Ben-Hadad Tow Hyɛ Samaria So
1Aramhene Ben-Hadad boaboaa nʼakofo nyinaa ano, a nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔ a wɔyɛ ahemfo aboafo aduasa abien de ka ne ho. Wokotuaa Israel kuropɔn Samaria ano, tow hyɛɛ so. 2Ben-Hadad somaa abɔfo kɔɔ kurow no mu, sɛ wɔnkɔka nkyerɛ ɔhene Ahab se, “Ben-Hadad se, 3‘Mo dwetɛ ne mo sikakɔkɔɔ yɛ me de. Saa ara na mo yerenom ne mo mma mu apapa no nso yɛ me de.’ ”
4Ahab buae se, “Mate, me wura! Nea mewɔ nyinaa yɛ wo de.”
5Ankyɛ biara Ben-Hadad abɔfo san baa bio bɛkae se, “Ben-Hadad se, ‘Maka dedaw sɛ momfa mo dwetɛ, sikakɔkɔɔ, mo yerenom ne mo mma mma me. 6Ɔkyena sesɛɛ, mɛsoma me mpanyimfo, na wɔabɛhwehwɛ mo ahemfi ne mo nkurɔfo afi. Na biribiara a ɛsom bo ma mo no, wɔbɛfa de akɔ.’ ”
7Na Ahab frɛɛ asase no so ntuanofo no nyinaa, ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Monhwɛ sɛnea saa ɔbarima yi pɛ sɛ ɔde ɔhaw ba. Mapene so dedaw sɛ mede me yerenom, me mma, me dwetɛ ne me sikakɔkɔɔ bɛma no.”
8Ntuanofo ne nnipa no nyinaa kae se, “Ntie no, na nnye nʼabisade no nto mu.”
9Enti Ahab ka kyerɛɛ abɔfo a wofi Ben-Hadad nkyɛn bae no se, “Monkɔka saa asɛm yi nkyerɛ me wura ɔhene se, ‘Biribiara a obisaa kan no de, mede bɛma no. Na nea obisaa no akyiri yi de, merentumi mfa mma no.’ ” Enti Ben-Hadad abɔfo no san kɔbɔɔ no amanneɛ.
10Na Ben-Hadad soma kɔka kyerɛɛ Ahab se, “Sɛ mansɛe Samaria pasaa, na emu mfutuma dodow bi ka a ɛbɛboro asraafo no mu biara nsa ma a, anyame no ntwe mʼaso nea ɛyɛ den.”
11Israelhene nso soma ma wɔkɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔkofo kɛse a ɔrefa nʼafoa akɔ akono tu ne ho sɛ ɔkofo kɛse a wadi nkonim dedaw.”
12Ahab mmuae yi duu Ben-Hadad ne ahemfo a wɔaka no asom bere a na wɔrenom nsa wɔ wɔn ntamadan mu. Ɔhyɛɛ ne mmarima no se, “Munsiesie mo ho nkɔko.” Enti wosiesiee wɔn ho sɛ wɔrekɔtow ahyɛ kuropɔn no so.
Ahab Di Ben-Hadad So Nkonim
13Na odiyifo bi behuu ɔhene Ahab ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni, ‘Wuhu saa atamfo dɔm yi? Nnɛ, mede wɔn bɛhyɛ wo nsa. Na wubehu sɛ mene Awurade.’ ”
14Ahab bisae se, “Na dɛn na ɔbɛyɛ no?” Na odiyifo no buae se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni, ‘Asraafo so asahene a wotuatua amansin ano no na wɔbɛyɛ.’ ”
Ahab bisae se, “Enti yenni kan ntow nhyɛ wɔn so ana?”
Odiyifo no buae se, “Yiw.”
15Enti Ahab boaboaa asraafo so asahene nkumaa ahannu aduasa abien wɔhyehyɛ amansin asahene ase ano. Afei, ɔfrɛɛ Israel akofo a wɔaka a wɔn nyinaa dodow yɛ mpem ason no. 16Ɛbɛyɛ owigyinae a Ben-Hadad ne nʼapamfo ahemfo aduasa abien gu so rebow nsa wɔ wɔn ntamadan mu no, 17amansin asahene asraafo no tuu teɛe, fii kurow no mu. Wɔrebɛn no, Ben-Hadad akwansrafo ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Asraafo dɔm bi fi Samaria reba.”
18Ben-Hadad hyɛe se, “Sɛ wɔbaa asomdwoe anaa ɔko so a, monkyere wɔn anikann.”
19Nanso saa bere no, na Ahab amansin asahene nkumaa no adi kan a asraafo no bɔ wɔn kyidɔm 20a Israel ɔsraani biara kum ne tamfo Aram ɔsraani a ɔne no dii asi. Ɛno nti, amono mu hɔ ara, Aram asraafo no bɔɔ hu, guanee. Israelfo no taa wɔn, nanso ɔhene Ben-Hadad ne ne nkurɔfo kakra bi de, wɔtenaa apɔnkɔ so guanee. 21Nanso wɔsɛee apɔnkɔ ne nteaseɛnam a ɛkaa hɔ no nyinaa, kunkum Aramfo no.
22Akyiri no, odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ Ahab se, “Siesie wo ho ma ɔko foforo na Aramhene bɛba asusowbere mu.”
Ben-Hadad Ɔtow A Ɛto So Abien
23Wodii Ben-Hadad so no, ne mpanyimfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Israel anyame no yɛ mmepɔw anyame, na ɛno nti na ɛma wodii nkonim no. Na sɛ wodu tataw so a, yebedi wɔn so nkonim a yɛremmrɛ ho koraa. 24Nea ɛho hia ara ne sɛ, saa bere yi, ɛsɛ sɛ wode akono asahene sisi ahemfo no anan mu. 25Momfa asraafo foforo a wɔn dodow te sɛ wɔn a wohweree wɔn no ara. Ma yɛn apɔnkɔ no dodow, nteaseɛnam ne mmarima dodow saa ara, na yebetumi ne wɔn adi asi wɔ tataw so. Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ yebedi wɔn so.” Enti ɔhene Ben-Hadad yɛɛ wɔn abisade maa wɔn.
26Na afe so no, ɔfrɛɛ Aram asraafo, tuu teɛ kɔɔ Israelfo so wɔ Afek sɛ wɔne wɔn rekɔko. 27Israel boaboaa nʼasraafo ano, twaa sa, de wɔn ho hyɛɛ ɔko no mu. Na sɛ wɔde Israel asraafo no toto Aram asraafo no dodow a wɔahyɛ hɔ ma no ho a, na Israel asraafo no dodow te sɛ mmirekyikuw nketewa abien bi.
28Onyankopɔn nipa no kɔɔ Israelhene nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Aramfo no aka se, ‘Awurade yɛ mmepɔw Awurade na ɔnyɛ tataw so Awurade. Enti mɛboa wo ama woadi asraafo buburugyaa yi so. Na ɛbɛma woahu sɛ, mene Awurade no.’ ”
29Asraafo dɔm abien yi bobɔɔ wɔn atenae, ma edii nhwɛanim nnanson. Na nnanson so no, ɔko no hyɛɛ ase. Da no ara, Israelfo no kunkum Aram anammɔnmufo asraafo no mpem ɔha. 30Nkae no guan kɔtɛw Afek fasu akyi, nanso ɔfasu no bu guu wɔn so, kum mpem aduonu ason. Ben-Hadad guan kɔtɛw kokoa mu dan bi mu wɔ kurow no mu.
31Ben-Hadad mpanyimfo ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Owura, yɛate sɛ Israel ahemfo wɔ ahummɔbɔ. Ɛno nti, momma yemfura atweaatam, mfa hama mmɔ yɛn ti ase mfa nkyerɛ ahobrɛase. Na ebia, ɔhene Ahab bɛma woatena ase.”
32Enti wofurafuraa atweaatam, de ahama bobɔɔ wɔn ti, kɔɔ Israelhene nkyɛn kɔsrɛɛ no se, “Wo somfo Ben-Hadad se, ‘Mesrɛ wo, ma me ntena nkwa mu.’ ” Israelhene no bisae se, “Ɔda so te ase ana? Ɔyɛ me nuabarima!”
33Mmarima no yɛɛ ntɛm soo anidaso a enni nnyinaso yi mu, buae se, “Yiw, wo nua Ben-Hadad.”
Israelhene no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Monkɔfa no mmra.” Bere a wɔde Ben-Hadad bae no, Ahab ma ɔkɔtenaa ne teaseɛnam mu.
34Ben-Hadad ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mede nkurow a mʼagya gye fii wʼagya nsam no bɛsan ama wo, na woahyehyɛ aguadi wɔ Damasko, sɛnea mʼagya yɛɛ wɔ Samaria no.”
Na Ahab kae se, “Saa nhyehyɛe yi so na megyina na magyaa wo.” Enti, wɔyɛɛ apam, na wogyaa Ben-Hadad.
Odiyifo Bi Bu Ahab Atɛn
35Bere no ara mu, Awurade see adiyifokuw no mu baako se, ɔnka nkyerɛ ɔfoforo se, “Fa wʼakode no bɔ me.” Nanso wanyɛ.
36Na saa odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ ɔfoforo no se, “Sɛ woantie Awurade nne nti, sɛ wufi ha ara pɛ a, gyata bekum wo.” Ampa ara, ofii hɔ ara pɛ na gyata huu no kum no.
37Na odiyifo no kɔɔ ɔbarima foforo nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Fa wʼakode yi bɔ me.” Ɔno de, ɔbɔɔ odiyifo no, piraa no.
38Odiyifo no twɛn ɔhene no wɔ ɔkwankyɛn a ɔde ntamabamma akyekyere nʼani, de pɛɛ sɛ ɔsakra ne ho. 39Ɔhene no retwa mu no, odiyifo no frɛɛ no se, “Owura, na mewɔ akono na ɔbarima bi de odeduani brɛɛ me. Ɔkae se, ‘Wɛn saa ɔbarima yi, na sɛ biribi nti oguan a, wobekum wo anaasɛ wɔbɛbɔ wo ka dwetɛ kilogram aduasa awotwe.’ 40Na bere a mʼani abere redi dwuma bi no, odeduani no guanee. Na ɔhene no kae se, ‘Ɛyɛ wʼankasa wo mfomso. Wo ara woabu wo ho atɛn.’ ”
41Ɛhɔ ara na odiyifo no san ntamabamma no fii nʼani, na Israelhene no huu no sɛ ɔyɛ adiyifo no mu baako. 42Na odiyifo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Esiane sɛ woagyaa ɔbarima a mekae se, ɛsɛ sɛ wokum no no nti, ɛsɛ sɛ wokum wo mprempren si nʼanan mu. Na anka ɛsɛ sɛ ne nkurɔfo na mukunkum wɔn, na mmom, wo nkurɔfo na wobekunkum wɔn.” 43Israelhene no de abufuw kɔɔ nʼahemfi wɔ Samaria.
Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria
1Ben-Hadad brought his whole army together. He was king of Aram. He went up to Samaria. He took 32 kings and their horses and chariots with him. All of them surrounded Samaria and attacked it. 2Ben-Hadad sent messengers into the city. They spoke to Ahab, the king of Israel. They told him, “Ben-Hadad says, 3‘Your silver and gold belong to me. The best of your wives and children also belong to me.’ ”
4The king of Israel replied, “What you say is true. You are my king and master. I belong to you. And everything I have belongs to you.”
5The messengers came again. They told Ahab, “Ben-Hadad says, ‘I commanded you to give me your silver and gold. I also commanded you to give me your wives and children. 6But now I’m going to send my officials to you. They will come about this time tomorrow. They’ll search your palace. They’ll search the houses of your officials. They’ll take everything you value. And they’ll carry it all away.’ ”
7The king of Israel sent for all the elders of the land. He said to them, “This man is really looking for trouble! He sent for my wives and children. He sent for my silver and gold. And I agreed to give them to him.”
8All the elders and people answered, “Don’t listen to him. Don’t agree to give him what he wants.”
9So Ahab replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers. He said, “Tell my king and master, ‘I will do everything you commanded me to do the first time. But this time, I can’t do what you want me to do.’ ” They took Ahab’s answer back to Ben-Hadad.
10Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab. Ben-Hadad said, “There won’t be enough dust left in Samaria to give each of my followers even a handful. If there is, may the gods punish me greatly.”
11The king of Israel replied. He said, “Tell him, ‘Someone who puts his armor on shouldn’t brag like someone who takes it off.’ ”
12Ben-Hadad and the kings were in their tents drinking. That’s when he heard the message. He ordered his men, “Get ready to attack.” So they prepared to attack the city.
Ahab Wins the Battle Over Ben-Hadad
13During that time a prophet came to Ahab, the king of Israel. He announced, “The Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
14“But who will do it?” Ahab asked.
The prophet answered, “The Lord says, ‘The junior officers who are under the area commanders will do it.’ ”
“And who will start the battle?” Ahab asked.
The prophet answered, “You will.”
15So Ahab sent for the junior officers who were under the area commanders. The total number of officers was 232. Ahab gathered together the rest of the Israelites. The total number of them was 7,000. 16They started out at noon. At that time Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings helping him were in their tents. They were getting drunk. 17The junior officers who were under Ahab’s area commanders marched out first.
Ben-Hadad had sent out scouts. They came back and reported, “Men are marching against us from Samaria.”
18Ben-Hadad said, “They might be coming to make peace. If they are, take them alive. Or they might be coming to make war. If they are, take them alive.”
19The junior officers marched out of the city. The army was right behind them. 20Each man struck down the one fighting against him. When that happened, the army of Aram ran away. The Israelites chased them. But Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, escaped on a horse. Some of his horsemen escaped with him. 21The king of Israel attacked them. He overpowered the horses and chariots. Large numbers of the men of Aram were wounded or killed.
22After that, the prophet came to the king of Israel again. The prophet said, “Make your position stronger. Do what needs to be done. Next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”
23During that time, the officials of the king of Aram gave him advice. They said, “The gods of Israel are gods of the hills. That’s why they were too strong for us. But suppose we fight them on the plains. Then we’ll certainly be stronger than they are. 24Here’s what you should do. Don’t let any of the kings continue as military leaders. Have other officers take their places. 25You must also put another army together. It should be just like the one you lost. It should have the same number of horses and chariots. Then we’ll be able to fight against Israel on the plains. And we’ll certainly be stronger than they are.” Ben-Hadad agreed with their advice. He did what they suggested.
26The next spring Ben-Hadad brought together the men of Aram. They went up to the city of Aphek to fight against Israel. 27The Israelites were also brought together. They were given supplies. They marched out to fight against their enemies. Israel’s army camped across from Aram’s army. The Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats that had become separated from the others. But the men of Aram covered the countryside.
28The man of God came up to the king of Israel again. He told him, “The Lord says, ‘The men of Aram think the Lord is a god of the hills. They do not think he is a god of the valleys. So I, the Lord, will hand their huge army over to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
29For seven days the two armies camped across from each other. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites wounded or killed 100,000 Aramean soldiers who were on foot. That happened in a single day. 30The rest of the men of Aram escaped to the city of Aphek. Its wall fell down on 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad ran to the city. He hid in a secret room.
31His officials said to him, “Look, we’ve heard that the kings of Israel often show mercy. So let’s go to the king of Israel. Let’s wear the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Let’s tie ropes around our heads. Perhaps Ahab will spare your life.”
32So they wore rough clothing. They tied ropes around their heads. Then they went to the king of Israel. They told him, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ”
The king answered, “Is he still alive? He used to be my friend.”
33The men thought that was good news. So they quickly used the word Ahab had used. “Yes! Your friend Ben-Hadad!” they said.
“Go and get him,” the king said. Ben-Hadad came out of the secret room. Then Ahab had him get into his chariot.
34“I’ll return the cities my father took from your father,” Ben-Hadad offered. “You can set up your own market areas in Damascus. That’s what my father did in Samaria.”
Ahab said, “If we sign a peace treaty, I’ll set you free.” So Ben-Hadad made a treaty with him. Then Ahab let him go.
A Prophet Accuses Ahab
35There was a group of people called the group of the prophets. A message from the Lord came to one of their members. He said to his companion, “Strike me down with your weapon.” But he wouldn’t do it.
36The prophet said, “You haven’t obeyed the Lord. So as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” The companion went away. And a lion found him and killed him.
37The prophet found another man. He said, “Please strike me down.” So the man struck him down and wounded him. 38Then the prophet went and stood by the road. He waited for the king to come by. He pulled his headband down over his eyes so no one would recognize him. 39The king passed by. Then the prophet called out to him. He said, “I went into the middle of the battle. Someone came to me with a prisoner. He said, ‘Guard this man. Don’t let him get away. If he does, you will pay for his life with yours. Or you can pay 75 pounds of silver.’ 40While I was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”
The king of Israel spoke to him. He told him, “What you’ve just said is what will happen to you.”
41Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42He told the king, “The Lord says, ‘You have set a man free. But I had said he should be set apart to the Lord in a special way to be destroyed. So you must pay for his life with yours. You must pay for his people’s lives with the lives of your people.’ ” 43The king of Israel was angry. He was in a bad mood. He went back to his palace in Samaria.
