1-2. Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to his uncles and all his mother’s relatives and said to them, “Ask all the leading men of Shechem, ‘What do you think is best, that seventy men rule you—all those sons of Jerub-Baal—or that one man rule? You’ll remember that I am your own flesh and blood.’”
3. His mother’s relatives reported the proposal to the leaders of Shechem. They were inclined to take Abimelech. “Because,” they said, “he is, after all, one of us.”
4-5. They gave him seventy silver pieces from the shrine of Baal-of-the-Covenant. With the money he hired some reckless riffraff soldiers and they followed along after him. He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his half brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal—seventy men! And on one stone! The youngest, Jotham son of Jerub-Baal, managed to hide, the only survivor.
6. Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered at the Oak by the Standing Stone at Shechem and crowned Abimelech king.
7-9. When this was all told to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and shouted:Listen to me, leaders of Shechem.And let God listen to you!The trees set out one dayto anoint a king for themselves.They said to Olive Tree,“Rule over us.”But Olive Tree told them,“Am I no longer good for making oilThat gives glory to gods and men,and to be demoted to waving over trees?”