Isithembiso SikaJefitha

Ama-Israyeli aphinda amtshiya uJehova aqalisa ukukhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Onkulunkulu labo abazange bawavikele ama-Israyeli lapho ama-Amoni ezokulwa lawo. Ama-Amoni awathwalisa nzima okweminyaka eminengi. Ama-Israyeli acina esithi kuJehova: ‘Sonile. Sicela usikhulule ezitheni zethu.’ Adiliza izithombe zawo aqalisa ukukhonza uJehova. UJehova wayengafuni ukuwabona ehlupheka.

Isotsha okuthiwa nguJefitha lakhethwa ukuthi likhokhele ama-Israyeli esiyakulwa lama-Amoni. UJefitha wathi kuJehova: ‘Nxa ungangenza nginqobe, ngizakunika loba ngubani ozaphuma kuqala endlini yami ezongihlangabeza nxa sengibuyela ekhaya.’ UJehova wawuphendula umthandazo kaJefitha ngokwenza ukuthi anqobe.

UJefitha wathi efika ekhaya, indodakazi yakhe eyiyo yodwa yaphuma kuqala izomhlangabeza futhi yayigida. UJefitha wayezakwenzani? Wakhumbula isithembiso sakhe wathi: ‘Ndodakazi yami, ungizwise ubuhlungu. Ngenze isithembiso kuJehova. Ukuze ngisigcine, kumele ngikuhambise uyekhonza ethabanikeli eShilo.’ Kodwa indodakazi yakhe yathi: ‘Baba, nxa wenze isithembiso kuJehova kumele usigcine. Ngicela ukuthi ngiqale ngiye ezintabeni lamankazana angabangane bami ukuze ngiyekuba labo okwezinyanga ezimbili.’ Indodakazi kaJefitha yakhonza ethabanikeli okwempilo yayo yonke futhi yayithembekile kuJehova. Abangane bayo babeyivakatshela minyaka yonke.