1 Ahemfo 20
1 Aramhene Ben-Hadad boaboaa nʼakofo nyinaa ano, a nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ a wɔyɛ ahemfo aboafo aduasa abien de ka ne ho. Wokotuaa Israel kuropɔn Samaria ano, tow hyɛɛ so.
And Ben–hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
2 Ben-Hadad somaa abɔfo kɔɔ kurow no mu, sɛ wɔnkɔka nkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab se, “Ben-Hadad se,
And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben–hadad,
3 ‘Mo dwetɛ ne mo sikakɔkɔɔ yɛ me de. Saa ara na mo yerenom ne mo mma mu apapa no nso yɛ me de.’”
Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.
4 Ahab buae se, “Mate, me wura! Nea mewɔ nyinaa yɛ wo de.”
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
5 Ankyɛ biara Ben-Hadad abɔfo san baa bio bɛkae se, “Ben-Hadad se, ‘Maka dedaw sɛ momfa mo dwetɛ, sikakɔkɔɔ, mo yerenom ne mo mma mma me.
And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben–hadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
6 Ɔkyena sesɛɛ, mɛsoma me mpanyimfo, na wɔabɛhwehwɛ mo ahemfi ne mo nkurɔfo afi. Na biribiara a ɛsom bo ma mo no, wɔbɛfa de akɔ.’”
Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.
7 Na Ahab frɛɛ asase no so ntuanofo no nyinaa, ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Monhwɛ sɛnea saa ɔbarima yi pɛ sɛ ɔde ɔhaw ba. Mapene so dedaw sɛ mede me yerenom, me mma, me dwetɛ ne me sikakɔkɔɔ bɛma no.”
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
8 Ntuanofo ne nnipa no nyinaa kae se, “Ntie no, na nnye nʼabisade no nto mu.”
And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
9 Enti Ahab ka kyerɛɛ abɔfo a wofi Ben-Hadad nkyɛn bae no se, “Monkɔka saa asɛm yi nkyerɛ me wura ɔhene se, ‘Biribiara a obisaa kan no de, mede bɛma no. Na nea obisaa no akyiri yi de, merentumi mfa mma no.’” Enti Ben-Hadad abɔfo no san kɔbɔɔ no amanneɛ.
Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben–hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
10 Na Ben-Hadad soma kɔka kyerɛɛ Ahab se, “Sɛ mansɛe Samaria pasaa, na emu mfutuma dodow bi ka a ɛbɛboro asraafo no mu biara nsa ma a, anyame no ntwe mʼaso nea ɛyɛ den.”
And Ben–hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
11 Israelhene nso soma ma wɔkɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔkofo kɛse a ɔrefa nʼafoa akɔ akono tu ne ho sɛ ɔkofo kɛse a wadi nkonim dedaw.”
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armour boast himself as he that putteth it off.
12 Ahab mmuae yi duu Ben-Hadad ne ahemfo a wɔaka no asom bere a na wɔrenom nsa wɔ wɔn ntamadan mu. Ɔhyɛɛ ne mmarima no se, “Munsiesie mo ho nkɔko.” Enti wosiesiee wɔn ho sɛ wɔrekɔtow ahyɛ kuropɔn no so.
And it came to pass, when Ben–hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
13 Na odiyifo bi behuu ɔhene Ahab ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni, ‘Wuhu saa atamfo dɔm yi? Nnɛ, mede wɔn bɛhyɛ wo nsa. Na wubehu sɛ mene Awurade.’”
And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith Yhwh, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Yhwh.
14 Ahab bisae se, “Na dɛn na ɔbɛyɛ no?” Na odiyifo no buae se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni, ‘Asraafo so asahene a wotuatua amansin ano no na wɔbɛyɛ.’” Ahab bisae se, “Enti yenni kan ntow nhyɛ wɔn so ana?” Odiyifo no buae se, “Yiw.”
And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Yhwh, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15 Enti Ahab boaboaa asraafo so asahene nkumaa ahannu aduasa abien wɔhyehyɛ amansin asahene ase ano. Afei, ɔfrɛɛ Israel akofo a wɔaka a wɔn nyinaa dodow yɛ mpem ason no.
Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16 Ɛbɛyɛ owigyinae a Ben-Hadad ne nʼapamfo ahemfo aduasa abien gu so rebow nsa wɔ wɔn ntamadan mu no,
And they went out at noon. But Ben–hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17 amansin asahene asraafo no tuu teɛe, fii kurow no mu. Wɔrebɛn no, Ben-Hadad akwansrafo ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Asraafo dɔm bi fi Samaria reba.”
And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben–hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
18 Ben-Hadad hyɛe se, “Sɛ wɔbaa asomdwoe anaa ɔko so a, monkyere wɔn anikann.”
And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19 Nanso saa bere no, na Ahab amansin asahene nkumaa no adi kan a asraafo no bɔ wɔn kyidɔm
So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
20 a Israel ɔsraani biara kum ne tamfo Aram ɔsraani a ɔne no dii asi. Ɛno nti, amono mu hɔ ara, Aram asraafo no bɔɔ hu, guanee. Israelfo no taa wɔn, nanso ɔhene Ben-Hadad ne ne nkurɔfo kakra bi de, wɔtenaa apɔnkɔ so guanee.
And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Ben–hadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
21 Nanso wɔsɛee apɔnkɔ ne nteaseɛnam a ɛkaa hɔ no nyinaa, kunkum Aramfo no.
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
22 Akyiri no, odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ Ahab se, “Siesie wo ho ma ɔko foforo na Aramhene bɛba asusowbere mu.”
And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
23 Wodii Ben-Hadad so no, ne mpanyimfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Israel anyame no yɛ mmepɔw anyame, na ɛno nti na ɛma wodii nkonim no. Na sɛ wodu tataw so a, yebedi wɔn so nkonim a yɛremmrɛ ho koraa.
And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
24 Nea ɛho hia ara ne sɛ, saa bere yi, ɛsɛ sɛ wode akono asahene sisi ahemfo no anan mu.
And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:
25 Momfa asraafo foforo a wɔn dodow te sɛ wɔn a wohweree wɔn no ara. Ma yɛn apɔnkɔ no dodow, nteaseɛnam ne mmarima dodow saa ara, na yebetumi ne wɔn adi asi wɔ tataw so. Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ yebedi wɔn so.” Enti ɔhene Ben-Hadad yɛɛ wɔn abisade maa wɔn.
And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.
26 Na afe so no, ɔfrɛɛ Aram asraafo, tuu teɛ kɔɔ Israelfo so wɔ Afek sɛ wɔne wɔn rekɔko.
And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben–hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
27 Israel boaboaa nʼasraafo ano, twaa sa, de wɔn ho hyɛɛ ɔko no mu. Na sɛ wɔde Israel asraafo no toto Aram asraafo no dodow a wɔahyɛ hɔ ma no ho a, na Israel asraafo no dodow te sɛ mmirekyikuw nketewa abien bi.
And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28 Onyankopɔn nipa no kɔɔ Israelhene nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Aramfo no aka se, ‘Awurade yɛ mmepɔw Awurade na ɔnyɛ tataw so Awurade. Enti mɛboa wo ama woadi asraafo buburugyaa yi so. Na ɛbɛma woahu sɛ, mene Awurade no.’”
And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Yhwh, Because the Syrians have said, Yhwh is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am Yhwh.
29 Asraafo dɔm abien yi bobɔɔ wɔn atenae, ma edii nhwɛanim nnanson. Na nnanson so no, ɔko no hyɛɛ ase. Da no ara, Israelfo no kunkum Aram anammɔnmufo asraafo no mpem ɔha.
And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.
30 Nkae no guan kɔtɛw Afek fasu akyi, nanso ɔfasu no bu guu wɔn so, kum mpem aduonu ason. Ben-Hadad guan kɔtɛw kokoa mu dan bi mu wɔ kurow no mu.
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Ben–hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
31 Ben-Hadad mpanyimfo ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Owura, yɛate sɛ Israel ahemfo wɔ ahummɔbɔ. Ɛno nti, momma yemfura atweaatam, mfa hama mmɔ yɛn ti ase mfa nkyerɛ ahobrɛase. Na ebia, ɔhene Ahab bɛma woatena ase.”
And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.
32 Enti wofurafuraa atweaatam, de ahama bobɔɔ wɔn ti, kɔɔ Israelhene nkyɛn kɔsrɛɛ no se, “Wo somfo Ben-Hadad se, ‘Mesrɛ wo, ma me ntena nkwa mu.’” Israelhene no bisae se, “Ɔda so te ase ana? Ɔyɛ me nuabarima!”
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben–hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
33 Mmarima no yɛɛ ntɛm soo anidaso a enni nnyinaso yi mu, buae se, “Yiw, wo nua Ben-Hadad.” Israelhene no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Monkɔfa no mmra.” Bere a wɔde Ben-Hadad bae no, Ahab ma ɔkɔtenaa ne teaseɛnam mu.
Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Ben–hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben–hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
34 Ben-Hadad ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mede nkurow a mʼagya gye fii wʼagya nsam no bɛsan ama wo, na woahyehyɛ aguadi wɔ Damasko, sɛnea mʼagya yɛɛ wɔ Samaria no.” Na Ahab kae se, “Saa nhyehyɛe yi so na megyina na magyaa wo.” Enti, wɔyɛɛ apam, na wogyaa Ben-Hadad.
And Ben–hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
35 Bere no ara mu, Awurade see adiyifokuw no mu baako se, ɔnka nkyerɛ ɔfoforo se, “Fa wʼakode no bɔ me.” Nanso wanyɛ.
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of Yhwh, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.
36 Na saa odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ ɔfoforo no se, “Sɛ woantie Awurade nne nti, sɛ wufi ha ara pɛ a, gyata bekum wo.” Ampa ara, ofii hɔ ara pɛ na gyata huu no kum no.
Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of Yhwh, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.
37 Na odiyifo no kɔɔ ɔbarima foforo nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Fa wʼakode yi bɔ me.” Ɔno de, ɔbɔɔ odiyifo no, piraa no.
Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.
38 Odiyifo no twɛn ɔhene no wɔ ɔkwankyɛn a ɔde ntamabamma akyekyere nʼani, de pɛɛ sɛ ɔsakra ne ho.
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.
39 Ɔhene no retwa mu no, odiyifo no frɛɛ no se, “Owura, na mewɔ akono na ɔbarima bi de odeduani brɛɛ me. Ɔkae se, ‘Wɛn saa ɔbarima yi, na sɛ biribi nti oguan a, wobekum wo anaasɛ wɔbɛbɔ wo ka dwetɛ kilogram aduasa awotwe.’
And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.
40 Na bere a mʼani abere redi dwuma bi no, odeduani no guanee. Na ɔhene no kae se, ‘Ɛyɛ wʼankasa wo mfomso. Wo ara woabu wo ho atɛn.’”
And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.
41 Ɛhɔ ara na odiyifo no san ntamabamma no fii nʼani, na Israelhene no huu no sɛ ɔyɛ adiyifo no mu baako.
And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
42 Na odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Esiane sɛ woagyaa ɔbarima a mekae se, ɛsɛ sɛ wokum no no nti, ɛsɛ sɛ wokum wo mprempren si nʼanan mu. Na anka ɛsɛ sɛ ne nkurɔfo na mukunkum wɔn, na mmom, wo nkurɔfo na wobekunkum wɔn.”
And he said unto him, Thus saith Yhwh, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
43 Israelhene no de abufuw kɔɔ nʼahemfi wɔ Samaria.
And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
