Incwadi YeBhayibhile 9—1 Samuweli

Ababhali: NguSamuweli, nguGadi, nguNatan

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: KwaSirayeli

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowe-1078 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Malunga nowe-1180–1078 B.C.E.

1. Yiyiphi inguqulelo enkulu kulungelelwaniso lohlanga lwamaSirayeli eyenzekayo ngowe-1117 B.C.E., kwaye ziziphi iimeko ezaziza kulandela emva koko?

NGONYAKA we-1117 B.C.E., kwabakho inguqulelo ebalulekileyo ekulungelelanisweni kohlanga lwamaSirayeli. Kwamiselwa ukumkani ongumntu! Oku kwenzeka ngoxa uSamuweli wayekhonza njengomprofeti kaYehova kwaSirayeli. Nangona uYehova wayeyaze kwangaphambili kwaye eyixele kwangaphambili, sekunjalo le nguqulelo yokuba kubekho ubukumkani, njengoko yayifunwa ngabantu bakwaSirayeli, yamkhwankqisa uSamuweli. Njengoko wayenikelwe kwinkonzo kaYehova kwasekuzalweni kwakhe, kwaye njengoko wayekugqala ngentlonelo enzulu ukuba ngukumkani kukaYehova, uSamuweli wayibona kusengaphambili imiphumo eyintlekele kumalungu angoowabo ohlanga olungcwele lukaThixo. Kwaba ngenxa yolwalathiso lukaYehova kuphela le nto uSamuweli wathi wanikezela kwiimfuno zabo. “USamuweli walithetha ebantwini isiko lobukumkani, walibhala encwadini, walibeka phambi koYehova.” (1 Sam. 10:25) Ngaloo ndlela laphela ixesha labagwebi, kwaza kwaqalisa ixesha lookumkani abangabantu awayeza kuthi ngalo amaSirayeli abe negunya newonga elingenakuthelekiswa nanto, suka nje ekugqibeleni ahlazeke aze aphulukane nenkoliseko kaYehova.

2. Ngoobani ababhala eyokuQala kaSamuweli, kwaye ziziphi iimfaneleko ababenazo?

² Ngubani owayeya kukufanelekela ukwenza ingxelo engokobuthixo yeli xesha libalulekileyo? Ngokufanelekileyo, uYehova wakhetha uSamuweli othembekileyo ukuba aqalise ukubhala ingxelo. Igama elithi Samuweli lithetha “Igama LikaThixo,” ibe ngaloo mihla wayebalasele ngokwenene njengomphakamisi wegama likaYehova. Kuyabonakala ukuba uSamuweli wabhala izahluko zokuqala ezingama-24 zale ncwadi. Kwathi ke, ekufeni kwakhe, uGadi noNatan basusela apho ukubhala, begqibezela iminyaka embalwa yokugqibela yengxelo ukuhla ukuza kufikelela ekufeni kukaSawule. Oku kuboniswa yeyoku-1 yeziKronike 29:29, efundeka ngolu hlobo: “Izinto zikaDavide ukumkani, ezokuqala nezokuphela, nanzo zibhaliwe emicimbini kaSamuweli imboni, nasemicimbini kaNatan umprofeti, nasemicimbini kaGadi imboni.” Ngokungafaniyo neyooKumkani neyeziKronike, iincwadi zikaSamuweli phantse azibhekiseli kwiingxelo zangaphambilana, ibe ngaloo ndlela uSamuweli, uGadi noNatan ababephila noDavide baqinisekiswa njengababhali. Omathathu la madoda ayephathiswe izikhundla zokuba ngabaprofeti bakaYehova kwaye ayeluchasile unqulo lwezithixo olwalulwenze lwaphelelwa ngamandla olu hlanga.

3. (a)Kwenzeka njani ukuba eyokuQala kaSamuweli ibe yincwadi yeBhayibhile eyahlukileyo? (b) Yagqitywa nini, kwaye liliphi ixesha eligubungelayo?

³ Ekuqaleni iincwadi ezimbini zikaSamuweli zazingumsongo okanye umqulu omnye. Ekushicilelweni kwale nxalenye yeSeptuagint yesiGrike, ekaSamuweli yahlulahlulwa yaziincwadi ezimbini. KwiSeptuagint, eyokuQala kaSamuweli yayibizwa ngokuba yeyokuQala yeziKumkani. Oku kwahlulwa kwayo negama elithi eyokuQala yooKumkani kwasetyenziswa kwiBhayibhile yesiLatini eyiVulgate kwaye kuyaqhubeka kusetyenziswa kwiiBhayibhile zamaKatolika unanamhla. Into yokuba eyokuQala neyesiBini kaSamuweli ekuqaleni zaziyincwadi enye iboniswa ngumbhalo weMasora obhekisela kweyoku-1 kaSamuweli 28:24, obonisa ukuba le ndinyana isembindini wencwadi kaSamuweli. Kubonakala ukuba le ncwadi yagqitywa malunga nowe-1078 B.C.E. Ngenxa yoko kunokwenzeka ukuba eyokuQala kaSamuweli igubungela ithuba leminyaka engaphezulu nje kancinane kwelikhulu, ukususela malunga nowe-1180 kuse kowe-1078 B.C.E.

4. Ukuchana kwengxelo ekweyokuQala kaSamuweli kuye kwaxhaswa njani?

⁴ Kukho ubungqina obuninzi obumayela nokuchana kwale ngxelo. Ukuma komhlaba kungqinelana neziganeko ezichaziweyo. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, ukuyihlasela ngokunempumelelo kukaYonatan imikhosi yamaFilisti eMikmas, okwakhokelela ekubeni amaFilisti oyiswe ngokupheleleyo, kwaphindwa ngeMfazwe Yehlabathi I ngumphathi-mkhosi waseBritani, ekunikelwa ingxelo yokuba waboyisa abemi baseTurkey ngokuhlolisisa ubume balo mmandla obuchazwe kwingxelo ephefumlelweyo kaSamuweli.—14:4-14.a

5. Ababhali beBhayibhile babungqinela njani ubunyaniso beyokuQala kaSamuweli?

⁵ Noko ke, kukho ubungqina obungakumbi obubonisa ukuba le ncwadi iphefumlelwe kwaye iyinyaniso. Iqulethe inzaliseko ekhwankqisayo yesiprofeto sikaYehova sokuba amaSirayeli ayeya kucela ukumkani. (Dut. 17:14; 1 Sam. 8:5) Kwiminyaka kamva, uHoseya wayiqinisekisa ingxelo yayo, ecaphula uYehova njengowayesithi, “Ndikunika ookumkani ndinomsindo, ndibathabathe ngokuphuphuma kwawo.” (Hos. 13:11) UPetros wayethetha ukuba ekaSamuweli yayiphefumlelwe xa wachaza uSamuweli njengomprofeti ‘owayeyixele ngokucacileyo imihla’ kaYesu. (IZe. 3:24) Xa wayebalaselisa ngokufutshane imbali yamaSirayeli uPawulos wacaphula eyoku-1 kaSamuweli 13:14. (IZe. 13:20-22) NoYesu wayigxininisa into yokuba le ngxelo iyinyaniso ngokubuza abaFarisi bomhla wakhe oku: “Aniyilesanga na into awayenzayo uDavide, xa walambayo?” Wandula ke wabalisa ingxelo engokucela kukaDavide isonka esibekwa phambi koThixo. (Mat. 12:1-4; 1 Sam. 21:1-6) NoEzra wayamkela njengeyinyaniso le ngxelo, njengoko sele kukhankanyiwe.—1 Kron. 29:29.

6. Bubuphi obunye ubungqina obuseBhayibhileni obubonisa ubunyaniso beyokuQala kaSamuweli?

⁶ Ekubeni le iyingxelo yokuqala yemisebenzi kaDavide, zonke iindawo akhankanywa kuzo uDavide kwiZibhalo ziphela ziqinisekisa ukuba incwadi kaSamuweli iyinxalenye yeLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo. Zimbi zeziganeko zayo kude kubhekiselwe kuzo kwimibhalo yeendumiso zikaDavide, njengakwiNdumiso 59 (1 Sam. 19:11), INdumiso 34 (1 Sam. 21:13, 14) neNdumiso 142 (1 Sam. 22:1 okanye 1 Sam. 24:1, 3). Ngaloo ndlela, ubungqina obungaphakathi kwiLizwi likaThixo bungqina ngokupheleleyo ukuba eyokuQala kaSamuweli iyinyaniso.

OKUQULETHWE YEYOKUQALA KASAMUWELI

7. Imbali ekule ncwadi imayela nobomi baziphi iinkokeli zakwaSirayeli?

⁷ Ngokuyinxenye okanye ngokupheleleyo le ncwadi igubungela amaxesha okudla ubomi kweenkokeli ezine zakwaSirayeli: uEli umbingeleli omkhulu, uSamuweli umprofeti, uSawule ukumkani wokuqala noDavide owathanjiswa ukuba abe ngukumkani olandelayo.

8. Ziziphi iimeko ezibangela ukuzalwa kukaSamuweli nezibangela ukuba abe ‘ngumlungiseleli kaYehova’?

⁸ Ukugweba kukaEli noSamuweli oselula (1:1–4:22). Njengoko le ngxelo iqalisa, sichazelwa ngoHana, umfazi oyintanda kaElikana, umLevi. Akanabantwana kwaye omnye umfazi kaElikana, uPenina uyamhleka ngenxa yoku. Ngoxa intsapho ikolunye lwamatyelelo ayo aminyaka le okuya eShilo, apho ikhoyo ityeya yomnqophiso kaYehova, uHana uthandaza ngokunyanisekileyo kuYehova ukuba amphe unyana. Uthembisa ukuba ukuba umthandazo wakhe uphenduliwe, uya kumnikela loo mntwana kwinkonzo kaYehova. UThixo uyawuphendula umthandazo wakhe, kwaye uzala unyana, uSamuweli. Ngokukhawuleza akuba emlumlile, umzisa endlwini kaYehova aze amnikele kumbingeleli omkhulu, uEli, ukuba amnyamekele ‘njengoceliweyo kuYehova.’ (1:28) Wandula ke uHana avakalise indlela avakalelwa ngayo ngengoma yemincili yombulelo neyolonwabo. Le nkwenkwe iba ‘ngumlungiseleli kaYehova phambi kukaEli umbingeleli.’—2:11.

9. Kwenzeka njani ukuba uSamuweli abe ngumprofeti kwaSirayeli?

⁹ Izinto azimhambeli kakuhle uEli. Selekhulile, kwaye oonyana bakhe ababini baye baba ngamatshijolo nje ‘angamaziyo uYehova.’ (2:12) Basebenzisa isikhundla sabo sobubingeleli ukwanelisa ukubawa neenkanuko zabo zokuziphatha okubi. UEli akabalungisi. Ngoko ke uYehova uthumela izigidimi ezingokobuthixo nxamnye nendlu kaEli, elumkisa ngokuba ‘akuyi kubakho ngwevu endlwini yakhe’ nokuba bobabini oonyana bakaEli baya kufa ngamini-nye. (1 Sam. 2:30-34; 1 Kum. 2:27) Ekugqibeleni, uthumela kuEli inkwenkwana enguSamuweli inesigidimi somgwebo esilumezayo. Ngaloo ndlela uSamuweli oselula umiselwa njengomprofeti kwaSirayeli.—1 Sam. 3:1, 11.

10. UYehova uwuphumeza njani umgwebo kwindlu kaEli?

¹⁰ Ngexesha elifanelekileyo uYehova uphumeza lo mgwebo ngokuzisa amaFilisti. Njengoko amaSirayeli esoyiswa edabini, ekhwaza ngelizwi elikhulu, amaSirayeli asusa ityeya yomnqophiso eseShilo eyizisa kumnquba wawo womkhosi. Esiva umkhwazo kwaye eqonda ukuba iTyeya iziswe ngaphakathi kumnquba wamaSirayeli, amaFilisti alwa ngamandla ngakumbi aze oyise ngokukhwankqisayo, ewoyisa ngokupheleleyo amaSirayeli. ITyeya iyathinjwa, kwaye oonyana bakaEli bobabini bayafa. Intliziyo kaEli iba buhlungu xa esiva le ngxelo. Kwakukhankanywa iTyeya, uwela ngasemva kwisihlalo sakhe aze afe ngenxa yokwaphuka ilungu lentamo. Iphela ngaloo ndlela ke iminyaka yakhe engama-40 yokuba ngumgwebi. Ngokwenyaniso, “Uzuko lumkile kwaSirayeli,” kuba iTyeya imela ubukho bukaYehova kubantu bakhe.—4:22.

11. ITyeya ingqineka njani ukuba ayilokhubalo nje lomlingo?

¹¹ USamuweli uba ngumgwebi wamaSirayeli (5:1–7:17). Ngoku namaFilisti amele afunde kabuhlungu ukuba ityeya kaYehova ayimele isetyenziswe njengekhubalo lomlingo. Xa iTyeya eyithabathela kwitempile kaDagon eseAshdode, uthixo wawo uwa ngobuso. Ngosuku olulandelayo kwakhona uDagon uwa ngobuso emgubasini, ngeli xesha intloko nezandla zakhe zinqumkile. Oku kubangela ukuqaliswa koqheliselo lwenkolo yamaFilisti lokuba ‘kunganyathelwa emgubasini womnyango wendlu kaDagon.’ (5:5) Ngokukhawuleza amaFilisti ayisa eGati iTyeya andule ke ayise e-Ekron kodwa konke oko akuncedi nganto! Angcungcuthekiswa ngokuphanziswa, ngamathumba nangesibetho seempuku. Ziphelelwe lithemba njengoko ukufa kusanda, izikhulu ezimanyeneyo zamaFilisti ziyibuyisela kwaSirayeli iTyeya ikwinqwelo entsha etsalwa ziimazi zeenkomo ezimbini ezanyisayo. EBhete-shemeshe wambi amaSirayeli ehlelwa yintlekele ngenxa yokuba aye akhangela kwiTyeya. (1 Sam. 6:19; Num. 4:6, 20) Ekugqibeleni, iTyeya ihlaliswa endlwini ka-Abhinadabhi kwisixeko sabaLevi saseKiriyati-yeharim.

12. Ziziphi iintsikelelo ezingumphumo wokumela kukaSamuweli unqulo olufanelekileyo?

¹² Kangangeminyaka engama-20 iTyeya ihleli endlwini ka-Abhinadabhi. USamuweli, okhulele ebudodeni, ubongoza amaSirayeli ukuba ayiphanzise imifanekiso eqingqiweyo kaBhahali neka-Ashtaroti aze akhonze uYehova ngentliziyo yawo iphela. Oku ayakwenza. Njengoko ehlanganisana eMizpa ukuza kunqula, izikhulu ezimanyeneyo zamaFilisti zisebenzisa eli thuba ukwenza idabi kwaye ziwahlasela amaSirayeli engalindelanga. AmaSirayeli acela uncedo kuYehova ngoSamuweli. Isandi esikhulu seendudumo esivela kuYehova siwenza amaFilisti adideke, kwaye amaSirayeli, omelezwe lidini nangumthandazo, oyisa ngokutshabalalisayo. Ukususela ngelo xesha kuse phambili, “sachasana namaFilisti isandla sikaYehova yonke imihla kaSamuweli.” (7:13) Noko ke, uSamuweli akakhange arhoxe kwisigxina sakhe. Ngalo lonke ixesha lokudla kwakhe ubomi uhlala engumgwebi wamaSirayeli, minyaka le esenza utyelelo lokusuka eRama, kumntla nje weYerusalem, ukuya eBheteli, eGiligali naseMizpa. ERama wakhela uYehova isibingelelo.

13. AmaSirayeli amcekisa njani uYehova njengoKumkani, kwaye uSamuweli ulumkisa ngayiphi imiphumo?

¹³ Ukumkani wokuqala wamaSirayeli, uSawule (8:1–12:25). USamuweli uye waluphala esenkonzweni kaYehova, kodwa oonyana bakhe abahambi ngeendlela zikayise, kuba bayanyotywa kwaye bayalugqwetha ugwebo. Ngeli xesha amadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli aya kuSamuweli efuna oku: “Simisele ngoko ukumkani wokusilawula, njengeentlanga ezi zonke.” (8:5) Ekhathazeke kakhulu, uSamuweli uya kuYehova ngomthandazo. UYehova uyaphendula athi: ‘Asinguwe abamgibileyo, bagibe mna, ukuze ndingabi ngukumkani kubo. Liphulaphule ngoko izwi labo.’ (8:7-9) Phofu ke, kuqala uSamuweli umele abalumkise ngemiphumo eyintlekele yesicelo sabo semvukelo eyile: impatho engqongqo, ukurhafiswa, ukuphulukana nenkululeko kwaye ekugqibeleni ukuba buhlungu kakhulu nokulilela uYehova. Bengajiki kwiminqweno yabo, abantu bafuna ukumkani.

14. Kwenzeka njani ukuba uSawule amiselwe njengokumkani?

¹⁴ Ngoku sidibana noSawule, unyana kaKishe wesizwe sakwaBhenjamin kwaye uyeyona ndoda iyinzwana neyona ithe ncothu kwaSirayeli. Walathiselwa kuSamuweli, othi amenzele imbeko emsithweni, amthambise aze amchaze kuwo onke amaSirayeli ahlanganisene eMizpa. Nangona ekuqaleni uSawule ezifihla phakathi komthwalo, ekugqibeleni uchazwa njengalowo ukhethwe nguYehova. Kwakhona uSamuweli ukhumbuza amaSirayeli ngemfanelo efanelekileyo yokuba ngukumkani, eyibhala encwadini. Noko ke, isikhundla sikaSawule njengokumkani sithi somelezeke emva kokoyisa kwakhe ama-Amon, okuthi kukuphelise ukungqingwa kweYabheshe yaseGiliyadi, baze ke abantu bakuqinisekise ukuba ngukumkani kwakhe eGiligali. Kwakhona uSamuweli ubabongoza ukuba bamoyike, bamkhonze baze bamthobele uYehova, kwaye ucela uYehova ukuba athumele umqondiso weendudumo neemvula ngexesha lokuvuna. Ngendlela eyoyikisayo, uYehova ubonisa umsindo wakhe ngenxa yokuba beye bamgatya njengoKumkani.

15. Sisiphi isono sokuzigwagwisa esikhokelela ekusileleni kukaSawule?

¹⁵ Ukungathobeli kukaSawule (13:1–15:35). Njengoko amaFilisti eqhubeka ekhathaza amaSirayeli, unyana olikhalipha kaSawule uYonatan uxabela umkhosi wamaFilisti. Ukuze lukuphindezelele oku, utshaba luthumela umkhosi omkhulu, ‘ongangentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle’ ukuba mninzi kwawo, kwaye umisa iintente zawo eMikmas. Kuthi kubekho isiphithiphithi kumkhosi wamaSirayeli. ‘Akwaba uSamuweli ebenokuza ukuze asinike ulwalathiso lukaYehova!’ Ephelelwe ngumonde wokulinda uSamuweli, uSawule uyona ngokuthi ngokuzigwagwisa alinikele ngokwakhe idini elinyukayo. Ngequbuliso kuvela uSamuweli. Engazinanzi izingxengxezo zikaSawule ezingento, uvakalisa umgwebo kaYehova ongulo: “Ke ngoko ubukumkani bakho abusayi kuma. UYehova uzifunele indoda engantliziyo yakhe [“ekholekileyo entliziyweni yakhe,” NW]; wayimisa uYehova ukuba ibe yinganga yabantu bakhe; ngokuba akukugcinanga oko uYehova akuwisele umthetho ngako.”—13:14.

16. Ubuyatha bukaSawule buphumela kweziphi iinzima?

¹⁶ UYonatan, onenzondelelo ngegama likaYehova, uyayihlasela kwakhona ikampu yamaFilisti, ngeli xesha ekunye nomphathi wakhe wezixhobo kuphela, kwaye ngokukhawuleza baxabela amadoda anokuba ngama-20. Inyikima yongezelela ekudidekeni kotshaba. Luyoyiswa, kwaye amaSirayeli alusukela ngokupheleleyo. Noko ke, ukoyisa ngokupheleleyo kwalo mkhosi kwenziwa buthathaka sisifungo sobuyatha sikaSawule sokwalela abaphumi-mkhosi ukuba badle ngaphambi kokuba idabi libe liphelile. Abantu badinwa ngokukhawuleza baze ke bamone uYehova ngokudla inyama engophiswanga. Kwelakhe icala, uYonatan uye wazihlaziya ngobusi ngaphambi kokuba eve ngesifungo, asigxeka ngokungafihlisiyo ngokuba sisisithintelo. Abantu bayamhlangula ekufeni ngenxa yokuba eye wawasindisa izihlandlo ezininzi amaSirayeli.

17. Kukuphi ukucekiswa okubhekele phaya kukaSawule okungumphumo wesono sakhe sesibini esinzulu?

¹⁷ Ngoku lixesha lokuba kuphunyezwe umgwebo kaYehova kuma-Amaleki angento yanto. (Dut. 25:17-19) Amele atshatyalaliswe ngokupheleleyo. Akukho nto imele isindiswe kuwo, umntu okanye isilwanyana. Akumele kuthathwe nto yawo ilisikizi. Yonke into imele itshatyalaliswe. Noko ke, ngokungathobeli, uSawule ulondoloza uAgagi, ukumkani wama-Amaleki, nempahla emfutshane neenkomo ezizezona zintle, ukuze ngokuzigwagwisa enze idini kuYehova. UThixo kaSirayeli akakholiswa konke konke koku kangangokuba uphefumlela uSamuweli ukuba avakalise ukucekiswa kwesibini kukaSawule. Engazinanzi izingxengxezo zikaSawule zokuzikhusela, uSamuweli uvakalisa oku: “UYehova unonelele amadini anyukayo nemibingelelo, ngangokuba enonelele ukuphulaphulwa kwezwi likaYehova, yini na? Yabona, ukuphulaphula kulungile ngaphezu kombingelelo. . . . Ngenxa yokuba ulicekisile ilizwi likaYehova, naye ukucekisile ukuba ungabi kumkani.” (1 Sam. 15:22, 23) Wandula ke uSawule azame ukubongoza uSamuweli kwaye uyalikrazula isondo lakhe lengubo yokwaleka. USamuweli umqinisekisa ngokuba uYehova uya kubushenxisa ngokuqinisekileyo ubukumkani kuSawule aze abunike indoda elungileyo. USamuweli ulithabatha ngokwakhe ikrele, ambulale uAgagi, aze ke amnikel’ umva uSawule, angaphinde ambone kwakhona.

18. UYehova umnyula ngokwasiphi isizinzi uDavide?

¹⁸ Ukuthanjiswa kukaDavide nobulumko bakhe (16:1–17:58). Ngokulandelayo uYehova walathisela uSamuweli endlwini kaYese eBhetelehem yakwaYuda ukuba kuyo akhethe aze athambise ukumkani wexesha elizayo. Oonyana bakaYese badlula ngamnye ngamnye ukuze bahlolwe kodwa bayacekiswa. UYehova ukhumbuza uSamuweli oku: “Andikhangeli njengokukhangela komntu; ngokuba umntu ukhangela umphandle, uYehova ukhangela intliziyo.” (16:7) Ekugqibeleni, uYehova ubonisa ukuba ukholisiwe nguDavide, ongoyena umncinane, ochazwa ‘engongqombo, umfana onamehlo amahle nembonakalo yakhe intle,’ kwaye uSamuweli umthambisa ngeoli. (16:12) Ngoku umoya kaYehova uba phezu koDavide, kodwa uSawule uba nomoya ombi.

19. Luluphi uloyiso lokuqala aluphumezayo uDavide egameni likaYehova?

¹⁹ Kwakhona amaFilisti ahlasela uSirayeli ekhokelisa phambili ingangalala yawo uGoliyati, ingxamsholo ethe ncothu enobude obuziikubhite ezintandathu (iimitha ezisisi-2,9). Uyingxamsholo kangangokuba ingubo yakhe yentsimbi inobunzima obunokuba ziikhilogram ezingama-57 kwaye incam yomkhonto wakhe inobunzima obunokuba ziikhilogram ezisisi-6,8. (17:4, 5, 7) Mhla ngamnye lo Goliyati ucel’ umngeni amaSirayeli ngokunyelisayo nangendelelo ukuba akhethe indoda aze ayikhuphe ukuba ize kulwa, kodwa akukho namnye kuwo uphendulayo. USawule uyangqunga ententeni yakhe. Phofu ke, kuthi kufike uDavide eze kuphulaphula izingcikivo zalo mFilisti. Enomsindo wobulungisa nenkalipho, uDavide udanduluka athi: “Ungubani na umFilisti, le nto ingalukileyo, ukuba ade angcikive izintlu zikaThixo ophilileyo?” (17:26) Engavumi ukusebenzisa izixhobo zokulwa zikaSawule kuba engazange azisebenzise ngaphambili, uDavide uya edabini, exhobe nje kuphela ngengxowa yomalusi, ngesilingi nangamatye amahlanu agudileyo. Eyijonga le nkwenkwe iselula ingumalusi njengemthoba isidima, uGoliyati uthuka uDavide. Yena uphendula ngokunentembelo esithi: “Wena uza kum unekrele, nentshuntshe, nomkhonto; ke mna ndiza kuwe egameni likaYehova wemikhosi.” (17:45) UDavide ujukujela ngesilingi sakhe ilitye nje elinye elijoliswe kakuhle, ize le ngangalala yamaFilisti ithi khithatha phantsi! Ebaleka ukuya kuyo, yomibini imikhosi ikubona ngokupheleleyo oku kuqhubekayo, uDavide urhola ikrele lale ngxamsholo aze alisebenzisele ukunqumla intloko yomnini-lo. Enjani yona intlangulo evela kuYehova! Okunjani kona ukugcoba okukhoyo kwikampu yamaSirayeli! Ngoku ekubeni ingangalala yawo ifile, amaFilisti ayababeleka abasicatyana, kwaye amaSirayeli agcobileyo abekekile emva kwawo.

20. Isimo sengqondo anaso uYonatan kuDavide sahluke njani kweso sikaSawule?

²⁰ Ukuzingela kukaSawule uDavide (18:1–27:12). Isenzo sokungoyiki esenziwe nguDavide ngenxa yegama likaYehova simenza ukuba abe ngumhlobo omangalisayo wothile. Lo nguYonatan, ongunyana kaSawule nokwayindlalifa yobukumkani ngokokuzalwa. UYonatan ‘umthanda njengomphefumlo wakhe,’ ngokokude aba babini benze umnqophiso wobuhlobo. (18:1-3) Njengoko udumo lukaDavide lubhiyozelwa kwaSirayeli, enomsindo uSawule ufuna ukumbulala, kwanaxa etshate nentombi yakhe uMikali. USawule uya esiba nobutshaba ngakumbi nangakumbi, kangangokuba ekugqibeleni kufuneka ukuba uDavide asabe ngokuncedwa ngokunothando nguYonatan. Njengoko besahlukana aba babini bayalilelana, kwaye uYonatan uphinda akuqinisekise ukunyaniseka kwakhe kuDavide, esithi: “UYehova makabe phakathi kwam nawe, naphakathi kwembewu yam nembewu yakho, kude kuse ephakadeni.”—20:42.

21. Ziziphi iziganeko ezibangela ukuba uDavide asabe kuSawule?

²¹ Ekusabeni kwakhe kuSawule onobutshaba, uDavide neqaqobana lakhe labaxhasi ababethwe linxele likaKetsekile bafika eNobhi. Apha umbingeleli uAhimeleki, akuba eqinisekisiwe ukuba uDavide namadoda akhe abadyobhekanga ngabafazi, uyabavumela ukuba badle izonka ezingcwele. Ngoku exhobe ngekrele likaGoliyati, uDavide usabela eGati kummandla wamaFilisti, apho afika azenze ophambeneyo. Wandula ke aye emqolombeni waseAdulam, emva koko aye kowakwaMowabhi, kwaye kamva, ngokucetyiswa ngumprofeti uGadi, ubuyela kwilizwe lakwaYuda. Esoyika imvukelo yabaxhasi bakaDavide, uSawule onekhwele lempambano ubangela ukuba uDowegi umEdom abulale ababingeleli baseNobhi, kwaye nguAbhiyatare kuphela osindayo ukuze athelele uDavide. Uba ngumbingeleli weli qela.

22. UDavide ukubonakalisa njani ukunyaniseka kuYehova nokuhlonela intlangano Yakhe?

²² Njengomkhonzi onyanisekileyo kaYehova, ngoku uDavide ubangela imfazwe ephumelelayo yequbuliso nxamnye namaFilisti. Phofu ke, uSawule uyaqhubeka nephulo lakhe elipheleleyo lokufuna uDavide, ehlanganisa amadoda akhe emfazwe kwaye emzingela “entlango yase-Engedi.” (24:1) UDavide, othandwayo nguYehova, usoloko ebahambela ngaphambili abo bamsukelayo. Ngesinye isihlandlo ufumana ithuba lokubulala uSawule, kodwa akambulali, usuka nje akrazule isondo lengubo yokwaleka kaSawule nto leyo ebubungqina bokuba ubusindisile ubomi bakhe. Kwanesi senzo singenabungozi siyamkhathaza uDavide entliziyweni, kuba uvakalelwa kukuba wenze ngokunxamnye nomthanjiswa kaYehova. Enjani yona ukuba ntle intlonelo anayo ngentlangano kaYehova!

23. UAbhigali ulwenza njani uxolo noDavide aze ekugqibeleni abe ngumfazi wakhe?

²³ Nangona ngoku ukufa kukaSamuweli kubhaliwe (25:1), ilandela lakhe elingumbhali liyaqhubeka nale ngxelo. UDavide ucela ukuba uNabhali, waseMahon yakwaYuda, amlungiselele ukutya yena namadoda akhe ngenxa yokuba beye baba nobuhlobo kubalusi bakaNabhali. Ekuphela kwento eyenziwa nguNabhali kumadoda kaDavide ‘kukubadlakavula,’ kwaye uDavide uyamohlwaya. (25:14) Eyiqonda ingozi yoku, umfazi kaNabhali, uAbhigali, ngokufihlakeleyo usa ukutya kuDavide aze amxolise. UDavide uyamsikelela ngenxa yesi senzo sobulumko aze ambuyisele emva enoxolo. Xa uAbhigali esazisa uNabhali okwenzekileyo, intliziyo yakhe iyaxhwaleka, kwaye kwiintsuku ezilishumi kamva uyafa. Ngoku uDavide utshata nalo Abhigali unobubele noyinzwakazi emanz’ andonga.

24. UDavide ubusindisa njani kwakhona ubomi bukaSawule?

²⁴ Okwesihlandlo sesithathu, uSawule uzingela ngokunempambano uDavide, kwaye kwakhona ubona inceba kaDavide. USawule namadoda akhe bafikelwa “bubuthongo obukhulu bukaYehova.” Oku kumenza uDavide akwazi ukungena ekampini aze athabathe intshuntshe kaSawule, kodwa akasisi isandla sakhe “kumthanjiswa kaYehova.” (26:11, 12) UDavide unyanzeleka okwesihlandlo sesibini ukuba asabele kumaFilisti ukuze akhuseleke, kwaye amnika iTsikelage njengendawo yokuhlala. Apha uyaqhubeka neentlaselo zakhe nxamnye nezinye zeentshaba zamaSirayeli.

25. Sisiphi isono sesithathu esinzulu asenzayo uSawule?

²⁵ Ukuzibulala kukaSawule (28:1–31:13). Izikhulu ezimanyeneyo zamaFilisti zithi ziwufudusela eShunem umkhosi ohlanganiseneyo. USawule, naye ehlanganisa owakhe aze awufuduse, umisa kwiNtaba yeGilibhowa. Ulufuna ngokuphambeneyo ukhokelo kodwa akafumani mpendulo kuYehova. Akwaba nje ebenokuqhagamshelana noSamuweli! Ezenza mntu wumbi, uSawule wenza esinye isono esinzulu xa athi aye kufuna oneshologu wase-Endore, ngenxa yezintlu zamaFilisti. Akumfumana, umbongoza ukuba amqhagamshelanise noSamuweli. Engxamele ukwenza izigqibo, uSawule ucinga ukuba umbono awubonayo nguSamuweli ofileyo. Noko ke, “uSamuweli” akanasigidimi simthuthuzelayo lo kumkani. Ngomso uza kufa, kwaye ngokwamazwi kaYehova, ubukumkani buya kushenxiswa kuye. Kwenye ikampu, izikhulu ezimanyeneyo zamaFilisti ziyenyuka zisiya edabini. Zisakubona uDavide namadoda akhe phakathi kwazo, ziba nesikrokro zize zibathumele ekhaya. Amadoda kaDavide afika eTsikelage kanye ngexesha elifanelekileyo! Ihlokondiba elihlaselayo lama-Amaleki liye lathimba intsapho nezinto zikaDavide namadoda akhe, kodwa uDavide namadoda akhe bayalisukela, kwaye zonke ezo zinto bazifumana zingonakaliswanga.

26. Luphela njani ulawulo olubi lokumkani wokuqala wamaSirayeli?

²⁶ Ngoku idabi liliwa kwiNtaba yeGilibhowa. AmaSirayeli oyiswa ngokuyintlekele, kwaye amaFilisti athimba imimandla ebalulekileyo yelizwe. UYonatan nabanye oonyana bakaSawule bayabulawa, kwaye uSawule owenzakele ngokungaginyisi mathe uzibulala ngokwakhe ngekrele lakhe. AmaFilisti awoyisileyo axhoma umzimba kaSawule neyoonyana bakhe abathathu kwiindonga zesixeko saseBhete-shan, kodwa iyashenxiswa kule ndawo ilihlazo exhonywe kuyo ngamadoda aseYabheshe yaseGiliyadi. Ulawulo olubi lokumkani wokuqala wamaSirayeli lufikelele esiphelweni salo esiyintlekele.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

27. (a)UEli noSawule basilela entwenini? (b) Ziziphi iinkalo uSamuweli noDavide abayimizekelo emihle kuzo kubaveleli nakubalungiseleli abaselula?

²⁷ Enjani yona imbali ekweyokuQala kaSamuweli! Inyaniseke ngokupheleleyo kuzo zonke iinkcukacha, zisuka nje ibhenca ubuthathaka nokomelela kwamaSirayeli. Kuyo kukhankanywe iinkokeli ezine zakwaSirayeli, ezimbini ezawuthobelayo umthetho kaThixo nezimbini ezingazange ziwuthobele. Phawula indlela uEli noSawule abasilela ngayo: UEli wakutyeshela ukwenza isenzo, kwaye uSawule wenza isenzo sokuzigwagwisa. Kwelinye icala, uSamuweli noDavide babonisa ukuyithanda kwasebutsheni babo kuse phambili indlela kaYehova, kwaye baphumelela ngenxa yoko. Ezinjani zona ukuxabiseka izifundo esizifumanayo apha kubo bonke abaveleli! Hayi indlela ekufuneka ngayo ukuba aba baqine, baluphaphele ucoceko nolungelelwano kwintlangano kaYehova, bawahlonele amalungiselelo akhe, bangoyiki, babe nobulali, bakhaliphe baze babe nolwazelelelo ngokunothando ngabanye! (2:23-25; 24:5, 7; 18:5, 14-16) Kwakhona phawula ukuba aba babini baphumelelayo babeqeqeshwe kakuhle ngokobuthixo kwasebutsheni babo kuse phambili nokuba kwasebuncinaneni babo babenenkalipho yokuthetha isigidimi sikaYehova neyokunyamekela izilangazelelo ababeziphathisiwe. (3:19; 17:33-37) Kwanga bonke abanquli bakaYehova abaselula namhlanje bangaba ‘njengoSamuweli noDavide’ abaselula!

28. Kugxininiswa njani ukuthobela, kwaye sisiphi isiluleko esikweyokuQala kaSamuweli esiphindwayo kamva ngabanye ababhali beBhayibhile?

²⁸ Amazwi amele akhunjulwe ngokucacileyo kuwo onke amazwi ayingenelo ale ncwadi ngalawo uYehova waphefumlela uSamuweli ukuba awathethe mayela nokugwetywa kukaSawule ngenxa yokusilela kwakhe ‘ukusicima isikhumbuzo sika-Amaleki phantsi kwezulu.’ (Dut. 25:19) Isifundo sokuba ‘ukuthobela kulunge ngaphezu kombingelelo’ siyaphindwa kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo kuHoseya 6:6, kuMika 6:6-8 nakuMarko 12:33. (1 Sam. 15:22) Kubalulekile ngathi namhlanje ukuba singenelwe kule ngxelo iphefumlelweyo ngokuthi silithobele ngokupheleleyo ilizwi likaYehova uThixo wethu! Ukubuthobela ubungcwele begazi kukwaziswa engqalelweni yethu kweyoku-1 kaSamuweli 14:32, 33. Ukudla inyama engophiswanga ngokufanelekileyo kwakugqalwa ‘njengokona uYehova.’ Oku kuyasebenza nakwibandla lamaKristu, njengoko kucaciswe kwiZenzo 15:28, 29.

29. Yiyiphi impazamo yohlanga lwamaSirayeli eyokuQala kaSamuweli ebonisa imiphumo yayo, ibe oku kunasiphi isilumkiso kubantu abazigwagwisayo?

²⁹ Incwadi yokuQala kaSamuweli ibonisa impazamo ebangel’ usizi yohlanga olwathi lwalujonga njengolungeloncedo ulawulo lukaThixo oluvela emazulwini. (1 Sam. 8:5, 19, 20; 10:18, 19) Imigibe nobuyatha bolawulo lomntu buboniswe ngokucacileyo nangokuprofetayo. (8:11-18; 12:1-17) Ekuqaleni uSawule uboniswa eyindoda ethozamileyo eyayinomoya kaThixo (9:21; 11:6), kodwa ukugwetywa kwakhe kwakufiphalisa oko kwaye intliziyo yakhe yaba krakra njengoko wayephelelwe luthando ngobulungisa nokholo kuThixo. (14:24, 29, 44) Ingxelo yenzondelelo yakhe yangaphambili yatshitshiswa zizenzo zakhe zamva zokuzigwagwisa, zokungathobeli nezokunganyaniseki kuThixo. (1 Sam. 13:9; 15:9; 28:7; Hez. 18:24) Ukuswela kwakhe ukholo kwabangela ukunganqabiseki, ukuba nomona, intiyo nokubulala. (1 Sam. 18:9, 11; 20:33; 22:18, 19) Wafa ngohlobo olwalufanele indlela awayephila ngayo, emtyeshele uThixo nabantu bakhe, kwaye oku kusisilumkiso kuye nabani na ‘osenokuzigwagwisa’ njengoko wenzayo.—2 Pet. 2:10-12.

30. Ziziphi iimpawu zikaSamuweli ezisenokuhlakulelwa ngokunengenelo ngabalungiseleli banamhlanje?

³⁰ Noko ke, ngokwahlukileyo koku kukwakho nesenzo sokulungileyo. Ngokomzekelo, phawula ikhondo likaSamuweli othembekileyo, owawakhonzayo amaSirayeli bonke ubomi bakhe engakhohlisi kwaye engenamkhethe. (1 Sam. 12:3-5) Wayekulangazelela ukuthobela ukususela ebuntwaneni kuse phambili (3:5), wayezolile kwaye enentlonelo (3:6-8), engonokuthenjwa ekwenzeni imisebenzi yakhe (3:15), engaguquguquki kuzahlulelo nozinikelo lwakhe (7:3-6; 12:2), ekulungele ukuphulaphula (8:21), ekulungele ukuxhasa izigqibo zikaYehova (10:24), eqinile kugwebo lwakhe kungakhathaliseki ukuba umntu uluhlobo olunjani na (13:13), ethobela ngokuqinileyo (15:22), kwaye ezingisa ukuphumeza uthumo (16:6, 11). Wayekwangulowo abanye banikela ingxelo entle ngaye. (2:26; 9:6) Ubulungiseleli bakhe xa wayeselula abufanele bukhuthaze nje kuphela abaselula ukuba bacinge ngobulungiseleli namhlanje (2:11, 18) kodwa ukuqhubeka nabo engatyhafi de kwasekupheleni kwemihla yakhe kufanele kubomeleze abo sebaluphele.—7:15.

31. UYonatan wayengumzekelo omhle entwenini?

³¹ Kwakhona kukho umzekelo obalaseleyo kaYonatan. Akazange abe nomona ngenxa yokuba uDavide wayethanjiswe ukuba abe ngukumkani sikhundla eso esisenokuba ngesasidliwe ilifa nguye. Kunoko, wazixabisa iimpawu ezintle zikaDavide waza wenza umnqophiso wobuhlobo kunye naye. Ubuqabane bokungazingci obufanayo bunokuba bobona bakhayo nobukhuthazayo phakathi kwabo bamkhonza ngokuthembekileyo uYehova namhlanje.—23:16-18.

32. Ziziphi iimpawu ezintle ezifanele ziqwalaselwe kumfazi onguHana nonguAbhigali?

³² Kubafazi, kukho umzekelo kaHana, owayeyipheleka rhoqo indoda yakhe ukuya kwindawo yonqulo lukaYehova. Wayengumfazi othandazayo nozithobileyo, owabuncamayo ubuqabane nonyana wakhe ukuze agcine ilizwi lakhe aze abonakalise uxabiso ngobubele bukaYehova. Umangalisa ngokwenene umvuzo awawufumanayo wokubona unyana wakhe ebandakanyeke kwinkonzo kaYehova enesiqhamo ngalo lonke ixesha lokudla kwakhe ubomi. (1:11, 21-23, 27, 28) Ngokubhekele phaya, kukho umzekelo ka-Abhigali, owazibonakalisa engumfazi othobekileyo nonengqiqo nto leyo eyabangela ukuba uDavide amncome, kangangokuba kamva waba ngumfazi wakhe.—25:32-35.

33. Uthando nokunyaniseka kukaDavide ngokungoyiki kufanele kusiqhubele kweliphi ikhondo?

³³ Uthando lukaDavide ngoYehova luchazwe ngendlela echukumisayo kwiindumiso ezaqanjwa nguDavide ngoxa wayezingelwa entlango nguSawule, “umthanjiswa kaYehova” owayewele kokubi. (1 Sam. 24:6; INdu. 34:7, 8; 52:8; 57:1, 7, 9) Ibe olunjani lona uxabiso olusuka entliziyweni awalingcwalisa ngalo uDavide igama likaYehova njengoko wathi wamthoba isidima umngcikivi onguGoliyati! “Mna ndiza kuwe egameni likaYehova wemikhosi . . . Namhlanje uYehova uya kukunikela esandleni sam, . . . wazi wonke umhlaba ukuba amaSirayeli anaye uThixo; lazi lonke eli bandla, ukuba akungakrele, akungantshuntshe ukusindisa kukaYehova; ngokuba imfazwe yekaYehova; woninikela ke esandleni sethu.” (1 Sam. 17:45-47) UDavide, “umthanjiswa” kaYehova okhaliphileyo nonyanisekileyo, wazukisa uYehova njengoThixo womhlaba wonke nekunguye kuphela uMthombo wokwenyaniso wosindiso. (2 Sam. 22:51) Kwanga singasoloko silandela lo mzekelo wokungoyiki!

34. Iinjongo zoBukumkani bukaYehova zityhilwa njani ngokubhekele phaya ngokunxulumene noDavide?

³⁴ Yintoni eyokuQala kaSamuweli eyithethayo ngokutyhilwa kweenjongo zoBukumkani bukaThixo? Ngxatsho ke, oku kusizisa kweyona mbalasane yokwenene yale ncwadi yeBhayibhile! Kukule ncwadi apho sidibana noDavide, ogama lakhe ekusenokwenzeka ukuba lithetha “Oyintanda.” UDavide wayethandwa nguYehova kwaye wayemkhethe ‘njengendoda eyayikholisiwe yiyo intliziyo yakhe,’ lowo wayefanelekile ukuba abe ngukumkani kwaSirayeli. (1 Sam. 13:14, NW) Ngaloo ndlela ubukumkani badlulela kwisizwe sikaYuda, ngokuvisisana nentsikelelo kaYakobi ekwiGenesis 49:9, 10, kwaye ubukumkani babuza kuhlala kwisizwe sikaYuda de kufike uMlawuli abafanele bamthobele bonke abantu.

35. Kwenzeka njani ukuba igama likaDavide linxulunyaniswe nelo leMbewu yoBukumkani, ibe ziziphi iimpawu zikaDavide esaya kuzibonakalisa le Mbewu?

³⁵ Ngaphezu koko, igama likaDavide linxulunyaniswa nelo leMbewu yoBukumkani, nayo eyazalelwa eBhetelehem neyayiyeyomnombo kaDavide. (Mat. 1:1, 6; 2:1; 21:9, 15) Lowo nguYesu Kristu ozukisiweyo, “iNgonyama yesizwe sakwaYuda, ingcambu kaDavide,” “ingcambu nenzala kaDavide, ikhwezi eliqaqambileyo lokusa.” (ISityhi. 5:5; 22:16) Elawula esemandleni oBukumkani, lo “nyana kaDavide” uya kubonisa konke ukungaguquguquki nenkalipho yokhokho wakhe ongumzekelo ekulweni neentshaba zikaThixo de azoyise kuze kungcwaliswe igama likaYehova kuwo wonke umhlaba. Hayi indlela esifanele sibe nentembelo eyomeleleyo ngayo kule Mbewu yoBukumkani!

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]