Shoftim 9 שופטים ט׳

Avimelech ben Yerubaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers. He spoke to them and to the entire family of his maternal grandfather's house, saying.

"Please say discreetly to all the men of Shechem: 'Which is more advantageous to you, to be ruled by seventy men—all the sons of Yerubaal—or a rule by one man? And keep in mind that I am of a single bone and flesh with you.'"

His mother's brothers spoke of him, discreetly to all the men of Shechem, all of these things. They were disposed to follow Avimelech, as they declared, "He is our kinsman!'

They presented him with seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal Beris. Avimelech hired, with this, headstrong louts, and they followed him.

He arrived at his father's house at Ophrah, and murdered his brothers, the sons of Yerubaal—seventy men on a single rock. The youngest, Yosam ben Yerubaal, survived by concealing himself.

All the citizens of Shechem assembled, and all of Beis Melo, and they proceeded to coronate Avimelech, king near the plain of the pillar at Shechem.

This was related to Yosam, who proceeded to station himself at the summit of Mount Gerizim. He raised his voice, and cried out: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, and God will hear you.

The trees went about resolutely to anoint themselves a king. They told the olive tree, 'Be our sovereign!'.

The Olive tree replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue the richness of my oil by which God and man are glorified, and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

The trees then said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our sovereign'.

The fig tree replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue my sweetness and my excellent fruit and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

The trees then said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our sovereign.'

The grapevine replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue my wine, which brings joy to God and man, and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

All the trees then said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our sovereign.'

The thornbush replied to the trees, 'If you genuinely wish to anoint me as your sovereign, you may come and shelter yourselves in my shade. But if not, then flame shall burst forth from the thornbush, and engulf the cedars of Lebanon.'

Now, if you have acted with integrity and sincerely in coronating Avimelech, if you have dealt benevolently with Yerubaal and his house, if you have rewarded him as befits his actions.

After my father went to war for you, risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midyon.

You then rose against my father's house, murdered his sons—seventy men on a single stone—and coronated his maid servant's son, Avimelech, over the men of Shechem because he is your kinsman.

If you have acted with integrity and sincerely towards Yerubaal and his house on this day; then you may rejoice with Avimelech, and let him rejoice with you as well.

But if not, let a flame burst forth from Avimelech and engulf the men of Shechem and Beis Milo, and let a flame burst forth from the men of Shechem and Beis Milo and engulf Avimelech.'

Yosam escaped and fled. He went to B'er, and remained there because of his brother Avimelech.

Avimelech ruled over Yisroel three years.

God interposed a malicious sentiment between Avimelech and the men of Shechem, so that the men of Shechem betrayed Avimelech.

In retribution for the crime against the seventy sons of Yerubaal, placing the responsibility for their blood on their brother Avimelech who murdered them, and on the men of Shechem who supported him in murdering his brothers.

The men of Shechem stationed guerrillas against him on the mountain tops, and they plundered everyone who passed their way. This was reported to Avimelech.

Ga'al ben Eved arrived with his cohorts, and came through Shechem. The men of Shechem had confidence in him.

They went out to the fields, harvested their vineyards, pressed the grapes, and indulged in carousals. They entered their temple, ate and drank, and cursed Avimelech.

Ga'al ben Eved declared, "Who is Avimelech, and who is Shechem, that we must serve him? Is he not Yerubaal's son? And his henchman Zevul? Serve the people of Chamor, the father of Shechem, but why must we serve him?

Would that someone place this people in my hands, and I would remove Avimelech." He said to Avimelech, "Beef up your army, and come on out!"

Zevul, the city superintendent, heard the speech by Ga'al ben Eved, and he was infuriated.

He dispatched emissaries to Avimelech clandestinely, saying: "Look, Ga'al ben Eved and his cohorts have arrived in Shechem, and are blockading the city against you.

Now, get up during the night—you, and the people accompanying you—and lie in ambush in the field.

When morning comes, exactly at sunrise, arise, and charge into the city. When he and the people accompanying him come out to engage you, deal with him to the best of your ability.'

Avimelech and all the people with him got up during the night, and deployed the ambushers of Shechem into four divisions.

Ga'al ben Eved stepped outside, and stood at the entrance to the city gate, when Avimelech and the people with him rose from the ambush.

Ga'al noticed the people, and exclaimed to Zevul, "Look, people are descending from the mountain tops!" Zevul replied to him, "The mountain shadows appear to you like men.'

But Ga'al resumed speaking, and said, "Look, people are descending from the promontory of the land, and one division is coming from the road to the plain of Meonenim."

Zevul retorted to him, "Now where are your mouthings, when you said, 'Who is Avimelech that we must serve him?' Are these not the people whom you despise? Go now, if you please, and fight them!"

Ga'al went forth at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with Avimelech.

Avimelech pursued him, and he fled from him. A great many fell dead, up to the gateway entrance.

Avimelech settled in Arumah. Zevul ousted Ga'al and his cohorts from residence in Shechem.

It happened on the following day that the people went out to the fields, and it was told to Avimelech.

He directed the people, dividing them into three divisions, and lay in ambush in the field. When he noticed that the people had left the city, he rose at them, and struck them down.

Avimelech and the divisions accompanying him charged, and stationed themselves at the entrance to the gateway of the city, while two divisions charged everyone in the fields and struck them down.

Avimelech battled the city that entire day. He captured the city, and executed all the people in it. Then he demolished the city, and implanted it with salt.

All the men of Migdal Shechem heard. They went to the forest stockade of the temple of the god Beris.

It was reported to Avimelech that they assembled—all the men of Migdal Shechem.

Avimelech ascended Mount Tzalmon—he, and all the people accompanying him. Avimelech took a hatchet in his hand, cut down the overhang of a tree, lifted it, and placed it on his shoulder. He said to the people accompanying him, "You have seen what I have done—quickly, do as I have done!"

The people, too, cut their overhangings—everyone. They then proceeded behind Avimelech, placed them on the forest stockade, and set the stockade on fire with them. And they perished all the people of Migdal Shechem—as well—about one thousand men and women.

Avimelech marched to Tevetz, encamped in Tevetz, and captured it.

There was a formidable tower inside the city. All the men and women fled there, with all the citizens of the city, and locked themselves in. They ascended to the roof of the tower.

Avimelech arrived at the tower, and engaged it in battle. He stepped up to the tower entrance to set it on fire.

One woman flung a pestle shard on Avimelech's head, and smashed his skull.

He called quickly to the youth who served as his adjutant, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest it be said of me 'A woman slew him.'" His youth stabbed him, and he expired.

When the Yisroelites saw that Avimelech had died, they departed, each of them to his place.

God exacted retribution for Avimelech's evil deeds against his father—the murder of his seventy brothers.

And all the evil deeds of the people of Shechem, God brought to bear against them; they were stricken with the curse of Yosam ben Yerubaal.