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.
Abīmelehs ceļ sevi par ķēniņu
1 Abīmelehs, Jerubaala dēls, devās uz Šehemu pie saviem mātesbrāļiem un runāja ar tiem un visu sava mātes tēva dzimtas namu: 2 “Jel runājiet, lai klausās visi Šehemas pilsoņi: kas jums ir labāk – vai ka pār jums valda septiņdesmit vīri, visi Jerubaala dēli, vai ka pār jums valda viens vīrs? Pieminiet taču, ka es esmu no jūsu kaula un miesas!” 3 Viņa mātesbrāļi stāstīja par viņu visus šos vārdus Šehemas pilsoņiem, un to prāti nosliecās par labu Abīmeleham, jo tie sacīja: “Viņš ir mūsu brālis.” 4 Viņi tam deva septiņdesmit sudraba gabalus no Derībbaala nama, un Abīmelehs par tiem nolīga salašņas un pārgalvjus, kas viņam sekoja. 5 Viņš nāca uz sava tēva namu Ofrā un nokāva savus brāļus, Jerubaala dēlus, – septiņdesmit vīrus uz viena akmens. Bet Jerubaala jaunākais dēls Jotāms palika dzīvs, jo viņš bija paslēpies.
Līdzība par kokiem
6 Visi Šehemas pilsoņi un visi no Millo nama sapulcējās un devās pie piemiņas ozola iecelt sev ķēniņu – lai Abīmelehs kļūtu viņu ķēniņš. 7 Kad to paziņoja Jotāmam, viņš gāja un nostājās Gerizīma kalna galā un skaļā balsī tiem sauca:
“Uzklausiet mani, Šehemas pilsoņi,
tad arī Dievs uzklausīs jūs!
8 Nāktin reiz sanāca koki,
lai sev svaidītu ķēniņu,
un sacīja olīvkokam:
valdi kā ķēniņš pār mums!
9 Olīvkoks tiem atbildēja:
vai lai pametu savu taukumu,
ar ko dievi un vīri tiek godāti,
un eju locīties pāri kokiem?!
10 Tad koki sacīja vīģes kokam:
nāc tu, valdi kā ķēniņš pār mums!
11 Vīģes koks tiem atbildēja:
vai lai pametu savu saldumu
un savus lieliskos augļus
un eju locīties pāri kokiem?!
12 Tad koki sacīja vīnakokam:
nāc tu, valdi kā ķēniņš pār mums!
13 Vīnakoks tiem atbildēja:
vai lai pametu jauno vīnu,
kas ielīksmo dievus un vīrus,
un eju locīties pāri kokiem?!
14 Tad visi koki sacīja dadzim:
nāc tu, valdi kā ķēniņš pār mums!
15 Un dadzis sacīja kokiem:
ja jau patiesi jūs mani svaidāt,
lai es būtu ķēniņš pār jums,
tad nāciet un tverieties manā paēnā,
bet, ja ne, šausies uguns no dadža
un aprīs Lebanona ciedrus!
16 Tad, ja nu jūs esat rīkojušies patiesi un godīgi, ieceļot Abīmelehu par ķēniņu, ja esat labu darījuši Jerubaalam un viņa namam, ja esat atmaksājuši viņam, kā viņa darbi to pelna, – 17 kad mans tēvs karoja par jums, savu dzīvību nežēlodams, un izrāva jūs no Midjāna rokas, 18 bet jūs šodien esat sacēlušies pret mana tēva namu un nokāvuši viņa dēlus, septiņdesmit vīrus uz viena akmens, un Abīmelehu, verdzenes dēlu, iecēluši par ķēniņu Šehemas pilsoņiem, jo viņš ir jūsu brālis, – 19 ja nu jūs šodien esat rīkojušies patiesi un godīgi pret Jerubaalu un viņa namu, tad baudiet prieku par Abīmelehu, un arī viņš lai bauda prieku par jums, 20 bet ja ne – uguns izšausies no Abīmeleha un aprīs Šehemas pilsoņus un Millo namu, un uguns izšausies no Šehemas pilsoņiem un Millo nama un aprīs Abīmelehu!” 21 Un Jotāms bēga un glābās, dodamies uz Beēru. Tur viņš dzīvoja tālu no sava brāļa Abīmeleha.
Abīmeleha krišana
22 Abīmelehs valdīja pār Israēlu trīs gadus. 23 Bet Dievs sūtīja ļaunu garu starp Abīmelehu un Šehemas pilsoņiem, un Šehemas pilsoņi kļuva neuzticīgi Abīmeleham, 24 lai septiņdesmit Jerubaala dēliem nodarītie varasdarbi un viņu asinis nāktu pār viņu brāli Abīmelehu, kurš tos nokāva, un pār Šehemas pilsoņiem, kuri atbalstīja viņa brāļu nokaušanu. 25 Šehemas pilsoņi viņa dēļ kalnu virsotnēs slēpņos izvietoja vīrus, kuri aplaupīja katru, kas gāja pa ceļu tiem garām. Tas tika pavēstīts Abīmeleham.
26 Gaala, Ebeda dēls, nāca kopā ar saviem brāļiem, un viņi ienāca Šehemā. Viņš ieguva Šehemas pilsoņu uzticību. 27 Un, kad tie izgāja laukos, novāca vīnogas savos vīnadārzos, izspieda tās un rīkoja svētkus, tie gāja sava dieva namā, ēda un dzēra un lādēja Abīmelehu. 28 Gaala, Ebeda dēls, teica: “Kas gan ir Abīmelehs un kas ir Šehema, ka mums viņam jākalpo? Vai viņš nav Jerubaala dēls un Zebūls viņa pilnvarnieks? Kalpojiet Hamora, Šehemas tēva, vīriem! Kāpēc lai mēs kalpotu viņam! 29 Eh, ja šie ļaudis būtu manā rokā, es novāktu Abīmelehu!” Un viņš teica par Abīmelehu: “Piepulcini sev vēl karapulkus un iznāc!” 30 Kad pilsētas pārvaldnieks Zebūls dzirdēja Gaalas, Ebeda dēla, vārdus, viņš iedegās dusmās. 31 Viņš slepus sūtīja vēstnešus pie Abīmeleha, sacīdams: “Redzi, Gaala, Ebeda dēls, un viņa brāļi ir atnākuši uz Šehemu, un, redzi, viņi musina pilsētu pret tevi. 32 Tad nu celies naktī, tu un tavi ļaudis, un paslēpies laukos. 33 Bet rīta agrumā, kad lēks saule, strauji uzbrūc pilsētai. Un, kad viņš un viņa ļaudis izies pret tevi, tad dari viņam, kā redzi.”
34 Abīmelehs un visi viņa ļaudis cēlās naktī un paslēpās pie Šehemas – četri pulki. 35 Gaala, Ebeda dēls, iznāca un nostājās pilsētas vārtu ejā. Tad Abīmelehs un viņa ļaudis cēlās no slēpņa. 36 Kad Gaala ieraudzīja šos ļaudis, viņš teica Zebūlam: “Redzi, ļaudis nāk lejā no kalnu virsotnēm!” Bet Zebūls viņam atbildēja: “Kalnu ēnas tev izskatās pēc vīriem.”
37 Tomēr Gaala nerimās un atkal ierunājās: “Redzi, ļaudis, tie nāk lejā no zemes vidienes, un vēl viens pulks nāk no Zīlnieku ozola puses!” 38 Tad Zebūls viņam teica: “Kur tad nu tava mute, tu, kas sacīji: kas gan ir Abīmelehs, ka mums šim jākalpo? Vai šie nav ļaudis, kurus tu nonievāji? Tad nu tagad ej un cīnies ar tiem!”
39 Gaala izgāja Šehemas pilsoņu priekšgalā un cīnījās ar Abīmelehu. 40 Abīmelehs viņu vajāja, un viņš bēga no tā, un daudzi krita nodurti līdz pat ieejai pilsētas vārtos. 41 Abīmelehs dzīvoja Arūmā, bet Gaalu un viņa brāļus Zebūls izdzina no Šehemas. 42 Nākamajā dienā ļaudis izgāja laukos, un tas tika pavēstīts Abīmeleham. 43 Viņš ņēma ļaudis, sadalīja tos trīs pulkos un paslēpās laukos. Viņš skatījās, un redzi – ļaudis nāca ārā no pilsētas. Tad viņš cēlās tiem pretī un tos sakāva. 44 Abīmelehs un pulki, kas bija pie viņa, strauji uzbruka un nostājās pilsētas vārtu ejā, bet divi pulki uzbruka visiem, kas bija laukā, un sakāva tos. 45 Abīmelehs visu dienu karoja pret pilsētu, kamēr ieņēma šo pilsētu un nokāva ļaudis, kas tajā. Viņš šo pilsētu nopostīja un pārkaisīja ar sāli.
46 Kad visi Šehemas torņa pilsoņi to dzirdēja, viņi iegāja Derībbaala nama pagrabā. 47 Abīmeleham tika pavēstīts, ka visi Šehemas torņa pilsoņi ir sapulcējušies vienuviet. 48 Tad Abīmelehs uzkāpa Calmona kalnā, viņš un visi viņa ļaudis, un Abīmelehs ņēma rokā cirvi, nocirta koku zarus, pacēla tos, uzlika sev plecos un teica ļaudīm, kas bija pie viņa: “Kā jūs redzējāt mani darām, tā steidziet un dariet arī jūs!” 49 Tad arī visi ļaudis ikviens nocirta pa zaram, gāja pakaļ Abīmeleham, nolika tos uz pagraba un aizdedzināja pagrabu virs tiem. Tā gāja bojā visi Šehemas torņa iedzīvotāji – ap tūkstoš vīru un sievu.
50 Pēc tam Abīmelehs devās uz Tēbēcu. Viņš to aplenca un ieņēma. 51 Bet pilsētas vidū bija stiprs tornis, un visi vīri un sievas, visi šīs pilsētas pilsoņi sabēga tajā un ieslēdzās, un uzkāpa uz torņa jumta. 52 Abīmelehs devās pret torni, lai cīnītos pret to. Viņš tuvojās torņa durvīm, lai tās sadedzinātu, 53 bet kāda sieva nometa augšējo dzirnakmeni Abīmeleham uz galvas un sadragāja viņa galvaskausu. 54 Viņš steigšus sauca puisi, savu ieroču nesēju, un sacīja tam: “Izvelc savu zobenu un nonāvē mani, lai par mani neteiktu: sieva viņu ir nokāvusi!” Viņa puisis nodūra viņu, un viņš nomira. 55 Kad Israēla vīri redzēja, ka Abīmelehs ir miris, tie visi devās mājup. 56 Tā Dievs Abīmeleha noziegumu vērsa pret viņu pašu – visu, ko tas bija darījis savam tēvam, nokaudams savus septiņdesmit brāļus. 57 Un visam Šehemas vīru noziegumam Dievs lika nākt pār viņu pašu galvām. Pār tiem nāca Jotāma, Jerubaala dēla, lāsts.
