2 Amakhosi 10

1 ESamariya kwakulamadodana angamatshumi ayisikhombisa ayengawendlu ka-Ahabi. Ngakho uJehu waloba izincwadi elobela izikhulu zaseJezerili, abadala lakulabo ababesondla abantwana baka-Ahabi. Waloba kanje:

There were seventy descendants of King Ahab who were living there in Samaria. Jehu wrote a letter [and made copies of it] and sent them to the rulers of the city, to the elders, and to those who raised and tutored Ahab’s children.

2 “Masinyazana ekuboneni kwenu lincwadi, njengoba abantwana benkosi yenu besezandleni zenu njalo lilezinqola zokulwa lamabhiza, umuzi wenqaba lezikhali,

[This is what he wrote]: “You are the ones who are [taking care of] the king’s descendants. You have chariots and horses and weapons, and you live in cities that have walls around them. So as soon as you receive this letter,

3 khethani lowo elimbona efanele kulabo bonke phakathi kwamadodana enkosi yenu limfake esihlalweni sikayise sobukhosi, beselilwela indlu yenkosi yenu.”

choose one of the king’s sons, the one who is the best qualified, and appoint him to be your king. Then [prepare to] fight to defend him.”

4 Kodwa besaba bathi: “Nxa amakhosi amabili ehlulekile ukumelana laye, thina singakwenza njani?”

But [when they got those letters from Jehu and read them], they became very afraid. They said, “King Joram and King Ahaziah could not resist him; (how can we resist him?/we cannot possibly resist him!)” [RHQ]

5 Ngakho isiphathamandla sesigodlo, usibalukhulu, abadala kanye labalindi bathumela lelilizwi kuJehu, “Sizinceku zakho, njalo sizakwenza konke njengokutsho kwakho. Kakho esizamkhetha ukuba abe yinkosi; yenza lokho obona kulungile kakhulu.”

So the officer who was in charge of the palace and the mayor of the city sent a message to Jehu saying, “We want to serve you, and we are ready to do whatever you tell us to do. We will not appoint anyone to become our king. You do whatever you think is best.”

6 Ngakho uJehu wabalobela incwadi yesibili esithi, “Nxa livumelana lami njalo lizimisele ukungilalela, qumani amakhanda amadodana enkosi yenu libe selibuya lawo kusasa eJezerili ngasonalesisikhathi.” Amakhosana esikhosini, ayengamatshumi ayisikhombisa, ayehlala lamadoda aqakathekileyo phakathi komuzi, okuyiwo ayesondla amadodana enkosi.

So Jehu sent a second letter to them, writing this: “If you (are on my side/want to help me), and if you are ready to obey me, [kill] King Ahab’s descendants [and cut off their heads and] bring their heads to me here in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.” The seventy descendants of King Ahab were being brought up and supervised by the leaders of [Samaria] city.

7 Incwadi yathi ifika, amadoda la abulala wonke amakhosana angamatshumi ayisikhombisa. Afaka amakhanda awo ezitsheni awathumela kuJehu eJezerili.

When they received the letter from Jehu, they killed all seventy of Ahab’s descendants and [cut off their heads]. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

8 Isithunywa sithe sifika satshela uJehu sathi: “Sebewalethile amakhanda amakhosana.” UJehu wasekhupha ilizwi esithi, “Abutheleleni abe zinqwaba ezimbili esangweni lomuzi kuze kube sekuseni.”

A messenger came to Jehu and told him, “They have brought the heads of Ahab’s descendants.” So Jehu commanded that the heads should be put in two piles at the city gate and that the heads should stay there until the next morning.

9 Ngosuku olulandelayo uJehu waphuma; wema phambi kwabantu wathi, “Lina limsulwa. Yimi engithame ukubulala inkosi yami njalo ngiyibulele, kodwa ngubani obulele bonke laba?

The next morning he went out [to the city gate] and said to all the people, “I am the one who plotted against King Joram and killed him. You are not guilty of doing that. But [it was Yahweh, not I] [RHQ] who [commanded that] all these [descendants of Ahab should be] killed.

10 Alibokwazi ukuthi akukho lalinye ilizwi elivela kuThixo lingxame u-Ahabi labendlu yakhe, elizakwehluleka. UThixo usekwenzile lokho akuthembisa ngenceku yakhe u-Elija.”

So you need to know that everything that Yahweh said would happen has happened. He has caused to happen what he told the prophet Elijah would happen.”

11 Ngakho uJehu wabulala bonke eJezerili abendlu ka-Ahabi ababesele, kanye lezikhulu zakhe, abangane bakhe abasekhwapheni labaphristi bakhe, akusalanga muntu kwabendlu ka-Ahabi.

Then Jehu executed all the other relatives of Ahab in Jezreel, and all Ahab’s officers, and close friends, and his priests. He did not allow any of them to remain alive.

12 UJehu waphuma njalo waqonda eSamariya. EBhethi-Ekhedi yaBelusi,

Then Jehu left [Jezreel] and went toward Samaria. While he was going there, at a place called ‘Shepherds’ Camp’,

13 wahlangana lezihlobo zika-Ahaziya inkosi yakoJuda wababuza wathi, “Lingobani lina na?” Bona bamphendula bathi, “Siyizihlobo zika-Ahaziya, njalo sizekwethekelela abendlu yenkosi kanye lendlovukazi engunina.”

he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked them, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are relatives of King Ahaziah. We are going to Jezreel to visit the children of Queen Jezebel and the other members of King [Joram’s] family.”

14 Yena wathi ezincekwini zakhe, “Bathatheni bephila!” Ngakho babathatha bephila bayababulalela emthonjeni weBhethi-Ekhedi, babengamadoda angamatshumi amane. Kakho loyedwa abamtshiya ephila.

Jehu said to his men, “Seize them!” So they seized them and killed all of them at the pit named Beth-Eked. There were 42 people whom they killed; they did not allow any of them to remain alive.

15 Ngemva kokusuka kwakhe lapho, wahlangana loJehonadabi indodana kaRekhabi, owayesendleleni ezomhlangabeza. UJehu wambingelela wathi, “Wena uvumelana lami na, njengoba mina ngikanye lawe?” UJehonadabi waphendula wathi, “Mina ngilawe.” UJehu wathi, “Nxa kunjalo ngibamba isandla,” kwathi esembambile wamkhweza enqoleni yokulwa.

Then Jehu [continued to travel toward Samaria]. Along the road, he was met by Jonadab, a leader of the Rechab clan. Jehu greeted him and said to him, “Are you as devoted to me [IDM] as I am devoted to you?” Jonadab replied, “Yes, I am.” Jehu said, “If you are, shake hands with me.” So Jonadab shook hands with him, and Jehu helped him to get into his chariot.

16 UJehu wasesithi, “Woza sihambe ngiyekutshengisa ukuphitshekela kwami uThixo.” Ngakho wagada laye enqoleni yakhe yokulwa.

Jehu said to him, “Come with me, and you will see that I am very devoted to Yahweh.” So they rode together to Samaria.

17 UJehu uthe efika eSamariya, wabulala bonke ababesele khonale abendlu ka-Ahabi, wababhubhisa njengokutsho kwelizwi likaThixo ekhuluma ku-Elija.

When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu killed all of Ahab’s relatives who were still alive. He did not (spare any of them/allow any of them to remain alive). That was what Yahweh told Elijah would happen.

18 Ngakho uJehu wasebuthanisa abantu bonke wasesithi kubo, “U-Ahabi ubekhonza uBhali kancinyane; uJehu uzamkhonza kakhulu.

Then Jehu summoned all the people [of Samaria], and said to them, “King Ahab was devoted to [your god] Baal a little bit, but I will serve him much more.

19 Ngakho ngibizelani bonke abaphrofethi bakaBhali, zonke izikhonzi zakhe labaphristi bakhe. Linanzelele ukuthi kakho loyedwa ozasala, ngoba ngifuna ukwenza umhlatshelo omkhulu kuBhali. Ongayikubuya kasayikuphila.” UJehu wayebakhohlisa ngoba wayedinga ukubhubhisa abafundisi bakaBhali.

So now summon all the prophets of Baal, all of Baal’s priests, and all the others who worship Baal. I am going to make a great sacrifice to Baal. I want all of them to be there. Any of them who is not there will be executed.” But Jehu was planning to trick them; he was planning to kill all those who worshiped Baal.

20 UJehu wasesithi, “Bizani umhlangano wokudumisa uBhali.” Basebewumemezela.

Then Jehu commanded, “Announce that we are going to set aside a day to honor Baal.” So they did that.

21 Wasethumela ilizwi kulolonke elako-Israyeli, beza bonke abafundisi bakaBhali; kakho loyedwa ongezanga. Bagcwala baminyana ethempelini likaBhali kusukela emsamo kusiya emnyango.

Jehu [decided what day they would gather and] sent messages throughout Israel [telling everyone what day to gather on], and on that day, everyone who worshiped Baal came. No one stayed at home. They all went into the huge temple of Baal and filled it from one end to the other.

22 UJehu wasesithi kulowo owayegcina izigqoko zabakhonza uBhali, “Balethele izigqoko bonke abakhonza uBhali.” Ngakho wabalethela lezozigqoko.

Jehu told the priest who took care of the sacred robes to bring them out and give them to the people who worshiped Baal. So the priest did that.

23 UJehu loJehonadabi indodana kaRekhabi bangena ethempelini likaBhali. UJehu wathi kubakhonzi bakaBhali, “Linanzelele kungangeni loyedwa oyinceku kaThixo enkonzweni yenu, akube ngabakhonzi bakaBhali kuphela.”

Then Jehu went into the temple of Baal with Jonadab, and he said to the people who were there to worship Baal, “Be sure that only those who worship Baal are here. Be sure that no one who worships Yahweh has come in.”

24 Ngakho bangena banikela benza leminikelo yokutshiswa. UJehu wayebeke amadoda angamatshumi ayisificaminwembili wawaqonqosela wathi, “Loba ngubani ozayekela omunye walamadoda engiwabeke ezandleni zenu ephunyuka, ngizaphindisela ngempilo yakhe.”

Then he and Jonadab prepared to offer sacrifices and other offerings to Baal that would be completely burned [on the altar that was there in Samaria]. But Jehu had stationed eighty of his men outside the temple, and had said to them, “I want you to kill all the people [who are in the temple]. Anyone who allows one of them to escape will be executed!”

25 UJehu wathi eseqedile ukunikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, wathi kubalindi lezikhulu zebutho, “Ngenani liyebabulala; kungabikho loyedwa ozaphunyuka.” Ngakho babatshaya ngenkemba bababhubhisa. Abalindi lezikhulu balahlela phandle izidumbu basebengena ethempelini likaBhali elingaphakathi.

As soon as Jehu [and Jonadab] had finished killing the animals that would be completely burned to be an offering to Baal, they [went outside and] said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill all of them! Do not allow any of them to escape!” So the guards and officers went in and killed them all with their swords. Then they dragged their corpses outside the temple. Then they went into the inner room of the temple,

26 Bakhipha ilitshe elikhonzwayo likaBhali balitshisa.

and they carried out the sacred pillar of Baal that was there, and they burned it.

27 Balidiliza lelolitshe likaBhali elikhonzwayo babhidliza lethempeli lakhe, balenza laba yindlu yokuyela ngaphandle kuze kube lalamuhla lokhu.

So they destroyed that pillar that honored Baal, and then they burned down the temple, and made it a public toilet. And it is still a toilet!

28 Ngalokho uJehu wadiliza ukholo lukaBhali ko-Israyeli.

That is how Jehu got rid of the worship of Baal in Israel.

29 Kodwa, yena katshiyananga lezono zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebhathi, lezo ayebangele u-Israyeli ukuzenza, ukukhonza amathole egolide eBhetheli laseDani.

But Jehu did not quit committing the kinds of sins that Jeroboam had committed, sins that led the people of Israel to sin by worshiping the gold [statues of] calves in Bethel and Dan [cities].

30 UThixo wathi kuJehu, “Njengoba wenze kuhle ngokuphelelisa lokho okufaneleyo phambi kwami njalo wenze konke ebengikumisele abendlu ka-Ahabi, abendlu yakho bazabusa ko-Israyeli kuze kube yisizukulwane sesine.”

Then Yahweh said to Jehu, “You have done what pleased me by getting rid of all of Ahab’s descendants. So I promise you that your son and grandson and great-grandson and great-great-grandson will all be kings of Israel.”

31 Kodwa uJehu kazange ananzelele ukugcina umthetho kaThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngenhliziyo yakhe yonke. Kazange atshiyane lezono ezazisenziwa nguJerobhowamu, lezo ayebangele u-Israyeli ukuba azenze.

But Jehu did not obey all the laws of Yahweh, the God of the Israeli people. He did not stop committing the sins that Jeroboam had committed, sins that led the Israeli people to sin.

32 Ngalezonsuku uThixo waqalisa ukwehlisa inani labako-Israyeli. UHazayeli wanqoba ama-Israyeli kulolonke ilizwe lawo,

At that time, Yahweh began to cause the territory controlled by Israel to become smaller. [The army of] King Hazael [of Syria] conquered much of the Israeli territory.

33 empumalanga yeJodani kulolonke eleGiliyadi (kuthatha umango kaGadi, okaRubheni lokaManase), kusukela e-Aroweri ngaseSihotsheni se-Arinoni kusiyaphutsha eGiliyadi kungena eBhashani.

He conquered the parts east of the Jordan [River], as far south as Aroer [town] on the Arnon [River]. That included [the] Gilead and Bashan [regions], where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh lived.

34 Okunye kwezehlakalo lezenzo ngokubusa kukaJehu, konke akwenzayo, aphumelela kukho, akulotshwanga yini egwalweni lwembali yamakhosi ako-Israyeli na?

[If you want to read more] about all the other things that Jehu did [RHQ], they are written in the scroll called ‘The History of the Kings of Israel’.

35 UJehu wafa walala kuboyise emathuneni aseSamariya. UJehowahazi indodana yakhe yathatha ubukhosi yabusa.

Jehu died [EUP], and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became the king in place of his father.

36 UJehu isikhathi abusa ngaso u-Israyeli eseSamariya kwaba yiminyaka engamatshumi amabili lasificaminwembili.

Jehu had ruled in Samaria as the king of Israel for twenty-eight years.