1 Samuel 14
1 Otu ụbọchị, Jonatan nwa Sọl, kpọrọ nwokorobịa na-ebu ihe agha ya sị, “Bịa, ka anyị gafee ndagwurugwu jeruo nʼụlọ ikwu ndị Filistia.” Ma ọ gwaghị Sọl nna ya.
One day, Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Come with me; we will go over to where the Philistia soldiers have put up their tents.” [So they went], but Jonathan did not tell his father [what they were going to do].
2 Sọl na narị ndị ikom isii ya na-anọdụ nʼebe dị anya site na Gibea, nʼokpuru osisi pomegranet dị na Migrọn.
On that day, Saul and the 600 soldiers who were with him were sitting around a pomegranate tree at a place where the people threshed grain, near Gibeah.
3 Otu nʼime ndị so Sọl bụ Ahija onye nchụaja, onye yi efọọd. Ọ bụ nwa Ahitub, onye bụ nwanne Ịkabọdụ. Ahitub bụ nwa nwa Finehaz, onye bụ nwa Elayị, onye nchụaja Onyenwe anyị na Shaịlo. Ọ dịkwaghị onye ma na Jonatan apụọla.
Ahijah the priest was also there. He was wearing the sacred vest. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, who was a brother of Ichabod. Ichabod and Ahitub were the sons of Phinehas, who was the son of Eli, who had been Yahweh’s priest at Shiloh. No one knew that Jonathan had left [the Israeli camp].
4 Tupu Jonatan eruo ebe ndị Filistia nọ, ọ ghaghị isite na nwa ụzọ warawara dị nʼagbata nkume abụọ, a na-akpọ Bozez na Sene gabiga.
Jonathan planned that he and the young man would go through a narrow (pass/place between two cliffs) to get to where the Philistia army was. The cliff on one side of the pass was named Bozez, and the other cliff was named Seneh.
5 Nkume nke dị nʼakụkụ elu elu, dị nʼihu Mikmash, nke dị nʼakụkụ ndịda dị nʼihu Geba.
One cliff faced north toward Micmash, and the cliff on the other side faced south toward Geba [town].
6 Jonatan gwara nwokorobịa na-ebu ihe agha ya sị, “Bịa, ka anyị gafee ga nʼebe nguzo ndị ahụ a na-ebighị ugwu, ma eleghị anya Onyenwe anyị ga-alụrụ anyị ọgụ. Nʼihi na ọ dịghị ihe pụrụ igbochi Onyenwe anyị ịzọpụta, site nʼọtụtụ mmadụ, maọbụ ole na ole.”
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Come with me. We will go to where those (pagans/people who do not believe in Yahweh) [MTY] have set up their tents. Perhaps Yahweh will help us. It does not matter whether we are only two men or many people; nothing can hinder Yahweh from enabling us to defeat them.”
7 Nwokorobịa ahụ zara sị ya, “Gaa nʼihu, eji m obi m na mmụọ m na-eso gị dịka ọchịchọ gị si dị.”
The young man who was carrying Jonathan’s weapons said, “Do what you think is the best thing for us to do. I will help you.”
8 Jonatan gwara ya sị, “Bịa ka anyị ga, lee ihe anyị ga-eme. Anyị ga-apụkwuru ndị agha ahụ mee ka ha hụ anyị anya.
Then Jonathan said, “Okay, come with me. We will cross the valley to where the Philistia army is, and allow them to see us.
9 Ọ bụrụ na ha asị, ‘Guzonụ ebe ahụ ruo mgbe anyị bịakwutere unu,’ anyị ga-echere ebe anyị nọ, anyị agaghị agakwuru ha.
If they then say to us, ‘You two stay there until we come down to you,’ we will stay there and not go up to them.
10 Ma ọ bụrụ na ha sị, ‘Rigokwutenụ anyị,’ anyị ga-emekwa otu ahụ, nʼihi na ọ ga-abụrụ anyị ihe ama na Onyenwe anyị enyela ha nʼaka anyị.”
But if they say to us, ‘Come up here [and fight against] us,’ that will show us that Yahweh will enable us to defeat them. Then we will go up and fight them.”
11 Ya mere, ha abụọ guzoro ebe ndị Filistia ga-ahụ ha. Mgbe ndị Filistia hụrụ ha, ha tiri mkpu sị, “Lee, ndị Hibru esitela nʼọnụ ebe ha zoro na-arịpụta.”
When the two of them crossed the valley, the Philistia soldiers saw them coming. They said, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes in which they have been hiding!”
12 Ndị ikom ndị na-anọ nʼebe nguzo ndị nche tikuru Jonatan na onye ahụ na-ebu ngwa agha ya sị, “Rigokwutenụ anyị, ka anyị mee unu ihe.” Jonatan gwara onye ahụ na-ebu ngwa agha, “Soro m nʼazụ rigota, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ewerela ha nyefee nʼaka Izrel.”
Then the Philistia soldiers who were closest to Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons said, “Come up here, and we will teach you something [about how to fight] [IDM]!” Jonathan said to the young man who was with him, “Come behind me and climb up, because Yahweh is going to help us to defeat them!”
13 Ya mere, Jonatan ji ikpere ya na aka ya rigoruo nʼebe ahụ; onye na-ebu ihe agha ya sokwa ya nʼazụ. Ma ndị agha Filistia daghachiri azụ mgbe Jonatan na onye na-ebu ihe agha ya bidoro igbu ha.
So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and his feet [because it was very steep]. The young man climbed up following him. As Jonathan climbed, he struck and killed many Philistia soldiers, and the young man who was with him killed many more as he followed behind Jonathan.
14 Na ogbugbu mbụ ahụ, Jonatan na onye ahụ na-ebu ngwa agha ya gburu ọnụọgụgụ ndị Filistia dị iri abụọ. Ọ bụ nʼihe ha ka nketa ala ruru otu ọkara nʼekaa nʼọtụtụ.
In that first battle the two of them killed about 20 Philistia soldiers in an area that was about half an acre.
15 Oke ọma jijiji dakwasịrị ndị agha niile, na ndị nọ nʼọmụma ụlọ ikwu, ma ndị nọ nʼọhịa, ma ndị nọ nʼebe dịpụrụ adịpụ, ma ndị na-ejegharị ejegharị ibu agha. Ala ahụ niile mara jijiji. Ọ bụ ọma jijiji nke Chineke zitere.
Then all the other Philistia soldiers, the ones in the camp and the ones who had been attacking the Israeli towns, ones who were out in the field much closer, panicked. Then God caused the ground to shake, and they all became terrified/very afraid.
16 Ndị nche Sọl, bụ ndị nọ na Gibea nʼime Benjamin, lepụrụ anya hụ igwe ndị agha ka ha malitere ịgba barịị nʼihu na-azụ.
Saul’s (lookouts/men who were watching to see if enemies were coming) were in Gibeah [town] in the land of the tribe of Benjamin. They saw that the soldiers of the Philistia army were running away in all directions.
17 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl gwara ndị agha ya na ha so, “Gụọnụ ndị agha ọnụ, chọpụta onye na-anọghị nʼebe a.” Mgbe ha mere nke a, ha chọpụtara, na Jonatan na onye na-ebu ihe agha ya anọghị nʼebe ahụ.
Saul [realized that some of his soldiers must have attacked the Philistia army. So he] said to the soldiers who were with him, “Check to see if any of our men are not here.” So they checked, and they found out that Jonathan and the man who carried his weapons were gone.
18 Sọl sịrị Ahija, “Bute igbe ọgbụgba ndụ Chineke.” (Nʼoge ahụ igbe ọgbụgba ndụ dị nʼaka ụmụ Izrel.)
So Saul said to Ahijah [the Supreme Priest], “Bring the sacred vest here [and find out what we should do].” On that day Ahijah was wearing the sacred vest, going in front of the Israelis.
19 Mgbe Sọl na-agwa onye nchụaja okwu, ụzụ na iti mkpu nke na-ada nʼụlọ ikwu ndị Filistia dara karịa, nʼihi ya, Sọl gwara onye nchụaja ahụ okwu sị ya, “Sepụ aka gị.”
But while Saul was talking to the priest, [he saw that] the Philistia soldiers were becoming more panicked/confused. So Saul said to Ahijah, “Take your hand down [from the sacred vest. Do not waste any more time using the marked stones in the vest to find out what Yahweh wants us to do.”]
20 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl na ndị niile ya na ha nọ jikọtara onwe ha baa nʼagha ahụ, ma lee, ndị Filistia ji mma agha na-egburita onwe ha. Ọgbaaghara dịkwa nʼebe niile.
Then Saul gathered his men and they went toward the battle. They found that the Philistia soldiers were so confused that they were striking each other with their swords.
21 Ma ndị Hibru, ndị so ndị Filistia na-alụ ọgụ, tụgharịrị dịnyere ndị Izrel soro Sọl na Jonatan.
Before that, some of the Hebrew men had deserted their army and gone to join with the Philistia army. But now those men [revolted and] joined with Saul and Jonathan and the other Israeli soldiers.
22 Emesịa, ndị ikom Izrel niile, ndị ahụ zoro onwe ha nʼala ugwu ugwu Ifrem pụtara, mgbe ha hụrụ na ndị Filistia na-agba ọsọ. Ha gbapụtara soro ndị ọzọ ịchụ ndị Filistia ọsọ.
Some of the Israeli soldiers had previously run away and hidden in the mountains where the tribe of Ephraim lived. But when they heard that the Philistia soldiers were running away, they [came down and] joined the other Israeli soldiers and pursued the Philistia soldiers.
23 Ya mere, Onyenwe anyị napụtara ndị Izrel nʼụbọchị ahụ. E buru agha ahụ gabiga Bet-Aven.
So Yahweh rescued the Israelis on that day. The Israeli soldiers continued to pursue their enemies beyond Beth-Aven [town].
24 Ma ndị ikom Izrel nọ ọnọdụ nhụju anya nʼụbọchị ahụ, nʼihi na Sọl jiri ịṅụ iyi kechie ha, mgbe o kwuru sị, “Onye a bụrụ ọnụ ka nwoke ahụ bụ onye ga-eri nri ọbụla site ugbu a ruo anyasị, tutu ruo mgbe m bọsịrị ọbọ megide ndị iro m!” Nʼihi ya, o nweghị onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị agha ya detụrụ ihe oriri ọnụ.
Before Saul’s soldiers went to the battle, Saul declared to them solemnly, “I do not want any of you to eat any food before this evening, before we have defeated all our enemies. If anyone eats anything, [Yahweh] will curse/punish him.” So none of the Israeli soldiers ate any food, and they became faint/weak because they were very hungry.
25 Ndị agha ahụ niile banyere nʼọhịa ebe mmanụ aṅụ dị nʼala.
The Israeli army went into the forest, and they found honeycombs on the ground, but they did not eat any honey.
26 Mgbe ha banyere nʼọhịa, ha hụrụ mmanụ aṅụ ebe ọ na-asọpụta, ma o nweghị onye metụrụ aka nʼọnụ ya, nʼihi na ha tụrụ egwu iyi ahụ ha ṅụrụ.
They were afraid to eat any, because they had solemnly promised that they would not eat any food.
27 Ma Jonatan anụghị na nna ya mere ka ndị ahụ ṅụọ iyi, ya mere, o setịpụrụ ọnụ ọnụ mkpanaka dị ya nʼaka rụta mmanụ aṅụ na ugbugbo ya, tinye nʼọnụ ya rachaa. Nke a mere ka ike ya laghachite.
But Jonathan did not hear what his father commanded [because he had left the camp very early in the morning]. So [when he saw] a honeycomb, he dipped the end of his walking stick into it and ate some honey. After he ate the honey, he felt stronger.
28 Ma otu onye agha gwara ya sị, “Nna gị ji ịṅụ iyi gbaa ndị agha niile iwu, sị, ‘Onye a bụrụ ọnụ ka nwoke ahụ bụ, onye riri nri taa. Ọ bụ nke a mere ndị mmadụ ji ada mba.’”
But one of the Israeli soldiers saw him and said to him, “Your father solemnly declared to us that [Yahweh] would curse/punish anyone who ate any food today. So now we are [very tired and] weak from being hungry [because we obeyed him].”
29 Jonatan zara sị, “Nna m esitela nʼiwu dị otu a wetara ala anyị nsogbu. Lee ka m si nweta ike site na mmanụ aṅụ nta m rachara.
Jonathan exclaimed, “My father has caused trouble for all of us! See how refreshed/strong I am after eating a little honey!
30 Ọ garaghị aka mma ma a sị na ndị ikom riri ihe ha si nʼaka ndị iro ha kwata nʼagha? Ọ bụ na ogbugbu a gaara egbu ndị Filistia agaraghị adị ukwuu karịa?”
If he had permitted all of us to eat from the food we took from our enemies while we were pursuing them, we would have been able to kill many more of their soldiers!”
31 Ma ndị agha Izrel bu agụụ tigbuo ndị Filistia, chụọkwa ha ọsọ site na Mikmash ruo Aijalon. Ha dakwara mba karịa.
The Israelis pursued and killed Philistia soldiers all that day, from Micmash [town west] to Aijalon. But they continued to become weaker from being hungry.
32 Ha dakwasịrị ihe a kwatara nʼagha, gbuo atụrụ na ehi na ụmụ ehi, bido iri anụ ha na ndụ nʼihi agụụ.
They had taken [many] sheep and cattle that the Philistia soldiers had abandoned. Now, because they were extremely hungry, they butchered some of those animals and ate the meat without draining the blood from the animals.
33 Ma otu onye gwara Sọl sị, “Ndị ikom Izrel na-emehie megide Onyenwe anyị site na iri anụ ọbara ya dị nʼahụ ya.” Mgbe ahụ, ọ sịrị, “Ihe dị otu a jọgburu onwe ya. Nutenụ nkume ukwuu nʼebe a ugbu a.”
One of the soldiers told Saul, “Look! The men are sinning against Yahweh by eating meat that still has blood in it!” Saul replied [to the men who were near him], “They have disobeyed Yahweh! Roll a large stone over here!”
34 Sọl sịrị, “Gaa nʼetiti ndị ikom a gwa ha, ‘Ka onye ọbụla weta ehi na atụrụ ha chọrọ igbu nʼebe a, ka e gbuo ha nʼebe a, rie anụ ha. Unu emehiela megide Onyenwe anyị site nʼiri anụ ọbara dị nʼime ya.’” Ya mere, onye ọbụla wetara ehi ya nʼabalị ahụ, gbuo nʼebe ahụ.
After they did that, he said to those men, “Go and tell all the soldiers that each of them must bring an ox or a sheep to me, and kill it here on this stone, [and drain the blood] before he eats any of the meat. They should not sin against Yahweh by eating meat [from some animal] without draining its blood.” So that night all the soldiers brought animals and slaughtered them there. Then Saul built an altar to [worship] Yahweh.
35 Emesịa, Sọl wuuru Onyenwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja. Nke a bụ ebe ịchụ aja nke mbụ o wuru.
That was the first [time that he built an] altar for Yahweh.
36 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl gwara ndị agha ya sị, “Ka anyị gaa chụọ ndị Filistia ọsọ nʼabalị a niile, ma gbukwaa onye ọbụla fọdụrụ nʼime ha.” Ndị agha ya zara sị, “Ọ dị mma, mee dịka ị kwuru.” Ma onye nchụaja sịrị, “Ka anyị buru ụzọ jụta ihe bụ uche Chineke.”
Then Saul said [to the Israeli soldiers], “Let’s pursue the Philistia soldiers tonight. We can attack them all night. We will not allow any of them to escape alive.” The Israeli soldiers answered, “We will do whatever you think is the best thing for us to do.” But the priest said, “We should ask Yahweh [what he thinks we should do].”
37 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl jụrụ Chineke sị, “Ọ bụ m rịda gaa chụso ndị Filistia? Ị ga-enyefe ha nʼaka ndị Izrel?” Ma Chineke enyeghị ya ọsịsa ọbụla nʼụbọchị ahụ.
So Saul asked God, “Should we pursue the Philistine soldiers? Will you enable us to defeat them?” But God did not answer Saul that day.
38 Sọl gwara ndịisi agha Izrel okwu sị, “Ihe emebiela! Anyị aghaghị ịchọpụta ụdị mmehie anyị mere taa, nke mere Onyenwe anyị ji jụ inye anyị ọsịsa.
Then Saul summoned all the leaders of his army. He said to them, “[I am sure that God has not answered me because] someone has sinned. We must find out what sin someone has committed.
39 Nʼezie dịka Onyenwe anyị, onye na-azọpụta Izrel na-adị ndụ, a sịkwarị na ọ bụ nwa m Jonatan ka a chọpụtara na ọ bụ ya ka ikpe mara, ọ ga-anwụ!” Ma ọ dịghị onye gwara ya ihe ọbụla.
Yahweh has rescued us [from the Philistia army]. Just as certain as Yahweh lives, whoever has sinned must be executed. Even if it is my son Jonathan who has sinned, he must be executed.” [His men knew who was guilty], but none of them said anything [to Saul].
40 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl gwara ndị Izrel niile okwu sị ha, “Guzonụ onwe unu nʼebe ahụ, mụ na nwa m Jonatan ga-eguzo onwe anyị nʼebe a.” Ndị ahụ zara sị, “Mee ihe ọbụla dị gị mma.”
Then Saul said to all the Israeli soldiers, “You stand on one side. My son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.” His men replied, “Do whatever you think is best.”
41 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl kpere ekpere nye Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke Izrel, “Gịnị mere na ị zabeghị ohu gị taa? Ọ bụrụ na ikpe mara m maọbụ nwa m Jonatan, zaa site nʼUrim, ma ọ bụrụ ndị ikom Izrel ka ikpe mara, nye ọsịsa site na Tumim.” Nza ahụ mara Jonatan na Sọl, ma ikpe amaghị ndị ikom Izrel.
Then Saul prayed to Yahweh, the Israelis’ God, “Tell me who is guilty and who is not guilty.” Then the priest (cast lots/threw the stones that were marked), and they indicated that it was [either] Jonathan or Saul who was the guilty one, and that the other men were not guilty.
42 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl kwuru sị, “Ugbu a feenụ nza nʼetiti mụ na Jonatan, nwa m nwoke.” Nza ahụ mara Jonatan.
Then Saul said to the priest, “Throw the stones again to indicate which of us two is guilty.” So he did, and the stones indicated that Jonathan was the guilty one.
43 Sọl gwara Jonatan okwu sị ya, “Gwa m ihe i mere.” Jonatan zara sị ya, “Ọ bụ naanị mmanụ aṅụ ntakịrị ka m ji ọnụ mkpanaka m rụrụ rachaa. Ọ pụtara na m ga-anwụ nʼihi ya?”
Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done [that was wrong].” Jonathan replied, “I ate a little bit of honey. It was only a little bit that was on the end of my stick. Do I [deserve to be] executed [because of doing that]?”
44 Mgbe ahụ, Sọl zara sị, “Nʼezie Jonatan, ị ghaghị ịnwụ. Ka Chineke meso m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si sie ike, ma ọ bụrụ na ị nwụghị nʼihi ihe a i mere.”
Saul replied, “Yes, you must be executed! I hope/wish that God will strike me and kill me if you are not executed for having done that!”
45 Ma ndị ikom ahụ sịrị Sọl, “Jonatan ọ ga-anwụ, bụ onye a wetara nzọpụta a dị ukwuu nʼIzrel? Nke a apụghị ime! Dịka Onyenwe anyị na-adị ndụ, ọ bụladị otu agịrị isi agaghị esi nʼisi ya dapụ, nʼihi na Chineke ejirila ya rụọ ọrụ ịtụnanya dị ukwuu taa.” Ya mere, ndị agha ahụ zọpụtara Jonatan, e gbukwaghị ya.
But the Israeli soldiers said to Saul, “Jonathan has won a great victory for all us Israelis. Should he be executed for eating some honey [RHQ]? Certainly not! Just as surely as Yahweh lives, we will not allow you to injure him in any manner [IDM], [because] today God helped Jonathan [to kill many soldiers of the Philistia army]!” So [by saying that] the Israeli soldiers rescued Jonathan, and he was not executed.
46 Emesịa, Sọl kwụsịrị ndị agha ya ịchụ ndị Filistia ọsọ. Ndị Filistia nʼonwe ha lakwara nʼala nke ha.
Then Saul ordered his soldiers to stop pursuing the Philistia army, so the Philistia soldiers returned to their homes.
47 Site nʼoge Sọl malitere ịchị nʼIzrel, o buru agha megide ndị iro ha nʼakụkụ niile, ndị Moab, ndị Amọn, ndị Edọm, ndị eze Zoba na ndị Filistia. Ebe ọbụla o chere ihu ọ na-alụgbu.
After Saul became the ruler/king of the Israeli people, his army fought against their enemies in many areas. They fought against armies of the Moab people-group, the Ammon people-group, the Edom people-group, the kings of Zobah [city/area], and the Philistia people-group. Wherever the Israeli army fought, they defeated their enemies.
48 O buru agha dị ukwuu, lụgbuo ndị Amalek; ma zọpụta ndị Izrel site nʼaka ndị niile na-emegbu ha site nʼịpụnarị ha ihe ha nwere.
Saul’s army fought bravely and defeated the [very tall] descendants of Amalek. His army rescued the Israelis from those who had (plundered/forcefully taken things from) them.
49 Sọl mụtara ndị ikom atọ; Jonatan, Ishvi na Malkishua. Ọ mụtakwara ụmụ agbọghọ abụọ, Merab na Mikal.
Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malchishua. He also had two daughters, Merab and her younger sister Michal.
50 Aha nwunye Sọl bụ Ahinoam, ada Ahimaaz. Ọchịagha Sọl bụ Abna, nwa Nea, nwanne nna Sọl.
Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, who was the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
51 Nea, nna Abna, na Kish, nna Sọl bụ ụmụnne. Ha bụ ụmụ Abiel.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were both sons of Abiel.
52 Ndị Izrel na ndị Filistia nọ nʼagha dị egwu ụbọchị niile Sọl bụ eze. Mgbe ọbụla Sọl hụrụ nwoke dị ike, maọbụ dimkpa, ọ na-eduru ya mee ya ka ọ bụrụ otu nʼime ndị agha ya.
All the time that Saul was alive, his army fought against the Philistia army. And whenever Saul saw a young man who was (brave/not afraid to fight) and strong, he forced him to join his army.
