Israel Prepares for War
1 All the people of Israel from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east, answered the call. They gathered in one body in the Lord's presence at Mizpah. 2 The leaders of all the tribes of Israel were present at this gathering of God's people, and there were 400,000 foot soldiers. 3 Meanwhile the people of Benjamin heard that all the other Israelites had gathered at Mizpah.
The Israelites asked, “Tell us, how was this crime committed?” 4 The Levite whose concubine had been murdered answered, “My concubine and I went to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night. 5 The men of Gibeah came to get me and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me; instead they raped my concubine, and she died. 6 I took her body, cut it in pieces, and sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. These people have committed an evil and immoral act among us. 7 All of you here are Israelites. What are we going to do about this?”
8 All the people stood up together and said, “None of us, whether he lives in a tent or in a house, will go home. 9 This is what we will do: we will draw lots and choose some men to attack Gibeah. 10 One tenth of the men in Israel will provide food for the army, and the others will go and punish Gibeah for this immoral act that they have committed in Israel.” 11 So all the men in Israel assembled with one purpose—to attack the town.
12 The Israelite tribes sent messengers all through the territory of the tribe of Benjamin to say, “What is this crime that you have committed? 13 Now hand over those perverts in Gibeah, so that we can kill them and remove this evil from Israel.” But the people of Benjamin paid no attention to the other Israelites. 14 From all the cities of Benjamin they came to Gibeah to fight the other people of Israel. 15-16 They called out twenty-six thousand soldiers from their cities that day. Besides these, the citizens of Gibeah gathered seven hundred specially chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a strand of hair and never miss. 17 Not counting the tribe of Benjamin, the Israelites gathered 400,000 trained soldiers.
The War against the Benjaminites
18 The Israelites went to the place of worship at Bethel, and there they asked God, “Which tribe should attack the Benjaminites first?”
The Lord answered, “The tribe of Judah.”
19 So the Israelites started out the next morning and camped near the city of Gibeah. 20 They went to attack the army of Benjamin, and placed the soldiers in position facing the city. 21 The army of Benjamin came out of the city, and before the day was over they had killed twenty-two thousand Israelite soldiers. 22-23 Then the Israelites went to the place of worship and mourned in the presence of the Lord until evening. They asked him, “Should we go again into battle against our brothers the Benjaminites?”
The Lord answered, “Yes.”
So the Israelite army was encouraged, and they placed their soldiers in position again, where they had been the day before. 24 They marched against the army of Benjamin a second time. 25 And for the second time the Benjaminites came out of Gibeah, and this time they killed eighteen thousand trained Israelite soldiers. 26 Then all the people of Israel went up to Bethel and mourned. They sat there in the Lord's presence and did not eat until evening. They offered fellowship sacrifices and burned some sacrifices whole—all in the presence of the Lord. 27-28 God's Covenant Box was there at Bethel in those days, and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was in charge of it. The people asked the Lord, “Should we go out to fight our brothers the Benjaminites again, or should we give up?”
The Lord answered, “Fight. Tomorrow I will give you victory over them.”
29 So the Israelites put some soldiers in hiding around Gibeah. 30 Then for the third straight day they marched against the army of Benjamin and placed their soldiers in battle position facing Gibeah, as they had done before. 31 The Benjaminites came out to fight and were led away from the city. As they had before, they began killing some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites. 32 The Benjaminites said, “We've beaten them just as before.”
But the Israelites had planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads. 33 So when the main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar, the men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of their hiding places in the rocky country around the city. 34 Ten thousand men, specially chosen out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was hard. The Benjaminites had not realized that they were about to be destroyed. 35 The Lord gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed 25,100 of the enemy that day, 36 and the Benjaminites realized they were defeated.
How the Israelites Won
The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites because they were relying on the men that they had put in hiding around Gibeah. 37 These men ran quickly toward Gibeah; they spread out in the city and killed everyone there. 38 The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had arranged a signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town, 39 the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves, “Yes, we've beaten them just as before.” 40 Then the signal appeared; a cloud of smoke began to go up from the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them and were amazed to see the whole city going up in flames. 41 Then the Israelites turned around, and the Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they realized that they were about to be destroyed. 42 They retreated from the Israelites and ran toward the open country, but they could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men who were now coming out of the city, and they were destroyed. 43 The Israelites had the enemy trapped, and without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah, killing them as they went. 44 Eighteen thousand of the best Benjaminite soldiers were killed. 45 The others turned and ran toward the open country to Rimmon Rock. Five thousand of them were killed on the roads. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing two thousand. 46 In all, twenty-five thousand Benjaminites were killed that day—all of them brave soldiers.
47 But six hundred men were able to escape to the open country to Rimmon Rock, and they stayed there four months. 48 The Israelites turned back against the rest of the Benjaminites and killed them all—men, women, and children, and animals as well. They burned every town in the area.
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.