Mpitsara 9
1 Nimb’e Sekeme mb’ aman-drolongon-drene’e mb’eo t’i Abimelek’ ana’ Ierobaale, ninday entañe am’ iereo naho amo añ’ anjomban-draen-drene’e iabio, le hoe ty asa’e:
Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
2 Ehe misaontsia an-dravembia’ ze hene’ ondati’ i Sekeme: Ty aia ro soa ama’ areo: he te hifelek’ anahareo o ana’ Ierobaaleo, indaty fitompolo rey, ke hifeleha’ ty raike? Tiahio ka te taolañ’ ama’ nofo’ areo raho.
“Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
3 Aa le nitalily aze an-dravembia’ ze hene ondati’ i Sekeme o longon-drene’eo, nanao i hoe zay iaby; le niroñe mb’ am-pañorihañe i Abimeleke ty arofo’ iareo, nanao ty hoe: Rahalahin-tika ‘nio.
So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
4 Aa le nitolora’ iereo drala volafoty fitompolo boak’ añ’anjomba’ i Baale-berite ao, le nañeke ondaty mpibohaboha naho kafoake hañorik’ aze t’i Abimeleke.
So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
5 Nimb’ añ’ anjomban-drae’e e Ofrà amy zao re le zinama’e o rahalahi’eo, o ana’ Ierobaaleo, i fitom-polo rey, ambone ty vato eo; fe nietake t’Iotame tsitson’ ana’ Ierobaàle, ie ty honka’e.
They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
6 Aa le hene nifanontoñe o lahilahi’ i Sekemeo, naho i Bere-milò vaho nimb’eo nañory i Abimeleke ho mpanjaka, marine’ i kile am-batolahy e Sekemey.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
7 Aa ie natalily am’ Iotane, le nimbeo re nijohañe ambone vohi-Gerizime ey, naho nipoña-peo nipazake ty hoe: Janjiño raho ry roandria’ i Sekemeo soa te hijanjiñe anahareo ka t’i Andrianañahare.
When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
8 Niavotse mb’eo o hataeo te indraike hañori-panjaka hifehe iareo le hoe iereo amy andranahakey, Feleho zahay.
One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
9 Fa hoe ty natoi’ i andranahakey: Hapoko hao i menakoy, zaho iasiañe aman’ Añahare naho ondatio, handenàko hitrezontrezo ambone’ o hatae ila’eo?
“But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
10 Aa le hoe o hataeo amy sakoañey, Antao hifelek’ anay.
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 Fa hoe i sakoañey am’ iereo, Haforintseko hao ty hamamiko naho o voako soao, handenako hiletraletra ambone’ o hatae’eo?
“But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
12 Le hoe o hatae’eo amy vahey, Antao hamelek’ anay?
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 Le hoe i vahey am’ iereo, Hadoko hao o divaikoo, i mahafale an’ Andrianañahare naho ondatioy, handenako hionjoñe ambone’ o hataeo?
“But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
14 Le hoe o hataeo amy roipitekey, Antao hifelek’ anay.
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 Le hoe ty roipitek’ amo hataeo, Naho horiza’ areo ho mpanjaka’ areo raho, le mb’etoa mirimboña añ’aloko etoa; fa naho tsie, le ee te hiakatse amy roipitekey ty afo hamorototo o mendorave’ i Lebanoneo.
“The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
16 Aa naho an-kahitiañe naho havantañañe ty nanoe’ areo mpanjaka t’i Abimeleke naho nanoe’ areo soa t’Ierobaale naho i anjomba’ey vaho nanoe’ areo mañevam-pità’e—
“[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
17 kanao nialy ho anahareo ty raeko, ie nitifa-by mae te nirombahe’e am-pità’ i Midiane—
“[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
18 ie nitroatse añ’ anjomban-draeko anindroany nanjamañe o ana’eo, i fitompolo rey ambone’ i vatoy, vaho nanoe’ areo mpanjaka amo roandria’ i Sekemeo t’i Abimelek’ ana’ i mpitoro’e ampelay, amy t’ie rahalahi’ areo—
But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
19 aa naho toe nanoe’ areo ty hatò naho ty havañonañe am’ Ierobbaale naho amy anjomba’ey anindroany, le mirebeha amy Abimeleke vaho ee t’ie ty hiankahak’ ama’ areo ka.
So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
20 Aa naho tsie, le ee te hiakatse amy Abimeleke ty afo hamorototo o roandria’ i Sekemeo naho i Bete-milòo; vaho hiboak’ amo roandria’ i Sekemeo naho i Bete-milòo ty afo hampangotomomoke i Abimeleke.
But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
21 Nitriban-day amy zao t’Iotane, nibotitsike mb’e Beere añe le nimoneñe ao ty amy fihembaña’e i Abimeleke rahalahi’ey.
[After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
22 Aa ie nifelek’ Israele telo taoñe t’i Abimeleke,
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 le nahitrin’ Añahare fañahy raty ty añivo’ i Abimeleke naho o roandria’ i Sekemeo, vaho namitak’ ate i Abimeleke o roandria’ i Sekemeo,
Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
24 soa te ho tondroke i heloke nanoeñe amy ana-dahy fitompolo’ Ierobaaley, te hapok’ amy Abimeleke rahalahi’ iareo ty lio’ i vinono’e rey, vaho amo roandria’ i Sekeme nampaozatse o fità’eo hañohofa’e loza amo rahalahi’eoo.
The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
25 Ie amy zao, nirahe’ o roandria’ i Sekemeo ty hamandroñe aze an-kaboa’ o vohitseo, le fonga nikamere’ iareo ze niary marine’ iareo, vaho natalily amy Abimeleke.
The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
26 Nivotrake eo t’i Gaale ana’ i Ebede rekets’ o longo’eo nomb’e Sekeme mb’eo; vaho niantofa’ o roandria’ i Sekemeo.
There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
27 Aa le niavotse mb’ an-tetek’ añe iereo, le natonto’ iareo ze an-tanem-bahe ao, naho linialia’ iareo o voalobokeo naho nanao sabadidake, le nimoak’ añ’ anjomban’ drahare’ iareo ao naho nikama naho ninoñe, vaho namatse i Abimeleke.
They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
28 Le hoe t’i Gaale ana’ i Ebede: Ia ze o Abimeleke zao? le akore te itika nte-Sekeme ro mitoroñe aze? Tsy ana’ Ierobaale hao re, naho i Zebole ty sorotà’e? Toroño o mpiamy Kamore rae’ i Sekemeo, fa ino ty itoroñan-tikañ’ aze?
Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
29 Aa naho tambanen-tañako ondaty retoañe, le ho nafahako t’i Abimeleke. Le hoe re amy Abimeleke, Tovoño o lahin-defo’oo vaho miakara.
If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
30 Ie jinanji’ i Zebole, mpifehe’ i rovay i enta’ i Gaaley le niforoforo ty haviñera’e;
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 vaho nampihitrife’e ampamañahiañe amy Abimeleke, ty hoe: Ingo nivotrake e Sekeme ao t’i Gaale ana’ i Ebede, rekets’ o longo’eo le nihafatrare’ iareo i rovay hifotets’ azo.
He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
32 Ie amy zao miongaha halen-drehe naho o mpiama’oo vaho vandroño an-kivok’ ao.
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 Ie maraindray naho manjirik’ andro le mañaleñaleña vaho tameo i rovay; aa ie miakatse hifanehak’ ama’ areo rekets’ o lahindefo’eo, le ano’ am’ iereo ze mete.
As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
34 Aa le niongak’ amy haleñey t’i Abimeleke rekets’ ondaty iaby ama’eo namandroñe i Sekeme am-pirai-lia efatse.
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
35 Ie niavotse naho nijohañe am-pimoaha’ i lalambeiy t’i Gaale ana’i Ebede, le nilonadonàke boak’ am-piampirañe ao t’i Abimeleke rekets’ o mpiama’e iabio;
[The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
36 aa ie niisa’ i Gaale ondaty iabio, le hoe re amy Zebole; Heheke ondaty mizotso boak’ an-kaboa’ o vohitseoo. Le hoe ty Zebole ama’e: Mahaoniñe o talinjo’ i vohitseio rehe manahake t’ie ondaty.
When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
37 Nindrae’ i Gaale i saontsi’ey ami’ty hoe: Hehe ondaty mizotso añivon-tane mb’ etoañeo, naho ty lia’e raike miary e Elone-meonenime mb’etoa.
But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
38 Aa hoe t’i Zebole ama’e: Aia henaneo ty vava’o nanao ty hoe: Ia ze o Abimeleke zao hitoroñan-tika aze? Tsy ondaty heje’oo hao o ehoeke eio? Mizotsoa arè hialia’o.
Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
39 Aa le nionjomb’eo aolo’ ondati’ i Sekemeo t’i Gaale nifandrapak’ amy Abimeleke.
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 Hinorìda’ i Abimeleke, le nitriban-day aolo’e mb’eo, vaho maro ty fere nitsingoritritse, pak’ am-pimoahañe an-dalambey eo.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 Aa le nimoneñe e Aromà ao t’i Abimeleke; vaho rinoa’ i Zebole t’i Gaale naho o longo’eo, tsy hitoboke e Sekeme ao.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 Ie amy loak’ àndroy le niakatse mb’ an-kivoke mb’eo ondatio; naho natalily amy Abimeleke.
The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
43 Aa le nendese’e ondatio naho zinara’e ho firimboñan-telo, naho niampitse an-kivok’ ao; ie rendre’e te ingo niakatse i rovay ondatio; le nilonadonake mb’am’ iereo vaho binaibai’e.
he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
44 Nañitrike mb’eo amy zao t’i Abimeleke naho o mpiama’eo naho nijohañe an-dalambey eo; le niambotraha’ ty mpirai-lia’e roe ka ondaty an-kivok’ ao vaho nanjamañe.
Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
45 Aa le naha lomoñ’ andro ty nialia’ i Abimelek’ amy rovay; naho rinambe’e i rovay naho binaibai’e ondatio; naho dinemodemo’e i rovay vaho nandraraha’e sira.
Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
46 Ie jinanji’ ondaty am-pitalakesañ’ abo’ i Sekemeo, le niziliha’ iareo ty fipalirañe an-trañon-drahare’ i Berite ao.
When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
47 Natalily amy Abimeleke te fa vory iaby ty mpiaolo’ i fitalakesañ’ abo’ i Sekemey.
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 Le niañambone’ ty vohi-Tsalmone amy zao t’i Abimeleke, ie naho ze hene mpiama’e; nandrambe fekoñe t’i Abimeleke naho binira’e ty ran-katae raike le rinambe’e naho nasampe’e an-tsoro’e eo vaho nanao ty hoe am’ondatio: I nirendre’ areo nanoekoy, masikà, ano ka.
So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
49 Aa le songa nibira hatae ondatio naho nañorike i Abimeleke naho napo’ iareo añ’ ila’ i fitalakesañ’aboy vaho narehe’ iareo añ’ afo i anjomba nitañe iareoy; le fonga nihomake o am-pitalakesa’ i Sekemeo, va’e lahilahy naho ampela arivo.
So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
50 Nomb’e Tebetse mb’eo t’i Abimeleke naho nitobe eo le naname i Tebetse vaho rinambe’e.
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 Fe añivo’ i rovay ty fitalakesañ’ abo fatratse; le fonga nivoratsake mb’eo ondaty naho rakembao, toe ze tan-drova ao; sinikada’ iareo am-boho’ iareo i lalañey vaho nanganike mb’an-digiligi’ i fitalakesañ’aboy ey.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
52 Le nimb’ amy fitalakesañ’ aboy mb’eo t’i Abimeleke; aa ie pok’ an-dalambei’e eo hanodots’ aze añ’afo,
Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
53 le navokovoko’ ty rakemba añambone’e ey ty vato fandisañ’ ambone, namoy ty haran-doha’e.
But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
54 Tinoka’e amy zao i ajalahy mpitàm-pikalan-defo’ey, le nanoa’e ty hoe: Tsoaho o fibara’oo le vonò raho tsy mone hatao t’ie vinonon-drakemba; aa le tinombo’ i ajalahiy vaho nikoromake.
Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
55 Ie nirendre’ o ana’ Israeleo te mate t’i Abimeleke, le nimpoly songa mb’ an-toe’e mb’eo.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 Zay ty namalean’ Añahare ty halò-tsere’ i Abimeleke, i nanoa’e aman-drae’ey, ie namono i fonga rahalahi’e fitompolo rey;
In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
57 naho nondrohan’ Añahare añ’ambone’ o nte-Sekemeo ka ty haloloa’ iareo; vaho toly am’ iereo ty fatse nanoa’ Iotame ana’ Ierobaale.
God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].
