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.
Ngelinye ilanga uJonathani indodana kaSawuli wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, kasiye enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya ngakwelinye icele.” Kodwa kamtshelanga uyise.
2 USawuli wayehlala-ke ephethelweni leGibeya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sepomegranati esiseMigironi; labantu ababelaye babengaphose babe ngamadoda angamakhulu ayisithupha;
USawuli wayehlala emaphethelweni eGibhiya ngaphansi kwesihlahla sephomegranathi eMigironi. Amadoda ayelaye ayengaba ngamakhulu ayisithupha,
3 loAhiya, indodana kaAhitubi, umfowabo kaIkabodi, indodana kaPhinehasi, indodana kaEli, umpristi weNkosi eShilo, wayembethe i-efodi. Kodwa abantu babengazi ukuthi uJonathani uhambile.
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.
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.
Eceleni ngalinye lomkhandlu ayehlose ukuwuchapha ukuze ayefika enkambeni yebutho lamaFilistiya kwakuleliwa; elinye lalithiwa yiBhozezi elinye liyiSene.
5 Elinye iliwa laligxile enyakatho maqondana leMikimashi, lelinye ngeningizimu maqondana leGeba.
Elinye iliwa lalingasenyakatho ngokuya eMikhimashi, elinye lingasezansi ngokuya eGebha.
6 UJonathani wasesithi emfaneni othwala izikhali zakhe: Woza sichaphele ebuthweni lenqaba elalaba abangasokanga; mhlawumbe iNkosi izasisebenzela, ngoba kakulasenqabelo eNkosini ukusindisa ngabanengi loba ngabalutshwana.
UJonathani wathi ejaheni elalithwala izikhali zakhe, “Woza, siwelele enkambeni yalabayana abantu abangasokanga. Engxenye uThixo uzasimela, ngoba akulalutho olungavimbela uThixo ekukhululeni, loba kungabanengi kumbe abalutshwana.”
7 Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wasesithi kuye: Yenza konke okusenhliziyweni yakho; phambuka, khangela ngilawe njengokwenhliziyo yakho.
Umthwali wezikhali zakhe wathi, “Yenza konke olakho engqondweni yakho. Qhubeka, mina ngilawe ngenhliziyo langomphefumulo.”
8 UJonathani wasesithi: Khangela, sizachaphela kulabobantu sizibonakalise kibo.
UJonathani wasesithi, “Ngakho-ke, woza sikhuphuke siqonde kulabaya abantu senze ukuba basibone.
9 Uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Manini mpo, size sifike kini; sizakuma-ke endaweni yethu, singenyukeli kibo.
Bangathi kithi, ‘Manini khonapho size sifike kini,’ sizahlala lapho esikhona singayi kubo.
10 Kodwa uba bekhuluma njalo kithi besithi: Yenyukelani kithi; sizakwenyuka-ke, ngoba iNkosi ibanikele esandleni sethu; lalokhu kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kithi.
Kodwa bangathi, ‘Wozani kithi,’ sizakhwela siye phezulu ngoba lokho kuzakuba yisibonakaliso sethu sokuthi uThixo usebanikele ezandleni zethu.”
11 Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa ebuthweni lenqaba yamaFilisti; amaFilisti asesithi: Khangelani, amaHebheru asephuma emilindini abecatshe kiyo.
Ngakho bobabili bazibonakalisa enkambeni yamabutho amaFilistiya. AmaFilistiya athi, “Khangelani, amaHebheru asehohoba ephuma emilindini abecatshe kuyo.”
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.
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.”
13 UJonathani wasekhwela ngezandla zakhe langenyawo zakhe, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe emva kwakhe. Asesiwa phambi kukaJonathani, lomthwali wezikhali zakhe wawabulala emva kwakhe.
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.
14 Ukutshaya kokuqala atshaya ngakho uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe kwakungaba phose ngamadoda angamatshumi amabili, ensimini elingana lengxenye yendima yesipani.
Ngalokho kuhlasela kokuqala uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babulala abantu abangamatshumi amabili endaweni eyayingaba yingxenye yendima.
15 Kwasekusiba khona ukuthuthumela enkambeni, egangeni, laphakathi kwabantu bonke; ibutho lenqaba labachithi labo bathuthumela, lomhlaba wanyikinyeka, kwasekusiba yikuthuthumela okukhulu.
Emva kwalokho ibutho lonke lathuthumela, ababesezihonqweni lababesegangeni, lalabo ababesezinkambeni zamabutho lamaqembu abahlaseli, iphansi lanyikinyeka. Kwakuyikuthuthumela okwakulethwe nguNkulunkulu.
16 Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibeya yakoBhenjamini basebebona ukuthi, khangela, ixuku lancibilika lihamba litshayelana phansi.
Abalindi bakaSawuli eGibhiya koBhenjamini babona ibutho lisabalele ezinhlangothini zonke.
17 USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye: Ake libale, libone ukuthi ngubani osuke kithi. Kwathi sebebalile, khangela, uJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe babengekho.
USawuli wasesithi ebantwini ababelaye, “Qoqani amabutho libone ukuthi ngubani ongekho.” Sebekwenzile, ababengekho kwakunguJonathani lomthwali wezikhali zakhe.
18 USawuli wasesithi kuAhiya: Letha lapha umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu. Ngoba umtshokotsho kaNkulunkulu ngalolosuku wawukubantwana bakoIsrayeli.
USawuli wasesithi ku-Ahija, “Letha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.” (Ngalesisikhathi lalikwabako-Israyeli.)
19 Kwasekusithi uSawuli esakhuluma lompristi, umsindo owawusenkambeni yamaFilisti waqhubeka wanda. USawuli wasesithi kumpristi: Buyisela isandla sakho.
Kwathi uSawuli esakhuluma lomphristi, ukuxokozela ezihonqweni zamaFilistiya kwakhula kakhulu kakhulukazi. Ngakho uSawuli wathi kumphristi, “Susa isandla sakho.”
20 USawuli labo bonke abantu ababelaye basebebizelwa ndawonye bafika empini, khangela-ke, inkemba yalowo lalowo yayimelene lomakhelwane wakhe, isiyaluyalu esikhulu kakhulu.
Emva kwalokho uSawuli labantu bakhe bonke babuthana basebesiya empini. Bafica amaFilistiya ephakathi kwesiyaluyalu esipheleleyo, egalelana ngezinkemba zawo.
21 LamaHebheru ayelamaFilisti njengakuqala, enyukela lawo enkambeni inhlangothi zonke, ngitsho lawo aphenduka ukuthi abe loIsrayeli owayeloSawuli loJonathani.
AmaHebheru ayelamaFilistiya kuqala ehambe lawo ezihonqweni zawo abuyela kwabako-Israyeli ababeloSawuli loJonathani.
22 Kwathi amadoda wonke akoIsrayeli ayecatshe entabeni yakoEfrayimi esezwile ukuthi amaFilisti ayabaleka, ngitsho lawo awanamathela ewalandela empini.
Kwathi lapho bonke abako-Israyeli ababecatshe elizweni lezintaba elako-Efrayimi sebezwile ukuthi amaFilistiya ayesebaleka empini bangena, baxotshana lawo.
23 Ngokunjalo iNkosi yamsindisa uIsrayeli ngalolosuku; lempi yedlulela eBeti-Aveni.
Uthixo wamhlenga kanjalo u-Israyeli ngalolosuku, njalo ukulwa kwaya ngale kweBhethi-Aveni.
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.
Ngalolosuku abantu bako-Israyeli babedanile ngoba uSawuli wayebophe abantu ngesifungo esithi, “Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla kungakahlwi, ngingakaphindiseli ezitheni zami!” Ngakho akukho butho elanambitha ukudla.
25 Bonke abelizwe basebefika ehlathini; njalo kwakuloluju phezu kobuso bomhlabathi.
Ibutho lonke langena ehlathini, lapho okwakuloluju phansi khona.
26 Lapho abantu bengena ehlathini, khangela, uluju lwathonta; kodwa kakho loyedwa owasa isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, ngoba abantu besaba isifungo.
Ekungeneni kwabo ehlathini, babona uluju lujuluka, kodwa kakho owaludlayo, ngoba babesesaba isifungo.
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.
Kodwa uJonathani wayengezwanga ukuthi uyise wayebophe abantu ngesifungo, welula isiduku somqwayi ayewuphethe wawuhloma ohlangeni loluju. Waphakamisela isandla sakhe emlonyeni wakhe, amehlo akhazimula.
28 Omunye wabantu wasephendula wathi: Uyihlo ubafungisile lokubafungisa abantu esithi: Uqalekisiwe umuntu odla ukudla lamuhla. Abantu basebephele amandla.
Lapho-ke omunye wamabutho wamtshela wathi, “Uyihlo ubophe ibutho ngesifungo esinzima, esithi, ‘Uqalekisiwe lowomuntu odla ukudla lamhla!’ Yikho-nje abantu bemdambiyana.”
29 UJonathani wasesithi: Ubaba ulihluphile ilizwe; ake libone ukuthi amehlo ami aseqaqabuke njani, ngoba nginambithe ingcosana yaloluluju.
UJonathani wathi, “Ubaba usedalele ilizwe uhlupho. Khangela ukuthi amehlo ami athe dlwe ekunambitheni kwami okuncane koluju lolu.
30 Kudlula kangakanani aluba abantu bebedlile lokudla lamuhla okwempango yezitha zabo abayitholayo? Ngoba khathesi ukubulala kakubanga kukhulu phakathi kwamaFilisti.
Kade kuzakuba ngcono kakhulu aluba lamhla abantu bebedlile enye yempango abayithethe ezitheni zabo. Ukubulawa kwamaFilistiya kade kungayikuba kukhulu kulalokhu na?”
31 Basebetshaya amaFilisti ngalolosuku kusukela eMikimashi kuze kube seAjaloni. Abantu basebephele amandla kakhulu.
Ngalolosuku, emva kokuba ama-Israyeli esebulele amaFilistiya kusukela eMikhimashi kusiyafika e-Ayijaloni, ayesediniwe.
32 Abantu basebetheleka empangweni; bathatha izimvu, lezinkabi, lamathole enkomo, bakuhlabela emhlabathini; abantu bakudla kanye legazi.
Baphuthuma impango, kwathi sebethethe izimvu lenkomo kanye lamathole, bazibulala khonapho bazidla kanye legazi.
33 Basebemtshela uSawuli besithi: Khangela, abantu bayona eNkosini ngokudla kanye legazi. Wasesithi: Lenze ngokungathembeki; giqelani kimi ilitshe elikhulu lamuhla.
Omunye wasesithi kuSawuli, “Khangela abantu benza isono kuThixo ngokudla inyama elegazi.” Yena wathi, “Selephule ukuthenjwa. Giqelani ilitshe elikhulu ngapha khathesi nje.”
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.
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.
35 USawuli waseyakhela iNkosi ilathi; kwakulilathi lokuqala alakhela iNkosi.
USawuli wasesakhela uThixo i-alithari; wayeqala ukwenza lokhu.
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.
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.”
37 USawuli wasebuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: Ngehle ngilandele amaFilisti yini? Uzawanikela esandleni sikaIsrayeli yini? Kodwa kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.
USawuli wabuza uNkulunkulu wathi, “Ngehle ngilandele amaFilistiya na? Uzawanikela esandleni sika-Israyeli na?” Kodwa uNkulunkulu kamphendulanga ngalolosuku.
38 USawuli wasesithi: Sondelani lapha lonke bakhokheli babantu, lazi libone ukuthi lesisono sikukuphi lamuhla.
Ngakho uSawuli wathi, “Wozani lapha, lonke lina bakhokheli bebutho, sidinge ukuthi yisono bani esenziwe lamhla.
39 Ngoba kuphila kukaJehova owasindisa uIsrayeli, lanxa kungaba kuJonathani indodana yami, isibili uzakufa lokufa. Kodwa kakho loyedwa owamphendulayo ebantwini bonke.
Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo ohlenga u-Israyeli ephila, lanxa sisendodaneni yami uJonathani, kumele ife.” Kodwa akukho lamunye wabantu owatsho ilizwi.
40 Wasesithi kuIsrayeli wonke: Banini nganxanye lina, mina-ke loJonathani indodana yami sizakuba nganxanye. Abantu basebesithi kuSawuli: Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho.
USawuli wasesithi kubo bonke abako-Israyeli, “Manini laphayana; mina lendodana yami uJonathani sizakuma ngapha.” Abantu baphendula bathi, “Yenza lokho okukhanya kulungile kuwe.”
41 Ngakho uSawuli wathi eNkosini uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Phana opheleleyo. UJonathani loSawuli basebebanjwa, kodwa abantu baphunyuka.
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.
42 USawuli wasesithi: Yenzani inkatho yokuphosa phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami. UJonathani wasebanjwa.
USawuli wasesithi, “Phosani inkatho phakathi kwami loJonathani indodana yami.” UJonathani wabanjwa.
43 USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani: Ngitshela okwenzileyo. UJonathani wasemtshela wathi: Oqotho nginambithe ngesihloko somqwayi obusesandleni sami imbijana yoluju; khangela ngilapha, sengizakufa!
USawuli wasesithi kuJonathani, “Ngitshela lokho okwenzileyo.” Ngakho uJonathani wamtshela wathi, “Nginambithe uluju nje kuphela ngesihloko somqwayi wami. Khathesi-ke sokumele ngife!”
44 USawuli wasesithi: UNkulunkulu kenze njalo langokunjalo engezelele; ngoba uzakufa lokufa, Jonathani.
USawuli wathi, “UNkulunkulu kangijezise, kube nzima kakhulu, nxa ungafi, Jonathani.”
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.
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.
46 USawuli wasesenyuka esuka ekulandeleni amaFilisti; amaFilisti asesiya endaweni yawo.
USawuli wayekela ukuxotshana lamaFilistiya, njalo amaFilistiya abuyela elizweni lakibo.
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.
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.
48 Wenza ngobuqhawe wasetshaya amaAmaleki, wakhulula uIsrayeli esandleni somphangi wakhe.
Walwa ngesibindi wehlula ama-Amaleki, wakhulula u-Israyeli ezandleni zalabo ababebaphangile.
49 Lamadodana kaSawuli ayengoJonathani loIshivi, loMaliki-Shuwa; lamabizo amadodakazi akhe amabili yila: Ibizo lezibulo lalinguMerabi, lebizo lencinyane linguMikhali.
Amadodana kaSawuli ayenguJonathani, lo-Ishivi kanye loMalikhi-Shuwa. Ibizo lendodakazi yakhe endala lalinguMerabi, elomcinyane linguMikhali.
50 Lebizo lomkaSawuli lalinguAhinowama indodakazi kaAhimahazi; lebizo lenduna yebutho lakhe lalinguAbhineri indodana kaNeri, uyise omncinyane kaSawuli.
Ibizo lomkakhe lalingu-Ahinowama indodakazi ka-Ahimazi. Umlawuli webutho likaSawuli wayengu-Abhineri indodana kaNeri, uNeri wayengumfowabo kayise kaSawuli.
51 Njalo uKishi wayenguyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise kaAbhineri wayeyindodana kaAbiyeli.
UKhishi uyise kaSawuli, loNeri uyise ka-Abhineri babengamadodana ka-Abhiyeli.
52 Njalo kwakukhona impi enzima lamaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSawuli; lapho uSawuli ebona indoda elamandla loba iqhawe, wayezibuthela yona.
Kuzozonke insuku zikaSawuli kwakulempi enzima lamaFilistiya, njalo loba kungaphi uSawuli abona khona indoda elamandla kumbe elesibindi, wayingenisa ebuthweni lakhe.
