ΚΡΙΤΑΙ - Giudici - Judges 9

LXX	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 και επορευθη αβιμελεχ υιος ιεροβααλ εις σικιμα προς τους αδελφους της μητρος αυτου και ελαλησεν προς αυτους και προς πασαν την συγγενειαν του οικου της μητρος αυτου λεγων	1 Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his maternal brothers, and he spoke to them, and to all the relatives of the house of his maternal grandfather, saying:
2 λαλησατε δη εν ωσιν των ανδρων σικιμων ποιον βελτιον εστιν το αρχειν υμων εβδομηκοντα ανδρας παντας υιους ιεροβααλ η κυριευειν υμων ανδρα ενα και μνησθητε οτι σαρξ υμων και οστουν υμων εγω ειμι	2 “Speak to all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you: that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And consider also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3 και ελαλησαν περι αυτου οι αδελφοι της μητρος αυτου εν τοις ωσιν παντων των ανδρων σικιμων παντας τους λογους τουτους και εκλινεν καρδια αυτων οπισω αβιμελεχ οτι ειπαν αδελφος ημων εστιν	3 And his maternal brothers spoke about him to all the men of Shechem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying, “He is our brother.”
4 και εδωκαν αυτω εβδομηκοντα αργυριου εκ του οικου βααλ διαθηκης και εμισθωσατο εν αυτοις αβιμελεχ ανδρας κενους και θαμβουμενους και επορευθησαν οπισω αυτου	4 And they gave to him the weight of seventy silver coins from the shrine of Baal-berith. With this, he hired for himself indigent and wandering men, and they followed him.
5 και εισηλθεν εις τον οικον του πατρος αυτου εις εφραθα και απεκτεινεν τους αδελφους αυτου υιους ιεροβααλ εβδομηκοντα ανδρας επι λιθον ενα και απελειφθη ιωαθαμ υιος ιεροβααλ ο νεωτερος οτι εκρυβη	5 And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding.
6 και συνηχθησαν παντες οι ανδρες σικιμων και πας ο οικος μααλλων και επορευθησαν και εβασιλευσαν τον αβιμελεχ εις βασιλεα προς τη βαλανω της στασεως εν σικιμοις	6 Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem.
7 και ανηγγειλαν τω ιωαθαμ και επορευθη και εστη επι της κορυφης του ορους γαριζιν και επηρεν την φωνην αυτου και εκαλεσεν και ειπεν αυτοις ακουσατε μου ανδρες σικιμων και ακουσαι υμων ο θεος	7 When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8 πορευομενα επορευθησαν τα ξυλα του χρισαι εαυτοις βασιλεα και ειπον τη ελαια βασιλευσον εφ' ημων	8 The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 και ειπεν αυτοις η ελαια αφεισα την πιοτητα μου ην εν εμοι εδοξασεν ο θεος και ανθρωποι πορευθω αρχειν των ξυλων	9 And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’
10 και ειπαν τα ξυλα τη συκη δευρο βασιλευσον εφ' ημων	10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 και ειπεν αυτοις η συκη αφεισα την γλυκυτητα μου και το γενημα μου το αγαθον πορευθω αρχειν επι ξυλων	11 And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’
12 και ειπαν τα ξυλα τη αμπελω δευρο βασιλευσον εφ' ημων	12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 και ειπεν αυτοις η αμπελος αφεισα τον οινον μου την ευφροσυνην την παρα του θεου των ανθρωπων πορευθω αρχειν ξυλων	13 And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’
14 και ειπαν τα ξυλα προς την ραμνον δευρο συ βασιλευσον εφ' ημων	14 And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 και ειπεν η ραμνος προς τα ξυλα ει εν αληθεια υμεις χριετε με εις βασιλεα εφ' υμων δευτε πεποιθατε εν τη σκεπη μου και ει μη εξελθοι πυρ εκ της ραμνου και καταφαγοι τας κεδρους του λιβανου	15 And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ ”
16 και νυν ει εν αληθεια και εν τελειοτητι εποιησατε και εβασιλευσατε τον αβιμελεχ και ει καλως εποιησατε μετα ιεροβααλ και μετα του οικου αυτου και ει κατα το ανταποδομα της χειρος αυτου εποιησατε αυτω	16 So now, if you are upright and without sin in appointing Abimelech as a king over you, and if you have acted well with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if you have repaid, in turn, the benefits of him who fought on your behalf,
17 ως επολεμησεν ο πατηρ μου υπερ υμων και ερριψεν την ψυχην αυτου εξ εναντιας και εξειλατο υμας εκ χειρος μαδιαμ	17 and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 και υμεις επανεστητε επι τον οικον του πατρος μου σημερον και απεκτεινατε τους υιους αυτου εβδομηκοντα ανδρας επι λιθον ενα και εβασιλευσατε τον αβιμελεχ υιον της παιδισκης αυτου επι τους ανδρας σικιμων οτι αδελφος υμων εστιν	18 though you now have risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have appointed Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as a king over the inhabitants of Shechem, since he is your brother,
19 και ει εν αληθεια και τελειοτητι εποιησατε μετα ιεροβααλ και του οικου αυτου τη ημερα ταυτη ευλογηθειητε υμεις και ευφρανθειητε εν αβιμελεχ και ευφρανθειη και αυτος εν υμιν	19 if therefore you are upright and have acted without fault with Jerubbaal and his house, then you should rejoice on this day in Abimelech, and he should rejoice in you.
20 και ει μη εξελθοι πυρ εξ αβιμελεχ και καταφαγοι τους ανδρας σικιμων και τον οικον μααλλων και ει μη εξελθοι πυρ απο ανδρων σικιμων και εκ του οικου μααλλων και καταφαγοι τον αβιμελεχ	20 But if you have acted perversely, may fire go forth from him and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the town of Millo. And may fire go forth from the men of Shechem and from the town of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”
21 και απεδρα ιωαθαμ και επορευθη εν οδω και εφυγεν εις ραρα και κατωκησεν εκει απο προσωπου αβιμελεχ του αδελφου αυτου	21 And when he had said these things, he fled and went away to Beer. And he lived in that place, out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.
22 και ηρξεν αβιμελεχ επι ισραηλ τρια ετη	22 And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 και εξαπεστειλεν ο θεος πνευμα πονηρον ανα μεσον αβιμελεχ και ανα μεσον των ανδρων σικιμων και ηθετησαν οι ανδρες σικιμων εν τω οικω αβιμελεχ	23 And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 του επαγαγειν την αδικιαν των εβδομηκοντα υιων ιεροβααλ και το αιμα αυτων επιθειναι επι αβιμελεχ τον αδελφον αυτων τον αποκτειναντα αυτους και επι τους ανδρας σικιμων τους κατισχυσαντας τας χειρας αυτου ωστε αποκτειναι τους αδελφους αυτου	24 and to place blame for the crime of the killing of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the leaders of the Shechemites, who assisted him.
25 και εθεντο αυτω οι ανδρες σικιμων ενεδρα επι τας κεφαλας των ορεων και ανηρπαζον παντας τους διαπορευομενους επ' αυτους εν τη οδω και απηγγελη τω αβιμελεχ	25 And they stationed an ambush against him at the summit of the mountains. And while they were waiting for his arrival, they committed robberies, taking spoils from those passing by. And this was reported to Abimelech.
26 και ηλθεν γααλ υιος αβεδ και οι αδελφοι αυτου εις σικιμα και επεποιθησαν εν αυτω οι ανδρες σικιμων	26 Now Gaal, the son of Ebed, went with his brothers, and crossed over to Shechem. And the inhabitants of Shechem, uplifted by his arrival,
27 και ηλθον εις αγρον και ετρυγησαν τους αμπελωνας αυτων και κατεπατουν και εποιησαν χορους και εισηλθον εις οικον θεου αυτων και εφαγον και επιον και κατηρωντο τον αβιμελεχ	27 departed into the fields, laying waste to the vineyards, and trampling the grapes. And while singing and dancing, they entered into the shrine of their god. And while feasting and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
28 και ειπεν γααλ υιος αβεδ τι εστιν αβιμελεχ και τις εστιν ο υιος συχεμ οτι δουλευσομεν αυτω ουχ ουτος υιος ιεροβααλ και ζεβουλ επισκοπος αυτου δουλος αυτου συν τοις ανδρασιν εμμωρ πατρος συχεμ και τι οτι δουλευσομεν αυτω ημεις	28 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried out: “Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, who has appointed Zebul, his servant, as ruler over the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
29 και τις δωη τον λαον τουτον εν χειρι μου και μεταστησω τον αβιμελεχ και ερω τω αβιμελεχ πληθυνον την δυναμιν σου και εξελθε	29 I wish that someone would set this people under my hand, so that I might take away Abimelech from their midst.” And it was told to Abimelech, “Gather the multitude of an army, and approach.”
30 και ηκουσεν ζεβουλ ο αρχων της πολεως τους λογους γααλ υιου αβεδ και εθυμωθη οργη	30 For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 και απεστειλεν αγγελους προς αβιμελεχ μετα δωρων λεγων ιδου γααλ υιος αβεδ και οι αδελφοι αυτου παραγεγονασιν εις σικιμα και οιδε πολιορκουσιν την πολιν επι σε	31 And he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: “Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, has arrived at Shechem with his brothers, and he has set the city against you.
32 και νυν αναστηθι νυκτος συ και ο λαος ο μετα σου και ενεδρευσον εν τω αγρω	32 And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 και εσται το πρωι αμα τω ανατειλαι τον ηλιον και ορθρισεις και εκτενεις επι την πολιν και ιδου αυτος και ο λαος ο μετ' αυτου εκπορευονται προς σε και ποιησεις αυτω καθαπερ εαν ευρη η χειρ σου	33 And at first light in the morning, as the sun is rising, rush upon the city. And when he goes out against you, with his people, do to him what you are able to do.”
34 και ανεστη αβιμελεχ και πας ο λαος ο μετ' αυτου νυκτος και ενηδρευσαν επι σικιμα τεσσαρας αρχας	34 And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 και εγενετο πρωι και εξηλθεν γααλ υιος αβεδ και εστη προς τη θυρα της πυλης της πολεως και ανεστη αβιμελεχ και ο λαος ο μετ' αυτου εκ των ενεδρων	35 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and he stood at the entrance to the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and all the army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
36 και ειδεν γααλ υιος αβεδ τον λαον και ειπεν προς ζεβουλ ιδου λαος καταβαινων απο των κορυφων των ορεων και ειπεν προς αυτον ζεβουλ την σκιαν των ορεων συ ορας ως ανδρας	36 And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, a multitude is descending from the mountains.” And he responded to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains, as if they were the heads of men, and so you are being deceived by this error.”
37 και προσεθετο ετι γααλ του λαλησαι και ειπεν ιδου λαος καταβαινων κατα θαλασσαν απο του εχομενα του ομφαλου της γης και αρχη μια παραγινεται απο οδου δρυος αποβλεποντων	37 Again, Gaal said, “Behold, a people is descending from the middle of the land, and one company is arriving by the way that looks towards the oak.”
38 και ειπεν προς αυτον ζεβουλ που εστιν νυν το στομα σου το λεγον τις εστιν αβιμελεχ οτι δουλευσομεν αυτω ουκ ιδου ουτος εστιν ο λαος ον εξουδενωσας εξελθε νυν και πολεμει προς αυτον	38 And Zebul said to him: “Where is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people that you were despising? Go out and fight against him.”
39 και εξηλθεν γααλ απο προσωπου των ανδρων σικιμων και επολεμησεν εν αβιμελεχ	39 Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 και κατεδιωξεν αυτον αβιμελεχ και εφυγεν απο προσωπου αυτου και επεσον τραυματιαι πολλοι εως θυρων της πολεως	40 who pursued him, fleeing, and drove him into the city. And many were cut down on his side, even to the gate of the city.
41 και εκαθισεν αβιμελεχ εν αριμα και εξεβαλεν ζεβουλ τον γααλ και τους αδελφους αυτου του μη οικειν εν σικιμοις	41 And Abimelech made camp at Arumah. But Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions from the city, and he would not permit them to remain in it.
42 και εγενηθη τη επαυριον και εξηλθεν ο λαος εις το πεδιον και απηγγελη τω αβιμελεχ	42 Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 και παρελαβεν τον λαον και διειλεν αυτον τρεις αρχας και ενηδρευσεν εν αυτω και ειδεν και ιδου λαος εξηλθεν εκ της πολεως και επανεστη αυτοις και επαταξεν αυτους	43 he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and he placed ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people had departed from the city, he rose up and rushed upon them,
44 και αβιμελεχ και αι αρχαι αι μετ' αυτου εξεταθησαν και εστησαν παρα την πυλην της πολεως και αι δυο αρχαι εξεχυθησαν επι παντας τους εν τω αγρω και επαταξεν αυτους	44 along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 και αβιμελεχ επολεμει εν τη πολει ολην την ημεραν εκεινην και κατελαβοντο την πολιν και τον λαον τον εν αυτη ανειλεν και την πολιν καθειλεν και εσπειρεν αυτην αλας	45 Now Abimelech assaulted the city all that day. And he seized it, and he killed its inhabitants, and he destroyed it, so much so that he scattered salt in it.
46 και ηκουσαν παντες οι ανδρες πυργου σικιμων και εισηλθον εις το οχυρωμα οικου του βααλ διαθηκης	46 And when those living in the tower of Shechem had heard about this, they entered the temple of their god, Berith, where they had formed a covenant with him. And it was because of this, that the place had taken its name. And it was greatly fortified.
47 και απηγγελη τω αβιμελεχ οτι συνηχθησαν παντες οι ανδρες του πυργου σικιμων	47 Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
48 και ανεβη αβιμελεχ εις ορος σελμων αυτος και πας ο λαος ο μετ' αυτου και ελαβεν αβιμελεχ αξινην εν τη χειρι αυτου και εκοψεν φορτιον ξυλων και ελαβεν αυτο και επεθηκεν επι τους ωμους αυτου και ειπεν προς τον λαον τον μετ' αυτου τι ειδετε με ποιουντα ταχεως ποιησατε ως και εγω	48 ascended to mount Zalmon, with all his people. And taking an axe, he cut down the branch of a tree. And laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions, “What you see me do, you must do quickly.”
49 και εκοψαν και αυτοι εκαστος φορτιον και ηραν και επορευθησαν οπισω αβιμελεχ και επεθηκαν επι το οχυρωμα και ενεπρησαν επ' αυτους το οχυρωμα εν πυρι και απεθανον παντες οι ανδρες πυργου σικιμων ωσει χιλιοι ανδρες και γυναικες	49 And so, eagerly cutting down branches from the trees, they followed their leader. And surrounding the fortified place, they set it on fire. And so it happened that, by smoke and fire, one thousand persons died, men and women together, the occupants of the tower of Shechem.
50 και επορευθη αβιμελεχ εις θεβες και περιεκαθισεν επ' αυτην και προκατελαβετο αυτην	50 Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 και πυργος ην οχυρος εν μεσω της πολεως και εφυγον εκει παντες οι ανδρες και αι γυναικες και παντες οι ηγουμενοι της πολεως και απεκλεισαν εφ' εαυτους και ανεβησαν επι το δωμα του πυργου	51 Now there was, in the midst of the city, a high tower, to which men and women were fleeing together, with all the leaders of the city. And, having very strongly sealed the gate, they were standing on the roof of the tower to defend themselves.
52 και ηλθεν αβιμελεχ εως του πυργου και εξεπολεμησαν αυτον και ηγγισεν αβιμελεχ εως της θυρας του πυργου εμπρησαι αυτον εν πυρι	52 And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 και ερριψεν γυνη μια κλασμα μυλου επι την κεφαλην αβιμελεχ και συνεθλασεν το κρανιον αυτου	53 And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 και εβοησεν το ταχος προς το παιδαριον τον αιροντα τα σκευη αυτου και ειπεν αυτω σπασαι την μαχαιραν σου και θανατωσον με μηποτε ειπωσιν γυνη απεκτεινεν αυτον και εξεκεντησεν αυτον το παιδαριον αυτου και απεθανεν αβιμελεχ	54 And he quickly called to his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise it may be said that I was slain by a woman.” And, doing as he was ordered, he killed him.
55 και ειδεν ανηρ ισραηλ οτι απεθανεν αβιμελεχ και απηλθον ανηρ εις τον τοπον αυτου	55 And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 και απεστρεψεν ο θεος την κακιαν αβιμελεχ ην εποιησεν τω πατρι αυτου αποκτειναι τους εβδομηκοντα αδελφους αυτου	56 And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 και πασαν κακιαν ανδρων σικιμων επεστρεψεν ο θεος εις την κεφαλην αυτων και επηλθεν επ' αυτους η καταρα ιωαθαμ του υιου ιεροβααλ	57 The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.