Книга Судей израилевых 9
1 И пойде Авимелех сын Иероваалов в Сихем ко братии матере своея и глагола к ним и ко всему сродству дому отца матере своея, глаголя:
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 глаголите во ушы всех мужей Сихемских: что лучше вам, еже владети вами седмидесяти мужем всем сыном Иеровааловым, или владети вами мужу единому? И помяните, яко кость ваша и плоть ваша есмь аз.
“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 И глаголаша братия матере его о нем во ушы всех мужей Сихемских вся словеса сия. И уклонися сердце их вслед Авимелеха, рекоша бо: брат наш есть.
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 И даша ему седмьдесят сребреник от дому Ваалверифа: и ная ими Авимелех мужей праздных и скитающихся, и поидоша вслед его.
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 И вниде в дом отца своего во Ефрафу, и изби братию свою, сыны Иеровааловы, седмьдесят мужей, на камени единем, и остася Иоафам сын Иеровааль юнейший, зане скрыся.
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 И собрашася вси мужие Сихемстии и весь дом Маалов, и поидоша, и поставиша Авимелеха царем у дуба стана, иже в Сихемех.
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 И поведаша Иоафаму, и пойде, и ста на версе горы Гаризин: и воздвиже глас свой, и воззва, и рече им: послушайте мене, мужие Сихемстии, и да услышит вас Бог.
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 Идуще идоша древа помазати себе царя и реша масличине: буди нам царь.
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 И рече им масличина: еда оставивши тучность мою, юже во мне прослави бог и человецы, пойду владети древами?
“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 И рекоша древа смоковнице: прииди, царствуй над нами.
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 И рече им смоковница: еда оставивши мою сладость и плод мой благий, пойду владети древами?
“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 И рекоша древа к лозе виноградней: прииди, буди нам царь.
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 И рече им лоза виноградная: еда оставивши вино мое, веселящее бога и человеки, пойду владети древами?
“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 И рекоша вся древа тернию: прииди, буди нам царь.
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 И рече терние ко древам: аще по истине помазуете себе царя мене над вами, приидите и внидите под сень мою: аще ли же ни, да изыдет огнь из терния и пояст кедры Ливанския.
“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 И ныне аще по истине и по совершенству сотвористе, и постависте Авимелеха царем, и аще благо сотвористе со Иероваалом и с домом его, и аще по воздаянию руки его сотвористе ему,
“[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 якоже воева отец мой по вас, и поверже душу свою в страну, и избави вас от руки Мадиамли:
“[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 и вы востасте на дом отца моего днесь и избисте сыны его, седмьдесят мужей, на единем камени, и постависте царем Авимелеха сына рабыни его над мужи Сикимскими, яко брат ваш есть:
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 и аще по истине и по совершенству сотвористе со Иероваалом и домом его днесь, благословени вы будите, и возвеселитеся о Авимелесе, и той о вас да возвеселится:
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 аще же ни, да изыдет огнь от Авимелеха и пояст мужы Сикимски и дом Мааллонь: и да изыдет огнь от мужей Сикимских и от дому Мааллоня и да пояст Авимелеха.
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 И избеже Иоафам, и побеже, и пойде в Виру, и вселися тамо от лица Авимелеха брата своего.
[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 И облада Авимелех во Израили три лета.
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 И посла Бог дух зол между Авимелехом и между мужи Сикимскими: и возгнушашася мужие Сикимстии домом Авимелеховым,
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 еже навести неправду седмидесяти сынов Иероваалих и крови их возложити на Авимелеха брата их, иже уби их, и на мужы Сикимски, яко укрепиша руце его избити братию свою:
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 и поставиша нань мужие Сикимстии подсады на версех гор, и разграбляху всех идущих к ним на пути. И возвестися сие Авимелеху.
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 И прииде Гаал сын Аведов и братия его, и преидоша в Сикиму, и уповаша на него мужие Сикимстии:
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 и изыдоша на село, и обраша винограды своя, и изгнетоша, и сотвориша лики: и ходиша во храм богов своих, и ядоша и пиша, кленуще Авимелеха.
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 И рече Гаал сын Аведов: кто есть Авимелех, и кто есть сын Сихемль, яко да поработаем ему? Не сын ли Иеровааль, и Зевул страж его раб его с мужи Еммора отца Сихемля? И почто имамы работати ему?
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 И кто даст люди сия в руку мою? И преставлю Авимелеха, и реку ко Авимелеху: умножи силу твою, и изыди.
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 И услыша Зевул князь града словеса Гаала сына Аведова, и разгневася яростию:
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 и посла послы ко Авимелеху отай, глаголя: се, Гаал сын Аведов и братия его приидоша в Сихему, и се, сии обседят на тя град:
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 и ныне востани нощию ты и людие иже с тобою, и засяди до заутрия на селе:
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 и будет рано, егда взыдет солнце, обутрееши и протягнешися ко граду: и се, той и людие иже с ним изыдут к тебе, и сотвориши ему, елико возможет рука твоя.
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 И воста Авимелех и вси людие, иже с ним, нощию, и заседоша на Сихем на четыри части.
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 И бысть заутра, и изыде Гаал сын Аведов и ста пред дверию врат градских. И воста Авимелех и людие, иже с ним, от засады.
[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 И виде Гаал сын Аведов люди и рече к Зевулу: се, народ людий исходит с верхов гор. И рече к нему Зевул: стень гор ты видиши яко мужы.
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 И приложи еще Гаал глаголати и рече: се, людие исходят при мори от высоты земли, и полк един идет путем дубравы Маоненим.
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 И рече к нему Зевул: и где суть ныне уста твоя глаголющая: кто есть Авимелех, яко поработаем ему? Не сии ли суть людие, яже ты уничтожил еси? Изыди убо ныне, и ополчися противу их.
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 И изыде Гаал пред мужы Сихемски, и ополчися противу Авимелеху:
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 и погна его Авимелех, и побеже от лица его: и падоша язвеннии мнози даже до врат градских.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 И вниде Авимелех во Ариму: и Зевул изгна Гаала и братию его, да не живут в Сихеме.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 И бысть наутрие, и изыдоша и людие на поле, и поведаша Авимелеху:
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 и взя людий, и раздели их на три части, и засяде на селе: и виде, и се, людие изыдоша из града, и воста на ня, и изби их.
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 И Авимелех и началницы, иже с ним, протягошася и сташа у дверий врат градских: и две части пролияшася на вся, яже на селе, и избиша я.
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 Авимелех же добываше града весь день той, и взя град, и люди иже в нем изби, и разори град, и посея в нем соль.
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 И услышаша сие вси мужие столпа Сихемля и внидоша в твердь дому (бога) Вефилвериф.
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 И возвестися Авимелеху, яко собрашася вси мужие столпа Сихемска.
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 И взыде Авимелех на гору Селмон сам и вси людие, иже с ним: и взя Авимелех секиру в руку свою, и усече ветвь от древа, и воздвиже ю, и возложи на раму свою: и рече людем иже с ним: еже видесте мя творяща, сотворите скоро якоже и аз.
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 И усекоша вси людие ветвия и взяша, и поидоша вслед Авимелеха, и возложиша на твердыню, и запалиша на них твердыню огнем: и изомроша вси людие столпа Сихемска до тысящи мужей и жен.
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 И иде Авимелех в Фивис и обсяде его, и взя его:
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 и столп бе тверд среде града, и вбегоша ту вси мужие и жены и вси старейшины града, и заключишася и взыдоша на кров столпа:
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 и прииде Авимелех до столпа, и супротивишася ему: и приступи Авимелех ко вратом столпа, еже запалити его огнем:
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 и сверже жена едина уломок жерновный на главу Авимелеха, и сокруши ему темя:
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 и возопи скоро Авимелех ко отроку носящему сосуды его и рече ему: извлецы мечь твой и убий мя, да не рекут, яко жена уби его. И прободе его отрок его, и умре.
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 И видеша мужие Израилстии, яко умре Авимелех: и отидоша кийждо на свое место.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 И воздаде Бог зло Авимелеху, еже сотвори отцу своему, убив седмьдесят братий своих:
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 и всяку злобу мужей Сихемлих обрати Бог на главы их: и взыде на ня клятва Иоафама сына Иеровааля.
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].
