² “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the ^[a]leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for ^(A)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am ^(B)your bone and your flesh.” ³ So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the ^[b]leaders of Shechem; and ^[c]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is ^(C)our relative.” ⁴ And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of ^(D)Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.