Judges 9
1 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Abiit autem Abimelech filius Ierobaal in Sichem ad fratres matris suæ, et locutus est ad eos, et ad omnem cognationem domus patris matris suæ, dicens:
2 “Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
Loquimini ad omnes viros Sichem: Quid vobis est melius, ut dominentur vestri septuaginta viri omnes filii Ierobaal, an ut dominetur unus vir? Simulque considerate quod os vestrum, et caro vestra sum.
3 His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”
Locutique sunt fratres matris eius de eo ad omnes viros Sichem universos sermones istos, et inclinaverunt cor eorum post Abimelech, dicentes: Frater noster est.
4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.
Dederuntque illi septuaginta pondo argenti de fano Baalberit. Qui conduxit sibi ex eo viros inopes et vagos, secutique sunt eum.
5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
Et venit in domum patris sui in Ephra, et occidit fratres suos filios Ierobaal septuaginta viros, super lapidem unum: remansitque Ioatham filius Ierobaal minimus, et absconditus est.
6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
Congregati sunt autem omnes viri Sichem, et universæ familiæ urbis Mello: abieruntque et constituerunt regem Abimelech iuxta quercum, quæ stabat in Sichem.
7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
Quod cum nunciatum esset Ioatham, ivit, et stetit in vertice montis Garizim: elevataque voce, clamavit, et dixit: Audite me viri Sichem, ita audiat vos Deus.
8 The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Ierunt ligna, ut ungerent super se regem: dixeruntque olivæ: Impera nobis.
9 “But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honour God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Quæ respondit: Numquid possum deserere pinguedinem meam, qua et dii utuntur, et homines, et venire ut inter ligna promovear?
10 “The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Dixeruntque ligna ad arborem ficum: Veni, et super nos regnum accipe.
11 “But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Quæ respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere dulcedinem meam, fructusque suavissimos, et ire ut inter cetera ligna promovear?
12 “The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Locutaque sunt ligna ad vitem: Veni, et impera nobis.
13 “The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
Quæ respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere vinum meum, quod lætificat Deum et homines, et inter ligna cetera promoveri?
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
Dixeruntque omnia ligna ad rhamnum: Veni, et impera super nos.
15 “The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
Quæ respondit eis: Si vere me regem vobis constituitis, venite, et sub umbra mea requiescite. Si autem non vultis, egrediatur ignis de rhamno, et devoret cedros Libani.
16 “Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
Nunc igitur, si recte, et absque peccato constituistis super vos regem Abimelech, et bene egistis cum Ierobaal, et cum domo eius, et reddidistis vicem beneficiis eius, qui pugnavit pro vobis,
17 (for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
et animam suam dedit periculis, ut erueret vos de manu Madian,
18 and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
qui nunc surrexistis contra domum patris mei, et interfecistis filios eius septuaginta viros super unum lapidem, et constituistis regem Abimelech filium ancillæ eius super habitatores Sichem, eo quod frater vester sit:
19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;
si ergo recte, et absque vitio egistis cum Ierobaal, et domo eius, hodie lætamini in Abimelech, et ille lætetur in vobis.
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.”
Sin autem perverse: egrediatur ignis ex eo, et consumat habitatores Sichem, et oppidum Mello: egrediaturque ignis de viris Sichem, et de oppido Mello, et devoret Abimelech.
21 Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Quæ cum dixisset, fugit, et abiit in Bera: habitavitque ibi ob metum Abimelech fratris sui.
22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israel tribus annis.
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
Misitque Dominus spiritum pessimum inter Abimelech et habitatores Sichem: qui cœperunt eum detestari,
24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
et scelus interfectionis septuaginta filiorum Ierobaal, et effusionem sanguinis eorum conferre in Abimelech fratrem suum, et in ceteros Sichimorum principes, qui eum adiuverant.
25 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
Posueruntque insidias adversus eum in summitate montium: et dum illius præstolabantur adventum, exercebant latrocinia, agentes prædas de prætereuntibus. Nunciatumque est Abimelech.
26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Venit autem Gaal filius Obed cum fratribus suis, et transivit in Sichimam. Ad cuius adventum erecti habitatores Sichem,
27 They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
egressi sunt in agros, vastantes vineas, uvasque calcantes: et factis cantantium choris, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui, et inter epulas et pocula maledicebant Abimelech,
28 Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
clamante Gaal filio Obed: Quis est Abimelech, et quæ est Sichem, ut serviamus ei? Numquid non est filius Ierobaal, et constituit principem Zebul servum suum super viros Emor patris Sichem? Cur ergo serviemus ei?
29 I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
Utinam daret aliquis populum istum sub manu mea, ut auferrem de medio Abimelech. Dictumque est Abimelech: Congrega exercitus multitudinem, et veni.
30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burnt.
Zebul enim princeps civitatis auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Obed, iratus est valde,
31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.
et misit clam ad Abimelech nuncios, dicens: Ecce, Gaal filius Obed venit in Sichimam cum fratribus suis, et oppugnat adversum te civitatem.
32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
Surge itaque nocte cum populo, qui tecum est, et latita in agro:
33 It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
et primo mane oriente sole, irrue super civitatem. Illo autem egrediente adversum te cum populo suo, fac ei quod potueris.
34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Surrexit itaque Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte, et tetendit insidias iuxta Sichimam in quattuor locis.
35 Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
Egressusque est Gaal filius Obed, et stetit in introitu portæ civitatis. Surrexit autem Abimelech, et omnis exercitus cum eo de insidiarum loco.
36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
Cumque vidisset populum Gaal, dixit ad Zebul: Ecce de montibus multitudo descendit. Cui ille respondit: Umbras montium vides quasi capita hominum, et hoc errore deciperis.
37 Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
Rursumque Gaal ait: Ecce populus de umbilico terræ descendit, et unus cuneus venit per viam quæ respicit quercum.
38 Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”
Cui dixit Zebul: Ubi est nunc os tuum, quo loquebaris? Quis est Abimelech ut serviamus ei? Nonne hic populus est, quem despiciebas? Egredere, et pugna contra eum.
39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Abiit ergo Gaal, spectante Sichimorum populo, et pugnavit contra Abimelech,
40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
qui persecutus est eum fugientem, et in urbem compulit: cecideruntque ex parte eius plurimi, usque ad portam civitatis:
41 Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
et Abimelech sedit in Ruma: Zebul autem, Gaal, et socios eius expulit de urbe, nec in ea passus est commorari.
42 On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Sequenti ergo die egressus est populus in campum. Quod cum nunciatum esset Abimelech,
43 He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck them.
tulit exercitum suum, et divisit in tres turmas, tendens insidias in agris. Vidensque quod egrederetur populus de civitate, surrexit, et irruit in eos
44 Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck them.
cum cuneo suo, oppugnans, et obsidens civitatem: duæ autem turmæ palantes per campum adversarios persequebantur.
45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
Porro Abimelech omni die illo oppugnabat urbem: quam cepit, interfectis habitatoribus eius, ipsaque destructa, ita ut sal in ea dispergeret.
46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
Quod cum audissent qui habitabant in turre Sichimorum, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui Berith, ubi fœdus cum eo pepigerant, et ex eo locus nomen acceperat, qui erat munitus valde.
47 Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Abimelech quoque audiens viros turris Sichimorum pariter conglobatos,
48 Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who 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. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!”
ascendit in montem Selmon cum omni populo suo: et arrepta securi, præcidit arboris ramum, impositumque ferens humero, dixit ad socios: Quod me videtis facere, cito facite.
49 All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
Igitur certatim ramos de arboribus præcidentes, sequebantur ducem. Qui circumdantes præsidium, succenderunt: atque ita factum est, ut fumo et igne mille homines necarentur, viri pariter et mulieres, habitatorum turris Sichem.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Abimelech autem inde proficiscens venit ad oppidum Thebes, quod circumdans obsidebat exercitu.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
Erat autem turris excelsa in media civitate, ad quam confugerant simul viri ac mulieres, et omnes principes civitatis, clausa firmissime ianua, et super turris tectum stantes per propugnacula.
52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Accedensque Abimelech iuxta turrim, pugnabat fortiter: et appropinquans ostio, ignem supponere nitebatur:
53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
et ecce una mulier fragmen molæ desuper iaciens, illisit capiti Abimelech, et confregit cerebrum eius.
54 Then he called hastily to the young man, his armour bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”
Qui vocavit cito armigerum suum, et ait ad eum: Evagina gladium tuum, et percute me: ne forte dicatur quod a femina interfectus sim. Qui iussa perficiens, interfecit eum.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
Illoque mortuo, omnes qui cum eo erant de Israel, reversi sunt in sedes suas:
56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
et reddidit Deus malum, quod fecerat Abimelech contra patrem suum, interfectis septuaginta fratribus suis.
57 and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
Sichimitis quoque quod operati erant, retributum est, et venit super eos maledictio Ioatham filii Ierobaal.
