1 Madzimambo 20
1 Zvino Bheni-Hadhadhi mambo weAramu akaunganidza varwi vake vose. Achibatsirwa namadzimambo makumi matatu namaviri vaine mabhiza avo nengoro, akaenda akakomba Samaria akarirwisa.
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.
2 Akatuma nhume muguta kuna Ahabhu mambo weIsraeri kundoti, “Zvanzi naBheni-Hadhadhi,
Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel,
3 ‘Sirivha yako negoridhe ndezvangu, uye vakadzi vako navana vako vakanyanyisa kunaka ndevangu.’”
saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children are mine!’”
4 Mambo weIsraeri akapindura akati, “Sezvamataura, ishe wangu mambo. Ini nezvose zvandinazvo ndiri wenyu.”
And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”
5 Nhumwa dzakauya zvakare ndokusvikoti, “Zvanzi naBheni-Hadhadhi, ‘Ndakatumira shoko rokuti ndinoda sirivha yako negoridhe, navakadzi vako navana vako.
The messengers came back and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent to you to demand your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.
6 Asi mangwana nenguva yakaita seino ndichatuma varanda vangu kuti vazotsvagisisa mumuzinda wako nomudzimba dzavaranda vako. Vachatora zvose zvaunokoshesa vagoenda nazvo.’”
But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to search your palace and the houses of your servants. They will seize and carry away all that is precious to you.’”
7 Mambo weIsraeri akadana vakuru vose venyika akati kwavari, “Tarisai muone kuti murume uyu ari kutsvaga muromo sei! Paakati ari kuda kutora vakadzi vangu navana vangu, nesirivha yangu negoridhe rangu, handina kurambira.”
Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.”
8 Vakuru navanhu, vose vakapindura vakati, “Musateerera kwaari kana kubvumirana nezvaari kuda.”
And the elders and the people all said, “Do not listen to him or consent to his terms.”
9 Naizvozvo akapindura nhume dzaBheni-Hadhadhi akati, “Udzai ishe wangu mambo kuti, ‘Muranda wenyu achaita zvose zvamakamukumbira pakutanga, asi chikumbiro ichi chazvino handigoni kuchizadzisa.’” Vakasimuka vakaenda nemhinduro kwavakanga vabva, kuna Bheni-Hadhadhi.
So Ahab answered the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you demanded of your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers departed and relayed the message to Ben-hadad.
10 Saka Bheni-Hadhadhi akatumira rimwe shoko kuna Ahabhu achiti, “Vamwari ngavaitewo kwandiri, vanyanyise kudaro, kana guruva ringakwana kupa mumwe nomumwe wamauto angu kuti azadze chanza chake rikasara muSamaria.”
Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
11 Mambo weIsraeri akapindura akati, “Muudzei kuti, ‘Uyo anoshonga nhumbi dzokurwa ngaarege kuzvirumbidza souyo anodzibvisa.’”
And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”
12 Bheni-Hadhadhi akanzwa shoko iri iye namadzimambo pavakanga vachinwa vari mumisasa, akabva arayira mauto ake akati, “Gadzirirai kundorwisa.” Saka vakagadzirira kundorwisa guta.
Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city.
13 Panguva iyoyo mumwe muprofita akauya kuna Ahabhu mambo weIsraeri, akati, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Uri kuona hondo huru huru iyi here? Ndichaiisa muruoko rwako nhasi, ipapo uchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha.’”
Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
14 Ahabhu akabvunza akati, “Asi ndiani achaita izvi?” Muprofita akapindura akati, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Majaya amachinda omumatunhu ndiwo achazviita.’” Akabvunza akati, “Zvino ndiani achatanga hondo yacho?” Muprofita akapindura akati, “Ndiwe uchaitanga.”
“By whom?” Ahab asked. And the prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young officers of the district governors.’” “Who will start the battle?” asked Ahab. “You will,” answered the prophet.
15 Saka Ahabhu akaunganidza majaya amachinda omumatunhu, varume vaikwana mazana maviri namakumi matatu navaviri. Mushure akaunganidza vamwe vaIsraeri, pamwe chete zviuru zvinomwe.
So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.
16 Vakasimuka masikati, Bheni-Hadhadhi namadzimambo makumi matatu navaviri vaiva kudivi rake panguva yavakanga vari mumisasa yavo vachidhakwa.
They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
17 Majaya amachinda omumatunhu ndiwo akatanga kuenda. Zvino Bheni-Hadhadhi akanga atuma vasori uye vakamuudza kuti, “Kune varume vari kubva kuSamaria.”
And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”
18 Akati, “Kana vauya kuzotsvaga rugare, vabatei vari vapenyu; kana vauya kuzorwa, vabatei vari vapenyu.”
“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
19 Majaya amachinda omumatunhu akafamba achibuda muguta varwi vari mumashure mavo
Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them,
20 uye mumwe nomumwe wavo akauraya waakarwisana naye. VaAramu vakatiza, vaIsraeri vachivadzingirira. Asi Bheni-Hadhadhi mambo weAramu akatiza akatasva bhiza, navamwe vavarwi vake vaiva namabhiza.
and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.
21 Mambo weIsraeri akabuda akakunda mabhiza nengoro, akauraya vaAramu vakawanda kwazvo.
Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a great slaughter on the Arameans.
22 Mushure maizvozvo, muprofita akauya kuna mambo weIsraeri akati, “Simbisa chinzvimbo chako ugoona zvinofanira kuitwa, nokuti muchirimo chiri kutevera mambo weAramu achakurwisa zvakare.”
Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the spring the king of Aram will come up against you.”
23 Panguva imwe cheteyo, varanda vamambo weAramu vakati kwaari, “Vamwari vavo ndavamwari vamakomo. Ndicho chikonzero vakatikurira. Asi tikarwa navo mumapani, zvirokwazvo tichavakurira.
Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail.
24 Itai izvi: Bvisai madzimambo ose panzvimbo dzavo dzokutonga mugovatsiva navamwe vabati.
So do this: Dismiss all the kings from their positions and replace them with other officers.
25 Munofanirawo kuzviunganidzira hondo yakafanana neyamakarasikirwa nayo, bhiza nebhiza nengoro nengoro, kuitira kuti tikwanise kurwa navaIsraeri mumapani. Ipapo zvirokwazvo tichavakurira.” Akabvumirana navo akaita saizvozvo.
And you must raise an army like the one you have lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight the Israelites on the plain, where we will surely prevail.” And the king approved their plan and acted accordingly.
26 Muchirimo chakatevera Bheni-Hadhadhi akaunganidza vaAramu akakwidza kuAfeki kundorwa neIsraeri.
In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 VaIsraeri vakati vaunganidzwawo uye vapiwa zvose zvinodiwa pakurwa hondo, vakafamba vachienda kundosangana navo. VaIsraeri vakadzika musasa wavo vakatarisana navo, vachinge mapoka maduku maviri embudzi, ukuwo vaAramu vakazadza nyika.
The Israelites also mobilized, gathered supplies, and marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.
28 Munhu waMwari akauya akaudza mambo weIsraeri kuti, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Nokuda kwokuti vaAramu vanofunga kuti Jehovha ndimwari wamakomo, uye kuti haasi mwari wemipata, ndichaisa hondo huru huru iyi mumaoko ako, uye uchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha.’”
Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
29 Kwamazuva manomwe vakagara pamisasa yavo vakatarisana, uye nezuva rechinomwe hondo yakatanga. VaIsraeri vakauraya zana rezviuru zvamauto etsoka avaAramu musi mumwe chete.
For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day.
30 Vakasara vakatizira kuguta reAfeki, uko kwakandowira rusvingo pamusoro pezviuru makumi maviri nezvinomwe zvavo. Uye Bheni-Hadhadhi akatizira kuguta akandohwanda muimba yomukati.
The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
31 Varanda vake vakati kwaari, “Tarirai, takanzwa kuti madzimambo eimba yaIsraeri ane tsitsi. Ngatiendei kuna mambo weIsraeri takasungirira masaga muzviuno zvedu, uye takasunga misoro yedu netambo. Zvichida angakuregai muri mupenyu.”
Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32 Vakasungirira masaga muzviuno zvavo vakasunga misoro yavo netambo, vakabva vaenda kuna mambo weIsraeri vakasvikoti, “Muranda wenyu Bheni-Hadhadhi ati, ‘Ndapota, dai mangondirega ndararama.’” Mambo akapindura akati, “Achiri mupenyu nazvino? Ihama yangu.”
So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Varume ava vakazviona sechiratidzo chakanaka ndokukurumidza kutevedzera zvaakanga areva. Vakati, “Hongu, hama yenyu Bheni-Hadhadhi!” Mambo akati, “Endai munomutora.” Bheni-Hadhadhi akati achibuda, Ahabhu akamukwidza mungoro yake.
Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34 Bheni-Hadhadhi akati kwaari, “Ndichadzosera maguta akatorwa nababa vangu kuna baba vako. Unogonawo kuisa misika yako muDhamasiko, sezvakaitwa nababa vangu muSamaria.” Ahabhu akati, “Nokuda kwechibvumirano ichi, ndichakusunungura.” Saka akaita chibvumirano naye, akamurega achienda.
Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.
35 Mumwe wavanakomana vavaprofita arayirwa naJehovha, akati kushamwari yake, “Ndirove!” asi murume uyu akaramba.
Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
36 Naizvozvo muprofita akati, “Zvausina kuteerera Jehovha, uchingobva pano pandiri, uchaurayiwa neshumba.” Zvino murume uyu achangobva paakanga ari, shumba yakamuwana ikamuuraya.
Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.
37 Muprofita akawana mumwe murume akati, “Ndapota, ndirove.” Naizvozvo murume uyu akamurova, akamukuvadza.
Then the prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please!” So the man struck him and wounded him,
38 Ipapo muprofita akaenda akandomirira mambo pamugwagwa. Akazviita somumwe munhu akakwevera pasi mucheka wake womusoro kuti uvharidzire maziso ake.
and the prophet went and waited on the road for the king, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39 Mambo paakanga ava kupfuura nepo muprofita akadanidzira kwaari akati, “Muranda wenyu akaenda pakatikati pehondo payakanga ichirwiwa, mumwe munhu akauya kwandiri nomusungwa akati, ‘Chengeta murume uyu. Kana akashayikwa upenyu hwako huchatsiva hwake, kana kuti ucharipa netarenda resirivha.’
As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.’
40 Muranda wenyu paakanga ari mubishi rokuita basa pano nekoko, murume uya akanyangarika.” Mambo weIsraeri akati, “Iwoyo ndiwo mutongo wako. Ndiwe wautaura woga.”
But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”
41 Ipapo muprofita akakurumidza kubvisa mucheka pamaziso ake, mambo weIsraeri akabva amuziva kuti aiva mumwe wavaprofita.
Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42 Akati kuna mambo, “Zvanzi naJehovha: ‘Wakasunungura munhu wandakanga ndati anofanira kufa. Naizvozvo upenyu hwako huchatsiva hwake, vanhu vako vachatsiva vanhu vake.’”
And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”
43 Mambo weIsraeri akaenda kumuzinda wake muSamaria aora mwoyo uye ashatirwa.
Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.
