1 Samwiri 14
1 Lumu Yonasaani mutabani wa Sawulo n’agamba omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye nti, “Jjangu tugende ku ludda luli mu nkambi ey’Abafirisuuti.” Kyokka n’atabuulira kitaawe.
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 Sawulo yali asiisidde ku njegoyego za Gibea wansi w’omukomamawanga mu Migulooni. Yalina abaserikale nga lukaaga;
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 ku bo kwe kwali Akiya eyali ayambadde ekkanzu ey’obwakabona nga ye mutabani wa Akitubu, muganda wa Ikabodi, mutabani wa Finekaasi, mutabani wa Eri, kabona wa Mukama mu Siiro. Tewali yamanya nti Yonasaani agenze.
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 Ku buli ludda lw’ekkubo Yonasaani mwe yali ayagala okuyita okutuuka ku nkambi y’Abafirisuuti waaliyo enkonko empanvu, olumu nga luyitibwa Bozezi, n’olulala nga luyitibwa Sene.
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 Olukonko olumu lwali ku luuyi olw’obukiikakkono okwolekera Mikumasi, n’olulala nga luli ku luuyi olw’obukiikaddyo okwolekera Geba.
One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
6 Yonasaani n’agamba omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye nti, Jjangu tugende mu nkambi y’abasajja abo abatali bakomole, oboolyawo Mukama anaatukolera ekyamagero. Kubanga tewali kiyinza kuziyiza Mukama kulokola, ng’akozesa abangi oba abatono.
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 Omuvubuka n’amuddamu nti, “Kola nga bw’osiima. Genda mu maaso, nzisa kimu naawe, omutima gwange n’omwoyo gwange biri wamu naawe.”
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 Yonasaani n’alyoka ayogera nti, “Kale, tusomoke tugende eri abasajja, tubeerage.
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 Bwe banaatugamba nti, ‘Mutulindirire okutuusa lwe tunajja,’ kale tunaasigala we tuli, ne tutagenda gye bali.
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 Naye bwe banaatugamba nti, ‘Mujje gye tuli,’ tunaayambuka, kubanga ako ke kanaaba akabonero gye tuli nti Mukama abagabudde mu mukono gwaffe.”
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 Awo bombi ne beeraga eri olusiisira lw’Abafirisuuti. Abafirisuuti ne boogera nti, “Mulabe, Abaebbulaniya batandise okuva mu binnya mwe baali beekwese.”
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 Abasajja ab’omu nkambi ne bakoowoola Yonasaani n’omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye nga boogera nti, “Mwambuke gye tuli, tubalage enkola.” Awo Yonasaani n’agamba omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye nti, “Ngoberera twambuke kubanga Mukama abawaddeyo mu mukono gwa Isirayiri.”
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 Yonasaani n’alinnyalinnya, ng’ayavula nga n’omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye bw’amuvaako emabega. Yonasaani n’atta Abafirisuuti, n’omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye ng’amuvaako emabega naye n’atta abo abaali bawonyeewo.
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 Mu lulumba olwo olwasooka, Yonasaani n’omuvubuka eyasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bye, batta abasajja amakumi abiri mu kibangirizi ekyenkana ekitundu kya eka.
In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
15 Awo ne waba okutya kungi nnyo mu ggye lyonna ery’Abafirisuuti abo abaali mu nkambi n’abaali ku ttale; era n’ab’omu bibinja ebirala n’ebibondo ebirumba n’ettaka ne likankana. Okukankana okwo kwava eri Katonda.
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 Abakuumi ba Sawulo abaali e Gibea mu Benyamini ne balaba ng’ekibinja kisaasaana okuddukira mu njuyi zonna.
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 Awo Sawulo n’alagira abasajja abaali naye nti, “Mubale abasajja bonna, mulabe ataliiwo.” Bwe baabala, ne bazuula nga Yonasaani n’eyasitulanga ebyokulyanyisa bye tebaliiwo.
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 Sawulo n’agamba Akiya nti, “Leeta essanduuko ya Katonda,” kubanga mu biro ebyo yali mu mikono gy’Abayisirayiri.
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 Awo Sawulo bwe yali ng’akyayogera ne kabona, akeegugungo ne keeyongera mu nkambi y’Abafirisuuti, n’agamba kabona nti, “Zaayo omukono gwo, ogira olindako.”
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 Awo Sawulo n’abasajja be ne beekuŋŋaanya ne bagenda mu lutalo, ne basanga ng’Abafirisuuti balwanagana bokka ne bokka, nga bafumitagana ebitala.
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 Abaebbulaniya abaabeeranga n’Abafirisuuti, abaali bagenze nabo mu nkambi, ne beegatta ku Bayisirayiri abaali ne Sawulo ne Yonasaani.
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 Awo Abayisirayiri bonna abaali beekwese mu nsi ey’ensozi eya Efulayimu bwe baawulira ng’Abafirisuuti badduse, amangwago nabo ne beenyigira mu lutalo ne bannaabwe.
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 Mukama n’alokola Isirayiri ku lunaku olwo, olutalo ne lutuukira ddala e Besaveni.
So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
24 Ku lunaku olwo abasajja Abayisirayiri baali bajjudde ennaku nnyingi nnyo kubanga Sawulo yali abalayizza ng’agamba nti, “Akolimirwe oyo yenna anaalya akantu konna ng’obudde tebunnawungeera, nga sinnaba kwesasuza ku balabe bange.” Awo ne wataba n’omu ku baserikale akomba ku kantu.
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 Awo abantu bonna bwe baatuuka mu kibira ne balaba omubisi gw’enjuki ku ttaka.
The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
26 Bwe beeyongerayo munda mu kibira ne basanga nga gutonnya, naye ne wataba n’omu agukombako kubanga baali batya ekirayiro kye baakola.
They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
27 Naye Yonasaani yali tawulidde nga kitaawe alayiza abantu, kyeyava addira omuggo gwe yalina n’annyika omusa gwagwo mu bisenge by’enjuki, n’agukombako, amaaso ge ne ganyirira n’addamu amaanyi.
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 Awo omu ku baserikale n’amugamba nti, “Kitaawo yatukuutidde n’atulayiza nti, ‘Omuntu yenna anaalya ku mmere leero akolimirwe.’ Era ekyo kye kireetedde abaserikale okuggwaamu amaanyi.”
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 Yonasaani n’ayogera nti, “Kitange aleetedde ensi yaffe emitawaana. Laba amaaso gange bwe ganyirira n’amaanyi gange bwe gakomyewo bwe nkombyeko ku mubisi guno ogw’enjuki.
Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
30 Tekyandisinze nnyo leero singa abasajja baalidde ku munyago gw’abalabe baabwe? Era tebandisse Abafirisuuti abasinga awo obungi?”
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 Abayisirayiri we baamalira okutta Abafirisuuti okuva e Mikumasi okutuuka e Ayalooni nga bakooye nnyo.
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 Ne badda ku munyago, ne baddira endiga n’ente n’ennyana ne bazisalira wansi ku ttaka ne balya ennyama n’omusaayi gwayo.
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 Awo omuntu omu n’ategeeza Sawulo nti, “Abantu basobya ku Mukama kubanga balya ennyama erimu omusaayi.” N’ayogera nti, “Musobezza nnyo. Munjiringisirize wano ejjinja eddene kaakano.”
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 Sawulo n’agamba nti, “Muyiteeyite mu bantu mubategeeze nti, ‘Buli omu ku mmwe aleete ente ye n’endiga ye muzittire wano era mu zirye. Temuddangayo okusobya ku Mukama nga mulya ennyama erimu omusaayi.’” Awo buli omu ku bo n’aleeta ente ye ekiro ekyo n’agisalira awo.
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 Sawulo n’azimbira Mukama ekyoto, era ekyo kye kyoto kye yasooka okuzimbira Mukama.
That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
36 Awo Sawulo n’ayogera nti, “Tuserengete tugoberere Abafirisuuti ekiro kino tubanyage okutuusa emmambya lw’eneesala, era tuleme okulekawo wadde omu ku bo nga mulamu.” Ne bamuddamu nti, “Kola nga bw’osiima.” Naye kabona n’ayogera nti, “Twebuuze ku Katonda wano.”
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 Awo Sawulo ne yeebuuza ku Katonda ng’agamba nti, “Ŋŋende nnumbe Abafirisuuti? Onoobagabula mu mukono gwa Isirayiri?” Naye Katonda n’atamuddamu ku olwo.
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 Sawulo kyeyava ayogera nti, “Mujje wano mmwe mwenna abakulembeze b’abantu, tunoonyereze tulabe ekibi ekikoleddwa leero.
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 Nga Mukama alokola Isirayiri bw’ali omulamu, ne bwe kinaaba ku mutabani wange Yonasaani, ateekwa kufa.” Naye ne wataba n’omu amwanukula.
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 Awo Sawulo n’agamba Abayisirayiri bonna nti, “Muyimirire ku ludda olwo, nze ne mutabani wange Yonasaani tunaayimirira ku ludda luno.” Abantu ne bamuddamu nti, “Kola nga bw’onoosiima.”
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 Sawulo n’asaba Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri nti, “Kiki ekikugaanye okuddamu omuweereza wo leero? Omusango bwe guba nga guli ku nze oba ku mutabani wange Yonasaani ddamu ne Wumimu, naye bwe guba nga guli ku bantu bo Isirayiri, onaddamu ne Sumimu.” Awo akalulu ne kakubibwa era ne kagwa ku Sawulo ne Yonasaani mutabani we.
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 Awo Sawulo n’ayogera nti, “Mutukubire akalulu nze ne mutabani wange Yonasaani.” Yonasaani n’alondebwa.
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 Sawulo n’abuuza Yonasaani nti, “Mbulira ky’okoze.” Yonasaani n’amutegeeza nti, “Nakombyeko katono ku mubisi gw’enjuki nga nkozesa omusa gw’omuggo gwange. Kaakano ekyo kinsanyiza okufa?”
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 Sawulo n’amuddamu nti, “Katonda ankole bw’atyo n’okukirawo bw’otoofe, Yonasaani!”
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 Naye abantu ne bagamba Sawulo nti, “Lwaki, Yonasaani akoze eby’amagero ebyo byonna mu Isirayiri afa? Ddala Yonasaani attibwe? Oyo aleetedde Isirayiri obununuzi obw’ekitalo? Nedda tekisoboka! Nga Mukama bw’ali omulamu, tewali luviiri na lumu lunaava ku mutwe gwe ne lugwa wansi, kubanga ebyo by’akoze leero Katonda y’amuyambye okubikola.” Abantu ne banunula Yonasaani bwe batyo, n’atattibwa.
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 Ne Sawulo n’alekeraawo okugoberera Abafirisuuti, nabo ne beddirayo mu nsi yaabwe.
Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
47 Awo Sawulo bwe yalya obwakabaka bwa Isirayiri n’alwana n’abalabe be ku njuyi zonna: Mowaabu, n’Abamoni, ab’e Edomu, ne bakabaka ba Zoba, n’Abafirisuuti, na buli we yaddanga n’abawangula.
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 N’alwana n’obuzira bungi n’awangula Abamaleki, n’anunula Isirayiri okuva mu mukono gw’abo abaabanyaganga.
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 Batabani ba Sawulo baali Yonasaani, ne Isuvi, ne Malukisuwa. Amannya ga bawala be ababiri gaali Merabu nga ye mukulu, ate omuto nga ye Mikali.
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
50 Omukyala we ye yali Akinoamu muwala wa Akimaazi. Omuduumizi w’eggye lye omukulu ye yali Abuneeri mutabani wa Neeri, taata wa Sawulo omuto.
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 Kiisi kitaawe wa Sawulo ne Neeri kitaawe wa Abuneeri baali batabani ba Abiyeeri.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
52 Mu biro byonna ebya Sawulo, waaliwo okulwanagana okw’amaanyi n’Abafirisuuti, era buli Sawulo bwe yalabanga omusajja ow’amaanyi oba omuzira n’amuyingiza mu magye.
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.
