< Abahluleli 20 >
1 Khona bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli baphuma, inhlangano yonke yabuthana njengamuntu munye, kusukela eDani kusiya eBherishebha lelizwe leGileyadi, eNkosini eMizipa.
Ndipo Aisraeli onse kuyambira ku dziko la Dani mpaka ku Beeriseba ndiponso ku dziko la Giliyadi ananyamuka ngati munthu mmodzi nakasonkhana pamaso pa Yehova ku Mizipa.
2 Njalo induna zabo bonke abantu, zazo zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli, zazimisa ebandleni labantu bakaNkulunkulu, izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane zamadoda ahamba ngenyawo, ahwatsha inkemba.
Atsogoleri a anthu onse ndi a mafuko onse Aisraeli anali nawo pa msonkhano wa anthu a Mulungu. Onse pamodzi analipo asilikali oyenda pansi 400,000 atanyamula malupanga.
3 (Abantwana bakoBhenjamini basebesizwa ukuthi abantwana bakoIsrayeli babenyukele eMizipa.) Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesithi: Tshono, lobububi benziwa njani?
Anthu a fuko la Benjamini anali atamva kuti Aisraeli apita ku Mizipa. Tsono Aisraeli anati, “Tiwuzeni, zinthu zoyipa izi zinachitika bwanji.”
4 Indoda engumLevi, indoda yalowo owesifazana owayebulewe, yasiphendula yathi: Ngafika eGibeya engeyakoBhenjamini, mina lomfazi wami omncane, ukuze silale khona.
Choncho Mlevi uja, mwamuna wa mkazi wophedwa uja anayankha nati, “Ine ndinapita ku Gibeya mʼdziko la Benjamini pamodzi ndi mzikazi wanga kuti tikagone kumeneko.
5 Abahlali beGibeya basebengivukela, bazingelezela indlu bemelene lami ebusuku, befuna ukungibulala, bamdlova umfazi wami omncane, waze wafa.
Usiku anthu a ku Gibeya anandiwukira, nazinga nyumba munali ine. Ankafuna kundipha ndipo anagona ndi mzikazi wanga momukakamiza mpaka anafa.
6 Ngasengimbamba umfazi wami omncane, ngamquma iziqa, ngamthumela elizweni lonke lelifa lakoIsrayeli, ngoba benza amanyala lobuwula koIsrayeli.
Ine ndinatenga mzikazi wangayo ndi kumudula nthulinthuli ndikuzitumiza kwa fuko lililonse la Aisraeli. Anthu amenewa, zedi achita chinthu chonyansa kwambiri mʼdziko lino la Israeli.
7 Khangelani, lina lonke lingabantwana bakoIsrayeli, phanini ilizwi leseluleko senu lapha.
Ndi zimenezotu inu Aisraeli nonse; yankhulaponi mawu ndi kupereka maganizo anu.”
8 Abantu bonke basebesukuma njengamuntu munye besithi: Asiyikuya, ngulowo ethenteni lakhe, njalo asiyikuphambukela, ngulowo endlini yakhe.
Anthu onse anayimirira ngati munthu mmodzi nanena kuti, “Palibe mmodzi wa ife amene apite ku nyumba kwake. Palibe amene abwerere ku nyumba kwake.
9 Kodwa khathesi, nansi into esizayenza kuyo iGibeya. Sizamelana layo ngenkatho,
Koma tsopano chimene ife tichite ndi dziko la Gibeya ndi ichi: Tidzapita kukamenyana nawo potsatira zimene maere anene.
10 sithathe abantu abalitshumi phakathi kwekhulu ezizweni zonke zakoIsrayeli, lekhulu phakathi kwenkulungwane, lenkulungwane phakathi kwenkulungwane ezilitshumi, ukuze bathathele abantu umphako, ukuze, nxa sebefike eGibeya koBhenjamini, benze ngokobuwula bonke ababenze koIsrayeli.
Mʼmafuko onse a Aisraeli tidzasankha anthu khumi pa anthu 100 aliwonse: ndiye kuti anthu 100 pa anthu 1,000 aliwonse kapena anthu 1,000 pa anthu 10,000 aliwonse. Anthu amenewa adzasonkhanitsa zakudya za ankhondo, ndipo ankhondowo adzapita kukalipsira anthu a ku Geba mʼdziko la Benjamini chifukwa chochita chinthu chonyansa chotere mʼdziko la Israeli.”
11 Ngakho wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli ahlanganyela umuzi, njengamuntu munye emoya munye.
Choncho anthu a ku Israeli anasonkhana pamodzi nagwirizana chimodzi, kukalimbana ndi mzindawo.
12 Izizwe zakoIsrayeli zasezithuma amadoda esizweni sonke sakoBhenjamini zisithi: Yibubi bani lobu obenzeke phakathi kwenu?
Mafuko a Israeli anatumiza anthu kwa fuko lonse la Benjamini kukafunsa kuti, “Kodi zoyipa zachitika pakati panuzi ndi zotani?
13 Ngakho-ke anikeleni lawomadoda, abantwana bakaBheliyali, abaseGibeya ukuze siwabulale, sisuse ububi koIsrayeli. Kodwa abakoBhenjamini kabafunanga ukulalela ilizwi labafowabo, abantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Tsono tikuti mutipatse anthu achabechabe a ku Gibeya kuti tiwaphe kuti tichotse chinthu choyipachi mʼdziko la Israeli.” Koma fuko la Benjamini silinafune kumvera zimene ananena Aisraeli anzawo.
14 Kodwa abantwana bakoBhenjamini babuthana bevela emizini baya eGibeya, ukuze baphume ukuya empini labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Mʼmalo mwake, Abenjaminiwo anatuluka mʼmizinda yawo ku Gibeya kukamenyana ndi Aisraeli.
15 Abantwana bakoBhenjamini basebebalwa ngalolosuku bevela emizini, amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lesithupha ahwatsha inkemba, ngaphandle kwabahlali beGibeya, ababalwa baba ngamadoda angamakhulu ayisikhombisa akhethiweyo.
Tsiku limenelo Abenjamini anasonkhanitsa kuchokera ku mizinda yawo ankhondo 26,000 amalupanga awo, osawerengera anthu ena 700 a ku Gibeya amene anasankhidwa.
16 Phakathi kwabo bonke lababantu kwakulamadoda akhethiweyo angamakhulu ayisikhombisa angamanxele; wonke la ayejikijela ilitshe ngesavutha enweleni engakhuthi.
Mwa onsewa panali ankhondo 70 amanzere amene aliyense anali wodziwa kulasa ngakhale tsitsi limodzi ndi mwala osaphonya.
17 Amadoda akoIsrayeli asebalwa, ngaphandle kukaBhenjamini, amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane ahwatsha inkemba; wonke la ayengamadoda empi.
Aisraeli, kupatula fuko la Benjamini, anasonkhanitsa anthu 400,000 a malupanga, onse odziwa bwino nkhondo.
18 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesukuma benyukela eBhetheli, babuza uNkulunkulu bathi: Ngubani phakathi kwethu ozakwenyukela kuqala empini labantwana bakoBhenjamini? INkosi yasisithi: NguJuda kuqala.
Ndipo Aisraeli ananyamuka kupita ku Beteli kukafunsira kwa Mulungu. Iwo anati, “Ndani mwa ife amene angayambe kukamenyana ndi fuko la Benjamini?” Yehova anayankha kuti, “Fuko la Yuda ndilo liyambe.”
19 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebevuka ekuseni, bamisa inkamba maqondana leGibeya.
Mmawa mwake Israeli ananyamuka nakamanga msasa moyangʼanana ndi Gibeya.
20 Amadoda akoIsrayeli asephuma ukuya empini loBhenjamini; amadoda akoIsrayeli azihlelela ukumelana labo empini eGibeya.
Aisraeli anapita kukachita nkhondo ndi fuko la Benjamini ndipo anandandalika ankhondo awo moyangʼanana ndi Gibeya.
21 Abantwana bakoBhenjamini basebephuma eGibeya, babhubhisela emhlabathini koIsrayeli ngalolosuku amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lambili.
A fuko la Benjamini anatuluka ku Gibeya ndipo tsiku limenelo anapha Aisraeli 22,000 ku nkhondoko.
22 Abantu, amadoda akoIsrayeli, basebeziqinisa bahlela futhi impi kuleyondawo ababezihlelele khona ngosuku lokuqala.
Koma ankhondo a Israeli analimbikitsananso mtima ndipo anasonkhanitsanso kachiwiri ankhondo awo pa malo pamene anawandandalika poyamba paja.
23 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesenyuka bakhala inyembezi phambi kweNkosi kwaze kwahlwa. Babuza eNkosini bathi: Ngisondele yini futhi empini ngimelane labantwana bakoBhenjamini umfowethu? INkosi yasisithi: Yenyukani limelane laye.
Aisraeli anapita kukalira pamaso pa Yehova mpaka madzulo. Iwo anafunsa Yehova kuti, “Kodi tipitenso kukamenyana ndi a fuko la Benjamini abale athu?” Yehova anayankha kuti, “Pitani mukalimbane nawo.”
24 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesondela ebantwaneni bakoBhenjamini ngosuku lwesibili.
Ndipo Aisraeli anayandikiranso pafupi ndi fuko la Benjamini tsiku lachiwiri lake kuti amenyane nawo.
25 UBhenjamini wasephuma eGibeya emelene labo ngosuku lwesibili, babuya babhubhisela emhlabathini ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli amadoda azinkulungwane ezilitshumi leziyisificaminwembili; bonke labo bahwatsha inkemba.
Pa tsiku lachiwiri lomwelo Abenjamini anatulukanso mu mzinda wa Gibeya ndipo anaphanso ankhondo 18,000. Onse amene anawaphawo anali odziwa kugwiritsa ntchito bwino malupanga.
26 Ngakho bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli labo bonke abantu benyuka bafika eBhetheli, bakhala inyembezi bahlala lapho phambi kweNkosi, bazila ukudla ngalolosuku kwaze kwahlwa, banikela iminikelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yokuthula phambi kweNkosi.
Tsono Aisraeli onse, gulu lonse la ankhondo, anapita ku Beteli kukalira pamaso pa Yehova. Anakhala pansi nasala zakudya tsiku lonse mpaka madzulo. Anapereka nsembe zopsereza ndi nsembe zachiyanjano pamaso pa Yehova.
27 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebebuza eNkosini (ngoba umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu wawulapho ngalezonsuku,
Bokosi la Chipangano cha Yehova linali kumeneko.
28 loPhinehasi indodana kaEleyazare indodana kaAroni wema phambi kwawo ngalezonsuku) besithi: Ngibuye ngiphinde yini ukuphuma impi ngimelene labantwana bakoBhenjamini umfowethu, loba ngiyekele? INkosi yasisithi: Yenyukani, ngoba kusasa ngizabanikela esandleni sakho.
Finehasi mwana wa Eliezara mwana wa Aaroni ndiye ankatumikira nthawi imeneyo. Tsono Aisraeli anafunsa Yehova kuti, “Kodi tipitenso kukachita nkhondo ndi mʼbale athu Abenjamini, kapena ayi?” Yehova anayankha kuti, “Pitaninso chifukwa mawa ndidzawapereka mʼmanja mwanu.”
29 Ngakho uIsrayeli wamisa abacathami maqondana leGibeya inhlangothi zonke.
Choncho Aisraeli anayika anthu obisalira mozungulira Gibeya.
30 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesenyuka ukumelana labantwana bakoBhenjamini ngosuku lwesithathu, bazihlelela ukumelana leGibeya njengakwezinye izikhathi.
Tsiku lachitatu anapita kukamenyana ndi Benjamini ndipo anayika ankhondo mʼmalo mwawo kuti amenyane ndi Gibeya monga anachitira poyamba.
31 Abantwana bakoBhenjamini basebephuma ukumelana labantu, badonswa besuka emzini, baqala ukutshaya ebantwini, ukubulala njengakwezinye izikhathi, emigwaqweni emikhulu, enye yazo eyenyukela eBhetheli lenye eya eGibeya emagcekeni, phose amadoda angamatshumi amathathu akoIsrayeli.
Abenjamini anatuluka kukamenyana nawo anthuwo ndipo anapita kutali ndi mzindawo. Iwo anayamba kupha Aisraeli monga poyamba paja, kotero kuti anapha anthu pafupifupi makumi atatu. Mitembo ya ena inali mu misewu yayikulu yopita ku Beteli ndi ku Gibeya, ndipo ina inali kwina poyera.
32 Abantwana bakoBhenjamini basebesithi: Sebetshayiwe phambi kwethu njengakuqala. Kodwa abantwana bakoIsrayeli bathi: Asibalekeni, sibadonse besuka emzini baye emigwaqweni emikhulu.
Abenjamini ankanena kuti, “Tikuwagonjetsa monga poyamba.” Koma Aisraeli ankanena kuti, “Tiyeni tithawe kuti apite ku msewu chapatali ndi mzinda wawo.”
33 Wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli asevuka endaweni zawo, azihlela eBhali-Tamari, labacathami bakoIsrayeli bavumbuluka endaweni yabo emadlelweni eGibeya.
Choncho Aisraeli onse anachoka mʼmalo mwawo ndi kukandanda ku Baala-Tamara, ndipo Aisraeli obisalira aja anatuluka mʼmalo awo kummawa kwa Geba.
34 Kwasekusiza kuvela maqondana leGibeya amadoda akhethiweyo azinkulungwane ezilitshumi evela kuIsrayeli wonke; lempi yaba nzima. Kodwa bona babengazi ukuthi ububi buzatshaya phezu kwabo.
Aisraeli osankhidwa 10,000 ndiwo anabwera kudzalimbana ndi mzinda wa Gibeya. Nkhondoyo inafika poyipa kwambiri mwakuti Abenjamini samadziwa kuti zoopsa zili pafupi kuwagwera.
35 INkosi yasimtshaya uBhenjamini phambi kukaIsrayeli. Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebebhubhisa koBhenjamini amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lanhlanu lekhulu elilodwa ngalolosuku; bonke laba bahwatsha inkemba.
Tsono Yehova anagonjetsa Abenjamini pamaso pa Israeli motero kuti Aisraeli anapha ankhondo a Abenjamini 25,100 tsiku limenelo.
36 Abantwana bakoBhenjamini basebebona ukuthi sebetshayiwe, ngoba amadoda akoIsrayeli amdedela uBhenjamini, ngoba bethembe abacathami ababebamise maqondana leGibeya.
Choncho Abenjamini anaona kuti agonjetsedwa. Paja Aisraeli anathawa fuko la Benjamini chifukwa ankadalira anthu amene anawayika kuti abisalire mzinda wa Gibeya.
37 Labacathami baphangisa bahlasela iGibeya baqhubeka batshaya umuzi wonke ngobukhali benkemba.
Tsono anthu amene anabisala aja anachita changu kuwuthira nkhondo mzinda wa Gibeyawo. Ndipo anapha anthu onse a mu mzindawo ndi lupanga.
38 Kwasekusiba lesiboniso esimisiweyo phakathi kwamadoda akoIsrayeli labacathami sokuthunqisa insika yentuthu enkulu evela emzini.
Chizindikiro chimene Aisraeli anapangana ndi anthu obisalira aja chinali chakuti obisalira aja akangofukiza utsi wambiri ngati mtambo mu mzindamo,
39 Kwathi amadoda akoIsrayeli aphenduka empini, uBhenjamini waqalisa ukuwatshaya ukubulala emadodeni akoIsrayeli phose amadoda angamatshumi amathathu, ngoba bathi: Isibili atshayiwe lokutshaywa phambi kwethu njengempini yakuqala.
ndiye kuti Aisraeli enawo abwerere ku nkhondo. Pa nthawiyo nʼkuti Abenjamini atayamba kale kumenya Aisraeliwo kwambiri ndi kupha pafupifupi anthu makumi atatu. Ndipo iwo ankanena kuti, “Ndithu tawapha monga poyamba paja.”
40 Kwathi iyezi liqalisa ukuthunqa liphuma emzini, insika yentuthu, uBhenjamini enyemukula, khangela-ke ilangabi lomuzi lenyukela emazulwini.
Koma pamene utsi wa chizindikiro uja unayamba kukwera tolotolo mmwamba kuchoka mu mzindamo, Abenjamini anayangʼana mʼmbuyo ndipo anangoona utsi mu mzinda onse uli tolotolo kukwera mmwamba.
41 Lapho amadoda akoIsrayeli etshibilika, amadoda akoBhenjamini atshaywa luvalo, ngoba abona ukuthi ububi sebuwehlele.
Kenaka Aisraeli anabwerera ndipo Abenjamini anachita mantha, chifukwa anaona kuti zoopsa zili pafupi kuwagwera.
42 Ngakho afulathela phambi kwamadoda akoIsrayeli esiya endleleni yenkangala; kodwa impi yawanamathela, lalabo abaphuma emizini bawabhubhisa phakathi kwabo.
Choncho anathawa pamaso pa Aisraeli kudzera njira ya ku chipululu, koma nkhondo inawapeza. Ndipo anaphedwa kumeneko ndi Aisraeli amene anachokera mu mzindamo.
43 Bamhanqa uBhenjamini, baxotshana labo, babanyathelela phansi lula, kwaze kwaba maqondana leGibeya lapho okuphuma khona ilanga.
Anawazungulira Abenjaminiwo, nawathamangitsa ndi kuwagonjetseratu osawachitira chifundo mpaka ku dera la kummawa kwa Gibeya.
44 Kwasekusiwa koBhenjamini amadoda azinkulungwane ezilitshumi leziyisificaminwembili; wonke la ayengamaqhawe.
Abenjamini 18,000 olimba mtima anaphedwa.
45 Basebephenduka babalekela enkangala edwaleni leRimoni. Bakhothoza kibo emigwaqweni emikhulu abantu abazinkulungwane ezinhlanu, babanamathela kwaze kwaba seGideyomu, batshaya futhi kibo abantu abazinkulungwane ezimbili.
Koma ena anatembenuka nathawira ku chipululu ku thanthwe la Rimoni. Mwa iwowa Aisraeli anapha Abenjamini 5,000 mʼmisewu yayikulu. Anawapitikitsabe Abenjaminiwo mpaka kufika ku Gidomu ndi kuphanso ena 2,000.
46 Ngakho bonke abawayo koBhenjamini mhlalokho babeyizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lanhlanu, amadoda ahwatsha inkemba; bonke labo babengamaqhawe.
Pa tsiku limenelo Abenjamini olimba mtima okhala ndi malupanga okwana 25,000 anafa.
47 Kodwa amadoda angamakhulu ayisithupha aphenduka abalekela enkangala edwaleni leRimoni; ahlala edwaleni leRimoni inyanga ezine.
Koma anthu 700 anabwerera ndi kuthawira ku chipululu ku thanthwe la Rimoni kumene anakhalako miyezi inayi.
48 Amadoda akoIsrayeli asebuyela ebantwaneni bakoBhenjamini, abatshaya ngobukhali benkemba, kusukela emzini wonke kusiya ezinyamazaneni, njalo kusiya kukho konke okwaficwayo. Layo yonke imizi abayificayo bayithungela ngomlilo.
Aisraeli anabwerera kukamenyana ndi Abenjamini otsala ndi kuwapha ndi lupanga kuphatikizapo ziweto ndi zonse anali nazo. Ndipo anayatsa moto mizinda yonse anayipeza.