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They answered, We will willingly give them. They spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the ear-rings of his spoil.

Gid`on made an efod of it, and put it in his city, even in Ofrat: and all Yisra'el played the prostitute after it there; and it became a snare to Gid`on, and to his house.

Yerubba`al the son of Yo'ash went and lived in his own house.

Gid`on had seventy sons conceived from his body; for he had many wives.

His concubine who was in Shekhem, she also bore him a son, and he named him Avimelekh.

Gid`on the son of Yo'ash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Yo'ash his father, in Ofrat of the Abiezrites.

Avimelekh the son of Yerubba`al went to Shekhem to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

His mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shekhem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Avimelekh; for they said, He is our brother.

He went to his father's house at Ofrat, and killed his brothers the sons of Yerubba`al, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Yotam the youngest son of Yerubba`al was left; for he hid himself.

When they told it to Yotam, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shekhem, that God may listen to you.

Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Avimelekh king, and if you have dealt well with Yerubba`al and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands

(for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midyan:

and you are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Avimelekh, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shekhem, because he is your brother);

if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Yerubba`al and with his house this day, then rejoice you in Avimelekh, and let him also rejoice in you:

Yotam ran away, and fled, and went to Be'er, and lived there, for fear of Avimelekh his brother.

that the violence done to the seventy sons of Yerubba`al might come, and that their blood might be laid on Avimelekh their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shekhem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

Ga`al the son of `Eved came with his brothers, and went over to Shekhem; and the men of Shekhem put their trust in him.

Ga`al the son of `Eved said, Who is Avimelekh, and who is Shekhem, that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Yerubba`al? and Zevul his officer? serve you the men of Hamor the father of Shekhem: but why should we serve him?

When Zevul the ruler of the city heard the words of Ga`al the son of `Eved, his anger was kindled.

He sent messengers to Avimelekh craftily, saying, Behold, Ga`al the son of `Eved and his brothers are come to Shekhem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against you.