Juges 9
1 Abimélec, fils de Jérubbaal, se rendit à Sichem, chez les frères de sa mère, et leur tint, ainsi qu’à toute la famille paternelle de sa mère, ce discours:
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,
2 "Faites donc entendre ceci à tous les bourgeois de Sichem: Lequel vaut mieux pour vous, être gouvernés par soixante-dix hommes, par tous les fils de Jérubbaal, ou d’être gouvernés par un seul homme? Et souvenez-vous que je suis de votre sang et de votre chair."
“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]”
3 Les frères de sa mère firent entendre toutes ces choses, en sa faveur, aux bourgeois de Sichem, et le cœur de ceux-ci inclina pour Abimélec, car ils se disaient: "C’Est notre frère."
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.”
4 Ils lui donnèrent soixante-dix pièces d’argent, tirées du temple de Baal-Berith, et Abimélec s’en servit pour stipendier des gens de rien, des aventuriers, qui le suivirent.
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.
5 Alors il s’en fut à Ofra, dans la maison de son père, et massacra ses frères, les soixante-dix fils de Jérubbaal, sur une même pierre. Jotham, le plus jeune fils de Jérubbaal, resta sauf, parce qu’il s’était caché.
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.
6 Or, tous les bourgeois de Sichem et toute la maison de Millo s’assemblèrent et se rendirent auprès du Chêne de Mouçab, dans Sichem. Là ils proclamèrent roi Abimélec.
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.
7 Jotham, instruit du fait, alla se placer sur le sommet du mont Garizim et, élevant la voix, les interpella ainsi: "Ecoutez-moi, bourgeois de Sichem, et Dieu aussi vous écoutera!
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!
8 Un jour les arbres se mirent en campagne pour se donner un roi. Ils dirent à l’olivier: "Sois notre roi."
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!’
9 L’Olivier leur répondit: "Quoi! je renoncerais à mon suc, que Dieu et les hommes prisent en moi, pour aller me fatiguer à gouverner les arbres?"
“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!’
10 Et les arbres dirent au figuier: "Viens, toi, régner sur nous."
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 Le figuier leur répondit: "Quoi! je renoncerais à ma douceur et à ma production exquise pour me fatiguer à gouverner les arbres?"
“But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
12 Et les arbres dirent à la vigne: "Viens, toi, règne sur nous."
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 La vigne leur répondit: "Quoi! je renoncerais à mon jus, qui réjouit Dieu et les hommes, pour me fatiguer à gouverner les arbres?"
“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]
14 Alors les arbres dirent ensemble au buisson d’épines: "Viens donc, toi, et règne sur nous."
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 Et le buisson répondit aux arbres: "Si c’est de bonne foi que vous m’élisez pour votre roi, venez vous abriter sous mon ombre; sinon, qu’un feu sorte du buisson, et dévore les cèdres du Liban!
“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]!’”
16 Et maintenant, vous aussi, si vous avez agi avec sincérité et loyauté en faisant roi Abimélec; si vous avez bien agi envers Jérubbaal et sa famille, agi en hommes reconnaissants de ses services…
“[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!
17 Car mon père a combattu pour vous, il a fait bon marché de sa vie, vous a délivrés du pouvoir de Madian.
“[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.
18 Et vous, vous vous êtes rués sur la maison de mon père, vous avez tué ses fils au nombre de soixante-dix hommes sur une même pierre, et aujourd’hui vous donnez Abimélec, le fils de sa servante, pour roi aux citoyens de Sichem, parce qu’il est votre frère.
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!
19 Si donc vous avez, en ce jour, honnêtement agi envers Jérubbaal et sa famille, grand bien vous fasse d’Abimélec et grand bien lui fasse de vous!
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.
20 Sinon, qu’un feu sorte d’Abimélec pour dévorer les Sichémites et la maison de Millo, et qu’un feu sorte des Sichémites et de la maison de Millo pour consumer Abimélec!"
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!”
21 Là-dessus, Jotham s’enfuit et alla se réfugier à Beêr, où il s’établit pour échapper à son frère Abimélec.
[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].
22 Or, Abimélec exerçait le pouvoir sur Israël depuis trois ans,
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 lorsque Dieu suscita un mauvais esprit entre lui et les bourgeois de Sichem, et ceux-ci devinrent infidèles à Abimélec;
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.
24 car l’attentat commis sur les soixante-dix fils de Jérubbaal et leur sang répandu devaient retomber sur leur frère Abimélec, qui les avait tués, et sur les gens de Sichem, qui l’avaient encouragé à ce meurtre.
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.
25 Les bourgeois de Sichem postèrent contre lui, au sommet des montagnes, des embuscades, qui faisaient main-basse sur tous les voyageurs; et Abimélec en fut informé.
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].
26 Cependant, Gaal, fils d’Ebed, vint à passer par Sichem avec ses frères; il gagna la confiance des bourgeois de Sichem.
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.
27 Ils allèrent aux champs, firent les vendanges et le pressurage, et se livrèrent à des réjouissances; puis ils se rendirent au temple de leur dieu, mangèrent et burent, et se répandirent en imprécations contre Abimélec.
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.
28 Et Gaal, fils d’Ebed, s’écria: "Qu’est-ce qu’Abimélec et qu’est-ce que Sichem, pour que nous obéissions à cet homme? N’Est-il pas fils de Jérubbaal, et Zeboul son lieutenant? Servez plutôt les descendants d’Hamor, père de Sichem; mais lui, pourquoi le servirions-nous?
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]!
29 Ah! si j’avais ce peuple sous la main, j’aurais bientôt écarté Abimélec!" Et apostrophant Abimélec: "Augmente ton armée, et avance!…"
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]!’”
30 Zeboul, gouverneur de la ville, ayant eu connaissance des propos de Gaal, fils d’Ebed, s’enflamma de colère,
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 et il envoya sous main des exprès à Abimélec, pour lui dire: "Sache que Gaal, fils d’Ebed, et ses frères sont venus à Sichem, et ils ameutent la ville contre toi.
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.
32 Donc lève-toi cette nuit, avec les hommes dont tu disposes, et embusque-toi dans la campagne;
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 et demain de bonne heure, aux premiers rayons du soleil, tu te déploieras autour de la ville. Lui alors marchera à ta rencontre avec le peuple qui le suit, et tu lui feras ce que tu pourras lui faire."
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.”
34 Abimélec se mit en mouvement avec tous ses hommes, la nuit suivante, et ils s’embusquèrent près de Sichem en quatre fractions.
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.
35 Comme Gaal, fils d’Ebed, sortait, et se tenait à la porte de la ville, Abimélec s’élança de son embuscade avec la troupe qui l’accompagnait.
[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].
36 Gaal, les remarquant, dit à Zeboul: "Voici une troupe qui descend du sommet des montagnes." Zeboul lui répondit: "C’Est l’ombre des montagnes, que tu prends pour des hommes."
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.”
37 Et Gaal insista en disant: "Je vois du monde descendre de la hauteur centrale, et une fraction s’avancer par le chemin du Chêne des Augures."
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!”
38 Alors Zeboul lui dit: "Qu’est devenu ton fier langage, toi qui disais: Qu’est-ce qu’Abimélec pour que nous le servions? Eh bien! le voilà ce peuple que tu dédaignais; va maintenant et mesure-toi avec lui!"
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!”
39 Gaal s’avança à la tête des bourgeois de Sichem, et engagea le combat avec Abimélec.
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 Mais Abimélec le força de fuir, et le poursuivit, en lui tuant beaucoup de monde, jusqu’à la porte de la ville.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 Abimélec se tint à Arouma; et Zeboul expulsa Gaal et ses frères, leur interdisant le séjour de Sichem.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 Le lendemain, le peuple se répandit dans la campagne, et Abimélec en fut informé.
The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
43 Alors il réunit ses hommes et en fit trois divisions, avec lesquelles il s’embusqua dans les champs, et voyant le peuple sortir de la ville, il fondit sur lui et le tailla en pièces.
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.
44 Abimélec et sa division se déployèrent vers la porte de la ville, tandis que les deux autres divisions attaquèrent et battirent tous ceux qui étaient dans la campagne.
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.
45 Le reste de ce jour, Abimélec donna l’assaut à la ville, s’en rendit maître, en massacra la population, puis il rasa la ville et y sema du sel.
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].
46 A cette nouvelle, les bourgeois de la tour de Sichem allèrent se réfugier dans le donjon du temple d’El-Berith.
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.
47 Abimélec, apprenant que tous les hommes de la tour de Sichem étaient réunis là,
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 se dirigea vers le mont Çalmon, suivi de tout son monde, se munit de haches, coupa une branche d’arbre et la mit sur son épaule, en disant au peuple: "Ce que vous m’avez vu faire, faites-le comme moi, vite!"
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!”
49 Et tout le peuple, à son tour, abattit chacun sa branche; ils suivirent Abimélec, et, avec ces branches disposées autour du donjon, ils y mirent le feu, de sorte que tous les gens de la tour de Sichem, environ mille, tant hommes que femmes, périrent eux aussi.
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.
50 De là Abimélec marcha sur Tébeç, assiégea cette ville et s’en empara.
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 Au milieu de la ville était une tour servant de défense; tous les hommes et les femmes, tous les bourgeois de la ville y coururent, s’y enfermèrent et montèrent sur le toit de la tour.
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.
52 Abimélec s’avança vers cette tour et l’attaqua. Déjà il s’approchait de l’entrée de l’édifice pour y mettre le feu,
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.
53 lorsqu’une femme lança sur la tête d’Abimélec un fragment de meule, qui lui fracassa le crâne.
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.
54 Aussitôt il appela son jeune écuyer et lui dit: "Tire ton épée et achève-moi! je ne veux pas qu’on dise: C’Est une femme qui l’a tué." Son serviteur lui donna un coup d’épée, et il mourut.
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.
55 Les Israélites, voyant qu’Abimélec était mort, s’en retournèrent chacun chez soi.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 Ainsi Dieu rendit à Abimélec le mal qu’il avait fait à son père en faisant périr ses soixante-dix frères;
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.
57 et toute la méchanceté des Sichémites, Dieu la leur fit expier aussi, et la malédiction de Jotham, fils de Jérubbaal, s’accomplit sur eux.
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].
