1 USamuyeli 31
1 AmaFilistiya alwa lo-Israyeli; abako-Israyeli babaleka, njalo abanengi bafela eNtabeni yase Gilibhowa.
Basi Wafilisti wakapigana na Israeli. Waisraeli wakawakimbia, na wengi wakauawa katika Mlima Gilboa.
2 AmaFilistiya axotshana kanzima loSawuli kanye lamadodana akhe, abulala amadodana akhe uJonathani, lo-Abhinadabi kanye loMalikhi-Shuwa.
Wafilisti wakawafuatia kwa bidii Sauli na wanawe, wakawaua Yonathani, Abinadabu na Malki-Shua.
3 Impi yatshisa macele wonke kuSawuli, njalo kwathi abatshoki bemitshoko sebemxhumile, bamlimaza kubi.
Mapigano yakawa makali sana kumzunguka Sauli, nao wapiga upinde wakampata na kumjeruhi vibaya.
4 USawuli wathi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe, “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungigwaze, hlezi abantu laba abangasokanga bafike bangigwaze bangenze ihlazo.” Kodwa umphathi wezikhali zakhe wesaba, akaze akwenza lokho; ngakho uSawuli wathatha inkemba yakhe waziwisela phezu kwayo.
Sauli akamwambia mbeba silaha wake, “Futa upanga wako unichome nao, la sivyo hawa watu wasiotahiriwa watakuja wanichome na kunidhalilisha.” Lakini mbeba silaha wake akaogopa sana wala hakuweza kufanya hivyo. Kwa hiyo Sauli akachukua upanga wake mwenyewe na kuuangukia.
5 Kwathi umphathi wezikhali ebona ukuthi uSawuli wayesefile, laye waziwisela phezu kwenkemba yakhe wafa kanye laye.
Mchukua silaha wake alipoona Sauli amekufa, naye pia akaangukia upanga wake akafa pamoja naye.
6 Ngakho uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu lomphathi wezikhali zakhe kanye labantu bakhe bonke bafa ndawonye ngalo lolosuku.
Basi Sauli, wanawe watatu, mbeba silaha wake na watu wake wote wakafa pamoja siku ile ile.
7 Kwathi abako-Israyeli ababesekele isigodi lalabo ababengaphetsheya kweJodani bebona ukuthi ibutho lako-Israyeli lalibalekile lokuthi uSawuli kanye lamadodana akhe basebefile, batshiya imizi yabo babaleka. AmaFilistiya afika ahlala kuyo.
Waisraeli waliokuwa kandokando ya bonde na wale waliokuwa ngʼambo ya Yordani walipoona kuwa jeshi la Waisraeli limekimbia na kwamba Sauli na wanawe wamekufa, wakaacha miji yao na kukimbia. Nao Wafilisti wakaja na kukaa humo.
8 Ngelanga elalandelayo, amaFilistiya esefikile ukuba akhuthuze abafileyo, afica uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu befile eNtabeni yase Gilibhowa.
Kesho yake Wafilisti walipokuja kuwavua maiti silaha, walimkuta Sauli na wanawe watatu wameanguka katika Mlima Gilboa.
9 Amquma ikhanda lakhe athatha lezikhali zakhe, basebethuma izithunywa kulolonke ilizwe lamaFilistiya ukuthi zimemezele lindaba ethempelini lezithombe zawo lasebantwini bakibo.
Wakamkata Sauli kichwa na kumvua silaha zake, nao wakatuma wajumbe katika nchi yote ya Wafilisti kutangaza habari katika hekalu la sanamu zao na miongoni mwa watu wao.
10 Abeka izikhali zakhe ethempelini lama-Ashithorethi. Kwathi isidumbu sakhe asibethela emdulini weBhethi-Shani.
Wakaweka silaha zake katika hekalu la Maashtorethi, na kukifunga kiwiliwili chake katika ukuta wa Beth-Shani.
11 Kwathi abantu baseJabheshi Giliyadi sebezwile ngokwakwenziwe ngamaFilistiya kuSawuli,
Watu wa Yabeshi-Gileadi waliposikia yale Wafilisti walichomfanyia Sauli,
12 wonke amaqhawe abo alezibindi ahamba ubusuku bonke esiya eBhethi-Shani. Ethula isidumbu sikaSawuli lezamadodana akhe emdulini weBhethi-Shani aya eJabheshi, lapho azitshisela khona.
mashujaa wao wote wakaenda usiku hadi Beth-Shani. Wakauchukua mwili wa Sauli na miili ya wanawe kutoka kwenye ukuta wa Beth-Shani na kurudi hadi Yabeshi, mahali ambapo waliiteketeza kwa moto.
13 Athatha amathambo abo awembela ngaphansi kwesihlahla somthamarisiki eJabheshi, asezila insuku eziyisikhombisa.
Kisha wakachukua mifupa yao na kuizika chini ya mti wa mkwaju huko Yabeshi, nao wakafunga siku saba.
