Abimelek
1 Nu Abimelek, omuzandu wa Jerubbaal, wa ya kOsikem komuhoko waina. Neye wa hungira kuna wo a tja: 2 “Arikaneye, kapureye otjiṋa hi ongahukiro kovature avehe va Sikem: ‘Tji tji ri otjiwa ku eṋe otjikeṋa, okongwi okuhonaparerwa i ovarumendu omirongo hambombari, avehe ovazandu va Jerubbaal, poo okongwi okuhonaparerwa i omurumendu umwe?’ Nu wina rizemburukeye kutja ami owami onyama nombinḓu yeṋu.” 3 Momuhoko waina ve kemuhungirira omambo nga aehe ongahukiro kovature va Sikem. Nowo ve ripura okukongorera Abimelek, tjinga ava tja: “Eye omuzamumwe wetu.” 4 Owo opu ve mu pera ovimariva ovisilveri omirongo hambombari okuza mondjuwo onḓere ya Baal-Beret. Novimariva mbi Abimelek wa kuta na vyo ovandu ovehinohepero novehinaunongo kutja ve mu kongorere. 5 Neye wa ya kondjuwo ya ihe mOofra na kazepera ovangu ve kewe rimwe, imba ovazandu va Jerubbaal, ovarumendu omirongo hambombari; nungwari Jotam, omuzandu wa Jerubbaal ongero, ongwa hupa po, tjinga a kaṱara. 6 Okuzambo ovature avehe va Sikem nova Milo otji va worongana, nave kazikira Abimelek pOmumbonde-wOtjizemburukiro mbu ri mOsikem a rire ombara.
7 Nowo tji va tjivisa otjiṋa hi ku Jotam, eye arire tja kakurama kondomba yondundu Garisim na yere eraka re ama ravaere nai ku wo: “Purateneye ku ami, vature va Sikem, kutja Ndjambi a puratene ku eṋe wina! 8 Eyuva rimwe omiti vya ya okukazika ombara yavyo navi katja nai komuṋinga: ‘Rira ombara yetu!’ 9 Nungwari imbwi omuṋinga wa zira au tja: ‘Hi ise okupitisa omaze wandje, ovisenginina novandu ngu ve ndji tangera, nu mbi katengerere kombanda yomiti are?’ 10 Nomiti arire tji vya tja komukuyu: ‘Ove indjo u karire ombara yetu!’ 11 Nungwari imbwi omukuyu wa tja nai ku vyo: ‘Hi ise okupitisa oruaze rwandje novihape vyandje oviwa, nu mbi katengerere kombanda yomiti are?’ 12 Nomiti arire tji vya tja komuvite: ‘Ove indjo u karire ombara yetu!’ 13 Nungwari imbwi omuvite wa tja nai ku vyo: ‘Hi ise okupitisa omeva wandje womandjembere nge yorokisa ovisenginina novandu, nu mbi katengerere kombanda yomiti are?’ 14 Nomiti avihe arire tji vya tja kotjimbuku: ‘Ove indjo u karire ombara yetu!’ 15 Notjimbuku tja tja nai komiti: ‘Eṋe tji mamu vanga katjotjiri okundjitwirisa mbi rire ombara yeṋu, indjeye mu wame momuzire wandje; ape he ri nao, omuriro mau zu motjimbuku nau seseta otupapa twa Libanon!’ ”
16 Jotam wa hungira komurungu na tja: “Eṋe nao mwa tjita mouatjiri na mouṱakame, tji mwa zika Abimelek a rire ombara are? Eṋe nao mwa tjita ouwa ku Jerubbaal neṱunḓu re, tji mwa tjita ku ye otja komayenenisiro wozondjito ze are? 17 Zemburukeye kutja tate wa rwira eṋe. Eye ka yamene omuinyo we mokumuyama kOvamidian. 18 Nungwari ndinondi eṋe mwa sekamena ondjuwo ya tate. Eṋe mwa zepera ovazandu ve, ovarumendu omirongo hambombari, kewe rimwe namu ziki Abimelek, omuzandu womukazendu we omumbanda, a rire ombara yovature va Sikem, eye tjinga a ri omuzamumwe weṋu. 19 Nu ndinondi eṋe tji mwa tjiti mouatjiri na mouṱakame ku Jerubbaal neṱunḓu re, yorokereye Abimelek, neye nga yorokere eṋe. 20 Nungwari ape he ri nao, ngamu pite omuriro mu Abimelek u sesete ovature va Sikem nova Milo; nu ngamu pite omuriro movature va Sikem nova Milo u sesete Abimeleke.” 21 Jotam otja tupuka na taurire kObeer na kakara ngo mena rokutira erumbi re Abimelek.
22 Abimelek wa honaparera Ovaisrael oure wozombura ndatu. 23 Ndjambi arire tja sekamisa ombepo ombi pokati ka Abimelek novature va Sikem, nowo va huhunuka ku Abimelek. 24 Otjiṋa hi tja tjitwa kutja ourunde mbwa tjitirwe kovazandu imba omirongo hambombari va Jerubbaal u sutisiwe, nokutja ombinḓu yawo i sutisiwe mu Abimelek, erumbi rawo, ngwe ve zepa, na wina movature va Sikem mbe mu vatera okuzepa ovangu ve. 25 Ovature va Sikem va twa ovandu motutatwa kozondomba zozondundu; nowo va huura omundu auhe ngwa kapitira mondjira. Nu ihi tja tjivisiwa ku Abimelek.
26 Nu Gaal, omuzandu wa Ebed, weya puna ovangu ve kOsikem; novature va Sikem va kara nonḓakameno mu ye. 27 Nowo avehe va ya kovikunino vyomivite, ave kapora omandjembere nokuyekama nave tjiti omukandi. Tjazumba otji va hita mondjuwo onḓere yotjisenginina ave ri, ave nu, nave tukana Abimelek. 28 Nu Gaal, omuzandu wa Ebed, wa tja nai: “Abimelek eye owaṋi, neṱe Ovasikem oweṱe ovakendu, kutja matu kara ovandu vokehi ye? Eye kamuzandu wa Jerubbaal, nu Sebul kamumuungurire are? Karereye ovarumendu va Hamor, ihe yomuhoko wa Sikem. Nu ingwi Abimelek matu mu karerere tjike? 29 Andakuzu otjiwaṋa hi tji ri kehi youvara wandje ami etje ramba Abimelek; etje mu raera nai: ‘Tji u notjimbumba otjinene tjovita, indjo, pita u rwe!’”
30 Sebul, omunane wotjihuro, tja zuva omambo nga wa Gaal, omuzandu wa Ebed, arire tja ṱomazenge tjinene. 31 Neye wa tuma ovahindwa mongumumu ku Abimelek kOaruma okukemutjivisa nai: “Tara Gaal, omuzandu wa Ebed, weya puna ovangu ve kOsikem, nowo mave ku hohizire ovandu motjihuro. 32 Rirongera ouṱuku mbunombwi, ove novarwe voye wovita, nu mu kaṱare mokuti motutatwa. 33 Nu omuhuka omunene tjipatji, rwisa otjihuro. Nu Gaal tja sekama novarwe ve wovita, tjita ku ye otja pu pe ṱa!”
34 Abimelek novarwe ve wovita avehe otji ve rirongera ouṱuku mbo nave kaṱara movimbumba vine motutatwa popezu na Sikem. 35 Gaal, omuzandu wa Ebed, tja pita pendje yotjihuro na kakurama pomuvero, Abimelek novarwe ve wovita arire tji va piti motutatwa twawo. 36 Nu Gaal tje ve muna wa tja nai ku Sebul: “Tjiri, ngwina maku rauka ovandu wovita kozondomba zozondundu.”
Nungwari Sebul we mu zira a tja: “Imbwo omuzire wozondundu mbu mo munu aayo ovandu.”
37 Nu Gaal wa tja nai rukwao: “Tara, maku rauka ovarwe komakapitiro wozondundu, notjimbumba tjimwe matji zire komukuma wOmumbonde wOndjai.”
38 Sebul opa tjera ku ye: “Otjinyo tjoye otjinene nambano tji ri pi tjiyo ravaere na tjo nai: ‘Ingwi Abimelek owaṋi kutja twa sokukara ovandu vokehi ye?’ Owo, owo mba ovandu vokehi ye? Owo, owo mba ovandu mbu wa nyengurire! Nambano sekama vari u karwe na wo!” 39 Gaal wa hongorera ovature va Sikem na karwisa Abimelek. 40 Gaal wa taura komurungu wa Abimelek, nu Abimelek we mu tezera. Novengi va ṱa nave saravara pehi nga pomuvero wotjihuro. 41 Nu Abimelek wa kara mOaruma, nungwari Sebul wa ramba Gaal novandu ve, ne ve tjaere okutura mOsikem.
42 Eyuva ekongorerwa raindo ovandu va Sikem va ya mokuti. Nu Abimelek wa hepurirwa otjiṋa ho. 43 Neye opa toorera ovarwe ve, e ve haṋa movimbumba vitatu ne ve twara mokuti motutatwa. Neye tja muna kutja ovandu mave piti motjihuro, eye wina otja pita motutatwa twe ne ve zepa. 44 Abimelek wa purukuta notjimbumba tje nga pomuvero wotjihuro na kakurama mbo. Nu ovimbumba mbi vivari vyarwe vya rwisa ovandu mba ri mokuti, navi zepa avehe. 45 Abimelek wa rwisa otjihuro oure weyuva ndo arihe. Neye wa kambura otjihuro na zepa avehe, mba ri mu tjo. Okuzambo eye wa hahaura otjihuro na handjaurire mo omongwa.
46 Novature avehe votjiṱunga tja Sikem tji va zuva otjiṋa hi otji va kahita metuwo rokehi rondjuwo onḓere ya Baal-Beret. 47 Abimelek wa raerwa kutja ovature avehe votjiṱunga tja Sikem va woronganene mo. 48 Nu Abimelek wa ronda kondundu Salmon puna ovarumendu ve wovita. Neye wa toora ekuva na ke na ro orutavi rwomuti; arire tje ru toora e ru twa kotjiṱuve tje na tja nai kovarumendu ve wovita mba ri puna ye: “Ihi tji mwa munu tji mba tjiti, tji tjiteye wina mohakahana.” 49 Ovarumendu va Abimelek avehe wovita otji va ka auhe orutavi rwe, ave mu kongorere nave katendeka otutavi twi kombanda yetuwo ndi rokehi. Nowo ve tu hwikira kombanda yetuwo rokehi, ngunda amwa ri ovandu mba avehe votjiṱunga tja Sikem; nu mwa tira ovarumendu novakazendu mangara eyovi rimwe.
50 Tjazumba Abimelek otja ya kOtebes, arire tje ketjikovera ne tji kambura. 51 Mokati kotjihuro hi mwa ri otjiretundu otjinamasa, novarumendu novakazendu novanane avehe votjihuro va taurira ku tjo; nowo ve ripatera mo, narire tji va karonda komututu wotjiretundu. 52 Abimelek weya nga potjiretundu ne tji rwisa. Neye wa ryama nga omahitiro wotjiretundu hi kutja e tji nyose. 53 Nungwari omukazendu worive wa yemena ewe rotjikweyero kotjiuru tje, ne mu nyanyaura otjikongo. 54 Nu Abimelek wa rakiza omukarere we, omutjinde woviyumbe vye, a tja ku ye: “Nana engaruvyo roye u ndji zepe. Ami hi nokuvanga kutja ku kaze mba ṱa i omukazendu.” Omukarere we ope mu tuvakaṋisira engaruvyo, neye arire tja koka. 55 Novarumendu Ovaisrael tji va muna kutja Abimelek wa koka, avehe otji va yaruka kozoyawo.
56 Komuhingo mbwi Ndjambi opa sutisira ouvi Abimelek mbwa tjitire ku ihe mokuzepa omarumbi we omirongo hambombari. 57 Imbwi ouvi wovarumendu va Sikem Ndjambi we u yarura mu wo oveni; nosengiro ya Jotam, omuzandu wa Jerubbaal, ye ya kombanda yawo.
1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 3 And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 ¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 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 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 ¶ When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes , and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 ¶ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 ¶ And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men. 37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 ¶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that , they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done . 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 ¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 ¶ Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
