Judges

20 Because of this one, all Israel people come out from Dan go reach Beʹer-sheʹba and from the land of Gilʹe·ad, and this whole group of people gather together as one* for front of Jehovah for Mizʹpah. 2 So the chiefs of the people and all the tribes of Israel take their position for the congregation of the people of God. Them be 400,000 soldiers wey de use leg waka and wey carry swords.

3 The people from the tribe of Benjamin hear say the men of Israel don go up to Mizʹpah.

Then the men of Israel talk say: “Tell us how this wicked thing happen.” 4 Then the man wey be Levite, the husband of the woman wey them kill, answer say: “I go Gibʹe·ah wey dey the land of Benjamin with my concubine to stay there that night. 5 The people* of Gibʹe·ah stand up against me and surround the house for night. Them be want kill me, but instead them rape my concubine and e die. 6 So I take the dead body of my concubine and cut-am to pieces and send the pieces to every part of the land of Israel because them don do wetin bring shame and disgrace for Israel. 7 Now make all of una, people of Israel, discuss the matter and give advice here.”

8 Then all the people stand up together as one* and talk say: “Nobody among us go go im tent or go back to im house. 9 Now, this one na wetin we go do to Gibʹe·ah: Na lot we go cast to go fight Gibʹe·ah. 10 We go take 10 men out of 100 men from all the tribes of Israel and 100 men out of 1,000 men, and 1,000 men out of 10,000 men to gather wetin the army go need, so that them fit go deal with the people of Gibʹe·ah wey dey the land of Benjamin, because of wetin them do for Israel wey bring disgrace.” 11 So all the men of Israel gather as one to support each other against the city.

12 Then the tribes of Israel send men to go meet all the men of the tribe of Benjamin and talk say: “Wetin be this wicked thing wey don happen among una? 13 Now make una bring the useless men from Gibʹe·ah give us, so that we fit kill them and wipe bad thing comot from Israel.” But the people from the tribe of Benjamin no gree listen to their brothers wey be Israel people.

14 Then the people from the tribe of Benjamin gather together from the cities go Gibʹe·ah, so that them go go fight the men of Israel. 15 That day, the people from the tribe of Benjamin gather 26,000 men wey get swords from their cities, apart from the 700 men of Gibʹe·ah wey them choose. 16 For this army, 700 men wey them choose na left hand men. Every one of this men fit use stone shoot something wey small like hair and no go miss-am.

17 The men of Israel apart from the tribe of Benjamin gather 400,000 men wey carry swords, and each of this men na soldier wey get experience. 18 Them stand up and go up to Bethʹel to ask direction from God. Then the people of Israel talk say: “Who among us go lead us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” Jehovah answer say: “Na Judah go lead una.”

19 After that one, Israel people get up for morning and put their camp near Gibʹe·ah to fight-am.

20 So the men of Israel go fight against Benjamin people. Them arrange theirself to fight against them for Gibʹe·ah. 21 So people from the tribe of Benjamin come out from Gibʹe·ah and kill 22,000 men from Israel that day. 22 But, the army of the men of Israel show say them get strong heart and arrange theirself again to go fight for the same place like the first day. 23 Then Israel people go up and cry for front of Jehovah till evening reach, and ask Jehovah say: “Make we go fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin again?” Then Jehovah answer say: “Make una go up go fight them.”

24 So for the second day, Israel people come near the place wey the tribe of Benjamin dey. 25 Then Benjamin people come out from Gibʹe·ah to meet them for the second day and kill another 18,000 Israel people, and all of them carry sword. 26 So all the men of Israel go up to Bethʹel. Them cry and sitdown for there for front of Jehovah and them fast that day till evening reach, and do offerings wey them de burn and peace offerings for front of Jehovah. 27 After that one, the men of Israel ask for direction from Jehovah, because the ark of the agreement of the true God dey there that time. 28 Now Phinʹe·has the son of El·e·aʹzar, the son of Aaron de serve* for front of the Ark that time. Them ask say: “Make we still go again to fight against our brothers the men of Benjamin, or make we stop?” Jehovah answer say: “Make una go up, because tomorrow, I go put them for una hand.” 29 Then Israel people arrange men to hide surround the whole of Gibʹe·ah.

30 For the third day, Israel people go up to fight against people for the tribe of Benjamin and them arrange theirself to fight against Gibʹe·ah just as them do for the other days. 31 When the people from the tribe of Benjamin comot go meet the army, the army draw them comot from the city, then just as e be for the other days, them start to attack and kill some of the men for the roads. One of the roads de go up to Bethʹel and the other one de go Gibʹe·ah. Them kill about 30 men of Israel for the open area. 32 So the people from the tribe of Benjamin talk say: “Them de lose just like before for our front.” But Israel people talk say: “We go run from them and draw them comot from the city go the roads.” 33 So all the men of Israel stand up from where them dey and arrange theirself to fight for Baʹal-taʹmar and the Israel people wey hide, charge come out from where them dey for the area of Gibʹe·ah. 34 So 10,000 men wey them choose from all Israel come front of Gibʹe·ah and the fight strong. But the people from the tribe of Benjamin no know say trouble don near.

35 Jehovah win the tribe of Benjamin for front of Israel people and that day, Israel people kill 25,100 men from Benjamin, and all of them carry sword.

36 But, the people from the tribe of Benjamin think say as the men of Israel run from them, them go win them. But the men of Israel run because them trust the people wey hide de wait to attack Gibʹe·ah. 37 Quick-quick, the people wey hide run go attack Gibʹe·ah. Then the people wey hide spread for the city and them use sword attack the whole city.

38 Now the men of Israel be don arrange say the men wey hide de wait to attack the city go make smoke de go up from there as sign.

39 When Israel people turn and run from the fight, the men of Benjamin start to attack and kill about 30 men of Israel, and them talk say: “E clear say them de lose again for our front, just as e happen for the fight wey we don fight before.” 40 But the thick smoke start to go up from the city as sign. When the men of Benjamin turn to look, them see say the whole city de burn and smoke de go up-up. 41 Then the men of Israel turn face them, and the men of Benjamin come weak because them see say them don enter big trouble. 42 So them run from the men of Israel de go wilderness, but the fight follow them. The men wey de come out from the cities come join de kill them. 43 Them surround the people from the tribe of Benjamin and them no tire to pursue them. Them kill them finish* for front of Gibʹe·ah for the east side. 44 At last, 18,000 men from Benjamin die, and all of them na strong soldiers.

45 The men of Benjamin turn and run go wilderness go reach the rock of Rimʹmon, and Israel people kill* 5,000 of them for the roads, and them continue to pursue them go reach Giʹdom; so them kill another 2,000 men. 46 All the people of Benjamin wey die that day na 25,000 men wey carry swords, and all of them na strong soldiers. 47 But 600 of them run go the rock of Rimʹmon for the wilderness, and them stay for the rock of Rimʹmon for four months.

48 And the men of Israel turn back to fight the people from the tribe of Benjamin and them use sword kill the people of the city, from men go reach animals, everything wey remain. Them still burn all the cities wey them pass as them de go.