< 2 Samuel 10 >
1 Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.
Kwathi emva kwesikhathi, inkosi yama-Amoni yafa, kwathi uHanuni indodana yayo waba yinkosi esikhundleni sayo.
2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,
UDavida wacabanga wathi, “Ngizakuba lomusa kuHanuni indodana kaNahashi, njengoyise owayelomusa kimi.” Ngakho uDavida wathuma izithunywa ukuyakhalela uHanuni ngoyise. Kwathi abantu bakaDavida sebefikile elizweni lama-Amoni,
3 the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”
izikhulu zama-Amoni zathi kuHanuni inkosi yazo, “Kambe ucabanga ukuthi uDavida uyamhlonipha uyihlo ngokuthuma izithunywa ukuthi zizokukhalela na? UDavida kazithumanga ukuba zizekhangela idolobho zilihlole njalo zihluthune umbuso na?”
4 So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.
Ngakho uHanuni wabamba izithunywa zikaDavida, waziphuca ingxenye yezindevu zomunye lomunye wabo, waquma izigqoko zazo phakathi ezinqeni, wasezixotsha.
5 When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”
Kwathi uDavida esekutsheliwe lokhu wathuma izithunywa ukuyahlangabeza abantu labo ngoba babeyangiswe kakhulu. Inkosi yathi, “Hlalani eJerikho indevu zenu zize zikhule beselibuya-ke.”
6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.
Kwathi ama-Amoni esebonile ukuthi ayeseliphunga elibi emakhaleni kaDavida, aqhatsha izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili zamabutho ama-Aramu ahamba ngezinyawo evela eBhethi-Rehobhi kanye leZobha, ndawonye lenkosi yaseMahakha labantu abayinkulungwane, labanye abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi lambili abavela eThobhi.
7 On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.
Uthe ekuzwa lokho, uDavida wathumela uJowabi kanye lamabutho akhe wonke.
8 The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
Ama-Amoni aphuma amisa impi ekungeneni kwesango ledolobho lawo, lapho ama-Aramu aseZobha kanye leRehobhi labantu beThobhi kanye leMahakha babebodwa egangeni.
9 When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.
UJowabi wabona ukuthi kwakulamaviyo amabutho phambi kwakhe langemva kwakhe, ngakho wakhetha amanye amaqhawe athenjiweyo ko-Israyeli wabahlela ukuba bamelane lama-Aramu.
10 And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.
Amanye amabutho ayesele wathi kawalawulwe ngu-Abhishayi umfowabo, wabahlela ukuthi bamelane lama-Amoni.
11 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.
UJowabi wathi, “Nxa ama-Aramu elamandla kakhulu kulami, uzengihlenga; kodwa nxa ama-Amoni elamandla kakhulu kulawe, ngizakuzakuhlenga.
12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
Qina, kasilwe ngesibindi silwela abantu bakithi lemizi kaNkulunkulu wethu. UThixo uzakwenza lokho okufaneleyo njengokubona kwakhe.”
13 So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.
Ngakho uJowabi lamabutho ayelaye baqhubeka ukuba balwe lama-Aramu, asebaleka phambi kwakhe.
14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
Kuthe ama-Amoni ebona ukuthi ama-Aramu ayebaleka, ebaleka phambi kuka-Abhishayi aya phakathi kwedolobho. Ngakho uJowabi waphenduka ekulweni lama-Amoni waya eJerusalema.
15 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.
Kwathi ama-Aramu ebona ukuthi ehlulwe ngama-Israyeli, aqoqana futhi.
16 Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
UHadadezeri wabiza ama-Aramu ayengaphetsheya koMfula uYufrathe; aya eHelamu loShobhakhi umlawuli wamabutho kaHadadezeri lamabutho ewakhokhele.
17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him.
Kwathi uDavida esekutsheliwe lokhu, waqoqa bonke abako-Israyeli, wachapha uJodani waya eHelamu. Ama-Aramu aviva ukuba ahlangane loDavida asesilwa laye.
18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.
Kodwa abaleka phambi kuka-Israyeli, njalo uDavida wabulala abatshayeli bezinqola zabo zempi abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa lamabutho ahamba ngezinyawo azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane. Wagalela loShobhakhi umlawuli webutho lawo, wafela khonapho.
19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
Kwathi amakhosi wonke ayezinceku zikaHadadezeri ebona ukuthi ayesehlulwe ngu-Israyeli, enza ukuthula labako-Israyeli aba ngaphansi kombuso wabo. Ngakho ama-Aramu esaba ukusiza ama-Amoni futhi.