Judges:9:1-20

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* And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mothers brethren , and communed with them , and with all the family of the house of his mothers father , saying , * Speak , I pray you , in the ears of all the men of Shechem , Whether is better for you , either that all the sons of Jerubbaal Y @rubba #al #, which are threescore and ten persons , reign over you , or that one reign over you ? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh . * And his mothers brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words : and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech ; for they said , He is our brother . * And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith Ba #al , wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons , which followed him . * And he went unto his fathers house at Ophrah , and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal Y @rubba #al #, being threescore and ten persons , upon one stone : notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left ; for he hid himself . * And all the men of Shechem gathered together , and all the house of Millo Beyth , and went , and made Abimelech king , by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem . * And when they told it to Jotham , he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim , and lifted up his voice , and cried , and said unto them , Hearken unto me , ye men of Shechem , that God may hearken unto you . * The trees went forth (8676 ) on a time to anoint a king over them ; and they said unto the olive tree , Reign thou over us . * But the olive tree said unto them , Should I leave my fatness , wherewith by me they honour God and man , and go to be promoted over the trees ? * And the trees said to the fig tree t @#en #, Come thou , and reign over us . * But the fig tree said unto them , Should I forsake my sweetness , and my good fruit , and go to be promoted over the trees ? * Then said the trees unto the vine , Come thou , and reign over us . * And the vine said unto them , Should I leave my wine , which cheereth God and man , and go to be promoted over the trees ? * Then said all the trees unto the bramble , Come thou , and reign over us . * And the bramble said unto the trees , If in truth ye anoint me king over you , then come and put your trust in my shadow : and if not , let fire come out of the bramble , and devour the cedars of Lebanon . * Now therefore , if ye have done truly and sincerely , in that ye have made Abimelech king , and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house , and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands ; * (For my father fought for you , and adventured his life far , and delivered you out of the hand of Midian : * And ye are risen up against my fathers house this day , and have slain his sons , threescore and ten persons , upon one stone , and have made Abimelech , the son of his maidservant , king over the men of Shechem , because he is your brother ; ) * If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day , then rejoice ye in Abimelech , and let him also rejoice in you : * But if not , let fire come out from Abimelech , and devour the men of Shechem , and the house of Millo Beyth ; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem , and from the house of Millo Beyth , and devour Abimelech .

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