1 És elméne Abimélek, a Jerubbaál fia Sikembe, az õ anyjának atyjafiaihoz,2 Mondjátok meg, kérlek, Sikem minden férfiának hallatára, melyik jobb3 És elmondották anyjának testvérei róla mind e beszédeket Sikem minden4 És adának néki hetven ezüst [pénzt] a Baál-Beritnek házából, és ezzel5 És elméne atyjának házához Ofrába, és megölé testvéreit, Jerubbaál6 És összegyülekezék Sikemnek egész polgársága, és Millónak egész háza, és7 Mikor pedig [ezt] elbeszélték vala Jóthámnak, elment és megállott a8 [Egyszer] elmenvén elmentek a fák, hogy királyt válaszszanak magoknak,9 De az olajfa [így] felelt nékik: Elhagyjam az én kövérségemet, a10 Akkor a fügefának szólottak a fák: Jer el te, [és] uralkodjál rajtunk!11 De a fügefa [is] azt mondta nékik: Elhagyjam-é édességemet és jó12 Azután a szõlõtõnek mondák a fák: Jer el te, uralkodjál rajtunk.13 Azonban a szõlõtõ [is] azt mondta nékik: Elhagyjam-é mustomat, a mely14 Mondának végre a fák mindnyájan a galagonyabokornak: Jer el te,15 És monda a galagonyabokor a fáknak: Ha igazán királylyá kentek engem16 Hát ti is most igazán és becsületesen cselekedtetek-é, hogy Abiméleket17 Mert érettetek harczolt atyám, és még életével [is] semmit nem18 Ti pedig most felkeltetek az én atyámnak háza ellen, és megöltétek19 Ha igazán és becsületesen cselekedtetek Jerubbaállal és az õ házával a20 De hogyha nem, jõjjön tûz ki Abimélekbõl, és emészsze meg Sikem férfiait21 És elfutott Jóthám, és elmenekült, és elment Beérbe az õ atyjafia,22 Mikor pedig uralkodék Abimélek Izráel felett három esztendeig:23 Egy gonosz lelket bocsátott Isten Abimélek és Sikem férfiai közé, és24 Hogy eljõjjön a Jerubbaál hetven fián elkövetett kegyetlenség25 És lest vetének néki a Sikem férfiai a hegyeknek tetején, és kiraboltak26 És eljött Gaál, Ebed fia és az õ atyjafiai, és bementek Sikembe, és27 Annyira, hogy kimenvén a mezõre, leszüretelték szõlõiket, [mindjárt] ki28 És monda Gaál, Ebed fia: Kicsoda Abimélek és kicsoda Sekem, hogy29 Csak volna az én kezemben e nép, [majd] elûzném Abiméleket. És monda30 Mikor pedig meghallotta Zebul, a városnak kormányzója, Gaálnak, az Ebed31 És követeket küldött Abimélekhez Thormába, [ezt] izenvén: Ímé Gaál, az32 Most azért készülj fel éjszaka, te és a te néped, mely veled van, és33 És reggel, napfelköltekor korán kelj fel, és törj a városra, és mikor õ34 És felkelt Abimélek és az egész nép, a mely vele volt, éjszaka, és lesbe35 És kijött Gaál, az Ebed fia és megállott a város kapujának nyílásában.36 És a mint meglátta Gaál a csapatot, monda Zebulnak: Ímé nép jõ alá a37 De Gaál [csak] folytatta beszédét, és monda: Ímé [egy másik] csapat meg38 Ekkor monda néki Zebul: Hol van most szád, melylyel mondád: Kicsoda39 És kivonult Gaál Sikem polgárainak élén, és megütközött Abimélekkel.40 De Abimélek megfutamította, úgy hogy elmenekült elõle, és sok sebesült41 Abimélek pedig Arumában maradt, és Zebul elûzte Gaált és atyjafiait,42 És lõn, hogy másnap kiméne a nép a mezõre, és megmondák Abiméleknek.43 És az vette az õ népét, és három csapatra osztotta el, és lesbe állott a44 És Abimélek és az a csapat, a mely vele volt, megtámadta és megszállotta45 És Abimélek egész nap vívta a várost, mígnem bevette a várost, és a46 Mikor pedig [ezt] meghallották Sikem tornyának minden férfiai, az El-47 És mikor Abiméleknek elmondották, hogy Sikem tornyának minden férfiai48 Felment Abimélek a Sálmon hegyére, õ és az egész nép, mely vele volt, és49 Erre az egész népbõl kiki vágott magának ágakat, és követték Abiméleket,50 Abimélek pedig elment Thébesbe, és táborba szállott Thébes ellen, és51 De egy erõs torony volt a város közepén, és oda menekült minden férfi és52 És Abimélek oda ment a toronyig, és ostrom alá vette azt, és egészen a53 Akkor egy asszony egy malomkõdarabot gördített le54 Ki mindjárt oda hívta fegyverhordozó apródját, és monda néki: Vond ki55 Mikor pedig az Izráel férfiai látták, hogy Abimélek meghalt, kiki56 Így fizetett meg Isten Abiméleknek azért a gonoszságért, melyet atyja57 És a Sikem férfiainak fejére is visszahárított Isten minden rosszat, és
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, (Bír 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.” (1Móz 29,14; Bír 8,30; Bír 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.” (Bír 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. (Bír 8,33; Bír 9,46; Bír 11,3; 2Krón 13,7; Péld 12,11; ApCsel 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. (Bír 6,24; 2Kir 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. (Bír 9,20; 2Sám 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. (5Móz 11,29; 5Móz 27,12; Józs 8,33; Jn 4,20)8The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ (Bír 8,22; 2Kir 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?’ (Zsolt 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.’ (4Móz 21,28; Bír 9,20; 1Kir 4,33; 2Kir 14,9; 2Kir 19,23; Zsolt 104,16; Ézs 2,13; Ézs 30,2; Ézs 37,24; Ez 19,14; Dán 4,12; Hós 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— (Bír 6,32; Bír 8,35; Péld 12,14; Ézs 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— (Bír 8,31; Bír 9,3; Bír 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. (Ézs 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.” (Bír 9,15; Bír 9,56)21And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother. (4Móz 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, (1Sám 16,14; 1Sám 18,10; 1Sám 19,9; Ézs 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. (Bír 9,56; 1Kir 2,32; Eszt 9,25; Zsolt 7,16; Mt 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. (Bír 9,4; Bír 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? (1Móz 34,2; 1Móz 34,6; 1Sám 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.” (Préd 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.” (Bír 9,7; Bír 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.” (Bír 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. (Bír 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. (5Móz 29,23; 2Kir 3,25)46When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith. (Bír 8,33; Bír 9,4; Bír 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.” (Zsolt 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. (Bír 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. (2Sám 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. (1Sám 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. (Bír 9,24; Jób 31,8; Zsolt 94,23; Péld 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. (Bír 9,20)