1 Samuweli 6:1-13

Umphongolo kaJehova wawusezweni lamaFilisti izinyanga eziyisikhombisa. AmaFilisti abiza abapristi nabahlola imihlola, athi: “Siyakwenze njani ngomphongolo kaJehova na?” sitshele ukuthi sizoyithumela ngani endaweni yayo. Bathi: “Uma niwumukisa umphongolo kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ningawuthumi uze; kodwa noma kunjalo nimbuyisele umnikelo wecala; khona-ke niyakuphiliswa, futhi nizokwaziwa kini ukuthi kungani isandla sakhe singasuswanga kini. Base bethi: “Uyini umnikelo wecala ukuba siwubuyisele kuye na?” Athi: Amankonjane amahlanu egolide namagundane ayisihlanu egolide njengomumo wezikhulu zamaFilisti, ngokuba isifo sinye sasiphezu kwenu nonke namakhosi enu. Ngalokho niyakuzenzela izithombe zabagayi benu nemifanekiso yamagundane enu abhubhisa izwe; futhi kumelwe nimkhazimulise uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; mhlawumbe angasenza lula isandla sakhe kini, nakonkulunkulu benu, nasezweni lenu. Pho-ke niyenzelani lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu njengalokho abaseGibithe noFaro bazenza lukhuni izinhliziyo zabo na? Lapho esebenza ngokuyisimangaliso phakathi kwabo, abavumelanga yini abantu ukuthi banyakaze futhi basuke? Manje yenzani inqola entsha, nithathe izinkomo ezimbili ezincelisayo ezingaboshelwa ejokeni, nizibophe enqoleni, nibuyisele amathole azo ekhaya. Thathani umphongolo kaJehova, niwubeke enqoleni; izinto zegolide enizibuyisela kuye njengomnikelo wecala, nizibeke ebhokisini eliseduze kwalo; futhi uyimukise, ukuze ihambe. Bhekani, uma ikhuphuka ngendlela isuka ogwini lwakubo, iye eBeti Shemeshi, usenze lobu bubi obukhulu; kepha uma kungenjalo, sizokwazi ukuthi akusona isandla sakhe esisishayileyo; kwakuyithuba elenzeke kithi. Amadoda enza njalo; athatha izinkomo ezimbili ezanyisayo, azibophela enqoleni, azivalela amathole azo endlini. Bawubeka umphongolo kaJehova enqoleni, nebhokisi elinamagundane egolide nemifanekiso yezimpondo zabo eziloliwe. Izinkomo zahamba ngendlela eqondile endleleni yaseBeti Shemeshi, zahamba ngendlela ephakeme, zisatshekile, aziphendukanga ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo; izikhulu zamaFilisti zawalandela, zaze zafika emkhawulweni waseBeti Shemeshi. Abantu baseBeti Shemeshi babevuna ukolweni esigodini, baphakamisa amehlo abo, bawubona umphongolo, bathokoza ukuwubona.