Judges 9 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

1 Now Abimelech ^H40 the son ^H1121 of [fn]Jerubbaal ^H3378 went ^H1980 to Shechem ^H7927, to his mother’s ^H517 relatives ^H251, and spoke ^H1696 to them and to the entire ^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 [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, ‘Which ^H4100 is better ^H2896 for you: for seventy ^H7657 men ^H376, all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378, to rule ^H4910 over you, or ^H518 for one ^H259 man ^H376 to rule ^H4910 over you?’ Also, remember ^H2142 that I am your bone ^H6106 and your flesh ^H1320.” 3 So his mother’s ^H517 relatives ^H251 spoke ^H1696 all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697 on ^H5921 his behalf ^H5921 in the hearing ^H241 of all ^H3605 the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927; and [fn]they were inclined ^H5186 to follow ^H310 Abimelech ^H40, for they said ^H559, “He is our relative ^H251.” 4 And 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 men ^H376, and they followed ^H1980 H310 him. 5 Then he went ^H935 to his father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 in Ophrah ^H6084 and killed ^H2026 his brothers ^H251 the sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378, seventy ^H7657 men ^H376, [fn]on one ^H259 stone ^H68. But Jotham ^H3147 the youngest ^H6996 son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 was left ^H3498, because ^H3588 he hid ^H2244 himself. 6 All ^H3605 the [fn]leaders ^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 memorial ^H4676 stone ^H4676 which ^H834 was in Shechem ^H7927.

7 Now when they told ^H5046 Jotham ^H3147, he went ^H1980 and stood ^H5975 on the top ^H7218 of Mount ^H2022 Gerizim ^H1630, and raised ^H5375 his voice ^H6963 and called ^H7121 out ^H7121. And he said ^H559 to them, “Listen ^H8085 to me, you [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, that God ^H430 may listen ^H8085 to you. 8 Once ^H1980 the trees ^H6086 went ^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 give ^H2308 up ^H2308 my fatness ^H1880 with [fn]which ^H834 God ^H430 and mankind ^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 give ^H2308 up ^H2308 my sweetness ^H4987 and my good ^H2896 [fn]fruit ^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 give ^H2308 up ^H2308 my new ^H8492 wine ^H8492, which cheers ^H8055 God ^H430 and mankind ^H376, 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 you [fn]really ^H571 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 of the bramble ^H329 and consume ^H398 the cedars ^H730 of Lebanon ^H3844.’

16 “Now ^H6258 then, if ^H518 you have acted ^H6213 with [fn]honesty ^H571 and integrity ^H8549 in making ^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 [fn]as he deserved ^H1576 H3027— 17 for my father ^H1 fought ^H3898 for you, and [fn]risked ^H7993 H5048 his life ^H5315 and saved ^H5337 you from the hand ^H3027 of Midian ^H4080; 18 but in fact 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 female ^H519 slave ^H519, king ^H4427 over ^H5921 the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, because ^H3588 he is your relative ^H251— 19 so if ^H518 you have acted ^H6213 with [fn]honesty ^H571 and integrity ^H8549 toward Jerubbaal ^H3378 and his house ^H1004 this ^H2088 day ^H3117, be ^H8055 joyful ^H8055 about Abimelech ^H40, and may he also ^H1571 be ^H8055 joyful ^H8055 about you. 20 But if ^H518 not, may fire ^H784 come ^H3318 out ^H3318 of Abimelech ^H40 and consume ^H398 the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 and [fn]Beth-millo ^H1037; and may fire ^H784 come ^H3318 out ^H3318 of the [fn]leaders ^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 he stayed ^H3427 there ^H8033 because ^H4480 H6440 of his brother ^H251 Abimelech ^H40.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22 Now Abimelech ^H40 ruled ^H8323 over ^H5921 Israel ^H3478 for three ^H7969 years ^H8141.

23 Then God ^H430 sent ^H7971 an evil ^H7451 spirit ^H7307 between ^H996 Abimelech ^H40 and the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927; and the [fn]leaders ^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 would come ^H935, and the responsibility for their blood ^H1818 would be placed ^H7760 on their brother ^H251 Abimelech ^H40, who ^H834 killed ^H2026 them, and on the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927, who ^H834 [fn]encouraged ^H2388 H3027 him to kill ^H2026 his brothers ^H251. 25 The [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 set ^H7760 up ^H7760 men ^H693 in ^H693 ambush ^H693 against him on the tops ^H7218 of the mountains ^H2022, and they robbed ^H1497 everyone ^H3605 who ^H834 would pass ^H5674 by them on the road ^H1870; and it was reported ^H5046 to Abimelech ^H40.

26 Now Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 came ^H935 with his relatives ^H251, and crossed ^H5674 over ^H5674 into Shechem ^H7927; and the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 trusted ^H982 him. 27 So they went ^H3318 out ^H3318 to the field ^H7704 and gathered ^H1219 the ^H1219 grapes ^H1219 of their vineyards ^H3754 and trampled ^H1869 them, and held ^H6213 a festival ^H1974; and they went ^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 governor ^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]If ^H4310 H5414 only ^H4310 H5414 this ^H2088 people ^H5971 were under my authority ^H3027! Then I would do ^H5493 away ^H5493 with ^H5493 Abimelech ^H40.” And he said ^H559 to Abimelech ^H40, “Enlarge ^H7235 your army ^H6635 and come ^H3318 out ^H3318!”

30 When Zebul ^H2083 the leader ^H8269 of the city ^H5892 heard ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651, his anger ^H639 burned ^H2734. 31 So using deception ^H8649, he successfully sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to Abimelech ^H40, saying ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 and his 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 Then in the morning ^H1242, as soon as the sun ^H8121 is up, you shall rise ^H7925 early ^H7925 and attack ^H6584 the city ^H5892; and behold ^H2009, when he and the people ^H5971 who ^H834 are with him come ^H3318 out ^H3318 against ^H413 you, you shall do ^H6213 to them [fn]whatever ^H834 you can.”

34 So Abimelech ^H40 and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him got ^H6965 up ^H6965 at night ^H3915, and lay ^H693 in ^H693 wait ^H693 against ^H5921 Shechem ^H7927, in four ^H702 [fn]units ^H7218. 35 Now Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 and stood ^H5975 at 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 When Gaal ^H1603 saw ^H7200 the people ^H5971, he said ^H559 to Zebul ^H2083, “[fn]Look ^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 people ^H376.” 37 And Gaal ^H1603 spoke ^H1696 yet ^H5750 again ^H3254 and said ^H559, “Look ^H2009, people ^H5971 are coming ^H3381 down ^H3381 from the [fn]highest ^H2872 part ^H2872 of the land ^H776, and one ^H259 [fn]unit ^H7218 is coming ^H935 by way ^H1870 of [fn]the diviners’ ^H6049 [fn]oak ^H436.” 38 Then Zebul ^H2083 said ^H559 to him, “Where ^H346 then ^H645 is your [fn]boasting ^H6310 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 them!” 39 So Gaal ^H1603 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 [fn]in the sight ^H6440 of the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 and fought ^H3898 Abimelech ^H40. 40 But Abimelech ^H40 chased ^H7291 him, and he fled ^H5127 from him; and many ^H7227 fell ^H5307 wounded ^H2491 up to the entrance ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179. 41 Then Abimelech ^H40 stayed ^H3427 in Arumah ^H725, but Zebul ^H2083 drove ^H1644 out ^H1644 Gaal ^H1603 and his relatives ^H251 so ^H4480 that ^H4480 they could not ^H4480 stay ^H3427 in Shechem ^H7927.

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

46 When all ^H3605 the [fn]leaders ^H1167 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 heard ^H8085 about it, they entered ^H935 the inner ^H6877 chamber ^H6877 of the [fn]temple ^H1004 of El-berith ^H410 H1285. 47 And it was reported ^H5046 to Abimelech ^H40 that all ^H3605 the [fn]leaders ^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 put ^H7760 it on his shoulder ^H7926. Then he said ^H559 to the people ^H5971 who ^H834 were with him, “What ^H4100 you saw ^H7200 me do ^H6213, hurry ^H4116 and do ^H6213 [fn]likewise ^H3644.” 49 So 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 top ^H5921 of 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 people ^H376 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 also ^H1571 died ^H4191, about a 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 [fn]leaders ^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 down ^H8313 with fire ^H784. 53 But a woman ^H802 threw ^H7993 an upper ^H7393 millstone ^H7393 on Abimelech’s ^H40 head ^H7218, crushing ^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 kill ^H4191 me, so ^H6435 that ^H6435 it will not ^H6435 be said ^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 Now when the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 saw ^H7200 that Abimelech ^H40 was dead ^H4191, each ^H376 left ^H1980 for his [fn]home ^H4725. 56 So God ^H430 repaid ^H7725 the wickedness ^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 wickedness ^H7451 of the men ^H376 of Shechem ^H7927 on their heads ^H7218, and the curse ^H7045 of Jotham ^H3147 the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 came ^H935 [fn]upon them.