Atemmufo 20

1 Afei, Israelfo nyinaa; fi Dan kosi Beer-Seba ne Gilead asase so behyiaa wɔ Awurade anim sɛ nnipa baako wɔ Mispa.

Then all the children of Israel took up arms, and the people came together like one man, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and the land of Gilead, before the Lord at Mizpah.

2 Nnipa no nyinaa ne Israel mmusuakuw no nyinaa ntuanofo, akofo mpem ahannan a wokurakura afoa kɔɔ Onyankopɔn mma guabɔ no ase.

And the chiefs of the people, out of all the tribes of Israel, took their places in the meeting of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen armed with swords.

3 (Nkra duu Benyamin asase so sɛ Israelfo mmusuakuw a wɔaka no kɔ Mispa.) Israelfo no bisaa nea ɛyɛɛ a saa awudisɛm yi sii.

(Now the children of Benjamin had word that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Make clear how this evil thing took place.

4 Enti Lewini a ɔyɛ ɔbea a wokum no no kunu no kae se, “Me ne me mpena baa Gibea a ɛwɔ Benyamin asase so bɛdaa hɔ.

Then the Levite, the husband of the dead woman, said in answer, I came to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin, I and my servant-wife, for the purpose of stopping there for the night.

5 Anadwo no Gibea ntuanofo no mu bi betwaa ofi no ho hyiae, pɛɛ sɛ wokum me, na wɔtoo me mpena no mmonnaa ma owui.

And the townsmen of Gibeah came together against me, going round the house on all sides by night; it was their purpose to put me to death, and my servant-wife was violently used by them and is dead.

6 Mefaa me mpena no twitwaa no asinasin de sin baako biara kɔɔ Israel mantam biara so. Efisɛ saa mmarima yi ayɛ atantanne ne aniwude wɔ Israel.

So I took her, cutting her into parts which I sent through all the country of the heritage of Israel: for they have done an act of shame in Israel.

7 Enti mprempren, ɛsɛ sɛ Israelfo nyinaa fa adwene wɔ eyi ho.”

Here you all are, you children of Israel; give now your suggestions about what is to be done.

8 Nnipa no nyinaa sɔre buae se, “Yɛn mu biara rensan nkɔ fie.

Then all the people got up as one man and said, Not one of us will go to his tent or go back to his house:

9 Mmom, yɛbɛbɔ ntonto na yɛahu wɔn a wɔbɛkɔ akɔtow ahyɛ Gibea so.

But this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by the decision of the Lord;

10 Abusuakuw biara mu mmarima nkyɛmu du mu baako na wobeyi wɔn ama wɔama yɛn akofo no nnuan, na yɛn a yɛaka no nso atɔ Gibea so were wɔ animguasede a wɔayɛ wɔ Israel no.”

And we will take ten men out of every hundred, through all the tribes of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, a thousand out of every ten thousand, to get food for the people, so that they may give to Gibeah of Benjamin the right punishment for the act of shame they have done in Israel.

11 Enti Israelfo nyinaa ano kɔɔ bɛnkoro boaa wɔn ho ano sɛ wɔbɛkɔ akɔtow ahyɛ kurow no so.

So all the men of Israel were banded together against the town, united like one man.

12 Israelfo no somaa abɔfo kɔɔ Benyamin abusuakuw no mu kobisaa wɔn se, “Dɛn awurukasɛm na moadi wɔ mo mu yi?

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin saying, What is this evil which has been done among you?

13 Munyi saa amumɔyɛfo a wofi Gibea no mmra, na yenkum wɔn na yentu saa awurukasɛm yi ase mfi Israel.” Nanso Benyaminfo no antie.

Now give up those good-for-nothing persons in Gibeah so that we may put them to death, clearing away the evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not give ear to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.

14 Mmom, wofifi wɔn nkurow mu boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Gibea sɛ wɔne Israelfo no rebɛko.

And the children of Benjamin came together from all their towns to Gibeah, to go to war with the children of Israel.

15 Akofo mpem aduonu asia a wokurakura afoa koduu Gibea, kɔkaa akofo ahanson a na wɔte hɔ dedaw no ho.

And the children of Benjamin who came that day from the towns were twenty-six thousand men armed with swords, in addition to the people of Gibeah, numbering seven hundred of the best fighting-men,

16 Na Benyamin akofo no mu ahanson yɛ abenkumma a wɔn mu biara yɛ antoamfom wɔ ahwimmotow mu.

Who were left-handed, able to send a stone at a hair without error.

17 Na Israelfo wɔ akofo mpem ahannan a wokurakura mfoa a Benyamin akofo nka ho.

And the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, were four hundred thousand in number, all armed with swords; they were all men of war.

18 Ansa na wɔrebefi ɔko no ase no, Israelfo no kɔɔ Bet-El kobisaa Onyankopɔn se, “Abusuakuw bɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ wodi ɔko no anim tia Benyaminfo no?” Awurade buae se, “Yuda na ɛsɛ sɛ wodi anim.”

And they got up and went up to Beth-el to get directions from God, and the children of Israel said, Who is to be the first to go up to the fight against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah is to go up first.

19 Enti Israelfo no sii mu anɔpahema kɔkyeree nsraban wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Gibea.

So the children of Israel got up in the morning and put themselves in position against Gibeah.

20 Afei, wotu teɛe de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ Gibea sɛ wɔrekɔtow ahyɛ Benyamin mmarima no so.

And the men of Israel went out to war against Benjamin (and the men of Israel put their forces in fighting order against them at Gibeah).

21 Nanso Benyamin akofo a na wɔrebɔ kurow no ho ban no pue kunkum Israelfo no mpem aduonu abien wɔ akono hɔ da no ara.

Then the children of Benjamin came out from Gibeah, cutting down twenty-two thousand of the Israelites that day.

22 Nanso Israelfo nyaa akokoduru boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ faako a wɔkoo da a edi anim no.

But the people, the men of Israel, taking heart again, put their forces in order and took up the same position as on the first day.

23 Na wɔakɔ Bet-El akosu wɔ Awurade anim akosi anwummere. Afei, wobisaa Awurade se, “Yɛne yɛn ara abusuafo a wofi Benyamin nko bio ana?” Na Awurade buae se, “Monkɔ na mo ne wɔn nkɔko.”

Now the children of Israel went up, weeping before the Lord till evening, requesting the Lord and saying, Am I to go forward again to the fight against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him.

24 Enti wɔkɔko tiaa Benyamin akofo no,

So the children of Israel went forward against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25 na Benyamin mmarima no san kum Israelfo akofo a wonim afoa akodi yiye no mpem dunwɔtwe.

And the second day Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah, cutting down eighteen thousand men of the children of Israel, all swordsmen.

26 Ɛnna Israelfo no kɔɔ Bet-El kosuu wɔ Awurade anim kyen kɔm kosii anwummere. Wɔbɔɔ ɔhyew afɔre ne aduan afɔre maa Awurade.

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up to Beth-el, weeping and waiting there before the Lord, going without food all day till evening, and offering burned offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord.

27 Na Israelfo kɔɔ Awurade anim kɔpɛɛ akwankyerɛ. (Saa bere no na Onyankopɔn apam adaka no wɔ Bet-El,

And the children of Israel made request to the Lord, (for the ark of the agreement of the Lord was there in those days,

28 na Eleasar babarima Pinehas a ɔyɛ Aaron nena no na na ɔyɛ ɔsɔfo). Israelfo no bisaa Awurade se, “Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛko tia yɛn ara yɛn abusuafo Benyamin bio anaasɛ yennyae?” Awurade buae se, “Monkɔ! Ɔkyena mɛma moadi wɔn so nkonim.”

And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was in his place before it, ) and said, Am I still to go on with the fight against the children of Benjamin my brother, or am I to give it up? And the Lord said, Go on; for tomorrow I will give him into your hands.

29 Enti Israelfo de atɛwfo twaa Gibea ho nyinaa hyiae.

So Israel put men secretly all round Gibeah to make a surprise attack on it.

30 Ne nnansa so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ beae koro hɔ ara.

And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in fighting order against Gibeah as before.

31 Bere a Benyaminfo akofo pue bae wɔ ɔko so no, wɔtwee wɔn fii kurow no mu. Na sɛnea na wɔayɛ pɛn no, wofii ase kunkum Israelfo no. Ɛbɛyɛ Israelfo aduasa na wowuwuu wɔ akono petee mu hɔ a bi deda akwan a ɛkɔ Bet-El ne Gibea ho.

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, moving away from the town; and as before, at their first attack, they put to death about thirty men of Israel on the highways, of which one goes up to Beth-el and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country.

32 Afei Benyamin akofo no teɛɛ mu se, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛnea yedii wɔn so wɔ ɔko a edi kan no mu no!” Na saa bere no na Israelfo no apene so dedaw sɛ wobeguan ama Benyamin mmarima no ataa wɔn wɔ akwan no so, na ama wɔatwe wɔn afi kurow no mu.

And the children of Benjamin said, They are giving way before us as at first. But the children of Israel said, Let us go in flight and get them away from the town, into the highways.

33 Bere a Israelfo nsraadɔm kɛse no duu Baal-Tamar no, wɔdan wɔn ho koe. Ɛhɔ na Israelfo a wɔatɛw wɔ Geba no puee prɛko pɛ fi wɔn ahintawee

So all the men of Israel got up and put themselves in fighting order at Baal-tamar: and those who had been waiting secretly to make a surprise attack came rushing out of their place on the west of Geba.

34 kosii Benyaminfo no akyi tow hyɛɛ wɔn so. Ɔko no mu yɛɛ den ara kosii sɛ na Benyaminfo no ntumi nhu amanehunu a ɛbɛba.

And they came in front of Gibeah, ten thousand of the best men in all Israel, and the fighting became more violent; but the children of Benjamin were not conscious that evil was coming on them.

35 Ɛno nti, Awurade boaa Israel ma wodii Benyamin so nkonim. Saa da no, Israelfo kunkum Benyamin akofo no mpem aduonu anum ne ɔha, a na wɔn nyinaa nim afoa ano ko yiye.

Then the Lord sent sudden fear on Benjamin before Israel; and that day the children of Israel put to death twenty-five thousand, one hundred men of Benjamin, all of them swordsmen.

36 Afei, Benyaminfo no huu sɛ wɔadi nkogu. Israelfo no guan fii Benyamin akofo no anim, sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a, wɔn a wɔakohintaw no benya kwan ayɛ wɔn adwuma.

So the children of Benjamin saw that they were overcome: and the men of Israel had given way before Benjamin, putting their faith in the watchers who were to make the surprise attack on Gibeah.

37 Afei, wɔn a na wɔatɛw no fii afanan nyinaa kɔɔ Gibea, kunkum obiara a ɔwɔ kurow no mu.

And the watchers, rushing on Gibeah and overrunning it, put all the town to the sword without mercy.

38 Wopun wusiw kumɔnn wɔ kurow no so,

Now the sign fixed between the men of Israel and those making the surprise attack was that when they made a pillar of smoke go up from the town,

39 a ɛyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne ma Israelfo no sɛ wɔnsan mmra mmɛtow nhyɛ Benyamin akofo no so. Saa bere no na Benyamin akofo no akum Israelfo no aduasa, a wɔteɛɛ mu se, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛnea yedii wɔn so ɔko a edi kan no mu no!”

The men of Israel were to make a turn about in the fight. And Benjamin had overcome and put to death about thirty of the men of Israel, and were saying, Certainly they are falling back before us as in the first fight.

40 Nanso bere a Benyamin akofo no hwɛɛ wɔn akyi, na wohuu wusiw a atu nam wim wɔ kurow no mu baabiara no,

Then the sign went up out of the town in the pillar of smoke, and the Benjamites, turning back, saw all the town going up in smoke to heaven.

41 Israelfo no san ba bɛtow hyɛɛ wɔn so. Afei, Benyamin akofo no huu sɛ asɛm aba na wɔbɔɔ huboa.

And the men of Israel had made a turn about, and the men of Benjamin were overcome with fear, for they saw that evil had overtaken them.

42 Enti woguan de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ sare so. Nanso Israelfo no taa wɔn kunkum wɔn.

So turning their backs on the men of Israel, they went in the direction of the waste land; but the fight overtook them; and those who came out of the town were heading them off and putting them to the sword.

43 Israelfo no twaa Benyaminfo no ho hyiae, taa wɔn anibere so, kɔtoo wɔn wɔ Gibea atɔe fam.

And crushing Benjamin down, they went after them, driving them from Nohah as far as the east side of Gibeah.

44 Da no, Benyamin akofo akɛse mpem dunwɔtwe na wɔtotɔɔ wɔ ɔko no mu.

Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin came to their death, all strong men of war.

45 Wɔn a wɔanwuwu no guan kɔɔ sare so baabi a ɛbɛn Rimon ɔbotan no ho. Nanso Israelfo no kunkum wɔn mu mpem anum wɔ ɔkwan no so. Wɔtoaa so taa wɔn, kosii sɛ wokum mpenu wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Gidom kaa ho.

And turning, they went in flight to the rock of Rimmon in the waste land: and on the highways five thousand of them were cut off by the men of Israel, who, pushing on hard after them to Geba, put to death two thousand more.

46 Enti Benyamin abusuakuw no hweree akofo akokodurufo mpemaduonu anum saa da no,

So twenty-five thousand of the swordsmen of Benjamin came to their end that day, all strong men of war.

47 maa ɛkaa mmarima ahansia pɛ a woguan kɔɔ ɔbotan Rimon ho kɔtenaa hɔ asram anan no.

But six hundred men, turning back, went in flight to the rock of Rimmon in the waste land, and were living on the rock of Rimmon for four months.

48 Afei Israelfo no san ba bekunkum abɔde biara a nkwa wɔ mu wɔ nkurow no nyinaa mu, efi nnipa so kosi anantwi ne biribiara so. Na kurow biara a woduu so no, wɔhyew no dwerɛbee.

And the men of Israel, turning again against the children of Benjamin, put to the sword without mercy all the towns and the cattle and everything there was, burning every town which came into their hands.