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 happened on a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armour, “Come! Let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father.
2 USawuli wayehlala-ke ephethelweni leGibeya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sepomegranati esiseMigironi; labantu ababelaye babengaphose babe ngamadoda angamakhulu ayisithupha;
Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron; and the people who 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.
including 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. The people didn’t know 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.
Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to 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 Michmash, 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.
Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armour, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for there is no restraint on the LORD to save by many or by few.”
7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza konke okusenhliziyweni yakho; phambuka, khangela ngilawe njengokwenhliziyo yakho.
His armour bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go, and behold, I am with you according to your heart.”
8 UJonathani wasesithi: Khangela, sizachaphela kulabobantu sizibonakalise kibo.
Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.
9 Uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Manini mpo, size sifike kini; sizakuma-ke endaweni yethu, singenyukeli kibo.
If they say this to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to 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 this, ‘Come up to us!’ then we will go up, for the LORD has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us.”
11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti; amaFilisti asesithi: Khangelani, amaHebheru asephuma emilindini abecatshe kiyo.
Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden 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.
The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armour bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has 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.
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armour bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan; and his armour bearer killed them after him.
14 Ukutshaya kokuqala atshaya ngakho uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe kwakungaba phose ngamadoda angamatshumi amabili, ensimini elingana lengxenye yendima yesipani.
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.
There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and amongst all the people; the garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling.
16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibeya yakoBhenjamini basebebona ukuthi, khangela, ixuku lancibilika lihamba litshayelana phansi.
The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered.
17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye: Ake libale, libone ukuthi ngubani osuke kithi. Kwathi sebebalile, khangela, uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babengekho.
Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armour bearer were not there.
18 USawuli wasesithi kuAhiya: Letha lapha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu ngalolosuku wawukubantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.
19 Kwasekusithi uSawuli esakhuluma lompristi, umsindo owawusenkambeni yamaFilisti waqhubeka wanda. USawuli wasesithi kumpristi: Buyisela isandla sakho.
While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”
20 USawuli labo bonke abantu ababelaye basebebizelwa ndawonye bafika empini, khangela-ke, inkemba yalowo lalowo yayimelene lomakhelwane wakhe, isiyaluyalu esikhulu kakhulu.
Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion.
21 LamaHebheru ayelamaFilisti njengakuqala, enyukela lawo enkambeni inhlangothi zonke, ngitsho lawo aphenduka ukuthi abe loIsrayeli owayeloSawuli loJonathani.
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who 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 who had hidden 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 over by 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.
The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
25 Bonke abelizwe basebefika ehlathini; njalo kwakuloluju phezu kobuso bomhlabathi.
All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.
26 Lapho abantu bengena ehlathini, khangela, uluju lwathonta; kodwa kakho loyedwa owasa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, ngoba abantu besaba isifungo.
When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one 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 didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out 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 one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” So the people were faint.
29 UJonathani wasesithi: Ubaba ulihluphile ilizwe; ake libone ukuthi amehlo ami aseqaqabuke njani, ngoba nginambithe ingcosana yaloluluju.
Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have 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 perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter amongst the Philistines.”
31 Basebetshaya amaFilisti ngalolosuku kusukela eMikimashi kuze kube seAjaloni. Abantu basebephele amandla kakhulu.
They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;
32 Abantu basebetheleka empangweni; bathatha izimvu, lezinkabi, lamathole enkomo, bakuhlabela emhlabathini; abantu bakudla kanye legazi.
and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate 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 are sinning against the LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!”
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.
Saul said, “Disperse yourselves amongst the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against the LORD in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.
35 USawuli waseyakhela iNkosi ilathi; kwakulilathi lokuqala alakhela iNkosi.
Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to 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.
Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder amongst them until the morning light. Let’s not leave a man of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let’s draw near here to God.”
37 USawuli wasebuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: Ngehle ngilandele amaFilisti yini? Uzawanikela esandleni sikaIsrayeli yini? Kodwa kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.
Saul asked counsel of God: “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But he didn’t answer him that day.
38 USawuli wasesithi: Sondelani lapha lonke bakhokheli babantu, lazi libone ukuthi lesisono sikukuphi lamuhla.
Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today.
39 Ngoba kuphila kukaJehova owasindisa uIsrayeli, lanxa kungaba kuJonathani indodana yami, isibili uzakufa lokufa. Kodwa kakho loyedwa owamphendulayo ebantwini bonke.
For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man amongst all the people who answered him.
40 Wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Banini nganxanye lina, mina-ke loJonathani indodana yami sizakuba nganxanye. Abantu basebesithi kuSawuli: Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho.
Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
41 Ngakho uSawuli wathi eNkosini uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Phana opheleleyo. UJonathani loSawuli basebebanjwa, kodwa abantu baphunyuka.
Therefore Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.
42 USawuli wasesithi: Yenzani inkatho yokuphosa phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami. UJonathani wasebanjwa.
Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.
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 you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.”
44 USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu kenze njalo langokunjalo engezelele; ngoba uzakufa lokufa, Jonathani.
Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall 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.
The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today!” So the people rescued Jonathan, so he didn’t die.
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.
Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he 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. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them.
48 Wenza ngobuqhawe wasetshaya amaAmaleki, wakhulula uIsrayeli esandleni somphangi wakhe.
He did valiantly and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered 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, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
50 Lebizo lomkaSawuli lalinguAhinowama indodakazi kaAhimahazi; lebizo lenduna yebutho lakhe lalinguAbhineri indodana kaNeri, uyise omncinyane kaSawuli.
The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51 Njalo uKishi wayenguyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise kaAbhineri wayeyindodana kaAbiyeli.
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.
There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man or any valiant man, he took him into his service.
