To The Word – Day 68

₁Ngamhla uthile uSamson waya eGaza, waza wabona ihenyukazi, waya kulalisa kulo. ₂Abantu baseGaza baxelelwa kwathiwa: “USamson ulapha.” Baza bawurhawula loo mzi ubusuku bonke, bamlalela nasemasangweni esixeko. Bahlala ubusuku bonke, besithi: “Kwakusa ngomso sombulala.”

₃Kambe ke yena uSamson wavuka phakathi kobusuku, waya esangweni lesixeko, wafika wayibamba imigubasi kunye neengcango nomvalo, wasiphula konke. Wayixwaya emagxeni, waya nayo kwinduli ekhangelene neHebron.

₄Kwakhona ke uSamson wathandana nentokazi yentili yaseSoreki egama linguDelila. ₅Ke izikhulu zamaFilistiya zaya kuyo, zathi: “Msondeze uSamson de akuxelele imfihlelo yala mandla akhe angaka, ucebise ukuba singenza kanjani na ukuze simbambe, simbophe, simoyise. Umntu ngamnye kuthi uya kukunika iisiliva ezilishumi elinanye lamakhulu.”

₆Ngoko ke uDelila wacengana noSamson, wathi: “Ndihlebele; uwathatha phi la mandla angaka? Ungabotshwa ngantoni ukuze woyisakale?”

₇USamson wamphendula wathi: “Ukuba ndingabotshwa ngesixhenxe seentsontelo ezingekomi, amandla am angatha, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₈Izikhulu zamaFilistiya ke zanika uDelila iintsontelo ezisixhenxe ezingekomi, waza ke wambopha ngazo uSamson. ₉Ke kaloku uDelila wayefihle amadoda endlwini apho, waza ke wakhwaza wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!” Ke yena uSamson ezo ntsontelo wazithi gqashu-gqashu okomtya ulenywa ngumlilo. Ngoko ke imfihlelo yamandla akhe yasala ingaziwa mntu.

₁₀UDelila wathetha noSamson, wathi: “Wena uphoxe ngam, wandixokisa. Khawundixelele ukuba ungabotshwa ngantoni na.”

₁₁USamson waphendula wathi: “Ukuba banokundibopha ngeentsontelo ezintsha ezingekasebenzi, amandla am angetha, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₁₂Ke uDelila wathatha iintsontelo ezintsha, wambopha ngazo uSamson, waza wakhwaza wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!” AmaFilistiya ke ayelalele endlwini apho. Kodwa yena uSamson waziqhawula ezo ntsontelo ezazisezingalweni zakhe zanga yimisonto.

₁₃UDelila wathi kuSamson: “Nangoku uyawaphoxa ngam, wandixokisa. Khawundixelele ukuba ungabotshwa ngantoni na.”

Waphendula ke uSamson wathi: “Ukuba unokwenza amafrerha asixhenxe entloko kum, uze uwaluke kunye nemisonto, uwaqinise ngoluthi lokuluka, ndingetha amandla, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₁₄Ke uDelila wathi akulala uSamson wawaluka ngemisonto amafrerha asixhenxe kaSamson ewaqinisa ngoluthi, wakhwaza wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!” Wasuka wavuka uSamson, waluncothula uluthi, wayixhwitha imisonto.

₁₅UDelila ke wathi kuSamson: “Ungathini ukuthi uyandithanda kodwa akundithembi! Kokwesithathu ngoku uphoxisa ngam, ibe ke nangoku akukandixeleli ukuba uwathatha phi la mandla angaka.” ₁₆Waza ke wammela imihla ngemihla emcenga.

Wada uSamson wakruquka wanga angafa, ₁₇wamchazela konke, wathi: “Iinwele zam zange zichetywe. Ndanikelwa *ndalilolo likaThixo kwasekuzalweni kwam. Xa zinokuchetywa iinwele zam, angaphela amandla am, ndibe buthathaka nam, ndifane nabanye abantu.”

₁₈UDelila akuqonda ukuba uxelelwe yonke inyaniso nguSamson, wathumela kwizikhulu zamaFilistiya, wathi: “Yizani kwakhona; undixelele konke.” Ke zeza zimphathele imali leyo. ₁₉UDelila walalisa uSamson emathangeni akhe, waza ke wabiza umntu, wacheba amafrerha osixhenxe akhe. Ngokwenjenje ke uDelila wamenza waphelelwa ngamandla uSamson. ₂₀Wathi: “Nanga amaFilistiya, Samson!”

Ke yena wavuka ebuthongweni esithi: “Ndiya kubuya ndiwavuthulule ndiphuncuke.” Kambe ke wayengaqondi ukuba ushiyiwe *nguNdikhoyo. ₂₁AmaFilistiya ke ambamba, amkhupha amehlo, amtyhaphaza. Amthatha amsa eGaza, amqamangela ngamatyathanga obhedu, amfaka emsebenzini wokusila entolongweni. ₂₂Kambe iinwele zakhe zaphinda zakhula.

₂₃Izikhulu zamaFilistiya zahlanganisana zabhiyoza, zisenzela uthixo wazo uDagoni isiyikayika sedini. Zadanduluka zathi: “Uthixo wethu ulunikele esandleni sethu utshaba lwethu uSamson!”

_24-25Kwathi xa kumnandi apho kwelo theko, zathi: “Yizani noSamson, eze kusonwabisa!” Bathi ke bakumkhupha uSamson entolongweni, bahlekisa ngaye, bammisa phakathi kweentsika. Abantu ke bakumbona uSamson badumisa uthixo wabo, bathi: “Uthixo wethu ulunikele esandleni sethu utshaba lwethu oluzise intshabalalo kwilizwe lethu, lwabulala abantu bethu abaninzi kangaka!”

₂₆USamson wathetha nomfana owayemrhola, wathi: “Khawume khe ndizive iintsika zesi sakhiwo. Ndifuna ukwayama ngazo.” ₂₇Indlu leyo ke yayizele ngamadoda nabafazi. Zonke izikhulu zamaFilistiya zazilapho; bebonke abantu babekwisithuba samawaka amathathu, beseluphahleni, bembukele behlekisa ngoSamson.

₂₈Ke kaloku uSamson wazibika kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Nkosi yam, ndikhumbule; nceda, Thixo wam, khawubuyise amandla am okwesi sihlandlo nje sodwa, ukuze ndiziphindezele kumaFilistiya ngenxa yesenzo sawo sokundikhupha amehlo.” ₂₉Ke uSamson wafikelela kwiintsika ezisesizikithini sesakhiwo eso. Wabamba yanye ngesokunene, enye wayibamba ngesokhohlo; ₃₀waza wadanduluka wathi: “Mandife kunye namaFilistiya!” Wazisunduza ngamandla akhe onke – folokohlo didli! Sadilika isakhiwo; zafela apho ezo zikhulu ndawonye nabo bonke ababekhona. Ekufeni kwakhe uSamson wabulala abantu abaninzi ngaphezu kwabo wababulala esadl' ubomi.

₃₁Ke kaloku abantakwabo nawo onke amawabo baya kuwuthatha umzimba wakhe, bagoduka nawo. Bamfihla kwingcwaba likayise uManowa phakathi kweZora ne-Eshtawoli. Waba yinkokheli yamaSirayeli iminyaka engamashumi amabini.

₁Kwakukho ndoda ithile igama linguMika. Yayimi kweleentaba kwaEfrayim. ₂Yathetha nonina, yathi: “Ngokuya wawubelwe ishumi elinanye leesiliva ndakuva ushwabula. Kambe ke ikum loo mali; yathathwa ndim.”

Unina wamsikelela, wathi: “*UNdikhoyo makakuthamsanqele, nyana wam.”

₃Waza ke unyana lowo wayibuyisela kunina loo mali. Ke yena unina wathi: “Le mali ngoku yekaNdikhoyo; ndiyinikezela kuye ukuze unyana wam aqingqe umfanekiso, utyatyekwe ngesiliva, kwanomfanekiso otyhidiweyo. Ngoko ke le siliva ndiyibuyisela kwakuwe.”

₄Imali leyo wayibuyisela kunina ke, yena wathatha amakhulu amabini kuloo siliva, wawanika ingcibi, eyakrola umfanekiso otyatyekwe ngesiliva, yenza nomnye otyhidiweyo. Wabekwa endlwini kaMika.

₅Lo mfo unguMika ke wayenesibingelelo sakhe. Wenza imifanekiso eqingqiweyo ndawonye *nesidanga, waza wamisela omnye koonyana bakhe wangumbingeleli. ₆Ke kaloku ngelo thuba kwakungekho kumkani kwaSirayeli; umntu ngamnye wayesenza unothanda.

₇Kwangelo thuba kwakukho umfana womLevi owayehlala eBhetelehem engumngeneleli kwelakwaJuda. ₈Waphuma ke eBhetelehem, efuna indawo anokuxhwarha kuyo. Esabhadula njalo waya kugaleleka kwaMika kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim. ₉UMika wambuza wathi: “Uvela phi?”

Ke yena waphendula wathi: “NdingumLevi waseBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda. Ndifuna indawo endingaxhwarha kuyo.”

₁₀UMika wathetha naye ke, wathi: “Sowuhlala apha kum, ube ngumfundisi nombingeleli wam; ndiya kukuhlawula ngeshumi leesiliva ngonyaka, ndawonye nempahla yokunxiba nokutya.” ₁₁UmLevi lowo ke wavumelana noMika, waza wahlala naye, waba njengonyana wakhe. ₁₂UMika wammisela waba ngumbingeleli wakhe, wahlala apho kwakhe. ₁₃UMika wathi: “Njengokuba umbingeleli wam engumLevi nje, ndiyazi ukuba uNdikhoyo uya kundithi jize ngenkqubela.”

₁Ngelo thuba ke uSirayeli wayengenakumkani. Ke yona indlu kaDan yayisazifunela umhlaba owawuza kuba lilifa layo, kuba ukuza kuthi ga ngoku yayingekafumani mhlaba ungowayo njengezinye izindlu zikaSirayeli. ₂Ngoko ke amaDan akhetha amagorha amahlanu awaziwayo, amela isizwe sawo siphela. Awakhupha eZora nase-Eshtawoli, awayala athi: “Hlolani ilizwe elo.”

Athi akufika kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim, alalisa kwaMika. ₃Athe elapho akunakana ukubetha kolwimi lomfana womLevi, aza aya kuye, abuza athi: “Uzokwenza ntoni apha? Uze nabani?”

₄Uphendule wathi: “Hayi, ndilapha nje ndinezigqibo noMika; undiqeshe ukuba ndibe ngumbingeleli wakhe.”

₅La madoda ke amcela athi: “Khawusibuzele kuThixo, uqonde ukuba luza kuba nempumelelo na uhambo lwethu.”

₆Umbingeleli lowo ke waphendula wathi: “Ze ningaxhali; uhambo lwenu lusezandleni *zikaNdikhoyo.”

₇La madoda aphuma apho, afika eLayishe. Ke afumanisa ukuba abantu bakhona babengoyiki nto, koko babehleli ngokonwaba njengamaSidon. Yayiluhlanga oluzolileyo olungenanxa namntu, futhi lungaswele nto. Babemi kude namaSidon, futhi kungekho sizwe simbi banomnqophiso naso. ₈La madoda ke athi akubuyela ekhaya eZora nase-Eshtawoli abuzwa ngamawawo kwathiwa: “Ibinjani na ihambo?”

₉Ke wona aphendula athi: “Yizani, mawethu, masiye kuyihlasela iLayishe. Siwubonile laa mhlaba; mhle kakhulu. Ngoko ke sanukuba salibazisa; masithathe khona siye, siwohluthe laa mhlaba! ₁₀Nakufika khona niya kufumanisa ukuba abantu bakhona bazihlalele nje, abanaxhala lanto. Ewe, ilizwe elo lithe gabalala; mayela neentswelo zomntu kukwanto zilungile, ibe ke uThixo ulinikele kuni.”

₁₁Apho ke eZora nase-Eshtawoli amaDan akhupha umkhosi wamadoda angamakhulu amathandathu. ₁₂Enyuka aya kumisa entshona yeKiriyati-yarim kwelakwaJuda. Ngenxa yeso sizathu ke loo ndawo isabizwa ngokuba yiMarhane-dan unangoku. ₁₃Loo mkhosi ke waphuma apho, waya kutsho kwaMika kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim.

₁₄Ke ezaa ntlola zintlanu zaziye kuhlola elo lizwe zada zaya kufika eLayishe, zathi kumawazo: “Ngaba benisazi na ukuba kwenye yezi zindlu kukho umfanekiso oqingqwe ngomthi watyatyekwa ngesiliva? Kukwakho nomnye umfanekiso otyhidiweyo, kunye *nemilonde-khaya, ndawonye *nesidanga. Niyayazi ke into emayenziwe!” ₁₅Ke kaloku zangena kwaMika, apho wayehlala khona umfana womLevi, zafika zabulisa zabuza impilo.

₁₆Ke wona umkhosi omakhulu mathandathu amadoda, lowa wawuxhobe waf' amacala, wawuthe xonkxosholo esangweni. ₁₇Ezo ntlola zathi ngqo endlwini, zafika zathatha loo mfanekiso uqingqiweyo, nalowo utyhidiweyo, kunye nemilonde-khaya ndawonye nesidanga, ngeli lixa yena umbingeleli wayesesesangweni nomkhosi lowo.

₁₈La madoda ke athi akungena endlwini kaMika athatha imifanekiso leyo ndawonye nesidanga. Ke umbingeleli lowo wawabuza wathi: “Nenza ntoni?”

₁₉Ke wona amyala athi: “Yithi tu, ungabi sayiphatha! Yiza, uhambe nathi, ube ngumfundisi nombingeleli wethu. Awutsho wena ukuba kubhetele ube ngumbingeleli wenye yezindlu zikaSirayeli endaweni yokuba ube ngumbingeleli womzi womntu omnye?” ₂₀Eli cebo lamkholisa umbingeleli lowo, waza ke wasithatha isidanga nemifanekiso ikunye nalowo uqingqiweyo, wahamba namaDan lawo.

₂₁Loo madoda ke ajika ahamba. Abantwana bawo, iinkomo, nako konke okwawo, akubeka ngaphambili. ₂₂Athe selemgama, uMika nabamelwana bahlab' umkhosi, baphuma besukelisa. Bathe bakusondela kumaDan apho ₂₃bawakhwaza. Ke wona ajika abuza kuMika athi: “Konakele phi? Ngowani lo mkhosi?”

₂₄UMika waphendula wathi: “Ningathini ukuthi: ‘Konakele phi?’ Nindohluthe oothixo bam endizenzele bona nombingeleli wam, nemka nabo! Ndosala nantoni mna?”

₂₅Ke amaDan aphendula athi: “Kubhetele ungabi sasingxolela, hleze la madoda anengcwangu akuhlasele. Xa inokwenzeka into enjalo, ungafa ndawonye nomzi wakho.” ₂₆Ke wona amaDan ahlabela mgama, ahamba. NoMika ke waqonda ukuba xa injalo ayingangaye, waza ke wajika wagoduka.

₂₇AmaDan ke akuba emthathile umbingeleli lowo ndawonye noothixo bakaMika, ahamba aya kuhlasela iLayishe, loo dolophu izole kunye nabantu bayo. Babatshabalalisa abemi bayo, ke yona idolophu bayitshisa. ₂₈Zange kubekho mhlanguli, kuba kaloku iLayishe le yayimgama eSidon, ibe ke nabemi bayo babengenamnqophiso nesinye isizwe. Ke iLayishe le yayimelene neBhete-rehobhi.

AmaDan ke aphinda ayivusa loo dolophu, ema kuyo. ₂₉Igama layo elalisakuba yiLayishe alijika athi yiDan, eyithiya ngokhokho wawo unyana kaSirayeli. ₃₀AmaDan amisa umfanekiso oqingqiweyo wawo, aza amisela uJonatan, unyana kaGershom umzukulwana kaMosis, wangumbingeleli wesizwe. Nenzala yakhe ke yaba ngababingeleli besizwe sakwaDan, de elo zwe lathinjwa. ₃₁Umfanekiso owawenziwe nguMika wahlala uhleli apho ke ngalo lonke ixesha isibingelelo sikaThixo sasisekho eShilo.

₁Ngethuba eliphambi kokuba uSirayeli abe nokumkani kwakukho mLevi uthile owayehlala kude kweleentaba kwaEfrayim. Lo mfo wathatha intombi yaseBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda, wahlalisana nayo. ₂Kambe ke yambambela, yaza yagoduka yaya eBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda, yahlala khona iinyanga zane. ₃Lo mLevi ke wayilanda ngezicengo, khon' ukuze babuyelane. Wayehamba nesicaka sakhe kunye needonki ezimbini. Le ntombi ke yamazisa kowayo umLevi lowo, waza ke uyise akumbona wamamkela ngezishushu. ₄Uyise wentombi leyo wamnyanzelisa ukuba akhe ahlale umLevi lowo, waza ke wahlala iintsuku zantathu, besitya besela kunye.

₅Ngentsasa yosuku lwesine bavuka sebelungele ukuhamba. Ke uyise wentombi wathetha nomkwenyana, wathi: “Qala utye, uhlaziyeke, uze ke uhambe kamva.”

₆Bahlala ke umntu nomkhwenyana, batya basela. Usontombi lowo ke waphinda wacela umkhwenyana wathi: “Sowulala apha ngokuhlwanje, uzonwabise.”

₇Wathi umLevi lowo akufuna ukuhamba, uyise lowo wamcenga ukuba aselala apho ngobo busuku. ₈Ngentsasa yosuku lwesihlanu umLevi wavuka ezimisele ukuhamba, kodwa usontombi wathi: “Khawutye, ulinde kude kube semini noko.” Wahlala ke, batya bobabini.

₉Wathi ke umLevi nentombi leyo ngokunjalo nesicaka sebezimisele ukunduluka, uyise wabanqanda, esithi: “Amathunzi anabile, nokuhlwa sekusondele; masenilala. Hlalani nizonwabise, nize ninduluke kusasa ngomso ukugoduka.”

₁₀Ngesi ke isihlandlo umfo lowo akavumanga ukuphinda alale. Wanduluka, ehamba enezo donki zimbini ezineesali kwakunye nomasihlalisane lowo, waya kugaleleka ngaseJebhusi. (IJebhusi ke yile iyiJerusalem namhla.) ₁₁Bakusondela eJebhusi imimi yayiselithambekile, saza isicaka sathi enkosini yaso: “Masesihlala apha eJebhusi, silalise khona.”

_12-13Kambe ke inkosi yaso leyo yathi: “Hayi, kaloku asinakulala apha kwisixeko sabantu basemzini abangengawo amaSirayeli. Masigqithele phambili, siye kulala eGibheya okanye eRama.” ₁₄Ngoko ke badlula apho eJebhusi. Kwathi xa lithi ndithenge, bagaleleka eGibheya kummandla wamaBhenjamin. ₁₅Baphambuka ke endleleni, besiya kulala khona. Bangena ke, baya kutsho ebaleni lembutho, kungekho mntu ubanika indawo yokulala.

₁₆Bathe beselapho kwathi gqi ixhego, livela emasimini. Lalingumngeneleli apho eGibheya, kodwa inkaba yalo ikweleentaba kwaEfrayim. Phofu ke abantu balapho yayingamaBhenjamin. ₁₇Lathi ke lakubabona abahambi abo belapho ebaleni lembutho, labuza lathi: “Kuvelwa ngaphi, kusiyiwa phi?”

₁₈UmLevi uphendule wathi: “Siphuma eBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda. Ukwenjenje oku siyagoduka, siya kummandla othe qelele kweleentaba kwaEfrayim. Kambe ke akukho mntu usinika ndawo yakulala. ₁₉Sinako ukutya kweedonki zethu, ngokunjalo mna sicaka sakho kunye nesicakakazi sakho nomfana ohamba nathi sinaso isonka newayini. Hayi, asixakekanga kwelo cala.”

₂₀Ixhego ke lathi: “Namkelekile kwam; aninakude nilale apha phandle. Yizani; ndiza kunilungiselela.” ₂₁Lagoduka nabo ke, lazityisa iidonki zabo. Bahlamba iinyawo, baza batya basela.

₂₂Kwathi besonwabile apho, kwafika iindlavini ezithile, zayirhawula indlu leyo, zabetha ucango, zabhekisa kumnini-ndlu lowo zisithi: “Mkhuphe loo mfo umngenise endlwini yakho. Sifuna ukulala naye.”

₂₃Kambe ke umninimzi waphuma, wathetha nazo, wathi: “Hayi, mawethu, ndiyanibongoza, sanukulenza elo nyala; lundwendwe lwam olu! ₂₄Ndaweni yaloo nto thathani intombi yam kwanomfazi walo mfo. Mandinikhuphele bona, nenze ukuthanda kwenu kubo. Kodwa sanukuyenza into embi kangaka kulo mfo.”

₂₅Kambe ke azivumanga ezo zibhoja. Ngoko ke umLevi lowo wakhupha loo masihlalisane wakhe, zaza ke zadlalisa ngaye zazenzela apho kuye kwada kwasa.

₂₆Kwathi ekuseni umfazi lowo wabuya, wafika wawa ngasemnyango kuloo ndlu yexhego apho yayikhona indoda yakhe. Walala apho kwada kwasa. ₂₇Kusasa yathi yakuvula umnyango indoda yakhe, iphuma iza kuhamba, yamfumana elele apho ngasemnyango, izandla zakhe zisembundwini. ₂₈Yathetha naye, yathi: “Vuka sihambe!” Kwathi cwaka. Yaza ke yamthatha, yamxhoma edonkini, yagoduka naye.

₂₉UmLevi lowo ke uthe akufika ekhaya wathatha imela. Umzimba waloo mfazi ke wawunqunqa waziziqwenga ezilishumi elinambini, waza ke isiqwenga ngasinye wasithumela kwenye yezindlu zikaSirayeli. ₃₀Wonke ke umntu owayibonayo le nto wavakala esithi: “Zange siyive siyibone into enje! Into enje zange ihle okoko uSirayeli waphumayo eJiputa! Mayiqwalaselwe, kubonwe into emayenziwe!”

₁USirayeli ephela, ukusuka kwaDan kuye kuqhina ngeBheshebha, ngokunjalo nomhlaba waseGiliyadi, ewe, lonke ibandla likaSirayeli lahlanganisana limoya mnye phambi *koNdikhoyo eMizpa. ₂Zonke iinkulu zezindlu zikaSirayeli zazikho kwelo bandla labantu bakaThixo, ingamakhulu amane amawaka amajoni aphatha ikrele. ₃NamaBhenjamin eva ukuba kudityenwe ngamaSirayeli eMizpa.

AmaSirayeli athi: “Yitshoni; yenzeke kanjani na le ntlekele?”

₄UmLevi omfazi wayegetyengiwe wachaza wathi: “Ndihambe nowakwam, ndaya kutsho kwaBhenjamin eGibheya, ndisiya kulalisa khona. ₅Ke izikhulu zaseGibheya zaphuma ngobusuku, zarhawula indlu endandikuyo, zifuna mna. Zona zazizimisele ukundibulala, kodwa ke zasuka zamhlasela owakwam, zamdlwengula wada wafa. ₆Ke mna ndawuthatha umzimba wakhe, ndawunqunqa, ndathumela isiqwenga kwindlu nganye kwezo zikaSirayeli. Kaloku aba bantu benze isikizi lenyala kwaSirayeli. ₇Khanitsho, maSirayeli, nithi makuthiweni? Lithini icebo lenu?”

₈AmaSirayeli ke atsho ngazwi-nye athi: “Xa sisonke akukho bani uza kugoduka namhlanje; ewe, akukho bani uya kubuyela endlwini yakhe. ₉Nantsi into esiza kuyenza ngeGibheya: Siza kukhangela ukuba liya kuphuma nabani na iqashiso, aze ke loo madoda asikhokele ekuyihlaseleni. ₁₀Isishumi samadoda akwaSirayeli siya kuthwala ukutya komkhosi, aze ke amanye la aye kohlwaya iGibheya ngenxa yesi senzo sayo sobuyatha isenzileyo kwaSirayeli.” ₁₁Ngoko ke amaSirayeli ahlanganisana emoya mnye, efuna ukohlwaya iGibheya.

₁₂Izizwe zakwaSirayeli zathumela izigidimi kuwo wonke ummandla wesizwe sakwaBhenjamin, zisithi: “Buyatha buni obu nibenzileyo? ₁₃Ngoko ke zikhupheni ezo ndlavini zaseGibheya, sizibulale, silihlambe eli nyala kwaSirayeli.” Kambe ke amaBhenjamin zange awahoye amazwi athethwa ngamawabo amaSirayeli. ₁₄Ndaweni yaloo nto amaBhenjamin aphuma kuzo zonke izixeko zawo, ahlangana eGibheya, aza aya kulwa namaSirayeli. ₁₅Ngaloo mini akhupha amashumi amabini anesithandathu amajoni kuzo zonke izixeko zawo. Ngaphezu koko abemi baseGibheya bakhupha amajoni akhethiweyo angamakhulu asixhenxe, ₁₆onke engamanxele. La manxele onke ayeziincutshe zokusawula *ngenkwitshi atsho khona. ₁₇Amajoni amaSirayeli, ngaphandle kwamaBhenjamin, ayengamakhulu amane amawaka, onke engoompondo-zihlanjiwe.

₁₈Ke amaSirayeli aya eBhetele, aza abuza kuThixo athi: “Yiyiphi na indlu emayiqale ukuhlasela uBhenjamin?”

*UNdikhoyo ke wathi: “Mayibe nguJuda.”

₁₉Anduluka ke amaSirayeli ngentsasa elandelayo, aya kumisa ngaseGibheya. ₂₀Aphuma amajoni amaSirayeli, esiya kulwa namaBhenjamin, akha uhlelo phambi kweGibheya. ₂₁Wacombuluka ke umkhosi wamaBhenjamin, waphuma apho esixekweni, waza ngaloo mini wageqa amashumi amabini anambini amawaka amajoni amaSirayeli.

₂₂Kambe ke ngengomso amaSirayeli omelezana; aphinda amajoni awo awamisa kwangalaa ndlela ayewamise ngayo ngezolo. ₂₃Kaloku amaSirayeli ayeye kuzibika kuNdikhoyo, alila iinyembezi kwada kwahlwa. Abuzisa kuye kwakhona, athi: “Ngaba masiye na ukuya kulwa namawethu amaBhenjamin?”

UNdikhoyo ke waphendula wathi: “Yiyani nilwe nawo.”

₂₄Ngosuku olulandelayo amaSirayeli aphinda amhlasela uBhenjamin. ₂₅Nangesi ke isihlandlo amaBhenjamin aphuma eGibheya, aza ageqa ishumi elinesibhozo lamawaka oompondo-zihlanjiwe bamaSirayeli.

₂₆Aphuma ke onke amaSirayeli, aya kulila eBhetele. Ahlala apho phambi koNdikhoyo, akuzila ukutya kwada kwahlwa. Enza amadini atshiswayo, ngokunjalo nawobudlelwana, esenzela uNdikhoyo.

_27-28Ngelo xesha ke ityesi yomnqophiso yayilapho eBhetele. Ke uPineyasi unyana kaElazare umzukulwana ka-Aron yayinguye umbingeleli apho. AmaSirayeli ke aphinda abuzisa kuNdikhoyo, athi: “Ngaba masiye ukuya kulwa namawethu amaBhenjamin, okanye masincame?”

UNdikhoyo ke waphendula wathi: “Phakathi! Ngomso ndiza kunithi jize ngoloyiso!”

₂₉Ngoko ke amaSirayeli afihla amanye amajoni, axhwarha kufuphi neGibheya. ₃₀Nangolu lwesithathu usuku amaSirayeli amhlasela uBhenjamin, amajoni akha uhlelo ekhangele iGibheya njenga-ngaphambili. ₃₁AmaBhenjamin aphuma ukuhlangabeza, ada asishiya isixeko. Njengezolo ke akhe ageqa apho kumaSirayeli kuloo mathafa nakwindlela eya eBhetele neya eGibheya. Kwafa amashumi amathathu amaSirayeli.

₃₂AmaBhenjamin athi: “Isesesezolo; siwafumene!”

Ke wona amaSirayeli athi: “Masihlehle, khon' ukuze siwatsalele ezindleleni kude nesixeko.” ₃₃Wathi ke umkhosi wamaSirayeli waqokelelana eBhali-tamare, waza lowa wawulalele ngaseGibheya wadyulukudela ukuphuma kwezo ziwana zingqonge isixeko. ₃₄IGibheya ke yahlaselwa lishumi lamawaka angoompondo-zihlanjiwe, bekhethwe kuSirayeli ephela. Hayi ke, yaba yinkwa nenkwa, phofu yena uBhenjamin engaqondi ukuba namhlanje ihlile intlekele. ₃₅UNdikhoyo wamoyisa uBhenjamin ngamaSirayeli. AmaSirayeli atshabalalisa amashumi amabini anantlanu amawaka anekhulu ngaloo mini, onke eziincutshe zekrele, ₃₆waza ke uBhenjamin waqonda ukuba woyisiwe.

Umkhosi wamaSirayeli wahlehla, kuba ukholose ngalowo wawulalele kufuphi neGibheya uzimele. ₃₇Lo ke umkhosi wakhawuleza wangena eGibheya, wanwenwa apho esixekweni, wabulala konke nje. ₃₈Indili yomkhosi kaSirayeli nalo uzimeleyo wawuvumelene ngokuthi xa ubona umsi uthuquza unyuka apho esixekweni, ₃₉umkhosi osedabini uya kubuya nawo ungene uhlasele. Ngeli thuba ke amaBhenjamin ayeselewabulele amaSirayeli amalunga namashumi amathathu. Ayesezincoma esithi: “Sesezolo nanamhlanje; siwafumene!” ₄₀Kweso sithuba ke wasuka wavela umqondiso; suka kwavela umpokophela womsi, wathunquza uphuma apho esixekweni. Athi ke akujonga amaBhenjamin abona isixeko sawo singamalangatye nje! ₄₁Suka ke amaSirayeli aguquka, ke wona amaBhenjamin asuka azizithwanga-thwanga, kuba eqonda ukuba ihlile intlekele. ₄₂Azama ukuhlehla abalekele entlango, kodwa ke umkhosi wathi mbende emva kwabo. Axinwa atyakatywa nangamanye amadoda awayephuma ezidolophini. ₄₃AmaSirayeli awarhawula amaBhenjamin, awasukela, aza awoyisa lula kude kufuphi neGibheya empumalanga. ₄₄Kwafa ishumi elinesibhozo lamawaka koompondo-zihlanjiwe bamaBhenjamin. ₄₅Amanye asabela entlango, esinga kumawa aseRimon, kwaza kwabulawa amawaka amahlanu ezindleleni. AmaSirayeli athi mbende emva kwawo ukuya kutsho eGidiyon, aza abulala amawaka amabini.

₄₆Ngaloo mini yodwa kwafa amashumi amabini anantlanu amawaka amaBhenjamin, onke engoompondo-zihlanjiwe bamajoni. ₄₇Kambe ke amakhulu amathandathu abalekela entlango, aya kutsho kuloo mawa aseRimon, ahlala apho iinyanga zane.

₄₈AmaSirayeli ke abuya awatshabalalisa onke amaBhenjamin, ebulala konke: ndoda, mfazi, mntwana, nemfuyo le yembala. Azitshisa zonke iidolophu zaloo mmandla.

₁Ke kaloku ngethuba amaSirayeli ayehlanganisene eMizpa ayebhambathisile phambi *koNdikhoyo athi: “Asisoze sendisele iintombi zethu kumaBhenjamin.” ₂Ngoku ke amaSirayeli suke ahlanganisana phambi koThixo eBhetele; ahlala apho kwada kwahlwa, ehlahlamba ebindekile, ₃esithi: “Ndikhoyo, Thixo kaSirayeli, ngani ukuba sihlelwe yinto enje? Ngani ukuba esinye isizwe sezizwe zakwaSirayeli sitshabalale siphele tu?”

₄Ngentsasa elandelayo ke amaSirayeli akha iqonga apho, aza enza amadini atshiswayo kunye namadini obudlelwane. ₅Abuzana athi: “Ngaba kukho indlu na yakwaSirayeli engazange iye kwimbizo esasinayo phambi koNdikhoyo eMizpa?” (Kaloku amaSirayeli ayenze isifungo esingqongqo, athi: “Nabani na ongayanga embizweni eMizpa uya kubulawa.”)

₆Ngoku ke amaSirayeli ayenxubile ngenxa yabazalwana bawo amaBhenjamin. Avakala esithi: “Namhlanje uSirayeli ulahlekelwe yenye yezindlu zakhe. ₇Nithi makuthiweni ukuze la maBhenjamin aseleyo azuze abafazi? Kaloku sabhambathisa phambi koNdikhoyo sathi asisoze siwendisele iintombi zethu.”

₈Abuza ke amaSirayeli athi: “Ngaba kukho ndlu na ingazange iye eMizpa?” Afumanisa ukuba kwakungekho mntu waseJabheshe yaseGiliyadi. ₉Ngexesha lokuhlelwa komkhosi akubangakho mntu wayevela eJabheshe. ₁₀Ngoko ke ibandla lakhupha ishumi elinambini lamawaka amajoni angoompondo-zihlanjiwe, lawayalela ukuba aye eJabheshe, afike abulale wonke umntu nomfazi nomntwana lo wembala. ₁₁Kwathiwa: “Wabulaleni amadoda nabafazi, nisindise iintombi nto.” ₁₂Ke apho eJabheshe afumana amakhulu amane eentombi ezingazananga nandoda, aza azithatha aya nazo esikhululweni eShilo kumhlaba waseKanana.

₁₃Ke ibandla lathumela kumaBhenjamin awayekumawa aseRimon, lawanikezela imiqathango yoxolo. ₁₄Ke amaBhenjamin abuya, aza amaSirayeli awanikezela ezo ntombi zaseJabheshe eGiliyadi zazisindile; kambe ke zange ziwanele amaBhenjamin lawo.

₁₅AmaSirayeli avelana namaBhenjamin, kuba uNdikhoyo enze umsantsa phakathi kwezindlu zikaSirayeli. ₁₆Ngoko ke amadoda amakhulu athi: “Njengokuba betshatyalalisiwe nje abafazi kwaBhenjamin, sothini ukuyifumanela abafazi inxalenye yawo?” ₁₇Aza athi: “Ingayinto embi ukuba kubekho indlu enqanyulwayo kwaSirayeli ngokungabi nazindlalifa. Makufunwe indlela yokuba indlu kaBhenjamin ingatshitshi. ₁₈Kodwa thina ngokwethu asinako ukuyendisela iintombi zethu, njengoko senze isifungo sathi: ‘Nabani na owendisela intombi yakhe kwaBhenjamin uqalekisiwe.’ ₁₉Kambe ke umbhiyozo waminyaka le kaNdikhoyo eShilo sowusondele.” Ke iShilo yayingasentla kweBhetele, ngezantsi kweLebhona, kwimpuma yendlela ephakathi kweBhetele neShekem.

₂₀Ke ayalela amaBhenjamin athi: “Ze nihambe nifike nizímele ezidiliyeni, ₂₁nilalele. Nakuphawula ukuba ziphumile iintombi zaseShilo, zingqungqa, phumani ezidiliyeni, ibe ngulowo nalowo azithathele umfazi apho kuzo, aye naye kwaBhenjamin. ₂₂Ukuba ooyise okanye abanakwazo beze kuxambulisana nathi, sothi kubo: ‘Siyanibongoza, baveleni. Kaloku asibafumanelanga abafazi emfazweni. Kambe ke nina nimsulwa – kaloku bazithwele; abazinikwanga nini iintombi zenu.’ ”

₂₃Ngenene ke amaBhenjamin ayenza loo nto; indoda nganye kuwo yazikhethela umfazi kwezo ntombi zazingqungqa eShilo, yayithwala, yagoduka nayo. Egodukile ke amaBhenjamin abuya azakha iidolophu zawo, abuya ema kuzo. ₂₄Nawo ke amaSirayeli agoduka. Indoda nganye yaya kuxhamla ilifa layo emzini wayo kwisizwe sakowayo.

₂₅Ke kaloku ngelo thuba kwakungekho kumkani kwaSirayeli; umntu ngamnye ke wayesenza unothanda.