Dommer 9
1 Og Abimelek, Jerub-Baals Søn, gik til Sikem til sin Moders Brødre og talede til dem og til al sin Morfaders Huses Slægt og sagde:
Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his maternal brothers, and he spoke to them, and to all the relatives of the house of his maternal grandfather, saying:
2 Kære, taler for alle Mændenes Øren udi Sikem: Hvilket er eder bedst, enten at halvfjerdsindstyve Mænd, alle Jerub-Baals Sønner, herske over eder? eller at een Mand hersker over eder? kommer og i Hu, at jeg er eders Ben og eders Kød.
“Speak to all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you: that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And consider also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 Da talede hans Moders Brødre alle disse Ord om ham for alle Mændenes Øren i Sikem, og deres Hjerter bøjede sig efter Abimelek, thi de sagde: Han er vor Broder.
And his maternal brothers spoke about him to all the men of Shechem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying, “He is our brother.”
4 Og de gave ham 70 Sekel Sølv af Baal-Beriths Hus, og Abimelek lejede derfor løse og letfærdige Mænd, og de fulgte ham.
And they gave to him the weight of seventy silver coins from the shrine of Baal-berith. With this, he hired for himself indigent and wandering men, and they followed him.
5 Og han kom til sin Faders Hus i Ofra og ihjelslog sine Brødre, Jerub-Baals Sønner, halvfjerdsindstyve Mænd, paa een Sten; men Jotham, Jerub-Baals yngste Søn, blev tilovers, thi han havde skjult sig.
And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding.
6 Og alle Mændene i Sikem og det ganske Millo Hus forsamledes og gik hen og gjorde Abimelek til Konge ved den Lund, som staar ved Sikem.
Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem.
7 Og man gav Jotham det til Kende, og han gik hen og stod paa Garizims Bjergs Top og opløftede sin Bøst og raabte og sagde til dem: Hører mig, I Mænd i Sikem, saa skal Gud høre eder!
When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8 Træerne gik engang hen for at salve en Konge over sig, og de sagde til Olietræet: Reger over os!
The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 Og Olietræet sagde til dem: Skulde jeg forlade min Fedme, som Gud og Menneskene ære hos mig, og gaa hen at svæve over Træerne?
And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’
10 Da sagde Træerne til Figentræet: Kom du, reger over os!
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 Men Figentræet sagde til dem: Skulde jeg forlade min Sødme og min gode Frugt og gaa hen at svæve over Træerne?
And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’
12 Da sagde Træerne til Vinstokken: Kom du, reger over os!
And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 Og Vinstokken sagde til dem: Skulde jeg forlade min Most, som glæder Guder og Mennesker, og gaa hen at svæve over Træerne?
And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’
14 Da sagde alle Træerne til Tornebusken: Kom du, reger over os!
And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 Og Tornebusken sagde til Træerne: Er det i Sandhed saa, at I ville salve mig til Konge over eder, da kommer, skjuler eder under min Skygge; men hvis ikke, da komme Ild ud af Tornebusken og fortære Cedrene paa Libanon.
And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
16 Og dersom I nu have handlet troligt og redeligt, ved at I have gjort Abimelek til Konge, og I have gjort godt imod Jerub-Baal og imod hans Hus, og I have gjort imod ham, som han har fortjent,
So now, if you are upright and without sin in appointing Abimelech as a king over you, and if you have acted well with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if you have repaid, in turn, the benefits of him who fought on your behalf,
17 da min Fader har ført Krig for eders Skyld, og han har sat sig i Livsfare og friet eder af Midianiternes Haand;
and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 og I dog ere staaede op imod min Faders Hus i Dag og have ihjelslaget hans Sønner, halvfjerdsindstyve Mænd, paa een Sten, og have gjort Abimelek, hans Tjenestekvindes Søn, til Konge over Mændene i Sikem, fordi han er eders Broder;
though you now have risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have appointed Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as a king over the inhabitants of Shechem, since he is your brother,
19 ja, dersom I have handlet troligt og redeligt imod Jerub-Baal og imod hans Hus paa denne Dag: Da værer glade over Abimelek, og han være ogsaa glad over eder;
if therefore you are upright and have acted without fault with Jerubbaal and his house, then you should rejoice on this day in Abimelech, and he should rejoice in you.
20 men hvis ikke, da udkomme Ild fra Abimelek og fortære Mændene i Sikem og Millo Hus; der udkomme og Ild fra Mændene i Sikem og af Millo Hus og fortære Abimelek!
But if you have acted perversely, may fire go forth from him and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the town of Millo. And may fire go forth from the men of Shechem and from the town of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”
21 Og Jotham flyede og undveg og gik til Beer, og han boede der borte fra sin Broder, Abimeleks Ansigt.
And when he had said these things, he fled and went away to Beer. And he lived in that place, out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.
22 Og Abimelek var Fyrste over Israel tre Aar.
And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 Og Gud sendte en ond Aand imellem Abimelek og imellem Mændene i Sikem, og Mændene i Sikem bleve utro mod Abimelek,
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 for at den Vold mod de halvfjerdsindstyve Jerub-Baals Sønner skulde komme, og deres Blod skulde lægges paa Abimelek, deres Broder, som havde ihjelslaget dem, og paa Mændene i Sikem, som havde styrket hans Hænder til at ihjelslaa sine Brødre.
and to place blame for the crime of the killing of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the leaders of the Shechemites, who assisted him.
25 Og Mændene i Sikem lagde et Baghold for ham paa Bjergenes Toppe, og de røvede fra hver, der gik forbi dem paa Vejen; og det blev Abimelek tilkendegivet.
And they stationed an ambush against him at the summit of the mountains. And while they were waiting for his arrival, they committed robberies, taking spoils from those passing by. And this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Men Gaal, Ebeds Søn og hans Brødre kom, og de gik over til Sikem; og Mændene i Sikem forlode sig paa ham.
Now Gaal, the son of Ebed, went with his brothers, and crossed over to Shechem. And the inhabitants of Shechem, uplifted by his arrival,
27 Og de gik ud paa Marken og høstede deres Vingaarde og traadte Vindruerne og gjorde sig Forlystelser, og de gik ind i deres Guders Huse og aade og drak og bandede Abimelek.
departed into the fields, laying waste to the vineyards, and trampling the grapes. And while singing and dancing, they entered into the shrine of their god. And while feasting and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
28 Og Gaal, Ebeds Søn, sagde: Hvo er Abimelek og hvo er Sikem, at vi skulle tjene ham? er han ikke Jerub-Baals Søn, og Sebul hans Befalingsmand? tjener I Hemors, Sikems Faders, Folk! men vi, hvorfor skulle vi tjene ham?
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried out: “Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, who has appointed Zebul, his servant, as ruler over the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
29 Og hvo vil give dette Folk under min Haand, saa vil jeg bortskaffe Abimelek; men han sagde til Abimelek: Formér din Hær og drag ud!
I wish that someone would set this people under my hand, so that I might take away Abimelech from their midst.” And it was told to Abimelech, “Gather the multitude of an army, and approach.”
30 Der Sebul, den Øverste i Staden, hørte Gaals, Ebeds Søns, Ord, da optændtes hans Vrede.
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 Og han sendte i Smug Bud til Abimelek og lod sige: Se, Gaal, Ebeds Søn, og hans Brødre ere komne til Sikem, og se, de opægge Staden imod dig.
And he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: “Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, has arrived at Shechem with his brothers, and he has set the city against you.
32 Saa gør dig nu rede om Natten, du og Folket, som er hos dig, og lur paa Marken!
And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 Og det skal ske, om Morgenen, naar Solen gaar op, da staa aarle op og overfald Staden; og se, naar han og det Folk, som er hos ham, drage ud imod dig, da maa du gøre med ham, som din Haand magter.
And at first light in the morning, as the sun is rising, rush upon the city. And when he goes out against you, with his people, do to him what you are able to do.”
34 Og Abimelek stod op om Natten og alt det Folk, som var hos ham, og de lurede paa Sikem med fire Hobe.
And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 Og Gaal, Ebeds Søn, gik ud og stod ved Indgangen af Stadsporten; men Abimelek stod op og det Folk, som var med ham, af Bagholdet.
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and he stood at the entrance to the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and all the army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
36 Og der Gaal saa Folket, da sagde han til Sebul: Se, der kommer Folk ned fra Bjergenes Toppe; da sagde Sebul til ham: Du anser Skyggen af Bjergene for Folk.
And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, a multitude is descending from the mountains.” And he responded to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains, as if they were the heads of men, and so you are being deceived by this error.”
37 Og Gaal blev ydermere ved at tale og sagde: Se, der kommer Folk ned fra Landets Højder, og een Hob kommer fra Vejen til Troldmændenes Eg.
Again, Gaal said, “Behold, a people is descending from the middle of the land, and one company is arriving by the way that looks towards the oak.”
38 Da sagde Sebul til ham: Hvor er nu din Mund, du som sagde: Hvo er Abimelek, at vi skulle tjene ham? er dette ikke det Folk, som du foragtede? Kære, gak du nu ud og strid imod det!
And Zebul said to him: “Where is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people that you were despising? Go out and fight against him.”
39 Og Gaal gik ud, frem for Mændene i Sikem, og stred imod Abimelek.
Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 Men Abimelek forfulgte ham, og han flyede for hans Ansigt; og der faldt mange ihjelslagne indtil Indgangen til Porten.
who pursued him, fleeing, and drove him into the city. And many were cut down on his side, even to the gate of the city.
41 Og Abimelek blev i Aruma; men Sebul uddrev Gaal og hans Brødre, saa at de ikke maatte blive i Sikem.
And Abimelech made camp at Arumah. But Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions from the city, and he would not permit them to remain in it.
42 Og det skete den anden Dag, da gik Folket ud paa Marken, og de gave Abimelek det til Kende.
Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 Da tog han Folket og delte dem i tre Hobe og lagde et Baghold paa Marken; og han saa, og se, Folket gik ud af Staden, og han rejste sig imod dem og slog dem.
he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and he placed ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people had departed from the city, he rose up and rushed upon them,
44 Og Abimelek og de Hobe, som vare hos ham, overfaldt dem og stillede sig for Indgangen til Stadens Port, og to Hobe overfaldt alle dem, som vare paa Marken, og sloge dem.
along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 Da stred Abimelek imod Staden den ganske Dag og indtog Staden og ihjelslog Folket, som var der udi; og han nedbrød Staden og besaaede den med Salt.
Now Abimelech assaulted the city all that day. And he seized it, and he killed its inhabitants, and he destroyed it, so much so that he scattered salt in it.
46 Der alle Mændene i Taarnet i Sikem hørte det, da gik de ind i Beriths Gudshuses Taarn.
And when those living in the tower of Shechem had heard about this, they entered the temple of their god, Berith, where they had formed a covenant with him. And it was because of this, that the place had taken its name. And it was greatly fortified.
47 Og det kundgjordes Abimelek, at alle Mændene paa Taarnet i Sikem havde samlet sig.
Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 Da gik Abimelek op paa Bjerget Zalmon, han og alt Folket, som var med ham, og Abimelek tog Øksen i sin Haand og huggede en Gren af Træerne og løftede den op og lagde den paa sin Skulder; og han sagde til Folket, som var med ham: Hvad I saa, jeg gjorde, skynder eder at gøre som jeg!
ascended to mount Zalmon, with all his people. And taking an axe, he cut down the branch of a tree. And laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions, “What you see me do, you must do quickly.”
49 Da huggede ogsaa alt Folket hver sin Gren af, og de gik efter Abimelek og lagde dem op til Taarnet og satte med dem Ild paa Taarnet, saa at ogsaa alle Mænd paa Taarnet i Sikem døde, ved Tusinde Mænd og Kvinder.
And so, eagerly cutting down branches from the trees, they followed their leader. And surrounding the fortified place, they set it on fire. And so it happened that, by smoke and fire, one thousand persons died, men and women together, the occupants of the tower of Shechem.
50 Saa drog Abimelek til Thebez; og han lejrede sig mod Thebez og indtog den.
Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 Men der var et stærkt Taarn midt i Staden, derhen flyede alle Mændene og Kvinderne, ja alle Borgerne i Staden og lukkede til efter sig; og de stege op paa Taget af Taarnet.
Now there was, in the midst of the city, a high tower, to which men and women were fleeing together, with all the leaders of the city. And, having very strongly sealed the gate, they were standing on the roof of the tower to defend themselves.
52 Da kom Abimelek til Taarnet og stred derimod; og han kom nær til Døren paa Taarnet forat opbrænde det med Ild.
And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 Men en Kvinde kastede et Stykke af en Møllesten paa Abimeleks Hoved og knuste hans Hovedpande.
And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Da raabte han hasteligen ad den unge Karl, som bar hans Vaaben, og sagde til ham: Drag dit Sværd ud og slaa mig ihjel, at de ikke skulle sige om mig: En Kvinde slog ham ihjel; og hans unge Karl stak ham igennem, og han døde.
And he quickly called to his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise it may be said that I was slain by a woman.” And, doing as he was ordered, he killed him.
55 Og de israelitiske Mænd saa, at Abimelek var død, da gik de hver til sit Sted.
And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 Saa betalte Gud Abimelek det onde, som han havde gjort imod sin Fader, der han ihjelslog sine halvfjerdsindstyve Brødre.
And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 Og al Sikems Mænds Ondskab lod Gud komme tilbage paa deres Hoved; og Jothams, Jerub-Baals Søns, Forbandelse kom over dem.
The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
