1 USamuweli 7:2-17

1 USamuweli 7:2-17 ZUL20

Kusukela osukwini umphongolo owahlala ngalo eKiriyathi Jeharimi, kwedlula isikhathi eside, iminyaka engama-20. Yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli yakhala kuSimakade. USamuweli wathi kuyo yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli: “Uma nibuyela kuSimakade ngenhliziyo yenu yonke, susani phakathi kwenu onkulunkulu babezizwe no-Ashitharothi, nibhekise izinhliziyo zenu kuSimakade, nikhonze Yena yedwa; uzonihlenga esandleni samaFilisti.” Abantu bakwa-Israyeli basusa oBhali no-Ashitharothi, bakhonza uSimakade kuphela. USamuweli wathi: “Buthelani wonke u-Israyeli eMizpha, ukuze nginikhulekele kuSimakade.” Ngakho-ke abakwa-Israyeli babuthana eMizpha. Bakha amanzi, bawathulula phambi kukaSimakade, bazila, bathi: “Sonile kuSimakade.” USamuweli wabehlulela abantu bakwa-Israyeli eMizpha. Esezwile amaFilisti ukuthi abakwa-Israyeli babuthene eMizpha, amakhosi amaFilisti akhuphuka ukuyolwa no-Israyeli. Abantu bakwa-Israyeli bezwa, bagcwala ukwesaba phambi kwamaFilisti. Abantu bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuSamuweli: “Ungayeki ukusikhalela kuSimakade uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.” USamuweli wathatha iwundlu elisancelayo, wanikela ngalo laba ngumnikelo wokushiswa wonke kuSimakade; uSamuweli wamkhulekela u-Israyeli kuSimakade, uSimakade wamphendula. Kwathi uSamuweli esenza umnikelo wokushiswa, asondela amaFilisti ukuzolwa no-Israyeli. USimakade waduma ngezwi elikhulu ngalolo lusuku wamelana namaFilisti, wawafaka ukudideka, anqotshwa kanjalo ngu-Israyeli. Amadoda akwa-Israyeli aphuma eMizpha awaxosha amaFilisti, awabulala kwaze kwaba seBhethi Khari. USamuweli wathatha itshe, walimisa phakathi kweMizpha neSheni. Waliqamba wathi yi-Ebheni Ezeri, ethi: “USimakade usisizile kwaze kwaba lapha.” AmaFilisti ehlulwa; awaphindanga angena emingceleni yakwa-Israyeli ngezinsuku zonke zikaSamuweli. Yonke imizi amaFilisti ayeyidlile ku-Israyeli, yabuyela kuye, kusukela e-Ekhroni kuze kube seGathi. U-Israyeli wazithola zonke izifunda zakhe ezazithathwe ngamaFilisti. Kwaba nokuthula phakathi kuka-Israyeli nama-Amori. USamuweli wehlulela u-Israyeli zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe. Wayezungeza njalo minyaka yonke aye eBhetheli, eGiligali, naseMizpha; wamehlulela u-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezo zindawo. USamuweli wayebuyela eRama ngoba indlu yakhe yayilapho, wamehlulela u-Israyeli ekhona, wamakhela lapho uSimakade i-althare.