< 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 the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke 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.
“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule 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.
His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. 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.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who 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.
He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but 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.
All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak 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!
When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, 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 set out to anoint a king over themselves. 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?
“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honour God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10 Da sagde Træerne til Figentræet: Kom du, reger over os!
“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come 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 to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12 Da sagde Træerne til Vinstokken: Kom du, reger over os!
“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?
“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
14 Da sagde alle Træerne til Tornebusken: Kom du, reger over os!
“Then 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.
“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; 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 you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to 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, risked his life, 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 you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, 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 you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice 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.
Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Og Abimelek var Fyrste over Israel tre Aar.
Abimelech was prince over Israel 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 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 violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands 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 men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
26 Men Gaal, Ebeds Søn og hans Brødre kom, og de gik over til Sikem; og Mændene i Sikem forlode sig paa ham.
Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust 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.
They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and 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?
Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but 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!
I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
30 Der Sebul, den Øverste i Staden, hørte Gaals, Ebeds Søns, Ord, da optændtes hans Vrede.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burnt.
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 sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.
32 Saa gør dig nu rede om Natten, du og Folket, som er hos dig, og lur paa Marken!
Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, 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.
It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall 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.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who 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.
Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
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.
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows 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.
Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak 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 Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”
39 Og Gaal gik ud, frem for Mændene i Sikem, og stred imod Abimelek.
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.
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41 Og Abimelek blev i Aruma; men Sebul uddrev Gaal og hans Brødre, saa at de ikke maatte blive i Sikem.
Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, 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.
On the next day, 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.
He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck 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 the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck 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.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He 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.
When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47 Og det kundgjordes Abimelek, at alle Mændene paa Taarnet i Sikem havde samlet sig.
Abimelech was told 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!
Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you 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.
All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people 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 Abimelech went 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 all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and 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 came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to 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.
A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, 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.
Then he called hastily to the young man, his armour bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ 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.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
56 Saa betalte Gud Abimelek det onde, som han havde gjort imod sin Fader, der han ihjelslog sine halvfjerdsindstyve Brødre.
Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in 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.
and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.

< Dommer 9 >