to you. 8 The trees ^H6086 surely ^H1980 went ^H1980 forth ^H1980 to anoint ^H4886 a king ^H4428 over ^H5921 them, and they said ^H559 to the olive ^H2132 tree ^H2132, ‘Reign ^H4427 over ^H5921 us!’ 9 But the olive ^H2132 tree ^H2132 said ^H559 to them, ‘Shall I leave ^H2308 my fatness ^H1880, with [fn]which ^H834 God ^H430 and men ^H376 are honored ^H3513, and go ^H1980 to wave ^H5128 over ^H5921 the trees ^H6086?’ 10 Then the trees ^H6086 said ^H559 to the fig ^H8384 tree ^H8384, ‘You come ^H1980, reign ^H4427 over ^H5921 us!’ 11 But the fig ^H8384 tree ^H8384 said ^H559 to them, ‘Shall I leave ^H2308 my sweetness ^H4987 and my good ^H2896 produce ^H8570 and go ^H1980 to wave ^H5128 over ^H5921 the trees ^H6086?’ 12 Then the trees ^H6086 said ^H559 to the vine ^H1612, ‘You come ^H1980, reign ^H4427 over ^H5921 us!’ 13 But the vine ^H1612 said ^H559 to them, ‘Shall I leave ^H2308 my new ^H8492 wine ^H8492, which makes God ^H430 and men ^H376 glad ^H8055, and go ^H1980 to wave ^H5128 over ^H5921 the trees ^H6086?’ 14 Then all ^H3605 the trees ^H6086 said ^H559 to the bramble ^H329, ‘You come ^H1980, reign ^H4427 over ^H5921 us!’ 15 And the bramble ^H329 said ^H559 to the trees ^H6086, ‘If ^H518 in [fn]truth ^H571 you are anointing ^H4886 me as king ^H4428 over ^H5921 you, come ^H935 and take ^H2620 refuge ^H2620 in my shade ^H6738; but if ^H518 not, may fire ^H784 come ^H3318 out ^H3318 from the bramble ^H329 and consume ^H398 the cedars ^H730 of Lebanon ^H3844.’

16 “So now ^H6258, if ^H518 you have dealt ^H6213 in [fn]truth ^H571 and integrity ^H8549 and made ^H4427 Abimelech ^H40 king ^H4427, and if ^H518 you have dealt ^H6213 well ^H2896 with Jerubbaal ^H3378 and his house ^H1004 and [fn]have dealt ^H6213 with him according to the bountiful ^H1576 works ^H1576 of his hands ^H3027— 17 for my father ^H1 fought ^H3898 for you and [fn]risked ^H7993 H5048 his life ^H5315 and delivered ^H5337 you from the hand ^H3027 of Midian ^H4080; 18 but you have risen ^H6965 against ^H5921 my father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 today ^H3117 and have killed ^H2026 his sons ^H1121, seventy ^H7657 men ^H376, on one ^H259 stone ^H68, and have made ^H4427 Abimelech ^H40, the son ^H1121 of his maidservant ^H519, king ^H4427 over ^H5921 the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, because ^H3588 he is your [fn]relative ^H251— 19 if ^H518 then you have dealt ^H6213 in [fn]truth ^H571 and integrity ^H8549 with Jerubbaal ^H3378 and his house ^H1004 this ^H2088 day ^H3117, be ^H8055 glad ^H8055 in Abimelech ^H40, and let him also ^H1571 be ^H8055 glad ^H8055 in you. 20 But if ^H518 not, let fire ^H784 come ^H3318 out ^H3318 from Abimelech ^H40 and consume ^H398 the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 and [fn]Beth-millo ^H1037; and let fire ^H784 come ^H3318 out ^H3318 from the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 and from [fn]Beth-millo ^H1037 and consume ^H398 Abimelech ^H40.” 21 Then Jotham ^H3147 escaped ^H5127 and fled ^H1272 and went ^H1980 to Beer ^H876 and remained ^H3427 there ^H8033 because ^H4480 H6440 of Abimelech ^H40 his brother ^H251.

Zebul Deceives Abimelech

22 And Abimelech ^H40 governed ^H8323 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478 three ^H7969 years ^H8141.

23 Then God ^H430 sent ^H7971 an evil ^H7451 spirit ^H7307 between ^H996 Abimelech ^H40 and the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927; and the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 dealt ^H898 treacherously ^H898 with Abimelech ^H40, 24 so that the violence ^H2555 [fn]done to the seventy ^H7657 sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 might come ^H935, and their blood ^H1818 might be laid ^H7760 on Abimelech ^H40 their brother ^H251, who ^H834 killed ^H2026 them, and on the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, who ^H834 strengthened ^H2388 his hands ^H3027 to kill ^H2026 his brothers ^H251. 25 And the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 set ^H7760 [fn]men in ^H693 ambush ^H693 against him on the tops ^H7218 of the mountains ^H2022, and they robbed ^H1497 all ^H3605 who ^H834 might pass ^H5674 by them along the road ^H1870; and it was told ^H5046 to Abimelech ^H40.

26 Then Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 came ^H935 with his [fn]relatives ^H251, and they crossed ^H5674 over ^H5674 into Shechem ^H7927; and the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 put ^H982 their trust ^H982 in him. 27 And they went ^H3318 out ^H3318 into the field ^H7704 and gathered ^H1219 the grapes of their vineyards ^H3754 and trod ^H1869 them and celebrated ^H6213 a [fn]festival ^H1974; and they came ^H935 into the house ^H1004 of their god ^H430 and ate ^H398 and drank ^H8354 and cursed ^H7043 Abimelech ^H40. 28 Then Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 said ^H559, “Who ^H4310 is Abimelech ^H40, and who ^H4310 is Shechem ^H7927, that we should serve ^H5647 him? Is he not the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378, and is Zebul ^H2083 not his [fn]officer ^H6496? Serve ^H5647 the men ^H376 of Hamor ^H2544 the father ^H1 of Shechem ^H7927; but why ^H4069 should we serve ^H5647 him? 29 [fn]Would ^H4310 H5414, therefore, that this ^H2088 people ^H5971 were under my hand ^H3027! Then I would remove ^H5493 Abimelech ^H40.” And he said ^H559 to Abimelech ^H40, “Increase ^H7235 your army ^H6635 and come ^H3318 out ^H3318.”

30 Then Zebul ^H2083 the ruler ^H8269 of the city ^H5892 heard ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651, and his anger ^H639 burned ^H2734. 31 And he sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to Abimelech ^H40 [fn]deceitfully ^H8649, saying ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 and his [fn]relatives ^H251 have come ^H935 to Shechem ^H7927; and behold ^H2009, they are [fn]stirring ^H6696 up ^H6696 the city ^H5892 against ^H5921 you. 32 So now ^H6258, arise ^H6965 by night ^H3915, you and the people ^H5971 who ^H834 are with you, and lie ^H693 in ^H693 wait ^H693 in the field ^H7704. 33 And it will be in the morning ^H1242, as soon as the sun ^H8121 is up, that you shall rise ^H7925 early ^H7925 and rush ^H6584 upon the city ^H5892; and behold ^H2009, he and the people ^H5971 who ^H834 are with him will come ^H3318 out ^H3318 against ^H413 you, and you shall do ^H6213 to them [fn]whatever ^H834 your hand ^H3027 finds ^H4672 pleasing.”

34 So Abimelech ^H40 and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him arose ^H6965 by night ^H3915 and lay ^H693 in ^H693 wait ^H693 against ^H5921 Shechem ^H7927 in four ^H702 [fn]companies ^H7218. 35 And Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 and stood ^H5975 in the entrance ^H6607 of the city ^H5892 gate ^H8179; and Abimelech ^H40 and the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him arose ^H6965 from the ambush ^H3993. 36 Then Gaal ^H1603 saw ^H7200 the people ^H5971 and said ^H559 to Zebul ^H2083, “Behold ^H2009, people ^H5971 are coming ^H3381 down ^H3381 from the tops ^H7218 of the mountains ^H2022.” But Zebul ^H2083 said ^H559 to him, “You are seeing ^H7200 the shadow ^H6738 of the mountains ^H2022 as if they were men ^H376.” 37 Yet Gaal ^H1603 spoke ^H1696 again ^H5750 H3254 and said ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, people ^H5971 are coming ^H3381 down ^H3381 from the [fn]highest ^H2872 part ^H2872 of the land ^H776, and one ^H259 [fn]company ^H7218 comes ^H935 by the way ^H1870 of [fn]the soothsayers’ ^H6049 [fn]oak ^H436.” 38 Then Zebul ^H2083 said ^H559 to him, “Where ^H346 is your [fn]boasting ^H6310 now ^H645 with which ^H834 you said ^H559, ‘Who ^H4310 is Abimelech ^H40 that we should serve ^H5647 him?’ Is this ^H2088 not the people ^H5971 whom ^H834 you rejected ^H3988? Go ^H3318 out ^H3318 now ^H6258 and fight ^H3898 with them!” 39 So Gaal ^H1603 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 before ^H6440 the lords ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 and fought ^H3898 with Abimelech ^H40. 40 And Abimelech ^H40 pursued ^H7291 him, and he fled ^H5127 before ^H4480 H6440 him; and many ^H7227 fell ^H5307 slain ^H2491 up to the entrance ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179. 41 Then Abimelech ^H40 remained ^H3427 at Arumah ^H725, but Zebul ^H2083 drove ^H1644 out ^H1644 Gaal ^H1603 and his [fn]relatives ^H251 so ^H4480 that ^H4480 they could not ^H4480 remain ^H3427 in Shechem ^H7927.

42 Now it happened ^H1961 the next ^H4283 day ^H4283, that the people ^H5971 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 to the field ^H7704, and it was told ^H5046 to Abimelech ^H40. 43 So he took ^H3947 [fn]his people ^H5971 and divided ^H2673 them into three ^H7969 [fn]companies ^H7218 and lay ^H693 in ^H693 wait ^H693 in the field ^H7704; then he looked ^H7200, and behold ^H2009, the people ^H5971 were coming ^H3318 out ^H3318 from the city ^H5892. So he arose ^H6965 against ^H5921 them and struck ^H5221 them down ^H5221. 44 Then Abimelech ^H40 and the [fn]company ^H7218 who ^H834 was with him rushed ^H6584 forward ^H6584 and stood ^H5975 in the entrance ^H6607 of the city ^H5892 gate ^H8179; but the other two ^H8147 [fn]companies ^H7218 rushed ^H6584 upon ^H5921 all ^H3605 who ^H834 were in the field ^H7704 and struck ^H5221 them down ^H5221. 45 So Abimelech ^H40 fought ^H3898 against the city ^H5892 all ^H3605 that day ^H3117, and he captured ^H3920 the city ^H5892 and killed ^H2026 the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were in it; then he tore ^H5422 the city ^H5892 down ^H5422 and sowed ^H2232 it with salt ^H4417.

46 Then all ^H3605 the lords ^H1167 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 heard ^H8085 of it, and they entered ^H935 the inner ^H6877 chamber ^H6877 of the [fn]temple ^H1004 of El-berith ^H410 H1285. 47 And it was told ^H5046 to Abimelech ^H40 that all ^H3605 the lords ^H1167 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 were gathered ^H6908 together. 48 So Abimelech ^H40 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Mount ^H2022 Zalmon ^H6756, he and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him; and Abimelech ^H40 took ^H3947 [fn]an axe ^H7134 in his hand ^H3027 and cut ^H3772 down ^H3772 a branch ^H7754 from the trees ^H6086 and lifted ^H5375 it and laid ^H7760 it on his shoulder ^H7926. Then he said ^H559 to the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him, “What ^H4100 you have seen ^H7200 me do ^H6213, hurry ^H4116 and do ^H6213 [fn]likewise ^H3644.” 49 And all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 also ^H1571 cut ^H3772 down ^H3772 each ^H376 one ^H376 his branch ^H7754 and followed ^H1980 H310 Abimelech ^H40 and put ^H7760 them on the inner ^H6877 chamber ^H6877 and set ^H3341 the inner ^H6877 chamber ^H6877 on fire ^H784 over ^H5921 those inside, so that all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 also ^H1571 died ^H4191, about one thousand ^H505 men ^H376 and women ^H802.

50 Then Abimelech ^H40 went ^H1980 to Thebez ^H8405, and he camped ^H2583 against Thebez ^H8405 and captured ^H3920 it. 51 But there was a strong ^H5797 tower ^H4026 in the center ^H8432 of the city ^H5892, and all ^H3605 the men ^H376 and women ^H802 with all ^H3605 the lords ^H1167 of the city ^H5892 fled ^H5127 there ^H8033 and shut ^H5462 themselves in ^H5462; and they went ^H5927 up ^H5927 on the roof ^H1406 of the tower ^H4026. 52 So Abimelech ^H40 came ^H935 to the tower ^H4026 and fought ^H3898 against it and approached ^H5066 the entrance ^H6607 of the tower ^H4026 to burn ^H8313 it with fire ^H784. 53 But a certain ^H259 woman ^H802 threw ^H7993 an upper ^H7393 millstone ^H7393 on Abimelech’s ^H40 head ^H7218, and she smashed ^H7533 his skull ^H1538. 54 Then he called ^H7121 quickly ^H4120 to the young ^H5288 man ^H5288, his armor ^H3627 bearer ^H5375, and said ^H559 to him, “Draw ^H8025 your sword ^H2719 and put ^H4191 me to ^H4191 death ^H4191, lest ^H6435 they say ^H559 of me, ‘A woman ^H802 killed ^H2026 him.’” So [fn]the young ^H5288 man ^H5288 pierced ^H1856 him through ^H1856, and he died ^H4191. 55 Then the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 saw ^H7200 that Abimelech ^H40 was dead ^H4191, so each ^H376 went ^H1980 away to his [fn]home ^H4725. 56 Thus God ^H430 returned ^H7725 the evil ^H7451 of Abimelech ^H40, which ^H834 he had done ^H6213 to his father ^H1 in killing ^H2026 his seventy ^H7657 brothers ^H251. 57 God ^H430 also returned ^H7725 all ^H3605 the evil ^H7451 of the men ^H376 of Shechem ^H7927 on their own heads ^H7218, and the curse ^H7045 of Jotham ^H3147 the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 came ^H935 [fn]upon them.