Atemmufoɔ 20
1 Afei, Israelfoɔ nyinaa; ɛfiri Dan kɔsi Beer-Seba ne Gilead asase so bɛhyiaa Awurade anim sɛ nnipa baako wɔ Mispa.
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
2 Nnipa no nyinaa ne Israel mmusuakuo no nyinaa ntuanofoɔ, akofoɔ mpem ahanan a wɔkurakura akofena kɔɔ Onyankopɔn mma dwabɔ no ase.
The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.
3 (Nkra duruu Benyamin asase so sɛ Israelfoɔ mmusuakuo a wɔaka no kɔ Mispa.) Israelfoɔ no bisaa deɛ ɛyɛeɛ a saa awudisɛm yi siiɛ.
(Meanwhile the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites asked, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”
4 Enti, Lewini a ɔyɛ ɔbaa a wɔkumm no no kunu no kaa sɛ, “Me ne me mpena baa Gilead a ɛwɔ Benyamin asase so bɛdaa hɔ.
So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
5 Anadwo no Gilead ntuanofoɔ no mu bi bɛtwaa fie no ho hyiaeɛ, pɛɛ sɛ wɔkum me, na wɔtoo me mpena no monnaa ma ɔwuiɛ.
And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died.
6 Mefaa me mpena no twitwaa no asinasini de esini baako biara kɔɔ Israel mantam biara so. Ɛfiri sɛ, saa mmarima yi ayɛ atantansɛm ne aniwusɛm wɔ Israel.
Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.
7 Enti, seesei, ɛsɛ sɛ Israelfoɔ nyinaa fa adwene wɔ yei ho.”
Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”
8 Nnipa no nyinaa sɔre buaa sɛ, “Yɛn mu biara rensane nkɔ fie.
Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.
9 Mmom, yɛbɛbɔ ntonto na yɛahunu wɔn a wɔbɛkɔ akɔto ahyɛ Gibea so.
Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.
10 Abusuakuo biara mu mmarima nkyɛmu edu mu baako na wɔbɛyi wɔn ama wɔama yɛn akofoɔ no nnuane, na yɛn a yɛaka no nso atɔ Geba so wereɛ wɔ animguasedeɛ a wɔayɛ wɔ Israel no.”
We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”
11 Enti, Israelfoɔ nyinaa ano kɔɔ bɛnkorɔ mu boaa wɔn ho ano sɛ wɔbɛkɔ akɔto ahyɛ kuro no so.
So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.
12 Israelfoɔ no somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Benyamin abusuakuo no mu kɔbisaa wɔn sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn awurukasɛm na moayɛ wɔ mo mu yi?
And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?
13 Monyi saa amumuyɛfoɔ a wɔfiri Gibea no mmra, na yɛnkum wɔn na yɛntu saa awurukasɛm yi ase mfiri Israel.” Nanso, Benyaminfoɔ no antie.
Hand over the wicked men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge Israel of this evil.” But the Benjamites refused to heed the voice of their fellow Israelites.
14 Mmom, wɔfifiri wɔn nkuro mu boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Gibea sɛ wɔne Israelfoɔ no rebɛko.
And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.
15 Akofoɔ mpem aduonu nsia a wɔkurakura akofena kɔduruu Gibea, kɔkaa akofoɔ ahanson a na wɔte hɔ dada no ho.
On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.
16 Na Benyamin akofoɔ no mu ahanson yɛ abenkumma a wɔn mu biara yɛ toamfom wɔ ahwimmoɔ toɔ mu.
Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.
17 Na Israelfoɔ wɔ akofoɔ mpem ahanan a wɔkurakura akofena a Benyamin akofoɔ nka ho.
The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.
18 Ansa na wɔrebɛfiri ɔko no ase no, Israelfoɔ no kɔɔ Bet-El kɔbisaa Onyankopɔn sɛ, “Abusuakuo bɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔdi ɔko no anim tia Benyaminfoɔ no?” Awurade buaa sɛ, “Yuda na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔdi animu.”
The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.
19 Enti, Israelfoɔ no siim anɔpahema kɔkyeree sraban wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Gibea.
The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.
20 Afei, wɔtu teneeɛ de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ Gibea sɛ wɔrekɔto ahyɛ Benyamin mmarima no so.
And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.
21 Nanso, Benyamin akofoɔ a na wɔrebɔ kuro no ho ban no pue kunkumm Israelfoɔ no ɔpeduonu mmienu wɔ akono hɔ ɛda no ara.
And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
22 Nanso, Israelfoɔ nyaa akokoɔduru boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ baabi a wɔkoo ɛda a ɛdi animu no.
But the Israelite army took courage and again took their battle positions in the same place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day.
23 Na wɔakɔ Bet-El akɔsu wɔ Awurade anim akɔsi anwummerɛ. Afei, wɔbisaa Awurade sɛ, “Yɛne yɛn ara abusuafoɔ a wɔfiri Benyamin nko bio anaa?” Na Awurade buaa sɛ, “Monkɔ na mo ne wɔn nkɔko.”
They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”
24 Enti, wɔkɔko tiaa Benyamin akofoɔ no,
On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites.
25 na Benyamin mmarima no sane kumm Israelfoɔ akofoɔ a wɔnim akofena akodie yie no mpem dunwɔtwe.
That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
26 Ɛnna Israelfoɔ no kɔɔ Bet-El kɔsuu wɔ Awurade anim kyenee kɔm kɔsii anwummerɛ. Wɔbɔɔ ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ ne aduane afɔdeɛ maa Awurade.
Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
27 Na Israelfoɔ kɔɔ Awurade anim kɔpɛɛ akwankyerɛ. (Saa ɛberɛ no na Onyankopɔn apam adaka no wɔ Bet-El,
And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28 na Eleasa babarima Pinehas a ɔyɛ Aaron nana no na na ɔyɛ ɔsɔfoɔ). Israelfoɔ no bisaa Awurade, sɛ, “Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛko tia yɛn ara yɛn abusuafoɔ Benyamin bio anaasɛ yɛnnyae?” Awurade buaa sɛ, “Monkɔ! Ɔkyena mɛma moadi wɔn so nkonim.”
and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
29 Enti, Israelfoɔ de atɛfoɔ twaa Gibea ho nyinaa hyiaeɛ.
So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.
30 Ne nnansa so no, wɔboaa wɔn ho ano wɔ beaeɛ korɔ hɔ ara.
On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.
31 Ɛberɛ a Benyaminfoɔ akofoɔ pue baeɛ wɔ ɔko so no, wɔtwee wɔn firii kuro no mu. Na sɛdeɛ na wɔayɛ pɛn no, wɔhyɛɛ aseɛ kunkumm Israelfoɔ no. Ɛbɛyɛ Israelfoɔ aduasa na wɔwuwuiɛ wɔ akono petee mu hɔ a ebi deda akwan a ɛkɔ Bet-El ne Gibea ho.
The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.
32 Afei Benyamin akofoɔ no teaam sɛ, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛdeɛ yɛdii wɔn so wɔ ɔko a ɛdi ɛkan no mu no!” Na saa ɛberɛ no na Israelfoɔ no apene so dada sɛ wɔbɛdwane ama Benyamin mmarima no ataa wɔn wɔ akwan no so, na ama wɔatwe wɔn afiri kuro no mu.
“We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.”
33 Ɛberɛ a Israelfoɔ akodɔm kɛseɛ no duruu Baal-Tamar no, wɔdanee wɔn ho koeɛ. Ɛhɔ na Israelfoɔ a wɔatɛ wɔ Geba no puee prɛko pɛ firi wɔn atɛeɛm
So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah.
34 kɔsii Benyaminfoɔ no akyi tohyɛɛ wɔn so. Ɔko no mu yɛɛ den ara kɔsii sɛ na Benyaminfoɔ no ntumi nhunu amanehunu a ɛbɛba.
Then 10,000 select men from all Israel made a frontal assault against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was upon them.
35 Ɛno enti, Awurade boaa Israel ma wɔdii Benyamin so nkonim. Saa ɛda no, Israelfoɔ kunkumm Benyamin akofoɔ no mpem aduonu enum ne ɔha, a na wɔn nyinaa nim akofena ano ko yie.
The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
36 Afei, Benyaminfoɔ no hunuu sɛ wɔadi nkoguo. Israelfoɔ no dwane firii Benyamin akofoɔ no anim, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wɔn a wɔakɔ atɛ no bɛnya ɛkwan ayɛ wɔn adwuma.
Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah.
37 Afei, wɔn a na wɔatɛ no firii afanan nyinaa kɔɔ Gibea, kunkumm obiara a ɔwɔ kuro no mu.
The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.
38 Wɔtuee wisie kumɔnn wɔ kuro no so,
The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: When they sent up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
39 a ɛyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ ma Israelfoɔ no sɛ wɔnsane mmra mmɛto nhyɛ Benyamin akofoɔ no so. Saa ɛberɛ no na Benyamin akofoɔ no akum Israelfoɔ no aduasa, a wɔteaam sɛ, “Yɛredi wɔn so sɛdeɛ yɛdii wɔn so ɔko a ɛdi ɛkan no mu no!”
the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”
40 Nanso, ɛberɛ a Benyamin akofoɔ no hwɛɛ wɔn akyi, na wɔhunuu wisie a atu nam ewiem wɔ kuro no mu baabiara no,
But when the column of smoke began to go up from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw the whole city going up in smoke.
41 Israelfoɔ no sane baeɛ bɛto hyɛɛ wɔn so. Afei, Benyamin akofoɔ no hunuu sɛ asɛm aba na wɔbɔɔ huboa.
Then the men of Israel turned back on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they realized that disaster had come upon them.
42 Enti, wɔdwane de wɔn ani kyerɛɛ ɛserɛ so. Nanso, Israelfoɔ no taa wɔn kunkumm wɔn.
So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them, and the men coming out of the cities struck them down there.
43 Israelfoɔ no twaa Benyaminfoɔ no ho hyiaeɛ, taa wɔn anibereɛ so, kɔtoo wɔn wɔ Gibea atɔeɛ fam.
They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.
44 Ɛda no, Benyamin akofoɔ akɛseɛ mpem dunwɔtwe na wɔtotɔɔ ɔko no mu.
And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.
45 Wɔn a wɔanwuwu no dwane kɔɔ ɛserɛ so baabi a ɛbɛn Rimon botan no ho. Nanso, Israelfoɔ no kunkumm wɔn mu mpem enum wɔ ɛkwan no so. Wɔtoaa so taa wɔn, kɔsii sɛ wɔkumm mpenu wɔ baabi a ɛbɛn Gidom kaa ho.
Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.
46 Enti, Benyamin abusuakuo no hweree akofoɔ akokoɔdurufoɔ ɔpeduonunum saa ɛda no,
That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.
47 ma ɛkaa mmarima ahansia pɛ a wɔdwane kɔɔ ɔbotan Rimon ho kɔtenaa hɔ abosome ɛnan no.
But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.
48 Afei Israelfoɔ no sane baeɛ bɛkunkumm abɔdeɛ biara a nkwa wɔ mu wɔ nkuro no nyinaa mu, firi nnipa so kɔsi anantwie ne biribiara so. Na kuro biara a wɔduruu so no, wɔhyee no dworobɛɛ.
And the men of Israel turned back against the other Benjamites and put to the sword all the cities, including the animals and everything else they found. And they burned down all the cities in their path.
