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1 # And Abimelech <040> the son <01121> of Jerubbaal <03378> went <03212> (8799) to Shechem <07927> unto his mother's <0517> brethren <0251>, and communed <01696> (8762) with them, and with all the family <04940> of the house <01004> of his mother's <0517> father <01>, saying <0559> (8800),
2 Speak <01696> (8761), I pray you, in the ears <0241> of all the men <01167> of Shechem <07927>, Whether is better <02896> for you, either that all the sons <01121> of Jerubbaal <03378>, which are threescore and ten <07657> persons <0376> , reign <04910> (8800) over you, or that one <0259> reign <04910> (8800) over you? remember <02142> (8804) also that I am your bone <06106> and your flesh <01320>.
3 And his mother's <0517> brethren <0251> spake <01696> (8762) of him in the ears <0241> of all the men <01167> of Shechem <07927> all these words <01697>: and their hearts <03820> inclined <05186> (8799) to follow <0310> Abimelech <040>; for they said <0559> (8804), He is our brother <0251>.
4 And they gave <05414> (8799) him threescore and ten <07657> pieces of silver <03701> out of the house <01004> of Baalberith <01170>, wherewith Abimelech <040> hired <07936> (8799) vain <07386> and light <06348> (8802) persons <0582>, which followed <03212> (8799) him <0310>.
5 And he went <0935> (8799) unto his father's <01> house <01004> at Ophrah <06084>, and slew <02026> (8799) his brethren <0251> the sons <01121> of Jerubbaal <03378>, being threescore and ten <07657> persons <0376>, upon one <0259> stone <068>: notwithstanding yet Jotham <03147> the youngest <06996> son <01121> of Jerubbaal <03378> was left <03498> (8735); for he hid <02244> (8738) himself.
6 And all the men <01167> of Shechem <07927> gathered together <0622> (8735), and all the house <01004> of Millo <04407> (8677) <01037>, and went <03212> (8799), and made <04427> (8686) Abimelech <040> king <04428>, by the plain <0436> of the pillar <05324> (8716) that was in Shechem <07927>.
7 # And when they told <05046> (8686) it to Jotham <03147>, he went <03212> (8799) and stood <05975> (8799) in the top <07218> of mount <02022> Gerizim <01630>, and lifted up <05375> (8799) his voice <06963> , and cried <07121> (8799), and said <0559> (8799) unto them, Hearken <08085> (8798) unto me, ye men <01167> of Shechem <07927>, that God <0430> may hearken <08085> (8799) unto you.
8 The trees <06086> went forth <01980> (8804) (8676) <01980> (8800) on a time to anoint <04886> (8800) a king <04428> over them; and they said <0559> (8799) unto the olive tree <02132>, Reign <04427> (8798) thou over us.
9 But the olive tree <02132> said <0559> (8799) unto them, Should I leave <02308> (8804) my fatness <01880> , wherewith by me they honour <03513> (8762) God <0430> and man <0582>, and go <01980> (8804) to be promoted <05128> (8800) over the trees <06086>?
10 And the trees <06086> said <0559> (8799) to the fig tree <08384>, Come <03212> (8798) thou, and reign <04427> (8798) over us.
11 But the fig tree <08384> said <0559> (8799) unto them, Should I forsake <02308> (8804) my sweetness <04987> , and my good <02896> fruit <08570>, and go <01980> (8804) to be promoted <05128> (8800) over the trees <06086> ?
12 Then said <0559> (8799) the trees <06086> unto the vine <01612>, Come <03212> (8798) thou, and reign <04427> (8798) over us.
13 And the vine <01612> said <0559> (8799) unto them, Should I leave <02308> (8804) my wine <08492> , which cheereth <08055> (8764) God <0430> and man <0582>, and go <01980> (8804) to be promoted <05128> (8800) over the trees <06086>?
14 Then said <0559> (8799) all the trees <06086> unto the bramble <0329>, Come <03212> (8798) thou, and reign <04427> (8798) over us.
15 And the bramble <0329> said <0559> (8799) unto the trees <06086>, If in truth <0571> ye anoint <04886> (8802) me king <04428> over you, then come <0935> (8798) and put your trust <02620> (8798) in my shadow <06738>: and if not, let fire <0784> come out <03318> (8799) of the bramble <0329>, and devour <0398> (8799) the cedars <0730> of Lebanon <03844>.
16 Now therefore, if ye have done <06213> (8804) truly <0571> and sincerely <08549>, in that ye have made Abimelech <040> king <04427> (8686), and if ye have dealt <06213> (8804) well <02896> with Jerubbaal <03378> and his house <01004> , and have done <06213> (8804) unto him according to the deserving <01576> of his hands <03027>;
17 (For my father <01> fought <03898> (8738) for you, and adventured <07993> (8686) his life <05315> far <05048>, and delivered <05337> (8686) you out of the hand <03027> of Midian <04080>:
18 And ye are risen up <06965> (8804) against my father's <01> house <01004> this day <03117>, and have slain <02026> (8799) his sons <01121>, threescore and ten <07657> persons <0376>, upon one <0259> stone <068>, and have made Abimelech <040>, the son <01121> of his maidservant <0519>, king <04427> (8686) over the men <01167> of Shechem <07927> , because he is your brother <0251>;)
19 If ye then have dealt <06213> (8804) truly <0571> and sincerely <08549> with Jerubbaal <03378> and with his house <01004> this day <03117>, then rejoice <08055> (8798) ye in Abimelech <040>, and let him also rejoice <08055> (8799) in you:
20 But if not, let fire <0784> come out <03318> (8799) from Abimelech <040>, and devour <0398> (8799) the men <01167> of Shechem <07927>, and the house <01004> of Millo <04407> (8677) <01037>; and let fire <0784> come out <03318> (8799) from the men <01167> of Shechem <07927>, and from the house <01004> of Millo <04407> (8676) <01037>, and devour <0398> (8799) Abimelech <040>.
21 And Jotham <03147> ran away <01272> (8799), and fled <05127> (8799), and went <03212> (8799) to Beer <0876>, and dwelt <03427> (8799) there, for fear <06440> of Abimelech <040> his brother <0251>.
22 # When Abimelech <040> had reigned <07786> (8799) three <07969> years <08141> over Israel <03478>,
23 Then God <0430> sent <07971> (8799) an evil <07451> spirit <07307> between Abimelech <040> and the men <01167> of Shechem <07927>; and the men <01167> of Shechem <07927> dealt treacherously <0898> (8799) with Abimelech <040>:
24 That the cruelty <02555> done to the threescore and ten <07657> sons <01121> of Jerubbaal <03378> might come <0935> (8800), and their blood <01818> be laid <07760> (8800) upon Abimelech <040> their brother <0251>, which slew <02026> (8804) them; and upon the men <01167> of Shechem <07927>, which aided <02388> (8765) <03027> him in the killing <02026> (8800) of his brethren <0251>.
25 And the men <01167> of Shechem <07927> set <07760> (8799) liers in wait <0693> (8764) for him in the top <07218> of the mountains <02022>, and they robbed <01497> (8799) all that came <05674> (8799) along that way <01870> by them: and it was told <05046> (8714) Abimelech <040>.
26 And Gaal <01603> the son <01121> of Ebed <05651> came <0935> (8799) with his brethren <0251>, and went over <05674> (8799) to Shechem <07927>: and the men <01167> of Shechem <07927> put their confidence <0982> (8799) in him.
27 And they went out <03318> (8799) into the fields <07704>, and gathered <01219> (8799) their vineyards <03754>, and trode <01869> (8799) the grapes, and made <06213> (8799) merry <01974>, and went <0935> (8799) into the house <01004> of their god <0430>, and did eat <0398> (8799) and drink <08354> (8799), and cursed <07043> (8762) Abimelech <040>.
28 And Gaal <01603> the son <01121> of Ebed <05651> said <0559> (8799), Who is Abimelech <040> , and who is Shechem <07927>, that we should serve <05647> (8799) him? is not he the son <01121> of Jerubbaal <03378> ? and Zebul <02083> his officer <06496>? serve <05647> (8798) the men <0582> of Hamor <02544> the father <01> of Shechem <07927>: for why should we serve <05647> (8799) him?
29 And would to God this people <05971> were under <05414> (8799) my hand <03027>! then would I remove <05493> (8686) Abimelech <040>. And he said <0559> (8799) to Abimelech <040>, Increase <07235> (8761) thine army <06635> , and come out <03318> (8798).
30 And when Zebul <02083> the ruler <08269> of the city <05892> heard <08085> (8799) the words <01697> of Gaal <01603> the son <01121> of Ebed <05651>, his anger <0639> was kindled <02734> (8799).
31 And he sent <07971> (8799) messengers <04397> unto Abimelech <040> privily <08649>, saying <0559> (8800), Behold, Gaal <01603> the son <01121> of Ebed <05651> and his brethren <0251> be come <0935> (8802) to Shechem <07927>; and, behold, they fortify <06696> (8802) the city <05892> against thee.
32 Now therefore up <06965> (8798) by night <03915>, thou and the people <05971> that is with thee, and lie in wait <0693> (8798) in the field <07704>:
33 And it shall be, that in the morning <01242>, as soon as the sun <08121> is up <02224> (8800), thou shalt rise early <07925> (8686), and set <06584> (8804) upon the city <05892>: and, behold, when he and the people <05971> that is with him come out <03318> (8802) against thee, then mayest thou do <06213> (8804) to them as thou <03027> shalt find occasion <04672> (8799).
34 And Abimelech <040> rose up <06965> (8799), and all the people <05971> that were with him, by night <03915> , and they laid wait <0693> (8799) against Shechem <07927> in four <0702> companies <07218>.
35 And Gaal <01603> the son <01121> of Ebed <05651> went out <03318> (8799), and stood <05975> (8799) in the entering <06607> of the gate <08179> of the city <05892>: and Abimelech <040> rose up <06965> (8799), and the people <05971> that were with him, from lying in wait <03993>.
36 And when Gaal <01603> saw <07200> (8799) the people <05971>, he said <0559> (8799) to Zebul <02083>, Behold, there come <03381> <00> people <05971> down <03381> (8802) from the top <07218> of the mountains <02022>. And Zebul <02083> said <0559> (8799) unto him, Thou seest <07200> (8802) the shadow <06738> of the mountains <02022> as if they were men <0582>.
37 And Gaal <01603> spake <01696> (8763) again <03254> (8686) and said <0559> (8799), See there come <03381> <00> people <05971> down <03381> (8802) by the middle <02872> of the land <0776>, and another <0259> company <07218> come <0935> (8804) along by the plain <0436> of <01870> Meonenim <06049> (8781) .
38 Then said <0559> (8799) Zebul <02083> unto him, Where is now <0645> thy mouth <06310>, wherewith thou saidst <0559> (8799), Who is Abimelech <040>, that we should serve <05647> (8799) him? is not this the people <05971> that thou hast despised <03988> (8804)? go out <03318> (8798), I pray now <04994>, and fight <03898> (8734) with them.
39 And Gaal <01603> went out <03318> (8799) before <06440> the men <01167> of Shechem <07927>, and fought <03898> (8735) with Abimelech <040>.
40 And Abimelech <040> chased <07291> (8799) him, and he fled <05127> (8799) before <06440> him, and many <07227> were overthrown <05307> (8799) and wounded <02491>, even unto the entering <06607> of the gate <08179> .
41 And Abimelech <040> dwelt <03427> (8799) at Arumah <0725>: and Zebul <02083> thrust out <01644> (8762) Gaal <01603> and his brethren <0251>, that they should not dwell <03427> (8800) in Shechem <07927>.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow <04283>, that the people <05971> went out <03318> (8799) into the field <07704> ; and they told <05046> (8686) Abimelech <040>.
43 And he took <03947> (8799) the people <05971>, and divided <02673> (8799) them into three <07969> companies <07218>, and laid wait <0693> (8799) in the field <07704>, and looked <07200> (8799), and, behold, the people <05971> were come forth <03318> (8802) out of the city <05892>; and he rose up <06965> (8799) against them, and smote <05221> (8686) them.
44 And Abimelech <040>, and the company <07218> that was with him, rushed forward <06584> (8804), and stood <05975> (8799) in the entering <06607> of the gate <08179> of the city <05892>: and the two <08147> other companies <07218> ran upon <06584> (8804) all the people that were in the fields <07704>, and slew <05221> (8686) them.
45 And Abimelech <040> fought <03898> (8738) against the city <05892> all that day <03117>; and he took <03920> (8799) the city <05892>, and slew <02026> (8804) the people <05971> that was therein, and beat down <05422> (8799) the city <05892>, and sowed <02232> (8799) it with salt <04417>.
46 And when all the men <01167> of the tower <04026> of Shechem <07927> heard <08085> (8799) that, they entered <0935> (8799) into an hold <06877> of the house <01004> of the god <0410> Berith <01286>.
47 And it was told <05046> (8714) Abimelech <040>, that all the men <01167> of the tower <04026> of Shechem <07927> were gathered together <06908> (8694).
48 And Abimelech <040> gat him up <05927> (8799) to mount <02022> Zalmon <06756>, he and all the people <05971> that were with him; and Abimelech <040> took <03947> (8799) an axe <07134> in his hand <03027>, and cut down <03772> (8799) a bough <07754> from the trees <06086>, and took <05375> (8799) it, and laid <07760> (8799) it on his shoulder <07926>, and said <0559> (8799) unto the people <05971> that were with him, What ye have seen <07200> (8804) me do <06213> (8804), make haste <04116> (8761), and do <06213> (8798) as I <03644> have done.
49 And all the people <05971> likewise cut down <03772> (8799) every man <0376> his bough <07754>, and followed <03212> (8799) <0310> Abimelech <040>, and put <07760> (8799) them to the hold <06877>, and set <03341> (8686) the hold <06877> on fire <0784> upon them; so that all the men <0582> of the tower <04026> of Shechem <07927> died <04191> (8799) also, about a thousand <0505> men <0376> and women <0802>.
50 # Then went <03212> (8799) Abimelech <040> to Thebez <08405>, and encamped <02583> (8799) against Thebez <08405>, and took <03920> (8799) it.
51 But there was a strong <05797> tower <04026> within <08432> the city <05892>, and thither fled <05127> (8799) all the men <0582> and women <0802>, and all they <01167> of the city <05892>, and shut <05462> (8799) it to them, and gat them up <05927> (8799) to the top <01406> of the tower <04026>.
52 And Abimelech <040> came <0935> (8799) unto the tower <04026>, and fought <03898> (8735) against it, and went hard <05066> (8799) unto the door <06607> of the tower <04026> to burn <08313> (8800) it wit