Judges 9
1 Abimelech, son of Jerub-baal, went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and told them and all his mother's relatives,
U-Abhimelekhi indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali waya kubomalumakhe eShekhemu lakubo bonke abosendo lukanina wathi kubo,
2 “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘What's best for you? That seventy men, all of them Jerub-baal's sons, rule over you—or just one man?’ Remember I'm your own flesh and blood!”
“Buzani bonke abantu baseShekhemu ukuthi, ‘Yikuphi okungcono kini: ukubuswa yiwo wonke amadodana kaJerubhi-Bhali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa kumbe indoda eyodwa?’ Likhumbule ukuthi mina ngingumzimba legazi lenu.”
3 His mother's brothers shared his proposal with all the leaders of Shechem, and they decided to follow Abimelech, because they said, “He is our relative.”
Kwathi abanewabo bakanina sebekutshilo konke lokhu ebantwini baseShekhemu, bafuna ukumlandela u-Abhimelekhi, ngoba bathi, “Ungumfowethu.”
4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire some arrogant troublemakers as his gang.
Bamnika amashekeli esiliva angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, athathwa ethempelini likaBhali-Bherithi, u-Abhimelekhi aqhatsha ngawo izigebenga ezingakhathaliyo, ezaba ngabalandeli bakhe.
5 He went to his father's house in Ophrah, and on one stone killed his seventy half-brothers, the sons of Jerub-baal. But Jotham, Jerub-baal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.
Waya emzini kayise e-Ofira kwathi abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa, amadodana kaJerubhi-Bhali, wababulalela phezu kwedwala linye. Kodwa uJothamu, indodana encane kaJerubhi-Bhali waphepha ngokucatsha.
6 Then the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo all assembled by the oak at the pillar in Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
Emva kwalokho bonke abantu baseShekhemu labeBhethi Milo babuthana ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi ensikeni eShekhemu ukuba u-Abhimelekhi bamfake abe yinkosi.
7 When Jotham got to hear this, he went up to the top of Mount Gerizim, and shouted in a loud voice: “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, and God may to listen to you!
Kwathi uJothamu esetshelwe lokhu wakhwela waya esiqongweni seNtaba iGerizimu wanqolonga esithi kubo, “Ngilalelani, bantu baseShekhemu, ukuze uNkulunkulu alilalele.
8 Once upon a time the trees were determined to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, ‘You shall be our king.’
Ngelinye ilanga izihlahla zasuka zayazigcobela inkosi yazo. Zathi esihlahleni se-oliva, ‘Woba yinkosi yethu.’
9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my rich oil that benefits both gods and men just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
Kodwa isihlahla se-oliva saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela amafutha ami, okudunyiswa ngawo onkulunkulu labantu, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
10 Then the trees asked the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king.’
Izihlahla zasezisithi esihlahleni somkhiwa, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my good sweet fruit just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
Kodwa isihlahla somkhiwa saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela izithelo zami ezinhle kangaka njalo zimnandi, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
12 Then the trees asked the grape vine, ‘You come and be our king.’
Lapho-ke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sevini, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
13 But the grape vine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that makes both gods and men happy just to go and sway to and fro over the trees?’
Kodwa isihlahla sevini saphendula sathi, ‘Kambe ngingadela iwayini lami elithokozisa onkulunkulu labantu, ukuba ngibuse izihlahla na?’
14 Then all the trees asked the thorn bush, ‘You come and be our king.’
Ekucineni zonke izihlahla zathi esihlahleni sameva, ‘Woza ube yinkosi yethu.’
15 The thorn bush replied to the trees, ‘If you're really sincere about anointing me as your king, come and find shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire flame out of the thorn bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon!’
Isihlahla sameva sathi ezihlahleni, ‘Nxa lifuna ngempela ukuthi lingigcobe ukuba ngibe yinkosi yenu, wozani lizecatsha emthunzini wami, kodwa nxa kungenjalo, akuphume umlilo esihlahleni sameva uqothule imsedari yaseLebhanoni!’
16 Have you acted sincerely and honestly by making Abimelech your king? Have you been acted honorably to Jerub-baal and his family? Have you respected him for all that he accomplished?
Nxa lenze okubongekayo njalo ngobuqotho ekubekeni kwenu u-Abhimelekhi ukuba abe yinkosi, njalo nxa lenze okulungileyo kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe, njalo nxa limphathe ngendlela emfaneleyo,
17 Don't forget how my father fought for you and risked his own life to save you from the Midianites!
ngoba ubaba walilwela, wabeka impilo yakhe engozini ukuba alihlenge ezandleni zamaMidiyani
18 But you have rebelled against my father's family today. You have killed his seventy sons on one stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem simply because he's related to you.
kodwa lamuhla selivukele abendlu kababa, kwathi amadodana akhe angamatshumi ayisikhombisa lawabulalela phezu kwedwala linye, kwathi u-Abhimelekhi, indodana yesigqilikazi sakhe, lamenza waba yinkosi yabantu baseShekhemu ngoba engumfowenu,
19 Have you acted sincerely and honestly toward Jerub-baal and his family today? If so, may you be happy with Abimelech, and may he be happy with too!
ngakho nxa lenzenjalo ngobuqotho kuJerubhi-Bhali labendlu yakhe lamuhla, thokozani ngo-Abhimelekhi, kube njalo laye ngani futhi!
20 But if you haven't, then may fire flame out from Abimelech, and may it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire flame out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and burn up Abimelech!”
Kodwa nxa lingenzanga njalo, akuphume umlilo ku-Abhimelekhi uliqothule, bantu baseShekhemu labaseBhethi Milo, njalo kuphume umlilo kini bantu baseShekhemu labaseBhethi Milo, uqothule u-Abhimelekhi!”
21 Then Jotham escaped and ran away. He went to Beer and stayed there because of the threat of Abimelech his brother.
Emva kwalokhu uJothamu wabaleka, waya eBheri, wahlala khona ngoba wayesesaba umfowabo u-Abhimelekhi.
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esebuse abako-Israyeli iminyaka emithathu
23 Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
uNkulunkulu wathumela umoya omubi phakathi kuka-Abhimelekhi labantu baseShekhemu bamhlamukela u-Abhimelekhi.
24 This happened because of the murder of the seventy sons of Jerub-baal and that responsibility for their blood be placed on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who provided the means to kill his brothers.
UNkulunkulu wenza lokhu ukuze ububi obenziwa emadodaneni kaJerubhi-Bhali angamatshumi ayisikhombisa, ukuchithwa kwegazi lawo, buphindiselwe kumfowabo u-Abhimelekhi lasebantwini baseShekhemu, ababemsizile ekubulaleni kwakhe abafowabo.
25 The leaders of Shechem sent men to the hill passes to lie in wait and attack Abimelech, and, in the meantime, they robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech found out what was happening.
Ekumelaneni kwabo laye abantu baseShekhemu laba babeka abantu ezingqongeni zezintaba ukuba bacathamele bonke abadlula lapho babaphange, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
26 Gaal, son of Ebed, had moved to Shechem with his relatives, and he gained the loyalty of the leaders of Shechem.
UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wathuthela eShekhemu labafowabo, njalo abantu bakhona bamethemba.
27 At harvest time they went out into the countryside and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them. They celebrated by having a festival in the temple of their god, where they ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
Kwathi sebeye emasimini babutha amagrebisi bawagxoba, baba ledili ethempelini likankulunkulu wabo. Kwathi besidla njalo benatha, bamthuka u-Abhimelekhi.
28 “Who is this Abimelech?” asked Gaal, son of Ebed. “And who is Shechem, that we should have to serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-baal, while Zebul is actually the one in charge? You should serve the family of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we have to serve Abimelech?
Lapho-ke uGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathi, “Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi, loShekhemu ungubani, ukuba asibuse na? Akasindodana kaJerubhi-Bhali yini, njalo uZebhuli kasimsekeli wakhe na? Khonzani abantu baseHamori, yise kaShekhemu! Kungani kumele sikhonze u-Abhimelekhi na?
29 If I was the one in charge of you people, I would dispose of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Get your army together, and come and fight!’”
Sengathi ngabe abantu laba balawulwa yimi! Kade ngizamsusa. Kade ngizakuthi ku-Abhimelekhi, ‘Libize lonke ibutho lakho.’”
30 When Zebul, the governor of the city, got to hear what Gaal was saying, he became very angry.
Kwathi uZebhuli umbusi wedolobho esizwa okwatshiwo nguGali indodana ka-Ebhedi, wathukuthela kakhulu.
31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech to tell him, “Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his relatives have arrived in Shechem, and they are stirring up the town to rebel against you.
Wathuma izithunywa ngasese ku-Abhimelekhi, esithi, “UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi kanye labafowabo sebeze eShekhemu njalo badunga idolobho ukuba likuvukele.
32 So come at night with your army and hide in the countryside.
Ngakho wena labantu bakho kumele lize phakathi kobusuku limcathamele egangeni.
33 In the morning as soon as the sun comes up, go and attack the town. When Gaal and his men come out to fight you, you can do whatever you want to them.”
Ekuseni ekuphumeni kwelanga, lisondele ukuba lilihlasele idolobho. Lapho uGali labantu bakhe bephuma ukuba balihlasele, lenze loba yini isandla senu esanelisa ukukwenza.”
34 Abimelech left at night along with his army, and they separated into four companies that lay in wait near Shechem.
Ngakho-ke u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe wonke basuka ebusuku bacathama ezindaweni ezifihlakeleyo eduze leShekhemu bengamaviyo amane.
35 When Gaal, son of Ebed, went out and stood at the town's entrance gate, Abimelech and his army came out from where they had been hiding.
UGali indodana ka-Ebhedi wayephumile emi ekungeneni kwesango ledolobho kwathi u-Abhimelekhi lamabutho akhe baphuma lapho ababecatshe khona.
36 Gaal saw the army approaching and said to Zebul, “Look! Some people are coming down from the hilltops!” “That's just shadows made by the hills that look like men,” Zebul replied.
Kwathi uGali ebabona wathi kuZebhuli, “Khangela nampayana abantu bayehla besuka ezingqongeni zezintaba!” UZebhuli waphendula wathi, “Ubona amathunzi ezintaba kube angathi ngabantu.”
37 “No really, people are coming down from the high ground,” Gaal repeated. “Plus, there's another company coming down the road that passes the diviners' oak tree.”
Kodwa uGali wakhuluma futhi wathi, “Khangela, nampayana abantu bayehla besuka phakathi kwelizwe, njalo leviyo lamabutho liyeza livelela ngokuya esihlahleni sezangoma.”
38 “Where's your big mouth now? You're the one who said, ‘Who is this Abimelech, that we should have to serve him?’” Zebul told him. “Aren't these the people you detested? Go on then—go and fight with them!”
UZebhuli wasesithi kuye, “Kungaphi ukukloloda kwakho manje, wena owathi, ‘Ungubani u-Abhimelekhi ukuba asibuse na?’ Laba kabasibo yini abantu owawubahleka? Phuma uyekulwa labo!”
39 So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out of the town and fought with Abimelech.
Ngakho uGali waphuma labantu baseShekhemu walwa lo-Abhimelekhi.
40 Abimelech attacked, and chased him and his men as they ran away, killing many of them as they tried to get back to the town gate.
U-Abhimelekhi wamxotsha, kwathi abanengi bafa belimele ekubalekeni, ibanga lonke kusiya ekungeneni kwesango.
41 Abimelech went back to Arumah while Zebul expelled Gaal and his relatives from Shechem.
U-Abhimelekhi wahlala e-Aruma, kwathi uZebhuli wamdudula uGali labafowabo eShekhemu.
42 The following day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and Abimelech was informed about it.
Ngelanga elalandelayo abantu baseShekhemu basuka baya egangeni, njalo lokhu kwabikwa ku-Abhimelekhi.
43 He divided his army into three companies and had them lay in ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and killed them.
Ngakho wathatha abantu bakhe, wabehlukanisa baba ngamaviyo amathathu wathi kabacathanyelwe egangeni. Kwathi ebona abantu bephuma edolobheni wavuka ukuba abahlasele.
44 Abimelech and his company raced to occupy the town's entrance gate, while the two companies raced to attack everyone in the fields and kill them.
U-Abhimelekhi lamaviyo ayelaye bagijimela phambili endaweni esekungeneni kwesango ledolobho. Amaviyo amabili agijimela kulabo ababesegangeni ababulala.
45 The battle for the town lasted all day but eventually Abimelech captured it. He killed the people, demolished the town, and scattered salt over the ground.
Ngalo lonke lolosuku u-Abhimelekhi waqinisa ukulihlasela kwakhe idolobho lelo waze walithumba wabulala labantu balo. Idolobho walidiliza wasehaza itswayi phezu kwalo.
46 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem realized what had happened, they took refuge in the strongroom of the temple of El-berith.
Besizwa lokhu, abantu abasemphotshongweni weShekhemu bayangena enqabeni yethempeli lase-Eli-Bherithi.
47 When Abimelech found out that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had gathered there,
Kwathi u-Abhimelekhi esizwa ukuthi basebebuthene lapho,
48 he and all the men with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech grabbed hold of an ax and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder, and told his men, “Quick! You saw what I did. Do the same!”
yena labantu bakhe bakhwela intaba iZalimoni. Wathatha ihloka wagamula amahlahla, wawetshata emahlombe akhe. Walaya abantu ababelaye wathi, “Phangisani! Yenzani lokhu elibone ngikwenza!”
49 Each of them cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They placed the branches against the strongroom and set it on fire. So all the people who lived in the tower of Shechem died, around one thousand men and women.
Ngakho abantu bagamula amahlahla bamlandela u-Abhimelekhi. Bawabuthelela enqabeni leyo bayithungela ngomlilo abantu bephakathi. Ngakho bonke abantu ababephakathi komphotshongo waseShekhemu, amadoda labesifazane ababengaba yinkulungwane bafa.
50 Then Abimelech went to attack Thebez and captured it.
Emva kwalokho u-Abhimelekhi waya eThebhezi wayivimbezela wayithumba.
51 But there was a strong tower inside the city. All the men and women and the town leaders ran there and barricaded themselves in, and then went up to the roof of the tower.
Kodwa phakathi kwedolobho lelo kwakulomphotshongo oqinileyo lapho wonke amadoda labesifazane, abantu bakulelodolobho ababebalekele khona. Bazikhiyela phakathi bakhwela phezu kophahla lomphotshongo.
52 Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he came close to the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
U-Abhimelekhi waya emphotshongweni lowo wawuhlasela. Kodwa wathi esebanga emnyango womphotshongo ukuba awuthungele ngomlilo,
53 a woman dropped millstone down on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull open.
owesifazane othile wawisela imbokodo phezu kwekhanda lakhe yadabula ukhakhayi lwakhe.
54 He quickly called the young man who carried his weapons, and ordered him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so they won't say about me that a woman killed him.” So the young man drove his sword through him, and he died.
Waphanga wabiza umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungibulale, ukuze bangathi, ‘Wabulawa ngowesifazane.’” Ngakho inceku yakhe yamgwaza, wafa.
55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all left and went home.
Kwathi abako-Israyeli bebona ukuthi u-Abhimelekhi wayesefile, babuyela ekhaya.
56 This is how God paid back Abimelech's crime against his father of murdering his seventy brothers.
UNkulunkulu wabuphindisela kanje ububi u-Abhimelekhi ayebenze kuyise ngokubulala abafowabo abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa.
57 He also repaid the people of Shechem for their evil, and the curse of Jotham, son of Jerub-baal, came down upon them.
UNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi labantu baseShekhemu babuhlawulele ububi babo. Isiqalekiso sikaJothamu indodana kaJerubhi-Bhali sehlela phezu kwabo.
