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:

Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke 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 ”.

“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule 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”.

His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. 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.

They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who 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.

He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, 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 assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak 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.

When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, “Listen to me, you 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!’

The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. 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, ‘Should I leave my fatness, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

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

“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come 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 to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

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

“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come 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?’

“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’

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

“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come 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!’

“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; 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 you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and 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 risked 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.

and you have risen up against my father’s house today, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, 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 you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then 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 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.

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

22 F azia três anos que Abimeleque governava Israel,

Abimelech was prince 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.

that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that 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 an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them, and Abimelech was told about it.

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

Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to 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, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, held festival, 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?

Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? 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! ”

I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” 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 craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.

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

Now therefore, go up 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”.

It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”

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

Abimelech rose up, and all the people who 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.

Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, 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, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see 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 by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak 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 Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”

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

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.

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

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

Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

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

On the next day, 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.

He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them, and struck 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.

Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck 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 took the city, and killed the people in it. He 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.

When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.

47 Q uando Abimeleque soube que se haviam reunido lá,

Abimelech was told 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!”

Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you 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.

All the people likewise each cut down his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people 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 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 within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, 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,

Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to 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.

A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke 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 his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust 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, they each departed to his place.

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 did 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.

and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.