2 Ihe E Mere 18
1 Ugbu a, Jehoshafat nwere akụnụba na ugwu buru ibu, bịakwa ghọọ ọgọ Ehab.
Jehoshaphat became very wealthy and was greatly honored. But then he arranged for one of his family to marry someone from the family of King Ahab [of Israel].
2 Mgbe afọ ole na ole gasịrị, Jehoshafat gara Sameria ileta Ehab. Ehab gbuuru ya na ndị ya na ha yi ọtụtụ atụrụ na ehi, ọ kpọrọ oriri kwagide ya ka o buso Ramọt Gilead agha.
Several years later, he went down [from Jerusalem] to Samaria to visit Ahab. Ahab welcomed him and the people who had come with him by slaughtering many sheep and cattle [for a feast].
3 Ehab eze Izrel jụrụ Jehoshafat eze Juda, sị, “Ị ga-eso m buso Ramọt Gilead agha?” Jehoshafat zaghachiri, “Otu m dị ka gị onwe gị dị, ndị nke m bụkwa ndị gị. Anyị ga-eso gị gaa agha.”
Then he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you [and your army] go with my army to attack Ramoth [city] in [the] Gilead [region]?” Jehoshaphat replied, “My soldiers and I will go to the battle when you tell us to go.”
4 Ma Jehoshafat gwakwara eze Izrel, sị, “Buru ụzọ chọpụta ntụziaka Onyenwe anyị.”
Then he added, “But we should ask Yahweh first, to find out what he wants us to do.”
5 Ya mere, eze Izrel kpọkọtara ndị amụma dị narị ndị ikom anọ nʼọnụọgụgụ jụọ ha, sị, “Anyị a ga-ebuso Ramọt Gilead agha, ka ọ bụ m hapụ?” Ha zara, “Gaa, nʼihi na Chineke ga-enyefe ha nʼaka eze.”
So the king of Israel gathered all his 400 prophets and asked them, “Should we go to attack the people of Ramoth [city], or should we not do that?” They replied, “Yes, go [and attack them] because God will enable your army to defeat them.”
6 Ma Jehoshafat jụrụ, “Ọ bụ na e nwekwaghị onye amụma Onyenwe anyị nọ nʼebe a, onye anyị nwere ike ịjụta ase nʼaka ya?”
But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of Yahweh here whom we can ask?”
7 Eze Izrel zaghachiri Jehoshafat, sị, “A ka nwere otu onye amụma, onye anyị nwere ike isite nʼaka ya jụọ Onyenwe anyị ase, ọ bụ Maikaya nwa Imla, ma akpọrọ m ya asị, nʼihi na o nweghị oge ọ na-ebu amụma ihe ọma nʼebe m nọ, kama ọ bụ naanị nke ọjọọ.” Jehoshafat sịrị, “Eze ekwesighị ikwu okwu dị otu a.”
The king of Israel replied, “There is still one man here, whom we can ask to find out what Yahweh wants, his name is Micaiah, the son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never says anything good about me. He always predicts [that] bad [things will happen to me].” Jehoshaphat replied, “King Ahab, you should not say that!”
8 Mgbe ahụ, eze Izrel kpọrọ otu onye na-ejere ya ozi sị ya, “Mee ọsịịsọ kpọta Maikaya nwa Imla nʼebe a.”
So the king of Israel told one of his officials to summon Micaiah immediately.
9 Ehab eze Izrel na Jehoshafat eze Juda, onye ọbụla yi uwe eze ya, na-anọkwasị nʼocheeze ya nʼebe ịzọcha ọka nʼọnụ ụzọ ama e si abata obodo Sameria. Ndị amụma ahụ niile nọkwa na-ebu amụma nʼihu ha.
The king of Israel and the king of Judah were sitting there on their thrones, wearing their royal robes. They were at the place where people threshed grain, near the gate of Samaria [city]. All of [Ahab’s] prophets were standing in front of them, predicting what was going to happen.
10 Zedekaya nwa Kenaana, mere mpi igwe, ọ kwupụtara sị, “Nke a bụ ihe Onyenwe anyị na-ekwu, ‘Ihe ndị a ka ị ga-eji sọgide ndị Aram, ruo mgbe a ga-ala ha nʼiyi.’”
[One of them whose name was] Zedekiah, the son of Kenaanah, had made from iron something that resembled the horns of a bull. He proclaimed to Ahab, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘With horns [like these], your [army] will keep attacking the army of Syria [like a bull attacks another animal], until you completely destroy them.’”
11 Ndị amụma ndị ọzọ niile na-ebu otu ihe ahụ nʼamụma, na-asị, “Gaa, busoo Ramọt Gilead agha, ị ga-enwekwa mmeri, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị ga-enyefe ya nʼaka eze.”
All the other prophets [of Ahab] agreed. They said, “Yes! If you attack Ramoth [city] in [the] Gilead [region], you will be successful, because Yahweh will enable you to defeat them.”
12 Onyeozi ahụ nke gara ịkpọ Maikaya sịrị ya, “Lee, ndị amụma ndị ọzọ na-agụpụghị onye ọbụla na-ebu amụma ọganihu nye eze. Mee ka okwu gị na ha dakọta. Kwuokwa ihe ga-adị eze mma.”
The messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Listen to me! All the other prophets are unitedly predicting that the king will be successful [in the battle]. So be sure to agree with them and say that the king’s army will be successful!”
13 Ma Maikaya sịrị, “Dịka Onyenwe anyị na-adị ndụ, aga m agwa ya naanị ihe Chineke m kwuru.”
But Micaiah said, “As surely as Yahweh lives, I will tell the king only what Yahweh tells me to say.”
14 Mgbe ọ bịarutere, eze jụrụ ya, “Maikaya, ọ bụ anyị gaa buso Ramọt Gilead agha, ka ọ bụ m hapụ?” Ọ zara, “Gaa, ma nwekwa mmeri, nʼihi na a ga-enyefe ha nʼaka gị.”
When Micaiah arrived, the king [of Israel] asked him, “Should we go to attack Ramoth, or not?” Micaiah replied, “Sure, go! Yahweh will enable your army to defeat them!”
15 Eze sịrị ya, “Ugboro ole ka m ga-eme ka ị ṅụọ iyi na ị gaghị agwa m ihe ọzọ, karịa naanị eziokwu nʼaha Onyenwe anyị?”
But King Ahab [realized that Micaiah was lying, so he] said to Micaiah, “I have told you many times that you must always tell only the truth when you say what Yahweh [has revealed to you]!”
16 Mgbe ahụ, Mikaya zara, “Ahụrụ m Izrel niile ka ha gbasasịrị nʼelu ọtụtụ ugwu dịka atụrụ na-enweghị onye ọzụzụ atụrụ ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Ndị a enweghị onyendu, ka onye ọbụla laghachi nʼụlọ ya nʼudo.’”
Then Micaiah replied, “[The truth is that in a vision] I saw all the troops of Israel scattered on the mountains. They seemed to be like sheep that did not have a shepherd. And Yahweh said, ‘Their master has been killed. So tell them all to go home peacefully.’”
17 Eze Izrel sịrị Jehoshafat, “Ọ bụ na m agwaghị gị na ọ dịghị mgbe ọ na-ebu amụma ihe ọma banyere m, kama naanị ihe ọjọọ?”
Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “I told you that he never predicts that anything good will happen to me! He [always] predicts that bad things will happen to me.”
18 Maikaya gara nʼihu sị, “Ya mere, nụrụnụ okwu Onyenwe anyị: Ahụrụ m Onyenwe anyị ka ọ nọkwasịrị nʼocheeze ya, hụkwa usuu nke eluigwe ka ha na-eguzo nʼaka nri ya nakwa nʼaka ekpe ya.
But Micaiah continued, saying, “Listen to what Yahweh showed to me! [In a vision] I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, with all the armies of heaven [standing around him], on his right side and on his left side.
19 Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Onye ga-aga rafuo Ehab, eze Izrel, ka ọ gaa buso Ramọt Gilead agha, gaa nwụọ nʼebe ahụ?’ “Otu onye tụpụtara aro nke a, ebe onye ọzọ tụpụtara nke ọzọ.
And Yahweh said, ‘Who can persuade Ahab, the king of Israel, to go to fight against the people of Ramoth, in order that he may be killed there?’ “Some suggested one thing, and others suggested something else.
20 Nʼikpeazụ, otu mmụọ pụtara guzo nʼihu Onyenwe anyị sị, ‘Mụ onwe m ga-arafu ya.’ “Onyenwe anyị jụrụ ya sị, ‘Olee otu ị ga-esi mee nke a?’
“Finally one spirit, [having received a message from Satan], came to Yahweh and said, ‘I can do it!’ “Yahweh asked him, ‘How will you do it?’
21 “Ọ zara, ‘Aga m apụ bụrụ mmụọ nrafu nʼọnụ ndị amụma ya niile.’ “Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Ị ga-enwe ike ịrafu ya. Gaa mee otu a.’
“The spirit replied, ‘I will go and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to tell lies.’ Yahweh said, ‘You will be successful; go and do it!’
22 “Ma ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị etinyela mmụọ okwu ụgha nʼọnụ ndị amụma gị niile ndị a. Onyenwe anyị ekwubiela nʼihe ọjọọ ga-adakwasị gị.”
“So now [I tell you that] Yahweh has caused your prophets to lie to you. Yahweh has decided that something terrible will happen to you.”
23 Mgbe ahụ, Zedekaya nwa Kenaana, gara nso maa Maikaya aka na nti, jụọ ya, “Olee ụzọ ka mmụọ ahụ sitere na Onyenwe anyị gara, mgbe ọ hapụrụ m bịa ịgwa gị okwu?”
Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked over to Micaiah and slapped him on his face. He said, “Do you think that Yahweh’s Spirit left me in order to speak to you?”
24 Maikaya zaghachiri, “Ị ga-achọpụta nke a nʼụbọchị ị ga-agbaba nʼime ime ụlọ izo onwe gị.”
Micaiah replied, “You will find out for yourself [to which of us Yahweh’s Spirit has truly spoken] on the day when you go into a room of some house to hide [from the Syrian soldiers]!”
25 Eze Izrel nyere iwu sị, “Jidenụ Maikaya kpụgara ya Amọn, onye na-achị obodo a, na Joash, nwa eze.
King Ahab commanded [his soldiers], “Seize Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of this city, and to my son Joash.
26 Ị ga-asịkwa, ‘Otu a ka eze sịrị: Tinye nwoke a nʼụlọ mkpọrọ, nye ya naanị achịcha na mmiri ọṅụṅụ tutu ruo mgbe m lọghachiri nʼudo.’”
Tell them that I have commanded that they should put this man in prison and give him only bread and water. Do not give him anything else to eat until I return safely [from the battle]!”
27 Maikaya kwupụtara sị, “Ọ bụrụ na ị lọghachi nʼudo, ọ pụtara na ọ bụghị Onyenwe anyị si nʼọnụ m kwuo okwu.” O kwukwara sị, “Unu niile, hụbakwanụ okwu m ndị a niile ama.”
Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, [it will be clear that] it was not Yahweh who told me what to say to you!” Then he said [to all those who were standing there], “Do not forget what I have said [to King Ahab]!”
28 Ya mere, eze Izrel na Jehoshafat eze Juda pụrụ gawa Ramọt Gilead.
So the king of Israel and the king of Judah [led their armies] to Ramoth, in [the] Gilead [region].
29 Eze Izrel gwara Jehoshafat, sị, “Aga m ejikere onwe m dịka m bụ onye ọzọ banye nʼọgbọ agha, ma gị onwe gị yiri uwe eze gị.” Ya mere, eze Izrel nwogharịrị onwe ya ka onye ọzọ baa nʼọgbọ agha.
King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “I will put on different clothes, [in order that no one will recognize that I am the king.] But you should wear your royal robe.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they both went into the battle.
30 Ma eze Aram enyelarị ndị ọchịagha, ndị na-agba ụgbọ agha iwu sị, “Unu ebusola onye ọbụla agha, maọbụ onye ukwu maọbụ onye nta, karịakwa naanị eze Izrel.”
The King of Syria told his soldiers who were driving the chariots, “Attack only the king of Israel!”
31 Mgbe ndị ọchịagha na-achị ụgbọ agha hụrụ Jehoshafat, ha chere nʼobi ha, “Onye a bụ eze Izrel.” Nʼihi ya, ha tụgharịrị ibuso ya agha, ma Jehoshafat tiri mkpu, nke mere na Onyenwe anyị nyeere ya aka. Chineke wezugara ha site nʼebe ọ nọ,
So when the soldiers who were driving the Syrian chariots saw Jehoshaphat [wearing the royal robes], they thought “He must be the king of Israel!”
32 nʼihi na mgbe ndị ọchịagha, na-achị ndị na-agba ụgbọ agha hụrụ na ọ bụghị eze Izrel, ha kwụsịrị ịchụso ya.
So they turned to attack him. But when Jehoshaphat cried out, Yahweh helped him, and they realized that he was not the king of Israel. And God caused them to stop pursuing him.
33 Ma otu onye dọrọ ụta ya gbapụ ya na-ebughị onye ọbụla nʼobi, gbata ya eze Izrel nʼetiti njikọ ihe ikpuchi obi na uwe agha ya. Eze gwara onye ọkwọ ụgbọ agha, sị, “Tụgharịa, si nʼebe a bupụ m nʼihi na emerụọla m ahụ.”
But one [Syrian] soldier shot an arrow at Ahab, without knowing that it was Ahab. The arrow struck Ahab between the places where the parts of his armor joined together. Ahab told the driver of his chariot, “Turn the chariot around and take me out of here! I have been [severely] wounded!”
34 Agha ahụ siri ike nʼụbọchị ahụ niile. Eze Izrel guzobere onwe ya ka ọ kwụrụ ọtọ nʼime ụgbọ agha ya na-eche ndị Aram ihu ruo uhuruchi. Ọ nwụrụ mgbe anyanwụ dara.
The battle continued all that day. Ahab was sitting propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrian soldiers. And late in the afternoon, when the sun was setting, he died.
