< Judges 20 >
1 All the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, went and gathered at Mizpah before the Lord. The assembly was united in purpose.
Ale Israelviwo katã tso Dan va se ɖe Beerseba kple Gileadnyigba dzi la ƒo ƒu abe ame ɖeka ene ɖe Yehowa ŋkume le Mizpa.
2 The leaders of all the people of every Israelite tribe took their assigned positions in the assembled army of God's people, four hundred thousand soldiers armed with swords.
Israelviwo ƒe towo katã ƒe kplɔlawo nɔ Mawu ƒe amewo ƒe ƒuƒoƒo la me kple asrafo akpe alafa ene, ame siwo lé yiwo ɖe asi.
3 The tribe of Benjamin found out that the Israelites had assembled at Mizpah. The Israelites asked, “Tell us, how could such an evil act have happened?”
Benyamin ƒe to la se nu tso Israelviwo ƒe aʋakɔ ƒe ƒuƒoƒo ɖe Mizpa ŋu. Israel Fiawo yɔ Levitɔ si ƒe ahiãvi wowu la be wòagblɔ nya si dzɔ tututu la na yewo.
4 The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, explained, “I and my concubine came to spend the night at the town of Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.
Levitɔ la gblɔ be, “Míeva ɖo Gibea, Benyamin ƒe to la ƒe du aɖe me gbe ɖeka fiẽ.
5 The leaders of Gibeah came to attack me at night. They surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine and she died.
Le zã ma me la, Gibea ŋutsuwo va ƒo xlã aƒe si me míedze eye woɖo be yewoawum. Wodɔ nye ahiãvi gbɔ va se ɖe esime wòku.
6 I took my concubine and cut her into pieces, and I sent these pieces of her to every part of the country that had been given to Israel, because those men had done something shameful and disgusting in Israel.
Ale mefli ame kukua ɖe akpa wuieve me eye meɖo akpa ɖeka ɖe to ɖe sia ɖe le Israelnyigba dzi elabena ame siawo wɔ nu vɔ̃ vɔ̃ɖi aɖe.
7 So all of you Israelites have to decide here and now what you're going to do about it!”
Azɔ la, Israelviwo, mina manya miaƒe susu eye miaɖo aɖaŋu le afi sia fifi la míase!”
8 Everyone stood up and unitedly declared, “None of us are going home to our tents! None of us are going home to our houses!
Ameawo katã gblɔ kple gbe ɖeka be, “Mía dometɔ aɖeke mayi aƒe me o va se ɖe esime míahe to na Gibeatɔwo.
9 This is what we're going to do to Gilboah: we will attack it with our forces chosen by lot.
Nu si míawɔ enye míadzidze nu ɖe wo dzi eye míatia ame aɖewo be woaho aʋa ɖe wo ŋu.
10 We'll take ten men from a hundred from all the Israelite tribes, then a hundred from a thousand, then a thousand from ten thousand, to arrange food for the army, so when the troops reach Gibeah in Benjamin, they can pay them back for all these disgusting things they've done in Israel.”
Israelviwo ƒe ewolia ƒe ɖeka ana nuɖuɖu aʋawɔlawo eye ame mamlɛawo ayi aɖahe to na Gibeatɔwo le nu vɔ̃ vɔ̃ɖi si wowɔ ɖe nyɔnu la ŋu le Israelnyigba dzi la ta.”
11 All the men of Israel were in agreement and gathered to attack the town.
Ale dukɔ blibo la sɔ nu le dɔdeasi sia wɔwɔ me.
12 The Israelite tribes also sent men throughout the territory of Benjamin, asking the people, “What are you doing about this terrible evil that has taken place among you?
Eye Israel toawo ɖo amewo ɖe Benyamin ƒe to la be woagblɔ na wo be, “Mienya nane tso nu vɔ̃ vɔ̃ɖi si wowɔ le mia dome la ŋua?
13 Hand over these wicked men so we can execute them and get rid of this evil from Israel!” But the Benjamites refused to listen to what their fellow Israelites had to say.
Miɖe asi le nu vɔ̃ sia wɔlawo ŋu ale be, míate ŋu awu wo eye míaɖe vɔ̃ ɖa le Israelnyigba dzi.” Ke Benyamin ƒe to la meɖo to wo o,
14 They left their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go and fight the other Israelites.
Wotso woƒe duwo me va ƒo ƒu ɖe Gibea be yewoawɔ aʋa kple Israelviwo.
15 That day a total of twenty-six thousand men armed with swords were called up from the towns of Benjamin, in addition to the seven hundred seasoned warriors from Gibeah.
Benyamin ƒe viwo ƒo ƒu ame siwo ta yi akpe blaeve-vɔ-ade tso woƒe duwo me enumake hekpe ɖe ame alafa adre siwo wotia tso ame siwo le Gibea la ŋu.
16 Making up part of this army were seven hundred experienced soldiers who used their left hands. All of them could fire a slingshot and not miss by even a hair's breadth.
Miawɔla alafa adre siwo nye aŋutrɔdala nyuiwo la nɔ ameawo dome, ame siwo ƒe alɔ dzɔna ale gbegbe be womedzidzea naneke danɛ ƒu o.
17 The Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.
Israelviwo ƒe aʋawɔlawo, ame siwo dome Benyamin ƒe viwo mele o la de ame akpe alafa ene.
18 The Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which ones of us should be the first to go and fight the Benjamites?” “Judah is to go first,” the Lord replied.
Hafi woadze aʋa la wɔwɔ gɔme la, Israelviwo yi Betel gbã eye wobia Mawu be, “To kae anɔ ŋgɔ na mí, míawɔ aʋa kple Benyamin ƒe to la?” Yehowa ɖo eŋu be, “Yuda ƒe viwoe anɔ ŋgɔ.”
19 The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.
Esi ŋu ke la, Israelviwo ƒu asaɖa anyi te ɖe Gibea ŋu.
20 Then they marched out for battle with the army of Benjamin, taking up their positions to attack Gibeah.
Israelviwo yi be woawɔ aʋa kple Benyamin ƒe viwo eye wodze aʋalɔgowo ɖe wo ŋu le Gibea.
21 But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
Benyamin ƒe viwo do tso Gibea eye wowu Israelvi akpe blaeve-vɔ-eve le aʋagbedzi gbe ma gbe.
22 But the Israelites encouraged one other to be confident, and they took up the same positions they had on the first day.
Ke Israelviwo de dzi ƒo na wo nɔewo eye wogaƒo ƒu ɖe teƒe si wonɔ le ŋkeke gbãtɔ dzi.
23 The Israelites went and cried before the Lord until the evening and asked, “Should we go and attack the Benjamites again, our relatives?” “Go and attack them,” the Lord replied.
Israelviwo yi Yehowa gbɔ hefa avi nɛ va se ɖe fiẽ eye wobia Yehowa be, “Ɖe míagayi aɖawɔ aʋa kple Benyamin ƒe viwo, ame siwo nye mía nɔviwoa?” Yehowa ɖo eŋu be, “Miyi miakpe aʋa kpli wo.” Ale dzi gaɖo Israelviwo ƒo, wogada woƒe aʋawɔlawo ɖe afi si woda wo ɖo tsã.
24 So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.
Israelviwo gakpe aʋa kple Benyamin ƒe to la zi evelia.
25 However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.
Gbe ma gbe la, Benyamin ƒe to la gawu ame akpe wuienyi, ame siwo nye yidala nyuiwo la, le Israelviwo dome.
26 Then all the Israelites and all their army went to Bethel, and sat crying there before the Lord. That day they fasted until evening and gave burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.
Israelʋakɔ blibo la yi Betel, wofa avi le Aƒetɔ la ŋkume vevie eye wotsi nu dɔ va se ɖe fiẽ. Wosa numevɔ kple akpedavɔ na Yehowa.
27 The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.
Israelviwo bia gbe Yehowa (le esime Mawu ƒe nubablaɖaka la nɔ afi ma
28 Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was the priest. The Israelites asked the Lord, “Should go and we fight again against our relatives from Benjamin, or not?” “Yes, go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you,” the Lord replied.
eye Finehas, Eleazar ƒe viŋutsu, ame si nye Aron ƒe tɔgbuiyɔvi la nɔ subɔsubɔdɔwo wɔm le egbɔ.) Wobia Yehowa be, “Ɖe míagawɔ aʋa kple mía nɔviwo, Beyamin loo alo míadzudzɔa?” Yehowa ɖo eŋu be, “Miyi elabena etsɔ la matsɔ wo ade asi na mí.”
29 Then the Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah.
Ale Israelvi aɖewo de xa ɖe teƒe vovovoawo ƒo xlã Gibea
30 On the third day they took up the same positions they had as before.
eye Israelviwo ho ɖe Benyaminviwo ŋu le ŋkeke etɔ̃a gbe hedze aʋa ɖe Gibea dzi abe tsã ene.
31 The Benjamites came out to attack them and were lured away from the town as they began to kill Israelites as they had before. Some thirty Israelites died on the battlefield and along the roads, the one that goes towards Bethel and the other that goes back towards Gibeah.
Esi Benyamin ƒe to la do go le dua me be yewoakpe aʋa kpli wo la, Israelviwo si yi megbe, Benyamin ƒe to la dze wo yome, ale wogblẽ Gibea ɖe megbe. Abe ale si wowɔ tsã ene la, Benyamin ƒe to la de asi Israelviwo wuwu me le mɔ si le Betel kple Gibea dome la dzi; ale wowu Israelvi blaetɔ̃.
32 “We're defeating them, just like before,” the Benjamites shouted. But the Israelites said, “Let's run away from them and lure them away from the town towards the roads.”
Benyamin ƒe to la do ɣli be, “Míegale wo dzi ɖum egbe hã!” Ke, enye ɖoɖo le Israel ƒe aʋakplɔlawo dome do ŋgɔ be yewoasi ale be Benyamin ƒe to la nakplɔ yewo ɖo ale be woadzo le woƒe dua gbɔ.
33 The main army of Israelites left where they were and took up positions at Baal-tamar, while those in the ambush west of Gibeah charged out to attack from where they had been hiding.
Ke esi Israelviwo ƒe aʋalɔgo gãtɔ ɖo Baal Tama la, etrɔ hekpe aʋa kple Benyamin ƒe to la azɔ eye Israelvi akpe ewo si de xa ɖe Gibea ƒe ɣetoɖoƒe la, do go tso teƒe si wode xa ɖo
34 Ten thousand seasoned Israelite warriors attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was so intense the Benjamites didn't realize they were on the brink of disaster.
eye wokplɔ Benyamin ƒe to la ɖo to megbe, le esime Benyamin ƒe to la menya kura be aʋa si yewo to megbe o.
35 So the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel. That day the Israelites killed twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites, all armed with swords.
Ale Yehowa si Benyamin ƒe to la le Israelviwo ŋgɔ eye Israelviwo wu ame akpe blaeve vɔ atɔ̃ le Benyamin ƒe to la dome, ale wonya azɔ be woɖu yewo dzi; woƒe aʋawɔla ʋɛ aɖewo koe susɔ.
36 The Benjamites saw that they were defeated. The Israelites had fallen back before the Benjamites because they were confident the ambush they had put in place near Gibeah would be successful.
Israelviwo ƒe aʋalɔgo gãtɔ si yi megbe elabena woɖo ŋu ɖe woƒe aʋalɔgo si de xa ɖi ƒo xlã Gibea la ŋu.
37 The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.
Ame siawo yi Gibea dua me eye wowu ame sia ame.
38 The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.
Israel ŋutsuwo kple xadolawo ɖo gbe ɖi be ne wokpɔ dzudzɔ gã aɖe le dodom le dua me ko la
39 The Israelite army turned to attack the Benjamites, who had already killed about thirty Israelites. The Benjamites were saying, “We're completely defeating them, just like the first battle!”
ekema Israel ƒe aʋalɔgo gãtɔ me nɔlawo natrɔ awɔ aʋa ŋkume kple ŋkume kple Benyamin ƒe to la. Esi Benyamin ƒe to la wu ame blaetɔ̃ xoxo ta la, wogblɔ na wo nɔewo be, “Míegasi wo abe ale si míesi wo tsã ene.”
40 However, when the Israelites saw the columns of smoke rising heavenwards to form a great cloud over the whole of the town,
Tete dzesi si woɖo da ɖi la dze na wo: dzudzɔ de asi tutu me kɔlikɔli le dua me. Esi Benyamin ƒe to la trɔ kɔ kpɔ megbe la, ewɔ nuku na wo be du blibo la nɔ bibim.
41 they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.
Israelviwo trɔ ɖe wo ŋu azɔ. Benyamin ƒe to la tɔtɔ eye wosi ɖo ta gbedzi elabena wodze sii azɔ be yewotsrɔ̃ vɔ.
42 They turned and ran from the Israelites towards the desert, but the battle caught up with them, and the Israelites also killed those who left the towns on the way.
Wosi le Israelviwo nu ɖo ta gbedzi, Israelviwo kplɔ wo ɖo eye ame siwo be ɖe mɔa dzi la va kpe ɖe wo nɔviwo ŋu hewu Benyamin ƒe to la tso megbe.
43 Chasing after the Benjamites, the Israelites surrounded them, easily overtaking them east of Gibeah.
Woɖe to ɖe Benyamin ƒe aʋakɔ la le Gibea ƒe ɣedzeƒe lɔƒo eye wowu wo dometɔ geɖewo le afi ma.
44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites were killed, all of them courageous warriors.
Ame akpe wuienyie ku le Benyamin ƒe to la ƒe aʋawɔlawo dome gbe ma gbe.
45 Some of the Benjamites that were left ran towards Pomegranate Rock in the desert, and the Israelites killed another five thousand men on the way. They chased another group of Benjamites as far as Gidom and killed another thousand.
Agbetsilawo si yi gbedzi le Rimon kpe la gbɔ le esime wowu wo dometɔ ame akpe atɔ̃ le mɔa dzi eye wogawu ame akpe eve le Gidom gbɔ.
46 So that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite were killed, all armed with swords and all courageous warriors.
Gbe ma gbe la, Benyamin ƒe to la me tɔ akpe blaeve vɔ atɔ̃, ame siwo nye yidala kalẽtɔwo la tsi aʋa.
47 There were six hundred who ran away to Pomegranate Rock in the desert and they stayed there four months.
Ke ame alafa ade si yi gbegbe la, yi Rimon ƒe agakpe la gbɔ eye wonɔ afi ma ɣleti ene.
48 The Israelites went back into the territory of the Benjamites, and going from town to town, they killed everything: people, animals, everything they found. Then they burned down every town on their way.
Israel ƒe aʋakɔ la trɔ azɔ ɖe dua gbɔ eye wowu Benyamin ƒe to la ƒe ŋutsuwo, nyɔnuwo kple ɖeviwo siaa. Wotsrɔ̃ woƒe lãwo eye wotɔ dzo du kple kɔƒe ɖe sia ɖe le anyigba blibo la dzi.