Judges 9

Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan,

Mereka nokware sɛ Kristoni, na m’ahonim a Honhom Kronkron di no adanse kyerɛ me sɛ minni atoro.

“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.”

Midi awerɛhow na mete daa yaw wɔ me koma mu ma me nkurɔfo.

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.”

Wɔn nti anka mepɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn nnome ba me so na ɔtew me fi Kristo ho.

They gave him seventy shekels^[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers.

Wɔyɛ Onyankopɔn manfo a wɔayi wɔn de wɔn ayɛ ne mma de wɔn asan atena n’anuonyam mu. Ɔne wɔn hyɛɛ apam no na ɔde mmara no maa wɔn; ɔkyerɛɛ ɔkwan pa a wɔfa so som maa wɔn nsa kaa bɔhyɛ no.

He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.

Wɔyɛ tete agyanom asefo na esiane sɛ Kristo bae onipasu so nti, ɔyɛ wɔn aseni. Ayeyi nka Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ ade nyinaa so tumfo no daadaa. Amen.

Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

Menka se Onyankopɔn bɔhyɛ no amma mu, efisɛ, ɛnyɛ Israelfo nyinaa na Onyankopɔn ayi wɔn sɛ ne manfo.

When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

Saa ara nso na ɛnyɛ Abraham asefo nyinaa na wɔyɛ Onyankopɔn mma. Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Abraham se, “Wo manfo befi Isak ase.”

One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

Eyi kyerɛ sɛ ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ Abraham mma na mmom wɔn a wɔnam Onyankopɔn bɔhyɛ so woo wɔn no na wɔyɛ Abraham asefo turodoo.

“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?’

Onyankopɔn nam saa bɔhyɛ nsɛm a ɛka se, “Ampa ara, mɛsan aba wo nkyɛn bio bere a ɛsɛ mu no, na wo yere Sara awo ɔba” no so na ɛhyɛɛ saa bɔ no.

“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

Ɛnyɛ eyi nko. Rebeka mma baanu no nyinaa fi agya koro a ɔne yɛn agya Isak.

“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

Na sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a Onyankopɔn nam ɔba baako so bɛma ne pɛ ada adi no nti,

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

ɔka kyerɛɛ Rebeka se, “Ɔpanyin no bɛsom akumaa no.” Ɔkaa eyi ansa na ɔrewo wɔn ama wɔayɛ papa anaa bɔne. Enti na Onyankopɔn pɛ no gyina ne frɛ a ɔfrɛɛ wɔn no so, na ɛnyɛ wɔn nneyɛe so,

“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

sɛnea Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, “Medɔɔ Yakob na metan Esau” no.

“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

Afei asɛm bɛn na yɛbɛka? Sɛ Onyankopɔn nyɛ ɔnokwafo anaa? Dabida!

“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

Efisɛ, ɔka kyerɛɛ Mose se, “Nea mepɛ no no na m’ahummɔbɔ bɛkɔ ne so.”

“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?

Eyi kyerɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn ahummɔbɔ no nnyina ɔpɛ a obi pɛ sɛ onya anaa ne nnwuma so, na mmom egyina Onyankopɔn ahummɔbɔ so.

Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian.

Kyerɛwsɛm no mu, Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Farao se, “Eyi ara nti na misii wo hene nam so daa me tumi adi sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a, me tumi bɛda adi wɔ mmaa nyinaa.”

But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons 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.

Eyi kyerɛ sɛ, Onyankopɔn hu nea ɔpɛ sɛ ohu no mmɔbɔ biara no mmɔbɔ, na nea ɔpɛ sɛ ɔyɛ den wɔ ne so no nso, ɔyɛ saa.

So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!

Afei, mo mu baako bebisa me se, “Sɛ saa na ɛte de a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na Onyankopɔn benya nnipa ho mfomso? Hena na obetumi asiw Onyankopɔn kwan n’apɛde ho?”

But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

Onua, wone hena a wubetumi akasa akyerɛ Onyankopɔn? Kuku mmisa ne nwemfo se, “Adɛn nti na wonwenee me sɛɛ?”

Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

Ɔnwemfo no wɔ ho kwan sɛ ɔde ɔbo no nwene nea ɔpɛ biara. Otumi nwene nkuku abien fi ɔbo tɔw mu, na ɔde mu baaka adi dwuma titiriw bi, na ɔde baako no nso ayɛ nea ɔpɛ biara.

After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,

Saa ara na ade biara a Onyankopɔn ayɛ no te. Ɔpɛ sɛ ɔda n’abufuw ne ne tumi adi. Enti ɔtɔɔ ne bo ase maa wɔn a anka ɔrebɛsɛe wɔn wɔ n’abufuw mu no.

God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.

Na ɔnam n’ahummɔbɔ so pɛe sɛ yenya n’anuonyam kɛse a wɔasiesie ama wɔn a wɔyɛ ne de no.

God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

Ɛnyɛ wɔn a wɔfrɛɛ wɔn fii Yudafo mu nko na mmom, Amanamanmufo nso.

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.

Wɔka wɔ Hosea nwoma mu se, “Mɛfrɛ wɔn a wɔnyɛ me man no me man, ne ɔman a mannɔ no no me dɔfo.

Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.

Na beae koro no ara a ɔkae se, ‘Monyɛ me man’ no, ɛhɔ ara na ɔbɛfrɛ wɔn se Onyankopɔn teasefo no mma.”

After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek.

Na Yesaia dii Israelfo ho yaw se, “Sɛ Israelfo dɔɔso sɛ mpoano nhwea mpo a, wɔn mu kakraa bi na wɔbegye wɔn nkwa.

Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who 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, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek?

Efisɛ, Awurade bebu ntɛn asase so de awie biribiara.”

If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”^[b]

Sɛnea Yesaia kae se, “Sɛ Awurade tumfoɔ no annyaw yɛn akyifo bi a, anka yɛayɛ sɛ Sodom na yɛadan sɛ Gomora”.

When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry.

Afei asɛm bɛn na yɛbɛka bio? Yɛbɛka se Amanamanmufo a wɔampɛ sɛ wɔde wɔn ho bɛta Onyankopɔn no nam gyidi so ma wɔfataa Onyankopɔn anim,

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.

wɔ bere a wɔn a wɔayi wɔn no pɛe sɛ wɔnam mmara bi so fata Onyankopɔn anim no, wɔantumi.

Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields.

Adɛn nti na ɛbaa saa? Efisɛ nea wɔyɛe no mfi gyidi mu na mmom efi nnwuma mu. Wohintiwii “hintibo”

In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”

a Kyerɛwsɛm no ka fa ho se, “Mede hintibo ne amanehunubo a ɛbɛma nnipa ahwe ase reto Sion na obiara a obegye no adi no, anim rengu ase da.”

So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.

Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.

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.”

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.”

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? Go out and fight them!”

So Gaal led out^[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek.

Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled.

Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek.

So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.

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.

All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.

On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.

When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there,

he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. 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!”

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.

Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.

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.

Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire,

a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.

Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died.

When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.

God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.