Atemmufo 20

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

And so all the sons of Israel went out like one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, and they gathered together, 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 all the chiefs of the people, and every tribe of Israel, convened as an assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers for battle.

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

(But it was not hidden from the sons of Benjamin that the sons of Israel had ascended to Mizpah.) And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was killed, being questioned as to how so great a crime had been perpetrated,

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.

responded: “I went to Gibeah of Benjamin, with my wife, and I diverted to that place.

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 behold, the men of that city, at night, surrounded the house in which I was staying, intending to kill me. And they abused my wife with such an incredible fury of lust that in the end she died.

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.

And taking her up, I cut her into pieces, and I sent the parts into all the borders of your possession. For never before was such a nefarious crime, and so great a sin, committed in Israel.

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

You are all present here, O sons of Israel. Discern what you ought to do.”

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

And all the people, standing, responded as if with the word of one man: “We shall not return to our own tents, nor shall anyone enter into his own house.

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

But this we shall do in common against Gibeah:

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.”

We shall select ten men out of one hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred out of one thousand, and one thousand out of ten thousand, so that they may transport supplies for the army, and so that we will be able to fight against Gibeah of Benjamin, and to repay it for its crime as it deserves.”

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

And all of Israel convened against the city, like one man, with one mind and one counsel.

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

And they sent messengers to the entire tribe of Benjamin, who said: “Why has so great a wickedness been found 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.

Deliver the men of Gibeah, who have perpetrated this deplorable act, so that they may die, and so that the evil may be taken away from Israel.” And they were not willing to listen to the command of their brothers, the sons of Israel.

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

Instead, out of all the cities that were their lot, they convened at Gibeah, so that they might bring them assistance, and so that they might contend against the entire people of Israel.

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

And there were found from Benjamin twenty-five thousand who drew the sword, aside from the inhabitants of Gibeah,

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

who were seven hundred very strong men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right hand, and casting stones from a sling so accurately that they were able to strike even a hair, and the path of the stone would by no means miss to either side.

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

Then too, among the men of Israel apart from the sons of Benjamin, there were found four hundred thousand who drew the sword and who were prepared for battle.

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 rose up and went to the house of God, that is, to Shiloh. And they consulted God, and they said, “Who shall be, in our army, the first to contend against the sons of Benjamin?” And the Lord responded to them, “Let Judah be your leader.”

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

And immediately the sons of Israel, rising up in the morning, made camp near Gibeah.

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

And setting out from there to fight against Benjamin, they began to assault the city.

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.

And the sons of Benjamin, departing from Gibeah, slew twenty-two thousand men from the sons of Israel, on that day.

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

Again the sons of Israel, trusting in both strength and number, set their troops in order, in the same place where they had contended before.

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.”

But first they also went up and wept before the Lord, even until night. And they consulted him and said, “Should I continue to go forth, so as to contend against the sons of Benjamin, my brothers, or not?” And he responded to them, “Ascend against them, and undertake the struggle.”

24 Enti wɔkɔko tiaa Benyamin akofo no,

And when the sons of Israel had continued to do battle against the sons of Benjamin on the next day,

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

the sons of Benjamin burst forth from the gates of Gibeah. And meeting them, they made such a frenzied slaughter against them that they struck down eighteen thousand men who drew the sword.

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

As a result, all the sons of Israel went to the house of God, and sitting down, they wept before the Lord. And they fasted that day until evening, and they offered to him holocausts and victims of peace offerings.

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

And they inquired about their state. At that time, the ark of the covenant of the Lord was in that place.

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 the first ruler of the house. And so, they consulted the Lord, and they said, “Should we continue to go forth in battle against the sons of Benjamin, our brothers, or should we cease?” And the Lord said to them: “Ascend. For tomorrow, I will deliver them into your hands.”

29 Enti Israelfo de atɛwfo twaa Gibea ho nyinaa hyiae.

And the sons of Israel stationed ambushes around the city of Gibeah.

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

And they brought out their army against Benjamin a third time, just as they had done on the first and second times.

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.

But the sons of Benjamin again burst forth boldly from the city. And since their enemies were fleeing, they pursued them a long way, so that they might wound or kill some of them, just as they had done on the first and second days. And they turned their backs along two paths, one bringing them toward Bethel, and the other toward Gibeah. And they struck down about thirty men.

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.

For they thought that they were falling back as they had done before. But instead, skillfully feigning flight, they undertook a plan to draw them away from the city, and by seeming to flee, to lead them along the above stated paths.

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

And so all the sons of Israel, rising up from their positions, set their troops in order, in the place which is called Baaltamar. Likewise, the ambushes that encircled the city began, little by little, to reveal themselves,

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 to advance upon the western part of the city. Moreover, another ten thousand men from all of Israel were provoking a conflict with the inhabitants of the city. And the war grew heavy against the sons of Benjamin. And they did not realize that, on all sides of them, death was imminent.

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.

And the Lord struck them down in the sight of the sons of Israel, and they put to death, on that day, twenty-five thousand of them, along with one hundred men, all warriors and those who drew the sword.

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.

But the sons of Benjamin, when they had seen themselves to be the weaker, began to flee. And the sons of Israel discerning this, gave them room to flee, so that they might arrive at the ambushes that were prepared, which they had positioned near the city.

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

And after they had risen up suddenly from hiding, and those of Benjamin had turned their backs to those who cut them down, they entered the city, and they struck it with the edge of the sword.

38 Wopun wusiw kumɔnn wɔ kurow no so,

Now the sons of Israel had given a sign to those whom they had stationed in ambushes, so that, after they had seized the city, they would light a fire, and by the smoke ascending on high, they would show that the city was captured.

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!”

And then, the sons of Israel discerned this sign during the battle (for the sons of Benjamin had thought that they fled, and they pursued them forcefully, cutting down thirty men from their army).

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

And they saw something like a pillar of smoke ascending from the city. Likewise, Benjamin, looking back, discerned that the city was captured, for the flames were being carried on high.

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

And those who before had pretended to flee, turning their faces, withstood them more strongly. And when the sons of Benjamin had seen this, they turned their backs in flight,

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

and they began to go toward the way of the desert, with the adversary pursuing them to that place also. Moreover, those who had set fire to the city also met them.

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

And so it happened that they were cut down on both sides by the enemies, nor was there any respite for the dying. They were killed and struck down on the eastern side of the city of Gibeah.

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

Now those who were put to death in the same place were eighteen thousand men, all very robust fighters.

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 when those who remained of Benjamin had seen this, they fled into the wilderness. And they were traveling toward the rock which is called Rimmon. In that flight also, among those who were scattering in different directions, they slew five thousand men. And though they scattered all the more, they continued to pursue them, and then they put to death another two thousand.

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

And so it happened that all of those who were slain from Benjamin, in various places, were twenty-five thousand fighters, very willing to go to war.

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

And so there remained from the entire number of Benjamin six hundred men who were able to escape and to flee into the wilderness. And they settled at 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.

But the sons of Israel, returning, had struck with the sword all that remained in the city, from men even to cattle. And all the cities and villages of Benjamin were consumed with devouring flames.