Abimeleki
1 Kwakati limwe zhuba Abimeleki nkololo wa Jerubhaale kayenda kuna bobasekulu babe ku Shekemu ngono kadwa beludzi gose gwaka mmebabe kati, 2 “Bhuzwani bagali bose be Shekemu muti, ‘Tjakamululwamila nditjipi, ndikuti mubusiwe nge bakololo bose ba Jerubhaale bali makumi ali kutendeka ana kutendeka (77) kene mu busiwe nge ali nng'ompela?’ Kumbulani kuti ndi nyama ne lopa ling'ompela namwi.” 3 Ngono bobasekulu babe bakanonlebelekela matama wose iyawa mu bathu bose be Shekemu. Ngono bose bakadumilana na Abimeleki, ngoti beti, “Mwana we hazwadzi yedu.” 4 Ngono bakampa shekele dze siliva dzili makumi ali kutendeka (70) kudwa mu ng'umba ya Bhaaleberiti. Abimeleki ka hira bomashwaushingani bakabe ibo batobeli babe. 5 Kayenda ku ng'umba ya tate babe ku Ofira ngono kabulaya bana ba tate babe bakololo ba Jerubhaale bali makumi ali kutendeka (70) mu bgwe ling'ompela koga kwakasala Jothamu kologwe tja Jerubhaale ngoti wakabe akabgwata. 6 Ngono bathu bose be Shekemu ne be Bhetimilo bakakubungana pa nti we N'oko we phanda ku Shekemu, bakathama Abimeleki mambo.
7 Kwakati Jothamu asinakubudziwa ngekwako, katatha pezhugwi kwe Dombo le Gerizimu ngono kabamimilila eti, “Munditeedze imwi bathu be Shekemu kuti ndizo Ndzimu bamuteedze. 8 Kwakati limwe zhuba miti ikayenda kunozwizhodzela mambo, ngono ikadwa nti we ntoba ikati, ‘Uti buse.’
9 “Koga nti we ntoba ukashandula uti, ‘Apa ndisiye mafuta angu kene, iwo anokudza midzimu kose ne bathu kuti ndino tungamila miti kene?’
10 “Ngono miti ikadwa nti we mpaya iti, ‘Buya ube mambo wedu.’
11 “Koga nti we mpaya ukayishandula uti, ‘Apa ndisiye zipa kwangu ne ntjelo wangu wakanaka ndino tungamila miti kene?’
12 “Ngono miti ikadwa nzhambi iti, ‘Izha iwe uti buse.’
13 “Ngono nzhambi ukashandula uti, ‘Apa ndingasiya nkumbi wangu iwo unoshathisa kose midzimu ne bathu ndino tungamila miti kene?’
14 “Ngono miti yose ikadwa mihwa iti, ‘Buya ube mambo wedu.’
15 “Ngono mihwa ukashandula miti uti, ‘Nge malebeswa apa mushaka kundizhodza ndibe mambo wenyu, buyani mugale kusi kwe ntutshi wangu, koga apa kusakajalo, moto nga ubhude mu ishaka tje mihwa ngono ulotese misida ye Lebhanoni.’
16 “Ngono ngwenu, ha ilikuti makashinga tjakanaka nge kugalabgwe nge biga Abimeleki mambo, ha ilikuti makathamila Jerubhaale zubanana ne bensha uwe, ngono ha ilikuti makanthamila tjakabetjakanfanila, 17 ngoti tate bangu bakamugwila ngono bakalonga butjilo gwabo mu mbatsha nge kumusunungula mu maboko e Bamidiyani. 18 Ngono matjimukila be nsha wa tate bangu nasi, mabulaya bakololo babo bali makumi ali kutendeka (70) mu bgwe ling'ompela, ngono mabiga Abimeleki nkololo we nlandakadzi wabo kube mambo we bathu be Shekemu ngoti ili wa kanyikwenyu. 19 Ngono ndikati, ha mashinga tjakanaka ne kukudza Jerubhaale ne be nsha uwe nasi, ndizo shathilani Abimeleki naiye amushathilebo. 20 Ngono ha kusakajalo, moto ngaudwe kuna Abimeleki ngono ulotese bathu be Shekemu ne be Bhetimilo, moto ngaudwe mu bathu be Shekemu ne be Bhetimiko ulotese Abimeleki.”
21 Ipapo Jothamu katizha kayenda ku Bheri, ngono kanogala ikoko ngoti wakabe wotja Abimeleki mwana wa tate babe.
22 Abimeleki wakabusa Iziraela kwe makole matatu. 23 Ngono Ndzimu ukatumila meya mbi pakati kwa Abimeleki ne bathu be Shekemu, ngono bathu be Shekemu bakathamila Abimeleki kwakabangalala. 24 Ndzimu wakathama ikoku kuti ndizo nlandu wakathamigwa bakololo ba Jerubhaale bali makumi ali kutendeka, kutebugwa kwe lopa labo libgwilizigwe mu mwana wa tatebabo Abimeleki ne mu bathu be Shekemu bakambatsha kubulaya bana ba tate babe. 25 Ndizo bathu be Shekemu bakabiga balume pezhugwi kwe matombo kunlalila, ngono bakatolela bose bakabepinda ipapo, Abimeleki kabudziwa nge kwako.
26 Ngono Gali nkololo wa Ebedi kayenda ku Shekemu ne bana ba tate babe, ngono bathu be Shekemu bakagalabgwe munli. 27 Bakabhudila ku minda ngono bakakubunganya zhambi ku minda yabo ye mizhambi bakadzitshamba, bakathama nzano bakanongina mu ng'umba ye ndzimu wabo, bakaja bakang'wa ngono bakalonga Abimeleki bhiso. 28 Ngono Gali nkololo wa Ebedi kabe eti, “Abimeleki ndiyani, iswi be Shekemu tiboyani kwatinga nshingila? Apa ate ali nkololo wa Jerubhaale, Zebuli ate ali nthusi uwe kene? Shingilani balume be Hamori tate ba Shekemu. Ngekutini takafanila kunshingila? 29 Ha bathu ibaba babe balipasi kwe ndaulo yangu, ndabe ndowodusa Abimeleki. Ndabe ndowodwa Abimeleki nditi, ‘Paphidza ngwa iyo ubhude.’ ”
30 Kwakati Zebuli ntungamili we nzi ehwa matama a Gali nkololo wa Ebedi, kagwadzamoyo kwazo. 31 Katuma batumwa mu ikohwa kuna Abimeleki eti, “Gali nkololo wa Ebedi ne bana batate babe babuya mu Shekemu ngono banodzonga nzi kugwa nawe. 32 Ndizo ngwenu, tjibhuda iwe ne balume babo kuli busiku munobalalila ku shango. 33 Mu mangwanana zhuba libhuda, mube muzha munzi mu unginilile. Kowoti Gali ne balume baanabo bekunginilila, uthame tjimwe ne tjimwe tjingatubugwa nge maboko awo.”
34 Ndizo Abimeleki ne balume bose baakabeanabo bakamilika busiku bakalalila Shekemu nge makupo manna. 35 Ndizo Gali nkololo wa Ebedi kabhuda kanoma pa nkoba we nzi, ngono Abimeleki ne balume bakabe banaye bakabhuda mu malalilo. 36 Kwakati Gali ebabona, kadwa Zebuli kati, “Bona bathu banodeluka pezhugwi kwe matombo.”
Ngono Zebuli kandwa kati, “Unobona mitutshi ye matombo ilingika se bathu.”
37 Koga Gali kalebeleka kakale kati, “Bona, bathu banodwa pakati kwe tje shango, ngono gupo limwe lodwa tjekundzibo we nti we N'oko.”
38 Ipapo Zebuli kandwa kati, “Aponi matama awo awaleba uti, ‘Abimeleki ndiyani kwatingabe pasi kukwe kene?’ Apa ateibo balume bawakatuka ibaba kene? Bhuda unogwa nabo.”
39 Gali katungamila bathu be Shekemu kunogwa na Abimeleki. 40 Ngono Abimeleki kantatamila ngono katizha, banji bakabulawa kunoti tjose ku nkoba we nzi. 41 Abimeleki kagala ku Aruma, Zebuli katata Gali ne bana batate babe mu Shekemu.
42 Kwakati tjimuka, bathu be Shekemu bakayenda ku minda, ngono kukabudziwa Abimeleki 43 Katola balume babe kabathubukanya kube makupo matatu, ngono kabalalila ku minda, kalinga kabona bathu bebhuda mu nzi, ngono kabamukila kababulaya. 44 Abimeleki ne goko lakabelinaye bakalibilidzila mbeli ngono bakanoma pa nkoba we nzi, ipapo makupo mabili akalibilidzila kuna bose bakabebali ku minda ngono bakababulaya. 45 Ngono Abimeleki kagwa ne nzi zhuba lose, katola nzi ngono kabulaya bose bakabebali mukati. Kalobesa nzi ngono kapaladzila mwenyu muuli.
46 Kwakati bathu be thungamakole ye Shekemu behwa nge kwako, bakangina mu matizhilo e ng'umba ya Elibheriti. 47 Abimeleki wakabe abudziwa kuti bathu bose be thungamakole ye Shekemu bakubungana. 48 Abimeleki ne bathu bose bakabe banaye bakatathila ku Dombo le Zalimoni, ngono Abimeleki kabhata shathu nge luboko gugwe kathubula matabi, kaasenga nge mathudzi. Kadwa balume bakabe banaye kati, “Libilidzani muthame tjamabona ndithama.” 49 Ndizo balume bose bakatema matabi bakatobela Abimeleki. Bakaabutitika pa ng'umba ye matizhilo ngono bakayipisa nge moto bathu bali mukati. Ndizo bathu bose be thungamakole ye Shekemu bakafabo, kungabe tjiwulu (1 000) tje balume ne betjikadzi.
50 Kudwa ipapo Abimeleki kayenda ku Thebesi kayikomba nge ngwa ngono kayitapa. 51 Koga kwakabekuna thungamakole yakasima munzi, bathu bose bakatizhila ku ili, betjilume ne betjikadzi ngono bakazwizhalilila muili, bakatathila ku denga le thungamakole. 52 Abimeleki kayenda ku thungamakole kayigwisa. Koga wakati atjasedzela ku nkoba wayo kuti ayipise nge moto, 53 mmwe nkadzi kaligila hibgwe mu nsholo wa Abimeleki uka pkhwanyika. 54 Akadana nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kandwa kati, “Shomola thumo lilo undibulaye, bathu basidwe beti, ‘Wakabulawa nge nkadzi.’ ” Ngono nzhuzha kambhaya kafa. 55 Kwakati balume be Iziraela bebona kuti Abimeleki wafa, nthu mmwe ne mmwe akabgwilila kanyi kukwe.
56 Ndiko Ndzimu sekwa wakabgwilizila Abimeleki bubi gwaakathamila tate babe ngo bulaya bakulu babe bali makumi ali kutendeka. 57 Ndzimu ukathamabo kuti mbipo yose yakathamiwa nge bathu be Shekemu iwile mu misholo yabo. Bhiso la Jothamu nkololo wa Jerubhaale likabawila.
Abimelech Tries To Be King
1 Abimelech the son of Gideon went to Shechem. While there, he met with his mother's relatives 2 and told them to say to the leaders of Shechem, “Do you think it would be good to have all 70 of Gideon's sons ruling us? Wouldn't you rather have just one man be king? Abimelech would make a good king, and he's related to us.”
3 Abimelech's uncles talked it over with the leaders of Shechem who agreed, “Yes, it would be better for one of our relatives to be king.” 4 Then they gave Abimelech 70 pieces of silver from the temple of their god Baal Berith.
Abimelech used the silver to hire a gang of rough soldiers who would do anything for money. 5 Abimelech and his soldiers went to his father's home in Ophrah and brought out Gideon's other sons to a large rock, where they murdered all 70 of them. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid from the soldiers, but he was the only one who escaped.
6 The leaders of Shechem, including the priests and the military officers, met at the tree next to the sacred rock in Shechem to crown Abimelech king. 7 Jotham heard what they were doing. So he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted down to the people who were there at the meeting:
Leaders of Shechem,
listen to me,
and maybe God
will listen to you.
8 Once the trees searched
for someone to be king;
they asked the olive tree,
“Will you be our king?”
9 But the olive tree replied,
“My oil brings honor
to people and gods.
I won't stop making oil,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
10 Then they asked the fig tree,
“Will you be our king?”
11 But the fig tree replied,
“I won't stop growing
my delicious fruit,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
12 Next they asked the grape vine,
“Will you be our king?”
13 But the grape vine replied,
“My wine brings cheer
to people and gods.
I won't stop making wine,
just so my branches can wave
above the other trees.”
14 Finally, they went
to the thornbush and asked,
“Will you be our king?”
15 The thornbush replied,
“If you really want me
to be your king,
then come into my shade
and I will protect you.
But if you're deceiving me,
I'll start a fire
that will spread out and destroy
the cedars of Lebanon.”
After Jotham had finished telling this story, he said:
16-18 My father Gideon risked his life for you when he fought to rescue you from the Midianites. Did you reward Gideon by being kind to his family? No, you did not! You attacked his family and killed all 70 of his sons on that rock.
And was it right to make Abimelech your king? He's merely the son of my father's slave girl. But just because he's your relative, you made him king of Shechem.
19 So, you leaders of Shechem, if you treated Gideon and his family the way you should have, then I hope you and Abimelech will make each other very happy. 20 But if it was wrong to treat Gideon and his family the way you did, then I pray that Abimelech will destroy you with fire, and I pray that you will do the same to him.
21 Jotham ran off and went to live in the town of Beer, where he could be safe from his brother Abimelech.
Abimelech Destroys Shechem
22 Abimelech had been a military commander of Israel for three years, 23-24 when God decided to punish him and the leaders of Shechem for killing Gideon's 70 sons.
So God turned the leaders of Shechem against Abimelech. 25 Then they sent some men to hide on the hilltops and watch for Abimelech and his troops, while they sent others to rob everyone that went by on the road. But Abimelech found out what they were doing.
26 One day, Gaal son of Ebed went to live in Shechem. His brothers moved there too, and soon the leaders of Shechem started trusting him.
27 The time came for the grape harvest, and the people of Shechem went into their vineyards and picked the grapes. They gathered the grapes and made wine. Then they went into the temple of their god and threw a big party. There was a lot of eating and drinking, and before long they were cursing Abimelech.
28 Gaal said:
Hamor was the founder of Shechem, and one of his descendants should be our ruler. But Abimelech's father was Gideon, so Abimelech isn't really one of us. He shouldn't be our king, and we shouldn't have to obey him or Zebul, who rules Shechem for him. 29 If I were the ruler of Shechem, I'd get rid of that Abimelech. I'd tell him, “Get yourself an even bigger army, and we will still defeat you.”
30 Zebul was angry when he found out what Gaal had said. 31 And so he sent some messengers to Abimelech. But they had to pretend to be doing something else, or they would not have been allowed to leave Shechem. Zebul told the messengers to say:
Gaal the son of Ebed has come to Shechem along with his brothers, and they have persuaded the people to let Gaal rule Shechem instead of you. 32 This is what I think you should do. Lead your army here during the night and hide in the fields. 33 Get up the next morning at sunrise and rush out of your hiding places to attack the town. Gaal and his followers will come out to fight you, but you will easily defeat them.
34 So one night, Abimelech led his soldiers to Shechem. He divided them into four groups, and they all hid near the town.
35 The next morning, Gaal went out and stood in the opening of the town gate. Abimelech and his soldiers left their hiding places, 36 and Gaal saw them. Zebul was standing there with Gaal, and Gaal remarked, “Zebul, that looks like a crowd of people coming down from the mountaintops.”
“No,” Zebul answered, “it's just the shadows of the mountains. It only looks like people moving.”
37 “But Zebul, look over there,” Gaal said. “There's a crowd coming down from the sacred mountain, and another group is coming along the road from the tree where people talk with the spirits of the dead.”
38 Then Zebul replied, “What good is all of your bragging now? You were the one who said Abimelech shouldn't be the ruler of Shechem. Out there is the army that you made fun of. So go out and fight them!”
39 Gaal and the leaders of Shechem went out and fought Abimelech. 40 Soon the people of Shechem turned and ran back into the town. However, Abimelech and his troops were close behind and killed many of them along the way.
41 Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul forced Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 The next morning, the people of Shechem were getting ready to work in their fields as usual, but someone told Abimelech about it. 43 Abimelech divided his army into three groups and set up an ambush in the fields near Shechem. When the people came out of the town, he and his army rushed out from their hiding places and attacked. 44 Abimelech and the troops with him ran to the town gate and took control of it, while two other groups attacked and killed the people who were in the fields. 45 He and his troops fought in Shechem all day, until they had killed everyone in town. Then he and his men tore down the houses and buildings and scattered salt everywhere.
46 Earlier that day, the leaders of the temple of El Berith at Shechem had heard about the attack. So they went into the temple fortress, 47 but Abimelech found out where they were. 48 He led his troops to Mount Zalmon, where he took an ax and chopped off a tree branch. He lifted the branch onto his shoulder and shouted, “Hurry! Cut off a branch just as I did.”
49 When they all had branches, they followed Abimelech back to Shechem. They piled the branches against the fortress and set them on fire, burning down the fortress and killing about 1,000 men and women.
50 After destroying Shechem, Abimelech went to Thebez. He surrounded the town and captured it. 51 But there was a tall fortress in the middle of the town, and the town leaders and everyone else went inside. Then they barred the gates and went up to the flat roof.
52 Abimelech and his army rushed to the fortress and tried to force their way inside. Abimelech himself was about to set the heavy wooden doors on fire, 53 when a woman on the roof dropped a large rock on his head and cracked his skull. 54 The soldier who carried his weapons was nearby, and Abimelech told him, “Take out your sword and kill me. I don't want people to say that I was killed by a woman!”
So the soldier ran his sword through Abimelech. 55 And when the Israelite soldiers saw that their leader was dead, they went back home.
56 That's how God punished Abimelech for killing his brothers and bringing shame on his father's family. 57 God also punished the people of Shechem for helping Abimelech. Everything happened just as Jotham's curse said it would.