2 Nyakati 11
1 Ikawa Rehoboamu alipofika Yerusalemu, akakusanya nyumba ya Yuda na ya Benyamini, wanaume wapiganaji 180,000, kufanya vita dhidi ya nyumba ya Israeli na kuurudisha tena ufalme kwa Rehoboamu mwana wa Solomoni.
Then Rehoboam went to Jerusalem, and he called together the entire house of Judah and of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand elect men of war, so that he might contend against Israel, and turn back his kingdom to himself.
2 Lakini neno hili la Bwana likamjia Shemaya mtu wa Mungu:
And the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:
3 “Mwambie Rehoboamu mwana wa Solomoni mfalme wa Yuda, na Israeli wote walioko Yuda na Benyamini,
“Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the king of Judah, and to all of Israel who are of Judah, or of Benjamin:
4 ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Msipande kupigana dhidi ya ndugu zenu. Nendeni nyumbani, kila mmoja wenu, kwa kuwa hili nimelitenda mimi.’” Kwa hiyo wakalitii neno la Bwana na wakaacha kwenda kupigana dhidi ya Yeroboamu.
Thus says the Lord: You shall not ascend and fight against your brothers. Let each one return to his own house. For it is by my will that this has happened.” And when they had heard the word of the Lord, they turned back, and they did not continue on against Jeroboam.
5 Rehoboamu akaishi Yerusalemu akajenga miji yenye ngome katika Yuda:
Then Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built fortified cities in Judah.
6 Akajenga Bethlehemu, Etamu, Tekoa,
And he built up Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 Beth-Suri, Soko, Adulamu,
and also Bethzur, and Soco, and Adullam,
8 Gathi, Maresha, Zifu,
indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 Adoraimu, Lakishi, Azeka,
then too Adoram, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 Sora, Aiyaloni na Hebroni. Hii ndiyo iliyokuwa miji iliyojengewa ngome katika Yuda na Benyamini.
as well as Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were very fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11 Akaimarisha ulinzi wake na kuweka majemadari ndani yake, pamoja na ghala za mahitaji ya vyakula, mafuta ya zeituni na divai.
And when he had enclosed them with walls, he placed in them rulers, and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and wine.
12 Akaweka ngao na mikuki katika miji na kuifanya iwe imara sana. Kwa hiyo Yuda na Benyamini zikawa zake.
Moreover, in each city he made an armory of shields and spears, and he strengthened them with the utmost diligence. And he ruled over Judah and Benjamin.
13 Makuhani na Walawi kutoka sehemu zote za Israeli wakawa upande wake.
Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,
14 Pia Walawi wakaacha maeneo yao ya malisho na mali zao, wakaja Yuda na Yerusalemu kwa sababu Yeroboamu na wanawe walikuwa wamewakataa wasiwe makuhani wa Bwana.
leaving behind their suburbs and possessions, and crossing over to Judah and to Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his followers had cast them out, so that they could not exercise the priestly office to the Lord.
15 Naye akawa amechagua makuhani wake mwenyewe kwa ajili ya mahali pa juu pa kuabudia sanamu za mbuzi na za ndama ambazo alikuwa ametengeneza.
And he appointed for himself priests of high places, and of demons, and of calves that he had made.
16 Wale waliotoka katika kila kabila la Israeli ambao walielekeza mioyo yao kumtafuta Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, wakawafuata Walawi huko Yerusalemu kumtolea Bwana dhabihu, Mungu wa baba zao.
Moreover, out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever would give their heart so that they sought the Lord God of Israel, they went to Jerusalem to immolate their victims before the Lord, the God of their fathers.
17 Wakaimarisha ufalme wa Yuda na kumuunga mkono Rehoboamu mwana wa Solomoni miaka mitatu, wakienenda katika njia za Daudi na Solomoni katika wakati huu.
And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and they confirmed Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, for three years. For they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, but only for three years.
18 Rehoboamu alimwoa Mahalati ambaye alikuwa binti Yeremothi mwana wa Daudi, mamaye alikuwa Abihaili binti Eliabu mwana wa Yese.
Then Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and also Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.
19 Mahalati alimzalia Rehoboamu wana: Yeushi, Shemaria na Zahamu.
They bore sons for him: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
20 Kisha akamwoa Maaka binti Absalomu, ambaye alimzalia: Abiya, Atai, Ziza na Shelomithi.
And also after her, he married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore for him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 Rehoboamu akampenda Maaka binti Absalomu zaidi kuliko wakeze wengine na masuria wake. Kwa jumla alikuwa na wake kumi na wanane na masuria sitini, wana ishirini na wanane na binti sitini.
But Rehoboam loved Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines. And he conceived twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22 Rehoboamu akamweka Abiya mwana wa Maaka, kuwa mkuu wa wana wa mfalme miongoni mwa ndugu zake ili amfanye mfalme.
Truly, he appointed as the head, Abijah, the son of Maacah, to be the ruler over all his brothers. For he thought to make him king,
23 Akatenda kwa busara, akiwasambaza baadhi ya wanawe katika wilaya zote za Yuda na Benyamini, pamoja na miji yote yenye ngome. Akawapa mahitaji tele na kuwaoza wake wengi.
since he was wiser and more powerful than all his sons, even in all the regions of Judah and Benjamin, and in all the fortified cities. And he provided them with very much food, and he sought many wives.
