1 And Abim´elech the son of Jerubba´al went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubba´al, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abim´elech; for they said, He is our brother.
4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Ba´al–be´rith, wherewith Abim´elech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubba´al, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubba´al was left; for he hid himself.
6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abim´elech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Ger´izim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.