< 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:
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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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!
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 Træerne gik engang hen for at salve en Konge over sig, og de sagde til Olietræet: Reger over os!
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 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 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 Da sagde Træerne til Figentræet: Kom du, reger over os!
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
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 said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 Da sagde Træerne til Vinstokken: Kom du, reger over os!
Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, [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 the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 Da sagde alle Træerne til Tornebusken: Kom du, reger over os!
Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, [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 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 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,
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 da min Fader har ført Krig for eders Skyld, og han har sat sig i Livsfare og friet eder af Midianiternes Haand;
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of 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;
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 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 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 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 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 Og Jotham flyede og undveg og gik til Beer, og han boede der borte fra sin Broder, Abimeleks Ansigt.
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Og Abimelek var Fyrste over Israel tre Aar.
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
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 between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with 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.
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 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 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 Men Gaal, Ebeds Søn og hans Brødre kom, og de gik over til Sikem; og Mændene i Sikem forlode sig paa ham.
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 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.
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 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 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 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!
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 Der Sebul, den Øverste i Staden, hørte Gaals, Ebeds Søns, Ord, da optændtes hans Vrede.
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
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 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 Saa gør dig nu rede om Natten, du og Folket, som er hos dig, og lur paa Marken!
Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that [is] with thee, and lie in wait 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 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 Og Abimelek stod op om Natten og alt det Folk, som var hos ham, og de lurede paa Sikem med fire Hobe.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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!
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 Og Gaal gik ud, frem for Mændene i Sikem, og stred imod Abimelek.
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 Men Abimelek forfulgte ham, og han flyede for hans Ansigt; og der faldt mange ihjelslagne indtil Indgangen til Porten.
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] unto the entering of the gate.
41 Og Abimelek blev i Aruma; men Sebul uddrev Gaal og hans Brødre, saa at de ikke maatte blive i Sikem.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Og det skete den anden Dag, da gik Folket ud paa Marken, og de gave Abimelek det til Kende.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 Der alle Mændene i Taarnet i Sikem hørte det, da gik de ind i Beriths Gudshuses Taarn.
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 Og det kundgjordes Abimelek, at alle Mændene paa Taarnet i Sikem havde samlet sig.
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered 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!
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 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 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 Saa drog Abimelek til Thebez; og han lejrede sig mod Thebez og indtog den.
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took 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 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 Da kom Abimelek til Taarnet og stred derimod; og han kom nær til Døren paa Taarnet forat opbrænde det med Ild.
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 Men en Kvinde kastede et Stykke af en Møllesten paa Abimeleks Hoved og knuste hans Hovedpande.
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake 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.
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 Og de israelitiske Mænd saa, at Abimelek var død, da gik de hver til sit Sted.
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 Saa betalte Gud Abimelek det onde, som han havde gjort imod sin Fader, der han ihjelslog sine halvfjerdsindstyve Brødre.
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57 Og al Sikems Mænds Ondskab lod Gud komme tilbage paa deres Hoved; og Jothams, Jerub-Baals Søns, Forbandelse kom over dem.
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.