Judges 9
1 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
Pea naʻe ʻalu ki Sikemi ʻa ʻApimeleki ko e foha ʻo Selupeali ki he kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē, pea alea ia mo kinautolu, pea mo kinautolu kotoa pē naʻe ʻi he fale ʻoe tamai ʻa ʻene faʻē, ʻo pehē,
2 “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
“ʻOku ou kole kiate kimoutolu, mou lea ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, Ko fē ia ʻoku lelei, ʻae pule kiate kimoutolu ʻae ngaahi foha kotoa pē ʻo Selupeali, ko e toko fitungofulu, pe ko e pule ʻae tokotaha kiate kimoutolu? Mou manatu foki ʻoku ʻo homou hui mo homou kakano au.”
3 And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
Pea naʻe lea ai ʻae kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi ʻi he ngaahi lea ni: pea naʻe tokanga leva honau loto ke muimui ia ʻApimeleki: he naʻa nau pehē, ko hotau kāinga ia.
4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.
Pea naʻa nau ʻatu kiate ia ʻae konga siliva ʻe fitungofulu mei he fale ʻo Peali-Piliti, ʻaia naʻe ʻave ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻo foaki ki he kau tangata kovi mo vaʻivaʻinga ʻaia naʻe muimui ʻiate ia.
5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
Pea naʻa ne ʻalu ki he fale ʻo ʻene tamai ʻi Ofila, ʻo ne tāmateʻi hono kāinga ko e ngaahi foha ʻo Selupeali ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he funga maka pe taha: ka naʻe hao ʻa Sotame ko e foha kimui ʻo Selupeali: he naʻa ne fufū ia.
6 Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
Pea naʻe fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale kotoa ʻo Milo, pea naʻa nau ʻalu, ʻo fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, ʻI he malaʻe ʻoe pou ʻaia naʻe ʻi Sikemi.
7 When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
Pea ʻi heʻenau tala ia kia Sotame, naʻe ʻalu ia ʻo tuʻu ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga ko Kelisimi, pea hiki hono leʻo, ʻo kalanga, ʻo ne pehē kiate kinautolu, “Fanongo kiate au, ʻakimoutolu ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tokanga ʻae ʻOtua kiate kimoutolu.
8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Naʻe ʻalu atu ʻae ngaahi ʻakau ʻi he kuonga ʻe taha ke fakanofo ha tuʻi kiate kinautolu; pea naʻa nau pehē ki he ʻolive, ‘Ke ke pule koe kiate kimautolu.’
9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻolive kiate kinautolu, ‘He te u tuku ʻeku lelei ʻaʻaku ʻaia ʻoku tupu ai ʻiate au ʻenau fakaʻapaʻapa ki he ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ko e māʻolunga au ʻi he ngaahi ʻakau?’
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he fiki, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he fiki kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku huʻamelie, mo ʻeku fua lelei, pea u ʻalu ke hoko au ke māʻolunga ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he vaine, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
13 But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he vaine kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku uaine, ʻaia ʻoku ne fakafiemālie ʻae ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ke pule ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau kotoa pē ki he talatalaʻāmoa, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
15 But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he talatalaʻāmoa ki he ngaahi ʻakau, ‘Kapau ʻoku mou fakanofo moʻoni au ko e tuʻi kiate kimoutolu, mou haʻu ʻo falala ki hoku malu: pea kapau ʻe ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi mei he talatalaʻāmoa ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae ngaahi sita ʻo Lepanoni.’
16 Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—
“Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni, mo totonu, ʻi hoʻomou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, pea kapau kuo mou fai lelei kia Selupeali mo hono fale, mou fai kiate ia ʻo fakatatau ki he ngāue lelei ʻa hono nima:
17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
(He naʻe tau ʻeku tamai maʻamoutolu, ʻo ne liʻaki moʻoni ʻene moʻui, ʻo ne fakamoʻui ai ʻakimoutolu mei he nima ʻo Mitiane:
18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
Pea kuo mou tuʻu hake he ʻaho ni ki he fale ʻo ʻeku tamai, pea kuo mou tāmateʻi hono ngaahi foha, ko e tangata ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he maka pe taha, pea kuo mou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki, ko e tama ʻa ʻene kaunanga, ke tuʻi ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi koeʻuhi ko homou kāinga ia; )
19 if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.
Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni mo angatonu kia Selupeali, pea ki hono fale he ʻaho ni, mou fiefia ia ʻApimeleki, pea tuku ke vikiviki ia ʻiate kimoutolu:
20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
Pea kapau ʻoku ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi meia ʻApimeleki ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale ʻo Milo; pea haʻu ʻae afi mei he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, pea mei he fale ʻo Milo, pea fakaʻauha ʻa ʻApimeleki.”
21 Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
Pea naʻe lele ʻa Sotame ʻo hola, pea ne ʻalu ki Piea, pea nofo ai, ʻi he manavahē kia ʻApimeleki ko hono tokoua.
22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
Pea hili ʻae taʻu ʻe tolu mo ʻene pule ʻa ʻApimeleki ki ʻIsileli,
23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
Naʻe fekau ʻe he ʻOtua ʻae laumālie kovi kia ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata ʻo Sikemi: pea naʻe fai fakakākā ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi kia ʻApimeleki.
24 in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
Koeʻuhi ke hoko ʻae kovi naʻe fai ki he ngaahi foha ʻe toko fitungofulu ʻo Selupeali, mo honau toto, kia ʻApimeleki ko honau tehina, ʻaia naʻa ne tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu; pea ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻakinautolu naʻa nau tokoni ia ʻi he tāmateʻi ʻo hono ngaahi kāinga.
25 The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
Pea naʻe fakanofo ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi ʻae kau tangata ke lamasi ia ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe ngaahi moʻunga, pea naʻa nau kaihaʻasi mei he kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻalu ʻi he hala ofi kiate kinautolu pea naʻe fakahā ia kia ʻApimeleki.
26 Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga, ʻonau hoko ki Sikemi: pea naʻe tui kiate ia ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi.
27 And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
Pea naʻa nau ʻalu kituaʻā ki he ngoue, ʻo tānaki ʻenau ngoue vaine, ʻonau malakaki ʻenau ngaahi kālepi, pea fai ʻae fiefia, ʻonau hū ki he fale ʻo honau ʻotua, ʻonau kai mo inu, pea naʻa nau kapeʻi ʻa ʻApimeleki.
28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, “Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki, pea ko hai ʻa Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e foha ia ʻo Selupeali? Mo Sepuli ko ʻene matāpule? Mou tauhi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Hemoa ko e tamai ʻa Sikemi: he koeʻumaʻā ʻemau tauhi kiate ia?
29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
ʻAmusiaange ʻeau ki he ʻOtua kuo ʻi hoku lalo nima ʻae kakai ni! Pea te u toki hiki ʻa ʻApimeleki. Pea pehē ʻe ia kia ʻApimeleki, ‘Fakatokolahi hoʻo kau tau, pea ke haʻu kituaʻā.’”
30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
Pea ʻi he fanongo ʻa Sepuli ko e pule ʻoe kolo ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, naʻe tupu ai ʻene ʻita.
31 So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
Pea naʻe fekau fakalilolilo kia ʻApimeleki, ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ko Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga kuo nau haʻu ki Sikemi: pea vakai, ʻoku nau teu ʻae kolo ni ko ho tauʻi:
32 Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
Pea ko eni ke ke hake ʻi he poʻuli ʻa koe mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate koe, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue:
33 And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
Pea ʻe pehē, ʻi he hopo leva ʻae laʻā ʻapongipongi, ke ke tuʻu hake leva ʻo tauʻi ʻae kolo: pea vakai, ʻoka ʻalu atu ia mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate ia ke tauʻi koe, te ke toki fai kiate kinautolu ʻo hangē ko e faʻa fai ʻo ho nima.”
34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻi he poʻuli, pea naʻa nau vahe fā ʻakinautolu ʻo malumu ki Sikemi.
35 Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
Pea naʻe ʻalu atu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, ʻo ne tuʻu ʻi he hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, mei heʻenau toka malumu.
36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻa Keali ki he kakai, naʻe pehē ʻe ia kia Sepuli, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai mei he ngaahi tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga.” Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “ʻOku ke mamata ki he malu ʻoe moʻunga ʻo lau ia ko e kakai.”
37 Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
Pea naʻe toe lea ʻa Keali ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai ʻi he loto fonua, pea ko e kakai ʻe taha ʻoku ʻalu ange ʻo ofi ki he tafangafanga ʻo Mioninimi.”
38 “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “Ko eni kuo ʻi fē ho ngutu, ʻaia naʻa ke lea ai, Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e kakai eni naʻa ke manukiʻi? Ko eni ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke ʻalu kituaʻā ʻo tauʻi ʻakinautolu.”
39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
Pea naʻe ʻalu kituaʻā ʻa Keali ʻi he ʻao ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻo ne tau mo ʻApimeleki.
40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
Pea naʻe tuli ia ʻe ʻApimeleki, pea naʻe hola ia mei hono ʻao, pea naʻe teʻia ʻae tokolahi mo lavea, ʻo aʻu atu ki he hūʻanga ʻoe matapā.
41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
Pea naʻe nofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ʻi Eluma pea naʻe kapusi ʻe Sepuli ʻa Keali mo hono kāinga, ke ʻoua naʻa nau nofo ʻi Sikemi.
42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē ʻi he ʻapongipongi, naʻe ʻalu ʻae kakai ki he ngoue; pea naʻa nau tala ia kia ʻApimeleki.
43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.
Pea naʻe ʻave ʻe ia ʻae kakai, ʻo ne vahe tolu kinautolu, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue, ʻo fakasio, pea vakai, kuo haʻu ʻae kakai kituaʻā mei he kolo; pea naʻe tuʻu hake ia kiate kinautolu, ʻo teʻia ʻakinautolu.
44 Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.
Pea naʻe ʻoho atu ʻa ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻonau tuʻu ʻi hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuli ʻe he kongakau kehe ʻe ua ki he kakai naʻe ʻi he ngoue, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu.
45 And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
Pea naʻe tauʻi ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae kolo ʻi he ʻaho kotoa ko ia: pea naʻa ne lavaʻi ʻae kolo, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻae kakai naʻe ʻi ai, ʻo ne holoki hifo ʻae kolo, pea naʻe tūtuuʻi ia ʻaki ʻae māsima.
46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
Pea ʻi he fanongo ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi, naʻa nau hū ki he potu ʻoe fale ʻoe ʻotua ko Piliti.
47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
Pea naʻe fakahā kia ʻApimeleki, kuo kātoa fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi.
48 he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
Pea naʻe ʻalu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he moʻunga ko Salimoni, ʻaia mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia; pea naʻe toʻo ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae toki ʻi hono nima, ʻo ne tā hifo ʻae vaʻakau mei he ngaahi ʻakau, ʻo ne toʻo ia, ʻo ʻai ki hono uma, pea ne pehē ki he kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, Ko ia kuo mou mamata kuo u fai, mou fakatoʻotoʻo ʻo faʻifaʻitaki kiate au.
49 So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.
Pea naʻe fai ʻe he kakai kotoa pē ʻo tā hifo taki taha ʻae tangata ʻene vaʻakau, ʻonau muimui ʻia ʻApimeleki, ʻo fokotuʻu ia ki he potu mālohi, pea naʻe tutu ʻae potu mālohi kiate kinautolu; ko ia naʻe mate ai ʻae kau tangata ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi foki, ko e kau tangata ʻe toko afe nai, mo e kau fefine.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
Pea naʻe ʻalu ai ʻa ʻApimeleki ki Tipesi, ʻo ne tauʻi ʻa Tipesi, pea ne lavaʻi ia.
51 But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
Ka naʻe ʻi ai ʻae fale tau mālohi ʻi he loto kolo, pea naʻe hola ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē mo e kau fefine, mo kinautolu kotoa pē ʻoe kolo, ʻonau tāpuni ia kiate kinautolu, pea naʻa nau ʻalu hake ki he tuʻafale ki ʻolunga.
52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he fale māʻolunga, ʻo ne tauʻi ia, pea naʻa ne ʻalu ofi ki he matapā ʻoe fale māʻolunga ke tutu ia ʻaki ʻae afi.
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
Pea naʻe sī hifo ʻe he fefine ha konga ʻoe maka momosi ki he ʻulu ʻo ʻApimeleki, koeʻuhi ke foa ai hono ʻulu.
54 He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
Pea naʻe ui fakatoʻotoʻo ia ki he talavou ko hono hoa tau, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Unuhi hoʻo heletā, ʻo tāmateʻi au, ke ʻoua naʻa pehē ʻe he kakai ʻiate au, naʻe tāmateʻi ia ʻe he fefine.” Pea naʻe tui ia ke ʻasi ʻe heʻene talavou, pea naʻa ne mate.
55 And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae kau tangata ʻo ʻIsileli kuo mate ʻa ʻApimeleki, naʻa nau ʻalu taki taha ki hono potu.
56 In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
Naʻe pehē ʻae totongi ʻe he ʻOtua kia ʻApimeleki ʻi he ngaahi angakovi ʻaia naʻa ne fai ki heʻene tamai, ʻi he tāmateʻi hono kāinga ʻe toko fitungofulu:
57 And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
Pea ko e ngaahi kovi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi naʻe totongi ia ʻe he ʻOtua ki honau ʻulu: pea naʻe hoko kiate kinautolu ʻae malaʻia naʻe fakahā ʻe Sotame ko e foha ʻo Selupeali.
