Judg 9:1-20, 2Sa 15:2-6, Psa 55:21, Dan 11:32, 34 | ESV | STEP | Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family ,

1 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to ^ahis mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, 2 “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all ^bseventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that ^cI am ^dyour bone and your flesh.”

3 And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, ^e“He is our brother.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of ^fBaal-berith with which Abimelech hired ^gworthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. 5 And he went to his father’s house at ^hOphrah ⁱand killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all ^jBeth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of ^kMount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 ^lThe trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ^m‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ 12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that ⁿcheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and ^otake refuge in my shade, but if not, ^plet fire come out of the bramble and devour ^qthe cedars of Lebanon.’

16 “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with ^rJerubbaal and his house and have done to him ^sas his deeds deserved— 17 for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, 18 and you have risen up against my father’s house this day ^tand have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made ^uAbimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, ^vbecause he is your relative— 19 if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then ^wrejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, ^xlet fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.”

2 Samuel 15:2-6

2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside ^ythe way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, ^z“Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Psalms 55:21

21 His ^aaspeech was ^absmooth as butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were ^acdrawn swords.

Daniel 11:32

32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

Daniel 11:34

34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery,