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Na ka haere a Apimereke tama a Ierupaara ki Hekeme ki nga tungane o tona whaea, a ka korero ki a ratou, ki te hapu katoa ano hoki o te whare o te papa o tona whaea, ka mea,

Tena, ki atu ki nga taringa o nga tangata katoa o Hekeme, Ko tehea te mea pai ki a koutou, ko nga tangata e whitu tekau, ko nga tama katoa a Ierupaara, hei kingi mo koutou, kia kotahi ranei te tangata hei kingi mo koutou? Kia mahara hoki he wheua ahau no koutou, he kikokiko no koutou.

Na ka korerotia e nga tungane o tona whaea enei kupu katoa mona ki nga taringa o nga tangata katoa o Hekeme, a ka anga o ratou ngakau ki te aru i a Apimereke; i mea hoki ratou, Ko to tatou teina ia.

Na ka homai e ratou ki a ia etahi hiriwa, e whitu tekau, i roto i te whare o Paaraperiti, a ka utua e Apimereke ki aua mea etahi tangata wairangi, he hunga hikaka, a aru ana ratou i a ia.

Na ka haere ia ki te whare o tona papa ki Opora, a patua iho e ia ona tuakana, ona teina, nga tama a Ierupaara, e whitu tekau nga tangata, i runga i te kohatu kotahi; otiia i mahue a Iotama te tama whakaotinga a Ierupaara; i piri hoki ia.

Na ka huihui nga tangata katoa o Hekeme, ratou ko te whare katoa o Miro, a ka haere, ka mea i a Apimereke hei kingi, ki te oki i te pou i Hekeme.

A ka korerotia ki a Iotama, na ka haere ia, a tu ana i runga i te tihi o Maunga Keritimi; na ka ara tona reo, ka karanga, ka mea ki a ratou, Whakarongo mai ki ahau, e nga tangata o Hekeme, kia whakarongo ai te Atua ki a koutou.

I haere nga rakau ki te whakawahi i tetahi kingi mo ratou, a ka mea ki te oriwa, Ko koe hei kingi mo matou.

Na ka mea te oriwa ki a ratou, Kia whakarerea koia e ahau toku momonatanga, taku mea i whai kororia ai te Atua, te tangata, a kia haere ki runga i nga rakau tiwhaiwhai ai?

10 Na ka mea nga rakau ki te piki, Haere mai hei kingi mo matou.

11 Ano ra ko te piki ki a ratou, Kia whakarerea koia e ahau toku reka me oku hua pai, a kia haere ki runga i nga rakau tiwhaiwhai ai?

12 Katahi ka mea nga rakau ki te waina, Haere mai koe hei kingi mo matou.

13 Na ka mea te waina ki a ratou, Kia whakarerea koia e ahau toku waina e whakahari nei i te Atua, i te tangata, a kia haere ki runga i nga rakau tiwhaiwhai ai?

14 Na ka mea nga rakau katoa ki te taraheke, Haere mai hei kingi mo matou.

15 Na ka mea te taraheke ki nga rakau, Ki te mea he pono ta koutou whakawahi i ahau hei kingi mo koutou, haere mai ki raro ki toku taumarumarutanga iho okioki ai, a ki te kahore, kia puta atu he ahi i roto i te taraheke hei kai i nga hita o Repanon a.

16 Na ki te mea he pono, he tika, ta koutou mahi, i a koutou i mea nei i a Apimereke hei kingi, ki te pai hoki ta koutou mahi ki a Ierupaara ratou ko tona whare, ki te mea hoki i rite ki nga mahi a ona ringa ta koutou i mea ai ki a ia;

17 Na toku papa hoki i whawhai a koutou whawhai, a taruke ana ki te mate; a ora ake koutou i te ringa o Miriana:

18 Na kua whakatika nei koutou i tenei ra ki te whare o toku papa, a patua iho ana tama, e whitu tekau tangata, ki runga ki te kohatu kotahi, a meinga ana a Apimereke, tama a tana pononga wahine hei kingi mo nga tangata o Hekeme, no te mea ko to ko utou teina ia;

19 Na ki te mea he pono, he tika, ta koutou i mea ai ki a Ierupaara ratou ko tona whare i tenei ra, kia hari ki a Apimereke, kia hari hoki ia ki a koutou.

20 Ki te kahore ia kia puta he ahi i a Apimereke hei kai i nga tangata o Hekeme, ratou ko te whare o Miro; kia puta hoki he ahi i nga tangata o Hekeme, i te whare hoki o Miro, hei kai a Apimereke.

21 Na ko te rerenga i rere ai a Iotama, haere ana ki Peere, a noho ana i reira i te wehi o tona tuakana, o Apimereke.

22 A e toru nga tau o Apimereke e kawana ana i a Iharaira,

23 Na ka unga e te Atua he wairua kino hei wehe i a Apimereke ratou ko nga tangata o Hekeme; a ka mahi tinihanga nga tangata o Hekeme ki a Apimereke.

24 He mea mo te tukinotanga i nga tama e whitu tekau a Ierupaara kia eke mai, kia utaina o ratou toto ki runga ki to ratou teina, ki a Apimereke, nana nei ratou i patu; ki runga ano hoki i nga tangata o Hekeme nana nei i whakakaha ona ringa i patua ai ona tuakana, ona teina.

25 Na ka whakanohoia e nga tangata o Hekeme he kaiwhanga mona ki nga tihi o nga maunga, a pahuatia ana e ratou te hunga katoa i puta ki a ratou i te ara; a ka korerotia ki a Apimereke.

26 Na ka haere mai a Kaara tama a Epere ratou ko ona teina, a ka tae atu ki Hekeme; na ka whakawhirinaki nga tangata o Hekeme ki a ia.

27 Na ka haere ratou ki te mara, a whakiia ana nga hua o a ratou mara waina, takahia ana; na ka tuku hakari ratou, a ka haere ki te whare o to ratou atua, ka kai, ka inu, a kohukohua ana e ratou a Apimereke.

28 I mea ano a Kaara tama a Epere, Ko wai a Apimereke, ko wai hoki a Hekeme e mahi ai tatou ki a ia? ehara ianei ia i te tama a Ierupaara? ko Tepuru hoki tana kaiwhakahauhau? me mahi koutou ki nga tangata a Hamora, a te papa o Hekeme: engari he aha tatou ka mahi ai ki a ia?

29 Na me i pai te Atua ki tenei iwi ki raro ki toku ringa! ina kua peia e ahau a Apimereke. Katahi ia ka mea ki a Apimereke, Whakanuia tou ope, puta mai hoki.

30 A, no te rongonga o Tepuru rangatira o te pa ki nga kupu a Kaara tama a Epere, ka mura tona riri.

31 Na ka tono puku ia i etahi tangata ki a Apimereke hei me, Ko Kaara tama a Epere tenei, ratou ko ona teina, kua tae mai ki Hekeme; a kei te whakatutehu ratou i te pa kia tu atu ki a koe.

32 Na reira whakatika i te po, a koe me au tangata, ka takoto tauwhanga ai i te parae.

33 A ka whiti te ra i te ata, ka maranga wawe koe, ka huaki ki te pa: a ka puta ia, ratou ko ana tangata ki te whawhai ki a koe, mau e mea ki a ia tau e kite ai.

34 Na ko te whakatikanga ake o Apimereke ratou ko ana tangata katoa i te po, a e wha o ratou matua i takoto tauwhanga ai mo Hekeme.

35 A ka puta atu a Kaara tama a Epere, ka tu i te tomokanga ki te kuwaha o te pa: na kua whakatika ake a Apimereke ratou ko ana tangata i te pehipehi.

36 A, i te kitenga o Kaara i aua tangata, ka mea ia ki a Tepuru, Nana, he tangata e heke mai ra i nga tihi o nga maunga. Na ka mea a Tepuru ki a ia, Ko te ata o nga maunga tau e kite na, me te mea he tangata.

37 Na ka korero ano a Kaara, ka mea, Nana, titiro ki te hunga e heke mai ra ma waenganui o te whenua! kotahi hoki tera matua e haere mai ra i te ara i te oki o Meonenimi.

38 Na ka mea a Tepuru ki a ia, Kei hea ra tou mangai i mea ra koe, Ko wai a Apimereke, e mahi ai tatou ki a ia? ehara ianei tenei i te iwi i whakahaweatia ra e koe? Na haere atu inaianei ki te whawhai ki a ia.

39 Na ka haere a Kaara i te aroaro o nga tangata o Hekeme ki te whawhai ki a Apimereke.

40 Na ka whaia ia e Apimereke, a rere ana ia i tona aroaro, a he tokomaha i hinga, i patua, a te tomokanga ra ano o te kuwaha.

41 Na ka noho a Apimereke ki Aruma: a ka peia a Kaara ratou ko ona teina e Tepuru, kei noho ki Hekeme.

42 A i te aonga ake ka puta atu nga tangata ki te parae; a ka korerotia e ratou ki a Apimereke.

43 Na ka mau ia ki nga tangata, a wehea ana e ia kia toru nga matua, a ka tauwhanga i te parae. A ka kite ia, na, kua puta mai te iwi i roto i te pa, ka whakatika ia ki a ratou a patua iho.

44 I kokiri hoki a Apimereke ratou ko ana ngohi, a tu ana i te tomokanga ki te kuwaha o te pa: a kokiri ana nga ngohi e rua ki te hunga katoa i te parae, a patua iho.

45 A whakapaua ana e Apimereke taua ra ki te whawhai ki te pa, a horo ana te pa i a ia, patua iho hoki nga tangata katoa i roto; na wahia ana e ia te pa, ruia iho ki te tote.

46 A, no te rongonga o nga tangata katoa o te pourewa o Hekeme, ka haere ratou ki roto ki te taumaihi o te whare o te atua, o Periti.

47 A ka korerotia ki a Apimereke kua huihui katoa nga tangata o te pourewa o Hekeme.

48 Katahi ka piki atu a Apimereke ki Maunga Taramono, ratou ko ana tangata katoa; i mauria atu ano i Apimereke he toki i tona ringa; na ka tapahia e ia he rakau, a hapainga ana, amohia ana e ia i runga i ona pokohiwi, me te mea ano ki ana tangata, Ko ta koutou i kite nei e meatia ana e ahau, kia hohoro ta koutou pera.

49 Na ka tapahia he peka e tenei, e tenei o te iwi katoa, a haere ana ki te whai i a Apimereke: na ka whakatakotoria e ratou ki te taha o te taumaihi, a tahuna ana te taumaihi ki te ahi ki runga ki a ratou: na ka mate ano hoki nga tangata katoa o t e pourewa o Hekeme; ki te whakaaro iho kotahi mano nga tane, nga wahine.

50 Katahi ka haere a Apimereke ki Tepehe, a whakapaea ana a Tepehe e ia, a horo ana i a ia.

51 Na i waenganui o te pa he pourewa kaha, a ka rere ki reira nga tane katoa, me nga wahine, nga tangata katoa o te pa, a tutakina ana mai ratou ki roto, a piki ana ratou ki runga ki te tuanui o te pourewa.

52 Na ko te haerenga atu o Apimereke ki te pourewa, tauria ana e ia, ka whakatata hoki ki te kuwaha o te pourewa, he tahu ki te ahi.

53 Ko te tino makanga iho a tetahi wahine i to runga kohatu mira ki runga ki te matenga o Apimereke, na ngawha iho tona angaanga.

54 Na hohoro tonu tana karanga ki te tangata i mau i ana patu, ka mea ki a ia, Unuhia tau hoari, whakamatea hoki ahau, kei korerotia ahau, He wahine nana ia i patu. Na werohia ana ia e tana tangata, a ka mate.

55 A, no te kitenga o nga tangata o Iharaira kua mate a Apimereke, ka haere ratou ki tona wahi, ki tona wahi.

56 Na i penei te whakautu a te Atua i te kino a Apimereke i meatia e ia ki tona papa, i a ia i patu ai i ona tuakana, i ona teina, e whitu tekau:

57 Me te kino hoki a nga tangata o Hekeme, i whakautua katoatia e te Atua ki runga ki o ratou matenga; a ka tau iho ki a ratou te kanga a Iotama tama a Ierupaara.

Abimelek

Abimelek(A) son of Jerub-Baal(B) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, “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.(C)

When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” They gave him seventy shekels[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,(D) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,(E) who became his followers. He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,(F) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,(G) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.(H) Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo(I) gathered beside the great tree(J) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

When Jotham(K) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim(L) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

“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,(M) 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;(N) but if not, then let fire come out(O) of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’(P)

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? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked(Q) his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons(R) 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. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today?(S) If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out(T) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem(U) and Beth Millo,(V) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

21 Then Jotham(W) fled, escaping to Beer,(X) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity(Y) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,(Z) the shedding(AA) of their blood, might be avenged(AB) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him(AC) murder his brothers. 25 In 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.

26 Now Gaal son of Ebed(AD) moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden(AE) them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.(AF) While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed(AG) said, “Who(AH) 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,(AI) Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command!(AJ) Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[b](AK)

30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under 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. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait(AL) in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.(AM)

34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate(AN) just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.(AO)

36 When 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.”

37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,[c] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”

38 Then 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?(AP) Go out and fight them!”

39 So Gaal led out[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies(AQ) and set an ambush(AR) in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek 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. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city(AS) and scattered salt(AT) over it.

46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple(AU) of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon.(AV) 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!” 49 So 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.

50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez(AW) and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside 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. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.(AX)

54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me,(AY) so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.(AZ) The curse of Jotham(BA) son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams
  2. Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”
  3. Judges 9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
  4. Judges 9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of