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 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 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 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 (Wabenyamini wakasikia kuwa Waisraeli wamepanda kwenda Mispa.) Ndipo Waisraeli wakasema, “Tuelezeni jinsi jambo hili ovu lilivyotendeka.”
(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 Hivyo yule Mlawi, mume wa yule mwanamke aliyeuawa, akasema, “Mimi na suria wangu tulifika Gibea ya Benyamini ili tulale huko.
Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife, and there I lodged:
5 Wakati wa usiku watu wa Gibea wakanijia na kuizingira nyumba, wakitaka kuniua. Wakambaka suria wangu mpaka akafa.
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 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 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 Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, semeni na mtoe uamuzi wenu.”
You are all here, O children of Israel, determine what you ought to do.
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 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 Sasa hili ndilo tutakaloitendea Gibea: Tutaikabili jinsi kura itakavyotuongoza.
But this we will do in common against Gabaa:
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.”
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 Hivyo wanaume wote wa Israeli wakakutanika pamoja na kujiunga kama mtu mmoja dhidi ya huo mji.
And all Israel were gathered together against the city, as one man, with one mind, and one counsel:
12 Makabila ya Israeli yakatuma watu kwenda katika kabila la Benyamini lote na kuwaambia, “Ni uovu gani huu wa kutisha uliotendeka katikati yenu?
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 Basi watoeni hao watu waovu kabisa walioko Gibea, ili tupate kuwaua na kuondoa uovu katika Israeli.” Lakini Wabenyamini hawakuwasikia ndugu zao, Waisraeli.
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 Wakatoka katika miji yao, wakakutanika Gibea ili kupigana na Waisraeli.
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 Siku ile Wabenyamini wakakusanya watu 26,000 kutoka miji yao, waliojifunga panga, mbali na hao 700 waliochaguliwa miongoni mwa hao waliokaa Gibea.
And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa,
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.
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 Nao watu wa Israeli, mbali na hao wa Benyamini, wakakusanya watu waume 400,000, wenye kutumia panga, wote hao walikuwa mashujaa.
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 Waisraeli wakapanda Betheli na kumuuliza Mungu, “Ni nani miongoni mwetu atakayetangulia mbele yetu ili kupigana na Wabenyamini?” Bwana akawajibu, “Yuda ndiye atakayetangulia.”
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 Asubuhi yake Waisraeli wakaamka na kupiga kambi karibu na Gibea.
And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa:
20 Waisraeli wakatoka kupigana na Wabenyamini, nao Waisraeli wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city.
21 Wabenyamini wakatoka Gibea na kuwaua watu 22,000 wa Israeli siku ile.
And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty 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.
Again Israel trusting in their strength and their number, set their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before:
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.”
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 Ndipo Waisraeli wakawakaribia Wabenyamini siku ya pili.
And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight against the children of Benjamin,
25 Wakati huu, Wabenyamini walipotoka Gibea ili kupigana nao, wakawaua watu Waisraeli 18,000, wote wakiwa wamejifunga panga.
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 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.
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 Nao Waisraeli wakauliza kwa Bwana. (Katika siku hizo Sanduku la Agano la Mungu lilikuwa huko
And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there,
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 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 Basi Waisraeli wakaweka waviziao kuizunguka Gibea.
And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa:
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 they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as they had done the first and second.
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 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 Wabenyamini wakafikiri, “Wanapigwa mbele yetu kama hapo kwanza.” Waisraeli wakasema, “Sisi na turudi nyuma ili tuwavute wauache mji waende kuelekea barabarani.”
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 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.
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 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 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 Bwana akawashinda Wabenyamini mbele ya Waisraeli na siku ile Waisraeli wakawaua Wabenyamini watu waume 25,100, wote wakiwa wenye kujifunga silaha za vita.
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 Hivyo Wabenyamini wakaona kuwa wamepigwa. Basi Waisraeli walikuwa wameondoka mbele ya Wabenyamini, kwa sababu Waisraeli waliwategemea hao waviziaji waliokuwa wamewaweka dhidi ya 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 Wale waviziaji wakafanya haraka kuingia Gibea, wakasambaa na kuwaua watu wote wa mji kwa upanga.
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 Waisraeli walikuwa wamepatana na hao waviziaji kuwa wangefanya lipande wingu kubwa la moshi kutoka huo mji,
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 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 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 Lakini wakati lile wingu la moshi lilipoanza kupanda kutoka ule mji, Wabenyamini wakageuka na kuona moshi wa mji mzima unapaa juu angani.
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 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageukia, nao Wabenyamini wakatiwa hofu, kwa kuwa walitambua kwamba maafa yamewajia.
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 Basi wakakimbia mbele ya Waisraeli kuelekea nyikani, lakini hawakuweza kukwepa vile vita. Nao watu wa Israeli waliotoka katika ile miji wakawaua huko.
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 Wakawazingira Wabenyamini pande zote, wakawafuatia na kuwapata hapo walipopumzika katika viunga vya Gibea upande wa mashariki.
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 Wakaanguka Wabenyamini 18,000 ambao wote ni mashujaa.
And they that were slain in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all most valiant soldiers.
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 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 Siku ile wakawaua Wabenyamini 25,000 waliokuwa mashujaa wa vita.
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 Lakini watu 600 wakakimbia kuelekea nyikani katika mwamba wa Rimoni, na kukaa huko muda wa miezi minne.
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 Waisraeli wakarudi na kuua watu wote wa Benyamini, pamoja na wanyama na kila walichokikuta. Pia kila mji waliouona waliuchoma moto.
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.
