Judges 9

NEW JERUSALEM	SMITH VAN DYKE
1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal confronted his mother's brothers at Shechem and, to them and to the wholeclan of his maternal grandfather's family, he said,	1 وذهب ابيمالك بن يربعل الى شكيم الى اخوة امه وكلمهم وجميع عشيرة بيت ابي امه قائلا.
2 'Please put this question to the leading men of Shechem: Which is better for you: to be ruled by seventypeople -- al Jerubbaal's sons -- or to be ruled by one? Remember too that I am your own flesh and bone.'	2 تكلموا الآن في آذان جميع اهل شكيم. ايما هو خير لكم. أأن يتسلط عليكم سبعون رجلا جميع بني يربعل ام ان يتسلط عليكم رجل واحد. واذكروا اني انا عظمكم ولحمكم.
3 His mother's brothers said al this on his behalf to al the leading men of Shechem, and their feelingsswayed them to follow Abimelech, since they argued, 'He is our brother.'	3 فتكلم اخوة امه عنه في آذان كل اهل شكيم بجميع هذا الكلام. فمال قلبهم وراء ابيمالك لانهم قالوا اخونا هو.
4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and with this Abimelech paidviolent adventurers to fol ow him.	4 واعطوه سبعين شاقل فضة من بيت بعل بريث فاستاجر بها ابيمالك رجالا بطالين طائشين فسعوا وراءه.
5 He then went to his father's house at Ophrah and put his brothers, Jerubbaal's seventy sons, to deathon one and the same stone. Jotham, however, Jerubbaal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.	5 ثم جاء الى بيت ابيه في عفرة وقتل اخوته بني يربعل سبعين رجلا على حجر واحد. وبقي يوثام بن يربعل الاصغر لانه اختبأ.
6 All the leading men of Shechem and al Beth-Mil o then met and proclaimed Abimelech king at the oakof the cultic stone at Shechem.	6 فاجتمع جميع اهل شكيم وكل سكان القلعة وذهبوا وجعلوا ابيمالك ملكا عند بلوطة النصب الذي في شكيم
7 News of this was brought to Jotham. He went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted at thetop of his voice: Hear me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may also hear you!	7 واخبروا يوثام فذهب ووقف على راس جبل جرزيم ورفع صوته ونادى وقال لهم. اسمعوا لي يا اهل شكيم يسمع لكم الله.
8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'	8 مرّة ذهبت الاشجار لتمسح عليها ملكا. فقالت للزيتونة املكي علينا.
9 The olive tree replied, 'Must I forgo my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand and sway overthe trees?'	9 فقالت لها الزيتونة أاترك دهني الذي به يكرمون بي الله والناس واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!'	10 ثم قالت الاشجار للتينة تعالي انت واملكي علينا.
11 The fig tree replied, 'Must I forgo my sweetness, forgo my excel ent fruit, to go and sway over thetrees?'	11 فقالت لها التينة أأترك حلاوتي وثمري الطيب واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.
12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and be our king!'	12 فقالت الاشجار للكرمة تعالي انت املكي علينا.
13 The vine replied, 'Must I forgo my wine which cheers gods and men, to go and sway over the trees?'	13 فقالت لها الكرمة أاترك مسطاري الذي يفرح الله والناس واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.
14 Then the trees al said to the thorn bush, 'You come and be our king!'	14 ثم قالت جميع الاشجار للعوسج تعال انت واملك علينا.
15 And the thorn bush replied to the trees, 'If you are anointing me in good faith to be your king, come andshelter in my shade. But, if not, fire will come out of the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'	15 فقال العوسج للاشجار ان كنتم بالحق تمسحونني عليكم ملكا فتعالوا واحتموا تحت ظلي. والا فتخرج نار من العوسج وتأكل ارز لبنان.
16 'Now then, if you have acted in sincerity and good faith in making Abimelech king, if you have dealthonourably with Jerubbaal and his family, and have treated him as his actions deserved,	16 فالآن ان كنتم قد عملتم بالحق والصحة اذ جعلتم ابيمالك ملكا وان كنتم قد فعلتم خيرا مع يربعل ومع بيته وان كنتم قد فعلتم له حسب عمل يديه.
17 my father having fought for you, risked his life and rescued you from the power of Midian,	17 لان ابي قد حارب عنكم وخاطر بنفسه وانقذكم من يد مديان.
18 and you today having risen up against my father's family, murdered his sons -- seventy of them on oneand the same stone -- and appointed Abimelech, his slave-girl's son, to rule the leading men of Shechem,because he is your brother!-	18 وانتم قد قمتم اليوم على بيت ابي وقتلتم بنيه سبعين رجلا على حجر واحد وملكتم ابيمالك ابن امته على اهل شكيم لانه اخوكم.
19 if, I say, you have acted in sincerity and good faith towards Jerubbaal and his family, then mayAbimelech be your joy and may you be his!	19 فان كنتم قد عملتم بالحق والصحة مع يربعل ومع بيته في هذا اليوم فافرحوا انتم بابيمالك وليفرح هو ايضا بكم.
20 If not, may fire come out of Abimelech and devour the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Mil o, andfire come out of the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Mil o to devour Abimelech!'	20 والا فتخرج نار من ابيمالك وتأكل اهل شكيم وسكان القلعة وتخرج نار من اهل شكيم ومن سكان القلعة وتاكل ابيمالك.
21 Jotham then took to his heels; he fled and made his way to Beer; and there he stayed, to be out of hisbrother Abimelech's reach.	21 ثم هرب يوثام وفرّ وذهب الى بئر واقام هناك من وجه ابيمالك اخيه
22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.	22 فترأس ابيمالك على اسرائيل ثلاث سنين.
23 God then sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders ofShechem betrayed Abimelech.	23 وارسل الرب روحا رديا بين ابيمالك واهل شكيم فغدر اهل شكيم بابيمالك.
24 And this was so that the crime committed against Jerubbaal's seventy sons should be avenged, andtheir blood recoil on their brother Abimelech who had murdered them, and on those leaders of Shechem whohad helped him to murder his brothers.	24 ليأتي ظلم بني يربعل السبعين ويجلب دمهم على ابيمالك اخيهم الذي قتلهم وعلى اهل شكيم الذين شددوا يديه لقتل اخوته.
25 The leaders of Shechem put men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and these robbed anyonetravel ing their way. Abimelech was told of this.	25 فوضع له اهل شكيم كمينا على رؤوس الجبال وكانوا يستلبون كل من عبر بهم في الطريق. فأخبر ابيمالك
26 Gaal son of Obed, with his brothers, happened to pass through Shechem and win the confidence ofthe leaders of Shechem.	26 وجاء جعل بن عابد مع اخوته وعبروا الى شكيم فوثق به اهل شكيم
27 These went out into the countryside to harvest their vineyards; they trod the grapes and made merryand went into the temple of their god. They ate and drank there and cursed Abimelech.	27 وخرجوا الى الحقل وقطفوا كرومهم وداسوا وصنعوا تمجيدا ودخلوا بيت الههم واكلوا وشربوا ولعنوا ابيمالك.
28 Gaal son of Obed said, 'Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, for us to be his slaves? Should notJerubbaal's son and his lieutenant, Zebul, be serving the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we behis slaves?	28 فقال جعل بن عابد من هو ابيمالك ومن هو شكيم حتى نخدمه. أما هو ابن يربعل وزبول وكيله. اخدموا رجال حمور ابي شكيم. فلماذا نخدمه نحن.
29 Who wil put this people under my command, so that I can expel Abimelech? I should say to him,"Reinforce your army and come out!" '	29 من يجعل هذا الشعب بيدي فاعزل ابيمالك. وقال لابيمالك كثر جندك واخرج.
30 Zebul the governor of the town was told what Gaal son of Obed had said, and he was furious.	30 ولما سمع زبول رئيس المدينة كلام جعل بن عابد حمي غضبه.
31 He sent messengers secretly to Abimelech to say, 'Look! Gaal son of Obed has come to Shechemwith his brothers, and they are stirring up the town against you.	31 وارسل رسلا الى ابيمالك في ترمة يقول هوذا جعل بن عابد واخوته قد اتوا الى شكيم وها هم يهيجون المدينة ضدك.
32 So, move under cover of dark, you and the men you have with you, and take up concealed positions inthe countryside;	32 فالآن قم ليلا انت والشعب الذي معك واكمن في الحقل.
33 then in the morning at sunrise, break cover and rush on the town. When Gaal and his supporters comeout to meet you, treat them as occasion offers.'	33 ويكون في الصباح عند شروق الشمس انك تبكر وتقتحم المدينة. وها هو والشعب الذي معه يخرجون اليك فتفعل به حسبما تجده يدك
34 So Abimelech set off under cover of dark with al his own supporters and took up concealed positionsover against Shechem, in four groups.	34 فقام ابيمالك وكل الشعب الذي معه ليلا وكمنوا لشكيم اربع فرق.
35 As Gaal son of Obed was coming out and pausing at the entrance of the town gate, Abimelech and hissupporters rose from their ambush.	35 فخرج جعل بن عابد ووقف في مدخل باب المدينة. فقام ابيمالك والشعب الذي معه من المكمن.
36 Gaal saw these men and said to Zebul, 'Look, there are men coming down from the tops of themountains!' Zebul answered, 'You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.'	36 ورأى جعل الشعب وقال لزبول هوذا شعب نازل عن رؤوس الجبال. فقال له زبول انك ترى ظل الجبال كانه اناس.
37 But Gaal insisted, 'Look, there are men coming down from the Navel of the Earth and another group iscoming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak.'	37 فعاد جعل وتكلم ايضا قائلا هوذا شعب نازل من عند اعالي الارض وفرقة واحدة آتية عن طريق بلوطة العائفين.
38 Zebul then said, 'Where are your mouthings now about "Who is Abimelech, for us to be his slaves?"Are not these the men you made light of? Sally out, then, and fight him.'	38 فقال له زبول اين الآن فوك الذي قلت به من هو ابيمالك حتى نخدمه. أليس هذا هو الشعب الذي رذلته. فاخرج الآن وحاربه.
39 Gaal sal ied out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and engaged Abimelech.	39 فخرج جعل امام اهل شكيم وحارب ابيمالك.
40 Abimelech drove Gaal off, who turned tail, many of his men falling dead before they could reach thegate.	40 فهزمه ابيمالك فهرب من قدامه وسقط قتلى كثيرون حتى عند مدخل الباب.
41 Abimelech then stayed at Aruma, and Zebul expelled Gaal and his brothers and prevented them fromliving in Shechem.	41 فاقام ابيمالك في ارومة. وطرد زبول جعلا واخوته عن الاقامة في شكيم
42 Next day, when the people went out into the countryside, Abimelech was told of this.	42 وكان في الغد ان الشعب خرج الى الحقل واخبروا ابيمالك.
43 He took his men, divided them into three groups and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the peopleleaving the town, he bore down on them and slaughtered them.	43 فاخذ القوم وقسمهم الى ثلاث فرق وكمن في الحقل ونظر واذ الشعب يخرج من المدينة فقام عليهم وضربهم.
44 While Abimelech and his group rushed forward and took position at the entrance to the town gate, thetwo other groups fel on everyone in the fields and slaughtered them.	44 وابيمالك والفرقة التي معه اقتحموا ووقفوا في مدخل باب المدينة. واما الفرقتان فهجمتا على كل من في الحقل وضربتاه.
45 Al that day Abimelech attacked the town. He stormed it and slaughtered the people inside, razed thetown and sowed it with salt.	45 وحارب ابيمالك المدينة كل ذلك اليوم واخذ المدينة وقتل الشعب الذي بها وهدم المدينة وزرعها ملحا
46 On hearing this, al the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem took refuge in the crypt of the temple ofEl-Berith.	46 وسمع كل اهل برج شكيم فدخلوا الى صرح بيت ايل بريث.
47 As soon as Abimelech heard that the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem had al gathered there,	47 فأخبر ابيمالك ان كل اهل برج شكيم قد اجتمعوا.
48 he went up Mount Zalmon with al his men. Then taking an axe in his hands, he cut off the branch of atree, picked it up and put it on his shoulder, and said to the men with him, 'Hurry and do what you have seen medo.'	48 فصعد ابيمالك الى جبل صلمون هو وكل الشعب الذي معه. واخذ ابيمالك الفؤوس بيده وقطع غصن شجر ورفعه ووضعه على كتفه وقال للشعب الذي معه ما رأيتموني افعله فاسرعوا افعلوا مثلي.
49 Each of his men similarly cut off a branch; then, following Abimelech, they piled the branches over thecrypt and set it on fire over those who were inside; so that al the people in Migdal-Shechem died too, about athousand men and women.	49 فقطع الشعب ايضا كل واحد غصنا وساروا وراء ابيمالك ووضعوها على الصرح واحرقوا عليهم الصرح بالنار. فمات ايضا جميع اهل برج شكيم نحو الف رجل وامرأة.
50 Abimelech then marched on Thebez, besieged it and captured it.	50 ثم ذهب ابيمالك الى تاباص ونزل في تاباص واخذها.
51 In the middle of the town there was a fortified tower in which al the men and women and al theleading men of the town took refuge. They locked the door behind them and climbed up to the roof of the tower.	51 وكان برج قوي في وسط المدينة فهرب اليه جميع الرجال والنساء وكل اهل المدينة واغلقوا ورائهم وصعدوا الى سطح البرج.
52 Abimelech reached the tower and attacked it. As he was approaching the door of the tower to set it onfire,	52 فجاء ابيمالك الى البرج وحاربه واقترب الى باب البرج ليحرقه بالنار.
53 a woman threw down a mil stone on his head and cracked his skull.	53 فطرحت امرأة قطعة رحى على راس ابيمالك فشجت جمجمته.
54 He instantly cal ed his young armour-bearer and said, 'Draw your sword and kil me, so that it wil notbe said of me that "A woman kil ed him".' His armour-bearer ran him through, and he died.	54 فدعا حالا الغلام حامل عدته وقال له اخترط سيفك واقتلني لئلا يقولوا عني قتلته امرأة. فطعنه الغلام فمات.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they dispersed to their homes.	55 ولما رأى رجال اسرائيل ان ابيمالك قد مات ذهب كل واحد الى مكانه.
56 Thus God made to recoil on Abimelech the evil he had done his father by murdering his seventybrothers,	56 فرد الله شر ابيمالك الذي فعله بابيه لقتله اخوته السبعين
57 and all the evil that the men of Shechem had done God made recoil on their heads too. And so thecurse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came true for them.	57 وكل شر اهل شكيم رده الله على رؤوسهم. وأتت عليهم لعنة يوثام بن يربعل