Dommernes 9
1 Abimelek, son åt Jerubba’al, for til Sikem, til morbrørne sine, og tala med deim og med alt morfolket sitt:
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 «Kjære dykk, » sagde han, «tala til alle Sikems-mennerne, og seg: «Kva er best for dykk: at sytti mann, alle sønerne åt Jerubba’al, styrer dykk, eller at ein mann styrer dykk?» Og kom so i hug at me er same folket!»
“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 Då tala morbrørne hans um honom for alle borgarane i Sikem, og sagde alt dette; og hugen drog deim til Abimelek. «Han er ein av våre!» sagde dei.
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 So gav dei honom sytti lodd sylv av tempelskatten åt Sambands-Ba’al. For deim leigde Abimelek nokre lause uvyrdne karar, og dei fylgde honom kvar han gjekk.
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 So for han til huset åt far sin i Ofra, og drap brørne sine, sønerne åt Jerubba’al, sytti mann på ein stein; berre Jotam, den yngste sonen åt Jerubba’al, vart att; han hadde fenge løynt seg.
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 Då samla dei seg, alle borgarane i Sikem og alt folket i Millo, og dei drog ut og valde Abimelek til konge under Minnesteinseiki ved Sikem.
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 Då Jotam fekk spurt det, steig han upp på toppen av Gerizimfjellet; der stod han, og ropa til deim og sagde: «Høyr på meg, Sikems-menner, so sant de vil at Gud skal høyra på dykk!
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 Det var ein gong trei vilde kåra seg ein konge. Dei sagde til oljetreet: «Du skal vera kongen vår!»
The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 Men oljetreet svara: «Skulde eg missa oljen min, som gudar og menneskje ærar meg for, og gjeva meg til å svaga att og fram yver skogen?»
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 Då sagde dei til fiketreet: «Kom du og ver kongen vår!»
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 Og Fiketreet svara: «Skulde eg missa søtleiken min og den gode frukti mi, og gjeva meg til å svaga at og fram yver skogen?»
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 So sagde dei til vintreet: «Kom du og ver kongen vår!»
And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 Vintreet svara: «Skulde eg missa safti mi, som gjer gudar og menneskje glade, og gjeva meg til å svaga att og fram yver skogen?»
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 Då sagde alle trei til klungeren: «Kom so du og ver kongen vår!»
And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 «Er det ålvor at de vil kåra meg til konge, » sagde klungeren, «so kom og svala dykk i skuggen min! Men er det ikkje, so skal det fara eld ut frå klungeren og øyda cedrarne på Libanon.»
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 Hev no de fare truge og ærleg fram med di de hev teke Abimelek til konge, og hev de gjort vel mot Jerubba’al og ætti hans, og hev de gjort lika for det han gjorde,
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 då han, far min, stridde for dykk, og våga livet, og berga dykk frå midjanitarne
and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 - og endå hev de no reist dykk mot ætti åt far min, og drepe sønerne hans, sytti mann på ein stein, og gjort Abimelek, son åt terna hans, til konge yver Sikems-buarne, for di han er skyld dykk -
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 hev de no i dag fare truge og ærleg fram mot Jerubba’al og ætti hans, so gjev de må få gleda av Abimelek, og gjev han må få gleda av dykk!
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 Men hev de ikkje det, so gjev det må fara eld ut frå Abimelek og tyna Sikems-buarne og Millo-folket, og gjev det må fara eld ut frå Sikems-buarne og Millo-folket, og tyna Abimelek!»
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 So rømde Jotam, og kom seg undan; sidan for han til Be’er, og der slo han seg ned, so Abimelek, bror hans, ikkje kunde nå i honom.
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 I tri år rådde Abimelek i Israel.
And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 Då sende Gud ei vond ånd som sette ilt millom Abimelek og Sikems-mennerne, og Sikems-mennerne sveik Abimelek;
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 for Gud vilde at valdsverket mot dei sytti sønerne åt Jerubba’al skulde hemnast, og blodet deira koma yver Abimelek, bror deira, som hadde drepe deim, og yver Sikems-mennerne, som hadde gjeve honom magt til å drepa brørne sine.
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 Sikems-mennerne sette ut vaktmenner på fjelltindarne, som skulde halda auga med Abimelek, og røva alle som for framum der på vegen, og Abimelek fekk vita det.
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 Ved det leitet kom Ga’al Ebedsson med brørne sine og flutte inn i Sikem, og Sikems-mennerne sette lit til honom.
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 Dei gjekk ut på marki, og hausta vinhagarne sine og persa druvorne; so heldt dei takkehøgtid, og gjekk inn i templet åt guden sin, og åt og drakk og banna Abimelek.
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 Og Ga’al Ebedsson sagde: «Er Abimelek slik mann, og sikemitarne slike folk, at me skulde vera tenarane hans? Hev’kje son åt Jerubba’al og Zebul, futen hans, tent ætti åt Hemor, den gamle Sikems-kongen? Men kvi skulde me so tena honom mannen.
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 Gjev eg hadde hand yver dette folket, so skulde eg snart få Abimelek or vegen. Auka heren din, Abimelek, og kom!» kytte han.
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 Då Zebul, byhovdingen, fekk høyra kva Ga’al Ebedsson hadde sagt, vart han harm;
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 han sende i løynd bod til Abimelek og sagde: «Ga’al Ebedsson og brørne hans er komne til Sikem, og øser upp byen mot deg.
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 Tak no i vegen nattars tid med det folket du hev hjå deg, og legg deg på lur på marki;
And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 og når det dagast, og soli sprett, so brjot upp og renn fram imot byen; då fer Ga’al og folket hans ut imot deg, og du kann gjera med honom som du fær høve til.»
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 So tok Abimelek ut um natti med alle dei folki han hadde hjå seg, og dei lagde seg på lur mot Sikem i fire flokkar.
And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 No bar det so til at Ga’al Ebedsson kom ut og stod i byporten i same bilet som Abimelek og folki hans braut fram frå løynlega.
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 Ga’al såg deim, og sagde til Zebul: «Sjå! Det kjem folk ned frå fjelltindarne!» «Det er skuggen av fjelli som du tek for folk, » svara Zebul.
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 Men Ga’al heldt på og tala: «Sjå der kjem det folk ned frå Midhø’i, » sagde han, «og ein flokk kjem etter den vegen som ber til Trollmanneiki.»
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 Då sagde Zebul: «Kvar er no dei store ordi dine, du som sagde: «Er Abimelek slik mann at me skulde vera tenarane hans?» Sjå her er dei folki som du vyrde so lite! Drag no ut, og strid imot deim!»
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 Då drog Ga’al ut med Sikems-mennerne i fylgje, og stridde mot Abimelek.
Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 Men Abimelek vann yver honom, og jaga han fyre seg, og det vart eit stort mannefall heilt burtåt byporten.
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 Sidan gav Abimelek seg til i Aruma, og Zebul dreiv Ga’al og brørne hans burt; dei måtte ikkje vera i Sikem.
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 Dagen etter skulde Sikems-folket ut på marki. Det fekk Abimelek vita;
Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 då tok han og bytte mannskapet sitt i tri flokkar, og lagde seg på lur på marki, og då han såg at folket kom ut or byen, sette han på deim og hogg deim ned.
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 Sjølv sprang han fram, og tok støde ved byporten med den flokken som fylgde honom, og dei hine tvo flokkarne rende på alle deim som var ute på marki, og slo deim i hel.
along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 Abimelek kringsette byen heile den dagen, og tok honom, og drap folket som var der; byen reiv han ned, og strådde tufti med salt.
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 Då folket i Sikemsborgi høyrde det, gjekk dei alle inn i tempelbygningen åt Sambands-Ba’al.
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 So snøgt som Abimelek fekk vita at alt folket i Sikemsborgi hadde flokka seg i hop på ein stad,
Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 gjekk han med alle mennerne sine upp på Salmonfjellet. Han tok øksi si i hand, og hogg greiner av trei, tok deim upp, lagde deim på herdi, og sagde til mennerne sine: «Skunda dykk og gjer like eins som de såg eg gjorde!»
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 Då hogg alle mennerne og kvar si byrd med kvist og fylgde etter honom. So lagde dei veden uppetter tempelbygningen, og sette med den eld på bygningen. Soleis umkomst alt folket i Sikemsborgi, um lag tusund menner og kvinnor.
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 Sidan gjekk Abimelek mot Tebes; den byen kringsette han og tok.
Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 Inni byen var det eit fast tårn; dit rømde alle menner og kvinnor, alt folket i byen, og dei stengde etter seg og gjekk upp på taket.
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 Då Abimelek kom til tårnet, kringsette han det; so gjekk han fram til porten og vilde setja eld på.
And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 Då var det ei kvinna som kasta ein kvernstein ned på hovudet hans, so hausen brotna.
And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Abimelek ropa svint på sveinen som bar våpni hans, og sagde: «Drag sverdet ditt, og drep meg, so det ikkje skal segjast at ei kvinna slo meg i hel!» Då stakk sveinen sverdet gjenom honom, og han døydde.
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 Og då Israels-mennerne såg at han var slokna, gjekk kvar heim til sitt.
And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 Soleis hemnde Gud den ugjerningi Abimelek gjorde mot far sin då han drap dei sytti brørne sine.
And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 Og alt det vonde Sikems-mennerne hadde gjort, let Gud koma attyver deim; den våbøni Jotam Jerubba’alsson hadde lyst, fekk dei sanna.
The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
