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.
Abimeleka
1 Abimeleka ŋgwa Gideoni ro oyite Sekeme ya vose 'didiri endre ndaro ro koriyibe kigye ana ya, ago atate ànyari ndi 'bakala cini endre ndaro robe ri, 2 lidri Sekeme ro ejine ekye: “Inye'do mile a'di ayani ya? Mile ŋgwàagoro cini Gideoni ro ri ni ami mirine, kode alodi na ri ni ami mirine ya? Ämiri kpa tana oyine anjioko ma ni lomvo ago kari modo amiro ro owo.” 3 Ago 'didiri cini endre ndaro ro ata tase cini kwoi te ta ndaro ta lidri se cini Sekeme ya ana ri erine; ago lidri Sekeme ro leyi tadri te osone Abimeleka vo tana ànya ekye: “Nda orivoya 'didiri amaro.” 4 Ànya ozoyi tonyo mo'di ro 'butenjidrieri (70) te ndäri ni yekalu, Bala Tao'baro ro yasi se nda gye mi lidri koziro ago tavousuako azaka rote sina o'dene nda vosi. 5 Ago nda oyite zo täpi ndaro roya Ofera ya, ago tufu ädrupii ndaro ŋgwàagoro Gideoni ro se 'butenjidrieri (70) ana te, kuni alodi dri lau. Oko Yotama ŋgwa täduŋwa Gideoni ro pavote ufuako, tana nda da'do andivo ndaro te. 6 'Dooko lidri cini Sekeme ro, ndi Betemilo robe, dro'berute ago oyiyite ce alokado vudi ro se Sekeme ya ana zele ago 'bayi Abimeleka te 'bädri'ba ro.
7 Ondro iti tase ono te Yotama ri oko, nda oyite ago edrete driku'du'du 'Bereŋwa Gerizima roya ago trete ṛeṛe ànyari ekye: “Nyeri ta maro, ami lidri Sekeme ro, tana Lu keri ta amiro robe! 8 Tu alo aza si ice cini ikyite voaloya 'bädri'ba onjine ànyari, ànya atayite ce ice ido ro ri ekye: ‘Nya'do 'bädri'ba ro ämädri.’ 9 Oko ce ice ido ro logotate ekye: ‘Inye'do me'bena ido maro se abe lui ndi lidri be orona sina 'do lofona gwo ago moyina gwo ice miri ne ayaniya?’ 10 'Dooko ice cini atate ce kyi'du ro ri ekye: ‘Nyikyi nya'do 'bädri'ba ro ämädri.’ 11 Oko ce kyi'du ro zatadrite ekye: ‘Inye'do me'bena doŋgo kado ndeṛiekye maro owana gwo, ago moyina gwo ice mirine ayani ya?’ 12 'Dooko ice cini atate ce kono ro ri ekye: ‘Nyikyi nya'do 'bädri'ba ro ämädri.’ 13 Oko ce kono ro zatadrite ekye: ‘Inye'do me'bena vino lofo gwo, se kani lui ndi lidri be o'bana yai'dwesi ago moyina gwo ice mirine ayani ya?’ 14 'Dooko ice cini atate kukyi kucuro ri ekye: ‘Nyikyi nya'do 'bädri'ba ro ämädri.’ 15 Ago kukyi kucu zatadrite ekye: ‘Ondro mìlete Yaŋgyesi ma o'bane 'bädri'ba ro ämidri, dia nyìkyi nyàgaga ami lindri maro zele. Ondro ka'do mìye kote inye, asi efona ndi ni gwoṛi kukyi maro ro yasi ago ujena weri Lebanona ro ndi.’ ”
16 'Dooko Yotama ugu atate ekye: “Inye'do ami gindi orivoya 'diri ago ŋgye nyàbe Abimeleka o'ba 'bädri'ba ro owo ya? Inye'do mìro Gideoni gindi ago mìye ta gindi kadoro katidri ndaro ri, oso tase nda koyebe voro ya? 17 Täpi maro ye kyila te ta amiro ta, nda njate adri ndaro lomvo ami opaza ni Midiana'bai rigyesi. 18 Oko tu ono si ono mìgo mìŋgate katidri täpi maro ro dri. Nyùtufu ŋgwàagoro ndaro se 'butenjidrieri (70), ono te kuni alodi dri, ago mì'ba Abimeleka ŋgwaagoro ruindu'ba ndaro toko ro rote 'bädri'ba Sekeme ro tana nda orivoya 'didiri amiro. 19 Ka'do inye, ondro ka'do tase mìyebe Gideoni ri ago katidri ndaro ri ono mìye gite ŋgye ago 'diri oko, nyà'do yai'dwesi Abimeleka be, ago nda ka'do riyä ro ta amiro ta. 20 Oko ondro ka'do kote inye, asi kefo ni Abimeleka ya, ago kuje lidri Sekeme ro ndi Betemilo be ro ya, ago mi'ba asi kefo ni lidri Sekeme ro ndi Betemilo be ro ya kuje Abimeleka.” 21 Ago tana Yotama orivoya turiro ni ädrupi ndaro Abimeleka ri, nda mute ago oyi rite Bera ya.
22 Abimeleka miri Yisaraele te ndroa na nätu. 23 'Dooko Lu ezo tori undiro te rulewe o'bane lakole Abimeleka ro ndi lidri Sekeme robe ya; ago lidri Sekeme ro ogboyite Abimeleka be. 24 Tase ono ko'debe a'done inye tana Abimeleka ndi lidri Sekeme ro, se ko'bayi nda be ŋgwàagoro 'butenjidrieri (70) Gideoni ro tufune kai be, kezaruyi robe ta taenji ànyaro rota. 25 Ago lidri Sekeme ro 'bayi lidri vute nda okwane driku'du'du 'bereŋwa ro yasi, ago ànya topayi ŋga 'dise cini kabe lävu liti ana drisi ana rote. Ago iti tana te Abimeleka ri.
26 Ago Gala ŋgwa Ebeda ro oyite ädrupii ndaro yibe Sekeme ya ago lidri Sekeme ro yitate nda ya. 27 Ago ànya cini oyiyite ämvu kono ro ànyaro yasi ago topiyi doŋgo kono rote ago zwayite vino ro, ago yeyi karama te. Ànya oyiyite yekalu lu ànyaro roya, nyayi ago mvuyi ŋga te ago mawoyi Abimeleka te. 28 Gala atate ekye: “Abimeleka a'di owo ago ama lidri Sekeme ro ono ama a'di owo ruindune Abimeleka ri ya? Inye'do nda ṛo ko ŋgwa Gideoni ro! Ago Zebula ka ṛoko ota ndaro erina ayani, oko tana e'di mà ruindu ndäri niya? Nyà'do taoro be zutu amiro Amora ri ayani, se ni etovo käläsikala Sekeme ro ono! 29 Aba ma gwo ni lidri ono lepena aba mana Abimeleka te. Aba matana ṛo Abimeleka ri makye: ‘Nyoto kyila'bai miro, ago nyefo màye kyila robe.’ ”
30 Ondro Zebula miri'ba 'bakici ro keri ata Gala ŋgwa Ebeda ro rote oko, nda a'dote kyilaro. 31 Ago zo lazo'bai te Abimeleka re Aruna ya ta itine ndäri ekye: “Gala ŋgwa Ebeda ro ndi ädrupii ndaro yibe ikyiyite Sekeme ya, ago ànya kayi ugu ya lidri ro eŋgana milomvo. 32 Ka'do inye, mi ndi lidri miro yibe nyòyi ŋgäkyi si ago nyàda'doru lowo ya. 33 'Dooko mìŋga ṛo kyenoŋbo, kitu ituvoya ago nyògota 'bakici ṛo ätruku'du. Ondro Gala ndi lidri ndaro yibe kayite efo tesi midri oko, mìye kyila ṛo mbara ànya be!”
34 Ta'dota Abimeleka ndi lidri cini ndaro yibe ŋgayite ŋgäkyi si, ago oyi da'doyi iyi te Sekeme lomvo, äṛina orivoya su. 35 Ondro Gala kefo kedrete dereŋwa 'bakici roya oko Abimeleka ndi lidri ndaro yibe ŋgayite ni ruda'dovo ànyaro yasi. 36 Gala ndre ànya te, ago atate Zebula ri ekye: “Mindre, lidri ka eziefo vuru ni driku'du'du 'bereŋwa ro yasi.” Oko Zebula zatadrite ekye: “Nya'do lindri 'bereŋwa ro ondrene oso lidri ronye.”
37 Gala go ata kpa to'dina ekye: “Mindre! Lidri ka eziefo vuru ni kogbo 'bereŋwa ro yasi ago äṛi alodi ka eziikyi liti vudi ländri'bai ro yasi.”
38 'Dooko Zebula atate ndäri ekye: “Yauono tase 'desi nyatabe 'do gaŋwaroya? Nyata ni mikye: ‘Abimeleka adi owo ämäri ruindune ndäri ya?’ Kwoi ni lidri se nyamawobe iyi owo. Mifo teri mìye kyila robe ànya yibe.” 39 Gala 'dete mileya lidri Sekeme ro ri ago yeyi kyila te Abimeleka be. 40 Gala mute, ago Abimeleka nja nda te. Ago otoga lidri amba te laza be ndi le dereŋwa 'bakici roya. 41 Abimeleka rite Aruma ya; ago Zebula nja Gala te ndi 'didiri ndaro yibe ni Sekeme yasi, ta'doro ànya riyi kote lau tona.
42 Tu kinja si iti tate Abimeleka ri ekye lidri Sekeme ro ratate ofone lowo ya, 43 ta'dota nda ru lidri ndaro te, lonyi ànyate äṛina nätu, ago da'doruyite vookwane lowo ya. Ondro nda kondre lidri te efovoya ni 'bakici yasi oko, nda efote ànya dri ànya tufune. 44 Ondro Abimeleka ndi äṛi se nda be 'do be kofoyite foroforo dereŋwa 'bakici ro ya oko, dori äṛi se ritu iyi gotayi lidri te lowo ya ago tufuyi ànya te. 45 Aye kyila te tu ana si zwi. Ago Abimeleka ru 'bakici te, ago tufu lidri se kigye kai te; ago nda pere 'bakici te riya ago loda täyi te kigyesi.
46 Ondro dri'bai se cini zowiṛa Sekeme roya keriyi tana te oko, ànya ciyite tiṛi ṛatararo yekalu Bala Tao'baro roya. 47 Iti tana te Abimeleka ri ekye lidri zowiṛa Sekeme ro otoyikalate lau, 48 ta'dota nda oyite lidri ndaro be le 'Bereŋwa Zalemona dri. Ni nasi nda ru koloŋwa te, ago ga gwoṛi ce aza rote, ago 'bete kufudri ndaro ya. Nda atate lidri se nda be kai ri ekye: tase mìndre mayebe ono mìye ndri oso mayebe ronye. 49 Ta'dota 'dicini ga gwoṛi ice rote; 'dooko soyite Abimeleka vo ago droyi gwoṛi ice rote tiṛi se ṛatara ro ana lomvosi. Ànya soyi asi te kigye, ago 'dise cini tiṛi ṛatara ro ana ya kai todrayite, oti mànoago ndi 'ditoko be ro orivoya oso kutu alo (1,000) ronye.
50 'Dooko Abimeleka oyite Tebeze ya, ago mudri 'bakici ana rote ago rute. 51 Oko zowiṛa mbaraekye orivoya 'bakici ana ya, lidri cini mute kigye, mànoago ndi 'ditoko be, ànya seyi drî te kigye ago tuyite drî zowiṛa roya. 52 Ago Abimeleka ikyite zowiṛa gotane, nda shwete loto käläsi zowiṛa ro kala, asi osone driigye. 53 Oko toko aza vo drî Abimeleka rote kuni ŋga uyiro si, ago ga drî ndaro te äträ. 54 'Dooko nda zi agoanji se kabe lakazà ndaro kyila ro uŋgyina ana te ndriŋwa, ago atate ndäri ekye: “Nyeŋgye bando miro ago mifu ma, ukyi lidri ata 'da ekye toko aza fu ma ni.” Ta'dota agoanji ana 'di nda te ätru, ndi nda drate. 55 Ago ondro lidri Yisaraele ro kondre Abimeleka drate oko, ànya cini oyiyite ba 'ba ànyaro yasi. 56 Liti ono yasi Lu logo tase koziro Abimeleka koyebe täpi ndaro ri ädrupii ndaro 'butenjidrieri (70) tufuna si ono tavona te. 57 Ago Lu 'ba lidri Sekeme rote ruezane ta tase undiro ànya koyebe ana rota, ndi oso latri se Yotama ŋgwa Gideoni ro kotri ànya be sina ana ronye.