1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 3 And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 ¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 ¶ When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes , and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 ¶ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 ¶ And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men. 37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 ¶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that , they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done . 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 ¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 ¶ Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
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.
