1 Samuweli 11:1-15

Wayesekhuphuka uNahashi, umAmoni, wamisa malungana neJabeshi kwaGileyadi; onke amadoda aseJabeshi athi kuNahashi: Yenza isivumelwano nathi, sikukhonze. UNahashi wakwa-Amoni waphendula wathi kubo: “Ngalokho ngiyakwenza isivumelwano nani, ukuze ngikhiphe wonke amehlo enu okunene, ngiwabeke phezu kuka-Israyeli wonke abe yihlazo. Amalunga aseJabeshi athi kuye: “Siyeke izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, sithume izithunywa emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli; khona-ke, uma kungekho osikhululayo, siyakuphumela kuwe. Izithunywa zafika eGibeya likaSawule, zamemezela lezi zindaba ezindlebeni zabantu, futhi bonke abantu baphakamisa amazwi abo bakhala inyembezi. Bheka, uSawule waphuma endle elandela izinkomo; USawuli wasesithi: Kuyini abantu ukuthi bakhale? Bamtshela izindaba zamadoda aseJabeshi. UMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kukaSawule lapho ezwa lezi zindaba, intukuthelo yakhe yavutha kakhulu. Wathatha izinkabi, wazihlahlela, wazithuma ngesandla sezithunywa kuwo wonke umkhawulo wakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Ongaphumi ukulandela uSawule noSamuweli, kuyakwenziwa kanjalo kuzo izinkabi zakhe.” Ukwesaba uJehova kwehlela phezu kwabantu, baphuma nganhliziyonye. Wababala eBezeki, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babe yizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu, namadoda akwaJuda ayeyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu. Basebesithi kuzo izithunywa ezafikayo: Lizakutsho njalo emadodeni eJabeshi eGileyadi: Kusasa ekutshiseni kwelanga lizaba losizo. Zafika izithunywa, zabatshela amadoda aseJabeshi; futhi bajabula. Ngakho abantu baseJabeshi bathi: “Kusasa siyakuphumela kini, nenze kithi konke okuhle emehlweni enu.” Kwathi ngangomuso uSawule wabahlukanisa abantu baba izingxenye ezintathu; bangena phakathi kwempi ngomlindo wokusa, babulala ama-Amoni kwaze kwashisa ilanga. Abantu bathi kuSamuweli: “Ngubani owathi: ‘USawule uyakubusa phezu kwethu na? lethani amadoda, ukuze siwabulale. USawuli wasesithi: Kakungabulawa muntu lamuhla, ngoba lamuhla iN kosi iyenzele uIsrayeli insindiso. USamuweli wasesithi ebantwini: Wozani siye eGiligali, sivuse umbuso khona. Bonke abantu baya eGiligali; bambeka khona uSawule inkosi eGiligali phambi kukaJehova; banikela khona imihlatshelo yokubonga phambi kukaJehova; uSawule nawo wonke amadoda akwa-Israyeli bajabula kakhulu lapho.