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.
Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, gathered all his army, and he persuaded 32 other kings to join him with their armies and horses and chariots. They marched to Samaria [city, the capital of Israel], and surrounded it, and [prepared to] attack it.
2 Ben-Hadad somaa abɔfo kɔɔ kurow no mu, sɛ wɔnkɔka nkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab se, “Ben-Hadad se,
Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city to King Ahab, to say this to him: “This is what King Ben-Hadad says:
3 ‘Mo dwetɛ ne mo sikakɔkɔɔ yɛ me de. Saa ara na mo yerenom ne mo mma mu apapa no nso yɛ me de.’”
‘[You must give to] me all your silver and gold, your (good-looking/most beautiful) wives/women and strongest children.’”
4 Ahab buae se, “Mate, me wura! Nea mewɔ nyinaa yɛ wo de.”
The king of Israel replied to them, “Tell this to King Ben-Hadad: ‘I agree to do what you requested. You can have me and everything that I own.’”
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.
[The messengers told that to] Ben-Hadad, and he [sent them back with] another message: “I sent a message to you saying that you must give me all your silver and gold and your wives and your 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.’”
But [in addition to that], about this time tomorrow, I will send some of my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials, and to bring to me everything that pleases them.”
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.”
King Ahab summoned all the leaders of Israel, and said to them, “You can see/realize for yourselves that this man is trying to cause much trouble. He sent me a message insisting that I must give him my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, and I agreed to do that.”
8 Ntuanofo ne nnipa no nyinaa kae se, “Ntie no, na nnye nʼabisade no nto mu.”
The leaders and all the other people said to him, “Do not pay any attention to him! Do not do what he is requesting!”
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.
So Ahab said to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell the king that I agree to give him the things that he first requested, but I do not agree to allow his officials to take anything that they want from my palace and from the houses of my officials.” So the messengers [reported that to King Ben-Hadad, and they] returned with another message from Ben-Hadad.
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.”
In that message he said, “[We will destroy] your city [completely, with the result that] there will not be enough dust and rubble left for each of my soldiers to have one handful! I hope/wish that the gods will strike me dead if we do not do that!”
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.”
King Ahab replied [to the messengers], “Tell King Ben-Hadad that a soldier who is putting on his armor [preparing to fight a battle] [MTY] should not boast at that time; he [should wait until] after he wins the battle.”
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.
Ben-Hadad heard that message while he and the other rulers were drinking [wine] in their temporary shelters. He told his men to prepare to attack [MTY] the city. So his men did that.
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.’”
At that moment, a prophet came to King Ahab and said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘[Do not be at all afraid of] [RHQ] the large enemy army that you see! I will enable your army to defeat them today, and you will know that it is I, Yahweh, [who have the power to do what I say that I will do].’”
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.”
Ahab asked, “What group [of our army] will defeat them?” The prophet replied, “The young soldiers who are commanded by the district governors will do it.” The king asked, “Who should lead the attack?” The prophet replied, “You should!”
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.
So Ahab gathered the young soldiers who were commanded by the district governors. There were 232 of those men. Then he also summoned all the Israeli army. There were [only] 7,000 soldiers.
16 Ɛbɛyɛ owigyinae a Ben-Hadad ne nʼapamfo ahemfo aduasa abien gu so rebow nsa wɔ wɔn ntamadan mu no,
They started to attack at noon, while Ben-Hadad and the other rulers were getting drunk in their temporary shelters.
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.”
The young soldiers advanced first. Some scouts who had been sent out by Ben-Hadad reported to him, “There are men coming out of Samaria [city]”!
18 Ben-Hadad hyɛe se, “Sɛ wɔbaa asomdwoe anaa ɔko so a, monkyere wɔn anikann.”
He said, “It does not matter whether they are coming to fight against us or to ask for peace. Capture them, but do not kill them
19 Nanso saa bere no, na Ahab amansin asahene nkumaa no adi kan a asraafo no bɔ wɔn kyidɔm
The young Israeli soldiers went out of the city to attack [the Syrian army], and the other soldiers in the Israeli army 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.
Each [Israeli soldier] killed a [Syrian] soldier. The rest of the Syrian army then ran away, and the Israeli soldiers pursued them. But King Ben-Hadad escaped riding his horse, along with some other men riding horses.
21 Nanso wɔsɛee apɔnkɔ ne nteaseɛnam a ɛkaa hɔ no nyinaa, kunkum Aramfo no.
Then the king of Israel went out [of the city], and he and his soldiers captured [all] the [other Syrian] horses and chariots, and also killed a large number of Syrian soldiers.
22 Akyiri no, odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ Ahab se, “Siesie wo ho ma ɔko foforo na Aramhene bɛba asusowbere mu.”
Then that same prophet went to King Ahab and said to him, “Go back and prepare your soldiers, and think carefully about what will be necessary for you to do, because the king of Syria with attack with his army again in the springtime of next year.”
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.
[After the Syrian army was defeated, ] Ben-Hadad’s officials said to him, “The gods that the Israelis [worship] are gods [who live] in the hills. [Samaria is built on a hill, and] that is why their soldiers were able to defeat us. But if we fight against them in the plains/lowlands, we certainly will be able to defeat them.
24 Nea ɛho hia ara ne sɛ, saa bere yi, ɛsɛ sɛ wode akono asahene sisi ahemfo no anan mu.
So, this is what you should do: You must remove the 32 kings [who are leading your troops] and replace them with army commanders.
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.
Then gather an army like the army that was defeated. Gather an army that has as many horses and chariots as the first army had. Then we will fight the Israelis in the plains/lowlands, and we will surely defeat them.” Ben-Hadad agreed with them, and he did what they suggested.
26 Na afe so no, ɔfrɛɛ Aram asraafo, tuu teɛ kɔɔ Israelfo so wɔ Afek sɛ wɔne wɔn rekɔko.
In the spring of the following year, he gathered his soldiers and marched [with them] to Aphek [city east of Galilee Lake], to fight against the Israeli army.
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.
The Israeli army was also gathered together, and they were equipped with the things that they needed [for the battle]. Then they marched out and formed two groups facing the Syrian army. Their army was very small; they resembled two small flocks of goats, whereas the Syrian army [was very large and] spread all over the countryside.
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.’”
A prophet came to King Ahab and said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘The Syrians say that I am a god who lives in the hills, and that I am not a god who lives in the valleys. So I will [show that they are wrong by] enabling your men to defeat this huge army [IDM] [in the valley], and you will know that I, Yahweh, [have done it].’”
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.
The two armies stayed in their tents for seven days, in groups that faced each other. Then, on the seventh day, they started fighting. The Israeli army killed 100,000 Syrian soldiers.
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.
The other Syrian soldiers ran away into Aphek City. Then the wall of the city collapsed and killed 27,000 more Syrian soldiers. Ben-Hadad also escaped into the city, and hid in the back room of a house.
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.”
His officials went to him and said, “We have heard a report that the Israelis act mercifully. So allow us to go to the king of Israel, wearing coarse sacks around our waists and ropes on our heads/necks [to indicate that we will be his slaves]. Perhaps [if we do that, ] he will allow you to remain alive.”
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!”
[The king permitted them to do that, ] so they wrapped coarse sacks around their waists and put ropes on their heads/necks, and they went to the king of Israel and said to him, “Ben-Hadad, who greatly respects you, says, ‘Please do not kill me.’” Ahab replied, “Is he still alive? He is like a brother to me!”
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.
Ben-Hadad’s officials were trying to find out if Ahab would act mercifully, and when Ahab said “brother,” they (were optimistic/thought that Ahab would be merciful). So they replied, “Yes, he is like your brother!” Ahab said, “Go and bring him to me.” So they [went and] brought Ben-Hadad to him. [When Ben-Hadad arrived, ] Ahab told him to get in his chariot [and sit with him].
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.
Ben-Hadad said to him, “I will give back to you the towns that my father’s army took from your father. And I will allow you to set up market areas for your merchants in Damascus [my capital], just as my father did in Samaria [your capital].” Ahab replied, “Because you agree to do that, I will not execute you.” So Ahab made an agreement with Ben-Hadad, and allowed him to go home.
35 Bere no ara mu, Awurade see adiyifokuw no mu baako se, ɔnka nkyerɛ ɔfoforo se, “Fa wʼakode no bɔ me.” Nanso wanyɛ.
Then Yahweh spoke to a member of a group of prophets and said to him, “Ask one of your fellow prophets to strike and wound you.” [So he did what Yahweh told him to do]. [He said to one of his fellow prophets, ‘Strike me and wound me].’ But that man refused to do it.
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.
So the prophet said to him, “Because you refused to obey what Yahweh told you to do, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me.” And as soon as he left that prophet, a lion suddenly pounced on him and killed 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 the prophet found another prophet, and said to him, “Strike me!” So that man hit him [very hard] and injured him.
38 Odiyifo no twɛn ɔhene no wɔ ɔkwankyɛn a ɔde ntamabamma akyekyere nʼani, de pɛɛ sɛ ɔsakra ne ho.
Then the prophet put a large bandage/cloth over his face so that no one would recognize him. Then he went and stood alongside the road, waiting for the king to come by.
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.’
When the king passed by, the prophet cried out to him, saying “Your majesty, [after I was wounded] while I was fighting in a battle, a soldier brought to me one of our enemies that he had captured, and said to me, ‘Guard this man! If he escapes, you must pay me 3,000 pieces of silver, and if you do not pay that, you will be executed!’
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.’”
But while I was busy doing other things, the man escaped!” The king of Israel said to him, “That is your problem! You yourself have said that you deserve to be punished.”
41 Ɛhɔ ara na odiyifo no san ntamabamma no fii nʼani, na Israelhene no huu no sɛ ɔyɛ adiyifo no mu baako.
The prophet immediately took off the bandage, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one 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 the prophet said to him, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘You have allowed that man [Ben-Hadad] to escape after I commanded you to be sure to execute him! Since you did not do that, you will be killed instead. And your army will be destroyed because you allowed [some of] his army to escape!’”
43 Israelhene no de abufuw kɔɔ nʼahemfi wɔ Samaria.
The king went back home to Samaria, very angry and depressed/dejected.
