Abimelech Tries To Be King
1 Abimelech the son of Gideon went to Shechem. While there, he met with his mother's relatives 2 and told them to say to the leaders of Shechem, “Do you think it would be good to have all 70 of Gideon's sons ruling us? Wouldn't you rather have just one man be king? Abimelech would make a good king, and he's related to us.”
3 Abimelech's uncles talked it over with the leaders of Shechem who agreed, “Yes, it would be better for one of our relatives to be king.” 4 Then they gave Abimelech 70 pieces of silver from the temple of their god Baal Berith.
Abimelech used the silver to hire a gang of rough soldiers who would do anything for money. 5 Abimelech and his soldiers went to his father's home in Ophrah and brought out Gideon's other sons to a large rock, where they murdered all 70 of them. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid from the soldiers, but he was the only one who escaped.
6 The leaders of Shechem, including the priests and the military officers, met at the tree next to the sacred rock in Shechem to crown Abimelech king. 7 Jotham heard what they were doing. So he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted down to the people who were there at the meeting:
Leaders of Shechem,
listen to me,
and maybe God
will listen to you.
8 Once the trees searched
for someone to be king;
they asked the olive tree,
“Will you be our king?”
9 But the olive tree replied,
“My oil brings honor
to people and gods.
I won't stop making oil,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
10 Then they asked the fig tree,
“Will you be our king?”
11 But the fig tree replied,
“I won't stop growing
my delicious fruit,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
12 Next they asked the grape vine,
“Will you be our king?”
13 But the grape vine replied,
“My wine brings cheer
to people and gods.
I won't stop making wine,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
14 Finally, they went
to the thornbush and asked,
“Will you be our king?”
15 The thornbush replied,
“If you really want me
to be your king,
then come into my shade
and I will protect you.
But if you're deceiving me,
I'll start a fire
that will spread out and destroy
the cedars of Lebanon.”
After Jotham had finished telling this story, he said:
16-18 My father Gideon risked his life for you when he fought to rescue you from the Midianites. Did you reward Gideon by being kind to his family? No, you did not! You attacked his family and killed all 70 of his sons on that rock.
And was it right to make Abimelech your king? He's merely the son of my father's slave girl. But just because he's your relative, you made him king of Shechem.
19 So, you leaders of Shechem, if you treated Gideon and his family the way you should have, then I hope you and Abimelech will make each other very happy. 20 But if it was wrong to treat Gideon and his family the way you did, then I pray that Abimelech will destroy you with fire, and I pray that you will do the same to him.
21 Jotham ran off and went to live in the town of Beer, where he could be safe from his brother Abimelech.
Abimelech Destroys Shechem
22 Abimelech had been a military commander of Israel for three years, 23-24 when God decided to punish him and the leaders of Shechem for killing Gideon's 70 sons.
So God turned the leaders of Shechem against Abimelech. 25 Then they sent some men to hide on the hilltops and watch for Abimelech and his troops, while they sent others to rob everyone that went by on the road. But Abimelech found out what they were doing.
26 One day, Gaal son of Ebed went to live in Shechem. His brothers moved there too, and soon the leaders of Shechem started trusting him.
27 The time came for the grape harvest, and the people of Shechem went into their vineyards and picked the grapes. They gathered the grapes and made wine. Then they went into the temple of their god and threw a big party. There was a lot of eating and drinking, and before long they were cursing Abimelech.
28 Gaal said:
Hamor was the founder of Shechem, and one of his descendants should be our ruler. But Abimelech's father was Gideon, so Abimelech isn't really one of us. He shouldn't be our king, and we shouldn't have to obey him or Zebul, who rules Shechem for him. 29 If I were the ruler of Shechem, I'd get rid of that Abimelech. I'd tell him, “Get yourself an even bigger army, and we will still defeat you.”
30 Zebul was angry when he found out what Gaal had said. 31 And so he sent some messengers to Abimelech. But they had to pretend to be doing something else, or they would not have been allowed to leave Shechem. Zebul told the messengers to say:
Gaal the son of Ebed has come to Shechem along with his brothers, and they have persuaded the people to let Gaal rule Shechem instead of you. 32 This is what I think you should do. Lead your army here during the night and hide in the fields. 33 Get up the next morning at sunrise and rush out of your hiding places to attack the town. Gaal and his followers will come out to fight you, but you will easily defeat them.
34 So one night, Abimelech led his soldiers to Shechem. He divided them into four groups, and they all hid near the town.
35 The next morning, Gaal went out and stood in the opening of the town gate. Abimelech and his soldiers left their hiding places, 36 and Gaal saw them. Zebul was standing there with Gaal, and Gaal remarked, “Zebul, that looks like a crowd of people coming down from the mountaintops.”
“No,” Zebul answered, “it's just the shadows of the mountains. It only looks like people moving.”
37 “But Zebul, look over there,” Gaal said. “There's a crowd coming down from the sacred mountain, and another group is coming along the road from the tree where people talk with the spirits of the dead.”
38 Then Zebul replied, “What good is all of your bragging now? You were the one who said Abimelech shouldn't be the ruler of Shechem. Out there is the army that you made fun of. So go out and fight them!”
39 Gaal and the leaders of Shechem went out and fought Abimelech. 40 Soon the people of Shechem turned and ran back into the town. However, Abimelech and his troops were close behind and killed many of them along the way.
41 Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul forced Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 The next morning, the people of Shechem were getting ready to work in their fields as usual, but someone told Abimelech about it. 43 Abimelech divided his army into three groups and set up an ambush in the fields near Shechem. When the people came out of the town, he and his army rushed out from their hiding places and attacked. 44 Abimelech and the troops with him ran to the town gate and took control of it, while two other groups attacked and killed the people who were in the fields. 45 He and his troops fought in Shechem all day, until they had killed everyone in town. Then he and his men tore down the houses and buildings and scattered salt everywhere.
46 Earlier that day, the leaders of the temple of El Berith at Shechem had heard about the attack. So they went into the temple fortress, 47 but Abimelech found out where they were. 48 He led his troops to Mount Zalmon, where he took an ax and chopped off a tree branch. He lifted the branch onto his shoulder and shouted, “Hurry! Cut off a branch just as I did.”
49 When they all had branches, they followed Abimelech back to Shechem. They piled the branches against the fortress and set them on fire, burning down the fortress and killing about 1,000 men and women.
50 After destroying Shechem, Abimelech went to Thebez. He surrounded the town and captured it. 51 But there was a tall fortress in the middle of the town, and the town leaders and everyone else went inside. Then they barred the gates and went up to the flat roof.
52 Abimelech and his army rushed to the fortress and tried to force their way inside. Abimelech himself was about to set the heavy wooden doors on fire, 53 when a woman on the roof dropped a large rock on his head and cracked his skull. 54 The soldier who carried his weapons was nearby, and Abimelech told him, “Take out your sword and kill me. I don't want people to say that I was killed by a woman!”
So the soldier ran his sword through Abimelech. 55 And when the Israelite soldiers saw that their leader was dead, they went back home.
56 That's how God punished Abimelech for killing his brothers and bringing shame on his father's family. 57 God also punished the people of Shechem for helping Abimelech. Everything happened just as Jotham's curse said it would.
Abimeleki la mansayaa
1 Yerubaali meŋ mu Kideyoni ti, a dinkee Abimeleki taata a baamaa baarinkewolu yaa, aniŋ a baamaa la kaabiila moo koteŋolu, Sekemu saatewo to. A ko ì ye ko, 2 “Ali Sekemu saatee moolu bee ñininkaa, meŋ beteyaata ali fee, fo Kideyoni dinkee taŋ woorowula bee ye ali mara baŋ, waraŋ kee kiliŋ? Ali si ñiŋ kalamuta ko, nte mu ali yeloo le ti.” 3 Kabiriŋ a baamaa baarinkewolu ye a la ñiŋ kumoo bee futandi Sekemunkoolu ma, ì bee naata soŋ Abimeleki ma, kaatu ì ye a je le ko, ate le mu ì baadiŋo ti. 4 Ì ye kodiforo kuntu taŋ woorowula dii a la ka bo buŋo to, ì ka Baali-Beriti jalaŋo batu daameŋ. Abimeleki ye ñiŋ kodiforo kuntu taŋ woorowuloo le taa, a ye moo kenseŋolu joo a la. Bituŋ wolu bulata a nooma. 5 A taata a faamaa la suwo kono Ofura. A ye a faadiŋolu faa bere baa doo kaŋ, mennu mu Kideyoni dinkee taŋ woorowuloo ti. Yotamu, Kideyoni dinkee labaŋo, wo dammaa le kanata, kaatu ate maabota le. 6 Bituŋ Sekemunkoolu, aniŋ mennu be Beti-Millo, benta ka taa Abimeleki toloo mansa ti yiri baa doo le koto, meŋ be looriŋ Sekemu saatewo daala.
Yotamu la mansaaloo
7 Kabiriŋ ì ye ñiŋ fo Yotamu ye, a seleta santo Kerisimu Konkoo kaŋ, a sarita, a ko ì ye ko, “Ali i lamoyi n na, alitolu Sekemunkoolu, i si a je, Alla si i lamoyi ali fanaa la.
8 “Luŋ kiliŋ, yiroolu benta ka mansa tomboŋ ì kono, meŋ be ì mara la. Ì naata a fo olifu* yiroo ye ko, ‘Ite ye ke ǹ na mansa ti.’
9 “Bari olifu yiroo ko ì ye le ko, ‘Fo nte be n dahaa la tulu kende bondoo la le baŋ, meŋ ka buuñaa dii Alla niŋ hadamadiŋolu la, ka ke kantiyo doroŋ ti yiroolu ye?’
10 “Yiroolu naata a fo sootoo ye ko, ‘Ite ye naa ke ǹ na mansa ti.’
11 “Bari sootoo ko ì ye le ko, ‘Fo nte be n dahaa la diŋ diimaa kewo la le baŋ, ka taa ke kantiyo doroŋ ti yiroolu ye?’
12 “Bituŋ yiroolu ko wayini* yiroo ye ko, ‘Ite ye naa ke ǹ na mansa ti.’
13 “Bari wayini yiroo ko ì ye le ko, ‘Fo nte be n dahaa la wayini bondoo la le baŋ, meŋ ka Alla niŋ hadamadiŋolu kontaanindi, ka taa ke kantiyo doroŋ ti yiroolu ye?’
14 “Labaŋo la, yiroolu bee naata a fo ŋaniŋ suŋo ye ko, ‘Ite ye naa ke ǹ na mansa ti.’
15 “Ŋaniŋ suŋo ko yiroolu ye ko, ‘Niŋ a ye a tara ali lafita nte le toloo la ka ke ali la mansa ti, wo to ali naa ali faŋ karafa n dubeŋo koto. Niŋ wo nte, dimbaa si bo m bala, a ye Libanooni sedari* yiroolu bee mala!’
16 “Wo to saayiŋ, ka Abimeleki ke mansa ti, wo mu kuu tilindiŋo le ti baŋ, aniŋ buuñaa? Ali ye kuu kendoo le ke Kideyoni ye baŋ, aniŋ a la dimbaayaa moolu? Ali ye a la ñiiñaa juloo le joo baŋ? 17 M faamaa le ye keloo ke ali ye. A ye a niyo le laa ka ali bondi Midiyaninkoolu bulu. 18 Bari bii tiloo la, ali ye m faamaa la dimbaayaa moolu jamfaa le. Ali ye a dinkewolu bee faa, dinkee taŋ woorowula bere kiliŋo kaŋ. Ali ye Abimeleki, a la jommusoo dinkewo ke Sekemu saatee moolu la mansa ti, kaatu ali baadiŋo le mu a ti. 19 Niŋ a ye a tara ali ye kuu kendoo niŋ kuu tilindiŋo le ke Kideyoni la, wo to ali kontaani Abimeleki la kuwo la, a fanaa ye kontaani ali la kuwo la. 20 Bari niŋ ali maŋ kuu tilindiŋo le ke, Allamaa dimbaa ye bo naŋ Abimeleki bala, a ye Sekemu saatee moolu bee jani, aniŋ Beti-Millo. Allamaa dimbaa ye bo naŋ Sekemu saatee moolu bala, aniŋ Beti-Millo, a ye Abimeleki jani.”
21 Kabiriŋ Yotamu ye ñiŋ kumoo fo, a borita. A borita a kotoomaa Abimeleki ma ka taa Beeri. Bituŋ a sabatita jee.
Sekemunkoolu muritita Abimeleki ma
22 Abimeleki ye Banisirayilankoolu mara le fo sanji saba. 23 Wo waatoo le mu, Alla naata seetaani kuu jawoo duŋ Abimeleki niŋ Sekemunkoolu teema, ì naata muriti Abimeleki ma. 24 Ñiŋ keta le ka ke Abimeleki ye julujoo ti, a la kuu jawu kewo kaŋ, a ye meŋ ke ka Kideyoni dinkee taŋ woorowuloo faa. Sekemunkoolu fanaa be jarabi kuwo soto la le, kaatu itolu le ye semboo dii a la, ka a faadiŋolu faa. 25 Sekemunkoolu ye kewolu taa ka deleŋo laa Abimeleki la kuwo kamma konkoolu santo. Ì ka moolu la feŋolu ñapinkaŋ, mennu ka tambi niŋ jee la. Ñiŋ kuwo kibaaroo naata futa Abimeleki ma.
26 Kaali, Ebedi dinkewo, niŋ a baadiŋolu naata, ì dunta Sekemu. Bituŋ Sekemunkoolu naata ì jikoo loo a kaŋ. 27 Ì taata ì la kunkoolu to, ì ye yiridiŋolu kati ka bo ì la wayini kankaŋolu kono, ì ye ì dori. Bituŋ ì naata feetoo ke. Ì taata ì la jalaŋ batudulaa to ka domoroo ke aniŋ ka miŋ feŋolu miŋo. Bituŋ ì ye Abimeleki danka. 28 Kaali, Ebedi dinkewo kumata ko, “Muŋ ne be a tinna la, ntolu, Sekemunkoolu be bula la Abimeleki nooma? Fo ate le mu jumaa ti? Ate le mu Kideyoni dinkewo ti, a ye ñiŋ Sebuli le ke a noomalankoo ti ka ntolu mara. A be beteyaa la le, niŋ ali bulata Hamori koomalankoolu nooma, meŋ ye ñiŋ saatewo loo. Muŋ ne be a tinna la, ntolu be Abimeleki nooma la? 29 Niŋ ñiŋ moolu be nte doroŋ ne la maroo to, wo to m be Abimeleki bayi la le. M be a fo la a ye le, a ye a la kelediŋolu lafaa, a ye finti naŋ keloo la.”
30 Kabiriŋ Sebuli meŋ be saatewo ñiŋ mara kaŋ, ye Kaali, Ebedi dinkewo la ñiŋ kumoo moyi, a jusoo bee bota. 31 A ye kiilaalu kii Abimeleki ye Aruma, ka a fo a ye ko, “Kaali, Ebedi dinkewo, aniŋ a baadiŋolu naata Sekemu, aduŋ ì be saatewo bee duŋ kaŋ ñoo to i kooma le. 32 Wo kamma la, taa suutoo, i niŋ kelediŋ kafoolu, mennu be i bulu, ali ye biti kenoolu kono ka maabo jee. 33 Bituŋ soomandaa juunoo, niŋ tiloo bota doroŋ, i ye wuli, i ye saatewo ñiŋ ñapinkaŋ. Niŋ Kaali niŋ a la kelediŋ kafoolu fintita naŋ ka i kele, i niŋ ì ye duŋ ñoo la, i semboo daŋo la.”
34 Bituŋ Abimeleki aniŋ a la kelediŋ kafoolu wulita suutoo, ì ye ñoo talaa siidulaa naani ti, ì bitita ka Sekemunkoolu batu. 35 Kabiriŋ Kaali, Ebedi dinkewo fintita naŋ banta, a taata loo saatewo dundaŋ daa* le to. Abimeleki niŋ a la kelediŋ kafoolu kirimbaasita naŋ ka bo ì la delendiri dulaa to.
36 Bituŋ kabiriŋ Kaali ye ì je, a ko Sebuli ye ko, “N ko, moolu le ka naa duuma ka bo konkoo santo!” Bituŋ Sebuli ko a ye ko, “I ye mennu je, wolu maŋ ke moolu ti, niiniyolu doroŋ ne mu konkoolu santo.”
37 Kaali diyaamuta kotenke, a ko, “Fo i maŋ a je? Moolu le ka naa duuma ka bo konkotundoo* kaŋ, aduŋ kafu doo moolu, wolu be siloo le kaŋ naŋ, yiroo be daameŋ, ì ka batuutaa kuwolu ke meŋ koto.” 38 Bituŋ Sebuli ko a ye ko, “I la kuma baa foo nafaa lee saayiŋ? Ite meŋ ko, ‘Abimeleki mu jumaa le ti, meŋ be a tinna la m̀ be bula la a nooma?’ Fo ñinnu le maŋ ke kelediŋ kafoolu ti baŋ, i ka mennu tooñee? Saayiŋ finti banta, i niŋ ì ye kele.”
39 Bituŋ Kaali fintita naŋ, a ye Sekemunkoolu ñaatonkayaa ka Abimeleki kele. 40 Abimeleki ye a bayi, a ye i bori wo ñaato. Moo jamaa baramatoo tarata laariŋ ka taa fo saatewo dundaŋ daa to la. 41 Wo le to Abimeleki tuta Aruma. Bituŋ Sebuli ye Kaali niŋ a baadiŋolu bayi, ì kana sabati Sekemu kotenke.
Abimeleki ye Sekemu saatewo kele, a ye jee tiñaa
42 Wo saamoo, Sekemunkoolu taata ì la kunkoolu to. Kabiriŋ ì ye ñiŋ fo Abimeleki ye, 43 a ye a la kelediŋ kafoolu bendi, a ye ì talaa siidulaa saba ti. Ì taata biti kenekoomoolu to ka ì batu jee. Kabiriŋ a ye juubeeroo ke, a ye moolu je naa kaŋ ka bo saatewo kono. A kirimbaasita ì kaŋ, a ye ì faa. 44 Abimeleki niŋ a la kelediŋ kafoo kirimbaasita ñaato. Ì taata loo saatewo dundaŋ daa to ka jee muta. Bituŋ ñiŋ kafu fula doo, wolu kirimbaasita moolu kaŋ, mennu bee be kunkoolu to, ì ye ì bee faa. 45 Abimeleki ye saatewo ñiŋ kele wo luŋ tiloo bee la, a ye saatewo taa, a ye a moolu bee faa, mennu be jee. A ye saatewo bee tiñaŋ-tiñaŋ, a ye koo janjaŋ a bee to.
46 Kabiriŋ Sekemu kewolu, mennu be tatoo kono, bee ye ñiŋ moyi, ì dunta niŋ bankukono siloo la, meŋ be Baali-Beriti jalaŋ batudulaa duuma. 47 Ì ye a fo Abimeleki ye le ko, kewolu mennu bee be Sekemu tatoo kono, ì benta ñoo kaŋ ne. 48 Wo le to Abimeleki taata fo Salimoni Konkoo to, a niŋ a la kelediŋ kafoo bee, meŋ be a bulu. Abimeleki ye teeraŋo taa, a ye yiribuloo kuntu, a ye a sika, a ye a laa a kaboo kaŋ. Bituŋ a ko a la kelediŋ kafoo moolu ye ko, “Ali ye n je, ŋa meŋ ke teŋ, ali fanaa ye wo ke katabake.” 49 Wo to le mu, a la kelediŋ kafoo moo bee kiliŋ-kiliŋ naa ye yiribuloo kuntu, ì ye a nooma. Ì taata ì laa tata dinkoo daa kaŋ. Bituŋ ì ye dimbaa laa a la, fo moolu mennu bee be Sekemu tatoo ñiŋ kono si faa. Moo wuli kiliŋ, musoolu niŋ kewolu bee faata.
Abimeleki la kasaaroo
50 Bituŋ Abimeleki taata Tebesi, a ye daakaa loo a kamma, a ye jee taa. 51 Tata bambandiŋo doo le be saatewo kono jee. Bituŋ saatewo kewolu niŋ musoolu bee, aniŋ a moo kummaalu borita jee, ì ye ì faŋ soroŋ konoto. Bituŋ ì seleta tatoo ñiŋ santo.
52 Abimeleki naata tatoo ñiŋ to ka jee kele. A naata fo tatoo dundaŋ daa to ka dimbaa duŋ a la. 53 Bari musoo doo le ye tuurilaŋ beroo fayi Abimeleki kaŋ. Wo taata a maa a kuŋo to, a ye a kuŋ mirandiŋo teyi. 54 Wo loo niŋ baroo teema, a ye keendiŋo kumandi, meŋ be a la kelejooraŋolu samba kaŋ. Bituŋ a ko wo ye ko, “I la hawusaroo* taa i ye m faa, i si a je moolu te a fo la ko, ‘Musoo le ye a faa.’ ” Bituŋ keendiŋo ñiŋ fanaa ye a soo, a faata. 55 Kabiriŋ Banisirayilankoolu ye a je ko, Abimeleki faata le, ì bee seyita suwo kono.
56 Alla ye juloo joo Abimeleki to teŋ ne, a ye kuu jawoo meŋ ke a faamaa la ka a faadiŋolu moo taŋ woorowula bee faa. 57 Aduŋ Alla ye Sekemunkoolu la kuu jawoo murundi ì faŋolu le kaŋ, Yotamu, Kideyoni dinkewo la dankaroo mutata ì ma.
