Bible Reading Plan – Day 70

₂₂ewe, wonke loo mhlaba wama-Amori, ukusuka ezantsi eAnoni ukuya kutsho phezulu eJabhoki, ngokunjalo nokusuka empuma entlango ukuya kuthi xhaxhe ngeJordan entshonalanga. ₂₃Ngoko ke nguNdikhoyo uThixo wamaSirayeli owawagxothayo ama-Amori, khon' ukuze kungene abantu bakhe amaSirayeli. Ngaba uzama ukuwohlutha kuthi ke ngoku? ₂₄Hlala wena naloo ndawo akunike yona uKemoshi uthixo wakho. Ke thina siza kuhlala kule siyinikwe nguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu. ₂₅Ngaba wena ungcono kunoBhalaki unyana kaZipora, ukumkani waseMowabhi? Andithi yena zange acele mngeni kuSirayeli! Wakha walwa nathi kakade? ₂₆Ngamakhulu amathathu eminyaka uSirayeli emi eHeshbhon naseAruri nakwiidolophu ezikuloo mmandla, ngokunjalo nakwizixeko eziphezu komlambo iAnoni. Ubukade uwuyekeleni lo mhlaba? ₂₇Hayi bo, andikhange ndikwenze nto mna! Nguwe onxaxhayo ngokundihlasela. UNdikhoyo uMgwebi makagwebe ngokwakhe namhlanje phakathi kwamaSirayeli nama-Amon.’ ” ₂₈Kambe ke ukumkani wama-Amon zange alukhathalele olu daba lukaJefta.

₂₉Ke uJefta wafikelwa nguMoya kaNdikhoyo. Wanqumla iGiliyadi nommandla wakwaManase, waya kutsho eMizpa eGiliyadi, waza ke waphuma apho waya kuhlasela ama-Amon. ₃₀UJefta wabhambathisa kuNdikhoyo wathi: “Ukuba ngenene uwanikele kum ama-Amon, ₃₁into yokuqala ephume endlwini yam yandihlangabeza xa ndibuya sekuluxolo iya kuba yekaNdikhoyo; ndiya kuyenza idini elitshiswayo.”

₃₂Ngoko ke waphuma uJefta, waya kulwa nama-Amon, waza ke uNdikhoyo wawanikela esandleni sakhe. ₃₃Wawavuthulula ukusuka eAruri ukuya eMiniti; yaba ngamashumi amabini ezixeko ukuya kutsho eAbhele-keramin. USirayeli wawangenela kwajub' ugodo, oyisakala ama-Amon.

₃₄UJefta xa abuyayo esiya kufika emzini wakhe eMizpa, yaphuma intombi yakhe, yamhlangabeza ingqiyaza, ihamba ingqungqa, idlala intambula. Yayingumntwana okukuphela kwakhe, engenanyana nantombi ngaphandle kwakhe. ₃₅Wathi ke akuyibona wakhathazeka, waziqwenga iimpahla zakhe. Wadanduluka wathi: “Awu, mntwan' am! Ngani ukuba undenjenje ukundixhela! Nguwe ngoku isizekabani sentlungu yam? Ewe, ndifungile ndamthembisa *uNdikhoyo, ngoko ke andinakubuya ngamva!”

₃₆Yathi ke yona kuyise: “Hayi, tata, xa ubumthembisile uNdikhoyo ndenze loo nto ubumthembise ukuba uya kuyenza ngam; kaloku yena ukuphumelelisile wakuphindezela ezintshabeni zakho ama-Amon.”

₃₇Ke yona yacela kuyise yathi: “Kambe ke, tata, ndicela le nto yodwa: Khawundiyeke iinyanga zibe mbini, khon' ukuze ndikhe ndibhadule nabalingane bam ezintabeni, ndiyizilele into yokuba ndiza kuhlala ndiyintombi.”

₃₈Wavuma ke uyise, yaza ke yona yemka iinyanga zambini. Yahamba nezinye iintombi ezingabalingane bayo ibhadula ezintabeni, yazilela ubuntombi bayo. ₃₉Zakuphela iinyanga ezimbini yabuyela kuyise, waza ke yena wenza ngokwesibhambathiso sakhe kuNdikhoyo. Ngoko ke yahlala iyintombi nto.

Saqala kanjalo ke esi sithethe sakwaSirayeli ₄₀sokuba minyaka le iintombi zithathe iintsuku ezine zizilele intombi kaJefta waseGiliyadi.

₁Ke wona amaEfrayim axhobela imfazwe, aza aphuma aya eZafoni, afika athi kuJefta: “Bekungani ukuba ungasibizi thina xa usiya kulwa nama-Amon? Uyabona ke ngoku siza kuyitshisa indlu yakho wena uphakathi kuyo!”

₂UJefta waphendula wathi: “Hayi kaloku, thina nabantu bam sasuka saxabana nama-Amon, saza sathi sakunibiza ukuba nize kusihlangula nasuka anasabela. ₃Ndithe ke ndakuqonda ukuba anizi, ndasuka ndazilahlela, ndawuwela umda, ndaya kulwa, waza ke *uNdikhoyo wawanikela ezandleni zam. Ngani ukuba ngoku nina nifune kum?”

₄Ke uJefta wawaqokelela amaGiliyadi, walwa nawo amaEfrayim, wawoyisa. (AmaEfrayim ke athi: “Nina maGiliyadi niziimbacu eziphuma kwaEfrayim nakwaManase.”) ₅Ke kaloku amaGiliyadi avingca amazibuko eJordan, khon' ukuze amaEfrayim angaweli asabe. Kuthe ke, yakufika imbacu yakwaEfrayim, isithi kumaGiliyadi: “Khanindivumele ndiwele,” ayibuze athi: “Akunguye kodwa umEfrayim?” Ukuba iphendule yathi: “Hayi,” ₆amaGiliyadi ayesithi kuye: “Khawuthi: ‘Shibholethi.’ ” Ukuba ungumEfrayim ebesuka angakwazi ukulibiza eli gama, koko athi: “Sibholethi.” Ayesuka amtsibele umntu lowo, ambulale apho ezibukweni leJordan. Ngelo thuba ke kwabulawa amaEfrayim angamashumi amane anambini amawaka.

₇Yaba yiminyaka emithandathu uJefta eyinkokheli kwaSirayeli, waza ke wasweleka, wafihlwa ekhayeni lakhe eGiliyadi.

₈Emva koJefta uIbzan waseBhetelehem waba yinkokheli kwaSirayeli. ₉Wayenoonyana abangamashumi amathathu neentombi ezikwangako. Iintombi zakhe wazendisela kwezinye izizwe; waza ngokunjalo noonyana bakhe wabathathela iintombi kwezinye izizwe. Wayeyinkokheli kwaSirayeli iminyaka esixhenxe uIbzan, ₁₀waza ke wasweleka wangcwatywa eBhetelehem.

₁₁Emva koIbzan uElon wakwaZebhulon waba yinkokheli kwaSirayeli iminyaka elishumi. ₁₂Uthe ke akubhubha wangcwatywa eAyalon kwaZebhulon.

₁₃Emva koElon ke nguAbdon unyana kaHileli wasePiraton owaba yinkokheli kwaSirayeli. ₁₄Yena ke wayenoonyana abamashumi mane nabazukulwana abangoonyana abamashumi mathathu; babekhwele iidonki ezimashumi asixhenxe. Ke uAbdon waba yinkokheli kwaSirayeli iminyaka esibhozo. ₁₅Uthe ke akusweleka wangcwatyelwa ePiraton kummandla kaEfrayim kweleentaba lama-Amaleki.

₁Ke kaloku amaSirayeli aphinda amona *uNdikhoyo, waza ke yena wawanikela ezandleni zamaFilistiya amashumi amane eminyaka.

₂Ke kaloku kwakukho umfo waseZora ogama linguManowa. Yena wayengowendlu kaDan. Umkakhe wayelidlolo, engafumani bantwana. ₃Ke isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sabonakala kuye, saza sathetha naye sathi: “Njengoko ungazanga waba namntwana, ngoku uza kukhawula, uze ufumane unyana. ₄Uyabona ke, kufuneka uzigcine, ungaseli wayini natywala, ungatyi nanye into engavunyelwanga ngumthetho kaThixo. ₅Ewe, selukhulelwe; uza kuzala unyana. Ke yena ze zingaze zichetywe iinwele zentloko yakhe, kuba kaloku le nkwenkwe iya kuba *lilolo likaThixo kwasesizalweni sakho. Yiyo eya kuqala ukuhlangula amaSirayeli kumaFilistiya.”

₆Lo mfazi ke waya kuxelela indoda yakhe, wathi: “Ndibone ndifikelwa ngumfo wakwaThixo onenkangeleko yesithunywa sikaThixo; uyoyikeka kakhulu. Andimbuzanga apho avela khona, engandixelelanga negama lakhe. ₇Uthe kum: ‘Ùyabona, selukhulelwe; uza kuzala unyana. Ke ngoko uzungaseli wayini natywala, ungatyi nanye into engavunyelwanga ngumthetho kaThixo, kuba le nkwenkwe iya kuba lilolo likaThixo kwasesizalweni sakho, kude kube yimini yokufa kwayo.’ ”

₈Ke kaloku uManowa wathandaza kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Ngxe, Nkosi yam, khawuphinde umthumele umfo wakwaThixo obumthumile, eze kusifundisa ukuba siyiphathe kanjani na inkwenkwe leyo yakuvela.”

₉UThixo ke wenza ngokwesicelo sikaManowa, isithunywa sakhe sabuya seza kumkakhe esemasimini, phofu yena uManowa engekho. ₁₀Ke umfazi wakhawuleza waya kuxelela indoda yakhe, wathi: “Laa mfo ubeze kum ngalaa mini uphinde wabonakala!”

₁₁Waphakama ke uManowa, walandela umkakhe. Wafika wayibuza ke indoda wathi: “Ungulaa mfo wayethethe nenkosikazi yam?”

“Ndinguye,” watsho umfo lowo.

₁₂Waqhuba ke uManowa wathi: “Ke, akuba ezalisekile la mazwi akho, imelwe kukuziphatha njani inkwenkwe leyo, yenze ntoni?”

₁₃Saphendula ke isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sathi: “Nakanjani na umkakho makenze njengoko ndimyalele. ₁₄Into ephuma emdiliyeni makangayifaki emlonyeni, angaseli wayini natywala, angayityi nento engavunyelwanga ngumthetho kaThixo. Makakunyamekele konke endimyalele kona akwenze.”

₁₅Ke uManowa wathi kwisithunywa sikaNdikhoyo: “Khawuhlale, khon' ukuze ndikuxhelele itakanana lebhokhwe.”

₁₆Ke sathi kuye: “Nokuba ndingade ndihlale, sobe ndikutye ukutya kwakho. Into ongayenzayo wena kukwenzela uNdikhoyo idini elitshiswayo.” Kaloku uManowa wayengaqondi ukuba sisithunywa sikaNdikhoyo esi athetha naso.

₁₇UManowa ke wasibuza isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo wathi: “Kakade ke ungubani igama lakho? Kuba ke sifuna ukukuwonga akuzaliseka la mazwi akho.”

₁₈Saphendula ke sona sathi: “Ngani ukuba ubuze igama lam? Ligama elingummangaliso eligqitha ukuqonda!”

₁₉Ngoko ke uManowa wathatha igatyana lebhokhwe kunye nokutya okuziinkozo, wenza idini phezu kwelitye, elenzela uNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo wênza into emangalisayo uManowa nomkakhe bebukele. ₂₀Wathi wakudangazela umlilo apho eqongeni, unyuka usiya ezulwini, uManowa nomkakhe basibona isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sinyuka ngelo langatye, baza baziphosa emhlabeni. Abaphindanga ke basibone isithunywa eso. ₂₁Waqonda ke uManowa ngoku ukuba kuthe kanti sisithunywa sikaNdikhoyo esi bebethetha naso.

₂₂UManowa ke wathetha nomkakhe, wathi: “Nakanjani na simelwe kukufa, kuba sibone uThixo!”

₂₃Kambe ke yena umkakhe waphendula wathi: “Ukuba uNdikhoyo ebefuna ukusibulala ngengalamkelanga idini lethu elitshiswayo nomnikelo wethu wokutya; futhi ngengasibonisanga okanye asixelele izinto ezinje.”

₂₄Ke kaloku umka-Manowa wafumana umntwana oyinkwenkwe, baza bayithiya igama elinguSamson. Yakhula ke inkwenkwe leyo, uNdikhoyo wayithamsanqela. ₂₅UMoya kaNdikhoyo ke waqala ukumongamela uSamson eseMahane-dan phakathi kweZora ne-Eshtawoli.

₁Ke kaloku uSamson wehla waya eTimna, waza ke apho wabona enye yeentombi zamaFilistiya. ₂Akugoduka wathi kuyise nonina: “Ndibone intombi yomFilistiya eTimna; ke ndithatheleni yona ibe ngumfazi wam.”

₃Uyise nonina bathi: “Ngani ukuba ude uye kuthatha umfazi kumaFilistiya angalukiyo? Bekungasekho zintombi na apha phakathi kwamawethu?”

Kambe ke uSamson wathi: “Ndithatheleni yona, kuba ikuphela kwentombi endifaneleyo.”

₄Uyise nonina babengaqondi ukuba le nto inomnwe kaThixo; kaloku uThixo wayefuna isizathu sokulwa namaFilistiya. Ngelo thuba kaloku amaSirayeli ayephantsi kwamaFilistiya.

₅USamson wahamba noyise nonina, baya eTimna. Ngasezidiliyeni zaseTimna ke uSamson wabona igatyana lengonyama ligquma lisiza ngakuye. ₆Suka ke yena wambeswa amandla nguMoya *kaNdikhoyo, waza ke waliqwenga ngathi uqwenga itakane lebhokhwe. Kambe ke akabaxelelanga abazali bakhe ngale nto.

₇Wahamba ke uSamson, waya kuthetha nentombi leyo, yaza ke yamkholisa. ₈Emva kwethutyana ke waya kuyithatha ibe ngumfazi wakhe. Apho endleleni ke wakha wacebuka, kuba efuna ukuqonda ngaloo ngonyama wayeyibulele. Suka ke wayifumana selilibubu leenyosi elinobusi. ₉Waphakula ubusi apho ke kuyo, wahamba ebutya; waphathela noyise nonina. Kambe ke akabaxelelanga ukuba ubusi obo ubuphakule kwisidumbu sengonyama.

₁₀Uyise ke waya apho ebukhozini bakhe, waza yena uSamson wenza umbhiyozo khona, njengoko elo yayilisiko ababeqhuba ngalo abafana. ₁₁Athe ke akumbona amaFilistiya athumela amashumi amathathu abafana ukuba abe kunye naye. ₁₂Ke uSamson wathi kubo: “Makhe ndinenzele iqhina. Ukuba nithe nanako ukulicombulula ngezi ntsuku zisixhenxe zomtshato, ndoninika iingubo zelinen ezimashumi mathathu, ngokunjalo nezinye iimpahla zokuhomba ezikwangako. ₁₃Kodwa ke ukuba anibanga nako ukulicombulula, niya kundinika amashumi amathathu eengubo zelinen, ngokunjalo nezinye iimpahla zokuhomba ezikwangako.”

Ke bona bathi: “Yiza nalo sibone kaloku.”

₁₄Waza ke yena wathi:

Yada yaba ziintsuku ezintathu emva koko bengekalikhululi elo qhina.

₁₅Ngosuku lwesine ke bathethe nomtshakazi bathi: “Khawusincede ucenga-cengane nendoda yakho, ikuxelele eli qhina. Kungenjalo siza kuyitshisa le ndlu kayihlo, nitshele khona. Kakade ngaba nisimemele apha ukuze nisikhuthuze?”

₁₆Umtshakazi lowo waya selenyembezana kuSamson, wafika wathi: “Hayi, kucacile ukuba awundithandi, undithiyile! Usuka wenzele amawethu iqhina, kodwa mna akundixeleli ukuconjululwa kwalo!”

Waphendula ke yena wathi: “Ndingathini ukuxelela wena ndingekabaxeleli utata nomama?” ₁₇Hayi ke, umtshakazi walilela umyeni wakhe zonke ezo ntsuku zomtshato. Wada woyisakala ngolu lwesixhenxe umyeni, wamxelela, kuba kucaca ukuba umhlalise manzondololwana. Ke umtshakazi lowo waya kuhlebela abafana bakowabo. ₁₈Ngoko ke ngosuku lwesixhenxe, lingekatshoni ilanga, abafana abo beza kuSamson, bafika bathi:

USamson ke waphendula wathi:

₁₉Ke kaloku uSamson wambeswa amandla nguMoya kaNdikhoyo, waza wehla waya eAshkelon. Apho ke wabulala amashumi amathathu amadoda, waza wayithatha impahla yawo, wayinika abo bafana babecombulule iqhina lakhe.

Ke yena wagoduka evutha ngumsindo ngenxa yale nto ihlileyo. ₂₀Umkakhe lowo ke wathathwa ngumfana owayengumkhaphi, waba ngumfazi wakhe.