Judges 9 (kjv)

And Abimelech^H40 the son^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378 went^H3212 to Shechem^H7927 unto his mother's^H517 brethren^H251, and communed^H1696 with them, and with all the family^H4940 of the house^H1004 of his mother's^H517 father^H1, saying^H559,²Speak^H1696, I pray you, in the ears^H241 of all the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, Whether is better^H2896 for you, either that all the sons^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378, which are threescore and ten^H7657 persons^H376, reign^H4910 over you, or that one^H259 reign^H4910 over you? remember^H2142 also that I am your bone^H6106 and your flesh^H1320.³And his mother's^H517 brethren^H251 spake^H1696 of him in the ears^H241 of all the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927 all these words^H1697: and their hearts^H3820 inclined^H5186 to follow^H310 Abimelech^H40; for they said^H559, He is our brother^H251.⁴And they gave^H5414 him threescore and ten^H7657 pieces of silver^H3701 out of the house^H1004 of Baalberith^H1170, wherewith Abimelech^H40 hired^H7936 vain^H7386 and light^H6348 persons^H582, which followed^H3212 him^H310.⁵And he went^H935 unto his father's^H1 house^H1004 at Ophrah^H6084, and slew^H2026 his brethren^H251 the sons^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378, being threescore and ten^H7657 persons^H376, upon one^H259 stone^H68: notwithstanding yet Jotham^H3147 the youngest^H6996 son^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378 was left^H3498; for he hid^H2244 himself.⁶And all the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927 gathered together^H622, and all the house^H1004 of Millo^{H4407 H1037}, and went^H3212, and made^H4427 Abimelech^H40 king^H4428, by the plain^H436 of the pillar^H5324 that was in Shechem^H7927.

⁷And when they told^H5046 it to Jotham^H3147, he went^H3212 and stood^H5975 in the top^H7218 of mount^H2022 Gerizim^H1630, and lifted up^H5375 his voice^H6963, and cried^H7121, and said^H559 unto them, Hearken^H8085 unto me, ye men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, that God^H430 may hearken^H8085 unto you.⁸The trees^H6086 went forth^{H1980 H1980} on a time to anoint^H4886 a king^H4428 over them; and they said^H559 unto the olive tree^H2132, Reign^H4427 thou over us.⁹But the olive tree^H2132 said^H559 unto them, Should I leave^H2308 my fatness^H1880, wherewith by me they honour^H3513 God^H430 and man^H582, and go^H1980 to be promoted^H5128 over the trees^H6086?¹⁰And the trees^H6086 said^H559 to the fig tree^H8384, Come^H3212 thou, and reign^H4427 over us.¹¹But the fig tree^H8384 said^H559 unto them, Should I forsake^H2308 my sweetness^H4987, and my good^H2896 fruit^H8570, and go^H1980 to be promoted^H5128 over the trees^H6086?¹²Then said^H559 the trees^H6086 unto the vine^H1612, Come^H3212 thou, and reign^H4427 over us.¹³And the vine^H1612 said^H559 unto them, Should I leave^H2308 my wine^H8492, which cheereth^H8055 God^H430 and man^H582, and go^H1980 to be promoted^H5128 over the trees^H6086?¹⁴Then said^H559 all the trees^H6086 unto the bramble^H329, Come^H3212 thou, and reign^H4427 over us.¹⁵And the bramble^H329 said^H559 unto the trees^H6086, If in truth^H571 ye anoint^H4886 me king^H4428 over you, then come^H935 and put your trust^H2620 in my shadow^H6738: and if not, let fire^H784 come out^H3318 of the bramble^H329, and devour^H398 the cedars^H730 of Lebanon^H3844.¹⁶Now therefore, if ye have done^H6213 truly^H571 and sincerely^H8549, in that ye have made Abimelech^H40 king^H4427, and if ye have dealt^H6213 well^H2896 with Jerubbaal^H3378 and his house^H1004, and have done^H6213 unto him according to the deserving^H1576 of his hands^H3027;¹⁷(For my father^H1 fought^H3898 for you, and adventured^H7993 his life^H5315 far^H5048, and delivered^H5337 you out of the hand^H3027 of Midian^H4080:¹⁸And ye are risen up^H6965 against my father's^H1 house^H1004 this day^H3117, and have slain^H2026 his sons^H1121, threescore and ten^H7657 persons^H376, upon one^H259 stone^H68, and have made Abimelech^H40, the son^H1121 of his maidservant^H519, king^H4427 over the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, because he is your brother^H251;)¹⁹If ye then have dealt^H6213 truly^H571 and sincerely^H8549 with Jerubbaal^H3378 and with his house^H1004 this day^H3117, then rejoice^H8055 ye in Abimelech^H40, and let him also rejoice^H8055 in you:²⁰But if not, let fire^H784 come out^H3318 from Abimelech^H40, and devour^H398 the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, and the house^H1004 of Millo^{H4407 H1037}; and let fire^H784 come out^H3318 from the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, and from the house^H1004 of Millo^{H4407 H1037}, and devour^H398 Abimelech^H40.²¹And Jotham^H3147 ran away^H1272, and fled^H5127, and went^H3212 to Beer^H876, and dwelt^H3427 there, for fear^H6440 of Abimelech^H40 his brother^H251.

²²When Abimelech^H40 had reigned^H7786 three^H7969 years^H8141 over Israel^H3478,²³Then God^H430 sent^H7971 an evil^H7451 spirit^H7307 between Abimelech^H40 and the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927; and the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927 dealt treacherously^H898 with Abimelech^H40:²⁴That the cruelty^H2555 done to the threescore and ten^H7657 sons^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378 might come^H935, and their blood^H1818 be laid^H7760 upon Abimelech^H40 their brother^H251, which slew^H2026 them; and upon the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, which aided^{H2388 H3027} him in the killing^H2026 of his brethren^H251.²⁵And the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927 set^H7760 liers in wait^H693 for him in the top^H7218 of the mountains^H2022, and they robbed^H1497 all that came^H5674 along that way^H1870 by them: and it was told^H5046 Abimelech^H40.²⁶And Gaal^H1603 the son^H1121 of Ebed^H5651 came^H935 with his brethren^H251, and went over^H5674 to Shechem^H7927: and the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927 put their confidence^H982 in him.²⁷And they went out^H3318 into the fields^H7704, and gathered^H1219 their vineyards^H3754, and trode^H1869 the grapes, and made^H6213 merry^H1974, and went^H935 into the house^H1004 of their god^H430, and did eat^H398 and drink^H8354, and cursed^H7043 Abimelech^H40.²⁸And Gaal^H1603 the son^H1121 of Ebed^H5651 said^H559, Who is Abimelech^H40, and who is Shechem^H7927, that we should serve^H5647 him? is not he the son^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378? and Zebul^H2083 his officer^H6496? serve^H5647 the men^H582 of Hamor^H2544 the father^H1 of Shechem^H7927: for why should we serve^H5647 him?²⁹And would to God this people^H5971 were under^H5414 my hand^H3027! then would I remove^H5493 Abimelech^H40. And he said^H559 to Abimelech^H40, Increase^H7235 thine army^H6635, and come out^H3318.

³⁰And when Zebul^H2083 the ruler^H8269 of the city^H5892 heard^H8085 the words^H1697 of Gaal^H1603 the son^H1121 of Ebed^H5651, his anger^H639 was kindled^H2734.³¹And he sent^H7971 messengers^H4397 unto Abimelech^H40 privily^H8649, saying^H559, Behold, Gaal^H1603 the son^H1121 of Ebed^H5651 and his brethren^H251 be come^H935 to Shechem^H7927; and, behold, they fortify^H6696 the city^H5892 against thee.³²Now therefore up^H6965 by night^H3915, thou and the people^H5971 that is with thee, and lie in wait^H693 in the field^H7704:³³And it shall be, that in the morning^H1242, as soon as the sun^H8121 is up^H2224, thou shalt rise early^H7925, and set^H6584 upon the city^H5892: and, behold, when he and the people^H5971 that is with him come out^H3318 against thee, then mayest thou do^H6213 to them as thou^H3027 shalt find occasion^H4672.

³⁴And Abimelech^H40 rose up^H6965, and all the people^H5971 that were with him, by night^H3915, and they laid wait^H693 against Shechem^H7927 in four^H702 companies^H7218.³⁵And Gaal^H1603 the son^H1121 of Ebed^H5651 went out^H3318, and stood^H5975 in the entering^H6607 of the gate^H8179 of the city^H5892: and Abimelech^H40 rose up^H6965, and the people^H5971 that were with him, from lying in wait^H3993.³⁶And when Gaal^H1603 saw^H7200 the people^H5971, he said^H559 to Zebul^H2083, Behold, there come^H3381 people^H5971 down^H3381 from the top^H7218 of the mountains^H2022. And Zebul^H2083 said^H559 unto him, Thou seest^H7200 the shadow^H6738 of the mountains^H2022 as if they were men^H582.³⁷And Gaal^H1603 spake^H1696 again^H3254 and said^H559, See there come^H3381 people^H5971 down^H3381 by the middle^H2872 of the land^H776, and another^H259 company^H7218 come^H935 along by the plain^H436 of^H1870 Meonenim^H6049.³⁸Then said^H559 Zebul^H2083 unto him, Where is now^H645 thy mouth^H6310, wherewith thou saidst^H559, Who is Abimelech^H40, that we should serve^H5647 him? is not this the people^H5971 that thou hast despised^H3988? go out^H3318, I pray now^H4994, and fight^H3898 with them.³⁹And Gaal^H1603 went out^H3318 before^H6440 the men^H1167 of Shechem^H7927, and fought^H3898 with Abimelech^H40.⁴⁰And Abimelech^H40 chased^H7291 him, and he fled^H5127 before^H6440 him, and many^H7227 were overthrown^H5307 and wounded^H2491, even unto the entering^H6607 of the gate^H8179.⁴¹And Abimelech^H40 dwelt^H3427 at Arumah^H725: and Zebul^H2083 thrust out^H1644 Gaal^H1603 and his brethren^H251, that they should not dwell^H3427 in Shechem^H7927.⁴²And it came to pass on the morrow^H4283, that the people^H5971 went out^H3318 into the field^H7704; and they told^H5046 Abimelech^H40.⁴³And he took^H3947 the people^H5971, and divided^H2673 them into three^H7969 companies^H7218, and laid wait^H693 in the field^H7704, and looked^H7200, and, behold, the people^H5971 were come forth^H3318 out of the city^H5892; and he rose up^H6965 against them, and smote^H5221 them.⁴⁴And Abimelech^H40, and the company^H7218 that was with him, rushed forward^H6584, and stood^H5975 in the entering^H6607 of the gate^H8179 of the city^H5892: and the two^H8147 other companies^H7218 ran upon^H6584 all the people that were in the fields^H7704, and slew^H5221 them.⁴⁵And Abimelech^H40 fought^H3898 against the city^H5892 all that day^H3117; and he took^H3920 the city^H5892, and slew^H2026 the people^H5971 that was therein, and beat down^H5422 the city^H5892, and sowed^H2232 it with salt^H4417.

⁴⁶And when all the men^H1167 of the tower^H4026 of Shechem^H7927 heard^H8085 that, they entered^H935 into an hold^H6877 of the house^H1004 of the god^H410 Berith^H1286.⁴⁷And it was told^H5046 Abimelech^H40, that all the men^H1167 of the tower^H4026 of Shechem^H7927 were gathered together^H6908.⁴⁸And Abimelech^H40 gat him up^H5927 to mount^H2022 Zalmon^H6756, he and all the people^H5971 that were with him; and Abimelech^H40 took^H3947 an axe^H7134 in his hand^H3027, and cut down^H3772 a bough^H7754 from the trees^H6086, and took^H5375 it, and laid^H7760 it on his shoulder^H7926, and said^H559 unto the people^H5971 that were with him, What ye have seen^H7200 me do^H6213, make haste^H4116, and do^H6213 as I^H3644 have done.⁴⁹And all the people^H5971 likewise cut down^H3772 every man^H376 his bough^H7754, and followed^{H3212 H310} Abimelech^H40, and put^H7760 them to the hold^H6877, and set^H3341 the hold^H6877 on fire^H784 upon them; so that all the men^H582 of the tower^H4026 of Shechem^H7927 died^H4191 also, about a thousand^H505 men^H376 and women^H802.

⁵⁰Then went^H3212 Abimelech^H40 to Thebez^H8405, and encamped^H2583 against Thebez^H8405, and took^H3920 it.⁵¹But there was a strong^H5797 tower^H4026 within^H8432 the city^H5892, and thither fled^H5127 all the men^H582 and women^H802, and all they^H1167 of the city^H5892, and shut^H5462 it to them, and gat them up^H5927 to the top^H1406 of the tower^H4026.⁵²And Abimelech^H40 came^H935 unto the tower^H4026, and fought^H3898 against it, and went hard^H5066 unto the door^H6607 of the tower^H4026 to burn^H8313 it with fire^H784.⁵³And a certain^H259 woman^H802 cast^H7993 a piece^H6400 of a millstone^H7393 upon Abimelech's^H40 head^H7218, and all to brake^H7533 his skull^H1538.⁵⁴Then he called^H7121 hastily^H4120 unto the young man^H5288 his armourbearer^{H5375 H3627}, and said^H559 unto him, Draw^H8025 thy sword^H2719, and slay^H4191 me, that men say^H559 not of me, A woman^H802 slew^H2026 him. And his young man^H5288 thrust him through^H1856, and he died^H4191.⁵⁵And when the men^H376 of Israel^H3478 saw^H7200 that Abimelech^H40 was dead^H4191, they departed^H3212 every man^H376 unto his place^H4725.

⁵⁶Thus God^H430 rendered^H7725 the wickedness^H7451 of Abimelech^H40, which he did^H6213 unto his father^H1, in slaying^H2026 his seventy^H7657 brethren^H251:⁵⁷And all the evil^H7451 of the men^H582 of Shechem^H7927 did God^H430 render^H7725 upon their heads^H7218: and upon them came^H935 the curse^H7045 of Jotham^H3147 the son^H1121 of Jerubbaal^H3378.