2 مُلُوك 3

١ 1 وَفِي السَّنَةِ الثَّامِنَةِ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ حُكْمِ يَهُوشَافَاطَ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا، اعْتَلَى يَهُورَامُ بْنُ آخْابَ عَرْشَ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَدَامَ مُلْكُهُ فِي السَّامِرَةِ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً.

Joram, son of Ahab, became king of Israel in the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He reigned in Samaria for twelve years.

٢ 2 وَارْتَكَبَ الشَّرَّ فِي عَيْنَيِ الرَّبِّ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُوْغِلْ فِيهِ مِثْلَمَا أَوْغَلَ أَبُوهُ وَأُمُّهُ، فَإِنَّهُ أَزَالَ تِمْثَالَ الْبَعْلِ الَّذِي نَصَبَهُ أَبُوهُ.

He did evil in the Lord's sight, but not like his father and mother had done, for he got rid of the stone image of Baal that his father had made.

٣ 3 غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ تَشَبَّثَ بِخَطَايَا يَرُبْعَامَ بْنِ نَبَاطَ الَّذِي اسْتَغْوَى إِسْرَائِيلَ لارْتِكَابِ الإِثْمِ، وَلَمْ يَحِدْ عَنْهَا.

However, he still held on to the sins that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had made Israel commit—he did not give them up.

٤ 4 وَكَانَ مِيشَعُ مَلِكُ مُوآبَ يَقُومُ بِتَرْبِيَةِ الْمَوَاشِي، وَيُؤَدِّي لِمَلِكِ إِسْرَائِيلَ مِئَةَ أَلْفِ خَرُوفٍ وَمِئَةَ أَلْفِ كَبْشٍ مَعَ أَصْوَافِهَا.

Mesha, king of Moab, was a sheep breeder. He used to provide a tribute to the king of Israel of one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.

٥ 5 وَمَا إِنْ تُوُفِّيَ آخْابُ حَتَّى تَمَرَّدَ مَلِكُ مُوآبَ عَلَى إِسْرَائِيلَ،

But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

٦ 6 فَحَشَدَ الْمَلِكُ يَهُورَامُ جُيُوشَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

Immediately King Joram called up the whole Israelite army and left Samaria.

٧ 7 وَبَعَثَ يَهُورَامُ إِلَى يَهُوشَافَاطَ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا قَائِلاً: «قَدْ تَمَرَّدَ مَلِكُ الْمُوآبِيِّينَ عَلَيَّ، فَهَلْ تَشْتَرِكُ مَعِي فِي مُحَارَبَتِهِ؟» فَأَجَابَهُ: «أَشْتَرِكُ، فَمَثَلِي مَثَلُكَ وَشَعْبِي كَشَعْبِكَ وَخَيْلِي كَخَيْلِكَ».

On his way he sent a message to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in an attack on Moab?” Jehoshaphat replied, “Yes, I will join you. You and I are as one, my men and your men are as one, and my horses and your horses are as one.”

٨ 8 فَسَأَلَهُ: «أَيَّ طَرِيقٍ نَتَّخِذُ؟» فَأَجَابَهُ يَهُوشَافَاطُ: «طَرِيقَ صَحْرَاءِ أَدُومَ».

Then he asked, “Which way shall we go?” “We'll take the road through the desert of Edom,” he replied.

٩ 9 فَتَوَجَّهَ مَلِكُ إِسْرَائِيلَ بِرِفْقَةِ حَلِيفَيْهِ: مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا وَمَلِكِ أَدُومَ، وَدَارُوا فِي الصَّحْرَاءِ مَسِيرَةَ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ مَاءٌ لِيَشْرَبَ الْجَيْشُ وَالدَّوَابُ التَّابِعَةُ لَهُمْ.

So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set off. Having followed an indirect route for seven days, they ran out of water for their army and for their animals.

١٠ 10 فَقَالَ مَلِكُ إِسْرَائِيلَ: «هَلْ دَعَانَا الرَّبُّ، نَحْنُ الْمُلُوكَ الثَّلاثَةَ، لِيُسَلِّمَنَا لِيَدِ مَلِكِ مُوآبَ؟»

“What are we doing?” complained the king of Israel. “The Lord has brought us three kings here to hand us over to the Moabites!”

١١ 11 فَسَأَلَ يَهُوشَافَاطُ: «أَلَيْسَ هُنَا نَبِيٌّ لِلرَّبِّ، فَنَطْلُبَ مَشُورَةَ الرَّبِّ عَنْ يَدِهِ؟». فَأَجَابَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْ رِجَالِ مَلِكِ إِسْرَائِيلَ: «هُنَا أَلِيشَعُ بْنُ شَافَاطَ الَّذِي كَانَ خَادِماً لِلنَّبِيِّ إِيلِيَّا».

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn't there a prophet of the Lord here with us? Let us consult the Lord through him.” One of the king of Israel's officers answered, “Elisha, son of Shaphat, is here. He was Elijah's assistant.”

١٢ 12 فَقَالَ يَهُوشَافَاطُ: «عِنْدَهُ كَلامُ الرَّبِّ». فَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَيْهِ مَلِكُ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَيَهُوشَافَاطُ وَمَلِكُ أَدُومَ.

Jehoshaphat agreed, “The Lord communicates by him.” So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to see him.

١٣ 13 فَقَالَ أَلِيشَعُ لِمَلِكِ إِسْرَائِيلَ: «مَا شَأْنِي بِكَ؟ اذْهَبْ وَاسْتَشِرْ أَنْبِيَاءَ أَبِيكَ وَأَنْبِيَاءَ أُمِّكَ». فَأَجَابَهُ مَلِكُ إِسْرَائِيلَ: «كَلا إِذْ يَبْدُو أَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ دَعَانَا نَحْنُ الْمُلُوكَ الثَّلاثَةَ لِيُسَلِّمَنا لِيَدِ مَلِكِ مُوآبَ».

Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I got to do with you? Go to your own prophets, those of your father and your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No—because it's the Lord who has brought these three kings here to hand them over to the Moabites!”

١٤ 14 فَقَالَ أَلِيشَعُ: «حَيٌّ هُوَ الرَّبُّ الْقَدِيرُ الَّذِي أَنَا مَاثِلٌ أَمَامَهُ، إِنَّهُ لَوْلا تَوْقِيرِي لِحُضُورِ يَهُوشَافَاطَ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا لَمَا كُنْتُ أَعْبَأُ بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَيْكَ.

Elisha replied, “As the Lord Almighty lives, the one I serve, if I didn't respect the fact that Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, is here, I wouldn't even look in your direction or acknowledge you.

١٥ 15 وَالآنَ ادْعُوا عَازِفَ عُودٍ». وَعِنْدَمَا عَزَفَ الْمُوسِيقَى عَلَى عُودِهِ حَلَّ رُوحُ الرَّبِّ عَلَى أَلِيشَعَ،

Now bring me a musician.” While the musician played, the Lord's power came upon Elisha,

١٦ 16 فَقَالَ: «هَذَا مَا يَقُولُهُ الرَّبُّ: احْفُرُوا فِي هَذَا الْوَادِي حُفَراً كَثِيرَةً وَعَمِيقَةً،

and he announced, “This is what the Lord says: This valley will be filled with pools of water. For the Lord says:

١٧ 17 وَمَعَ أَنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَرَوْا رِيحاً وَلا مَطَراً فَإِنَّ هَذَا الْوَادِي سَيَفِيضُ بِالْمَاءِ، فَتَشْرَبُونَ أَنْتُمْ وَمَاشِيَتُكُمْ وَبَهَائِمُكُمْ.

You won't see any wind, you won't see any rain, but even so this valley will be filled with water. You will drink, and your cattle, and your animals.

١٨ 18 وَهَذَا أَمْرٌ يَسِيرٌ لَدَى الرَّبِّ، وَهُوَ أَيْضاً يَنْصُرُكُمْ عَلَى مَلِكِ مُوآبَ.

The Lord views this as something trivial to do; and he will also make you victorious over the Moabites.

١٩ 19 فَتُدَمِّرُونَ كُلَّ مَدِينَةٍ مُحَصَّنَةٍ، وَكُلَّ مَدِينَةٍ رَئِيسِيَّةٍ، وَتَقْطَعُونَ كُلَّ شَجَرَةٍ مُثْمِرَةٍ، وَتَرْدُمُونَ كُلَّ عُيُونِ الْمَاءِ، وَتُخَرِّبُونَ كُلَّ حَقْلٍ خَصِبٍ بِالْحِجَارَةِ».

You will conquer every fortified town, and every important town. You will chop down every good tree, block up every spring, and spoil every good field by throwing stones on them.”

٢٠ 20 وَفِي الصَّبَاحِ، فِي مَوْعِدِ تَقْدِيمِ الْمُحْرَقَةِ دَوَّى هَدِيرُ مِيَاهٍ مُتَدَفِّقَةٍ مِنْ طَرِيقِ أَدُومَ، فَفَاضَتِ الأَرْضُ بِالْمِيَاهِ.

The next day, around the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom, filling the whole countryside with water.

٢١ 21 وَعِنْدَمَا عَلِمَ الْمُوآبِيُّونَ أَنَّ الْمُلُوكَ الثَّلاثَةَ اجْتَمَعُوا لِمُحَارَبَتِهِمْ جَنَّدُوا كُلَّ قَادِرٍ عَلَى حَمْلِ السِّلاحِ مِنَ الصِّغَارِ وَالْكِبَارِ، وَاحْتَشَدُوا عِنْدَ الْحُدُودِ.

All the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to attack them. So everyone who could wear a sword, young and old, was called up and went to guard the border.

٢٢ 22 وَحِينَ بَكَّرُوا فِي صَبِيحَةِ الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي رَأَوْا أَشِعَةَ الشَّمْسِ مُنْعَكِسَةً عَلَى الْمِيَاهِ أَمَامَهُمْ، فَبَدَتْ لَهُمْ حَمْرَاءَ كَالدَّمِ.

But the next morning when they got up the sun was shining on the water, and to the Moabites on the other side it looked blood red.

٢٣ 23 فَظَنُّوهَا دَماً وَقَالُوا: «قَدْ تَحَارَبَ الْمُلُوكُ مَعاً، وَقَتَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً. فَهَيَّا إِلَى النَّهْبِ أَيُّهَا الْمُوآبِيُّونَ».

“This is blood!” they said. “The kings and their armies must have attacked and killed each other! Moabites, let's grab the plunder!”

٢٤ 24 فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى مُعَسْكَرِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، فَهَبَّ الإِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ وَهَاجَمُوهُمْ فَفَرُّوا أَمَامَهُمْ، فَتَعَقَّبَهُمُ الإِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ إِلَى بِلادِهِمْ وَهُمْ يَقْتُلُونَهُمْ.

But when the Moabites arrived at the Israelite camp, the Israelites ran out and attacked them, and they ran away from them. So the Israelites invaded their country and killed the Moabites.

٢٥ 25 وَهَدَمُوا الْمُدُنَ. وَرَاحَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَفْرَادِ الْجَيْشِ يُلْقِي حَجَراً فِي كُلِّ حَقْلٍ خَصِبٍ حَتَّى مَلأُوهَا، وَرَدَمُوا جَمِيعَ عُيُونِ الْمَاءِ، وَقَطَعُوا كُلَّ شَجَرَةٍ مُثْمِرَةٍ، وَلَمْ تَسْلَمْ إِلّا الْعَاصِمَةُ «قِيرُ حَارِسَةَ» الَّتِي حَاصَرَتْهَا وَهَاجَمَتْهَا فِرَقُ الْمَقَالِيعِ.

They destroyed the towns, and each soldier threw stones on every good field until it was covered. They blocked up every spring and chopped down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth still had its walls, but soldiers using slingshots surrounded it and attacked it as well.

٢٦ 26 فَلَمَّا رَأَى مَلِكُ مُوآبَ أَنَّ الْمَعْرَكَةَ اشْتَدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ اخْتَارَ سَبْعَ مِئَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُحَارِبِينَ بِالسُّيوفِ لِيَقُومَ بِمُحَاوَلَةِ شَقِّ طَرِيقِهِ لِيُهَاجِمَ مَلِكَ أَدُومَ، فَلَمْ يُفْلِحْ.

When the king of Moab realized he'd lost the battle, he led seven hundred swordsmen in an attempt to break through and attack the king of Edom, but they weren't able to do so.

٢٧ 27 فَأَخَذَ ابْنَهُ الْبِكْرَ الَّذِي كَانَ سَيَخْلُفُهُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ، وَأَحْرَقَهُ عَلَى السُّورِ قُرْبَاناً لإِلَهِ مُوآبَ، مِمَّا أَثَارَ الْغَيْظَ الشَّدِيدَ عَلى إِسْرَائِيلَ فَارْتَدَّ الإِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ إِلَى بِلادِهِمْ.

So the king of Moab took his firstborn son, who was meant to succeed him, and sacrificed him as a burnt offering on the town wall. Great anger came upon the Israelites, so they left and went back to their own country.