1 uSamuweli 7

₁Abantu baseKiriyati Jeharimi bafika, bakhuphula umphongolo kaJehova, bawungenisa endlini ka-Abinadaba entabeni, bamngcwelisa u-Eleyazare indodana yakhe ukuba agcine umphongolo kaJehova.

₂Kwathi kusukela osukwini umphongolo owahlala ngalo eKiriyati Jeharimi, kwaba yisikhathi eside, ngokuba saba yiminyaka engamashumi amabili; yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli yakhalela uJehova. ₃USamuweli wakhuluma kuyo yonke indlu ka-Israyeli, wathi: “Uma nibuyela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu, susani kini onkulunkulu babezizwe no-Ashitaroti, nibhekise izinhliziyo zenu kuJehova, nimkhonze yena yedwa; uyakunophula esandleni samaFilisti.” ₄Abakwa-Israyeli base besusa oBali no-Ashitaroti, bamkhonza uJehova yedwa.

₅USamuweli wathi: “Buthani wonke u-Israyeli eMispa; ngiyakunikhulekela kuJehova.” ₆Babuthana eMispa, bakha amanzi, bawathulula phambi kukaJehova, bazila ngalolo suku, bathi khona: “Sonile kuJehova.” USamuweli wahlulela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli eMispa.

₇AmaFilisti esezwile ukuthi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthene eMispa, amakhosi amaFilisti akhuphuka ukulwa no-Israyeli. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bekuzwile lokho bawesaba amaFilisti. ₈Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuSamuweli: “Ungaphezi ukusikhalela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.” ₉USamuweli wathatha iwundlu elincelayo, wanikela ngalo libe ngumnikelo oshiswa wonke kuJehova; uSamuweli wamkhalela u-Israyeli kuJehova; uJehova wamphendula.

₁₀USamuweli esanikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa, amaFilisti asondela ukulwa no-Israyeli; kepha uJehova waduma ngokuduma okukhulu phezu kwamaFilisti ngalolo suku, wawangquzula, abulawa phambi kuka-Israyeli. ₁₁Abantu bakwa-Israyeli baphuma eMispa, bawaxosha amaFilisti, bawabulala, baze bafika ngaphansi eBeti Kari.

₁₂USamuweli wathatha itshe, walimisa phakathi kweMispa neSheni, waqamba igama lalo ngokuthi i-Ebeni Ezeri, ethi: “Kuze kube manje uJehova usisizile.” ₁₃Ayesahlulwa amaFilisti, awabe esaphinda ukungena emikhawulweni ka-Israyeli; isandla sikaJehova sasimelene namaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweli. ₁₄Imizi amaFilisti ayeyithathile ku-Israyeli yabuyiselwa ku-Israyeli, kusukela e-Ekroni kuze kube seGati; umkhawulo wayo u-Israyeli wawophula esandleni samaFilisti. Kwaba khona ukuthula phakathi kuka-Israyeli nama-Amori.

₁₅USamuweli wahlulela u-Israyeli zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe. ₁₆Wahamba iminyaka ngeminyaka ezungeza, waya eBethele, naseGiligali, naseMispa; wahlulela u-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezo zindawo. ₁₇Wayebuyela eRama, ngokuba indlu yakhe yayilapho; wahlulela u-Israyeli khona, wamakhela lapho uJehova i-altare.