| International Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Then Jerubbaal's son Abimelech went to his mother's relatives in Shechem. He spoke to the entire family of his mother's father, telling them, | 1Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, |
| 2"Ask all the "lords" of Shechem, 'What's better for you? That 70 men, each of them Jerubbaal's sons, rule over you? Or that one man rule over you?' Keep in mind that I'm like your own close relative." | 2"Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your flesh and blood." |
| 3So his mother's relatives spoke all of this on his behalf in the presence of all the "lords" of Shechem. Since they were inclined to follow Abimelech, they said, "He's our relative!" | 3When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, "He is related to us." |
| 4and they gave him 70 silver coins from the temple that they had built to Baal-berith. Abimelech hired some worthless and useless men, who followed him | 4They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. |
| 5to his father's house in Ophrah. There he murdered his own brothers, Jerubbaal's sons—all 70 of them—in one place. But Jerubbaal's youngest son Jotham survived by hiding himself. | 5He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. |
| 6All the men from Shechem and Beth-millo gathered together and set up Abimelech as king near the pillar erected in Shechem. | 6Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king. |
| 7When Jotham was informed about this, he went out, took his stand on top of Mount Gerizim, and cried out loudly, "Listen to me, you "lords" of Shechem, and God will listen to you. | 7When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. |
| 8"Once upon a time the trees went out to consecrate a king for themselves. "So they told the olive tree, 'Reign over us!' | 8One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' |
| 9But the olive tree asked them, 'Should I stop producing my rich oils by which both God and men are honored and go take dominion over trees?' | 9"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?' |
| 10"So the trees told the fig tree, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' | 10"Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.' |
| 11But the fig tree asked them, 'Should I leave my sweet, good fruit and go take dominion over trees?' | 11"But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?' |
| 12"So the trees told the grape vine, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' | 12"Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.' |
| 13But the grape vine asked them, 'Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go take dominion over trees?' | 13"But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?' |
| 14"So all the trees told the bramble bush, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' | 14"Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.' |
| 15Then the bramble bush replied to the trees, 'If you really are consecrating me to rule you, come and put your confidence in my shade; but if not, may fire spring out from the bramble bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon…' | 15"The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!' |
| 16"Now then, if you have been acting in good faith and integrity by making a king out of Abimelech, if you have treated Jerubbaal and his household appropriately by acting toward him as he deserved — | 16"Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? |
| 17because my father fought on your behalf, throwing away all concern for his own life, and delivered you from Midian's domination. | 17Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. |
| 18"But now as for you, you've rebelled against my father's house today. You've murdered his sons—70 men—in one place, and you've installed Abimelech, the son of his mistress, as king to rule over the "lords" of Shechem, since he's related to you. | 18But today you have revolted against my father's family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. |
| 19So if you've acted in good faith and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his household today, then you're welcome to Abimelech, and he's welcome to you… | 19So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! |
| 20But if not, may fire spring out from Abimelech and consume the "lords" of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire spring out from the "lords" of Shechem and Beth-millo to consume Abimelech." | 20But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!" |
| 21Then Jotham escaped by running away. He went to Beer and remained there because of his brother Abimelech. | 21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek. |
| 22Abimelech dominated Israel for three years. | 22After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, |
| 23Then God sent an evil spirit to divide Abimelech and the "lords" of Shechem | 23God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. |
| 24so that the violence committed against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come back on their brother Abimelech, who murdered them, and so it might come back on the "lords" of Shechem, who provoked him to murder his brothers. | 24God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. |
| 25The "lords" of Shechem sent out men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who came by them along the roads, and this was reported to Abimelech. | 25In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek. |
| 26Meanwhile, Ebed's son Gaal arrived with his relatives and crossed over into Shechem. The "lords" of Shechem put their faith in him. | 26Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. |
| 27They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, made some wine, and threw a party. Then they went into the temple of their god, ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. | 27After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. |
| 28Then Ebed's son Gaal remarked, "Who is this Abimelech? And who is Shechem? Should we serve him? Isn't he Jerubbaal's son? Isn't Zebul his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's ancestor—but why are we serving him? | 28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn't he Jerub-Baal's son, and isn't Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelek? |
| 29If only authority over this people were given to me. Then I would remove Abimelech!" Then he challenged Abimelech: "Build up your army and then come out and fight!" | 29If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, 'Call out your whole army!'" |
| 30When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Ebed's son Gaal had said, he flew into a rage. | 30When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. |
| 31He sent messengers to Abimelech in secret and told him, "Look out! Ebed's son Gaal and his family have arrived here in Shechem. Watch out! They're stirring up the city against you. | 31Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, "Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. |
| 32So get up at night, take your soldiers with you, and wait in ambush out in the field. | 32Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. |
| 33Tomorrow morning when the sun is up, get up early and attack the city. When Gaal and his army come out to fight you, do whatever you can to them." | 33In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them." |
| 34So Abimelech and his entire army got up that night and waited in ambush against Shechem in four separate companies. | 34So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. |
| 35Ebed's son Gaal went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate while Abimelech and his army were creeping out of their ambush. | 35Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place. |
| 36When Gaal saw the army, he observed to Zebul, "Look there! People are coming down from the top of the mountains." But Zebul replied to him, "You're looking at morning shadows cast by the mountains. They just look like men to you." | 36When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men." |
| 37Gaal spoke up again to say, "Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and there's a company approaching from the diviner's oak tree." | 37But Gaal spoke up again: "Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners' tree." |
| 38So Zebul replied, "Right... So where's your boasting now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech? Should we serve him?' Isn't this the army that you insulted? So go out right now and fight them!" | 38Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?' Aren't these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!" |
| 39So Gaal went out in full view of the "lords" of Shechem and fought Abimelech. | 39So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. |
| 40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many fell wounded right up to the entrance to the city gate. | 40Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. |
| 41Afterwards, Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul expelled Gaal and his family so they couldn't remain in Shechem. | 41Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem. |
| 42The next day, the people went out to the field, and Abimelech learned about it. | 42The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. |
| 43So he took his army, divided it into three separate companies, and laid in ambush out in the field. When Abimelech noticed the people coming out from the city, his army attacked them and killed them. | 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. |
| 44Then Abimelech and the soldiers who were with him rushed forward and commandeered the entrance to the city gate while the other two companies ran out to kill everyone who was in the field. | 44Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. |
| 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt. | 45All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it. |
| 46When all the "lords" at the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they retreated into the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. | 46On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. |
| 47Abimilech was told that all of the "lords" of the Shechem Tower had assembled there. | 47When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, |
| 48So he went up to Mount Zalmon, accompanied by his entire army. Abimelech had an axe in his hand, so he cut down a branch from a tree, lifted it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he told the army that had accompanied him, "You've seen what I just did. Hurry up! Do the same thing!" | 48he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have seen me do!" |
| 49Then his entire army also cut down a branch for each soldier, followed Abimelech to the inner chamber, and set fire to it while they were inside. As a result, all the men of the tower of Shechem died, including about a thousand men and women. | 49So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died. |
| 50Later on, Abimelech went to Thebez, set up a siege encampment there, and captured it. | 50Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. |
| 51But there was a fortified tower in the center of the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city escaped to it, shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. | 51Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women--all the people of the city--had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. |
| 52So Abimelech approached the tower, attacked it, and approached the tower's gate, intending to burn it down. | 52Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, |
| 53But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelech's head, fracturing his skull. | 53a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. |
| 54So he cried out to his young armor bearer and ordered him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me that 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man pierced him through, and he died. | 54Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can't say, 'A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he died. |
| 55When the men of Israel noticed that Abimelech was dead, they each left for home. | 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home. |
| 56That's how God repaid Abimelech for the evil thing he did to his father by killing his 70 brothers. | 56Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. |
| 57God also repaid the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and the curse of Jerubbaal's son Jotham came true for them. | 57God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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