To The Word – Day 75

₁Ukumkani uNahashe wama-Amon wahlasela idolophu iJabheshe ekummandla wamaGiliyadi, wayivingcela. Amadoda onke alapho eJabheshe athi kukumkani uNahashe: “Masenze umnqophiso woxolo. Siyavuma ukukuthobela.”

₂UNahashe uthe ukuphendula: “Loo mnqophiso ndiya kuwenza kuphela xa sivanayo ukuba ndikrolonqe iliso lasekunene kumntu ngamnye, khon' ukuze ndiwahlazise amaSirayeli.”

₃Athe ukuphendula amadoda amakhulu aseJabheshe: “Khawusiphe iintsuku zibe sixhenxe, sikhe sithumele izigidimi kulo lonke elakwaSirayeli kuqala. Ukuba akakho osihlangulayo, sozincama sinikezele.”

₄Ezo zigidimi zaya kugaleleka eGibheya kuloSawule. Zathi zakuziphalaza ezo ndaba, basitsho abantu isikhalo. ₅Wayesafika evela emasimini neenkabi zakhe uSawule. “Kwenzeke ntoni ebantwini? Sisijwili sani esi basenzayo?” NguSawule obuzayo. Abantu bamxelela ezo ndaba zazize nezigidimi zaseJabheshe.

₆Akuyiva loo nto uSawule wafikelwa nguMoya kaThixo ngamandla, wabila ngumsindo. ₇Wathatha iinkabi zambini, wazihlahla zayimibengo, wathi izigidimi maziyise kulo lonke elakwaSirayeli, zihambe ziyala abantu zisithi: “Umntu ongayiyo emfazweni kunye noSawule noSamweli iinkabi zakhe zoba yimibengo.”

AmaSirayeli onganyelwa kukuhlonela uNdikhoyo, aphuma onke, akwasala nempunde le. ₈USawule wawaqokelela eBhezeki. Yayingamakhulu mathathu amawaka amadoda avela kwaSirayeli, namashumi mathathu amawaka amadoda avela kwaJuda.

₉Izigidimi ezivela eJabheshe kwathiwa mazigoduke nomyalezo othi: “Ze niwaxelele amawenu nithi: ‘Ngomso oku, ngemini emaqanda, nobe nihlangulwe.’ ” Bavuya kakhulu wakufika loo myalezo abantu baseJabheshe. ₁₀Bathumela kuma-Amon, bathi: “Siyanikezela ngomso, yaye ningenza unothanda ngathi.”

₁₁Kwangentseni ngengomso uSawule wawenza amabutho amathathu umkhosi wakhe. Wasuka indulumbane ukuphuma kwekhwezi, wawahlasela ama-Amon. Kuthe kwakuba yimini emaqanda baba sebewaxhaxhile. Aba ziintsali amadoda asindileyo, iyileyo izihambela yodwa.

₁₂Emva koko amadoda aya kuSamweli, afika athi: “Aphi laa madoda ayesithi: ‘Singaphathwa nguSawule na thina?’ Wakhuphe, siwacime igama!”

₁₃“Akuyi kubulawa mntu namhlanje, kuba olu lusuku uNdikhoyo ahlangule ngalo uSirayeli,” watsho uSawule.

₁₄USamweli yena uvakele esithi: “Yizani, makuyiwe eGiligali, sizinzise ubukumkani bukaSawule.” ₁₅Kwayiwa ke, baza apho, ngaphambi kukaNdikhoyo, bazinzisa ubukumkani bukaSawule. Kwenziwa amadini obudlelwane apho, uSawule namaSirayeli ephela bebhiyozela eso siganeko.

₁Wasuka ke uSamweli, wabhekisa kumaSirayeli ephela, wenjenje: “Niyabona, into ebeniyicelile kum ndiyenzile, ndammisela ukumkani wenu. ₂Nanku; uza kunilawula. Mna sendaluphele ndaba yingwevu. Noonyana bam naba phakathi kwenu. Ndanikhokela ndisemtsha kude kuze kuthi gaa apha. ₃Ndim lo ke, ndithi ukuba ndakha ndanona ndimangaleleni ngoku apha phambi *koNdikhoyo naphambi komthanjiswa wakhe ukumkani. Ndakha ndahlutha bani inkabi yakhe yenkomo okanye idonki? Ndakha ndacinezela bani na; ingubani endakha ndamngcungcuthekisa? Ngubani owakha wandinyoba ukundivala umlomo? Ukuba ndakha ndayenza into enjalo, ndiya kuyenza imbuyekezo.”

₄Wahlokoma umzi wathi: “Akuzange wasicinezela nanini, ungazange wangcungcuthekisa bani nakanye; yaye akuzange wathatha nto mntwini.”

₅Wathi ke uSamweli: “UNdikhoyo nomthanjiswa wakhe ukumkani ngamangqina am ke ukuba kutsho nina ukuthi ndimsulwa.”

“Ewe,” kutsho abantu, “nguNdikhoyo ingqina lethu.”

₆Uqhube wenjenje uSamweli: “Ingqina nguNdikhoyo lo watyumba uMosis noAron, waza wabakhupha ooyihlo-mkhulu eJiputa. ₇Sondelani ke, ndiniyale phambi koNdikhoyo ngokunikhumbuza ngemisebenzi yobulungisa ayenzele nina nooyihlo.

₈“Kwathi akuba seJiputa uYakobi nomzi wakhe, bazibika kuNdikhoyo, yena wathumela uMosis noAron ababakhuphayo eJiputa, beza kuma kulo mhlaba. ₉Bathi bakuba lapha abantu bamlibala uNdikhoyo uThixo wabo. Yena ke ngoko wabanikela esandleni sikaSisera umphathi womkhosi waseHazore, nakumaFilistiya, nakukumkani wakwaMowabhi, – zintshaba zabo ezo ezabahlaselayo. ₁₀Babuya bazibika kuNdikhoyo, besithi: ‘Ewe, sonile, kuba sikufulathele, Ndikhoyo, sanqula ooBhali nooAshtaroti. Sihlangule kwiintshaba zethu; sokhonza wena!’ ₁₁UNdikhoyo ke wathumela uGidiyon, noBharaki, noJefta, waza wagqibela ngam. Wanihlangula kwiintshaba zenu macala onke, nahlala ngenzolo. ₁₂Kodwa nithe nakuqonda ukuba ukumkani uNahashe wama-Amon ufuna ukunihlasela, neza kum, nathi: ‘Sifuna ukumkani wethu,’ naxa uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu engukumkani wenu.”

₁₃Utyatyadule wathi uSamweli: “Nanku ke ukumkani enimkhethileyo. Ufunwe nini ke; uNdikhoyo uyanikhululela ke ngoku. ₁₄Kuya kuba hele, kube chosi, ukuba nje uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu niyamhlonela, nimkhonze, nimphulaphule, ningaphikisani nomyalelo wakhe, koko nimlandele nikunye nokumkani wenu onilawulayo. ₁₅Kodwa ukuba animva uNdikhoyo, niphikisane nomyalelo wakhe, wonichasa njengoko wenjenjalo kooyihlo-mkhulu.

₁₆“Ngoku ke, yimani ngxishi, khon' ukuze nikubone oko kukhulu aza kukwenza uNdikhoyo. ₁₇Naxa ilixesha lokuvuna ingqolowa eli, ndiza kutsho kuNdikhoyo ahlise imvula neendudumo. Niya kuqonda ke ukuba imbi kuNdikhoyo le nto yokufuna kwenu ukumkani.”

₁₈Wathandaza wabhekisa kuNdikhoyo ke uSamweli, kwaza kwangaloo mini kwafika iindudumo kunye nemvula, zithunyelwe nguNdikhoyo. Abantu ke ngoko bamoyika uNdikhoyo ngokunjalo noSamweli. ₁₉Bonke bathi kuSamweli: “Sithandazele kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, singafi, thina zicaka zakho. Kuzo zonke izono zethu ebesikade sizenza songeze nobu bubi bokuzicelela ukumkani.”

₂₀USamweli wathi: “Ze ningoyiki! Ewe kambe, naxa nenze bonke obu bubi, nize ningaphambuki nimke kuNdikhoyo, koko nize nimkhonze ngomxhelo uphela. ₂₁Nize ningarhorhozeli emva *koothixo abangento. Abanako ukuninceda, bengenako ukunihlangula. Kaloku bona zizinto ezingento nje. ₂₂Ngenxa yegama lakhe elikhulu uNdikhoyo akayi kubalahla abantu bakhe, kuba kwakholeka kuye ukunenza abantu bakhe ncakasana. ₂₃Mna okokwam andingekhe ndimone uNdikhoyo ngokuyekelela ukunithandazela. Ndizimisele ukunifundisa ukuhamba indlela ethe mbo. ₂₄Kodwa uNdikhoyo nize nimthobele nimkhonze ninyanisekile ngomxhelo uphela. Kaloku nizibonile ukuba zinkulu kwazo izinto anenzele zona. ₂₅Kambe ke, ukuba niqhubela phambili ukwenza ububi, uya kunitshabalalisa kunye naloo kumkani wenu.”

₁Akuba nonyaka ukuya kwiminyaka emibini elawula kwaSirayeli ₂uSawule wakhetha amawaka amathathu amadoda akwaSirayeli. Amawaka amabini asala naye eMikimashe naseBhetele kweleentaba. Elinye iwaka walithumela eGibheya kummandla wakwaBhenjamin kunye noJonatan. Amanye amadoda wathi makagoduke.

₃UJonatan wahlasela ikampana yamaFilistiya eyayiseGebha. Yaduma kwelamaFilistiya into yokuba amaSirayeli avus' umnyele. USawule wathumela izigidimi ukuba zihambe zibeth' izigodlo kulo lonke, zithi: “Bekan' iindlebe, maHebhere!” ₄Weva ke uSirayeli ephela, kusithiwa: “USawule uyihlasele ikampana yamaFilistiya, asuka amaSirayeli aba lizothe kumaFilistiya.” Amadoda akwaSirayeli abizelwa kuSawule eGiligali.

₅AmaFilistiya aqokelela umkhosi wokulwa namaSirayeli. Yaba ngamashumi amathathu amawaka eenqwelo zokulwa, namawaka amathandathu amadoda akhwele kuzo, nenyambalala yamajoni. Enjenjeya ukuya kumisa ikampu yawo eMikimashe ngasempumalanga yeBhetaven. ₆Athi amadoda akwaSirayeli akubona ukuba mbi kwemeko yawo, nokuxinwa komkhosi wawo, asuka aya kuziqhusheka emiqolombeni nasezihlahleni, ezixhotyeni zamawa, emihadini, nasemaquleni. ₇Amanye amaHebhere awelela ngaphesheya kweJordan kwimimandla yakwaGadi naseGiliyadi.

Wasala eGiligali yena uSawule, esankwantya luloyiko amadoda awayesele naye. ₈Walinda iintsuku zasixhenxe, njengoko wayeyalelwe nguSamweli. Akafika yena uSamweli eGiligali. Amadoda kaSawule aya echithakala, ₉waza ke wathi: “Sondezani kum izinto zokwenza amadini atshiswayo namadini obudlelane.” Zithe zakusiwa, wanikela idini elitshiswayo. ₁₀Kuthe kanye xa agqibezelayo, wagaleleka uSamweli. USawule waya kumhlangabeza, ethakazela. ₁₁Wasuka uSamweli wabuza wathi: “Yintoni le uyenzileyo, Sawule?”

Uphendule ngelithi uSawule: “Hayi, ndithe ndakubona amadoda echithakala, nawe ungafiki ngexesha obuthe uya kufika ngalo, namaFilistiya eqokelelana eMikimashe, ₁₂ndaqonda ukuba la maFilistiya ngahle asihlasele apha eGiligali singekabhekisi *kuNdikhoyo. Ndeva ndinyanzelekile ke ukuba ndinikele idini elitshiswayo kuNdikhoyo.”

₁₃“Wenze ubudenge ke khona!” kutsho uSamweli. “Uwutyeshele umyalelo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wakho. Ukuba ubumthobele uNdikhoyo ubukumkani bakho kwaSirayeli bebuya kuma bumi. ₁₄Kodwa ke ngoku luza kunqamka ulawulo lwakho, kuba uwutyeshele kaloku umyalelo kaNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo uzityumbele enye indoda esenyongweni yakhe ukuba ibalawule abantu bakhe.”

₁₅USamweli wesuka eGiligali waya eGibheya kummandla wakwaBhenjamin. USawule wawabala amadoda asele naye, wafumana ukuba amalunga namakhulu amathandathu.

₁₆USawule nonyana wakhe uJonatan kunye nomkhosi wabo babemise eGebha kummandla wamaBhenjamin. Wona amaFilistiya amisa eMikimashe. ₁₇Umkhosi wamaFilistiya wakhupha amahlelo amathathu. Elinye ihlelo laphuma laya ngaseOfra kummandla waseShuwali, ₁₈elinye laya ngaseBhete-horon, elesithathu labheka kwimida ejongene nentili iZebhoyim ngasentlango.

₁₉KwaSirayeli kwakungekho bakhandi, kuba amaFilistiya athi: “AmaHebhere osuka enze amakrele nemikhonto.” ₂₀Kwakufuneka amaSirayeli aye kumaFilistiya xa afuna ukulolelwa amakhuba namagaba, amazembe kunye neerhengqa zawo. ₂₁Kwakuhlawulwa iqhosha lemali ngokulola izembe nangokulungisa incula, abe mabini xa kulolwa isikali sekhuba okanye kubazwa iimviko. ₂₂Ke ngoko ngomhla wedabi kwakungekho nanye indoda kwaSirayeli eyayinekrele okanye umkhonto, ngaphandle nje kukaSawule nonyana wakhe uJonatan.

₂₃AmaFilistiya athumela igqiza lomkhosi wawo ukuya kuvala ingxingwa yaseMikimashe.

₁Ngamhla uthile uJonatan unyana kaSawule wavakala esithi kumfana omphathela izikrweqe: “Masikhe siwelele ngaphesheya phaya kulaa kampana yamaFilistiya.” Phofu akayithethanga kuyise le nto uJonatan. ₂USawule wayemise eMigron, phantsi komthi werharnati, kude kufuphi naseGibheya. Umkhosi wakhe wawungamadoda amalunga namakhulu amathandathu. ₃*Isidanga sasiphathwa ngumbingeleli uAhiya unyana ka-Ahitubhi, umntakwabo-Ikabhodi, oonyana bakaPineyasi, abazukulwana bakaEli owayengumbingeleli *kaNdikhoyo eShilo. Akazanga akuqaphele ukumka kukaJonatan nkqu namadoda omkhosi kaSawule.

₄Kuloo ngxingwa yaseMikimashe, le wayeza kuphumelela kuyo uJonatan xa awelela kwikampana yamaFilistiya, kwakukho amawa amabini, eziingqajolo, ephahle loo ngxingwa. Kwakusithiwa nguBhozeze elinye ukubizwa kwalo, elinye kusithiwa nguSene. ₅Elinye lalikwicala langasentla, lijonge eMikimashe, elinye lingasezantsi, lijonge eGebha.

₆Ubuye wathi uJonatan kuloo mfana umphathela izikrweqe: “Masiwelele kulaa kampana yeziya ntlanga zingalukiyo. Mhlawumbi angakwicala lethu uNdikhoyo. Akukho nto inokumthintela uNdikhoyo ukuba angahlanguli, nditsho nokuba sibaninzi, nokuba simbalwa.”

₇“Yenza ngokubona kwakho. Mna ndikwelo ulithethayo, naliphi na,” utshilo umfana.

₈“Kulungile ke,” kutsho uJonatan. “Masiwele siye kuwo amaFilistiya, aze asibone. ₉Xa athe: ‘Yimani side size kuni,’ siya kuma kuloo ndawo sikuyo, singayi kuwo. ₁₀Kodwa ke xa athe: ‘Nyukani nize kuthi,’ siya kunyuka, kuba lowo ngumqondiso wokuba uNdikhoyo uwanikele esandleni sethu.”

₁₁Baziveza ke kwikampana yamaFilistiya, aza wona akubabona athi: “Tyhini, nangaya amaSirayeli ephuma kulaa mihadi ebezimele kuyo!” ₁₂Atsho akhweba uJonatan kunye nalaa mfana umphathela izikrweqe, esithi: “Yizan' apha, sinifundise isifundo!”

Uthe uJonatan kuloo mfana: “Ndilandele sinyuke; uNdikhoyo uwanikele esandleni samaSirayeli.” ₁₃UJonatan wenyuka iliwa ekhasa, elandelwa nguloo mfana, baya kuphumela. Wawahlasela amaFilistiya uJonatan, kujuba ugodo nje, umfana egqibezela awileyo. ₁₄Kolu hlaselo lokuqala kwabulawa malunga namashumi amabini kwindawo engangomhlathi ubukhulu bayo. ₁₅Wadideka luloyiko wonke umkhosi wamaFilistiya, nditsho lowo usekampini, nalowo usemathafeni, nalowo ukwiikampana, nalowo ukumahlelo ahlaselayo. Bacela kwabasicatyana, watsho wanyikima umhlaba. Yayingumsebenzi kaThixo ke lo.

₁₆Amadoda omkhosi kaSawule awayegade eGibheya kummandla wakwaBhenjamin, abona kuphithizela, amaFilistiya ethwangazela, ebaleka. ₁₇Kweso sithuba uSawule ubhekise kumadoda esithi: “Khanibale amadoda akhoyo, nikhangele ukuba ngawaphi na angekhoyo.” Kwakwenziwa njalo kwacaca ukuba nguJonatan nomfana omphathela izikrweqe abangekhoyo.

₁₈USawule ubize umbingeleli uAbhiya, esithi: “Yiza netyesi kaThixo.” (Ngelo xesha yayikho kunye namaSirayeli.) ₁₉Lo gama uSawule esathetha nombingeleli, saya sikhula sona isiphithi-phithi phaya kwikampu yamaFilistiya. Waselesithi ke uSawule kumbingeleli: “Khawuyeke!” ₂₀Waza uSawule wawuhlanganisa umkhosi wakhe, bawahlasela amaFilistiya. Kwakusisiphithi-phithi, amaFilistiya ethe thwanga, esilwa odwa. ₂₁Amanye amaHebhere awayengakwicala lamaFilistiya, awayefudula ehlala nawo ekampini yawo, ajika angenela ngakuSawule noJonatan. ₂₂Amanye awayebhacele kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim, athi akuva ukuba amaFilistiya ayaswantsuliswa, abuya angenela, asukelisa. ₂₃Idabi laya kutsho ngaphaya kweBhetaven. UNdikhoyo wayemhlangula uSirayeli ngaloo mini.

₂₄Ngaloo mini amaSirayeli ayesengxakini. Kaloku uSawule wenza isifungo esibophelela abantu, wathi: “Inene, ndithi nabani na namhlanje okhe wasa nantoni na phantsi kwempumlo ndingeka-ziphindezeli kwiintshaba zam uqalekisiwe.” Ngoko ke akuzange kubekho mntu utyayo ngaloo mini.

₂₅Umkhosi wonke waya kufika kwindawo enehlathi. Apho ehlathini babubuninzi ubusi. ₂₆Bakungena ehlathini babona ubusi butsitsa, kodwa akubangakho bani ukhongozelayo atye; kaloku bonke babesoyika isiqalekiso sikaSawule.

₂₇UJonatan yena wayengasivanga isifungo sikayise esibophelela abantu. Wahlaba ngentonga awayeyiphethe enqatheni lobusi, yabuya imanzi, wafaka emlonyeni, kwatsho kwee qabu kwangoko. ₂₈Elinye ijoni lathi: “Uyihlo uwubophelele wonke umkhosi ngesifungo esingqongqo, esithi: ‘Uqalekisiwe nabani na oya kuthi atye namhlanje.’ Yiloo nto amadoda ephelelwe ngamandla nje.”

₂₉UJonatan akuyiva loo nto, wathi: “Ubawo ulifake enkathazweni ilizwe! Ndiziva ndidlamkile ngoku, ndakuba ndikhe ndangcamla intwana yobusi. ₃₀Ngekukuhle kakhulu ukuba amawethu la ebeyekiwe akutya okuya kutya kuthinjwe kwiintshaba zethu. AmaFilistiya afileyo nge-engaphezulu koku.”

₃₁Ngaloo mhla emva kokuba amaSirayeli ewatyakatyile amaFilistiya ukusuka eMikimashe kuse eAyalon, aziva ephelile kukudinwa. ₃₂Asuka awatsibela amaxhoba, abamba iigusha, iinkomo, namathole, azixhela kwalapho, ayitya loo nyama isenegazi. ₃₃Kwabakho abaya kuxelela uSawule, besithi: “Mhlekazi, nangaya amadoda esenza isono kuNdikhoyo ngokutya inyama enegazi.”

“Nikreqile!” wavakala esitsho uSawule. “Makuqengqwe ilitye elikhulu, liziswe apha, ₃₄niye phaya kulawa madoda, nithi ndithi makeze nezo nkomo neegusha zawo, azixhele apha, azitye, angenzi sono kuNdikhoyo ngokutya inyama enegazi.” Beza nazo ke ezo nkomo, bazixhela apho ngokuhlwa kwaloo mini. ₃₅USawule ke wamakhela iqonga uNdikhoyo. Wayeqala ukwenza oko.

₃₆Wavakala esithi kumadoda omkhosi wakhe uSawule: “Masiwahlasele amaFilistiya ngobu busuku, siwahluthe amaxhoba kude kuvele umsobomvu, siwabulale onke.”

Aphendula amadoda athi: “Qhuba ngokubona kwakho, mhlekazi.”

Kuselapho kunqande umbingeleli, wathi: “Masive kuThixo kuqala.”

₃₇USawule wabuza kuThixo esithi: “Ndingawahlasela kusini na amaFilistiya? Xa siwahlasele, uya kuwanikela esandleni sethu na?” Kodwa ngaloo mini akaphendulanga uThixo.

₃₈Kwesi sithuba uSawule ubhekise kwiingqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi, wathi: “Sondelani nonke, niphande ukuba sono sini na esenziwe kuNdikhoyo namhlanje. ₃₉Ndifunga uNdikhoyo ophilayo, lo ungumhlanguli kaSirayeli, ukuba loo mntu wenze lo monakalo uya kufa, nditsho nokuba nguJonatan unyana wam.” Kwathi nzwanga!

₄₀Uthe uSawule kumkhosi wakhe uphela: “Kulungile ke, yimani kweliya cala nonke; mna noJonatan siza kuma kweli.”

“Yenza ngokubona kwakho, mhlekazi,” yatsho impendulo.

₄₁USawule ke wabhekisa kuNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, wathi: “Nceda undinike impendulo enyanisekileyo.”

Kwafika impendulo, isalatha ityala kuJonatan kunye noSawule, umkhosi wona ungenatyala. ₄₂Uqhube wenjenje uSawule: “Yalatha onetyala phakathi kwam nonyana wam uJonatan.” Kwalathwa uJonatan.

₄₃Ubuze uJonatan uSawule esithi: “Ndixelele, wenze sono sini?”

UJonatan uphendule wathi: “Ndingcamle nje intwana yobusi ngomva wentonga yam. Ngaba mandifele loo nto?”

₄₄USawule uthe: “UThixo aze andigwebe mna lo ukuba andikubulali wena.”

₄₅Basuka abantu bathi: “NguJonatan lo uza kubulawa? Asinguye lo uzisele uSirayeli uloyiso olungaka? Unotshe! Sifunga uThixo ophilayo, akayi kuthiwa cha nto. Kuyo yonke into abeyenza namhlanje ubencedwa nguThixo.” Baba ke abantu bayamsindisa ekufeni uJonatan ngaloo ndlela.

₄₆Akabanga sawasukela amaFilistiya emva koko uSawule, asuka abuyela elizweni lawo.

₄₇USawule ekubeni engene ezintanjeni zokulawula, wazilwa iintshaba zamaSirayeli kwiindawo ngeendawo. Walwa namaMowabhi, ama-Amon, kunye namaEdom, kwakunye neekumkani zaseZobha, namaFilistiya. Wayetshatshela konke apho aya khona edabini. ₄₈Wayesilwa ngokukhalipha, wachitha nkqu nama-Amaleki. Wawahlangula amaSirayeli ekuhlaselweni ziintshaba zawo.

₄₉Nanga amagama oonyana bakaSawule: nguJonatan, noIshvi, kunye noMalkishuwa. Ezintombini enkulu yayinguMerabhi, encinci inguMikali. ₅₀Igama lomkakhe yayinguAyinowam, intombi ka-Ahimazi. Umkhosi wakhe wawuphantsi komntakwabo uAbhinere, unyana kaNere uyisekazi. ₅₁UKishe uyise kaSawule kunye noNere uyise ka-Abhinere babengoonyana baka-Abhiyeli.

₅₂Wahlala esilwa ngamandla namaFilistiya uSawule bonke ubomi bakhe. Wayedla ngokufaka emkhosini wakhe yonke indoda eyomeleleyo nelikhalipha.

₁Ke kaloku uSamweli wabhekisa kuSawule wenjenje: “Ndim owathunywa *nguNdikhoyo ukuba ndikuthambise ube ngukumkani wabantu bakhe amaSirayeli. Phulaphula ke ngoku, uve udaba oluvela kuNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo uThixo onamandla onke utsho ukuthi: ₂‘Ama-Amaleki ndiza kuwohlwaya ngenxa yokuba ookhokho bawo bawalalela amaSirayeli xa wayevela eJiputa. ₃Yiya kuwahlasela ama-Amaleki, utshayele konke okukokwawo. Ungashiyi nto; ubulale indoda, umfazi, umntwana, nkqu nosana olu lwembala; kufe zinkomo, zigusha, zinkamela, kunye nezo donki zawo.’ ”

₄Wawuhlanganisela eTelayim wonke umkhosi wakhe uSawule, apho wafika wawumisa ngezintlu. Loo mkhosi wawungamakhulu amabini amawaka amajoni akwaSirayeli, kunye neshumi lamawaka lamajoni avela kwaJuda. ₅Wesuka apho naloo mkhosi, waya kulalela ama-Amaleki kufuphi nesixeko sawo, ezindongeni zomfula. ₆Wathi kumaKeni: “Phumani nimke phakathi kwama-Amaleki, ukuze ningachatshazelwa ligazi xa ndiwatshabalalisayo. Kaloku ookhokho benu baba novelwano kumaSirayeli ukufuduka kwawo eJiputa.” Emka ke amaKeni phakathi kwama-Amaleki.

₇Wawaswantsulisa uSawule ama-Amaleki, zinqoza okoko ukusuka eHavila kuye kutsho eShure ngasempumalanga yaseJiputa. ₈Wabanjwa ukumkani uAgagi, aza abulawa onke amanye ama-Amaleki. ₉USawule namadoda omkhosi wakhe bamyeka abambulala ukumkani uAgagi; iinkomo neegusha ezintle abazange bazibulale kunye namathole namatakane azo. Yonke into entle bayigcina, batshabalalisa nje imigqutsuba nezinto ezingenaxabiso kuphela.

₁₀Lafika ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuSamweli lisithi: ₁₁“Ndiyazisola ngokumenza ukumkani uSawule lo. Selenxaxhile kum ngokungawuthobeli umyalelo wam.” Wakhathazeka kakhulu uSamweli yile nto. Wahlala ubusuku bonke ezibika kuNdikhoyo.

₁₂Uvuke ekuseni uSamweli, waya kukhangela uSawule. Ufike kusithiwa: “USawule uye eKarmele, waza apho wamisa ilitye lesikhumbuzo sakhe, wedlula nalapho waya eGiligali.” ₁₃Walanda ekhondweni uSamweli, wada wamfumana, uSawule wathi: “Makakuthamsanqele uNdikhoyo, Samweli! Ndiwufezile umyalelo kaNdikhoyo!”

₁₄“Xa kunjalo, kokwantoni oku kukhala kweegusha ndikuvayo kunye nokunxakama kweenkomo?” ubuzile uSamweli.

₁₅Uthe uSawule ukuphendula: “Zezithinjwe ngamadoda omkhosi wam kuma-Amaleki. Zonke ezinye bazitshabalalisile; bagcina nje ezona zintle, ukuze bamenzele amadini ngazo uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho.”

₁₆“Khawume ke,” utshilo uSamweli, “ndikhe ndikuxelele ukuba utheni na kum uNdikhoyo phezolo.”

“Ndixelele,” watsho uSawule.

₁₇USamweli wathi: “Naxa wena wawuzibona uphantsi, kodwa wenziwa intloko yezizwe zakwaSirayeli. Wathanjiswa nguNdikhoyo ukuba ube ngukumkani wamaSirayeli, ₁₈waza wakuyalela ukuba uye kutshabalalisa eziya zikhohlakali zama-Amaleki. Wakuxelela ukuba uze ulwe uwatshayele ade aphele onke kuthi tu. ₁₉Ke kutheni ungamthobelanga nje uNdikhoyo? Wenze into embi phambi koNdikhoyo ngokungxamela ukuthatha amaxhoba.”

₂₀“UNdikhoyo ndimthobele,” kutsho uSawule. “Ndiyile emfazweni ngokuthunywa nguye, ndambamba ukumkani uAgagi, kodwa ndawabulala onke amanye ama-Amaleki. ₂₁Ke amajoni akazibulalanga ezona zintle iigusha neenkomo; eze nazo apha eGiligali, ukuza kwenzela uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho amadini.”

₂₂Uqhube wenjenje uSamweli: “Ngaba yintoni emkholisayo uNdikhoyo: kukumthobela, okanye kukumenzela iminikelo namadini? Ukuthobela uNdikhoyo kubhetele kunokumenzela idini, nokuphulaphula kungcono kunamanqatha enkunzi! ₂₃Ukumvukela uNdikhoyo nqwa nobugqwirha. Kanti nempakamo ifana nqwa nokunqula izithixo ngobubi. Ngenxa yokuba wena ulikhabile ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, naye ke uNdikhoyo uyakukhiqa ekulawuleni.”

₂₄Uvakele selesithi uSawule kuSamweli: “Ndonile ngenene, kuba ndiphambukile kwilizwi likaNdikhoyo, ndayidela nemiyalelo yakho. Ndoyike umkhosi wam, ndenza ukuthanda kwawo. ₂₅Ndincede undixolele isono sam, undikhaphe, ndiye kuqubuda kuNdikhoyo.”

₂₆“Hayi, andizi kuhamba nawe. Kaloku wena ulikhabile ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, naye ke uNdikhoyo ukukhiqile ekulawuleni,” utshilo uSamweli.

₂₇Uthe gwiqi uSamweli, eza kumshiya apho. USawule yena wamthi hlasi ngesondo lengubo, yakrazuka. ₂₈Uthe ke uSamweli: “Namhlanje uNdikhoyo ulukrazule kuwe ulawulo lwamaSirayeli, walunika ummelwane wakho olungileyo kunawe. ₂₉USimakade uThixo kaSirayeli akaxoki yena, yaye akaguquguquki. Kaloku akangomntu ulala neli avuke neli.”

₃₀Waphendula uSawule wathi: “Ewe kambe, ndonile. Kodwa ke wena bonakalisa imbeko kum phambi kwezithwala-ndwe zamajoni am nangaphambi kwamaSirayeli. Ndikhaphe ndiye kuqubuda kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakho.” ₃₁Wamkhapha ke uSamweli, waza uSawule waqubuda kuNdikhoyo.

₃₂USamweli wathi: “Zisani uAgagi ukumkani wama-Amaleki apha kum.”

Wasiwa uAgagi kuSamweli, ehamba eziva ekhululekile emoyeni, esithi: “Hayi noko, ixhala elikrakra lokufa ligqithile.”

₃₃Suka uSamweli wavakala esithi: “Ikrele lakho lishiye abazalikazi abaninzi bengenabantwana, nowakho ke ngoku unyoko uza kungabi namntwana.” Watsho emhlahla loo Agagi apho ngaphambi kukaNdikhoyo eGiligali.

₃₄Emva koko uSamweli wabuyela eRama, waza yena ukumkani uSawule waya kowabo eGibheya. ₃₅USamweli akazange abuye ambone ukumkani emva koko. Kambe ke wasoloko engcungcutheka ngenxa kaSawule. UNdikhoyo kaloku wayezisola ngokwenza kwakhe uSawule ukumkani.