1
Basi, Ben-hadadi mfalme wa Shamu akakusanya jeshi lake lote; nao walikuwapo wafalme thelathini na wawili pamoja naye, na farasi, na magari: akakwea akauhusuru Samaria, akaupiga vita.
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.
2
Akatuma wajumbe kwa Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli, mjini, akamwambia, Ndivyo asemavyo Ben-hadadi.
Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel,
3
Fedha yako na dhahabu yako ni zangu mimi; na wakezo na wanao, walio wema, ni wangu.
saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children are mine!’”
4
Mfalme wa Israeli akajibu, akasema, Ni kama ulivyosema, bwana wangu, mfalme; mimi ni wako, na vyote nilivyo navyo.
And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”
5
Wajumbe wakarudi tena, wakasema, Ndivyo asemavyo Ben-hadadi, Hakika nimetuma kwako kusema, Fedha yako, na dhahabu yako, na wake zako, na wanao, utanitolea mimi;
The messengers came back and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent to you to demand your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.
6
lakini kesho kama wakati huu nitatuma kwako watumwa wangu, ili watazame-tazame nyumba yako na nyumba za watumwa wako; na itakuwa kila kipendezacho machoni pako watakitia mikononi mwao,na kukichukua.
But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to search your palace and the houses of your servants. They will seize and carry away all that is precious to you.’”
7
Ndipo mfalme wa Israeli, akawaita wazee wote wa nchi, akasema, Angalieni, nawaomba, mwone, kwamba huyu ataka madhara; maana ametuma kwangu kutaka wake zangu na watoto wangu; na fedha yangu na dhahabu yangu, sikumkatalia.
Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please take note and see that this man is looking for trouble, for when he demanded my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, I did not deny him.”
8
Wakamwambia wazee wote na watu wote, Usisikie, wala usikubali.
And the elders and the people all said, “Do not listen to him or consent to his terms.”
9
Kwa hiyo akawaambia wale wajumbe wa Ben-hadadi, Mwambieni bwana wangu mfalme, Kila uliyotuma kumtakia mtumwa wako kwanza, nitafanya, ila neno hili siwezi kulifanya. Basi wajumbe wakaenda zao, wakamrudishia maneno hayo.
So Ahab answered the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you demanded of your servant the first time I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” So the messengers departed and relayed the message to Ben-hadad.
10
Ndipo Ben-hadadi akatuma kwake, akasema, Miungu wanifanyie hivi na kuzidi, yakiwa mavumbi ya Samaria yatatosha makonzi ya watu wote walio miguuni pangu.
Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
11
Mfalme wa Israeli akajibu, akasema, Mwambieni, Avaaye asijisifu kama avuaye.
And the king of Israel replied, “Tell him: ‘The one putting on his armor should not boast like one taking it off.’”
12
Ikawa, Ben-hadadi alipolisikia neno hilo, naye alikuwa akinywa, yeye na wafalme, mabandani, aliwaambia watumwa wake, Jipangeni. Wakajipanga juu ya mji.
Ben-hadad received this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he said to his servants, “Take your positions.” So they stationed themselves against the city.
13
Na tazama, nabii akamjia Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli, akasema, Bwana asema hivi, Je! Umeona makutano haya yote walio wengi? Angalia, nitawatia leo mkononi mwako; nawe utajua ya kuwa ndimi Bwana.
Meanwhile a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this entire great army? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this very day, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
14
Ahabu akanena, Kwa nani? Akasema, Bwana asema hivi, Kwa vijana wa maliwali wa majimbo. Ndipo akanena, Ni nani atakayepanga vita? Naye akajibu, Ni wewe.
“By whom?” Ahab asked. And the prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘By the young officers of the district governors.’” “Who will start the battle?” asked Ahab. “You will,” answered the prophet.
15
Ndipo akawaandika vijana wa maliwali wa majimbo, nao walikuwa mia mbili thelathini na wawili; kisha baada ya hao akawaandika watu wote, wana wa Israeli wote, nao walikuwa elfu saba.
So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.
16
Wakatoka wakati wa adhuhuri. Lakini Ben-hadadi alikuwa akinywa hata kulewa mabandani, yeye na wale wafalme thelathini na wawili waliomsaidia.
They marched out at noon while Ben-hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.
17
Wakatoka wale vijana wa maliwali wa majimbo wakitangulia; na Ben-hadadi akatuma watu, nao wakamwambia, Wako watu wametoka katika Samaria.
And the young officers of the district governors marched out first. Now Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, who reported to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.”
18
Akasema, Kwamba wametoka kwa amani, wakamateni wa hai; au kwamba wametoka kwa vita, wakamateni wa hai.
“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
19
Basi wakatoka mjini hao vijana wa maliwali wa majimbo, na jeshi nyuma yao.
Meanwhile, these young officers of the district governors marched out of the city, with the army behind them,
20
Wakapiga kila mmoja mtu wake; Washami wakakimbia, na Israeli wakawafuatia; Ben-hadadi mfalme wa Shamu akaokoka amepanda farasi, pamoja na wapandao farasi.
and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.
21
Mfalme wa Israeli akatoka, akawapiga farasi na magari, akawapiga Washami pigo kubwa.
Then the king of Israel marched out and attacked the horses and chariots, inflicting a great slaughter on the Arameans.
22
Naye yule nabii akamjia mfalme wa Israeli, akamwambia, Enenda, kusanya nguvu zako, ujue, na kuangalia ufanyavyo; kwa maana mwakani mfalme wa Shamu atakuja juu yako.
Afterward, the prophet approached the king of Israel and said, “Go and strengthen your position, and take note what you must do, for in the spring the king of Aram will come up against you.”
23
Basi watumwa wake mfalme wa Shamu wakamwambia, Mungu wao ni mungu wa milima; ndiyo sababu ya kutushinda sisi; lakini na tupigane nao katika nchi tambarare, na hakika tutawashinda wao.
Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail.
24
Ufanye neno hili; uwaondoe hao wafalme, kila mtu atoke mahali pake, ukaweke majemadari mahali pao.
So do this: Dismiss all the kings from their positions and replace them with other officers.
25
Kisha ujihesabie jeshi, kama jeshi lililokupotea, farasi kwa farasi na gari kwa gari; nasi tutapigana nao katika nchi tambarare, na bila shaka tutawashinda. Akaisikiliza sauti yao, akafanya kama hivyo.
And you must raise an army like the one you have lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight the Israelites on the plain, where we will surely prevail.” And the king approved their plan and acted accordingly.
26
Basi ikawa mwakani, Ben-hadadi akawahesabu Washami, akakwea mpaka Afeki ili apigane na Israeli.
In the spring, Ben-hadad mobilized the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27
Wana wa Israeli nao wakahesabiwa, wakapewa vyakula, wakaenda kupigana nao; wakatua wana wa Israeli mbele yao kama vikundi viwili vya wana-mbuzi; bali Washami wakaijaza nchi.
The Israelites also mobilized, gathered supplies, and marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.
28
Akaja yule mtu wa Mungu, akamwambia mfalme wa Israeli, akasema, Bwana asema hivi, Kwa sababu Washami wamesema, Bwana ni Mungu wa milima wala si Mungu wa nchi tambarare; basi nitawatia makutano haya yote walio wengi mkononi mwako, nanyi mtajua ya kuwa ndimi Bwana.
Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans have said that the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
29
Wakatua kuelekeana muda wa siku saba. Ikawa siku ya saba vikapangwa vita; wana wa Israeli wakawapiga miongoni mwa Washami siku moja watu mia elfu waendao kwa miguu.
For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day.
30
Lakini waliosalia wakakimbia mpaka Afeki, mjini; na ukuta ukaanguka juu ya watu ishirini na saba elfu waliosalia. Ben-hadadi naye akakimbia, akaingia mjini, katika chumba cha ndani.
The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
31
Watumwa wake wakamwambia, Angalia sasa, tumesikia ya kuwa wafalme wa nyumba ya Israeli ni wafalme wenye rehema; tafadhali, tuvae magunia viunoni, na kamba vichwani, tumtokee mfalme wa Israeli; labda atakuokoa roho yako.
Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32
Basi wakajifungia magunia viunoni, na kamba vichwani, wakamjia mfalme wa Israeli, wakasema, Mtumwa wako Ben-hadadi asema Roho yangu, nakusihi, iishi. Akasema, Je! Yu hai bado? Ni ndugu yangu yeye.
So with sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please spare my life.’” And the king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33
Wale watu wakaangalia sana, wakafanya haraka kulishika neno hilo kama ni nia yake, wakasema, Ndugu yako, Ben-hadadi. Akasema, Haya! Nendeni mkamlete. Ndipo Ben-hadadi akamtokea, naye akampandisha garini.
Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34
Na Ben-hadadi akamwambia, Miji ile baba yangu aliyomnyang'anya baba yako nitairudisha; nawe utajifanyia njia huko Dameski, kama baba yangu aliyoifanya huko Samaria. Ahabu akasema, Nami nitakuacha kwa mapatano haya. Akafanya mapatano naye, akamwacha.
Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.
35
Basi, mtu mmoja wa wana wa manabii akamwambia mwenzake kwa neno la Bwana, Nipige, nakusihi. Akakataa yule kumpiga.
Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
36
Akamwambia, Kwa sababu hukuisikiliza sauti ya Bwana, angalia, mara ukitoka kwangu simba atakuua. Na mara alipotoka kwake, simba alimwona, akamwua.
Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.
37
Ndipo akaona mtu mwingine, akasema, Nipige, nakusihi. Yule mtu akampiga, hata kumpiga na kumtia jeraha.
Then the prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please!” So the man struck him and wounded him,
38
Basi yule nabii akaenda akamngoja mfalme njiani, amejibadilisha kwa kilemba juu ya macho yake.
and the prophet went and waited on the road for the king, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39
Ikawa mfalme alipopita, alimwita mfalme; akasema, Mtumwa wako aliingia katikati ya pigano; na tazama, mtu mmoja akanigeukia akaniletea mtu, akaniambia, Umlinde mtu huyu; akipotea kwa njia yo yote, roho yako itakuwa mahali pa roho yake, au utatoa talanta ya fedha.
As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.’
40
Ikawa mtumishi wako alipokuwa akitenda haya na haya, yule akaenda zake. Mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia, Ndivyo itakavyokuwa hukumu yako; umejihukumu mwenyewe.
But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”
41
Akafanya haraka akakiondoa kilemba machoni mwake, mfalme wa Israeli akamtambua kuwa ni mmoja wao manabii.
Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
42
Akamwambia, Bwana asema hivi, Kwa sababu umemwachilia atoke mkononi mwako mtu niliyemweka ili aangamizwe kabisa, roho yako itakuwa mahali pa roho yake, na watu wako mahali pa watu wake.
And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”
43
Mfalme wa Israeli akaenda nyumbani kwake na moyo mzito, mwenye hasira, akaja Samaria. </p>
Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.