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1. Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother's relatives. He said to them and to his mother's entire extended family,
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1. And Abimelech H40 the son H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 went H1980 to Shechem H7927 unto H413 his mother H517 's brethren H251 , and communed H1696 with H413 them , and with H413 all H3605 the family H4940 of the house H1004 of his mother H517 's father H1 , saying H559 ,
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2. "Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: 'Why would you want to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal's sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.'"
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2. Speak H1696 , I pray you H4994 , in the ears H241 of all H3605 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 , Whether H4100 is better H2896 for you , either that all H3605 the sons H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 , which are threescore and ten H7657 persons H376 , reign H4910 over you, or H518 that one H259 reign H4910 over you? remember H2142 also that H3588 I H589 am your bone H6106 and your flesh H1320 .
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3. His mother's relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; they said, "He is our close relative."
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3. And his mother H517 's brethren H251 spoke H1696 of H5921 him in the ears H241 of all H3605 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 H853 all H3605 these H428 words H1697 : and their hearts H3820 inclined to follow H5186 H310 Abimelech H40 ; for H3588 they said H559 , He H1931 is our brother H251 .
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4. They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers.
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4. And they gave H5414 him threescore and ten H7657 pieces of silver H3701 out of the house H4480 H1004 of Baal H1170 -berith , wherewith Abimelech H40 hired H7936 vain H7386 and light H6348 persons H376 , which followed H1980 H310 him.
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5. He went to his father's home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal's youngest son, escaped, because he hid.
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5. And he went H935 unto his father H1 's house H1004 at Ophrah H6084 , and slew H2026 H853 his brethren H251 the sons H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 , being threescore and ten H7657 persons H376 , upon H5921 one H259 stone H68 : notwithstanding yet Jotham H3147 the youngest H6996 son H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 was left H3498 ; for H3588 he hid himself H2244 .
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6. All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem.
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6. And all H3605 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 gathered together H622 , and all H3605 the house of Millo H1037 , and went H1980 , and made H4427 H853 Abimelech H40 king H4428 , by H5973 the plain H436 of the pillar H5324 that H834 was in Shechem H7927 .
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7. When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, "Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!
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7. And when they told H5046 it to Jotham H3147 , he went H1980 and stood H5975 in the top H7218 of mount H2022 Gerizim H1630 , and lifted up H5375 his voice H6963 , and cried H7121 , and said H559 unto them, Hearken H8085 unto H413 me , ye men H1167 of Shechem H7927 , that God H430 may hearken H8085 unto H413 you.
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8. "The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'
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8. The trees H6086 went forth H1980 H1980 on a time to anoint H4886 a king H4428 over H5921 them ; and they said H559 unto the olive tree H2132 , Reign H4427 thou over H5921 us.
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9. But the olive tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!'
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9. But the olive tree H2132 said H559 unto them , Should I leave H2308 H853 my fatness H1880 , wherewith H834 by me they honor H3513 God H430 and man H376 , and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over H5921 the trees H6086 ?
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10. "So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!'
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10. And the trees H6086 said H559 to the fig tree H8384 , Come H1980 thou H859 , and reign H4427 over H5921 us.
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11. But the fig tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!'
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11. But the fig tree H8384 said H559 unto them , Should I forsake H2308 H853 my sweetness H4987 , and my good H2896 fruit H8570 , and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over H5921 the trees H6086 ?
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12. "So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!'
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12. Then said H559 the trees H6086 unto the vine H1612 , Come H1980 thou H859 , and reign H4427 over H5921 us.
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13. But the grapevine said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!'
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13. And the vine H1612 said H559 unto them , Should I leave H2308 H853 my wine H8492 , which cheereth H8055 God H430 and man H376 , and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over H5921 the trees H6086 ?
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14. "So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!'
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14. Then said H559 all H3605 the trees H6086 unto H413 the bramble H329 , Come H1980 thou H859 , and reign H4427 over H5921 us.
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15. The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'
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15. And the bramble H329 said H559 unto H413 the trees H6086 , If H518 in truth H571 ye H859 anoint H4886 me king H4428 over H5921 you, then come H935 and put your trust H2620 in my shadow H6738 : and if H518 not H369 , let fire H784 come out H3318 of H4480 the bramble H329 , and devour H398 H853 the cedars H730 of Lebanon H3844 .
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16. "Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, if you have properly repaid him�
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16. Now H6258 therefore, if H518 ye have done H6213 truly H571 and sincerely H8549 , in that ye have made Abimelech king H4427 H853 H40 , and if H518 ye have dealt H6213 well H2896 with H5973 Jerubbaal H3378 and his house H1004 , and have done H6213 unto him according to the deserving H1576 of his hands H3027 ;
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17. my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian's power.
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17. ( For H834 my father H1 fought H3898 for H5921 you , and adventured H7993 H853 his life H5315 far H4480 H5048 , and delivered H5337 you out of the hand H4480 H3027 of Midian H4080 :
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18. But you have attacked my father's family today. You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative.
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18. And ye H859 are risen up H6965 against H5921 my father H1 's house H1004 this day H3117 , and have slain H2026 H853 his sons H1121 , threescore and ten H7657 persons H376 , upon H5921 one H259 stone H68 , and have made H853 Abimelech H40 , the son H1121 of his maidservant H519 , king H4427 over H5921 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 , because H3588 he H1931 is your brother H251 ;)
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19. So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness!
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19. If H518 ye then have dealt H6213 truly H571 and sincerely H8549 with H5973 Jerubbaal H3378 and with H5973 his house H1004 this H2088 day H3117 , then rejoice H8055 ye in Abimelech H40 , and let him H1931 also H1571 rejoice H8055 in you:
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20. But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!"
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20. But if H518 not H369 , let fire H784 come out H3318 from Abimelech H4480 H40 , and devour H398 H853 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 , and the house H1004 of Millo H4407 ; and let fire H784 come out H3318 from the men H4480 H1167 of Shechem H7927 , and from the house H4480 H1004 of Millo H4407 , and devour H398 H853 Abimelech H40 .
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21. Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother.
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21. And Jotham H3147 ran away H5127 , and fled H1272 , and went H1980 to Beer H876 , and dwelt H3427 there H8033 , for fear H4480 H6440 of Abimelech H40 his brother H251 .
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22. Abimelech commanded Israel for three years.
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22. When Abimelech H40 had reigned H7786 three H7969 years H8141 over H5921 Israel H3478 ,
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23. God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.
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23. Then God H430 sent H7971 an evil H7451 spirit H7307 between H996 Abimelech H40 and the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 ; and the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 dealt treacherously H898 with Abimelech H40 :
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24. He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal's seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them.
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24. That the cruelty H2555 done to the threescore and ten H7657 sons H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 might come H935 , and their blood H1818 be laid H7760 upon H5921 Abimelech H40 their brother H251 , which H834 slew H2026 them ; and upon H5921 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 , which H834 aided H2388 H853 H3027 him in the killing H2026 of H853 his brethren H251 .
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25. The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it.
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25. And the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 set H7760 liers in wait H693 for him in H5921 the top H7218 of the mountains H2022 , and they robbed H1497 H853 all H3605 that H834 came along H5674 that way H1870 by H5921 them : and it was told H5046 Abimelech H40 .
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26. Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him.
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26. And Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 came H935 with his brethren H251 , and went over H5674 to Shechem H7927 : and the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 put their confidence H982 in him.
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27. They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.
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27. And they went out H3318 into the fields H7704 , and gathered H1219 H853 their vineyards H3754 , and trod H1869 the grapes , and made H6213 merry H1974 , and went into H935 the house H1004 of their god H430 , and did eat H398 and drink H8354 , and cursed H7043 H853 Abimelech H40 .
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28. Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech?
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28. And Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 said H559 , Who H4310 is Abimelech H40 , and who H4310 is Shechem H7927 , that H3588 we should serve H5647 him? is not H3808 he the son H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 ? and Zebul H2083 his officer H6496 ? serve H5647 H853 the men H376 of Hamor H2544 the father H1 of Shechem H7928 : for why H4069 should we H587 serve H5647 him?
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29. If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!" He challenged Abimelech, "Muster your army and come out for battle!"
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29. And would to God H4310 H5414 H853 this H2088 people H5971 were under my hand H3027 ! then would I remove H5493 H853 Abimelech H40 . And he said H559 to Abimelech H40 , Increase H7235 thine army H6635 , and come out H3318 .
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30. When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.
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30. And when Zebul H2083 the ruler H8269 of the city H5892 heard H8085 H853 the words H1697 of Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 , his anger H639 was kindled H2734 .
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31. He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, "Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you.
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31. And he sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto H413 Abimelech H40 privily H8649 , saying H559 , Behold H2009 , Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 and his brethren H251 be come H935 to Shechem H7927 ; and, behold H2009 , they fortify H6696 H853 the city H5892 against H5921 thee.
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32. Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city.
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32. Now H6258 therefore up H6965 by night H3915 , thou H859 and the people H5971 that H834 is with H854 thee , and lie in wait H693 in the field H7704 :
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33. In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him."
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33. And it shall be H1961 , that in the morning H1242 , as soon as the sun H8121 is up H2224 , thou shalt rise early H7925 , and set H6584 upon H5921 the city H5892 : and, behold H2009 , when he H1931 and the people H5971 that H834 is with H854 him come out H3318 against H413 thee , then mayest thou do H6213 to them as H834 thou shalt find H4672 occasion H3027 .
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34. So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem� they divided into four units.
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34. And Abimelech H40 rose up H6965 , and all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 were with H5973 him , by night H3915 , and they laid wait H693 against H5921 Shechem H7927 in four H702 companies H7218 .
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35. When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city's gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places.
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35. And Gaal H1603 the son H1121 of Ebed H5651 went out H3318 , and stood H5975 in the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 of the city H5892 : and Abimelech H40 rose up H6965 , and the people H5971 that H834 were with H854 him, from H4480 lying in wait H3993 .
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36. Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills� it just looks like men."
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36. And when Gaal H1603 saw H7200 H853 the people H5971 , he said H559 to H413 Zebul H2083 , Behold H2009 , there come people down H3381 H5971 from the top H4480 H7218 of the mountains H2022 . And Zebul H2083 said H559 unto H413 him, Thou H859 seest H7200 H853 the shadow H6738 of the mountains H2022 as if they were men H376 .
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37. Gaal again said, "Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners."
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37. And Gaal H1603 spoke H1696 again H3254 and said H559 , See H2009 there come people down H3381 H5971 by H4480 H5973 the middle H2872 of the land H776 , and another H259 company H7218 come H935 along by H4480 H5973 the plain H436 of Meonenim H6049 .
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38. Zebul said to him, "Where now are your bragging words, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you insulted? Go out now and fight them!"
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38. Then said H559 Zebul H2083 unto H413 him, Where H346 is now H645 thy mouth H6310 , wherewith H834 thou saidst H559 , Who H4310 is Abimelech H40 , that H3588 we should serve H5647 him? is not H3808 this H2088 the people H5971 that H834 thou hast despised H3988 ? go out H3318 , I pray H4994 now H6258 , and fight H3898 with them.
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39. So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech.
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39. And Gaal H1603 went out H3318 before H6440 the men H1167 of Shechem H7927 , and fought H3898 with Abimelech H40 .
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40. Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate.
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40. And Abimelech H40 chased H7291 him , and he fled H5127 before H4480 H6440 him , and many H7227 were overthrown H5307 and wounded H2491 , even unto H5704 the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 .
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41. Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
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41. And Abimelech H40 dwelt H3427 at Arumah H725 : and Zebul H2083 thrust out H1644 H853 Gaal H1603 and his brethren H251 , that they should not dwell H4480 H3427 in Shechem H7927 .
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42. The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it,
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42. And it came to pass H1961 on the morrow H4480 H4283 , that the people H5971 went out H3318 into the field H7704 ; and they told H5046 Abimelech H40 .
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43. he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down.
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43. And he took H3947 H853 the people H5971 , and divided H2673 them into three H7969 companies H7218 , and laid wait H693 in the field H7704 , and looked H7200 , and, behold H2009 , the people H5971 were come forth H3318 out of H4480 the city H5892 ; and he rose up H6965 against H5921 them , and smote H5221 them.
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44. Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city's gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down.
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44. And Abimelech H40 , and the company H7218 that H834 was with H5973 him , rushed forward H6584 , and stood H5975 in the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 of the city H5892 : and the two H8147 other companies H7218 ran H6584 upon H5921 all H3605 the people that H834 were in the fields H7704 , and slew H5221 them.
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45. Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it.
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45. And Abimelech H40 fought H3898 against the city H5892 all H3605 that H1931 day H3117 ; and he took H3920 H853 the city H5892 , and slew H2026 the people H5971 that H834 was therein , and beat down H5422 H853 the city H5892 , and sowed H2232 it with salt H4417 .
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46. When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.
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46. And when all H3605 the men H1167 of the tower H4026 of Shechem H7927 heard H8085 that , they entered H935 into H413 a hold H6877 of the house H1004 of the god H410 Berith H1286 .
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47. Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place.
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47. And it was told H5046 Abimelech H40 , that H3588 all H3605 the men H1167 of the tower H4026 of Shechem H7927 were gathered together H6908 .
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48. He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, "Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!"
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48. And Abimelech H40 got him up H5927 to mount H2022 Zalmon H6756 , he H1931 and all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 were with H854 him ; and Abimelech H40 took H3947 H853 an axe H7134 in his hand H3027 , and cut down H3772 a bough H7754 from the trees H6086 , and took H5375 it , and laid H7760 it on H5921 his shoulder H7926 , and said H559 unto H413 the people H5971 that H834 were with H5973 him, What H4100 ye have seen H7200 me do H6213 , make haste H4116 , and do H6213 as I H3644 have done .
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49. So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died� about a thousand men and women.
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49. And all H3605 the people H5971 likewise H1571 cut down H3772 every man H376 his bough H7754 , and followed H1980 H310 Abimelech H40 , and put H7760 them to H5921 the hold H6877 , and set H3341 H853 the hold H6877 on fire H784 upon H5921 them ; so that all H3605 the men H376 of the tower H4026 of Shechem H7927 died H4191 also H1571 , about a thousand H505 men H376 and women H802 .
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50. Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it.
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50. Then went H1980 Abimelech H40 to H413 Thebez H8405 , and encamped H2583 against Thebez H8405 , and took H3920 it.
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51. There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city's leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.
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51. But there was H1961 a strong H5797 tower H4026 within H8432 the city H5892 , and thither H8033 fled H5127 all H3605 the men H376 and women H802 , and all H3605 they H1167 of the city H5892 , and shut H5462 it to H1157 them , and got them up H5927 to H5921 the top H1406 of the tower H4026 .
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52. Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire,
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52. And Abimelech H40 came H935 unto H5704 the tower H4026 , and fought H3898 against it , and went hard H5066 unto H5704 the door H6607 of the tower H4026 to burn H8313 it with fire H784 .
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53. a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull.
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53. And a certain H259 woman H802 cast H7993 a piece H6400 of a millstone H7393 upon H5921 Abimelech H40 's head H7218 , and all to broke H7533 H853 his skull H1538 .
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54. He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, "Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man stabbed him and he died.
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54. Then he called H7121 hastily H4120 unto H413 the young man H5288 his armorbearer H5375 H3627 , and said H559 unto him, Draw H8025 thy sword H2719 , and slay H4191 me, that H6435 men say H559 not of me , A woman H802 slew H2026 him . And his young man H5288 thrust him through H1856 , and he died H4191 .
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55. When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
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55. And when the men H376 of Israel H3478 saw H7200 that H3588 Abimelech H40 was dead H4191 , they departed H1980 every man H376 unto his place H4725 .
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56. God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers.
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56. Thus God H430 rendered H7725 H853 the wickedness H7451 of Abimelech H40 , which H834 he did H6213 unto his father H1 , in slaying H2026 H853 his seventy H7657 brethren H251 :
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57. God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on them.
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57. And all H3605 the evil H7451 of the men H376 of Shechem H7927 did God H430 render H7725 upon their heads H7218 : and upon H413 them came H935 the curse H7045 of Jotham H3147 the son H1121 of Jerubbaal H3378 .
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