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1. Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal, went to his mother's kinsmen in Shechem, and said to them and to the whole clan to which his mother's family belonged,
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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. "Put this question to all the citizens of Shechem: 'Which is better for you: that seventy men, or all Jerubbaal's sons, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?' You must remember that I am your own flesh and bone."
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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. When his mother's kin repeated these words to them on his behalf, all the citizens of Shechem sympathized with Abimelech, thinking, "He is our kinsman."
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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 also gave him seventy silver shekels from the temple of Baal of Berith, with which Abimelech hired shiftless men and ruffians 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 then went to his ancestral house in Ophrah, and slew his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. Only the youngest son of Jerubbaal, Jotham, escaped, for he was hidden.
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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 citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial 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 this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear 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. Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign 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 answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods 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, 'Come; you reign 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 answered them, 'Must I give up my sweetness and my good 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. Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign 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 answered them, 'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, 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 buckthorn, 'Come; you reign 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. But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour 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 then, if you have acted in good faith and honorably in appointing Abimelech your king, if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and with his family, and if you have treated him as he deserved--
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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 at the risk of his life when he saved you 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 risen against his family this day and have killed his seventy sons upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman--
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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, then, you have acted in good faith and with honor toward Jerubbaal and his family this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he in turn rejoice in 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 forth from Abimelech to devour the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come forth from the citizens and from Beth-millo to devour 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 went in flight to Beer, where he remained for fear 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. When Abimelech had ruled 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 put bad feelings between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who rebelled against 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. This was to repay the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and to avenge their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who encouraged him to kill his brothers.
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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 citizens of Shechem then set men in ambush for him on the mountaintops, and these robbed all who passed them on the road. But it was reported to Abimelech.
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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, son of Ebed, came over to Shechem with his kinsmen. The citizens 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. and went out into the fields, harvested their grapes and trod them out. Then they held a festival and went to the temple of their god, where they ate and 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 why should we of Shechem serve him? Were not the son of Jerubbaal and his lieutenant Zebul once subject to the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we serve him?
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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. Would that this people were entrusted to my command! I would depose Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Get a larger army 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. At the news of what Gaal, son of Ebed, had said, Zebul, the ruler of the city, was 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. and sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah with the information: "Gaal, son of Ebed, and his kinsmen have come to Shechem and are stirring up 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. Now rouse yourself; set an ambush tonight in the fields, you and the men who are with you.
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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. Promptly at sunrise tomorrow morning, make a raid on the city. When he and his followers come out against you, deal with him as best you can."
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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. During the night Abimelech advanced with all his soldiers and set up an ambush for Shechem in four companies.
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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, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. When Abimelech and his soldiers rose from their place of ambush,
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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 them and said to Zebul, "There are men coming down from the hilltops!" But Zebul answered him, "You see the shadow of the hills as 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. But Gaal went on to say, "Men are coming down from the region of Tabbur-Haares, and one company is coming by way of Elon-Meonenim."
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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 is the boast you uttered, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men for whom you expressed contempt? 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 at the head of the citizens of Shechem and fought against 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. But Abimelech routed him, and he fled before him; and many fell slain right up to 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 returned to Arumah, but Zebul drove Gaal and his kinsmen from Shechem, which they had occupied.
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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, when the people were taking the field, it was reported to 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. who divided the men he had into three companies, and set up an ambush in the fields. He watched till he saw the people leave the city, and then rose against them for the attack.
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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 company with him dashed in and stood by the entrance of the city gate, while the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and attacked 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. That entire day Abimelech fought against the city, and captured it. He then killed its inhabitants and demolished the city, sowing the site 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. When they heard of this, all the citizens of Migdal-shechem went into the crypt 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. It was reported to Abimelech that all the citizens of Migdal-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 he went up Mount Zalmon with all his soldiers, took his axe in his hand, and cut down some brushwood. This he lifted to his shoulder, then said to the men with him, "Hurry! Do just as 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 all the men likewise cut down brushwood, and following Abimelech, placed it against the crypt. Then they set the crypt on fire over their heads, so that every one of the citizens of Migdal-shechem, about a thousand men and women, perished.
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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 proceeded to Thebez, which he invested and captured.
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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. Now there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, and all the men and women, in a word all the citizens of the city, fled there, shutting themselves in and going 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 up to the tower and fought against it, advancing to the very 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. But a certain woman cast the upper part of a millstone down on Abimelech's head, and it fractured 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 immediately called his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and dispatch me, lest they say of me that a woman killed me." So his attendant ran him through 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 all left for their homes.
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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. Thus did God requite the evil Abimelech had done to his father in 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 also brought all their wickedness home to the Shechemites, for the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal, overtook 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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