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.
Ben Hadad, rey de Siria, reunió a todo su ejército, y había con él treinta y dos reyes, con caballos y carros. Subió y sitió a Samaria, y luchó contra ella.
2 Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, to say this to him: “This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
Envió mensajeros a la ciudad a Ajab, rey de Israel, y le dijo: “Ben Hadad dice:
3 ‘[You must give to] me all your silver and gold, your (good-looking/most beautiful) wives/women and strongest children.’”
‘Tu plata y tu oro son míos. Tus esposas también y tus hijos, incluso los mejores, son míos’”.
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.’”
El rey de Israel respondió: “Así es, mi señor, oh rey. Soy tuyo, y todo lo que tengo”.
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.
Los mensajeros volvieron a decir: “Ben Hadad dice: ‘En efecto, te envié a decir: “Me entregarás tu plata, tu oro, tus esposas y tus hijos;
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.”
pero mañana, a esta hora, te enviaré a mis siervos y registrarán tu casa y las casas de tus siervos. Todo lo que sea agradable a tus ojos, lo pondrán en su mano y se lo llevarán””.
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.”
Entonces el rey de Israel llamó a todos los ancianos del país y les dijo: “Fíjense en que este hombre busca el mal, porque me mandó a pedir mis mujeres, mis hijos, mi plata y mi oro, y no se lo negué.”
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!”
Todos los ancianos y todo el pueblo le dijeron: “No escuches y no consientas”.
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.
Por eso dijo a los mensajeros de Ben Hadad: “Decid a mi señor el rey: “Todo lo que mandasteis a vuestro siervo al principio lo haré, pero esto no puedo hacerlo””. Los mensajeros partieron y le trajeron el mensaje.
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!”
Ben Hadad le mandó decir: “Los dioses me lo hacen, y más aún, si el polvo de Samaria alcanza para puñados para todo el pueblo que me sigue”.
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.”
El rey de Israel contestó: “Dile que no se jacte el que se pone la armadura como el que se la quita”.
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.
Cuando Ben Hadad escuchó este mensaje mientras bebía, él y los reyes en los pabellones, dijo a sus sirvientes: “¡Prepárense para atacar!” Así que se prepararon para atacar la ciudad.
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].’”
He aquí que un profeta se acercó a Ajab, rey de Israel, y le dijo: “El Señor dice: ‘¿Has visto toda esta gran multitud? He aquí que hoy la entregaré en tu mano. Entonces sabrás que yo soy Yahvé’”.
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!”
Ahab dijo: “¿Por quién?” Dijo: “Yahvé dice: ‘Por los jóvenes de los príncipes de las provincias’”. Entonces dijo: “¿Quién comenzará la batalla?” Él respondió: “Tú”.
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.
Luego reunió a los jóvenes de los príncipes de las provincias, que eran doscientos treinta y dos. Después de ellos, reunió a todo el pueblo, a todos los hijos de Israel, que eran siete mil.
16 They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
Salieron al mediodía. Pero Ben Hadad se emborrachaba en los pabellones, él y los reyes, los treinta y dos reyes que le ayudaban.
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]”!
Los jóvenes de los príncipes de las provincias salieron primero, y Ben Hadad mandó a decir: “Salen hombres de Samaria.”
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
Dijo: “Si han salido por la paz, tómenlos vivos; o si han salido por la guerra, tómenlos vivos”.
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.
Estos salieron de la ciudad, los jóvenes de los príncipes de las provincias y el ejército que los seguía.
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.
Cada uno mató a su hombre. Los sirios huyeron, e Israel los persiguió. Ben Hadad, rey de Siria, escapó en un caballo con gente de a caballo.
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.
El rey de Israel salió y golpeó a los caballos y a los carros, y mató a los sirios con una gran matanza.
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.”
El profeta se acercó al rey de Israel y le dijo: “Ve, fortalécete y planifica lo que debes hacer, porque a la vuelta del año, el rey de Siria subirá contra ti.”
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.
Los servidores del rey de Siria le dijeron: “Su dios es un dios de las colinas; por eso fueron más fuertes que nosotros. Pero luchemos contra ellos en la llanura, y seguramente seremos más fuertes que ellos.
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.
Haz esto: quita a los reyes, cada uno de su lugar, y pon capitanes en su lugar.
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.
Reúne un ejército como el que has perdido, caballo por caballo y carro por carro. Lucharemos contra ellos en la llanura, y seguramente seremos más fuertes que ellos”. Él escuchó su voz y así lo hizo.
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.
A la vuelta del año, Ben Hadad reunió a los sirios y subió a Afec para luchar contra Israel.
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.
Los hijos de Israel se reunieron y recibieron provisiones, y fueron contra ellos. Los hijos de Israel acamparon frente a ellos como dos rebaños pequeños de cabras jóvenes, pero los sirios llenaron el país.
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].’”
Un hombre de Dios se acercó y habló al rey de Israel y le dijo: “Yahvé dice: ‘Como los sirios han dicho: “Yahvé es un dios de las colinas, pero no es un dios de los valles”, por eso entregaré a toda esta gran multitud en tu mano, y sabrás que yo soy Yahvé’”.
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.
Acamparon uno frente al otro durante siete días. Al séptimo día se entabló la batalla, y los hijos de Israel mataron a cien mil hombres de a pie de los sirios en un solo día.
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.
Pero los demás huyeron a Afec, a la ciudad, y el muro cayó sobre veintisiete mil hombres que quedaban. Ben Hadad huyó y entró en la ciudad, en una habitación interior.
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.”
Sus siervos le dijeron: “Mira, hemos oído que los reyes de la casa de Israel son reyes misericordiosos. Por favor, pongamos sacos en nuestros cuerpos y cuerdas en nuestras cabezas, y salgamos a ver al rey de Israel. Tal vez él te salve la vida”.
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!”
Así que se pusieron tela de saco en el cuerpo y cuerdas en la cabeza, y vinieron al rey de Israel y le dijeron: “Tu siervo Ben Hadad dice: “Por favor, déjame vivir””. Dijo: “¿Aún está vivo? Es mi hermano”.
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].
Los hombres observaron con diligencia y se apresuraron a tomar esta frase, y dijeron: “Tu hermano Ben Hadad”. Entonces dijo: “Ve, tráelo”. Entonces Ben Hadad salió hacia él, y lo hizo subir al carro.
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.
Ben Hadad le dijo: “Las ciudades que mi padre tomó de tu padre, yo las restauraré. Te harás calles en Damasco, como las que mi padre hizo en Samaria”. “Yo”, dijo Ajab, “te dejaré ir con este pacto”. Así que hizo un pacto con él y lo dejó ir.
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.
Un hombre de los hijos de los profetas dijo a su compañero por palabra de Yahvé: “¡Por favor, golpéame!” El hombre se negó a golpearlo.
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.
Entonces le dijo: “Como no has obedecido la voz de Yahvé, he aquí que en cuanto te apartes de mí, te matará un león”. En cuanto se apartó de él, un león lo encontró y lo mató.
37 Then the prophet found another prophet, and said to him, “Strike me!” So that man hit him [very hard] and injured him.
Entonces encontró a otro hombre y le dijo: “Por favor, golpéame”. El hombre lo golpeó y lo hirió.
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.
Entonces el profeta partió y esperó al rey en el camino, y se disfrazó con su cintillo sobre los ojos.
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!’
Al pasar el rey, gritó al rey y le dijo: “Tu siervo salió en medio de la batalla; y he aquí que un hombre se acercó y me trajo a un hombre, y me dijo: “¡Guarda a este hombre! Si por cualquier medio se pierde, entonces tu vida será por la suya, o si no pagarás un talento de plata.’
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.”
Como tu siervo estaba ocupado aquí y allá, desapareció”. El rey de Israel le dijo: “Así será tu juicio. Tú mismo lo has decidido”.
41 The prophet immediately took off the bandage, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
Se apresuró a quitarse la cinta de los ojos, y el rey de Israel reconoció que era uno de los profetas.
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!’”
Le dijo: “Yahvé dice: ‘Como has dejado ir de tu mano al hombre que yo había consagrado a la destrucción, por eso tu vida tomará el lugar de su vida, y tu pueblo el lugar de su pueblo’.”
43 The king went back home to Samaria, very angry and depressed/dejected.
El rey de Israel se fue a su casa hosco y enojado, y llegó a Samaria.
