The Prophet Micaiah Warns Ahab
(2 Chronicles 18.2-27)1 There was peace between Israel and Syria for the next two years, 2 but in the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to see King Ahab of Israel.
3 Ahab asked his officials, “Why is it that we have not done anything to get back Ramoth in Gilead from the king of Syria? It belongs to us!” 4 And Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth?”
“I am ready when you are,” Jehoshaphat answered, “and so are my soldiers and my cavalry. 5 But first let's consult the Lord.”
6 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, “Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?”
“Attack it,” they answered. “The Lord will give you victory.”
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?”
8 Ahab answered, “There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad.”
“You shouldn't say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 Then Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once.
10 The two kings, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on their thrones at the threshing place just outside the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 One of them, Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, made iron horns and said to Ahab, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will fight the Syrians and totally defeat them.’” 12 All the other prophets said the same thing. “March against Ramoth and you will win,” they said. “The Lord will give you victory.”
13 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, “All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same.”
14 But Micaiah answered, “By the living Lord I promise that I will say what he tells me to!”
15 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?”
“Attack!” Micaiah answered. “Of course you'll win. The Lord will give you victory.”
16 But Ahab replied, “When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! How many times do I have to tell you that?”
17 Micaiah answered, “I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These men have no leader; let them go home in peace.’”
18 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good for me? It's always something bad!”
19 Micaiah went on: “Now listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. 20 The Lord asked, ‘Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth?’ Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else, 21 until a spirit stepped forward, approached the Lord, and said, ‘I will deceive him.’ 22 ‘How?’ the Lord asked. The spirit replied, ‘I will go and make all of Ahab's prophets tell lies.’ The Lord said, ‘Go and deceive him. You will succeed.’”
23 And Micaiah concluded: “This is what has happened. The Lord has made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!”
24 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, “Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?”
25 “You will find out when you go into some back room to hide,” Micaiah replied.
26 Then King Ahab ordered one of his officers, “Arrest Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Prince Joash. 27 Tell them to throw him in prison and to put him on bread and water until I return safely.”
28 “If you return safely,” Micaiah exclaimed, “then the Lord has not spoken through me!” And he added, “Listen, everyone, to what I have said!”
The Death of Ahab
(2 Chronicles 18.28-34)29 Then King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack the city of Ramoth in Gilead. 30 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself, but you wear your royal garments.” So the king of Israel went into battle in disguise.
31 The king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders to attack no one else except the king of Israel. 32 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. But when he cried out, 33 they realized that he was not the king of Israel, and they stopped their attack. 34 By chance, however, a Syrian soldier shot an arrow which struck King Ahab between the joints of his armor. “I'm wounded!” he cried out to his chariot driver. “Turn around and pull out of the battle!”
35 While the battle raged on, King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. The blood from his wound ran down and covered the bottom of the chariot, and at evening he died. 36 Near sunset the order went out through the Israelite ranks: “Each of you go back to your own country and city!”
37 So died King Ahab. His body was taken to Samaria and buried. 38 His chariot was cleaned up at the pool of Samaria, where dogs licked up his blood and prostitutes washed themselves, as the Lord had said would happen.
39 Everything else that King Ahab did, including an account of his palace decorated with ivory and of all the cities he built, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. 40 At his death his son Ahaziah succeeded him as king.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah
(2 Chronicles 20.31—21.1)41 In the fourth year of the reign of King Ahab of Israel, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah 42 at the age of thirty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of the Lord; but the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 44 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
45 Everything else that Jehoshaphat did, all his bravery and his battles, are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. 46 He got rid of all the male and female prostitutes serving at the pagan altars who were still left from the days of his father Asa.
47 The land of Edom had no king; it was ruled by a deputy appointed by the king of Judah.
48 King Jehoshaphat had ocean-going ships built to sail to the land of Ophir for gold; but they were wrecked at Eziongeber and never sailed. 49 Then King Ahaziah of Israel offered to let his men sail with Jehoshaphat's men, but Jehoshaphat refused the offer.
50 Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City, and his son Jehoram succeeded him as king.
King Ahaziah of Israel
51 In the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he ruled in Samaria for two years. 52 He sinned against the Lord, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin. 53 He worshiped and served Baal, and like his father before him, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.
Nlebesambeli Mikhaiya unotjemela Ahabu
(2 Zwiyitikalo 18:2-27)1 Kwakatola makole ali matatu kusina ngwa pakati kwe Aramu ne Iziraela. 2 Koga kukati mu gole le butatu Jehoshafati mambo we Juda kazha kuna mambo we Iziraela.
3 Ngono mambo we Iziraela kadwa hadzasha dzidze kati, “Apa moziba kuti Ramotigiliyadi ngeyedu, ngono tinyelele koga akuna tjatinothama kuti tiyitole muna mambo we Aramu?”
4 Kabe ebhuzwa Jehoshafati eti, “Apa unowoyenda nami kunogwa ne Ramotigiliyadi kene?”
Jehoshafati kashandula eti, “Tjauli itjo nditjo tjandili itjo, babhayani bangu nge babo, mbizi dzangu dze ngwa nge dzidzo.” 5 Ngono Jehoshafati kadwa mambo we Iziraela kati, “Koga kutanga shaka gumbuludzo kuna Yahwe.”
6 Ndizo Ahabu kakubunganya balebesambeli bangabe mazana manna (400), kababhuzwa kati, “Apa ndiyende ndinobhayana ne Ramotigiliyadi kene ndiletje?”
Balebesambeli bakashandula beti, “Yendani munogwa nayo, Yahwe banowoilonga mu maboko enyu.”
7 Koga Jehoshafati kabe eti, “Apa akuna mmwe nlebesambeli wa Yahwe watingabhuzwa kakale kene?”
8 Mambo we Iziraela kashandula Jehoshafati eti, “Kuna mmwe nlebesambeli wa Yahwe unoyi Mikhaiya nkololo wa Imila, koga anditon'da, ngoti akuna tjakanaka tjaakatongolebela mbeli nge kwangu aisi mbipo koga.”
Ngono Jehoshafati kabe eti, “Usijalo mambo wangu!”
9 Ndizo mambo we Iziraela Ahabu kadana mmwe we hadzasha dzidze kandwa kati, “Tjimbidza unodana Mikhaiya nkololo wa Imila.”
10 Ipapo mambo we Iziraela Ahabu na Jehoshafati mambo we Juda bakabe bali ku libuwa mmwe ne mmwe aligele tjigalo tjitje tje bumambo bakaambala hazu dzabo dze bumambo ku nkoba we Samariya. Ngono balebesambeli bose bakabe belebelambeli bali mbeli kwabo. 11 Zedekiya nkololo wa Khenaana kathama nyanga dze tshipi kadwa Ahabu kati, “Yahwe bati mowogwa ne Baaramu nge nyanga idzedzi kudzina mubalobesa.” 12 Balebesambeli bose bakalebeselambeli saikoku, beti, “Tathilani ku Ramotigiliyadi munokunda, Yahwe banowoilonga mu maboko a mambo.”
13 Batumwa bakabe banodana Mikhaiya bakandwa bakati, “Bona, balebesambeli bakaleba dama ling'ompela ngogadzabgwe mambo kuti banowokunda, dzene dama lilo na ilobo lingafana ne le mmwe wabo, likagadzabo bgwe.”
14 Koga Mikhaiya kashandula eti, “Ndotuna na Yahwe banotjila, ndowoleba tjinowobe tjalebgwa ndi Yahwe!”
15 Kukati eswika mbeli kwa Mambo Ahabu, bakambhuzwa beti, “Mikhaiya, tiyende ku ngwa ku Ramotigiliyadi kene tigale?”
Ngono kadabila eti, “Tathilani ku Ramotigiliyadi munokunda, Yahwe banowoilonga mu luboko gwa mambo.”
16 Koga Mambo Ahabu kabhuzwa Mikhaiya eti, “Ndikudzikitadzile kangana kuti autondibudza tjimwe, ha isi lebeswa nge zina la Yahwe?”
17 Mikhaiya kadabila eti, “Ndakabona babhayani be Iziraela bakapalala pezhugwi kwe matombo, se pkhwizi dzisina nlisi, ngono Yahwe bakabe beti, ‘Bathu ibaba abana ntungamili, ima mmwe ne mmwe abgwilile ku nzi uwe nge mbakiso.’ ”
18 Mambo we Iziraela Ahabu kadwa Jehoshafati kati, “Apa andizokubudza kuti aangatongo lebeselambeli kwakanaka nge kwangu kene, kuzhe kwe mbipo?”
19 Mikhaiya kadwilila eti, “Ndizo tjihwani tjinolebgwa ndi Yahwe: Ndabona Yahwe baligele patjigalo tjabo tje bushe, bana batumwa babo bose be kudzimu bakabapoteleka. 20 Yahwe bakabe beti, ‘Ndiani unowowonga Ahabu kuti adze atathe anofila ku Ramotigiliyadi kene?’ Mmwe kaleba tjaaleba, mmwe kaleba tjipoga, 21 kudzina meya izha ima mbeli kwa Yahwe, ibadwa iti, ‘Ndowon'wonga.’ 22 Yahwe bakabhuzwa bakati, ‘Nge zila yakatini?’ Meya ikashandula iti, ‘Ndowonothama kuti balebesambeli ba Ahabu bose balebe manyepkhwa.’ Yahwe bakaidwa bakati, ‘Yenda unon'wonga, unowotubula.’ ”
23 Ipapo Mikhaiya kadwa mambo kati, “Yahwe balonga meya ye manyepkhwa mu milomo ye balebesambeli babo bose. Koga Yahwe bakulaulila golomodzo!”
24 Ndizo Zedekiya nkololo wa Khenaana kamadzuka kanoloba Mikhaiya mu buso kandwa kati, “Kwakatangisa lini kuti meya ya Yahwe idwe mundili ilebeleke nawe?”
25 Mikhaiya kandwa kati, “Bona, unowobona mu zhuba ilelo, launowonobgwata mu ng'umba itjamukati.”
26 Mambo Ahabu kalaula hadzasha dzidze kati, “Bhatani Mikhaiya munse ku nlauli we nzi nkulu Amoni ne kuna Joashi nkololo wa mambo. 27 Mubadwe muti mambo bakati, ‘Munlonge mu ng'umba ye busungwa mumpe tjiwunga ne vula kudzina ndinobuya ndili mpumbulu.’ ”
28 Mikhaiya kadwa Mambo Ahabu kati, “Ha ungabuya uli mpumbulu, kowobe kudwa kuti Yahwe abazolebeleka nami.” Kabe edwa bakabe bali ipapo eti, “Muhwe tjandaleba imwe bathu mose mu ipapa.”
Lufu gwa Ahabu
(2 Zwiyitikalo 18:28-34)29 Ndizo Mambo we Iziraela Ahabu na Mambo we Juda Jehoshafati bakabhuda bakayenda ku ngwa ku Ramotigiliyadi. 30 Mambo we Iziraela kadwa Jehoshafati kati, “Ndowolashidza azwithama mbhayani koga usi mambo, koga iwe uambale zwiambalo zwizo zwe bumambo.” Ngono mambo we Iziraela kazwilashidza kanongina mu ngwa.
31 Ipapo mambo we Aramu wakabe adwa balauli babe be koloyi dze ngwa bali makumi matatu ana babili eti (32), “Imwi musitongo bhayana ne mmwe ntukunu kene nkulu, koga mubhayane na mambo we Iziraela Ahabu.” 32 Kukati balauli be koloyi dze ngwa bebona Jehoshafati bakazwidwa beti, “Nge lebeswa ndiye mambo we Iziraela.” Ndizo bakabhayana naye, Jehoshafati kadila guwo. 33 Kukati balauli be koloyi dze ngwa baziba kuti ate ali iye mambo we Iziraela, bakashanduka bakaletja kutatana naye. 34 Koga kukati mmwe mbhayani we Aramu ngoambambidza ekweba dati lile nsebe ukanobhaya mambo we Iziraela panoshanganila zwiambalo zwizwe zwengwa. Mambo Ahabu kadwa n'yendisi we koloyi ye ngwa kati, “Shandukila shule, undiduse mu ngwa ngoti ndakubala.”
35 Zhuba ilelo ngwa ikakula kwakabangalala, Mambo Ahabu kasendamisiwa mu koloyi iye ye ngwa kubhayaniwa ne Baaramu, malopa kawunga edwa mu banga lile kazha kusi kwe koloyi kudzina zhuba lingina efa. 36 Kukati zhuba liyendila ngina kukamimiligwa babhayani be Iziraela be mamo wose bedwiwa kuyi, “Mmwe ne mmwe ngaayende ku nzi wakanyi kwabo ne mmwe ne mmwe ku shango ya kanyi kwabo!”
37 Ndizo Mambo Ahabu kafa. Itumbu tjitje tjikasengegwa ku Samariya kanobiganyigwa ko. 38 Koloyi iye ye ngwa ikasukigwa ku dziba le Samariya kwakabe kungulila fukula, mbgwa dzikanazwa malopa awe kuyendidzana ne dama la Yahwe labakaleba.
39 Apa mimwe mishingo ya Ahabu na zose zwaakathama ne ng'umba iye ye bushe yaakabaka nge nyanga dze zhowu ne mizi mikulu yose yaakabaka, azwizokwagwa mu Lukwalo gwe Zwiyitikalo zwa Bomambo be Iziraela kene? 40 Ndizo Ahabu kafa kalala na botate babe, ngono nkololo uwe Ahaziya kan'gala thaka mu bumambo gugwe.
Jehoshafati mambo we Juda
(2 Zwiyitikalo 20:31—21:1)41 Jehoshafati nkololo wa Asa wakabigwa mambo we Juda mu gole le bunna Ahabu ebusa Iziraela. 42 Jehoshafati wakabigwa mambo ana makole ali makumi matatu ana ali mashanu (35), kabusa Jerusalema makole ali makumi mabili ana ali mashanu (25). Zina la mme ba Jehoshafati lakabe liyi Azuba nkololokadzi wa Shilehi. 43 Jehoshafati kangina mu gumbo la Asa tate babe, ethama ndulamo mbeli kwa Yahwe, nenguba magalo e kunamata asakakolomogwa ne bathu bakadwilidzila kupisila zwibhayilo ne motsha muali. 44 Kwakabe ne mbakiso pakati kwa Jehoshafati na mambo we Iziraela.
45 Apa mimwe mishingo ya Jehoshafati ne kube ne tjilopa tjaakalakidza ne kubhayana kukwe, azwizokwagwa mu Lukwalo gwe Zwiyitikalo zwa Bomambo be Iziraela kene? 46 Wakadusa midzimukadzi yakabe yasala mu nsi we kubusa kwa tate babe Asa, mu shango.
47 Shango ye Edomu yakabe isina mambo, kwakabe kubusa mbhatshi wa mambo wakabe abigwa ndi mambo we Juda.
48 Jehoshafati wakabe athama zwikepe zwe mbumbiko yezwe Tashishi kunosenga golide ku Ofira, koga migoro ikasiswike, ngobe yakapkhwanyikila ku Eziyonigeberi. 49 Ipapo mambo we Iziraela Ahaziya nkololo wa Ahabu kadwa Jehoshafati kati, “Imani balanda bangu bayende ne benyu nge zwikepe.” Koga Jehoshafati kalamba.
50 Jehoshafati kafa katobela botate babe kabiganyiwa pakabiganyiwa botate babe mu nzi nkulu wa Dafite ku zwikumbu zwa bomambo. Ngono Jehoramu nkololo uwe kan'gala thaka mu bumambo gugwe.
Ahaziya mambo we Iziraela
51 Ahaziya nkololo wa Ahabu wakabigwa mambo we Iziraela mu gole le bugumi lina kutendeka Jehoshafati ali mambo we Juda, ngono kabusa Iziraela mu Samariya makole ali mabili. 52 Wakathama tjibi mbeli kwa Yahwe ngongina mu gumbo la tate babe ne la mme yabe ne mu gumbo la Jeroboamu nkololo wa Nebhati wakathamisa Iziraela tjibi. 53 Wakalonga Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela bushongola nge kushingila ne kunamata Bhaale sa tate babe.