士师记 9
1 耶路·巴力的儿子亚比米勒到了示剑见他的众母舅，对他们和他外祖全家的人说：
And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and spoke to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 “请你们问示剑的众人说，是耶路·巴力的众子七十人都管理你们好呢？还是一人管理你们好呢？你们又要记念我是你们的骨肉。”
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, Which is better for you, that seventy persons, all sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? And remember that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 他的众母舅便将这一切话为他说给示剑人听，示剑人的心就归向亚比米勒。他们说：“他原是我们的弟兄”；
And his mother's brethren spoke of him in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem all these words. And their heart inclined after Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4 就从巴力·比利土的庙中取了七十舍客勒银子给亚比米勒；亚比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟随他。
And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them vain and wanton men, and they followed him.
5 他往俄弗拉到他父亲的家，将他弟兄、耶路·巴力的众子七十人都杀在一块磐石上；只剩下耶路·巴力的小儿子约坦，因为他躲藏了。
And he came to his father's house, to Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons upon one stone; but there remained Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal; for he had hid himself.
6 示剑人和米罗人都一同聚集，往示剑橡树旁的柱子那里，立亚比米勒为王。
And all the citizens of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the memorial-oak that is in Shechem.
7 有人将这事告诉约坦，他就去站在基利心山顶上，向众人大声喊叫说：“示剑人哪，你们要听我的话， 神也就听你们的话。
And they told it to Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye citizens of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.
8 有一时，树木要膏一树为王，管理他们，就去对橄榄树说：‘请你作我们的王。’
The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us.
9 橄榄树回答说：‘我岂肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飘摇在众树之上呢？’
And the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave over the trees?
10 树木对无花果树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, reign over us.
11 无花果树回答说：‘我岂肯止住所结甜美的果子，飘摇在众树之上呢？’
But the fig-tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?
12 树木对葡萄树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.
13 葡萄树回答说：‘我岂肯止住使神和人喜乐的新酒，飘摇在众树之上呢？’
And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?
14 众树对荆棘说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
Then said all the trees to the thorn-bush, Come thou, reign over us.
15 荆棘回答说：‘你们若诚诚实实地膏我为王，就要投在我的荫下；不然，愿火从荆棘里出来，烧灭黎巴嫩的香柏树。’
And the thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 “现在你们立亚比米勒为王，若按诚实正直善待耶路·巴力和他的全家，这就是酬他的劳。
Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and sincerely in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and if ye have done to him according to the deserving of his hands;
17 从前我父冒死为你们争战，救了你们脱离米甸人的手。
— for my father fought for you, and endangered his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
18 你们如今起来攻击我的父家，将他众子七十人杀在一块磐石上，又立他婢女所生的儿子亚比米勒为示剑人的王；他原是你们的弟兄。
but ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your brother;
19 你们如今若按诚实正直待耶路·巴力和他的家，就可因亚比米勒得欢乐，他也可因你们得欢乐；
— if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;
20 不然，愿火从亚比米勒发出，烧灭示剑人和米罗众人，又愿火从示剑人和米罗人中出来，烧灭亚比米勒。”
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the citizens of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21 约坦因怕他弟兄亚比米勒，就逃跑，来到比珥，住在那里。
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, because of Abimelech his brother.
22 亚比米勒管理以色列人三年。
And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
23 神使恶魔降在亚比米勒和示剑人中间，示剑人就以诡诈待亚比米勒。
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
24 这是要叫耶路·巴力七十个儿子所受的残害归与他们的哥哥亚比米勒，又叫那流他们血的罪归与帮助他杀弟兄的示剑人。
that the violence [done] to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who had strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
25 示剑人在山顶上设埋伏，等候亚比米勒。凡从他们那里经过的人，他们就抢夺。有人将这事告诉亚比米勒。
And the citizens of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them. And it was told Abimelech.
26 以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄来到示剑，示剑人都信靠他。
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem put confidence in him.
27 示剑人出城到田间去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，设摆筵宴，进他们神的庙中吃喝，咒诅亚比米勒。
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made rejoicings, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 以别的儿子迦勒说：“亚比米勒是谁？示剑是谁？使我们服事他呢？他不是耶路·巴力的儿子吗？他的帮手不是西布勒吗？你们可以服事示剑的父亲哈抹的后裔。我们为何服事亚比米勒呢？
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his overseer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem! and why should we serve him?
29 惟愿这民归我的手下，我就除掉亚比米勒。”迦勒又对亚比米勒说：“增添你的军兵出来吧。”
Oh! would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 邑宰西布勒听见以别的儿子迦勒的话，就发怒，
And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, and his anger was kindled;
31 悄悄地打发人去见亚比米勒，说：“以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示剑，煽惑城中的民攻击你。
and he sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem, and behold, they shut up the city against thee;
32 现在你和跟随你的人今夜起来，在田间埋伏。
and now, rise up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in ambush in the fields.
33 到早晨太阳一出，你就起来闯城。迦勒和跟随他的人出来攻击你的时候，你便向他们见机而做。”
And it shall be in the morning when the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and fall upon the city; and behold, he and the people that is with him shall come out against thee, and thou shalt do with him as thou shalt find occasion.
34 于是，亚比米勒和跟随他的众人夜间起来，分作四队，埋伏等候示剑人。
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
35 以别的儿子迦勒出去，站在城门口。亚比米勒和跟随他的人从埋伏之处起来。
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, out of the ambush.
36 迦勒看见那些人，就对西布勒说：“看哪，有人从山顶上下来了。”西布勒说：“你看见山的影子，以为是人。”
And Gaal saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.
37 迦勒又说：“看哪，有人从高处下来，又有一队从米恶尼尼橡树的路上而来。”
And Gaal spoke again, and said, Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and one company is coming along by the way of the Magician's oak.
38 西布勒对他说：“你曾说，亚比米勒是谁，叫我们服事他？你所夸的口在哪里呢？这不是你所藐视的民吗？你现在出去，与他们交战吧！”
Then said Zebul to him, Where is now thy mouth, thou that saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight against them.
39 于是迦勒率领示剑人出去，与亚比米勒交战。
And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought against Abimelech.
40 亚比米勒追赶迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有许多受伤仆倒的，直到城门。
And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, as far as the entrance of the gate.
41 亚比米勒住在亚鲁玛。西布勒赶出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他们住在示剑。
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah. And Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they might not dwell in Shechem.
42 次日，民出到田间，有人告诉亚比米勒；
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 他就把他的人分作三队，埋伏在田间，看见示剑人从城里出来，就起来击杀他们。
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in ambush in the field. And he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them and smote them.
44 亚比米勒和跟随他的一队向前闯去，站在城门口；那两队直闯到田间，击杀了众人。
And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and two of the companies ran upon all that were in the fields, and slew them.
45 亚比米勒整天攻打城，将城夺取，杀了其中的居民，将城拆毁，撒上了盐。
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and broke down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 示剑楼的人听见了，就躲入巴力·比利土庙的卫所。
And all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], and they entered into the stronghold of the house of the god Berith.
47 有人告诉亚比米勒说：“示剑楼的人都聚在一处。”
And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered together.
48 亚比米勒和跟随他的人就都上撒们山。亚比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根树枝，扛在肩上，对跟随他的人说：“你们看我所行的，也当赶紧照样行。”
Then Abimelech went 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 up and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that was with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, do as I have done.
49 众人就各砍一枝，跟随亚比米勒，把树枝堆在卫所的四围，放火烧了卫所，以致示剑楼的人都死了，男女约有一千。
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and they followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and burned the hold with fire upon them. And all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 亚比米勒到提备斯，向提备斯安营，就攻取了那城。
And Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 城中有一座坚固的楼；城里的众人，无论男女，都逃进楼去，关上门，上了楼顶。
But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and thither fled all the men and women, all the citizens of the city; and they shut it behind them, and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 亚比米勒到了楼前攻打，挨近楼门，要用火焚烧。
And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and he drew near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire;
53 有一个妇人把一块上磨石抛在亚比米勒的头上，打破了他的脑骨。
and a woman cast the upper stone of a handmill on Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.
54 他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，对他说：“拔出你的刀来，杀了我吧！免得人议论我说，他为一个妇人所杀。”于是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。
Then he called hastily to the young man that carried his armour, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that they say not of me, A woman killed him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 以色列人见亚比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went every man to his place.
56 这样， 神报应亚比米勒向他父亲所行的恶，就是杀了弟兄七十个人的恶。
And God rendered back the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in slaying his seventy brethren.
57 示剑人的一切恶， 神也都报应在他们头上；耶路·巴力的儿子约坦的咒诅归到他们身上了。
And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render back upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
