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.
Abimelech Tries To Be King
1 Abimelech the son of Gideon went to Shechem. While there, he met with his mother's relatives 2 and told them to say to the leaders of Shechem, “Do you think it would be good to have all 70 of Gideon's sons ruling us? Wouldn't you rather have just one man be king? Abimelech would make a good king, and he's related to us.”
3 Abimelech's uncles talked it over with the leaders of Shechem who agreed, “Yes, it would be better for one of our relatives to be king.” 4 Then they gave Abimelech 70 pieces of silver from the temple of their god Baal Berith.
Abimelech used the silver to hire a gang of rough soldiers who would do anything for money. 5 Abimelech and his soldiers went to his father's home in Ophrah and brought out Gideon's other sons to a large rock, where they murdered all 70 of them. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid from the soldiers, but he was the only one who escaped.
6 The leaders of Shechem, including the priests and the military officers, met at the tree next to the sacred rock in Shechem to crown Abimelech king. 7 Jotham heard what they were doing. So he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted down to the people who were there at the meeting:
Leaders of Shechem,
listen to me,
and maybe God
will listen to you.
8 Once the trees searched
for someone to be king;
they asked the olive tree,
“Will you be our king?”
9 But the olive tree replied,
“My oil brings honor
to people and gods.
I won't stop making oil,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
10 Then they asked the fig tree,
“Will you be our king?”
11 But the fig tree replied,
“I won't stop growing
my delicious fruit,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
12 Next they asked the grape vine,
“Will you be our king?”
13 But the grape vine replied,
“My wine brings cheer
to people and gods.
I won't stop making wine,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
14 Finally, they went
to the thornbush and asked,
“Will you be our king?”
15 The thornbush replied,
“If you really want me
to be your king,
then come into my shade
and I will protect you.
But if you're deceiving me,
I'll start a fire
that will spread out and destroy
the cedars of Lebanon.”
After Jotham had finished telling this story, he said:
16-18 My father Gideon risked his life for you when he fought to rescue you from the Midianites. Did you reward Gideon by being kind to his family? No, you did not! You attacked his family and killed all 70 of his sons on that rock.
And was it right to make Abimelech your king? He's merely the son of my father's slave girl. But just because he's your relative, you made him king of Shechem.
19 So, you leaders of Shechem, if you treated Gideon and his family the way you should have, then I hope you and Abimelech will make each other very happy. 20 But if it was wrong to treat Gideon and his family the way you did, then I pray that Abimelech will destroy you with fire, and I pray that you will do the same to him.
21 Jotham ran off and went to live in the town of Beer, where he could be safe from his brother Abimelech.
Abimelech Destroys Shechem
22 Abimelech had been a military commander of Israel for three years, 23-24 when God decided to punish him and the leaders of Shechem for killing Gideon's 70 sons.
So God turned the leaders of Shechem against Abimelech. 25 Then they sent some men to hide on the hilltops and watch for Abimelech and his troops, while they sent others to rob everyone that went by on the road. But Abimelech found out what they were doing.
26 One day, Gaal son of Ebed went to live in Shechem. His brothers moved there too, and soon the leaders of Shechem started trusting him.
27 The time came for the grape harvest, and the people of Shechem went into their vineyards and picked the grapes. They gathered the grapes and made wine. Then they went into the temple of their god and threw a big party. There was a lot of eating and drinking, and before long they were cursing Abimelech.
28 Gaal said:
Hamor was the founder of Shechem, and one of his descendants should be our ruler. But Abimelech's father was Gideon, so Abimelech isn't really one of us. He shouldn't be our king, and we shouldn't have to obey him or Zebul, who rules Shechem for him. 29 If I were the ruler of Shechem, I'd get rid of that Abimelech. I'd tell him, “Get yourself an even bigger army, and we will still defeat you.”
30 Zebul was angry when he found out what Gaal had said. 31 And so he sent some messengers to Abimelech. But they had to pretend to be doing something else, or they would not have been allowed to leave Shechem. Zebul told the messengers to say:
Gaal the son of Ebed has come to Shechem along with his brothers, and they have persuaded the people to let Gaal rule Shechem instead of you. 32 This is what I think you should do. Lead your army here during the night and hide in the fields. 33 Get up the next morning at sunrise and rush out of your hiding places to attack the town. Gaal and his followers will come out to fight you, but you will easily defeat them.
34 So one night, Abimelech led his soldiers to Shechem. He divided them into four groups, and they all hid near the town.
35 The next morning, Gaal went out and stood in the opening of the town gate. Abimelech and his soldiers left their hiding places, 36 and Gaal saw them. Zebul was standing there with Gaal, and Gaal remarked, “Zebul, that looks like a crowd of people coming down from the mountaintops.”
“No,” Zebul answered, “it's just the shadows of the mountains. It only looks like people moving.”
37 “But Zebul, look over there,” Gaal said. “There's a crowd coming down from the sacred mountain, and another group is coming along the road from the tree where people talk with the spirits of the dead.”
38 Then Zebul replied, “What good is all of your bragging now? You were the one who said Abimelech shouldn't be the ruler of Shechem. Out there is the army that you made fun of. So go out and fight them!”
39 Gaal and the leaders of Shechem went out and fought Abimelech. 40 Soon the people of Shechem turned and ran back into the town. However, Abimelech and his troops were close behind and killed many of them along the way.
41 Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul forced Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 The next morning, the people of Shechem were getting ready to work in their fields as usual, but someone told Abimelech about it. 43 Abimelech divided his army into three groups and set up an ambush in the fields near Shechem. When the people came out of the town, he and his army rushed out from their hiding places and attacked. 44 Abimelech and the troops with him ran to the town gate and took control of it, while two other groups attacked and killed the people who were in the fields. 45 He and his troops fought in Shechem all day, until they had killed everyone in town. Then he and his men tore down the houses and buildings and scattered salt everywhere.
46 Earlier that day, the leaders of the temple of El Berith at Shechem had heard about the attack. So they went into the temple fortress, 47 but Abimelech found out where they were. 48 He led his troops to Mount Zalmon, where he took an ax and chopped off a tree branch. He lifted the branch onto his shoulder and shouted, “Hurry! Cut off a branch just as I did.”
49 When they all had branches, they followed Abimelech back to Shechem. They piled the branches against the fortress and set them on fire, burning down the fortress and killing about 1,000 men and women.
50 After destroying Shechem, Abimelech went to Thebez. He surrounded the town and captured it. 51 But there was a tall fortress in the middle of the town, and the town leaders and everyone else went inside. Then they barred the gates and went up to the flat roof.
52 Abimelech and his army rushed to the fortress and tried to force their way inside. Abimelech himself was about to set the heavy wooden doors on fire, 53 when a woman on the roof dropped a large rock on his head and cracked his skull. 54 The soldier who carried his weapons was nearby, and Abimelech told him, “Take out your sword and kill me. I don't want people to say that I was killed by a woman!”
So the soldier ran his sword through Abimelech. 55 And when the Israelite soldiers saw that their leader was dead, they went back home.
56 That's how God punished Abimelech for killing his brothers and bringing shame on his father's family. 57 God also punished the people of Shechem for helping Abimelech. Everything happened just as Jotham's curse said it would.
