Abimelek
1Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2“Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4They gave him seventy shekels9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. 5He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
7When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16“Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
22After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. 25In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.
26Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’ ”9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”
30When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. 33In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”
34So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.
36When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”
Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth. and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”
38Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
39So Gaal led out9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.
42The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. 45All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
46On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. 47When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
50Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. 51Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
54Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
56Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
Abimeleki Ajaribu Kuanzisha Ufalme
19:1 Amu 8:31; 6:32Siku moja Abimeleki mwana wa Yerub-Baali akaenda kwa ndugu ya mama yake huko Shekemu na kuwaambia yeye na ukoo wote wa mama yake, 29:2 Mwa 29:14“Waulizeni watu wote wa Shekemu, ‘Lipi lililo bora kwenu: Kutawaliwa na wana wote sabini wa Yerub-Baali, au mtu mmoja peke yake?’ Kumbukeni kwamba, mimi ni mfupa wenu nyama yenu hasa.”
3Ndugu za mama yake walipowaeleza watu wote wa Shekemu, wakaelekea kumkubali Abimeleki, kwa kuwa walisema, “Yeye ni ndugu yetu.” 49:4 Amu 8:33; 11:3; 1Sam 25:25; 2Nya 13:7; Ay 30:8Wakampa shekeli sabini9:4 Shekeli 70 za fedha ni sawa na gramu 800. za fedha kutoka hekalu la Baal-Berithi, naye Abimeleki akaitumia kuajiri watu ovyo wasiojali, wakawa ndio wafuasi wake. 59:5 Amu 8:30; 2Fal 11:2; 2Nya 22:9Akaenda nyumbani kwa baba yake huko Ofra, na juu ya jiwe moja wakawaua ndugu zake sabini, ambao ni wana wa Yerub-Baali. Lakini Yothamu, mwana mdogo wa wote wa Yerub-Baali, akaokoka kwa kujificha. 69:6 2Fal 12:20; Mwa 12:6; Amu 4:11Ndipo watu wote wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo wakakusanyika pamoja chini ya mti mkubwa wa mwaloni penye nguzo iliyoko Shekemu wakamvika Abimeleki taji kuwa mfalme.
79:7 Kum 27:12; Yn 4:20Yothamu alipoambiwa hayo, akapanda juu ya kilele cha mlima Gerizimu, akawapazia sauti yake akawaambia, “Nisikilizeni enyi watu wa Shekemu, ili Mungu naye apate kuwasikiliza ninyi. 8Siku moja miti ilitoka ili kwenda kujitawazia mfalme. Ikauambia mzeituni, ‘Wewe uwe mfalme wetu.’
9“Lakini mzeituni ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa mafuta yangu ambayo kwake miungu na wanadamu huheshimiwa, ili nikawe juu ya miti?’
10“Kisha miti ikauambia mtini, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu!’
11“Lakini mtini ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa matunda yangu mazuri na matamu, ili niende nikawe juu ya miti?’
12“Ndipo miti ikauambia mzabibu, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu.’
139:13 Mwa 14:18; Mhu 2:3; Wim 4:10“Lakini mzabibu ukaijibu, ‘Je, niache kutoa divai yangu inayofurahisha miungu na wanadamu ili nikawe juu ya miti?’
14“Mwishoni miti yote ikauambia mti wa miiba, ‘Njoo na uwe mfalme wetu.’
159:15 Isa 30:2; Kum 3:25; 1Fal 5:6; Za 29:5; 92:12; Isa 2:13“Nao mti wa miiba ukaijibu, ‘Kama kweli mnataka niwe mfalme wenu, basi njooni mpate kupumzika chini ya kivuli changu. Lakini kama sivyo, moto na utoke kwenye mti wa miiba ukateketeze mierezi ya Lebanoni!’
16“Basi ikiwa mmetenda kwa uaminifu na heshima kumfanya Abimeleki kuwa mfalme, na kama mmetendea vyema Yerub-Baali na jamaa yake kama ilivyostahili: 179:17 Amu 12:3; 1Sam 19:5; 28:21; Ay 13:14; Za 119:109kwa kuwa baba yangu aliwapigania ninyi na kuhatarisha nafsi yake na kuwaokoa ninyi kutoka mikononi mwa Wamidiani 189:18 Amu 8:30(lakini leo mmeasi dhidi ya jamaa ya baba yangu, na kuwaua wanawe sabini juu ya jiwe moja, nanyi mkamfanya Abimeleki mwana wa mwanamke mtumwa kuwa mfalme juu ya Shekemu, kwa kuwa yeye ni ndugu yenu), 19nanyi kama basi mmemtendea Yerub-Baali na jamaa yake kwa heshima na uaminifu, basi Abimeleki na awe furaha yenu, nanyi mwe furaha yake pia! 20Lakini kama sivyo, moto na utoke kwa Abimeleki na uwateketeze, ninyi watu wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo, nao moto utoke kwenu, watu wa Shekemu na Beth-Milo umteketeze Abimeleki!”
219:21 Hes 21:16Ndipo Yothamu akakimbia, akatoroka akaenda Beeri, akaishi huko, kwa sababu alimwogopa ndugu yake Abimeleki.
22Baada ya Abimeleki kutawala Israeli kwa muda wa miaka mitatu, 239:23 1Sam 16:14; 18:10; 19:9; 1Fal 22:22Mungu akaruhusu roho mbaya kati ya Abimeleki na watu wa Shekemu, nao watu wa Shekemu wakamtendea Abimeleki kwa hila. 249:24 Amu 8:30; Mwa 9; 6; Hes 35:33; 1Fal 2:32; Kum 27:25Hili lilitokea ili ule ukatili waliotendewa hao wana sabini wa Yerub-Baali upatilizwe, na damu yao iwe juu ya Abimeleki ndugu yao aliyewaua, na pia iwe juu ya watu wa Shekemu, ambao walimsaidia kuua ndugu zake. 25Hivyo, kutokana na uadui juu yake watu wa Shekemu wakaweka watu wa kumvizia katika vilele vya milima. Wakawanyangʼanya watu wote waliopita karibu nao, nayo haya yakaarifiwa kwa Abimeleki.
26Basi Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akaenda pamoja na ndugu zake wakaingia Shekemu, nao watu wa huko wakamtumainia yeye. 279:27 Isa 16:10; Amo 5:11; 9:13; Amu 8:33Wakaenda mashambani mwao kuvuna zabibu na kuzisindika hizo zabibu, wakafanya sikukuu katika hekalu la mungu wao. Wakati wakila na kunywa, wakamlaani Abimeleki. 289:28 1Sam 25:10; 1Fal 12:16; Mwa 33:19; 34:2-6Gaali mwana wa Ebedi akasema, “Abimeleki ni nani, na Shekemu ni nani, hata tumtumikie? Je, yeye si mwana wa Yerub-Baali? Naye Zebuli si ndiye msaidizi wake? Basi watumikieni watu wa Hamori, babaye Shekemu. Kwa nini tumtumikie Abimeleki? 299:29 2Sam 15; 4Laiti watu hawa wangekuwa chini ya amri yangu! Basi mimi ningemwondoa huyo Abimeleki. Ningemwambia Abimeleki, ‘Ondoa jeshi lako lote.’ ”
30Zebuli aliyekuwa mtawala wa mji aliposikia aliyosema Gaali mwana wa Ebedi, akakasirika sana. 31Akatuma ujumbe uende kwa Abimeleki kwa siri na kusema, “Gaali mwana wa Ebedi na ndugu zake wamekuja Shekemu, na wanauchochea mji huu kinyume chako. 329:32 Yos 8:2Sasa, basi, usiku huu wewe uondoke na watu wako ili mje kuwavizia mashambani. 339:33 1Sam 10:7Kisha asubuhi wakati wa kuchomoza jua, amka mapema na ujipange dhidi ya huo mji. Wakati yeye na jeshi lililo pamoja naye watakapotoka kukabiliana nanyi, mwaweza kuwatendea kwa kadiri mnavyoweza.”
34Kwa hiyo Abimeleki pamoja na jeshi lake lote wakaondoka usiku na kujificha karibu na Shekemu wakiwa vikosi vinne. 359:35 Yos 2:5; Za 32:7; Isa 28:15-17; Yer 49:10Basi Gaali mwana wa Ebedi alikuwa ametoka nje akawa amesimama katika ingilio la mji wakati ule ule ambao Abimeleki na watu wake walipokuwa wanatoka sehemu zao za maficho.
36Gaali alipowaona, akamwambia Zebuli, “Tazama, watu wanashuka kutoka kwenye vilele vya milima!”
Zebuli akajibu, “Wewe unaona vivuli vya milima kana kwamba ni watu.”
37Lakini Gaali akasema tena, “Tazama, watu wanashuka kutoka katikati ya nchi na kikosi kimoja kinakuja kutoka Tabur-Ezeri na kikosi kingine kutoka upande wa Elon-Meonenimu.”
38Ndipo Zebuli akamwambia, “Kuko wapi kujivuna kwako sasa, wewe uliyesema, ‘Huyo Abimeleki ni nani hata tumtumikie?’ Hawa si wale watu uliowadharau? Toka nje sasa ukapigane nao!”
39Basi Gaali akatoka akawaongoza watu wa Shekemu kupigana na Abimeleki. 40Abimeleki akamfukuza, watu wengi wakajeruhiwa katika kukimbia huko, njia nzima hadi kwenye ingilio la lango. 41Abimeleki akakaa Aruma, naye Zebuli akawafukuza Gaali na ndugu zake watoke Shekemu.
42Kesho yake watu wa Shekemu wakatoka wakaenda mashambani, Abimeleki akaambiwa juu ya jambo hili. 439:43 Amu 7:16; Yos 8:2Hivyo akawachukua watu wake, akawagawanya katika vikosi vitatu na kuwaweka waviziao huko mashambani. Alipowaona watu wanatoka kwenda nje ya mji, akainuka dhidi yao na kuwashambulia. 44Abimeleki pamoja na vile vikosi wakaharakisha kwenda mbele kwenye nafasi, mahali pa ingilio la lango la mji. Vile vikosi viwili vikawawahi wale waliokuwa mashambani na kuwaua. 459:45 Yer 48:9Siku hiyo nzima Abimeleki akazidisha mashambulizi yake dhidi ya mji hadi akawa ameuteka na kuwaua watu wa huo mji. Kisha akauangamiza mji na kusambaza chumvi juu yake.
469:46 Amu 8:33Kwa kusikia jambo hili watu wote katika mnara wa Shekemu, wakaingia kwenye ngome ya hekalu la El-Berithi. 47Abimeleki aliposikia kuwa wamekusanyika huko, 489:48 Za 68:14yeye na watu wake wote wakakwea kwenye Mlima Salmoni. Abimeleki akachukua shoka, akakata baadhi ya matawi, ambayo aliyachukua mabegani. Akawaagiza wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye kuwa, “Fanyeni kile mlichoona mimi nikifanya!” 49Basi watu wote wakakata matawi na kumfuata Abimeleki. Wakayakusanya hayo matawi juu ya ngome na kuitia moto ili kuwachoma wale watu wote waliokuwa ndani yake. Hivyo watu wote katika mnara wa Shekemu, karibia watu 1,000 waume kwa wake, pia wakafa.
509:50 2Sam 11:21Baadaye Abimeleki akaenda Thebesi na kuuzingira kwa jeshi na kuuteka. 51Hata hivyo, ndani ya huo mji kulikuwa na mnara imara, ambako watu wote wa mji wanaume na wanawake, watu wote wa mji, walikimbilia ndani yake. Wakajifungia ndani yake na kupanda juu ya paa la mnara. 52Abimeleki akaja kwenye ule mnara na kuushambulia, lakini alipokaribia kwenye ingilio la mnara ili kuuchoma kwa moto, 539:53 2Sam 11:21mwanamke mmoja akaangusha sehemu ya juu ya jiwe la kusagia juu ya kichwa cha Abimeleki, likapasua fuvu la kichwa chake.
549:54 1Sam 31:4; 2Sam 1:9Akamwita kwa haraka kijana yule aliyechukua silaha zake, na kumwambia, “Chukua upanga wako na uniue, watu wasije wakasema kwamba, ‘Mwanamke amemuua.’ ” Basi yule kijana akamchoma upanga, naye akafa. 55Waisraeli walipoona kuwa Abimeleki amekufa, kila mtu akaenda nyumbani kwake.
56Hivyo ndivyo Mungu alivyolipiza uovu ule ambao Abimeleki alikuwa ameutenda kwa baba yake kwa kuwaua ndugu zake sabini. 579:57 Za 94:23Mungu akawapatiliza watu wa Shekemu uovu wao juu ya vichwa vyao, na juu yao ikaja laana ya Yothamu mwana wa Yerub-Baali.
