וַיֵּלֶךְ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן יְרֻבַּעַל שְׁכֶמָה אֶל אֲחֵי אִמּוֹ וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וְאֶל כָּל מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית אֲבִי אִמּוֹ לֵאמֹר

After Gideon’s death, Avimelekh son of Yerubaal, Gideon, went to Shekhem, to his mother’s brethren, as his mother was from Shekhem (see 8:31), and he spoke to them, and to the entire family of the household of his mother’s father, saying:

דַּבְּרוּ נָא בְּאָזְנֵי כָל בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם מַה טּוֹב לָכֶם הַמְשֹׁל בָּכֶם שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ כֹּל בְּנֵי יְרֻבַּעַל אִם מְשֹׁל בָּכֶם אִישׁ אֶחָד! וּזְכַרְתֶּם כִּי עַצְמְכֶם וּבְשַׂרְכֶם אָנִי

Please speak in the ears of all the masters of Shekhem. Apparently, Avimelekh’s family was of humble origins, and therefore, he asked his uncles to deliver the following message to the leaders of the city: What is better for you: Is it that seventy men, all the sons of Yerubaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? Rather than being subject to the rule of a large council, doubtless fraught with quarrels and backstabbing, you would be better off appointing me as Gideon’s lone successor. Furthermore, remember that I am your bone and your flesh. I am one of you, unlike Gideon’s other sons, who are unrelated to you and who are likewise estranged from me.

וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֲחֵי אִמּוֹ עָלָיו בְּאָזְנֵי כָּל בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֵּט לִבָּם אַחֲרֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי אָמְרוּ אָחִינוּ הוּא

His mother’s brethren fulfilled his request, and spoke all these matters about him in the ears of all the masters, the non-Israelite lords, of Shekhem. Their hearts inclined after Avimelekh to accept his suggestion, as they said: He is our brother.

וַיִּתְּנוּ לוֹ שִׁבְעִים כֶּסֶף מִבֵּית בַּעַל בְּרִית וַיִּשְׂכֹּר בָּהֶם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִים וּפֹחֲזִים וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו

They gave him seventy pieces of silver, 910 g. This was a very large sum, almost seven times the annual salary of a spiritual guide at the time, as the senior priest at the temple of Mikha received ten pieces of silver annually, in addition to other items (see 17:10). They gave him this sum from the house of Baal Berit, the idol they worshipped. Avimelekh received this donation to fund any military action he might require to assert his authority. Avimelekh hired with them idle and reckless men, and they followed him.

וַיָּבֹא בֵית אָבִיו עָפְרָתָה וַיַּהֲרֹג אֶת אֶחָיו בְּנֵי יְרֻבַּעַל שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ עַל אֶבֶן אֶחָת וַיִּוָּתֵר יוֹתָם בֶּן יְרֻבַּעַל הַקָּטֹן כִּי נֶחְבָּא

Avimelekh organized this motley group into a military unit, and he came with them to his father’s house, to Ofra, and he killed his brothers, sons of Yerubaal, seventy men, some of whom might have still been children, on one rock. Avimelekh attacked them by surprise with the aid of his team of mercenaries, and killed sixty-nine of his seventy brothers on the spot. But only Yotam, the youngest son of Yerubaal, remained alive, as he had hidden.

וַיֵּאָסְפוּ כָּל בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְכָל בֵּית מִלּוֹא וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְמֶלֶךְ עִם אֵלוֹן מֻצָּב אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁכֶם

All the masters of Shekhem and all Beit Milo, adjacent to Shekhem, assembled and went, and they crowned Avimelekh as king of the city and the surrounding area, in the Plain of the Monument that was in Shekhem.

וַיַּגִּדוּ לְיוֹתָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּעֲמֹד בְּרֹאשׁ הַר גְּרִזִים וַיִּשָּׂא קוֹלוֹ וַיִּקְרָא וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם אֱלֹהִים

They told Yotam that Avimelekh had been crowned, and he went and stood atop Mount Gerizim, which towers above the city of Shekhem, and he projected his voice, and called; he said to them: Listen to me, masters of Shekhem, and God will listen to you, to judge you. This expression is often a positive blessing, but it can also be a form of a curse or an oath.

הָלוֹךְ הָלְכוּ הָעֵצִים לִמְשֹׁחַ עֲלֵיהֶם מֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמְרוּ לַזַּיִת מָלְכָה עָלֵינוּ

The trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, a beautiful tree that provides much benefit: Reign over us.

וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַזַּיִת הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת דִּשְׁנִי אֲשֶׁר בִּי יְכַבְּדוּ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל הָעֵצִים

The olive tree said to them: Shall I cease giving my richness, my oil, with which, through me, men honor God, by using the oil to light the candelabrum in the Tabernacle and as part of meal offerings, and honor man, who enjoys consuming my olives and oil, and go to sway and rule over the trees? I have an important function and prominent status; I have no interest in the title of king.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעֵצִים לַתְּאֵנָה לְכִי אַתְּ מָלְכִי עָלֵינוּ

The trees said to the fig tree: You go and reign over us, for you are a large tree. Although you are not as sturdy or as ancient as the olive tree, you are also a stately fruit tree.

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַתְּאֵנָה הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת מָתְקִי וְאֶת תְּנוּבָתִי הַטּוֹבָה וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל הָעֵצִים!

The fig tree said to them: Shall I cease my sweetness, and my delightful yield, and go to sway over the trees? I have more important tasks to fulfill.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעֵצִים לַגָּפֶן לְכִי אַתְּ מָלְכִי עָלֵינוּ

The trees said to the vine: You go and reign over us. You are not as impressive as the fig tree, but you too are a significant plant.

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַגֶּפֶן הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת תִּירוֹשִׁי הַמְשַׂמֵּחַ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל הָעֵצִים!

The vine said to them: Shall I cease my wine, which gladdens God, through the libation wine poured on the altar, and man, and go to sway over the trees? The most important trees of the Land of Israel, the olive, fig, and vine, were uninterested in the monarchy.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל הָעֵצִים אֶל הָאָטָד לֵךְ אַתָּה מְלָךְ עָלֵינוּ

All the trees said to the small thorn bush, which is neither large nor important, and which does not produce fruit: You go and reign over us.

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָטָד אֶל הָעֵצִים אִם בֶּאֱמֶת אַתֶּם מֹשְׁחִים אֹתִי לְמֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶם בֹּאוּ חֲסוּ בְצִלִּי וְאִם אַיִן תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִן הָאָטָד וְתֹאכַל אֶת אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן

The thorn bush said to the trees: If you truly anoint me as king over you, come and take shelter in my shade. I will accept the role, and you will be my subjects. And if you do not agree to take cover in my shade, let fire emerge from the thorn bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon. The thorn bush is a dry plant that catches fire easily. The tree predicts that a fire will emerge from it and burn not only the small fruit trees, but even the great cedars of Lebanon.

וְעַתָּה אִם בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים עֲשִׂיתֶם וַתַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְאִם טוֹבָה עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם יְרֻבַּעַל וְעִם בֵּיתוֹ וְאִם כִּגְמוּל יָדָיו עֲשִׂיתֶם לוֹ

Yotam addressed the people of Shekhem directly: Now, you have not acted truly and sincerely, in good faith, and you have crowned Avimelekh, and you have not acted well with Yerubaal and his house, and you have not done to him commensurate to his deserts;

אֲשֶׁר נִלְחַם אָבִי עֲלֵיכֶם וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ מִנֶּגֶד וַיַּצֵּל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִדְיָן

for you are greatly indebted to my father, as he made war on your behalf, and cast his life aside, and delivered you from the hand of Midyan. When the Midyanites raided the land, they did not distinguish between the tribes of Israel and the Canaanites. The city of Shekhem was also subjugated to them and paid tribute to them,

וְאַתֶּם קַמְתֶּם עַל בֵּית אָבִי הַיּוֹם וַתַּהַרְגוּ אֶת בָּנָיו שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ עַל אֶבֶן אֶחָת וַתַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן אֲמָתוֹ עַל בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם כִּי אֲחִיכֶם הוּא

but you have risen against my father’s house this day and killed his sons, seventy men on one rock, and crowned Avimelekh, son of his maidservant, king over the masters of Shekhem, because he is your brother. A concubine is a type of maidservant.

וְאִם בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם יְרֻבַּעַל וְעִם בֵּיתוֹ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה שִׂמְחוּ בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְיִשְׂמַח גַּם הוּא בָּכֶם

If you maintain that you have acted truly and sincerely with Yerubaal and with his household this day by crowning Avimelekh, as you considered him the most worthy of Gideon’s sons, then rejoice in Avimelekh, as you have found a ruler from one of your own. Live under his reign, and he too will rejoice in you.

וְאִם אַיִן תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מֵאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְתֹאכַל אֶת בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְאֶת בֵּית מִלּוֹא וְתֵצֵא אֵשׁ מִבַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וּמִבֵּית מִלּוֹא וְתֹאכַל אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ

But if you did not crown him justly, but rather you took advantage of the circumstances for your own benefit, to receive special privileges, then your action is reprehensible and ungrateful. In that case, may fire emerge from Avimelekh and consume the masters of Shekhem and Beit Milo, and may fire emerge from the masters of Shekhem and from Beit Milo and consume Avimelekh. You will eventually turn against one another and slaughter each other.

וַיָּנָס יוֹתָם וַיִּבְרַח וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּאֵרָה וַיֵּשֶׁב שָׁם מִפְּנֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אָחִיו

After his speech, which undoubtedly offended the people of Shekhem and their king, Yotam ran away; he fled and went to Be’er, or Be’era, and settled there, from before Avimelekh his brother, who now had even greater motivation to seek his death.

וַיָּשַׂר אֲבִימֶלֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים

Avimelekh ruled over Israel three years. As Gideon’s lone heir, with his supporters and an army, Avimelekh ruled as a quasi-king, over at least some of the tribes of Israel.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ רָעָה בֵּין אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּבֵין בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וַיִּבְגְּדוּ בַעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ

However, it was not long before God sent a spirit of animosity between Avimelekh and the masters of Shekhem. Their relationship turned sour, and the masters of Shekhem betrayed Avimelekh.

לָבוֹא חֲמַס שִׁבְעִים בְּנֵי יְרֻבָּעַל וְדָמָם לָשׂוּם עַל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֲחִיהֶם אֲשֶׁר הָרַג אוֹתָם וְעַל בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם אֲשֶׁר חִזְּקוּ אֶת יָדָיו לַהֲרֹג אֶת אֶחָיו

This feud was orchestrated from Heaven to bring the villainy, retribution for the murder involving the seventy sons of Yerubaal, and to place their blood upon the head of Avimelekh their brother, who killed them, and upon the masters of Shekhem, who supported him in killing his brothers, which is why they too deserved to be punished.

וַיָּשִׂימוּ לוֹ בַעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם מְאָרְבִים עַל רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים וַיִּגְזְלוּ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבֹר עֲלֵיהֶם בַּדָּרֶךְ וַיֻּגַּד לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ

The masters of Shekhem set ambushers, highwaymen, against him, Avimelekh and his Israelite subjects, on the hilltops, and they robbed everyone who passed them on the way. The people of Shekhem rejected Avimelekh’s rule, but instead of declaring outright war, they turned Shekhem into a city of pillagers. And it, this matter, was told to Avimelekh.

וַיָּבֹא גַּעַל בֶּן עֶבֶד וְאֶחָיו וַיַּעַבְרוּ בִּשְׁכֶם וַיִּבְטְחוּ בוֹ בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם

Gaal son of Eved, apparently a warrior, and his brethren and soldiers, came, and they moved to Shekhem, and the masters of Shekhem trusted him and joined forces with him.

וַיֵּצְאוּ הַשָּׂדֶה וַיִּבְצְרוּ אֶת כַּרְמֵיהֶם וַיִּדְרְכוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הִלּוּלִים וַיָּבֹאוּ בֵּית אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיְקַלְלוּ אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ

After a while they, the people of Shekhem, went out to the field, and they harvested their vineyards, and they stomped the grapes, and they held their traditional celebrations. This was not only a celebratory affair, but an idolatrous one as well, with the wine used as a ritual drink. They went to the house of their god and they ate and they drank, and they cursed Avimelekh as they celebrated.

וַיֹּאמֶר גַּעַל בֶּן עֶבֶד מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי שְׁכֶם כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ! הֲלֹא בֶן יְרֻבַּעַל וזְבֻל פְּקִידוֹ עִבְדוּ אֶת אַנְשֵׁי חֲמוֹר אֲבִי שְׁכֶם מַדּוּעַ נַעַבְדֶנּוּ אֲנָחְנוּ!

Gaal son of Eved said: Who is Avimelekh, and who is Shekhem, that we should serve him? How can one tie Avimelekh to Shekhem? Isn’t he the son of Yerubaal, a foreigner who fought against the Baal? We should not subjugate ourselves to Avimelekh. And isn’t Zevul, the man appointed over the city by Avimelekh, his official? Rather, serve the men of Hamor father of Shekhem. After all, we are the inhabitants of Shekhem, and our king, perhaps the founder of the city as well, was Hamor father of Shekhem. Why should we serve him, Avimelekh, who is only a partial Shekhemite?

וּמִי יִתֵּן אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּיָדִי וְאָסִירָה אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ רַבֶּה צְבָאֲךָ וָצֵאָה

Would that this people were put into my hand, and I would depose Avimelekh. I could wage war against him and depose him from his throne. Gaal himself may originally have been from Shekhem or somewhere nearby. He, Gaal, said to Avimelekh, provoking him: Raise your army and come out to fight us. This sort of challenge, in which the location and time of a battle were agreed upon in advance, was very common in those days. Some maintain that Gaal did not actually send a message and challenge Avimelekh to a battle, but merely issued a declaration of defiance.

וַיִּשְׁמַע זְבֻל שַׂר הָעִיר אֶת דִּבְרֵי גַּעַל בֶּן עָבֶד וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ

Zevul, ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Eved, and his wrath was enflamed. It is unclear whether Zevul was a resident of Shekhem; his name, which means heaven or temple in Hebrew, could be an indication that he was an Israelite from elsewhere, appointed by Avimelekh to rule over the city.

וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בְּתָרְמָה לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה גַעַל בֶּן עֶבֶד וְאֶחָיו בָּאִים שְׁכֶמָה וְהִנָּם צָרִים אֶת הָעִיר עָלֶיךָ

He sent messengers to Avimelekh in Torma; alternatively, torma means deceitfully, saying: Behold, Gaal son of Eved and his brethren have come to Shekhem, and they are fortifying the city against you. Alternatively, this means: They are preparing the city for war against you, or: They are closing the city before you, or: They are causing the residents of the city to hate you.

וְעַתָּה קוּם לַיְלָה אַתָּה וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתָּךְ וֶאֱרֹב בַּשָּׂדֶה

Now, therefore, you and the people who are with you should rise at night and set an ambush against them in the field.

וְהָיָה בַבֹּקֶר כִּזְרֹחַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ תַּשְׁכִּים וּפָשַׁטְתָּ עַל הָעִיר וְהִנֵּה הוּא וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ יֹצְאִים אֵלֶיךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדֶךָ

When it will be the morning, with the rising of the sun, you shall rise and attack the city; and behold, he, Gaal, and the people who are with him will emerge against you; you will do to them as you are able. Zevul is suggesting that Avimelekh respond to Gaal’s challenge by assailing the people of Shekhem by means of an ambush.

וַיָּקָם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ לָיְלָה וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ עַל שְׁכֶם אַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים

Avimelekh took the advice, and all the people who were with him rose at night, and they set an ambush against Shekhem in four separate columns.

וַיֵּצֵא גַּעַל בֶּן עֶבֶד וַיַּעֲמֹד פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר וַיָּקָם אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ מִן הַמַּאְרָב

Gaal son of Eved emerged and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city in a show of defiance, and then Avimelekh and the people that were with him rose from the ambush, each company from its designated spot.

וַיַּרְא גַּעַל אֶת הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל זְבֻל הִנֵּה עָם יוֹרֵד מֵרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו זְבֻל אֵת צֵל הֶהָרִים אַתָּה רֹאֶה כָּאֲנָשִׁים

Gaal saw the people on top of the mountains surrounding Shekhem, and he said to Zevul: Behold, a large group of people are descending from the hilltops. And Zevul said to him derisively, and also as a diversion: You are seeing the shadow of the hills as men. The sunrise is causing shadows to move upon the mountains, which makes it look as though there are people advancing.

וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד גַּעַל לְדַבֵּר וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה עָם יוֹרְדִים מֵעִם טַבּוּר הָאָרֶץ וְרֹאשׁ אֶחָד בָּא מִדֶּרֶךְ אֵלוֹן מְעוֹנְנִים

Gaal continued to speak and said: Behold, now people are descending from the middle of the land,very close to us, and one column is coming via Elon Meonenim. I discern various troop movements.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו זְבֻל אַיֵּה אֵפוֹא פִיךָ אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי נַעַבְדֶנּוּ הֲלֹא זֶה הָעָם אֲשֶׁר מָאַסְתָּה בּוֹ צֵא נָא עַתָּה וְהִלָּחֶם בּוֹ!

Zevul said to him: Indeed, where is your mouth that you would say: Who is Avimelekh that we should serve him? Aren’t these the people whom you have spurned? Go out now and make war against them. You asked for war; now you have it.

וַיֵּצֵא גַעַל לִפְנֵי בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וַיִּלָּחֶם בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ

Gaal went out before the men of Shekhem, and he waged war with Avimelekh and his army.

וַיִּרְדְּפֵהוּ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיָּנָס מִפָּנָיו וַיִּפְּלוּ חֲלָלִים רַבִּים עַד פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר

Avimelekh pursued him, and he, Gaal, fled from before him, as the men of Shekhem were not an organized army but a local band of warriors, and they lacked a proper leader. Many of the residents fell, slain, and some fled up to the entrance of the gate, seeking to take refuge inside the city.

וַיֵּשֶׁב אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בָּארוּמָה וַיְגָרֶשׁ זְבֻל אֶת גַּעַל וְאֶת אֶחָיו מִשֶּׁבֶת בִּשְׁכֶם

Meanwhile, Avimelekh dwelled in Aruma; and Zevul banished Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shekhem. As the city official, Zevul had a certain authority in Shekhem. As long as Gaal enjoyed the support of the entire city, Zevul was unable to oppose him openly, but once Gaal lost in battle, and at least some of his men had been killed, Zevul and his supporters managed to banish him from the city.

וַיְהִי מִמָּחֳרָת וַיֵּצֵא הָעָם הַשָּׂדֶה וַיַּגִּדוּ לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ

It was on the next day that the people went out from the city to the field, as it was unclear whether the war was still ongoing; and it, this development, was told to Avimelekh.

וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָעָם וַיֶּחֱצֵם לִשְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁים וַיֶּאֱרֹב בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הָעָם יֹצֵא מִן הָעִיר וַיָּקָם עֲלֵיהֶם וַיַּכֵּם

He took the people who were with him, divided them into three columns, and set an ambush in the field. Avimelekh’s army wasn’t large enough to invade the walled city of Shekhem; instead, he prepared an ambush outside the walls. He saw, and behold, the people were emerging from the city; he rose against them, and he smote them.

וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְהָרָאשִׁים אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ פָּשְׁטוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר וּשְׁנֵי הָרָאשִׁים פָּשְׁטוּ עַל כָּל אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיַּכּוּם

Avimelekh and one of the columns that were with him, or Avimelekh and the important soldiers with him, attacked, and they stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and the two other columns advanced against everyone who was in the field and smote them.

וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ נִלְחָם בָּעִיר כֹּל הַיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת הָעִיר וְאֶת הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בָּהּ הָרָג וַיִּתֹּץ אֶת הָעִיר וַיִּזְרָעֶהָ מֶלַח

Avimelekh and his army waged war against the city that entire day; he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; he smashed the city and sowed it with salt, so that nothing could be grown there. Sowing a city with salt was an act that symbolized its utter destruction. The statement that Avimelekh did this to Shekhem can therefore be understood either literally or figuratively.

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ כָּל בַּעֲלֵי מִגְדַּל שְׁכֶם וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל צְרִיחַ בֵּית אֵל בְּרִית

All the masters of the tower of Shekhem, which was located in the fortified part of the city, heard, and they entered into the turret of the house of the god Baal Berit.

וַיֻּגַּד לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ כִּי הִתְקַבְּצוּ כָּל בַּעֲלֵי מִגְדַּל שְׁכֶם

It was told to Avimelekh that all the masters of the tower of Shekhem had gathered in the turret.

וַיַּעַל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ הַר צַלְמוֹן הוּא וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶת הַקַּרְדֻּמּוֹת בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּכְרֹת שׂוֹכַת עֵצִים וַיִּשָּׂאֶהָ וַיָּשֶׂם עַל שִׁכְמוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ מָה רְאִיתֶם עָשִׂיתִי מַהֲרוּ עֲשׂוּ כָמוֹנִי

Avimelekh ascended the adjacent Mount Tzalmon, he and all the people who were with him; Avimelekh took an axe in his hand, cut a large branch, lifted it and placed it on his shoulder. He said to the people who were with him: That which you have seen me do, quickly do as I have done. Like his father, Avimelekh led by example (see 7:17).

וַיִּכְרְתוּ גַם כָּל הָעָם אִישׁ שׂוֹכֹה וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עַל הַצְּרִיחַ וַיַּצִּיתוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַצְּרִיחַ בָּאֵשׁ וַיָּמֻתוּ גַּם כָּל אַנְשֵׁי מִגְדַּל שְׁכֶם כְּאֶלֶף אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה

All the people too, each man cut his branch, and they followed Avimelekh, placed them, these branches, by the turret and set the turret on fire, to burn the people in the tower. All the people of the tower of Shekhem also died, some one thousand men and women. Rather than laying siege to the fortified tower, Avimelekh preferred to set it ablaze, filling it with smoke and burning all those inside.

וַיֵּלֶךְ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶל תֵּבֵץ וַיִּחַן בְּתֵבֵץ וַיִּלְכְּדָהּ

Then Avimelekh went to Tevetz, a smaller, unfortified city, which had participated in the rebellion of Shekhem, and he encamped against Tevetz, and captured it.

ומִגְדַּל עֹז הָיָה בְתוֹךְ הָעִיר וַיָּנֻסוּ שָׁמָּה כָּל הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְכֹל בַּעֲלֵי הָעִיר וַיִּסְגְּרוּ בַּעֲדָם וַיַּעֲלוּ עַל גַּג הַמִּגְדָּל

There was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, the women, and the masters of the city fled there; they shut themselves in it. They closed the entrance to the tower and they went up to the roof of the tower.

וַיָּבֹא אֲבִימֶלֶךְ עַד הַמִּגְדָּל וַיִּלָּחֶם בּוֹ וַיִּגַּשׁ עַד פֶּתַח הַמִּגְדָּל לְשָׂרְפוֹ בָאֵשׁ

Avimelekh came up to the tower, and waged war against it; he approached the entrance of the tower to burn it in fire. In those days, the gates of towers were almost always made of wood. Avimelekh may not have had the necessary implements to break through the gate, and therefore he planned to burn it in order to enter the tower.

וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ אִשָּׁה אַחַת פֶּלַח רֶכֶב עַל רֹאשׁ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַתָּרִץ אֶת גֻּלְגָּלְתּוֹ

But when he approached the tower, a certain woman among those who had barricaded themselves in the tower cast a piece of a millstone on Avimelekh’s head and crushed his skull. The stone, which seems to have been thrown with great skill, hit him without warning.

וַיִּקְרָא מְהֵרָה אֶל הַנַּעַר נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ שְׁלֹף חַרְבְּךָ וּמוֹתְתֵנִי פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ לִי אִשָּׁה הֲרָגָתְהוּ וַיִּדְקְרֵהוּ נַעֲרוֹ וַיָּמֹת

He, Avimelekh, realizing that he was about to die, called quickly to the lad, his armor-bearer, and he said to him: Draw your sword and put me to death, lest they say of me: A woman killed him. I do not wish to die at the hands of a woman, which is a disgrace. His lad stabbed him and he died.

וַיִּרְאוּ אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי מֵת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וַיֵּלְכוּ אִישׁ לִמְקֹמוֹ

The men of Israel saw that Avimelekh was dead, and each man went to his place. The men of Israel had joined Avimelekh’s army because they saw an opportunity to conquer the rival city of Shekhem. Once he died and there was no one to replace him as commander of the operation, they returned home.

וַיָּשֶׁב אֱלֹהִים אֵת רָעַת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְאָבִיו לַהֲרֹג אֶת שִׁבְעִים אֶחָיו

In summary: God repaid the wickedness of Avimelekh that he did to his father, killing his seventy brothers;

וְאֵת כָּל רָעַת אַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם הֵשִׁיב אֱלֹהִים בְּרֹאשָׁם וַתָּבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם קִלֲלַת יוֹתָם בֶּן יְרֻבָּעַל

similarly, God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shekhem upon their heads; the curse of Yotam son of Yerubaal came upon all of them. A fire spread from the thorn bush, Avimelekh, to the trees that rebelled against it, and burned both the thorn bush and the other trees, as Yotam had predicted. In this manner, Avimelekh received his punishment from God.