1 Samweli 14
1 Siku moja Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwambia kijana mbeba silaha wake, akasema, “Njoo, tuwavukie Wafilisti kwenye doria upande ule mwingine.” Lakini hakumwambia baba yake.
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 Sauli alikuwa akikaa kwenye viunga vya Gibea chini ya mkomamanga huko Migroni. Alikuwa pamoja na watu kama 600,
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 miongoni mwao alikuwepo Ahiya, ambaye alikuwa amevaa kisibau. Alikuwa mwana wa Ikabodi, nduguye Ahitubu mwana wa Finehasi, mwana wa Eli, kuhani wa Bwana huko Shilo. Hakuna yeyote aliyekuwa na habari kwamba Yonathani alikuwa ameondoka.
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 Kila upande wa njia ambayo Yonathani alikusudia kupita ili kuvuka kufikia doria ya Wafilisti kulikuwepo na jabali; moja lilikuwa linaitwa Bosesi, na jingine 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 Jabali moja lilisimama kaskazini kuelekea Mikmashi na jingine upande wa kusini kuelekea Geba.
One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
6 Yonathani akamwambia kijana wake mbeba silaha, “Njoo, tuvukie doria ya wale jamaa wasiotahiriwa. Huenda Bwana atatenda kwa ajili yetu. Hakuna chochote kitakachoweza kumzuia Bwana kuokoa, kwamba ni kwa wingi au kwa uchache.”
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 Mbeba silaha wake akamwambia, “Fanya yale yote uliyo nayo katika moyo wako. Songa mbele; moyo wangu na roho yangu viko pamoja nawe.”
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 Yonathani akasema, “Basi njoo; tutavuka kuwaelekea hao watu na kuacha watuone.
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 Kama wakituambia, ‘Subirini hapo mpaka tuje kwenu,’ tutakaa pale tulipo na hatutakwea kwao.
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 Lakini kama watasema, ‘Pandeni mje kwetu,’ tutakwea, kwa sababu hiyo itakuwa ishara yetu kwamba Bwana amewatia mikononi mwetu.”
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 Basi wote wawili wakajionyesha kwa doria ya Wafilisti. Wafilisti wakasema, “Tazama! Waebrania wanatambaa toka mashimoni walimokuwa wamejificha.”
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 Watu wa kwenye doria wakawapigia kelele Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake, wakisema, “Njooni, pandeni kwetu nasi tutawakomesha.” Basi Yonathani akamwambia mbeba silaha wake, “Panda nyuma yangu; Bwana amewatia mikononi mwa Israeli.”
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 Yonathani akapanda juu, akitumia mikono yake na miguu, pamoja na mbeba silaha wake papo hapo nyuma yake. Wafilisti wakaanguka mbele ya Yonathani, naye mbeba silaha wake akamfuata akiwaua nyuma yake.
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 Katika hilo shambulio la kwanza, Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake waliua kama watu ishirini kwenye eneo kama la nusu eka.
In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
15 Kisha fadhaa ikawapata jeshi lote, wale waliokuwa kambini na shambani, wale waliokuwa katika doria na makundi ya washambuliaji, nayo nchi ilitetemeka. Ilikuwa ni hofu ya ghafula iliyotumwa na Mungu.
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 Wapelelezi wa Sauli huko Gibea ya Benyamini wakaona jeshi likitokomea pande zote.
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 Ndipo Sauli akawaambia watu wale waliokuwa pamoja naye, “Kagueni jeshi mkaone ni nani ameondoka katikati yetu.” Walipokagua, akawa ni Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake ambao hawakuwepo.
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 Sauli akamwambia Ahiya, “Leta Sanduku la Mungu.” (Wakati huo lilikuwa kwa Waisraeli.)
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 Wakati Sauli alipokuwa akisema na kuhani, makelele katika kambi ya Wafilisti yakaongezeka zaidi na zaidi. Hivyo Sauli akamwambia kuhani, “Rudisha mkono wako.”
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 Kisha Sauli na watu wake wote wakakusanyika na kwenda vitani. Wakawakuta Wafilisti wakiwa wamechanganyikiwa kabisa, wakitiana panga kila mmoja na wenzake.
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 Wale Waebrania ambao walishakuwa pamoja na Wafilisti, na waliokuwa wamepanda pamoja nao katika kambi zao, wakaenda upande wa Waisraeli waliokuwa pamoja na Sauli na Yonathani.
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 Waisraeli wote waliokuwa wamejificha katika nchi ya milima ya Efraimu waliposikia kuwa Wafilisti wamekimbia, wakajiunga vitani na kuwafuata kwa bidii.
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 Hivyo Bwana akawaokoa Waisraeli siku ile, navyo vita vilienea hadi kupita Beth-Aveni.
So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
24 Basi watu wa Israeli walikuwa katika dhiki siku ile, kwa sababu Sauli alikuwa amewafunga watu kwa kiapo, akisema, “Alaaniwe mtu yeyote ambaye atakula chakula kabla ya jioni, kabla sijalipiza kisasi juu ya adui zangu!” Kwa hiyo hakuna mtu yeyote katika jeshi aliyeonja chakula.
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 Jeshi lote liliingia mwituni, na huko kulikuwepo na asali ardhini.
The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
26 Walipoingia mwituni, wakaona asali ikitiririka, hata hivyo hakuna mtu yeyote aliyetia mkono wake kinywani, kwa sababu waliogopa kiapo.
They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
27 Lakini Yonathani alikuwa hajasikia kuwa baba yake alikuwa amewafunga watu kwa kiapo, hivyo akainyoosha ncha ya fimbo iliyokuwa mkononi mwake na kuichovya katika sega la asali. Akainua mkono wake na kuutia kinywani mwake, nayo macho yake yakawa maangavu.
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 Kisha mmoja wa askari wake akamwambia, “Baba yako alilifunga jeshi kwa kiapo kikali, akisema, ‘Alaaniwe mtu yeyote alaye chakula leo!’ Ndiyo sababu watu wanalegea.”
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 Yonathani akasema, “Baba yangu ameitaabisha nchi. Ona jinsi nilivyopata nguvu mpya nilipoonja asali hii kidogo.
Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
30 Ingekuwa bora zaidi mara ngapi kama watu wangalikula leo baadhi ya nyara walizoteka kutoka kwa adui zao. Je, mauaji ya Wafilisti yasingekuwa makubwa zaidi?”
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 Siku ile baada ya Waisraeli kuwaua Wafilisti kutoka Mikmashi mpaka Aiyaloni, walikuwa wamechoka.
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 Watu wakarukia zile nyara, wakichukua kondoo, ngʼombe na ndama, wakawachinja hapo juu ya nchi na kuwala, pamoja na damu.
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 Kisha mtu mmoja akamwambia Sauli, “Tazama, watu wanatenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana kwa kula nyama yenye damu.” Akasema, “Mmevunja uaminifu. Livingirisheni jiwe kubwa hapa mara moja.”
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 Kisha Sauli akasema, “Nendeni miongoni mwa watu, mwaambie, ‘Kila mmoja wenu aniletee ngʼombe wake na kondoo, mwachinjie hapa na mle. Msitende dhambi dhidi ya Bwana kwa kula nyama ikiwa na damu ndani yake.’” Hivyo kila mmoja akaleta ngʼombe wake jioni ile na kumchinja hapo.
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 Ndipo Sauli akamjengea Bwana madhabahu, na ndiyo ilivyokuwa mara yake ya kwanza kujenga madhabahu.
That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
36 Sauli akasema, “Tuteremke tufuatie Wafilisti usiku na kuwateka nyara mpaka mapambazuko, nasi tusiache hata mmoja wao hai.” Wakajibu, “Fanya lolote lile uonalo jema zaidi kwako.” Lakini kuhani akasema, “Tuulize kwa Mungu mahali hapa.”
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 Basi Sauli akamuuliza Mungu, akisema, “Je, niteremke kuwafuatia Wafilisti? Je, utawatia mikononi mwa Israeli?” Lakini Mungu hakumjibu siku ile.
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 Kwa hiyo Sauli akasema, “Njooni hapa, ninyi nyote ambao ni viongozi wa jeshi, na tutafute ni dhambi gani imefanywa leo.
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 Kwa hakika kama Bwana aiokoaye Israeli aishivyo, hata kama itakuwa juu ya mwana wangu Yonathani, ni lazima afe.” Lakini hakuna mtu yeyote aliyesema neno.
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 Kisha Sauli akawaambia Waisraeli wote, “Ninyi simameni huko; mimi na mwanangu Yonathani tutasimama hapa.” Watu wakajibu, “Fanya lile unaloona jema zaidi kwako.”
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 Kisha Sauli akamwomba Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, akisema, “Nipe jibu lililo sawa.” Yonathani na Sauli wakatolewa kwa kura, nao watu wakawa salama.
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 Sauli akasema, “Pigeni kura kati yangu na mwanangu Yonathani.” Kura ikamwangukia Yonathani.
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 Basi Sauli akamwambia Yonathani, “Niambie ni nini ulichokifanya.” Hivyo Yonathani akamwambia, “Nilionja tu asali kidogo kwa ncha ya fimbo yangu. Je, sasa ni lazima nife?”
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 Sauli akasema, “Mungu na anishughulikie kwa ukali zaidi kama wewe Yonathani hutakufa.”
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 Lakini watu wakamwambia Sauli, “Je, Yonathani atakufa, yeye ambaye ameleta wokovu huu mkubwa Israeli? Hasha! Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, hakuna hata unywele wa kichwa chake utakaoanguka juu ya ardhi, kwa kuwa alifanya jambo hili leo kwa msaada wa Mungu.” Basi watu wakamwokoa Yonathani, wala hakuuawa.
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 Kisha Sauli akaacha kuwafuata Wafilisti, nao wakajiondoa na kurudi katika nchi yao.
Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
47 Baada ya Sauli kujitwalia utawala katika Israeli, alipigana dhidi ya adui zake kila upande: Moabu, Waamoni, Edomu, wafalme wa Soba, na Wafilisti. Popote alipogeukia, aliwashinda.
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 Akapigana kishujaa na kuwashinda Waamaleki, akiikomboa Israeli kutoka mikono ya wale waliokuwa wamewateka nyara.
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 Wana wa Sauli walikuwa Yonathani, Ishvi na Malki-Shua. Jina la binti yake mkubwa lilikuwa Merabu, naye mdogo aliitwa Mikali.
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
50 Jina la mkewe Sauli aliitwa Ahinoamu binti wa Ahimaasi. Jina la jemadari wa jeshi la Sauli aliitwa Abneri mwana wa Neri, naye Neri alikuwa babaye mdogo Sauli.
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 Babaye Sauli yaani, Kishi na Neri baba yake Abneri walikuwa wana wa Abieli.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
52 Siku zote za utawala wa Sauli zilikuwa za vita vikali dhidi ya Wafilisti, na wakati wowote Sauli alimwona mtu mwenye nguvu au shujaa, alimchukua kwa utumishi wake.
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.
