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.
Afei, Israelfo nyinaa; fi Dan kosi Beer-Seba ne Gilead asase so behyiaa wɔ Awurade anim sɛ nnipa baako wɔ 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.
Nnipa no nyinaa ne Israel mmusuakuw no nyinaa ntuanofo, akofo mpem ahannan a wokurakura afoa kɔɔ Onyankopɔn mma guabɔ no ase.
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?”
(Nkra duu Benyamin asase so sɛ Israelfo mmusuakuw a wɔaka no kɔ Mispa.) Israelfo no bisaa nea ɛyɛɛ a saa awudisɛm yi sii.
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.
Enti Lewini a ɔyɛ ɔbea a wokum no no kunu no kae se, “Me ne me mpena baa Gibea a ɛwɔ Benyamin asase so bɛdaa hɔ.
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.
Anadwo no Gibea ntuanofo no mu bi betwaa ofi no ho hyiae, pɛɛ sɛ wokum me, na wɔtoo me mpena no mmonnaa ma owui.
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.
Mefaa me mpena no twitwaa no asinasin de sin baako biara kɔɔ Israel mantam biara so. Efisɛ saa mmarima yi ayɛ atantanne ne aniwude wɔ Israel.
7 So all of you Israelites have to decide here and now what you're going to do about it!”
Enti mprempren, ɛsɛ sɛ Israelfo nyinaa fa adwene wɔ eyi ho.”
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!
Nnipa no nyinaa sɔre buae se, “Yɛn mu biara rensan nkɔ fie.
9 This is what we're going to do to Gilboah: we will attack it with our forces chosen by lot.
Mmom, yɛbɛbɔ ntonto na yɛahu wɔn a wɔbɛkɔ akɔtow ahyɛ Gibea so.
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.”
Abusuakuw biara mu mmarima nkyɛmu du mu baako na wobeyi wɔn ama wɔama yɛn akofo no nnuan, na yɛn a yɛaka no nso atɔ Gibea so were wɔ animguasede a wɔayɛ wɔ Israel no.”
11 All the men of Israel were in agreement and gathered to attack the town.
Enti Israelfo nyinaa ano kɔɔ bɛnkoro boaa wɔn ho ano sɛ wɔbɛkɔ akɔtow ahyɛ kurow no so.
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?
Israelfo no somaa abɔfo kɔɔ Benyamin abusuakuw no mu kobisaa wɔn se, “Dɛn awurukasɛm na moadi wɔ mo mu yi?
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.
Munyi saa amumɔyɛfo a wofi Gibea no mmra, na yenkum wɔn na yentu saa awurukasɛm yi ase mfi Israel.” Nanso Benyaminfo no antie.
14 They left their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go and fight the other Israelites.
Mmom, wofifi wɔn nkurow mu boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Gibea sɛ wɔne Israelfo no rebɛko.
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.
Akofo mpem aduonu asia a wokurakura afoa koduu Gibea, kɔkaa akofo ahanson a na wɔte hɔ dedaw no ho.
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.
Na Benyamin akofo no mu ahanson yɛ abenkumma a wɔn mu biara yɛ antoamfom wɔ ahwimmotow mu.
17 The Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.
Na Israelfo wɔ akofo mpem ahannan a wokurakura mfoa a Benyamin akofo nka ho.
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.
Ansa na wɔrebefi ɔko no ase no, Israelfo no kɔɔ Bet-El kobisaa Onyankopɔn se, “Abusuakuw bɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ wodi ɔko no anim tia Benyaminfo no?” Awurade buae se, “Yuda na ɛsɛ sɛ wodi anim.”
19 The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.
Enti Israelfo no sii mu anɔpahema kɔkyeree nsraban wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Gibea.
20 Then they marched out for battle with the army of Benjamin, taking up their positions to attack Gibeah.
Afei, wotu teɛe de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ Gibea sɛ wɔrekɔtow ahyɛ Benyamin mmarima no so.
21 But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
Nanso Benyamin akofo a na wɔrebɔ kurow no ho ban no pue kunkum Israelfo no mpem aduonu abien wɔ akono hɔ da no ara.
22 But the Israelites encouraged one other to be confident, and they took up the same positions they had on the first day.
Nanso Israelfo nyaa akokoduru boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ faako a wɔkoo da a edi anim no.
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.
Na wɔakɔ Bet-El akosu wɔ Awurade anim akosi anwummere. Afei, wobisaa Awurade se, “Yɛne yɛn ara abusuafo a wofi Benyamin nko bio ana?” Na Awurade buae se, “Monkɔ na mo ne wɔn nkɔko.”
24 So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.
Enti wɔkɔko tiaa Benyamin akofo no,
25 However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.
na Benyamin mmarima no san kum Israelfo akofo a wonim afoa akodi yiye no mpem dunwɔtwe.
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.
Ɛnna Israelfo no kɔɔ Bet-El kosuu wɔ Awurade anim kyen kɔm kosii anwummere. Wɔbɔɔ ɔhyew afɔre ne aduan afɔre maa Awurade.
27 The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.
Na Israelfo kɔɔ Awurade anim kɔpɛɛ akwankyerɛ. (Saa bere no na Onyankopɔn apam adaka no wɔ Bet-El,
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 Eleasar babarima Pinehas a ɔyɛ Aaron nena no na na ɔyɛ ɔsɔfo). Israelfo no bisaa Awurade se, “Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛko tia yɛn ara yɛn abusuafo Benyamin bio anaasɛ yennyae?” Awurade buae se, “Monkɔ! Ɔkyena mɛma moadi wɔn so nkonim.”
29 Then the Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah.
Enti Israelfo de atɛwfo twaa Gibea ho nyinaa hyiae.
30 On the third day they took up the same positions they had as before.
Ne nnansa so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ beae koro hɔ ara.
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.
Bere a Benyaminfo akofo pue bae wɔ ɔko so no, wɔtwee wɔn fii kurow no mu. Na sɛnea na wɔayɛ pɛn no, wofii ase kunkum Israelfo no. Ɛbɛyɛ Israelfo aduasa na wowuwuu wɔ akono petee mu hɔ a bi deda akwan a ɛkɔ Bet-El ne Gibea ho.
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.”
Afei Benyamin akofo no teɛɛ mu se, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛnea yedii wɔn so wɔ ɔko a edi kan no mu no!” Na saa bere no na Israelfo no apene so dedaw sɛ wobeguan ama Benyamin mmarima no ataa wɔn wɔ akwan no so, na ama wɔatwe wɔn afi kurow no mu.
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.
Bere a Israelfo nsraadɔm kɛse no duu Baal-Tamar no, wɔdan wɔn ho koe. Ɛhɔ na Israelfo a wɔatɛw wɔ Geba no puee prɛko pɛ fi wɔn ahintawee
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.
kosii Benyaminfo no akyi tow hyɛɛ wɔn so. Ɔko no mu yɛɛ den ara kosii sɛ na Benyaminfo no ntumi nhu amanehunu a ɛbɛba.
35 So the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel. That day the Israelites killed twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites, all armed with swords.
Ɛno nti, Awurade boaa Israel ma wodii Benyamin so nkonim. Saa da no, Israelfo kunkum Benyamin akofo no mpem aduonu anum ne ɔha, a na wɔn nyinaa nim afoa ano ko yiye.
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.
Afei, Benyaminfo no huu sɛ wɔadi nkogu. Israelfo no guan fii Benyamin akofo no anim, sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a, wɔn a wɔakohintaw no benya kwan ayɛ wɔn adwuma.
37 The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.
Afei, wɔn a na wɔatɛw no fii afanan nyinaa kɔɔ Gibea, kunkum obiara a ɔwɔ kurow no mu.
38 The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.
Wopun wusiw kumɔnn wɔ kurow no so,
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!”
a ɛyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne ma Israelfo no sɛ wɔnsan mmra mmɛtow nhyɛ Benyamin akofo no so. Saa bere no na Benyamin akofo no akum Israelfo no aduasa, a wɔteɛɛ mu se, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛnea yedii wɔn so ɔko a edi kan no mu no!”
40 However, when the Israelites saw the columns of smoke rising heavenwards to form a great cloud over the whole of the town,
Nanso bere a Benyamin akofo no hwɛɛ wɔn akyi, na wohuu wusiw a atu nam wim wɔ kurow no mu baabiara no,
41 they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.
Israelfo no san ba bɛtow hyɛɛ wɔn so. Afei, Benyamin akofo no huu sɛ asɛm aba na wɔbɔɔ huboa.
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.
Enti woguan de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ sare so. Nanso Israelfo no taa wɔn kunkum wɔn.
43 Chasing after the Benjamites, the Israelites surrounded them, easily overtaking them east of Gibeah.
Israelfo no twaa Benyaminfo no ho hyiae, taa wɔn anibere so, kɔtoo wɔn wɔ Gibea atɔe fam.
44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites were killed, all of them courageous warriors.
Da no, Benyamin akofo akɛse mpem dunwɔtwe na wɔtotɔɔ wɔ ɔko no mu.
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.
Wɔn a wɔanwuwu no guan kɔɔ sare so baabi a ɛbɛn Rimon ɔbotan no ho. Nanso Israelfo no kunkum wɔn mu mpem anum wɔ ɔkwan no so. Wɔtoaa so taa wɔn, kosii sɛ wokum mpenu wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Gidom kaa ho.
46 So that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite were killed, all armed with swords and all courageous warriors.
Enti Benyamin abusuakuw no hweree akofo akokodurufo mpemaduonu anum saa da no,
47 There were six hundred who ran away to Pomegranate Rock in the desert and they stayed there four months.
maa ɛkaa mmarima ahansia pɛ a woguan kɔɔ ɔbotan Rimon ho kɔtenaa hɔ asram anan no.
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.
Afei Israelfo no san ba bekunkum abɔde biara a nkwa wɔ mu wɔ nkurow no nyinaa mu, efi nnipa so kosi anantwi ne biribiara so. Na kurow biara a woduu so no, wɔhyew no dwerɛbee.
