< Waamuzi 20 >

1 Ndipo Waisraeli wote kuanzia Dani hadi Beer-Sheba na wa kutoka nchi ya Gileadi wakatoka kama mtu mmoja wakakusanyika mbele za Bwana huko Mispa.
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Jehovah at Mizpah.
2 Viongozi wote wa kabila za Israeli wakakaa kwenye nafasi zao katika kusanyiko la watu wa Mungu, askari 400,000 waendao kwa miguu wenye panga.
The leaders of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.
3 (Wabenyamini wakasikia kuwa Waisraeli wamepanda kwenda Mispa.) Ndipo Waisraeli wakasema, “Tuelezeni jinsi jambo hili ovu lilivyotendeka.”
(Now the people of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?"
4 Hivyo yule Mlawi, mume wa yule mwanamke aliyeuawa, akasema, “Mimi na suria wangu tulifika Gibea ya Benyamini ili tulale huko.
The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my secondary wife, to spend the night.
5 Wakati wa usiku watu wa Gibea wakanijia na kuizingira nyumba, wakitaka kuniua. Wakambaka suria wangu mpaka akafa.
And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me, and they raped my secondary wife, and she is dead.
6 Ndipo nikamchukua suria wangu, nikamkatakata vipande vipande na kuvipeleka katika nchi yote ya urithi wa Israeli, kwa kuwa wametenda uasherati mkubwa na jambo la aibu katika Israeli.
I took my secondary wife, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed wickedness and disgrace in Israel.
7 Sasa, ninyi Waisraeli wote, semeni na mtoe uamuzi wenu.”
Look, you children of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here."
8 Watu wote wakainuka wakasema, kama mtu mmoja, “Hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayekwenda nyumbani. Wala hakuna hata mmoja wetu atakayerudi nyumbani kwake.
All the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us return to his house.
9 Sasa hili ndilo tutakaloitendea Gibea: Tutaikabili jinsi kura itakavyotuongoza.
But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot;
10 Tutatoa watu kumi katika kila 100 kutoka kwenye kabila zote za Israeli, watu 100 katika watu 1,000 na watu 1,000 katika 10,000, ili waende wakalete mahitaji kwa ajili ya jeshi. Basi wakati jeshi litakapofika Gibea ya Benyamini, watawatendea yale wanayostahili, kwa ajili ya uovu huu wa aibu waliotenda katika Israeli.”
and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get food for the people, those setting forth, that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin they may repay all the disgrace that they have committed in Israel."
11 Hivyo wanaume wote wa Israeli wakakutanika pamoja na kujiunga kama mtu mmoja dhidi ya huo mji.
So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.
12 Makabila ya Israeli yakatuma watu kwenda katika kabila la Benyamini lote na kuwaambia, “Ni uovu gani huu wa kutisha uliotendeka katikati yenu?
The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What wickedness is this that has happened among you?
13 Basi watoeni hao watu waovu kabisa walioko Gibea, ili tupate kuwaua na kuondoa uovu katika Israeli.” Lakini Wabenyamini hawakuwasikia ndugu zao, Waisraeli.
Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked men who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel." But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.
14 Wakatoka katika miji yao, wakakutanika Gibea ili kupigana na Waisraeli.
The people of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
15 Siku ile Wabenyamini wakakusanya watu 26,000 kutoka miji yao, waliojifunga panga, mbali na hao 700 waliochaguliwa miongoni mwa hao waliokaa Gibea.
The people of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
16 Miongoni mwa hao askari wote kulikuwa na watu 700 bora waliochaguliwa watumiao mkono wa kushoto, kila mmoja wao aliweza kutupa jiwe kwa kombeo na kulenga unywele mmoja bila kukosa.
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; everyone could sling stones at a hair and not miss.
17 Nao watu wa Israeli, mbali na hao wa Benyamini, wakakusanya watu waume 400,000, wenye kutumia panga, wote hao walikuwa mashujaa.
The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword: all these were men of war.
18 Waisraeli wakapanda Betheli na kumuuliza Mungu, “Ni nani miongoni mwetu atakayetangulia mbele yetu ili kupigana na Wabenyamini?” Bwana akawajibu, “Yuda ndiye atakayetangulia.”
The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, "Who shall go up for us first to battle against the people of Benjamin?" Jehovah said, "Judah will go up first."
19 Asubuhi yake Waisraeli wakaamka na kupiga kambi karibu na Gibea.
The children of Israel rose up in the morning, and camped against Gibeah.
20 Waisraeli wakatoka kupigana na Wabenyamini, nao Waisraeli wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vita dhidi yao huko Gibea.
The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
21 Wabenyamini wakatoka Gibea na kuwaua watu 22,000 wa Israeli siku ile.
The people of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty-two thousand men.
22 Lakini Waisraeli wakatiana moyo kila mmoja na mwenzake, nao wakajiweka kwenye nafasi zao katika vile vita mara ya pili mahali pale walipokuwa wamejiweka mara ya kwanza.
The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.
23 Waisraeli wakapanda mbele za Bwana na kulia mbele zake mpaka jioni, nao wakamuuliza Bwana wakisema, “Je, tupande tena kupigana vita na Wabenyamini, ndugu zetu?” Bwana akajibu, “Pandeni mkapigane nao.”
The children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until evening; and they asked of Jehovah, saying, "Shall I again draw near to battle against the people of Benjamin my brother?" Jehovah said, "Go up against him."
24 Ndipo Waisraeli wakawakaribia Wabenyamini siku ya pili.
The children of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.
25 Wakati huu, Wabenyamini walipotoka Gibea ili kupigana nao, wakawaua watu Waisraeli 18,000, wote wakiwa wamejifunga panga.
Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
26 Ndipo Waisraeli, watu wote, wakapanda Betheli, huko wakakaa mbele za Bwana wakilia. Wakafunga siku ile mpaka jioni na kutoa sadaka ya kuteketezwa na sadaka ya amani kwa Bwana.
Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah.
27 Nao Waisraeli wakauliza kwa Bwana. (Katika siku hizo Sanduku la Agano la Mungu lilikuwa huko
The children of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28 na Finehasi mwana wa Eleazari, mwana wa Aroni, alikuwa anahudumu mbele za hilo Sanduku.) Wakauliza, “Je, tupande kwenda vitani kupigana tena na Wabenyamini ndugu zetu, au la?” Bwana akajibu, “Nendeni, kwa kuwa kesho nitawatia mikononi mwenu.”
and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the people of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?" Jehovah said, "Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand."
29 Basi Waisraeli wakaweka waviziao kuizunguka Gibea.
Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.
30 Kisha Waisraeli wakapanda kupigana na Wabenyamini katika siku ya tatu na kujiweka kwenye nafasi zao dhidi ya Gibea kama walivyokuwa wamefanya hapo kwanza.
The children of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
31 Wabenyamini wakatoka ili kukabiliana nao, Waisraeli wakawavuta Wabenyamini watoke katika mji. Wakaanza kupigana na kuua watu wapatao thelathini wa Israeli, kama walivyofanya nyakati nyingine, katika njia kuu, moja iendayo Betheli na nyingine Gibea.
The people of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill some of the people, as at other times, on the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
32 Wabenyamini wakafikiri, “Wanapigwa mbele yetu kama hapo kwanza.” Waisraeli wakasema, “Sisi na turudi nyuma ili tuwavute wauache mji waende kuelekea barabarani.”
The people of Benjamin said, "They are defeated before us, as previously." But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways."
33 Watu wote wa Israeli wakaondoka kwenye sehemu zao na kujipanga huko Baal-Tamari, nao wale waviziaji wa Waisraeli, wakatoka hapo walipokuwa kwenye uwanda wa magharibi ya Gibea.
All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. And the men of Israel in ambush rushed out of their place west of Geba.
34 Ndipo watu 10,000 bora waliochaguliwa katika Israeli wote, wakaja kuishambulia Gibea. Vita vilikuwa vikali sana, hata Wabenyamini hawakutambua kuwa maangamizi yalikuwa karibu nao kwa kiasi hicho.
There came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe; but they didn't know that disaster was close upon them.
35 Bwana akawashinda Wabenyamini mbele ya Waisraeli na siku ile Waisraeli wakawaua Wabenyamini watu waume 25,100, wote wakiwa wenye kujifunga silaha za vita.
Jehovah struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men: all armed with swords.
36 Hivyo Wabenyamini wakaona kuwa wamepigwa. Basi Waisraeli walikuwa wameondoka mbele ya Wabenyamini, kwa sababu Waisraeli waliwategemea hao waviziaji waliokuwa wamewaweka dhidi ya Gibea.
So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated; for the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.
37 Wale waviziaji wakafanya haraka kuingia Gibea, wakasambaa na kuwaua watu wote wa mji kwa upanga.
The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; and the ambushers drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
38 Waisraeli walikuwa wamepatana na hao waviziaji kuwa wangefanya lipande wingu kubwa la moshi kutoka huo mji,
Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39 ndipo watu wa Waisraeli wangegeuka kupigana. Watu wa Benyamini walikuwa wameanza kuwapiga na kuua watu wa Israeli (wapatao thelathini), hivyo wakafikiri, “Hakika tutawapiga, kama tulivyowashinda katika vita hapo kwanza.”
The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."
40 Lakini wakati lile wingu la moshi lilipoanza kupanda kutoka ule mji, Wabenyamini wakageuka na kuona moshi wa mji mzima unapaa juu angani.
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and look, the whole city went up in smoke into the sky.
41 Ndipo watu wa Israeli wakawageukia, nao Wabenyamini wakatiwa hofu, kwa kuwa walitambua kwamba maafa yamewajia.
The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that disaster had come on them.
42 Basi wakakimbia mbele ya Waisraeli kuelekea nyikani, lakini hawakuweza kukwepa vile vita. Nao watu wa Israeli waliotoka katika ile miji wakawaua huko.
Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in its midst.
43 Wakawazingira Wabenyamini pande zote, wakawafuatia na kuwapata hapo walipopumzika katika viunga vya Gibea upande wa mashariki.
They surrounded Benjamin, and they pursued them from Nohah and overtook them near Gibeah toward the east.
44 Wakaanguka Wabenyamini 18,000 ambao wote ni mashujaa.
There fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valor.
45 Walipogeuka na kukimbia kuelekea nyikani hata kufikia mwamba wa Rimoni, Waisraeli wakawaua watu 5,000 wakiwa njiani. Wakawafuata kwa kasi mpaka Gidomu huko wakawaua watu wengine 2,000.
They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they killed on the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck down two thousand men.
46 Siku ile wakawaua Wabenyamini 25,000 waliokuwa mashujaa wa vita.
So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand swordsmen; all these were valiant fighters.
47 Lakini watu 600 wakakimbia kuelekea nyikani katika mwamba wa Rimoni, na kukaa huko muda wa miezi minne.
But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.
48 Waisraeli wakarudi na kuua watu wote wa Benyamini, pamoja na wanyama na kila walichokikuta. Pia kila mji waliouona waliuchoma moto.
The men of Israel turned again on the people of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the livestock, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.

< Waamuzi 20 >