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,
Then went Abimelech son of Jerubbaal, to Shechem, unto the brethren of his mother, —and spake unto them, and unto all the family of the house 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, I pray you, in the ears of all the owners of Shechem—Which is better for you, that there should rule over you, seventy men, all sons of Jerubbaal, or that there should rule over you, one man? And remember that, your bone and your flesh, am I.
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.
So the brethren of his mother spake for him, in the ears of all the owners of Shechem, all these words, —and their heart inclined after Abimelech, for they said—Our own brother, is he.
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 pieces of silver, out of the house of Baal-berith, —and Abimelech hired therewith, loose and unstable men, 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 entered the house of his father, at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone, —but there remained Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, for he had hidden 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 were gathered together all the owners of Shechem, and all the house of Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, —by the oak of the pillar, that was in Shechem.
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!
And, when it was told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried aloud, —and said unto them—Hearken unto me, ye owners of Shechem, and may God, hearken unto 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 their way, to anoint over them, a king, —and they said unto 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?’
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, which, in me, gods and men do honour, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
10 “Afei, wɔka kyerɛɛ borɔdɔma sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene!’
Then said the trees unto the fig-tree, —Come! thou reign over us.
11 “Borɔdɔma nso buaa sɛ, ‘Na mennyae aba so na menkyini nnua foforɔ so?’
But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and mine excellent increase, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
12 “Afei wɔka kyerɛɛ bobe sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
Then said the trees unto the vine, —Come! thou, 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 vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, that rejoiceth gods and men, —and go to wave to and fro, over the trees?
14 “Ne korakora ne sɛ, nnua no nyinaa ka kyerɛɛ nkasɛɛ sɛ, ‘Bɛdi yɛn so ɔhene.’
Then said all the trees, unto the bramble, —Come, thou, to 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 the bramble said unto the trees, If, in truth, ye are about to anoint me to be king over you, come, take refuge in my shade, —but, if not, there shall come forth fire out of the bramble, and devour 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, therefore, if, in truth and sincerity, ye have acted, in making Abimelech king, —and if ye have dealt, well, with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if, according to the deserving of his hands, ye have done unto him;
17 Na ɔko maa mo de ne ho bɔɔ afɔdeɛ ɛberɛ a ɔgyee mo firii Midianfoɔ nsam no.
in that my father fought for you, and cast his soul away from before him, and rescued you out of 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.
yet have, ye, risen up against the house of my father, to-day, and slain his sons—seventy men, upon one stone, —and made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the owners 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 then, in truth and in sincerity, ye have dealt with Jerubbaal and with his house, this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let, him also, 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 not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the owners of Shechem, and the house of Millo, —and let fire come out from the owners of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech!
21 Na ɛsiane Abimelek ho suro enti, ne nuabarima Yotam dwane kɔtenaa Beer.
And Jotham hasted away, and fled, and went to Beer, —and dwelt there, away from the face of Abimelech his brother.
22 Abimelek dii Israel so mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no,
And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
23 Onyankopɔn somaa honhom fi bi maa ɔde ɔhaw baa Abimelek ne Sekem mpanimfoɔ ntam na wɔtee atua.
Then God let go a spirit of mischief between Abimelech and the owners of Shechem, —and the owners of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 Nsɛm a ɛsisii akyire no mu no, Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek ne Sekemfoɔ aso sɛ wɔkunkumm Yerub-Baal mmammarima aduɔson no.
that the cruel wrong to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might [come upon them], —and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the owners of Shechem who strengthened his hands, to slay his brethren.
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.
So the owners of Shechem set for him liers in wait, upon the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who crossed over them by the road, —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 son of Ebed came, with his brethren, and they passed through to Shechem, —and the owners of Shechem put their trust 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.
Then went they out into the fields, and gathered the fruit of their vineyards and trode [the grapes], and held a vintage festival, —and entered the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and poured contempt on 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 son of Ebed said: Who is Abimelech—and who is the son of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve ye the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father, but why should, we, serve him?
29 Sɛ mewɔ tumi a, anka mɛyi Abimelek afiri hɔ. Anka mɛka akyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Pɛ asraafoɔ bebree bra bɛko!’”
Would, then, this people were in my hand! that I might set aside Abimelech, —and say to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out!
30 Na Sebul a ɔtua kuro no ano tee deɛ Ebed babarima Gaal rekeka no, ne bo fuiɛ.
And, when Zubul, governor of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, then was kindled his 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.
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech, by deceit, saying, —Lo! Gaal son of Ebed, and his brethren, are coming into Shechem; and lo! are fortifying the city against thee.
32 Fa akodɔm bra anadwo bɛtɛ mfuo yi mu.
Now, therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait 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 it shall be, in the morning, about sunrise, thou shalt get up early, and spread thyself out against the city, —when lo! he and the people that are with him coming out against thee, so shalt thou do unto him as thy hand shall find opportunity.
34 Na Abimelek ne ne mmarima kɔɔ anadwo no, na wɔkyɛɛ wɔn mu akuo ɛnan de twaa Sekem ho hyiaeɛ.
So Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, —and they lay in wait above Shechem, in four companies.
35 Ɛberɛ a Abimelek ne nʼakodɔm pue firii atɛeɛ mu no, na Ebed babarima Gaal gyina kuro no ɛpono ano.
Then came forth Gaal son of Ebed, and took his stand at the opening of the gate of the city, —so Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the place of ambush.
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 unto Zebul, Lo! people coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, The shadow of the mountains, thou seest, like men.
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 did Gaal yet further speak, and say—Lo! people coming down from the highest part of the land, —and one company, coming in by way of the Conjurers’ Terebinth.
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!”
So then Zebul said unto him—Where, then, is thy mouth that kept on saying, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not, this, the people which thou didst despise? Go forth, I pray thee, now, and fight with them!
39 Enti Gaal dii Sekem mmarima anim sɛ wɔrekɔko atia Abimelek,
And Gaal went forth before the owners 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.
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, —and there fell a multitude of slain as far as the entering of the gate.
41 Abimelek tenaa Aruma ɛnna Sebul pamoo Gaal ne ne nuanom mmarima firii Sekem.
Then dwelt Abimelech in Arumah, —and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, Sekemfoɔ no kɔɔ wira mu sɛ wɔrekɔko. Abimelek teeɛ no,
And it came to pass, on the morrow, that the people went forth into the field, —and they 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.
So he took the people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field, —and he looked, and lo! the people coming forth out of the city, so he rose up against them, and smote 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.
And, Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, spread themselves out, and [one of the companies] took their stand at the opening of the gate of the city, —while, the two companies, spread themselves out against all that were in the field, and smote them.
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, fought against the city, all that day, and captured the city, the people also that were therein, he slew, —and brake down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 Nnipa a wɔte Sekem abantenten mu tee asɛm a asi no, wɔkɔhintaa Baal-Berit asɔreeɛ so.
And, when all the owners of the tower of Shechem heard, they entered into the basement of the house of El-berith.
47 Obi kɔbɔɔ Abimelek amaneɛ sɛ nnipa no bi aboa wɔn ho ano wɔ asɔreeɛ so hɔ,
And it was told Abimelech, that all the owners of the tower of Shechem had gathered themselves 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!”
So Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him, and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and lifted it, and laid it on his shoulder, —and said unto the people that were with him—What ye have seen me do, haste! do likewise.
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, even all the people cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and laid them over the basement, and set it on fire over them who were therein, —even all the men of the tower of Shechem died about a thousand men and women.
50 Afei Abimelek to hyɛɛ kuropɔn Tebes so dii so.
Then went Abimelech unto Thebez, —and encamped against Thebez, 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.
Now, a strong tower, was in the midst of the city, and there fled thither all the men and the women, and all the owners of the city, and shut themselves in, —and went up on the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelek toaa wɔn sɛ ɔrekɔto ahyɛ abandenden no so. Ɔyɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔreto mu ogya pɛ,
And Abimelech came in as far as the tower, and fought against it, —and so came near, as far as the entrance of the tower, to burn it with fire.
53 ɔbaa bi a ɔwɔ abandenden no atifi gyaa ayuyammoɔ mu ma ɛbɛbɔɔ Abimelek moma so na ɛpɛkyɛɛ ne ti kwankoraa.
And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon the head of Abimelech, —and brake in pieces 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.
Then called he hastily unto the young man bearing his armour, and said unto him—Draw thy sword, and put me to death, lest they say of me, A woman, slew him! So his young man thrust him through, 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 men of Israel saw that Abimelech was, dead, they went their way every man to his own place.
56 Saa na Onyankopɔn twee Abimelek aso wɔ bɔne a ɔyɛ de tiaa nʼagya sɛ ɔkumm ne nuammarima aduɔson no.
Thus did God requite the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father, in slaying 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.
all the wickedness also, of the men of Shechem, did God requite upon their own head, —and so brought in upon, them the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal.
