Abahluleli 9
1 UAbhimeleki indodana kaJerubali wasesiya eShekema kubafowabo bakanina, wakhuluma kibo lakusendo lonke lwendlu kayise kanina, esithi:
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying:
2 Ake likhulume endlebeni zabo bonke abahlali beShekemalithi: Yikuphi okungcono kini ukuthi wonke amadodana kaJerubali amadoda angamatshumi ayisikhombisa alibuse, kumbe indoda eyodwa ilibuse? Khumbulani futhi ukuthi ngilithambo lenu lenyama yenu.
'Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.'
3 Labafowabo bakanina bamkhulumela ezindlebeni zabo bonke abahlali beShekema wonke la amazwi. Inhliziyo yabo yeyamela ukumlandela uAbhimeleki, ngoba bathi: Ungumfowethu.
And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said: 'He is our brother.'
4 Bamnika inhlamvu zesiliva ezingamatshumi ayisikhombisa ezavela endlini kaBhali-Berithi; uAbhimeleki waseqhatsha ngazo abantu abayize labangakhathaliyo abamlandelayo.
And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
5 Wasesiya endlini kayise eOfira, wabulala abafowabo amadodana kaJerubali, amadoda angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, phezu kwedwala elilodwa; kodwa uJothamu indodana elicinathunjana kaJerubali wasala, ngoba wacatsha.
And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6 Labo bonke abahlali beShekema labo bonke abeBeti-Milo babuthana, bahamba bamenza wabusa uAbhimeleki abe yinkosi, esihlahleni se-okhi esamiswa siseShekema.
And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all Beth-millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the terebinth of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 Lapho bemtshela uJothamu, wayakuma phezu kwengqonga yentaba yeGerizimi, waphakamisa ilizwi lakhe wamemeza wathi kibo: Ngizwani bahlali beShekema ukuze uNkulunkulu alizwe.
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them: 'Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
8 Izihlahla zahamba lokuhamba ukuzigcobela inkosi. Zathi esihlahleni somhlwathi: Sibuse.
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree: Reign thou over us.
9 Kodwa isihlahla somhlwathi sathi kuzo: Kambe ngizatshiya amafutha ami abadumisa ngawo uNkulunkulu labantu ngami, ukuze ngiyezunguza phezu kwezihlahla?
But the olive-tree said unto them: Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?
10 Izihlahla zasezisithi esihlahleni somkhiwa: Woza wena usibuse.
And the trees said to the fig-tree: Come thou, and reign over us.
11 Kodwa isihlahla somkhiwa sathi kuzo: Kambe ngizatshiya ubumnandi bami lezithelo zami ezinhle, ukuze ngiyezunguza phezu kwezihlahla?
But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees?
12 Izihlahla zasezisithi esihlahleni sevini: Woza wena usibuse.
And the trees said unto the vine: Come thou, and reign over us.
13 Kodwa isihlahla sevini sathi kuzo: Kambe ngizatshiya iwayini lami elitsha elithokozisa uNkulunkulu labantu, ukuze ngiyezunguza phezu kwezihlahla?
And the vine said unto them: Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees?
14 Izihlahla zonke zasezisithi embabazaneni: Woza wena usibuse.
Then said all the trees unto the bramble: Come thou, and reign over us.
15 Imbabazane yasisithi ezihlahleni: Uba ngeqiniso lingigcoba ngibe yinkosi phezu kwenu, wozani lidinge ukuvikelwa emthunzini wami; uba kungenjalo-ke, umlilo uzaphuma embabazaneni udle izihlahla zemisedari zeLebhanoni.
And the bramble said unto the trees: If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 Ngakho khathesi, uba likwenzile ngeqiniso langokuthembeka ukuthi libekile uAbhimeleki abe yinkosi, lokuthi uba lenzile okuhle ngoJerubali langendlu yakhe, lokuthi uba lenze kuye ngokufanele izandla zakhe;
Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands —
17 ngoba ubaba walilwela, walahlela khatshana impilo yakhe, walophula esandleni samaMidiyani;
for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
18 kodwa lina seliyivukele indlu kababa lamuhla, labulala amadodana akhe, amadoda angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, phezu kwedwala elilodwa, labeka uAbhimeleki indodana yencekukazi yakhe ukuthi abe yinkosi yabahlali beShekema, ngoba engumfowenu;
and ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother —
19 uba-ke ngeqiniso langokuthembeka lenzile ngoJerubali langendlu yakhe ngalolusuku, thokozani ngoAbhimeleki, laye athokoze ngani.
if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
20 Kodwa uba kungenjalo, kakuphume umlilo kuAbhimeleki udle abahlali beShekema leBeti-Milo, njalo kakuphume umlilo kubahlali beShekema leBeti-Milo udle uAbhimeleki.
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.'
21 UJothamu wasephunyuka wabaleka, waya eBeri, wahlala khona, ngenxa kaAbhimeleki umfowabo.
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Kwathi uAbhimeleki esebuse uIsrayeli iminyaka emithathu,
And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 uNkulunkulu wathuma umoya omubi phakathi kukaAbhimeleki labahlali beShekema, njalo abahlali beShekema baziphatha ngokungathembeki kuAbhimeleki,
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;
24 ukuze udlakela olwenziwa kumadodana kaJerubali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa lubuyele, legazi libekwe phezu kukaAbhimeleki umfowabo owawabulalayo, laphezu kwabahlali beShekema ababeqinise izandla zakhe ukubulala abafowabo.
that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
25 Abahlali beShekema basebembekela abacathameli ezingqongeni zezintaba, baphanga bonke ababebedlula ngaleyondlela; uAbhimeleki wasekubikelwa.
And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them; and it was told Abimelech.
26 UGahali indodana kaEbedi wasesiza labafowabo, bedlulela eShekema; njalo abahlali beShekema bamthemba.
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went on to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 Basebephuma baya emasimini, bakha izithelo zamavini ezivinini zabo, bazinyathela, benza indumiso, bangena endlini kankulunkulu wabo, badla banatha, bamthuka uAbhimeleki.
And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 UGahali indodana kaEbedi wasesithi: Ungubani uAbhimeleki njalo ungubani uShekema ukuthi simsebenzele? Kasindodana kaJerubali yini, loZebuli induna yayo? Sebenzelani amadoda kaHamori uyise kaShekema. Ngoba thina sizamsebenzelelani?
And Gaal the son of Ebed said: 'Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
29 Sengathi ngabe lababantu bebesesandleni sami, bengizamkhupha-ke uAbhimeleki. Wasesithi kuAbhimeleki: Yandisa ibutho lakho, uphume.
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech.' And he said to Abimelech: 'Increase thine army, and come out.'
30 Kwathi uZebuli umbusi womuzi esizwa amazwi kaGahali indodana kaEbedi, ulaka lwakhe lwavutha.
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 Wathuma izithunywa kuAbhimeleki ngobuqili, esithi: Khangela, uGahali indodana kaEbedi labafowabo bafikile eShekema, khangela-ke, sebeqinisa umuzi ukumelana lawe.
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech in Tormah, saying: 'Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they will incite the city against thee.
32 Khathesi-ke sukuma ebusuku wena labantu abalawe, uyecathama egangeni.
Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field.
33 Kuzakuthi-ke ekuseni ekuphumeni kwelanga, uvuke ngovivi uwuhlasele umuzi; khangela, lapho yena labantu abalaye bephuma ukumelana lawe, uzakwenza kuye njengalokho isandla sakho esikutholayo.
And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt be able.'
34 UAbhimeleki wasesukuma labo bonke abantu ababelaye, ebusuku, basebeyicathamela iShekema ngezigaba ezine.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 UGahali indodana kaEbedi wasephuma wema esikhaleni sesango lomuzi. UAbhimeleki wasesukuma labantu ababelaye ekucathameni.
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
36 Kwathi uGahali ebona abantu, wathi kuZebuli: Khangela, abantu bayehla ezingqongeni zezintaba. Kodwa uZebuli wathi kuye: Ubona amathunzi ezintaba kungathi ngabantu.
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: 'Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains.' And Zebul said unto him: 'Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.'
37 UGahali waqhubeka futhi ekhuluma wathi: Khangela, abantu bayehla bevela phakathi kwelizwe, lelinye ixuku livela endleleni yamagceke abavumisi.
And Gaal spoke again and said: 'See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of Elon-meonenim.'
38 UZebuli wasesithi kuye: Usungaphi umlomo wakho owathi ngawo: Ungubani uAbhimeleki ukuthi simkhonze? Laba kayisibo abantu obadeleleyo yini? Ake uphume khathesi uyekulwa labo.
Then said Zebul unto him: 'Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst: Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.'
39 UGahali wasephuma phambi kwabahlali beShekema, walwa loAbhimeleki.
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 UAbhimeleki wamxotsha, wasebaleka phambi kwakhe; abanengi bawa belimele kwaze kwaba sekungeneni kwesango.
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
41 UAbhimeleki wasehlala eAruma. UZebuli wasemxotsha uGahali labafowabo, ukuze bangahlali eShekema.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Kwasekusithi kusisa abantu baphuma baya egangeni; bamtshela uAbhimeleki.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.
43 Wasethatha abantu, wabehlukanisa baba ngamaxuku amathathu, wacathama egangeni, wabona, khangela-ke, abantu bephuma emzini, wabasukela wabatshaya.
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people were coming forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 UAbhimeleki lexuku elalilaye basebebahlasela bema ekungeneni kwesango lomuzi, lamaxuku amabili ahlasela bonke ababesegangeni, abatshaya.
And 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 upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
45 UAbhimeleki wasesilwa emelene lomuzi lolosuku lonke, wawuthumba umuzi, wabulala abantu ababekiwo, wadilizela phansi umuzi, wawuhlanyela ngetshwayi.
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein; and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Lapho bonke abahlali bomphotshongo weShekema bekuzwa, bangena enqabeni yendlu kaEli-Berithi.
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the hold of the house of El-berith.
47 Kwabikelwa uAbhimeleki ukuthi bonke abahlali bemphotshongweni weShekema babuthene ndawonye.
And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 UAbhimeleki wasesenyukela entabeni yeZalimoni, yena labo bonke abantu ababelaye; uAbhimeleki wathatha ihloka esandleni sakhe, wagamula ugatsha lwezihlahla, waluthatha walwetshata ehlombe lakhe, wathi ebantwini ababelaye: Lokhu elibona ngikwenza, phangisani likwenze njengami.
And Abimelech got him up to 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 took it up, and laid it on his shoulder; and he said unto the people that were with him: 'What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.'
49 Ngakho bonke abantu labo bagamula, ngulowo ugatsha lwakhe, bamlandela uAbhimeleki bazibeka enqabeni, bathungela inqaba ngomlilo phezu kwabo, kwaze kwathi bonke abantu bomphotshongo weShekema labo bafa, phose abesilisa labesifazana abayinkulungwane.
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 UAbhimeleki wasesiya eThebezi, wamisa inkamba maqondana leThebezi wayithumba.
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Kodwa kwakulomphotshongo oqinileyo phakathi komuzi, labo bonke abesilisa labesifazana babalekela kuyo, labo bonke abahlali bomuzi, babavalela phakathi; benyukela ephahleni lomphotshongo.
But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, even all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
52 UAbhimeleki wasefika emphotshongweni, walwa lawo, wasondela emnyango womphotshongo ukuze awutshise ngomlilo.
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went close unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 Owesifazana othile wasephosa ucezu lwelitshe lokuchola ekhanda likaAbhimeleki, wadabula ukhakhayi lwakhe.
And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
54 Wasebiza masinyane ijaha elalithwala izikhali zakhe, wathi kilo: Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungibulale, hlezi bathi ngami: Owesifazana wambulala. Ijaha lakhe laselimgwaza, wafa-ke.
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armour-bearer, and said unto him: 'Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me: A woman slew him.' And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 Kwathi amadoda akoIsrayeli ebona ukuthi uAbhimeleki usefile, ahamba, ngulowo waya endaweni yakhe.
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 Ngokunjalo uNkulunkulu wabuyisela ububi bukaAbhimeleki ayebenze kuyise, ngokubulala abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa.
Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
57 Labo bonke ububi bamadoda eShekema uNkulunkulu wabubuyisela phezu kwamakhanda awo; kwasekusehlela phezu kwabo isiqalekiso sikaJothamu indodana kaJerubali.
and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
