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, Israelfoɔ nyinaa; ɛfiri Dan kɔsi Beer-Seba ne Gilead asase so bɛhyiaa 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 mmusuakuo no nyinaa ntuanofoɔ, akofoɔ mpem ahanan a wɔkurakura akofena kɔɔ Onyankopɔn mma dwabɔ 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 duruu Benyamin asase so sɛ Israelfoɔ mmusuakuo a wɔaka no kɔ Mispa.) Israelfoɔ no bisaa deɛ ɛyɛeɛ a saa awudisɛm yi siiɛ.
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 ɔbaa a wɔkumm no no kunu no kaa sɛ, “Me ne me mpena baa Gilead 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 Gilead ntuanofoɔ no mu bi bɛtwaa fie no ho hyiaeɛ, pɛɛ sɛ wɔkum me, na wɔtoo me mpena no monnaa ma ɔwuiɛ.
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 asinasini de esini baako biara kɔɔ Israel mantam biara so. Ɛfiri sɛ, saa mmarima yi ayɛ atantansɛm ne aniwusɛm wɔ Israel.
7 So all of you Israelites have to decide here and now what you're going to do about it!”
Enti, seesei, ɛsɛ sɛ Israelfoɔ nyinaa fa adwene wɔ yei 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 buaa sɛ, “Yɛn mu biara rensane 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 yɛahunu wɔn a wɔbɛkɔ akɔto 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.”
Abusuakuo biara mu mmarima nkyɛmu edu mu baako na wɔbɛyi wɔn ama wɔama yɛn akofoɔ no nnuane, na yɛn a yɛaka no nso atɔ Geba so wereɛ wɔ animguasedeɛ a wɔayɛ wɔ Israel no.”
11 All the men of Israel were in agreement and gathered to attack the town.
Enti, Israelfoɔ nyinaa ano kɔɔ bɛnkorɔ mu boaa wɔn ho ano sɛ wɔbɛkɔ akɔto ahyɛ kuro 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?
Israelfoɔ no somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Benyamin abusuakuo no mu kɔbisaa wɔn sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn awurukasɛm na moayɛ 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.
Monyi saa amumuyɛfoɔ a wɔfiri Gibea no mmra, na yɛnkum wɔn na yɛntu saa awurukasɛm yi ase mfiri Israel.” Nanso, Benyaminfoɔ no antie.
14 They left their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go and fight the other Israelites.
Mmom, wɔfifiri wɔn nkuro mu boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Gibea sɛ wɔne Israelfoɔ 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.
Akofoɔ mpem aduonu nsia a wɔkurakura akofena kɔduruu Gibea, kɔkaa akofoɔ ahanson a na wɔte hɔ dada 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 akofoɔ no mu ahanson yɛ abenkumma a wɔn mu biara yɛ toamfom wɔ ahwimmoɔ toɔ mu.
17 The Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.
Na Israelfoɔ wɔ akofoɔ mpem ahanan a wɔkurakura akofena a Benyamin akofoɔ 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 wɔrebɛfiri ɔko no ase no, Israelfoɔ no kɔɔ Bet-El kɔbisaa Onyankopɔn sɛ, “Abusuakuo bɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔdi ɔko no anim tia Benyaminfoɔ no?” Awurade buaa sɛ, “Yuda na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔdi animu.”
19 The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.
Enti, Israelfoɔ no siim anɔpahema kɔkyeree sraban 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, wɔtu teneeɛ de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ Gibea sɛ wɔrekɔto 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 akofoɔ a na wɔrebɔ kuro no ho ban no pue kunkumm Israelfoɔ no ɔpeduonu mmienu wɔ akono hɔ ɛda 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, Israelfoɔ nyaa akokoɔduru boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ baabi a wɔkoo ɛda a ɛdi animu 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 akɔsu wɔ Awurade anim akɔsi anwummerɛ. Afei, wɔbisaa Awurade sɛ, “Yɛne yɛn ara abusuafoɔ a wɔfiri Benyamin nko bio anaa?” Na Awurade buaa sɛ, “Monkɔ na mo ne wɔn nkɔko.”
24 So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.
Enti, wɔkɔko tiaa Benyamin akofoɔ no,
25 However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.
na Benyamin mmarima no sane kumm Israelfoɔ akofoɔ a wɔnim akofena akodie yie 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 Israelfoɔ no kɔɔ Bet-El kɔsuu wɔ Awurade anim kyenee kɔm kɔsii anwummerɛ. Wɔbɔɔ ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ ne aduane afɔdeɛ maa Awurade.
27 The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.
Na Israelfoɔ kɔɔ Awurade anim kɔpɛɛ akwankyerɛ. (Saa ɛberɛ 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 Eleasa babarima Pinehas a ɔyɛ Aaron nana no na na ɔyɛ ɔsɔfoɔ). Israelfoɔ no bisaa Awurade, sɛ, “Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛko tia yɛn ara yɛn abusuafoɔ Benyamin bio anaasɛ yɛnnyae?” Awurade buaa sɛ, “Monkɔ! Ɔkyena mɛma moadi wɔn so nkonim.”
29 Then the Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah.
Enti, Israelfoɔ de atɛfoɔ twaa Gibea ho nyinaa hyiaeɛ.
30 On the third day they took up the same positions they had as before.
Ne nnansa so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ beaeɛ korɔ 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.
Ɛberɛ a Benyaminfoɔ akofoɔ pue baeɛ wɔ ɔko so no, wɔtwee wɔn firii kuro no mu. Na sɛdeɛ na wɔayɛ pɛn no, wɔhyɛɛ aseɛ kunkumm Israelfoɔ no. Ɛbɛyɛ Israelfoɔ aduasa na wɔwuwuiɛ wɔ akono petee mu hɔ a ebi 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 akofoɔ no teaam sɛ, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛdeɛ yɛdii wɔn so wɔ ɔko a ɛdi ɛkan no mu no!” Na saa ɛberɛ no na Israelfoɔ no apene so dada sɛ wɔbɛdwane ama Benyamin mmarima no ataa wɔn wɔ akwan no so, na ama wɔatwe wɔn afiri kuro 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.
Ɛberɛ a Israelfoɔ akodɔm kɛseɛ no duruu Baal-Tamar no, wɔdanee wɔn ho koeɛ. Ɛhɔ na Israelfoɔ a wɔatɛ wɔ Geba no puee prɛko pɛ firi wɔn atɛeɛm
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.
kɔsii Benyaminfoɔ no akyi tohyɛɛ wɔn so. Ɔko no mu yɛɛ den ara kɔsii sɛ na Benyaminfoɔ no ntumi nhunu 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 enti, Awurade boaa Israel ma wɔdii Benyamin so nkonim. Saa ɛda no, Israelfoɔ kunkumm Benyamin akofoɔ no mpem aduonu enum ne ɔha, a na wɔn nyinaa nim akofena ano ko yie.
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, Benyaminfoɔ no hunuu sɛ wɔadi nkoguo. Israelfoɔ no dwane firii Benyamin akofoɔ no anim, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wɔn a wɔakɔ atɛ no bɛnya ɛkwan ayɛ wɔn adwuma.
37 The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.
Afei, wɔn a na wɔatɛ no firii afanan nyinaa kɔɔ Gibea, kunkumm obiara a ɔwɔ kuro no mu.
38 The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.
Wɔtuee wisie kumɔnn wɔ kuro 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 nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ ma Israelfoɔ no sɛ wɔnsane mmra mmɛto nhyɛ Benyamin akofoɔ no so. Saa ɛberɛ no na Benyamin akofoɔ no akum Israelfoɔ no aduasa, a wɔteaam sɛ, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛdeɛ yɛdii wɔn so ɔko a ɛdi ɛkan 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, ɛberɛ a Benyamin akofoɔ no hwɛɛ wɔn akyi, na wɔhunuu wisie a atu nam ewiem wɔ kuro no mu baabiara no,
41 they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.
Israelfoɔ no sane baeɛ bɛto hyɛɛ wɔn so. Afei, Benyamin akofoɔ no hunuu 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, wɔdwane de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ ɛserɛ so. Nanso, Israelfoɔ no taa wɔn kunkumm wɔn.
43 Chasing after the Benjamites, the Israelites surrounded them, easily overtaking them east of Gibeah.
Israelfoɔ no twaa Benyaminfoɔ no ho hyiaeɛ, taa wɔn anibereɛ so, kɔtoo wɔn wɔ Gibea atɔeɛ fam.
44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites were killed, all of them courageous warriors.
Ɛda no, Benyamin akofoɔ akɛseɛ mpem dunwɔtwe na wɔtotɔɔ 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 dwane kɔɔ ɛserɛ so baabi a ɛbɛn Rimon botan no ho. Nanso, Israelfoɔ no kunkumm wɔn mu mpem enum wɔ ɛkwan no so. Wɔtoaa so taa wɔn, kɔsii sɛ wɔkumm 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 abusuakuo no hweree akofoɔ akokoɔdurufoɔ ɔpeduonunum saa ɛda no,
47 There were six hundred who ran away to Pomegranate Rock in the desert and they stayed there four months.
ma ɛkaa mmarima ahansia pɛ a wɔdwane kɔɔ ɔbotan Rimon ho kɔtenaa hɔ abosome ɛnan 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 Israelfoɔ no sane baeɛ bɛkunkumm abɔdeɛ biara a nkwa wɔ mu wɔ nkuro no nyinaa mu, firi nnipa so kɔsi anantwie ne biribiara so. Na kuro biara a wɔduruu so no, wɔhyee no dworobɛɛ.
