Judges 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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,	1 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,
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."	2 "Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."
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."	3 And his mother's kinsmen spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the men of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."
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.	4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.
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.	5 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
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.	6 And all the citizens of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.
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!	7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'	8 The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
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?'	9 But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness, by which gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!'	10 And the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come you, and reign over us.'
11 But the fig tree answered them, 'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?'	11 But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?'
12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'	12 And the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'
13 But the vine answered them, 'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?'	13 But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine which cheers gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?'
14 Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!'	14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come you, and reign over us.'
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.'	15 And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
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--	16 "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as his deeds deserved--
17 for my father fought for you at the risk of his life when he saved you from the power of Midian;	17 for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian;
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--	18 and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman--
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.	19 if you then have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;
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."	20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the citizens of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech."
21 Then Jotham went in flight to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.	21 And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 When Abimelech had ruled Israel for three years,	22 Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
23 God put bad feelings between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who rebelled against Abimelech.	23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
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.	24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
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.	25 And the men of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountain tops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.
26 Now Gaal, son of Ebed, came over to Shechem with his kinsmen. The citizens of Shechem put their trust in him,	26 And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his kinsmen; and the men of Shechem put confidence in him.
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.	27 And they went out into the field, and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.
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?	28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Did not the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his officer serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
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!'"	29 Would that this people were under my hand! then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Increase your army, and come out.'"
30 At the news of what Gaal, son of Ebed, had said, Zebul, the ruler of the city, was angry	30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
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.	31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32 Now rouse yourself; set an ambush tonight in the fields, you and the men who are with you.	32 Now therefore, go by night, you and the men that are with you, and lie in wait in the fields.
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."	33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the men that are with him come out against you, you may do to them as occasion offers."
34 During the night Abimelech advanced with all his soldiers and set up an ambush for Shechem in four companies.	34 And Abimelech and all the men that were with him rose up by night, and laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
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,	35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and Abimelech and the men that were with him rose from the ambush.
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."	36 And when Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the mountain tops!" And Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
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."	37 Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."
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."	38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the men whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them."
39 So Gaal went out at the head of the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.	39 And Gaal went out at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 But Abimelech routed him, and he fled before him; and many fell slain right up to the entrance of the gate.	40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimelech returned to Arumah, but Zebul drove Gaal and his kinsmen from Shechem, which they had occupied.	41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his kinsmen, so that they could not live on at Shechem.
42 The next day, when the people were taking the field, it was reported to Abimelech,	42 On the following day the men went out into the fields. And Abimelech was told.
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.	43 He took his men and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the fields; and he looked and saw the men coming out of the city, and he rose against them and slew 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.	44 Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and slew them.
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.	45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city, and killed the people that were in it; and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.
46 When they heard of this, all the citizens of Migdal-shechem went into the crypt of the temple of El-berith.	46 When all the people of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith.
47 It was reported to Abimelech that all the citizens of Migdal-shechem were gathered together.	47 Abimelech was told that all the people of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.
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."	48 And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men that were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste to do, as I have done."
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.	49 So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
50 Abimelech proceeded to Thebez, which he invested and captured.	50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
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.	51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the people of the city fled to it, all the men and women, and shut themselves in; and they went to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelech came up to the tower and fought against it, advancing to the very entrance of the tower to set it on fire.	52 And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 But a certain woman cast the upper part of a millstone down on Abimelech's head, and it fractured his skull.	53 And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.
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.	54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left for their homes.	55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his home.
56 Thus did God requite the evil Abimelech had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.	56 Thus God requited the crime of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers;
57 God also brought all their wickedness home to the Shechemites, for the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal, overtook them.	57 and God also made all the wickedness of the men of Shechem fall back upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.