Atemmufoɔ 9
1 Ɛda koro bi, Yerub-Baal babarima Abimelek kɔɔ Sekem kɔsraa ne wɔfanom a wɔyɛ ne maame nuanom mmarima. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn ne ne ne maame fiefoɔ nkaeɛfoɔ sɛ,
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
2 “Mommisa ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ Sekem no sɛ, wɔpɛ sɛ Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa di wɔn so anaasɛ wɔpɛ sɛ ɔbarima baako di wɔn so? Na monkae sɛ meyɛ mo bogyani!”
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
3 Enti, Abimelek wɔfanom gyinaa nʼanan mu kasa kyerɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Sekem nyinaa. Na wɔtiee wɔn adwenkyerɛ no, wɔpenee so faa Abimelek, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔyɛ wɔn busuani.
And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 Wɔfaa dwetɛ sika pranpran aduɔson firi Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so de maa Abimelek, na ɔde faa asraafoɔ a wɔpenee so sɛ wobɛdi nʼakyi.
So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.
5 Ɔde asraafoɔ no kɔɔ nʼagya kurom wɔ Ofra. Na ɛhɔ, ɛboɔ bi so, na ɔkunkumm nʼagya mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Nanso ne nuanom mu akumaa koraa a wɔfrɛ no Yotam no dwane kɔtɛɛ baabi.
He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
6 Enti, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaeɛdum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wɔsii Abimelek wɔn so ɔhene.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
7 Yotam tee asɛm yi no, ɔforo kɔɔ Gerisim bepɔ no atifi na ɔteaam ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sekemfoɔ montie me! Sɛ mopɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn tie mo deɛ a, montie me!
When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
8 Ɛberɛ bi, nnua nyinaa pɛɛ sɛ wɔsi wɔn so ɔhene. Deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, wɔka kyerɛɛ ngo dua sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 “Nanso, wampene so kaa sɛ, ‘Adɛn? Mennyae me ngo a wɔde hyɛ Onyankopɔn ne nnipa animuonyam no, na menkɔkyinkyin nnua a aka so anaa?’
But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 “Borɔdɔma nso buaa sɛ, ‘Na mennyae aba so na menkyini nnua foforɔ so?’
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 “Na bobe no buaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ megyae me nsa pa a ɛma anyame ne nnipa anigyeɛ no ma a, na afei na merebɛkyini nnua bi so?’
But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nkasɛɛ sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 “Na nkasɛɛ buaa sɛ, ‘Sɛ ɛyɛ mo adwene kann sɛ mode me bɛsi mo so ɔhene a, mommra mmɛhyɛ me nwunu yi ase. Sɛ ɛnte saa a, momma ogya mfiri nkasɛɛ mu mmɛhye Lebanon ntweneduro nyinaa.’
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “Afei mogye di sɛ moayɛ deɛ ɛho wɔ nyam, na ɛnam ne kwan mu sɛ mode Abimelek asi mo so ɔhene, na moayɛ Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefoɔ nyinaa apɛdeɛ. Moayɛ deɛ ɛfata ama mʼagya anaa?
Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—
17 Na ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔdeɛ ɛberɛ a ɔgyee mo firii Midianfoɔ nsam no.
for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
18 Na ɛnnɛ moasɔre atia mʼagya ne nʼasefoɔ, akunkum ne mmammarima aduɔson wɔ ɛboɔ baako so. Mode Abimelek a ɔyɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ baa babarima asi Sekem manfoɔ so ɔhene, sɛ ɔyɛ mo busuani enti.
but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
19 Sɛ moayɛ deɛ ɛho wɔ nyam na ɛnam ne kwan mu ama Yerub-Baal ne nʼasefoɔ a, ɛnneɛ mobɛnya ahosɛpɛ wɔ Abimelek mu na ɔno nso anya ahosɛpɛ wɔ mo mu.
if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.
20 Sɛ deɛ moayɛ no mfa ne kwan mu deɛ a, ɛnneɛ ogya mfiri Abimelek nkyɛn mmɛhye mo, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ. Na ogya nso mfiri Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ nkyɛn mmɛhye Abimelek!”
But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
21 Na ɛsiane Abimelek ho suro enti, ne nuabarima Yotam dwane kɔtenaa Beer.
Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 Abimelek dii Israel so mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no,
After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
23 Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi maa ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanimfoɔ ntam na wɔtee atua.
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
24 Nsɛm a ɛsisii akyire no mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfoɔ aso sɛ wɔkunkumm Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no.
in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
25 Sekem mmarima bi kɔtɛɛ Abimelek wɔ mmepɔ atifi, na wɔbɔɔ obiara a ɔtwaam wɔ hɔ no apoo. Nnipa bi kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn kɔtii nʼase.
The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Saa ɛberɛ no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfoɔ no nyaa wɔn mu awerɛhyɛmu.
Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 Ɛberɛ a wɔredi otwa afahyɛ wɔ Sekem wɔ ɛhɔ nyame bi asɔreeɛ so no, bobesa buu so hɔ maa obiara hyɛɛ aseɛ domee Abimelek.
And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
28 Ebed babarima Gaal teaam sɛ, “Hwan ne Abimelek? Ɔnyɛ Sekem aseni kann, na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ nʼasomfoɔ? Ɔyɛ Yerub-Baal babarima kɛkɛ na Sebul na ɔtoto ne ɔman ho nhyehyɛeɛ ma no. Monsom nnipa a wɔfiri Hamor, wɔn na wɔyɛ Sekem asefoɔ kann. Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom Abimelek?
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
29 Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka mɛyi Abimelek afiri hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Pɛ asraafoɔ bebree bra bɛko!’”
If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
30 Na Sebul a ɔtua kuro no ano tee deɛ Ebed babarima Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuiɛ.
When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
31 Ɔsomaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Abimelek nkyɛn wɔ Aruma, kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima abɛtena Sekem na wɔretu ɔmanfoɔ no aso sɛ wɔnsɔre ntia wo.
So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 Fa akodɔm bra anadwo bɛtɛ mfuo yi mu.
Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 Adeɛ kyeeɛ ara pɛ, to hyɛ kuropɔn yi so. Na sɛ Gaal ne nʼapamfoɔ ba bɛtia wo a, deɛ wopɛ biara wotumi yɛ wɔn.”
And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
34 Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuo ɛnan de twaa Sekem ho hyiaeɛ.
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek ne nʼakodɔm pue firii atɛeɛ mu no, na Ebed babarima Gaal gyina kuro no ɛpono ano.
Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
36 Ɛberɛ a Gaal hunuu wɔn no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Sebul sɛ, “Hwɛ, nnipa bi firi bepɔ no so reba!” Sebul buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ mmepɔ no sunsum na ayɛ sɛ nnipa no.”
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37 Nanso Gaal sane kaa sɛ, “Dabi, nnipa bi resiane mmepɔ no. Na ekuo foforɔ nso nam ɛkwan a ɛfa Akɔmfoɔ Dupɔn ho no reba.”
Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
38 Afei, Sebul dane guu ne so sɛ, “Anosɛm a na woyeyɛ no aseɛ ne sɛn? Ɛnyɛ wo ara na wokaa sɛ ‘Hwan ne Abimelek, na adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛyɛ ne nkoa’ no? Nnipa a wodii wɔn ho fɛ no, wɔaduru yɛn mfikyire ha yi ara! Kɔ na wo ne wɔn nkɔko!”
“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
39 Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40 nanso, ɔdii nkoguo na ɔdwaneeɛ. Wɔkunkumm Sekem akofoɔ bebree sɛɛ wɔn afunu kɛtɛ wɔ ɛkwan a ɛkɔ kuropɔn no ɛpono ano no so.
but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimelek tenaa Aruma ɛnna Sebul pamoo Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima firii Sekem.
Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, Sekemfoɔ no kɔɔ wira mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek teeɛ no,
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 ɔkyɛɛ ne mmarima mu akuakuo mmiɛnsa ma wɔkɔtetɛɛ wira mu. Ɛberɛ a Abimelek hunuu sɛ nnipa no firi kuropɔn no mu reba no, ɔne ne mmarima no firii wɔn atɛeɛ mu to hyɛɛ wɔn so.
So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.
44 Abimelek ne ne kuo no kɔgyee kuropɔn no ɛpono ano hɔ faeɛ sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a Sekemfoɔ rentumi nsane wɔn akyi. Afei, akuo mmienu to hyɛɛ Sekemfoɔ a wɔwɔ wiram hɔ no so kunkumm wɔn.
Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.
45 Ɔko no kɔɔ so ɛda mu no nyinaa ansa na Abimelek redi kuropɔn no so koraa. Ɔkunkumm nnipa no, sɛee kuropɔn no, na ɔpetee nkyene wɔ hɔ nyinaa.
And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
46 Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wɔkɔhintaa Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so.
On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
47 Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amaneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ asɔreeɛ so hɔ,
And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
48 enti ɔdii nʼakodɔm anim kɔɔ Salmon Bepɔ so. Ɔfaa akuma twaa mman bi firii dua bi so na ɔde guu ne mmati so. Ɔka kyerɛɛ ne dɔm no sɛ, “Ntɛm, deɛ mayɛ yi, monyɛ bi!”
he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
49 Enti, wɔn mu biara twitwaa dua mman no bi, sɛdeɛ Abimelek yɛeɛ no. Wɔboaa mman no ano wɔ asɔreeɛ no afasuo ho de ogya too mu. Enti, nnipa a na wɔte Sekem abantenten mu a wɔn dodoɔ bɛyɛ mmarima ne mmaa apem no nyinaa wuwuiɛ.
So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.
50 Afei Abimelek to hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
51 Nanso, na abandenden bi wɔ kuropɔn no mu. Ɛno enti, kuropɔn no mu nnipa nyinaa dwane kɔhyɛɛ mu. Wɔtoo wɔn ho ɛpono mu, foforo kɔɔ abandenden no atifi pɛɛ.
But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔto ahyɛ abandenden no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu ogya pɛ,
When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 ɔbaa bi a ɔwɔ abandenden no atifi gyaa ayuyammoɔ mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛkyɛɛ ne ti kwankoraa.
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
54 Abimelek ka kyerɛɛ aberanteɛ a ɔkura nʼakodeɛ sɛ, “Twe wʼakofena na kum me! Na nnipa anka sɛ ɔbaabasia na ɔkumm Abimelek!” Enti, aberanteɛ no de nʼakofena wɔɔ no ma ɔwuiɛ.
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
55 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek nkurɔfoɔ hunuu sɛ wawuo no, wɔde wɔn akodeɛ guu hɔ sane kɔɔ wɔn afie mu.
And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ ɔkumm ne nuammarima aduɔson no.
In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
57 Saa ara na Onyankopɔn twee mmarima a wɔwɔ Sekem aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ahodoɔ a wɔyɛeɛ no ho. Ɛno enti, Yerub-Baal babarima Yotam nnome no baa mu.
And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
