Judges 9 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

9 And (A)Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s [a]relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” 3 And his mother’s [b]relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and [c]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our [d]relative.” 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 All the men of Shechem and all [e]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [f]oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.

7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of (H)Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with [g]which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good [h]fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Finally all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 15 The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in [i]truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 “Now therefore, if you have dealt in [j]truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (I)Jerubbaal and his house, and [k]have dealt with him [l]as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you and [m]risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian; 18 but you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed (J)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, (K)the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your [n]relative— 19 if then you have dealt in [o]truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and [p]Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from [q]Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. 23 (L)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem (M)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (N)so that the violence [r]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and (O)their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 The men of Shechem set [s]men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.

26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his [t]relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a [u]festival; and they went into the house of (P)their god, and ate and drank 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 is Zebul not his [v]lieutenant? Serve the men of (Q)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [w](R)Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”

30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech [x]deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his [y]relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are [z]stirring up the city against you. 32 Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall (S)do to them [aa]whatever you can.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four [ab]companies. 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “[ac]Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” 37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down from (T)the [ad]highest part of the land, and one [ae]company comes by the way of [af]the diviners’ [ag]oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your [ah]boasting now with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!” 39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his [ai]relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.

42 Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech. 43 So he took [aj]his people and divided them into three [ak]companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and [al]saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and [am]slew them. 44 Then Abimelech and the [an]company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two [ao]companies then dashed against all who were in the field and [ap]slew them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he (U)razed the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the [aq]temple of (V)El-berith. 47 It was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (W)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [ar]an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do [as]likewise.” 49 All the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 But (X)a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54 Then (Y)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’” So [at]the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his [au]home. 56 Thus (Z)God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came [av]upon them.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:1 Lit brothers
  2. Judges 9:3 Lit brothers
  3. Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
  4. Judges 9:3 Lit brother
  5. Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
  6. Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
  7. Judges 9:9 Lit which by me
  8. Judges 9:11 Or produce
  9. Judges 9:15 Or sincerity
  10. Judges 9:16 Or sincerity
  11. Judges 9:16 Lit if you have
  12. Judges 9:16 Lit according to the dealing of his hands
  13. Judges 9:17 Lit cast his soul in front
  14. Judges 9:18 Lit brother
  15. Judges 9:19 Or sincerity
  16. Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
  17. Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
  18. Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
  19. Judges 9:25 Lit liers-in-wait for
  20. Judges 9:26 Lit brothers
  21. Judges 9:27 Lit rejoicing
  22. Judges 9:28 Lit overseer
  23. Judges 9:29 Lit And who will give this people into my hand
  24. Judges 9:31 Or in Tormah
  25. Judges 9:31 Lit brothers
  26. Judges 9:31 Lit besieging
  27. Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand can find
  28. Judges 9:34 Lit heads
  29. Judges 9:36 Lit Behold
  30. Judges 9:37 Or center
  31. Judges 9:37 Lit head
  32. Judges 9:37 Heb Elommeonenim
  33. Judges 9:37 Or terebinth
  34. Judges 9:38 Lit mouth
  35. Judges 9:41 Lit brothers
  36. Judges 9:43 Lit the
  37. Judges 9:43 Lit heads
  38. Judges 9:43 Lit behold
  39. Judges 9:43 Lit smote
  40. Judges 9:44 Singular with Gr; Heb plural, heads
  41. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  42. Judges 9:44 Lit smote
  43. Judges 9:46 Lit house
  44. Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
  45. Judges 9:48 Lit like me
  46. Judges 9:54 Lit his
  47. Judges 9:55 Lit place
  48. Judges 9:57 Lit to

Cross references

  1. Judges 9:1 : Judg 8:31, 35
  2. Judges 9:2 : Judg 8:30; 9:5, 18
  3. Judges 9:2 : Gen 29:14
  4. Judges 9:3 : Gen 29:15
  5. Judges 9:4 : Judg 8:33
  6. Judges 9:5 : 2 Kin 11:1, 2
  7. Judges 9:5 : Judg 8:30; 9:2, 18
  8. Judges 9:7 : Deut 11:29, 30
  9. Judges 9:16 : Judg 8:35
  10. Judges 9:18 : Judg 8:30; 9:2, 5
  11. Judges 9:18 : Judg 8:31
  12. Judges 9:23 : 1 Sam 16:14; Is 19:2, 14
  13. Judges 9:23 : Is 33:1
  14. Judges 9:24 : Deut 27:25; Judg 9:56, 57
  15. Judges 9:24 : Num 35:33
  16. Judges 9:27 : Judg 8:33; 9:46
  17. Judges 9:28 : Gen 34:2
  18. Judges 9:29 : 2 Sam 15:4
  19. Judges 9:33 : 1 Sam 10:7
  20. Judges 9:37 : Ezek 38:12
  21. Judges 9:45 : 2 Kin 3:25
  22. Judges 9:46 : Judg 8:33
  23. Judges 9:48 : Ps 68:14
  24. Judges 9:53 : 2 Sam 11:21
  25. Judges 9:54 : 1 Sam 31:4
  26. Judges 9:56 : Gen 9:5, 6; Ps 94:23

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9 Forsooth Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went into Shechem to the brethren of his mother; and he spake to them, and to all the kindred of the house of his mother, and said, (And Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went into Shechem to his mother’s brothers and her kinsmen; and he spoke to them, and ...
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Judges 9 - World English Bible (WEB)

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Judges 9 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Judges 9 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy9 Now Abim′elech the son of Jerubba′al went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 “Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubb...
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Judges 9 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy9 Now Abim′elech the son of Jerubba′al went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 “Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubb...
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Judges 9 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy9 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 “Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal r...
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Judges 9 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy9 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 ‘Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, “Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal r...
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Judges 9 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy9 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family,(A)2 “Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal ...
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Judges 9 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Abimelech Rules over Shechem9 One day Gideon’s[a] son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his uncles—his mother’s brothers. He said to them and to the rest of his mother’s family, 2 “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And r...
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Judges 9 - New Life Version (NLV)

Abimelech9 Jerubbaal’s son Abimelech went to his mother’s family at Shechem. He said to them and to all those of the family of his mother’s father, 2 “Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, ‘Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal’s sons rule over you? Or should one man ...
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Judges 9 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Abimelech’s Conspiracy9 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to (A)his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all (B)seventy ...
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Judges 9 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Abimelek9 Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2 ‘Ask all the citizens of Shechem, “Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?” Remember, I am your flesh and blood.’ ...
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Judges 9 - New International Version (NIV)

Abimelek9 Abimelek(A) son of Jerub-Baal(B) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blo...
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Judges 9 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Abimelek9 Abimelek was the son of Jerub-Baal. He went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem. He spoke to them and to all the members of his mother’s family group. He said, 2 “Speak to all the citizens of Shechem. Tell them, ‘You can have all 70 of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you. Or you can have just...
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Judges 9 - New English Translation (NET)

Abimelech Murders His Brothers9 Now Abimelech son of Jerub Baal[a] went to Shechem to see his mother’s relatives.[b] He said to them and to his mother’s entire extended family,[c] 2 “Tell[d] all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you want[e] to have seventy men, all Jerub Baal’s sons, ruling o...
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