1 Samuweli 7:2-17

Kwathi umphongolo usekhona eKiriyati Jeharimi, isikhathi saba side; ngokuba kwaba yiminyaka engamashumi amabili, yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli yamlilela uJehova. USamuweli wakhuluma kuyo yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Uma niphendukela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu, susani onkulunkulu babezizwe no-Ashitaroti phakathi kwenu, nilungise izinhliziyo zenu kuJehova, nimkhonze yena yedwa. Uyokusindisa esandleni samaFilisti. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babalahla oBali no-Ashitaroti, bakhonza uJehova yedwa. USamuweli wathi: “Buthani wonke u-Israyeli eMispa, nginikhulekele kuJehova. Basebebuthana eMispa, bakha amanzi, bawathulula phambi kweNkosi, bazila ukudla ngalolosuku, bathi lapho: Sonile eNkosini. USamuweli wayala abantwana bakwa-Israyeli eMispa. Lapho amaFilisti ezwa ukuthi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthene eMispa, izikhulu zamaFilisti zahlasela u-Israyeli. Lapho abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bekuzwa lokho, besaba amaFilisti. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuSamuweli: “Ungayeki ukukhuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu phezu kwethu ukuba asophule esandleni samaFilisti. USamuweli wathatha iwundlu elincelisayo, wanikela ngalo libe ngumnikelo wokushiswa kuJehova ngokuphelele; uSamuweli wakhuleka kuJehova ngenxa ka-Israyeli; uJehova wamuzwa. USamuweli esaletha umnikelo wokushiswa, amaFilisti asondela ukulwa no-Israyeli; banqotshwa phambi kukaIsrayeli. Amadoda akwa-Israyeli aphuma eMispa, awaxosha amaFilisti, awabulala, aze afika phansi kweBeti Kari. USamuweli wathatha itshe, walibeka phakathi kweMispa neSeni, walibiza ngokuthi i-Ebeni Ezeri, wathi: “Kuze kube manje uJehova usisizile.” Athotywa amaFilisti, akaba esangena emkhawulweni wakwa-Israyeli; isandla sikaJehova saba phezu kwamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweli. Imizi amaFilisti ayeyithathile ku-Israyeli yabuyiselwa ku-Israyeli, kusukela e-Ekroni kuze kube seGati; umkhawulo wakhe wasindisa u-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti. Kwaba khona ukuthula phakathi kuka-Israyeli nama-Amori. USamuweli wahola u-Israyeli zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe. Wayehamba iminyaka ngeminyaka eya eBhethele, naseGiligali, naseMispa, waqondisa u-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezo zindawo. Wayebuyela eRama; ngoba yayikhona indlu yakhe; wayala khona u-Israyeli; wamakhela khona uJehova i-altare.