1 Kings 20
1 Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, gathered all his army, and he persuaded 32 other kings to join him with their armies and horses and chariots. They marched to Samaria [city, the capital of Israel], and surrounded it, and [prepared to] attack it.
Zvino Bheni-Hadhadhi mambo weAramu akaunganidza varwi vake vose. Achibatsirwa namadzimambo makumi matatu namaviri vaine mabhiza avo nengoro, akaenda akakomba Samaria akarirwisa.
2 Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, to say this to him: “This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
Akatuma nhume muguta kuna Ahabhu mambo weIsraeri kundoti, “Zvanzi naBheni-Hadhadhi,
3 ‘[You must give to] me all your silver and gold, your (good-looking/most beautiful) wives/women and strongest children.’”
‘Sirivha yako negoridhe ndezvangu, uye vakadzi vako navana vako vakanyanyisa kunaka ndevangu.’”
4 The king of Israel replied to them, “Tell this to King Ben-Hadad: ‘I agree to do what you requested. You can have me and everything that I own.’”
Mambo weIsraeri akapindura akati, “Sezvamataura, ishe wangu mambo. Ini nezvose zvandinazvo ndiri wenyu.”
5 [The messengers told that to] Ben-Hadad, and he [sent them back with] another message: “I sent a message to you saying that you must give me all your silver and gold and your wives and your children.
Nhumwa dzakauya zvakare ndokusvikoti, “Zvanzi naBheni-Hadhadhi, ‘Ndakatumira shoko rokuti ndinoda sirivha yako negoridhe, navakadzi vako navana vako.
6 But [in addition to that], about this time tomorrow, I will send some of my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials, and to bring to me everything that pleases them.”
Asi mangwana nenguva yakaita seino ndichatuma varanda vangu kuti vazotsvagisisa mumuzinda wako nomudzimba dzavaranda vako. Vachatora zvose zvaunokoshesa vagoenda nazvo.’”
7 King Ahab summoned all the leaders of Israel, and said to them, “You can see/realize for yourselves that this man is trying to cause much trouble. He sent me a message insisting that I must give him my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, and I agreed to do that.”
Mambo weIsraeri akadana vakuru vose venyika akati kwavari, “Tarisai muone kuti murume uyu ari kutsvaga muromo sei! Paakati ari kuda kutora vakadzi vangu navana vangu, nesirivha yangu negoridhe rangu, handina kurambira.”
8 The leaders and all the other people said to him, “Do not pay any attention to him! Do not do what he is requesting!”
Vakuru navanhu, vose vakapindura vakati, “Musateerera kwaari kana kubvumirana nezvaari kuda.”
9 So Ahab said to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell the king that I agree to give him the things that he first requested, but I do not agree to allow his officials to take anything that they want from my palace and from the houses of my officials.” So the messengers [reported that to King Ben-Hadad, and they] returned with another message from Ben-Hadad.
Naizvozvo akapindura nhume dzaBheni-Hadhadhi akati, “Udzai ishe wangu mambo kuti, ‘Muranda wenyu achaita zvose zvamakamukumbira pakutanga, asi chikumbiro ichi chazvino handigoni kuchizadzisa.’” Vakasimuka vakaenda nemhinduro kwavakanga vabva, kuna Bheni-Hadhadhi.
10 In that message he said, “[We will destroy] your city [completely, with the result that] there will not be enough dust and rubble left for each of my soldiers to have one handful! I hope/wish that the gods will strike me dead if we do not do that!”
Saka Bheni-Hadhadhi akatumira rimwe shoko kuna Ahabhu achiti, “Vamwari ngavaitewo kwandiri, vanyanyise kudaro, kana guruva ringakwana kupa mumwe nomumwe wamauto angu kuti azadze chanza chake rikasara muSamaria.”
11 King Ahab replied [to the messengers], “Tell King Ben-Hadad that a soldier who is putting on his armor [preparing to fight a battle] [MTY] should not boast at that time; he [should wait until] after he wins the battle.”
Mambo weIsraeri akapindura akati, “Muudzei kuti, ‘Uyo anoshonga nhumbi dzokurwa ngaarege kuzvirumbidza souyo anodzibvisa.’”
12 Ben-Hadad heard that message while he and the other rulers were drinking [wine] in their temporary shelters. He told his men to prepare to attack [MTY] the city. So his men did that.
Bheni-Hadhadhi akanzwa shoko iri iye namadzimambo pavakanga vachinwa vari mumisasa, akabva arayira mauto ake akati, “Gadzirirai kundorwisa.” Saka vakagadzirira kundorwisa guta.
13 At that moment, a prophet came to King Ahab and said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘[Do not be at all afraid of] [RHQ] the large enemy army that you see! I will enable your army to defeat them today, and you will know that it is I, Yahweh, [who have the power to do what I say that I will do].’”
Panguva iyoyo mumwe muprofita akauya kuna Ahabhu mambo weIsraeri, akati, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Uri kuona hondo huru huru iyi here? Ndichaiisa muruoko rwako nhasi, ipapo uchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha.’”
14 Ahab asked, “What group [of our army] will defeat them?” The prophet replied, “The young soldiers who are commanded by the district governors will do it.” The king asked, “Who should lead the attack?” The prophet replied, “You should!”
Ahabhu akabvunza akati, “Asi ndiani achaita izvi?” Muprofita akapindura akati, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Majaya amachinda omumatunhu ndiwo achazviita.’” Akabvunza akati, “Zvino ndiani achatanga hondo yacho?” Muprofita akapindura akati, “Ndiwe uchaitanga.”
15 So Ahab gathered the young soldiers who were commanded by the district governors. There were 232 of those men. Then he also summoned all the Israeli army. There were [only] 7,000 soldiers.
Saka Ahabhu akaunganidza majaya amachinda omumatunhu, varume vaikwana mazana maviri namakumi matatu navaviri. Mushure akaunganidza vamwe vaIsraeri, pamwe chete zviuru zvinomwe.
16 They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
Vakasimuka masikati, Bheni-Hadhadhi namadzimambo makumi matatu navaviri vaiva kudivi rake panguva yavakanga vari mumisasa yavo vachidhakwa.
17 The young soldiers advanced first. Some scouts who had been sent out by Ben-Hadad reported to him, “There are men coming out of Samaria [city]”!
Majaya amachinda omumatunhu ndiwo akatanga kuenda. Zvino Bheni-Hadhadhi akanga atuma vasori uye vakamuudza kuti, “Kune varume vari kubva kuSamaria.”
18 He said, “It does not matter whether they are coming to fight against us or to ask for peace. Capture them, but do not kill them
Akati, “Kana vauya kuzotsvaga rugare, vabatei vari vapenyu; kana vauya kuzorwa, vabatei vari vapenyu.”
19 The young Israeli soldiers went out of the city to attack [the Syrian army], and the other soldiers in the Israeli army followed them.
Majaya amachinda omumatunhu akafamba achibuda muguta varwi vari mumashure mavo
20 Each [Israeli soldier] killed a [Syrian] soldier. The rest of the Syrian army then ran away, and the Israeli soldiers pursued them. But King Ben-Hadad escaped riding his horse, along with some other men riding horses.
uye mumwe nomumwe wavo akauraya waakarwisana naye. VaAramu vakatiza, vaIsraeri vachivadzingirira. Asi Bheni-Hadhadhi mambo weAramu akatiza akatasva bhiza, navamwe vavarwi vake vaiva namabhiza.
21 Then the king of Israel went out [of the city], and he and his soldiers captured [all] the [other Syrian] horses and chariots, and also killed a large number of Syrian soldiers.
Mambo weIsraeri akabuda akakunda mabhiza nengoro, akauraya vaAramu vakawanda kwazvo.
22 Then that same prophet went to King Ahab and said to him, “Go back and prepare your soldiers, and think carefully about what will be necessary for you to do, because the king of Syria with attack with his army again in the springtime of next year.”
Mushure maizvozvo, muprofita akauya kuna mambo weIsraeri akati, “Simbisa chinzvimbo chako ugoona zvinofanira kuitwa, nokuti muchirimo chiri kutevera mambo weAramu achakurwisa zvakare.”
23 [After the Syrian army was defeated, ] Ben-Hadad’s officials said to him, “The gods that the Israelis [worship] are gods [who live] in the hills. [Samaria is built on a hill, and] that is why their soldiers were able to defeat us. But if we fight against them in the plains/lowlands, we certainly will be able to defeat them.
Panguva imwe cheteyo, varanda vamambo weAramu vakati kwaari, “Vamwari vavo ndavamwari vamakomo. Ndicho chikonzero vakatikurira. Asi tikarwa navo mumapani, zvirokwazvo tichavakurira.
24 So, this is what you should do: You must remove the 32 kings [who are leading your troops] and replace them with army commanders.
Itai izvi: Bvisai madzimambo ose panzvimbo dzavo dzokutonga mugovatsiva navamwe vabati.
25 Then gather an army like the army that was defeated. Gather an army that has as many horses and chariots as the first army had. Then we will fight the Israelis in the plains/lowlands, and we will surely defeat them.” Ben-Hadad agreed with them, and he did what they suggested.
Munofanirawo kuzviunganidzira hondo yakafanana neyamakarasikirwa nayo, bhiza nebhiza nengoro nengoro, kuitira kuti tikwanise kurwa navaIsraeri mumapani. Ipapo zvirokwazvo tichavakurira.” Akabvumirana navo akaita saizvozvo.
26 In the spring of the following year, he gathered his soldiers and marched [with them] to Aphek [city east of Galilee Lake], to fight against the Israeli army.
Muchirimo chakatevera Bheni-Hadhadhi akaunganidza vaAramu akakwidza kuAfeki kundorwa neIsraeri.
27 The Israeli army was also gathered together, and they were equipped with the things that they needed [for the battle]. Then they marched out and formed two groups facing the Syrian army. Their army was very small; they resembled two small flocks of goats, whereas the Syrian army [was very large and] spread all over the countryside.
VaIsraeri vakati vaunganidzwawo uye vapiwa zvose zvinodiwa pakurwa hondo, vakafamba vachienda kundosangana navo. VaIsraeri vakadzika musasa wavo vakatarisana navo, vachinge mapoka maduku maviri embudzi, ukuwo vaAramu vakazadza nyika.
28 A prophet came to King Ahab and said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘The Syrians say that I am a god who lives in the hills, and that I am not a god who lives in the valleys. So I will [show that they are wrong by] enabling your men to defeat this huge army [IDM] [in the valley], and you will know that I, Yahweh, [have done it].’”
Munhu waMwari akauya akaudza mambo weIsraeri kuti, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Nokuda kwokuti vaAramu vanofunga kuti Jehovha ndimwari wamakomo, uye kuti haasi mwari wemipata, ndichaisa hondo huru huru iyi mumaoko ako, uye uchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha.’”
29 The two armies stayed in their tents for seven days, in groups that faced each other. Then, on the seventh day, they started fighting. The Israeli army killed 100,000 Syrian soldiers.
Kwamazuva manomwe vakagara pamisasa yavo vakatarisana, uye nezuva rechinomwe hondo yakatanga. VaIsraeri vakauraya zana rezviuru zvamauto etsoka avaAramu musi mumwe chete.
30 The other Syrian soldiers ran away into Aphek City. Then the wall of the city collapsed and killed 27,000 more Syrian soldiers. Ben-Hadad also escaped into the city, and hid in the back room of a house.
Vakasara vakatizira kuguta reAfeki, uko kwakandowira rusvingo pamusoro pezviuru makumi maviri nezvinomwe zvavo. Uye Bheni-Hadhadhi akatizira kuguta akandohwanda muimba yomukati.
31 His officials went to him and said, “We have heard a report that the Israelis act mercifully. So allow us to go to the king of Israel, wearing coarse sacks around our waists and ropes on our heads/necks [to indicate that we will be his slaves]. Perhaps [if we do that, ] he will allow you to remain alive.”
Varanda vake vakati kwaari, “Tarirai, takanzwa kuti madzimambo eimba yaIsraeri ane tsitsi. Ngatiendei kuna mambo weIsraeri takasungirira masaga muzviuno zvedu, uye takasunga misoro yedu netambo. Zvichida angakuregai muri mupenyu.”
32 [The king permitted them to do that, ] so they wrapped coarse sacks around their waists and put ropes on their heads/necks, and they went to the king of Israel and said to him, “Ben-Hadad, who greatly respects you, says, ‘Please do not kill me.’” Ahab replied, “Is he still alive? He is like a brother to me!”
Vakasungirira masaga muzviuno zvavo vakasunga misoro yavo netambo, vakabva vaenda kuna mambo weIsraeri vakasvikoti, “Muranda wenyu Bheni-Hadhadhi ati, ‘Ndapota, dai mangondirega ndararama.’” Mambo akapindura akati, “Achiri mupenyu nazvino? Ihama yangu.”
33 Ben-Hadad’s officials were trying to find out if Ahab would act mercifully, and when Ahab said “brother,” they (were optimistic/thought that Ahab would be merciful). So they replied, “Yes, he is like your brother!” Ahab said, “Go and bring him to me.” So they [went and] brought Ben-Hadad to him. [When Ben-Hadad arrived, ] Ahab told him to get in his chariot [and sit with him].
Varume ava vakazviona sechiratidzo chakanaka ndokukurumidza kutevedzera zvaakanga areva. Vakati, “Hongu, hama yenyu Bheni-Hadhadhi!” Mambo akati, “Endai munomutora.” Bheni-Hadhadhi akati achibuda, Ahabhu akamukwidza mungoro yake.
34 Ben-Hadad said to him, “I will give back to you the towns that my father’s army took from your father. And I will allow you to set up market areas for your merchants in Damascus [my capital], just as my father did in Samaria [your capital].” Ahab replied, “Because you agree to do that, I will not execute you.” So Ahab made an agreement with Ben-Hadad, and allowed him to go home.
Bheni-Hadhadhi akati kwaari, “Ndichadzosera maguta akatorwa nababa vangu kuna baba vako. Unogonawo kuisa misika yako muDhamasiko, sezvakaitwa nababa vangu muSamaria.” Ahabhu akati, “Nokuda kwechibvumirano ichi, ndichakusunungura.” Saka akaita chibvumirano naye, akamurega achienda.
35 Then Yahweh spoke to a member of a group of prophets and said to him, “Ask one of your fellow prophets to strike and wound you.” [So he did what Yahweh told him to do]. [He said to one of his fellow prophets, ‘Strike me and wound me].’ But that man refused to do it.
Mumwe wavanakomana vavaprofita arayirwa naJehovha, akati kushamwari yake, “Ndirove!” asi murume uyu akaramba.
36 So the prophet said to him, “Because you refused to obey what Yahweh told you to do, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And as soon as he left that prophet, a lion suddenly pounced on him and killed him.
Naizvozvo muprofita akati, “Zvausina kuteerera Jehovha, uchingobva pano pandiri, uchaurayiwa neshumba.” Zvino murume uyu achangobva paakanga ari, shumba yakamuwana ikamuuraya.
37 Then the prophet found another prophet, and said to him, “Strike me!” So that man hit him [very hard] and injured him.
Muprofita akawana mumwe murume akati, “Ndapota, ndirove.” Naizvozvo murume uyu akamurova, akamukuvadza.
38 Then the prophet put a large bandage/cloth over his face so that no one would recognize him. Then he went and stood alongside the road, waiting for the king to come by.
Ipapo muprofita akaenda akandomirira mambo pamugwagwa. Akazviita somumwe munhu akakwevera pasi mucheka wake womusoro kuti uvharidzire maziso ake.
39 When the king passed by, the prophet cried out to him, saying “Your majesty, [after I was wounded] while I was fighting in a battle, a soldier brought to me one of our enemies that he had captured, and said to me, ‘Guard this man! If he escapes, you must pay me 3,000 pieces of silver, and if you do not pay that, you will be executed!’
Mambo paakanga ava kupfuura nepo muprofita akadanidzira kwaari akati, “Muranda wenyu akaenda pakatikati pehondo payakanga ichirwiwa, mumwe munhu akauya kwandiri nomusungwa akati, ‘Chengeta murume uyu. Kana akashayikwa upenyu hwako huchatsiva hwake, kana kuti ucharipa netarenda resirivha.’
40 But while I was busy doing other things, the man escaped!” The king of Israel said to him, “That is your problem! You yourself have said that you deserve to be punished.”
Muranda wenyu paakanga ari mubishi rokuita basa pano nekoko, murume uya akanyangarika.” Mambo weIsraeri akati, “Iwoyo ndiwo mutongo wako. Ndiwe wautaura woga.”
41 The prophet immediately took off the bandage, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
Ipapo muprofita akakurumidza kubvisa mucheka pamaziso ake, mambo weIsraeri akabva amuziva kuti aiva mumwe wavaprofita.
42 And the prophet said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘You have allowed that man [Ben-Hadad] to escape after I commanded you to be sure to execute him! Since you did not do that, you will be killed instead. And your army will be destroyed because you allowed [some of] his army to escape!’”
Akati kuna mambo, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Wakasunungura munhu wandakanga ndati anofanira kufa. Naizvozvo upenyu hwako huchatsiva hwake, vanhu vako vachatsiva vanhu vake.’”
43 The king went back home to Samaria, very angry and depressed/dejected.
Mambo weIsraeri akaenda kumuzinda wake muSamaria aora mwoyo uye ashatirwa.
