To The Word – Day 78

₁AbaseZifi beza kuSawule eGibeya, bathi: “UDavide akacashi yini entabeni yaseHakhila engaphambi kwehlane na?”

₂USawule wasuka, wehlela ehlane laseZifi enabantu abakhethiweyo bakwa-Israyeli abayizinkulungwane ezintathu ukuba amfune uDavide ehlane. ₃USawule wamisa entabeni yaseHakhila engaphambi kwehlane ngasendleleni. Kepha uDavide wahlala ehlane, wabona ukuthi uSawule uyamlandela ehlane. ₄UDavide wayesethuma izinhloli, wazi ukuthi uSawule ufikile impela.

₅UDavide wasuka, weza endaweni uSawule amise kuyo; uDavide wabona indawo uSawule ahlala kuyo, eno-Abineri indodana kaNeri, induna yempi yakhe; uSawule wayelele ezinqoleni, abantu bemise ngakuye nxazonke.

₆UDavide wayesethatha washo ku-Ahimeleki umHeti naku-Abishayi indodana kaSeruya, umfowabo kaJowabe, ethi: “Ngubani oyakwehla nami ukuya kuSawule ekamu* na?”

U-Abishayi wathi: “Ngiyakwehla nawe.”

₇ODavide no-Abishayi bafika kubantu ebusuku; bheka, uSawule wayelele ubuthongo ezinqoleni, umkhonto wakhe ugxunyekiwe emhlabathini ngasekhanda lakhe; u-Abineri nabantu bakhe babelele ngakuye nxazonke.

₈U-Abishayi wathi kuDavide: “UNkulunkulu unikele isitha sakho esandleni sakho namuhla; ngalokho mangimgwaze kanye ngomkhonto uze udle umhlabathi, ngingamphindi.”

₉UDavide wathi ku-Abishayi: “Ungambulali, ngokuba ngubani ongelulela isandla sakhe kogcotshiweyo kaJehova, angabi nacala, na?” ₁₀UDavide wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova, uJehova uyakumshaya, noma kufika nje usuku lwakhe lokufa, noma ehlela empini, abhubhe. ₁₁UJehova makenqabe ukuba ngelulele isandla sami kogcotshiweyo kaJehova; ake uthathe umkhonto ongasekhanda lakhe nesigubhu samanzi, sihambe.”

₁₂UDavide wayesethatha umkhonto nesigubhu samanzi ngasekhanda likaSawule, bahamba, kungaboni muntu, kungazi muntu, kungavuki muntu, ngokuba babelele bonke, lokhu bebehlelwe ngubuthongo obunzima obuvela kuJehova.

₁₃UDavide wayesewelela phesheya, wema esiqongweni sentaba ekude, isikhala esikhulu siphakathi kwabo. ₁₄UDavide wabiza abantu no-Abineri indodana kaNeri, ethi: “Awusabeli, Abineri, na?”

U-Abineri wayesesabela ethi: “Ungubani wena obiza inkosi na?”

₁₅UDavide wathi ku-Abineri: “Awusiye umuntu okungekho onjengawe kwa-Israyeli na? Awulindanga ngani inkosi yakho, inkosi? Ngokuba kwafika omunye wabantu ukuyobulala inkosi yakho, inkosi. ₁₆Akukuhle okwenzileyo. Kuphila kukaJehova, nimelwe ukufa, ngokuba anilindanga inkosi yenu, ogcotshiweyo kaJehova. Manje bhekani ukuthi umkhonto wenkosi uphi nesigubhu samanzi esasingasekhanda lakhe.”

₁₇USawule walazi izwi likaDavide, wathi: “Yizwi lakho leli, ndodana yami Davide, na?”

UDavide wathi: “Yizwi lami, nkosi yami, nkosi.” ₁₈Wathi: “Inkosi yami iyixoshelani inceku yayo na? Ngokuba ngenzeni na? Ngububi buni obusesandleni sami na? ₁₉Ngalokho mayizwe inkosi yami, inkosi, amazwi enceku yayo. Uma nguJehova okuncokoloza ngami, makamukele umnikelo, kepha uma kungabantwana babantu, mabaqalekiswe phambi kukaJehova, ngokuba bangixoshile namuhla ukuba ngingazihlanganisi nefa likaJehova, bethi: ‘Hamba ukhonze abanye onkulunkulu.’ ₂₀Ngalokho igazi lami malingaweli emhlabathini ngikude noJehova, ngokuba inkosi yakwa-Israyeli iphumele ukufuna intwakumba eyodwa, njengalokhu kuzingelwa intendele ezintabeni.”

₂₁USawule wathi: “Ngonile; buya, ndodana yami Davide, ngokuba angisayikukulimaza, lokhu ukuphila kwami bekuyigugu emehlweni akho namuhla; bheka, ngenze okwesiwula, ngidukile kakhulu.”

₂₂UDavide waphendula wathi: “Bheka, umkhonto, nkosi! Makuwele enye yezinsizwa, iwulande. ₂₃UJehova uyakuphindisela, kube yilowo nalowo ngokulunga kwakhe nangokuthembeka kwakhe, lokhu uJehova ekunikele esandleni sami namuhla, angavuma ukwelulela isandla sami kogcotshiweyo kaJehova. ₂₄Futhi bheka, njengalokho ukuphila kwakho kwakukukhulu ngalolo suku emehlweni ami, ukuphila kwami makube kukhulu emehlweni kaJehova, yena angophule ekuhluphekeni konke.”

₂₅USawule wathi kuDavide: “Mawubusiswe wena ndodana yami Davide; uyakwenza izinto ezinkulu, uphumelele kahle.” Wayesehamba uDavide ngendlela yakhe, uSawule wabuyela endaweni yakhe.

₁UDavide wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Ngiyakubhubha ngelinye ilanga ngesandla sikaSawule; akukho okungcono kimi kunokuba ngibaleke, ngiye ezweni lamaFilisti; uSawule uyakungiyeka, angabe esangifuna emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli, ngiphunyuke esandleni sakhe.”

₂Wayesesuka uDavide, wawela, yena nabantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ababe naye, waya ku-Akhishi indodana kaMahoki, inkosi yaseGati. ₃UDavide wahlala no-Akhishi eGati, yena nabantu bakhe, kwaba yilowo nalowo nomuzi wakhe, uDavide enawomkakhe bobabili, o-Ahinohama waseJizreyeli no-Abigayili waseKarmeli umkaNabali. ₄Kwabikwa kuSawule ukuthi uDavide ubalekele eGati; akabe esamfuna futhi.

₅UDavide wathi ku-Akhishi: “Uma ngifumene umusa emehlweni akho, mabanginike indawo komunye wemizi yasemaphandleni ukuba ngihlale khona, ngokuba inceku yakho izakuhlalelani nawe emzini wenkosi na?”

₆U-Akhishi wamnika iSikilagi ngalolo suku; ngalokho iSikilagi lingelamakhosi kuze kube namuhla. ₇Umumo wezinsuku zokuhlala kukaDavide ezweni lamaFilisti wawungumnyaka nezinyanga ezine.

₈UDavide nabantu bakhe benyuka, bangenela amaGeshuri, namaGirizi, nama-Amaleki, ngokuba lawo ayakhe kulelo zwe kwasendulo ekuyiweni eShuri kuze kube sezweni laseGibithe. ₉UDavide walichitha izwe, akashiyanga muntu ephilile, owesilisa nowesifazane, wathatha izimvu, nezinkabi, nezimbongolo, namakamela, nezingubo, wabuya, wafika ku-Akhishi.

₁₀U-Akhishi wathi: “Ningenelephi namuhla na?”

UDavide wathi: “Bekuseningizimu kwaJuda, naseningizimu kwamaJerameli, naseningizimu kwamaKheni.” ₁₁UDavide akashiyanga owesilisa nowesifazane ephilile ukubayisa eGati, ethi: “Funa basicebe ngokuthi: ‘Wenze njalo uDavide.’ ” Yayinjalo indlela yakhe zonke izinsuku ehlezi ezweni lamaFilisti. ₁₂U-Akhishi wakholwa nguDavide, wathi: “Wenze ukuba anengwe nokunengwa ngabantu bakhe abakwa-Israyeli; ngalokho uyakuba yinceku yami kuze kube nini.”

₁Kwathi ngalezo zinsuku amaFilisti abutha amabutho awo ukuba aphume impi no-Israyeli. U-Akhishi wathi kuDavide: “Yazi nokwazi ukuthi uyakuphuma impi nami, wena nabantu bakho.”

₂UDavide wathi ku-Akhishi: “Ngalokho uyakwazi ukuthi inceku yakho iyakwenzani.”

U-Akhishi wathi kuDavide: “Ngalokho ngiyakukubeka ube ngumlindi wekhanda lami kuze kube nini.”

₃USamuweli wayesefile; wonke u-Israyeli wamkhalela, wammbela eRama umuzi wakhe. USawule wayexoshile ezweni abanamadlozi phakathi kwabo nabathakathi.

₄AmaFilisti abuthana afika, amisa eShunemi; uSawule wabutha wonke u-Israyeli, wamisa eGilibowa. ₅Lapho uSawule ebona impi yamaFilisti, wesaba, inhliziyo yakhe yathuthumela kakhulu. ₆USawule wabuza kuJehova; uJehova akamphendulanga nangamaphupho, nange-Urimi,* nangabaprofethi. ₇Wayesethi uSawule kuzo izinceku zakhe: “Ngifuneleni owesifazane onedlozi ukuba ngiye kuye, ngibuze kuye.”

Izinceku zakhe zathi kuye: “Bheka, kukhona owesifazane onedlozi e-Eni Dori.”

₈USawule waziguqula, wembatha ezinye izingubo, wahamba yena nabantu ababili benaye, bafika kowesifazane ebusuku, wathi: “Ake ungibhulele ngedlozi, ungenyusele engiyakumusho kuwe.”

₉Owesifazane wathi kuye: “Bheka, uyazi ukuthi uSawule wenzeni, ukuba unqumile ezweni abanamadlozi phakathi kwabo nabathakathi; ngalokho ungibekelelani ugibe ukuba ungibulale na?”

₁₀USawule wafunga uJehova kuye owesifazane, wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova, awuyikwehlelwa cala ngalokho.”

₁₁Wayesethi owesifazane: “Ngiyakukwenyusela bani na?”

Wathi: “Ngenyusele uSamuweli.”

₁₂Lapho owesifazane embona uSamuweli, wamemeza ngezwi elikhulu; owesifazane wakhuluma noSawule, wathi: “Ungikhohliseleni na? Ngokuba unguSawule.”

₁₃Inkosi yayisithi kuye: “Ungesabi; ubonani na?”

Owesifazane wathi kuSawule: “Ngibona unkulunkulu ephuma emhlabathini.”

₁₄Wathi kuye: “Unesimo sini na?”

Wathi: “Kukhuphuka ixhegu limboziwe ngengubo.” USawule wabona ukuthi kunguSamuweli, wakhothamela phansi ngobuso, wakhuleka.

₁₅USamuweli wathi kuSawule: “Unginyakaziselani ukuba ungenyuse na?”

USawule waphendula wathi: “Ngihluphekile kakhulu, ngokuba amaFilisti ayalwa nami; uNkulunkulu ungishiyile, akasangiphenduli nangabaprofethi nangamaphupho; ngalokho ngikubizele ukuba ungazise ukuthi ngiyakwenze njani.”

₁₆USamuweli wathi: “Pho, ubuzelani kimi, lokhu uJehova esesukile kuwe, waba yisitha sakho, na? ₁₇UJehova wenzile ngokwakhe, njengalokho akhuluma ngami: uJehova ukwaphucile umbuso esandleni sakho, wawunika umakhelwane wakho uDavide. ₁₈Ngokuba awulalelanga izwi likaJehova, awenzanga ulaka lwakhe olushisayo phezu kwama-Amaleki; ngalokho uJehova wenzile lokhu kuwe namuhla. ₁₉Futhi uJehova uyakunikela u-Israyeli kanye nawe esandleni samaFilisti; kusasa wena namadodana akho niyakuba nami; uJehova uyakunikela nempi yabakwa-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti.”

₂₀USawule wayesewela phansi ngekhanda, wesaba kakhulu ngenxa yamazwi kaSamuweli, akwabakho mandla kuye, ngokuba akadlanga lutho ngosuku lonke nobusuku bonke.

₂₁Owesifazane wafika kuSawule, wabona ukuthi wesaba kakhulu, wathi kuye: “Bheka, incekukazi yakho ililalele izwi lakho, ngibekile ukuphila kwami esandleni sami; ngalalela amazwi akho owawakhuluma kimi. ₂₂Ngalokho mawulilalele izwi lencekukazi yakho, ngibeke ucezu lwesinkwa phambi kwakho; yidla ukuba uthole amandla, nxa uhamba indlela yakho.”

₂₃Kepha wala wathi: “Angiyikudla.” Kodwa zamcindezela izinceku zakhe kanye nowesifazane, walilalela izwi labo. Wayesevuka emhlabathini, wahlala embhedeni.

₂₄Owesifazane wayenethole elikhuluphalisiweyo endlini; washesha walibulala; wathatha impuphu, wayixova, wenza isinkwa esingenamvubelo ngayo, ₂₅wasiletha phambi kukaSawule naphambi kwezinceku zakhe, badla. Base besuka bahamba ngalobo busuku.

₁AmaFilisti abutha zonke izimpi zawo e-Afeki; abakwa-Israyeli bamisa ngasemthonjeni oseJizreyeli. ₂Amakhosi amaFilisti adlula ngamakhulu nangezinkulungwane; uDavide nabantu bakhe badlula emuva kanye no-Akhishi. ₃Zase zithi izikhulu zamaFilisti: “Ayini lawa maHeberu na?”

U-Akhishi wathi kuzo izikhulu zamaFilisti: “Akusiye uDavide inceku kaSawule inkosi yakwa-Israyeli okade enami kulezi zinsuku nakule minyaka na? Angifumananga lutho kuye selokhu ahlubuka weza kimi kuze kube namuhla.”

₄Kepha izikhulu zamaFilisti zamthukuthelela; izikhulu zamaFilisti zathi kuye: “Buyisa lowo muntu ukuba abuyele endaweni yakhe ommise kuyo, angehleli nathi empini, funa abe yisitha sethu empini, ngokuba lona ubeyakuyigculisa ngani inkosi yakhe kungengamakhanda alawo madoda na?” ₅Lona akasiye uDavide ababehlabelela ngaye, besina bethi:

₆U-Akhishi wambiza uDavide, wathi kuye: “Kuphila kukaJehova, wena uqotho; ukuphuma kwakho nokungena kwakho nami empini kuhle emehlweni ami, ngokuba angifumananaga bubi kuwe kusukela osukwini lokufika kwakho kimi kuze kube namuhla; nokho emehlweni amakhosi awumuhle. ₇Ngalokho buya, uhambe ngokuthula, ungenzi okubi emehlweni amakhosi amaFilisti.”

₈UDavide wathi ku-Akhishi: “Kepha ngenzeni na? Ufumeneni encekwini yakho, kusukela osukwini engaba phambi kwakho ngalo kuze kube namuhla, ukuba ngingayi ukulwa nezitha zenkosi yami, inkosi, na?”

₉U-Akhishi waphendula, wathi kuDavide: “Ngiyazi ukuthi umuhle emehlweni ami njengengelosi kaNkulunkulu, nokho izikhulu zamaFilisti zishilo ukuthi: ‘Akayikukhuphuka, aye nathi empini.’ ₁₀Ngalokho vuka ekuseni kusasa kanye nezinceku zenkosi yakho ezifike nawe; senivukile ekuseni kusasa, sekukhanya, hambani.”

₁₁UDavide wavuka ekuseni, yena nabantu bakhe, ukuba bahambe ekuseni, babuyele ezweni lamaFilisti. AmaFilisti enyukela eJizreyeli.

₁Kwathi uDavide nabantu bakhe sebefikile eSikilagi ngosuku lwesithathu, ama-Amaleki ayengenele eNingizimu naseSikilagi, alichitha iSikilagi, alishisa ngomlilo, ₂athumba abesifazane ababe phakathi, abancane nabakhulu engabulalanga muntu, abamukisa, ahamba indlela yawo.

₃Lapho uDavide nabantu bakhe befika emzini, bheka, wawushisiwe ngomlilo; omkabo, namadodana abo, namadodakazi abo babethunjiwe. ₄UDavide nabantu ababe naye base bedazuluka, bekhala, baze bangabe besaba namandla okukhala. ₅NawomkaDavide bobabili babethunjiwe, o-Ahinohama waseJizreyeli no-Abigayili umkaNabali waseKarmeli. ₆UDavide wayehlupheka kakhulu, ngokuba abantu bekhuluma ngokumkhanda ngamatshe, lokhu izinhliziyo zabo bonke abantu zazinomunyu, kwaba yilowo nalowo ngenxa yamadodana akhe namadodakazi akhe; kepha uDavide waziqinisa kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe.

₇UDavide wathi ku-Abiyathara umpristi, indodana ka-Ahimeleki: “Ake ulethe kimi ingubo yamahlombe.” U-Abiyathara wayiletha ingubo yamahlombe kuDavide. ₈UDavide wabuza kuJehova, wathi: “Ngixoshe lelo viyo na? Ngingalifica na?”

Wamphendula wathi: “Xosha, ngokuba uyakulifica impela, ukhulule konke.”

₉Wayesehamba uDavide, yena nabantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ababe naye, wafika emfudlaneni iBesori, lapho kwahlala khona amasalela. ₁₀Kodwa UDavide waxosha, yena nabantu abangamakhulu amane, ngokuba abangamakhulu amabili basala emuva, bezukekile ukuze bangaweli umfudlana iBesori.

₁₁Bafumana owaseGibithe endle, bamyisa kuDavide, bamnika isinkwa, wadla; bamphuzisa amanzi; ₁₂bamnika nocezu lwesigaxa samakhiwane, nezigaxa ezimbili zezithelo zomvini ezomileyo; esedlile kwabuyela kuye umoya wakhe, ngokuba wayengadlanga sinkwa, engaphuzanga manzi, izinsuku ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu.

₁₃UDavide wathi kuye: “Ungokabani na? Uvelaphi na?”

Wathi: “Ngiyinsizwa yaseGibithe, inceku yomAmaleki, kepha inkosi yami yangishiya, ngokuba sekuyizinsuku ezintathu ngigula. ₁₄Sangenela ngaseningizimu yamaKhereti, nakwelakwaJuda, naseningizimu kaKalebi, salishisa iSikilagi ngomlilo.”

₁₅UDavide wathi kuye: “Ungangehlisela kulelo viyo na?”

Wathi: “Funga kimi uNkulunkulu ukuthi awuyikungibulala, unganginikeli ezandleni zenkosi yami, ngiyakukwehlisela kulelo viyo.”

₁₆Wayesemehlisa; bheka, babehlakazekile endaweni yonke, bedla, bephuza, besina phakathi kwayo yonke impango ababeyithathile ezweni lamaFilisti nasezweni lakwaJuda. ₁₇UDavide wababulala kusukela ekuhweleleni kuze kuhlwe ngangomuso, akwaphunyuka muntu kubo, kuphela izinsizwa ezingamakhulu amane ezazikhwela amakamela, zabaleka. ₁₈UDavide wakhulula konke okwakuthathwe ngama-Amaleki, uDavide wakhulula nawomkakhe bobabili. ₁₉Akwasilala muntu, omncane noma omkhulu, namadodana noma amadodakazi, nempango noma okunye ababezithathele khona; uDavide wabuyisa konke. ₂₀UDavide wathatha zonke izimvu nezinkomo; baziqhuba phambi kwakhe, bathi: “Yimpango kaDavide le.”

₂₁UDavide wafika kulabo bantu abangamakhulu amabili ababezukekile, bengenakumlandela uDavide, ababebahlalisile ngasemfudlaneni iBesori; baphuma ukumhlangabeza uDavide nokuhlangabeza abantu ababenaye; uDavide esesondela kubantu wababingelela. ₂₂Base bethatha bonke abantu ababi nabonakeleyo kulabo ababehamba noDavide, bathi: “Njengokuba bengahambanga nathi, asiyikubanika lutho empangweni esiyikhululile, kuphela ukuba yileyo naleyo ndoda inikwe umkayo nabantwana bayo, bamuke nabo, bahambe.”

₂₃Wayesethi uDavide: “Aniyikwenza kanjalo, bafowethu, ngalokho esikuphiwe nguJehova osilondolozile, wanikela esandleni sethu iviyo elasihlasela. ₂₄Ngubani oyakunilalela kule ndaba na? Ngokuba njengesabelo sowehlele empini siyakuba njalo isabelo salowo owasala nempahla; bayakwabelwa ngokulingeneyo.” ₂₅Kwaba njalo kusukela kulolo suku kuya phambili; wamisa isimiso nomthetho kwa-Israyeli kuze kube namuhla.

₂₆UDavide esefike eSikilagi wathuma enye impango kumalunga akwaJuda nakubo abangane bakhe, ethi: “Bhekani, naso isipho senu sempango yezitha zikaJehova:” ₂₇kwabaseBethele, nakwabaseRamoti laseNingizimu, nakwabaseJatiri, ₂₈nakwabase-Aroweri, nakwabaseSifimoti, nakwabase-Eshitemowa, ₂₉nakwabaseRakali, nakwabasemizini yamaJerameli, nakwabasemizini yamaKheni, ₃₀nakwabaseHorma, nakwabaseBori Ashani, nakwabase-Athaki, ₃₁nakwabaseHebroni, nasezindaweni zonke lapho uDavide uqobo nabantu bakhe bebejwayele ukuhamba khona.

₁AmaFilisti alwa no-Israyeli; abantu bakwa-Israyeli babaleka phambi kwamaFilisti, bawa begwaziwe entabeni yaseGilibowa. ₂AmaFilisti axosha uSawule namadodana akhe; amaFilisti abulala oJonathani, no-Abinadaba, noMaliki Shuwa, amadodana kaSawule. ₃Impi yaba nzima kuSawule; abacibishelayo bamfica, wakhathazeka kakhulu ngenxa yabacibishelayo.

₄USawule wayesethi odibini lwezikhali zakhe: “Hosha inkemba yakho, ungigwaze ngayo, funa labo abangasokile bafike, bangigwaze, bangone.” Kepha aluvumanga udibi lwezikhali zakhe, ngokuba lwesaba kakhulu. Ngalokho uSawule wayithatha inkemba, wawela phezu kwayo. ₅Udibi lwezikhali zakhe selubonile ukuthi uSawule ufile, lwawela nalo phezu kwenkemba yalo, lwafa kanye naye. ₆Wafa-ke uSawule namadodana akhe omathathu, nodibi lwakhe, nabo bonke abantu bakhe ngalolo suku kanyekanye.

₇Lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababe ngaphesheya kwesigodi nalabo ababe ngaphesheya kweJordani bebona ukuthi abantu bakwa-Israyeli babaleka nokuthi uSawule namadodana akhe bafile, bashiya imizi, babaleka; amaFilisti afika, ahlala kuyo.

₈Kwathi ngangomuso, lapho amaFilisti efika ukuphanga ababuleweyo, afumana uSawule namadodana akhe omathathu bewile entabeni yaseGilibowa. ₉Amnquma ikhanda, athatha izikhali zakhe, azithuma ezweni lamaFilisti nxazonke ukukumemezela endlini yezithombe zawo nakubantu. ₁₀Azibeka izikhali zakhe endlini ka-Ashitaroti, abethela isidumbu sakhe ogangeni lwaseBeti Shani.

₁₁Sebezwile abakhe eJabeshi Gileyadi lokho amaFilisti ayekwenzile kuSawule, ₁₂kwasuka onke amadoda anamandla, ahamba ubusuku bonke, asithatha isidumbu sikaSawule, nezidumbu zamadodana akhe ogangeni lwaseBeti Shani, afika eJabeshi, azishisa khona. ₁₃Athatha amathambo abo, awembela phansi komtamariske* eJabeshi, azila ukudla izinsuku eziyisikhombisa.