2 Ahemfo 10

1 Na Ahab wɔ mmabarima aduɔson a wɔtete Samaria. Na Yehu kyerɛw krataa, kyekyɛ maa kurow no mpanyimfo, ntuanofo ne wɔn a wɔhwɛ Ahab mmabarima no so no. Na krataa no ka se,

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 “Ɔhene mmabarima no wɔ mo nkyɛn. Ne nteaseɛnam, nʼapɔnkɔ, kurow a wɔabɔ ho ban ne akode nyinaa nso saa ara. Sɛ mo nsa ka saa krataa yi ara pɛ a,

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

3 munyi ɔhene Ahab mmabarima no mu nea ɔfata a ɔwɔ mu no, na munsi no mo so hene, na munsiesie mo ho nko mma Ahab fi.”

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 Nanso wɔbɔɔ huboa kae se, “Ahemfo baanu mpo antumi annyina, antia saa ɔbarima yi! Na dɛn na yebetumi ayɛ?”

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

5 Enti mpanyimfo a wɔhwɛ ahemfi hɔ ne kurow no so ne ntuanofo ahorow no ne wɔn a wɔhwɛ ɔhene mmabarima so no de saa nkra yi kɔmaa Yehu se, “Yɛyɛ wo nkoa, na biribiara a wobɛka sɛ yɛnyɛ no, yɛbɛyɛ. Yɛrensi obiara hene. Nea wususuw sɛ eye biara no, yɛ.”

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 Yehu kyerɛw krataa a ɛto so abien de buae se, “Sɛ mowɔ mʼafa, na mubetie mʼasɛm de a, ɔkyena sesɛɛ mmere mu, momfa ɔhene no mmabarima ti mmrɛ me wɔ Yesreel.” Na Samaria ntuanofo bi na wɔhwɛ ɔhene mmabarima aduɔson no so a wɔatetew wɔn fi wɔn mmofraase pɛɛ.

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 Krataa no duu ara pɛ, na ntuanofo no kunkum ɔhene no mmabarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Wɔde wɔn ti no guu nkɛntɛn mu, na wɔde kɔmaa Yehu wɔ Yesreel.

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 Ɔbɔfo kɔɔ Yehu nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wɔde ɔhene mmabarima no ti no aba.” Enti Yehu hyɛe se, “Mommoaboa ano akuw abien wɔ kurow no pon ano, na munnyaw hɔ nkosi adekyee.”

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 Ade kyee no, ɔkɔkasa kyerɛɛ dɔm a wɔahyia hɔ no se, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ obi bɔ mo sobo. Me na mebɔɔ pɔw, de tiaa me wura, nam so kum no. Na hena na okunkum eyinom?

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 Nea ɛwɔ hɔ ne sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ asɛm a efi Awurade nkyɛn a wɔka faa Ahab fi ho no ba mu. Awurade nam ne somfo Elia so daa no adi sɛ eyi bɛba mu.”

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 Na Yehu kunkum Ahab abusuafo a wɔtete Yesreel no ne ne mpanyimfo atitiriw ne nnamfonom ne nʼakɔmfo nyinaa. Enti anka Ahab aseni biara.

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 Na Yehu fii hɔ kɔɔ Samaria. Ɔrekɔ no, ɔkɔdaa Bet-Eked nguanhwɛfo ahɔhodan mu.

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

13 Ohyiaa Yudahene Ahasia abusuafo bi. Obisae se, “Moyɛ hefo?” Wobuae se, “Yɛyɛ ɔhene Ahasia abusuafo. Yɛrekɔsra ɔhene Ahab mmabarima ne ɔhemmea no.”

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 teɛɛ mu, ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima se, “Monkyere wɔn anikann.” Na wɔkyekyeree nnipa aduanan abien no nyinaa kunkum wɔn wɔ Bet-Eked abura so. Wannyaw wɔn mu biara.

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 Bere a Yehu fii hɔ no, ohyiaa Rekab babarima Yehonadab a na ɔrebehyia no. Wokyiakyiaa wɔn ho wiei no, Yehu bisaa no se, “Wowɔ me ho adwene pa, sɛnea mewɔ wo ho adwene pa no ana?” Yehonadab buae se, “Yiw.” Yehu toaa so se, “Sɛ ɛte saa de a, kyia me.” Yehonadab teɛɛ ne nsa ma Yehu kyiaa no, de no tenaa teaseɛnam no mu.

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 Na Yehu kae se, “Afei, wo ne me nkɔ, na hu sɛnea mede me ho ama Awurade no.” Enti Yehonadab ne no tenaa teaseɛnam no mu kɔe.

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

17 Bere a Yehu duu Samaria no, okunkum Ahab fifo a wɔaka wɔ hɔ no nyinaa, sɛnea Awurade nam Elia so hyɛe no.

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 Na Yehu frɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ kurow no mu no nyinaa nhyiamu, ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Ahab som Baal kakra; Yehu bɛsom no yiye.

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

19 Momfrɛ Baal adiyifo, asomfo ne nʼakɔmfo nyinaa mmra. Monhwɛ sɛ wɔn mu biara bɛba, efisɛ merebɛbɔ Baal afɔre kɛse. Obiara a ɔsom Baal a wamma no, wobekum no.” Na Yehu redaadaa wɔn, sɛnea ɔbɛsɛe wɔn a wɔsom Baal no nyinaa.

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 Afei, Yehu hyɛe se, “Munhyia, mmɔ gua anibere so, na monsɔre Baal!” Enti wɔyɛɛ saa.

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

21 Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Israel mmaa nyinaa, kɔfrɛɛ wɔn a wɔsom Baal no nyinaa. Wɔn nyinaa ba bɛhyɛɛ Baal abosomfi hɔ ma tɔ, fi ti kosi ti.

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 Na Yehu hyɛɛ nea ɔhwɛ ntadedaka no so no se, “Hwɛ ma obiara a ɔsom Baal no nhyɛ batakari yi baako.” Enti wɔkyekyɛɛ batakari maa wɔn.

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 Na Yehu ne Rekab babarima Yehonadab kɔɔ Baal abosomfi hɔ. Yehu ka kyerɛɛ Baal asomfo no se, “Monhwɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ Baal asomfo no nko ara na wɔwɔ ha. Mommma obiara a ɔsom Awurade no mma mu.”

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 Enti na wɔn nyinaa wɔ abosomfi hɔ rekɔbɔ afɔre ne ɔhyew afɔre. Yehu de nʼasraafo aduɔwɔtwe twaa ɔdan no ho hyiae, hyɛɛ wɔn se, “Sɛ moma obi guan a, mo ara mode mo nkwa betwa so.”

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 Yehu wiee ɔhyew afɔre no bɔ ara pɛ, ɔhyɛɛ nʼawɛmfo ne ne mpanyimfo no se, “Munkokunkum wɔn nyinaa. Mommma ɔbaako koraa nguan!” Enti wɔde wɔn afoa kunkum wɔn nyinaa. Na awɛmfo no ne mpanyimfo no twee wɔn amu no beguu abɔnten. Yehu asraafo no kɔɔ Baal abosomfi no aban mu.

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 Wɔtwee Baal adum no a na wɔde som no no, sɛee no.

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

27 Wobubuu Baal adum no, sɛee nʼabosomfi no pasaa, de hɔ yɛɛ ɔmanfo agyananbea. Na ɛda so yɛ agyananbea de besi nnɛ.

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 Yehu nam saa ɔkwan yi so, de tɔree Baalsom ase korakora wɔ Israelman mu.

Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,

29 Nanso Yehu ansɛe sika nantwimma a ɛwɔ Bet-El ne Dan no; wantwe ne ho amfi bɔne kɛse a Nebat babarima Yeroboam dii Israelfo anim ma wɔyɛe no ho.

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 Na Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Yehu se, “Woayɛ ade sɛ wutiee mʼasɛm, nam so sɛee Ahab fifo. Ne saa nti, mɛma wʼasefo adi ahene wɔ Israel, akosi awo ntoatoaso anan so.”

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 Nanso Yehu amfa ne koma anni Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn mmara no so. Wantwe ne ho amfi ahonisom a Yeroboam dii Israelfo anim, ma wɔyɛɛ no ho.

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 Saa mmere no, Awurade fii ase tew Israel asase no kɛse so. Ɔhene Hasael dii ɔman no afaafa bebree so

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

33 wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan apuei fam wɔ Gilead nyinaa, a Gad, Ruben ne Manase ka ho. Odii asase a efi Aroer kurow a ɛda Arnon Subon ho, de kosi atifi fam wɔ Gilead ne Basan.

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 Na Yehu ahenni mu nsɛm a esisii, ne dwuma ahorow a odii ne nea otumi yɛe no, wɔankyerɛw angu Israel Ahemfo Abakɔsɛm Nhoma no mu ana?

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 Bere a Yehu wui no, wosiee no wɔ ne mpanyimfo nkyɛn wɔ Samaria. Na ne babarima Yehoahas na odii nʼade sɛ ɔhene.

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

36 Nna a Yehu de dii Israel so wɔ Samaria no yɛ mfe aduonu awotwe.

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