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 to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household 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, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, 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 relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our relative.”

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.

They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, 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.

Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But 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.

All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which 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.

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

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

Once the trees 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?’

But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, 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, ‘Shall 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 the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, 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?’

But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

Finally all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, 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!’

The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume 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 you have dealt in truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved—

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 risked his life and delivered you from 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 you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your relative—

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 then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice 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 consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.”

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

Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother. Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22 F azia três anos que Abimeleque governava Israel,

Now 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.

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.

so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

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.

The men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.

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

Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust 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.

They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a festival; and they 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?

Then 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 is Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but 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! ”

Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”

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

When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

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.

He sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are stirring up the city against you.

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

Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, 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”.

In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can.”

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

So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in 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.

Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from 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”.

When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “ Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing 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”.

Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down from the highest part of the land, and one company comes by the way of the diviners’ 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 Zebul said to him, “Where is your boasting now with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!”

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

So Gaal went out before the leaders 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.

Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.

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

Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.

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

Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to 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.

So he took his people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and slew 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.

Then Abimelech and the company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two companies then dashed against all who were in the field 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.

Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he razed 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.

When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

47 Q uando Abimeleque soube que se haviam reunido lá,

It was told Abimelech that all the leaders 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!”

So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise.”

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.

All the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

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

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured 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 center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on 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,

So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached 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.

But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing 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 quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died.

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

When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.

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

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.

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.

Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.