1 And Abimelech the son of Jerobaal went into Sichem to his mother's brethren and spake to them, & to all the kindred of the house of his mother's father, saying:
1 And Abimelech, the son of Jerobaal, went to Sichem, to his mother’s brethren, and spoke to them, and to all the kindred of his mother’s father, saying:
2 Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you, that seventy men have dominion over you, all the sons of Jerobaal, or that one man have dominion over you? & withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.
2 Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerobaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And withal, consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.
3 And his mother's brethren spake to him to all the men of Sichem all these words, & inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying: He is our brother.
3 And his mother’s brethren spoke of him to all the men of Sichem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying: He is our brother:
4 And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberit. Who hired therewith unto himself needy men and vagabonds, and they followed him.
4 And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and vagabonds, and they followed him.
5 And he came into his father's house in Ephra, and murdered his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: & there remained Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, & was hid.
5 And he came to his father’s house in Ephra, and slew his brethren, the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden.
6 And all the men of Sichem assembled together all the families of the city of Mello: & they went and made Abimelech king, beside the oak that stood in Sichem.
6 And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak that stood in Sichem.
7 Which being told to Joatham, he went, & stood in the top of mount Garizim: & lifting up his voice, he cried, & said: Hear me ye men of Sichem, so as God may hear you.
7 This being told to Joatham, he went, and stood on the top of mount Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear you.
8 The trees went to anoint a king over them: & they said to the olive tree: Reign over us.
8 The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.
9 Which answered: Can I forsake my fatness, which both gods do use, and men, and come to be promoted among the trees?
9 And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?
10 And the trees said to the fig tree: Come, and take the Kingdom over us.
10 And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.
11 Which answered them: Can I forsake my sweetness, and my most sweet fruits, & go to be promoted among the other trees?
11 And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?
12 And the trees spake to the vine: Come, and reign over us.
12 And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us.
13 Which answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, & be promoted among the other trees?
13 And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?
14 And the trees said to the rhamnus: Come, and reign over us.
14 And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us.
15 Who answered them: If indeed you make me your king, Come, and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let there fire issue forth of the rhamnus, & devour the cedars of Libanus.
15 And it answered them: If, indeed, you mean to make me king, come ye, and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.
16 Now therefore, if you have well, and without sin appointed Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, & have requited him the like for his benefits, who fought for you,
16 Now, therefore, if you have done well, and without sin, in appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of him who fought for you,
17 & put his life in dangers, that he might deliver you from the hand of Madian,
17 And exposed his life to dangers, to deliver you from the hand of Madian,
18 who now are risen against my father's house, and have killed his sons seventy men upon one stone, & have made Abimelec the son of his handmaid king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because he is your brother:
18 And you are now risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because he is your brother:
19 If therefore you have dealt well, and without fault with Jerobaal, and his house, rejoice this day in Abimelech, & rejoice he in you.
19 If therefore you have dealt well, and without fault, with Jerobaal and his house, rejoice ye, this day, in Abimelech, and may he rejoice in you.
20 But if unjustly, let there fire issue forth from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and town of Mello: and let there fire go forth from the men of Sichem, and from the town of Mello, & devour Abimelech.
20 But if unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out from the men of Sichem and from the town of Mello, and devour Abimelech.
21 Which things when he had said, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother.
21 And when he had said thus, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech, his brother.
22 Abimelech therefore reigned over Israel three years.
22 So Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
23 And our Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem: Who began to detest him,
23 And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem; who began to detest him,
24 & to lay the wickedness of the murdering of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, & the shedding of their blood upon Abimelech their brother, and upon the rest of the Princes of the Sichemites, that had holpen him.
24 And to lay the crime of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichemites, who aided him.
25 And they set an ambushment against him on the top of the mountains: & whiles they tarried for his coming, they committed robberies, taking preys of them that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.
25 And they set an ambush against him on the top of the mountains: and while they waited for his coming, they committed robberies, taking spoils of all that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Obed came with his brethren, & passed into Sichem. At whose coming the inhabitants of Sichem taking courage,
26 And Gaal the son of Obed came with his brethren, and went over to Sichem. And the inhabitants of Sichem taking courage at his coming,
27 issued forth into the fields, wasting the vineyards, & treading the grapes: and gathering companies of musicians went into the temple of their god, and in their banquets and cups cursed Abimelech,
27 Went out into the fields, wasting the vineyards, and treading down the grapes: and singing and dancing, they went into the temple of their god, and in their banquets and cups they cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaal the son of Obed crying: Who is Abimelech; and what is Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and hath made Zebul his servant prince over the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shall we serve him?
28 And Gaal the son of Obed cried: Who is Abimelech, and what is Sichem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and hath made Zebul his servant ruler over the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shall we serve him?
29 would God that some man would give this people under my hand, that I might take Abimelech out of the way. And some said to Abimelech: Gather together a multitude of an army, and come.
29 Would to God that some man would put this people under my hand, that I might remove Abimelech out of the way. And it was said to Abimelech: Gather together the multitude of an army, and come.
30 For Zebul the Prince of the city, hearing the words of Gaal the son of Obed, was very wrath,
30 For Zebul the ruler of the city, hearing the words of Gaal the son of Obed was very angry,
31 & sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: Behold, Gaal the son of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, & raiseth the city against thee.
31 And sent messengers privately to Abimelech, saying: Behold, Gaal the son of Obed, is come into Sichem with his brethren, and endeavoreth to set the city against thee.
32 Arise therefore in the night with the people, that is with thee, and lie hid in the field:
32 Arise, therefore, in the night, with the people that is with thee, and lie hid in the field:
33 and betimes in the morning at sun rising, set upon the city. And when he issueth forth against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.
33 And betimes in the morning, at sun rising, set upon the city, and when he shall come out against thee, with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.
34 Abimelech therefore arose with all his army in the night, and laid ambushments near to Sichem in four places.
34 Abimelech, therefore, arose with all his army, by night, and laid ambushes near Sichem in four places.
35 And Gaal the son of Obed went forth, & stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose, & all his army with him from the place of the ambushments.
35 And Gaal, the son of Obed, went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and all his army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
36 And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh down from the mountains. To whom he answered: Thou seest the shadows of the mountains as it were heads of men, & with this error thou art deceived.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: Behold, a multitude cometh down from the mountains. And he answered him: Thou seest the shadows of the mountains as if they were the heads of men, and this is thy mistake.
37 Again Gaal said: Behold there cometh down people from the navel of the land, & one troop cometh by the way that looketh to the oak.
37 Again Gaal said: Behold, there cometh people down from the midst of the land, and one troop cometh by the way that looketh towards the oak.
38 To whom Zebul said: Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou didst speak? Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people, which thou didst despise? Go forth, and fight against him.
38 And Zebul said to him: Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst: Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the people which thou didst despise? Go out, and fight against him.
39 Gaal therefore went, the people of the Sichimites looking on, and fought against Abimelech,
39 So Gaal went out, in the sight of the people of Sichem, and fought against Abimelech,
40 who pursued him flying, and drive him into the city: and there were slain of his part many, unto the gate of the city.
40 Who chased and put him to flight, and drove him to the city: and many were slain of his people, even to the gate of the city:
41 And Abimelech sat in Ruma: but Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions out of the city, neither did he suffer them to abide in it.
41 And Abimelech sat down in Ruma: but Zebul drove Gaal, and his companions, out of the city, and would not suffer them to abide in it.
42 Therefore the day following the people went forth into the field. Which being told to Abimelech,
42 So the day following the people went out into the field. And it was told to Abimelech,
43 he took his army, and divided it into three troops, setting ambushments in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the city, he arose, and set upon them
43 And he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and laid ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the city, he arose, and set upon them,
44 with his own troop, oppugning and besieging the city: and two troops scattered through the field pursue the adversaries.
44 With his own company, assaulting and besieging the city: whilst the two other companies chased the enemies that were scattered about the field.
45 Moreover Abimelech all the day oppugned the city: which he took, & killed the inhabitants thereof, and destroyed it, so that he sowed salt in it.
45 And Abimelech assaulted the city all that day: and took it, and killed the inhabitants thereof, and demolished it, so that he sowed salt in it.
46 Which when they heard that dwelt in the tower of Sichem, they entered into the temple of their god Berith, where they had made a covenant with him, & thereof the place had taken his name, which was exceeding well fenced.
46 And when they who dwelt in the tower of Sichem, had heard this, they went into the temple of their god Berith, where they had made a covenant with him, and from thence the place had taken its name, and it was exceeding strong.
47 Abimelech also hearing that the men of the tower of Sichem were gathered together,
47 Abimelech also hearing that the men of the tower of Sichem were gathered together,
48 he went up into mount Selmon with all his people: and taking an axe, he cut off the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder & carrying it, he said to his companions: That which you see me do, do ye out of hand.
48 Went up into mount Selmon, he and all his people with him: and taking an axe, he cut down the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions: What you see me do, do ye out of hand.
49 They therefore cutting off boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he could, followed their captain. Who compassing the fort burnt it: and so it came to pass, that with the smoke and the fire a thousand persons were slain, men and women together, of the inhabitants of the tower of Sichem.
49 So they cut down boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he could, and followed their leader. And surrounding the fort, they set it on fire: and so it came to pass, that with the smoke and with the fire a thousand persons were killed, men and women together, of the inhabitants of the tower of Sichem.
50 And Abimelech departing thence came to the town of Thebes, which compassing he besieged with his army.
50 Then Abimelech, departing from thence, came to the town of Thebes, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 And there was in the midst of the city an high tower, to the which were fled both men and women together, and all the Princes of the city, the gate being shut very strongly, and they standing upon the battlements of the tower by the bulwarks.
51 And there was in the midst of the city a high tower, to which both the men and the women were fled together, and all the princes of the city, and having shut and strongly barred the gate, they stood upon the battlements of the tower to defend themselves.
52 And Abimelech coming near the tower, fought manfully: & approaching to the door, endeavoured to put fire under it:
52 And Abimelech, coming near the tower, fought stoutly: and, approaching to the gate, endeavored to set fire to it:
53 and behold one woman casting from above a piece of a millstone, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and brake his brain.
53 ¹And behold, a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Who called by and by his esquire, and said to him: Draw out thy sword, and strike me: lest perhaps it be said that I was slain of a woman. Who doing as he was commanded slew him.
54 ²And he called hastily to his armor bearer, and said to him: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest it should be said that I was slain by a woman. He did as he was commanded, and slew him.
55 And when he was dead, all that were with him of Israel returned into their seats:
55 And when he was dead all the men of Israel that were with him, returned to their homes.
56 and God repayed the evil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seventy brethren.
56 And God repaid the evil that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seventy brethren.
57 The Sichemites were also rewarded for that which they had wrought, and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
57 The Sichemites also were rewarded for what they had done, and the curse of Joatham, the son of Jerobaal, came upon them.