Judges 9:1-21

Judges 9:1-21

[1] And Abimelech  the son  of Jerubbaal  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,  [2] 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.  [3] 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.  [4] And they gave  him threescore and ten  pieces of silver  out of the house  of Baalberith,  wherewith Abimelech  hired  vain  and light  persons,  him.  [5] 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. [6] And all the men  of Shechem  gathered together,  and all the house  of Millo,  and made  Abimelech  king,  by the plain  of the pillar  that was in Shechem.  [7] And when they told  it to Jotham,  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. [8] The trees  went forth  on a time to anoint  a king  over them; and they said  unto the olive tree,  Reign  thou over us. [9] But the olive tree  said  unto them, Should I leave  my fatness,  wherewith by me they honour  God  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [10] And the trees  said  to the fig tree,  thou, and reign  [11] But the fig tree  said  unto them, Should I forsake  my sweetness,  and my good  fruit,  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [12] Then said  the trees  unto the vine,  thou, and reign  over us. [13] And the vine  said  unto them, Should I leave  my wine,  which cheereth  God  and go  to be promoted  over the trees?  [14] Then said  all the trees  unto the bramble,  thou, and reign  [15] 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.  [16] Now therefore, if ye have done  truly  and sincerely,  in that ye have made Abimelech  king,  and if ye have dealt  with Jerubbaal  and his house,  and have done  unto him according to the deserving  of his hands;  [17] (For my father  fought  for you, and adventured  his life  far,  and delivered  you out of the hand  of Midian:  [18] 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;)  [19] 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, 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.  [21] And Jotham  ran away,  and fled,  to Beer,  and dwelt  there, for fear  of Abimelech  his brother.