To The Word – Day 79

₁Kwathi emva kokufa kukaSawule, uDavide esebuyile ekubulaleni ama-Amaleki, futhi uDavide esehlale izinsuku ezimbili eSikilagi, ₂kwathi-ke ngosuku lwesithathu, bheka, kwaphuma umuntu ekamu* likaSawule, izingubo zakhe ziklebhukile, enomhlabathi ekhanda, wawa phansi ekufikeni kwakhe kuDavide, wakhuleka.

₃UDavide wathi kuye: “Uvelaphi na?”

Wathi kuye: “Ngibalekile ekamu* lakwa-Israyeli.”

₄UDavide wayesethi kuye: “Bekunjani na? Ake ungitshele.”

Wathi: “Abantu babalekile empini, nabantu abaningi bawile, bafa; oSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafile nabo.”

₅UDavide wathi kuleyo nsizwa eyamtshelayo: “Wazi kanjani ukuthi oSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafile na?”

₆Insizwa eyamtshelayo yathi: “Ngithe ngisentabeni yaseGilibowa, bheka, uSawule wencika emkhontweni, kwamjonga kakhulu izinqola nabamahhashi. ₇Lapho ebheka emuva, wangibona, wangibiza. Ngaphendula ngokuthi: ‘Ngilapha.’

₈“Wathi kimi: ‘Wena ungubani na?’ Ngathi kuye: ‘NgingumAmaleki.’

₉“Wathi kimi: ‘Ake ume ngakimi, ungibulale, ngokuba ngishaywe yisiyezi, nokuphila kusekhona kimi.’

₁₀“Ngase ngima ngakuye, ngambulala, ngokuba ngakwazi ukuthi angephile esewile, ngathatha umqhele owawusekhanda lakhe, nesongo elalisengalweni yakhe, ngikulethile lapha enkosini yami.”

₁₁UDavide wayesebamba izingubo zakhe, waziklebhula kanye nawo onke amadoda ayenaye. ₁₂Balila, bakhala, bazila ukudla kwaze kwahlwa ngenxa kaSawule, noJonathani indodana yakhe, nabantu bakaJehova, nendlu ka-Israyeli, ngokuba bebewile ngenkemba.

₁₃Wathi uDavide kuyo insizwa eyayimtshelile: “Ungowaphi na?”

Wathi: “Ngiyindodana yomuntu ogogobele nje, umAmaleki.”

₁₄UDavide wathi kuyo: “Yini ukuba ungesabanga ukwelula isandla sakho, ubhubhise ogcotshiweyo kaJehova, na?”

₁₅UDavide wayesebiza enye yezinsizwa, wathi: “Sondela, umsukele.” Yamshaya waze wafa. ₁₆UDavide wathi kuye: “Igazi lakho malibe phezu kwekhanda lakho, ngokuba umlomo wakho ufakazile ngawe, lapho uthi: ‘Ngibulele ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.’ ”

₁₇UDavide walila ngalesi sililo ngoSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe, ₁₈wathi mabafundiswe abantwana bakwaJuda eyoMnsalo; bheka, silotshiwe eNcwadini Yoqotho.

₁Kwathi emva kwalokho uDavide wabuza kuJehova, wathi: “Ngenyukele yini komunye wemizi yakwaJuda na?”

UJehova wathi kuye: “Yenyuka.”

Wathi uDavide: “Ngenyukelephi na?”

Wathi: “EHebroni.”

₂Wayesenyukela khona uDavide nabafazi bakhe ababili, o-Ahinohama waseJizreyeli no-Abigayili umkaNabali waseKarmeli. ₃Abantu bakhe ababe noDavide wabenyusa, kwaba yilowo nalowo nomuzi wakhe; bahlala emizaneni yaseHebroni. ₄Bafika abantu bakwaJuda, bamgcoba khona uDavide abe yinkosi yendlu yakwaJuda.

Bamtshela uDavide ukuthi: “Abantu baseJabeshi Gileyadi yibo abammbela uSawule.” ₅UDavide wayesethuma izithunywa kubantu baseJabeshi Gileyadi, wathi kubo: “Manibusiswe nguJehova, ngokuba nenzile lowo musa kuyo inkosi yenu, uSawule, nammbela. ₆Manje uJehova makanenzele umusa neqiniso, nami nginibuyisele lowo musa, ngokuba niyenzile leyo nto. ₇Ngalokho maziqine izandla zenu, nibe nesibindi, ngokuba uSawule inkosi yenu ufile; indlu yakwaJuda ingigcobile ngibe yinkosi yayo.”

₈U-Abineri indodana kaNeri induna yempi kaSawule wayethathile u-Ishi Bosheti indodana kaSawule, wamwelisela eMahanayimi, ₉wambeka inkosi kwaGileyadi, nakuma-Ashurimi, naseJizreyeli, nakwa-Efrayimi noBenjamini, nakwa-Israyeli wonke.

₁₀U-Ishi Bosheti indodana kaSawule wayeneminyaka engamashumi amane ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa phezu kuka-Israyeli; wabusa iminyaka emibili. Kepha indlu yakwaJuda yamlandela uDavide. ₁₁Isikhathi uDavide eyinkosi ngaso eHebroni phezu kwendlu yakwaJuda sasiyiminyaka eyisikhombisa nezinyanga eziyisithupha.

₁₂U-Abineri indodana kaNeri nezinceku zika-Ishi Bosheti indodana kaSawule baphuma eMahanayimi, baya eGibeyoni. ₁₃UJowabe indodana kaSeruya nezinceku zikaDavide baphuma bahlangana ngasechibini laseGibeyoni; bahlala phansi, abanye ngalapha kwechibi, abanye ngalapho kwechibi.

₁₄U-Abineri wathi kuJowabe: “Ake zisuke izinsizwa, ziqakulizane phambi kwethu.”

UJowabe wathi: “Mazisuke.”

₁₅Zase zisuka, zawela ngamanani, eziyishumi nambili kwaBenjamini naku-Ishi Bosheti indodana kaSawule, neziyishumi nambili ziyizinceku zikaDavide. ₁₆Zabambana ngekhanda, zagwaza ngenkemba ohlangothini lwezimelene nazo, zawa kanyekanye; ngalokho leyo ndawo yabizwa ngokuthi iHelikati Hasurimi eliseGibeyoni.

₁₇Kwakuyimpi enzima ngalolo suku; u-Abineri wahlulwa kanye nabantu bakwa-Israyeli phambi kwezinceku zikaDavide.

₁₈Amadodana amathathu kaSeruya ayelapho, oJowabe, no-Abishayi, no-Asaheli; u-Asaheli wayenezinyawo ezilula njengensephe. ₁₉U-Asaheli wamxosha u-Abineri; ekuhambeni kwakhe akachezukanga ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo ekumlandeleni u-Abineri. ₂₀U-Abineri wabheka emuva, wathi: “Ungu-Asaheli na?”

Wathi: “Yimi.”

₂₁U-Abineri wayesethi kuye: “Chezukela ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo, ubambe enye yezinsizwa, uthathe izikhali zakhe.” Kepha u-Asaheli akavumanga ukuchezuka ekumlandeleni.

₂₂U-Abineri wabuye wathi ku-Asaheli: “Chezuka ekungilandeleni; yini ukuba ngikucekele phansi na? Ngingaphakamisa kanjani ubuso bami ngakuJowabe umfowenu na?”

₂₃Wala nokho ukuchezuka; ngalokho u-Abineri wamgwaza esiswini ngesidunu somkhonto, waze waphuma emuva umkhonto; wawela khona, wafela khona lapho; kwathi bonke abafika endaweni u-Asaheli awele kuyo wafa, bema.

₂₄Kepha oJowabe no-Abishayi bamxosha u-Abineri; ilanga lashona befike ngasegqumeni lase-Ama elingaphambi kweGiya ngasendleleni yasehlane laseGibeyoni. ₂₅Abantwana bakwaBenjamini babuthana emva kuka-Abineri, baba yiviyo linye, bema esiqongweni segquma elithile.

₂₆U-Abineri wayesememeza kuJowabe, wathi: “Inkemba iyakudla njalonjalo na? Awazi yini ukuthi kuyakuba khona umunyu ekugcineni na? Koze kube nini ungabayali abantu ukuba babuye ekubalandeleni abafowabo na?”

₂₇UJowabe wathi: “Kuphila kukaNkulunkulu, uma ubungakhulumanga, ngempela abantu bonke bebeyakube sebenyukile kusasa ekuxosheni abafowabo.”

₂₈UJowabe wayesebetha icilongo; bonke abantu bema, ababe besamxosha u-Israyeli, futhi ababe besalwa.

₂₉U-Abineri nabantu bakhe badabula i-Araba bonke lobo busuku, bawela iJordani, badabula lonke iBitroni, bafika eMahanayimi.

₃₀UJowabe wabuya ekumxosheni u-Abineri; lapho esebuthile bonke abantu, kwasilala kuzo izinceku zikaDavide abantu abayishumi nesishiyagalolunye no-Asaheli. ₃₁Kepha izinceku zikaDavide zazibulele abakwaBenjamini nabaka-Abineri, kwafa abantu abangamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisithupha. ₃₂Bamthatha u-Asaheli, bammbela ethuneni likayise elaliseBetlehema. UJowabe nabantu bakhe bahamba ubusuku bonke, kwasa beseHebroni.

₁Kwakukhona ukulwa isikhathi eside phakathi kwendlu kaSawule nendlu kaDavide; uDavide waqhubeka ngokuqina njalo, kepha indlu kaSawule yaqhubeka ngokuncipha njalo.

₂Kwazalelwa uDavide amadodana eHebroni; izibulo lakhe laba ngu-Amnoni ku-Ahinohama waseJizreyeli; ₃eyesibili yaba nguKileyabi ku-Abigayili umkaNabali waseKarmeli; eyesithathu yayingu-Abisalomu indodana kaMahakha indodakazi kaTalimyi inkosi yaseGeshuri; ₄eyesine yayingu-Adoniya indodana kaHagiti; eyesihlanu yayinguShefathiya indodana ka-Abithali; ₅eyesithupha yayingu-Itereyamu ku-Egila umkaDavide. Lawo azalelwa uDavide eHebroni.

₆Kwathi kusekhona ukulwa phakathi kwendlu kaSawule nendlu kaDavide, u-Abineri wamela indlu kaSawule ngamandla. ₇Kepha uSawule wayenesancinza esigama laso lalinguRispa indodakazi ka-Aya. U-Ishi Bosheti wayesethi ku-Abineri: “Ungeneleni kuso isancinza sikababa na?”

₈U-Abineri wathukuthela kakhulu ngenxa yalawo mazwi ka-Ishi Bosheti, wathi: “Ngiyikhanda lenja engeyakwaJuda na? Namuhla ngiyayenzela indlu kaSawule uyihlo umusa, abafowabo nabangane bayo, angikunikelanga esandleni sikaDavide; nokho ungibeka icala namuhla ngalowo wesifazane. ₉UNkulunkulu makenze njalo ku-Abineri, enezele futhi, uma ngingenzi kuDavide njengalokho uJehova efungile kuye, ₁₀kudluliswe umbuso endlini kaSawule, kumiswe isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide phezu kuka-Israyeli naphezu kukaJuda, kusukela kwaDani kuze kufike eBeri Sheba.” ₁₁Wayengenakumphendula u-Abineri ngezwi futhi, ngokuba wayemesaba.

₁₂U-Abineri wayesethuma izithunywa kuDavide esikhundleni sakhe ngokuthi: “Ngelikabani izwe na?” ethi futhi: “Yenza isivumelwano nami; bheka, isandla sami siyakuba nawe ukubuyisela kuwe wonke u-Israyeli.”

₁₃Wathi: “Kuhle; ngiyakwenza isivumelwano nawe, kepha yinto inye engiyifuna kuwe, ngeyokuthi awuyikubona ubuso bami, uma ungalethi kuqala phambi kwami uMikhali indodakazi kaSawule, lapho uzayo ukubona ubuso bami.” ₁₄UDavide wayesethuma izithunywa ku-Ishi Bosheti indodana kaSawule, ethi: “Nginike umkami uMikhali engammiselwa ngamajwabu ayikhulu amaFilisti.”

₁₅Wayesethumela u-Ishi Bosheti, wamthatha endodeni yakhe uPalitiyeli indodana kaLayishi. ₁₆Indoda yakhe yahamba naye, ikhala isahamba, yamlandela kwaze kwaba seBahurimi. U-Abineri wayesethi kuyo: “Buya.” Yabuya-ke.

₁₇U-Abineri waba nezwi namalunga akwa-Israyeli, ethi: “Ngezikhathi ezidlulileyo nafuna uDavide abe yinkosi phezu kwenu; ₁₈kwenzeni lokho manje, ngokuba uJehova ukhulumile ngoDavide ukuthi: ‘Ngesandla senceku yami uDavide ngiyakusindisa abantu bami u-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti nasesandleni sazo zonke izitha zabo.’ ”

₁₉U-Abineri wakhuluma futhi ezindlebeni zakwaBenjamini; u-Abineri waya futhi ukukhuluma ezindlebeni zikaDavide eHebroni konke okwakukuhle ku-Israyeli nakuyo yonke indlu yakwaBenjamini. ₂₀Wayesefika u-Abineri kuDavide eHebroni nabantu abangamashumi amabili bekanye naye. UDavide wamenzela u-Abineri nabantu ababe naye idili. ₂₁U-Abineri wayesethi kuDavide: “Ngiyakusuka ngihambe ngiqoqele wonke u-Israyeli enkosini yami, inkosi, ukuba benze isivumelwano nawe nokuba ubuse phezu kwakho konke ekufisayo inhliziyo yakho.” UDavide wammukisa u-Abineri, wahamba ngokuthula.

₂₂Bheka, izinceku zikaDavide nezikaJowabe zabuya eviyweni, zaletha impango enkulu; kepha u-Abineri wayengekho kuDavide eHebroni, ngokuba wayemmukisile, wahamba ngokuthula. ₂₃Esefikile uJowabe nempi yonke eyayinaye, bamtshela uJowabe ukuthi: “U-Abineri indodana kaNeri wafika enkosini; immukisile, wahamba ngokuthula.”

₂₄UJowabe wayeseya enkosini, wathi: “Wenzeni na? Bheka, u-Abineri wafika kuwe; ummukiseleni wahamba nokuhamba na? ₂₅Uyamazi u-Abineri indodana kaNeri ukuthi wafika ukukukhohlisa nokwazi ukuphuma kwakho nokungena kwakho, nokwazi konke okwenzayo.”

₂₆UJowabe esephumile kuDavide wathuma izithunywa ukulandela u-Abineri, zambuyisa emthonjeni waseSira, kepha uDavide wayengakwazi lokho. ₂₇U-Abineri esebuyele eHebroni, uJowabe wamchezukisela phakathi kwesango ukuba akhulume naye bebodwa, wamgwaza lapho esiswini waze wafa ngenxa yegazi lika-Asaheli umfowabo.

₂₈Esekuzwa lokho ngasemuva uDavide wathi: “Mina nombuso wami asinacala phambi kukaJehova kuze kube phakade ngegazi lika-Abineri indodana kaNeri; ₂₉maliwele ekhanda likaJowabe nakuyo yonke indlu kayise. Makungaphuthi endlini kaJowabe ukuba kube khona ocucuzayo, nonochoko, nozimelelayo ngodondolo, nowayo ngenkemba, noswele isinkwa.”

₃₀OJowabe no-Abishayi umfowabo base bembulele u-Abineri, ngokuba wayebulele umfowabo u-Asaheli eGibeyoni empini.

₃₁UDavide wathi kuJowabe nakubantu bonke ababe naye: “Klebhulani izingubo zenu, nibhince indwangu yamasaka, nilile phambi kuka-Abineri.” Inkosi uDavide yalandela uhlaka. ₃₂Bammbela u-Abineri eHebroni; inkosi yadazuluka, yakhala ngasethuneni lika-Abineri; nabantu bonke bakhala.

₃₃Inkosi yamlilela u-Abineri, yathi:

Bonke abantu baphinda bemkhalela.

₃₅Bonke abantu bafika ukuba bamdlise uDavide isinkwa kusesemini; kepha uDavide wafunga wathi: “Makenze njalo kimi uNkulunkulu, enezele futhi, uma ngidla isinkwa noma okunye lingakashoni ilanga.”

₃₆Bonke abantu bakubona, kwaba kuhle emehlweni abo, njengalokho konke eyakwenza inkosi kwaba kuhle emehlweni abantu bonke. ₃₇Base beqonda bonke abantu naye wonke u-Israyeli ngalolo suku ukuthi kwakungesikho okwenkosi ukubulala u-Abineri indodana kaNeri.

₃₈Inkosi yathi ezincekwini zayo: “Anazi yini ukuthi kufile umbusi nomuntu omkhulu kwa-Israyeli namuhla na? ₃₉Nami ngibuthakathaka namuhla noma ngigcotshiwe ngibe yinkosi; laba bantu, amadodana kaSeruya, balukhuni kunami; uJehova makaphindisele owenza okubi njengobubi bakhe.”

₁Lapho isizwile indodana kaSawule ukuthi u-Abineri ufile eHebroni, izandla zayo zaba buthakathaka, nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli bakhathazeka. ₂Indodana kaSawule yayinamadoda amabili ayeyizinduna zamaviyo; igama lenye lalinguBahana negama lenye lalinguRekabi, amadodana kaRimoni waseBeyeroti wabantwana bakwaBenjamini, ngokuba iBeyeroti libalelwa kuBenjamini. ₃AbaseBeyeroti babalekela eGitayimi, bagogobala khona kuze kube namuhla.

₄UJonathani indodana kaSawule wayenendodana elunyonga ngezinyawo. Yayineminyaka eyisihlanu ekufikeni kombiko ngoSawule noJonathani uvela eJizreyeli; umzanyana wayo wayithatha, wabaleka; kwathi eseshesha ukubaleka, yawa, yaba lunyonga. Igama layo lalinguMefibosheti.

₅Amadodana kaRimoni waseBeyeroti oRekabi noBahana ahamba, afika selishisa ilanga endlini ka-Ishi Bosheti ephumula embhedeni emini. ₆Bangena khona phakathi kwendlu kungathi bayakulanda ukolweni; bamgwaza esiswini; oRekabi noBahana umfowabo babaleka.

₇Babengenile-ke endlini esalele embhedeni ekamelweni lakhe, bamgwaza, bambulala, bamnquma ikhanda, bathatha ikhanda lakhe, bahamba ngendlela yase-Araba ubusuku bonke. ₈Baliyisa ikhanda lika-Ishi Boshethi kuDavide eHebroni, bathi enkosini: “Nanti ikhanda lika-Ishi Bosheti indodana kaSawule; isitha sakho ebesifuna ukuphila kwakho; uJehova uphindisele namuhla inkosi yami, inkosi, kuSawule nakuyo inzalo yakhe.”

₉UDavide waphendula oRekabi noBahana umfowabo amadodana kaRimoni waseBeyeroti, wathi kubo: “Kuphila kukaJehova ohlengile umphefumulo wami osizini lonke, ₁₀umuntu owangitshela ukuthi: ‘Bheka, uSawule ufile,’ ecabanga ukuthi ulethile izindaba ezinhle, ngambamba, ngambulala eSikilagi, ethi ngangiyakumnika umvuzo wezindaba zakhe; ₁₁kakhulu kangakanani, lapho abantu ababi bebulele umuntu olungileyo endlini yakhe embhedeni wakhe, angiyikubiza igazi lakhe esandleni senu, nginisuse emhlabeni, na?”

₁₂UDavide wayeseyaleza izinsizwa zakhe, zababulala, zabanquma izandla nezinyawo, zabaphanyeka ngaseceleni kwechibi laseHebroni. Kepha bathatha ikhanda lika-Ishi Bosheti, balimbela ethuneni lika-Abineri eHebroni.

₁Izizwe zonke zakwa-Israyeli zafika kuDavide eHebroni, zasho zathi: “Bheka, thina siyithambo lakho nenyama yakho. ₂Ngesikhathi esidlulileyo, uSawule eseyinkosi phezu kwethu, nguwe owakhipha nowangenisa u-Israyeli; uJehova wathi kuwe: ‘Wena uyakwalusa abantu bami u-Israyeli, wena uyakuba ngumbusi wakwa-Israyeli.’ ”

₃Kwase kufika onke amalunga akwa-Israyeli enkosini eHebroni; inkosi uDavide yenza isivumelwano nawo eHebroni phambi kukaJehova; amgcoba uDavide abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli.

₄UDavide wayeneminyaka engamashumi amathathu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa; wabusa iminyaka engamashumi amane. ₅EHebroni wabusa kwaJuda iminyaka eyisikhombisa nezinyanga eziyisithupha; eJerusalema wabusa iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nantathu kwa-Israyeli wonke nakwaJuda.

₆Inkosi nabantu bayo baya eJerusalema ukulwa namaJebusi ayakhe kulelo zwe; asho kuDavide, athi: “Awuyikungena lapha; uyakususwa yizimpumputhe nezinyonga,” ecabanga ukuthi uDavide angengene lapha. ₇UDavide wathatha nokho inqaba yaseSiyoni engumuzi kaDavide.

₈UDavide wathi ngalolo suku: “Yilowo nalowo ochitha amaJebusi makasukele emseleni wamanzi izinyonga nezimpumputhe lezo ezizondwa ngumphefumulo kaDavide; ngalokho kuthiwa: ‘Izimpumputhe nezinyonga azinakungena endlini.’ ”

₉UDavide wahlala enqabeni, wayibiza ngokuthi umuzi kaDavide. UDavide wakha nxazonke kusukela eMilo kuya ngaphakathi. ₁₀UDavide waqhubeka njalo ngokukhula, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu Sebawoti wayenaye.

₁₁UHiramu inkosi yaseTire wathuma izithunywa kuDavide, nemisedari,* nababazi bemithi, nabakhi; bamakhela uDavide indlu. ₁₂UDavide waqonda ukuthi uJehova wayemmisile impela ukuba abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli nokuthi uphakamisile umbuso wakhe ngenxa yabantu bakhe u-Israyeli.

₁₃UDavide wazithathela ezinye izancinza nabafazi eJerusalema, esefikile evela eHebroni; uDavide wayesazalelwa amadodana namadodakazi. ₁₄Nanka amagama abazalelwa eJerusalema: oShamuwa, noShobabi, noNathani, noSolomoni, ₁₅noJibari, no-Elishuwa, noNefegi, noJafiya, ₁₆no-Elishama, no-Eliyada, no-Elifeleti.

₁₇Lapho amaFilisti esezwile ukuthi bamgcobile uDavide ukuba abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli, onke amaFilisti enyuka ukumfuna uDavide; uDavide wakuzwa, wehlela enqabeni. ₁₈AmaFilisti esefikile ahlakazeka esiGodini samaRefa. ₁₉UDavide wabuza kuJehova, wathi: “Ngiyakwenyuka, ngihlasele amaFilisti na? Uyakuwanikela esandleni sami na?”

UJehova wathi kuDavide: “Yenyuka, ngokuba ngiyakuwanikela impela amaFilisti esandleni sakho.”

₂₀UDavide wafika eBali Pherasimi, uDavide wawachitha khona; wathi: “UJehova ufohlile ezitheni zami phambi kwami njengokufohla kwamanzi.” Ngalokho waqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iBali Pherasimi.* ₂₁Ashiya izithombe zawo lapho; uDavide nabantu bakhe bahamba nazo.

₂₂AmaFilisti abuye enyuka, ahlakazeka esiGodini samaRefa. ₂₃Lapho uDavide ebuza kuJehova, wathi yena: “Awuyikwenyuka; gwegwesa emva kwawo, uwafikele malungana namajikijolo. ₂₄Kuyakuthi lapho usuzwa umsindo wokuhamba ezihlokweni zamajikijolo, usheshe, ngokuba kuyilapho uJehova eyakube ephumile ngaphambi kwakho ukuchitha impi yamaFilisti.” ₂₅UDavide wenze njalo njengalokho uJehova emyalile, wachitha amaFilisti kusukela eGeba kuze kufike eGezeri.