Iudicum 9
1 Abiit autem Abimelech filius Ierobaal in Sichem ad fratres matris suae, et locutus est ad eos, et ad omnem cognationem domus patris matris suae, dicens:
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 Loquimini ad omnes viros Sichem: Quid vobis est melius, ut dominentur vestri septuaginta viri omnes filii Ierobaal, an ut dominetur unus vir? simulque considerate quod os vestrum, et caro vestra sum.
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 Locutique sunt fratres matris eius de eo ad omnes viros Sichem universos sermones istos, et inclinaverunt cor eorum post Abimelech, dicentes: Frater noster est.
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 Dederuntque illi septuaginta pondo argenti de fano Baalberit. Qui conduxit sibi ex eo viros inopes et vagos, secutique sunt eum.
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 Et venit in domum patris sui in Ephra, et occidit fratres suos filios Ierobaal septuaginta viros, super lapidem unum: remansitque Ioatham filius Ierobaal minimus, et absconditus est.
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 Congregati sunt autem omnes viri Sichem, et universae familiae urbis Mello: abieruntque et constituerunt regem Abimelech iuxta quercum, quae stabat in Sichem.
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 Quod cum nunciatum esset Ioatham, ivit, et stetit in vertice montis Garizim: elevataque voce, clamavit, et dixit: Audite me viri Sichem, ita ut audiat vos Deus.
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 Ierunt ligna, ut ungerent super se regem: dixeruntque olivae: Impera nobis.
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 Quae respondit: Numquid possum deserere pinguedinem meam, qua et dii utuntur, et homines, et venire ut inter ligna promovear?
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 Dixeruntque ligna ad arborem ficum: Veni, et super nos regnum accipe.
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
11 Quae respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere dulcedinem meam, fructusque suavissimos, et ire ut inter cetera ligna promovear?
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 Locutaque sunt ligna ad vitem: Veni, et impera nobis.
Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
13 Quae respondit eis: Numquid possum deserere vinum meum, quod laetificat Deum et homines, et inter ligna cetera promoveri?
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 Dixeruntque omnia ligna ad rhamnum: Veni, et impera super nos.
Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us.
15 Quae respondit eis: Si vere me regem vobis constituitis, venite, et sub umbra mea requiescite. si autem non vultis, egrediatur ignis de rhamno, et devoret cedros Libani.
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 Nunc igitur, si recte, et absque peccato constituistis super vos regem Abimelech, et bene egistis cum Ierobaal, et cum domo eius, et reddidistis vicem beneficiis eius, qui pugnavit pro vobis,
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 et animam suam dedit periculis, ut erueret vos de manu Madian,
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 qui nunc surrexistis contra domum patris mei, et interfecistis filios eius septuaginta viros super unum lapidem, et constituistis regem Abimelech filium ancillae eius super habitatores Sichem, eo quod frater vester sit:
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 si ergo recte, et absque vitio egistis cum Ierobaal, et domo eius, hodie laetemini in Abimelech, et ille laetetur in vobis.
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 Sin autem perverse: egrediatur ignis ex eo, et consumat habitatores Sichem, et oppidum Mello: egrediaturque ignis de viris Sichem, et de oppido Mello, et devoret Abimelech.
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 Quae cum dixisset, fugit, et abiit in Bera: habitavitque ibi ob metum Abimelech fratris sui.
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 Regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israel tribus annis.
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23 Misitque Dominus spiritum pessimum inter Abimelech et habitatores Sichem: qui coeperunt eum detestari,
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 et scelus interfectionis septuaginta filiorum Ierobaal, et effusionem sanguinis eorum conferre in Abimelech fratrem suum, et in ceteros Sichimorum principes, qui eum adiuverant.
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 Posueruntque insidias adversus eum in summitate montium: et dum illius praestolabantur adventum, exercebant latrocinia, agentes praedas de praetereuntibus. nunciatumque est Abimelech.
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 Venit autem Gaal filius Obed cum fratribus suis, et transivit in Sichimam. Ad cuius adventum erecti habitatores Sichem,
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 egressi sunt in agros, vastantes vineas, uvasque calcantes: et factis cantantium choris, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui, et inter epulas et pocula maledicebant Abimelech,
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 clamante Gaal filio Obed: Quis est Abimelech, et quae est Sichem, ut serviamus ei? numquid non est filius Ierobaal, et constituit principem Zebul servum suum super viros Emor patris Sichem? Cur ergo serviemus ei?
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 utinam daret aliquis populum istum sub manu mea, ut auferrem de medio Abimelech. Dictumque est Abimelech: Congrega exercitus multitudinem, et veni.
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 Zebul enim princeps civitatis auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Obed, iratus est valde,
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 et misit clam ad Abimelech nuncios, dicens: Ecce, Gaal filius Obed venit in Sichimam cum fratribus suis, et oppugnat adversum te civitatem.
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 Surge itaque nocte cum populo, qui tecum est, et latita in agro:
Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that [is] with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33 et primo mane oriente sole, irrue super civitatem. illo autem egrediente adversum te cum populo suo, fac ei quod potueris.
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 Surrexit itaque Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte, et tetendit insidias iuxta Sichimam in quattuor locis.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 Egressusque est Gaal filius Obed, et stetit in introitu portae civitatis. Surrexit autem Abimelech, et omnis exercitus cum eo de insidiarum loco.
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 Cumque vidisset populum Gaal, dixit ad Zebul: Ecce de montibus multitudo descendit. Cui ille respondit: Umbras montium vides quasi capita hominum, et hoc errore deciperis.
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 Rursumque Gaal ait: Ecce populus de umbilico terrae descendit, et unus cuneus venit per viam quae respicit quercum.
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 Cui dixit Zebul: Ubi est nunc os tuum, quo loquebaris? Quis est Abimelech ut serviamus ei? Nonne hic populus est, quem despiciebas? Egredere, et pugna contra eum.
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 Abiit ergo Gaal, spectante Sichimorum populo, et pugnavit contra Abimelech,
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 qui persecutus est eum fugientem, et in urbem compulit: cecideruntque ex parte eius plurimi, usque ad portam civitatis:
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] unto the entering of the gate.
41 et Abimelech sedit in Ruma: Zebul autem, Gaal, et socios eius expulit de urbe, nec in ea passus est commorari.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 Sequenti ergo die egressus est populus in campum. Quod cum nunciatum esset Abimelech,
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 tulit exercitum suum, et divisit in tres turmas, tendens insidias in agris. Vidensque quod egrederetur populus de civitate, surrexit, et irruit in eos
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 cum cuneo suo, oppugnans, et obsidens civitatem: duae autem turmae palantes per campum adversarios persequebantur.
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 Porro Abimelech omni die illo oppugnabat urbem: quam cepit, interfectis habitatoribus eius, ipsaque destructa, ita ut sal in ea dispergeret.
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 Quod cum audissent qui habitabant in turre Sichimorum, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui Berith, ubi foedus cum eo pepigerant, et ex eo locus nomen acceperat, qui erat munitus valde.
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 Abimelech quoque audiens viros turris Sichimorum pariter conglobatos,
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 ascendit in montem Selmon cum omni populo suo: et arrepta securi, praecidit arboris ramum, impositumque ferens humero, dixit ad socios: Quod me videtis facere, cito facite.
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 Igitur certatim ramos de arboribus praecidentes, sequebantur ducem. Qui circumdantes praesidium, succenderunt: atque ita factum est, ut fumo et igne mille homines necarentur, viri pariter et mulieres, habitatorum turris Sichem.
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 Abimelech autem inde proficiscens venit ad oppidum Thebes, quod circumdans obsidebat exercitu.
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 Erat autem turris excelsa in media civitate, ad quam confugerant simul viri ac mulieres, et omnes principes civitatis, clausa firmissime ianua, et super turris tectum stantes per propugnacula.
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 Accedensque Abimelech iuxta turrim, pugnabat fortiter: et appropinquans ostio, ignem supponere nitebatur:
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 et ecce una mulier fragmen molae desuper iaciens, illisit capiti Abimelech, et confregit cerebrum eius.
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
54 Qui vocavit cito armigerum suum, et ait ad eum: Evagina gladium tuum, et percute me: ne forte dicatur quod a femina interfectus sim. Qui iussa perficiens, interfecit eum.
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 Illoque mortuo, omnes qui cum eo erant de Israel, reversi sunt in sedes suas:
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 et reddidit Deus malum, quod fecerat Abimelech contra patrem suum, interfectis septuaginta fratribus suis.
Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57 Sichimitis quoque quod operati erant, retributum est, et venit super eos maledictio Ioatham filii Ierobaal.
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.
