< 1 Samuel 14 >
1 Otu ụbọchị, Jonatan nwa Sọl, kpọrọ nwokorobịa na-ebu ihe agha ya sị, “Bịa, ka anyị gafee ndagwurugwu jeruo nʼụlọ ikwu ndị Filistia.” Ma ọ gwaghị Sọl nna ya.
One day Jonathan, son of Saul, said to the young armor-bearer, “Come on, let's cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he didn't let his father know his plans.
2 Sọl na narị ndị ikom isii ya na-anọdụ nʼebe dị anya site na Gibea, nʼokpuru osisi pomegranet dị na Migrọn.
Saul was staying near Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. He had about six hundred men with him,
3 Otu nʼime ndị so Sọl bụ Ahija onye nchụaja, onye yi efọọd. Ọ bụ nwa Ahitub, onye bụ nwanne Ịkabọdụ. Ahitub bụ nwa nwa Finehaz, onye bụ nwa Elayị, onye nchụaja Onyenwe anyị na Shaịlo. Ọ dịkwaghị onye ma na Jonatan apụọla.
including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, priest of the Lord in Shiloh. No one realized Jonathan had left.
4 Tupu Jonatan eruo ebe ndị Filistia nọ, ọ ghaghị isite na nwa ụzọ warawara dị nʼagbata nkume abụọ, a na-akpọ Bozez na Sene gabiga.
Cliffs stood on both sides of the pass that Jonathan planned to cross to reach the Philistine garrison, one called Bozez and the other Seneh.
5 Nkume nke dị nʼakụkụ elu elu, dị nʼihu Mikmash, nke dị nʼakụkụ ndịda dị nʼihu Geba.
The cliff to the north was on the Michmash side, the one to the south on the Geba side.
6 Jonatan gwara nwokorobịa na-ebu ihe agha ya sị, “Bịa, ka anyị gafee ga nʼebe nguzo ndị ahụ a na-ebighị ugwu, ma eleghị anya Onyenwe anyị ga-alụrụ anyị ọgụ. Nʼihi na ọ dịghị ihe pụrụ igbochi Onyenwe anyị ịzọpụta, site nʼọtụtụ mmadụ, maọbụ ole na ole.”
Jonathan said to the young armor-bearer, “Come on, let's cross over to the garrison of these heathen men. Maybe the Lord will help us out. It's not a problem for the Lord to win, whether by many or by few.”
7 Nwokorobịa ahụ zara sị ya, “Gaa nʼihu, eji m obi m na mmụọ m na-eso gị dịka ọchịchọ gị si dị.”
“You choose what you want to do,” the armor-bearer replied. “I'm with you whatever you decide!”
8 Jonatan gwara ya sị, “Bịa ka anyị ga, lee ihe anyị ga-eme. Anyị ga-apụkwuru ndị agha ahụ mee ka ha hụ anyị anya.
“Let's go then!” Jonathan said. “We'll cross over in their direction so they can see us.
9 Ọ bụrụ na ha asị, ‘Guzonụ ebe ahụ ruo mgbe anyị bịakwutere unu,’ anyị ga-echere ebe anyị nọ, anyị agaghị agakwuru ha.
If they tell us, ‘Wait there until we come down to you,’ we will wait where we are and we won't go up to them.
10 Ma ọ bụrụ na ha sị, ‘Rigokwutenụ anyị,’ anyị ga-emekwa otu ahụ, nʼihi na ọ ga-abụrụ anyị ihe ama na Onyenwe anyị enyela ha nʼaka anyị.”
But if they say, ‘Come on up to us,’ we'll climb up, for that will be the sign that the Lord has handed them over to us.”
11 Ya mere, ha abụọ guzoro ebe ndị Filistia ga-ahụ ha. Mgbe ndị Filistia hụrụ ha, ha tiri mkpu sị, “Lee, ndị Hibru esitela nʼọnụ ebe ha zoro na-arịpụta.”
So both of them let themselves be seen by Philistine garrison. “Hey, look!” shouted the Philistines. “The Hebrews are coming out of the holes they were hiding in.”
12 Ndị ikom ndị na-anọ nʼebe nguzo ndị nche tikuru Jonatan na onye ahụ na-ebu ngwa agha ya sị, “Rigokwutenụ anyị, ka anyị mee unu ihe.” Jonatan gwara onye ahụ na-ebu ngwa agha, “Soro m nʼazụ rigota, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ewerela ha nyefee nʼaka Izrel.”
The men from the garrison called down to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up here, and we'll teach you a thing or two!” “Follow me up,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.”
13 Ya mere, Jonatan ji ikpere ya na aka ya rigoruo nʼebe ahụ; onye na-ebu ihe agha ya sokwa ya nʼazụ. Ma ndị agha Filistia daghachiri azụ mgbe Jonatan na onye na-ebu ihe agha ya bidoro igbu ha.
So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. Jonathan attacked and killed them, and his armor-bearer followed doing the same.
14 Na ogbugbu mbụ ahụ, Jonatan na onye ahụ na-ebu ngwa agha ya gburu ọnụọgụgụ ndị Filistia dị iri abụọ. Ọ bụ nʼihe ha ka nketa ala ruru otu ọkara nʼekaa nʼọtụtụ.
In this first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men over an area of half an acre.
15 Oke ọma jijiji dakwasịrị ndị agha niile, na ndị nọ nʼọmụma ụlọ ikwu, ma ndị nọ nʼọhịa, ma ndị nọ nʼebe dịpụrụ adịpụ, ma ndị na-ejegharị ejegharị ibu agha. Ala ahụ niile mara jijiji. Ọ bụ ọma jijiji nke Chineke zitere.
Then Philistines went into a panic, in the camp, in the field, and throughout their army. Even those in the outposts and the groups of raiders became terrified. The earth shook—this was a panic from God.
16 Ndị nche Sọl, bụ ndị nọ na Gibea nʼime Benjamin, lepụrụ anya hụ igwe ndị agha ka ha malitere ịgba barịị nʼihu na-azụ.
Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine army melting away, scattering in all directions.
17 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl gwara ndị agha ya na ha so, “Gụọnụ ndị agha ọnụ, chọpụta onye na-anọghị nʼebe a.” Mgbe ha mere nke a, ha chọpụtara, na Jonatan na onye na-ebu ihe agha ya anọghị nʼebe ahụ.
Saul told the soldiers with him, “Do a roll-call and find out who isn't here with us.” When they did the roll-call, they discovered that Jonathan and his armor-bearer weren't there.
18 Sọl sịrị Ahija, “Bute igbe ọgbụgba ndụ Chineke.” (Nʼoge ahụ igbe ọgbụgba ndụ dị nʼaka ụmụ Izrel.)
Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the Ark of God here.” (At the time the Ark of God traveled with the Israelites.)
19 Mgbe Sọl na-agwa onye nchụaja okwu, ụzụ na iti mkpu nke na-ada nʼụlọ ikwu ndị Filistia dara karịa, nʼihi ya, Sọl gwara onye nchụaja ahụ okwu sị ya, “Sepụ aka gị.”
But as Saul was speaking to the priest, the commotion coming from the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul told the priest, “Forget it!”
20 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl na ndị niile ya na ha nọ jikọtara onwe ha baa nʼagha ahụ, ma lee, ndị Filistia ji mma agha na-egburita onwe ha. Ọgbaaghara dịkwa nʼebe niile.
Then Saul and all his army assembled and went into battle. They discovered the Philistines were in total disarray, attacking each other with swords.
21 Ma ndị Hibru, ndị so ndị Filistia na-alụ ọgụ, tụgharịrị dịnyere ndị Izrel soro Sọl na Jonatan.
The Hebrews who had previously sided with the Philistines, and who were with them in their camp, switched sides and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Emesịa, ndị ikom Izrel niile, ndị ahụ zoro onwe ha nʼala ugwu ugwu Ifrem pụtara, mgbe ha hụrụ na ndị Filistia na-agba ọsọ. Ha gbapụtara soro ndị ọzọ ịchụ ndị Filistia ọsọ.
When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were running away, they also joined in chasing after the Philistines to attack them.
23 Ya mere, Onyenwe anyị napụtara ndị Izrel nʼụbọchị ahụ. E buru agha ahụ gabiga Bet-Aven.
On that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle extended past Beth-aven.
24 Ma ndị ikom Izrel nọ ọnọdụ nhụju anya nʼụbọchị ahụ, nʼihi na Sọl jiri ịṅụ iyi kechie ha, mgbe o kwuru sị, “Onye a bụrụ ọnụ ka nwoke ahụ bụ onye ga-eri nri ọbụla site ugbu a ruo anyasị, tutu ruo mgbe m bọsịrị ọbọ megide ndị iro m!” Nʼihi ya, o nweghị onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị agha ya detụrụ ihe oriri ọnụ.
It was difficult for the men of Israel that day because Saul had ordered the army to take an oath, saying, “Cursed is anyone who eats anything before evening, before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So no one in the army had eaten anything.
25 Ndị agha ahụ niile banyere nʼọhịa ebe mmanụ aṅụ dị nʼala.
When they all entered the forest they found honeycomb on the ground.
26 Mgbe ha banyere nʼọhịa, ha hụrụ mmanụ aṅụ ebe ọ na-asọpụta, ma o nweghị onye metụrụ aka nʼọnụ ya, nʼihi na ha tụrụ egwu iyi ahụ ha ṅụrụ.
While they were in the forest they saw the honey running out, but no one picked it up to eat it because they were all afraid of the oath they had taken.
27 Ma Jonatan anụghị na nna ya mere ka ndị ahụ ṅụọ iyi, ya mere, o setịpụrụ ọnụ ọnụ mkpanaka dị ya nʼaka rụta mmanụ aṅụ na ugbugbo ya, tinye nʼọnụ ya rachaa. Nke a mere ka ike ya laghachite.
But Jonathan hadn't heard that his father had ordered the army to take this oath. So he stuck the end of his stick into the honeycomb, picked up a piece to eat, and he felt much better.
28 Ma otu onye agha gwara ya sị, “Nna gị ji ịṅụ iyi gbaa ndị agha niile iwu, sị, ‘Onye a bụrụ ọnụ ka nwoke ahụ bụ, onye riri nri taa. Ọ bụ nke a mere ndị mmadụ ji ada mba.’”
But one of the soldiers told him, “Your father made the army take a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is anyone who eats anything today!’ That is why the men are exhausted.”
29 Jonatan zara sị, “Nna m esitela nʼiwu dị otu a wetara ala anyị nsogbu. Lee ka m si nweta ike site na mmanụ aṅụ nta m rachara.
“My father has caused a whole lot of trouble for everyone,” Jonathan replied. “See how well I am because I've eaten a little of this honey.
30 Ọ garaghị aka mma ma a sị na ndị ikom riri ihe ha si nʼaka ndị iro ha kwata nʼagha? Ọ bụ na ogbugbu a gaara egbu ndị Filistia agaraghị adị ukwuu karịa?”
It would have been so much better if only the army had eaten plenty today from the plunder taken from their enemies! How many more Philistines would have been killed?”
31 Ma ndị agha Izrel bu agụụ tigbuo ndị Filistia, chụọkwa ha ọsọ site na Mikmash ruo Aijalon. Ha dakwara mba karịa.
After defeating the Philistines that day, killing them from Michmash to Aijalon, the Israelites were totally exhausted.
32 Ha dakwasịrị ihe a kwatara nʼagha, gbuo atụrụ na ehi na ụmụ ehi, bido iri anụ ha na ndụ nʼihi agụụ.
They grabbed the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves, and slaughtered them right there on the ground. But they ate them with the blood.
33 Ma otu onye gwara Sọl sị, “Ndị ikom Izrel na-emehie megide Onyenwe anyị site na iri anụ ọbara ya dị nʼahụ ya.” Mgbe ahụ, ọ sịrị, “Ihe dị otu a jọgburu onwe ya. Nutenụ nkume ukwuu nʼebe a ugbu a.”
Saul was told, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.” “Law-breakers!” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here right now!”
34 Sọl sịrị, “Gaa nʼetiti ndị ikom a gwa ha, ‘Ka onye ọbụla weta ehi na atụrụ ha chọrọ igbu nʼebe a, ka e gbuo ha nʼebe a, rie anụ ha. Unu emehiela megide Onyenwe anyị site nʼiri anụ ọbara dị nʼime ya.’” Ya mere, onye ọbụla wetara ehi ya nʼabalị ahụ, gbuo nʼebe ahụ.
Then he said, “Go around the soldiers and tell them, ‘Every man must bring me his cattle or his sheep and slaughter them here, and then eat. Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood.’” Everyone in the army brought what he had and slaughtered it there that night.
35 Emesịa, Sọl wuuru Onyenwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja. Nke a bụ ebe ịchụ aja nke mbụ o wuru.
So Saul built an altar to the Lord. This was the first altar he had built to the Lord.
36 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl gwara ndị agha ya sị, “Ka anyị gaa chụọ ndị Filistia ọsọ nʼabalị a niile, ma gbukwaa onye ọbụla fọdụrụ nʼime ha.” Ndị agha ya zara sị, “Ọ dị mma, mee dịka ị kwuru.” Ma onye nchụaja sịrị, “Ka anyị buru ụzọ jụta ihe bụ uche Chineke.”
Saul said, “Let's go and chase down the Philistines during night and plunder them till dawn, leaving no survivors.” “Do what you think best,” they replied. But the priest said, “Let's ask God first.”
37 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl jụrụ Chineke sị, “Ọ bụ m rịda gaa chụso ndị Filistia? Ị ga-enyefe ha nʼaka ndị Izrel?” Ma Chineke enyeghị ya ọsịsa ọbụla nʼụbọchị ahụ.
Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and chase down the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But that day God didn't answer him.
38 Sọl gwara ndịisi agha Izrel okwu sị, “Ihe emebiela! Anyị aghaghị ịchọpụta ụdị mmehie anyị mere taa, nke mere Onyenwe anyị ji jụ inye anyị ọsịsa.
So Saul gave the order, “All you army commanders, come here so we can investigate what sin has happened today.
39 Nʼezie dịka Onyenwe anyị, onye na-azọpụta Izrel na-adị ndụ, a sịkwarị na ọ bụ nwa m Jonatan ka a chọpụtara na ọ bụ ya ka ikpe mara, ọ ga-anwụ!” Ma ọ dịghị onye gwara ya ihe ọbụla.
I swear on the life of the Lord who saves Israel, that even if it's my son Jonathan, he will have to die!” But no one of the whole army said anything.
40 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl gwara ndị Izrel niile okwu sị ha, “Guzonụ onwe unu nʼebe ahụ, mụ na nwa m Jonatan ga-eguzo onwe anyị nʼebe a.” Ndị ahụ zara sị, “Mee ihe ọbụla dị gị mma.”
Saul told them all, “You stand over to one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the opposite side.” “Do what you think best,” the army replied.
41 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl kpere ekpere nye Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke Izrel, “Gịnị mere na ị zabeghị ohu gị taa? Ọ bụrụ na ikpe mara m maọbụ nwa m Jonatan, zaa site nʼUrim, ma ọ bụrụ ndị ikom Izrel ka ikpe mara, nye ọsịsa site na Tumim.” Nza ahụ mara Jonatan na Sọl, ma ikpe amaghị ndị ikom Izrel.
Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Let the Thummin show.” Jonathan and Saul were identified, while everyone else was cleared.
42 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl kwuru sị, “Ugbu a feenụ nza nʼetiti mụ na Jonatan, nwa m nwoke.” Nza ahụ mara Jonatan.
Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” Jonathan was selected.
43 Sọl gwara Jonatan okwu sị ya, “Gwa m ihe i mere.” Jonatan zara sị ya, “Ọ bụ naanị mmanụ aṅụ ntakịrị ka m ji ọnụ mkpanaka m rụrụ rachaa. Ọ pụtara na m ga-anwụ nʼihi ya?”
“Tell me what you have done,” Saul asked Jonathan. “I just tasted a little honey with the end of my stick,” Jonathan told him. “Here I am, and I have to die.”
44 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl zara sị, “Nʼezie Jonatan, ị ghaghị ịnwụ. Ka Chineke meso m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si sie ike, ma ọ bụrụ na ị nwụghị nʼihi ihe a i mere.”
Saul said, “May God punish me very severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”
45 Ma ndị ikom ahụ sịrị Sọl, “Jonatan ọ ga-anwụ, bụ onye a wetara nzọpụta a dị ukwuu nʼIzrel? Nke a apụghị ime! Dịka Onyenwe anyị na-adị ndụ, ọ bụladị otu agịrị isi agaghị esi nʼisi ya dapụ, nʼihi na Chineke ejirila ya rụọ ọrụ ịtụnanya dị ukwuu taa.” Ya mere, ndị agha ahụ zọpụtara Jonatan, e gbukwaghị ya.
But the people told Saul, “Does Jonathan have to die, the one who achieved this great victory in Israel? Absolutely not! We swear on the life of the Lord, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground, for it was with God's help that he achieved this today.” The people saved Jonathan, and he didn't die.
46 Emesịa, Sọl kwụsịrị ndị agha ya ịchụ ndị Filistia ọsọ. Ndị Filistia nʼonwe ha lakwara nʼala nke ha.
Saul stopped chasing down the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own country.
47 Site nʼoge Sọl malitere ịchị nʼIzrel, o buru agha megide ndị iro ha nʼakụkụ niile, ndị Moab, ndị Amọn, ndị Edọm, ndị eze Zoba na ndị Filistia. Ebe ọbụla o chere ihu ọ na-alụgbu.
After Saul had made his hold over Israel secure, he fought against all his enemies all around: Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Whatever direction he went he defeated them all.
48 O buru agha dị ukwuu, lụgbuo ndị Amalek; ma zọpụta ndị Izrel site nʼaka ndị niile na-emegbu ha site nʼịpụnarị ha ihe ha nwere.
He fought bravely, conquering the Amalekites, saving Israel from those who plundered them.
49 Sọl mụtara ndị ikom atọ; Jonatan, Ishvi na Malkishua. Ọ mụtakwara ụmụ agbọghọ abụọ, Merab na Mikal.
Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, (the firstborn), and Michal, (the younger one).
50 Aha nwunye Sọl bụ Ahinoam, ada Ahimaaz. Ọchịagha Sọl bụ Abna, nwa Nea, nwanne nna Sọl.
The name of his wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of Saul's army commander was Abner, son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle.
51 Nea, nna Abna, na Kish, nna Sọl bụ ụmụnne. Ha bụ ụmụ Abiel.
Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 Ndị Izrel na ndị Filistia nọ nʼagha dị egwu ụbọchị niile Sọl bụ eze. Mgbe ọbụla Sọl hụrụ nwoke dị ike, maọbụ dimkpa, ọ na-eduru ya mee ya ka ọ bụrụ otu nʼime ndị agha ya.
Throughout Saul's lifetime there was constant war with the Philistines. Saul recruited into his army every strong warrior and every brave fighter that he met.