1 Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan,2 "Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your flesh and blood."3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, "He is related to us."4 They gave him seventy shekels "of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers.5 He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'9 "But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?'10 "Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.'11 "But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?'12 "Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.'13 "But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?'14 "Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.'15 "The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'16 "Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves?17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian.18 But today you have revolted against my father's family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you.19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!"21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,23 God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.25 In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.26 Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek.28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn't he Jerub-Baal's son, and isn't Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelek?29 If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, 'Call out your whole army!'" [^2]30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry.31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, "Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields.33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them."34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men."37 But Gaal spoke up again: "Look, people are coming down from the central hill, "and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners' tree."38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?' Aren't these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!"39 So Gaal led out "the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek.40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled.41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek.43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.44 Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down.45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there,48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have seen me do!"49 So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women —all the people of the city —had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire,53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can't say, 'A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he died.55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

1 وذهب ابيمالك بن يربعل الى شكيم الى اخوة امه وكلمهم وجميع عشيرة بيت ابي امه قائلا.2 تكلموا الآن في آذان جميع اهل شكيم. ايما هو خير لكم. أأن يتسلط عليكم سبعون رجلا جميع بني يربعل ام ان يتسلط عليكم رجل واحد. واذكروا اني انا عظمكم ولحمكم.3 فتكلم اخوة امه عنه في آذان كل اهل شكيم بجميع هذا الكلام. فمال قلبهم وراء ابيمالك لانهم قالوا اخونا هو.4 واعطوه سبعين شاقل فضة من بيت بعل بريث فاستاجر بها ابيمالك رجالا بطالين طائشين فسعوا وراءه.5 ثم جاء الى بيت ابيه في عفرة وقتل اخوته بني يربعل سبعين رجلا على حجر واحد. وبقي يوثام بن يربعل الاصغر لانه اختبأ.6 فاجتمع جميع اهل شكيم وكل سكان القلعة وذهبوا وجعلوا ابيمالك ملكا عند بلوطة النصب الذي في شكيم7 واخبروا يوثام فذهب ووقف على راس جبل جرزيم ورفع صوته ونادى وقال لهم. اسمعوا لي يا اهل شكيم يسمع لكم الله.8 مرّة ذهبت الاشجار لتمسح عليها ملكا. فقالت للزيتونة املكي علينا.9 فقالت لها الزيتونة أاترك دهني الذي به يكرمون بي الله والناس واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.10 ثم قالت الاشجار للتينة تعالي انت واملكي علينا.11 فقالت لها التينة أأترك حلاوتي وثمري الطيب واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.12 فقالت الاشجار للكرمة تعالي انت املكي علينا.13 فقالت لها الكرمة أاترك مسطاري الذي يفرح الله والناس واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.14 ثم قالت جميع الاشجار للعوسج تعال انت واملك علينا.15 فقال العوسج للاشجار ان كنتم بالحق تمسحونني عليكم ملكا فتعالوا واحتموا تحت ظلي. والا فتخرج نار من العوسج وتأكل ارز لبنان.16 فالآن ان كنتم قد عملتم بالحق والصحة اذ جعلتم ابيمالك ملكا وان كنتم قد فعلتم خيرا مع يربعل ومع بيته وان كنتم قد فعلتم له حسب عمل يديه.17 لان ابي قد حارب عنكم وخاطر بنفسه وانقذكم من يد مديان.18 وانتم قد قمتم اليوم على بيت ابي وقتلتم بنيه سبعين رجلا على حجر واحد وملكتم ابيمالك ابن امته على اهل شكيم لانه اخوكم.19 فان كنتم قد عملتم بالحق والصحة مع يربعل ومع بيته في هذا اليوم فافرحوا انتم بابيمالك وليفرح هو ايضا بكم.20 والا فتخرج نار من ابيمالك وتأكل اهل شكيم وسكان القلعة وتخرج نار من اهل شكيم ومن سكان القلعة وتاكل ابيمالك.21 ثم هرب يوثام وفرّ وذهب الى بئر واقام هناك من وجه ابيمالك اخيه22 فترأس ابيمالك على اسرائيل ثلاث سنين.23 وارسل الرب روحا رديا بين ابيمالك واهل شكيم فغدر اهل شكيم بابيمالك.24 ليأتي ظلم بني يربعل السبعين ويجلب دمهم على ابيمالك اخيهم الذي قتلهم وعلى اهل شكيم الذين شددوا يديه لقتل اخوته.25 فوضع له اهل شكيم كمينا على رؤوس الجبال وكانوا يستلبون كل من عبر بهم في الطريق. فأخبر ابيمالك26 وجاء جعل بن عابد مع اخوته وعبروا الى شكيم فوثق به اهل شكيم27 وخرجوا الى الحقل وقطفوا كرومهم وداسوا وصنعوا تمجيدا ودخلوا بيت الههم واكلوا وشربوا ولعنوا ابيمالك.28 فقال جعل بن عابد من هو ابيمالك ومن هو شكيم حتى نخدمه. أما هو ابن يربعل وزبول وكيله. اخدموا رجال حمور ابي شكيم. فلماذا نخدمه نحن.29 من يجعل هذا الشعب بيدي فاعزل ابيمالك. وقال لابيمالك كثر جندك واخرج.30 ولما سمع زبول رئيس المدينة كلام جعل بن عابد حمي غضبه.31 وارسل رسلا الى ابيمالك في ترمة يقول هوذا جعل بن عابد واخوته قد اتوا الى شكيم وها هم يهيجون المدينة ضدك.32 فالآن قم ليلا انت والشعب الذي معك واكمن في الحقل.33 ويكون في الصباح عند شروق الشمس انك تبكر وتقتحم المدينة. وها هو والشعب الذي معه يخرجون اليك فتفعل به حسبما تجده يدك34 فقام ابيمالك وكل الشعب الذي معه ليلا وكمنوا لشكيم اربع فرق.35 فخرج جعل بن عابد ووقف في مدخل باب المدينة. فقام ابيمالك والشعب الذي معه من المكمن.36 ورأى جعل الشعب وقال لزبول هوذا شعب نازل عن رؤوس الجبال. فقال له زبول انك ترى ظل الجبال كانه اناس.37 فعاد جعل وتكلم ايضا قائلا هوذا شعب نازل من عند اعالي الارض وفرقة واحدة آتية عن طريق بلوطة العائفين.38 فقال له زبول اين الآن فوك الذي قلت به من هو ابيمالك حتى نخدمه. أليس هذا هو الشعب الذي رذلته. فاخرج الآن وحاربه.39 فخرج جعل امام اهل شكيم وحارب ابيمالك.40 فهزمه ابيمالك فهرب من قدامه وسقط قتلى كثيرون حتى عند مدخل الباب.41 فاقام ابيمالك في ارومة. وطرد زبول جعلا واخوته عن الاقامة في شكيم42 وكان في الغد ان الشعب خرج الى الحقل واخبروا ابيمالك.43 فاخذ القوم وقسمهم الى ثلاث فرق وكمن في الحقل ونظر واذ الشعب يخرج من المدينة فقام عليهم وضربهم.44 وابيمالك والفرقة التي معه اقتحموا ووقفوا في مدخل باب المدينة. واما الفرقتان فهجمتا على كل من في الحقل وضربتاه.45 وحارب ابيمالك المدينة كل ذلك اليوم واخذ المدينة وقتل الشعب الذي بها وهدم المدينة وزرعها ملحا46 وسمع كل اهل برج شكيم فدخلوا الى صرح بيت ايل بريث.47 فأخبر ابيمالك ان كل اهل برج شكيم قد اجتمعوا.48 فصعد ابيمالك الى جبل صلمون هو وكل الشعب الذي معه. واخذ ابيمالك الفؤوس بيده وقطع غصن شجر ورفعه ووضعه على كتفه وقال للشعب الذي معه ما رأيتموني افعله فاسرعوا افعلوا مثلي.49 فقطع الشعب ايضا كل واحد غصنا وساروا وراء ابيمالك ووضعوها على الصرح واحرقوا عليهم الصرح بالنار. فمات ايضا جميع اهل برج شكيم نحو الف رجل وامرأة.50 ثم ذهب ابيمالك الى تاباص ونزل في تاباص واخذها.51 وكان برج قوي في وسط المدينة فهرب اليه جميع الرجال والنساء وكل اهل المدينة واغلقوا ورائهم وصعدوا الى سطح البرج.52 فجاء ابيمالك الى البرج وحاربه واقترب الى باب البرج ليحرقه بالنار.53 فطرحت امرأة قطعة رحى على راس ابيمالك فشجت جمجمته.54 فدعا حالا الغلام حامل عدته وقال له اخترط سيفك واقتلني لئلا يقولوا عني قتلته امرأة. فطعنه الغلام فمات.55 ولما رأى رجال اسرائيل ان ابيمالك قد مات ذهب كل واحد الى مكانه.56 فرد الله شر ابيمالك الذي فعله بابيه لقتله اخوته السبعين57 وكل شر اهل شكيم رده الله على رؤوسهم. وأتت عليهم لعنة يوثام بن يربعل