Judges 9
1 And he went Abimelech [the] son of Jerub-Baal Shechem towards to [the] brothers of mother his and he spoke to them and to all [the] clan of [the] house of [the] father of mother his saying.
And Abimelech son of Jerubba‘al goes to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and speaks to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
2 Speak please in [the] ears of all [the] citizens of Shechem what? [is] good for you ¿ to rule over you seventy man all [the] sons of Jerub-Baal or? to rule over you a man one and you will remember that [am] bone your and flesh your I.
“Now speak in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you—seventy men ruling over you (all the sons of Jerubba‘al), or one man ruling over you? And you have remembered that I [am] your bone and your flesh.”
3 And they spoke [the] brothers of mother his on him in [the] ears of all [the] citizens of Shechem all the words these and it turned aside heart their after Abimelech for they said [is] brother our he.
And his mother’s brothers speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclines after Abimelech, for they said, “He [is] our brother”;
4 And they gave to him seventy silver (from [the] house of Baal-*L(abh)*) Berith and he hired for them Abimelech men unprincipled and undisciplined and they went after him.
and they give seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Ba‘al-Berith to him, and Abimelech hires vain and unstable men with them, and they go after him;
5 And he went [the] house of father his Ophrah towards and he killed brothers his [the] sons of Jerub-Baal (seventy *L(abh)*) man on stone one and he was left Jotham [the] son of Jerub-Baal young for he hid himself.
and he goes into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slays his brothers, sons of Jerubba‘al, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubba‘al, is left, for he was hidden.
6 And they gathered all [the] citizens of Shechem and all Beth Millo and they went and they made king Abimelech to king near [the] great tree set up which [was] in Shechem.
And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] in Shechem;
7 And people told to Jotham and he went and he stood on [the] top of [the] mountain of Gerizim and he lifted up voice his and he called out and he said to them listen to me O citizens of Shechem so he may listen to you God.
and they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goes and stands on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifts up his voice, and calls, and says to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, and God listens to you:
8 Certainly they went the trees to anoint over them a king and they said to the olive tree (reign! *Q(k)*) over us.
The trees have diligently gone to anoint a king over them, and they say to the olive, Reign over us.
9 And it said to them the olive tree ¿ will I cease fatness my which by me people honor gods and men and will I go to sway over the trees.
And the olive says to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honor gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
10 And they said the trees to the fig tree come you reign over us.
And the trees say to the fig, Come, reign over us.
11 And it said to them the fig tree ¿ will I cease sweetness my and fruit my good and will I go to sway over the trees.
And the fig says to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
12 And they said the trees to the vine come you (reign *Q(k)*) over us.
And the trees say to the vine, Come, reign over us.
13 And it said to them the vine ¿ will I cease new wine my which makes glad gods and men and will I go to sway over the trees.
And the vine says to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is making gods and men glad, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
14 And they said all the trees to the thorn bush come you reign over us.
And all the trees say to the bramble, Come, reign over us.
15 And it said the thorn bush to the trees if in truth you [are] anointing me to king over you come take refuge in shade my and if not let it go out a fire from the thorn bush and let it consume [the] cedars of Lebanon.
And the bramble says to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not—fire comes out from the bramble, and devours the cedars of Lebanon.
16 And now if in faithfulness and in integrity you have acted and you have made king Abimelech and if good you have done with Jerub-Baal and with house his and if according to [the] dealing of hands his you have done to him.
And now, if you have acted in truth and in sincerity when you make Abimelech king; and if you have done good with Jerubba‘al, and with his house; and if you have done to him according to the deed of his hands—
17 That he fought father my on you and he threw life his from in front and he delivered you from [the] hand of Midian.
because my father has fought for you, and casts his life away from [him], and delivers you from the hand of Midian;
18 And you you have risen up on [the] house of father my this day and you have killed sons his seventy man on stone one and you have made king Abimelech [the] son of female slave his over [the] citizens of Shechem for [is] brother your he.
and you have risen against the house of my father today, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he [is] your brother—
19 And if in faithfulness and in integrity you have acted with Jerub-Baal and with house his the day this rejoice in Abimelech so he may rejoice also he in you.
indeed, if in truth and in sincerity you have acted with Jerubba‘al and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and he rejoices—even he—in you;
20 And if not let it go out a fire from Abimelech and let it consume [the] citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and let it go out a fire from [the] citizens of Shechem and from Beth Millo and let it consume Abimelech.
and if not—fire comes out from Abimelech and devours the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire comes out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devours Abimelech.”
21 And he fled Jotham and he ran away and he went Beer towards and he dwelt there [away] from before Abimelech brother his.
And Jotham hurries, and flees, and goes to Beer, and dwells there, from the face of his brother Abimelech.
22 And he ruled Abimelech over Israel three years.
And Abimelech is prince over Israel [for] three years,
23 And he sent God a spirit evil between Abimelech and between [the] citizens of Shechem and they dealt treacherously [the] citizens of Shechem with Abimelech.
and God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,
24 To come [the] violence of seventy [the] sons of Jerub-Baal and blood their to put on Abimelech brother their who he killed them and on [the] citizens of Shechem who they strengthened hands his to kill brothers his.
for [the] coming in of [the] violence [against] seventy sons of Jerubba‘al, and to place their blood on their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
25 And they set to him [the] citizens of Shechem ambushers on [the] tops of the mountains and they robbed every [one] who he passed by on them on the road and it was told to Abimelech.
And the masters of Shechem set ambushes for him on the top of the hills, and rob everyone who passes over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.
26 And he came Gaal [the] son of Ebed and brothers his and they passed on in Shechem and they trusted in him [the] citizens of Shechem.
And Gaal son of Ebed comes—also his brothers—and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,
27 And they went out the field and they gathered grapes vineyards their and they trod [them] and they made rejoicings and they went [the] house of god their and they ate and they drank and they cursed Abimelech.
and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech.
28 And he said - Gaal [the] son of Ebed who? [is] Abimelech and who? [is] Shechem that we will serve him ¿ not [is he] [the] son of Jerub-Baal and [is] Zebul? deputy his serve [the] men of Hamor [the] father of Shechem and why? will we serve him we.
And Gaal son of Ebed says, “Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? Is [he] not son of Jerubba‘al? And his commander Zebul? The men of Hamor father of Shechem serve you, and why do we serve him—we?
29 And who? will he give the people this in hand my and I will remove Abimelech and he said of Abimelech make numerous army your and come out!
And oh that this people were in my hand—then I turn Abimelech aside”; and he says to Abimelech, “Increase your host, and come out.”
30 And he heard Zebul [the] official of the city [the] words of Gaal [the] son of Ebed and it burned anger his.
And Zebul, prince of the city, hears the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burns,
31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech in treachery saying here! Gaal [the] son of Ebed and brothers his [are] coming Shechem towards and here they [are] shutting up the city on you.
and he sends messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming into Shechem, and behold, they are fortifying the city against you;
32 And therefore arise night you and the people which [is] with you and lie in wait in the field.
and now, rise by night, you and the people who [are] with you, and lay wait in the field,
33 And it will be in the morning when rises the sun you will rise early and you will make a raid on the city and there! he and the people which [is] with him [are] going out against you and you will do to him just as it will find hand your.
and it has been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, you rise early, and have pushed against the city; and behold, he and the people who [are] with him are going out to you—and you have done to him as your hand finds.”
34 And he arose Abimelech and all the people which [was] with him night and they lay in wait on Shechem four companies.
And Abimelech rises, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem—four detachments;
35 And he went out Gaal [the] son of Ebed and he stood [the] entrance of [the] gate of the city and he arose Abimelech and the people which [was] with him from the ambush.
and Gaal son of Ebed goes out, and stands at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rises—also the people who [are] with him—from the ambush,
36 And he saw Gaal the people and he said to Zebul there! a people [is] coming down from [the] tops of the mountains and he said to him Zebul [the] shadow of the mountains you [are] seeing like men.
and Gaal sees the people and says to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the top of the hills”; and Zebul says to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the hills like men.”
37 And he repeated again Gaal to speak and he said there! a people [are] coming down from with [the] center of the land and a company one [is] coming from [the] direction of [the] great tree of [the] soothsayer.
And Gaal adds yet to speak and says, “Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
38 And he said to him Zebul where? then [is] mouth your O [you] who you said who? [is] Abimelech that we will serve him ¿ not [is] this the people which you rejected it go out please now and fight against him.
And Zebul says to him, “Where [is] your mouth now, in that you say, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? Is this not the people against which you have kicked? Please go out now and fight against it.”
39 And he went out Gaal before [the] citizens of Shechem and he fought against Abimelech.
And Gaal goes out before the masters of Shechem, and fights against Abimelech,
40 And he pursued him Abimelech and he fled from before him and they fell [those] fatally wounded many to [the] entrance of the gate.
and Abimelech pursues him, and he flees from his presence, and many fall wounded—to the opening of the gate.
41 And he dwelt Abimelech at Arumah and he drove out Zebul Gaal and brothers his from dwelling at Shechem.
And Abimelech abides in Arumah, and Zebul casts out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.
42 And it was from [the] next day and it went out the people the field and people told to Abimelech.
And it comes to pass, on the next day, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,
43 And he took the people and he divided them into three companies and he lay in wait in the field and he saw and there! the people [was] going out from the city and he rose up on them and he struck down them.
and he takes the people, and divides them into three detachments, and lays wait in a field, and looks, and behold, the people are coming out from the city, and he rises against them, and strikes them.
44 And Abimelech and the companies which [were] with him they made a raid and they stood [the] entrance of [the] gate of the city and [the] two the companies they made a raid on all [those] who [were] in the field and they struck down them.
And Abimelech and the detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and strike them,
45 And Abimelech [was] fighting against the city all the day that and he captured the city and the people which [was] in it he killed and he pulled down the city and he sowed it salt.
and Abimelech has fought against the city all that day, and captures the city, and has slain the people who [are] in it, and he breaks down the city, and sows it [with] salt.
46 And they heard all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem and they went into [the] underground chamber of [the] house of El-Berith.
And all the masters of the Tower of Shechem hear, and go into the high place of the house of the god Berith,
47 And it was told to Abimelech that they had gathered together all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem.
and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the Tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,
48 And he went up Abimelech [the] mountain of Zalmon he and all the people which [was] with him and he took Abimelech the axes in hand his and he cut off a branch of wood and he lifted up it and he put [it] on shoulder his and he said to the people which [was] with him whatever you have seen I have done hurry do like me.
and Abimelech goes up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech takes the great axe in his hand, and cuts off a bough of the trees, and lifts it up, and sets [it] on his shoulder, and says to the people who [are] with him, “What you have seen me do—hurry, do as I [have done].”
49 And they cut off also all the people everyone own branch his and they went after Abimelech and they put [them] over the underground chamber and they set on fire over them the underground chamber with fire and they died also all [the] men of [the] tower of Shechem about a thousand man and woman.
And every one of the people cuts down his bough and goes after Abimelech, and sets [them] at the high place, and burns the high place with fire by these, and also all the men of the Tower of Shechem die—about one thousand men and women.
50 And he went Abimelech to Thebez and he encamped at Thebez and he captured it.
And Abimelech goes to Thebez, and encamps against Thebez, and captures it,
51 And a tower of strength it was in [the] middle of the city and they fled there towards all the men and the women and all [the] citizens of the city and they shut [the] door behind them and they went up on [the] roof of the tower.
and a strong tower has been in the midst of the city, and all the men and the women flee there, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.
52 And he came Abimelech to the tower and he fought against it and he drew near to [the] entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.
And Abimelech comes to the tower, and fights against it, and draws near to the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,
53 And she threw a woman one a mill-stone of an upper mill-stone on [the] head of Abimelech and it crushed skull his.
and a certain woman casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks his skull,
54 And he called quickly to the young man - [who] carried armor his and he said to him draw sword your and kill me lest people should say of me a woman she killed him and he pierced through him young man his and he died.
and he calls quickly to the young man carrying his weapons and says to him, “Draw your sword, and you have put me to death, lest they say of me—A woman slew him”; and his young man pierced him through, and he dies.
55 And they saw [the] man of Israel that he was dead Abimelech and they went everyone to own place his.
And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and each one goes to his place;
56 And he repaid God [the] evil of Abimelech which he had done to father his by killing seventy brothers his.
and God turns back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brothers;
57 And all [the] evil of [the] men of Shechem he repaid God on head their and it came to them [the] curse of Jotham [the] son of Jerub-Baal.
and God has returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their [own] head, and the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubba‘al comes to them.
