1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 3 And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 ¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 ¶ When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes , and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 ¶ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 ¶ And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men. 37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 ¶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that , they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to 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 took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done . 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 ¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 ¶ Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
1 Abimelechs, Jerubbaāla dēls, nogāja uz Sichemu pie savas mātes brāļiem un pateica viņiem un visai savas mātes tēva ģimenei:
2 „Jautājiet visiem Sichemas noteicējiem pilsoņiem: Kas jums ir labāk, vai ka pār jums valda septiņdesmit vīru, visi Jerubbaāla dēli, jeb vai ka valda viens vienīgs vīrs? Pieminiet, ka es esmu ir jūsu kauls, ir jūsu miesa!“
3 Kad Sichemas vadītāju pilsoņu klātbūtnē viņa mātes brāļi sacīja tiem visus šos vārdus, tad viņu sirdis nosvērās uz Abimelecha pusi, jo tie sprieda un sacīja: „Viņš taču ir mūsu brālis.“
4 Un tie viņam izsniedza septiņdesmit sudraba seķeļus no Derības Baāla svētnīcas, un par tiem Abimelechs saderēja visādus neliešus un neuzticamus ļaudis, kas viņam sekoja.
5 Pēc tam viņš nonāca Ofrā, sava tēva namā, un nokāva savus brāļus, Jerubbaāla dēlus, septiņdesmit vīrus uz viena vienīga akmens; bet Jotāms, Jerubbaāla jaunākais dēls, paglābās, jo viņš bija paslēpies.
6 Tad sapulcējās visi Sichemas noteicēji pilsoņi un viss Bet-Millas pulks, un tie visi sadevās kopā un iecēla Abimelechu par ķēniņu pie piemiņas ozola, kas ir tuvu pie Sichemas.
7 Kad to pateica Jotāmam, tad viņš cēlās un devās Garicima kalna virsotnē, nostājās un pacēla savu balsi, sauca un sacīja: „Uzklausait mani, jūs Sichemas pilsoņi, tad Dievs ari jūs klausīs!
8 Sanākt reiz sanāca koki, lai sev svaidītu ķēniņu, un tie sacīja eļļas kokam: „Valdi jel tu pār mums kā ķēniņš!“
9 Bet eļļas koks tiem atbildēja: „Vai man likt iet zudumā savam taukumam, par ko Dievs un cilvēki mani slavē, un es tad lai noietu un līgotos pāri koku galotnēm?“
10 Tad koki teica vīģes kokam: „Nāc tu, esi mūsu ķēniņš!“
11 Bet vīģes koks tiem sacīja: „Vai lai es atstāju savu saldumu sulā un savus labos augļus, kas ir tik jauki, un lai noietu un locītos pāri citiem kokiem?“
12 Tad koki sacīja vīna kokam: „Nāc tu un topi mums par ķēniņu!“
13 Bet vīna koks tiem atbildēja: „Vai lai es atstāju savu vīna svaigo sulu, kas ielīksmo kā dievus, tā cilvēkus, un lai noeju un līgojos pāri pār citiem kokiem?“
14 Tad visi koki uzrunāja dzēlīgo ērkšķu krūmu: „Nāc tu un esi ķēniņš pār mums!“
15 Tad ērkšķu krūms atbildēja pārējiem kokiem: „Kad jūs patiešām mani gribat svaidīt sev par ķēniņu, tad nāciet un uzticieties manai paēnai! Bet ja jūs to nedarīsit, tad lai no ērkšķu krūma izšaujas uguns, un tā lai aprij Libanona ciedrus!“
16 Tad nu tagad, ja jūs esat godīgi un nevainojami rīkojušies, ieceldami Abimelechu par ķēniņu, un ja jūs esat labu vien darījuši Jerubbaālam un viņa namam, un ja jūs esat tā darījuši, kā viņa rokas būtu to pelnījušas,
17 —Jo mans tēvs ir jūsu dēļ vedis kapus, un viņš jūsu dēļ ir bijis labprātīgi ar mieru ziedot savu dzīvību un jūs izglābis no Midiana rokas,
18 Kurpretī jūs šodien esat sacēlušies pret manu tēva namu un esat nogalinā-juši viņa dēlus, septiņdesmit vīrus uz viena akmens, un esat iecēluši Abime-lechu, kalpones dēlu, par ķēniņu Siche-mas dižciltīgajiem tāpēc, ka viņš ir jūsu brālis,
19 Ja nu jūs tiešām esat rīkojušies godīgi un taisnīgi ar Jerubbaālu un viņa namu, tad vēlu jums no sirds priecāties par Abimelechu, un ari viņš lai būtu līksms par jums.
20 Bet ja ne, tad lai iziet no Abimelecha uguns, un tā lai aprij Sichemas cienījamākos vīrus un pils iemītniekus, un lai ari uguns iziet no Sichemas dižciltīgajiem un no pils un aprij Abimelechu!“
21 Tad Jotāms steidzīgi bēga un glābās, nokļūdams Beērā, un tur viņš dzīvoja, baidīdamies no sava brāļa Abimelecha un turēdamies tālu no viņa.
22 Kad nu Abimelechs bija trīs gadus valdījis pār Israēlu,
23 Tad Dievs deva ļaunu prātu Abimelecha un Sichemas vecaju starpā, tā ka Sichemas pilsoņi lauza uzticību Abimelecham un atstājās no viņa.
24 Tas notika tādēļ, lai viņa varmācība, kas bija nodarīta septiņdesmit Jerubbaāla dēliem, kristu uz viņu, un viņu asinis lai nāktu pār Abimelechu, viņu brāli, kas tos pats bija nogalinājis, un lai tās nāktu ari pār Sichemas dižciltīgajiem, kupi bija stiprinājuši viņa rokas, lai viņš nokautu savus brāļus.
25 Lai noskaņotu ļaudis pret Abimelechu, Sichemas dižciltīgie novietoja kalnos paslēptus laupītājus. Tiem vajadzēja aplaupīt ikvienu ceļa gājēju. Tas tika paziņots Abimelecham.
26 Toreiz Gaāls, Ebeda dēls, nāca ar saviem brāļiem, lai nomestos Sichemā, un Sichemas noteicēji pilsoņi viņam uzticējās.
27 Reiz tie izgāja ārā uz lauka un nolasīja vīna kalnus, izspieda sulu un svinēja prieka svētkus, tad tie devās sava dieva namā, ēda un dzēra un lādēja Abimelechu.
28 Tad Gaāls, Ebeda dēls, sacīja: „Kas ir Abimelechs, un kas esam mēs, sichemieši, ka mums viņam jākalpo? Vai viņš nav Jerubbaāla dēls, un Zebuls viņa pilnvarotais? Vai viņam nevajadzētu kalpot Hemora, Sichemas ciltstēva, vīriem, kādēļ tad mums ir jākalpo viņam?
29 Ak, kaut šī tauta būta manā vadībā, gan tad es izdzītu Abimelechu!“ Un Abimelecham viņš teica: „Pastiprini savu karaspēku un nāc laukā!“
30 Kad nu Zebuls, pilsētas virspavēlnieks, šos Gaāla, Ebeda dēla, vārdus dzirdēja, tad viņam sametās dusmas.
31 Viņš slepeni nosūtīja ziņnešus pie Abimelecha uz Arūmu un vēstīja: „Redzi, Gaāls, Ebeda dēls, ar saviem brāļiem ir atnākuši uz Sichemu, un tagad tie sakūda pilsētu pret tevi.
32 Tādēļ celies tu, un arī tie karavīri, kas ir pie tevis, nakts laikā, un apmeties tīrumu aizsegā.
33 Bet rītā agri, saulei lecot, celies un uzbrūc pilsētai. Un redzi, kad viņš ar karavīriem, kas turas pie viņa, izietu tev pretī, tad tu varētu darīt, kā tava roka to atrod par iespējamu!“
34 Tad Abimelechs ar karavīru saimi, kas bija pie viņa, piecēlās naktī, devās ceļā tīrumu aizsegā, un četros pulkos ielenca Sichemu.
35 Bet Gaāls, Egeda dēls, iznāca laukā un nostājās pilsētas vārtos; tad Abimelechs un visi tie, kas bija pie viņa, cēlās ārā no paslēptuves.
36 Tiklīdz Gaāls ieraudzīja šos ļaudis, viņš teica Zebulam: „Redzi, tur taču kareivji dodas lejup no kalnu virsotnēm!“ Bet Zebuls viņam teica: „Tev šķiet kalnu ēnas vīri esam.“
37 Gaāls tomēr nerimās un teica: „Nē, tie ir karavīri, kas nāk lejup, un tur ir vēl viens pulks karavīru, kas nāk pa ceļu no Burvju ozoliem.“
38 Tad Zebuls viņam sacīja: „Kur nu tagad ir tava mute, ar ko tu teici: „Kas ir Abimelechs, ka mums būs viņam kalpot labu prātu?“ Vai tā nav tā tauta, par kuru tu ņirgājies? Izej nu tagad ārā un karo pret viņiem!“
39 Un Gaāls izgāja Sichemas pilsoņu priekšgalā un karoja pret Abimelechu.
40 Un Abimelechs to vajāja, un tas bēga no viņa, un daudzi krita, un nokautie gulēja līdz pat pilsētas vārtiem.
41 Tad Abimelechs atgriezās Arūmā, bet Zebuls izdzina Gaālu un viņa brāļus, ka tie nepalika dzīvot Sichemā.
42 Un notika nākamajā dienā, ka ļaudis izgāja tīrumā, un tas tika Abime-lecham paziņots.
43 Tad viņš sapulcināja savu karaspēku, sadalīja to trijos pulkos un tos paslēpa laukos. Un kad viņš vēroja, ka, lūk, tauta pašreiz nāk laukā no pilsētas, tad viņš devās pret tiem cīņā un tos apkāva.
44 Un Abimelechs un tie pulki, kas bija pie viņa, devās tālāk uz priekšu un apstājās pie pilsētas vārtiem, bet divi pulki uzbruka visiem tiem, kas atradās laukā, un arī tos nogalināja.
45 Tā Abimelechs karoja pret pilsētu visu dienu, un viņš arī ieņēma pilsētu un nokāva visus ļaudis, kas atradās pilsētā, un, nopostījis pilsētu, pārkaisīja to ar sāli.
46 Kad nu visi Sichemas nocietinātas pils iemītnieki to dzirdēja, tad tie sagāja stipri nocietinātā Derības dieva nama tornī.
47 Un tiklīdz kā Abimelecham tika paziņots, ka visi Sichemas cietokšņa pavēlnieki ir sapulcējušies vienkopus,
48 Tad Abimelechs devās ar visu savu karaspēku, kas bija pie viņa, augšā uz Salmona kalnu. Tur Abimelechs ņēma savā rokā cirvi, nocirta kāda koka zaru, uzcēla un uzlika to uz saviem pleciem; tad viņš sacīja tai tautai, kas bija pie viņa: „Ko jūs redzat mani darām, to darait arī jūs steidzīgi, tāpat kā es!“
49 Tad arī visi ļaudis nocirta ikviens pa zaram un sekoja Abimelecham. Viņi nolika zarus pie stiprā torņa un aizdedzināja tos ar uguni; tā nobeidzās visi Sichemas cietokšņa pavēlnieki un ļaudis, ap tūkstoš vīru un sievu.
50 Tad Abimelechs devās pret Tefaecu, uzcēla savas teltis tai visapkārt un ieņēma to.
51 Bet pilsētas vidū atradās stiprs nocietinājums, tur sabēga visi viri un visas sievas, visi vietējie pilsoņi; un tie visu aiz sevis noslēdza un uzkāpa uz torņa jumta.
52 Kad nu Abimelechs bija tuvu nocietinājumam, tad viņš devās pret to uzbrukumā un izlauzās līdz cietokšņa durvīm, lai tās sadedzinātu ar uguni.
53 Bet tad kāda sieva nometa virsējo dzirnu akmeni uz Abimelecha galvu, un tas sadragāja viņa galvas kausu.
54 Tad viņš steidzīgi piesauca savu ieroču nesēju, puisi, un pavēlēja tam: „Izvelc savu zobenu un nonāvē mani, lai par mani nesaka, ka kāda sieviete mani nonāvējusi!“ Un viņa ieroču nesējs to nodūra, un tā tas mira.
55 Kad nu Israēla vīri redzēja, ka Abimelechs bija kritis, tad tie atgriezās ikviens savās mājās.
56 Tā Dievs atmaksāja Abimelecha ļauno darbu, ko viņš bija nodarījis savam tēvam, nokaudams savus septiņdesmit brāļus.
57 Un tāpat arī Dievs lika visiem tiem ļauniem darbiem, ko Sichemas vīri bija nodarījuši, krist atpakaļ uz viņu galvām, un tā piepildījās Jotāma, Jerubbaāla dēla, lāsts.
