Joshua 8
1 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị sịrị Joshua, “Atụla egwu, adakwala mba. Chịrị ndị agha gị niile gaa Ai, nʼihi na ugbu a, unu onwe unu ga-emeri ha. Aga m eme ka i merie eze ndị Ai, na ndị ya na obodo ya, na ala ya.
Then the Lord said to Joshua: “You should not fear, and you should not dread. Take with you the entire multitude of fighters, and rising up, ascend to the town of Ai. Behold, I have delivered into your hand its king and people, and the city and the land.
2 Ị ga-emekwa obodo Ai na eze ya ihe i mere Jeriko na eze ya. Ma ihe dị iche na nke a bụ na unu ga-edebere onwe unu ihe niile unu kwatara nʼagha, ya bụ anụ ụlọ niile na ngwongwo obodo ahụ niile. Jikerenụ ibuso ha agha. Ọ bụkwa nʼazụ obodo ha ka unu ga-esi lụso ha agha.”
And you shall do to the city of Ai, and to its king, just as you did to Jericho, and to its king. Yet truly, the spoils, and all the living things, you shall plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush against the city behind it.”
3 Mgbe ahụ, Joshua na ndị agha ya niile, biliri gaa ibuso Ai agha. Joshua họpụtara iri puku ndị agha atọ zipụ ha nʼabalị
And Joshua rose up, and the entire army of warriors with him, so that they might ascend against Ai. And he sent thirty thousand elect strong men in the night.
4 o nyere ha iwu a, “Lee! Unu ga-aga zoo onwe unu nʼọhịa dị nʼazụ obodo Ai. Unu ezola onwe unu nʼebe dị anya site nʼobodo ahụ, kama nọọnụ nso, nọọkwanụ na njikere.
And he instructed them, saying: “Set an ambush behind the city. You shall withdraw not far away, and let everyone be prepared.
5 Mụ na ndị niile so m ga-abịaru obodo ahụ nso. Mgbe ha ga-apụta ịlụso anyị ọgụ dịka ha mere na mbụ, anyị ga-agbakwa ọsọ nʼihu ha,
But I and the remainder of the multitude that is with me will approach from the opposite side of the city. And when they come out against us, we will flee and turn our backs, just as we did before,
6 Ha ga-achụ anyị ọsọ, tutu ruo mgbe anyị mere ka ha niile hapụ nʼobodo ha pụta. Nʼihi nʼuche ha, ha ga-asị, ‘Ha na-agbara anyị ọsọ dịka ha mere na mbụ, bịanụ ka anyị chụọ ha ọsọ gbuo ha.’ Ya mere, dịka anyị na-agbapụ site nʼebe ha nọ,
until, pursuing us, they are drawn away from the city. For they will think that we are fleeing as before.
7 unu ga-esite nʼebe unu zoro onwe unu bilie, nweta obodo ahụ, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu ga-enyefe ya nʼaka unu.
Then, while we are fleeing and they are pursuing, you shall rise up from the ambush, and you shall lay waste to the city. And the Lord your God will deliver it into your hands.
8 Mgbe unu weere obodo ahụ, unu ga-esunye obodo ahụ ọkụ. Meenụ ihe Onyenwe anyị nyere nʼiwu. Hụnụ na unu mezuru ihe ndị a m nyere unu nʼiwu.”
And when you have seized it, set it on fire. And you shall do all that I have ordered.”
9 Mgbe Joshua nyesịrị ha iwu ndị a, o zipụrụ ha. Ha hapụkwara nʼabalị ahụ gaa zoo onwe ha nʼọhịa dị nʼetiti Betel na ọdịda anyanwụ Ai. Ma Joshua na ndị agha ndị ọzọ fọdụrụ nọdụrụ nʼabalị ahụ nʼetiti ndị Izrel.
And he sent them away, and they traveled to the place of the ambush, and they settled between Bethel and Ai, toward the western region of the city of Ai. But Joshua remained for that night in the midst of the people.
10 Nʼisi ụtụtụ echi ya, Joshua chịkọtara ndị agha ya, ya na ndị ndu Izrel gara nʼihu ha, ruo Ai.
And rising at first light, he reviewed his troops, and he went up, with the elders at the front of the army, surrounded by an auxiliary of fighters.
11 Ndị agha niile ha na ya so, chere ihu ha gaa nso obodo ruo nʼihu ya. Ha mara ụlọ ikwu ha nʼakụkụ ugwu obodo Ai, ndagwurugwu bụ ihe kewara ha na obodo ahụ.
And when they had arrived, and had ascended from the opposite side of the city, they stood toward the northern region of the city. And there was a valley in the middle, between them and the city.
12 Joshua chịịrị ihe ruru puku ndị agha ise, zoo ha nʼakụkụ ọdịda anyanwụ obodo ahụ, nʼetiti Betel na Ai.
Now he had chosen five thousand men, and he had positioned them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, at the western part of the same city.
13 Ya mere, ndị agha were ọnọdụ ha nʼusoro, ndị ga-ebu agha nọ nʼakụkụ ugwu, ndị niile zoro onwe ha nʼakụkụ ọdịda anyanwụ nke obodo ahụ. Ma nʼabalị ahụ, Joshua gara nọdụ na ndagwurugwu ahụ.
Yet truly, all the remainder of the army was arranged in a line to the north, so that the very end of that multitude reached to the western region of the city. Then Joshua went out that night, and he stood in the middle of the valley.
14 Mgbe eze Ai hụrụ nke a, ya na ndị ikom obodo ahụ niile mere ngwangwa pụọ nʼisi ụtụtụ izute ndị Izrel nʼotu ebe, nke chere ihu nʼAraba. Ma ọ mataghị na o nwere ndị agha zubere imegide ya ndị zoro onwe ha nʼọhịa dị nʼazụ obodo.
And when the king of Ai had seen this, he hurried in the morning, and he went out with the entire army of the city. And he arranged them in a line opposite the desert, not knowing that an ambush lay hidden behind his back.
15 Joshua na ndị Izrel niile mere ka ha chụghachi ha azụ site nʼihu ha, ha gbara ọsọ na-aga akụkụ ọzara ahụ niile dịka ndị e meriri emeri.
Yet truly, Joshua, and all of Israel, withdrew from the place, pretending to be afraid, and fleeing along the way of the wilderness.
16 Nʼihi nke a, a kpọkuru ndị ikom niile nọ nʼime obodo Ai sị ha pụta bịa chụọ ụmụ Izrel ọsọ, ha chụrụ Joshua na-aga, e si otu a rapụta ha nʼebe dị anya site nʼobodo ahụ.
And they pursued them, shouting together and encouraging one another. And when they had withdrawn from the city,
17 Ọ dịkwaghị otu onye nwoke nke fọdụrụ na Ai maọbụ na Betel. Ha hapụkwara obodo ahụ ka o ghere oghe, gaa ịchụ ndị Izrel ọsọ.
and indeed not one remained in the city of Ai and of Bethel who did not pursue after Israel, (leaving the towns open after they had rushed out, )
18 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị kpọrọ Joshua sị ya, “Setịpụ ùbe dị gị nʼaka nʼụzọ Ai, nʼihi na aga m enye gị obodo a.” Joshua mere dịka Onyenwe anyị gwara ya.
the Lord said to Joshua: “Lift up the shield that is in your hand, toward the city of Ai. For I will deliver it to you.”
19 Mgbe ndị agha ahụ zoro onwe ha nʼime ọhịa lere anya hụ na Joshua setịrị aka ya, ngwangwa, ha wụpụtara site nʼebe ha zoro onwe ha, gbara ọsọ gbaba nʼobodo Ai, merie ya, mụnye ya ọkụ.
And when he had lifted up the shield toward the city, the ambush, which lay hidden, rose up quickly. And advancing to the city, they seized it, and set it on fire.
20 Ma mgbe ndị agha Ai lere anya nʼazụ, hụ ka anwụrụ ọkụ si nʼobodo ha na-alali elu, ha dara mba nʼime onwe ha. Ohere ọbụla adịghịkwa nye ha ịgbalaga gaa otu ụzọ maọbụ ụzọ ọzọ. Nʼihi na ndị Izrel ahụ buuru ụzọ gbaa ọsọ, ndị ahụ gbara na-aga nʼọzara, chigharịrị bido ịlụso ndị agha Ai ahụ na-achụ ha ọsọ ọgụ.
Now the men of the city who were pursuing Joshua, looking back and seeing the smoke of the city rising up even to heaven, were no longer able to flee in one direction or another, especially since those who had pretended to flee, and who were heading toward the wilderness, had turned back very strongly against those who were pursuing them.
21 Nʼihi na mgbe Joshua na ndị agha Izrel so ya lepụrụ anya hụ ka anwụrụ ọkụ si nʼobodo Ai na-arịgo elu, ha matara na ndị ha zoro onwe ha nʼọhịa abanyela obodo Ai, lụgbuo ya. Ya mere, Joshua na ndị agha so ya tụgharịrị bido igbu ndị agha obodo Ai.
And Joshua, and all of Israel, seeing that the city had been captured, and that the smoke of the city was ascending, returned and struck down the men of Ai.
22 Ndị agha Izrel ahụ gara kpọọ obodo ahụ ọkụ pụtakwara, site nʼobodo ahụ, bido ịlụso ndị agha Ai ọgụ. Nke a mere ka ndị agha Ai nọdụ nʼetiti ụzọ ndị agha Izrel abụọ. Otu nʼihu ha, ndị nke ọzọ nʼazụ ha. Ya mere, ndị agha Izrel menyụrụ ha anya, gbuo ha, ruo na ọ dịkwaghị otu onye fọdụrụ nʼime ha, maọbụ onye gbapụrụ agbapụ.
Then too, those who had seized and set the city on fire, departing from the city toward their own men, began to strike the enemies in the middle. Therefore, since the adversaries were cut off from both sides, none of so great a multitude was saved.
23 Naanị eze Ai ka e jidere na ndụ. A kpọtakwara ya bịaruo nʼebe Joshua nọ.
Also, they apprehended the king of the city of Ai, alive, and they brought him before Joshua.
24 Mgbe ndị agha Izrel gbusịrị ndị agha Ai niile nọ nʼọhịa na nʼọzara, ha lọghachiri azụ gbuo ndị niile fọdụrụ nʼime obodo ahụ.
And so, after all were slain who had pursued Israel fleeing toward the wilderness, and after they fell by the sword in the same place, the sons of Israel returned and struck the city.
25 Ndị niile e gburu nʼụbọchị ahụ, ma nwoke ma nwanyị dị puku iri na abụọ. Ọ bụkwa ndị niile nọ nʼobodo ahụ ka e gburu.
Now there were twelve thousand persons who had fallen on the same day, from man even to woman, the entire city of Ai.
26 Nʼihi na Joshua nọgidere setịpụ ùbe o ji nʼaka ya, megide obodo Ai, tutu e bibie ndị niile nọ nʼobodo ahụ kpamkpam.
Truly Joshua did not draw back his hand, which he had stretched out on high, keeping hold of the shield until all the inhabitants of Ai were put to death.
27 Ma ndị Izrel kwaara anụ ụlọ, na ihe nkwata nʼagha nke obodo ahụ, dịka okwu Onyenwe anyị nyere Joshua nʼiwu si dị.
Then the sons of Israel divided among themselves the cattle and the plunder of the city, just as the Lord had instructed Joshua.
28 Ya mere, Joshua kpọrọ obodo Ai ọkụ, mee ya ka ọ ghọọ mkpọmkpọ ebe nke tọgbọrọ nʼefu ruo taa.
And he set fire to the city, and he caused it to be a perpetual tomb.
29 Ma Joshua kwụbara eze ndị Ai nʼelu osisi site nʼụtụtụ ruo nʼanyasị. Mgbe anyanwụ dara, Joshua nyere iwu ka e wedata ozu eze Ai site nʼosisi ahụ, tụsa ya nʼihu ọnụ ụzọ e si abata obodo ahụ. Emesịa, ha tụkọtara ọtụtụ nkume nʼelu ya. Nkume ahụ ha tụkọtara dịkwa nʼebe ahụ ruo taa.
Also, he suspended the king on a gallows, until evening and the setting of the sun. And Joshua instructed, and they took down his dead body from the hanging tree. And they cast it at the very entrance of the city, gathering a great pile of stones upon it, which remains even to the present day.
30 Mgbe ahụ, Joshua wuuru Onyenwe anyị, Chineke Izrel ebe ịchụ aja nʼelu ugwu Ebal,
Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
31 dịka Mosis onyeozi Onyenwe anyị nyere ndị Izrel nʼiwu. O wuru ya dịka ihe e dere nʼakwụkwọ iwu Mosis si dị, ebe ịchụ aja a na-ejighị nkume a wara awa wuo, nkume a na-ejighị ngwa ọrụ igwe waa. Nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja a ka ha chụụrụ Onyenwe anyị aja nsure ọkụ na aja udo.
just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had instructed to the sons of Israel, and this was written in the book of the law of Moses: truly, an altar of uncut stones, which iron has not touched. And he offered holocausts upon it to the Lord, and he immolated victims as peace-offerings.
32 Ma mgbe ndị Izrel nọ na-ele anya, Joshua depụtara iwu ndị ahụ Mosis nyere ha nʼelu nkume.
And he wrote on the stones, the Deuteronomy of the law of Moses, which he had set in order before the sons of Israel.
33 Izrel niile, ha na ndị okenye ha, na ndị ọchịagha ha, na ndị ikpe ha, guzo nʼakụkụ abụọ nke igbe ọgbụgba ndụ Onyenwe anyị, na ncherita ihu ndị nchụaja, bụ ndị Livayị ndị na-ebu ya. Ma ndị ọbịa bi nʼetiti ha, ma ndị amụrụ nʼala ahụ nọ nʼebe ahụ. Ọkara nʼime ha gara guzo nʼakụkụ ugwu Gerizim, ọkara ndị ọzọ guzoro nʼakụkụ ugwu Ebal, dịka Mosis onyeozi Onyenwe anyị nyere nʼiwu na mbụ, na ha ga-agọzi ndị Izrel.
Then all the people, and those greater by birth, and the commanders and judges were standing on both sides of the ark, in the sight of the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, with both the new arrival and the native born, one half part of them beside Mount Gerizim, and one half beside Mount Ebal, just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had instructed. And first, certainly, he blessed the people of Israel.
34 Emesịa, Joshua gụpụtara na ntị ha, okwu niile nke iwu ahụ, ya na ngọzị na ọbụbụ ọnụ so ya, dịka ihe niile e dere nʼAkwụkwọ Iwu si dị.
After this, he read all the words of the blessing and the cursing, and all the things that were written in the book of the law.
35 Iwu niile Mosis nyere ha ka Joshua gụpụtara na ntị ndị Izrel niile. Ndị inyom na ụmụntakịrị, na ndị ọbịa niile bi nʼetiti ụmụ Izrel so nọkọọ nʼoge a ndị Izrel niile zukọrọ.
He left nothing untouched out of those things that Moses had ordered, and he repeated everything before the entire multitude of Israel, with the women and the little ones, and the new arrivals who were staying among them.
