18. (a) Kuyini okwakungabe kusenza ukuthi uModekhayi ale ukukhothamela uHamani? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.) (b) Lamuhla amadoda labesifazana abalokholo bamlingisela njani uModekhayi?

¹⁸ Kwakulendoda okwakuthiwa nguHamani eyaphiwa isikhundla esiphezulu esigodlweni sika-Ahasuweru. Yayisilesikhundla esilandela inkosi embusweni njalo yayisiyinduna enkulu yenkosi lomeluleki wayo omkhulu. Inkosi yaze yakhipha umthetho wokuthi loba ngubani owayebona induna le kwakumele ayikhothamele. (Esta. 3:1-4) Kodwa umthetho lo wawulukhunyana kuModekhayi. Wayeyilalela sibili inkosi kodwa wayengeke adanise uNkulunkulu. UHamani wayengum-Agagi. Lokhu kungabe kusitsho ukuthi wayengowosendo luka-Agagi, inkosi yama-Amaleki eyabulawa ngumphrofethi uSamuyeli ethunywe nguNkulunkulu. (1 Sam. 15:33) Ama-Amaleki ayexhwale kakhulu okokuthi acina eseyizitha zikaJehova lama-Israyeli. UNkulunkulu wayethe isizwe lesi sitshabalaliswe.c (Dute. 25:19) AkulamJuda othembekileyo owayengakhothamela um-Amaleki. Yikho uModekhayi laye wala wajeka intaba. Lalamuhla kulamadoda labesifazana ababhejela ukufa kulokuthi bephule isimiso lesi esithi: “Simele silalele uNkulunkulu kulokulalela abantu!”—ImiSeb. 5:29.