To The Word – Day 67

₁UJefta wakwaGileyadi wayeyiqhawe elinamandla; wayeyindodana yesifebe; uGileyadi wamzala uJefta. ₂UmkaGileyadi wamzalela amadodana; esekhulile amadodana omkakhe amxosha uJefta, athi kuye: “Awuyikulidla ifa endlini kababa, ngokuba uyindodana yomunye owesifazane.” ₃UJefta wabalekela abafowabo, wahlala ezweni laseThobi; kwabuthana kuJefta amayiyane, aphuma naye.

₄Kwathi emva kwesikhashana abantwana bakwa-Amoni balwa no-Israyeli. ₅Bathi abantwana bakwa-Amoni belwa no-Israyeli, amalunga akwaGileyadi aya amlanda uJefta ezweni laseThobi. ₆Athi kuJefta: “Woza ube ngumholi wethu, silwe nabantwana bakwa-Amoni.”

₇UJefta wathi kumalunga akwaGileyadi: “Aningizondanga yini, nangixosha endlini kababa na? Nizelani kimi manje nisekuhluphekeni na?”

₈Amalunga akwaGileyadi athi kuJefta: “Sibuyele kuwe manje ngalokhu ukuba uhambe nathi, ulwe nabantwana bakwa-Amoni, ube yinhloko phezu kwabo bonke abakhe kwaGileyadi.”

₉Wayesethi uJefta kumalunga akwaGileyadi: “Uma ningibuyisa ukulwa nabantwana bakwa-Amoni, uJehova abanikele phambi kwami, ngiyakuba yinhloko yenu.”

₁₀Amalunga akwaGileyadi athi kuJefta: “UJehova makabe ngufakazi wethu; impela siyakwenza njengezwi lakho.” ₁₁UJefta wayesehamba namalunga akwaGileyadi; abantu bamenza inhloko nomholi phezu kwabo; uJefta wakhuluma onke amazwi akhe phambi kukaJehova eMispa.

₁₂UJefta wathuma izithunywa enkosini yabantwana bakwa-Amoni, wathi: “Unamsebenzi muni nami ukuba uze kimi ukulwa nezwe lakithi na?”

₁₃Inkosi yabantwana bakwa-Amoni yathi kuzo izithunywa zikaJefta: “Ngokuba u-Israyeli walithatha izwe lakithi ekukhuphukeni kwakhe eGibithe, kusukela e-Arinoni kuze kube seJaboki naseJordani, buyisani lawo mazwe ngokuthula.”

₁₄UJefta wabuye wathuma izithunywa enkosini yabantwana bakwa-Amoni, ₁₅wathi kuyo: “Usho kanje uJefta, uthi: U-Israyeli akathathanga izwe lakwaMowabi nezwe labantwana bakwa-Amoni. ₁₆Ngokuba ekukhuphukeni kwabo eGibithe, u-Israyeli ehamba ehlane waze wafika eLwandle Olubomvu, wafika naseKadeshi, ₁₇u-Israyeli wathuma izithunywa enkosini yakwa-Edomi, wathi: ‘Ake ngidabule izwe lakho;’ kepha inkosi yakwa-Edomi ayilalelanga; nasenkosini yakwaMowabi wathuma kanjalo; kepha ayivumanga; u-Israyeli wayesehlala eKadeshi.

₁₈“Wayesehamba ehlane, wazungeza izwe lakwa-Edomi nezwe lakwaMowabi, weza ngasempumalanga kwezwe lakwaMowabi, wamisa ngaphesheya kwe-Arinoni; kepha abangenanga emkhawulweni wakwaMowabi, ngokuba i-Arinoni lalingumkhawulo wakwaMowabi.

₁₉“U-Israyeli wayesethuma izithunywa kuSihoni inkosi yama-Amori, inkosi yaseHeshiboni; u-Israyeli wathi kuye: ‘Ake sidabule izwe lakho, siye endaweni yethu.’ ₂₀Kodwa uSihoni akamethembanga u-Israyeli ukuba adabule emkhawulweni wakhe; kepha uSihoni wabutha bonke abantu bakhe, wamisa eJahasi, walwa no-Israyeli.

₂₁“UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wanikela uSihoni nabo bonke abantu bakhe esandleni sakwa-Israyeli, bababulala; u-Israyeli wadla izwe lonke lama-Amori, abantu balelo zwe. ₂₂Badla izwe lonke lama-Amori, kusukela e-Arinoni kuze kube seJaboki, kusukela ehlane kuze kube seJordani.

₂₃“Manje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uwaxoshile ama-Amori phambi kwabantu bakhe u-Israyeli; wena uyakulidla izwe na? ₂₄Awuyikudla lelo uKemoshi unkulunkulu wakho akunika lona ukuba ulidle na? Kanjalo bonke uJehova, uNkulunkulu wethu, abaxosha phambi kwethu, siyalidla elabo. ₂₅Pho, ungcono yini kunoBalaki indodana kaSipori, inkosi yakwaMowabi, na? Wake waphikisana no-Israyeli, wake walwa nabo na? ₂₆U-Israyeli esahlala eHeshiboni nasemizaneni yalo, nase-Aroweri nasemizaneni yalo, nasemizini yonke engaseceleni kwe-Arinoni iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu, anisaphucanga ngani yona ngaleso sikhathi na? ₂₇Mina angikonanga, kepha wena wenza okubi kimi ngokulwa nami; uJehova uMahluleli makahlulele namuhla phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli nabantwana bakwa-Amoni.” ₂₈Kodwa inkosi yabantwana bakwa-Amoni ayilalelanga amazwi kaJefta awathuma kuyo.

₂₉Khona uMoya kaJehova wafika kuJefta, wadlula kwaGileyadi nakwaManase, wadlula naseMispa lakwaGileyadi; esuka eMispa lakwaGileyadi wadlulela kubantwana bakwa-Amoni. ₃₀UJefta wenza isithembiso kuJehova, wathi: “Uma uyakunikela impela abantwana bakwa-Amoni esandleni sami, ₃₁kuyakuthi noma yikuphi okuphuma eminyango yendlu yami ukungihlangabeza, lapho ngibuya ngokuthula kubantwana bakwa-Amoni, kube ngokukaJehova, nginikele ngakho kube ngumnikelo wokushiswa.”

₃₂UJefta wayesedlulela kubantwana bakwa-Amoni ukulwa nabo; uJehova wabanikela esandleni sakhe. ₃₃Wababulala kusukela e-Aroweri kuze kufike eMiniti, imizi engamashumi amabili, nase-Abela Keramimi ngokuceka okukhulu kakhulu. Kanjalo abantwana bakwa-Amoni banqotshwa phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

₃₄UJefta weza eMispa endlini yakhe; bheka, indodakazi yakhe yaphuma ukumhlangabeza, iza nezigubhu nokusina; yayingumntwana oyedwa; ngaphandle kwakhe wayengenandodana nandodakazi. ₃₅Kwathi lapho eyibona, waklebhula izingubo zakhe, wathi: “Hawu, mntanami, ungithobisile kakhulu, ungomunye wabangihluphayo, ngokuba ngivulile umlomo kuJehova, angisenakubuya.”

₃₆Wathi kuye: “Baba, uvulile umlomo wakho kuJehova; yenza kimi njengokuphumileyo emlonyeni wakho, lokhu uJehova ekuphindisele ezitheni zakho, abantwana bakwa-Amoni.” ₃₇Yathi kuyise: “Mangenzelwe lokhu: ngiyeke izinyanga ezimbili ukuba ngiye, ngehlele ezintabeni, ngililele ubuntombi bami, mina nabangane bami.”

₃₈Wathi: “Hamba.” Wayimukisa izinyanga ezimbili; yamuka yona nabangane bayo, yalilela ubuntombi bayo ezintabeni. ₃₉Kwathi ngasekupheleni kwezinyanga ezimbili, yabuyela kuyise owenza kuyo njengokwesithembiso sakhe asethembisileyo; ayiyazanga indoda.

₄₀Kwaba yisimiso kwa-Israyeli ukuba amadodakazi akwa-Israyeli aye yonke iminyaka ukuyitusa indodakazi kaJefta wakwaGileyadi izinsuku ezine ngomnyaka.

₁Amadoda akwa-Efrayimi abuthana, aya ngasenyakatho; athi kuJefta: “Uwelelani ukulwa nabantwana bakwa-Amoni, ungasibizanga ukuba sihambe nawe, na? Siyakushisa ngomlilo indlu yakho phezu kwakho.”

₂UJefta wathi kubo: “Mina nabantu bami sasilwa kakhulu nabantwana bakwa-Amoni; nganibiza, aningisindisanga esandleni sabo. ₃Nxa sengibonile ukuthi aningisindisanga, ngabeka ukuphila kwami esandleni sami, ngadlulela kubantwana bakwa-Amoni, uJehova wabanikela esandleni sami; ngalokho nikhuphukeleni kimi namuhla ukulwa nami na?”

₄UJefta wayesebutha bonke abantu bakwaGileyadi, walwa no-Efrayimi; abantu bakwaGileyadi bamahlula u-Efrayimi, ngokuba bathi: “Ningababalekileyo bakwa-Efrayimi nina bakwaGileyadi phakathi kwabakwa-Efrayimi naphakathi kwabakwaManase.” ₅AbakwaGileyadi bavimba amazibuko aseJordani phambi kwabakwa-Efrayimi; kwathi lapho ababalekileyo bakwa-Efrayimi bethi: “Mangiwele,” abantu bakwaGileyadi bathi kuye: “Ungowakwa-Efrayimi na?” Uma ethi: “Cha,” ₆bathi kuye: “Shono uthi: ‘Shiboleti,’ ” abesethi: “Siboleti,” ngokuba engaqaphelanga ukuliphimisa kahle; base bembamba, bambulala ngasemazibukweni aseJordani; kwawa ngaleso sikhathi abakwa-Efrayimi abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane nambili.

₇UJefta wamahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisithupha. Wafa uJefta wakwaGileyadi, wambelwa komunye wemizi yakwaGileyadi.

₈Emva kwakhe u-Ibisani waseBetlehema wahlulela u-Israyeli. ₉Wayenamadodana angamashumi amathathu; amadodakazi angamashumi amathathu wawendisa, wathathela amadodana akhe izintombi ezingamashumi amathathu. Wamahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa. ₁₀U-Ibisani wafa, wembelwa eBetlehema.

₁₁Emva kwakhe u-Eloni wakwaZebuloni wahlulela u-Israyeli; wamahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyishumi. ₁₂U-Eloni wakwaZebuloni wafa, wembelwa e-Ajaloni ezweni lakwaZebuloni.

₁₃Emva kwakhe u-Abidoni indodana kaHileli wasePirathoni wahlulela u-Israyeli. ₁₄Wayenamadodana angamashumi amane namadodana amadodana akhe angamashumi amathathu agibela amathole ezimbongolo angamashumi ayisikhombisa; wamahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisishiyagalombili. ₁₅U-Abidoni indodana kaHileli wasePirathoni wafa, wembelwa ePirathoni ezweni lakwa-Efrayimi ezintabeni zama-Amaleki.

₁Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuye benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova; uJehova wabanikela esandleni samaFilisti iminyaka engamashumi amane.

₂Kwakukhona umuntu othile waseSora womndeni wakwaDani ogama lakhe lalinguManowa; umkakhe wayeyinyumba engazali. ₃Ingelosi kaJehova yabonakala kowesifazane, yathi kuye: “Bheka-ke, uyinyumba, awuzali, kepha uyakukhulelwa, uzale indodana. ₄Ngalokho ake uxwaye ungaphuzi wayini naluphuzo olunamandla, ungadli lutho olungcolileyo, ₅ngokuba bheka, uyakukhulelwa, uzale indodana, impuco ayiyikuthinta ekhanda layo, ngokuba umntwana uyakuba ngumNaziri* kaNkulunkulu kwasesizalweni; uyakuqala ukusindisa u-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti.”

₆Owesifazane wayeseya ukubika endodeni yakhe, ethi: “Kufikile kimi umuntu kaNkulunkulu, isimo sakhe sasinjengesimo sengelosi kaNkulunkulu, sesabeka kakhulu; angimbuzanga ukuthi uvelaphi, naye akangitshelanga igama lakhe. ₇Kepha wathi kimi: ‘Bheka, uyakukhulelwa, uzale indodana; ngakho ungaphuzi wayini naluphuzo olunamandla, ungadli lutho olungcolileyo, ngokuba umntwana uyakuba ngumNaziri* kaNkulunkulu kwasesizalweni kuze kube sosukwini lokufa kwakhe.’ ”

₈UManowa wayesemncenga uJehova, wathi: “O Nkosi, umuntu kaNkulunkulu owamthumayo ake abuyele kithi, asifundise ukuthi siyakwenzani kumntwana ozakuzalwa.”

₉UNkulunkulu walalela izwi likaManowa; ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yabuyela kowesifazane ehlezi endle; kepha uManowa indoda yakhe wayengenaye. ₁₀Owesifazane washesha, wagijima, wayitshela indoda yakhe, wathi kuyo: “Bheka, ubonakele kimi lowo muntu owafika kimi ngolunye usuku.”

₁₁UManowa wasukuma wamlandela umkakhe, wafika kulowo muntu, wathi kuye: “Wena ungumuntu lowo owakhuluma kowesifazane na?”

Wathi: “Nginguye.”

₁₂Wayesethi uManowa: “Nxa esenzekile amazwi akho, iyakuba yini indlela yomntwana, kuyakwenziwani na?”

₁₃Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuManowa: “Konke engakushoyo kowesifazane makakuxwaye. ₁₄Kangadli lutho oluvela ezithelweni zomvini, kangaphuzi wayini naluphuzo olunamandla, kangadli lutho olungcolileyo; konke engamyaleza ngakho kakugcine.”

₁₅UManowa wayesethi engelosini kaJehova: “Ake sikulibazise, sikulungisele izinyane lembuzi.”

₁₆Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuManowa: “Noma ungilibazisa, angiyikudla ukudla kwakho; uma ulungisa umnikelo wokushiswa, uyakunikela ngawo kuJehova.” Ngokuba uManowa wayengazi ukuthi uyingelosi kaJehova.

₁₇UManowa wathi engelosini kaJehova: “Ngubani igama lakho ukuba, lapho esenzekile amazwi akho, sikudumise?”

₁₈Ingelosi kaJehova yathi kuye: “Ubuzelani igama lami, lokhu liyimfihlakalo, na?” ₁₉UManowa walithatha izinyane lembuzi kanye nomnikelo wempuphu, wanikela ngakho kuJehova edwaleni. Yase yenza okumangalisayo, uManowa nomkakhe bebukela. ₂₀Kwathi ilangabi lisaphuma e-altare lenyukela ngasezulwini, ingelosi kaJehova yenyuka elangabini le-altare; uManowa nomkakhe babukela; bawa ngobuso emhlabathini. ₂₁Kepha ingelosi kaJehova ayiphindanga ukubonakala kuManowa nomkakhe. Khona uManowa waqonda ukuthi yingelosi kaJehova.

₂₂UManowa wathi kumkakhe: “Siyakufa nokufa, ngokuba simbonile uNkulunkulu.”

₂₃Kepha umkakhe wathi kuye: “Uma uNkulunkulu ebethanda ukusibulala, nga engamukelanga esandleni sethu umnikelo wokushiswa nomnikelo wempuphu, futhi nga engasibonisanga konke lokho, nga engasitshelanga izinto njengalezi.”

₂₄Owesifazane wazala indodana, waqamba igama layo ngokuthi uSamsoni; umntwana wakhula, uJehova wambusisa. ₂₅UMoya kaJehova waqala ukumqhuba eMahane Dani phakathi kweSora ne-Eshitawoli.

₁USamsoni wehlela eThimna; wabona owesifazane eThimna wamadodakazi amaFilisti. ₂Wakhuphuka, wabatshela uyise nonina, wathi: “Ngibonile owesifazane eThimna wamadodakazi amaFilisti; ngalokho ngithatheleni yena abe ngumkami.”

₃Uyise nonina base bethi kuye: “Akakho yini owesifazane phakathi kwamadodakazi abafowenu noma phakathi kwabo bonke abantu bami, ukuze uye kuthatha umfazi kumaFilisti angasokile, na?”

USamsoni wathi kuyise: “Ngithathele yena, ngokuba uyathandeka kimi.” ₄Kepha uyise nonina babengazi ukuthi lokho kwavela kuJehova, ngokuba wayefuna ithuba lokulwa namaFilisti. Ngaleso sikhathi amaFilisti ayebusa phezu kuka-Israyeli. ₅USamsoni wayesehla noyise nonina, baya eThimna, bafika ezivinini zaseThimna; bheka, ibhongo lengonyama lamhlangabeza libhodla. ₆UMoya kaJehova wafika phezu kwakhe ngamandla, walidwengula kungathi udwengula izinyane lembuzi, engaphethe lutho esandleni sakhe: kepha akabatshelanga uyise nonina abekwenzile. ₇Wehla, wakhuluma nowesifazane; wathandeka kuSamsoni.

₈Emva kwesikhathi wabuya ukuba amthathe, waphambuka ukuyobona isidumbu sengonyama; bheka, kwakukhona iqulo lezinyosi esidumbini sengonyama kanye noju. ₉Wazitapa ngezandla zakhe, wahamba, wahamba edla, wafika kuyise nonina, wabapha, badla nabo; kepha akabatshelanga ukuthi wayetape izinyosi esidumbini sengonyama.

₁₀Uyise wehla, waya kulowo wesifazane, uSamsoni wenza idili khona, ngokuba zazenze njalo izinsizwa. ₁₁Kwathi lapho bembona, baletha abayeni abangamashumi amathathu ukuba babe naye.

₁₂USamsoni wathi kubo: “Ake ngininike imfumbe; uma ningitshela yona kahle ngezinsuku eziyisikhombisa zedili, niyiqandele, ngiyakuninika amayembe angamashumi amathathu nezingubo zokuphendulela ezingamashumi amathathu; ₁₃kepha uma ningenakuyiqandela kimi, niyakunginika amayembe angamashumi amathathu nezingubo zokuphendulela ezingamashumi amathathu.”

Bathi kuye: “Yisho imfumbe yakho ukuba siyizwe.”

₁₄Wayesethi kubo:

Babengenakuyiqandela imfumbe ngezinsuku ezintathu.

₁₅Kwathi ngosuku lwesikhombisa bathi kumkaSamsoni: “Yenza umyeni wakho ukuba asichasisele imfumbe, funa sikushise wena nendlu kayihlo ngomlilo; nisimemele ukuba nisidle na? Akunjalo na?”

₁₆UmkaSamsoni wakhala phambi kwakhe, wathi: “Uyangizonda kuphela, awungithandi; unikile abakithi imfumbe, awungitshelanga yona.”

Wathi kuye: “Bheka, angibatshelanga ubaba nomame, ngiyakukutshela wena na?” ₁₇Wakhala phambi kwakhe izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, lisekhona idili labo; kwathi ngosuku lwesikhombisa wayesemtshela, ngokuba wamcindezela kakhulu; wayisho imfumbe kwabakubo.

₁₈Abantu bomuzi bathi kuye ngosuku lwesikhombisa, lingakashoni ilanga:

Wathi kubo:

₁₉UMoya kaJehova wafika kuye ngamandla, wehlela e-Ashikeloni, wabulala abantu abangamashumi amathathu kubo, wathatha isambatho sabo, wabanika abayiqandele imfumbe izingubo zokuphendulela. Intukuthelo yakhe yavutha, wenyukela endlini kayise. ₂₀Kepha umkaSamsoni wanikwa kumngane wakhe owabe ngomunye wabayeni bakhe.

₁Kodwa kwathi emva kwesikhathi, ngesikhathi sokuvuna ukolweni, uSamsoni wahambela umkakhe enezinyane lembuzi; wathi: “Ngiyakungena kumkami ekamelweni.” Kepha uyise kavumanga ukuba angene.

₂Uyise wathi: “Bengithi impela umalile nokumala; ngalokho ngamnika umngane wakho; udadewabo omelamayo kamuhle kunaye na? Ake umthathe esikhundleni sakhe.”

₃USamsoni wathi kubo: “Okwalesi sikhathi anginacala kumaFilisti, uma ngiwenzela okubi.” ₄USamsoni wahamba, wabamba izimpungushe ezingamakhulu amathathu, wathatha izikhuni, wazibhekisana ngemisila, wafaka isikhuni phakathi kwemisila ngamibili. ₅Wazithungela izikhuni ngomlilo, wazivumela ukuba zingene phakathi kwamabele amaFilisti engakavunwa, washisa amaqhinqa nezinhlanga zamabele kanye nezivini neminqumo.

₆AmaFilisti ayesethi: “Ngubani okwenzile lokho na?”

Bathi: “NguSamsoni, umkhwenyana wowaseThimna, ngokuba yena uthathe umkakhe, wamnika umngane wakhe.” AmaFilisti akhuphuka, amshisa yena noyise ngomlilo. ₇USamsoni wathi kubo: “Uma nenze njalo, impela ngiyakuphindisela kini, andukuba ngiyeke.” ₈Wababulala ithebe nethanga ngokubulala okukhulu; wehla, wahlala ofantwini lwedwala lase-Etamu.

₉AmaFilisti akhuphuka, amisa kwaJuda, ahlakazeka eLehi. ₁₀Abantu bakwaJuda bathi: “Nisikhuphukeleleni na?”

Bathi: “Sikhuphukele ukuba simbophe uSamsoni, senze kuye njengalokho enze kithina.”

₁₁Abantu abayizinkulungwane ezintathu bakwaJuda behlela ofantwini lwedwala lase-Etamu, bathi kuSamsoni: “Awukwazi yini ukuthi amaFilisti abusa phezu kwethu na? Kuyini, pho, lokho okwenzile kithina na?”

Wathi kubo: “Njengalokho benza kimi, ngenze njalo kubo.”

₁₂Base bethi kuye: “Sehlele ukuba sikubophe, ukuze sikunikele esandleni samaFilisti.”

USamsoni wathi kubo: “Fungani kimi ukuthi nina aniyikungisukela.”

₁₃Basho kuye, bathi: “Qha, kepha siyakukubopha nokukubopha, sikunikele esandleni sawo, kodwa impela asiyikukubulala.” Bambopha ngezintambo ezimbili ezintsha, bamkhuphulela edwaleni. ₁₄Lapho efika eLehi, amaFilisti amhlangabeza ekhamuluka; uMoya kaJehova wafika kuye ngamandla, izintambo ezazisezingalweni zakhe zaba njengefilakisi* elishiswe ngomlilo, nezibopho zakhe zancibilika, zasuka ezandleni zakhe. ₁₅Wafumana umhlathi wembongolo osemusha, welula isandla sakhe, wawuthatha, wabulala ngawo abantu abayinkulungwane.

₁₆Wathi uSamsoni:

₁₈Wayesomile kakhulu, wakhala kuJehova, wathi: “Wenzile lokhu kukhululeka okukhulu ngesandla senceku yakho; kepha manje sengiyakufa ukoma, ngiwele esandleni sabangasokile.” ₁₉Kodwa uNkulunkulu wadabula isigoxi esiseLehi, kwaphuma amanzi kuso; lapho esephuzile, umoya wakhe wabuya, wahlumeleleka; ngalokho igama laso labizwa ngokuthi i-Eni Hakore eliseLehi kuze kube namuhla.

₂₀Wahlulela u-Israyeli ngezinsuku zamaFilisti iminyaka engamashumi amabili.