1En dag besøgte Gideons søn, Abimelek, sine morbrødre i Sikem. Han bad dem og hele sin morfars slægt om at spørge Sikems ledende mænd:2„Foretrækker I at blive regeret af alle Gideons 70 sønner eller af én mand?” Og så huskede han dem på, at han jo gennem sin mor var beslægtet med dem.3Derpå talte onklerne hans sag for alle byens ledere, og de var positive over for idéen. „Abimelek er jo vores slægtning,” sagde de.4Derpå gav de ham 70 sølvstykker af de offergaver, der var indkommet til templet for deres afgud, Berit. Pengene brugte Abimelek til at leje en bande samvittighedsløse slyngler, der var villige til at gøre hvad som helst, han sagde.5Han tog mændene med sig hjem til Ofra, og der dræbte de alle hans 70 halvbrødre over en og samme sten, bortset fra Jotam, den yngste. Han blev ikke dræbt, for han havde gemt sig.6Derefter samledes indbyggerne i selve Sikem og i den nærliggende fæstningsby[1] ved det hellige egetræ i Sikem, hvor de udråbte Abimelek til konge.7Da Jotam hørte, hvad der var sket, gik han op på toppen af Garizims bjerg og råbte: „Lyt til mig, Sikems indbyggere, så vil Gud lytte til jer.8Der var engang nogle træer, som ville vælge en til at være konge over dem. Først sagde de til oliventræet: ‚Du skal være konge over os!’9Men oliventræet afslog tilbuddet: ‚Skulle jeg holde op med at producere min dyrebare olivenolie, som bruges til at ære både Gud og mennesker, bare for at regere over jer?’10Så sagde de til figentræet: ‚Du skal være konge over os!’11Men figentræet afslog tilbuddet: ‚Skulle jeg holde op med at producere min søde frugt bare for at regere over jer?’12Så sagde de til vinstokken: ‚Du skal være konge over os!’13Men vinstokken afslog tilbuddet: ‚Skulle jeg holde op med at producere den vin, der glæder både Gud og mennesker, bare for at regere over jer?’14Så sagde træerne til tornebusken: ‚Vil du være konge over os?’15‚Ja,’ svarede tornebusken, ‚hvis I er villige til at bøje jer og søge ly under min skygge. Vil I ikke det, skal flammer slå ud fra mine torne og brænde Libanons cedertræer ned til grunden!’ ”16Jotam fortsatte: „Var det mon på grundlag af trofasthed og oprigtighed, at I udråbte Abimelek til konge? Vil I påstå, at det var den rette måde at vise jeres taknemmelighed til Gideon og hans efterkommere på?17Kæmpede min far ikke selvopofrende for jer? Satte han ikke livet på spil, da han frelste jer fra midjanitterne?18Alligevel har I i dag gjort oprør imod ham og myrdet hans 70 sønner på en sten. Og I har tilmed udråbt hans slavepiges søn, Abimelek, til jeres konge, bare fordi han er jeres slægtning.19Havde I vist trofasthed over for Gideon og hans efterkommere, ville I have kunnet glæde jer med Abimelek, og Abimelek ville have kunnet glæde sig med jer.20Men nu skal flammer slå ud fra Abimelek og ødelægge Sikems og fæstningsbyens indbyggere, og flammer skal slå ud fra befolkningen og ødelægge Abimelek!”21Derefter flygtede Jotam til Be’er og slog sig ned der af frygt for sin halvbror.22-23Tre år senere satte Gud splid mellem kong Abimelek af Israel og indbyggerne i Sikem, så de gjorde oprør imod Abimelek.24Under de begivenheder, som fulgte, fik både Abimelek og Sikems indbyggere, der var medansvarlige for mordet på Gideons 70 sønner, deres velfortjente straf.25Sikems mænd gjorde oprør mod kong Abimelek og lagde baghold ved bjergpassene. De plyndrede alle, der kom forbi, og det blev meddelt Abimelek.26Omkring den tid kom der en mand ved navn Ga’al, søn af Ebed, og han slog sig ned i Sikem sammen med sine brødre. Ga’al blev snart en indflydelsesrig mand i byen.27En dag var der fest i byen, fordi druehøsten var forbi, og de havde også fået presset druerne i vinpersen. Festen blev holdt i byens afgudstempel, og der blev drukket tæt. Til sidst begyndte de alle at forbande Abimelek.28„Hvad bilder den Abimelek sig ind?” råbte Ga’al. „Hvad ret har han til at herske over os her i Sikem? Han er jo en søn af Gideon, som bare har indsat Zebul som guvernør over byen. Hvis nogen skulle herske over os, burde det være Hamors efterkommere, ikke Abimelek!29Hvis jeg kunne bestemme og havde folket med mig, skulle jeg snart få ham af vejen. Jeg ville udfordre ham og hans hær til kamp!”30Da Zebul fik at vide, hvad Ga’al havde sagt, blev han rasende31og sendte i smug følgende besked til Abimelek i Aruma: „Ga’al, søn af Ebed, har sammen med sine brødre slået sig ned i Sikem, og nu er de ved at organisere et oprør imod dig.32Derfor skal du komme i nat sammen med dine folk og lægge dig i baghold uden for byen.33Ved daggry skal du slå til og storme byen. Når Ga’al og hans mænd så rykker ud imod dig, har du dem i din hule hånd!”34Samme nat begav Abimelek og hans hær sig på vej mod Sikem. Da de ankom, delte de sig i fire grupper og lagde sig i baghold omkring byen.35Tidligt næste morgen, da Abimelek og hans mænd rykkede frem mod byen, var Ga’al gået ud til byens port, hvor lederne normalt samledes.36Da Ga’al fik øje på den fremstormende hær, sagde han til Zebul: „Se over mod bjergene! Er det ikke en hær, der er på vej?” „Nej,” svarede Zebul, „det er bare bjergenes skygger, du kan se.”37„Nej, se engang!” blev Ga’al ved. „Jeg er sikker på, at det er krigere, der kommer ned fra det hellige bjerg.[2] Og se, der kommer flere ad vejen fra spåmændenes egetræ.”38Da udbrød Zebul: „Hvor er nu dine store ord? Var det ikke dig, der sagde: ‚Hvad bilder den Abimelek sig ind, og hvad ret har han til at herske over os.’? De mænd, du hånede i går, er nu på vej mod byen. Ryk ud imod dem!”39Så rykkede Ga’al ud mod Abimelek sammen med mændene fra Sikem,40men Abimelek slog Ga’als folk tilbage, så der lå sårede og dræbte hele vejen ind til byporten.41Abimelek vendte tilbage til Aruma, så det blev Zebul som fik til opgave at jage Ga’al og hans brødre bort fra Sikem.42Næste dag gik mændene fra Sikem ud for at arbejde på deres marker, som de plejede. Da Abimelek fik det at vide,43kom han tilbage med sin hær, delte den i tre afdelinger og bad dem holde sig skjult på markerne om natten. Da han næste morgen så folkene komme ud af byen, gav han tegn til de tre hærafdelinger om at gå til angreb.44Den afdeling, som Abimelek var anfører for, skyndte sig hen til byporten, mens de to andre grupper kæmpede mod dem, som var på marken.45Kampen fortsatte hele dagen. Da alle Sikems mænd var dræbt, indtog Abimelek byen, hvorefter han slog resten af indbyggerne ihjel. Han jævnede byen med jorden, og strøede salt ud over ruinerne som tegn på, at den ikke skulle genopbygges.46De, som boede i tårnbyen,[3] søgte tilflugt i Berits afgudstempel, da de så, hvor det bar hen.47-48Men nogen fortalte det til Abimelek. Så førte han nogle af sine mænd op på Zalmons høj, hvor han med en økse huggede nogle visne grene af træerne og tog dem på skuldrene. „Skynd jer at gøre det samme, som I ser mig gøre!” beordrede han.49Så skyndte mændene sig at hugge hver sit knippe grene og fulgte efter Abimelek hen til templet, hvor de satte grenene op ad muren og satte ild til. På den måde omkom alle de 1000 mænd og kvinder, der boede i tårnbyen.50Derefter angreb Abimelek byen Tebetz og indtog den.51Indbyggerne søgte imidlertid tilflugt i byens fæstning og barrikaderede indgangen, inden de søgte op på taget.52Abimelek fulgte efter dem for at angribe fæstningen. Da han skulle til at sætte ild til den,53var der en kvinde oppe på taget, som kastede en møllesten ned, og den ramte ham i hovedet.54„Giv mig dødsstødet!” stønnede han til sin våbendrager. „Det skal ikke siges om Abimelek, at han blev dræbt af en kvinde.” Så gennemborede våbendrageren ham med sit sværd.55Da Abimeleks mænd så, at han var død, opløste de hæren og vendte tilbage til deres hjem.56På den måde straffede Gud Abimelek, fordi han havde myrdet sine 70 halvbrødre.57Gud straffede også Sikems indbyggere for al deres ondskab. Sådan gik Jotams ord i opfyldelse.
1Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, (Dom 8,31)2“Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” (1.Mos 29,14; Dom 8,30; Dom 9,1)3And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” (Dom 9,18)4And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. (Dom 8,33; Dom 9,46; Dom 11,3; 2.Krøn 13,7; Ord 12,11; Ap G 17,5)5And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. (Dom 6,24; 2.Kong 11,1)6And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. (Dom 9,20; 2.Sam 5,9)7When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. (5.Mos 11,29; 5.Mos 27,12; Josva 8,33; Joh 4,20)8The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ (Dom 8,22; 2.Kong 14,9)9But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’10And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’11But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’12And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’13But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ (Salm 104,15)14Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’15And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ (4.Mos 21,28; Dom 9,20; 1.Kong 4,33; 2.Kong 14,9; 2.Kong 19,23; Salm 104,16; Es 2,13; Es 30,2; Es 37,24; Ez 19,14; Dan 4,12; Hos 14,7)16“Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved— (Dom 6,32; Dom 8,35; Ord 12,14; Es 3,11)17for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,18and you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— (Dom 8,31; Dom 9,3; Dom 9,5)19if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. (Es 8,6)20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” (Dom 9,15; Dom 9,56)21And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother. (4.Mos 21,16)
The Downfall of Abimelech
22Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.23And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, (1.Sam 16,14; 1.Sam 18,10; 1.Sam 19,9; Es 33,1)24that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. (Dom 9,56; 1.Kong 2,32; Ester 9,25; Salm 7,16; Matt 23,35)25And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.26And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.27And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech. (Dom 9,4; Dom 9,46)28And Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? (1.Mos 34,2; 1.Mos 34,6; 1.Sam 25,10)29Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say[1] to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’”30When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.31And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly,[2] saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up[3] the city against you.32Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.33Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.” (Præd 9,10)34So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.35And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.36And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!” And Zebul said to him, “You mistake[4] the shadow of the mountains for men.” (Dom 9,7; Dom 9,25)37Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.”38Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.” (Dom 9,28)39And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.40And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.41And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.42On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told.43He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them.44Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them. (Dom 20,37)45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt. (5.Mos 29,23; 2.Kong 3,25)46When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith. (Dom 8,33; Dom 9,4; Dom 9,49)47Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.48And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.” (Salm 68,14)49So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women. (Dom 9,46)50Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.51But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower.52And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.53And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. (2.Sam 11,21)54Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. (1.Sam 31,4)55And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home.56Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. (Dom 9,24; Job 31,8; Salm 94,23; Ord 5,22)57And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. (Dom 9,20)