Judges 9:1–6

Abimelech Kills His Brothers

¹And ^aAbimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s ¹relatives and spoke to them and to the whole family of the household of his mother’s father, saying,

²“Speak, now, in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that ^aseventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am ^byour bone and your flesh.”

³And his mother’s ¹relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and ²they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is ^aour ³relative.”

⁴So they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of ^aBaal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.

⁵Then he came to his father’s house at Ophrah and ^akilled his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, ^bseventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.

⁶Then all the lords of Shechem and all ¹Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the ²oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.