2 Nyakati 18

1 Sasa Yehoshafati alikauwa na utajiri mwingi na heshima kubwa; alifanya undugu na Ahabu mmoja wa watu wa familia yake akamuo binti yake.

Ngakho uJehoshafathi wayenothe kakhulu njalo ehlonipheka, waba lobunini lo-Ahabi ngokwendiselana.

2 Baada ya miaka kadhaa, akashsuka chini kwa Ahabu huko Samaria. Ahabu akachinja kondoo na ngo'mbe wengi kwa ajili ya yake na watu waliokuwa pamoja naye. Ahabu pia akamshawishi kuivamia Ramothi-gileadi pamoja naye.

Ngemva kweminyaka ethile wayakwethekelela u-Ahabi eSamariya. U-Ahabi wamhlabela izimvu ezinengi lenkomo yena kanye labantu ayelabo njalo wamkhuthaza ukuba ahlasele iRamothi Giliyadi.

3 Ahabu, mfalme wa Israeli, akamwambia Yehoshafati, mfalme wa Yuda, “Utakwenda Ramothi-gileadi pamoja nami?” Yehoshafati akamjibu, “Mimi ni kama wewe, na watu wangu ni kama watu wako; tutakuwa pamoja nawe katika vita.”

U-Ahabi inkosi yako-Israyeli yabuza uJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda wathi: “Uzahamba lami na ukuyahlasela iRamothi Giliyadi?” UJehoshafathi waphendula wathi, “Mina nginjengawe, abantu bami banjengabantu bakho; sizakuba lawe empini.”

4 Yehoshafati akamwambia mfalme wa Israeli, Tafadhali litafute neno la Yahwe kwanza kwa ajili ya jibu lako”

Kodwa uJehoshafathi waphinda wathi enkosini yako-Israyeli, “Akubuze kuThixo kuqala.”

5 Kisha mfale wa Israeli akawakusanya manabii pamoja, wanauame mia nne, na akasema akwao, Tutaenda vitani Ramothi-gileadi, au nisiende?” Wakasema, “Vamia, kwa maana Mungu ataitia mkononi mwa mfalme.”

Ngakho inkosi yako-Israyeli yasibuthanisa abaphrofethi, amadoda angamakhulu amane, yababuza yathi, “Siphume impi siyehlasela iRamothi Giliyadi, loba ngizithibe na?” Bayiphendula bathi, “Hamba, ngoba uNkulunkulu uzayinikela esandleni senkosi.”

6 Lakini Yehoshafati akasema, “Hakuna nabii mwingine hapa wa Yahwe ambaye kwake tunapaswa kutafuta ushauri?”

Kodwa uJehoshafathi wabuza wathi, “Kambe kakusela mphrofethi kaThixo lapha esingabuza kuye na?”

7 Mfale wa Israeli akamwambia Yehoshafati, Bado kuna mtu mmoja amabaye kwake lazima tuutafute ushauri wa Yahwe, Mikaya mwana wa Imla, lakini namchukia kwa sababu yeye huwa hatabiri mema kamwe kuhusu mimi, bali kila mara maovu,” Lakini Yehoshafati akasema, “Mfalme hapaswi kusema hivyo.”

Inkosi yako-Israyeli yathi kuJehoshafathi, “Ukhona oyedwa esingabuza uThixo ngaye kodwa ngiyamzonda ngoba kakaze aphrofethe okuhle ngami, uhlala ekhuluma okubi. Ibizo lakhe nguMikhaya indodana ka-Imla.” UJehoshafathi wathi, “Inkosi kayimelanga itsho njalo.”

8 Kisha mfalme wa Israeli akamwita akida na kusema, Haraka mlete Mikaya mwana wa Imla.”

Ngakho inkosi yako-Israyeli yabiza esinye sezikhulu zayo yathi kuso, “Ngibizela uMikhaya indodana ka-Imla khathesi.”

9 Sasa Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli na Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda walikuwa wamekaa kila mmoja katika kiti cha enzi, wamevalia kanzu zao, katika sehemu ya uwazi katika maingilia ya lango la Samaria, na manabii wote walikuwa wakitabairi mbele zao.

Bembethe izembatho zabo zobukhosi, inkosi yako-Israyeli loJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda babehlezi ezihlalweni zabo zobukhosi esizeni sokubhulela amabele esangweni laseSamariya labo bonke abaphrofethi bephrofetha phambi kwabo.

10 Zedekia mwana wa Kenaani akajitengenezea pembe za chuma na kusema, Yahwe anasema hivi: Kwa kutumia hizi pembe mtawasukuma Waaramu hadi waangamie.”

UZedekhiya indodana kaKhenana wayekhande impondo zensimbi, wasesithi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo, uthi: ‘Ngempondo lezi uzagwaza ama-Aramu uwabhubhise.’”

11 Manabii wote wakatabiri kitu kile kile, wakisema, “Vamia Raamothi-gleadi na shinda. kwa maana Yahwe ameutia kwenye mkono wa mfalme.”

Bonke abaphrofethi babevele bephrofetha okufananayo besithi, “Hlasela iRamothi Giliyadi unqobe, ngoba uThixo uyinikile esandleni senkosi.”

12 Mjumbe aliyeenda kumuita Mikaya akasema kwake, akisema, “Sasa angalia, maneno ya manabii yanatangaza mambo mema kwa ajili ya mfalme kwa kinywa kimoja. Tafadhali maneno yako yawe kama maneno ya mmoja wao na sema mambo mema.”

Isithunywa esasithunywe ukuyabiza uMikhaya sathi kuye, “Khangela, abanye abaphrofethi bafakaza bengela kuthandabuza ukuthi inkosi izanqoba. Lawe vumelana labo, ukhulume okuyithokozisayo.”

13 Mikaya akajibu, “Kama Yahwe aishivyo, mimi nitasema kile mbacho Mungu anasema.”

Kodwa uMikhaya wathi, “Ngeqiniso njengoba uThixo ekhona, engingamtshela khona yilokhu okutshiwo nguThixo.”

14 Alipokuja kwa mfalme, mfamle akamwambaia, “Mikaya, tutaenda Ramothi -gileadi kwa ajili ya vita, au la?” Mikaya akamjibu, “Vamia na utashinda! kwa maana utakuwa ushinda mkuu.”

Uthe efika, inkosi yambuza yathi, “Mikhaya, siye empini eRamothi Giliyadi, loba ngizithibe na?” Yena waphendula wathi: “Hlasela unqobe, ngoba bazanikelwa ezandleni zakho.”

15 Kisha mfalme akasema kwake, “Ni mara ngapi ninapaswa kukutaka kuapa kutoniambia kitu chochote sispokuwa kweli katika jina la Yahwe?

Inkosi yathi kuye, “Kumele ngikufungise kangaki ukuze ungangikhohlisi kodwa ungitshele iqiniso ebizweni likaThixo?”

16 Kwa hiyo Mikaya akasema, “Niliwaoana Israeli wametawanyika ktika mlima, kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, na Yahwe akasema, hawa hawana mchungaji. Ebu kila mtu arudi nyumbani kwake kwa amani.”

Ngakho uMikhaya waphendula wathi, “Ngabona abako-Israyeli bonke behlakazekile emaqaqeni njengezimvu ezingelamelusi, uThixo wathi, ‘Lababantu kabalamkhokheli. Kabazibuyelele emakhaya ngokuthula.’”

17 Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia Yehoshafati, “Sikukuambia kwamba asingeweza kutabiri mema juu yangu, bali majanga tu?

Inkosi yako-Israyeli yathi kuJehoshafathi, “Kangikutshelanga yini ukuthi uvele kaphrofethi lutho oluhle ngami kodwa okubi kuphela na?”

18 Kisha Mikaya akasema, “Kwa hiyo ninyi nyote mnapashwa kulisikia neno la Yahwe: Nilimuon Yahwe amekaa juu ya kiti chake cha enzi, na majeshi yote ya mbinguni yalikauwa yamekaa mkono wake wa kulia na mkono wake wa kushoto.

UMikhaya waqhubeka wathi, “Ngakho zwanini ilizwi likaThixo: Ngabona uThixo ehlezi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi lebutho lonke lasezulwini limi ngakwesokudla langakwesokhohlo.

19 Yahwe akasema, Ni nani atakayemrubuni Ahabu, mfalme wa Israeli, ili kwamba aende na kuanguka huko Ramothi-gileadi?' Mmoja alisema hivi na mwingine hivi.

Njalo uThixo wathi, ‘Ngubani ozakhohlisa u-Ahabi inkosi yako-Israyeli ukuba ahlasele eRamothi Giliyadi njalo ayofela khona na?’ Omunye wabonisa lokhu, omunye laye lokhuyana.

20 Kisha roho ikaja moja kwa maja na kusimama mbele ya Yahwe na kusema, 'Nitamrubuni.' Yahwe akamwambia, 'Kivipi?'

Ekucineni kwavela umoya, wema phambi kukaThixo wathi: ‘Mina ngizamhuga.’ UThixo wathi kuwo: ‘Ngendlela bani na?’

21 Roho ikajibu, “nitatoka nje na nitakuwa roho ya uongo katika vinywa vya manabii wake wote.' Yahwe akajibu, 'utamrubuni, na pia utafanikiwa. nenda sasa na fanya hivyo.'

Wona wathi: ‘Ngizahamba ngiyekuba ngumoya wokuqamba amanga emilonyeni yabo bonke abaphrofethi bakhe.’ UThixo wathi: ‘Uzaphumelela ukumhuga. Hamba-ke uyekwenza lokho.’

22 Sasa ona, Yahwe ameweka roho ya uongo katika midomo ya manabii wako hawa, na Yahwe ametangaza majanga kwa ajili yako.”

Ngakho khathesi uThixo usefake umoya wenkohliso emilonyeni yabaphrofethi bakho bonke laba. UThixo usekumisele ukubhujiswa.”

23 Kisha Zedekia mwana wa Kenaana, akaja, akampiga kofi mika juu ya shavu, na kusema, “Kwa njia gani Roho wa Yahwe alitoka kwangu ili aseme nawe?”

Ngakho uZedekhiya indodana kaKhenana waphakama wayawakala uMikhaya ngempama ebusweni, watsho embuza wathi, “Umoya kaThixo wasuka njani kimi ukuyakhuluma kuwe na?”

24 Mika akasema, Angalia, utalijua hilo katika siku hiyo, mtakapokimbia katika baadhi ya vyumba vya ndani kwa ajili ya kujificha.”

UMikhaya waphendula wathi, “Wena ngokwakho uzakubona lokho mhla ubalekela endlini engaphakathi usiyacatsha.”

25 Mfalme wa Israeli akasema kwa baadhi ya watumishi, “Enyi watu mkamateni Mikaya na mmpeleke hadi Amoni, mkuu wa mji na, na kwa Yoashi, mwanangu.

Inkosi yako-Israyeli yathi, “Bambani uMikhaya, limbuyisele ku-Amoni umbusi wedolobho lakuJowashi indodana yenkosi

26 Nanyi mtamwambia, 'Mfalme anasema: Mweke gerezanai huyu mtu na umlishe kwa mkate kiogo tu na maji kidogo tu, mpaka nitakaporudi salama.”

lithi: ‘Nanku okutshiwo yinkosi, ithi: Valelani umuntu lo entolongweni, lingamniki lutho ngaphandle kwesinkwa lamanzi ngize ngiphenduke kukuhle.’”

27 Kisha Mikaya akasema, “Kama utarudi salama, Yahwe hajasema nami.”Kisha akaongeza, “Sikiliza haya, enyi watu wote.”

UMikhaya waqonqosela wathi: “Nxa ungaphenduka kuhle, uThixo uyabe engakhulumanga ngami.” Waqhubeka wathi, “Lani lonke bantu abambisiseni amazwi ami!”

28 Kwa hiyo Ahabu, mfalme wa Israeli, na Yehoshafati, mfalme wa Yuda, wakaenda juu ya Ramothi-giledi.

Ngakho inkosi yako-Israyeli loJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda baya eRamothi Giliyadi.

29 Mfalme wa Israeli akamwamabia Yehoshafati, “Nitajibadilisha mwenyewe na kwenda vitani, lakini wewe vaa mavazi yako ya kifalme.” Kwa hiyo mfalame wa Israeli akajibalisha, na wakaenda vitani.

Inkosi yako-Israyeli yathi kuJehoshafathi: “Mina ngizakuya empini ngizazifihla ngokulahlisa isimo sami, kodwa wena gqoka ezakho ezobukhosi.” Ngakho inkosi yako-Israyeli yazifihla ngokulahlisa isimo sayo yangena empini.

30 Sasa mfalme wa Aramu alikuwa amewaamuru maakida wa magari yake, akisema, Msiwavamie wanajeshsi wasio wa muhimu wala wanajeshsi muhimu. Badala yake, mvamieni mfalme wa Israeli pekee,”

Ngakho inkosi yase-Aramu yayiqonqosele abalawuli bezinqola zokulwa yathi, “Lingalwi lamuntu, loba ngomncinyane loba ngomkhulu, ngaphandle kwenkosi yako-Israyeli.”

31 Ikawa kwamba maakida wa magari walipomuona Yehoshafati wakasema, “Yule ni mfalme wa Israeli.” Wakageka kumzunguka wamvamie, lakini Yehoshafati akalia, na Yahwe akamsaidia. Mungu akawageza nyuma kutoka kwake.

Abalawuli bezinqola zokulwa bathi bebona uJehoshafathi bathi, “Yiyonale inkosi yako-Israyeli.” Ngakho bamphendukela ukuba bamhlasele, kodwa uJehoshafathi wahlaba umkhosi, uThixo wamsiza. UNkulunkulu wabenza baya khatshana laye,

32 Ikawa kwamba maakida wa magari walipoona ya kuwa hakuwa mfalme wa Israeli, wakarudi nyuma wasimfukuze.

ngoba abalawuli bezinqola zokulwa bathi sebebonile ukuthi kasiyo inkosi yako-Israyeli, abazange besaxotshana laye.

33 Lakini mtu mmoja akauvuta upinde wake kwa kubahatisha na kumpiga mfalme wa Israeli kati kati ya maungio ya mavazi yake. Kisha Ahabu akamwambia dereva wa gari lake, “Geuza nyuma na nitoe nje ya mapigano, kwa maana nimejeruhiwa vibaya sana.”

Kodwa omunye watshoka kungananzelelwe umtshoko waphutsha emkhandlwini wesikhali wagwaza inkosi yako-Israyeli. Inkosi yatshela umtshayeli wenqola yokulwa yathi, “Phendula inqola yakho ungisuse lapha, sengilimele.”

34 Mapigano yakazidi kuwa makali siku hiyo, na mfalme wa israeli akashikiliwa katika gari lake kuwaelekea Waaramu hadi jioni. Muda jua lilipokaria kwenda chini, akafa.

Impi yalwiwa ilanga lonke, njalo inkosi yako-Israyeli yeyama enqoleni yayo yokulwa ikhangele ama-Aramu kwaze kwaba ntambama. Kuthe litshona layo yabe isifa.