AmaSirayeli aphinda amlahla uYehova aza akhonza oothixo bobuxoki. Xa ama-Amoni alwa namaSirayeli, abo thixo abazange bawancede. AmaSirayeli aphathwa kakubi iminyaka emininzi. Ekugqibeleni athi kuYehova: ‘Sonile. Sicela usisindise kwiintshaba zethu.’ AmaSirayeli abatshabalalisa oothixo bawo aza aphinda akhonza uYehova. UYehova wayengasafuni kuphinda awabone esengxakini.

Kwakhethwa ijoni elinguYifeta ukuba likhokele amaSirayeli aye kulwa nama-Amoni. Wathi kuYehova: ‘Ukuba usincede soyisa, ndithembisa ukuba xa ndibuyela ekhaya, ndiza kukunika umntu endiza kuhlangatyezwa nguye kuqala.’ UYehova wawumamela umthandazo kaYifeta waza wamnceda woyisa.

Xa efika ekhaya, umntu wokuqala owamhlangabezayo yintombi yakhe, umntwana okuphela kwakhe. Wayedanisa ebetha negubu. Wayeza kuthini uYifeta? Wakhumbula isithembiso sakhe kuYehova waza wathi: ‘Awu ntombi yam! Uyaphule intliziyo yam. Ndithembise uYehova. Ukuze ndisigcine isithembiso sam, kufuneka ndikuthumele eShilo ukuze ukhonze kwintente yakhe engcwele.’ Kodwa intombi yakhe yathi: ‘Tata, ukuba uthembise uYehova, gcina eso sithembiso. Ndicela ukuya konwaba neetshomi zam ezintabeni iinyanga nje eziyi-2. Emva koko, ndiza kuhamba.’ Intombi kaYifeta yakhonza ngokuthembeka ententeni engcwele ubomi bayo bonke. Unyaka nonyaka, abahlobo bayo babesiya kuyibona eShilo.

UMbingeleli Omkhulu uEli wayenoonyana ababini ababengababingeleli ententeni engcwele. Amagama abo yayinguHofeni noFinehasi. Babengayithobeli imithetho kaYehova, futhi bebaphethe kakubi kakhulu abantu. Xa amaSirayeli ezise iminikelo kuYehova, uHofeni noFinehasi babezithathela eyona nyama intle. UEli wayiva yonke le nto, kodwa akazange abangxolise. Ngaba uYehova wayeza kubayeka baqhubeke besenza ezi zinto?

Nangona uSamuweli wayemncinci kakhulu kuHofeni noFinehasi, akazange alinganise izinto ababezenza. Wayethandwa nguYehova. Ngobunye ubusuku esalele, weva ilizwi limbiza ngegama. Wavuka, wabaleka waya kuEli wathi: ‘Ndim lo!’ UEli wathi: ‘Khange ndikubize. Hamb’ olala.’ USamuweli wabuyela ebhedini. Waphinda waliva eli lizwi. Xa eliva okwesithathu, uEli waqonda ukuba uSamuweli ubizwa nguYehova. Wathi, ukuba uye waliva kwakhona, uze uthi: ‘Thetha Yehova. Umkhonzi wakho umamele.’

USamuweli waphinda waya kulala. Weva ilizwi lisithi: ‘Samuweli! Samuweli!’ Waphendula wathi: ‘Thetha, umkhonzi wakho umamele.’ UYehova wathi: ‘Xelela uEli ukuba ndiza kubohlwaya, yena nentsapho yakhe. Uyazi ukuba oonyana bakhe benza izinto ezimbi ententeni yam engcwele, kodwa akabangxolisi.’ Ngentsasa elandelayo uSamuweli wavula amacango entente engcwele njengesiqhelo. Wayesoyika ukuxelela umbingeleli omkhulu into ethethwe nguYehova. UEli wambiza waza wambuza: ‘Nyana, utheni uYehova kuwe? Ndixelele yonke into ayithethileyo.’ Nyhani uSamuweli wamxelela konke.

USamuweli wakhula exhaswa nguYehova. Kulo lonke elo lizwe, amaSirayeli ayesazi ukuba uYehova umkhethe ukuba abe ngumprofeti nomgwebi.