Judges 9: Abimelech and Jotham's Story

Gideon's son Abimelech gets the men of Shechem to make him king and kills his seventy brothers, but the youngest, Jotham, hides. Jotham tells a story about trees asking the olive, fig, and vine to be king, and finally the bramble. Abimelech rules three years until God sends trouble between him and Shechem. He destroys Shechem, but at Thebez a woman drops a millstone on his head, and God repays his wickedness.

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World English Bible · 57 verses

¹ Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ “But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ “The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ “But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² “The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ “The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his handsThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴³ He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁴ Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁵ Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁶ When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁷ Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁸ Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁹ All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁰ Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵¹ But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵² Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵³ A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁴ Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁵ When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁶ Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁷ and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Judges 9 · Preschool

The Trees Choose a King

Name Date

Color the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine! Jotham told a story about trees.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: In Jotham's story, the good trees would not be king. God wants good leaders who follow Him.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Judges 9 · Grade 4

A King Who Took Power

Name Date

Read and Think

Gideon had refused to be king, but his son Abimelech wanted the throne. He reminded the men of Shechem that he was their own flesh and bone. They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal Berith, and he killed his seventy brothers on one stone. Only Jotham escaped.

From Mount Gerizim, Jotham told a parable. The trees asked the olive, the fig, and the vine to reign, but each refused to leave its useful work. The bramble accepted, inviting the trees into its shade and threatening fire. Jotham said if Shechem had acted in truth, let them rejoice; if not, let fire destroy both Abimelech and Shechem.

Three years later, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and Shechem. Gaal stirred up a revolt, and Abimelech destroyed Shechem and burned its tower. At Thebez, a woman threw an upper millstone on his head, and he died. God repaid Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and Jotham's curse came true.

Show What You Know

Where did the silver for Abimelech come from?
Why did the good trees refuse to reign?
What did Jotham say would happen if Shechem had not acted in truth?
How did Abimelech die?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

JothambrambleShechemGerizimolive

He reminded the men of that he was their own flesh and bone.
Only escaped.
From Mount , Jotham told a parable.
The trees asked the , the fig, and the vine to reign, but each refused to leave its useful work.
The accepted, inviting the trees into its shade and threatening fire.

Think About It

The bramble offered shade it could not really give. Why should we be careful about leaders who promise big things?
Abimelech grabbed power by hurting others. What is the difference between leading and grabbing power?

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why did the men of Shechem follow Abimelech?
What does this chapter teach about using money and power?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Judges 9 · Grade 5

God Repays Wickedness

Name Date

Read and Think

Judges 9 shows what happens when someone seizes power without God. Abimelech, son of Gideon's concubine at Shechem, persuaded his mother's relatives to back him. With money from the temple of Baal Berith, he hired reckless men and murdered his seventy brothers on one stone at Ophrah. Jotham, the youngest, hid and survived. Then the men of Shechem made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar.

Standing on Mount Gerizim, Jotham told a parable. The olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine each refused the crown, because they would have to leave the good things they produced for God and people. Only the useless bramble agreed, offering shade it could not give and threatening fire. Jotham's point was clear: Abimelech was a bramble king, and if Shechem had not dealt in good faith with Gideon's house, fire would come out of each to devour the other.

After three years God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, so that the violence done to Gideon's sons would come back on them. Gaal led a revolt; Abimelech crushed it, sowed Shechem with salt, and burned its stronghold. At Thebez, a certain woman threw an upper millstone on his head. Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, and the curse of Jotham came on the men of Shechem.

Show What You Know

Who backed Abimelech at first?
Why did the olive, fig, and vine refuse the crown?
What was Jotham's point?
Why did God send an evil spirit between them?
Whose curse came true?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

JothamGodGerizimShechemolive

Judges 9 shows what happens when someone seizes power without .
, the youngest, hid and survived.
Then the men of made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar.
Standing on Mount , Jotham told a parable.
The tree, the fig tree, and the vine each refused the crown, because they would have to leave the good things they produced for God and people.

Think About It

Jotham spoke the truth even though he was alone and in danger. When might God want you to speak up for what is right?
God repaid Abimelech, even though it took three years. How does it help to know God sees injustice even when it seems to win for a while?

Memory Verse

“The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”

Judges 9:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for seeing what is right and wrong. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How does God's justice give hope to people who are treated badly?
What kind of person would you want to follow?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Judges 9: Abimelech and Jotham's Story

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Worksheets

The Trees Choose a King

Prayer

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The Trees Talk

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Mini Maze

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Jotham's Story

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Jotham's Story

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A Story About Trees

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The Bramble King

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Jotham's Story

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A King Who Took Power

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Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

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God Repays Wickedness

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Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

Take It Home

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