Berean Standard Bible

Judges 9:22-45

22After Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40had reignedוַיָּ֧שַׂרvai.Ya.sarH7786overעַל־'al-H5921Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478for threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969yearsשָׁנִֽים׃sha.NimH8141,

23Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971a spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of animosityרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451betweenבֵּ֣יןbeinH996Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40andוּבֵ֖יןu.VeinH996the leadersבַּעֲלֵ֣יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֑םshe.KhemH7927and caused themבַעֲלֵי־ שְׁכֶ֖םva.'a.lei- she.KhemH1167 H7927to treat Abimelechבַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ba.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40deceitfullyוַיִּבְגְּד֥וּvai.yiv.ge.DuH898,

24in order that the crimeחֲמַ֖סcha.MasH2555against the seventyשִׁבְעִ֣יםshiv.'ImH7657sonsבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Jerubbaalיְרֻבָּ֑עַלye.ru.Ba.'alH3378might come to justiceלָב֕וֹאla.Vo'H935and their bloodוְדָמָ֗םve.da.MamH1818be avengedלָשׂ֞וּםla.SumH7760onעַל־'al-H5921their brotherאֲחִיהֶם֙'a.chi.HemH251Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834הָרַ֣גha.RagH2026אוֹתָ֔ם'o.TamH853and onוְעַל֙ve.'AlH5921the leadersבַּעֲלֵ֣יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֔םshe.KhemH7927,whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834had helpedחִזְּק֥וּchi.ze.KuH2388אֶת־'et-H853himיָדָ֖יוya.DavH3027murderלַהֲרֹ֥גla.ha.RogH2026אֶת־'et-H853his brothersאֶחָֽיו׃'e.ChavH251.

25The leadersבַעֲלֵ֨יva.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֜םshe.KhemH7927set upוַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760an ambushמְאָרְבִ֗יםme.'a.re.VimH693against Abimelechonעַ֚ל'alH5921the hilltopsרָאשֵׁ֣י הֶהָרִ֔יםra.Shei he.ha.RimH7218 H2022,and they robbedוַיִּגְזְל֗וּvai.yig.ze.LuH1497אֵ֛ת'etH853allכָּל־kol-H3605whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834passedיַעֲבֹ֥רya.'a.VorH5674by themעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei.HemH5921on the roadבַּדָּ֑רֶךְba.Da.rekhH1870.So this was reportedוַיֻּגַּ֖דvai.yu.GadH5046to Abimelechלַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ פla.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

26Meanwhile, Gaalגַּ֤עַלGa.'alH1603sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֙בֶד֙'e.vedH5651cameוַיָּבֹ֞אvai.ya.Vo'H935with his brothersוְאֶחָ֔יוve.'e.ChavH251and crossedוַיַּעַבְר֖וּvai.ya.'av.RuH5674into Shechemבִּשְׁכֶ֑םbish.KhemH7927,and the leadersבַּעֲלֵ֥יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶֽם׃she.KhemH7927put their confidenceוַיִּבְטְחוּ־vai.yiv.te.chu-H982in him.

27And after they had gone outוַיֵּצְא֨וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318into the fieldsהַשָּׂדֶ֜הha.sa.DehH7704,gatheredוַֽיִּבְצְר֤וּvai.yiv.tze.RuH1219grapesאֶת־'et-H853from their vineyardsכַּרְמֵיהֶם֙kar.mei.HemH3754,and troddenוַֽיִּדְרְכ֔וּvai.yid.re.KhuH1869them,they heldוַֽיַּעֲשׂ֖וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213a festivalהִלּוּלִ֑יםhi.lu.LimH1974and wentוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935into the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of their godאֱֽלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם'elo.hei.HemH430;and as they ateוַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙vai.yo.khe.LuH398and drankוַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּvai.yish.TuH8354,they cursedוַֽיְקַלְל֖וּvay.ka.LuH7043אֶת־'et-H853Abimelechאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

28Then Gaalגַּ֣עַלGa.'alH1603sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֗בֶד'E.vedH5651saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559, “Whoמִֽי־mi-H4310is Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40,and whoוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310is Shechemשְׁכֶם֙she.KhemH7927,thatכִּ֣יkiH3588we should serve himנַעַבְדֶ֔נּוּna.'av.De.nuH5647?Is he notהֲלֹ֥אha.Lo'H3808the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Jerubbaalיְרֻבַּ֖עַלye.ru.Ba.'alH3378,and is not Zebulוּזְבֻ֣לu.ze.VulH2083his officerפְּקִיד֑וֹpe.ki.DoH6496?You are to serveעִבְד֗וּ'iv.DuH5647אֶת־'et-H853the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of Hamorחֲמוֹר֙cha.mOrH2544,the fatherאֲבִ֣י'a.ViH1of Shechemשְׁכֶ֔םshe.KhemH7927.Whyוּמַדּ֖וּעַu.ma.Du.a'H4069should weאֲנָֽחְנוּ׃'a.Na.che.nuH587serve Abimelechנַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּna.'av.De.nuH5647?

29If onlyוּמִ֨י יִתֵּ֜ןu.Mi yi.TenH4310 H5414אֶת־'et-H853thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֤םha.'AmH5971were under my authorityבְּיָדִ֔יbe.ya.DiH3027,I would removeוְאָסִ֖ירָהve.'a.Si.rahH5493אֶת־'et-H853Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40;I would sayוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559toלַאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְla.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40him, ‘Musterרַבֶּ֥הra.BehH7235your armyצְבָאֲךָ֖tze.va.'a.KhaH6635and come outוָצֵֽאָה׃va.Tze.'ahH3318!’”

30When Zebulזְבֻל֙ze.VulH2083the governorשַׂר־sar-H8269of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892אֶת־'et-H853heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֗עvai.yish.Ma'H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֖יdiv.ReiH1697of Gaalגַּ֣עַלGa.'alH1603sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעָ֑בֶד'A.vedH5651,he burnedוַיִּ֖חַרvai.Yi.charH2734with angerאַפּֽוֹ׃'a.PoH639.

31So he covertly sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח בְּתָרְמָ֣הvai.yish.Lach be.ta.re.MahH7971 H8649messengersמַלְאָכִ֛יםmal.'a.KhimH4397toאֶל־'el-H413Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40to sayלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Lookהִנֵּה֩hi.NehH2009,Gaalגַ֨עַלGa.'alH1603sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֤בֶד'E.vedH5651and his brothersוְאֶחָיו֙ve.'e.ChavH251have comeבָּאִ֣יםba.'ImH935to Shechemשְׁכֶ֔מָה וְהִנָּ֛םshe.Khe.mah ve.hi.NamH7927 H2009and are stirring upצָרִ֥יםtza.RimH6696אֶת־'et-H853the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892against youעָלֶֽיךָ׃'a.Lei.khaH5921.

32Now thenוְעַתָּה֙ve.'a.TahH6258,tonightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915youאַתָּ֖ה'a.TahH859and the peopleוְהָעָ֣םve.ha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834with youאִתָּ֑ךְ'i.TakhH854are to comeק֣וּםkumH6965and lie in waitוֶאֱרֹ֖בve.'e.RoH693in the fieldsבַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ba.sa.DehH7704.

33Andוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961in the morningבַבֹּ֙קֶר֙va.Bo.kerH1242at sunriseכִּזְרֹ֣חַ הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁkiz.Ro.ach ha.She.meshH2224 H8121,get upתַּשְׁכִּ֖יםtash.KimH7925and advanceוּפָשַׁטְתָּ֣u.fa.sha.TaH6584againstעַל־'al-H5921the cityהָעִ֑יר וְהִנֵּה־ha.'Ir ve.hi.neh-H5892 H2009.Whenה֞וּאhu'H1931Gaaland his menוְהָעָ֤םve.ha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834אִתּוֹ֙'i.ToH854come outיֹצְאִ֣יםyo.tze.'ImH3318against youאֵלֶ֔יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413,doוְעָשִׂ֣יתָve.'a.Si.taH6213to themwhateverכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka.'a.SherH834you are ableתִּמְצָ֥א יָדֶֽךָ׃ סtim.Tza' ya.De.khaH4672 H3027.”

34So Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605his troopsהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834עִמּ֖וֹi.MoH5973set outוַיָּ֧קָםvai.Ya.komH6965by nightלָ֑יְלָהLa.ye.lahH3915and lay in waitוַיֶּאֶרְב֣וּvai.ye.'er.VuH693againstעַל־'al-H5921Shechemשְׁכֶ֔םshe.KhemH7927in fourאַרְבָּעָ֖ה'ar.ba.'AhH702companiesרָאשִֽׁים׃ra.ShimH7218.

35Now Gaalגַּ֣עַלGa.'alH1603sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֔בֶד'E.vedH5651went outוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318and stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֕דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975at the entranceפֶּ֖תַחPe.tachH6607of the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179just as Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and his menוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834אִתּ֖וֹ'i.ToH854came outוַיָּ֧קָםvai.Ya.komH6965fromמִן־min-H4480their hiding placesהַמַּאְרָֽב׃ha.ma'.RavH3993.

36When Gaalגַּעַל֮ga.'AlH1603אֶת־'et-H853sawוַיַּרְא־vai.yar'-H7200the peopleהָעָם֒ha.'AmH5971,he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Zebulזְבֻ֔לze.VulH2083, “Lookהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009,peopleעָ֣ם'amH5971are coming downיוֹרֵ֔דyo.RedH3381from the mountainsמֵרָאשֵׁ֖י הֶהָרִ֑יםme.ra.Shei he.ha.RimH7218 H2022!”But Zebulזְבֻ֔לze.VulH2083אֵ֣ת'etH853repliedוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙vai.Yo.mer 'e.LavH559 H413, “The shadowsצֵ֧לtzelH6738of the mountainsהֶהָרִ֛יםhe.ha.RimH2022lookרֹאֶ֖הro.'EhH7200like menכָּאֲנָשִֽׁים׃ סka.'a.na.ShimH582to youאַתָּ֥ה'a.TahH859.”

37Then Gaalגַּעַל֮ga.'AlH1603spoke upלְדַבֵּר֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶרle.da.Ber vai.Yo.merH1696 H559againוַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֣וֹדvai.Yo.sef odH3254 H5750, “Lookהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009,peopleעָם֙'amH5971are coming downיֽוֹרְדִ֔יםyor.DimH3381fromמֵעִ֖םme.'ImH5973the centerטַבּ֣וּרta.BurH2872of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and oneאֶחָ֣ד'e.ChadH259companyוְרֹאשׁ־ve.rosh-H7218is comingבָּ֔אBa'H935by way ofמִדֶּ֖רֶךְmi.De.rekhH1870the Divinersמְעוֹנְנִֽים׃me.'o.NimH6049’Oakאֵל֥וֹן'e.LonH436.”

38“Whereאַיֵּ֨ה'ai.YehH346is your gloatingפִ֙יךָ֙fi.khaH6310אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834nowאֵפ֥וֹא'e.Fo'H645?”Zebulזְבֻ֗לze.VulH2083repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יוvai.Yo.mer 'e.LavH559 H413. “You saidתֹּאמַ֔רto.MarH559, ‘Whoמִ֥יmiH4310is Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40thatכִּ֣יkiH3588we should serve himנַעַבְדֶ֑נּוּna.'av.De.nuH5647?’Are these notהֲלֹ֨א זֶ֤הha.Lo' zehH3808 H2088the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you ridiculedמָאַ֣סְתָּהma.'As.tahH3988?Go outצֵא־tze'-H3318nowנָ֥א עַתָּ֖הna' 'a.TahH6258 H4994and fightוְהִלָּ֥חֶםve.hi.La.chemH3898them!”

39So Gaalגַ֔עַלGa.'alH1603went outוַיֵּ֣צֵאvai.Ye.tze'H3318beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440the leadersבַּעֲלֵ֣יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֑םshe.KhemH7927and foughtוַיִּלָּ֖חֶםvai.yi.La.chemH3898against Abimelechבַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ba.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40,

40but Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40pursued himוַיִּרְדְּפֵ֣הוּvai.yir.de.Fe.huH7291,and Gaal fledוַיָּ֖נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127before himמִפָּנָ֑יוmi.pa.NavH6440.And manyרַבִּ֖יםra.BimH7227Shechemitesfellוַֽיִּפְּל֛וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307woundedחֲלָלִ֥יםcha.la.LimH2491all the wayעַד־'ad-H5704to the entranceפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשָּֽׁעַר׃ha.Sha.'arH8179.

41Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40stayedוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in Arumahבָּארוּמָ֑הba.ru.MahH725,and Zebulזְבֻ֛לze.VulH2083אֶת־'et-H853droveוַיְגָ֧רֶשׁvay.Ga.reshH1644Gaalגַּ֥עַלGa.'alH1603וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and his brothersאֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251out ofמִשֶּׁ֥בֶתmi.She.vetH3427Shechemבִּשְׁכֶֽם׃bish.KhemH7927.

42וַֽיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961The next dayמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971of Shechemwent outוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318into the fieldsהַשָּׂדֶ֑הha.sa.DehH7704,and this was reportedוַיַּגִּ֖דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046to Abimelechלַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃la.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

43So he tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853his menהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971,divided themוַֽיֶּחֱצֵם֙vai.ye.che.TzemH2673into threeלִשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הlish.lo.ShahH7969companiesרָאשִׁ֔יםra.ShimH7218,and lay in waitוַיֶּאֱרֹ֖בvai.ye.'e.RoH693in the fieldsבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704.When he sawוַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤הvai.Yar' ve.hi.NehH7200 H2009the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971coming outיֹצֵ֣אyo.Tze'H3318ofמִן־min-H4480the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,he rose upוַיָּ֥קָםvai.Ya.komH6965against themעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei.HemH5921and attacked themוַיַּכֵּֽם׃vai.ya.KemH5221.

44Then Abimelechוַאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְva.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and the companiesוְהָרָאשִׁים֙ve.ha.ra.ShimH7218אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834with himעִמּ֔וֹi.MoH5973rushed forwardפָּשְׁט֕וּpa.she.TuH6584and took their standוַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּvai.Ya.'am.DuH5975at the entranceפֶּ֖תַחPe.tachH6607of the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179.The other twoוּשְׁנֵ֣יu.she.NeiH8147companiesהָֽרָאשִׁ֗יםha.ra.ShimH7218rushedפָּֽשְׁט֛וּpa.she.TuH6584againstעַֽל־'al-H5921allכָּל־kol-H3605whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834werein the fieldsבַּשָּׂדֶ֖הba.sa.DehH7704and struck them downוַיַּכּֽוּם׃vai.ya.KumH5221.

45And allכֹּ֚לkolH3605thatהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117Abimelechוַאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְva.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40foughtנִלְחָ֣םnil.ChamH3898against the cityבָּעִ֗ירba.'IrH5892until he had captured itוַיִּלְכֹּד֙vai.yil.KodH3920אֶת־'et-H853הָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and killedהָרָ֑גha.RagH2026its peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834.Then he demolishedוַיִּתֹּץ֙vai.yi.TotzH5422אֶת־'et-H853the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892and sowedוַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָvai.yiz.ra.'E.haH2232it with saltמֶֽלַח׃ פMe.lachH4417.

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