2 Wafalme 10

1 Basi Ahabu alikuwa na watoto sabini katika Samaria. Yehu akaandika barua na kuzituma kwenda Samaria, kwa watawala wa Yezreeli, pamoja na wazee na walinzi wa wana wa Ahabu akisema,

Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:

2 “Wana wa bwana wako wako pamoja na wewe, na wewe pia una magari ya farasi na farasi na kuimarisha mji dhidi ya maadui na silaha. Hivyo basi, haraka iwezekanavyo barua hii ikufikiapo,

“When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry,

3 mchagueni aliye bora na anayestahili miongoni mwa mtoto wa bwana wenu na kumuweka kwenye kiti cha kifalme cha baba yake, na kupigania ufalme wa bwana wenu.”

select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

4 Lakini waliogopa na kusema miongoni mwao, “Tazama, wafalme wawili hawatasimama mbele ya Yehu. Hivyo tutasimamaje?”

But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

5 Kisha yule mtu ambaye alikuwa kiongozi kwenye nyumba ya mfalme, na wale waliowalea watoto, wakatuma ujumbe kwa Yehu, kusema, “Sisi ni watumishi wako. Tutafanya chochote utakacho tuamuru. Hatutamfanya mtu yeyote kuwa mfalme. Fanya lile lililojema machoni pako.”

So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

6 Kisha Yehu akaandika barua mara ya pili, akisema, “Kama mko upande wangu, na kama mtasikiliza sauti yangu, mtachukua vichwa vya watu wa wana wa mabwana wenu, na mje kwangu Yezreeli kesho mda kama huu.” Ndipo wana wa wafalme, sabini kwa hesabu, waliokuwa watu muhimu huko mjini, ambao walikuwa wakiwaleta.

Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.

7 Hivyo barua ilipokuja kwao, waliwachukua wana wa wafalme na kisha kuwaua, watu sabini, wakaweka vichwa vyao kwenye vikapu, na kuivituma kwa Yehu katika Yezreeli.

And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

8 Mjumbe mmoja akaja kwa Yehu, akisema, “Wamevileta vile vichwa vya watoto wa wafalme.” Hivyo akasema, viwekeni kwenye mafungu mawili kwenye lango hadi asubuhi.”

When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9 Asubuhi Yehu akatoka nje na kusimama, na kusema kwa watu wote, “Ninyi hamna hatia. Tazameni, nimefanya fitina dhidi ya bwana wangu na kumuua, lakini ni nani aliyewaua hawa wote?

The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?

10 Sasa hakika tafakarini kwamba hakuna sehemu ya neno la Yahwe, lile alilonena Yahwe kuhusu familia ya Ahabu, itaanguka kwenye aridhini, kwa kuwa Yahwe amefanya kile alichokiongea kupitia mtumishi wake Eliya.”

Know, then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”

11 Basi Yehu akawaua wote waliokuwa wamebakia wa familia ya Ahabu katika Yezreeli, na watu wake muhimu wote, marafiki zake wa karibu, na makuhani wake, hakuna hata mmoja wao alisalia.

So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

12 Kisha Yehu akainuka na kuondoka; akaenda Samaria. Kadiri alivyokuwa akikaribia Bethi Ekedi ya wachungaji,

Then Jehu set out toward Samaria. At Beth-eked of the Shepherds,

13 akamlaki na ndugu wa Ahazia mfalme wa Yuda. Yehu akawaambia, “Ninyi ni akina nani?” Wakajibu, “Sisi ni ndugu zake na Ahazia, na tunashuka chini kuwasalimia watoto wa mfalme na watoto wa Malkia Yezebeli.”

Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?” “We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”

14 Yehu akawaambia watu wake mwenyewe, “Wachukue wakiwa hai.” Hivyo wakawachukua wakiwa hai na kuwaua kwenye kisima cha Bethi Ekedi, watu wote arobaini na mbili. Hakumwacha hata mmoja wao akiwa hai.

Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

15 Baada ya Yehu kuondoka huko, akakutana na Yehonadabu mwana wa Rekabu anakuja kukutana naye. Yehu akamsalimia na kisha akamwambia, “Je moyo wako uko na mimi, kama moyo wangu ulivyo pamoja na wako?” Yehonadabu akajibu, Ndio.” Yehu akasema, “kama ni ndio, nipatie mkono wako.” Kisha Yehonadabu akampatia mkono wake, na Yehu akampandisha Yehonadabu juu kwenye magari ya farasi pamoja naye.

When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?” “It is!” Jehonadab replied. “If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot,

16 Yehu akasema, “Fuatana pamoja nami na uone wivu wangu kwa Yahwe.” Hivyo alikuwa na Yehonadabu akiendesha gari la farasi.

saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.

17 Wakati alipokuja Samaria, Yehu akawaua wote waliobakia kutoka uzao wa Ahabu katika Samaria, hata akawaangamiza ukoo wa kifalme wa Ahabu, kama walivyokuwa wameambiwa kabla ya neno la Yahwe, ambalo aliloambiwa Eliya.

When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.

18 Kisha Yehu akawakusanya watu wote akwaambia, “Ahabu alimtumikia Baali kidogo, lakini Yehu atamtumikia sana.

Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.

19 Basi niitieni manabii wote wa Baali, wote wamwabuduo, na makuhani wake wote. Asikosekane mtu hata mmoja, kwa kuwa nina dhabihu kubwa nataka kutoa kwa Baali. Yeyote atakayeshindwa kuja hataishi.” Lakini Yehu alifanya haya kwa udanganyifu, kwa dhamira ya kuwaua wanaomwabudu Baali.

Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20 Yehu akasema, “Tengeni mda tuwe na mkutano kwa ajili ya Baali.” Hivyo wakalitangaza.

And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.

21 Kisha Yehu akatuma Israeli yote na wamwabuduo Baali waje, hivyo basi hakuna mtu hata mmoja ambaye aliacha kuja. Walikuja kwenye hekalu la Baali, na ilijaa kutoka mwanzo hadi mwisho.

Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end.

22 Yehu akamwambia yule mtu aliyekuwa anatunza kabati la nguo za makuhani, “Uwatolee mavazi wote wamwabuduo Baali.” Basi yule mtu akawatolea nguo.

And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

23 Basi Yehu akaingia pamoja na Yohonadabu mwana wa Rekabu kwenye nyumba ya Baali, na kisha akawaambia wanaomwabudu Baali, “Tafuteni na muhahakishe kwamba hakuna mtu hapa pamoja na ninyi kutoka watumishi wa Yahwe, lakini wamwabuduo Baali peke yao.”

Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.”

24 Kisha wakaenda kutoa dhabihu na sadaka ya kutekeza. Basi Yehu alichagua watu themanini ambao walikuwa wamesimama nje, na aliwaambia, Kama mtu yeyote miongoni mwa hawa watu ambao nimewaleta kwenye mikono yenu atoroke, yeyote atakayemwacha huyo mtu atoroke, maisha yake yatachukuliwa kwa ajili ya yule aliyeokoka.”

And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”

25 Hivyo kisha baada ya mda mfupi Yehu alipomaliza kutoa sadaka ya kutekezwa, akamwambia mlinzi na manahodha, “Ingieni na muwaue. Msimwache mtu yeyote atoke.” Basi waliwaua kwa makali ya upanga, na mlinzi na manahodha wakawatupa nje na kwenda kwenye chumba cha ndani cha nyumba ya Baali.

When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.

26 Wakazitoa nguzo za mawe ambazo zilikuwa kwenye nyumba ya Baali, na kisha kuzichoma.

They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.

27 Kisha wakazivunja zile nguzo za Baali, na kuiharibu nyumba ya Baali na kuifanya choo, ambacho kipo hadi leo.

They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

28 Hivi ndivyo ambavyo Yehu alivyomharibu muabudu Baali kutoka Israeli.

Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,

29 Lakini Yehu hakuacha dhambi za Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati, ambayo ilfanya Israeli kutenda dhambi-ambayo ni, kumwabudu ndama wa dhahabu katika Betheli na Dani.

but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

30 Hivyo Yahwe akamwambia Yehu, “Kwa kuwa umefanya vema kwa kufanya yaliyo sahihi kwenye macho yangu, na kumailiza kwenye nyumba ya Ahabu kulingana na yote yaliyokuwa kwenye moyo wangu, uzao wako utakaa kwenye kiti cha Israeli hadi kizazi cha nne.”

Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

31 Lakini Yehu hakujali kutembea kwenye sheria ya Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa moyo wake wote. Hakugeuka kutoka kwenye dhambi za Yeroboamu, ambayo iliwafanya Israeli kutende dhambi.

Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

32 Siku zile Yahwe akaanza kupunguza mikoa ya Israeli, na Hazaeli kuwashinda Waisraeli mipakani mwa Israeli,

In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory

33 kutoka Yordani upande wa mashariki, nchi yote ya Gileadi, Wagadi, na Wareubeni, na Wamanase, kutoka Aroeri, alipo karibu na bonde la Arnoni, kupita Geleadi hadi Bashani.

from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

34 Kama kwa mambo mengine yamhusuyo Yehu, na yote aliyoyafanya, na ushujaa wake, je hayakuandikwa kwenye kitabu cha matukio ya wafalme wa Israeli?

As for the rest of the acts of Jehu, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

35 Yehu akalala na wazee wake, na walimzika katika Samaria. Kisha Yehoahazi mwanaye akawa mfalme katika sehemu yake.

And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place.

36 Mda ambao Yehu alitawala juu ya Israeli katika Samaria ulikuwa miaka ishini na nane.

So the duration of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.