2 Samuel 3
1 Agha dị nʼetiti ndị ụlọ Sọl na ụlọ Devid dịịrị ruo oge toro ogologo. Ma ka Devid na-aga nʼihu na-esiwanye ike, ụlọ Sọl na-aga azụ na-ada ada.
There was a long war between those who wanted Saul’s son to be their king and those who wanted David to be their king. But more and more people began to want David to be the king, while the number of people who wanted Saul’s son to be the king continued to become smaller.
2 A mụtaara ọtụtụ ụmụ ndị ikom nye Devid mgbe ọ nọ na Hebrọn. Ọkpara ya bụ Amnọn nke, Ahinoam bụ nwanyị Jezril mụrụ.
David’s wives gave birth to six sons at Hebron. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel [city].
3 Nke abụọ bụ Kiliab, nke Abigel, nwunye ochie Nebal, onye Kamel mụrụ. Nke atọ bụ Absalọm, nke Maaka nwa nwanyị Talmai, bụ eze Geshua mụrụ.
The next one was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel [city]. The next one was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of [the] Geshur [region].
4 Nke anọ bụ Adonaịja, nwa nwoke Hagit. Nke ise bụ Shefataya nwa Abital;
The next one was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next one was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
5 nke isii bụ Itream, nwa nwoke Egla nwunye Devid. Ndị a ka a mụtaara Devid na Hebrọn.
The youngest one was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, [another one of] David’s wives. Those sons of David were all born in Hebron.
6 O ruo, mgbe agha na-aga nʼihu nʼetiti ụlọ Sọl na ụlọ Devid, na Abna nọ na-eme ka ọnọdụ ya sie ike nʼụlọ Sọl.
While those who wanted Saul’s son to rule over them and those who wanted David to rule over them continued to fight against each other, Abner was becoming more influential among those who wanted Saul’s son to be the king.
7 Ma Sọl nwererịị otu iko nwanyị aha ya bụ Rizpa, nwa Aịa. Ishboshet jụrụ Abna ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị mere gị na iko nwanyị nna m ji dinaa?”
When Saul was alive, he had as one of his wives a slave woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. [But one day Abner had sexual relations with her]. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you had sexual relations with [EUP] my father’s slave wife?”
8 Iwe were Abna nke ukwuu nʼihi ihe Ishboshet kwuru. Ya mere, ọ zara, “Ọ bụ isi nkịta nke ụlọ Juda ka m bụ? Taa ka m ji obi m niile na-ejere ụlọ nna gị, bụ Sọl, na ezinaụlọ ya, na ndị enyi ya ozi. Ewerebeghị m gị nyefee nʼaka Devid. Ma lee, ugbu a i na-ebo m ebubo ajọ omume nʼihe metụtara nwanyị a.
Abner became very angry about what Ishbosheth said to him. He said to Ishbosheth, “(Do you think that I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah?/You are treating me as though I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah.) [RHQ] From the beginning, I have been loyal to Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends. And I have prevented you from being defeated by David’s army. So now (why are you criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman?/you should not be criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman.) [RHQ]
9 Ka Chineke mesoo Abna mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na m emereghị Devid ihe ndị ahụ niile Onyenwe anyị sitere nʼịṅụ iyi kwee nkwa inye ya.
Yahweh solemnly promised that he would not allow Saul and his descendants to continue to rule. He promised that he would cause David to rule over all the tribes of Israel and Judah, from Dan [city] far in the north to Beersheba [city] far in the south. So I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I do not enable that to happen!”
10 Ịnapụ ụlọ Sọl alaeze ahụ, na ime ka ocheeze Devid guzosie ike nʼebe Izrel niile na Juda niile nọ, site na Dan ruo Bịasheba.”
11 Ishboshet ekwughị ihe ọbụla nʼihi na ọ na-atụ Abna egwu.
Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner, so he did not say anything in reply to Abner.
12 Ngwangwa, Abna zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha jekwuru Devid sị ya, “Onye nwee ala a? Ka mụ na gị gbaa ndụ. Aga m enyere gị aka kpọghachite ndị Izrel ka ha dịnyeere gị.”
Then Abner sent messengers to David [when he was at Hebron], to say to him, “[Either you or I] should be [RHQ] the ruler of this entire nation, [but not Isbosheth. However, ] if you make an agreement with me, I will help you by encouraging all the people of Israel to (be want you to be their king/start to support) you.”
13 Devid sịrị, “Ọ dị mma. Mụ na unu ga-agba ndụ. Ma ọ dị otu ihe m chọrọ nʼaka unu. Unu agaghị ahụ ihu m anya ma ọ bụrụ na unu eduteghị Mikal, nwa Sọl, mgbe unu ga-abịa ịhụ m.”
David sent back this reply: “Good! I am willing to make an agreement with you. But before that happens, there is one thing that you must do. When you come to see me, you must bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter.”
14 Devid ziri Ishboshet nwa Sọl ozi sị ya, “Dulatara m nwunye m Mikal, nʼihi na ọ bụ narị apị ndị Filistia ka m ji lụtara ya onwe m.”
Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, to say to him, “I [had to kill] 100 men from Philistia [and cut off] their foreskins to give to Saul to pay for Michal [to be my wife]. So now give her back to me!”
15 Na-atụfughị oge, Ishboshet nyere iwu ka e site nʼaka di ya bụ Paltiel, nwa Laish, kpọpụta ya.
So Ishbosheth sent some men to take Michal from her husband Palti. But [when they took her, ] her husband followed them all the way to Bahurim [town], crying as he went.
16 Mgbe ha du ya na-aga, Paltiel sogidere ya nʼazụ na-akwa akwa tutu ha eruo Bahurim. Nʼebe ahụ ka Abna nọ sị ya, “Laghachi ugbu a.” Ọ tụgharịrị laa.
Then Abner [turned and] said to him, “Go back [home]!”, so he did.
17 Abna na ndị okenye Izrel kparịtara ụka. Ọ chetaara ha sị ha, “Ọ dịla anya kemgbe unu na-achọ ka Devid bụrụ eze unu.
Abner went to the Israeli leaders and talked with them. He said, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
18 Ugbu a meenụ ya, nʼihi na Onyenwe anyị kweere Devid nkwa, ‘Site nʼaka ohu m bụ Devid ka m ga-esi zọpụta ndị m bụ Izrel site nʼaka ndị Filistia, nakwa site nʼaka ndị iro ha niile.’”
So now you have an opportunity to do that. Keep in mind that Yahweh promised this: ‘With the help of David, who serves me [well], I will rescue my people from the people of Philistia, and from the power [MTY] of all their other enemies’.”
19 Abna gwakwara ndị Benjamin okwu. Emesịa, o jere Hebrọn ịgwa Devid ihe niile ndị Izrel na ndị Benjamin zubere ime.
Abner also spoke to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron, to tell David what all the people of Israel and the people of the tribe of Benjamin had agreed to do.
20 Abna, ya na iri ndị ikom abụọ so gakwuru Devid na Hebrọn. Mgbe ha ruru, Devid meere ha oke oriri.
When Abner came with 20 of his soldiers to see David at Hebron, David made a feast for all of them.
21 Mgbe ahụ, Abna sịrị Devid, “Ka m gaa ngwangwa ga kpọkọtaa ndị Izrel niile, nye onyenwe m bụ eze, ka gị na ha gbaa ndụ, ka ị bụrụ eze ndị niile mkpụrụobi gị na-achọsi ike.” Ya mere Devid zilara Abna. Ọ laa nʼudo.
Afterwards, Abner said to David, “Sir/Your majesty, I will now go and encourage all the people of Israel to accept you to be their king, as you have desired.” Then Abner left, peacefully.
22 Nʼotu mgbe ahụ, ndị ikom Devid na Joab si nʼebe ha gara ịpụnara ndị mmadụ ihe lọta, bukọrọ ọtụtụ ihe nkwata. Ma Abna anọghịkwa na Hebrọn ya na Devid, nʼihi na Devid ezipụla ya, ọ pụọla nʼudo.
Soon after that, Joab and some of David’s other soldiers returned [to Hebron] after raiding [one of their enemies’ villages], bringing with them a lot of things that they had captured. But Abner was not there at Hebron, because David had sent him safely home.
23 Mgbe Joab na ndị agha ya lọtara, a kọọrọ ya na Abna, nwa Nea, bịara hụ eze, na ọ laakwala nʼudo.
When Joab and the soldiers who were with him arrived, someone told him that Abner had come there and talked with the king, and that the king allowed to go home safely.
24 Ya mere Joab jekwuuru eze sị ya, “Gịnị ka i mere? Lee, Abna bịakwutere gị. Gịnị mere i ji hapụ ya ka ọ laa? Lee ya ugbu a, ọ laala!
So Joab went to the king and said, “Why have you done that? Listen to me! Abner [is your enemy, but] when he came to you, you allowed him [RHQ] to leave!
25 Ị maara onye Abna nwa Nea bụ? Ọ bịara ịghọ gị aghụghọ, na inyocha njegharị gị, ịchọpụta ihe niile ị na-eme.”
Do you not know that he came to you to deceive you and to find out everything that you are doing, and all the places that you go to?”
26 Mgbe Joab si nʼihu Devid pụta, o zipụrụ ndị ozi ka ha sochie Abna azụ, gwa ya ka ọ laghachi. Ha hụrụ ya nʼolulu mmiri Sira. O sokwara ha laghachi, ma Devid amaghị ihe banyere nke a.
After Joab left David, he sent some messengers to get Abner. They found him at Sirah Well, and brought him back to Hebron, but David did not know that they had done that.
27 Mgbe Abna lọghachiri na Hebrọn, Joab duuru ya gaa nʼakụkụ ọnụ ụzọ ama, dịka ọ chọrọ ka ha kparịtaa ụka. Ngwangwa, ọ mịpụtara nwa mma ya, jiri ya magbuo Abna, nʼihi ịbọ ọbọ ọbara nwanne ya, bụ Asahel.
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city gate, and took him aside as though he wanted to speak with him privately. Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach [with his knife/sword]. In that way he murdered Abner because Abner had killed [MTY] Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 Mgbe emesịrị, Devid nụrụ banyere ya, ọ sịrị, “Aka m dị ọcha, ya na nke alaeze m nʼihu Onyenwe anyị banyere ọbara Abna, nwa Nea.
Later, after David heard what had happened, he said, “Yahweh knows that I and the people of my kingdom are not at all (responsible for/guilty of) murdering [MTY] Abner.
29 Ka ikpe ọmụma a dakwasị Joab nʼisi, nakwa ezinaụlọ nna ya niile, ka a gharakwa ịhụ nʼụlọ Joab onye na-adịghị arịa ọrịa ahụ ihe ntokasị, maọbụ ọrịa ekpenta, maọbụ onye ji mkpara eji akpa akwa, maọbụ onye ga-anwụ site na mma agha, maọbụ onye ụkọ nri adịghị akọ.”
I hope/desire that Joab and all his family will be punished [MTY] for doing that! I hope/desire that there will always be someone in his family who has sores, or someone who is a leper, or some man who is forced to do women’s work, or someone who is killed in a battle, or someone who does not have enough food to eat!”
30 Ya mere, Joab na Abishai nwanne ya gburu Abna, nʼihi na Abna gburu nwanne ha Asahel nʼagha Gibiọn.
That is how Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 Emesịa, Devid kpọrọ Joab na ndị niile so ya sị ha, “Dọwaanụ uwe unu, yikwasị onwe unu akwa mkpe, jegharịakwanụ nʼọnọdụ iru ụjụ nʼihi Abna.” Eze, bụ Devid nʼonwe ya so ndị bu ozu Abna nʼazụ.
Then David said to Joab and to all Joab’s soldiers, “Tear your clothes and put on coarse cloth [to show that you are sad], and mourn for Abner!” And [at the funeral], King David walked behind [the men who were carrying] the coffin.
32 Ha liri Abna na Hebrọn. Eze na ndị Izrel niile kwara akwa nʼakụkụ ili ahụ nʼihi Abna.
They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. And at the grave, the king cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
33 Eze bụrụ abụ akwa nʼihi Abna, sị, “O kwesiri ka Abna nwụọ dịka onye nzuzu?
David sang this sad song to lament for Abner: “It is not right that [RHQ] Abner died like outlaws die!
34 E kekwaghị aka gị abụọ ihe. E kekwaghị ụkwụ gị abụọ agbụ. Ị nwụrụ dịka onye ndị ajọ omume gburu.” Mmadụ niile bekwara akwa ọzọ nʼihi ya.
No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, [like they do to criminals]. No, he was murdered by wicked men!”
35 Mgbe ahụ, ndị mmadụ bịakwutere Devid rịọọ ka o ritụ ihe, mgbe ìhè ụbọchị ka dị, ma Devid ṅụrụ iyi sị, “Ka Chineke mesoo m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na m edetụ achịcha maọbụ ihe ọbụla ọzọ ọnụ tutu ruo mgbe anyanwụ dara.”
Then many [HYP] people came to David to tell him to eat some food before sunset, but David refused. He said, “I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I eat any food before the sun goes down!”
36 Ndị mmadụ nụrụ ihe o kwuru, okwu ahụ tọkwara ha ụtọ. Nʼezie, ihe niile eze mere tọrọ ha ụtọ.
All the people saw what David did, and they were pleased. Truly, everything that the king did pleased the people.
37 Nʼụbọchị ndị mmadụ niile nọ ebe ahụ ka Izrel niile matara na eze amaghị ihe banyere ọnwụ Abna, nwa Nea.
So all the people realized that the king had not wanted Abner to be killed.
38 Devid jụrụ ndị ikom ya ajụjụ sị, “Unu ghọtakwara na onye a dara nʼIzrel taa bụ nwa eze na onye dị mkpa?
The king said to his officials, “(Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel?/You should realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel.) [RHQ]
39 Ọ bụ ezie na m bụ onye Onyenwe anyị tere mmanụ ịbụ eze, ma o nweghị ihe m pụrụ ime ụmụ ndị ikom Zeruaya ndị a, nʼihi na ha dị ike karịa m. Ka Onyenwe anyị kwụghachi onye ọjọọ ihe ọjọọ ọ mere.”
Even though Yahweh appointed me to be the king, today I feel weak. These two sons of Zeruiah, [Joab and Abishai], are very violent; I cannot control them. So I hope/desire that Yahweh will punish them severely in return for this wicked thing that they have done!”
