1. Nei vanhu vakawanda muShiro vakanga vachishungurudzika uye vachichema?

SAMUERI aishungurudzika sezvaiita vanhu vaiva muShiro. Zvaiita sokuti vanhu vose vaiva mutaundi racho vakanga vachichema. Mudzimba ngani mainzwika kuchema kwevakadzi nevana, vachichema vanzwa kuti vanababa, varume, vanakomana, vanun’una nemadzikoma vakanga vasingazodzoki kumba? Tinongoziva chete kuti vaIsraeri vakanga varasikirwa nemasoja 30 000 pavakakundwa zvinotyisa nevaFiristiya nguva pfupi vabva kurasikirwa nemasoja 4 000 pane kumwe kurwisana.—1 Sam. 4:1, 2, 10.

2, 3. Matambudziko api aitevedzana akaita kuti Shiro inyadziswe uye irasikirwe nokukudzwa?

² Iroro raingova rimwe rematambudziko aizotevedzana. Vanakomana vaviri vakaipa voMupristi Mukuru Eri, Hofini naFiniyasi, vakanga vabuda muShiro neareka tsvene yesungano. Areka iyi inokosha iyo yaiva chiratidzo chokuvapo kwaMwari yaiwanzochengeterwa muNzvimbo Tsvenetsvene yetebhenekeri—temberi yakaita setende. Vanhu vakabva vaenda neAreka yacho kuhondo, vachifunga zvisiri izvo kuti yaizoshanda sedumwa yoita kuti vakunde. Asi vaFiristiya vakatora Areka yacho, ndokuuraya Hofini naFiniyasi.—1 Sam. 4:3-11.

³ Tebhenekeri yokuShiro yakanga yava nemazana emakore ichiremekedzwa nokuti ndimo maichengeterwa Areka yacho. Iye zvino yakanga yaenda. Paakangonzwa izvi, Eri aiva nemakore 98 akadonha pachigaro chake negotsi achibva afa. Muroora wake, akanga afirwa nomurume musi iwoyo chaiwo, akafa achisununguka mwana. Asati afa, akati: “Kukudzwa kwabva pakati paIsraeri, kwatapwa.” Zvechokwadi, Shiro yaisazombofazve yakaita sezvayaimbova.—1 Sam. 4:12-22.

4. Tichakurukurei muchitsauko chino?

⁴ Samueri aizoita sei nezvinhu izvi zvaiodza mwoyo zvikuru? Kutenda kwake kwaizova kwakasimba here zvokukwanisa kubatsira vanhu vakanga vasingachadzivirirwi uye vasingachafarirwi naJehovha? Dzimwe nguva mazuva ano, tose tingatarisana nenhamo uye zvinhu zvinoodza mwoyo zvinoedza kutenda kwedu, saka ngationei zvimwe zvatingadzidza kubva kuna Samueri.

5, 6. Bhaibheri rinotaura nezvei munguva inosvika makore 20, uye Samueri akanga achiitei munguva iyoyo?

⁵ Iye zvino Bhaibheri rinombosiya kutaura nezvaSamueri rotaura nezveAreka tsvene, richitiratidza kuti vaFiristiya vakatambura zvakadini pamusana pokutora areka uye kumanikidzwa kwavakaitwa kuti vaidzose. Bhaibheri parinozotaurazve nezvaSamueri, panenge papfuura makore 20. (1 Sam. 7:2) Akanga achiitei mumakore iwayo? Hatifaniri hedu kuita zvokufungidzira.

⁶ Makore 20 aya asati atanga, tinoudzwa kuti, “shoko raSamueri rakaramba richienda kuvaIsraeri vose.” (1 Sam. 4:1) Nhoroondo yacho inoratidza kuti nguva yacho yapfuura, Samueri akava netsika yokushanyira maguta matatu eIsraeri, achiatenderera gore negore, achigadzirisa kusawirirana uye achipindura mibvunzo. Aibva azodzokera kumusha kwake kuRama. (1 Sam. 7:15-17) Zviri pachena kuti Samueri aigara akabatikana, uye mumakore 20 iwayo, aiva nezvakawanda zvokuita.

7, 8. (a) Samueri akaudza vanhu mashoko api pashure pemakore makumi maviri ekushanda nesimba? (b) Vanhu vakaita sei pane zvavakavimbiswa naSamueri?

⁷ Unzenza neuori zvaiitwa nevanakomana vaEri zvakanga zvaita kuti kutenda kwevanhu vacho kuparare. Zvinoita sokuti vakawanda vakapedzisira vava kunamata zvidhori. Zvisinei, papera makore makumi maviri ekushanda nesimba, Samueri akaudza vanhu mashoko aya: “Kana muchidzoka kuna Jehovha nemwoyo yenyu yose, bvisai vanamwari vokune dzimwe nyika pakati penyu uyewo mifananidzo yaAshtoreti, muise mwoyo yenyu kuna Jehovha musingatsauki, mushumire iye oga, uye achakununurai paruoko rwevaFiristiya.”—1 Sam. 7:3.

⁸ Vanhu vakanga varemerwa ne“ruoko rwevaFiristiya.” Sezvo uto raIsraeri rakanga rakundwa zvine mutsindo, vaFiristiya vakanzwa sokuti vaigona kudzvinyirira vanhu vaMwari pasina aizovaranga. Asi Samueri akavimbisa vanhu vacho kuti zvinhu zvaizonaka chete kana vadzokera kuna Jehovha. Vaida kudzokera here? Samueri akafara pavakabvisa zvidhori zvavo “vakatanga kushumira Jehovha oga.” Samueri akaunganidza vanhu kuMizpa, taundi raiva munzvimbo ine makomo kuchamhembe kweJerusarema. Vanhu vakaungana, vakatsanya, uye vakapfidza zvivi zvavo zvakawanda zvokunamata zvidhori.—Verenga 1 Samueri 7:4-6.

9. VaFiristiya vakawana mukana upi, uye vanhu vaMwari vakaita sei nezvengozi yacho?

⁹ Zvisinei, vaFiristiya vakanzwa nezvekuungana uku kukuru  vachibva vati dzawira mutswanda. Vakatumira uto ravo kuMizpa kuti rinotsakatisa vanamati ivavo vaJehovha. VaIsraeri vakanzwa nezvengozi yakanga ichiuya. Vachitya, vakakumbira Samueri kuti avanyengeterere. Akavanyengeterera uye akapawo chibayiro. Panguva yokuungana ikoko kutsvene, uto revaFiristiya rakauya kuzorwisa Mizpa. Jehovha akabva apindura munyengetero waSamueri. Chaizvoizvo, Jehovha akadzvova nehasha. “Akaita kuti kutinhire noruzha rukuru zuva iroro achirwisa vaFiristiya.”—1 Sam. 7:7-10.

10, 11. (a) Nei paifanira kunge paine chinhu chisina kujairika pabhanan’ana rakaitirwa uto revaFiristiya naJehovha? (b) Hondo yakatangira kuMizpa yakaguma nei?

¹⁰ Saka, tinofanira kufungidzira here kuti vaFiristiya ivavo vainge vakaita sevana vaduku vanomhanyira kunovanda kuseri kwavanaamai vavo vachitya pavanonzwa bhanan’ana? Kwete, aya aiva masoja akashinga, akajaira zvehondo. Saka kutinhira uku kunofanira kunge kwakanga kwakasiyana nechero kupi zvako kwavainge vakambonzwa. Yaiva mhaka yokuti “ruzha rukuru” urwu rwainge rwakanyanyisa here? Ruzha rwacho rwakabva mudenga risina makore here kana kuti vakavhiringidzika nemhaka yemaungira aibva muzvikomo? Chero zvazvingava, rwakaita kuti vaFiristiya ivavo vavhiringidzike uye vatye zvikuru. Vavhiringidzika zvikuru, zvinhu zvakachinja nokukurumidza vakatanga kurwiswa nevanhu vavaida kurwisa. Varume vaIsraeri vakabuda muMizpa vachimhanya, vakavakunda, uye vakavadzingirira kwedaro refu kusvika kune imwe nzvimbo iri kumaodzanyemba kwakadziva kumadokero kweJerusarema.—1 Sam. 7:11.

¹¹ Hondo iyoyo yakaita kuti zvinhu zvichinje. VaFiristiya vakaramba vachienda kure nevaIsraeri mumazuva ose akatevera Samueri paaiva mutongi. Vanhu vaMwari vakatanga kutora maguta avainge vambotorerwa.—1 Sam. 7:13, 14.

12. Zvinorevei kuti Samueri “akaita kuti pave nokururama,” uye unhu hupi hwakamubatsira kuti arambe ari munhu ane chiyamuro?

¹² Papera mazana emakore akawanda, muapostora Pauro akanyorawo Samueri pakati pevatongi nevaprofita vakatendeka “vakaita kuti pave nokururama.” (VaH. 11:32, 33) Samueri akaita zvakanaka uye zvakarurama mumaziso aMwari uye akakurudzira vamwe kuti vaite zvimwe chetezvo. Akaramba ari munhu ane chiyamuro nokuti akamirira Jehovha nemwoyo murefu, achiramba achiita basa rake nokutendeseka pasinei nezvinhu zvaiodza mwoyo. Akaratidzawo kuti aionga. Pashure pekukunda kwakaitwa kuMizpa, Samueri akamisa dombo kuti rivayeuchidze nezvenzira iyo Jehovha akanga abatsira nayo vanhu vake.—1 Sam. 7:12.

13. (a) Tinofanira kuva neunhu hupi kana tichida kutevedzera Samueri? (b) Ndirini paunofunga kuti inguva yakanaka yokutanga kuva neunhu sehwaSamueri?

 ¹³ Iwe unoda ‘kuita kuti pave nokururama’ here? Kana zvakadaro, ungaita zvakanaka ukadzidza kubva pamwoyo murefu, kuzvininipisa uye kuonga zvakaratidzwa naSamueri. (Verenga 1 Petro 5:6.) Ndiani wedu asingadi kuva neunhu ihwohwo? Zvakanga zvakanakira Samueri kuti ave neunhu hwakadaro uye ahuratidze paainge achiri muduku, nokuti pane zvinhu zvakamuodza mwoyo zvikuru ava munhu mukuru.

14, 15. (a) Chii chakaita kuti Samueri aore mwoyo zvikuru ‘paakanga atokwegura’? (b) Samueri aiva baba vane mhosva sezvakanga zvakaita Eri here? Tsanangura.

¹⁴ Patinozoverengazve nezvaSamueri, ‘akanga akwegura.’ Panguva iyi Samueri akanga ava nevanakomana vaviri vainge vakura, Joeri naAbhija, uye akavagadza kuti vamubatsire pabasa rekutonga. Zvisinei, zvinosuruvarisa kuti akavimba nevanhu vasiri ivo. Kunyange zvazvo Samueri ainge akarurama uye akatendeseka, vanakomana vake vakashandisa zvinzvimbo zvavo nenzira yeudyire, vachitsaudzira pakutonga uye vachigamuchira pfumbamuromo.—1 Sam. 8:1-3.

¹⁵ Rimwe zuva varume vakuru vaIsraeri vakaenda kunonyunyuta  kumuprofita wacho akanga akwegura. Vakati, “Vanakomana venyu havana kufamba munzira dzenyu.” (1 Sam. 8:4, 5) Samueri aiziva nezvedambudziko racho here? Nhoroondo yacho haina zvainotaura. Zvisinei, kusiyana naEri, zvechokwadi Samueri akanga asiri baba vane mhosva. Jehovha akanga atsiura Eri uye kumuranga pamusana pekutadza kugadzirisa uipi hwevanakomana vake, uye kukudza vanakomana vake kupfuura Mwari. (1 Sam. 2:27-29) Jehovha haana kumbowanira Samueri mhosva yakadaro.

16. Vabereki vevana vasingateereri vanonzwa sei, uye vabereki vanogona sei kunyaradzwa nemuenzaniso waSamueri uye kudzidza pauri?

¹⁶ Nhoroondo yacho hairatidzi kunyara zvokushaya pokupinda, kunetseka, kana kuora mwoyo kwakaita Samueri paakangoziva zvakaipa zvaiitwa nevanakomana vake. Zvisinei, zviri nyore kuti vabereki vakawanda vagone kufungidzira manzwiro aiita Samueri. Munguva dzino dzakaipa, vana vakawanda havasi kuteerera zvinotaurwa nevabereki. (Verenga 2 Timoti 3:1-5.) Vabereki vari kusangana nezvinhu zvinorwadza zvakadaro vanogona kunyaradzwa nemuenzaniso waSamueri uye kudzidza pauri. Kunyange zvazvo vanakomana vake vakasarudza kusatendeseka, Samueri akaramba akatendeka. Yeuka kuti kunyange zvazvo vana vangasateerera pavanorayirwa uye pavanorangwa, muenzaniso wemubereki unogona kusvika pamwoyo yavo. Uye, vabereki vanogara vaine mukana wokuita kuti Baba vavo, Jehovha Mwari, vadade navo sezvakaitwa naSamueri.

17. Varume vakuru vaIsraeri vakati vaida kuti Samueri aitei, uye iye akaita sei?

¹⁷ Vanakomana vaSamueri havana kumbobvira vafungidzira kuti makaro avo neudyire zvaizoita kuti zvinhu zvisvike papi. Varume vakuru vaIsraeri vakaenderera mberi vachiti kuna Samueri: “Zvino tigadzirei mambo kuti atitonge semamwe marudzi ose.” Chikumbiro chavo chakaita sokuti vari kuramba Samueri here? Ndiyeka akanga ari mutongi wevanhu ivavo kwemakumi emakore achimiririra Jehovha. Iye zvino vaida mambo kuti ave mutongi wavo, kwete muprofitawo zvake akaita saSamueri. Marudzi ainge akavapoteredza aiva nemadzimambo uye vaIsraeri vaidawo kuva namambo! Samueri akaita sei? Tinoverenga kuti “chinhu chacho chaiva chakaipa kuna Samueri.”—1 Sam. 8:5, 6.

18. Jehovha akanyaradza sei Samueri asi panguva imwe chete achibudisa pachena kukura kwechivi chevaIsraeri?

¹⁸ Ona kuti Jehovha akapindura sei Samueri paakanyengetera kwaari nezvenyaya yacho: “Teerera inzwi revanhu pane zvose zvavanokuudza; nokuti havana kuramba iwe, asi varamba ini kuti ndive mambo wavo.” Samueri anofanira kunge akanyaradzwa chaizvo, asi uku kwaiva kunyomba Mwari Wemasimbaose kwakaipisisa kwakanga kwaitwa nevanhu ava! Jehovha akaudza muprofita wake kuti anyevere vaIsraeri nezvekutambura kwavaizoita nokuva namambo aiva munhu. Samueri  paakaita zvaakaudzwa, vakasimbirira vachiti: “Aiwa, asi tichatongwa namambo.” Samueri akateerera Mwari wake sezvaakanga agara achiita uye akabva aenda akazodza mambo akanga asarudzwa naJehovha.—1 Sam. 8:7-19.

19, 20. (a) Samueri akateerera sei zvakarayirwa naJehovha zvokuti azodze Sauro samambo weIsraeri? (b) Samueri akaramba sei achibatsira vanhu vaJehovha?

¹⁹ Kunyange zvakadaro, Samueri akateerera sei? Akateerera akagumbuka uye asingakendengi here? Akabvumira kuti kuora mwoyo kukanganise mwoyo wake here, achirega kushungurudzika kuchidzika midzi? Vakawanda vangaita saizvozvo mumamiriro ezvinhu akadaro, asi kwete Samueri. Akazodza Sauro uye akabvuma kuti murume wacho akanga asarudzwa naJehovha pachake. Akatsvoda Sauro, chiratidzo chokugamuchira uye kuzviisa pasi pamambo mutsva. Akabva ati kuvanhu: “Maona munhu asarudzwa naJehovha here, kuti hapana akafanana naye pakati pevanhu vose?”—1 Sam. 10:1, 24.

²⁰ Samueri haana kuti nangananga nezvaikanganiswa nomunhu akanga asarudzwa naJehovha asi akatarisa zvakanaka pamunhu wacho. Iye pachake, akaisa pfungwa pakuperera kwake kuna Mwari pane kuda kufarirwa nevanhu vaichinja-chinja. (1 Sam. 12:1-4) Akaitawo basa rake akatendeka, achinyevera vanhu vaMwari nezvezvinhu zvaigona kukanganisa ukama hwavo naJehovha uye achivakurudzira kuramba vakatendeka kuna Jehovha. Zvaakavaudza zvakavabaya mwoyo uye vanhu vakateterera Samueri kuti avanyengeterere. Akavapindura zvakanaka achiti: “Handingambofungi zvakadaro, kuti nditadzire Jehovha nokurega kukunyengetererai; ndichakurayiridzai munzira yakanaka neyakarurama.”—1 Sam. 12:21-24.

21. Muenzaniso waSamueri ungakubatsira sei kana uchimboora mwoyo mumwewo munhu paanopiwa chinzvimbo kana kuti ropafadzo?

²¹ Wakamboora mwoyo here mumwewo munhu paakapiwa chimwe chinzvimbo kana kuti ropafadzo? Muenzaniso waSamueri unotiyeuchidza zvakasimba kuti hatimbofaniri kurega godo kana kuti kurwadziwa zvichidzika midzi mumwoyo medu. (Verenga Zvirevo 14:30.) Mwari ane basa rakawanda rinogutsa rokuti mumwe nomumwe wevashumiri vake vakatendeka aite.

22. Nei Samueri ainge akarurama kuona zvakanaka pana Sauro pakutanga?

²² Samueri akanga akarurama kuona zvakanaka pana Sauro; uyu aiva murume akasiyana nevamwe. Akanga akareba uye aine chitarisiko chakanaka, akanga akashinga uye akangwara asi pakutanga  aizvininipisa uye aisazvikwidziridza. (1 Sam. 10:22, 23, 27) Kuwedzera pazvipo izvi, aiva nechimwe chinokosha—rusununguko rwokusarudza, kureva mano okusarudza mararamiro ake uye kuita zvisarudzo zvake pachake. (Dheut. 30:19) Akashandisa chipo ichocho zvakanaka here?

23. Sauro akatanga kurasikirwa neunhu hupi hunokosha, uye akaratidza sei kuzvikudza kwake kwaiwedzera?

²³ Zvinosuruvarisa kuti munhu paanongova nesimba, kazhinji kuzvininipisa ndiko kunotanga kunyangarika paari. Pasina nguva, Sauro akatanga kuzvikudza. Akasarudza kusateerera mirayiro yaJehovha yaaiudzwa naSamueri. Pane imwe nguva, Sauro akatadza kumirira ndokupa chibayiro icho Samueri ainge akaronga kuzopa. Samueri aifanira kumururamisa zvakasimba uye akafanotaura kuti umambo hwaisazoramba huri mumhuri yaSauro. Panzvimbo pokudzidza kubva pane zvaakanga audzwa, Sauro akaramba achiita zvinhu zvakatonyanya kuipa zvinoratidza kusateerera.—1 Sam. 13:8, 9, 13, 14.

24. (a) Sauro akaratidza sei kusateerera Jehovha paakarwisa vaAmareki? (b) Sauro akaita sei paakaruramiswa, uye Jehovha akasarudza kuitei?

²⁴ Achishandisa Samueri, Jehovha akaudza Sauro kuti arwise vaAmareki. Mirayiridzo yaJehovha yaisanganisira murayiro wokuuraya mambo wavo akaipa, Agagi. Zvisinei, Sauro haana kuuraya Agagi uyewo akachengeta zvakanakisisa pane zvinhu zvakanga zvapambwa zvaifanira kuparadzwa. Samueri paakauya kuzomururamisa, Sauro akaratidza kuti akanga achinja zvakadini. Pane kuti abvume kururamiswa achizvininipisa, akarerutsa nyaya yacho, akazviruramisa, akanzvenga nyaya, uye akaedza kunakurira vamwe nyoka mhenyu. Sauro paakaedza kunzvenga kururamiswa kwacho nokutaura kuti zvimwe zvezvakapambwa zvaiva zvokubayira kuna Jehovha, Samueri akataura mashoko anozivikanwa zvikuru okuti: “Tarira! Kuteerera kuri nani kupfuura chibayiro.” Noushingi, Samueri akatsiura murume wacho achibva azivisa zvakanga zvasarudzwa naJehovha: Umambo hwaizobviswa kuna Sauro hwopiwa mumwe—murume ari nani. *—1 Sam. 15:1-33.

25, 26. (a) Nei Samueri akachema Sauro, uye Jehovha akaruramisa sei muprofita wake zvinyoronyoro? (b) Samueri akadzidzei paakaenda kumba kwaJese?

²⁵ Samueri akarwadziwa zvikuru pamusana pezvikanganiso zvaSauro.  Akapedza usiku hwose achichema kuna Jehovha nezvenyaya yacho. Akatochema murume wacho. Samueri akanga aona kuti Sauro aiva nezvakawanda zvaaizokwanisa kuita, uye paiva nezvizhinji zvakanaka paari, asi zvino zvaitarisirwa izvozvo zvakanga zvaenda musango. Murume waaiziva akanga achinja—akanga asisina unhu hwake hwakanaka uye ainge apandukira Jehovha. Samueri akaramba kuona Sauro zvekare. Zvisinei, nokufamba kwenguva, Jehovha akaruramisa Samueri zvinyoronyoro achiti: “Uchachema Sauro kusvikira rini, ini ndamuramba kuti arege kuva mambo waIsraeri? Zadza nyanga yako nemafuta uende. Ndichakutuma kuna Jese muBhetrehema, nokuti ndagadza mambo pakati pevanakomana vake.”—1 Sam. 15:34, 35; 16:1.

²⁶ Chinangwa chaJehovha hachitsamiri pakuvimbika kunochinja-chinja kwevanhu vasina kukwana. Kana munhu akapanduka, Jehovha anotsvaka mumwe kuti aite kuda Kwake. Saka mukweguru Samueri akarega kuchema Sauro. Arayirwa naJehovha, Samueri akaenda kumba kwaJese kuBhetrehema, kwaakaona vanakomana vakati kuti vaJese vairatidzika zvakanaka. Asi kubva pane wokutanga, Jehovha akayeuchidza Samueri kuti asangotarisa chitarisiko chete. (Verenga 1 Samueri 16:7.) Pakupedzisira, Samueri akaona mwanakomana wokupedzisira uye uyu ndiye akanga asarudzwa naJehovha—Dhavhidhi!

27. (a) Chii chakabatsira kutenda kwaSamueri kuti kurambe kuchiwedzera kusimba? (b) Unonzwa sei nezvomuenzaniso wakaratidzwa naSamueri?

²⁷ Mumakore ake okupedzisira, Samueri akasvika pakunyatsoona zvakanga zvakanakira chisarudzo chaJehovha chokuti Dhavhidhi atsive Sauro. Sauro akava negodo rakaita kuti ade kuuraya Dhavhidhi uyewo akatsauka pakutenda. Zvisinei, Dhavhidhi akaratidza unhu hwakanaka chaizvo—ushingi, kuperera, kutenda, uye kuvimbika. Samueri ava pedyo nokufa, kutenda kwake kwakawedzera kusimba. Akaona kuti hapana dambudziko rinoodza mwoyo rakakurisa zvokuti Jehovha anotadza kurigadzirisa, kunyange kurichinja kuva chikomborero. Pakupedzisira, Samueri akafa, achisiya nhoroondo youpenyu hwakanaka hwemakore anenge 100. VaIsraeri vose vakachema kufa kwemurume iyeye akanga akatendeka uye hazvishamisi kuti nei vakadaro! Nanhasi, vashumiri vaJehovha vangaita zvakanaka kuzvibvunza kuti, ‘Ndichatevedzera kutenda kwaSamueri here?’