Judges 9

vayyelekh avimelekh ben-yerubba'al shekhemah el-akhe immo vayedabber alehem ve'el-kol-mishpakhat bet-avi immo lemor

Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and spoke to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family. He said,

dabberu-na be'ozne khol-ba'ale shekhem mah-ttov lakhem hameshol bakhem shivim ish kol bene yerubba'al im-meshol bakhem ish ekhad uzekhartem ki-atsmekhem uvesarkhem ani

“Put this question to all the citizens of Shechem: Which is better for you—to be ruled by all seventy sons of Jerubbaal, or to be ruled by one? And remember, I am your own flesh and blood.”

vayedabberu akhe-immo alayw be'ozne kol-ba'ale shekhem et kol-haddevarim ha'elleh vayyet libbam akhare avimelekh ki ameru akhinu hu

His mother’s brothers said all this in his behalf to all the citizens of Shechem, and they were won over to Abimelech; for they thought, “He is our kinsman.”

vayyittenu-lo shivim kesef mibbet ba'al berit vayyiskor bahem avimelekh anashim reqim ufokhazim vayyelekhu akharayw

They gave him seventy shekels from the temple of Baal-berith; and with this Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.

vayyavo vet-aviv ofratah vayyaharog et-ekhayw bene-yerubba'al shivim ish al-even ekhat vayyivvater yotam ben-yerubba'al haqqaton ki nekhba

Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy in succession on one stone. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he went into hiding.

vayye'asefu kol-ba'ale shekhem vekhol-bet millo vayyelekhu vayyamlikhu et-avimelekh lemelekh im-elon mutsav asher bishkhem

All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo convened, and they proclaimed Abimelech king at the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem.

vayyaggidu leyotam vayyelekh vayya'amod berosh har-gerizim vayyissa qolo vayyiqra vayyomer lahem shimu elay ba'ale shekhem veyishma alekhem elohim

When Jotham was informed, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and called out to them in a loud voice. “Citizens of Shechem!” he cried, “Listen to me, that God may listen to you.

halokh halekhu ha'etsim limshoakh alehem melekh vayyomeru lazzayit (mlvkhh) [molkhah] alenu

“Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

vayyomer lahem hazzayit hekhodalti et-dishni asher-bi yekhabbedu elohim va'anashim vehalakhti lanua al-ha'etsim

But the olive tree replied, ‘Have I, through whom God and humans are honored, stopped yielding my rich oil, that I should go and wave above the trees?’

vayyomeru ha'etsim latte'enah lekhi-att molkhi alenu

So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’

vattomer lahem hatte'enah hekhodalti et-motqi ve'et-tenuvati hattovah vehalakhti lanua al-ha'etsim

But the fig tree replied, ‘Have I stopped yielding my sweetness, my delicious fruit, that I should go and wave above the trees?’

vayyomeru ha'etsim laggafen lekhi-att (mlvkhy) [molkhi] alenu

So the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’

vattomer lahem haggefen hekhodalti et-tiroshi hamesammeakh elohim va'anashim vehalakhti lanua al-ha'etsim

But the vine replied, ‘Have I stopped yielding my new wine, which gladdens God and humans, that I should go and wave above the trees?’

vayyomeru khol-ha'etsim el-ha'atad lekh attah melokh-alenu

Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and reign over us.’

vayyomer ha'atad el-ha'etsim im be'emet attem moshekhim oti lemelekh alekhem bo'u khasu vetsilli ve'im-ayin tetse esh min-ha'atad vetokhal et-arze hallevanon

And the thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you are acting honorably in anointing me king over you, come and take shelter in my shade; but if not, may fire issue from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

ve'attah im-be'emet uvetamim asitem vattamlikhu et-avimelekh ve'im-tovah asitem im-yerubba'al ve'im-beto ve'im-kigmul yadayw asitem lo

“Now then, if you acted honorably and loyally in making Abimelech king, if you have done right by Jerubbaal and his house and have requited him according to his deserts—

asher-nilkham avi alekhem vayyashlekh et-nafsho minneged vayyatsel etkhem miyyad midyan

considering that my father fought for you and saved you from the Midianites at the risk of his life,

ve'attem qamtem al-bet avi hayyom vattahargu et-banayw shivim ish al-even ekhat vattamlikhu et-avimelekh ben-amato al-ba'ale shekhem ki akhikhem hu

and now you have turned on my father’s household, killed his sons (seventy in succession on one stone!) and set up Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as king over the citizens of Shechem just because he is your kinsman—

ve'im-be'emet uvetamim asitem im-yerubba'al ve'im-beto hayyom hazzeh simkhu ba'avimelekh veyismakh gam-hu bakhem

if, I say, you have this day acted honorably and loyally toward Jerubbaal and his house, have joy in Abimelech and may he likewise have joy in you.

ve'im-ayin tetse esh me'avimelekh vetokhal et-ba'ale shekhem ve'et-bet millo vetetse esh mibba'ale shekhem umibbet millo vetokhal et-avimelekh

But if not, may fire issue from Abimelech and consume the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire issue from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech!”

vayyanos yotam vayyivrakh vayyelekh be'erah vayyeshev sham mippene avimelekh akhiv

With that, Jotham fled. He ran to Beer and stayed there, because of his brother Abimelech.

vayyasar avimelekh al-yisra'el shalosh shanim

Abimelech held sway over Israel for three years.

vayyishlakh elohim ruakh ra'ah ben avimelekh uven ba'ale shekhem vayyivgedu va'ale-shekhem ba'avimelekh

Then God sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, and the citizens of Shechem broke faith with Abimelech—

lavo khamas shivim bene-yerubba'al vedamam lasum al-avimelekh akhihem asher harag otam ve'al ba'ale shekhem asher-khizzequ et-yadayw laharog et-ekhayw

to the end that the crime committed against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be avenged, and their blood recoil upon their brother Abimelech, who had slain them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who had abetted him in the slaying of his brothers.

vayyasimu lo va'ale shekhem me'arevim al rashe heharim vayyigzelu et kol-asher-ya'avor alehem baddarekh vayyuggad la'avimelekh

The citizens of Shechem planted ambuscades against him on the hilltops; and they robbed whoever passed by them on the road. Word of this reached Abimelech.

vayyavo ga'al ben-eved ve'ekhayw vayya'avru bishkhem vayyivtekhu-vo ba'ale shekhem

Then Gaal son of Ebed and his companions came passing through Shechem, and the citizens of Shechem gave him their confidence.

vayyetse'u hassadeh vayyivtseru et-karmehem vayyidrekhu vayya'asu hillulim vayyavo'u bet elohehem vayyokhelu vayyishtu vayeqallu et-avimelekh

They went out into the fields, gathered and trod out the vintage of their vineyards, and made a festival. They entered the temple of their god, and as they ate and drank they reviled Abimelech.

vayyomer ga'al ben-eved mi-avimelekh umi-shekhem ki na'avdennu halo ven-yerubba'al uzevul peqido ivdu et-anshe khamor avi shekhem umaddua na'avdennu anakhenu

Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who are [we] Shechemites, that we should serve him? This same son of Jerubbaal and his lieutenant Zebul once served the entourage of Hamor, the father of Shechem; so why should we serve him?

umi yitten et-ha'am hazzeh beyadi ve'asirah et-avimelekh vayyomer la'avimelekh rabbeh tseva'akha vatse'ah

Oh, if only this people were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech! One would challenge Abimelech, ‘Fill up your ranks and come out here!’”

vayyishma zevul sar-ha'ir et-divre ga'al ben-aved vayyikhar appo

When Zebul, the governor of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.

vayyishlakh malakhim el-avimelekh betormah lemor hinneh ga'al ben-eved ve'ekhayw ba'im shekhemah vehinnam tsarim et-ha'ir alekha

He sent messages to Abimelech at Tormah to say, “Gaal son of Ebed and his companions have come to Shechem and they are inciting the city against you.

ve'attah qum laylah attah veha'am asher-ittakh ve'erov bassadeh

Therefore, set out at night with the forces you have with you and conceal yourself in the fields.

vehayah vabboqer kizroakh hashemesh tashkim ufashatta al-ha'ir vehinneh-hu veha'am asher-itto yotse'im elekha ve'asita lo ka'asher timtsa yadekha

Early next morning, as the sun rises, advance on the city. He and his troops will thereupon come out against you, and you will do to him whatever you find possible.”

vayyaqom avimelekh vekhol-ha'am asher-immo layelah vayye'ervu al-shekhem arba'ah rashim

Abimelech and all the troops with him set out at night and disposed themselves against Shechem in four hiding places.

vayyetse ga'al ben-eved vayya'amod petakh sha'ar ha'ir vayyaqom avimelekh veha'am asher-itto min-hammarav

When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the troops with him emerged from concealment.

vayyar-ga'al et-ha'am vayyomer el-zevul hinneh-am yored merashe heharim vayyomer elayw zevul et tsel heharim attah ro'eh ka'anashim

Gaal saw the troops and said to Zebul, “Look, troops are coming down from the hilltops!” But Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the hills look to you like people.”

vayyosef od ga'al ledabber vayyomer hinneh-am yoredim me'im tabbur ha'arets verosh-ekhad ba midderekh elon me'onenim

Gaal spoke up again, “Look, troops are coming down from Tabbur-erez, and another column is coming from the direction of Elon-meonenim.”

vayyomer elayw zevul ayyeh efo fikha asher tomar mi avimelekh ki na'avdennu halo zeh ha'am asher ma'astah bo tse-na attah vehillakhem bo

“Well,” replied Zebul, “where is your boast, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him’? Are these not the troops you sneered at? Now go out and fight with them!”

vayyetse ga'al lifne ba'ale shekhem vayyillakhem ba'avimelekh

So Gaal went out at the head of the citizens of Shechem and gave battle to Abimelech.

vayyirdefehu avimelekh vayyanos mippanayw vayyippelu khalalim rabbim ad-petakh hasha'ar

But he had to flee before him, and Abimelech pursued him, and many fell slain, all the way to the entrance of the gate.

vayyeshev avimelekh barumah vayegaresh zevul et-ga'al ve'et-ekhayw mishevet bishkhem

Then Abimelech stayed in Arumah, while Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions and kept them out of Shechem.

vayehi mimmokhorat vayyetse ha'am hassadeh vayyaggidu la'avimelekh

The next day, people went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

vayyiqqakh et-ha'am vayyekhetsem lishloshah rashim vayye'erov bassadeh vayyar vehinneh ha'am yotse min-ha'ir vayyaqom alehem vayyakkem

So he took his troops, divided them into three columns, and lay in ambush in the fields; and when he saw the people coming out of the city, he pounced upon them and struck them down.

va'avimelekh veharashim asher immo pashetu vayya'amdu petakh sha'ar ha'ir ushene harashim pashetu al-kol-asher bassadeh vayyakkum

While Abimelech and the column that followed him dashed ahead and took up a position at the entrance of the city gate, the other two columns rushed upon all that were in the open and struck them down.

va'avimelekh nilkham ba'ir kol hayyom hahu vayyilkod et-ha'ir ve'et-ha'am asher-bah harag vayyittots et-ha'ir vayyizra'eha melakh

Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and massacred the people in it; he razed the town and sowed it with salt.

vayyishme'u kol-ba'ale migdal-shekhem vayyavo'u el-tseriakh bet el berit

When all the citizens of the Tower of Shechem learned of this, they went into the tunnel of the temple of El-berith.

vayyuggad la'avimelekh ki hitqabbetsu kol-ba'ale migdal-shekhem

When Abimelech was informed that all the citizens of the Tower of Shechem had gathered [there],

vayya'al avimelekh har-tsalmon hu vekhol-ha'am asher-itto vayyiqqakh avimelekh et-haqqardummot beyado vayyikhrot sokhat etsim vayyissa'eha vayyasem al-shikhmo vayyomer el-ha'am asher-immo mah re'item asiti maharu asu khamoni

Abimelech and all the troops he had with him went up on Mount Zalmon. Taking an ax in his hand, Abimelech lopped off a tree limb and lifted it onto his shoulder. Then he said to the troops that accompanied him, “What you saw me do—quick, do the same!”

vayyikhretu gam-kol-ha'am ish sokhoh vayyelekhu akhare avimelekh vayyasimu al-hatseriakh vayyatsitu alehem et-hatseriakh ba'esh vayyamutu gam kol-anshe migdal-shekhem ke'elef ish ve'isha

So each of the troops also lopped off a bough; then they marched behind Abimelech and laid them against the tunnel, and set fire to the tunnel over their heads. Thus all the people of the Tower of Shechem also perished, about a thousand men and women.

vayyelekh avimelekh el-tevets vayyikhan betevets vayyilkedah

Abimelech proceeded to Thebez; he encamped at Thebez and occupied it.

umigdal-oz hayah vetokh-ha'ir vayyanusu shammah kol-ha'anashim vehannashim vekhol ba'ale ha'ir vayyisgeru ba'adam vayya'alu al-gag hammigdal

Within the town was a fortified tower; and men and women took refuge there, including all the citizens of the town. They shut themselves in, and went up on the roof of the tower.

vayyavo avimelekh ad-hammigdal vayyillakhem bo vayyiggash ad-petakh hammigdal lesorfo va'esh

Abimelech pressed forward to the tower and attacked it. He approached the door of the tower to set it on fire.

vattashlekh isha akhat pelakh rekhev al-rosh avimelekh vattarits et-gulgolto

But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and cracked his skull.

vayyiqra meherah el-hanna'ar nose khelayw vayyomer lo shelof kharbekha umoteteni pen-yomeru li isha haragatehu vayyidqerehu na'aro vayyamot

He immediately cried out to his attendant, his arms-bearer, “Draw your dagger and finish me off, that they may not say of me, ‘A woman killed him!’” So his attendant stabbed him, and he died.

vayyiru ish-yisra'el ki met avimelekh vayyelekhu ish limqomo

When those on Israel’s side saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone went home.

vayyashev elohim et ra'at avimelekh asher asah le'aviv laharog et-shivim ekhayw

Thus God repaid Abimelech for the evil he had done to his father by slaying his seventy brothers;

ve'et kol-ra'at anshe shekhem heshiv elohim berosham vattavo alehem qillat yotam ben-yerubba'al

and God likewise repaid the people of Shechem for all their wickedness. And so the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal was fulfilled upon them.