Setsembiso SaJeftha

Ema-Israyeli aphindze amhlubuka Jehova acala kukhonta labanye bonkulunkulu. Ngesikhatsi ema-Amoni ahlasela ema-Israyeli kute lokwentiwa ngulabonkulunkulu kuze bawasite. Ema-Israyeli ahlupheka sikhatsi lesidze. Ekugcineni atsi kuJehova: ‘Sonile. Sicela umane usisindzise etitseni tetfu.’ Ema-Israyeli atibhidlita letitfombe tawo abuyela akhonta Jehova. Jehova abengafuni kuwabona achubeka ahlupheka.

Lichawe lekutsiwa nguJeftha lakhetfwa kutsi libe ngumholi wemphi ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli alwa nema-Amoni. Latsi kuJehova: ‘Nangabe utawusisita sincobe, ngetsembisa kutsi nobe ngubani lotawuphuma kucala emnyango wendlu yami angihlangabete nangibuya ngitawunikela ngaye kuwe.’ Jehova wawulalela umthantazo waJeftha futsi wamsita wancoba kulemphi.

Nakafika ekhaya Jeftha, umuntfu wekucala lowamhlangabeta bekuyindvodzakati yakhe, lebekukuphela kwemntfwana labekanaye. Beyijayiva futsi idlala ithamborine. Bekatawenta njani Jeftha? Wakhumbula setsembiso sakhe watsi: ‘Awu ndvodzakati yami! Uyephulile inhlitiyo yami. Ngente setsembiso kuJehova. Kuze ngifeze lesifungo kufanele uyosebentela Jehova ethendeni lekukhontela leliseShilo.’ Kepha lendvodzakati yakhe yatsi kuye: ‘Babe, nangabe wente setsembiso kuJehova, kufanele usifeze. Ngicela kuya etintsabeni tinyanga letimbili ngikanye nemantfombatana labangani bami. Ngitawubese ngiyahamba.’ Indvodzakati yaJeftha yakhonta ngekwetsembeka ethempelini kuphila kwayo konkhe. Njalo ngemnyaka, bangani bayo bebaya kuyoyivakashela eShilo.