Eyokuqala EkaSamuyeli 31:1-13
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Ukufa kukaSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu (1-13)
31 Ngalesosikhathi amaFilisti ayesilwa labako-Israyeli.+ Amadoda ako-Israyeli abaleka, kwabulawa amabutho awo amanengi entabeni iGilibhowa.+
2 AmaFilisti amhlala izithende uSawuli lamadodana akhe, abulala amadodana akhe+ uJonathani+ lo-Abhinadabi loMalikhi-shuwa.
3 Impi yatshisa kwaba nzima kuSawuli, abatshoka imitshoko bamthola bamlimaza kakhulu.+
4 USawuli wasetshela inceku yakhe eyayimthwalela izikhali wathi: “Hwatsha inkemba yakho ungigwaze ukuze amadoda la angasokanga+ angafiki angigwaze angenze isihluku.” Kodwa inceku yakhe yayingafuni ngoba yayisesaba kakhulu. Ngakho uSawuli wathatha inkemba yakhe wawela phezu kwayo.+
5 Inceku eyayimthwalela izikhali yathi ibona ukuthi uSawuli usefile,+ layo yathatha inkemba yayo yawela phezu kwayo yafa laye.
6 Ngakho uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu lenceku eyayimthwalela izikhali kanye lazo zonke izinceku zakhe bafa ngalelolanga.+
7 Abantu bako-Israyeli ababehlala esigodini lasemangweni waseJodani bathi benanzelela ukuthi amadoda ako-Israyeli abalekile empini lokuthi uSawuli lamadodana akhe basebefile, baphuma emadolobheni abo babaleka,+ amaFilisti asebuya ahlala kuwo.
8 Ngelanga elilandelayo amaFilisti athi esezothatha impahla yalabo ababebulewe, athola uSawuli lamadodana akhe amathathu befile entabeni iGilibhowa.+
9 Yikho amquma ikhanda, amkhipha izigqoko zakhe zempi* asethumela ilizwi kulo lonke ilizwe lamaFilisti+ ukuthi lokho kubikwe ezindlini zezithombe* zawo+ lasebantwini.
10 Afaka izigqoko zakhe zempi endlini yezithombe zika-Ashithorethi, abethela isidumbu sakhe emdulini weBhethi-shani.+
11 Izakhamizi zeJabheshi-giliyadi+ zakuzwa lokho amaFilisti ayekwenze uSawuli.
12 Ngakho wonke amaqhawe asuka ahamba ubusuku bonke, afika ethula isidumbu sikaSawuli lezamadodana akhe emdulini weBhethi-shani. Ngemva kwalokho abuyela eJabheshi afika azitshisa.
13 Athatha amathambo abo+ ayawangcwaba ngaphansi kwesihlahla somthamariski eJabheshi,+ asezila ukudla okwamalanga ayisikhombisa.
