Abahluleli 9
1 U-Abhimelekhi indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali waya kubomalumakhe eShekhemu lakubo bonke abosendo lukanina wathi kubo,
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,
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.”
“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.”
3 Kwathi abanewabo bakanina sebekutshilo konke lokhu ebantwini baseShekhemu, bafuna ukumlandela u-Abhimelekhi, ngoba bathi, “Ungumfowethu.”
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.”
4 Bamnika amashekeli esiliva angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, athathwa ethempelini likaBhali-Bherithi, u-Abhimelekhi aqhatsha ngawo izigebenga ezingakhathaliyo, ezaba ngabalandeli bakhe.
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.
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.
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.
6 Emva kwalokho bonke abantu baseShekhemu labeBhethi Milo babuthana ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi ensikeni eShekhemu ukuba u-Abhimelekhi bamfake abe yinkosi.
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.
7 Kwathi uJothamu esetshelwe lokhu wakhwela waya esiqongweni seNtaba iGerizimu wanqolonga esithi kubo, “Ngilalelani, bantu baseShekhemu, ukuze uNkulunkulu alilalele.
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.
8 Ngelinye ilanga izihlahla zasuka zayazigcobela inkosi yazo. Zathi esihlahleni se-oliva, ‘Woba yinkosi yethu.’
The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. 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?’
“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10 Izihlahla zasezisithi esihlahleni somkhiwa, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 Kodwa isihlahla somkhiwa saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela izithelo zami ezinhle kangaka njalo zimnandi, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
“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?’
12 Lapho-ke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sevini, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
“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?’
“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?’
14 Ekucineni zonke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sameva, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
“Then 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!’
“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.’
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,
“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
17 ngoba ubaba walilwela, wabeka impilo yakhe engozini ukuba alihlenge ezandleni zamaMidiyani
(for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of 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,
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);
19 ngakho nxa lenzenjalo ngobuqotho kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe lamuhla, thokozani ngo-Abhimelekhi, kube njalo laye ngani futhi!
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;
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 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.”
21 Emva kwalokhu uJothamu wabaleka, waya eBheri, wahlala khona ngoba wayesesaba umfowabo u-Abhimelekhi.
Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esebuse abako-Israyeli iminyaka emithathu
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 uNkulunkulu wathumela umoya omubi phakathi kuka-Abhimelekhi labantu baseShekhemu bamhlamukela u-Abhimelekhi.
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
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.
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.
25 Ekumelaneni kwabo laye abantu baseShekhemu laba babeka abantu ezingqongeni zezintaba ukuba bacathamele bonke abadlula lapho babaphange, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
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.
26 UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wathuthela eShekhemu labafowabo, njalo abantu bakhona bamethemba.
Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 Kwathi sebeye emasimini babutha amagrebisi bawagxoba, baba ledili ethempelini likankulunkulu wabo. Kwathi besidla njalo benatha, bamthuka u-Abhimelekhi.
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.
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?
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?
29 Sengathi ngabe abantu laba balawulwa yimi! Kade ngizamsusa. Kade ngizakuthi ku-Abhimelekhi, ‘Libize lonke ibutho lakho.’”
I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
30 Kwathi uZebhuli umbusi wedolobho esizwa okwatshiwo nguGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathukuthela kakhulu.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
31 Wathuma izithunywa ngasese ku-Abhimelekhi, esithi, “UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi kanye labafowabo sebeze eShekhemu njalo badunga idolobho ukuba likuvukele.
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.
32 Ngakho wena labantu bakho kumele lize phakathi kobusuku limcathamele egangeni.
Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait 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.”
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.”
34 Ngakho-ke u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe wonke basuka ebusuku bacathama ezindaweni ezifihlakeleyo eduze leShekhemu bengamaviyo amane.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wayephumile emi ekungeneni kwesango ledolobho kwathi u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe baphuma lapho ababecatshe khona.
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.
36 Kwathi uGali ebabona wathi kuZebhuli, “Khangela nampayana abantu bayehla besuka ezingqongeni zezintaba!” UZebhuli waphendula wathi, “Ubona amathunzi ezintaba kube angathi ngabantu.”
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.”
37 Kodwa uGali wakhuluma futhi wathi, “Khangela, nampayana abantu bayehla besuka phakathi kwelizwe, njalo leviyo lamabutho liyeza livelela ngokuya esihlahleni sezangoma.”
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.”
38 UZebhuli wasesithi kuye, “Kungaphi ukukloloda kwakho manje, wena owathi, ‘Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi ukuba asibuse na?’ Laba kabasibo yini abantu owawubahleka? Phuma uyekulwa labo!”
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.”
39 Ngakho uGali waphuma labantu baseShekhemu walwa lo-Abhimelekhi.
Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 U-Abhimelekhi wamxotsha, kwathi abanengi bafa belimele ekubalekeni, ibanga lonke kusiya ekungeneni kwesango.
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41 U-Abhimelekhi wahlala e-Aruma, kwathi uZebhuli wamdudula uGali labafowabo eShekhemu.
Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Ngelanga elalandelayo abantu baseShekhemu basuka baya egangeni, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 Ngakho wathatha abantu bakhe, wabehlukanisa baba ngamaviyo amathathu wathi kabacathanyelwe egangeni. Kwathi ebona abantu bephuma edolobheni wavuka ukuba abahlasele.
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.
44 U-Abhimelekhi lamaviyo ayelaye bagijimela phambili endaweni esekungeneni kwesango ledolobho. Amaviyo amabili agijimela kulabo ababesegangeni ababulala.
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.
45 Ngalo lonke lolosuku u-Abhimelekhi waqinisa ukulihlasela kwakhe idolobho lelo waze walithumba wabulala labantu balo. Idolobho walidiliza wasehaza itswayi phezu kwalo.
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.
46 Besizwa lokhu, abantu abasemphotshongweni weShekhemu bayangena enqabeni yethempeli lase-Eli-Bherithi.
When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47 Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esizwa ukuthi basebebuthene lapho,
Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 yena labantu bakhe bakhwela intaba iZalimoni. Wathatha ihloka wagamula amahlahla, wawetshata emahlombe akhe. Walaya abantu ababelaye wathi, “Phangisani! Yenzani lokhu elibone ngikwenza!”
Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax 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!”
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.
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.
50 Emva kwalokho u-Abhimelekhi waya eThebhezi wayivimbezela wayithumba.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Kodwa phakathi kwedolobho lelo kwakulomphotshongo oqinileyo lapho wonke amadoda labesifazane, abantu bakulelodolobho ababebalekele khona. Bazikhiyela phakathi bakhwela phezu kophahla lomphotshongo.
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.
52 U-Abhimelekhi waya emphotshongweni lowo wawuhlasela. Kodwa wathi esebanga emnyango womphotshongo ukuba awuthungele ngomlilo,
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 owesifazane othile wawisela imbokodo phezu kwekhanda lakhe yadabula ukhakhayi lwakhe.
A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
54 Waphanga wabiza umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungibulale, ukuze bangathi, ‘Wabulawa ngowesifazane.’” Ngakho inceku yakhe yamgwaza, wafa.
Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor 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.”
55 Kwathi abako-Israyeli bebona ukuthi u-Abhimelekhi wayesefile, babuyela ekhaya.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
56 UNkulunkulu wabuphindisela kanje ububi u-Abhimelekhi ayebenze kuyise ngokubulala abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa.
Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
57 UNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi labantu baseShekhemu babuhlawulele ububi babo. Isiqalekiso sikaJothamu indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali sehlela phezu kwabo.
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.
