Ndị Ikpe 6
1 Ọzọkwa, ụmụ Izrel mere ihe ọjọọ nʼanya Onyenwe anyị, nʼihi ya, Onyenwe anyị nyefere ha nʼaka ndị Midia afọ asaa.
Again the Israelis did things that Yahweh said were very evil. So he allowed the people of Midian to conquer them and rule them for seven years.
2 Nʼihi na ndị Midia mekpara ha ahụ nke ukwuu, ụmụ Izrel meere onwe ha ebe obibi nʼugwu, nʼime ọgba nkume, na nʼebe e wusiri ike dị iche iche.
The people of Midian treated the Israelis so cruelly that the Israelis fled to the mountains. There they made places to live in caves and animal dens.
3 Mgbe ọbụla ndị Izrel ghasịrị mkpụrụ nʼubi ha, ndị Midia, ndị Amalek na ụfọdụ ndị ọzọ si nʼọwụwa anyanwụ na-abịa buso ha agha.
Whenever the Israelis planted things in their fields, the people of Midian and Amalek and other groups from the east invaded Israel.
4 Ha na-ebichi ala ahụ, bibie ihe niile a kụrụ nʼubi nʼala ahụ niile ruo na Gaza. O nweghị ihe ọbụla dị ndụ ndị Izrel nwere, ma atụrụ, ma ehi, ma ịnyịnya ibu, ha na-ahapụ.
They set up tents in the area, and then destroyed the crops as far south as Gaza. They did not leave anything for the Israelis’ sheep or cattle or donkeys to eat.
5 Dịka usuu igurube ka ha na-abịa, ha na anụ ụlọ ha niile, na ụlọ ikwu ha niile. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị ukwuu ruo na-apụghị ịgụta ole ha dị, maọbụ ịnyịnya kamel ha. Ha na-abata nʼala ahụ nʼihi ibibicha ya.
They came into Israel with their tents and their livestock like a swarm of locusts. There were [so many of them that] arrived riding on their camels that no one could count them. They stayed and ruined the Israelis’ crops.
6 Site nʼomume ọjọọ ndị a, e mere ka ụmụ Izrel bụrụ ndị dara ụbịam nke ukwuu nʼihi ọchịchị ndị Midia. Nʼikpeazụ, ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị ka o nyere ha aka.
The people of Midian took almost everything the Israelis owned. So finally the Israelis pleaded for Yahweh to help them.
7 Mgbe ụmụ Izrel tikuru Onyenwe anyị nʼihi mkpagbu ndị Midia na-akpagbu ha,
When the Israelis pleaded with Yahweh to help them because of [what] the people from Midian [were doing to them],
8 Onyenwe anyị zitere onye amụma, onye gwara ha okwu sị, “Ihe a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị Chineke nke Izrel kwuru, Esi m nʼala Ijipt, ala ahụ unu bụ ndị ohu nʼime ya, kpọpụta unu.
he sent to them a prophet, who said, “Yahweh, the God we Israelis worship, says this: ‘Your ancestors were slaves in Egypt.
9 Anapụtara m unu site nʼaka ike ndị Ijipt na site nʼaka ndị niile kpagburu unu, chụpụ ha site nʼihu unu, ma nye unu ala ha.
But I rescued them from the leaders of Egypt and from all the others who oppressed them. I expelled their enemies from this land, and gave it to your ancestors.
10 Agwara m unu sị, ‘Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu. Unu efela chi niile nke ndị Amọrait, ndị unu bi nʼala ha.’ Ma unu jụrụ ige m ntị.”
I told you all, “I am Yahweh, your God. You are now in the land where the descendants of Amor live, but you must not worship the gods whom they worship.” But you did not pay attention to me.’”
11 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị bịara nọdụ ọdụ nʼokpuru osisi ukwu ook dị nʼOfra, nʼala ubi Joash, onye obodo Abieza, ebe nwa ya a na-akpọ Gidiọn nọ na-azọcha mkpụrụ ọka wiiti nʼime ebe ịzọcha mkpụrụ vaịnị nʼihi na ọ na-ezo onwe ya ka ndị Midia hapụ ịhụ ya anya.
One day Yahweh appeared [in the form of] an angel and sat underneath a big oak tree at Ophrah [town]. That tree belonged to Joash, who was from the clan of Abiezer. Joash’s son Gideon was threshing wheat in the pit where they pressed [grapes to make] wine. He was threshing the grain there in order to hide it from the people of Midian.
12 Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị pụtara ihe nʼebe ahụ gwa ya okwu sị, “Gị dike na dimkpa nʼagha, Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere gị.”
Yahweh [went over] to Gideon and said to him, “You mighty warrior, Yahweh is helping you!”
13 Gidiọn zara sị, “Biko onyenwe m, ma ọ bụrụ na Onyenwe anyị nọnyeere anyị, gịnị mere ihe ndị a niile ji na-adakwasị anyị? Ebeekwanụ ka ihe ịrịbama ahụ niile dị nke nna anyị ha gwara anyị sị, ‘Ọ bụghị site nʼIjipt ka Onyenwe anyị siri gbapụta anyị?’ Ma ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị ajụla anyị, hapụ anyị nʼaka ndị Midia ka ha laa anyị nʼiyi.”
Gideon replied, “Sir, if Yahweh is helping us, why have all these [bad things] happened to us? We heard about [RHQ] all the miracles that Yahweh performed for our ancestors. We heard people tell us about how he rescued them from [being slaves in] Egypt. But now Yahweh has abandoned us, and we are ruled by the people from Midian.”
14 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị nyere ya iwu sị ya, “Ngwa, jiri ike gị dị ukwuu pụọ, gaa ka ị gbapụta ụmụ Izrel site nʼaka ndị Midia. Mụ onwe m na-ezigakwa gị.”
Then Yahweh turned toward him and said, “I will give you strength to enable you to rescue the Israelis from the people of Midian. I am sending you [to do that]!”
15 Ma Gidiọn sịrị ya, “Biko, Onyenwe m, olee otu m ga-esi zọpụta Izrel? Lee, esi m nʼikwu dịkarịsịrị nta nʼime Manase pụta. Mụ onwe m bụkwa onye dịkarịsịrị ala nʼezinaụlọ m.”
Gideon replied, “But Yahweh, how can I rescue the Israelis? My clan is the least significant in the whole tribe descended from Manasseh, and I am the least significant person in my whole family!”
16 Ma Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Mụ onwe m ga-anọnyere gị. Ị ga-ebibikwa ndị Midia niile.”
Yahweh said to him, “I will help you. So you will defeat the army of Midian [as easily] as if you were fighting only one man!”
17 Gidiọn zaghachiri sị, “Ọ bụrụ na m achọtala ihuọma nʼanya gị, nye m ihe ịrịbama nke ga-egosi na ọ bụ gị nʼezie na-agwa m okwu.
Gideon replied, “If you are truly pleased with me, do something which will prove that you who are speaking to me are really Yahweh.
18 Biko esikwala ebe a pụọ ruo mgbe m lọghachiri weta onyinye m ga-eche nʼihu gị.” Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Aga m eche ruo mgbe ị lọghachiri.”
But do not go away until I go and bring back an offering to you.” Yahweh answered, “Okay, I will stay here until you return.”
19 Gidiọn mere ngwangwa laa nʼụlọ ya, gbuo otu nwa ewu, sie ya. O jikwa ụtụ ọka mee achịcha, nke ihe na-eko achịcha na-adịghị nʼime ya. Emesịa, o tinyere anụ ahụ nʼime nkata, wụnyekwa ofe nʼime ite, buru ha jekwuru Mmụọ ozi ahụ, ebe ọ nọ na-eche ya nʼokpuru osisi ook ahụ.
Gideon hurried to his home. He [killed] a young goat [and] cooked [it]. Then he took (a half a bushel/18 liters) of flour and baked some bread without yeast. Then he put the cooked meat in a basket, and put the broth [from the meat] in a pot, and took it to Yahweh, who was sitting under the tree.
20 Mmụọ ozi nke Chineke sịrị ya, “Were anụ a na ogbe achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko, tụkwasị ha nʼelu nkume a, wụpụkwa ofe ahụ.” Gidiọn mere otu a.
Then Yahweh said to him, “Put the meat and the bread on this rock. Then pour the broth on top of it.” So Gideon did that.
21 Mgbe Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ahụ metụrụ ọnụ mkpanaka ahụ nke dị nʼaka ya nʼelu anụ na achịcha ahụ na-ekoghị eko. Ọkụ sitere nʼoke nkume ahụ nwuru, rechapụ anụ ahụ na achịcha nʼekoghị eko ahụ. Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị ahụ gbara barịị site nʼihu ya.
Then Yahweh touched the meat and bread with the walking stick that was in his hand. A fire flamed up from the rock and burned up everything that Gideon had brought! And then Yahweh disappeared.
22 Mgbe Gidiọn ghọtara na ọ bụ Mmụọ ozi nke Onyenwe anyị, o tiri mkpu akwa sị, “Ewoo! Onyenwe m Onyenwe anyị! Ahụla m Mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị ihu na ihu!”
When Gideon realized that it was really Yahweh [who had appeared in the form of an angel and talked with him], he exclaimed, “O, Yahweh, I have seen you face-to-face [when you had the form of] an angel! [So I will surely die]!”
23 Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị ya, “Udo dịrị gị, atụla egwu! Ị gaghị anwụ.”
But Yahweh called to him and said, “Do not be afraid! You will not die [because of seeing me]!”
24 Ya mere, Gidiọn wuuru Onyenwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja nʼebe ahụ, kpọọ ya, Onyenwe anyị bụ Onye Udo. Ụlọ nchụaja ahụ dịkwa nʼime obodo Ofra nʼala ndị Abieza ruo taa.
Then Gideon built an altar to [worship] Yahweh there. He named it ‘Yahweh gives us peace’. That altar is still there in Ophrah [town], in the land that belongs to the descendants of Abiezer.
25 Nʼabalị ụbọchị ahụ, Onyenwe anyị gwara Gidiọn okwu sị ya, “Were oke ehi nna gị, bụ oke ehi nke abụọ, nke gbara afọ asaa. Dọtuo ebe ịchụ aja nna gị wuru maka Baal, gbutukwaa ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya.
That night Yahweh said to Gideon, “Take the second-best/oldest bull from your father’s herd, the bull that is seven years old. [Kill it]. Then tear down the altar that your father built to [worship] the god Baal. Also cut down the pole for worshipping [the goddess] Astarte that is there beside it.
26 Mgbe ahụ, wuoro Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke gị ebe ịchụ aja, nʼelu ebe a dị oke elu. Jiri osisi Ashera ahụ nke ị gbuturu kwanye ọkụ, chụọ oke ehi nke abụọ ahụ dịka aja nsure ọkụ.”
Then build a [stone] altar to worship me, your God Yahweh, here on this hill. Take the wood from the pole you cut down and make a fire [to cook the meat of the bull] as a burnt offering to me.”
27 Ya mere, Gidiọn duuru mmadụ iri site na ndị na-ejere ya ozi, ndị nyeere ya aka imezu ihe niile dịka Onyenwe anyị nyere ya nʼiwu. Kama, site nʼegwu maka ndị ikwu nna ya, na ndị bi nʼobodo ahụ, o mere ihe ndị a niile nʼime abalị.
So Gideon and his servants did what Yahweh commanded. But they did it at night, because he was afraid what the other members of his family and the other men in town would do to him if they found out that he had done that.
28 Mgbe chi bọrọ, mgbe ndị obodo ahụ malitere ijegharị, ha hụrụ na a kwatuola ebe ịchụ aja Baal, hụkwa na e gbutuola ogidi osisi Ashera dị nʼakụkụ ya, ma werekwa oke ehi nke abụọ chụọ aja nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja ọhụrụ ahụ!
Early the next morning, as soon as the men got up, they saw that the altar to Baal had been torn down, and the pole for worshiping Astarte was gone. They saw that there was a new altar there, and on it was what remained from the bull they had sacrificed.
29 Ha jụrịtara onwe ha ajụjụ sị, “Onye mere ihe dị otu a?” Mgbe ha ji nwayọọ jụgharịa ajụjụ, a gwara ha sị, “Ọ bụ Gidiọn nwa Joash mere ya.”
The people asked each other, “Who did this?” After they investigated, someone told them that it was Gideon, the son of Joash, [who had done it].
30 Ndị obodo ahụ sịrị Joash, “Kpụpụta nwa gị. Ọ ga-anwụrịrị, nʼihi na ọ kwadala ebe ịchụ aja Baal, gbutuo ogidi osisi Ashera, nke dị nʼakụkụ ya.”
They went to Joash and said to him, “Bring your son out here! (He must be executed/We must kill him), because he destroyed our god Baal’s altar and cut down the pole for our goddess Astarte!”
31 Ma Joash tinyere ọnụ jụọ ha ajụjụ sị ha, “Baal, ọ gwara unu na ọ chọrọ ka unu nyere ya aka? Unu na-achọ ịzọpụta ya? Onye ọbụla wepụtara onwe ya maka ịlụrụ Baal ọgụ ga-anwụ tupu chi echi abọọ. Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na Baal bụ chi, hapụnụ ya ka o tigbuo onye ahụ mebiri ebe ịchụ aja ya.”
But Joash replied, “Are you trying to defend Baal? Are you trying to argue his case? Anyone who tries to defend Baal should be executed by tomorrow morning! If Baal is truly a god, he ought to be able to defend himself, and to get rid of the person who tore down his altar!”
32 Ya mere, nʼụbọchị ahụ, ha malitere ịkpọ Gidiọn “Jerub-Baal.” Ha kwuru sị, “Ka Baal lụọrọ onwe ya ọgụ,” nʼihi na ọ kwadara ebe ịchụ aja Baal.
From that time, people called Gideon Jerub-Baal, which means ‘Baal should defend himself’, because he tore down Baal’s altar.
33 Mgbe na-adịghị anya, usuu ndị agha Midia, na ndị Amalek, na obodo niile gbara ha gburugburu jikọtara onwe ha nʼotu, bịa ibu agha megide ụmụ Izrel. Ha niile gafere osimiri Jọdan, bịaruo na Ndagwurugwu Jezril ebe ha mara ụlọ ikwu.
Soon after that, the armies of the people of Midian and of Amalek and the people from the east gathered together. They crossed the Jordan River [to attack the Israelis]. They set up their tents in Jezreel Valley.
34 Mgbe ahụ, Mmụọ Nsọ Onyenwe anyị bịakwasịrị Gidiọn. Ọ fụrụ opi ike nke o ji kpọkọta ndị agha ka ha zukọọ. Ndị agha niile si nʼikwu Abieza pụkwutere ya.
Then Yahweh’s Spirit took control of Gideon. He blew a ram’s horn to summon the men to prepare to fight. So the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him.
35 Otu aka ahụ, o zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha jekwuru ndị agha ndị Manase, na nke ndị Asha, na nke ndị Zebụlọn, na nke ndị Naftalị, ịkpọ ha ka ha bịa soro ya gaa ibu agha. Ha niile kwenyere pụkwute ya maka agha ahụ.
He also sent messengers throughout the tribes descended from [the four tribes of] Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali [to tell their soldiers to come], and all of them came.
36 Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ọ bụrụ nʼezie na ị ga-azọpụta Izrel site nʼaka m dịka i kwere na nkwa,
Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to enable me to rescue the Israeli people as you promised,
37 lee, aga m edebe ajị anụ nʼebe ịzọcha ọka. Ọ bụrụ na igirigi adakwasị naanị nʼelu ajị anụ ahụ ma ala ebe ọ tọgbọ gbakọọ agbakọ, mgbe ahụ aga m amata na ị ga-anapụta Izrel site nʼaka m, dịka ị kwuru.”
confirm it by doing this: Tonight I will put a dry wool fleece on the ground where I thresh the grain. Tomorrow morning, if the fleece is wet with dew but the ground is dry, then I will know that I am the one you will enable to rescue the people of Israel as you promised.”
38 Ihe a mezukwara dịka Gidiọn si rịọọ ya. Mgbe chi bọrọ, ọ gara welite ajị anụ ahụ chọpụta na o jupụtara na mmiri. Mmiri o si na ya pịpụta juru otu efere miri emi.
And that is what happened. When Gideon got up the next morning, he picked up the fleece, and squeezed out a whole bowlful of water!
39 Mgbe ahụ, Gidiọn sịrị Chineke, “Ka iwe gị ghara ịdị ọkụ megide m. Ka m rịọkwuo naanị otu ihe ọzọ. Kwere ka m jiri ajị anụ a nwalee otu ugboro ọzọ, kama nʼoge a, mee ka mmiri ghara ịdị nʼajị anụ ahụ, ma ka igirigi jupụta nʼala ebe ọ tọgbọ.”
Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me ask you to do one more thing. Tonight I will put the fleece out again. This time, let the fleece remain dry, while the ground is wet with the dew.”
40 Nʼabalị ahụ, Chineke mere otu a. Ala niile gbaa gburugburu dere mmiri site nʼigirigi, ma mmiri ọbụla adịghị nʼajị anụ ahụ.
So that night, God did what Gideon asked him to do. The next morning the fleece was dry, but the ground was covered with dew.
