Jueces 9
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Conspiración de Abimelec
9 Abimelec, hijo de Jerobaal(A), fue a Siquem, a los parientes[a] de su madre, y les dijo a ellos y a toda la familia de la casa del padre de su madre: 2 «Hablen ahora a oídos de todos los habitantes[b] de Siquem: “¿Qué es mejor para ustedes, que todos los hijos de Jerobaal, setenta hombres(B), reinen sobre ustedes, o que reine sobre ustedes un solo hombre?”. Además, acuérdense que yo soy hueso y carne de ustedes(C)».
3 Y los parientes de su madre hablaron todas estas palabras por él a oídos de todos los habitantes de Siquem. Y ellos se inclinaron a seguir a[c] Abimelec, porque dijeron: «Es pariente nuestro(D)». 4 Le dieron setenta piezas de plata de la casa de Baal Berit(E), con las cuales Abimelec tomó a sueldo hombres indignos y temerarios que lo siguieron. 5 Luego fue a la casa de su padre en Ofra y sobre una piedra mató a sus hermanos, los hijos de Jerobaal, setenta hombres(F). Pero Jotam, el hijo menor de Jerobaal, se libró[d] porque se escondió(G). 6 Y se reunieron todos los habitantes de Siquem y todo Bet Milo[e], y fueron e hicieron rey a Abimelec, junto a la encina[f] del pilar que había en Siquem.
7 Cuando se lo informaron a Jotam, fue y se paró en la cumbre del monte Gerizim(H), y alzando su voz, clamó y les dijo: «Escúchenme, habitantes de Siquem, para que los oiga Dios. 8 Una vez los árboles fueron a ungir un rey sobre ellos, y dijeron al olivo: “Reina sobre nosotros”.
9 »Pero el olivo les respondió: “¿He de dejar mi aceite[g] con el cual[h] se honra a Dios y a los hombres, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?”.
10 »Entonces los árboles dijeron a la higuera: “Ven, reina sobre nosotros”.
11 »Pero la higuera les respondió: “¿He de dejar mi dulzura y mi buen fruto, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?”.
12 »Después los árboles dijeron a la vid: “Ven tú, reina sobre nosotros”.
13 »Pero la vid les respondió: “¿He de dejar mi vino nuevo, que alegra a Dios y a los hombres, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?”.
14 »Dijeron entonces todos los árboles a la zarza: “Ven tú, reina sobre nosotros”.
15 »Y la zarza dijo a los árboles: “Si en verdad[i] me ungen por rey sobre ustedes, vengan y refúgiense a mi sombra; y si no, salga fuego de la zarza y consuma los cedros del Líbano”.
16 »Ahora pues, si ustedes han procedido con verdad[j] e integridad al hacer rey a Abimelec, y si han procedido bien con Jerobaal(I) y su casa, y si han procedido con él como él merecía[k] 17 (pues mi padre peleó por ustedes, y arriesgó su vida[l] y los libró de la mano de Madián, 18 pero ustedes se han rebelado hoy contra la casa de mi padre y han matado a sus hijos, setenta hombres(J), sobre una piedra, y han hecho rey sobre los habitantes de Siquem a Abimelec, el hijo de su sierva(K), porque es pariente de ustedes), 19 si han, pues, procedido hoy en verdad[m] e integridad para con Jerobaal y su casa, regocíjense en Abimelec, y que él también se regocije en ustedes. 20 Y si no, salga fuego de Abimelec y consuma a los habitantes de Siquem y de Bet Milo[n]. Y salga fuego de los habitantes de Siquem y de Bet Milo[o] y consuma a Abimelec». 21 Entonces Jotam escapó y huyó, y se fue a Beer y permaneció allí a causa de su hermano Abimelec.
Reinado de Abimelec
22 Abimelec reinó tres años sobre Israel. 23 Pero Dios envió un espíritu de discordia(L) entre Abimelec y los habitantes de Siquem; y los habitantes de Siquem procedieron pérfidamente con Abimelec(M), 24 para que viniera la violencia hecha a los[p] setenta hijos de Jerobaal(N), y recayera la sangre de ellos sobre su hermano Abimelec que los mató, y sobre los habitantes de Siquem que fortalecieron las manos de él para matar a sus hermanos(O). 25 Los habitantes de Siquem pusieron emboscadas[q] contra él en las cumbres de los montes y robaban a todos los que pasaban cerca de ellos por el camino; y se lo hicieron saber a Abimelec.
26 Gaal, hijo de Ebed, vino con sus parientes, y pasaron a Siquem; y los habitantes de Siquem pusieron su confianza en él. 27 Y salieron al campo y vendimiaron sus viñedos, pisaron las uvas e hicieron fiesta. Y entrando a la casa de su dios(P), comieron y bebieron y maldijeron a Abimelec. 28 Entonces Gaal, hijo de Ebed, dijo: «¿Quién es Abimelec y quién es Siquem para que le sirvamos? ¿No es acaso hijo de Jerobaal, y no es Zebul su oficial[r]? Sirvan a los hombres de Hamor, padre de Siquem(Q); pero ¿por qué hemos de servirle a él? 29 ¡Quién pusiera este pueblo en mis manos(R)! Entonces yo quitaría a Abimelec». Diría a Abimelec: «Aumenta tu ejército, y sal».
30 Cuando Zebul, gobernante de la ciudad, oyó las palabras de Gaal, hijo de Ebed, se encendió en ira. 31 Y envió secretamente mensajeros a Abimelec, diciendo: «Gaal, hijo de Ebed, y sus parientes han venido a Siquem, y están alborotando[s] a la ciudad contra ti. 32 Ahora pues, levántate de noche, tú y el pueblo que está contigo, y pon emboscada en el campo. 33 Y en la mañana, en cuanto salga el sol, te levantarás temprano y atacarás la ciudad. Entonces, cuando Gaal y el pueblo que está con él salga contra ti, harás con ellos lo que te venga a mano(S)».
34 Abimelec y todo el pueblo que estaba con él, se levantaron de noche y pusieron emboscada contra Siquem con cuatro compañías[t]. 35 Gaal, hijo de Ebed, salió y se paró a la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad. Y Abimelec y el pueblo que estaba con él salieron de la emboscada. 36 Al ver Gaal a la gente, dijo a Zebul: «Mira, viene gente bajando de las cumbres de los montes». «Estás viendo la sombra de los montes como si fueran hombres», le dijo Zebul.
37 Pero Gaal volvió a hablar y dijo: «Veo gente que baja de la parte más alta[u] de la tierra(T), y una compañía viene por el camino de la encina[v] de los adivinos[w]». 38 Entonces Zebul le dijo: «¿Dónde está ahora tu jactancia[x] con la cual decías: “¿Quién es Abimelec para que le sirvamos?”? ¿No es este el pueblo que despreciabas? Ahora pues, sal y pelea contra él».
39 Y salió Gaal delante de los habitantes de Siquem y peleó contra Abimelec. 40 Abimelec lo persiguió pero Gaal[y] huyó delante de él. Y muchos cayeron heridos hasta la entrada de la puerta. 41 Y Abimelec se quedó en Aruma, pero Zebul expulsó a Gaal y a sus parientes para que no se quedaran en Siquem.
Captura de Siquem
42 Al día siguiente el pueblo salió al campo, y se lo hicieron saber a Abimelec. 43 Y él tomó a su[z] gente, la dividió en tres compañías y puso emboscadas en el campo. Cuando miró y vio al pueblo salir de la ciudad, se levantó contra ellos y los mató[aa]. 44 Entonces Abimelec y la compañía[ab] que estaba con él se lanzaron con ímpetu y se situaron a la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad, y las otras dos compañías se lanzaron contra todos los que estaban en el campo y los mataron[ac]. 45 Y peleó Abimelec contra la ciudad todo aquel día, capturó la ciudad y mató a la gente que había en ella. Entonces arrasó la ciudad y la sembró de sal(U).
46 Al oír esto todos los habitantes de la torre de Siquem, se metieron en la fortaleza[ad] del templo[ae] de El Berit[af](V). 47 Y le informaron a Abimelec que todos los habitantes de la torre de Siquem estaban reunidos.
48 Abimelec subió entonces al monte Salmón(W), él y toda la gente que estaba con él; y tomando Abimelec un hacha[ag] en su mano, cortó una rama de los árboles, la levantó y la puso sobre su hombro. Y dijo a la gente que estaba con él: «Lo que me han visto hacer, apresúrense y hagan lo mismo[ah]». 49 Y todo el pueblo cortó también cada uno su rama y siguió a Abimelec, y las pusieron sobre la fortaleza[ai]; prendieron fuego a la fortaleza[aj] sobre los que estaban adentro, y murieron también todos los[ak] de la torre de Siquem, como 1,000 hombres y mujeres.
Muerte de Abimelec
50 Después Abimelec fue a Tebes, la sitió[al] y la tomó. 51 Pero había una torre fortificada en el centro de la ciudad, y todos los hombres y mujeres, todos los habitantes de la ciudad, huyeron allí, se encerraron y subieron al techo de la torre. 52 Abimelec vino a la torre, la atacó y se acercó a la entrada de la torre para prenderle fuego. 53 Pero una mujer arrojó una rueda de molino sobre la cabeza de Abimelec(X) rompiéndole el cráneo.
54 Entonces él llamó apresuradamente al muchacho que era su escudero, y le dijo: «Saca tu espada y mátame(Y), no sea que se diga de mí: “Una mujer lo mató”». Y el[am] muchacho lo traspasó, y murió. 55 Cuando los hombres de Israel vieron que Abimelec había muerto, cada cual se fue para su casa[an]. 56 Así pagó Dios a Abimelec por la maldad que había hecho a su padre al matar a sus setenta hermanos(Z). 57 Dios también hizo volver sobre sus cabezas toda la maldad de los hombres de Siquem, y vino sobre[ao] ellos la maldición de Jotam, hijo de Jerobaal.
Footnotes
- 9:1 Lit. hermano(s), y así en el resto del cap.
- 9:2 O jefes heb. baalim, y así en el resto del cap.
- 9:3 Lit. sus corazones se inclinaron tras.
- 9:5 O quedó.
- 9:6 O toda la casa de Milo.
- 9:6 O al terebinto.
- 9:9 Lit. grosura.
- 9:9 Lit. con el cual por mí.
- 9:15 O sinceridad.
- 9:16 O sinceridad.
- 9:16 Lit. conforme al proceder de sus manos.
- 9:17 Lit. echó su alma por delante.
- 9:19 O sinceridad.
- 9:20 O la casa de Milo.
- 9:20 O la casa de Milo.
- 9:24 Lit. de los.
- 9:25 Lit. asechadores.
- 9:28 O supervisor.
- 9:31 Lit. sitiando.
- 9:34 Lit. cabezas, y así en el resto del cap.
- 9:37 O del centro.
- 9:37 O el terebinto.
- 9:37 Heb. Elommeonenim.
- 9:38 Lit. boca.
- 9:40 Lit. él.
- 9:43 Lit. la.
- 9:43 Lit. hirió.
- 9:44 Lit. las cabezas; singular en la versión gr. (sept.).
- 9:44 Lit. hirieron.
- 9:46 Lit. cámara interna.
- 9:46 Lit. de la casa.
- 9:46 I.e. del dios Berit.
- 9:48 Lit. las hachas.
- 9:48 Lit. como yo.
- 9:49 Lit. cámara interna.
- 9:49 Lit. cámara interna.
- 9:49 Lit. toda la gente.
- 9:50 Lit. sitió a Tebes.
- 9:54 Lit. su.
- 9:55 Lit. lugar.
- 9:57 Lit. a.
Judges 9
New King James Version
Abimelech’s Conspiracy
9 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to (A)his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all (B)seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and (C)bone.”
3 And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our (D)brother.” 4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of (E)Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired (F)worthless and reckless men; and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house (G)at Ophrah and (H)killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.
The Parable of the Trees
7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of (I)Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them:
“Listen to me, you men of Shechem,
That God may listen to you!
8 “The(J) trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.
And they said to the olive tree,
(K)‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree said to them,
‘Should I cease giving my oil,
(L)With which they honor God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree,
‘You come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree said to them,
‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit,
And go to sway over trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine,
‘You come and reign over us!’
13 But the vine said to them,
‘Should I cease my new wine,
(M)Which cheers both God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble,
‘You come and reign over us!’
15 And the bramble said to the trees,
‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you,
Then come and take shelter in my (N)shade;
But if not, (O)let fire come out of the bramble
And devour the (P)cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him (Q)as[a] he deserves— 17 for my (R)father fought for you, risked his life, and (S)delivered you out of the hand of Midian; 18 (T)but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his (U)female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother— 19 if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then (V)rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, (W)let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” 21 And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to (X)Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Downfall of Abimelech
22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, 23 (Y)God sent a (Z)spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem (AA)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (AB)that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their (AC)blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers. 25 And the men of Shechem set [b]men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.
26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and [c]made merry. And they went into (AD)the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, (AE)“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? Serve the men of (AF)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 (AG)If only this people were under my [d]authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So [e]he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused. 31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you. 32 Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and [f]lie in wait in the field. 33 And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them [g]as you find opportunity.”
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and [h]lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”
But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
37 So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the [i]Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you (AH)said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”
39 So Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul [j]drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.
42 And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech. 43 So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and [k]attacked them. 44 Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed them. 45 So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; (AI)he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he (AJ)demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
46 Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the [l]stronghold of the temple (AK)of the god Berith. 47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 Then Abimelech went up to Mount (AL)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.” 49 So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the [m]stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he [n]encamped against Thebez and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 But a certain woman (AM)dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. 54 Then (AN)he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his [o]place.
56 (AO)Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came (AP)the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Footnotes
- Judges 9:16 Lit. according to the doing of his hands
- Judges 9:25 Lit. liers-in-wait for
- Judges 9:27 rejoiced
- Judges 9:29 Lit. hand
- Judges 9:29 So with MT, Tg.; DSS they; LXX I
- Judges 9:32 Set up an ambush
- Judges 9:33 Lit. as your hand can find
- Judges 9:34 Set up an ambush
- Judges 9:37 Heb. Meonenim
- Judges 9:41 exiled
- Judges 9:43 Lit. struck
- Judges 9:46 fortified room
- Judges 9:49 fortified room
- Judges 9:50 besieged
- Judges 9:55 home
Judges 9
English Standard Version
Abimelech's Conspiracy
9 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to (A)his mother's relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, 2 “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all (B)seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that (C)I am (D)your bone and your flesh.”
3 And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, (E)“He is our brother.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of (F)Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired (G)worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. 5 And he went to his father's house at (H)Ophrah (I)and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all (J)Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.
7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of (K)Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 (L)The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, (M)‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ 12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that (N)cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and (O)take refuge in my shade, but if not, (P)let fire come out of the bramble and devour (Q)the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (R)Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him (S)as his deeds deserved— 17 for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, 18 and you have risen up against my father's house this day (T)and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made (U)Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, (V)because he is your relative— 19 if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then (W)rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, (X)let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” 21 And Jotham ran away and fled and went to (Y)Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.
The Downfall of Abimelech
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. 23 (Z)And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem (AA)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (AB)that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into (AC)the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, (AD)“Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of (AE)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say[a] to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”
30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly,[b] saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up[c] the city against you. 32 Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field. 33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them (AF)as your hand finds to do.”
34 So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from (AG)the mountaintops!” And Zebul said to him, “You mistake[d] the shadow of the mountains for men.” 37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, (AH)‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.” 39 And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate. 41 And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.
42 On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told. 43 He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them. 44 Abimelech and the company that was with him (AI)rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and (AJ)he razed the city and (AK)sowed it with salt.
46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered (AL)the stronghold of the house of (AM)El-berith. 47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech went up to Mount (AN)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.” 49 So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against (AO)the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 (AP)And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull. 54 (AQ)Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. 56 (AR)Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came (AS)the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Footnotes
- Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew and he said
- Judges 9:31 Or at Tormah
- Judges 9:31 Hebrew besieging, or closing up
- Judges 9:36 Hebrew You see
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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