1 Wafalme 20
1 Beni Hadadi mfalme wa Shamu akakusanya jeshi lake lote pamoja. Kulikuwa na wafalme thelathini na mbili wasaidizi pamoja naye, na magari na farasi. Akapanda, akaihusuru Samaria na kupigana nayo.
Ben Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army together. There were thirty-two lesser kings with him, and horses and chariots. He went up, besieged Samaria and fought against it.
2 Akatuma wajumbe katika mji kwa Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli, akamwambia, “Beni Hadadi anasema hivi:
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Ben Hadad says this:
3 Fedha zako na dhahabu zako ni zangu. Pia wake zako na watoto, wale wazuri, sasa ni wangu.”
'Your silver and your gold are mine. Also your wives and children, the best ones, are now mine.'”
4 Mfalme wa Israeli akajibu akasema, “Na iwe kama unavyosema, bwana wangu, mfalme. Mimi pamoja na vile nilivyo navyo ni mali yako.”
The king of Israel answered and said, “It is as you say, my master, king. I and all that I have are yours.”
5 Wale wajumbe wakaja tena wakasema, “Beni Hadadi anasema hivi, 'Nilituma neno kwako nikisema kwamba lazima ukabidhi kwangu fedha zako, dhahabu zako, wake zako na watoto wako.
The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says this, 'I sent word to you saying that you must give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.
6 Lakini kesho nitatuma watumishi wangu kwako wakati kama huu, nao wataichunguza nyumba yako na nyumba za watumishi wako. Nao watatia mikononi mwao na kukichukua kila wakipendacho machoni mwao.'”
But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and your servants' houses. They will seize with their own hands and take away whatever pleases their eyes.'”
7 Ndipo mfalme wa Israeli akawaita wazee wote wa nchi pamoja akawaambia, ''Hebu angalieni jinsi huyu mtu anavyotafuta matatizo. Amenitumia ujumbe kwamba anataka kuchukua wake zangu, watoto wangu, fedha na dhahabu zangu, nami sijamkatalia.”
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land together and said, “Please take note and see how this man seeks trouble. He has sent word to me in order to take my wives, children, and silver and gold, and I have not refused him.”
8 Wazee wote na watu wote wakamwambia Ahabu, “Usimsikilize wala kukubaliana na matakwa yake.”
All the elders and all the people said to Ahab, “Do not listen to him or consent to his demands.”
9 Ahabu akawaambia wajumbe wa Beni Hadadi, “Mwambieni bwana wangu mfalme kwamba, 'Ninakubaliana na kila kitu ambacho kwanza uliwatuma watumishi wako kufanya kwangu, lakini sikubaliani na matakwa yako haya ya pili.'” Wale watumishi wa Beni Hadadi wakaondoka wakampelekea mrejesho Beni Hadadi.
So Ahab said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my master the king, 'I agree to everything that you sent your servant to do the first time, but I cannot accept this second demand.'” So the messengers left and took this response to Ben Hadad.
10 Naye Beni Hadadi akatuma tena majibu yake kwa Ahabu, akaisema, “basi miungu inifanyie hivyo na zaidi, kama hata mavumbi ya Samaria yatawatosheleza watu watu wote wanaonifuata kuchukua kila mmoja angalau konzi mkononi mwake.”
Then Ben Hadad sent his reply to Ahab, and said, “May the gods do so to me and more also, if even the ashes of Samaria will be enough for all the people who follow me to have a handful each.”
11 Naye mfalme wa Israeli akamjibu akisema, “Mwabieni Beni Hadadi, 'Hakuna abebaye silaha yake, atakayejivuna kama wakati wa kuishusha.”'
The king of Israel answered and said, “Tell Ben Hadad, 'No one who is just putting on his armor, should boast as if he were taking it off.'”
12 Beni Hadadi aliusikia ujumbe huu wakati alipokuwa akinywa, yeye na wafalme walikuwa pamoja naye waliokuwa kwenye mahema yao. Beni Hadadi akayaamuru majaeshi yake, “Jipangeni katika sehemu zenu kwa ajili ya vita.” Kwa hiyo wakajiandaa kivita ili kuuvamia mji.
Ben Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings under him who were in their tents. Ben Hadad commanded his men, “Line yourselves up in position for battle.” So they prepared themselves in position of battle to attack the city.
13 Tazama, nabii akaja kwa Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli akasema, “BWANA asema, 'Je umeliona hili jeshi kubwa? Tazama, nitaliweka katika mkono wako leo, nawe utatambua kuwa mimi ni BWANA.'”
Then behold, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Yahweh says, 'Have you seen this great army? Look, I will place it into your hand today, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'”
14 Naye Ahabu akajibu, ''kwa nani? BWANA akamjibu akasema, “kwa kuwatumia viijana wanaotumikia maliwali wa wilaya.” kisha Ahabu akasema, “Ni nani atakayepewa hiyo vita?' BWANA akamwambia, “wewe.”
Ahab replied, “By whom?” Yahweh replied and said, “By the young officers who serve the governors of the districts.” Then Ahab said, “Who will begin the battle?” Yahweh answered, “You.”
15 Ndipo Ahabu alipowataarifu wale vijna wanaowatumikia maliwali wa wilaya. Idadi yao ilikuwa 232. Baada yao aliwahesabu wanajeshi wote, jeshi lote la Israeli; idadi yao ilikuwa elfu saba.
Then Ahab mustered the young officers who served the governors of the districts. They numbered 232. After them he mustered all the soldiers, all the army of Israel; seven thousand in number.
16 Nao wakatoka wakati wa adhuhuri. Naye Beni Hadadi alikuwa akinywa na kulewa hemani mwake, yeye na wale wafalme wadogo thelathini na mbili waliokuwa wakimsaidia.
They went out at noon. Ben Hadad had been drinking himself drunk in his tent, he and the thirty-two lesser kings who were supporting him.
17 Wale maakida vijana waliokuwa wakiwasaidia maliwali wa wilaya walitangulia kwanza. Kisha Beni Hadadi alitaarifiwa na wanaskauti aliokuwa amewatuma kwamaba, “kuna watu wanakuja kutoka Samaria.”
The young officers who served the governors of the districts went forward first. Then Ben Hadad was informed by scouts that he had sent out, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”
18 Beni Hadadi akasema, “wawe wamekuja kwa amani au kwa vita, wakamteni wakiwa hai.”
Ben Hadad said, “Whether they have come out for peace or war, take them alive.”
19 Kwa hiyo wale vijvana wanaowatumikia maliwali wa wilaya wakaenda mjini na jeshi likawafuata kwa nyuma.
So the young officers who served the governors of the districts went out of the city and the army followed them.
20 Kila mmoja akaua adui wake na wale washami wakakimbia. Israeli ikawashinda. Beni Hadadi mfalme wa Shamu akatoroka kwa farasi pamoja na wapanda farasi.
Each man killed his opponent. The Arameans fled and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse along with some horsemen.
21 Kisha mfalme wa Israeli akaenda akawashambulia farasi na magari, na kuwaua washami kwa mauaji makubwa.
Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.
22 Yule nabii akaja kwa mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia, “Nenda, ukajiimarishe mwenyewe, uelewa na kupanga kile unachofanya, kwa sababu mwakani mfalme wa Shamu atapanda dhidi yako tena.”
So the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and understand and plan what you are doing, because at the return of the year the king of Aram will come up against you again.”
23 Wale watumishi wa mfalme wa Shamu wakamwambia, “Mungu wao ni mungu wa milimani. Hiyo ndiyo sababu walikuwa na nguvu kuliko tulivyokuwa. Lakini sasa hebu tupigane nao katika nchi tambarare, na kwa hakika tutakuwa na nguvu kuliko wao.
The servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than we were. But now let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.
24 Na ufanye hivi: waondoe wafalme; mwondoe kila mmoja mahali pake ukaweke majemedari mahali pao.
So you must do this: Remove all the kings from their positions of authority and replace them with military commanders.
25 Kisha ujihesabie jeshi kama lile jeshi ulilopoteza, farasi kwa farasi na gari kwa gari, nasi tutapigana nao katika nchi tambarare. Kwa hakika tutakuwa na nguvu kuliko walivyo.” Kwa hiyo Beni Hadadi akausikiliza ushauri huo naye akafanya kama alivyoshauriwa.
Raise up an army like the army you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight them in the plain. Then surely we will be stronger than they are.” So Ben Hadad listened to their advice and did what they advised.
26 Baada ya mwanzo wa mwaka mpya, Beni Hadadi akawahesabu Washami na akapanda Afeki kupigana na Israeli.
After the beginning of the new year, Ben Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 Watu wa Israeli walikuwa wamehesabiwa na walikuwa wamejipanga kupigana nao. Watu wa Israeli wakafanya kambi mbele yao kama makundi mawili madogo ya mbuzi, lakini Washami wakaujaza upande wa nchi.
The people of Israel were mustered and supplied to fight against them. The people of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the countryside.
28 Ndipo mtu wa Mungu akaja karibu akaongea mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia, “BWANA anasema: 'Kwa kuwa Washami wamesema kuwa BWANA ni mungu wa milima, na wala si mungu wa mabondeni, nitaliweka hili jeshi kubwa mkononi mwako, nawe utajua kuwa mimi ni BWANA.'”
Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Yahweh says: 'Because the Arameans have said that Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys, I will place this great army into your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'”
29 Kwa hiyo majeshi yakaweka kambi yakikabiliana kwa muda wa siku saba. Kisha siku ya saba vita vikaanza. Watu wa Israeli wakawaua Washami 100, 000 wanajeshi wa ardhini kwa siku moja.
So the armies camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle started. The people of Israel killed 100,000 Aramean footmen in one day.
30 Waliobaki wakakimbilia Afeki, mjini, na ule ukuta ukaanguka juu ya watu ishiriinina saba elfu waliobaki. Naye Beni Hadadi akakimbilia mjini. akaingia kwenye chumba cha ndani.
The rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner room.
31 Wale watumishi wa Beni Hadadi wakamwambia, “Tazama sasa, tumesikia kwamba wale wafalme wa nyumba ya Israeli ni wenye rehema. Tafadhali hebu tuvaeni magaunia viunoni mwetu na kamba vichwani mwetu, na twendeni kwa mfalme wa Israeli. Labda atakuokoa roho yako.”
Ben Hadad's servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32 Kwa hiyo wakavaa magunia viunoni mwao na kujifunga kamba vichwani mwao na kisha wakaenda kwa mfalme wa Israeli wakamwambia, “Mtumishi wako Beni Hadadi, anasema, 'tafadhali niachie uhai wangu.” Ahabu akawaambia, “Je, bado yuko hai? Yeye ni ndugu yangu.”
So they put sackcloth on their waists and ropes around their heads and then went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad said, 'Please let me live.'” Ahab said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Sasa wale watu walikuwa wakisikiliza ishara yeyote kutoka kwa Ahabu, kwa hiyo wakamjibu haraka, “Ndiyo ndugu yako Beni Hadadi bado yuko hai.” Ahabu akawaambia, “Nendeni mkamlete.” Ndipo Beni Hadadi alipokuja kwake, na Ahabu akamwacha aje kwenye gari lake.
Now the men were listening for any sign from Ahab, so they quickly answered him, “Yes, your brother Ben Hadad is alive.” Then Ahab said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came to him, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34 Beni Hadadi akamwambia Ahabu, “Nitakurudishia miji yako ambayo baba yangu alichukua toka kwa baba yako, na unaweza kutengeneza masoko kwa ajili yako Dameski, kama baba yangu alivyofanya kule Samaria.” Ahabu akajibu, “Nitakuacha uende kwa agano hili.” Kwa hiyo Ahabu akafanya agano naye kisha akamwacha aende.
Ben Hadad said to Ahab, “I will restore to you the cities that my father took from your father, and you may make markets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab replied, “I will let you go with this covenant.” So Ahab made a covenant with him and then let him go.
35 Mtu mmoja, mmoja wana wa wana wa manabii, akamwambia mmoja wa wale manabii wenzake kwa neno la BWANA, “Tafadhali nipige.” Lakini yule mtu akakataa kumpiga.
A certain man, one of the sons of the prophets, said to one of his fellow prophets by the word of Yahweh, “Please hit me.” But the man refused to hit him.
36 Kisha yule nabii akamwambia nabii mwenzake, “Kwa sababu umekataa kutii sauti ya BWANA, mara tu utakaponiacha, simba atakuua.” na mara tu baad ya yule mtu kumwacha, simba akamkuta na kumwua.
Then the prophet said to his fellow prophet, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as that man had left him, a lion came upon him and killed him.
37 Kisha yule nabii akamkuta mtu mwingine akamwambia, “Tafadhali nipige.”Yule mtu akampiga na kumwumiza.
Then the prophet found another man and said, “Please hit me.” So the man hit him and wounded him.
38 Kisha yule nabii akaondoka akaenda kumsubiri yule mfalme barabarani; naye alikuwa amejibadilisha kwa kilemba machoni pake.
Then the prophet left and waited for the king by the road; he had disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39 Ikawa mfalme alipokuwa akipita, Yule nabii akamwita mfalme na kumwambia, “Mtumishi wako alienda katikati ya pigano, na askari akasimama akamleta adui kwangu akasema, 'Mwangalie mtu huyu. Na ikiwa kwa vyovyote atatoroka, basi maisha yako yatatolewa kwa ajili ya maisha yake vinginevyo utalipa kilo thelathini za fedha.
As the king passed by, the prophet cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and a soldier stopped and brought a man to me and said, 'Watch this man. If by any means he goes missing, your life will be given for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.'
40 Lakini kwa kuwa mtumishi wako alikuwa na mambo mengi akienda huku na kule, yule askari adui akatoroka.” Basi mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia, Hivyo ndivyo itakavyokuwa hukukmu yako - umejihukumu mwenyewe.”
But because your servant was busy going here and there, the man escaped.” Then the king of Israel said to him, “This is what your punishment will be—you yourself have decided it.”
41 Ndipo yule nabii alipoondoa haraka kile kilemba machoni pake, na mfalme wa Israeli alipotambua kuwa huyo alikuwa mmoja wa manabii.
Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
42 Yule nabii akamwambia mfalme, “BWANA anasema, 'Kwa sababu umemwachia aende mtu yule niliyekuwa nimemhukumu kifo, maisha yako yatachukua nafasi ya maisha yake.'”
The prophet said to the king, “Yahweh says, 'Because you have let go from your hand the man whom I had sentenced to death, your life will take the place of his life, and your people for his people.'”
43 Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akaenda nyumbani kwake akiwa na moyo mzito na mwenye hasira, akafika Samaria.
So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and angry, and arrived in Samaria.
