2 Samweli 2
1 Ikawa baada ya haya Daudi akamuuliza Yahwe, “Je naweza kuupandia mmojawapo wa miji ya Yuda?” Yahweh akamjibu, “Panda.” Daudi akauliza, “Niuendee mji upi? Yahwe akajibu, “Hebroni”
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.
2 Hivyo Daudi akakwea pamoja na wake zake wawili, Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli, na Abigaili wa Karmeli, mjane wa Nabali.
So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3 Daudi akawaleta watu waliokuwa pamoja naye, na kila mmoja akaleta familia yake katika mji wa Hebroni walipoanza kuishi.
David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.
4 Kisha watu wa Yuda wakaja na kumtia Daudi mafuta kuwa mfalme juu ya nyumba ya Yuda. Wakamwambia Daudi, “Watu wa Yabeshi Gileadi wamemzika Sauli.”
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
5 Hivyo Daudi akatuma wajumbe kwa watu wa Yabeshi Gileadi akawambia, “Mbarikiwe na Yahwe, kwa kuwa mmeonesha utiifu huu kwa bwana wenu Sauli mliyemzika.
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.
6 Sasa Yahwe awadhihirishie utiifu na uaminifu wa kiagano. Nami pia nitawaonesha wema kwa sababu ya yale mliyoyafanya.
Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this.
7 Sasa basi, mikono yenu itiwe nguvu; mwe jasiri kwa maana Sauli bwana wenu amekufa, na nyumba yote ya Yuda imenitia mafuta niwe mfalime wao.
Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
8 Lakini Abneri mwana wa Neri, mkuu wa jeshi la Sauli, akamchukuwa Ishboshethi mwana wa Sauli akamleta Mahanaimu.
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
9 Akamfanya Ishboshethi mfalme juu ya Gileadi, Asheri, Yezreeli, Efraimu, Benjamini na juu ya Israeli yote.
and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
10 Ishiboshethi mwana wa Sauli alikuwa na umri wa miaka arobaini alipoanza kutawala juu ya Israeli, akatawala miaka miwili. Lakini nyumba ya Yuda ikaambatana na Daudi.
Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
11 Muda ambao Daudi alikuwa mfalme juu ya nyumba ya Yuda huko Hebroni ni miaka saba na miezi sita.
And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12 Abneri mwana wa Neri na watumishi wa Ishboshethi mwana wa Sauli walitoka Mahanaimu kwenda Gibeoni.
One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13 Yoabu mwana wa Seruya na watumishi wa Daudi wakatoka na kukutana nao katika bwawa la Gibeoni. Wakakaa pale, kundi moja upande huu wa bwawa na kundi lingine upande wa pili.
So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.
14 Abneri akamwambia Yoabu, “haya, vijana na wainuke na kushindana mbele yetu.” Yoabu akajibu, “haya na wainuke.”
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
15 Ndipo vijana walipoinuka na kukutana, kumi na wawili kwa ajili ya Banjamini na Ishboshethi mwana wa Sauli, na kumi na wawili kutoka kwa watumishi wa Daudi.
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
16 Kila mtu akakamata kichwa cha adui yake na kupiga upanga wake katika ubavu wa adui yake, wakaanguka chini pamoja. Kwa hiyo mahali pale pakaitwa kwa Kiebrania, “Helkath Hazzurim,” yaani “konde la upanga,” lililopo Gibeoni.
Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.
17 Vita ikawa kali sana siku ile na Abneri na watu wa Israeli wakashindwa na watumishi wa Daudi.
The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
18 Wana watatu wa Seruya walikuwepo pale: Yoabu, Abishai na Asaheli.
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
19 Asaheli alikuwa mwepesi miguuni kama paa. Akamfuatilia Abneri kwa karibu bila kugeuka upande wowote.
and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.
20 Abneri akaangalia nyuma yake na kusema, “Ni wewe Asaheli?” Akajibu, “ni mimi.”
And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.
21 Abneri akamwambia, “Geuka upande wako wa kuria au kushoto umshike mmojawapo wa vijana na kuchukua silaha yake.” Lakini Asaheli hakugeuka.
So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
22 Ndipo Abneri alipomwambia tena Asaheli, “Simama usinifuate. Kwa nini nikupige hata chini? Nitautazamaje uso wa Yoabu ndugu yako?”
Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
23 Lakini Asaheli hakukubari kugeuka. na hivyo Abneri akamchoma kwa nchi ya mkuki wake, hata ukatokea upande wa pili. Asaheli akaanguka chini akafa. Hata ikawa kila mmoja aliyefika mahali pale Asaheli alipoanguka na kufa, alisimama hapo hapo.
But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
24 Lakini Yoabu na Abishai wakamfuatilia Abneri. Wakati jua linazama walikuwa wamefika mlima wa Amma, uliopo karibu na Gia katika njia ielekeayo nyika ya Gibeoni.
But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
25 Wabenjamini wakajikusanya nyuma ya Abneri na kusimama juu ya kilima.
The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.
26 Kisha Abneri akamwita Yoabu na kusema, “Je ni lazima upanga uendelee kurarua daima? Je haujui kwamba mwisho wake utakuwa mchungu? Hata line ndipo uwaambie watu wako waache kuwafuatia ndugu zao?”
Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
27 Yoabu akajibu, “Kama Mungu aishivyo, usingesema hivyo, askari wangu wangewafuatia ndugu zao hata asubuhi!”
“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
28 Ndipo Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, na watu wake wote wakasimama na hawakuendelea kuwafuata Israeli tena wala hawakupigana tena.
So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.
29 Abneri na watu wake wakasafiri usiku wote kupitia Araba. Wakavuka Yordani, wakatembea asubuhi yote iliyofuata, na hata wakafika Mahanaimu.
And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.
30 Yoabu akarudi kutoka katika kumfuatia Abneri. Akawakusanya watu wake wote, ambopo Asahali na askari wengine kumi na tisa wa Daudi walipungua.
When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing,
31 Lakini watu wa Daudi walikuwa wameua watu 360 wa Benjamini na Abneri.
but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.
32 Kisha wakamchukua Asahali na kumzika katika kaburi la baba yake, lililokuwapo Bethlehemu. Yoabu na watu wake wakasafiri usiku wote, kukacha wakati wanafika Hebroni.
Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.
