To The Word – Day 78

₁AmaZifi ahambela kuSawule eGibheya, athi: “Nanko uDavide ezímele kulaa nduli iHakila ekumaphethelo entlango yelakwaJuda.”

₂Unduluke kwangoko uSawule wenjenjeya, ehamba namawaka amathathu amadoda akhethiweyo kwaSirayeli, ukuya kukhangela uDavide kuloo ntlango yaseZifi. ₃Wafika wamisa ikampu ngasendleleni kuloo nduli iHakila. Wayesesentlango uDavide lo gama kufika uSawule. Uthe ke akubona ukuba nanko uSawule emlandela, ₄wathumela iintlola, ziye kuqonda ukuba ngaba wayelapho ngenene na uSawule. ₅UDavide usuke kwangoko wayijongisisa loo ndawo wayemise kuyo uSawule. Wayibona indawo apho uSawule noAbhinere, unyana kaNere, umphathi-mkhosi kaSawule, babelalisa kuyo. USawule wayelala phakathi ekampini, engqongwe ngumkhosi wakhe.

₆Emva koko uDavide ubhekise kuAhimeleki umHeti, nakuAbhishayi umntakwabo-Jowabi (onina yayinguZeruya) wenjenje: “Ngubani phakathi kwenu ofuna ukuya nam kulaa kampu kaSawule?”

“Ndim oza kuhamba nawe,” uvakele esitsho uAbhishayi.

₇Ngobusuku bangaloo mini ke uDavide kunye noAbhishayi baya kungena ekampini kaSawule, elele ubuthongo phakathi ekampini, umkhonto wakhe ugxunyekwe phantsi ngasentloko. Amajoni noAbhinere babelele obentlombe bemngqongile. ₈Kwesi sithuba uAbhishayi uthe kuDavide: “Utshaba lwakho ulunikezele esandleni sakho namhlanje uThixo! Ndiyeke ndimgwaze ndimhlabanisele ngomkhonto. Andiyi kuphinda kabini!”

₉Uphendule wathi uDavide: “Uze ungambulali! Ngubani ongamsa isandla umthanjiswa *kaNdikhoyo aze abe msulwa? ₁₀Inene, ekho nje uNdikhoyo,” waqhuba watsho uDavide, “nguNdikhoyo ngokwakhe oya kumbetha, nokuba kungokufika kwemini yakhe yokufa, nokuba kungokubulawa kwakhe edabini. ₁₁Ngenxa kaNdikhoyo mna mandingaze ndimse isandla umthanjiswa kaNdikhoyo. Thatha laa mkhonto wakhe, nalaa ngqayi yakhe yamanzi ingasentlokweni yakhe, sihambe.”

₁₂Bawuthatha ke loo mkhonto naloo ngqayi zazisentla koSawule, bemka nazo ooDavide noAbhishayi. Akukho bani owababonayo, nabani owakuvayo okwakuqhubeka, nabani owaphaphamayo; bonke babelel' obentlombe, kuba kaloku uNdikhoyo wabahlisela obunzulu obu ubuthongo xa bebonke.

₁₃Wasuka apho wawela intlambo uDavide, waya kuthi qingqi ngaphesheya endulini ethe qelele, wafika ₁₄wamemeza ekhwaza umkhosi kaSawule noAbhinere, esithi: “Wa, Abhinere! Khawuphendule, mfondini!”

“Ngaba ngubani na lo ufundekela ukumkani?” NguAbhinere lowo utshoyo.

₁₅Kuphendule kwauDavide, wenjenje: “Andibi kanene, Abhinere, nguwe intshatsheli emfazweni? Ukhona na omnye olingana nawe kwaSirayeli? Ngani ke ungamkhuseli umhlekazi ikumkani yakho? Ngoku ndithethayo kungene umntu apho emkhosini wenu, eze kubulala ukumkani. ₁₆Imbi le nto uyenzileyo, Abhinere! Ekho nje uNdikhoyo, ndithi nimelwe kukufa nonke, kuba noyisakele kukukhusela ukumkani wenu, umthanjiswa kaNdikhoyo! Khawukhangele: uphi umkhonto kakumkani? Iphi yona ingqayi yakhe, le ibisentla kwakhe?”

₁₇Waliva ilizwi ukuba lelikaDavide uSawule. Uvakele esithi: “Ngaba nguwe lowo, Davide, nyana wam?”

“Ewe, ndim, mhlekazi,” kuphendule uDavide. ₁₈Watsho eqhuba esithi: “Khawutsho, mhlekazi, usandizungula ngantoni kangaka! Ndenzeni, mhlekazi? Liyintoni ityala lam kuwe? ₁₉Mhlekazi, nkosi yam, khawuphulaphule amazwi omkhonzi wakho! Ukuba nguNdikhoyo okuxhokonkxileyo ngakum angáxoliswa ngumnikelo. Phofu ukuba ngabantu, mabahlelwe sisiqalekiso sikaNdikhoyo. Kaloku bandiphephethe ndatsho ndabhacela ngaphandle komhlaba olilifa lethu esilinikwe nguNdikhoyo, besithi: ‘Deda, uye kunqula *thixo bambi!’ ₂₀Mhlekazi, igazi lam malingaphalali ezizweni kude noNdikhoyo! Inene, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli uphumele ukuzingela intakumba enye, exela ubani osukela isakhwatsha ezintabeni.”

₂₁Uphendule wenjenje uSawule: “Ndonile; buyel' ekhaya, Davide nyana wam! Andisobe ndikuse sandla konke, ngokuba namhlanje ubomi bam bube lixabiso kuwe. Ngenene ndenze ubudenge ndaphazama gqitha!”

₂₂Waphendula uDavide wathi: “Umkhonto wakho nguwo lo, mhlekazi. Thumela omnye wabafana bakho eze kuwuthatha. ₂₃NguNdikhoyo ongumvuzi wabenza okulungileyo kwanâbo bathembekileyo. Wena ebekubeke esandleni sam namhlanje uNdikhoyo, kambe ke mna andikusanga sandla, kuba ungukumkani othanjiswe nguye. ₂₄Njengoko ndibuxabisileyo ubomi bakho namhlanje, ubenga uNdikhoyo abuxabise nobam, andihlangule kuzo zonke iimbandezelo.”

₂₅USawule wathi kuDavide: “Wanga ungathamsanqeleka, nyana wam Davide. Uya kuya usomelela ngokomelela, ude ube ngotshatsheleyo.”

Emva koko ke uDavide wahamba indlela yakhe, yena uSawule wagoduka.

₁Emva koko uDavide wacinga wathi: “Uya kuze andithi hlasi andibulale uSawule lo ngenye imini. Icebo linye ke: kukusabela kwelamaFilistiya. Wondincama ke uSawule, ayeke ukundifuna kwaSirayeli, ndibe ke ndiyaphuncuka esandleni sakhe.”

₂Wanduluka ke uDavide kunye namadoda akhe angamakhulu amathandathu, benjenjeya ukusinga kwa-Akishe, unyana kaMawoki, ukumkani waseGati. ₃Bafumana indawo ke apho ooDavide namadoda akhe, bahlala neentsapho zabo kwelo zwe. UDavide wayehamba nabo abafazi bakhe uAhinowam waseYizereli kunye noAbhigeli umhlolokazi kaNabhali waseKarmele. ₄USawule akuva ukuba uDavide wasabela eGati, wanikezela, wayeka ukumzingela.

₅Wathi uDavide kuAkishe: “Ukuba uyakholwa ndim, ndinike idolophana kwezisemaphandleni, ndihlale kuyo. Akukho nto ithi mandihlale apha komkhulu kunye nawe, mhlekazi.” ₆Ukumkani uAkishe wamnika idolophu iZikelage. Kususela loo mini ke iZikelage yaba phantsi kolawulo lweekumkani zakwaJuda. ₇Apho eFilistiya uDavide wahlala unyaka oneenyanga ezine.

₈Ngelo xesha ke uDavide namadoda akhe babemana behlasela amaGeshuri namaGezere kunye nama-Amaleki. Kwamandulo ezi zizwe zazimi kuloo mmandla osuka eShure, uthi ga ngelamaJiputa. ₉Ngalo lonke ixesha uDavide ehlasela ummandla othile wayebulala onke amadoda nabafazi, athimbe zigusha, zinkomo, zidonki, neenkamela, nditsho nkqu nempahla enxitywayo. Emva koko wayedla ngokubuyela kwakumkani uAkishe.

₁₀Xa ukumkani uAkishe wayembuza athi: “Ubuye kuhlasela phi namhlanje?” uDavide wayedla ngokuphendula athi: “Ndivela ezantsi kwelakwaJuda,” okanye athi: “Ndivela kummandla wakwaJerameli ezantsi,” okanye athi: “Ndivela ezantsi kwelamaKeni.” ₁₁Wayedla ngokubulala wonke umntu uDavide, indoda nomfazi, kuba wayesithi: “Bangasintama, bathi: ‘UDavide wênza oku noku.’ ” Wenjenjalo ke uDavide ngalo lonke elo xesha aseFilistiya.

₁₂UAkishe wayemthembile uDavide kangangokude avakale esithi: “Selenuka kangaka nje kumawabo amaSirayeli, uza kuhlala apha, abuse kum bonke ubomi bakhe.”

₁Ngaloo mihla amaFilistiya ayeqokelele amabutho, eza kulwa namaSirayeli. Ukumkani uAkishe wabhekisa kuDavide wenjenje: “Uzuqonde mhlophe ukuba wena namadoda akho niza kulwela mna kule mfazwe!”

₂Uphendule wathi uDavide: “Uza kuzibonela ngokwakho, mhlekazi, oko angákwenzayo umkhonzi wakho.”

Uphendule wathi ukumkani uAkishe: “Yiyo ke loo nto ndifuna ukuba ube ngumlindi wam osisigxina wena.”

₃Ngelo xesha uSamweli wayeselebhubhile, aza onke amaSirayeli amzilela, amngcwaba eRama kwisixeko sakhe. Ngaloo mihla uSawule wayebagxothe kwaSirayeli bonke abavumisa ngoonomathotholo kwakunye noosiyazi.

₄Amabutho amaFilistiya aqokelelana, aya kumisa eShunem. Ke yena uSawule wawaqokelela amaSirayeli, umkhosi wawumisa entabeni iGilibhowa. ₅Wankwantya uSawule akuwubona umkhosi wamaFilistiya, ₆wabuza *kuNdikhoyo ukuba angathini na. UNdikhoyo akamphendulanga; nditsho nangamaphupha, kwankqu *nangeeurim neethumim, ukanti *nangabashumayeli. ₇Ngenxa yaloo nto ke uSawule wathi kumaphakathi akhe: “Ndifuneleni umfazi ovumisa ngoonomathotholo, ukuze sithathe iintonga, siye kuye.”

“Ukho lo kuthiwa use-Endore,” kutsho amaphakathi.

₈USawule wazenza mntu wumbi, wanxiba zambatho zimbi. Uthe ngorhatya wakhatshwa ngamaphakathi amabini, baya kuloo mfazi uvumisayo. Uthe akuba efikile kuloo mfazi uSawule, wabhekisa kuye wenjenje: “Khawubhekise kwabangasekhoyo, undibizele lo mntu ndiza kukuxelela igama lakhe.”

₉Suke loo mfazi wathi kuSawule: “Ngathi uyayazi nje into eyenziwe ngukumkani uSawule! Andithi nguye owaphelisa abavumisa ngoonomathotholo kwakunye noosiyazi kwaSirayeli? Kutheni ufuna ukundibambisa nje, ndibulawe?”

₁₀Wafunga uSawule wathi: “Ndiyafunga, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, akuyi kubekwa tyala wena ngenxa yale nto.”

₁₁“Ndikuvusele bani ke?” kutsho loo mfazi.

“Ndivusele uSamweli,” kuphendula uSawule.

₁₂Kuthe akuvela uSamweli, wakhala ngamandla loo mfazi, wathi kuSawule: “Kutheni undikhohlisa nje? Inguwe nje ukumkani uSawule!”

₁₃“Musa ukuphaphazela,” watsho uSawule. “Ndixelele, ubona ntoni?”

“Ndibona isiqu selemimoya siphuma emhlabeni,” kutsho loo mfazi uvumisayo.

₁₄“Injani inkangeleko yaso?” nguSawule lowo ubuzayo.

“Ndibona kusiza ixhego, lambethe umnweba,” kutsho umfazi.

USawule waqonda ukuba yayinguSamweli. Watsho waqubuda ngobuso emhlabeni ekhahlela.

₁₅Wenjenje ukubhekisa kukumkani uSawule uSamweli: “Kungani na undiphazamisa nje undivusa?”

Uphendule wenjenje uSawule: “Ndisengxakini enkulu! AmaFilistiya ayandihlasela, yaye noThixo undishiyile. Akasathethi nam ngomshumayeli nangamaphupha. Ndikubizele ukuba undixelele into emandiyenze.”

₁₆Wathi uSamweli: “Yini na ukuba ubuze kum, uNdikhoyo ekushiyile nje, wakujikela? ₁₇Le nto yenzeke kuwe ngoku yile ebekade ekuxelela yona ngam uNdikhoyo. Uluhluthile esandleni sakho ulawulo, walunika ummelwane uDavide. ₁₈Kaloku wena wala ukumthobela uNdikhoyo: akwenzanga ngokwengqumbo yakhe evuthayo kuma-Amaleki. Yiyo ke loo nto akwenze le nto nje uNdikhoyo ngoku. ₁₉Uza kukunikela esandleni samaFilistiya wena kunye namaSirayeli ephela. Ngomso oku wena kunye noonyana bakho sobe sikunye, yaye uNdikhoyo loo mkhosi wamaSirayeli uza kuwunikela esandleni samaFilistiya.”

₂₀Ngoko nangoko wawa bhaxa emhlabeni uSawule, egubha ngenxa yamazwi kaSamweli. Wayeselephelelwe nangamandla, kuba wayengazange wasa nto emlonyeni imini nobusuku.

₂₁Waya kuye loo mfazi, wafika uSawule efile kukoyika, waza wathi: “Mhlekazi, umkhonzazana wakho ukuthobele. Ubomi bam ndibubeke esichengeni ndenza ngokomyalelo wakho. ₂₂Ngoku ke siphulaphule isicakazana sakho; mandikwenzele into etyiwayo, utye, ahlaziyeke amandla akho, uhambe indlela yakho.”

₂₃Wala uSawule, esithi: “Andiyi kusa nto emlonyeni!”

Kambe ke amcenga amaphakathi kunye naloo mfazi. Ngenene woyisakala, wavuka, wahlala ebhedini. ₂₄Loo mfazi wakhawuleza waxhela ithole elondlekileyo awayenalo emzini wakhe; wathatha umgubo, waxova, wenza isonka esinganyuswanga. ₂₅Oko kutya wakubeka ngaphambi kukaSawule kunye namaphakathi akhe, bakutya, baza banduluka kwangobo busuku.

₁Amabutho amaFilistiya aqokelelana eAfeki, waza umkhosi wamaSirayeli waya kumisa ngakumthombo waseYizereli. ₂Zaphuma iikumkani zamaFilisitiya, zihamba namabutho azo angamakhulu-khulu namawaka-waka. Yena uDavide namadoda akhe babelandela ngasemva, behamba kunye nokumkani uAkishe. ₃Zidumzele iinkokheli zamaFilistiya zakubabona, zathi: “La maHebhere afuna ntoni apha?”

Kuphendule ukumkani uAkishe kweso sithuba, wathi: “Ngumphakathi kakumkani uSawule lo, uDavide. Selenethuba elide elapha kum, yaye andifumananga sikhwasilima kuye okoko wafikayo apha kum.”

₄Azimhoyanga iinkokheli zamaFilistiya, zaba nomsindo, zathi: “Makahambe lo mfo apha, aye kulaa dolophu wamnika yona. Makangayi kunye nathi emfazweni, hleze asijikele xa lishushu idabi. Leyo ingaba yindlela elula angaxolisa ngayo inkosi yakhe ngokubulala amadoda omkhosi wethu. ₅Kanene, asinguye na lo Davide bakha bombelela ngaye abafazi besithi: ‘USawule ubulele amawaka, kodwa yen' uDavide uwise amawaka ngamawaka alishumi’?”

₆UAkishe ke wabiza uDavide, waza wathi kuye: “Davide, ndiyafunga, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, wena unyanisekile, ndaye bendingathandayo ukuba siye kunye kule mfazwe, kuba andifumananga sikhwasilima kuwe konke okoko wafikayo apha kum. Kambe ke abanye abaphathi àbakholwa bubukho bakho. ₇Phindel' emva ngoxolo ke, mfo wam, ungakhe wenze nto abanokuthi bayigxeke.”

₈Wabuza wathi uDavide: “Ndenzeni, mhlekazi? Wena ubone sikhwasilima sini na kum oko ndafikayo apha? Ngani ndingavunyelwa nje ndihambe nawe, mhlekazi, ndiye kulwa neentshaba zenkosi yam?”

₉“Ngeba nditsho nam, Davide.” NguAkishe ke lowo. “Mna ndikubona unyaniseke ngokungathi usisithunywa sikaThixo. Kodwa ke ezinye iinkokheli zithi asinako ukuya nawe emfazweni. ₁₀Kufuneka ke ngomso oku, wena namadoda akho, enamshiyayo uSawule neza kum, nivuke ekuseni, ninduluke kusathi qhekre ukusa.”

₁₁Banduluka ekuseni ke ngengomso ooDavide ukubuyela kwelamaFilistiya. AmaFilistiya wona ajonga phambili eYizereli.

₁Ngomhla wesithathu bagaleleka eZikelage ooDavide namadoda akhe. Bafika ama-Amaleki esanda kungenela amazantsi elakwaJuda, ahlasela neZikelage. Ayeyitshise pam loo dolophu, ₂athimba abafazi nabantwana bonke. Kwakungafanga mntu phofu; ayethimbe nje konke okushukumayo endleleni yawo.

₃Ukufika kwabo ooDavide bafika loo dolophu iluthuthu, abafazi noonyana kunye neentombi zabo kumkiwe nazo. ₄Hayi ke, abhomboloza loo madoda ada aphelelwa ngamandla. ₅Kwakuthathwe nabafazi ababini bakaDavide, uAhinowam waseYizereli kunye noAbhigeli umhlolokazi kaNabhali waseKarmele.

₆Wazibona selesengxakini embi uDavide, kuba amadoda akhe ayefuna ukumxuluba ngamatye, kuba ayekhathazekile ngenxa yokuduka kweentsapho zawo. Kodwa uDavide wazomeleza ngokuthembela *kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe kuyo yonke loo nto. ₇UDavide wabiza unyana ka-Ahimeleki, uAbhiyatare umbingeleli, wathi kuye: “Khawuze *nesidanga eso, mfo ka-Ahimeleki.” Wasisa uAbhiyatare. ₈UDavide wabuza kuNdikhoyo wenjenje: “Ndibasukele na aba banqolobi? Ndobafumana na?”

“Baleqe; uza kubafumana, ubakhulule abaya bathinjwa,” utshilo uNdikhoyo.

₉Wanduluka ke uDavide kunye naloo makhulu mathandathu amadoda. Bathi bakufika kwintlambo iBhesore, asala apho amadoda ₁₀angamakhulu amabini awayedinwe kangangokuba angabi nako ukuyiwela loo ntlambo. Wabheka phambili yena uDavide kunye namakhulu amane amadoda, ₁₁abhaqa umJiputa endle apho, aza amsa kuDavide. Ampha ukutya, watya; amnika namanzi, wathoba unxano; ₁₂ampha nomqwayito wamafiya kunye nezikhinkci zeerasentyisi zazibini. Uthe akugqiba ukutya, waziva edlamkile. Kaloku kwakusekuziintsuku ezintathu engafumani nto ityiwayo, nditsho neyokuthoba unxano. ₁₃Emva koko ke uDavide wambuza wathi: “Khawutsho ke, ungokabani, uphuma phi?”

“Mna ndingumJiputa, ikhoboka lomAmaleki,” kuphendula umfo lowo. “Ndishiywe yinkosi yam, kuba ndisuke andaphila. Sekuziintsuku ezintathu ngoku. ₁₄Sasiye kuthimba kulaa mmandla wamaKreti ukumazantsi elakwaJuda, sadlulela kummandla wakwaKalebhi, senjenjeya saya kutshisa iZikelage.”

₁₅“Ungasisa apho bakhoyo abo banqolobi?” kubuza uDavide.

Wenjenje ukuphendula: “Ewe, ndinganisa ukuba ungafunga uThixo ukuba anizi kundibulala okanye nindinikele kwinkosi yam.” ₁₆Emva koko ke loo mfo wabasa ooDavide apho babemise kona abanqolobi.

Babethe saa abanqolobi abo kuloo ndawo, kutyiwa, kuselwa, kubhiyozelwa amaxhoba angako awayethinjwe kwelamaFilistiya nakwaJuda. ₁₇Kwathi xa kumpondo-zankomo ngomhla olandelayo, zanqoza, ebahlasela uDavide, zatsho kwada kwangongcwalazi. Akwasinda namnye kubo ngaphandle kwamakhulu amane abafana abasuka bona bakhwela ezinkameleni, babaleka. ₁₈UDavide wabahlangula bonke abathinjwa bama-Amaleki, wabuya nawo onke loo maxhoba babewathimbile, kunye nabafazi bakhe bobabini, akwabikho nto ingafunyanwanga. ₁₉Oonyana neentombi zamadoda akhe kunye nawo onke loo maxhoba ama-Amaleki wabuya nawo uDavide. ₂₀Wabuya nemihlambi yeenkomo neegusha, ahamba eqhuba loo mihlambi amadoda akhe, esithi: “Huntshuu! Amaxhoba kaDavide!”

₂₁Wesuka apho uDavide, wafika kulawa makhulu mabini amadoda awasala entlanjeni eBhesore ngenxa yokudinwa. Aphuthuma ukuhlangabeza uDavide namadoda akhe. Wawabulisa uDavide, wawabuza nempilo, ₂₂kodwa kwabakho amatshijolo nabaphembi-qhushululu kubalandeli bakaDavide, abathi: “Aba bebengahambanga nathi. Ngoko abazi kuba nanxaxheba kula maxhoba size nawo. Indoda nganye ingasuka ithathe umfazi wayo nabantwana bayo, ihambe.”

₂₃Wenjenje ukuwaphendula loo madoda uDavide: “Mawethu, aninako ukwenjenjalo ngento esiyiphiwe nguNdikhoyo! NguNdikhoyo lo usikhuseleyo wasoyisela abaya banqolobi bathimbe izinto zethu. ₂₄Ayamkeleki le nto niyithethayo. Kaloku umntu osala nemithwalo ufumana isabelo esinye nalo uya edabini. Makunikwe inxaxheba kumntu wonke ngokulinganayo.” ₂₅Loo mthetho wawiswa nguDavide waba ngummiselo nesiko kwaSirayeli ukususela ngaloo mini.

₂₆Wathi akufika eZikelage uDavide, wathatha isabelo kuloo maxhoba, wasithumela kumadoda amakhulu angoogxa bakhe kwaJuda, esithi: “Nantso inxaxheba esinabela yona kumaxhoba esiwathimbe kubachasi bakaNdikhoyo.” ₂₇Wabela abantu baseBhetele, nabaseRama, kwaJuda emazantsi, nakubantu baseYatire, ₂₈eArohere, eSifimoti, e-Eshtemowa, ₂₉kunye naseRakeli. Wabela nomzi wakwaJerameli, namaKeni, ₃₀kwakunye nabantu baseHoma, eBhorashan, eAtaki, ₃₁nabaseHebron, nakuzo zonke iindawo apho wakha waxhwarha khona kunye namadoda akhe.

₁Aqubisana amaFilistiya namaSirayeli, aswantsuliswa amaSirayeli, kwawa inkitha yawo kuloo ntaba iGilibhowa. ₂AmaFilistiya awasukela, athana mbende noSawule kunye noonyana bakhe, aza ababulala bobathathu oonyana bakaSawule, uJonatan, noAbhinadabhi, kunye noMalkishuwa. ₃Laba shushu idabi kufuphi noSawule, abatoli bamngxwelerha.

₄Kweso sithuba uSawule ubhekise kumfana owayephatha izikhali zakhe, wathi: “Rhola ikrele, undigwaze. Andifuni kuvuyelelwa zeziya ntlanga zingalukanga, xa ziza kundibulala.”

Loo mfana kambe akazange avume kuyenza loo nto, kuba wayesoyika. USawule ke urhole ikrele lakhe, waza waziphosa kulo. ₅Wathi akubona uSawule efile, naye loo mfana waziphosa kwelakhe ikrele, wafa kunye noSawule. ₆Kwaba njalo ke ukufa kukaSawule, noonyana bakhe bobathathu, kunye naloo mfana owayemphathela izikhali. Kwawa onke amadoda omkhosi kaSawule ngaloo mhla.

₇AmaSirayeli angaphesheya kwentili nangaphesheya kweJordan athi akubona ukuba umkhosi wakwaSirayeli uswantsulisiwe, nokuba uSawule kunye noonyana bakhe bawile, ashiya iidolophu zawo, abhaca. Afika amaFilistiya, ahlala kwezo dolophu zawo.

₈Ngengomso xa amaFilistiya aya kuphanga impahla yâbo babewe edabini, afika izidumbu zooSawule noonyana bakhe bobathathu ziqungquluze apho kuloo ntaba iGilibhowa. ₉Amnqumla intloko uSawule, amkhulula izixhobo zakhe zemfazwe, athumela izigidimi kulo lonke elamaFilistiya, ukuba ziye kuvakalisa iindaba zoloyiso ezindlwini *zoothixo bawo nakuwo onke amawabo. ₁₀Izikrweqe zikaSawule azibeka endlwini yothixo wawo uAshtaroti, isidumbu sakhe asibethelela kudonga lwedolophu iBhete-shan.

₁₁Zathi zakuvakala kubantu baseJabheshe eGiliyadi iindaba zento eyenziwe kuSawule ngamaFilistiya, ₁₂kwanduluka onke amagorha alapho, ahamba ubusuku bonke esinga eBhete-shan. Afika azithula izidumbu zooSawule noonyana bakhe kolo donga lwaseBhete-shan, agoduka nazo, aya kuzitshisa eJabheshe. ₁₃Emva koko bawathatha amathambo abo, baya kuwangcwaba ngaphantsi komthi womtamariske eJabheshe, baza bazila iintsuku ezisixhenxe.