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.
Ndipo Waisraeli wote kuanzia Dani hadi Beer-Sheba na wa kutoka nchi ya Gileadi wakatoka kama mtu mmoja wakakusanyika mbele za Bwana huko Mispa.
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.
Viongozi wote wa kabila za Israeli wakakaa kwenye nafasi zao katika kusanyiko la watu wa Mungu, askari 400,000 waendao kwa miguu wenye panga.
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?”
(Wabenyamini wakasikia kuwa Waisraeli wamepanda kwenda Mispa.) Ndipo Waisraeli wakasema, “Tuelezeni jinsi jambo hili ovu lilivyotendeka.”
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.
Hivyo yule Mlawi, mume wa yule mwanamke aliyeuawa, akasema, “Mimi na suria wangu tulifika Gibea ya Benyamini ili tulale huko.
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.
Wakati wa usiku watu wa Gibea wakanijia na kuizingira nyumba, wakitaka kuniua. Wakambaka suria wangu mpaka akafa.
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.
Ndipo nikamchukua suria wangu, nikamkatakata vipande vipande na kuvipeleka katika nchi yote ya urithi wa Israeli, kwa kuwa wametenda uasherati mkubwa na jambo la aibu katika Israeli.
7 So all of you Israelites have to decide here and now what you're going to do about it!”
Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, semeni na mtoe uamuzi wenu.”
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!
Watu wote wakainuka wakasema, kama mtu mmoja, “Hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayekwenda nyumbani. Wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayerudi nyumbani kwake.
9 This is what we're going to do to Gilboah: we will attack it with our forces chosen by lot.
Sasa hili ndilo tutakaloitendea Gibea: Tutaikabili jinsi kura itakavyotuongoza.
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.”
Tutatoa watu kumi katika kila 100 kutoka kwenye kabila zote za Israeli, watu 100 katika watu 1,000 na watu 1,000 katika 10,000, ili waende wakalete mahitaji kwa ajili ya jeshi. Basi wakati jeshi litakapofika Gibea ya Benyamini, watawatendea yale wanayostahili, kwa ajili ya uovu huu wa aibu waliotenda katika Israeli.”
11 All the men of Israel were in agreement and gathered to attack the town.
Hivyo wanaume wote wa Israeli wakakutanika pamoja na kujiunga kama mtu mmoja dhidi ya huo mji.
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?
Makabila ya Israeli yakatuma watu kwenda katika kabila la Benyamini lote na kuwaambia, “Ni uovu gani huu wa kutisha uliotendeka katikati yenu?
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.
Basi watoeni hao watu waovu kabisa walioko Gibea, ili tupate kuwaua na kuondoa uovu katika Israeli.” Lakini Wabenyamini hawakuwasikia ndugu zao, Waisraeli.
14 They left their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go and fight the other Israelites.
Wakatoka katika miji yao, wakakutanika Gibea ili kupigana na Waisraeli.
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.
Siku ile Wabenyamini wakakusanya watu 26,000 kutoka miji yao, waliojifunga panga, mbali na hao 700 waliochaguliwa miongoni mwa hao waliokaa Gibea.
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.
Miongoni mwa hao askari wote kulikuwa na watu 700 bora waliochaguliwa watumiao mkono wa kushoto, kila mmoja wao aliweza kutupa jiwe kwa kombeo na kulenga unywele mmoja bila kukosa.
17 The Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.
Nao watu wa Israeli, mbali na hao wa Benyamini, wakakusanya watu waume 400,000, wenye kutumia panga, wote hao walikuwa mashujaa.
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.
Waisraeli wakapanda Betheli na kumuuliza Mungu, “Ni nani miongoni mwetu atakayetangulia mbele yetu ili kupigana na Wabenyamini?” Bwana akawajibu, “Yuda ndiye atakayetangulia.”
19 The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.
Asubuhi yake Waisraeli wakaamka na kupiga kambi karibu na Gibea.
20 Then they marched out for battle with the army of Benjamin, taking up their positions to attack Gibeah.
Waisraeli wakatoka kupigana na Wabenyamini, nao Waisraeli wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
21 But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
Wabenyamini wakatoka Gibea na kuwaua watu 22,000 wa Israeli siku ile.
22 But the Israelites encouraged one other to be confident, and they took up the same positions they had on the first day.
Lakini Waisraeli wakatiana moyo kila mmoja na mwenzake, nao wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vile vita mara ya pili mahali pale walipokuwa wamejiweka mara ya kwanza.
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.
Waisraeli wakapanda mbele za Bwana na kulia mbele zake mpaka jioni, nao wakamuuliza Bwana wakisema, “Je, tupande tena kupigana vita na Wabenyamini, ndugu zetu?” Bwana akajibu, “Pandeni mkapigane nao.”
24 So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.
Ndipo Waisraeli wakawakaribia Wabenyamini siku ya pili.
25 However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.
Wakati huu, Wabenyamini walipotoka Gibea ili kupigana nao, wakawaua watu Waisraeli 18,000, wote wakiwa wamejifunga panga.
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.
Ndipo Waisraeli, watu wote, wakapanda Betheli, huko wakakaa mbele za Bwana wakilia. Wakafunga siku ile mpaka jioni na kutoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa na sadaka ya amani kwa Bwana.
27 The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.
Nao Waisraeli wakauliza kwa Bwana. (Katika siku hizo Sanduku la Agano la Mungu lilikuwa huko
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.
na Finehasi mwana wa Eleazari, mwana wa Aroni, alikuwa anahudumu mbele za hilo Sanduku.) Wakauliza, “Je, tupande kwenda vitani kupigana tena na Wabenyamini ndugu zetu, au la?” Bwana akajibu, “Nendeni, kwa kuwa kesho nitawatia mikononi mwenu.”
29 Then the Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah.
Basi Waisraeli wakaweka waviziao kuizunguka Gibea.
30 On the third day they took up the same positions they had as before.
Kisha Waisraeli wakapanda kupigana na Wabenyamini katika siku ya tatu na kujiweka kwenye nafasi zao dhidi ya Gibea kama walivyokuwa wamefanya hapo kwanza.
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.
Wabenyamini wakatoka ili kukabiliana nao, Waisraeli wakawavuta Wabenyamini watoke katika mji. Wakaanza kupigana na kuua watu wapatao thelathini wa Israeli, kama walivyofanya nyakati nyingine, katika njia kuu, moja iendayo Betheli na nyingine Gibea.
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.”
Wabenyamini wakafikiri, “Wanapigwa mbele yetu kama hapo kwanza.” Waisraeli wakasema, “Sisi na turudi nyuma ili tuwavute wauache mji waende kuelekea barabarani.”
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.
Watu wote wa Israeli wakaondoka kwenye sehemu zao na kujipanga huko Baal-Tamari, nao wale waviziaji wa Waisraeli, wakatoka hapo walipokuwa kwenye uwanda wa magharibi ya Gibea.
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.
Ndipo watu 10,000 bora waliochaguliwa katika Israeli wote, wakaja kuishambulia Gibea. Vita vilikuwa vikali sana, hata Wabenyamini hawakutambua kuwa maangamizi yalikuwa karibu nao kwa kiasi hicho.
35 So the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel. That day the Israelites killed twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites, all armed with swords.
Bwana akawashinda Wabenyamini mbele ya Waisraeli na siku ile Waisraeli wakawaua Wabenyamini watu waume 25,100, wote wakiwa wenye kujifunga silaha za vita.
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.
Hivyo Wabenyamini wakaona kuwa wamepigwa. Basi Waisraeli walikuwa wameondoka mbele ya Wabenyamini, kwa sababu Waisraeli waliwategemea hao waviziaji waliokuwa wamewaweka dhidi ya Gibea.
37 The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.
Wale waviziaji wakafanya haraka kuingia Gibea, wakasambaa na kuwaua watu wote wa mji kwa upanga.
38 The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.
Waisraeli walikuwa wamepatana na hao waviziaji kuwa wangefanya lipande wingu kubwa la moshi kutoka huo mji,
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!”
ndipo watu wa Waisraeli wangegeuka kupigana. Watu wa Benyamini walikuwa wameanza kuwapiga na kuua watu wa Israeli (wapatao thelathini), hivyo wakafikiri, “Hakika tutawapiga, kama tulivyowashinda katika vita hapo kwanza.”
40 However, when the Israelites saw the columns of smoke rising heavenwards to form a great cloud over the whole of the town,
Lakini wakati lile wingu la moshi lilipoanza kupanda kutoka ule mji, Wabenyamini wakageuka na kuona moshi wa mji mzima unapaa juu angani.
41 they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.
Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageukia, nao Wabenyamini wakatiwa hofu, kwa kuwa walitambua kwamba maafa yamewajia.
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.
Basi wakakimbia mbele ya Waisraeli kuelekea nyikani, lakini hawakuweza kukwepa vile vita. Nao watu wa Israeli waliotoka katika ile miji wakawaua huko.
43 Chasing after the Benjamites, the Israelites surrounded them, easily overtaking them east of Gibeah.
Wakawazingira Wabenyamini pande zote, wakawafuatia na kuwapata hapo walipopumzika katika viunga vya Gibea upande wa mashariki.
44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites were killed, all of them courageous warriors.
Wakaanguka Wabenyamini 18,000 ambao wote ni mashujaa.
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.
Walipogeuka na kukimbia kuelekea nyikani hata kufikia mwamba wa Rimoni, Waisraeli wakawaua watu 5,000 wakiwa njiani. Wakawafuata kwa kasi mpaka Gidomu huko wakawaua watu wengine 2,000.
46 So that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite were killed, all armed with swords and all courageous warriors.
Siku ile wakawaua Wabenyamini 25,000 waliokuwa mashujaa wa vita.
47 There were six hundred who ran away to Pomegranate Rock in the desert and they stayed there four months.
Lakini watu 600 wakakimbia kuelekea nyikani katika mwamba wa Rimoni, na kukaa huko muda wa miezi minne.
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.
Waisraeli wakarudi na kuua watu wote wa Benyamini, pamoja na wanyama na kila walichokikuta. Pia kila mji waliouona waliuchoma moto.
