< Waamuzi 20 >
1 Ndipo Waisraeli wote kuanzia Dani hadi Beer-Sheba na wa kutoka nchi ya Gileadi wakatoka kama mtu mmoja wakakusanyika mbele za Bwana huko Mispa.
Then all the sons of Israel went out. And the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Jehovah at Mizpah.
2 Viongozi wote wa kabila za Israeli wakakaa kwenye nafasi zao katika kusanyiko la watu wa Mungu, askari 400,000 waendao kwa miguu wenye panga.
And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew a sword.
3 (Wabenyamini wakasikia kuwa Waisraeli wamepanda kwenda Mispa.) Ndipo Waisraeli wakasema, “Tuelezeni jinsi jambo hili ovu lilivyotendeka.”
(Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
4 Hivyo yule Mlawi, mume wa yule mwanamke aliyeuawa, akasema, “Mimi na suria wangu tulifika Gibea ya Benyamini ili tulale huko.
And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
5 Wakati wa usiku watu wa Gibea wakanijia na kuizingira nyumba, wakitaka kuniua. Wakambaka suria wangu mpaka akafa.
And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night. They thought to have me slain, and they forced my concubine, and she is dead.
6 Ndipo nikamchukua suria wangu, nikamkatakata vipande vipande na kuvipeleka katika nchi yote ya urithi wa Israeli, kwa kuwa wametenda uasherati mkubwa na jambo la aibu katika Israeli.
And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
7 Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, semeni na mtoe uamuzi wenu.”
Behold, ye sons of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.
8 Watu wote wakainuka wakasema, kama mtu mmoja, “Hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayekwenda nyumbani. Wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayerudi nyumbani kwake.
And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn to his house.
9 Sasa hili ndilo tutakaloitendea Gibea: Tutaikabili jinsi kura itakavyotuongoza.
But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: We will go up against it by lot,
10 Tutatoa watu kumi katika kila 100 kutoka kwenye kabila zote za Israeli, watu 100 katika watu 1,000 na watu 1,000 katika 10,000, ili waende wakalete mahitaji kwa ajili ya jeshi. Basi wakati jeshi litakapofika Gibea ya Benyamini, watawatendea yale wanayostahili, kwa ajili ya uovu huu wa aibu waliotenda katika Israeli.”
and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch provision for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
11 Hivyo wanaume wote wa Israeli wakakutanika pamoja na kujiunga kama mtu mmoja dhidi ya huo mji.
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
12 Makabila ya Israeli yakatuma watu kwenda katika kabila la Benyamini lote na kuwaambia, “Ni uovu gani huu wa kutisha uliotendeka katikati yenu?
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has come to pass among you?
13 Basi watoeni hao watu waovu kabisa walioko Gibea, ili tupate kuwaua na kuondoa uovu katika Israeli.” Lakini Wabenyamini hawakuwasikia ndugu zao, Waisraeli.
Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brothers the sons of Israel.
14 Wakatoka katika miji yao, wakakutanika Gibea ili kupigana na Waisraeli.
And the sons of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel.
15 Siku ile Wabenyamini wakakusanya watu 26,000 kutoka miji yao, waliojifunga panga, mbali na hao 700 waliochaguliwa miongoni mwa hao waliokaa Gibea.
And the sons of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew a sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
16 Miongoni mwa hao askari wote kulikuwa na watu 700 bora waliochaguliwa watumiao mkono wa kushoto, kila mmoja wao aliweza kutupa jiwe kwa kombeo na kulenga unywele mmoja bila kukosa.
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed. Every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.
17 Nao watu wa Israeli, mbali na hao wa Benyamini, wakakusanya watu waume 400,000, wenye kutumia panga, wote hao walikuwa mashujaa.
And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew a sword. All these were men of war.
18 Waisraeli wakapanda Betheli na kumuuliza Mungu, “Ni nani miongoni mwetu atakayetangulia mbele yetu ili kupigana na Wabenyamini?” Bwana akawajibu, “Yuda ndiye atakayetangulia.”
And the sons of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. And they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the sons of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first.
19 Asubuhi yake Waisraeli wakaamka na kupiga kambi karibu na Gibea.
And the sons of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
20 Waisraeli wakatoka kupigana na Wabenyamini, nao Waisraeli wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin. And the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
21 Wabenyamini wakatoka Gibea na kuwaua watu 22,000 wa Israeli siku ile.
And the sons of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty-two thousand men.
22 Lakini Waisraeli wakatiana moyo kila mmoja na mwenzake, nao wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vile vita mara ya pili mahali pale walipokuwa wamejiweka mara ya kwanza.
And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.
23 Waisraeli wakapanda mbele za Bwana na kulia mbele zake mpaka jioni, nao wakamuuliza Bwana wakisema, “Je, tupande tena kupigana vita na Wabenyamini, ndugu zetu?” Bwana akajibu, “Pandeni mkapigane nao.”
And the sons of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until evening. And they asked of Jehovah, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.
24 Ndipo Waisraeli wakawakaribia Wabenyamini siku ya pili.
And the sons of Israel came near against the sons of Benjamin the second day.
25 Wakati huu, Wabenyamini walipotoka Gibea ili kupigana nao, wakawaua watu Waisraeli 18,000, wote wakiwa wamejifunga panga.
And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the sons of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword.
26 Ndipo Waisraeli, watu wote, wakapanda Betheli, huko wakakaa mbele za Bwana wakilia. Wakafunga siku ile mpaka jioni na kutoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa na sadaka ya amani kwa Bwana.
Then all the sons of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until evening, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah.
27 Nao Waisraeli wakauliza kwa Bwana. (Katika siku hizo Sanduku la Agano la Mungu lilikuwa huko
And the sons of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28 na Finehasi mwana wa Eleazari, mwana wa Aroni, alikuwa anahudumu mbele za hilo Sanduku.) Wakauliza, “Je, tupande kwenda vitani kupigana tena na Wabenyamini ndugu zetu, au la?” Bwana akajibu, “Nendeni, kwa kuwa kesho nitawatia mikononi mwenu.”
and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver him into thy hand.
29 Basi Waisraeli wakaweka waviziao kuizunguka Gibea.
And Israel set an ambushment against Gibeah round about.
30 Kisha Waisraeli wakapanda kupigana na Wabenyamini katika siku ya tatu na kujiweka kwenye nafasi zao dhidi ya Gibea kama walivyokuwa wamefanya hapo kwanza.
And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
31 Wabenyamini wakatoka ili kukabiliana nao, Waisraeli wakawavuta Wabenyamini watoke katika mji. Wakaanza kupigana na kuua watu wapatao thelathini wa Israeli, kama walivyofanya nyakati nyingine, katika njia kuu, moja iendayo Betheli na nyingine Gibea.
And the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city. And they began to smite and kill of the people as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field about thirty men of Israel.
32 Wabenyamini wakafikiri, “Wanapigwa mbele yetu kama hapo kwanza.” Waisraeli wakasema, “Sisi na turudi nyuma ili tuwavute wauache mji waende kuelekea barabarani.”
And the sons of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us as at the first. But the sons of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.
33 Watu wote wa Israeli wakaondoka kwenye sehemu zao na kujipanga huko Baal-Tamari, nao wale waviziaji wa Waisraeli, wakatoka hapo walipokuwa kwenye uwanda wa magharibi ya Gibea.
And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the ambushment of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.
34 Ndipo watu 10,000 bora waliochaguliwa katika Israeli wote, wakaja kuishambulia Gibea. Vita vilikuwa vikali sana, hata Wabenyamini hawakutambua kuwa maangamizi yalikuwa karibu nao kwa kiasi hicho.
And there came opposite Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe, but they knew not that evil was close upon them.
35 Bwana akawashinda Wabenyamini mbele ya Waisraeli na siku ile Waisraeli wakawaua Wabenyamini watu waume 25,100, wote wakiwa wenye kujifunga silaha za vita.
And Jehovah smote Benjamin before Israel, and the sons of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand and a hundred men. All these drew the sword.
36 Hivyo Wabenyamini wakaona kuwa wamepigwa. Basi Waisraeli walikuwa wameondoka mbele ya Wabenyamini, kwa sababu Waisraeli waliwategemea hao waviziaji waliokuwa wamewaweka dhidi ya Gibea.
So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were smitten, for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin because they trusted to the ambushment whom they had set against Gibeah.
37 Wale waviziaji wakafanya haraka kuingia Gibea, wakasambaa na kuwaua watu wote wa mji kwa upanga.
And the ambushment hastened, and rushed upon Gibeah. And the ambushment drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
38 Waisraeli walikuwa wamepatana na hao waviziaji kuwa wangefanya lipande wingu kubwa la moshi kutoka huo mji,
Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushment was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39 ndipo watu wa Waisraeli wangegeuka kupigana. Watu wa Benyamini walikuwa wameanza kuwapiga na kuua watu wa Israeli (wapatao thelathini), hivyo wakafikiri, “Hakika tutawapiga, kama tulivyowashinda katika vita hapo kwanza.”
And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons, for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us as in the first battle.
40 Lakini wakati lile wingu la moshi lilipoanza kupanda kutoka ule mji, Wabenyamini wakageuka na kuona moshi wa mji mzima unapaa juu angani.
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.
41 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageukia, nao Wabenyamini wakatiwa hofu, kwa kuwa walitambua kwamba maafa yamewajia.
And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that evil had come upon them.
42 Basi wakakimbia mbele ya Waisraeli kuelekea nyikani, lakini hawakuweza kukwepa vile vita. Nao watu wa Israeli waliotoka katika ile miji wakawaua huko.
Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness. But the battle followed hard after them, and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of it.
43 Wakawazingira Wabenyamini pande zote, wakawafuatia na kuwapata hapo walipopumzika katika viunga vya Gibea upande wa mashariki.
They enclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trod them down at their resting-place, as far as opposite Gibeah toward the sunrise.
44 Wakaanguka Wabenyamini 18,000 ambao wote ni mashujaa.
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men. All these were men of valor.
45 Walipogeuka na kukimbia kuelekea nyikani hata kufikia mwamba wa Rimoni, Waisraeli wakawaua watu 5,000 wakiwa njiani. Wakawafuata kwa kasi mpaka Gidomu huko wakawaua watu wengine 2,000.
And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. And they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and smote of them two thousand men.
46 Siku ile wakawaua Wabenyamini 25,000 waliokuwa mashujaa wa vita.
So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor.
47 Lakini watu 600 wakakimbia kuelekea nyikani katika mwamba wa Rimoni, na kukaa huko muda wa miezi minne.
But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.
48 Waisraeli wakarudi na kuua watu wote wa Benyamini, pamoja na wanyama na kila walichokikuta. Pia kila mji waliouona waliuchoma moto.
And the men of Israel turned again upon the sons of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found. Moreover they set on fire all the cities which they found.