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Jij 8-9
Haitian Creole Version
Jij 8-9
Haitian Creole Version
8 ¶ Moun fanmi Efrayim yo di Jedeyon konsa: -Poukisa ou pa t' rele nou depi lè ou tapral goumen ak moun peyi Madyan yo? Poukisa ou fè nou sa? Yo te fache anpil sou li.
2 Men, li di yo: -Sa m' fè a pa ka parèt devan sa nou menm nou fè a! Ti sa nou menm moun Efrayim yo, nou fè a pi plis pase sa nou menm ti fanmi Abyezè a, nou fè!
3 Bondye lage Orèb ak Zeyèb, de chèf moun Madyan yo, nan men nou. Kisa mwen fè ki ka parèt devan sa? Fini li fin di yo sa, mesye Efrayim yo pa fache sou li ankò.
4 ¶ Jedeyon rive bò larivyè Jouden an avèk twasan mesye ki te avè l' yo. Yo janbe larivyè a. Apre tout kouri sa a yo te fè dèyè lènmi yo, yo te bouke anpil.
5 Jedeyon pale ak moun lavil Soukòt yo, li di yo: -Tanpri, bay mesye m' yo kèk moso pen pou yo manje. Yo bouke anpil. M'ap kouri dèyè Zebak ak Salmouna, wa moun Madyan yo.
6 Men chèf lavil Soukòt yo di l' konsa: -Poukisa ou vle pou nou bay lame ou la manje! Ala ou poko mete men sou Zebak ak Salmouna!
7 Jedeyon di yo: -Anhan! Se konsa! Bon! Lè Seyè a va fin lage Zebak ak Salmouna nan men mwen, m'ap tounen pou nou! M'ap filange nou ak fwèt pikan ak chadwon savann.
8 Li kite lavil Soukòt, li moute lavil Penyèl. Li mande yo menm bagay la. Men, moun lavil Penyèl yo reponn li tankou moun lavil Soukòt yo.
9 Jedeyon di yo: -Mwen gen pou m' tounen apre batay la! Lè sa a, m'ap kraze gwo fò won sa a.
10 Zebak ak Salmouna te lavil Kakò avèk tout lame yo. Nan tout kantite sòlda moun dezè yo, te gen sanvenmil (120.000) sòlda ki te mouri. Te rete sèlman kenzmil (15.000) gason.
11 Jedeyon pran wout ki pase nan dezè a, sou bò solèy leve lavil Nobak ak lavil Yogbeya, epi li tonbe sou lame a ki te kwè pa t' gen danje pou yo ankò.
12 Zebak ak Salmouna, de wa Madyan yo, kouri met deyò. Jedeyon kouri dèyè yo, li mete men sou yo, li gaye tout lame a, li fè yo kraze rak.
13 Lè Jedeyon, pitit Joas la, tounen soti nan lagè a, li pase sou ti mòn Erès la.
14 Li fè yo mete men sou yon jenn gason ki te rete lavil Soukòt epi li keksyonnen l'. Jenn gason an ekri non swasanndisèt moun ki te otorite ak chèf fanmi lavil Soukòt li bay Jedeyon.
15 Apre sa, Jedeyon al jwenn moun lavil Soukòt yo, li di yo: -Nou chonje jan nou te joure m' pou Zebak ak Salmouna! Nou te di m' nou pa t' ka bay mesye m' yo moso pen pou yo manje atout yo te bouke, paske mwen pa t' ankò mete men sou Zebak ak Salmouna. Men yo tande!
16 Lèfini, li pran branch pikan ak chadwon nan savann lan, li bat chèf lavil Soukòt yo byen bat.
17 Apre sa, l' al kraze gwo fò won lavil Penwèl la, epi li touye mezi gason ki te rete nan lavil la.
18 ¶ Lèfini, li di Zebak ak Salmouna: -Moun nou te touye sou mòn Tabò a, ki jan yo te ye? Sa yo te sanble? Yo reponn: -Yo te sanble avè ou. Nou ta di yo tout se pitit wa yo ye.
19 Li di yo: -Se frè m' yo te ye, pitit menm manman avè m'. Mwen fè sèman, devan Bondye ki vivan an, si nou pa t' touye yo, mwen pa ta touye nou tou!
20 Epi li di Jetè, premye pitit gason l' lan: -Annavan! Touye yo! Men, jenn gason an pa wete nepe l' nan djenn li. Li te pè paske li te timoun toujou.
21 Lè sa a, Zebak ak Salmouna di: -Annavan non, monchè! Se ou menm ki pou touye nou! Se gason tout bon ki pou fè kalite travay konsa. Jedeyon leve vre, li touye Zebak ak Salmouna. Apre sa, li pran tout bijou ki te gen fòm dekou lalen ki te mare nan kou chamo yo.
22 ¶ Apre sa, moun pèp Izrayèl yo di Jedeyon konsa: -Se pou ou vin chèf sou nou, ou menm, pitit ou ak pitit pitit ou apre ou. Paske ou delivre nou anba men moun Madyan yo.
23 Men, Jedeyon reponn yo: -Mwen p'ap chèf nou, ni pitit mwen p'ap chèf nou tou. Se Seyè a ki va chèf nou.
24 Apre sa, Jedeyon di yo: -Yon sèl bagay m'ap mande nou: Se pou chak moun wete yon grenn zanno nan sa li pran an ban mwen. Moun Madyan yo te pote zanno lò, tankou lòt moun k'ap viv nan dezè a.
25 Moun pèp Izrayèl yo reponn li: -Se tout plezi nou pou n' ba ou yo! Yo louvri yon rad atè, epi chak moun pran yon zanno nan sa yo te pran an, yo mete l' sou rad la.
26 Tout zanno Jedeyon te mande yo te fè antou swasant liv lò konsa, san konte bijou ki te gen fòm dekou lalen yo, kolye yo, bèl rad wouj ki te sou wa yo, ak kolye ki te mare nan kou chamo yo.
27 Jedeyon fè yon estati ak lò a, li mete l' nan lavil Ofra, kote l' moun lan. Tout moun pèp Izrayèl yo vire do bay Bondye, yo vin adore estati a lavil Ofra. Sa te tounen yon pèlen pou Jedeyon ak tout fanmi li yo.
28 Se konsa moun Madyan yo te vin soumèt devan moun pèp Izrayèl la. Depi jou sa a yo pa janm leve tèt yo ankò. Pandan karantan te gen lapè nan peyi a jouk jou Jedeyon mouri.
29 ¶ Jedeyon, pitit Joas la, ki rele Jewoubaal tou, tounen al rete lakay li.
30 Li te gen swasanndis pitit gason, paske li te gen anpil manman pitit.
31 Li te gen yon fanm kay ki te rete Sichèm. Ti fanm sa a te fè yon pitit gason pou li, li rele l' Abimelèk.
32 Lè Jedeyon, pitit Joas la, mouri, li te gen yon bèl laj sou tèt li. Yo antere l' nan kavo Joas, papa l', te genyen lavil Ofra, lavil ki te pou fanmi Abyezè yo.
33 Apre Jedeyon mouri, pèp Izrayèl la vire do bay Bondye ankò, yo pran fè sèvis pou Baal yo. Yo fè Baal-Berit sèvi yo bondye.
34 Se konsa, yo pa dòmi reve Seyè a, Bondye yo a, li menm ki te delivre yo anba men lènmi ki te sènen yo toupatou.
35 Yo moutre yo engra, yo bliye fanmi Jedeyon an ansanm ak tout byen li te fè pou pèp Izrayèl la.
9 ¶ Abimelèk, pitit gason Jewoubaal ki te rele Jedeyon tou, ale lavil Sichèm kote frè menm manman avè l' yo te rete. Li pale ak yo ansanm ak tout fanmi papa manman l' yo, li di yo:
2 -Tanpri, ale pale ak tout grannèg ki mèt lavil Sichèm yo. Mande yo si yo ta pito gen tout swasanndis pitit gason Jewoubaal yo pase yon sèl ladan yo pou chèf? Pa bliye, se bon fanmi san nou mwen ye!
3 Se konsa tout fanmi manman Abimelèk yo mache pale ak tout grannèg ki mèt lavil Sichèm yo, yo mande yo menm bagay la. Tout moun te panche pou Abimelèk, paske yo t'ap di se ti fanmi yo li ye.
4 Yo ba li swasanndis pyès ajan yo te pran nan tanp Baal-Berit la. Avèk lajan sa a, li lwe sèvis kèk vòryen ak kèk vakabon pou mache avè l'.
5 L' ale lakay papa l' nan lavil Ofra, li touye tout swasanndis frè l' yo, pitit Jewoubaal yo, anwo menm wòch la. Men, dènye pitit gason Jewoubaal la, Jotam, te kache. Se konsa li pa t' mouri.
6 Lè sa a, tout chèf ki nan lavil Sichèm yo ansanm ak tout moun Bèt Milo yo mete tèt yo ansanm, y' al toupre pye bwadchenn repozwa ki kanpe nan lavil Sichèm lan, yo fè Abimelèk wa.
7 ¶ Lè Jotam vin konn sa, l' al kanpe sou tèt mòn Garizim lan, li pran pale byen fò pou tout moun tande, li di konsa: -Nou menm grannèg ki mèt lavil Sichèm yo, koute sa m'ap di nou. Apre sa, se pou Bondye koute sa nou menm nou pral di.
8 Vwala yon jou, tout pyebwa yo pran desizyon chwazi yon wa pou mete alatèt yo. Yo di pye benzoliv la: Vin gouvènen nou non!
9 Pye benzoliv la di yo: Nou ta vle mwen sispann bay lwil ki sèvi pou fè lwanj bondye yo ak lwanj lèzòm pou m' al chèf sou tout pyebwa!
10 Y' al jwenn pye figfrans lan, yo di l': Ou menm, pye figfrans, vin gouvènen nou non!
11 Pye figfrans lan di yo: Nou ta vle mwen sispann bay bon ti fwi dous pou m' ale chèf sou tout pyebwa!
12 Lè sa a, yo di pye rezen an: Ou menm pye rezen, vin gouvènen nou non!
13 Pye rezen an di yo: Nou ta vle mwen sispann bay diven ki fè kè bondye yo ak kè lèzòm kontan pou m' al chèf sou tout pyebwa!
14 Lè sa a, yo di pye pikan an: Ou menm pye pikan, vin gouvènen nou non!
15 Pye pikan an di yo: Si nou soti tout bon vre pou nou fè m' wa alatèt nou, enben, vini non. Vin mete kò nou nan lonbraj mwen. Si nou pa fè sa, gen yon sèl dife k'ap soti nan touf pikan an, l'ap boule nou tout, ata pye sèd peyi Liban yo!
16 Koulye a, m'ap mande nou: Eske se tout bon vre epi ak tout kè nou nou mete Abimelèk wa pou gouvènen nou? Dapre nou, se yon bèl bagay nou fè la a pou Jewoubaal ak fanmi l' yo? Eske se sa Jewoubaal merite apre sa li te fè pou nou?
17 Chonje jan papa m' te goumen pou nou, jan li te riske lavi l' pou nou, pou l' te ka delivre nou anba men moun Madyan yo.
18 Epi pou jòdi a nou leve dèyè fanmi papa m' yo. Nou touye swasanndis pitit gason l' yo sou menm wòch la, epi nou pran Abimelèk, yon pitit gason li fè ak yonn nan sèvant li yo, nou mete l' wa alatèt grannèg lavil Sichèm yo. Poukisa? Paske se fanmi nou li ye?
19 Si se tout bon vre epi ak tout kè nou nou fè Jewoubaal ak fanmi l' yo sa nou fè la a, enben, n'ap kontan avèk Abimelèk nou an. Li menm tou l'a kontan ak nou!
20 Men, si se pa sa, se pou yon dife soti nan Abimelèk pou li boule dènye grannèg lavil Sichèm yo ak tout moun ki nan Bèt Milo. Se pou dife soti nan grannèg lavil Sichèm yo ak tout moun ki nan Kay-Ranble a pou l' devore Abimelèk!
21 Apre sa, Jotam kouri met deyò. L' al kache lavil Beyè, paske li te pè Abimelèk, frè l' la.
22 ¶ Abimelèk gouvènen pèp Izrayèl la pandan twazan.
23 Apre sa, Bondye mete yon sèl bouyay ant Abimelèk ak grannèg Sichèm yo, li fè grannèg Sichèm yo leve dèyè Abimelèk.
24 Sa te rive konsa pou yo tout te ka peye sa yo te fè a: Abimèlèk pou masakre li te masakre swasanndis pitit gason Jewoubaal yo, grannèg lavil Sichèm yo pou ankouraje yo te ankouraje Abimelèk lè li t'ap touye frè l' yo.
25 Grannèg lavil Sichèm yo mete anbiskad sou tèt mòn yo ap veye Abimelèk. Moun ki nan anbiskad yo menm te rete ap vòlò tout moun ki t'ap pase sou chemen an bò kote yo. Abimelèk vin konn sa.
26 Gaal, pitit gason Ebèd la, vin rive lavil Sichèm ansanm ak frè l' yo. Grannèg lavil Sichèm yo fè msye konfyans.
27 Y' al nan jaden yo, yo keyi rezen nan jaden rezen yo, yo fè diven, yo fè fèt. Y' al nan tanp bondye yo a, yo manje, yo bwè, epi yo bay Abimelèk kont madichon li.
28 Gaal, pitit gason Ebèd la, di yo: -Kisa Abimelèk ye menm pou n'ap sèvi l' konsa? Ki kalite moun ki gen nan lavil Sichèm la menm pou y'ap sèvi Abimelèk? Ki moun li ye? An! Pitit gason Jewoubaal la! Epi se nan men l' Zeboul ap resevwa lòd? Poukisa pou n' sèvi l'? Non! Se pou moun Sichèm yo respekte Amò, zansèt yo, se moun fanmi li pou yo sèvi.
29 Pa mande Bondye se mwen ki te chèf pèp sa a! Mwen ta mete Abimelèk nan wòl li! Mwen ta di l': Si ou gen yon gwo lame vre, soti non! Soti vin goumen!
30 Zeboul te chèf lavil Sichèm. Lè li tande tout pawòl Gaal, pitit gason Ebèd la, te di yo, li fache anpil.
31 Li voye mesaje an kachèt bò Abimelèk pou di l' konsa: -Gaal, pitit gason Ebèd la, rive lavil Sichèm ansanm ak frè l' yo. Y'ap moute tèt moun lavil la sou do ou pou yo pa kite ou antre.
32 Men sa ou pral fè. Leve nan mitan lannwit ansanm ak tout moun ki avè ou yo, al kache nan tout bwa a.
33 Nan maten, lè solèy fenk leve, w'a parèt, w'a tonbe sou lavil la pou atake l'. Lè Gaal ak moun li yo va soti vin kontre ak ou, w'a kraze l' ak tout fòs ou.
34 Se konsa, Abimelèk ak tout moun li yo leve lannwit, yo separe fè kat gwoup, y' al kache andeyò limit lavil la.
35 Gaal, pitit gason Ebèd la, soti, l' al kanpe bò pòtay lavil la. Lè sa a, Abimelèk ak moun pa l' yo soti nan kachèt yo.
36 Lè Gaal wè moun yo, li di Zeboul konsa: -Gade. Men yon bann moun k'ap desann sot sou tèt mòn yo! Men, Zeboul di li: -Se pa anyen, monchè! Se lonbraj sou mòn yo ou pran pou moun!
37 Gaal di l' ankò: -Gade! Men yon bann moun k'ap desann Mòn Lonbrit latè a. Men yon lòt ankò k'ap vini sou chemen Pye Chenn moun k'ap li zetwal yo.
38 Lè sa a, Zeboul di l' konsa: -Kote bèl pawòl ki te nan bouch ou yo? Se pa ou ki t'ap mande ki moun Abimelèk ye konsa pou n'ap sèvi l'? Apa moun ou t'ap pase nan betiz yo? Soti non! Koulye a al goumen ak yo!
39 Gaal pran devan, li mennen grannèg lavil Sichèm yo pou y' al goumen ak Abimelèk.
40 Men, lè Abimelèk mache sou li, Gaal pran kouri met deyò. Sòlda Abimelèk yo te blese anpil moun rive jouk devan pòtay lavil la.
41 Apre sa, Abimelèk tounen lavil Awouma. Zeboul menm mete Gaal deyò ak tout frè l' yo, kifè yo pa t' kapab rete lavil Sichèm ankò.
42 Nan denmen, moun lavil Sichèm yo fè lide soti al nan jaden. Yo vin di Abimelèk sa.
43 Li pran moun li yo, li separe yo fè twa gwoup epi l' al kache nan jaden yo. Lè li wè moun yo ap soti nan lavil la, li vare sou yo, li pran goumen ak yo, li touye yo.
44 Abimelèk ak gwoup li a kouri devan, y' al rete devan pòtay lavil la, pandan de lòt gwoup yo menm t'ap atake moun ki nan jaden yo, yo t'ap touye yo.
45 Abimelèk goumen ak moun lavil la tout jounen an. Li pran lavil la pou li, li touye tout moun ki te ladan l'. Apre sa, li kraze lavil la ratè, epi li simen sèl sou tout anplasman lavil la.
46 Lè tout grannèg ki rete nan gwo fò won Sichèm lan vin konn sa, yo antre al kache nan fò tanp Baal-Berit la.
47 Y' al di Abimelèk tout grannèg yo te sanble la.
48 Lè sa a, Abimelèk moute sou mòn Zalmon avèk moun ki te avè l' yo. Li pran yon rach li koupe yon branch bwa, li pran l', li mete l' sou zepòl li. Epi li di tout moun ki te avè l' yo: -Nou wè sa m' fè a, kouri vit! Al fè menm bagay la tou.
49 Chak moun koupe yon branch bwa vre, epi yo pran mache dèyè Abimelèk. Yo anpile branch bwa yo nan pye fò a. Epi yo mete dife nan fò a ak tout moun yo ladan l'. Se konsa tout moun ki rete nan fò Sichèm lan mouri. Te gen mil (1.000) moun konsa, fanm ak gason, ki mouri.
50 ¶ Apre sa, Abimelèk ale lavil Tebèz, li sènen l' epi li pran l'.
51 Te gen yon gwo fò won nan mitan lavil la. Tout moun, fanm kou gason, ansanm ak chèf yo, kouri al kache ladan l'. Yo fèmen tout pòt yo dèyè yo epi yo moute sou tèt fò a.
52 Abimelèk rive jouk bò fò a. Li pwoche bò pòt la pou l' te mete dife nan fò a.
53 Men yon fanm lage yon wòl moulen sou tèt Abimelèk, li kraze zo bwa tèt li.
54 Abimelèk rele jenn gason ki t'ap pote zam li yo, li di l' konsa: -Rale nepe ou, touye m'. Mwen pa vle yo di se yon fanm ki touye m'. Se konsa jenn gason an pèse l' pak an pak, epi li mouri.
55 Lè moun pèp Izrayèl yo wè Abimelèk mouri, yo tout al lakay yo.
56 Se konsa Bondye te fè Abimelèk peye pou krim li te fè kont fanmi papa l' la, lè li te touye swasanndis frè l' yo.
57 Bondye te fè moun lavil Sichèm yo soufri pou mechanste yo te fè lòt moun soufri. Se konsa, madichon Jotam, pitit gason Jewoubaal la, te wè pou yo a rive yo vre.
Judges 8-9
New International Version
Judges 8-9
New International Version
Zebah and Zalmunna
8 Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon,(A) “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?(B)”(C) And they challenged him vigorously.(D)
2 But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?(E) 3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb,(F) the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
4 Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan(G) and crossed it. 5 He said to the men of Sukkoth,(H) “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out,(I) and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna,(J) the kings of Midian.”
6 But the officials of Sukkoth(K) said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread(L) to your troops?”(M)
7 Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna(N) into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”
8 From there he went up to Peniel[a](O) and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had. 9 So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”(P)
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with a force of about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the armies of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen.(Q) 11 Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah(R) and Jogbehah(S) and attacked the unsuspecting army. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army.
13 Gideon son of Joash(T) then returned from the battle by the Pass of Heres.(U) 14 He caught a young man of Sukkoth and questioned him, and the young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven officials of Sukkoth,(V) the elders(W) of the town. 15 Then Gideon came and said to the men of Sukkoth, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me by saying, ‘Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your exhausted men?(X)’” 16 He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson(Y) by punishing them with desert thorns and briers. 17 He also pulled down the tower of Peniel(Z) and killed the men of the town.(AA)
18 Then he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?(AB)”
“Men like you,” they answered, “each one with the bearing of a prince.”
19 Gideon replied, “Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the Lord lives,(AC) if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you.” 20 Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” But Jether did not draw his sword, because he was only a boy and was afraid.
21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Come, do it yourself. ‘As is the man, so is his strength.’” So Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments(AD) off their camels’ necks.
Gideon’s Ephod
22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule(AE) over you.” 24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring(AF) from your share of the plunder.(AG)” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites(AH) to wear gold earrings.)
25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels,[b] not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains(AI) that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod,(AJ) which he placed in Ophrah,(AK) his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare(AL) to Gideon and his family.(AM)
Gideon’s Death
28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head(AN) again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace(AO) forty years.
29 Jerub-Baal(AP) son of Joash(AQ) went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons(AR) of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine,(AS) who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek.(AT) 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age(AU) and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals.(AV) They set up Baal-Berith(AW) as their god(AX) 34 and did not remember(AY) the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal(AZ) (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.(BA)
Abimelek
9 Abimelek(BB) son of Jerub-Baal(BC) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.(BD)”
3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4 They gave him seventy shekels[c] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,(BE) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,(BF) who became his followers. 5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,(BG) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,(BH) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.(BI) 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo(BJ) gathered beside the great tree(BK) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
7 When Jotham(BL) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim(BM) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,(BN) which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade;(BO) but if not, then let fire come out(BP) of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’(BQ)
16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked(BR) his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons(BS) on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today?(BT) If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out(BU) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem(BV) and Beth Millo,(BW) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21 Then Jotham(BX) fled, escaping to Beer,(BY) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity(BZ) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,(CA) the shedding(CB) of their blood, might be avenged(CC) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him(CD) murder his brothers. 25 In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.
26 Now Gaal son of Ebed(CE) moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden(CF) them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.(CG) While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed(CH) said, “Who(CI) is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor,(CJ) Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command!(CK) Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[d](CL)
30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait(CM) in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.(CN)”
34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate(CO) just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.(CP)
36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”
Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,[e] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed?(CQ) Go out and fight them!”
39 So Gaal led out[f] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies(CR) and set an ambush(CS) in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city(CT) and scattered salt(CU) over it.
46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple(CV) of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon.(CW) He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49 So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez(CX) and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.(CY)
54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me,(CZ) so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.(DA) The curse of Jotham(DB) son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
Footnotes
- Judges 8:8 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel; also in verses 9 and 17
- Judges 8:26 That is, about 43 pounds or about 20 kilograms
- Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams
- Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”
- Judges 9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
- Judges 9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of
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