1
Ikawa baada ya hayo, Daudi akauliza kwa Bwana, akasema, Je! Niupandie mji wo wote wa Yuda? Bwana akamwambia, Haya! Panda. Daudi akasema, Niupandie mji upi? Akasema, Hebroni.
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.
2
Basi Daudi akapanda aende huko, pamoja na wakeze wawili, Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli, na Abigaili, mkewe Nabali, wa Karmeli.
So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3
Daudi naye akawapandisha watu wake waliokuwa pamoja naye, kila mtu na watu wa nyumbani mwake; wakakaa katika miji ya Hebroni.
David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.
4
Basi watu wa Yuda wakaenda, wakamtia Daudi mafuta huko, awe mfalme juu ya nyumba ya Yuda. Wakamwambia Daudi wakasema, Watu wa Yabesh-gileadi ndio waliomzika Sauli.
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
5
Basi Daudi akatuma wajumbe kwa watu wa Yabesh-gileadi, na kuwaambia, Na mbarikiwe ninyi na Bwana, kwa kuwa mmemtendea bwana wenu fadhili hii, yaani Sauli, mkamzika.
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.
6
Bwana naye sasa awatendee ninyi fadhili na kweli; mimi nami nitawalipeni fadhili hiyo, kwa sababu mmetenda jambo hilo.
Now may the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this.
7
Basi sasa, mikono yenu na itiwe nguvu, nanyi iweni mashujaa; maana Sauli, bwana wenu, amekufa, tena nyumba ya Yuda wamenitia mimi mafuta niwe mfalme juu yao.
Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
8
Basi Abneri, mwana wa Neri, amiri wa jeshi la Sauli, alikuwa amemtwaa Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, na kumvusha na kumpeleka Mahanaimu;
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
9
akamweka awe mfalme juu ya Gileadi, na Waasheri, na Yezreeli, na Efraimu, na Benyamini, na juu ya Israeli wote.
and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
10
(Huyo Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, umri wake alikuwa amepata miaka arobaini alipoanza kutawala juu ya Israeli, akatawala miaka miwili.) Lakini nyumba ya Yuda waliandamana na Daudi.
Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
11
Na wakati Daudi alipotawala Hebroni juu ya nyumba ya Yuda ulikuwa miaka saba na miezi sita.
And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12
Basi Abneri, mwana wa Neri, na watumishi wa Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli, wakatoka Mahanaimu kwenda Gibeoni.
One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13
Huyo Yoabu naye, mwana wa Seruya, na watumishi wa Daudi, wakatoka, wakakutana nao karibu na ziwa la Gibeoni; wakaketi, hawa upande huu wa ziwa, na hawa upande huu wa ziwa.
So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.
14
Abneri akamwambia Yoabu, Tafadhali vijana hawa na waondoke na kucheza mbele yetu. Yoabu akasema, Haya! Na waondoke.
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
15
Basi wakaondoka, wakaenda upande wa pili kwa hesabu yao watu kumi na wawili wa Benyamini, na wa Ishboshethi, mwana wa Sauli na watu kumi na wawili wa watumishi wa Daudi.
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
16
Wakakamatana, kila mtu akimshika mwenziwe kichwa chake, na kutia upanga wake katika ubavu wa mwenzake; wakaanguka pamoja; hata mahali pale pakaitwa Helkath-hasurimu, napo ni katika Gibeoni.
Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.
17
Vita vile vilikuwa vikali sana siku ile; naye Abneri akashindwa, na watu wa Israeli, mbele ya watumishi wa Daudi.
The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
18
Na wana watatu wa Seruya walikuwako huko, Yoabu, na Abishai, na Asaheli; na Asaheli alikuwa mwepesi wa miguu kama kulungu.
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,
19
Naye Asaheli akamfuatia Abneri; na katika kwenda kwake hakugeuka kwenda mkono wa kuume wala mkono wa kushoto katika kumfuatia Abneri.
and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.
20
Basi Abneri akatazama nyuma yake, akasema, Ni wewe, Asaheli? Akajibu, Ni mimi.
And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.
21
Basi Abneri akamwambia, Geuka mkono wa kuume au mkono wa kushoto, ukamshike mmoja wa vijana, ukazitwae silaha zake. Lakini Asaheli hakukubali kugeuka na kuacha kumfuata.
So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
22
Abneri akamwambia Asaheli mara ya pili, Geuka, acha kunifuatia mimi; kwa nini nikupige hata chini? Hapo ningewezaje kuinua uso wangu mbele ya Yoabu, ndugu yako?
Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”
23
Lakini akakataa kugeuka; kwa hiyo Abneri akampiga tumboni kwa ncha ya nyuma ya mkuki wake, ule mkuki ukamtoka kwa nyuma; naye akaanguka hapo, akafa papo hapo; ikawa, watu wote waliofika hapo, alipoanguka Asaheli na kufa, wakasimama.
But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.
24
Ila Yoabu na Abishai wakamfuatia Abneri; na jua likachwa hapo walipoufikilia mlima wa Ama, uelekeao Gia, katika njia ya nyika ya Gibeoni.
But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
25
Nao wana wa Benyamini wakakusanyika pamoja nyuma ya Abneri, wakawa kikosi kimoja, wakasimama juu ya mlima.
The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.
26
Ndipo huyo Abneri akamwita Yoabu, akasema, Je! Upanga uwale watu sikuzote? Je! Hujui ya kwamba utakuwa uchungu mwisho wake? Basi itakuwa hata lini usijewaamuru watu warudi na kuacha kuwafuatia ndugu zao?
Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
27
Naye Yoabu akasema, Aishivyo Mungu, usingalinena, basi asubuhi wangalikwenda zao, wasiwafuatie kila mtu ndugu yake.
“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
28
Basi Yoabu akapiga tarumbeta, na watu wote wakasimama, wasiwafuatie Israeli tena, wala hawakupigana tena.
So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.
29
Wakaenda Abneri na watu wake usiku ule wote kati ya ile Araba; wakavuka Yordani, wakapita kati ya Bithroni yote, wakaja Mahanaimu.
And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.
30
Akarudi Yoabu naye kutoka kumfuatia Abneri; na alipokwisha kuwakusanya watu wote pamoja, wa hao watumishi wa Daudi walipungukiwa na watu kumi na kenda pamoja na Asaheli.
When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing,
31
Ila watumishi wa Daudi walikuwa wamewapiga watu wa Benyamini, na watu wa Abneri, hata wakafa watu mia tatu na sitini.
but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.
32
Nao wakamwinua Asaheli, wakamzika katika kaburi la baba yake, lililokuwako Bethlehemu. Yoabu na watu wake wakaenda usiku kucha, wakapambazukiwa huko Hebroni.
And they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.