Abimelech acclaimed at Shechem

1Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of his mother's father's house, saying,

2Please speak in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem: Which is better for you—that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? And remember that I am your bone and your flesh.

3And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts turned after Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, and with them Abimelek hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.

5Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal—seventy men—on one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, because he hid himself.

6Then all the leaders of Shechem and all Beth-millo gathered together, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the oak pillar that was in Shechem.