4. And they gave him 70 pieces of kesef out of the bais Baal-brit, wherewith Avimelech hired morally empty and reckless persons, which followed him.
5. And he went unto his bais avi at Ophrah, and slaughtered his brethren the Bnei Yerubaal, being 70 persons, upon one even (stone); notwithstanding yet Yotam the youngest ben Yerubaal escaped; for he hid himself.
6. And all the ba'alei Shechem gathered together, and all the Bais Millo, and went, and crowned Avimelech melech, by the great tree near the pillar that was in Shechem.
7. And when they told it to Yotam, he went and stood on top of Mt Gerizim, lifted up his voice, cried out, and said unto them, Pay heed unto me, ye ba'alei Shechem, that Elohim may pay heed unto you.
8. The etzim (trees) went forth one day to anoint a melech over them; and they said unto the zayit (olive tree), Reign thou over us.
9. But the zayit said unto them, Should I leave my oil, wherewith by me they honor Elohim and anashim, and go to be promoted over the etzim?
10. And the etzim (trees) said to the te'enah (fig tree), Come thou, and reign over us.
11. But the te'enah said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the etzim (trees)?
12. Then said the etzim (trees) unto the gefen, Come thou, and reign over us.
13. And the gefen said unto them, Should I leave my tirosh, which cheereth Elohim and anashim, and go to be promoted over the etzim?
14. Then said all the etzim (trees) unto the thornbush, Come thou, and reign over us.
15. And the thornbush said unto the etzim (trees), If b'emes ye anoint me melech over you, then come and take refuge in my tzel (shade): and if not, let eish come out of the thornbush, and devour the cedars of the Levanon.
16. Now therefore, if ye have done b'emes and in good faith, in that ye have made Avimelech melech, and if ye have dealt tovah with Yerubaal [Gid'on] and his bais, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands.
17. For avi [Gid'on] fought for you, and risked his nefesh, and delivered you out of the yad Midyan;