Page Sixteen

Question 1

sin autem perverse egrediatur ignis ex eo et consumat habitatores Sychem et oppidum Mello egrediaturque ignis de viris Sychem et de oppido Mello et devoret Abimelech

Answer 1

But if, on the other hand (sin autem), [you have been] evil (perverse), let fire come out of him (egrediatur ignis ex eo) and burn up the inhabitants of Sichem (et consumat habitatores Sychem) and the town of Mello (et oppidum Mello). And let fire come out from the men of Sichem (egrediaturque ignis de viris Sychem) and from the town of Mello (et de oppido Mello), and devour/consume Abimelech (et devoret Abimelech).

Question 2

quae cum dixisset fugit et abiit in Bera habitavitque ibi metu Abimelech fratris sui

Answer 2

Who, when he had said [this], he fled (fugit) and went into Bera (et abiit in Bera) and he lived there in fear of Abimelech, his own brother (habitavitque ibi metu Abimelech fratris sui).

Question 3

regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israhel tribus annis

Answer 3

And so Abimelech reigned (regnavit itaque Abimelech) over Israel three years (super Israhel tribus annis).

Question 4

misitque Deus spiritum pessimum inter Abimelech et habitatores Sychem qui coeperunt eum detestari

Answer 4

And the Lord sent (misitque Deus) the wickedest spirit (spiritum pessimum) between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem (inter Abimelech et habitatores Sychem), who began to detest/loathe him (qui coeperunt eum detestari).

Question 5

et scelus interfectionis septuaginta filiorum Hierobbaal et effusionem sanguinis eorum conferre in Abimelech fratrem suum et in ceteros Sycimarum principes qui eum adiuverant

Answer 5

And to blame the crime of the slaughter (et conferre scelus interfectionis) of the seventy sons of Jerobaal (septuaginta filiorum Hierobbaal) and the shedding of their blood (et effusionem sanguinis eorum) on Abimelech, their brother (in Abimelech fratrem suum), and on the rest of the princes of the Sichemites (et in ceteros Sycimarum principes), who aided him (qui eum adiuverant).

Question 6

posueruntque insidias adversum eum in montium summitate et dum illius praestolantur adventum exercebant latrocinia agentes praedas de praetereuntibus nuntiatumque est Abimelech

Answer 6

And they set an ambush against him (posueruntque insidias adversum eum) on the summit of the mountain (in montium summitate), and while they waited for [his] arrival (et dum illius praestolantur adventum), they practiced piracy (exercebant latrocinia), conducting/taking plunder (agentes praedas) of they who passed by (de praetereuntibus), and it was reported to Abimelech (nuntiatumque est Abimelech).

Question 7

venit autem Gaal filius Obed cum fratribus suis et transivit in Sycimam ad cuius adventum erecti habitatores Sychem

Answer 7

But Gaal, son of Obed, came with his brother (venit autem Gaal, filius Obed cum fratribus suis), and crossed over into Sichem (et transivit in Sycimam), to whose arrival (ad cuius adventum), the inhabitants of Sichem were roused [took courage].

Question 8

egressi sunt in agros vastantes vineas uvasque calcantes et factis cantantium choris ingressi sunt fanum dei sui et inter epulas et pocula maledicebant Abimelech

Answer 8

They went out into the fields (egressi sunt in agros), devastating the vines (vastantes vineas), and trampling the grapes (uvasque calcantes–trampling), and making singing and dancing (et factis cantantium choris), they entered the temple of their god (ingressi sunt fanum dei sui) and between banquets and cups, they cursed Abimilech (et inter epulas et pocula, maledicebant Abimelech).

Question 9

clamante Gaal filio Obed quis est Abimelech et quae est Sychem ut serviamus ei numquid non est filius Hierobbaal et constituit principem Zebul servum suum super viros Emmor patris Sychem cur igitur servimus ei

Answer 9

Gaal, son of Obed, cried (clamante Gaal, filio Obed): who is Abimelech and what is Sichem (quis est Abimelech et quae est Sychem), that we should serve him (ut serviamus ei)? Surely, is he not the son of Jerobaal (numquid non est filius Hierobbaal), and established Zebul, his own servant (et constituit…Zebul, servum suum), prince over the men of Emor (principem…super viros Emmor), the father of Sichem (patris Sychem)? Why, therefore, shall we serve him (cur, igitur, servimus ei)?

Question 10

utinam daret aliquis populum istum sub manu mea ut auferrem de medio Abimelech dictumque est Abimelech congrega exercitus multitudinem et veni

Answer 10

If only (utinam) someone would give (daret aliquis) these people of your (populum istum) under my hand (sub manu mea), so that I might remove (ut auferrem) Abimelech from the center [out of the way?] (de medio Abimelech). And It was said to Abimelech (dictumque est Abimelech): assemble the multitude of an army, and come (congrega exercitus multitudinem et veni).

Question 11

Zebul enim princeps civitatis auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Obed iratus est valde

Answer 11

Indeed, Zebul, the Prince of the city (Zebul, enim, princeps civitatis), hearing the speech of Gaal, son of Obed (auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Obed), became/was intensely angry (iratus est valde).

Question 12

et misit clam ad Abimelech nuntios dicens ecce Gaal filius Obed venit in Sycimam cum fratribus suis et obpugnat adversum te civitatem

Answer 12

And he sent messengers (et misit…nuntios) covertly to Abimelech (clam ad Abimelech), saying: Behold, Gaal, son of Obed, comes into Sichem (dicens ecce Gaal filius Obed venit in Sycimam) with his brothers (cum fratribus suis) and he fights/sets (et obpugnat) the city against you (adversum te civitatem).

Question 13

surge itaque nocte cum populo qui tecum est et latita in agro

Answer 13

Rise, therefore, at night (surge, itaque, nocte), with the people that is with you (awk, but that’s the verb—cum populo qui tecum est), and lurk in the field (et latita in agro).

Question 14

et primo mane oriente sole inrue super civitatem illo autem egrediente adversum te cum populo suo fac ei quod potueris

Answer 14

And first, early in the morning (et primo mane), at the rising of the sun (oriente sole), rush upon the city (inrue super civitatem). There, while (illo autem) he will come out against you (egrediente adversum te) with his people (cum populo suo), do to him what you will be able (fac ei quod potueris).

Question 15

surrexit itaque Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte et tetendit insidias iuxta Sycimam in quattuor locis

Answer 15

And so (itaque), Abimelech rose with all his army by night (surrexit…Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte) and aimed/spread (et tetendit) ambushes close to Sichem (insidias iuxta Sycimam) in four places (in quattuor locis).

Question 16

egressusque est Gaal filius Obed et stetit in introitu portae civitatis surrexit autem Abimelech et omnis exercitus cum eo de insidiarum loco

Answer 16

And Gaal, son of Obed, went out (egressusque est Gaal filius Obed) and he stood still in the entrance of the gate of the city (et stetit in introitu portae civitatis). Abimelech, however, rose up (surrexit autem Abimelech), and all his army with him (et omnis exercitus cum eo), from the place of ambushes (de insidiarum loco).

Question 17

cumque vidisset populum Gaal dixit ad Zebul ecce de montibus multitudo descendit cui ille respondit umbras montium vides quasi hominum capita et hoc errore deciperis

Answer 17

And when Gaal saw the people (cumque vidisset populum Gaal), he said to Zebul, behold (dixit ad Zebul ecce), from the mountains a multitude descends (de montibus multitudo descendit), who, at that, responded (cui ille respondit), you see the shadows of the mountains (umbras montium vides) as if [they were] the heads of men (quasi hominum capita), and this error is your foil (et hoc errore deciperis).