Judges 9
1 And Abimelech the son of Jerobaal went to Sichem to his mother’s brethren and spoke to them, and to all the kindred of his mother’s father, saying:
Pea naʻe ʻalu ki Sikemi ʻa ʻApimeleki ko e foha ʻo Selupeali ki he kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē, pea alea ia mo kinautolu, pea mo kinautolu kotoa pē naʻe ʻi he fale ʻoe tamai ʻa ʻene faʻē, ʻo pehē,
2 Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you that seventy men all the sons of Jerobaal should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.
“ʻOku ou kole kiate kimoutolu, mou lea ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, Ko fē ia ʻoku lelei, ʻae pule kiate kimoutolu ʻae ngaahi foha kotoa pē ʻo Selupeali, ko e toko fitungofulu, pe ko e pule ʻae tokotaha kiate kimoutolu? Mou manatu foki ʻoku ʻo homou hui mo homou kakano au.”
3 And his mother’s brethren spoke of him to all the men of Sichem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying: He is our brother:
Pea naʻe lea ai ʻae kāinga ʻo ʻene faʻē ʻi he telinga ʻoe kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi ʻi he ngaahi lea ni: pea naʻe tokanga leva honau loto ke muimui ia ʻApimeleki: he naʻa nau pehē, ko hotau kāinga ia.
4 And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and vagabonds, and they followed him.
Pea naʻa nau ʻatu kiate ia ʻae konga siliva ʻe fitungofulu mei he fale ʻo Peali-Piliti, ʻaia naʻe ʻave ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻo foaki ki he kau tangata kovi mo vaʻivaʻinga ʻaia naʻe muimui ʻiate ia.
5 And he came to his father’s house in Ephra, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained only Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden.
Pea naʻa ne ʻalu ki he fale ʻo ʻene tamai ʻi Ofila, ʻo ne tāmateʻi hono kāinga ko e ngaahi foha ʻo Selupeali ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he funga maka pe taha: ka naʻe hao ʻa Sotame ko e foha kimui ʻo Selupeali: he naʻa ne fufū ia.
6 And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak that stood in Sichem.
Pea naʻe fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale kotoa ʻo Milo, pea naʻa nau ʻalu, ʻo fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, ʻI he malaʻe ʻoe pou ʻaia naʻe ʻi Sikemi.
7 This being told to Joatham, he went and stood on the top of mount Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear you.
Pea ʻi heʻenau tala ia kia Sotame, naʻe ʻalu ia ʻo tuʻu ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga ko Kelisimi, pea hiki hono leʻo, ʻo kalanga, ʻo ne pehē kiate kinautolu, “Fanongo kiate au, ʻakimoutolu ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tokanga ʻae ʻOtua kiate kimoutolu.
8 The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.
Naʻe ʻalu atu ʻae ngaahi ʻakau ʻi he kuonga ʻe taha ke fakanofo ha tuʻi kiate kinautolu; pea naʻa nau pehē ki he ʻolive, ‘Ke ke pule koe kiate kimautolu.’
9 And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?
Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻolive kiate kinautolu, ‘He te u tuku ʻeku lelei ʻaʻaku ʻaia ʻoku tupu ai ʻiate au ʻenau fakaʻapaʻapa ki he ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ko e māʻolunga au ʻi he ngaahi ʻakau?’
10 And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he fiki, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
11 And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?
Ka naʻe pehē ʻe he fiki kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku huʻamelie, mo ʻeku fua lelei, pea u ʻalu ke hoko au ke māʻolunga ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
12 And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau ki he vaine, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
13 And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he vaine kiate kinautolu, ‘ʻE lelei ʻeku tuku ʻeku uaine, ʻaia ʻoku ne fakafiemālie ʻae ʻOtua mo e tangata, pea u ʻalu ke hoko ke pule ki he ngaahi ʻakau?’
14 And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he ngaahi ʻakau kotoa pē ki he talatalaʻāmoa, ‘Haʻu koe, ʻo pule kiate kimautolu.’
15 And it answered them: If indeed you mean to make me king, come ye and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe he talatalaʻāmoa ki he ngaahi ʻakau, ‘Kapau ʻoku mou fakanofo moʻoni au ko e tuʻi kiate kimoutolu, mou haʻu ʻo falala ki hoku malu: pea kapau ʻe ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi mei he talatalaʻāmoa ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae ngaahi sita ʻo Lepanoni.’
16 Now therefore if you have done well, and without sin in appointing Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have made a suitable return for the benefits of him, who fought for you,
“Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni, mo totonu, ʻi hoʻomou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tuʻi, pea kapau kuo mou fai lelei kia Selupeali mo hono fale, mou fai kiate ia ʻo fakatatau ki he ngāue lelei ʻa hono nima:
17 And exposed his life to dangers, to deliver you from the hands of Madian,
(He naʻe tau ʻeku tamai maʻamoutolu, ʻo ne liʻaki moʻoni ʻene moʻui, ʻo ne fakamoʻui ai ʻakimoutolu mei he nima ʻo Mitiane:
18 And you are now risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons seventy men upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his handmaid king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because he is your brother:
Pea kuo mou tuʻu hake he ʻaho ni ki he fale ʻo ʻeku tamai, pea kuo mou tāmateʻi hono ngaahi foha, ko e tangata ʻe toko fitungofulu, ʻi he maka pe taha, pea kuo mou fakanofo ʻa ʻApimeleki, ko e tama ʻa ʻene kaunanga, ke tuʻi ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi koeʻuhi ko homou kāinga ia; )
19 If therefore you have dealt well, and without fault with Jerobaal, and his house, rejoice ye this day in Abimelech, and may he rejoice in you.
Pea ko eni, kapau kuo mou fai moʻoni mo angatonu kia Selupeali, pea ki hono fale he ʻaho ni, mou fiefia ia ʻApimeleki, pea tuku ke vikiviki ia ʻiate kimoutolu:
20 But if unjustly: let fire come out from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and the town of Mello: and let fire come out from the men of Sichem, and from the town of Mello, and devour Abimelech.
Pea kapau ʻoku ʻikai, tuku ke haʻu ʻae afi meia ʻApimeleki ʻo fakaʻauha ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, mo e fale ʻo Milo; pea haʻu ʻae afi mei he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, pea mei he fale ʻo Milo, pea fakaʻauha ʻa ʻApimeleki.”
21 And when he had said thus he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Pea naʻe lele ʻa Sotame ʻo hola, pea ne ʻalu ki Piea, pea nofo ai, ʻi he manavahē kia ʻApimeleki ko hono tokoua.
22 So Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
Pea hili ʻae taʻu ʻe tolu mo ʻene pule ʻa ʻApimeleki ki ʻIsileli,
23 And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem: who began to detest him,
Naʻe fekau ʻe he ʻOtua ʻae laumālie kovi kia ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata ʻo Sikemi: pea naʻe fai fakakākā ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi kia ʻApimeleki.
24 And to leave the crime of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood upon Abimelech their brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichemites, who aided him.
Koeʻuhi ke hoko ʻae kovi naʻe fai ki he ngaahi foha ʻe toko fitungofulu ʻo Selupeali, mo honau toto, kia ʻApimeleki ko honau tehina, ʻaia naʻa ne tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu; pea ki he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻakinautolu naʻa nau tokoni ia ʻi he tāmateʻi ʻo hono ngaahi kāinga.
25 And they set an ambush against him on the top of the mountains: and while they waited for his coming, they committed robberies, taking spoils of all that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.
Pea naʻe fakanofo ʻe he kau tangata ʻo Sikemi ʻae kau tangata ke lamasi ia ʻi he tumutumu ʻoe ngaahi moʻunga, pea naʻa nau kaihaʻasi mei he kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻalu ʻi he hala ofi kiate kinautolu pea naʻe fakahā ia kia ʻApimeleki.
26 And Gaal the son of Obed came with his brethren, and went over to Sichem. And the inhabitants of Sichem taking courage at his coming,
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga, ʻonau hoko ki Sikemi: pea naʻe tui kiate ia ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi.
27 Went out into the fields, wasting the vineyards, and treading down the grapes: and singing and dancing they went into the temple of their god, and in their banquets and cups they cursed Abimelech.
Pea naʻa nau ʻalu kituaʻā ki he ngoue, ʻo tānaki ʻenau ngoue vaine, ʻonau malakaki ʻenau ngaahi kālepi, pea fai ʻae fiefia, ʻonau hū ki he fale ʻo honau ʻotua, ʻonau kai mo inu, pea naʻa nau kapeʻi ʻa ʻApimeleki.
28 And Gaal the son of Obed cried: Who is Abimelech, and what is Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and hath made Zebul his servant ruler over the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shall we serve him?
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, “Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki, pea ko hai ʻa Sikemi, koeʻuhi ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e foha ia ʻo Selupeali? Mo Sepuli ko ʻene matāpule? Mou tauhi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Hemoa ko e tamai ʻa Sikemi: he koeʻumaʻā ʻemau tauhi kiate ia?
29 Would to God that some man would put this people under my hand, that I might remove Abimelech out of the way. And it was said to Abimelech: Gather together the multitude of an army, and come.
ʻAmusiaange ʻeau ki he ʻOtua kuo ʻi hoku lalo nima ʻae kakai ni! Pea te u toki hiki ʻa ʻApimeleki. Pea pehē ʻe ia kia ʻApimeleki, ‘Fakatokolahi hoʻo kau tau, pea ke haʻu kituaʻā.’”
30 For Zebul the ruler of the city, hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Obed, was very angry,
Pea ʻi he fanongo ʻa Sepuli ko e pule ʻoe kolo ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, naʻe tupu ai ʻene ʻita.
31 And sent messengers privately to Abimelech, saying: Behold Gaal the son of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, and endeavoureth to set the city against thee.
Pea naʻe fekau fakalilolilo kia ʻApimeleki, ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ko Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti mo hono ngaahi kāinga kuo nau haʻu ki Sikemi: pea vakai, ʻoku nau teu ʻae kolo ni ko ho tauʻi:
32 Arise therefore in the night with the people that is with thee and he hid in the field:
Pea ko eni ke ke hake ʻi he poʻuli ʻa koe mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate koe, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue:
33 And betimes in the morning at sun rising set upon the city. And when he shall come out against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.
Pea ʻe pehē, ʻi he hopo leva ʻae laʻā ʻapongipongi, ke ke tuʻu hake leva ʻo tauʻi ʻae kolo: pea vakai, ʻoka ʻalu atu ia mo e kakai ʻoku ʻiate ia ke tauʻi koe, te ke toki fai kiate kinautolu ʻo hangē ko e faʻa fai ʻo ho nima.”
34 Abimelech therefore arose with all his army by night, and laid ambushes near Sichem in four places.
Pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻi he poʻuli, pea naʻa nau vahe fā ʻakinautolu ʻo malumu ki Sikemi.
35 And Gaal the son of Obed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up, and all his army with him from the places of the ambushes.
Pea naʻe ʻalu atu ʻa Keali ko e foha ʻo Epeti, ʻo ne tuʻu ʻi he hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki, mo e kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, mei heʻenau toka malumu.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh down from the mountains. And he answered him: Thou seest the shadows of the mountains as if they were the heads of men, and this is thy mistake.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻa Keali ki he kakai, naʻe pehē ʻe ia kia Sepuli, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai mei he ngaahi tumutumu ʻoe moʻunga.” Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “ʻOku ke mamata ki he malu ʻoe moʻunga ʻo lau ia ko e kakai.”
37 Again Gaal said: Behold there cometh people down from the middle of the land, and one troop cometh by the way that looketh towards the oak.
Pea naʻe toe lea ʻa Keali ʻo pehē, “Vakai, ʻoku ʻalu hifo ʻae kakai ʻi he loto fonua, pea ko e kakai ʻe taha ʻoku ʻalu ange ʻo ofi ki he tafangafanga ʻo Mioninimi.”
38 And Zebul said to him: Where is now thy mouth wherewith thou saidst? Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people which thou didst despise? Go out, and fight against him.
Pea naʻe pehē ʻe Sepuli kiate ia, “Ko eni kuo ʻi fē ho ngutu, ʻaia naʻa ke lea ai, Ko hai ʻa ʻApimeleki ke tau tauhi ia? ʻIkai ko e kakai eni naʻa ke manukiʻi? Ko eni ʻoku ou kole kiate koe, ke ke ʻalu kituaʻā ʻo tauʻi ʻakinautolu.”
39 So Gaal went out in the sight of the people of Sichem, and fought against Abimelech,
Pea naʻe ʻalu kituaʻā ʻa Keali ʻi he ʻao ʻoe kau tangata ʻo Sikemi, ʻo ne tau mo ʻApimeleki.
40 Who chased and put him to flight, and drove him to the city: and many were slain of his people, even to the gate of the city:
Pea naʻe tuli ia ʻe ʻApimeleki, pea naʻe hola ia mei hono ʻao, pea naʻe teʻia ʻae tokolahi mo lavea, ʻo aʻu atu ki he hūʻanga ʻoe matapā.
41 And Abimelech sat down in Ruma: but Zebul drove Gaal, and his companions out of the city, and would not suffer them to abide in it.
Pea naʻe nofo ʻa ʻApimeleki ʻi Eluma pea naʻe kapusi ʻe Sepuli ʻa Keali mo hono kāinga, ke ʻoua naʻa nau nofo ʻi Sikemi.
42 So the day following the people went out into the field. And it was told Abimelech.
Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē ʻi he ʻapongipongi, naʻe ʻalu ʻae kakai ki he ngoue; pea naʻa nau tala ia kia ʻApimeleki.
43 And he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and laid ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the city, he arose and set upon them,
Pea naʻe ʻave ʻe ia ʻae kakai, ʻo ne vahe tolu kinautolu, pea toka ʻae malumu ʻi he ngoue, ʻo fakasio, pea vakai, kuo haʻu ʻae kakai kituaʻā mei he kolo; pea naʻe tuʻu hake ia kiate kinautolu, ʻo teʻia ʻakinautolu.
44 With his own company, assaulting and besieging the city: whilst the two other companies chased the enemies that were scattered about the field.
Pea naʻe ʻoho atu ʻa ʻApimeleki mo e kau tangata naʻe ʻiate ia, ʻonau tuʻu ʻi hūʻanga ki he matapā ʻoe kolo: pea naʻe tuli ʻe he kongakau kehe ʻe ua ki he kakai naʻe ʻi he ngoue, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻakinautolu.
45 And Abimelech assaulted the city all that day: and took it, and killed the inhabitants thereof, and demolished it, so that he sowed salt in it.
Pea naʻe tauʻi ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae kolo ʻi he ʻaho kotoa ko ia: pea naʻa ne lavaʻi ʻae kolo, ʻo tāmateʻi ʻae kakai naʻe ʻi ai, ʻo ne holoki hifo ʻae kolo, pea naʻe tūtuuʻi ia ʻaki ʻae māsima.
46 And when they who dwelt in the tower of Sichem had heard this, they went into the temple of their god Berith where they had made a covenant with him, and from thence the place had taken its name, and it was exceeding strong.
Pea ʻi he fanongo ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi, naʻa nau hū ki he potu ʻoe fale ʻoe ʻotua ko Piliti.
47 Abimelech also hearing that the men of the tower of Sichem were gathered together,
Pea naʻe fakahā kia ʻApimeleki, kuo kātoa fakataha ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi.
48 Went up into mount Selmon he and all his people with him: and taking an axe, he cut down the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder and carrying it, he said to his companions: What you see me do, do you out of hand.
Pea naʻe ʻalu hake ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he moʻunga ko Salimoni, ʻaia mo e kakai kotoa pē naʻe ʻiate ia; pea naʻe toʻo ʻe ʻApimeleki ʻae toki ʻi hono nima, ʻo ne tā hifo ʻae vaʻakau mei he ngaahi ʻakau, ʻo ne toʻo ia, ʻo ʻai ki hono uma, pea ne pehē ki he kakai naʻe ʻiate ia, Ko ia kuo mou mamata kuo u fai, mou fakatoʻotoʻo ʻo faʻifaʻitaki kiate au.
49 So they cut down boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he could, and followed their leader. And surrounding the fort they set it on fire: and so it came to pass that with the smoke and with the fire a thousand persons were killed, men and women together, of the inhabitants of the tower of Sichem.
Pea naʻe fai ʻe he kakai kotoa pē ʻo tā hifo taki taha ʻae tangata ʻene vaʻakau, ʻonau muimui ʻia ʻApimeleki, ʻo fokotuʻu ia ki he potu mālohi, pea naʻe tutu ʻae potu mālohi kiate kinautolu; ko ia naʻe mate ai ʻae kau tangata ʻoe fale tau māʻolunga ʻo Sikemi foki, ko e kau tangata ʻe toko afe nai, mo e kau fefine.
50 Then Abimelech departing from thence came to the town of Thebes, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
Pea naʻe ʻalu ai ʻa ʻApimeleki ki Tipesi, ʻo ne tauʻi ʻa Tipesi, pea ne lavaʻi ia.
51 And there was in the midst of the city a high tower, to which both the men and the women were fled together, and all the princes of the city, and having shut and strongly barred the gate, they stood upon the battlements of the tower to defend themselves.
Ka naʻe ʻi ai ʻae fale tau mālohi ʻi he loto kolo, pea naʻe hola ki ai ʻae kau tangata kotoa pē mo e kau fefine, mo kinautolu kotoa pē ʻoe kolo, ʻonau tāpuni ia kiate kinautolu, pea naʻa nau ʻalu hake ki he tuʻafale ki ʻolunga.
52 And Abimelech coming near the tower, fought stoutly: and approaching to the gate, endeavoured to set fire to it:
Pea naʻe haʻu ʻa ʻApimeleki ki he fale māʻolunga, ʻo ne tauʻi ia, pea naʻa ne ʻalu ofi ki he matapā ʻoe fale māʻolunga ke tutu ia ʻaki ʻae afi.
53 And behold a certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
Pea naʻe sī hifo ʻe he fefine ha konga ʻoe maka momosi ki he ʻulu ʻo ʻApimeleki, koeʻuhi ke foa ai hono ʻulu.
54 And he called hastily to his armourbearer, and said to him: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest it should be said that I was slain by a woman. He did as he was commanded, and slew him.
Pea naʻe ui fakatoʻotoʻo ia ki he talavou ko hono hoa tau, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, “Unuhi hoʻo heletā, ʻo tāmateʻi au, ke ʻoua naʻa pehē ʻe he kakai ʻiate au, naʻe tāmateʻi ia ʻe he fefine.” Pea naʻe tui ia ke ʻasi ʻe heʻene talavou, pea naʻa ne mate.
55 And when he was dead, all the men of Israel that were with him, returned to their homes.
Pea ʻi he mamata ʻae kau tangata ʻo ʻIsileli kuo mate ʻa ʻApimeleki, naʻa nau ʻalu taki taha ki hono potu.
56 And God repaid the evil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seventy brethren.
Naʻe pehē ʻae totongi ʻe he ʻOtua kia ʻApimeleki ʻi he ngaahi angakovi ʻaia naʻa ne fai ki heʻene tamai, ʻi he tāmateʻi hono kāinga ʻe toko fitungofulu:
57 The Sichemites also were rewarded for what they had done, and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
Pea ko e ngaahi kovi ʻae kau tangata ʻo Sikemi naʻe totongi ia ʻe he ʻOtua ki honau ʻulu: pea naʻe hoko kiate kinautolu ʻae malaʻia naʻe fakahā ʻe Sotame ko e foha ʻo Selupeali.
