Waamuzi 20
1 Ndipo watu wote wa Israeli wakatoka kama mtu mmoja, toka Dani mpaka Beer-sheba, pamoja na nchi ya Gileadi; nao wakakusanyika mbele za Bwana huko Mispa.
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD at Mizpah.
2 Viongozi wa watu wote, wa kabila zote za Israeli, wakachukua nafasi zao kwenye kusanyiko la watu wa Mungu-watu 400, 000 waendao kwa miguu, ambao walikuwa tayari kupigana na upanga.
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 sword.
3 Basi wana wa Benyamini waliposikia kwamba watu wa Israeli walikuwa wamepanda Mispa. Wana wa Israeli wakasema, “Tuambieni ni kwa namna gani huu uovu umefanyika.”
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?”
4 Mlawi, mume wa mwanamke aliyeuawa, akajibu, Nilikuja Gibea katika nchi ya Benyamini, mimi na suria wangu, ili tulale.
The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.
5 Wakati wa usiku, viongozi wa Gibea walinishambulia, wakizunguka nyumba na wakakusudia kuniua. Walimkamata na kumbaka suria wangu, naye akafa.
The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They intended to kill me and they raped my concubine, and she is dead.
6 Nilimchukua suria wangu na kumkata mwili wake vipande vipande, na kuweka katika kila nchi ya urithi wa Israeli, kwa sababu wamefanya uovu huo na upumbavu katika Israeli.
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, toeni maneno na ushauri wenu hapa.”
Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.”
8 Watu wote wakaondoka pamoja kama mtu mmoja, wakasema, Hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayeenda hemani kwake, wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayerudi nyumbani kwake.
All the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us turn to his house.
9 Lakini sasa hivi ndivyo tutakavyoifanyia Gibea tutaishambulia kama kura inavyotuongoza.
But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot;
10 Tutachukua watu kumi katika mia moja katika makabila yote ya Israeli, na mia moja katika elfu, na elfu moja katika elfu kumi, kuwapa chakula kwa ajili ya watu hawa, ili waweze kufika Gibea katika Benyamini, watawaadhibu kwa uovu wao waliofanya katika Israeli.
and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that the men of Gibeah have done in Israel.”
11 Basi askari wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika juu ya mji, kama mtu mmoja.
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
12 Makabila ya Israeli waliwatuma watu kwa kabila lote la Benyamini, wakisema, “Uovu huu uliofanywa kati yenu ni nini?
The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What wickedness is this that has happened among you?
13 Kwa hiyo, tupeni watu hao waovu wa Gibea, tupate kuwaua, na hivyo tutaondoa kabisa uovu huu kutoka kwa Israeli.” Lakini Wabenyamini hawakusikiliza sauti ya ndugu zao, watu wa Israeli,
Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked fellows who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel.” But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.
14 Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakakusanyika kutoka mijini kwenda Gibea, wakajiandaa kupigana na wana wa Israeli.
The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
15 Watu wa Benyamini wakakusanya kutoka miji yao ili kupigana siku ile, askari elfu ishirini na sita waliopangwa kupigana na upanga. Walakini, kuna watu mia saba waliochaguliwa kutoka kwa wenyeji wa Gibea.
The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.
16 Miongoni mwa askari wote hawa walikuwa watu mia saba waliochaguliwa ambao walikuwa wenye shoto. Kila mmoja wao angeweza kupiga unywele kwa mawe na asikose.
Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17 Watu wa Israeli, bila kuhesabu namba kutoka kwa Benyamini, walikuwa na watu 400, 000 waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana na upanga. Wote hawa walikuwa watu wa vita.
The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were counted four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war.
18 Watu wa Israeli waliondoka, wakaenda Betheli, wakaomba ushauri kutoka kwa Mungu. Wakauliza, “Ni nani kwanza atakayewaangamiza watu wa Benyamini kwa ajili yetu?” Bwana akasema, “Yuda atashambulia kwanza.”
The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The LORD said, “Judah first.”
19 Watu wa Israeli waliamka asubuhi na wakahamisha kambi yao karibu na Gibea.
The children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
20 Watu wa Israeli walikwenda kupigana na Benyamini. Wakaweka nafasi zao za vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
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 Watu wa Benyamini wakatoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu elfu ishirini na mbili wa jeshi la Israeli siku ile.
The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed twenty-two thousand of the Israelite men down to the ground.
22 Wana wa Israeli walijitia nguvu wenyewe, na wakaunda mstari wa vita mahali pale walipokwisha kuchukua nafasi siku ya kwanza.
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 Na wana wa Israeli wakaenda, wakalia mbele za Bwana hata jioni. Walitaka mwongozo kutoka kwa Bwana “Je, tunapaswa kwenda tena kupigana na ndugu zetu, watu wa Benyamini?” Naye Bwana akasema, “Wapigeni!”
The children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening; and they asked of the LORD, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” The LORD said, “Go up against him.”
24 Basi watu wa Israeli wakapigana na askari wa Benyamini siku ya pili.
The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
25 Siku ya pili, Benyamini alitoka kupigana nao kutoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu wa Israeli elfu kumi na nane. Wote walikuwa watu ambao walijifunza kupigana na upanga.
Benjamin went out against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword.
26 Basi askari wote wa Israeli na watu wote wakaenda Betheli, wakalia, wakakaa mbele za Bwana; nao wakafunga siku hiyo hata jioni, wakatoa sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani mbele za Bwana.
Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
27 Wana wa Israeli wakamwomba Bwana, - kwa sababu ya sanduku la agano la Mungu lilikuwapo siku hizo;
The children of Israel asked the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28 na Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, mwana wa Haruni, aliyekuwa akihudumia mbele ya sanduku siku hizo. “Je twende vitani tena dhidi ya watu wa Benyamini, ndugu zetu, au tuache?” Bwana akasema, “Wapigeni, kwa maana kesho nitawasaidia kuwashinda.
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 children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?” The LORD said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”
29 Basi Israeli akaweka watu mahali pa siri karibu na Gibea.
Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.
30 Watu wa Israeli wakapigana na wana wa Benyamini kwa siku ya tatu, nao wakajenga vita vyao juu ya Gibea, kama walivyotangulia.
The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
31 Watu wa Benyamini wakaenda kupigana na watu, nao wakachukuliwa mbali na mji. Walianza kuua baadhi ya watu. Kulikuwa na watu thelathini wa Israeli ambao walikufa katika mashamba na barabara. Njia moja ilienda Betheli, na nyingine ikaenda Gibea.
The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike 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 Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakasema, “Wameshindwa na wanatukimbia, kama hapo awali.” Lakini askari wa Israeli wakasema, “Hebu tukimbie na kuwavuta mbali na mji hadi barabarani.”
The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let’s flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.”
33 Watu wote wa Israeli waliondoka kutoka mahali pao na wakajipanga kwa vita huko Baal-Tamari. Basi askari wa Israeli waliokuwa wakijificha mahali pa siri walikimbia kutoka Maare-Geba.
All the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. Then the ambushers of Israel broke out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.
34 Wakatoka juu ya Gibea watu kumi elfu waliochaguliwa kutoka Israeli yote, na vita vilikuwa kali, lakini Wabenjamini hawakujua kwamba msiba ulikuwa karibu nao.
Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came over against Gibeah, and the battle was severe; but they did not know that disaster was close to them.
35 Bwana akamshinda Benyamini mbele ya Israeli. Siku hiyo, askari wa Israeli waliwauawa watu wa Benyamini 25, 100. Wote hawa waliokufa walikuwa wale waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana na upanga.
The LORD struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men. All these drew the sword.
36 Basi askari wa Benyamini waliona wameshindwa. Wana wa Israeli walikuwa wametoa ardhi kwa Benyamini, kwa kuwa walikuwa wakihesabu watu waliowaweka katika nafasi zilizofichwa nje ya Gibea.
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel yielded to Benjamin because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.
37 Ndipo watu waliokuwa wameficha wakainuka na haraka na wakamkimbia Gibea. Nao wakauawa kila mtu aliyeishi mjini kwa upanga wao.
The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
38 Ishara iliyopangwa kati ya askari wa Israeli na watu waliojificha kwa siri itakuwa wingu kubwa la moshi litatokea nje ya mji.
Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39 Ishara ilipokuja askari wa Israeli wakageuka kutoka kwenye vita. Basi Benyamini wakaanza kushambulia na wakawaua watu wa Israeli thelathini, wakasema, “Hakika wanapigwa mbele yetu, kama katika vita vya kwanza.”
The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.”
40 Lakini wakati nguzo ya moshi ilipoanza kuinuka nje ya mji, Wabenjamini waligeuka na kuona moshi ukitanda mbinguni kutoka mji mzima.
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 city went up in smoke to the sky.
41 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageuka. Wana wa Benyamini waliogopa, kwa sababu waliona kwamba maafa yaliwajia.
The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them.
42 Basi wakakimbia kutoka kwa wana wa Israeli, kuelekea njia ya jangwani. Lakini vita viliwapata. Askari wa Israeli walitoka mijini na wakawaua pale waliposimama.
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 middle of it.
43 Waliwalzungukia wana wa Benjamini na wakawafuata. Nao wakawakanyaga huko Noha, wakawaua mpaka upande wa mashariki wa Gibea.
They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as near Gibeah toward the sunrise.
44 Kutoka kabila la Benyamini, watu kumi na nane elfu walikufa, wote walikuwa wanaume waliojulikana katika vita.
Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.
45 Wakageuka na kukimbia kuelekea jangwani hadi mwamba wa Rimoni. Waisraeli waliuawa zaidi ya elfu tano kati yao barabarani. Waliendelea kuwafuata, wakifuata kwa njia kuu kwenda Gidomu, na huko waliuawa elfu mbili zaidi.
They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They gleaned five thousand men of them in the highways, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck two thousand men of them.
46 Askari wote wa Benyamini walioshuka siku hiyo walikuwa watu ishirini na tano waliokuwa wamejifunza kupigana kwa upanga; wote walikuwa wanajulikana katika 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 mia sita wakageuka na kukimbilia jangwani, kuelekea mwamba wa Rimoni. Wakakaa katika mwamba wa Rimoni kwa muda wa miezi minne.
But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.
48 Askari wa Israeli waliwarudia watu wa Benyamini na wakawashinda na kuwaua-mji mzima, ng'ombe, na kila kitu walichopata. Pia walichoma moto kila mji katika njia yao.
The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword—including the entire city, the livestock, and all that they found. Moreover they set all the cities which they found on fire.
