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,
And Abimelech the son of Jerobaal went to Sichem to his mother’s brethren and spoke to them, and to all the kindred of his mother’s father, saying:
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!”
Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you that seventy men all the sons of Jerobaal should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.
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 his mother’s brethren spoke of him to all the men of Sichem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying: 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.
And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and vagabonds, and they followed 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.
And he came to his father’s house in Ephra, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained only Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden.
6 Enti, Sekemfoɔ ne Bet-Milofoɔ yɛɛ nhyiamu wɔ odupɔn a ɛbɛn nkaeɛdum a ɛwɔ Sekem no ase. Wɔsii Abimelek wɔn so ɔhene.
And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak that stood in Sichem.
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!
This being told to Joatham, he went and stood on the top of mount Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear 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!’
The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou 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?’
And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?
10 “Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.
11 “Borɔdɔma nso buaa sɛ, ‘Na mennyae aba so na menkyini nnua foforɔ so?’
And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?
12 “Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
And the trees said to the vine: Come thou 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?’
And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?
14 “Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nkasɛɛ sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou 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.’
And it answered them: If indeed you mean to make me king, come ye and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.
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 therefore if you have done well, and without sin in appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of him, who fought for you,
17 Na ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔdeɛ ɛberɛ a ɔgyee mo firii Midianfoɔ nsam no.
And exposed his life to dangers, to deliver you from the hands of Madian,
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.
And you are now risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons seventy men upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his handmaid king over the inhabitants of Sichem, 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 therefore you have dealt well, and without fault with Jerobaal, and his house, rejoice ye this day in Abimelech, and may he rejoice 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 unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out from the men of Sichem, and from the town of Mello, and devour Abimelech.
21 Na ɛsiane Abimelek ho suro enti, ne nuabarima Yotam dwane kɔtenaa Beer.
And when he had said thus he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Abimelek dii Israel so mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no,
So Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi maa ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanimfoɔ ntam na wɔtee atua.
And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem: who began to detest him,
24 Nsɛm a ɛsisii akyire no mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfoɔ aso sɛ wɔkunkumm Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no.
And to leave the crime of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood upon Abimelech their brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichemites, who aided him.
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.
And they set an ambush against him on the top of the mountains: and while they waited for his coming, they committed robberies, taking spoils of all that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.
26 Saa ɛberɛ no, Ebed babarima Gaal ne ne nuammarima kɔɔ Sekem. Na Sekemfoɔ no nyaa wɔn mu awerɛhyɛmu.
And Gaal the son of Obed came with his brethren, and went over to Sichem. And the inhabitants of Sichem taking courage at his coming,
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.
Went out into the fields, wasting the vineyards, and treading down the grapes: and singing and dancing they went into the temple of their god, and in their banquets and cups 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?
And Gaal the son of Obed cried: Who is Abimelech, and what is Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and hath made Zebul his servant ruler over the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shall we serve him?
29 Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka mɛyi Abimelek afiri hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Pɛ asraafoɔ bebree bra bɛko!’”
Would to God that some man would put this people under my hand, that I might remove Abimelech out of the way. And it was said to Abimelech: Gather together the multitude of an army, and come.
30 Na Sebul a ɔtua kuro no ano tee deɛ Ebed babarima Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuiɛ.
For Zebul the ruler of the city, hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Obed, was very angry,
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.
And sent messengers privately to Abimelech, saying: Behold Gaal the son of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, and endeavoureth to set the city against thee.
32 Fa akodɔm bra anadwo bɛtɛ mfuo yi mu.
Arise therefore in the night with the people that is with thee and he hid in the field:
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 betimes in the morning at sun rising set upon the city. And when he shall come out against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.
34 Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuo ɛnan de twaa Sekem ho hyiaeɛ.
Abimelech therefore arose with all his army by night, and laid ambushes near Sichem in four places.
35 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek ne nʼakodɔm pue firii atɛeɛ mu no, na Ebed babarima Gaal gyina kuro no ɛpono ano.
And Gaal the son of Obed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and all his army with him from the places of the ambushes.
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.”
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh down from the mountains. And he answered him: Thou seest the shadows of the mountains as if they were the heads of men, and this is thy mistake.
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.”
Again Gaal said: Behold there cometh people down from the middle of the land, and one troop cometh by the way that looketh towards the 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!”
And Zebul said to him: Where is now thy mouth wherewith thou saidst? Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people which thou didst despise? Go out, and fight against him.
39 Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
So Gaal went out in the sight of the people of Sichem, 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.
Who chased and put him to flight, and drove him to the city: and many were slain of his people, even to the gate of the city:
41 Abimelek tenaa Aruma ɛnna Sebul pamoo Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima firii Sekem.
And Abimelech sat down in Ruma: but Zebul drove Gaal, and his companions out of the city, and would not suffer them to abide in it.
42 Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, Sekemfoɔ no kɔɔ wira mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek teeɛ no,
So the day following the people went out into the field. And it was told 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.
And he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and laid ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the city, he arose and set upon 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.
With his own company, assaulting and besieging the city: whilst the two other companies chased the enemies that were scattered about the field.
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 Abimelech assaulted the city all that day: and took it, and killed the inhabitants thereof, and demolished it, so that he sowed salt in it.
46 Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wɔkɔhintaa Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so.
And when they who dwelt in the tower of Sichem had heard this, they went into the temple of their god Berith where they had made a covenant with him, and from thence the place had taken its name, and it was exceeding strong.
47 Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amaneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ asɔreeɛ so hɔ,
Abimelech also hearing that the men of the tower of Sichem were gathered together,
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!”
Went up into mount Selmon he and all his people with him: and taking an axe, he cut down the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder and carrying it, he said to his companions: What you see me do, do you out of hand.
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 they cut down boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he could, and followed their leader. And surrounding the fort they set it on fire: and so it came to pass that with the smoke and with the fire a thousand persons were killed, men and women together, of the inhabitants of the tower of Sichem.
50 Afei Abimelek to hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
Then Abimelech departing from thence came to the town of Thebes, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
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.
And there was in the midst of the city a high tower, to which both the men and the women were fled together, and all the princes of the city, and having shut and strongly barred the gate, they stood upon the battlements of the tower to defend themselves.
52 Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔto ahyɛ abandenden no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu ogya pɛ,
And Abimelech coming near the tower, fought stoutly: and approaching to the gate, endeavoured to set fire to it:
53 ɔbaa bi a ɔwɔ abandenden no atifi gyaa ayuyammoɔ mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛkyɛɛ ne ti kwankoraa.
And behold a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke 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.
And he called hastily to his armourbearer, and said to him: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest it should be said that I was slain by a woman. He did as he was commanded, and slew him.
55 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek nkurɔfoɔ hunuu sɛ wawuo no, wɔde wɔn akodeɛ guu hɔ sane kɔɔ wɔn afie mu.
And when he was dead, all the men of Israel that were with him, returned to their homes.
56 Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ ɔkumm ne nuammarima aduɔson no.
And God repaid the evil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seventy brethren.
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.
The Sichemites also were rewarded for what they had done, and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
