< Judges 20 >
1 Then went forth all the sons of Israel, and the assembly came together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba with the land of Gilead, —unto Yahweh 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 And the chiefs of all the people—all the tribes of Israel—presented themselves in the convocation of the people of God, —four hundred thousand footmen, that drew the sword.
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 And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. Then said the sons of Israel, Tell [us], In what manner was brought to pass this vileness?
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 And the Levite, husband of the woman that was cut in pieces, responded and said, —Into Gibeah that pertaineth to Benjamin, I entered, I and my concubine, to tarry the night.
Mlawi, mume wa mwanamke aliyeuawa, akajibu, Nilikuja Gibea katika nchi ya Benyamini, mimi na suria wangu, ili tulale.
5 And the owners of Gibeah rose up against me, and beset the house, for my sake, by night, —me, they thought to slay, and, my concubine, they so humbled, that she died.
Wakati wa usiku, viongozi wa Gibea walinishambulia, wakizunguka nyumba na wakakusudia kuniua. Walimkamata na kumbaka suria wangu, naye akafa.
6 So I laid hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, —because they had wrought lewdness and impiety, 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 Lo! ye all, are sons of Israel, —give your word and counsel, here.
Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, toeni maneno na ushauri wenu hapa.”
8 Then arose all the people, as one man, saying, —No man of us will go to his tent, and no man of us will turn aside 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, therefore, this is the thing, that we will do to Gibeah, —[Go] against it by lot;
Lakini sasa hivi ndivyo tutakavyoifanyia Gibea tutaishambulia kama kura inavyotuongoza.
10 and we will take ten men of a hundred, of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to fetch provisions for the people, —that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the impiety that it hath wrought 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 were gathered together against the city, as one man knit together.
Basi askari wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika juu ya mji, kama mtu mmoja.
12 And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the divisions of Benjamin, saying, —What is this vile thing that hath been brought to pass, among you?
Makabila ya Israeli waliwatuma watu kwa kabila lote la Benyamini, wakisema, “Uovu huu uliofanywa kati yenu ni nini?
13 Now, therefore, deliver up the men—the sons of the Abandoned One—who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and vileness be consumed out of Israel. But [the sons of] Benjamin would not hearken unto the voice of their brethren, the sons of Israel.
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 Then did the sons of Benjamin gather themselves together out of the cities, unto Gibeah, —to go forth to battle against the sons of Israel.
Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakakusanyika kutoka mijini kwenda Gibea, wakajiandaa kupigana na wana wa Israeli.
15 And the sons of Benjamin were numbered on that day, out of the cities, twenty-six thousand men, that drew the sword, —besides, of the inhabitants of Gibeah, were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
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 Out of all this people, were seven hundred chosen men, left-handed, —any one of whom could sling with a stone to a hair’s-breadth, and not miss.
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 And, the men of Israel, were numbered, apart from Benjamin, four hundred thousand men, that drew the sword, —every one of these being a man of war.
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 And they arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked of God, and the sons of Israel said, Who shall go up for us first, to fight against the sons of Benjamin? And Yahweh said—Judah, first.
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 And the sons of Israel arose in the morning, —and encamped against Gibeah.
Watu wa Israeli waliamka asubuhi na wakahamisha kambi yao karibu na Gibea.
20 And the men of Israel went forth, to fight against Benjamin, —so the men of Israel set themselves in array against them, to fight against Gibeah.
Watu wa Israeli walikwenda kupigana na Benyamini. Wakaweka nafasi zao za vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
21 Then came forth the sons of Benjamin out of Gibeah, —and laid low of Israel, on that day, twenty-two thousand men, to the ground.
Watu wa Benyamini wakatoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu elfu ishirini na mbili wa jeshi la Israeli siku ile.
22 And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, —and again set themselves in array for battle in the place where they had set themselves in array on the first day.
Wana wa Israeli walijitia nguvu wenyewe, na wakaunda mstari wa vita mahali pale walipokwisha kuchukua nafasi siku ya kwanza.
23 Now the sons of Israel had gone up, and wept before Yahweh, until the evening, and asked of Yahweh, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the sons of Benjamin, my brother? And Yahweh said, Go up against him.
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 So the sons of Israel came near against the sons of Benjamin, on the second day.
Basi watu wa Israeli wakapigana na askari wa Benyamini siku ya pili.
25 And Benjamin came forth to meet them out of Gibeah, on the second day, and laid low, of the sons of Israel, yet eighteen thousand men, to the ground, —all these, drew the sword.
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 went up all the sons of Israel, and all the people, and came to Bethel, and wept, and tarried there before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, until the evening, —and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings, before Yahweh.
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 sons of Israel asked of Yahweh, —there, being the ark of the covenant of God, in those days;
Wana wa Israeli wakamwomba Bwana, - kwa sababu ya sanduku la agano la Mungu lilikuwapo siku hizo;
28 and Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was standing before it in those days, saying: Shall I yet again go forth to battle, against the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or shall I forbear? And Yahweh said—Go up, for, to-morrow, will I deliver him into thy 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 And Israel set liers in wait against Gibeah, round about.
Basi Israeli akaweka watu mahali pa siri karibu na Gibea.
30 So the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin, on the third day, —and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as time after time.
Watu wa Israeli wakapigana na wana wa Benyamini kwa siku ya tatu, nao wakajenga vita vyao juu ya Gibea, kama walivyotangulia.
31 And the sons of Benjamin came forth against the people, they were drawn away from the city, —and began to smite of the people, slaying as time after time, in the highways, whereof, one, goeth up to Bethel, and, the other, to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men in Israel.
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 Then said the sons of Benjamin, They are, being smitten, before us, as at the first. But the sons of Israel had said—Let us flee, and draw them away from the city, into the highways.
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 And, all the men of Israel, rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array in Baal-tamar, —and, the liers in wait of Israel, began to break forth out of their place, out of the forest 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 And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men, out of all Israel, and the battle was severe, —they, not knowing that disaster was overtaking 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 Thus Yahweh smote Benjamin before Israel, and the sons of Israel destroyed in Benjamin, that day, twenty-five thousand and one hundred men, —all these, drew the sword.
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 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were smitten, —and that the men of Israel had given place to Benjamin, because they trusted to the liers in wait, whom they had set near 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 And, the liers in wait, hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah, —and the liers in wait marched forward, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
Ndipo watu waliokuwa wameficha wakainuka na haraka na wakamkimbia Gibea. Nao wakauawa kila mtu aliyeishi mjini kwa upanga wao.
38 Now, the appointed sign, between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, had been, —to cause a great cloud of smoke to ascend out of the city.
Ishara iliyopangwa kati ya askari wa Israeli na watu waliojificha kwa siri itakuwa wingu kubwa la moshi litatokea nje ya mji.
39 So, when the men of Israel turned in the battle, —and, the Benjamites, began to smite and slay of the sons of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, Yea! they are, smitten, 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 then, the cloud, began to ascend out of the city, a pillar of smoke, —and the Benjamites looked behind them, and lo! the whole city flamed up towards the heavens.
Lakini wakati nguzo ya moshi ilipoanza kuinuka nje ya mji, Wabenjamini waligeuka na kuona moshi ukitanda mbinguni kutoka mji mzima.
41 And, when, the men of Israel, turned, then were the men of Benjamin dismayed, —for they saw that disaster had overtaken them.
Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageuka. Wana wa Benyamini waliogopa, kwa sababu waliona kwamba maafa yaliwajia.
42 And, when they turned before the men of Israel unto the way of the desert, the battle, over took them, —while, as for them that came out of the cities, they began to destroy them in their midst: —
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 hemmed in the Benjamites, they pursued them, with ease, trode they them down, —as far as over against Gibeah, towards sunrise.
Waliwalzungukia wana wa Benjamini na wakawafuata. Nao wakawakanyaga huko Noha, wakawaua mpaka upande wa mashariki wa Gibea.
44 So there fell of Benjamin, eighteen thousand men, —all these being men of valour.
Kutoka kabila la Benyamini, watu kumi na nane elfu walikufa, wote walikuwa wanaume waliojulikana katika vita.
45 And, when they turned and fled towards the desert unto the cliff Rimmon, then gleaned they of them, in the highways, five thousand men, —and they followed hard after them as far as Gidom, and smote of them, two thousand men.
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 So then it came to pass that, all the fallen of Benjamin, were twenty-five thousand men, that drew the sword, on that day, —all these being men of valour.
Askari wote wa Benyamini walioshuka siku hiyo walikuwa watu ishirini na tano waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana kwa upanga; wote walikuwa wanajulikana katika vita.
47 But there turned and fled, towards the desert, unto the cliff Rimmon, six hundred men, —who abode in the cliff Rimmon, 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 Thus, the men of Israel, turned against the sons of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, beginning with the city, each and every one down to the beast, even to every one that was met with, —moreover, all the cities they came to, they set on fire.
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.