Judges 20
1 Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
Ndipo watu wote wa Israeli wakatoka kama mtu mmoja, toka Dani mpaka Beer-sheba, pamoja na nchi ya Gileadi; nao wakakusanyika mbele za Bwana huko Mispa.
2 The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.
Viongozi wa watu wote, wa kabila zote za Israeli, wakachukua nafasi zao kwenye kusanyiko la watu wa Mungu-watu 400, 000 waendao kwa miguu, ambao walikuwa tayari kupigana na upanga.
3 (Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”
Basi wana wa Benyamini waliposikia kwamba watu wa Israeli walikuwa wamepanda Mispa. Wana wa Israeli wakasema, “Tuambieni ni kwa namna gani huu uovu umefanyika.”
4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
Mlawi, mume wa mwanamke aliyeuawa, akajibu, Nilikuja Gibea katika nchi ya Benyamini, mimi na suria wangu, ili tulale.
5 And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died.
Wakati wa usiku, viongozi wa Gibea walinishambulia, wakizunguka nyumba na wakakusudia kuniua. Walimkamata na kumbaka suria wangu, naye akafa.
6 Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.
Nilimchukua suria wangu na kumkata mwili wake vipande vipande, na kuweka katika kila nchi ya urithi wa Israeli, kwa sababu wamefanya uovu huo na upumbavu katika Israeli.
7 Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”
Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, toeni maneno na ushauri wenu hapa.”
8 Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.
Watu wote wakaondoka pamoja kama mtu mmoja, wakasema, Hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayeenda hemani kwake, wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayerudi nyumbani kwake.
9 Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.
Lakini sasa hivi ndivyo tutakavyoifanyia Gibea tutaishambulia kama kura inavyotuongoza.
10 We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”
Tutachukua watu kumi katika mia moja katika makabila yote ya Israeli, na mia moja katika elfu, na elfu moja katika elfu kumi, kuwapa chakula kwa ajili ya watu hawa, ili waweze kufika Gibea katika Benyamini, watawaadhibu kwa uovu wao waliofanya katika Israeli.
11 So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.
Basi askari wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika juu ya mji, kama mtu mmoja.
12 And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?
Makabila ya Israeli waliwatuma watu kwa kabila lote la Benyamini, wakisema, “Uovu huu uliofanywa kati yenu ni nini?
13 Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge Israel of this evil.” But the Benjamites refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites.
Kwa hiyo, tupeni watu hao waovu wa Gibea, tupate kuwaua, na hivyo tutaondoa kabisa uovu huu kutoka kwa Israeli.” Lakini Wabenyamini hawakusikiliza sauti ya ndugu zao, watu wa Israeli,
14 And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.
Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakakusanyika kutoka mijini kwenda Gibea, wakajiandaa kupigana na wana wa Israeli.
15 On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.
Watu wa Benyamini wakakusanya kutoka miji yao ili kupigana siku ile, askari elfu ishirini na sita waliopangwa kupigana na upanga. Walakini, kuna watu mia saba waliochaguliwa kutoka kwa wenyeji wa Gibea.
16 Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.
Miongoni mwa askari wote hawa walikuwa watu mia saba waliochaguliwa ambao walikuwa wenye shoto. Kila mmoja wao angeweza kupiga unywele kwa mawe na asikose.
17 The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.
Watu wa Israeli, bila kuhesabu namba kutoka kwa Benyamini, walikuwa na watu 400, 000 waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana na upanga. Wote hawa walikuwa watu wa vita.
18 The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.
Watu wa Israeli waliondoka, wakaenda Betheli, wakaomba ushauri kutoka kwa Mungu. Wakauliza, “Ni nani kwanza atakayewaangamiza watu wa Benyamini kwa ajili yetu?” Bwana akasema, “Yuda atashambulia kwanza.”
19 The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.
Watu wa Israeli waliamka asubuhi na wakahamisha kambi yao karibu na Gibea.
20 And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.
Watu wa Israeli walikwenda kupigana na Benyamini. Wakaweka nafasi zao za vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
21 And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
Watu wa Benyamini wakatoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu elfu ishirini na mbili wa jeshi la Israeli siku ile.
22 But the Israelite army took courage and again took their battle positions in the same place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day.
Wana wa Israeli walijitia nguvu wenyewe, na wakaunda mstari wa vita mahali pale walipokwisha kuchukua nafasi siku ya kwanza.
23 They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”
Na wana wa Israeli wakaenda, wakalia mbele za Bwana hata jioni. Walitaka mwongozo kutoka kwa Bwana “Je, tunapaswa kwenda tena kupigana na ndugu zetu, watu wa Benyamini?” Naye Bwana akasema, “Wapigeni!”
24 On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites.
Basi watu wa Israeli wakapigana na askari wa Benyamini siku ya pili.
25 That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
Siku ya pili, Benyamini alitoka kupigana nao kutoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu wa Israeli elfu kumi na nane. Wote walikuwa watu ambao walijifunza kupigana na upanga.
26 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
Basi askari wote wa Israeli na watu wote wakaenda Betheli, wakalia, wakakaa mbele za Bwana; nao wakafunga siku hiyo hata jioni, wakatoa sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani mbele za Bwana.
27 And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
Wana wa Israeli wakamwomba Bwana, - kwa sababu ya sanduku la agano la Mungu lilikuwapo siku hizo;
28 and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
na Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, mwana wa Haruni, aliyekuwa akihudumia mbele ya sanduku siku hizo. “Je twende vitani tena dhidi ya watu wa Benyamini, ndugu zetu, au tuache?” Bwana akasema, “Wapigeni, kwa maana kesho nitawasaidia kuwashinda.
29 So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.
Basi Israeli akaweka watu mahali pa siri karibu na Gibea.
30 On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.
Watu wa Israeli wakapigana na wana wa Benyamini kwa siku ya tatu, nao wakajenga vita vyao juu ya Gibea, kama walivyotangulia.
31 The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.
Watu wa Benyamini wakaenda kupigana na watu, nao wakachukuliwa mbali na mji. Walianza kuua baadhi ya watu. Kulikuwa na watu thelathini wa Israeli ambao walikufa katika mashamba na barabara. Njia moja ilienda Betheli, na nyingine ikaenda Gibea.
32 “We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”
Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakasema, “Wameshindwa na wanatukimbia, kama hapo awali.” Lakini askari wa Israeli wakasema, “Hebu tukimbie na kuwavuta mbali na mji hadi barabarani.”
33 So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah.
Watu wote wa Israeli waliondoka kutoka mahali pao na wakajipanga kwa vita huko Baal-Tamari. Basi askari wa Israeli waliokuwa wakijificha mahali pa siri walikimbia kutoka Maare-Geba.
34 Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a frontal assault against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was upon them.
Wakatoka juu ya Gibea watu kumi elfu waliochaguliwa kutoka Israeli yote, na vita vilikuwa kali, lakini Wabenjamini hawakujua kwamba msiba ulikuwa karibu nao.
35 The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
Bwana akamshinda Benyamini mbele ya Israeli. Siku hiyo, askari wa Israeli waliwauawa watu wa Benyamini 25, 100. Wote hawa waliokufa walikuwa wale waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana na upanga.
36 Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.
Basi askari wa Benyamini waliona wameshindwa. Wana wa Israeli walikuwa wametoa ardhi kwa Benyamini, kwa kuwa walikuwa wakihesabu watu waliowaweka katika nafasi zilizofichwa nje ya Gibea.
37 The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.
Ndipo watu waliokuwa wameficha wakainuka na haraka na wakamkimbia Gibea. Nao wakauawa kila mtu aliyeishi mjini kwa upanga wao.
38 The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
Ishara iliyopangwa kati ya askari wa Israeli na watu waliojificha kwa siri itakuwa wingu kubwa la moshi litatokea nje ya mji.
39 the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”
Ishara ilipokuja askari wa Israeli wakageuka kutoka kwenye vita. Basi Benyamini wakaanza kushambulia na wakawaua watu wa Israeli thelathini, wakasema, “Hakika wanapigwa mbele yetu, kama katika vita vya kwanza.”
40 But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.
Lakini wakati nguzo ya moshi ilipoanza kuinuka nje ya mji, Wabenjamini waligeuka na kuona moshi ukitanda mbinguni kutoka mji mzima.
41 Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.
Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageuka. Wana wa Benyamini waliogopa, kwa sababu waliona kwamba maafa yaliwajia.
42 So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.
Basi wakakimbia kutoka kwa wana wa Israeli, kuelekea njia ya jangwani. Lakini vita viliwapata. Askari wa Israeli walitoka mijini na wakawaua pale waliposimama.
43 They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.
Waliwalzungukia wana wa Benjamini na wakawafuata. Nao wakawakanyaga huko Noha, wakawaua mpaka upande wa mashariki wa Gibea.
44 And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.
Kutoka kabila la Benyamini, watu kumi na nane elfu walikufa, wote walikuwa wanaume waliojulikana katika vita.
45 Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.
Wakageuka na kukimbia kuelekea jangwani hadi mwamba wa Rimoni. Waisraeli waliuawa zaidi ya elfu tano kati yao barabarani. Waliendelea kuwafuata, wakifuata kwa njia kuu kwenda Gidomu, na huko waliuawa elfu mbili zaidi.
46 That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.
Askari wote wa Benyamini walioshuka siku hiyo walikuwa watu ishirini na tano waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana kwa upanga; wote walikuwa wanajulikana katika vita.
47 But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.
Lakini watu mia sita wakageuka na kukimbilia jangwani, kuelekea mwamba wa Rimoni. Wakakaa katika mwamba wa Rimoni kwa muda wa miezi minne.
48 And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.
Askari wa Israeli waliwarudia watu wa Benyamini na wakawashinda na kuwaua-mji mzima, ng'ombe, na kila kitu walichopata. Pia walichoma moto kila mji katika njia yao.
