Verse 40
Judges 9:40
New Living Translation
40
But Abimelech chased him, and many of Shechem’s men were wounded and fell along the road as they retreated to the city gate.
Original Language Text
hebrew
וַ/יִּרְדְּפֵ֣/הוּ אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וַ/יָּ֖נָס מִ/פָּנָ֑י/ו וַֽ/יִּפְּל֛וּ חֲלָלִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים עַד פֶּ֥תַח הַ/שָּֽׁעַר
English Translation
And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from his face, and many fell slain at the entrance of the gate.
AI translation from hebrew via gpt-4o-mini
Done.
Sign in to save notes and annotations.
Chapter 9 Context
1
One day Gideon’s son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his uncles — his mother’s brothers. He said...
Focus ↗
2
“Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons o...
Focus ↗
3
So Abimelech’s uncles gave his message to all the citizens of Shechem on his behalf. And after liste...
Focus ↗
4
They gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire some reckle...
Focus ↗
5
He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half...
Focus ↗
6
Then all the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo called a meeting under the oak beside the pi...
Focus ↗
7
When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted, “Listen to me, cit...
Focus ↗
8
Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.<br>First they said to the olive tree,<br>‘Be ou...
Focus ↗
9
But the olive tree refused, saying,<br>‘Should I quit producing the olive oil<br>that blesses both G...
Focus ↗
10
“Then they said to the fig tree,<br>‘You be our king!’<br>
Focus ↗
11
But the fig tree also refused, saying,<br>‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit<br>just to wave ba...
Focus ↗
12
“Then they said to the grapevine,<br>‘You be our king!’<br>
Focus ↗
13
But the grapevine also refused, saying,<br>‘Should I quit producing the wine<br>that cheers both God...
Focus ↗
14
“Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,<br>‘Come, you be our king!’<br>
Focus ↗
15
And the thornbush replied to the trees,<br>‘If you truly want to make me your king,<br>come and take...
Focus ↗
16
Jotham continued, “Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your...
Focus ↗
17
For he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites.
Focus ↗
18
But today you have revolted against my father and his descendants, killing his seventy sons on one s...
Focus ↗
19
“If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants today, then may you...
Focus ↗
20
But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leadin...
Focus ↗
21
Then Jotham escaped and lived in Beer because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
Focus ↗
22
After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years,
Focus ↗
23
God (Elohim) sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of She...
Focus ↗
24
God (Elohim) was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Sheche...
Focus ↗
25
The citizens of Shechem set an ambush for Abimelech on the hilltops and robbed everyone who passed t...
Focus ↗
26
One day Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the leading...
Focus ↗
27
During the annual harvest festival at Shechem, held in the temple of the local god, the wine flowed...
Focus ↗
28
“Who is Abimelech?” Gaal shouted. “He’s not a true son of Shechem, so why should we be his servants?...
Focus ↗
29
If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and...
Focus ↗
30
But when Zebul, the leader of the city, heard what Gaal was saying, he was furious.
Focus ↗
31
He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, telling him, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come...
Focus ↗
32
Come by night with an army and hide out in the fields.
Focus ↗
33
In the morning, as soon as it is daylight, attack the city. When Gaal and those who are with him com...
Focus ↗
34
So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around...
Focus ↗
35
Gaal was standing at the city gates when Abimelech and his army came out of hiding.
Focus ↗
36
When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, there are people coming down from the hilltops!” Zebul...
Focus ↗
37
But again Gaal said, “No, people are coming down from the hills. And another group is coming down th...
Focus ↗
38
Then Zebul turned on him and asked, “Now where is that big mouth of yours? Wasn’t it you that said,...
Focus ↗
39
So Gaal led the leading citizens of Shechem into battle against Abimelech.
Focus ↗
40
But Abimelech chased him, and many of Shechem’s men were wounded and fell along the road as they ret...
41
Abimelech returned to Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
Focus ↗
42
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it...
Focus ↗
43
he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the fields. When Abimelech saw the people...
Focus ↗
44
Abimelech and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men of Shechem from getting back in, while...
Focus ↗
45
The battle went on all day before Abimelech finally captured the city. He killed the people, leveled...
Focus ↗
46
When the leading citizens who lived in the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hi...
Focus ↗
47
Someone reported to Abimelech that the citizens had gathered in the temple,
Focus ↗
48
so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, then put...
Focus ↗
49
So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech’s example. They piled the branches again...
Focus ↗
50
Then Abimelech attacked the town of Thebez and captured it.
Focus ↗
51
But there was a strong tower inside the town, and all the men and women — the entire population — fl...
Focus ↗
52
Abimelech followed them to attack the tower. But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance,
Focus ↗
53
a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.
Focus ↗
54
He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a...
Focus ↗
55
When Abimelech’s men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.
Focus ↗
56
In this way, God (Elohim) punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murderin...
Focus ↗
57
God (Elohim) also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gide...
Focus ↗
Verse Information