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 son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and spoke to them, and to 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 citizens of Shechem, Which is better for you, that seventy persons, all sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? And remember 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 spoke of him in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem all these words. And their heart inclined after 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 seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hired with them vain and wanton men, and they 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 came to his father's house, to Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons upon one stone; but there remained Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal; for he had 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 citizens of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the memorial-oak that is 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 they told it to Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye citizens of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.

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

The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive-tree, Reign 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?’

And the olive-tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to wave 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, 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 to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?

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

Then said the trees to the vine, Come thou, 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 to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave over the trees?

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

Then said all the trees to the thorn-bush, Come thou, 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 thorn-bush said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, come, put confidence in my shadow; but if not, fire shall come out of the thorn-bush 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 dealt truly and sincerely in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and if ye have done to 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 endangered his life, 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.

but ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, king over the citizens 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, 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 citizens of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the citizens 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, because of Abimelech his brother.

22 F azia três anos que Abimeleque governava Israel,

And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

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

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem; and the citizens 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 violence to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who had strengthened his hands to slay 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 citizens of Shechem set liers in wait for him on the tops 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 citizens of Shechem put 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, and made rejoicings, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, 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 he not the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his overseer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem! and 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! ”

Oh! would that 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 Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, and 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 to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem, and behold, they shut up the city against thee;

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

and now, rise up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in ambush in the fields.

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 in the morning when the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and fall upon the city; and behold, he and the people that is with him shall come out against thee, and thou shalt do with him 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 lay in ambush 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 entrance of the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, out of the ambush.

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 Gaal saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as 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 spoke again, and said, Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and one company is coming along by the way of the Magician's oak.

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 to him, Where is now thy mouth, thou that saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight against them.

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

And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought against 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 pursued him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, as far as the entrance 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 drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they might 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 lay in ambush in the field. And he looked, and behold, the people came 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 companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and two of the companies ran upon all 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 were in it, and broke 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 all the men of the tower of Shechem heard, and they entered into the stronghold 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 had 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!”

Then Abimelech went 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 up and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that was with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, 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 they followed Abimelech, and put to the hold, and burned the hold with fire upon them. And 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.

And Abimelech went 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 in the midst of the city, and thither fled all the men and women, all the citizens of the city; and they shut it behind them, and went up to the roof 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 to the tower, and fought against it, and he drew near to the entrance 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 woman cast the upper stone of a handmill on Abimelech's head, and crushed 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 to the young man that carried his armour, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that they say not of me, A woman killed 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 went every man to his place.

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

And God rendered back the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to 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 back upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.