Jueces 9
1 Abimelec, hijo de Jerob-baal, se dirigió a los hermanos de su madre en Siquem y les dijo a ellos y a todos los parientes de su madre:
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 “Por favor, preguntad a todos los dirigentes de Siquem: ‘¿Qué es lo mejor para ustedes? ¿Que setenta hombres, todos ellos hijos de Jerob-baal, gobiernen sobre ustedes, o un solo hombre?’ Recuerda que soy de tu propia sangre”.
“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 Los hermanos de su madre compartieron su propuesta con todos los dirigentes de Siquem, y decidieron seguir a Abimelec, porque dijeron: “Es nuestro pariente”.
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 Le dieron setenta siclos de plata del templo de Baal-berit. Abimelec utilizó el dinero para contratar a unos alborotadores arrogantes como su banda.
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 Fue a la casa de su padre en Ofra, y de una pedrada mató a sus setenta hermanastros, los hijos de Jerob-baal. Pero Jotam, el hijo menor de Jerob-baal, escapó escondiéndose.
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 Entonces todos los jefes de Siquem y Bet-millo se reunieron junto a la encina en la columna de Siquem y nombraron rey a Abimelec.
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 Cuando Jotam se enteró de esto, subió a la cima del monte Gerizim y gritó en voz alta: “¡Escúchenme, jefes de Siquem, y que Dios los escuche!
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 “Érase una vez que los árboles estaban decididos a ungir un rey que los gobernara. Le dijeron al olivo: ‘Tú serás nuestro rey’.
The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 Pero el olivo replicó: ‘¿Debo dejar de dar mi rico aceite, que beneficia tanto a los dioses como a los hombres, sólo para ir de un lado a otro de los árboles?’
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 Entonces los árboles pidieron a la higuera: ‘Ven tú y sé nuestro rey’.
And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 Pero la higuera respondió: ‘¿Debo dejar de dar mi buen y dulce fruto para ir a balancearme sobre los árboles?’
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 Entonces los árboles le preguntaron a la vid: ‘Ven y sé nuestro rey’.
And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 Pero la vid respondió: ‘¿Debo dejar de dar mi vino, que hace felices a los dioses y a los hombres, para ir a balancearme sobre los árboles?’
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 Entonces todos los árboles le preguntaron al espino: ‘Ven y sé nuestro rey’.
And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 El arbusto espinoso respondió a los árboles: ‘Si de verdad son sinceros al ungirme como su rey, venid a refugiaros a mi sombra. Pero si no, ¡que salga fuego del espino y queme los cedros del Líbano!’
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 “¿Has actuado con sinceridad y honestidad al hacer a Abimelec tu rey? ¿Has actuado con honestidad con Jerub-baal y su familia? ¿Lo has respetado por todo lo que hizo?
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 ¡No olvides cómo mi padre luchó por ti y arriesgó su propia vida para salvarte de los madianitas!
and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 “Pero hoy te has rebelado contra la familia de mi padre. Has matado a sus setenta hijos de una sola piedra y has hecho a Abimelec, el hijo de su esclava, rey de los dirigentes de Siquem simplemente porque es pariente tuyo.
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 ¿Has actuado hoy con sinceridad y honestidad con Jerub-baal y su familia? Si es así, ¡que seas feliz con Abimelec, y que él sea feliz también!
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 Pero si no lo has hecho, ¡que salga fuego de Abimelec y que queme a los líderes de Siquem y de Bet-millo, y que salga fuego de los líderes de Siquem y de Bet-millo y que queme a Abimelec!”
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 Entonces Jotam escapó y huyó. Fue a Beer y se quedó allí por la amenaza de su hermano Abimelec.
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 Abimelec gobernó sobre Israel durante tres años.
And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 Entonces Dios envió un espíritu maligno para causar problemas entre Abimelec y los líderes de Siquem. Los líderes de Siquem traicionaron a Abimelec.
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 Esto sucedió por el asesinato de los setenta hijos de Jerob-baal y para que la responsabilidad de su sangre recayera en Abimelec, su hermano, que los mató, y en los líderes de Siquem, que proporcionaron los medios para matar a sus hermanos.
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 Los jefes de Siquem enviaron hombres a los pasos de la colina para que acecharan y atacaran a Abimelec, y, mientras tanto, robaban a todos los que pasaban por el camino. Abimelec se enteró de lo que ocurría.
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 Gaal, hijo de Ebed, se había trasladado a Siquem con sus parientes, y se ganó la lealtad de los dirigentes de Siquem.
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 En la época de la cosecha salieron al campo, recogieron las uvas de sus viñedos y las pisaron. Lo celebraron haciendo una fiesta en el templo de su dios, donde comieron y bebieron, y maldijeron a Abimelec.
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 “¿Quién es ese Abimelec?”, preguntó Gaal, hijo de Ebed. “¿Y quién es Siquem, para que tengamos que servirle? ¿No es él el hijo de Jerub-baal, mientras que Zebul es el que manda en realidad? Deberías servir a la familia de Hamor, el padre de Siquem. ¿Por qué tendríamos que servir a Abimelec?
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 ¡Si yo fuera el encargado de ustedes, me desharía de Abimelec! Le diría: ‘¡Reúne a tu ejército y ven a luchar!’”.
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 Cuando Zebul, el gobernador de la ciudad, escuchó lo que decía Gaal, se enojó mucho.
For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 Envió secretamente mensajeros a Abimelec para decirle: “Mira, Gaal, hijo de Ebed, y sus parientes han llegado a Siquem, y están incitando al pueblo a rebelarse contra ti.
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 Así que ven de noche con tu ejército y escóndete en el campo.
And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 Por la mañana, en cuanto salga el sol, ve a atacar la ciudad. Cuando Gaal y sus hombres salgan a combatirte, podrás hacerles lo que quieras”.
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 Abimelec partió de noche junto con su ejército, y se separaron en cuatro compañías que acecharon cerca de Siquem.
And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 Cuando Gaal, hijo de Ebed, salió y se puso a la puerta de entrada de la ciudad, Abimelec y su ejército salieron de donde se habían escondido.
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 Gaal vio que el ejército se acercaba y le dijo a Zebul: “¡Mira, hay gente que baja de las cumbres!”. “Eso son sólo sombras hechas por las colinas que parecen hombres”, respondió 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 “No, en realidad, la gente está bajando de las alturas”, repitió Gaal. “Además, hay otra compañía que viene por el camino que pasa por el roble de los adivinos”.
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 “¿Dónde está tu bocaza ahora? Tú eres el que dijo: ‘¿Quién es ese Abimelec, para que tengamos que servirle?’”, le dijo Zebul. “¿No es ésta la gente que detestabas? Pues vete y lucha con ellos”.
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 Así que Gaal condujo a los líderes de Siquem fuera de la ciudad y luchó con Abimelec.
Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 Abimelec los atacó y los persiguió a él y a sus hombres mientras huían, matando a muchos de ellos cuando trataban de regresar a la puerta del pueblo.
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 Abimelec regresó a Arumá, mientras Zebul expulsaba a Gaal y a sus parientes de Siquem.
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 Al día siguiente el pueblo de Siquem salió a los campos, y Abimelec fue informado de ello.
Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 Dividió a su ejército en tres compañías y las hizo emboscar en los campos. Cuando vio que la gente salía de la ciudad, los atacó y los mató.
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 Abimelec y su compañía corrieron a ocupar la puerta de entrada de la ciudad, mientras que las dos compañías corrieron a atacar a todos en los campos y matarlos.
along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 La batalla por la ciudad duró todo el día, pero finalmente Abimelec la capturó. Mató a la gente, demolió la ciudad y esparció sal por el suelo.
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 Cuando todos los líderes de la torre de Siquem se dieron cuenta de lo que había sucedido, se refugiaron en la cámara acorazada del templo de El-berit.
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 Cuando Abimelec se enteró de que todos los líderes de la torre de Siquem se habían reunido allí,
Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 él y todos los hombres que lo acompañaban subieron al monte Zalmón. Abimelec tomó un hacha y cortó una rama de los árboles. Se la subió al hombro y les dijo a sus hombres: “¡Rápido! Ya vieron lo que hice. Hagan ustedes lo mismo”.
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 Cada uno de ellos cortó una rama y siguió a Abimelec. Colocaron las ramas contra la cámara acorazada y le prendieron fuego. Así murió toda la gente que vivía en la torre de Siquem, unos mil hombres y mujeres.
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 Luego Abimelec fue a atacar Tebez y la capturó.
Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 Pero había una torre fuerte dentro de la ciudad. Todos los hombres y mujeres y los líderes de la ciudad corrieron hacia allí y se atrincheraron, y luego subieron al techo de la torre.
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 Abimelec subió a la torre para atacarla. Pero cuando se acercaba a la entrada de la torre para prenderle fuego,
And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 una mujer dejó caer una piedra de molino sobre la cabeza de Abimelec y le abrió el cráneo.
And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 Rápidamente llamó al joven que llevaba sus armas y le ordenó: “Saca tu espada y mátame, para que no digan de mí que lo mató una mujer”. Entonces el joven lo atravesó con su espada, y murió.
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 Cuando los israelitas vieron que Abimelec estaba muerto, se fueron todos a sus casas.
And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 Así pagó Dios a Abimelec el crimen que cometió contra su padre al asesinar a sus setenta hermanos.
And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 También pagó al pueblo de Siquem por su maldad, y la maldición de Jotam, hijo de Jerob-baal, cayó sobre ellos.
The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
