2 Samuel 3
1 Ɔko a ɛbɛtɔɔ wɔn a wɔwɔ Saulo afa ne wɔn a wɔwɔ Dawid afa no kyɛe yiye, na ne mfiase ni. Bere a Dawid adedi renya ahoɔden no na Saulo adedi no resɛe.
There was a long war between those who wanted Saul’s son to be their king and those who wanted David to be their king. But more and more people began to want David to be the king, while the number of people who wanted Saul’s son to be the king continued to become smaller.
2 Eyinom ne Dawid mmabarima a wɔwoo wɔn wɔ Hebron: Nʼabakan no din de Amnon a ɔyɛ Ahinoam a ofi Yesreel no babarima.
David’s wives gave birth to six sons at Hebron. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel [city].
3 Nea ɔto so abien no din de Kileab a ɔyɛ Abigail a na ɔyɛ Nabal a ofi Karmel no kunabea babarima; nea ɔto so abiɛsa no din de Absalom a ɔyɛ Gesurhene Talmai babea Maaka babarima.
The next one was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from Carmel [city]. The next one was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of [the] Geshur [region].
4 Nea ɔto so anan no din de Adoniya a ɔyɛ Hagit babarima; nea ɔto so anum no din de Sefatia a ɔyɛ Abital babarima.
The next one was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next one was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
5 Na nea ɔto so asia no din de Yitream a ɔyɛ Dawid yere Egla babarima. Wɔwoo saa mma yi maa Dawid wɔ Hebron.
The youngest one was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, [another one of] David’s wives. Those sons of David were all born in Hebron.
6 Bere a na ɔko a ɛda Saulo fi ne Dawid fi no gu so no, na Abner agye din ama nʼankasa ne ho wɔ Saulo fi.
While those who wanted Saul’s son to rule over them and those who wanted David to rule over them continued to fight against each other, Abner was becoming more influential among those who wanted Saul’s son to be the king.
7 Na Saulo wɔ mpena bi a wɔfrɛ no Rispa, a ɔyɛ Aia babea. Na Is-Boset bisaa Abner se, “Adɛn nti na wo ne mʼagya mpena dae?”
When Saul was alive, he had as one of his wives a slave woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. [But one day Abner had sexual relations with her]. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you had sexual relations with [EUP] my father’s slave wife?”
8 Abner bo fuw yiye kae se, “Meyɛ akraman sodifo wɔ Yuda na wɔadwoodwoo me saa? Nea mayɛ ama wo ne wʼagya, a manyi mo amma Dawid no, mʼayeyi ne sɛ, mode ɔbea yi ho asɛm rekyekyere me?
Abner became very angry about what Ishbosheth said to him. He said to Ishbosheth, “(Do you think that I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah?/You are treating me as though I am a [worthless] dog [MET] from Judah.) [RHQ] From the beginning, I have been loyal to Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends. And I have prevented you from being defeated by David’s army. So now (why are you criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman?/you should not be criticizing me about [what I have done with] some woman.) [RHQ]
9 Sɛ mammoa Dawid amma ne nsa anka nea Awurade hyɛɛ ho bɔ no a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no ɔnwene so.
Yahweh solemnly promised that he would not allow Saul and his descendants to continue to rule. He promised that he would cause David to rule over all the tribes of Israel and Judah, from Dan [city] far in the north to Beersheba [city] far in the south. So I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I do not enable that to happen!”
10 Mede Saulo ahenni bɛkɔ akɔma Dawid na matim Dawid ahengua ase wɔ Israel ne Yuda so afi Dan akosi Beer-Seba.”
11 Esiane sɛ na Is-Boset suro Abner nti, wantumi ankasa bio.
Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner, so he did not say anything in reply to Abner.
12 Afei, Abner tuu abɔfo kɔɔ Dawid nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ma yɛnyɛ nhyehyɛe na mɛboa ama yɛadan Israelman mu no nyinaa ama wo.”
Then Abner sent messengers to David [when he was at Hebron], to say to him, “[Either you or I] should be [RHQ] the ruler of this entire nation, [but not Isbosheth. However, ] if you make an agreement with me, I will help you by encouraging all the people of Israel to (be want you to be their king/start to support) you.”
13 Dawid buae se, “Ɛyɛ asɛm papa, nanso me ne wo renyɛ saa nhyehyɛe no gye sɛ, sɛ woreba a, wode me yere Mikal a ɔyɛ Saulo babea no brɛ me.”
David sent back this reply: “Good! I am willing to make an agreement with you. But before that happens, there is one thing that you must do. When you come to see me, you must bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter.”
14 Enti, Dawid soma ma wɔkɔbɔɔ Saulo babarima Is-Boset amanneɛ se, “Ma me nsa nka me yere Mikal, efisɛ mede Filistifo ɔha nkwa na ɛtɔɔ no.”
Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, to say to him, “I [had to kill] 100 men from Philistia [and cut off] their foreskins to give to Saul to pay for Michal [to be my wife]. So now give her back to me!”
15 Enti Is-Boset gyee Mikal fii ne kunu Paltiel a ɔyɛ Lais babarima no nsam.
So Ishbosheth sent some men to take Michal from her husband Palti. But [when they took her, ] her husband followed them all the way to Bahurim [town], crying as he went.
16 Na Paltiel de osu dii ɔbea no akyi koduu Bahurim. Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ no se, “San kɔ fie.” Na Paltiel san kɔɔ fie.
Then Abner [turned and] said to him, “Go back [home]!”, so he did.
17 Na Abner ne Israel ntuanofo adidi nkɔmmɔ. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mmere kakra a atwam no, na mopɛ sɛ musi Dawid ɔhene.
Abner went to the Israeli leaders and talked with them. He said, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
18 Bere no ni. Efisɛ Awurade aka se, ‘Mayi Dawid sɛ onnye me nkurɔfo mfi Filistifo ne wɔn atamfo nyinaa nsam.’”
So now you have an opportunity to do that. Keep in mind that Yahweh promised this: ‘With the help of David, who serves me [well], I will rescue my people from the people of Philistia, and from the power [MTY] of all their other enemies’.”
19 Abner san ne Benyamin abusua mu ntuanofo kasae. Afei, ɔkɔɔ Hebron kɔbɔɔ Dawid amanneɛ se, Israel nyinaa ne Benyamin taa wʼakyi.
Abner also spoke to the people of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron, to tell David what all the people of Israel and the people of the tribe of Benjamin had agreed to do.
20 Bere a Abner ne ne mmarima aduonu baa Hebron no, Dawid too wɔn pon kɛse.
When Abner came with 20 of his soldiers to see David at Hebron, David made a feast for all of them.
21 Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ Dawid se, “Ma menkɔ na menkɔfrɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wɔmmra wʼafa. Wɔne wo bɛyɛ apam, na wɔasi wo hene. Na ɛbɛma woadi biribiara a wo koma pɛ so.” Enti Dawid maa Abner kɔɔ dwoodwoo.
Afterwards, Abner said to David, “Sir/Your majesty, I will now go and encourage all the people of Israel to accept you to be their king, as you have desired.” Then Abner left, peacefully.
22 Abner kɔe ara pɛ, Yoab ne Dawid asraafo no bi fi ɔsa mu bae a wokura asade bebree.
Soon after that, Joab and some of David’s other soldiers returned [to Hebron] after raiding [one of their enemies’ villages], bringing with them a lot of things that they had captured. But Abner was not there at Hebron, because David had sent him safely home.
23 Bere a wɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab se Abner baa hɔ nkyɛe koraa, na ɔbɛsraa ɔhene, ama ɔhene ama no kɔ asomdwoe mu no,
When Joab and the soldiers who were with him arrived, someone told him that Abner had come there and talked with the king, and that the king allowed to go home safely.
24 Yoab yɛɛ ntɛm kohuu ɔhene bisaa no se, “Dɛn na woayɛ yi? Abner kɔ a womaa no kɔe yi, wokyerɛ dɛn?
So Joab went to the king and said, “Why have you done that? Listen to me! Abner [is your enemy, but] when he came to you, you allowed him [RHQ] to leave!
25 Wunim pefee sɛ, ɔbaa wo so sɛ ɔkwansrafo, bɛhwehwɛɛ nea woreyɛ nyinaa mu ana?”
Do you not know that he came to you to deceive you and to find out everything that you are doing, and all the places that you go to?”
26 Ɛhɔ ara, Yoab fi Dawid nkyɛn, na ɔsomaa abɔfo sɛ wontiw Abner. Wɔkɔtoo no Sira ɔtare ho, twee no de no bae. Nanso na Dawid nnim ho hwee.
After Joab left David, he sent some messengers to get Abner. They found him at Sirah Well, and brought him back to Hebron, but David did not know that they had done that.
27 Afei, Abner san kɔɔ Hebron no, Yoab frɛɛ no kɔɔ nkyɛn kosii ɔpon ano te sɛ nea ɔrekɔka kokoamsɛm akyerɛ no no. Na ɛhɔ no na esiane sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔtɔ ne nuabarima Asahel so were no nti, Yoab wɔɔ Abner yafunu mu afoa ma owui.
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city gate, and took him aside as though he wanted to speak with him privately. Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach [with his knife/sword]. In that way he murdered Abner because Abner had killed [MTY] Joab’s brother Asahel.
28 Akyiri no a Dawid tee asɛm no, ɔkae se, “Me ne mʼaheman nnim saa asɛm a ɛfa Abner yi ho hwee wɔ Awurade anim.
Later, after David heard what had happened, he said, “Yahweh knows that I and the people of my kingdom are not at all (responsible for/guilty of) murdering [MTY] Abner.
29 Ne mogya ngu Yoab ne nʼagya fi so! Yoab fi de, awo ntoatoaso mu nyinaa, obi a watutu akuru anaa ɔyare kwata, nea ɔnam pema ho nantew anaa nea owu afoa ano ne nea ɔsrɛsrɛ aduan rempa hɔ da.”
I hope/desire that Joab and all his family will be punished [MTY] for doing that! I hope/desire that there will always be someone in his family who has sores, or someone who is a leper, or some man who is forced to do women’s work, or someone who is killed in a battle, or someone who does not have enough food to eat!”
30 Yoab ne ne nuabarima Abisai kum Abner, efisɛ Abner kum wɔn nuabarima Asahel wɔ akono wɔ Gibeon.
That is how Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31 Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ Yoab ne nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nyinaa se, “Munsunsuan mo ntama mu, na mumfura atweaatam. Muntwa Abner ho agyaadwo.” Na ɔhene Dawid ankasa dii santen a wɔato no akyi, kɔɔ ɔda no so.
Then David said to Joab and to all Joab’s soldiers, “Tear your clothes and put on coarse cloth [to show that you are sad], and mourn for Abner!” And [at the funeral], King David walked behind [the men who were carrying] the coffin.
32 Wosiee Abner wɔ Hebron, na ɔhene Dawid ne nnipa no nyinaa suu wɔ ne da no ho.
They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. And at the grave, the king cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
33 Afei, ɔhene too saa kwadwom yi maa Abner: “Ɛsɛ sɛ Abner wu sɛnea nkwaseafo wu ana?
David sang this sad song to lament for Abner: “It is not right that [RHQ] Abner died like outlaws die!
34 Wɔankyekyere wo nsa; wɔangu wo nan nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn. Dabi, wodii wo awu; amumɔyɛfo atirimpɔw so ade.” Nnipa no nyinaa suu Abner bio.
No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, [like they do to criminals]. No, he was murdered by wicked men!”
35 Da a wɔreyɛ ayi no, Dawid annidi da mu no nyinaa, maa afei, obiara srɛɛ no se onnidi. Nanso na Dawid aka ntam se, “Sɛ mididi ansa na owia akɔtɔ a, Onyankopɔn nkum me.”
Then many [HYP] people came to David to tell him to eat some food before sunset, but David refused. He said, “I hope/desire that God will punish me severely [HYP] if I eat any food before the sun goes down!”
36 Eyi sɔɔ nnipa no ani yiye. Nokware, biribiara a ɔhene no yɛe no sɔɔ ɔmanfo no ani.
All the people saw what David did, and they were pleased. Truly, everything that the king did pleased the people.
37 Eyi maa obiara a ɔte Yuda ne Israel no huu sɛ, ɛnyɛ ɔhene Dawid na okum Abner.
So all the people realized that the king had not wanted Abner to be killed.
38 Na ɔhene Dawid bisaa ɔmanfo no se, “Munhu sɛ ɔkannifo kɛse ne onipa kɛse atɔ fam nnɛ wɔ Israel ana?
The king said to his officials, “(Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel?/You should realize that a leader and a great man has died today in Israel.) [RHQ]
39 Na ɛwɔ mu sɛ me ne ɔhene a wɔasra no de, nanso Seruia mmabarima Yoab ne Abisai de, wɔyɛ den dodo ma me sɛ metumi aka wɔn ahyɛ. Ɛno nti, Awurade ntua saa mmarima amumɔyɛfo yi so ka wɔ wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm ho.”
Even though Yahweh appointed me to be the king, today I feel weak. These two sons of Zeruiah, [Joab and Abishai], are very violent; I cannot control them. So I hope/desire that Yahweh will punish them severely in return for this wicked thing that they have done!”
