Eyokuqala EkaSamuyeli 7:1-17
7 Abantu beKhiriyathi-jeyarimi babuya bazothatha ibhokisi likaJehova baya lalo endlini ka-Abhinadabi+ eyayiseqaqeni. Babeka* indodana yakhe u-Eliyazari ukuthi ilinde ibhokisi likaJehova.
2 Kwathi sekwedlule isikhathi eside, sekuleminyaka engu-20 ibhokisi libuye eKhiriyathi-jeyarimi, bonke abantu bako-Israyeli baqalisa ukudinga uJehova.*+
3 USamuyeli wakhuluma labo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli wathi: “Nxa lifuna ukubuyela kuJehova ngenhliziyo yonke,+ lahlani bonke onkulunkulu bezizweni+ lezithombe zika-Ashithorethi+ elilazo, beselibeka inhliziyo zenu kuJehova kuphela futhi likhonze yena yedwa.+ Nxa lingenza njalo uzalikhulula esandleni samaFilisti.”+
4 Ngakho abantu bako-Israyeli balahla izithombe zikaBhali lezika-Ashithorethi bakhonza uJehova kuphela.+
5 USamuyeli wathi: “Buthanisani bonke abantu bako-Israyeli eMizipha,+ futhi mina ngizalithandazela kuJehova.”+
6 Ngakho babuthana eMizipha bakha amanzi bawathululela phambi kukaJehova njalo bazila ukudla ngalelolanga.+ Babesithi: “Sonile kuJehova.”+ USamuyeli waqalisa ukuba ngumahluleli+ wabantu bako-Israyeli eMizipha.
7 AmaFilisti athi esizwa ukuthi abako-Israyeli babebuthene eMizipha, amakhosi amaFilisti+ asuka esiyabahlasela. Abantu bako-Israyeli bathi bekuzwa lokho besaba,
8 basebesithi kuSamuyeli: “Ungayekeli ukusincengela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuthi asincedise,+ asikhulule esandleni samaFilisti.”
9 USamuyeli wathatha imvana emunyayo wanikela ngayo kuJehova yaba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa ogcweleyo.+ Wakhuleka kuJehova wamcela ukuthi ancedise abantu bako-Israyeli, futhi uJehova wamphendula.+
10 USamuyeli wathi esanikela umnikelo wokutshiswa, amaFilisti asondela ezohlasela abako-Israyeli. UJehova wenza kwaba lomdumo omkhulu+ ngalelolanga, amaFilisti aphithana amakhanda.+ Abako-Israyeli bawanqoba amaFilisti.+
11 Baphuma eMizipha bawaxotshanisa bewabulala baze bayafika eningizimu yeBhethi-khari.
12 USamuyeli wathatha ilitshe+ walifaka phakathi kweMizipha leJeshana, walinika ibizo elithi Ebhenezeri* esithi: “UJehova ubelokhu esincedisa kwaze kwaba khathesi.”+
13 AmaFilisti anqotshwa futhi awazange aphinde abuye elizweni lako-Israyeli.+ UJehova kazange avumele amaFilisti ukuthi ahlasele abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi uSamuyeli esaphila.+
14 Abako-Israyeli bathatha amadolobho ayethethwe ngamaFilisti, kusukela e-Ekhroni kusiya eGathi, futhi bathatha lezindawo zabo ezazithethwe ngamaFilisti.
Kanti njalo kwaba lokuthula phakathi kwabantu bako-Israyeli lama-Amori.+
15 USamuyeli wahlulela abako-Israyeli okwempilo yakhe yonke.+
16 Minyaka yonke wayebhoda eBhetheli+ leGiligali+ leMizipha+ njalo wayesahlulela abako-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezondawo.
17 Kodwa wayebuyela eRama+ ngoba yikho lapho okwakulomuzi wakhe khona futhi lakuleyondawo wayesahlulela abako-Israyeli. Wakhela uJehova i-alithare+ khonapho eRama.
Amabala angaphansi
^ NgesiHebheru, “Bangcwelisa.”
^ Kumbe, “ukukhala kuJehova.”
^ Ibizo leli litsho ukuthi, “Ilitshe elincedayo.”
