士師記 9
1 さてエルバアルの子アビメレクはシケムに行き、母の身内の人たちのもとに行って、彼らと母の父の家の一族とに言った、
Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
2 「どうぞ、シケムのすべての人々の耳に告げてください、『エルバアルのすべての子七十人であなたがたを治めるのと、ただひとりであなたがたを治めるのと、どちらがよいか。わたしがあなたがたの骨肉であることを覚えてください』と」。
“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 そこで母の身内の人たちがアビメレクに代ってこれらの言葉をことごとくシケムのすべての人々の耳に告げると、彼らは心をアビメレクに傾け、「彼はわれわれの兄弟だ」と言って、
His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 バアル・ベリテの宮から銀七十シケルを取って彼に与えた。アビメレクはそれをもって、やくざのならず者を雇って自分に従わせ、
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.
5 オフラにある父の家に行って、エルバアルの子で、自分の兄弟である七十人を、一つの石の上で殺した。ただしエルバアルの末の子ヨタムは身を隠したので生き残った。
He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
6 そこでシケムのすべての人々とベテミロのすべての人々は集まり、行ってシケムにある石の柱のかたわらのテレビンの木のもとで、アビメレクを立てて王とした。
All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 このことをヨタムに告げる者があったので、ヨタムは行ってゲリジム山の頂に立ち、大声に叫んで彼らに言った、「シケムの人々よ、わたしに聞きなさい。そうすれば神はあなたがたに聞かれるでしょう。
When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8 ある時、もろもろの木が自分たちの上に王を立てようと出て行ってオリブの木に言った、『わたしたちの王になってください』。
The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 しかしオリブの木は彼らに言った、『わたしはどうして神と人とをあがめるために用いられるわたしの油を捨てて行って、もろもろの木を治めることができましょう』。
“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10 もろもろの木はまたいちじくの木に言った、『きてわたしたちの王になってください』。
“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 しかしいちじくの木は彼らに言った、『わたしはどうしてわたしの甘味と、わたしの良い果実とを捨てて行って、もろもろの木を治めることができましょう』。
“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12 もろもろの木はまたぶどうの木に言った、『きてわたしたちの王になってください』。
“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 しかし、ぶどうの木は彼らに言った、『わたしはどうして神と人とを喜ばせるわたしのぶどう酒を捨てて行って、もろもろの木を治めることができましょう』。
“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
14 そこですべての木はいばらに言った、『きてわたしたちの王になってください』。
“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 いばらはもろもろの木に言った、『あなたがたが真実にわたしを立てて王にするならば、きてわたしの陰に難を避けなさい。そうしなければ、いばらから火が出てレバノンの香柏を焼きつくすでしょう』。
“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 あなたがたがアビメレクを立てて王にしたことは、真実と敬意とをもってしたものですか。あなたがたはエルバアルとその家をよく扱い、彼のおこないに応じてしたのですか。
“Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
17 わたしの父はあなたがたのために戦い、自分の命を投げ出して、あなたがたをミデアンの手から救い出したのに、
(for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
18 あなたがたは、きょう、わたしの父の家に反抗して起り、その子七十人を一つの石の上で殺し、その腰元の子アビメレクをあなたがたの身内の者であるゆえに立てて、シケムの人々の王にしました。
and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
19 あなたがたが、きょう、エルバアルとその家になされたことが真実と敬意をもってしたものであるならば、アビメレクのために喜びなさい。彼もまたあなたがたのために喜ぶでしょう。
if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;
20 しかし、そうでなければ、アビメレクから火が出て、シケムの人々とベテミロとを焼きつくし、またシケムの人々とベテミロからも火が出てアビメレクを焼きつくすでしょう」。
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”
21 こうしてヨタムは走って逃げ去り、ベエルに行き、兄弟アビメレクの顔をさけてそこに住んだ。
Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 アビメレクは三年の間イスラエルを治めたが、
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 神はアビメレクとシケムの人々の間に悪霊をおくられたので、シケムの人々はアビメレクを欺くようになった。
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
24 これはエルバアルの七十人の子が受けた暴虐と彼らの血が、彼らを殺した兄弟アビメレクの上と、彼の手を強めてその兄弟を殺させたシケムの人々の上とに報いとなってきたのである。
that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
25 シケムの人々は彼に敵して待ち伏せする者を山々の頂におき、すべてその道を通り過ぎる者を略奪させた。このことがアビメレクに告げ知らされた。
The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
26 さてエベデの子ガアルはその身内の人々と一緒にシケムに移住したが、シケムの人々は彼を信用した。
Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 人々は畑に出てぶどうを取り入れ、それを踏み絞って祭をし、神の宮に行って飲み食いしてアビメレクをのろった。
They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 そしてエベデの子ガアルは言った、「アビメレクは何ものか。シケムのわれわれは何ものなれば彼に仕えなければならないのか。エルバアルの子とその役人ゼブルはシケムの先祖ハモルの一族に仕えたではないか。われわれはどうして彼に仕えなければならないのか。
Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
29 ああ、この民がわたしの手の下にあったらよいのだが。そうすればわたしはアビメレクをやめさせ、アビメレクに向かって『おまえの軍勢を増して出てこい』と言うであろう」。
I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
30 町のつかさゼブルはエベデの子ガアルの言葉を聞いて怒りを発し、
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
31 使者をアルマにおるアビメレクにつかわして言わせた、「エベデの子ガアルとその身内の人々がシケムにきて、町を騒がせ、あなたにそむかせようとしています。
He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.
32 それであなたと、あなたと共におる人々が夜のうちに行って、野に身を伏せ、
Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33 朝になって、日ののぼるとき、早く起き出て町を襲うならば、ガアルと、彼と共におる民は出てきて、あなたに抵抗するでしょう。その時あなたは機を得て、彼らを撃つことができるでしょう」。
It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
34 アビメレクと、彼と共にいたすべての民は夜のうちに起き出て、四組に分れ、身を伏せてシケムをうかがった。
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 エベデの子ガアルが出て、町の門の入口に立ったとき、アビメレクと、彼と共にいた民が身を伏せていたところから立ちあがったので、
Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36 ガアルは民を見てゼブルに言った、「ごらんなさい。民が山々の頂からおりてきます」。ゼブルは彼に言った、「あなたは山々の影を人のように見るのです」。
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
37 ガアルは再び言った、「ごらんなさい。民が国の中央部からおりてきます。一組は占い師のテレビンの木の方からきます」。
Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
38 ゼブルは彼に言った、「あなたがかつて『アビメレクは何ものか。われわれは何ものなれば彼に仕えなければならないのか』と言ったあなたの口は今どこにありますか。これはあなたが侮った民ではありませんか。今、出て彼らと戦いなさい」。
Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”
39 そこでガアルはシケムの人々を率い、出てアビメレクと戦ったが、
Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 アビメレクは彼を追ったので、ガアルは彼の前から逃げた。そして傷つき倒れる者が多く、門の入口にまで及んだ。
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41 こうしてアビメレクは引き続いてアルマにいたが、ゼブルはガアルとその身内の人々を追い出してシケムにおらせなかった。
Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 翌日、民が畑に出ると、そのことがアビメレクに聞えた。
On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 アビメレクは自分の民を率い、それを三組に分け、野に身を伏せて、うかがっていると、民が町から出てきたので、たちあがってこれを撃った。
He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck them.
44 アビメレクと、彼と共にいた組の者は襲って行って、町の門の入口に立ち、他の二組は野にいたすべてのものを襲って、それを殺した。
Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck them.
45 アビメレクはその日、終日、町を攻め、ついに町を取って、そのうちの民を殺し、町を破壊して、塩をまいた。
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
46 シケムのやぐらの人々は皆これを聞いて、エルベリテの宮の塔にはいった。
When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47 シケムのやぐらの人々が皆集まったことがアビメレクに聞えたので、
Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 アビメレクは自分と一緒にいた民をことごとく率いてザルモン山にのぼり、アビメレクは手におのを取って、木の枝を切り落し、それを取りあげて自分の肩にのせ、一緒にいた民にむかって言った、「あなたがたはわたしがしたことを見たとおりに急いでしなさい」。
Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!”
49 そこで民もまた皆おのおのその枝を切り落し、アビメレクに従って行って、枝を塔によせかけ、塔に火をつけて彼らを攻めた。こうしてシケムのやぐらの人々もまたことごとく死んだ。男女おおよそ一千人であった。
All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 ついでアビメレクはテベツに行き、テベツに向かって陣を張り、これを攻め取ったが、
Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 町の中に一つの堅固なやぐらがあって、すべての男女すなわち町の人々が皆そこに逃げ込み、あとを閉ざして、やぐらの屋根に上ったので、
But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 アビメレクはやぐらのもとに押し寄せてこれを攻め、やぐらの入口に近づいて、火をつけて焼こうとしたとき、
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 ひとりの女がアビメレクの頭に、うすの上石を投げて、その頭骸骨を砕いた。
A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
54 アビメレクは自分の武器を持つ若者を急ぎ呼んで言った、「つるぎを抜いてわたしを殺せ。さもないと人々はわたしを、女に殺されたのだと言うであろう」。その若者が彼を刺し通したので彼は死んだ。
Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”
55 イスラエルの人々はアビメレクの死んだのを見て、おのおの去って家に帰った。
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
56 このように神はアビメレクがその兄弟七十人を殺して、自分の父に対して犯した悪に報いられた。
Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
57 また神はシケムの人々のすべての悪を彼らのこうべに報いられた。こうしてエルバアルの子ヨタムののろいが、彼らに臨んだのである。
and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.
