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1. Jerubbaal's son Abimelech went to his mother's family at Shechem. He said to them and to all those of the family of his mother's father,
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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. "Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, 'Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal's sons rule over you? Or should one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own bone and flesh.' "
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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. So his mother's family spoke all these words for him in the ears of the leaders of Shechem. And they decided to follow Abimelech. For they said, "He is our brother."
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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 gave him seventy pieces of silver from the family of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire wild men of no worth who followed him.
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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. Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah. And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. He killed all seventy men upon one stone. But Jerubbaal's youngest son Jotham was left alive, because he hid himself.
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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. Then all the men of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together. They went and made Abimelech king, by the tree that had been set up 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 it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He called out to them in a loud voice, "Listen to me, O men of Shechem. So 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. One time the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, 'Rule over us!'
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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, 'Should I leave my riches of oil by which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the 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. Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and rule over us!'
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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, 'Should I leave my good sweet fruit, and go to wave over the 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 vine, 'You come and rule over us!'
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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 vine said to them, 'Should I leave my new wine which makes God and men happy, and go to wave over the 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. Then all the trees said to the thorn bush, 'You come and rule over us!'
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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. And the thorn bush said to the trees, 'If in truth you are choosing me as king over you, come and be safe in my shadow. But if not, may fire come out of the thorn bush and burn up the tall trees 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 it may be that you have acted in truth and honor in making Abimelech king. It may be that you have acted well toward Jerubbaal and his house, by paying him for what he did.
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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. For my father fought for you. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power of Midian.
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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 gone against my father's house today. You have killed seventy of his sons on one stone. Abimelech is the son of my father's woman servant. And you have made him king over the people of Shechem, because he is your brother.
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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. If you have acted in truth and honor toward Jerubbaal and his house today, then be happy with Abimelech. And let him be happy with you.
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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, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the people of Shechem and Beth-millo. Then let it burn up 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. Jotham ran away from them and went to Beer. He stayed there, because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
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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 ruled over 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. Then God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem were not faithful 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. God did this to punish Abimelech and the men of Shechem, because the seventy sons of Jerubbaal were killed by their brother Abimelech. And the men of Shechem gave him the strength to do it.
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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 men of Shechem went against Abimelech by hiding men on the mountain tops. They robbed all who passed by them on the road. Abimelech was told 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. Now Gaal the son of Ebed moved with his family into Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their trust in 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 into the field and gathered the grapes of their vines and crushed them. Then they had a special supper in the house of their god. They ate and drank and wished bad to come to 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 the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech? And who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? Is not Zebul his leader? Serve the men 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 people were under my rule! Then I would send Abimelech away. I would say to Abimelech, 'Make your army strong, and come out.' "
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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 ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, he was very angry.
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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 men to bring news to Abimelech in secret. They said, "See, Gaal the son of Ebed has come to Shechem with his family. They are turning the city 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. So you and the people who are with you get up during the night and hide in the field.
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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. Then get up early in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, and rush against the city. When Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them."
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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 who were with him got up during the night. They hid and waited in four groups to fight against Shechem.
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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. Gaal the son of Ebed came out and stood in the city gate. And Abimelech and the people who were with him came out of 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. When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, "See, men are coming down from the mountain tops!" But Zebul said to him, "It is the shadow of the mountains that looks like men to you."
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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 spoke again, saying, "See, men are coming down from the highest part of the land. One group is coming on the way from the oak tree of those who tell the future."
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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. Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your proud talk now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men whom you hated? Go out now and fight with 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 went out in front of the leaders of Shechem and fought with 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 went after Gaal. And Gaal ran away from him. Many were hurt and fell all the way to 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 stayed at Arumah. But Zebul drove out Gaal and his family so they could not stay in 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 men went out to the field the next day and told Abimelech.
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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. So he took his men and divided them into three groups, and they waited in the field. When he saw Gaal's people coming out of the city, Abimelech went against them and killed them.
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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 the group with him rushed and stood in the city gate. The other two groups then rushed against all who were in the field and killed them.
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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 took the city and killed the people who were in it. Then he destroyed the city and covered it with salt.
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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. All the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it. And they went into the inside room of the house of the god 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 was told that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
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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. So Abimelech and all who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees. Then he lifted it onto his shoulder. He said to the men who were with him, "Hurry and do what you have 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 the men cut down his branch also, and followed Abimelech. They put the branches around the inside room and set it on fire. So all the men of the tower of Shechem died. There were about 1,000 men and women in all.
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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. Then Abimelech went to Thebez. He fought against it and took 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. But there was a strong tower in the center of the city. All the men and women and leaders of the city ran to it and shut themselves in. And they went up on 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 to the tower and fought against it. He went near the door of the building to burn it with 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. But a certain woman threw a grain-crushing stone on Abimelech's head and crushed 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. Abimelech was quick to call the young man who carried his heavy battle-clothes, saying, "Take your sword and kill me. Or else it will be said that a woman killed me." So the young man killed him with a sword.
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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 men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each man 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. So God punished Abimelech for the sin he had done against his father by killing his seventy 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 punished the men of Shechem for all their sin. The words that Jotham the son of Jerubbaal spoke against them came true.
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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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