Giudici (قضاة) 9

SMITH VAN DYKE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 وذهب ابيمالك بن يربعل الى شكيم الى اخوة امه وكلمهم وجميع عشيرة بيت ابي امه قائلا.	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 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.	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 فتكلم اخوة امه عنه في آذان كل اهل شكيم بجميع هذا الكلام. فمال قلبهم وراء ابيمالك لانهم قالوا اخونا هو.	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 واعطوه سبعين شاقل فضة من بيت بعل بريث فاستاجر بها ابيمالك رجالا بطالين طائشين فسعوا وراءه.	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 ثم جاء الى بيت ابيه في عفرة وقتل اخوته بني يربعل سبعين رجلا على حجر واحد. وبقي يوثام بن يربعل الاصغر لانه اختبأ.	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 فاجتمع جميع اهل شكيم وكل سكان القلعة وذهبوا وجعلوا ابيمالك ملكا عند بلوطة النصب الذي في شكيم	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 واخبروا يوثام فذهب ووقف على راس جبل جرزيم ورفع صوته ونادى وقال لهم. اسمعوا لي يا اهل شكيم يسمع لكم الله.	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 مرّة ذهبت الاشجار لتمسح عليها ملكا. فقالت للزيتونة املكي علينا.	8 The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 فقالت لها الزيتونة أاترك دهني الذي به يكرمون بي الله والناس واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.	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 ثم قالت الاشجار للتينة تعالي انت واملكي علينا.	10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
11 فقالت لها التينة أأترك حلاوتي وثمري الطيب واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.	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 فقالت الاشجار للكرمة تعالي انت املكي علينا.	12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 فقالت لها الكرمة أاترك مسطاري الذي يفرح الله والناس واذهب لكي املك على الاشجار.	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 ثم قالت جميع الاشجار للعوسج تعال انت واملك علينا.	14 And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 فقال العوسج للاشجار ان كنتم بالحق تمسحونني عليكم ملكا فتعالوا واحتموا تحت ظلي. والا فتخرج نار من العوسج وتأكل ارز لبنان.	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 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.	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 لان ابي قد حارب عنكم وخاطر بنفسه وانقذكم من يد مديان.	17 and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
18 وانتم قد قمتم اليوم على بيت ابي وقتلتم بنيه سبعين رجلا على حجر واحد وملكتم ابيمالك ابن امته على اهل شكيم لانه اخوكم.	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 فان كنتم قد عملتم بالحق والصحة مع يربعل ومع بيته في هذا اليوم فافرحوا انتم بابيمالك وليفرح هو ايضا بكم.	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 والا فتخرج نار من ابيمالك وتأكل اهل شكيم وسكان القلعة وتخرج نار من اهل شكيم ومن سكان القلعة وتاكل ابيمالك.	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 ثم هرب يوثام وفرّ وذهب الى بئر واقام هناك من وجه ابيمالك اخيه	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 فترأس ابيمالك على اسرائيل ثلاث سنين.	22 And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
23 وارسل الرب روحا رديا بين ابيمالك واهل شكيم فغدر اهل شكيم بابيمالك.	23 And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
24 ليأتي ظلم بني يربعل السبعين ويجلب دمهم على ابيمالك اخيهم الذي قتلهم وعلى اهل شكيم الذين شددوا يديه لقتل اخوته.	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 فوضع له اهل شكيم كمينا على رؤوس الجبال وكانوا يستلبون كل من عبر بهم في الطريق. فأخبر ابيمالك	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 وجاء جعل بن عابد مع اخوته وعبروا الى شكيم فوثق به اهل شكيم	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 وخرجوا الى الحقل وقطفوا كرومهم وداسوا وصنعوا تمجيدا ودخلوا بيت الههم واكلوا وشربوا ولعنوا ابيمالك.	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 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.	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 من يجعل هذا الشعب بيدي فاعزل ابيمالك. وقال لابيمالك كثر جندك واخرج.	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 ولما سمع زبول رئيس المدينة كلام جعل بن عابد حمي غضبه.	30 For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
31 وارسل رسلا الى ابيمالك في ترمة يقول هوذا جعل بن عابد واخوته قد اتوا الى شكيم وها هم يهيجون المدينة ضدك.	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 فالآن قم ليلا انت والشعب الذي معك واكمن في الحقل.	32 And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
33 ويكون في الصباح عند شروق الشمس انك تبكر وتقتحم المدينة. وها هو والشعب الذي معه يخرجون اليك فتفعل به حسبما تجده يدك	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 فقام ابيمالك وكل الشعب الذي معه ليلا وكمنوا لشكيم اربع فرق.	34 And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
35 فخرج جعل بن عابد ووقف في مدخل باب المدينة. فقام ابيمالك والشعب الذي معه من المكمن.	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 ورأى جعل الشعب وقال لزبول هوذا شعب نازل عن رؤوس الجبال. فقال له زبول انك ترى ظل الجبال كانه اناس.	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 فعاد جعل وتكلم ايضا قائلا هوذا شعب نازل من عند اعالي الارض وفرقة واحدة آتية عن طريق بلوطة العائفين.	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 فقال له زبول اين الآن فوك الذي قلت به من هو ابيمالك حتى نخدمه. أليس هذا هو الشعب الذي رذلته. فاخرج الآن وحاربه.	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 فخرج جعل امام اهل شكيم وحارب ابيمالك.	39 Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
40 فهزمه ابيمالك فهرب من قدامه وسقط قتلى كثيرون حتى عند مدخل الباب.	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 فاقام ابيمالك في ارومة. وطرد زبول جعلا واخوته عن الاقامة في شكيم	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 وكان في الغد ان الشعب خرج الى الحقل واخبروا ابيمالك.	42 Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
43 فاخذ القوم وقسمهم الى ثلاث فرق وكمن في الحقل ونظر واذ الشعب يخرج من المدينة فقام عليهم وضربهم.	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 وابيمالك والفرقة التي معه اقتحموا ووقفوا في مدخل باب المدينة. واما الفرقتان فهجمتا على كل من في الحقل وضربتاه.	44 along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
45 وحارب ابيمالك المدينة كل ذلك اليوم واخذ المدينة وقتل الشعب الذي بها وهدم المدينة وزرعها ملحا	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 وسمع كل اهل برج شكيم فدخلوا الى صرح بيت ايل بريث.	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 فأخبر ابيمالك ان كل اهل برج شكيم قد اجتمعوا.	47 Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
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.	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 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.	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 ثم ذهب ابيمالك الى تاباص ونزل في تاباص واخذها.	50 Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
51 وكان برج قوي في وسط المدينة فهرب اليه جميع الرجال والنساء وكل اهل المدينة واغلقوا ورائهم وصعدوا الى سطح البرج.	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 فجاء ابيمالك الى البرج وحاربه واقترب الى باب البرج ليحرقه بالنار.	52 And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
53 فطرحت امرأة قطعة رحى على راس ابيمالك فشجت جمجمته.	53 And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 فدعا حالا الغلام حامل عدته وقال له اخترط سيفك واقتلني لئلا يقولوا عني قتلته امرأة. فطعنه الغلام فمات.	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 ولما رأى رجال اسرائيل ان ابيمالك قد مات ذهب كل واحد الى مكانه.	55 And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
56 فرد الله شر ابيمالك الذي فعله بابيه لقتله اخوته السبعين	56 And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
57 وكل شر اهل شكيم رده الله على رؤوسهم. وأتت عليهم لعنة يوثام بن يربعل	57 The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.