ABP - Judges - 9

9:1  And [5went 1Abimelech 2the 3son 4of Jerubbaal] into Shechem to the brothers of his mother. And he spoke to them, and to all the kin of the house [2father 1of his mother's], saying,

9:2  Speak indeed into the ears of all the men of Shechem, saying, Which is best to you, [3to rule 4you 1for seventy 2men], all the sons of Jerubbaal, or [3to dominate 4you 2man 1for one]? And you should remember that [2of your bone 3and 4of your flesh 1I am].

9:3  And [4spoke 5concerning 6him 1the 2brothers 3of his mother] in the ears of all of the men of Shechem all these words. And [2leaned 1their heart] after Abimelech; for they said, [2our brother 1He is].

9:4  And they gave to him seventy pieces of silver from out of the house of Baal-berith; and [2hired 3for 4them 1Abimelech 8men 5vain 6and 7distraught], and they went behind him.

9:5  And he entered to the house of his father at Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men upon [2stone 1one]. But [6was left behind 1Jotham 4son 5of Jerubbaal 2the 3younger], for he was hidden.

9:6  And came together all the men of Shechem, and all the house of Millo, and they went and gave reign to Abimelech as king at the acorn tree of the station, of the one in Shechem.

9:7  And they announced to Jotham, and he went, and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and he lifted up his voice, and he called, and he said to them, Hear me men of Shechem! and [2shall hear 3you 1God].

9:8  In going, [3went forth 1the 2trees] to anoint for themselves a king. And they said to the olive tree, You reign over us!

9:9  And [3said 4to them 1the 2olive tree], Allowing my fatness which [3in 4me 2glorified 1God], and men, shall I go to rule over the trees?

9:10  And [3said 1the 2trees] to the fig-tree, Come, you reign over us!

9:11  And [2said 3to them 1the fig-tree], Allowing my sweetness and [3produce 1my 2good], should I go to rule the trees?

9:12  And [3said 1the 2trees] to the grapevine, Come, you reign over us!

9:13  And [3said 4to them 1the 2grapevine], Allowing my wine, the gladness of God, and of the ones of men, should I go to rule over the trees?

9:14  And [4said 1all 2the 3trees] to the white-thorn shrub, Come, You reign over us!

9:15  And [3said 1the 2white-thorn shrub] to the trees, If in truth you anoint me yourselves to reign over you, come rely in my protection; and if not may [2come forth 1fire] from the white-thorn shrub, and may it devour the cedars of Lebanon.

9:16  And now, if in truth and in soundness you made even Abimelech reign, and if [2well 1you did] with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if according to the recompense of his hand you did to him,

9:17  as [2waged war 1my father] for you, and tossed his life right opposite, and rescued you from out of the hand of Midian;

9:18  and you rose up against the house of my father today, and you killed his sons, seventy men upon [2stone 1one]; and you gave reign to Abimelech the son of his maidservant over the men of Shechem, because [2your brother 1he is];

9:19  and if [2in 3truth 4and 5perfection 1you acted] with Jerubbaal, and his house in this day, may you be glad in Abimelech, and may he be glad also indeed himself in you.

9:20  If not, may [2come forth 1fire] from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house Millo; and may [2come forth 1fire] from the men of Shechem, and from out of the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

9:21  And Jotham ran away and fled, and went unto Beer, and dwelt there away from the face of Abimelech his brother.

9:22  And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

9:23  And God sent [2spirit 1a bad] between Abimelech and between the men of Shechem; and [4annulled allegiance 1the 2men 3of Shechem] with the house of Abimelech;

9:24  so as to bring the injustice done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for their blood to be put upon Abimelech their brother the one killing them; and upon the men of Shechem, of the ones strengthening their hands so as to kill his brothers.

9:25  And [4put 5for him 1the 2men 3of Shechem] ones lying in wait upon the top of the mountains. And they kidnapped all the ones going along by them in the way; and it was reported to Abimelech.

9:26  And [4came 1Gaal 2the son 3of Ebed] and his brothers, and they went unto Shechem; and [4relied 5in 6him 1the 2men 3of Shechem].

9:27  And they went forth into the field, and gathered the vintage of their vineyards, and they treaded, and they made a dance, and they entered into the house of their god, and they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelech.

9:28  And [4said 1Gaal 2son 3of Ebed], Who is Abimelech, and who is the son of Shechem, that we shall serve to him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul his overseer, his manservant with the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? And why is it that we shall serve to him ourselves?

9:29  And if any should give this people into my hand, then I shall remove Abimelech. And I shall say to Abimelech, Multiply your force, and come forth!

9:30  And [6heard 1Zebul 2the 3ruler 4of the 5city] the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and he was enraged in anger.

9:31  And he sent messengers to Abimelech with bribes, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come unto Shechem; and know, they assault the city against you.

9:32  And now rise up at night, you and the people with you, and lie in wait in the field!

9:33  And it will be in the morning, together with the rising of the sun, that you shall rise early and stretch out against the city. And behold, he and the people with him go forth against you, and you shall do to him just as [2should find opportunity 1your hand].

9:34  And Abimelech rose up, and all the people with him at night, and they laid in wait at Shechem -- four companies.

9:35  And [4came forth 1Gaal 2son 3of Ebed], and he stood at the door of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people with him, from the ambush.

9:36  And [4saw 1Gaal 2son 3of Ebed] the people. And he said to Zebul, Behold, a people coming from the tops of the mountains. And [2said 3to 4him 1Zebul], The shadow of the mountains you see as men.

9:37  And [2proceeded 3still 1Gaal] to speak, and said, Behold, a people coming down as a sea from the part next to the navel of the earth, and [2company 1one] arrives from the way of the Oak of the Seers.

9:38  And [2said 3to 4him 1Zebul], Where is your mouth, the one saying, Who is Abimelech, that we will serve him? [2not 1Is this] the people whom you treated with contempt? Go forth indeed now and wage war with him!

9:39  And Gaal went forth from the presence of the men of Shechem, and he made war against Abimelech.

9:40  And [2pursued 3him 1Abimelech], and he fled from his face, and there fell slain many unto the doors of the city.

9:41  And Abimelech settled in Arumah, and Zebul cast out Gaal and his brethren, so as to not live in Shechem.

9:42  And it came to pass in the next day, and came forth the people into the plain, and reported to Abimelech.

9:43  And he took the people, and he divided them into three companies, and he laid in wait in the field. And he watched, and behold, a people came forth from out of the city, and he rose up against them and struck them.

9:44  And Abimelech and companies, the ones with him, stretched out and stood by the door of the gate of the city, and the two companies poured out upon all the ones in the field, and he struck them.

9:45  And Abimelech made war against the city [2entire 3day 1that]. And they overtook the city, and the people in it they killed; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

9:46  And [7heard 1all 2the 3men 4of the 5tower 6of Shechem], and they entered into the fortress of the house of Bethel-berith.

9:47  And it was announced to Abimelech that [7were brought together 1all 2the 3men 4of the 5tower 6of Shechem].

9:48  And Abimelech ascended into mount Zalmon, he and all the people with him. And Abimelech took the axe in his hand, and he cut a load of wood, and he took it, and put it upon his shoulders. And he said to the people with him, What you see me doing, quickly you do as also I!

9:49  And they felled wood. And indeed to them all each was a load. And they lifted, and they went after Abimelech. And they placed the wood at the fortress, and they set fire to them at the fortress with fire. And all died, the men of the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

9:50  And Abimelech went unto Thebez, and besieged it, and first took it.

9:51  And [3tower 2a strong 1there was] in the midst of the city. And fled there all the men, and the women, and all the leaders of the city. And they shut up themselves, and ascended upon the roof of the tower.

9:52  And Abimelech came unto the tower, and they subdued it by war. And Abimelech approached unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

9:53  And [2tossed 1a woman] one piece of millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and it fractured his skull.

9:54  And he yelled out quickly to the servant lifting his weapons. And he said to him, Unsheathe my broadsword and kill me! lest at any time they should say that, A woman killed him. And [2stabbed 3him 1his servant], and he died.

9:55  And [3saw 1each man 2of Israel] that Abimelech died, and [2departed 1each man] to his place.

9:56  And God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he did to his father, by killing [2seventy 3brothers 1his].

9:57  And all the evil of the men of Shechem, God returned on their own head. And came upon them the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.