Vatongi 9
1 Abhimereki mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari akaenda kuhanzvadzi dzamai vake vaiva muShekemu akati kwavari uye nokuna vose veimba yamai vake,
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 “Bvunzai vose vanogara muShekemu kuti, ‘Zviri nani kwamuri ndezvipi: Kuti mutongwe navanakomana vose vaJerubhi-Bhaari vari makumi manomwe kana kungotongwa nomunhu mumwe chete?’ Murangarire kuti ini ndiri nyama neropa renyu.”
“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 Hanzvadzi dzamai vake dzakarondedzerazve zvose izvi kuvagari veShekemu, vakada kutevera Abhimereki, nokuti vakati, “Ihama yedu.”
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 Vakamupa mashekeri esirivha makumi manomwe aibva mutemberi yaBhaari-Bheriti, uye Abhimereki akaishandisa kutenga varume vakanga vakaipa uye vasina tsitsi, vakava vateveri vake.
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 Akaenda kuimba yababa vake muOfira uye akaponda paruware rumwe chete vanakomana vababa vake makumi manomwe, ivo vanakomana vaJerubhi-Bhaari. Asi Jotamu, muduku pane vose kuvanakomana vaJerubhi-Bhaari, akapunyuka nokuti akavanda.
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 Ipapo vagari vose vomuShekemu nokuBheti Miro vakaungana parutivi pomuti mukuru pambiru iri muShekemu kuti vagadze Abhimereki samambo.
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 Jotamu akati azvinzwa, akakwira pamusoro peGomo reGerizimu akadanidzira kwavari akati, “Nditeererei imi vagari veShekemu, kuti Mwari agoteerera kwamuri.
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 Rimwe zuva miti yakabuda kundozodza mambo wayo. Vakati kumuti womuOrivhi, ‘Iva mambo wedu.’
The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 “Asi muti womuOrivhi wakapindura ukati, ‘Ko, ndingada kusiya mafuta angu, anoremekedzwa nezvose, vamwari navanhu, kuti ndinozengaira hangu pamusoro pemiti here?’
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 “Shure kwaizvozvo, miti yakati kumuonde, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 “Asi muonde wakapindura ukati, ‘Ndingada hangu kusiya muchero wangu, wakanaka kudai uye unotapira, kuti ndinozengaira pamusoro pemiti here?’
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 “Ipapo miti ikati kumuzambiringa, ‘Uya uzova mambo wedu.’
And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 “Asi muzambiringa wakapindura ukati, ‘Ndingada hangu kusiya waini yangu inofadza vose vamwari navanhu, kuti ndinozengaira pamusoro pemiti here?’
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 “Pakupedzisira, miti yose yakati kurukato, ‘Uya uve mambo wedu.’
And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 “Rukato rukati kumiti, ‘Kana muchida kundizodza kuti ndive mambo wenyu zvirokwazvo, uyai muvande pamumvuri wangu; asi kana zvisizvo, moto ngaubude murukato ugopisa misidhari yeRebhanoni!’
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 “Zvino kana imi makaita zvinokudzwa uye zvakatendeka pamakaita Abhimereki mambo, uye kana makaita zvakanaka kuna Jerubhi-Bhaari nokumhuri yake, uye kana makamubata sezvaanofanira,
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 uye nokufunga kuti baba vangu vakakurwirai, vakaisa upenyu hwavo panjodzi kuti vakununurei kubva muruoko rweMidhiani
and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 (asi nhasi mapandukira mhuri yababa vangu, mukaponda vanakomana vavo makumi manomwe padombo rimwe chete, uye mukaisa Abhimereki, mwanakomana womurandakadzi wavo kuti ave mambo pamusoro pavagere muShekemu nokuda kwokuti ihama yenyu),
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 kana zvino makaita norukudzo uye nokutenda kwakanaka kuna Jerubhi-Bhaari nemhuri yake, nhasi Abhimereki ngaave mufaro wenyu, nemiwo muve wakewo!
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 Asi kana musina kudaro, moto ngaubude kubva kuna Abhimereki, uye uparadze imi, vagari veShekemu neBheti Miro, uye moto ngaubude kwamuri, vagari veShekemu neBheti Miro, ugoparadza Abhimereki!”
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 Ipapo Jotamu akatiza, akapunyukira kuBheeri, uye akagara ikoko nokuti akanga achitya mukoma wake Abhimereki.
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 Shure kwamakore matatu aAbhimereki achitonga Israeri,
And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 Mwari akatuma mweya wakaipa pakati paAbhimereki navagari vomuShekemu, ukanyengera Abhimereki.
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 Mwari akaita izvi kuitira kuti zvakaipa zvakaitirwa vanakomana makumi manomwe vaJerubhi-Bhaari, kuteurwa kweropa ravo, kutsiviwe pamusoro pomununʼuna wavo Abhimereki uye napamusoro pavagari veShekemu, avo vakanga vamubatsira kuponda vanakomana vababa vake.
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 Mukumurwisa kwavo, vagari ava veShekemu vakaisa varume pamusoro pezvikomo kuti vavandire nokupamba mumwe nomumwe aipfuura, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
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 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akaenda navanunʼuna vake kundogara muShekemu, uye vagari vomo vakavimba naye.
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 Vakaenda kuminda vakandounganidza mazambiringa vakaasvina uye vakaita mutambo. Vakapinda mutemberi yamwari wavo, vakadya vakanwa uye vakatuka Abhimereki.
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 Ipapo Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akati, “Abhimereki ndianiko uye Shekemu ndianiko, kuti tive varanda vake? Ko, haazi mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari, uye Zebhuri haazi mutevedzeri wake here? Shandirai vanhu vaHamori, baba vaShekemu! Seiko tichishandira Abhimereki?
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 Dai chete vanhu ava vanga vari pasi pangu! Ipapo ndaimubvisa. Ndaizoti kuna Abhimereki, ‘Dana hondo yako yose!’”
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 Zebhuri mubati weguta akati anzwa zvakataurwa naGaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi, akatsamwa zvikuru.
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 Akatuma nhume kuna Abhimereki muchivande achiti, “Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi uye navanunʼuna vake vakasvika kuShekemu uye vari kukuchidzira guta kuti rikurwisei.
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 Saka zvino, usiku, imi navanhu venyu munofanira kuzovandira muri muminda.
And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 Panguva dzamangwanani, zuva robuda, mupinde murwise guta. Panouya Gaari navanhu vake kuti vabude kuzorwa nemi, muite zvose zvamunogona noruoko rwenyu.”
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 Saka Abhimereki namauto ake akasimuka usiku akaenda kunzvimbo dzakavanda pedyo neShekemu mumapoka mana.
And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 Zvino Gaari mwanakomana waEbhedhi akanga abuda uye akanga amire pamukova wamasuo eguta apo Abhimereki navarwi vake vakasimuka pavakanga vakavanda.
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 Gaari akati achivaona, akati kuna Zebhuri, “Tarira, vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pamusoro pamakomo!” Zebhuri akapindura akati, “Uri kuona mimvuri yamakomo savanhu iwe.”
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 Asi Gaari akadanidzirazve akati, “Tarira vanhu vari kuburuka kubva pakati penyika, rimwe boka riri kubva nenzira yomuti wavavuki.”
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 Ipapo Zebhuri akati kwaari, “Kutaura kwako kukuru kuripiko zvino, iyewe waiti, ‘Abhimereki ndianiko kuti isu tive varanda kwaari?’ Handiti ava ndivo vanhu vawaizvidza here? Chibuda undorwa navo!”
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 Saka Gaari akabuda akatungamirira vanhu veShekemu akarwa naAbhimereki.
Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 Abhimereki akamudzinganisa uye vazhinji vakafa vakuvadzwa mukutiza uku nzira yose kusvikira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta.
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 Abhimereki akagara muAruma, uye Zebhuri akadzinga Gaari navanunʼuna vake muShekemu.
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 Fume mangwana vanhu veShekemu vakabuda vakaenda kuminda, uye izvi zvakaziviswa kuna Abhimereki.
Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 Saka akatora vanhu vake, akavakamura akavaisa mumapoka matatu akavandira musango. Akati achiona vanhu vachibuda muguta, akasimuka kuti avarwise.
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 Abhimereki namapoka aakanga anawo vakamhanyira pamukova wokupinda pasuo reguta. Ipapo mapoka maviri akamhanyira vaya vakanga vari kuminda vakavauraya.
along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 Zuva rose iroro, Abhimereki akarwisa kwazvo guta kusvikira aritapa uye auraya vanhu varo. Ipapo akaparadza guta uye akakusha munyu pamusoro paro.
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 Vachinzwa izvi vagari vomushongwe yeShekemu, vakapinda munhare dzetemberi yaEri-Bheriti.
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 Abhimereki akati anzwa kuti vakanga vakaungana ipapo,
Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 Iye navanhu vake vose vakakwira muGomo reZarimoni. Akatora demo akagura matavi, akaasimudza akaaisa pamapfudzi ake. Akarayira varume vaaiva navo akati, “Kurumidzai! Itai zvamandiona ndichiita!”
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 Saka varume vose vakagura matavi vakatevera Abhimereki. Vakaatutira pamusoro penhare ndokuitungidza nomoto vanhu vari mukati. Saka vanhu vose vaiva mushongwe yeShekemu, varume navakadzi vanenge chiuru chimwe chete vakafawo.
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 Shure kwaizvozvo Abhimereki akaenda kuTebhezi akarikomba uye akaritapa.
Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 Kunyange zvakadaro, mukati meguta makanga mune shongwe yakasimba, munova ndimo makatizira varume vose navakadzi, navanhu vose veguta. Vakazvikiyira mukati vakakwira padenga reshongwe.
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 Abhimereki akaenda kushongwe iyo uye akairwisa. Asi akati achiswedera pamukova weshongwe kuti aipise nomoto,
And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 mukadzi akakanda guyo pamusoro pake rikatsemura dehenya rake.
And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Pakarepo akadana mutakuri wenhumbi dzake dzokurwa akati, “Vhomora munondo wako undiuraye, kuti vasazoti, ‘Akaurayiwa nomukadzi.’” Saka muranda wake akamubaya akafa.
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 VaIsraeri vakati vaona kuti Abhimereki afa, vakaenda kumusha.
And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 Naizvozvo Jehovha akatsiva kuipa kwaAbhimereki kwaakaita kuna baba vake nokuponda vanakomana vababa vake makumi manomwe.
And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 Mwari akaitawo kuti varume veShekemu varipe zvakaipa zvavo zvose. Kutuka kwaJotamu, mwanakomana waJerubhi-Bhaari kwakauya pamusoro pavo.
The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
