33 – UDavide noGoliyati

₁*UNdikhoyo wathi kuSamweli: “Koda kube nini uzingcungcuthekisa ngenxa kaSawule? Ndimkhiqile ekulawuleni amaSirayeli. Zalisa iqhaga lakho ngamafutha omnquma, uye eBhetelehem kwaJese, kuba ndityumbe omnye koonyana bakhe ukuba abe ngukumkani wamaSirayeli.”

₂Ubuze wenjenje uSamweli: “Ndingathini ukuya? Angandibulala uSawule ukuyiva kwakhe loo nto!”

UNdikhoyo uthe kuSamweli: “Uze uqhube ithokazi lenkomo, uthi uye kwenza idini apho. ₃Uze ufike umeme uJese eze kwelo dini. Mna ke ndokuxelela into omawuyenze, ndikubonise nomntu omawumthambise abe ngukumkani.”

₄USamweli wenjenjeya ukusinga eBhetelehem, ethunywe nguNdikhoyo. Wahlangatyezwa ngamadoda amakhulu edolophu, egubha kukoyika. Ambuza esithi: “Ngaba uze ngoxolo?”

₅Uthe ukuphendula uSamweli: “Kunjalo kanye; ndize ngoxolo. Ndize kwenzela uNdikhoyo idini. Zihlambululeni, nize nani, sinyuse idini.” Waza uJese noonyana bakhe wabahlambulula, wabamema nabo ukuba beze edinini.

₆Bakuba bezile edinini apho, wathi uSamweli akubona uEliyabhi unyana kaJese, wathetha yedwa esithi: “Inene, nanku umthanjiswa kaNdikhoyo emi phambi kwakhe.”

₇Kodwa uNdikhoyo wathi kuSamweli: “Musa ukujonga ubunzwana bakhe nesithomo sakhe. Asinguye endimfunayo. Kaloku mna Ndikhoyo andijongi okujongwa ngabantu. Abantu bakhangela umfaneleko; mna Ndikhoyo ndikhangela ngaphakathi entliziyweni.”

₈UJese ubize omnye unyana wakhe, uAbhinadabhi, wamgqithisa phambi koSamweli. USamweli wathi: “Hayi bo, nalo akafunwa nguNdikhoyo!” ₉Kugqithiswe uShama, wathi uSamweli: “Naye lo akafunwa nguNdikhoyo.” ₁₀Bada bosixhenxe oonyana bakaJese bagqithiswa phambi koSamweli, yena emana esithi: “Hayi, akatyunjwanga nguNdikhoyo.”

₁₁USamweli ubuzile kuJese: “Akunanyana bambi na?”

Uthe uJese: “Ewe, ukho untondo; phofu usendle; walusa iigusha.”

USamweli wathi: “Makaye kubizwa.” Watsho esithi: “Asizi kutya ade afike.”

₁₂Ke uJese wathumela, waza waphuthunywa. Ebusweni ebekhangeleka esegazini, enamehlo abukhali, eyinzwana yomfo.

UNdikhoyo ke wathi kuSamweli: “Nguye ke lowo, mthambise!”

₁₃Wathatha elo qhaga lamafutha omnquma wayeliphethe uSamweli, wathambisa ngawo uDavide, abakhuluwa bakhe bejongile. Ukusukela ngaloo mini uDavide wangenwa ngamandla nguMoya kaNdikhoyo. Emva koko ke uSamweli yena wabuyela eRama.

₁₄Ke kaloku uSawule washiywa nguMoya *kaNdikhoyo, waza waphathwa ngumoya okhohlakeleyo, uvunyelwe nguNdikhoyo. ₁₅Izicaka zakhe zathi kuye: “Uyabona, umoya ongalunganga ovunyelwe nguThixo uyakuthuthumbisa. ₁₆Ke, mhlekazi, yithi masikufunele umntu okwaziyo ukubetha uhadi; kuze kuthi xa ufikelwa ngulo moya mbi akudlalele uhadi, ubuye udlamke.”

₁₇Wathi uSawule: “Mfuneni loo mntu udlala kakuhle, nize naye kum.”

₁₈Sathi esinye isicaka: “UJese waseBhetelehem unonyana oyincutshe yengoma. Kanti ukwaligorha lomfana oziqhelileyo iimfazwe. Uliciko lokuthetha, ekwayinzwana, kwaye uNdikhoyo unaye.”

₁₉USawule wathumela izigidimi eBhetelehem kuJese, wathi: “Ndithumele unyana wakho uDavide owalusa iigusha.” ₂₀UJese ke wamthumela uDavide kwaSawule, eqhuba itakane lebhokhwe, kunye nedonki ekulayishwe kuyo izonka nemvaba yewayini. ₂₁Waya kufika kwaSawule uDavide, waba sisicaka apho. Wathandwa kakhulu nguSawule uDavide, wada wenziwa umfana wokuphatha izikrweqe zikakumkani. ₂₂Ke kaloku uSawule wathumela umyalezo kuJese othi: “Ndiyakholwa nguDavide. Selumyeka asebenze apha komkhulu.” ₂₃Ke uDavide waba soloko ethatha uhadi adlalele uSawule ingoma ngalo lonke ixesha afikelwa nguloo moya mbi uvunyelwe nguThixo, afumane isiqabu, adlamke uSawule, angabi sakhathazwa nguloo moya.

₁Laxubayela, amabutho amaFilistiya aqokelelana eSoko, idolophu eyayikwaJuda. Ikampu yawo ayimisa kwindawo ekuthiwa yiEfese-damin, phakathi kweSoko neAzeka. ₂USawule namajoni amaSirayeli aya kudibanela entlanjeni ekuthiwa yeyom-oki, ayimisa apho eyawo ikampu, ema ngokwezintlu zawo, alungela idabi namaFilistiya. ₃AmaFilistiya ema endulini, amaSirayeli ema kwenye, kukho intlambo phakathi kwemikhosi yawo.

₄Kwavela umfo othile oyintshatsheli ogama linguGoliyati, wedolophu yaseGati, esuka kwikampu yamaFilistiya. Wayephantse ukuba ziimitha ezintathu ubude, ₅egaxele isikhuselo esenziwe ngobhedu, esasimalunga namashumi amahlanu eekhilogram ubunzima, ethwele umnqwazi wobhedu. ₆Imilenze nayo yayikwakhuselwe ngobhedu, exwaye intshuntshe yobhedu. ₇Umkhonto wawungangesibonda, ubutsolo bawo obenziwe ngentsimbi bumalunga nesixhenxe seekhilogram ubunzima. Wayenomfo othwala ikhaka lakhe ehamba ngaphambi kwakhe.

₈UGoliyati wema bhuxe, wakhwaza ebhekisa kwizintlu zamaSirayeli, wathi: “Wa, zicakandini zikaSawule, nenzani apho? Makuliwe! NdingumFilistiya mna; mayiphume ngapha ibe nye, sigagane. ₉Ukuba indoyisile yandibulala, soba zizicaka zenu thina. Xa indim owoyisileyo, nina noba zizicaka zethu. ₁₀Ndim lo, ndinibeka ehlazweni, maSirayeli. Khuphani indoda ibe nye, sihlangane!” ₁₁Boyika, bagubha ooSawule namadoda omkhosi wakhe, bakuyiva into ethethwa nguloo mFilistiya.

₁₂UDavide wayengunyana kaJese umEfrata waseBhetelehem kwaJuda. UJese wayenoonyana abasibhozo. Wayeselemdala kakhulu ngexesha ekwakulawula uSawule. ₁₃Oonyana bakhe abakhulu abathathu baya emfazweni kunye nomkhosi kaSawule. Omkhulu yayinguEliyabhi, kuze uAbhinadabhi, kulandele uShama. ₁₄UDavide yena wayenguntondo. Lo gama abakhuluwa bakhe babenoSawule, ₁₅yena uDavide wayedla ngokuthi ekwaSawule abe emana egoduka aye eBhetelehem, esiya kwalusa iigusha zikayise.

₁₆Yaba ngamashumi amane eentsuku uGoliyati mihla le ecela umngeni kumaSirayeli kusasa nangokuhlwa.

₁₇UJese wathuma unyana wakhe uDavide, wathi: “Hamba nale ngqolowa igcadiweyo, ishumi leekhilogram, neli shumi lezonka, ukhawuleze uzise kubantakwenu emkhosini, ₁₈uphathele umphathi-butho nala maqebengwana alishumi etshizi, usivele ukuba basaphila na abantakwenu. Uze ube nento oza nayo, eyoba bubungqina bokuba basaphila. ₁₉Ukumkani Sawule nabantakwenu, kunye nomkhosi wonke wamaSirayeli, nabaya kulaa ntili yom-oki, besilwa namaFilistiya.”

₂₀Wavuka ekuseni uDavide ngengomso, wayishiya nomnye umalusi impahla. Waya kulanda ukutya awayekuthunyiwe nguJese uyise, wanduluka. Ufike ekampini yomkhosi xa kanye amaSirayeli alungiselela idabi, ehlaba intlaba-mkhosi yawo. ₂₁AmaSirayeli namaFilistiya amisa izintlu, agolozelana. ₂₂Oko kutya wayekuphethe uDavide wakushiya kumgcini-mithwalo, wagqotsa ukuya apho kuza kuliwa khona. Akufika wabulisa abantakwabo. ₂₃Esathetha nabo njalo, wavakala umFilistiya uGoliyati intshatsheli yaseGati, ephinda esezolo, ewahlazisa amaSirayeli. Wayiva loo nto ke uDavide. ₂₄Ahlehla amaSirayeli akubona uGoliyati, agubha luloyiko. ₂₅AmaSirayeli avakala esithi: “Yoo! Nimbonile laa mfo? Niyivile into ayithethayo? Akasidelanga na? Ukumkani uSawule uthe indoda embuleleyo uya kuyinika omkhulu wona umvuzo. Nangaphezu koko uya kumtshatisa nentombi kakumkani, ungàrhafiswa nomzi kayise.”

₂₆UDavide wabuzisa kumadoda awayemi ngakuye, wathi: “Nithi uya kwenzelwa ntoni umntu obulele laa mFilistiya, awakhuphe kweli hlazo amaSirayeli? Ingubani kakade yona laa ntlanga ingalukanga yomFilistiya idela umkhosi kaThixo ophilayo?” ₂₇Bamxelela yonke into eya kwenzelwa umntu onokuthi abulale uGoliyati.

₂₈Umkhuluwa kaDavide uEliyabhi wamvela uDavide ethetha naloo madoda. Wacaphuka, wathi kuDavide: “Uzokwenza ntoni apha, kwedini? Laluswa ngubani na elaa gcuntswana leegusha entlango ulapha nje? Ntondini inekratshi ikhohlakeleyo, uzele nje ukuza kubukela idabi wena!”

₂₉“Kowu! Sendenze ntoni ngoku? Uthetha ukuba andinakuba sabuza nokubuza oku?” kutsho uDavide. ₃₀Watsho eguqukela komnye umfo, ebuza kwaloo mbuzo mnye. Ufumene kwaloo mpendulo ikwafanayo.

₃₁Yeviwa intetho kaDavide, yasiwa kuSawule. Yena wathi makabizwe uDavide. ₃₂Wafika wathi uDavide kuSawule: “Mhlekazi, makungabikho bani unkwantyayo ngenxa yalaa mFilistiya! Mna mkhonzi wakho ndiza kuya kulwa naye.”

₃₃Waphendula uSawule wathi: “Ayingangawe into yokuya kulwa nalaa mFilistiya. Ùselula, kanti yena uqhelene nokulwa kwasebutsheni bakhe.”

₃₄“Mhlekazi,” kutsho uDavide, “ndim owalusa iigusha zikabawo. Xa kuthe kwakho ingonyama okanye ibhere exhwila itakane emhlambini, ₃₅kusuka mna ndiyilandele ndiyihlasele, ndilihlangule elo takane. Xa ithe loo ngonyama okanye loo bhere yajika yalwa nam, ndisuka ndiyithi nqaku ngoqhoqhoqho, ndiyibethe ife. ₃₆Ndiqhele ukubulala oozingonyama noomabhere; nale ntlanga ingolukanga yomFilistiya idela umkhosi *kaNdikhoyo ndiza kuyibulala. ₃₇UNdikhoyo owandisindisayo koozingonyama noomabhere nangoku uza kundisindisa kulo mFilistiya.”

“Kulungile ke, yiya, mfo wam; ubenga uNdikhoyo anganawe,” watsho uSawule. ₃₈Watsho enika uDavide ezakhe izikhuselo, wamthwesa umnqwazi wobhedu, wamfaka nesikhuselo somzimba. ₃₉UDavide waxwaya ikrele likaSawule, waza wanga angahamba, suka akaba nako, kuba wayengaziqhelanga ezi zixhobo. Ubhekise kuSawule wathi: “Andikwazi ukuhamba ndinxibe ezi zinto; kaloku andiziqhelanga.” Watsho wazikhulula zonke. ₄₀Wathatha intonga yakhe, wachola amatye ampuluswa amahlanu apho entlanjeni, wawafaka engxoweni yakhe yokwalusa. Warhola *inkwitshi yakhe, wahamba ukuya kugagana nomFilistiya lowo.

₄₁Yena umFilistiya wanyantsula esondela ngakuDavide, umphathi-khaka wakhe ehamba ngaphambi kwakhe. ₄₂UmFilistiya akumbona uDavide wamdela, kuba kaloku uDavide wayeselula, eyinzwana, ebusweni ekhangeleka esegazini. ₄₃Uvakele esithi kuDavide: “Uza kwenzani ngezo ntonga? Uba ndiyinja?” Watsho etyibela uDavide ngeziqalekiso *zoothixo bakhe. ₄₄“Sondela, loo mzinjana wakho ndiwuphose kumaxhalanga namarhamncwa,” waqokela watsho.

₄₅Uthe yena uDavide kumFilistiya lowo: “Uza kum uphethe ikrele, umkhonto, nentshuntshe, wena; kodwa mna ndiza kuwe egameni likaNdikhoyo onamandla onke, uThixo womkhosi wakwaSirayeli, lo wena uwudelileyo. ₄₆Namhla oku uNdikhoyo uza kukunikela kum. Ndiza kukuwisa, ndikunqumle intloko. Izidumbu zomkhosi wamaFilistiya zona ndoziphosa kumaxhalanga namarhamncwa, lonke elimiweyo likwazi ukuba uSirayeli unoThixo. ₄₇Sonke esi sihlwele esihlangene apha soqonda ukuba uNdikhoyo akadingi makrele namikhonto ukusindisa abantu bakhe. Nguye olilawulayo idabi, yaye nonke uza kuninikela ezandleni zethu.”

₄₈Waya esondela kuDavide umFilistiya lowo, ezimisele ukumhlasela, waza uDavide wasukela ukumhlangabeza ekulweni. ₄₉Wafaka isandla engxoweni yakhe, warhola ilitye lalinye, wajolisa ngenkwitshi kuGoliyati. Wamchana ebunzi, latsho latshona ilitye. Waya kuwa ngobuso emhlabeni uGoliyati. ₅₀Waba ke uDavide uyamongamela uGoliyati, wamoyisa engaphethe krele, wambulala ngenkwitshi nelitye! ₅₁Wasukela waya kutsho phezu kukaGoliyati. Wafika walithi rhutyu esingxotyeni salo ikrele likaGoliyati, wamnqumla intloko ngalo, emgqibezela.

Acela kwabasicatyana amaFilistiya, akubona ukuwa kwegorha lawo. ₅₂Amadoda akwaSirayeli nawakwaJuda wona ahlaba umkhosi, awasukela amaFilistiya, ada aya kutsho ekungeneni eGati nasemasangweni e-Ekron. Kwakuthe waca ngamaFilistiya aziingxwelerha konke endleleni eya eSharayim kuse eGati nase-Ekron. ₅₃Ukubuya kwawo ekusukeleni amaFilistiya, amaSirayeli aya kuthatha amaxhoba kwikampu yomkhosi wamaFilistiya. ₅₄UDavide yena wathatha intloko kaGoliyati, waya nayo eJerusalem, zona izikrweqe zikaGoliyati wazigcina ententeni yakhe.

₅₅USawule akubona uDavide esiya kulwa noGoliyati wabuza kuAbhinere umphathi-mkhosi, wathi: “Yinto kabani laa ntwana?”

UAbhinere wathi: “Mhlekazi, inene, andinalwazi konke.”

₅₆Wathi uSawule: “Hamba ubuzisa kaloku, siqonde ukuba ungunyana kabani laa mfana.”

₅₇Uthe ke akubuyela ekampini uDavide, emva kokuba ebulele uGoliyati, uAbhinere wamsa kuSawule. Wayesaphethe loo ntloko kaGoliyati uDavide. ₅₈USawule wambuza wathi: “Uyinto kabani, mfo wam?”

Wathi uDavide: “Ndingunyana wesicaka sakho uJese waseBhetelehem.”

₁Bayigqiba incoko yabo ooSawule noDavide. Intliziyo yonyana kaSawule, uJonatan, yaphakelana kanobom nekaDavide, wamthanda ngale ndlela azithanda ngayo yena. ₂Kususela loo mini uSawule akazange amvumele agoduke uDavide. ₃UJonatan wanqophisana noDavide, kuba wayemthanda ngale ndlela awazithanda ngayo yena. ₄Wakhulula umnweba awayewambethe uJonatan, wawunika uDavide, kunye nesinxibo sakhe sobujoni, nekrele lakhe, nesaphetha, nebhanti yakhe.

₅UDavide wayephumelela kuyo yonke imicimbi athunywa yona nguSawule, waza ke uSawule wamnyusela wamenza umphathi emkhosini wakhe. Eso senzo sabakholisa bonke abantu kunye namagosa omkhosi kaSawule.

₆Ukubuya kukaDavide kunye nomkhosi emfazweni, emva kokuba wayebulele uGoliyati, baphuma bonke abafazi beedolophu zakwaSirayeli, beze kuhlangabeza ukumkani uSawule. Babesombela, bengqungqa, bebetha iintambula neekatala. ₇Babevuma bengqungqa besithi:

₈USawule akazange ayithande loo nto, wacaphuka gqitha. Wavakala esithi: “UDavide bambalela amashumi ngamashumi amawaka, kodwa mna bandibalela amawaka ngamawaka nje. Selibubukumkani nje into angekabi nayo!” ₉Waba nomona ke uSawule, wasoloko embeke esweni uDavide ukususela loo mini.

₁₀Ngengomso uSawule waphathwa ngumoya okhohlakeleyo ovunyelwe nguThixo, wamtsho waliphambana kuloo ndlu yakhe. Wayebetha uhadi uDavide ngokwesiqhelo, uSawule yena ephethe umkhonto. ₁₁“Ndingambethelela koluya ludonga ngalo mkhonto lo Davide,” uzitsholo uSawule. Waba selemjula uDavide ngawo, kodwa yena wawuphepha zozibini izihlandlo uDavide.

₁₂USawule wamoyika uDavide, kuba *uNdikhoyo wayenaye, emfulathele uSawule. ₁₃USawule wamshenxisa uDavide kuye, wamenza umphathi wewaka lamadoda omkhosi. Wayewakhokela emadabini loo madoda, ₁₄aphumelele uDavide kuyo yonke imisebenzi ayiphathayo, kuba kaloku uNdikhoyo wayenaye. ₁₅USawule wamoyika ngakumbi ke uDavide akubona impumelelo yakhe. ₁₆Wonke ubani kwaSirayeli nakwaJuda wayemthanda uDavide, kuba wayeyinkokheli emadabini.