Judges 9
1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Suatu hari, Abimelek anak Gideon pergi ke Sikem untuk menemui saudara-saudara ibunya. Dia berkata kepada mereka dan kepada seluruh keluarga ibunya,
2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
“Tanyakanlah kepada semua pemuka kota Sikem, ‘Bagi kalian, apakah lebih baik ketujuh puluh anak Gideon memerintah atas kalian, atau hanya satu raja saja?’ Ingatlah bahwa aku ini saudara kandung kalian sendiri.”
3 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.
Lalu saudara-saudara ibunya menyampaikan tawaran Abimelek itu kepada semua pemimpin Sikem. Mereka pun setuju, sebab kata mereka, “Dia memang saudara kita.”
4 And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, which followed him.
Para pemimpin Sikem kemudian memberi Abimelek 70 uang perak dari kuil dewa Baal Berit. Abimelek menggunakan uang itu untuk membayar preman-preman menjadi pengikutnya.
5 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: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Kemudian Abimelek pergi ke rumah ayahnya di Ofra dan membunuh tujuh puluh dari saudara laki-lakinya di atas satu batu. Tetapi Yotam, anak bungsu Gideon, berhasil selamat karena bersembunyi.
6 And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
Lalu warga kota Sikem dan kota Bet Milo mengadakan pertemuan di bawah pohon besar yang dianggap keramat di Sikem, dan mengangkat Abimelek menjadi raja mereka.
7 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.
Ketika Yotam mendengar kabar ini, dia naik ke puncak gunung Gerizim. Di sana dia berdiri dan berseru dengan lantang kepada orang-orang Sikem: Dengarkan saya, hai para pemimpin Sikem, supaya Allah moga-moga juga akan mendengarkan kalian!
8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Pada suatu hari, pohon-pohon bersepakat untuk mengangkat raja bagi bangsa pohon. Kata mereka kepada pohon zaitun, “Jadilah raja kami!”
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
Tetapi jawab pohon zaitun, “Aku tidak mau berhenti menghasilkan minyakku, yang dipakai sebagai tanda kehormatan untuk manusia maupun dewa-dewa, hanya untuk melambai-lambai di atas pohon-pohon lain.”
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
Lalu kata pohon-pohon itu kepada pohon ara, “Jadilah raja kami!”
11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
Tetapi jawab pohon ara, “Aku tidak mau berhenti menghasilkan buahku yang lezat hanya untuk melambai-lambai di atas pohon-pohon lain.”
12 And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
Lalu kata pohon-pohon itu kepada pohon anggur, “Jadilah raja kami!”
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
Tetapi jawab pohon anggur, “Aku tidak mau berhenti menghasilkan anggur yang menggembirakan manusia maupun dewa-dewa hanya untuk melambai-lambai di atas pohon-pohon lain.”
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
Akhirnya berkatalah semua pohon itu kepada semak duri, “Jadilah raja kami!”
15 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.
Jawab semak duri kepada pohon-pohon itu, “Jika kalian benar-benar ingin memilihku menjadi raja kalian, datanglah berlindung di bawah ranting-rantingku! Tetapi jika tidak, biarlah api keluar dariku dan menghanguskan kalian semua, bahkan sampai pohon-pohon aras di Libanon!”
16 Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, 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;
Lanjut Yotam, “Sekarang, apakah kalian sudah bertindak benar saat mengangkat Abimelek menjadi raja? Dan apakah kalian sudah berbuat baik kepada Gideon dan keluarganya setimpal dengan perbuatan baiknya bagi kalian?
17 (for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
Ayahku sudah mempertaruhkan nyawanya waktu dia menggerakkan pasukan Israel untuk melepaskan kalian dari penindasan bangsa Midian.
18 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; )
Tetapi hari ini kalian menyerang keluarga ayahku. Kalian membunuh tujuh puluh anak laki-lakinya pada satu batu! Kalian mengangkat Abimelek, anak dari budak perempuan ayahku, menjadi raja atas warga Sikem, hanya karena dia adalah saudara kalian.
19 if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
“Kalau kalian memang bertindak benar kepada Gideon dan keluarganya, biarlah kalian berbahagia dipimpin Abimelek, dan Abimelek juga berbahagia menjadi raja kalian.
20 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.
Tetapi jika tidak, biarlah Abimelek mendatangkan masalah bagi warga Sikem dan Bet Milo, juga sebaliknya, orang Sikem dan Bet Milo menjadi celaka bagi Abimelek— seperti api keluar dari semak duri dan menghanguskan bangsa pohon!”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Sesudah itu Yotam melarikan diri ke kota Beer dan menetap di sana untuk menghindar dari Abimelek, saudaranya itu.
22 And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Setelah Abimelek memerintah atas bangsa Israel selama tiga tahun,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Allah mengirimkan hawa permusuhan antara Abimelek dengan para pemimpin Sikem sehingga mereka berbalik melawan Abimelek.
24 that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, which strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
Allah melakukan ini supaya ada pembayaran hutang darah dari Abimelek dan orang-orang Sikem, karena Abimelek sudah membunuh tujuh puluh anak laki-laki Gideon, dan orang-orang Sikem sudah membantu Abimelek dalam kejahatan itu.
25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
Para pemimpin Sikem ingin membunuh Abimelek, jadi mereka membayar sekelompok perampok untuk bersembunyi di puncak-puncak bukit dan menyergap dia. Tetapi para perampok itu menjarah semua orang yang lewat di sana. Akhirnya rencana mereka itu terdengar oleh Abimelek.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Pada waktu itu, Gaal anak Ebed bersama saudara-saudaranya datang untuk menetap di kota Sikem. Kebanyakan pemimpin Sikem setuju untuk menjadikan dia pemimpin mereka.
27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
Suatu hari, mereka pergi ke ladang, memanen anggur dari kebun mereka, memerasnya untuk membuat minuman anggur, lalu berpesta. Mereka masuk ke kuil dewa mereka dan makan minum sambil mengutuki Abimelek.
28 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 ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
Gaal berkata, “Abimelek itu anak si Yerubaal. Jadi sebenarnya dia tidak pantas menjadi pemimpin kita. Zebul, si walikota, juga sama saja. Dia hanya orang suruhan Abimelek. Sedangkan Hemor, nenek moyang saya, adalah pendiri Sikem. Lebih pantas kalau kota ini dipimpin oleh keturunan Hemor!
29 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.
Kalau saja saya menjadi pemimpin Sikem, saya akan menyingkirkan Abimelek! Akan saya katakan kepadanya, ‘Kumpulkan tentaramu. Ayo kita perang!’”
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Kata-kata Gaal itu terdengar oleh Zebul, walikota Sikem, sehingga dia sangat murka.
31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.
Maka dia mengirim pesan rahasia kepada Abimelek, isinya, “Gaal anak Ebed dan saudara-saudaranya sudah datang ke Sikem. Mereka menghasut warga kota untuk memberontak darimu.
32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
Karena itu, datanglah malam ini bersama pasukanmu dan bersembunyilah di padang.
33 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.
Besok pagi, saat matahari terbit, seranglah Sikem. Waktu Gaal dan orang-orangnya keluar menghadapimu, itulah kesempatan untuk menghabisi dia!”
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Maka Abimelek dan seluruh pasukannya berangkat pada malam hari. Mereka dibagi menjadi empat kelompok, kemudian bersembunyi di sekeliling Sikem untuk menyerbu kota itu.
35 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 the ambushment.
Saat Gaal keluar dan berdiri di pintu gerbang kota, Abimelek beserta pasukannya mulai keluar dari tempat persembunyian.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
Gaal melihat mereka dan berkata kepada Zebul, “Lihat, di sana ada orang-orang turun dari puncak gunung!” Jawab Zebul, “Itu hanya bayang-bayang gunung, bukan manusia.”
37 And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
Lalu Gaal berkata lagi, “Bukan! Ada orang-orang yang turun dari puncak bukit itu! Dan ada satu kelompok lagi datang dari jalan Pohon Besar Peramal!”
38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
Jawab Zebul, “Nah, di mana sekarang mulut besarmu itu? Katamu, ‘Siapakah Abimelek sampai-sampai kita harus mengabdi kepadanya?’ Itulah orang-orang yang sudah engkau hina! Sekarang majulah melawan mereka.”
39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Maka Gaal mengerahkan warga Sikem yang berpihak kepadanya. Mereka keluar memerangi Abimelek dan pasukannya.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
Abimelek mengejar Gaal, dan Gaal melarikan diri. Banyak orang Sikem terluka bahkan mati sebelum mereka bisa masuk kembali ke pintu gerbang kota.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drave out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Lalu Abimelek kembali tinggal di Aruma. Sementara itu, Zebul mengusir Gaal dan saudara-saudaranya dari Sikem.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Keesokan harinya, orang-orang Sikem bersiap-siap keluar dari kota untuk bekerja di ladang-ladang mereka seperti biasa. Kegiatan mereka itu dilaporkan kepada Abimelek.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
Maka Abimelek membawa pasukannya, membagi mereka menjadi tiga kelompok, dan menyuruh mereka bersembunyi di ladang-ladang. Ketika banyak warga keluar dari kota, Abimelek memberi perintah untuk menyerang dan membunuh mereka.
44 And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
Abimelek bersama kelompoknya menyerbu pintu gerbang kota dan berjaga di sana, sedangkan dua kelompok yang lain menyerbu semua orang di ladang dan membunuh mereka.
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Abimelek berperang melawan Sikem sepanjang hari. Dia merebut kota itu, membunuh semua penduduknya, lalu menghancurkan kota itu dan menaburinya dengan garam.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
Mendengar kabar tentang pertempuran di luar gerbang kota, seluruh pemimpin kota yang tinggal di dalam Menara Sikem lari ke kubu di kuil Baal Berit.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Ketika Abimelek mendapat laporan bahwa semua warga Menara Sikem sudah berkumpul di sana,
48 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 up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
dia pun pergi ke gunung Zalmon bersama seluruh pasukannya. Abimelek mengambil sebuah kapak, memotong beberapa dahan pohon dan memikulnya. Dia memerintahkan pasukannya, “Cepat, lakukanlah seperti yang saya lakukan!”
49 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.
Maka setiap prajuritnya juga memotong dahan-dahan dan mengikuti Abimelek. Mereka menaruh dahan-dahan itu pada kubu di kuil Baal Berit lalu membakarnya. Semua warga Menara Sikem mati, sekitar seribu orang, laki-laki dan perempuan.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Selanjutnya Abimelek pergi ke kota Tebes. Dia mengepung dan menaklukkan kota itu.
51 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 themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.
Tetapi ada menara yang sangat kuat di tengah-tengah Tebes. Seluruh warga baik laki-laki maupun perempuan, juga semua pemimpin kota, masuk ke dalam menara itu. Mereka mengunci pintunya dan naik ke atap menara.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimelek pun mendatangi menara itu untuk menyerang. Ketika dia mendekati pintunya dan hendak membakarnya,
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and brake his skull.
seorang perempuan di atas menjatuhkan batu kilangan menimpa Abimelek sehingga remuklah tempurung kepalanya.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
Abimelek cepat-cepat menyuruh pemuda yang membawa senjatanya, “Tarik pedangmu dan bunuhlah aku. Jangan sampai orang-orang berkata, ‘Abimelek dibunuh oleh perempuan.’” Maka pemuda itu menusuk Abimelek dan dia pun mati.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Ketika pasukan Israel melihat bahwa Abimelek sudah mati, mereka pulang ke rumah masing-masing.
56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Begitulah Allah mengatur pembayaran hutang darah pada Abimelek karena dia membunuh tujuh puluh saudaranya.
57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Allah juga membalas orang-orang Sikem atas segala perbuatan jahat mereka. Demikianlah kutukan Yotam anak Gideon terhadap mereka menjadi kenyataan.
