1 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 "Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."
3 His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, "He is our brother." 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him. 5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem. 7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 "But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10 "The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 "But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12 "The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 "The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
14 "Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 "The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 "Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands 17 (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; 18 and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother); 19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; 20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech."
21 Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years. 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him? 29 I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech." He said to Abimelech, "Increase your army and come out!"
30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you. 32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion."
34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains."
Zebul said to him, "You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men."
37 Gaal spoke again and said, "Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim."
38 Then Zebul said to him, "Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them."
39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate. 41 Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck them. 44 Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith. 47 Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!" 49 All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
54 Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died."
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place. 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers; 57 and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
1 En Abim,leg, die seun van Jerubba„l, het heengegaan na Sigem, na die broers van sy moeder, en hy het met hulle en met die hele geslag van sy moeder se familie gespreek en gesê:
2 Spreek tog voor die ore van al die burgers van Sigem: Wat is vir julle beter -- dat sewentig man, almal seuns van Jerubba„l, oor julle heers, of dat een man oor julle heers? En dink daaraan dat ek julle gebeente en julle vlees is.
3 Toe die broers van sy moeder al hierdie woorde voor die ore van al die burgers van Sigem oor hom spreek, het hulle hart Abim,leg gevolg; want hulle het gesê: Hy is ons broer.
4 Hulle het hom toe sewentig sikkels silwer uit die huis van Ba„l-Ber¡t gegee, en daarmee het Abim,leg ydele en ligsinnige manne gehuur, en hulle het hom gevolg.
5 En hy het in die huis van sy vader gegaan, in Ofra, en sy broers, die seuns van Jerubba„l, sewentig man, op een klip vermoor; maar Jotam, die jongste seun van Jerubba„l, het oorgebly, want hy het weggekruip.
6 Daarop het al die burgers van Sigem en die hele huis Millo bymekaargekom en Abim,leg gaan koning maak by die terpentynboom van die gedenkteken wat by Sigem is.
7 Toe hulle dit aan Jotam meedeel, het hy op die top van die berg Ger¡sim gaan staan en sy stem verhef en uitgeroep en aan hulle gesê: Luister na my, burgers van Sigem, sodat God na julle kan luister.
8 Eendag het die bome gegaan om 'n koning oor hulle te salf en aan die olyfboom gesê: Wees koning oor ons!
9 Maar die olyfboom het vir hulle gesê: Sou ek my vettigheid opgee wat God en die mense in my prys, en oor die bome gaan swewe?
10 Toe sê die bome vir die vyeboom: Kom jy, wees koning oor ons.
11 Maar die vyeboom het vir hulle gesê: Sou ek my soetigheid en my goeie vrugte opgee en oor die bome gaan swewe?
12 Toe sê die bome vir die wingerdstok: Kom jy, wees koning oor ons.
13 Maar die wingerdstok het vir hulle gesê: Sou ek my mos opgee wat God en die mense vrolik maak, en oor die bome gaan swewe?
14 Toe sê al die bome vir die steekdoring: Kom jy, wees koning oor ons!
15 En die steekdoring het vir die bome gesê: As julle in waarheid my as koning oor julle salf, kom dan, skuil in my skaduwee; maar so nie, laat daar dan vuur uitgaan uit die steekdoring en die seders van die L¡banon verteer.
16 As julle dan nou in waarheid en in opregtheid gehandel het deur Abim,leg koning te maak, en as julle goed gedoen het aan Jerubba„l en sy huis, en as julle aan hom gedoen het na die verdienste van sy hande --
17 julle vir wie my vader geveg en sy lewe gewaag het, en wat hy uit die hand van die Midianiete gered het,
18 maar wat vandag opgestaan het teen die huis van my vader, en sy seuns, sewentig man, op een klip vermoor het en Abim,leg, die seun van sy slavin, koning gemaak het oor die burgers van Sigem omdat hy julle broer is --
19 as julle dan vandag in waarheid en in opregtheid gehandel het met Jerubba„l en sy huis, wees dan vrolik oor Abim,leg, en mag hy ook vrolik wees oor julle.
20 Maar so nie, laat daar dan vuur uitgaan uit Abim,leg en die burgers van Sigem en die huis Millo verteer; en laat daar vuur uitgaan uit die burgers van Sigem en uit die huis Millo en Abim,leg verteer.
21 Daarop het Jotam padgegee en weggevlug en na Beër gegaan en daar gebly vanweë Abim,leg, sy broer.
22 Toe Abim,leg drie jaar oor Israel geheers het,
23 het God 'n bose gees gestuur tussen Abim,leg en die burgers van Sigem, en die burgers van Sigem het troueloos gehandel teen Abim,leg,
24 sodat die onreg teen die sewentig seuns van Jerubba„l sou uitkom, en Hy hulle bloed sou lê op hul broer Abim,leg wat hulle vermoor het, ook op die burgers van Sigem wat sy hande versterk het om sy broers te vermoor.
25 So het die burgers van Sigem dan teen hom hinderlae opgestel bo-op die berge en almal beroof wat op die pad by hulle verbykom. En dit is aan Abim,leg meegedeel.
26 Toe kom Gaäl, die seun van Ebed, met sy broers en hulle trek oor na Sigem toe; en die burgers van Sigem het op hom vertrou.
27 En hulle het uitgegaan in die veld en hulle wingerde afgeoes en uitgetrap en oesfees gehou; daarop het hulle in die huis van hulle god ingegaan en geëet en gedrink en Abim,leg gevloek.
28 Toe sê Gaäl, die seun van Ebed: Wie is Abim,leg -- en wat is Sigem -- dat ons hom sou dien? Is hy nie die seun van Jerubba„l, en is Sebul nie sy stadsbestuurder nie? Dien die manne van Hemor, die vader van Sigem, maar waarom moet ons hom dien?
29 Ag, was hierdie volk maar in my hand, dan sou ek Abim,leg wegjaag! En met die oog op Abim,leg het hy gesê: Vermeerder maar jou leër en trek uit!
30 Toe Sebul, die owerste van die stad, die woorde van Gaäl, die seun van Ebed, hoor, het hy kwaad geword
31 en listig boodskappers na Abim,leg gestuur om te sê: Kyk, Ga„l, die seun van Ebed, met sy broers, het in Sigem gekom, en kyk, hulle maak die stad teen u op.
32 Maak dan nou in die nag klaar, u met die manskappe wat by u is, en stel 'n hinderlaag op in die veld.
33 Dan kan u in die môre vroeg as die son uitkom, u gereed hou en 'n aanval teen die stad maak; en as hy met die manskappe wat by hom is, uittrek na u toe, handel dan met hom na bevind van sake.
34 Daarop het Abim,leg en al die manskappe wat by hom was, in die nag klaargemaak en hinderlae in vier dele by Sigem opgestel.
35 En Ga„l, die seun van Ebed, het uitgegaan en by die ingang van die stadspoort gaan staan; en toe Abim,leg en al die manskappe wat by hom was, opstaan uit die hinderlaag,
36 sien Ga„l die manskappe en sê vir Sebul: Kyk, daar kom mense van die bergtoppe af; maar Sebul sê vir hom: Jy sien die skaduwee van die berge vir mense aan!
37 Maar Ga„l hou aan en sê: Kyk, daar kom mense van die hoogste punt van die land af, en een deel kom uit die rigting van die eik van die towenaar.
38 Daarop sê Sebul vir hom: Waar is nou jou mond waarmee jy gesê het: Wie is Abim,leg, dat ons hom sou dien? Is dit nie die manskappe wat jy verag het nie? Trek nou tog uit en veg teen hulle!
39 Toe trek Gaäl uit voor die burgers van Sigem en veg teen Abim,leg.
40 Maar Abim,leg het hom agtervolg, en hy het voor hom uit gevlug, en baie het gesneuwel tot by die ingang van die poort.
41 En Abim,leg het in Aruma gebly, maar Sebul het Ga„l en sy broers verjaag, dat hulle nie in Sigem kon bly woon nie.
42 En toe die mense die volgende dag uittrek in die veld, is dit aan Abim,leg meegedeel.
43 Daarop het hy die manskappe geneem en hulle in drie dele verdeel en 'n hinderlaag opgestel in die veld; en toe hy sien dat die mense die stad uittrek, val hy op hulle aan en verslaan hulle.
44 Want Abim,leg en die dele wat by hom was, het ingestorm en gaan staan by die ingang van die stadspoort, en die ander twee dele het almal wat in die veld was, bestorm en hulle verslaan.
45 En Abim,leg het daardie hele dag teen die stad geveg en die stad ingeneem en die mense wat daarin was, gedood en die stad afgebreek en dit met sout besaai.
46 Toe al die burgers van die toring van Sigem dit hoor, gaan hulle in die kelder van die tempel van El-Ber¡t in.
47 En toe dit aan Abim,leg meegedeel is dat al die burgers van die toring van Sigem bymekaargekom het,
48 klim Abim,leg, hy en al die manskappe wat by hom was, op die berg Salmon; en Abim,leg het byle met hom saamgeneem en 'n boomtak afgekap en opgetel en dit op sy skouer gesit en aan die manskappe wat by hom was, gesê: Wat julle my sien doen, doen dit my gou na.
49 Daarop kap al die manskappe ook elkeen sy tak af en hulle volg Abim,leg en gooi dit op die kelder en steek die kelder bo-op hulle aan die brand, sodat ook al die mense van die Sigemstoring, omtrent duisend manne en vroue, gesterf het.
50 Daarna het Abim,leg na Tebes getrek en Tebes beleër en dit ingeneem.
51 Maar in die middel van die stad was 'n sterk toring; en daarheen het al die manne en vroue en al die burgers van die stad gevlug, en hulle het agter hulle toegesluit en bo-op die dak van die toring geklim.
52 En Abim,leg het gekom tot by die toring en daarteen geveg; maar toe hy nader kom tot by die ingang van die toring om dit met vuur te verbrand,
53 gooi 'n vrou die boonste meulsteen op die hoof van Abim,leg en verbrysel sy skedel.
54 Toe roep hy gou die dienaar, sy wapendraer, en sê vir hom: Trek jou swaard uit en maak my van kant, dat hulle nie van my kan sê: 'n Vrou het hom gedood nie. Daarop het sy dienaar hom deurboor, en hy het gesterwe.
55 En toe die manne van Israel sien dat Abim,leg dood was, het hulle elkeen na sy woonplek gegaan.
56 So het God dan die kwaad van Abim,leg vergelde wat hy sy vader aangedoen het deur sy sewentig broers te vermoor.
57 En al die kwaad van die manne van Sigem het God op hulle eie hoof laat neerkom; en die vloek van Jotam, die seun van Jerubba„l, het oor hulle gekom.