To The Word – Day 74

₁Umphongolo kaJehova wawusezweni lamaFilisti izinyanga eziyisikhombisa. ₂AmaFilisti abiza abapristi nababhuli, athi: “Siyakwenze njani ngomphongolo kaJehova na? Saziseni ukuthi singawubuyisela kanjani endaweni yawo.”

₃Bathi: “Uma nimukisa umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ningawumukisi ze, kepha anobuyisela nokubuyisela kuye umnikelo wecala; khona niyakuphiliswa, kwazeke kini ukuthi isandla sakhe asisuswa ngani kini.”

₄Athi: “Uyakuba yini umnikelo wecala esiyakuwubuyisela kuye na?”

Bathi: “Amathumba ayisihlanu egolide namagundane ayisihlanu egolide njengomumo wamakhosi amaFilisti, ngokuba kuyisifo sinye esikubo bonke nakuwo amakhosi enu. ₅Niyakwenza imifanekiso yamathumba enu nemifanekiso yamagundane enu alonayo izwe, nimnike uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli udumo; mhlawumbe uyakusenza lula isandla sakhe phezu kwenu, naphezu kwawonkulunkulu benu, naphezu kwezwe lakini. ₆Nenzeleni zibe lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu, njengalokho abaseGibithe noFaro bazenza lukhuni izinhliziyo zabo na? Lapho esebenzile phakathi kwabo, ababavumelanga yini ukuba bahambe na?

₇“Manje thathani nilungise inqola entsha nezinkomo ezimbili ezincelisayo okungafikanga joka phezu kwazo, nizibophele izinkomo enqoleni, nibuyisele ekhaya amankonyane azo, ₈nithathe umphongolo kaJehova, niwubeke enqoleni, nifake impahla yegolide eniyibuyisela kuye ibe ngumnikelo wecala ebhokisini eliseceleni kwawo, niyimukise, ihambe. ₉Anobona, uma yenyuka ngendlela yasemkhawulweni wayo ukuya eBeti Shemeshi, nguye osenzele lobo bubi obukhulu; kepha uma kungenjalo, siyakwazi ukuthi akusiso isandla sakhe esisishayileyo; sehlelwa ingozi nje.”

₁₀Abantu benze njalo; bathatha izinkomo ezimbili ezincelisayo, bazibophela enqoleni, bazivalela amankonyane azo ekhaya, ₁₁bawubeka umphongolo kaJehova enqoleni kanye nebhokisi lamagundane egolide nemifanekiso yamathumba abo. ₁₂Izinkomo zaqonda endleleni, zaya ngaseBeti Shemeshi, zahamba ngomendo, zihamba zikhala, zingaphambukeli ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo; amakhosi amaFilisti azilandela, aze afika emkhawulweni waseBeti Shemeshi.

₁₃AbaseBeti Shemeshi babevuna ukolweni esigodini, baphakamisa amehlo abo, bawubona umphongolo, bathokoza ukuwubona. ₁₄Inqola yangena ensimini kaJoshuwa waseBeti Shemeshi, yema khona, lapho kwakukhona itshe elikhulu; babanda inqola yaba yizinkuni, banikela ngezinkomo zaba ngumnikelo wokushiswa kuJehova. ₁₅AmaLevi ayethulile umphongolo kaJehova nebhokisi elalinawo, okwakukulo impahla yegolide, akubeka etsheni elikhulu; abantu baseBeti Shemeshi banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa, bahlabela uJehova imihlatshelo ngalolo suku. ₁₆Amakhosi ayisihlanu amaFilisti esekubonile abuyela e-Ekroni ngalolo suku.

₁₇Lawa angamathumba egolide amaFilisti awabuyisa abe ngumnikelo wecala kuJehova: elinye ngele-Ashidodi, nelinye ngeleGaza, nelinye ngele-Ashikeloni, nelinye ngeleGati, nelinye ngele-Ekroni; ₁₈namagundane egolide ayenjengomumo wemizi yonke yamaFilisti yamakhosi ayisihlanu, imizi ebiyelweyo nemizana yasemaphandleni, okubufakazi bakho kuyitshe elikhulu abawubeka kulo umphongolo kaJehova, elikhona nanamuhla ensimini kaJoshuwa waseBeti Shemeshi.

₁₉Wabulala abantu baseBeti Shemeshi, ngokuba babebukile umphongolo kaJehova; wabulala kubantu amadoda angamashumi ayisikhombisa emadodeni ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisihlanu; abantu balila, ngokuba uJehova wabulala abantu ngokubulala okukhulu. ₂₀Abantu baseBeti Shemeshi base bethi: “Ngubani ongema phambi kukaJehova, lo Nkulunkulu ongcwele, na? Uyakwenyukela kubani esuka kithina na?”

₂₁Bathuma izithunywa kwabakhileyo eKiriyati Jeharimi, bathi: “AmaFilisti awubuyisele umphongolo kaJehova; yehlani, niwukhuphulele kini.”

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.

₁Kwathi uSamuweli esemdala, wabeka amadodana akhe abe ngabahluleli phezu kuka-Israyeli. ₂Igama lendodana yakhe eyizibulo lalinguJoweli; igama leyesibili lalingu-Abiya; babe ngabahluleli eBeri Sheba. ₃Amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngezindlela zakhe, kepha aphambukela inzuzo embi, athengwa ngemivuzo, aphendukezela izahlulelo.

₄Kwabuthana onke amalunga akwa-Israyeli, aya kuSamuweli eRama; ₅athi kuye: “Bheka, usumdala, amadodana akho awahambi ngezindlela zakho; sibekele inkosi ukuba isahlulele njengezizwe zonke.”

₆Kepha leyo nto yaba mbi emehlweni kaSamuweli, lapho bethi: “Siphe inkosi ukuba isahlulele.” USamuweli wayesekhuleka kuJehova. ₇UJehova wathi kuSamuweli: “Lalela izwi labantu kukho konke abakushoyo kuwe, ngokuba akusuwe abakulahlileyo, kepha balahle mina, ukuze ngingabi yinkosi phezu kwabo. ₈Njengemisebenzi yonke abayenzileyo, kusukela osukwini engabakhuphula ngalo eGibithe kuze kube namuhla, bangishiya bekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, benze njalo nakuwe. ₉Manje lalela izwi labo, ugamele nokugamela kubo kuphela, ubatshele amalungelo enkosi eyakubusa phezu kwabo.”

₁₀USamuweli wabatshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi onke amazwi kaJehova. ₁₁Wathi: “Nanka amalungelo enkosi eyakubusa phezu kwenu: iyakuthatha amadodana enu, izibekele wona ezinqoleni zayo nasemahhashini ayo, agijime phambi kwezinqola zayo; ₁₂iyakuzibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane nezinduna zamashumi ayisihlanu, alime umhlabathi wayo, avune isivuno sayo, enze izikhali zayo zokulwa nempahla yezinqola zayo. ₁₃Iyakuthatha amadodakazi enu abe ngabathaki, nabapheki, nabaphekizinkwa. ₁₄Iyakuthatha amasimu enu, nezivini zenu, neminqumo yenu emihle, ikunike izinceku zayo. ₁₅Iyakuthatha okweshumi kwembewu yenu nokwesivini senu, ikunike izinduna zayo nezinceku zayo. ₁₆Iyakuthatha izinceku zenu, nezincekukazi zenu, nezinsizwa zenu ezinhle, nezimbongolo zenu, izenze ukuba zisebenze imisebenzi yayo. ₁₇Iyakuthatha okweshumi kwezimvu zenu, nibe yizinceku zayo. ₁₈Niyakukhala ngalolo suku ngenxa yenkosi yenu, eniyakube nizikhethele yona; kepha uJehova akayikuniphendula ngalolo suku.”

₁₉Kepha abantu bala ukulalela izwi likaSamuweli, bathi: “Hhayi, sifuna ukuba kube khona inkosi phezu kwethu, ₂₀ukuze nathi sibe njengezizwe zonke, inkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.”

₂₁USamuweli wezwa onke amazwi abantu, wawalanda ezindlebeni zikaJehova. ₂₂UJehova wathi kuSamuweli: “Lalela izwi labo, ubanike inkosi.”

USamuweli wathi kubantu bakwa-Israyeli: “Hambani niye, kube yilowo nalowo emzini wakini.”

₁Kwakukhona umuntu wakwaBenjamini ogama lakhe lalinguKishi indodana ka-Abiyeli kaSerori kaBekhorati ka-Afiya, indodana yowakwaBenjamini, iqhawe elinamandla. ₂Wayenendodana egama layo lalinguSawule, insizwa enhle; kwakungekho muntu omuhle kunaye phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; kusukela emahlombe akhe kuya phezulu wayemude kunabo bonke abantu.

₃Izimbongolo zikaKishi uyise kaSawule zalahleka. UKishi wathi kuSawule indodana yakhe: “Thatha enye yezinceku, usuke, uye kufuna izimbongolo.” ₄Wadabula izintaba zakwa-Efrayimi, wadabula izwe laseShalisha, kepha abazifumananga; base bedabula izwe laseShahalimi, nalapho zazingekho; wadabula izwe labakwaBenjamini, kepha kabazifumana.

₅Sebefikile ezweni laseSufi, uSawule wathi kuyo inceku yakhe eyayinaye: “Woza sibuye, funa ubaba aziyeke izimbongolo, enqene ngathi.”

₆Yathi kuye: “Bheka, kukhona kulo muzi umuntu kaNkulunkulu, umuntu ohloniphekayo; konke akushoyo kuyakwenzeka impela; masiye khona, mhlawumbe angasitshela indlela esihamba ngayo.”

₇Wayesethi uSawule kuyo inceku yakhe: “Kepha bheka, uma siya khona, siyakulethani kulowo muntu na? Ngokuba isinkwa siphelile ezitsheni zethu; akukho nto esingayiyisa kulowo muntu kaNkulunkulu; sinani, pho, na?”

₈Inceku yabuye yamphendula uSawule, yathi: “Ngiphethe esandleni sami okwesine kweshekeli* lesiliva; lokhu ngiyakumnika khona lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu ukuba asitshele indlela yethu.” ₉Endulo kwa-Israyeli, lapho umuntu ebeyakubuza kuNkulunkulu, washo wathi: “Woza siye kumboni;” ngokuba lo othiwa umprofethi manje wabizwa kuqala ngokuthi umboni.

₁₀USawule wayesethi kuyo inceku yakhe: “Lihle izwi lakho; woza sihambe.” Base beya emzini lapho lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu wayekhona.

₁₁Besakhuphuka ummango womuzi bafumana amantombazana eyakukha amanzi; bathi kuwo: “Umboni ukhona na?”

₁₂Abaphendula athi: “Ukhona; nangu ngaphambi kwakho; shesha kodwa, ngokuba ufikile namuhla emzini, lokhu abantu benomhlatshelo namuhla endaweni ephakemeyo; ₁₃ekungeneni kwenu emzini niyakumfumana, engakenyukeli endaweni ephakemeyo ukuyokudla; ngokuba abantu abayikudla engakafiki, lokhu nguye obusisa umhlatshelo, andukuba abamenyiweyo badle. Ngalokho-ke, khuphukani manje, ngokuba niyakumfumana ngalesi sikhathi.”

₁₄Benyukela emzini; besangena emzini, bheka, uSamuweli waphumela kubo ukuyakwenyukela endaweni ephakemeyo.

₁₅UJehova wayemambulele uSamuweli ngayizolo, uSawule engakafiki, ethi: ₁₆“Kusasa ngalesi sikhathi ngiyakuthuma kuwe umuntu wasezweni lakwaBenjamini; uyakumgcoba abe ngumholi wabantu bami u-Israyeli, asindise abantu bami esandleni samaFilisti, ngokuba ngibonile abantu bami, lokhu ukukhala kwabo kufikile kimi.”

₁₇USamuweli esembonile uSawule, uJehova wathi kuye: “Nangu umuntu engakhuluma ngaye kuwe, ngathi: ‘Lo uyakubusa abantu bami.’ ”

₁₈USawule wayesesondela kuSamuweli esangweni, wathi: “Ake ungitshele ukuthi iphi indlu yomboni.”

₁₉USamuweli wamphendula uSawule, wathi: “Yimi engingumboni; khuphuka phambi kwami, uye endaweni ephakemeyo, ngokuba niyakudla nami namuhla; ekuseni ngiyakukumukisa, ngikutshele konke okusenhliziyweni yakho. ₂₀Izimbongolo zakho esezinezinsuku ezintathu zilahlekile, ungabeki inhliziyo yakho kuzo, ngokuba zitholiwe. Ngokukabani konke okunxanelekayo kwa-Israyeli na? Akusikho okwakho nokwendlu yonke kayihlo na?”

₂₁USawule waphendula wathi: “Angisiye owakwaBenjamini yini, owesincane sezizwe zakwa-Israyeli, na? Nomndeni wakithi awumncane yini kuyo yonke imindeni yesizwe sakwaBenjamini na? Ukhulumelani kimi ngale ndlela na?”

₂₂USamuweli wamthatha uSawule nenceku yakhe, wabangenisa endlini yokudlela, wabahlalisa endaweni engumqoka phakathi kwabamenyiweyo, kungathi abangamashumi amathathu. ₂₃USamuweli wathi kumpheki: “Letha isabelo engakunika sona engasho kuwe ngaso ukuthi: Sibeke ngakuwe.”

₂₄Umpheki waphakamisa umlenze nokwakuphezu kwawo, wawubeka phambi kukaSawule. USamuweli wathi: “Nakhu ohlinzekwe ngakho. Kubeke phambi kwakho, udle, ngokuba kugcinelwe wena kuze kufike lesi sikhathi, njengalokho ngithe ngimemile abantu.” USawule wayesedla noSamuweli ngalolo suku.

₂₅Sebehlile endaweni ephakemeyo bangena emzini; wakhuluma noSawule ophahleni lwendlu. ₂₆Bavuka ekuseni; kwathi kusantwela, uSamuweli wabiza uSawule esophahleni lwendlu, wathi: “Vuka ukuba ngikumukise.” Wayesevuka uSawule, baphuma bobabili, baya phandle, yena noSamuweli. ₂₇Besehlela ngasekugcineni komuzi, uSamuweli wathi kuSawule: “Yisho kuyo inceku ukuba idlule phambi kwethu – yadlula-ke – kepha yima wena manje ukuba ngikuzwise izwi likaNkulunkulu.”

₁USamuweli wayesethatha umfuma wamafutha, wawathela ekhanda lakhe, wamanga, wathi: “Angithi uJehova ukugcobile ukuba ube ngumholi wefa lakhe na? ₂Nxa usumukile kimi namuhla, uyakufumana abantu ababili ngasethuneni likaRaheli emkhawulweni wakwaBenjamini eSelisa; bayakuthi kuwe: ‘Izimbongolo owawuye ukuzifuna zitholiwe; bheka, uyihlo uyekile izimbongolo, uyenqena ngani, ethi: “Ngiyakwenze njani ngomntanami na?” ’

₃“Nxa usukile khona uye phambili, uyakufika kulo i-oki* laseThabori; kuyakuhlangana nawe khona abantu abathathu bekhuphukela kuNkulunkulu eBethele, omunye ephethe amazinyane amathathu ezimbuzi, omunye ephethe izinkwa ezintathu, omunye ephethe imvaba yewayini; ₄bayakukubingelela, bakunike izinkwa ezimbili oyakuzamukela ezandleni zabo.

₅“Emva kwalokho uyakufika entabeni kaNkulunkulu, lapho likhona ikhanda lamaFilisti; kuyakuthi nxa usufikile khona emzini, uhlangane neviyo labaprofethi behla endaweni ephakemeyo benogubhu, nesigubhu, negenkle, nehabhu* phambi kwabo, beprofetha; ₆uMoya kaJehova uyakwehlela phezu kwakho, uyakuprofetha kanye nabo, uphenduke omunye umuntu. ₇Kuyakuthi lapho lezo zibonakaliso sezifikile kuwe, wenze esikufumanayo isandla sakho, ngokuba uNkulunkulu unawe.

₈“Uyakwehla phambi kwami ukuya eGiligali; bheka, ngiyakwehlela kuwe ukuba nginikele ngeminikelo yokushiswa, ngihlabe imihlatshelo yokuthula; uyakuhlala izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, ngize ngifike kuwe, ngikutshele oyakukwenza.”

₉Kwathi esefulathela emuka kuSamuweli, uNkulunkulu waphendukisa inhliziyo yakhe yaba ngenye; zonke lezo zibonakaliso zafika ngalona lolo suku.

₁₀Lapho sebefike khona entabeni, bheka, iviyo labaprofethi lahlangana naye; uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe, waprofetha phakathi kwabo. ₁₁Kwathi bonke ababemazi kuqala sebebona ukuthi waprofetha nabaprofethi, abantu bathi omunye komunye: “Kuyini lokhu okwehlele indodana kaKishi na? Kanti naye uSawule uphakathi kwabaprofethi na?”

₁₂Kwaphendula umuntu wakhona, wathi: “Ngubani uyise na?” Ngalokho kwaba yisaga ukuthi: “Naye uSawule uphakathi kwabaprofethi na?” ₁₃Eseqedile ukuprofetha wafika endaweni ephakemeyo.

₁₄Uyisekazi kaSawule wathi kuye nasencekwini yakhe: “Nike naya ngaphi na?”

Wathi: “Besiye kufuna izimbongolo; lapho sesibonile ukuthi azikho, sase siya kuSamuweli.”

₁₅Uyisekazi kaSawule wathi: “Ake ningitshele: Utheni kini uSamuweli na?”

₁₆USawule wathi kuyisekazi: “Usitshele impela ukuthi izimbongolo zitholiwe.” Kepha indaba yombuso akhuluma ngayo uSamuweli akamtshelanga yona.

₁₇USamuweli wabizela abantu kuJehova eMispa; ₁₈wathi kubantu bakwa-Israyeli: “UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli usho kanje, uthi: ‘Ngenyusa u-Israyeli eGibithe, nganophula esandleni sabaseGibithe nasesandleni sayo yonke imibuso eyanicindezelayo;’ ₁₉kepha namuhla nimlahlile uNkulunkulu wenu, yena owanisindisa ezingozini zenu zonke nasezinsizini zenu, nishilo nathi: ‘Hhayi, kepha beka inkosi phezu kwethu.’ Ngalokho yimani phambi kukaJehova ngezizwe zenu nangezinkulungwane zenu.”

₂₀USamuweli wayesesondeza zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli, kwadliwa isizwe sakwaBenjamini. ₂₁Wayesesondeza isizwe sakwaBenjamini ngemindeni yabo, kwadliwa umndeni wakwaMatri; kwadliwa uSawule indodana kaKishi; kepha lapho bebemfuna, akafunyanwanga. ₂₂Babuye babuza uJehova ukuthi: “Usezakufika lowo muntu na?”

UJehova waphendula wathi: “Bheka, ucashile empahleni.”

₂₃Bagijima, bamlanda khona; wema phakathi kwabantu, wayemude kunabo bonke abantu kusukela emahlombe kuya phezulu. ₂₄USamuweli wathi kubo bonke abantu: “Mbhekeni amkhethileyo uJehova ukuthi akakho onjengaye kubantu bonke.”

Base bekhamuluka abantu bonke, bathi: “Mayime njalo inkosi.”

₂₅USamuweli wayesebatshela abantu amalungelo ombuso, wawaloba encwadini, wayibeka phambi kukaJehova. USamuweli wamukisa bonke abantu, yilowo nalowo waya ekhaya lakubo.

₂₆Naye uSawule waya ekhaya lakhe eGibeya; kwahamba naye impi ezinhliziyo zayo uNkulunkulu azithintile. ₂₇Kepha abantu ababi bathi: “Uyakusisindisa kanjani lowo na?” Bamdelela, abamnikanga isipho. Kepha wathula.