Waamuzi 9
1 Siku moja Abimeleki mwana wa Yerub-Baali akaenda kwa ndugu ya mama yake huko Shekemu na kuwaambia yeye na ukoo wote wa mama yake,
Abimelech, son of Jerub-baal, went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and told them and all his mother's relatives,
2 “Waulizeni watu wote wa Shekemu, ‘Lipi lililo bora kwenu: Kutawaliwa na wana wote sabini wa Yerub-Baali, au mtu mmoja peke yake?’ Kumbukeni kwamba, mimi ni mfupa wenu nyama yenu hasa.”
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘What's best for you? That seventy men, all of them Jerub-baal's sons, rule over you—or just one man?’ Remember I'm your own flesh and blood!”
3 Ndugu za mama yake walipowaeleza watu wote wa Shekemu, wakaelekea kumkubali Abimeleki, kwa kuwa walisema, “Yeye ni ndugu yetu.”
His mother's brothers shared his proposal with all the leaders of Shechem, and they decided to follow Abimelech, because they said, “He is our relative.”
4 Wakampa shekeli sabini za fedha kutoka hekalu la Baal-Berithi, naye Abimeleki akaitumia kuajiri watu ovyo wasiojali, wakawa ndio wafuasi wake.
They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire some arrogant troublemakers as his gang.
5 Akaenda nyumbani kwa baba yake huko Ofra, na juu ya jiwe moja wakawaua ndugu zake sabini, ambao ni wana wa Yerub-Baali. Lakini Yothamu, mwana mdogo wa wote wa Yerub-Baali, akaokoka kwa kujificha.
He went to his father's house in Ophrah, and on one stone killed his seventy half-brothers, the sons of Jerub-baal. But Jotham, Jerub-baal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.
6 Ndipo watu wote wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo wakakusanyika pamoja chini ya mti mkubwa wa mwaloni penye nguzo iliyoko Shekemu wakamvika Abimeleki taji kuwa mfalme.
Then the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo all assembled by the oak at the pillar in Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
7 Yothamu alipoambiwa hayo, akapanda juu ya kilele cha mlima Gerizimu, akawapazia sauti yake akawaambia, “Nisikilizeni enyi watu wa Shekemu, ili Mungu naye apate kuwasikiliza ninyi.
When Jotham got to hear this, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and shouted in a loud voice: “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God may to listen to you!
8 Siku moja miti ilitoka ili kwenda kujitawazia mfalme. Ikauambia mzeituni, ‘Wewe uwe mfalme wetu.’
Once upon a time the trees were determined to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You shall be our king.’
9 “Lakini mzeituni ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa mafuta yangu ambayo kwake miungu na wanadamu huheshimiwa, ili nikawe juu ya miti?’
But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my rich oil that benefits both gods and men just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
10 “Kisha miti ikauambia mtini, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu!’
Then the trees asked the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
11 “Lakini mtini ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa matunda yangu mazuri na matamu, ili niende nikawe juu ya miti?’
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my good sweet fruit just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
12 “Ndipo miti ikauambia mzabibu, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu.’
Then the trees asked the grape vine, ‘You come and be our king.’
13 “Lakini mzabibu ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa divai yangu inayofurahisha miungu na wanadamu ili nikawe juu ya miti?’
But the grape vine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that makes both gods and men happy just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
14 “Mwishoni miti yote ikauambia mti wa miiba, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu.’
Then all the trees asked the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
15 “Nao mti wa miiba ukaijibu, ‘Kama kweli mnataka niwe mfalme wenu, basi njooni mpate kupumzika chini ya kivuli changu. Lakini kama sivyo, moto na utoke kwenye mti wa miiba ukateketeze mierezi ya Lebanoni!’
The thorn bush replied to the trees, ‘If you're really sincere about anointing me as your king, come and find shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire flame out of the thorn bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “Basi ikiwa mmetenda kwa uaminifu na heshima kumfanya Abimeleki kuwa mfalme, na kama mmetendea vyema Yerub-Baali na jamaa yake kama ilivyostahili:
Have you acted sincerely and honestly by making Abimelech your king? Have you been acted honorably to Jerub-baal and his family? Have you respected him for all that he accomplished?
17 kwa kuwa baba yangu aliwapigania ninyi na kuhatarisha nafsi yake na kuwaokoa ninyi kutoka mikononi mwa Wamidiani
Don't forget how my father fought for you and risked his own life to save you from the Midianites!
18 (lakini leo mmeasi dhidi ya jamaa ya baba yangu, na kuwaua wanawe sabini juu ya jiwe moja, nanyi mkamfanya Abimeleki mwana wa mwanamke mtumwa kuwa mfalme juu ya Shekemu, kwa kuwa yeye ni ndugu yenu),
But you have rebelled against my father's family today. You have killed his seventy sons on one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem simply because he's related to you.
19 nanyi kama basi mmemtendea Yerub-Baali na jamaa yake kwa heshima na uaminifu, basi Abimeleki na awe furaha yenu, nanyi mwe furaha yake pia!
Have you acted sincerely and honestly toward Jerub-baal and his family today? If so, may you be happy with Abimelech, and may he be happy with too!
20 Lakini kama sivyo, moto na utoke kwa Abimeleki na uwateketeze, ninyi watu wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo, nao moto utoke kwenu, watu wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo umteketeze Abimeleki!”
But if you haven't, then may fire flame out from Abimelech, and may it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire flame out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and burn up Abimelech!”
21 Ndipo Yothamu akakimbia, akatoroka akaenda Beeri, akaishi huko, kwa sababu alimwogopa ndugu yake Abimeleki.
Then Jotham escaped and ran away. He went to Beer and stayed there because of the threat of Abimelech his brother.
22 Baada ya Abimeleki kutawala Israeli kwa muda wa miaka mitatu,
Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
23 Mungu akaruhusu roho mbaya kati ya Abimeleki na watu wa Shekemu, nao watu wa Shekemu wakamtendea Abimeleki kwa hila.
Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
24 Hili lilitokea ili ule ukatili waliotendewa hao wana sabini wa Yerub-Baali upatilizwe, na damu yao iwe juu ya Abimeleki ndugu yao aliyewaua, na pia iwe juu ya watu wa Shekemu, ambao walimsaidia kuua ndugu zake.
This happened because of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerub-baal and that responsibility for their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who provided the means to kill his brothers.
25 Hivyo, kutokana na uadui juu yake watu wa Shekemu wakaweka watu wa kumvizia katika vilele vya milima. Wakawanyangʼanya watu wote waliopita karibu nao, nayo haya yakaarifiwa kwa Abimeleki.
The leaders of Shechem sent men to the hill passes to lie in wait and attack Abimelech, and, in the meantime, they robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech found out what was happening.
26 Basi Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akaenda pamoja na ndugu zake wakaingia Shekemu, nao watu wa huko wakamtumainia yeye.
Gaal, son of Ebed, had moved to Shechem with his relatives, and he gained the loyalty of the leaders of Shechem.
27 Wakaenda mashambani mwao kuvuna zabibu na kuzisindika hizo zabibu, wakafanya sikukuu katika hekalu la mungu wao. Wakati wakila na kunywa, wakamlaani Abimeleki.
At harvest time they went out into the countryside and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them. They celebrated by having a festival in the temple of their god, where they ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akasema, “Abimeleki ni nani, na Shekemu ni nani, hata tumtumikie? Je, yeye si mwana wa Yerub-Baali? Naye Zebuli si ndiye msaidizi wake? Basi watumikieni watu wa Hamori, babaye Shekemu. Kwa nini tumtumikie Abimeleki?
“Who is this Abimelech?” asked Gaal, son of Ebed. “And who is Shechem, that we should have to serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-baal, while Zebul is actually the one in charge? You should serve the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we have to serve Abimelech?
29 Laiti watu hawa wangekuwa chini ya amri yangu! Basi mimi ningemwondoa huyo Abimeleki. Ningemwambia Abimeleki, ‘Ondoa jeshi lako lote.’”
If I was the one in charge of you people, I would dispose of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Get your army together, and come and fight!’”
30 Zebuli aliyekuwa mtawala wa mji aliposikia aliyosema Gaali mwana wa Ebedi, akakasirika sana.
When Zebul, the governor of the city, got to hear what Gaal was saying, he became very angry.
31 Akatuma ujumbe uende kwa Abimeleki kwa siri na kusema, “Gaali mwana wa Ebedi na ndugu zake wamekuja Shekemu, na wanauchochea mji huu kinyume chako.
He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech to tell him, “Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his relatives have arrived in Shechem, and they are stirring up the town to rebel against you.
32 Sasa, basi, usiku huu wewe uondoke na watu wako ili mje kuwavizia mashambani.
So come at night with your army and hide in the countryside.
33 Kisha asubuhi wakati wa kuchomoza jua, amka mapema na ujipange dhidi ya huo mji. Wakati yeye na jeshi lililo pamoja naye watakapotoka kukabiliana nanyi, mwaweza kuwatendea kwa kadiri mnavyoweza.”
In the morning as soon as the sun comes up, go and attack the town. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, you can do whatever you want to them.”
34 Kwa hiyo Abimeleki pamoja na jeshi lake lote wakaondoka usiku na kujificha karibu na Shekemu wakiwa vikosi vinne.
Abimelech left at night along with his army, and they separated into four companies that lay in wait near Shechem.
35 Basi Gaali mwana wa Ebedi alikuwa ametoka nje akawa amesimama katika ingilio la mji wakati ule ule ambao Abimeleki na watu wake walipokuwa wanatoka sehemu zao za maficho.
When Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the town's entrance gate, Abimelech and his army came out from where they had been hiding.
36 Gaali alipowaona, akamwambia Zebuli, “Tazama, watu wanashuka kutoka kwenye vilele vya milima!” Zebuli akajibu, “Wewe unaona vivuli vya milima kana kwamba ni watu.”
Gaal saw the army approaching and said to Zebul, “Look! Some people are coming down from the hilltops!” “That's just shadows made by the hills that look like men,” Zebul replied.
37 Lakini Gaali akasema tena, “Tazama, watu wanashuka kutoka katikati ya nchi na kikosi kimoja kinakuja kutoka Tabur-Ezeri na kikosi kingine kutoka upande wa Elon-Meonenimu.”
“No really, people are coming down from the high ground,” Gaal repeated. “Plus, there's another company coming down the road that passes the diviners' oak tree.”
38 Ndipo Zebuli akamwambia, “Kuko wapi kujivuna kwako sasa, wewe uliyesema, ‘Huyo Abimeleki ni nani hata tumtumikie?’ Hawa si wale watu uliowadharau? Toka nje sasa ukapigane nao!”
“Where's your big mouth now? You're the one who said, ‘Who is this Abimelech, that we should have to serve him?’” Zebul told him. “Aren't these the people you detested? Go on then—go and fight with them!”
39 Basi Gaali akatoka akawaongoza watu wa Shekemu kupigana na Abimeleki.
So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out of the town and fought with Abimelech.
40 Abimeleki akamfukuza, watu wengi wakajeruhiwa katika kukimbia huko, njia nzima hadi kwenye ingilio la lango.
Abimelech attacked, and chased him and his men as they ran away, killing many of them as they tried to get back to the town gate.
41 Abimeleki akakaa Aruma, naye Zebuli akawafukuza Gaali na ndugu zake watoke Shekemu.
Abimelech went back to Arumah while Zebul expelled Gaal and his relatives from Shechem.
42 Kesho yake watu wa Shekemu wakatoka wakaenda mashambani, Abimeleki akaambiwa juu ya jambo hili.
The following day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and Abimelech was informed about it.
43 Hivyo akawachukua watu wake, akawagawanya katika vikosi vitatu na kuwaweka waviziao huko mashambani. Alipowaona watu wanatoka kwenda nje ya mji, akainuka dhidi yao na kuwashambulia.
He divided his army into three companies and had them lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and killed them.
44 Abimeleki pamoja na vile vikosi wakaharakisha kwenda mbele kwenye nafasi, mahali pa ingilio la lango la mji. Vile vikosi viwili vikawawahi wale waliokuwa mashambani na kuwaua.
Abimelech and his company raced to occupy the town's entrance gate, while the two companies raced to attack everyone in the fields and kill them.
45 Siku hiyo nzima Abimeleki akazidisha mashambulizi yake dhidi ya mji hadi akawa ameuteka na kuwaua watu wa huo mji. Kisha akauangamiza mji na kusambaza chumvi juu yake.
The battle for the town lasted all day but eventually Abimelech captured it. He killed the people, demolished the town, and scattered salt over the ground.
46 Kwa kusikia jambo hili watu wote katika mnara wa Shekemu, wakaingia kwenye ngome ya hekalu la El-Berithi.
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem realized what had happened, they took refuge in the strongroom of the temple of El-berith.
47 Abimeleki aliposikia kuwa wamekusanyika huko,
When Abimelech found out that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had gathered there,
48 yeye na watu wake wote wakakwea kwenye Mlima Salmoni. Abimeleki akachukua shoka, akakata baadhi ya matawi, ambayo aliyachukua mabegani. Akawaagiza wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye kuwa, “Fanyeni kile mlichoona mimi nikifanya!”
he and all the men with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech grabbed hold of an ax and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder, and told his men, “Quick! You saw what I did. Do the same!”
49 Basi watu wote wakakata matawi na kumfuata Abimeleki. Wakayakusanya hayo matawi juu ya ngome na kuitia moto ili kuwachoma wale watu wote waliokuwa ndani yake. Hivyo watu wote katika mnara wa Shekemu, karibia watu 1,000 waume kwa wake, pia wakafa.
Each of them cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They placed the branches against the strongroom and set it on fire. So all the people who lived in the tower of Shechem died, around one thousand men and women.
50 Baadaye Abimeleki akaenda Thebesi na kuuzingira kwa jeshi na kuuteka.
Then Abimelech went to attack Thebez and captured it.
51 Hata hivyo, ndani ya huo mji kulikuwa na mnara imara, ambako watu wote wa mji wanaume na wanawake, watu wote wa mji, walikimbilia ndani yake. Wakajifungia ndani yake na kupanda juu ya paa la mnara.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. All the men and women and the town leaders ran there and barricaded themselves in, and then went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimeleki akaja kwenye ule mnara na kuushambulia, lakini alipokaribia kwenye ingilio la mnara ili kuuchoma kwa moto,
Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
53 mwanamke mmoja akaangusha sehemu ya juu ya jiwe la kusagia juu ya kichwa cha Abimeleki, likapasua fuvu la kichwa chake.
a woman dropped millstone down on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull open.
54 Akamwita kwa haraka kijana yule aliyechukua silaha zake, na kumwambia, “Chukua upanga wako na uniue, watu wasije wakasema kwamba, ‘Mwanamke amemuua.’” Basi yule kijana akamchoma upanga, naye akafa.
He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons, and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they won't say about me that a woman killed him.” So the young man drove his sword through him, and he died.
55 Waisraeli walipoona kuwa Abimeleki amekufa, kila mtu akaenda nyumbani kwake.
When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left and went home.
56 Hivyo ndivyo Mungu alivyolipiza uovu ule ambao Abimeleki alikuwa ameutenda kwa baba yake kwa kuwaua ndugu zake sabini.
This is how God paid back Abimelech's crime against his father of murdering his seventy brothers.
57 Mungu akawapatiliza watu wa Shekemu uovu wao juu ya vichwa vyao, na juu yao ikaja laana ya Yothamu mwana wa Yerub-Baali.
He also repaid the people of Shechem for their evil, and the curse of Jotham, son of Jerub-baal, came down upon them.
