Judges 9
1 Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
Abimelec, hijo de Jerobaal, fue a Siquem, a los hermanos de su madre, y habló con ellos y con toda la familia de la casa del padre de su madre, diciendo:
2 “Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
“Por favor, habla en los oídos de todos los hombres de Siquem: “¿Os conviene que todos los hijos de Jerobaal, que son setenta personas, os gobiernen, o que uno solo os gobierne? Recordad también que yo soy vuestro hueso y vuestra carne”.
3 So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
Los hermanos de su madre hablaron de él a oídos de todos los hombres de Siquem todas estas palabras. Sus corazones se inclinaron a seguir a Abimelec, pues dijeron: “Es nuestro hermano”.
4 So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
Le dieron setenta piezas de plata de la casa de Baal Berit, con las que Abimelec contrató a compañeros vanos y temerarios que lo seguían.
5 They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
Fue a la casa de su padre, en Ofra, y mató a sus hermanos los hijos de Jerobaal, que eran setenta personas, de una sola pedrada; pero quedó Jotam, el hijo menor de Jerobaal, porque se escondió.
6 Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
Todos los hombres de Siquem se reunieron con toda la casa de Milo, y fueron a hacer rey a Abimelec junto a la encina de la columna que estaba en Siquem.
7 When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
Cuando se lo contaron a Jotam, éste fue y se puso en la cima del monte Gerizim, y alzando la voz, gritó y les dijo: “Escuchadme, hombres de Siquem, para que Dios os escuche.
8 One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
Los árboles se dispusieron a ungir un rey sobre ellos. Le dijeron al olivo: ‘Reina sobre nosotros’.
9 “But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
“Pero el olivo les dijo: ‘¿Debo dejar de producir mi aceite, con el que honran a Dios y a los hombres por medio de mí, e ir a agitarme sobre los árboles?
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
“Los árboles dijeron a la higuera: ‘Ven y reina sobre nosotros’.
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
“Pero la higuera les dijo: ‘¿Debo dejar mi dulzura y mi buen fruto e ir a agitarme sobre los árboles?
12 “Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
“Los árboles dijeron a la vid: ‘Ven y reina sobre nosotros’.
13 “But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
“La vid les dijo: “¿Debo dejar mi vino nuevo, que alegra a Dios y a los hombres, e ir a agitarme sobre los árboles?
14 “Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
“Entonces todos los árboles dijeron a la zarza: ‘Ven y reina sobre nosotros’.
15 “The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
“La zarza dijo a los árboles: ‘Si en verdad me ungís como rey sobre vosotros, venid a refugiaros a mi sombra; y si no, que salga fuego de la zarza y devore los cedros del Líbano’.
16 “[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
“Ahora bien, si has actuado con verdad y justicia, pues has hecho rey a Abimelec, y si has tratado bien a Jerobaal y a su casa, y has hecho con él lo que merecen sus manos
17 “[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
(pues mi padre luchó por ti, arriesgó su vida y te libró de la mano de Madián
18 But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
y tú te has levantado hoy contra la casa de mi padre y has matado a sus hijos, setenta personas, sobre una sola piedra, y has hecho a Abimelec, hijo de su sierva, rey sobre los hombres de Siquem, porque es tu hermano);
19 So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
si hoy has tratado con verdad y justicia a Jerobaal y a su casa, alégrate con Abimelec, y que él también se alegre contigo;
20 But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
pero si no, que salga fuego de Abimelec y devore a los hombres de Siquem y a la casa de Milo.”
21 [After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
Jotam huyó y se fue a Beer y vivió allí, por temor a Abimelec, su hermano.
22 Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
Abimelec fue príncipe de Israel durante tres años.
23 Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
Entonces Dios envió un espíritu maligno entre Abimelec y los hombres de Siquem; y los hombres de Siquem trataron con traición a Abimelec,
24 The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
para que llegara la violencia hecha a los setenta hijos de Jerobaal, y para que su sangre cayera sobre Abimelec, su hermano, que los mató, y sobre los hombres de Siquem que fortalecieron sus manos para matar a sus hermanos.
25 The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
Los hombres de Siquem le tendieron una emboscada en las cimas de los montes, y robaron a todos los que pasaban por ese camino; y Abimelec fue informado de ello.
26 There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
Gaal, hijo de Ebed, vino con sus hermanos y pasó a Siquem, y los hombres de Siquem se encomendaron a él.
27 They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
Salieron al campo, cosecharon sus viñas, pisaron las uvas, celebraron y entraron en la casa de su dios, comieron y bebieron, y maldijeron a Abimelec.
28 Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
Gaal, hijo de Ebed, dijo: “¿Quién es Abimelec y quién es Siquem para que le sirvamos? ¿No es él hijo de Jerobaal? ¿No es Zebul su oficial? Sirvan a los hombres de Hamor, padre de Siquem, pero ¿por qué hemos de servirle a él?
29 If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
¡Ojalá este pueblo estuviera bajo mi mano! Entonces eliminaría a Abimelec”. Le dijo a Abimelec: “¡Aumenta tu ejército y sal!”
30 When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
Cuando Zebul, el gobernante de la ciudad, oyó las palabras de Gaal hijo de Ebed, su ira ardió.
31 He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
Envió mensajeros a Abimelec con astucia, diciendo: “He aquí que Gaal hijo de Ebed y sus hermanos han venido a Siquem, y he aquí que incitan a la ciudad contra ti.
32 You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
Ahora, pues, sube de noche, tú y el pueblo que está contigo, y acecha en el campo.
33 As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
Por la mañana, en cuanto salga el sol, os levantaréis temprano y os lanzaréis contra la ciudad. He aquí que cuando él y el pueblo que está con él salgan contra vosotros, entonces podréis hacer con ellos lo que os parezca oportuno.”
34 So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
Abimelec se levantó de noche, con todo el pueblo que estaba con él, y acecharon a Siquem en cuatro grupos.
35 [The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
Gaal, hijo de Ebed, salió y se puso a la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad. Abimelec se levantó, y el pueblo que estaba con él, de la emboscada.
36 When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
Cuando Gaal vio a la gente, dijo a Zebul: “He aquí que la gente baja de las cimas de los montes”. Zebul le dijo: “Ves las sombras de las montañas como si fueran hombres”.
37 But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
Gaal volvió a hablar y dijo: “He aquí que la gente desciende por el centro de la tierra, y una compañía viene por el camino de la encina de Meonenim”.
38 Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
Entonces Zebul le dijo: “Ahora, ¿dónde está tu boca, que has dicho: “¿Quién es Abimelec, para que le sirvamos?”? ¿No es éste el pueblo que has despreciado? Por favor, sal ahora y pelea con ellos”.
39 So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
Gaal salió delante de los hombres de Siquem y luchó con Abimelec.
40 Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
Abimelec lo persiguió, y él huyó delante de él, y muchos cayeron heridos hasta la entrada de la puerta.
41 Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
Abimelec vivía en Arumá; y Zebul expulsó a Gaal y a sus hermanos, para que no habitasen en Siquem.
42 The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
Al día siguiente, el pueblo salió al campo, y se lo comunicaron a Abimelec.
43 he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
Él tomó al pueblo y lo dividió en tres grupos, y acechó en el campo; y miró, y he aquí que el pueblo salía de la ciudad. Entonces se levantó contra ellos y los golpeó.
44 Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
Abimelec y las compañías que estaban con él se adelantaron y se pusieron a la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad; y las dos compañías se abalanzaron sobre todos los que estaban en el campo y los hirieron.
45 Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
Abimelec luchó contra la ciudad todo ese día, y tomó la ciudad y mató a la gente que estaba en ella. Derribó la ciudad y la sembró de sal.
46 When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
Cuando todos los hombres de la torre de Siquem se enteraron, entraron en la fortaleza de la casa de Elberit.
47 But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
Se le informó a Abimelec que todos los hombres de la torre de Siquem estaban reunidos.
48 So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
Abimelec subió al monte Zalmón, él y todo el pueblo que estaba con él; y Abimelec tomó un hacha en su mano, cortó una rama de los árboles, la subió y se la puso al hombro. Luego dijo al pueblo que estaba con él: “¡Lo que me habéis visto hacer, daos prisa y haced lo que yo he hecho!”
49 So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
Asimismo, todo el pueblo cortó cada uno su rama, siguió a Abimelec y las puso en la base de la fortaleza, y le prendió fuego a ésta, de modo que también murió toda la gente de la torre de Siquem, unos mil hombres y mujeres.
50 Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
Entonces Abimelec fue a Tebez y acampó contra Tebez, y la tomó.
51 But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
Pero había una torre fuerte dentro de la ciudad, y todos los hombres y mujeres de la ciudad huyeron allí, se encerraron y subieron al techo de la torre.
52 Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
Abimelec llegó a la torre y luchó contra ella, y se acercó a la puerta de la torre para quemarla con fuego.
53 But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
Una mujer arrojó una piedra de molino sobre la cabeza de Abimelec y le rompió el cráneo.
54 Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
Entonces llamó apresuradamente al joven, su portador de armadura, y le dijo: “Saca tu espada y mátame, para que no digan de mí: “Una mujer lo mató”. El joven lo atravesó, y murió”.
55 When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
Cuando los hombres de Israel vieron que Abimelec había muerto, se fueron cada uno a su lugar.
56 In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
Así pagó Dios la maldad de Abimelec, que hizo a su padre matando a sus setenta hermanos;
57 God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].
y Dios pagó toda la maldad de los hombres de Siquem sobre sus cabezas; y la maldición de Jotam hijo de Jerobaal cayó sobre ellos.
