1 Ndị Eze 20
1 Ugbu a, Ben-Hadad, bụ eze ndị Aram, chịkọtara ndị agha ya niile. Iri ndị eze atọ na abụọ sonyere ya, ha na ịnyịnya ha na ụgbọ agha ha. Ọ rịgooro nọchibido obodo Sameria buso ya agha.
Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
2 Mgbe ahụ, eze ndị Siria zigaara Ehab, eze Izrel ozi nʼime obodo sị ya, “otu a ka Ben-Hadad sịrị,
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says,
3 ‘Ọlaọcha na ọlaedo gị, nkem ka ha bụ, ndị nwunye gị na ụmụ gị, bụ ndị dị mma karịsịa nke m ka ha bụ.’”
‘Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’”
4 Ehab eze Izrel, zighachiri ozi sị, “Ọ dị mma, onyenwe m, mụ onwe m, na ihe niile m nwere bụ nke gị.”
The king of Israel answered, “It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.”
5 Ngwangwa ndị ozi Ben-Hadad bịaghachiri zie Ehab ozi ọzọ sị ya, “Otu a ka Ben-Hadad sịrị, ‘Ọ bụ ezie na m ziteere gị ozi, sị, ọlaọcha gị na ọlaedo gị na ndị nwunye gị na ụmụ gị ka ị ga-enye m.
The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children;
6 Ma ugbu a, nʼoge dị ka nke a, echi, aga m ezite ndị ozi m ka ha bịa nyochaa ụlọ gị niile na ụlọ ndị ozi gị niile. Ihe ọbụla dị oke ọnụahịa nʼanya gị ka ha ga-ewere.’”
but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. Whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.”’”
7 Eze Izrel kpọrọ ndị okenye niile nke ala ahụ, sị ha, “Leenụ ugbu a, hụkwanụ otu nwoke a si achọ nsogbu. Mgbe o zitere m ozi inye ya ndị nwunye m, na ụmụ, na ọlaọcha m na ọlaedo m, ekwenyere m ya inye ya ihe ndị a.”
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please notice how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.”
8 Ndị okenye na ndị Izrel zara sị ya, “Aṅala ya ntị! Enyela ya ihe ọbụla.”
All the elders and all the people said to him, “Don’t listen, and don’t consent.”
9 Mgbe ahụ, ọ sịrị ndị ozi Ben-Hadad, “Gwanụ onyenwe m, bụ eze, ‘M bụ odibo gị jikeere ime ihe niile ị buru ụzọ kwuo na m ga-enye gị. Ma ekwenyeghị m nʼozi nke ugboro abụọ a.’” Ndị ozi ahụ laghachiri kọọrọ Ben-Hadad ihe niile Ehab kwuru.
Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you sent for to your servant at the first I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” The messengers departed and brought him back the message.
10 Ma Ben-Hadad zigakwaara Ehab ozi ọzọ sị, “Ka chi ndị a mesoo m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na aja Sameria ga-afọdụ inye onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị ikom m otu njuaka.”
Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
11 Ma eze Izrel zaghachiri, “Gwa ya, ‘Onye na-ebu agha na-anya isi naanị mgbe a lụchara agha, ọ bụghị tupu a lụọ agha.’”
The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Don’t let him who puts on his armour brag like he who takes it off.’”
12 Ben-Hadad nụrụ ozi Ehab ziri mgbe ya na ndị eze ndị ọzọ ahụ nọ na-aṅụ mmanya nʼụlọ ikwu ha manyere nʼọgbọ agha ahụ. Ben-Hadad nyere ndị agha ya iwu sị ha, “Jikerenụ, buso ndị Izrel agha.” Ya mere, ha kwadoro ibuso obodo ahụ agha.
When Ben Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, he said to his servants, “Prepare to attack!” So they prepared to attack the city.
13 Nʼoge a, otu onye amụma bịakwutere Ehab, bụ eze Izrel sị, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Ị hụrụ oke igwe ndị agha a? Aga m enyefe ha nʼaka gị taa, mgbe ahụ ị ga-amatakwa na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị.’”
Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “The LORD says, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
14 Ma Ehab jụrụ sị, “Onye ga-eme nke a?” Onye amụma zara, “Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, ‘Ọ bụ ụmụ okorobịa bụ ndịisi agha nọ nʼokpuru ndị ọchịagha na-achị akụkụ ala Izrel.’” Ehab jụkwara ọzọ, “Onye ga-amalite agha a?” Onye amụma ahụ zara, “Gị onwe gị.”
Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “The LORD says, ‘By the young men of the princes of the provinces.’” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”
15 Mgbe ahụ, Ehab kpọkọtara ụmụ okorobịa bụ ndịisi agha si nʼakụkụ obodo ya. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị narị abụọ na iri atọ na mmadụ abụọ. Ọnụọgụgụ ndị agha Izrel ndị ọzọ dị puku asaa.
Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two. After them, he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16 Nʼetiti ehihie, mgbe Ben-Hadad na iri ndị eze atọ na abụọ ahụ, bụ ndị ahụ bịara inyere ya aka nọ na-aṅụ mmanya, na-aṅụbiga ya oke,
They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
17 ụmụ okorobịa, bụ ndị agha, ndị nọ nʼokpuru ndị ọchịagha na-achị akụkụ ala Izrel buru ụzọ pụọ ibu agha. Ma Ben-Hadad, nʼonwe ya ezipụlarị ndị nledo, ndị lọghachiri bịa gwa ya sị, “Ndị agha si Sameria na-abịa.”
The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”
18 Ọ sịrị, “Ọ bụrụ na ha abịa nʼihi udo, jidenụ ha na ndụ; ọ bụrụ na ha bịara maka ibu agha, jidenụ ha na ndụ!”
He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
19 Ma ụmụ okorobịa ndị ọchịchị a bụ ndị nọ nʼokpuru ndịisi, na-achị akụkụ ala ahụ sitere nʼobodo zọlie ije ebe ndị agha so ha nʼazụ, pụọ ibu agha.
So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
20 Onye ọbụla nʼime ha gburu onye agha Siria ọbụla lụsoro ya ọgụ. Nke a mere ka ndị agha Siria gbapụ ọsọ, ndị agha Izrel chụsokwara ha. Ma Ben-Hadad, eze Aram, na ndị agha na-agba ịnyịnya, sitekwara nʼihu ọgbọ agha ahụ gbapụkwa ọsọ.
They each killed his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
21 Ma eze ndị Izrel pụkwuru ya, nwude ọtụtụ ịnyịnya na ụgbọ agha, butere ndị Aram ọghọm dị ukwuu.
The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22 Emesịa, onye amụma ahụ bịakwutere eze Izrel sị ya, “Mee onwe gị ka ị dị ike nke ọma, mara ihe e kwesiri ka e mee, nʼihi nʼetiti ọkọchị na udu mmiri nke afọ nʼabịa, eze Aram ga-abịa ibuso gị agha ọzọ.”
The prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and plan what you must do, for at the return of the year, the king of Syria will come up against you.”
23 Ma otu ọ dị, ndịisi agha eze ndị Aram dụrụ ya ọdụ sị, “Chi ha bụ chi ugwu. Nʼihi ya ka ha ji dị ike karịa anyị. Ma ọ bụrụ na anyị ebuso ha agha nʼobosara ala dị larịị, anyị aghaghị ịdị ike karịa ha.
The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we. But let’s fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.
24 Mee ihe a, wepụ ndị eze a niile site nʼebe ha nọ, jiri ndị na-achị ala gbanwee ha.
Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their place.
25 Kpọkọtaakwa ndị agha ọzọ, ndị dị ukwuu nʼọnụọgụgụ, dịka ndị agha i du gaa agha na mbụ. Nyekwa anyị ịnyịnya na ụgbọ agha ga-ezuru anyị. Anyị ga-apụkwa buso ndị Izrel agha nʼobosara ala dị larịị. Ọ dịkwaghị ihe ga-egbochi anyị imeri ha nʼoge a.” Ben-Hadad, eze Aram, kwenyere, meere ha dịka ha rịọrọ ya.
Muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. We will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.” He listened to their voice and did so.
26 Mgbe otu afọ gasịrị, Ben-Hadad chịkọtakwara ndị Aram niile duru ha gaa Afek ibuso Izrel agha.
At the return of the year, Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 Mgbe a kpọkọtara ndị agha niile nọ nʼIzrel nye ha ngwa agha, ha pụrụ izute ha. Ndị agha Izrel mara ụlọ ikwu ha na ncherita ihu ndị agha Siria, dịka igwe ewu nta abụọ, ebe ndị Aram jupụtara ala ahụ niile.
The children of Israel were mustered and given provisions, and went against them. The children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of young goats, but the Syrians filled the country.
28 Onye nke Chineke bịara gwa eze ndị Izrel, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Nʼihi na ndị Aram na-eche na Onyenwe anyị bụ chi nke ugwu, na ọ bụghị chi ala ndagwurugwu, aga m arara igwe ndị agha a nyefee gị nʼaka, ka gị na ndị gị mata nʼeziokwu na m bụ Onyenwe anyị.’”
A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “The LORD says, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’”
29 Ọ bụ ụbọchị asaa ka ha mara ụlọ ikwu ha na ncherita ihu ibe ha. Ma nʼụbọchị nke asaa ahụ, ndị agha malitere ibu agha. Ndị Izrel merụrụ narị puku ndị agha Aram ahụ nʼotu ụbọchị.
They encamped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand footmen of the Syrians in one day.
30 Ma ndị fọdụrụ nʼetiti ndị agha Aram gbapụrụ ọsọ gbalaga nʼobodo Afek. Ebe ahụ ka mgbidi obodo Afek nọ dagbuo iri puku ndị agha abụọ na asaa nʼime ha. Ma Ben-Hadad nʼonwe ya gbalagara, gbaba nʼime obodo ahụ, gaa zoo onwe ya nʼime ime otu ụlọ.
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner room.
31 Mgbe ahụ, ndịisi agha ya bịakwutere ya sị ya, “Lee, anyị nụrụ na ndị eze Izrel bụ ndị obi ebere. Ka anyị yiri akwa mkpe nʼukwu anyị, kee ụdọ nʼolu anyị, gaa rịọọ eze Izrel. Ma eleghị anya ọ ga-edebe gị ndụ.”
His servants said to him, “See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth on our bodies and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Maybe he will save your life.”
32 Ya mere, ha yikwasịrị onwe ha akwa mkpe, nyarakwa ụdọ nʼolu ha, jekwuru eze Izrel sị ya, “Ohu gị bụ Ben-Hadad na-asị, ‘Biko, kwee ka m dịrị ndụ.’” Eze jụrụ ha sị, “Ọ bụ ezie na ọ ka dị ndụ ugbu a? Nwanne m ka ọ bụ.”
So they put sackcloth on their bodies and ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” He said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Okwu a mere ka ndị ozi eze Aram nwee olileanya. Ha mere ngwangwa kwugharịakwa ihe ahụ o kwuru. Ha sịrị, “E, Nwanne gị bụ Ben-Hadad.” Mgbe ahụ, eze Ehab nyere ha iwu sị, “Gaanụ kpọpụta ya, dutekwanụ ya nʼebe a.” Mgbe Ben-Hadad bịara, Ehab mere ka ọ rigota nʼụgbọ agha nke ya.
Now the men observed diligently and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
34 Mgbe ahụ, Ben-Hadad gwara Ehab sị, “Obodo niile nke nna m naara nna gị, ka m ga-enyeghachi gị. I nwere ike iwuru onwe gị ọdụ ahịa nʼama obodo Damaskọs dịka nna m wuru nʼime Sameria.” Ehab kwuru, “Ọ bụrụ na anyị agbaa ndụ, aga m eme ka i nwere onwe gị.” Ya mere, ha abụọ gbara ndụ. Ehab hapụkwara ya ka ọ laa nʼudo.
Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” “I”, said Ahab, “will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
35 Emesịa, okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere otu onye nʼetiti ụmụ ndị amụma. Ọ gwara otu nwoke nʼime ụmụ ndị amụma ahụ nọ ya nso sị ya, “Jiri ngwa agha dị gị nʼaka tie m ihe.” Ma nwoke ahụ jụrụ ime ihe onye amụma ahụ kwuru.
A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the LORD’s word, “Please strike me!” The man refused to strike him.
36 Nʼihi nke a, onye amụma gwara nwoke ahụ okwu sị, “Ebe ọ bụ na ị jụrụ ime ihe Onyenwe anyị nyere nʼiwu, lee ihe ga-adakwasị gị. Mgbe i si nʼebe a na-ala nʼụlọ gị, ọdụm ga-ezute gị nʼụzọ dọgbuo gị.” Amụma a mezukwara, nʼihi na mgbe nwoke ahụ tụgharịrị si nʼebe ahụ na-ala, ọdụm lụsoro ya ọgụ nʼụzọ gbuo ya.
Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the LORD’s voice, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and killed him.
37 Onye amụma ahụ pụkwara chọta onye ọzọ sị ya, “Biko, tie m ihe.” Nwoke ahụ tiri ya ihe tihịa ya ahụ.
Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him and wounded him.
38 Mgbe ahụ, onye amụma ahụ e tiri ihe jiri akwa kechie ihu ya, ka mmadụ ọbụla ghara ịmata onye ọ bụ. Ọ pụrụ gaa guzo nʼakụkụ ụzọ ebe eze Izrel ga-esi gafee.
So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
39 Mgbe eze na-agafe, onye amụma ahụ tiri mkpu sị, “Onyenwe m, biko gee m ntị. Lee, otu onye agha bịakwutere m mgbe m nọ nʼihu agha sị m, ‘Lee nwoke a a dọtara nʼagha; chee ya nche. Ekwekwala ka ọ gbanarị gị. Nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na o site nʼaka gị gbapụ, ị ga-anwụ, maọbụ i jiri otu talenti ọlaọcha gbara isi gị.’
As the king passed by, he cried to the king, and he said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle; and behold, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man! If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’
40 Ma mgbe m nọ na-arụ ọrụ ọzọ, nwoke ahụ a dọtara nʼagha gbapụrụ. Ahụkwaghị m ya anya ọzọ.” Mgbe ahụ, eze Izrel zara sị ya, “I jirila ọnụ gị maa onwe gị ikpe. Ị ghaghị ịnata ahụhụ dịrị gị.”
As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgement be. You yourself have decided it.”
41 Mgbe ahụ, onye amụma ahụ mere ngwangwa wepụ akwa ahụ o ji kechie anya ya abụọ. Eze Izrel matakwara na ọ bụ otu onye nʼime ndị amụma.
He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognised that he was one of the prophets.
42 Onye amụma ahụ gwara eze okwu sị ya, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, ‘Ebe i mere ka nwoke a laa, bụ onye m nyere gị nʼaka ime ka ọ nwụọ, ugbu a, ị ghaghị ịnwụ nʼọnọdụ ya. A ga-alakwa ndị gị nʼiyi, nʼọnọdụ ndị nke ya.’”
He said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will take the place of his life, and your people take the place of his people.’”
43 Nʼihi okwu a, eze Izrel ji iwe na ihu mgbarụ laa nʼụlọ ya dị na Sameria.
The king of Israel went to his house sullen and angry, and came to Samaria.
