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.
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.