士師記9:1-57

9:1 耶路‧巴力的兒子亞比米勒到了示劍見他的眾母舅，對他們和他外祖全家的人說：
9:2 「請你們問示劍的眾人說，是耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都管理你們好呢？還是一人管理你們好呢？你們又要記念我是你們的骨肉。」
9:3 他的眾母舅便將這一切話為他說給示劍人聽，示劍人的心就歸向亞比米勒。他們說：「他原是我們的弟兄」；
9:4 就從巴力‧比利土的廟中取了七十舍客勒銀子給亞比米勒；亞比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟隨他。
9:5 他往俄弗拉到他父親的家，將他弟兄、耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都殺在一塊磐石上；只剩下耶路‧巴力的小兒子約坦，因為他躲藏了。
9:6 示劍人和米羅人都一同聚集，往示劍橡樹旁的柱子那裡，立亞比米勒為王。
9:7 有人將這事告訴約坦，他就去站在基利心山頂上，向眾人大聲喊叫說：「示劍人哪，你們要聽我的話，上帝也就聽你們的話。
9:8 有一時，樹木要膏一樹為王，管理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你作我們的王。』
9:9 橄欖樹回答說：『我豈肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
9:10 樹木對無花果樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
9:11 無花果樹回答說：『我豈肯止住所結甜美的果子，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
9:12 樹木對葡萄樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
9:13 葡萄樹回答說：『我豈肯止住使神和人喜樂的新酒，飄颻在眾樹之上呢。』
9:14 眾樹對荊棘說：『請你來作我們的王。』
9:15 荊棘回答說：『你們若誠誠實實地膏我為王，就要投在我的蔭下；不然，願火從荊棘裡出來，燒滅黎巴嫩的香柏樹。』
9:16 「現在你們立亞比米勒為王，若按誠實正直善待耶路‧巴力和他的全家，這就是酬他的勞。
9:17 從前我父冒死為你們爭戰，救了你們脫離米甸人的手。
9:18 你們如今起來攻擊我的父家，將他眾子七十人殺在一塊磐石上，又立他婢女所生的兒子亞比米勒為示劍人的王；他原是你們的弟兄。
9:19 你們如今若按誠實正直待耶路‧巴力和他的家，就可因亞比米勒得歡樂，他也可因你們得歡樂；
9:20 不然，願火從亞比米勒發出，燒滅示劍人和米羅眾人，又願火從示劍人和米羅人中出來，燒滅亞比米勒。」
9:21 約坦因怕他弟兄亞比米勒，就逃跑，來到比珥，住在那裡。
9:22 亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。
9:23 上帝使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間，示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。
9:24 這是要叫耶路‧巴力七十個兒子所受的殘害歸與他們的哥哥亞比米勒，又叫那流他們血的罪歸與幫助他殺弟兄的示劍人。
9:25 示劍人在山頂上設埋伏，等候亞比米勒。凡從他們那裡經過的人，他們就搶奪。有人將這事告訴亞比米勒。
9:26 以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄來到示劍，示劍人都信靠他。
9:27 示劍人出城到田間去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，設擺筵宴，進他們神的廟中吃喝，咒詛亞比米勒。
9:28 以別的兒子迦勒說：「亞比米勒是誰？示劍是誰？使我們服事他呢？他不是耶路‧巴力的兒子嗎？他的幫手不是西布勒嗎？你們可以服事示劍的父親哈抹的後裔。我們為何服事亞比米勒呢？
9:29 惟願這民歸我的手下，我就除掉亞比米勒。」迦勒又對亞比米勒說：「增添你的軍兵出來吧。」
9:30 邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話，就發怒，
9:31 悄悄地打發人去見亞比米勒，說：「以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示劍，煽惑城中的民攻擊你。
9:32 現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來，在田間埋伏。
9:33 到早晨太陽一出，你就起來闖城。迦勒和跟隨他的人出來攻擊你的時候，你便向他們見機而做。」
9:34 於是，亞比米勒和跟隨他的眾人夜間起來，分作四隊，埋伏等候示劍人。
9:35 以別的兒子迦勒出去，站在城門口。亞比米勒和跟隨他的人從埋伏之處起來。
9:36 迦勒看見那些人，就對西布勒說：「看哪，有人從山頂上下來了。」西布勒說：「你看見山的影子，以為是人。」
9:37 迦勒又說：「看哪，有人從高處下來，又有一隊從米惡尼尼橡樹的路上而來。」
9:38 西布勒對他說：「你曾說，亞比米勒是誰，叫我們服事他？你所誇的口在哪裡呢？這不是你所藐視的民嗎？你現在出去，與他們交戰吧！」
9:39 於是迦勒率領示劍人出去，與亞比米勒交戰。
9:40 亞比米勒追趕迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有許多受傷仆倒的，直到城門。
9:41 亞比米勒住在亞魯瑪。西布勒趕出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他們住在示劍。
9:42 次日，民出到田間，有人告訴亞比米勒；
9:43 他就把他的人分作三隊，埋伏在田間，看見示劍人從城裡出來，就起來擊殺他們。
9:44 亞比米勒和跟隨他的一隊向前闖去，站在城門口；那兩隊直闖到田間，擊殺了眾人。
9:45 亞比米勒整天攻打城，將城奪取，殺了其中的居民，將城拆毀，撒上了鹽。
9:46 示劍樓的人聽見了，就躲入巴力‧比利土廟的衛所。
9:47 有人告訴亞比米勒說：「示劍樓的人都聚在一處。」
9:48 亞比米勒和跟隨他的人就都上撒們山。亞比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根樹枝，扛在肩上，對跟隨他的人說：「你們看我所行的，也當趕緊照樣行。」
9:49 眾人就各砍一枝，跟隨亞比米勒，把樹枝堆在衛所的四圍，放火燒了衛所，以致示劍樓的人都死了，男女約有一千。
9:50 亞比米勒到提備斯，向提備斯安營，就攻取了那城。
9:51 城中有一座堅固的樓；城裡的眾人，無論男女，都逃進樓去，關上門，上了樓頂。
9:52 亞比米勒到了樓前攻打，挨近樓門，要用火焚燒。
9:53 有一個婦人把一塊上磨石拋在亞比米勒的頭上，打破了他的腦骨。
9:54 他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，對他說：「拔出你的刀來，殺了我吧！免得人議論我說，他為一個婦人所殺。」於是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。
9:55 以色列人見亞比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
9:56 這樣，上帝報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡，就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。
9:57 示劍人的一切惡，上帝也都報應在他們頭上；耶路‧巴力的兒子約坦的咒詛歸到他們身上了。

Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, ² “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.”

³ 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.” ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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. ⁶ Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

⁷ 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. ⁸ One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

⁹ “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?’

¹⁰ “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹¹ “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹² “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹³ “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁴ “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹⁵ “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!’

¹⁶ “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? ¹⁷ Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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! ²⁰ 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!”

²¹ Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

²² After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, ²³ God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. ²⁴ 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. ²⁵ 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.

²⁶ Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. ²⁷ 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. ²⁸ 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? ²⁹ 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]

³⁰ When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. ³¹ 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. ³² Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. ³³ In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”

³⁴ So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. ³⁵ 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.

³⁶ 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.”

³⁷ 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.”

³⁸ 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!”

³⁹ So Gaal led out^[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. ⁴⁰ Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. ⁴¹ Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

⁴² The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. ⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ 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. ⁴⁵ 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.

⁴⁶ On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. ⁴⁷ When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, ⁴⁸ 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!” ⁴⁹ 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.

⁵⁰ Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. ⁵¹ 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. ⁵² Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, ⁵³ a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.

⁵⁴ 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. ⁵⁵ When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

⁵⁶ Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

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    雖然基甸沒有心成為以色列的王，他卻給自己的妾所生的小孩起名叫亞比米勒，也就是我的父親是王的意思，造成這小孩有做王的野心，後來用不正當的手法將他的哥哥們殺死，自立為王！

    然而他為王是利用人的罪性，一方面他使用群眾虛榮的力量，另一方面他用錢財收買惡者，可以說是假借民主之方式，行使反民主的事實。也因為這樣，他雖然取得為王的地位，缺無法好好享受他為王的優惠！弄得天怒人怨，加上有人煽動，最後如同其兄弟約坦的咒詛一般！

    而亞比米勒的事蹟更是提醒我們，不可以任意而為，更不可以為了追求權力而用非法的手段，最後受虧損的是自己！因為上帝必定追討，上帝是公平的，是恨惡惡行的上帝！