Hakimler 9

¹Yerubbaal'ın oğlu Abimelek, Şekem'e, annesinin kardeşlerinin yanına gitti; onlarla ve annesinin babasının evinin tüm soyuyla konuşarak şöyle dedi:

²"Şekem'in bütün adamlarının kulaklarına söyleyin: Sizin için hangisi daha hayırlı? Yerubbaal'ın bütün oğulları olan yetmiş kişinin mi size egemen olması, yoksa tek bir adamın mı size egemen olması? Ve hatırlayın ki ben sizin kemiğiniz ve etinizim."

³Annesinin kardeşleri onun hakkında Şekem'in bütün adamlarının kulaklarına tüm bu sözleri söylediler; ve yürekleri Abimelek'in ardınca gitmeye meyletti, çünkü "O bizim kardeşimizdir" dediler.

⁴Ona Baal-Berit'in tapınağından yetmiş gümüş verdiler; Abimelek de bu parayla kendine serseri ve korkak adamlar kiraladı, onlar da onun ardınca gittiler.

⁵Babasının Efrata'daki evine gitti ve kardeşlerini, Yerubbaal'ın oğulları olan yetmiş adamı tek bir taş üzerinde öldürdü. Ancak Yerubbaal'ın en küçük oğlu Yotam sağ kaldı, çünkü gizlenmişti.

⁶Şekem'in bütün adamları ve bütün Beyt-Maalon halkı toplandı; gidip Şekem'deki dikili taşın yanındaki meşe ağacının önünde Abimelek'i kral yaptılar.

⁷Bu durum Yotam'a bildirilince, gidip Gerizim Dağı'nın tepesinde durdu; sesini yükselterek ağladı ve onlara şöyle dedi: "Beni dinleyin, ey Şekem adamları, Tanrı da sizi dinlesin!

⁸Bir zamanlar ağaçlar kendilerine bir kral meshetmek üzere yola çıktılar; zeytin ağacına, 'Bize kral ol' dediler.

⁹Ama zeytin ağacı onlara, 'İnsanların ve Tanrı'nın beni yücelttiği kalitemi bırakıp ağaçların üzerinde sallanmaya mı gideyim?' dedi.

¹⁰Ağaçlar bu kez incir ağacına, 'Gel, bize kral ol' dediler.

¹¹Ama incir ağacı onlara, 'Tatlılığımı ve güzel meyvemi bırakıp ağaçların üzerinde sallanmaya mı gideyim?' dedi.

¹²Ağaçlar asmaya, 'Gel, bize kral ol' dediler.

¹³Ama asma onlara, 'Tanrı'yı ve insanları neşelendiren şarabımı bırakıp ağaçların üzerinde sallanmaya mı gideyim?' dedi.

¹⁴Bunun üzerine bütün ağaçlar karaçalıya, 'Gel, sen bize kral ol' dediler.

¹⁵Karaçalı ağaçlara şöyle dedi: 'Eğer beni gerçekten kendinize kral olarak meshediyorsanız, gelin, gölgeme sığının. Ama öyle değilse, benden ateş çıksın ve Lübnan'ın sedir ağaçlarını yakıp yok etsin!'

¹⁶Şimdi, eğer Abimelek'i kral yaparken doğruluk ve dürüstlükle davrandıysanız, Yerubbaal'a ve evine iyilik ettiyseniz ve ona ellerinin emeğine göre karşılık verdiyseniz;

¹⁷çünkü babam sizin için savaştı, canını tehlikeye attı ve sizi Midyan'ın elinden kurtardı;

¹⁸oysa siz bugün babamın evine karşı ayaklandınız, onun yetmiş oğlunu tek bir taş üzerinde öldürdünüz ve cariyesinin oğlu Abimelek'i, kardeşiniz olduğu için Şekem adamlarının üzerine kral yaptınız;

¹⁹eğer bugün Yerubbaal'a ve evine karşı doğruluk ve dürüstlükle davrandıysanız, Abimelek ile sevinin, o da sizinle sevinsin.

²⁰Ama öyle değilse, Abimelek'ten ateş çıksın, Şekem adamlarını ve Beyt-Maalon halkını yakıp yok etsin; Şekem adamlarından ve Beyt-Maalon halkından da ateş çıksın, Abimelek'i yakıp yok etsin!"

²¹Yotam kaçıp kurtuldu; Beer'e gitti ve kardeşi Abimelek'in korkusundan orada yaşadı.

²²Abimelek İsrail üzerinde üç yıl hüküm sürdü.

²³Tanrı, Abimelek ile Şekem adamlarının arasına kötü bir ruh gönderdi; Şekem adamları Abimelek'in hanedanına hainlik ettiler.

²⁴Öyle ki Yerubbaal'ın yetmiş oğluna yapılan haksızlık ve dökülen kanlarının hesabı, onları öldüren kardeşleri Abimelek'ten ve kardeşlerini öldürmesi için ona destek veren Şekem adamlarından sorulsun.

²⁵Şekem adamları, dağların tepelerinde onun için pusular kurdular ve o yoldan geçen herkesi soydular. Bu durum Kral Abimelek'e bildirildi.

²⁶Yobel oğlu Gaal ile kardeşleri gelip Şekem'ye geçtiler; Şekem adamları da ona güvendiler.

²⁷Kırlara çıkıp bağlarının üzümlerini topladılar, sıktılar ve Ellulim şenlikleri yaptılar; ilahlarının tapınağına girip yiyip içtiler ve Abimelek'e lanet okudular.

²⁸Yobel oğlu Gaal şöyle dedi: "Abimelek kim, Şekem oğlu kim ki ona kulluk edelim? O, Yerubbaal'ın oğlu değil mi? Vekili Zebul da Şekem'in babası Emmor'un adamlarıyla birlikte onun kölesi değil mi? Biz neden ona kulluk edelim?"

²⁹"Keşke bu halk benim elim altında olsaydı! O zaman Abimelek'i uzaklaştırır ve ona, 'Ordunu çoğalt da meydana çık!' derdim."

³⁰Kentin yöneticisi Zebul, Yobel oğlu Gaal'ın sözlerini duyunca öfkeden kudurdu.

³¹Abimelek'e gizlice ulaklar göndererek şöyle dedi: "Bak, Yobel oğlu Gaal ile kardeşleri Şekem'e geldiler ve kenti sana karşı kuşatıyorlar.

³²Şimdi sen ve yanındaki halk geceleyin kalkın, kırda pusuya yatın.

³³Sabahleyin, güneş doğar doğmaz erkenden kalkıp kente doğru yayılın. O ve yanındaki halk sana karşı çıktığında, elinden geleni ona yaparsın."

³⁴Abimelek and yanındaki bütün halk geceleyin kalktılar ve Şekem'e karşı dört bölük halinde pusuya yattılar.

³⁵Yobel oğlu Gaal dışarı çıkıp kentin kapısının girişinde durdu. Abimelek ile yanındaki halk da pusudan çıktılar.

³⁶Yobel oğlu Gaal insanları görünce Zebul'a, "Bak, dağların tepelerinden bir halk iniyor!" dedi. Zebul ise ona, "Sen dağların gölgesini insan sanıyorsun" dedi.

³⁷Gaal yine konuşup şöyle dedi: "Bak, deniz yönünden, ülkenin merkezinden aşağıya doğru bir halk iniyor; başka bir bölük de Elon-Maonenim yolundan geliyor."

³⁸Zebul ona, "Hani nerede o, 'Abimelek kim ki ona kulluk edelim?' diyen ağzın? Küçümsediğin halk bu değil mi? Haydi şimdi çık da onlarla savaş!" dedi.

³⁹Gaal, Şekem adamlarının önünde çıktı ve Abimelek'le savaşa tutuştu.

⁴⁰Abimelek onu kovaladı, Gaal onun önünden kaçtı; kentin kapısının girişine kadar pek çok kişi yaralanıp düştü.

⁴¹Abimelek Aruma'da kaldı. Zebul ise Gaal ile kardeşlerini Şekem'de yaşamaktan menedip dışarı attı.

⁴²Ertesi gün halk kıra çıktı; bu durum Abimelek'e bildirildi.

⁴³Abimelek adamlarını alıp üç bölüğe ayırdı ve kırda pusuya yattı. Halkın kentten çıktığını görünce onlara karşı kalkıp onları vurdu.

⁴⁴Abimelek ve yanındaki bölükler ileri atılıp kentin kapısının girişinde durdular; diğer iki bölük ise kırda olanların üzerine atılıp onları vurdu.

⁴⁵Abimelek bütün o gün kentle savaştı, kenti ele geçirdi ve içindeki halkı öldürdü. Kenti yıkıp üzerine tuz ekti.

⁴⁶Şekem kulesinin bütün adamları bunu duyunca, Beytel-Berit'in sığınağına girdiler.

⁴⁷Şekem kulesinin bütün adamlarının toplandığı Abimelek'e bildirildi.

⁴⁸Abimelek ve yanındaki bütün halk Hermon Dağı'na çıktılar. Abimelek eline bir balta alıp bir ağaç dalı kesti, onu kaldırıp omuzuna koydu ve yanındaki halka, "Benim ne yaptığımı gördüyseniz, siz de hemen benim gibi yapın!" dedi.

⁴⁹Böylece herkes birer dal kesti, Abimelek'in ardınca giderek dalları sığınağın üzerine yığdılar ve sığınağı onların üzerine ateşle yaktılar. Şekem kulesinin bütün insanları, yaklaşık bin erkek ve kadın öldü.

⁵⁰Abimelek Beytel-Berit'ten çıkıp Tebes'e gitti, orayı kuşatıp ele geçirdi.

⁵¹Kentin ortasında güçlü bir kule vardı. Kentin bütün erkekleri ve kadınları oraya kaçtılar, kapıyı arkalarından kapayıp kulenin damına çıktılar.

⁵²Abimelek kuleye kadar gelip oraya saldırdı; kuleyi ateşle yakmak için kapısına kadar yaklaştı.

⁵³O sırada bir kadın, Abimelek'in başının üzerine bir üst değirmen taşı parçası fırlattı ve onun kafatasını kırdı.

⁵⁴Abimelek hemen silahlarını taşıyan uşağına seslenerek, "Kılıcını çek ve beni öldür, yoksa benim için 'Onu bir kadın öldürdü' derler" dedi. Bunun üzerine uşağı onu kılıçla delip geçti ve Abimelek öldü.

⁵⁵İsrail adamları Abimelek'in öldüğünü görünce, her biri kendi yerine döndü.

⁵⁶Böylece Tanrı, Abimelek'in yetmiş kardeşini öldürerek babasına karşı işlediği kötülüğün karşılığını verdi.

⁵⁷Tanrı, Şekem adamlarının yaptığı bütün kötülükleri de kendi başlarına döndürdü. Böylece Yerubbaal oğlu Yotam'ın laneti onların üzerine geldi.

¹ΚΑΙ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ υἱὸς ῾Ιεροβάαλ εἰς Συχὲμ πρὸς ἀδελφοὺς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν συγγένειαν οἴκου πατρὸς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ λέγων·

²λαλήσατε δὴ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶ πάντων τῶν ἀνδρῶν Συχέμ· τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὑμῖν, κυριεῦσαι ὑμῶν ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας, πάντας υἱοὺς ῾Ιεροβάαλ, ἢ κυριεύειν ὑμῶν ἄνδρα ἕνα; καὶ μνήσθητε ὅτι ὀστοῦν ὑμῶν καὶ σὰρξ ὑμῶν εἰμι.

³καὶ ἐλάλησαν περὶ αὐτοῦ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶ πάντων τῶν ἀνδρῶν Συχὲμ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους, καὶ ἔκλινεν ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ὀπίσω ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, ὅτι εἶπαν· ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν ἐστι.

⁴καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτῷ ἑβδομήκοντα ἀργυρίου ἐξ οἴκου Βααλβερίθ, καὶ ἐμισθώσατο ἑαυτῷ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἄνδρας κενοὺς καὶ δειλούς, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

⁵καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ εἰς ᾿Εφραθὰ καὶ ἀπέκτεινε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ υἱοὺς ῾Ιεροβάαλ ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας ἐπὶ λίθον ἕνα· καὶ κατελείφθη ᾿Ιωάθαμ υἱὸς ῾Ιεροβάαλ ὁ νεώτερος, ὅτι ἐκρύβη.

⁶καὶ συνήχθησαν πάντες ἄνδρες Σικίμων καὶ πᾶς οἶκος Βηθμααλὼν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ πρὸς τῇ βαλάνῳ τῇ εὑρετῇ τῆς στάσεως τῆς ἐν Σικίμοις.

⁷Καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ ᾿Ιωάθαμ, καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἔστη ἐπὶ κορυφὴν ὄρους Γαριζὶν καὶ ἐπῇρε τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκλαυσε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἀκούσατέ μου, ἄνδρες Σικίμων, καὶ ἀκούσεται ὑμῶν ὁ Θεός.

⁸πορευόμενα ἐπορεύθη τὰ ξύλα τοῦ χρῖσαι ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτὰ βασιλέα καὶ εἶπον τῇ ἐλαίᾳ· βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

⁹καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ ἐλαία· μὴ ἀπολείψασα τὴν ποιότητά μου, ἐν ᾗ δοξάσουσι τὸν Θεὸν ἄνδρες, πορεύσομαι κινεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων;

¹⁰καὶ εἶπαν τὰ ξύλα τῇ συκῇ· δεῦρο βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

¹¹καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συκῆ· μὴ ἀπολείψασα ἐγὼ τὴν γλυκύτητά μου καὶ τὰ γενήματά μου τὰ ἀγαθά, πορεύσομαι κινεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων;

¹²καὶ εἶπαν τὰ ξύλα πρὸς τὴν ἄμπελον· δεῦρο βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

¹³καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ ἄμπελος· μὴ ἀπολείψασα τὸν οἶνόν μου τὸν εὐφραίνοντα Θεὸν καὶ ἀνθρώπους, πορεύσομαι κινεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων;

¹⁴καὶ εἶπαν πάντα τὰ ξύλα τῇ ῥάμνῳ· δεῦρο σὺ βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

¹⁵καὶ εἶπεν ἡ ράμνος πρὸς τὰ ξύλα· εἰ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ χρίετέ με ὑμεῖς τοῦ βασιλεύειν ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς, δεῦτε ὑπόστητε ἐν τῇ σκιᾷ μου· καὶ εἰ μή, ἐξέλθοι πῦρ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ καταφάγοι τὰς κέδρους τοῦ Λιβάνου.

¹⁶καὶ νῦν εἰ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ τελειότητι ἐποιήσατε καὶ ἐβασιλεύσατε τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ εἰ ἀγαθωσύνην ἐποιήσατε μετὰ ῾Ιεροβάαλ, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰ ὡς ἀνταπόδοσις χειρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐποιήσατε αὐτῷ,

¹⁷ὡς παρετάξατο ὁ πατήρ μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξέρριψε τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐξεναντίας καὶ ἐρρύσατο ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιάμ,

¹⁸καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπανέστητε ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου σήμερον καὶ ἀπεκτείνατε τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας ἐπὶ λίθον ἕνα, καὶ ἐβασιλεύσατε τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ υἱὸν παιδίσκης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας Σικίμων, ὅτι ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν ἐστι,

¹⁹καὶ εἰ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ τελειότητι ἐποιήσατε μετὰ ῾Ιεροβάαλ καὶ μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ, εὐφρανθείη τε ἐν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ εὐφρανθείη καί γε αὐτὸς ἐφ᾿ ὑμῖν.

²⁰εἰ δὲ οὔ, ἐξέλθοι πῦρ ἀπὸ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ καταφάγοι τοὺς ἄνδρας Σικίμων καὶ τὸν οἶκον Βηθμααλὼν καὶ ἐξέλθοι πῦρ ἀπὸ ἀνδρῶν Σικίμων καὶ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Βηθμααλὼν καὶ καταφάγοι τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

²¹καὶ ἔφυγεν ᾿Ιωάθαμ καὶ ἀπέδρα καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἕως Βαιὴρ καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐκεῖ ἀπὸ προσώπου ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.

²²Καὶ ἦρξεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τρία ἔτη.

²³καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς πνεῦμα πονηρὸν ἀνὰ μέσον ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ἀνδρῶν Σικίμων, καὶ ἠθέτησαν ἄνδρες Σικίμων ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ,

²⁴τοῦ ἐπαγαγεῖν τὴν ἀδικίαν τῶν ἑβδομήκοντα υἱῶν ῾Ιεροβάαλ καὶ τὰ αἵματα αὐτῶν τοῦ θεῖναι ἐπὶ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν, ὃς ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐπὶ ἄνδρας Σικίμων, ὅτι ἐνίσχυσαν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ.

²⁵καὶ ἔθηκαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες Σικίμων ἐνεδρεύοντας ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς τῶν ὀρέων καὶ διήρπαζον πάντα, ὃς παρεπορεύετο ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ· καὶ ἀπηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

²⁶καὶ ἦλθε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ παρῆλθον ἐν Σικίμοις, καὶ ἤλπισαν ἐν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες Σικίμων.

²⁷καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ἀγρὸν καὶ ἐτρύγησαν τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπάτησαν καὶ ἐποίησαν ᾿Ελλουλὶμ καὶ εἰσήνεγκαν εἰς οἶκον Θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἔπιον καὶ κατηράσαντο τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

²⁸καὶ εἶπε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβήλ· τίς ἐστιν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ τίς ἐστιν υἱὸς Συχέμ, ὅτι δουλεύσομεν αὐτῷ; οὐχ υἱὸς ῾Ιεροβάαλ, καὶ Ζεβοὺλ ἐπίσκοπος αὐτοῦ δοῦλος αὐτοῦ σὺν τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ᾿Εμμὼρ πατρὸς Συχέμ; καὶ τί ὅτι δουλεύσομεν αὐτῷ ἡμεῖς;

²⁹καὶ τίς δῴη τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ἐν χειρί μου; καὶ μεταστήσω τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἐρῶ πρὸς αὐτόν· πλήθυνον τὴν δύναμίν σου καὶ ἔξελθε.

³⁰καὶ ἤκουσε Ζεβοὺλ ἄρχων τῆς πόλεως τοὺς λόγους Γαὰλ υἱοῦ ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ αὐτός.

³¹καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐν κρυφῇ λέγων· ἰδοὺ Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ἔρχονται εἰς Συχέμ, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτοὶ περικάθηνται τὴν πόλιν ἐπὶ σέ·

³²καὶ νῦν ἀνάστηθι νυκτός, σὺ καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ ἐνέδρευσον ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ,

³³καὶ ἔσται τὸ πρωΐ ἅμα τῷ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον, ὀρθριεῖς καὶ ἐκτενεῖς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὸς καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύονται πρὸς σέ, καὶ ποιήσεις αὐτῷ ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου.

³⁴καὶ ἀνέστη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἐνήδρευσαν ἐπὶ Συχὲμ τέτρασιν ἀρχαῖς.

³⁵καὶ ἐξῆλθε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ ἔστη πρὸς τῇ θύρᾳ τῆς πύλης τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἀνέστη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐνέδρου.

³⁶καὶ εἶδε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ τὸν λαὸν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ζεβούλ· ἰδοὺ λαὸς καταβαίνει ἀπὸ τῶν κεφαλῶν τῶν ὀρέων. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Ζεβούλ· τὴν σκιὰν τῶν ὀρέων σὺ βλέπεις ὡς ἄνδρας.

³⁷καὶ προσέθετο ἔτι Γαὰλ τοῦ λαλῆσαι καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ λαὸς καταβαίνων κατὰ θάλασσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐχόμενα ὀμφαλοῦ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἀρχὴ ἑτέρα ἔρχεται δι᾿ ὁδοῦ ῾Ηλωνμαωνενίμ.

³⁸καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Ζεβούλ· καὶ ποῦ ἐστι τὸ στόμα σου ὡς ἐλάλησας, τίς ἐστιν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, ὅτι δουλεύσομεν αὐτῷ; μὴ οὐχὶ οὗτος ὁ λαός, ὃν ἐξουδένωσας; ἔξελθε δὴ νῦν καὶ παράταξαι αὐτῷ.

³⁹καὶ ἐξῆλθε Γαὰλ ἐνώπιον ἀνδρῶν Συχὲμ καὶ παρετάξατο πρὸς ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

⁴⁰καὶ ἐδίωξεν αὐτὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ ἐφυγεν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔπεσον τραυματίαι πολλοὶ ἕως τῆς θύρας τῆς πύλης.

⁴¹καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐν ᾿Αρημά· καὶ ἐξέβαλε Ζεβοὺλτὸν Γαὰλ καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ μὴ οἰκεῖν ἐν Συχέμ.

⁴²καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς τὸν ἀγρόν, καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τῷ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

⁴³καὶ ἔλαβε τὸν λαόν, καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τρεῖς ἀρχὰς καὶ ἐνήδρευσεν ἐν ἀγρῷ· καὶ εἶδε καὶ ἰδοὺ λαὸς ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἀνέστη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς.

⁴⁴καὶ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ οἱ ἀρχηγοὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξέτειναν καὶ ἔστησαν παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς πύλης τῆς πόλεως, καὶ αἱ δύο ἀρχαὶ ἐξέτειναν ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτούς.

⁴⁵καὶ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ παρετάσσετο ἐν τῇ πόλει ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην καὶ κατελάβετο τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν ἐν αὐτῇ ἀπέκτεινε καὶ τὴν πόλιν καθεῖλε καὶ ἔσπειρεν αὐτὴν ἅλας.

⁴⁶καὶ ἤκουσαν πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες πύργων Συχὲμ καὶ ἦλθον εἰς συνέλευσιν Βαιθηλβερίθ.

⁴⁷καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ὅτι συνήχθησαν πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες πύργων Συχέμ.

⁴⁸καὶ ἀνέβη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ εἰς ὄρος ῾Ερμὼν καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔλαβεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τὰς ἀξίνας ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκοψε κλάδον ξύλου καὶ ᾖρε καὶ ἔθηκεν ἐπὶ ὤμων αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπε τῷ λαῷ τῷ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ὃ εἴδετέ με ποιοῦντα, ταχέως ποιήσατε ὡς ἐγώ.

⁴⁹καὶ ἔκοψαν καί γε ἀνὴρ κλάδον πᾶς ἀνὴρ καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπὶ τὴν συνέλευσιν καὶ ἐνεπύρισαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν συνέλευσιν ἐν πυρί, καὶ ἀπέθανον καί γε πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες πύργου Σικίμων ὡσεὶ χίλιοι ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες.

⁵⁰Καὶ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐκ Βαιθηλβερὶθ καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐν Θήβης καὶ κατέλαβεν αὐτήν.

⁵¹καὶ πύργος ἰσχυρὸς ἦν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἔφυγον ἐκεῖ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἔκλεισαν ἔξωθεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὸ δῶμα τοῦ πύργου.

⁵²καὶ ἦλθεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἕως τοῦ πύργου, καὶ παρετάξαντο αὐτῷ· καὶ ἤγγισεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἕως τῆς θύρας τοῦ πύργου τοῦ ἐμπρῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν πυρί.

⁵³καὶ ἔρριψε γυνὴ μία κλάσμα ἐπιμύλιον ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἔκλασε τὸ κρανίον αὐτοῦ.

⁵⁴καὶ ἐβόησε ταχὺ πρὸς τὸ παιδάριον τὸ αἷρον τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· σπάσον τὴν ρομφαίαν μου καὶ θανάτωσόν με, μή ποτε εἴπωσι· γυνὴ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτόν. καὶ ἐξεκέντησεν αὐτὸν τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπέθανε.

⁵⁵καὶ εἶδεν ἀνὴρ ᾿Ισραὴλ ὅτι ἀπέθανεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ.

⁵⁶καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ Θεὸς τὴν πονηρίαν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, ἣν ἐποίησε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι τοὺς ἑβδομήκοντα ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ.

⁵⁷καὶ τὴν πᾶσαν πονηρίαν ἀνδρῶν Συχὲμ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ Θεὸς εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἡ κατάρα ᾿Ιωάθαμ υἱοῦ ῾Ιεροβάαλ.

¹And Abimelech son of Jerobaal went to Sychem to his mother’s brethren; and he spoke to them and to all the kindred of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

²Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Sychem, saying, Which [is] better for you, that seventy men, even all the sons of Jerobaal, should reign over you, or that one man should reign over you? and remember that I am your bone and your flesh.

³And his mother’s brethren spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Sychem all these words; and their heart turned after Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.

⁴And they gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith; and Abimelech hired for himself vain and cowardly men, and they went after him.

⁵And he went to the house of his father to Ephratha, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men upon one stone; but Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal was left, for he hid himself.

⁶And all the men of Sicima, and all the house of Bethmaalo, were gathered together, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak of Sedition, which was at Sicima.

⁷And it was reported to Joatham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Garizin, and lifted up his voice, and wept, and said to them, Hear me, ye men of Sicima, and God shall hear you.

⁸The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive, Reign over us.

⁹But the olives said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, with which men shall glorify God, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁰And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come, reign over us.

¹¹But the fig-tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruits, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹²And the trees said to the vine, Come, reign over us.

¹³And the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁴Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou and [reign] over us.

¹⁵And the bramble said to the trees, If ye in truth anoint me to reign over you, come, stand under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Libanus.

¹⁶And now, if ye have done it in truth and integrity, and have made Abimelech king, and if ye have wrought well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and if ye have done to him according to the reward of his hand,

¹⁷as my father fought for you, and put his life in jeopardy, and delivered you out of the hand of Madiam;

¹⁸and ye are risen up this day against the house of my father, and have slain his sons, being seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his bondwoman king over the men of Sicima, because he is your brother:

¹⁹if then ye have done truly and faithfully with Jerobaal, and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice over you:

²⁰but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Sicima, and the house of Bethmaalo; and let fire come out from the men of Sicima and from the house of Bethmaalo, and devour Abimelech.

²¹And Joatham fled, and ran away, and went as far as Baeer, and dwelt there out of the way of his brother Abimelech.

²²And Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.

²³And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima dealt treacherously with the house of Abimelech:

²⁴to bring the injury done to the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and to lay their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and upon the men of Sicima, because they strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

²⁵And the men of Sicima set liers in wait against him on the top of the mountains, and robbed every one who passed by them on the way; and it was reported to the king Abimelech.

²⁶And Gaal son of Jobel came, and his brethren, and passed by Sicima, and the men of Sicima trusted in him.

²⁷And they went out into the field, and gathered their grapes, and trod them, and made merry; and they brought [the grapes] into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

²⁸And Gaal the son of Jobel said, Who is Abimelech, and who is the son of Sychem, that we should serve him? [Is he] not the son of Jerobaal, and [is] not Zebul his steward, his servant with the son of Emmor the father of Sychem? and why should we serve him?

²⁹And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech, and I would say to him, Multiply thy host, and come out.

³⁰And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, and he was very angry.

³¹And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Jobel and his brethren are come to Sychem; and behold, they have besieged the city against thee.

³²And now rise up by night, thou and the people with thee, and lay wait in the field.

³³And it shall come to pass in the morning at sunrising, thou shalt rise up early and draw toward the city; and behold, he and the people with him will come forth against thee, and thou shalt do to him according to thy power.

³⁴And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.

³⁵And Gaal the son of Jobel went forth, and stood by the door of the gate of the city: and Abimelech and the people with him rose up from the ambuscade.

³⁶And Gaal the son of Jobel saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, a people comes down from the top of the mountains: and Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.

³⁷And Gaal continued to speak and said, Behold a people comes down westward from the part bordering on the middle of the land, and another company comes by the way of Helon Maonenim.

³⁸And Zebul said to him, And where is thy mouth as thou spokest, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? [Is] not this the people whom thou despisedst? go forth now, and set the battle in array against him.

³⁹And Gaal went forth before the men of Sychem, and set the battle in array against Abimelech.

⁴⁰And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from before him; and many fell down slain as far as the door of the gate.

⁴¹And Abimelech entered into Arema, and Zebul cast out Gaal and his brethren, so that they should not dwell in Sychem.

⁴²And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and [one] brought word to Abimelech.

⁴³And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and formed an ambush in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people went forth out of the city, and he rose up against them, and smote them.

⁴⁴And Abimelech and the chiefs of companies that were with him rushed forward, and stood by the door of the gate of the city; and the two [other] companies rushed forward upon all that were in the field, and smote them.

⁴⁵And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶And all the men of the tower of Sychem heard, and came to the gathering of Baethel-berith.

⁴⁷And it was reported to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Sychem were gathered together.

⁴⁸And Abimelech went up to the mount of Selmon, and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch of a tree, and took it, and laid it on his shoulders; and said to the people that were with him, What ye see me doing, do quickly as I.

⁴⁹And they cut down likewise even every man a branch, and went after Abimelech, and laid them against the place of gathering, and burnt the place of gathering over them with fire; and they died, even all the men of the tower of Sicima, about a thousand men and women.

⁵⁰And Abimelech went out of Baethel-berith, and encamped against Thebes, and took it.

⁵¹And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city; and thither all the men and the women of the city fled, and shut [the door] without them, and went up on the roof of the tower.

⁵²And Abimelech drew near to the tower, and they besieged it; and Abimelech drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

⁵³And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.

⁵⁴And he cried out quickly to the young man his armour-bearer, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, lest at any time they should say, A woman slew him: and his young man thrust him through and he died.

⁵⁵And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead; and they went each to his place.

⁵⁶So God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he wrought against his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.

⁵⁷And all the wickedness of the men of Sychem God requited upon their head; and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.