1 A bimeleque, filho de Jerubaal, foi aos irmãos de sua mãe em Siquém e disse a eles e a todo o clã da família de sua mãe:

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

2 “ Perguntem a todos os cidadãos de Siquém o que é melhor para eles, ter todos os setenta filhos de Jerubaal governando sobre eles, ou somente um homem? Lembrem-se de que eu sou sangue do seu sangue ”.

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 O s irmãos de sua mãe repetiram tudo aos cidadãos de Siquém, e estes se mostraram propensos a seguir Abimeleque, pois disseram: “Ele é nosso irmão”.

And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

4 D eram-lhe setenta peças de prata tiradas do templo de Baal-Berite, as quais Abimeleque usou para contratar alguns desocupados e vadios, que se tornaram seus seguidores.

And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

5 F oi à casa de seu pai em Ofra e matou seus setenta irmãos, filhos de Jerubaal, sobre uma rocha. Mas Jotão, o filho mais novo de Jerubaal, escondeu-se e escapou.

And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

6 E ntão todos os cidadãos de Siquém e de Bete-Milo reuniram-se ao lado do Carvalho, junto à coluna de Siquém, para coroar Abimeleque rei.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 Q uando Jotão soube disso, subiu ao topo do monte Gerizim e gritou para eles: “Ouçam-me, cidadãos de Siquém, para que Deus os ouça.

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

8 C erto dia as árvores saíram para ungir um rei para si. Disseram à oliveira: ‘Seja o nosso rei!’

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

9 “ A oliveira, porém, respondeu: ‘Deveria eu renunciar ao meu azeite, com o qual se presta honra aos deuses e aos homens, para dominar sobre as árvores?’

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10 “ Então as árvores disseram à figueira: ‘Venha ser o nosso rei!’

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

11 “ A figueira, porém, respondeu: ‘Deveria eu renunciar ao meu fruto saboroso e doce, para dominar sobre as árvores?’

But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

12 “ Depois as árvores disseram à videira: ‘Venha ser o nosso rei!’

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

13 “ A videira, porém, respondeu: ‘Deveria eu renunciar ao meu vinho, que alegra os deuses e os homens, para ter domínio sobre as árvores?’

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

14 “ Finalmente todas as árvores disseram ao espinheiro: ‘Venha ser o nosso rei!’

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

15 “ O espinheiro disse às árvores: ‘Se querem realmente ungir-me rei sobre vocês, venham abrigar-se à minha sombra; do contrário, sairá fogo do espinheiro e consumirá até os cedros do Líbano!’

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 “ Será que vocês agiram de fato com sinceridade quando fizeram Abimeleque rei? Foram justos com Jerubaal e sua família, como ele merecia?

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

17 M eu pai lutou por vocês e arriscou a vida para livrá-los das mãos de Midiã.

(for my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

18 H oje, porém, vocês se revoltaram contra a família de meu pai, mataram seus setenta filhos sobre a mesma rocha, e proclamaram Abimeleque, o filho de sua escrava, rei sobre os cidadãos de Siquém pelo fato de ser irmão de vocês.

and ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

19 S e hoje vocês de fato agiram com sinceridade para com Jerubaal e sua família, alegrem-se com Abimeleque, e alegre-se ele com vocês!

if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

20 E ntretanto, se não foi assim, que saia fogo de Abimeleque e consuma os cidadãos de Siquém e de Bete-Milo, e que saia fogo dos cidadãos de Siquém e de Bete-Milo, e consuma Abimeleque!”

but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

21 D epois Jotão fugiu para Beer, onde ficou morando, longe de seu irmão Abimeleque.

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 F azia três anos que Abimeleque governava Israel,

When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 q uando Deus enviou um espírito maligno entre Abimeleque e os cidadãos de Siquém, e estes agiram traiçoeiramente contra Abimeleque.

then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

24 I sso aconteceu para que o crime contra os setenta filhos de Jerubaal, o derramamento do sangue deles, fosse vingado em seu irmão Abimeleque e nos cidadãos de Siquém que o ajudaram a assassinar os seus irmãos.

that the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25 O s cidadãos de Siquém enviaram homens para o alto das colinas para emboscarem os que passassem por ali, e Abimeleque foi informado disso.

And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

26 N esse meio tempo Gaal, filho de Ebede, mudou-se com seus parentes para Siquém, cujos cidadãos confiavam nele.

And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 S ucedeu que foram ao campo, colheram uvas, pisaram-nas, e fizeram uma festa no templo do seu deus. Comendo e bebendo, amaldiçoaram Abimeleque.

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

28 E ntão Gaal, filho de Ebede, disse: “Quem é Abimeleque para que o sirvamos? E quem é Siquém? Não é ele o filho de Jerubaal, e não é Zebul o seu representante? Sirvam aos homens de Hamor, o pai de Siquém! Por que servir a Abimeleque?

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

29 A h! Se eu tivesse esse povo sob o meu comando! Eu me livraria de Abimeleque e lhe diria: Mobilize o seu exército e venha! ”

And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

30 Q uando Zebul, o governante da cidade, ouviu o que dizia Gaal, filho de Ebede, ficou indignado.

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31 S ecretamente enviou mensageiros a Abimeleque dizendo: “Gaal, filho de Ebede, e seus parentes vieram a Siquém e estão agitando a cidade contra você.

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

32 V enha de noite, você e seus homens, e fiquem à espera no campo.

Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

33 D e manhã, ao nascer do sol, avance contra a cidade. Quando Gaal e sua tropa atacarem, faça com eles o que achar melhor”.

and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

34 E assim Abimeleque e todas as suas tropas partiram de noite e prepararam emboscadas perto de Siquém, em quatro companhias.

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 O ra, Gaal, filho de Ebede, tinha saído e estava à porta da cidade quando Abimeleque e seus homens saíram da sua emboscada.

And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.

36 Q uando Gaal os viu, disse a Zebul: “Veja, vem gente descendo do alto das colinas!” Zebul, porém, respondeu: “Você está confundindo as sombras dos montes com homens”.

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

37 M as Gaal tornou a falar: “Veja, vem gente descendo da parte central do território, e uma companhia está vindo pelo caminho do carvalho dos Adivinhadores”.

And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

38 D isse-lhe Zebul: “Onde está toda aquela sua conversa? Você dizia: ‘Quem é Abimeleque, para que o sirvamos?’ Não são estes os homens que você ridicularizou? Saia e lute contra eles!”

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

39 E ntão Gaal conduziu para fora os cidadãos de Siquém e lutou contra Abimeleque.

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 A bimeleque o perseguiu, e ele fugiu. Muitos dos homens de Siquém caíram mortos ao longo de todo o caminho, até a porta da cidade.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

41 A bimeleque permaneceu em Arumá, e Zebul expulsou Gaal e os seus parentes de Siquém.

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42 N o dia seguinte o povo de Siquém saiu aos campos, e Abimeleque ficou sabendo disso.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

43 E ntão dividiu os seus homens em três companhias e armou emboscadas no campo. Quando viu o povo saindo da cidade, levantou-se contra ele e atacou-o.

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

44 A bimeleque e as tropas que estavam com ele avançaram até a porta da cidade. Então duas companhias avançaram sobre os que estavam nos campos e os mataram.

And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

45 E Abimeleque atacou a cidade o dia todo, até conquistá-la e matar o seu povo. Depois destruiu a cidade e espalhou sal sobre ela.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 A o saberem disso, os cidadãos que estavam na torre de Siquém entraram na fortaleza do templo de El-Berite.

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

47 Q uando Abimeleque soube que se haviam reunido lá,

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 e le e todos os seus homens subiram o monte Zalmom. Ele apanhou um machado, cortou um galho de árvore e o pôs nos ombros. Então deu esta ordem aos homens que estavam com ele: “Rápido! Façam o que eu estou fazendo!”

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

49 T odos os homens cortaram galhos e seguiram Abimeleque. Empilharam os galhos junto à fortaleza e a incendiaram. Assim morreu também o povo que estava na torre de Siquém, cerca de mil homens e mulheres.

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 A seguir Abimeleque foi a Tebes, sitiou-a e conquistou-a.

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 M as dentro da cidade havia uma torre bastante forte, para a qual fugiram todos os homens e mulheres, todo o povo da cidade. Trancaram-se por dentro e subiram para o telhado da torre.

But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

52 A bimeleque foi para a torre e atacou-a. E, quando se aproximava da entrada da torre para incendiá-la,

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 u ma mulher jogou uma pedra de moinho na cabeça dele, e lhe rachou o crânio.

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.

54 I mediatamente ele chamou seu escudeiro e lhe ordenou: “Tire a espada e mate-me, para que não digam que uma mulher me matou”. Então o jovem o atravessou, e ele morreu.

Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 Q uando os israelitas viram que Abimeleque estava morto, voltaram para casa.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56 A ssim Deus retribuiu a maldade que Abimeleque praticara contra o seu pai, matando os seus setenta irmãos.

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

57 D eus fez também os homens de Siquém pagarem por toda a sua maldade. A maldição de Jotão, filho de Jerubaal, caiu sobre eles.

and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.