Jueces 9
1 Abimelec, hijo de Jerobaal, fue a Siquem con la familia de su madre, y les dijo a ellos y a toda la familia del padre de su madre:
Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
2 Ahora, a los oídos de todos los habitantes de Siquem, es mejor que seas gobernado por los setenta hijos de Jerobaal o por un solo hombre? Y recuerda que yo soy tu hueso y tu carne.
“Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
3 Entonces la familia de su madre dijo todo esto acerca de él a los oídos de todos los habitantes de Siquem: y sus corazones se volvieron a Abimelec, porque decían: Él es nuestro hermano.
So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
4 Y le dieron setenta siclos de plata de la casa de Baal-berit, con los que Abimelec recibió el apoyo de varias personas vagabundos y que no servían para nada.
So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
5 Luego fue a la casa de su padre en Ofra y mató a sus hermanos, los setenta hijos de Jerobaal, sobre la misma piedra; sin embargo, Jotam, el más joven, se mantuvo a salvo al irse a un lugar secreto.
They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
6 Y se juntaron todos los habitantes de Siquem y todo Bet-milo, y fueron e hicieron a Abimelec su rey, junto al roble de la columna en Siquem.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
7 Jotam, al oírlo, fue a la cima del monte Gerizim y gritando a gran voz, les dijo: “Escúchenme, pobladores de Siquem, para que Dios los escuche.”
When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
8 Un día salieron los árboles para hacerse un rey; Y dijeron al olivo: Reina sobre nosotros.
One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
9 Pero el olivo les dijo: ¿Debo renunciar a mi riqueza de aceite por la cual los hombres honran a Dios e ir a ondear sobre los árboles?
“But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
10 Entonces los árboles dijeron a la higuera: Reina sobre nosotros.
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 Pero la higuera les dijo: ¿Debo renunciar a mi dulce sabor y mi buen fruto e ir a ondear sobre los árboles?
“But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
12 Entonces los árboles dijeron a la vid: Reina sobre nosotros.
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 Pero la vid les dijo: ¿Debo renunciar a mi vino, que alegra a Dios y a los hombres, para ir a ondear sobre los árboles?
“But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
14 Entonces todos los árboles dijeron a la espina: Reina sobre nosotros.
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 Y el espino dijo a los árboles: Si en verdad me ungen por rey, sobre ustedes, ven y ponte bajo mi sombra; y si no, que salga fuego de la espina, quemando los cedros del Líbano.
“The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
16 Ahora, si has hecho verdadera y rectamente al hacer rey a Abimelec, y si has hecho bien a Jerobaal y su casa en recompensa por la obra de sus manos;
“[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
17 Porque mi padre hizo la guerra por ti, y puso su vida en peligro, y te liberó de las manos de Madián;
“[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
18 Y hoy has ido contra la familia de mi padre, y has matado a sus hijos, setenta hombres en una piedra, y has hecho a Abimelec, hijo de su concubina, rey sobre los habitantes de Siquem, porque es tu hermano;
But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
19 Si entonces has hecho lo que es verdadero y recto para Jerobaal y su familia en este día, que tengas gozo en Abimelec, y que él tenga gozo en ti;
So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
20 Pero si no, puede salir fuego de Abimelec, quemando a los hombres de la ciudad de Siquem y Bet-milo; y que salga fuego de los pobladores de Siquem y Bet-milo, para la destrucción de Abimelec.
But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
21 Entonces Jotam se fue en vuelo a Beer, y vivía allí por temor a su hermano Abimelec.
[After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
22 Entonces Abimelec fue jefe sobre Israel por tres años.
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 Y envió Dios un espíritu malo entre Abimelec y los habitantes de Siquem; y los hombres de la ciudad de Siquem se rebelaron contra Abimelec;
Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
24 Para que el castigo por los violentos ataques a los setenta hijos de Jerobaal, y por su sangre, venga sobre Abimelec, su hermano, quien los mató, y sobre los habitantes de la ciudad de Siquem que le dieron su ayuda para ponerlos a sus hermanos a la muerte.
The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
25 Y los habitantes de la ciudad de Siquem pusieron observadores secretos en las cimas de las montañas, e hicieron ataques contra todos los que pasaban por el camino y tomaban sus bienes; Y la noticia de esto vino a Abimelec.
The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
26 Entonces Gaal, el hijo de Ebed, vino con sus hermanos y fue a Siquem; Y los hombres de Siquem pusieron su fe en él.
There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
27 Salieron a sus campos y recogieron el fruto de sus viñas, y cuando las uvas fueron aplastadas e hicieron vino, hicieron una fiesta santa y entraron en la casa de su dios, y sobre su comida y bebida estaban maldiciendo. Abimelec.
They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
28 Y Gaal, hijo de Ebed, dijo: ¿Quién es Abimelec y quién es Siquem, para que seamos sus siervos? ¿No es más que el hijo de Jerobaal y su capitán Zebul? Seamos siervos de Hamor, el fundador de Siquem. ¿Pero por qué vamos a ser siervos de Abimelec?
Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
29 ¡Ojalá tuviera autoridad sobre este pueblo! Quitaría a Abimelec del camino y le diría a Abimelec: Aumenta tu ejército y ven a pelear.
If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
30 Ahora Zebul, el gobernante de la ciudad, oyendo lo que había dicho Gaal, el hijo de Ebed, se enfureció.
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 Entonces envió un mensaje a Abimelec a Aruma, diciendo: Mira, Gaal, el hijo de Ebed, y sus hermanos han venido a Siquem, y están trabajando en la ciudad contra ti.
He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
32 Ahora, levántate por la noche, tú y tu gente, y vela en secreto en el campo;
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 Y por la mañana, cuando el sol está alto, levántate temprano y corre hacia el pueblo; y cuando él y su gente salgan contra ti, hazles lo que tengas la oportunidad de hacer.
As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
34 Entonces, Abimelec y las personas que estaban con él se levantaron por la noche, en cuatro escuadrones, para atacar por sorpresa a Siquem.
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
35 Salió Gaal, el hijo de Ebed, y tomó asiento junto a la entrada de la ciudad; entonces Abimelec y su gente se levantaron del lugar donde habían estado esperando.
[The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
36 Y cuando Gaal vio a la gente, dijo a Zebul: ¡Mira! La gente está bajando de las cimas de las montañas. Y Zebul le dijo: Tú ves la sombra de las montañas como hombres.
When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
37 Y Gaal dijo de nuevo: ¡Mira! la gente viene de la parte más alta de la tierra, y un escuadrón viene del camino de roble de los agoreros.
But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
38 Entonces Zebul le dijo: Ahora, ¿dónde está tu voz alta cuando dijiste: ¿Quién es Abimelec que somos para ser sus siervos? ¿No es esta la gente que calificaste tan bajo? Sal ahora, y pelea contra ellos.
Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
39 Entonces Gaal salió a la cabeza de los hombres de la ciudad de Siquem a pelear contra Abimelec.
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 Y Abimelec fue tras él y Gaal huyó delante de él; y un gran número caía por la espada hasta la puerta de la ciudad.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 Entonces Abimelec volvió a Aruma; y Zebul envió a Gaal y sus hermanos lejos y no los dejó seguir viviendo en Siquem.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 Al día siguiente, la gente salió al campo; Y noticias de ello llegaron a Abimelec.
The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
43 Y tomó a su gente, separándose en tres escuadrones, y estaba esperando secretamente en el campo; y cuando vio que la gente salía de la ciudad, subió y los atacó.
he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
44 Y Abimelec, con su escuadrón, se apresuró, y tomó su posición en la entrada de la ciudad; y las otras dos bandas se apresuraron sobre todos los que estaban en los campos, y los superaron.
Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
45 Y todo ese día Abimelec estaba luchando contra el pueblo; y él lo tomó, y mató a la gente que estaba en él, y derribó la ciudad y la cubrió con sal.
Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
46 Entonces todos los habitantes de la torre de Siquem, al oírla, entraron en la habitación interior de la casa de El-Berit.
When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
47 Y se dio palabra a Abimelec de que todos los hombres de la torre de Siquem estaban allí juntos.
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 Entonces Abimelec subió al monte Salmón, con todo su pueblo; y Abimelec tomó un hacha en su mano y, cortando ramas de árboles, las tomó y las puso sobre su espalda. Y dijo a la gente que estaba con él: Sé rápido y haz lo que me has visto hacer.
So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
49 Así que todas las personas obtuvieron ramas, cada hombre cortando una rama, y fueron con Abimelec a la cabeza y formando las ramas contra la habitación interior, pusieron fuego en la habitación sobre ellas; así que todos los que estaban en la torre de Siquem, unos mil hombres y mujeres, fueron quemados hasta la muerte.
So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
50 Entonces Abimelec fue a Tebes, puso a su ejército en posición contra Tebes y la atacó.
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 Pero en el centro de la ciudad había una torre fuerte, a la que todos los hombres y mujeres de la ciudad salieron en fuga y, encerrándose, subieron al techo de la torre.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelec vino a la torre y atacó, y se acercó a la puerta de la torre con el propósito de prenderle fuego.
Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
53 Pero cierta mujer envió una gran piedra, como la que se usa para triturar el grano, sobre la cabeza de Abimelec, rompiendo el cráneo.
But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
54 Entonces, clamando rápidamente a su sirviente corporal, le dijo: Saca tu espada y mátame de inmediato, para que los hombres no puedan decir de mí: Su muerte fue obra de una mujer. Entonces el joven puso su espada a través de él, causando su muerte.
Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
55 Y viendo los hombres de Israel que Abimelec había muerto, se fueron, cada uno a su lugar.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 De esta manera, Dios recompensó a Abimelec por el mal que le había hecho a su padre al matar a sus setenta hermanos;
In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
57 Y Dios envió nuevamente a los jefes de los hombres de Siquem todo el mal que habían hecho, y la maldición de Jotam, el hijo de Jerobaal, vino sobre ellos.
God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].
