Judges 11
1 [There was a man] from [the] Gilead [region] named Jephthah. He was a great warrior. His father was also named Gilead. But his mother was a prostitute.
Gileadni Yefta yɛ ɔkofoɔ kɛseɛ. Nʼagya din de Gilead. Nanso ne maame yɛ ɔbaa dwamanfoɔ.
2 Gilead’s wife gave birth to several sons. When they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home, saying to him, “You are the son of a prostitute, [not the son of our mother]. So [when] our father [dies], you will not receive any of his property.”
Gilead yere woo mmammarima bebree, na saa mmammarima no nyinyiniiɛ no, wɔpamoo Yefta firii asase no so. Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Worennya yɛn agya agyapadeɛ biara, ɛfiri sɛ, woyɛ ɔbaa dwamanfoɔ bi ba.”
3 So Jephthah ran away from his brothers, and he went to the Tob region. While he was there, some worthless men started to spend a lot of time with him.
Enti Yefta dwane firii ne nuanom nkyɛn kɔtenaa Tob asase so. Ankyɛre, ɔnyaa atuatefoɔ bebree bɛdii nʼakyi.
4 Some time later, the Ammon people-group started to fight against the Israelis.
Ɛberɛ korɔ yi ara, Amonfoɔ de ɔko bɛkaa Israel.
5 When that happened [DOU], the leaders of [the] Gilead [region] went to Jephthah to bring him back from the Tob region [to their area].
Ɛberɛ a Amonfoɔ to hyɛɛ Israelfoɔ so, Gilead mpanimfoɔ soma kɔfaa Yefta firii Tob asase so baeɛ. Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ,
6 They said to him, “Come [with us] and lead our army, and [help us to] fight against the men from the Ammon people-group!”
“Bra na bɛyɛ yɛn so ɔsahene! Boa yɛn ma yɛne Amonfoɔ nko.”
7 But Jephthah replied, “You hated me [RHQ] previously! You forced me to leave my father’s house! So why are you coming to me now, [asking me to help you] when you are experiencing trouble?”
Yefta bisaa wɔn sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ mo na motane me, pamoo me firii mʼagya fie no? Adɛn enti na afei a mowɔ ɔhaw mu no, morebɛfrɛ me?”
8 The leaders from Gilead replied, “[Yes, we are having trouble, and] that is the reason that we have come to you now. If you come with us and [help us to] fight against the Ammon people-group, [after we defeat them, we will appoint] you to be the leader of all us people in [the] Gilead [region].”
Gilead mpanimfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ Yefta sɛ, “Wo ho hia yɛn. Sɛ wodi yɛn anim ma yɛko tia Amonfoɔ a, yɛbɛyɛ wo Gileadfoɔ nyinaa sodifoɔ.”
9 Jephthah replied, “If I go back to Gilead with you to fight against the Ammon people-group, and if Yahweh helps us to defeat them, will you truly appoint me to be your leader?”
Yefta buaa sɛ, “Sɛ me ne mo kɔ na Awurade ma medi Amonfoɔ so nkonim a, ampa ara sɛ mode me bɛyɛ nnipa no nyinaa sodifoɔ anaa?”
10 They replied, “Yahweh is listening to everything that we say. [So he will punish us] if we do not do everything that you tell us to do.”
Gilead ntuanofoɔ no buaa no sɛ, “Awurade ne yɛn danseni. Yɛbɛyɛ sɛdeɛ woka biara.”
11 So Jephthah went with them back to [the] Gilead [region], and the people appointed him to be their leader and the commander of their army. And Jephthah solemnly promised to Yahweh there at Mizpah [to serve him well].
Enti, Yefta ne ntuanofoɔ no kɔɔ Gilead. Na wɔde no yɛɛ wɔn sodifoɔ ne ɔsahene. Na Yefta tii nsɛm no nyinaa mu wɔ Mispa wɔ Awurade anim.
12 Jephthah sent some messengers to the king of the Ammon people-group. They asked the king, “What have we [done to make you angry, with the result] that your army is coming to fight [against the people] in our land?”
Afei, Yefta somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Amonfoɔ ɔhene nkyɛn sɛ wɔnkɔbisa no deɛ enti a ɔrebɛto ahyɛ Israel so.
13 The king replied, “[We have come to fight against you Israelis because] you took our land when you came here from Egypt. You took all our land east of the Jordan [River], from the Arnon [River in the south] to the Jabbok [River in the north]. So if you now give it back to us, there (will be peace between us/we will not fight against you).”
Amonfoɔ ɔhene buaa Yefta abɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Ɛberɛ a Israel firii Misraim baeɛ no, wɔfaa mʼasase a ɛfiri Asubɔnten Arnon de kɔsi Asubɔnten Yabok, toaso kɔsi Yordan. Enti, sane fa mʼadeɛ ma me asomdwoeɛ mu.”
14 [The messengers returned to Jephthah and told him what the king had said]. So Jephthah sent the messengers to the king again.
Na Yefta sane somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Amonfoɔ ɔhene hɔ sɛ,
15 They said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘It is not [true] that we Israelis took the land from the Moab people-group and the Ammon people-group.
“Sɛdeɛ Yefta seɛ nie: Israel amfa Moab asase anaa Amonfoɔ asase biara.
16 When the Israeli people came out of Egypt, they walked through the desert to the Red Sea, and then [walked across it and traveled to Kadesh town at the border of the Edom region].
Ɛberɛ a Israelfoɔ tuu kwan firii Misraim, twaa Ɛpo Kɔkɔɔ na wɔduruu Kades no,
17 They sent messengers to the king of the Edom people-group, to say to him, “Please allow us Israelis to walk across your land.” But the king of the Edom people-group refused. Later we sent the same message to the king of the Moab people-group, but he also refused to allow the Israelis to go through his land. So the Israelis stayed at Kadesh [for a long time].
wɔsomaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Edomhene hɔ sɛ ɔmma wɔn ɛkwan na wɔmfa nʼasase no so. Nanso Edomhene ampene. Wɔsoma ma wɔkɔɔ Moabhene hɔ, nanso ɔno nso ampene. Enti, Israelfoɔ tenaa Kades.
18 Then the Israelis went into the desert and walked outside the borders of the Edom and Moab regions. They walked east of the Moab region, east of the Arnon [River, which is the eastern border of the Moab region]. They did not cross that river to enter [the] Moab [region].
“Ne korakora ne sɛ, wɔnam ɛserɛ so twa faa Edom ne Moab ho hyiaeɛ. Wɔfaa Edom apueeɛ fam hyeɛ so kyeree sraban wɔ Asubɔnten Arnon fa hɔ. Nanso, wɔantwa Asubɔnten Arnon ankɔ Moab asase so.
19 ‘Then the Israelis sent a message to Sihon, the king of the Amor people-group, who lived in Heshbon [city]. They asked him, “Will you please allow us Israeli people to cross through your land to arrive at the land to which we [are going].”
“Afei, Israelfoɔ somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Amorifoɔhene Sihon a ɔdii adeɛ firi Hesbon na wɔbisaa ɛkwan sɛ wɔpɛ sɛ wɔfa nʼasase so kɔ baabi a wɔrekɔ.
20 But Sihon did not trust the Israelis; [he thought that they would steal some of the things in his land]. So he gathered all his troops and they set up their tents at Jahaz [village] and then they attacked the Israelis.
Nanso, ɛsiane sɛ na ɔhene Sihon nni Israelfoɔ mu gyidie enti ɔboaboaa ne dɔm ano wɔ Yahas maa wɔto hyɛɛ wɔn so.
21 But Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], enabled the Israeli army to defeat [IDM] Sihon and his army. Then they (took possession of/started to live in) all the land where the Amor people-group had lived.
“Na Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, maa ne nkurɔfoɔ dii ɔhene Sihon so. Enti, Israelfoɔ faa Amorifoɔ asase a na wɔte so wɔ ɔmantam no mu
22 The Israelis took all the land that belonged to the Amor people-group, from the Arnon [River in the south] to the Jabbok [River in the north], and from the desert [in the east] to the Jordan [River in the west].
firi Asubɔnten Arnon de kɔsi Asubɔnten Yabok, firi ɛserɛ no so de kɔsi Yordan nyinaa dii so.
23 ‘It was Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], who forced the Amor people-group to leave as the Israelis advanced. So do you now think that you can force the Israelis to leave [RHQ]?
“Enti, moahunu, ɛyɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn na ɔgyee asase no firii Amorifoɔ nsam na ɔde maa Israel. Enti, adɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛde ma mo?
24 You take the land that your god Chemosh has given to you. And we will live in the land that Yahweh our God has given to us!
Deɛ mo nyame Kemos de maa mo no momfa, na yɛn nso, deɛ Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn de maa yɛn biara no yɛafa.
25 (You are no/Are you) better than Zippor’s son Balak, who was the king of the Moab people-group? He never [RHQ] quarreled with the Israeli people, and he never started to fight against us [RHQ]!
Mosene Sipor babarima Balak a na ɔyɛ Moabhene no? Ɔne Israel twee asase bi so manso anaa? Ɔkɔɔ ɔko anaa? Dabi.
26 For 300 years the Israeli people have lived in Heshbon and Aroer [cities in your region], and in the surrounding towns, and in all the cities along the Arnon [River]. Why have you people of the Ammon people-group not taken back those cities during all those years [RHQ]?
Na afei, mfeɛ ahasa akyi, na woama saa asɛm yi so? Israel atena ha saa ɛberɛ tenten yi, wɔatrɛ afiri Hesbon asase so, akɔsi Aroer ne nkuro no nyinaa so, akɔfa Asubɔnten Arnon ano. Adɛn enti na dadaada yi moanyɛ mo adwene sɛ mobɛgye asase yi?
27 We have not sinned against you, but you are sinning against me by attacking me [and my army]. I trust that Yahweh, the great judge, will decide whether we Israelis are right, or whether you people of the Ammon people-group are right.’”
Menyɛɛ mo bɔne. Mmom, mo na moayɛ me bɔne sɛ moto hyɛɛ me so. Momma Awurade a ɔyɛ ɔtemmufoɔ no mmua ɛnnɛ, sɛ yɛn mu hwan na nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ? Israel anaa Amon.”
28 But the king of the Ammon people-group did not pay attention to that message from Jephthah.
Nanso, Amonhene amfa Yefta asɛm no asɛmhia.
29 Then the Spirit of Yahweh took control of Jephthah. Jephthah went through [the] Gilead [region] and through the area where the tribe of Manasseh lived, [to enlist/gather men for his army]. [He finally gathered them together] in Mizpah [city] in [the] Gilead [region] to fight against the Ammon people-group.
Saa ɛberɛ no, Awurade Honhom baa Yefta so ma ɔkɔɔ Gilead ne Manase nsase nyinaa so a, Mispa a ɛwɔ Gilead ka ho. Na ɔdii akodɔm anim to hyɛɛ Amonfoɔ so.
30 There Jephthah made a solemn promise to Yahweh. He said, “If you will enable my army to defeat [IDM] the Ammon people-group,
Na Yefta hyɛɛ Awurade bɔ. Ɔkaa sɛ, “Sɛ woma medi Amonfoɔ so a,
31 when I return from the battle, I will sacrifice to you the first person who comes out of my house [to greet me]. It will be a sacrifice that will be completely burned [on the altar].”
mede adeɛ a ɛbɛdi ɛkan afiri me fie abɛhyia me ɛberɛ a mede nkonimdie reba no, bɛma Awurade. Mede bɛma no sɛ ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ.”
32 Then Jephthah [and his men] went from Mizpah to attack the Ammon people-group, and Yahweh enabled his army to defeat them.
Ɛnna Yefta dii nʼakodɔm anim tiaa Amonfoɔ, na Awurade ma ɔdii nkonim.
33 Jephthah and his men killed them, from Aroer [city] all the way to the area around the city of Minnith. They destroyed 20 cities, as far as [the city of] Abel Keramim. So the Israelis [completely] defeated the Ammon people-group.
Ɔdii Amonfoɔ so pasaa, sɛee nkuro bɛyɛ aduonu, firii Aroer de kɔsii baabi a ɛbɛn Minit, kɔeɛ ara kɔsii Abel-Keramim. Saa ɛkwan yi na Israelfoɔ faa so kaa Amonfoɔ hyɛeɛ.
34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, his daughter was the first one to come out of the house to meet him. She was [joyfully] playing a tambourine and dancing. She was his only child; he had no sons and no other daughters.
Ɛberɛ a Yefta firi akono kɔɔ ne fie wɔ Mispa no, ne babaa, a ɔyɛ ne ba korɔ no, tuu mmirika bɛhyiaa no a ɔrebɔ akasaeɛ, na anigyeɛ enti, ɔresa.
35 When Jephthah saw his daughter, he tore his clothes [to show that he was very sad about what he was going to do]. He said to her, “My daughter, you have caused me to become very sad [DOU] because I made a solemn promise to Yahweh [to sacrifice the first one who came out of my house], and I must do what I promised.”
Yefta hunuu no no, ɔde awerɛhoɔ sunsuanee ne ntadeɛ mu, teaam sɛ, “Ao, me ba, mʼakoma rete! Ɛdeɛn ahometesɛm sɛ woaba, rebɛhyia me. Na maka Awurade ntam na merentumi mmu so.”
36 His daughter said, “My father, you made a solemn promise to Yahweh. So you must do to me what you promised, because [you said that you would do that if] Yahweh helped you to defeat our enemies, the Ammon people-group.”
Ne babaa no buaa sɛ, “Mʼagya, woahyɛ Awurade bɔ. Yɛ me sɛdeɛ woahyɛ bɔ no, ɛfiri sɛ Awurade ama woadi wʼatamfoɔ a wɔyɛ Amonfoɔ no so nkonim.
37 Then she also said, “But allow me to do one thing. (First/before you do what you promised), allow me to go up into the hilly area and wander around for two months. Since I will never be married [and have children], allow me and my friends to go and cry together.”
Nanso, deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, ma memforo mmepɔ nkɔkyinkyini so na me ne me nnamfonom nsu abosome mmienu, ɛfiri sɛ, mɛwu sɛ ababaawa a menhunuu ɔbarima da.”
38 Jephthah replied, “All right, you may go.” So she left for two months. She and her friends stayed in the hills and they cried for her because she would never be married.
Yefta ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wotumi kɔ.” Enti, ɔmaa no kɔ kɔdii abosome mmienu. Ɔne ne nnamfonom kɔɔ mmepɔ no so kɔsuiɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔrennya mma.
39 After two months, she returned to her father Jephthah, and he did to her what he had vowed. So his daughter never was married. Because of that, the Israelis now have a custom.
Ɛberɛ a ɔsane baa fie no, nʼagya dii ne bɔhyɛ so. Enti ɔwuu sɛ ababaawa a ɔnhunuu ɔbarima da. Yei abɛyɛ amanneɛ wɔ Israel
40 Every year the young Israeli women go [into the hills] for four days to remember [and cry about what happened to] the daughter of Jephthah.
ama Israel mmaabunu sɛ afe biara wɔbɛkɔ baabi akɔdi nna ɛnan na wɔakɔsu Yefta babaa no nkrabea.
