that the wrong done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and upon the lords of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the lords of Shechem trusted him.

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

And when Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

Now therefore, rise up by night, you and the people with you, and lie in wait in the field.

So Abimelech and all the people with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains! But Zebul said to him, You are seeing the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.

Then Zebul said to him, Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Are not these the people whom you have despised? Go out now and fight with them.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded, to the entrance of the gate.

And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they reported to Abimelech.

And Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and struck them.

And when all the lords of the tower of Shechem heard it, they entered the underground chambers of the house of the god Berith.

And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people with him, What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it.

So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

And he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, Draw your sword and kill me, that they not say of me, A woman killed him. So his young man thrust him through, and he died.

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.

And Jephthah said to them, My people and I were in a great struggle with the sons of Ammon; and when I called you, you did not deliver me out of their hands.

Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites.

then they would say to him, Then say, Shibboleth! And he would say, Sibboleth, for he could not speak it right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time forty-two thousand from Ephraim.

Thus Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

Thus Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you immersed into the name of Paul?

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.