UGWALO LOKUQALA

LUKASAMUWELI

Ukuzalwa kukaSamuweli

1Kwakukhona-ke indoda ethile yeRamathayimi-Zofimu entabeni yakoEfrayimia; lebizo layo lalinguElkana indodana kaJerohamu, indodana kaElihu, indodana kaTohu, indodana kaZufib umEfrayimic.

2 Njalo yayilabafazi ababili; ibizo lomunye lalinguHana, lebizo lomunye lalinguPenina. Njalo uPenina wayelabantwana, kodwa uHana wayengelabantwanad.

3 Leyondoda yenyuka-ke isuka emzini wayo iminyaka ngeminyakae ukuyakhonza lokuhlabela iNkosi yamabandlaf eShilog, njalo kwakukhona lapho amadodana amabili kaEli, uHofini loPhinehasi, abapristi beNkosi.

4 Kwakusithi mhla uElkana ehlaba, wanika uPenina umkakhe lawo wonke amadodana akhe lamadodakazi akhe izabelo;

5 kodwa uHana wamnika isabelo esiphindwe kabili, ngoba wayemthanda uHana; kodwa iNkosi yayisivalile isizalo sakheh.

6 Lesitha sakhe laso samcaphula ngentukuthelo ukuze simkhathaze, ngoba iNkosi yayisivalile isizalo sakhei.

7 Wayesenza njalo-ke iminyaka ngeminyaka; kusukela lapho esenyukela endlini yeNkosi, ngokunjalo samcaphula. Ngakho walila, kadlanga.

8 UElkana umkakhe wasesithi kuye: Hana, ulilelani? Njalo kawudli ngani? Kungani-ke inhliziyo yakho idabukile? Mina kangingcono kuwe kulamadodana alitshumi yinij?

9 Ngakho uHana wasukuma emva kokudla eShilok langemva kokunatha. UEli umpristi wayehlezi-ke esihlalweni phansi kwensika yethempeli leNkosil.

10 Njalo wayelokubaba emphefumulweni, wasekhuleka eNkosini ekhala lokukhala inyembezim.

11 Wasefunga isifungon wathi: Nkosi yamabandla, uba ungabona lokubona ukuhlupheka kwencekukazi yakhoo, ungikhumbule, ungakhohlwa incekukazi yakho, kodwa unike incekukazi yakho inzalo yesilisa, ngizamnika iNkosi insuku zonke zempilo yakhep, lempuco kayiyikwedlula ekhanda lakheq.

12 Kwasekusithi esaqhubeka ukukhuleka phambi kweNkosi, uEli waqaphelisa umlomo wakhe.

13 UHana wayekhulumela-ke enhliziyweni yakhe, kwanyikinyeka indebe zakhe kuphela, kodwa ilizwi lakhe lalingezwakali; ngakho uEli wacabanga ukuthi udakiwe.

14 UEli wasesithi kuye: Koze kube nini udakwa? Susa iwayini lakho kuwe.

15 UHana wasephendula wathi: Hatshi, nkosi yami, ngingowesifazana odabukileyo emoyeni; kanginathanga wayini loba okunathwayo okulamandla, kodwa bengithulula umphefumulo wami phambi kweNkosir.

16 Ungayithathi incekukazi yakho njengendodakazi kaBheliyalis, ngoba ebunengini bosizi lwami lenkathazo yami sengikhulume kwaze kwaba khathesi.

17 UEli wasephendula wathi: Hamba ngokuthulat; uNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli akunike isicelo sakho osicele kuyeu.

18 Wasesithi: Incekukazi yakho kayithole umusa emehlweni akhov. Ngakho owesifazana wahamba ngendlela yakhe, wadla; lobuso bakhe abaze busanyukumala ngakhow.

19 Basebevuka ekuseni kakhulu, bakhonza phambi kweNkosi, basebebuyela bafika emzini wabo eRamax. UElkana wasemazi uHana umkakhe, leNkosi yamkhumbulay.

20 Kwasekusithi ekuqhubekeni kwesikhathi uHana wakhulelwa, wabeletha indodana, wayitha ibizo layo uSamuweli; ngoba wathi: Ngimcelile eNkosiniz.

21 Lendoda uElkana lendlu yakhe yonke benyukela ukuyahlabela iNkosi umhlatshelo weminyaka ngeminyaka, lesifungo sakhea.

22 Kodwa uHana kenyukanga, ngoba wathi kumkakhe: Kangiyikuhamba aze alunyulwe umfana; khona ngizamletha ukuze abonakale phambi kweNkosi, abesehlala khona kuze kube ninininib.

23 UElkana umkakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza okulungileyo emehlweni akho; hlala uze umlumulec; kuphela, iNkosi kayiqinise ilizwi lakhod. Ngokunjalo owesifazana wahlala, wayimunyisa indodana yakhe waze wayilumula.

24 Wasesenyuka layo eseyilumule, elamajongosi amathathu, le-efa* elilodwa lempuphu, lembodlela yewayinie, wayiletha endlini yeNkosi eShilof; lomfana wayemncinyane.

25 Balihlaba ijongosi, bamletha umntwana kuEli.

26 Wasesithi: Hawu nkosi yami, kuphila komphefumulo wakho, nkosi yami, yimi owesifazana owayemi lawe lapha, ekhuleka eNkosinig.

27 Ngakhulekela lo umfana, njalo iNkosi inginikile isicelo sami engasicela kuyoh.

28 Ngakho lami ngimnikele eNkosini, zonke izinsuku ekhona; wacelwa eNkosinii. Wasekhonza iNkosi laphoj.

Indumiso kaHana

2UHana wasekhuleka esithi:

Inhliziyo yami iyathokoza eNkosinia. Uphondo lwami luphakanyisiwe eNkosinib. Umlomo wami wenziwe banzi phezu kwezitha zami, ngoba ngiyajabula ngosindiso lwakhoc.

2 Kakho ongcwele njengeNkosid, ngoba kakho ngaphandle kwakhoe; futhi kalikho idwala elinjengoNkulunkulu wethuf.

3 Lingabe lisakhuluma ngokuzigqaja lokuzigqaja, kungaphumi ukuziqakisa emlonyeni wenu; ngoba iNkosi inguNkulunkulu wolwazi, lezenzo zilinganiswa yiyog.

4 Idandili lamaqhawe lephukile, kodwa abakhubekileyo babhince amandlah.

5 Ababesuthi baziqatshisile ngesinkwa, lababelambile kabasenjaloi, kwaze kwathi oyinyumba uzele abayisikhombisaj, lolabantwana abanengi uphele amandlak.

6 INkosi iyabulala njalo iyaphilisa, iyehlisela engcwabeni njalo yenyusel.

7 INkosi ipha ubuyanga, njalo iyanothisam; iyehlisela phansi, njalo iphakamisen.

8 Iyamphakamisa umyanga ethulini, imphakamisa oswelayo enqunjini yomqubao, ukuze ibahlalise leziphathamandla, ibadlise ilifa lesihlalo sobukhosi sodumop; ngoba insika zomhlaba zingezeNkosi, ibekile ilizwe phezu kwazoq.

9 Izagcina inyawo zabangcwele bayor, kodwa ababi bazathuliswa emnyameni; ngoba umuntu kayikunqoba ngamandla.

10 Abalwa leNkosi bazaphahlazwas; izaduma phezu kwabo isemazulwinit; iNkosi izakwahlulela imikhawulo yomhlaba, inike inkosi yayo amandlau, iphakamise uphondo logcotshiweyo wayov.

11 UElkana waya eRama endlini yakhew. Lomfana wayekhonza iNkosi phambi kukaEli umpristix.

Ububi bamadodana kaEli

12 Amadodana kaEli ayengabantwana bakaBheliyaliy; kawayazanga-ke iNkosiz.

13 Njalo umkhuba wabapristi labantu wawunje; wonke umuntu ohlaba umhlatshelo, kube sekufika inceku yompristi, inyama isaphekiwe, ilefologwe elencijo ezintathu esandleni sayo,

14 ihlabe ngayo edengezini, loba egedleleni, loba ebhodweni, loba embizeni; konke ifologwe ekukhuphayo umpristi wayezithathela khonaa. Benze njalo kuIsrayeli wonke ofika lapho eShilo.

15 Njalo engakatshisi amahwahwa, inceku yompristi ifike ithi emuntwini ohlabayo: Letha inyama yokosela umpristi, ngoba kayikuthatha kuwe inyama ephekiweyo, kodwa eluhlazab.

16 Uba lowomuntu esithi kuyo: Kabatshise lokutshisa amahwahwa khathesi, ubusuzithathela njengokuthanda komphefumulo wakho; ibisisithi kuye: Hatshi, nginika khathesi; uba kungenjalo, ngizayithatha ngamandla.

17 Ngakho isono samajaha saba sikhulu kakhulu phambi kweNkosic; ngoba abantu badelela umnikelo weNkosid.

18 Kodwa uSamuweli wayekhonza phambi kweNkosi engumfanae ebhince i-efodi* yelembu elicolekileyof.

19 Futhi unina wayemenzela ijazana, amphathele lona umnyaka ngomnyaka ekwenyukeni kwakhe lomkakhe ukuyahlaba umhlatshelo womnyakag.

20 UEli wasebabusisa oElkana lomkakhe, wathi: INkosi ikunike inzalo ngalowesifazana endaweni yesicelo esicelwe eNkosini. Basebesiya endaweni yaboh.

21 INkosi isimhambele uHana, wasethatha isisu, wazala amadodana amathathu lamadodakazi amabilii. Umfana uSamuweli wasekhula eleNkosij.

22 Kodwa uEli wayesemdala kakhulu; wakuzwa konke amadodana akhe akwenza kuIsrayeli wonkek, lokuthi ayelala labesifazana ababuthana emnyango wethente lenhlangano.

23 Wasesithi kuwo: Lenzelani izinto ezinje? Ngoba ngiyezwa ngabo bonke abantu ngezenzo zenu ezimbi.

24 Hatshi, madodana ami; ngoba kakusumbiko omuhle engiwuzwayo ukuthi lenza abantu beNkosi baphambuke.

25 Uba umuntu esona komunye, abahluleli bazamahlulelal; kodwa uba umuntu esona eNkosini, ngubani ozamlamulela? Kodwa kawalalelanga ilizwi likayise; ngoba iNkosi yayifuna ukuwabulalam.

26 Umfana uSamuweli waseqhubeka ekhulan, ethandeka kubo bobabili iNkosi labantuo.

Ilizwi leNkosi lokugwetshwa kwendlu kaEli

27 Kwasekufika umuntu kaNkulunkulu kuElip, wathi kuye: Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngabonakaliswa lokubonakaliswa yini kuyo indlu kayihlo beseGibhithe endlini kaFaroq?

28 Ngamkhetha yini kuzo zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli ukuthi abe ngumpristi wamir, anikele elathini lami, atshise impepha, agqoke i-efodi phambi kwamis? Ngayinika yini indlu kayihlo yonke iminikelo yabantwana bakoIsrayeli eyenziwe ngomlilot?

29 Kungani likhahlela imihlatshelo yami leminikelo yamiu engiyilayileyo endlini yamiv, njalo uhlonipha amadodana akho okwedlula mina, ngokuzikhuluphalisa ngekhethelo leminikelo yonke kaIsrayeli, abantu bami?

30 Ngakho iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli ithi: Ngathi lokuthi: Indlu yakho lendlu kayihlo zizahamba phambi kwami kuze kube ninininiw; kodwa khathesi ithi iNkosi: Kakube khatshana lamix; ngoba abangihloniphayo ngizabahloniphay, labangidelelayo bazakweyiswaz.

31 Khangela, insuku ziyeza engizaquma ngazo ingalo yakho lengalo yendlu kayihlo, kungabi khona ixhegu endlini yakhoa.

32 Njalo uzabona ukuhlupheka kwendlu yami, kuyo yonke impumelelo ezayenzela uIsrayeli; njalo kakuyikuba lexhegu endlini yakho zonke izinsukub.

33 Lowo-ke owakho engingayikumquma asuke elathini lami uzakuba ngowokuqeda amehlo akho, lokudabula umphefumulo wakho; lakho konke ukwanda kwendlu yakho kuzakufa kusebudodeni.

34 Lalokhu kuzakuba yisiboniso kuwe okuzakwehlela amadodana akho womabili, kuHofini loPhinehasic; bobabili bazakufa ngasuku lunyed.

35 Ngizazimisela umpristi othembekileyo; uzakwenza njengokusenhliziyweni yami lemphefumulweni wamie. Njalo ngizamakhela indlu eqinileyof; uzahamba-ke phambi kogcotshiweyo wami zonke izinsukug.

36 Kuzakuthi-ke wonke oseleyo endlini yakho uzakuza akhothame kuye ngenxa yembadalo yesiliva leqebelengwana lesinkwa, athi: Ake ungibeke kwesinye sezikhundla zompristi ukuze ngidle ucezu lwesinkwah.

Ubizo lukaSamuweli

3Umfana uSamuweli wayesebenzela iNkosi phambi kukaElia. Lelizwi leNkosi laliligugu ngalezonsuku; kwakungekho lombono osabaleleyob.

2 Kwasekusithi ngalolosuku uEli elele endaweni yakhe, lamehlo akhe eseqala ukufiphala engelakubonac,

3 lesibane sikaNkulunkulu sasingakacitshwad, njalo uSamuweli wayelele ethempelini leNkosi, lapho okwakukhona umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulue,

4 iNkosi yambiza uSamuweli, owathi: Khangela ngilapha.

5 Wasegijimela kuEli, wathi: Khangela ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile. Wasesithi: Kangibizanga, buyela ulale. Wasesiyalala.

6 INkosi yasibuya imbiza uSamuweli futhi. USamuweli wasevuka waya kuEli, wathi: Khangela ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile. Kodwa wathi: Kangibizanga, ndodana yami; buyela ulale.

7 Kodwa uSamuweli wayengakayazi iNkosi, lelizwi leNkosi lalingakembulwa kuye.

8 INkosi yasimbiza futhi uSamuweli ngokwesithathu. Wasevuka waya kuEli wathi: Khangela ngilapha, ngoba ungibizile. UEli waseqedisisa ukuthi iNkosi imbizile umfana.

9 Ngakho uEli wathi kuSamuweli: Hamba uyelala; kuzakuthi-ke nxa ikubiza uzakuthi: Khuluma Nkosi, ngoba inceku yakho iyezwa. Wasehamba uSamuweli, walala endaweni yakhe.

10 INkosi yasisiza, yema, yabiza njengakwezinye izikhathi: Samuweli, Samuweli! Wasesithi uSamuweli: Khuluma, ngoba inceku yakho iyezwa.

11 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Khangela, ngizakwenza into koIsrayeli ezakhenceza indlebe zombili zalowo wonke oyizwayof.

12 Ngalolosuku ngizakwenza ngimelene loEli konke engakukhuluma ngendlu yakhe; ngiqalise ngiqedeg.

13 Ngoba ngimtshelileh ukuthi ngizagweba indlu yakhe kuze kube nininini ngesiphambeko asaziyoi, ngoba amadodana akhe azenza aqalekiswaj, kodwa kawakhuzangak.

14 Ngakho-ke ngifungile kuyo indlu kaEli ukuthi ububi bendlu kaEli kabuyikuhlangulwa ngomhlatshelo langomnikelo kuze kube phakadel.

15 USamuweli waselala kwaze kwasa; wavula iminyango yendlu yeNkosi, kodwa uSamuweli wesaba ukumtshela uEli umbono.

16 UEli wasembiza uSamuweli, wathi: Samuweli, ndodana yami. Wasesithi: Khangela ngilapha.

17 Wasesithi: Yinto bani eyikhulume kuwe? Ake ungangifihleli; kenze njalo uNkulunkulu kuwe, ngokunjalo engezelele, uba ungifihlela ulutho lwazo zonke izinto akutshele zona.

18 Ngakho uSamuweli wasemtshela zonke izinto, kamfihlelanga lutho. Wasesithi: YiNkosi, kayenze lokho okulungileyo emehlweni ayom.

19 Wakhula-ke uSamuwelin, leNkosi yayilayeo, kayiyekelanga lelilodwa lamazwi ayo liwele emhlabathinip.

20 UIsrayeli wonke-ke kusukela koDani kuze kube seBherishebha wazi ukuthi uSamuweli uqinisiwe ukuthi abe ngumprofethi weNkosiq.

21 INkosi yaphinda yabonakala eShilo, ngoba iNkosi yazibonakalisa kuSamuweli eShilor ngelizwi leNkosis.

AmaFilisti anqoba abantwana bakoIsrayeli; athatha umtshokotsho wesivumelwano

4Ilizwi likaSamuweli lafika kuIsrayeli wonke. UIsrayeli wasephuma ukuyamelana lamaFilisti empini, bamisa inkamba ngaseEbeni-Ezeria, lamaFilisti amisa inkamba eAfekib.

2 AmaFilisti asezihlela ukumelana loIsrayeli; kwathi impi isabalala, uIsrayeli watshaywa phambi kwamaFilisti; njalo atshaya emaviyweni egangeni phose amadoda azinkulungwane ezine.

3 Kwathi abantu befika enkambeni, abadala bakoIsrayeli bathi: INkosi isitshayeleni lamuhla phambi kwamaFilisti? Asizithatheleni eShiloc umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosid; nxa usiza phakathi kwethu uzasisindisa esandleni sezitha zethu.

4 Ngakho abantu bathumela eShiloe, ukuthi bathathe khona umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi yamabandla, ehlala phakathi kwamakherubhi*f; lamadodana amabili kaEli, uHofini loPhinehasi, ayelapho lomtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.

5 Kwasekusithi lapho umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi ufika enkambeni, uIsrayeli wonke wahlokoma ngokuhlokoma okukhulug kwaze kwaduma umhlabah.

6 Lapho amaFilisti esizwa umsindo wokuhlokoma athi: Utshoni umsindo walokhukuhlokoma okukhulu enkambeni yamaHebheru? Asesazi ukuthi umtshokotsho weNkosi ufikile enkambeni.

7 AmaFilisti asesesaba, ngoba athi: UNkulunkulu ufikile enkambeni. Athi-ke: Maye kithi! Ngoba kakuzanga kwenzeke okunje mandulo.

8 Maye kithi! Ngubani ozasophula esandleni salaba onkulunkulu abalamandla? Laba ngonkulunkulu abatshaya amaGibhithe ngazo zonke inhlupheko enkangala.

9 Qinani, libe ngamadoda, maFilisti, hlezi lisebenzele amaHebherui njengoba alisebenzela. Ngakho banini ngamadoda, lilwej.

10 Ngakho amaFilisti alwa, loIsrayeli watshaywak, babalekela, ngulowo lalowo ethenteni lakhe. Njalo kwaba lokubulawa okukhulu kakhulu, ngoba kwawa koIsrayeli abayizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu abahamba ngenyawol.

11 Umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wasuthathwam, lamadodana womabili kaEli, uHofini loPhinehasi, abulawan.

12 Kwasekugijima umuntu wakoBhenjamini evela emaviyweni, wafika eShilo ngalolosukuo, lezigqoko zakhe zidatshuliwep elenhlabathi ekhanda lakheq.

13 Ekufikeni kwakhe, khangela-ke, uEli wayehlezi esihlalweni eceleni kwendlela elindile, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe yayithuthumelela umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulur. Kwathi lowomuntu esengenile emzini ukubika, kwakhala umuzi wonke.

14 Lapho uEli esizwa umsindo wokukhala wathi: Uyini umsindo wale inhlokomo? Lowomuntu wasephangisa weza wamtshela uEli.

15 Njalo uEli wayeleminyaka engamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye leyisificaminwembili, lamehlo akhe ema ukuthi ayengelakho ukubonas.

16 Lowomuntu wasesithi kuEli: Nginguye ovela emaviyweni; ngibaleke emaviyweni lamuhla. Wasesithi: Kwenziweni, ndodana yami?

17 Owaletha umbiko wasephendula wathi: UIsrayeli ubalekile phambi kwamaFilisti, futhi kube lokubulawa okukhulu ebantwini, njalo lamadodana akho womabili, uHofini loPhinehasi, afile, lomtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe.

18 Kwasekusithi esekhulume ngomtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu, wawa nyovane esihlalweni eceleni kwesango, kwephuka intamo yakhe, wafa, ngoba lowomuntu wayemdala, enzima. Njalo wayahlulele uIsrayeli iminyaka engamatshumi amane.

19 Lomalokazana wakhe, umkaPhinehasi, wayekhulelwe, esezabeletha; esezwile umbiko wokuthi umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe, lokuthi uyisezala lomkakhe bafile, wakhothama wabeletha, ngoba wafikelwa yimihelo.

20 Njalo phose ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe abesifazana ababemi belaye bathi: Ungesabi, ngoba ubelethe indodanat. Kodwa kaphendulanga njalo kazange akunanze.

21 Wambiza umfana ngokuthi nguIkabodiu, esithi: Inkazimulo isukile koIsrayeli; ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwe, langenxa kayisezala lomkakhe.

22 Wasesithi: Inkazimulo isukile koIsrayeli ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu uthethwev.

Umtshokotsho wesivumelwano usala elizweni lamaFilisti

5AmaFilisti asewuthatha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu awususa eEbeni-Ezeria awusa eAshidodib.

2 AmaFilisti asethatha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu, awungenisa endlini kaDagoni, awubeka ngakuDagonic.

3 Kwathi abeAshidodi bevuka kusisa ngovivi, khangela, uDagoni esewile ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini phambi komtshokotsho weNkosid. Basebemthatha uDagoni, bambuyisela endaweni yakhe.

4 Sebevukile kusisa ekuseni kakhulu, khangela, uDagoni wayesewile ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini phambi komtshokotsho weNkosi, lekhanda likaDagoni lempama zombili zezandla zakhe kwakuqunyiwe embundwini; kwasala kuye isithombo kuphelae.

5 Ngakho abapristi bakaDagoni labo bonke abangena endlini kaDagoni kabanyatheli embundwini kaDagoni eAshidodi kuze kube lamuhlaf.

6 Kodwa isandla seNkosi saba nzima phezu kwabeAshidodig, yabachithah, yabatshaya ngamathumba ophayo, iAshidodi lemingcele yayoi.

7 Kwathi abantu beAshidodi sebebona ukuthi kunjalo, bathi: Umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli kawungahlali kithi, ngoba isandla sakhe sinzima phezu kwethu laphezu kukaDagoni unkulunkulu wethu.

8 Ngakho bathuma babuthanisa zonke iziphathamandla zamaFilisti kibo, bathi: Sizakwenzani ngomtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayelij? Zasezisithi: Umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli kawubhode uye eGathik. Basebewubhodisa bewusa khona umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli.

9 Kwasekusithi sebewubhodise bewuthwele, isandla seNkosi sasimelene lomuzil ngomonakalo omkhulu kakhulu, yatshaya abantu bomuzi, kusukela komncinyane kusiya komkhulu; kwasekuqhamuka amathumba ophayo kubom.

10 Basebewuthumela umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu eEkhironin. Kwasekusithi ekufikeni komtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu eEkhironio, abeEkhironi bakhala besithi: Babhodise baletha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli kithi ukusibulala labantu bakithi.

11 Ngakho bathuma babuthanisa zonke iziphathamandla zamaFilistip, bathi: Thumani lisuse umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli ukuthi ubuyele endaweni yawo, ukuze ungasibulali labantu bakithi, ngoba kwakulomonakalo wokufa emzini wonke, lesandla sikaNkulunkulu sasinzima kakhulu khona.

12 Labantu abangafanga batshaywa ngamathumba ophayo; lokukhala komuzi kwenyukela emazulwiniq.

Umtshokotsho wesivumelwano ubuyiselwa koIsrayeli

6Lomtshokotsho weNkosi wawuselizweni lamaFilisti inyanga eziyisikhombisa.

2 AmaFilisti asebiza abapristi labavumisia, esithi: Sizawenzelani umtshokotsho weNkosi? Saziseni ukuthi singawuthumeza lani endaweni yawo.

3 Basebesithi: Uba lingawuthumeza umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu wakoIsrayeli, lingawuthumezi uzeb, kodwa libuyisele lokubuyisela kuye umnikelo wecalac. Khona-ke lizasiliswa, njalo kuzakwaziwa kini ukuthi kungani isandla sakhe singasuki kinid.

4 Basebesithi: Uzakuba yini umnikelo wecala esizawubuyisela kuye? Basebesithi: Amathumba ophayo egolide amahlanu lamagundwane amahlanu egolidee, njengokwenani leziphathamandla zamaFilistif; ngoba bekulenhlupheko eyodwa kini lonke lakuziphathamandla zenu.

5 Ngakho lizakwenza imifanekiso yamathumba enu ophayo lemifanekiso yamagundwane enu alonayo ilizweg, limnike udumo uNkulunkulu kaIsrayelih; mhlawumbe angenza lula isandla sakhe sisuke phezu kwenui sisuke laphezu kwabonkulunkulu benu sisuke laphezu kwelizwe lenuj.

6 Lenzelani-ke inhliziyo zenu zibe lukhuni njengamaGibhithe loFaro benza inhliziyo zabo zaba lukhunik? Emva kokuthi esenze kabuhlungu kubo kabavumelanga yini ukuthi bahambe, basebehambal?

7 Ngakho-ke thathani lilungise inqola entsha lamankomokazi amabili amunyisayom okungezanga jogwe phezu kwawo, liwabophele amankomokazi enqoleni, liwabuyisele ekhaya amankonyana awo asuke emva kwawon.

8 Lithathe umtshokotsho weNkosi, liwubeke enqoleni, lempahla zegolide elizibuyisela kuye zibe ngumnikelo wecala, lizifake ebhokisini eceleni kwawo; liyithumeze ihambeo.

9 Libone aluba isenyuka ngendlela yomngcele wawo eya eBeti-Shemeship, yiyo esenzele lobububi obukhulu; kodwa uba kungenjalo, sizakwazi ukuthi kakusiso isandla sayo esisitshayileyo, sehlelwe yingozi njeq.

10 Abantu basebesenza njalo, bathatha amankomokazi amabili amunyisayo, bawabophela enqoleni, bawavalela amankonyana awo ekhaya.

11 Bawubeka umtshokotsho weNkosi enqoleni lebhokisi elilamagundwane egolide lezithombe zamathumba abo ophayo.

12 Amankomokazi aseqonda endleleni, ngendlela eya eBeti-Shemeshir, ahamba ngomgwaqo omkhulus ehamba ebhonsa, engaphambukeli ngakwesokunene loba ngakwesokhohlo, leziphathamandla zamaFilisti zawalandela kwaze kwaba semngceleni weBeti-Shemeshi.

13 AbeBeti-Shemeshi babevuna isivuno sengqoloyi esigodini; lapho bephakamisa amehlo abo, bawubona umtshokotsho, bathokoza ukuwubona.

14 Inqola yasingena ensimini kaJoshuwa weBeti-Shemeshi, yema khona, lapho okwakulelitshe elikhulu khona; basebebanda izigodo zenqola, basebenikela amankomokazi aba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa eNkosini.

15 AmaLevi asewethula umtshokotsho weNkosi lebhokisi elalilawot, okwakukulo impahla zegolide, akubeka phezu kwelitshe elikhulu. Labantu beBeti-Shemeshi banikela iminikelo yokutshiswa, bayihlabela iNkosi imihlatshelo ngalolosuku.

16 Iziphathamandla ezinhlanu zamaFilisti sezikubonileu, zabuyela eEkhironi ngalolosukuv.

17 Lala ngamathumba ophayo egolide amaFilisti awabuyisela abe ngumnikelo wecala eNkosini, eleAshidodi elilodwaw, eleGaza elilodwax, eleAshikeloni elilodway, eleGathi elilodwaz, eleEkhironi elilodwaa.

18 Lamagundwane egolide njengokwenani lemizi yonke yamaFilisti yeziphathamandla ezinhlanu, kusukela emizini ebiyelweyo kuze kube semizaneni yemaphandlenib kuze kube selitsheni elikhulu likaAbeli, lapho ababeka khona umtshokotsho weNkosi, elisensimini kaJoshuwa umBeti-Shemeshi kuze kube lamuhlac.

19 Yasitshaya amadoda eBeti-Shemeshi ngoba ayekhangele phakathi komtshokotsho weNkosi; yebo, yatshaya phakathi kwabantu amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amahlanu lamatshumi ayisikhombisad. Abantu basebelila ngoba iNkosi yayitshaye ngokutshaya okukhulu phakathi kwabantue.

20 Ngakho abantu beBeti-Shemeshi bathi: Ngubani olakho ukumaf phambi kweNkosi, lo uNkulunkulu ongcweleg? Uzakwenyukela kubani esuka kithi?

21 Basebethuma izithunywa kubahlali beKiriyathi-Jeyarimi besithi: AmaFilisti asewubuyisile umtshokotsho weNkosi; yehlani liwenyusele kinih.

7Njalo abantu beKiriyathi-Jeyarimi bezaa, benyusa umtshokotsho weNkosi, bawungenisa endlini kaAbinadaba phezu kwaloloqaqa, bangcwelisa uEleyazare indodana yakhe ukuthi agcine umtshokotsho weNkosib.

USamuweli wahlulela uIsrayeli

2 Kwasekusithi kusukela ngosuku umtshokotsho uhlala eKiriyathi-Jeyarimi, insuku zanda; ngoba kwaba yiminyaka engamatshumi amabili; lendlu yonke yakoIsrayeli yakhala ilandela iNkosi.

3 USamuweli wasekhuluma endlini yonke kaIsrayeli esithi: Uba libuyela eNkosini ngenhliziyo yenu yonkec, susani onkulunkulu bezizweni phakathi kwenud laboAshitarothie, liqondise inhliziyo yenu eNkosinif, likhonze yona yodwa, ngakho izalophula esandleni samaFilistig.

4 Ngakho abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesusa oBhali laboAshitarothi, bakhonza iNkosi yodwah.

5 USamuweli wasesithi: Buthanisani uIsrayeli wonke eMizipai; njalo ngizalikhulekela eNkosinij.

6 Basebebuthana eMizipa, bakha amanzi, bawathela phambi kweNkosik, bazila ukudla mhlalokhol, bathi lapho: Sonile eNkosinim. USamuweli wasesahlulela abantwana bakoIsrayeli eMizipa.

7 Kwathi amaFilisti esezwile ukuthi abantwana bakoIsrayeli babuthene eMizipa, iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zenyuka zamelana loIsrayeli. Abantwana bakoIsrayeli sebekuzwile bawesaba amaFilisti.

8 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebesithi kuSamuweli: Ungathuli ukusikhalela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wethu ukuze asisindise esandleni samaFilistin.

9 USamuweli wasethatha iwundlu elimunyayo, walinikela lonke eNkosini laba ngumnikelo otshiswayo. USamuweli wakhalela uIsrayeli eNkosini, iNkosi yasimphendulao.

10 Kwathi uSamuweli esanikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, amaFilisti asondela empini loIsrayeli; kodwa iNkosi yaduma ngelizwi elikhulu phezu kwamaFilisti ngalolosukup, yawachithachitha, asetshaywa phambi kukaIsrayeliq.

11 Amadoda akoIsrayeli asephuma eMizipa axotshana lamaFilisti, awatshaya, kwaze kwaba ngaphansi kweBetikari.

12 USamuweli wasethatha ilitshe, walimisa phakathi kweMizipa leSheni, wabiza ibizo lalo iEbeni-Ezerir, wathi: Kuze kube khathesi iNkosi isisiziles.

13 Ngakho amaFilisti ehliselwa phansit, kawabe esaphinda ukungena emngceleni wakoIsrayeliu. Njalo isandla seNkosi samelana lamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweliv.

14 Imizi amaFilisti ayeyithethe-ke koIsrayeli yabuyiselwa kuIsrayeli kusukela eEkhironiw kuze kufike eGathix; lomngcele wayo uIsrayeli wawukhulula esandleni samaFilisti. Njalo kwaba lokuthula phakathi kukaIsrayeli lamaAmoriy.

15 USamuweli wasesahlulela uIsrayeli insuku zonke zempilo yakhez.

16 Wahamba iminyaka ngeminyaka wabhoda eBhethelia, leGiligalib, leMizipac; wahlulela uIsrayeli kuzo zonke lezozindawo.

17 Lokubuyela kwakhe kwakuyikuya eRamad, ngoba indlu yakhe yayilapho; wahlulela uIsrayeli khona, wayakhela lapho iNkosi ilathie.

Abantwana bakoIsrayeli bafuna inkosi

8Kwasekusithi uSamuweli esemdala wabekaa amadodana akhe ukuze abe ngabahluleli koIsrayelib.

2 Lebizo lendodana yakhe elizibulo lalinguJoweli, lebizo leyesibili linguAbhiya; ayengabahluleli eBherishebhac.

3 Kodwa amadodana akhe ayengahambi ngendlela zakhe, kodwa aphambukela enzuzweni embid, emukela isivalamlomo, aphambula isahluleloe.

4 Kwasekubuthana abadala bonke bakoIsrayeli, beza kuSamuweli eRamaf,

5 bathi kuye: Khangela, wena usumdala, lamadodana akho kawahambi ngendlela zakho; ngakho sibekele inkosi ukuze isahlulele njengazo zonke izizweg.

6 Kodwa leyonto yayimbi emehlweni kaSamuweli lapho besithi: Sinike inkosi ukusahlulela. USamuweli wasekhuleka eNkosini.

7 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labantu kukho konke abakutshoyo kuwe, ngoba kakusuwe abakwalayoh, kodwa bala mina ukuze ngingabusi phezu kwaboi.

8 Ngokwezenzo zonke abazenzileyo kusukela ngosuku engabenyusa ngalo eGibhithe kuze kube lamuhla, bangitshiyile bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; benza njalo lakuwe.

9 Ngakho khathesi, lalela ilizwi labo; kodwa nxa ubafakazele kakhulu, ubazise indlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwaboj.

10 USamuweli wasetshela abantu abacela kuye inkosi wonke amazwi eNkosi.

11 Wasesithi: Le izakuba yindlela yenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenuk; izathatha amadodana enu izibekele wona enqoleni zayo lakubagadi bamabhiza ayo, agijime phambi kwezinqola zayol.

12 Izazibekela wona abe yizinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu, lokulima amasimu ayo, lokuvuna isivuno sayo, lokwenza izikhali zayo zempi, lezikhali zezinqola zayom.

13 Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abe ngabenzi bamakha, labapheki, labaphekizinkwan.

14 Izathatha amasimu enu, lezivini zenu lezivande zenu zemihlwathi, ezinhle, ikunike inceku zayo.

15 Izathatha okwetshumi yenhlanyelo yenu leyezivini zenu, iyinike induna zayo lenceku zayoo.

16 Izathatha inceku zenu lencekukazi zenu lamajaha enu angcono labobabhemi benu, ikusebenzise emsebenzini wayo.

17 Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu; lina-ke libe yizinceku zayo.

18 Njalo lizakhala ngalolosuku ngenxa yenkosi yenu elizikhethele yona; kodwa iNkosi kayiyikuliphendula mhlalokhop.

19 Kodwa abantu bala ukulilalela ilizwi likaSamuweli, bathi: Hatshi, kodwa kuzakuba lenkosi phezu kwethu,

20 ukuze lathi sibe njengezizwe zonkeq, lenkosi yethu isahlulele, iphume phambi kwethu, ilwe izimpi zethu.

21 USamuweli esewazwile wonke amazwi abantu, wawalandisa endlebeni zeNkosi.

22 INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Lalela ilizwi labo, ubabekele inkosir. USamuweli wasesithi emadodeni akoIsrayeli: Hambani liye ngulowo lalowo emzini wakhe.

USawuli ukhethwa ukuthi abe yinkosi

9Kwakukhona-ke indoda yakoBhenjamini obizo layo linguKishi, indodana kaAbiyeli, indodana kaZerori, indodana kaBekorathi, indodana kaAfiya, umBhenjamini, iqhawe elilamandlaa.

2 Njalo yayilendodana, obizo layo lalinguSawuli, ijaha elihle; kwakungelamuntu omuhle kulalo phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayelib; kusukela emahlombe alo kusiya phezulu lalilide kulabo bonke abantuc.

3 Obabhemikazi bakaKishi, uyise kaSawuli, balahleka-ke. Ngakho uKishi wathi kuSawuli indodana yakhe: Ake uthathe enye yezinceku lawe, usukume uhambe uyedinga obabhemikazi.

4 Wasedabula intaba zakoEfrayimid, wadabula ilizwe leShalishae, kodwa kababatholanga. Basebedabula ilizwe leShalimaf, kodwa babengekho. Basebedabula ilizwe lakoBhenjamini, kodwa kababatholanga.

5 Bona sebefikile elizweni leZufig, uSawuli wathi encekwini yakhe eyayilaye: Woza sibuyele, hlezi ubaba ayekele obabhemikazi abesenqinekela thinah.

6 Yasisithi kuye: Khangela-ke, kulomuntu kaNkulunkulu kulumuzi, ungumuntu ohloniphekayoi; konke akutshoyo kuyenzeka sibili. Khathesi asiye khona; mhlawumbe angasitshela indlela esizahamba ngayoj.

7 USawuli wasesithi encekwini yakhe: Kodwa khangela, uba sisiya, sizamphathelani lowomuntuk? Ngoba isinkwa kasisekho ezitsheni zethu; futhi kakulasipho sokusa emuntwini kaNkulunkulu. Silanil?

8 Inceku yasibuya yamphendula uSawuli yathi: Khangela, kutholakala esandleni sami ingxenye yesine yeshekeli* lesiliva; ngizamnika yona lowomuntu kaNkulunkulu ukuze asitshele indlela yethu.

9 (Endulo koIsrayeli lapho umuntu esiyabuza kuNkulunkulum, wayesitsho kanje: Woza siye kumboni; ngoba lo ongumprofethi lamuhla kuqala wayebizwa ngokuthi ngumbonin.)

10 USawuli wasesithi encekwini yakhe: Lihle ilizwi lakho; woza sihambe. Basebesiya emzini lapho okwakukhona lowomuntu kaNkulunkulu.

11 Besenyuka ngomqanso womuzi, bona bafica amantombazana ephuma ukuyakukha amanzi, bathi kuwo: Umboni ulapha yinio?

12 Asebaphendula athi: Ukhona; khangelani, uphambi kwenu. Phangisani khathesi; ngoba ufike lamuhla emzini, ngoba abantu balomhlatshelo lamuhla endaweni ephakemeyop.

13 Ekungeneni kwenu emzini, lizahle limthole engakenyukeli endaweni ephakemeyo ukuyakudlaq; ngoba abantu kabayikudla aze afike, ngoba nguye obusisa umhlatshelo, emva kwalokho abanxusiweyo badle. Ngakho-ke yenyukani, ngoba yena, phose ngalesisikhathi, lizamthola.

14 Basebesenyukela emzini; besangena phakathi komuzi, khangela, uSamuweli waphuma ukubahlangabeza ukwenyukela endaweni ephakemeyo.

15 INkosi yasibonakalisa endlebeni kaSamuweli ngosuku phambi kokufika kukaSawulir, isithi:

16 Kusasa phose ngalesisikhathi ngizathuma kuwe umuntu ovela elizweni lakoBhenjamini; futhi umgcobe abe ngumbusi phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli, ukuze asindise abantu bami esandleni samaFilistis, ngoba ngibonile abantu bami, ngoba ukukhala kwabo kufikile kimit.

17 Kwathi uSamuweli ebona uSawuli, iNkosi yamphendulau: Khangela, umuntu ebengikhuluma ngaye kuwe. Lo uzabusa phezu kwabantu bamiv.

18 USawuli wasesondela kuSamuweli phakathi kwesango wathi: Akungitshele, ingaphi lapha indlu yomboni?

19 USamuweli wasemphendula uSawuli wathi: Yimi umboni; yenyuka phambi kwami uye endaweni ephakemeyo, ngoba lamuhla uzakudla lami; lekuseni ngizakuyekela uhambe, ngikutshele konke okusenhliziyweni yakho.

20 Lamayelana labobabhemikazi bakho asebelensuku ezintathu belahlekile, ungafaki inhliziyo yakho kubo, ngoba sebetholiwew. Kodwa zikubani iziloyiso zonke zikaIsrayeli? Kazikho kuwe yini lendlini yonke kayihlo?

21 USawuli wasephendula wathi: Kangisuye umBhenjamini yini, owesincinyane sezizwe zakoIsrayelix, losendo lwethu luncinyane kulazo zonke insendo zesizwe sakoBhenjamini? Pho-ke, ukhulumelani kimi ngalindlelay?

22 USamuweli wasethatha uSawuli lenceku yakhe, wabangenisa ekamelweni lokudlelaz, wabahlalisa endaweni engaphezulu yabanxusiweyo, ababengaphose babe ngamatshumi amathathu.

23 USamuweli wasesithi kumpheki: Letha isabelo engikunike sona, engithe kuwe ngaso: Sibeke ngakuwe.

24 Umpheki wasephakamisa umlenze lokwakuphezu kwawo, wakubeka phambi kukaSawulia. USamuweli wasesithi: Khangela, okuseleyo; kubeke phambi kwakho, dlana; ngoba bekubekelwe wena kuze kufike lesisikhathi esimisiweyo, njengoba ngitshilo: Nginxuse abantu. USawuli wasesidla loSamuweli ngalolosuku.

25 Sebehlile endaweni ephakemeyo baya emzini, wakhuluma loSawuli ephahlenib.

26 Basebevuka ngovivi; kwasekusithi phose emadabukakusa, uSamuweli wambiza uSawuli ephahleni esithi: Sukuma ukuze ngikuyekele uhambe. Wasesukuma uSawuli, baphuma bobabili, yena loSamuweli, baya phandle.

27 Sebesehlela ekucineni komuzi, uSamuweli wathi kuSawuli: Tshela inceku ukuthi yedlule phambi kwethu (yasisedlula), kodwa wena mana okwakhathesi, ukuthi ngikuzwise ilizwi likaNkulunkulu.

USamuweli ugcoba uSawuli

10USamuweli wasethatha umfuma wamafutha, wawathela ekhanda lakhea, wamangab, wathi: Angithi kungoba iNkosi ikugcobele ukuthi ube ngumbusi phezu kwelifa layoc?

2 Ekusukeni kwakho kimi lamuhla uzafica abantu ababili engcwabeni likaRasheli emngceleni wakoBhenjamini eZelizad; njalo bazakuthi kuwe: Obabhemikazi obuyebadinga sebetholiwe, khangela-ke, uyihlo useyekele udaba labobabhemikazi, usenqinekela linae esithi: Ngizayenzelani indodana yami?

3 Nxa usudlule lapho waya phambili, uzafika esihlahleni se-okhi* seThabhorif; lalapho uzahlangana labantu abathathu besenyuka besiya kuNkulunkulu eBhethelig, omunye ephethe amazinyane amathathu, lomunye ephethe amaqebelengwana ezinkwa amathathu, lomunye ephethe imbodlela yewayini.

4 Bazakubuza ngempilo, bakunike izinkwa ezimbili, ozazithatha esandleni sabo.

5 Emva kwalokho uzafika eqaqeni lukaNkulunkuluh lapho okuhlala khona ibutho lenqaba yamaFilistii; kuzakuthi-ke, nxa ufika lapho emzini uzahlangana lexuku labaprofethi besehla endaweni ephakemeyo, laphambi kwabo kulogubhu lwezintamboj, lesigubhu, lomhlangak, lechacho, beprofethal.

6 LoMoya kaNkulunkulu uzafika ngamandla phezu kwakhom, uprofethe kanye labo, uphendulwe ube ngomunye umuntun.

7 Kuzakuthi-ke lapho lezizibonakaliso zikufikela, wena wenze lokho isandla sakho esizakutholao, ngoba uNkulunkulu ulawep.

8 Uzakwehla phambi kwami uye eGiligaliq; khangela-ke, ngizakwehlela kuwe ukuze nginikele iminikelo yokutshiswa, ngihlabe imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula. Uzalinda insuku eziyisikhombisa ngize ngifike kuwe, ngikutshele lokho ozakwenzar.

9 Kwasekusithi lapho esefulathele ukuthi asuke kuSamuweli, uNkulunkulu wamnika enye inhliziyo; lazo zonke lezizibonakaliso zeza mhlalokho.

10 Lapho sebefikile khona eqaqenis, khangela, ixuku labaprofethi lamhlangabezat; uMoya kaNkulunkulu wasefika ngamandla phezu kwakhe, waprofetha phakathi kwabou.

11 Kwasekusithi bonke ababemazi mandulo bebona ukuthi, khangela, uprofetha labaprofethi, abantu bathi, omunye komunye: Kuyini lokhu okwehlele indodana kaKishi? Kanti uSawuli laye uphakathi kwabaprofethiv?

12 Kwasekuphendula umuntu owakhona wathi: Kanti ngubani uyise wabow? Ngakho kwasekusiba yisaga ukuthi: Kanti uSawuli laye uphakathi kwabaprofethix?

13 Eseqedile ukuprofetha wafika endaweni ephakemeyo.

14 Uyise omncinyane kaSawuli wathi kuye lencekwini yakhe: Beliye ngaphi? Wasesithi: Ukuyadinga obabhemikazi; lapho sesibona ukuthi kabakho sasesifika kuSamuweliy.

15 Uyise omncinyane kaSawuli wathi: Ake ungitshele ukuthi utheni kini uSamuweli?

16 USawuli wasesithi kuyise omncinyane: Usitshelile sibili ukuthi obabhemikazi sebetholakele. Kodwa udaba lombuso akhuluma ngalo uSamuweli kamtshelangaz.

17 USamuweli wasebizela abantu ndawonye eNkosinia eMizipab;

18 wathi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli: Itsho njalo iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Mina ngamenyusa uIsrayeli eGibhithe, ngalikhulula esandleni samaGibhithe lesandleni sayo yonke imibuso eyalicindezelayoc.

19 Kodwa lamuhla lina limalile uNkulunkulu wenu, yena ngokwakhe owalisindisayo engozini zonke zenu lensizini zenu; laselisithi kuye: Hatshi, beka inkosi phezu kwethud. Ngakho-ke manini phambi kweNkosi ngezizwe zenu langezinkulungwane zenue.

20 USamuweli wasesondeza zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli; njalo isizwe sakoBhenjamini sabanjwaf.

21 Wasesondeza isizwe sakoBhenjamini ngensendo zaso, losendo lwakoMatiri lwabanjwa, loSawuli indodana kaKishi wabanjwa. Kuthe bemdinga katholakalanga.

22 Ngakho babuya babuza eNkosini ukuthi lowomuntu usezafika lapha yini? INkosi yasisithi: Khangelani, ucatshile empahlenig.

23 Basebegijima bamlanda khona; lapho esemi phakathi kwabantu, wayemude kulabo bonke abantu kusukela ehlombe lakhe kusiya phezuluh.

24 USamuweli wasesithi kubo bonke abantu: Liyambona yini lowo iNkosi emkhethileyo, ukuthi kakho loyedwa onjengaye kubo bonke abantu? Bonke abantu basebememeza bathi: Kayiphile inkosii!

25 USamuweli wasebatshela abantu indlela yombuso, wawubhala egwalweni, walubeka phambi kweNkosi. USamuweli wasebayekela bonke abantu bahamba, wonke waya endlini yakhej.

26 USawuli laye wasesiya endlini yakhe eGibeyak; kwasekuhamba laye amaqhawe onhliziyo zawo uNkulunkulu wayezithintile.

27 Kodwal abantwana bakaBheliyali bathi: Uzasisindisa njani lom? Basebemdelela, kabamphathelanga sipho; kodwa wazithulelan.

USawuli unqoba amaAmoni

11Kwasekusenyuka uNahashi umAmonia, wamisa inkamba maqondana leJabeshi-Gileyadib; wonke amadoda eJabeshi asesithi kuNahashi: Yenza isivumelwano lathi, sizakusebenzelac.

2 Kodwa uNahashi umAmoni wathi kibo: Ngizasenza phezu kwalokhu isivumelwano lanid, ukuze ngilikopole wonke amehlo awesokunenee njalo ngehlisele uIsrayeli wonke ihlazof.

3 Abadala beJabeshi basebesithi kuye: Siyekele okwensuku eziyisikhombisa ukuze sithume izithunywa kuwo wonke umngcele wakoIsrayeli. Uba-ke kungekho ongasisindisa, sizaphuma size kuwe.

4 Izithunywa zasezifika eGibeya kaSawulig, zalandisa amazwi endlebeni zabantu, labantu bonke baphakamisa ilizwi labo bakhala inyembezih.

5 Khangela-ke, uSawuli weza emva kwezinkabi evela emasimini, uSawuli wathi: Kwenze njani ebantwini ukuthi bakhale? Basebemtshela amazwi amadoda eJabeshi.

6 UMoya kaNkulunkulu wasefika ngamandla phezu kukaSawuli lapho esizwa lawomazwi, lolaka lwakhe lwavutha kakhului.

7 Wasethatha inkabi ezimbili, waziquma zaba yiziqa, wazithumela kuwo wonke umngcele wakoIsrayeli ngesandla sezithunywa esithij: Ongaphumi alandele uSawuli alandele loSamuweli, kuzakwenziwanje enkabini zakhe. Ukwesaba iNkosi kwasekusehlela phezu kwabantu, baphuma njengamuntu munyek.

8 Lapho ebabala eBezekil, abantwana bakoIsrayeli babe yizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu, lamadoda akoJuda eyizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathum.

9 Basebesithi kuzo izithunywa ezazifikile: Lizawatshela njalo amadoda eJabeshi-Gileyadi lithi: Kusasa lizakuba losindiso nxa ilanga selitshisa. Lapho izithunywa zifika zawatshela amadoda eJabeshi, athokoza.

10 Ngakho amadoda eJabeshi athi: Kusasa sizaphumela kini, lenze kithi njengakho konke okulungileyo emehlweni enun.

11 Kwasekusithi kusisa, uSawulio wamisa abantu ngezigaba ezintathup; bafika phakathi kwenkamba ngomlindo wekuseniq; bamtshaya uAmoni lwaze lwatshisa usuku; kwasekusithi abaseleyo bahlakazeka, kwaze kwathi kakusalanga kibo ababili bendawonye.

12 Abantu basebesithi kuSamuweli: Ngubani othe: USawuli uzabusa yini phezu kwethur? Baletheni labobantu ukuze sibabulales.

13 Kodwa uSawuli wathi: Kakuyikubulawa muntu ngalolusukut, ngoba lamuhla iNkosi yenze inkululeko koIsrayeliu.

14 USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: Wozani siye eGiligaliv, sivuselele umbuso khona.

15 Bonke abantu basebesiya eGiligali, bambeka khona uSawuli waba yinkosi phambi kweNkosi eGiligaliw. Bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula phambi kweNkosi, lalapho uSawuli lawo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli bathokoza kakhulukazix.

USamuweli ukhuluma ngokuthembeka kwakhe

12USamuweli wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Khangelani, ngililalele ilizwi lenu kukho konke elakutsho kimia, sengibeke inkosi phezu kwenub.

2 Khathesi-ke, khangelani, inkosi iyahamba phambi kwenuc; mina sengimdala, sengiyimpunga, khangelani, lamadodana ami akini; mina-ke ngihambile phambi kwenu kusukela ebutsheni bami kuze kube lamuhlad.

3 Khangelani, ngilapha; fakazani limelane lami phambi kweNkosi laphambi kogcotshiweyo wayoe: Ngithethe inkabi kabani? Loba ngithethe ubabhemi kabanif? Ngiqilibezele banig? Ngicindezele banih? Ngemukele kubani isivalamlomo ukuze ngiphofuze amehlo ami ngawo? Njalo ngizakubuyisela kinii.

4 Basebesithi: Kawusiqilibezelangaj, kawusicindezelangak, njalo kawemukelanga lalutho esandleni samuntu.

5 Wasesithi kibo: INkosi ingumfakazi imelene lani logcotshiweyo wayo ungumfakazi lamuhlal ukuthi kalitholanga lutho esandleni sami. Bathi: Ingumfazakim.

Indlela uNkulunkulu amphatha ngayo uIsrayeli

6 USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: KuyiNkosi eyenza uMozisi loAroni, eyenyusa oyihlo elizweni leGibhithen.

7 Khathesi-ke, manini njalo ngahlulelane lani phambi kweNkosi ngezenzo zonke ezilungileyo zeNkosi eyazenza kini lakuboyihloo.

8 Lapho uJakobe esefikile eGibhithep, oyihlo bakhala eNkosiniq, iNkosi yasithuma oMozisi loAroni, abakhupha oyihlo eGibhithe, babenza bahlala kulindawor.

9 Sebeyikhohliwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabos, yabathengisa esandleni sikaSisera induna yebutho leHazorit, lesandleni samaFilistiu, lesandleni senkosi yakoMowabiv; basebesilwa bemelene labo.

10 Basebekhala eNkosini bathi: Sonile, ngoba siyilahlile iNkosiw, sakhonza oBhali laboAshitarothix. Kodwa khathesi sophule esandleni sezitha zethu, sizakukhonzay.

11 INkosi yasithuma uJerubaliz, loBhedania, loJefithab, loSamuwelic, yalikhulula esandleni sezitha zenu inhlangothi zonke, laselihlala livikelekile.

12 Lapho libona ukuthi uNahashi inkosi yabantwana bakoAmoni yeza ukumelana lanid, lathi kimi: Hatshi, kodwa inkosi izasibusae; kanti iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu yayiyinkosi yenuf.

13 Khathesi-ke, khangelanig, inkosi elayikhethayo, elayicelayoh; khangelani-ke, iNkosi imisile inkosi phezu kwenui.

14 Uba liyesaba iNkosi liyikhonza lilalela ilizwi layo, lingawuvukeli umlomo weNkosi, khona lina, lani kanye lenkosi ezabusa phezu kwenu lizalandela iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenuj.

15 Kodwa uba lingalilaleli ilizwi leNkosi, kodwa livukela umlomo weNkosik, isandla seNkosi sizamelana lanil, njengoba samelana laboyihlom.

16 Lakhathesi manini, libone linto enkulu iNkosi ezayenza phambi kwamehlo enun.

17 Angithi lamuhla kuyisivuno sengqoloyio? Ngizakhala eNkosini njalo izanika umdumo lezulup, ukuze lazi libone ukuthi ububi benu bukhulu elibenze emehlweni eNkosi ngokuzicelela inkosiq.

18 USamuweli wasekhala eNkosini, iNkosi yasinika umdumo lezulu mhlalokho; ngakho bonke abantu bayesaba kakhulu iNkosi loSamuwelir.

19 Bonke abantu basebesithi kuSamuweli: Khulekela izinceku zakho eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakho, ukuze singafi; ngoba sengezelele ezonweni zethu zonke lobububi bokuzicelela inkosis.

20 USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: Lingesabi; lina lenze bonke lobububi, kodwa lingaphambuki ekuyilandeleni iNkosi, kodwa likhonze iNkosi ngenhliziyo yenu yonke.

21 Njalo lingaphambuki ngoba lingalandela izinto eziyizet ezingasizi lutho ezingakhululiyo, ngoba ziyizeu.

22 Ngoba iNkosi kayiyikubatshiya abantu bayov ngenxa yebizo layo elikhuluw, ngoba iNkosi yathokoza ukulenza libe ngabantu bayox.

23 Mina-ke kakube khatshana lami ukuthi ngone eNkosini ngokuyekela ukulikhulekelay; kodwa ngizalifundisaz indlela enhle lelungileyoa.

24 Kuphela yesabani iNkosi, liyikhonze ngeqiniso ngenhliziyo yenu yonkeb, ngoba bonanic okukhulu elenzele khonad.

25 Kodwa uba liphikelela lisenza okubi, lina kanye lenkosi yenue lizachithwaf.

UIsrayeli ulwa lamaFilisti

13USawuli wayelomnyaka embusweni wakhe. Esebuse uIsrayeli okweminyaka emibili,

2 uSawuli wasezikhethela abayizinkulungwane ezintathu kwamaIsrayeli; njalo abayizinkulungwane ezimbili babeloSawuli eMikimashi lentabeni yeBhethelia, lenkulungwane yaba loJonathani eGibeya yakoBhenjaminib; labaseleyo babantu wabayekela bahamba, ngulowo lalowo ethenteni lakhe.

3 UJonathani wasetshaya ibutho lenqaba yamaFilisti eyayiseGebac, lamaFilisti akuzwa. USawuli wasevuthela uphondo elizweni lonke esithi: AmaHebheru kawezwed.

4 UIsrayeli wonke wezwa kuthiwa uSawuli utshayile ibutho lenqaba yamaFilisti lokuthi uIsrayeli laye waba levumba kumaFilisti. Abantu basebebizelwa ndawonye ukulandela uSawuli baye eGiligalie.

5 AmaFilisti asebuthana ukuthi alwe loIsrayeli, inqola eziyizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu, labagadi bamabhiza abayizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, labantu abalingana letshebetshebe elisekhunjini lolwandle ngobunengi; enyuka amisa inkamba eMikimashif, empumalanga kweBeti-Avenig.

6 Kwathi amadoda akoIsrayeli ebona ukuthi asekuminyezelweni, ngoba abantu bacindezelwah, abantu bacatsha embalwini lezixukwini zameva, lemadwalenii, lezinqabeni, lemigodinij.

7 LamaHebheru achapha iJodani, aya elizweni leGadi leGileyadi. Kodwa uSawuli wayelokhu eseGiligali, labantu bonke bathuthumela bemlandela.

8 Waselinda insuku eziyisikhombisa, njengesikhathi esamiswa nguSamuweli; kodwa uSamuweli kafikanga eGiligali, labantu bahlakazeka besuka kuyek.

9 USawuli wasesithi: Sondezani kimi umnikelo wokutshiswa leminikelo yokuthula. Wasenikela umnikelo wokutshiswa.

10 Kwasekusithi eseqede ukunikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, khangela, uSamuweli wafika; uSawuli wasephuma ukumhlangabeza ukuze ambingelele.

11 USamuweli wasesithi: Wenzeni? USawuli wasesithi: Ngoba ngibone ukuthi abantu babehlakazeka besuka kimi, lawe ungafikanga ngesikhathi esimisiweyo sezinsuku, lokuthi amaFilisti asebuthene eMikimashi.

12 Ngakho ngathi: Khathesi amaFilisti azangehlela eGiligali, ngingancenganga ubuso beNkosi. Ngasengizibamba ngamandla, nganikela umnikelo wokutshiswal.

13 USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: Wenze ngobuwulam; kawuwugcinanga umlayo weNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho eyakulaya wona; ngoba khathesi iNkosi ibizawumisa umbuso wakho koIsrayeli kuze kube ninininin.

14 Kodwa khathesi umbuso wakho kawuyikumao. INkosi isizidingele umuntu ngokwenhliziyo yayo, njalo iNkosi isimlayile ukuthi abe ngumbusi phezu kwabantu bayo, ngoba kawugcinanga lokho iNkosi ekulaye khonap.

15 USamuweli wasesukuma wenyuka esuka eGiligali waya eGibeya yakoBhenjaminiq. USawuli wasebala abantu abaficwa belaye, phose abangamakhulu ayisithuphar.

16 Njalo uSawuli loJonathani indodana yakhe labantu abaficwa belabo bahlala eGibeya yakoBhenjamini, kodwa amaFilisti amisa inkamba eMikimashis.

17 Abachithi basebephuma enkambeni yamaFilisti ngezigaba ezintathut; esinye isigaba saphendukela endleleni yeOfirau, saya elizweni leShuwaliv;

18 lesinye isigaba saphendukela endleleni yeBhethi-Horoniw; lesinye isigaba saphendukela endleleni yomngcele okhangele esihotsheni seZeboyimi ngasenkangalax.

19 Njalo kwakungatholakali mkhandi elizweni lonke lakoIsrayeli, ngoba amaFilisti athi: Hlezi amaHebheru enze izinkemba loba imikhontoy.

20 UIsrayeli wonke-ke wehlela kumaFilisti ukulola, ngulowo lalowo isikali sakhe sekhuba, lemataka yakhe, lehloka lakhe, lesikela yakhez.

21 Imbadalo yezikali zekhuba lamamataka lamafologwe alencijo ezintathu lamahloka lokulungisa izincijo yayiyipimi*a.

22 Ngakho kwathi ngosuku lwempi kakutholakalanga inkemba loba umkhonto esandleni saloba ngubani wabantu ababeloSawuli lababeloJonathani; kodwa kwatholakala kuSawuli loJonathani indodana yakheb.

23 Lebutho lenqaba yamaFilisti laphuma laya emkhandlweni weMikimashic.

Ubuqhawe bukaJonathani

14Kwasekusithi ngolunye usuku, uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti elingaphetsheya ngale. Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.

2 USawuli wayehlala-ke ephethelweni leGibeyaa ngaphansi kwesihlahla sepomegranati*b esiseMigironic; labantu ababelaye babengaphose babe ngamadoda angamakhulu ayisithuphad;

3 loAhiya, indodana kaAhitubi, umfowabo kaIkabodi, indodana kaPhinehasi, indodana kaElie, umpristi weNkosi eShilof, wayembethe i-efodi*. Kodwa abantu babengazi ukuthi uJonathani uhambileg.

4 Laphakathi kwemikhandlo, lapho uJonathani ayezama ukuchapha khona ukuya ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti, kwakuledwala elicijileyo nganeno, ledwala elicijileyo ngaphetsheya; njalo ibizo lelinye laliyiBozezi, lebizo lelinye laliyiSeneh.

5 Elinye iliwa laligxile enyakatho maqondana leMikimashii, lelinye ngeningizimu maqondana leGebaj.

6 UJonathani wasesithi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba elalaba abangasokangak; mhlawumbe iNkosi izasisebenzela, ngoba kakulasenqabelo eNkosini ukusindisa ngabanengi loba ngabalutshwanal.

7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza konke okusenhliziyweni yakho; phambuka, khangela ngilawe njengokwenhliziyo yakho.

8 UJonathani wasesithi: Khangela, sizachaphela kulabobantu sizibonakalise kibo.

9 Uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Manini mpo, size sifike kini; sizakuma-ke endaweni yethu, singenyukeli kibo.

10 Kodwa uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Yenyukelani kithi; sizakwenyuka-ke, ngoba iNkosi ibanikele esandleni sethum; lalokhu kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kithin.

11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti; amaFilisti asesithi: Khangelani, amaHebheru asephuma emilindini abecatshe kiyoo.

12 Amadoda ebutho lenqaba asephendula oJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe athi: Yenyukelani kithi, sizalitshengisa ulutho. UJonathani wasesithi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe: Yenyuka ungilandele, ngoba iNkosi iwanikele esandleni sikaIsrayeli.

13 UJonathani wasekhwela ngezandla zakhe langenyawo zakhe, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe emva kwakhe. Asesiwa phambi kukaJonathani, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe wawabulala emva kwakhe.

14 Ukutshaya kokuqala atshaya ngakho uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe kwakungaba phose ngamadoda angamatshumi amabili, ensimini elingana lengxenye yendima yesipani.

15 Kwasekusiba khona ukuthuthumela enkambeni, egangeni, laphakathi kwabantu bonke; ibutho lenqaba labachithi labo bathuthumela, lomhlaba wanyikinyeka, kwasekusiba yikuthuthumela okukhulup.

16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibeya yakoBhenjaminiq basebebona ukuthi, khangela, ixuku lancibilikar lihamba litshayelana phansis.

17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye: Ake libale, libone ukuthi ngubani osuke kithi. Kwathi sebebalile, khangela, uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babengekho.

18 USawuli wasesithi kuAhiya: Letha lapha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu ngalolosuku wawukubantwana bakoIsrayeli.

19 Kwasekusithi uSawuli esakhuluma lompristi, umsindo owawusenkambeni yamaFilisti waqhubeka wanda. USawuli wasesithi kumpristi: Buyisela isandla sakhot.

20 USawuli labo bonke abantu ababelaye basebebizelwa ndawonye bafika empini, khangela-ke, inkemba yalowo lalowo yayimelene lomakhelwane wakheu, isiyaluyalu esikhulu kakhuluv.

21 LamaHebheru ayelamaFilisti njengakuqala, enyukela lawo enkambeni inhlangothi zonke, ngitsho lawo aphenduka ukuthi abe loIsrayeli owayeloSawuli loJonathaniw.

22 Kwathi amadoda wonke akoIsrayeli ayecatshex entabeni yakoEfrayimiy esezwile ukuthi amaFilisti ayabaleka, ngitsho lawo awanamathela ewalandela empini.

23 Ngokunjalo iNkosi yamsindisa uIsrayeli ngalolosukuz; lempi yedlulela eBeti-Avenia.

24 Amadoda akoIsrayeli asekhathala ngalolosukub, ngoba uSawuli wafungisa abantu esithi: Kaqalekiswe umuntu odla ukudla kuze kube ntambama, ukuze ngiziphindiselele ezitheni zami. Ngakho kakho ebantwini owanambitha ukudlac.

25 Bonke abelizwe basebefika ehlathinid; njalo kwakuloluju phezu kobuso bomhlabathie.

26 Lapho abantu bengena ehlathini, khangela, uluju lwathonta; kodwa kakho loyedwa owasa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, ngoba abantu besaba isifungof.

27 Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga lapho uyise efungisa abantu; ngakho welula isihloko somqwayi owawusesandleni sakhe, wasigxamuza ehlangeni lwenyosi, wasesisa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, lamehlo akhe aqaqabuka.

28 Omunye wabantu wasephendula wathi: Uyihlo ubafungisile lokubafungisa abantu esithi: Uqalekisiwe umuntu odla ukudla lamuhla. Abantu basebephele amandlag.

29 UJonathani wasesithi: Ubaba ulihluphile ilizwe; ake libone ukuthi amehlo ami aseqaqabuke njani, ngoba nginambithe ingcosana yaloluluju.

30 Kudlula kangakanani aluba abantu bebedlile lokudla lamuhla okwempango yezitha zabo abayitholayo? Ngoba khathesi ukubulala kakubanga kukhulu phakathi kwamaFilisti.

31 Basebetshaya amaFilisti ngalolosuku kusukela eMikimashih kuze kube seAjalonii. Abantu basebephele amandla kakhulu.

32 Abantu basebetheleka empangweni; bathatha izimvu, lezinkabi, lamathole enkomo, bakuhlabela emhlabathinij; abantu bakudla kanye legazik.

33 Basebemtshela uSawuli besithi: Khangela, abantu bayona eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazi. Wasesithi: Lenze ngokungathembeki; giqelani kimi ilitshe elikhulu lamuhla.

34 USawuli wasesithi: Zihlakazeni phakathi kwabantu lithi kibo: Sondezani kimi, ngulowo lalowo inkabi yakhe, langulowo lalowo imvu yakhe, lizihlabele lapha, lidle; njalo lingoni eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazil. Ngakho bonke abantu basondeza, ngulowo lalowo inkabi yakhe ngesandla sakhe ngalobobusuku, bazihlaba khona.

35 USawuli waseyakhela iNkosi ilathi; kwakulilathi lokuqala alakhela iNkosim.

36 USawuli wasesithi: Asehleni silandele amaFilisti ebusuku, siwaphange kuze kube yikukhanya kokusa, singatshiyi lamuntu kiwo. Basebesithi: Yenza konke okuhle emehlweni akho. Kodwa umpristi wathi: Asisondeleni lapha kuNkulunkulun.

37 USawuli wasebuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: Ngehle ngilandele amaFilisti yini? Uzawanikela esandleni sikaIsrayeli yini? Kodwa kamphendulanga ngalolosukuo.

38 USawuli wasesithi: Sondelani lapha lonke bakhokheli babantu, lazi libone ukuthi lesisono sikukuphi lamuhlap.

39 Ngoba kuphila kukaJehova owasindisa uIsrayeliq, lanxa kungaba kuJonathani indodana yami, isibili uzakufa lokufa. Kodwa kakho loyedwa owamphendulayo ebantwini bonke.

40 Wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Banini nganxanye lina, mina-ke loJonathani indodana yami sizakuba nganxanye. Abantu basebesithi kuSawuli: Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho.

41 Ngakho uSawuli wathi eNkosini uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Phana opheleleyor. UJonathani loSawuli basebebanjwa, kodwa abantu baphunyukas.

42 USawuli wasesithi: Yenzani inkatho yokuphosa phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami. UJonathani wasebanjwa.

43 USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani: Ngitshela okwenzileyot. UJonathani wasemtshela wathi: Oqotho nginambithe ngesihloko somqwayi obusesandleni sami imbijana yoluju; khangela ngilapha, sengizakufau!

44 USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu kenze njalo langokunjalo engezelelev; ngoba uzakufa lokufa, Jonathaniw.

45 Kodwa abantu bathi kuSawuli: Uzakufa yini uJonathani, owenze lolusindiso olukhulu koIsrayeli? Kakube khatshana! Kuphila kukaJehovax, kakuyikuwela emhlabathini lolulodwa unwele lwekhanda lakhe, ngoba usebenze loNkulunkulu lamuhla. Ngakho abantu bamhlenga uJonathani ukuthi angafiy.

46 USawuli wasesenyuka esuka ekulandeleni amaFilisti; amaFilisti asesiya endaweni yawo.

47 USawuli wasethatha ubukhosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, walwa emelene lezitha zakhe zonke inhlangothi zonke, emelene loMowabi, njalo emelene labantwana bakoAmoniz, njalo emelene loEdoma, njalo emelene lamakhosi eZobaa, njalo emelene lamaFilisti; laloba ngaphi lapho aphendukela khona wayejezisa.

48 Wenza ngobuqhawe wasetshaya amaAmalekib, wakhulula uIsrayeli esandleni somphangi wakhe.

49 Lamadodana kaSawuli ayengoJonathani loIshivi, loMaliki-Shuwac; lamabizo amadodakazi akhe amabili yila: Ibizo lezibulo lalinguMerabid, lebizo lencinyane linguMikhalie.

50 Lebizo lomkaSawuli lalinguAhinowama indodakazi kaAhimahazi; lebizo lenduna yebutho lakhe lalinguAbhineri indodana kaNerif, uyise omncinyane kaSawulig.

51 Njalo uKishi wayenguyise kaSawulih, loNeri uyise kaAbhineri wayeyindodana kaAbiyelii.

52 Njalo kwakukhona impi enzima lamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSawuli; lapho uSawuli ebona indoda elamandla loba iqhawe, wayezibuthela yonaj.

Ukungalaleli kukaSawuli, lokulahlwa kwakhe

15USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: INkosi yangithuma ukuthi ngikugcobe ube yinkosi phezu kwabantu bayo, phezu kukaIsrayeli; ngakho-ke lalela ilizwi lamazwi eNkosia.

2 Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla ithi: Ngizananzelela lokho uAmaleki akwenza kuIsrayelib, ukuthi wema njani emelene laye endleleni ekwenyukeni kwakhe eGibhithec.

3 Hamba-ke uyetshaya uAmaleki, utshabalalise konke alakho; ungamyekelid, kodwa ubulale kusukela kowesilisa kusiya kowesifazana, kusukela kusane kusiya komunyayo, kusukela enkabini kusiya emvini, kusukela ekamelweni kusiya kubabhemie.

4 USawuli wasebiza abantuf, wababala eTelayimi, izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili abahamba ngenyawo, lamadoda azinkulungwane ezilitshumi akoJudag.

5 USawuli wasefika emzini kaAmaleki, wacathama esigodini.

6 USawuli wasesithi kumaKenih: Hambani, lisuke, lehle liphume phakathi kwamaAmaleki, hlezi ngilibhubhise kanye lawo; ngoba lina lenza umusa kubo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli ekwenyukeni kwabo bephuma eGibhithei. Ngakho amaKeni asuka aphuma phakathi kwamaAmaleki.

7 USawuli wasetshaya amaAmalekij, kusukela eHavilak uze uyefika eShuri ephambi kweGibhithel.

8 Wambamba uAgagi inkosi yamaAmaleki ephila; labo bonke abantu wabatshabalalisa ngobukhali benkembam.

9 Kodwa uSawuli labantu bamyekela uAgagi, lokuhle kakhulu kwezimvu lokwenkomo, lokunonisiweyo, lamawundlu, lakho konke okuhle; kabathandanga ukukutshabalalisa, kodwa yonke into edelelekayo lecakileyo bayitshabalalisan.

10 Kwasekufika ilizwi leNkosi kuSamuweli lisithi:

11 Sengizisola ngokuthi ngambeka uSawuli waba yinkosi; ngoba ubuyele emuva ekungilandeleni, kaqinisanga amazwi ami. USamuweli wasethukuthela, wakhala eNkosini ubusuku bonke.

12 USamuweli wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu ukuhlangabeza uSawuli; kwasekutshelwa uSamuweli kuthiwa: USawuli usefikile eKharmeli; khangela-ke, uzimisele insika, wabhoda, wedlula, wehlela eGiligali.

13 USamuweli wasefika kuSawuli; uSawuli wathi kuye: Kawubusiswe yiNkosi; ngiliqinisile ilizwi leNkosi.

14 USamuweli wasesithi: Kuyini pho lokhukukhala kwezimvu endlebeni zami, lokubhonsa kwenkomo engikuzwayo?

15 USawuli wasesithi: Babuye lazo kumaAmaleki; ngoba abantu bayekele okuhle kakhulu kwezimvu lokwenkomo ukuze bahlabele iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho; kodwa okuseleyo sikutshabalalisile.

16 USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: Yekela, ngikutshele ukuthi iNkosi itheni kimi kulobubusuku. Wasesithi kuye: Khuluma.

17 USamuweli wasesithi: Angithi, lapho usemncinyane emehlweni akho, waba yinhloko yezizwe zakoIsrayeli, leNkosi yakugcoba waba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli?

18 INkosi ikuthumile-ke ngendlela yathi: Hamba uyetshabalalisa izoni, amaAmaleki, ulwe lawo aze apheleo.

19 Pho, kungani ungalilalelanga ilizwi leNkosi, kodwa waphaphela impango, wenza okubi emehlweni eNkosip?

20 USawuli wasesithi kuSamuweli: Isibili ngililalele ilizwi leNkosi, ngihambile ngendlela iNkosi ebingithume ngayo, ngibuyile loAgagi inkosi yakoAmaleki, njalo ngitshabalalisile amaAmalekiq.

21 Kodwa abantu bathethe okwempango, izimvu lenkomor, okuhle kwezinto ebezizatshabalaliswa, ukuze bahlabele iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho eGiligalis.

22 Kodwa uSamuweli wathi: Kambe iNkosi iyathokoza ngeminikelo yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo, njengekulaleleni ilizwi leNkosit? Khangela, ukulalela kungcono kulomhlatshelo, lokuqaphelisa kulamahwahwa ezinqamau.

23 Ngoba umvukela unjengesono sokuvumisa, lobuqholo buyisiphambeko lokukhonza izithombev. Ngoba ulalile ilizwi leNkosi, layo ikwalile ukuthi ungabi yinkosiw.

24 USawuli wasesithi kuSamuweli: Ngonile; ngoba ngeqile umlayo weNkosi lamazwi akhox; ngoba ngesaba abantu, ngakho ngalalela ilizwi laboy.

25 Ngakho-ke ake uthethelele isono sami, ubuyele lami, ukuze ngikhonze iNkosi.

26 Kodwa uSamuweli wathi kuSawuli: Kangiyikubuyela lawe ngoba ulalile ilizwi leNkosi, layo iNkosi ikwalile ukuthi ungabi yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeliz.

27 Kuthe uSamuweli etshibilika ukuthi ahambe, wabamba umphetho wesembatho sakhe, sasesidabukaa.

28 USamuweli wasesithi kuye: INkosi iwudabule kuwe lamuhla umbuso wakoIsrayeli, yawunika umakhelwane wakho ongcono kulaweb.

29 Futhi-ke aMandla kaIsrayeli kawaqambi manga, kawazisoli, ngoba kawasimuntu ukuthi azisolec.

30 Wasesithi: Ngonile, ake ungihloniphe khathesi phambi kwabadala babantu bakithi laphambi kukaIsrayeli, ubuyele lami, ukuthi ngikhonze iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho.

31 Ngakho uSamuweli wabuyela elandela uSawuli; uSawuli wayikhonza-ke iNkosid.

32 USamuweli wasesithi: Msondezeni kimi uAgagi inkosi yakoAmaleki. UAgagi wasesiya kuye ethokozile; uAgagi wathi: Isibili ukubaba kokufa sekudlulile.

33 USamuweli wasesithi: Njengoba inkemba yakho yemuke abesifazana abantwana, ngokunjalo unyoko uzakwemukwa abantwana phakathi kwabesifazanae. USamuweli wasemhlahlela uAgagi phambi kweNkosif eGiligalig.

34 USamuweli wasesiya eRamah, loSawuli wenyukela endlini yakhe eGibeya kaSawulii.

35 USamuweli kaphindanga wambona uSawuli kwaze kwaba lusuku lokufa kwakhej, kodwa uSamuweli wamlilela uSawulik; leNkosi yazisola ngokuthi yayimbekile uSawuli abe yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayelil.

Ukugcotshwa kukaDavida abe yinkosi

16INkosi yasisithi kuSamuweli: Koze kube nini umlilela uSawulia lokhu mina ngimalile ekubeni yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayelib? Gcwalisa uphondo lwakho ngamafutha, uhambe; ngizakuthuma kuJese umBhethelehemac, ngoba ngizibonele emadodaneni akhe inkosid.

2 USamuweli wasesithi: Ngizahamba njani? Uba uSawuli ekuzwa, uzangibulala. INkosi yasisithi: Thatha ithokazi lenkomo esandleni sakho uthi: Ngizehlabela iNkosie.

3 Ubizele uJese emhlatshelweni; mina ngizakwazisa ozakwenzaf; uzangigcobela lowo engizamutsho kuweg.

4 USamuweli wasesenza lokho iNkosi ekutshiloyo, wafika eBhethelehema. Abadala bomuzi basebethuthumela ukumhlangabezah bathi: Ukufika kwakho kulokuthula yini?

5 Wasesithi: Ukuthula; ngize ukuhlabela iNkosii; zingcweliseni, lize lami emhlatshelweni. Wasengcwelisa uJese lamadodana akhe, wababizela emhlatshelwenij.

6 Kwasekusithi ekufikeni kwabo, wakhangela uEliyabi wathi: Isibili ogcotshiweyo wayo uphambi kweNkosik.

7 Kodwa iNkosi yathi kuSamuweli: Ungakhangeli isimo sakhe lobude besithombo sakhe, ngoba ngimalile, ngoba kakunjengokubona komuntu, ngoba umuntu ubona okuphambi kwamehlol, kodwa iNkosi ibona enhliziyenim.

8 UJese wasebiza uAbinadaban, wamedlulisa phambi kukaSamuweli, kodwa wathi: Laye lo iNkosi kayimkhethanga.

9 UJese wasedlulisa uShamao, kodwa wathi: Laye lo iNkosi kayimkhethanga.

10 UJese wasedlulisa amadodana akhe ayisikhombisa phambi kukaSamuwelip. Kodwa uSamuweli wathi kuJese: INkosi kayibakhethanga laba.

11 USamuweli wasesithi kuJese: Abafana sebephelile yini? Wasesithi: Kusasele icinathunjana; khangela-ke, liyelusa izimvuq. USamuweli wasesithi kuJese: Thuma ulithathe, ngoba kasiyikuhlala phansi lize lifike laphar.

12 Wasethuma walingenisa. Lona-ke lalibomvana lilamehlo amahle lokukhangeleka okuhles. INkosi yasisithi: Sukuma, uligcobe, ngoba yilo lelit.

13 USamuweli wasethatha uphondo lwamafuthau, waligcoba phakathi kwabafowabov; uMoya weNkosi wasefika ngamandla phezu kukaDavida kusukela kulolosuku kusiya phambiliw. USamuweli wasesukuma waya eRamax.

UDavida utshayela uSawuli ichacho

14 Kodwa uMoya weNkosi wasuka kuSawuliy, lomoya omubi ovela eNkosini wamhlukuluzaz.

15 Izinceku zikaSawuli zasezisithi kuye: Ake ukhangele, umoya omubi kaNkulunkulu uyakwesabisa.

16 Ake itsho inkosi yethu kunceku zakho eziphambi kwakho ukuthi zidinge umuntu okwaziyo ukutshaya ichachoa; kuzakuthi-ke lapho umoya omubi ovela kuNkulunkulu uphezu kwakho, uzatshaya ngesandla sakhe ukuze kube kuhle kuweb.

17 Ngakho uSawuli wathi ezincekwini zakhe: Ake lingibonele umuntu otshaya kuhle, limlethe kimi.

18 Omunye wamajaha wasephendula wathi: Khangela, ngibone indodana kaJese umBhethelehema, ekwaziyo ukutshaya, futhi eliqhawe elilamandla, lendoda yempi, lehlakaniphileyo endabeni, futhi indoda ebukekayoc, leNkosi ilayod.

19 Ngakho uSawuli wathuma izithunywa kuJese, wathi: Thuma kimi uDavida indodana yakho osezimvinie.

20 UJese wasethatha ubabhemi, ethwele isinkwa, lembodlela yewayini, lezinyane lembuzi elilodwa, wakuthumela ngesandla sikaDavida indodana yakhe kuSawulif.

21 UDavida wasefika kuSawuli, wema phambi kwakhe; wasemthanda kakhulu, wasesiba ngumthwali wezikhali zakheg.

22 USawuli wasethumela kuJese esithi: UDavida ake eme phambi kwami, ngoba uthole umusa emehlweni ami.

23 Kwakusithi-ke lapho umoya ovela kuNkulunkulu uphezu kukaSawuli, uDavida athathe ichacho atshaye ngesandla sakheh, ukuze uSawuli avuseleleke abe ngcono, lomoya omubi usuke kuyei.

UDavida ubulala uGoliyathi

17AmaFilisti asebuthela amabutho awo impia; abuthana eSokob engeyakoJuda, amisa inkamba phakathi kweSoko leAzekac, eEfesi-Damimi.

2 USawuli lamadoda akoIsrayeli babuthana, bamisa inkamba esigodini seElad, bahlela impi ukumelana lamaFilisti.

3 AmaFilisti asesima entabeni ngapha, loIsrayeli wema entabeni ngale, lesigodi sasiphakathi kwabo.

4 Kwasekuphuma enkambeni yamaFilisti iqhawe; ibizo lalo lalinguGoliyathie weGathif; ubude balo babuyizingalo eziyisithupha lokwelulwa kweminwe.

5 Kwakulekhowa lethusi ekhanda lalo; laligqoke ibhatshi lensimbi elilamaxolo; njalo isisindo sebhatshi lensimbi sasingamashekeli* ethusi ayizinkulungwane ezinhlanu.

6 Njalo kwakulemigwamazi yethusi emibaleni yalo, lomkhonto wethusi phakathi laphakathi kwamahlombe alo.

7 Loluthi lomkhonto walo lwalunjengogodo lomaluki, lengqamu yomkhonto walo yayingamashekeli ensimbi angamakhulu ayisithupha; lophatha isihlangu esikhulu wayehamba phambi kwalo.

8 Lema, lamemeza emaviyweni akoIsrayeli lathi kuwo: Liphumelani ukuzahlela impi? Kangisuye umFilisti yini, lani izinceku zikaSawuli? Zikhetheleni umuntu ehlele kimig.

9 Uba elakho ukulwa lami angibulale, sizakuba yizigqili zenu; kodwa uba mina ngimehlula ngimbulale, lizakuba yizigqili zethu, lisisebenzeleh.

10 UmFilisti wasesithi: Mina ngiyaweyisa amaviyo akoIsrayeli lamuhla; nginikani indoda ukuze silwisanei.

11 Lapho uSawuli loIsrayeli wonke besizwa lamazwi omFilisti, batshaywa luvalo, besaba kakhulu.

12 UDavida wayeyindodanaj yalowomEfrathi weBhethelehema-Judak, obizo lakhe lalinguJese; wayelamadodana ayisificaminwembilil. Njalo lowomuntu wahamba njengomuntu omdala phakathi kwamadoda ensukwini zikaSawuli.

13 Asehamba amadodana amathathu kaJese amadala, amlandela uSawuli empini. Lamabizo amadodana akhe amathathu ayeyile empini ayenguEliyabi izibulo, lowesibili wakhe uAbinadaba, lowesithathu uShamam.

14 Njalo uDavida nguye owayelicinathunjana; lamathathu amadala alandela uSawuli.

15 Kodwa uDavida wahamba wabuyela esuka kuSawuli ukuyakwelusa izimvu zikayise eBhetheleheman.

16 UmFilisti wayesondela-ke ekuseni kakhulu lantambama ezimisa okwensuku ezingamatshumi amane.

17 UJese wasesithi kuDavida indodana yakhe: Ake uthathele abafowenu i-efa* lamabele akhanzingiweyo, lalezizinkwa ezilitshumi, ugijimele enkambeni kubafowenu.

18 Laleziziqa zetshizi ezilitshumi uziphathele induna yenkulungwaneo; ubone impilakahle yabafowenu, uthathe isibambiso kibop.

19 Njalo uSawuli, labo, lawo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli babesesigodini seEla besilwa lamaFilisti.

20 UDavida wasevuka ekuseni kakhulu, watshiya izimvu kumlindi, wakuthatha wahamba njengokulaywa kwakhe nguJese. Wafika enqabeni yezinqola lapho ibutho liphuma ngamaviyo, bememezela impi.

21 Njalo uIsrayeli lamaFilisti bahlela iviyo laqondana leviyo.

22 UDavida wasetshiya impahla ezisuka kuye ngaphansi kwesandla somlindi wempahla, wagijimela eviyweni wafika wabuza abafowabo impilakahle.

23 Esakhuluma labo, khangela, iqhawe lenyuka, ibizo lalo lalinguGoliyathi, umFilisti weGathi, laphuma emaviyweni amaFilistiq, lakhuluma njengokwalawomazwi; loDavida wawezwar.

24 Njalo wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli athi embona lowomuntu ambalekela, esaba kakhulu.

25 Amadoda akoIsrayeli athi-ke: Limbonile lowana umuntu owenyukileyo yini? Ngoba wenyukele ukweyisa uIsrayeli. Kuzakuthi-ke indoda ezambulala, inkosi izayinothisa ngenotho enkulu, iyinike lendodakazi yayo, lendlu kayise izayenza ikhululeke koIsrayelis.

26 UDavida wasekhuluma emadodeni ayemi laye esithi: Kuzakwenziwani endodeni ebulala lumFilisti, isuse ihlazo koIsrayelit? Ngoba ungubani lumFilisti ongasokangau ukuthi aweyise amaviyo kaNkulunkulu ophilayov?

27 Abantu basebemphendula njengalelolizwi besithi: Kuzakwenziwa njalo endodeni embulalayow.

28 UEliyabi umnewabo omdala wezwa-ke lapho ekhuluma lamadoda; lentukuthelo kaEliyabi yavuthela uDavida, wathi: Wehleleleni lapha? Izimvu leziyana ezinlutshwana uzitshiye lobani egangeni? Mina ngiyakwazi ukuziqhenya kwakho lobubi benhliziyo yakho; ngoba wehlele ukubona impi.

29 Kodwa uDavida wathi: Sengenzeni? Bekungasilizwi nje yinix?

30 Wasemfulathela, waya komunye, wakhuluma laye njengokwalelolizwi; abantu basebebuyisela impendulo kuye njengelizwi lakuqalay.

31 Lapho sebewezwile amazwi uDavida awakhulumayo, bawakhuluma phambi kukaSawuli; wasememukela.

32 UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: Kakungehluleki inhliziyo yomuntu ngenxa yakhez; inceku yakho izahamba iyekulwa lalowomFilistia.

33 Kodwa uSawuli wathi kuDavida: Ungeke waya kulumFilisti ukulwa laye; ngoba wena ungumfana, yena-ke uyindoda yempi kusukela ebutsheni bakhe.

34 Kodwa uDavida wathi kuSawuli: Inceku yakho yayiselusa izimvu zikayise; lapho kwafika isilwane lebhere, kwathatha imvu emhlanjini,

35 ngaphuma ngakulandela, ngakutshaya, ngayikhulula emlonyeni wakho; lapho kungivukela, ngakubamba ngendevu, ngakutshaya, ngakubulala.

36 Inceku yakho yabulala kokubili isilwane lebhere; lalo umFilisti ongasokanga uzakuba njengokunye kwakhob, lokhu eyise amaviyo kaNkulunkulu ophilayoc.

37 UDavida wathi futhi: INkosi eyangophula kuzipho lwesilwane lakuzipho lwebhere, yona izangophula esandleni salo umFilistid. USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: Hamba, leNkosi kayibe lawee.

38 USawuli wasegqokisa uDavida izigqoko zakhe, wafaka ikhowa lethusi ekhanda lakhe, wamgqokisa ibhatshi lensimbi.

39 UDavida wasebhinca inkemba yakhe phezu kwezigqoko zakhe, walinga ukuhamba, ngoba wayengakuzamanga. UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: Kangilakho ukuhamba ngilalezizinto ngoba kangizizamanga. UDavida wasezikhumula kuye.

40 Wasethatha umqwayi wakhe esandleni sakhe, wazikhethela amatshe amahlanu abutshelezi esifuleni, wawafaka esikhwameni sikamelusi ayelaso, ngitsho emxhakeni, lesavutha sakhe sasisesandleni sakhe, wasesondela kumFilisti.

41 UmFilisti wasehamba waya wasondela kuDavida; lomuntu ophethe isihlangu esikhulu wayephambi kwakhef.

42 Kwathi umFilisti ekhangela ebona uDavida, wameyisa; ngoba wayengumfana njalo ebomvana elobuso obubukekayog.

43 UmFilisti wasesithi kuDavida: Ngiyinja yini ukuthi wena uze kimi ulezindukuh? UmFilisti wasemqalekisa uDavida ngabonkulunkulu bakhe.

44 UmFilisti wasesithi kuDavida: Woza kimi, ngizanika inyoni zamazulu lenyamazana zeganga inyama yakho.

45 UDavida wasesithi kumFilisti: Wena uza kimi ulenkemba, lomkhonto, lomdikadikai; kodwa mina ngiza kuwe ngebizo leNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu wamaviyo akoIsrayeli omeyisileyoj.

46 Lamuhla iNkosi izakuvalela esandleni sami, ngizakutshaya, ngisuse ikhanda lakho kuwe; nginike lamuhla inyoni zamazulu lenyamazana zomhlabak izidumbu zebutho lamaFilistil, ukuze umhlaba wonke wazi ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu koIsrayelim.

47 Lalelibandla lonke lizakwazi ukuthi iNkosi kayisindisi ngenkemba langomkhonton; ngoba impi ngeyeNkosio, njalo izalinikela esandleni sethup.

48 Kwasekusithi lapho umFilisti esukuma ehamba esondela ukuhlangabeza uDavida, uDavida wasephangisa wagijimela ngaseviyweni ukuhlangana lomFilisti.

49 UDavida wasefaka isandla sakhe esikhwameni, wakhupha khona ilitshe, walijikijela, wamtshaya umFilisti ebunzini lakhe ilitshe laze latshona ebunzini lakhe, wawela emhlabathini ngobuso bakhe.

50 Ngalokho uDavida wamehlula umFilisti ngesavutha langelitshe, wamtshaya umFilisti, wambulala; kodwa kwakungelankemba esandleni sikaDavida.

51 Ngakho uDavida wagijima wema phezu komFilisti, wathatha inkemba yakhe, wayihwatsha esikhwameni sayoq, wambulala, waquma ikhanda lakhe ngayor. Lapho amaFilisti ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo selifile, abaleka.

52 Lamadoda akoIsrayeli lawakoJuda asukuma amemeza, axotshana lamaFilisti uze uyefika esigodini lemasangweni eEkhironis. Labalimeleyo bamaFilisti bawela endleleni yeShaharayimit kuze kube seGathi njalo kuze kube seEkhironiu.

53 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebephenduka ekuxotshaneni ngamandla lamaFilisti, baphanga inkamba zawo.

54 UDavida wasethatha ikhanda lomFilisti, waliletha eJerusalemav; kodwa wabeka izikhali zakhe ethenteni lakhe.

55 Lapho uSawuli ebona uDavida ephuma ukuyahlangabeza umFilisti, wathi kuAbhineri induna yebuthow: Uyindodana kabani lumfana Abhinerix? UAbhineri wasesithi: Kuphila komphefumulo wakho, nkosi, kangaziy.

56 Inkosi yasisithi: Buza wena ukuthi liyindodana kabani lelijahaz.

57 Lapho uDavida esephendukile ekubulaleni umFilisti, uAbhineri wamthatha, wamusa phambi kukaSawuli elekhanda lomFilisti esandleni sakhea.

58 USawuli wasesithi kuye: Uyindodana kabani, jaha? UDavida wasesithi: Ngiyindodana yenceku yakho uJese umBhethelehema.

UDavida uthandwa nguJonathani, uzondwa nguSawuli

18Kwasekusithi eseqedile ukukhuluma loSawuli, umphefumulo kaJonathani wabotshelwa emphefumulweni kaDavidaa; uJonathani wasemthanda njengomphefumulo wakheb.

2 USawuli wasemthatha ngalolosuku, kaze amvumela ukubuyela endlini kayisec.

3 UJonathani loDavida basebesenza isivumelwano ngoba wamthanda njengomphefumulo wakhe.

4 UJonathani wasezikhulula ibhatshi ayeligqokile, walinika uDavida, lezembatho zakhe, kuze kube senkembeni yakhe, kuze kube sedandilini lakhe, njalo kuze kube sebhantini lakhe.

5 UDavida wasephuma waya loba ngaphi lapho uSawuli amthuma khona, waziphatha ngenhlakanipho, uSawuli waze wambeka phezu kwamadoda empi. Njalo wayelungile emehlweni abantu bonke njalo lemehlweni ezinceku zikaSawuli.

6 Kwasekusithi ekufikeni kwabo, uDavida esebuye ekubulaleni umFilisti, abesifazana baphuma emizini yonke yakoIsrayeli, behlabela, begida, ukuhlangabeza uSawuli inkosid ngezigubhu, ngentokozo, langamachachoe.

7 Abesifazana basebevumelana bedlala bathif: USawuli utshayile izinkulungwane zakheg, kodwa uDavida izinkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumi.

8 USawuli wasethukuthela kakhulu, lalelolizwi lalilibi emehlweni akhe, wathi: Banike uDavida izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi, kodwa mina banginika izinkulungwane; usesalelwe ngumbuso kuphelah.

9 USawuli wasemqaphela uDavida kusukela kulolosuku kusiya phambili.

10 Kwasekusithi kusisa umoya omubi ovela kuNkulunkulu wafika ngamandla phezu kukaSawulii, waprofetha phakathi kwendluj; uDavida wasetshaya ichacho ngesandla sakhe njengensuku ngensukuk; njalo kwakulomkhonto esandleni sikaSawulil.

11 USawuli wasewuphosa umkhonto wathi: Ngizammbandakanya uDavida ngitsho emdulinim. Kodwa uDavida wavika kabili esuka phambi kwakhe.

12 USawuli wayemesaba-ke uDavidan ngoba iNkosi yayilayeo, kodwa yayisisukile kuSawulip.

13 Ngakho uSawuli wasemsusa kuye, wambeka waba yinduna yakhe yabayizinkulungwane; njalo wayephuma engena phambi kwabantuq.

14 UDavida waseziphatha ngenhlakanipho endleleni zakhe zonke, leNkosi yayilayer.

15 Lapho uSawuli ebona ukuthi waziphatha ngenhlakanipho enkulu, wamesaba.

16 Kodwa uIsrayeli wonke loJuda bamthanda uDavida, ngoba wayephuma engena phambi kwabos.

17 USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: Khangela, indodakazi yami endala uMerabit, ngizakunika yona ibe ngumkakhou; kuphela bana liqhawe kimi, ulwe izimpi zeNkosiv. Ngoba uSawuli wathi: Isandla sami kasingabi phezu kwakhe, kodwa isandla samaFilisti kasibe phezu kwakhew.

18 Kodwa uDavida wathi kuSawuli: Ngingubani mina? Lempilo yami iyini, losendo lukababa koIsrayeli, ukuthi ngibe ngumkhwenyana wenkosix?

19 Kodwa kwathi ngesikhathi uMerabi indodakazi kaSawuli ayezanikwa ngaso uDavida, wayesenikwe uAdriyeliy umMehola ukuba ngumkakhez.

20 UMikhali indodakazi kaSawuli wamthanda-ke uDavida; basebemtshela uSawuli, lalolodaba lwaluqondile emehlweni akhea.

21 USawuli wasesithi: Ngizamnika yena ukuze abe ngumjibila kuyeb, lokuze isandla samaFilisti simelane layec. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kuDavida: Ngokwesibili uzakuba ngumkhwenyana wami lamuhlad.

22 USawuli waselaya inceku zakhe wathi: Khulumani loDavida ngensitha lithi: Khangela, inkosi iyathokoza ngawe, lazo zonke inceku zayo ziyakuthanda; ngakho-ke woba ngumkhwenyana wenkosi.

23 Izinceku zikaSawuli zasezikhuluma lawomazwi endlebeni zikaDavida. UDavida wasesithi: Kuyinto elula yini emehlweni enu ukuba ngumkhwenyana wenkosi, lokhu mina ngingumuntu ongumyanga lodelelekayoe?

24 Lenceku zikaSawuli zamtshela zisithi: UDavida wakhuluma ngalindlela.

25 USawuli wasesithi: Lizakutsho njalo kuDavida lithi: Inkosi kayiloyisi lobolo, kodwa amajwabu alikhulu amaFilistif, ukuze kuphindiselwe ezitheni zenkosig. Kodwa uSawuli wacabanga ukwenza uDavida awe ngesandla samaFilistih.

26 Lapho inceku zakhe zimtshela uDavida lawomazwi, udaba lwalulungile emehlweni kaDavida ukuthi abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosii. Kodwa insuku zazingakagcwalisekij.

27 Ngakho uDavida wasukuma wahamba, yena labantu bakhe, basebetshaya phakathi kwamaFilisti amadoda angamakhulu amabilik; uDavida waseletha amajwabu awo, wawasa enkosini ephelele ukuze abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi. USawuli wasemnika uMikhali indodakazi yakhe ukuthi abe ngumkakhel.

28 USawuli wasebona wazi ukuthi iNkosi iloDavida, loMikhali indodakazi yakhe yamthandam.

29 Njalo uSawuli waya lokhu emesaba kakhulu uDavidan; njalo uSawuli waba yisitha sikaDavida zonke izinsukuo.

30 Iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zaseziphumap; kwasekusithi seziphumile uDavida waziphatha ngenhlakanipho okwedlula zonke izinceku zikaSawuli, laze laduma kakhulu ibizo lakheq.

USawuli ufuna ukubulala uDavida

19USawuli wasekhuluma kuJonathani indodana yakhe lakuzo zonke inceku zakhe ukuthi babulale uDavida. Kodwa uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wayemthanda kakhulukazi uDavidaa.

2 UJonathani wasemtshela uDavida esithi: USawuli ubaba udinga ukukubulala; ngakho-ke ake uzinanzelele ekuseni, uhlale ekusithekeni, ucatshe.

3 Mina-ke ngizaphuma ngime eceleni kukababa emmangweni lapho okhona, mina ngizakhuluma ngawe kubaba; lengikubonayo ngizakutshela.

4 UJonathani wasekhuluma okuhle ngoDavida kuSawuli uyise, wathi kuye: Inkosi kayingayoni inceku yayo, imelane loDavida, ngoba kakonanga wena, langokunjalo imisebenzi yakhe ilungile kakhulu kuweb.

5 Ngoba wafaka impilo yakhe esandleni sakhec watshaya umFilistid; leNkosi yenzela uIsrayeli wonke usindiso olukhulu. Wakubona, wathokozae. Pho, uzalonelani igazi elingelacala ngokubulala uDavida kungelasizathof?

6 USawuli waselilalela ilizwi likaJonathani, uSawuli wafunga wathi: Kuphila kukaJehova, kayikubulawag.

7 UJonathani wasembiza uDavida, uJonathani wamtshela wonke lawomazwi. UJonathani wasemletha uDavida kuSawuli, njalo wayephambi kwakhe njengakuqalah.

8 Kwabuya kwaba khona impi; uDavida wasephuma walwa lamaFilisti, wawatshaya ngokutshaya okukhulu aze ambalekela.

9 Njalo umoya omubi ovela eNkosini wawuphezu kukaSawuli ehlezi endlini yakhe, lomkhonto usesandleni sakhei; loDavida wayetshaya ichacho ngesandla sakhej.

10 USawuli wasedinga ukummbandakanya uDavida ngitsho emdulini ngomkhonto; kodwa waphunyuka ebukhoneni bukaSawuli, owahlaba umkhonto emdulini. UDavida wabaleka waphepha ngalobobusuku.

11 USawuli wasethuma izithunywa endlini kaDavida ukuze zimqaphele zimbulale ekuseni. UMikhali umkakhe wasemtshela uDavida esithi: Uba ungasindisi impilo yakho ngalobubusuku, kusasa uzabulawak.

12 Ngakho uMikhali wasemehlisa uDavida ngewindi, wasehamba wabaleka waphephal.

13 UMikhali wasethatha isithombe, wasifaka embhedeni, wabeka umqamelo woboya bembuzi endaweni yekhanda laso, wasembesa ngelembu.

14 Lapho uSawuli ethuma izithunywa ukuthatha uDavida, wathi: Uyagula.

15 USawuli wasethuma izithunywa ukumbona uDavida esithi: Menyuseleni kimi ngombheda ukuze ngimbulale.

16 Lapho izithunywa zingena, khangela-ke, kwakulesithombe embhedeni, lomqamelo woboya bembuzi endaweni yekhanda laso.

17 USawuli wasesithi kuMikhali: Ungikhohliseleni kanje, wayekela isitha sami sahamba saphepha? UMikhali wasesithi kuSawuli: Yena uthe kimi: Ngiyekela ngihambe; ngizakubulalelanim?

18 Ngokunjalo uDavida wabaleka waphunyuka, wafika kuSamuweli eRaman; wamtshela konke uSawuli ayekwenze kuye. Yena loSamuweli basebesiyahlala eNayothi.

19 USawuli wasebikelwa kwathiwa: Khangela, uDavida useNayothi eRamao.

20 USawuli wasethuma izithunywa ukumthatha uDavida; lapho zibona ixuku labaprofethi beprofetha, loSamuweli emi engumkhokheli phezu kwabo, uMoya kaNkulunkulu waba phezu kwezithunywa zikaSawulip, lazo zaseziprofethaq.

21 Lapho ebikelwa uSawuli, wathuma ezinye izithunywa, zona lazo zaprofetha. USawuli wasephinda ethuma izithunywa ngokwesithathu, zona lazo zaprofetha.

22 Laye wasesiya eRama, wafika emthonjeni omkhulu oseSeku, wabuza wathi: Bangaphi oSamuweli loDavida? Kwathiwa: Khangela, eNayothi eRamar.

23 Wasesiya khona eNayothi eRamas; loMoya kaNkulunkulu waba phezu kwakhe laye; wahamba ehamba eprofethat waze wafika eNayothi eRamau.

24 Laye wasekhulula izigqoko zakhe, laye waprofetha phambi kukaSamuweliv, walala phansi enqunu lonke lolosuku labo bonke lobobusukuw. Yikho besithi: USawuli laye uphakathi kwabaprofethi yinix?

Ubungane bukaDavida loJonathani

20UDavida wasebaleka esuka eNayothi eRamaa, wafika wathi phambi kukaJonathani: Ngenzeni? Isiphambeko sami siyini? Lesono sami siyini phambi kukayihlo ukuze adinge umphefumulo wami?

2 Wasesithi kuye: Kakube khatshana! Kawusoze ufe; khangela, ubaba kenzi ulutho olukhulu loba ulutho oluncinyane engakuvezi endlebeni yami. Pho, ubaba uzayifihlelani kimi linto? Kayisikho.

3 UDavida wasefunga futhi wathi: Uyihlo uyakwazi lokwazi ukuthi ngithole umusa emehlweni akhob; ngakho uthi: UJonathani kangakwazi hlezi abe losizi. Kodwa ngeqiniso, kuphila kukaJehovac njalo kuphila komphefumulo wakhod, kukhona inyathelo nje phakathi kwami lokufa.

4 UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: Lokho umphefumulo wakho okuloyisayo, ngizakwenzela khona.

5 UDavida wasesithi kuJonathani: Khangela, kusasa yikuthwasa kwenyanga; mina-ke ngifanele ukuhlala lokuhlala ukuthi ngidle lenkosie; kodwa ngiyekela ngihambe ngiyecatsha egangeni kuze kube lusuku lwesithathu kusihlwaf.

6 Uba uyihlo engiswela lokungiswela, uzakuthi: UDavida ungicelile lokungicela ukuthi agijimele eBhethelehema umuzi wakibog; ngoba kukhona lapho umhlatshelo weminyaka ngeminyaka owenzelwe usendo lonkeh.

7 Uba esitsho njalo: Kulungile; inceku yakho izakuba lokuthula. Kodwa uba ethukuthela lokuthukuthela, yazi ukuthi ububi buqondwe nguyei.

8 Ngakho yenzela inceku yakho umusaj, ngoba ulethe inceku yakho esivumelwaneni seNkosi lawek. Kodwa uba kulesiphambeko kimi, ngibulala wena; ngoba uzangiselani kuyihlol?

9 UJonathani wasesithi: Kakube khatshana lami! Ngoba uba bengisazi lokwazi ukuthi ububi buqondwe ngubaba ukuthi bukwehlele, mina bengingayikukutshela yini?

10 UDavida wasesithi kuJonathani: Ngubani ozangitshela uba uyihlo ekuphendula ngolaka?

11 UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: Woza siphume siye emmangweni. Basebephuma bobabili besiya emmangweni.

12 UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: INkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, lapho sengimhlolile ubaba phose ngalesisikhathi kusasa loba ngomhlomunye, uba, khangela, kukuhle kuDavida, uba ngingathumeli kuwe ngalesosikhathi ngikuveze endlebeni yakho,

13 kayenze njalo iNkosi kuJonathani, langokunjalo yengezelele. Uba ububi phezu kwakho bulungile kubaba, ngizakuveza endlebeni yakho, ngikuyekele uhambe ukuze uhambe ngokuthulam. Njalo iNkosi ibe lawe njengoba yayilobaban.

14 Kawuyikungenzela yini umusa weNkosi, ngitsho, nxa ngisaphila, ukuze ngingafi,

15 kodwa kawuyikuquma umusa wakho usuke endlini yami kuze kube phakade, njalo hatshi lapho iNkosi isiziqumile izitha zikaDavida, zisuke ngulowo lalowo ebusweni bomhlabao.

16 Ngokunjalo uJonathani wenza isivumelwano lendlu kaDavida, esithi: INkosi kayikubize esandleni sezitha zikaDavidap.

17 UJonathani wasephinda wamfungisa uDavida ngenxa yokumthanda kwakhe; ngoba wayemthanda njengoba ethanda umphefumulo wakheq.

18 UJonathani wasesithi kuye: Kusasa yikuthwasa kwenyanga, njalo uzaswelwa ngoba isihlalo sakho sizakuba sizer.

19 Usuhlale insuku ezintathu uzakwehla masinyane, uze endaweni owacatsha khona ngosuku lwendaba leyo, uzahlala eduze lamatshe e-Ezelis.

20 Mina-ke ngizatshoka imitshoko emithathu eceleni, kungathi ngitshoka ibalat.

21 Khangela-ke, ngizathuma umfana ngithi: Hamba uyeyidinga imitshoko. Uba ngisithi lokuthi emfaneni: Khangela, imitshoko inganeno kwakho, ithathe, ubuye; ngoba kulokuthula kuwe, njalo kakulandaba, kuphila kukaJehovau!

22 Kodwa uba ngisitsho njalo ejaheni: Khangela, imitshoko ingale kwakho; hamba ngoba iNkosi ikuyekele uhambe.

23 Mayelana lendaba esikhulume ngayo mina lawe, khangela, iNkosi iphakathi kwami lawe kuze kube ninininiv.

24 Ngakho uDavida wasecatsha emmangweni. Isithwasile inyanga, inkosi yahlala ekudleni ukuze idle.

25 Inkosi yasihlala esihlalweni sayo njengezikhathi ngezikhathi, esihlalweni eduze lomduli; uJonathani wasesukuma, loAbhineri wahlala eceleni kukaSawuli; kodwa indawo kaDavida yayize.

26 Kodwa uSawuli katshongo lutho ngalolosuku; ngoba wathi: Okuthile kumehlele; kahlambulukanga, isibili kahlambulukangaw.

27 Kwasekusithi kusisa, ngolwesibili lokuthwasa kwenyanga, indawo kaDavida yayize. USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani indodana yakhe: Kungani indodana kaJese ingezanga ekudleni ngitsho izolo lalamuhlax?

28 UJonathani wasephendula uSawuli wathi: UDavida wangicela lokungicela ukuthi aye eBhethelehema.

29 Wasesithi: Akungivumele ukuthi ngihambe; ngoba usendo lwakwethu lulomhlatshelo emzini, lomfowethu ungilayile. Khathesi-ke uba ngithole umusa emehlweni akho, ake ngikhululeke ukuthi ngiyebona abafowethu. Ngenxa yalokho kezanga etafuleni lenkosiy.

30 Khona intukuthelo kaSawuli yamvuthela uJonathani, wathi kuye: Ndodana yomfazi owonakeleyo lovukelayo! Kangazi yini ukuthi uyikhethile indodana kaJese, kube lihlazo lakho, njalo kube lihlazo lobunqunu bukanyoko?

31 Ngoba zonke izinsuku indodana kaJese iphila emhlabeni, kawuyikuma wena lombuso wakho. Ngakho-ke thuma umlethe kimi, ngoba uyindodana yokufa.

32 UJonathani wasephendula uSawuli uyise wathi kuye: Uzabulawelwani? Wenzeniz?

33 USawuli wasephosa umkhonto kuye ukumtshaya. Ngalokho uJonathani wakwazi ukuthi kwakuqondwe nguyise ukumbulala uDavidaa.

34 Ngakho uJonathani wasuka etafuleni ekuvutheni kwentukuthelo, njalo kadlanga ukudla ngosuku lwesibili lokuthwasa kwenyanga, ngoba wayedabukile ngoDavida, ngoba uyise emyangisileb.

35 Kwasekusithi ekuseni uJonathani waphuma waya emmangweni ngesikhathi esimisiweyo loDavida, lomfanyana elaye.

36 Wasesithi emfaneni wakhe: Gijima, ake udinge imitshoko engiyitshokayo. Umfana wagijima, yena wasetshoka umtshoko ukuze umedlule.

37 Lapho umfana esefikile endaweni yomtshoko uJonathani awutshokileyo, uJonathani wamemeza emva komfana wathi: Umtshoko kawuphambi kwakho yini?

38 Njalo uJonathani wamemeza emva komfana wathi: Phangisa, ukhawuleze, ungemi. Umfana kaJonathani waseyiqoqa imitshoko, wabuya enkosini yakhec.

39 Kodwa umfana wayengazi lutho, kuphela uJonathani loDavida babelwazi udaba.

40 UJonathani wasenika umfana owayelaye izikhali zakhe, wathi kuye: Hamba, uzise emzini.

41 Esehambile umfana, uDavida wasukuma ngaseningizimu, wathi mbo ngobuso bakhe emhlabathini, wakhothama kathathu; basebesangana, bakhala inyembezi omunye lomunye, uDavida waze wedlulisa.

42 UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: Hamba ngokuthula; lokhu esikufunge sobabili ngebizo leNkosi, sisithi: INkosi ibe phakathi kwami lawe, laphakathi kwenzalo yami lenzalo yakho, kakube kuze kube ninininid. Wasesukuma wahamba, loJonathani waya emzinie.

UDavida ubalekela uSawuli

21UDavida wasesiza eNobi kuAhimeleki umpristia; uAhimeleki wasesesaba ukuhlangabeza uDavida, wathi kuye: Kungani wena uwedwa, njalo kungelamuntu olaweb?

2 UDavida wasesithi kuAhimeleki umpristi: Inkosi ingilaye udaba, yathi kimi: Kakungabi lamuntu owazi lalutho ngaloludaba engikuthuma lona, lengikulaya khona; lamajaha ngiwazisile ngendawo enje lenje.

3 Khathesi-ke kuyini okungaphansi kwesandla sakho? Nika esandleni sami izinkwa ezinhlanu loba okungatholakala.

4 Umpristi wasephendula uDavida wathi: Kakulasinkwa esejwayelekileyo ngaphansi kwesandla sami, kodwa kulesinkwa esingcwelec, nxa amajaha ezigcinile esifazaneni kuphelad.

5 UDavida wasemphendula umpristi wathi kuye: Isibili abesifazana bavinjelwe kithi phose lezinsuku ezintathu ekuphumeni kwami; lezitsha zamajaha zingcwele; kodwa ngandlela thize sejwayelekilee, laphezu kwalokho, ngoba lamuhla singcweliswe ezitsheni.

6 Ngakho umpristi wamnika esingcwele; ngoba kwakungelasinkwa lapho, ngaphandle kwesinkwa sokubukiswa, ebesisuswe phambi kweNkosi ukuthi kubekwe isinkwa esitshisayo mhla sithathwaf.

7 Njalo kwakulomuntu lapho owenceku zikaSawuli mhlalokho, ebambekile phambi kweNkosig, lebizo lakhe lalinguDowegi umEdoma, induna yabelusi uSawuli ayelaboh.

8 UDavida wasesithi kuAhimeleki: Kanti kakulamkhonto loba inkemba lapha ngaphansi kwesandla sakho? Ngoba kokubili inkemba yami lezikhali zami kangikuthathanga esandleni sami, ngoba udaba lwenkosi lwalungoluphuthunywayo.

9 Umpristi wasesithi: Inkemba kaGoliyathi umFilistii, owambulala esigodini seElaj, njalo khangela, igoqelwe ngelembu ngemva kwe-efodi; uba uzithathela yona, ithathe, ngoba kayikho enye lapha ngaphandle kwayo. UDavida wasesithi: Kayikho enjengayo; nginika yonak.

10 Wasesukuma uDavida wabaleka ngalolosuku esuka ebusweni bukaSawuli, waya kuAkishi inkosi yeGathil.

11 Izinceku zikaAkishi zasezisithi kuye: Lo kayisuye uDavida yini inkosi yelizwe? Kabahlabelanga yini ngayem emigidweni besithi: USawuli utshayile izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida inkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumin?

12 UDavida wasewafaka lamazwi enhliziyweni yakhe, wamesaba kakhulu uAkishi inkosi yeGathio.

13 Ngakho waguqula ukuziphatha kwakhe emehlweni abo, wazitshaya uhlanya ezandleni zabo, wadweba ezivalweni zamasango, wagxozisela indenda esilevini sakhep.

14 UAkishi wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: Khangelani, liyabona ukuthi lumuntu uyahlanya; limletheleni kimi?

15 Ngiswele inhlanya yini ukuthi lilethe lo ukuthi ahlanye phambi kwami? Lo uzangena endlini yami yini?

22UDavida wasesuka lapho, waphephela ebhalwinia lweAdulamub. Lapho abafowabo lendlu yonke kayise bekuzwa lokho, behlela kuye lapho.

2 Kwasekubuthana kuye wonke umuntu ocindezelweyo, laye wonke umuntu owayelesikwelede, laye wonke umuntu owayebuhlungu emphefumulweni, wasesiba yinduna phezu kwaboc, kwaze kwaba laye phose abantu abangamakhulu amaned.

3 UDavida wasesuka lapho waya eMizipa yakoMowabi, wathi enkosini yakoMowabie: Ngiyacela ukuthi ubaba lomama baphume lani, ngize ngazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzangenzelani.

4 Wasebaletha phambi kwenkosi yakoMowabi, basebehlala layo insuku zonke uDavida esenqabeni.

5 Umprofethi uGadi wasesithi kuDavida: Ungahlali enqabeni; hamba wena ngena elizweni lakoJuda. UDavida wasehamba wangena eguswini leHerethif.

USawuli ubulala abapristi beNobi

6 USawuli wasesizwa ukuthi uDavida uyaziwa labantu ababelaye. USawuli wayehlezi eGibeya ngaphansi kwesihlahlag setamarisiki* eRamah, elomkhonto esandleni sakhe, lazo zonke inceku zakhe zazimi laye.

7 USawuli wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe ezazimi laye: Ake lizwe, bakoBhenjamini: Kambe indodana kaJese izalinika lonke amasimu lezivini, ilibeke lonke libe zinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamakhului,

8 ngokuthi lonke lingenzele ugobe, njalo kakho owembule endlebeni yami ukuthi indodana yami yenza isivumelwano lendodana kaJesej; kakho loyedwa kini ongizwelayo, lowembula endlebeni yami, ukuthi indodana yami ingivusela inceku yami ukuthi icathame njengalamuhlak?

9 Kwasekuphendula uDowegi umEdoma owayemi lenceku zikaSawulil, wathi: Ngayibona indodana kaJese isiza eNobim kuAhimeleki indodana kaAhitubin.

10 Wasembuzela eNkosinio, wamnika umphako, lenkemba kaGoliyathi umFilisti wamnika yonap.

11 Inkosi uSawuli yasithuma ukubiza uAhimeleki umpristi, indodana kaAhitubi, lendlu yonke kayise, abapristi ababeseNobiq; bonke basebesiza enkosini.

12 USawuli wasesithi: Ake ulalele, ndodana kaAhitubi. Wasesithi: Khangela ngilapha, nkosi yami.

13 USawuli wasesithi kuye: Kungani lingenzela ugobe, wena lendodana kaJese, njengoba wayinika isinkwa lenkemba, wayibuzela kuNkulunkulur, ukuthi ingivukele icathame njengalamuhlas?

14 UAhimeleki waseyiphendula inkosi wathi: Pho, ngubani kuzo zonke inceku zakho othembekileyo njengoDavida, ongumkhwenyana wenkosi, oqhubeka ekukulaleleni, lohloniphekayo endlini yakho?

15 Ngiyaqalisa lamuhla yini ukumbuzela kuNkulunkulu? Kakube khatshana lami! Inkosi kayingabeki udaba encekwini yayo lendlini yonke kababa; ngoba inceku yakho yayingazi lutho ngaloludaba, oluncinyane kumbe olukhulut.

16 Inkosi yasisithi: Ahimeleki, uzakufa lokufa, wena lendlu yonke kayihlo.

17 Inkosi yasisithi kuzigijimi ezazimi layo: Phendukani, libulale abapristi beNkosi; ngoba isandla sabo laso siloDavida, futhi ngoba babesazi ukuthi ubalekile, kodwa kabembulanga endlebeni yami. Kodwa inceku zenkosi kazithandanga ukwelula isandla sazo ukuthi zihlasele abapristi beNkosi.

18 Inkosi yasisithi kuDowegi: Phenduka wena, uhlasele abapristi. UDowegi umEdoma wasephenduka, yena wahlasela abapristi, wabulala ngalolosuku abantu abangamatshumi ayisificaminwembili lanhlanuu ababegqoke i-efodi* yelembu elicolekileyov.

19 LeNobi, umuzi wabapristi, wayitshaya ngobukhali benkembaw, kusukela endodeni kusiya kowesifazana, kusukela emntwaneni kusiya komunyayo, lezinkabi labobabhemi lezimvu, ngobukhali benkembax.

20 Kodwa omunye wamadodana kaAhimeleki indodana kaAhitubi waphephay, obizo lakhe lalinguAbhiyathaz, wabaleka walandela uDavida.

21 UAbhiyatha wasetshela uDavida ukuthi uSawuli ubulele abapristi beNkosi.

22 UDavida wasesithi kuAbhiyatha: Ngakwazi ngalolosuku lapho uDowegi umEdoma elapho ukuthi uzamtshela lokumtshela uSawuli. Yimi engibangele ukufa kwawo wonke umphefumulo wendlu kayihlo.

23 Hlala lami, ungesabi, ngoba lowo odinga umphefumulo wami udinga umphefumulo wakho; kodwa uzalondolozeka ulamia.

UDavida uya eKeyila lenkangala yeZifi

23Basebebika kuDavida besithi: Khangela, amaFilisti alwa emelene leKeyila, aphanga amabala okubhulelaa.

2 UDavida wasebuza eNkosini esithi: Ngihambe yini ngitshaye lamaFilistib? INkosi yasisithi kuDavida: Hamba uyetshaya amaFilisti, usindise iKeyila.

3 Kodwa abantu bakaDavida bathi kuye: Khangela, siyesaba khonapha koJuda; pho, kangakanani uba sisiya eKeyila emaviyweni amaFilisti?

4 UDavida wasephinda futhi ukubuza eNkosini. INkosi yasimphendula yathi: Sukuma wehlele eKeyila, ngoba ngizanikela amaFilisti esandleni sakhoc.

5 Ngakho uDavida labantu bakhe baya eKeyila, balwa lamaFilisti, baqhuba inkomo zawo, bawatshaya ngokutshaya okukhulu. Ngalokho uDavida wasindisa abahlali beKeyila.

6 Kwasekusithi lapho uAbhiyatha indodana kaAhimeleki ebalekela kuDavida eKeyila, wehla ele-efodi* esandleni sakhed.

7 Kwasekubikwa kuSawuli ukuthi uDavida ungenile eKeyila. USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu umnikele esandleni sami, ngoba uvalelwe ngokungena emzini olamasango lemigoqo.

8 USawuli wasebizela bonke abantu empini ukwehlela eKeyila, ukuvimbezela uDavida labantu bakhee.

9 UDavida wasesazi ukuthi uSawuli wenza iqhinga elibi ngasese ngaye, wathi kuAbhiyatha umpristi: Letha lapha i-efodif.

10 UDavida wasesithi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, inceku yakho izwile lokuzwa ukuthi uSawuli udinga ukuza eKeyila ukuchitha umuzi ngenxa yamig.

11 Abahlali beKeyila bazanginikela esandleni sakhe yini? USawuli uzakwehla yini njengokuzwa kwenceku yakho? Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, akuyitshele inceku yakho. INkosi yasisithi: Uzakwehlah.

12 UDavida wasesithi: Abahlali beKeyila bazanginikela mina labantu bami esandleni sikaSawuli yini? INkosi yasisithi: Bazalinikelai.

13 Wasesukuma uDavida labantu bakhe, phose abangamakhulu ayisithupha, baphuma eKeyilaj, baya lapho ababengaya khonak. Lapho uSawuli esetshelwa ukuthi uDavida usephephile eKeyila, wayekela ukuphuma.

14 UDavida wasehlala enkangala ezinqabeni, wahlala ezintabeni enkangala yeZifil. LoSawuli wayemdinga insuku zonke, kodwa uNkulunkulu kamnikelanga esandleni sakhe.

15 UDavida wasebona ukuthi uSawuli wayephumele ukudinga impilo yakhe. UDavida wayesenkangala yeZifi eguswinim.

16 UJonathani, indodana kaSawuli, wasesukuma waya kuDavida eguswini, waqinisa isandla sakhe kuNkulunkulun.

17 Wathi kuye: Ungesabi, ngoba isandla sikaSawuli ubaba kasiyikukuthola, njalo uzakuba yinkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, mina-ke ngibe ngowesibili kuwe, loSawuli laye ubaba ukwazi kunjaloo.

18 Basebesenza isivumelwanop bobabili phambi kweNkosiq; uDavida wasehlala eguswini, loJonathani waya endlini yakhe.

19 AbeZifir basebesenyukelas kuSawuli eGibeyat bathi: UDavida kacatshanga lathi yini ezinqabeni eguswini, eqaqeni lweHakilau engeningizimu kweJeshimoni?

20 Ngakho-ke, ngokwesifiso sonke somphefumulo wakho sokwehla, nkosi, yehla; njalo kungokwethu ukumnikela esandleni senkosiv.

21 USawuli wasesithi: Libusisiwe yiNkosiw ngoba liyangizwelax.

22 Ake lihambe, libe lilungisa, lazi libone indawo yakhe lapho unyawo lwakhe lukhona, ngubani ombone lapho, ngoba ngitsheliwe ukuthi wenza ngobuqili isibili.

23 Bonani-ke, lizazi zonke indawo zokucatsha lapho acatsha khona, libuye kimi lileqiniso, ngizahamba-ke lani; kuzakuthi-ke nxa ekhona elizweni, ngizamdinga phakathi kwazo zonke inkulungwane zakoJuday.

24 Basebesukuma baya eZifi phambi kukaSawuliz; kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe babesenkangala yeMahonia, emagcekeni, ngeningizimu kweJeshimonib.

25 USawuli labantu bakhe basebesiyamdinga. Basebemtshela uDavida, wasesehla edwaleni, wahlala enkangala yeMahoni. Kwathi uSawuli esekuzwile, waxotshana loDavida enkangala yeMahoni.

26 USawuli wasehamba nganeno kuloluhlangothi lwentaba, loDavida labantu bakhe bahamba ngakolunye uhlangothi lwentaba. Kwasekusithi uDavida waphangisa ukusuka ebusweni bukaSawuli, ngoba uSawuli labantu bakhe bahanqa uDavida labantu bakhe ukubabambac.

27 Kodwa kwafika isithunywa kuSawuli sisithi: Phangisa ubuye, ngoba amaFilisti asehlasele ilizwed.

28 Ngakho uSawuli waphenduka ekuxotshaneni loDavida, wayamelana lamaFilisti. Ngakho bayibiza leyondawo bathi yiSela-Hamalekoti.

29 UDavida wasesenyuka esuka lapho, wahlala ezinqabeni zeEngedie.

UDavida uyekela uSawuli ukuthi aphile

24Kwasekusithi uSawuli esebuyile ekulandeleni amaFilisti, bambikela besithi: Khangela, uDavida usenkangala yeEngedia.

2 USawuli wasethatha amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezintathu akhethiweyo kuIsrayeli wonke, wayadinga uDavida labantu bakhe phezu kwamadwala amagogob.

3 Wasefika ezibayeni zezimvu endleleni, lapho okwakulobhalu khonac; uSawuli wasengena ukwembesa inyawo zakhed; uDavida labantu bakhe babehlezi-ke enhlangothini zobhalu.

4 Abantu bakaDavida basebesithi kuye: Khangela, usuku iNkosi ethi ngalo kuwe: Khangela, ngizanikela isitha sakho esandleni sakho, ukuthi wenze kuso njengokuhle emehlweni akhoe. UDavida wasesukuma, wasika ensitha umphetho wesembatho uSawuli ayelaso.

5 Kwasekusithi emva kwalokho inhliziyo kaDavida yamtshaya, ngenxa yokuthi wayesike umphetho wesembatho uSawuli ayelasof.

6 Wasesithi ebantwini bakhe: Kakube khatshana lami ngeNkosi ukuthi ngenze linto enkosini yamig, ogcotshiweyo weNkosih, ukwelulela isandla sami kuye, ngoba engogcotshiweyo weNkosi.

7 UDavida wabanqanda abantu bakhe ngalawomazwi, kabavumelanga ukuthi bamvukele uSawulii. USawuli wasesukuma waphuma ebhalwini, wahamba endleleni.

8 Emva kwalokho uDavida laye wasukuma waphuma ebhalwini, wamemeza emva kukaSawuli esithi: Nkosi yami nkosi! Lapho uSawuli enyemukula, uDavida wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wakhonza.

9 UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: Ulalelelani amazwi abantu besithi: Khangela, uDavida udinga ukulinyazwa kwakhoj?

10 Khangela, lamuhla amehlo akho abonile ukuthi iNkosi ibikunikele lamuhla esandleni sami ebhalwini; njalo besithi kangikubulalek, kodwa ngakuhawukela, ngathi: Kangiyikwelulela isandla sami enkosini yami, ngoba ingogcotshiweyo weNkosi.

11 Futhi-ke, baba, bona, yebo bona umphetho wesembatho sakho esandleni sami; ngoba ekusikeni kwami umphetho wesembatho sakho, lokuthi kangikubulalanga, yazi ubone ukuthi kakukho ububi lesiphambeko esandleni sami, njalo kangonanga kuwe, kanti wena uzingela umphefumulo wami ukuwuthathal.

12 INkosi kayahlulele phakathi kwami lawe, njalo iNkosi ingiphindiselele kuwe, kodwa isandla sami kasiyikumelana lawem.

13 Njengokutsho kwesaga sabendulo esithi: Kwababi kuvela okubi; kodwa isandla sami kasiyikumelana lawe.

14 Inkosi yakoIsrayeli iphume ukulandela bani? Uxotshana lobani? Emva kwenja efileyon, emva kwendwebundwebu eyodwao!

15 Ngakho iNkosi kayibe ngumahluleli, yahlulele phakathi kwami lawep, iboneq, ilumele udaba lwamir, ingikhulule esandleni sakho.

16 Kwasekusithi uDavida eseqedile ukukhuluma lamazwi kuSawuli, uSawuli wathi: Yilizwi lakho lelo yini, ndodana yami, Davida? USawuli wasephakamisa ilizwi lakhe, wakhala inyembezis.

17 Wasesithi kuDavidat: Ulungile kulami, ngoba wena ungivuze ngokuhle, kodwa mina ngikuvuze ngokubi.

18 Wena-ke utshengisile lamuhla ukuthi wenze okuhle ngami, ngoba lapho iNkosi ibinginikele esandleni sakho, kawungibulalangau.

19 Ngoba nxa umuntu efica isitha sakhe, uzasiyekela sihambe ngendlela enhle yini? Ngakho iNkosi ikuvuze ngokuhle ngokwenze kimi lamuhla.

20 Manje-ke, khangela, ngiyazi ukuthi uzakuba yinkosi isibili, lokuthi umbuso wakoIsrayeli uzaqiniswa esandleni sakhov.

21 Ngakho khathesi funga kimi ngeNkosiw ukuthi kawuyikuyiquma inzalo yami emva kwami, lokuthi kawuyikulicitsha ibizo lami endlini kababax.

22 UDavida wasefunga kuSawuli, loSawuli waya endlini yakhe, kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe benyukela enqabeniy.

UDavida loAbigayili

25USamuweli wasesifaa; loIsrayeli wonke wahlangana, bamlilelab, bamngcwabela endlini yakhec eRamad. UDavida wasesukuma wehlela enkangala yeParanie.

2 Kwakukhona-ke indoda eMahonifg, lomsebenzi wayo wawuseKharmelih; lindoda-ke yayiyisikhulu esikhulu, yayilezimvu eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu lembuzi eziyinkulungwane, yayigunda izimvu zayo eKharmeli.

3 Njalo ibizo laleyondoda lalinguNabali, lebizo lomkayo lalinguAbigayili. Njalo owesifazana wayelokuqedisisa okuhle, elesimo esihle, kodwa indoda yayilukhuni ilezenzo ezimbi; yayingeyakoKalebii.

4 UDavida wasesizwa esenkangala ukuthi uNabali ugunda izimvu zakhej.

5 UDavida wasethuma amajaha alitshumi, uDavida wathi emajaheni: Yenyukelani eKharmeli, liye kuNabali, limbuze impilo ebizweni lami,

6 lizakutsho njalo: Impilakahle kayibe kuwe, ukuthula kakube kuwe, lokuthula kakube sendlini yakho, lokuthula kakube kukho konke olakhok!

7 Sengizwile-ke ukuthi ulabagundi; abelusi olabo-ke babelathi, kasibalimazanga, futhi kabaswelanga lutho zonke izinsuku beseKharmelil.

8 Buza amajaha akho, azakutshela. Ngakho amajaha kawathole umusa emehlweni akhom, ngoba sifike ngosuku oluhlen. Akunike inceku zakho lendodana yakho uDavida lokho isandla sakho esizakutholao.

9 Kwathi amajaha kaDavida esefikile, akhuluma kuNabali ngokwalawomazwi wonke ebizweni likaDavida, aselinda.

10 UNabali waseziphendula izinceku zikaDavida, wathi: Ngubani uDavida? Njalo ngubani indodana kaJesep? Lamuhla zinengi inceku ezibalekayo, ileyo laleyo enkosini yayoq.

11 Pho, ngithathe isinkwa sami, lamanzi ami, lenyama yami engiyihlabele abagundi bami, ngikuphe abantu engingazi ukuthi bavela ngaphir?

12 Amajaha kaDavida asephendukela endleleni yawo, abuyela, eza, ambikela njengawo wonke lamazwi.

13 UDavida wasesithi ebantwini bakhe: Bhincani, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe! Babhinca, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe, loDavida laye wabhinca inkemba yakhe; kwasekusenyuka emva kukaDavida phose amadoda angamakhulu amanes, kodwa angamakhulu amabilit ahlala empahleniu.

14 Kodwa elinye ijaha lamajaha lamtshela uAbigayili umkaNabali lathi: Khangela, uDavida uthume izithunywa zivela enkangala ukubingelela inkosi yethu, kodwa yazithethisav.

15 Kanti labobantu basiphatha kuhle kakhulu, kasilimalanga, kasiswelanga lutho zonke izinsuku sihambisana labo, sisemmangweni.

16 Babengumduli kithi ebusuku kanye lemini, zonke izinsuku silabo seluse izimvuw.

17 Khathesi-ke, yazi ubone ukuthi uzakwenzani; ngoba ububi buqunyelwe inkosi yethu lendlu yayo yonkex; ngoba uyindodana kaBheliyali okungangokuthi kakho ongakhuluma layey.

18 UAbigayili wasephangisa wathatha izinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili, lembodlela ezimbili zewayini, lezimvu ezinhlanu ezilungisiweyo, lamaseya* amane amabele akhanzingiweyo, lamahlukuzo alikhulu ezithelo zevini ezonyisiweyo, lezinkwa ezingamakhulu amabili zomkhiwa, wakuthwalisa obabhemiz.

19 Wasesithi emajaheni akhe: Dlulani phambi kwami; khangelani, ngiyalilandela. Kodwa kamtshelanga umkakhe uNabalia.

20 Kwasekusithi esagade ubabhemi esehlela endaweni esithekileyo yentaba, khangela-ke, uDavida labantu bakhe behla behlangabezana laye; wasehlangana labo.

21 Njalo uDavida wayethe: Isibili ngigcine ngeze konke lo ayelakho enkangala, kakwaze kwasweleka lutho kukho konke ayelakho. Usengibuyisele okubi ngokuhleb.

22 UNkulunkulu akenze njalo ezitheni zikaDavidac, engezelele ngokunjalo, uba ngitshiya loyedwa kubo bonke alabo kuze kube sekuseni abachamela emdulinid.

23 Lapho uAbigayili ebona uDavida, waphangisa wehla kubabhemie, wathi mbo ngobuso bakhe phansi phambi kukaDavida, wakhothamela emhlabathinif.

24 Wawela enyaweni zakhe wathi: Lobububi kabube phezu kwami mina, nkosi yami; incekukazi yakho ake ikhulume endlebeni zakho, uzwe amazwi encekukazi yakhog.

25 Inkosi yami ake inganaki lowomuntu kaBheliyali, uNabali; ngoba njengebizo lakhe unjalo; uNabali libizo lakhe, lobuthutha bukuyeh. Kodwa mina, incekukazi yakho, kangiwabonanga amajaha enkosi yami owawathumayo.

26 Ngakho-ke, nkosi yami, kuphila kukaJehova, lokuphila komphefumulo wakhoi, njengoba iNkosi ikunqandile ukungena ngokuchitha igazi, lokuziphindisela ngesandla sakhoj, ngalokho-ke kazibe njengoNabali izitha zakho lalabo abadinga ububi enkosini yamik.

27 Manje-ke, lesisibusiso incekukazi yakho esilethe enkosini yami kasinikwe amajaha ahamba esiya le lale emanyathelweni enkosi yami.

28 Akuthethelele isiphambeko sencekukazi yakho; ngoba iNkosi izakwenzela lokwenzela inkosi yami indlu eqinileyol, ngoba inkosi yami ilwa izimpi zeNkosi, lobubi kabutholwanga kuwe kusukela ensukwini zakhom.

29 Loba kusukuma umuntu ukukuxotsha lokudinga impilo yakho, kodwa umphefumulo wenkosi yami uzabotshelwa emqulwini wabaphilayo leNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho; kodwa umphefumulo wezitha zakho izawujikijela kungathi uphume phakathi kwesavuthan.

30 Kwasekusithi, lapho iNkosi isikwenzile enkosini yami njengakho konke okuhle ekukhulume ngawe, isikumisile waba ngumbusi phezu kukaIsrayeli,

31 kakungabi yisikhubekiso kuwe lokukhubekiswa kwenhliziyo enkosini yami, ngokuthi uchithe igazi ngeze, lokuthi inkosi yami iziphindisele. Lapho iNkosi isiyenzele okuhle inkosi yami, khumbula incekukazi yakho.

32 UDavida wasesithi kuAbigayili: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ekuthumileyo lamuhla ukungihlangabezao.

33 Futhi kakubusiswe ukuqedisisa kwakho, ubusiswe lawe onginqandileyo lamuhla ukuze ngingangeni ekuchitheni igazi lokuziphindisela ngesandla samip.

34 Ngoba ngeqiniso, kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeliq, onginqandileyo ukuze ngingenzi ububi kuwer, ngoba uba ubungaphangisanga weza ukungihlangabeza, sibili, bekungayikusala loyedwa kuNabali kuze kube sekukhanyeni kwekuseni ochamela emdulinis.

35 UDavida wasesemukela esandleni sakhe lokho amlethele khona. Wasesithi kuye: Yenyukela ngokuthula endlini yakho; bona, ngililalele ilizwi lakhot, ngibemukele ubuso bakhou.

36 UAbigayili wasefika kuNabali, khangela-ke, wayeledili endlini yakhe, njengedili lenkosiv. Lenhliziyo kaNabali yathokoza phakathi kwakhe, njalo wayedakwe kwedlulisaw; ngakho kamtshelanga lutho, oluncinyane loba olukhulu, kwaze kwaba sekukhanyeni kwekusenix.

37 Kwasekusithi ekuseni lapho iwayini seliphumile kuNabali, lomkakhe esemtshele lezizinto, inhliziyo yakhe yafa phakathi kwakhe, wasesiba njengelitshe.

38 Kwasekusithi phose emva kwensuku ezilitshumi iNkosi yamtshaya uNabali, wasesifa.

39 UDavida esezwile ukuthi uNabali usefile wathi: Kayibusiswe iNkosiy emele udaba lwehlazo lami esandleni sikaNabaliz, yavimbela inceku yayo ebubinia; iNkosi yabuyisela-ke ububi bukaNabali ekhanda lakheb. UDavida wasethuma, wakhuluma loAbigayili ukuthi amthathe abe ngumkakhe.

40 Lapho izinceku zikaDavida zifika kuAbigayili eKharmeli, zakhuluma laye zisithi: UDavida usithumile kuwe ukukuthatha ube ngumkakhe.

41 Wasesukuma, wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wathi: Khangela, incekukazi yakho kayibe yisigqili sokugezisa inyawo zenceku zenkosi yamic.

42 UAbigayili wasephangisa esukuma, wagada ubabhemi, lentombi zakhe ezinhlanu ezazimphelekezela, walandela izithunywa zikaDavida, waba ngumkakhe.

43 UDavida wathatha loAhinowama weJizereyelid, labo bobabili baba ngomkakhee.

44 Ngoba uSawuli wayenike uMikhali indodakazi yakhe, umkaDavidaf, kuPaliti indodana kaLayishi owayengoweGalimig.

UDavida uyekela uSawuli ngokwesibili ukuthi aphile

26AbeZifi basebesiza kuSawuli eGibeyaa besithi: UDavida kacatshi yini oqaqeni lweHakila phambi kweJeshimoni?

2 USawuli wasesukuma wehlela enkangala yeZifi elabantu abakhethiweyo bakoIsrayeli abayizinkulungwane ezintathu, ukuze adinge uDavida enkangala yeZifib.

3 USawuli wasemisa inkamba oqaqeni lweHakilac oluphambi kweJeshimoni endleleni, kodwa uDavida wahlala enkangala. Kwathi esebonile ukuthi uSawuli uyamlandela enkangalad,

4 uDavida wasethuma izinhloli ukuze azi ukuthi uSawuli ufikile isibili.

5 UDavida wasesukuma wayafika endaweni lapho uSawuli amise khona inkamba; uDavida wayibona indawo lapho uSawuli alala khona, loAbhineri indodana kaNeri, induna yebutho lakhe. Njalo uSawuli wayelele enqabeni yezinqola, lesizwe sasimise amathente simhanqilee.

6 UDavida wasephendula wakhuluma kuAhimeleki umHethif, lakuAbishayig indodana kaZeruyah, umfowabo kaJowabi, esithi: Ngubani ozakwehlela lami kuSawuli enkambeni? UAbishayi wasesithi: Mina ngizakwehla lawei.

7 Ngakho uDavida loAbishayi bafika ebantwini ebusuku; khangela-ke, uSawuli wayelele ubuthongo enqabeni yezinqola, lomkhonto wakhe wawugxunyekiwe emhlabathini ngasekhanda lakhe, loAbhineri labantu babelele bemhanqilej.

8 UAbishayi wasesithi kuDavida: UNkulunkulu uvalele isitha sakho esandleni sakho lamuhla; ngakho-ke ake ngimtshayele ngitsho emhlabathini kanye ngomkhonto, ngingakuphindi kuye.

9 Kodwa uDavida wathi kuAbishayi: Ungamchithi; ngoba ngubani ongelulela isandla sakhe kogcotshiweyo weNkosi angabi lacalak?

10 UDavida wathi futhi: Kuphila kukaJehoval, kodwa iNkosi izamtshayam, loba kufike usuku lwakhe ukuthi afen, kumbe ehlele empini abhujisweo.

11 Kakube khatshana lami ngeNkosip ukwelulela isandla sami kogcotshiweyo weNkosiq; kodwa khathesi ake uthathe umkhonto osemqamelweni wakhe, lesigxingi samanzi, sihambe.

12 UDavida wasethatha umkhonto lesigxingi samanzi ekususa emqamelweni kaSawuli, bahamba. Njalo kakho owakubonayo, kakho owakwaziyo, kakho owavukayo, ngoba bonke babelele, ngoba ubuthongo obunzima beNkosi babubehleler.

13 Lapho uDavida esechaphele ngaphetsheya, wema engqongeni yentaba khatshana; kwakukhona ummango omkhulu phakathi kwabo.

14 UDavida wasememeza ebantwini lakuAbhineri indodana kaNeri, esithi: Kawuphenduli yini, Abhineri? UAbhineri wasephendula esithi: Ungubani okhala enkosini?

15 UDavida wasesithi kuAbhineri: Kawusindoda yini? Njalo ngubani onjengawe koIsrayeli? Kungani-ke ungayilindanga inkosi yakho inkosi? Ngoba kufike omunye wabantu ukuchitha inkosi, inkosi yakho.

16 Kayinhle into oyenzileyo. Kuphila kukaJehovas, lingabantwana bokufa, ngoba kaliyilindanga inkosi yenu, ogcotshiweyo weNkosit. Khathesi-ke bona ukuthi ungaphi umkhonto wenkosi lesigxingi samanzi ebesingasemqamelweni wayo.

17 USawuli waselinanzelela ilizwi likaDavida wathi: Yilizwi lakho lelo yini, ndodana yami, Davida? UDavida wasesithi: Yilizwi lami, nkosi yami, nkosiu.

18 Wathi njalo: Inkosi yami ixotshanelani lenceku yayo? Ngoba ngenzeni? Kulobubi bani esandleni samiv?

19 Ngakho-ke, ake izwe inkosi yami, inkosi, amazwi enceku yayo. Uba iNkosi ikuqubula ukumelana lami, kayemukele umnikelo; kodwa uba kungabantwana babantu, kabaqalekiswe phambi kweNkosiw; ngoba bangixotshile lamuhlax ukuthi ngingazihlanganisi lelifa leNkosi, besithi: Hamba, ukhonze abanye onkulunkuluy.

20 Ngakho-ke igazi lami kalingaweli emhlabathini lisuke phambi kobuso beNkosi; ngoba inkosi yakoIsrayeli iphumele ukudinga indwebundwebu eyodwaz, njengozingela ithendele ezintabenia.

21 USawuli wasesithi: Ngonile; buya, ndodana yami Davida, ngoba kangisayikwenza ububi kuweb, ngenxa yokuthi umphefumulo wami ubuligugu emehlweni akho lamuhlac. Khangela, ngenze ngobuphukuphuku, ngaduha kakhulu sibilid.

22 UDavida wasephendula wathi: Khangela, umkhonto wenkosi! Kalichaphe elinye lamajaha, liwuthathe.

23 INkosi kayibuyisele kulowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe lokuthembeka kwakhe; ngoba iNkosi ibikunikele esandleni sami lamuhla, kodwa kangithandanga ukwelulela isandla sami kogcotshiweyo weNkosie.

24 Khangela-ke, njengoba impilo yakho ibinkulu emehlweni ami lamuhla, ngokunjalo impilo yami ayibe nkulu emehlweni eNkosi, kayingophule ekuhluphekeni konke.

25 USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: Kawubusiswe wena, ndodana yami Davida. Lawe uzakwenza isibilif, lawe uzanqoba lokunqobag. UDavida wasehamba ngendlela yakhe, loSawuli wabuyela endaweni yakhe.

UDavida uhlala phakathi kwamaFilisti

27UDavida wasesithi enhliziyweni yakhe: Sengizabhubha ngolunye usuku ngesandla sikaSawuli. Kakulalutho olungcono kimi ngaphandle kokuphepha lokuphepha ngiye elizweni lamaFilisti, loSawuli uzadela ngami ukungidinga futhi kuwo wonke umngcele wakoIsrayeli; ngokunjalo ngiphephe esandleni sakhe.

2 Wasesukuma uDavida wachapha, yena labantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ayelaboa, waya kuAkishi indodana kaMahokib, inkosi yeGathic.

3 UDavida wasehlala loAkishi eGathi, yena labantu bakhe, ngulowo lalowo lendlu yakhe; uDavida labomkakhe bobabili, uAhinowama umJizereyelikazi loAbigayili umKharmelikazi umkaNabalid.

4 Kwathi kubikwa kuSawuli ukuthi uDavida ubalekele eGathi, kabe esamdinga futhi.

5 UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Uba khathesi ngithole umusa emehlweni akho, kabangiphe indawo komunye wemizi emaphandleni ukuthi ngihlale khonae; ngoba inceku yakho izahlalelani lawe emzini wenkosif?

6 UAkishi wasemnika iZikilagi ngalolosuku. Ngakho iZikilagi ingeyamakhosi akoJuda kuze kube lamuhlag.

7 Lenani lensuku uDavida azihlala elizweni lamaFilisti lalingumnyaka lenyanga ezine.

8 UDavida labantu bakhe basebesenyukah bahlasela amaGeshuri lamaGirizii, lamaAmalekij, ngoba lawo ayengabahlali balelolizwe kwasendulo, lapho usiya eShuri, njalo kuze kube selizweni leGibhithek.

9 UDavida waselitshaya ilizwe, kazatshiya ophilayo, owesilisa lowesifazana, wathatha izimvu lenkomo labobabhemi lamakamela lezigqoko, wabuyela wafika kuAkishil.

10 Lapho uAkishi esithi: Belihlasela ngaphi lamuhla? UDavida wayesithi: Ngaseningizimu yakoJuda, langaseningizimu yamaJeramelim, langaseningizimu yamaKenin.

11 UDavida katshiyanga owesilisa kumbe owesifazana ophilayo, ukuletha ilizwi eGathi, esithi: Hlezi bakhulume ngathi, besithi: Wenze njalo uDavida. Wawunjalo-ke umkhuba wakhe zonke izinsuku azihlala elizweni lamaFilistio.

12 UAkishi wasemkholwa uDavida esithi: Uzenze waba levumba kakhulu ebantwini bakibo koIsrayeli. Ngakho uzakuba yinceku yami kuze kube nininini.

28Kwasekusithi ngalezonsuku amaFilisti abuthanisela impi amabutho awo ukuze alwe loIsrayeli. UAkishi wasesithi kuDavida: Yazi lokwazi ukuthi uzaphuma impi lami, wena labantu bakhoa.

2 UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Sibili, wena uzakwazi ukuthi inceku yakho ingenzani. UAkishi wasesithi kuDavida: Ngakho, ngizakubeka ube ngumlindi wekhanda lami zonke izinsuku.

USawuli lowesifazana oledlozi eEndori

3 USamuweli wayesefile, loIsrayeli wonke wayemlileleb, bamngcwabela eRamac, ngitsho emzini wakibo. USawuli wayebasusile-ke elizweni abalamadlozi labalumbayod.

4 AmaFilisti asebuthana afika amisa inkamba eShunemie. USawuli wasebuthanisa uIsrayeli wonke, bamisa inkamba eGilibowaf.

5 Lapho uSawuli ebona inkamba yamaFilisti, wesaba, lenhliziyo yakhe yathuthumela kakhulu.

6 Lapho uSawuli ebuza eNkosini, iNkosi kayimphendulangag langamaphuphoh langeUrimi langabaprofethii.

7 USawuli wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: Ngidingelani owesifazana oledlozi ukuze ngiye kuye, ngibuze kuyej. Inceku zakhe zasezisithi kuye: Khangela, kulowesifazana oledlozik eEndoril.

8 USawuli wasezifihla isimo, wagqoka ezinye izigqoko, wahamba, yena lamadoda amabili laye; basebefika kowesifazana ebusukum. Wathi: Akungivumisele ngedlozi, ungenyusele engizamutsho kuwen.

9 Kodwa owesifazana wathi kuye: Khangela, wena uyazi ukuthi uSawuli wenzeni, ukuthi ubaqumile elizweni abalamadlozi labalumbayo. Pho, uwuthiyelani umphefumulo wami ukungibulalao?

10 Kodwa uSawuli wafunga kuye ngeNkosi, esithi: Kuphila kukaJehovap, isijeziso kasiyikuza kuwe ngaloludabaq.

11 Owesifazana wasesithi: Ngikwenyusele bani? Wasesithi: Ngenyusela uSamuweli.

12 Lapho owesifazana ebona uSamuweli, wakhala ngelizwi elikhulu; owesifazana wasekhuluma kuSawuli esithi: Ungikhohliseleni? Ngoba unguSawuli.

13 Inkosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi; kodwa ubonani? Owesifazana wasesithi kuSawuli: Ngibona onkulunkulu besenyuka emhlabathinir.

14 Wasesithi kuye: Sinjani isimo sakhe? Wasesithi: Kwenyuka ixhegu elembethe isembathos. Lapho uSawuli esesazi ukuthi nguSamuweli, wakhothama ngobuso emhlabathini, wakhonza.

15 USamuweli wasesithi kuSawuli: Ungikhathazeleni ngokungenyusa? USawuli wasephendula wathi: Ngibandezelekile kakhulu, ngoba amaFilisti alwa lami, loNkulunkulu usukile kimit, kasangiphenduli, langesandla sabaprofethi langamaphupho. Ngakho ngikubizile ukuthi ungazise ukuthi ngenzeniu.

16 USamuweli wasesithi: Pho, ubuzelani kimi, lokhu iNkosi isisukile kuwe, yaba yisitha sakho?

17 INkosi isizenzele njengokukhuluma kwayo ngesandla samiv; iNkosi isidabule umbuso usuka esandleni sakho, yawunika umakhelwane wakho, uDavidaw.

18 Njengoba ungalilalelanga ilizwi leNkosi, futhi ungenzanga ukuvutha kolaka lwayo kumaAmaleki, ngakho iNkosi yenzile linto kuwe lamuhlax.

19 Futhi iNkosi izanikela uIsrayeli laye kanye lawe esandleni samaFilisti; kusasa-ke wena lamadodana akho lizakuba lami. Lenkamba yakoIsrayeli iNkosi izayinikela esandleni samaFilistiy.

20 USawuli wasehle edilikela emhlabathini, ngokuphelela kobude bakhe, wesaba kakhulu ngenxa yamazwi kaSamuweli, njalo kwakungelamandla kuye, ngoba wayengadlanga kudla usuku lonke lobusuku bonke.

21 Owesifazana wasesiza kuSawuli, wabona ukuthi wethukile kakhulu, wathi kuye: Khangela, incekukazi yakho ililalele ilizwi lakho, ngifakile umphefumulo wami esandleni sami, ngalalela amazwi owakhulume kimi.

22 Ngakho-ke lawe akulalele ilizwi lencekukazi yakho, ngifake phambi kwakho ucezwana lwesinkwa ukuze udle, ukuze amandla abe kuwe nxa uhamba indlela yakhoz.

23 Kodwa wala wathi: Kangiyikudla. Kodwa inceku zakhe kanye lowesifazana bamcindezela; waselalela ilizwi labo. Wasesukuma emhlabathini, wahlala embhedenia.

24 Njalo owesifazana wayelethole elinonileyo endlini; waphangisa walihlabab; wathatha impuphu, wayixova, wabhaka isinkwa esingelamvubelo ngayoc;

25 wasisondeza phambi kukaSawuli laphambi kwenceku zakhe; badla. Basukuma bahamba ngalobobusuku.

UDavida uxotshwa ngamaFilisti

29AmaFilisti ayebuthanise-ke wonke amabutho awoa eAfekib; lamaIsrayeli ayemise inkamba ngasemthonjenic oseJizereyelid.

2 Iziphathamandla zamaFilisti zasezidlula ngamakhulu langezinkulungwanee, kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe bedlula emuva loAkishif.

3 Induna zamaFilisti zasezisithi: Ayini lamaHebheru? UAkishi wasesithi kuzo induna zamaFilisti: Lo kayisuye uDavida yini, inceku kaSawuli inkosi yakoIsrayeli, obelami lezinsuku kumbe liminyakag? Njalo kangitholanga lutho kuyeh kusukela kusuku lokuwa kwakhe kuze kube lamuhlai.

4 Kodwa induna zamaFilisti zamthukuthelela; izinduna zamaFilisti zathi kuye: Mbuyisele lumuntu ukuthi abuyele endaweni yakhe owambeka khonaj. Njalo kangehleli empini lathi, ukuze angabi yisitha sethu empini. Ngoba lo angazenza athandeke ngani enkosini yakhe? Hatshi ngamakhanda alamadoda yinik?

5 Lo kayisuye uDavida yini ababevumelana ngaye emigidweni besithi: USawuli utshaye izinkulungwane zakhe, kodwa uDavida inkulungwane zakhe ezingamatshumil?

6 UAkishi wasebiza uDavida wathi kuye: Kuphila kukaJehova, isibili wena uqondilem, lokuphuma kwakho lokungena kwakho lami enkambeni kuhle emehlweni amin; ngoba kangitholanga ububi kuwe kusukela osukwini lokufika kwakho kimi kuze kube lamuhlao; kodwa emehlweni eziphathamandla kawumuhlep.

7 Ngakho-ke buyela uhambe ngokuthulaq, ukuze ungenzi ububi emehlweni eziphathamandla zamaFilistir.

8 UDavida wasesithi kuAkishi: Kodwa ngenzeni? Uficeni encekwini yakho, kusukela osukwini engangiphambi kwakho ngalo kuze kube lamuhla, ukuthi ngingayikulwa lezitha zenkosi yami, inkosi?

9 UAkishi wasephendula wathi kuDavida: Ngiyazi ukuthi ulungile emehlweni ami njengengilosi kaNkulunkulus; kodwa izinduna zamaFilisti zithe: Kayikwenyukela empini lathit.

10 Ngakho-ke ubovuka ekuseni kakhulu kanye lenceku zenkosi yakho ezifike lawe; selivuke ekuseni kakhulu sekukhanya kini, lihambeu.

11 Ngakho uDavida wavuka ngovivi, yena labantu bakhe, ukuhamba ekuseni, ukuthi babuyele elizweni lamaFilisti. AmaFilisti asesenyukela eJizereyeliv.

UDavida uchitha amaAmaleki

30Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesithathu, lapho uDavida labantu bakhe befika eZikilagia, amaAmaleki ayehlasele iningizimub, leZikilagi, ayitshaya iZikilagi, ayitshisa ngomlilo,

2 athumba abesifazana ababephakathi kwayo; kusukela komncinyane kuze kube komkhulu kawabulalanga muntu, kodwa abaqhuba, ahamba ngendlela yawo.

3 Lapho uDavida labantu bakhe befika emzini, khangela, wawutshisiwe ngomlilo, labomkabo, lamadodana abo lamadodakazi abo sebethunjiwe.

4 UDavida labantu ababelaye basebephakamisa ilizwi labo bakhala inyembezi akaze aba khona kubo amandla okukhala.

5 OmkaDavida bobabili labo babethunjiwe, uAhinowama umJizereyelikazi loAbigayili umkaNabali weKharmelic.

6 UDavida wasecindezeleka kakhulu, ngoba abantu babekhuluma ngokumkhanda ngamatshe, ngoba umphefumulo wabantu bonke wawubuhlungu, ngulowo lalowo ngenxa yamadodana langenxa yamadodakazi akhed. Kodwa uDavida waziqinisa ngeNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhee.

7 UDavida wasesithi kuAbhiyatha umpristi indodana kaAhimeleki: Akungilethele lapha i-efodi*f. UAbhiyatha waseyiletha i-efodi kuDavida.

8 UDavida wasebuza eNkosini esithig: Ngixotshane laleliviyo yini? Ngizalifica yini? Yasisithi kuye: Xotshana lalo, ngoba uzalifica lokulifica, ubakhulule lokubakhululah.

9 Ngakho uDavida wahamba, yena labantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ababelayei, bafika esifuleni iBesori lapho abasalayo bahlala khonaj.

10 Kodwa uDavida waxotshana labo, yena labantu abangamakhulu amane; ngoba abangamakhulu amabili basala, ababekhathele kakhulu ukuthi babengelakuchapha isifula iBesorik.

11 Basebefica umGibhithe emmangweni, bamletha kuDavida, bamnika ukudla, wadla, bamnathisa amanzi;

12 bamnika ucezu lwesinkwa somkhiwa lamahlukuzo amabili ezithelo zevini ezonyisiweyol. Kwathi esedlile umoya wabuyela kuye, ngoba wayengadlanga kudla, enganathanga manzi, insuku ezintathu lobusuku obuthathum.

13 UDavida wasesithi kuye: Ungokabani? Uvela ngaphi? Wasesithi: Ngilijaha leGibhithe, inceku yomAmaleki, lenkosi yami ingitshiyile ngoba bengigula okwensuku ezintathu.

14 Thina besihlasela iningizimu yamaKerethin, lakwelakoJuda, leningizimu yakoKalebio, leZikilagi sayitshisa ngomlilo.

15 UDavida wasesithi kulo: Ungangehlisela kuleloviyo yini? Laselisithi: Funga kimi ngoNkulunkulu ukuthi kawuyikungibulala, njalo kawuyikunginikela esandleni senkosi yami, besengikwehlisela kuleloviyo.

16 Selimehlisile, khangela, babehlakazekile ebusweni bomhlaba wonke, besidla, benatha, begidela impango enkulu ababeyithethe elizweni lamaFilisti lelizweni lakoJuda.

17 UDavida wasebatshaya kusukela libantubahle kwaze kwaba kusihlwa kosuku olulandelayo lwabo. Njalo kakuphunyukanga muntu kubo, ngaphandle kwamajaha angamakhulu amane, agada amakamela, abalekap.

18 UDavida wasekhulula konke amaAmaleki ayekuthetheq, labomkakhe bobabili uDavida wabakhulula.

19 Njalo kakusilelanga lutho kubo kusukela komncinyane kuze kube komkhulu, kuze kube semadodaneni lemadodakazini, lempangweni, ngitsho lakuphi ababezithathele khona; uDavida wakubuyisa konke.

20 UDavida wasethatha zonke izimvu lenkomo. Baziqhuba phambi kwenkomo lezo, bathi: Le yimpango kaDavidar.

21 UDavida wasefika kulabobantu abangamakhulu amabili ababekhathele kakhulu ukuthi babengelakulandela uDavidas, abathi kabahlale esifuleni seBesorit; basebephuma ukumhlangabeza uDavida lokuhlangabeza abantu ababelaye. Lapho uDavida esondela kubantu, wababuza impilakahle.

22 Basebephendula bonke abantu ababi labakaBheliyali phakathi kwabantu ababehambe loDavida bathiu: Njengoba bengahambanga lathi, kasiyikubanika empangweni esiyikhululileyo, ngaphandle kwakuleyo laleyondoda umkayo labantwana bayo, ukuthi babakhokhele bahambe.

23 Kodwa uDavida wathi: Kaliyikwenza njalo, bafowethu, ngalokho iNkosi esiphe khona, esilondolozileyo, yanikela esandleni sethu iviyo eleza lamelana lathi.

24 Pho, ngubani ozalilalela kuloludaba? Ngoba njengesabelo salowo owehlela empiniv sinjalo isabelo salowo ohlala lempahla; bazakwabelana ngokulinganayow.

25 Kwasekusiba njalo kusukela mhlalokho kusiya phambili, ukuthi wakwenza kwaba yisimiso lesimiselo koIsrayeli kuze kube lamuhla.

26 UDavida esefikile eZikilagi, wathumela okwempango kubadala bakoJuda, kubo abangane bakhe, esithi: Khangela, isibusiso senu esivela empangweni yezitha zeNkosi.

27 KwabeseBhethelix, lakwabaseRamothi yeningizimuy, lakwabaseJatiriz,

28 lakwabaseAroweria, lakwabaseSifimothib, lakwabaseEshithemowac,

29 lakwabaseRakali, lakwabasemizini yamaJeramelid, lakwabasemizini yamaKenie,

30 lakwabaseHormaf, lakwabaseBorashanig, lakwabaseAthaki,

31 lakwabaseHebronih, lendaweni zonke lapho uDavida ahamba khona besiya le lale, yena labantu bakhe.

Ukufa kukaSawuli lamadodana akhe

31AmaFilisti alwa-ke loIsrayelia; lamadoda akoIsrayeli abaleka phambi kwamaFilisti, awa efile entabeni yeGilibowab.

2 AmaFilisti asenamathela kuSawuli lamadodana akhe; amaFilisti abulala uJonathani, loAbinadaba, loMaliki-Shuwa, amadodana kaSawulic.

3 Lempi yaba nzima kuSawuli, abatshoki bamfica, amadoda edandili; wasesiba lobuhlungu kakhulu ngabatshokid.

4 USawuli wasesithi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe: Hwatsha inkemba yakho, ungigwaze ngayoe, hlezi laba abangasokanga bafike bangigwaze, badlale kubi ngamif. Kodwa umthwali wezikhali zakhe kavumanga, ngoba wesaba kakhulug. Ngakho uSawuli wathatha inkemba, waziwisela phezu kwayoh.

5 Lapho umthwali wezikhali zakhe ebona ukuthi uSawuli usefile, laye waziwisela phezu kwenkemba yakhe, wafa kanye laye.

6 Wafa-ke uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu lomthwali wezikhali zakhe labo bonke abantu bakhe ngalolosuku ndawonyei.

7 Lapho amadoda akoIsrayeli ayengaphetsheya kwesigodi layengaphetsheya kweJodani ebona ukuthi amadoda akoIsrayeli abalekile, lokuthi uSawuli lamadodana akhe sebefile, atshiya imizi, abaleka; amaFilisti asefika, ahlala kiyoj.

8 Kwasekusithi kusisa lapho amaFilisti efika ukuhlubula ababuleweyo, afica uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu bewile entabeni yeGilibowa.

9 Asequma ikhanda lakhe, ahlubula izikhali zakhek, athumela elizweni lamaFilisti inhlangothi zonke ukumemezela imibiko endlini yezithombe zabo lebantwinil.

10 Abeka izikhali zakhem endlini kaAshitarothin. Abophela isidumbu sakheo emdulini weBeti-Shanip.

11 Kwathi abahlali beJabeshi-Gileyadiq sebezwile ngalokho amaFilisti akwenze kuSawuli,

12 asukuma wonke amaqhawe, ahamba ubusuku bonke, athatha isidumbu sikaSawuli lezidumbu zamadodana akhe emdulini weBeti-Shanir, eza eJabeshi, azitshisa khonas.

13 Asethatha amathambo abo, awangcwabat ngaphansi kwesihlahla setamarisiki* eJabeshiu, azila ukudlav insuku eziyisikhombisaw.