1And one day, Gideon’s son, Abimelech, went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and to all the clan of his mother's father, and said, 2“Ask all the men of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, to have all seventy sons of Gideon reign over you, or just one to reign over you?’ And remember that I am your own flesh and blood.” 3And when his mother's brothers repeated these words to the men of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.” 4And they gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which Abimelech then used to hire reckless scoundrels to follow him. 5And he went to his father's home at Ophrah, and murdered all but one of his seventy brothers - Gideon’s sons - upon one stone. But Jotham, Gideon’s youngest son, escaped and hid himself. 6Then all the men of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered by the big oak at the pillar in Shechem, and made Abimelech king.

7And when Jotham was told about it, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, and raised his voice, and shouted to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8One day the trees decided to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, ‘Come and be our king.’ 9But the olive tree replied, ‘Why should I forsake my oil, by which both God and man are blessed, just to go wave over all the trees?’ 10Then they said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king. ’ 11But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I forsake my sweet and good fruit, just to go and wave over all the trees?’ 12Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king’ 13And the vine said, ‘Should I forsake my wine, which cheers God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?’ 14Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’ 15And the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the thornbush, and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’ 16Have you acted honorably and sincerely in making Abimelech king? Have you have treated Gideon and his house well, and have rewarded him as he deserves? 17Remember that my father (Gideon) fought for you, and risked his life to rescue you from Midian; 18But today, you have risen up against my father's family, and have murdered his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the people of Shechem, because he is related to you; 19If you then have dealt truly and justly with Gideon and with his family today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and consume the men of Shechem, and of Beth Millo; and let fire come out of you men of Shechem, and of Beth Millo, and devour Abimelech.” 21And Jotham fled to Beer, and dwelt there, because he feared Abimelech, his brother.

22After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years, 23God stirred up ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24So that the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Gideon, and their blood might come upon Abimelech, their brother, who murdered them, and upon the men of Shechem, who aided him in the murdering of his brothers. 25And the men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the hilltops, where they robbed all who passed by; and this was reported to Abimelech.

26And Gaal, son of Ebed, came with his clan, and moved into Shechem: and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him (Gaal). 27And after they had gone out into the vineyards, they gathered and trod the grapes, and made merry, and held a festival in the temple of their god; and while they ate and drank, they spoke ill of Abimelech. 28And Gaal, son of Ebed, said, “Who is Abimelech? He is not a true son of Shechem, so why should we serve him? He is just a son of Gideon. And Zebul is just his deputy! Serve the sons of Hamor, the true father of Shechem; rather than serve this Abimelech! 29If only these people were under my command, I would remove Abimelech! I would say to Abimelech, ‘Raise your army; come out and fight!’” 30And when Zebul, who oversaw the city, heard the words of Gaal, son of Ebed, he became angry. 31And he secretly sent messages to Abimelech, that said, “Be aware that Gaal, son of Ebed, and his followers, have come to Shechem; and they are stirring the city up against you. 32You and your men should come during the night, and lie in wait in the field. 33And in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you should attack the city; and when Gaal and his followers come out against you, then you may do with them as you wish.” 34And so Abimelech came by night, with all his troops, and took up concealed positions in four groups, in an ambush against Shechem.

35And Gaal had gone out, and was standing in the entrance of the city gate; when Abimelech and his forces arose from their positions of concealment. 36And when Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, there are people coming down from the top of the mountains.” And Zebul said, “The shadows of the mountains just look like men.” 37But Gaal repeated, “Look! There are men coming down from the middle hill; and another group coming past the big oak of Meonenim.” 38Then Zebul said to Gaal, “Now where is your boastful talk, when you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’. Are these not the people that you have despised? Go out, now, and fight them.” 39And Gaal led the men of Shechem out, and fought with Abimelech. 40And Abimelech routed him, and Gaal fled from before him, and many were killed and wounded, as they retreated to the city gate. 41And Abimelech stayed at Arumah: and Zebul drove Gaal and his followers out of Shechem.

42And the next day, the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and reported this to Abimelech. 43And he divided the people into three groups, and laid an ambush in the fields, and when he saw the people coming out of the city; and he arose, and attacked them. 44And Abimelech, and those with him, rushed forward, and took a stand in the entrance of the city gate; while the other two groups attacked and killed the people in the fields. 45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it, and tore the city apart, and scattered salt all over it.

46And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered a stronghold of the temple of the god, Baal-berith. 47And when Abimelech heard that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered there, 48He went up to Mount Zalmon, with all his people; and Abimelech took an axe, and cut down a bough from the trees, and laid it on his shoulder, and told the people who were with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do.” 49And all the people did likewise: each man cut down his branch, and followed Abimelech, and they piled them against the stronghold, and set it on fire; killing all those from the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

50Then Abimelech attacked and took Thebez. 51But there was a strong tower within that city, where all the men and women of the city fled, locked themselves in, and climbed to the top of the tower. 52And Abimelech came, to attack the tower, and approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire. 53And a certain woman dropped a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull. 54Then he called hastily to a young man, his armor-bearer, and told him, “Draw your sword, and kill me, so that men will not say, ‘A woman killed him.’” And so his young man ran him through with his sword, and he died. 55And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they scattered, each to his own home.

56Thus God repaid Abimelech for the wickedness which he did to his father, in murdering his seventy brothers. 57And God also punished all the evil of the men of Shechem for their wickedness; and the curse of Jotham, son of Gideon, came upon them.