| Berean Study Bible | King James Bible |
| 1Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother, | 1And 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, |
| 2“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.” | 2Speak, 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. |
| 3And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” | 3And 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. |
| 4So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him. | 4And 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. |
| 5He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. | 5And 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. |
| 6Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king. | 6And 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. |
| 7When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you. | 7And 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. |
| 8One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ | 8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. |
| 9But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’ | 9But 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? |
| 10Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’ | 10And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. |
| 11But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’ | 11But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? |
| 12Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’ | 12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. |
| 13But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’ | 13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? |
| 14Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’ | 14Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. |
| 15But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’ | 15And 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. |
| 16Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves— | 16Now 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; |
| 17for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian, | 17(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: |
| 18but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother— | 18And 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;) |
| 19if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you. | 19If 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: |
| 20But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.” | 20But 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. |
| 21Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech. | 21And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. |
| 22After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years, | 22When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, |
| 23God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully, | 23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: |
| 24in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. | 24That 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. |
| 25The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech. | 25And 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. |
| 26Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him. | 26And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. |
| 27And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech. | 27And 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. |
| 28Then Gaal 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 not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech? | 28And 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? |
| 29If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’ ” | 29And 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. |
| 30When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger. | 30And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. |
| 31So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. | 31And 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. |
| 32Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields. | 32Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: |
| 33And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.” | 33And 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. |
| 34So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. | 34And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. |
| 35Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places. | 35And 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. |
| 36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.” | 36And 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. |
| 37Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.” | 37And 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. |
| 38“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!” | 38Then 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. |
| 39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech, | 39And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. |
| 40but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate. | 40And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. |
| 41Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. | 41And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. |
| 42The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech. | 42And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. |
| 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them. | 43And 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. |
| 44Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down. | 44And 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. |
| 45And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt. | 45And 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. |
| 46On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. | 46And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. |
| 47And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there, | 47And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. |
| 48he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.” | 48And 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. |
| 49So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women. | 49And 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. |
| 50Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it. | 50Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. |
| 51But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower. | 51But 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. |
| 52When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. | 52And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. |
| 53But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. | 53And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. |
| 54He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died. | 54Then 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 woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. |
| 55And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home. | 55And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. |
| 56In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers. | 56Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: |
| 57And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them. | 57And 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. |
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