Abbootii Murtii 9
1 Abiimelek ilmi Yerub-Baʼaal gara obboloota haadha isaa kanneen Sheekem keessa jiraatanii dhaqee isaanii fi gosa haadha isaa hundaan akkana jedhe;
Gideon’s son Abimelech went to [talk with] his mother’s brothers in Shechem [city]. He said to them and to all his mother’s relatives,
2 “Jiraattota Sheekem hundumaan, ‘Kam isinii wayya? Yoo ilmaan Yerub-Baʼaal torbaatamni isin bulchan moo yoo namni tokko isin bulche wayya?’ jedhaa gaafadhaa. Akka ani foonii fi dhiiga keessan taʼe immoo yaadadhaa.”
“Ask all the leaders of your city: ‘Do you [think it would be] good for all 70 of Gideon’s sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one of his sons, [me], to rule over you?’ And do not forget that I am your relative! [MTY]”
3 Obboloonni haadha isaas dubbii kana gurra Sheekemotaatiin gaʼan; garaan isaaniis gara Abiimelek goruu kajeele; isaan, “Inni obboleessa keenya” jedhaniiruutii.
So Abimelech’s mother’s brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, “We should allow Abimelech to rule over us, because he is our relative.”
4 Isaanis mana sagadaa Baʼaal Beriit keessaa meetii gara giraamii dhibba saddeet ulfaatu kennaniif; Abiimelekis meetii sanaan kashlabboota isa faana buʼan qaxarate.
So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of [their god] Baal-Berith (almost 2 pounds/0.8 kg.) of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went.
5 Gara mana abbaa isaa kan Ofraatti argamuu dhaqee obboloota isaa ilmaan Yerub-Baʼaal torbaatama dhagaa tokko irratti qale. Yootaam ilmi Yiruubaʼaal quxisuun garuu dhokatee isa jalaa miliqe.
They went to Ophrah, his father’s town, and murdered 69 of his 70 brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon’s youngest son Jotham hid [from Abimelech and his men], and he escaped.
6 Namoonni Sheekemii fi Beet Miiloo hundi Abiimelekin moosisuuf jedhanii Sheekemitti utubaa mukaa guddaa tokko biratti walitti qabaman.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered under the big sacred tree in Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader.
7 Yootaam yommuu wanni kun itti himametti fiixee Gaara Gerziimitti ol baʼee sagalee guddaadhaan akkana isaaniin jedhe; “Yaa jiraattota Sheekem, akka Waaqni isin dhagaʼuuf na dhaggeeffadhaa.
When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Gerizim Mountain. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people [down below], “You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, in order that God will listen to you!
8 Gaaf tokko mukkeen mootii moosifachuuf baʼan; isaanis muka ejersaatiin, ‘Mootii nuu taʼi’ jedhan.
One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, ‘You be our king!’
9 “Mukni ejersaa garuu, ‘Ani mukkeen hundaa olitti raafamuudhaaf jedhee zayitii koo kan Waaqnii fi namni ittiin kabajaman dhowwadhuu ree?’ jedhee deebise.
“But the olive tree said, ‘No! [I will not be your king] Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not [RHQ] stop producing [olives from which we make] that oil, in order to rule over you other trees!’
10 “Itti aansaniis mukkeen muka harbuutiin, ‘Kottuutii mootii nuu taʼi’ jedhan.
“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’
11 “Mukni harbuu garuu deebisee, ‘Ani mukkeen hundaa olitti baʼee raafamuuf jedhee ija koo miʼaawaa fi gaarii sana kennuu dhiisuu ree?’ jedhe.
“But the fig tree replied, ‘No! I do not want to [RHQ] stop producing my good sweet fruit, and rule over you other trees!’
12 “Mukkeenis muka wayiniitiin, ‘Kottuutii mootii nuu taʼi’ jedhan.
“Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and be our king!’
13 “Mukni wayinii garuu deebisee, ‘Ani mukkeen hundaa olitti baʼee raafamuuf jedhe daadhii wayinii kootii kan Waaqaa fi nama gammachiisu sana kennuu dhiisuu?’ jedhe.
“But the grapevine replied, ‘No! [I will not be your king] The new wine [that is made from my grapes] causes people and gods [who drink it] to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and rule over you other trees!’ [RHQ]
14 “Dhuma irrattis mukkeen hundi muka qoraattiitiin, ‘Kottuutii mootii nuu taʼi’ jedhan.
“Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king!’
15 “Mukni qoraattiis mukkeeniin, ‘Isin yoo dhugumaan na moosifachuu feetan, kottaatii gaaddisa koo jalatti daʼeeffadhaa; yoo akkas taʼuu baate garuu ibiddi muka qoraattii keessaa baʼee birbirsa Libaanoon haa barbadeessu!’ jedhe.
“The thornbush replied, ‘If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my [tiny branches]. But if you do not want to do that, I hope/desire that fire will come out from me and burn up all the huge cedar trees in Lebanon [country]!’”
16 “Egaa isin Abiimelekin moosisuun keessan yoo karaa dhugaatii fi amanamummaan taʼe, yoo Yerub-Baʼaalii fi maatii isaatiif waan gaarii gochuuf taʼe, yoo waan isaaf malu isaaf gochuuf taʼe,
“[After] Jotham [finished telling them this parable, he] said, “So now [I ask you], were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king [RHQ]? And have you treated Gideon and his family [RHQ] fairly? Have you rewarded Gideon by honoring him as he deserved [because of all the good things he did for you]? No!
17 abbaan koo lubbuu isaa duʼaaf saaxilee harka Midiyaanotaa jalaa isin baasuuf isinii loleeraatii;
“[Do not forget that] my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you [if that had been necessary], to save you from the Midian people-group.
18 isin garuu harʼa maatii abbaa kootti kaatanii ilmaan isaa jechuunis nama torbaatama dhagaa tokko irratti qaltan; sababii inni fira keessan taʼeef Abiimelek ilma garbittii sana namoota Sheekem irratti moosiftan;
But now you have rebelled against my father’s family, and you have killed 69 of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father’s slave girl, [not the son of his wife]—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives!
19 egaa yoo isin harʼa dhugaa fi amanamummaadhaan Yerub-Baʼaalii fi maatii isaatiif waan gaarii gootan, isin Abiimelekitti gammadaa; innis isinitti haa gammadu!
So, if today you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope/desire that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy.
20 Akkas taʼuu baannaan garuu ibiddi mana Abiimelekii baʼee namoota Sheekemii fi Beet Miiloo haa fixu; akkasumas ibiddi namoota Sheekemii fi Beet Miiloo biraa baʼee Abiimelekin haa balleessu!”
But if what you did was not right, I wish/desire that Abimelech will burn up all of you leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo with fire! And I also hope/desire that the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo will cause fire to burn up Abimelech!”
21 Yootaamis Biʼeeritti baqatee sababii obboleessa isaa Abiimelekin sodaateef achuma jiraate.
[After] Jotham [finished saying that, he] escaped from them and ran away to Beer [town]. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech [would try to kill him].
22 Erga Abiimelek waggaa sadii Israaʼel bulchee booddee,
Abimelech [became the leader of all the people of Israel. He] ruled them for three years.
23 Waaqnis Abiimelekii fi namoota Sheekem gidduutti hafuura hamaa erge; Sheekemonnis Abiimelekitti daba hojjetan.
Then God sent an evil spirit [to cause trouble] between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech.
24 Waaqnis yakka ilmaan Yerub-Baʼaal torbaataman sanatti hojjetamee fi dhiiga isaanii kan dhangalaafame sanaaf, Abiimelek obboleessa isaanii kan isaan qale sanaa fi namoota Sheekem kanneen akka inni obboloota isaa fixuuf isa gargaaran sana haaloo baʼuuf waan kana godhe.
The leaders of Shechem had previously helped Abimelech to kill 69 of Gideon’s sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them.
25 Namoonni Sheekemis akka isaan riphanii isa eegataniif fiixee gaaraa irra namoota kaaʼatan; isaanis nama achiin darbu hunda saamaan; wanni kunis Abiimelekitti odeeffame.
The leaders of Shechem (set an ambush/sent men to hide) on the hilltops to ambush Abimelech. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, [so he did not go near them].
26 Yeroo kanatti Gaʼaal ilmi Ebeed obboloota isaa wajjin gara Sheekem dhufe; Sheekemonnis isa abdatan.
There was a man named Gaal, the son of Ebed, who moved into Shechem [city], along with his brothers. Soon the leaders of Shechem started to trust him.
27 Isaanis erga gara lafa qotiisaa wayiniitti baʼanii wayinii walitti qabatanii booddee cuunfanii galma waaqa tolfamaa isaaniitti ayyaana ayyaaneffatan. Nyaatanii dhuganiis Abiimelekin abaaran.
They went out [of the city] to their vineyards and picked some grapes. They pressed the grapes [to make juice, and then they made wine]. Then they had a feast in the temple of their god, and they ate [a lot of food] and drank [a lot of wine]. Then they cursed Abimelech.
28 Gaʼaal ilmi Ebeedis akkana jedhe; “Akka nu isaaf bulluuf Abiimelekii fi Sheekem eenyu? Abiimelek ilma Yerub-Baʼaal mitii? Zebulis itti aanaa isaa mitii? Isin namoota Hamoor abbaa Sheekem tajaajilaa! Nu maaliif Abiimelekin tajaajillaa?
Gaal said, “(Why should [we allow] Abimelech to rule over us?/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us!) [RHQ] He is only one of Gideon’s sons [so he really does not belong to us] [RHQ]! And he appointed Zebul, the governor of our city, to be his deputy! We should (serve/be loyal to) [one of the descendants of] Hamor, [the founder of our city], and let him be our leader, not Abimelech [RHQ]!
29 Utuu sabni kun ajaja koo jala jiraatee silaa ani Abiimelekin lafa irraa nan balleessa ture; ‘Waraana kee dabaladhuutii gad baʼi!’ isaan nan jedhas ture.”
If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready, [and then come to fight us]!’”
30 Zebul bulchaan magaalattii yeroo waan Gaʼaal ilmi Ebeed jedhe dhagaʼetti akka malee aare.
When someone told Zebul what Gaal said, he was very angry.
31 Akkana jedhees dhoksaadhaan gara Abiimelekitti ergamoota erge; “Gaʼaal ilmi Ebeedii fi obboloonni isaa gara Sheekem dhufanii saba magaalaa sitti kakaasaa jiru.
He secretly sent some messengers to Abimelech. They told him, “Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are causing [the people of] the city to rebel against you.
32 Kanaafuu atii fi namoonni kee halkaniin baatanii lafa qotiisaa keessa riphuu qabdu.
You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city.
33 Ganama akkuma aduun baateenis magaalaa sana cabsaa seenaa. Yommuu Galaʼaalii fi namoonni isaa sitti dhufanittis waan harki kee hojjechuu malu kam iyyuu hojjedhu.”
As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to.”
34 Abiimelekis namoota isa wajjin turan hunda wajjin halkaniin kaʼee garee afuritti qoodamuudhaan Sheekemitti dhiʼaatee riphe.
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They [divided into] four groups, [and] hid [in the fields] near Shechem.
35 Akkuma Gaʼaal ilmi Ebeed baʼee karra magaalaa sanaa irra dhaabateen, Abiimelek namoota isaa wajjin iddoo riphee ture sanaa itti gad baʼe.
[The next morning], Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places [and started walking toward the city].
36 Gaʼaal yommuu isaan argetti Zebuliin, “Kunoo namoonni fiixee gaarranii irraa gad dhufaa jiru!” jedhe. Zebulis deebisee, “Gaaddisa tulluuwwaniitu namoota sitti fakkaate” jedheen.
When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, “Look! There are people coming down from the hills!” But Zebul said, “You are seeing only the shadows [of trees] on the hills. They [are not people; they] only resemble people.”
37 Gaʼaal garuu ammas deebisee, “Ilaali; namoonni handhuura lafaatii dhufaa jiru; gareen tokkos karaa muka abdaariitiin dhufaa jira” jedhe.
But Gaal [looked] again [and] said, “Look! There are people coming down from the top of the sacred mountain! There is a group of them coming down from where the tree is where people talk with the spirits of dead people!”
38 Zebulis, “Ati kan, ‘Akka nu isaaf bulluuf Abiimelek kun eenyu?’ jette, oduun kee sun amma meerre? Namoonni ati tuffatte isaan kana mitii? Mee baʼiitii jara loli kaa!” jedheen.
Zebul said to Gaal, “Now (what good is your bragging?/your bragging is worthless!) [MTY, RHQ] You said, ‘(Why should we serve Abimelech/We should not allow Abimelech to rule over us)?’ You made fun of these men. So now go out and fight them!”
39 Kanaafuu Gaʼaal namoota Sheekem hoogganee Abiimelekin loluuf baʼe.
So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside [the city] to fight Abimelech [and his men].
40 Abiimelekis isa ariʼe; innis duraa baqate; namoonni baayʼeenis madaaʼanii hamma karra magaalattiitti harcaʼan.
Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal’s men before they could return [safely] inside the city gate.
41 Abiimelek Aruumaa keessa ture; Zebul immoo Gaʼaalii fi obboloota isaa ariʼee Sheekem keessaa baase.
Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, [about five miles away from Shechem], and Zebul’s men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.
42 Guyyaa itti aanu namoonni Sheekem dirreetti baʼan; wanni kunis Abiimelekitti himame.
The next day, the people of Shechem [got ready to leave the city and work] in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that,
43 Innis namoota isaa fudhatee garee sadiitti qoodee dirree irratti riphee eeggate. Yeroo namoota magaalaa kaʼanii dhufaa jiran argettis isaan loluudhaaf kaʼe.
he divided his men into three groups, and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them.
44 Abiimelekii fi gareen isa wajjin turan gara karra magaalattiitti gugatan. Gareen hafan lamaan immoo gara warra dirree irratti baʼanii turaniitti fiiganii isaan fixan.
Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them.
45 Abiimelek gaafas guyyaa guutuu lolee magaalattii qabate; jiraattota ishees fixee magaalattii illee barbadeessee soogidda itti facaase.
Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings, and then they threw salt over the ruins [in order that nothing would grow there again].
46 Namoonni gamoo Sheekem keessa jiraatan yommuu waan kana dhagaʼanitti gara daʼannoo mana sagadaa Elbiriititti ol galan.
When the leaders who lived in the tower/fortress outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the [fortress, which was also a] temple of [their god] El-Berith.
47 Abiimelekis yommuu akka namoonni Sheekem achitti walitti qabaman dhagaʼetti,
But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there.
48 namoota isaa hundumaa wajjin Tulluu Zalmoonitti ol baʼe. Abiimelekis qottoo harkatti qabatee dameewwan mukaa mummuree ol fuudhee gatiittii isaatti baate. Namoota isa wajjin jiraniinis, “Dafaa! Waanuma anaa godhu argitan sana godhaa!” jedhe.
So he and all the men who were with him went up Zalmon Mountain [which is near Shechem]. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe, and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, “Quickly, do what I have just done!”
49 Namoonni hundinuus dameewwan mukaa mummuratanii Abiimelekin duukaa buʼan. Dameewwan sanas daʼannoo Sheekemonni itti baqatan sanatti irkisanii ibidda itti qabsiisan. Kanaafuu namoonni gamoo Sheekem keessa turan hundinuu dhiironnii fi dubartoonni gara kuma tokko taʼan dhuman.
So his men all cut branches [then carried them down the mountain], following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about 1,000 men and women—died.
50 Ergasiis Abiimelek gara Tebez dhaqee magaalaa sana marsee qabate.
Then Abimelech and his men went to Thebes [city]. They surrounded it and captured it.
51 Taʼus waan gamoon jabaan tokko magaalaa sana keessa tureef jiraattonni magaalaa sanaa dhiiraa dubartiin utuu hin hafin itti baqatan. Keessaanis ofitti cufanii bantii isaatti ol baʼan.
But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower.
52 Abiimelekis dhufee gamoo sana dhaʼe; yommuu inni ibiddaan gubuudhaaf balbala gamoo sanaatti dhiʼaatetti garuu,
Abimelech and his men came to the tower and tried to get in the door, [but they could not]. Then Abimelech prepared to light a fire to burn down the door.
53 dubartiin tokko gubbaadhaa majii dhagaa itti gad dhiiftee buqqee mataa isaa cabsite.
But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman [who was on the roof] dropped a big grinding stone on his head, and crushed his skull.
54 Innis dafee dargaggeessa miʼa lolaa baatuuf tokko waamee, “Akka isaan, ‘dubartiitu isa ajjeese’ jechuu hin dandeenyeef goraadee kee luqqifadhuu na ajjeesi” jedheen. Kanaafuu dargaggeessi sun isa waraane; innis ni duʼe.
Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech’s weapons, and said, “Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say ‘It was a woman who killed Abimelech.’” So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died.
55 Israaʼeloonnis yommuu akka Abiimelek duʼe arganitti gara mana isaaniitti deebiʼan.
When the Israeli soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes.
56 Akkasiin Waaqni hammina Abiimelek obboloota isaa torbaatama qaluudhaan abbaa ofiitti hojjeteef gatii hojii isaa kenneef.
In that way God punished Abimelech for the evil things that he had done to his father and especially for killing all 69 of his brothers.
57 Akkasumas Waaqni hammina namoonni Sheekem hojjetan hunda matuma isaaniitti deebise. Abaarsi Yootaam ilma Yerub-Baʼaalis isaan irra gaʼe.
God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when those things happened, it fulfilled what Gideon’s son Jotham said when he cursed [Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem].
