Judges 9:25–49: The Fall of Shechem and the Wrath of Abimelech
Verse 25
Verse: And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains and they robbed all that came along that way by them and it was told Abimelech English Explanation: The relationship between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem soured. They began to rebel by disrupting trade routes and stealing from travelers, which directly challenged Abimelech’s authority and income. Urdu Explanation: شکیم کے لوگوں نے ابی ملوک کے خلاف سرکشی شروع کر دی اور پہاڑوں کی چوٹیوں پر ڈاکو بٹھا دیے جو وہاں سے گزرنے والوں کو لوٹتے تھے۔ یہ ابی ملوک کی حکومت کو کمزور کرنے کی ایک کوشش تھی۔
Verse 26
Verse: And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren and went over to Shechem and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him English Explanation: A newcomer named Gaal arrived in Shechem. Seeking a leader to oppose Abimelech, the citizens of Shechem foolishly placed their trust in this boastful man. Urdu Explanation: عابد کا بیٹا جعل اپنے بھائیوں کے ساتھ شکیم آیا۔ شکیم کے لوگوں نے اس پر بھروسہ کیا اور اسے ابی ملوک کے خلاف اپنا مددگار سمجھا۔
Verse 27
Verse: And they went out into the fields and gathered their vineyards and trode the grapes and made merry and went into the house of their god and did eat and drink and cursed Abimelech English Explanation: During the harvest festival, the people became intoxicated. In their drunken state within their pagan temple, they openly mocked and cursed Abimelech. Urdu Explanation: وہ کھیتوں میں گئے، انگور جمع کیے اور خوشیاں منائیں۔ اپنے جھوٹے خدا کے گھر میں کھاتے پیتے ہوئے انہوں نے ابی ملوک پر لعنت بھیجی اور اس کی توہین کی۔
Verse 28
Verse: And Gaal the son of Ebed said Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him is not he the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his officer serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem for why should we serve him English Explanation: Gaal incited the people by questioning Abimelech’s pedigree, suggesting they should serve the original lineage of Hamor instead of the son of Gideon (Jerubbaal). Urdu Explanation: جعل نے لوگوں کو اکسایا کہ ابی ملوک کون ہے کہ ہم اس کی غلامی کریں؟ اس نے کہا کہ ہمیں شکیم کے اصل باپ حمور کے خاندان کی خدمت کرنی چاہیے نہ کہ ابی ملوک کی۔
Verse 29
Verse: And would to God this people were under my hand then would I remove Abimelech And he said to Abimelech Increase thine army and come out English Explanation: Gaal boasted that if he were in charge, he would get rid of Abimelech immediately, even challenging the absent king to bring his army for a fight. Urdu Explanation: جعل نے دعویٰ کیا کہ اگر یہ قوم میرے ہاتھ میں ہوتی تو میں ابی ملوک کو نکال دیتا۔ اس نے دور سے ابی ملوک کو للکارا کہ اپنی فوج بڑھا کر سامنے آؤ۔
Verse 30
Verse: And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed his anger was kindled English Explanation: Zebul, the city governor and Abimelech’s loyalist, was furious when he heard Gaal’s rebellious and arrogant speeches. Urdu Explanation: جب شہر کے حاکم زبول نے جعل کی یہ باتیں سنیں تو وہ سخت غصے میں آ گیا۔
Verse 31
Verse: And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily saying Behold Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem and behold they fortify the city against thee English Explanation: Zebul secretly sent word to Abimelech, warning him that Gaal was inciting the city to revolt and fortifying it for war. Urdu Explanation: زبول نے خفیہ طور پر ابی ملوک کو پیغام بھیجا کہ جعل اور اس کے بھائی شکیم آ گئے ہیں اور شہر کو تمہارے خلاف اکسا رہے ہیں۔
Verse 32
Verse: Now therefore up by night thou and the people that is with thee and lie in wait in the field English Explanation: Zebul advised Abimelech to move his troops under the cover of night and hide in the fields outside the city to catch Gaal by surprise. Urdu Explanation: زبول نے مشورہ دیا کہ تم رات کے وقت اپنی فوج کے ساتھ آؤ اور کھیتوں میں چھپ کر گھات لگاؤ۔
Verse 33
Verse: And it shall be that in the morning as soon as the sun is up thou shalt rise early and set upon the city and behold when he and the people that is with him come out against thee then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion English Explanation: The plan was to attack at sunrise. When Gaal came out to meet the threat, Abimelech would have the tactical advantage to deal with him. Urdu Explanation: زبول نے کہا کہ صبح سویرے جیسے ہی سورج نکلے، شہر پر حملہ کر دینا۔ جب جعل باہر نکلے گا، تو تمہیں اسے شکست دینے کا موقع مل جائے گا۔
Verse 34
Verse: And Abimelech rose up and all the people that were with him by night and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies English Explanation: Abimelech followed the plan, dividing his army into four groups to surround the city and wait in ambush. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک رات کو اٹھا اور اپنے لوگوں کو چار گروہوں میں بانٹ کر شکیم کے باہر گھات لگا کر بیٹھ گیا۔
Verse 35
Verse: And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city and Abimelech rose up and the people that were with him from lying in wait English Explanation: As Gaal stood at the city gate, Abimelech’s hidden forces began to emerge from their hiding places. Urdu Explanation: جعل شہر کے دروازے پر جا کر کھڑا ہوا، تبھی ابی ملوک اور اس کے ساتھی اپنی چھپنے والی جگہوں سے باہر نکل آئے۔
Verse 36
Verse: And when Gaal saw the people he said to Zebul Behold there come people down from the top of the mountains And Zebul said unto him Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men English Explanation: Seeing the troops, Gaal grew worried. Zebul, playing a double game, mocked him by saying he was just seeing shadows of the mountains. Urdu Explanation: جب جعل نے فوج دیکھی تو زبول سے کہا کہ دیکھو پہاڑوں سے لوگ اتر رہے ہیں۔ زبول نے اسے دھوکہ دینے کے لیے کہا کہ یہ صرف پہاڑوں کے سائے ہیں جو تمہیں آدمی لگ رہے ہیں۔
Verse 37
Verse: And Gaal spake again and said See there come people down by the middle of the land and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim English Explanation: Gaal insisted he saw troops coming from two different directions, realizing the danger was real. Urdu Explanation: جعل نے دوبارہ کہا کہ دیکھو، لوگ زمین کے بیچ سے آ رہے ہیں اور ایک اور گروہ جادوگروں کے میدان کی طرف سے آ رہا ہے۔
Verse 38
Verse: Then said Zebul unto him Where is now thy mouth wherewith thou saidst Who is Abimelech that we should serve him is not this the people that thou hast despised go out I pray now and fight with them English Explanation: Zebul finally dropped his act and challenged Gaal’s bravery, reminding him of his earlier boasts and daring him to go fight. Urdu Explanation: زبول نے اب طنز کرتے ہوئے کہا، “کہاں گیا تمہارا وہ دعویٰ کہ ابی ملوک کون ہے؟ یہ وہی لوگ ہیں جن کی تم نے توہین کی تھی، اب جاؤ اور ان سے لڑو۔”
Verse 39
Verse: And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech English Explanation: Forced to back up his words, Gaal led the men of Shechem out to battle against Abimelech. Urdu Explanation: جعل شکیم کے لوگوں کی قیادت کرتے ہوئے باہر نکلا اور ابی ملوک سے جنگ کی۔
Verse 40
Verse: And Abimelech chased him and he fled before him and many were overthrown and wounded even unto the entering of the gate English Explanation: Abimelech defeated Gaal’s forces easily. Many were killed or wounded as they retreated in panic back toward the city gates. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک نے اسے بھگا دیا اور جعل کے بہت سے لوگ شہر کے دروازے تک پہنچتے پہنچتے قتل ہوئے یا زخمی ہو گئے۔
Verse 41
Verse: And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren that they should not dwell in Shechem English Explanation: Abimelech stayed nearby at Arumah, while Zebul used the defeat as an excuse to kick Gaal and his family out of Shechem. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک ارومہ میں ٹھہر گیا اور زبول نے جعل اور اس کے بھائیوں کو شکیم سے نکال دیا تاکہ وہ وہاں نہ رہ سکیں۔
Verse 42
Verse: And it came to pass on the morrow that the people went out into the field and they told Abimelech English Explanation: The next day, the remaining people of Shechem went back to their fields, thinking the danger had passed. Someone reported this to Abimelech. Urdu Explanation: اگلے دن شکیم کے لوگ دوبارہ کھیتوں میں کام کے لیے نکلے۔ ابی ملوک کو اس کی خبر مل گئی۔
Verse 43
Verse: And he took the people and divided them into three companies and laid wait in the field and looked and behold the people were come forth out of the city and he rose up against them and smote them English Explanation: Abimelech set another ambush. When the people left the city, he attacked and slaughtered them in the fields. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک نے اپنے لوگوں کو تین گروہوں میں بانٹا اور کھیتوں میں گھات لگا لی۔ جب لوگ شہر سے باہر نکلے، اس نے ان پر حملہ کر کے انہیں ہلاک کر دیا۔
Verse 44
Verse: And Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood in the entering of the gate of the city and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields and slew them English Explanation: Abimelech personally secured the city gate to prevent anyone from retreating inside, while his other troops finished off the people in the fields. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک نے شہر کے دروازے پر قبضہ کر لیا تاکہ کوئی اندر نہ جا سکے، جبکہ باقی دو گروہوں نے کھیتوں میں موجود لوگوں کا قتلِ عام کیا۔
Verse 45
Verse: And Abimelech fought against the city all that day and he took the city and slew the people that was therein and beat down the city and sowed it with salt English Explanation: After a full day of fighting, Abimelech captured the city, killed its inhabitants, demolished the buildings, and sowed the ground with salt to symbolize perpetual desolation. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک سارا دن لڑتا رہا، شہر کو فتح کیا، وہاں کے لوگوں کو قتل کیا اور شہر کو گرا کر وہاں نمک بچھایا تاکہ وہ ہمیشہ کے لیے بنجر ہو جائے۔
Verse 46
Verse: And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith English Explanation: The survivors from the “Tower of Shechem” fled to the stronghold of the temple of their god, El-Berith, hoping for safety. Urdu Explanation: جب شکیم کے برج کے لوگوں نے یہ سنا، تو وہ اپنی جان بچانے کے لیے اپنے دیوتا “بریت” کے مندر کے قلعے میں چھپ گئے۔
Verse 47
Verse: And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together English Explanation: Abimelech was informed that the remaining leaders and citizens were huddled together in the stronghold. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک کو خبر ملی کہ شکیم کے برج کے تمام لوگ ایک جگہ جمع ہیں۔
Verse 48
Verse: And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon he and all the people that were with him and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees and took it and laid it on his shoulder and said unto the people that were with him What ye have seen me do make haste and do as I have done English Explanation: Abimelech led his men to Mount Zalmon. He cut a tree branch and ordered every soldier to do exactly as he did, preparing for a final, brutal assault. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملوک جبلِ ضلمون پر گیا، کلہاڑی لی اور درخت کی ایک ٹہنی کاٹ کر اپنے کندھے پر رکھ لی۔ اس نے اپنے لوگوں سے کہا کہ جو میں نے کیا ہے، تم بھی جلدی سے وہی کرو۔
Verse 49
Verse: And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough and followed Abimelech and put them to the hold and set the hold on fire upon them so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also about a thousand men and women English Explanation: Each soldier brought a branch to the stronghold and set it on fire. About a thousand people inside the tower died in the flames, completing the destruction of Shechem. Urdu Explanation: سب لوگوں نے ٹہنیاں کاٹیں اور قلعے کے گرد رکھ کر آگ لگا دی۔ اس طرح شکیم کے برج کے تمام لوگ، جو کہ تقریباً ایک ہزار مرد اور عورتیں تھے، آگ میں جل کر مر گئے۔