1 USAMYELA 5

₁AmaFilista athumba umfaji kaZimu, awususa e-Ebheni-Ezeri awusa e-Atjhidodi. ₂Awuthatha-ke umfaji kaZimu awungenisa ngethempelini lakaDagoni; awubeka eqadi kwakhe. ₃Lokha abantu be-Atjhidodi nabavukako ngomuso ekuseni; qala nango uDagoni arabhalele ngobuso phambi komfaji kaSomnini! Bamthatha uDagoni bambuyisela endawenakhe. ₄Nabavukako godu ngomuso ekuseni; nango uDagoni arabhalele ngobuso phambi komfaji kaSomnini! Ihlokwakhe nezandla zakhe zikghunukile zisembunjwaneni oqabe umnyango; isidumbu sakhe silele sodwa phasi. ₅Kungebangelo bekube gadesi abaphristi bakaDagoni naye woke umuntu ongena ethempelini lakhe e-Atjhidodi, akagadangi embunjwaneni oqabe umnyango.

₆USomnini waba nesandla esiqinileko ebantwini be-Atjhidodi, wabehlisela ukuloba okukhulu. Warhadla i-Atjhidodi nebhoduluko layo ngamathumba. ₇Lokha abantu be-Atjhidodi nababona okwenzakeleko bathi: “Umfaji kaZimu wama-Israyeli lo awukameli ukuba hlangana nathi ngombana isandla sakhe siqinile phezu kwethu naphezu kozimethu uDagoni.” ₈Yeke babizela ndawonye boke ababusi beemfunda zamaFilista. Bababuza bathi: “Senzeni ngomfaji kaZimu wakwa-Israyeli lo na?” Ababusi baphendula bathi: “Umfaji kaZimu wakwa-Israyeli lo awususwe lapha usiwe eGathi.”

Bawususa-ke umfaji kaZimu wakwa-Israyeli. ₉Emva kobana sebawususile, isandla sakaSomnini sajamelana nedorobhelo, lehlelwa kuhlubayela okukhulu. USomnini wabetha boke abantu bedorobhelo, abakhulu nabancani; bavela amathumba.

₁₀Bathumela umfaji kaZimu e-Ekroni. Kuthe lokha umfaji kaZimu nawungena e-Ekroni abantu bakhona barhuwelela bathi: “Afeke! Abantwaba balethe umfaji kaZimu wakwa-Israyeli hlangana nathi bonyana usibulale thina nabantu bekhethu.”

₁₁Babizela ndawonye ababusi beemfunda zamaFilista bathi kibo: “Susani umfaji kaZimu wakwa-Israyeli lo lapha; awubuyele ekhabo, nakungasinjalo uzosibulala thina nabantu bekhethu.” Batjho njalo ngombana ivalo lokufa lalembethe idorobho loke. Isandla sakaZimu sasiqine khulu phezu kwalo. ₁₂Abantu abangakhange bafe, babheduka amathumba. Isililo somuzi sazwakala kude.