Red-Letter King James Bible 1769 Edition (KJV)

Judges 9

1 Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brethren, is made king. 7 Jotham by a parable rebuketh them, and foretelleth their ruin. 22 Gaal conspireth with the Shechemites against him. 30 Zebul revealeth it. 34 Abimelech overcometh them, and soweth the city with salt. 46 He burneth the hold of the god Berith. 50 At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone. 56 Jotham's curse is fulfilled.

 9:1 ¶ And Abimelech 40 the son 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 went y3212 z8799 x1980 to Shechem 7927 unto x413 his mother's 517 brethren, 251 and communed 1696 z8762 with x413 them, and with x413 all x3605 the family 4940 of the house 1004 of his mother's 517 father, 1 saying, 559 z8800

 9:2 Speak, 1696 z8761 I pray you, x4994 in the ears 241 of all x3605 the men 1167 of Shechem, 7927 Whether x4100 [is] better 2896 for you, either that all x3605 the sons 1121 of Jerubbaal, 3378 [which are] threescore and ten 7657 persons, 376 reign 4910 z8800 over you, or x518 that one 259 reign 4910 z8800 over you? remember 2142 z8804 also that x3588 I x589 [am] your bone 6106 and your flesh. 1320

 9:3 And his mother's 517 brethren 251 spake 1696 z8762 of x5921 him in the ears 241 of all x3605 the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 x853 all x3605 these x428 words: 1697 and their hearts 3820 inclined y5186 z8799 to follow 310 x5186 Abimelech; 40 for x3588 they said, 559 z8804 He x1931 [is] our brother. 251

 9:4 And they gave 5414 z8799 him threescore and ten 7657 [pieces] of silver 3701 out of the house 1004 x4480 of Baalberith, 1170 wherewith Abimelech 40 hired 7936 z8799 vain 7386 and light 6348 z8802 persons, y582 x376 which followed y3212 z8799 x1980 x310 him. y310

 9:5 And he went 935 z8799 unto his father's 1 house 1004 at Ophrah, 6084 and slew 2026 z8799 x853 his brethren 251 the sons 1121 of Jerubbaal, 3378 [being] threescore and ten 7657 persons, 376 upon x5921 one 259 stone: 68 notwithstanding yet Jotham 3147 the youngest 6996 son 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 was left; 3498 z8735 for x3588 he hid y2244 z8738 himself. x2244

 9:6 And all x3605 the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 gathered together, 622 z8735 and all x3605 the house y1004 of Millo, 1037 y4407 z8677 and went, y3212 z8799 x1980 and made 4427 z8686 x853 Abimelech 40 king, 4428 by x5973 the plain 436 of the pillar 5324 z8716 that x834 [was] in Shechem. 7927

 9:7 ¶ And when they told 5046 z8686 [it] to Jotham, 3147 he went y3212 z8799 x1980 and stood 5975 z8799 in the top 7218 of mount 2022 Gerizim, 1630 and lifted up 5375 z8799 his voice, 6963 and cried, 7121 z8799 and said 559 z8799 unto them, Hearken 8085 z8798 unto x413 me, ye men 1167 of Shechem, 7927 that God 430 may hearken 8085 z8799 unto x413 you.

 9:8 The trees 6086 went forth 1980 z8804 z8676 z8800 [on a time] to anoint 4886 z8800 a king 4428 over x5921 them; and they said 559 z8799 unto the olive tree, 2132 Reign 4427 z8798 thou over x5921 us.

 9:9 But the olive tree 2132 said 559 z8799 unto them, Should I leave 2308 z8804 x853 my fatness, 1880 wherewith x834 by me they honour 3513 z8762 God 430 and man, y582 x376 and go 1980 z8804 to be promoted 5128 z8800 over x5921 the trees? 6086

 9:10 And the trees 6086 said 559 z8799 to the fig tree, 8384 Come y3212 z8798 x1980 thou, x859 [and] reign 4427 z8798 over x5921 us.

 9:11 But the fig tree 8384 said 559 z8799 unto them, Should I forsake 2308 z8804 x853 my sweetness, 4987 and my good 2896 fruit, 8570 and go 1980 z8804 to be promoted 5128 z8800 over x5921 the trees? 6086

 9:12 Then said 559 z8799 the trees 6086 unto the vine, 1612 Come y3212 z8798 x1980 thou, x859 [and] reign 4427 z8798 over x5921 us.

 9:13 And the vine 1612 said 559 z8799 unto them, Should I leave 2308 z8804 x853 my wine, 8492 which cheereth 8055 z8764 God 430 and man, y582 x376 and go 1980 z8804 to be promoted 5128 z8800 over x5921 the trees? 6086

 9:14 Then said 559 z8799 all x3605 the trees 6086 unto x413 the bramble, 329 Come y3212 z8798 x1980 thou, x859 [and] reign 4427 z8798 over x5921 us.

 9:15 And the bramble 329 said 559 z8799 unto x413 the trees, 6086 If x518 in truth 571 ye x859 anoint 4886 z8802 me king 4428 over x5921 you, [then] come 935 z8798 [and] put your trust 2620 z8798 in my shadow: 6738 and if x518 not, x369 let fire 784 come out 3318 z8799 of x4480 the bramble, 329 and devour 398 z8799 x853 the cedars 730 of Lebanon. 3844

 9:16 Now x6258 therefore, if x518 ye have done 6213 z8804 truly 571 and sincerely, 8549 in that ye have made Abimelech y40 king, 4427 z8686 x853 x40 and if x518 ye have dealt 6213 z8804 well 2896 with x5973 Jerubbaal 3378 and his house, 1004 and have done 6213 z8804 unto him according to the deserving 1576 of his hands; 3027

 9:17 (For x834 my father 1 fought 3898 z8738 for x5921 you, and adventured 7993 z8686 x853 his life 5315 far, 5048 x4480 and delivered 5337 z8686 you out of the hand 3027 x4480 of Midian: 4080

 9:18 And ye x859 are risen up 6965 z8804 against x5921 my father's 1 house 1004 this day, 3117 and have slain 2026 z8799 x853 his sons, 1121 threescore and ten 7657 persons, 376 upon x5921 one 259 stone, 68 and have made x853 Abimelech, 40 the son 1121 of his maidservant, 519 king 4427 z8686 over x5921 the men 1167 of Shechem, 7927 because x3588 he x1931 [is] your brother;) 251

 9:19 If x518 ye then have dealt 6213 z8804 truly 571 and sincerely 8549 with x5973 Jerubbaal 3378 and with x5973 his house 1004 this x2088 day, 3117 [then] rejoice 8055 z8798 ye in Abimelech, 40 and let him x1931 also x1571 rejoice 8055 z8799 in you:

 9:20 But if x518 not, x369 let fire 784 come out 3318 z8799 from Abimelech, 40 x4480 and devour 398 z8799 x853 the men 1167 of Shechem, 7927 and the house 1004 of Millo; 4407 z8677 y1037 and let fire 784 come out 3318 z8799 from the men 1167 x4480 of Shechem, 7927 and from the house 1004 x4480 of Millo, 4407 z8676 y1037 and devour 398 z8799 x853 Abimelech. 40

 9:21 And Jotham 3147 ran away, y1272 z8799 x5127 and fled, y5127 z8799 x1272 and went y3212 z8799 x1980 to Beer, 876 and dwelt 3427 z8799 there, x8033 for fear 6440 x4480 of Abimelech 40 his brother. 251

 9:22 ¶ When Abimelech 40 had reigned 7786 z8799 three 7969 years 8141 over x5921 Israel, 3478

 9:23 Then God 430 sent 7971 z8799 an evil 7451 spirit 7307 between x996 Abimelech 40 and the men 1167 of Shechem; 7927 and the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 dealt treacherously 898 z8799 with Abimelech: 40

 9:24 That the cruelty 2555 [done] to the threescore and ten 7657 sons 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 might come, 935 z8800 and their blood 1818 be laid 7760 z8800 upon x5921 Abimelech 40 their brother, 251 which x834 slew 2026 z8804 them; and upon x5921 the men 1167 of Shechem, 7927 which x834 aided 2388 3027 z8765 x853 him in the killing 2026 z8800 of x853 his brethren. 251

 9:25 And the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 set 7760 z8799 liers in wait 693 z8764 for him in x5921 the top 7218 of the mountains, 2022 and they robbed 1497 z8799 x853 all x3605 that x834 came y5674 z8799 along x5674 that way 1870 by x5921 them: and it was told 5046 z8714 Abimelech. 40

 9:26 And Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 came 935 z8799 with his brethren, 251 and went over 5674 z8799 to Shechem: 7927 and the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 put their confidence 982 z8799 in him.

 9:27 And they went out 3318 z8799 into the fields, 7704 and gathered 1219 z8799 x853 their vineyards, 3754 and trode 1869 z8799 [the grapes], and made 6213 z8799 merry, 1974 and went y935 z8799 into x935 the house 1004 of their god, 430 and did eat 398 z8799 and drink, 8354 z8799 and cursed 7043 z8762 x853 Abimelech. 40

 9:28 And Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 said, 559 z8799 Who x4310 [is] Abimelech, 40 and who x4310 [is] Shechem, 7927 that x3588 we should serve 5647 z8799 him? [is] not x3808 [he] the son 1121 of Jerubbaal? 3378 and Zebul 2083 his officer? 6496 serve 5647 z8798 x853 the men y582 x376 of Hamor 2544 the father 1 of Shechem: y7927 x7928 for why x4069 should we x587 serve 5647 z8799 him?

 9:29 And would to God x4310 x5414 x853 this x2088 people 5971 were under y5414 z8799 my hand! 3027 then would I remove 5493 z8686 x853 Abimelech. 40 And he said 559 z8799 to Abimelech, 40 Increase 7235 z8761 thine army, 6635 and come out. 3318 z8798

 9:30 ¶ And when Zebul 2083 the ruler 8269 of the city 5892 heard 8085 z8799 x853 the words 1697 of Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed, 5651 his anger 639 was kindled. 2734 z8799

 9:31 And he sent 7971 z8799 messengers 4397 unto x413 Abimelech 40 privily, 8649 saying, 559 z8800 Behold, x2009 Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 and his brethren 251 be come 935 z8802 to Shechem; 7927 and, behold, x2009 they fortify 6696 z8802 x853 the city 5892 against x5921 thee.

 9:32 Now x6258 therefore up 6965 z8798 by night, 3915 thou x859 and the people 5971 that x834 [is] with x854 thee, and lie in wait 693 z8798 in the field: 7704

 9:33 And it shall be, x1961 [that] in the morning, 1242 as soon as the sun 8121 is up, 2224 z8800 thou shalt rise early, 7925 z8686 and set 6584 z8804 upon x5921 the city: 5892 and, behold, x2009 [when] he x1931 and the people 5971 that x834 [is] with x854 him come out 3318 z8802 against x413 thee, then mayest thou do 6213 z8804 to them as x834 thou y3027 shalt find x4672 occasion. y4672 z8799 x3027

 9:34 ¶ And Abimelech 40 rose up, 6965 z8799 and all x3605 the people 5971 that x834 [were] with x5973 him, by night, 3915 and they laid wait 693 z8799 against x5921 Shechem 7927 in four 702 companies. 7218

 9:35 And Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 went out, 3318 z8799 and stood 5975 z8799 in the entering 6607 of the gate 8179 of the city: 5892 and Abimelech 40 rose up, 6965 z8799 and the people 5971 that x834 [were] with x854 him, from x4480 lying in wait. 3993

 9:36 And when Gaal 1603 saw 7200 z8799 x853 the people, 5971 he said 559 z8799 to x413 Zebul, 2083 Behold, x2009 there come y3381 z0 people y5971 down 3381 z8802 x5971 from the top 7218 x4480 of the mountains. 2022 And Zebul 2083 said 559 z8799 unto x413 him, Thou x859 seest 7200 z8802 x853 the shadow 6738 of the mountains 2022 as [if they were] men. y582 x376

 9:37 And Gaal 1603 spake 1696 z8763 again 3254 z8686 and said, 559 z8799 See x2009 there come y3381 z0 people y5971 down 3381 z8802 x5971 by x4480 x5973 the middle 2872 of the land, 776 and another 259 company 7218 come 935 z8804 along by x4480 x5973 the plain 436 of y1870 Meonenim. 6049 z8781

 9:38 Then said 559 z8799 Zebul 2083 unto x413 him, Where x346 [is] now 645 thy mouth, 6310 wherewith x834 thou saidst, 559 z8799 Who x4310 [is] Abimelech, 40 that x3588 we should serve 5647 z8799 him? [is] not x3808 this x2088 the people 5971 that x834 thou hast despised? 3988 z8804 go out, 3318 z8798 I pray x4994 now, y4994 x6258 and fight 3898 z8734 with them.

 9:39 And Gaal 1603 went out 3318 z8799 before 6440 the men 1167 of Shechem, 7927 and fought 3898 z8735 with Abimelech. 40

 9:40 And Abimelech 40 chased 7291 z8799 him, and he fled 5127 z8799 before 6440 x4480 him, and many 7227 were overthrown 5307 z8799 [and] wounded, 2491 [even] unto x5704 the entering 6607 of the gate. 8179

 9:41 And Abimelech 40 dwelt 3427 z8799 at Arumah: 725 and Zebul 2083 thrust out 1644 z8762 x853 Gaal 1603 and his brethren, 251 that they should not dwell 3427 z8800 x4480 in Shechem. 7927

 9:42 And it came to pass x1961 on the morrow, 4283 x4480 that the people 5971 went out 3318 z8799 into the field; 7704 and they told 5046 z8686 Abimelech. 40

 9:43 And he took 3947 z8799 x853 the people, 5971 and divided 2673 z8799 them into three 7969 companies, 7218 and laid wait 693 z8799 in the field, 7704 and looked, 7200 z8799 and, behold, x2009 the people 5971 [were] come forth 3318 z8802 out of x4480 the city; 5892 and he rose up 6965 z8799 against x5921 them, and smote 5221 z8686 them.

 9:44 And Abimelech, 40 and the company 7218 that x834 [was] with x5973 him, rushed forward, 6584 z8804 and stood 5975 z8799 in the entering 6607 of the gate 8179 of the city: 5892 and the two 8147 [other] companies 7218 ran x6584 upon y6584 z8804 x5921 all x3605 [the people] that x834 [were] in the fields, 7704 and slew 5221 z8686 them.

 9:45 And Abimelech 40 fought 3898 z8738 against the city 5892 all x3605 that x1931 day; 3117 and he took 3920 z8799 x853 the city, 5892 and slew 2026 z8804 the people 5971 that x834 [was] therein, and beat down 5422 z8799 x853 the city, 5892 and sowed 2232 z8799 it with salt. 4417

 9:46 ¶ And when all x3605 the men 1167 of the tower 4026 of Shechem 7927 heard 8085 z8799 [that], they entered 935 z8799 into x413 an hold 6877 of the house 1004 of the god 410 Berith. 1286

 9:47 And it was told 5046 z8714 Abimelech, 40 that x3588 all x3605 the men 1167 of the tower 4026 of Shechem 7927 were gathered together. 6908 z8694

 9:48 And Abimelech 40 gat him up 5927 z8799 to mount 2022 Zalmon, 6756 he x1931 and all x3605 the people 5971 that x834 [were] with x854 him; and Abimelech 40 took 3947 z8799 x853 an axe 7134 in his hand, 3027 and cut down 3772 z8799 a bough 7754 from the trees, 6086 and took 5375 z8799 it, and laid 7760 z8799 [it] on x5921 his shoulder, 7926 and said 559 z8799 unto x413 the people 5971 that x834 [were] with x5973 him, What x4100 ye have seen 7200 z8804 me do, 6213 z8804 make haste, 4116 z8761 [and] do 6213 z8798 as I 3644 [have done].

 9:49 And all x3605 the people 5971 likewise x1571 cut down 3772 z8799 every man 376 his bough, 7754 and followed 310 y3212 z8799 x1980 Abimelech, 40 and put 7760 z8799 [them] to x5921 the hold, 6877 and set 3341 z8686 x853 the hold 6877 on fire 784 upon x5921 them; so that all x3605 the men y582 x376 of the tower 4026 of Shechem 7927 died 4191 z8799 also, x1571 about a thousand 505 men 376 and women. 802

 9:50 ¶ Then went y3212 z8799 x1980 Abimelech 40 to x413 Thebez, 8405 and encamped 2583 z8799 against Thebez, 8405 and took 3920 z8799 it.

 9:51 But there was x1961 a strong 5797 tower 4026 within 8432 the city, 5892 and thither x8033 fled 5127 z8799 all x3605 the men y582 x376 and women, 802 and all x3605 they 1167 of the city, 5892 and shut 5462 z8799 [it] to x1157 them, and gat them up 5927 z8799 to x5921 the top 1406 of the tower. 4026

 9:52 And Abimelech 40 came 935 z8799 unto x5704 the tower, 4026 and fought 3898 z8735 against it, and went hard 5066 z8799 unto x5704 the door 6607 of the tower 4026 to burn 8313 z8800 it with fire. 784

 9:53 And a certain 259 woman 802 cast 7993 z8686 a piece 6400 of a millstone 7393 upon x5921 Abimelech's 40 head, 7218 and all to brake 7533 z8686 x853 his skull. 1538

 9:54 Then he called 7121 z8799 hastily 4120 unto x413 the young man 5288 his armourbearer, 5375 3627 z8802 and said 559 z8799 unto him, Draw 8025 z8798 thy sword, 2719 and slay 4191 z8786 me, that x6435 men say 559 z8799 not of me, A woman 802 slew 2026 z8804 him. And his young man 5288 thrust him through, 1856 z8799 and he died. 4191 z8799

 9:55 And when the men 376 of Israel 3478 saw 7200 z8799 that x3588 Abimelech 40 was dead, 4191 z8804 they departed y3212 z8799 x1980 every man 376 unto his place. 4725

 9:56 ¶ Thus God 430 rendered 7725 z8686 x853 the wickedness 7451 of Abimelech, 40 which x834 he did 6213 z8804 unto his father, 1 in slaying 2026 z8800 x853 his seventy 7657 brethren: 251

 9:57 And all x3605 the evil 7451 of the men y582 x376 of Shechem 7927 did God 430 render 7725 z8689 upon their heads: 7218 and upon x413 them came 935 z8799 the curse 7045 of Jotham 3147 the son 1121 of Jerubbaal. 3378