1 Samũeli 14
1 Mũthenya ũmwe Jonathani mũrũ wa Saũlũ akĩĩra mwanake ũrĩa wamũkuuagĩra indo cia mbaara atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũthiĩ kambĩ-inĩ ya Afilisti mũrĩmo ũrĩa ũngĩ.” No ndaigana kwĩra ithe.
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].
2 Saũlũ aikarĩte ndeere-inĩ cia Gibea rungu rwa mũtĩ wa mũkomamanga kũu Migironi. Nao andũ arĩa aarĩ nao maarĩ ta andũ magana matandatũ,
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.
3 ũmwe wao aarĩ Ahija, ũrĩa wehumbĩte ebodi. Aarĩ mũrũ wa Ahitubu mũrũ wa nyina na Ikabodu, mũrũ wa Finehasi, ũrĩa mũrũ wa Eli, mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai wa Jehova kũu Shilo. Gũtiarĩ mũndũ wamenyete atĩ Jonathani nĩathiĩte.
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].
4 Mĩena yeerĩ ya kĩhunguro kĩrĩa Jonathani endaga gũũkĩrĩra nĩguo akinye irangĩro-inĩ rĩa Afilisti nĩ haarĩ na hurũrũka cia ihiga; ĩmwe yetagwo Bozezi, na ĩrĩa ĩngĩ Senehe.
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.
5 Hurũrũka ĩmwe yarĩ mwena wa gathigathini kũngʼethera Mikimashi, na ĩyo ĩngĩ yarĩ gũthini kũngʼethera Geba.
One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
6 Jonathani akĩĩra mwanake ũcio wamũkuuagĩra indo cia mbaara atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũthiĩ irangĩro-inĩ rĩa andũ acio mataruaga. Hihi no gũkorwo Jehova nĩegwĩka ũndũ nĩ ũndũ witũ. Gũtirĩ kĩndũ kĩngĩgiria Jehova ahonokanie, andũ marĩ aingĩ, kana marĩ anini.”
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.”
7 Mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ĩka maũndũ mothe marĩa wĩciirĩtie gwĩka, ũgĩthiĩ na mbere tondũ niĩ ndĩ hamwe nawe maũndũ-inĩ mothe.”
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.”
8 Jonathani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũka tũringe mũrĩmo ũrĩa ũngĩ twerekeire harĩ andũ acio tũmeonithie.
Then Jonathan said, “Okay, come with me. We will cross the valley to where the Philistia army is, and allow them to see us.
9 Mangĩtwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Etererai hau nginya tũũke kũrĩ inyuĩ,’ tũgũikara o hau tũrĩ na tũtikwambata tũthiĩ kũrĩ o.
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.
10 No mangĩtwĩra atĩrĩ, ‘Ambatai mũũke kũrĩ ithuĩ,’ tũkĩambate, nĩ ũndũ kĩu nĩkĩo gĩgũtuĩka kĩmenyithia giitũ atĩ Jehova nĩamaneanĩte moko-inĩ maitũ.”
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.”
11 Nao eerĩ makĩĩonithania irangĩro-inĩ rĩa Afilisti. Nao Afilisti makiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ, ta rorai! Ahibirania makiuma marima-inĩ makurumĩte kũrĩa marehithĩte.”
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!”
12 Nao andũ a irangĩro-inĩ makĩgũthũkĩra Jonathani na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara makĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ambatai mũũke kũrĩ ithuĩ na mũtirĩ ũndũ mũtekuona.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jonathani akĩĩra mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara atĩrĩ, “Ambata, ũnyume thuutha; Jehova nĩamaneanĩte guoko-inĩ gwa Isiraeli.”
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!”
13 Jonathani akĩambata, agĩthiĩ akurumĩte, na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara amuumĩte thuutha. Nao Afilisti makĩgũa mbere ya Jonathani, nake mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara akĩmooraga arĩ thuutha wake.
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.
14 Itharĩkĩra rĩu rĩa mbere rĩa Jonathani marĩ na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara rĩoragire andũ mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ gacigo-inĩ ka nuthu ya ĩka.
In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
15 Hĩndĩ ĩyo kĩmako gĩkĩnyiita andũ othe a ita, arĩa maarĩ kambĩ-inĩ na mĩgũnda-inĩ, o na arĩa maarĩ irangĩro-inĩ, na ikundi cia atharĩkĩri, nayo thĩ ĩgĩthingitha. Kĩmako kĩu kĩarehetwo nĩ Ngai.
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.
16 Arangĩri a Saũlũ arĩa maarĩ Gibea ya Benjamini makĩona andũ a ita rĩu maharaganĩte mĩena yothe.
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.
17 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ akĩĩra andũ arĩa maarĩ nake atĩrĩ, “Tarai andũ a ita mũmenye nũũ ũtarĩ ho.” Rĩrĩa meekire ũguo, magĩkora nĩ Jonathani na mũkuui wake wa indo cia mbaara mataarĩ ho.
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.
18 Saũlũ akĩĩra Ahija atĩrĩ, “Rehe ithandũkũ rĩa Ngai.” (Mahinda macio ithandũkũ rĩu rĩarĩ na andũ a Isiraeli).
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.
19 O hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ aaragĩria mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai-rĩ, ironja rĩrĩa rĩarĩ kambĩ-inĩ ya Afilisti rĩgĩkĩrĩrĩria kũingĩha. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ akĩĩra mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai ũcio atĩrĩ, “Eheria guoko gwaku.”
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.”]
20 Ningĩ Saũlũ na andũ ake othe makĩũngana, magĩthiĩ mbaara-inĩ. Magĩkorerera Afilisti marĩ na kĩhĩngĩĩcano kĩnene, magĩtemangana o ene na hiũ cia njora.
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.
21 Ahibirania arĩa maarĩ na Afilisti mbere ĩyo na arĩa maambĩte magathiĩ hamwe nao kambĩ-inĩ ciao, makĩgarũrũka magĩcooka mwena wa andũ a Isiraeli arĩa maarĩ hamwe na Saũlũ na Jonathani.
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.
22 Rĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli arĩa meehithĩte bũrũri ũrĩa ũrĩ irĩma wa Efiraimu maiguire atĩ Afilisti nĩ kũũra mooraga-rĩ, nao makĩingĩra mbaara-inĩ, makĩmatengʼeria.
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.
23 Ũguo nĩguo Jehova aahonokirie Isiraeli mũthenya ũcio, nayo mbaara ĩgĩthiĩ na mbere nginya ĩkĩhĩtũka Bethi-Aveni.
So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
24 Na rĩrĩ, andũ a Isiraeli maarĩ thĩĩna-inĩ mũnene mũthenya ũcio, nĩ ũndũ Saũlũ nĩamehĩtithĩtie na mwĩhĩtwa, akameera atĩrĩ, “Kũgwatwo nĩ kĩrumi nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũkũrĩa irio gũtanatuka, iterĩhĩirie harĩ thũ ciakwa!” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe wa ita rĩu wacamire irio.
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.
25 Ita rĩothe rĩgĩtoonya mũtitũ, na kũu nĩ kwarĩ na ũũkĩ handũ thĩ.
The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
26 Rĩrĩa maatoonyire mũtitũ nĩmoonire ũũkĩ ũgĩtaata, no gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe waũcamire na kanua nĩ ũndũ nĩmetigagĩra mwĩhĩtwa ũcio.
They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
27 No Jonathani ndaiguĩte atĩ ithe nĩehĩtithĩtie andũ na mwĩhĩtwa; nĩ ũndũ ũcio agĩtambũrũkia rũthanju rũrĩa aanyiitĩte akĩrũtobokia igua-inĩ rĩa ũũkĩ. Akĩũcama na kanua, namo maitho make magĩthera.
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.
28 Nake ũmwe wa thigari icio akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Thoguo nĩehĩtithĩtie andũ aya a ita na mwĩhĩtwa mũrũmu, akoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Kũgwatwo nĩ kĩrumi nĩ mũndũ ũrĩa ũkũrĩa irio ũmũthĩ!’ Nĩkĩo andũ aya moorĩtwo nĩ hinya.”
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].”
29 Jonathani akiuga atĩrĩ, “Baba nĩatũmĩte bũrũri ũgĩe na thĩĩna. Ta kĩonei ũrĩa maitho makwa matherire rĩrĩa njamire kaũũkĩ gaka kanini.
Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
30 Githĩ gũtingiuma wega makĩria korwo ũmũthĩ andũ nĩmekũrĩĩte indo imwe cia iria matahĩte kuuma kũrĩ thũ ciao? Githĩ rĩũraga rĩu rĩa Afilisti rĩtingiuma inene makĩria?”
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!”
31 Mũthenya ũcio, thuutha wa andũ a Isiraeli kũhũũra Afilisti kuuma Mikimashi nginya Aijaloni, magĩkorwo manogeete mũno.
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.
32 Nao makĩguthũkĩra indo iria maatahĩte, makĩoya ngʼondu, na ngʼombe, na tũcaũ, magĩcithĩnjĩra hau thĩ, na magĩcirĩanĩria na thakame.
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.
33 Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũndũ ũmwe akĩĩra Saũlũ atĩrĩ, “Atĩrĩrĩ, ta kĩone andũ aya nĩmehĩirie Jehova nĩ kũrĩa nyama irĩ na thakame.” Nake akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩmwagarara watho. Garagariai ihiga inene mũrĩrehe haha o rĩu.”
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!”
34 Agĩcooka akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Thiĩi kũrĩ andũ, mũmeere atĩrĩ, ‘O mũndũ wanyu nĩandehere ngʼombe yake na ngʼondu, mũcithĩnjĩre haha na mũcirĩe. Tigai kwĩhĩria Jehova nĩ kũrĩa nyama irĩ na thakame.’” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio o mũndũ akĩrehe ndegwa yake ũtukũ ũcio na akĩmĩthĩnjĩra hau.
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.
35 Ningĩ Saũlũ agĩakĩra Jehova kĩgongona; rĩu nĩrĩo rĩarĩ ihinda rĩake rĩa mbere gwĩka ũguo.
That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
36 Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩtũikũrũkei tũrũmĩrĩre Afilisti ũtukũ, tũmatahe nginya rũciinĩ, na tũtigatigie mũndũ o na ũmwe wao arĩ muoyo.” Nao magĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ĩka o ũrĩa ũkuona wagĩrĩire mũno harĩwe.” No mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai akiuga atĩrĩ, “Rekei tũtuĩrie ũhoro kuuma kũrĩ Ngai o haha.”
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].”
37 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ akĩũria Ngai atĩrĩ, “Nĩ wega njikũrũke, nũmĩrĩre Afilisti? Nĩũkũmaneana moko-inĩ ma andũ a Isiraeli?” No Ngai ndaigana kũmũcookeria ũhoro mũthenya ũcio.
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.
38 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ũkai haha, inyuothe atongoria a ita, tũmenye wĩhia ũrĩa wĩkĩtwo ũmũthĩ.
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.
39 Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa Jehova ũrĩa ũhonokagia Isiraeli atũũraga muoyo-rĩ, o na kũngĩtuĩka nĩ Jonathani mũrũ wakwa wĩkĩte ũguo-rĩ, no nginya akue.” No gũtirĩ mũndũ o na thĩinĩ wao woigire ũndũ.
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].
40 Saũlũ agĩcooka akĩĩra andũ othe a Isiraeli atĩrĩ, “Inyuĩ rũgamai haarĩa; na niĩ na Jonathani mũrũ wakwa tũrũgame haha.” Nao andũ magĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ĩka ũrĩa ũkuona kwagĩrĩire.”
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.”
41 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ akĩhooya Jehova Ngai wa Isiraeli, akiuga atĩrĩ, “He icookio rĩrĩa rĩagĩrĩire.” Mĩtĩ yacuukwo yagwĩrĩire Jonathani na Saũlũ, nao andũ acio makĩoneka matiarĩ na ũcuuke.
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.
42 Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Tũcuukĩrei mĩtĩ niĩ na Jonathani, mũrũ wakwa.” Nake Jonathani akĩgwĩrwo nĩ mũtĩ.
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.
43 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ akĩĩra Jonathani atĩrĩ, “Ta njĩĩra nĩ atĩa wĩkĩte.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jonathani akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “No gũcama njamire kaũũkĩ kanini na mũthia wa rũthanju rwakwa. Na rĩrĩ, no nginya niĩ ngue?”
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]?”
44 Saũlũ akiuga atĩrĩ, “Ngai arothũũra na anjĩke ũndũ mũũru makĩria, kũngĩkorwo wee Jonathani ndũgũkua.”
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!”
45 No andũ acio makĩũria Saũlũ atĩrĩ, “Jonathani nĩagĩrĩirwo nĩ gũkua, arĩ we ũreheire Isiraeli ũhootani mũnene ũũ? Aca, kũroaga gũtuĩka ũguo! Ti-itherũ, o ta ũrĩa Jehova atũũraga muoyo, gũtirĩ rũcuĩrĩ o na rũmwe rwa mũtwe wake rũkũgũa thĩ, nĩgũkorwo eekire ũguo ũmũthĩ na ũteithio wa Ngai.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ acio makĩhonokia Jonathani, na ndaigana kũũragwo.
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.
46 Hĩndĩ ĩyo Saũlũ agĩtiga kũingatana na Afilisti, nao magĩcooka bũrũri-inĩ wao.
Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
47 Saũlũ aambĩrĩria gũthamakĩra Isiraeli, nĩarũire na thũ ciao ndwere-inĩ ciothe: akĩrũa na Moabi, na Amoni, na Edomu, na athamaki a Zoba na a Afilisti. Kũrĩa guothe eerekagĩra, nĩamanyariiraga akamaherithia.
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.
48 Akĩrũa na ũcamba, akĩhoota Aamaleki, na akĩhonokia Isiraeli kuuma moko-inĩ ma arĩa maamatahĩte indo.
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.
49 Ariũ a Saũlũ maarĩ Jonathani, na Ishivi, na Maliki-Shua. Mwarĩ wake ũrĩa mũkũrũ eetagwo Merabu, na ũrĩa mũnini eetagwo Mikali.
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
50 Mũtumia wake eetagwo Ahinoamu mwarĩ wa Ahimaazu. Mũnene wa ita rĩa Saũlũ eetagwo Abineri mũrũ wa Neri, nake Neri aarĩ ithe mũnini wa Saũlũ.
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.
51 Kishu ithe wa Saũlũ, na Neri ithe wa Abineri maarĩ ariũ a Abieli.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
52 Matukũ-inĩ mothe ma Saũlũ nĩ kwarĩ na mbaara ndũrũ cia kũrũa na Afilisti, na rĩrĩa rĩothe Saũlũ angĩonire mũndũ ũrĩ hinya kana njamba, aamuoyaga, akamũtoonyia ita-inĩ rĩake.
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.
