Abahluleli 20
1 Ngalesosikhathi bonke abako-Israyeli baphuma njengomuntu munye kusukela eDani kusiya eBherishebha kanye laselizweni leGiliyadi, babuthana phambi kukaThixo eMizipha.
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 Abakhokheli babantu bonke bezizwana zako-Israyeli bathatha izindawo zabo ebandleni labantu bakaNkulunkulu, amabutho azinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane ehlome ngezinkemba.
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 (AbakoBhenjamini bezwa ukuthi abako-Israyeli babeye eMizipha.) Abako-Israyeli basebesithi, “Sitsheleni ukuthi into le embi yenzakale njani.”
(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 Ngakho umLevi, indoda yowesifazane lowo owayebulewe, wathi, “Mina lomkami weceleni safika eGibhiya koBhenjamini ukuba silale khona.
Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged:
5 Ebusuku abantu beGibhiya bangivukela bahanqa indlu, behlose ukungibulala. Badlova umkami weceleni waze wafa.
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 Ngathatha umkami weceleni, ngamquma waba yiziqayiqa, ngathumela isiqa esisodwa esigabeni ngasinye selifa lako-Israyeli, ngoba amanyala lalesisenzo sokuxhwala basenzela ko-Israyeli.
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 Khathesi lonke lina abako-Israyeli, khulumani litsho isinqumo senu.”
You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought to do.
8 Abantu bonke basukuma njengomuntu munye, besithi, “Akakho kithi ozakuya ekhaya. Hathi, akakho kithi ozabuyela endlini yakhe.
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 Kodwa khathesi esizakwenza eGibhiya yilokhu: Sizakuyayihlasela ngokwenza inkatho.
But this we will do in common against Gabaa:
10 Sizathatha abantu abalitshumi phakathi kwabalikhulu kuzozonke izizwana zako-Israyeli, labalikhulu kwabayinkulungwane, labayinkulungwane kwaba zinkulungwane ezilutshumi ukuba badingele ibutho ukudla. Ekufikeni kwalo ibutho eGibhiya koBhenjamini, lizabanika okubafaneleyo ngamanyala lokuxhwala abakwenze ko-Israyeli.”
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 Ngakho bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bahlangana, bamanyana njengomuntu munye bamelana ledolobho.
And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one man, with one mind, and one counsel:
12 Izizwana zako-Israyeli zathumela abantu kusosonke isizwana sakoBhenjamini, zisithi, “Yibudlova bani lobu obenziwayo phakathi kwenu na?
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 Khathesi-ke, banikeleni labobantu baseGibhiya abagangileyo ukuze sibabulale siqede ububi ko-Israyeli.” Kodwa abakoBhenjamini kababalalelanga abafowabo bako-Israyeli.
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 Baqoqana eGibhiya bevela emadolobheni akibo ukuba balwe labako-Israyeli.
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 Ngasikhathi sinye abakoBhenjamini babutha izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lesithupha zabahlome ngezinkemba emadolobheni akibo, phezu kwabantu abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa abakhethwa kulabo abahlala eGibhiya.
And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,
16 Phakathi kwamabutho la kwakulabantu abakhethiweyo abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa ababengamanxele, bonke bengakhuthi abakunxwaneleyo ngesavutha.
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 Abako-Israyeli, ngaphandle kwabakoBhenjamini, babutha abantu abalwa ngezinkemba abazinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane, bonke bengabantu bempi.
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 Abako-Israyeli baya eBhetheli babuza uNkulunkulu. Bathi, “Ngubani wethu ozahamba kuqala ukuyakulwa labakoBhenjamini?” UThixo wathi, “NguJuda ozahamba kuqala.”
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 Kusisa ekuseni, abako-Israyeli bavuka bamisa izihonqo eduzane leGibhiya.
And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa:
20 Abantu bako-Israyeli baphuma ukuyakulwa labakoBhenjamini bema ezindaweni ezilungele ukubahlasela eGibhiya.
And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city.
21 AbakoBhenjamini baphuma eGibhiya babulala abako-Israyeli abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lambili endaweni yokulwela mhlalokho.
And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men.
22 Kodwa abantu bako-Israyeli banikana isibindi babuyela njalo ezindaweni zabo lapho ababekhona ngelanga lakuqala.
Again Israel trusting in their strength and their number, set their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before:
23 Abako-Israyeli bahamba bayakhala phambi kukaThixo kwaze kwaba kusihlwa, njalo babuza uThixo bathi, “Singahamba njalo yini siyekulwa labakoBhenjamini, abafowethu na?” UThixo waphendula yathi, “Hambani liyebahlasela.”
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 Abako-Israyeli basondela koBhenjamini ngosuku lwesibili.
And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight against the children of Benjamin,
25 Ngalesisikhathi, kwathi abakoBhenjamini sebephumile eGibhiya ukuba bamelane labo, babulala abanye njalo abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi lasificaminwembili, bonke behlome ngezinkemba.
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 Lapho-ke, abako-Israyeli bonke lebutho lonke baya eBhetheli, bahlala khona bekhala phambi kukaThixo. Ngalelolanga bazila kwaze kwaba kusihlwa, banikela leminikelo yokutshiswa kanye leminikelo yobudlelwano kuThixo.
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 Abako-Israyeli basebebuza uThixo. (Ngalezonsuku umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu wawukhonapho,
And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there,
28 uloFinehasi indodana ka-Eliyazari, indodana ka-Aroni, ekhonza phambi kwawo.) Babuza bathi, “Singahamba njalo yini siyekulwa loBhenjamini umfowethu loba hatshi na?” UThixo waphendula wathi, “Hambani, ngoba kusasa ngizabanikela ezandleni zenu.”
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 Ngakho abako-Israyeli bacathama bezungeze iGibhiya.
And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa:
30 Bahamba bayahlasela abakoBhenjamini ngosuku lwesithathu, balungela ukuhlasela iGibhiya njengebabekwenze kuqala.
And they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as they had done the first and second.
31 AbakoBhenjamini baphuma babahlangabeza baholelwa kude ledolobho. Baqalisa ukubabulala abako-Israyeli njengakuqala, kwathi ababephosa babengamatshumi amathathu bafela egcekeni emgwaqweni oya eBhetheli lomunye oya eGibhiya.
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 Kwathi abakoBhenjamini besithi, “Siyabehlula njengakuqala,” abako-Israyeli bona besithi, “Kasihlehleleni emuva sibaholele kude ledolobho emigwaqweni.”
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 Bonke abantu bako-Israyeli basuka ezindaweni zabo baya eBhali-Thamari, kwathi abako-Israyeli ababecatheme bahlasela bephuma endaweni yabo ngasentshonalanga kweGibhiya.
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 Izinkulungwane ezilitshumi zabantu bako-Israyeli abakhethiweyo bahlasela iGibhiya mathupha. Ukulwa kwakunzima kakhulu ngakho kwenza abakoBhenjamini bangananzeleli ukuthi ingozi yayisisondele.
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 UThixo wamnqoba uBhenjamini phambi kuka-Israyeli, njalo ngalelolanga abako-Israyeli babulala abakoBhenjamini abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lanhlanu lekhulu, bonke behlome ngezinkemba.
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 Lapho-ke abakoBhenjamini babona ukuthi babenqotshiwe. Khonapho abako-Israyeli basebevulele abakoBhenjamini isikhala, ngoba babethembe ababecatheme eduze leGibhiya.
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 Abantu ababecatheme bagijimela eGibhiya ngokuphangisa, basabalala idolobho lonke balihlasela ngenkemba.
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 Abantu bako-Israyeli babehlele labacathamayo ukuthi benze iyezi elikhulu lentuthu phakathi kwedolobho,
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 lapho-ke abantu bako-Israyeli babezaphendukela ekulweni empini. AbakoBhenjamini basebeqalisile ukubulala abako-Israyeli (babephosa babengamatshumi amathathu), njalo bathi, “Siyabehlula njengempini yakuqala.”
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 Kodwa kwathi izikhatha zentuthu seziqalise ukuphakama edolobheni, abakoBhenjamini baphenduka babona intuthu yedolobho lonke iqonga isiya phezulu emkhathini.
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 Lapho-ke abako-Israyeli babaphendukela, abantu bakoBhenjamini batshaywa luvalo, ngoba babona ukuthi ingozi yayisibehlele.
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 Ngakho babaleka phambi kwabako-Israyeli beqonda enkangala kodwa behluleka ukuyibalekela impi. Abako-Israyeli abaphuma emizini bababulalela khonapho.
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 Babahanqa abakoBhenjamini, baxotshana labo, bababhuqela eduze leGibhiya kalula ngasempumalanga.
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 Kwafa abakoBhenjamini abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi lasificaminwembili, bonke bengamaqhawe.
And they that were slain in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all most valiant soldiers.
45 Sebephenduke babaleka beqonda enkangala edwaleni laseRimoni, abako-Israyeli babulala abantu abazinkulungwane ezinhlanu kulandela imigwaqo. Baqhubeka bexotshana labakoBhenjamini baze bayafika eGidomu babulala abanye njalo abazinkulungwane ezimbili.
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 Ngalelolanga kwafa abakoBhenjamini abalwa ngenkemba abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lanhlanu, bonke bengamaqhawe.
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 Kodwa abantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha baphenduka babalekela enkangala edwaleni laseRimoni, lapho abahlala khona izinyanga ezine.
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 Abantu bako-Israyeli babuyela koBhenjamini bahlasela imizi yonke ngenkemba, kubalwa izifuyo lakho konke okunye abakutholayo. Yonke imizi abafika kuyo bayithungela ngomlilo.
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.
