< Judges 18 >

1 Ní ọjọ́ wọ̀n-ọn-nì, àwọn ọmọ Israẹli kò ní ọba. Ní ọjọ́ wọ̀n-ọn-nì, àwọn ẹ̀yà Dani ń wá ilẹ̀ tiwọn, níbi tí wọn yóò máa gbé, nítorí pé títí di àkókò náà wọn kò ì tí ì pín ogún ilẹ̀ fún wọn ní ìní láàrín àwọn ọmọ Israẹli.
At that time the Israelis had no king. Also at that time, the tribe of Dan was still searching for some land where they could live. The other Israeli tribes had [been able to] ([capture/take possession of]) [the] land that had been allotted to them, but the tribe of Dan had not been able to do that.
2 Nítorí náà àwọn ẹ̀yà Dani rán àwọn jagunjagun márùn-ún lọ láti Sora àti Eṣtaoli láti yọ́ ilẹ̀ náà wò àti láti rìn ín wò. Àwọn ènìyàn wọ̀nyí ṣe ojú fún gbogbo àwọn ẹ̀yà wọn. Wọ́n wí fún wọn pé, “Ẹ lọ kí ẹ rin ilẹ̀ náà ká, kí ẹ sì wò ó fínní fínní.” Àwọn ọkùnrin náà wọ àwọn ìlú tí ó wà ní agbègbè òkè Efraimu, wọ́n sì dé ilé Mika, níbi tí wọ́n sùn ní òru náà.
So they chose five soldiers from their clans, men who lived in Zorah and Eshtaol [cities], to go through the land and explore it [and try to find some land where their tribe could live]. They came to Micah’s house in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim lived, and they stayed there that night.
3 Nígbà tí wọ́n súnmọ́ tòsí ilé e Mika, wọ́n dá ohùn ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin Lefi náà mọ̀, torí náà wọ́n yípadà, wọ́n sì wọ inú ilé náà lọ wọ́n sì bi í pé, “Tá ni ó mú ọ wa sí ibi? Kí ni ìwọ ń ṣe níhìn-ín yìí? Èéṣe tí o fi wà ní ibí?”
While they were in his house and they heard the young man who had become Micah’s priest talking, they recognized from (his accent/the way that he talked) [that he was from the southern part of Israel]. So they went to him and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing here? Why did you come here?”
4 Ó sọ ohun tí Mika ti ṣe fún un, ó fi kún un fún wọn pé, “Ó gbà mí sí iṣẹ́, èmi sì ni àlùfáà rẹ̀.”
He told them the things that Micah had done for him. And he said, “Micah (has hired me/is paying me to work for him), and I have become his priest.”
5 Wọ́n wí fún un pé, “Jọ̀wọ́ béèrè ní ọwọ́ Ọlọ́run, kí àwa lè mọ̀ bí ìrìnàjò wa yóò yọrí sí rere.”
So they said to him, “Please ask God if we will succeed [in what we are trying to do] on this journey.”
6 Àlùfáà náà dá wọn lóhùn pé, “Ẹ máa lọ ní àlàáfíà. Ìrìnàjò yín tí ẹ̀yin ń rìn bá ojúrere Olúwa pàdé.”
The young man replied, “Things will go well for you. Yahweh will go with you on this journey.”
7 Àwọn ọkùnrin márààrún náà kúrò, wọ́n sì wá sí Laiṣi, níbi tí wọ́n ti rí i pé àwọn ènìyàn tí ń gbé ibẹ̀ ní ààbò, bí àwọn ará Sidoni, láìsí ìfòyà àti ní ìpamọ́. Ní ìgbà tí ilẹ̀ wọn kò ṣe aláìní ohunkóhun, wọ́n ní ọrọ̀ púpọ̀. Ibùgbé wọn tún jìnnà sí ti àwọn ará Sidoni, wọn kò fi ohunkóhun bá ẹnikẹ́ni dàpọ̀.
[The next day] the five men left. When they came to Laish [city], they saw that the people there lived safely, like the people in Sidon [city] did. The people there thought that they were safe/protected [from any enemies], and they had plenty of [good fertile] land. They lived very far from the people of Sidon, [so the people of Sidon would not be able to help defend/protect them]. They had no other (allies/groups nearby that would help them in battles).
8 Nígbà tí wọ́n padà sí Sora àti Eṣtaoli, àwọn arákùnrin wọn bi wọ́n léèrè pé, “Báwo ni ibi tí ẹ lọ ti rí? Kí ni ìròyìn tí ẹ mú wá?”
When those five men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them “What did you find out?”
9 Wọ́n dáhùn pé, “Ẹ dìde ẹ jẹ́ kí a lọ kọlù wọ́n! A wá rí i pé ilẹ̀ náà dára gidigidi. Ṣé ẹ̀yin ó sì jókòó láìsí nǹkan nípa rẹ̀? Ẹ má ṣe lọ́ra láti lọ síbẹ̀ kí ẹ sì gba ilẹ̀ náà.
They replied, “We have found some land, and it is very good. We should go and attack the people [who live there]. Why are you staying here and doing nothing [RHQ]? Do not wait any longer! We should go immediately and take possession of that land!
10 Nígbà tí ẹ̀yin bá dé ibẹ̀, ẹ yóò rí àwọn ènìyàn tí ọkàn wọn balẹ̀ àti ilẹ̀ tí ó tẹ́jú tí Ọlọ́run ti fi fún yín, ilẹ̀ tí kò ṣe aláìní nǹkan kan.”
When you go there, you will see that there is plenty of land, and it has everything [that we will need]. The people there are not expecting anyone to attack them. Surely God is giving that land to us.”
11 Nígbà náà ni ẹgbẹ̀ta ọkùnrin tí ó múra ogun láti ìran Dani, jáde lọ láti Sora àti Eṣtaoli ní mímú ra láti jagun.
So 600 men from the tribe of Dan left Zorah and Eshtaol, carrying their weapons.
12 Wọ́n sì jáde lọ, ní ojú ọ̀nà wọn, wọ́n tẹ̀dó ogun sí ẹ̀bá Kiriati-Jearimu ní Juda. Ìdí nìyí tí wọ́n fi ń gbé ìwọ̀-oòrùn Kiriati-Jearimu ni Mahane-Dani títí di òní yìí.
On their way they set up their tents near Kiriath-Jearim [city] in [the area where the tribe of] Judah [lives]. That is why the area west of Kiriath-Jearim was named ‘Camp of Dan’, and that is still its name.
13 Láti ibẹ̀ wọ́n kọjá lọ sí àwọn ìlú agbègbè òkè Efraimu, wọ́n sì dé ilé Mika.
From there, they went to the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim lives. And they arrived at Micah’s house.
14 Nígbà náà ni àwọn ọkùnrin márùn-ún tí ó lọ yọ́ ilẹ̀ Laiṣi wò sọ fún àwọn arákùnrin wọn pé, “Ǹjẹ́ ẹ̀yin mọ̀ pé ọ̀kan nínú àwọn ilé yìí ní ẹ̀wù efodu, àwọn yòókù ní òrìṣà, ère gbígbẹ́ àti ère dídà? Ẹ mọ ohun tí ó yẹ kí ẹ ṣe báyìí.”
The five men who had explored the land near Laish said to their fellow Israelis, “Do you know that in one of these houses there is a sacred vest, several idols, and a statue? [We think that] you know what you should do.” [RHQ]
15 Wọ́n sì yà sí ibẹ̀, wọ́n sì wọ ilé ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin Lefi náà, sí ilé Mika, wọ́n sì béèrè àlàáfíà rẹ̀.
So they went to the house where the man from the tribe of Levi lived, which was the house where Micah lived, and they greeted the young man from the tribe of Levi [who had become Micah’s priest].
16 Àwọn ẹgbẹ̀ta ọkùnrin ará Dani náà tí ó hámọ́ra ogun, dúró ní àbáwọlé ẹnu odi.
The 600 men of the tribe of Dan stood outside the gate of the house, carrying their weapons.
17 Àwọn ọkùnrin márùn-ún tí wọ́n lọ yọ́ ilẹ̀ náà wò wọlé lọ wọ́n sì kó ère gbígbẹ́ náà, efodu náà, àwọn òrìṣà ìdílé àti ère dídà náà nígbà tí àlùfáà náà àti àwọn ẹgbẹ̀ta ọkùnrin tí ó hámọ́ra ogun dúró ní à bá wọ ẹnu odi náà.
The five men who had explored the land went into Micah’s house, and took all the idols, the sacred vest, and the statue. While they did that, the 600 men stood outside the gate, [talking] with the priest.
18 Nígbà tí àwọn ọkùnrin yìí wọ ilé e Mika lọ tí wọ́n sì kó ère fínfín náà, efodu náà, àwọn òrìṣà ìdílé mìíràn àti ère dídà náà, àlùfáà náà béèrè lọ́wọ́ wọn wí pé, “Kí ni ẹ̀yin ń ṣe?”
When the priest saw them bringing out the idols and the sacred vest and the statue, he said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 Wọ́n dá a lóhùn pé, “Dákẹ́! Ma sọ nǹkan kan, tẹ̀lé wa kí o sì di baba àti àlùfáà wa. Kò ha sàn fún ọ láti máa ṣe ìránṣẹ́ ẹ̀yà àti ìdílé kan tí ó wá láti Israẹli bí àlùfáà ju ilé ẹnìkan ṣoṣo lọ?”
They replied, “Be quiet! Do not say anything! You come with us and be [like] a father to us and a priest for us. Is it better for you to [stay here and] be a priest for the people in the house of one man, or to be a priest for a clan, and a priest for a whole tribe of Israelis?” [RHQ]
20 Nígbà náà ni inú àlùfáà náà sì dùn, òun mú efodu náà, àwọn òrìṣà ìdílé mìíràn àti ère fínfín náà, ó sì bá àwọn ènìyàn náà lọ.
The priest liked what they were suggesting. So he took the sacred vest and the idols, and he [prepared to] go with the men from the tribe of Dan.
21 Wọ́n kó àwọn ọmọdé wọn, àwọn ohun ọ̀sìn wọn àti gbogbo ohun ìní wọn síwájú, wọ́n yípadà wọ́n sì lọ.
They all put their little children and their animals and everything else that they owned in front of them.
22 Nígbà tí wọ́n ti rìn jìnnà díẹ̀ sí ilé Mika, àwọn ọkùnrin tí ó wà ní agbègbè Mika kó ara wọn jọ, wọ́n sì lé àwọn ará Dani bá.
After they had gone a little distance from Micah’s house, Micah [saw what was happening. He] quickly summoned the men who lived near him, and they ran and caught up with the men from the tribe of Dan.
23 Bí wọ́n ṣe ń pariwo tẹ̀lé wọn lẹ́yìn, àwọn ará Dani yípadà wọ́n sì bi Mika pé, “Kí ló ṣe ọ́ tí o fi pe àwọn ọkùnrin rẹ jáde láti jà?”
They shouted at them. The men of the tribe of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What is the problem? Why have you gathered these men [to pursue us]?”
24 Ó dáhùn pé, “Ẹ̀yin kó àwọn ère tí mo ṣe, àti àlùfáà mi lọ. Kí ni ó kù tí mo ní? Báwo ni ẹ̀yin ò ṣe béèrè pé, ‘Kí ló ṣe ọ́?’”
Micah shouted, “You took the silver idols that were made for me! You also took my priest! I do not have anything left [RHQ]! So why do you ask me, ‘What is the problem?’”
25 Àwọn ọkùnrin Dani náà dáhùn pé, “Má ṣe bá wa jiyàn, tàbí àwọn oníbìínú fùfù ènìyàn lè kọlù yín, ìwọ àti àwọn ìdílé yóò sì sọ ẹ̀mí yín nù.”
The men from the tribe of Dan replied, “You should not shout loudly like that! One of our angry men might attack you and kill you and your family!”
26 Àwọn ọkùnrin Dani náà sì bá ọ̀nà wọn lọ. Nígbà tí Mika rí í pé wọ́n lágbára púpọ̀ fún òun, ó sì padà sí ilé rẹ̀.
Then the men from the tribe of Dan continued walking. Micah realized that there was a very large group of them, [so that it would be useless for him to try to fight them]. So he turned around and went home.
27 Wọ́n sì kó àwọn ohun tí Mika ti ṣe àti àlùfáà rẹ̀, wọ́n sì kọjá lọ sí Laiṣi, ní ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn ènìyàn tí ó ní ìbàlẹ̀ ọkàn tí wọ́n sì wà ní àlàáfíà. Wọ́n fi ojú idà kọlù wọ́n, wọ́n sì jó ìlú wọn run.
The men of the tribe of Dan were carrying the things that had been made for Micah, and they also took his priest, and they continued traveling to Laish. They attacked the people who were peacefully living there, and killed them with their swords, and then they burned everything in the city.
28 Kò sì sí ẹnikẹ́ni tí yóò gbà wọ́n sílẹ̀ nítorí pé ibi tí wọ́n ń gbé jìnà sí àwọn ará Sidoni, wọn kò sì ní àṣepọ̀ pẹ̀lú ẹnikẹ́ni. Ìlú náà wà ní inú àfonífojì lẹ́bàá a Beti-Rehobu. Àwọn ará Dani sì tún ìlú náà kọ́, wọ́n sì ń gbé inú rẹ̀.
Laish was far from [the city of] Sidon, [so the people of Sidon could not rescue the people of Laish]. And the people of Laish had no other allies. Laish was in a valley near Beth-Rehob [town]. The people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt the city and started to live there.
29 Wọ́n sọ orúkọ ìlú náà ní Dani gẹ́gẹ́ bí orúkọ baba ńlá wọn Dani, ẹni tí wọ́n bí fún Israẹli: bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé Laiṣi ni orúkọ ìlú náà tẹ́lẹ̀ rí.
They gave to the city a [new] name, Dan, in honor of their ancestor Dan, who was one of the sons of Jacob.
30 Àwọn ọmọ Dani sì gbé àwọn ère kalẹ̀ fún ara wọn níbẹ̀; Jonatani ọmọ Gerṣomu, ọmọ Mose, àti àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀ ni àlùfáà fún àwọn ẹ̀yà Dani títí di àkókò tí a kó ilẹ̀ náà ní ìgbèkùn.
The people of the tribe of Dan set up [in the city] the idols [that had been made for Micah]. Jonathan, who was the son of Gershom and the grandson of Moses, was appointed to be their priest. His descendants continued to be priests until the Israelis were captured and taken [to Assyria].
31 Wọ́n tẹ̀síwájú láti lo àwọn ère tí Mika ṣe, ní gbogbo àkókò tí ilé Ọlọ́run wà ní Ṣilo.
After the people of the tribe of Dan set up the idols that had been made for Micah, [they worshiped those idols, even though] the Sacred Tent [where they had been commanded to worship] God, was at Shiloh.

< Judges 18 >