The Book of Judges, Chapter 9שפטים 9

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ בֶּן יְרֻבַּ֨עַל֙ שְׁכֶ֔מָה אֶל אֲחֵ֖י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֶל כָּל מִשְׁפַּ֛חַת בֵּית אֲבִ֥י אִמּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר

And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke to them and to all the clan of his mother's father's house, saying,

דַּבְּרוּ נָ֞א בְּאָזְנֵ֨י כָל בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶם֮ מַה טּ֣וֹב לָכֶם֒ הַמְשֹׁ֨ל בָּכֶ֜ם שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ כֹּ֚ל בְּנֵ֣י יְרֻבַּ֔עַל אִם מְשֹׁ֥ל בָּכֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד וּזְכַרְתֶּ֕ם כִּֽי עַצְמֵכֶם וּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖ם אָנִֽי

Speak please in the ears of all the lords of Shechem: What is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? And remember that I am your bone and your flesh.

וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ אֲחֵֽי אִמּ֜וֹ עָלָ֗יו בְּאָזְנֵי֙ כָּל בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֵּ֤ט לִבָּם֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ כִּ֥י אָמְר֖וּ אָחִ֥ינוּ הֽוּא

And his mother's brothers spoke all these words about him in the ears of all the lords of Shechem, and their heart inclined after Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.

וַיִּתְּנוּ לוֹ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים כֶּ֔סֶף מִבֵּ֖יתּ בַ֣עַל בְּרִ֑ית וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר בָּהֶ֜ם אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים רֵיקִים֙ וּפֹ֣חֲזִ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אַחֲרָֽיו

And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, and with them Abimelech hired empty and reckless men, and they went after him.

וַיָּבֹ֤א בֵית אָבִיו֙ עָפְרָ֔תָה וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞ג אֶת אֶחָ֧יו בְּנֵֽי יְרֻבַּ֛עַל שִׁבְּעִ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ עַל אֶ֣בֶן אֶחָ֑ת וַיִּוָּתֵ֞ר יוֹתָ֧ם בֶּן יְרֻבַּ֛עַל הַקָּטֹ֖ן כִּ֥י נֶחְבָּֽא

And he came to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, for he hid himself.

וַיֵּאָ֨סְפ֜וּ כָּל בַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁכֶם֙ וְכָל בֵּ֣ית מִלּ֔וֹא וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ לְמֶ֑לֶךְ עִם אֵל֥וֹן מֻצָּ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּשְׁכֶֽם

And all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that is in Shechem.

וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ לְיוֹתָ֗ם וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ֙ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַר גְּרִזִ֔ים וַיִּשָּׂ֥א קוֹל֖וֹ וַיִּקְרָ֑א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם שִׁמְע֤וּ אֵלַי֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם וְיִשְׁמַ֥ע אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם אֱלֹהִֽים

And they told Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted his voice and called out and said to them, Listen to me, lords of Shechem, and God will listen to you.

הָל֤וֹךְ הָֽלְכוּ֙ הָעֵצִ֔ים לִמְשֹׁ֥חַ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ לַזַּ֖יִת מלוכה מָלְכָ֥ה עָלֵֽינוּ

The trees went forth in earnest to anoint a king over themselves, and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הַזַּ֔יִת הֶחֳדַ֨לְתִּי֙ אֶת דִּשְׁנִ֔י אֲשֶׁר בִּ֛י יְכַבְּד֥וּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י לָנ֖וּעַ עַל הָעֵצִֽים

And the olive tree said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and men, and go to sway over the trees?

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ הָעֵצִ֖ים לַתְּאֵנָ֑ה לְכִי אַ֖תְּ מָלְכִ֥י עָלֵֽינוּ

And the trees said to the fig tree, You come, reign over us.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הַתְּאֵנָ֔ה הֶחֳדַ֨לְתִּי֙ אֶת מָתְקִ֔י וְאֶת תְּנוּבָתִ֖י הַטּוֹבָ֑ה וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י לָנ֖וּעַ עַל הָעֵצִֽים

And the fig tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to sway over the trees?

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ הָעֵצִ֖ים לַגָּ֑פֶן לְכִי אַ֖תְּ מלוכי מָלְכִ֥י עָלֵֽינוּ

And the trees said to the vine, You come, reign over us.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הַגֶּ֔פֶן הֶחֳדַ֨לְתִּי֙ אֶת תִּ֣ירוֹשִׁ֔י הַֽמְשַׂמֵּ֥חַ אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהָ֣לַכְתִּ֔י לָנ֖וּעַ עַל הָעֵצִֽים

And the vine said to them, Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to sway over the trees?

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ כָל הָעֵצִ֖ים אֶל הָאָטָ֑ד לֵ֥ךְ אַתָּ֖ה מְלָךְ עָלֵֽינוּ

And all the trees said to the buckthorn, You come, reign over us.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הָאָטָד֮ אֶל הָעֵצִים֒ אִ֡ם בֶּאֱמֶ֣ת אַתֶּם֩ מֹשְׁחִ֨ים אֹתִ֤י לְמֶ֨לֶךְ֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם בֹּ֖אוּ חֲס֣וּ בְצִלִּ֑י וְאִם אַ֕יִן תֵּ֤צֵא אֵשׁ֙ מִן הָ֣אָטָ֔ד וְתֹאכַ֖ל אֶת אַרְזֵ֥י הַלְּבָנֽוֹן

And the buckthorn said to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me king over you, come, take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out from the buckthorn and consume the cedars of Lebanon.

וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם בֶּאֱמֶ֤ת וּבְתָמִים֙ עֲשִׂיתֶ֔ם וַתַּמְלִ֖יכוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וְאִם טוֹבָ֤ה עֲשִׂיתֶם֙ עִם יְרֻבַּ֣עַל וְעִם בֵּית֔וֹ וְאִם כִּגְמ֥וּל יָדָ֖יו עֲשִׂ֥יתֶם לֽוֹ

And now, if you have acted in truth and in integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have done good with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if you have done to him according to the dealing of his hands —

אֲשֶׁר נִלְחַ֥ם אָבִ֖י עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ֙ מִנֶּ֔גֶד וַיַּצֵּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיַּ֥ד מִדְיָֽן

for my father fought for you and threw his life in front of him and delivered you from the hand of Midian,

וְאַתֶּ֞ם קַמְתֶּ֨ם עַל בֵּ֤ית אָבִי֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וַתַּהַרְג֧וּ אֶת בָּנָ֛יו שִׁבְעִ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ עַל אֶ֣בֶן אֶחָ֑ת וַתַּמְלִ֜יכוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ בֶּן אֲמָתוֹ֙ עַל בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֲחִיכֶ֖ם הֽוּא

and you have risen against my father's house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your brother —

וְאִם בֶּאֱמֶ֨ת וּבְתָמִ֧ים עֲשִׂיתֶ֛ם עִם יְרֻבַּ֥עַל וְעִם בֵּית֖וֹ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה שִׂמְחוּ֙ בַּאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְיִשְׂמַ֥ח גַּם ה֖וּא בָּכֶֽם

if then you have acted in truth and in integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

וְאִם אַ֕יִן תֵּ֤צֵא אֵשׁ֙ מֵאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְתֹאכַ֛ל אֶת בַּעֲלֵ֥י שְׁכֶ֖ם וְאֶת בֵּ֣ית מִלּ֑וֹא וְתֵצֵ֨א אֵ֜שׁ מִבַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁכֶם֙ וּמִבֵּ֣ית מִלּ֔וֹא וְתֹאכַ֖ל אֶת אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem and from Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.

וַיָּ֣נָס יוֹתָ֔ם וַיִּבְרַ֖ח וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ בְּאֵ֑רָה וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב שָׁ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י אֲבִימֶ֥לֶךְ אָחִֽיו

And Jotham fled and escaped and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.

וַיָּ֧שַׂר אֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שָׁלֹ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים

And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֱלֹהִים֙ ר֣וּחַ רָעָ֔ה בֵּ֣ין אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וּבֵ֖ין בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם וַיִּבְגְּד֥וּ בַעֲלֵי שְׁכֶ֖ם בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem, and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

לָב֕וֹא חֲמַ֖ס שִׁבְעִ֣ים בְּנֵֽי יְרֻבָּ֑עַל וְדָמָ֗ם לָשׂ֞וּם עַל אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ אֲחִיהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָרַ֣ג אוֹתָ֔ם וְעַל֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר חִזְּק֥וּ אֶת יָדָ֖יו לַהֲרֹ֥ג אֶת אֶחָֽיו

that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ לוֹ֩ בַעֲלֵ֨י שְׁכֶ֜ם מְאָרְבִ֗ים עַ֚ל רָאשֵׁ֣י הֶהָרִ֔ים וַיִּגְזְל֗וּ אֵ֛ת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבֹ֥ר עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיֻּגַּ֖ד לַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

And the lords of Shechem set ambushes against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road, and it was told to Abimelech.

וַיָּבֹ֞א גַּ֤עַל בֶּן עֶ֨בֶד֙ וְאֶחָ֔יו וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ בִּשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיִּבְטְחוּ ב֖וֹ בַּעֲלֵ֥י שְׁכֶֽם

And Gaal son of Ebed came, and his brothers, and they crossed over into Shechem, and the lords of Shechem put their trust in him.

וַיֵּצְא֨וּ הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וַֽיִּבְצְר֤וּ אֶת כַּרְמֵיהֶם֙ וַֽיִּדְרְכ֔וּ וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֖וּ הִלּוּלִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱֽלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וַֽיְקַלְל֖וּ אֶת אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

And they went out into the field and gathered their vineyards and trod them and made a festival, and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גַּ֣עַל בֶּן עֶ֗בֶד מִֽי אֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ וּמִֽי שְׁכֶם֙ כִּ֣י נַעַבְדֶ֔נּוּ הֲלֹ֥א בֶן יְרֻבַּ֖עַל וּזְבֻ֣ל פְּקִיד֑וֹ עִבְד֗וּ אֶת אַנְשֵׁ֤י חֲמוֹר֙ אֲבִ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם וּמַדּ֖וּעַ נַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ אֲנָֽחְנוּ

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 his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem! Why should we serve him?

וּמִ֨י יִתֵּ֜ן אֶת הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדִ֔י וְאָסִ֖ירָה אֶת אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לַאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ רַבֶּ֥ה צְבָאֲךָ֖ וָצֵֽאָה

And would that this people were in my hand; then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Enlarge your army and come out!

וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע זְבֻל֙ שַׂר הָעִ֔יר אֶת דִּבְרֵ֖י גַּ֣עַל בֶּן עָ֑בֶד וַיִּ֖חַר אַפּֽוֹ

And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burned.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֶל אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ בְּתָרְמָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּה֩ גַ֨עַל בֶּן עֶ֤בֶד וְאֶחָיו֙ בָּאִ֣ים שְׁכֶ֔מָה וְהִנָּ֛ם צָרִ֥ים אֶת הָעִ֖יר עָלֶֽיךָ

And he sent messengers to Abimelech in Tormah, saying, Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.

וְעַתָּה֙ ק֣וּם לַ֔יְלָה אַתָּ֖ה וְהָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר אִתָּ֑ךְ וֶאֱרֹ֖ב בַּשָּׂדֶֽה

And now, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.

וְהָיָ֤ה בַבֹּ֨קֶר֙ כִּזְרֹ֣חַ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ תַּשְׁכִּ֖ים וּפָשַׁטְתָּ֣ עַל הָעִ֑יר וְהִנֵּה ה֞וּא וְהָעָ֤ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ֙ יֹצְאִ֣ים אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר תִּמְצָ֥א יָדֶֽךָ

And in the morning, as soon as the sun rises, you shall make an early raid on the city; and behold, he and the people who are with him will come out against you, and you shall do to him as your hand finds.

וַיָּ֧קָם אֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ וְכָל הָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר עִמּ֖וֹ לָ֑יְלָה וַיֶּאֶרְב֣וּ עַל שְׁכֶ֔ם אַרְבָּעָ֖ה רָאשִֽׁים

And Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

וַיֵּצֵא֙ גַּ֣עַל בֶּן עֶ֔בֶד וַיַּעֲמֹ֕ד פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֑יר וַיָּ֧קָם אֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ וְהָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֖וֹ מִן הַמַּאְרָֽב

And Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.

וַיַּרְא גַּעַל֮ אֶת הָעָם֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל זְבֻ֔ל הִנֵּה עָ֣ם יוֹרֵ֔ד מֵרָאשֵׁ֖י הֶהָרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ זְבֻ֔ל אֵ֣ת צֵ֧ל הֶהָרִ֛ים אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה כָּאֲנָשִֽׁים

And Gaal saw the people and said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֣וֹד גַּעַל֮ לְדַבֵּר֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה עָם֙ יֽוֹרְדִ֔ים מֵעִ֖ם טַבּ֣וּר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְרֹאשׁ אֶחָ֣ד בָּ֔א מִדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֵל֥וֹן מְעוֹנְנִֽים

And Gaal spoke yet again and said, Behold, people are coming down from the navel of the land, and one company is coming from the way of the oak of the diviners.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו זְבֻ֗ל אַיֵּ֨ה אֵפ֥וֹא פִ֨יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמַ֔ר מִ֥י אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ כִּ֣י נַעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ הֲלֹ֨א זֶ֤ה הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָאַ֣סְתָּה בּ֔וֹ צֵא נָ֥א עַתָּ֖ה וְהִלָּ֥חֶם בּֽוֹ

And Zebul said to him, Where is your mouth now, you who said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is this not the people you despised? Go out now, please, and fight them.

וַיֵּ֣צֵא גַ֔עַל לִפְנֵ֖י בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

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

וַיִּרְדְּפֵ֣הוּ אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖נָס מִפָּנָ֑יו וַֽיִּפְּל֛וּ חֲלָלִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים עַד פֶּ֥תַח הַשָּֽׁעַר

And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from before him, and many fell slain as far as the entrance of the gate.

וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ בָּארוּמָ֑ה וַיְגָ֧רֶשׁ זְבֻ֛ל אֶת גַּ֥עַל וְאֶת אֶחָ֖יו מִשֶּׁ֥בֶת בִּשְׁכֶֽם

And Abimelech lived in Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers from living in Shechem.

וַֽיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיֵּצֵ֥א הָעָ֖ם הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ

And the next day the people went out to the field, and they told Abimelech.

וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת הָעָ֗ם וַֽיֶּחֱצֵם֙ לִשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה רָאשִׁ֔ים וַיֶּאֱרֹ֖ב בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה הָעָם֙ יֹצֵ֣א מִן הָעִ֔יר וַיָּ֥קָם עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיַּכֵּֽם

And he took the people and divided them into three companies and lay in wait in the field, and he looked, and behold, the people were coming out from the city, and he rose against them and struck them.

וַאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וְהָרָאשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמּ֔וֹ פָּשְׁט֕וּ וַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּ פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֑יר וּשְׁנֵ֣י הָֽרָאשִׁ֗ים פָּֽשְׁט֛וּ עַֽל כָּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה וַיַּכּֽוּם

And Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and struck them.

וַאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ נִלְחָ֣ם בָּעִ֗יר כֹּ֚ל הַיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וַיִּלְכֹּד֙ אֶת הָעִ֔יר וְאֶת הָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר בָּ֖הּ הָרָ֑ג וַיִּתֹּץ֙ אֶת הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָ מֶֽלַח

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ כָּֽל בַּעֲלֵ֖י מִֽגְדַּל שְׁכֶ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל צְרִ֔יחַ בֵּ֖ית אֵ֥ל בְּרִֽית

And all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard, and they went into the crypt of the house of El-berith.

וַיֻּגַּ֖ד לַאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י הִֽתְקַבְּצ֔וּ כָּֽל בַּעֲלֵ֖י מִֽגְדַּל שְׁכֶֽם

And it was told to Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem had gathered.

וַיַּ֨עַל אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ הַר צַלְמ֗וֹן הוּא֮ וְכָל הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ֒ וַיִּקַּח֩ אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ אֶת הַקַּרְדֻּמּ֜וֹת בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיִּכְרֹת֙ שׂוֹכַ֣ת עֵצִ֔ים וַיִּ֨שָּׂאֶ֔הָ וַיָּ֖שֶׂם עַל שִׁכְמ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר אֶל הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר עִמּ֗וֹ מָ֤ה רְאִיתֶם֙ עָשִׂ֔יתִי מַהֲר֖וּ עֲשׂ֥וּ כָמֽוֹנִי

And Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him, and Abimelech took axes in his hand and cut a brushwood of trees and lifted it and set it on his shoulder, and he said to the people who were with him, What you have seen me do, hurry, do as I have.

וַיִּכְרְת֨וּ גַם כָּל הָעָ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ שׂוֹכֹ֗ה וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ אַחֲרֵ֤י אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ עַֽל הַצְּרִ֔יחַ וַיַּצִּ֧יתוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם אֶֽת הַצְּרִ֖יחַ בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַיָּמֻ֜תוּ גַּ֣ם כָּל אַנְשֵׁ֧י מִֽגְדַּל שְׁכֶ֛ם כְּאֶ֖לֶף אִ֥ישׁ וְאִשָּֽׁה

And all the people also cut, each man, his brushwood, and they went after Abimelech and set them against the crypt and set the crypt on fire over them, so that all the men of the Tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל תֵּבֵ֑ץ וַיִּ֥חַן בְּתֵבֵ֖ץ וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ

And Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.

וּמִגְדַּל עֹז֮ הָיָ֣ה בְתוֹךְ הָעִיר֒ וַיָּנֻ֨סוּ שָׁ֜מָּה כָּל הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֗ים וְכֹל֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י הָעִ֔יר וַֽיִּסְגְּר֖וּ בַּעֲדָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ עַל גַּ֥ג הַמִּגְדָּֽל

And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and all the men and women and all the lords of the city fled there and shut themselves in and went up on the roof of the tower.

וַיָּבֹ֤א אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ עַד הַמִּגְדָּ֔ל וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֛שׁ עַד פֶּ֥תַח הַמִּגְדָּ֖ל לְשָׂרְפ֥וֹ בָאֵֽשׁ

And Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it, and he drew near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.

וַתַּשְׁלֵ֞ךְ אִשָּׁ֥ה אַחַ֛ת פֶּ֥לַח רֶ֖כֶב עַל רֹ֣אשׁ אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַתָּ֖רִץ אֶת גֻּלְגָּלְתּֽוֹ

And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.

וַיִּקְרָ֨א מְהֵרָ֜ה אֶל הַנַּ֣עַר נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ שְׁלֹ֤ף חַרְבְּךָ֙ וּמ֣וֹתְתֵ֔נִי פֶּן יֹ֥אמְרוּ לִ֖י אִשָּׁ֣ה הֲרָגָ֑תְהוּ וַיִּדְקְרֵ֥הוּ נַעֲר֖וֹ וַיָּמֹֽת

And he quickly called to the young man who carried his armor and said to him, Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, A woman killed him. And his young man stabbed him, and he died.

וַיִּרְא֥וּ אִֽישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ לִמְקֹמֽוֹ

And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, and they went, each man to his place.

וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֵ֖ת רָעַ֣ת אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ לְאָבִ֔יו לַהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶחָֽיו

And God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.

וְאֵ֗ת כָּל רָעַת֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁכֶ֔ם הֵשִׁ֥יב אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּרֹאשָׁ֑ם וַתָּבֹ֣א אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קִֽלֲלַ֖ת יוֹתָ֥ם בֶּן יְרֻבָּֽעַל

And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their heads, and the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.