To The Word – Day 139

₁Wonke u-Israyeli wabuthana kuDavide, wathi: “Bheka, thina siyithambo lakho nenyama yakho. ₂Nangesikhathi esidlulileyo uSawule eseyinkosi, nguwe owakhipha nowangenisa u-Israyeli; uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho wathi kuwe: ‘Wena uyakwalusa abantu bami u-Israyeli, wena uyakuba ngumbusi wabantu bami u-Israyeli.’ ”

₃Kwase kufika onke amalunga akwa-Israyeli enkosini eHebroni; uDavide wenza isivumelwano nawo eHebroni phambi kukaJehova; amgcoba uDavide ukuba abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli njengezwi likaJehova ngesandla sikaSamuweli.

₄UDavide naye wonke u-Israyeli baya eJerusalema eliyiJebusi; amaJebusi ayakhe kulelo zwe ayeselapho. ₅Abakhileyo eJebusi bathi kuDavide: “Awuyikungena lapha.” UDavide wathatha nokho inqaba yaseSiyoni engumuzi kaDavide.

₆UDavide wathi: “Lowo ochitha amaJebusi kuqala uyakuba yinhloko nenduna.” Kwenyuka kuqala uJowabe indodana kaSeruya, waba yinhloko.

₇UDavide wahlala enqabeni; ngalokho bayibiza ngokuthi umuzi kaDavide. ₈Wakha umuzi nxazonke kusukela eMilo kuya nxazonke; uJowabe wavusa okuseleyo komuzi. ₉UDavide waqhubeka njalo ngokukhula, ngokuba uJehova Sebawoti wayenaye.

₁₀Yilaba abayizinhloko zamaqhawe uDavide ayenazo, zibambelela kuye ngamandla ebukhosini bakhe kanye naye wonke u-Israyeli ukumbeka inkosi njengezwi likaJehova ngo-Israyeli. ₁₁Nanku umumo wamaqhawe uDavide ayenawo: uJashobehamu indodana yomHakimoni, inhloko yamashumi amathathu; waphakamisela abangamakhulu amathathu umkhonto wakhe, wababulala ngasikhathi sinye.

₁₂Emva kwakhe ngu-Eleyazare indodana kaDodo umAhohi owayengomunye wamaqhawe amathathu. ₁₃WayenoDavide ePhasi Damimi; amaFilisti abuthana khona ukuyokulwa, lapho kwakukhona isiqephu sezwe esigcwele ibhali;* abantu babaleka ebusweni bamaFilisti. ₁₄Bema phakathi nesiqephu sezwe, basophula, bawabulala amaFilisti; uJehova wabasindisa ngokusindisa okukhulu.

₁₅Kwehla abathathu kwabayizinhloko ezingamashumi amathathu, baya etsheni kuDavide emhumeni wase-Adulamu; impi yamaFilisti yayimise esiGodini samaRefa. ₁₆UDavide wayesesenqabeni, ikhanda lamaFilisti laliseBetlehema. ₁₇UDavide wanxanela, wathi: “Hawu, sengathi ngingaphuziswa amanzi asemthonjeni waseBetlehema owawungasesangweni.” ₁₈Labo abathathu bafohla ikamu* lamaFilisti, bakha amanzi emthonjeni waseBetlehema owawungasesangweni, bawathatha, bawaletha kuDavide; kepha uDavide akavumanga ukuwaphuza, kodwa wawathululela uJehova, wathi: ₁₉“UNkulunkulu wami makangenqabele ukuba ngenze lokhu; ngiyakuphuza igazi lalaba bantu ababe sengozini na?” Ngokuba bawaletha besengozini; akavumanga ukuwaphuza. Lezo zinto zenziwa yilawa maqhawe amathathu.

₂₀U-Abishayi umfowabo kaJowabe wayeyinhloko yabathathu, ngokuba waphakamisela abangamakhulu amathathu umkhonto wakhe, wababulala, waba negama phakathi kwalaba abathathu. ₂₁Kulaba abathathu wayetusekile kunababili, waba yisikhulu sabo, kepha akafinyelelanga kwabathathu bokuqala.

₂₂NoBenaya indodana kaJehoyada, indodana yendoda enamandla, owayenze imisebenzi emikhulu, owaseKabiseyeli, wabulala amaqhawe amabili akwaMowabi; futhi wehla, wabulala ingonyama phakathi komgodi ngosuku lweqhwa. ₂₃Wabulala nowaseGibithe, umuntu omude, eyizingalo eziyisihlanu; esandleni sowaseGibithe kwakukhona umkhonto onjengogongolo lomaluki; wehlela kuye ephethe induku nje, wawuhlwitha umkhonto esandleni sowaseGibithe, wambulala ngomkhonto wakhe. ₂₄Lezo zinto wazenza uBenaya indodana kaJehoyada, waba negama phakathi kwalawo maqhawe amathathu. ₂₅Bheka, wayetusekile kunabangamashumi amathathu, kepha akafinyelelanga kwabathathu bokuqala; uDavide wambeka phezu kwabalindi bakhe.

₂₆Amaqhawe anamandla nanka: u-Asaheli umfowabo kaJowabe, no-Elihanani indodana kaDodo waseBetlehema, ₂₇noShamoti waseHarori, noHelesi wasePheloni, ₂₈no-Ira indodana ka-Ikheshi waseThekhowa, no-Abiyezeri wase-Anathoti, ₂₉noSibekayi umHushati, no-Ilayi umAhohi, ₃₀noMaharayi waseNethofa, noHeledi indodana kaBahana waseNethofa, ₃₁no-Ithayi indodana kaRibayi waseGibeya labantwana bakwaBenjamini, noBenaya wasePirathoni, ₃₂noHurayi wangasemifudlaneni yakwaGahashi, no-Abiyeli wase-Araba, ₃₃no-Azimaveti waseBaharumi, no-Eliyaba waseShahaliboni, ₃₄namadodana kaHashemi waseGizoni, noJonathani indodana kaShage waseHarari, ₃₅no-Ahiyamu indodana kaSakri waseHarari, no-Elifali indodana ka-Uri, ₃₆noHeferi waseMekeri, no-Ahiya wasePheloni, ₃₇noHesiro waseKarmeli, noNaharayi indodana ka-Ezibayi, ₃₈noJoweli umfowabo kaNathani, noMibihari indodana kaHagiri, ₃₉noSeleki wakwa-Amoni, noNaharayi waseBeroti, udibi lukaJowabe indodana kaSeruya, ₄₀no-Ira waseJetheri, noGarebi waseJetheri, ₄₁no-Uriya umHeti, noZabadi indodana ka-Ahilayi, ₄₂no-Adina indodana kaShiza wakwaRubeni, inhloko yakwaRubeni, enabangamashumi amathathu, ₄₃noHanani indodana kaMahakha, noJeshoshafati umMiteni, ₄₄no-Uziya wase-Ashitaroti, noShama noJehiyeli amadodana kaHothamu wase-Aroweri, ₄₅noJediyayeli indodana kaShimri, noJoha umfowabo umThisi, ₄₆no-Eliyeli umMahavi, noJeribayi noJoshaviya amadodana ka-Elinahama, no-Itima wakwaMowabi, ₄₇no-Eliyeli, no-Obede, noJahashiyeli umMesoba.

₁Nampa abafika kuDavide eSikilagi esagogobele ebusweni bukaSawule indodana kaKishi; babe phakathi kwamaqhawe, abasizi bakhe empini. ₂Babehlomile iminsalo, besebenzisa isandla sokunene nesokhohlo ekuphonseni amatshe nasekucibisheleni imicibisholo ngomnsalo; ababe kubafowabo bakaSawule kwaBenjamini kwakuyilaba: ₃inhloko u-Ahiyezeri noJowashi amadodana kaShemaha waseGibeya, noJeziyeli noPheleti amadodana ka-Azimaveti, noBerakha, noJehu wase-Anathoti, ₄no-Ishmaya waseGibeyoni, iqhawe phakathi kwabangamashumi amathathu, ebaphethe abangamashumi amathathu, noJeremiya, noJahaziyeli, noJohanani, noJozabadi waseGedera, ₅no-Eluzayi, noJerimoti, noBehaliya, noShemariya, noShefathiya umHarufi, ₆no-Elkana, noJishiya, no-Azareli, noJohezeri, noJashobehamu, amaKora, ₇noJowela noZebadiya, amadodana kaJerohamu waseGedori. ₈KwabakwaGadi abanye bazahlukanisa baya kuDavide enqabeni ehlane, amaqhawe anamandla, abantu abazilungiselele ukulwa, abakwazi ukuphatha isihlangu nomkhonto, ababuso babo bafana nobuso bezingonyama, abanejubane njengezinsephe ezintabeni: ₉ngu-Ezeri inhloko, no-Obadiya owesibili, no-Eliyabe owesithathu, ₁₀noMishimana owesine, noJeremiya owesihlanu, ₁₁no-Athayi owesithupha, no-Eliyeli owesikhombisa, ₁₂noJohanani owesishiyagalombili, no-Elizabadi owesishiyagalolunye, ₁₃noJeremiya oweshumi, noMakibanayi oweshumi nanye.

₁₄Lawo madodana kaGadi ayeyizinhloko zempi; encinyane kuwo yayilingana nekhulu, yalingana nenkulungwane. ₁₅Yilabo ababewela iJordani ngenyanga yokuqala, ligcwele liphuphuma zonke izingu zalo; baxosha bonke abasezigodini ngasempumalanga nangasentshonalanga.

₁₆Kwafika nabantwana bakwaBenjamini noJuda enqabeni kuDavide. ₁₇UDavide waphuma ukubahlangabeza, wathatha, wathi kubo: “Uma nize nokuthula kimi ukungisiza, inhliziyo yami iyakuba nye nani, kepha uma kungukungikhohlisa ezitheni zami, lokhu kungekho okubi ezandleni zami, uNkulunkulu wawobaba makakubheke, akujezise.”

₁₈Kwase kwehla umoya phezu kuka-Amasayi owayeyinhloko yabangamashumi amathathu, wathi:

Wayesebamukela uDavide, wabenza izinhloko zeviyo.

₁₉Kwafika abanye kwabakwaManase kuDavide, lapho efika namaFilisti ukulwa noSawule, kepha abawasizanga, ngokuba izinduna zamaFilisti sezilulekene zammukisa, zathi: “Uyakuhlubukela enkosini yakhe uSawule, amakhanda ethu abe sengozini.” ₂₀Ekuyeni kwakhe eSikilagi kwahlubukela kuye kwabakwaManase o-Adina, noJozabadi, noJediyayeli, noMikayeli, noJozabadi, no-Elihu, noSilethayi, izinhloko zezinkulungwane zabakwaManase. ₂₁Bamsiza uDavide eviyweni, ngokuba babe ngamaqhawe anamandla bonke, beyizinduna zempi. ₂₂Ngokuba imihla ngemihla bafika kuDavide ukumsiza, kwaze kwaba yimpi enkulu njengempi kaNkulunkulu.

₂₃Nazi izibalo zezinhloko zababehlomele ukulwa abeza kuDavide eHebroni ukuba baguqulele umbuso kaSawule kuye njengezwi likaJehova. ₂₄Abantwana bakwaJuda ababephethe izihlangu nemikhonto babeyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili, behlomele ukulwa. ₂₅Kubantwana bakwaSimeyoni amaqhawe anamandla okulwa yizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa nekhulu. ₂₆Kubantwana bakwaLevi yizinkulungwane ezine namakhulu ayisithupha. ₂₇UJehoyada wayengumholi wakwa-Aroni, enezinkulungwane ezintathu namakhulu ayisikhombisa, ₂₈noSadoki insizwa eyiqhawe elinamandla, nasendlini kayise izinduna ezingamashumi amabili nambili. ₂₉Kubantwana bakwaBenjamini, abafowabo bakaSawule, yizinkulungwane ezintathu, ngokuba kuze kube manje imvama yabo yayithembekile endlini kaSawule. ₃₀Kubantwana bakwa-Efrayimi yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili namakhulu ayisishiyagalombili, amaqhawe anamandla, abantu abanegama ezindlini zawoyise. ₃₁Kuyo inxenye yesizwe sakwaManase yizinkulungwane eziyishumi nesishiyagalombili, ezabizwa ngamagama ukuba zize zimbeke uDavide inkosi. ₃₂Kubantwana bakwa-Isakare ngabazi ukuqonda izikhathi ukuba bazi okufanele ukwenziwa ngu-Israyeli; izinhloko zabo zazingamakhulu amabili; bonke abafowabo balalela izwi labo. ₃₃KuZebuloni abangaphuma impi, bayihlele impi benezikhali zonke zokulwa, yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisihlanu, bezihlela nganhliziyonye. ₃₄KuNafetali yizinduna eziyinkulungwane, zinezinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu nesikhombisa eziphethe isihlangu nomkhonto. ₃₅KwabakwaDani abangahlela impi yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili namakhulu ayisithupha. ₃₆Ku-Asheri abangaphuma impi, bayihlele impi, yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane. ₃₇Ngaphesheya kweJordani kwabakwaGadi nasenxenyeni yesizwe sakwaManase, benezikhali zonke zempi zokulwa, yizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili.

₃₈Onke lawo madoda empi, angahlela impi, afika eHebroni ngezinhliziyo ezipheleleyo ukubeka uDavide inkosi kwa-Israyeli; nabo bonke abaseleyo bakwa-Israyeli babenhliziyonye ukumbeka uDavide inkosi. ₃₉Babe lapho noDavide izinsuku ezintathu, bedla, bephuza, ngokuba abafowabo babebalungisele. ₄₀Ababe seduze nabo kuze kube kwa-Isakare, nakwaZebuloni, nakwaNafetali baletha isinkwa ngezimbongolo, nangamakamela, nangeminyuzi,* nangezinkabi, nokudla kwempuphu, nezigaxa zamakhiwane, nezigaxa zezithelo zomvini ezomileyo, newayini, namafutha, nezinkabi, nezimvu eziningi, ngokuba kwakukhona ukuthokoza kwa-Israyeli.

₁UDavide welulekana nezinduna zezinkulungwane nezamakhulu, nabaholi bonke. ₂UDavide wathi kulo lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli: “Uma kukuhle kini, uma kuvela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, masihlakazeke sithumele kubafowethu abasele ezweni lonke lakwa-Israyeli kanye nabapristi namaLevi emizini yabo enamadlelo ukuba babuthane kithi, ₃sibuyisele kithi umphongolo kaNkulunkulu wethu, ngokuba asiwufunanga ezinsukwini zikaSawule.” ₄Lonke ibandla lathi liyakwenze njalo, ngokuba leyo nto yayilungile emehlweni abo bonke abantu.

₅UDavide wayesebutha wonke u-Israyeli kusukela eSihori laseGibithe kuze kube sekuyeni eHamati ukususa umphongolo kaNkulunkulu eKiriyati Jeharimi. ₆UDavide wenyukela kanye naye wonke u-Israyeli eBahala, okungukuthi iKiriyati Jeharimi elalingelakwaJuda, ukukhuphula khona umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uJehova ohlezi phezu kwamakherubi,* owawubizwa ngegama lakhe.

₇Bawuhambisa umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ngengqukumbane entsha, bewukhipha endlini ka-Abinadaba; o-Uza no-Ahiyo bashayela ingqukumbane. ₈UDavide naye wonke u-Israyeli bathokoza ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ngamandla onke ngamahubo, nangamahabhu,* nangezingubhu, nangezigubhu, nangamasimbali,* nangamacilongo.

₉Ekufikeni kwabo esibuyeni sikaKidoni u-Uza welula isandla sakhe ukubamba umphongolo, ngokuba izinkabi zashelela. ₁₀Intukuthelo kaJehova yamvuthela u-Uza, wamshaya, ngokuba welulela isandla emphongolweni; wafela khona lapho phambi kukaNkulunkulu.

₁₁UDavide wadabuka ngokuba uJehova emhlasele u-Uza, wayibiza leyo ndawo ngokuthi iPheresi-Uza* kuze kube namuhla.

₁₂UDavide wamesaba uNkulunkulu ngalolo suku; wathi: “Ngizakuletha kanjani umphongolo kaNkulunkulu kimi na?” ₁₃UDavide akawuyisanga umphongolo kuye emzini kaDavide, kepha wawubuyisela eceleni endlini ka-Obede Edomi umGiti. ₁₄Umphongolo kaNkulunkulu wahlala nabendlu ka-Obede Edomi endlini yakhe izinyanga ezintathu; uJehova wayibusisa indlu ka-Obede Edomi nakho konke anakho.

₁UHiramu inkosi yaseTire wathuma izithunywa kuDavide, nemisedari,* nabakhi, nababazi ukuba bamakhele indlu. ₂UDavide waqonda ukuthi uJehova wayemmisile impela ukuba abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli, ngokuba umbuso wakhe waphakanyiselwa phezulu ngenxa yabantu bakhe u-Israyeli.

₃UDavide wathatha abanye abafazi eJerusalema, uDavide wazala amanye amadodana namadodakazi. ₄Nanka amagama abantwana ayenabo eJerusalema: oShamuvwa, noShobabi, noNathani, noSolomoni, ₅noJibari, no-Elishuwa, no-Elipheleti, ₆noNoga, noNefegi, noJafiya, ₇no-Elishama, noBeyeliyada, no-Elifeleti.

₈AmaFilisti esezwile ukuthi uDavide ugcotshiwe ukuba abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli wonke, onke amaFilisti enyuka ukumfuna uDavide; uDavide wakuzwa, waphuma ukuwahlasela. ₉AmaFilisti esefikile ukungenela isiGodi samaRefa, ₁₀uDavide wabuza kuNkulunkulu, wathi: “Ngenyukele ukuhlasela amaFilisti na? Uyakuwanikela esandleni sami na?”

UJehova wathi kuye: “Yenyuka, ngokuba ngiyakuwanikela esandleni sakho.”

₁₁Base benyukela eBali Pherasimi, uDavide wawachitha; uDavide wathi: “UNkulunkulu ufohlele izitha zami ngesandla sami njengokufohla kwamanzi.” Ngalokho baqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iBali Pherasimi.* ₁₂Ashiya khona onkulunkulu bawo; uDavide wathi mabashiswe ngomlilo.

₁₃AmaFilisti abuye angenela isigodi. ₁₄UDavide waphinda wabuza kuNkulunkulu; uNkulunkulu wathi kuye: “Ungenyuki emva kwawo; wagwegwesele, uwafikele malungana namajikijolo. ₁₅Kuyakuthi lapho usuzwa umsindo wokuhamba ezihlokweni zamajikijolo, uphume impi, ngokuba uNkulunkulu uphumile ngaphambi kwakho ukuchitha impi yamaFilisti.” ₁₆UDavide wenza njengokumyala kukaNkulunkulu, bachitha impi yamaFilisti kusukela eGibeyoni kuze kube seGezeri.

₁₇Igama likaDavide laphumela emazweni onke; uJehova wehlisela izizwe zonke ingebhe ngaye.

₁Wazakhela izindlu emzini kaDavide; walungisela umphongolo kaNkulunkulu indawo, wawumisela itende. ₂Khona uDavide wathi: “Umphongolo kaNkulunkulu nga ungathwalwa muntu, ngamaLevi kuphela, ngokuba yiwona akhethwe nguJehova ukuthwala umphongolo kaNkulunkulu nokumkhonza kuze kube phakade.”

₃UDavide wabuthela wonke u-Israyeli eJerusalema ukukhuphulela umphongolo kaJehova endaweni yawo awulungisele yona. ₄UDavide wabutha amadodana ka-Aroni namaLevi; ₅kumadodana kaKohati: ngu-Uriyeli inhloko nabafowabo, beyikhulu namashumi amabili; ₆kumadodana kaMerari: ngu-Asaya inhloko nabafowabo, bengamakhulu amabili namashumi amabili; ₇kumadodana kaGereshomu: nguJoweli inhloko nabafowabo, beyikhulu namashumi amathathu; ₈kumadodana ka-Elisafani: nguShemaya inhloko nabafowabo, bengamakhulu amabili; ₉kumadodana kaHebroni: ngu-Eliyeli inhloko nabafowabo, bengamashumi ayisihiyagalombili; ₁₀kumadodana ka-Uziyeli: ngu-Aminadaba inhloko nabafowabo, beyikhulu neshumi nambili.

₁₁UDavide wabiza oSadoki no-Abiyathara abapristi, namaLevi o-Uriyeli, no-Asaya, noJoweli, noShemaya, no-Eliyeli, no-Aminadaba, wathi kubo: ₁₂“Nina niyizinhloko zezindlu zawoyise bamaLevi; zingcweliseni nina nabafowenu ukuba niwukhuphulele umphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli endaweni engiyilungisele wona. ₁₃Ngokuba ngenxa yokungawuthwali kwenu kuqala uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu wafohla kithina, ngokuba singamfunanga njengomthetho.” ₁₄Base bezingcwelisa abapristi namaLevi ukuba bawukhuphule umphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. ₁₅Abantwana bamaLevi bawuthwala umphongolo kaNkulunkulu emahlombe abo ngezinti zawo njengokuyala kukaMose ngezwi likaJehova.

₁₆UDavide washo ezinduneni zamaLevi ukuba zibeke abafowabo abahlabeleli, benezinto zokubetha, izingubhu, namahabhu,* namasimbali,* bakubethe, baphakamise izwi labo ngokuthokoza.

₁₇AmaLevi ayesebeka uHemani indodana kaJoweli, nakubafowabo u-Asafa indodana kaBerekiya, nakumadodana kaMerari, abafowabo, u-Ethani indodana kaKushaya, ₁₈bekanye nabo abafowabo besigaba sesibili: oZakariya, noBeni, noJahaziyeli, noShemiramoti, noJehiyeli, no-Uni, no-Eliyabe, noBenaya, noMahaseya, noMatithiya, no-Elifelehu, noMikineya, no-Obede Edomi, noJehiyeli, abalindisango, ₁₉nabahlabeleli oHemani no-Asafa no-Ethani ukuba bakhalise amasimbali* ethusi, ₂₀noZakariya, no-Aziyeli, noShemiramoti, noJehiyeli, no-Uni, no-Eliyabe, noMahaseya, noBenaya ukuba babe nezingubhu ezilungiselwe i-Alamoti,* ₂₁noMatithiya, no-Elifelehu, noMikineya, no-Obede Edomi, noJehiyeli, no-Azaziya ukuba babe namahabhu* alungiselwe iSheminiti* ukuba bahole. ₂₂UKhenaniya induna yamaLevi wayephethe umsebenzi wokuthwala; wayefundisa ukuthwala ngokuba wayekwazi.

₂₃OBerekiya no-Elkana babe ngabalindisango bomphongolo. ₂₄OShebaniya, noJehoshafati, noNethaneli, no-Amasayi, noZakariya, noBenaya, no-Eliyezeri, abapristi, bashaya amacilongo phambi komphongolo kaNkulunkulu; o-Obede Edomi noJehiya babe ngabalindisango bomphongolo.

₂₅UDavide namalunga akwa-Israyeli nezinduna zezinkulungwane baya ukuwukhuphula umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova endlini ka-Obede Edomi ngokuthokoza; ₂₆kwathi lapho uNkulunkulu esesizile amaLevi awuthwala umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova, anikela ngezinkunzi eziyisikhombisa nangezinqama eziyisikhombisa. ₂₇UDavide wayembethe ingubo yelineni elicolekileyo kanye nawo onke amaLevi ayethwala umphongolo, nabahlabeleli, noKhenaniya induna yokuthwala kwabahlabeleli; uDavide wayenengubo yamahlombe yelineni. ₂₈Wonke u-Israyeli wawukhuphula kanjalo umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova ngokukhamuluka nangezwi lomtshingo, nangamacilongo, nangamasimbali,* ebetha izingubhu namahabhu.*

₂₉Kwathi lapho umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova usungena emzini kaDavide, uMikhali indodakazi kaSawule walunguza efasiteleni, wabona inkosi uDavide isina, idlala; wayidelela enhliziyweni yakhe.