EYOKUQALA EKASAMUYELI

1 Kwakulendoda yaseRamathayimi-zofimi*+ ezintabeni zako-Efrayimi+ okwakuthiwa ngu-Elikhana. U-Elikhana+ wayeyindodana kaJerohamu, indodana ka-Elihu, indodana kaThohu, indodana kaZufi, futhi wayengowako-Efrayimi. 2 Indoda le yayilamakhosikazi amabili, omunye kwakuthiwa nguHana, omunye kuthiwa nguPhenina. UPhenina wayelabantwana kodwa uHana wayengelabo. 3 Minyaka yonke u-Elikhana wayesuka edolobheni lakibo ayekhonza eShilo+ futhi anikele lemihlatshelo kuJehova wamabutho. Amadodana ka-Eli amabili uHofini loFiniyasi+ ayehlala khona njalo ayengabaphristi bakaJehova.+

4 Ngelinye ilanga u-Elikhana wathi enikela umhlatshelo wanika umkakhe uPhenina lawo wonke amadodana lamadodakazi akhe inyama,+ 5 kodwa uHana wamnika inyama enhle kakhulu ngoba nguye ayemthanda lanxa uJehova wayengamphanga abantwana.* 6 Unyanewabo wayehlala emchothoza efuna ukumzwisa ubuhlungu ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wayengamnikanga abantwana. 7 Lokhu yikho unyanewabo ayekwenza minyaka yonke. UHana wayesithi angaya endlini kaJehova,+ unyanewabo amchothoze kakhulu, akhale aze ehluleke lokudla. 8 Kodwa umkakhe u-Elikhana wathi kuye: “Hana ukhalelani? Kungani udanile futhi ungadli? Kanti mina angingcono yini kuwe kulamadodana alitshumi?”

9 Bathi sebeqedile ukudla lokunatha eShilo, uHana wasuka lapho ababehlezi khona. Ngalesosikhathi u-Eli umphristi wayehlezi esihlalweni eceleni komnyango wethempeli*+ likaJehova. 10 Inhliziyo kaHana yayibuhlungu kakhulu yikho waqalisa ukuthandaza kuJehova+ ekhala kabuhlungu. 11 Wafunga wathi: “Awu Jehova wamabutho, nxa ungakhangela ukuthi mina incekukazi yakho ngihlupheka njani futhi ungikhumbule unginike indodana,+ ngizayinikela kuwe Jehova okwempilo yayo yonke njalo ayisoze iphuce ikhanda.”+

12 UHana wakhuleka okwesikhathi eside phambi kukaJehova futhi u-Eli wayelokhu ekhangele umlomo wakhe. 13 UHana wayekhulumela enhliziyweni, indebe zakhe zivevezela kodwa ilizwi lingazwakali. Ngakho u-Eli wacabanga ukuthi udakiwe 14 wasesithi kuye: “Uzahlala udakiwe kuze kube nini? Yekela ukunatha iwayini.” 15 UHana waphendula wathi: “Hatshi nkosi yami, ngingowesifazana okhathazeke kakhulu.* Anginathanga iwayini loba utshwala kodwa ngithululela uJehova konke okusenhliziyweni yami.+ 16 Ungacabangi ukuthi incekukazi yakho ingowesifazana ongelancedo. Ngithandaze kwaze kwaba khathesi ngoba ngizwa ubuhlungu obukhulu njalo ngikhathazekile.” 17 U-Eli wamphendula wathi: “Kwangathi uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli angakunika lokho okucele kuye.+ Uhambe kuhle.” 18 UHana waphendula wathi: “Kwangathi incekukazi yakho ingathola umusa kuwe.” Wasesuka wahamba wayakudla futhi wayengasadananga.

19 Bavuka ekuseni kakhulu bayakhothama phambi kukaJehova, ngemva kwalokho babuyela emzini wabo eRama.+ U-Elikhana walala lomkakhe uHana futhi uJehova wamkhumbula uHana.+ 20 UHana wazithwala njalo umnyaka ungakapheli wabeletha indodana, wayinika ibizo elithi+ Samuyeli* ngoba esithi, “Ngamcela kuJehova.”

21 Ngemva kwesikhathi u-Elikhana wahamba lemuli yakhe yonke esiyanikela umnikelo wakhe wesifungo kanye lomhlatshelo waminyaka yonke kuJehova.+ 22 Kodwa uHana kazange ahambe+ ngoba wathi kumkakhe: “Ngizahamba lomfana nxa sengimkhiphe ebeleni ayekuma phambi kukaJehova futhi uzahlala khona kokuphela.”+ 23 Umkakhe u-Elikhana wasesithi kuye: “Yenza lokho okubona kulungile.* Hlala ngekhaya uze umkhiphe ebeleni. Kwangathi uJehova angenza lokho okukhulumileyo.” Ngakho uHana wahlala ngekhaya wondla indodana yakhe waze wayikhipha ebeleni.

24 Wathi eseyikhiphile ebeleni indodana yakhe wayithatha wahamba layo eShilo, elejongosi elileminyaka emithathu le-efa* eyodwa yefulawa kanye lembiza enkulu yewayini.+ Wafika endlini kaJehova eShilo+ lendodana yakhe eyayisesencane, 25 bahlaba ijongosi basebehambisa umfana ku-Eli. 26 UHana wasesithi: “Uxolo nkosi yami, ngifunga ngempilo yakho nkosi yami, yimi owesifazana owayemi eduze kwakho endaweni le ethandaza kuJehova.+ 27 Ngathandaza ngicela umfana lo futhi uJehova wangipha lokho engakucelayo.+ 28 Ngakho lami sengimnika* uJehova, uzakuba ngokaJehova okwempilo yakhe yonke.”

U-Elikhana wakhothama khonapho phambi kukaJehova.

2 UHana wathandaza wathi:

 7 UJehova uyenelisa ukwenza umuntu abe ngumyanga kumbe ukumenza anothe.+

Uyehlisa aphinde aphakamise.+

11 U-Elikhana wabuyela emzini wakhe eRama kodwa umfana wasala esenzela uJehova inkonzo engcwele+ ngaphansi kuka-Eli umphristi.

12 Amadodana ka-Eli ayesenza izinto ezimbi+ futhi engamhloniphi uJehova. 13 Nanku ayekwenza nxa umuntu ezonikela umhlatshelo wakhe:+ Kwakusithi nxa inyama eyayiphiwa abaphristi isaxhwatha, inceku yomphristi ibuye ithwele ifologwe elamazinyo amathathu, 14 ihlabe ngayo embizeni kumbe ebhodweni elezibambo ezimbili loba elesibambo esisodwa. Loba kuyini ifologwe eyayiphuma lakho umphristi wayekuthatha kube ngokwakhe. Lokhu yikho ababekwenza kubo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli ababesiza eShilo. 15 Umuntu owayezonikela umhlatshelo wayesithi engakatshisi lamafutha,+ inceku yomphristi ifike kuye ithi: “Nika umphristi inyama yokosa. Kafuni inyama ephekiweyo, ufuna eluhlaza kuphela.” 16 Umuntu owayenikela umhlatshelo wayephendula athi: “Mana baqale batshise amafutha,+ ubusuthatha konke okufunayo,” kodwa inceku yomphristi yona iphendule isithi: “Hatshi, ngipha khathesi, nxa ungafuni ngizayithatha ngenkani!” 17 Isono sezinceku zabaphristi saba sikhulu kakhulu kuJehova+ ngoba amadoda lawo ayengasayihloniphi iminikelo kaJehova.

18 USamuyeli wayesenza inkonzo engcwele+ phambi kukaJehova lanxa wayesesengumfana. Wayegqoka i-efodi* yelineni.+ 19 Minyaka yonke unina wayemthungela ijazi elincane elingelamikhono, abuye lalo nxa yena lomkakhe sebezokwenza umhlatshelo owenziwa minyaka yonke.+ 20 U-Eli wambusisa u-Elikhana lomkakhe wathi: “Kwangathi uJehova angenza ukuthi owesifazana lo akuzalele omunye umntwana ozathatha indawo yalowo elimnike* uJehova.”+ Ngemva kwalokho basuka babuyela emzini wabo. 21 UJehova wamkhumbula uHana waba labanye abantwana.+ Wazala abafana abathathu lamankazana amabili. Umfana uSamuyeli waqhubeka ekhula phambi kukaJehova.+

22 U-Eli wayesemdala kakhulu futhi wayekuzwile konke okwakusenziwa ngamadodana akhe+ kubo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli, lokuthi ayelala labesifazana ababesebenza emnyango wetende lokuhlangana.+ 23 U-Eli wayejayele ukuthi kuwo: “Kungani liqhubeka lisenza izinto ezinje? Zimbi kakhulu izinto engizwa abantu bonke bezikhuluma ngani. 24 Hatshi madodana ami, indaba le elokhu imemetheka phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova kayilunganga. 25 Nxa umuntu angonela omunye umuntu, omunye angamncengela kuJehova,* kodwa nxa angonela uJehova,+ ngubani ozamthandazela?” Loba kunjalo, amadodana ka-Eli kawazange amlalele uyise. UJehova wayesezimisele ukuwabulala.+ 26 Kodwa umfana uSamuyeli waqhubeka ekhula futhi ethandwa nguJehova labantu.+

27 Umuntu kaNkulunkulu wafika ku-Eli wathi kuye: “UJehova uthi: ‘Kanti angizange ngiziveze egcekeni yini kukhokho wakho lemuli yakhe ngesikhathi beseGibhithe, beyizigqili endlini kaFaro?+ 28 Phakathi kwezizwana zonke zako-Israyeli, ngakhetha ukhokho wakho+ ukuthi abe ngumphristi wami, ukuze aye e-alithareni lami+ ayekwenza imihlatshelo anikele langempepha futhi agqoke i-efodi phambi kwami. Abemuli kakhokho wakho ngabanika yonke iminikelo etshiswa ngabantu bako-Israyeli.+ 29 Kungani lina bantu liseyisa* imihlatshelo yami leminikelo yami engalitshela ukuthi liyenze endaweni engihlala kuyo?+ Kungani uhlonipha amadodana akho ukwedlula mina? Phela lizitika ngenyama enhle kakhulu kuyo yonke iminikelo enikelwa ngabantu bami bako-Israyeli.+

30 “‘Yikho uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi: “Ngatsho sibili ukuthi abemuli yakho lekakhokho wakho bazaqhubeka bekhonza* phambi kwami.”+ Kodwa khathesi uJehova uthi: “Lokho akusoze kwenzakale ngoba labo abangihloniphayo yibo engizabahlonipha,+ kodwa abangidelelayo bazayangiswa.” 31 Ziyeza izinsuku lapho engizaqeda khona amandla akho lawemuli kayihlo ukuze kungabi lomuntu ozakhula abe lixhegu emulini yakho.+ 32 Lanxa kuyabe kulezinto ezinengi ezinhle ezenzakala ko-Israyeli, wena uzabona isitha endaweni engihlala kuyo.+ Akusoze kuphinde kube lomuntu okhula aze abe lixhegu endlini yakho. 33 Umuntu ovela emulini yakho engingasoze ngimsuse ekusebenzeni e-alithareni lami uzakwenza inhliziyo yakho ibe buhlungu kakhulu lamehlo akho afiphale. Inengi labemuli yakho lizabulawa ngabantu ngenkemba.+ 34 Okuzakwenzakala emadodaneni akho amabili, uHofini loFiniyasi, kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kuwe: Bonke bazakufa langa linye.+ 35 Ngizabeka umphristi othembekileyo+ ozakwenza lokho okufunwa yinhliziyo yami.* Ngizamakhela indlu ezahlala isikhathi eside njalo uzakhonza* phambi kogcotshiweyo wami kokuphela. 36 Loba ngubani emulini yakho ozasala uzakuya kuye afike amkhothamele acele umsebenzi ukuze athole imali lesinkwa. Uzathi: “Ngicela unginike umsebenzi wokuba ngumphristi ukuze ngidle ucezwana lwesinkwa.”’”+

3 USamuyeli waqhubeka esenzela uJehova inkonzo engcwele+ ngaphansi kuka-Eli. Kodwa ilizwi elivela kuJehova lalingandanga ngalezonsuku futhi lemibono+ yayingasajayelekanga.

2 Ngalesosikhathi amehlo ka-Eli ayesefiphele futhi engasenelisi ukubona.+ Ngelinye ilanga wayelele endaweni yakhe, 3 njalo isibane sikaNkulunkulu+ sasingakacitshwa, uSamuyeli yena wayelele ethempelini*+ likaJehova lapho okwakulebhokisi likaNkulunkulu khona. 4 UJehova wabiza uSamuyeli, yena wasabela wathi: “Ngilapha.” 5 Wagijima waya ku-Eli wafika wathi: “Sengibuyile, ngizwe ungibiza.” Kodwa yena wathi kuye: “Angizange ngikubize, buyela uyelala.” Ngakho wabuyela wayalala. 6 UJehova waphinda wabiza wathi: “Samuyeli!” USamuyeli wasevuka waya ku-Eli wafika wathi: “Sengibuyile, ngizwe ungibiza.” Kodwa yena wathi: “Angizange ngikubize ndodana yami, buyela uyelala.” 7 (Ngalesosikhathi uSamuyeli wayengakamazi uJehova njalo ilizwi likaJehova lalingakaze lifike kuye.)+ 8 Ngakho uJehova wambiza futhi okwesithathu wathi: “Samuyeli!” USamuyeli wavuka waya ku-Eli wafika wathi: “Sengibuyile, ngizwe ungibiza.”

U-Eli wasenanzelela ukuthi uJehova nguye owayebiza umfana. 9 Yikho wathi kuSamuyeli: “Buyela uyelala. Nxa engakubiza kumele uthi, ‘Khuluma Jehova, inceku yakho ilalele.’” USamuyeli wasesuka wayalala endaweni yakhe.

10 UJehova wabuya wazokuma khonapho, wasembiza ngendlela ayembize ngayo kuqala wathi: “Samuyeli! Samuyeli!” USamuyeli uthe esizwa lokhu wathi: “Khuluma, inceku yakho ilalele.” 11 UJehova wasesithi kuSamuyeli: “Lalela! Kulento engizayenza ko-Israyeli ezakwenza indlebe zaloba ngubani oyizwayo zincencethe.+ 12 Ngalelolanga ngizakwenza konke engathi ngizakwenza ku-Eli lasemulini yakhe, kusukela kokokuqala kusiya kokokucina.+ 13 Umtshele ukuthi imuli yakhe ngizayijezisa kokuphela ngenxa yesono asaziyo.+ Amadodana akhe athuka uNkulunkulu+ kodwa yena kawakhuzi.+ 14 Yikho ngifungile kwabemuli ka-Eli ngathi isono sabo ngeke sihlawulelwe ngemihlatshelo loba ngeminikelo.”+

15 USamuyeli walala kwaze kwaba sekuseni, wasevuka wavula iminyango yendlu kaJehova. Kodwa wayesesaba ukutshela u-Eli umbono ayewubonile. 16 Ngakho u-Eli wambiza uSamuyeli wathi: “Samuyeli ndodana yami!” Yena waphendula wathi: “Ngilapha.” 17 Wabuza wathi: “Utheni kuwe? Ngicela ungangifihleli lutho. UNkulunkulu kakujezise kakhulu nxa ungangifihlela lokukodwa nje ezintweni zonke akutshele zona.” 18 Yikho-ke uSamuyeli wamtshela konke, kazange afihle lokukodwa. U-Eli wasesithi: “Kukhulume uJehova, kenze lokho akubona kukuhle.”

19 USamuyeli waqhubeka ekhula njalo uJehova wayelaye.+ Kazange avumele lelilodwa ilizwi ayelikhulumile ukuthi lingagcwaliseki.* 20 Bonke abako-Israyeli kusukela koDani kuze kuyefika eBheri-shebha bakwazi ukuthi uSamuyeli wayesebekwe ukuba ngumphrofethi kaJehova. 21 UJehova waqhubeka ebonakala eShilo. UJehova waziveza kuSamuyeli eShilo njalo uSamuyeli wayesamukela ilizwi elivela kuJehova.+

4 USamuyeli waqhubeka ekhuluma labo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli.

Abako-Israyeli baphuma besiyakulwa lamaFilisti. Bamisa inkamba yabo eceleni kwe-Ebhenezeri, amaFilisti wona amisa eyawo e-Afekhi. 2 AmaFilisti ahlela amabutho awo ayadibana labako-Israyeli empini. Kodwa akubahambelanga kuhle abako-Israyeli. AmaFilisti abanqoba abulala amadoda angaba ngu-4 000 enkundleni yempi. 3 Amabutho athi esebuyele enkambeni abadala bako-Israyeli bathi: “Kungani lamuhla uJehova evumele ukuthi amaFilisti asinqobe?*+ Kasihambeni siyethatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova eShilo+ ukuze libe lathi lisikhulule esandleni sezitha zethu.” 4 Ngakho bathuma amadoda eShilo afika athatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova wamabutho ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi phezu* kwamakherubhi.+ Amadodana ka-Eli amabili, uHofini loFiniyasi,+ lawo ahamba lebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu weqiniso.

5 Ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova lathi lifika enkambeni bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bahlokoma kwaba lomsindo omkhulu, umhlaba waze wanyikinyeka. 6 AmaFilisti athi esizwa umsindo omkhulu owawusenziwa ngabako-Israyeli athi: “Kungani kulomsindo omkhulu kangaka enkambeni yamaHebheru?” Acina esizwa ukuthi kwasekufike ibhokisi likaJehova enkambeni. 7 AmaFilisti ethuka athi: “UNkulunkulu usebuyile enkambeni!+ Kuphelile ngathi ngoba okunje akukaze kwenzakale! 8 Lakanye saphela! Ngubani ozasikhulula esandleni sikaNkulunkulu lo omkhulu? Phela nguye uNkulunkulu owaqeda abantu beGibhithe enkangala.+ 9 Wobani lesibindi libe ngamadoda maFilisti ukuze lingacini seliyizigqili zamaHebheru wona ebeyizigqili zenu.+ Wobani ngamadoda lilwe!” 10 AmaFilisti alwa abanqoba abako-Israyeli+ futhi ngamunye wabo wabalekela etendeni lakhe. Kwabulawa abantu abanengi kakhulu. Kwabako-Israyeli kwafa amabutho angu-30 000. 11 Ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu lathunjwa futhi amadodana amabili ka-Eli, uHofini loFiniyasi afa.+

12 Enye indoda yakoBhenjamini yabaleka empini yagijima yayafika eShilo ngalelolanga. Izigqoko zayo zazidabukile futhi igcwele inhlabathi ekhanda.+ 13 Indoda le yathi ifika, u-Eli wayehlezi esitulweni eceleni komgwaqo elindile ngenxa yokuthi wayekhathazekile ngebhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso.+ Indoda le yangena edolobheni yayatshela abantu okwakwenzakele. Abantu bonke edolobheni baqalisa ukukhala. 14 U-Eli wathi esizwa umsindo wabantu abakhalayo wabuza wathi: “Kanti umsindo wonke lo ngowani?” Indoda leyo yahle yayabikela u-Eli okwasekwenzakele. 15 (U-Eli wayeseleminyaka engu-98 njalo wayengasaboni.)+ 16 Indoda le yathi ku-Eli: “Yimi engivela empini! Ngibalekile empini lamuhla!” U-Eli wambuza wathi: “Kuhambe njani ndodana yami?” 17 Indoda eyayibuye lombiko yamtshela yathi: “Abantu bako-Israyeli bawabalekele amaFilisti futhi kubulewe abantu abanengi,+ lamadodana akho amabili uHofini loFiniyasi afile.+ Ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso lalo lithunjiwe.”+

18 U-Eli uthe esizwa ngebhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso wawa ngesiphundu esitulweni sakhe eceleni kwegedi. Intamo yakhe yephuka wahle wafa ngoba wayesemdala futhi elomzimba omkhulu. U-Eli wahlulela abantu bako-Israyeli okweminyaka engu-40. 19 Umalukazana wakhe umkaFiniyasi wayezithwele futhi esezabeletha. Wathi esizwa ukuthi ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso lalithunjiwe lokuthi uyisezala lomkakhe basebefile, wakhothama wahle wahelelwa wabeletha isikhathi sakhe singakafiki. 20 Wathi esesifa abesifazana ababemi eceleni kwakhe bathi: “Ungakhathazeki ngoba ubelethe umntwana ongumfana.” Kodwa yena kabaphendulanga futhi kazange abe lendaba lakho.* 21 Wanika umfana ibizo wathi ngu-Ikhabhodi*+ esithi: “Udumo lusukile ko-Israyeli lwaya ekuthunjweni.”+ Wayekhuluma ngokuthunjwa kwebhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso lalokho okwakwehlele umkakhe loyisezala.+ 22 Wathi: “Udumo lusukile ko-Israyeli lwaya ekuthunjweni ngoba ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso lithunjiwe.”+

5 AmaFilisti athi esethumbe ibhokisi+ likaNkulunkulu weqiniso, alisusa e-Ebhenezeri alisa e-Ashidodi. 2 Athatha ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso ahamba lalo ethempelini likaDagoni,* afika alibeka eceleni kukaDagoni.+ 3 Abantu be-Ashidodi bathi bevuka ekuseni ngelanga elilandelayo, bathola uDagoni ewele phansi ngobuso phambi kwebhokisi likaJehova.+ Yikho bamvusa bambuyisela endaweni yakhe.+ 4 Bathi bevuka futhi ekuseni ngelanga elilandelayo bathola uDagoni ewele phansi ngobuso phambi kwebhokisi likaJehova. Ikhanda lakhe lezandla zakhe zonke kwakuqamukile futhi kusesitubhini somnyango. Ingxenye yomzimba wakhe eyayibunjwe angathi yinhlanzi yiyo kuphela eyayingaqamukanga. 5 Yikho kuze kube lamuhla abaphristi bakaDagoni labantu bonke abangena ethempelini likaDagoni* benganyatheli isitubhu somnyango wendlu kaDagoni e-Ashidodi.

6 UJehova wabajezisa kabuhlungu abantu be-Ashidodi. Wajezisa abantu be-Ashidodi labahlala ezindaweni eziseduze layo ngokubenza baphume amathumba ezihlalweni.+ 7 Abantu be-Ashidodi bathi bebona okwasekusenzakala bathi: “Susani ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli phakathi kwethu, ngoba usijezise kabuhlungu thina lonkulunkulu wethu uDagoni.” 8 Ngakho bathumela ilizwi baqoqa wonke amakhosi amaFilisti bathi kuwo: “Senzeni ngebhokisi likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli?” Abaphendula athi: “Ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli kalihanjiswe eGathi.”+ Yikho balithatha balihambisa eGathi.

9 Bathi sebelihambise eGathi, isandla sikaJehova samelana labantu bedolobho lelo, futhi bonke besaba kakhulu. Wajezisa abantu bonke, abancane labadala, baphuma amathumba ezihlalweni.+ 10 Yikho bathatha ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso balisa e-Ekhroni.+ Lathi lifika nje e-Ekhroni abantu balapho baqalisa ukukhala besithi: “Bathethe ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli baliletha lapha ukuze basibulalise thina labantu bakithi siphele du!”+ 11 Ngakho bathumela ilizwi baqoqa wonke amakhosi amaFilisti bathi kuwo: “Susani ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli lapha, lilibuyisele endaweni yalo ukuze thina labantu bakithi singafi.” Phela bonke abantu base-Ekhroni babesesaba ukuthi bangafa ngoba uNkulunkulu weqiniso wayebajezise kabuhlungu.+ 12 Labo abasala bephila babejeziswe ngamathumba aphuma ezihlalweni. Abantu bedolobho lelo bakhala kakhulu becela uncedo, isililo sabo sayafika ezulwini.

6 Ibhokisi+ likaJehova lahlala elizweni lamaFilisti okwezinyanga eziyisikhombisa. 2 AmaFilisti abiza abaphristi lezangoma+ abuza athi: “Senzeni ngebhokisi likaJehova? Sicela lisitshele ukuthi singalibuyisela njani endaweni yalo.” 3 Baphendula bathi: “Nxa selibuyisela ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wabako-Israyeli, kumele lilibuyisele lilomnikelo. Kumele linike uNkulunkulu umnikelo wecala.+ Nxa lingenza njalo, lizasila futhi lizakwazi ukuthi kungani ubelokhu elijezisa.” 4 Ngakho amaFilisti abuza athi: “Yiwuphi umnikelo wecala esingamnika wona?” Bona bathi: “Kumele limnike umnikelo ohambelana lenani lamakhosi amaFilisti.+ Thumelani izithombe zamathumba ezinhlanu ezenziwe ngegolide lezithombe zamagundwane ezinhlanu ezenziwe ngegolide ngoba lonke lehlelwe luhlupho olufananayo njalo lwehlele lamakhosi enu. 5 Kumele lenze izithombe zamathumba enu lezamagundwane+ adala umonakalo elizweni lenu njalo kumele limhloniphe uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Lingenza njalo, mhlawumbe uzakuma ukulijezisa lina lonkulunkulu wenu kanye lelizwe lenu.+ 6 Kungani lisenza inhliziyo zenu zibe lukhuni njengalokho okwenziwa nguFaro labaseGibhithe?+ Wabajezisa kabuhlungu+ baze bacina betshela ama-Israyeli ukuthi ahambe, yikho asuka ahamba.+ 7 Lina yenzani inqola entsha, lithathe amankomokazi amabili alamathole futhi angakaze abotshwe, beseliwabopha enqoleni. Kodwa likhethe amathole liwabuyisele ngekhaya. 8 Thathani ibhokisi likaJehova lilifake phakathi kwenqola, besekusithi eceleni kwalo lifake ibhokisi elilezithombe zegolide elizazithumela kuNkulunkulu ukuthi zibe ngumnikelo wecala,+ beseliyekela inqola ihambe, 9 lina libukele. Nxa ingahamba ngomgwaqo oya eBhethi-shemeshi+ iqonde endaweni lapho ibhokisi eligcinwa khona, uNkulunkulu wabako-Israyeli nguye oyabe esehlisele ububi bonke lobu. Kodwa nxa ingaqondanga khona sizakwazi ukuthi ayisuye obesijezisa kodwa kwenzakale ngengozi nje.”

10 Abantu benza njalo. Bathatha amankomokazi amabili ayelamathole bawabopha enqoleni. Kodwa amathole bahamba bayawavalela esibayeni. 11 Bafaka ibhokisi likaJehova enqoleni kanye lebhokisi elalilezithombe zamagundwane ezenziwe ngegolide lezithombe zamathumba ezenziwe ngegolide. 12 Amankomokazi ahamba ngomgwaqo owawuqonda eBhethi-shemeshi.+ Aqhubeka ehamba ngomgwaqo lo omkhulu, ehamba ebhonsa. Awazange aphendukele esandleni sokudla loba kwesenxele. Wonke amakhosi amaFilisti ayelandela emuva aze ayafika emngceleni weBhethi-shemeshi. 13 Abantu beBhethi-shemeshi babevuna ingqoloyi emagcekeni. Bathi besithi mehlo suka babona ibhokisi lesivumelwano, bathokoza kakhulu. 14 Inqola yafika yama ensimini kaJoshuwa weBhethi-shemeshi eduze kwelitshe elikhulu. Baqumaquma amapulanka enqola benza inkuni, basebenikela kuJehova ngamankomokazi+ aba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa.

15 AmaLevi+ ehlisa ibhokisi likaJehova lebhokisi elalilezithombe zegolide, asebeka amabhokisi la elitsheni elikhulu elalikhonapho. Ngalelolanga abantu beBhethi-shemeshi+ banikela kuJehova iminikelo yokutshiswa benza lemihlatshelo.

16 Amakhosi amahlanu amaFilisti athi ekubona lokho ahle abuyela e-Ekhroni ngalelolanga. 17 Nanzi izithombe zamathumba ezazenziwe ngegolide ezathunyelwa ngamaFilisti ukuthi ziyekuba ngumnikelo wecala kuJehova:+ Kwakulese-Ashidodi,+ leseGaza, lese-Ashikheloni, leseGathi,+ lese-Ekhroni.+ 18 Inani lezithombe zamagundwane ezazenziwe ngegolide lalilingana lenani lawo wonke amadolobho ayengawamakhosi amahlanu amaFilisti. Inani leli laligoqela amadolobho abiyelwe ngemiduli emikhulu kanye lezigaba ezisemaphandleni.

Idwala elikhulu elisensimini kaJoshuwa weBhethi-shemeshi ababeka kulo ibhokisi likaJehova lilokhu liyisikhumbuzo kuze kube lamuhla. 19 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wababulala abantu beBhethi-shemeshi ngenxa yokuthi babekhangele ibhokisi likaJehova. Wabulala abantu abangu-50 070 futhi abantu baqalisa ukulila ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wayebulele abanengi.+ 20 Ngakho abantu beBhethi-shemeshi bathi: “Ngubani ozakuma phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu ongcwele?+ Ngabe uNkulunkulu uyasuka kithi aye kwabanye.”+ 21 Ngakho bathuma izithunywa eKhiriyathi-jeyarimi+ ukuthi ziyetshela abantu balapho zithi: “AmaFilisti aseliphendukisile ibhokisi likaJehova. Buyani lizolithatha.”+

7 Abantu beKhiriyathi-jeyarimi babuya bazothatha ibhokisi likaJehova baya lalo endlini ka-Abhinadabi+ eyayiseqaqeni. Babeka* indodana yakhe u-Eliyazari ukuthi ilinde ibhokisi likaJehova.

2 Kwathi sekwedlule isikhathi eside, sekuleminyaka engu-20 ibhokisi libuye eKhiriyathi-jeyarimi, bonke abantu bako-Israyeli baqalisa ukudinga uJehova.*+ 3 USamuyeli wakhuluma labo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli wathi: “Nxa lifuna ukubuyela kuJehova ngenhliziyo yonke,+ lahlani bonke onkulunkulu bezizweni+ lezithombe zika-Ashithorethi+ elilazo, beselibeka inhliziyo zenu kuJehova kuphela futhi likhonze yena yedwa.+ Nxa lingenza njalo uzalikhulula esandleni samaFilisti.”+ 4 Ngakho abantu bako-Israyeli balahla izithombe zikaBhali lezika-Ashithorethi bakhonza uJehova kuphela.+

5 USamuyeli wathi: “Buthanisani bonke abantu bako-Israyeli eMizipha,+ futhi mina ngizalithandazela kuJehova.”+ 6 Ngakho babuthana eMizipha bakha amanzi bawathululela phambi kukaJehova njalo bazila ukudla ngalelolanga.+ Babesithi: “Sonile kuJehova.”+ USamuyeli waqalisa ukuba ngumahluleli+ wabantu bako-Israyeli eMizipha.

7 AmaFilisti athi esizwa ukuthi abako-Israyeli babebuthene eMizipha, amakhosi amaFilisti+ asuka esiyabahlasela. Abantu bako-Israyeli bathi bekuzwa lokho besaba, 8 basebesithi kuSamuyeli: “Ungayekeli ukusincengela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuthi asincedise,+ asikhulule esandleni samaFilisti.” 9 USamuyeli wathatha imvana emunyayo wanikela ngayo kuJehova yaba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa ogcweleyo.+ Wakhuleka kuJehova wamcela ukuthi ancedise abantu bako-Israyeli, futhi uJehova wamphendula.+ 10 USamuyeli wathi esanikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, amaFilisti asondela ezohlasela abako-Israyeli. UJehova wenza kwaba lomdumo omkhulu+ ngalelolanga, amaFilisti aphithana amakhanda.+ Abako-Israyeli bawanqoba amaFilisti.+ 11 Baphuma eMizipha bawaxotshanisa bewabulala baze bayafika eningizimu yeBhethi-khari. 12 USamuyeli wathatha ilitshe+ walifaka phakathi kweMizipha leJeshana, walinika ibizo elithi Ebhenezeri* esithi: “UJehova ubelokhu esincedisa kwaze kwaba khathesi.”+ 13 AmaFilisti anqotshwa futhi awazange aphinde abuye elizweni lako-Israyeli.+ UJehova kazange avumele amaFilisti ukuthi ahlasele abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi uSamuyeli esaphila.+ 14 Abako-Israyeli bathatha amadolobho ayethethwe ngamaFilisti, kusukela e-Ekhroni kusiya eGathi, futhi bathatha lezindawo zabo ezazithethwe ngamaFilisti.

Kanti njalo kwaba lokuthula phakathi kwabantu bako-Israyeli lama-Amori.+

15 USamuyeli wahlulela abako-Israyeli okwempilo yakhe yonke.+ 16 Minyaka yonke wayebhoda eBhetheli+ leGiligali+ leMizipha+ njalo wayesahlulela abako-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezondawo. 17 Kodwa wayebuyela eRama+ ngoba yikho lapho okwakulomuzi wakhe khona futhi lakuleyondawo wayesahlulela abako-Israyeli. Wakhela uJehova i-alithare+ khonapho eRama.

8 USamuyeli wathi eseluphele wabeka amadodana akhe ukuthi abe ngabahluleli bako-Israyeli. 2 Indodana yakhe elizibulo kwakuthiwa nguJoweli, eyesibili kungu-Abhija.+ Amadodana kaSamuyeli ayesahlulela eBheri-shebha, 3 kodwa awazange alandele isibonelo sakhe. Ayethanda ukuthola inzuzo ngobuqili,+ evuma ukufunjathiswa+ futhi esahlulela kubi.+

4 Ngemva kwesikhathi bonke abadala bako-Israyeli babuthana ndawonye basebesiya kuSamuyeli eRama. 5 Bafika bathi kuye: “Wena usuluphele futhi amadodana akho awasilandeli isibonelo sakho. Yikho sibekele inkosi ezasahlulela sifanane lazo zonke izizwe.”+ 6 Kodwa uSamuyeli kathokozanga lapho ebezwa besithi, “Siphe inkosi ezasahlulela.” Ngakho wathandaza kuJehova, 7 uJehova wasesithi kuye: “Lalela konke abantu abakutshela khona ngoba abalahlanga wena kodwa balahle mina, bala ukuthi ngibe yinkosi yabo.+ 8 Abakwenza khathesi yikho ababehlala bekwenza kusukela ngelanga engabakhipha ngalo eGibhithe. Baqhubeka bengihlamukela+ bekhonza abanye onkulunkulu.+ Lokhu yikho asebekwenza lakuwe. 9 Yikho wena balalele kodwa ubaxwayise kakhulu, ubatshele lokho inkosi ezababusa elelungelo lokukwenza.”

10 Ngakho uSamuyeli watshela abantu ababecela inkosi konke okwakukhulunywe nguJehova, 11 wathi: “Nanku lokho inkosi ezalibusa elelungelo lokukwenza:+ Izathatha amadodana enu+ iwasebenzise ezinqoleni zayo zempi+ futhi iwenze abagadi bamabhiza ayo.+ Amanye amadodana enu azagijima phambi kwezinqola zayo zempi. 12 Izabeka izinduna zezinkulungwane+ lezinduna zamatshumi amahlanu.+ Amanye amadodana enu azasebenza ukulima+ lokuvuna emasimini ayo+ njalo amanye azasebenza ukwenza izikhali zayo zempi lezinto eziyabe zisetshenziswa ezinqoleni zayo zempi.+ 13 Izathatha amadodakazi enu iwenze abapheki bokudla, labapheki bezinkwa,+ labenzi bamafutha okugcoba.* 14 Izathatha amasimu enu avundileyo, lamasimu enu amagilebisi lawama-oliva,+ ikunike izisebenzi zayo. 15 Izathatha okwetshumi kwamabele eliwathole emasimini enu lokwamasimu enu amagilebisi, ikunike iziphathamandla zayo zesigodlweni lezisebenzi zayo. 16 Izathatha izinceku lezincekukazi zenu, lenkomo zenu elizithembileyo kanye labobabhemi benu ibasebenzise emisebenzini yayo.+ 17 Izathatha okwetshumi kwemihlambi yenu+ futhi lina lizakuba yizisebenzi zayo. 18 Lizafika ilanga lapho elizakhala khona ngenkosi elizikhethele yona+ kodwa uJehova kasoze aliphendule.”

19 Kodwa abantu bala ukulalela lokho uSamuyeli ayebatshela khona bathi: “Hatshi, thina sizimisele ukuthi sibe lenkosi ezasibusa. 20 Singaba lenkosi siyabe sesifanana lazo zonke ezinye izizwe. Inkosi yethu izasahlulela futhi isikhokhele, iphinde ilwe lezitha zethu.” 21 USamuyeli wathi esewazwile wonke amazwi ayekhulunywa ngabantu, wawabika wonke kuJehova enjengoba enjalo. 22 UJehova wathi kuSamuyeli: “Balalele, ubeke inkosi ezababusa.”+ Ngakho uSamuyeli watshela amadoda ako-Israyeli wathi: “Ngamunye wenu kabuyele edolobheni lakibo.”

9 Kwakulendoda yakoBhenjamini okwakuthiwa nguKhishi.+ Yayizalwa ngu-Abhiyeli indodana kaZerori, indodana kaBhekhorathi, indodana ka-Afiya. Yayingeyesizwana sakoBhenjamini+ futhi yayinothe kakhulu. 2 Yayilendodana eyayiseselijaha okwakuthiwa nguSawuli.+ USawuli wayemuhle kulawo wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli futhi emude kulabo bonke abantu, kakho owayesedlula emahlombe akhe.

3 Kwathi obabhemi* bakaKhishi uyise kaSawuli belahlekile, uKhishi wathi kuSawuli indodana yakhe: “Ngicela uthathe esinye isisebenzi lihambe liyedinga obabhemi.” 4 Badabula phakathi kwezintaba zako-Efrayimi lasesabelweni seShalisha kodwa abazange babathole. Bahamba wonke umango weShalima kodwa babengekho lalapho. Baqhubeka bedinga kulo lonke ilizwe lakoBhenjamini kodwa abazange babathole.

5 Bahamba baze bayafika esabelweni saseZufi, uSawuli wasesithi esisebenzini esasilaye: “Asibuyele ukuze ubaba angacini esekhathazeka ngathi kulokuthi akhathazeke ngabobabhemi.”+ 6 Kodwa isisebenzi saphendula sathi: “Kulomuntu kaNkulunkulu edolobheni leli. Uyahlonitshwa kakhulu futhi konke akukhulumayo kuyenzakala loba sekutheni.+ Asiye kuye, engxenye angasitshela ukuthi singabathola ngaphi obabhemi.” 7 USawuli wasesithi esisebenzini: “Nxa singaya khona sizafika simnikani lowomuntu? Asilasinkwa ezikhwameni zethu futhi asilasipho esingamphathela sona umuntu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Kukhona yini esilakho?” 8 Isisebenzi saphendula uSawuli sathi: “Ngilesiliva esiyingxenye yesine yeshekheli.* Ngizasinika umuntu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso abesesitshela ukuthi singabathola ngaphi obabhemi.” 9 (Kudala ko-Israyeli kwakusithi nxa umuntu esiyabuza kuNkulunkulu athi: “Asihambe siyebona umboni.”*+ Phela umuntu osebizwa ngokuthi ngumphrofethi lamuhla wayebizwa ngokuthi ngumboni ngalezonsuku.) 10 USawuli wasesithi esisebenzini esasilaye: “Okutshoyo kuzwakala kukuhle. Asiye kuye.” Yikho basuka baya edolobheni lapho umuntu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso ayekhona.

11 Bathi beqansa besiya edolobheni bahlangana lamantombazana ayesiya kukha amanzi. Bawabuza bathi: “Umboni+ ulapha yini?” 12 Amantombazana aphendula athi: “Ye ukhona, uphambi kwenu nje khonapho. Mlandeleni masinyane ngoba lamuhla uze edolobheni ngenxa yokuthi abantu benza umhlatshelo+ endaweni ephakemeyo.+ 13 Lizathi lifika nje edolobheni lihle limbone engakayikudla endaweni ephakemeyo. Abantu abasoze badle engakafiki ngoba nguye othandazela umhlatshelo. Nxa esekwenzile lokho, abanxusiweyo sebengadla. Yikho hambani khathesi lizamthola.” 14 Baqansa-ke baya edolobheni. Bathi befika uSamuyeli wabahlangabeza ukuze ahambe labo endaweni ephakemeyo.

15 Ngayizolo kwakhona uSawuli engakafiki, uJehova wayetshele uSamuyeli wathi: 16 “Kusasa ngezikhathi zonalezi ngizathumela kuwe indoda yakoBhenjamini.+ Kumele uyigcobe ukuthi ibe ngumkhokheli wabantu bami bako-Israyeli.+ Izakhulula abantu bami ezandleni zamaFilisti ngoba sengibubonile ubunzima abaphakathi kwabo futhi sengikuzwile ukukhala kwabo.”+ 17 USamuyeli wathi ebona uSawuli, uJehova wathi kuye: “Nansi indoda ebengikutshela ngayo ngisithi, ‘Yiyo ezabusa abantu bami.’”+

18 USawuli walanda uSamuyeli egedini wafika wathi: “Ngicela ukubuza ukuthi indlu yomboni ingaphi.” 19 USamuyeli waphendula uSawuli wathi: “Yimi umboni. Hamba phambi kwami uye endaweni ephakemeyo. Lamuhla lizakudla lami.+ Uzahamba ekuseni futhi mina ngizakutshela konke ofuna ukukwazi.* 20 Obabhemi abalahleke ensukwini ezintathu ezidlulileyo+ sebetholakele, lingasazikhathazi ngabo. Kanti konke okuhle okuko-Israyeli ayisikho kwakho yini wena lemuli kayihlo?”+ 21 Kodwa uSawuli waphendula wathi: “Mina ngingowakoBhenjamini isizwana esincane kulazo zonke izizwana zako-Israyeli+ futhi imuli yangakithi incane kakhulu kulezinye imuli zakoBhenjamini. Manje kungani usitsho njalo kimi?”

22 USamuyeli wathatha uSawuli lesisebenzi ayehamba laso waya labo ewolu yokudlela, wafika wabahlalisa endaweni yabanxusiweyo. Wabapha indawo engcono kulazo zonke. Kwakulamadoda angaba ngu-30. 23 USamuyeli wathi kulowo owayepheka: “Letha inyama leyana engikuphe yona ngathi uyibeke eceleni.” 24 Owayepheka wathatha umlenze lokwakuphezu kwawo wafika wakuthi qithi phambi kukaSawuli. USamuyeli wasesithi: “Nanku ebesikugcinele khona. Dlana ngoba bekugcinelwe wena ukuthi ukudle ngalesisikhathi. Bengivele ngibatshelile ukuthi ngizakuba labantu bemzini.” Ngakho ngalelolanga uSawuli wadla loSamuyeli. 25 Ngemva kwalokho basuka endaweni ephakemeyo+ baya edolobheni. USamuyeli waqhubeka ekhuluma loSawuli besephahleni lwendlu. 26 Bavuka ekuseni kakhulu futhi ilanga lathi selisiyaphuma uSamuyeli wabiza uSawuli owayesephahleni lwendlu wathi: “Lunga ngikuphelekezele.” Ngakho uSawuli walungiselela ukuhamba, wasephuma loSamuyeli. 27 Bathi besehla bephuma edolobheni uSamuyeli wathi kuSawuli: “Tshela isisebenzi+ sidlule siye phambili.” Ngakho isisebenzi sadlula saya phambili. USamuyeli wasesithi: “Wena mana lapha ngikutshele ilizwi elivela kuNkulunkulu.”

10 USamuyeli wathatha imbodlela yamafutha wawathela ekhanda likaSawuli,+ wasemqabuza wathi: “UJehova usekugcobile ukuthi ube ngumkhokheli+ wabantu bakhe.+ 2 Nxa usuka lapha lamuhla uzathola amadoda amabili eduze lethuna likaRasheli+ eZeliza, elizweni lakoBhenjamini. Azakuthi kuwe: ‘Obabhemi obuyebadinga sebetholakele. Kodwa khathesi uyihlo usekhohliwe ngabobabhemi,+ usekhathazeke ngani. Uthi: “Ngizakwenza njani ngendodana yami?”’ 3 Ungasuka lapho uzahamba uze uyefika esihlahleni esikhulu seThabhori. Lapho uzahlangana lamadoda amathathu esiya kuNkulunkulu weqiniso eBhetheli.+ Omunye uzabe ethwele amazinyane embuzi amathathu, omunye ethwele izinkwa ezintathu njalo omunye ethwele imbiza enkulu yewayini. 4 Bazakubingelela bakubuze impilo besebekunika izinkwa ezimbili. Kumele uzithathe izinkwa lezo. 5 Uzasuka lapho uhambe uze uyefika eqaqeni lukaNkulunkulu weqiniso lapho okuleqembu lamabutho amaFilisti. Uzakuthi usufikile edolobheni uhlangane leqembu labaphrofethi livela endaweni ephakemeyo behamba bephrofetha. Phambi kwabo kuzabe kulabantu abatshaya iziginci, lamathamborini, lamafluthi kanye lamahabhu.* 6 Umoya kaJehova uzakwehlela phezu kwakho+ futhi wena uzaphrofetha labo, utshintshe ube angathi ungomunye umuntu.+ 7 Nxa izibonakaliso lezi sezigcwalisekile, wenze loba yini oyenelisayo ngoba uNkulunkulu weqiniso ulawe. 8 Ngemva kwalokho kumele uye eGiligali.+ Mina ngizakulandela ngizonikela imihlatshelo yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo yobudlelwano. Kumele ulinde okwamalanga ayisikhombisa ngize ngifike, besengikutshela lokho okumele ukwenze.”

9 USawuli wathi esanda nje kutshibilika esuka kuSamuyeli, uNkulunkulu waqalisa ukutshintsha inhliziyo yakhe yaba njengeyomunye umuntu, futhi zonke izibonakaliso lezi zagcwaliseka ngalelolanga. 10 Ngakho uSawuli lesisebenzi ayehamba laso basuka lapho baya eqaqeni njalo bahlangana leqembu labaphrofethi. Umoya kaNkulunkulu wahle wehlela phezu kwakhe wamnika amandla,+ laye waqalisa ukuphrofetha.+ 11 Bonke ababemazi bathi bembona ephrofetha labaphrofethi babuzana bathi: “Kuyini okwenzakale endodaneni kaKhishi? Kanti uSawuli laye ngumphrofethi?” 12 Enye indoda eyayihlala lapho yathi: “Uyise walaba yena ngubani?” Ngakho kwahle kwaba lesitsho esithi: “Kanti uSawuli laye ngumphrofethi?”+

13 USawuli wathi eseqedile ukuphrofetha waya endaweni ephakemeyo. 14 Umfowabo kayise wathi kuye lasesisebenzini ayehambe laso: “Beliye ngaphi?” USawuli waphendula wathi: “Besiyedinga obabhemi+ kodwa asibatholanga, yikho sisuke saya kuSamuyeli.” 15 Umfowabo kayise wasesithi kuye: “Ngicela ungitshele ukuthi uSamuyeli utheni kuwe.” 16 USawuli wasephendula wathi: “Usitshele ukuthi obabhemi sebetholakele.” Kodwa kazange amtshele ukuthi uSamuyeli wayethe uzakuba yinkosi.

17 USamuyeli wabuthanisa abantu bako-Israyeli ndawonye phambi kukaJehova eMizipha,+ 18 wasesithi kubo: “Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: ‘Yimi engalikhipha eGibhithe ngalikhulula esandleni sabantu baseGibhithe+ lakuyo yonke imibuso eyayilithwalise nzima. 19 Kodwa lamuhla limtshiyile uNkulunkulu wenu+ owayelikhulula kuzo zonke izingozi lasekuhluphekeni, lathi: “Thina sifuna usinike inkosi ezasibusa.” Ngakho manini phambi kukaJehova ngezizwana zenu langosendo lwenu.’”*

20 USamuyeli wathi zonke izizwana zako-Israyeli zisondele eduze,+ kwasekukhethwa isizwana sakoBhenjamini.+ 21 Ngemva kwalokho wathi abantu besizwana sakoBhenjamini basondele eduze ngezimuli zabo kwasekukhethwa imuli yakoMathiri. Ekucineni kwakhethwa uSawuli indodana kaKhishi.+ Kodwa bathi sebemdinga abazange bamthole. 22 Ngakho babuza uJehova+ bathi: “Usefikile yini lapha?” UJehova waphendula wathi: “Ye ukhona, nanguyana ucatshe empahleni.” 23 Yikho-ke bagijima bayamthatha babuya laye. Wathi esemi phakathi kwabantu, wayemude kulabo bonke, kakho owayesedlula emahlombe akhe.+ 24 USamuyeli wakhuluma labantu bonke wathi: “Liyambona yini lowo okhethwe nguJehova?+ Kakho onjengaye phakathi kwabo bonke abantu.” Bonke bamemeza bathi: “Kayibe lempilo ende inkosi!”

25 USamuyeli watshela abantu ngamalungelo amakhosi+ wasewabhala ebhukwini, walibeka phambi kukaJehova. Ngemva kwalokho wathi bonke abantu bahambe, futhi bonke babuyela emizini yabo. 26 USawuli laye waya kibo eGibheya, ehamba lamabutho uJehova ayethinte inhliziyo zawo. 27 Kodwa amanye amadoda angelancedo athi: “Umuntu yena lo uzasisindisa njani?”+ Ameyisa njalo awazange amnike isipho,+ kodwa yena kazange atsho lutho.

11 UNahashi um-Amoni+ wabuya wazomisa inkamba yakhe efuna ukulwa leJabheshi+ yaseGiliyadi. Wonke amadoda eJabheshi akhuluma loNahashi athi: “Yenza isivumelwano lathi sibe zinceku zakho.” 2 UNahashi um-Amoni wabaphendula wathi: “Ngizakwenza isivumelwano lani nxa lingavuma ukuthi lonke ngilikhuphe amehlo akwesokudla. Lokho ngiyabe ngikwenzela ukuyangisa wonke u-Israyeli.” 3 Abadala beJabheshi bamphendula bathi: “Siphe amalanga ayisikhombisa ukuze sithume izithunywa kulo lonke ilizwe lako-Israyeli. Nxa engekho ongasilamulela sizazinikela kuwe.” 4 Ngemva kwesikhathi izithunywa zafika eGibheya+ kaSawuli zatshela abantu konke lokhu. Abantu bonke basiqhinqa isililo.

5 USawuli wayevela kwelusa emadlelweni eqhuba umhlambi wenkomo. Wafika wathi: “Kanti kwenzenjani? Abantu bakhalelani?” Yikho bamtshela umbiko owawuze lamadoda eJabheshi. 6 USawuli wathi esizwa umbiko lo umoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe wamnika amandla.+ USawuli wazonda wabila 7 wasethatha inkunzi ezimbili waziqumaquma wazithumela ngezithunywa kulo lonke ilizwe lako-Israyeli. Izithunywa zazihamba zisithi: “Lokhu yikho okuzakwenziwa inkomo zomuntu ongasoze alandele uSawuli loSamuyeli!” Abantu bamesaba uJehova baphuma baya empini belenhloso eyodwa. 8 USawuli wababala eBhezekhi, kwatholakala ukuthi kwakulamadoda ako-Israyeli angu-300 000 lamadoda akoJuda angu-30 000. 9 Batshela izithunywa ezazivela eJabheshi bathi: “Hambani liyetshela amadoda eJabheshi yaseGiliyadi ukuthi sizawalamulela kusasa ilanga selikhwelile.” Yikho izithunywa zahamba zayabikela amadoda eJabheshi futhi athokoza kakhulu. 10 Amadoda eJabheshi asetshela uNahashi athi: “Kusasa sizazinikela kuwe usenze loba yini oyibona ilungile.”+

11 Ngelanga elilandelayo uSawuli wehlukanisa amadoda aba ngamaqembu amathathu. Bahamba bayangena enkambeni yama-Amoni ngomlindo wekuseni,* bafika babulala ama-Amoni+ ilanga laze latshisa. Ama-Amoni asalayo asabalala yonke indawo njalo ngamunye wabaleka eyedwa. 12 Ngemva kwalokho abantu bathi kuSamuyeli: “Bangaphi abantu ababesithi, ‘Kambe uSawuli angaba yinkosi yethu?’+ Baletheni lapha sibabulale.” 13 Kodwa uSawuli wathi: “Akulamuntu okumele abulawe lamuhla+ ngoba uJehova ukhulule abantu bako-Israyeli.”

14 Ngemva kwesikhathi uSamuyeli watshela abantu wathi: “Asihambeni eGiligali+ siyeqinisa ubukhosi bukaSawuli.”+ 15 Ngakho bonke abantu baya eGiligali bafika babeka uSawuli ukuba yinkosi phambi kukaJehova. Ngemva kwalokho banikela imihlatshelo yobudlelwano phambi kukaJehova+ futhi uSawuli labo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bathokoza kakhulu.+

12 Ekucineni uSamuyeli wakhuluma labantu bonke bako-Israyeli wathi: “Sengikwenzile konke elikucelileyo,* ngabeka inkosi ezalibusa.+ 2 Nansi inkosi ezalikhokhela!*+ Mina sengiluphele, lenwele sezimhlophe futhi amadodana ami akhona phakathi kwenu.+ Ngilikhokhele kusukela ngisesemutsha kwaze kwaba lamuhla.+ 3 Njengoba ngilapha, ngicela lifakaze phambi kukaJehova logcotshiweyo wakhe:+ Ngubani engake ngamthathela inkomo loba ubabhemi wakhe?+ Ngubani engamthathela impahla yakhe kumbe engake ngamcindezela? Ngubani owake wangifumbathisa ukuze ngahlulele kubi?+ Nxa kuyikuthi lokhu ngakwenza ngizalibuyisela izinto zenu.”+ 4 Abantu baphendula bathi: “Awuzange usithathele impahla yethu futhi awuzange usicindezele njalo wawungavumi ngitsho lokufunjathiswa.” 5 Ngakho wathi kubo: “UJehova ungufakazi kini, logcotshiweyo wakhe ungufakazi lamuhla wokuthi akulalutho engalwenzayo elingangisola ngalo.” Bona baphendula bathi: “Ye ungufakazi.”

6 USamuyeli wasesithi ebantwini: “UJehova owasebenzisa uMosi lo-Aroni futhi owakhipha okhokho benu elizweni laseGibhithe+ ungufakazi. 7 Khathesi sondelani lapha ngilahlulele phambi kukaJehova ngenxa yakho konke okuhle uJehova akwenzela okhokho benu kanye lani.

8 “UJakhobe wasuka waya eGibhithe.+ Ngemva kwesikhathi okhokho benu baqalisa ukubiza uJehova becela uncedo.+ UJehova wahle wathuma uMosi+ lo-Aroni ukuthi babakhokhele babakhiphe eGibhithe bazobahlalisa endaweni le.+ 9 Kodwa bamkhohlwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, wasebanikela+ esandleni sikaSisera+ owayeyinduna yebutho laseHazori. Wabanikela lasesandleni samaFilisti+ lasenkosini yakoMowabi+ futhi balwa labo. 10 Babiza uJehova becela uncedo+ bathi, ‘Sonile+ ngoba sitshiye uJehova sakhonza izithombe zikaBhali+ lezika-Ashithorethi.+ Ngakho sicela usikhulule esandleni sezitha zethu ukuze sikukhonze.’ 11 UJehova wasethuma uJerubhali,+ loBhedani, loJeftha,+ loSamuyeli+ balikhulula ezitheni zonke ezaziligombolozele ukuze lihlale livikelekile.+ 12 Lanxa uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu eyiNkosi yenu,+ lina lathi libona uNahashi+ inkosi yama-Amoni esezolihlasela laqhubeka lisithi kimi, ‘Hatshi, thina sizimisele ukuthi sibe lenkosi ezasibusa!’+ 13 Nansi inkosi elaliyifuna, leyo elayicelayo. UJehova usebeke inkosi ezalibusa.+ 14 Nxa kuyikuthi lizamesaba uJehova+ limkhonze,+ lilalele lelizwi lakhe+ njalo lina lenkosi yenu elibusayo lilandele uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, lingahlamuki emthethweni kaJehova, kulungile. 15 Kodwa nxa lingayekela ukulalela ilizwi likaJehova njalo litshiye umthetho kaJehova, uJehova uzalijezisa lina laboyihlo.+ 16 Ngakho sukumani libone isimanga uJehova azasenza phambi kwamehlo enu. 17 Kanti lamuhla ayisilolanga lokuvuna ingqoloyi yini? Ngizabiza uJehova ngimcele enze kube lomdumo njalo kune izulu. Lapho-ke lizakwazi njalo lizwisise ukuthi lenze into embi kakhulu phambi kukaJehova ngokucela inkosi ezalibusa.”+

18 Ngakho uSamuyeli wabiza uJehova, uJehova wenza kwaba lomdumo futhi izulu lana ngalelolanga. Yikho abantu bonke bamesaba kakhulu uJehova loSamuyeli. 19 Bathi kuSamuyeli: “Thandazela izinceku zakho kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho+ ngoba asifuni ukufa. Singezelele izono zethu, senza into embi ngokucela inkosi.”

20 Ngakho uSamuyeli wathi ebantwini: “Lingesabi. Okubi likwenzile sibili, kodwa lingamtshiyi uJehova.+ Mkhonzeni ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova.+ 21 Lingaphambuki beselilandela onkulunkulu bamanga+ abangelancedo+ njalo abangeke balilamulele ngoba bayiziphamaso. 22 UJehova kasoze abalahle abantu bakhe+ ngenxa yebizo lakhe elikhulu.+ UJehova ukhethe ukuthi alenze libe ngabantu bakhe.+ 23 Mina angisoze ngone kuJehova ngokuyekela ukulithandazela. Ngizaqhubeka ngilifundisa indlela elungileyo leqondileyo. 24 Lina yesabani uJehova+ limkhonze ngenhliziyo yonke lithembekile,* licabange izinto ezimangalisayo alenzele zona.+ 25 Kodwa lingaphikelela lisenza okubi, lina lenkosi yenu+ lizathanyelwa liphele du.”+

13 USawuli wayeleminyaka engu . . .* ngesikhathi esiba yinkosi+ futhi wabusa ko-Israyeli okweminyaka emibili. 2 USawuli wakhetha amadoda angu-3 000 ko-Israyeli. Angu-2 000 ayeloSawuli eMikhimashi lasezintabeni zaseBhetheli, angu-1 000 eloJonathani+ eGibheya+ yakoBhenjamini. USawuli wathi bonke abanye babuyele emizini yabo. 3 Ngemva kwalokho uJonathani wahlasela iqembu lamabutho amaFilisti+ elaliseGebha+ walinqoba, njalo amaFilisti akuzwa lokho. USawuli wathi akutshaywe uphondo+ kulo lonke elako-Israyeli kuthiwe: “MaHebheru zwanini!” 4 Bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bezwa ukuthi uSawuli uhlasele iqembu lebutho lamaFilisti walinqoba lokuthi ama-Filisti ayesebazonda kakhulu abako-Israyeli. Ngakho abantu babizwa ukuze balandele uSawuli eGiligali.+

5 AmaFilisti lawo abuthana ukuze alwe labako-Israyeli. Ayelezinqola zempi ezingu-30 000 labagadi bamabhiza abangu-6 000 kanye lamabutho amanengi angathi litshebetshebe ekhunjini lolwandle.+ AmaFilisti amisa inkamba yawo eMikhimashi empumalanga kweBhethi-aveni.+ 6 Amadoda ako-Israyeli abona ukuthi ayesebunzimeni ngoba umumo wawumubi kakhulu. Yikho acatsha ezimbalwini,+ lasemilindini, lasemagodini, lasemadwaleni, lasemigodini yamanzi. 7 Amanye amaHebheru aze achapha umfula uJodani aya elizweni lakoGadi lelizweni leGiliyadi.+ USawuli yena wayelokhu eseGiligali njalo bonke abantu ababemlandela babeqhuqha ngenxa yokwesaba. 8 USawuli waqhubeka elindile eGiligali okwamalanga ayisikhombisa kwaze kwaba yisikhathi esasibekwe nguSamuyeli. Kodwa uSamuyeli wayelokhu engakafiki futhi abantu baqalisa ukumtshiya uSawuli. 9 Yikho uSawuli wacina esithi: “Lethani umhlatshelo wokutshiswa lemihlatshelo yobudlelwano.” Wasenikela umhlatshelo wokutshiswa.+

10 Wathi esanda kuqeda ukunikela umhlatshelo wokutshiswa, uSamuyeli wafika. Ngakho uSawuli wasuka wamhlangabeza njalo wambingelela.* 11 USamuyeli wambuza wathi: “Kuyini lokhu okwenzileyo?” USawuli waphendula wathi: “Ngibone abantu sebengitshiya+ futhi lawe awufikanga ngesikhathi esibekiweyo. AmaFilisti lawo abesebuthana eMikhimashi.+ 12 Yikho ngizitshele ngathi, ‘Khathesi amaFilisti azabuya angihlasele eGiligali, mina ngingakaceli uJehova ukuthi angincedise.’ Bekungasela okunye engingakwenza ngaphandle kokuthi nginikele umhlatshelo wokutshiswa.”

13 Ngakho uSamuyeli wathi kuSawuli: “Wenze ubuthutha. Awuzange ulalele umlayo owuphiwe nguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.+ Aluba ubuwulalele, uJehova ubezakwenza umbuso wakho uhlale kokuphela ko-Israyeli. 14 Kodwa khathesi umbuso wakho awusoze uhlale isikhathi eside.+ UJehova uzadinga umuntu othokozisa inhliziyo yakhe+ njalo uJehova uzambeka ukuthi abe ngumkhokheli wabantu bakhe,+ ngoba wena awuzange ulalele lokho uJehova akutshele khona.”+

15 Ngemva kwalokho uSamuyeli wasuka eGiligali waya eGibheya yakoBhenjamini. USawuli wabala abantu ababelokhu belaye, kwatholakala ukuthi kwakulamadoda angaba ngu-600.+ 16 USawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani labantu ababelabo babehlala eGebha+ yakoBhenjamini. AmaFilisti wona ayemise inkamba yawo eMikhimashi.+ 17 Kwakulamaqembu amathathu amaFilisti ayephuma esiyahlasela. Elinye laliphuma ngomgwaqo we-Ofira lisiya elizweni leShuwali, 18 elinye liphume ngomgwaqo weBhethi-horoni.+ Elesithathu lona laliphuma ngomgwaqo owawuqonda emngceleni okhangelane lesigodi saseZebhoyimi lisiya enkangala.

19 Kwakungelamuntu owayengumkhandi wensimbi kulo lonke ilizwe lako-Israyeli ngoba amaFilisti ayethe: “Asifuni ukuthi amaHebheru akhande izinkemba lemikhonto.” 20 Yikho ama-Israyeli kwakumele aye kumaFilisti ukuze alolelwe amahloka, lamakhuba, lamamatoki* kanye lamasikela. 21 Umuntu wayebhadala iphimu* nxa efuna ukulolelwa ikhuba, imatoki, ihloka kumbe ifologwe elamazinyo amathathu loba nxa efuna ukulungisa izinciji.* 22 Ngelanga lokulwa akula ngitsho loyedwa ebantwini ababeloSawuli loJonathani+ owayelenkemba kumbe umkhonto. USawuli lendodana yakhe uJonathani yibo bodwa ababelezikhali.

23 Elinye iqembu lamaFilisti laliphumile laya endleleni eyayidlula esihotsheni seMikhimashi.+

14 Ngelinye ilanga uJonathani+ indodana kaSawuli wathi encekwini eyayithwala izikhali zakhe: “Asichaphe siye emabuthweni amaFilisti angaphetsheya.” Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise. 2 USawuli wayehlala emaphethelweni eGibheya+ ngaphansi kwesihlahla samaharinathi eMigironi. Wayelamadoda angaba ngu-600.+ 3 (U-Ahija indodana ka-Ahithubi+ umfowabo ka-Ikhabhodi+ indodana kaFiniyasi,+ indodana ka-Eli+ owayengumphristi kaJehova eShilo,+ nguye owayethwala i-efodi.)+ Abantu babengakwazi ukuthi uJonathani uhambile. 4 Indlela uJonathani ayefuna ukudlula ngayo ayefika emabuthweni amaFilisti yayiphahlwe ngamadwala amakhulu anjengamazinyo. Elinye lalibizwa ngokuthi yiBhozezi, elinye kuthiwa yiSene. 5 Elinye idwala lalisenyakatho futhi lalimi njengensika likhangele eMikhimashi, elinye liseningizimu likhangele eGebha.+

6 UJonathani wathi encekwini eyayimthwalela izikhali: “Asichaphe siye enkambeni yamadoda la angasokanga,+ engxenye uJehova uzasincedisa ngoba akulanto engavimba uJehova ukuthi asindise ngabanengi kumbe ngabalutshwana.”+ 7 Inceku eyayimthwalela izikhali yaphendula yathi: “Yenza loba yini efunwa yinhliziyo yakho. Yana loba ngaphi ofuna ukuya khona, mina ngizakulandela lapho inhliziyo yakho ethi uye khona.” 8 UJonathani wasesithi: “Sizachapha siye emadodeni lawana sivele phambi kwawo ukuze asibone. 9 Nxa angathi kithi, ‘Manini khonapho size sifike kini,’ sizakuma lapho esiyabe sikhona singawalandi. 10 Kodwa nxa angathi, ‘Buyani lizokulwa lathi,’ sizahamba ngoba lokhu kuyabe kutshengisa+ ukuthi uJehova uzawanikela ezandleni zethu.”

11 Yikho bobabili baziveza emabuthweni amaFilisti. AmaFilisti athi: “Khangelani amaHebheru asephuma emilindini abecatshe kuyo.”+ 12 Amabutho amaFilisti athi kuJonathani lenceku eyayimthwalela izikhali: “Buyani lapha silifundise isifundo!”+ UJonathani wahle wathi encekwini eyayimthwalela izikhali: “Ngilandela ngoba uJehova uzabanikela esandleni sama-Israyeli.”+ 13 UJonathani wasekhwela eliweni ebambelela ngezandla, inceku eyayimthwalela izikhali imlandela. Waqalisa ukuwahlasela amaFilisti futhi inceku yakhe yayiwaqedisa ngemva kwakhe. 14 UJonathani lenceku eyayimthwalela izikhali bathi beqalisa ukuhlasela babulala amadoda angaba ngu-20 endaweni engalingana lobude bengxenye ye-ekha.*

15 Amabutho ayesenkambeni lalawo ayeseliweni esaba kakhulu, kwethuka lamaqembu amabutho ayephuma esiyahlasela kwezinye indawo.+ Umhlaba waqalisa ukuzamazama njalo uNkulunkulu wenza wonke amaFilisti athuthumela. 16 Abalindi bakaSawuli ababeseGibheya+ yakoBhenjamini babona ukuthi kwasekuloxokozela kuyo yonke inkamba yamaFilisti.+

17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye: “Ngicela libale abantu libone ukuthi ngubani ongekho.” Bababala, bananzelela ukuthi uJonathani lenceku eyayimthwalela izikhali yibo ababengekho. 18 USawuli wasesithi ku-Ahija:+ “Sondela lapha lebhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso!” (Ngalesosikhathi* ibhokisi likaNkulunkulu weqiniso lalisebantwini bako-Israyeli.) 19 Ngesikhathi uSawuli ekhuluma lomphristi, umsindo wokuxokozela enkambeni yamaFilisti wawulokhu ukhula. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kumphristi: “Mana.”* 20 USawuli labantu ababelaye baqoqana bayakulwa lamaFilisti. Bathi befika bathola amaFilisti ebulalana wodwa futhi kulokuxokozela okukhulu. 21 LamaHebheru ayekade esekela amaFilisti futhi ayesenkambeni yawo aqala ukuwahlamukela amaFilisti, aya ebuthweni lama-Israyeli elalikhokhelwa nguSawuli loJonathani. 22 Wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli ayecatshe+ ezintabeni zako-Efrayimi ezwa ukuthi amaFilisti ayesebaleka, yikho lawo aphuma awaxotshanisa. 23 UJehova wabakhulula abako-Israyeli ngalelolanga+ futhi balwa baze bayafika eBhethi-aveni.+

24 Kodwa ngalelolanga amadoda ako-Israyeli alwa aze aphela amandla ngoba uSawuli wayefungise abantu wathi: “Uqalekisiwe umuntu ozakudla loba yini ilanga lingakatshoni futhi ngingakaphindiseli ezitheni zami!” Ngakho akulamuntu owafaka ulutho emlonyeni.+

25 Wonke amabutho angena eguswini athola kuloluju phansi. 26 Abona uluju lujuluka kodwa akulamuntu owaluthatha waludla ngoba babesesaba isifungo. 27 Kodwa uJonathani wayengamzwanga uyise efungisa abantu,+ yikho welula isandla sakhe wafaka isihloko sentonga yakhe phakathi koluju wasesidla, amehlo akhe aqala ukukhazimula. 28 Omunye umuntu wathi ebona lokho wamtshela wathi: “Uyihlo ufungise abantu wabaqonqosela wathi, ‘Uqalekisiwe umuntu ozakudla loba yini lamuhla!’+ Yikho abantu sebedinwe kangaka.” 29 Kodwa uJonathani wathi: “Ubaba usidalele uhlupho olukhulu elizweni. Khangelani ukuthi amehlo ami asekhazimula njani mina ngidle uluju oluncane nje. 30 Bekuzakuba ngcono aluba abantu bebevunyelwe ukuthi badle loba yini+ abayithumbileyo ezitheni zabo. Besizabulala amaFilisti amanengi ukwedlula esikwenze lamuhla.”

31 Ngalelolanga bawabulala amaFilisti kusukela eMikhimashi baze bayafika e-Ayijaloni,+ njalo abantu badinwa kakhulu. 32 Yikho baqalisa ukuhahabela impahla ababeyithumbile. Bahlaba izimvu lenkomo lamathole bakuhlinzela emhlabathini futhi badla inyama legazi layo.+ 33 USawuli wabikelwa ukuthi abantu basebesona kuJehova ngokudla inyama legazi layo.+ USawuli wathi ekuzwa lokhu wathi: “Kalizange lithembeke. Phangisani ligiqele ilitshe elikhulu phambi kwami.” 34 USawuli wasesithi: “Sabalalani litshele abantu lithi, ‘Ngamunye wenu kumele abuye lenkunzi yakhe lemvu yakhe azoyibulalela lapha abeseyidla. Lingoni kuJehova ngokudla inyama legazi layo.’”+ Ngakho ngamunye wabo wabuya lenkunzi yakhe ngalobobusuku wazoyihlabela khonapho. 35 USawuli wakhela uJehova i-alithare.+ Leli kwakuli-alithare lokuqala alakhela uJehova.

36 USawuli wathi: “Asixotshaniseni amaFilisti ebusuku siwahlasele kuze kube sekuseni. Asisoze sitshiye loyedwa wabo ephila.” Abantu bathi: “Yenza loba yini oyibona iqondile.” Umphristi yena wathi: “Asibuzeni kuNkulunkulu weqiniso siseselapha.”+ 37 USawuli wabuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngiwaxotshanise yini amaFilisti?+ Uzawanikela yini esandleni sama-Israyeli?” Kodwa mhlalokho uNkulunkulu kazange amphendule. 38 Ngakho uSawuli wathi: “Zonke izinduna zabantu kazibuye lapha sidinge ukuthi yisono bani esenziwe lamuhla. 39 Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo okhulule abako-Israyeli, lanxa kunguJonathani indodana yami kumele afe.” Kodwa akula loyedwa owamphendulayo. 40 USawuli waqhubeka wathi ebantwini bako-Israyeli: “Lina lizakuma kwelinye icele, mina lendodana yami uJonathani sime kwelinye icele.” Abantu basebesithi kuSawuli: “Yenza loba yini oyibona iqondile.”

41 USawuli wathi kuJehova: “Awu Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, siphendule ngeThumimi!”+ IThumimi yakhetha uJonathani loSawuli, kwakhanya ukuthi abantu abalacala. 42 USawuli wasesithi: “Yenzani inkatho+ ukuze kukhanye ukuthi olecala yimi kumbe yindodana yami uJonathani.” Inkatho yadla uJonathani. 43 USawuli wasesithi kuye: “Akungitshele ukuthi wenzeni.” UJonathani wathi: “Ngithethe uluju oluncane nje ngesihloko sentonga yami ngalunambitha.+ Ngizimisele ukufa!”

44 USawuli wasesithi: “UNkulunkulu kangijezise kakhulu nxa ungasabulawanga Jonathani.”+ 45 Kodwa abantu bathi kuSawuli: “Kambe uJonathani sekumele abulawe sibili yena kunguye owenze abako-Israyeli banqoba kangaka?+ Hatshi bo! Sifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, akula lolulodwa unwele olusekhanda lakhe oluzawela emhlabathini ngoba nguNkulunkulu omncedisileyo kukho konke akwenzileyo lamuhla.”+ Abantu bamsindisa* ngaleyondlela uJonathani, yikho kazange abulawe.

46 Ngakho uSawuli wayekela ukuxotshanisa amaFilisti futhi amaFilisti abuyela elizweni lawo.

47 USawuli wawuqinisa umbuso wakhe kulo lonke elako-Israyeli futhi walwa lezitha zonke ezazimgombolozele. Walwa lamaMowabi,+ lama-Amoni,+ labako-Edomi,+ lamakhosi eZobha+ kanye lamaFilisti.+ Wayenqoba zonke izizwe ayesilwa lazo. 48 Waba lesibindi walwa lama-Amaleki+ wawanqoba, wakhulula abako-Israyeli kulabo ababebathwalise nzima.

49 Amadodana kaSawuli kwakunguJonathani lo-Ishivi loMalikhi-shuwa.+ Wayelamadodakazi amabili, endala kunguMerabi+ encane kunguMikhali.+ 50 Inkosikazi kaSawuli kwakungu-Ahinowami indodakazi ka-Ahimazi. Induna yebutho likaSawuli kwakungu-Abhineri+ indodana kaNeri umfowabo kayise kaSawuli. 51 Uyise kaSawuli kwakunguKhishi+ futhi uNeri+ uyise ka-Abhineri wayezalwa ngu-Abhiyeli.

52 Kuzo zonke insuku zikaSawuli kwakuhlala kulezimpi ezinzima phakathi kwabako-Israyeli lamaFilisti.+ USawuli wayesithi engabona loba yiphi indoda elamandla futhi elesibindi ayifake ebuthweni lakhe.+

15 USamuyeli wasesithi kuSawuli: “UJehova wangithuma ukuthi ngikugcobe ube yinkosi yabantu bakhe bako-Israyeli.+ Ngakho lalela lokho okutshiwo nguJehova.+ 2 Nanku okutshiwo nguJehova wamabutho: ‘Ngizajezisa ama-Amaleki ngenxa yalokho akwenzayo kwabako-Israyeli. Alwa labo ngesikhathi besendleleni bephuma eGibhithe.+ 3 Yikho hamba uyehlasela ama-Amaleki+ uwatshabalalise+ lakho konke okungokwawo. Uwabulale wonke+ ungatshiyi loyedwa.* Ubulale amadoda labesifazana, abantwana lensane, inkomo lezimvu, amakamela kanye labobabhemi.’”+ 4 USawuli wabiza abantu wasebabala eThelayimi. Kwakulamabutho angu-200 000 lamanye angu-10 000 ayevela koJuda.+

5 USawuli lamabutho akhe bahamba baze bayafika edolobheni lama-Amaleki, bacathama duze lesigodi. 6 USawuli watshela amaKheni+ wathi: “Sukani phakathi kwama-Amaleki ukuze ngingalitshabalalisi kanye lawo,+ ngoba laba lothando oluqotho kubo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli+ ngesikhathi bephuma eGibhithe.” Ngakho amaKheni asuka phakathi kwama-Amaleki. 7 Ngemva kwalokho uSawuli wahlasela ama-Amaleki wawabulala+ kusukela eHavila+ kusiyafika eShuri+ eduze leGibhithe. 8 Wabamba u-Agagi+ inkosi yama-Amaleki ephila, kodwa wabulala bonke abantu ngenkemba.+ 9 USawuli lamabutho akhe abambulalanga* u-Agagi futhi abazitshabalalisanga izifuyo ezinonileyo, izimvu, lenkomo, lenqama kanye lakho konke nje okwakukuhle.+ Babengafuni ukukutshabalalisa, kodwa zonke impahla ezingelancedo lalezo ababengazifuni bazitshabalalisa.

10 UJehova wasekhuluma loSamuyeli wathi: 11 “Ngiyazisola* ngokuthi ngabeka uSawuli waba yinkosi ngoba ungitshiyile wayekela ukungilandela futhi kakwenzanga lokho engimtshele khona.”+ USamuyeli wakhathazeka kakhulu njalo waqhubeka encenga uJehova ubusuku bonke.+ 12 Wathi evuka ekuseni esiyahlangana loSawuli abantu bamtshela bathi: “USawuli uye eKhameli+ futhi ufike wamisa ilitshe lakhe lesikhumbuzo.+ Uthe esuka lapho waya eGiligali.” 13 USamuyeli wathi efika kuSawuli, uSawuli wathi kuye: “Kwangathi uJehova angakubusisa. Sengikwenzile lokho uJehova angitshele khona.” 14 Kodwa uSamuyeli wamphendula wathi: “Manje umsindo wezimvu lowenkomo engiwuzwayo ngowani?”+ 15 USawuli wasesithi: “Yizifuyo ezithunjwe kuma-Amaleki, abantu abazibulalanga izimvu lenkomo ezinonileyo ukuze banikele ngazo kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. Kodwa okunye konke sikutshabalalisile.” 16 USamuyeli wasesithi kuSawuli: “Mana ngikutshele ukuthi uJehova utheni kimi izolo ebusuku.”+ USawuli wathi: “Khuluma.”

17 USamuyeli waqhubeka wathi: “Kanti ayisuwe yini owawuzibona ungasimuntu walutho+ ngesikhathi ubekwa ukuthi ube ngumkhokheli wabantu bako-Israyeli, lapho uJehova ekugcoba ukuthi ube yinkosi yabantu bako-Israyeli?+ 18 UJehova ukuthume wathi: ‘Hamba uyetshabalalisa izoni ezingama-Amaleki.+ Kumele ulwe lama-Amaleki uze uwaqede du.’+ 19 Pho kungani ungalilalelanga ilizwi likaJehova? Okwenzileyo kuphela yikuhahabela impahla,+ wenza okubi phambi kukaJehova!”

20 Kodwa uSawuli wathi kuSamuyeli: “Ngililalele ilizwi likaJehova! Ngihambile lapho uJehova abengithume khona, ngabuya lo-Agagi inkosi yama-Amaleki futhi ngatshabalalisa wonke ama-Amaleki.+ 21 Kodwa abantu bathethe izifuyo ezinone kulazo zonke obekumele zitshabalaliswe, izimvu lenkomo, ukuze bazonikela ngazo kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho eGiligali.”+

22 USamuyeli wasesithi kuye: “Kuyini okuthokozisa uJehova? Yiminikelo yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo+ yini kumbe yikulalela ilizwi likaJehova? Ukulalela kungcono kulomhlatshelo,+ lokwenza okutsheliweyo kuqakathekile kulamafutha+ ezinqama. 23 Phela ukuhlamuka+ kuyafanana lesono sokuhlahlula,+ lokuba lenkani kufanana lokwenza amasalamusi lokukhonza izithombe.* Ngenxa yokuthi walile ukulalela ilizwi likaJehova,+ laye kasafuni ukuthi uqhubeke uyinkosi.”+

24 USawuli wasesithi kuSamuyeli: “Ngonile ngoba angilalelanga umlayo kaJehova lamazwi akho, ngesabe abantu ngasengilalela abakutshoyo. 25 Ngicela ungithethelele isono sami, ubuyele lami ngiyekhothama phambi kukaJehova.”+ 26 Kodwa uSamuyeli wathi kuSawuli: “Angisoze ngibuyele lawe ngoba walile ukulalela ilizwi likaJehova, futhi uJehova kasafuni ukuthi uqhubeke uyinkosi yabantu bako-Israyeli.”+ 27 USamuyeli wathi esetshibilika esehamba, uSawuli wabamba umphetho wejazi lakhe elingelamikhono laselidabuka. 28 USamuyeli wasesithi kuye: “Lamuhla uJehova usewudabule umbuso wako-Israyeli wawususa kuwe, uzawunika omunye wabantu bakini ongcono kulawe.+ 29 UMhlonitshwa wako-Israyeli+ kaqambi manga+ futhi kasoze atshintshe ingqondo* ngoba yena kasimuntu ukuthi angatshintsha ingqondo.”*+

30 USawuli waphendula wathi: “Ngonile, kodwa ngicela ungiphe isithunzi phambi kwabadala bakithi lasebantwini bako-Israyeli. Buyela lami ngiyekhothama phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.”+ 31 Ngakho uSamuyeli wabuyela loSawuli ehamba ngemva kwakhe, futhi uSawuli wakhothama phambi kukaJehova. 32 USamuyeli wasesithi: “Lethani u-Agagi inkosi yama-Amaleki.” U-Agagi waya kuye ezihudula.* Phela yena wayesezitshele ukuthi ukufa sekumcezile. 33 Kodwa uSamuyeli wathi: “Njengoba inkemba yakho yatshiya abesifazana bengelabantwana, lonyoko uzasala engelabantwana.” USamuyeli wathi eqeda ukutsho njalo wamhlahlela u-Agagi waba yiziqa phambi kukaJehova eGiligali.+

34 USamuyeli wasesuka waya eRama, uSawuli yena waya emzini wakhe eGibheya. 35 USamuyeli wamlilela uSawuli+ njalo waze wazifela engazange aphinde ambone. UJehova wazisola ngokuthi wayebeke uSawuli ukuthi abe yinkosi yabantu bako-Israyeli.+

16 Ekucineni uJehova wathi kuSamuyeli: “Kuzaze kube nini ulokhu ulilela uSawuli,+ njengoba ngingasafuni ukuthi aqhubeke eyinkosi yabako-Israyeli?+ Gcwalisa uphondo lwakho ngamafutha+ ngikuthume. Hamba kuJese+ waseBhethilehema ngoba sengikhethe inkosi phakathi kwamadodana akhe.”+ 2 Kodwa uSamuyeli wathi: “Manje ngizahamba njani? Phela uSawuli angakuzwa lokhu uzangibulala.”+ UJehova wamphendula wathi: “Thatha ithokazi uhambe lalo ufike uthi, ‘Ngizokwenzela uJehova umhlatshelo,’ 3 ubusunxusa uJese lapho ozakwenzela khona umhlatshelo, mina ngizakutshela lokho okumele ukwenze. Kumele ugcobe lowo engizakutshengisa yena.”+

4 USamuyeli wenza lokho uJehova ayemtshele khona. Wathi efika eBhethilehema+ abadala bedolobho bamhlangabeza beqhuqha bathi kuye: “Uze ngokuhle yini?” 5 Yena wathi kubo: “Ye ngize ngokuhle. Ngizokwenzela uJehova umhlatshelo, zihlambululeni* beselibuya sinikele umhlatshelo.” Ngemva kwalokho wahlambulula* uJese lamadodana akhe wasebabiza ukuthi babuye endaweni okwakuzakwenzelwa kuyo umhlatshelo. 6 Bathi befika uSamuyeli wabona u-Eliyabi+ wasesithi: “Lo nguye sibili ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.” 7 Kodwa uJehova wathi kuSamuyeli: “Ungakhangeli isimo somzimba wakhe lobude bakhe+ ngoba angimkhethanga. Phela indlela umuntu abona ngayo ayisiyo indlela uNkulunkulu abona ngayo, ngoba umuntu ubona okungaphandle kodwa uJehova ubona okusenhliziyweni.”+ 8 UJese wasebiza u-Abhinadabi+ wamletha phambi kukaSamuyeli. Kodwa uSamuyeli wathi: “Lalo uJehova kamkhethanga.” 9 UJese waseletha uShama,+ kodwa uSamuyeli wathi: “Lalo uJehova kamkhethanga.” 10 Ngakho uJese waletha amadodana akhe ayisikhombisa phambi kukaSamuyeli, kodwa uSamuyeli wathi kuJese: “Bonke laba uJehova kabakhethanga.”

11 USamuyeli wacina esithi kuJese: “Yibo bonke abafana bakho yini laba?” UJese waphendula wathi: “Kusele omncane,+ uyekwelusa izimvu.”+ USamuyeli wasesithi kuJese: “Thuma umuntu ayembiza ngoba asisoze sidle engakafiki lapha.” 12 Wathuma umuntu ukuthi ayembiza, wasebuya laye. Wayemuhle,+ ebomvana futhi elamehlo amahle. UJehova wasesithi kuSamuyeli: “Sukuma umgcobe ngoba nguye engimkhethileyo!”+ 13 Ngakho uSamuyeli wathatha uphondo lwamafutha+ wamgcoba phambi kwabafowabo. Kusukela ngalelolanga umoya kaJehova waqalisa ukusebenza kuDavida umupha amandla.+ Ngemva kwesikhathi uSamuyeli wasuka waya eRama.+

14 Umoya kaJehova wasuka kuSawuli+ njalo uJehova wamyekela wahlutshwa yimicabango yakhe.+ 15 Izinceku zikaSawuli zathi kuye: “Khangela, uNkulunkulu usekuyekela uhlutshwa yimicabango yakho. 16 Ngakho nkosi sicela utshele izinceku zakho eziphambi kwakho ukuthi zikudingele umuntu oyingcitshi yokutshaya ihabhu.*+ Kuzakuthi nxa imicabango yakho isikuhlupha akutshayele ihabhu ukuze uzwe ngcono.” 17 Yikho uSawuli wathi ezincekwini zakhe: “Ngicela lingidingele umuntu oyingcitshi yokutshaya ihabhu limlethe lapha.”

18 Enye inceku yakhe yathi: “Kulendodana kaJese waseBhethilehema engayibonayo, iyakwazi ukutshaya ihabhu, ilesibindi futhi iliqhawe.+ Lijaha elihle,+ elikwaziyo ukukhuluma njalo loJehova ulalo.”+ 19 Ngakho uSawuli wathuma izithunywa kuJese wathi: “Ngicela ungithumele indodana yakho uDavida engumelusi wezimvu.”+ 20 Yikho uJese wathatha isinkwa lesigubhu sewayini kanye lezinyane lembuzi wakubeka phezu kukababhemi, wasekuthumela lendodana yakhe uDavida kuSawuli. 21 UDavida wafika kuSawuli waqalisa ukumsebenzela.+ USawuli wamthanda kakhulu uDavida njalo wamenza umthwali wezikhali zakhe. 22 Ngakho uSawuli wathumela ilizwi kuJese wathi: “Ngicela ukuthi uDavida aqhubeke engisebenzela ngoba ngimthandile.” 23 Kwakusithi nxa uNkulunkulu engavumela ukuthi uSawuli ahlutshwe yimicabango yakhe, uDavida athathe ihabhu alitshaye, uSawuli abesesizwa ngcono futhi ahlaliseke, lemicabango yakhe iyekele ukumhlupha.+

17 Amabutho amaFilisti+ aqoqana ukuze aye empini. Abuthana eSokho+ yakoJuda, asemisa inkamba yawo e-Efesi-damimi+ phakathi kweSokho le-Azekha.+ 2 USawuli lamadoda ako-Israyeli labo babuthana bamisa inkamba yabo esigodini se-Ela.+ Bama ngezindawo zabo balungela ukudibana lamaFilisti. 3 AmaFilisti ayesentabeni eyayikwelinye icele, ama-Israyeli wona esentabeni ekwelinye icele, kulesigodi phakathi kwabo.

4 Kwaphuma iqhawe okwakuthiwa nguGoliyathi+ enkambeni yamaFilisti. Lalidabuka eGathi+ futhi ubude balo babuzingalo eziyisithupha lobubanzi besandla.* 5 UGoliyathi wayelengwane yekhopha ekhanda futhi egqoke ijazi elalenziwe ngensimbi zekhopha ezazelekene. Ijazi lakhe lensimbi+ lalilesisindo esingamashekheli angu-5 000.* 6 Emibaleni yakhe wayegqoke okokuzivikela okwenziwe ngekhopha,* emhlane egaxe umkhonto+ wekhopha. 7 Uluthi lomkhonto wakhe lwalunjengesigodo somaluki+ futhi isihloko sawo sasilesisindo esingamashekheli angu-600.* Umphathi wehawu lakhe wayehamba phambi kwakhe. 8 UGoliyathi wama wamemeza amabutho ako-Israyeli+ wathi: “Kungani libuye ukuzokulwa lathi? Mina ngiliqhawe lamaFilisti, lina liyizinceku zikaSawuli. Khethani indoda ezabuya izokulwa lami. 9 Nxa ingalwa lami ingibulale sizakuba zinceku zenu, kodwa nxa ngingayehlula ngiyibulale, yini elizakuba zinceku zethu lisisebenzele.” 10 UmFilisti waqhubeka wathi: “Ngiyaleyisa ibutho lako-Israyeli+ lamuhla. Ngiphani umuntu engizakulwa laye!”

11 USawuli labo bonke abako-Israyeli bathi besizwa amazwi omFilisti besaba bathuthumela.

12 UDavida wayeyindodana kaJese wase-Efratha,+ eBhethilehema+ yakoJuda. UJese+ wayelamadodana angu-8+ futhi ngensuku zikaSawuli wayesegugile. 13 Amadodana kaJese amathathu amadala ayehambe loSawuli empini.+ Izibulo kwakungu-Eliyabi,+ eyesibili kungu-Abhinadabi,+ eyesithathu kunguShama.+ 14 UDavida nguye owayemncane.+ Amadodana amadala kaJese yiwo ayehambe loSawuli.

15 UDavida wayeke asuke kuSawuli ayekwelusa izimvu+ zikayise eBhethilehema aphinde abuyele. 16 Ngalezonsuku umFilisti wayebuya ekuseni lantambama azokuma enkundleni yempi. Lokhu wakwenza okwamalanga angu-40.

17 UJese wathi kuDavida indodana yakhe: “Ngicela uthathe i-efa* yamabele akhanzingiweyo lezinkwa lezi ezilitshumi uhambe lazo kubafowenu enkambeni. 18 Thatha lezigaqa lezi zetshizi ezilitshumi uyenika induna yenkulungwane. Kumele ufike ubuze ukuthi abafowenu banjani ubusubuya lesiqinisekiso sokuthi bayaphila.” 19 Abafowabo babeloSawuli lamadoda ako-Israyeli esigodini se-Ela,+ besilwa lamaFilisti.+

20 UDavida wavuka kusesele wacela omunye umuntu ukuthi amkhangelele izimvu, wasethatha lokho ayezahamba lakho wangena indlela njengoba nje uyise wayetshilo. Wathi efika wathola ibutho liphuma enkambeni lisiya enkundleni yempi livungama. 21 Amabutho ako-Israyeli lawamaFilisti ama ngezindawo zawo ajamelana. 22 UDavida wahle watshiya konke ayekuthwele kulowo owayegcina impahla wagijima waya enkundleni yempi, wafika wabuza ukuthi abafowabo banjani.+

23 Wathi elokhu esakhuluma kwathutsha iqhawe lamaFilisti okwakuthiwa nguGoliyathi+ elalidabuka eGathi. UGoliyathi waphuma emabuthweni amaFilisti wakhuluma amazwi ayeke wawatsho,+ uDavida wamuzwa. 24 Wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli athi embona esaba ambalekela.+ 25 Amadoda ako-Israyeli ayesithi: “Kambe liyayibona indoda le elokhu ichothoza isizwe sakithi?+ Nxa kungaba lomuntu olwa layo ayibulale, inkosi izamupha inotho enengi, ize imuphe lendodakazi yayo.+ Izakuthi abemuli kayise bangaphindi babhadale imithelo njalo izabakhulula emisebenzini okumele yenzelwe inkosi.”

26 UDavida waqalisa ukukhuluma lamadoda ayemi eduze kwakhe wathi: “Uzakwenzelwani umuntu ozabulala umFilisti lo asuse ihlazo ko-Israyeli? Ungubani umFilisti lo ongasokanga ukuthi usengaze achothoze ibutho likaNkulunkulu ophilayo?”+ 27 Abantu baphinda bamtshela lokho ababemtshele khona, bathi: “Lokhu yikho okuzakwenzelwa umuntu obulala indoda le.” 28 Umnewabo omdala u-Eliyabi+ uthe emuzwa ekhuluma lamadoda ayelapho wazonda wathi kuye: “Ulandeni lapha? Izimvu leziyana ezilutshwana uzitshiye lobani egangeni?+ Ngikwazi kuhle ukuthi uyaziphakamisa lokuthi inhliziyo yakho imbi. Ulande ukuzobona ukuthi impi ihamba njani kuphela.” 29 UDavida waphendula wathi: “Kanti sengenzeni? Bengibuza nje kuphela.” 30 Watshibilika waya komunye wambuza umbuzo ofananayo.+ Abantu bamtshela lokho ababemtshele khona ekuqaliseni.+

31 Labanye bakuzwa lokho uDavida ayekutsho basebebikela uSawuli. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kayebizwa. 32 UDavida wathi kuSawuli: “Akungabi lomuntu omesabayo umFilisti lo. Inceku yakho izahamba iyekulwa laye.”+ 33 Kodwa uSawuli wathi kuDavida: “Ngeke wenelise ukulwa lomFilisti lo ngoba wena usesengumfanyana+ nje, kodwa yena ubesilwa izimpi kusukela eseselijaha.” 34 UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: “Mina nceku yakho ngathi ngiselusa izimvu zikababa, kwathutsha isilwane+ sabamba imvu sahamba layo. Ngelinye ilanga kwafika ibhere lenza okufananayo. 35 Kokubili ngakulandela ngakutshaya ngathatha imvu eyayisemlonyeni wakho. Kwathi kungivukela ngakuxhakalaza ngoboya obusesilevini* ngakutshaya ngakubulala. 36 Inceku yakho yabulala isilwane lebhere. UmFilisti lo ongasokanga uzakuba njengakho ngoba uchothoze ibutho likaNkulunkulu ophilayo.”+ 37 UDavida waqhubeka wathi: “UJehova owangikhulula enzitsheni zesilwane lezebhere, nguye ozangikhulula esandleni somFilisti lo.”+ USawuli wasesithi kuDavida: “Hamba, uJehova abe lawe.”

38 USawuli wathatha izembatho zakhe wazigqokisa uDavida. Wamgqokisa lengwane yekhopha kanye lejazi lensimbi. 39 UDavida wabophela inkemba yakhe ezembathweni zakhe wazama ukuhamba kodwa wehluleka ngoba wayengazijayelanga izembatho lezi. UDavida wathi kuSawuli: “Angenelisi ukuhamba ngigqoke lokhu ngoba angikujayelanga.” Yikho uDavida wazikhipha izembatho lezi. 40 Wathatha intonga yakhe waya esifuleni wafika wakhetha amatshe amahlanu abutshelezi wawafaka esikhwameni sakhe sokwelusa, waselanda umFilisti ethwele isavutha sakhe+ ngesandla.

41 UmFilisti wayelokhu esondela kuDavida, umphathi wehawu lakhe ehamba phambi kwakhe. 42 UmFilisti wakhangela uDavida wameyisa ngoba wayengumfanyana omuhle futhi obomvana.+ 43 Ngakho umFilisti wathi kuDavida: “Kanti ngiyinja+ yini mina ukuthi usungangilanda uthwele okuyizigojwana?” UmFilisti wamqalekisa uDavida ngabonkulunkulu bakhe. 44 UmFilisti wathi kuDavida: “Buya lapha, inyama yakho ngizayinika inyoni zezulu lenyamazana zeganga.”

45 UDavida waphendula umFilisti wathi: “Wena uza kimi uphethe inkemba lomkhonto lejavelini,+ kodwa mina ngizokulwa lawe ngebizo likaJehova wamabutho,+ uNkulunkulu webutho lika-Israyeli oleyisayo.+ 46 Lamuhla uJehova uzakunikela esandleni sami+ njalo ngizakubulala ngikujuqule ikhanda. Ngalolusuku ngizanika inyoni zezulu lenyamazana zeganga izidumbu zamabutho wonke amaFilisti. Lapho-ke bonke abantu emhlabeni bazakwazi ukuthi ukhona uNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli.+ 47 Bonke ababuthene lapha bazakwazi ukuthi uJehova kasindisi ngenkemba loba ngomkhonto,+ ngoba impi ngekaJehova+ futhi lonke uzalinikela ezandleni zethu.”+

48 Ngakho umFilisti wamlanda uDavida, uDavida laye wagijima esiyadibana laye enkundleni yempi. 49 UDavida wafaka isandla esikhwameni sakhe wathatha ilitshe waliphosa ngesavutha sakhe, watshaya umFilisti esiphaqeni ilitshe latshona, wawa ngobuso.+ 50 UDavida wamehlula njalo umFilisti. Wamtshaya wamlahla phansi ngelitshe lesavutha wambulala, lanxa wayengathwalanga nkemba esandleni sakhe.+ 51 UDavida wagijima wafika wama phezu komFilisti, wahwatsha inkemba yomFilisti+ esikhwameni sayo wamjuqula ikhanda ukuze abe leqiniso lokuthi ufile. AmaFilisti athi ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo selifile acela ezinyaweni.+

52 Amadoda ako-Israyeli lawakoJuda amemeza, asukela amaFilisti awaxotshanisa kusukela esigodini+ aze ayafika emagedini e-Ekhroni.+ Abulala amaFilisti awatshiya ethe daca phansi emgwaqweni, kusukela eSharayimi+ kwaze kwayafika eGathi lase-Ekhroni. 53 Ngemva kokuxotshanisa amaFilisti, abako-Israyeli babuyela bafika babutha zonke izinto ezazisenkambeni yamaFilisti.

54 UDavida wathatha ikhanda lomFilisti waya lalo eJerusalema, kodwa izikhali zomFilisti wazibeka etendeni lakhe.+

55 Ngesikhathi uSawuli ebona uDavida elanda umFilisti, wabuza u-Abhineri+ induna yebutho wathi: “Umfana lo ngumntakabani+ Abhineri?” U-Abhineri waphendula wathi: “Ngiyafunga phambi kwakho nkosi,* angikwazi.” 56 Inkosi yasisithi: “Akudinge ukuthi umfana lo ngumntakabani.” 57 Yikho uDavida wathi esevela bulala umFilisti, u-Abhineri wamthatha wahamba laye kuSawuli ethwele ikhanda lomFilisti+ esandleni sakhe. 58 USawuli wathi kuDavida: “Ungumntakabani wena mfana?” UDavida wasephendula wathi: “Ngiyindodana yenceku yakho uJese+ waseBhethilehema.”+

18 UDavida wathi eqeda ukukhuluma loSawuli, yena loJonathani+ baba ngabangane abakhulu, futhi uJonathani wamthanda ngendlela ayezithanda ngayo.+ 2 Kusukela ngalelolanga uSawuli wathi uDavida ahlale emzini wakhe futhi kazange amvumele ukuthi abuyele emzini kayise.+ 3 UJonathani wenza isivumelwano loDavida+ ngenxa yokuthi wayemthanda ngendlela ayezithanda ngayo.+ 4 Wakhipha ijazi elingelamikhono ayeligqokile walinika uDavida. Wamnika lesembatho sakhe sempi, lenkemba, ledandili* kanye lebhanti lakhe. 5 UDavida waqalisa ukuphuma lamabutho esiya empini futhi wayephumelela+ loba ngaphi uSawuli ayemthuma khona. Ngakho uSawuli wamenza umkhokheli wamabutho+ njalo lokhu kwathokozisa abantu bonke lezinceku zikaSawuli.

6 Kwakusithi nxa uDavida lamanye amabutho bevela nqoba amaFilisti, abesifazana baphume kuwo wonke amadolobho ako-Israyeli bethokoza, behlabela+ njalo begida, betshaya amathamborini+ lamaluthi* besiyahlangabeza iNkosi uSawuli. 7 Abesifazana ababethokoza babehlabela besithi:

8 Ingoma le ayimphathanga kuhle uSawuli, yikho wazonda wabila+ wathi: “Bathi uDavida ubulele amatshumi ezinkulungwane kodwa mina ngibulele izinkulungwane kuphela. Osekusele yikuthi bamnike ubukhosi!”+ 9 Kusukela ngalelolanga uSawuli wayesehlala ekhangele uDavida ngelihlo elilensolo.

10 Ngelanga elilandelayo uNkulunkulu wavumela ukuthi uSawuli ahlutshwe yimicabango yakhe.+ Waqalisa ukwenza angathi uphambene* esendlini yakhe ngesikhathi uDavida etshaya ihabhu*+ njengensukwini. USawuli wayephethe umkhonto esandleni sakhe,+ 11 wawuphosa+ esithi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Ngizamgwaza uDavida ngimhlanganise lomduli!’ Kodwa uDavida wavika kwaze kwaba kabili. 12 USawuli waqalisa ukumesaba uDavida ngoba uJehova wayelaye,+ kodwa esemtshiyile uSawuli.+ 13 Ngakho uSawuli wamsusa uDavida emsebenzini ayewenza, wambeka waba yinduna yenkulungwane. UDavida wayekhokhela ibutho nxa lisiya empini.+ 14 Waqhubeka ephumelela+ kukho konke ayekwenza futhi uJehova wayelaye.+ 15 USawuli wamesaba uDavida ngoba wayebona ukuthi uyaphumelela kakhulu. 16 Kodwa bonke abantu bako-Israyeli labakoJuda babemthanda uDavida ngoba nguye owayebakhokhela ezimpini.

17 USawuli wathi kuDavida: “Nansi indodakazi yami endala uMerabi.+ Ngizakunika yona ibe ngumkakho,+ kodwa wena kumele uqhubeke ungisebenzela ulesibindi njalo ulwe izimpi zikaJehova.”+ USawuli wayesithi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Kasoze abulawe yimi uzabulawa ngamaFilisti.’+ 18 UDavida waphendula wathi: “Kanti mina ngingubani futhi labemuli kababa bayini ko-Israyeli ukuthi sengingaze ngibe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi?”+ 19 Kwathi kufika isikhathi sokuthi uMerabi indodakazi kaSawuli aphiwe uDavida, uSawuli wayesemendisele ku-Adriyeli+ waseMehola.

20 Indodakazi kaSawuli uMikhali+ yayimthanda kakhulu uDavida futhi uSawuli wabikelwa ngalokhu, wathokoza. 21 Wathi: “UDavida ngizamnika indodakazi yami ibe ngumjibila kuye ukuze amaFilisti ambulale.”+ USawuli wakhuluma loDavida okwesibili wathi: “Kusukela lamuhla uzakuba ngumkhwenyana wami.” 22 Waphinda watshela izinceku zakhe wathi: “Khulumani loDavida ensitha lithi, ‘Inkosi iyathokoza ngawe futhi zonke izinceku zayo ziyakuthanda. Ngakho wena vuma ukuba ngumkhwenyana wenkosi.’” 23 Izinceku zikaSawuli zathi zimtshela lokho, uDavida waphendula wathi: “Libona angathi yinto elula yini ukuthi ngibe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi mina ngingumyanga futhi ngingasimuntu walutho?”+ 24 Izinceku zikaSawuli zamtshela lokho uDavida ayekutshilo.

25 USawuli wasesithi: “Nanku okumele likutshele uDavida, ‘Inkosi kayifuni lobolo+ kodwa ifuna amajwabu ezitho+ zamaFilisti angu-100 ukuze iphindisele ezitheni zayo.’” Icebo likaSawuli laliyikuthi uDavida abulawe ngamaFilisti. 26 Ngakho izinceku zakhe zamtshela uDavida amazwi la futhi kwamthokozisa ukuthi abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi.+ Kwathi isikhathi ayesibekelwe singakafiki, 27 uDavida wahamba lamadoda ayelaye bayahlasela amaFilisti babulala amadoda angu-200, wasesiyanika inkosi amajwabu ezitho zawo ukuze abe ngumkhwenyana wenkosi. Ngakho uSawuli wamnika indodakazi yakhe uMikhali yaba ngumkakhe.+ 28 USawuli wananzelela ukuthi uJehova wayeloDavida+ lokuthi indodakazi yakhe uMikhali yayimthanda uDavida.+ 29 Lokhu kwenza wamesaba kakhulu uDavida futhi waba yisitha sakhe okwempilo yakhe yonke.+

30 Abakhokheli bamaFilisti babephuma bayekulwa labako-Israyeli. Ngazo zonke izikhathi uDavida wayephumelela ezimpini lezo ukwedlula zonke izinceku zikaSawuli+ futhi wayesehlonitshwa kakhulu.+

19 Ngemva kwesikhathi uSawuli wakhuluma loJonathani lezinceku zakhe ngokuthi uDavida kumele abulawe.+ 2 Kodwa uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wayemthanda kakhulu uDavida,+ yikho wamtshela wathi: “Ubaba ufuna ubulawe, yikho wena nanzelela uvuke ekuseni uyecatsha endaweni esithekileyo. 3 Mina ngizaphuma ngiyekuma lobaba egangeni duze lalapho oyabe ucatshe khona. Ngizakukhulumela kubaba besengibuya ngizokutshela loba yini engiyabe ngiyizwile.”+

4 UJonathani wakhuluma kuhle ngoDavida+ kuyise uSawuli. Wathi: “Nkosi, akumelanga wenze okubi kuDavida inceku yakho ngoba konanga lutho njalo konke akwenzele khona kukuncedile. 5 Wafaka impilo yakhe engozini wabulala umFilisti+ njalo uJehova wenza bonke abantu bako-Israyeli banqoba. Wathi ukubona lokhu wathokoza kakhulu. Manje kungani kumele wenze isono ubulale uDavida yena engelacala?”+ 6 USawuli wamlalela uJonathani, wasefunga wathi: “Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, kasoze abulawe.” 7 Ngakho uJonathani wabiza uDavida wamtshela konke lokhu, wasemthatha wamhambisa kuSawuli. UDavida waqhubeka esebenzela uSawuli njengakuqala.+

8 Ngemva kwesikhathi kwaphinda kwaba lempi, uDavida wasephuma wayakulwa lamaFilisti wabulala amanengi kakhulu futhi amaFilisti ambalekela.

9 UJehova wavumela ukuthi uSawuli ahlutshwe yimicabango yakhe+ ngesikhathi ehlezi endlini yakhe ephethe umkhonto. Ngalesosikhathi uDavida wayetshaya ihabhu.*+ 10 USawuli wazama ukuthi agwaze uDavida amhlanganise lomduli, kodwa uDavida wavika, umkhonto wayahlaba emdulini. Ngalobobusuku uDavida wabaleka. 11 USawuli wathuma izithunywa ukuthi ziyelinda indlu kaDavida zimbulale ekuseni.+ Kodwa uMikhali inkosikazi kaDavida wamtshela wathi: “Nxa ungayekela ukubaleka lamuhla ebusuku, kusasa bazakubulala.” 12 Yikho uMikhali wahle wehlisa uDavida ngewindi ukuze abaleke. 13 Wathatha isithombe setherafimu wasibeka* embhedeni, wasefaka inethi eyenziwe ngoboya bembuzi lapho uDavida ayeqamela khona. Wathatha isembatho wembathisa isithombe.

14 USawuli wathuma izithunywa ukuthi ziyethatha uDavida kodwa uMikhali wazitshela ukuthi uyagula. 15 Ngakho uSawuli watshela izithunywa ukuthi ziyembona uDavida, wathi kuzo: “Limthwale ngombheda wakhe limlethe lapha abulawe.”+ 16 Izithunywa zathi zifika zathola embhedeni kaDavida kulesithombe setherafimu* lenethi eyenziwe ngoboya bembuzi lapho ayeqamela khona. 17 Ngakho uSawuli wathi kuMikhali: “Kungani ungiqilile wabalekisa isitha sami?”+ UMikhali waphendula wathi: “Uthe kimi, ‘Ngiyekela ngihambe nxa ufuna ngingakubulali!’”

18 UDavida wabaleka waya kuSamuyeli eRama,+ wafika wamtshela konke uSawuli ayemenze khona. Yena loSamuyeli basuka bayahlala eNayiyothi.+ 19 Ngemva kwesikhathi uSawuli watshelwa ukuthi uDavida useNayiyothi eRama. 20 USawuli wathi ekuzwa lokhu wahle wathuma izithunywa ukuthi ziyebamba uDavida. Izithunywa lezi zathi zibona abaphrofethi abadala bephrofetha futhi uSamuyeli emi phakathi kwabo ebakhokhela, umoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwazo, zaqala ukwenza njengabaphrofethi.

21 USawuli wathi ekuzwa lokhu wahle wathuma ezinye izithunywa, kodwa lazo zaqalisa ukwenza njengabaphrofethi. Ngakho wathuma iqembu lesithathu lezithunywa, lazo zaqalisa ukwenza njengabaphrofethi. 22 Ekucineni uSawuli laye wahamba eRama. Wathi efika emgodini omkhulu waseSekhu, wabuza abantu wathi: “USamuyeli loDavida bangaphi?” Bamphendula bathi: “BaseNayiyothi+ eRama.” 23 USawuli wathi esendleleni esiya eNayiyothi eRama, umoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela laphezu kwakhe, wahamba esesenza angathi ungumphrofethi waze wayafika eNayiyothi eRama. 24 Wakhipha izigqoko futhi wenza njengomphrofethi phambi kukaSamuyeli. Wahlala ilanga lonke lobusuku bonke engagqokanga. Yikho kulesitsho esithi: “Kanti uSawuli laye ngumphrofethi?”+

20 UDavida wabaleka wasuka eNayiyothi eRama, waya kuJonathani wafika wathi: “Kanti ngenzeni?+ Cala bani engilenzileyo? Ngoneni kuyihlo okwenza afune ukungibulala?” 2 UJonathani wamphendula wathi: “Hayi bo!+ Awusoze ufe. Ubaba ngeke enze loba yini engangitshelanga, kungelani lokuthi yinto encane kumbe enkulu. Ngeke angifihlele into enjalo. Lokho ngeke kwenzakale.” 3 UDavida wasesithi kuye: “Uyihlo ukwazi mhlophe ukuthi wena uyangithanda+ yikho uzathi, ‘Angisoze ngimtshele uJonathani ngoba uzazonda.’ Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo langokuphila kwakho, sekuseduze ukuthi ngife.”+

4 UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: “Ngizakwenza loba yini ofuna ngikwenzele yona.” 5 UDavida wasesithi: “Kusasa inyanga iyabe ithwasile,+ futhi kukhangelelwe ukuthi ngiyekudla lenkosi. Ngicela ungivumele ngihambe ngiyecatsha egangeni kuze kube phambi kwakusasa ntambama. 6 Nxa uyihlo angangidinga wena uthi kuye, ‘UDavida ungincenge ukuthi ngimvumele agijimele edolobheni lakibo eBhethilehema+ ngoba yonke imuli yangakibo izakuba lomkhosi wokwenza umhlatshelo waminyaka yonke.’+ 7 Nxa angaphendula athi, ‘Kulungile,’ kutsho ukuthi akulanto embi ezakwehlela inceku yakho. Kodwa nxa angazonda uzahle ukwazi ukuthi uzimisele ukungibulala. 8 Ngicela ube lothando oluqotho encekwini yakho+ ngoba wenze isivumelwano layo phambi kukaJehova.+ Kodwa nxa ngilecala+ kungcono ungibulale wena kulokuthi ungiyekele ngibulawa nguyihlo.”

9 UJonathani wasesithi: “Hatshi, lokho ngeke kwenzakale kuwe! Kambe ngingathula sibili ngingakutsheli nxa ngingezwa ukuthi ubaba ufuna ukukubulala?”+ 10 UDavida wasephendula uJonathani wathi: “Nxa uyihlo angakuphendula ngolaka ngubani ozangitshela?” 11 UJonathani wathi kuDavida: “Asike siyefika egangeni.” Ngakho basuka baya egangeni. 12 UJonathani wasesithi kuDavida: “UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli kabe ngufakazi wami ukuthi kusasa ngezikhathi lezi loba phambi kwakusasa ngizambuza ubaba ngendaba le. Nxa engakuzondelanga ngizathumela ilizwi ngikutshele. 13 Kodwa nxa ubaba ehlose ukukubulala, uJehova kangijezise kakhulu nxa ngingayekela ukukutshela ukuze ubaleke engakakwenzi lutho. UJehova kabe lawe+ njengoba nje wayelobaba.+ 14 Lawe ngicela ungenzele umusa* onjengokaJehova okwempilo yami yonke lalapho sengifile.+ 15 Langesikhathi uJehova esezithanyele zaphela zonke izitha zikaDavida, ngicela uqhubeke ulomusa*+ emulini yami.” 16 Ngakho uJonathani wenza isivumelwano lemuli kaDavida wasesithi, “UJehova uzazahlulela izitha zikaDavida futhi azijezise.” 17 UJonathani wathi uDavida aphinde afunge ukuthi uyamthanda ngoba yena wayemthanda ngendlela ayezithanda ngayo.+

18 UJonathani wasesithi kuye: “Kusasa inyanga izabe ithwasile,+ ubaba uzakudinga ngoba isihlalo sakho siyabe singelamuntu. 19 Ngelanga lesithathu uzabuzisisa ngawe. Wena kumele uze lapha endaweni owawucatshe kuyo mhlalokhuyana, uhlale eduze kwedwala leli. 20 Mina ngizatshoka imitshoko emithathu eceleni kwedwala kube angathi kulento engifuna ukuyitshaya. 21 Ngizathuma inceku ngithi kuyo, ‘Hamba uyedobha imitshoko.’ Ungezwa ngisithi kuyo, ‘Imitshoko iseceleni kwakho yidobhe,’ lapho-ke ungaphenduka. Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, lokhu kuyabe kusitsho ukuthi konke nje kuhamba kuhle, akulanto embi ezakwehlela. 22 Kodwa nxa ngingathi emfaneni, ‘Imitshoko ingale phambi kwakho,’ wena kumele uhle uhambe ngoba yikho uJehova ayabe efuna ukwenze. 23 UJehova kabe phakathi kwami lawe kuze kube nini lanini,+ abe ngufakazi wesivumelwano esisenzileyo.”+

24 Ngakho uDavida wacatsha egangeni. Ngelanga lokuthwasa kwenyanga inkosi yahlala esihlalweni sayo ukuthi idle.+ 25 Yayihlezi esihlalweni sayo eduze lomduli ikhangelane loJonathani futhi eceleni kwayo kwakuhlezi u-Abhineri.+ Endaweni kaDavida kwakungelamuntu. 26 Mhlalokho uSawuli kazange atsho lutho ngoba wayesithi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Kukhona okwenzakale kuDavida okumenze wangcola.+ Kumele ukuthi kahlambulukanga.’ 27 Ngelanga lesibili, ilanga elalandela elokuthwasa kwenyanga, uDavida wayelokhu engekho endaweni yakhe. Yikho uSawuli wathi kuJonathani indodana yakhe: “Kungani indodana kaJese+ ingabuyanga ukuzokudla izolo lalamuhla?” 28 UJonathani waphendula uSawuli wathi: “UDavida ungincengile ukuthi ngimvumele aye eBhethilehema.+ 29 Uthe kimi, ‘Ngicela ungivumele ngiye edolobheni lakithi ngoba imuli yangakithi ifuna ukwenza umhlatshelo futhi umfowethu ungibizile. Nxa ngithole umusa kuwe, ngivumela ngihambe ngiyebona abafowethu.’ Yikho engekho lapha etafuleni yenkosi.” 30 USawuli wazonda wadla amalahle wathi kuJonathani: “Wena ndodana yomfazi oyisiqholo, ubona angathi angikwazi ukuthi usekela indodana kaJese? Uzazilethela ihlazo kuwe lakunyoko.* 31 Nxa indodana kaJese isaphila, wena awusoze uvikeleke futhi lombuso wakho ngeke ume uqine.+ Yikho thuma umuntu khathesi ayemthatha amlethe lapha ngoba kumele afe.”+

32 Kodwa uJonathani wathi kuyise uSawuli: “Kungani kumele abulawe?+ Wenzeni?” 33 USawuli uthe esizwa uJonathani esitsho njalo, waphosa umkhonto efuna ukumgwaza.+ UJonathani wahle wakwazi ukuthi uyise uzimisele ukubulala uDavida.+ 34 Ngakho wahle wasukuma etafuleni ezonde kakhulu. Ngalelolanga lesibili elalandela ukuthwasa kwenyanga kazange adle lutho ngoba indaba kaDavida yayimzwisa ubuhlungu+ futhi uyise wayemyangise kakhulu.

35 Ekuseni uJonathani waya egangeni ukuze ayebonana loDavida njengoba nje babevumelene. Wahamba lomfana owayeyinceku yakhe.+ 36 UJonathani wathi encekwini yakhe: “Ngicela ugijime udobhe imitshoko engiyitshokayo.” Inceku yagijima njalo uJonathani watshoka umtshoko wayawela phambi kwayo. 37 Inceku yathi ifika lapho umtshoko kaJonathani owawuwele khona, uJonathani wamemeza wathi kuyo: “Umtshoko ungale phambi kwakho.” 38 Waqhubeka ememeza esithi: “Phangisa! Gijima udobhe imitshoko masinyane!” Inceku kaJonathani yayidobha imitshoko yabuyela kuye. 39 Inceku yayingakwazi ukuthi lokhu kutshoni, uJonathani loDavida yibo bodwa ababekwazi. 40 UJonathani wathatha izikhali wazinika inceku yakhe, wasesithi kuyo: “Buyela lazo edolobheni.”

41 Inceku yathi isisukile, uDavida waphuma endaweni eyayiseduzane ngaseningizimu, waguqa wathi mbo phansi ngobuso kathathu. UDavida loJonathani baqabuzana bakhala, kodwa uDavida nguye owakhala kakhulu. 42 UJonathani wathi kuDavida: “Uhambe kuhle njengoba sifunge+ ngebizo likaJehova sathi, ‘UJehova kabe phakathi kwami lawe, laphakathi kwabantwabami labantwabakho kuze kube nini lanini.’”+

UDavida wasukuma wahamba, uJonathani wasebuyela edolobheni.

21 UDavida wafika eNobhi+ ku-Ahimeleki umphristi. U-Ahimeleki wamhlangabeza eqhuqha, wathi kuye: “Kungani uwedwa, kungelamuntu ohamba laye?”+ 2 UDavida waphendula u-Ahimeleki umphristi wathi: “Kulento inkosi engithume ukuthi ngiyenze, kodwa ithe ngingatsheli muntu ngalokho engithume ukuthi ngiyekwenza langemilayo engiphe yona. Ngikhulume lamajaha engizahamba lawo ngawatshela ukuthi sihlangane kwenye indawo. 3 Nxa ulezinkwa ezinhlanu ngicela unginike zona kumbe ungiphe loba yini olayo.” 4 Kodwa umphristi wamphendula wathi: “Isinkwa esijayelekileyo asikho kodwa kulesinkwa esingcwele.+ Ungasithatha nxa kuyikuthi amajaha ohamba lawo awazange alale labesifazana.”+ 5 UDavida wasesithi kumphristi: “Akula phakathi kwethu oke walala lowesifazana, njengoba nje kungumkhuba nxa sisiya empini.+ Nxa amajaha egcina imizimba yawo ingcwele ngesikhathi esenza imisebenzi ejayelekileyo, angayekela yini ukuba ngcwele lamuhla sisiya emsebenzini oqakathekileyo?” 6 Ngakho umphristi wamnika isinkwa esingcwele+ ngoba kwakungela esinye isinkwa ngaphandle kwesinkwa sokubukiswa esasikhitshwe phambi kukaJehova ngalelolanga ukuze kufakwe esinye esisanda kuphekwa.

7 Ngalelolanga kwakulenye inceku kaSawuli okwakungamelanga isuke phambi kukaJehova. Kwakuthiwa nguDowegi+ um-Edomi+ futhi yayiyinduna yabelusi bakaSawuli.

8 UDavida wathi ku-Ahimeleki: “Akulamkhonto loba inkemba lapha yini? Kangizange ngithathe inkemba yami lezikhali zami ngoba lokho engikuthunywe yinkosi bekumele ngikwenze masinyane.” 9 Umphristi wasemphendula wathi: “Kulenkemba kaGoliyathi+ umFilisti owambulala esigodini se-Ela,+ ithandelwe ngelembu ngemva kwe-efodi.+ Nxa ufuna ukuyithatha ungayithatha ngoba yiyo yodwa ekhona.” UDavida wathi: “Akulankemba enjengayo. Ngicela ungiphe yona.”

12 UDavida wawafaka enhliziyweni amazwi la futhi wamesaba kakhulu+ u-Akhishi inkosi yeGathi. 13 Ngakho wazenza uhlanya+ phambi kwabo, kwaba angathi uphambene. Wayedwebadweba ezivalweni zamagedi futhi egxoza indenda zisehlela endevini. 14 U-Akhishi wacina esithi ezincekwini zakhe: “Liyazibonela ukuthi umuntu lo uyahlanya! Manje limletheleni kimi? 15 Kanti ngiswele inhlanya yini ukuthi selingaze lilethe umuntu lo ukuthi azohlanyela phambi kwami? Kambe umuntu onje angangena endlini yami?”

22 UDavida wasuka lapho+ wabaleka wayacatsha ebhalwini lwase-Adulamu.+ Abafowabo labo bonke abemuli kayise bathi bekuzwa lokho baya kuye. 2 Bonke ababelezinhlupho lababelezikwelede lezikhalazo babuthana kuye wasesiba yinduna yabo. Kwakulamadoda angaba ngu-400.

3 Ngemva kwesikhathi uDavida wasuka lapho waya eMizipha koMowabi, wafika wathi enkosini yakoMowabi:+ “Ngicela ubaba lomama bahlale lawe ngize ngazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzangenzelani.” 4 Ngakho wabatshiya enkosini yakoMowabi bahlala layo okwesikhathi sonke uDavida ecatshile endaweni evikelekileyo.+

5 Ngemva kwesikhathi umphrofethi uGadi+ wathi kuDavida: “Ungahlali endaweni evikelekileyo. Suka uye elizweni lakoJuda.”+ Ngakho uDavida wasuka waya eguswini leHerethi.

6 USawuli wezwa ukuthi uDavida lamadoda ayelawo babonakele. Ngalesosikhathi uSawuli wayehlezi ngaphansi kwesihlahla somthamariski esasisendaweni ephakemeyo eGibheya,+ ephethe umkhonto esandleni sakhe. Zonke izinceku zakhe zazimgombolozele. 7 USawuli wakhuluma lezinceku zakhe ezazimgombolozele wathi: “Ngicela lilalele lina madoda akoBhenjamini! Libona angani indodana kaJese+ layo ingalinika yini lonke indawo lamasimu amagilebisi? Kambe ingalibeka ukuthi libe zinduna zezinkulungwane lezinduna zamakhulu?+ 8 Lonke liyangihlamukela! Kakho owabuya wazongitshela ukuthi indodana yami yenze isivumelwano lendodana kaJese!+ Akula loyedwa ongizwelayo owabuya wazongitshela ukuthi indodana yami itshotshozela inceku yami ukuthi ingicathamele ukuze ingihlasele, njengoba nje kunjalo khathesi.”

9 UDowegi+ um-Edomi owayekhangela izinceku zikaSawuli ezazilapho waphendula wathi:+ “Ngabona indodana kaJese ifika eNobhi ku-Ahimeleki indodana ka-Ahithubi.+ 10 Wambuzela kuJehova wamnika lokudla, waze wamnika lenkemba kaGoliyathi umFilisti.”+ 11 Inkosi yathi isizwa lokhu yahle yathi akuyebizwa u-Ahimeleki indodana ka-Ahithubi umphristi labo bonke abaphristi bemuli kayise ababeseNobhi. Yikho bonke babuya enkosini.

12 USawuli wasesithi: “Ngicela ulalele wena ndodana ka-Ahithubi!” U-Ahimeleki waphendula wathi: “Ngilalele nkosi yami.” 13 USawuli wathi kuye: “Kungani wena lendodana kaJese libumbe icebo lokuthi lingihlamukele? Uyiphe isinkwa lenkemba futhi wayibuzela kuNkulunkulu. Indodana kaJese iphikisana lami futhi iyangicathamela ukuze ingihlasele, njengoba nje kunjalo khathesi.” 14 U-Ahimeleki waphendula inkosi wathi: “Phakathi kwezinceku zakho, ngubani othembeke njengoDavida?+ Ungumkhwenyana wenkosi+ futhi uyinduna yabalindi bakho, lasendlini yakho uyahlonitshwa.+ 15 Kanti ngangiqala yini ukumbuzela kuNkulunkulu?+ Mina angisoze ngikuhlamukele loba sekutheni! Inkosi kayingayibeki icala inceku yayo kanye labo bonke abemuli kababa, ngoba inceku yakho ibingazi lutho ngaloludaba.”+

16 Kodwa inkosi yathi: “Loba sekutheni uzakufa+ Ahimeleki labo bonke abemuli kayihlo.”+ 17 Ngakho inkosi yatshela abalindi ababeseduzane layo yathi: “Tshibilikani libulale abaphristi bakaJehova ngoba basekela uDavida! Bebekwazi ukuthi uyabaleka kodwa abangitshelanga!” Kodwa izinceku zenkosi zazingafuni ukuhlasela abaphristi bakaJehova zibabulale. 18 Inkosi yasisithi kuDowegi:+ “Tshibilika ubulale abaphristi!” UDowegi um-Edomi+ wahle wasuka wayahlasela abaphristi. Ngalelolanga wabulala amadoda angu-85 agqoka i-efodi yelineni.+ 19 Wahamba wayahlasela leNobhi+ idolobho labaphristi. Wabulala amadoda labesifazana ngenkemba, labantwana lezinsane, lenkomo labobabhemi kanye lezimvu. Konke wakuqeda ngenkemba.

20 Kodwa enye indodana ka-Ahimeleki indodana ka-Ahithubi, okwakuthiwa ngu-Abhiyatha+ yabaleka yalandela uDavida. 21 U-Abhiyatha wafika watshela uDavida wathi: “USawuli usebulele abaphristi bakaJehova.” 22 UDavida wathi esizwa lokhu wathi ku-Abhiyatha: “Ngaleliyana ilanga+ ngathi ngibona uDowegi um-Edomi ekhona ngahle ngakwazi ukuthi uzamtshela uSawuli loba sekutheni. Yimi engibangele ukuthi bonke abemuli kayihlo babulawe. 23 Ngakho wena hlala lami njalo ungesabi ngoba loba ngubani ofuna ukubulala wena ufuna ukubulala lami. Mina ngizakuvikela.”+

23 Ngokuya kwesikhathi uDavida watshelwa ukuthi amaFilisti ayehlasela iKheyila,+ ethatha lamabele ezizeni.* 2 Ngakho uDavida wabuza uJehova wathi:+ “Ngihambe yini ngiyehlasela amaFilisti?” UJehova wamphendula wathi: “Hamba uyewahlasela ukhulule abantu baseKheyila.” 3 Kodwa amadoda ayeloDavida athi kuye: “Sivele sihlalele evalweni sikhonapha koJuda,+ manje singasithatha ngaphi isibindi sokuya eKheyila siyedibana lamabutho amaFilisti?”+ 4 Ngakho uDavida waphinda wabuza kuJehova,+ uJehova wasemphendula wathi: “Suka uye eKheyila ngoba ngizanikela amaFilisti esandleni sakho.”+ 5 Yikho-ke uDavida lamadoda ayelaye basuka baya eKheyila bayakulwa lamaFilisti. Wafika wabulala amaFilisti amanengi kakhulu futhi wathumba lezifuyo zawo, wakhulula abantu baseKheyila.+

6 Ngesikhathi u-Abhiyatha+ indodana ka-Ahimeleki ebaleka esiya kuDavida eKheyila wayethwele i-efodi. 7 USawuli watshelwa ukuthi uDavida wayeseKheyila, yikho wathi: “UNkulunkulu usemnikele esandleni sami.+ UDavida useziphosele emjibileni ngokungena edolobheni elilamagedi lemigoqo.” 8 USawuli wabizela wonke amabutho akhe empini ukuze ehlele eKheyila ayevimbezela uDavida lamadoda ayelawo. 9 UDavida wathi esizwa ukuthi uSawuli ufuna ukumhlasela, wathi ku-Abhiyatha umphristi: “Sondela lapha le-efodi.”+ 10 UDavida wasesithi: “Awu Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, inceku yakho isizwile ukuthi uSawuli uhlose ukuza eKheyila azotshabalalisa lonke idolobho ngenxa yami.+ 11 Abakhokheli beKheyila bazanginikela* esandleni sakhe yini? USawuli uzabuya yini njengoba nje inceku yakho izwile? Awu Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngicela uyitshele inceku yakho.” UJehova wasemphendula wathi: “Ye uzabuya.” 12 UDavida wasebuza wathi: “Abakhokheli beKheyila bazanginikela kuSawuli yini mina lamadoda engilawo lapha?” UJehova wamphendula wathi: “Bazalinikela.”

13 UDavida wathi ekuzwa lokho wahle wasuka eKheyila lamadoda ayelaye ayengaba ngu-600.+ Babehamba behlala loba ngaphi lapho ababebona kuvikeleke khona. USawuli kasayanga eKheyila ngoba wezwa ukuthi uDavida usebalekile. 14 UDavida wahlala enkangala endaweni okunzima ukufika kuzo, ezintabeni zenkangala yaseZifi.+ USawuli wamdinga phansi phezulu,+ kodwa uJehova kazange amnikele esandleni sakhe. 15 Ngesikhathi uDavida eseHoreshi enkangala yaseZifi, wayesazi* ukuthi uSawuli uyamzingela ufuna ukumbulala.

16 UJonathani indodana kaSawuli wasuka waya kuDavida eHoreshi njalo wamnceda ukuthi athole amandla kuJehova.+ 17 Wathi kuye: “Ungesabi ngoba ubaba kasoze akuthole. Wena uzakuba yinkosi yako-Israyeli+ futhi mina ngizakuba ngumsekeli wakho, lobaba uyakwazi lokhu.”+ 18 Ngemva kwalokho bobabili benza isivumelwano+ phambi kukaJehova, uJonathani wasesuka wabuyela emzini wakhe, uDavida wasala eHoreshi.

19 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amadoda aseZifi aya kuSawuli eGibheya+ afika athi kuye: “UDavida ucatshe eduze kwethu+ eHoreshi,+ endaweni okunzima ukufika kuzo. Useqaqeni lwaseHakhila+ oluseningizimu yeJeshimoni.*+ 20 Nxa inkosi ikubona kufanele ukuthi ibuye, kayibuye futhi thina sizamnikela esandleni sayo.”+ 21 USawuli yena wathi: “UJehova kalibusise ngoba libe lozwelo kimi. 22 Ngicela lihambe liyedingisisa ukuthi ungaphi sibisibili lokuthi ukhona yini ombonileyo ngoba ngizwa besithi uliqili elikhulu. 23 Dingani lize lizazi zonke indawo acatsha kuzo beseliphenduka kimi selilobufakazi. Lapho-ke ngizahamba lani futhi nxa ekhona elizweni ngizamdinga kuzo zonke izinkulungwane zakoJuda.”

24 Ngakho basuka batshiya uSawuli baya eZifi.+ Ngalesosikhathi uDavida lamadoda ayelawo babesenkangala yeMawoni+ e-Arabha,+ eningizimu yeJeshimoni. 25 USawuli lamabutho akhe bafika bezomdinga.+ UDavida wathi ekuzwa lokho wahle wasuka wehlela edwaleni elikhulu+ elalisenkangala yeMawoni. USawuli wakuzwa lokhu wasexotshanisa uDavida phakathi kwenkangala yeMawoni. 26 USawuli wayexotshanisa uDavida lamadoda ayelaye ekwelinye icele lentaba, bona bekwelinye icele. UDavida wayelwisa ukuthi abalekele+ uSawuli kodwa uSawuli lamabutho akhe basebebafica, sekuseduze ukuthi babahlasele.+ 27 Kusenjalo kwafika isithunywa kuSawuli sathi: “Buya masinyane ngoba amaFilisti asehlasele ilizwe!” 28 Ngakho uSawuli wayekela ukuxotshanisa uDavida+ wasesiyakulwa lamaFilisti. Yikho indawo leyo yabizwa ngokuthi liDwala Lokwehlukana.

29 UDavida wasuka lapho wayahlala e-Eni-gedi+ endaweni okunzima ukufika kuzo.

24 USawuli wathi esevela kulwa lamaFilisti bamtshela bathi: “UDavida usenkangala yase-Eni-gedi!”+

2 Ngakho uSawuli wathatha amadoda angu-3 000 akhethwe kulo lonke elako-Israyeli wasehamba lawo esiyadinga uDavida labantu bakhe emadwaleni ahlala amagogo.* 3 Wathi efika ezibayeni ezakhiwe ngamatshe ezaziseceleni komgwaqo, wabona ubhalu khonapho wasengena esithi kahle azincede, kanti uDavida lamadoda ayelaye bahlezi emuva phakathi kobhalu.+ 4 Amadoda ayeloDavida athi kuye: “Lamuhla uJehova uthi kuwe, ‘Nansi isitha sakho, ngisinikela esandleni sakho.+ Yenza loba yini oyibona iqondile.’” Ngakho uDavida wasukuma wanyenya wayasika umphetho wejazi likaSawuli elingelamikhono. 5 Kodwa esekwenzile lokho inhliziyo yakhe yamhlupha* kakhulu+ ngoba wayesike umphetho wejazi likaSawuli elingelamikhono. 6 UDavida watshela amadoda ayelawo wathi: “Angisoze ngenze into enjalo enkosini yami ngoba ingogcotshiweyo kaJehova. UJehova ngeke athokoze ngitsho nxa ngingahlasela ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.”+ 7 Ngakho uDavida wawakhuza amadoda ayelawo ngamazwi la futhi kazange awavumele ukuthi ahlasele uSawuli. USawuli waphuma ebhalwini wahamba.

8 UDavida laye waphuma ebhalwini wasememeza uSawuli wathi: “Nkosi yami!”+ USawuli wathi ethalaza, uDavida waguqa wathi mbo phansi ngobuso. 9 UDavida wasesithi kuSawuli: “Kungani ubalalela abantu abathi, ‘UDavida ufuna ukukulimaza’?+ 10 Lamuhla uzibonele ngawakho ukuthi uJehova ubekunikele ezandleni zami ngesikhathi usebhalwini. Kodwa omunye uthe esithi ngikubulale+ ngakuzwela kakhulu ngathi, ‘Angisoze ngiphakamise isandla sami ngilimaze inkosi yami ngoba ingogcotshiweyo kaJehova.’+ 11 Khangela baba, nanku umphetho wejazi lakho elingelamikhono ngiwuthwele. Ngisike umphetho wejazi lakho kodwa angizange ngikubulale. Usuzibonele lawe futhi usukwazi ukuthi angikuhlamukeli lokuthi angifuni kukulimaza. Angikonelanga lutho+ kodwa wena uyangizingela ufuna ukungibulala.+ 12 UJehova kahlulele phakathi kwami lawe+ njalo uJehova kangiphindiselele ngenxa yalokho ongenze khona.+ Kodwa mina angisoze ngilwe lawe.+ 13 Angithi lesaga sakudala sithi, ‘Kwababi yikho okuvela khona izinto ezimbi,’ yikho mina angisoze ngilwe lawe. 14 Kambe inkosi yako-Israyeli isingaze ixotshanisane lami? Kanti mina ngiyini? Ngizifananela lenja efileyo lokuyisibungu okuncane+ nje. 15 UJehova kabe ngumahluleli, ahlulele phakathi kwami lawe. Uzayihlola indaba yami angilwele+ njalo uzangahlulela angikhulule esandleni sakho.”

16 UDavida wathi eqeda ukumtshela amazwi la, uSawuli wathi: “Lilizwi lakho leli yini ndodana yami Davida?”+ USawuli wasiqhinqa isililo. 17 Wasesithi kuDavida: “Ulungile kulami ngoba ungiphathe kuhle kodwa mina ngikubuyisela ngokubi.+ 18 Lamuhla usungitshele okuhle okwenzileyo ngokungangibulali lanxa uJehova ubenginikele esandleni sakho.+ 19 Ngubani kambe othi angabona isitha sakhe asiyekele sizihambele engasilimazanga? UJehova uzakwenzela okuhle+ ngenxa yalokho ongenzele khona lamuhla. 20 Khathesi sengikwazi ukuthi uzakuba yinkosi loba sekutheni+ lokuthi umbuso wako-Israyeli uzaqhubeka usesandleni sakho kokuphela. 21 Yikho funga kimi ngoJehova+ ukuthi awusoze utshabalalise izizukulwane zami lokuthi awusoze wesule ibizo lami endlini kababa.”+ 22 UDavida wasefunga kuSawuli. Ngemva kwalokho uSawuli wabuyela emzini wakhe,+ kodwa uDavida labantu bakhe baya endaweni evikelekileyo.+

25 Ngemva kwesikhathi uSamuyeli+ wafa futhi bonke abantu bako-Israyeli babuthana ukuze bamlilele njalo bamngcwabe emzini wakhe eRama.+ UDavida wasuka waya enkangala yasePharani.

2 Kwakulendoda yaseMawoni+ eyayisebenzela eKhameli.*+ Indoda le yayinothe kakhulu, ilezimvu ezingu-3 000 lembuzi ezingu-1 000. Ngalesosikhathi yayigela izimvu zayo eKhameli. 3 Ibizo layo kwakuthiwa nguNabhali+ futhi yayingumKhalebhi,+ umkayo yena kwakuthiwa ngu-Abhigeli.+ U-Abhigeli wayehlakaniphile njalo emuhle, kodwa uNabhali wayelesihluku futhi elemikhuba emibi.+ 4 UDavida wathi esenkangala wezwa ukuthi uNabhali ugela izimvu. 5 Ngakho uDavida wathuma amadoda alitshumi, wathi kuwo: “Hambani eKhameli. Nxa lingafika kuNabhali limtshele ukuthi ngiyambingelela, 6 beselisithi, ‘Kwangathi ungaphila isikhathi eside futhi ube lokuthula wena lemuli yakho kanye lakho konke olakho. 7 Ngizwa kuthiwa ugela izimvu zakho. Ngesikhathi abelusi bakho belathi asizange sibalimaze+ futhi akulalutho olwabalahlekelayo sonke isikhathi beseKhameli. 8 Buza abelusi bakho bazakutshela. Kwangathi ungaba lomusa emadodeni engiwathume kuwe njengoba efike ngesikhathi senjabulo. Ngicela uphe izinceku zakho lendodana yakho uDavida loba yini olayo.’”+

9 Ngakho amadoda ayehamba loDavida aya kuNabhali afika amtshela konke okwakukhulunywe nguDavida. Athi eqeda ukukhuluma, 10 uNabhali waphendula wathi: “Ungubani uDavida futhi ingubani indodana kaJese? Phela lezinsuku izinceku ezinengi zibalekela amakhosi azo.+ 11 Kambe ngingathatha isinkwa sami lamanzi ami lenyama engiyihlabele izisebenzi ezigela izimvu zami nginike okungabantu okungaziwayo lokuthi kuvela ngaphi?”

12 Amadoda ayethunywe nguDavida abuyela kuye afika amtshela wonke amazwi la. 13 UDavida wahle wathi emadodeni ayehamba lawo: “Lonke hlomani ngezinkemba zenu!”+ Ngakho wonke ahloma ngezinkemba, loDavida laye wathatha eyakhe. UDavida wahamba lamadoda angaba ngu-400, angu-200 asala elinde impahla.

14 Kusenjalo enye inceku yatshela u-Abhigeli umkaNabhali yathi: “UDavida uthume izithunywa zivela enkangala ukuthi zizobingelela inkosi yethu kodwa yona izitshingele yazithethisa.+ 15 Amadoda la asiphatha kuhle kakhulu. Awazange asilimaze futhi akulalutho olwasilahlekelayo ngesikhathi silawo egangeni.+ 16 Ayenjengomduli osivikelayo ebusuku lemini sonke isikhathi silawo siselusa izimvu. 17 Yikho cabangisisa ubone ongakwenza ngoba lokhu kuzayilethela umonakalo omkhulu inkosi kanye lemuli yayo yonke.+ Akulamuntu ongakhuluma layo ngoba ayilancedo.”+

18 U-Abhigeli+ wahle wathatha izinkwa ezingu-200, lembiza ezimbili ezinkulu zewayini, lezimvu ezinhlanu ezihlinziweyo, lamabele akhanzingiweyo angamaseya* amahlanu, lamakhekhe angu-100 enziwe ngamagilebisi awonyisiweyo kanye lamakhekhe amakhiwane angu-200. Konke lokhu wakufaka phezu kwabobabhemi.+ 19 Wasesithi ezincekwini zakhe: “Hambani, mina ngizalilandela.” Kodwa kamtshelanga lutho umkakhe uNabhali.

20 U-Abhigeli wathi esegade ubabhemi wakhe njalo esesithele ngentaba, kwathutsha uDavida lamadoda ayehamba lawo besiza ngendlela leyo, wahlangana labo. 21 UDavida wayelokhu esithi: “Ngasebenzela into engekhoyo ngivikela yonke impahla yomuntu lo enkangala. Akulalutho lwakhe olwalahlekayo+ kodwa yena ungibuyisela ngokubi.+ 22 UNkulunkulu kazijezise kakhulu izitha zikaDavida* nxa ngingatshiya owesilisa oyedwa emzini wakhe ephila kuze kube sekuseni.”

23 U-Abhigeli wathi ebona uDavida wehla masinyane phezu kukababhemi waguqa phansi phambi kukaDavida, ubuso bakhe buthe mbo emhlabathini. 24 Ngemva kwalokho wasondela kuDavida wawela enyaweni zakhe wasesithi: “Nkosi yami icala kaletheswe mina. Vumela incekukazi yakho ikhulume lawe futhi ulalele amazwi encekukazi yakho. 25 Ngicela inkosi yami ingazihluphi ngoNabhali ngoba kalancedo.+ Lebizo lakhe limfanele, unguNabhali* futhi kalangqondo. Kodwa incekukazi yakho yona ayizange iwabone amadoda owathumileyo. 26 Khathesi nkosi yami, ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, ngifunge langawe, uJehova nguye okunqandileyo+ ukuthi ungabi lecala lokubulala abantu+ lokuthi ungaphindiseli ngesandla sakho. Kwangathi izitha zenkosi yami lalabo abafuna ukuyilimaza bangaba njengoNabhali. 27 Nkosi yami, ngicela uvume ukuthi isipho lesi+ incekukazi yakho ekuphathele sona siphiwe amadoda ahamba lenkosi yami.+ 28 Ngicela uxolele icala lencekukazi yakho. Phela uJehova uzakwenzela inkosi yami indlu ezahlala isikhathi eside+ ngoba inkosi yami ilwa izimpi zikaJehova+ futhi ayikaze yenze okubi kuzo zonke izinsuku zayo.+ 29 Nxa umuntu angavukela inkosi yami ayixotshanise efuna ukuyibulala, uJehova uNkulunkulu wayo uzagoqela impilo yayo esikhwameni sokuphila, kodwa impilo yezitha zayo uzayiphosela khatshana njengamatshe aphoswe ngesavutha. 30 UJehova uzathi eseyenzele inkosi yami zonke izinto ezinhle azithembisayo futhi eseyibeke yaba ngumkhokheli wabako-Israyeli,+ 31 inkosi yami ayisoze ibe lesazela loba izisole enhliziyweni yayo ngoba iyabe ingelacala lokubulala abantu kungelasizatho lelokuphindisela ngesandla sayo.+ Nxa uJehova eseyenzele okuhle inkosi yami, ngicela ikhumbule incekukazi yayo.”

32 UDavida wathi ku-Abhigeli: “Kadunyiswe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli okuthumileyo lamuhla ukuthi uzongihlangabeza! 33 Kwangathi ungabusiswa ngenxa yokuhlakanipha kwakho, futhi ubusiswe ngenxa yokuthi unginqandile lamuhla ukuthi ngingabi lecala lokubulala abantu+ lelokuphindisela ngesandla sami. 34 Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli onginqandileyo ukuthi ngingakulimazi,+ ngabe awubuyanga masinyane ukuzohlangana lami,+ bekuzakusa kungasela ngitsho loyedwa owesilisa oseleyo emzini kaNabhali.”+ 35 UDavida wathatha lokho u-Abhigeli ayemphathele khona wasesithi kuye: “Hamba ngokuthula emzini wakho. Ngikuzwile okukhulumileyo futhi ngizakwenza okucelileyo.”

36 U-Abhigeli wasesuka wabuyela kuNabhali wamthola ezidlela angathi yinkosi endlini yakhe. Wayethabile futhi edakwe engazazi. U-Abhigeli kazange amtshele lutho kwaze kwaba sekuseni. 37 UNabhali wathi evuka ekuseni utshwala sebuphelile ekhanda, umkakhe wamtshela okwakwenzakele. Uthe ekuzwa lokho inhliziyo yakhe yahle yaba njengeyomuntu ofileyo, umzimba wonke woma qha angathi lilitshe. 38 Ngemva kwensuku ezingaba litshumi uJehova wamtshaya uNabhali wafa.

39 UDavida wathi esizwa ukuthi uNabhali ufile wathi: “Kadunyiswe uJehova ongenele indaba+ yokuyangiswa kwami nguNabhali+ futhi onqande inceku yakhe ukuthi ingenzi okubi!+ UJehova umjezisile uNabhali ngenxa yokubi abekwenza!”* Ngemva kwalokho uDavida wathumela ilizwi ecela u-Abhigeli ukuthi abe ngumkakhe. 40 Izinceku zikaDavida zafika ku-Abhigeli eKhameli zathi kuye: “UDavida usithume ukuthi sizokuthatha ube ngumkakhe.” 41 U-Abhigeli wahle wasukuma wazilahla phansi wasesithi: “Ngizimisele ukuba yisigqilikazi esizagezisa inyawo+ zezinceku zenkosi yami.” 42 Wasesukuma masinyane wagada ubabhemi wakhe futhi izincekukazi zakhe ezinhlanu zamlandela zihamba ngemva kwakhe. U-Abhigeli+ wahamba lezithunywa zikaDavida, wafika waba ngumkakhe.

43 UDavida wayethethe lo-Ahinowami+ waseJeziriyeli.+ Bobabili abesifazana laba baba ngamakhosikazi akhe.+

44 USawuli wayeseyendisele indodakazi yakhe uMikhali+ umkaDavida kuPhalithi+ indodana kaLayishi waseGalimi.

26 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amadoda aseZifi+ afika kuSawuli eGibheya+ athi kuye: “UDavida ucatshe eqaqeni lwaseHakhila olukhangele eJeshimoni.”*+ 2 Ngakho uSawuli wasuka waya enkangala yaseZifi. Wahamba lamadoda angu-3 000 akhethwe ko-Israyeli bayadinga uDavida enkangala yaseZifi.+ 3 USawuli wamisa inkamba yakhe eduze komgwaqo, eqaqeni lwaseHakhila oluphambi kweJeshimoni. Ngalesosikhathi uDavida wayehlala enkangala. Wezwa ukuthi uSawuli ulande ukuzomdinga enkangala, 4 yikho wathuma izinhloli ukuze akwazi ukuthi uSawuli ukhona sibili. 5 Ngemva kwesikhathi uDavida waya lapho uSawuli ayemise khona inkamba yakhe njalo wabona lapho okwakulele khona uSawuli lo-Abhineri+ indodana kaNeri, induna yebutho. USawuli wayelele phakathi kwenkamba, amabutho akhe emgombolozele. 6 UDavida wakhuluma lo-Ahimeleki umHithi+ lo-Abhishayi+ indodana kaZeruya,+ umfowabo kaJowabi wathi: “Ngubani ozahamba lami kuSawuli enkambeni?” U-Abhishayi waphendula wathi: “Ngizahamba lawe.” 7 Ngakho ebusuku uDavida lo-Abhishayi baya lapho okwakulamabutho khona. Bathola uSawuli elele phakathi kwenkamba, umkhonto wakhe ugwaze phansi eceleni kwekhanda lakhe. U-Abhineri lamabutho babelele bemgombolozele.

8 U-Abhishayi wathi kuDavida: “Lamuhla uNkulunkulu unikele isitha sakho esandleni sakho.+ Ngicela ungivumele ngimgwaze ngomkhonto ngimhlanganise lomhlabathi, ngizamgwaza kanye kuphela, angisoze ngiphinde.” 9 Kodwa uDavida wathi ku-Abhishayi: “Ungamenzi lutho. Kambe ngubani ongaphakamisa isandla sakhe ahlasele ogcotshiweyo kaJehova+ asale engelacala?”+ 10 UDavida waqhubeka wathi: “Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, uJehova nguye ozambulala+ kumbe ngelinye ilanga+ uzakufa njengabo bonke abantu loba aye empini afele khona.+ 11 Angisoze ngiphakamise isandla sami ngihlasele ogcotshiweyo kaJehova+ ngoba lokho ngeke kumthokozise uJehova. Asithathe umkhonto lo oseceleni kwekhanda lakhe lesigubhu samanzi sihambe.” 12 UDavida wathatha umkhonto lesigubhu samanzi esasiseceleni kwekhanda likaSawuli basuka bahamba. Kakho owababonayo+ kumbe owabananzelelayo loba owaphaphamayo. Bonke babelele ngoba uJehova wayebenze bajunywa yibuthongo obukhulu. 13 UDavida wachapha waya kwelinye icele wayakuma esiqongweni sentaba khatshana labo. Kwakulomango omkhulu phakathi kwabo.

14 UDavida wamemeza amabutho lo-Abhineri+ indodana kaNeri wathi: “Abhineri, kanti awuphenduli!” U-Abhineri waphendula wathi: “Ungubani wena omemeza inkosi?” 15 UDavida wathi ku-Abhineri: “Kanti wena awusiyo ndoda yini? Kambe ngubani onjengawe ko-Israyeli? Manje kungani ungazange uyilinde inkosi yakho? Phela kulebutho elifikileyo lizobulala inkosi yakho.+ 16 Okwenzileyo akulunganga. Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, kumele life ngoba aliyilindanga inkosi yenu, ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.+ Akuthalaze indawo yonke ubone, ungaphi umkhonto wenkosi lesigubhu sayo samanzi+ obekuseceleni kwekhanda layo?”

17 USawuli wezwa ukuthi lilizwi likaDavida wasesithi: “Lilizwi lakho leli yini ndodana yami Davida?”+ UDavida waphendula wathi: “Ye lilizwi lami nkosi yami.” 18 Waqhubeka wathi: “Kanti kungani inkosi yami ixotshanisa inceku yayo?+ Kuyini engikwenzileyo? Ngenze cala bani?+ 19 Nkosi yami, ngicela ulalele amazwi enceku yakho. Nxa kunguJehova okuthume ukuthi ungihlasele, kamukele umnikelo wami wamabele. Kodwa nxa kungabantu abakutshotshozelayo,+ labobantu kabaqalekiswe phambi kukaJehova ngoba lamuhla bangixotshile elifeni likaJehova,+ bathi kimi: ‘Hamba uyekhonza abanye onkulunkulu!’ 20 Khathesi ngicela ukuthi ngingafeli khatshana loJehova. Phela inkosi yako-Israyeli iphume isiyadinga okuyisibungu okuncane okukodwa+ angathi ixotshanisa isikhwehle ezintabeni.”

21 USawuli waphendula wathi: “Ngonile,+ phenduka ndodana yami Davida. Angisoze ngikwenze lutho ngoba lamuhla utshengise ukuthi impilo yami iligugu kuwe.+ Ngenze ubuthutha sibili futhi ngiphambanise kakhulu.” 22 UDavida wathi: “Nanku umkhonto wenkosi. Akubuye ijaha elilodwa lizowuthatha. 23 UJehova nguye ozanika umuntu ngamunye umvuzo wokulunga kwakhe+ lokuthembeka kwakhe. Lamuhla uJehova ukunikele esandleni sami, kodwa bengingafuni ukuhlasela ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.+ 24 Njengoba nje impilo yakho ibe ligugu kimi lamuhla, kwangathi lempilo yami ingaba ligugu kuJehova njalo angikhulule kuzo zonke inhlupho zami.”+ 25 USawuli waphendula uDavida wathi: “Kwangathi ungabusiswa ndodana yami Davida. Uzakwenza izinto ezimangalisayo sibili futhi uzaphumelela kukho konke okwenzayo.”+ UDavida wasuka wahamba, uSawuli wabuyela emzini wakhe.+

27 Kodwa uDavida wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Ngelinye ilanga uSawuli uzangibulala. Kungcono ngibaleke+ ngiye elizweni lamaFilisti. Lapho-ke uSawuli uzadela ukungidinga elizweni lako-Israyeli+ njalo ngizasinda angangibulali.” 2 Ngakho uDavida wasuka lamadoda angu-600+ ayelaye baya ku-Akhishi+ indodana kaMawokhi, inkosi yeGathi. 3 UDavida lamadoda wonke ayelaye bahlala lo-Akhishi eGathi, ngamunye wabo elemuli yakhe. UDavida wayelamakhosikazi amabili, u-Ahinowami+ waseJeziriyeli lo-Abhigeli+ waseKhameli umfelokazi kaNabhali. 4 USawuli wathi etshelwa ukuthi uDavida usebalekele eGathi, wayekela ukumdinga.+

5 UDavida wathi ku-Akhishi: “Nxa ngithole umusa phambi kwakho, ngicela ungiphe indawo emaphandleni lapho engizahlala khona. Kambe inceku yakho isingaze ihlale lawe esigodlweni?” 6 U-Akhishi wanika uDavida iZikhilagi+ ngalelolanga. Yikho iZikhilagi ilokhu ilidolobho lamakhosi akoJuda kuze kube lamuhla.

7 UDavida wahlala elizweni lamaFilisti okomnyaka owodwa lenyanga ezine.+ 8 Wayehamba lamadoda ayelaye bayehlasela amaGeshuri+ lamaGerizi lama-Amaleki.+ Abantu laba babehlala endaweni esukela eThelami kuze kuyefika eShuri,+ kwehle kuyefika eGibhithe. 9 UDavida wayesithi nxa ehlasela abulale bonke abantu angatshiyi ndoda loba umfazi elizweni.+ Kodwa wayethatha izimvu, lenkomo, labobabhemi lamakamela lezigqoko, abesebuyela ku-Akhishi. 10 U-Akhishi wayembuza athi: “Beliyehlasela ngaphi lamuhla?” UDavida abesephendula athi: “Sihlasele eningizimu* yakoJuda”+ kumbe athi, “Sihlasele eningizimu yelizwe lamaJerameli”+ loba athi, “Sihlasele eningizimu yelizwe lamaKheni.”+ 11 UDavida wayengathumbi ndoda loba owesifazana abuye laye eGathi kodwa wayebulala bonke abantu, esithi: “Bangacina bebatshela ngathi bathi, ‘Nanku uDavida akwenzileyo.’” (Lokhu yikho ayekwenza isikhathi sonke ehlala elizweni lamaFilisti.) 12 U-Akhishi wayemkholwa uDavida, athi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Abantu bakibo ko-Israyeli sebemenyanya, yikho uzahlala eyinceku yami.’

28 Ngalezonsuku amaFilisti aqoqa amabutho awo ukuze alwe labako-Israyeli.+ Ngakho u-Akhishi wathi kuDavida: “Angithi uyakwazi ukuthi wena lamadoda olawo lizahamba lami empini?”+ 2 UDavida waphendula wathi: “Ukwazi mhlophe okuzakwenziwa yinceku yakho.” U-Akhishi wasesithi kuye: “Yikho ngizakubeka ukuthi ube ngumlindi wami kokuphela.”+

3 Ngalesosikhathi uSamuyeli wayesefile futhi abako-Israyeli babemlilele bamngcwaba edolobheni lakibo eRama.+ USawuli wayesuse elizweni zonke izangoma labalomoya wokutshela abantu ngekusasa.+

4 AmaFilisti abuthana ayamisa inkamba yawo eShunemi.+ Ngakho uSawuli waqoqa wonke amabutho ako-Israyeli bayamisa inkamba yabo eGilibhowa.+ 5 Wathi ebona inkamba yamaFilisti watshaywa luvalo wesaba kakhulu.+ 6 USawuli wayebuza kuJehova+ kodwa uJehova wayengamphenduli. Kazange amphendule ngamaphupho loba nge-Urimi+ kumbe ngabaphrofethi. 7 USawuli wacina esithi ezincekwini zakhe: “Ake lingidingele owesifazana oyisangoma+ ngihambe ngiyebuza kuye.” Izinceku zakhe zamphendula zathi: “Kulowesifazana oyisangoma e-Eni-dori.”+

8 Ngakho uSawuli wazifihla wagqoka ezinye izembatho waya kowesifazana lo ebusuku elamadoda amabili. Wafika wathi kuye: “Ngicela uhlahlule ubuze emadlozini,+ ungivusele lowo engizakutshela ukuthi umvuse.” 9 Kodwa owesifazana wathi: “Ngithemba uyakwazi lokho okwenziwa nguSawuli. Wasusa izangoma labalomoya wokutshela abantu ngekusasa.+ Manje kungani ufuna ukungithiya ungibulalise?”+ 10 USawuli wafunga kuye ngoJehova wathi: “Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, wena awusoze ube lecala!” 11 Owesifazana wasesithi: “Ufuna ngikuvusele bani?” USawuli wathi: “Ngicela ungivusele uSamuyeli.” 12 Owesifazana wathi ebona “uSamuyeli”*+ wahlaba umkhosi wathi kuSawuli: “Kungani ungiqilile? UnguSawuli wena!” 13 USawuli wasesithi kuye: “Ungesabi, uboneni?” Owesifazana waphendula wathi: “Ngibona umuntu ongathi ngunkulunkulu ephuma emhlabathini.” 14 USawuli waphinda wambuza wathi: “Unjani umuntu wakhona?” Owesifazana wasesithi: “Kuphuma ixhegu eligqoke ijazi elingelamikhono.”+ Ngakho uSawuli wananzelela ukuthi “kwakunguSamuyeli,” waseguqa walala ubuso bakhe bukhangele phansi.

15 “USamuyeli” wathi kuSawuli: “Kanti ungikhathazelani ungivusa?” USawuli waphendula wathi: “Ngisebunzimeni obukhulu. AmaFilisti alwa lami, loNkulunkulu usengitshiyile futhi kasangiphenduli ngabaphrofethi loba ngamaphupho.+ Yikho ngikuvusa ukuze ungitshele okumele ngikwenze.”+

16 “USamuyeli” waphendula wathi: “Manje mina ungibuzelani nxa uJehova esekutshiyile+ futhi eseyisitha sakho? 17 UJehova uzakwenza lokho akukhuluma esebenzisa mina. UJehova uzakuthathela umbuso awuphe omunye wabantu bakini, uDavida.+ 18 UJehova wenza lokhu kuwe lamuhla ngenxa yokuthi awulilalelanga ilizwi likaJehova futhi awuzange uwatshabalalise ama-Amaleki+ ayewathukuthelele. 19 UJehova uzakunikela wena kanye labako-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti+ futhi kusasa wena+ lamadodana akho+ lizabe lilami. UJehova uzanikela ibutho lako-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti.”+

20 USawuli wathi esizwa amazwi “kaSamuyeli” wawa wathi daca phansi njalo wesaba kakhulu. Wayengaselamandla ngoba wayengadlanga ilanga lonke lobusuku bonke. 21 Owesifazana weza kuSawuli njalo wathi ebona ukuthi wethuke kakhulu wathi kuye: “Inceku yakho ikulalele yafaka ukuphila kwayo engozini+ njalo ikwenzile lokho obuyitshele khona. 22 Ngakho khathesi ngicela uyilalele inceku yakho. Ngivumela ngikunike isinkwa, udle ube lamandla ubusuzihambela.” 23 Kodwa uSawuli wala wathi: “Angisoze ngidle.” Izinceku zakhe lowesifazana baqhubeka bemncenga. Ekucineni wabalalela wasukuma wayahlala embhedeni. 24 Owesifazana lo wayelethole elinonileyo. Yikho wahle walithatha walihlaba, wasethatha ifulawa wayivuba wapheka isinkwa esingelamvubelo. 25 Wanika uSawuli lezinceku zakhe badla. Ngemva kwalokho basuka bahamba kusesebusuku.+

29 AmaFilisti+ abuthanisa wonke amabutho awo e-Afekhi, ama-Israyeli wona amisa inkamba yawo eduze lomthombo waseJeziriyeli.+ 2 Amakhosi amaFilisti ayehamba lezinkulungwane zawo lamakhulu awo, uDavida lamadoda ayelawo bona behambela emuva lo-Akhishi.+ 3 Kodwa abakhokheli bamaFilisti bathi: “Kanti amaHebheru la adingani lapha?” U-Akhishi wawaphendula wathi: “Lo nguDavida inceku kaSawuli inkosi yako-Israyeli. Usehlale lami okwesikhathi esedlula umnyaka+ futhi angikatholi lutho olubi kuye kusukela ngelanga abalekela ngalo kimi kuze kube lamuhla.” 4 Kodwa abakhokheli bamaFilisti bamthukuthelela bathi kuye: “Mtshele abuyele emuva,+ kabuyele endaweni owamnika yona. Ungamvumeli ukuthi ahambe lathi empini ngoba angacina esihlamukela nxa sekuliwa.+ Kambe kuyini okunye angathabisa ngakho inkosi yakhe okungedlula ukuyinika amakhanda amabutho ethu? 5 Kanti lo ayisuye yini uDavida ababehlabela ngaye begida besithi:

6 Ngakho u-Akhishi+ wabiza uDavida wathi kuye: “Ngifunga ngoJehova uNkulunkulu ophilayo, wena ulungile futhi kuyangithokozisa ukuthi uhambe lebutho lami empini+ ngoba angitholanga lutho olubi kuwe kusukela ngelanga owafika ngalo kimi kuze kube lamuhla.+ Kodwa amakhosi amaFilisti awakuthembi.+ 7 Yikho buyela ngokuthula njalo ungenzi lutho olungathukuthelisa amakhosi amaFilisti.” 8 Kodwa uDavida wathi ku-Akhishi: “Kuyini engikwenzileyo nkosi yami? Yikuphi okubi owakuthola encekwini yakho kusukela ngelanga eyafika ngalo kuwe kuze kube lamuhla? Kungani kungamelanga ngihambe lawe ngiyekulwa lezitha zenkosi yami?” 9 U-Akhishi waphendula wathi: “Kimi ulunge njengengilosi kaNkulunkulu.+ Kodwa abakhokheli bamaFilisti bathe, ‘Ungamvumeli ahambe lathi empini.’ 10 Yikho wena lezinceku zenkosi yakho ezibuye lawe kumele livuke kusesele, besekusithi nxa sekuqalisa nje ukukhanya lisuke lizihambele.”

11 Ngakho uDavida lamadoda ayelawo bavuka ekuseni kakhulu babuyela elizweni lamaFilisti, amaFilisti wona aya eJeziriyeli.+

30 UDavida lamadoda ayelaye bathi befika eZikhilagi+ ngelanga lesithathu, ama-Amaleki+ ayesehlasele iNegebhi* leZikhilagi futhi athungela iZikhilagi ngomlilo. 2 Ayethumbe abesifazana+ labo bonke abantu ababeseZikhilagi, kusukela komncane kusiya komdala. Ayengabulalanga muntu kodwa ayethumbe bonke abantu ahamba labo. 3 UDavida lamadoda ayelaye bathola idolobho litshiswe ngomlilo. Amakhosikazi abo, lamadodana lamadodakazi abo babethunjiwe. 4 Ngakho uDavida lamabutho akhe basiqhinqa isililo baze basala bengaselamandla okukhala. 5 Kwakuthunjwe lamakhosikazi kaDavida amabili, u-Ahinowami waseJeziriyeli lo-Abhigeli umfelokazi kaNabhali waseKhameli.+ 6 Amadoda ayeloDavida athi kumele akhandwe ngamatshe ngoba wonke ayesizwa ubuhlungu ngenxa yokuthi amadodana lamadodakazi awo ayengasekho. Yikho uDavida wakhathazeka kakhulu kodwa wayelokhu eziqinisa ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe.+

7 UDavida wathi ku-Abhiyatha+ umphristi, indodana ka-Ahimeleki: “Ngicela usondele lapha le-efodi.”+ Ngakho u-Abhiyatha wasondela le-efodi kuDavida. 8 UDavida wasebuza kuJehova wathi:+ “Ngiwalandele yini amabutho asihlaseleyo? Ngizawathola yini?” Yena wamphendula wathi: “Alandele ngoba uzawathola loba sekutheni futhi uzakuthatha konke akuthumbileyo.”+

9 UDavida wahle wasuka lamadoda angu-600+ ayelaye, bahamba baze bayafika esihotsheni* saseBhesori lapho abanye babo abasala khona. 10 Kwasala amadoda angu-200 ayesedinwe kakhulu engasenelisi ukudabula isihotsha saseBhesori.+ Ngakho uDavida waqhubeka elandela isitha elamabutho angu-400.

11 Bathola indoda engumGibhithe egangeni basebeyithatha bayisa kuDavida. Bayinika ukudla lamanzi okunatha, 12 locezwana lwekhekhe elenziwe ngamakhiwane, lamakhekhe amabili enziwe ngamagilebisi awonyisiweyo. Yathi isidlile yaba lamandla ngoba yayisilensuku ezintathu lobusuku obuthathu ingadli lutho futhi inganathi amanzi. 13 UDavida wabuza indoda leyo wathi: “Ungowangaphi wena futhi uvela ngaphi?” Yaphendula yathi: “NgingumGibhithe, ngiyisigqili senye indoda engum-Amaleki. Inkosi yami ingitshiyile ngoba ngisuke ngagula ensukwini ezintathu ezidlulileyo. 14 Sihlasele eningizimu* yelizwe lamaKherethi,+ laselizweni lakoJuda kanye laseningizimu* yeKhalebhi,+ iZikhilagi sayitshisa ngomlilo.” 15 UDavida wasesithi kuyo: “Ungayangitshengisa yini lapho okulamabutho enu khona?” Yona yaphendula yathi: “Ngizahamba lawe ngiyekutshengisa nxa ungafunga ngoNkulunkulu ukuthi awusoze ungibulale kumbe unginikele enkosini yami.”

16 Ngakho indoda le yahamba loDavida lapho amabutho ayehlezi khona egcwele indawo yonke, esidla futhi enatha. Ayethokoza ngenxa yokuthi ayethumbe impahla enengi elizweni lamaFilisti lelakoJuda. 17 UDavida wawahlasela ekuseni kusesemnyama wawabulala kwaze kwaba ntambama. Akulamuntu owaphunyukayo+ ngaphandle kwamadoda angu-400 abaleka egade amakamela. 18 UDavida wakuthatha konke okwakuthunjwe ngama-Amaleki,+ wathatha lamakhosikazi akhe amabili. 19 Bonke abantu ababethunjiwe babekhona, kusukela komncane kusiya komdala. Bathola amadodana lamadodakazi abo kanye lempahla eyayithunjiwe.+ UDavida wakuthola konke okwakuthunjiwe, 20 wathatha layo yonke imihlambi yezimvu leyenkomo. Bafaka imihlambi le phambi kweyabo bayiqhuba bahamba layo besithi: “Le yimpahla ethunjwe nguDavida.”

21 UDavida wabuyela emadodeni angu-200 ayesele esihotsheni saseBhesori,+ lawo angazange enelise ukuhamba loDavida ngenxa yokudinwa. Amadoda la aphuma esiyahlangabeza uDavida labantu ayesiza labo. Wathi efika kuwo wawabingelela wawabuza impilo. 22 Kodwa amadoda ayelenhliziyo ezimbi futhi ayengelancedo ayephakathi kwalawo ayehambe loDavida athi: “Asisoze sibanike lutho empahleni esiyitholileyo ngenxa yokuthi abazange bahambe lathi. Ngamunye wabo angathatha inkosikazi yakhe lamadodana akhe kuphela azihambele.” 23 Kodwa uDavida wathi: “Hatshi bafowethu, akumelanga lenze njalo ngalokho uJehova asiphe khona. Usivikele wanikela esandleni sethu amabutho abesihlasele.+ 24 Kambe ngubani ongavumelana lalokho elifuna ukukwenza? Lokho okuzaphiwa umuntu ohambe empini kumele kulingane lalokho okuzaphiwa lowo osele elinde impahla.+ Bonke bazathola impahla elinganayo.”+ 25 Kusukela ngalelolanga lokho kwaba ngumthetho wabako-Israyeli futhi yikho abalokhu bekulandela kuze kube lamuhla.

26 UDavida wathi esefike eZikhilagi wathatha enye impahla ababeyithumbile wayithumezela abadala bakoJuda ababengabangane bakhe. Wathi: “Nansi isipho engilinika sona engisithethe empahleni ethunjwe ezitheni zikaJehova.” 27 Wathumela kulabo ababeseBhetheli,+ laseRamothi eseNegebhi,* laseJathiri,+ 28 lase-Aroweri, laseSifimothi, lase-Eshithemowa,+ 29 laseRakhali, lakulabo abasemadolobheni amaJerameli,+ lasemadolobheni amaKheni,+ 30 laseHoma,+ laseBhorashani, lase-Athakhi, 31 laseHebroni+ lakuzo zonke indawo uDavida lamadoda ayelaye ababeke babhodabhoda kuzo.

31 Ngalesosikhathi amaFilisti ayesilwa labako-Israyeli.+ Amadoda ako-Israyeli abaleka, kwabulawa amabutho awo amanengi entabeni iGilibhowa.+ 2 AmaFilisti amhlala izithende uSawuli lamadodana akhe, abulala amadodana akhe+ uJonathani+ lo-Abhinadabi loMalikhi-shuwa. 3 Impi yatshisa kwaba nzima kuSawuli, abatshoka imitshoko bamthola bamlimaza kakhulu.+ 4 USawuli wasetshela inceku yakhe eyayimthwalela izikhali wathi: “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungigwaze ukuze amadoda la angasokanga+ angafiki angigwaze angenze isihluku.” Kodwa inceku yakhe yayingafuni ngoba yayisesaba kakhulu. Ngakho uSawuli wathatha inkemba yakhe wawela phezu kwayo.+ 5 Inceku eyayimthwalela izikhali yathi ibona ukuthi uSawuli usefile,+ layo yathatha inkemba yayo yawela phezu kwayo yafa laye. 6 Ngakho uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu lenceku eyayimthwalela izikhali kanye lazo zonke izinceku zakhe bafa ngalelolanga.+ 7 Abantu bako-Israyeli ababehlala esigodini lasemangweni waseJodani bathi benanzelela ukuthi amadoda ako-Israyeli abalekile empini lokuthi uSawuli lamadodana akhe basebefile, baphuma emadolobheni abo babaleka,+ amaFilisti asebuya ahlala kuwo.

8 Ngelanga elilandelayo amaFilisti athi esezothatha impahla yalabo ababebulewe, athola uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu befile entabeni iGilibhowa.+ 9 Yikho amquma ikhanda, amkhipha izigqoko zakhe zempi* asethumela ilizwi kulo lonke ilizwe lamaFilisti+ ukuthi lokho kubikwe ezindlini zezithombe* zawo+ lasebantwini. 10 Afaka izigqoko zakhe zempi endlini yezithombe zika-Ashithorethi, abethela isidumbu sakhe emdulini weBhethi-shani.+ 11 Izakhamizi zeJabheshi-giliyadi+ zakuzwa lokho amaFilisti ayekwenze uSawuli. 12 Ngakho wonke amaqhawe asuka ahamba ubusuku bonke, afika ethula isidumbu sikaSawuli lezamadodana akhe emdulini weBhethi-shani. Ngemva kwalokho abuyela eJabheshi afika azitshisa. 13 Athatha amathambo abo+ ayawangcwaba ngaphansi kwesihlahla somthamariski eJabheshi,+ asezila ukudla okwamalanga ayisikhombisa.