Lokcaekkung 9
1 Jerub-Baal capa Abimelek loe Shekem ah kaom amno ih thangqoinawk hoi amno ih acaengnawk khaeah caeh moe,
Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
2 Shekem ih kaminawk boih khaeah, Nangcae to Jerub-Baal ih capa quisarihtonawk mah ukhaih maw hoih kue, to ai boeh loe kami maeto mah ukhaih? kai loe nangcae ih ahuh hoi angan ah ni ka oh, tiah panoek oh, tiah thuih pae hanah tahmenhaih a hnik.
“Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
3 To tiah a thuih pae ih loknawk to amno ih tangqoinawk mah Shekem vangpui ah kaom kaminawk boih khaeah thuih pae o naah, Abimelek loe kaicae ih amnawk ni, tiah a thuih o pongah, anih to abomh han koeh o.
So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
4 To pongah nihcae mah Baal-Berith tempul ih phoisa shekel quisarihto anih hanah paek o; Abimelek mah to ih phoisa hoiah zithaih tawn ai misahoih kaminawk to tlai moe, angmah hnukah bangsak.
So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
5 Anih loe Ophrah ah kaom ampa im ah caeh moe, angmah ih nawkamyanawk Jerub-Baal capa quisarihtonawk to lungsong maeto nuiah hum boih; toe Jerub-Baal capa asoi koek, Jotham loe anghawk ving pongah a loih.
They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
6 To naah Shekem ah kaom kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takohnawk loe, Shekem ih thing ohhaih ahmuen ah nawnto amkhueng o moe, Abimelek to siangpahrang ah suek o.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
7 To lok to Jotham khae thuih pae o naah, Gerizim mae nuiah dawh moe, nihcae khaeah, hae tiah a hang thuih; Shekem acaengnawk, Sithaw mah nangcae ih lok tahngai hanah, ka lok hae tahngai oh.
When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
8 Nito naah thingnawk loe angmacae ukkung siangpahrang to suek moe, situi bawh hanah a caeh o; nihcae mah olive thing khaeah, Kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
9 Toe olive thing mah, nihcae khaeah, Sithaw hoi kami mah pakoeh ih ka thawkhaih to caehtaak moe, thing nuiah kam zam han maw? tiah a naa.
“But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
10 To pacoengah thingnawk mah thaiduet thing khaeah, Angzoh loe kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 Toe thaiduet thing mah nihcae khaeah, Ka luephaih hoi kahoih kaimah ih thingthai hae ka caehtaak moe, thingnawk to ka khuk han maw? tiah naa let bae.
“But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
12 Thingnawk mah misurkung khaeah, Angzoh loe, kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 Toe misurkung mah nihcae khaeah, Sithaw hoi kami nawmsakhaih kaimah ih misurtui hae ka caehtaak moe, thingnawk to ka khuk han maw? tiah a naa.
“But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
14 Thingnawk boih mah soekhringkung khaeah, Angzoh loe, kaicae hae na uk ah, tiah a naa o.
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 To naah soekhringkung mah thingnawk khaeah, Kai hae nangcae nuiah siangpahrang ah nang suek o moe, situi bawh han na koeh o tangtang nahaeloe, angzo oh loe, kai ih tahlip ah abuep oh; to tih ai nahaeloe soekhringkung thung hoiah hmai to tacawt ueloe, Lebanon ih sidar thingnawk to kangh tih, tiah a naa.
“The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
16 To pongah vaihi nangcae mah, Palungthin tang hoiah Abimelek to siangpahrang ah na suek o moe, Jerub-Baal hoi a imthung takoh nuiah kahoih hmuen to na sak o boeh maw, a hnuk han koi hmuen to a nuiah na sak pae o maw?
“[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
17 (Kam pa mah nangcae han misatuk pae, a hinghaih paek moe, nangcae to Midian kaminawk ban thung hoiah ang pahlong o boeh.
“[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
18 Toe vaihniah kam pa ih imthung takoh ah misa nang thawk o moe, lungsong maeto nuiah a capa quisarihto na hum pae o boih; a tamna nongpata ih capa Abimelek loe, nangmacae ih amnawk ah oh pongah, Shekem acaengnawk boih ukkung siangpahrang ah na suek o; )
But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
19 vaihniah palungthin tang hoiah Jerub-Baal hoi a imthung takoh nuiah kahoih hmuen to na sak o nahaeloe, Abimelek to nangcae anghoehaih ah om nasoe, nangcae doeh a nuiah anghoe o toeng ah:
So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
20 toe nang hoe o ai nahaeloe, Abimelek khae hoi hmai to tacawt nasoe loe, nangcae Shekem vangpui ah kaom kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takohnawk boih to paduek nasoe; Shekem ih kaminawk hoi Millo imthung takoh khae hoiah hmai to tacawt nasoe loe, Abimelek to kangh nasoe, tiah a naa.
But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
21 To pacoengah Jotham loe amya Abimelek to zit pongah, cawnh moe, Beer vangpui ah oh.
[After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
22 Abimelek mah Israel kaminawk to saning thumto uk,
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 Sithaw mah Abimelek hoi Shekem kaminawk khaeah kasae muithla to patoeh pae; to naah Shekem ih kaminawk mah Abimelek nuiah oep om ai ah khosak pae o.
Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
24 Jerub-Baal ih capa quisarihtonawk nuiah sak ih sethaih to nihcae humkung angmacae ih amnawk Abimelek nuiah krah tih; angmah ih nawkamyanawk hum hanah bomkung Shekem vangpui kaminawk nuiah doeh krah tih.
The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
25 Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk loe Abimelek angang hanah mae nuiah caeh o; to ah caeh kaminawk boih ih hmuenmaenawk to lomh pae o; to lok to Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
26 Ebed capa Gaal loe angmah ih nawkamyanawk hoi nawnto Shekem ah khosak han angpoeng o; anih loe to vangpui kaminawk mah oep ih kami ah oh.
There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
27 Nihcae loe lawk ah caeh o, misurthaih to pakhrik o moe, khok hoiah atit o; tempul thungah caeh o moe, kanawm ah poih to sak o; a caak a naek o moe, Abimelek to tangoeng o.
They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
28 To naah Ebed capa Gaal mah, Abimelek loe mi aa, Shekem loe mi aa, Tipongah aicae mah anih ih toksak pae han angaih loe? Anih loe Jerub-Baal capa na ai maw? Zebul loe anih ih toksah kami ah na ai maw oh? Shekem ampa, Hamor ih tok to sah pae oh; tih hanah Abimelek ih tok a sak o han loe?
Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
29 Sithaw rang hoiah hae kaminawk hae ka ban thungah om o na haeloe, Abimelek to ka takhoe ving han; Abimelek khaeah, Nang mah ih misatuh kaminawk boih na kawk cadoeh, kaicae mah kang pazawk o han vop, tiah ka naa han, tiah a thuih.
If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
30 Ebed capa Gaal ih lok to, vangpui ukkung Zebul mah thaih naah, paroeai palungphui.
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 To naah anih mah tamqumta hoi Abimelek khaeah laicaehnawk to patoeh, Ebed capa Gaal hoi anih ih nawkamyanawk loe Shekem vangpui ah khosak han angpoeng o tih; khenah, nihcae loe nang to tuk hanah vangpui thungah toksak o.
He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
32 To pongah aqum ah nangmah ih kaminawk hoi nawnto angzoh loe, nihcae to lawk ah angang oh;
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 akhawn bang khawnthaw ni tacawt naah, vangpui to tuh oh; Gaal hoi anih ih kaminawk nang tuk hanah angzoh o naah, na ban mah sak koeh ih baktih toengah sah oh, tiah a naa.
As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
34 To pongah Abimelek hoi anih ih misatuh kaminawk boih angthawk o, khoving ah caeh o moe, abu palito ampraek o pacoengah, Shekem vangpui to a toep o.
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
35 Abimelek hoi anih ih misatuh kaminawk loe anghawkhaih ahmuen hoiah angzoh o naah, Ebed capa Gaal loe tasa bangah caeh moe, khongkha taengah angdoet.
[The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
36 Gaal mah nihcae to hnuk naah, Zebul khaeah, Khenah, mae nui hoiah kaminawk angzoh o, tiah a naa. Zebul mah anih khaeah, Mae ih tahlip to kami baktiah na hnuk moeng kalang mue, tiah a naa.
When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
37 Toe Gaal mah, khenah, lawk aum hoiah kaminawk to angzoh o tathuk, kalah kami abu loe Meonenim thing ohhaih ahmuen bang hoiah angzoh o, tiah a naa.
But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
38 To naah Zebul mah anih khaeah, Abimelek loe kawbaktih kami ah maw oh moe, anih ih tok ka sak pae o han loe? tiah na thuih ih pakha loe vaihi naah maw oh? Nihcae loe na khet patoek ih kaminawk na ai maw? Caeh loe nihcae to tuh ah, tiah a naa.
Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
39 To pongah Gaal mah vangpui thung ih kaminawk to kok moe, Abimelek to tuk.
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 Abimelek mah Gaal to patom naah, anih loe cawnh ving; vangpui thungah akunhaih khongkha khoek to, kami paroeai ahmaa caak o moe, duek o.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 Abimelek loe Arumah ah khosak; Zebul mah Gaal hoi anih ih nawkamyanawk to Shekem vangpui hoiah haek boih.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 Khawnbangah Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk loe lawk ah caeh o, to lok to Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
43 To pongah anih mah angmah ih kaminawk to kawk moe, abu thumto ah tapraek pacoengah, lawk ah kami to angangsak; khenah, vangpui thung hoiah kami angzoh o naah, anih loe nihcae tuk hanah angthawk moe, a tuk.
he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
44 Abimelek hoi a taengah kaom misatuh kaminawk loe, vangpui khongkha thungah cawnh o moe, angang o; kalah misatuh abu hnetto loe lawk ah caeh o moe, kaminawk to patom o pacoengah, hum o.
Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
45 To na ni athun qui Abimelek mah vangpui to tuk moe, a lak; athung ah kaom kaminawk to hum moe, vangpui to paro pacoengah, a nuiah paloi to a phuih.
Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
46 To lok to Shekem imsang ah kaom kaminawk mah thaih o naah, sithaw Berith tempul thungah akun o.
When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
47 Shekem vangpui ih kaom kaminawk boih loe to ahmuen ah amkhueng o, tiah Abimelek khaeah thuih pae o.
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 Abimelek mah angmah hoi angmah ih kaminawk boih to Zalmon mae ah dawh haih; anih mah caka to lak moe, thing tanghang to pakhruk pacoengah, palaeng ah aput; a taengah kaom kaminawk khaeah, Nang hnuk o ih ka sak ih hmuen baktih toengah, karangah sah oh, tiah a naa.
So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
49 To pongah kaminawk boih mah thing tanghang to pakruk o moe, Abimelek hnukah bang o; thingnawk to akhaw thungah hnawt o moe, akhaw to hmai hoiah thlaek o; to naah Shekem imsang thungah kaom kaminawk, nongpa nongpata kami sangto duek o.
So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
50 To pacoengah Abimelek to Thebez vangpui ah caeh, to vangpui to tuk moe, a lak.
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 Toe vangpui thungah kacak parai imsang maeto oh; vangpui thungah kaom kaminawk hoi nongpa nongpatanawk loe to imsang ah cawnh o boih; thok to khah o moe, imsang imphu ah a dawh o.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelek loe to imsang ah caeh moe, a tuk; toe imsang to hmai hoi qoeng hanah tha pathok moe, akunhaih khongkha khoek to a phak.
Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
53 To naah nongpata maeto mah imphu hoiah Abimelek ih lu nuiah thlung pakhrak thuih moe, a lu to koih phaeng.
But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
54 To naah angmah ih hmuenmae phawkung to karangah kawk moe, anih khaeah, Nongpata maeto mah hum, tiah minawk mah thuih o han ai ah, na sumsen to aphongh loe, na hum ah, tiah a naa. To pongah a tamna mah anih to thunh moe, duek.
Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
55 Abimelek duek boeh, tiah Israel kaminawk mah hnuk o naah, kami boih angmacae im ah amlaem o.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 Abimelek mah angmah ih nawkamya quisarihto hum moe, ampa nuiah sak ih zaehaih to Sithaw mah pathok let.
In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
57 Shekem vangpui ih kaminawk boih mah sak o ih kasae hmuennawk to angmacae lu nuiah Sithaw mah kraksak let; Jerub-Baal capa Jotham ih tangoenghaih to nihcae nuiah phak.
God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].
