1 USamuyeli 14

1 Kwasekusithi ngolunye usuku, uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti elingaphetsheya ngale. Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.

Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bore his armour: 'Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father.

2 USawuli wayehlala-ke ephethelweni leGibeya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sepomegranati esiseMigironi; labantu ababelaye babengaphose babe ngamadoda angamakhulu ayisithupha;

And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is in Migron; and the people that were with him were about six hundred men,

3 loAhiya, indodana kaAhitubi, umfowabo kaIkabodi, indodana kaPhinehasi, indodana kaEli, umpristi weNkosi eShilo, wayembethe i-efodi. Kodwa abantu babengazi ukuthi uJonathani uhambile.

and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

4 Laphakathi kwemikhandlo, lapho uJonathani ayezama ukuchapha khona ukuya ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti, kwakuledwala elicijileyo nganeno, ledwala elicijileyo ngaphetsheya; njalo ibizo lelinye laliyiBozezi, lebizo lelinye laliyiSene.

And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 Elinye iliwa laligxile enyakatho maqondana leMikimashi, lelinye ngeningizimu maqondana leGeba.

The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmas, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 UJonathani wasesithi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba elalaba abangasokanga; mhlawumbe iNkosi izasisebenzela, ngoba kakulasenqabelo eNkosini ukusindisa ngabanengi loba ngabalutshwana.

And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: 'Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us; for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.'

7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza konke okusenhliziyweni yakho; phambuka, khangela ngilawe njengokwenhliziyo yakho.

And his armour-bearer said unto him: 'Do all that is in thy heart; turn thee, behold I am with thee according to thy heart.'

8 UJonathani wasesithi: Khangela, sizachaphela kulabobantu sizibonakalise kibo.

Then said Jonathan: 'Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them.

9 Uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Manini mpo, size sifike kini; sizakuma-ke endaweni yethu, singenyukeli kibo.

If they say thus unto us: Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10 Kodwa uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Yenyukelani kithi; sizakwenyuka-ke, ngoba iNkosi ibanikele esandleni sethu; lalokhu kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kithi.

But if they say thus: Come up unto us; then we will go up; for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand; and this shall be the sign unto us.'

11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti; amaFilisti asesithi: Khangelani, amaHebheru asephuma emilindini abecatshe kiyo.

And both of them disclosed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said: 'Behold Hebrews coming forth out of the holes where they hid themselves.'

12 Amadoda ebutho lenqaba asephendula oJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe athi: Yenyukelani kithi, sizalitshengisa ulutho. UJonathani wasesithi kumthwali wezikhali zakhe: Yenyuka ungilandele, ngoba iNkosi iwanikele esandleni sikaIsrayeli.

And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said: 'Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.' And Jonathan said unto his armour-bearer: 'Come up after me; for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.'

13 UJonathani wasekhwela ngezandla zakhe langenyawo zakhe, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe emva kwakhe. Asesiwa phambi kukaJonathani, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe wawabulala emva kwakhe.

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew them after him.

14 Ukutshaya kokuqala atshaya ngakho uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe kwakungaba phose ngamadoda angamatshumi amabili, ensimini elingana lengxenye yendima yesipani.

And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land.

15 Kwasekusiba khona ukuthuthumela enkambeni, egangeni, laphakathi kwabantu bonke; ibutho lenqaba labachithi labo bathuthumela, lomhlaba wanyikinyeka, kwasekusiba yikuthuthumela okukhulu.

And there was a trembling in the camp in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked; so it grew into a terror from God.

16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibeya yakoBhenjamini basebebona ukuthi, khangela, ixuku lancibilika lihamba litshayelana phansi.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeath-benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.

17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye: Ake libale, libone ukuthi ngubani osuke kithi. Kwathi sebebalile, khangela, uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babengekho.

Then said Saul unto the people that were with him: 'Number now, and see who is gone from us.' And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.

18 USawuli wasesithi kuAhiya: Letha lapha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu ngalolosuku wawukubantwana bakoIsrayeli.

And Saul said unto Ahijah: 'Bring hither the ark of God.' For the ark of God was there at that time with the children of Israel.

19 Kwasekusithi uSawuli esakhuluma lompristi, umsindo owawusenkambeni yamaFilisti waqhubeka wanda. USawuli wasesithi kumpristi: Buyisela isandla sakho.

And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said unto the priest: 'Withdraw thy hand.'

20 USawuli labo bonke abantu ababelaye basebebizelwa ndawonye bafika empini, khangela-ke, inkemba yalowo lalowo yayimelene lomakhelwane wakhe, isiyaluyalu esikhulu kakhulu.

And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

21 LamaHebheru ayelamaFilisti njengakuqala, enyukela lawo enkambeni inhlangothi zonke, ngitsho lawo aphenduka ukuthi abe loIsrayeli owayeloSawuli loJonathani.

Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp round about; even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Kwathi amadoda wonke akoIsrayeli ayecatshe entabeni yakoEfrayimi esezwile ukuthi amaFilisti ayabaleka, ngitsho lawo awanamathela ewalandela empini.

Likewise all the men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 Ngokunjalo iNkosi yamsindisa uIsrayeli ngalolosuku; lempi yedlulela eBeti-Aveni.

So the LORD saved Israel that day; and the battle passed on as far as Beth-aven.

24 Amadoda akoIsrayeli asekhathala ngalolosuku, ngoba uSawuli wafungisa abantu esithi: Kaqalekiswe umuntu odla ukudla kuze kube ntambama, ukuze ngiziphindiselele ezitheni zami. Ngakho kakho ebantwini owanambitha ukudla.

And the men of Israel were distressed that day; but Saul adjured the people, saying: 'Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies.' So none of the people tasted food.

25 Bonke abelizwe basebefika ehlathini; njalo kwakuloluju phezu kobuso bomhlabathi.

And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground.

26 Lapho abantu bengena ehlathini, khangela, uluju lwathonta; kodwa kakho loyedwa owasa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, ngoba abantu besaba isifungo.

And when the people were come unto the forest, behold a flow of honey; but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.

27 Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga lapho uyise efungisa abantu; ngakho welula isihloko somqwayi owawusesandleni sakhe, wasigxamuza ehlangeni lwenyosi, wasesisa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, lamehlo akhe aqaqabuka.

But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath; and he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.

28 Omunye wabantu wasephendula wathi: Uyihlo ubafungisile lokubafungisa abantu esithi: Uqalekisiwe umuntu odla ukudla lamuhla. Abantu basebephele amandla.

Then answered one of the people, and said: 'Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying: Cursed be the man that eateth food this day; and the people are faint.'

29 UJonathani wasesithi: Ubaba ulihluphile ilizwe; ake libone ukuthi amehlo ami aseqaqabuke njani, ngoba nginambithe ingcosana yaloluluju.

Then said Jonathan: 'My father hath troubled the land; see, I pray you, how mine eyes are brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 Kudlula kangakanani aluba abantu bebedlile lokudla lamuhla okwempango yezitha zabo abayitholayo? Ngoba khathesi ukubulala kakubanga kukhulu phakathi kwamaFilisti.

How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? had there not been then a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?'

31 Basebetshaya amaFilisti ngalolosuku kusukela eMikimashi kuze kube seAjaloni. Abantu basebephele amandla kakhulu.

And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmas to Aijalon; and the people were very faint.

32 Abantu basebetheleka empangweni; bathatha izimvu, lezinkabi, lamathole enkomo, bakuhlabela emhlabathini; abantu bakudla kanye legazi.

And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood.

33 Basebemtshela uSawuli besithi: Khangela, abantu bayona eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazi. Wasesithi: Lenze ngokungathembeki; giqelani kimi ilitshe elikhulu lamuhla.

Then they told Saul, saying: 'Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood.' And he said: 'Ye have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone unto me this day.'

34 USawuli wasesithi: Zihlakazeni phakathi kwabantu lithi kibo: Sondezani kimi, ngulowo lalowo inkabi yakhe, langulowo lalowo imvu yakhe, lizihlabele lapha, lidle; njalo lingoni eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazi. Ngakho bonke abantu basondeza, ngulowo lalowo inkabi yakhe ngesandla sakhe ngalobobusuku, bazihlaba khona.

And Saul said: 'Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them: Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood.' And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

35 USawuli waseyakhela iNkosi ilathi; kwakulilathi lokuqala alakhela iNkosi.

And Saul built an altar unto the LORD; the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

36 USawuli wasesithi: Asehleni silandele amaFilisti ebusuku, siwaphange kuze kube yikukhanya kokusa, singatshiyi lamuntu kiwo. Basebesithi: Yenza konke okuhle emehlweni akho. Kodwa umpristi wathi: Asisondeleni lapha kuNkulunkulu.

And Saul said: 'Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.' And they said: 'Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.' Then said the priest: 'Let us draw near hither unto God.'

37 USawuli wasebuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: Ngehle ngilandele amaFilisti yini? Uzawanikela esandleni sikaIsrayeli yini? Kodwa kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.

And Saul asked counsel of God: 'Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?' But He answered him not that day.

38 USawuli wasesithi: Sondelani lapha lonke bakhokheli babantu, lazi libone ukuthi lesisono sikukuphi lamuhla.

And Saul said: 'Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

39 Ngoba kuphila kukaJehova owasindisa uIsrayeli, lanxa kungaba kuJonathani indodana yami, isibili uzakufa lokufa. Kodwa kakho loyedwa owamphendulayo ebantwini bonke.

For, as the LORD liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.' But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

40 Wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Banini nganxanye lina, mina-ke loJonathani indodana yami sizakuba nganxanye. Abantu basebesithi kuSawuli: Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho.

Then said he unto all Israel: 'Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.' And the people said unto Saul: 'Do what seemeth good unto thee.'

41 Ngakho uSawuli wathi eNkosini uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Phana opheleleyo. UJonathani loSawuli basebebanjwa, kodwa abantu baphunyuka.

Therefore Saul said unto the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Declare the right.' And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped.

42 USawuli wasesithi: Yenzani inkatho yokuphosa phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami. UJonathani wasebanjwa.

And Saul said: 'Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.' And Jonathan was taken.

43 USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani: Ngitshela okwenzileyo. UJonathani wasemtshela wathi: Oqotho nginambithe ngesihloko somqwayi obusesandleni sami imbijana yoluju; khangela ngilapha, sengizakufa!

Then Saul said to Jonathan: 'Tell me what thou hast done.' And Jonathan told him, and said: 'I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; here am I: I will die.'

44 USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu kenze njalo langokunjalo engezelele; ngoba uzakufa lokufa, Jonathani.

And Saul said: 'God do so and more also; thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.'

45 Kodwa abantu bathi kuSawuli: Uzakufa yini uJonathani, owenze lolusindiso olukhulu koIsrayeli? Kakube khatshana! Kuphila kukaJehova, kakuyikuwela emhlabathini lolulodwa unwele lwekhanda lakhe, ngoba usebenze loNkulunkulu lamuhla. Ngakho abantu bamhlenga uJonathani ukuthi angafi.

And the people said unto Saul: 'Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it; as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day.' So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

46 USawuli wasesenyuka esuka ekulandeleni amaFilisti; amaFilisti asesiya endaweni yawo.

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 USawuli wasethatha ubukhosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, walwa emelene lezitha zakhe zonke inhlangothi zonke, emelene loMowabi, njalo emelene labantwana bakoAmoni, njalo emelene loEdoma, njalo emelene lamakhosi eZoba, njalo emelene lamaFilisti; laloba ngaphi lapho aphendukela khona wayejezisa.

So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and whithersoever he turned himself, he put them to the worse.

48 Wenza ngobuqhawe wasetshaya amaAmaleki, wakhulula uIsrayeli esandleni somphangi wakhe.

And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

49 Lamadodana kaSawuli ayengoJonathani loIshivi, loMaliki-Shuwa; lamabizo amadodakazi akhe amabili yila: Ibizo lezibulo lalinguMerabi, lebizo lencinyane linguMikhali.

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchi-shua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal;

50 Lebizo lomkaSawuli lalinguAhinowama indodakazi kaAhimahazi; lebizo lenduna yebutho lakhe lalinguAbhineri indodana kaNeri, uyise omncinyane kaSawuli.

and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

51 Njalo uKishi wayenguyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise kaAbhineri wayeyindodana kaAbiyeli.

And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 Njalo kwakukhona impi enzima lamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSawuli; lapho uSawuli ebona indoda elamandla loba iqhawe, wayezibuthela yona.

And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.