Thematic Bible
Judges 9:1 (show verse)
Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to his mother's family, and said to them and to all the family of his mother's father,
Ambition » Instances of » Abimelech
Conspiracy » General examples of
Conspiracy » Instances of » Abimelech against gideon's sons
Israel » Names of the rulers before saul was anointed king » 6 abimelech
Judge » Abimelech
Judges of israel » Names of the rulers before saul was anointed king » 6 abimelech
Plotting » General examples of
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Abimelech, killing his seventy brothers
Conspiracy » General examples of
Conspiracy » Instances of » Abimelech against gideon's sons
Israel » Names of the rulers before saul was anointed king » 6 abimelech
Judge » Abimelech
Judges of israel » Names of the rulers before saul was anointed king » 6 abimelech
Plotting » General examples of
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Abimelech, killing his seventy brothers
Judges 9:2 (show verse)
Say now in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem, Is it better for you to be ruled by all the seventy sons of Jerubbaal or by one man only? And keep in mind that I am your bone and your flesh.
Judges 9:3 (show verse)
So his mother's family said all this about him in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem: and their hearts were turned to Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.
Judges 9:4 (show verse)
And they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech got the support of a number of uncontrolled and good-for-nothing persons.
Judges 9:5 (show verse)
Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and put his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, to death on the same stone; however, Jotham, the youngest, kept himself safe by going away to a secret place.
Ambition » Instances of » Abimelech
Conspiracy » Instances of » Abimelech against gideon's sons
Fratricide » Instances of » Abimelech
Home » Family » Hard to bear causes of » Fratricide
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Abimelech
Jotham » Son of gideon
Judge » Abimelech
The tribe of Manasseh » Remarkable persons of » Jotham
Murder » Examples of
Ophrah » A city » Tribe of manasseh » Home of » gideon
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Abimelech, killing his seventy brothers
Conspiracy » Instances of » Abimelech against gideon's sons
Fratricide » Instances of » Abimelech
Home » Family » Hard to bear causes of » Fratricide
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Abimelech
Jotham » Son of gideon
Judge » Abimelech
The tribe of Manasseh » Remarkable persons of » Jotham
Murder » Examples of
Ophrah » A city » Tribe of manasseh » Home of » gideon
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Abimelech, killing his seventy brothers
Judges 9:6 (show verse)
And all the townsmen of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and went and made Abimelech their king, by the oak of the pillar in Shechem.
Judges 9:7 (show verse)
Now Jotham, on hearing of it, went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and crying out with a loud voice said to them, Give ear to me, you townsmen of Shechem, so that God may give ear to you.
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Gerizim » Jotham addresses the shechemites from, against the conspiracy of abimelech
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
The tribe of Manasseh » Remarkable persons of » Jotham
Mountains » Names of » Gerizim, in samaria
Mountains » Mentioned in scripture » Gerizim
Parables » Of the old testament » Of jotham
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Truth » Illustrated in parables of the old testament » Of jotham
Gerizim » Jotham addresses the shechemites from, against the conspiracy of abimelech
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
The tribe of Manasseh » Remarkable persons of » Jotham
Mountains » Names of » Gerizim, in samaria
Mountains » Mentioned in scripture » Gerizim
Parables » Of the old testament » Of jotham
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Truth » Illustrated in parables of the old testament » Of jotham
Judges 9:8 (show verse)
One day the trees went out to make a king for themselves; and they said to the olive-tree, Be king over us.
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Anointing » In consecration » Of kings
sacred Anointing » Persons who received » Kings
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Olive » Fable of
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Anointing » In consecration » Of kings
sacred Anointing » Persons who received » Kings
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Olive » Fable of
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Judges 9:9 (show verse)
But the olive-tree said to them, Am I to give up my wealth of oil, by which men give honour to God, and go waving over the trees?
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Olive Trees » Described as » Fat and unctuous
Olive Trees » Good for the service of God and man
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Trees » Varieties » Olive
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Olive Trees » Described as » Fat and unctuous
Olive Trees » Good for the service of God and man
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Trees » Varieties » Olive
Judges 9:10 (show verse)
Then the trees said to the fig-tree, You come and be king over us.
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Trees » Varieties » Fig
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Trees » Varieties » Fig
Judges 9:11 (show verse)
But the fig-tree said to them, Am I to give up my sweet taste and my good fruit and go waving over the trees?
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Fig tree » In an allegory
Fig tree » Produces a rich sweet fruit
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Fig tree » In an allegory
Fig tree » Produces a rich sweet fruit
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Judges 9:12 (show verse)
Then the trees said to the vine, You come and be king over us.
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Grape » Figurative » Fable of
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Vine » Fable of
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Grape » Figurative » Fable of
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Vine » Fable of
Judges 9:13 (show verse)
But the vine said to them, Am I to give up my wine, which makes glad God and men, to go waving over the trees?
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Grape » Figurative » Fable of
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Vine » Fable of
Wine » Characterized as » Cheering God and man
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Grape » Figurative » Fable of
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Vine » Fable of
Wine » Characterized as » Cheering God and man
Judges 9:14 (show verse)
Then all the trees said to the thorn, You come and be king over us.
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Bramble » Allegory of
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Bramble » Allegory of
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Judges 9:15 (show verse)
And the thorn said to the trees, If it is truly your desire to make me your king, then come and put your faith in my shade; and if not, may fire come out of the thorn, burning up the cedars of Lebanon.
Allegory » Of the trees seeking a king
Anointing » In consecration » Of kings
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Bramble » Allegory of
Cedars » Lebanon celebrated for
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Lebanon » Cedars of
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Anointing » In consecration » Of kings
Bible stories for children » The king of the forest
Bramble » Allegory of
Cedars » Lebanon celebrated for
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Lebanon » Cedars of
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
Parables » Of the trees
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Judges 9:16 (show verse)
So now, if you have done truly and uprightly in making Abimelech king, and if you have done well to Jerubbaal and his house in reward for the work of his hands;
Judges 9:17 (show verse)
(For my father made war for you, and put his life in danger, and made you free from the hands of Midian;
Fatherless » Exemplified » Jotham
Ingratitude » Of man to man » Shechemites
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Leaders » Men of God » Men raised up as deliverers of israel
Orphan » Instances of » Jotham
Religious » Men of God » Men raised up as deliverers of israel
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Ingratitude » Of man to man » Shechemites
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Leaders » Men of God » Men raised up as deliverers of israel
Orphan » Instances of » Jotham
Religious » Men of God » Men raised up as deliverers of israel
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Judges 9:18 (show verse)
And you have gone against my father's family this day, and have put to death his sons, even seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his servant-wife, king over the townsmen of Shechem because he is your brother;)
Fatherless » Exemplified » Jotham
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Abimelech
Ingratitude » To man, instances of
Ingratitude » Of man to man » Shechemites
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Orphan » Instances of » Jotham
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Abimelech
Ingratitude » To man, instances of
Ingratitude » Of man to man » Shechemites
Jotham » Son of gideon » Rebukes the shechemites with the parable about the trees
Judge » Abimelech
Orphan » Instances of » Jotham
Sarcasm » Instances of » By jotham
Judges 9:19 (show verse)
If then you have done what is true and upright to Jerubbaal and his family this day, may you have joy in Abimelech, and may he have joy in you;
Judges 9:20 (show verse)
But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech, burning up the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo, for the destruction of Abimelech.
Judges 9:21 (show verse)
Then Jotham straight away went in flight to Beer, and was living there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
Judges 9:22 (show verse)
So Abimelech was chief over Israel for three years.
Judges 9:23 (show verse)
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the townsmen of Shechem; and the townsmen of Shechem were false to Abimelech;
Judges 9:24 (show verse)
So that punishment for the violent attack made on the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for their blood, might come on Abimelech, their brother, who put them to death, and on the townsmen of Shechem who gave him their help in putting his brothers to death.
Judges 9:25 (show verse)
And the townsmen of Shechem put secret watchers on the tops of the mountains, and they made attacks on all who went by on the road and took their goods; and word of this came to Abimelech.
Judges 9:26 (show verse)
Then Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their faith in him.
Judges 9:27 (show verse)
And they went out into their fields and got in the fruit of their vines, and when the grapes had been crushed, they made a holy feast and went into the house of their god, and over their food and drink they were cursing Abimelech.
Conspiracy » Instances of » Gaal, against abimelech
Ebed » Father of gaal
Entertainments » Given on occasions of » Vintage
Gaal » Conspires against and is defeated by abimelech
Grape » Grown » At shechem
Harvest » Celebrated with joy
Judge » Abimelech
Revelry » Revelry at social functions
Social functions » Wedding feasts » Revelry at
Social life » Wedding feasts » Revelry at
Ebed » Father of gaal
Entertainments » Given on occasions of » Vintage
Gaal » Conspires against and is defeated by abimelech
Grape » Grown » At shechem
Harvest » Celebrated with joy
Judge » Abimelech
Revelry » Revelry at social functions
Social functions » Wedding feasts » Revelry at
Social life » Wedding feasts » Revelry at
Judges 9:28 (show verse)
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we are to be his servants? Is it not right for the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his captain to be servants to the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? But why are we to be his servants?
Judges 9:29 (show verse)
If only I had authority over this people! I would put Abimelech out of the way, and I would say to Abimelech, Make your army strong, and come out.
Judges 9:30 (show verse)
Now Zebul, the ruler of the town, hearing what Gaal, the son of Ebed, had said, was moved to wrath.
Judges 9:31 (show verse)
And he sent to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, See, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are working up the town against you.
Judges 9:32 (show verse)
So now, get up by night, you and your people, and keep watch in the field secretly;
Judges 9:33 (show verse)
And in the morning, when the sun is up, get up early and make a rush on the town; and when he and his people come out against you, do to them whatever you have a chance to do.
Judges 9:34 (show verse)
So Abimelech and the people with him got up by night, in four bands, to make a surprise attack on Shechem.
Ambush » Instances of » At shechem
Armies » March in ranks » Ambushes at shechem
Conspiracy » Instances of » Gaal, against abimelech
Ebed » Father of gaal
Gaal » Conspires against and is defeated by abimelech
Judge » Abimelech
Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Shechem
Sieges » Those engaged in » Frequently laid ambushes
Zebul » An officer of abimelech
Armies » March in ranks » Ambushes at shechem
Conspiracy » Instances of » Gaal, against abimelech
Ebed » Father of gaal
Gaal » Conspires against and is defeated by abimelech
Judge » Abimelech
Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Shechem
Sieges » Those engaged in » Frequently laid ambushes
Zebul » An officer of abimelech
Judges 9:35 (show verse)
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and took his place at the doorway into the town; then Abimelech and his people got up from the place where they had been waiting.
Judges 9:36 (show verse)
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, See! people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shade of the mountains like men.
Judges 9:37 (show verse)
And Gaal said again, See! people are coming down from the middle of the land, and one band is coming by way of the oak-tree of the Seers.
Judges 9:38 (show verse)
Then Zebul said to him, Now where is your loud talk when you said, Who is Abimelech that we are to be his servants? Is this not the people whom you were rating so low? Go out now, and make war on them.
Judges 9:39 (show verse)
So Gaal went out at the head of the townsmen of Shechem and made war on Abimelech.
Judges 9:40 (show verse)
And Abimelech went after him and he went in flight before him; and a great number were falling by the sword all the way up to the town.
Judges 9:41 (show verse)
Then Abimelech went back to Arumah; and Zebul sent Gaal and his brothers away and would not let them go on living in Shechem.
Judges 9:42 (show verse)
Now the day after, the people went out into the fields; and news of it came to Abimelech.
Judges 9:43 (show verse)
And he took his people, separating them into three bands, and was waiting secretly in the field; and when he saw the people coming out of the town, he went up and made an attack on them.
Judges 9:44 (show verse)
And Abimelech with his band made a rush, and took up their position at the doorway into the town; and the other two bands made a rush on all those who were in the fields, and overcame them.
Judges 9:45 (show verse)
And all that day Abimelech was fighting against the town; and he took it, and put to death the people who were in it, and had the town pulled down and covered with salt.
Cities » Were frequently » Razed and sown with salt
Judge » Abimelech
Salt » Places sown with, to denote perpetual desolation
Shechem » Also called sychar, a city of refuge in mount ephraim » Destroyed by abimelech
Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Shechem
Sieges » Sometimes sown with salt
Sieges » Frequently broken down
Judge » Abimelech
Salt » Places sown with, to denote perpetual desolation
Shechem » Also called sychar, a city of refuge in mount ephraim » Destroyed by abimelech
Sieges » Mentioned in scripture » Shechem
Sieges » Sometimes sown with salt
Sieges » Frequently broken down
Judges 9:46 (show verse)
Then all the townsmen of the tower of Shechem, hearing of it, went into the inner room of the house of El-berith.
Judges 9:47 (show verse)
And word was given to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were there together.
Judges 9:48 (show verse)
Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, with all his people; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and, cutting down branches of trees, took them and put them on his back. And he said to the people who were with him, Be quick and do as you have seen me do.
Judges 9:49 (show verse)
So all the people got branches, every man cutting down a branch, and they went with Abimelech at their head and, massing the branches against the inner room, put fire to the room over them; so all those who were in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, were burned to death with it.
Judges 9:50 (show verse)
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and put his army in position against Thebez and took it.
Judges 9:51 (show verse)
But in the middle of the town there was a strong tower, to which all the men and women of the town went in flight and, shutting themselves in, went up to the roof of the tower.
Judges 9:52 (show verse)
And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it.
Judges 9:53 (show verse)
But a certain woman sent a great stone, such as is used for crushing grain, on to the head of Abimelech, cracking the bone.
Judges 9:54 (show verse)
Then quickly crying out to his body-servant, he said to him, Take out your sword and put an end to me straight away, so that men may not say of me, His death was the work of a woman. So the young man put his sword through him, causing his death.
Judges 9:55 (show verse)
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went away, every man to his place.
Judges 9:56 (show verse)
In this way Abimelech was rewarded by God for the evil he had done to his father in putting his seventy brothers to death;
Judges 9:57 (show verse)
And God sent back on to the heads of the men of Shechem all the evil they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came on them.