< 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 Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh.
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.
And the chief 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 that 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 were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?
4 Mlawi, mume wa mwanamke aliyeuawa, akajibu, Nilikuja Gibea katika nchi ya Benyamini, mimi na suria wangu, ili tulale.
And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
5 Wakati wa usiku, viongozi wa Gibea walinishambulia, wakizunguka nyumba na wakakusudia kuniua. Walimkamata na kumbaka suria wangu, naye akafa.
And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house upon me by night, [and] thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that 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.
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, toeni maneno na ushauri wenu hapa.”
Behold, ye [are] all children of Israel; 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.
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 into his house:
9 Lakini sasa hivi ndivyo tutakavyoifanyia Gibea tutaishambulia kama kura inavyotuongoza.
But now this [shall be] the thing which we will do to Gibeah: [we will go up] by lot against it;
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 a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch provisions 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 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?
And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness [is] this that is done 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 [us] the men, the children of Belial, who [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and banish evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel:
14 Ndipo wana wa Benyamini wakakusanyika kutoka mijini kwenda Gibea, wakajiandaa kupigana na wana wa Israeli.
But the children of Benjamin assembled 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.
And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered 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 this people [there were] seven hundred chosen men left-handed; every one could sling stones to a hair -[breadth], 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.
And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that 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.”
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first.
19 Watu wa Israeli waliamka asubuhi na wakahamisha kambi yao karibu na Gibea.
And the children of Israel rose in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
20 Watu wa Israeli walikwenda kupigana na Benyamini. Wakaweka nafasi zao za vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
21 Watu wa Benyamini wakatoka Gibea, nao wakawaua watu elfu ishirini na mbili wa jeshi la Israeli siku ile.
And the children of Benjamin came forth from Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
22 Wana wa Israeli walijitia nguvu wenyewe, na wakaunda mstari wa vita mahali pale walipokwisha kuchukua nafasi siku ya kwanza.
And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put 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!”
(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
24 Basi watu wa Israeli wakapigana na askari wa Benyamini siku ya pili.
And 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.
And Benjamin went forth 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 the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until evening, and 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;
And the children of Israel inquired of 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? And the LORD said, Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver them into thy hand.
29 Basi Israeli akaweka watu mahali pa siri karibu na Gibea.
And Israel set liers in wait around Gibeah.
30 Watu wa Israeli wakapigana na wana wa Benyamini kwa siku ya tatu, nao wakajenga vita vyao juu ya Gibea, kama walivyotangulia.
And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put 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.
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, [and] were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, [and] kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, 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.”
And the children of Benjamin said, They [are] smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them 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.
And all the men of Israel rose out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, [even] out of the meadows of Gibeah.
34 Wakatoka juu ya Gibea watu kumi elfu waliochaguliwa kutoka Israeli yote, na vita vilikuwa kali, lakini Wabenjamini hawakujua kwamba msiba ulikuwa karibu nao.
And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe: but they knew not that evil [was] near 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.
And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjaminites that day twenty and five thousand and a 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 smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjaminites, because they trusted to the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
37 Ndipo watu waliokuwa wameficha wakainuka na haraka na wakamkimbia Gibea. Nao wakauawa kila mtu aliyeishi mjini kwa upanga wao.
And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew [themselves] along, and smote 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 there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke to rise from 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.”
And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, 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 nguzo ya moshi ilipoanza kuinuka nje ya mji, Wabenjamini waligeuka na kuona moshi ukitanda mbinguni kutoka mji mzima.
But when the flame began to rise from the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the flame of the city ascended to heaven.
41 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageuka. Wana wa Benyamini waliogopa, kwa sababu waliona kwamba maafa yaliwajia.
And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil had come upon 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 overtook them; and them who [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
43 Waliwalzungukia wana wa Benjamini na wakawafuata. Nao wakawakanyaga huko Noha, wakawaua mpaka upande wa mashariki wa Gibea.
[Thus] they inclosed the Benjaminites on all sides, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down with ease over against Gibeah towards the sun-rising.
44 Kutoka kabila la Benyamini, watu kumi na nane elfu walikufa, wote walikuwa wanaume waliojulikana katika vita.
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; 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.
And they turned and fled towards the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them to Gidom, and slew 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 and five thousand men that 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 to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock 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.
And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

< Waamuzi 20 >