To The Word – Day 76

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.

₁₇USawule wabiza uDavide, wathi kuye: “Nanku uMerabhi, intombi yam enkulu. Ndiya kumendisela kuwe. Wena ke uzundikhonze ngobugorha, ulwe amadabi *kaNdikhoyo.” USawule wayesithi: “Andizukumsa sandla mna ngokwam; mayibe ngamaFilistiya.”

₁₈UDavide waphendula wathi: “Bendingubani na mna, nabakowethu bayintoni na bona, nditsho kwaumzi kabawo uyintoni na kwaSirayeli, khon' ukuze ndibe ngumkhwenyana kakumkani?” ₁₉Kodwa lathi lakufika ixesha lokwendela kukaMerabhi kuDavide, suka wendiselwa komnye umfo owayegama linguAdriyeli waseMehola.

₂₀UMikali, enye intombi kaSawule, wamthanda uDavide, waza noSawule wathakazela akuyiva loo nto. ₂₁Wacamanga wathi: “Heke! UMikali ndiza kumendisela kuDavide. Ndiza kumbambisa ngaye uDavide lo, aze abulawe ngamaFilistiya.” Ke uSawule wathi kuDavide: “Nali ithuba lakho lesibini lokuba ngumkhwenyana wam.” ₂₂Wathuma amaphakathi akhe uSawule, esithi: “Thethani noDavide bucala, nithi: ‘Ukumkani ukholisekile nguwe, yaye onke amagosa kakumkani ayakuthanda. Ngoko ke yiba ngumkhwenyana kakumkani.’ ”

₂₃Amaphakathi ke awathetha loo mazwi kuDavide. Yena wenjenje ukuphendula: “Nicinga ukuba kuyinto elula na ukuba ngumkhwenyana kakumkani? Kaloku mna ndilihlwempu elingaziwayo.”

₂₄Amaphakathi kaSawule aya kumxelela okwathethwa nguDavide. ₂₅USawule wathi: “Yitshoni kuDavide ukuthi: ‘Kuphela kwakhazi alifunayo kuwe ukumkani ngamajwabu amaFilistiya alikhulu awe edabini. Ufuna ukuziphindezela ngolo hlobo kwiintshaba zakhe.’ ” Kaloku yayilicebo likaSawule lokubulala uDavide ngesandla samaFilistiya.

₂₆Ayixela le nto amaphakathi kaSawule kuDavide, yalunga loo nto kuye ukuba abe ngumkhwenyana kakumkani. UDavide akaphozisanga maseko, ₂₇waphuma namadoda omkhosi wakhe, wabulala amakhulu amabini amaFilistiya. Waya nezo nyama zazisikwe kuwo, wazinika ukumkani zonke, ukuze abe ngumkhwenyana kakumkani. Waza ke uSawule wendisela uMikali intombi yakhe kuDavide.

₂₈Waqonda kakuhle ngoku uSawule ukuba *uNdikhoyo ukunye noDavide. Nayo intombi yakhe uMikali yayimthanda uDavide. ₂₉USawule wamoyika ngakumbi uDavide, waba lutshaba kuye bonke ubomi bakhe.

₃₀Iinkokheli zamaFilistiya zazimana ukuwahlasela amaSirayeli. Kuwo onke loo madabi uDavide wayetshatshela ukudlula zonke ezinye iinkokheli eziphantsi koSawule. Ngenxa yaloo nto ke igama likaDavide laba nodumo.

₁Ke kaloku uSawule waxelela unyana wakhe uJonatan kunye namaphakathi akhe ukuba uDavide makabulawe. Phofu uJonatan wayevana kakhulu noDavide. ₂Usuke ke uJonatan waya kuchazela uDavide, esithi: “Ubawo uzama indlela yokukubulala; uze ulumke ke ngomso kusasa. Uze uye kufuna indawo yokuzimela, uhlale apho. ₃Mna ndiza kuya nobawo apho endle, ndifike ndime naye kuloo ndawo uzimele kuyo, ndithethe ngawe kuye. Ukuba ndive nto yimbi, ndobe ndikwazise.”

₄UJonatan wathetha ngoDavide kuSawule, emncoma esithi: “Mhlekazi, noko ngewungamenzi nto imbi umkhonzi wakho uDavide; akukho nto wakha wakona ngayo. Usuke waba luncedo kakhulu kuwe ngayo yonke into ayenzileyo. ₅Nangamhla wabulala uGoliyati obakhe ubomi wabubeka esichengeni, waza *uNdikhoyo wawanika uloyiso olukhulu amaSirayeli. Yaye nawe wavuya kakhulu ukuyibona le nto. Yini na ukuba wone umntu ongenatyala, umbulale uDavide kungekho sizathu?”

₆Yavakala le ntetho kaJonatan kuSawule, watsho wafunga wathi: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo, akayi kubulawa uDavide.” ₇Emva koko ke uJonatan wambiza uDavide, wamchazela ngengxoxo yakhe noyise. Ukusuka apho waya naye kuSawule, waza ke uDavide wabuyiselwa kwasesikhundleni sakhe komkhulu.

₈Kwabuya kwavuka imfazwe kwakhona phakathi kwamaSirayeli namaFilistiya. Wabuya wawahlasela uDavide, wawabetha ee qhu saa.

₉USawule wafikelwa ngumoya ombi ovunyelwe nguNdikhoyo. Ngaloo mini wayehleli engqendevile ebhotwe, ephethe umkhonto, edlalelwa ihapu nguDavide. ₁₀Wawujula umkhonto uSawule, efuna ukubethelela ngawo uDavide eludongeni. Suka waphepha yena uDavide, umkhonto wona watshona lé eludongeni apho.

₁₁Ngobo busuku waphuncuka wabaleka uDavide. USawule wathumela amadoda ukuba aye kungqinga indlu kaDavide, ukuze ambulale kwakusa. UMikali walumkisa umyeni wakhe uDavide, wathi: “Ukuba akubaleki umke apha ngobu busuku, ngomso woba ngofileyo!” ₁₂Watsho wamkhupha ngefestile, wabaleka wasaba uDavide. ₁₃UMikali uthathe *umlonde-khaya, wawubeka emandlalweni, wawuqamelisa ngomqamelo woboya bebhokhwe, waza wawambathisa. ₁₄USawule uthume amadoda ukuba ambambe uDavide, uMikali wathi kuwo: “Akaphilanga.”

₁₅USawule wathi makaye azibonele ngokwawo uDavide. Watsho esithi: “Ze nimthwale ngaloo mandlalo wakhe, nize naye apha, ndimbulale.” ₁₆Bafika bangena endlwini abo bafo, bafika kukho umlonde-khaya kuloo mandlalo, uqamele ngomqamelo woboya bebhokhwe. ₁₇Wabuza intombi yakhe uMikali uSawule esithi: “Yini na ukuba wenjenje ukundikhohlisa? Uyabona, ulubalekisile utshaba lwam lwasinda!”

UMikali uphendule wathi: “Úthe kum: ‘Ndiyeke ndimke! Yini na ukuba ndikubulale?’ ”

₁₈UDavide wabalekela kuSamweli eRama, wamchazela ngazo zonke izinto uSawule amenze zona. Banduluka apho uSamweli kunye noDavide, baya kuhlala eNayoti. ₁₉Uthe uSawule akuva ukuba uDavide uhlala eNayoti eRama, ₂₀wathumela amadoda, efuna ukumbamba. Abona iqela labashumayeli lihamba lishumayela, likhokelwe nguSamweli. UMoya kaThixo wawafikela loo madoda awayethunywe nguSawule, nawo angenelela ahamba nabashumayeli. ₂₁Uthe akuyiva loo nto wathumela amanye amadoda, aza nawo angenelela. USawule uthumele izigidimi isihlandlo sesithathu, kwehla esezolo nakwezi. ₂₂Usuke yena siqu uSawule wenjenjeya ukusinga eRama. Uthe akufika kwiqula elikhulu laseSeku, wabuzisa apho esithi: “Baphi uSamweli noDavide?”

Uxelelwe kwathiwa: “BaseNayoti eRama.”

₂₃Uthe esendleleni eya apho, naye wafikelwa nguMoya kaThixo, waza wahamba eshumayela yonke loo ndlela isinga eNayoti. ₂₄Wafika wakhulula izambatho zakhe, washumayela njalo apho ekho uSamweli. Walala ze loo mini nobusuku bayo. Savela ngolo hlobo ke nesaci esithi: “NoSawule lo kanti selewaba ngumshumayeli naye?”

₁Emva koko uDavide wasaba eNayoti eRama, wabalekela kuJonatan. Ufike wabuza wathi: “Ngaba yintoni le ndenze yona kukumkani? Ndenze tyala lini? Ndimone ngani na uyihlo le nto afun' ukundibulala?”

₂UJonatan wenjenje ukuphendula uDavide: “Soze ubulawe! Uyazi ukuba akukho nto akhe ayenze ubawo, nokuba inkulu, nokuba incinane, engandityandelanga igila. Ubengathini ke ukungandixeleli into enjengale uyithethayo? Hayi, akukho nto injalo.”

₃Wafunga uDavide, wathi: “Kaloku uyihlo uyazi kakuhle ukuba undithanda kakhulu, waza ke wayifihla le nto kuwe yokuceba ukundibulala, esithi: ‘UJonatan makangakwazi oku, kuba woba buhlungu.’ Kodwa ndithi kuwe, ekho nje *uNdikhoyo, nawe ukho nje, lona ingcwaba sendilikrobile!”

₄Kwesi sithuba ke uJonatan uthe kuDavide: “Yitsho ndikwenzele nantoni na oyifunayo.”

₅Wenjenje ke ukuphendula uDavide: “Ngomso oku ngumsitho wokuthwasa kwenyanga, yaye ke kufuneka ndibekho esidlweni sikakumkani. Nceda undikhulule ndiye kuzimela endle kude kube ngokuhlwa kwangomsomnye. ₆Xa uyihlo ephawula ukuba andikho, uze uthi kuye: ‘UDavide undibongozile ukumvumela khe athi tsi kowabo eBhetelehem, abekho xa kusenziwa idini lonyaka elenzelwa onke amawabo.’ ₇Ukuba uthe kulungile, úya kuba enoxolo ngakum. Kodwa ukuba uthe wacaphuka, uze wazi ukuba uzimisele ukundenzakalisa. ₈Uze uncede ke uwugcine umnqophiso owandenzela wona phambi koNdikhoyo, usenzele ububele isicaka sakho. Kodwa ukuba ngenene ndinetyala, ndibulale ngokwakho; akukho nto ithi mandisiwe kuyihlo.”

₉“Unotshe!” kutsho uJonatan. “Ucinga ukuba ngendingakuxelelanga na xa bendisazi ukuba ubawo uzimisele ukukwenzakalisa?”

₁₀“Ngubani kakade owondazisa xa uyihlo ekuphendule kalukhuni?” wabuza uDavide.

₁₁“Makhe siye ngasendle,” kutsho uJonatan. Bahamba ke kunye, ₁₂waza uJonatan wathi kuDavide: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, ngeli xesha ngomsomnye ndakuba sendiyiphandile le nto kubawo. Ndokwazisa xa ndimfumene engenandawo ngakuwe. ₁₃Kanti ke ukuba uzimisele ukukwenzakalisa, ndize mna ndingakuxeleli khon' ukuze ubaleke, aze andohlwaye mna lo uNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo makabe nawe kanye njengoko wayenobawo! ₁₄Ukuba mna ndisaphila, uze uthembeke kum oku kukaNdikhoyo, kodwa xa ndithe ndafa, ₁₅uze uhlale unaloo ntembeko kusapho lwam ngalo lonke ixesha, naxa uNdikhoyo selezitshabalalisile iintshaba zakho kulo lonke ihlabathi.”

₁₆UJonatan wanqophisana nomzi kaDavide, esithi: “Maze uNdikhoyo aziphindezele kwiintshaba zikaDavide.” ₁₇UJonatan wabuya wamfungisa uDavide ukuba amthande, kuba yena wayemthanda uDavide ngomphefumlo wakhe wonke. ₁₈Uqhube wathi uJonatan: “Ngomso sisidlo sokuthwasa kwenyanga, yaye kuza kubonakala ukuba akukho. Kaloku indawo yakho iya kuba ingenamntu. ₁₉Ngomsomnye koba sobala nje ukuba akukho ethekweni. Hamba uye kuzimela kulaa ndawo wawuzimele kuyo, ufike uzifihle ngakwilitye le-Ezeli. ₂₀Mna ke ndodubula apho ngakulo ngeentolo zibe ntathu, ndibe ngathi ndizijolise entweni. ₂₁Emva koko ke ndothuma isicaka ukuba siye kuzikhangela. Xa ndithi kwisicaka: ‘Nazi iintolo nganeno kwakho, yiza nazo;’ uze uqonde ukuba akukho ngozi, uphume ubuye. ₂₂Kodwa xa ndithe: ‘Nazo ngaphaya kwakho iintolo;’ uze usuke umke, kuba uNdikhoyo woba esithi: ‘Hamba!’ ₂₃Uze ukhumbule ukuba uNdikhoyo ulingqina phakathi kwethu ngomnqophiso esiwenzileyo.”

₂₄Wahamba ke uDavide, waya kuzimela endle. Ngomhla womsitho wokuthwasa kwenyanga ukumkani uSawule ₂₅wahlala endaweni yakhe ethekweni ngaseludongeni. Ecaleni kwakhe kwahlala uAbhinere, waza uJonatan wahlala ejongene nokumkani. Yayingenamntu indawo kaDavide, ₂₆kodwa uSawule akazange athethe nto loo mini, kuba wacinga esithi: “Ngahle kukho nto imvaleleyo uDavide, emenze waba ngongahlambulukanga – inene *unomlaza.” ₂₇Ngengomso olandela itheko lokuthwasa kwenyanga ayibanga namntu kwakhona indawo kaDavide, waza uSawule wabuza kuJonatan wathi: “Kutheni engezanga esidlweni izolo nanamhla unyana kaJese?”

₂₈UJonatan uphendule ngelithi: “Undicengile ukuba ndimvumele ahambe aye eBhetelehem. ₂₉Uthe: ‘Nceda undikhulule, kuba kowethu eBhetelehem kuza kubakho idini, waye ke nomkhuluwa wam undiyalele ukuba ndibekho nakanjani. Ukuba ungumhlobo wam, ndikhulule ndikhe nditsibe ekhaya, ndibone amawethu.’ Yiyo ke loo nto umbona engekho nje endaweni yakhe apha etafileni kakumkani.”

₃₀Wavutha ngumsindo uSawule akuyiva le ntetho kaJonatan, wathi: “Yini le, gqubushandini lomvukeli! Uba andikuqondi ukuba ukhetha icala likaDavide unyana kaJese? Phofu uzihlaza wena kunye naloo nyoko wakuzalayo. ₃₁Wena kunye nobukumkani bakho akusoze uzinze esaphila unyana kaJese. Yiza naye apha ke ngoku – ndimfuna efile!”

₃₂UJonatan ubuze kuyise wenjenje: “Uza kubulawelwa ntoni? Wenze tyala lini?”

₃₃Kweso sithuba uSawule wajula umkhonto, efuna ukumbulala uJonatan. Waqonda mhlophe ke uJonatan ukuba uyise uzimisele mpela ukumcim' igama uDavide. ₃₄Wemka kuloo tafile efutha ngumsindo uJonatan. Akasa nasuntswana eli emlonyeni ngaloo mini yesibini yetheko. Wayebuhlungu yindlela ekrwada uyise amphathe ngayo uDavide.

₃₅Ngengomso uJonatan waya endle kuDavide ngokwesigqibo sabo. Wayehamba nenkwenkwana, ₃₆wathi kuyo: “Baleka ulande iintolo zam ndakuzidubula.” Yabaleka ngaphambili loo nkwenkwe, uJonatan wadubula utolo lwaya kuwa ngaphaya kwayo. ₃₇Ithe yakufika ngakuloo ndawo beluwe kuyo utolo loo nkwenkwe, wayikhwaza uJonatan, esithi: “Kwedini, utolo naluya ngaphaya kwakho! ₃₈Umele ntoni apho! Baleka!” Yaluchola olo tolo inkwenkwe, yalusa kwinkosi yayo, ₃₉ingazi yona ukuba kwakuqhubeka ntoni na. Loo nto yayisaziwa nguJonatan noDavide kuphela. ₄₀Wayinika izikrweqe zakhe uJonatan loo nkwenkwe, wathi mayigoduke nazo.

₄₁Yakuba imkile, uDavide waphuma kuloo ndawo wayezimele kuyo, wathi guqaqa ngamadolo, ekhahlela, ubuso bude buye kutsho emhlabeni izihlandlo zade zaba zithathu. Bangana bobabini belilelana, uDavide elila ngokugqithisileyo.

₄₂Kwesi sithuba uJonatan uthe kuDavide: “Hamba ngoxolo, mfondini, kuba thina sobabini sifungile egameni likaNdikhoyo. Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo ulingqina phakathi kwam nawe, naphakathi kwenzala yam neyakho.” UDavide ke wemka, waza yena uJonatan wabuyela edolophini.