1 Bassekabaka 20
1 Awo Benikadadi kabaka w’e Busuuli n’akuŋŋaanya eggye lye lyonna wamu ne bakabaka amakumi asatu mu babiri n’embalaasi n’amagaali gaabwe, bonna ne bambuka okuzingiza Samaliya n’okulwana nakyo.
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.
2 N’atuma ababaka mu kibuga eri Akabu kabaka wa Isirayiri ng’agamba nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Benikadadi nti,
Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, to say this to him: “This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
3 ‘Effeeza yo ne zaabu yo byange ate era ne bakyala bo abasinga obulungi n’abaana bo nabo bange.’”
‘[You must give to] me all your silver and gold, your (good-looking/most beautiful) wives/women and strongest children.’”
4 Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’addamu nti, “Nga bw’ogambye, mukama wange kabaka, nze ne bye nnina byonna bibyo.”
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.’”
5 Ababaka ne baddayo ewa Akabu nate ne bamugamba nti, “Kino Benikadadi ky’agamba nti, ‘Natuma nga njagala ffeeza yo ne zaabu yo, n’abakyala bo n’abaana bo.
[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.
6 Naye olunaku lw’enkya essaawa nga zino nzija kuweereza abakungu bange banoonyeemu mu lubiri lwo ne mu nnyumba z’abakungu bo, era bajja kutwala ebibyo byonna eby’omuwendo.’”
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.”
7 Awo kabaka wa Isirayiri n’ayita abakadde bonna ab’ensi, n’abagamba nti, “Mulabe omusajja ono bw’anoonya emitawaana! Bwe yatumya bakyala bange n’abaana bange wamu ne ffeeza yange ne zaabu yange, sabimumma.”
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.”
8 Abakadde n’abantu bonna ne bamuddamu nti, “Tomuwuliriza wadde okukkiriziganya naye.”
The leaders and all the other people said to him, “Do not pay any attention to him! Do not do what he is requesting!”
9 Awo kabaka n’addamu ababaka ba Benikadadi nti, “Mutegeeze mukama wange kabaka nti, ‘Omuddu wo nzija kukola byonna bye walagidde ku ntandikwa, naye kino eky’oluvannyuma siyinza kukikola.’”
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.
10 Awo Benikadadi n’aweereza obubaka obulala eri Akabu nti, “Bakatonda bankole bwe batyo n’okukirawo, enfuufu ya Samaliya bwe teebune mu bibatu by’abasajja bonna abangoberera.”
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!”
11 Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Mumugambe nti, ‘Eyeesiba ebyokulwanyisa aleme okwenyumiriza ng’oyo abyesumulula.’”
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.”
12 Benikadadi bwe yawulira obubaka obwo, ng’ali mu kutamiira ne bakabaka abalala mu weema zaabwe, n’alagira abasajja be nti, “Mweteeketeeke okulumba.” Ne beeteekateeka okulumba ekibuga.
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.
13 Mu kiseera ekyo ne wabaawo nnabbi eyajja eri Akabu kabaka wa Isirayiri n’alangirira nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Olaba eggye lino eddene? Nzija kulikuwa mu mukono gwo leero, otegeere nga nze Mukama.’”
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].’”
14 Akabu n’abuuza nti, “Anakikola atya?” Nnabbi n’addamu nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Abavubuka bo ab’abaduumizi b’amasaza, bajja kukubeera.’” Akabu ne yeeyongera okubuuza nti, “Ani anasooka okulumba?” Nnabbi n’addamu nti, “Ggwe.”
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!”
15 Awo Akabu n’ayita abavubuka ab’abaduumizi b’amasaza, ne bawera ebikumi bibiri mu asatu mu babiri. Era n’akuŋŋaanya ne Isirayiri yenna, bonna awamu ne baba kasanvu.
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.
16 Ne batabaala mu ttuntu nga Benikadadi ne bakabaka amakumi asatu mu ababiri be yali alagaanye nabo bali mu kutamiira.
They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
17 Abavubuka b’abaduumizi b’amasaza be baasooka okulumba. Naye Benikadadi yali atumye ababaka okuketta, ne bamutegeeza nti, “Waliwo abasajja abajja nga bava Samaliya.”
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]”!
18 N’ayogera nti, “Bwe baba bazze na mirembe, mubawambe, ne bwe baba nga baze ku lutalo, era mubawambe.”
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
19 Abavubuka b’abaduumizi b’amasaza ne bafuluma ne balumba okuva mu kibuga, nga n’eggye libagoberera.
The young Israeli soldiers went out of the city to attack [the Syrian army], and the other soldiers in the Israeli army followed them.
20 Buli omu ku bo n’atta gwe yayolekera. Abasuuli ne badduka, nga n’Abayisirayiri bwe babagoba, naye Benikadadi kabaka w’e Busuuli n’awonera ku mbalaasi n’abamu ku basajjabe abeebagala embalaasi.
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.
21 Awo kabaka wa Isirayiri n’abagobera ddala era n’awamba embalaasi n’amagaali, era Abasuuli bangi ne bafa.
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.
22 Awo ebyo nga biwedde, nnabbi n’agenda eri kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amugamba nti, “Weenyweze, olabe ekiteekwa okukolebwa, kubanga omwaka ogunaddirira kabaka w’e Busuuli ajja kukulumba nate.”
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.”
23 Mu kiseera ekyo, abakungu ba kabaka w’e Busuuli ne bamuwa amagezi nti, “Bakatonda b’Abayisirayiri bakatonda ba nsozi, era kyebavudde batusinza amaanyi. Naye bwe tunaabalwanyisizza mu lusenyi, mazima ddala tunaabasinza amaanyi.
[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.
24 Kola bw’oti, ggyawo bakabaka bonna mu bifo byabwe eby’okuduumira, osseewo abaduumizi abalala.
So, this is what you should do: You must remove the 32 kings [who are leading your troops] and replace them with army commanders.
25 Oteekwa okufuna eggye ery’enkana liri lye wafiirwa, embalaasi edde mu kifo ky’embalaasi, n’eggaali mu kifo ky’eggaali, tulyoke tulwane nabo mu lusenyi, olwo tunaabasinzizza ddala amaanyi.” N’abawuliriza era n’akola bw’atyo.
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.
26 Omwaka ogwaddirira Benikadadi n’akuŋŋaanya Abasuuli, n’ayambuka mu Afeki okulwana ne Isirayiri.
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.
27 Awo abantu ba Isirayiri nabo ne bakuŋŋaana ne baweebwa entanda yaabwe, ne bagenda okubasisinkana. Abayisirayiri ne basiisira okuboolekera ne bafaanana ng’ebisibo bibiri ebitono eby’embuzi, naye Abasuuli ne babuna ensi yonna.
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.
28 Awo omusajja wa Katonda n’asembera, n’agamba kabaka wa Isirayiri nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Olw’okuba Abasuuli balowooza nga Mukama Katonda wa ku nsozi so si Katonda wa mu biwonvu, ndigabula eggye lino eddene mu mukono gwo, otegeere nga nze Mukama.’”
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].’”
29 Ne basiisira nga boolekaganye okumala ennaku musanvu, ku lunaku olw’omusanvu ne balumbagana. Abayisirayiri ne batta abaserikale ab’ebigere Abasuuli emitwalo kkumi mu lunaku lumu.
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.
30 Abalala ne baddukira mu kibuga Afeki, era eyo bbugwe w’ekibuga ekyo gye yagwira ku bantu emitwalo musanvu ku baali bawonyeewo. Benikadadi naye nadduka ne yeekweka mu kibuga mu kimu ku bisenge eby’omunda.
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.
31 Abakungu be ne bamugamba nti, “Laba, tuwulidde nti bakabaka b’ennyumba ya Isirayiri, ba kisa, twesibe ebibukutu mu biwato byaffe, tuzingirire emige ku mitwe gyaffe tugende ewa kabaka wa Isirayiri, oboolyawo anaakusaasira.”
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.”
32 Ne beesiba ebibukutu mu biwato byabwe, ne bazingirira emige ku mitwe gyabwe, ne balaga ewa kabaka wa Isirayiri, ne bamugamba nti, “Omuddu wo Benikadadi agamba nti, ‘Nkwegayiridde tonzita.’” Kabaka n’ababuuza nti, “Akyali mulamu? Oyo muganda wange.”
[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!”
33 Abasajja ne balowooza nti ako kabonero kalungi, era ne banguwa okwogera nti, “Weewaawo, muganda wo Benikadadi.” Kabaka n’ayogera nti, “Mugende mumuleete.” Benikadadi bwe yavaayo, Akabu n’amuleetera mu gaali lye.
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].
34 Awo Benikadadi n’agamba nti, “Ndikuddiza ebibuga kitange bye yawamba ku kitaawo, era olyessizaawo obutale obubwo ggwe mu Ddamasiko, nga kitange bwe yakola mu Samaliya.” Akabu n’addamu nti, “Nzija kukuleka ogende nga tukoze endagaano.” Era ne bakola endagaano, n’amuleka n’agenda.
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.
35 Omu ku batabani ba bannabbi n’agamba munne nti, “Katonda alagidde onfumite n’ekyokulwanyisa kyo,” naye munne oyo n’agaana.
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.
36 Mutabani wa nnabbi n’ayogera nti, “Olw’obutagondera ddoboozi lya Mukama, bw’onooba wakava wano, empologoma eneekutta.” Awo bwe baali kyebajje baawukane, n’asanga empologoma era n’emutta.
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.
37 Mutabani wa nnabbi n’asanga omusajja omulala, n’amugamba nti, “Nfumita, nkwegayiridde.” Omusajja n’amufumita n’amuleetako ekiwundu.
Then the prophet found another prophet, and said to him, “Strike me!” So that man hit him [very hard] and injured him.
38 Awo n’agenda n’alindirira kabaka mu kkubo, ne yeebuzaabuza ng’abisse ekiremba kye ku maaso ge.
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.
39 Kabaka bwe yali ng’ayitawo, mutabani wa nnabbi n’amukoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Omuddu wo yagenze wakati mu lutalo, ne wabaawo omuserikale eyandetedde omusibe n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Kuuma omusajja ono. Bw’anaabula ggw’onottibwa mu kifo kye, oba si kyo oteekwa okusasula kilo amakumi asatu mu nnya eza ffeeza.’
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!’
40 Omuddu wo bwe yali ng’atawaana erudda n’erudda, laba omusajja n’abula.” Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Ogwo musango gwo, era ogwesalidde.”
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.”
41 Awo mutabani wa nnabbi n’ayanguwa, okuggya ekiremba ku maaso ge, kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amutegeera nga y’omu ku bannabbi.
The prophet immediately took off the bandage, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
42 N’agamba kabaka nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Otadde omusajja gwe namaliridde okutta. Noolwekyo ggw’ojja okufa mu kifo kye, n’abantu bo bafe mu kifo ky’abantu be.’”
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!’”
43 Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’alaga mu lubiri lwe e Samaliya ng’aswakidde era nga munyiivu.
The king went back home to Samaria, very angry and depressed/dejected.
