士师记 9
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
亚比米勒杀基甸的众子
9 耶路．巴力的儿子亚比米勒，到示剑去见他的众母舅，对他们和他母亲的全体族人说： 2 “请你们给示剑的众人说：‘是耶路．巴力的众子七十人都统治你们好呢？还是一个人统治你们好呢？’你们也要记得我是你们的骨肉。” 3 他的众母舅就把这一切话为他说给示剑的众人听；他们的心都倾向亚比米勒，因为他们说：“他本是我们的亲族。” 4 他们就从巴力．比利土的庙里，取了八百克银子给亚比米勒，亚比米勒用这些银子雇了一些无赖流氓，那些人就跟随了他。 5 他回到俄弗拉他父亲的家，把自己的兄弟，耶路．巴力的众子七十人，都杀在一块石头上；只剩下耶路．巴力的小儿子约坦，因为他藏了起来。 6 示剑的众人和伯特米罗人都聚集起来，到示剑橡树旁的望楼那里，立亚比米勒为王。
约坦的寓言
7 有人把这事告诉了约坦，约坦就去，站在基利心山顶上，高声向他们呼喊，说：“示剑人哪，你们要听我的话， 神也就听你们的话。 8 有一次，众树要去膏立一个王统治它们，就对橄榄树说：‘请你作王统治我们吧。’ 9 橄榄树对它们说：‘我怎可以放弃生产人用来荣耀 神和尊崇人的油，飘摇在众树之上呢？’ 10 众树对无花果树说：‘请你来作王统治我们吧。’ 11 无花果树对它们说：‘我怎可以放弃结出我的甜美果子，飘摇在众树之上呢？’ 12 众树对葡萄树说：‘请你来作王统治我们吧。’ 13 葡萄树对它们说：‘我怎可以放弃生产那使 神和世人都喜乐的新酒，飘摇在众树之上呢？’ 14 于是众树都对荆棘说：‘请你来作王统治我们吧。’ 15 荆棘对众树说：‘如果你们真诚地膏立我作王统治你们，就要来，投靠在我的荫下；否则，火必从荆棘里出来，吞灭黎巴嫩的香柏树。’
16 “现在你们立亚比米勒为王，你们若是诚实和正直，如果你们善待耶路．巴力和他的家，照着他手所作的待他； 17 我父亲从前冒死为你们争战，把你们从米甸人手中救了出来； 18 今日你们竟起来攻击我的父家，在一块石头上杀了他七十个儿子，又立了他的婢女所生的儿子亚比米勒作示剑人的王，因为他原是你们的亲族。 19 今日你们若是按着诚实和正直待耶路．巴力和他的家，你们就可以因亚比米勒得喜乐，亚比米勒也可以因你们得喜乐。 20 若不是这样，愿火从亚比米勒出来，吞灭示剑人和伯特米罗人；又愿火从示剑人和伯特米罗人出来，吞灭亚比米勒。” 21 接着约坦就逃跑了；他逃到比珥去，住在那里，躲避他的兄弟亚比米勒。
示剑人背叛亚比米勒王
22 亚比米勒治理以色列人三年。 23 神差派邪恶的灵来到亚比米勒与示剑人中间，示剑人就背弃了亚比米勒。 24 这是要报复对耶路．巴力七十个儿子的暴行，把流他们血的罪归到他们的兄弟亚比米勒身上，就是那杀害他们的；也归到示剑人身上，就是那些帮助亚比米勒去杀他自己的兄弟的。 25 示剑人在山顶上设下埋伏，路过他们那里的，他们都劫掠；有人把这事告诉亚比米勒。
26 那时，以别的儿子迦勒与他的兄弟都来了，到示剑去，示剑人竟信任他。 27 他们出到田间去，收取葡萄，榨酒，举行庆祝会，进入他们的神庙吃喝，并且咒诅亚比米勒。 28 以别的儿子迦勒说：“亚比米勒是谁？示剑是谁？竟要我们服事他呢？他不是耶路．巴力的儿子吗？他的副官不是西布勒吗？你们要服事示剑的始祖哈抹的后人啊；我们为甚么要服事亚比米勒呢？ 29 但愿这些人民都归在我手下，我好把亚比米勒除掉。”迦勒又对亚比米勒说：“增添你的军队出来吧！”
30 那城的首长西布勒听了以别的儿子迦勒的话，他的怒气就发作， 31 秘密差派使者去见亚比米勒，说：“以别的儿子迦勒和他的兄弟已经到了示剑，他们正在煽动（“煽动”意思不明确，或译：“围困”）那城的人反叛你。 32 现在，你和与你在一起的人，要在夜间起来，在野地埋伏。 33 到了早晨，太阳出来的时候，你就要起来攻城；你要注意，迦勒和与他在一起的人出来对抗你的时候，你就把握机会对付他们。”
34 于是亚比米勒和与他在一起的人，都在夜间起来，分作四队，埋伏着等候示剑人。 35 以别的儿子迦勒出去，站在城门口；亚比米勒和与他在一起的人，从埋伏的地方起来。 36 迦勒看见了那些人，就对西布勒说：“你看，有人从山顶上下来。”西布勒说：“你看见山的影子以为是人。” 37 迦勒又说：“看哪，有人从高地下来，又有一队从米恶尼尼橡树的路径而来。” 38 西布勒对他说：“你曾经说过：‘亚比米勒是谁，竟要我们服事他呢？’现在你说这话的嘴在哪里呢？这不是你轻视的人吗？现在请你出去与他们交战吧。” 39 于是迦勒在示剑人面前出去，与亚比米勒争战。 40 亚比米勒追赶迦勒，迦勒在他面前逃跑，直到城门口，有很多受伤的人仆倒。 41 亚比米勒住在亚鲁玛；西布勒把迦勒和他的兄弟赶走，不许他们住在示剑。
亚比米勒的反击
42 次日，城中众人出到田间去，有人把这事告诉亚比米勒。 43 亚比米勒就把他的人分作三队，埋伏在田间；他在那里观看，见有人从城里出来，就起来攻击他们，把他们击杀了。 44 亚比米勒和与他在一起的一队人忽然冲过去，站在城门口；其他两队人也冲出来攻打所有在田间的人，把他们击杀了。 45 那一天，亚比米勒整天攻打那城，把城攻下了，杀了城中的众人；把城拆毁，又撒上盐。
46 示剑楼的众人听见了这事，就逃入伊勒．比利土庙的地穴里。 47 有人告诉亚比米勒，说：“示剑楼所有的人都聚集在一起。” 48 亚比米勒和与他在一起的人都上了撒们山；亚比米勒手里拿着斧子，砍下一根树枝，拿起来放在自己的肩头上，然后对与他在一起的人说：“你们看我作甚么，你们也要赶快照样作。” 49 于是众人也各自砍下一根树枝，跟随着亚比米勒，把树枝放在地穴上，放火烧了地穴，以致示剑楼的人都死了，男女约有一千人。
亚比米勒的结局
50 后来亚比米勒到提备斯去，安营攻打提备斯，攻取了那城。 51 城中有一座坚固的城楼；那城所有的人，无论男女，都逃到那里去，关上门，上了楼顶。 52 亚比米勒到了城楼前，攻打城楼；他走近城楼门口，要用火焚烧。 53 有一个妇人把一块上磨石拋在亚比米勒的头上，打破了他的头盖骨。 54 他急忙呼喊替他拿兵器的少年人，对他说：“拔出你的刀来，把我杀死吧。免得人讲论我说：‘他被一个妇人所杀。’”于是那少年人把他刺透，他就死了。 55 以色列人看见亚比米勒死了，就各回自己的地方去了。 56 这样， 神报应了亚比米勒向他父亲所行的恶事，就是他杀了自己的兄弟七十个人。 57 神也把示剑人的一切恶事，都报应在他们的头上；耶路．巴力的儿子约坦的咒诅，也归到他们身上。
Judges 9
New Living Translation
Abimelech Rules over Shechem
9 One day Gideon’s[a] son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his uncles—his mother’s brothers. He said to them and to the rest of his mother’s family, 2 “Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!”
3 So Abimelech’s uncles gave his message to all the citizens of Shechem on his behalf. And after listening to this proposal, the people of Shechem decided in favor of Abimelech because he was their relative. 4 They gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire some reckless troublemakers who agreed to follow him. 5 He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon.[b] But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid.
6 Then all the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo called a meeting under the oak beside the pillar[c] at Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
Jotham’s Parable
7 When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted,
“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem!
Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!
8 Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.
First they said to the olive tree,
‘Be our king!’
9 But the olive tree refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the olive oil
that blesses both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10 “Then they said to the fig tree,
‘You be our king!’
11 But the fig tree also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12 “Then they said to the grapevine,
‘You be our king!’
13 But the grapevine also refused, saying,
‘Should I quit producing the wine
that cheers both God and people,
just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
14 “Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,
‘Come, you be our king!’
15 And the thornbush replied to the trees,
‘If you truly want to make me your king,
come and take shelter in my shade.
If not, let fire come out from me
and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
16 Jotham continued, “Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king, and that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. Have you treated him with the honor he deserves for all he accomplished? 17 For he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites. 18 But today you have revolted against my father and his descendants, killing his seventy sons on one stone. And you have chosen his slave woman’s son, Abimelech, to be your king just because he is your relative.
19 “If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants today, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you. 20 But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!”
21 Then Jotham escaped and lived in Beer because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
Shechem Rebels against Abimelech
22 After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, 23 God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted. 24 God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers. 25 The citizens of Shechem set an ambush for Abimelech on the hilltops and robbed everyone who passed that way. But someone warned Abimelech about their plot.
26 One day Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the leading citizens of Shechem. 27 During the annual harvest festival at Shechem, held in the temple of the local god, the wine flowed freely, and everyone began cursing Abimelech. 28 “Who is Abimelech?” Gaal shouted. “He’s not a true son of Shechem,[d] so why should we be his servants? He’s merely the son of Gideon, and this Zebul is merely his deputy. Serve the true sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech? 29 If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say[e] to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and come out and fight!’”
30 But when Zebul, the leader of the city, heard what Gaal was saying, he was furious. 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah,[f] telling him, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to live in Shechem, and now they are inciting the city to rebel against you. 32 Come by night with an army and hide out in the fields. 33 In the morning, as soon as it is daylight, attack the city. When Gaal and those who are with him come out against you, you can do with them as you wish.”
34 So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem. 35 Gaal was standing at the city gates when Abimelech and his army came out of hiding. 36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, there are people coming down from the hilltops!”
Zebul replied, “It’s just the shadows on the hills that look like men.”
37 But again Gaal said, “No, people are coming down from the hills.[g] And another group is coming down the road past the Diviners’ Oak.[h]”
38 Then Zebul turned on him and asked, “Now where is that big mouth of yours? Wasn’t it you that said, ‘Who is Abimelech, and why should we be his servants?’ The men you mocked are right outside the city! Go out and fight them!”
39 So Gaal led the leading citizens of Shechem into battle against Abimelech. 40 But Abimelech chased him, and many of Shechem’s men were wounded and fell along the road as they retreated to the city gate. 41 Abimelech returned to Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it, 43 he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the fields. When Abimelech saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from their hiding places and attacked them. 44 Abimelech and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men of Shechem from getting back in, while Abimelech’s other two groups cut them down in the fields. 45 The battle went on all day before Abimelech finally captured the city. He killed the people, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground.
46 When the leading citizens who lived in the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid in the temple of Baal-berith.[i] 47 Someone reported to Abimelech that the citizens had gathered in the temple, 48 so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, then put them on his shoulder. “Quick, do as I have done!” he told his men. 49 So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech’s example. They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So all the people who had lived in the tower of Shechem died—about 1,000 men and women.
50 Then Abimelech attacked the town of Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower inside the town, and all the men and women—the entire population—fled to it. They barricaded themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower. 52 Abimelech followed them to attack the tower. But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance, 53 a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.
54 He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died. 55 When Abimelech’s men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.
56 In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon was fulfilled.
Footnotes
- 9:1 Hebrew Jerub-baal’s (see 6:32); also in 9:2, 24.
- 9:5 Hebrew Jerub-baal (see 6:32); also in 9:16, 19, 28, 57.
- 9:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
- 9:28 Hebrew Who is Shechem?
- 9:29 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads And he said.
- 9:31 Or in secret; Hebrew reads in Tormah; compare 9:41.
- 9:37a Or the center of the land.
- 9:37b Hebrew Elon-meonenim.
- 9:46 Hebrew El-berith, another name for Baal-berith; compare 9:4.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
