< 2 Saamuʼeel 3 >

1 Mana Saaʼolii fi mana Daawit gidduu waraana bara dheeraatu ture. Yeroo Daawit jabaachaa deemetti manni Saaʼol immoo dadhabaa deeme.
There was a long war between those who wanted Saul’s son to be their king and those who wanted David to be their king. But more and more people began to want David to be the king, while the number of people who wanted Saul’s son to be the king continued to become smaller.
2 Daawit Kebroonitti ijoollee dhalche; isaanis: Inni hangafni Amnoon isa Ahiinooʼam Yizriʼeelittiin deessee dha;
David’s wives gave birth to six sons at Hebron. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel [city].
3 inni lammaffaan Kiliʼaab ilma Abiigayiil isheen Naabaal namichi biyya Qarmeloos irraa duʼe sun deessee dha; sadaffaan Abesaaloom ilma Maʼakaa kan intalli Talmaayi mooticha Geshuur sun deessee dha;
The next one was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel [city]. The next one was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of [the] Geshur [region].
4 afuraffaan Adooniyaa ilma Hagiit; shanaffaan Shefaaxiyaa ilma Abiixaal;
The next one was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next one was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
5 jaʼaffaan Yitreʼaam ilma Eglaa niitiin Daawit deessee dha. Isaan kunneen Kebroonitti Daawitiif dhalatan.
The youngest one was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, [another one of] David’s wives. Those sons of David were all born in Hebron.
6 Yeroo mana Saaʼolii fi mana Daawit gidduu waraanni turetti Abneer mana Saaʼol irratti humna isaa jabeeffachaa ture.
While those who wanted Saul’s son to rule over them and those who wanted David to rule over them continued to fight against each other, Abner was becoming more influential among those who wanted Saul’s son to be the king.
7 Saaʼolis intala Ayyaa kan Riixiphaa jedhamtu saajjatoo godhatee ture. Iish-Booshetis Abneeriin, “Ati maaliif saajjatoo abbaa kootii wajjin rafte?” jedhe.
When Saul was alive, he had as one of his wives a slave woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. [But one day Abner had sexual relations with her]. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you had sexual relations with [EUP] my father’s slave wife?”
8 Abneer immoo waan Iish-Booshet akkas jedheef akka malee aaree akkana jedhe; “Ani mataa saree Yihuudaatii? Ani hamma harʼaatti mana abbaa kee Saaʼoliif, mana maatii isaatii fi mana firoota isaatiif amanamaa dha. Siʼi illee dabarsee Daawititti hin kennine. Ati garuu amma waaʼee dubartii kanaatiif na himatta!
Abner became very angry about what Ishbosheth said to him. He said to Ishbosheth, “(Do you think that I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah?/You are treating me as though I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah.) [RHQ] From the beginning, I have been loyal to Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends. And I have prevented you from being defeated by David’s army. So now (why are you criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman?/you should not be criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman.) [RHQ]
9 Yoo ani akka abdiin Waaqni Daawitiif kenne sun raawwatamu gochuu baadhe Waaqayyo Abneer irratti waan hamaa haa godhu; sana caalaa iyyuu isatti haa fidu;
Yahweh solemnly promised that he would not allow Saul and his descendants to continue to rule. He promised that he would cause David to rule over all the tribes of Israel and Judah, from Dan [city] far in the north to Beersheba [city] far in the south. So I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I do not enable that to happen!”
10 wanni Waaqni kakuudhaan isa abdachiise sunis mana Saaʼol irraa mootummaa fuudhee Daanii jalqabee hamma Bersheebaatti Israaʼelii fi Yihuudaa irratti teessoo Daawit jabeessee dhaabuu dha.”
11 Iish-Booshet waan isa sodaateef Abneeritti waan tokko illee dubbachuu hin dandeenye.
Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner, so he did not say anything in reply to Abner.
12 Ergasii Abneer, “Biyyattiin kan eenyuu ti? Na wajjin walii galtee godhadhu; anis akka Israaʼel guutumaan guutuutti gara kee goru sin gargaaraa” jedhee Daawititti ergamoota erge.
Then Abner sent messengers to David [when he was at Hebron], to say to him, “[Either you or I] should be [RHQ] the ruler of this entire nation, [but not Isbosheth. However, ] if you make an agreement with me, I will help you by encouraging all the people of Israel to (be want you to be their king/start to support) you.”
13 Daawitis, “Gaarii dha; ani si wajjin walii galtee nan godhadha. Garuu waan tokko sin gaafadha; kunis ati yommuu gara koo dhuftutti jalqabatti Miikaal intala Saaʼol naa fidi; yoo kanaa achii gara koo hin dhufin” jedhe.
David sent back this reply: “Good! I am willing to make an agreement with you. But before that happens, there is one thing that you must do. When you come to see me, you must bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter.”
14 Ergasiis Daawit, “Niitii koo ishee ani misaa Filisxeemota dhibba tokkootiin kaadhimadhe Miikaalin naa ergi” jedhee Iish-Booshet ilma Saaʼolitti ergamoota erge.
Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, to say to him, “I [had to kill] 100 men from Philistia [and cut off] their foreskins to give to Saul to pay for Michal [to be my wife]. So now give her back to me!”
15 Kanaafuu Iish-Booshet nama ergee dhirsa ishee Phaltiiʼeel ilma Laayish irraa ishee fudhate.
So Ishbosheth sent some men to take Michal from her husband Palti. But [when they took her, ] her husband followed them all the way to Bahurim [town], crying as he went.
16 Dhirsi ishees hamma magaalaa Bahuuriimitti booʼaa ishee duukaa buʼe. Abneeris, “Mana keetti deebiʼi!” jedheen. Kanaafuu inni ni deebiʼe.
Then Abner [turned and] said to him, “Go back [home]!”, so he did.
17 Abneer maanguddoota Israaʼel wajjin mariʼatee akkana jedhe; “Isin kanaan dura akka Daawit mootii keessan taʼu hawwaa turtan.
Abner went to the Israeli leaders and talked with them. He said, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
18 Waaqayyo, ‘Ani garbicha koo Daawitiin saba Israaʼel harka Filisxeemotaatii akkasumas harka diinota isaanii hundaa keessaa nan baasa’ jedhee abdachiiseeraatii isin waan kana galmaan gaʼaa!”
So now you have an opportunity to do that. Keep in mind that Yahweh promised this: ‘With the help of David, who serves me [well], I will rescue my people from the people of Philistia, and from the power [MTY] of all their other enemies’.”
19 Abneer namoota Beniyaam birattis ni dubbate. Ergasiis Kebroon dhaqee waan Israaʼeloonnii fi manni Beniyaam hundi gochuu barbaadan Daawititti hime.
Abner also spoke to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron, to tell David what all the people of Israel and the people of the tribe of Benjamin had agreed to do.
20 Yommuu Abneer namoota isaa digdama wajjin Kebroon dhufetti, Daawit isaa fi namoota isaatiif cidha qopheesse.
When Abner came with 20 of his soldiers to see David at Hebron, David made a feast for all of them.
21 Abneeris Daawitiin, “Ani kaʼee deemee akka isaan gooftaa koo mootii wajjin kakuu galanii fi akka ati warra garaan kee fedhe hunda irratti mootii taatuuf Israaʼeloota hunda walitti nan qaba” jedhe. Kanaaf Daawit isa geggeesse; innis nagaadhaan deeme.
Afterwards, Abner said to David, “Sir/Your majesty, I will now go and encourage all the people of Israel to accept you to be their king, as you have desired.” Then Abner left, peacefully.
22 Namoonni Daawitii fi Yooʼaab yommuu suma boojuu hedduu fudhatanii duulaa galan. Abneer garuu Daawit wajjin Kebroon hin turre; Daawit isa geggeessee inni nagaan deemeeraatii.
Soon after that, Joab and some of David’s other soldiers returned [to Hebron] after raiding [one of their enemies’ villages], bringing with them a lot of things that they had captured. But Abner was not there at Hebron, because David had sent him safely home.
23 Yooʼaabii fi loltoonni isa wajjin turan hundi yommuu achi gaʼanitti akka Abneer ilmi Neer mooticha bira dhufee mootichi nagaan isa geggeesse isatti himame.
When Joab and the soldiers who were with him arrived, someone told him that Abner had come there and talked with the king, and that the king allowed to go home safely.
24 Kanaafuu Yooʼaab gara mootichaa dhaqee akkana jedhe; “Maali gochuu kee ti? Kunoo Abneer gara kee dhufee ture. Ati Maaliif isa geggeessite? Inni amma deemeera!
So Joab went to the king and said, “Why have you done that? Listen to me! Abner [is your enemy, but] when he came to you, you allowed him [RHQ] to leave!
25 Ati Abneer ilma Neer ni beekta; inni si gowwoomsee sochii keetii fi waan ati gochaa jirtu hunda basaasuudhaaf dhufe.”
Do you not know that he came to you to deceive you and to find out everything that you are doing, and all the places that you go to?”
26 Yooʼaabis Daawit biraa baʼee Abneer duubaan ergamoota erge; isaanis boolla bishaanii kan Siiraa biraa isa deebisan. Daawit garuu waan kana hin beekne.
After Joab left David, he sent some messengers to get Abner. They found him at Sirah Well, and brought him back to Hebron, but David did not know that they had done that.
27 Yeroo Abneer Kebroonitti deebiʼettis Yooʼaab waan kophaatti isa wajjin haasaʼuu barbaade fakkeessee gara karraatti isa baase. Achittis haaloo dhiiga obboleessa isaa Asaaheel baasuuf garaa keessa isa waraane; innis ni duʼe.
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city gate, and took him aside as though he wanted to speak with him privately. Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach [with his knife/sword]. In that way he murdered Abner because Abner had killed [MTY] Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 Ergasii Daawit yommuu waan kana dhagaʼetti akkana jedhe; “Anii fi mootummaan koo bara baraan dhiiga Abneer ilma Neer irraa fuula Waaqayyoo duratti qulqulluu dha.
Later, after David heard what had happened, he said, “Yahweh knows that I and the people of my kingdom are not at all (responsible for/guilty of) murdering [MTY] Abner.
29 Cubbuun dhiiga isaa mataa Yooʼaabii fi mana abbaa isaa hundaa irra haa gaʼu! Namni madaa malaa yaasu yookaan lamxii qabu yookaan namni uleetti rarraʼee deemu yookaan namni goraadeen ajjeefamu yookaan namni waan nyaatu dhabu mana Yooʼaabii hin dhabamin.”
I hope/desire that Joab and all his family will be punished [MTY] for doing that! I hope/desire that there will always be someone in his family who has sores, or someone who is a leper, or some man who is forced to do women’s work, or someone who is killed in a battle, or someone who does not have enough food to eat!”
30 Sababii inni lola Gibeʼoon irratti obboleessa isaanii Asaaheelin ajjeeseef Yooʼaabii fi obboleessi isaa Abiishaayi Abneerin ajjeesan.
That is how Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 Daawitis Yooʼaabii fi namoota isa wajjin turan hundaan, “Uffata keessan tarsaasaatii uffata gaddaa uffadhaa; fuula Abneer durattis booʼaa” jedhe. Daawit mootichis reeffa Abneer geggeesse.
Then David said to Joab and to all Joab’s soldiers, “Tear your clothes and put on coarse cloth [to show that you are sad], and mourn for Abner!” And [at the funeral], King David walked behind [the men who were carrying] the coffin.
32 Isaanis Abneerin Kebroonitti awwaalan; mootichis awwaala Abneer irratti iyyee booʼe; namoonni hundinuus ni booʼan.
They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. And at the grave, the king cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
33 Mootichis faaruu gaddaa kana akkana jedhee Abneeriif faarse: “Abneer akka duʼa nama yaraa tokkootti duʼuu qabaa?
David sang this sad song to lament for Abner: “It is not right that [RHQ] Abner died like outlaws die!
34 Harki kee hin hidhamne; miilli kee foncaadhaan hin gaadiʼamne. Ati akkuma nama fuula hamootaa duratti kufu tokkootti kufte.” Namoonni hundinuu amma illee ni booʼaniif.
No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, [like they do to criminals]. No, he was murdered by wicked men!”
35 Gara saafaattis namoonni hundi dhufanii akka inni waa nyaatuuf Daawitin kadhatan; inni garuu, “Yoo ani hamma biiftuun lixxutti buddeena yookaan waan biraa afaan kootiin qabe Waaqni waan hamaa natti haa fidu; kana caalaa iyyuu natti haa fidu!” jedhee kakate.
Then many [HYP] people came to David to tell him to eat some food before sunset, but David refused. He said, “I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I eat any food before the sun goes down!”
36 Namoonni hundinuu waan kana arganii gammadan; dhugumaan wanni mootichi godhe hundi isaan gammachiise.
All the people saw what David did, and they were pleased. Truly, everything that the king did pleased the people.
37 Kanaafuu gaafa sana namoonni hundii fi Israaʼel hundi akka ajjeefamuu Abneer ilma Neer keessatti mootichi qooda hin qabne beekan.
So all the people realized that the king had not wanted Abner to be killed.
38 Mootichis namoota isaatiin akkana jedhe; “Isin akka guyyaa harʼaa ilmi mootiitii fi namni guddaan tokko Israaʼel keessaa kufe hin beeknee?
The king said to his officials, “(Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel?/You should realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel.) [RHQ]
39 Ani mootii dibame taʼu illee harʼa nama dadhabaa dha; ilmaan Zeruuyaa kunneen natti jabaataniiru. Waaqayyo nama waan hamaa hojjetuuf akkuma hammina hojii isaatti isaaf haa kennu!”
Even though Yahweh appointed me to be the king, today I feel weak. These two sons of Zeruiah, [Joab and Abishai], are very violent; I cannot control them. So I hope/desire that Yahweh will punish them severely in return for this wicked thing that they have done!”

< 2 Saamuʼeel 3 >