Judges 9

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

Abimelech, Jerubbaal's son, traveled to Shechem to meet his maternal uncles. He had a heartfelt conversation with them and his mother's entire family, expressing his thoughts and feelings.

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

Please ask all the men of Shechem: what do you think is best for you - to be ruled by the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, or just by one person? Don't forget, I am one of you, your own kin.

And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

His mother's relatives spoke about him to all the men of Shechem. They shared their words and feelings, which swayed the men's hearts towards Abimelech. They accepted him, saying, "He is our brother."

And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

They handed him seventy silver coins from Baalberith's treasury. With this, Abimelech hired reckless, empty-headed followers who were loyal to him.

And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

He returned to his father's home in Ophrah, ruthlessly killing his own brothers, Jerubbaal's sons, all seventy of them, on a single stone. Yet, Jotham, the youngest, survived because he had hidden himself.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

All the men of Shechem and the Millo family united. They journeyed together, filled with anticipation, to crown Abimelech as their king near the iconic pillar in Shechem.

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

When Jotham heard the news, he climbed to the peak of Mount Gerizim. His heart heavy, he raised his voice, tears streaming down his face. "Listen to me, people of Shechem," he pleaded, "so that God may listen to you."

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

Once upon a time, the trees decided they needed a king. They approached the olive tree with a heartfelt plea, "Please, lead us."

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

The olive tree questioned, "Should I abandon my richness that brings honor to God and mankind, just to rule over other trees?"

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

The trees pleaded with the fig tree, "Please, lead us."

But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

The fig tree questioned, "Should I abandon my sweetness, my precious fruits, just to rule over other trees?"

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

The trees pleaded with the vine, "Please, come and lead us."

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

The vine questioned, "Should I abandon my wine, which brings joy to both God and man, to seek a higher position among the trees?"

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

In a heartfelt plea, every tree turned to the thorny bush, inviting it to lead them.

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

The thorny bush spoke to the trees, "If you truly want me as your king, then seek shelter under my shade. But if not, let the fire from the bush consume the mighty cedars of Lebanon."

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

If you've honestly and genuinely made Abimelech your king, and treated Jerubbaal and his family fairly, rewarding him as his actions deserved, then it's all good.

(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

My father bravely battled for you, risking his life greatly, and saved you from the clutches of Midian.

And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

Today, you've turned against my family, brutally killing seventy of my brothers in cold blood on a single stone. You've crowned Abimelech, a mere son of a servant, as king over Shechem, simply because he's one of your own.

If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

If you've been honest and genuine with Jerubbaal and his family today, then celebrate Abimelech, and let him also find joy in you.

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

If not, may Abimelech's fury ignite, consuming the men of Shechem and the house of Millo. Similarly, may the rage of Shechem's men and the house of Millo blaze, engulfing Abimelech.

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

Terrified of his brother Abimelech, Jotham escaped and found refuge in Beer.

When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

After three years of Abimelech's rule over Israel,

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

God sent a spirit of mistrust and hostility between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, causing them to betray Abimelech.

That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

This happened so that the brutal massacre of Jerubbaal's seventy sons would be avenged, and their blood would come back on their brother Abimelech, who ruthlessly killed them, and on the men of Shechem who helped him in this horrific act.

And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

The men of Shechem, filled with deceit, laid a trap for him on the mountain peaks. They ruthlessly stole from all who passed by. When the news reached Abimelech, he was deeply troubled.

And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

Gaal, Ebed's son, arrived with his family in Shechem. The people of Shechem, trusting him, warmly welcomed him.

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

They joyfully ventured into the fields, harvesting their vineyards with delight. They crushed the grapes underfoot, their laughter echoing through the air. They then retreated to their god's sanctuary, indulging in a feast of food and wine. Yet, amidst the merriment, they spitefully condemned Abimelech.

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

Gaal, Ebed's son, questioned with frustration, "Why should we bow to Abimelech and Shechem? Isn't Abimelech just Jerubbaal's son and Zebul his mere servant? We should be serving the descendants of Hamor, Shechem's father. Why should we be subservient to them?"

And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

If only God would grant me authority over these people, I would swiftly deal with Abimelech. I challenged him, "Grow your forces, Abimelech, and face me."

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

When Zebul, the city's leader, heard Gaal's words, he was filled with burning rage.

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

He secretly sent word to Abimelech, "Watch out! Gaal, Ebed's son, and his brothers have arrived in Shechem and they're strengthening the city against you."

Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

Tonight, you and your people should quietly hide in the field, ready and alert.

And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

As dawn breaks, rise with the sun and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, respond as the situation demands.

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

Abimelech, filled with determination, led his people under the cloak of night. Together, they stealthily positioned themselves around Shechem, forming four strategic groups, ready for the ambush.

And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.

Gaal, Ebed's son, bravely stepped forward, standing at the city gate's entrance. Suddenly, Abimelech and his followers emerged from their hidden positions.

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

When Gaal spotted the crowd, he turned to Zebul, his voice trembling with fear, "Look, people are descending from the mountain peaks!" Zebul, calm and composed, replied, "Gaal, you're just seeing the mountain shadows, mistaking them for men."

And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

Gaal spoke up once more, his voice trembling with anticipation, "Look! People are descending from the heart of the land, and yet another group is approaching from the flatlands of Meonenim."

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

Zebul challenged him, "Where's your bravado now? You dared to question Abimelech's worthiness of our service. You scorned these people. Now, I urge you, face them in battle."

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

Gaal went out at the head of the men of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

Abimelech pursued him relentlessly. Fear drove him to flee, leaving many injured and defeated, right up to the city gates.

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

Abimelech made his home in Arumah, while Zebul, with a firm hand, banished Gaal and his family, denying them a place in Shechem.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

The next day, the townsfolk ventured out into the fields, and word of it reached Abimelech.

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

He gathered the crowd, splitting them into three groups, and stealthily waited in the open field. As he watched, the people emerged from the city. Rising up, he bravely confronted and defeated them.

And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

Abimelech and his followers, filled with determination, swiftly took position at the city gate. Meanwhile, the two other groups, driven by a fierce urgency, charged towards the unsuspecting people in the fields, tragically ending their lives.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Abimelech battled the city relentlessly throughout the day. He claimed victory, tragically ending the lives of its inhabitants. He then demolished the city and scattered salt over its ruins.

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

When all the men from Shechem's tower heard the news, they sought refuge in the sanctuary of their god, Berith, filled with fear and anticipation.

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

News reached Abimelech that all the men from Shechem's tower had united.

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

Abimelech, filled with determination, led his people up to Mount Zalmon. With a firm grip, he wielded an axe and chopped down a tree branch. He hoisted it onto his shoulder, turning to his followers with a commanding gaze. "Quickly now," he urged, "Follow my lead."

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

Everyone, driven by loyalty, followed Abimelech's orders, cutting down branches. They piled them up against the stronghold and set it ablaze. Tragically, around a thousand men and women inside the tower of Shechem perished in the fire.

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

Abimelech, filled with determination, journeyed to Thebez. He set up camp, his heart pounding with anticipation. With a surge of triumph, he conquered Thebez.

But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

Inside the city stood a mighty tower. Everyone - men, women, and all the city's inhabitants - sought refuge there. They locked themselves in and climbed to the tower's peak, their hearts pounding with fear and anticipation.

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

Abimelech, fueled by determination, approached the tower. He battled fiercely against it, pushing himself to the tower's door with the intent to set it ablaze.

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.

A woman, in her desperation, hurled a fragment of a millstone at Abimelech, striking his head with such force that it shattered his skull.

Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

In a panicked rush, he beckoned his young assistant, pleading, "Take your sword, end my life, so no one can say a woman defeated me." Without hesitation, the young man pierced him, and he breathed his last.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

When the men of Israel realized Abimelech had passed away, they each returned to their homes, filled with a mix of relief and sorrow.

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

God avenged the cruel act of Abimelech, who heartlessly murdered his seventy brothers, repaying his wickedness.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

God made sure the wicked deeds of Shechem's men boomeranged back onto them, and the curse of Jotham, Jerubbaal's son, came upon them.