< 2 Amakhosi 9 >
1 UElisha umprofethi wasebiza omunye wamadodana abaprofethi wathi kuye: Bopha ukhalo lwakho, uthathe lumfuma wamafutha esandleni sakho, uye eRamothi-Gileyadi.
Meanwhile, the prophet Elisha summoned one of the other prophets. He said to him, “Get ready [IDM] and go to Ramoth [city] in [the] Gilead [region]. Take this jar of [olive] oil with you.
2 Nxa ufika khona udinge lapho uJehu indodana kaJehoshafathi indodana kaNimshi, ungene, umsukumise phakathi kwabafowabo, umngenise ekamelweni elingaphakathi.
When you arrive there, search for a man named Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Go with him into a room away from his companions,
3 Ubusuthatha umfuma wamafutha, uwathele ekhanda lakhe uthi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngikugcobile ube yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli. Ubusuvula umnyango, ubaleke, ungaphuzi.
and pour [some of] this oil on his head. Then say to him, ‘Yahweh declares that he is appointing you to be the king of Israel.’ Then open the door and run away as quickly as you can.”
4 Lahamba-ke ijaha lelo, ijaha umprofethi, laya eRamothi-Gileyadi.
So the young prophet went to Ramoth.
5 Ekufikeni kwalo, khangela, induna zebutho zazihlezi, lathi: Ngilombiko kuwe, nduna. UJehu wasesithi: Kubani phakathi kwethu sonke? Laselisithi: Kuwe, nduna.
When he arrived, he saw that the commanders of the army were having a conference. He [looked at Jehu and] said, “Sir, I have a message for [one of] you.” Jehu replied, “Which one of us is the message for?” The young prophet replied, “It is for you, commander/sir.”
6 Wasesukuma, wangena endlini; laselithela amafutha ekhanda lakhe, lathi kuye: Itsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Ngikugcobile ukuthi ube yinkosi phezu kwabantu beNkosi, phezu kukaIsrayeli.
So Jehu got up and went with the young prophet into a house. There the young prophet poured some [olive] oil on Jehu’s head and said to him, “Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], declares this: ‘I am appointing you to be the king of my Israeli people.
7 Njalo uzatshaya indlu kaAhabi inkosi yakho, ukuze ngiphindisele igazi lenceku zami abaprofethi, legazi lazo zonke inceku zeNkosi, esandleni sikaJezebeli.
You must kill your master [King Joram], the son of Ahab, because I want to punish [Ahab’s wife] Jezebel for murdering [MTY] many of my prophets and other people who served me.
8 Yonke-ke indlu kaAhabi izabhubha; njalo ngizaquma asuke kuAhabi ochamela emdulini, lovalelweyo lokhululekileyo koIsrayeli.
You must kill [not only Joram but] all of Ahab’s family. I want to get rid of every male in the family, including young ones and old ones.
9 Njalo ngizakwenza indlu kaAhabi njengendlu kaJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati lanjengendlu kaBahasha indodana kaAhiya.
I will get rid of Ahab’s family, like I got rid of the families of two other kings of Israel, Jeroboam and Baasha.
10 Lezinja zizakudla uJezebeli esabelweni seJizereyeli, njalo kakuyikuba lomngcwabayo. Laselivula umnyango, labaleka.
And [when] Jezebel [dies], her corpse will not be buried. Dogs will eat her corpse there in Jezreel [city].’” After the young prophet said this, he left the room and ran.
11 Kwathi uJehu esephumele encekwini zenkosi yakhe, omunye wathi kuye: Kulungile yini? Luzeleni loluhlanya kuwe? Wasesithi kuzo: Liyamazi lumuntu lenkulumo yakhe.
When Jehu came out of the room to where his other commanders were, they said to him, “Is everything all right? Why did that mad fellow come to you?” He replied, “You know what kinds of things young prophets like him say.”
12 Zasezisithi: Manga! Sitshele khathesi. Wasesithi: Ukhulume ukuthi lokuthi kimi esithi: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngikugcobile ube yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli.
They said, “You are lying! Tell us what he said!” He replied, “He told me that Yahweh said, ‘I am appointing [MTY] you to be the king of Israel.’”
13 Zaseziphangisa, zathatha, ngulowo lalowo isembatho sakhe, zazibeka ngaphansi kwakhe engqongeni yezikhwelo, zavuthela uphondo, zathi: UJehu uyinkosi!
Then they all spread their cloaks on the steps of the building [for Jehu to walk out on], and they blew trumpets and shouted, “Jehu is now the king!”
14 Ngokunjalo uJehu indodana kaJehoshafathi indodana kaNimshi wamenzela ugobe uJoramu. (UJoramu wagcina-ke iRamothi-Gileyadi, yena loIsrayeli wonke, ngenxa kaHazayeli inkosi yeSiriya;
King Joram and his army had been defending Ramoth against the attacks by the army of the king of Syria. King Joram had returned to Jezreel [city], to recover from being wounded in the battle against the army of Hazael, the king of Syria. And Jehu made plans to kill Joram. He said to his other commanders, “If helping me is truly what you want, make sure that no one leaves this city to go to warn the people of Jezreel [about what I am planning to do].”
15 kodwa uJehoramu inkosi wayesebuyelele ukwelatshwa eJizereyeli ngamanxeba amaSiriya ayemtshaye wona ekulweni kwakhe loHazayeli inkosi yeSiriya.) UJehu wasesithi: Aluba kuyintando yenu, kakungaphumi ophunyukileyo emzini ukuyabika lokhu eJizereyeli.
16 UJehu wasekhwela inqola, waya eJizereyeli, ngoba uJoramu wayelele khona, loAhaziya inkosi yakoJuda wayehle ukuthi abone uJoramu.
Then Jehu and his officers got into their chariots and rode to Jezreel, where Joram was still recovering. And King Ahaziah of Judah was there, visiting Joram.
17 Umlindi wayemi-ke emphotshongweni eJizereyeli, wabona ixuku likaJehu, yena esiza, wathi: Ngibona ixuku. UJehoramu wathi: Thatha umgadi webhiza umthume ukubahlangabeza, athi: Yikuthula yini?
A guard was standing in the watchtower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu and his men approaching. He called out, “I see a lot of men [who are approaching]!” King Joram [heard what the watchman said, so he] said to his soldiers, “Send someone on a horse to go and find out if they are coming to be friendly to us or to attack us.”
18 Wasehamba umgadi webhiza ukumhlangabeza, wathi: Itsho njalo inkosi: Yikuthula yini? UJehu wasesithi: Ulani lokuthula? Phendukela ngemva kwami. Umlindi wasebika esithi: Isithunywa sesifikile kibo, kodwa kasiphenduki.
So a man rode out to meet Jehu and said to him, “The king wants to know [if you are coming to be] friendly to us.” Jehu replied, “This is not the time for you [RHQ] to be concerned about acting friendly! Turn around and come behind me!” So the guard in the watchtower reported that the messenger had reached the group [that was approaching], but that he was not returning [alone].
19 Yasithuma umgadi webhiza wesibili, wafika kibo wathi: Itsho njalo inkosi: Yikuthula yini? UJehu wasesithi: Ulani lokuthula? Phendukela ngemva kwami.
So King Joram sent another messenger, who asked Jehu the same question. Again Jehu replied, “This is not the time [RHQ] for you to be concerned about acting friendly! Turn around and follow me!”
20 Umlindi wasebika wathi: Usefikile kibo, kodwa kaphenduki. Lokutshayela kufanana lokutshayela kukaJehu indodana kaNimshi, ngoba utshayela okohlanya.
Then the watchman reported again, “That messenger also reached them, but he is not coming back [alone]. And [the leader of the group must be] Jehu, the son of Nimshi, because he is driving [his chariot] furiously, [like Jehu does]!”
21 UJehoramu wasesithi: Bophelani. Basebebophela inqola yakhe. UJehoramu inkosi yakoIsrayeli loAhaziya inkosi yakoJuda basebephuma, ngulowo lalowo enqoleni yakhe, baphuma ukuhlangabeza uJehu, bamthola esiqintini sikaNabothi umJizereyeli.
Joram said [to his soldiers], “Get [my chariot] ready!” So they did that. Then King Joram and King Ahaziah both rode toward Jehu, each one in his own chariot. And [it happened that] they met Jehu at the field that had previously belonged to Naboth!
22 Kwasekusithi uJehoramu ebona uJehu wathi: Yikuthula yini, Jehu? Wasesithi: Ukuthula bani, selokhu ukuwula kukaJezebeli unyoko lokuthakatha kwakhe kukunengi kangaka?
When Joram met Jehu, he said to him, “Are you coming on a peaceful visit?” Jehu replied, “(How can there be peace while you and your people are prostrating themselves to worship idols and practicing very much (witchcraft/sorcery) like your mother Jezebel did?/There certainly cannot be peace while you and your people are prostrating themselves to worship idols and practicing (witchcraft/sorcery) like your mother Jezebel has been doing!)” [RHQ]
23 UJehoramu wasephendula izandla zakhe wabaleka, wathi kuAhaziya: Yinkohliso, Ahaziya!
Joram cried out, “Ahaziah, they have deceived us! [They want to kill us]!” So Joram turned his chariot around and tried to flee.
24 UJehu wasedonsisisa idandili, watshaya uJehoramu phakathi kweziphanga zakhe, lomtshoko waphuma enhliziyweni yakhe, wasekhothama enqoleni yakhe.
But Jehu drew his bow mightily and shot [an arrow that pierced] Joram between his shoulder blades. The arrow [went through his body and] pierced his heart, and he slumped down dead in his chariot.
25 Wasesithi kuBidikari induna yakhe: Mphakamise, umphosele esiqintini sensimu kaNabothi umJizereyeli; ngoba khumbula mina lawe sigade sobabili ngemva kukaAhabi uyise, iNkosi yamethesa lumthwalo:
Then Jehu said to his assistant Bidkar, “Take his corpse and throw it here into the field that belonged to Naboth. [I am sure that] you remember that when you and I were riding together [in chariots] behind King Joram’s father Ahab, that Yahweh said this about Ahab:
26 Ngibonile isibili izolo igazi likaNabothi legazi lamadodana akhe, itsho iNkosi, ngizaphindisela kuwe kulesisiqinti, itsho iNkosi. Ngakho-ke mphakamise umphosele kulesisiqinti, njengokwelizwi leNkosi.
‘Yesterday I saw Ahab murder [MTY] Naboth and his sons here. And I solemnly promise that I will punish him right here in this same field!’ So take Joram’s corpse and throw it into that field! That will fulfill what Yahweh said would happen.”
27 UAhaziya inkosi yakoJuda esebonile lokhu wabaleka, ngendlela yendlu yesivande. UJehu wasexotshana laye, wathi: Mtshayeni laye enqoleni, emqansweni weGuri elingaseIbileyamu. Wasebalekela eMegido, wafela khona.
When King Ahaziah saw what happened, he fled [in his chariot] toward Beth-Haggan [town]. But Jehu pursued him and said [to his other commanders], “Shoot him, also!” So they shot him [with arrows] while he was riding in his chariot on the road up to Gur, near Ibleam [town]. He continued going in his chariot until he reached Megiddo [city], where he died.
28 Inceku zakhe zasezimthwala zamusa eJerusalema, zamngcwaba engcwabeni lakhe kuboyise emzini kaDavida.
His officials took his corpse back to Jerusalem and buried it in the tombs in the [part of Jerusalem called] ‘The City of David’, where his ancestors had been buried.
29 Ngomnyaka wetshumi lanye kaJoramu indodana kaAhabi, uAhaziya waba yinkosi phezu kukaJuda.
Ahaziah had become the king of Judah when Joram had been ruling Israel for almost eleven years.
30 UJehu esefikile eJizereyeli, uJezebeli wakuzwa. Wasecomba amehlo akhe, wacecisa ikhanda lakhe, walunguza ngewindi.
Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When [Ahab’s widow] Jezebel heard what had happened, she put paint/makeup on her eyelids, and combed her hair to make it beautiful, and looked out the window [of the palace toward the street below].
31 Lapho-ke uJehu engena esangweni, wasesithi: Yikuthula yini, Zimri, mbulali wenkosi yakho?
While Jehu was entering the city gate, she called out to him, “You [are like] Zimri! You are a murderer! [I think] you are certainly not [RHQ] coming on a peaceful visit!”
32 Wasephakamisela ubuso bakhe ewindini, wathi: Ngubani ongakimi? Ngubani? Kwasekulunguza kuye abathenwa ababili, abathathu.
Jehu looked up toward the window, and then he said, “Who is (on my side/wants to help me)? Anyone?” Two or three palace officials looked down at him [from a window and pointed to themselves].
33 Wasesithi: Mphoseleni phansi. Basebemphosela phansi; lelinye legazi lakhe lachaphakela emdulini lemabhizeni; wasemnyathelela phansi.
Jehu said to them, “Throw her down here!” So they threw her down, and [when she hit the ground and died], some of her blood splattered on the city wall and on the horses [that were pulling the chariots].
34 Wasengena wadla wanatha, wathi: Ake libone lo umqalekiswakazi limngcwabe, ngoba uyindodakazi yenkosi.
Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Then he said [to some of his men], “Take the corpse of that women whom Yahweh has cursed and bury it, because she is a king’s daughter [and therefore should be buried properly].”
35 Basebesiyamngcwaba, kodwa kabaficanga lutho olwakhe ngaphandle kokhakhayi lenyawo lempama zezandla.
But when they went to get her corpse to bury it, all that was left was only her skull and [the bones of] her feet and her hands. Everything else was gone.
36 Ngakho babuyela bamtshela; wasesithi: Leli yilizwi leNkosi eyalikhuluma ngesandla senceku yayo uElija umTishibi lisithi: Esiqintini seJizereyeli izinja zizakudla inyama kaJezebeli;
When they reported this to Jehu, he said, “That is what Yahweh said would happen! He told his servant/prophet Elijah, ‘In [the city of] Jezreel, dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel’s corpse.
37 lesidumbu sikaJezebeli sizakuba njengomquba ebusweni bomhlabathi esiqintini seJizereyeli, ukuze bangathi: Lo nguJezebeli.
Her bones will be scattered there in Jezreel like dung, with the result that no one will be able to [recognize them and] say, “These are Jezebel’s bones.”’”