New American Standard Bible 2020

Judges 9:22-45

22Now Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40ruledH8323overעַל־'al-H5921Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478for threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969yearsשָׁנִֽים׃sha.NimH8141.

23Then Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971an evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307betweenH996Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and theleadersבַּעֲלֵ֣יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֑םshe.KhemH7927; and theleadersבַעֲלֵי־va.'a.lei-H1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֖םshe.KhemH7927dealtוַיִּבְגְּד֥וּvai.yiv.ge.DuH898treacherouslyH898with Abimelechבַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ba.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40,

24so that the violenceחֲמַ֖סcha.MasH2555done to the seventyשִׁבְעִ֣יםshiv.'ImH7657sonsבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Jerubbaalיְרֻבָּ֑עַלye.ru.Ba.'alH3378would comeלָב֕וֹאla.Vo'H935, and the responsibility fortheir bloodוְדָמָ֗םve.da.MamH1818would be placedלָשׂ֞וּםla.SumH7760on their brotherאֲחִיהֶם֙'a.chi.HemH251Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40,whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834killedהָרַ֣גha.RagH2026them, and on theleadersבַּעֲלֵ֣יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֔םshe.KhemH7927,whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834encouragedחִזְּק֥וּ יָדָ֖יוchi.ze.Ku ya.DavH2388 H3027him to killלַהֲרֹ֥גla.ha.RogH2026his brothersאֶחָֽיו׃'e.ChavH251.

25Theleadersבַעֲלֵ֨יva.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֜םshe.KhemH7927setוַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760upH7760menH693inH693ambushH693against him on the topsרָאשֵׁ֣יra.SheiH7218of the mountainsהֶהָרִ֔יםhe.ha.RimH2022,and they robbedוַיִּגְזְל֗וּvai.yig.ze.LuH1497everyoneכָּל־kol-H3605whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834would passיַעֲבֹ֥רya.'a.VorH5674by them on the roadבַּדָּ֑רֶךְba.Da.rekhH1870;and it was reportedוַיֻּגַּ֖דvai.yu.GadH5046to Abimelechלַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ פla.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

26Now Gaalגַּ֤עַלGa.'alH1603the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֙בֶד֙'e.vedH5651cameוַיָּבֹ֞אvai.ya.Vo'H935with his relativesוְאֶחָ֔יוve.'e.ChavH251,and crossedH5674overH5674into Shechemבִּשְׁכֶ֑םbish.KhemH7927; and theleadersבַּעֲלֵ֥יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶֽם׃she.KhemH7927trustedוַיִּבְטְחוּ־vai.yiv.te.chu-H982him.

27So they wentH3318outH3318to the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֜הha.sa.DehH7704and gatheredH1219theH1219grapesH1219of their vineyardsכַּרְמֵיהֶם֙kar.mei.HemH3754and trampledוַֽיִּדְרְכ֔וּvai.yid.re.KhuH1869them,and heldוַֽיַּעֲשׂ֖וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213a festivalהִלּוּלִ֑יםhi.lu.LimH1974;and they wentוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935into the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004oftheir godאֱֽלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם'elo.hei.HemH430,and ateוַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙vai.yo.khe.LuH398and drankוַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּvai.yish.TuH8354and cursedוַֽיְקַלְל֖וּvay.ka.LuH7043Abimelechאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

28Then Gaalגַּ֣עַלGa.'alH1603the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֗בֶד'E.vedH5651saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559, “Whoמִֽי־mi-H4310is Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֤לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40,and whoוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310is Shechemשְׁכֶם֙she.KhemH7927,that we should serveנַעַבְדֶ֔נּוּna.'av.De.nuH5647him? Is he not the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Jerubbaalיְרֻבַּ֖עַלye.ru.Ba.'alH3378, and isZebulוּזְבֻ֣לu.ze.VulH2083nothis governorפְּקִיד֑וֹpe.ki.DoH6496?Serveעִבְד֗וּ'iv.DuH5647the menH376ofHamorחֲמוֹר֙cha.mOrH2544the fatherאֲבִ֣י'a.ViH1of Shechemשְׁכֶ֔םshe.KhemH7927;but whyוּמַדּ֖וּעַu.ma.Du.a'H4069should we serveנַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּna.'av.De.nuH5647him?

29IfH4310 H5414onlyH4310 H5414thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֤םha.'AmH5971were under my authorityבְּיָדִ֔יbe.ya.DiH3027!Then I would doH5493awayH5493withH5493Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.”And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559to Abimelechלַאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְla.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40, “Enlargeרַבֶּ֥הra.BehH7235your armyצְבָאֲךָ֖tze.va.'a.KhaH6635and comeוָצֵֽאָה׃va.Tze.'ahH3318outH3318!”

30When Zebulזְבֻל֙ze.VulH2083the leaderשַׂר־sar-H8269of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֗עvai.yish.Ma'H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֖יdiv.ReiH1697of Gaalגַּ֣עַלGa.'alH1603the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעָ֑בֶד'A.vedH5651,his angerאַפּֽוֹ׃'a.PoH639burnedוַיִּ֖חַרvai.Yi.charH2734.

31So using deceptionבְּתָרְמָ֣הbe.ta.re.MahH8649, he successfullysentוַיִּשְׁלַ֧חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֛יםmal.'a.KhimH4397to Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Beholdהִנֵּה֩hi.NehH2009,Gaalגַ֨עַלGa.'alH1603the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֤בֶד'E.vedH5651and his relativesוְאֶחָיו֙ve.'e.ChavH251have comeבָּאִ֣יםba.'ImH935to Shechemשְׁכֶ֔מָהshe.Khe.mahH7927;and beholdוְהִנָּ֛םve.hi.NamH2009, they arestirringH6696upH6696the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892againstעָלֶֽיךָ׃'a.Lei.khaH5921you.

32So nowוְעַתָּה֙ve.'a.TahH6258,ariseק֣וּםkumH6965by nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915,you and the peopleוְהָעָ֣םve.ha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834are with you, and lieוֶאֱרֹ֖בve.'e.RoH693inH693waitH693in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ba.sa.DehH7704.

33Then in the morningבַבֹּ֙קֶר֙va.Bo.kerH1242,as soon as the sunהַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁha.She.meshH8121is up, you shall riseתַּשְׁכִּ֖יםtash.KimH7925earlyH7925and attackוּפָשַׁטְתָּ֣u.fa.sha.TaH6584the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892;and beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,when he and the peopleוְהָעָ֤םve.ha.'AmH5971whoH834are with him comeH3318outH3318againstאֵלֶ֔יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413you, you shalldoוְעָשִׂ֣יתָve.'a.Si.taH6213to themwhateverH3512you can.”

34So Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834werewith him gotH6965upH6965at nightלָ֑יְלָהLa.ye.lahH3915,and layH693inH693waitוַיֶּאֶרְב֣וּvai.ye.'er.VuH693againstעַל־'al-H5921Shechemשְׁכֶ֔םshe.KhemH7927,in fourאַרְבָּעָ֖ה'ar.ba.'AhH702unitsרָאשִֽׁים׃ra.ShimH7218.

35Now Gaalגַּ֣עַלGa.'alH1603the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ebedעֶ֔בֶד'E.vedH5651wentH3318outH3318and stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֕דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975at the entranceפֶּ֖תַחPe.tachH6607of the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179;and Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and the peopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834werewith him aroseוַיָּ֧קָםvai.Ya.komH6965from the ambushהַמַּאְרָֽב׃ha.ma'.RavH3993.

36When Gaalגַּעַל֮ga.'AlH1603sawוַיַּרְא־vai.yar'-H7200the peopleהָעָם֒ha.'AmH5971,he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Zebulזְבֻ֔לze.VulH2083, “Lookהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009,peopleעָ֣ם'amH5971are comingH3381downיוֹרֵ֔דyo.RedH3381from the topsמֵרָאשֵׁ֖יme.ra.SheiH7218of the mountainsהֶהָרִ֑יםhe.ha.RimH2022.”But Zebulזְבֻ֔לze.VulH2083saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “You are seeingרֹאֶ֖הro.'EhH7200the shadowצֵ֧לtzelH6738of the mountainsהֶהָרִ֛יםhe.ha.RimH2022as if they werepeopleH376.”

37And Gaalגַּעַל֮ga.'AlH1603spokeלְדַבֵּר֒le.da.BerH1696yetע֣וֹדodH5750againוַיֹּ֨סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Lookהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009,peopleעָם֙'amH5971are comingH3381downיֽוֹרְדִ֔יםyor.DimH3381from thehighestH2872partH2872of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and oneאֶחָ֣ד'e.ChadH259unitוְרֹאשׁ־ve.rosh-H7218is comingבָּ֔אBa'H935by wayמִדֶּ֖רֶךְmi.De.rekhH1870ofthe diviners’מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃me.'o.NimH6049oakאֵל֥וֹן'e.LonH436.”

38Then Zebulזְבֻ֗לze.VulH2083saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Whereאַיֵּ֨ה'ai.YehH346thenאֵפ֥וֹא'e.Fo'H645is yourboastingפִ֙יךָ֙fi.khaH6310with whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you saidתֹּאמַ֔רto.MarH559, ‘Whoמִ֥יmiH4310is Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40that we should serveנַעַבְדֶ֑נּוּna.'av.De.nuH5647him?’ Is thisזֶ֤הzehH2088not the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you rejectedמָאַ֣סְתָּהma.'As.tahH3988?Goצֵא־tze'-H3318outH3318nowעַתָּ֖ה'a.TahH6258and fightוְהִלָּ֥חֶםve.hi.La.chemH3898them!”

39So Gaalגַ֔עַלGa.'alH1603wentH3318outH3318in the sightלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440of theleadersבַּעֲלֵ֣יba.'a.LeiH1167of Shechemשְׁכֶ֑םshe.KhemH7927and foughtוַיִּלָּ֖חֶםvai.yi.La.chemH3898Abimelechבַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ba.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

40But Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40chasedוַיִּרְדְּפֵ֣הוּvai.yir.de.Fe.huH7291him, and he fledוַיָּ֖נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127from him; and manyרַבִּ֖יםra.BimH7227fellוַֽיִּפְּל֛וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307woundedחֲלָלִ֥יםcha.la.LimH2491up to the entranceפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשָּֽׁעַר׃ha.Sha.'arH8179.

41Then Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40stayedוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in Arumahבָּארוּמָ֑הba.ru.MahH725,but Zebulזְבֻ֛לze.VulH2083droveH1644outH1644Gaalגַּ֥עַלGa.'alH1603and his relativesאֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251soH4480thatH4480they could notH4480stayמִשֶּׁ֥בֶתmi.She.vetH3427in Shechemבִּשְׁכֶֽם׃bish.KhemH7927.

42Now it cameH1961aboutH1961the nextמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283dayH4283,that the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971wentH3318outH3318to the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֑הha.sa.DehH7704,and it was reportedוַיַּגִּ֖דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046to Abimelechלַאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃la.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40.

43So he tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947his peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971and dividedוַֽיֶּחֱצֵם֙vai.ye.che.TzemH2673them into threeלִשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הlish.lo.ShahH7969unitsרָאשִׁ֔יםra.ShimH7218,and layH693inH693waitוַיֶּאֱרֹ֖בvai.ye.'e.RoH693in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704;when he lookedH7200andsawH7200the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971comingH3318outH3318from the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892, heattackedוַיָּ֥קָם עֲלֵיהֶ֖םvai.Ya.kom 'a.lei.HemH6965 H5921them and killedוַיַּכֵּֽם׃vai.ya.KemH5221them.

44Then Abimelechוַאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְva.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40and thecompanyוְהָרָאשִׁים֙ve.ha.ra.ShimH7218whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834was with him rushedH6584forwardH6584and stoodוַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּvai.Ya.'am.DuH5975at the entranceפֶּ֖תַחPe.tachH6607of the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179; the othertwoוּשְׁנֵ֣יu.she.NeiH8147companiesהָֽרָאשִׁ֗יםha.ra.ShimH7218then attackedעַֽל־'al-H6584 H5921allכָּל־kol-H3605whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834werein the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֖הba.sa.DehH7704and killedוַיַּכּֽוּם׃vai.ya.KumH5221them.

45Abimelechוַאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְva.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40foughtנִלְחָ֣םnil.ChamH3898against the cityבָּעִ֗ירba.'IrH5892that wholeכֹּ֚לkolH3605dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117,and he capturedוַיִּלְכֹּד֙vai.yil.KodH3920the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892and killedהָרָ֑גha.RagH2026the peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834were in it; then hetoreH5422downH5422the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892and sowedוַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָvai.yiz.ra.'E.haH2232it with saltמֶֽלַח׃ פMe.lachH4417.

Read all of Judges 9

Commentaries on Judges 9