Abimelech Attempts to Become King

9 And Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem, to the relatives of his mother, and he said to them and to the house of his mother’s father, 2 “Speak to[fn] the lords of Shechem, ‘What is better for you, that seventy men all from the sons of Jerub-Baal rule over you, or that one man rules over you?’ Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.” 3 And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words concerning him to[fn] all the lords of Shechem; and they supported Abimelech,[fn] for they said, “He is our relative.”[fn] 4 And they gave to him seventy pieces of silver from the temple[fn] of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them[fn] worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.[fn] 5 And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerub-Baal survived, because he hid himself. 6 All the lords of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered, and they went and made Abimelech as king, near the oak[fn] of the pillar that is at Shechem.

7 And they told Jotham, and he went up and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and he cried out loud[fn] and said to them, “Listen to me, lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

• 8 to anoint a king over themselves.
• And they said to the olive tree,
  • ‘Rule over us.’
  • 9  ‘Should I stop producing my oil,
    • which by me gods and men are honored,
    • to go sway over the trees?’
  • 10  ‘You, come rule over us.’
  • 11  ‘Should I stop producing my sweetness,
    • and my good crop,
    • to go sway over the trees?’
  • 12  ‘You, come rule over us.’
  • 13  ‘Should I stop producing my wine
  • that makes the gods and men happy,
    • to go sway over the trees?’
  • 14  ‘You, come rule over us.’
  • 15  ‘If in good faith[fn] you are anointing
  • me as king over you,
    • then come and take refuge in my shade;
  • if not, may fire go out from the thornbush
    • and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 “So then, if you have acted in good faith[fn] and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerub-Baal and his house, and have dealt with him according to his accomplishments[fn]— 17 for my father fought and risked his life[fn] for you and delivered you from the hand of Midian; 18 but today you have risen against the house of my father and killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, a king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your relative[fn]— 19 if you have acted in good faith[fn] and sincerity with Jerub-Baal and his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let a fire come out from Abimelech and let it devour the lords of Shechem and Beth-Millo; and let a fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth-Millo, and let it devour Abimelech.” 21 And Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; he remained there because of Abimelech his brother.