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:
Abimelech, son of Jerub-baal, went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and told them and all his mother's relatives,
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.
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘What's best for you? That seventy men, all of them Jerub-baal's sons, rule over you—or just one man?’ Remember I'm your own flesh and blood!”
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.
His mother's brothers shared his proposal with all the leaders of Shechem, and they decided to follow Abimelech, because they said, “He is our relative.”
4 Og de gave ham 70 Sekel Sølv af Baal-Beriths Hus, og Abimelek lejede derfor løse og letfærdige Mænd, og de fulgte ham.
They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire some arrogant troublemakers as his gang.
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.
He went to his father's house in Ophrah, and on one stone killed his seventy half-brothers, the sons of Jerub-baal. But Jotham, Jerub-baal's youngest son, escaped by going into 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 the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo all assembled by the oak at the pillar in Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
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 Jotham got to hear this, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and shouted in a loud voice: “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God may to listen to you!
8 Træerne gik engang hen for at salve en Konge over sig, og de sagde til Olietræet: Reger over os!
Once upon a time the trees were determined to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You shall be our king.’
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?
But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my rich oil that benefits both gods and men just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
10 Da sagde Træerne til Figentræet: Kom du, reger over os!
Then the trees asked the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
11 Men Figentræet sagde til dem: Skulde jeg forlade min Sødme og min gode Frugt og gaa hen at svæve over Træerne?
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my good sweet fruit just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
12 Da sagde Træerne til Vinstokken: Kom du, reger over os!
Then the trees asked the grape vine, ‘You come and be our king.’
13 Og Vinstokken sagde til dem: Skulde jeg forlade min Most, som glæder Guder og Mennesker, og gaa hen at svæve over Træerne?
But the grape vine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that makes both gods and men happy just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
14 Da sagde alle Træerne til Tornebusken: Kom du, reger over os!
Then all the trees asked the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
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.
The thorn bush replied to the trees, ‘If you're really sincere about anointing me as your king, come and find shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire flame out of the thorn bush and burn up 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,
Have you acted sincerely and honestly by making Abimelech your king? Have you been acted honorably to Jerub-baal and his family? Have you respected him for all that he accomplished?
17 da min Fader har ført Krig for eders Skyld, og han har sat sig i Livsfare og friet eder af Midianiternes Haand;
Don't forget how my father fought for you and risked his own life to save you from the Midianites!
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;
But you have rebelled against my father's family today. You have killed his seventy sons on one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem simply because he's related to you.
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;
Have you acted sincerely and honestly toward Jerub-baal and his family today? If so, may you be happy with Abimelech, and may he be happy with too!
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 haven't, then may fire flame out from Abimelech, and may it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire flame out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and burn up Abimelech!”
21 Og Jotham flyede og undveg og gik til Beer, og han boede der borte fra sin Broder, Abimeleks Ansigt.
Then Jotham escaped and ran away. He went to Beer and stayed there because of the threat of Abimelech his brother.
22 Og Abimelek var Fyrste over Israel tre Aar.
Abimelech ruled 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,
Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
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.
This happened because of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerub-baal and that responsibility for their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who provided the means to kill his brothers.
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.
The leaders of Shechem sent men to the hill passes to lie in wait and attack Abimelech, and, in the meantime, they robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech found out what was happening.
26 Men Gaal, Ebeds Søn og hans Brødre kom, og de gik over til Sikem; og Mændene i Sikem forlode sig paa ham.
Gaal, son of Ebed, had moved to Shechem with his relatives, and he gained the loyalty of the leaders of Shechem.
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.
At harvest time they went out into the countryside and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them. They celebrated by having a festival in the temple of their god, where they ate and drank, and 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?
“Who is this Abimelech?” asked Gaal, son of Ebed. “And who is Shechem, that we should have to serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-baal, while Zebul is actually the one in charge? You should serve the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we have to serve Abimelech?
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!
If I was the one in charge of you people, I would dispose of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Get your army together, and come and fight!’”
30 Der Sebul, den Øverste i Staden, hørte Gaals, Ebeds Søns, Ord, da optændtes hans Vrede.
When Zebul, the governor of the city, got to hear what Gaal was saying, he 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.
He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech to tell him, “Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his relatives have arrived in Shechem, and they are stirring up the town to rebel against you.
32 Saa gør dig nu rede om Natten, du og Folket, som er hos dig, og lur paa Marken!
So come at night with your army and hide in the countryside.
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.
In the morning as soon as the sun comes up, go and attack the town. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, you can do whatever you want to them.”
34 Og Abimelek stod op om Natten og alt det Folk, som var hos ham, og de lurede paa Sikem med fire Hobe.
Abimelech left at night along with his army, and they separated into four companies that lay in wait near Shechem.
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.
When Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the town's entrance gate, Abimelech and his army came out from where they had been hiding.
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.
Gaal saw the army approaching and said to Zebul, “Look! Some people are coming down from the hilltops!” “That's just shadows made by the hills that look like men,” Zebul replied.
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.
“No really, people are coming down from the high ground,” Gaal repeated. “Plus, there's another company coming down the road that passes the diviners' oak tree.”
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!
“Where's your big mouth now? You're the one who said, ‘Who is this Abimelech, that we should have to serve him?’” Zebul told him. “Aren't these the people you detested? Go on then—go and fight with them!”
39 Og Gaal gik ud, frem for Mændene i Sikem, og stred imod Abimelek.
So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out of the town and fought with Abimelech.
40 Men Abimelek forfulgte ham, og han flyede for hans Ansigt; og der faldt mange ihjelslagne indtil Indgangen til Porten.
Abimelech attacked, and chased him and his men as they ran away, killing many of them as they tried to get back to the town gate.
41 Og Abimelek blev i Aruma; men Sebul uddrev Gaal og hans Brødre, saa at de ikke maatte blive i Sikem.
Abimelech went back to Arumah while Zebul expelled Gaal and his relatives from Shechem.
42 Og det skete den anden Dag, da gik Folket ud paa Marken, og de gave Abimelek det til Kende.
The following day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and Abimelech was informed about it.
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 divided his army into three companies and had them lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and killed 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.
Abimelech and his company raced to occupy the town's entrance gate, while the two companies raced to attack everyone in the fields and kill them.
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.
The battle for the town lasted all day but eventually Abimelech captured it. He killed the people, demolished the town, and scattered salt over the ground.
46 Der alle Mændene i Taarnet i Sikem hørte det, da gik de ind i Beriths Gudshuses Taarn.
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem realized what had happened, they took refuge in the strongroom of the temple of El-berith.
47 Og det kundgjordes Abimelek, at alle Mændene paa Taarnet i Sikem havde samlet sig.
When Abimelech found out that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had gathered there,
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!
he and all the men with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech grabbed hold of an ax and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder, and told his men, “Quick! You saw what I did. Do the same!”
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.
Each of them cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They placed the branches against the strongroom and set it on fire. So all the people who lived in the tower of Shechem died, around one thousand men and women.
50 Saa drog Abimelek til Thebez; og han lejrede sig mod Thebez og indtog den.
Then Abimelech went to attack Thebez and captured it.
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.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. All the men and women and the town leaders ran there and barricaded themselves in, and then went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Da kom Abimelek til Taarnet og stred derimod; og han kom nær til Døren paa Taarnet forat opbrænde det med Ild.
Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
53 Men en Kvinde kastede et Stykke af en Møllesten paa Abimeleks Hoved og knuste hans Hovedpande.
a woman dropped millstone down on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull open.
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.
He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons, and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they won't say about me that a woman killed him.” So the young man drove his sword through him, and he died.
55 Og de israelitiske Mænd saa, at Abimelek var død, da gik de hver til sit Sted.
When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left and went home.
56 Saa betalte Gud Abimelek det onde, som han havde gjort imod sin Fader, der han ihjelslog sine halvfjerdsindstyve Brødre.
This is how God paid back Abimelech's crime against his father of murdering 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.
He also repaid the people of Shechem for their evil, and the curse of Jotham, son of Jerub-baal, came down upon them.
