Fakamaau 9
1 Pea naʻe ʻalu ki Sikemi ʻa ʻApimeleki ko e foha ʻo Selupeali ki he kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē, pea alea ia mo kinautolu, pea mo kinautolu kotoa pē naʻe ʻi he fale ʻoe tamai ʻa ʻene faʻē, ʻo pehē,
Abimelech son of Jerub Baal went to his mother's relatives at Shechem and he said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,
2 “ʻOku ou kole kiate kimoutolu, mou lea ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, Ko fē ia ʻoku lelei, ʻae pule kiate kimoutolu ʻae ngaahi foha kotoa pē ʻo Selupeali, ko e toko fitungofulu, pe ko e pule ʻae tokotaha kiate kimoutolu? Mou manatu foki ʻoku ʻo homou hui mo homou kakano au.”
“Please say this, so that all the leaders in Shechem may hear, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerub Baal rule over you, or that just one rule over you?' Remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 Pea naʻe lea ai ʻae kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi ʻi he ngaahi lea ni: pea naʻe tokanga leva honau loto ke muimui ia ʻApimeleki: he naʻa nau pehē, ko hotau kāinga ia.
His mother's relatives spoke for him to the leaders of Shechem, and they agreed to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 Pea naʻa nau ʻatu kiate ia ʻae konga siliva ʻe fitungofulu mei he fale ʻo Peali-Piliti, ʻaia naʻe ʻave ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻo foaki ki he kau tangata kovi mo vaʻivaʻinga ʻaia naʻe muimui ʻiate ia.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire men of lawless and reckless character, who followed him.
5 Pea naʻa ne ʻalu ki he fale ʻo ʻene tamai ʻi Ofila, ʻo ne tāmateʻi hono kāinga ko e ngaahi foha ʻo Selupeali ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he funga maka pe taha: ka naʻe hao ʻa Sotame ko e foha kimui ʻo Selupeali: he naʻa ne fufū ia.
Abimelech went to his father's house at Ophrah, and upon one stone he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub Baal. Only Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerub Baal, for he hid himself.
6 Pea naʻe fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale kotoa ʻo Milo, pea naʻa nau ʻalu, ʻo fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, ʻI he malaʻe ʻoe pou ʻaia naʻe ʻi Sikemi.
All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo came together and they went and made Abimelech king, beside the oak near the pillar which is in Shechem.
7 Pea ʻi heʻenau tala ia kia Sotame, naʻe ʻalu ia ʻo tuʻu ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga ko Kelisimi, pea hiki hono leʻo, ʻo kalanga, ʻo ne pehē kiate kinautolu, “Fanongo kiate au, ʻakimoutolu ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tokanga ʻae ʻOtua kiate kimoutolu.
When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8 Naʻe ʻalu atu ʻae ngaahi ʻakau ʻi he kuonga ʻe taha ke fakanofo ha tuʻi kiate kinautolu; pea naʻa nau pehē ki he ʻolive, ‘Ke ke pule koe kiate kimautolu.’
The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
9 Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻolive kiate kinautolu, ‘He te u tuku ʻeku lelei ʻaʻaku ʻaia ʻoku tupu ai ʻiate au ʻenau fakaʻapaʻapa ki he ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ko e māʻolunga au ʻi he ngaahi ʻakau?’
But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I give up my oil, which is used to honor gods and mankind, so I may go return, just to sway over the other trees?'
10 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he fiki, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
11 Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he fiki kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku huʻamelie, mo ʻeku fua lelei, pea u ʻalu ke hoko au ke māʻolunga ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, just so I could return and sway over the other trees?'
12 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he vaine, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
13 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he vaine kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku uaine, ʻaia ʻoku ne fakafiemālie ʻae ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ke pule ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
The vine said to them, 'Should I give up my new wine, which cheers gods and mankind, and return and sway over the other trees?'
14 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau kotoa pē ki he talatalaʻāmoa, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
15 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he talatalaʻāmoa ki he ngaahi ʻakau, ‘Kapau ʻoku mou fakanofo moʻoni au ko e tuʻi kiate kimoutolu, mou haʻu ʻo falala ki hoku malu: pea kapau ʻe ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi mei he talatalaʻāmoa ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae ngaahi sita ʻo Lepanoni.’
The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to anoint me as king over you, then come and find safety under my shade. If not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and let it burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'
16 “Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni, mo totonu, ʻi hoʻomou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, pea kapau kuo mou fai lelei kia Selupeali mo hono fale, mou fai kiate ia ʻo fakatatau ki he ngāue lelei ʻa hono nima:
Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and honesty, when you made Abimelech king, and if you have done well concerning Jerub Baal and his house, and if you have punished him as he deserves—
17 (He naʻe tau ʻeku tamai maʻamoutolu, ʻo ne liʻaki moʻoni ʻene moʻui, ʻo ne fakamoʻui ai ʻakimoutolu mei he nima ʻo Mitiane:
—and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
18 Pea kuo mou tuʻu hake he ʻaho ni ki he fale ʻo ʻeku tamai, pea kuo mou tāmateʻi hono ngaahi foha, ko e tangata ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he maka pe taha, pea kuo mou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki, ko e tama ʻa ʻene kaunanga, ke tuʻi ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi koeʻuhi ko homou kāinga ia; )
but today you have risen up against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone. Then you have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative.
19 Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni mo angatonu kia Selupeali, pea ki hono fale he ʻaho ni, mou fiefia ia ʻApimeleki, pea tuku ke vikiviki ia ʻiate kimoutolu:
If you acted with honesty and integrity with Jerub Baal and his house, then you should rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.
20 Pea kapau ʻoku ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi meia ʻApimeleki ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale ʻo Milo; pea haʻu ʻae afi mei he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, pea mei he fale ʻo Milo, pea fakaʻauha ʻa ʻApimeleki.”
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Beth Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up Abimelech.”
21 Pea naʻe lele ʻa Sotame ʻo hola, pea ne ʻalu ki Piea, pea nofo ai, ʻi he manavahē kia ʻApimeleki ko hono tokoua.
Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
22 Pea hili ʻae taʻu ʻe tolu mo ʻene pule ʻa ʻApimeleki ki ʻIsileli,
Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
23 Naʻe fekau ʻe he ʻOtua ʻae laumālie kovi kia ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata ʻo Sikemi: pea naʻe fai fakakākā ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi kia ʻApimeleki.
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelech.
24 Koeʻuhi ke hoko ʻae kovi naʻe fai ki he ngaahi foha ʻe toko fitungofulu ʻo Selupeali, mo honau toto, kia ʻApimeleki ko honau tehina, ʻaia naʻa ne tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu; pea ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻakinautolu naʻa nau tokoni ia ʻi he tāmateʻi ʻo hono ngaahi kāinga.
God did this so the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub Baal might be avenged, and Abimelech their brother would be held responsible for murdering them, and the men of Shechem would be held responsible because they helped him murder his brothers.
25 Pea naʻe fakanofo ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi ʻae kau tangata ke lamasi ia ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe ngaahi moʻunga, pea naʻa nau kaihaʻasi mei he kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻalu ʻi he hala ofi kiate kinautolu pea naʻe fakahā ia kia ʻApimeleki.
So the leaders of Shechem positioned men to lie in wait on the hilltops that they might ambush him, and they robbed all who passed by them along that road. This was reported to Abimelech.
26 Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga, ʻonau hoko ki Sikemi: pea naʻe tui kiate ia ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi.
Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him.
27 Pea naʻa nau ʻalu kituaʻā ki he ngoue, ʻo tānaki ʻenau ngoue vaine, ʻonau malakaki ʻenau ngaahi kālepi, pea fai ʻae fiefia, ʻonau hū ki he fale ʻo honau ʻotua, ʻonau kai mo inu, pea naʻa nau kapeʻi ʻa ʻApimeleki.
They went out into the field and gathered grapes from the vineyards, and they trampled on them. They held a festival in the house of their god, where they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelech.
28 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, “Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki, pea ko hai ʻa Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e foha ia ʻo Selupeali? Mo Sepuli ko ʻene matāpule? Mou tauhi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Hemoa ko e tamai ʻa Sikemi: he koeʻumaʻā ʻemau tauhi kiate ia?
Gaal son of Ebed, said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub Baal? Is Zebul not his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelech?
29 ʻAmusiaange ʻeau ki he ʻOtua kuo ʻi hoku lalo nima ʻae kakai ni! Pea te u toki hiki ʻa ʻApimeleki. Pea pehē ʻe ia kia ʻApimeleki, ‘Fakatokolahi hoʻo kau tau, pea ke haʻu kituaʻā.’”
I wish that this people were under my command! Then would I remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Call out all your army.'”
30 Pea ʻi he fanongo ʻa Sepuli ko e pule ʻoe kolo ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, naʻe tupu ai ʻene ʻita.
When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
31 Pea naʻe fekau fakalilolilo kia ʻApimeleki, ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ko Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga kuo nau haʻu ki Sikemi: pea vakai, ʻoku nau teu ʻae kolo ni ko ho tauʻi:
He sent messengers to Abimelech in order to deceive, saying, “See, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32 Pea ko eni ke ke hake ʻi he poʻuli ʻa koe mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate koe, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue:
Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
33 Pea ʻe pehē, ʻi he hopo leva ʻae laʻā ʻapongipongi, ke ke tuʻu hake leva ʻo tauʻi ʻae kolo: pea vakai, ʻoka ʻalu atu ia mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate ia ke tauʻi koe, te ke toki fai kiate kinautolu ʻo hangē ko e faʻa fai ʻo ho nima.”
Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and make a raid on the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them.”
34 Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻi he poʻuli, pea naʻa nau vahe fā ʻakinautolu ʻo malumu ki Sikemi.
So Abimelech got up during the night, he and all the men who were with him, and they set an ambush against Shechem—dividing into four units.
35 Pea naʻe ʻalu atu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, ʻo ne tuʻu ʻi he hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, mei heʻenau toka malumu.
Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate. Abimelech and the men who were with him came out of their hiding place.
36 Pea ʻi he mamata ʻa Keali ki he kakai, naʻe pehē ʻe ia kia Sepuli, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai mei he ngaahi tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga.” Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “ʻOku ke mamata ki he malu ʻoe moʻunga ʻo lau ia ko e kakai.”
When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, “See, men are coming down from the hilltops!” Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills like they are men.”
37 Pea naʻe toe lea ʻa Keali ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai ʻi he loto fonua, pea ko e kakai ʻe taha ʻoku ʻalu ange ʻo ofi ki he tafangafanga ʻo Mioninimi.”
Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, men are coming down in the middle of the land, and one unit is coming by way of the oak of the diviners.”
38 Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “Ko eni kuo ʻi fē ho ngutu, ʻaia naʻa ke lea ai, Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e kakai eni naʻa ke manukiʻi? Ko eni ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke ʻalu kituaʻā ʻo tauʻi ʻakinautolu.”
Then Zebul said to him, “Where are your proud words now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight against them.”
39 Pea naʻe ʻalu kituaʻā ʻa Keali ʻi he ʻao ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻo ne tau mo ʻApimeleki.
Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelech.
40 Pea naʻe tuli ia ʻe ʻApimeleki, pea naʻe hola ia mei hono ʻao, pea naʻe teʻia ʻae tokolahi mo lavea, ʻo aʻu atu ki he hūʻanga ʻoe matapā.
Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.
41 Pea naʻe nofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ʻi Eluma pea naʻe kapusi ʻe Sepuli ʻa Keali mo hono kāinga, ke ʻoua naʻa nau nofo ʻi Sikemi.
Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
42 Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē ʻi he ʻapongipongi, naʻe ʻalu ʻae kakai ki he ngoue; pea naʻa nau tala ia kia ʻApimeleki.
On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 Pea naʻe ʻave ʻe ia ʻae kakai, ʻo ne vahe tolu kinautolu, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue, ʻo fakasio, pea vakai, kuo haʻu ʻae kakai kituaʻā mei he kolo; pea naʻe tuʻu hake ia kiate kinautolu, ʻo teʻia ʻakinautolu.
He took his people, divided them into three units, and they set an ambush in the fields. He looked and saw the people coming out from the city and he attacked and killed them.
44 Pea naʻe ʻoho atu ʻa ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻonau tuʻu ʻi hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuli ʻe he kongakau kehe ʻe ua ki he kakai naʻe ʻi he ngoue, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu.
Abimelech and the units that were with him attacked and blocked the entrance to the city gate. The other two units attacked all who were in the field and killed them.
45 Pea naʻe tauʻi ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae kolo ʻi he ʻaho kotoa ko ia: pea naʻa ne lavaʻi ʻae kolo, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻae kakai naʻe ʻi ai, ʻo ne holoki hifo ʻae kolo, pea naʻe tūtuuʻi ia ʻaki ʻae māsima.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and killed the people who were in it. He tore down the city walls and spread salt over it.
46 Pea ʻi he fanongo ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi, naʻa nau hū ki he potu ʻoe fale ʻoe ʻotua ko Piliti.
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
47 Pea naʻe fakahā kia ʻApimeleki, kuo kātoa fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi.
Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
48 Pea naʻe ʻalu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he moʻunga ko Salimoni, ʻaia mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia; pea naʻe toʻo ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae toki ʻi hono nima, ʻo ne tā hifo ʻae vaʻakau mei he ngaahi ʻakau, ʻo ne toʻo ia, ʻo ʻai ki hono uma, pea ne pehē ki he kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, Ko ia kuo mou mamata kuo u fai, mou fakatoʻotoʻo ʻo faʻifaʻitaki kiate au.
Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men who were with him. Abimelech took an ax and cut off branches. He put it on his shoulder and ordered the men with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.”
49 Pea naʻe fai ʻe he kakai kotoa pē ʻo tā hifo taki taha ʻae tangata ʻene vaʻakau, ʻonau muimui ʻia ʻApimeleki, ʻo fokotuʻu ia ki he potu mālohi, pea naʻe tutu ʻae potu mālohi kiate kinautolu; ko ia naʻe mate ai ʻae kau tangata ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi foki, ko e kau tangata ʻe toko afe nai, mo e kau fefine.
So every one cut off branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the wall of the tower, and they set it on fire, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.
50 Pea naʻe ʻalu ai ʻa ʻApimeleki ki Tipesi, ʻo ne tauʻi ʻa Tipesi, pea ne lavaʻi ia.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
51 Ka naʻe ʻi ai ʻae fale tau mālohi ʻi he loto kolo, pea naʻe hola ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē mo e kau fefine, mo kinautolu kotoa pē ʻoe kolo, ʻonau tāpuni ia kiate kinautolu, pea naʻa nau ʻalu hake ki he tuʻafale ki ʻolunga.
But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he fale māʻolunga, ʻo ne tauʻi ia, pea naʻa ne ʻalu ofi ki he matapā ʻoe fale māʻolunga ke tutu ia ʻaki ʻae afi.
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
53 Pea naʻe sī hifo ʻe he fefine ha konga ʻoe maka momosi ki he ʻulu ʻo ʻApimeleki, koeʻuhi ke foa ai hono ʻulu.
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked his skull.
54 Pea naʻe ui fakatoʻotoʻo ia ki he talavou ko hono hoa tau, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Unuhi hoʻo heletā, ʻo tāmateʻi au, ke ʻoua naʻa pehē ʻe he kakai ʻiate au, naʻe tāmateʻi ia ʻe he fefine.” Pea naʻe tui ia ke ʻasi ʻe heʻene talavou, pea naʻa ne mate.
Then he called urgently to the young man who was his armor-bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me, 'A woman killed him.'” So his young man pierced him through, and he died.
55 Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae kau tangata ʻo ʻIsileli kuo mate ʻa ʻApimeleki, naʻa nau ʻalu taki taha ki hono potu.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
56 Naʻe pehē ʻae totongi ʻe he ʻOtua kia ʻApimeleki ʻi he ngaahi angakovi ʻaia naʻa ne fai ki heʻene tamai, ʻi he tāmateʻi hono kāinga ʻe toko fitungofulu:
So God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
57 Pea ko e ngaahi kovi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi naʻe totongi ia ʻe he ʻOtua ki honau ʻulu: pea naʻe hoko kiate kinautolu ʻae malaʻia naʻe fakahā ʻe Sotame ko e foha ʻo Selupeali.
God made all the evil of the men of Shechem turn back on their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerub Baal.
