2 Samuel 3
1 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.
Ɔko a ɛbɛtɔɔ wɔn a wɔwɔ Saulo afa ne wɔn a wɔwɔ Dawid afa no kyɛree yie, na ne ahyɛaseɛ nie. Ɛberɛ a Dawid adedie renya ahoɔden no, na Saulo adedie no resɛe.
2 David’s wives gave birth to six sons at Hebron. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam, from Jezreel [city].
Yeinom ne Dawid mmammarima a wɔwoo wɔn wɔ Hebron: Nʼabakan no din de Amnon a ɔyɛ Ahinoam a ɔfiri Yesreel no babarima.
3 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].
Deɛ ɔtɔ so mmienu no din de Kileab a ɔyɛ Abigail a na ɔyɛ Nabal a ɔfiri Karmel no kunabaa babarima; deɛ ɔtɔ so mmiɛnsa no din de Absalom a ɔyɛ Gesurhene Talmai babaa Maaka babarima.
4 The next one was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next one was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
Deɛ ɔtɔ so ɛnan no din de Adoniya a ɔyɛ Hagit babarima; deɛ ɔtɔ so enum no din de Sefatia a ɔyɛ Abital babarima.
5 The youngest one was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, [another one of] David’s wives. Those sons of David were all born in Hebron.
Na deɛ ɔtɔ so nsia no din de Yitream a ɔyɛ Dawid yere Egla babarima. Wɔwoo saa mma yi maa Dawid wɔ Hebron.
6 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.
Ɛberɛ a na ɔko a ɛda Saulo fie ne Dawid fie no gu so no, na Abner yɛ ntuanoni a ɔwɔ tumi wɔ wɔn a wɔdi Saulo akyi no so.
7 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?”
Emu hɔ Is-Boset bɔɔ Abner kwaadu sɛ ɔne nʼagya Saulo mpena a wɔfrɛ no Rispa, a ɔyɛ Aya babaa, ada.
8 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]
Abner bo fuu yie kaa sɛ, “Meyɛ nkraman sodifoɔ wɔ Yuda na wɔadwoodwoo me saa? Deɛ mayɛ ama wo ne wʼagya, a mannyi mo amma Dawid no, mʼayɛyie ne sɛ, mode ɔbaa yi ho asɛm rekyekyere me?
9 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!”
Sɛ mammoa Dawid ma ne nsa anka deɛ Awurade hyɛɛ ho bɔ no a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no nwononwono.
Mede Saulo ahennie bɛkɔ akɔma Dawid na matim Dawid ahennwa ase wɔ Israel ne Yuda so afiri Dan akɔsi Beer-Seba.”
11 Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner, so he did not say anything in reply to Abner.
Esiane sɛ na Is-Boset suro Abner enti, wantumi ankasa bio.
12 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.”
Afei, Abner tuu abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Dawid nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ma yɛnyɛ nhyehyɛeɛ na mɛboa ama yɛadane Israelman mu no nyinaa ama wo.”
13 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.”
Dawid buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ asɛm papa, nanso me ne wo renyɛ saa nhyehyɛeɛ no gye sɛ, sɛ woreba a, wode me yere Mikal a ɔyɛ Saulo babaa no brɛ me.”
14 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!”
Enti, Dawid soma ma wɔkɔbɔɔ Saulo babarima Is-Boset amaneɛ sɛ, “Ma me nsa nka me yere Mikal, ɛfiri sɛ, mede Filistifoɔ ɔha nkwa na ɛtɔɔ no.”
15 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.
Enti, Is-Boset gyee Mikal firii ne kunu Paltiel a ɔyɛ Lais babarima no nsam.
16 Then Abner [turned and] said to him, “Go back [home]!”, so he did.
Na Paltiel de su dii ɔbaa no akyi kɔduruu Bahurim. Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sane kɔ efie.” Na Paltiel sane kɔɔ efie.
17 Abner went to the Israeli leaders and talked with them. He said, “For a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
Na Abner ne Israel ntuanofoɔ adidi nkɔmmɔ. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mmerɛ kakra a atwam nie no, na mopɛ sɛ mosi Dawid ɔhene.
18 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’.”
Ɛberɛ no nie. Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade aka sɛ, ‘Mayi Dawid sɛ ɔnnye me nkurɔfoɔ mfiri Filistifoɔ ne wɔn atamfoɔ nyinaa nsam.’”
19 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.
Abner sane ne Benyamin abusua mu ntuanofoɔ kasaeɛ. Afei, ɔkɔɔ Hebron kɔbɔɔ Dawid amaneɛ sɛ, Israel nyinaa ne Benyamin taa wʼakyi.
20 When Abner came with 20 of his soldiers to see David at Hebron, David made a feast for all of them.
Ɛberɛ a Abner ne ne mmarima aduonu baa Hebron no, Dawid too wɔn ɛpono kɛseɛ.
21 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.
Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, “Ma menkɔ na menkɔfrɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wɔmmra wʼafa. Wɔne wo bɛyɛ apam, na wɔasi wo ɔhene. Na ɛbɛma woadi biribiara a wʼakoma pɛ so.” Enti, Dawid maa Abner kɔɔ dwoodwoo.
22 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.
Abner kɔeɛ ara pɛ, Yoab ne Dawid akodɔm no bi firi ɔsa mu baeɛ a wɔkura asadeɛ bebree.
23 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.
Ɛberɛ a wɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ Abner baa hɔ nkyɛree koraa, na ɔbɛsraa ɔhene, ama ɔhene ama no kɔ asomdwoeɛ mu no,
24 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!
Yoab yɛɛ ntɛm kɔhunuu ɔhene bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na woayɛ yi? Abner kɔ a womaa no kɔeɛ yi, wokyerɛ sɛn?
25 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?”
Wonim pefee sɛ, ɔbaa wo so sɛ ɔkwansrafoɔ, bɛhwehwɛɛ deɛ woreyɛ nyinaa mu anaa?”
26 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.
Ɛhɔ ara, Yoab firi Dawid nkyɛn, na ɔsomaa abɔfoɔ sɛ wɔnti Abner. Wɔkɔtoo no Sira ɔtadeɛ ho, twee no de no baeɛ. Nanso, na Dawid nnim ho hwee.
27 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.
Afei, Abner sane kɔɔ Hebron no, Yoab frɛɛ no kɔɔ nkyɛn kɔsii ɛpono ano te sɛ deɛ ɔrekɔka kɔkoamsɛm akyerɛ no no. Na ɛhɔ no na ɛsiane sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔtɔ ne nuabarima Asahel so wedeɛ no enti, Yoab wɔɔ Abner yafunu mu sekan ma ɔwuiɛ.
28 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.
Akyire no a Dawid tee saa asɛm yi no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Me ne mʼahemman nnim saa asɛm a ɛfa Abner yi ho hwee wɔ Awurade anim.
29 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!”
Ne mogya ngu Yoab ne nʼagya fie so! Yoab efie deɛ, awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ mu nyinaa, obi a watutu akuro anaa ɔyare kwata, deɛ ɔnam poma ho nanteɛ anaa deɛ ɔwu akofena ano ne deɛ ɔsrɛsrɛ aduane rempa hɔ da.”
30 That is how Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
Yoab ne ne nuabarima Abisai kumm Abner, ɛfiri sɛ, Abner kumm wɔn nuabarima Asahel wɔ akono wɔ Gibeon.
31 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.
Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ Yoab ne nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nyinaa sɛ, “Monsunsuane mo ntoma mu, na momfira ayitoma. Montwa Abner agyaadwoɔ.” Na ɔhene Dawid ankasa dii santen a wɔato no akyi, kɔɔ ɛda no so.
32 They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. And at the grave, the king cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
Wɔsiee Abner wɔ Hebron, na ɔhene Dawid ne nnipa no nyinaa suu wɔ ne damena no ho.
33 David sang this sad song to lament for Abner: “It is not right that [RHQ] Abner died like outlaws die!
Afei, ɔhene too saa kwadwom yi maa Abner: “Ɛsɛ sɛ Abner wu sɛdeɛ nkwaseafoɔ wuo anaa?
34 No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, [like they do to criminals]. No, he was murdered by wicked men!”
Wɔankyekyere wo nsa; wɔangu wo nan nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn. Dabi, wɔdii wo awu; amumuyɛfoɔ atirimpɔ so adeɛ.” Nnipa no nyinaa suu Abner bio.
35 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!”
Ɛda a wɔreyɛ ayie no, Dawid annidi da mu no nyinaa, maa afei, obiara srɛɛ no sɛ ɔnnidi. Nanso, na Dawid aka ntam sɛ, “Sɛ medidi ansa na owia akɔtɔ a, Onyankopɔn nku me.”
36 All the people saw what David did, and they were pleased. Truly, everything that the king did pleased the people.
Yei sɔɔ nnipa no ani yie. Nokorɛm, biribiara a ɔhene no yɛeɛ no sɔɔ ɔmanfoɔ no ani.
37 So all the people realized that the king had not wanted Abner to be killed.
Yei maa obiara a ɔte Yuda ne Israel no hunuu sɛ, ɛnyɛ ɔhene Dawid na ɔkumm Abner.
38 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]
Na ɔhene Dawid bisaa ɔmanfoɔ no sɛ, “Monhunu sɛ ɔkannifoɔ kɛseɛ ne onipa kɛseɛ atɔ fam ɛnnɛ wɔ Israel anaa?
39 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!”
Na ɛwom sɛ me ne ɔhene a wɔasra no deɛ, nanso Seruia mmammarima Yoab ne Abisai deɛ, wɔyɛ den dodo ma me sɛ mɛtumi aka wɔn ahyɛ. Ɛno enti, Awurade ntua saa mmarima amumuyɛfoɔ yi so ka wɔ wɔn amumuyɛsɛm ho.”
