To The Word – Day 75

₁Kwenyuka uNahashi wakwa-Amoni, wamisa eJabeshi Gileyadi; bonke abantu baseJabeshi bathi kuNahashi: “Yenza isivumelwano nathi, siyakukukhonza.”

₂UNahashi wakwa-Amoni wathi kubo: “Ngiyakusenza nani ngalokhu ukuba kukhishwe onke amehlo enu okunene, ngikubeke kube yihlazo kuye wonke u-Israyeli.”

₃Amalunga aseJabeshi athi kuye: “Siyeke izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ukuba sithume izithunywa emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli; uma kungekho osisindisayo, siyakuphumela kuwe.”

₄Izithunywa zafika eGibeya likaSawule, zakhuluma lawo mazwi ezindlebeni zabantu; bonke abantu badazuluka, bakhala. ₅Bheka, uSawule weza elandela izinkabi, evela ensimini; uSawule wathi: “Yini ukuba abantu bakhale na?” Bamtshela amazwi abantu baseJabeshi.

₆UMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kukaSawule esezwile lawo mazwi; intukuthelo yakhe yavutha kakhulu. ₇Wathatha izinkabi ezimbili, wazihlahlela, wazithuma emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli ngesandla sezithunywa, ethi: “Ongaphumi emva kukaSawule noSamuweli kuyakwenziwa kanjalo kuzo izinkabi zakhe.” Ingebhe ngoJehova yehlela phezu kwabantu, baphuma njengomuntu munye. ₈Wababala eBezeki; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babe yizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu, nabantu bakwaJuda babe yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu.

₉Bathi kuzo izithunywa ezazifikile: “Niyakusho kanje kubantu baseJabeshi Gileyadi, nithi: ‘Kusasa lapho ilanga libalele niyakukhululwa.’ ” Izithunywa zafika, zabatshela abantu baseJabeshi; bathokoza. ₁₀Ngalokho abantu baseJabeshi bathi: “Kusasa siyakuphumela kini, nenze kithi konke okuhle emehlweni enu.”

₁₁Kwathi ngangomuso uSawule waviva abantu ngezigaba ezintathu; bafika phakathi kwekamu* ngomlindo wokusa, babulala abakwa-Amoni, laze lashisa ilanga; kwathi abaseleyo bahlakazeka, akusalanga kubo ababili bendawonye.

₁₂Abantu bathi kuSawule: “Ngubani oshilo ukuthi uSawule uyakuba yinkosi phezu kwethu na? Lethani labo bantu ukuba sibabulale.”

₁₃USawule wathi: “Akuyikubulawa muntu namuhla, ngokuba namuhla uJehova usebenzile ukusindiswa kwa-Israyeli.”

₁₄USamuweli wayesethi kubantu: “Wozani siye eGiligali, sibuye sivuse umbuso khona.” ₁₅Bonke abantu baya eGiligali, bambeka khona uSawule waba yinkosi phambi kukaJehova eGiligali; bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula phambi kukaJehova; uSawule nabo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli bathokoza kakhulu khona.

₁USamuweli wathi kuye wonke u-Israyeli: “Bhekani, ngilalele izwi lenu kukho konke enikushiloyo kimi, ngibekile inkosi phezu kwenu. ₂Manje bhekani, inkosi iyahamba phambi kwenu; mina sengimdala, ngiyimpunga; nanka amadodana ami akini; ngihambile phambi kwenu kwasebusheni bami kuze kube namuhla. ₃Bhekani, ngilapha: fakazani ngami phambi kukaJehova naphambi kogcotshiweyo wakhe ukuthi ngithathe inkabi kabani, ngithathe imbongolo kabani, ngikhohlisile ubani, ngicindezele ubani, ngamukele umvuzo esandleni sikabani ukuba ngifihle amehlo ami ngawo na? Ngiyakukubuyisela kini.”

₄Bathi: “Awusikhohlisanga, awusicindezelanga, awamukelanga lutho esandleni samuntu.” ₅Wayesethi kubo: “UJehova ungufakazi ngani, nogcotshiweyo wakhe ungufakazi namuhla ukuthi anifumananga lutho esandleni sami.”

Bathi: “Ungufakazi.”

₆USamuweli wathi kubantu: “NguJehova, yena owabeka oMose no-Aroni nowakhuphula oyihlo ezweni laseGibithe. ₇Kalokhu yimani ukuba ngiphendulane nani phambi kukaJehova ngezenzo zonke ezilungileyo zikaJehova azenza kini nakoyihlo.

₈“Lapho uJakobe esefikile eGibithe, oyihlo bakhala kuJehova, uJehova wathuma oMose no-Aroni abakhipha oyihlo eGibithe, babahlalisa kule ndawo.

₉“Kepha bakhohlwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, wathengisa ngabo esandleni sikaSisera induna yempi yaseHasori, nasesandleni samaFilisti, nasesandleni senkosi yakwaMowabi, balwa nabo. ₁₀Bakhala kuJehova, bathi: ‘Sonile, ngokuba simshiyile uJehova, sakhonza oBali no-Ashitaroti; kodwa kalokhu sophule esandleni sezitha zethu, siyakukukhonza.’ ₁₁UJehova wayesethuma oJerubali, noBedani, noJefta, noSamuweli, wanophula esandleni sezitha zenu nxazonke, nahlala nalondeka.

₁₂“Kepha lapho nabona uNahashi inkosi yabantwana bakwa-Amoni ephuma ukulwa nani, nathi kimi: ‘Hhayi, kepha masibuswe yinkosi,’ ingani uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wayeyinkosi yenu. ₁₃Manje nansi inkosi eniyikhethileyo neniyicelileyo; bhekani, uJehova ubekile inkosi phezu kwenu. ₁₄Uma nimesaba uJehova, nimkhonze, nilalele izwi lakhe, ningahlubuki esiyalezweni sakhe, khona nina nenkosi yenu ebusa phezu kwenu niyakulandela uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu; ₁₅kepha uma ningalaleli izwi likaJehova, nihlubuke esiyalezweni sikaJehova, khona isandla sikaJehova siyakumelana nani, njengalokho samelana nawoyihlo.

₁₆“Ngalokho yimani nibone le nto enkulu ayakuyenza uJehova phambi kwamehlo enu. ₁₇Angithi kuyisikhathi sokuvuna ukolweni namuhla na? Ngiyakukhuleka kuJehova ukuba athume ukuduma nemvula, nazi, nibone ukuthi okubi kwenu enikwenzile emehlweni kaJehova ngokucela inkosi kukhulu.”

₁₈USamuweli wayesekhuleka kuJehova; uJehova wathuma ukuduma nemvula ngalolo suku; bonke abantu besaba kakhulu uJehova noSamuweli.

₁₉Bonke abantu bathi kuSamuweli: “Khulekela izinceku zakho kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ukuba singafi, ngokuba senezele kuzo zonke izono zethu ububi bokuzicelela inkosi.”

₂₀USamuweli wathi kubantu: “Ningesabi; impela nenzile konke lokho okubi; kepha ningaphambuki ekumlandeleni uJehova, kodwa mkhonzeni uJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu; ₂₁yebo, ningaphambuki ukuba nilandele izinto eziyize ezingenakusiza nezingenakophula, ngokuba ziyize. ₂₂Ngokuba uJehova akayikushiya abantu bakhe ngenxa yegama lakhe elikhulu, lokhu kwakukuhle kuJehova ukuzenzela nina nibe ngabantu bakhe. ₂₃Futhi nami, makube kude nami ukuba ngone kuJehova ngokuyeka ukunikhulekela; kakhulu ngiyakunifundisa indlela enhle nelungileyo. ₂₄Yesabani uJehova kuphela, nimkhonze ngeqiniso ngenhliziyo yenu yonke, ngokuba bhekani okukhulu anenzele khona. ₂₅Kodwa uma nisenza okubi, niyakubhubha nina nenkosi yenu.”

₁USawule wabusa umnyaka; esebusile iminyaka emibili kwa-Israyeli.

₂USawule wazikhethela abantu abayizinkulungwane ezintathu kwa-Israyeli; izinkulungwane ezimbili zazinoSawule eMikimashi nasentabeni yaseBethele, nenkulungwane yayinoJonathani eGibeya lakwaBenjamini; abanye abantu wabamukisa, kwaba yilowo nalowo etendeni lakhe.

₃UJonathani wachitha ikhanda lamaFilisti elaliseGeba, amaFilisti akuzwa. USawule wabetha icilongo ezweni lonke, wathi: “Makezwe amaHeberu.” ₄Wonke u-Israyeli wezwa kuthiwa uSawule uchithile ikhanda lamaFilisti nokuthi u-Israyeli uyanengeka kuwo amaFilisti. Abantu babuthwa ukuba bamlandele uSawule, baye eGiligali.

₅AmaFilisti abuthana ukuba alwe no-Israyeli: izinqola eziyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu, nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, nabantu abangangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle ngobuningi; benyuka bamisa eMikimashi ngasempumalanga kwaseBeti Aveni. ₆Lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli bebona ukuthi basengcingweni, ngokuba bacindezelwa kakhulu, abantu bacasha emihumeni, nasemahlozini, nasemaweni, nasezinqabeni, nasemigodini. ₇NamaHeberu ayewelile iJordani ukuya ezweni lakwaGadi nakwelakwaGileyadi; kepha uSawule wayeseseGiligali; abantu bonke bamlandela bethuthumela.

₈Wahlala izinsuku eziyisikhombisa njengesikhathi esimisiwe nguSamuweli, kepha uSamuweli akafikanga eGiligali; abantu bahlakazeka kuye. ₉USawule wayesethi: “Lethani kimi umnikelo wokushiswa neminikelo yokuthula.” Wanikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa. ₁₀Kwathi eseqedile ukunikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa, bheka, uSamuweli wafika; uSawule waphuma ukumhlangabeza ukuba ambingelele.

₁₁USamuweli wathi: “Wenzeni na?”

USawule wathi: “Njengokuba ngabona ukuthi abantu bahlakazekile kimi, nokuthi awufikanga ngesikhathi esimisiweyo, nokuthi amaFilisti abuthene eMikimashi, ₁₂ngathi: ‘Manje amaFilisti ayakwehlela kimi eGiligali ngingakhulekanga;’ ngase ngiziphoqa, nganikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa.”

₁₃USamuweli wathi kuSawule: “Wenze ngobuwula, awugcinanga umyalo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho akuyala ngawo, ngokuba uJehova ubeseyakuqinisa umbuso wakho kwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade. ₁₄Kepha manje umbuso wakho awuyikuqhubeka; uJehova usezifunele umuntu ngokwenhliziyo yakhe; uJehova ummisile abe ngumholi wabantu bakhe, ngokuba ungagcinanga lokho uJehova akuyala ngakho.”

₁₅USamuweli wayesesuka, wakhuphuka eGiligali, waya eGibeya lakwaBenjamini. USawule wabala abantu abafumaniseka bekuye, kungathi abantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha.

₁₆OSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe nabantu ababe naye bahlala eGeba lakwaBenjamini, kepha amaFilisti amisa eMikimashi. ₁₇Abaphangi baphuma ekamu* lamaFilisti ngezigaba ezintathu; esinye isigaba sahamba ngendlela eya e-Ofira ezweni laseShuhali; ₁₈esinye isigaba sahamba ngendlela eya eBeti Horoni; esinye isigaba sahamba ngendlela eya emkhawulweni obheka esigodini saseSeboyimi ngasehlane.

₁₉Kwakungekho mkhandi ezweni lonke lakwa-Israyeli, ngokuba amaFilisti athi: “Funa amaHeberu azenzele izinkemba nemikhonto.” ₂₀Bonke abakwa-Israyeli behlela kuwo amaFilisti, kwaba yilowo nalowo ukuba alole umese wakhe, nempumulo yakhe, nembazo yakhe, nesikela lakhe; ₂₁imali yayiyipimi* ngezimpumulo nangezimfoloko, nenxenye yesithathu yeshekeli* ngezimbazo nangokulungisa izincijo zezinkabi.

₂₂Kwathi ngosuku lokulwa akwabakho nkemba namkhonto esandleni samuntu owayenoSawule noJonathani; kodwa koSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe kwakukhona.

₂₃Ikhanda lamaFilisti laphuma, laya ngasentubeni yaseMikimashi.

₁Kwathi ngosuku oluthile uJonathani indodana kaSawule wathi odibini oluphethe izikhali zakhe: “Woza siwele, siye ekhandeni lamaFilisti elingaphesheya.” Kepha akamtshelanga uyise.

₂USawule wahlala emaphethelweni aseGibeya phansi kompomegranati* oseMigroni; abantu ababe naye babe ngamakhulu ayisithupha; ₃u-Ahiya indodana ka-Ahithubi, umfowabo ka-Ikabodi indodana kaFinehasi ka-Eli, umpristi kaJehova eShilo, wayembethe ingubo yamahlombe. Abantu babengazi ukuthi uJonathani uhambile.

₄Phakathi kwezintuba uJonathani afuna ukuwela ngazo ukuya ekhandeni lamaFilisti kwakukhona ugedla lwesiwa ngalapha nogedla lwesiwa ngalapha; igama lolunye laliyiBosesi, negama lolunye laliyiSene. ₅Olunye ugedla lwaluphakeme ngasenyakatho phambi kweMikimashi, nolunye ngaseningizimu phambi kweGeba.

₆UJonathani wathi odibini lwakhe oluphethe izikhali zakhe: “Woza siwele, siye ekhandeni lalabo abangasokile; ingabe uJehova uyakusisebenzela, ngokuba akukho okumthiyayo uJehova ukuba asindise ngabaningi noma ngabayingcosana.”

₇Ophethe izikhali zakhe wathi kuye: “Yenza konke okusenhliziyweni yakho: hamba, bheka, nginawe njengenhliziyo yakho.”

₈Wayesethi uJonathani kuye: “Bheka, siyakuwela, siye kulabo bantu, sizibonakalise kubo. ₉Uma bethi kithi: ‘Hlalani size sifike kini,’ khona siyakuma endaweni yethu, singenyukeli kubo. ₁₀Kepha uma bethi: ‘Yenyukelani kithi,’ siyakwenyuka, ngokuba uJehova ubanikele esandleni sethu; lokhu kuyakuba yisibonakaliso kithi.”

₁₁Bobabili bazibonakalisa kulo ikhanda lamaFilisti; amaFilisti ayesethi: “Bhekani, amaHeberu aphuma emigodini acashe kuyo.” ₁₂Abantu basekhandeni bamphendula uJonathani nodibi lwakhe, bathi: “Khuphukelani kithi, siyakunifundisa indaba.”

UJonathani wayesethi odibini oluphethe izikhali zakhe: “Khuphuka emva kwami, ngokuba uJehova ubanikele esandleni sakwa-Israyeli.”

₁₃UJonathani wakhuphuka ngezandla zakhe nangezinyawo zakhe, nodibi lwakhe emva kwakhe; bawa phambi kukaJonathani, nodibi lwezikhali zakhe lwababulala emva kwakhe. ₁₄Lokho kuceka kokuqala abakwenzayo uJonathani nodibi lwezikhali zakhe kwakungabantu kungathi amashumi amabili ebangeni elingathi inxenye ye-eka* lensimu.

₁₅Kwaba khona ukuthuthumela ekamu,* nasendle, naphakathi kwabantu bonke; ikhanda nabaphangi bathuthumela nabo, nomhlaba wazamazama, kwaze kwaba ngukuthuthumela okukhulu.

₁₆Abalindi bakaSawule eGibeya lakwaBenjamini babona, bheka, isixuku sahlakazeka, saya ngalapha nangalapha. ₁₇USawule wayesethi kubantu ababe naye: “Balani manje, nibone ukuthi ngubani omukile kithi.” Babala, bheka, uJonathani nodibi lwezikhali zakhe babengekho.

₁₈USawule wathi ku-Ahiya: “Letha umphongolo kaNkulunkulu.” Ngokuba umphongolo kaNkulunkulu wawukhona ngaleso sikhathi kwabakwa-Israyeli. ₁₉Kwathi uSawule esakhuluma kumpristi, umsindo owawusekamu* lamaFilisti waqhubeka, wanda; uSawule wathi kumpristi: “Susa isandla sakho.”

₂₀USawule nabo bonke abantu ababe naye babuthana, baya ekulweni; bheka, yilowo nalowo washaya omunye ngenkemba, kwaba khona ukungquzuka okukhulu kakhulu. ₂₁AmaHeberu ayenamaFilisti kuqala nawo akhuphukela ekamu* nxazonke, aphendukela kwabakwa-Israyeli ababe noSawule noJonathani. ₂₂Abantu bonke bakwa-Israyeli ababecashile ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi sebezwile ukuthi amaFilisti abaleka, nabo bawaxosha ekulweni. ₂₃UJehova wasindisa u-Israyeli ngalolo suku; ukulwa kwadlulela eBeti Aveni.

₂₄Abantu bakwa-Israyeli babecindezelwa ngalolo suku, kepha uSawule wafungisa abantu, wathi: “Makaqalekiswe umuntu odla ukudla kungakahlwi, ngingakaziphindiseli ezitheni zami.” Akwabakho muntu owezwa ukudla.

₂₅Abantu bonke beza ehlathini; kwakukhona izinyosi phansi. ₂₆Abantu sebengenile ehlathini, bheka, izinyosi zaconsa, kepha akwabakho muntu obeka isandla emlonyeni, ngokuba abantu besaba isifungo. ₂₇Kepha uJonathani akezwanga lapho uyise efungisa abantu; ngalokho welula isihloko senduku esesandleni sakhe, wasicwilisa ezinyosini, wabeka isandla emlonyeni; ayeseqabuka amehlo akhe. ₂₈Kwase kuthatha omunye wabantu, wathi: “Uyihlo wabafungisa nokubafungisa abantu, ethi: ‘Makaqalekiswe umuntu odla ukudla namuhla.’ Abantu babephelile amandla.”

₂₉Wayesethi uJonathani: “Ubaba uhluphile izwe; ake nibone ukuthi amehlo ami aseqabukile, ngokuba ngizwe ingcosana yalezi zinyosi. ₃₀Kakhulu kangakanani, uma abantu bebedlile impela impango yezitha zabo abayifumanayo, ngokuba nga engabulawanga kakhulu amaFilisti na?”

₃₁Babulala amaFilisti ngalolo suku kusukela eMikimashi kuze kube se-Ajaloni; abantu baphela amandla kakhulu. ₃₂Abantu batheleka empangweni, bathatha izimvu, nezinkabi, namankonyane, bakubulalela phansi; abantu bakudla kanye negazi. ₃₃Base bemtshela uSawule, bethi: “Bheka, abantu bayona kuJehova ngokudla okunegazi.”

Wathi: “Nenze kabi; gingqelani kimi itshe elikhulu namuhla.” ₃₄Wathi uSawule: “Hlakazekelani phakathi kwabantu, nithi kubo: ‘Lethani kimi, kube yilowo nalowo inkabi yakhe, nalowo imvu yakhe, nizihlabe lapha, nidle, ningoni kuJehova ngokudla okunegazi.’ ” Bonke abantu baletha, kwaba yilowo nalowo inkabi yakhe ngalobo busuku ngesandla sakhe, bazihlaba khona. ₃₅USawule wamakhela uJehova i-altare; kwakuyi-altare lokuqala amakhela lona uJehova.

₃₆USawule wathi: “Masehle, silandele amaFilisti ebusuku, siwaphange kuze kuse, singashiyi noyedwa kuwo.”

Bathi: “Yenza konke okuhle emehlweni akho.”

Umpristi wayesethi: “Masisondele lapha kuNkulunkulu.”

₃₇USawule wabuza kuNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngehle ngilandele amaFilisti na? Uyakuwanikela esandleni sakwa-Israyeli na?” Kepha akamphendulanga ngalolo suku.

₃₈USawule wathi: “Sondelani lapha nina nonke zinhloko zabantu, nazi, nibone ukuthi bekuyisiphi lesi sono sanamuhla. ₃₉Ngokuba, kuphila kukaJehova osindisa u-Israyeli, nokuba sikuJonathani indodana yami, uyakufa nokufa.” Kepha akwabakho noyedwa owamphendulayo.

₄₀Wayesethi ku-Israyeli wonke: “Buyelani nganhlanye nina, mina noJonathani indodana yami siyakubuyela nganhlanye.”

Abantu bathi kuSawule: “Yenza okuhle emehlweni akho.”

₄₁Ngalokho uSawule wathi kuJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: “Malivele iqiniso.” OJonathani noSawule badliwa yinkatho, kepha abantu baphunyuka. ₄₂USawule wathi: “Yenzani inkatho phakathi kwami noJonathani indodana yami.” Wadliwa uJonathani.

₄₃USawule wayesethi kuJonathani: “Ngitshele okwenzileyo.”

UJonathani wamtshela wathi: “Impela ngezwa ingcosana yezinyosi ngesihloko senduku eyayisesandleni sami; bheka, sengizakufa.”

₄₄USawule wathi: “Makenze njalo uNkulunkulu, enezele futhi, ngokuba uyakufa nokufa, Jonathani!”

₄₅Abantu bathi kuSawule: “Uyakufa yini uJonathani okwenzile lokho kusindisa okukhulu kwa-Israyeli na? Makube kude; kuphila kukaJehova, akuyikuwela phansi nolulodwa unwele lwekhanda lakhe, ngokuba usebenzile noNkulunkulu namuhla.” Abantu bamhlenga ukuba angafi.

₄₆USawule wayesenyuka ebuya ekulandeleni amaFilisti; aya endaweni yawo.

₄₇USawule esethathile umbuso wakwa-Israyeli walwa nazo zonke izitha zakhe nxazonke, noMowabi, nabantwana bakwa-Amoni, no-Edomi, namakhosi aseSoba, namaFilisti; nomaphi lapho ebheka khona, wayehlula. ₄₈Wenza okobuqhawe, wanqoba ama-Amaleki, wamophula u-Israyeli esandleni sabaphangi.

₄₉Amadodana kaSawule ayengoJonathani, no-Ishivi, noMaliki Shuwa; amagama amadodakazi akhe amabili yilawa: igama lenkulu lalinguMerabi, igama lencane lalinguMikhali. ₅₀Igama lomkaSawule lalingu-Ahinohama indodakazi ka-Ahimahazi; igama lenduna yempi yakhe lalingu-Abineri indodana kaNeri uyisekazi kaSawule. ₅₁UKishi uyise kaSawule noNeri uyise ka-Abineri babe ngamadodana ka-Abiyeli.

₅₂Kwakukhona ukulwa okunzima namaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSawule; lapho uSawule ebona iqhawe nendoda enamandla wazithathela bona.

₁USamuweli wathi kuSawule: “UJehova wangithuma ukuba ngikugcobe ube yinkosi phezu kwabantu bakhe u-Israyeli; ngalokho lalela amazwi kaJehova. ₂Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uthi: ‘Ngiyakuhambela umAmaleki ngalokho akwenzayo ku-Israyeli wamelana naye endleleni ekukhuphukeni kwakhe eGibithe. ₃Hamba manje, unqobe u-Amaleki, uchithe impela konke anakho, ungamhawukeli, kepha bulala abesilisa, nabesifazane, nezingane, nabancelayo, nezinkabi, nezimvu, namakamela, nezimbongolo.’ ”

₄USawule wayesebiza abantu, wababala eThelayimi, izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili zemigundatshani nezinkulungwane eziyishumi zabantu bakwaJuda. ₅USawule wafika emzini ka-Amaleki, waqamekela esigodini. ₆USawule wathi kumaKheni: “Hambani nimuke, nehle kuwo ama-Amaleki, funa nginichithe kanye nawo, ngokuba nabenzela umusa bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ekukhuphukeni kwabo eGibithe.” Ayesesuka amaKheni phakathi kwama-Amaleki.

₇USawule wahlula ama-Amaleki kusukela eHavila kuya ngaseShuri elingaphambi kwaseGibithe. ₈Wabamba u-Agagi inkosi yama-Amaleki esaphilile, wachitha impela bonke abantu ngosiko lwenkemba. ₉Kepha uSawule nabantu bayeka u-Agagi nezinhle nezikhulupheleyo zezimvu nezezinkabi, namawundlu, nakho konke okuhle; babengavumi ukukuqeda lokho; kodwa zonke izinto ezidelekileyo nezondileyo baziqeda nya.

₁₀Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuSamuweli, lithi: ₁₁“Ngiyazisola ukuthi ngibekile uSawule inkosi, ngokuba ubuyile ekungilandeleni, kafezanga amazwi ami.” USamuweli wathukuthela, wakhala kuJehova ubusuku bonke.

₁₂USamuweli wavuka kusasa ukuba amhlangabeze uSawule ekuseni; kwabikwa kuSamuweli ukuthi: “USawule wafika eKarmeli; bheka, wazimisela insika, wasuka, wadlula, wehla waya eGiligali.”

₁₃USamuweli wafika kuSawule; uSawule wathi kuye: “Mawubusiswe nguJehova; sengifezile izwi likaJehova.”

₁₄USamuweli wayesethi: “Kuthini, pho, lokhu kukhala kwezimvu ezindlebeni zami, nokukhala kwezinkabi engikuzwayo, na?”

₁₅USawule wathi: “Babuye nazo kuma-Amaleki, ngokuba abantu bayeka ezinhle zezimvu nezezinkabi ukuba bahlabele uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho; ezinye siziqedile nya.”

₁₆USamuweli wayesethi kuSawule: “Kahle, ngikutshele lokho uJehova akukhulumile kimi kulobu busuku.”

Wathi kuye: “Khuluma.”

₁₇Wathi uSamuweli: “Nakuba wawumncane emehlweni akho, awenziwanga yini waba yinhloko yezizwe zakwa-Israyeli na? UJehova wakugcoba, waba yinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli. ₁₈UJehova wakuthuma indlela, wathi: ‘Hamba uqede nya izoni, ama-Amaleki, ulwe nawo aze aphele.’ ₁₉Awulalelanga ngani izwi likaJehova, kepha watheleka phakathi kwempango, wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, na?”

₂₀USawule wathi kuSamuweli: “Ngililalele izwi likaJehova, ngihambile indlela uJehova owangithuma yona, ngimlethile u-Agagi inkosi yama-Amaleki, ngachitha impela ama-Amaleki. ₂₁Kepha abantu bathatha kuyo impango, izimvu nezinkabi, okuhle kokuqalekisiweyo, ukuba bahlabele uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho eGiligali.”

₂₂USamuweli wathi:

₂₄USawule wayesethi kuSamuweli: “Ngonile, ngokuba ngeqile isiyalezo sikaJehova namazwi akho, lokhu ngesaba abantu, ngalalela izwi labo. ₂₅Ngalokho ake uthethelele isono sami, ubuye nami ukuba ngikhuleke kuJehova.”

₂₆USamuweli wathi kuSawule: “Angiyikubuya nawe, ngokuba ulilahlile izwi likaJehova, naye uJehova ukulahlile wena ukuba ungabe usaba yinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli.”

₂₇USamuweli esephenduka ukuhamba, wabamba umphetho wengubo yakhe, yaklebhuka. ₂₈USamuweli wathi kuye: “UJehova uklebhulile umbuso ka-Israyeli kuwe namuhla, uwunikile umngane wakho omuhle kunawe. ₂₉IThemba Lika-Israyeli aliyikuqamba amanga, lizisole, ngokuba alisiye umuntu ukuba lizisole.”

₃₀Wayesethi: “Ngonile, kepha ake ungituse manje phambi kwamalunga abantu bami naphambi kuka-Israyeli, ubuye nami ukuba ngikhuleke kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.” ₃₁USamuweli wabuya, wamlandela uSawule; uSawule wakhuleka kuJehova.

₃₂USamuweli wayesethi: “Lethani kimi u-Agagi inkosi yama-Amaleki.” U-Agagi wafika kuye esasile.

U-Agagi wathi: “Impela umunyu wokufa udlulile.”

₃₃USamuweli wathi: “Njengalokho inkemba yakho ibaphucile abesifazane abantwana, kanjalo unyoko uyakwaphucwa abantwana kunabanye.” USamuweli wayesehlahlela u-Agagi phambi kukaJehova eGiligali.

₃₄USamuweli waya eRama, kepha uSawule wakhuphukela ekhaya eGibeya likaSawule. ₃₅USamuweli akaphindanga ukumbona uSawule waze wafa, kepha uSamuweli wamkhalela uSawule; uJehova wazisola ukuthi wayembekile uSawule inkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli.