1여룹바알의 아들 아비멜렉이 세겜에 가서 그 어미의 형제에게 이르러 그들과 외조부의 온 가족에게 말하여 가로되 2청하노니 너희는 세겜 사람들의 귀에 말하라 여룹바알의 아들 칠십 인이 다 너희를 다스림과 한 사람이 너희를 다스림이 어느 것이 너희에게 나으냐 또 나는 너희의 골육지친임을 생각하라 3그 어미의 형제들이 그를 위하여 이 모든 말을 온 세겜 사람들의 귀에 고하매 그들의 마음이 아비멜렉에게로 기울어서 말하기를 그는 우리 형제라 하고 4바알브릿 묘에서 은 칠십 개를 내어 그에게 주매 아비멜렉이 그것으로 방탕하고 경박한 유를 사서 자기를 좇게 하고 5오브라에 있는 그 아비의 집으로 가서 여룹바알의 아들 곧 자기 형제 칠십 인을 한 반석 위에서 죽였으되 오직 여룹바알의 말째 아들 요담은 스스로 숨었으므로 남으니라 6세겜 모든 사람과 밀로 모든 족속이 모여 가서 세겜에 있는 기둥 상수리나무 아래서 아비멜렉으로 왕을 삼으니라 7혹이 요담에게 그 일을 고하매 요담이 그리심 산 꼭대기로 가서 서서 소리를 높이 외쳐 그들에게 이르되 세겜 사람들아 나를 들으라 그리하여야 하나님이 너희를 들으시리라 8하루는 나무들이 나가서 기름을 부어 왕을 삼으려 하여 감람나무에게 이르되 너는 우리 왕이 되라 하매 9감람나무가 그들에게 이르되 나의 기름은 하나님과 사람을 영화롭게 하나니 내가 어찌 그것을 버리고 가서 나무들 위에 요동하리요 한지라 10나무들이 또 무화과 나무에게 이르되 너는 와서 우리의 왕이 되라 하매 11무화과 나무가 그들에게 이르되 나의 단 것, 나의 아름다운 실과를 내가 어찌 버리고 가서 나무들 위에 요동하리요 한지라 12나무들이 또 포도나무에게 이르되 너는 와서 우리의 왕이 되라 하매 13포도나무가 그들에게 이르되 하나님과 사람을 기쁘게 하는 나의 새 술을 내가 어찌 버리고 가서 나무들 위에 요동하리요 한지라 14이에 모든 나무가 가시나무에게 이르되 너는 와서 우리의 왕이 되라 하매 15가시나무가 나무들에게 이르되 너희가 참으로 내게 기름을 부어 너희 왕을 삼겠거든 와서 내 그늘에 피하라 그리하지 아니하면 불이 가시나무에서 나와서 레바논의 백향목을 사를 것이니라 하였느니라 16이제 너희가 아비멜렉을 세워 왕을 삼았으니 너희 행한 것이 과연 진실하고 의로우냐 이것이 여룹바알과 그 집을 선대함이냐 이것이 그 행한 대로 그에게 보답함이냐 17우리 아버지가 전에 죽음을 무릅쓰고 너희를 위하여 싸워 미디안의 손에서 너희를 건져내었거늘 18너희가 오늘날 일어나서 우리 아버지의 집을 쳐서 그 아들 칠십 인을 한 반석 위에서 죽이고 그 여종의 아들 아비멜렉이 너희 형제가 된다고 그를 세워 세겜 사람의 왕을 삼았도다 19만일 너희가 오늘날 여룹바알과 그 집을 대접한 것이 진실과 의로움이면 너희가 아비멜렉을 인하여 즐길 것이요 아비멜렉도 너희를 인하여 즐기려니와 20그렇지 아니하면 아비멜렉에게서 불이 나와서 세겜 사람들과 밀로 족속을 사를 것이요 세겜 사람들과 밀로 족속에게서도 불이 나와서 아비멜렉을 사를 것이니라 하고 21요담이 그 형제 아비멜렉을 두려워하여 달려 도망하여 브엘로 가서 거기 거하니라 22아비멜렉이 이스라엘을 다스린지 삼 년에 23하나님이 아비멜렉과 세겜 사람들 사이에 악한 신을 보내시매 세겜 사람들이 아비멜렉을 배반하였으니 24이는 여룹바알의 아들 칠십 인에게 행한 포학한 일을 갚되 그 형제를 죽여 피 흘린 죄를 아비멜렉과 아비멜렉의 손을 도와서 그 형제를 죽이게 한 세겜 사람에게로 돌아가게 하심이라 25세겜 사람들이 산들 꼭대기에 사람을 매복하여 아비멜렉을 엿보게 하고 무릇 그 길로 지나는 자를 다 겁탈하게 하니 혹이 그것을 아비멜렉에게 고하니라 26에벳의 아들 가알이 그 형제로 더불어 세겜에 이르니 세겜 사람들이 그를 의뢰하니라 27그들이 밭에 가서 포도를 거두어다가 밟아 짜서 연회를 배설하고 그 신당에 들어가서 먹고 마시며 아비멜렉을 저주하니 28에벳의 아들 가알이 가로되 아비멜렉은 누구며 세겜은 누구기에 우리가 아비멜렉을 섬기리요 그가 여룹바알의 아들이 아니야 그 장관은 스불이 아니냐 차라리 세겜의 아비 하몰의 후손을 섬길 것이라 우리가 어찌 아비멜렉을 섬기리요 29아하, 이 백성이 내 수하에 있었더면 내가 아비멜렉을 제하였으리라 하고 아비멜렉에게 네 군대를 더하고 나오라고 말하니라 30그 성읍 장관 스불이 에벳의 아들 가알의 말을 듣고 노하여 31사자를 아비멜렉에게 가만히 보내어 가로되 보소서 에벳의 아들 가알과 그 형제가 세겜에 이르러 성읍 무리를 충동하여 당신을 대적하게 하나니 32당신은 당신을 좇은 백성으로 더불어 밤에 일어나서 밭에 매복하였다가 33아침 해 뜰 때에 당신은 일찍이 일어나 이 성읍을 엄습하면 가알과 그를 좇은 백성이 나와서 당신을 대적하리니 당신은 기회를 보아 그들에게 행하소서 34아비멜렉과 그를 좇은 모든 백성이 밤에 일어나 네 떼로 나눠 세겜을 대하여 매복하였더니 35에벳의 아들 가알이 나와서 성읍문 입구에 설 때에 아비멜렉과 그를 좇은 백성이 매복하였던 곳에서 일어난지라 36가알이 그 백성을 보고 스불에게 이르되 보라 백성이 산 꼭대기에서부터 내려오는도다 스불이 그에게 대답하되 네가 산 그림자를 사람으로 보았느니라 37가알이 다시 말하여 가로되 보라 백성이 밭 가운데로 좇아 내려오고 또 한 떼는 므오느님 상수리나무 길로 좇아 오는도다 38스불이 그에게 이르되 네가 전에 말하기를 아비멜렉이 누구관데 우리가 그를 섬기리요 하던 그 입이 이제 어디 있느냐 이가 너의 업신여기던 백성이 아니냐 청하노니 이제 나가서 그들과 싸우라 39가알이 세겜 사람들의 앞서 나가서 아비멜렉과 싸우다가 40아비멜렉에게 쫓겨 그 앞에서 도망하였고 상하여 엎드러진 자가 많아서 성문 입구까지 이르렀더라 41아비멜렉은 아루마에 거하고 스불은 가알과 그 형제를 쫓아내어 세겜에 거하지 못하게 하더니 42이튿날 백성이 밭으로 나오매 혹이 그것을 아비멜렉에게 고하니라 43아비멜렉이 자기 백성을 세 떼로 나눠 밭에 매복하였더니 백성이 성에서 나오는 것을 보고 일어나서 그들을 치되 44아비멜렉과 그를 좇은 떼는 앞으로 달려가서 성문 입구에 서고 그 나머지 두 떼는 밭에 있는 모든 자에게 달려들어 그들을 죽이니 45아비멜렉이 그날 종일토록 그 성을 쳐서 필경은 취하고 거기 있는 백성을 죽이며 그 성을 헐고 소금을 뿌리니라 46세겜 망대의 사람들이 이를 듣고 엘브릿 신당의 보장으로 들어갔더니 47세겜 망대의 모든 사람의 모인 것이 아비멜렉에게 들리매 48아비멜렉과 그를 좇은 모든 백성이 살몬 산에 오르고 아비멜렉이 손에 도끼를 들고 나무가지를 찍고 그것을 가져 자기 어깨에 메고 좇은 백성에게 이르되 너희는 나의 행하는 것을 보나니 빨리 나와 같이 행하라 하니 49모든 백성도 각각 나무가지를 찍어서 아비멜렉을 좇아 보장에 대어 놓고 그곳에 불을 놓으매 세겜 망대에 있는 사람들도 다 죽었으니 남녀가 대략 일천 명이었더라 50아비멜렉이 데베스에 가서 데베스를 대하여 진 치고 그것을 취하였더니 51성중에 견고한 망대가 있으므로 그 성 백성의 남녀가 모두 그리로 도망하여 들어가서 문을 잠그고 망대 꼭대기로 올라간지라 52아비멜렉이 망대 앞에 이르러서 치며 망대의 문에 가까이 나아가서 그것을 불사르려 하더니 53한 여인이 맷돌 윗짝을 아비멜렉의 머리 위에 내려던져 그 두골을 깨뜨리니 54아비멜렉이 자기의 병기 잡은 소년을 급히 불러 그에게 이르되 너는 칼을 빼어 나를 죽이라 사람들이 나를 가리켜 이르기를 그가 여인에게 죽었다 할까 하노라 소년이 찌르매 그가 곧 죽은지라 55이스라엘 사람들이 아비멜렉의 죽은 것을 보고 각각 자기 처소로 떠나갔더라 56아비멜렉이 그 형제 칠십 인을 죽여 자기 아비에게 행한 악을 하나님이 이같이 갚으셨고 57또 세겜 사람들의 모든 악을 하나님이 그들의 머리에 갚으셨으니 여룹바알의 아들 요담의 저주가 그들에게 응하니라
1Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” 3His mother’s brothers spoke 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 gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him. 5He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem. 7When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 10“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 11“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 12“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 13“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’ 14“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 15“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ 16“Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands 17(for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18and you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); 19if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20but 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.” 21Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 22Abimelech was prince over Israel three years. 23God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. 26Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27They went out into the field, and harvested their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him? 29Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army, and come out!” 30When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you. 32Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field: 33and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.” 34Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush. 36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” 37Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.” 38Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.” 39Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate. 41Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them. 44Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them. 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 46When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. 47It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!” 49All the people likewise each cut down his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull. 54Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.” 55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place. 56Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers; 57and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
1Abimelech nu, de zoon van Jerubbaal, ging henen naar Sichem, tot de broeder zijner moeder; en hij sprak tot hen, en tot het ganse geslacht van het huis van den vader zijner moeder, zeggende: 2Spreekt toch voor de oren van alle burgers van Sichem: Wat is u beter, dat zeventig mannen, alle zonen van Jerubbaal, over u heersen, of dat een man over u heerse? Gedenkt ook, dat ik uw been en uw vlees ben. 3Toen spraken de broeders zijner moeder van hem, voor de oren van alle burgers van Sichem, al dezelve woorden; en hun hart neigde zich naar Abimelech; want zij zeiden: Hij is onze broeder. 4En zij gaven hem zeventig zilverlingen, uit het huis van Baal-Berith; en Abimelech huurde daarmede ijdele en lichtvaardige mannen, die hem navolgden. 5En hij kwam in zijns vaders huis te Ofra, en doodde zijn broederen, de zonen van Jerubbaal, zeventig mannen, op een steen; doch Jotham, de jongste zoon van Jerubbaal werd overgelaten, want hij had zich verstoken. 6Toen vergaderden zich alle burgers van Sichem, en het ganse huis van Millo, en gingen heen en maakten Abimelech ten koning, bij den hogen eik, die bij Sichem is. 7Als zij dit Jotham aanzeiden, zo ging hij heen, en stond op de hoogte des bergs Gerizim, en verhief zijn stem, en riep, en hij zeide tot hen: Hoort naar mij, gij, burgers van Sichem! en God zal naar ulieden horen. 8De bomen gingen eens heen, om een koning over zich te zalven, en zij zeiden tot den olijfboom: Wees gij koning over ons. 9Maar de olijfboom zeide tot hen: Zoude ik mijn vettigheid verlaten, die God en de mensen in mij prijzen? En zoude ik heengaan om te zweven over de bomen? 10Toen zeiden de bomen tot den vijgeboom: Kom gij, wees koning over ons. 11Maar de vijgeboom zeide tot hen: Zou ik mijn zoetigheid en mijn goede vrucht verlaten? En zou ik heengaan om te zweven over de bomen? 12Toen zeiden de bomen tot den wijnstok: Kom gij, wees koning over ons. 13Maar de wijnstok zeide tot hen: Zou ik mijn most verlaten, die God en mensen vrolijk maakt? En zou ik heengaan om te zweven over de bomen? 14Toen zeiden al de bomen tot den doornenbos: Kom gij, wees koning over ons. 15En de doornenbos zeide tot de bomen: Indien gij mij in waarheid tot een koning over u zalft, zo komt, vertrouwt u onder mijn schaduw; maar indien niet, zo ga vuur uit de doornenbos, en vertere de cederen van de Libanon. 16Alzo nu, indien gij het in waarheid en oprechtheid gedaan hebt, dat gij Abimelech koning gemaakt hebt, en indien gij welgedaan hebt bij Jerubbaal en bij zijn huis, en indien gij hem naar de verdienste zijner handen gedaan hebt. 17(Want mijn vader heeft voor ulieden gestreden, en hij heeft zijn ziel verre weggeworpen, en u uit der Midianieten hand gered; 18Maar gij zijt heden opgestaan tegen het huis mijns vaders, en hebt zijn zonen, zeventig mannen, op een steen gedood; en gij hebt Abimelech, een zoon zijner dienstmaagd, koning gemaakt over de burgers van Sichem, omdat hij uw broeder is); 19Indien gij dan in waarheid en in oprechtheid bij Jerubbaal en bij zijn huis te dezen dage gehandeld hebt, zo weest vrolijk over Abimelech, en hij zij ook vrolijk over ulieden. 20Maar indien niet, zo ga vuur uit van Abimelech, en vertere de burgers van Sichem, en het huis van Millo; en vuur ga uit van de burgers van Sichem, en van het huis van Millo, en vertere Abimelech! 21Toen vlood Jotham, en vluchtte, en ging naar Beer; en hij woonde aldaar vanwege zijn broeder Abimelech. 22Als nu Abimelech drie jaren over Israel geheerst had, 23Zo zond God een bozen geest tussen Abimelech en tussen de burgers van Sichem; en de burgers van Sichem handelden trouweloos tegen Abimelech; 24Opdat het geweld, gedaan aan de zeventig zonen van Jerubbaal, kwame, en opdat hun bloed gelegd wierd op Abimelech, hun broeder, die hen gedood had, en op de burgers van Sichem, die zijn handen gesterkt hadden om zijn broeders te doden. 25En de burgers van Sichem bestelden tegen hem, die op de hoogten der bergen lagen legden, en al wie voorbij hen op den weg doorging, beroofden zij; en het werd Abimelech aangezegd. 26Gaal, de zoon van Ebed, kwam ook met zijn broederen, en zij gingen over in Sichem; en de burgeren van Sichem verlieten zich op hem. 27En zij togen uit in het veld, en lazen hun wijnbergen af, en traden de druiven, en maakten lofliederen; en zij gingen in het huis huns gods, en aten en dronken, en vloekten Abimelech. 28En Gaal, de zoon van Ebed, zeide: Wie is Abimelech, en wat is Sichem, dat wij hem dienen zouden? is hij niet een zoon van Jerubbaal? en Zebul zijn bevelhebber? dient liever de mannen van Hemor, den vader van Sichem; want waarom zouden wij hem dienen? 29Och, dat dit volk in mijn hand ware! ik zoude Abimelech wel verdrijven. En tot Abimelech zeide hij: Vermeerder uw heir, en trek uit. 30Als Zebul, de overste der stad, de woorden van Gaal, den zoon van Ebed, hoorde, zo ontstak zijn toorn. 31En hij zond listiglijk boden tot Abimelech, zeggende: Zie, Gaal, de zoon van Ebed, en zijn broeders zijn te Sichem gekomen, en zie, zij, met deze stad, handelen vijandiglijk tegen u. 32Zo maak u nu op bij nacht, gij en het volk, dat met u is, en leg lagen in het veld. 33En het geschiede in den morgen, als de zon opgaat, zo maak u vroeg op, en overval deze stad; en zie, zo hij en het volk, dat met hem is, tot u uittrekken, zo doe hem, gelijk als uw hand vinden zal. 34Abimelech dan maakte zich op, en al het volk, dat met hem was, bij nacht; en zij legden lagen op Sichem, met vier hopen. 35En Gaal, de zoon van Ebed, ging uit, en stond aan de deur van de stadspoort; en Abimelech rees op, en al het volk, dat met hem was, uit de achterlage. 36Als Gaal dat volk zag, zo zeide hij tot Zebul: Zie, er komt volk af van de hoogten der bergen. Zebul daarentegen zeide tot hem: Gij ziet de schaduw der bergen voor mensen aan. 37Maar Gaal voer wijders voort te spreken en zeide: Zie daar volk, afkomende uit het midden des lands, en een hoop komt van den weg van den eik Meonenim. 38Toen zeide Zebul tot hem: Waar is nu uw mond, waarmede gij zeidet: Wie is Abimelech, dat wij hem zouden dienen? is niet dit het volk, dat gij veracht hebt? trek toch nu uit en strijd tegen hem! 39En Gaal trok uit voor het aangezicht der burgeren van Sichem, en hij streed tegen Abimelech. 40En Abimelech jaagde hem na, want hij vlood voor zijn aangezicht; en er vielen vele verslagenen tot aan de deur der stads poort. 41Abimelech nu bleef te Aruma; en Zebul verdreef Gaal en zijn broederen, dat zij te Sichem niet mochten wonen. 42En het geschiedde des anderen daags dat het volk uittrok in het veld, en zij zeiden het Abimelech aan. 43Toen nam hij het volk, en deelde hen in drie hopen, en hij legde lagen in het veld; en hij zag toe, en ziet, het volk trok uit de stad, zo maakte hij zich tegen hen op, en sloeg hen. 44Want Abimelech en de hopen, die bij hem waren, overvielen hen, en bleven staan aan de deur der stadspoort; en de twee andere hopen overvielen allen, die in het veld waren, en sloegen hen. 45Voorts streed Abimelech tegen de stad dienzelven gansen dag, en nam de stad in, en doodde het volk, dat daarin was; en hij brak de stad af, en bezaaide haar met zout. 46Als alle burgers des torens van Sichem dat hoorden, zo gingen zij in de sterkte, in het huis van den god Berith. 47En het werd Abimelech aangezegd, dat alle burgeren des torens van Sichem zich verzameld hadden. 48Zo ging Abimelech op den berg Zalmon, hij en al het volk, dat met hem was; en Abimelech nam een bijl in zijn hand, en hieuw een tak van de bomen, en nam hem op, en legde hem op zijn schouder; en hij zeide tot het volk, dat bij hem was: Wat gij mij hebt zien doen, haast u, doet als ik. 49Zo hieuw ook al het volk een iegelijk zijn tak af, en zij volgden Abimelech na, en legden ze aan de sterkte, en verbrandden daardoor de sterkte met vuur; dat ook alle lieden des torens van Sichem stierven, omtrent duizend mannen en vrouwen. 50Voorts toog Abimelech naar Thebez, en hij legerde zich tegen Thebez, en nam haar in. 51Doch er was een sterke toren in het midden der stad; zo vloden daarheen al de mannen en de vrouwen, en alle burgers van de stad, en sloten voor zich toe; en zij klommen op het dak des torens. 52Toen kwam Abimelech tot aan den toren, en bestormde dien; en hij genaakte tot aan de deur des torens, om dien met vuur te verbranden. 53Maar een vrouw wierp een stuk van een molensteen op Abimelechs hoofd; en zij verpletterde zijn hersenpan. 54Toen riep hij haastelijk den jongen, die zijn wapenen droeg, en zeide tot hem: Trek uw zwaard uit, en dood mij, opdat zij niet van mij zeggen: Een vrouw heeft hem gedood. En zijn jongen doorstak hem, dat hij stierf. 55Als nu de mannen van Israel zagen, dat Abimelech dood was, zo gingen zij een iegelijk naar zijn plaats. 56Alzo deed God wederkeren heet kwaad van Abimelech, dat hij aan zijn vader gedaan had, dodende zijn zeventig broederen. 57Desgelijks al het kwaad der lieden van Sichem deed God wederkeren op hun hoofd; en de vloek van Jotham, den zoon van Jerubbaal, kwam over hen.
절 번호는 선택한 번역본을 따르며, 몇몇 장에서는 한 절씩 다를 수 있습니다.