1 Kings 20
1 Then Benhadad, the king of Syria, gathered together his entire army. And there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. And ascending, he fought against Samaria, and he besieged it.
Yeinom akyi, Aramhene Ben-Hadad boaboaa nʼakodɔm ano, a nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ a wɔyɛ ahemfo aboafoɔ aduasa mmienu dea ka ne ho. Wɔkɔtuaa Israel kuropɔn Samaria, to hyɛɛ so.
2 And sending messengers into the city, to Ahab, the king of Israel,
Ben-Hadad somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ kuro no mu sɛ wɔnkɔka nkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab sɛ, “Ben-Hadad se,
3 he said: “Thus says Benhadad: Your silver and your gold is mine. And your wives and your best sons are mine.”
‘Mo dwetɛ ne mo sikakɔkɔɔ yɛ me dea. Saa ara na mo yerenom ne mo mma mu papa no nso yɛ me dea.’”
4 And the king of Israel responded, “In agreement with your word, my lord the king, I am yours, with all that is mine.”
Ahab buaa sɛ, “Mate, me wura! Deɛ mewɔ nyinaa yɛ wo dea.”
5 And the messengers, returning, said: “Thus says Benhadad, who sent us to you: Your silver and your gold, and your wives and your sons, you shall give to me.
Ankyɛre biara Ben-Hadad abɔfoɔ sane baa bio bɛkaa sɛ, “Ben-Hadad se, ‘Maka dada sɛ momfa mo dwetɛ, sikakɔkɔɔ, mo yerenom ne mo mma mma me.
6 Therefore, tomorrow, at this same hour, I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. And all that pleases them, they will put in their hands and take away.”
Ɔkyena sɛsɛɛ, mɛsoma me mpanimfoɔ, na wɔabɛhwehwɛ mo ahemfie ne mo nkurɔfoɔ afie. Na biribiara a ɛsom bo ma mo no, wɔbɛfa de akɔ.’”
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and he said: “Let your souls take heed, and see that he commits treachery against us. For he sent to me for my wives and sons, and for silver and gold. And I did not refuse.”
Na Ahab frɛɛ asase no so ntuanofoɔ no nyinaa, ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Monhwɛ sɛdeɛ saa ɔbarima yi pɛ sɛ ɔde ɔhaw ba. Mapene so dada sɛ mede me yerenom, me mma, me dwetɛ ne me sikakɔkɔɔ bɛma no.”
8 And all those greater by birth, with all the people, said to him, “You should neither listen, nor acquiesce to him.”
Ntuanofoɔ ne nnipa no nyinaa kaa sɛ, “Sɛ ɔbisaa biribi foforɔ biara bio a, mfa mma no.”
9 And so, he responded to the messengers of Benhadad: “Tell my lord the king: Everything about which you sent to me in the beginning, I your servant will do. But this thing, I am not able to do.”
Enti, Ahab ka kyerɛɛ abɔfoɔ a wɔfiri Ben-Hadad nkyɛn baeɛ no sɛ, “Monkɔka saa asɛm yi nkyerɛ me wura ɔhene sɛ, ‘Biribiara a ɔbisaa kane no deɛ, mede bɛma no. Na deɛ ɔbisaa no akyire no deɛ, merentumi mfa mma no.’” Enti, Ben-Hadad abɔfoɔ no sane kɔbɔɔ no amaneɛ.
10 And returning, the messengers took this to him, and he sent again and said, “May the gods do these things to me, and may they add these other things, if the dust of Samaria is enough to fill the hands of all the people who follow me.”
Na Ben-Hadad soma kɔka kyerɛɛ Ahab sɛ, “Sɛ mansɛe Samaria pasaa, na emu mfuturo dodoɔ bi ka a ɛbɛboro asraafoɔ no mu biara nsabuo ma a, anyame no ntwe mʼaso denden so.”
11 And responding, the king of Israel said, “Tell him that one who is girded should not boast the same as one who is ungirded.”
Israelhene nso soma ma wɔkɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔkofoɔ kɛseɛ a ɔrefa nʼakofena akɔ akono, tu ne ho sɛ ɔkofoɔ kɛseɛ a wadi nkonim dada.”
12 Then it happened that, when Benhadad had heard this word, he and the kings were drinking in a pavilion. And he said to his servants, “Encircle the city.” And they encircled it.
Ahab mmuaeɛ yi duruu Ben-Hadad ne ahemfo a wɔaka no asom ɛberɛ a na wɔrenom nsã wɔ wɔn ntomadan mu. Ɔhyɛɛ ne mmarima no sɛ, “Monsiesie mo ho nkɔko.” Enti, wɔsiesiee wɔn ho sɛ wɔrekɔto ahyɛ kuropɔn no so.
13 And behold, one prophet, drawing near to Ahab, the king of Israel, said to him: “Thus says the Lord: Certainly, you have seen this entire exceedingly great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hand today, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”
Na odiyifoɔ bi bɛhunuu ɔhene Ahab ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie, ‘Wohunu saa atamfoɔ dɔm yi? Ɛnnɛ, mede wɔn bɛhyɛ wo nsa. Na wobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade.’”
14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said to him: “Thus says the Lord: By the footmen of the leaders of the provinces.” And he said, “Who should begin to do battle?” And he said, “You should.”
Ahab bisaa sɛ, “Na sɛn na ɔbɛyɛ no?” Na odiyifoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie, ‘Akodɔm asahene a wɔtuatua amansini ano no na wɔbɛyɛ.’” Ahab bisaa sɛ, “Enti, yɛnni ɛkan nto nhyɛ wɔn so?” Odiyifoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Aane.”
15 Therefore, he took a count of the servants of the leaders of the provinces. And he found the number to be two hundred thirty-two. And he set them in order after the people, all the sons of Israel, who were seven thousand.
Enti, Ahab boaboaa ɔmansin no asahene ahanu aduasa mmienu akodɔm ano. Afei, ɔfrɛɛ nʼakodɔm a wɔaka a wɔn dodoɔ yɛ mpem nson no.
16 And they went out at midday. But Benhadad was drinking; he was inebriated in his pavilion, and the thirty-two kings with him, who had arrived in order to assist him.
Ɛbɛyɛ owigyinaeɛ a Ben-Hadad ne nʼapamfoɔ ahemfo aduasa mmienu gu so reboro nsã wɔ wɔn ntomadan mu no,
17 Then the servants of the leaders of the provinces went out to the first place, at the front. And so, Benhadad sent, and they reported to him, saying: “Men have gone out from Samaria.”
amansini asahene akodɔm no tuu nten, firii kuro no mu. Wɔrebɛn no, Ben-Hadad akwansrafoɔ ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Akodɔm bi firi Samaria reba.”
18 And he said: “If they have arrived for peace, apprehend them alive; if to do battle, capture them alive.”
Ben-Hadad hyɛɛ sɛ, “Sɛ wɔbaa asomdwoeɛ anaa ɔko so a, monkyere wɔn anikann.”
19 Therefore, the servants of the leaders of the provinces went out, and the remainder of the army was following.
Nanso, saa ɛberɛ no, na Ahab amansini asahene no adi akodɔm no anim, kɔ ɔko no.
20 And each one struck down the man who came against him. And the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Also, Benhadad, the king of Syria, fled on a horse, with his horsemen.
Na Israel ɔsraani biara kumm ne ɔtamfoɔ Aram ɔsraani a ɔne no dii asie. Ɛno enti, amonom hɔ ara, Aram asraafoɔ no bɔɔ hu, dwaneeɛ. Israelfoɔ no taa wɔn, nanso ɔhene Ben-Hadad ne ne nkurɔfoɔ kakra bi deɛ, wɔtenaa apɔnkɔ so dwaneeɛ.
21 But the king of Israel, going out, struck the horses and the chariots, and he struck the Syrians with a great slaughter.
Nanso wɔsɛee apɔnkɔ ne nteaseɛnam a ɛkaa hɔ no nyinaa, kunkumm Aramfoɔ no.
22 Then a prophet, drawing near to the king of Israel, said to him: “Go and be strengthened. And know and see what you are doing. For in the following year, the king of Syria will rise up against you.”
Akyire yi, odiyifoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ Ahab sɛ, “Siesie wo ho ma ɔko foforɔ na Aramhene bɛba osutɔberɛ mu.”
23 Then truly, the servants of the king of Syria said to him: “Their gods are the gods of the mountains; because of this, they have overwhelmed us. But it is better that we fight against them in the plains, and then we will prevail over them.
Wɔdii Ben-Hadad so no, ne mpanimfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Israel anyame no yɛ mmepɔ anyame, na ɛno enti na ɛma wɔdii nkonim no. Na sɛ wɔduru tata so a, yɛbɛdi wɔn so nkonim a yɛremmrɛ ho koraa.
24 Therefore, you should do this word: Remove each of the kings from your army, and set commanders in their place.
Deɛ ɛho hia ara ne sɛ, saa ɛberɛ yi, ɛsɛ sɛ wode akono asahene sisi ahemfo no ananmu.
25 And replace the number of soldiers who have been cut down of yours, and the horses, in accord with the earlier number of horses, and the chariots, in accord with the number of chariots that you had before. And we will fight against them in the plains, and you will see that we will prevail over them.” And he trusted in their counsel, and he did so.
Momfa asraafoɔ foforɔ a wɔn dodoɔ te sɛ wɔn a wohweree wɔn no ara. Ma yɛn apɔnkɔ no dodoɔ, nteaseɛnam ne mmarima dodoɔ saa ara, na yɛbɛtumi ne wɔn adi asie wɔ tata so. Akyinnyeɛ biara nni ho sɛ yɛbɛdi wɔn so.” Enti, ɔhene Ben-Hadad yɛɛ wɔn abisadeɛ maa wɔn.
26 Therefore, after the passing of the year, Benhadad took a count of the Syrians, and he ascended to Aphek, so that he might fight against Israel.
Na afe so no, ɔfrɛɛ Aram asraafoɔ, tuu nten kɔɔ Israelfoɔ so wɔ Afek sɛ wɔne wɔn rekɔko.
27 Then the sons of Israel were numbered, and taking provisions, they set out to the opposite side. And they stretched out the camp facing them, like two little flocks of goats. But the Syrians filled the land.
Israel boaboaa nʼasraafoɔ ano, twaa sa, de wɔn ho hyɛɛ ɔko no mu. Na sɛ wɔde Israel akodɔm no toto Aram akodɔm no dodoɔ a wɔahyɛ hɔ ma no ho a, na Israel akodɔm no dodoɔ te sɛ mmirekyikuo nketewa mmienu bi.
28 And one man of God, drawing near, said to the king of Israel: “Thus says the Lord: Because the Syrians have said, ‘The Lord is the God of the mountains, but he is not the God of the valleys,’ I will deliver this entire great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
Onyankopɔn onipa no kɔɔ Israelhene nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Aramfoɔ no aka sɛ, ‘Awurade yɛ mmepɔ Awurade na ɔnyɛ tata so Awurade. Enti, mɛboa wo ma woadi akodɔm buburugyaa yi so. Na ɛbɛma woahunu sɛ, mene Awurade no.’”
29 And for seven days, both sides arranged each of their battle lines. Then, on the seventh day, the war was undertaken. And the sons of Israel struck down, from the Syrians, one hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day.
Asraadɔm mmienu yi bobɔɔ wɔn atenaeɛ, ma ɛdii nhwɛanimu nnanson. Na nnanson so no, ɔko no hyɛɛ aseɛ. Ɛda no ara, Israelfoɔ no kunkumm Aram anammɔntwa asraafoɔ no ɔpeha.
30 Then those who had remained fled to Aphek, into the city. And the wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand men of those who had remained. Then Benhadad, fleeing, entered the city, into a room that was inside another room.
Nkaeɛ no dwane kɔtɛɛ Afek ɔfasuo akyi, nanso ɔfasuo no bu guu wɔn so, kumm ɔpeduonu nson. Ben-Hadad dwane kɔtɛɛ kɔkoam dan bi mu wɔ kuro no mu.
31 And his servants said to him: “Behold, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel show clemency. And so, let us put sackcloth around our waists, and ropes on our heads, and let us go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will save our lives.”
Ben-Hadad mpanimfoɔ ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Owura, yɛate sɛ Israel ahemfo wɔ ahummɔborɔ. Ɛno enti, momma yɛmfira ayitoma, mfa ahoma mmɔ yɛn ti ase, mfa nkyerɛ ahobrɛaseɛ. Na ebia, ɔhene Ahab bɛma woatena ase.”
32 So they wrapped sackcloth around their waists, and they placed ropes on their heads. And they went to the king of Israel, and they said to him: “Your servant, Benhadad, says: ‘I beg you to let my soul live.’” And he replied, “If he is still alive, he is my brother.”
Enti, wɔfirafiraa ayitoma, de nhoma bobɔɔ wɔn ti, kɔɔ Israelhene nkyɛn kɔsrɛɛ no sɛ, “Wo ɔsomfoɔ Ben-Hadad se, ‘Mesrɛ wo, ma me ntena nkwa mu.’” Israelhene no bisaa sɛ, “Ɔda so te ase anaa? Ɔyɛ me nuabarima!”
33 The men accepted this as a good sign. And hastily, they took up the word from his mouth, and they said, “Benhadad is your brother.” And he said to them, “Go, and bring him to me.” Therefore, Benhadad went out to him, and he lifted him onto his chariot.
Mmarima no yɛɛ ntɛm sɔɔ anidasoɔ a ɛnni nnyinasoɔ yi mu, buaa sɛ, “Aane, wo nua Ben-Hadad.” Israelhene no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Monkɔfa no mmra.” Ɛberɛ a wɔde Ben-Hadad baeɛ no, Ahab ma ɔkɔtenaa ne teaseɛnam mu.
34 And he said to him: “The cities that my father took from your father, I will return. And you may make streets for yourself in Damascus, just as my father made in Samaria. And after we have made a pact, I will withdraw from you.” Therefore, he formed a pact with him, and he released him.
Ben-Hadad ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Mede nkuro a mʼagya gye firii wʼagya nsam no bɛsane ama wo, na woahyehyɛ adwadie wɔ Damasko, sɛdeɛ mʼagya yɛɛ wɔ Samaria no.” Na Ahab kaa sɛ, “Saa nhyehyɛeɛ yi so na mɛgyina na magyaa wo.” Enti, wɔyɛɛ apam, na wɔgyaa Ben-Hadad.
35 Then a certain man from the sons of the prophets said to his associate, by the word of the Lord, “Strike me.” But he was not willing to strike.
Ɛberɛ no ara mu, Awurade see adiyifokuo no mu baako sɛ, ɔnka nkyerɛ ɔfoforɔ sɛ, “Fa wʼakodeɛ no bɔ me.” Nanso wanyɛ.
36 And he said to him: “Because you were not willing to heed the voice of the Lord, behold, you will depart from me, and a lion will slay you. And when he had departed a short distance from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
Na saa odiyifoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ ɔfoforɔ no sɛ, “Sɛ woantie Awurade nne enti, sɛ wofiri ha ara pɛ a, gyata bɛkye wo, akum wo.” Ampa ara, ɔfirii hɔ ara pɛ na gyata kyeree no kumm no.
37 But upon finding another man, he said to him, “Strike me.” And he struck him, and wounded him.
Na odiyifoɔ no kɔɔ ɔbarima foforɔ nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Fa wʼakodeɛ yi bɔ me.” Ɔno deɛ, ɔbɔɔ odiyifoɔ no, piraa no.
38 Then the prophet departed. And he met the king along the way, and he changed his appearance by sprinkling dust around his mouth and eyes.
Odiyifoɔ no twɛn ɔhene no wɔ kwankyɛn a ɔde ntomaban akyekyere nʼani, de pɛɛ sɛ ɔsakyera ne ho.
39 And when the king had passed by, he cried out to the king, and he said: “Your servant went out to do battle in close quarters. And when one man had fled, a certain person brought him to me, and he said: ‘Guard this man. For if he slips away, your life will take the place of his life, or you will weigh out one talent of silver.’
Ɔhene no retwam no, odiyifoɔ no frɛɛ no sɛ, “Owura, na mewɔ akono na ɔbarima bi de odeduani brɛɛ me. Ɔkaa sɛ, ‘Wɛn saa ɔbarima yi, na sɛ biribi enti ɔdwane a, wɔbɛkum wo anaasɛ wɔbɛbɔ wo ka dwetɛ kilogram aduasa nwɔtwe.’
40 And while I was distracted, turning one way and another, suddenly, he was not to be seen.” And the king of Israel said to him, “This is your judgment, that which you yourself have decreed.”
Na ɛberɛ a mʼani abere redi dwuma bi no, odeduani no dwaneeɛ. Na ɔhene no kaa sɛ, ‘Ɛyɛ wʼankasa wo mfomsoɔ. Wo ara woabu wo ho atɛn.’”
41 Then immediately, he wiped away the dust from his face, and the king of Israel recognized him, that he was one of the prophets.
Ɛhɔ ara na odiyifoɔ no sanee ntomaban no firii nʼani, na Israelhene no hunuu no sɛ ɔyɛ adiyifoɔ no mu baako.
42 And he said to him: “Thus says the Lord: Because you have released from your hand a man worthy of death, your life will take the place of his life, and your people will take the place of his people.”
Na odiyifoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Esiane sɛ woagyaa ɔbarima a mekaa sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkum no no enti, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkum wo seesei si nʼanan mu. Na anka ɛsɛ sɛ ne nkurɔfoɔ na mokunkum wɔn, na mmom, wo nkurɔfoɔ na wɔbɛkunkum wɔn.”
43 And so the king of Israel returned to his house, unwilling to listen, and a fury entered into Samaria.
Enti, Israelhene a ne bo afu ne ho no kɔɔ Samaria.
