1 USamuyeli 14
1 Ngelinye ilanga uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, kasiye enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya ngakwelinye icele.” Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.
And the day comes that Jonathan son of Saul says to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and we pass over to the station of the Philistines, which [is] on the other side of this”; and he has not declared [it] to his father.
2 USawuli wayehlala emaphethelweni eGibhiya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sephomegranathi eMigironi. Amadoda ayelaye ayengaba ngamakhulu ayisithupha,
And Saul is abiding at the extremity of Gibeah, under the pomegranate which [is] in Migron, and the people who [are] with him [are] about six hundred men,
3 phakathi kwawo kulo-Ahija, owayegqoke isigqoko samahlombe. Wayeyindodana yomfowabo ka-Ikhabhodi u-Ahithubi indodana kaFinehasi, indodana ka-Eli umphristi kaThixo eShilo. Kakho owayesazi ukuthi uJonathani wayehambile.
and Ahiah, son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas son of Eli priest of YHWH in Shiloh, [was] bearing an ephod; and the people did not know that Jonathan has gone.
4 Eceleni ngalinye lomkhandlu ayehlose ukuwuchapha ukuze ayefika enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya kwakuleliwa; elinye lalithiwa yiBhozezi elinye liyiSene.
And between the passages where Jonathan sought to pass over to the station of the Philistines [is] the edge of a rock on one side, and the edge of a rock on the other side, and the name of one is Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
5 Elinye iliwa lalingasenyakatho ngokuya eMikhimashi, elinye lingasezansi ngokuya eGebha.
One edge [is] fixed on the north in front of Michmash, and the one on the south in front of Gibeah.
6 UJonathani wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, siwelele enkambeni yalabayana abantu abangasokanga. Engxenye uThixo uzasimela, ngoba akulalutho olungavimbela uThixo ekukhululeni, loba kungabanengi kumbe abalutshwana.”
And Jonathan says to the young man carrying his weapons, “Come, and we pass over to the station of these uncircumcised; it may be YHWH works for us, for there is no restraint to YHWH to save by many or by few.”
7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Yenza konke olakho engqondweni yakho. Qhubeka, mina ngilawe ngenhliziyo langomphefumulo.”
And the bearer of his weapons says to him, “Do all that [is] in your heart; turn for yourself; behold, I [am] with you, as your own heart.”
8 UJonathani wasesithi, “Ngakho-ke, woza sikhuphuke siqonde kulabaya abantu senze ukuba basibone.
And Jonathan says, “Behold, we are passing over to the men, and are revealed to them;
9 Bangathi kithi, ‘Manini khonapho size sifike kini,’ sizahlala lapho esikhona singayi kubo.
if they thus say to us, Stand still until we have come to you, then we have stood in our place, and do not go up to them;
10 Kodwa bangathi, ‘Wozani kithi,’ sizakhwela siye phezulu ngoba lokho kuzakuba yisibonakaliso sethu sokuthi uThixo usebanikele ezandleni zethu.”
and if they thus say, Come up against us, then we have gone up, for YHWH has given them into our hand, and this [is] the sign to us.”
11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa enkambeni yamabutho amaFilistiya. AmaFilistiya athi, “Khangelani, amaHebheru asehohoba ephuma emilindini abecatshe kuyo.”
And both of them are revealed to the station of the Philistines, and the Philistines say, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves.”
12 Amadoda ayesenkambeni yamabutho amemeza uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe athi, “Wozani kithi sizalifundisa isifundo.” Ngakho uJonathani wathi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe, “Khwela ungilandele; uThixo usebanikele esandleni sika-Israyeli.”
And the men of the station answer Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons, and say, “Come up to us, and we cause you to know something.” And Jonathan says to the bearer of his weapons, “Come up after me, for YHWH has given them into the hand of Israel.”
13 UJonathani wakhwela, esebenzisa izandla lezinyawo zakhe, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe ekhonapho ngemva kwakhe. AmaFilistiya awa phambi kukaJonathani, njalo umthwali wezikhali zakhe walandela ebulala abantu ngemva kwakhe.
And Jonathan goes up on his hands, and on his feet, and the bearer of his weapons after him; and they fall before Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons is putting [them] to death after him.
14 Ngalokho kuhlasela kokuqala uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babulala abantu abangamatshumi amabili endaweni eyayingaba yingxenye yendima.
And the first striking which Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons have struck is of about twenty men, in about half a furrow of a yoke of a field,
15 Emva kwalokho ibutho lonke lathuthumela, ababesezihonqweni lababesegangeni, lalabo ababesezinkambeni zamabutho lamaqembu abahlaseli, iphansi lanyikinyeka. Kwakuyikuthuthumela okwakulethwe nguNkulunkulu.
and there is a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people, the station and the destroyers have trembled—even they, and the earth shakes, and it becomes a trembling of God.
16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibhiya koBhenjamini babona ibutho lisabalele ezinhlangothini zonke.
And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin see, and behold, the multitude has melted away, and it goes on, and is beaten down.
17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye, “Qoqani amabutho libone ukuthi ngubani ongekho.” Sebekwenzile, ababengekho kwakunguJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe.
And Saul says to the people who [are] with him, “Now inspect and see; who has gone from us?” And they inspect, and behold, Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons are not.
18 USawuli wasesithi ku-Ahija, “Letha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.” (Ngalesisikhathi lalikwabako-Israyeli.)
And Saul says to Ahiah, “Bring the Ark of God near”; for the Ark of God has been with the sons of Israel on that day.
19 Kwathi uSawuli esakhuluma lomphristi, ukuxokozela ezihonqweni zamaFilistiya kwakhula kakhulu kakhulukazi. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kumphristi, “Susa isandla sakho.”
And it comes to pass, while Saul spoke to the priest, that the noise which [is] in the camp of the Philistines goes on, going on and becoming great, and Saul says to the priest, “Remove your hand.”
20 Emva kwalokho uSawuli labantu bakhe bonke babuthana basebesiya empini. Bafica amaFilistiya ephakathi kwesiyaluyalu esipheleleyo, egalelana ngezinkemba zawo.
And Saul is called, and all the people who [are] with him, and they come to the battle, and behold, the sword of each has been against his neighbor—a very great destruction.
21 AmaHebheru ayelamaFilistiya kuqala ehambe lawo ezihonqweni zawo abuyela kwabako-Israyeli ababeloSawuli loJonathani.
And the Hebrews [who] have been with the Philistines before the day prior, who had gone up with them into the camp, have turned around, even they, to be with Israel who [are] with Saul and Jonathan,
22 Kwathi lapho bonke abako-Israyeli ababecatshe elizweni lezintaba elako-Efrayimi sebezwile ukuthi amaFilistiya ayesebaleka empini bangena, baxotshana lawo.
and all the men of Israel, who are hiding themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, have heard that the Philistines have fled, and they pursue—even they—after them in battle.
23 Uthixo wamhlenga kanjalo u-Israyeli ngalolosuku, njalo ukulwa kwaya ngale kweBhethi-Aveni.
And YHWH saves Israel on that day, and the battle has passed over to Beth-Aven.
24 Ngalolosuku abantu bako-Israyeli babedanile ngoba uSawuli wayebophe abantu ngesifungo esithi, “Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla kungakahlwi, ngingakaphindiseli ezitheni zami!” Ngakho akukho butho elanambitha ukudla.
And the men of Israel have been distressed on that day, and Saul adjures the people, saying, “Cursed [is] the man who eats food until the evening, and I have been avenged of my enemies”; and none of the people have tasted food.
25 Ibutho lonke langena ehlathini, lapho okwakuloluju phansi khona.
And all [those of] the land have come into a forest, and there is honey on the face of the field;
26 Ekungeneni kwabo ehlathini, babona uluju lujuluka, kodwa kakho owaludlayo, ngoba babesesaba isifungo.
and the people come into the forest, and behold, the honey dropped, and none is moving his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
27 Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga ukuthi uyise wayebophe abantu ngesifungo, welula isiduku somqwayi ayewuphethe wawuhloma ohlangeni loluju. Waphakamisela isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, amehlo akhazimula.
And Jonathan has not heard of his father’s adjuring the people, and puts forth the end of the rod, which [is] in his hand, and dips it in the honeycomb, and brings back his hand to his mouth—and his eyes see!
28 Lapho-ke omunye wamabutho wamtshela wathi, “Uyihlo ubophe ibutho ngesifungo esinzima, esithi, ‘Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla lamhla!’ Yikho-nje abantu bemdambiyana.”
And a man of the people answers and says, “Your father certainly adjured the people, saying, Cursed [is] the man who eats food today; and the people are weary.”
29 UJonathani wathi, “Ubaba usedalele ilizwe uhlupho. Khangela ukuthi amehlo ami athe dlwe ekunambitheni kwami okuncane koluju lolu.
And Jonathan says, “My father has troubled the land; now see that my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 Kade kuzakuba ngcono kakhulu aluba lamhla abantu bebedlile enye yempango abayithethe ezitheni zabo. Ukubulawa kwamaFilistiya kade kungayikuba kukhulu kulalokhu na?”
How much more if the people had well eaten today of the spoil of its enemies which it has found, for now the striking has not been great among the Philistines.”
31 Ngalolosuku, emva kokuba ama-Israyeli esebulele amaFilistiya kusukela eMikhimashi kusiyafika e-Ayijaloni, ayesediniwe.
And they strike on that day among the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people are very weary,
32 Baphuthuma impango, kwathi sebethethe izimvu lenkomo kanye lamathole, bazibulala khonapho bazidla kanye legazi.
and the people make toward the spoil, and take sheep, and oxen, and sons of the herd, and slaughter on the earth, and the people eat with the blood.
33 Omunye wasesithi kuSawuli, “Khangela abantu benza isono kuThixo ngokudla inyama elegazi.” Yena wathi, “Selephule ukuthenjwa. Giqelani ilitshe elikhulu ngapha khathesi nje.”
And they declare to Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against YHWH, to eat with the blood.” And he says, “You have dealt treacherously, roll a great stone to me today.”
34 Wasesithi, “Yanini phakathi kwabantu libatshele lithi, ‘Lowo lalowo wenu kangilethele inkomo lezimvu zakhe azibulalele lapha azidle. Lingenzi isono kuThixo ngokudla inyama eseselegazi.’” Ngakho ngalobobusuku umuntu wonke waletha inkabi yakhe wayihlabela khonapho.
And Saul says, “Be scattered among the people, and you have said to them: Each bring his ox to me, and each his sheep; and you have slain [them] in this place, and eaten, and you do not sin against YHWH to eat with the blood.” And all the people bring [them]—each one [with] his ox in his hand, that night—and slaughter [them] there.
35 USawuli wasesakhela uThixo i-alithari; wayeqala ukwenza lokhu.
And Saul builds an altar to YHWH; with it he has begun to build altars to YHWH.
36 USawuli wathi, “Kasehleni silandele amaFilistiya ebusuku siwahlasele kuze kuse, singatshiyi lalinye lawo liphila.” Bathi, “Yenza lokho okubona kulungile kuwe.” Kodwa umphristi wathi, “Kasibuzeni uNkulunkulu lapha.”
And Saul says, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and we prey on them until the morning light, and do not leave a man of them.” And they say, “Do all that is good in your eyes.” And the priest says, “Let us draw near to God here.”
37 USawuli wabuza uNkulunkulu wathi, “Ngehle ngilandele amaFilistiya na? Uzawanikela esandleni sika-Israyeli na?” Kodwa uNkulunkulu kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.
And Saul asks of God, “Do I go down after the Philistines? Do You give them into the hand of Israel?” And He has not answered him on that day.
38 Ngakho uSawuli wathi, “Wozani lapha, lonke lina bakhokheli bebutho, sidinge ukuthi yisono bani esenziwe lamhla.
And Saul says, “Everyone draw near here, the chiefs of the people, and know and see in what this sin has been today;
39 Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ohlenga u-Israyeli ephila, lanxa sisendodaneni yami uJonathani, kumele ife.” Kodwa akukho lamunye wabantu owatsho ilizwi.
for YHWH lives, who is saving Israel: surely if it is in my son Jonathan, surely he certainly dies”; and none is answering him out of all the people.
40 USawuli wasesithi kubo bonke abako-Israyeli, “Manini laphayana; mina lendodana yami uJonathani sizakuma ngapha.” Abantu baphendula bathi, “Yenza lokho okukhanya kulungile kuwe.”
And he says to all Israel, “You are on one side, and I and my son Jonathan are on another side”; and the people say to Saul, “Do that which is good in your eyes.”
41 Emva kwalokho uSawuli wakhuleka kuThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wathi, “Kungani ungayiphendulanga inceku lamuhla? Nxa isono sikimi kumbe kuJonathani indodana yami, inkatho kayibe yi-Urimi; kodwa nxa isono sisebantwini bako-Israyeli, inkatho kayibe yiThumimi.” UJonathani loSawuli badliwa yinkatho, abantu bagezeka.
And Saul says to YHWH, God of Israel, “Give perfection”; and Jonathan and Saul are captured, and the people went out.
42 USawuli wasesithi, “Phosani inkatho phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami.” UJonathani wabanjwa.
And Saul says, “Cast between me and my son Jonathan”; and Jonathan is captured.
43 USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani, “Ngitshela lokho okwenzileyo.” Ngakho uJonathani wamtshela wathi, “Nginambithe uluju nje kuphela ngesihloko somqwayi wami. Khathesi-ke sokumele ngife!”
And Saul says to Jonathan, “Declare to me, what have you done?” And Jonathan declares to him and says, “I certainly tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that [is] in my hand; behold, I die!”
44 USawuli wathi, “UNkulunkulu kangijezise, kube nzima kakhulu, nxa ungafi, Jonathani.”
And Saul says, “Thus God does, and thus does He add, for you certainly die, Jonathan.”
45 Kodwa abantu bathi kuSawuli, “UJonathani kumele afe yini, yena olethe lokhukuhlengwa okukhulu ko-Israyeli na? Hatshi bo! Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ekhona, akulanwele lwekhanda lakhe oluzawela phansi, ngoba lokhu ukwenze lamhla ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu.” Ngakho abantu bamhlenga uJonathani, kasabulawanga.
And the people say to Saul, “Does Jonathan die who worked this great salvation in Israel? Certainly not! YHWH lives, if there falls to the earth [even one] hair from his head, for with God he has worked this day”; and the people rescue Jonathan, and he has not died.
46 USawuli wayekela ukuxotshana lamaFilistiya, njalo amaFilistiya abuyela elizweni lakibo.
And Saul goes up from after the Philistines, and the Philistines have gone to their place;
47 Kwathi uSawuli esebusa ko-Israyeli, walwa lezitha zabo inxa zonke: iMowabi, ama-Amoni, i-Edomi, amakhosi aseZobha kanye lamaFilistiya. Loba kungaphi lapho aya khona, wababhuqa.
and Saul captured the kingdom over Israel, and he fights all around against all his enemies, against Moab, and against the sons of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines, and wherever he turns he distresses [them].
48 Walwa ngesibindi wehlula ama-Amaleki, wakhulula u-Israyeli ezandleni zalabo ababebaphangile.
And he makes a force, and strikes Amalek, and delivers Israel out of the hand of its spoiler.
49 Amadodana kaSawuli ayenguJonathani, lo-Ishivi kanye loMalikhi-Shuwa. Ibizo lendodakazi yakhe endala lalinguMerabi, elomcinyane linguMikhali.
And the sons of Saul are Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-Shua; as for the name of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn [is] Merab, and the name of the younger Michal;
50 Ibizo lomkakhe lalingu-Ahinowama indodakazi ka-Ahimazi. Umlawuli webutho likaSawuli wayengu-Abhineri indodana kaNeri, uNeri wayengumfowabo kayise kaSawuli.
and the name of the wife of Saul [is] Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the head of his host [is] Abner son of Ner, uncle of Saul;
51 UKhishi uyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise ka-Abhineri babengamadodana ka-Abhiyeli.
and Kish [is] the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, [is] the son of Ahiel.
52 Kuzozonke insuku zikaSawuli kwakulempi enzima lamaFilistiya, njalo loba kungaphi uSawuli abona khona indoda elamandla kumbe elesibindi, wayingenisa ebuthweni lakhe.
And the war is severe against the Philistines all the days of Saul; when Saul has seen any mighty man, and any son of valor, then he gathers him to himself.
