Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, ama-Israyeli afulathela uJehova godu, athoma ukulotjha abozimu bamala. BakwaMidiyani bawatlhorisa iminyaka elikhomba yoke. Bebawebela iinlwana, bamotjha neentjalo zawo. Ama-Israyeli abaleka kwaMidiyani, ayozifihla emirhobeni neentabeni. Abawa isizo kuJehova. UJehova wathumela ingilozi kwelinye isokana ekuthiwa nguGidiyoni. Ingilozi yathi: ‘UJehova ukhethe wena bona ube lisotja eliyikakaramba.’ UGidiyoni wabuza ukuthi: ‘Ngizomsindisa njani u-Israyeli? Angisililitho mina.’

Bekazokwazi njani uGidiyoni bona uJehova umkhethile? Wabeka uboya obuncani phasi ehlabathini wathi kuJehova: ‘Ekuseni, uboyobu nabungaba manzi kodwana ihlabathi yome ngizokwazi ukuthi ufuna ngisindise ama-Israyeli.’ Ekuseni uboyoba bebumanzi tepu kodwana ihlabathi yomile! Nakilokho uGidiyoni wafuna obunye ubufakazi. Wabawa ukuthi ekuseni ngelanga elilandelako, uboya bome kodwana ihlabathi ithambe. Kwathi nakwenzeka lokho, uGidiyoni waqiniseka bona kwamambala uJehova umkhethile. Wahlanganisa ibutho lakhe bona liyokulwa nebakwaMidiyani.

UJehova wathi kuGidiyoni: ‘Ama-Israyeli ngizowenza ahlule. Kodwana njengombana unebutho elinengi kangaka, bangacabanga bona ngilo elithumbileko. Tjela woke umuntu othukiweko abuyele ekhaya.’ Amasotja azii-22 000 abuyela ekhaya, kwasala azii-10 000. UJehova wathi: ‘Basese banengi. Khamba nabo emlanjeni, ubatjele basele amanzi bese ukhetha labo abatjheja amanaba nabaselako.’ Kwaba madoda ama-300 kwaphela ebekatjheja amanaba lokha nakaselako. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi amadoda ambalwa lawo, ngiwo azokuhlula ibutho lakwaMidiyani elinamasotja azii-135 000.

Ngobusukobo, uJehova wathi kuGidiyoni: ‘Lesi sikhathi sokusahlela kwaMidiyani!’ UGidiyoni wanikela ibutho lakhe iimpalapala nemijeka emikhulu eneenkesi ngaphakathi. Wathi: ‘Niqale mina begodu nenze njengombana ngenza.’ UGidiyoni wavuthela ipalapalakhe, waphadlha umjekakhe phasi, waphaya isibani sakhe, warhuwelela wathi: ‘Isabula kaJehova neyakaGidiyoni!’ Woke amadoda ama-300 enza okufanako. BakwaMidiyani bathukwa bahlengezela, babaleka bazala ummango. Basahlangahlangene njalo, bathoma ukusahlelana bona ngokwabo. Nakilokho, uJehova wawasiza ama-Israyeli bona ahlule amanabawo.

U-Elikhana mIsrayeli obekanabafazi ababili, uHana noPhenina kodwana bekathanda uHana khulu. UPhenina bekahlala ahleka uHana ngombana uHana bekayinyumba kanti yena anabantwana abanengi. Unyaka nonyaka, u-Elikhana bekathatha umndenakhe bayokuthandaza ethaberinakelini leTjhilo. Kwathi ngesinye isikhathi nabalapho, u-Elikhana wabona isithandwa sakhe uHana sitlhuwile. Wathi: ‘Ngibawa ungalili Hana. Unami begodu ngiyakuthanda.’

Kamva, uHana wakhamba yedwa wayokuthandaza. Wabhalelwa kuzibamba, wathoma walila njengombana abawa isizo kuJehova. Wenza isithembiso wathi: ‘Jehova, nawungangipha indodana, ngizoyibuyisela kuwe begodu izokulotjha ipilwayo yoke.’

UmPhristi oPhakemeko, u-Eli, wambona anesibibithwana nomlomakhe usikinyeka, wacabanga ukuthi udakiwe. UHana waphendula wathi: ‘Awa kosami, angikadakwa. Ngigandelelekile begodu ngikhuluma noJehova ngalokho.’ U-Eli wabona ukuthi wenze umtjhapho, wathi kuye: ‘Kwanga uJehova angakupha okubawileko.’ UHana wazizwa angcono wakhamba. Kungakapheli nonyaka, waba nendodana wayithiya ngokuthi nguSamyela. Ucabanga ukuthi uHana bekathabe kangangani?

UHana akhenge asilibale isithembiso asenze kuJehova. Wathi nakaqeda ukulumula uSamyela, wamusa ethaberinakeli bona ayokuhlala khona, alotjhe uZimu. Watjela u-Eli wathi: ‘Lo, msana engambawa ngomthandazo. Uzakusebenzela uJehova ukuphila kwakhe koke.’ U-Elikhana noHana bebavakatjhela uSamyela unyaka nonyaka, bamlethele ijasana etja. UJehova wapha uHana amanye amadodana amathathu namadodakazi amabili.