1 USamuweli 6:1-13

Umphongolo kaSimakade wahlala ezweni lamaFilisti izinyanga eziyisikhombisa. AmaFilisti ababiza abaphristi nababhulayo, athi: “Sizokwenzenjani ngomphongolo kaSimakade na? Siboniseni; sizakuwubuyisela kanjani endaweni yawo na?” Bathi: “Uma senizowuphindisela umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ningawuphindiseli ungenalutho. Kodwa ubuyiseleni nomnikelo wecala, khona niyophiliswa; sekuyokwazeka-ke ukuthi kungani isandla sakhe singasuswa kini.” Athi: “Uyokuba yini umnikelo wecala esiyakuwubuyisela kanye nawo na?” Bathi: “Amathumba ayisihlanu egolide namagundane ayisihlanu egolide ngokwenani lamakhosi amaFilisti, ngokuba kuyisifo esisodwa esihlasele bonke, ngisho namakhosi enu. Niyokwenza imifanekiso yamathumba enu anihlasele nemifanekiso yamagundane enu ahlasele izwe, nimnike udumo uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, hleze asenze sibe lula isandla sakhe phezu kwenu, phezu konkulunkulu benu, naphezu kwezwe lakini. Nizenzeleni lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu, njengoba kwenza abaseGibhithe noFaro, abazenza lukhuni izinhliziyo zabo na? Lapho esebashaye kanzima, ababavumelanga yini ukuba bahambe na? “Manje thathani, nenze inqola entsha nezinkomazi ezimbili ezincelisayo okungakaze kuhlale joka kuzo; zibopheleni izinkomazi enqoleni, nibuyisele emuva amankonyane azo, niwabuyisele ekhaya. Niyowuthatha umphongolo kaSimakade, niwubeke enqoleni, nifake ebhokisini eliseceleni kwawo impahla yegolide eniyiphindisela kuye, ibe ngumnikelo wecala, izinkomazi nizidedele zihambe. Bhekani, uma zenyuka nawo ngendlela esemngceleni waseBhethi Shemeshi, yazini ukuthi nguNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli osehlisele lobo bubi obukhulu. Uma kungenzeki kanjalo, kuyobe sehlelwe yingozi nje.” Abantu benza kanjalo, bathatha izinkomazi ezimbili ezincelisayo, bazibophela enqoleni, kwathi amankonyane azo bawavalela ekhaya. Babeka umphongolo kaSimakade enqoleni nebhokisi lamagundane egolide nemifanekiso yegolide yamathumba abo. Izinkomazi zangena indlela, zabheka ngaseBhethi Shemeshi, zihamba endleleni, zihamba zibhonsa, aziphambukelanga ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo. Amakhosi amaFilisti azilandela aze afika emngceleni eBhethi Shemeshi. AbaseBhethi Shemeshi babevuna ukolo esigodini, lapho bephakamisa amehlo, babona umphongolo, bathokoza nxa bewubona.