< 2 Samweli 20 >
1 Basi, kulikuwa na mtu mbaya sana aliyeitwa Sheba mwana wa Bikri, Mbenyamini, aliyekuwako huko. Akapiga tarumbeta na kupaza sauti, “Hatuna fungu katika Daudi, wala hatuna sehemu katika mwana wa Yese! Kila mtu aende hemani mwake, enyi Israeli!”
There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the shofar, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”
2 Kwa hiyo watu wote wa Israeli wakamwacha Daudi na kumfuata Sheba mwana Bikri. Lakini watu wa Yuda wakawa karibu na mfalme wao katika safari yote kutoka Yordani mpaka Yerusalemu.
So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3 Daudi aliporudi katika jumba lake la kifalme huko Yerusalemu, aliwachukua wale masuria kumi aliokuwa amewaacha ili kuangalia jumba la kifalme na kuwaweka ndani ya nyumba chini ya ulinzi. Akawapa mahitaji yao lakini hakukutana nao kimwili. Waliwekwa kifungoni wakaishi kama wajane mpaka kifo chao.
David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4 Ndipo mfalme akamwambia Amasa, “Waite watu wa Yuda waje kwangu katika muda wa siku tatu, nawe mwenyewe uwepo hapa.”
Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”
5 Lakini Amasa alipokwenda kuwaita Yuda, alichukua muda mrefu zaidi ya ule mfalme aliokuwa amemwekea.
So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.
6 Daudi akamwambia Abishai, “Sasa Sheba mwana wa Bikri atatuletea madhara zaidi kuliko alivyofanya Absalomu. Wachukue watu wa bwana wako na umfuatie, la sivyo atapata mji wenye ngome na kututoroka.”
David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”
7 Hivyo watu wa Yoabu, na Wakerethi na Wapelethi, pamoja na wapiganaji mashujaa wote wakaondoka chini ya uongozi wa Abishai. Wakatoka Yerusalemu ili kumfuata Sheba mwana wa Bikri.
Joab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
8 Wakati walikuwa kwenye mwamba mkubwa huko Gibeoni, Amasa alikuja kuwalaki. Yoabu alikuwa amevaa mavazi yake ya kijeshi; juu yake alifunga mkanda kwenye kiuno wenye upanga ndani ya ala. Alipokuwa akienda mbele, ule upanga ukaanguka kutoka kwenye ala.
When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.
9 Yoabu akamwambia Amasa, “U hali gani, ndugu yangu?” Kisha Yoabu akamshika Amasa ndevu kwa mkono wake wa kuume ili ambusu.
Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10 Amasa hakuona upanga uliokuwa mkononi mwa Yoabu, naye Yoabu akamchoma nao tumboni, nayo matumbo yake yakamwagika chini. Pasipo kuchomwa mara ya pili, Amasa akafa. Basi Yoabu na Abishai nduguye wakamfuatia Sheba mwana wa Bikri.
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
11 Mmoja wa watu wa Yoabu akasimama kando ya Amasa, akasema, “Yeyote ampendaye Yoabu na yeyote aliye upande wa Daudi, na amfuate Yoabu!”
One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favours Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”
12 Amasa alikuwa akigaagaa katika damu yake katikati ya barabara; mtu mmoja akaona kwamba vikosi vyote vilikuwa vinasimama pale. Huyo mtu alipotambua kwamba kila aliyefika pale Amasa alipokuwa alisimama, alimburuta Amasa kutoka barabarani mpaka kwenye shamba na kutupia nguo juu yake.
Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
13 Baada ya Amasa kuondolewa kutoka barabarani, watu wote walienda pamoja na Yoabu kumfuatia Sheba mwana wa Bikri.
When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 Sheba akapita katika makabila yote ya Israeli hadi Abel-Beth-Maaka na kupitia eneo lote la Waberi ambao walijikusanya pamoja na kumfuata.
He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.
15 Vikosi vyote vya Yoabu vikaja na kumhusuru Sheba mwana wa Bikri huko Abel-Beth-Maaka. Wakauzingira mji kwa kuweka vikosi vya askari, ili kukabiliana na ngome ya mji. Walipokuwa wanagongagonga ukuta ili kuubomoa na kuuangusha chini,
They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
16 mwanamke mmoja mwenye busara akaita kutoka ndani ya mji, akisema, “Sikilizeni! Sikilizeni! Mwambieni Yoabu aje hapa ili niweze kuzungumza naye.”
Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”
17 Yoabu alikwenda mbele yake, akamuuliza, “Wewe ni Yoabu?” Akamjibu, “Ndiye mimi.” Yule mwanamke akamwambia, “Sikiliza kile mtumishi wako atakachokuambia.” Akamwambia, “Ninasikiliza.”
He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”
18 Huyo mwanamke akaendelea kusema, “Zamani za kale walikuwa wakisema, ‘Wakaulize ushauri huko Abeli,’ hivyo kulimaliza lile shauri.
Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.
19 Sisi ni watu wa amani na waaminifu katika Israeli. Wewe unajaribu kuharibu mji ambao ni mama katika Israeli. Kwa nini unataka kumeza urithi wa Bwana?”
I am amongst those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
20 Yoabu akajibu, “Hilo liwe mbali nami. Hilo liwe mbali nami kumeza au kuharibu.
Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21 Hivyo sivyo ilivyo. Mtu mmoja jina lake Sheba mwana wa Bikri, kutoka nchi ya vilima vya Efraimu, ameinua mkono wake dhidi ya mfalme, dhidi ya Daudi. Nikabidhini mtu huyu mmoja, nami nitajiondoa katika mji huu.” Huyu mwanamke akamwambia Yoabu, “Kichwa chake mtatupiwa kupitia juu ya ukuta.”
The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akaenda kwa watu wote akiwa na ushauri wake wa busara, nao wakakata kichwa cha Sheba mwana wa Bikri na kumtupia Yoabu. Kwa hiyo Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, na watu wake wakatawanyika kutoka mjini, kila mmoja akirejea nyumbani kwake. Naye Yoabu akarudi kwa mfalme huko Yerusalemu.
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the shofar, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23 Yoabu alikuwa jemadari wa jeshi lote la Israeli; Benaya mwana wa Yehoyada alikuwa juu ya Wakerethi na Wapelethi;
Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
24 Adoramu alikuwa kiongozi wa wale waliofanya kazi ya kulazimishwa; Yehoshafati mwana wa Ahiludi alikuwa mweka kumbukumbu;
Adoram was over the men subject to forced labour, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
25 Sheva alikuwa mwandishi; Sadoki na Abiathari walikuwa makuhani;
Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
26 na Ira, Myairi, alikuwa kuhani wa Daudi.
and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.