Israel Gets Ready for War
1-3 The Israelites called a meeting of the nation. And since they were God's people, the meeting was held at the place of worship in Mizpah. Men who could serve as soldiers came from everywhere in Israel—from Dan in the north, Beersheba in the south, and Gilead east of the Jordan River. Four hundred thousand of them came to Mizpah, and they each felt the same about what those men from the tribe of Benjamin had done.
News about the meeting at Mizpah reached the tribe of Benjamin.
As soon as the leaders of the tribes of Israel took their places, the Israelites said, “How could such a horrible thing happen?”
4 The husband of the murdered woman answered:
My wife and I went into the town of Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. 5 Later that night, the men of Gibeah surrounded the house. They wanted to kill me, but instead they raped and killed my wife. 6 It was a terrible thing for Israelites to do! So I cut up her body and sent the pieces everywhere in Israel.
7 You are the people of Israel, and you must decide today what to do about the men of Gibeah.
8 The whole army was in agreement, and they said, “None of us will go home. 9-10 We'll send one tenth of the men from each tribe to get food for the army. And we'll ask God who should attack Gibeah, because those men deserve to be punished for committing such a horrible crime in Israel.”
11 Everyone agreed that Gibeah had to be punished.
12 The tribes of Israel sent messengers to every town and village in Benjamin. And wherever the messengers went, they said, “How could those worthless men in Gibeah do such a disgusting thing? 13 We can't allow such a terrible crime to go unpunished in Israel! Hand the men over to us, and we will put them to death.”
But the people of Benjamin refused to listen to the other Israelites. 14 Men from towns all over Benjamin's territory went to Gibeah and got ready to fight Israel. 15 The Benjamin tribe had 26,000 soldiers, not counting the 700 who were Gibeah's best warriors. 16 In this army there were 700 left-handed experts who could sling a rock at a target the size of a hair and hit it every time.
17 The other Israelite tribes organized their army and found they had 400,000 experienced soldiers. 18 So they went to the place of worship at Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should be the first to attack the people of Benjamin?”
“Judah,” the Lord answered.
19 The next morning the Israelite army moved its camp to a place near Gibeah. 20 Then they left their camp and got into position to attack the army of Benjamin.
The War Between Israel and Benjamin
21 Benjamin's soldiers came out of Gibeah and attacked, and when the day was over, 22,000 Israelite soldiers lay dead on the ground.
22-24 The people of Israel went to the place of worship and cried until sunset. Then they asked the Lord, “Should we attack the people of Benjamin again, even though they are our relatives?”
“Yes,” the Lord replied, “attack them again!”
The Israelite soldiers encouraged each other to be brave and to fight hard. Then the next day they went back to Gibeah and took up the same positions as they had before.
25 That same day, Benjamin's soldiers came out of Gibeah and attacked, leaving another 18,000 Israelite soldiers dead on the battlefield.
26-28 The people of Israel went to the place of worship at Bethel, where the sacred chest was being kept. They sat on the ground, crying and not eating for the rest of the day. Then about sunset, they offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask his blessing. Phinehas the priest then prayed, “Our Lord, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attack them again?”
“Attack!” the Lord answered. “Tomorrow I will let you defeat them.”
29 The Israelites surrounded Gibeah, but stayed where they could not be seen. 30 Then the next day, they took the same positions as twice before, 31-41 but this time they had a different plan. They said, “When the men of Benjamin attack, we will run off and let them chase us away from the town and into the country roads.”
The soldiers of Benjamin attacked the Israelite army and started pushing it back from the town. They killed about 30 Israelites in the fields and along the road between Gibeah and Bethel. The men of Benjamin were thinking, “We're mowing them down like we did before.”
The Israelites were running away, but they headed for Baal-Tamar, where they regrouped. They had set an ambush, and they were sure it would work. Ten thousand of Israel's best soldiers had been hiding west of Gibeah, and as soon as the men of Benjamin chased the Israelites into the countryside, these 10,000 soldiers made a surprise attack on the town gates. They dashed in and captured Gibeah, killing everyone there. Then they set the town on fire, because the smoke would be the signal for the other Israelite soldiers to turn and attack the soldiers of Benjamin.
The fighting had been so heavy around the soldiers of Benjamin, that they did not know the trouble they were in. But then they looked back and saw clouds of smoke rising from the town. They looked in front and saw the soldiers of Israel turning to attack. This terrified them, because they realized that something horrible was happening. And it was horrible—over 25,000 soldiers of Benjamin died that day, and those who were left alive knew that the Lord had given Israel the victory.
42 The men of Benjamin headed down the road toward the desert, trying to escape from the Israelites. But the Israelites stayed right behind them, keeping up their attack. Men even came out of the nearby towns to help kill the men of Benjamin, 43 who were having to fight on all sides. The Israelite soldiers never let up their attack. They chased and killed the warriors of Benjamin as far as a place directly east of Gibeah, 44 until 18,000 of these warriors lay dead.
45 Some other warriors of Benjamin turned and ran down the road toward Rimmon Rock in the desert. The Israelites killed 5,000 of them on the road, then chased the rest until they had killed 2,000 more. 46 Twenty-five thousand soldiers of Benjamin died that day, all of them experienced warriors. 47 Only 600 of them finally made it into the desert to Rimmon Rock, where they stayed for four months.
48 The Israelites turned back and went to every town in Benjamin's territory, killing all the people and animals, and setting the towns on fire.
Ruede Yisaraele ro Kyila Oyene
1 Lidri cini Yisaraele ro ikyiyite ndi ni Dana yasi ago le Beraseba ya, ago kpa ni wari Gilada ro yasi. 'Dooko ànya mbikalate oso 'dialo ronye OPI kandra Mizepa ya. 2 Dri'bai 'bakalai cini Yisaraele ro ro orivoya lau kalaombi lidri Lu ro ro lako, kyila'bai se kayibe aba pa si cini orivoya kutu kama su (400,000). 3 'Dooko lidri Benjamina'bai ro eriyi tate ekye Yisaraele'bai azi mbiyikalate Mizepa ya.
Ago Yisaraele'bai ejiyi Lewe'ba ana te ekye: “Nyiti ta ämäri, ŋga kozi se ono ko'debe a'done eŋwanye ya?” 4 Ago Lewe'ba se toko ogyeako na äfube ana zatadrite ekye: “Ma ndi toko ogyeako maro be mäkute Gibea ya wari Benjamina roya u'dune ŋgäkyi ana si lau. 5 Oko mànoago Gibea ro ikyite ma gotane ŋgäkyi ana si ànya muyidri zo se mabe kigye ana rote gbikyi. Ànya leyi aba ma ufune; oko ànya go yeyitate toko ogyeako maro be mbarasi, ago anya drate. 6 Ago märu avo anyaro te ago motolote jinyijinyi, ago mazote ba alo alo 'bakala 'butealo foritu Yisaraele ro yasi. Tana lidri se kwoi yeyi tase undiro ago koziro para ono te Yisaraele ya. 7 Mìndre, ami se cini noŋwa orivoya Yisaraele'bai. Nyozo tavousu amiro. Inye'do tase oyene ämäri ta ono ta e'di ya?”
8 Ago lidri cini ŋgate kuru troalo ago atayite ekye: “Alodi aza amaro ri ogone zo boŋgoro ndaro ya i'do kode 'bäru nda rigä i'do. 9 Ono ni tase ämäri oyene owo: ämäri lidri azaka ovone vodo si, ukyine Gibea gotane. 10 Telesi alo 'bute lidri Yisaraele ro ro ri ŋgaonya ozone kyila'bai ri, oko anjokona ri oyine Gibea se wari Benjamina roya ana ezane, ta tase kozipara ànya koyeyibe Yisaraele ya ono rota.” 11 Ta'dota mànoago cini Yisaraele ro otoyikalate tausu alodi be, ukyine 'bakici ana gotane.
12 Ago 'bakalai Yisaraele ro zoyi lazo te wari cini 'bakala Benjamina ro yasi, ta ata be ekye: “Takozi se mìyebe ono e'di ya? 13 Nyòzo lidri kozi se Gibea ya kai ämärigye, tana mä̀fu ànya robe, ago màna tase undiro ono robe ni Yisaraele yasi.” Caoko lidri Benjamina ro eriyi ta Yisaraele'bai azi ànyaro ro kote. 14 Lidri cini Benjamina ro efoyite ni 'bakicii ànyaro yasi ànya ikyiyite Gibea ya kyila oyene Yisaraele'bai azi ànyaro be. 15 Tu gi ana si 'bakala Benjamina ro otokala kyila'bai rote kutu 'buteritu fonjidrialo (26,000) ni 'ba'desii modo ànyaro ro yasi. Ago lidri Gibea ro se anji be cini orivoya kama njidrieri (700). 16 Ni kyila'bai kwoi lakosi, lidri gi anjibe kama njidrieri (700) ono cini orivoya gaṛi'bai. Ànya alo alo ni ndi kuni ovone iba si se unina ko drikyiri alodi ovone ta. 17 Ago 'bakalai Yisaraele'bai ro teinye Benjamina'bai ako, otoyikala kyila'bai embaembaro rote cini orivoya kutu kama su (400,000).
Kyila Oye Benjamina'bai be
18 Yisaraele'bai oyiyite vo mätu roya Betele ya, ago ejiyi Lu te ekye: “'Bakala eŋwani oyina ni käti Benjamina'bai gotane ya?” Ago OPI zaradrite ekye: “'Bakala Yuda ro oyina ni käti.”
19 'Dooko Yisaraele'bai ŋgayite kyenoŋbo ago kyi otoyi gawa te Gibea lomvo. 20 Kyila'bai Yisaraele ro oyiyite kyila'bai Benjamina ro gotane; ago rayi kyila'bai te Gibea mile. 21 Ago kyila'bai Benjamina ro efoyite ni 'bakici yasi, ago tu gi ana si ànya tufuyi kyila'bai Yisaraele'bai rote kutu 'buteritu foritu (22,000). 22 Oko kyila'bai Yisaraele ro ozoyi agoago te azi ri ago embeyi iyi te kpa to'di vose alo ana ya oso tu käti si ronye. 23 Ago Yisaraele'bai oyiyite vo mätu roya ago liyiyite OPI kandra madale tandrolero. Ago ànya ejiyi OPI te ekye: “Inye'do mòyi ri kpa to'di kyila oyene ädrupii amaro Benjamina'bai be ya?”
Ago OPI zatadrite ekye: “Owo, nyoyi ri.” 24 'Dooko Yisaraele'bai oyiyite kyila oyene Benjamina'bai be pere ṛirina si. 25 Ago Benjamina'bai foyite ni Gibea yasi kyila oyene ànya be pere ṛirina si, ago tufuyi Yisaraele'bai te kutu 'butealo fonjidriena (18,000); vona cini kwoi orivoya kyila'bai se embate kadoro owo. 26 'Dooko kyila'bai cini Yisaraele'bai ro oyiyite Betele ya ago liyiyite. Ànya riyite lau OPI kandra ago akpayite ŋgaonya ako tu gi ana si madale tandrolero. Ànya ozoyi ŋgapäṛi ozaro ndi ŋgapäṛi rumoraro be te kpeye OPI ri. 27 Ago Yisaraele'bai ejiyi OPI te (tana Sänduku Tao'baro Lu ro orivoya Betele ya lau tu kai si, 28 ago Finasa, ŋgwa Eleazara ro, kwozo Arona ro ni ruindu'ba na yi). Lidri eji OPI te ekye: “Inye'do mòyi ri kpa to'di kyila oyene ädrupii amaro Benjamina'bai be, kode màri teri ya?” Ago OPI zatadrite ekye: “Miye kyila ri; tana ondo 'do ma'bana ami 'da ànya opene ṛe.”
29 Ta'dota Yisaraele'bai 'bayi kyila'bai azaka te ruda'done gbikyi Gibea lomvosi. 30 'Dooko Yisaraele'bai oyiyite kyila oyene Benjamina'bai be tu nina si, ago rayi kyila'bai ànyaro te zayimite Gibea driro, oso tuse käti kai si ronye. 31 Ago Benjamina'bai efoyite kyila oyene ànya yibe, ago Yisaraele'bai eŋgyeyi ànya te lozo ni 'bakici lomvosi. Ago oso tuse käti kai si ronye, ànya etoyi Yisaraele'bai azaka tufuna te vo däyiro liti 'desi se kabe oyi Betele ya ago aza se kabe oyi Gibea ya ana roya. Ànya fuyi Yisaraele'bai te oso 'butenätu ronye. 32 Ago Benjamina'bai atayite ekye: “Ànya muyite ni ama milesi oso se käti ana ronye.”
Oko Yisaraele'bai rayitate umune ago ànya iywene pere ni 'bakici lomvosi le liti 'dèsiro iyi ya. 33 Ta'dota ondro Yisaraele'bai keŋgyeyi iyi te kovole ago kogo kodro'beruyite Baletamara ya oko, dori lidri se kumuyidri Gibea robe kai ŋgayite ni ruda'dovo ànyaro aŋgoya Geba ro ya. 34 Ago mànoago topetopero Yisaraele ro cini orivoya kutu 'butealo (10,000), gotayi Gibea te, ago kyila a'dote rritiro. Benjamina'bai usuyi vo ko'de ekye rriti 'desi kate esa iyi dri. 35 Ago OPI 'ba Yisaraele te kyila'bai Benjamina ro opene ṛe. Tu ana si ana Yisaraele'bai tufuyi Benjamina'bai te kutu 'buteritu fonji kama alo (25,100) vona cini màno kyila oyero. 36 Ago Benjamina'bai niyite anjioko ape ànya te ṛe.
Liti Ŋgaopeṛe Yisaraele'bai ro
Yisaraele'bai eŋgyeyi iyi teni Benjamina'bai ri, tana ànya yiyitate kyila'bai se ànya ko'ba kada'dorube Gibea lomvosi kai ya. 37 Kyila'bai se kada'dorube kai muyite ndrindri Gibea ya, ànya pererute 'bakici yasi ago tufuyi 'dise cini lau ana te. 38 Kyila'bai modo Yisaraele ro rayitate kyila'bai se kada'dorube kai be ta taka'daro rota. Ekye ondro ànya kondre äṛubäni kätu ro koŋgate 'bakici ya oko, 39 te Yisaraele'bai se vo kyila roya kai ri drietane kyila ya. Saa ono si Benjamina'bai eto Yisaraele'bai tufute ago 'dooko tufuyi te oso 'butenätu ronye. Ago Ànya komayibe ekye: “Endaro yipe ànya te ṛe, kpa oso se kyila käti ya ana ronye.” 40 'Dooko taka'daro ka'darute; kätu eto oŋgate ni 'ba'desi yasi. Ondro Benjamina'bai kondreyivote kovole oko, ànya a'doyite larolaro ro 'bakici ondrevoya ujevoya tuṛi. 41 'Dooko Yisaraele'bai ezayidrite, ago ondro Benjamina'bai kondre rriti tavo ànyaro te oko, ànya a'dote lä'bilä'biro. 42 Ta'doro ànya siyikundu te ago muyite ni Yisaraele'bai milesi ogone vocowa yaro; caoko ànya payivo kote. Tana kyila'bai modo Yisaraele ro ndi se kabe efoni 'bakici yasi kai be gotayi ànya te kitori ago utufu ànya te. 43 Yisaraele'bai taṛiyi kyila'baazii ànyaro te kitori ago soyite ànya vo ni Noha yasi le sidri ädu Gibea ro ogone 'buzelesi ya, uguyi ànya tufute le lau. 44 Utufu kyila'bai kadopara Benjamina'bai rote orivoya kutu 'butealo fonjidriena (18,000). 45 Anjokona sikundu te ago muyite vocowa ya ro le Luutu Rimona roya. Utufu kutu nji (5,000) ànyaro te liti 'desi drisi. Yisaraele'bai soyite anjokona vo le Gidoma ya, ago tufuyi te lau kutu ritu (2,000). 46 Lidri Benjamina ro se utufube tu ana si, cini orivoya kutu 'buteritu fonji (25,000), vona cini orivoya kyila'bai turiako yi.
47 Oko kyila'bai Benjamina ro kama njidrialo (600) mute vocowa yaro le Luutu Rimona roya ago riyite lau imba na su. 48 Ago kyila'bai Yisaraele'bai ro etayidrite kovole anjoko Benjamina'bai ro dri, ago tufuyi ànya te kpeye, mànoago, 'ditoko, ndi ŋgàga be ago koronyai 'ba ro kpa. Ànya zayi 'ba'desii se cini wari ana ya te asi si.