Latest / Bible Chat Devotional / March 25 - The Danger of an Unguarded Heart

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March 25 - The Danger of an Unguarded Heart · Bible Chat Devotional

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Welcome to Bible. Chat where we have.
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Devotional conversations rooted in Scripture and relevant for
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today, March 25th. Choosing the right path Life is
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full of paths. Some look exciting but lead
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somewhere painful. Some look slow and difficult but
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end in peace. In the moment, it is not always
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easy to tell the difference. That is why.
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We need God's wisdom. Without it, shortcuts can look
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attractive. Selfish ambition can feel.
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Justified. And the wrong Rd. can seem like
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the fastest way to get what we want.
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Proverbs, chapter 12. Verses 27 to 28.
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Says whoever is. Slothful will not roast his
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game, but the diligent man will get.
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Precious wealth. In the path of righteousness is
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life, and in its pathway there is no death.
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Diligence matters because it. Stays with what is.
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Good righteousness matters. Because it leads to life.
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God is showing us that how we live now shapes where we end up
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later. Then in Judges Chapter 9 we see
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Abimelech choose selfish ambition, violence and power
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over. What is right?
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His choices bring destruction not only to himself, but to many
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others. It is a painful reminder that
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sin never effects just one person.
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Wrong choices spread damage. They wound families, communities
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and futures. By contrast, the path of.
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Righteousness may seem. Slower, but it is safer.
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It may require patience, humility and self-control, but
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it leads somewhere solid. The right path is not always the
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easiest one. Sometimes it means saying no
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when others. Say yes.
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Sometimes it means doing the work instead of looking.
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For a shortcut. Sometimes it means choosing
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integrity when nobody would know the difference.
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And that is where God's presence matters so much.
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You are not left alone to figure it out.
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He is with you in every decision, every temptation.
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And every crossroads. He can give clarity when
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emotions are loud. He can give strength when
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obedience. Feels costly.
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He can keep you steady. When the wrong path seems
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popular today, think about the direction of your choices, not
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just what feels good in the moment, but where it is leading.
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The right path may not. Always be flashy, but it is full
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of life. God's way is never empty.
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It forms character, protects your heart, and blesses.
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Others through your. Faithfulness.
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Choose the path that leads to life.
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Even if it takes longer. Walking with God is always worth
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it. Let's.
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Pray Heavenly Father, thank you for caring about the direction
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of my. Life help me.
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Recognize the paths that lead to harm and give me wisdom to.
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Choose what is right. Guard me from laziness, selfish
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ambition, and shortcuts that pull me away from you.
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Strengthen me to walk in diligence and righteousness.
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Trusting that your way leads to life.
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Guide every decision I make and let my choices honor you and
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bless others in Jesus name. Amen.
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What if the most important question in your life deserves
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more than a shallow answer? Does God Exist is a powerful,
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thought provoking series that explores reality, meaning, and
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truth through reason, evidence, human experience, and scripture
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without preaching pressure or assumptions.
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Book 1, Something from Nothing, confronts the mystery of
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existence itself and asks why anything exists at all.
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Book 2, The Cause Behind the Cosmos, examines the origin of
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the universe and whether it points beyond itself.
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Book 3, Design or Accident, wrestles with order and
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complexity. Are they products of chance or
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intelligence? Book 4, The Moral Signature,
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explores why objective right and wrong may require a source
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beyond human opinion. Book 5, The God We Cannot
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Escape, considers conscience, longing, and humanity's
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persistent awareness of God. Book 6, From Reason to
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Revelation, asks whether the God who exists would also speak.
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And Book 7, Denying God, examines the internal tensions
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Now I invite you to spend time with.
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God in today's 3. Year Bible reading plan.
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Proverbs, chapter 12. Verses 27 to 28 World English.
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Bible the Slothful. Man doesn't roast his game, but
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the possessions of diligent men are prized in the way of
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righteousness is life. In its path.
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There is no death. Judges Chapters. 8 to 9 World
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English Bible. The men of Ephraim said to him,
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Why? Have you treated us this way
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that you didn't? Call us when you went to fight
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with Midian. They rebuked him sharply.
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He said to them, What have I now done in comparison with you?
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Isn't the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the
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vintage of Abizer? God has delivered.
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Into your hand, the Princess of Midian, Orab and Zeb What?
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Was. I able to do in comparison with.
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You. Then their anger was abated
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toward him. When he had said that, Gideon
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came to the Jordan and passed. Over.
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He and the 300 men who were with him, faint yet pursuing, he said
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to the men of Sukkot. Please give loaves of bread to
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the. People who follow me, for they
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are faint, and I am pursuing after Zeba and Zalmana, the
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kings of Midian. The Princess of Sukkot said are
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the. Hands of zeba and zalmana now in
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your hand that we. Should give.
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Bread to your army, Gideon said. Therefore, when Yahweh.
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Has delivered. Zeba and Zalmana into my hand.
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Then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and
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with briars. He went up there to Pennell and
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spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Pennell answered
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him as the men of Sukkot had answered.
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He spoke also to the men of Pennell, saying, When I come
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again in peace, I will break down this tower.
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Now Zebra and Zalmana were in Carker and their armies with
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them about 15,000 men. All who were left of.
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All the Army of the Children of the East, for there fell 120,000
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men who drew sword Gideon went up by the.
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Way of. Those who lived in tents on the
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east of Nobah and Jagbaha and struck the army, for the army
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felt secure. Zeba and Zalmana fled and he
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pursued them. He took the 2 kings of Midian,
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Zeba and Zalmana, and confused all the army.
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Gideon, the son of Josh, returned from the battle from
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the ascent of heirs. He caught a young man of the men
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of Sukkot and inquired of him, and he described for him the
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Princess of Sukkot and its elders, 77 men.
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He came to the men of Sukkot and said, See Zeba and Zalmana,
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concerning whom you taunted me, saying, Are the hands of Zeba
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and Zalmana now in your hand, that we should give bread to
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your men who are weary? He took the elders.
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Of the city and thorns of the wilderness and briars, And with
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them he taught the men of. Sukkot he broke.
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Down the Tower of Pennell and killed the men of the city.
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Then he. Said to Zeba and Zalmana, What
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kind of men were they? Whom you?
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Killed at Tabor. They answered.
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They were like you, they all. Resembled the children of a
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king. He said they were my.
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Brothers, the sons of my mother, as Yahweh lives, If you had
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saved them alive, I would not kill you.
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He said to. Jether, his first born, get up
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and kill them, but the youth. Didn't draw his sword, for he
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was afraid because he was yet a youth.
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Then Zeba and Zalmana said, You rise and fall on us, for as the
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man is, so is his strength. Gideon arose and killed Zeba and
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Zalmana and took the crescents that were on their camels necks.
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Then the men of Israel said to Gideon Rule.
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Over us both. You, your son and your son's son
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also. For you have saved us out.
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Of the hand of Midian, Gideon said to them.
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I will not rule. Over you neither.
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Shall my son rule over you? Yahweh shall rule over you.
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Gideon said to them. I do.
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Have a request that you would. Each give me the earrings of his
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plunder, for they had golden earrings because they were
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Ishmaelites. They answered, We will willingly
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give them. They spread a garment, and every
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man threw the earrings of his plunder into it.
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The. Weight of the.
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Golden earrings that he requested was 1700.
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Shekels of gold. In addition to the crescents and
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the pendants and the purple clothing that was on the Kings
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of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their
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camels necks, Gideon made an F odd out of it and put it in
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offer. His city.
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Then all. Israel played the prostitute
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with it there. And it became a snare to Gideon
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and to his House. So Midian was.
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Subdued before the. Children of Israel, and they
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lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest 40 years.
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In the days of Gideon. Jarabal, the son of Josh, went
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and lived in his own house. Gideon had seventy sons
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conceived from his. Body for he.
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Had many wives. His concubine, who was in
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Shechem, also bore him a son, and he named him Abbamelech.
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Gideon, the son of Josh, died in a good.
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Old age. And was buried in the tomb of
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Josh. His father.
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In offer of the. Abbey's rites as soon as Gideon
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was dead, the. Children of Israel turned again
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and played. The prostitute.
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Following the bales and made. Bail Barith their God.
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The children of Israel didn't remember.
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Yahweh, their God. Who had delivered them out of
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the hand of all their enemies on every side.
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Neither did they show kindness to the House of.
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Jerobal, that is. Gideon, according to all the
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goodness which he had shown to Israel, Abimelech, the son of
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Jerobal, went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke
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with them and with all the family of the House of his
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mother's father, saying, Please speak.
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In the. Ears of all the men of Shechem.
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Is it better for you that? All the sons of Jerobal, who are
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70 persons. Rule over you.
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Or that one rule over you. Remember also that I am your
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bone and your flesh. His mother's brothers spoke of
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him in the ears of all the men of Shechem.
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All these words, their hearts inclined to follow.
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Abbamelech. For they said he is our brother,
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they. Gave him 70.
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Pieces of silver out of the House of Bale Berith.
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With which Abbamelech hired Vain and.
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Reckless fellows who? Followed him.
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He went to. His father's house at OFRA.
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And killed his brothers, the sons of Jaribal being 70 persons
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on one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of
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Jaribal, was left, for he hid himself.
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All the men of Shechem assembled.
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Themselves together with. All the House of Millow, and
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went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was
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in Shechem. When they told it to Jotham, he
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went and stood on the top of Mount Jerusalem and lifted up
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his. Voice cried out.
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And said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may
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listen to you. The trees.
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Set out to anoint a king over themselves.
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They said to the olive. Tree reign over us.
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But the olive? Tree said to them.
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Should I stop? Producing my oil, with which
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they honor God and man by me and go to wave.
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Back and forth over the trees. The trees said to the fig tree.
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Come and reign over us. But the fig.
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Tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness and my good
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fruit and go to wave? Back and forth over the trees.
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The trees. Said to the vine, Come and reign
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over us. The vine said to them.
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Should I leave my new wine? Which cheers.
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God and man and go to wave back. And forth over the trees.
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Then all the trees said to the Bramble, Come and reign over us.
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The Bramble said to the. Trees.
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If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take
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refuge in my shade, and if not, let fire come out of the Bramble
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and devour the Cedars of Lebanon.
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Now, therefore. If you have dealt.
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Truly and righteously, in that you have made Abbamelech king.
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And if you have dealt. Well, with Jarabal and his
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house, and have done to him according to the deserving of
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his hands for my father. Fought for you, risked his life.
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And delivered you out of the hand of Midian, And you have
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risen up against my father's house today, and have slain his
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sons, 70 persons on one stone, and have made Abbamelech, the
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son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because
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he. Is your brother.
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If you. Then have dealt.
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Truly and. Righteously with Jerobal.
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And with his house today, then rejoice in Abbamelech, and let
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him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out
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from Abbamelech and devour the men of Shechem and the House of
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Milo. And let fire come out from the
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men of Shechem, and from the House of Milo, and devour
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Abbamelech. Jotham ran away and fled and
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went to Beer and lived. There for fear.
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Of Abbamelech, his brother. Abbamelech was Prince over?
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Israel three years. Then God sent an evil spirit
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between Abbamelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of
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Shechem dealt treacherously with Abbamelech, that the violence
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done to the 70 sons of Jerobal might come, and that their blood
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might be laid on Abimelech. Their brother who?
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Killed them and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his
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hands to kill. His brothers.
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The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the
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mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them
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and Abimelech was told. About it, Gall.
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The son of EBD came with his brothers and went over to
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Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
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They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards.
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Trod the grapes celebrated. And went into the House of their
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God, and ate and drank and cursed Abbamelech Gaul, the son
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of Ebb. Said who is?
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Abbamelech. And who is Shechem that we
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should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerobal?
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Isn't Zebel his officer serve? The men of Hammer, the father of
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Shechem. But why should we serve him?
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I wish that this people were under my hand.
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Then I would remove Abbamelech, he said to Abbamelech.
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Increase your army and come out when Zebul.
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The ruler of the city heard the words.
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Of Gaul, the son of EBD. His anger burned.
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He sent messengers to Abbamelech craftily saying, Behold, Gaul
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the son of EBD and his brothers have come to Shechem, and
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behold, they incite the city against you.
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Now Therefore, go up by night, you and the people.
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Who are with? You and lie in wait in the
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field. It shall be that in the morning,
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as soon as the sun is up. You shall rise.
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Early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people
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who are with him come out against you, then may you do to
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them as you shall find occasion. Abimelech rose up, and all the
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people who were with him by night, and they laid weight
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against Shechem in four companies.
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Gaul, the son of EBD, went out and stood in the entrance of the
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gate of the. City.
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Abimelech rose up and the people who were with him from the
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ambush when Gaul. Saw the people, he said to
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Zebel. Behold, people.
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Are coming down from the tops of the mountains, Zebul said to
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him. You see the shadows of the
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mountains as if they were men. Gaul spoke again and said.
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Behold. People are coming down by the
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middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the
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Oak of Meonim. Then Zebul said to him, Now
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where is your mouth that you? Said who is?
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Abbamelech. That we should.
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Serve him. Isn't this the people that you
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have despised? Please.
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Go out now and fight with them. Gaul went out before the men of
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Shechem and fought with Abbamelech.
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Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell
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wounded even to the entrance of the gate.
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Abimelech lived at Arima, and Zebel drove out Gaul and his
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brothers that they should not dwell in Shechem.
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On the next day, the people went out into the field and they told
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Abimelech. He took the.
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People and divided them into three companies and laid wait in
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the field and he looked and. Behold the people.
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Came out of the city. So.
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He rose up against them and struck them.
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Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and
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stood in the entrance of the gate of the.
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City. And the two companies rushed on
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all who were in the field and struck them.
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Abimelech fought against the city.
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All that day. And he took the city and killed
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the people in it. He beat down the city and sewed.
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It with salt. When all the men of the Tower of
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Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of
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the. House of Elbirith.
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Abimelech was told that all the men of the Tower of Shechem
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were. Gathered together.
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Abemlech went up to Mount Zalman, he and all the people
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who were with him, and Abemlech took an axe in his hand and cut
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down a bough from the trees, and took it up and laid it on his.
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Shoulder Then he said to the. People who were with him, what
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you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.
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All the people likewise each. Cut down his bow, followed
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Abemlech and put them at the base of the stronghold and set
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the stronghold on fire over them.
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So that all the people of the tower.
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Of Shechem died also about 1000 men and women.
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Then Albemlech went to Thebes and encamped against Thebes and
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took it. But there was a strong tower
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within the city and all the men and women of the city.
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Fled there. And shut themselves in and went
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up to. The roof of the tower.
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Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near
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to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
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A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech's head
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and broke his. Skull.
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Then he called. Hastily to the young man, his
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armor bearer, and said to him. Draw your sword.
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And kill me that men not say of me a woman killed him.
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His young man thrust him through, and he died.
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When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was.
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Dead, they each departed to his place.
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Thus, God repaid the. Wickedness of Abbamelech.
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Which he did to his father. In killing his 70.
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Brothers. And God repaid all the
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wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of
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Jotham the son of Jeroble came on them.
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Thanks for joining us on Bible Chat Where Scripture.
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