Death of Gideon

29 Then hJerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 Gideon had iseventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 jAnd his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 Now Gideon the son of Joash died kat a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, lin Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 So it was, mas soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again nplayed the harlot with the Baals, oand made Baal-Berith their god. 34 Thus the children of Israel pdid not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 qnor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

9 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to ahis mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all bseventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and cbone.”

3 And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our dbrother.” 4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of eBaal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired fworthless and reckless men; and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house gat Ophrah and hkilled his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.

The Parable of the Trees

7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of iMount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them:

“Listen to me, you men of Shechem,

That God may listen to you!

8 “The jtrees once went forth to anoint a king over them.

And they said to the olive tree,

k‘Reign over us!’

9 But the olive tree said to them,

‘Should I cease giving my oil,

lWith which they honor God and men,

And go to sway over trees?’

10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree,

‘You come and reign over us!’

11 But the fig tree said to them,

‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit,

And go to sway over trees?’

12 “Then the trees said to the vine,

‘You come and reign over us!’

13 But the vine said to them,

‘Should I cease my new wine,

mWhich cheers both God and men,

And go to sway over trees?’

14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble,

‘You come and reign over us!’

15 And the bramble said to the trees,

‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you,

Then come and take shelter in my nshade;

But if not, olet fire come out of the bramble

And devour the pcedars of Lebanon!’

16 “Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him qas 1he deserves—17 for my rfather fought for you, risked his life, and sdelivered you out of the hand of Midian; 18 tbut you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his ufemale servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—19 if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then vrejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, wlet fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” 21 And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to xBeer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.