Abimelech
1 Gideon's son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem, where all his mother's relatives lived, and told them 2 to ask the men of Shechem, “Which would you prefer? To have all seventy of Gideon's sons govern you or to have just one man? Remember that Abimelech is your own flesh and blood.” 3 His mother's relatives talked to the men of Shechem about this for him, and the men of Shechem decided to follow Abimelech because he was their relative. 4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-of-the-Covenant, and with this money he hired a bunch of worthless scoundrels to join him. 5 He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and there on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. But Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, hid and was not killed. 6 Then all the men of Shechem and Bethmillo got together and went to the sacred oak tree at Shechem, where they made Abimelech king.
7 When Jotham heard about this, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted out to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, and God may listen to you! 8 Once upon a time the trees went out to choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’ 9 The olive tree answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and human beings.’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’ 11 But the fig tree answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit.’ 12 So the trees then said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king.’ 13 But the vine answered, ‘In order to govern you, I would have to stop producing my wine, that makes gods and human beings happy.’ 14 So then all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’ 15 The thorn bush answered, ‘If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you don't, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Now then,” Jotham continued, “were you really honest and sincere when you made Abimelech king? Did you respect Gideon's memory and treat his family properly, as his actions deserved? 17 Remember that my father fought for you. He risked his life to save you from the Midianites. 18 But today you turned against my father's family. You killed his sons—seventy men on a single stone—and just because Abimelech, his son by his servant woman, is your relative, you have made him king of Shechem. 19 Now then, if what you did today to Gideon and his family was sincere and honest, then be happy with Abimelech and let him be happy with you. 20 But if not, may fire blaze out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Bethmillo. May fire blaze out from the men of Shechem and Bethmillo and burn Abimelech up.” 21 Then because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech, Jotham ran away and went to live at Beer.
22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. 23 Then God made Abimelech and the men of Shechem hostile to each other, and they rebelled against Abimelech. 24 This happened so that Abimelech and the men of Shechem, who encouraged him to murder Gideon's seventy sons, would pay for their crime. 25 The men of Shechem put men in ambush against Abimelech on the mountaintops, and they robbed everyone who passed their way. Abimelech was told about this.
26 Then Gaal son of Ebed came to Shechem with his brothers, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 They all went out into their vineyards and picked the grapes, made wine from them, and held a festival. They went into the temple of their god, where they ate and drank and made fun of Abimelech. 28 Gaal said, “What kind of men are we in Shechem? Why are we serving Abimelech? Who is he, anyway? The son of Gideon! And Zebul takes orders from him, but why should we serve him? Be loyal to your ancestor Hamor, who founded your clan! 29 I wish I were leading this people! I would get rid of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Reinforce your army, come on out and fight!’”
30 Zebul, the ruler of the city, became angry when he heard what Gaal had said. 31 He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah to say, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are not going to let you into the city. 32 Now then, you and your men should move by night and hide in the fields. 33 Get up tomorrow morning at sunrise and make a sudden attack on the city. Then when Gaal and his men come out against you, hit them with all you've got!”
34 So Abimelech and all his men made their move at night and hid outside Shechem in four groups. 35 When Abimelech and his men saw Gaal come out and stand at the city gate, they got up from their hiding places. 36 Gaal saw them and said to Zebul, “Look! There are men coming down from the mountaintops!”
“Those are not men,” Zebul answered. “They are just shadows on the mountains.”
37 Gaal said again, “Look! There are men coming down the crest of the mountain and one group is coming along the road from the oak tree of the fortunetellers!”
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is all your big talk now? You were the one who asked why we should serve this man Abimelech. These are the men you were making fun of. Go on out now and fight them.” 39 Gaal led the men of Shechem out and fought Abimelech. 40 Abimelech started after Gaal, and Gaal ran. Many were wounded, even at the city gate. 41 Abimelech lived in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem, so that they could no longer live there.
42 The next day Abimelech found out that the people of Shechem were planning to go out into the fields, 43 so he took his men, divided them into three groups, and hid in the fields, waiting. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he came out of hiding to kill them. 44 While Abimelech and his group hurried forward to guard the city gate, the other two companies attacked the people in the fields and killed them all. 45 The fighting continued all day long. Abimelech captured the city, killed its people, tore it down, and covered the ground with salt.
46 When all the leading men in the fort at Shechem heard about this, they sought safety in the stronghold of the temple of Baal-of-the-Covenant. 47 Abimelech was told that they had gathered there, 48 so he went up to Mount Zalmon with his men. There he took an ax, cut a limb off a tree, and put it on his shoulder. He told his men to hurry and do the same thing. 49 So everyone cut off a tree limb; then they followed Abimelech and piled the wood up against the stronghold. They set it on fire, with the people inside, and all the people of the fort died—about a thousand men and women.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, surrounded that city, and captured it. 51 There was a strong tower there, and every man and woman in the city, including the leaders, ran to it. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof. 52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he went up to the door to set the tower on fire. 53 But a woman threw a millstone down on his head and fractured his skull. 54 Then he quickly called the young man who was carrying his weapons and told him, “Draw your sword and kill me. I don't want it said that a woman killed me.” So the young man ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 And so it was that God paid Abimelech back for the crime that he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the men of Shechem suffer for their wickedness, just as Jotham, Gideon's son, said they would when he cursed them.
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.
