Mikaya Anatabiri Dhidi Ya Ahabu
(2 Nyakati 18:2-27)
1Kwa miaka mitatu hapakuwa na vita kati ya Aramu na Israeli. 2Lakini katika mwaka wa tatu Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda akashuka kwenda kumwona mfalme wa Israeli. 322:3 Kum 4:43Mfalme wa Israeli alikuwa amewaambia maafisa wake, “Je, hamjui Ramoth-Gileadi ni mali yetu na bado hatufanyi chochote kuirudisha kwetu kutoka kwa mfalme wa Aramu?”
422:4 2Fal 3:7Kwa hiyo akamuuliza Yehoshafati, “Je, utakwenda pamoja nami kupigana dhidi ya Ramoth-Gileadi?”
Yehoshafati akamjibu mfalme wa Israeli, “Mimi ni kama wewe, watu wangu ni kama watu wako, farasi wangu ni kama farasi wako.” 522:5 Kut 33:7; Ay 38:2; 2Fal 3:11Lakini Yehoshafati pia akamwambia mfalme wa Israeli, “Kwanza tafuta shauri la Bwana.”
622:6 Amu 18:6Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akawaleta pamoja manabii wanaume wapatao mia nne, akawauliza, “Je, niende vitani dhidi ya Ramoth-Gileadi, au niache?”
Wakajibu, “Naam, nenda, kwa kuwa Bwana ataiweka Ramoth-Gileadi mkononi mwa mfalme.”
722:7 Hes 27:21; 2Fal 3:11Lakini Yehoshafati akauliza, “Je, hayuko nabii wa Bwana hapa ambaye tunaweza kumuuliza?”
822:8 Amo 5:10; Yer 23:17Mfalme wa Israeli akamjibu Yehoshafati, “Bado yupo mtu mmoja ambaye kupitia yeye twaweza kumuuliza shauri la Bwana, lakini namchukia kwa sababu huwa hatabiri jambo lolote jema kunihusu mimi, lakini kila mara hunitabiria mabaya tu. Yeye ni Mikaya mwana wa Imla.”
Yehoshafati akajibu, “Mfalme hapaswi kusema hivyo.”
9Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akamwita mmoja wa maafisa wake na kusema, “Mlete Mikaya mwana wa Imla mara moja.”
10Wakiwa wamevalia majoho yao ya kifalme, mfalme wa Israeli na Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda walikuwa wameketi juu ya viti vyao vya kifalme katika sakafu ya kupuria, kwenye ingilio la lango la Samaria, pamoja na manabii wote wakiwa wakitabiri mbele yao. 1122:11 Kum 33:17; Zek 1:18-21Wakati huu Sedekia mwana wa Kenaana alikuwa ametengeneza pembe za chuma, akatangaza, “Hivi ndivyo Bwana asemavyo, ‘Kwa hizi pembe utawapiga na kuwarudisha Waaramu nyuma mpaka wameangamizwa.’ ”
12Manabii wengine wote walikuwa wanatabiri kitu hicho hicho wakisema, “Ishambulie Ramoth-Gileadi na uwe mshindi. Kwa kuwa Bwana ataitia mkononi mwa mfalme.”
13Mjumbe aliyekuwa amekwenda kumwita Mikaya akamwambia, “Tazama, manabii wote kama mtu mmoja wanatabiri ushindi kwa mfalme. Neno lako na likubaliane na lao, nawe unene mema kuhusu mfalme.”
1422:14 Hes 22:18Lakini Mikaya akasema, “Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, nitamwambia kile tu Bwana atakachoniambia.”
15Alipofika, mfalme akamuuliza, “Mikaya, je, twende vitani dhidi ya Ramoth-Gileadi au niache?”
Akamjibu, “Shambulia na ushinde, kwa kuwa Bwana atawatia mkononi mwa mfalme.”
16Mfalme akamwambia, “Je, ni mara ngapi nitakuapisha ili usiniambie kitu chochote ila kweli tu kwa jina la Bwana?”
1722:17 Mt 9:36Ndipo Mikaya akajibu, “Niliona Israeli wote wametawanyika vilimani kama kondoo wasio na mchungaji, naye Bwana akasema, ‘Watu hawa hawana bwana. Mwache kila mmoja aende nyumbani kwa amani.’ ”
18Mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia Yehoshafati, “Sikukuambia kwamba huwa hatabiri jambo lolote jema kunihusu, bali mabaya tu?”
1922:19 Isa 6:1; Dan 7:9; Ay 1:6Mikaya akaendelea, “Kwa hiyo lisikie neno la Bwana: Nilimwona Bwana ameketi juu ya kiti chake cha enzi pamoja na jeshi lote la mbinguni likiwa limesimama kumzunguka upande wa kulia na wa kushoto. 20Naye Bwana akasema, ‘Ni nani atakayemshawishi Ahabu ili aishambulie Ramoth-Gileadi na kukiendea kifo chake huko?’
“Mmoja akapendekeza hili na mwingine lile. 21Mwishoni, pepo mchafu akajitokeza, akasimama mbele za Bwana na kusema, ‘Nitamshawishi.’
2222:22 Amu 9:23; 2The 2:11“Bwana akauliza, ‘Kwa njia gani?’
“Akasema, ‘Nitakwenda na kuwa roho ya uongo katika vinywa vya manabii wake wote.’
“Bwana akasema, ‘Utafanikiwa katika kumshawishi. Nenda ukafanye hivyo.’
2322:23 Eze 14:9; Kum 31:29“Kwa hiyo sasa Bwana ameweka roho ya kudanganya ndani ya vinywa vya hawa manabii wako wote. Bwana ameamuru maafa kwa ajili yako.”
24Kisha Sedekia mwana wa Kenaana akatoka na kumpiga Mikaya kofi usoni. Akauliza, “Huyo Roho kutoka kwa Bwana alipita njia gani alipotoka kwangu ili kusema nawe?”
2522:25 1Fal 20:30Mikaya akajibu, “Utagundua siku hiyo utakapokwenda kujificha kwenye chumba cha ndani.”
26Kisha mfalme wa Israeli akaagiza, “Mchukueni na mkamrudishe kwa Amoni mtawala wa mji na kwa Yoashi mwana wa mfalme. 2722:27 2Nya 16:10; Ebr 11:36Mkaseme, ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo mfalme: Mwekeni mtu huyu gerezani na asipewe chochote ila mkate na maji mpaka nitakaporudi salama.’ ”
2822:28 Kum 18:22Mikaya akasema, “Kama utarudi salama, basi Bwana hajanena kupitia kwangu.” Kisha akaongeza kusema, “Zingatieni maneno yangu, enyi watu wote!”
Ahabu Auawa Ramoth-Gileadi
(2 Nyakati 18:28-34)
29Basi mfalme wa Israeli na Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda wakaenda Ramoth-Gileadi. 3022:30 1Sam 28:8Mfalme wa Israeli akamwambia Yehoshafati, “Nitaingia vitani nikiwa nimejibadilisha, lakini wewe uvae majoho yako ya kifalme.” Kwa hiyo mfalme wa Israeli akajibadilisha na kwenda vitani.
3122:31 Mwa 10:22; 2Sam 10:19Wakati huu, mfalme wa Aramu alikuwa amewaagiza majemadari thelathini na wawili wa magari ya vita, “Msipigane na yeyote, mdogo au mkubwa, isipokuwa mfalme wa Israeli.” 32Wakati wale majemadari wa magari ya vita walipomwona Yehoshafati wakafikiri, “Hakika huyu ndiye mfalme wa Israeli.” Kwa hiyo wakageuka ili wamshambulie, lakini Yehoshafati akapiga kelele, 33wale majemadari wakaona kwamba hakuwa mfalme wa Israeli, nao wakaacha kumfuatilia.
3422:34 2Fal 9:24; 2Nya 35:23Lakini mtu fulani akavuta upinde pasipo lengo na kumpiga mfalme wa Israeli katikati ya kiungio cha mavazi yake ya chuma. Mfalme akamwambia mwendesha gari lake, “Geuza gari na uniondoe mimi katika mapigano, nimejeruhiwa.” 35Vita vikaendelea mchana kutwa, naye Mfalme Ahabu akategemezwa ndani ya gari kuelekea Waaramu. Damu kutoka kwenye jeraha lake ikachuruzika ndani ya gari na jioni yake akafa. 36Jua lilipokuwa linazama, mbiu ikaenea katika jeshi lote: “Kila mtu aende mjini kwake, na kila mtu shambani kwake!”
37Basi mfalme akafa na akaletwa Samaria, nao wakamzika huko. 3822:38 1Fal 21:19Wakasafisha lile gari la vita katika bwawa la Samaria (mahali makahaba walipooga), na mbwa wakaramba damu yake, sawasawa na neno la Bwana lilivyokuwa limesema.
3922:39 Za 45:8; Amo 3:15Kwa matukio mengine ya utawala wa Ahabu, pamoja na yote aliyoyafanya, jumba la kifalme alilojenga na kupambwa kwa pembe za ndovu, nayo miji aliyoijengea maboma, je, hayakuandikwa katika kitabu cha kumbukumbu za wafalme wa Israeli? 40Ahabu akalala pamoja na baba zake. Naye Ahazia mwanawe akawa mfalme baada yake.
Yehoshafati Mfalme Wa Yuda
(2 Nyakati 20:31–21:1)
41Yehoshafati mwana wa Asa akawa mfalme wa Yuda katika mwaka wa nne wa Ahabu mfalme wa Israeli. 42Yehoshafati alikuwa na umri wa miaka thelathini na mitano alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu miaka ishirini na mitano. Jina la mama yake aliitwa Azuba binti Shilhi. 4322:43 2Nya 17:3; 1Fal 3:2Katika kila jambo alitembea katika njia za Asa baba yake wala hakwenda kinyume chake. Alifanya yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana. Hata hivyo mahali pa juu pa kuabudia hapakuondolewa. Watu waliendelea kutoa kafara na kufukiza uvumba huko. 44Yehoshafati pia alikuwa na amani na mfalme wa Israeli.
45Kwa habari ya matukio mengine ya utawala wa Yehoshafati, mafanikio aliyokuwa nayo na uhodari wake katika vita, je, hayakuandikwa katika kitabu cha kumbukumbu za wafalme wa Yuda? 4622:46 Kum 23:17Aliondolea mbali katika nchi mahanithi wa mahali pa kuabudia miungu waliobaki huko hata baada ya utawala wa baba yake Asa. 4722:47 2Fal 3:9; 8:20Tangu hapo hapakuwepo na mfalme katika Edomu, naibu ndiye alitawala.
4822:48 1Fal 9:26; Hes 33:35Wakati huu Yehoshafati akaunda merikebu nyingi za biashara22:48 Au: za Tarshishi (ona pia 1Fal 10:22; 2Nya 9:21; 20:36; Isa 2:16; 60:9). ili kwenda Ofiri kuchukua dhahabu, lakini kamwe hazikusafiri, kwa maana zilivunjika huko Esion-Geberi. 49Wakati ule, Ahazia mwana wa Ahabu akamwambia Yehoshafati, “Waache watu wangu wasafiri baharini pamoja na watu wako,” lakini Yehoshafati akakataa.
50Kisha Yehoshafati akalala na baba zake, akazikwa pamoja nao katika mji wa Daudi baba yake. Mwanawe Yehoramu akawa mfalme baada yake.
Ahazia Mfalme Wa Israeli
51Ahazia mwana wa Ahabu akawa mfalme wa Israeli huko Samaria katika mwaka wa kumi na saba wa Yehoshafati mfalme wa Yuda, naye alitawala katika Israeli kwa miaka miwili. 5222:52 1Fal 15:26Akafanya maovu machoni mwa Bwana kwa sababu alienenda katika njia za baba yake na mama yake na katika njia za Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati, ambaye alisababisha Israeli itende dhambi. 5322:53 Amu 2:11; 1Fal 21:25Alimtumikia na kumwabudu Baali na kumghadhibisha Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kama vile baba yake alivyokuwa amefanya.
Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab
1For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. 2But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. 3The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”
4So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”
6So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”
“Go,” they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”
8The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.
9So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
10Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’ ”
12All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
13The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”
14But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”
15When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”
“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
16The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
17Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’ ”
18The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”
19Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. 20And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’
“One suggested this, and another that. 21Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22“ ‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.
“ ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.
“ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’
23“So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”
24Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from22:24 Or Spirit of the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?” he asked.
25Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.”
26The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son 27and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’ ”
28Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”
Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead
29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
31Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” 32When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.
34But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 35All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 36As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town. Every man to his land!”
37So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. 38They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed),22:38 Or Samaria and cleaned the weapons and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.
39As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory, and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 40Ahab rested with his ancestors. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.
Jehoshaphat King of Judah
41Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.22:43 In Hebrew texts this sentence (22:43b) is numbered 22:44, and 22:44-53 is numbered 22:45-54. 44Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
45As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 46He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. 47There was then no king in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.
48Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships22:48 Hebrew of ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. 49At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.
50Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.
Ahaziah King of Israel
51Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 52He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53He served and worshiped Baal and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
