1 Wafalme 18
1 Baada ya muda mrefu, katika mwaka wa tatu, neno la Bwana likamjia Eliya kusema, “Nenda ukajionyeshe kwa Ahabu na mimi nitanyesha mvua juu ya nchi.”
Ngemva kwesikhathi eside, ngomnyaka wesithathu, ilizwi likaThixo lezwakala ku-Elija lisithi: “Hamba uyezibika ku-Ahabi, ngizanisa izulu elizweni.”
2 Kwa hiyo Eliya akaenda kujionyesha kwa Ahabu. Wakati huu njaa ilikuwa kali sana katika Samaria,
Lakanye u-Elija wahamba wayazibika ku-Ahabi. Ngalesosikhathi indlala yayinkulu kakhulu eSamariya,
3 naye Ahabu alikuwa amemwita Obadia ambaye alikuwa msimamizi wa jumba lake la kifalme. (Obadia alimcha Bwana sana.
njalo u-Ahabi wayebize u-Obhadaya, owayengumlindi wesigodlo sakhe. (U-Obhadaya wayekholwa kakhulu kuThixo.
4 Wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiwaua manabii wa Bwana, Obadia alikuwa amewachukua manabii mia moja na kuwaficha katika mapango mawili, hamsini kwenye kila moja na akawa akiwapa chakula na maji.)
Lapho uJezebheli wayebulala abaphrofethi bakaThixo, u-Obhadaya wayethethe abalikhulu wayabafihla ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini lunye, wabathumela ukudla lamanzi.)
5 Ahabu alikuwa amemwambia Obadia, “Nenda katika nchi yote kwenye vijito vyote na mabonde. Huenda tunaweza kupata majani ya kuwalisha farasi na nyumbu wapate kuishi ili tusilazimike kuwaua hata mmoja wa wanyama wetu.”
U-Ahabi wayethe ku-Obhadaya, “Ngena elizweni lonke emaxhaphozini lasezihotsheni. Mhlawumbe singathola khona utshani bokupha amabhiza lezimbongolo zethu ukuze singabulali leyodwa yezinyamazana zethu.”
6 Kwa hiyo wakagawanya nchi waliyokusudia kutafuta majani, Ahabu akaenda upande mmoja na Obadia upande mwingine.
Ngakho behlukaniselana isigaba somhlaba ababezawuhlola. U-Ahabi wakhangela le kwathi lo-Obhadaya laye waya le.
7 Wakati Obadia alipokuwa akitembea njiani, Eliya akakutana naye. Obadia akamtambua, akamsujudia hadi nchi na kusema, “Je, hivi kweli ni wewe, bwana wangu Eliya?”
Kwathi u-Obhadaya ezihambela nje, wahlangabezwa ngu-Elija. U-Obhadaya wamnanzelela, wakhothamela phansi emhlabathini, wasesithi, “Kambe nguwe sibili, nkosi yami Elija?”
8 Eliya akamjibu, “Ndiyo, nenda ukamwambie bwana wako Ahabu, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’”
U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Yebo. Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’”
9 Obadia akamuuliza, “Ni kosa gani nimefanya, hata ukaamua kumkabidhi mtumishi wako mkononi mwa Ahabu ili aniue?
U-Obhadaya wabuza wathi, “Ngoneni kanti okwenza unikele inceku yakho ezandleni zika-Ahabi ukuba ibulawe?
10 Hakika kama Bwana Mungu wako aishivyo, hakuna taifa hata moja au ufalme ambapo bwana wangu hajamtuma mtu kukutafuta. Kila wakati taifa au ufalme walipodai kwamba haupo huko, aliwafanya waape kwamba hawakuweza kukupata.
Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho ephila, akukho sizwe loba umbuso lapho inkosi yami ingazange ithume izithunywa ukuba zikudinge khona. Kuthe laloba isizwe loba umbuso ulandula ukuba awukho khonale, ubenze bafunga ukuthi abangeke bakuthole.
11 Lakini sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kusema, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’
Kodwa khathesi usungithuma ukuthi ngiye enkosini ngiyeyitshela ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’
12 Sijui ni wapi Roho wa Bwana ataamua kukupeleka wakati nitakapokuacha. Kama nikienda kumwambia Ahabu na asikupate, ataniua. Hata hivyo mimi mtumishi wako nimemwabudu Bwana tangu ujana wangu.
Angikwazi ukuthi uMoya kaThixo uzakusa ngaphi mhla ngakutshiyayo. Nxa ngingayatshela u-Ahabi akudinge akuswele, uzangibulala. Kunjalo-nje mina nceku yakho ngimkhonzile uThixo kusukela ebutsheni bami.
13 Je, hukusikia, bwana wangu, nilifanya nini wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiua manabii wa Bwana? Niliwaficha manabii wa Bwana mia moja katika mapango mawili, hamsini katika kila moja, nami nikawapatia chakula na maji.
Awukezwa yini, nkosi yami, engakwenzayo uJezebheli ebulala abaphrofethi bakaThixo na? Ngafihla abalikhulu ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu kolulodwa, ngabapha ukudla lamanzi.
14 Nawe sasa unaniambia niende kwa bwana wangu na kumwambia, ‘Eliya yuko hapa.’ Yeye ataniua!”
Njalo khathesi usungithuma ukuba ngiye enkosini yami ngiyeyitshela ngithi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’ Kusobala ukuthi izangibulala!”
15 Eliya akasema, “Kama Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote aishivyo, yeye ninayemtumikia, hakika nitajionyesha kwa Ahabu leo.”
U-Elija wathi, “Njengoba uThixo uSomandla engimkhonzayo ekhona, ngizazinikela ngempela ku-Ahabi lamuhla.”
16 Basi Obadia akaenda kukutana na Ahabu na kumwambia, naye Ahabu akaenda kukutana na Eliya.
Ngakho u-Obhadaya wahlangabeza u-Ahabi wayamtshela, u-Ahabi wayahlangabeza u-Elija.
17 Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, akamwambia, “Je, ni wewe, mtaabishaji wa Israeli?”
Uthe ebona u-Elija, wathi kuye, “Nguwe wena, wena oluhlupho ko-Israyeli?”
18 Eliya akamjibu, “Mimi sijaitaabisha Israeli. Lakini wewe na jamaa ya baba yako ndio mnaofanya hivyo. Mmeziacha amri za Bwana na mkafuata Mabaali.
U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Angibanganga hlupho ko-Israyeli. Kodwa nguwe labendlu kayihlo abalubangileyo. Selitshiye imilayo kaThixo lalandela oBhali.
19 Sasa waite watu kutoka Israeli yote tukutane nao juu ya Mlima Karmeli. Nawe uwalete hao manabii wa Baali mia nne na hamsini na hao manabii mia nne wa Ashera, walao chakula mezani mwa Yezebeli.”
Biza abantu kulolonke elako-Israyeli ngiyehlangana labo eNtabeni iKhameli. Njalo letha bonke abaphrofethi bakaBhali abangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu labaka-Ashera abangamakhulu amane, abadlela etafuleni kaJezebheli.”
20 Ndipo Ahabu akatuma ujumbe katika Israeli yote na kuwakusanya manabii hao juu ya mlima Karmeli.
U-Ahabi wakhupha ilizwi kulolonke elako-Israyeli wahlanganisa abaphrofethi labo eNtabeni iKhameli.
21 Eliya akasimama mbele ya watu na kusema, “Mtasitasita katika mawazo mawili hadi lini? Ikiwa Bwana ndiye Mungu, mfuateni yeye; lakini ikiwa Baali ni Mungu, basi mfuateni yeye.” Lakini watu hawakusema kitu.
U-Elija wema phambi kwabantu wathi, “Lizathandabuza kuze kube nini ngeminakano emibili le na? Nxa uThixo enguNkulunkulu mlandeleni kodwa nxa uBhali enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni.” Kodwa abantu abazange batsho lutho.
22 Kisha Eliya akawaambia, “Ni mimi peke yangu nabii wa Bwana aliyebaki, lakini Baali ana manabii mia nne na hamsini.
Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi kubo, “Yimi ngedwa umphrofethi kaThixo oseleyo kodwa uBhali ulabangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu.
23 Leteni mafahali wawili. Wao na wajichagulie mmoja, wamkate vipande vipande na waweke juu ya kuni lakini wasiiwashie moto. Nitamwandaa huyo fahali mwingine na kumweka juu ya kuni lakini sitawasha moto.
Sidingeleni inkunzi ezimbili. Libanike bazikhethele abayifunayo bayihlabe bayiqume amaqatha bayifake phezu kwenkuni kodwa bangabasi umlilo. Lami ngizahlinza eyinye yazo ngiyiqobaqobe ngiyifake phezu kwenkuni kodwa angiyikubasa umlilo.
24 Kisha mliitie jina la mungu wenu, nami nitaliitia jina la Bwana Mungu yule ambaye atajibu kwa moto, huyo ndiye Mungu.” Kisha watu wote wakasema, “Hilo unalosema ni jema.”
Libe selibiza ibizo likankulunkulu wenu mina ngizacela ebizweni likaThixo. Unkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo, nguye-ke uNkulunkulu.” Ngakho abantu bonke bathi, “Lokho okutshoyo kulungile.”
25 Eliya akawaambia manabii wa Baali, “Chagueni mmoja kati ya hawa mafahali na mwe wa kwanza kumwandaa, kwa kuwa ninyi mko wengi sana. Liitieni jina la mungu wenu, lakini msiwashe moto.”
U-Elija wathi kubaphrofethi bakaBhali, “Khethani inkunzi eyodwa njalo liqale lina ukuyilungiselela, njengoba lina libanengi kangaka. Memezani unkulunkulu wenu ngegama lakhe, kodwa lingalumathisi umlilo.”
26 Kwa hiyo wakamchukua yule fahali waliyepewa, nao wakamwandaa. Kisha wakaliitia jina la Baali kutoka asubuhi hadi adhuhuri, wakapiga kelele, “Ee Baali, utujibu!” Lakini hapakuwa na jibu; hakuna aliyejibu. Nao wakacheza kuizunguka madhabahu waliyoijenga.
Bayithatha inkunzi ababeyiphiwe bayilungisa. Basebebiza ibizo likaBhali kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwaba semini enkulu. Baklabalala besithi, “We Bhali, sabela bo!” Kodwa akubanga lampendulo; kakho owaphendulayo. Bagida bezingelezela i-alithari ababelakhile.
27 Wakati wa adhuhuri, Eliya akaanza kuwadhihaki, akisema, “Pigeni kelele zaidi! Hakika yeye ni mungu! Labda amezama katika mawazo mazito, au ana shughuli nyingi, au amesafiri. Labda amelala usingizi mzito, naye ni lazima aamshwe.”
Kwathi emini enkulu u-Elija waqalisa ukubahoza esithi, “Klabalalani ngamandla! Ngempela angithi ungunkulunkulu! Mhlawumbe ujule eminakanweni, engxenye ubambekile, loba engxenye uphakathi kohambo. Engxenye ulele ngakho ufuna ukuvuswa.”
28 Kwa hiyo wakapiga kelele zaidi na kama ilivyokuwa desturi yao wakajichanja wenyewe kwa visu na vyembe, mpaka damu ikachuruzika.
Ngakho baklabalala ngamandla baziklaya ngezingqamu langezinkemba, njengoba kwakungumkhuba wabo, kwaze kwajuluka igazi.
29 Adhuhuri ikapita, nao wakaendelea na utabiri wao wa kiwazimu mpaka wakati wa dhabihu ya jioni. Lakini hapakuwa na jibu, hakuna aliyejibu, hakuna aliyeangalia.
Yedlula imini enkulu, bona baqhubeka ngokuphithizela bephrofetha kwaze kwaba yisikhathi somhlatshelo wakusihlwa. Kodwa akubanga lalutho, akubanga lampendulo, kakho owazihlupha ngakho.
30 Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, “Sogeeni karibu nami.” Watu wote wakamkaribia, naye akakarabati madhabahu ya Bwana, ambayo ilikuwa imevunjwa.
Ngakho u-Elija wathi ebantwini, “Wozani ngapha engikhona.” Basondela kuye, yena walungilungisa i-alithari likaThixo elaselibhidlikile.
31 Eliya akachukua mawe kumi na mawili, moja kwa ajili ya kila kabila la wana wa Yakobo, ambaye neno la Bwana lilimjia, likisema, “Jina lako litakuwa Israeli.”
U-Elija wathatha amatshe alitshumi lambili, yilelo limele isizwana sosendo lukaJakhobe, yena owayezwe ilizwi likaThixo lisithi kuye, “Uzabizwa ngokuthi ungu-Israyeli.”
32 Kwa mawe hayo, akajenga madhabahu katika jina la Bwana, na akachimba handaki kuizunguka, ukubwa wa kutosha vipimo viwili vya mbegu.
Wakha i-alithari ngebizo likaThixo ngalawo matshe, wagebha umgelo ozingelezela i-alithari okungangena kuwo igokoko lamabele.
33 Akapanga kuni, akamkata yule fahali vipande vipande na kuvipanga juu ya kuni. Kisha akawaambia, “Jazeni mapipa manne maji na kuyamwaga juu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa na juu ya kuni.”
Walungisa inkuni, wasika inyama yenkunzi wenza amaqatha, waseyibeka phezu kwenkuni. Wasesithi kubo, “Gcwalisani imigqomo emine emikhulu ngamanzi libe seliwathela phezu komhlatshelo laphezu kwenkuni.”
34 Akawaambia, “Fanyeni hivyo tena.” Nao wakafanya hivyo tena. Akaagiza, “Fanyeni kwa mara ya tatu.” Nao wakafanya hivyo kwa mara ya tatu.
Wathi, “Kwenzeni futhi,” bakwenza lokho njalo. Wathi, “Kwenzeni okwesithathu,” lakanye bakwenza bephinda okwesithathu.
35 Maji yakatiririka kuizunguka madhabahu na hata kujaza lile handaki.
Amanzi agcwala aze agcwala lasemgelweni owawugombolozele i-alithari.
36 Wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni, nabii Eliya akasogea mbele na kuomba, akisema: “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Abrahamu, na Isaki na Israeli, ijulikane leo kwamba wewe ndiye Mungu katika Israeli na ya kwamba mimi ni mtumishi wako na nimefanya mambo haya yote kwa neno lako.
Kuthe ngesikhathi somhlatshelo, u-Elija umphrofethi wasondela wakhuleka esithi, “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Abhrahama, lo-Isaka lo-Israyeli, veza obala lamuhla ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli kanye lokuthi mina ngiyinceku yakho, lokuthi zonke lezizinto ngizenza ngokulaya kwakho.
37 Unijibu mimi, Ee Bwana, nijibu mimi, ili watu hawa wajue kwamba wewe, Ee Bwana, ndiwe Mungu, na kwamba unaigeuza mioyo yao ikurudie tena.”
Akungiphendule Oh Thixo, akungiphendule ukuze lababantu bakwazi ukuthi wena Thixo, unguNkulunkulu, lokuthi njalo uguqula inhliziyo zabo.”
38 Kisha moto wa Bwana ukashuka na kuiteketeza ile dhabihu, zile kuni, yale mawe, ule udongo, na pia kuramba yale maji yaliyokuwa ndani ya handaki.
Khonokho umlilo kaThixo wehla watshisa umhlatshelo, inkuni, amatshe lomhlabathi, kwaze kwatsha lamanzi ayesemgelweni.
39 Wakati watu wote walipoona hili, wakaanguka kifudifudi na kulia, “Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu! Bwana: yeye ndiye Mungu!”
Abantu bonke bekubona lokhu, bazilahla phansi bakhala bathi, “UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu! UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu!”
40 Kisha Eliya akawaamuru, “Wakamateni hao manabii wa Baali. Msimwache hata mmoja atoroke!” Wakawakamata, naye Eliya akawaleta mpaka Bonde la Kishoni na kuwachinja huko.
U-Elija wasebalaya wathi, “Bambani abaphrofethi bakaBhali. Akungaphunyuki lamunye!” Bababamba, u-Elija wathi kabasiwe eSigodini saseKhishoni, babulawelwa khona.
41 Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, “Nenda, ukale na kunywa, kwa kuwa kuna sauti ya mvua kubwa.”
Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi ku-Ahabi, “Hamba, udle unathe, ngoba kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.”
42 Hivyo Ahabu akaondoka ili kula na kunywa. Lakini Eliya akapanda kileleni mwa Karmeli, akasujudu na akaweka kichwa chake katikati ya magoti yake.
Ngalokho u-Ahabi wasuka wayakudla njalo wanatha, kodwa u-Elija wakhwela phezu kwentaba yaseKhameli, wagobisa ikhanda lakhe walifaka phakathi kwamadolo akhe.
43 Akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Nenda ukatazame kuelekea bahari.” Akaenda na kutazama. Akasema, “Hakuna kitu chochote huko.” Mara saba Eliya akasema, “Nenda tena.”
Wathuma isisebenzi sakhe wathi: “Hamba uyephosa amehlo akho olwandle.” Lakanye isisebenzi sahamba sayakhangela. Sathi, “Akulalutho laphaya.” U-Elija watsho kwaze kwaba kasikhombisa esithi, “Buyela.”
44 Mara ya saba, mtumishi akaleta taarifa, “Wingu dogo kama mkono wa mwanadamu linainuka kutoka baharini.” Hivyo Eliya akasema, “Nenda ukamwambie Ahabu, ‘Tandika gari lako na ushuke kabla mvua haijakuzuia.’”
Ngesikhathi sesikhombisa isisebenzi sabika sathi, “Iyezana elincinyane ngangesandla somuntu likhanya liqubuka lisuka olwandle.” Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi, “Hamba uyetshela u-Ahabi uthi, ‘Bopha inqola yakho yempi usuke lapho ungakavalelwa lizulu.’”
45 Wakati ule ule anga likawa jeusi kwa mawingu, upepo ukainuka na mvua kubwa ikanyesha, naye Ahabu akaenda zake Yezreeli.
Ngalesosikhathi, kwaba mnyama emkhathini ngamayezi, kwaqubuka umoya, kwana izulu elikhulu njalo u-Ahabi wasuka ngenqola waya eJezerili.
46 Nguvu za Bwana zikamjia Eliya, naye akajikaza viuno, akakimbia mbele ya Ahabu njia yote hadi maingilio ya Yezreeli.
Amandla kaThixo ehlela ku-Elija, njalo uthe ukuba akhwicele isembatho sakhe ebhantini wagijima phambi kuka-Ahabi indlela yonke esiya eJezerili.
