וַיֵּלֶךְ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־יְרֻבַּעַל שְׁכֶמָה אֶל־אֲחֵי אִמֹּו וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וְאֶל־כָּל־מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית־אֲבִי אִמֹּו  9:1

 לֵאמֹר׃

Judg. 9:1   And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to the brethren of his mother and spoke to them and to all the families of the house of the father of his mother saying,

דַּבְּרוּ־נָא בְּאָזְנֵי כָל־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם מַה־טּוֹב לָכֶם הַמְשֹׁל בָּכֶם שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ כֹּל בְּנֵי יְרֻבַּעַל אִם־מְשֹׁל   9:2

בָּכֶם אִישׁ אֶחָד וּזְכַרְתֶּם כִּי־עַצְמֵכֶם וּבְשַׂרְכֶם אָנִי׃

Judg. 9:2   “Say, now, in the ears of all the chief men of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or one man rules over you?’  And remember that I am your flesh and your bone.”

וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֲחֵי־אִמּוֹ עָלָיו בְּאָזְנֵי כָּל־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֵּט לִבָּם אַחֲרֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי   9:3

אָמְרוּ אָחִינוּ הוּא׃

Judg. 9:3   And the brethren of his mother spoke all those words about him in the ears of the chief men of Shechem, and their hearts were inclined after Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

וַיִּתְּנוּ־לוֹ שִׁבְעִים כֶּסֶף מִבֵּית בַּעַל בְּרִית וַיִּשְׂכֹּר בָּהֶם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִים וּפֹחֲזִים וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו׃   9:4

Judg. 9:4   And they gave to him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-brith, and Abimelech hired vain and wanton men with them, and they marched behind him.

וַיָּבֹא בֵית־אָבִיו עָפְרָתָה וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת־אֶחָיו בְּנֵי־יְרֻבַּעַל שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ עַל־אֶבֶן אֶחָת וַיִּוָּתֵר יוֹתָם בֶּן־   9:5

יְרֻבַּעַל הַקָּטֹן כִּי נֶחְבָּא׃

Judg. 9:5   And he went to his father's house, to Ophrah, and slew his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, with one stone, but Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, for he had hidden away.

וַיֵּאָסְפוּ כָּל־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְכָל־בֵּית מִלּוֹא וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְמֶלֶךְ עִם־אֵלוֹן מֻצָּב אֲשֶׁר   9:6

בִּשְׁכֶם׃

Judg. 9:6   And all the chief men of Shechem assembled, and all of Beth-millo, and went and crowned Abimelech for a king by the oak pillar that was in Shechem.

I wonder why no one ever told me that Saul wasn’t the first king of Israel.

וַיַּגִּדוּ לְיוֹתָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּעֲמֹד בְּרֹאשׁ הַר־גְּרִזִים וַיִּשָּׂא קוֹלוֹ וַיִּקְרָא וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם   9:7

וְיִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם אֱלֹהִים׃

Judg. 9:7   And it was related to Jotham and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and he raised his voice and cried, and said to them, “Listen to me, men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.”

Odd that he should choose to stand on Mt. Gerizim, the mountain of blessings (Deut. 11:29).  Recall also that Joshua built an altar on Mt. Ebal, the mountain of curses, as Moses had commanded (Josh. 8:30).  I suspect that the two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal, have mystical significance.  Blessings and curses are mingled between them in a strange and mysterious way.

הָלוֹךְ הָלְכוּ הָעֵצִים לִמְשֹׁחַ עֲלֵיהֶם מֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמְרוּ לַזַּיִת (מְלּוֹ כָה) [מָלְכָה] עָלֵינוּ׃   9:8

Judg. 9:8   “The trees came forward to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַזַּיִת הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־דִּשְׁנִי אֲשֶׁר־בִּי יְכַבְּדוּ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִים׃   9:9

Judg. 9:9   “And the olive tree said to them, ‘Do I forsake my fat fruit that honor God and men through me, and go to wave over the trees?’”

וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעֵצִים לַתְּאֵנָה לְכִי־אַתְּ מָלְכִי עָלֵינוּ׃   9:10

Judg. 9:10   “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, reign over us.’”

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַתְּאֵנָה הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־מָתְקִי וְאֶת־תְּנוּבָתִי הַטּוֹבָה וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִים׃   9:11

Judg. 9:11   “And the fig tree said to them, ‘Do I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit to be promoted over the trees?’”

וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעֵצִים לַגָּפֶן לְכִי־אַתְּ (מָלוֹ כי) [מָלְכִי] עָלֵינוּ׃   9:12

Judg. 9:12   “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come reign over us.’”

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַגֶּפֶן הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־תִּירוֹשִׁי הַמְשַׂמֵּחַ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִים׃   9:13

Judg. 9:13   “And the vine said to them, ‘Do I forsake my sweet wine that cheers God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees?’”

וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל־הָעֵצִים אֶל־הָאָטָד לֵךְ אַתָּה מְלָךְ־עָלֵינוּ׃   9:14

Judg. 9:14   “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come reign over us.’”

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָטָד אֶל־הָעֵצִים אִם בֶּאֱמֶת אַתֶּם מֹשְׁחִים אֹתִי לְמֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶם בֹּאוּ חֲסוּ בְצִלִּי וְאִם־אַיִן   9:15

תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִן־הָאָטָד וְתֹאכַל אֶת־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן׃

Judg. 9:15   “And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me for a king over you, come take refuge in my shadow, and if you don't, let fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’”

וְעַתָּה אִם־בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים עֲשִׂיתֶם וַתַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְאִם־טוֹבָה עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם־יְרֻבַּעַל וְעִם־   9:16

בֵּיתוֹ וְאִם־כִּגְמוּל יָדָיו עֲשִׂיתֶם לוֹ׃

Judg. 9:16   “So now, if in truth and in sincerity you have acted, and have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if according to the value of his service you have done to him,

אֲשֶׁר־נִלְחַם אָבִי עֲלֵיכֶם וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ מִנֶּגֶד וַיַּצֵּל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִדְיָן׃   9:17

Judg. 9:17   that my father fought for you and risked his life out of sight and rescued you from the hand of Midian,

וְאַתֶּם קַמְתֶּם עַל־בֵּית אָבִי הַיּוֹם וַתַּהַרְגוּ אֶת־בָּנָיו שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ עַל־אֶבֶן אֶחָת וַתַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת־   9:18

אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־אֲמָתוֹ עַל־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם כִּי אֲחִיכֶם הוּא׃

Judg. 9:18   that you rose up against the house of my father today and slew his sons, seventy men, with one stone, and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother,

וְאִם־בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם־יְרֻבַּעַל וְעִם־בֵּיתוֹ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה שִׂמְחוּ בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְיִשְׂמַח גַּם־הוּא   9:19

בָּכֶם׃

Judg. 9:19   then if in truth and with sincerity you have dealt with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech and let him also rejoice in you.”

וְאִם־אַיִן תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מֵאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְתֹאכַל אֶת־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְאֶת־בֵּית מִלּוֹא וְתֵצֵא אֵשׁ מִבַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם   9:20

וּמִבֵּית מִלּוֹא וְתֹאכַל אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃

Judg. 9:20   “But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

וַיָּנָס יוֹתָם וַיִּבְרַח וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּאֵרָה וַיֵּשֶׁב שָׁם מִפְּנֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אָחִיו׃   9:21

Judg. 9:21   Then Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and stayed there out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.

וַיָּשַׂר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים׃   9:22

Judg. 9:22   And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ רָעָה בֵּין אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּבֵין בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וַיִּבְגְּדוּ בַעֲלֵי־שְׁכֶם בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃   9:23

Judg. 9:23   And God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

לָבוֹא חֲמַס שִׁבְעִים בְּנֵי־יְרֻבָּעַל וְדָמָם לָשׂוּם עַל־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֲחִיהֶם אֲשֶׁר הָרַג אוֹתָם וְעַל בַּעֲלֵי   9:24

שְׁכֶם אֲשֶׁר־חִזְּקוּ אֶת־יָדָיו לַהֲרֹג אֶת־אֶחָיו׃

Judg. 9:24   to bring the violence of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and their blood to be laid on Abimelech, their brother, who slew them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his means to slay his brothers.

וַיָּשִׂימוּ לוֹ בַעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם מְאָרְבִים עַל רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים וַיִּגְזְלוּ אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲבֹר עֲלֵיהֶם בַּדָּרֶךְ וַיֻּגַּד   9:25

לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃

Judg. 9:25   And the men of Shechem set for him ambushers on the tops of the mountains and they robbed everyone who passed by them on the way, and it was told to Abimelech.

וַיָּבֹא גַּעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד וְאֶחָיו וַיַּעַבְרוּ בִּשְׁכֶם וַיִּבְטְחוּ־בוֹ בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם׃   9:26

Judg. 9:26   And Gaal son of Ebed came with his brethren, and they passed into Shechem, and the men of Shechem trusted in him.

וַיֵּצְאוּ הַשָּׂדֶה וַיִּבְצְרוּ אֶת־כַּרְמֵיהֶם וַיִּדְרְכוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הִלּוּלִים וַיָּבֹאוּ בֵּית אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ   9:27

וַיְקַלְלוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃

Judg. 9:27   And they went out to the field and gathered their vintage and trod and prepared celebrations, and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelech.

וַיֹּאמֶר גַּעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד מִי־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי־שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ הֲלֹא בֶן־יְרֻבַּעַל וּזְבֻל פְּקִידוֹ עִבְדוּ אֶת־   9:28

אַנְשֵׁי חֲמוֹר אֲבִי שְׁכֶם וּמַדּוּעַ נַעַבְדֶנּוּ אֲנָחְנוּ׃

Judg. 9:28   And Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem that we should serve him?  Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul is his officer?  Serve the men of Hamor, father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?”

וּמִי יִתֵּן אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּיָדִי וְאָסִירָה אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ רַבֶּה צְבָאֲךָ וָצֵאָה׃   9:29

Judg. 9:29   “And who would deliver this people into my hand that I would remove Abimelech?”  And he said to Abimelech, “Bring up your army and come out.”

וַיִּשְׁמַע זְבֻל שַׂר־הָעִיר אֶת־דִּבְרֵי גַּעַל בֶּן־עָבֶד וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ׃   9:30

Judg. 9:30   And Zebul, prince of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed and his anger was kindled.

וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בְּתָרְמָה לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה גַעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד וְאֶחָיו בָּאִים שְׁכֶמָה וְהִנָּם צָרִים   9:31

אֶת־הָעִיר עָלֶיךָ׃

Judg. 9:31   And he sent messengers to Abimelech in Tormah to say, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming to Shechem and behold, they are inciting the city against you.”

וְעַתָּה קוּם לַיְלָה אַתָּה וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתָּךְ וֶאֱרֹב בַּשָּׂדֶה׃   9:32

Judg. 9:32   “So now arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.”

וְהָיָה בַבֹּקֶר כִּזְרֹחַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ תַּשְׁכִּים וּפָשַׁטְתָּ עַל־הָעִיר וְהִנֵּה־הוּא וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ יֹצְאִים אֵלֶיךָ   9:33

וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדֶךָ׃

Judg. 9:33   “And it will be, in the morning when the light of the sun comes up, that you shall set upon the city, and behold, he and the people who are with him will come out to you, then you may do to him as your hand is able.”

וַיָּקָם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־עִמּוֹ לָיְלָה וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ עַל־שְׁכֶם אַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים׃   9:34

Judg. 9:34   So Abimelech rose up with all the people who were with him by night and they lay in wait against Shechem, four companies.

וַיֵּצֵא גַּעַל בֶּן־עֶבֶד וַיַּעֲמֹד פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר וַיָּקָם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ מִן־הַמַּאְרָב׃   9:35

Judg. 9:35   And Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the place of ambush.

וַיַּרְא־גַּעַל אֶת־הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־זְבֻל הִנֵּה־עָם יוֹרֵד מֵרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו זְבֻל אֵת צֵל   9:36

הֶהָרִים אַתָּה רֹאֶה כָּאֲנָשִׁים׃

Judg. 9:36   And Gaal saw the people and he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.”  And Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains like men.”

וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד גַּעַל לְדַבֵּר וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה־עָם יוֹרְדִים מֵעִם טַבּוּר הָאָרֶץ וְרֹאשׁ־אֶחָד בָּא מִדֶּרֶךְ אֵלוֹן   9:37

מְעוֹנְנִים׃

Judg. 9:37   And Gaal proceeded to speak further and he said, “See, people come down from the summit of the land and one band comes from the direction of Elon-meonenim.”

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו זְבֻל אַיֵּה אֵפוֹא פִיךָ אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ הֲלֹא זֶה הָעָם אֲשֶׁר   9:38

מָאַסְתָּה בּוֹ צֵא־נָא עַתָּה וְהִלָּחֶם בּוֹ׃

Judg. 9:38   And Zebul said to him, “Where now is your mouth with which you would say, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’  Is this not the people with him that you spurned?  Go out, please, now and fight with him.”

וַיֵּצֵא גַעַל לִפְנֵי בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וַיִּלָּחֶם בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃   9:39

Judg. 9:39   And out Gaal went before the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

וַיִּרְדְּפֵהוּ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיָּנָס מִפָּנָיו וַיִּפְּלוּ חֲלָלִים רַבִּים עַד־פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר׃   9:40

Judg. 9:40   And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from his presence, and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.

וַיֵּשֶׁב אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בָּארוּמָה וַיְגָרֶשׁ זְבֻל אֶת־גַּעַל וְאֶת־אֶחָיו מִשֶּׁבֶת בִּשְׁכֶם׃   9:41

Judg. 9:41   And Abimelech dwelled in Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem.

וַיְהִי מִמָּחֳרָת וַיֵּצֵא הָעָם הַשָּׂדֶה וַיַּגִּדוּ לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ׃   9:42

Judg. 9:42   And it was the next day and the people went out to the field; and they told it to Abimelech.

וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הָעָם וַיֶּחֱצֵם לִשְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים וַיֶּאֱרֹב בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הָעָם יֹצֵא מִן־הָעִיר וַיָּקָם   9:43

עֲלֵיהֶם וַיַּכֵּם׃

Judg. 9:43   And he took the people and divided them for three companies and he lay in wait in the field; then he looked and behold, the people were coming out of the city; and he rose up against them and smote them.

וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְהָרָאשִׁים אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ פָּשְׁטוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר וּשְׁנֵי הָרָאשִׁים פָּשְׁטוּ עַל־כָּל־   9:44

אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיַּכּוּם׃

Judg. 9:44   Then Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and two of the companies rushed upon all who were in the field and smote them.

וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ נִלְחָם בָּעִיר כֹּל הַיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת־הָעִיר וְאֶת־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־בָּהּ הָרָג וַיִּתֹּץ אֶת־הָעִיר   9:45

וַיִּזְרָעֶהָ מֶלַח׃

Judg. 9:45   And Abimelech fought in the city all that day and took the city, and he slew the people that were in it; and he threw down the city and scattered salt on it.

Apparently, the salt was to prevent new growth, or even rebuilding of the city.  Notwithstanding, the city was later rebuilt (1Kings 12).

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ כָּל־בַּעֲלֵי מִגְדַּל־שְׁכֶם וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־צְרִיחַ בֵּית אֵל בְּרִית׃   9:46

Judg. 9:46   And all the men of the tower of Shechem heard and they went in to the citadel of the house of El-brith.

וַיֻּגַּד לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי הִתְקַבְּצוּ כָּל־בַּעֲלֵי מִגְדַּל־שְׁכֶם׃   9:47

Judg. 9:47   And it was told to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered together.

וַיַּעַל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ הַר־צַלְמוֹן הוּא וְכָל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶת־הַקַּרְדֻּמּוֹת בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּכְרֹת   9:48

שׂוֹכַת עֵצִים וַיִּשָּׂאֶהָ וַיָּשֶׂם עַל־שִׁכְמוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־עִמּוֹ מָה רְאִיתֶם עָשִׂיתִי מַהֲרוּ עֲשׂוּ

כָמוֹנִי׃

Judg. 9:48   And Abimelech climbed up Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him, and Abimelech took the axes in his hand and cut down a branch of trees and lifted it and laid on his shoulder and said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry, do like me.”

וַיִּכְרְתוּ גַם־כָּל־הָעָם אִישׁ שׂוֹכֹה וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עַל־הַצְּרִיחַ וַיַּצִּיתוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־   9:49

הַצְּרִיחַ בָּאֵשׁ וַיָּמֻתוּ גַּם כָּל־אַנְשֵׁי מִגְדַּל־שְׁכֶם כְּאֶלֶף אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה׃

Judg. 9:49   So all the people also cut down, each a bough, and went after Abimelech and placed against the citadel and they set the citadel on fire with them, and all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

וַיֵּלֶךְ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶל־תֵּבֵץ וַיִּחַן בְּתֵבֵץ וַיִּלְכְּדָהּ׃   9:50

Judg. 9:50   Then Abimelech went and encamped against Thebez and captured it.

וּמִגְדַּל־עֹז הָיָה בְתוֹךְ־הָעִיר וַיָּנֻסוּ שָׁמָּה כָּל־הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְכֹל בַּעֲלֵי הָעִיר וַיִּסְגְּרוּ בַּעֲדָם וַיַּעֲלוּ   9:51

עַל־גַּג הַמִּגְדָּל׃

Judg. 9:51   But a strong tower was within the city and all the men and women and all the heads of the city fled there and shut themselves in because of them, and they went up on the roof of the tower.

וַיָּבֹא אֲבִימֶלֶךְ עַד־הַמִּגְדָּל וַיִּלָּחֶם בּוֹ וַיִּגַּשׁ עַד־פֶּתַח הַמִּגְדָּל לְשָׂרְפוֹ בָאֵשׁ׃ּ   9:52

Judg. 9:52   And Abimelech came up to the tower and fought against it, and he came close up to the door of the tower to set it on fire.

וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ אִשָּׁה אַחַת פֶּלַח רֶכֶב עַל־רֹאשׁ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַתָּרִץ אֶת־גֻּלְגָּלְתּוֹ׃   9:53

Judg. 9:53   But a woman hurled down one part of an upper millstone on the head of Abimelech and broke his skull.

וַיִּקְרָא מְהֵרָה אֶל־הַנַּעַר נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ שְׁלֹף חַרְבְּךָ וּמוֹתְתֵנִי פֶּן־יֹאמְרוּ לִי אִשָּׁה הֲרָגָתְהוּ   9:54

וַיִּדְקְרֵהוּ נַעֲרוֹ וַיָּמֹת׃

Judg. 9:54   And he called quickly to the young man, bearer of his armor, and said to him, “Draw your sword and slay me lest they say of me, ‘A woman slew him.’”  Then his young man thrust him through and he died.

וַיִּרְאוּ אִישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי מֵת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיֵּלְכוּ אִישׁ לִמְקֹמוֹ׃ּ   9:55

Judg. 9:55   When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, each man to his place.

וַיָּשֶׁב אֱלֹהִים אֵת רָעַת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְאָבִיו לַהֲרֹג אֶת־שִׁבְעִים אֶחָיו׃ּ   9:56

Judg. 9:56   So God returned the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father, slaying his seventy brothers.

וְאֵת כָּל־רָעַת אַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם הֵשִׁיב אֱלֹהִים בְּרֹאשָׁם וַתָּבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם קִלֲלַת יוֹתָם בֶּן־יְרֻבָּעַל׃ּ   9:57

Judg. 9:57   And God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came to them.

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