1 Wafalme 20
1 Wakati huu, Ben-Hadadi mfalme wa Aramu akakusanya jeshi lake lote. Akifuatana na wafalme thelathini na wawili wakiwa na farasi na magari ya vita, akakwea kuuzingira kwa jeshi Samaria na kuishambulia.
And Ben-hadad the king of Syria collected all his army: and [there were] thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
2 Akawatuma wajumbe katika mji kwa Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli, kusema, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Ben-Hadadi:
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said to him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,
3 ‘Fedha yako na dhahabu ni yangu, nao wake zako walio wazuri sana na watoto ni wangu.’”
Thy silver and thy gold [is] mine; thy wives also and thy children, [even] the most comely, [are] mine.
4 Mfalme wa Israeli akajibu, “Iwe kama usemavyo, bwana wangu mfalme. Mimi na vyote nilivyo navyo ni mali yako.”
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I [am] thine, and all that I have.
5 Wale wajumbe wakaja tena na kusema, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Ben-Hadadi: ‘Nimetuma kutaka fedha yako na dhahabu, wake zako na watoto wako.
And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, Although I have sent to thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver to me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
6 Lakini kesho wakati kama huu, nitawatuma maafisa wangu kukagua jumba lako la kifalme na nyumba za maafisa wako. Watatwaa kitu unachokithamini nao watakichukua.’”
Yet I will send my servants to thee to-morrow about this time, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, [that] whatever is pleasant in thy eyes, they shall take [it] in their hand, and carry [it] away.
7 Mfalme wa Israeli akawaita wazee wote wa nchi na akawaambia, “Tazama jinsi mtu huyu anavyochokoza! Wakati alipotuma apelekewe wake zangu na watoto wangu, fedha zangu na dhahabu yangu, sikumkatalia.”
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this [man] seeketh mischief: for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I denied him not.
8 Wazee na watu wote wakajibu, “Usimsikilize, wala usiyakubali matakwa yake.”
And all the elders and all the people said to him, Hearken not [to him], nor consent.
9 Kwa hiyo akawajibu wajumbe wa Ben-Hadadi, “Mwambieni bwana wangu mfalme, ‘Mtumishi wako atafanya yote uliyoyadai mwanzoni, lakini dai hili la sasa siwezi kulitekeleza.’” Wakaondoka na kupeleka jibu kwa Ben-Hadadi.
Wherefore he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first, I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
10 Kisha Ben-Hadadi akatuma ujumbe mwingine kwa Ahabu, kusema “Miungu iniletee maafa, tena makubwa zaidi, ikiwa vumbi la Samaria litatosheleza konzi moja ya kila mtu ya wale wafuatanao nami.”
And Ben-hadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
11 Mfalme wa Israeli akajibu, “Mwambieni, ‘Yule anayevaa mavazi ya vita asije akajisifu kama yule anayevua.’”
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell [him], Let not him that girdeth on [his harness] boast himself as he that putteth it off.
12 Ben-Hadadi alisikia ujumbe huu wakati ambapo yeye na wafalme walikuwa wanakunywa katika mahema yao, na akawaamuru watu wake, “Jiandaeni kushambulia.” Kwa hiyo wakajiandaa kuushambulia mji.
And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message as he [was] drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. And they set [themselves in array] against the city.
13 Wakati ule ule nabii akamjia Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli na kutangaza, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: ‘Je, unaona jeshi hili kubwa? Nitalitia mkononi mwako leo, nawe ndipo utajua kwamba mimi ndimi Bwana.’”
And behold, there came a prophet to Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.
14 Ahabu akauliza, “Ni nani atakayefanya hili?” Nabii akamjibu, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: ‘Maafisa vijana majemadari wa majimbo watafanya hili.’” Akauliza, “Ni nani atakayeanzisha vita?” Nabii akamjibu, “Ni wewe.”
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, [Even] by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15 Kwa hiyo Ahabu akawaita maafisa vijana majemadari wa majimbo, wanaume 232. Kisha akawakusanya Waisraeli wote waliobaki, jumla yao 7,000.
Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, [even] all the children of Israel, [being] seven thousand.
16 Wakaondoka wakati wa adhuhuri, Ben-Hadadi na wale wafalme thelathini na wawili walioungana naye walipokuwa katika mahema yao wakilewa.
And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad [was] drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17 Maafisa vijana majemadari wa majimbo waliondoka kwanza. Wakati huu Ben-Hadadi alikuwa amewatuma wapelelezi, ambao walileta taarifa kusema kwamba, “Askari wanasonga mbele kutoka Samaria.”
And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
18 Akasema, “Ikiwa wamekuja kwa amani, wakamate wakiwa hai; ikiwa wamekuja kwa vita, wakamate wakiwa hai.”
And he said, Whether they have come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they have come out for war, take them alive.
19 Wale maafisa vijana majemadari wa majimbo wakatoka nje ya mji jeshi likiwa nyuma yao,
So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
20 kila mmoja akamuua adui yake. Hii ilisababisha Waaramu kukimbia, huku Waisraeli wakiwafuatia. Lakini Ben-Hadadi mfalme wa Aramu akatoroka akiwa amepanda farasi wake pamoja na baadhi ya wapanda farasi wake.
And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen.
21 Mfalme wa Israeli akasonga mbele na kushinda farasi na magari ya vita na kusababisha hasara kubwa kwa Waaramu.
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22 Baadaye nabii akaja kwa mfalme wa Israeli na kusema, “Jiandae vizuri ufikirie la kufanya, kwa sababu mwakani mfalme wa Aramu atakuja kukushambulia tena.”
And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23 Wakati ule ule, maafisa wa mfalme wa Aramu wakamshauri, wakamwambia, “Miungu yao ni miungu ya vilimani. Ndiyo sababu walikuwa na nguvu sana kutuzidi. Lakini kama tukipigana nao katika nchi tambarare, hakika tutawashinda.
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their gods [are] gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24 Fanya hivi: Waondoe hao wafalme wote thelathini na wawili kutoka nafasi zao na uweke maafisa wengine mahali pao.
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
25 Ni lazima pia uandae jeshi jingine kama lile ulilopoteza, farasi kwa farasi, gari la vita kwa gari la vita, ili tuweze kupigana na Israeli katika nchi tambarare. Kisha kwa hakika tutakuwa na nguvu kuliko wao.” Akakubaliana nao naye akashughulika ipasavyo.
And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, [and] surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened to their voice, and did so.
26 Mwaka uliofuata, majira kama hayo, Ben-Hadadi akawakusanya Waaramu mpaka Afeki kupigana dhidi ya Israeli.
And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27 Baada ya Waisraeli kukusanywa na kupewa mahitaji, walikwenda kukabiliana nao. Waisraeli wakapiga kambi mkabala nao kama makundi mawili madogo ya mbuzi, wakati Waaramu walienea katika nchi yote.
And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28 Mtu wa Mungu akaja na kumwambia mfalme wa Israeli, “Hivi ndivyo Bwana asemavyo: ‘Kwa sababu Waaramu wanafikiri Bwana ni Mungu wa vilimani na sio Mungu wa mabondeni, nitatia jeshi hili kubwa mkononi mwako, nawe utajua kuwa mimi ndimi Bwana.’”
And there came a man of God, and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
29 Kwa siku saba walipiga kambi wakitazamana na siku ya saba vita vikaanza. Waisraeli wakawajeruhi askari wa miguu wa Waaramu 100,000 kwa siku moja.
And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And [so] it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.
30 Waliobaki wakatorokea katika mji wa Afeki, mahali ambapo watu 27,000 waliangukiwa na ukuta. Naye Ben-Hadadi akakimbilia mjini na kujificha kwenye chumba cha ndani.
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and [there] a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men [that were] left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
31 Maafisa wake wakamwambia, “Tazama, tumesikia kwamba wafalme wa nyumba ya Israeli wana huruma. Twendeni kwa mfalme wa Israeli tukiwa tumevaa nguo za gunia viunoni mwetu na kamba kuzunguka vichwa vyetu. Huenda akakuacha hai.”
And his servants said to him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel [are] merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: it may be he will save thy life.
32 Wakiwa wamevaa nguo za gunia viunoni mwao na kamba kuzunguka vichwa vyao, walikwenda kwa mfalme wa Israeli na kusema, “Mtumishi wako Ben-Hadadi anasema: ‘Tafadhali, naomba uniache hai.’” Mfalme akajibu, “Je, bado yuko hai? Yeye ni ndugu yangu.”
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and [put] ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, [Is] he yet alive? he [is] my brother.
33 Wale watu wakalipokea jambo lile kama dalili nzuri nao wakawa wepesi kulichukua neno lake wakisema, “Ndiyo, yeye ni ndugu yako Ben-Hadadi!” Mfalme akawaambia, “Nendeni mkamlete.” Ikawa Ben-Hadadi alipokuja, Ahabu akampandisha katika gari lake la vita. Ben-Hadadi akajitolea, akisema,
Now the men diligently observed whether [any thing would come] from him, and did hastily catch [it]: and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
34 “Nitairudisha ile miji ambayo baba yangu aliiteka kutoka kwa baba yako. Unaweza kuweka maeneo yako ya soko katika Dameski, kama baba yangu alivyofanya huko Samaria.” Ahabu akasema, “Katika misingi ya mkataba, nitakuachilia huru.” Kwa hiyo akaweka mkataba naye, akamruhusu aende zake.
And [Ben-hadad] said to him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then [said Ahab], I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
35 Kwa neno la Bwana, mmoja wa wana wa manabii akamwambia mwenzake, “Nipige kwa silaha yako,” lakini yule mtu akakataa.
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
36 Kwa hiyo yule nabii akasema, “Kwa sababu hukumtii Bwana, mara tu tutakapoachana utauawa na simba.” Na baada ya yule mtu kuondoka, simba akatokea na kumuua.
Then said he to him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou hast departed from me, a lion will slay thee. And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
37 Nabii akamkuta mtu mwingine na kumwambia, “Nipige tafadhali.” Kisha yule mtu akampiga na kumjeruhi.
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded [him].
38 Ndipo nabii akaenda na kusimama barabarani akimsubiri mfalme. Akajibadilisha kwa kushusha kitambaa cha kichwani mwake hadi kwenye macho.
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
39 Mfalme alipopita pale, yule nabii akamwita, “Mtumishi wako alikwenda vitani wakati vita vilipopamba moto, mtu mmoja akanijia na mateka akasema, ‘Mlinde mtu huyu. Kama akitoroka itakuwa uhai wako kwa uhai wake, ama vipande 3,000 vya fedha.’
And as the king passed by, he cried to the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he shall be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
40 Wakati mtumishi wako alipokuwa na shughuli nyingi hapa na pale, yule mtu akatoweka.” Mfalme wa Israeli akasema, “Hiyo ndiyo hukumu yako. Wewe umeitaja mwenyewe.”
And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him, So [shall] thy judgment [be]; thyself hast decided [it].
41 Kisha yule nabii akajifunua macho yake haraka, na mfalme wa Israeli akamtambua kama mmoja wa manabii.
And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he [was] of the prophets.
42 Akamwambia mfalme, “Hivi ndivyo Bwana asemavyo: ‘Umemwacha huru mtu niliyekusudia afe. Kwa hiyo ni uhai wako kwa uhai wake, watu wako kwa watu wake.’”
And he said to him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of [thy] hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
43 Kwa uchungu na hasira, mfalme wa Israeli akaenda kwenye jumba lake la kifalme huko Samaria.
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
