Abahluleli 9
1 U-Abhimelekhi indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali waya kubomalumakhe eShekhemu lakubo bonke abosendo lukanina wathi kubo,
Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his maternal brothers, and he spoke to them, and to all the relatives of the house of his maternal grandfather, saying:
2 “Buzani bonke abantu baseShekhemu ukuthi, ‘Yikuphi okungcono kini: ukubuswa yiwo wonke amadodana kaJerubhi-Bhali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa kumbe indoda eyodwa?’ Likhumbule ukuthi mina ngingumzimba legazi lenu.”
“Speak to all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you: that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And consider also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 Kwathi abanewabo bakanina sebekutshilo konke lokhu ebantwini baseShekhemu, bafuna ukumlandela u-Abhimelekhi, ngoba bathi, “Ungumfowethu.”
And his maternal brothers spoke about him to all the men of Shechem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying, “He is our brother.”
4 Bamnika amashekeli esiliva angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, athathwa ethempelini likaBhali-Bherithi, u-Abhimelekhi aqhatsha ngawo izigebenga ezingakhathaliyo, ezaba ngabalandeli bakhe.
And they gave to him the weight of seventy silver coins from the shrine of Baal-berith. With this, he hired for himself indigent and wandering men, and they followed him.
5 Waya emzini kayise e-Ofira kwathi abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa, amadodana kaJerubhi-Bhali, wababulalela phezu kwedwala linye. Kodwa uJothamu, indodana encane kaJerubhi-Bhali waphepha ngokucatsha.
And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding.
6 Emva kwalokho bonke abantu baseShekhemu labeBhethi Milo babuthana ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi ensikeni eShekhemu ukuba u-Abhimelekhi bamfake abe yinkosi.
Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem.
7 Kwathi uJothamu esetshelwe lokhu wakhwela waya esiqongweni seNtaba iGerizimu wanqolonga esithi kubo, “Ngilalelani, bantu baseShekhemu, ukuze uNkulunkulu alilalele.
When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8 Ngelinye ilanga izihlahla zasuka zayazigcobela inkosi yazo. Zathi esihlahleni se-oliva, ‘Woba yinkosi yethu.’
The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 Kodwa isihlahla se-oliva saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela amafutha ami, okudunyiswa ngawo onkulunkulu labantu, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’
10 Izihlahla zasezisithi esihlahleni somkhiwa, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 Kodwa isihlahla somkhiwa saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela izithelo zami ezinhle kangaka njalo zimnandi, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’
12 Lapho-ke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sevini, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 Kodwa isihlahla sevini saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela iwayini lami elithokozisa onkulunkulu labantu, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’
14 Ekucineni zonke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sameva, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 Isihlahla sameva sathi ezihlahleni, ‘Nxa lifuna ngempela ukuthi lingigcobe ukuba ngibe yinkosi yenu, wozani lizecatsha emthunzini wami, kodwa nxa kungenjalo, akuphume umlilo esihlahleni sameva uqothule imsedari yaseLebhanoni!’
And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
16 Nxa lenze okubongekayo njalo ngobuqotho ekubekeni kwenu u-Abhimelekhi ukuba abe yinkosi, njalo nxa lenze okulungileyo kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe, njalo nxa limphathe ngendlela emfaneleyo,
So now, if you are upright and without sin in appointing Abimelech as a king over you, and if you have acted well with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if you have repaid, in turn, the benefits of him who fought on your behalf,
17 ngoba ubaba walilwela, wabeka impilo yakhe engozini ukuba alihlenge ezandleni zamaMidiyani
and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 kodwa lamuhla selivukele abendlu kababa, kwathi amadodana akhe angamatshumi ayisikhombisa lawabulalela phezu kwedwala linye, kwathi u-Abhimelekhi, indodana yesigqilikazi sakhe, lamenza waba yinkosi yabantu baseShekhemu ngoba engumfowenu,
though you now have risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have appointed Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as a king over the inhabitants of Shechem, since he is your brother,
19 ngakho nxa lenzenjalo ngobuqotho kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe lamuhla, thokozani ngo-Abhimelekhi, kube njalo laye ngani futhi!
if therefore you are upright and have acted without fault with Jerubbaal and his house, then you should rejoice on this day in Abimelech, and he should rejoice in you.
20 Kodwa nxa lingenzanga njalo, akuphume umlilo ku-Abhimelekhi uliqothule, bantu baseShekhemu labaseBhethi Milo, njalo kuphume umlilo kini bantu baseShekhemu labaseBhethi Milo, uqothule u-Abhimelekhi!”
But if you have acted perversely, may fire go forth from him and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the town of Millo. And may fire go forth from the men of Shechem and from the town of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”
21 Emva kwalokhu uJothamu wabaleka, waya eBheri, wahlala khona ngoba wayesesaba umfowabo u-Abhimelekhi.
And when he had said these things, he fled and went away to Beer. And he lived in that place, out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.
22 Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esebuse abako-Israyeli iminyaka emithathu
And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 uNkulunkulu wathumela umoya omubi phakathi kuka-Abhimelekhi labantu baseShekhemu bamhlamukela u-Abhimelekhi.
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 UNkulunkulu wenza lokhu ukuze ububi obenziwa emadodaneni kaJerubhi-Bhali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, ukuchithwa kwegazi lawo, buphindiselwe kumfowabo u-Abhimelekhi lasebantwini baseShekhemu, ababemsizile ekubulaleni kwakhe abafowabo.
and to place blame for the crime of the killing of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the leaders of the Shechemites, who assisted him.
25 Ekumelaneni kwabo laye abantu baseShekhemu laba babeka abantu ezingqongeni zezintaba ukuba bacathamele bonke abadlula lapho babaphange, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
And they stationed an ambush against him at the summit of the mountains. And while they were waiting for his arrival, they committed robberies, taking spoils from those passing by. And this was reported to Abimelech.
26 UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wathuthela eShekhemu labafowabo, njalo abantu bakhona bamethemba.
Now Gaal, the son of Ebed, went with his brothers, and crossed over to Shechem. And the inhabitants of Shechem, uplifted by his arrival,
27 Kwathi sebeye emasimini babutha amagrebisi bawagxoba, baba ledili ethempelini likankulunkulu wabo. Kwathi besidla njalo benatha, bamthuka u-Abhimelekhi.
departed into the fields, laying waste to the vineyards, and trampling the grapes. And while singing and dancing, they entered into the shrine of their god. And while feasting and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
28 Lapho-ke uGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathi, “Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi, loShekhemu ungubani, ukuba asibuse na? Akasindodana kaJerubhi-Bhali yini, njalo uZebhuli kasimsekeli wakhe na? Khonzani abantu baseHamori, yise kaShekhemu! Kungani kumele sikhonze u-Abhimelekhi na?
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried out: “Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, who has appointed Zebul, his servant, as ruler over the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
29 Sengathi ngabe abantu laba balawulwa yimi! Kade ngizamsusa. Kade ngizakuthi ku-Abhimelekhi, ‘Libize lonke ibutho lakho.’”
I wish that someone would set this people under my hand, so that I might take away Abimelech from their midst.” And it was told to Abimelech, “Gather the multitude of an army, and approach.”
30 Kwathi uZebhuli umbusi wedolobho esizwa okwatshiwo nguGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathukuthela kakhulu.
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 Wathuma izithunywa ngasese ku-Abhimelekhi, esithi, “UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi kanye labafowabo sebeze eShekhemu njalo badunga idolobho ukuba likuvukele.
And he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: “Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, has arrived at Shechem with his brothers, and he has set the city against you.
32 Ngakho wena labantu bakho kumele lize phakathi kobusuku limcathamele egangeni.
And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 Ekuseni ekuphumeni kwelanga, lisondele ukuba lilihlasele idolobho. Lapho uGali labantu bakhe bephuma ukuba balihlasele, lenze loba yini isandla senu esanelisa ukukwenza.”
And at first light in the morning, as the sun is rising, rush upon the city. And when he goes out against you, with his people, do to him what you are able to do.”
34 Ngakho-ke u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe wonke basuka ebusuku bacathama ezindaweni ezifihlakeleyo eduze leShekhemu bengamaviyo amane.
And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wayephumile emi ekungeneni kwesango ledolobho kwathi u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe baphuma lapho ababecatshe khona.
And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and he stood at the entrance to the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and all the army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
36 Kwathi uGali ebabona wathi kuZebhuli, “Khangela nampayana abantu bayehla besuka ezingqongeni zezintaba!” UZebhuli waphendula wathi, “Ubona amathunzi ezintaba kube angathi ngabantu.”
And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, a multitude is descending from the mountains.” And he responded to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains, as if they were the heads of men, and so you are being deceived by this error.”
37 Kodwa uGali wakhuluma futhi wathi, “Khangela, nampayana abantu bayehla besuka phakathi kwelizwe, njalo leviyo lamabutho liyeza livelela ngokuya esihlahleni sezangoma.”
Again, Gaal said, “Behold, a people is descending from the middle of the land, and one company is arriving by the way that looks towards the oak.”
38 UZebhuli wasesithi kuye, “Kungaphi ukukloloda kwakho manje, wena owathi, ‘Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi ukuba asibuse na?’ Laba kabasibo yini abantu owawubahleka? Phuma uyekulwa labo!”
And Zebul said to him: “Where is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people that you were despising? Go out and fight against him.”
39 Ngakho uGali waphuma labantu baseShekhemu walwa lo-Abhimelekhi.
Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 U-Abhimelekhi wamxotsha, kwathi abanengi bafa belimele ekubalekeni, ibanga lonke kusiya ekungeneni kwesango.
who pursued him, fleeing, and drove him into the city. And many were cut down on his side, even to the gate of the city.
41 U-Abhimelekhi wahlala e-Aruma, kwathi uZebhuli wamdudula uGali labafowabo eShekhemu.
And Abimelech made camp at Arumah. But Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions from the city, and he would not permit them to remain in it.
42 Ngelanga elalandelayo abantu baseShekhemu basuka baya egangeni, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 Ngakho wathatha abantu bakhe, wabehlukanisa baba ngamaviyo amathathu wathi kabacathanyelwe egangeni. Kwathi ebona abantu bephuma edolobheni wavuka ukuba abahlasele.
he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and he placed ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people had departed from the city, he rose up and rushed upon them,
44 U-Abhimelekhi lamaviyo ayelaye bagijimela phambili endaweni esekungeneni kwesango ledolobho. Amaviyo amabili agijimela kulabo ababesegangeni ababulala.
along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 Ngalo lonke lolosuku u-Abhimelekhi waqinisa ukulihlasela kwakhe idolobho lelo waze walithumba wabulala labantu balo. Idolobho walidiliza wasehaza itswayi phezu kwalo.
Now Abimelech assaulted the city all that day. And he seized it, and he killed its inhabitants, and he destroyed it, so much so that he scattered salt in it.
46 Besizwa lokhu, abantu abasemphotshongweni weShekhemu bayangena enqabeni yethempeli lase-Eli-Bherithi.
And when those living in the tower of Shechem had heard about this, they entered the temple of their god, Berith, where they had formed a covenant with him. And it was because of this, that the place had taken its name. And it was greatly fortified.
47 Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esizwa ukuthi basebebuthene lapho,
Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 yena labantu bakhe bakhwela intaba iZalimoni. Wathatha ihloka wagamula amahlahla, wawetshata emahlombe akhe. Walaya abantu ababelaye wathi, “Phangisani! Yenzani lokhu elibone ngikwenza!”
ascended to mount Zalmon, with all his people. And taking an axe, he cut down the branch of a tree. And laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions, “What you see me do, you must do quickly.”
49 Ngakho abantu bagamula amahlahla bamlandela u-Abhimelekhi. Bawabuthelela enqabeni leyo bayithungela ngomlilo abantu bephakathi. Ngakho bonke abantu ababephakathi komphotshongo waseShekhemu, amadoda labesifazane ababengaba yinkulungwane bafa.
And so, eagerly cutting down branches from the trees, they followed their leader. And surrounding the fortified place, they set it on fire. And so it happened that, by smoke and fire, one thousand persons died, men and women together, the occupants of the tower of Shechem.
50 Emva kwalokho u-Abhimelekhi waya eThebhezi wayivimbezela wayithumba.
Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 Kodwa phakathi kwedolobho lelo kwakulomphotshongo oqinileyo lapho wonke amadoda labesifazane, abantu bakulelodolobho ababebalekele khona. Bazikhiyela phakathi bakhwela phezu kophahla lomphotshongo.
Now there was, in the midst of the city, a high tower, to which men and women were fleeing together, with all the leaders of the city. And, having very strongly sealed the gate, they were standing on the roof of the tower to defend themselves.
52 U-Abhimelekhi waya emphotshongweni lowo wawuhlasela. Kodwa wathi esebanga emnyango womphotshongo ukuba awuthungele ngomlilo,
And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 owesifazane othile wawisela imbokodo phezu kwekhanda lakhe yadabula ukhakhayi lwakhe.
And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Waphanga wabiza umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungibulale, ukuze bangathi, ‘Wabulawa ngowesifazane.’” Ngakho inceku yakhe yamgwaza, wafa.
And he quickly called to his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise it may be said that I was slain by a woman.” And, doing as he was ordered, he killed him.
55 Kwathi abako-Israyeli bebona ukuthi u-Abhimelekhi wayesefile, babuyela ekhaya.
And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 UNkulunkulu wabuphindisela kanje ububi u-Abhimelekhi ayebenze kuyise ngokubulala abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa.
And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 UNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi labantu baseShekhemu babuhlawulele ububi babo. Isiqalekiso sikaJothamu indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali sehlela phezu kwabo.
The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
