To The Word – Day 73

₁Kwakukhona umuntu waseRamatayimi Sofimu lasezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi ogama lakhe lalingu-Elkana indodana kaJerohamu ka-Elihu kaTholu kaSufi wakwa-Efrayimi; ₂wayenabafazi ababili, igama lomunye lalinguHana, igama lomunye lalinguPhenina; uPhenina wayenabantwana, kepha uHana wayengenabantwana.

₃Lowo muntu wenyuka emzini wakhe iminyaka ngeminyaka ukukhonza nokuhlabela uJehova Sebawoti eShilo. Kwakukhona lapho amadodana amabili ka-Eli, oHofini noFinehasi, bengabapristi bakaJehova. ₄Kwathi ngosuku u-Elkana ahlaba ngalo, wanika uPhenina umkakhe nawo onke amadodana akhe namadodakazi akhe izabelo; ₅kepha wanika uHana isabelo siphindwa kabili, ngokuba wayemthanda uHana, kepha uJehova wayesivalile isizalo sakhe. ₆Isitha sakhe samncokoloza kakhulu ukuba amthukuthelise, ngokuba uJehova wayesivalile isizalo sakhe. ₇Kwathi ukuba u-Elkana enze njalo iminyaka ngeminyaka, lapho enyukela endlini kaJehova, wamncokoloza kanjalo; ngalokho wakhala, akadlanga lutho. ₈Wayesethi u-Elkana umyeni wakhe kuye: “Hana, ukhalelani na? Awudli ngani? Inhliziyo yakho idabukeleni na? Angidluli yini amadodana ayishumi kuwe na?”

₉UHana wasukuma, nxa sebedlile eShilo, bephuzile. U-Eli umpristi wayehlezi esihlalweni sakhe ngasensikeni yomnyango wethempeli likaJehova. ₁₀Umphefumulo wakhe wawunomunyu, wakhuleka kuJehova, wakhala kakhulu. ₁₁Wenza isithembiso, wathi: “Jehova Sebawoti, ubheke nokubheka ukuhlupheka kwencekukazi yakho, ungikhumbule, ungakhohlwa incekukazi yakho, unike incekukazi yakho umntwana wesilisa, bese ngimnika uJehova zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe, kungathinti mpuco ekhanda lakhe.”

₁₂Kwathi esaqhubeka ukukhuleka phambi kukaJehova, u-Eli waqaphela umlomo wakhe. ₁₃UHana wayekhuluma enhliziyweni yakhe, kwabikizela izindebe zakhe zomlomo kuphela, kepha izwi lakhe lalingezwakali; ngalokho u-Eli wacabanga ukuthi udakiwe. ₁₄U-Eli wathi kuye: “Uyakudakwa kuze kube nini na? Susa iwayini lakho kuwe.”

₁₅UHana waphendula wathi: “Hhayi, nkosi, ngingowesifazane ohluphekileyo; angiphuzanga iwayini naphuzo olunamandla, kepha bengithulula umphefumulo wami phambi kukaJehova. ₁₆Ungasho ukuthi incekukazi yakho ingowesifazane omubi, ngokuba kungobuningi bosizi lwami nangokuncokolozwa kwami ngikhulumile kuze kube manje.”

₁₇Wayesephendula u-Eli ethi: “Hamba ngokuthula; uNkulunkulu wakwa-Israyeli makakunike okucelileyo kuye.”

₁₈Wathi: “Incekukazi yakho mayifumane umusa emehlweni akho.” Owesifazane wayesehamba, wadla, ubuso bakhe ababe busanyukumala.

₁₉Bavuka ekuseni kakhulu, bakhuleka phambi kukaJehova, babuya, bafika endlini yabo eRama; u-Elkana wamazi uHana umkakhe, uJehova wamkhumbula. ₂₀Kwathi sesiphelele isikhathi, uHana wakhulelwa, wazala indodana, waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uSamuweli, ethi: “Ngimcelile kuJehova.”

₂₁Lowo muntu u-Elkana wenyuka kanye nendlu yakhe ukuyonikela kuJehova umhlatshelo weminyaka nesithembiso sakhe. ₂₂Kepha uHana akenyukanga, ngokuba wathi kumyeni wakhe: “Hhayi aze alunyulwe umntwana; khona ngiyakumyisa ukuba abonakale phambi kukaJehova, ahlale khona njalo.”

₂₃Wayesethi u-Elkana umyeni wakhe kuye: “Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho; hlala uze umlumule; uJehova makaqinise izwi lakhe kuphela.” Owesifazane wayesehlala, wancelisa indodana yakhe waze wayilumula.

₂₄Eseyilumulile wenyuka nayo enezinkunzi ezintathu, ne-efa* lempuphu, nemvaba yewayini, wakuyisa endlini kaJehova eShilo; umntwana wayesemncane. ₂₅Bahlaba inkunzi, bamyisa umntwana ku-Eli. ₂₆Wathi: “E nkosi, kuphila komphefumulo wakho, nkosi yami, ngingowesifazane owayemi kuwe lapha, ekhuleka kuJehova. ₂₇Ngamkhulekela lo mntwana; uJehova unginikile lokho engakucela kuye; ₂₈ngalokho nami ngimnikele kuJehova; zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe unikelwe kuJehova.” Bakhuleka kuJehova khona.

₁UHana wakhuleka wathi:

₁₁U-Elkana waya eRama endlini yakhe. Umntwana wakhonza uJehova phambi kuka-Eli umpristi.

₁₂Amadodana ka-Eli ayengabantu ababi; ayengamazi uJehova. ₁₃Kwakungumthetho wabapristi kubantu ukuba, nxa umuntu enikela ngomhlatshelo, kufike inceku yompristi inyama isabila, iphethe ngesandla ingwegwe emazinyo mathathu, ₁₄ihlabe ngayo emcengezini, noma esocweni, noma ebhodweni, noma ekhanzini; konke ekwenyusayo ingwegwe, umpristi wakuthatha. Benze njalo eShilo kubo bonke abakwa-Israyeli ababefika khona. ₁₅Yebo, bengakashisi amanoni, yafika inceku yompristi, yathi kumuntu ohlabayo: “Letha inyama yokoselwa umpristi, ngokuba akayikuthatha kuwe inyama ephekiweyo kepha eluhlaza.”

₁₆Uma lowo muntu wathi kuye: “Bayakushisa nokushisa amanoni kuqala, besewuthatha njengokuthanda kwakho,” yathi: “Hhayi, woyiletha manje; uma ungayilethi, ngiyakuyithatha ngamandla.”

₁₇Isono sezinsizwa sasisikhulu kakhulu phambi kukaJehova, ngokuba abantu bawudelela umnikelo kaJehova.

₁₈USamuweli wakhonza phambi kukaJehova esengumntwana, egqoke ingubo yamahlombe yelineni. ₁₉Futhi unina wamenzela ijazana, waliyisa kuye iminyaka ngeminyaka esenyuka nomyeni wakhe ukuyonikela ngomhlatshelo weminyaka yonke. ₂₀U-Eli wabusisa u-Elkana nomkakhe, wathi: “UJehova makakunike inzalo ngalo wesifazane ngenxa yalokho uJehova atshelekwa khona.” Base bebuyela ekhaya. ₂₁UJehova wamhambela uHana; wakhulelwa, wazala amadodana amathathu namadodakazi amabili. Umntwana uSamuweli wakhula phambi kukaJehova.

₂₂U-Eli wayesemdala kakhulu, wezwa konke amadodana akhe akwenzayo ku-Israyeli wonke, nokuthi ayelala nabesifazane ababekhonza ngasemnyango wetende lokuhlangana. ₂₃Wathi kuwo: “Nenzelani izinto ezinjalo na? Ngokuba ngiyezwa imisebenzi yenu emibi kubo bonke laba bantu. ₂₄Hhayi, madodana ami, akusilo izwi elihle engilizwayo lenekwa ngabantu bakaJehova. ₂₅Uma umuntu ona kumuntu, uNkulunkulu uyakumahlulela, kepha uma umuntu ona kuJehova, uyakulanyulelwa ngubani na?” Kodwa awalalelanga izwi likayise, ngokuba uJehova wayethanda ukuwabulala.

₂₆Umntwana uSamuweli waqhubeka wakhula, waba muhle kuJehova nakubantu.

₂₇Kwafika umuntu kaNkulunkulu ku-Eli, wathi kuye: “UJehova usho kanje, uthi: ‘Angithi ngazibonakalisa kuyo indlu kayihlo, beseseGibithe besendlini kaFaro. ₂₈Ngamkhetha kuzo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli ukuba abe ngumpristi wami, anikele e-altare lami, ashise impepho, afake ingubo yamahlombe phambi kwami, nganika indlu kayihlo yonke iminikelo yomlilo yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₂₉Niwukhahlelelani umhlatshelo wami nomnikelo wami engiyale ngakho endlini yami, udumise amadodana akho phezu kwami, nizikhuluphalise ngeminikelo emihle kunayo yonke yakwa-Israyeli, abantu bami, na?’

₃₀“Ngalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi: ‘Ngasho nokusho ukuthi indlu yakho nendlu kayihlo yohamba phambi kwami kuze kube phakade.’ Kepha manje uJehova uthi: ‘Makube kude nami, ngokuba abangidumisayo ngiyakubadumisa; abangidelelayo bayakweyiswa. ₃₁Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza engiyakunquma ngazo ingalo yakho nengalo yendlu kayihlo ukuba kungabikho xhegu endlini yakho. ₃₂Uyakubona ukuhlupheka kwendlu yami kukho konke okuhle ayakwenzelwa khona u-Israyeli; akuyikubakho xhegu endlini yakho kuze kube phakade. ₃₃Kepha angiyikumnquma umuntu wakho e-altare lami ukuba aqede amehlo akho, abangele usizi umphefumulo wakho; yonke inzalo yendlu yakho iyakufa isebudodeni bayo.

₃₄“ ‘Lokhu kuyakuba yisiboniso kuwe esiyakwehlela amadodana akho amabili, oHofini noFinehasi; ngalusuku lunye bayakufa bobabili. ₃₅Ngiyakuzivusela umpristi othembekileyo oyakwenza njengokusenhliziyweni yami nasengqondweni yami; ngiyakumakhela indlu eqinileyo; uyakuhamba phambi kogcotshiweyo wami kuze kube phakade. ₃₆Kuyakuthi bonke abasele endlini yakho bafike bamkhothamele ngohlamvu lwesiliva neqebelengwane lesinkwa, bathi: “Ake ungibeke kwesinye sezikhundla zompristi ukuba ngidle ucezu lwesinkwa.” ’ ”

₁Umntwana uSamuweli wamkhonza uJehova phambi kuka-Eli. Izwi likaJehova lalingavamile ngalezo zinsuku; nombono wawuyivelakancane.

₂Kwathi ngaleso sikhathi u-Eli elele endaweni yakhe – amehlo akhe ayeqale ukufiphala waze wangaba nakho ukubona – ₃isibani sikaNkulunkulu sasingakacimi, uSamuweli elele ethempelini likaJehova, lapho kwakukhona umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, ₄uJehova wambiza uSamuweli; wathi yena: “Ngilapha.” ₅Wagijimela ku-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, njengokuba ungibizile.”

Wathi: “Angikubizanga; buya ulale.” Wahamba, walala.

₆UJehova waphinda wambiza uSamuweli. USamuweli wavuka, waya ku-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, njengokuba ungibizile.”

Wathi: “Angikubizanga, ndodana yami; buya ulale.”

₇Kepha uSamuweli wayengakamazi uJehova, nezwi likaJehova lalingakambulelwa kuye.

₈UJehova wambiza uSamuweli ngokwesithathu. Wavuka, waya ku-Eli, wathi: “Ngilapha, njengokuba ungibizile.”

U-Eli wayeseqonda ukuthi nguJehova ombizile umntwana. ₉U-Eli wathi kuSamuweli: “Hamba, ulale; kuyakuthi uma ekubiza, usho ukuthi: ‘Khuluma, Jehova, ngokuba inceku yakho iyezwa.’ ” Wayesehamba uSamuweli, walala endaweni yakhe.

₁₀UJehova wafika, wema, wambiza njengakwezinye izikhathi: “Samuweli, Samuweli!”

USamuweli wathi: “Khuluma, ngokuba inceku yakho iyezwa.”

₁₁UJehova wathi kuSamuweli: “Bheka, ngiyakwenza into kwa-Israyeli eziyakunkeneneza ngayo izindlebe zombili zabo bonke abayizwayo. ₁₂Ngalolo suku ngiyakumehlisela u-Eli konke engikukhulumile ngendlu yakhe, kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube sekugcineni. ₁₃Ngokuba ngimtshelile ukuthi ngiyakwahlulela indlu yakhe kuze kube phakade ngobubi abaziyo, lokhu amadodana akhe ayezehlisela isiqalekiso, engawakhuzanga. ₁₄Ngalokho ngifungile ngendlu ka-Eli ukuthi ububi bendlu ka-Eli abuyikuhlangulwa ngomhlatshelo nangomnikelo kuze kube phakade.”

₁₅USamuweli walala kwaze kwasa, wavula iminyango yendlu kaJehova. USamuweli wesaba ukumtshela u-Eli umbono. ₁₆U-Eli wayesembiza uSamuweli, wathi: “Samuweli, ndodana yami!”

Wathi: “Ngilapha.”

₁₇Wathi: “Yintoni owayikhulumayo kuwe na? Ake ungayifihli kimi; uNkulunkulu makenze njalo kuwe, enezele futhi, uma ungifihlela izwi elilodwa lakho konke lokho owakukhuluma kuwe.” ₁₈USamuweli wayesemtshela konke, akamfihlelanga lutho. Wathi: “NguJehova; makenze okuhle emehlweni akhe.”

₁₉USamuweli wakhula; uJehova wayenaye; akawisanga phansi nelilodwa lamazwi akhe. ₂₀Wonke u-Israyeli kusukela kwaDani kuze kube seBeri Sheba wazi ukuthi uSamuweli uqinisiwe ukuba abe ngumprofethi kaJehova. ₂₁UJehova waphinda wabonakala eShilo, ngokuba uJehova wazibonakalisa kuSamuweli eShilo ngezwi likaJehova.

₁Izwi likaSamuweli lafika kuye wonke u-Israyeli. U-Israyeli waphuma ukulwa namaFilisti, wamisa ngase-Ebeni Ezeri; amaFilisti amisa e-Afeki. ₂AmaFilisti azihlela ukuhlangana no-Israyeli; impi yaqhubeka, u-Israyeli wahlulwa phambi kwamaFilisti abulala empini ngasendle kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane ezine. ₃Kwathi abantu bengena ekamu,* amalunga akwa-Israyeli athi: “UJehova usibulaleleni phambi kwamaFilisti na? Masithathe umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova eShilo, siwulethe kithi, ufike phakathi kwethu, usisindise esandleni sezitha zethu.”

₄Abantu base bethumela eShilo, bathatha khona umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova Sebawoti ohlezi phezu kwamakherubi;* amadodana amabili ka-Eli, oHofini noFinehasi, ayelapho nomphongolo wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.

₅Kwathi umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova ufika ekamu,* wonke u-Israyeli wakhamuluka ngokukhamuluka okukhulu, kwaze kwaduma umhlaba. ₆AmaFilisti esezwa umsindo wokukhamuluka athi: “Uthini umsindo walokhu kukhamuluka okukhulu ekamu* lamaHeberu na?” Aqonda ukuthi umphongolo kaJehova ufikile ekamu. ₇AmaFilisti esaba, ngokuba athi: “UNkulunkulu ufikile ekamu.*” Athi-ke: “Maye kithina! Ngokuba akuzange kube khona okunje ngaphambili. ₈Maye kithina! Ngubani oyakusophula esandleni salaba onkulunkulu abanamandla na? Yilaba onkulunkulu abashaya abaseGibithe ngazo zonke izifo ehlane. ₉Qinani nibe ngamadoda nina maFilisti ukuba ningabi yizigqila zamaHeberu, njengalokho ebeyizigqila zenu. Yibani ngamadoda, nilwe!”

₁₀AmaFilisti alwa, u-Israyeli wachithwa, babaleka, kwaba yilowo nalowo etendeni lakhe; kwaba khona ukuceka okukhulu, ngokuba kwawa ku-Israyeli abantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu aba yimigundatshani. ₁₁Umphongolo kaNkulunkulu wathathwa; amadodana omabili ka-Eli, oHofini noFinehasi, abulawa.

₁₂Kwaphuma umuntu wakwaBenjamini empini, wagijima waya eShilo ngalolo suku, izingubo zakhe ziklebhukile, enomhlabathi ekhanda. ₁₃Ekufikeni kwakhe, bheka, u-Eli wayehlezi esihlalweni sakhe ngaseceleni komgwaqo, ngokuba inhliziyo yakhe yayithuthumela ngomphongolo kaNkulunkulu. Esengenile emzini lowo muntu, wakubika, wakhala umuzi wonke.

₁₄Lapho u-Eli ezwa umsindo wokukhala, wathi: “Uthini umsindo walokhu kumemeza na?” Lowo muntu washesha waya wamtshela u-Eli. ₁₅U-Eli wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalombili; amehlo akhe ayequndekile, engenakubona. ₁₆Lowo muntu wathi ku-Eli: “Nginguye owaphuma empini, ngibaleke empini namuhla.”

Wathi: “Bekunjani, ndodana yami, na?”

₁₇Owaletha umbiko waphendula wathi: “U-Israyeli ubalekile phambi kwamaFilisti; kwakukhona ukubulawa okukhulu phakathi kwabantu; amadodana akho omabili oHofini noFinehasi afile, nomphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe.”

₁₈Kwathi esaphatha umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, wawa nyovane esihlalweni sakhe ngaseceleni kwesango, kwaphuka intamo yakhe, wafa, ngokuba wayengumuntu omdala, esinda. Wayebahlulele abakwa-Israyeli iminyaka engamashumi amane.

₁₉Umalokazana wakhe, umkaFinehasi, wayekhulelwe esezakubeletha; esezwile umbiko wokuthi umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe nokuthi kufile uyisezala nomyeni wakhe, wakhonkobala, wabeletha, ngokuba wafikelwa yimihelo. ₂₀Ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe abesifazane ababemi kuye bathi kuye: “Ungesabi, ngokuba ubelethe indodana.” Kepha akaphendulanga, akakunakanga.

₂₁Wamqamba umntwana ngokuthi u-Ikabodi,* ethi: “Inkazimulo isukile kwa-Israyeli,” ngokuba umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe, nangenxa kayisezala wakhe nomyeni wakhe. ₂₂Wathi: “Inkazimulo isukile kwa-Israyeli, ngokuba umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uthathiwe.”

₁AmaFilisti athatha umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, awususa e-Ebeni Ezeri, awuyisa e-Ashidodi. ₂AmaFilisti awuthatha umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, awungenisa endlini kaDagoni, awubeka ngakuye uDagoni. ₃Abase-Ashidodi sebevukile kusasa ekuseni, bheka, uDagoni wayewile phansi ngobuso phambi komphongolo kaJehova. Bamthatha uDagoni, bambuyisela endaweni yakhe. ₄Sebevukile kusasa ekuseni, bheka, uDagoni wayewile phansi ngobuso phambi komphongolo kaJehova; ikhanda likaDagoni nezimpama zombili zezandla zakhe zazinqamukile zisembundwini; kwasala isidumbu sakhe kuphela. ₅Ngalokho abapristi bakaDagoni nabo bonke abangena endlini kaDagoni abanyatheli embundwini kaDagoni e-Ashidodi kuze kube namuhla.

₆Kepha isandla sikaJehova sasinzima phezu kwabase-Ashidodi, wabachitha, wababulala ngamathumba, i-Ashidodi nemikhawulo yalo. ₇Abantu base-Ashidodi sebebona ukuthi kunjalo bathi: “Umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli awuyikuhlala kithi, ngokuba isandla sakhe silukhuni phezu kwethu naphezu kukaDagoni unkulunkulu wethu.” ₈Bathuma babuthela kubo onke amakhosi amaFilisti, bathi: “Siyakwenzani ngomphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli na?”

Athi: “Umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli mawususelwe eGati.” Bawususela umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli khona.

₉Kwathi sebewususele khona, isandla sikaJehova sasiphezu kwalowo muzi ngokungquzula okukhulu, wabulala abantu bomuzi abancane nabakhulu; kwaqhamuka amathumba kubo. ₁₀Base bethuma umphongolo kaNkulunkulu e-Ekroni. Kwathi ekufikeni komphongolo kaNkulunkulu e-Ekroni abase-Ekroni bakhala bathi: “Balethile umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli kithi ukuba usibulale thina nabantu bakithi.” ₁₁Bathuma babutha onke amakhosi amaFilisti, bathi: “Wususeni umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ubuyele endlini yawo, ukuba ungasibulali thina nabantu bakithi,” ngokuba kwakukhona ukungquzuka okokufa emzini wonke; isandla sikaNkulunkulu sasinzima kakhulu khona. ₁₂Abantu abangafanga bashaywa ngamathumba; ukukhala komuzi kwenyukela ezulwini.