1 USamuyeli 14
1 Ngelinye ilanga uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, kasiye enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya ngakwelinye icele.” Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.
Siku moja Yonathani mwana wa Sauli akamwambia kijana mbeba silaha wake, akasema, “Njoo, tuwavukie Wafilisti kwenye doria upande ule mwingine.” Lakini hakumwambia baba yake.
2 USawuli wayehlala emaphethelweni eGibhiya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sephomegranathi eMigironi. Amadoda ayelaye ayengaba ngamakhulu ayisithupha,
Sauli alikuwa akikaa kwenye viunga vya Gibea chini ya mkomamanga huko Migroni. Alikuwa pamoja na watu kama 600,
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.
miongoni mwao alikuwepo Ahiya, ambaye alikuwa amevaa kisibau. Alikuwa mwana wa Ikabodi, nduguye Ahitubu mwana wa Finehasi, mwana wa Eli, kuhani wa Bwana huko Shilo. Hakuna yeyote aliyekuwa na habari kwamba Yonathani alikuwa ameondoka.
4 Eceleni ngalinye lomkhandlu ayehlose ukuwuchapha ukuze ayefika enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya kwakuleliwa; elinye lalithiwa yiBhozezi elinye liyiSene.
Kila upande wa njia ambayo Yonathani alikusudia kupita ili kuvuka kufikia doria ya Wafilisti kulikuwepo na jabali; moja lilikuwa linaitwa Bosesi, na jingine Sene.
5 Elinye iliwa lalingasenyakatho ngokuya eMikhimashi, elinye lingasezansi ngokuya eGebha.
Jabali moja lilisimama kaskazini kuelekea Mikmashi na jingine upande wa kusini kuelekea Geba.
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.”
Yonathani akamwambia kijana wake mbeba silaha, “Njoo, tuvukie doria ya wale jamaa wasiotahiriwa. Huenda Bwana atatenda kwa ajili yetu. Hakuna chochote kitakachoweza kumzuia Bwana kuokoa, kwamba ni kwa wingi au kwa uchache.”
7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Yenza konke olakho engqondweni yakho. Qhubeka, mina ngilawe ngenhliziyo langomphefumulo.”
Mbeba silaha wake akamwambia, “Fanya yale yote uliyo nayo katika moyo wako. Songa mbele; moyo wangu na roho yangu viko pamoja nawe.”
8 UJonathani wasesithi, “Ngakho-ke, woza sikhuphuke siqonde kulabaya abantu senze ukuba basibone.
Yonathani akasema, “Basi njoo; tutavuka kuwaelekea hao watu na kuacha watuone.
9 Bangathi kithi, ‘Manini khonapho size sifike kini,’ sizahlala lapho esikhona singayi kubo.
Kama wakituambia, ‘Subirini hapo mpaka tuje kwenu,’ tutakaa pale tulipo na hatutakwea kwao.
10 Kodwa bangathi, ‘Wozani kithi,’ sizakhwela siye phezulu ngoba lokho kuzakuba yisibonakaliso sethu sokuthi uThixo usebanikele ezandleni zethu.”
Lakini kama watasema, ‘Pandeni mje kwetu,’ tutakwea, kwa sababu hiyo itakuwa ishara yetu kwamba Bwana amewatia mikononi mwetu.”
11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa enkambeni yamabutho amaFilistiya. AmaFilistiya athi, “Khangelani, amaHebheru asehohoba ephuma emilindini abecatshe kuyo.”
Basi wote wawili wakajionyesha kwa doria ya Wafilisti. Wafilisti wakasema, “Tazama! Waebrania wanatambaa toka mashimoni walimokuwa wamejificha.”
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.”
Watu wa kwenye doria wakawapigia kelele Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake, wakisema, “Njooni, pandeni kwetu nasi tutawakomesha.” Basi Yonathani akamwambia mbeba silaha wake, “Panda nyuma yangu; Bwana amewatia mikononi mwa Israeli.”
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.
Yonathani akapanda juu, akitumia mikono yake na miguu, pamoja na mbeba silaha wake papo hapo nyuma yake. Wafilisti wakaanguka mbele ya Yonathani, naye mbeba silaha wake akamfuata akiwaua nyuma yake.
14 Ngalokho kuhlasela kokuqala uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babulala abantu abangamatshumi amabili endaweni eyayingaba yingxenye yendima.
Katika hilo shambulio la kwanza, Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake waliua kama watu ishirini kwenye eneo kama la nusu eka.
15 Emva kwalokho ibutho lonke lathuthumela, ababesezihonqweni lababesegangeni, lalabo ababesezinkambeni zamabutho lamaqembu abahlaseli, iphansi lanyikinyeka. Kwakuyikuthuthumela okwakulethwe nguNkulunkulu.
Kisha fadhaa ikawapata jeshi lote, wale waliokuwa kambini na shambani, wale waliokuwa katika doria na makundi ya washambuliaji, nayo nchi ilitetemeka. Ilikuwa ni hofu ya ghafula iliyotumwa na Mungu.
16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibhiya koBhenjamini babona ibutho lisabalele ezinhlangothini zonke.
Wapelelezi wa Sauli huko Gibea ya Benyamini wakaona jeshi likitokomea pande zote.
17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye, “Qoqani amabutho libone ukuthi ngubani ongekho.” Sebekwenzile, ababengekho kwakunguJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe.
Ndipo Sauli akawaambia watu wale waliokuwa pamoja naye, “Kagueni jeshi mkaone ni nani ameondoka katikati yetu.” Walipokagua, akawa ni Yonathani na mbeba silaha wake ambao hawakuwepo.
18 USawuli wasesithi ku-Ahija, “Letha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.” (Ngalesisikhathi lalikwabako-Israyeli.)
Sauli akamwambia Ahiya, “Leta Sanduku la Mungu.” (Wakati huo lilikuwa kwa Waisraeli.)
19 Kwathi uSawuli esakhuluma lomphristi, ukuxokozela ezihonqweni zamaFilistiya kwakhula kakhulu kakhulukazi. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kumphristi, “Susa isandla sakho.”
Wakati Sauli alipokuwa akisema na kuhani, makelele katika kambi ya Wafilisti yakaongezeka zaidi na zaidi. Hivyo Sauli akamwambia kuhani, “Rudisha mkono wako.”
20 Emva kwalokho uSawuli labantu bakhe bonke babuthana basebesiya empini. Bafica amaFilistiya ephakathi kwesiyaluyalu esipheleleyo, egalelana ngezinkemba zawo.
Kisha Sauli na watu wake wote wakakusanyika na kwenda vitani. Wakawakuta Wafilisti wakiwa wamechanganyikiwa kabisa, wakitiana panga kila mmoja na wenzake.
21 AmaHebheru ayelamaFilistiya kuqala ehambe lawo ezihonqweni zawo abuyela kwabako-Israyeli ababeloSawuli loJonathani.
Wale Waebrania ambao walishakuwa pamoja na Wafilisti, na waliokuwa wamepanda pamoja nao katika kambi zao, wakaenda upande wa Waisraeli waliokuwa pamoja na Sauli na Yonathani.
22 Kwathi lapho bonke abako-Israyeli ababecatshe elizweni lezintaba elako-Efrayimi sebezwile ukuthi amaFilistiya ayesebaleka empini bangena, baxotshana lawo.
Waisraeli wote waliokuwa wamejificha katika nchi ya milima ya Efraimu waliposikia kuwa Wafilisti wamekimbia, wakajiunga vitani na kuwafuata kwa bidii.
23 Uthixo wamhlenga kanjalo u-Israyeli ngalolosuku, njalo ukulwa kwaya ngale kweBhethi-Aveni.
Hivyo Bwana akawaokoa Waisraeli siku ile, navyo vita vilienea hadi kupita Beth-Aveni.
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.
Basi watu wa Israeli walikuwa katika dhiki siku ile, kwa sababu Sauli alikuwa amewafunga watu kwa kiapo, akisema, “Alaaniwe mtu yeyote ambaye atakula chakula kabla ya jioni, kabla sijalipiza kisasi juu ya adui zangu!” Kwa hiyo hakuna mtu yeyote katika jeshi aliyeonja chakula.
25 Ibutho lonke langena ehlathini, lapho okwakuloluju phansi khona.
Jeshi lote liliingia mwituni, na huko kulikuwepo na asali ardhini.
26 Ekungeneni kwabo ehlathini, babona uluju lujuluka, kodwa kakho owaludlayo, ngoba babesesaba isifungo.
Walipoingia mwituni, wakaona asali ikitiririka, hata hivyo hakuna mtu yeyote aliyetia mkono wake kinywani, kwa sababu waliogopa kiapo.
27 Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga ukuthi uyise wayebophe abantu ngesifungo, welula isiduku somqwayi ayewuphethe wawuhloma ohlangeni loluju. Waphakamisela isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, amehlo akhazimula.
Lakini Yonathani alikuwa hajasikia kuwa baba yake alikuwa amewafunga watu kwa kiapo, hivyo akainyoosha ncha ya fimbo iliyokuwa mkononi mwake na kuichovya katika sega la asali. Akainua mkono wake na kuutia kinywani mwake, nayo macho yake yakawa maangavu.
28 Lapho-ke omunye wamabutho wamtshela wathi, “Uyihlo ubophe ibutho ngesifungo esinzima, esithi, ‘Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla lamhla!’ Yikho-nje abantu bemdambiyana.”
Kisha mmoja wa askari wake akamwambia, “Baba yako alilifunga jeshi kwa kiapo kikali, akisema, ‘Alaaniwe mtu yeyote alaye chakula leo!’ Ndiyo sababu watu wanalegea.”
29 UJonathani wathi, “Ubaba usedalele ilizwe uhlupho. Khangela ukuthi amehlo ami athe dlwe ekunambitheni kwami okuncane koluju lolu.
Yonathani akasema, “Baba yangu ameitaabisha nchi. Ona jinsi nilivyopata nguvu mpya nilipoonja asali hii kidogo.
30 Kade kuzakuba ngcono kakhulu aluba lamhla abantu bebedlile enye yempango abayithethe ezitheni zabo. Ukubulawa kwamaFilistiya kade kungayikuba kukhulu kulalokhu na?”
Ingekuwa bora zaidi mara ngapi kama watu wangalikula leo baadhi ya nyara walizoteka kutoka kwa adui zao. Je, mauaji ya Wafilisti yasingekuwa makubwa zaidi?”
31 Ngalolosuku, emva kokuba ama-Israyeli esebulele amaFilistiya kusukela eMikhimashi kusiyafika e-Ayijaloni, ayesediniwe.
Siku ile baada ya Waisraeli kuwaua Wafilisti kutoka Mikmashi mpaka Aiyaloni, walikuwa wamechoka.
32 Baphuthuma impango, kwathi sebethethe izimvu lenkomo kanye lamathole, bazibulala khonapho bazidla kanye legazi.
Watu wakarukia zile nyara, wakichukua kondoo, ngʼombe na ndama, wakawachinja hapo juu ya nchi na kuwala, pamoja na damu.
33 Omunye wasesithi kuSawuli, “Khangela abantu benza isono kuThixo ngokudla inyama elegazi.” Yena wathi, “Selephule ukuthenjwa. Giqelani ilitshe elikhulu ngapha khathesi nje.”
Kisha mtu mmoja akamwambia Sauli, “Tazama, watu wanatenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana kwa kula nyama yenye damu.” Akasema, “Mmevunja uaminifu. Livingirisheni jiwe kubwa hapa mara moja.”
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.
Kisha Sauli akasema, “Nendeni miongoni mwa watu, mwaambie, ‘Kila mmoja wenu aniletee ngʼombe wake na kondoo, mwachinjie hapa na mle. Msitende dhambi dhidi ya Bwana kwa kula nyama ikiwa na damu ndani yake.’” Hivyo kila mmoja akaleta ngʼombe wake jioni ile na kumchinja hapo.
35 USawuli wasesakhela uThixo i-alithari; wayeqala ukwenza lokhu.
Ndipo Sauli akamjengea Bwana madhabahu, na ndiyo ilivyokuwa mara yake ya kwanza kujenga madhabahu.
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.”
Sauli akasema, “Tuteremke tufuatie Wafilisti usiku na kuwateka nyara mpaka mapambazuko, nasi tusiache hata mmoja wao hai.” Wakajibu, “Fanya lolote lile uonalo jema zaidi kwako.” Lakini kuhani akasema, “Tuulize kwa Mungu mahali hapa.”
37 USawuli wabuza uNkulunkulu wathi, “Ngehle ngilandele amaFilistiya na? Uzawanikela esandleni sika-Israyeli na?” Kodwa uNkulunkulu kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.
Basi Sauli akamuuliza Mungu, akisema, “Je, niteremke kuwafuatia Wafilisti? Je, utawatia mikononi mwa Israeli?” Lakini Mungu hakumjibu siku ile.
38 Ngakho uSawuli wathi, “Wozani lapha, lonke lina bakhokheli bebutho, sidinge ukuthi yisono bani esenziwe lamhla.
Kwa hiyo Sauli akasema, “Njooni hapa, ninyi nyote ambao ni viongozi wa jeshi, na tutafute ni dhambi gani imefanywa leo.
39 Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ohlenga u-Israyeli ephila, lanxa sisendodaneni yami uJonathani, kumele ife.” Kodwa akukho lamunye wabantu owatsho ilizwi.
Kwa hakika kama Bwana aiokoaye Israeli aishivyo, hata kama itakuwa juu ya mwana wangu Yonathani, ni lazima afe.” Lakini hakuna mtu yeyote aliyesema neno.
40 USawuli wasesithi kubo bonke abako-Israyeli, “Manini laphayana; mina lendodana yami uJonathani sizakuma ngapha.” Abantu baphendula bathi, “Yenza lokho okukhanya kulungile kuwe.”
Kisha Sauli akawaambia Waisraeli wote, “Ninyi simameni huko; mimi na mwanangu Yonathani tutasimama hapa.” Watu wakajibu, “Fanya lile unaloona jema zaidi kwako.”
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.
Kisha Sauli akamwomba Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, akisema, “Nipe jibu lililo sawa.” Yonathani na Sauli wakatolewa kwa kura, nao watu wakawa salama.
42 USawuli wasesithi, “Phosani inkatho phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami.” UJonathani wabanjwa.
Sauli akasema, “Pigeni kura kati yangu na mwanangu Yonathani.” Kura ikamwangukia Yonathani.
43 USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani, “Ngitshela lokho okwenzileyo.” Ngakho uJonathani wamtshela wathi, “Nginambithe uluju nje kuphela ngesihloko somqwayi wami. Khathesi-ke sokumele ngife!”
Basi Sauli akamwambia Yonathani, “Niambie ni nini ulichokifanya.” Hivyo Yonathani akamwambia, “Nilionja tu asali kidogo kwa ncha ya fimbo yangu. Je, sasa ni lazima nife?”
44 USawuli wathi, “UNkulunkulu kangijezise, kube nzima kakhulu, nxa ungafi, Jonathani.”
Sauli akasema, “Mungu na anishughulikie kwa ukali zaidi kama wewe Yonathani hutakufa.”
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.
Lakini watu wakamwambia Sauli, “Je, Yonathani atakufa, yeye ambaye ameleta wokovu huu mkubwa Israeli? Hasha! Hakika kama Bwana aishivyo, hakuna hata unywele wa kichwa chake utakaoanguka juu ya ardhi, kwa kuwa alifanya jambo hili leo kwa msaada wa Mungu.” Basi watu wakamwokoa Yonathani, wala hakuuawa.
46 USawuli wayekela ukuxotshana lamaFilistiya, njalo amaFilistiya abuyela elizweni lakibo.
Kisha Sauli akaacha kuwafuata Wafilisti, nao wakajiondoa na kurudi katika nchi yao.
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.
Baada ya Sauli kujitwalia utawala katika Israeli, alipigana dhidi ya adui zake kila upande: Moabu, Waamoni, Edomu, wafalme wa Soba, na Wafilisti. Popote alipogeukia, aliwashinda.
48 Walwa ngesibindi wehlula ama-Amaleki, wakhulula u-Israyeli ezandleni zalabo ababebaphangile.
Akapigana kishujaa na kuwashinda Waamaleki, akiikomboa Israeli kutoka mikono ya wale waliokuwa wamewateka nyara.
49 Amadodana kaSawuli ayenguJonathani, lo-Ishivi kanye loMalikhi-Shuwa. Ibizo lendodakazi yakhe endala lalinguMerabi, elomcinyane linguMikhali.
Wana wa Sauli walikuwa Yonathani, Ishvi na Malki-Shua. Jina la binti yake mkubwa lilikuwa Merabu, naye mdogo aliitwa Mikali.
50 Ibizo lomkakhe lalingu-Ahinowama indodakazi ka-Ahimazi. Umlawuli webutho likaSawuli wayengu-Abhineri indodana kaNeri, uNeri wayengumfowabo kayise kaSawuli.
Jina la mkewe Sauli aliitwa Ahinoamu binti wa Ahimaasi. Jina la jemadari wa jeshi la Sauli aliitwa Abneri mwana wa Neri, naye Neri alikuwa babaye mdogo Sauli.
51 UKhishi uyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise ka-Abhineri babengamadodana ka-Abhiyeli.
Babaye Sauli yaani, Kishi na Neri baba yake Abneri walikuwa wana wa Abieli.
52 Kuzozonke insuku zikaSawuli kwakulempi enzima lamaFilistiya, njalo loba kungaphi uSawuli abona khona indoda elamandla kumbe elesibindi, wayingenisa ebuthweni lakhe.
Siku zote za utawala wa Sauli zilikuwa za vita vikali dhidi ya Wafilisti, na wakati wowote Sauli alimwona mtu mwenye nguvu au shujaa, alimchukua kwa utumishi wake.
