Judges 9
1 Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to his mother's family, and said to them and to all the family of his mother's father,
さてエルバアルの子アビメレクはシケムに行き、母の身内の人たちのもとに行って、彼らと母の父の家の一族とに言った、
2 Say now in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem, Is it better for you to be ruled by all the seventy sons of Jerubbaal or by one man only? And keep in mind that I am your bone and your flesh.
「どうぞ、シケムのすべての人々の耳に告げてください、『エルバアルのすべての子七十人であなたがたを治めるのと、ただひとりであなたがたを治めるのと、どちらがよいか。わたしがあなたがたの骨肉であることを覚えてください』と」。
3 So his mother's family said all this about him in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem: and their hearts were turned to Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.
そこで母の身内の人たちがアビメレクに代ってこれらの言葉をことごとくシケムのすべての人々の耳に告げると、彼らは心をアビメレクに傾け、「彼はわれわれの兄弟だ」と言って、
4 And they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech got the support of a number of uncontrolled and good-for-nothing persons.
バアル・ベリテの宮から銀七十シケルを取って彼に与えた。アビメレクはそれをもって、やくざのならず者を雇って自分に従わせ、
5 Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and put his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, to death on the same stone; however, Jotham, the youngest, kept himself safe by going away to a secret place.
オフラにある父の家に行って、エルバアルの子で、自分の兄弟である七十人を、一つの石の上で殺した。ただしエルバアルの末の子ヨタムは身を隠したので生き残った。
6 And all the townsmen of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and went and made Abimelech their king, by the oak of the pillar in Shechem.
そこでシケムのすべての人々とベテミロのすべての人々は集まり、行ってシケムにある石の柱のかたわらのテレビンの木のもとで、アビメレクを立てて王とした。
7 Now Jotham, on hearing of it, went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and crying out with a loud voice said to them, Give ear to me, you townsmen of Shechem, so that God may give ear to you.
このことをヨタムに告げる者があったので、ヨタムは行ってゲリジム山の頂に立ち、大声に叫んで彼らに言った、「シケムの人々よ、わたしに聞きなさい。そうすれば神はあなたがたに聞かれるでしょう。
8 One day the trees went out to make a king for themselves; and they said to the olive-tree, Be king over us.
ある時、もろもろの木が自分たちの上に王を立てようと出て行ってオリブの木に言った、『わたしたちの王になってください』。
9 But the olive-tree said to them, Am I to give up my wealth of oil, by which men give honour to God, and go waving over the trees?
しかしオリブの木は彼らに言った、『わたしはどうして神と人とをあがめるために用いられるわたしの油を捨てて行って、もろもろの木を治めることができましょう』。
10 Then the trees said to the fig-tree, You come and be king over us.
もろもろの木はまたいちじくの木に言った、『きてわたしたちの王になってください』。
11 But the fig-tree said to them, Am I to give up my sweet taste and my good fruit and go waving over the trees?
しかしいちじくの木は彼らに言った、『わたしはどうしてわたしの甘味と、わたしの良い果実とを捨てて行って、もろもろの木を治めることができましょう』。
12 Then the trees said to the vine, You come and be king over us.
もろもろの木はまたぶどうの木に言った、『きてわたしたちの王になってください』。
13 But the vine said to them, Am I to give up my wine, which makes glad God and men, to go waving over the trees?
しかし、ぶどうの木は彼らに言った、『わたしはどうして神と人とを喜ばせるわたしのぶどう酒を捨てて行って、もろもろの木を治めることができましょう』。
14 Then all the trees said to the thorn, You come and be king over us.
そこですべての木はいばらに言った、『きてわたしたちの王になってください』。
15 And the thorn said to the trees, If it is truly your desire to make me your king, then come and put your faith in my shade; and if not, may fire come out of the thorn, burning up the cedars of Lebanon.
いばらはもろもろの木に言った、『あなたがたが真実にわたしを立てて王にするならば、きてわたしの陰に難を避けなさい。そうしなければ、いばらから火が出てレバノンの香柏を焼きつくすでしょう』。
16 So now, if you have done truly and uprightly in making Abimelech king, and if you have done well to Jerubbaal and his house in reward for the work of his hands;
あなたがたがアビメレクを立てて王にしたことは、真実と敬意とをもってしたものですか。あなたがたはエルバアルとその家をよく扱い、彼のおこないに応じてしたのですか。
17 (For my father made war for you, and put his life in danger, and made you free from the hands of Midian;
わたしの父はあなたがたのために戦い、自分の命を投げ出して、あなたがたをミデアンの手から救い出したのに、
18 And you have gone against my father's family this day, and have put to death his sons, even seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his servant-wife, king over the townsmen of Shechem because he is your brother; )
あなたがたは、きょう、わたしの父の家に反抗して起り、その子七十人を一つの石の上で殺し、その腰元の子アビメレクをあなたがたの身内の者であるゆえに立てて、シケムの人々の王にしました。
19 If then you have done what is true and upright to Jerubbaal and his family this day, may you have joy in Abimelech, and may he have joy in you;
あなたがたが、きょう、エルバアルとその家になされたことが真実と敬意をもってしたものであるならば、アビメレクのために喜びなさい。彼もまたあなたがたのために喜ぶでしょう。
20 But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech, burning up the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo, for the destruction of Abimelech.
しかし、そうでなければ、アビメレクから火が出て、シケムの人々とベテミロとを焼きつくし、またシケムの人々とベテミロからも火が出てアビメレクを焼きつくすでしょう」。
21 Then Jotham straight away went in flight to Beer, and was living there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
こうしてヨタムは走って逃げ去り、ベエルに行き、兄弟アビメレクの顔をさけてそこに住んだ。
22 So Abimelech was chief over Israel for three years.
アビメレクは三年の間イスラエルを治めたが、
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the townsmen of Shechem; and the townsmen of Shechem were false to Abimelech;
神はアビメレクとシケムの人々の間に悪霊をおくられたので、シケムの人々はアビメレクを欺くようになった。
24 So that punishment for the violent attack made on the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for their blood, might come on Abimelech, their brother, who put them to death, and on the townsmen of Shechem who gave him their help in putting his brothers to death.
これはエルバアルの七十人の子が受けた暴虐と彼らの血が、彼らを殺した兄弟アビメレクの上と、彼の手を強めてその兄弟を殺させたシケムの人々の上とに報いとなってきたのである。
25 And the townsmen of Shechem put secret watchers on the tops of the mountains, and they made attacks on all who went by on the road and took their goods; and word of this came to Abimelech.
シケムの人々は彼に敵して待ち伏せする者を山々の頂におき、すべてその道を通り過ぎる者を略奪させた。このことがアビメレクに告げ知らされた。
26 Then Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their faith in him.
さてエベデの子ガアルはその身内の人々と一緒にシケムに移住したが、シケムの人々は彼を信用した。
27 And they went out into their fields and got in the fruit of their vines, and when the grapes had been crushed, they made a holy feast and went into the house of their god, and over their food and drink they were cursing Abimelech.
人々は畑に出てぶどうを取り入れ、それを踏み絞って祭をし、神の宮に行って飲み食いしてアビメレクをのろった。
28 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we are to be his servants? Is it not right for the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his captain to be servants to the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? But why are we to be his servants?
そしてエベデの子ガアルは言った、「アビメレクは何ものか。シケムのわれわれは何ものなれば彼に仕えなければならないのか。エルバアルの子とその役人ゼブルはシケムの先祖ハモルの一族に仕えたではないか。われわれはどうして彼に仕えなければならないのか。
29 If only I had authority over this people! I would put Abimelech out of the way, and I would say to Abimelech, Make your army strong, and come out.
ああ、この民がわたしの手の下にあったらよいのだが。そうすればわたしはアビメレクをやめさせ、アビメレクに向かって『おまえの軍勢を増して出てこい』と言うであろう」。
30 Now Zebul, the ruler of the town, hearing what Gaal, the son of Ebed, had said, was moved to wrath.
町のつかさゼブルはエベデの子ガアルの言葉を聞いて怒りを発し、
31 And he sent to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, See, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are working up the town against you.
使者をアルマにおるアビメレクにつかわして言わせた、「エベデの子ガアルとその身内の人々がシケムにきて、町を騒がせ、あなたにそむかせようとしています。
32 So now, get up by night, you and your people, and keep watch in the field secretly;
それであなたと、あなたと共におる人々が夜のうちに行って、野に身を伏せ、
33 And in the morning, when the sun is up, get up early and make a rush on the town; and when he and his people come out against you, do to them whatever you have a chance to do.
朝になって、日ののぼるとき、早く起き出て町を襲うならば、ガアルと、彼と共におる民は出てきて、あなたに抵抗するでしょう。その時あなたは機を得て、彼らを撃つことができるでしょう」。
34 So Abimelech and the people with him got up by night, in four bands, to make a surprise attack on Shechem.
アビメレクと、彼と共にいたすべての民は夜のうちに起き出て、四組に分れ、身を伏せてシケムをうかがった。
35 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and took his place at the doorway into the town; then Abimelech and his people got up from the place where they had been waiting.
エベデの子ガアルが出て、町の門の入口に立ったとき、アビメレクと、彼と共にいた民が身を伏せていたところから立ちあがったので、
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, See! people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shade of the mountains like men.
ガアルは民を見てゼブルに言った、「ごらんなさい。民が山々の頂からおりてきます」。ゼブルは彼に言った、「あなたは山々の影を人のように見るのです」。
37 And Gaal said again, See! people are coming down from the middle of the land, and one band is coming by way of the oak-tree of the Seers.
ガアルは再び言った、「ごらんなさい。民が国の中央部からおりてきます。一組は占い師のテレビンの木の方からきます」。
38 Then Zebul said to him, Now where is your loud talk when you said, Who is Abimelech that we are to be his servants? Is this not the people whom you were rating so low? Go out now, and make war on them.
ゼブルは彼に言った、「あなたがかつて『アビメレクは何ものか。われわれは何ものなれば彼に仕えなければならないのか』と言ったあなたの口は今どこにありますか。これはあなたが侮った民ではありませんか。今、出て彼らと戦いなさい」。
39 So Gaal went out at the head of the townsmen of Shechem and made war on Abimelech.
そこでガアルはシケムの人々を率い、出てアビメレクと戦ったが、
40 And Abimelech went after him and he went in flight before him; and a great number were falling by the sword all the way up to the town.
アビメレクは彼を追ったので、ガアルは彼の前から逃げた。そして傷つき倒れる者が多く、門の入口にまで及んだ。
41 Then Abimelech went back to Arumah; and Zebul sent Gaal and his brothers away and would not let them go on living in Shechem.
こうしてアビメレクは引き続いてアルマにいたが、ゼブルはガアルとその身内の人々を追い出してシケムにおらせなかった。
42 Now the day after, the people went out into the fields; and news of it came to Abimelech.
翌日、民が畑に出ると、そのことがアビメレクに聞えた。
43 And he took his people, separating them into three bands, and was waiting secretly in the field; and when he saw the people coming out of the town, he went up and made an attack on them.
アビメレクは自分の民を率い、それを三組に分け、野に身を伏せて、うかがっていると、民が町から出てきたので、たちあがってこれを撃った。
44 And Abimelech with his band made a rush, and took up their position at the doorway into the town; and the other two bands made a rush on all those who were in the fields, and overcame them.
アビメレクと、彼と共にいた組の者は襲って行って、町の門の入口に立ち、他の二組は野にいたすべてのものを襲って、それを殺した。
45 And all that day Abimelech was fighting against the town; and he took it, and put to death the people who were in it, and had the town pulled down and covered with salt.
アビメレクはその日、終日、町を攻め、ついに町を取って、そのうちの民を殺し、町を破壊して、塩をまいた。
46 Then all the townsmen of the tower of Shechem, hearing of it, went into the inner room of the house of El-berith.
シケムのやぐらの人々は皆これを聞いて、エルベリテの宮の塔にはいった。
47 And word was given to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were there together.
シケムのやぐらの人々が皆集まったことがアビメレクに聞えたので、
48 Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, with all his people; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and, cutting down branches of trees, took them and put them on his back. And he said to the people who were with him, Be quick and do as you have seen me do.
アビメレクは自分と一緒にいた民をことごとく率いてザルモン山にのぼり、アビメレクは手におのを取って、木の枝を切り落し、それを取りあげて自分の肩にのせ、一緒にいた民にむかって言った、「あなたがたはわたしがしたことを見たとおりに急いでしなさい」。
49 So all the people got branches, every man cutting down a branch, and they went with Abimelech at their head and, massing the branches against the inner room, put fire to the room over them; so all those who were in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, were burned to death with it.
そこで民もまた皆おのおのその枝を切り落し、アビメレクに従って行って、枝を塔によせかけ、塔に火をつけて彼らを攻めた。こうしてシケムのやぐらの人々もまたことごとく死んだ。男女おおよそ一千人であった。
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and put his army in position against Thebez and took it.
ついでアビメレクはテベツに行き、テベツに向かって陣を張り、これを攻め取ったが、
51 But in the middle of the town there was a strong tower, to which all the men and women of the town went in flight and, shutting themselves in, went up to the roof of the tower.
町の中に一つの堅固なやぐらがあって、すべての男女すなわち町の人々が皆そこに逃げ込み、あとを閉ざして、やぐらの屋根に上ったので、
52 And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it.
アビメレクはやぐらのもとに押し寄せてこれを攻め、やぐらの入口に近づいて、火をつけて焼こうとしたとき、
53 But a certain woman sent a great stone, such as is used for crushing grain, on to the head of Abimelech, cracking the bone.
ひとりの女がアビメレクの頭に、うすの上石を投げて、その頭骸骨を砕いた。
54 Then quickly crying out to his body-servant, he said to him, Take out your sword and put an end to me straight away, so that men may not say of me, His death was the work of a woman. So the young man put his sword through him, causing his death.
アビメレクは自分の武器を持つ若者を急ぎ呼んで言った、「つるぎを抜いてわたしを殺せ。さもないと人々はわたしを、女に殺されたのだと言うであろう」。その若者が彼を刺し通したので彼は死んだ。
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went away, every man to his place.
イスラエルの人々はアビメレクの死んだのを見て、おのおの去って家に帰った。
56 In this way Abimelech was rewarded by God for the evil he had done to his father in putting his seventy brothers to death;
このように神はアビメレクがその兄弟七十人を殺して、自分の父に対して犯した悪に報いられた。
57 And God sent back on to the heads of the men of Shechem all the evil they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came on them.
また神はシケムの人々のすべての悪を彼らのこうべに報いられた。こうしてエルバアルの子ヨタムののろいが、彼らに臨んだのである。
