1 Ndị Eze 20
1 Ugbu a, Ben-Hadad, bụ eze ndị Aram, chịkọtara ndị agha ya niile. Iri ndị eze atọ na abụọ sonyere ya, ha na ịnyịnya ha na ụgbọ agha ha. Ọ rịgooro nọchibido obodo Sameria buso ya agha.
Ben Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army together. There were thirty-two lesser kings with him, and horses and chariots. He went up, besieged Samaria and fought against it.
2 Mgbe ahụ, eze ndị Siria zigaara Ehab, eze Izrel ozi nʼime obodo sị ya, “otu a ka Ben-Hadad sịrị,
He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Ben Hadad says this:
3 ‘Ọlaọcha na ọlaedo gị, nkem ka ha bụ, ndị nwunye gị na ụmụ gị, bụ ndị dị mma karịsịa nke m ka ha bụ.’”
'Your silver and your gold are mine. Also your wives and children, the best ones, are now mine.'”
4 Ehab eze Izrel, zighachiri ozi sị, “Ọ dị mma, onyenwe m, mụ onwe m, na ihe niile m nwere bụ nke gị.”
The king of Israel answered and said, “It is as you say, my master, king. I and all that I have are yours.”
5 Ngwangwa ndị ozi Ben-Hadad bịaghachiri zie Ehab ozi ọzọ sị ya, “Otu a ka Ben-Hadad sịrị, ‘Ọ bụ ezie na m ziteere gị ozi, sị, ọlaọcha gị na ọlaedo gị na ndị nwunye gị na ụmụ gị ka ị ga-enye m.
The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says this, 'I sent word to you saying that you must give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children.
6 Ma ugbu a, nʼoge dị ka nke a, echi, aga m ezite ndị ozi m ka ha bịa nyochaa ụlọ gị niile na ụlọ ndị ozi gị niile. Ihe ọbụla dị oke ọnụahịa nʼanya gị ka ha ga-ewere.’”
But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and your servants' houses. They will seize with their own hands and take away whatever pleases their eyes.'”
7 Eze Izrel kpọrọ ndị okenye niile nke ala ahụ, sị ha, “Leenụ ugbu a, hụkwanụ otu nwoke a si achọ nsogbu. Mgbe o zitere m ozi inye ya ndị nwunye m, na ụmụ, na ọlaọcha m na ọlaedo m, ekwenyere m ya inye ya ihe ndị a.”
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land together and said, “Please take note and see how this man seeks trouble. He has sent word to me in order to take my wives, children, and silver and gold, and I have not refused him.”
8 Ndị okenye na ndị Izrel zara sị ya, “Aṅala ya ntị! Enyela ya ihe ọbụla.”
All the elders and all the people said to Ahab, “Do not listen to him or consent to his demands.”
9 Mgbe ahụ, ọ sịrị ndị ozi Ben-Hadad, “Gwanụ onyenwe m, bụ eze, ‘M bụ odibo gị jikeere ime ihe niile ị buru ụzọ kwuo na m ga-enye gị. Ma ekwenyeghị m nʼozi nke ugboro abụọ a.’” Ndị ozi ahụ laghachiri kọọrọ Ben-Hadad ihe niile Ehab kwuru.
So Ahab said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Tell my master the king, 'I agree to everything that you sent your servant to do the first time, but I cannot accept this second demand.'” So the messengers left and took this response to Ben Hadad.
10 Ma Ben-Hadad zigakwaara Ehab ozi ọzọ sị, “Ka chi ndị a mesoo m mmeso, otu ọbụla mmeso ahụ si dị njọ, ma ọ bụrụ na aja Sameria ga-afọdụ inye onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị ikom m otu njuaka.”
Then Ben Hadad sent his reply to Ahab, and said, “May the gods do so to me and more also, if even the ashes of Samaria will be enough for all the people who follow me to have a handful each.”
11 Ma eze Izrel zaghachiri, “Gwa ya, ‘Onye na-ebu agha na-anya isi naanị mgbe a lụchara agha, ọ bụghị tupu a lụọ agha.’”
The king of Israel answered and said, “Tell Ben Hadad, 'No one who is just putting on his armor, should boast as if he were taking it off.'”
12 Ben-Hadad nụrụ ozi Ehab ziri mgbe ya na ndị eze ndị ọzọ ahụ nọ na-aṅụ mmanya nʼụlọ ikwu ha manyere nʼọgbọ agha ahụ. Ben-Hadad nyere ndị agha ya iwu sị ha, “Jikerenụ, buso ndị Izrel agha.” Ya mere, ha kwadoro ibuso obodo ahụ agha.
Ben Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings under him who were in their tents. Ben Hadad commanded his men, “Line yourselves up in position for battle.” So they prepared themselves in position of battle to attack the city.
13 Nʼoge a, otu onye amụma bịakwutere Ehab, bụ eze Izrel sị, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Ị hụrụ oke igwe ndị agha a? Aga m enyefe ha nʼaka gị taa, mgbe ahụ ị ga-amatakwa na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị.’”
Then behold, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Yahweh says, 'Have you seen this great army? Look, I will place it into your hand today, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'”
14 Ma Ehab jụrụ sị, “Onye ga-eme nke a?” Onye amụma zara, “Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, ‘Ọ bụ ụmụ okorobịa bụ ndịisi agha nọ nʼokpuru ndị ọchịagha na-achị akụkụ ala Izrel.’” Ehab jụkwara ọzọ, “Onye ga-amalite agha a?” Onye amụma ahụ zara, “Gị onwe gị.”
Ahab replied, “By whom?” Yahweh replied and said, “By the young officers who serve the governors of the districts.” Then Ahab said, “Who will begin the battle?” Yahweh answered, “You.”
15 Mgbe ahụ, Ehab kpọkọtara ụmụ okorobịa bụ ndịisi agha si nʼakụkụ obodo ya. Ọnụọgụgụ ha dị narị abụọ na iri atọ na mmadụ abụọ. Ọnụọgụgụ ndị agha Izrel ndị ọzọ dị puku asaa.
Then Ahab mustered the young officers who served the governors of the districts. They numbered 232. After them he mustered all the soldiers, all the army of Israel; seven thousand in number.
16 Nʼetiti ehihie, mgbe Ben-Hadad na iri ndị eze atọ na abụọ ahụ, bụ ndị ahụ bịara inyere ya aka nọ na-aṅụ mmanya, na-aṅụbiga ya oke,
They went out at noon. Ben Hadad had been drinking himself drunk in his tent, he and the thirty-two lesser kings who were supporting him.
17 ụmụ okorobịa, bụ ndị agha, ndị nọ nʼokpuru ndị ọchịagha na-achị akụkụ ala Izrel buru ụzọ pụọ ibu agha. Ma Ben-Hadad, nʼonwe ya ezipụlarị ndị nledo, ndị lọghachiri bịa gwa ya sị, “Ndị agha si Sameria na-abịa.”
The young officers who served the governors of the districts went forward first. Then Ben Hadad was informed by scouts that he had sent out, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”
18 Ọ sịrị, “Ọ bụrụ na ha abịa nʼihi udo, jidenụ ha na ndụ; ọ bụrụ na ha bịara maka ibu agha, jidenụ ha na ndụ!”
Ben Hadad said, “Whether they have come out for peace or war, take them alive.”
19 Ma ụmụ okorobịa ndị ọchịchị a bụ ndị nọ nʼokpuru ndịisi, na-achị akụkụ ala ahụ sitere nʼobodo zọlie ije ebe ndị agha so ha nʼazụ, pụọ ibu agha.
So the young officers who served the governors of the districts went out of the city and the army followed them.
20 Onye ọbụla nʼime ha gburu onye agha Siria ọbụla lụsoro ya ọgụ. Nke a mere ka ndị agha Siria gbapụ ọsọ, ndị agha Izrel chụsokwara ha. Ma Ben-Hadad, eze Aram, na ndị agha na-agba ịnyịnya, sitekwara nʼihu ọgbọ agha ahụ gbapụkwa ọsọ.
Each man killed his opponent. The Arameans fled and Israel pursued them. Ben Hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse along with some horsemen.
21 Ma eze ndị Izrel pụkwuru ya, nwude ọtụtụ ịnyịnya na ụgbọ agha, butere ndị Aram ọghọm dị ukwuu.
Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.
22 Emesịa, onye amụma ahụ bịakwutere eze Izrel sị ya, “Mee onwe gị ka ị dị ike nke ọma, mara ihe e kwesiri ka e mee, nʼihi nʼetiti ọkọchị na udu mmiri nke afọ nʼabịa, eze Aram ga-abịa ibuso gị agha ọzọ.”
So the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself, and understand and plan what you are doing, because at the return of the year the king of Aram will come up against you again.”
23 Ma otu ọ dị, ndịisi agha eze ndị Aram dụrụ ya ọdụ sị, “Chi ha bụ chi ugwu. Nʼihi ya ka ha ji dị ike karịa anyị. Ma ọ bụrụ na anyị ebuso ha agha nʼobosara ala dị larịị, anyị aghaghị ịdị ike karịa ha.
The servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than we were. But now let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.
24 Mee ihe a, wepụ ndị eze a niile site nʼebe ha nọ, jiri ndị na-achị ala gbanwee ha.
So you must do this: Remove all the kings from their positions of authority and replace them with military commanders.
25 Kpọkọtaakwa ndị agha ọzọ, ndị dị ukwuu nʼọnụọgụgụ, dịka ndị agha i du gaa agha na mbụ. Nyekwa anyị ịnyịnya na ụgbọ agha ga-ezuru anyị. Anyị ga-apụkwa buso ndị Izrel agha nʼobosara ala dị larịị. Ọ dịkwaghị ihe ga-egbochi anyị imeri ha nʼoge a.” Ben-Hadad, eze Aram, kwenyere, meere ha dịka ha rịọrọ ya.
Raise up an army like the army you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight them in the plain. Then surely we will be stronger than they are.” So Ben Hadad listened to their advice and did what they advised.
26 Mgbe otu afọ gasịrị, Ben-Hadad chịkọtakwara ndị Aram niile duru ha gaa Afek ibuso Izrel agha.
After the beginning of the new year, Ben Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
27 Mgbe a kpọkọtara ndị agha niile nọ nʼIzrel nye ha ngwa agha, ha pụrụ izute ha. Ndị agha Izrel mara ụlọ ikwu ha na ncherita ihu ndị agha Siria, dịka igwe ewu nta abụọ, ebe ndị Aram jupụtara ala ahụ niile.
The people of Israel were mustered and supplied to fight against them. The people of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the countryside.
28 Onye nke Chineke bịara gwa eze ndị Izrel, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Nʼihi na ndị Aram na-eche na Onyenwe anyị bụ chi nke ugwu, na ọ bụghị chi ala ndagwurugwu, aga m arara igwe ndị agha a nyefee gị nʼaka, ka gị na ndị gị mata nʼeziokwu na m bụ Onyenwe anyị.’”
Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Yahweh says: 'Because the Arameans have said that Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys, I will place this great army into your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'”
29 Ọ bụ ụbọchị asaa ka ha mara ụlọ ikwu ha na ncherita ihu ibe ha. Ma nʼụbọchị nke asaa ahụ, ndị agha malitere ibu agha. Ndị Izrel merụrụ narị puku ndị agha Aram ahụ nʼotu ụbọchị.
So the armies camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle started. The people of Israel killed 100,000 Aramean footmen in one day.
30 Ma ndị fọdụrụ nʼetiti ndị agha Aram gbapụrụ ọsọ gbalaga nʼobodo Afek. Ebe ahụ ka mgbidi obodo Afek nọ dagbuo iri puku ndị agha abụọ na asaa nʼime ha. Ma Ben-Hadad nʼonwe ya gbalagara, gbaba nʼime obodo ahụ, gaa zoo onwe ya nʼime ime otu ụlọ.
The rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner room.
31 Mgbe ahụ, ndịisi agha ya bịakwutere ya sị ya, “Lee, anyị nụrụ na ndị eze Izrel bụ ndị obi ebere. Ka anyị yiri akwa mkpe nʼukwu anyị, kee ụdọ nʼolu anyị, gaa rịọọ eze Izrel. Ma eleghị anya ọ ga-edebe gị ndụ.”
Ben Hadad's servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
32 Ya mere, ha yikwasịrị onwe ha akwa mkpe, nyarakwa ụdọ nʼolu ha, jekwuru eze Izrel sị ya, “Ohu gị bụ Ben-Hadad na-asị, ‘Biko, kwee ka m dịrị ndụ.’” Eze jụrụ ha sị, “Ọ bụ ezie na ọ ka dị ndụ ugbu a? Nwanne m ka ọ bụ.”
So they put sackcloth on their waists and ropes around their heads and then went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben Hadad said, 'Please let me live.'” Ahab said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”
33 Okwu a mere ka ndị ozi eze Aram nwee olileanya. Ha mere ngwangwa kwugharịakwa ihe ahụ o kwuru. Ha sịrị, “E, Nwanne gị bụ Ben-Hadad.” Mgbe ahụ, eze Ehab nyere ha iwu sị, “Gaanụ kpọpụta ya, dutekwanụ ya nʼebe a.” Mgbe Ben-Hadad bịara, Ehab mere ka ọ rigota nʼụgbọ agha nke ya.
Now the men were listening for any sign from Ahab, so they quickly answered him, “Yes, your brother Ben Hadad is alive.” Then Ahab said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came to him, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
34 Mgbe ahụ, Ben-Hadad gwara Ehab sị, “Obodo niile nke nna m naara nna gị, ka m ga-enyeghachi gị. I nwere ike iwuru onwe gị ọdụ ahịa nʼama obodo Damaskọs dịka nna m wuru nʼime Sameria.” Ehab kwuru, “Ọ bụrụ na anyị agbaa ndụ, aga m eme ka i nwere onwe gị.” Ya mere, ha abụọ gbara ndụ. Ehab hapụkwara ya ka ọ laa nʼudo.
Ben Hadad said to Ahab, “I will restore to you the cities that my father took from your father, and you may make markets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Ahab replied, “I will let you go with this covenant.” So Ahab made a covenant with him and then let him go.
35 Emesịa, okwu Onyenwe anyị rutere otu onye nʼetiti ụmụ ndị amụma. Ọ gwara otu nwoke nʼime ụmụ ndị amụma ahụ nọ ya nso sị ya, “Jiri ngwa agha dị gị nʼaka tie m ihe.” Ma nwoke ahụ jụrụ ime ihe onye amụma ahụ kwuru.
A certain man, one of the sons of the prophets, said to one of his fellow prophets by the word of Yahweh, “Please hit me.” But the man refused to hit him.
36 Nʼihi nke a, onye amụma gwara nwoke ahụ okwu sị, “Ebe ọ bụ na ị jụrụ ime ihe Onyenwe anyị nyere nʼiwu, lee ihe ga-adakwasị gị. Mgbe i si nʼebe a na-ala nʼụlọ gị, ọdụm ga-ezute gị nʼụzọ dọgbuo gị.” Amụma a mezukwara, nʼihi na mgbe nwoke ahụ tụgharịrị si nʼebe ahụ na-ala, ọdụm lụsoro ya ọgụ nʼụzọ gbuo ya.
Then the prophet said to his fellow prophet, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” As soon as that man had left him, a lion came upon him and killed him.
37 Onye amụma ahụ pụkwara chọta onye ọzọ sị ya, “Biko, tie m ihe.” Nwoke ahụ tiri ya ihe tihịa ya ahụ.
Then the prophet found another man and said, “Please hit me.” So the man hit him and wounded him.
38 Mgbe ahụ, onye amụma ahụ e tiri ihe jiri akwa kechie ihu ya, ka mmadụ ọbụla ghara ịmata onye ọ bụ. Ọ pụrụ gaa guzo nʼakụkụ ụzọ ebe eze Izrel ga-esi gafee.
Then the prophet left and waited for the king by the road; he had disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.
39 Mgbe eze na-agafe, onye amụma ahụ tiri mkpu sị, “Onyenwe m, biko gee m ntị. Lee, otu onye agha bịakwutere m mgbe m nọ nʼihu agha sị m, ‘Lee nwoke a a dọtara nʼagha; chee ya nche. Ekwekwala ka ọ gbanarị gị. Nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na o site nʼaka gị gbapụ, ị ga-anwụ, maọbụ i jiri otu talenti ọlaọcha gbara isi gị.’
As the king passed by, the prophet cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and a soldier stopped and brought a man to me and said, 'Watch this man. If by any means he goes missing, your life will be given for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.'
40 Ma mgbe m nọ na-arụ ọrụ ọzọ, nwoke ahụ a dọtara nʼagha gbapụrụ. Ahụkwaghị m ya anya ọzọ.” Mgbe ahụ, eze Izrel zara sị ya, “I jirila ọnụ gị maa onwe gị ikpe. Ị ghaghị ịnata ahụhụ dịrị gị.”
But because your servant was busy going here and there, the man escaped.” Then the king of Israel said to him, “This is what your punishment will be—you yourself have decided it.”
41 Mgbe ahụ, onye amụma ahụ mere ngwangwa wepụ akwa ahụ o ji kechie anya ya abụọ. Eze Izrel matakwara na ọ bụ otu onye nʼime ndị amụma.
Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets.
42 Onye amụma ahụ gwara eze okwu sị ya, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru, ‘Ebe i mere ka nwoke a laa, bụ onye m nyere gị nʼaka ime ka ọ nwụọ, ugbu a, ị ghaghị ịnwụ nʼọnọdụ ya. A ga-alakwa ndị gị nʼiyi, nʼọnọdụ ndị nke ya.’”
The prophet said to the king, “Yahweh says, 'Because you have let go from your hand the man whom I had sentenced to death, your life will take the place of his life, and your people for his people.'”
43 Nʼihi okwu a, eze Izrel ji iwe na ihu mgbarụ laa nʼụlọ ya dị na Sameria.
So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and angry, and arrived in Samaria.
