2 Ahemfo 10

1 Na Ahab wɔ mmammarima aduɔson a wɔtete Samaria. Na Yehu twerɛɛ krataa, kyekyɛ maa kuro no mpanimfoɔ, ntuanofoɔ ne wɔn a wɔhwɛ Ahab mmammarima no so no. Na krataa no ka sɛ,

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 mmammarima no wɔ mo nkyɛn. Ne nteaseɛnam, nʼapɔnkɔ, kuro a wɔabɔ ho ban ne akodeɛ 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 monyi ɔhene Ahab mmammarima no mu deɛ ɔfata a ɔwɔ mu no, na monsi no mo so ɔhene, na monsiesie mo ho nko mma Ahab fie.”

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 kaa sɛ, “Ahemfo baanu mpo antumi annyina, antia saa ɔbarima yi! Na ɛdeɛn na yɛbɛtumi ayɛ?”

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

5 Enti, mpanimfoɔ a wɔhwɛ ahemfie hɔ ne kuro no so ne ntuanofoɔ ahodoɔ no ne wɔn a wɔhwɛ ɔhene mmammarima so no de saa nkra yi kɔmaa Yehu sɛ, “Yɛyɛ wo nkoa, na biribiara a wobɛka sɛ yɛnyɛ no, yɛbɛyɛ. Yɛrensi obiara ɔhene. Deɛ wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ 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 twerɛɛ krataa a ɛtɔ so mmienu de buaa sɛ, “Sɛ mowɔ mʼafa, na mobɛtie mʼasɛm deɛ a, ɔkyena ɛbɛyɛ sɛsɛɛ mmerɛ mu, momfa ɔhene no mmammarima tiri mmrɛ me wɔ Yesreel.” Na Samaria ntuanofoɔ bi na wɔhwɛ ɔhene mmammarima aduɔson no so a wɔatete wɔn firi wɔn mmɔfraase 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 duruiɛ ara pɛ, na ntuanofoɔ no kunkumm ɔhene no mmammarima aduɔson no nyinaa. Wɔde wɔn tiri 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 Ɔbɔfoɔ kɔɔ Yehu nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wɔde ɔhene mmammarima no tiri no aba.” Enti, Yehu hyɛɛ sɛ, “Mommoaboa ano akuo mmienu wɔ kuro no ɛpono ano, na monnya hɔ nkɔsi adekyeeɛ.”

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 Adeɛ kyeeɛ no, ɔkɔkasa kyerɛɛ ɛdɔm a ahyia hɔ no sɛ, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ obi bɔ mo soboɔ. Me na mebɔɔ pɔ de tiaa me wura, nam so kumm no. Na hwan na ɔkunkumm yeinom?

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 Deɛ ɛwɔ hɔ ne sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ asɛm a ɛfiri Awurade nkyɛn a wɔka faa Ahab fie ho no ba mu. Awurade nam ne ɔsomfoɔ Elia so daa no adi sɛ yei 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 kunkumm Ahab abusuafoɔ a wɔtete Yesreel no ne ne mpanimfoɔ atitire ne nnamfonom ne nʼabosomfoɔ 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 firii hɔ kɔɔ Samaria. Ɔrekɔ no, ɔkɔdaa Bet-Eked nnwanhwɛfoɔ ahɔhodan mu.

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

13 Ɔhyiaa Yudahene Ahasia abusuafoɔ bi. Ɔbisaa sɛ, “Moyɛ ɛhefoɔ?” Wɔbuaa sɛ, “Yɛyɛ ɔhene Ahasia abusuafoɔ. Yɛrekɔsra ɔhene Ahab mmammarima ne ɔhemmaa 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 teaam, ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima sɛ, “Monkyere wɔn anikann.” Na wɔkyekyeree nnipa aduanan mmienu no nyinaa kunkumm wɔn wɔ Bet-Eked abura so. Wɔn mu biara annwane.

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 Ɛberɛ a Yehu firii hɔ no, ɔhyiaa Rekab babarima Yehonadab a na ɔrebɛhyia no. Wɔkyeakyeaa wɔn ho wieeɛ no, Yehu bisaa no sɛ, “Wowɔ me ho adwene pa, sɛdeɛ mewɔ wo ho adwene pa no anaa?” Yehonadab buaa sɛ, “Aane.” Yehu toaa so sɛ, “Sɛ wowɔ me ho adwene pa deɛ a, ɛnneɛ, kyea me.” Yehonadab tenee ne nsa ma Yehu kyeaa 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 kaa sɛ, “Afei, wo ne me nkɔ, na hunu sɛdeɛ mede me ho ama Awurade no.” Enti, Yehonadab ne no tenaa teaseɛnam no mu kɔeɛ.

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

17 Ɛberɛ a Yehu duruu Samaria no, ɔkunkumm Ahab fiefoɔ a wɔaka wɔ hɔ no nyinaa, sɛdeɛ Awurade nam Elia so hyɛeɛ 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 kuro no mu no nyinaa nhyiamu, ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Ahab somm Baal kakra; Yehu bɛsom no yie.

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

19 Momfrɛ Baal adiyifoɔ, asomfoɔ ne nʼabosomfoɔ nyinaa mmra. Monhwɛ sɛ wɔn mu biara bɛba, ɛfiri sɛ, merebɛbɔ Baal afɔdeɛ kɛseɛ. Obiara a ɔsom Baal a wamma no, wɔbɛkum no.” Na Yehu adwene ne sɛ, 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 hyɛɛ sɛ, “Monhyia, mmɔ dwa anibereɛ so, na monsɔre Baal!” Enti, wɔyɛɛ saa.

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

21 Ɔsomaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Israel afanan nyinaa, kɔfrɛɛ wɔn a wɔsom Baal no nyinaa. Wɔn nyinaa ba bɛhyɛɛ Baal abosomfie hɔ ma tɔ, firi tire kɔsi tire.

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 deɛ ɔhwɛ ntadedaka no so no sɛ, “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 abosomfie hɔ. Yehu ka kyerɛɛ Baal asomfoɔ no sɛ, “Monhwɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ Baal asomfoɔ 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 abosomfie hɔ rekɔbɔ afɔdeɛ ne ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ. Yehu de nʼasraafoɔ aduɔwɔtwe twaa ɛdan no ho hyiaeɛ, hyɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ moma obi dwane a, mo ara mode mo nkwa bɛtwa 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 ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ no bɔ ara pɛ, ɔhyɛɛ nʼawɛmfoɔ ne ne mpanimfoɔ no sɛ, “Monkɔkunkum wɔn nyinaa. Mommma ɔbaako koraa nnwane!” Enti, wɔde wɔn akofena kunkumm wɔn nyinaa. Na awɛmfoɔ no ne mpanimfoɔ no twee wɔn amu no bɛguu abɔntene. Yehu asraafoɔ no kɔɔ Baal abosomfie 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 Wɔbubuu Baal adum no, sɛee nʼabosomfie no pasaa, de hɔ yɛɛ ɔmanfoɔ agyananbea. Na ɛda so yɛ agyananbea de bɛsi ɛnnɛ.

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 ɛkwan yi so, de tɔree Baalsom ase korakora wɔ Israelman mu.

Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,

29 Nanso, Yehu ansɛe sika anantwie mma a ɛwɔ Bet-El ne Dan no, bɔne kɛseɛ a Nebat babarima Yeroboam dii Israelfoɔ anim ma wɔyɛeɛ.

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 sɛ, “Woayɛ ade sɛ wotiee mʼasɛm, nam so sɛee Ahab fiefoɔ. Ne saa enti, mɛma wʼasefoɔ adi ahene wɔ Israel, akɔsi awontoatoasoɔ ɛnan 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 nʼakoma anni Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn mmara no so. Wantwe ne ho amfiri ahonisom a Yeroboam dii Israelfoɔ anim, ma wɔyɛeɛ 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 Nna no mu, Awurade hyɛɛ aseɛ tee Israel asase no kɛseɛ 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 apueeɛ fam a Gilead nyinaa, Gad, Ruben ne Manase ka ho. Ɔdii asase a ɛfiri Aroer kuro a ɛda Arnon Subɔnhwa ho, de kɔsi 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 ahennie mu nsɛm a ɛsisiiɛ, ne dwuma ahodoɔ a ɔdiiɛ ne deɛ ɔtumi yɛeɛ no, wɔatwerɛ agu Israel Ahemfo Abakɔsɛm Nwoma no mu.

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 Ɛberɛ a Yehu wuiɛ no, wɔsiee no wɔ ne mpanimfoɔ nkyɛn wɔ Samaria. Na ne babarima Yehoahas na ɔdii nʼadeɛ sɛ ɔhene.

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

36 Ne nyinaa mu, Yehu dii adeɛ Israel firii Samaria mfeɛ aduonu nwɔtwe.

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