Iudicum 9
1 Abiit autem Abimelech filius Ierobaal in Sichem ad fratres matris suae, et locutus est ad eos, et ad omnem cognationem domus patris matris suae, dicens:
Then went Abimelech son of Jerubbaal, to Shechem, unto the brethren of his mother, —and spake unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying;
2 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.
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the owners of Shechem—Which is better for you, that there should rule over you, seventy men, all sons of Jerubbaal, or that there should rule over you, one man? And remember that, your bone and your flesh, am I.
3 Locutique sunt fratres matris eius de eo ad omnes viros Sichem universos sermones istos, et inclinaverunt cor eorum post Abimelech, dicentes: Frater noster est.
So the brethren of his mother spake for him, in the ears of all the owners of Shechem, all these words, —and their heart inclined after Abimelech, for they said—Our own brother, is he.
4 Dederuntque illi septuaginta pondo argenti de fano Baalberit. Qui conduxit sibi ex eo viros inopes et vagos, secutique sunt eum.
So they gave him seventy pieces of silver, out of the house of Baal-berith, —and Abimelech hired therewith, loose and unstable men, and they followed him.
5 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.
And he entered the house of his father, at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone, —but there remained Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, for he had hidden himself.
6 Congregati sunt autem omnes viri Sichem, et universae familiae urbis Mello: abieruntque et constituerunt regem Abimelech iuxta quercum, quae stabat in Sichem.
Then were gathered together all the owners of Shechem, and all the house of Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, —by the oak of the pillar, that was in Shechem.
7 Quod cum nunciatum esset Ioatham, ivit, et stetit in vertice montis Garizim: elevataque voce, clamavit, et dixit: Audite me viri Sichem, ita ut audiat vos Deus.
And, when it was told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried aloud, —and said unto them—Hearken unto me, ye owners of Shechem, and may God, hearken unto you.
8 Ierunt ligna, ut ungerent super se regem: dixeruntque olivae: Impera nobis.
The trees, went their way, to anoint over them, a king, —and they said unto the olive tree—Reign thou over us.
9 Quae respondit: Numquid possum deserere pinguedinem meam, qua et dii utuntur, et homines, et venire ut inter ligna promovear?
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, which, in me, gods and men do honour, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
10 Dixeruntque ligna ad arborem ficum: Veni, et super nos regnum accipe.
Then said the trees unto the fig-tree, —Come! thou reign over us.
11 Quae respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere dulcedinem meam, fructusque suavissimos, et ire ut inter cetera ligna promovear?
But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and mine excellent increase, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
12 Locutaque sunt ligna ad vitem: Veni, et impera nobis.
Then said the trees unto the vine, —Come! thou, reign over us.
13 Quae respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere vinum meum, quod laetificat Deum et homines, et inter ligna cetera promoveri?
But the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, that rejoiceth gods and men, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
14 Dixeruntque omnia ligna ad rhamnum: Veni, et impera super nos.
Then said all the trees, unto the bramble, —Come, thou, to reign over us.
15 Quae 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.
And the bramble said unto the trees, If, in truth, ye are about to anoint me to be king over you, come, take refuge in my shade, —but, if not, there shall come forth fire out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 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,
Now, therefore, if, in truth and sincerity, ye have acted, in making Abimelech king, —and if ye have dealt, well, with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if, according to the deserving of his hands, ye have done unto him;
17 et animam suam dedit periculis, ut erueret vos de manu Madian,
in that my father fought for you, and cast his soul away from before him, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian; —
18 qui nunc surrexistis contra domum patris mei, et interfecistis filios eius septuaginta viros super unum lapidem, et constituistis regem Abimelech filium ancillae eius super habitatores Sichem, eo quod frater vester sit:
yet have, ye, risen up against the house of my father, to-day, and slain his sons—seventy men, upon one stone, —and made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the owners of Shechem, because he is, your brother;
19 si ergo recte, et absque vitio egistis cum Ierobaal, et domo eius, hodie laetemini in Abimelech, et ille laetetur in vobis.
if then, in truth and in sincerity, ye have dealt with Jerubbaal and with his house, this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let, him also, rejoice in you;
20 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.
but, if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the owners of Shechem, and the house of Millo, —and let fire come out from the owners of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech!
21 Quae cum dixisset, fugit, et abiit in Bera: habitavitque ibi ob metum Abimelech fratris sui.
And Jotham hasted away, and fled, and went to Beer, —and dwelt there, away from the face of Abimelech his brother.
22 Regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israel tribus annis.
And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
23 Misitque Dominus spiritum pessimum inter Abimelech et habitatores Sichem: qui coeperunt eum detestari,
Then God let go a spirit of mischief between Abimelech and the owners of Shechem, —and the owners of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 et scelus interfectionis septuaginta filiorum Ierobaal, et effusionem sanguinis eorum conferre in Abimelech fratrem suum, et in ceteros Sichimorum principes, qui eum adiuverant.
that the cruel wrong to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might [come upon them], —and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the owners of Shechem who strengthened his hands, to slay his brethren.
25 Posueruntque insidias adversus eum in summitate montium: et dum illius praestolabantur adventum, exercebant latrocinia, agentes praedas de praetereuntibus. nunciatumque est Abimelech.
So the owners of Shechem set for him liers in wait, upon the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who crossed over them by the road, —and it was told Abimelech.
26 Venit autem Gaal filius Obed cum fratribus suis, et transivit in Sichimam. Ad cuius adventum erecti habitatores Sichem,
And Gaal son of Ebed came, with his brethren, and they passed through to Shechem, —and the owners of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 egressi sunt in agros, vastantes vineas, uvasque calcantes: et factis cantantium choris, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui, et inter epulas et pocula maledicebant Abimelech,
Then went they out into the fields, and gathered the fruit of their vineyards and trode [the grapes], and held a vintage festival, —and entered the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and poured contempt on Abimelech.
28 clamante Gaal filio Obed: Quis est Abimelech, et quae 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?
And Gaal son of Ebed said: Who is Abimelech—and who is the son of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve ye the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father, but why should, we, serve him?
29 utinam daret aliquis populum istum sub manu mea, ut auferrem de medio Abimelech. Dictumque est Abimelech: Congrega exercitus multitudinem, et veni.
Would, then, this people were in my hand! that I might set aside Abimelech, —and say to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out!
30 Zebul enim princeps civitatis auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Obed, iratus est valde,
And, when Zubul, governor of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, then was kindled his anger.
31 et misit clam ad Abimelech nuncios, dicens: Ecce, Gaal filius Obed venit in Sichimam cum fratribus suis, et oppugnat adversum te civitatem.
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech, by deceit, saying, —Lo! Gaal son of Ebed, and his brethren, are coming into Shechem; and lo! are fortifying the city against thee.
32 Surge itaque nocte cum populo, qui tecum est, et latita in agro:
Now, therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field;
33 et primo mane oriente sole, irrue super civitatem. illo autem egrediente adversum te cum populo suo, fac ei quod potueris.
and it shall be, in the morning, about sunrise, thou shalt get up early, and spread thyself out against the city, —when lo! he and the people that are with him coming out against thee, so shalt thou do unto him as thy hand shall find opportunity.
34 Surrexit itaque Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte, et tetendit insidias iuxta Sichimam in quattuor locis.
So Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, —and they lay in wait above Shechem, in four companies.
35 Egressusque est Gaal filius Obed, et stetit in introitu portae civitatis. Surrexit autem Abimelech, et omnis exercitus cum eo de insidiarum loco.
Then came forth Gaal son of Ebed, and took his stand at the opening of the gate of the city, —so Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the place of ambush.
36 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.
And, when Gaal saw the people, he said unto Zebul, Lo! people coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, The shadow of the mountains, thou seest, like men.
37 Rursumque Gaal ait: Ecce populus de umbilico terrae descendit, et unus cuneus venit per viam quae respicit quercum.
Then did Gaal yet further speak, and say—Lo! people coming down from the highest part of the land, —and one company, coming in by way of the Conjurers’ Terebinth.
38 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.
So then Zebul said unto him—Where, then, is thy mouth that kept on saying, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not, this, the people which thou didst despise? Go forth, I pray thee, now, and fight with them!
39 Abiit ergo Gaal, spectante Sichimorum populo, et pugnavit contra Abimelech,
And Gaal went forth before the owners of Shechem, —and fought against Abimelech.
40 qui persecutus est eum fugientem, et in urbem compulit: cecideruntque ex parte eius plurimi, usque ad portam civitatis:
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, —and there fell a multitude of slain as far as the entering of the gate.
41 et Abimelech sedit in Ruma: Zebul autem, Gaal, et socios eius expulit de urbe, nec in ea passus est commorari.
Then dwelt Abimelech in Arumah, —and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Sequenti ergo die egressus est populus in campum. Quod cum nunciatum esset Abimelech,
And it came to pass, on the morrow, that the people went forth into the field, —and they told Abimelech.
43 tulit exercitum suum, et divisit in tres turmas, tendens insidias in agris. Vidensque quod egrederetur populus de civitate, surrexit, et irruit in eos
So he took the people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field, —and he looked, and lo! the people coming forth out of the city, so he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 cum cuneo suo, oppugnans, et obsidens civitatem: duae autem turmae palantes per campum adversarios persequebantur.
And, Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, spread themselves out, and [one of the companies] took their stand at the opening of the gate of the city, —while, the two companies, spread themselves out against all that were in the field, and smote them.
45 Porro Abimelech omni die illo oppugnabat urbem: quam cepit, interfectis habitatoribus eius, ipsaque destructa, ita ut sal in ea dispergeret.
And, Abimelech, fought against the city, all that day, and captured the city, the people also that were therein, he slew, —and brake down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Quod cum audissent qui habitabant in turre Sichimorum, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui Berith, ubi foedus cum eo pepigerant, et ex eo locus nomen acceperat, qui erat munitus valde.
And, when all the owners of the tower of Shechem heard, they entered into the basement of the house of El-berith.
47 Abimelech quoque audiens viros turris Sichimorum pariter conglobatos,
And it was told Abimelech, that all the owners of the tower of Shechem had gathered themselves together.
48 ascendit in montem Selmon cum omni populo suo: et arrepta securi, praecidit arboris ramum, impositumque ferens humero, dixit ad socios: Quod me videtis facere, cito facite.
So Abimelech went up 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 lifted it, and laid it on his shoulder, —and said unto the people that were with him—What ye have seen me do, haste! do likewise.
49 Igitur certatim ramos de arboribus praecidentes, sequebantur ducem. Qui circumdantes praesidium, succenderunt: atque ita factum est, ut fumo et igne mille homines necarentur, viri pariter et mulieres, habitatorum turris Sichem.
So, even all the people cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and laid them over the basement, and set it on fire over them who were therein, —even all the men of the tower of Shechem died about a thousand men and women.
50 Abimelech autem inde proficiscens venit ad oppidum Thebes, quod circumdans obsidebat exercitu.
Then went Abimelech unto Thebez, —and encamped against Thebez, and captured it.
51 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.
Now, a strong tower, was in the midst of the city, and there fled thither all the men and the women, and all the owners of the city, and shut themselves in, —and went up on the roof of the tower.
52 Accedensque Abimelech iuxta turrim, pugnabat fortiter: et appropinquans ostio, ignem supponere nitebatur:
And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, —and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
53 et ecce una mulier fragmen molae desuper iaciens, illisit capiti Abimelech, et confregit cerebrum eius.
And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon the head of Abimelech, —and brake in pieces his skull.
54 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.
Then called he hastily unto the young man bearing his armour, and said unto him—Draw thy sword, and put me to death, lest they say of me, A woman, slew him! So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 Illoque mortuo, omnes qui cum eo erant de Israel, reversi sunt in sedes suas:
And, when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was, dead, they went their way every man to his own place.
56 et reddidit Deus malum, quod fecerat Abimelech contra patrem suum, interfectis septuaginta fratribus suis.
Thus did God requite the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
57 Sichimitis quoque quod operati erant, retributum est, et venit super eos maledictio Ioatham filii Ierobaal.
all the wickedness also, of the men of Shechem, did God requite upon their own head, —and so brought in upon, them the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal.
