To The Word – Day 76

₁UJehova wathi kuSamuweli: “Uyakumkhalela kuze kube nini na? Ngokuba ngimlahlile ukuba angabe esaba yinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli. Gcwalisa uphondo lwakho ngamafutha, uhambe; ngiyakukuthuma kuJese waseBetlehema, ngokuba ngizibonele inkosi phakathi kwamadodana akhe.”

₂Wathi uSamuweli: “Ngingahamba kanjani? Uma uSawule ekuzwa, uyakungibulala.”

UJehova wathi: “Hamba nesithokazi, uthi: ‘Ngize ukuhlabela uJehova.’ ₃Mbize uJese ekuhlabeni; ngiyakukwazisa ukuthi uyakwenzani: uyakungigcobela lowo engiyakumusho kuwe.”

₄USamuweli wenza lokho akushoyo uJehova, waya eBetlehema. Amalunga omuzi amhlangabeza ethuthumela, athi: “Ukufika kwakho kunokuthula na?”

₅Wathi: “Yebo, kunokuthula; ngize ukuhlabela uJehova; zingcweliseni, nize nami ekuhlabeni.” Wabangcwelisa uJese namadodana akhe, wababiza ukuba beze ekuhlabeni.

₆Kwathi sebefikile, wabheka u-Eliyabe, wathi: “Impela ogcotshiweyo kaJehova uphambi kwakhe.”

₇Kepha uJehova wathi kuSamuweli: “Ungabheki isimo sakhe nobude bomzimba wakhe, ngokuba ngimalile, lokhu uJehova engabukisi okomuntu; umuntu ubheka okusemehlweni, kepha uJehova ubheka okusenhliziyweni.”

₈UJese wayesebiza u-Abinadaba, wamdlulisa phambi kukaSamuweli. Wathi: “Nalona uJehova akamkhethanga.” ₉UJese wayesedlulisa uShama. Wathi: “Nalona uJehova akamkhethanga.” ₁₀UJese wadlulisa ayisikhombisa kumadodana akhe phambi kukaSamuweli. USamuweli wathi kuJese: “UJehova akawakhethanga nalawa.” ₁₁USamuweli wathi kuJese: “Sebephelile abafana na?”

Wathi: “Kusasele omncane; bheka, uyalusa izimvu.”

USamuweli wathi kuJese: “Thumela umlande, ngokuba asiyikubuya, engakafiki lapha.”

₁₂Wathumela, wamngenisa. Wayebomvana enamehlo amahle, emuhle ngokubukwa. UJehova wathi: “Suka umgcobe, ngokuba lona nguye.”

₁₃USamuweli wayesethatha uphondo lwamafutha, wamgcoba phakathi kwabafowabo; uMoya kaJehova wehlela phezu kukaDavide ngamandla, kusukela kulolo suku kuya phambili. Wayesesuka uSamuweli, waya eRama.

₁₄UMoya kaJehova wamuka kuSawule, nomoya omubi owavela kuJehova wamzuma.

₁₅Izinceku zikaSawule zathi kuye: “Bheka-ke, umoya omubi ovela kuNkulunkulu ukuzumile. ₁₆Mayisho inkosi yethu ukuba izinceku eziphambi kwakho zifune umuntu owazi ukubetha ihabhu;* kuyakuthi lapho ufikelwa ngumoya omubi ovela kuNkulunkulu, abethe ngesandla sakhe, kube kuhle kuwe.”

₁₇USawule wayesethi kuzo izinceku zakhe: “Ngiboneleni umuntu owazi ukubetha kahle, nimlethe kimi.”

₁₈Kwaphendula enye insizwa, yathi: “Bheka, ngibonile indodana kaJese waseBetlehema eyazi ukubetha, eyiqhawe elinamandla, eyindoda yempi nehlakaniphile ekukhulumeni, ebukeka, emuhle futhi; uJehova unayo.”

₁₉Ngalokho uSawule wathuma izithunywa kuJese, wathi: “Thuma kimi uDavide indodana yakho osezimvini.” ₂₀UJese wathatha imbongolo ithwele isinkwa, nemvaba yewayini, nezinyane lembuzi, wakuthuma kuSawule ngesandla sikaDavide indodana yakhe.

₂₁UDavide wafika kuSawule, wema phambi kwakhe; wamthanda kakhulu, waba ludibi lwezikhali zakhe. ₂₂USawule wathumela kuJese, wathi: “Akeme phambi kwami uDavide, ngokuba ufumene umusa emehlweni ami.”

₂₃Kwathi nxa umoya owavela kuNkulunkulu emehlela uSawule, uDavide wathatha ihabhu,* walibetha ngesandla sakhe; wayesekhululeka uSawule, waba ngcono, umoya omubi wamuka kuye.

₁AmaFilisti abutha izimpi zawo ukuba alwe; abuthana eSoko lakwaJuda, amisa phakathi kweSoko ne-Azeka e-Efesi Damimi. ₂USawule nabantu bakwa-Israyeli babuthana, bamisa esigodini sase-Ela, bahlela impi ukuhlangabezana namaFilisti. ₃AmaFilisti ayemi entabeni ngalapha, u-Israyeli wayemi entabeni ngalapha; kwakukhona isigodi phakathi kwabo.

₄Kwaphuma iqhawe elikhulu ekamu* lamaFilisti, igama lalo linguGoliyati waseGati, obude bakhe buyizingalo eziyisithupha nesandla. ₅Wayenesigqoko sethusi ekhanda, egqoke ibhantshi lensimbi; isisindo sebhantshi sasingamashekeli* ayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu ethusi. ₆Wayenezivikelo zethusi emilenzeni, nengcula yethusi phakathi kwamahlombe. ₇Uthi lomkhonto wakhe lwalunjengogongolo lomaluki; isihloko somkhonto sasingamashekeli* angamakhulu ayisithupha ensimbi; ophethe isihlangu wahamba phambi kwakhe.

₈Wema, wamemeza ezinhleni zakwa-Israyeli, wathi kuzo: “Niphumelani ukuhlela impi na? Angisiye umFilisti, nina niyizinceku zikaSawule, na? Zikhetheleni umuntu, ehle eze kimi. ₉Uma enamandla okulwa nami, angibulale, siyakuba yizigqila zenu; kepha uma ngimahlula, ngimbulale, niyakuba yizigqila zethu, nisikhonze.” ₁₀UmFilisti wathi: “Ngiyazeyisa namuhla izinhla zakwa-Israyeli; nginikeni umuntu, silwe naye.” ₁₁Lapho uSawule naye wonke u-Israyeli bezwa lawo mazwi omFilisti, bashaywa luvalo, besaba kakhulu.

₁₂UDavide wayeyindodana yalowo mEfrati waseBetlehema Juda ogama lakhe lalinguJese; wayenamadodana ayisishiyagalombili; lowo muntu wayemdala ezinsukwini zikaSawule phakathi kwabantu. ₁₃Amadodana amathathu amakhulu kaJese ayemlandele uSawule ukuya empini; amagama amadodana akhe amathathu ayeyile empini ayengu-Eliyabe izibulo, emelamayo ngu-Abinadaba, neyesithathu nguShama. ₁₄UDavide nguye owayengomncinyane; amathathu amakhulu amlandela uSawule. ₁₅UDavide wahamba wabuya ukuyakwalusa izimvu zikayise eBetlehema.

₁₆UmFilisti wasondela ekuseni nakusihlwa, wema khona izinsuku ezingamashumi amane.

₁₇UJese wathi kuDavide indodana yakhe: “Ake uthathele abafowenu i-efa* lalolu tshwele nalezi zinkwa eziyishumi, usheshe uye ekamu* labafowenu, ₁₈uphathele induna yenkulungwane lawa makhekheba kashizi,* ubheke impilo yabafowenu, uthathe isibambiso kubo.” ₁₉USawule nabo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli base besesigodini sase-Ela, belwa namaFilisti.

₂₀UDavide wavuka ekuseni kakhulu, washiya izimvu kumlindi, wathatha, wahamba, njengalokho uJese amyale ngakho; wafika enqabeni yezinqola, impi isaphuma ukuyakuhlelwa, yahlaba umkhosi. ₂₁U-Israyeli namaFilisti bahlela impi, babhekana. ₂₂UDavide washiya impahla yakhe esandleni somlindi wempahla, wagijimela empini, wabingelela abafowabo. ₂₃Kepha esakhuluma nabo, bheka, kwenyuka iqhawe elikhulu, umFilisti waseGati, nguGoliyati igama lalo, ephuma ezinhleni zamaFilisti, wakhuluma wona lawo mazwi; uDavide wawezwa. ₂₄Bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli sebebonile lo muntu bambalekela, besaba kakhulu.

₂₅Abantu bakwa-Israyeli bathi: “Nimbonile lowo muntu owenyukile na? Ngokuba wenyukile ukuyakweyisa u-Israyeli; kuyakuthi umuntu ombulalayo, inkosi imcebise ngengcebo enkulu, imnike indodakazi yayo, iyenze indlu kayise ibe ngekhululekile kwa-Israyeli.”

₂₆UDavide wakhuluma kubantu ababemi naye, wathi: “Kuyakwenziwa ntoni kumuntu obulala lowo mFilisti, asuse ihlazo kwa-Israyeli, na? Ngokuba ngubani lowo mFilisti ongasokile ukuba ayeyise impi kaNkulunkulu ophilayo na?”

₂₇Abantu bamphendula ngalona lelo zwi; bathi-ke: “Kuyakwenziwa kanjalo kumuntu ombulalayo.”

₂₈U-Eliyabe umfowabo omkhulu wezwa lapho ekhuluma kubantu; intukuthelo ka-Eliyabe yamvuthela uDavide, wathi: “Wehleleni na? Uzishiye kubani leziya zimvu ezingengakanani ehlane na? Mina ngiyakwazi ukuziphakamisa kwakho nobubi benhliziyo yakho, ngokuba wehlile ukuba ubuke impi.”

₂₉Kepha uDavide wathi: “Ngenzeni na? Bekungumbuzo nje.” ₃₀Wamfulathela, wabheka komunye, wakhuluma lona lelo zwi; abantu bamphendula njengakuqala. ₃₁Esezwakele amazwi abewakhulumile uDavide alandwa phambi kukaSawule; wambiza.

₃₂UDavide wayesethi kuSawule: “Makungaqedwa nhliziyo yamuntu ngalowo; inceku yakho iyakuhamba ilwe nalowo mFilisti.”

₃₃USawule wathi kuDavide: “Awunamandla okuya kulowo mFilisti, ulwe naye, ngokuba ungumfana nje, yena eyindoda yempi kwasebusheni bakhe.”

₃₄UDavide wathi kuSawule: “Inceku yakho yayizalusa izimvu zikayise; lapho kwafika ingonyama nebhere* kwathatha imvu emhlambini, ₃₅ngaphuma ngakulandela, ngakubulala, ngayophula emlonyeni wakho; lapho kwangivukela, ngakubamba ngesilevu, ngakwahlula, ngakubulala. ₃₆Inceku yakho yahlula ingonyama nebhere,* nalowo mFilisti ongasokile uyakuba njengenye yazo, lokhu eyeyisile impi kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.” ₃₇UDavide wathi: “UJehova owangophula ozisheni lwengonyama nasozisheni lwebhere* uyakungophula nasesandleni salowo mFilisti.”

USawule wathi kuDavide: “Hamba, uJehova uyakuba nawe.”

₃₈USawule wamembathisa ezakhe izingubo, wamfaka isigqoko sethusi ekhanda, wamgqokisa ibhantshi lensimbi. ₃₉UDavide wabhinca inkemba yakhe phezu kwezambatho zakhe, wazama ukuhamba, ngokuba wayengakazilingi. UDavide wathi kuSawule: “Anginakuhamba nalezi, angikazilingi.” UDavide wayesezikhumula. ₄₀Wathatha induku yakhe ngesandla, wazikhethela amatshe ayisihlanu abushelezi emfudlaneni, wawafaka esikhwameni somalusi ayenaso, eyikeni lakhe, indwayimana yakhe isesandleni sakhe; wayesesondela kumFilisti.

₄₁Weza umFilisti, wafika wasondela kuDavide; umuntu ophethe isihlangu wahamba phambi kwakhe. ₄₂UmFilisti esabuka wambona uDavide, wameyisa, ngokuba wayengumfana nje, ebomvana, ebukeka emuhle. ₄₃UmFilisti wathi kuDavide: “Ngiyinja yini ukuba uze kimi unezinduku na?” UmFilisti wamthuka uDavide ngawonkulunkulu bakhe. ₄₄UmFilisti wathi kuDavide: “Woza kimi, nginike izinyoni zezulu nezilwane zasendle inyama yakho.”

₄₅UDavide wayesethi kumFilisti: “Wena uza kimi nenkemba, nomkhonto, nengcula, kepha mina ngiza kuwe ngegama likaJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu wempi ka-Israyeli oyeyisile. ₄₆Namuhla uJehova uyakukunikela esandleni sami; ngiyakukubulala, ngisuse ikhanda lakho kuwe, nginike namuhla izinyoni zezulu nezilwane zomhlaba izidumbu zempi yamaFilisti, ukuze umhlaba wonke wazi ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli, ₄₇yazi yonke le nhlangano ukuthi uJehova akasindisi ngenkemba nangomkhonto; ngokuba ukulwa kungokukaJehova; uyakuninikela esandleni sethu.”

₄₈Kwathi lapho esuka umFilisti weza wasondela ukuhlangabezana noDavide, uDavide washesha wagijimela ngasempini ukuhlangana nomFilisti. ₄₉UDavide wafaka isandla sakhe esikhwameni sakhe, wakhipha khona itshe, waliphonsa, wamshaya umFilisti ebunzini, itshe lashona ebunzini, wawela phansi ngobuso.

₅₀UDavide wamahlula umFilisti ngendwayimana nangetshe, wamshaya umFilisti, wambulala; kodwa kwakungekho nkemba esandleni sikaDavide.

₅₁Wayesegijima uDavide, wema phezu komFilisti, wathatha inkemba yakhe, wayihosha emgodleni wayo, wambulala, wamnquma ikhanda ngayo. Lapho amaFilisti ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo lifile, abaleka. ₅₂Abantu bakwa-Israyeli nabakwaJuda basuka bakhamuluka, bawaxosha amaFilisti kwaze kwaba seGayi nasemasangweni ase-Ekroni. Abalimeleyo bamaFilisti bawa ngasendleleni eya eShaharayimi, kwaze kwaba seGati nase-Ekroni. ₅₃Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuya ekuxosheni amaFilisti, baphanga ikamu* lawo. ₅₄UDavide wathatha ikhanda lomFilisti, waliyisa eJerusalema; kepha wafaka izikhali zakhe etendeni lakhe.

₅₅Lapho uSawule embona uDavide ephuma ukuhlangabezana nomFilisti, wathi ku-Abineri induna yempi: “Abineri, yindodana kabani lo mfana na?”

U-Abineri wathi: “Kuphila kwakho, nkosi, angazi.”

₅₆Yayisithi inkosi: “Buza wena ukuthi iyindodana kabani le nsizwa.”

₅₇UDavide esabuya ekubulaleni umFilisti, u-Abineri wamthatha wamyisa phambi kukaSawule, ephethe ikhanda lomFilisti esandleni sakhe.

₅₈USawule wathi kuye: “Uyindodana kabani wena mfana na?”

UDavide waphendula wathi: “Ngiyindodana yenceku yakho uJese waseBetlehema.”

₁Kwathi eseqedile ukukhuluma kuSawule, inhliziyo kaJonathani yanamathela enhliziyweni kaDavide, uJonathani wamthanda njengenhliziyo yakhe. ₂USawule wamthatha ngalolo suku, akabe esamvumela ukubuyela endlini kayise. ₃OJonathani noDavide benza isivumelwano, ngokuba wamthanda njengenhliziyo yakhe. ₄UJonathani wakhumula ingubo ayenayo, wayinika uDavide, nezinye izambatho zakhe kwaze kwaba nenkemba yakhe, nomnsalo wakhe, nebhande* lakhe.

₅UDavide waphuma, waya nomaphi lapho uSawule emthuma khona, waziphatha ngokuhlakanipha; uSawule wambeka phezu kwamadoda empi; wayemuhle emehlweni abantu bonke nasemehlweni ezinceku zikaSawule.

₆Kwathi ekufikeni kwabo, uDavide esebuya ekubulaleni umFilisti, abesifazane baphuma emizini yonke yakwa-Israyeli, behlabelela besina, ukuba bamhlangabeze uSawule inkosi ngezigubhu, nangokuthokoza, nangezinkenenezo. ₇Abesifazane bavumelana ngokudlala, bathi:

₈USawule wathukuthela kakhulu, laba libi lelo zwi emehlweni akhe; wathi: “Bamnike uDavide izinkulungwane eziyishumi, kepha mina banginike izinkulungwane nje; sekumsalele umbuso kuphela.” ₉USawule wambheka uDavide kusukela kulolo suku kuya phambili.

₁₀Kwathi ngangomuso umoya omubi owavela kuNkulunkulu wamehlela uSawule, wabheva phakathi kwendlu; uDavide wayebetha ngesandla sakhe njengokwenza kwakhe izinsuku ngezinsuku; uSawule wayenomkhonto wakhe esandleni sakhe. ₁₁USawule wawuciba umkhonto, ngokuba wathi: “Ngiyakumbhujela uDavide odongeni.” Kepha uDavide washalaza phambi kwakhe kabili.

₁₂USawule wamesaba uDavide, ngokuba uJehova wayenaye, kepha wayesukile kuSawule. ₁₃Ngalokho uSawule wamsusa kuye, wambeka abe yinduna yakhe yenkulungwane; wayephuma engena phambi kwabantu. ₁₄UDavide waziphatha ngokuhlakanipha kuzo zonke izindlela zakhe; uJehova wayenaye. ₁₅Lapho uSawule ebona ukuthi waziphatha ngokuhlakanipha, wamesaba. ₁₆Kepha wonke u-Israyeli noJuda bamthanda uDavide, ngokuba wayephuma engena phambi kwabo.

₁₇USawule wathi kuDavide: “Bheka, indodakazi yami enkulu uMerabi ngiyakukunika yona ibe ngumkakho; yiba yiqhawe lami kuphela, ulwe izimpi zikaJehova.” Ngokuba uSawule wathi: “Isandla sami masingabi phezu kwakhe, kepha isandla samaFilisti masibe phezu kwakhe.”

₁₈UDavide wathi kuSawule: “Mina ngingubani, kuyini ukuphila kwami, nomndeni kababa uyini kwa-Israyeli ukuba ngibe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi?” ₁₉Kepha kwathi ngesikhathi uMerabi indodakazi kaSawule ebeyakunikwa uDavide, wanikwa ku-Adriyeli waseMehola abe ngumkakhe.

₂₀UMikhali indodakazi kaSawule wamthanda uDavide; bamtshela uSawule, kwaba kuhle emehlweni akhe. ₂₁Wayesethi uSawule: “Ngiyakumnika yena ukuba abe lugibe kuye, isandla samaFilisti sibe phezu kwakhe.” Ngalokho uSawule wathi kuDavide: “Uyakuba ngumkhwenyana wami ngokwesibili namuhla.”

₂₂USawule wayaleza izinceku zakhe ngokuthi: “Khulumani noDavide ngasese, nithi: ‘Bheka, inkosi yenamile ngawe, nazo zonke izinceku zayo ziyakuthanda; ngalokho yiba ngumkhwenyana wenkosi.’ ”

₂₃Izinceku zikaSawule zakhuluma lawo mazwi ezindlebeni zikaDavide. UDavide wathi: “Kuyinto elula emehlweni enu ukuba ngibe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi, lokhu ngingumuntu ompofu nodelelikileyo na?”

₂₄Izinceku zikaSawule zamtshela zathi: “Wakhuluma kanjalo uDavide.” ₂₅USawule wathi: “Niyakusho kanje kuDavide, nithi: ‘Inkosi ayifuni ilobolo, kuphela amajwabu ayikhulu amaFilisti ukuba kuphindiswe ezitheni zenkosi.’ ” USawule wacabanga ukumwisa uDavide ngesandla samaFilisti.

₂₆Izinceku zakhe zamtshela uDavide lawo mazwi, kwaba kuhle emehlweni kaDavide ukuba abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi, kepha izinsuku zazingakapheleli; ₂₇uDavide wasuka waya, yena nabantu bakhe, wabulala kuwo amaFilisti abantu abangamakhulu amabili; uDavide waletha amajwabu abo, bawayisa enkosini ephelele ukuba abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi. USawule wayesemnika uMikhali indodakazi yakhe abe ngumkakhe.

₂₈USawule wabona, wazi ukuthi uJehova unoDavide; uMikhali indodakazi kaSawule wamthanda. ₂₉USawule wayesemesaba uDavide kakhulu; uSawule wayeyisitha sikaDavide sonke isikhathi.

₃₀Kwase kuphuma izikhulu zamaFilisti; kwathi njalo uma zisaphuma, uDavide waziphatha ngokuhlakanipha kakhulu kunazo zonke izinceku zikaSawule, laze laduma kakhulu igama lakhe.

₁USawule wakhuluma kuJonathani indodana yakhe nakuzo zonke izinceku zakhe ngokubulala uDavide. Kepha uJonathani indodana kaSawule wamenamela kakhulu uDavide. ₂UJonathani wamtshela uDavide, wathi: “USawule ubaba ufuna ukukubulala; ngalokho ake uxwaye kusasa, uhlale esitha, ucashe; ₃ngiyakuphuma ngime ngakubaba endle lapho ukhona, ngikhulume ngawe nobaba; uma ngibona okuthile, ngiyakukutshela.”

₄UJonathani wakhuluma okuhle ngoDavide kuSawule uyise, wathi kuye: “Inkosi mayingayoni inceku yayo uDavide, ngokuba akakonanga, nemisebenzi yakhe kuwe ilungile kakhulu; ₅wabeka ukuphila kwakhe esandleni sakhe, wabulala umFilisti, uJehova wamenzela wonke u-Israyeli insindiso enkulu, wakubona wena, wathokoza; pho, uyakulonelani igazi elingenacala, umbulale uDavide engone lutho na?”

₆USawule walilalela izwi likaJonathani; uSawule wafunga wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova, akayikubulawa.”

₇UJonathani wambiza uDavide; uJonathani wamtshela konke lokho. UJonathani wamyisa uDavide kuSawule, waba khona ebusweni bakhe njengakuqala.

₈Kwabuye kwaba khona impi futhi; uDavide waphuma walwa namaFilisti, wawaceka ngokuceka okukhulu; ambalekela.

₉Umoya omubi owavela kuJehova wamehlela uSawule ehlezi endlini yakhe, ephethe umkhonto esandleni sakhe; uDavide wayebetha ngesandla. ₁₀USawule wafuna ukumbhujela uDavide ngomkhonto odongeni, kepha wanyelela ebusweni bukaSawule, wagwaza ngomkhonto odongeni; uDavide wabaleka, waphunyuka ngalobo busuku.

₁₁USawule wathuma izithunywa endlini kaDavide ukuba zimlinde, zimbulale ekuseni; uMikhali umkaDavide wamtshela wathi: “Uma ungasindisi ukuphila kwakho ngalobu busuku, uyakubulawa kusasa.” ₁₂UMikhali wamehlisa uDavide ngefasitele, wahamba, wabaleka, waphunyuka. ₁₃UMikhali wathatha itherafi,* walibeka embhedeni, wabeka isicamelo soboya bezimbuzi ngasekhanda lalo, walembesa izingubo.

₁₄Lapho uSawule esethuma izithunywa ukumthatha uDavide, wathi: “Uyagula.”

₁₅USawule wathuma izithunywa ukumbona uDavide, ethi: “Mkhuphuleni kimi ngombhede ukuba ngimbulale.” ₁₆Lapho izithunywa zingena, bheka, itherafi* lalisembhedeni, isicamelo soboya bezimbuzi singasekhanda lalo.

₁₇USawule wathi kuMikhali: “Ungikhohliseleni kanje, uvumele isitha sami ukuba sihambe, siphunyuke, na?”

UMikhali wamphendula uSawule ngokuthi: “Wathi kimi: ‘Ngivumele ukuba ngihambe; ngiyakukubulalelani na?’ ”

₁₈Wayesebaleka uDavide, waphunyuka, waya kuSamuweli eRama, wamtshela konke uSawule abekwenzile kuye. Yena noSamuweli baya bahlala eNayoti. ₁₉Kwabikwa kuSawule, kwathiwa: “Bheka, uDavide useNayoti eRama.” ₂₀USawule wathuma izithunywa ukumthatha uDavide; lapho zibona iviyo labaprofethi beprofetha, uSamuweli emi engumholi wabo, uMoya kaNkulunkulu wazehlela izithunywa zikaSawule, nazo zaprofetha. ₂₁Kwabikwa kuSawule; wathuma ezinye izithunywa; nazo zaprofetha. USawule wayesephinda wathuma izithunywa ngokwesithathu; nazo zaprofetha. ₂₂Wayeseya naye eRama, wafika emthonjeni oseSeku, wabuza ukuthi: “Baphi oSamuweli noDavide na?”

Kwathiwa: “Bheka, baseNayoti eRama.”

₂₃Wayeseya khona eNayoti eRama; uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela naphezu kwakhe, wahambahamba waprofetha, waze wafika eNayoti eRama. ₂₄Naye wakhumula izingubo zakhe, waprofetha naye phambi kukaSamuweli, walala phansi enqunu lonke lolo suku nabo bonke lobo busuku. Ngalokho kwathiwa: “Naye uSawule uphakathi kwabaprofethi na?”

₁UDavide wabaleka eNayoti eRama, weza, wathi phambi kukaJonathani: “Ngenzeni na? Liyini icala lami na? Siyini isono sami phambi kukayihlo ukuba afune ukuphila kwami na?”

₂Wathi kuye: “Makube kude lokho; awuyikufa; bheka, ubaba akenzi lutho olukhulu noma oluncane engakwambuleli kimi; pho, ubaba ubeyakungifihlela le nto na? Akuyikuba njalo.”

₃UDavide wabuye wafunga, wathi: “Uyihlo uyazi kahle ukuthi ngifumene umusa emehlweni akho; uthi: ‘Makangazi lokhu uJonathani, funa abe nosizi.’ Kepha, kuphila kukaJehova nokuphila kwakho, kukhona isinyathelo esisodwa nje phakathi kwami nokufa.”

₄UJonathani wayesethi kuDavide: “Noma kuyini inhliziyo yakho ekushoyo, ngiyakukwenzela khona.”

₅UDavide wathi kuJonathani: “Bheka, kusasa iyakwethwasa inyanga; angifanele ukuphutha ukuhlala nenkosi ekudleni, kepha ngivumele ukuba ngihambe, ngicashe endle kuze kube sosukwini lwesithathu ngakusihlwa. ₆Uma uyihlo engifica ngingekho, wothi: ‘UDavide wacela nokucela ukuba agijimele eBetlehema umuzi wakhe, ngokuba kukhona lapho umhlatshelo weminyaka ngeminyaka owenzelwa wonke umndeni wakubo.’ ₇Uma esho ukuthi: ‘Kulungile,’ inceku yakho iyakuba nokuthula; kepha uma ethukuthela, yazi-ke ukuthi unqume okubi. ₈Ngalokho yenzela inceku yakho isihawu, ngokuba ungenisile inceku yakho esivumelwaneni sikaJehova nawe; kepha uma kukhona ububi kimi, ngibulale wena, ngokuba ubuyakungiyiselani kuyihlo na?”

₉UJonathani wathi: “Makube kude nawe, ngokuba uma bengazi nakanci ukuthi kunqunywe okubi ngubaba ukuba wehlelwe yikho, bengingayikukutshela na?”

₁₀UDavide wayesethi kuJonathani: “Ngubani oyakungitshela, uma mhlawumbe uyihlo ekuphendula kabi na?”

₁₁UJonathani wathi kuDavide: “Woza siye endle.” Baphuma bobabili, baya endle.

₁₂UJonathani wathi kuDavide: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, nxa ngimphenya ubaba ngalesi sikhathi kusasa noma ngomhlomunye, bheka, uma kukuhle kuDavide, ngiyakuthumela kuwe, ngikwambulele kuwe. ₁₃UJehova makenze njalo kuJonathani, enezele futhi, uma kukuhle kubaba ukukwenzela okubi, ngingakwambuleli kuwe, ngikuvumele ukuba uhambe kahle; uJehova makabe nawe, njengalokho ayenobaba. ₁₄Awuyikungenzela umusa kaJehova ukuba ngingafi ngisekhona kuphela, ₁₅kepha futhi mawunganqumi isihawu sakho endlini yami kuze kube phakade, hhayi nalapho uJehova esenqumile zonke izitha zikaDavide ebusweni bomhlaba.”

₁₆UJonathani wayesenza isivumelwano nendlu kaDavide; futhi uJehova wakubiza esandleni sezitha zikaDavide. ₁₇UJonathani waphinda wamfungisa ukumthanda kwakhe, ngokuba wamthanda njengokuba ethanda umphefumulo wakhe.

₁₈UJonathani wayesethi kuye: “Kusasa iyakwethwasa inyanga; uyakuficwa ungekho, ngokuba isihlalo sakho siyakuba ze. ₁₉Usuhlalile izinsuku ezintathu; yehla masinyane, uye kuleyo ndawo owacasha kuyo ngosuku lwesenzo leso, uhlale ngasetsheni lase-Ezeli. ₂₀Ngiyakucibishela imicibisholo emithathu ngaseceleni kwalo, kungathi ngicibishela isigcibisholo. ₂₁Bheka, ngiyakuthuma umfana ngokuthi: ‘Hamba ufune imicibisholo.’ Uma ngithi kumfana: ‘Bheka, imicibisholo inganeno kwakho, yithathe,’ woza wena, ngokuba ungaba nokuthula, akukho lutho, kuphila kukaJehova. ₂₂Kepha uma ngithi kanje kumfana: ‘Bheka, imicibisholo ingalaphaya kwakho,’ hamba, ngokuba uJehova ukumukisile. ₂₃Namaqondana nendaba esikhulume ngayo mina nawe, bheka, uJehova uphakathi kwakho nami kuze kube phakade.”

₂₄UDavide wacasha masinyane endle; isethwasile inyanga, inkosi yahlala ekudleni ukuba idle. ₂₅Inkosi yahlala esihlalweni sayo njengakwezinye izikhathi, isihlalo esingasodongeni; uJonathani wema, u-Abineri wahlala ngaseceleni kukaSawule; kepha indawo kaDavide yayiyize. ₂₆Kodwa uSawule akakhulumanga lutho ngalolo suku, ngokuba wacabanga ukuthi: “Okuthile kumehlele; akahlambulukile, impela akahlambulukile.” ₂₇Kwathi ngangomuso emva kokwethwasa kwenyanga ngolwesibili indawo kaDavide yayiyize; uSawule wathi kuJonathani indodana yakhe: “Indodana kaJese ayifikanga ngani ekudleni nayizolo nanamuhla na?”

₂₈UJonathani wamphendula uSawule, wathi: “UDavide wangicela nokungicela ukuba aye eBetlehema, ₂₉wathi: ‘Ake ungivumele ukuba ngihambe, ngokuba umndeni wakithi unomhlatshelo emzini; umfowethu ungiyalile; manje-ke, uma ngifumene umusa emehlweni akho, mangihambe ngibone abafowethu.’ Ngalokho akafikanga etafuleni lenkosi.”

₃₀Intukuthelo kaSawule yayisimvuthela uJonathani, wathi kuye: “Wena ndodana yowesifazane owonakeleyo nohlubukileyo, angazi yini ukuthi ukhethile indodana kaJese kube yihlazo lakho nehlazo lobunqunu bukanyoko, na? ₃₁Ngokuba izinsuku zonke indodana kaJese isekhona emhlabeni awuyikuzinza nombuso wakho. Ngalokho thumela umlethe kimi, ngokuba ungowokufa yena.”

₃₂UJonathani wamphendula uSawule uyise, wathi kuye: “Uyakubulalelwani? Wenzeni na?” ₃₃USawule wamgema ngomkhonto ukuba amgwaze; wayesekwazi uJonathani ukuthi uyise unqume ukumbulala uDavide.

₃₄UJonathani wasuka etafuleni evutha ulaka, akadlanga kudla ngosuku lwesibili lwenyanga, ngokuba wayenosizi ngenxa kaDavide, lokhu uyise emhlazisile.

₃₅Kwathi ekuseni uJonathani waphuma, waya endle ngesikhathi abasimisile noDavide, umfana omncane enaye. ₃₆Wathi kumfana wakhe: “Gijima, ufune imicibisholo engiyicibishelayo.” Esagijima umfana, wacibishela umcibisholo ngaphambi kwakhe. ₃₇Umfana esefikile endaweni yomcibisholo uJonathani ayicibisheleyo, uJonathani wamemeza emva komfana, wathi: “Umcibisholo awungaphambi kwakho na?” ₃₈UJonathani wamemeza emva komfana, wathi: “Shesha, ukhawuleze, ungemi.” Umfana kaJonathani waqoqa imicibisholo, wafika enkosini yakhe. ₃₉Kepha umfana wayengazi lutho; oJonathani noDavide kuphela babeyazi le ndaba. ₄₀UJonathani wanika umfana wakhe izikhali zakhe, wathi kuye: “Hamba, uziyise emzini.”

₄₁Esehambile umfana, uDavide wavuka ngaseningizimu, wawa phansi ngobuso bakhe, wakhothama kathathu; bangana, bakhalelana, waze wakhala kakhulu uDavide.

₄₂UJonathani wathi kuDavide: “Hamba kahle, lokhu sifungile sobabili igama likaJehova ngokuthi: ‘UJehova uyakuba phakathi kwami nawe naphakathi kwenzalo yami nenzalo yakho kuze kube phakade.’ ” Wavuka, wahamba; uJonathani wangena emzini.