Study Desk

They replied, "We're glad to give them to you." They spread out a robe, and each man threw in the earrings from his booty.

Out of these things Gid‘on made a ritual vest, which he located in his city, ‘Ofrah. But all Isra'el turned it into an idol there, and it thus became a snare to Gid‘on and his family.

Yeruba‘al the son of Yo'ash returned to his home and stayed there.

Gid‘on the son of Yo'ash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Yo'ash, in ‘Ofrah of the Avi‘ezri.

Avimelekh the son of Yeruba‘al went to Sh'khem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with the whole clan of his maternal grandfather. He said,

His mother's brothers spoke to all the men of Sh'khem and said all this about him, so that they followed their feelings and supported Avimelekh, arguing, "After all, he's our brother."

He went back to his father's house in ‘Ofrah and killed his brothers the sons of Yeruba‘al, all seventy of them, on a single rock, except for Yotam Yeruba‘al's youngest son, who stayed alive because he hid himself.

"Here's the point. Have you been honest and straightforward in making Avimelekh king? Have you been fair with Yeruba‘al and his household and treated him as he deserves?

My father fought on your behalf, risking his life, and rescued you from the power of Midyan;

and now you are rebelling against my father's household. You've killed his seventy sons on a single stone and made Avimelekh, the son of his slave-girl, king over the men of Sh'khem, because he's your brother.

I say this: if you are dealing honestly and righteously with Yeruba‘al and his household today, then may you enjoy Avimelekh and may he enjoy you!

Then Yotam fled, making his way to Be'er, and he lived there for fear of Avimelekh his brother.

This came about so that the crime against the seventy sons of Yeruba‘al might be avenged and the responsibility for their bloody death be placed on Avimelekh their brother, who murdered them, and on the men of Sh'khem, who helped him kill his brothers.

Ga‘al the son of a slave came with his brothers and went on to Sh'khem, and the men of Sh'khem put their trust in him.

Ga‘al the son of a slave said, "Who is Avimelekh? Think of the contrast with Sh'khem! Why should we serve Avimelekh? Isn't he the son of Yeruba‘al? Isn't Z'vul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Sh'khem! Why should we serve Avimelekh?

If I were in control of this people, I'd get rid of Avimelekh!" Then, addressing his words to Avimelekh, he said, "Come out and fight! I don't care if you make your army even larger!"

He sent messengers to Avimelekh in Tormah with this message: "Ga‘al the son of a slave and his brothers have come to Sh'khem, and they're inciting the city against you.

Ga‘al the son of a slave went out and stationed himself at the entrance to the city gate. Then Avimelekh and his men rose from their ambush.

Then Avimelekh took up residence in Arumah, and Z'vul drove out Ga‘al and his brothers, so that they could not live in Sh'khem.

He took his men, divided them into three groups, and lay in wait in the field. When he saw the people going out of the city, he came out of hiding and slaughtered them.