< 1 Samuel 14 >
1 One day, Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Come with me; we will go over to where the Philistia soldiers have put up their tents.” [So they went], but Jonathan did not tell his father [what they were going to do].
Ɛda bi, Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ aberanteɛ a ɔsoa nʼakodeɛ sɛ, “Bra na yɛnkɔ baabi a Filistifoɔ abɔ dɔmpem hɔ.” Yonatan anka nʼadwene ankyerɛ nʼagya.
2 On that day, Saul and the 600 soldiers who were with him were sitting around a pomegranate tree at a place where the people threshed grain, near Gibeah.
Saa ɛberɛ no na Saulo ne ne mmarima ahansia no akyere sraban wɔ Gibea nkwantia wɔ ateaa dua a ɛwɔ Migron no ase.
3 Ahijah the priest was also there. He was wearing the sacred vest. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, who was a brother of Ichabod. Ichabod and Ahitub were the sons of Phinehas, who was the son of Eli, who had been Yahweh’s priest at Shiloh. No one knew that Jonathan had left [the Israeli camp].
(Onipa a na ɔka Saulo mmarima no ho no ne Ahiya a ɔyɛ Awurade ɔsɔfoɔ a na ɔhyɛ serekye asɔfotadeɛ no. Na Ahiya yɛ Ahitub babarima a ɔyɛ Ikabod nua. Na saa Ahitub no nso yɛ Pinehas babarima a na ɔyɛ Eli nana nso. Na Eli yɛ Awurade ɔsɔfoɔ a na ɔsom wɔ Silo.) Na obiara nnim sɛ Yonatan afiri Israel sraban mu.
4 Jonathan planned that he and the young man would go through a narrow (pass/place between two cliffs) to get to where the Philistia army was. The cliff on one side of the pass was named Bozez, and the other cliff was named Seneh.
Ansa na Yonatan bɛduru Filistifoɔ sraban mu no, na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔsiane fa abotan mmepɔ mmienu bi a wɔfrɛ no Boses ne Sene no ntam.
5 One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
Ɔbotan a ɛtwere hɔ a na ɛwɔ atifi fam no, na ɛkyerɛ Mikmas anim, na deɛ ɛwɔ anafoɔ fam no nso, na ɛkyerɛ Geba anim.
6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Come with me. We will go to where those (pagans/people who do not believe in Yahweh) [MTY] have set up their tents. Perhaps Yahweh will help us. It does not matter whether we are only two men or many people; nothing can hinder Yahweh from enabling us to defeat them.”
Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ aberanteɛ a ɔyɛ nʼakodeɛsoafoɔ no sɛ, “Ma yɛntwam nkɔ abosonsomfoɔ no nkyɛn. Ebia, Awurade bɛboa yɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, biribiara ntumi nsi Awurade kwan. Ɔbɛtumi adi ɔko mu nkonim a ɛmfa ho sɛ nʼakodɔm dɔɔso anaa wɔsua.”
7 The young man who was carrying Jonathan’s weapons said, “Do what you think is the best thing for us to do. I will help you.”
Aberanteɛ no kaa sɛ, “Yɛ deɛ wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ biara. Gyinaeɛ biara a wobɛsie no, metaa wʼakyi pintinn.”
8 Then Jonathan said, “Okay, come with me. We will cross the valley to where the Philistia army is, and allow them to see us.
Yonatan kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, yɛbɛtwam akɔ hɔ, na yɛama wɔahunu yɛn.
9 If they then say to us, ‘You two stay there until we come down to you,’ we will stay there and not go up to them.
Na sɛ wɔka sɛ, ‘Monnyina baabi a moaduru hɔ ara na anyɛ saa a, yɛbɛkum mo’ a, ɛnneɛ, yɛbɛgyina a yɛrenkɔ wɔn nkyɛn.
10 But if they say to us, ‘Come up here [and fight against] us,’ that will show us that Yahweh will enable us to defeat them. Then we will go up and fight them.”
Na sɛ wɔka sɛ, ‘Momforo mmra mmɛko’ a, ɛnneɛ, yɛbɛforo akɔ ɔsoro. Ɛbɛyɛ Awurade nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ sɛ ɔbɛboa yɛn, ama yɛadi wɔn so nkonim.”
11 When the two of them crossed the valley, the Philistia soldiers saw them coming. They said, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes in which they have been hiding!”
Ɛberɛ a Filistifoɔ no hunuu sɛ wɔreba no, wɔteam sɛ, “Monhwɛ o! Hebrifoɔ no na wɔreweawea afiri wɔn abɔn mu no!”
12 Then the Philistia soldiers who were closest to Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons said, “Come up here, and we will teach you something [about how to fight] [IDM]!” Jonathan said to the young man who was with him, “Come behind me and climb up, because Yahweh is going to help us to defeat them!”
Na wɔteam frɛɛ Yonatan sɛ, “Foro bra ha na yɛnkyerɛ wo nyansa!” Yonatan ka kyerɛɛ nʼakodeɛsoafoɔ no sɛ, “Bra; foro di mʼakyi na Awurade bɛboa yɛn, ama yɛadi wɔn so nkonim.”
13 So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and his feet [because it was very steep]. The young man climbed up following him. As Jonathan climbed, he struck and killed many Philistia soldiers, and the young man who was with him killed many more as he followed behind Jonathan.
Enti, wɔde wɔn nsa mmienu ne wɔn nan foroeɛ, na Yonatan ne nʼakodeɛsoafoɔ no kunkumm Filistifoɔ no benkum ne nifa, ma wɔtete kɔguiɛ.
14 In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
Wɔkunkumm mmarima bɛyɛ aduonu maa wɔn amu no dedaa asase no bɛyɛ sɛ eka fa so.
15 Then all the other Philistia soldiers, the ones in the camp and the ones who had been attacking the Israeli towns, ones who were out in the field much closer, panicked. Then God caused the ground to shake, and they all became terrified/very afraid.
Ɛhɔ ara, ehu bɔɔ Filistifoɔ nsraadɔm no wɔ sraban no mu ne akono hɔ nyinaa, na ɛkaa ntohyɛsofoɔ no mpo. Ɛhɔ ara asase wosoeɛ, maa obiara akoma tuiɛ.
16 Saul’s (lookouts/men who were watching to see if enemies were coming) were in Gibeah [town] in the land of the tribe of Benjamin. They saw that the soldiers of the Philistia army were running away in all directions.
Saulo awɛmfoɔ a wɔwɔ Gibea no hunuu biribi a ɛyɛ wɔn nwanwa. Ɛno ara ne sɛ, Filistifoɔ akodɔm no abɔ ahwete mmaa nyinaa.
17 Saul [realized that some of his soldiers must have attacked the Philistia army. So he] said to the soldiers who were with him, “Check to see if any of our men are not here.” So they checked, and they found out that Jonathan and the man who carried his weapons were gone.
Afei, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ mmarima a wɔka ne ho no sɛ, “Monhwɛ akodɔm no mu nhwɛ sɛ obi nni hɔ anaa.” Wɔhwehwɛeɛ hunuu sɛ Yonatan ne nʼakodeɛsoafoɔ no na na wɔnni hɔ.
18 So Saul said to Ahijah [the Supreme Priest], “Bring the sacred vest here [and find out what we should do].” On that day Ahijah was wearing the sacred vest, going in front of the Israelis.
Saulo ka kyerɛɛ Ahiya sɛ, “Kɔfa Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no bra.” (Saa ɛberɛ no na ɛwɔ Israelfoɔ nkyɛn.)
19 But while Saul was talking to the priest, [he saw that] the Philistia soldiers were becoming more panicked/confused. So Saul said to Ahijah, “Take your hand down [from the sacred vest. Do not waste any more time using the marked stones in the vest to find out what Yahweh wants us to do.”]
Ɛberɛ a Saulo rekasa akyerɛ ɔsɔfoɔ no, na basabasa a asi Filistifoɔ sraban no mu no ano den ara na ɛreyɛ. Enti, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Gyae! Ma yɛnkɔ.”
20 Then Saul gathered his men and they went toward the battle. They found that the Philistia soldiers were so confused that they were striking each other with their swords.
Afei, Saulo ne ne mmarima ahansia no kaa wɔn ho ntɛm so, firii akono hɔ kɔhunuu sɛ, Filistifoɔ no atwa wɔn ho rekunkum wɔn ho wɔn ho. Na ɛhɔ nyinaa ayɛ kitikiti ne basabasayɛ nko ara.
21 Before that, some of the Hebrew men had deserted their army and gone to join with the Philistia army. But now those men [revolted and] joined with Saul and Jonathan and the other Israeli soldiers.
Mpo, Hebrifoɔ a na wɔdɔm Filistifoɔ akodɔm no kɔdɔm Saulo, Yonatan ne Israelfoɔ nkaeɛ no.
22 Some of the Israeli soldiers had previously run away and hidden in the mountains where the tribe of Ephraim lived. But when they heard that the Philistia soldiers were running away, they [came down and] joined the other Israeli soldiers and pursued the Philistia soldiers.
Saa ara na mmarima a na wɔakɔtetɛ wɔ mmepɔ mu no hunuu sɛ Filistifoɔ no redwane no, kaa wɔn so bi.
23 So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
Enti, Awurade gyee Israel ɛda no. Na ɔko no kɔɔ so ara traa Bet-Awen.
24 Before Saul’s soldiers went to the battle, Saul declared to them solemnly, “I do not want any of you to eat any food before this evening, before we have defeated all our enemies. If anyone eats anything, [Yahweh] will curse/punish him.” So none of the Israeli soldiers ate any food, and they became faint/weak because they were very hungry.
Afei, saa ɛda no na Israelfoɔ no abrɛbrɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, na Saulo ama wɔaka ntam sɛ, “Nnome mmra obiara a ɔbɛdidi ansa na onwunu atɔ, anaasɛ ansa matɔ mʼatamfoɔ no so were.” Enti, obiara amfa hwee anka nʼano ɛda mu no nyinaa,
25 The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
ɛwom, wɔhunuu sɛ ɛwoɔ kyɛm da fam wɔ kwaeɛ no ase.
26 They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
Wɔamfa wɔn nsa ansɔ ɛwoɔ no mu mpo, ɛfiri sɛ, na wɔn nyinaa suro ntam a wɔaka no.
27 But Jonathan did not hear what his father commanded [because he had left the camp very early in the morning]. So [when he saw] a honeycomb, he dipped the end of his walking stick into it and ate some honey. After he ate the honey, he felt stronger.
Nanso, na Yonatan deɛ, ɔntee nʼagya ntam no ho hwee. Ɔde abaa bi nuu ɛwoɔ kyɛm no mu, dii ɛwoɔ no bi. Ɔdi wieeɛ no, ne ho baee no.
28 But one of the Israeli soldiers saw him and said to him, “Your father solemnly declared to us that [Yahweh] would curse/punish anyone who ate any food today. So now we are [very tired and] weak from being hungry [because we obeyed him].”
Nanso, mmarima no mu baako hunuu no, ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wʼagya maa asraafoɔ no kaa ntam a emu yɛ den sɛ, obiara a ɔbɛdidi ɛnnɛ no, nnome bɛba ne so. Ɛno enti, na obiara ahodwo no.”
29 Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
Na Yonatan teaam sɛ, “Mʼagya de ɔhaw abɛto yɛn nyinaa so. Mmara a ɛte seyie no pira yɛn. Monhwɛ sɛ ɛwoɔ kakra a mediiɛ yi, me ho asisi me ho so.
30 If he had permitted all of us to eat from the food we took from our enemies while we were pursuing them, we would have been able to kill many more of their soldiers!”
Sɛ mmarima no nyaa ɛkwan dii nnuane a wɔhunuu wɔ yɛn atamfoɔ no nkyɛn a, anka mo ara mobɛhunu wɔn dodoɔ a yɛbɛkum aka ho.”
31 The Israelis pursued and killed Philistia soldiers all that day, from Micmash [town west] to Aijalon. But they continued to become weaker from being hungry.
Nanso, ɛkɔm no nyinaa akyi, wɔtaa Filistifoɔ no ɛda mu no nyinaa firi Mikmas, kɔsii Ayalon. Na afei, wɔbrɛbrɛɛ mmoroso.
32 They had taken [many] sheep and cattle that the Philistia soldiers had abandoned. Now, because they were extremely hungry, they butchered some of those animals and ate the meat without draining the blood from the animals.
Anwummerɛ no, wɔto guu asadeɛ no so, faa nnwan, anantwie ne anantwie mma. Wɔkunkumm wɔn, wee wɔn ɛnam ne wɔn mogya nyinaa fraeɛ.
33 One of the soldiers told Saul, “Look! The men are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat that still has blood in it!” Saul replied [to the men who were near him], “They have disobeyed Yahweh! Roll a large stone over here!”
Afei, obi ka kyerɛɛ Saulo sɛ, “Hwɛ! Mmarima no reyɛ bɔne atia Awurade, ɛfiri sɛ, wɔrewe ɛnam a mogya fra mu.” Na Saulo kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ bɔne pa ara. Mompire ɛboɔ kɛseɛ bi mmɛto ha.
34 After they did that, he said to those men, “Go and tell all the soldiers that each of them must bring an ox or a sheep to me, and kill it here on this stone, [and drain the blood] before he eats any of the meat. They should not sin against Yahweh by eating meat [from some animal] without draining its blood.” So that night all the soldiers brought animals and slaughtered them there. Then Saul built an altar to [worship] Yahweh.
Na afei monkɔ mmarima no mu nkɔka nkyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Momfa anantwie no ne nnwan no mmra ha mmɛkum wɔn na monsɔne wɔn mogya mfiri wɔn mu. Monnnwe ɛnam a mogya da so wɔ mu mmfa so nnyɛ bɔne nntia Awurade.’” Enti anadwo no, asraafoɔ no de wɔn anantwie baeɛ, bɛkunkumm wɔn wɔ hɔ.
35 That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
Na Saulo sii afɔrebukyia wɔ hɔ, de maa Awurade, deɛ ɛdi ɛkan a ɔsiiɛ.
36 Then Saul said [to the Israeli soldiers], “Let’s pursue the Philistia soldiers tonight. We can attack them all night. We will not allow any of them to escape alive.” The Israeli soldiers answered, “We will do whatever you think is the best thing for us to do.” But the priest said, “We should ask Yahweh [what he thinks we should do].”
Na Saulo kaa sɛ, “Momma yɛnkɔ Filistifoɔ no so anadwo yi, na yɛnkɔsɛe wɔn ara nkɔsi ahemadakye a yɛrennya wɔn mu baako koraa.” Na wɔbuaa sɛ, “Biribiara a wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ no, yɛbɛyɛ.” Nanso, ɔsɔfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Momma yɛnni ɛkan mmisa Awurade ansa.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Should we pursue the Philistine soldiers? Will you enable us to defeat them?” But God did not answer Saul that day.
Enti, Saulo bisaa Awurade sɛ, “Menkɔ so ntaa Filistifoɔ no? Na wobɛboa yɛn ama yɛadi wɔn so anaa?” Nanso, Awurade amma wɔn mmuaeɛ biara saa ɛda no.
38 Then Saul summoned all the leaders of his army. He said to them, “[I am sure that God has not answered me because] someone has sinned. We must find out what sin someone has committed.
Enti, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ ntuanofoɔ no sɛ, “Biribi atɔ kyima, enti mehwehwɛ mʼasahene nyinaa. Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛhunu bɔne a yɛayɛ ɛnnɛ.
39 Yahweh has rescued us [from the Philistia army]. Just as certain as Yahweh lives, whoever has sinned must be executed. Even if it is my son Jonathan who has sinned, he must be executed.” [His men knew who was guilty], but none of them said anything [to Saul].
Mede Awurade a ɔyii Israel din ka ntam sɛ deɛ woayɛ bɔne no bɛwu, mpo sɛ ɔyɛ me babarima Yonatan!” Na mmarimma no mu baako mpo antumi anka hwee.
40 Then Saul said to all the Israeli soldiers, “You stand on one side. My son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.” His men replied, “Do whatever you think is best.”
Afei, Saulo ka kyerɛɛ Israelfoɔ no nyinaa sɛ, “Monnyina nohoa; me ne me babarima Yonatan nso bɛgyina ha.” Nnipa no penee so.
41 Then Saul prayed to Yahweh, the Israelis’ God, “Tell me who is guilty and who is not guilty.” Then the priest (cast lots/threw the stones that were marked), and they indicated that it was [either] Jonathan or Saul who was the guilty one, and that the other men were not guilty.
Enti, Saulo bɔɔ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, mpaeɛ sɛ, “Ao Awurade Israel Onyankopɔn, yɛsrɛ wo kyerɛ yɛn deɛ ɔdi fɔ ne deɛ ɔdi bem. Mene Yonatan di fɔ anaasɛ bɔne no wɔ nkurɔfoɔ no mu? Mfomsoɔ no bɛtɔɔ Yonatan ne Saulo so, na nnipa no dii bem.”
42 Then Saul said to the priest, “Throw the stones again to indicate which of us two is guilty.” So he did, and the stones indicated that Jonathan was the guilty one.
Na Saulo kaa sɛ, “Mommɔ me ne me babarima Yonatan so ntonto.” Na ntonto no bɔɔ Yonatan sɛ ɔdi fɔ.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done [that was wrong].” Jonathan replied, “I ate a little bit of honey. It was only a little bit that was on the end of my stick. Do I [deserve to be] executed [because of doing that]?”
Saulo bisaa Yonatan sɛ, “Ka deɛ woayɛ kyerɛ me.” Yonatan gye too mu sɛ, “Mede ɛwoɔ kakra kaa mʼano. Ɛyɛ kakra bi a na ɛwɔ abaa bi ti so. Na yei yɛ owuo asɛm?”
44 Saul replied, “Yes, you must be executed! I hope/wish that God will strike me and kill me if you are not executed for having done that!”
Saulo kaa sɛ, “Aane, Yonatan, ɛsɛ sɛ wowuo. Sɛ woanwu wɔ saa asɛm yi ho a, Onyankopɔn nka me na menwu.”
45 But the Israeli soldiers said to Saul, “Jonathan has won a great victory for all us Israelis. Should he be executed for eating some honey [RHQ]? Certainly not! Just as surely as Yahweh lives, we will not allow you to injure him in any manner [IDM], [because] today God helped Jonathan [to kill many soldiers of the Philistia army]!” So [by saying that] the Israeli soldiers rescued Jonathan, and he was not executed.
Ɛhɔ ara na nnipa no sɔre teaam ka kyerɛɛ Saulo sɛ, “Enti, ɛfata sɛ Yonatan a ɔgyee Israel ɛnnɛ no owuo anaa? Onyame mpa ngu. Ɛberɛ dodoɔ no a Awurade te aseɛ yi, ne tirinwi baako koraa ho nka, ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn afa ne so ayɛ anwanwadeɛ ɛnnɛ.” Enti, nnipa no gyee Yonatan, na wɔankum no.
46 Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
Na Saulo frɛɛ akodɔm no sɛ wɔnntaa Filistifoɔ no so bio. Enti, Filistifoɔ no sane kɔɔ efie.
47 After Saul became the ruler/king of the Israeli people, his army fought against their enemies in many areas. They fought against armies of the Moab people-group, the Ammon people-group, the Edom people-group, the kings of Zobah [city/area], and the Philistia people-group. Wherever the Israeli army fought, they defeated their enemies.
Saulo nyaa Israel ahennwa no so tenaeɛ a ɔhaw biara mma no, ɔko tiaa nʼatamfoɔ wɔ afanan nyinaa. Ɔko tiaa Moab, Amon, Edom Soba ne Filistifoɔ ahemfo. Na baabiara a ɔkɔeɛ no, ɔdii nkonim.
48 Saul’s army fought bravely and defeated the [very tall] descendants of Amalek. His army rescued the Israelis from those who had (plundered/forcefully taken things from) them.
Ɔkoo mmarima so, dii Amalekfoɔ so, gyee Israelfoɔ firii wɔn afomfafoɔ nyinaa nsam.
49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
Na Saulo mmammarima ne Yonatan, Iswi ne Malki-Sua na ne mmammaa baanu nso ne Merab a ɔyɛ panin ne Mikal nso a ɔyɛ akumaa.
50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, who was the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
Na Saulo yere din de Ahinoam a na ɔyɛ Ahimaas ba. Na ne sahene din de Abner a na ɔyɛ Saulo agya nua Ner babarima.
51 Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
Na Saulo agya Kis ne Abner agya Ner yɛ anuanom a wɔyɛ Abiel mma.
52 All the time that Saul was alive, his army fought against the Philistia army. And whenever Saul saw a young man who was (brave/not afraid to fight) and strong, he forced him to join his army.
Ɛberɛ a Saulo dii adeɛ nyinaa, na Filistifoɔ taa ne Israelfoɔ di ako. Enti ɛberɛ biara a Saulo bɛhunu aberanteɛ biara a ne bo yɛ duru na ɔwɔ ahoɔden no, ɔtwe no de no fra nʼakodɔm mu.