Hesabu 20
1 Kwa hiyo wana wa Israeli, na jamii yote ya watu, wakaenda katika jangwa la Sini katika mwezi wa kwanza; wakaa Kadeshi. Hapo ndipo Miriamu alipofia na kuzikwa.
In March/April [of the next year], the Israeli people traveled/walked to the Zin Desert and (camped/set up their tents) near Kadesh [town]. While they/we were there, [Moses’/my older sister] Miriam died and was buried there.
2 Huko hapakuwa na maji kwa ajili ya watu, kwa hiyo wakakusanyika kinyume na Musa na Haruni huko.
There was no water for the people to drink there, so they came to Aaron and Moses/me.
3 Watu wakamlalamikia Musa. Wakasema, “Ilikuwa ni bora kama tungelikufa wakati Waisraeli wenzetu walipokufa mbele za BWANA.
They complained and said, “We wish that we had died in front of Yahweh’s Sacred Tent when our fellow Israelis died!
4 Kwa nini umewaleta watu wa BWANA kufia katika jangwa hili, sisi na wanyama wetu?
(Did you bring us, who are Yahweh’s people, into this desert to die along with our livestock?/You brought us, who are Yahweh’s people, into this desert to die along with our livestock!) [RHQ]
5 Kwa nini ulitutoa Misri na kutuleta katika eneo hili baya? Hapa hakuna nafaka, wala mitini, wala mizabibu, wala makomamanga. Na hakuna maji ya kunywa.”
Why did you bring us from Egypt to this miserable place [RHQ]? There is no grain, there are no figs, no grapes, and no pomegranates here. And there is no water for us to drink!”
6 Basi Musa na Haruni wakatoweka mbele ya mkutano huo. Wakaenda kwenye hema ya kukutania wakalala kifudifudi. Ndipo pale utukufu wa Busara wa BWANA ukaonekana kwao.
Aaron and Moses/I turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Sacred Tent and prostrated themselves/ourselves on the ground. Then Yahweh appeared to them/us with his bright glory,
7 BWANA akanena na Musa, akamwambia,
and he said to Moses/me,
8 “Chukua fimbo yako na uwakusanye watu, wewe na Haruni ndugu yako. Uumbie huu mwamba mbele ya macho yao, na uumuru utoe maji. Nawe utawapa maji kutoka kwenye huu mwamba, nawe utawapa maji ya kunywa hao watu na wanyama wao.”
“You and Aaron must take Aaron’s walking stick with you and gather all the people together. While the people are watching, command that water will flow out of that [large] rock over there. Water for the people will flow from it; all they and all their livestock will have enough water to drink.”
9 Musa akachukua hiyo fimbo mbele ya BWANA, kama vile BWANA alivyokuwa amemwamuru kufanya.
So Moses/I did what Yahweh told him/me to do. He/I took Aaron’s walking stick from the place in the Sacred Tent where it was kept.
10 Kisha Musa na Haruni wakawakusanya watu pamoja mbele ya ule mwamba. Ndipo Musa akawaambia, “Sasa sikilizeni, enyi wapinzani. Lazima tuwape maji kutoka kwenye huu mwamba?”
Then Aaron and he/I summoned all the people to gather at the rock. Then Moses/I shouted to them, “All you rebellious people, listen! Is it necessary for us to give you water from this rock?”
11 Ndipo Musa akanyosha mkono wake na kuupiga ule mwamba mara mbili kwa fimbo yake, na maji mengi yakatoka. Wale watu wakanywa pamoja na wanyama wao.
Then Moses/I raised his/my hand and [instead of speaking to the rock], he/I struck the rock two times with the walking stick. And water gushed/poured out. So all the people and their livestock drank all the water that they wanted.
12 Kisha BWANA akamwambia Musa na Haruni, “Kwa kuwa hamkuniheshimu mimi na kuniamini mbele ya watu wa Israeli, hamtawaingiza hawa watu katika nchi niliyowaahidi.
But Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses/me, “You did not believe that I could demonstrate my power to the Israeli people [and give them water without your striking the rock]. So you will not lead them into the land that I am giving to them!”
13 Mahali hapa paliitwa maji ya Meriba kwa sababu wana wa Israeli walitofautiana na BWANA pale, na akajionyesha kwao kuwa mtakatifu.
Later this place was called Meribah, [which means ‘arguing’], because there the Israeli people argued with Yahweh, and there he showed his power to them [by giving them water].
14 Musa akatuma wajumbe kutoka Kadeshi kwa mfalme wa Edom: Ndugu yako Israeli anasema hivi: “Wewe unajua magumu yote ambayo yametupata.
[While the people were] at Kadesh [town], Moses/I sent messengers to the king of Edom to tell him this: “Your relatives, the Israeli people, are sending you this message. You know the many troubles/hardships that have happened to us.
15 Na unajua kuwa babu zetu walienda Misri na waliishi Misri kwa muda mrefu. Wamisri walitutendea vibaya pamoja na babu zetu.
You know that our ancestors went down to Egypt. You know that they stayed there for many years. They suffered because the [rulers of] Egypt caused them to become their slaves [and to work very hard].
16 Tulipomlilia BWANA, akatusikia na kututumia malaika ambaye alitutoa toka Misri. Tazama, sasa tuko Kadeshi, mji unaopakana na nchi yako.
“But when they called out to Yahweh, he heard them and sent an angel who brought them out of Egypt. Now we have set up our tents here at Kadesh, a town at the border of your land.
17 Tunakuomba uturuhusu kupita katika nchi yako. Hatutapita mashambani wala kwenye mashamba ya mizabibu, wala hatutakunywa maji ya visima vyako. Tutapita kwenye njia kuu ya mfalme. Hatutageuka upande wa kulia wala upande wa kushoto mpaka tutakapopita mpaka wako.”
Please allow us to travel through your country. We will [be careful to] not walk through your fields and your vineyards. We will not even drink water from your wells. As we travel, we will stay on the king’s highway, [the main road that goes from the south to the north], and we will not leave that road until we have crossed the border [of your country in the north].”
18 Lakini mfalme wa Edomu akamjibu, “Msipite hapa. Kama mtafanya hivyo, Nitakuja na upanga kukuvamia.”
But the king of Edom refused. He replied, “Stay out of my country! If you try [to enter it], I will [send my army to] attack you!”
19 Ndipo wana wa Israeli wakamwambia,”tutapitia njia kuu. Kama sisi au wanyama wetu watakunywa maji yako, basi tutalipa. Tunaomba uturuhusu tupite tukitembea kwa miguu yetu, bila kufanya jambo lolote lile.”
The Israeli messengers replied, “[If we travel through your country], we will stay on the main road. If we and any of our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We want only to travel through your country. We do not want anything else.”
20 Lakini mfalme wa Edomu akajibu, “Usipite hapa.” Kwa hiyo nfalme wa Edomu akawa kinyume cha Israeli kwa mkono wenye nguvu pamoja na jeshi kubwa sana.
But the king replied, “No! Stay out of our country! We will not [allow you] to travel through our land!” Then he sent the strongest soldiers in his army to prevent the Israelis [from entering his country].
21 Mfame wa Edomu akawazuia wana wa Israeli kupita kwenye mipaka yake. Kwa sababu ya hili, Israeli akageuka kuiacha nchi ya Edomu.
So, because [the king of] Edom refused to allow the Israelis to travel through his country, the Israelis turned [and traveled a different way].
22 Kwa hiyo watu wakasafiri kutoka Kadeshi. Wana wa Israeli, watu wote, wakafika Mlima Hori.
The Israeli people left Kadesh. They went to Hor Mountain,
23 BWANA akanena na Musa na Haruni hapo kwenye Mlima Hori, kwenye mpaka wa Edomu. Akasema,
[which is at the border of Edom]. While they were there, Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses/me,
24 “Sasa ni wakati wa Haruni kukusanyika na watu wake, hataingia katika nchi ile niliyowaahidi wana wa Israeli. Hii ni kwa sababu ninyi wawili hamkuitii sauti yangu pale kwenye maji ya Meriba.
“It is time for Aaron to die [EUP]. He will not enter the land that I am giving to you Israelis, because the two of you disobeyed me [when I told you to speak to the rock to cause] the water [to flow] at Meribah.
25 Mchukue Haruni na Eliazari mwanaye, na uwalete juu ya Mlima Hori.
Now you, Moses, take Aaron and his son Eleazar up on Hor Mountain.
26 Umvulishi HarunI yale mavazi ya kikuhani na umvalishe Eliazari mwanaye. Haruni atakufa na kulazwa pamoja na watu wake.”
There you must remove Aaron’s robes [that he wears when he does the work of a priest], and put them on his son, Eleazar. Aaron will die up there.”
27 Musa akafanya kama BWANA alivyomwamuru. Wakaenda juu y a Mlima Hori na watu wote wakiona.
So Moses/I did what Yahweh commanded. The three of them/us climbed up Hor Mountain, while all the Israeli people watched.
28 Musa akamvulisha Haruni yale mavazi ya kikuhani na kumvalisha Mwanaye Eliazari. Haruni akafa pale juu ya Mlima Hori. Kisha Musa na Eliazari wakashuka.
At the top of the mountain, Moses/I took off the robes that Aaron wore [while he did the work of a priest] and put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Eleazar and Moses/I went back down.
29 Watu walipoona kuwa Haruni amekufa, taifa lote wakamlilia Haruni kwa siku arobaini.
When the Israeli people realized that Aaron had died, they all mourned for him for 30 days.
