Abimelech

29Jerubbaal son of Joash, which was another name for Gideon, went home and lived there.

And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

NoteJerubbaal was a nickname Gideon got earlier in the story. It means something like, let Baal argue with him.

30Gideon had seventy sons of his own, because he had many wives.

And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

NotePowerful leaders back then often had many wives and huge families. A big family made a man look strong, almost like a king.

31He also had a woman in Shechem who lived with him like a wife, but with less honor. She had a son, and Gideon named him Abimelech.

And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

NoteThe name Abimelech means, my father is king. That name matters a lot in the next chapter.

32Gideon son of Joash died when he was very old. He was buried in his father Joash's grave, in Ophrah, the town of the Abiezrites.

And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

NoteFamilies were often buried together in one cave or rock tomb. Being buried with your father was a comfort and an honor.

33As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned away from God again. They worshiped the Baals, which were false gods. They chose Baal-berith as their god.

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.

NoteBaal was a god the nearby peoples prayed to for rain and good crops. Baalim just means more than one Baal. Baal-berith means Baal of the promise.

34The people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God. He was the one who had saved them from all their enemies all around them.

And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:

35They also were not kind to Gideon's family, even though Gideon had done so much good for Israel.

Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

NoteThe King James says "the house of Jerubbaal." House here means a person's family, not a building.

1Abimelech was a son of Jerubbaal. He went to Shechem to see his mother's brothers. He talked with them and with all his mother's family.

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

NoteJerubbaal is another name for Gideon, a leader God had used to save Israel. Shechem was a town where Abimelech's mother's family lived.

2He said, "Ask the leaders of Shechem a question. Is it better for seventy sons of Jerubbaal to rule you, or one man? Remember, I am your own family."

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

NoteIn those days a man could have several wives and many sons. That is how Gideon had seventy sons.

3His mother's brothers said all this to the leaders of Shechem. The leaders decided to follow Abimelech. They said, "He is our own relative."

And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

4They took seventy pieces of silver from the temple of the god Baal-berith. They gave the silver to Abimelech. He used it to hire rough, worthless men who followed him.

And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

NoteThere were no coins yet. People weighed out pieces of silver to pay for things.

5He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There he killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But the youngest brother, Jotham, hid himself and lived.

And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

NoteOphrah was the town where Gideon lived. Killing the brothers on one stone meant it was planned, not an accident.

6All the leaders of Shechem and of Beth-millo came together. They met by the big tree beside the stone pillar in Shechem. There they made Abimelech their king.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

NoteA king was a ruler for life, and his son ruled after him. Beth-millo was a strong part of the town. The big tree and stone pillar marked the place where people met for important things.

7Someone told Jotham what had happened. He climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted, "Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God will listen to you."

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

NoteMount Gerizim rises right above Shechem. A person could stand up there and shout down to the town.

8"One day the trees went out to choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, "Come and be our king."

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

NoteJotham is telling a made-up story about talking trees. He wants the people to hear themselves in it. To anoint a king meant pouring olive oil on his head to show he was chosen.

9"But the olive tree said, "My oil honors God and people. Should I stop making it, just to wave over the trees?"

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

NoteOlive oil was used for cooking, for lamps, and for anointing. It was one of the most useful things people had.

10"Then the trees said to the fig tree, "Come and be our king."

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

11"But the fig tree said, "My fruit is sweet and good. Should I stop making it, just to wave over the trees?"

But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

NoteFigs are small sweet fruits. They were an everyday food.

12"Then the trees said to the grapevine, "Come and be our king."

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

13"But the grapevine said, "My wine makes God and people glad. Should I stop making it, just to wave over the trees?"

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

NoteWine is a drink made from grapes. People drank it at happy meals and feasts.

14"At last all the trees said to the thornbush, "Come and be our king."

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

NoteA thornbush is a low, prickly plant. It has no fruit and gives almost no shade. Asking it to be king is a joke.

15"The thornbush said, "If you really want me as king, come and rest in my shade. If not, may fire come out of me. May it burn up even the great cedar trees of Lebanon."

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

NoteCedars of Lebanon were huge, tall trees. They were the finest trees anyone knew. A little dry thornbush catches fire easily, so its threat is scary and silly at once.

16"Now think about what you did. Were you honest and fair when you made Abimelech king? Did you treat Jerubbaal and his family the way they deserved?

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

17"My father fought for you. He risked his own life. He saved you from the army of Midian.

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

NoteMidian was a desert people who came and stole Israel's crops. Gideon, Jotham's father, drove them away.

18"But today you turned against my father's family. You killed his seventy sons on one stone. You made Abimelech king over Shechem, only because his mother was a servant here and he is your relative.

And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

NoteA maidservant was a woman who worked in someone's house. Her son was not treated as highly as the other sons.

19"If you have been honest and fair with Jerubbaal and his family today, then be happy with Abimelech. And let him be happy with you.

If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

20"But if not, may fire come out of Abimelech and burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo. And may fire come out of them and burn up Abimelech."

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

NoteJotham is not lighting a real fire. He is wishing out loud that they will destroy each other.

21Then Jotham ran away. He escaped to a place called Beer and lived there. He was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

NoteBeer was a town far enough away to be safe. We do not know exactly where it was.

22Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.

When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23Then God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders began to work against him in secret.

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

NoteThis means the friendship between them went bad. They stopped trusting each other and began to fight.

24This happened so the murder of Jerubbaal's seventy sons would be paid for. Abimelech killed them, and the leaders of Shechem helped him. Now both would answer for it.

That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25The leaders of Shechem hid men on the hilltops to wait for Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech was told about it.

And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

NoteThey hid men on the hills to jump out at travelers. A king was supposed to keep the roads safe, so this made Abimelech look weak.

26A man named Gaal, son of Ebed, came to Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem decided to trust him.

And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27They went out to their vineyards and picked the grapes. They crushed them and held a party. In the temple of their god they ate and drank and said bad things about Abimelech.

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

NoteAfter picking grapes, people stomped them with bare feet to squeeze out the juice. Harvest time meant a big party.

28Gaal said, "Who is Abimelech? Why should Shechem serve him? He is only Jerubbaal's son, and Zebul is his helper. Serve the family of Hamor, who first built Shechem. Why serve Abimelech?

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

NoteHamor's family were the oldest family in Shechem. Gaal is saying they should follow the old family, not Abimelech.

29"I wish these people were under me. Then I would get rid of Abimelech." He said about him, "Get your army ready and come out and fight!"

And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

30Zebul was the ruler of the city. When he heard what Gaal said, he became very angry.

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

NoteZebul ran the city for Abimelech while Abimelech lived somewhere else.

31He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech. They said, "Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are stirring up the city against you.

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

32"So come tonight with your men. Hide in the fields and wait.

Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

33"Then get up early, as soon as the sun rises, and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out, do whatever you can to them."

And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

34So Abimelech and all his men set out at night. They hid near Shechem in four groups.

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the city gate. Just then Abimelech and his men came out from hiding.

And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.

36Gaal saw them and said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountains!" Zebul said, "Those are only shadows. They just look like men."

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

37Gaal spoke again. "Look, people are coming down through the middle of the land. Another group is coming past the Diviners' Oak."

And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

NoteThe Diviners' Oak was a big tree. People used to go there to try to find out what would happen next. Everyone knew it as a landmark.

38Zebul said, "Where is your big talk now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' These are the men you laughed at. Go out and fight them!"

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

39So Gaal went out at the head of the men of Shechem. He fought against Abimelech.

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away. Many men of Shechem were hurt and fell, all the way back to the city gate.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

41Abimelech stayed in a town called Arumah. Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields. Abimelech was told about it.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

43He took his men and split them into three groups. They hid in the fields and watched. When the people came out of the city, he attacked them.

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

44Abimelech and his group rushed ahead and blocked the city gate. The other two groups attacked everyone out in the fields and killed them.

And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

45Abimelech fought against the city all day long. He took it and killed the people inside. He knocked the city down and scattered salt over it.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

NoteSalt spoils the ground so nothing will grow. Scattering it was a way of saying this city must never be built again.

46The leaders in the tower of Shechem heard what had happened. They ran into the strong inner room of the temple of the god Berith.

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

NoteThe tower was a tall stone building where people hid when enemies came. Berith was the god the people of Shechem worshiped.

47Someone told Abimelech that all the leaders from the tower of Shechem were gathered there.

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48So Abimelech and his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an axe and cut a branch from a tree. He lifted it onto his shoulder. He said, "Hurry. Do what you just saw me do."

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

49Every man cut a branch and followed Abimelech. They piled the branches against the room and set them on fire. Everyone in the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50Then Abimelech went to the town of Thebez. He set up camp against it and took it.

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51But inside the town was a strong tower. All the men and women and leaders ran into it. They locked the door and climbed to the roof.

But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

52Abimelech came to the tower and attacked it. He went close to the door to set it on fire.

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53A woman dropped a piece of a millstone on his head. It crushed his skull.

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.

NoteA millstone is a heavy round stone used to grind grain into flour. The top stone was small enough for a woman to lift. Roofs were flat, so people worked up there.

54He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons. He said, "Take your sword and kill me. I do not want people to say a woman killed me." So the young man ran him through, and he died.

Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

NoteAn armor bearer was a young man who carried a soldier's shield and weapons. In those days a soldier felt shamed if a woman beat him in a fight.

55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56So God paid Abimelech back for the evil he had done to his father. He had killed his seventy brothers.

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

57God also paid back the men of Shechem for all their evil. The curse that Jotham son of Jerubbaal spoke came true for them.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

NoteA curse was a strong wish for bad things to happen. Jotham had spoken his curse from the mountain.