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.
All the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, went and gathered at Mizpah before the Lord. The assembly was united in purpose.
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 leaders of all the people of every Israelite tribe took their assigned positions in the assembled army of God's people, four hundred thousand soldiers armed with swords.
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.”
The tribe of Benjamin found out that the Israelites had assembled at Mizpah. The Israelites asked, “Tell us, how could such an evil act have happened?”
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 had been murdered, explained, “I and my concubine came to spend the night at the town of Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.
5 Wakati wa usiku, viongozi wa Gibea walinishambulia, wakizunguka nyumba na wakakusudia kuniua. Walimkamata na kumbaka suria wangu, naye akafa.
The leaders of Gibeah came to attack me at night. They surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine and she died.
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 into pieces, and I sent these pieces of her to every part of the country that had been given to Israel, because those men had done something shameful and disgusting in Israel.
7 Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, toeni maneno na ushauri wenu hapa.”
So all of you Israelites have to decide here and now what you're going to do about it!”
8 Watu wote wakaondoka pamoja kama mtu mmoja, wakasema, Hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayeenda hemani kwake, wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayerudi nyumbani kwake.
Everyone stood up and unitedly declared, “None of us are going home to our tents! None of us are going home to our houses!
9 Lakini sasa hivi ndivyo tutakavyoifanyia Gibea tutaishambulia kama kura inavyotuongoza.
This is what we're going to do to Gilboah: we will attack it with our forces chosen 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.
We'll take ten men from a hundred from all the Israelite tribes, then a hundred from a thousand, then a thousand from ten thousand, to arrange food for the army, so when the troops reach Gibeah in Benjamin, they can pay them back for all these disgusting things they've done in Israel.”
11 Basi askari wote wa Israeli wakakusanyika juu ya mji, kama mtu mmoja.
All the men of Israel were in agreement and gathered to attack the town.
12 Makabila ya Israeli waliwatuma watu kwa kabila lote la Benyamini, wakisema, “Uovu huu uliofanywa kati yenu ni nini?
The Israelite tribes also sent men throughout the territory of Benjamin, asking the people, “What are you doing about this terrible evil that has taken place 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,
Hand over these wicked men so we can execute them and get rid of this evil from Israel!” But the Benjamites refused to listen to what their fellow Israelites had to say.
14 Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakakusanyika kutoka mijini kwenda Gibea, wakajiandaa kupigana na wana wa Israeli.
They left their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go and fight the other Israelites.
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.
That day a total of twenty-six thousand men armed with swords were called up from the towns of Benjamin, in addition to the seven hundred seasoned warriors from Gibeah.
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.
Making up part of this army were seven hundred experienced soldiers who used their left hands. All of them could fire a slingshot and not miss by even a hair's breadth.
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 Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.
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 Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which ones of us should be the first to go and fight the Benjamites?” “Judah is to go first,” the Lord replied.
19 Watu wa Israeli waliamka asubuhi na wakahamisha kambi yao karibu na Gibea.
The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.
20 Watu wa Israeli walikwenda kupigana na Benyamini. Wakaweka nafasi zao za vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
Then they marched out for battle with the army of Benjamin, taking up their positions to attack Gibeah.
21 Watu wa Benyamini wakatoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu elfu ishirini na mbili wa jeshi la Israeli siku ile.
But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
22 Wana wa Israeli walijitia nguvu wenyewe, na wakaunda mstari wa vita mahali pale walipokwisha kuchukua nafasi siku ya kwanza.
But the Israelites encouraged one other to be confident, and they took up the same positions they had on 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 Israelites went and cried before the Lord until the evening and asked, “Should we go and attack the Benjamites again, our relatives?” “Go and attack them,” the Lord replied.
24 Basi watu wa Israeli wakapigana na askari wa Benyamini siku ya pili.
So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.
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.
However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.
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 Israelites and all their army went to Bethel, and sat crying there before the Lord. That day they fasted until evening and gave burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.
27 Wana wa Israeli wakamwomba Bwana, - kwa sababu ya sanduku la agano la Mungu lilikuwapo siku hizo;
The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.
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.
Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was the priest. The Israelites asked the Lord, “Should go and we fight again against our relatives from Benjamin, or not?” “Yes, go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you,” the Lord replied.
29 Basi Israeli akaweka watu mahali pa siri karibu na Gibea.
Then the Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah.
30 Watu wa Israeli wakapigana na wana wa Benyamini kwa siku ya tatu, nao wakajenga vita vyao juu ya Gibea, kama walivyotangulia.
On the third day they took up the same positions they had as before.
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 Benjamites came out to attack them and were lured away from the town as they began to kill Israelites as they had before. Some thirty Israelites died on the battlefield and along the roads, the one that goes towards Bethel and the other that goes back towards Gibeah.
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.”
“We're defeating them, just like before,” the Benjamites shouted. But the Israelites said, “Let's run away from them and lure them away from the town towards the roads.”
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.
The main army of Israelites left where they were and took up positions at Baal-tamar, while those in the ambush west of Gibeah charged out to attack from where they had been hiding.
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 seasoned Israelite warriors attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was so intense the Benjamites didn't realize they were on the brink of disaster.
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.
So the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel. That day the Israelites killed twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites, all armed with swords.
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.
The Benjamites saw that they were defeated. The Israelites had fallen back before the Benjamites because they were confident the ambush they had put in place near Gibeah would be successful.
37 Ndipo watu waliokuwa wameficha wakainuka na haraka na wakamkimbia Gibea. Nao wakauawa kila mtu aliyeishi mjini kwa upanga wao.
The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.
38 Ishara iliyopangwa kati ya askari wa Israeli na watu waliojificha kwa siri itakuwa wingu kubwa la moshi litatokea nje ya mji.
The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.
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 Israelite army turned to attack the Benjamites, who had already killed about thirty Israelites. The Benjamites were saying, “We're completely defeating them, just like the first battle!”
40 Lakini wakati nguzo ya moshi ilipoanza kuinuka nje ya mji, Wabenjamini waligeuka na kuona moshi ukitanda mbinguni kutoka mji mzima.
However, when the Israelites saw the columns of smoke rising heavenwards to form a great cloud over the whole of the town,
41 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageuka. Wana wa Benyamini waliogopa, kwa sababu waliona kwamba maafa yaliwajia.
they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.
42 Basi wakakimbia kutoka kwa wana wa Israeli, kuelekea njia ya jangwani. Lakini vita viliwapata. Askari wa Israeli walitoka mijini na wakawaua pale waliposimama.
They turned and ran from the Israelites towards the desert, but the battle caught up with them, and the Israelites also killed those who left the towns on the way.
43 Waliwalzungukia wana wa Benjamini na wakawafuata. Nao wakawakanyaga huko Noha, wakawaua mpaka upande wa mashariki wa Gibea.
Chasing after the Benjamites, the Israelites surrounded them, easily overtaking them east of Gibeah.
44 Kutoka kabila la Benyamini, watu kumi na nane elfu walikufa, wote walikuwa wanaume waliojulikana katika vita.
Eighteen thousand Benjamites were killed, all of them courageous warriors.
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.
Some of the Benjamites that were left ran towards Pomegranate Rock in the desert, and the Israelites killed another five thousand men on the way. They chased another group of Benjamites as far as Gidom and killed another thousand.
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 day twenty-five thousand Benjamite were killed, all armed with swords and all courageous warriors.
47 Lakini watu mia sita wakageuka na kukimbilia jangwani, kuelekea mwamba wa Rimoni. Wakakaa katika mwamba wa Rimoni kwa muda wa miezi minne.
There were six hundred who ran away to Pomegranate Rock in the desert and they stayed there 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 Israelites went back into the territory of the Benjamites, and going from town to town, they killed everything: people, animals, everything they found. Then they burned down every town on their way.
