Chapter 9 of 21

Abimelech Gedeon's concubine-son killeth his brethren, 7. only the youngest escapeth, and by a parable expostulateth the injury done to his father's house. 23. Shortly the Sichemites detest Abimelech. 26. Gaal conspireth against him, but is overcome. 50. Finally Abimelech is wounded to death by a woman.Abimelech Gedeons concubine sonne killeth his brethren, 7. onlie the yongest escapeth, & by a parable expostulateth the iniurie donne to his fathers house. 23. Shortly the Sichemites desest Abimelech. 26. Gaal conspireth against him, but is ouercome. 50. Finally Abimelech is wounded to death by a woman.

²Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you, that seventy men have dominion over you all the sons of Jerobaal, or that one man have dominion over you: and withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.Speake to al the men of Sichem: whether is better for you, that seuentie men haue dominion ouer you al the sonnes of Ierobaal, or that one man haue dominion ouer you: and withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.Loquimini ad omnes viros Sichem : Quid vobis est melius, ut dominentur vestri septuaginta viri omnes filii Jerobaal, an ut dominetur unus vir ? simulque considerate quod os vestrum et caro vestra sum.

³And his mother's brethren spake of him to all the men of Sichem, all these words, and inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying: He is our brother.And his mothers brethren spake of him to al the men of Sichem, al these wordes, and inclined their hartes after Abimelech, saying: He is our brother.Locutique sunt fratres matris ejus de eo ad omnes viros Sichem universos sermones istos, et inclinaverunt cor eorum post Abimelech, dicentes : Frater noster est.

⁴And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberit. Who hired therewith unto himself needy men and vagabonds, and they followed him.And they gaue him seuentie weight of siluer out of the temple of Baalberit. Who hyred therewith vnto him self needie men and vagaboundes, and they folowed him.Dederuntque illi septuaginta pondo argenti de fano Baalberit. Qui conduxit sibi ex eo viros inopes et vagos, secutique sunt eum.

⁵And he came into his father's house in Ephra, and murdered his brethren the sons of Jerobaal seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, and was hid.And he came into his fathers house in Ephra, and murdered his brethren the sonnes of Ierobaal seuentie men, vpon one stone: and there remayned Ioatham the youngest sonne of Ierobaal, and was hidde.Et venit in domum patris sui in Ephra, et occidit fratres suos filios Jerobaal, septuaginta viros super lapidem unum : remansitque Joatham filius Jerobaal minimus, et absconditus est.

⁶And all the men of Sichem assembled together all the families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, beside the oak, that stood in Sichem.And al the men of Sichem assembled together al the families of the citie of Mello: and they went & made Abimelech king, beside the oke, that stood in Sichem.Congregati sunt autem omnes viri Sichem, et universæ familiæ urbis Mello : abieruntque et constituerunt regem Abimelech, juxta quercum quæ stabat in Sichem.

⁹Which answered: Can I forsake my fatness, which both gods do use, and men, and come to be promoted among the trees?Which answered: Can I forsake my fatnes, which both goddes do vse, and men, and come to be promoted among the trees?Quæ respondit : Numquid possum deserere pinguedinem meam, qua et dii utuntur et homines, et venire ut inter ligna promovear ?

¹¹Which answered them: Can I forsake my sweetness, and my most sweet fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?Which answered them: Can I forsake my swetenes, and my most swete fruites, and go to be promoted among the other trees?Quæ respondit eis : Numquid possum deserere dulcedinem meam, fructusque suavissimos, et ire ut inter cetera ligna promovear ?

¹³Which answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?Which answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, & be promoted among the other trees?Quæ respondit eis : Numquid possum deserere vinum meum, quod lætificat Deum et homines, et inter ligna cetera promoveri ?

¹⁵Who answered them: If indeed you make me your king, Come, and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let there fire issue forth of the rhamnus, and devour the cedars of Libanus.Who answered them: If in dede you make me your king, Come, and rest vnder my shadow: but if you meane it not, let there fyre issue forth of the rhamnus, and deuoure the ceders of Libanus.Quæ respondit eis : Si vere me regem vobis constituitis, venite, et sub umbra mea requiescite : si autem non vultis, egrediatur ignis de rhamno, et devoret cedros Libani.

¹⁶Now therefore, if you have well, and without sin appointed Abimelech king over you, and have dealt well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and have requited him the like for his benefits, who fought for you,Now therfore, if you haue wel, and without sinne appointed Abimelech king ouer you, and haue dealt wel with Ierobaal, and with his house, and haue requited him the like for his benefites, who fought for you,Nunc igitur, si recte et absque peccato constituistis super vos regem Abimelech, et bene egistis cum Jerobaal, et cum domo ejus, et reddidistis vicem beneficiis ejus, qui pugnavit pro vobis,

¹⁷and put his life in dangers, that he might deliver you from the hand of Madian,and put his life in dangers, that he might deliuer you from the hand of Madian,et animam suam dedit periculis, ut erueret vos de manu Madian,

¹⁸who now are risen against my father's house, and have killed his sons seventy men upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his handmaid king over the inhabitants of Sichem, because he is your brother.who now are risen against my fathers house, and haue killed his sonnes seuentie men vpon one stone, and haue made Abimelech the sonne of his handmaide king ouer the inhabitantes of Sichem, because he is your brother.qui nunc surrexistis contra domum patris mei, et interfecistis filios ejus septuaginta viros super unum lapidem, et constituistis regem Abimelech filium ancillæ ejus super habitatores Sichem, eo quod frater vester sit :

¹⁹If therefore you have dealt well, and without fault with Jerobaal, and his house, rejoice this day in Abimelech, and rejoice he in you.If therfore you haue dealt wel, and without fault with Ierobaal, and his house, reioyse this day in Abimelech, and reioyse he in you.si ergo recte et absque vitio egistis cum Jerobaal et domo ejus, hodie lætamini in Abimelech, et ille lætetur in vobis.

²⁰But if unjustly: let there fire issue forth from him, and consume the inhabitants of Sichem, and town of Mello: and let there fire go forth from the men of Sichem, and from the town of Mello, and devour Abimelech.But if vniustly: let there fyre issue forth from him, and consume the inhabitantes of Sichem, and towne of Mello: and let there fyre goe forth from the men of Sichem, and from the towne of Mello, and deuoure Abimelech.Sin autem perverse : egrediatur ignis ex eo, et consumat habitatores Sichem, et oppidum Mello : egrediaturque ignis de viris Sichem, et de oppido Mello, et devoret Abimelech.

²¹Which things when he had said, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother.Which thinges when he had said, he fled, and went into Bera: and dwelt there for feare of Abimelech his brother.Quæ cum dixisset, fugit, et abiit in Bera : habitavitque ibi ob metum Abimelech fratris sui.

²²Abimelech therefore reigned over Israel three years.Abimelech therfore reigned ouer Israel three yeares.Regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israël tribus annis.

²⁴and to lay the wickedness of the murdering of the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and the shedding of their blood upon Abimelech their brother, and upon the rest of the princes of the Sichimites, that had holpen him.and to lay the wickednes of the murdering of the seuentie sonnes of Ierobaal, and the sheading of their bloud vpon Abimelech their brother, and vpon the rest of the princes of the Sichimites, that had holpen him.et scelus interfectionis septuaginta filiorum Jerobaal, et effusionem sanguinis eorum conferre in Abimelech fratrem suum, et in ceteros Sichimorum principes, qui eum adjuverant.

²⁵And they set an ambushment against him on the top of the mountains: and whiles they tarried for his coming, they committed robberies, taking preysplunder, spoils, booty taken, not prayers · Vulgate: prædas: plunder of them that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.And they sette an ambushment against him on the toppe of the mountaines: and whiles they taryed for his coming, they committed robberies, taking prayes of them that passed by: and it was told Abimelech.Posueruntque insidias adversus eum in summitate montium : et dum illius præstolabantur adventum, exercebant latrocinia, agentes prædas de prætereuntibus : nuntiatumque est Abimelech.

²⁶And Gaal the son of Obed came with his brethren, and passed into Sichem. At whose coming the inhabitants of Sichem taking courage,And Gaal the sonne of Obed came with his brethren, and passed into Sichem. At whose coming the inhabitantes of Sichem taking courage,Venit autem Gaal filius Obed cum fratribus suis, et transivit in Sichimam. Ad cujus adventum erecti habitatores Sichem,

²⁷issued forth into the fields, wasting the vineyards, and treading the grapes: and gathering companies of musicians went into the temple of their god, and in the banquets and cups cursed Abimelech,issued forth into the fieldes, wasting the vineyardes, and treading the grapes: and gathering companies of musicions went into the temple of their god, and in the bankettes and cuppes cursed Abimelech,egressi sunt in agros, vastantes vineas, uvasque calcantes : et factis cantantium choris, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui, et inter epulas et pocula maledicebant Abimelech,

²⁸Gaal the son of Obed crying: Who is Abimelech, and what is Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and hath made Zebul his servant prince over the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shall we serve him?Gaal the sonne of Obed crying: Who is Abimelech, and what is Sichem, that we should serue him? Is he not the sonne of Ierobaal, and hath made Zebul his seruant prince ouer the men of Emor the father of Sichem? Why then shal we serue him?clamante Gaal filio Obed : Quis est Abimelech, et quæ est Sichem, ut serviamus ei ? numquid non est filius Jerobaal, et constituit principem Zebul servum suum super viros Emor patris Sichem ? cur ergo serviemus ei ?

²⁹would God that some man would give this people under my hand, that I might take Abimelech out of the way. And some said to Abimelech: Gather together a multitude of an army, and come.would God that some man would geue this people vnder my hand, that I might take Abimelech out of the way. And some said to Abimelech: Gather together a multitude of an armie, and come.utinam daret aliquis populum istum sub manu mea, ut auferrem de medio Abimelech. Dictumque est Abimelech : Congrega exercitus multitudinem, et veni.

³⁰For Zebul the prince of the city, hearing the words of Gaal the son of Obed, was very wroth,For Zebul the prince of the citie, hearing the wordes of Gaal the sonne of Obed, was very wrath,Zebul enim princeps civitatis, auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Obed, iratus est valde,

³¹and sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: Behold, Gaal the son of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, and raiseth the city against thee.and sent messengers secretely to Abimelech, saying: Behold, Gaal the sonne of Obed is come into Sichem with his brethren, and rayseth the citie against thee.et misit clam ad Abimelech nuntios, dicens : Ecce Gaal filius Obed venit in Sichimam cum fratribus suis, et oppugnat adversum te civitatem.

³²Arise therefore in the night with the people, that is with thee, and lie hid in the field:Arise therfore in the night with the people, that is with thee, and lie hidde in the field:Surge itaque nocte cum populo qui tecum est, et latita in agro :

³³and betimes in the morning at sunrising, set upon the city. And when he issueth forth against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.and betimes in the morning at sunne rysing, sette vpon the citie. And when he issueth forth against thee with his people, do to him what thou shalt be able.et primo mane, oriente sole, irrue super civitatem. Illo autem egrediente adversum te cum populo suo, fac ei quod potueris.

³⁴Abimelech therefore arose with all his army in the night, and laid ambushments near to Sichem in four places.Abimelech therfore arose with al his armie in the night, and laide ambushementes nere to Sichem in foure places.Surrexit itaque Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte, et tetendit insidias juxta Sichimam in quatuor locis.

³⁵And Gaal the son of Obed went forth, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose, and all his army with him from the place of the ambushments.And Gaal the sonne of Obed went forth, & stoode in the entrance of the gate of the citie. And Abimelech rose, and al his armie with him from the place of the ambushmentes.Egressusque est Gaal filius Obed, et stetit in introitu portæ civitatis. Surrexit autem Abimelech, et omnis exercitus cum eo, de insidiarum loco.

³⁶And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh down from the mountains. To whom he answered: Thou seest the shadows of the mountains as it were heads of men, and with this error thou art deceived.And when Gaal had seene the people, he said to Zebul: Behold a multitude cometh downe from the mountaines. To whom he answered: Thou seest the shadowes of the mountaines as it were heades of men, and with this errour thou art deceiued.Cumque vidisset populum Gaal, dixit ad Zebul : Ecce de montibus multitudo descendit. Cui ille respondit : Umbras montium vides quasi capita hominum, et hoc errore deciperis.

³⁷Again Gaal said: Behold there cometh down people from the navel of the landthe central height, the midmost part of the land · Vulgate: umbilico terræ: the navel/midst of the land, and one troop cometh by the way, that looketh to the oak.Againe Gaal said: Behold there cometh downe people from the nauel of the land, and one trouppe cometh by the way, that looketh to the oke.Rursumque Gaal ait : Ecce populus de umbilico terræ descendit, et unus cuneus venit per viam quæ respicit quercum.

³⁸To whom Zebul said: Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou didst speak? Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people, which thou didst despise? Go forth, and fight against him.To whom Zebul said: Where is now thy mouth, wherwith thou didst speake? Who is Abimelech that we should serue him? Is not this the people, which thou didst despise? Goe forth, and fight against him.Cui dixit Zebul : Ubi est nunc os tuum, quo loquebaris : Quis est Abimelech ut serviamus ei ? nonne hic populus est, quem despiciebas ? egredere, et pugna contra eum.

³⁹Gaal therefore went, the people of the Sichimites looking on, and fought against Abimelech,Gaal therfore went, the people of the Sichimites looking on, and fought against Abimelech,Abiit ergo Gaal, spectante Sichimorum populo, et pugnavit contra Abimelech,

⁴⁰who pursued him fleeing, and drove him into the city: and there were slain of his part many, unto the gate of the city:who pursewed him fleeing, and droue him into the citie: and there were slaine of his part manie, vnto the gate of the citie:qui persecutus est eum fugientem, et in urbem compulit : cecideruntque ex parte ejus plurimi, usque ad portam civitatis.

⁴¹and Abimelech sat in Ruma: but Zebul expelled Gaal, and his companions out of the city, neither did he suffer them to abide in it.and Abimelech sate in Ruma: but Zebul expelled Gaal, and his companions out of the citie, neither did he suffer them to abide in it.Et Abimelech sedit in Ruma : Zebul autem Gaal et socios ejus expulit de urbe, nec in ea passus est commorari.

⁴²Therefore the day following the people went forth into the field. Which being told to Abimelech,Therfore the day folowing the people went forth into the field. Which being told to Abimelech,Sequenti ergo die, egressus est populus in campum. Quod cum nuntiatum esset Abimelech,

⁴³he took his army, and divided it into three troops, setting ambushments in the fields. And seeing that the people came out of the city, he arose, and set upon themhe tooke his armie, and diuided it into three troupes, setting ambushmentes in the fieldes. And seeing that the people came out of the citie, he arose, & set vpon themtulit exercitum suum, et divisit in tres turmas, tendens insidias in agris. Vidensque quod egrederetur populus de civitate, surrexit, et irruit in eos

⁴⁴with his own troop, oppugningassaulting, assailing, beleaguering · Vulgate: oppugnans: attacking and besieging the city: and two troops scattered through the field pursued the adversaries.with his owne troupe, oppugning and besieging the citie: and two troupes scattered through the field pursewed the aduersaries.cum cuneo suo, oppugnans et obsidens civitatem : duæ autem turmæ palantes per campum adversarios persequebantur.

⁴⁶Which when they had heard that dwelt in the tower of Sichem, they entered into the temple of their god Berith, where they had made a covenant with him, and thereof the place had taken his name, which was exceeding well fencedstrongly fortified, defended · Vulgate: munitus valde: exceedingly fortified.Which when they had heard that dwelt in the towre of Sichem, they entered into the temple of their god Berith, where they had made a couenant with him, and therof the place had taken his name, which was exceeding wel fensed.Quod cum audissent qui habitabant in turre Sichimorum, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui Berith, ubi fœdus cum eo pepigerant, et ex eo locus nomen acceperat : qui erat munitus valde.

⁴⁷Abimelech also hearing that the men of the tower of Sichem were gathered together,Abimelech also hearing that the men of the towre of Sichem were gathered together,Abimelech quoque audiens viros turris Sichimorum pariter conglobatos,

⁴⁸he went up into mount Selmon with all his people: and taking an axe, he cut off the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder and carrying it, he said to his companions: That which you see me do, do ye out of handat once, forthwith, without delay · Vulgate: cito: quickly.he went vp into mount Selmon with al his people: and taking an axe, he cut of the bough of a tree, and laying it on his shoulder & carying it, he said to his companions: That which you see me do, doe ye out of hand.ascendit in montem Selmon cum omni populo suo : et arrepta securi, præcidit arboris ramum, impositumque ferens humero, dixit ad socios : Quod me videtis facere, cito facite.

⁴⁹They therefore cutting off boughs from the trees, every man as fast as he could, followed their captain. Who compassing the fort burnt it: and so it came to pass, that with the smoke and the fire a thousand persons were slain, men and women together, of the inhabitants of the tower of Sichem.They therfore cutting of boughes from the trees, euerie man as fast as he could, folowed their captaine. Who compassing the forte burnt it: and so it came to passe, that with the smoke and the fyre a thousand persons were slaine, men and wemen together, of the inhabitantes of the towre of Sichem.Igitur certatim ramos de arboribus præcidentes, sequebantur ducem. Qui circumdantes præsidium, succenderunt : atque ita factum est, ut fumo et igne mille homines necarentur, viri pariter et mulieres, habitatorum turris Sichem.

⁵⁰And Abimelech departing thence came to the town of Thebes, which compassing he besieged with his army.And Abimelech departing thence came to the towne of Thebes, which compassing he besieged with his armie.Abimelech autem inde proficiscens venit ad oppidum Thebes, quod circumdans obsidebat exercitu.

⁵¹And there was in the midst of the city an high tower, to the which were fled both men and women together, and all the princes of the city, the gate being shut very strongly, and they standing upon the battlements of the tower by the bulwarks.And there was in the middes of the citie an high towre, to the which were fled both men and wemen together, and al the princes of the citie, the gate being shut very strongly, and they standing vpon the battlementes of the towre by the bulwarkes.Erat autem turris excelsa in media civitate, ad quam confugerant simul viri ac mulieres, et omnes principes civitatis, clausa firmissime janua, et super turris tectum stantes per propugnacula.

⁵²And Abimelech coming near the tower, fought manfully: and approaching to the door, endeavoured to put fire under it:And Abimelech comming nere the towre, fought manfully: and approching to the doore, endeuoured to put fyre vnder it:Accedensque Abimelech juxta turrim, pugnabat fortiter : et appropinquans ostio, ignem supponere nitebatur :

⁵⁴Who called byat once, immediately, not "after a while" · Vulgate: cito: quickly and by his esquirearmour-bearer, weapon-squire, not a country gentleman or an honorific title · Vulgate: armigerum: armour-bearer, and said to him: Draw out thy sword, and strike me: lest perhaps it be said that I was slain of a woman. Who doing as he was commanded slew him.Who called by and by his esquire, and said to him: Draw out thy sword, and strike me: lest perhaps it be said that I was slaine of a woman. Who doing as he was commanded slew him.Qui vocavit cito armigerum suum, et ait ad eum : Evagina gladium tuum, et percute me, ne forte dicatur quod a femina interfectus sim. Qui jussa perficiens, interfecit eum.

⁵⁵And when he was dead, all that were with him of Israel, returned into their seats:And when he was dead, al that were with him of Israel, returned into their seates:Illoque mortuo, omnes qui cum eo erant de Israël, reversi sunt in sedes suas :

⁵⁶and God repaid the evil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seventy brethren.and God repayed the euil, that Abimelech had done against his father, killing his seuentie brethren.et reddidit Deus malum quod fecerat Abimelech contra patrem suum, interfectis septuaginta fratribus suis.

⁵⁷The Sichimites were also rewarded for that which they had wrought, and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.The Sichemites were also rewarded for that which they had wrought, and the curse of Ioatham the sonne of Ierobaal came vpon them.Sichimitis quoque quod operati erant, retributum est, et venit super eos maledictio Joatham filii Jerobaal.