² “Speak to^[a] the lords of Shechem, ‘What is better for you, that seventy men all from the sons of Jerub-Baal rule over you, or that one man rules over you?’ Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.” ³ And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words concerning him to^[b] all the lords of Shechem; and they supported Abimelech,^[c] for they said, “He is our relative.”^{[d] 4} And they gave to him seventy pieces of silver from the temple^[e] of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them^[f] worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.^[g]