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Benikadadi Alumba Samaliya

20 (A)Awo Benikadadi kabaka w’e Busuuli n’akuŋŋaanya eggye lye lyonna wamu ne bakabaka amakumi asatu mu babiri n’embalaasi n’amagaali gaabwe, bonna ne bambuka okuzingiza Samaliya n’okulwana nakyo. N’atuma ababaka mu kibuga eri Akabu kabaka wa Isirayiri ng’agamba nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Benikadadi nti, ‘Effeeza yo ne zaabu yo byange ate era ne bakyala bo abasinga obulungi n’abaana bo nabo bange.’ ”

Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’addamu nti, “Nga bw’ogambye, mukama wange kabaka, nze ne bye nnina byonna bibyo.” Ababaka ne baddayo ewa Akabu nate ne bamugamba nti, “Kino Benikadadi ky’agamba nti, ‘Natuma nga njagala ffeeza yo ne zaabu yo, n’abakyala bo n’abaana bo. Naye olunaku lw’enkya essaawa nga zino nzija kuweereza abakungu bange banoonyeemu mu lubiri lwo ne mu nnyumba z’abakungu bo, era bajja kutwala ebibyo byonna eby’omuwendo.’ ”

(B)Awo kabaka wa Isirayiri n’ayita abakadde bonna ab’ensi, n’abagamba nti, “Mulabe omusajja ono bw’anoonya emitawaana! Bwe yatumya bakyala bange n’abaana bange wamu ne ffeeza yange ne zaabu yange, sabimumma.”

Abakadde n’abantu bonna ne bamuddamu nti, “Tomuwuliriza wadde okukkiriziganya naye.”

Awo kabaka n’addamu ababaka ba Benikadadi nti, “Mutegeeze mukama wange kabaka nti, ‘Omuddu wo nzija kukola byonna bye walagidde ku ntandikwa, naye kino eky’oluvannyuma siyinza kukikola.’ ”

10 (C)Awo Benikadadi n’aweereza obubaka obulala eri Akabu nti, “Bakatonda bankole bwe batyo n’okukirawo, enfuufu ya Samaliya bwe teebune mu bibatu by’abasajja bonna abangoberera.”

11 (D)Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Mumugambe nti, ‘Eyeesiba ebyokulwanyisa aleme okwenyumiriza ng’oyo abyesumulula.’ ”

12 (E)Benikadadi bwe yawulira obubaka obwo, ng’ali mu kutamiira ne bakabaka abalala mu weema zaabwe, n’alagira abasajja be nti, “Mweteeketeeke okulumba.” Ne beeteekateeka okulumba ekibuga.

Akabu Awangula Benikadadi

13 (F)Mu kiseera ekyo ne wabaawo nnabbi eyajja eri Akabu kabaka wa Isirayiri n’alangirira nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Olaba eggye lino eddene? Nzija kulikuwa mu mukono gwo leero, otegeere nga nze Mukama.’ ”

14 (G)Akabu n’abuuza nti, “Anakikola atya?” Nnabbi n’addamu nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Abavubuka bo ab’abaduumizi b’amasaza, bajja kukubeera.’ ”

Akabu ne yeeyongera okubuuza nti, “Ani anasooka okulumba?”

Nnabbi n’addamu nti, “Ggwe.”

15 Awo Akabu n’ayita abavubuka ab’abaduumizi b’amasaza, ne bawera ebikumi bibiri mu asatu mu babiri (232). Era n’akuŋŋaanya ne Isirayiri yenna, bonna awamu ne baba kasanvu (7,000). 16 (H)Ne batabaala mu ttuntu nga Benikadadi ne bakabaka amakumi asatu mu ababiri be yali alagaanye nabo bali mu kutamiira. 17 Abavubuka b’abaduumizi b’amasaza be baasooka okulumba.

Naye Benikadadi yali atumye ababaka okuketta, ne bamutegeeza nti, “Waliwo abasajja abajja nga bava Samaliya.”

18 N’ayogera nti, “Bwe baba bazze na mirembe, mubawambe, ne bwe baba nga baze ku lutalo, era mubawambe.” 19 Abavubuka b’abaduumizi b’amasaza ne bafuluma ne balumba okuva mu kibuga, nga n’eggye libagoberera. 20 Buli omu ku bo n’atta gwe yayolekera. Abasuuli ne badduka, nga n’Abayisirayiri bwe babagoba, naye Benikadadi kabaka w’e Busuuli n’awonera ku mbalaasi n’abamu ku basajjabe abeebagala embalaasi. 21 Awo kabaka wa Isirayiri n’abagobera ddala era n’awamba embalaasi n’amagaali, era Abasuuli bangi ne bafa.

22 (I)Awo ebyo nga biwedde, nnabbi n’agenda eri kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amugamba nti, “Weenyweze, olabe ekiteekwa okukolebwa, kubanga omwaka ogunaddirira kabaka w’e Busuuli ajja kukulumba nate.” 23 (J)Mu kiseera ekyo, abakungu ba kabaka w’e Busuuli ne bamuwa amagezi nti, “Bakatonda b’Abayisirayiri bakatonda ba nsozi, era kyebavudde batusinza amaanyi. Naye bwe tunaabalwanyisizza mu lusenyi, mazima ddala tunaabasinza amaanyi. 24 Kola bw’oti, ggyawo bakabaka bonna mu bifo byabwe eby’okuduumira, osseewo abaduumizi abalala. 25 Oteekwa okufuna eggye ery’enkana liri lye wafiirwa, embalaasi edde mu kifo ky’embalaasi, n’eggaali mu kifo ky’eggaali, tulyoke tulwane nabo mu lusenyi, olwo tunaabasinzizza ddala amaanyi.” N’abawuliriza era n’akola bw’atyo.

26 (K)Omwaka ogwaddirira Benikadadi n’akuŋŋaanya Abasuuli, n’ayambuka mu Afeki okulwana ne Isirayiri. 27 (L)Awo abantu ba Isirayiri nabo ne bakuŋŋaana ne baweebwa entanda yaabwe, ne bagenda okubasisinkana. Abayisirayiri ne basiisira okuboolekera ne bafaanana ng’ebisibo bibiri ebitono eby’embuzi, naye Abasuuli ne babuna ensi yonna. 28 (M)Awo omusajja wa Katonda n’asembera, n’agamba kabaka wa Isirayiri nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Olw’okuba Abasuuli balowooza nga Mukama Katonda wa ku nsozi so si Katonda wa mu biwonvu, ndigabula eggye lino eddene mu mukono gwo, otegeere nga nze Mukama.’ ”

29 Ne basiisira nga boolekaganye okumala ennaku musanvu, ku lunaku olw’omusanvu ne balumbagana. Abayisirayiri ne batta abaserikale ab’ebigere Abasuuli emitwalo kkumi mu lunaku lumu. 30 (N)Abalala ne baddukira mu kibuga Afeki, era eyo bbugwe w’ekibuga ekyo gye yagwira ku bantu emitwalo musanvu ku baali bawonyeewo.

Akabu Asaasira Benikadadi

Benikadadi naye nadduka ne yeekweka mu kibuga mu kimu ku bisenge eby’omunda. 31 (O)Abakungu be ne bamugamba nti, “Laba, tuwulidde nti bakabaka b’ennyumba ya Isirayiri, ba kisa, twesibe ebibukutu mu biwato byaffe, tuzingirire emige ku mitwe gyaffe tugende ewa kabaka wa Isirayiri, oboolyawo anaakusaasira.”

32 Ne beesiba ebibukutu mu biwato byabwe, ne bazingirira emige ku mitwe gyabwe, ne balaga ewa kabaka wa Isirayiri, ne bamugamba nti, “Omuddu wo Benikadadi agamba nti, ‘Nkwegayiridde tonzita.’ ” Kabaka n’ababuuza nti, “Akyali mulamu? Oyo muganda wange.”

33 Abasajja ne balowooza nti ako kabonero kalungi, era ne banguwa okwogera nti, “Weewaawo, muganda wo Benikadadi.” Kabaka n’ayogera nti, “Mugende mumuleete.” Benikadadi bwe yavaayo, Akabu n’amuleetera mu gaali lye.

34 (P)Awo Benikadadi n’agamba nti, “Ndikuddiza ebibuga kitange bye yawamba ku kitaawo, era olyessizaawo obutale obubwo ggwe mu Ddamasiko, nga kitange bwe yakola mu Samaliya.” Akabu n’addamu nti, “Nzija kukuleka ogende nga tukoze endagaano.” Era ne bakola endagaano, n’amuleka n’agenda.

Nnabbi Anenya Akabu

35 (Q)Omu ku batabani ba bannabbi n’agamba munne nti, “Katonda alagidde onfumite n’ekyokulwanyisa kyo,” naye munne oyo n’agaana.

36 (R)Mutabani wa nnabbi n’ayogera nti, “Olw’obutagondera ddoboozi lya Mukama, bw’onooba wakava wano, empologoma eneekutta.” Awo bwe baali kyebajje baawukane, n’asanga empologoma era n’emutta.

37 Mutabani wa nnabbi n’asanga omusajja omulala, n’amugamba nti, “Nfumita, nkwegayiridde.” Omusajja n’amufumita n’amuleetako ekiwundu. 38 Awo n’agenda n’alindirira kabaka mu kkubo, ne yeebuzaabuza ng’abisse ekiremba kye ku maaso ge. 39 (S)Kabaka bwe yali ng’ayitawo, mutabani wa nnabbi n’amukoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Omuddu wo yagenze wakati mu lutalo, ne wabaawo omuserikale eyandetedde omusibe n’aŋŋamba nti, ‘Kuuma omusajja ono. Bw’anaabula ggw’onottibwa mu kifo kye, oba si kyo oteekwa okusasula kilo amakumi asatu mu nnya eza ffeeza.’ 40 Omuddu wo bwe yali ng’atawaana erudda n’erudda, laba omusajja n’abula.”

Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amuddamu nti, “Ogwo musango gwo, era ogwesalidde.”

41 Awo mutabani wa nnabbi n’ayanguwa, okuggya ekiremba ku maaso ge, kabaka wa Isirayiri n’amutegeera nga y’omu ku bannabbi. 42 (T)N’agamba kabaka nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, ‘Otadde omusajja gwe namaliridde okutta. Noolwekyo ggw’ojja okufa mu kifo kye, n’abantu bo bafe mu kifo ky’abantu be.’ ” 43 (U)Kabaka wa Isirayiri n’alaga mu lubiri lwe e Samaliya ng’aswakidde era nga munyiivu.

Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria

20 Now Ben-Hadad(A) king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria(B) and attacked it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”

The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.”

The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”

The king of Israel summoned all the elders(C) of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble!(D) When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.”

The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”

So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.

10 Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust(E) remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.”

11 The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast(F) like one who takes it off.’”

12 Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking(G) in their tents,[a] and he ordered his men: “Prepare to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad

13 Meanwhile a prophet(H) came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know(I) that I am the Lord.’”

14 “But who will do this?” asked Ahab.

The prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’”

“And who will start(J) the battle?” he asked.

The prophet answered, “You will.”

15 So Ahab summoned the 232 junior officers under the provincial commanders. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all. 16 They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk.(K) 17 The junior officers under the provincial commanders went out first.

Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, “Men are advancing from Samaria.”

18 He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

19 The junior officers under the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them 20 and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. 21 The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans.

22 Afterward, the prophet(L) came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring(M) the king of Aram will attack you again.”

23 Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods(N) of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they. 24 Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. 25 You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.” He agreed with them and acted accordingly.

26 The next spring(O) Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek(P) to fight against Israel. 27 When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.(Q)

28 The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god(R) of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know(S) that I am the Lord.’”

29 For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. 30 The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek,(T) where the wall collapsed(U) on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben-Hadad fled to the city and hid(V) in an inner room.

31 His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful.(W) Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth(X) around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”

32 Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”

The king answered, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”

33 The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said.

“Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.

34 “I will return the cities(Y) my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad(Z) offered. “You may set up your own market areas(AA) in Damascus,(AB) as my father did in Samaria.”

Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty(AC) I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

35 By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets(AD) said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.(AE)

36 So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion(AF) will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

37 The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him. 38 Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. 39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life,(AG) or you must pay a talent[b] of silver.’ 40 While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

“That is your sentence,”(AH) the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You(AI) have set free a man I had determined should die.[c](AJ) Therefore it is your life for his life,(AK) your people for his people.’” 43 Sullen and angry,(AL) the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 20:12 Or in Sukkoth; also in verse 16
  2. 1 Kings 20:39 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  3. 1 Kings 20:42 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.