1 Mootota 20
1 Yeroo kanatti Ben-Hadaad mootichi Sooriyaa loltoota ofii isaa guutuu walitti qabate. Mootonni soddomii lama kanneen fardeenii fi gaariiwwan qabanis isa wajjin turan. Innis dhaqee Samaariyaa marsee lole.
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 Innis akkana jedhee gara magaalaa Ahaab mooticha Israaʼelitti ergamoota erge; “Wanni Ben-Hadaad jedhu kanaa dha;
Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, to say this to him: “This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
3 ‘Meetiin keetii fi warqeen kee kanuma koo ti; niitonni keetii fi ijoolleen kee babbareedoonis kanuma koo ti.’”
‘[You must give to] me all your silver and gold, your (good-looking/most beautiful) wives/women and strongest children.’”
4 Mootiin Israaʼel immoo, “Yaa gooftaa koo mooticha, akkuma ati jette sana anii fi wanni ani qabu hundi keetuma” jedhee deebiseef.
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 Ergamoonni sun ammas dhufanii akkana jedhaniin; “Wanni Ben-Hadaad jedhu kanaa dha; ‘Ani akka ati meetii fi warqee kee, niitotaa fi ijoollee kee naaf kennituuf ergaa sitti ergeera.
[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 Garuu ani bor yoona masaraa mootummaa keetiitii fi manneen qondaaltota keetii soquuf qondaaltota koo nan erga. Isaanis waan ati jaallattu hunda fudhatanii deemu.’”
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 Mootichi Israaʼel immoo maanguddoota biyya sanaa hunda walitti waamee akkana jedheen; “Akka namichi kun rakkina uumuu barbaadu mee isinuu ilaalaa! Yeroo inni niitotaa fi ijoollee koo, meetii fi warqee koo fudhachuuf nama ergetti ani hin dhowwanne.”
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 Maanguddoonnii fi namoonni hundinuu, “Ati dubbii isaa hin dhagaʼin yookaan waan inni barbaadu tole hin jedhin” jedhaniin.
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 Kanaafuu inni, “‘Garbichi kee waan ati jalqabatti ajajje hunda ni guuta; ani garuu waan ati amma gaafatte kana gochuu hin dandaʼu’ jedhaatii gooftaa koo mootichatti himaa” jedhee ergamoota Ben-Hadaadiif deebii kenne. Isaanis kaʼanii deebii sana fuudhanii Ben-Hadaaditti geessan.
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 Ben-Hadaad immoo, “Yoo biyyoon Samaariyaa namoota koo warra na duukaa buʼan konyee tokko tokko illee wal gaʼe, waaqonni na haa adaban; adabbiin sunis akka malee natti haa cimu” jedhee ergaa biraa Ahaabitti erge.
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 Mootiin Israaʼelis, “‘Namni miʼa lolaa hidhachaa jiru tokko akka nama miʼa lolaa of irraa hiikaa jiru tokkootti of jajuu hin qabu’ jedhaatii itti hima” jedhee deebise.
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 Ben-Hadaadis utuma mootota wajjin dunkaana keessatti waa dhugaa jiruu ergaa kana dhagaʼee, “Isin lolaaf qophaaʼaa” jedhee namoota ofii isaa ajaje. Kanaafuu isaan magaalaa sana dhaʼuuf qophaaʼan.
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 Yeroo kanatti raajiin tokko gara Ahaab mooticha Israaʼel dhufee, “Waaqayyo akkana jedha: ‘Ati loltoota akka malee baayʼatan kana argitaa? Ani harʼa dabarsee harka keetti isaan nan kenna; atis ergasii akka ani Waaqayyo taʼe ni beekta’” jedhe.
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 Ahaab garuu, “Eenyutu waan kana hojjeta?” jedhee gaafate. Raajiin sunis, “Waaqayyo akkana jedha; ‘Tajaajiltoota bulchitoota kutaalee biyyaa kanneen dargaggoo taʼanitu waan kana hojjeta’” jedhee deebiseef. Innis, “Eenyutu lola jalqaba?” jedhee gaafate. Raajiin sunis, “Situ jalqaba” jedhee deebiseef.
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 Kanaafuu Ahaab tajaajiltoota bulchitoota kutaalee biyyaa kanneen dargaggoo taʼan dhibba lamaa fi soddomii lama walitti waame. Ergasiis Israaʼeloota hafan keessaa walumaa galatti namoota kuma torba walitti qabe.
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 Isaanis utuma Ben-Hadaadii fi mootonni soddomii lama kanneen isa tumsan dunkaana keessatti dhuganii machaaʼaa jiranuu guyyaa saafaadhaan itti qajeelan.
They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
17 Tajaajiltoonni bulchitoota kutaalee biyyaa kanneen dargaggoo taʼanis jalqabatti gad baʼan. Ben-Hadaadis gaaddota ergee ture; isaanis deebiʼanii, “Namoonni muraasni Samaariyaadhaa baʼanii dhufuutti jiru” jedhanii isatti himan.
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 Inni immoo, “Yoo isaan nagaaf dhufan utuma isaan lubbuun jiranuu isaan qabaa; yoo isaan lolaaf dhufanis akkasuma utuma isaan lubbuun jiranuu qabaa” jedhe.
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 Tajaajiltoonni bulchitoota kutaalee biyyaa kanneen dargaggoo taʼan sunis loltoota dura buʼanii magaalaa sanaa baʼan;
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 tokkoon tokkoon isaaniis diina isaanii dhaʼanii ajjeesan. Kana irratti warri Sooriyaa ni baqatan; Israaʼeloonni immoo isaan ariʼan. Ben-Hadaad mootichi Sooriyaa garuu farda yaabbatee abbootii fardaa wajjin baqatee jalaa baʼe.
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 Mootiin Israaʼel ittuma fufee abbootii fardaatii fi gaariiwwanii lolee moʼachuudhaan warra Sooriyaa akka malee miidhe.
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 Ergasii raajiin sun gara mooticha Israaʼel dhufee, “Of jabeessi; waan gochuu qabdus sirriitti hubadhu; mootiin Sooriyaa bara dhufu keessa deebiʼee si lolaatii” jedhe.
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 Yeroo kanatti qondaaltonni mootii Sooriyaa akkana jedhanii isa gorsan; “Waaqonni isaanii waaqota gaarranii ti. Sababiin isaan akka malee nutti jabaataniif kana. Nu yoo lafa diriiraa irratti isaan lolle garuu dhugumaan isaan caalaa jabaanna.
[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 Ati amma waan kana godhi: Mootota hunda aangoo isaanii irraa ariʼiitii iddoo isaanii ajajjoota kaan buusi.
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 Akkasumas loltoota akka loltoota kee kanneen dhuman sanaa jechuunis qooda fardaa farda, qooda gaarii immoo gaarii qopheessi. Akkasiin nu dirree irratti Israaʼelin loluu dandeenya; isaan caalaas ni jabaanna.” Innis dubbii isaanii fudhatee akkuma isaan jedhan sana godhe.
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 Bara itti aanu keessa Ben-Hadaad namoota Sooriyaa walitti qabatee Israaʼelin loluuf Afeeqitti ol baʼe.
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 Israaʼeloonnis walitti qabamanii waan nyaatan qabatanii jaratti duulan. Israaʼeloonni akkuma bushaayee karra xixinnaa lamaatti fuullee isaanii qubatan; warri Sooriyaa garuu baadiyyaa keessa guutan.
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 Namni Waaqaa sunis dhufee mootii Israaʼeliin akkana jedhe; “Waaqayyo akkana jedha; ‘Sababii warri Sooriyaa Waaqayyo Waaqa gaarraniiti malee Waaqa sululootaa miti jedhaniif, ani tuuta akka malee guddaa kana hunda dabarsee harka keetti nan kenna; isinis akka ani Waaqayyo taʼe ni beektu.’”
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 Isaanis bultii torbaaf fuullee walii qubatanii, bultii torbaffaatti waraanni jalqabame. Israaʼeloonnis guyyuma tokkotti warra Sooriyaa keessaa loltoota lafoo kuma dhibba tokko ajjeesan.
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 Warri hafan kaan magaalaa Afeeqitti baqatanii achittis nama kuma digdamii torba irratti dallaan dhagaa jige. Ben-Hadaad immoo magaalaa sanatti baqatee kutaa mana tokkoo kan gara keessaa keessatti dhokate.
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 Qondaaltonni isaas akkana jedhaniin; “Ilaa, nu akka mootonni mana Israaʼel mootota nama maaran taʼan dhageenyeerra. Mee kottaa nu mudhii keenyatti uffata gaddaa hidhannee, mataa keenyatti immoo funyoo marannee mootii Israaʼel bira haa dhaqnu. Inni lubbuu kee ni oolcha taʼaatii.”
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 Kanaafuu isaan mudhii isaaniitti uffata gaddaa hidhatanii, mataa isaaniitti funyoo maratanii mootii Israaʼel bira dhaqanii, “Garbichi kee Ben-Hadaad, ‘Maaloo lubbuu koo naa oolchi’ siin jedha” jedhaniin. Mootichi immoo, “Inni hamma ammaattuu lubbuun jiraa? Inni obboleessa koo ti” jedhee deebise.
[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 Namoonni sunis waan kana akka mallattoo gaariitti fudhatanii dubbii isaa dafanii qabatanii “Eeyyee, Ben-Hadaad obboleessa kee ti!” jedhan. Mootichis, “Dhaqaatii isa fidaa” jedhe. Yommuu Ben-Hadaad dhufettis Ahaab akka inni ol baʼee gaarii isaa keessa seenu godhe.
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 Ben-Hadaadis akkana jedheen; “Ani magaalaawwan abbaan koo abbaa kee irraa fudhate sana siifin deebisa. Akkuma abbaan koo Samaariyaa keessatti hojjete sana, ati Damaasqoo keessatti lafa gabaa ofii keetii dhaabbachuu dandeessa.” Ahaab immoo, “Ani walii galteedhaan gad si dhiisa” jedheen. Kanaafuu isa wajjin walii galtee godhatee gad isa dhiise.
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 Ilmaan raajotaa keessaa tokko ajaja Waaqayyootiin michuu isaa tokkoon, “Maaloo na dhaʼi” jedhe. Namichi sun garuu isa dhaʼuu dide.
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 Kanaafuu raajiin sun, “Waan ati dubbii Waaqayyootiif hin ajajamniif akkuma ati na biraa deemtuun leenci si ajjeesa” jedheen. Erga namichi kaʼee deemee booddee leenci dhufee isa argate isa ajjeese.
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 Raajiin sun nama biraa argee, “Maaloo na dhaʼi” jedheen. Kanaafuu namichi sun dhaʼee isa madeesse.
Then the prophet found another prophet, and said to him, “Strike me!” So that man hit him [very hard] and injured him.
38 Ergasii raajiin sun ija haguuggatee eenyummaa isaa dhokfatee dhaqee qarqara karaa dhaabatee mooticha eegaa ture.
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 Utuma mootichi karaa sana darbaa jiruu raajiin sun isa waamee akkana jedheen; “Garbichi kee lola walakkaa seenee jennaan namni tokko nama boojiʼame tokko fidee, ‘Namicha kana eegi. Yoo inni bade lubbuun kee qooda lubbuu isaa baafamti yookaan meetii taalaantii tokkoo baafta’ jedhe.
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 Namichi sunis utuu garbichi kee hojiin qabamee asii fi achi fiigaa jiruu bade.” Mootichi Israaʼelis deebisee, “Wanni sitti murtaaʼu sanuma; ati mataan kee iyyuu murteerta” jedheen.
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 Raajiin sunis dafee ija isaa irraa haguuggii gad buufate; mootichi Israaʼelis akka inni raajota keessaa isa tokko taʼe hubate.
The prophet immediately took off the bandage, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
42 Innis mootichaan akkana jedhe; “Waaqayyo akkana jedha: ‘Ati namicha ani akka inni duʼu itti mure gad lakkifteerta. Kanaafuu lubbuun kee qooda lubbuu isaa, sabni kees qooda saba isaa galaafatama.’”
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 Mootichi Israaʼel sunis akka malee aaree dheekkamaa gara masaraa mootummaa isaa kan Samaariyaa keessa jiru sanaa dhaqe.
The king went back home to Samaria, very angry and depressed/dejected.
