1 Amakhosi 20
1 UBheni-Hadadi inkosi yama-Aramu waqoqa ibutho lakhe lonke. Wayephelekezelwa ngamakhosi angamatshumi amathathu lamabili ngezinqola zawo zempi lamabhiza, wasuka wayahanqa iSamariya wayihlasela.
Now, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, had gathered together all his forces, and, thirty-two kings, were with him, and horses and chariots, —then came he up, and laid siege to Samaria, and made war against it.
2 Wathuma izithunywa edolobheni ku-Ahabi inkosi yako-Israyeli, esithi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguBheni-Hadadi:
And he sent messengers unto Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, —Thus, saith Ben-hadad,
3 Isiliva legolide lakho ngokwami, abafazi benu abahle kakhulu labantwana ngabami.”
Thy silver and thy gold, are, mine, and, thy wives and thy sons, the goodliest, are, mine.
4 Inkosi yako-Israyeli yaphendula yathi, “Kunjalo nkosi mbusi wami. Mina lakho konke engilakho ngokwakho.”
Then responded the king of Israel, and said, According to thy word, my lord O king! thine, am I, and all that I have.
5 Izithunywa zaphenduka njalo zisithi, “UBheni-Hadadi uthi: ‘Ngathumela ngathi ngifuna isiliva legolide lakho, abafazi labantwabakho.
And the messengers came back again, and said, Thus, speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, —Because I sent unto thee, saying, Thy silver and thy gold and thy wives and thy sons, to me, shalt thou give,
6 Kodwa ngasolesi isikhathi kusasa ngizathumela izikhulu zami ukuzakhuthuza isigodlo sakho lezindlu zezikhulu zakho. Zizabutha yonke into eligugu kuwe zikuthathele.’”
Therefore, about this time to-morrow, will I send my servants unto thee, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants, —and it shall be, that, all the delight of thine eyes, shall they put in their hand, and take away.
7 Inkosi yako-Israyeli yasibiza bonke abadala belizwe yathi kubo, “Ake libone lindoda edinga uhlupho! Ithe isithi ifuna abafazi bami labantwabami, isiliva legolide lami, angizange ngale.”
Then called the king of Israel, for all the elders of the land, and said—Mark, I pray you, and see, how this man is seeking, mischief, —for he had sent unto me, for my wives, and for my sons, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I refused him not.
8 Abadala kanye labantu bonke bathi, “Ungalaleli njalo ungamniki lokho akufunayo.”
And all the elders and all the people said unto him, —Do not thou hearken, neither do thou consent.
9 Yasitshela izithunywa zikaBheni-Hadadi ukuthi, “Tshelani inkosi umbusi wami ukuthi, ‘Inceku yakho izagcwalisa isicelo sakuqala kodwa lesi hayi ayenelisi.’” Zasuka izithunywa zabuyisela impendulo kuBheni-Hadadi.
So he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad—Say ye to my lord the king, —All that thou didst send for, to thy servant at the first, will I do, but, this thing, I cannot do. And the messengers departed, and took him back word.
10 Ngakho uBheni-Hadadi wakhupha ilizwi njalo lisiya ku-Ahabi, wathi: “Kabangihlanekele onkulunkulu, loba kungaba lobunzima obunganani, nxa kuzasala ubhuqu olulingana ukufunjathwa ngamadoda wonke aseSamariya.”
Then Ben-hadad sent unto him and said, —So, let the gods do to me, and, so, let them add, —if the dust of Samaria suffice by handfuls, for all the people who are at my feet.
11 Inkosi yako-Israyeli yaphendula yathi, “Mtsheleni lithi: ‘Lowo ohloma ngezempi angabokloloda njengongahlomanga.’”
And the king of Israel responded and said: Tell him, —Let not, him that girdeth, boast himself like him, that looseneth.
12 UBheni-Hadadi wemukela lelilizwi ezinathela lamanye amakhosi emathenteni awo, wahle walawula amabutho akhe esithi: “Hlomelani ukuhlasela.” Basebelungisela ukuhlasela idolobho.
And it came to pass, when he heard this message, as, he, was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants—Make ready! So they made ready, against the city.
13 Kusenjalo kweza umphrofethi ku-Ahabi inkosi yako-Israyeli owafika wabika esithi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: ‘Uyalibona na ibutho elikhulu kangaka? Ngizalinikela ezandleni zakho lamuhla nje, ukuze wazi ukuba nginguThixo.’”
And lo! a certain prophet, drew near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, —Thus, saith Yahweh, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? Behold me! delivering it into thy hand, to-day, so shalt thou know that, I, am, Yahweh.
14 U-Ahabi wabuza wathi, “Kodwa ngubani ozakwenza lokhu?” Umphrofethi waphendula wathi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: ‘Lokhu kuzakwenziwa ngabalawuli bamabutho ezabelweni abayintanga yabatsha.’” Yena wabuza njalo ukuthi, “Pho ngubani ozayiqalisa impi?” Umphrofethi wamphendula wathi, “Nguwe.”
And Ahab said—By whom? And he said—Thus, saith Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then said he—Who shall begin the war? And he said—Thou!
15 Ngakho u-Ahabi wamema abalawuli bamabutho abentanga yabatsha ezabelweni, abangamakhulu amabili lamatshumi amathathu lambili. Waseqoqa labo bonke abanye abako-Israyeli abazinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa ndawonye.
Then numbered he the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were found to be, two hundred and thirty-two, —and, after them, he numbered all the people all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.
16 Basuka emini enkulu ngesikhathi uBheni-Hadadi lamakhosi angamatshumi amathathu lambili ayezomhlomulela belokhu besazinathela bedakwa emathenteni abo.
And they went forth at noon. Now, Ben-hadad, was drinking himself drunk, in the pavilions, he and the thirty-two kings helping him.
17 Abalawuli bezabelweni bentanga yabatsha basuka kuqala. UBheni-Hadadi wayethumele inhloli, ezabika ukuthi, “Kulamadoda ezayo evela eSamariya.”
Then went forth the young men of the princes of the provinces, first, —and, when Ben-hadad sent, they told him, saying—Men, have come forth, out of Samaria.
18 Yena wathi, “Nxa esiza ngokuthula, athumbeni ephila; nxa ezohlasela, athumbeni ephila.”
And he said—If, peaceably, they have come, take them alive, —or, if, fighting, they have come, alive, take ye them.
19 Abalawuli bamabutho ezabelweni abentanga yabatsha baphuma edolobheni belandelwa libutho
Now, when, these, had come forth out of the city, even the young men of the princes of the provinces, —with the force which was following them,
20 njalo ngamunye wabo wabulala lowo ayeqondene laye. Ebona lokhu, ama-Aramu abaleka, ama-Israyeli axotshana lawo. Kodwa uBheni-Hadadi inkosi yama-Aramu wabaleka ngebhiza lamanye amabutho ayesilwa ngamabhiza.
then smote they every one his man, and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, —but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on horse, with horsemen.
21 Inkosi yako-Israyeli yaqhubeka yakhulela abamabhiza kanye labezinqola zempi yatshaya yabhuqa ama-Aramu amanengi kakhulu.
And the king of Israel went forth, and took the horses and the chariots, —and he went on smiting the Syrians, with a great smiting.
22 Ngemva kwalokho, umphrofethi waya enkosini yako-Israyeli wafika wathi, “Hloma uphelele ubone ukuthi ungenzani, ngoba entwasa inkosi yama-Aramu iyeza izokuhlasela futhi.”
Then drew near the prophet, unto the king of Israel, and said unto him—Go strengthen thyself, and mark and see, what thou wilt do, —for, at the return of the year, is, the king of Syria, coming up against thee.
23 Kusenjalo, izikhulu zenkosi yase-Aramu zayicebisa zathi, “Onkulunkulu babo ngonkulunkulu bezintabeni. Yikho besikhulele. Kodwa singalwela emagcekeni, ngempela sizabakhulela.
And, the servants of the king of Syria, said unto him, —Gods of the mountains, are their gods, for this cause, prevailed they against us, —but, only let us fight with them in the plain, and verily we shall prevail against them.
24 Wena yenza kanje: Susa wonke amakhosi ekulawuleni kwawo ufake abanye abalawuli esikhundleni sawo.
But, this thing, do, —set aside the kings, every man out of his place, and put governors in their stead;
25 Njalo kumele uqoqe amanye amabutho anjengala anqotshwayo, kulingane amabhiza kanye lezinqola zempi ukuze silwele emagcekeni labako-Israyeli. Ngalokho akulakuthandabuza ukuthi sizabe silamandla kulabo.” Wavumelana labo wenza njengokutsho kwabo.
and, thou, must number thee a force, like the force which thou hast lost, both horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and, if we fight with them in the plain, verily we shall prevail against them. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26 Ngesikhathi sentwasa uBheni-Hadadi waqoqa ama-Aramu wasesiya e-Afekhi ukuze alwe labako-Israyeli.
And so it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, —and came up to Aphek, to fight with Israel;
27 Ama-Israyeli ayeseqoqene, anikwa lemiphako, asuka ayawahlangabeza. Ama-Israyeli amisa maqondana lawo kungathi yimihlanjana yembuzi emibili, kanti ama-Aramu ayegcwele indawana yonke.
and, the sons of Israel, were numbered, and provisioned, and went to meet them, —and the sons of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, whereas, the Syrians, filled the land.
28 Umphrofethi kaNkulunkulu wasesiya enkosini yako-Israyeli wafika wathi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: ‘Njengoba ama-Aramu esithi uThixo ngunkulunkulu wezintaba hatshi uNkulunkulu wezigodi, ngizanikela wonke amabutho awo amanengi kangaka ezandleni zakho, ukuze wazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo.’”
Then approached the man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said—Thus, saith Yahweh—Because the Syrians have said—A god of the mountains, is Yahweh, but, not a god of the vales, is he, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude, into thy hand, so shalt thou know, that, I, am Yahweh.
29 Bajamelana okwensuku eziyisikhombisa, kwathi ngosuku lwesikhombisa bahlaselana. Ama-Israyeli abulala abazinkulungwane ezilikhulu phakathi kwamabutho ama-Aramu ahamba ngezinyawo ngosuku olulodwa.
So they encamped, these, over against, those, seven days, —and it came to pass, on the seventh day, that the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel smote the Syrians, a hundred thousand footmen, in one day.
30 Amanye amabutho abalekela edolobheni lase-Afekhi, lapho adilikelwa khona ngumduli owabulala izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lesikhombisa. Kwathi uBheni-Hadadi wabalekela edolobheni lapho afika wacatsha endlini ephakathi.
And they who were left fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand men who were left, —and, Ben-hadad, fled, and came into the city, into a chamber within a chamber.
31 Izikhulu zakhe zathi kuye, “Khangela, sesizwile ukuthi amakhosi ako-Israyeli ngamakhosi alomusa. Asihambeni enkosini yako-Israyeli sembethe amasaka okhalweni njalo sibophe amakhanda ngentambo. Mhlawumbe izakuxolela ingakubulali.”
And his servants said unto him, Lo! we pray thee, we have heard, of the kings of the house of Israel, that, kings known for lovingkindness, they are. Let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth upon our loins, and ropes about our head, and let us go forth unto the king of Israel, peradventure he will save alive thy soul.
32 Basuka bethandele amasaka ezinkalweni zabo, bebophe amakhanda ngentambo, baya enkosini yako-Israyeli bafika bathi, “Inceku yakho uBheni-Hadadi ithi, ‘Ngicela ungiyekele ngiphile.’” Inkosi yathi, “Ulokhu esaphila? Ngumfowethu lowo.”
So they girded sackcloth upon their loins, and [put] ropes about their heads, and came in unto the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant, Ben-hadad, saith, —Let my soul live, I pray thee. And he said, —Is he yet alive? My brother, he is.
33 Amadoda lawo abona lokhu kukhomba ubuhle alithathela phezulu lelilizwi athi, “Ye, umfowenu uBheni-Hadadi!” Inkosi yathi, “Hambani liyemthatha.” Lakanye uBheni-Hadadi uthe efika, u-Ahabi wathi kakhwele enqoleni yakhe yempi.
Now, the men, could divine, so they hastened to let him confirm the word of his own accord, and they said, —Thy brother, is Ben-hadad! He said therefore, —Go fetch him. So Ben-hadad came forth unto him, and he made him come up unto him on his chariot.
34 UBheni-Hadadi wazibika esithi, “Ngizabuyisela wonke amadolobho athunjwa ngubaba kuyihlo. Ungazilungisela izindawo zokuthengiselana eDamaseko, njengoba ubaba laye wayelazo eSamariya.” U-Ahabi wathi, “Ngesivumelwano ngizakukhulula.” Wasesenza isivumelwano laye wamkhulula.
And he said unto him—The cities which my father took from thy father, will I restore, and, bazaars, shalt thou make thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. So then, I, with this covenant, will let thee go. So he solemnised with him a covenant, and let him go.
35 Ngelizwi likaThixo omunye wamadodana abaphrofethi wathi komunye, “Ake ungitshaye ngesikhali sakho,” kodwa wala.
And, a certain man of the sons of the prophets, said unto his neighbour, by the word of Yahweh—Smite me, I pray thee. But the man refused to smite him.
36 Ngakho umphrofethi wasesithi, “Njengoba ungalalelanga ilizwi likaThixo, uzakuthi usuka kimi ubulawe yisilwane.” Ngemva kokusuka kwakhe, wafunyanwa yisilwane sambulala.
So he said to him—Because thou hast not hearkened unto the voice of Yahweh, lo! when thou art departing from me, there shall smite thee a lion. And when he departed from beside him, a lion found him, and smote him.
37 Umphrofethi wafumana enye njalo indoda wathi kuyo, “Ake ungigwaze.” Yamgwaza leyondoda yamlimaza.
Then found he another man, and said, —Smite me, I pray thee. So the man smote him—kept on smiting and wounding.
38 Umphrofethi wasuka wayamelela inkosi endleleni. Wazifihla ubuso bakhe ngeqhiye.
Then the prophet departed, and waited for the king, by the way, —and disguised himself with his turban over his eyes.
39 Kuthe inkosi isedlula khonapho, umphrofethi wayimemeza esithi, “Inceku yakho ibe iphakathi kwempi etshisayo, kwathi omunye weza kimi lothunjiweyo wathi, ‘Linda lumuntu. Nxa engabaleka, uzamfela wena, loba uhlawule ngethalenta lesiliva.’
And so it was, when, the king, was passing, he, cried out unto the king, —and said—Thy servant, went out in the midst of the battle, and lo! a man, turned aside and brought unto me a man, and said—Keep this man, if he be, missing, then shall, thy life, go for, his life, or, a talent of silver, shalt thou weigh out.
40 Kuthe inceku yakho isaphathekile lapha lalaphaya, umuntu lowo wanyamalala.” Inkosi yako-Israyeli yathi, “Leso yiso isigwebo sakho. Usuvele wasiqamba wena ngokwakho.”
And so it was, as thy servant was busy here and there, that, he, was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him—Such, is thy judgment, thou thyself, hast decided it.
41 Umphrofethi waphanga wembula ubuso bakhe, inkosi yako-Israyeli yabona ukuthi ngomunye wabaphrofethi.
Then hastened he, and removed the turban from over his eyes, —and the king of Israel knew him, that, of the prophets, was, he.
42 Wathi enkosini, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: ‘Usukhulule umuntu ebengithe kumele afe. Kutsho ukuthi usuzamfela wena, labantu bakho bazafela abantu bakhe.’”
And he said unto him—Thus, saith Yahweh, Because thou hast let go the man whom I had devoted, out of thy hand, therefore shall, thy life, be instead of, his life, and, thy people, instead of, his people.
43 Ngokuhlulukelwa langokuzonda, inkosi yako-Israyeli yasuka yabuyela esigodlweni sayo eSamariya.
And the king of Israel departed unto his house, sullen and disturbed, —and entered Samaria.
