Domarboken 9
Svenska Folkbibeln
Abimeleks sammansvärjning
9 Men Abimelek, Jerubbaals son, gick till sina morbröder i Sikem och sade till dem och till alla som var släkt med hans morfars hus: 2 "Säg så här till alla män i Sikem: Vilket är bäst för er: att alla Jerubbaals sjuttio söner råder över er, eller att en enda man råder över er? Kom också ihåg att jag är ert kött och blod." 3 Då talade hans morbröder allt detta till hans förmån inför Sikems alla män. Dessa blev vunna för Abimelek, ty de tänkte: "Han är ju vår bror." 4 De gav honom sjuttio siklar silver ur Baal-Berits tempel, och för dessa anställde Abimelek löst folk och äventyrare som följde honom. 5 Därefter begav han sig till sin fars hus i Ofra och dödade där på en och samma sten sina bröder, Jerubbaals sjuttio söner. Men Jotam, Jerubbaals yngste son, kom undan eftersom han hade gömt sig. 6 Sedan samlades alla män i Sikem och alla i Millo, och gick bort och gjorde Abimelek till kung vid terebinten där minnesstenen står i Sikem.
Liknelsen om träden
7 När man berättade detta för Jotam, gick han och ställde sig på toppen av berget Gerissim och ropade med hög röst till dem: "Hör på mig, ni män i Sikem, för att Gud också må höra er.
8 En gång gick träden
för att smörja en kung över sig.
De sade till olivträdet:
Bli du kung över oss!
9 Men olivträdet svarade:
Skulle jag avstå från min olja,
som gudar och människor ärar mig för,
och gå för att svaja över de andra träden?
10 Då sade träden till fikonträdet:
Kom, bli du kung över oss!
11 Men fikonträdet svarade:
Skulle jag avstå från min sötma
och min goda frukt
och gå för att svaja över de andra träden?
12 Då sade träden till vinstocken:
Kom, bli du kung över oss!
13 Men vinstocken svarade:
Skulle jag avstå från min vinmust,
som gläder gudar och människor,
och gå för att svaja över de andra träden?
14 Då sade alla träden till törnbusken:
Kom, bli du kung över oss!
15 Törnbusken svarade träden:
Om ni av uppriktig mening vill smörja mig till kung över er,
kom då och tag er tillflykt under min skugga.
Om inte, skall eld gå ut från törnbusken
och förtära cedrarna på Libanon.
16 Lyssna nu: Har ni handlat rätt och riktigt när ni gjorde Abimelek till kung, har ni handlat rätt mot Jerubbaal och hans hus, och har ni lönat honom efter hans gärningar? 17 Ni vet ju att min far stred för er och vågade sitt liv för att rädda er från midjaniternas hand, 18 medan ni i dag har rest er upp mot min fars hus och dödat hans sjuttio söner på en och samma sten och gjort Abimelek, hans slavinnas son, till kung över Sikems medborgare, eftersom han är er bror. 19 Har ni alltså denna dag handlat rätt och riktigt mot Jerubbaal och hans hus, så gläd er över Abimelek, och må han glädja sig över er. 20 Om det inte är så, må då eld gå ut från Abimelek och förtära männen i Sikem och Millo, och från männen i Sikem och Millo må eld gå ut och förtära Abimelek." 21 Sedan skyndade sig Jotam undan och flydde till Beer. Där bosatte han sig i säkerhet för sin bror Abimelek.
Abimelek dör
22 När Abimelek hade härskat över Israel i tre år, 23 sände Gud en ond ande mellan Abimelek och männen i Sikem, så att dessa avföll från Abimelek. 24 Detta skedde för att våldet mot Jerubbaals sjuttio söner skulle bli hämnat och för att deras blod skulle komma över deras bror Abimelek som dödade dem, och över männen i Sikem, som hade hjälpt honom att döda sina bröder. 25 För att skada honom lade männen i Sikem folk i bakhåll på bergshöjderna, och dessa plundrade alla som tog den vägen. Detta berättade man för Abimelek.
26 Men Gaal, Ebeds son, kom med sina bröder och drog in i Sikem, och Sikems män fick förtroende för honom. 27 De gick ut på fältet och skördade sina vingårdar, pressade druvor och ordnade en fest. Så gick de in i sin guds hus och åt och drack och uttalade förbannelser över Abimelek. 28 Och Gaal, Ebeds son, sade: "Vem är Abimelek, och vem är Sikem, eftersom vi skall tjäna honom? Är han inte Jerubbaals son och Sebul hans tillsyningsman? Nej, ni skall tjäna män som härstammar från Hamor, Sikems far. Varför skulle vi tjäna Abimelek? 29 Om jag bara hade detta folk i min hand! Då skulle jag driva bort Abimelek." Och han sade om Abimelek: "Utöka din här och drag ut."
30 Men när Sebul, stadens hövding, fick höra vad Gaal, Ebeds son, hade sagt, blev han mycket upprörd. 31 Han sände i hemlighet bud till Abimelek och lät säga: "Akta dig! Gaal, Ebeds son, och hans bröder har kommit till Sikem, och de uppviglar staden mot dig. 32 Bryt därför upp i natt, du med ditt folk, och lägg dig i bakhåll på fältet. 33 Sedan kan du tidigt i morgon, när solen går upp, gå till anfall mot staden. När han då med sitt folk drar ut mot dig, gör då med honom vad du får tillfälle till."
34 Då bröt Abimelek med allt sitt folk upp om natten och lade sig i bakhåll mot Sikem i fyra grupper. 35 Gaal, Ebeds son, kom ut och ställde sig vid ingången till stadsporten. Samtidigt bröt Abimelek med sitt folk fram från bakhållet. 36 När då Gaal såg folket, sade han till Sebul: "Se, det kommer folk ner från bergshöjderna!" Men Sebul svarade honom: "Det är skuggan av bergen, som för dina ögon ser ut som människor." 37 Men Gaal sade på nytt: "Jo, det kommer folk ner från Mittelhöjden, och en annan grupp kommer på vägen från Teckentydar- eken." 38 Då sade Sebul till honom: "Var är nu dina stora ord, du som sade: Vem är Abimelek eftersom vi skall tjäna honom? Se, här kommer det folk som du föraktade. Drag ut och strid mot dem!" 39 Då drog Gaal ut i spetsen för Sikems män och gav sig i strid med Abimelek. 40 Men Abimelek förföljde honom, och han flydde för honom. Många föll slagna ända fram mot stadsporten. 41 Abimelek stannade i Aruma. Men Sebul drev bort Gaal och hans bröder, så att de inte kunde bo i Sikem.
42 Dagen därefter gick folket ut på fältet, och man berättade detta för Abimelek. 43 Då tog han sitt folk och delade upp dem i tre grupper och lade sig i bakhåll på fältet. När han fick se folket gå ut ur staden, ryckte han fram mot dem och slog dem. 44 Abimelek och de grupper han hade med sig gick till anfall och ställde sig vid ingången till stadsporten. Men de båda andra grupperna anföll alla ute på fältet och slog dem. 45 Abimelek angrep staden hela den dagen, han intog den och dödade dem som fanns där inne. Sedan rev han ner staden och beströdde den med salt.
46 När männen i Sikems torn hörde detta, begav sig alla till valvet i El-Berits tempel. 47 Man underrättade Abimelek om att alla männen i Sikems torn hade samlats där. 48 Han gick då med allt sitt folk upp till berget Salmon. Abimelek tog en yxa i handen och högg av en trädgren, som han lyfte upp och lade på axeln. Och han sade till folket: "Skynda er och gör detsamma som ni sett mig göra." 49 Då högg allt folket av var sin gren och följde Abimelek, och de lade grenarna intill valvet och tände eld på valvet över dem. Så omkom de människor som bodde i Sikems torn, omkring ettusen män och kvinnor.
50 Och Abimelek drog bort till Tebes och belägrade Tebes och intog det. 51 Men mitt i staden fanns ett starkt torn. Dit flydde alla män och kvinnor, alla stadens medborgare, och stängde igen om sig. Sedan steg de upp på tornets tak. 52 Men Abimelek kom till tornet och angrep det. När han närmade sig tornets port för att bränna upp den, 53 kastade en kvinna ner en kvarnsten på Abimeleks huvud och spräckte hans skalle. 54 Han ropade genast på sin vapendragare och sade till honom: "Drag ut ditt svärd och döda mig, så att man inte kan säga om mig: En kvinna dödade honom." Då genomborrade hans tjänare honom, och han dog. 55 När nu israeliterna såg att Abimelek var död, gick var och en hem.
56 Så lät Gud Abimelek få igen det onda som han hade gjort mot sin far, då han dödade sina sjuttio bröder. 57 Och allt det onda som Sikems män hade gjort, lät Gud komma tillbaka över deras egna huvuden. Så kom Jotams, Jerubbaals sons, förbannelse över dem.
Judges 9
Amplified Bible
Abimelech’s Conspiracy
9 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and said to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, 2 “Speak now in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am your own bone and flesh.” 3 So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words concerning him so that all the leaders of Shechem could hear; and their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our relative.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and undisciplined men, and they followed (supported) him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and murdered his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, [in a public execution] on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left alive, because he had hidden himself. 6 All the men of Shechem and all of [a]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak (terebinth) of the pillar (memorial stone) at Shechem.
7 When they told Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Hear me, O men of Shechem, so that God may hear you. 8 [b]Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I give up my fatness by which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 13 And the vine replied, ‘Should I give up my new wine, which makes God and men happy, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 15 So the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Now then, if you acted in truth and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you and risked his life and rescued you from the hand of Midian; 18 but you have risen against my father’s house today and have murdered his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the people of Shechem, because he is your relative— 19 if then you have acted in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and lived there because of Abimelech his brother.
Shechem and Abimelech Fall
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 Then God sent an [c]evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem acted treacherously against Abimelech, 24 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal (Gideon) might come [on the guilty], and that their [innocent] blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who had killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who strengthened his hands (encouraged him) to kill his brothers. 25 The leaders of Shechem set men in ambush against Abimelech on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along the road; and it was reported to Abimelech.
26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and moved into Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem trusted him. 27 They went out into the field, gathered the grapes of their vineyard and trod them, and held a festival; and they entered the house of their god, and they 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? Is he not [merely] the son of Jerubbaal and is Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father (founder) of Shechem. Why then should we serve Abimelech? 29 If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech and say to him, ‘Increase [the size of] your army and come out [to fight].’”
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 secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and they are stirring up the city against you. 32 Now then, get up during the night, you and the people who are with you, and set up an ambush in the field. 33 Then in the morning, at sunrise, you will get up early and rush upon and attack the city; and when Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them [d]whatever you can.”
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up during the night, and set up an ambush against Shechem, in four companies. 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; then Abimelech and the people who were with him got up from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops.” But Zebul said to him, “You are only seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” 37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and one company is coming by way of the sorcerers’ oak tree.” 38 Then Zebul said to Gaal, “Where is your [boasting] mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!” 39 So Gaal went out ahead of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded as far as the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.
42 The next day the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech. 43 So he took his people and divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the field; and he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. And he rose up against them and struck them down. 44 Then Abimelech and the company with him advanced forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the two other companies attacked all who were in the field and killed them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city that entire day. He took the city and killed the people who were in it; he demolished the city and [e]sowed it with salt.
46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber (stronghold) of the [f]temple of El-berith (the god of a covenant). 47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were assembled together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, picked it up, and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the people with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do just as I have done.” 49 So everyone of the people also cut down his branch and followed Abimelech, and they put the branches on top of the inner chamber and set it on fire over those inside, so that all the people in the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and camped against Thebez and took it. 51 But there was a strong (fortified) tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it down with fire. 53 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone [down] on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. 54 Then he called quickly to the young man who was his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home. 56 In this way God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father [Jerubbaal] by killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) came upon them.(A)
Footnotes
- Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo.
- Judges 9:8 This riveting speech in which inanimate objects (trees, a vine, a bush) are personified is the first of only a few fables recorded in the Bible. It ends with a curse (v 20) which is fulfilled at the end of the chapter.
- Judges 9:23 I.e. a disruptive, hateful attitude.
- Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand finds.
- Judges 9:45 Even if Abimelech had been able to supply enough salt, spreading it over Shechem was not intended to actually make the ground unproductive; it was a symbol of perpetual desolation, and a warning that Shechem should never be rebuilt. However, Shechem was later rebuilt (1 Kin 12:25).
- Judges 9:46 Lit house.
Judges 9
King James Version
9 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye 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 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
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 cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
1996, 1998 by Stiftelsen Svenska Folkbibeln
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
