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
Legacy Standard Bible
Abimelech Kills His Brothers
9 And (A)Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s [a]relatives and spoke to them and to the whole family of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” 3 And his mother’s [b]relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and [c]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our [d]relative.” 4 So they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him. 5 Then he came to his father’s house at Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 Then all the lords of Shechem and all [e]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [f]oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.
7 Then they told Jotham, so he went and stood on the top of (H)Mount Gerizim and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, “Listen to me, O lords of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 The trees surely 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, ‘Shall I leave my fatness, with [g]which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good produce and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which makes God and men glad, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in [h]truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “So now, if you have dealt in [i]truth and integrity and made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (I)Jerubbaal and his house and [j]have dealt with him according to the bountiful works of his hands— 17 for my father fought for you and [k]risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian; 18 but you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed (J)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, (K)the son of his maidservant, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your [l]relative— 19 if then you have dealt in [m]truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, be glad in Abimelech, and let him also be glad in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the lords of Shechem and [n]Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem and from [o]Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.
Zebul Deceives Abimelech
22 And Abimelech governed over Israel three years. 23 (L)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem (M)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (N)so that the violence [p]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and (O)their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 And the lords of Shechem set [q]men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.
26 Then Gaal the son of Ebed came with his [r]relatives, and they crossed over into Shechem; and the lords of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them and celebrated a [s]festival; and they came into the house of (P)their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his [t]officer? Serve the men of (Q)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [u](R)Would, therefore, that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”
30 Then Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, and his anger burned. 31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech [v]deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his [w]relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are [x]stirring up the city against you. 32 So now, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 And it will be in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, he and the people who are with him will come out against you, and you shall (S)do to them [y]whatever your hand finds pleasing.”
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four [z]companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36 Then Gaal saw the people and said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” 37 Yet Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down from (T)the [aa]highest part of the land, and one [ab]company comes by the way of [ac]the soothsayers’ [ad]oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your [ae]boasting now with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you rejected? Go out now and fight with them!” 39 So Gaal went out before the lords of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him; and many fell slain up to the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his [af]relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.
42 Now it happened the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech. 43 So he took [ag]his people and divided them into three [ah]companies and lay in wait in the field; then he looked, and behold, the people were coming out from the city. So he arose against them and struck them down. 44 Then Abimelech and the [ai]company who was with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; but the other two [aj]companies rushed upon all who were in the field and struck them down. 45 So Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he (U)tore the city down and sowed it with salt.
46 Then all the lords of the tower of Shechem heard of it, and they entered the inner chamber of the [ak]temple of (V)El-berith. 47 And it was told to Abimelech that all the lords of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (W)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [al]an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do [am]likewise.” 49 And all the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about one thousand men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the lords of the city fled there 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 with fire. 53 But (X)a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and she smashed his skull. 54 Then (Y)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and put me to death, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So [an]the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 Then the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, so each went away to his [ao]home. 56 Thus (Z)God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 God also returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their own heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came [ap]upon them.
Footnotes
- Judges 9:1 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:3 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
- Judges 9:3 Lit brother
- Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
- Judges 9:9 Lit which by me
- Judges 9:15 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:16 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:16 Lit if you have
- Judges 9:17 Lit cast his soul in front
- Judges 9:18 Lit brother
- Judges 9:19 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
- Judges 9:25 Lit liers-in-wait for
- Judges 9:26 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:27 Lit rejoicing
- Judges 9:28 Lit overseer
- Judges 9:29 Lit And who will give this people into my hand
- Judges 9:31 Or in Tormah
- Judges 9:31 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:31 Lit besieging
- Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand can find
- Judges 9:34 Lit heads
- Judges 9:37 Or center
- Judges 9:37 Lit head
- Judges 9:37 Heb Elommeonenim
- Judges 9:37 Or terebinth
- Judges 9:38 Lit mouth
- Judges 9:41 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:43 Lit the
- Judges 9:43 Lit heads
- Judges 9:44 Singular with Gr; Heb plural, heads
- Judges 9:44 Lit heads
- Judges 9:46 Lit house
- Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
- Judges 9:48 Lit like me
- Judges 9:54 Lit his
- Judges 9:55 Lit place
- Judges 9:57 Lit to
Съдии 9
Библия, синодално издание
9 (A)Авимелех, Иероваалов син, отиде в Сихем при вуйките си, говори тям и на цялото племе на майчиния си баща и каза:
2 (B)внушете на всички сихемски жители: кое е по-добро за вас, да ви владеят всички седемдесет синове Иероваалови, или да ви владее един? и спомнете си, че аз съм ваша кост и ваша плът.
3 Вуйките му внушиха на жителите сихемски всички тия думи за него; и сърцето на тия жители се склони към Авимелеха, понеже си казваха: той е наш брат.
4 (C)И дадоха му седемдесет сикли сребро от дома на Ваалверита; Авимелех нае за тях безделници и скиталци, които и тръгнаха подире му.
5 (D)И дойде в дома на баща си в Офра и уби братята си, седемдесетте Иероваалови синове, върху един камък. Остана само Иотам, най-малкият Иероваалов син, защото се беше скрил.
6 (E)Тогава се събраха всички сихемски жители и целият дом на Мило, и отидоха та поставиха за цар Авимелеха при дъба, що е близо до Сихем.
7 (F)Като разказаха за това на Иотама, той отиде и застана навръх планина Гаризим и, като издигна гласа си, викаше и им говореше: чуйте ме, жители сихемски, и Бог ще ви чуе!
8 (G)Едно време тръгнали дърветата да си помажат цар и казали на маслината: стани ни цар.
9 Маслината им казала: нима да оставя тлъстината си, с която чествуват богове и човеци, и да тръгна да се скитам по дърветата?
10 Тогава казали дърветата на смоковницата: дойди ти, да ни станеш цар.
11 Смоковницата им казала: нима да оставя сладостта си и хубавия си плод и да тръгна да се скитам по дърветата?
12 И казали дърветата на лозата: дойди ти, да ни станеш цар.
13 (H)Лозата им казала: нима да оставя сока си, който весели богове и човеци, и да тръгна да се скитам по дърветата?
14 Най-сетне всички дървета казали на тръна: дойди ти, та ни стани цар.
15 (I)Трънът казал на дърветата: ако наистина ме туряте за цар над себе си, то дойдете да си починете под сянката ми; ако ли не, ще излезе огън от тръна и ще изгори кедрите ливански.
16 И тъй, вижте, по истина и по правда ли постъпихте, като турихте за цар Авимелеха? и добре ли постъпихте с Иероваала и дома му, и съобразно с неговите добрини ли постъпихте?
17 (J)За вас се би баща ми, не жалеше живота си и ви избави от ръцете на мадиамци;
18 а вие сега въстанахте против дома на баща ми и убихте седемдесетте синове на баща ми върху един камък и турихте за цар над жителите сихемски Авимелеха, сина на робинята му, защото е ваш брат.
19 Ако сте днес постъпили по истина и по правда с Иероваала и с дома му, то (да бъде върху ви благословение и) радвайте се на Авимелеха, и той да се радва на вас;
20 ако ли не, нека излезе огън от Авимелеха и да изгори жителите сихемски и целия дом на Мило, и да излезе огън от жителите сихемски и от дома на Мило и да изгори Авимелеха.
21 И побягна Иотам, избяга и отиде в Беер, и живя там скришно от брата си Авимелеха.
22 Авимелех пък царува над Израиля три години.
23 (K)И изпрати Бог зъл дух между Авимелеха и жителите на Сихем, и почнаха жителите сихемски да се не покоряват на Авимелеха,
24 (L)та по тоя начин да се отмъсти за седемдесетте синове Иероваалови, и кръвта им да се обърне против брата им Авимелеха, който ги уби, и против жителите сихемски, които подкрепиха ръката му, за да избие братята си.
25 Жителите сихемски туриха по планинските върхове против него засадници, които обираха всекиго, който минаваше край тях по пътя. За това бе обадено на Авимелеха.
26 В Сихем пристигна и Гаал, Еведов син, с братята си, и ходеха по Сихем, и жителите сихемски се ослониха на него.
27 (M)И излязоха на полето, и беряха гроздето си, и тъпчеха го в жлебове и ликуваха, и отиваха в дома на своя бог, ядяха и пиеха, и проклинаха Авимелеха.
28 (N)Гаал, Еведов син, думаше: кой е Авимелех и що е Сихем, та да му служим? не е ли той Иероваалов син, и не е ли Зевул негов главен началник? служете по-добре на потомците на Емора, баща Сихемов, а нему защо да служим?
29 Ако някой дадеше тоя народ в ръцете ми, аз бих изгонил Авимелеха. И казано бе на Авимелеха: увеличи войската си и излизай.
30 Зевул, началник на града, чу думите на Гаала, Еведов син, и се силно разгневи.
31 Той прати тайно пратеници при Авимелеха да му кажат: ето Гаал, Еведов син, и братята му дойдоха в Сихем, и на, бунтуват града против тебе;
32 (O)затова стани нощес, ти и народът, който се намира с тебе, и постави засада на полето;
33 (P)а сутринта, по изгрев-слънце, стани рано и пристъпи към града; и когато той и народът, който е с него, излязат срещу тебе, тогава прави с тях, що ти ръка може.
34 И Авимелех стана през нощта, и целият народ, който се намираше с него, и туриха в засада при Сихем четири дружини.
35 (Сутринта) Гаал, Еведов син, излезе и застана при градските порти; и стана Авимелех и народът, който бе с него, от засадата.
36 Гаал, като видя народа, каза на Зевула: ето, народът се спуща отвръх планините. А Зевул му каза: сянката на планините ти се струва човеци.
37 Гаал пак говори и каза: ето народът се спуща от височините, и една дружина иде откъм дъба Меоним.
38 И каза му Зевул: де ти са устата, които казваха: „кой е Авимелех, та да му служим?“ това е оня народ, който ти презираше; излизай сега и се бий с него.
39 И тръгна Гаал пред жителите сихемски и се удари с Авимелеха.
40 И Авимелех се спусна подире му, а той побягна от него; и паднаха много убити до самите градски порти.
41 И Авимелех остана в Арум, а Гаала и братята му Зевул изгони, за да не живеят в Сихем.
42 На другия ден народът излезе в полето, и обадиха за това на Авимелеха.
43 Той взе народа си и го раздели на три дружини и ги тури в засада на полето. И като видя, че народът излезе от града, въстана против тях и ги изби.
44 Докле Авимелех и дружините, които бяха с него, пристъпиха и застанаха при градските порти, другите две дружини нападнаха на всички, които бяха на полето, и ги избиха.
45 (Q)И Авимелех се сражава с града целия оня ден, превзе града, изби народа, който беше в него, разруши града и го посея със сол.
46 Като чуха това, всички, които бяха в кулата Сихемска, отидоха в кулата на капището на Ваал Верита.
47 Обадиха на Авимелеха, че там се събрали всички, които бяха в кулата Сихемска.
48 (R)Тогава Авимелех отиде на планина Селмон, той и целият народ, който беше с него, и взе Авимелех брадви със себе си, насече вейки от дърветата, тури ги на плещите си и каза на народа, който бе с него: вие видяхте, какво правих; скоро правете и вие същото, което и аз.
49 И всеки от целия народ насече вейки, тръгнаха след Авимелеха, натрупаха ги при кулата и изгориха с тях кулата с огън, и умряха всички, които бяха в кулата Сихемска, около хиляда мъже и жени.
50 (S)После Авимелех отиде в Тевец и обсади го и го превзе.
51 Всред града имаше яка кула; там побягнаха всички мъже и жени и всички градски жители, затвориха се и се качиха върху покрива на кулата.
52 Авимелех дойде до кулата, заобиколи я и се приближи до вратата на кулата, за да я изгори с огън.
53 (T)Тогава една жена хвърли къс от воденичен камък върху главата на Авимелеха и му разби черепа.
54 Авимелех веднага повика слугата, оръженосеца си, и му каза: извади меча си и ме умъртви, за да не се каже за мене: жена го уби. И слугата му го прободе, и той умря.
55 Израилтяните, като видяха, че Авимелех умря, отидоха всеки в мястото си.
56 Тъй въздаде Бог на Авимелеха за злодеянието, което той направи на баща си, като уби седемдесетте си братя.
57 (U)И всички злодеяния на сихемските жители Бог обърна върху главите им; и ги постигна клетвата на Иотама, Иероваалов син.
Judges 9
New American Standard Bible 1995
Abimelech’s Conspiracy
9 And (A)Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s [a]relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” 3 And his mother’s [b]relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and [c]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our [d]relative.” 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 All the men of Shechem and all [e]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [f]oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.
7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of (H)Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 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, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with [g]which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good [h]fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Finally all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 15 The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in [i]truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Now therefore, if you have dealt in [j]truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (I)Jerubbaal and his house, and [k]have dealt with him [l]as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you and [m]risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian; 18 but you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed (J)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, (K)the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your [n]relative— 19 if then you have dealt in [o]truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and [p]Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from [q]Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.
Shechem and Abimelech Fall
22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. 23 (L)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem (M)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (N)so that the violence [r]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and (O)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 [s]men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.
26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his [t]relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him. 27 They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a [u]festival; and they went into the house of (P)their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his [v]lieutenant? Serve the men of (Q)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [w](R)Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And 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 [x]deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his [y]relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are [z]stirring up the city against you. 32 Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall (S)do to them [aa]whatever you can.”
34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four [ab]companies. 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “[ac]Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.” 37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down from (T)the [ad]highest part of the land, and one [ae]company comes by the way of [af]the diviners’ [ag]oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your [ah]boasting now with which you 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 before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his [ai]relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.
42 Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech. 43 So he took [aj]his people and divided them into three [ak]companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and [al]saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and [am]slew them. 44 Then Abimelech and the [an]company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two [ao]companies then dashed against all who were in the field and [ap]slew them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he (U)razed the city and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the [aq]temple of (V)El-berith. 47 It was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (W)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [ar]an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do [as]likewise.” 49 All the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there 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 with fire. 53 But (X)a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54 Then (Y)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’” So [at]the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his [au]home. 56 Thus (Z)God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came [av]upon them.
Footnotes
- Judges 9:1 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:3 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
- Judges 9:3 Lit brother
- Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
- Judges 9:9 Lit which by me
- Judges 9:11 Or produce
- Judges 9:15 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:16 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:16 Lit if you have
- Judges 9:16 Lit according to the dealing of his hands
- Judges 9:17 Lit cast his soul in front
- Judges 9:18 Lit brother
- Judges 9:19 Or sincerity
- Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
- Judges 9:25 Lit liers-in-wait for
- Judges 9:26 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:27 Lit rejoicing
- Judges 9:28 Lit overseer
- Judges 9:29 Lit And who will give this people into my hand
- Judges 9:31 Or in Tormah
- Judges 9:31 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:31 Lit besieging
- Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand can find
- Judges 9:34 Lit heads
- Judges 9:36 Lit Behold
- Judges 9:37 Or center
- Judges 9:37 Lit head
- Judges 9:37 Heb Elommeonenim
- Judges 9:37 Or terebinth
- Judges 9:38 Lit mouth
- Judges 9:41 Lit brothers
- Judges 9:43 Lit the
- Judges 9:43 Lit heads
- Judges 9:43 Lit behold
- Judges 9:43 Lit smote
- Judges 9:44 Singular with Gr; Heb plural, heads
- Judges 9:44 Lit heads
- Judges 9:44 Lit smote
- Judges 9:46 Lit house
- Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
- Judges 9:48 Lit like me
- Judges 9:54 Lit his
- Judges 9:55 Lit place
- Judges 9:57 Lit to
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