Syria Attacks Israel
1 King Benhadad of Syria called his army together. He was joined by 32 other kings with their horses and chariots, and together they marched to Samaria and attacked. 2 Benhadad sent a messenger to tell King Ahab of Israel, 3 “Ahab, give me your silver and gold, your wives, and your strongest sons!”
4 “Your Majesty,” Ahab replied, “everything I have is yours, including me.”
5 Later, Benhadad sent another messenger to say to Ahab, “I already told you to give me your silver and gold, your wives, and your children. 6 But tomorrow at this time, I will send my officials into your city to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will take everything else that you own.”
7 Ahab called a meeting with the leaders of Israel and said, “Benhadad is causing real trouble. He told me to give him my wives and children, as well as my silver and gold. And I agreed.”
8 “Don't listen to him!” they answered. “You don't have to do what he says.”
9 So Ahab sent someone to tell Benhadad, “Your Majesty, I'll give you my silver and gold, and even my wives and children. But I won't let you have anything else.”
When Benhadad got his answer, 10 he replied, “I'll completely destroy Samaria! There won't even be enough of it left for my soldiers to carry back in their hands. If I don't do it, I pray that the gods will punish me terribly.”
11 Ahab then answered, “Benhadad, don't brag before the fighting even begins. Wait and see if you live through it.”
12 Meanwhile, Benhadad and the other kings had been drinking in their tents. But when Ahab's reply came, he ordered his soldiers to prepare to attack Samaria, and they all got ready.
13 At that very moment, a prophet ran up to Ahab and said, “You can see that Benhadad's army is very strong. But the Lord has promised to help you defeat them today. Then you will know that the Lord is in control.”
14 “Who will fight the battle?” Ahab asked.
The prophet answered, “The young bodyguards who serve the district officials.”
“But who will lead them into battle?” Ahab asked.
“You will!” the prophet replied.
15 So Ahab called together the 232 young soldiers and the 7,000 troops in Israel's army, and he got them ready to fight the Syrians.
Israel Defeats the Syrians
16-17 At noon, King Ahab and his Israelite army marched out of Samaria, with the young soldiers in front.
King Benhadad of Syria and the 32 kings with him were drunk when the scouts he had sent out ran up to his tent, shouting, “We just now saw soldiers marching out of Samaria!”
18 “Take them alive!” Benhadad ordered. “I don't care if they have come out to fight or to surrender.”
19 The young soldiers led Israel's troops into battle, 20 and each of them attacked and killed an enemy soldier. The rest of the Syrian army turned and ran, and the Israelites went after them. Benhadad and some others escaped on horses, 21 but Ahab and his soldiers followed them and captured their horses and chariots.
Ahab and Israel's army crushed the Syrians.
22 Later, the prophet went back and warned Ahab, “Benhadad will attack you again next spring. Build up your troops and make sure you have some good plans.”
Syria Attacks Israel Again
23 Meanwhile, Benhadad's officials went to him and explained:
Israel's gods are mountain gods. We fought Israel's army in the hills, and that's why they defeated us. But if we fight them on flat land, there's no way we can lose.
24 Here's what you should do. First, get rid of those 32 kings and put army commanders in their places. 25 Then get more soldiers, horses, and chariots, so your army will be as strong as it was before. We'll fight Israel's army on flat land and wipe them out.
Benhadad agreed and did what they suggested.
26 In the spring, Benhadad got his army together, and they marched to the town of Aphek to attack Israel. 27 The Israelites also prepared to fight. They marched out to meet the Syrians, and the two armies camped across from each other. The Syrians covered the whole area, but the Israelites looked like two little flocks of goats.
28 The prophet went to Ahab and said, “The Syrians think the Lord is a god of the hills and not of the valleys. So he has promised to help you defeat their powerful army. Then you will know that the Lord is in control.”
29 For seven days the two armies stayed in their camps, facing each other. Then on the seventh day the fighting broke out, and before sunset the Israelites had killed 100,000 Syrian troops. 30 The rest of the Syrian army ran back to Aphek, but the town wall fell and crushed 27,000 of them.
Benhadad also escaped to Aphek and hid in the back room of a house. 31 His officials said, “Your Majesty, we've heard that Israel's kings keep their agreements. We will wrap sackcloth around our waists, put ropes around our heads, and ask Ahab to let you live.”
32 They dressed in sackcloth and put ropes on their heads, then they went to Ahab and said, “Your servant Benhadad asks you to let him live.”
“Is he still alive?” Ahab asked. “Benhadad is like a brother to me.”
33 Benhadad's officials were trying to figure out what Ahab was thinking, and when he said “brother,” they quickly replied, “You're right! You and Benhadad are like brothers.”
“Go get him,” Ahab said.
When Benhadad came out, Ahab had him climb up into his chariot.
34 Benhadad said, “I'll give back the towns my father took from your father. And you can have shops in Damascus, just as my father had in Samaria.”
Ahab replied, “If you do these things, I'll let you go free.” Then they signed a peace treaty, and Ahab let Benhadad go.
A Prophet Condemns Ahab
35 About this time the Lord commanded a prophet to say to a friend, “Hit me!” But the friend refused, 36 and the prophet told him, “You disobeyed the Lord, and as soon as you walk away, a lion will kill you.” The friend left, and suddenly a lion killed him.
37 The prophet found someone else and said, “Hit me!” So this man beat him up.
38 The prophet left and put a bandage over his face to disguise himself. Then he went and stood beside the road, waiting for Ahab to pass by.
39 When Ahab went by, the prophet shouted, “Your Majesty, right in the heat of battle, someone brought a prisoner to me and told me to guard him. He said if the prisoner got away, I would either be killed or forced to pay 3,000 pieces of silver. 40 But I got busy doing other things, and the prisoner escaped.”
Ahab answered, “You will be punished just as you have said.”
41 The man quickly tore the bandage off his face, and Ahab saw that he was one of the prophets. 42 The prophet said, “The Lord told you to kill Benhadad, but you let him go. Now you will die in his place, and your people will die in place of his people.”
43 Ahab went back to Samaria, angry and depressed.
Oita pokati kaAhab naBenhadad
1 Benhadad, ohamba yaAram, ya ongela omatanga ayo aeshe ovakwaita, oya li i neehamba omilongo nhatu nambali pamwe nayo nomatemba oita neenghambe. Yo oya ya okukondeka Samaria ndele ye shi lwifa. 2 Nokwa tuma ko ovatumwa moshilando kuAhab ohamba yaIsrael, va tye kuye: “Ohamba Benhadad ota ti ngaha: 3 ‘oshisiliveli shoye noshingoldo shoye oshange; novalikadi voye vawa novamwoye vo ovange.’ ” 4 Ohamba yaIsrael ya nyamukula tai ti: “Heeno, ngaashi wa tile, omwene wange, ohamba, aame owoye naashishe ndi shi na, oshoye.” 5 Opo nee ovatumwa ve uya vali ndele tava ti: “Benhadad ta ti ngaha: ‘Onde ku tumina ondaka ei: “Oshisiliveli shoye noshingoldo shoye novalikadi voye novana voye u noku va pa nge. 6 Ndelenee mongula pefimbo tuu olo, ame ohandi ka tuma kwoove ovapiya vange, opo va hadahade eumbo loye nomaumbo ovapiya voye.” Ndele vo otava ka kufa mo ashishe osho sha wapalela omesho oye, ndele tave shi twala.’ ” 7 Opo nee ohamba yaIsrael ya ifana ovakulunhu aveshe voshilongo ndele tai ti: “Dimbulukweni, mu tale, nhumbi ye te tu etele omupya osheshi a tuma kwaame a kufe nge ovalikadi vange, novana vange noshisiliveli shange noshingoldo shange. Ndelenee ame inandi i mu anyena.” 8 Ndelenee ovakulunhu aveshe novanhu aveshe ve mu nyamukula: “Ino mu uda, ino mu itavelela.” 9 Onghee hano ye a lombwela ovatumwa vaBenhadad: “Lombweleni omwene weni ohamba: ‘Aishe oyo we i lombwela omupiya woye tete e i ninge, ame ohandi ke i ninga. Ndelenee oshinima eshi ihandi dulu oku ke shi ninga.’ ” Novatumwa va dja po, ndele ve mu twalela enyamukulo. 10 Opo nee Benhadad e mu tumina ondaka: “Oikalunga nai handukile nge paife nokomesho, ondwi yomuSamaria ngeenge tai wana okuyadifa omake ovakwaita aveshe ava hava shikula nge.” 11 Ndelenee ohamba yaIsrael ya nyamukula tai ti: “Mu lombwela: ‘Onakuhomata omaxwaxwa ke nokulitanga ngaashi ou e lidula omauta!’ ” 12 Benhadad eshi a uda enyamukulo olo fimbo ta nu momatwali pamwe neehamba, okwa lombwela ovapiya vaye: “Feni engholohote.” Ndele va fa engholohote va totele oshilando.
13 Ndele tala, omuxunganeki umwe okwa holoka koshipala shaAhab, ohamba yaIsrael, ndele ta ti: “Omwene osho ta ti: ‘Ongudu oyo inene, u i wete ko tuu? Tala, onena eli handi i yandje momake oye, opo u shiive nokutya Aame Omwene.’ ” 14 Ahab okwa pula: “Okeenghono dalyelye?” Okwa nyamukula: “Omwene ta ti ngaha: ‘Odovapiya vomalenga omomikunda.’ ” Ahab okwa pula vali: “Olyelye ta homona tete?” Ye ta nyamukula: “Ove.” 15 Opo nee ye a ongela ovapiya vomalenga omomikunda. Vo va li omafele avali nomilongo nhatu navavali. Konima a ongela ovakwaita aveshe, ovana vaIsrael: omayovi aheyali. 16 Vo ova homona pokati komutenya, fimbo Benhadad neehamba omilongo nhatu nambali de uya oku mu popila, da li momatwali, da nwa noda kolwa. 17 Novapiya vomalenga omomikunda va homona tete. Ndelenee Benhadad okwa tuma ko eendadi, ndele vo ove mu shiivifila ndele tava ti: “Ovalumenhu va dja muSamaria.” 18 Ndele ye ta ti: “Ngeenge va dja ko ve nombili, va kwateni ve nomwenyo. Ndele ngeenge va dja mo va lwe, va kwateni yo ve nomwenyo.”
19 Opo nee ovapiya vomalenga omomikunda va pita mo moshilando nomatanga ovakwaita e va shikula. 20 Ndele keshe umwe okwa dipaa omulumenhu umwe, onghee Ovaarami va ya onhapo, nOvaisraeli ve va shikula. Ndelenee Benhadad, ohamba yaAram ye lixupifa ya ya onhapo pamwe novalondi veenghambe ya londa konghambe. 21 Ndelenee ohamba yaIsrael ya dja mo ndele ya hakana eenghambe nomatemba oita. Osho ngaha Ovaarami va hangika kedipao lidjuu.
22 Nomuxunganeki okwa holoka koshipala shohamba yaIsrael nokwe i lombwela: “Hano, lipameka, dimbulukwa u tale, osho u noku shi ninga, osheshi omudo umwe eshi wa pita, ohamba yaAram tai ke ku homona vali. 23 Osheshi ovapiya vohamba yOvaarami ve mu lombwela: Oikalunga yavo oikalunga yeemhunda. Onghee hano ve tu dula. Ndelenee ngeenge hatu lu navo poluhaela, fye ohatu ke va dula shili. 24 Onghee hano ninga ngaha: Lekela eehamba, keshe imwe monhele yayo, u tule omalenga omikunda ponhele yado. 25 Ndele likongela omatanga ovakwaita e fike opuwo we a kanifa, neenghambe di fike pamwe nomatemba oita e fike pamwe. Ndelenee tu va lwifeni poluhaela, oshili fye ohatu ke va taataa.” Ye okwe va uda nokwe shi ninga yo.
26 Nomudo umwe eshi wa pita, Benhadad okwa ongela Ovaarami nokwa ya kuAfek a lwife Israel. 27 Novana vaIsrael ova ongelwa yo, ndele va tukulilwa onghuta, ndele va ya okushakena navo. Novana vaIsrael va onga onhanda yavo ya shaama navo, ngaashi oungudu vavali vanini voikombo, ndelenee Ovaarami va yadifa edu. 28 Opo nee omulumenhu waKalunga a ehena po, ndele ta ti kohamba yaIsrael: “Omwene osho ta ti: ‘Ovaarami eshi hava ti: “Omwene Oye oshikalunga sheemhunda, ndelenee ke fi oshikalunga shomaluhaela,” onghee hano Ame ohandi ka yandja meke loye eemhunga adishe odo dinene, opo u shiive nokutya, Aame Omwene.’ ”
29 Ndele ova li meenhanda va talafana omafiku aheyali Ndelenee mefiku etiheyali olwoodi la hovela, novana vaIsrael va dipaa Ovaarami ovakwaita vokolupadi omayovi efele. 30 Ndele ava va xupa po, ova ya onhapo koshilando Afek, nohotekuma ya wila kombada yovalumenhu omayovi omilongo mbali naheyali, ava va li va xupa po. Benhadad, ou okwa ya yo moshilando, ota i onhapo nokuhondama meenduda neenduda. 31 Opo nee ovapiya vaye tave mu lombwele: “Tala, fye twa uda nokutya, eehamba deumbo laIsrael, odo eehamba di nefilonghenda. Natu djaleni hano oikutu yeefya moiya yetu, neengodi nhatu di mangeni komitwe detu, fye tu liyandje kohamba yaIsrael. Kashiimba tai ka xupifa omwenyo woye.” 32 Opo nee ve lidika oikutu yeefya moiya yavo, neengodi ve di manga komitwe davo, ndele ve uya kohamba yaIsrael, ndele tava ti: “Omupiya woye Benhadad ta ti: ‘Xupifa omwenyo wange!’ ” Oye okwa nyamukula: “Oku nomwenyo natango? Ye omukwetu!” 33 Opo nee ovalumenhu ve shi tala, sho edidiliko liwa, ndele va endelela okulongifa eendjovo daye ndele tava ti: “Benhadad oye omukweni.” Ye okwa tya: “Ke mu taleni ko!” Ndele Benhadad okwa ya kuye. Ndele ye okwe mu itavelela okulonda metemba laye loita. 34 Ndele Benhadad ta ti kuye: “Oilando inya tate e i kufa kuxo, ame ohandi ke i alula, ndele ove to dulu oku liningila muDamaskus eestora domomapandavanda, ngaashi tate a ningile muSamaria.” Ndele Ahab ta ti: “Ame ohandi ku efa omolweudaneko eli.” Nokwa ninga ehangano naye ndele te mu efa, a ye.
35 Opo nee omulumenhu umwe womovalongwa vovaxunganeki e mu lombwela pandjovo yOmwene: “Denge nge!” Ndelenee omulumenhu a anya oku mu denga. 36 Opo nee ye ta ti kuye: “Ove eshi ino pwilikina ondaka yOmwene, tala, ove eshi to di po pwaame, onghoshi tai ke ku dipaa.” Ndele eshi a dja po puye, onghoshi ye mu kwata ndele ye mu dipaa. 37 Konima okwa mona vali omulumenhu umwe nokwe mu lombwela: “Denge nge!” Nomulumenhu okwe mu denga fiyo e mu twa oiveta. 38 Opo nee omuxunganeki a dja po nokwa kala ofika mondjila oyo ohamba ya li i nokweenda nayo. Nokwe lidimbikifa oshiuviko komesho aye. 39 Ndele fimbo ohamba tai ende po, winya ta ingida ndele ta ti: “Omupiya woye okwa ya molwoodi; ndele tala, omulumenhu e uya nokwa eta kwaame omulumenhu umwe, ndele ta lombwele nge: ‘Nangela omulumenhu ou. Ye ngeenge ta henuka po, hano omwenyo woye tau u omolwaye, ile u nokufutila nge otalenti imwe yoshisiliveli.’ 40 Ndelenee fimbo omupiya woye kwa li e noupyakadi apa nakwinya, winya okwa henuka po.” Opo nee ohamba yaIsrael tai ti kuye: “Etokolo loye oleli: ove mwene we litokola.” 41 Opo nee ye a kufa diva oshiuviko momesho aye, nohamba yaIsrael ye mu dimbulukwa, oye umwe womovaxunganeki. 42 Ndele ye ta ti kuye: “Omwene osho ta ti: ‘Ove eshi wa efa omulumenhu winya, a tulwa omutima, omwenyo woye tau kufwa ponhele yomwenyo waye noshiwana shoye ponhele yoshiwana shaye.’ ” 43 Nohamba yaIsrael ya ya keumbo layo, i nomwenyo mwii nehandu, ndele ye uya kuSamaria.
