1
Ndipo wana wa Israeli walipotoka; na mkutano ukakutanika kama mtu mmoja, kutoka Dani hata Beer-sheba, pamoja na nchi ya Gileadi wakamkutanikia Bwana huko 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
Hao wakuu wa watu, maana wakuu wa kabila zote za Israeli, wakajihudhurisha katika huo mkutano wa watu wa Mungu, watu waume mia nne elfu waendao kwa miguu, wenye kutumia upanga.
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
Basi wana wa Benyamini walipata habari ya kuwa wana wa Israeli wamekwea kwenda Mispa. Wana wa Israeli wakasema, Tuambieni huo uovu ulikuwaje kutendeka?
(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
Huyo Mlawi, huyo mume wa mwanamke aliyeuawa, akajibu na kusema, Mimi nilifikilia Gibea ulio wa Benyamini mimi na suria yangu, ili tulale.
So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
5
Nao watu waume wa Gibea wakaniondokea, na kuizingira hiyo nyumba pande zote juu yangu wakati wa usiku; walidhani kuniua, na suria wangu wakamtenza nguvu, hata amekufa.
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
Basi nikamtwaa huyo suria yangu, na kumkata vipande, na kumpeleka katika nchi yote ya urithi wa Israeli; kwa sababu wametenda maovu makuu na upumbavu katika Israeli.
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
Angalieni, ninyi wana wa Israeli nyote, sasa toeni maneno na mashauri yenu.
Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”
8
Basi watu hao wote waliinuka kama mtu mmoja, wakisema, Hatutakwenda, hata mmoja, hemani kwake, wala hatutaondoka, hata mmoja, kwenda nyumbani kwake.
Then all the people stood as one man and said, “Not one of us will return to his tent or to his house.
9
Lakini jambo tutakalowatenda watu wa Gibea ni hili; tutakwea kwa kura kwenda kuupiga;
Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates.
10
nasi tutatwaa watu kumi katika mia katika kabila zote za Israeli, na watu mia katika elfu, na watu elfu katika elfu kumi, ili waende kuwatwalia watu vyakula, ili kwamba, hapo watakapofika Gibea ya Benyamini wapate kutenda mfano wa upumbavu huo wote walioutenda wao katika Israeli.
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
Basi waume wote wa Israeli walikutana pamoja juu ya mji huo, walikuwa wanashikamana pamoja kama mtu mmoja.
So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.
12
Kisha kabila za Israeli wakatuma watu waende katika kabila yote ya Benyamini, wakasema, Je! Ni uovu gani huu uliokuwa kati yenu?
And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you?
13
Basi sasa watoeni watu hao, hao mabaradhuli walio katika Gibea, ili kwamba tupate kuwaua, na kuuondoa uovu katika Israeli. Lakini Benyamini hawakukubali kuisikia sauti ya ndugu zao wana wa Israeli.
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
Lakini wana wa Benyamini wakakutanika huko Gibea kutoka katika miji yao, ili watoke kwenda kupiga vita juu ya wana wa Israeli.
And from their cities they came together at Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.
15
Hao wana wa Benyamini walihesabiwa siku ile kutoka hiyo miji, watu waume ishirini na sita elfu waliotumia upanga, zaidi ya hao waliokaa Gibea, ambao walihesabiwa watu wateule mia saba.
On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to the 700 select men of Gibeah.
16
Katika watu hao wote walikuwako watu waume mia saba waliochaguliwa, wenye shoto; kila mmoja alikuwa anaweza kuutupia unywele mawe kwa teo, wala asikose.
Among all these soldiers there were 700 select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing.
17
Nao watu wa Israeli, mbali na hao wa Benyamini, walihesabiwa kuwa ni watu waume mia nne elfu, wenye kutumia upanga; hao wote walikuwa ni watu wa vita.
The Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mobilized 400,000 swordsmen, each one an experienced warrior.
18
Basi wana wa Israeli wakainuka, wakakwea kwenda Betheli, nao wakataka shauri kwa Mungu; wakasema, Ni nani atakayekwea kwenda vitani kwanza kwa ajili yetu juu ya wana wa Benyamini? Bwana akawaambia, Yuda atakwea kwanza.
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
Basi wana wa Israeli waliondoka asubuhi, wakapanga hema zao juu ya Gibea.
The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.
20
Watu wa Israeli walitoka ili wapigane na Benyamini; nao watu wa Israeli wakaviandaa vita juu yao huko Gibea.
And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah.
21
Wana wa Benyamini wakatoka Gibea, wakaangamiza hata nchi watu ishirini na mbili elfu katika Israeli siku hiyo.
And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
22
Lakini watu hao, watu wa Israeli, walijitia nguvu, wakaviandaa vile vita mara ya pili mahali pale walipojiandaa siku ya kwanza.
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
Wana wa Israeli wakakwea juu na kulia mbele za Bwana hata jioni; wakamwuliza Bwana, wakisema, Je! Niende nikaribie tena kupiga vita juu ya wana wa Benyamini ndugu yangu? Bwana akasema, Haya, kweeni, mwende kupigana naye.
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
Basi wana wa Israeli wakakaribia juu ya wana wa Benyamini siku ya pili.
On the second day the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites.
25
Benyamini alitoka kupigana nao kutoka Gibea siku ya pili, wakaangamiza hata nchi watu kumi na nane elfu tena katika watu wa Israeli; hao wote walikuwa wenye kutumia upanga.
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
Ndipo wana Israeli wote, na hao watu wote, wakakwea, wakaenda Betheli, na kulia, wakaketi hapo mbele za Bwana, wakafunga siku hiyo hata jioni; nao wakasongeza sadaka za kuteketezwa na sadaka za amani mbele za Bwana.
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
Kisha wana wa Israeli wakauliza kwa Bwana (kwa sababu sanduku la agano la Mungu lilikuwako huko siku hizo,
And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28
na Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, mwana wa Haruni, alikuwa anasimama mbele ya hilo sanduku siku hizo), wakasema, Je! Nitoke tena niende kupigana na wana wa Benyamini ndugu yangu, au niache? Bwana akawaambia, Haya, kweeni; kwa kuwa kesho nitamtoa na kumtia mkononi mwako.
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
Basi Israeli akaweka watu wavizie kinyume cha Gibea kuuzunguka pande zote.
So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.
30
Basi wana wa Israeli wakakwea kwenda kupigana na wana wa Benyamini siku ya tatu, wakajipanga ili kupigana na Gibea, kama walivyofanya nyakati nyingine.
On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.
31
Nao wana wa Benyamini wakatoka waende kupigana nao, wakavutwa waende mbali na huo mji; kisha wakaanza kupiga na kuua katika hao watu, wapata kama watu thelathini wa Israeli, kama walivyofanya nyakati nyingine, katika hizo njia kuu, ambazo njia mojawapo huendelea Betheli, na njia ya pili huendelea Gibea, katika shamba.
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
Wana wa Benyamini wakasema, Wamepigwa mbele yetu kama kwanza. Lakini wana wa Israeli wakasema, Haya, na tukimbie, na kuwavuta wauache mji waende katika njia kuu.
“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
Basi hao watu wote wa Israeli wakaondoka mahali pao wakajipanga huko Baal-tamari; na hao wenye kuvizia wa Israeli wakatoka mahali hapo walipokuwa, hata Maare-geba.
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
Kisha watu elfu kumi waliochaguliwa katika Israeli wote wakaja juu ya Gibea, na vile vita vilikuwa vikali sana; lakini hawakujua ya kuwa uovu ulikuwa karibu nao.
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
Bwana akampiga Benyamini mbele ya Israeli; na wana wa Israeli waliangamiza watu waume ishirini na tano elfu na mia moja, wa Benyamini siku hiyo; wote hao waliokuwa wenye kutumia upanga.
The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel, and on that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
36
Basi wana wa Benyamini waliona kuwa wamepigwa; kwa kuwa watu wa Israeli wakaondoka mbele ya Benyamini, kwa sababu walikuwa wanawatumaini hao wenye kuvizia waliokuwa wamewaweka kinyume cha Gibea.
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
Hao wenye kuvizia wakafanya haraka, wakaurukia Gibea; na hao wenye kuvizia wakaenda wakaupiga huo mji wote kwa makali ya upanga.
The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword.
38
Basi hiyo ishara iliyoaganwa kati ya watu wa Israeli na hao wenye kuvizia ilikuwa ni hii, kwamba wafanye lipande wingu kubwa la moshi kutoka katika huo mji.
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
Nao watu wa Israeli walipogeuka katika vile vita, Benyamini naye akaanza kupiga na kuwaua watu wa Israeli kama watu thelathini; kwani walisema, Hakika yetu wamepigwa mbele yetu, vile vile kama katika vile vita vya kwanza.
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
Lakini hapo hilo wingu lilipoanza kupanda kutoka katika mji, kama nguzo ya moshi, ndipo Wabenyamini wakaangalia nyuma, na tazama, huo mji mzima ulikuwa wapaa juu katika moshi kwenda mbinguni.
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
Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakageuka, na watu wa Benyamini walisitushwa; kwa kuwa waliona ya kwamba wamefikiliwa na uovu.
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
Kwa hiyo wakageuza maungo yao mbele ya wana wa Israeli kuelekea njia ya kwenda nyikani; lakini vile vita vikawaandamia kwa kasi; na hao waliotoka katika ile miji wakawaangamiza katikati yake.
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
Waliwazingira Wabenyamini pande zote na kuwafukuza, na kuwakanyaga-kanyaga hapo walipopumzika, hata kufikilia Gibea upande wa maawio ya jua.
They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and easily overtook them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.
44
Wakaanguka watu wa Benyamini watu kumi na nane elfu, hao wote walikuwa ni watu waume mashujaa.
And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.
45
Kisha wakageuka na kukimbia upande wa nyika hata kulifikilia jabali la Rimoni; nao wakaokota katika watu hao katika njia kuu watu waume elfu tano; wakawaandamia kwa kasi mpaka Gidomu, nako wakawapiga wengine wao watu elfu mbili.
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
Basi jumla ya watu wa Benyamini walioanguka siku ile walikuwa ni watu ishirini na tano elfu waliokuwa wanatumia upanga; wote hao walikuwa ni watu mashujaa.
That day 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen fell, all men of valor.
47
Lakini watu waume mia sita wakageuka, wakakimbia upande wa nyikani mpaka jabali la Rimoni, wakakaa kwenye hilo jabali la Rimoni muda wa miezi minne.
But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.
48
Kisha watu wa Israeli wakageuka tena kuwaendea wana wa Benyamini, wakawapiga kwa makali ya upanga, huo mji mzima, na hao wanyama wa mji, na kila kitu walichokiona; tena miji yote waliyoiona wakaitia moto.
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.