1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers. He spoke to them and to the whole clan of his maternal grandfather’s household, saying, 2 “Please ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.” 3 His mother’s brothers repeated all these words on his behalf to all the citizens of Shechem. Their hearts inclined toward Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. With these Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him. 5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham, Jerubbaal’s youngest son, survived because he had hidden himself.

6 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo gathered together and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar in Shechem. 7 When Jotham was told, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim. He raised his voice and cried out to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule over us.’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my rich oil, by which God and people are honored, and go to sway over the trees?’ 10 The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come, you rule over us.’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to sway over the trees?’ 12 The trees said to the vine, ‘Come, you rule over us.’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and people, and go to sway over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come, you rule over us.’ 15 The bramble said to the trees, ‘If you are truly anointing me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’ 16 Now if you have acted in truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his household and have treated him as his deeds deserve— 17 for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you from the hand of Midian, 18 but today you have risen against my father’s household, killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is your brother— 19 if you have acted in truth and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his household this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out of Abimelech and consume the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo. Let fire come out of the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.” 21 Jotham escaped and fled to Beer. He lived there because of Abimelech his brother.

22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, and the citizens of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might return, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the citizens of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 The citizens of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the mountaintops. They robbed everyone who passed them on the road, and Abimelech was told.

26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and moved into Shechem. The citizens of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, and held a festival. They entered the temple of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not Jerubbaal’s son, and is not Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve him? 29 If only this people were under my command! I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!” 30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are closing off the city against you. 32 Now arise by night, you and the people with you, and lie in ambush in the fields. 33 In the morning, as soon as the sun rises, get up early and attack the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do to him whatever your hand finds to do.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people with him arose by night and lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies. 35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Abimelech and the people with him rose from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!” Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains as though they were men.”

37 Gaal spoke again: “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by the road of the Diviners’ Oak.” 38 Zebul said to him, “Where is that mouth of yours now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you despised? Go out now and fight them!”

39 So Gaal went out at the head of the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40 Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him. Many fell slain all the way to the entrance of the gate. 41 Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out so that they could no longer live in Shechem. 42 The next day the people went out into the fields, and Abimelech was told. 43 He took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose against them and struck them down. 44 Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured it and killed the people in it. He demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the citizens of the tower of Shechem heard this, they entered the stronghold of the temple of El-berith. 47 Abimelech was told that all the citizens of the tower of Shechem had gathered together. 48 Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon with all the people who were with him. Abimelech took the axes in his hand, cut a branch from the trees, lifted it, and put it on his shoulder. He said to the people with him, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.” 49 All the people likewise cut a branch, each man his own, and followed Abimelech. They put them against the stronghold and set the stronghold on fire over those inside. All the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against Thebez, and captured it. 51 There was a strong tower inside the city. All the men and women and all the citizens of the city fled there, shut themselves in, and went up onto the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it. He approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 But a woman threw a piece of an upper millstone onto Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. 54 He quickly called to the young man who carried his armor and said, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” His young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went away, each to his own place. 56 So God repaid Abimelech for the evil he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. 57 God also brought all the evil of the men of Shechem back on their heads, and the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.