Study Desk

Now ^(C1)Abimelech the son of ^(F1)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,

"Speak, now, in the hearing of all the ^(F1)leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: for ^(C1)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?' Also, remember that I am ^(C2)your bone and your flesh."

So his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the ^(F1)leaders of Shechem; and ^(F2)they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is ^(C1)our relative."

And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of ^(C1)Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.

Then he went to his father's house in Ophrah and ^(C1)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, ^(C2)seventy men, ^(F1)on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

All the ^(F1)leaders of Shechem and all ^(F2)Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the ^(F3)oak of the memorial stone which was in Shechem.

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of ^(C1)Mount Gerizim, and raised his voice and called out. And he said to them, "Listen to me, you ^(F1)leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

"Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'

"But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I give up my fatness with ^(F1)which God and mankind are honored, and go to wave over the trees?'

"Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You, come, reign over us!'

"But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I give up my sweetness and my good ^(F1)fruit, and go to wave over the trees?'

"Then the trees said to the vine, 'You, come, reign over us!'

"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?'

"Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You, come, reign over us!'

"And the bramble said to the trees, 'If you ^(F1)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.'

"Now then, if you have acted with ^(F1)honesty and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with ^(C1)Jerubbaal and his house, and ^(F2)have dealt with him ^(F3)as he deserved—

for my father fought for you, and ^(F1)risked his life and saved you from the hand of Midian;

but in fact you have risen against my father's house today and have killed ^(C1)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, ^(C2)the son of his female slave, king over the ^(F1)leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative—

so if you have acted with ^(F1)honesty and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, be joyful about Abimelech, and may he also be joyful about you.

"But if not, may fire come out of Abimelech and consume the ^(F1)leaders of Shechem and ^(F2)Beth-millo; and may fire come out of the ^(F1)leaders of Shechem and from ^(F2)Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech."

Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; and he stayed there because of his brother Abimelech.

Now Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.