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Judges 9-12
New American Standard Bible

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

9 Now (A)Abimelech the son of [a]Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the entire family of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the [b]leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” 3 So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the [c]leaders of Shechem; and [d]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our relative.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, [e]on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. 6 All the [f]leaders of Shechem and all [g]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [h]oak of the memorial stone which was in Shechem.

7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of (H)Mount Gerizim, and raised his voice and called out. And he said to them, “Listen to me, you [i]leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my fatness with [j]which God and mankind are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my sweetness and my good [k]fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I give up my new wine, which cheers God and mankind, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If you [l]really are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 “Now then, if you have acted with [m]honesty and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (I)Jerubbaal and his house, and [n]have dealt with him [o]as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you, and [p]risked his life and saved you from the hand of Midian; 18 but in fact you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed (J)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, (K)the son of his female slave, king over the [q]leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— 19 so if you have acted with [r]honesty and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, be joyful about Abimelech, and may he also be joyful about you. 20 But if not, may fire come out of Abimelech and consume the [s]leaders of Shechem and [t]Beth-millo; and may fire come out of the [u]leaders of Shechem and from [v]Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; and he stayed there because of his brother Abimelech.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 (L)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the [w]leaders of Shechem; and the [x]leaders of Shechem (M)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (N)so that the violence [y]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come, and the responsibility for (O)their blood would be placed on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the [z]leaders of Shechem, who [aa]encouraged him to kill his brothers. 25 The [ab]leaders of Shechem set up men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed everyone who would pass by them on the road; and it was reported to Abimelech.

26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the [ac]leaders of Shechem trusted him. 27 So they went out to the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trampled them, and held a festival; and they went into the house of (P)their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the 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 Zebul not his governor? Serve the men of (Q)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [ad](R)If only this people were under my authority! Then I would do away with Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Enlarge your army and come out!”

30 When Zebul the leader of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31 So using deception, he successfully sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are [ae]stirring up the city against you. 32 So now, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and attack the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall (S)do to them [af]whatever you can.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up at night, and lay in wait against Shechem, in four [ag]units. 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “[ah]Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were people.” 37 And Gaal spoke yet again and said, “Look, people are coming down from (T)the [ai]highest part of the land, and one [aj]unit is coming by way of [ak]the diviners’ [al]oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where then is your [am]boasting with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you rejected? Go out now and fight them!” 39 So Gaal went out [an]in the sight of the [ao]leaders of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40 But Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech stayed in Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not stay in Shechem.

42 Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech. 43 So he took [ap]his people and divided them into three [aq]units, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and [ar]saw the people coming out from the city, he [as]attacked them and killed them. 44 Then Abimelech and the [at]company who was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate; the other two [au]companies then attacked all who were in the field and killed them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city that whole day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he (U)tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the [av]leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber of the [aw]temple of (V)El-berith. 47 And it was reported to Abimelech that all the [ax]leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (W)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [ay]an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and put it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you saw me do, hurry and do [az]likewise.” 49 So all the people also cut down, each one, his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on top of the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the [ba]leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it down with fire. 53 But (X)a woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54 Then (Y)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So [bb]the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 Now when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each left for his [bc]home. 56 So (Z)God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 God also returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came [bd]upon them.

Oppression by Philistines and Ammonites

10 Now after Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, (AA)rose up to save Israel; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.

3 After him, Jair the Gileadite rose up and judged Israel for twenty-two years. 4 And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities [be]in the land of Gilead (AB)that are called [bf]Havvoth-jair to this day. 5 And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

6 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and (AC)they served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, (AD)the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; so (AE)they abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him. 7 And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He (AF)sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. 8 And they [bg]afflicted and oppressed the sons of Israel [bh]that year; for eighteen years they oppressed all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan, [bi]in Gilead in the land of the Amorites. 9 And the sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was in great difficulty.

10 Then the (AG)sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have abandoned our God and served the Baals.” 11 And the Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not save you (AH)from the Egyptians, (AI)the Amorites, (AJ)the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines? 12 And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites (AK)oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands. 13 Yet (AL)you abandoned Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer save you. 14 (AM)Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 15 Then the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, (AN)do to us whatever [bj]seems good to You; only please save us this day.” 16 (AO)So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and [bk](AP)He could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

17 Then the sons of Ammon were summoned, and they camped in Gilead. And the sons of Israel gathered together and camped in (AQ)Mizpah. 18 And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Jephthah, the Ninth Judge

11 Now (AR)Jephthah the Gileadite was a [bl]valiant warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. And Gilead had fathered Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of (AS)Tob; and worthless men gathered [bm]around Jephthah, and they went [bn]wherever he did.

4 Now it came about, after a while, that (AT)the sons of Ammon fought against Israel. 5 When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; 6 and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.” 7 But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “(AU)Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight the sons of Ammon, and (AV)become our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the Lord gives them up [bo]to me, will I become your head?” 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “(AW)The Lord is [bp]witness between us; be assured we will do [bq]as you have said.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at (AX)Mizpah.

12 So Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What conflict do you and I have, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” 13 And the king of the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, “It is because Israel (AY)took my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the (AZ)Jabbok and the Jordan; so return them peaceably now.” 14 But Jephthah sent messengers once again to the king of the sons of Ammon, 15 and they said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon. 16 For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel (BA)went through the wilderness to the [br]Red Sea, and (BB)came to Kadesh, 17 then Israel (BC)sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let us pass through your land”; but the king of Edom would not listen. (BD)And they also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh. 18 Then they went through the wilderness and (BE)around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east side of the land of Moab, and they camped beyond the Arnon; but they (BF)did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent (BG)messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please let us pass through your land to our place.” 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people and camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 21 And the Lord, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel, and they [bs](BH)defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 (BI)So they possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan. 23 And now the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from His people Israel; so should you possess it? 24 Do you not possess what (BJ)Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess it. 25 Now then, are you any better than (BK)Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26 (BL)While Israel was living in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? 27 So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me. (BM)May the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.’” 28 But the king of the sons of Ammon [bt]disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.

Jephthah’s Tragic Vow

29 Now (BN)the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over to me the sons of Ammon, 31 then whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me when I return [bu]safely from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord handed them over to him. 33 He [bv]inflicted a very great defeat on them from Aroer [bw]to the entrance of (BO)Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.

34 But Jephthah came to his house at (BP)Mizpah, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him (BQ)with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. 35 So when he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Oh, my daughter! You have brought me disaster, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have [bx]given my word to the Lord, and (BR)I cannot take it back.” 36 So she said to him, “My father, you have [by]given your word to the Lord; (BS)do to me just as [bz]you have said, since the Lord has brought you vengeance on your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” 37 And she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me; allow me two months, so that I may [ca]go to the mountains and weep because of (BT)my virginity, I and my friends.” 38 Then he said, “Go.” So he let her go for two months; and she left with her friends, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. 39 And at the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her [cb]what he had vowed; and she [cc]had no relations with a man. And it became a custom in Israel, 40 that the [cd]daughters of Israel went annually to [ce]commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days in the year.

Jephthah and His Successors

12 Now the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed [cf]to Zaphon; and (BU)they said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you!” 2 So Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were in a major dispute with the sons of Ammon; and I did call you, but you did not save me from their hand. 3 When I saw that you were no deliverer, I [cg](BV)took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” 4 Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead [ch]defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You are survivors of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.” 5 And the Gileadites (BW)took control of the crossing places of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened whenever any of the survivors of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” that the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,” 6 then they would say to him, “Just say, ‘Shibboleth.’” But he said, “Sibboleth,” for he was not [ci]prepared to [cj]pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the crossing places of the Jordan. So at that time forty-two thousand from Ephraim fell.

7 Jephthah judged Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 Now Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him. 9 He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he [ck]gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel for seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

11 Now Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel after him; he judged Israel for ten years. 12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13 Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel for eight years. 15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:1 I.e., Gideon
  2. Judges 9:2 Or landowners
  3. Judges 9:3 Or landowners
  4. Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
  5. Judges 9:5 Perhaps a mass human sacrifice
  6. Judges 9:6 Or landowners
  7. Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
  8. Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
  9. Judges 9:7 Or landowners
  10. Judges 9:9 Lit which by me
  11. Judges 9:11 Lit produce
  12. Judges 9:15 Or sincerely
  13. Judges 9:16 Or sincerity
  14. Judges 9:16 Lit if you have
  15. Judges 9:16 Lit according to the accomplishment of his hands
  16. Judges 9:17 Lit threw his soul away
  17. Judges 9:18 Or landowners
  18. Judges 9:19 Or sincerity
  19. Judges 9:20 Or landowners
  20. Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
  21. Judges 9:20 Or landowners
  22. Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
  23. Judges 9:23 Or landowners
  24. Judges 9:23 Or landowners
  25. Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
  26. Judges 9:24 Or landowners
  27. Judges 9:24 Lit strengthened his hands
  28. Judges 9:25 Or landowners
  29. Judges 9:26 Or landowners
  30. Judges 9:29 Lit And who will hand this people over to me
  31. Judges 9:31 Or besieging
  32. Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand finds
  33. Judges 9:34 Lit heads
  34. Judges 9:36 Lit Behold
  35. Judges 9:37 Lit center
  36. Judges 9:37 Lit head
  37. Judges 9:37 Heb Elon-meonenim
  38. Judges 9:37 Or terebinth
  39. Judges 9:38 Lit mouth
  40. Judges 9:39 Or at the head of
  41. Judges 9:39 Or landowners
  42. Judges 9:43 Lit the
  43. Judges 9:43 Lit heads
  44. Judges 9:43 Lit behold, the
  45. Judges 9:43 Lit rose against
  46. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  47. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  48. Judges 9:46 Or landowners
  49. Judges 9:46 Lit house
  50. Judges 9:47 Or landowners
  51. Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
  52. Judges 9:48 Lit like me
  53. Judges 9:51 Or landowners
  54. Judges 9:54 Lit his
  55. Judges 9:55 Lit place
  56. Judges 9:57 Lit to
  57. Judges 10:4 Lit which are in
  58. Judges 10:4 I.e., the towns of Jair
  59. Judges 10:8 Lit destroyed
  60. Judges 10:8 Lit in that
  61. Judges 10:8 Lit which is in
  62. Judges 10:15 Lit the good in Your eyes
  63. Judges 10:16 Lit His soul became impatient with the misery
  64. Judges 11:1 Or mighty man of valor
  65. Judges 11:3 Lit to
  66. Judges 11:3 Lit out with him
  67. Judges 11:9 Lit before
  68. Judges 11:10 Lit listener
  69. Judges 11:10 Lit according to your word
  70. Judges 11:16 Lit Sea of Reeds
  71. Judges 11:21 Lit struck
  72. Judges 11:28 Lit did not listen to the words
  73. Judges 11:31 Or with success; lit in well-being
  74. Judges 11:33 Lit struck a...blow
  75. Judges 11:33 Lit even until you are coming to
  76. Judges 11:35 Lit opened my mouth wide
  77. Judges 11:36 Lit opened your mouth wide
  78. Judges 11:36 Lit has gone out of your mouth
  79. Judges 11:37 Lit go and go down on
  80. Judges 11:39 Lit his vow which he had vowed
  81. Judges 11:39 Lit knew no man
  82. Judges 11:40 I.e., women
  83. Judges 11:40 Lit recount; some ancient versions, lament
  84. Judges 12:1 Or northward
  85. Judges 12:3 Lit put my soul in my palm
  86. Judges 12:4 Lit struck
  87. Judges 12:6 Some Heb mss read able to
  88. Judges 12:6 Lit speak
  89. Judges 12:9 Lit sent outside
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Judges 9-12
New International Version

Abimelek

9 Abimelek(A) son of Jerub-Baal(B) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 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.(C)”

3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4 They gave him seventy shekels[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,(D) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,(E) who became his followers. 5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,(F) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,(G) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.(H) 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo(I) gathered beside the great tree(J) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

7 When Jotham(K) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim(L) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

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 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,(M) which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade;(N) but if not, then let fire come out(O) of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’(P)

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? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked(Q) his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons(R) 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. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today?(S) If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out(T) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem(U) and Beth Millo,(V) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

21 Then Jotham(W) fled, escaping to Beer,(X) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity(Y) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,(Z) the shedding(AA) of their blood, might be avenged(AB) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him(AC) murder his brothers. 25 In 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.

26 Now Gaal son of Ebed(AD) moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden(AE) them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.(AF) While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed(AG) said, “Who(AH) 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,(AI) Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command!(AJ) Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[b](AK)

30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under 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. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait(AL) in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.(AM)”

34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate(AN) just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.(AO)

36 When 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.”

37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,[c] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”

38 Then 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?(AP) Go out and fight them!”

39 So Gaal led out[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies(AQ) and set an ambush(AR) in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek 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. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city(AS) and scattered salt(AT) over it.

46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple(AU) of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon.(AV) 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!” 49 So 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.

50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez(AW) and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside 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. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.(AX)

54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me,(AY) so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.(AZ) The curse of Jotham(BA) son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Tola

10 After the time of Abimelek,(BB) a man of Issachar(BC) named Tola son of Puah,(BD) the son of Dodo, rose to save(BE) Israel. He lived in Shamir,(BF) in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He led[e] Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.

Jair

3 He was followed by Jair(BG) of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys.(BH) They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.[f](BI) 5 When Jair(BJ) died, he was buried in Kamon.

Jephthah

6 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.(BK) They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths,(BL) and the gods of Aram,(BM) the gods of Sidon,(BN) the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites(BO) and the gods of the Philistines.(BP) And because the Israelites forsook the Lord(BQ) and no longer served him, 7 he became angry(BR) with them. He sold them(BS) into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8 who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead,(BT) the land of the Amorites. 9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah,(BU) Benjamin and Ephraim;(BV) Israel was in great distress. 10 Then the Israelites cried(BW) out to the Lord, “We have sinned(BX) against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”(BY)

11 The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians,(BZ) the Amorites,(CA) the Ammonites,(CB) the Philistines,(CC) 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites(CD) and the Maonites[g](CE) oppressed you(CF) and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? 13 But you have forsaken(CG) me and served other gods,(CH) so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save(CI) you when you are in trouble!(CJ)”

15 But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best,(CK) but please rescue us now.” 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord.(CL) And he could bear Israel’s misery(CM) no longer.(CN)

17 When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.(CO) 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head(CP) over all who live in Gilead.”

11 Jephthah(CQ) the Gileadite was a mighty warrior.(CR) His father was Gilead;(CS) his mother was a prostitute.(CT) 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob,(CU) where a gang of scoundrels(CV) gathered around him and followed him.

4 Some time later, when the Ammonites(CW) were fighting against Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house?(CX) Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”

8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head(CY) over all of us who live in Gilead.”

9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness;(CZ) we will certainly do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders(DA) of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated(DB) all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.(DC)

12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”

13 The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon(DD) to the Jabbok,(DE) all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably.”

14 Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, 15 saying:

“This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab(DF) or the land of the Ammonites.(DG) 16 But when they came up out of Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea[h](DH) and on to Kadesh.(DI) 17 Then Israel sent messengers(DJ) to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Give us permission to go through your country,’(DK) but the king of Edom would not listen. They sent also to the king of Moab,(DL) and he refused.(DM) So Israel stayed at Kadesh.

18 “Next they traveled through the wilderness, skirted the lands of Edom(DN) and Moab, passed along the eastern side(DO) of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon.(DP) They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.

19 “Then Israel sent messengers(DQ) to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(DR) and said to him, ‘Let us pass through your country to our own place.’(DS) 20 Sihon, however, did not trust Israel[i] to pass through his territory. He mustered all his troops and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.(DT)

21 “Then the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel’s hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, 22 capturing all of it from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.(DU)

23 “Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? 24 Will you not take what your god Chemosh(DV) gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us,(DW) we will possess. 25 Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor,(DX) king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?(DY) 26 For three hundred years Israel occupied(DZ) Heshbon, Aroer,(EA) the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time? 27 I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge,(EB) decide(EC) the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.(ED)”

28 The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.

29 Then the Spirit(EE) of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah(EF) of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.(EG) 30 And Jephthah made a vow(EH) to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph(EI) from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.(EJ)”

32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith,(EK) as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing(EL) to the sound of timbrels!(EM) She was an only child.(EN) Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes(EO) and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.(EP)”

36 “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised,(EQ) now that the Lord has avenged you(ER) of your enemies,(ES) the Ammonites. 37 But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.”

38 “You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. 39 After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

From this comes the Israelite tradition 40 that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Jephthah and Ephraim

12 The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon.(ET) They said to Jephthah,(EU) “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you?(EV) We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”

2 Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. 3 When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands(EW) and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory(EX) over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”

4 Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead(EY) and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.(EZ)” 5 The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan(FA) leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he replied, “No,” 6 they said, “All right, say ‘Shibboleth.’” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

7 Jephthah led[j] Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead.

Ibzan, Elon and Abdon

8 After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem(FB) led Israel. 9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. 12 Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon(FC) in the land of Zebulun.

13 After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon,(FD) led Israel. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons,(FE) who rode on seventy donkeys.(FF) He led Israel eight years. 15 Then Abdon son of Hillel died and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.(FG)

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams
  2. Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”
  3. Judges 9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
  4. Judges 9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of
  5. Judges 10:2 Traditionally judged; also in verse 3
  6. Judges 10:4 Or called the settlements of Jair
  7. Judges 10:12 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts Midianites
  8. Judges 11:16 Or the Sea of Reeds
  9. Judges 11:20 Or however, would not make an agreement for Israel
  10. Judges 12:7 Traditionally judged; also in verses 8-14
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