< Judges 9 >

1 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,
Suatu hari, Abimelek anak Gideon pergi ke Sikem untuk menemui saudara-saudara ibunya. Dia berkata kepada mereka dan kepada seluruh keluarga ibunya,
2 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.
“Tanyakanlah kepada semua pemuka kota Sikem, ‘Bagi kalian, apakah lebih baik ketujuh puluh anak Gideon memerintah atas kalian, atau hanya satu raja saja?’ Ingatlah bahwa aku ini saudara kandung kalian sendiri.”
3 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.
Lalu saudara-saudara ibunya menyampaikan tawaran Abimelek itu kepada semua pemimpin Sikem. Mereka pun setuju, sebab kata mereka, “Dia memang saudara kita.”
4 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.
Para pemimpin Sikem kemudian memberi Abimelek 70 uang perak dari kuil dewa Baal Berit. Abimelek menggunakan uang itu untuk membayar preman-preman menjadi pengikutnya.
5 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.
Kemudian Abimelek pergi ke rumah ayahnya di Ofra dan membunuh tujuh puluh dari saudara laki-lakinya di atas satu batu. Tetapi Yotam, anak bungsu Gideon, berhasil selamat karena bersembunyi.
6 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.
Lalu warga kota Sikem dan kota Bet Milo mengadakan pertemuan di bawah pohon besar yang dianggap keramat di Sikem, dan mengangkat Abimelek menjadi raja mereka.
7 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.
Ketika Yotam mendengar kabar ini, dia naik ke puncak gunung Gerizim. Di sana dia berdiri dan berseru dengan lantang kepada orang-orang Sikem: Dengarkan saya, hai para pemimpin Sikem, supaya Allah moga-moga juga akan mendengarkan kalian!
8 The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign over us.
Pada suatu hari, pohon-pohon bersepakat untuk mengangkat raja bagi bangsa pohon. Kata mereka kepada pohon zaitun, “Jadilah raja kami!”
9 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?
Tetapi jawab pohon zaitun, “Aku tidak mau berhenti menghasilkan minyakku, yang dipakai sebagai tanda kehormatan untuk manusia maupun dewa-dewa, hanya untuk melambai-lambai di atas pohon-pohon lain.”
10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, reign over us.
Lalu kata pohon-pohon itu kepada pohon ara, “Jadilah raja kami!”
11 But the fig-tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?
Tetapi jawab pohon ara, “Aku tidak mau berhenti menghasilkan buahku yang lezat hanya untuk melambai-lambai di atas pohon-pohon lain.”
12 Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.
Lalu kata pohon-pohon itu kepada pohon anggur, “Jadilah raja kami!”
13 And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?
Tetapi jawab pohon anggur, “Aku tidak mau berhenti menghasilkan anggur yang menggembirakan manusia maupun dewa-dewa hanya untuk melambai-lambai di atas pohon-pohon lain.”
14 Then said all the trees to the thorn-bush, Come thou, reign over us.
Akhirnya berkatalah semua pohon itu kepada semak duri, “Jadilah raja kami!”
15 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.
Jawab semak duri kepada pohon-pohon itu, “Jika kalian benar-benar ingin memilihku menjadi raja kalian, datanglah berlindung di bawah ranting-rantingku! Tetapi jika tidak, biarlah api keluar dariku dan menghanguskan kalian semua, bahkan sampai pohon-pohon aras di Libanon!”
16 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;
Lanjut Yotam, “Sekarang, apakah kalian sudah bertindak benar saat mengangkat Abimelek menjadi raja? Dan apakah kalian sudah berbuat baik kepada Gideon dan keluarganya setimpal dengan perbuatan baiknya bagi kalian?
17 — for my father fought for you, and endangered his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
Ayahku sudah mempertaruhkan nyawanya waktu dia menggerakkan pasukan Israel untuk melepaskan kalian dari penindasan bangsa Midian.
18 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;
Tetapi hari ini kalian menyerang keluarga ayahku. Kalian membunuh tujuh puluh anak laki-lakinya pada satu batu! Kalian mengangkat Abimelek, anak dari budak perempuan ayahku, menjadi raja atas warga Sikem, hanya karena dia adalah saudara kalian.
19 — 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;
“Kalau kalian memang bertindak benar kepada Gideon dan keluarganya, biarlah kalian berbahagia dipimpin Abimelek, dan Abimelek juga berbahagia menjadi raja kalian.
20 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.
Tetapi jika tidak, biarlah Abimelek mendatangkan masalah bagi warga Sikem dan Bet Milo, juga sebaliknya, orang Sikem dan Bet Milo menjadi celaka bagi Abimelek— seperti api keluar dari semak duri dan menghanguskan bangsa pohon!”
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, because of Abimelech his brother.
Sesudah itu Yotam melarikan diri ke kota Beer dan menetap di sana untuk menghindar dari Abimelek, saudaranya itu.
22 And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
Setelah Abimelek memerintah atas bangsa Israel selama tiga tahun,
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
Allah mengirimkan hawa permusuhan antara Abimelek dengan para pemimpin Sikem sehingga mereka berbalik melawan Abimelek.
24 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.
Allah melakukan ini supaya ada pembayaran hutang darah dari Abimelek dan orang-orang Sikem, karena Abimelek sudah membunuh tujuh puluh anak laki-laki Gideon, dan orang-orang Sikem sudah membantu Abimelek dalam kejahatan itu.
25 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.
Para pemimpin Sikem ingin membunuh Abimelek, jadi mereka membayar sekelompok perampok untuk bersembunyi di puncak-puncak bukit dan menyergap dia. Tetapi para perampok itu menjarah semua orang yang lewat di sana. Akhirnya rencana mereka itu terdengar oleh Abimelek.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem put confidence in him.
Pada waktu itu, Gaal anak Ebed bersama saudara-saudaranya datang untuk menetap di kota Sikem. Kebanyakan pemimpin Sikem setuju untuk menjadikan dia pemimpin mereka.
27 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.
Suatu hari, mereka pergi ke ladang, memanen anggur dari kebun mereka, memerasnya untuk membuat minuman anggur, lalu berpesta. Mereka masuk ke kuil dewa mereka dan makan minum sambil mengutuki Abimelek.
28 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?
Gaal berkata, “Abimelek itu anak si Yerubaal. Jadi sebenarnya dia tidak pantas menjadi pemimpin kita. Zebul, si walikota, juga sama saja. Dia hanya orang suruhan Abimelek. Sedangkan Hemor, nenek moyang saya, adalah pendiri Sikem. Lebih pantas kalau kota ini dipimpin oleh keturunan Hemor!
29 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.
Kalau saja saya menjadi pemimpin Sikem, saya akan menyingkirkan Abimelek! Akan saya katakan kepadanya, ‘Kumpulkan tentaramu. Ayo kita perang!’”
30 And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, and his anger was kindled;
Kata-kata Gaal itu terdengar oleh Zebul, walikota Sikem, sehingga dia sangat murka.
31 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;
Maka dia mengirim pesan rahasia kepada Abimelek, isinya, “Gaal anak Ebed dan saudara-saudaranya sudah datang ke Sikem. Mereka menghasut warga kota untuk memberontak darimu.
32 and now, rise up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in ambush in the fields.
Karena itu, datanglah malam ini bersama pasukanmu dan bersembunyilah di padang.
33 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.
Besok pagi, saat matahari terbit, seranglah Sikem. Waktu Gaal dan orang-orangnya keluar menghadapimu, itulah kesempatan untuk menghabisi dia!”
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
Maka Abimelek dan seluruh pasukannya berangkat pada malam hari. Mereka dibagi menjadi empat kelompok, kemudian bersembunyi di sekeliling Sikem untuk menyerbu kota itu.
35 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.
Saat Gaal keluar dan berdiri di pintu gerbang kota, Abimelek beserta pasukannya mulai keluar dari tempat persembunyian.
36 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.
Gaal melihat mereka dan berkata kepada Zebul, “Lihat, di sana ada orang-orang turun dari puncak gunung!” Jawab Zebul, “Itu hanya bayang-bayang gunung, bukan manusia.”
37 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.
Lalu Gaal berkata lagi, “Bukan! Ada orang-orang yang turun dari puncak bukit itu! Dan ada satu kelompok lagi datang dari jalan Pohon Besar Peramal!”
38 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.
Jawab Zebul, “Nah, di mana sekarang mulut besarmu itu? Katamu, ‘Siapakah Abimelek sampai-sampai kita harus mengabdi kepadanya?’ Itulah orang-orang yang sudah engkau hina! Sekarang majulah melawan mereka.”
39 And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought against Abimelech.
Maka Gaal mengerahkan warga Sikem yang berpihak kepadanya. Mereka keluar memerangi Abimelek dan pasukannya.
40 And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, as far as the entrance of the gate.
Abimelek mengejar Gaal, dan Gaal melarikan diri. Banyak orang Sikem terluka bahkan mati sebelum mereka bisa masuk kembali ke pintu gerbang kota.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah. And Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they might not dwell in Shechem.
Lalu Abimelek kembali tinggal di Aruma. Sementara itu, Zebul mengusir Gaal dan saudara-saudaranya dari Sikem.
42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Keesokan harinya, orang-orang Sikem bersiap-siap keluar dari kota untuk bekerja di ladang-ladang mereka seperti biasa. Kegiatan mereka itu dilaporkan kepada Abimelek.
43 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.
Maka Abimelek membawa pasukannya, membagi mereka menjadi tiga kelompok, dan menyuruh mereka bersembunyi di ladang-ladang. Ketika banyak warga keluar dari kota, Abimelek memberi perintah untuk menyerang dan membunuh mereka.
44 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.
Abimelek bersama kelompoknya menyerbu pintu gerbang kota dan berjaga di sana, sedangkan dua kelompok yang lain menyerbu semua orang di ladang dan membunuh mereka.
45 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.
Abimelek berperang melawan Sikem sepanjang hari. Dia merebut kota itu, membunuh semua penduduknya, lalu menghancurkan kota itu dan menaburinya dengan garam.
46 And all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], and they entered into the stronghold of the house of the god Berith.
Mendengar kabar tentang pertempuran di luar gerbang kota, seluruh pemimpin kota yang tinggal di dalam Menara Sikem lari ke kubu di kuil Baal Berit.
47 And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered together.
Ketika Abimelek mendapat laporan bahwa semua warga Menara Sikem sudah berkumpul di sana,
48 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.
dia pun pergi ke gunung Zalmon bersama seluruh pasukannya. Abimelek mengambil sebuah kapak, memotong beberapa dahan pohon dan memikulnya. Dia memerintahkan pasukannya, “Cepat, lakukanlah seperti yang saya lakukan!”
49 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.
Maka setiap prajuritnya juga memotong dahan-dahan dan mengikuti Abimelek. Mereka menaruh dahan-dahan itu pada kubu di kuil Baal Berit lalu membakarnya. Semua warga Menara Sikem mati, sekitar seribu orang, laki-laki dan perempuan.
50 And Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Selanjutnya Abimelek pergi ke kota Tebes. Dia mengepung dan menaklukkan kota itu.
51 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.
Tetapi ada menara yang sangat kuat di tengah-tengah Tebes. Seluruh warga baik laki-laki maupun perempuan, juga semua pemimpin kota, masuk ke dalam menara itu. Mereka mengunci pintunya dan naik ke atap menara.
52 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;
Abimelek pun mendatangi menara itu untuk menyerang. Ketika dia mendekati pintunya dan hendak membakarnya,
53 and a woman cast the upper stone of a handmill on Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.
seorang perempuan di atas menjatuhkan batu kilangan menimpa Abimelek sehingga remuklah tempurung kepalanya.
54 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.
Abimelek cepat-cepat menyuruh pemuda yang membawa senjatanya, “Tarik pedangmu dan bunuhlah aku. Jangan sampai orang-orang berkata, ‘Abimelek dibunuh oleh perempuan.’” Maka pemuda itu menusuk Abimelek dan dia pun mati.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went every man to his place.
Ketika pasukan Israel melihat bahwa Abimelek sudah mati, mereka pulang ke rumah masing-masing.
56 And God rendered back the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in slaying his seventy brethren.
Begitulah Allah mengatur pembayaran hutang darah pada Abimelek karena dia membunuh tujuh puluh saudaranya.
57 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.
Allah juga membalas orang-orang Sikem atas segala perbuatan jahat mereka. Demikianlah kutukan Yotam anak Gideon terhadap mereka menjadi kenyataan.

< Judges 9 >