Judges 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal confronted his mother's brothers at Shechem and, to them and to the wholeclan of his maternal grandfather's family, he said,	1 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal, went to his mother's kinsmen in Shechem, and said to them and to the whole clan to which his mother's family belonged,
2 'Please put this question to the leading men of Shechem: Which is better for you: to be ruled by seventypeople -- al Jerubbaal's sons -- or to be ruled by one? Remember too that I am your own flesh and bone.'	2 "Put this question to all the citizens of Shechem: 'Which is better for you: that seventy men, or all Jerubbaal's sons, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?' You must remember that I am your own flesh and bone."
3 His mother's brothers said al this on his behalf to al the leading men of Shechem, and their feelingsswayed them to follow Abimelech, since they argued, 'He is our brother.'	3 When his mother's kin repeated these words to them on his behalf, all the citizens of Shechem sympathized with Abimelech, thinking, "He is our kinsman."
4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and with this Abimelech paidviolent adventurers to fol ow him.	4 They also gave him seventy silver shekels from the temple of Baal of Berith, with which Abimelech hired shiftless men and ruffians as his followers.
5 He then went to his father's house at Ophrah and put his brothers, Jerubbaal's seventy sons, to deathon one and the same stone. Jotham, however, Jerubbaal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.	5 He then went to his ancestral house in Ophrah, and slew his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. Only the youngest son of Jerubbaal, Jotham, escaped, for he was hidden.
6 All the leading men of Shechem and al Beth-Mil o then met and proclaimed Abimelech king at the oakof the cultic stone at Shechem.	6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem.
7 News of this was brought to Jotham. He went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted at thetop of his voice: Hear me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may also hear you!	7 When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!
8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'	8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
9 The olive tree replied, 'Must I forgo my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand and sway overthe trees?'	9 But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?'
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!'	10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!'
11 The fig tree replied, 'Must I forgo my sweetness, forgo my excel ent fruit, to go and sway over thetrees?'	11 But the fig tree answered them, 'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?'
12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and be our king!'	12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'
13 The vine replied, 'Must I forgo my wine which cheers gods and men, to go and sway over the trees?'	13 But the vine answered them, 'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?'
14 Then the trees al said to the thorn bush, 'You come and be our king!'	14 Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!'
15 And the thorn bush replied to the trees, 'If you are anointing me in good faith to be your king, come andshelter in my shade. But, if not, fire will come out of the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'	15 But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
16 'Now then, if you have acted in sincerity and good faith in making Abimelech king, if you have dealthonourably with Jerubbaal and his family, and have treated him as his actions deserved,	16 "Now then, if you have acted in good faith and honorably in appointing Abimelech your king, if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and with his family, and if you have treated him as he deserved--
17 my father having fought for you, risked his life and rescued you from the power of Midian,	17 for my father fought for you at the risk of his life when he saved you from the power of Midian;
18 and you today having risen up against my father's family, murdered his sons -- seventy of them on oneand the same stone -- and appointed Abimelech, his slave-girl's son, to rule the leading men of Shechem,because he is your brother!-	18 but you have risen against his family this day and have killed his seventy sons upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman--
19 if, I say, you have acted in sincerity and good faith towards Jerubbaal and his family, then mayAbimelech be your joy and may you be his!	19 if, then, you have acted in good faith and with honor toward Jerubbaal and his family this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he in turn rejoice in you.
20 If not, may fire come out of Abimelech and devour the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Mil o, andfire come out of the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Mil o to devour Abimelech!'	20 But if not, let fire come forth from Abimelech to devour the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come forth from the citizens and from Beth-millo to devour Abimelech."
21 Jotham then took to his heels; he fled and made his way to Beer; and there he stayed, to be out of hisbrother Abimelech's reach.	21 Then Jotham went in flight to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.	22 When Abimelech had ruled Israel for three years,
23 God then sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders ofShechem betrayed Abimelech.	23 God put bad feelings between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who rebelled against Abimelech.
24 And this was so that the crime committed against Jerubbaal's seventy sons should be avenged, andtheir blood recoil on their brother Abimelech who had murdered them, and on those leaders of Shechem whohad helped him to murder his brothers.	24 This was to repay the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and to avenge their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who encouraged him to kill his brothers.
25 The leaders of Shechem put men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and these robbed anyonetravel ing their way. Abimelech was told of this.	25 The citizens of Shechem then set men in ambush for him on the mountaintops, and these robbed all who passed them on the road. But it was reported to Abimelech.
26 Gaal son of Obed, with his brothers, happened to pass through Shechem and win the confidence ofthe leaders of Shechem.	26 Now Gaal, son of Ebed, came over to Shechem with his kinsmen. The citizens of Shechem put their trust in him,
27 These went out into the countryside to harvest their vineyards; they trod the grapes and made merryand went into the temple of their god. They ate and drank there and cursed Abimelech.	27 and went out into the fields, harvested their grapes and trod them out. Then they held a festival and went to the temple of their god, where they ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaal son of Obed said, 'Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, for us to be his slaves? Should notJerubbaal's son and his lieutenant, Zebul, be serving the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we behis slaves?	28 Gaal, son of Ebed, said, "Who is Abimelech? And why should we of Shechem serve him? Were not the son of Jerubbaal and his lieutenant Zebul once subject to the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we serve him?
29 Who wil put this people under my command, so that I can expel Abimelech? I should say to him,"Reinforce your army and come out!" '	29 Would that this people were entrusted to my command! I would depose Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Get a larger army and come out!'"
30 Zebul the governor of the town was told what Gaal son of Obed had said, and he was furious.	30 At the news of what Gaal, son of Ebed, had said, Zebul, the ruler of the city, was angry
31 He sent messengers secretly to Abimelech to say, 'Look! Gaal son of Obed has come to Shechemwith his brothers, and they are stirring up the town against you.	31 and sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah with the information: "Gaal, son of Ebed, and his kinsmen have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 So, move under cover of dark, you and the men you have with you, and take up concealed positions inthe countryside;	32 Now rouse yourself; set an ambush tonight in the fields, you and the men who are with you.
33 then in the morning at sunrise, break cover and rush on the town. When Gaal and his supporters comeout to meet you, treat them as occasion offers.'	33 Promptly at sunrise tomorrow morning, make a raid on the city. When he and his followers come out against you, deal with him as best you can."
34 So Abimelech set off under cover of dark with al his own supporters and took up concealed positionsover against Shechem, in four groups.	34 During the night Abimelech advanced with all his soldiers and set up an ambush for Shechem in four companies.
35 As Gaal son of Obed was coming out and pausing at the entrance of the town gate, Abimelech and hissupporters rose from their ambush.	35 Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. When Abimelech and his soldiers rose from their place of ambush,
36 Gaal saw these men and said to Zebul, 'Look, there are men coming down from the tops of themountains!' Zebul answered, 'You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.'	36 Gaal saw them and said to Zebul, "There are men coming down from the hilltops!" But Zebul answered him, "You see the shadow of the hills as men."
37 But Gaal insisted, 'Look, there are men coming down from the Navel of the Earth and another group iscoming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak.'	37 But Gaal went on to say, "Men are coming down from the region of Tabbur-Haares, and one company is coming by way of Elon-Meonenim."
38 Zebul then said, 'Where are your mouthings now about "Who is Abimelech, for us to be his slaves?"Are not these the men you made light of? Sally out, then, and fight him.'	38 Zebul said to him, "Where now is the boast you uttered, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men for whom you expressed contempt? Go out now and fight with them."
39 Gaal sal ied out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and engaged Abimelech.	39 So Gaal went out at the head of the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.
40 Abimelech drove Gaal off, who turned tail, many of his men falling dead before they could reach thegate.	40 But Abimelech routed him, and he fled before him; and many fell slain right up to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimelech then stayed at Aruma, and Zebul expelled Gaal and his brothers and prevented them fromliving in Shechem.	41 Abimelech returned to Arumah, but Zebul drove Gaal and his kinsmen from Shechem, which they had occupied.
42 Next day, when the people went out into the countryside, Abimelech was told of this.	42 The next day, when the people were taking the field, it was reported to Abimelech,
43 He took his men, divided them into three groups and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the peopleleaving the town, he bore down on them and slaughtered them.	43 who divided the men he had into three companies, and set up an ambush in the fields. He watched till he saw the people leave the city, and then rose against them for the attack.
44 While Abimelech and his group rushed forward and took position at the entrance to the town gate, thetwo other groups fel on everyone in the fields and slaughtered them.	44 Abimelech and the company with him dashed in and stood by the entrance of the city gate, while the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and attacked them.
45 Al that day Abimelech attacked the town. He stormed it and slaughtered the people inside, razed thetown and sowed it with salt.	45 That entire day Abimelech fought against the city, and captured it. He then killed its inhabitants and demolished the city, sowing the site with salt.
46 On hearing this, al the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem took refuge in the crypt of the temple ofEl-Berith.	46 When they heard of this, all the citizens of Migdal-shechem went into the crypt of the temple of El-berith.
47 As soon as Abimelech heard that the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem had al gathered there,	47 It was reported to Abimelech that all the citizens of Migdal-shechem were gathered together.
48 he went up Mount Zalmon with al his men. Then taking an axe in his hands, he cut off the branch of atree, picked it up and put it on his shoulder, and said to the men with him, 'Hurry and do what you have seen medo.'	48 So he went up Mount Zalmon with all his soldiers, took his axe in his hand, and cut down some brushwood. This he lifted to his shoulder, then said to the men with him, "Hurry! Do just as you have seen me do."
49 Each of his men similarly cut off a branch; then, following Abimelech, they piled the branches over thecrypt and set it on fire over those who were inside; so that al the people in Migdal-Shechem died too, about athousand men and women.	49 So all the men likewise cut down brushwood, and following Abimelech, placed it against the crypt. Then they set the crypt on fire over their heads, so that every one of the citizens of Migdal-shechem, about a thousand men and women, perished.
50 Abimelech then marched on Thebez, besieged it and captured it.	50 Abimelech proceeded to Thebez, which he invested and captured.
51 In the middle of the town there was a fortified tower in which al the men and women and al theleading men of the town took refuge. They locked the door behind them and climbed up to the roof of the tower.	51 Now there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, and all the men and women, in a word all the citizens of the city, fled there, shutting themselves in and going up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelech reached the tower and attacked it. As he was approaching the door of the tower to set it onfire,	52 Abimelech came up to the tower and fought against it, advancing to the very entrance of the tower to set it on fire.
53 a woman threw down a mil stone on his head and cracked his skull.	53 But a certain woman cast the upper part of a millstone down on Abimelech's head, and it fractured his skull.
54 He instantly cal ed his young armour-bearer and said, 'Draw your sword and kil me, so that it wil notbe said of me that "A woman kil ed him".' His armour-bearer ran him through, and he died.	54 He immediately called his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and dispatch me, lest they say of me that a woman killed me." So his attendant ran him through and he died.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they dispersed to their homes.	55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left for their homes.
56 Thus God made to recoil on Abimelech the evil he had done his father by murdering his seventybrothers,	56 Thus did God requite the evil Abimelech had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.
57 and all the evil that the men of Shechem had done God made recoil on their heads too. And so thecurse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came true for them.	57 God also brought all their wickedness home to the Shechemites, for the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal, overtook them.