Balam 20
1 Awo abaana ba Isirayiri bonna okuva ku Ddaani okutuuka ku Beeruseba wamu n’ensi ya Gireyaadi ne bakuŋŋaana mu maaso ga Mukama e Mizupa, nga bali omuntu omu.
Then all the children of Israel went out and gathered together as one man from Dan to Bersabee, with the land of Galaad, to the Lord in Maspha:
2 Abakulembeze b’abantu bonna mu bika byonna ebya Isirayiri ne batuula mu bifo byabwe mu kuŋŋaaniro ly’abantu ba Katonda, nga bawera abaserikale abaalina ebitala, emitwalo amakumi ana.
And all the chiefs of the people, and all the tribes of Israel met together in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen fit for war.
3 Awo abaana ba Benyamini ne bawulira nti Abantu ba Isirayiri bambuse e Mizupa. Abaana ba Isirayiri ne boogera nti, “Ekintu kino eky’ekivve bwe kiti, kyabaawo kitya?”
(Nor were the children of Benjamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come up to Maspha.) And the Levite the husband of the woman that was killed, being asked, how so great a wickedness had been committed,
4 Omuleevi bba w’omukazi eyattibwa n’addamu nti, “Natuuka e Gibea ekya Benyamini, ne mukazi wange, tusule eyo.
Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged:
5 Abasajja ab’e Gibea ne bangolokokerako mu kiro, ne bazingiza ennyumba gye twalimu, ne baagala okunzita. Kyokka ne bakwata mukazi wange ne bamusobyako n’afa.
And behold the men of that city in the night beset the house wherein I was, intending to kill me, and abused my wife with an incredible fury of lust, so that at last she died.
6 Kyennava ntwala mukazi wange ne musalaasala, ne mpeereza ebitundu bye mu buli kifo eky’omugabo gwa Isirayiri, kubanga baakola ekikolwa eky’obugwenyufu era eky’ekivve.
And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the, parts into all the borders of your possession: because there never was so heinous a crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel.
7 Kaakano mmwe abaana ba Isirayiri mwenna, musaleewo eky’okukola.”
You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought to do.
8 Awo abantu bonna ne bagolokoka nga bali omuntu omu, ne boogera nti, “Tewali muntu mu ffe aliddayo ewuwe. Tewali aliddayo mu nnyumba ye.
And all the people standing, answered as by the voice of one man: We will not return to our tents, neither shall any one of us go into his own house:
9 Naye kaakano ekintu kye tulikola Gibea okumulwanyisa, kwe kumukubira akalulu.
But this we will do in common against Gabaa:
10 Abantu kkumi ku bantu kikumi okuva mu bika byonna ebya Isirayiri, n’abalala kikumi ku bantu olukumi, n’abalala lukumi ku bantu omutwalo ogumu bagende bafunire eggye ebyetaago. Eggye bwe lirituuka e Gibea eky’e Benyamini balyoke bababonereze ng’ekikolwa kyabwe eby’obugwenyufu bwe kiri, kye baakola mu Isirayiri.”
We will take ten men of a hundred out of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to bring victuals for the army, that we might fight against Gabaa of Benjamin, and render to it for its wickedness, what it deserveth.
11 Awo abantu bonna aba Isirayiri ne bakuŋŋaana ne baba omuntu omu, ne balumba ekibuga.
And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one man, with one mind, and one counsel:
12 Ebika bya Isirayiri ne bituma ababaka mu kika kyonna ekya Benyamini, nga babuuza nti, “Kikolwa ki eky’ekivve ekyakolebwa wakati mu mmwe?
And they sent messengers to all the tribe of Benjamin to say to them: Why hath so great an abomination been found among you?
13 Kale kaakano muweeyo abasajja abaana b’ebikolwa ebitali bya butuukirivu abali mu Gibea tubatte, tuggyewo ekibi mu Isirayiri.” Naye abaana ba Benyamini ne bagaana okuwuliriza eddoboozi ly’abaana ba Isirayiri.
Deliver up the men of Gabaa, that have committed this heinous crime, that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel. But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the children of Israel:
14 Awo abaana ba Benyamini ne bakuŋŋaanira mu Gibea nga bava mu bibuga byonna, bagende balwanyise abaana ba Isirayiri.
But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the whole people of Israel.
15 Ku lunaku olwo, abaana ba Benyamini ne bavaayo okuva mu bibuga abasajja abalina ebitala emitwalo ebiri mu kakaaga.
And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,
16 Mu bantu abo bonna mwalimu abasajja abalondemu lusanvu abakozesa kkono. Buli omu ku bo yayinzanga okuteeka ejjinja mu nvumuulo ekube oluviiri, n’atasubwa.
Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone’s going on either side.
17 Abasajja ba Isirayiri, nga totaddeeko abava mu Benyamini, ne bakuŋŋaana abasajja abalwanyi abasitula ebitala, emitwalo amakumi ana.
Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were found four hundred thousand that drew swords, and were prepared to fight.
18 Abaana ba Isirayiri ne bagolokoka ne bayambuka e Beseri ne beebuuza ku Katonda nga bagamba nti, “Ani ku ffe alisooka okugenda okulwanyisa abaana ba Benyamini?” Mukama n’abaddamu nti, “Yuda yalisooka.”
And they arose and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered them: Let Juda be your leader.
19 Abaana ba Isirayiri ne bagolokoka mu makya ne basiisira okumpi ne Gibea.
And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa:
20 Abasajja ba Isirayiri ne bagenda okulwanyisa Benyamini, n’abasajja ba Benyamini ne basimba ennyiriri okulwanyisa abasajja ba Isirayiri e Gibea.
And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city.
21 Abaana ba Benyamini ne bava mu Gibea ne batta abasajja ba Isirayiri emitwalo ebiri mu enkumi bbiri mu lutalo ku lunaku olwo.
And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men.
22 Naye abantu bazzaamu abasajja ba Isirayiri amaanyi, ne baddayo ne basimba ennyiriri mu kifo mwe baali ku lunaku olwasooka.
Again Israel trusting in their strength and their number, set their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before:
23 Awo abaana ba Isirayiri ne bambuka ne bakaabira Mukama okutuusa akawungeezi. Ne beebuuza ku Mukama nti, “Tuddeyo tulwanyise baganda baffe abaana ba Benyamini?” Mukama n’abaddamu nti, “Mugende mubalwanyise.”
Yet so that they first went up and wept before the Lord until night: and consulted him, and said: Shall I go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or not? And he answered them: Go up against them, and join battle.
24 Ku lunaku olwokubiri Abayisirayiri ne basembera okulwanyisa Ababenyamini.
And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight against the children of Benjamin,
25 Ababenyamini ne bavaayo ne balumba okuva e Gibea, ne batta abaana ba Isirayiri abalala omutwalo gumu mu kanaana mu lutalo ku lunaku olwo olwokubiri; Abayisirayiri abo bonna baalina ebitala.
The children of Benjamin sallied forth out of the gates of Gabaa: and meeting them made so great a slaughter of them, as to kill eighteen thousand men that drew the sword.
26 Awo abaana ba Isirayiri bonna n’abantu bonna, ne bambuka okulaga e Beseri, ne bakaabira Mukama Katonda ne batuula eyo mu maaso ge ne basiiba olunaku olwo okutuusa akawungeezi, lwe baawaayo ebiweebwayo ebyokebwa n’ebiweebwayo olw’emirembe mu maaso ga Mukama.
Wherefore all the children of Israel came to the house of God, and sat and wept before the Lord: and they fasted that day till the evening, and offered to him holocausts, and victims of peace offerings,
27 Abaana ba Isirayiri ne beebuuza ku Mukama Katonda, kubanga Essanduuko ey’Endagaano ya Katonda yaliyo mu biro ebyo,
And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there,
28 nga Finekaasi mutabani wa Eriyazaali, muzzukulu wa Alooni yaweereza mu maaso ga Mukama Katonda. Ne bamwebuuzaako nga bagamba nti, “Tuddeyo tulumbe baganda baffe abaana ba Benyamini oba tetuddayo?” Mukama n’abaddamu nti, “Mugende kubanga enkya nzija kubagabula mu mukono gwammwe.”
And Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron was over the house. So they consulted the Lord and said: Shall we go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease? And the Lord said to them: Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands.
29 Awo Abayisirayiri ne bateegera ku njuyi zonna eza Gibea.
And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa:
30 Ku lunaku olwokusatu abaana ba Isirayiri ne bambuka okulwanyisa abaana ba Benyamini ne basimba ennyiriri nga boolekedde Gibea ng’olulala.
And they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as they had done the first and second.
31 Abaana ba Benyamini ne bavaayo okubalwanyisa ne basikirizibwa okuva mu kibuga, ne batandika okukuba n’okutta ng’olulala, nga bava ku luguudo olumu okudda e Beseri, ne ku lulala oludda e Gibea mu nnimiro. Ne batta abasajja Abayisirayiri ng’amakumi asatu.
And the children of Benjamin boldly issued out of the city, and seeing their enemies flee, pursued them a long way, so as to wound and kill some of them, as they had done the first and second day, whilst they fled by two highways, whereof one goeth up to Bethel, and the other to Gabaa, and they slew about thirty men:
32 Abaana ba Benyamini bwe baagambanga nti, “Tubawangula nga luli bwe kyali ku mulundi ogwasooka,” Abayisirayiri bo ne beeteesa nti, “Tuddeyoko emabega, tubasikirize okubaggya mu kibuga badde mu nguudo.”
For they thought to cut them off, as they did before. But they artfully feigning a flight, designed to draw them away from the city, and by their seeming to flee to bring them to the highways aforesaid.
33 Abasajja bonna aba Isirayiri ne bava mu nnyiriri zaabwe mu bifo byabwe, ne badda e Baalutamali. Abayisirayiri abaateega ne bafubutuka okuva mu bifo byabwe mu ttale erya Gibea.
Then all the children of Israel rising up out of the places where they were, set their army in battle array, in the place which is called Baalthamar. The ambushes also which were about the city, began by little and little to come forth,
34 Awo abasajja omutwalo gumu abaalondebwa okuva mu Isirayiri yonna, ne balumba Gibea ne waba okulwana okw’amaanyi, Ababenyamini ne batamanya nti akabi kabajjidde.
And to march from the west side of the city. And other ten thousand men chosen out of all Israel attacked the inhabitants of the city. And the battle grew hot against the children of Benjamin: and they understood not that present death threatened them on every side.
35 Awo Mukama Katonda n’awangula Benyamini mu maaso ga Isirayiri, era ku lunaku olwo abaana ba Isirayiri ne batta Ababenyamini bonna abaalina ebitala, abasajja emitwalo ebiri mu enkumi ttaano mu kikumi.
And the Lord defeated them before the children of Israel, and they slew of them in that day five and twenty thousand, and one hundred, all fighting men and that drew the sword.
36 Abaana ba Benyamini ne balaba nga bakubiddwa. Abasajja ba Isirayiri ne bakolera Ababenyamini ekkubo, nga bo Abayisirayiri beesize abateezi be baali batadde okumpi ne Gibea.
But the children of Benjamin when they saw themselves to be too weak, began to flee. Which the children of Israel seeing, gave them place to flee, that they might come to the ambushes that were prepared, which they had set near the city.
37 Abaali bateeze ne badduka ne beesogga mu Gibea, ne basaasaana ne batta abaakirimu bonna.
And they that were in ambush arose on a sudden out of their coverts, and whilst Benjamin turned their backs to the slayers, went into the city, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
38 Abasajja ba Isirayiri baali balagaanye n’abaateega nti abateezi bwe banaanyoosa omukka omungi mu kibuga,
Now the children of Israel had given a sign to them, whom they had laid in ambushes, that after they had taken the city, they should make a fire: that by the smoke rising on high, they might shew that the city was taken.
39 abasajja ba Isirayiri abali mu ddwaniro banaakyuka. Mu kiseera ekyo Ababenyamini baali batanudde okukuba n’okutta abasajja ba Isirayiri ng’amakumi asatu, nga luli olwasooka. Ne bagamba nti, “Ddala ddala tubawangudde nga mu lutalo luli olwasooka.”
And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle (for the children of Benjamin thought they fled and pursued them vigorously, killing thirty men of their army)
40 Naye omukka bwe gwatandika okunyooka, ekibuga kyonna nga kigya, Ababenyamini ne bakyuka okutunula emabega, laba, ng’ekibuga kyonna kikutte omuliro.
And perceived as it were a pillar of smoke rise up from the city; and Benjamin looking back, saw that the city was taken, and that the flames ascended on high:
41 Abasajja ba Isirayiri ne babakyukira. Abasajja ba Benyamini ne batya bwe baalaba ng’akabi kabajjidde.
They that before had made as if they fled, turning their faces stood bravely against them; which the children of Benjamin seeing, turned their backs,
42 Kyebaava badduka abasajja ba Isirayiri nga baddukira mu ddungu, kyokka olutalo ne lubayinza. Buli eyadduka okuva mu bibuga n’afiira wamu nabo.
And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out to meet them.
43 Abayisirayiri ne bazingiza Ababenyamini, ne babagoba okutuukira ddala ku buvanjuba bw’e Gibea we butandikira.
And so it was, that they were slain on both sides by the enemies, and there was no rest of their men dying. They fell and were beaten down on the east side of the city Gabaa.
44 Abasajja abalwanyi abazira Ababenyamini abaafa baali omutwalo gumu mu kanaana.
And they that were slain in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all most valiant soldiers.
45 Ababenyamini bwe baddukira mu ddungu nga boolekedde olwazi lwa Limoni, Abayisirayiri ne batta enkumi ttaano ku bo. Abayisirayiri ne bongera okubagobera ddala okutuuka e Gidomu, era n’eyo ne battirayo abasajja enkumi bbiri.
And when they that remained of Benjamin saw this, they fled into the wilderness and made towards the rock that is called Remmon. In that flight, also as they were straggling and going different ways, they slew of them five thousand men. And as they went farther, they still pursued them, and slew also other two thousand.
46 Bwe batyo Ababenyamini bonna abaafa ku lunaku olwo, baali emitwalo ebiri mu enkumi ttaano, bonna abo nga basajja bazira.
And so it came to pass, that all that were slain of Benjamin in divers places, were five and twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant for war.
47 Naye abasajja lukaaga be baddukira mu ddungu okwolekera olwazi lwa Limoni, ne babeera eyo okumala emyezi ena.
And there remained of all the number of Benjamin only six hundred men that were able to escape, and flee to the wilderness: and they abode in the rock Remmon four months.
48 Abasajja ba Isirayiri ne bakyuka ne baddayo eri abaana ba Benyamini ne batta buli kintu ekyali mu kibuga, ne batta ensolo, ne batta buli muntu gwe baasanga mu bibuga byonna bye baalaba, ne babikumako omuliro.
But the children of Israel returning, put all the remains of the city to the sword, both men and beasts, and all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.
