1-3. (a) Ingoti beyisondzela njani emtini wa-Abhigayili? (b) Yini lesitayifundza kulomfati lovelele?

ABHIGAYILI watsi nakabuka lelijaha emehlweni, wavele watibonela kutsi letfuke kakhulu. Belesaba kangaka nje kube kufanele. Ingoti lenkhulu beyisondzela kubo. Ngaleso sikhatsi, libutfo lemasotja langaba ngu-400 belisendleleni, litimisele kutewucotfula bonkhe labadvuna labasemtini waNabali, indvodza ya-Abhigayili. Besekwente njani?

² Lolutfuli lwalususwe nguNabali. Njengenhlalayenta, abekhombise kwedzelela nekuba nelunya. Kuloku-ke kodvwa, abehlambalate indvuna letsandzekako yelibutfo lemasotja leletsembekile naleliceceshwe kahle. Kusenjalo, lelinye lijaha lelisisebenti saNabali, lokungenteka kutsi belingumelusi, leta ku-Abhigayili, linelitsemba lekutsi utawuchamuka nelisu lelingabasindzisa. Kodvwa yini lebeyingentiwa ngumfati munye ebutfweni lemasotja?

³ Kwekucala, asesifundze kabanti ngalomfati lovelele. Abengubani Abhigayili? Yacala njani lenkinga lebebabhekene nayo? Yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni sakhe sekukholwa?

4. Abengumuntfu lonjani Nabali?

⁴ Bo-Abhigayili naNabali bebayimphumalanga nenshonalanga. Nabali abekhetse umfati lokahle, kodvwa Abhigayili yena watikhandza ashade nenkinga yemuntfu. Kuliciniso kutsi imali yayibutwa kuyo lendvodza. Ngiko nje beyitibona kungiyo umuntfu sibili, kodvwa labanye bebayibheka njani? Kulukhuni kutsi eBhayibhelini utfole umuntfu lochazwa ngemagama langahlamusi njengaNabali. Libito lakhe ngekwalo lisho “Kungabi Nangcondvo,” nome “Kuba Silima.” Bebametse nakatalwa yini batali bakhe lelo gama, nome walitfola kamuva ngenca yendlela labetiphatsa ngayo? Kunobe ngukuphi, indlela lebekenta ngayo yayihambisana ncamashi nelibito lakhe. Nabali ‘abeyindvodza  lesibheva lesibi.’ Abesidzakwa lesiphatsana kabi, kangangekutsi bantfu bebamesaba futsi bamtondza.​—1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 17, 21, 25.

5, 6. (a) Ucabanga kutsi bekungubuphi buntfu lobukhangako ba-Abhigayili? (b) Yini lokungenteka kutsi yenta Abhigayili washada nendvodza lengenalusito lwalutfo?

⁵ Abhigayili abengafani nakancane naNabali. Libito lakhe lisho kutsi “Babe Utijabulisile.” Bobabe labanyenti bayatigcabha ngekuba nemadvodzakati lamahle, kodvwa bobabe labahlakaniphile bajatjuliswa kakhulu kubona buhle bangekhatsi bebantfwana babo. Ngalokwetayelekile, umuntfu lomuhle ngekubukeka uyaye angasiboni sidzingo sekulwela kuba nekuhlakanipha, sibindzi, nome kukholwa. Kwakungasinjalo nga-Abhigayili. LiBhayibheli limdvumisa kakhulu ngekuhlakanipha kwakhe kanye nebuhle bakhe.​—Fundza 1 Samuweli 25:3.

⁶ Labanye esikhatsini salamuhla bangatibuta kutsi kwabangelwa yini kutsi lomsikati losemusha futsi lohlakaniphe kangaka ashade nendvodza lengenalusito ngalendlela. Khumbula kutsi imishado leminyenti ngetikhatsi teliBhayibheli beyihlelwa batali. Nanome umntfwana abengatikhetsela, bekusolo kudzingeka imvume yabo ngembikwekutsi ashade naloyo muntfu. Batali ba-Abhigayili bebawujabulela yini lomshado, bate bawuhlela ngobe bajatjuliswa kutsi Nabali unjingile futsi udvumile? Bebativa bacindzetelwe kuhlupheka yini? Kunome ngukuphi, imali yaNabali ayizange imente indvodza lekahle.

7. (a) Lamuhla, yini batali lokufanele bayibalekele nabafuna kufundzisa bantfwana babo kutsi babe nembono lokahle ngemshado? (b) Yini Abhigayili labetimisele kuyenta?

⁷ Batali labahlakaniphile babafundzisa ngekucophelela bantfwana babo kutsi babe nembono lokahle ngemshado. Ababakhutsati kutsi bashade nemuntfu ngobe anemali nome babacindzetele kutsi bacale kutsandzana nalotsite basebancane kakhulu futsi basengakakulungeli kwetfwala imitfwalo yemadvodza nebafati. (1 Khor. 7:36) Besekwephute kakhulu-ke kodvwa nga-Abhigayili kutsi acabange ngaloko. Ngisho nobe kungaba ngusiphi sizatfu, abesavele ashadile naNabali, futsi abetimisele kwenta nome yini langayenta kute lesimo sibe ncono.

8. Ngubani lolowatfukwa nguNabali, futsi kungani ungatsi loku bekubulima lobuphindziwe?

⁸ Nabali abente simo sa-Abhigayili saba matima kakhulu kunanini. Lendvodza lebeyetfukwe nguNabali kwakunguDavide. Phela lena bekuyinceku yaJehova lebeyigcotjwe nguSamuweli umphrofethi kute ayembule njengalekhetfwe nguNkulunkulu kutsi ibe yinkhosi ngemuva kwaSawula. (1 Sam. 16:1, 2, 11-13) Davide abesahlala ehlane kanye nemasotja langu-600, njengobe abebalekela iNkhosi Sawula lenemona nalengumbulali.

9, 10. (a) BoDavide nemasotja akhe bebadvonsa matima ngephansi kwesimo lesinjani? (b) Kungani kwakufanele Nabali akujabulele loko lobekwentiwa boDavide kanye nemasotja akhe? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi wesigaba 10.)

 ⁹ Nabali abehlala eMayoni kodvwa asebenta edvute neKhameli * futsi mhlawumbe abenendzawo lapho. Lamadolobha abenetindzawo letiphakeme letinetjani lobunyenti, lobekwenta kube yindzawo lekahle kakhulu yekufuya timvu, futsi Nabali abenaletingu-3 000. Kodvwa leyo ndzawo beyitungeletwe siganga lesingakalinywa. Ngaseningizimu bekunelihlane lelikhulu lasePharani. Ngasemphumalanga, bekunendlela leya eLwandle Lweluswayi lebeyendlula ehlane leligcwele tihosha nemihume. BoDavide kanye nemasotja akhe bebadvonsa matima kute baphile kuletindzawo, futsi akungabateki kutsi bebatingela kute batfole lokuya ngasetfunjini, babeketelela nebumatima lobunyenti. Bebavame kuhlangana nemajaha labelusela lenjinga lenguNabali.

¹⁰ Lamasotja labesebenta matima abaphatsa njani labelusi? Bekungaba melula kutsi ahle atitsatsela letimvu, kodvwa akatange asakwente loko. Kunekutsi ente njalo, abewuvikela umhlambi waNabali kanye naletisebenti takhe. (Fundza 1 Samuweli 25:15, 16.) Letimvu kanye nalabelusi bebabhekana netingoti letinyenti. Lendzawo yayigcwele tilwane tesiganga letiyingoti, futsi umncele waka-Israyeli longaseningizimu bewusedvute, ngenca yaloko tigebengu betivame kuhlasela kalula. *

11, 12. (a) Davide wakhombisa njani kutsi unendlela lekahle yekukhuluma kanye nenhlonipho nakatfumela umlayeto kuNabali? (b) Kungani beyiyimbi indlela Nabali lenta ngayo nakeva umlayeto waDavide?

¹¹ Kufanele kutsi bekungumtfwalo lomatima kondla onkhe lamadvodza kulelihlane. Ngaleso sizatfu, ngalelinye lilanga Davide watfumela titfunywa letilishumi kutsi tiyewucela lusito kuNabali. Davide walikhetsa kahle lelitfuba. Kwakusikhatsi semkhosi lomkhulu wekuhhula timvu, lapho bantfu labanyenti bebavame kwephana tintfo baphindze babe nemadzili. Davide wakhetsa nemagama akhe ngekucophelela, nendzaba yakhe wayibeka ngenhlonipho. Waze watibita ngekutsi ‘yindvodzana yakho Davide,’ futsi kungenteka kutsi lena kwakuyindlela yekuvuma ngenhlonipho kutsi Nabali abengumuntfu lomkhulu. Wenta njani Nabali?​—1 Sam. 25:5-8.

¹² Watfukutsela wagcwala kokane! Lelijaha lokukhulunywe ngalo ekucaleni latjela Abhigayili kutsi Nabali ‘wawatsela ngenhlamba.’ Lesemani lesinguNabali sabhavumula sikhonona ngesinkhwa saso lesiligugu, emanti aso, kanye nenyama yaso. Sedzelela Davide samtsatsa njengentfo lengenamsebenti, samfanisa nenceku lebalekile. Kungenteka  kutsi umbono waNabali wawufana newaSawula, naye labetondza Davide. Kute kulamadvodza lamabili labenembono waJehova. Nkulunkulu abemtsandza Davide futsi abengamtsatsi njengesigcili lesivukelako, kodvwa abemtsatsa njengenkhosi yakusasa yaka-Israyeli.​—1 Sam. 25:10, 11, 14.

13. (a) Davide wacale wenta njani nakeva lenhlamba yaNabali? (b) Simiso lesikuJakobe 1:20 sisifundzisani mayelana nendlela Davide lenta ngayo?

¹³ Ngalesikhatsi titfunywa taDavide tibuya nembiko waloko lobekwentekile, Davide watfukutsela watselwa ngemanti. Wavele wabatjela watsi: “Hlomani tinkemba tenu!” Davide wahloma, wase sewuhola libutfo lemasotja langu-400 kutsi liyohlasela. Wafunga watsi uyocotfula bonkhe labadvuna ekhaya laNabali. (1 Sam. 25:12, 13, 21, 22) Iyacondzakala indlela Davide lativa atfukutsele ngayo, kodvwa-ke kwakuyintfo lembi kutsi afune kuyocitsa ingati. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Intfukutselo yemuntfu ayikuletsi kulunga kwaNkulunkulu.” (Jak. 1:20) Kodvwa Abhigayili abengawusindzisa njani umndeni wakhe?

14. (a) Abhigayili wasitsatsa ngayiphi indlela sinyatselo sekucala sekulungisa lomonakalo lebesewubangwe nguNabali? (b) Ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasitfola emehlukweni lebewusemkhatsini waNabali na-Abhigayili? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

¹⁴ Ngandlela tsite, sesivele simbonile Abhigayili atsatsa sinyatselo sekucala sekulungisa lomonakalo lomubi lebewentekile. Ngalokungafanani nendvodza yakhe Nabali, Abhigayili abetimisele kulalela. Mayelana nekutsi lendzaba itjelwe Nabali, lenceku leseyinsha yatsi ngaye: “Unenkhani kangangobe kute lamlalelako, nakhuluma naye.” * (1 Sam. 25:17) Ngalokudzabukisako, kutiphakamisa kwaNabali kwamenta wangafuni kulalela. Kutiphakamisa lokunjalo kuvame kakhulu ngisho nalamuhla. Lelijaha belati kutsi Abhigayili wehlukile, kungako kungamangalisi lokutsi layibika kuye lendzaba.

15, 16. (a) Abhigayili wakhombisa njani kutsi abefana nalomfati lonelikhono lochazwe encwadzini yeTaga? (b) Kungani lolokwentiwa ngu-Abhigayili bekungasho kutsi uvukela ligunya lendvodza yakhe lekuba yinhloko?

¹⁵ Abhigayili wacabanga futsi watsatsa sinyatselo masinyane. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Abhigayili akacitsanga sikhatsi.” Lesento lesitsi “kungacitsi sikhatsi,” sisetjentiswe tikhatsi letine kubhekiselwa kulomfati. Walungiselela Davide kanye nemasotja akhe sipho lesikhulu. Lesipho besifaka ekhatsi tinkhwa, liwayini, timvu, imbasha yemmbila, emagilebisi lomisiwe, nemacebelengwane emakhiwa lahlutiwe. Kusebaleni kutsi Abhigayili abekwati kamhlophe loko lanako ekhaya lakhe, futsi abelinakekela ngalokuphelele, kuhle kwemfati lonelikhono lowachazwa  kamuva encwadzini yeTaga. (Taga 31:10-31) Watfumela tinceku takhe kutsi tihambe phambili timikise letipho, wase yena sewulandzela ngemuva asayedvwa. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Kodvwa akazange ayitjele indvodza yakhe, Nabali.”​—1 Sam. 25:18, 19.

¹⁶ Loku kusho kutsi Abhigayili abevukela ligunya lendvodza yakhe lekuba yinhloko yini? Cha; khumbula kutsi Nabali abente lokubi esikhontini lesigcotjiwe saJehova, sento lesasingabangela ngisho nekufa kwemalunga emndeni wakhe langenacala. Kube Abhigayili wehluleka kutsatsa lesinyatselo lasitsatsa, bekungenteka yini ahlanganyele esentweni lesibi sendvodza yakhe? Kulesimo, kwadzingeka atitfobe kuNkulunkulu kunekutsi atitfobe endvodzeni yakhe.

17, 18. Abhigayili waya njani kuDavide, wafike watsini, futsi yini leyabangela kutsi emavi akhe abe nesisindvo?

¹⁷ Kungakephuti, Abhigayili wahlangana naDavide nemasotja akhe. Wabese wehla ngekushesha embongolweni, kute akhotsame embikwaDavide. (1 Sam. 25:20, 23) Wase sewutfulula konkhe lokwakusenhlitiyweni yakhe kuDavide, amncengisisa kutsi abe neluvelo endvodzeni yakhe kanye nasemndenini wakhe. Yini leyenta lamavi akhe abe nesisindvo?

¹⁸ Lelicala walitsatsa walibeka emahlombe akhe, wase sewucela Davide kutsi amcolele. Wavuma kutsi indvodza yakhe beyingenangcondvo njengobe kusho neligama layo, mhlawumbe etama kuveta kutsi bekungamehlisela sitfunti Davide kujezisa indvodza lenjalo. Wakhombisa kumetsemba Davide njengemmeleli waJehova, ati nekutsi ulwa ‘timphi taJehova.’ Waphindze wakwenta kwabonakala kutsi bekati ngesetsembiso saJehova sekubeka Davide kutsi abe yinkhosi, ngobe watsi: ‘Simakadze . . . utawukubeka ube yinkhosi etikwa-Israyeli.’ Waphindze wacela Davide kutsi angenti intfo letambangela licala lengati nome letamenta kutsi kamuva ‘ative anelicala’​—ngaloko bekasho kuhlushwa ngunembeza. (Fundza 1 Samuweli 25:24-31.) Cabanga nje emavi lanemusa nalatsintsa inhlitiyo ngalendlela!

19. Wenta njani Davide nakeva emavi a-Abhigayili, futsi kungani amdvumisa?

¹⁹ Wenta njani Davide? Wemukela letipho lebetiletfwe ngu-Abhigayili, wase utsi: “Akadvunyiswe Simakadze Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli lokutfume lamuhla kutsi utengihlangabeta. Shangatsi ungabusiswa ngalomcondvo wakho lokhaliphile, nekutsi ungivimbe ngingayicitsi ingati lamuhla, nekutsi ngingatiphindziseleli ngetandla tami.” Davide wamdvumisa ngekuba nesibindzi sekusheshisa ayomhlangabeta, futsi wavuma kutsi umvikele ekubeni nelicala lengati. Wase sewutsi kuye: “Hamba ngekuthula ubuyele ekhaya” wengeta ngekutitfoba watsi: “Ngiyivile lenkhulumo yakho.”​—1 Sam. 25:32-35.

20, 21. (a) Yini loyitsandzako ngekutimisela kwa-Abhigayili kubuyela endvodzeni yakhe? (b) Abhigayili wasikhombisa njani sibindzi nekuhlakanipha nakakhetsa sikhatsi sekukhuluma naNabali?

²⁰ Ngemuva kwekwehlukana, Abhigayili wachubeka acabanga ngencociswano yabo naDavide, futsi kufanele kutsi wawubona  umehluko emkhatsini waDavide labetsembekile futsi anemusa kanye nalesedzeleli lebekashade naso. Kodvwa akahlalanga kuleyo micabango. LiBhayibheli litsi: ‘Kamuva, Abhigayili waya kuNabali.’ Wabuyela endvodzeni yakhe atimisele kakhulu kwenta nome yini kute afeze umtfwalo wakhe wekuba ngumfati ngendlela lencono kakhulu. Kwadzingeka amtjele ngalesipho labesinike boDavide kanye nemasotja akhe. Nabali abenelilungelo lekukwati loko. Kwakudzingeka amtjele nangalengoti labesandza kuyincandza, ngembikwekutsi eve ngalabanye, lokuyintfo lebeyingamenta ahlazeke kakhulu. Kodvwa abengeke akhone kumtjela ngaleso sikhatsi, ngobe Nabali abente lidzili lelifana nelenkhosi futsi adzakwe angulomhlaba.​—1 Sam. 25:36.

²¹ Abhigayili waphindze wakhombisa sibindzi nekuhlakanipha, ngobe walindza kwate kwaba kungakusasa ngesikhatsi Nabali angasadzakwanga. Ngaleso sikhatsi, abesengakhona kumuva kahle umfati wakhe, kodvwa-ke kungenteka kutsi lulaka lwakhe belutawuvutsa kakhulu. Nanome kunjalo, Abhigayili waya kuye, wafike wayetsa yonkhe indzaba. Kungenteka abelindzele kutsi atfukutsele agcwale kokane, mhlawumbe ate amlwise. Kunekutsi ente njalo, Nabali wavele wahlala wathula wanganyakati.​—1 Sam. 25:37.

22. Kwentekani kuNabali, futsi yini lesingayifundza mayelana nekucindzetelwa nome kuhlukunyetwa lokwenteka emindenini?

²² Bekwentenjani kulendvodza? “Inhlitiyo yaNabali yashaya kancane, wamane woma nje, wafanana nelitje.” Kungenteka abephetfwe kugula lokuhambisana nekufa kweluhlangotsi. Nanome kunjalo, wagcine afe ngemuva kwemalanga lalishumi​—futsi loko akubangelwanga kugula. Lendzaba itsi: “Simakadze washaya Nabali, wafa.” (1 Sam. 25:38) Umshado longahlamusi wa-Abhigayili wavele waphela ngemuva kwaleso sehlulelo sekulunga. Nanobe Jehova angangeneli ngekutsi aletse tehlulelo letimangalisako lamuhla, lendzaba isikhumbuto lesikahle sekutsi akukho kucindzetelwa nome kuhlukunyetwa lokwenteka emindenini Jehova langakuboni. Ngesikhatsi sakhe lesifanele, utawubangela kutsi tintfo tenteke ngekulunga.​—Fundza Lukha 8:17.

23. Ngusiphi lesinye sibusiso lesatfolwa ngu-Abhigayili, futsi wakhombisa njani kutsi lelitfuba labelitfolile lekutsi abe ngumfati waDavide alimshintjanga?

²³ Ngetulu kwekukhululeka kulomshado lomubi, Abhigayili abetawuphindze emukele lesinye sibusiso. Ngemuva kwekuva kutsi Nabali ufile, Davide watfumela titfunywa ku-Abhigayili kutsi timcele abe ngumkakhe. Abhigayili waphendvula watsi: “Nansi incekukati yakho, ilungele kukukhonta, nekugeza tinyawo tetinceku tenkhosi yami.” Kuyacaca kutsi Abhigayili wachubeka atfobekile ngisho nome asabona kutsi  kungenteka abe ngumfati waDavide, wate watsi angaba sisebenti setinceku taDavide! Siphindze futsi sifundze ngekungacitsi kwakhe sikhatsi, njengobe alungiselela kuya kuDavide.​—1 Sam. 25:39-42.

24. Ngutiphi tinsayeya Abhigayili lahlangabetana nato ekuphileni kwakhe lokusha, kodvwa indvodza yakhe kanye naNkulunkulu bebamtsatsa njani?

²⁴ Loku akusho kutsi kuphila kwa-Abhigayili naDavide bekuyohlala kushelela nje kungenatinkinga. Davide abesavele ashade na-Ahinowami, futsi nanobe Nkulunkulu abesivumele sitsembu, besibaletsela tinsayeya letinyenti bafati bangaleso sikhatsi. Davide abesengakabi yinkhosi ngaleso sikhatsi, futsi bekutawuba netingibe nebulukhuni lobunyenti ngembikwekutsi akhonte Jehova njengenkhosi. Kodvwa njengobe Abhigayili abesita Davide futsi amsekela kuko konkhe kuphila kwabo wate wamtalela ngisho nendvodzana, wabona kutsi abetfole indvodza lebeyimtsatsa njengaloligugu futsi imvikela. Ngalesinye sikhatsi, Davide waze wamsindzisa kubantfu lebebafuna kumtfumba. (1 Sam. 30:1-19) Ngekwenta loko, Davide walingisa Jehova Nkulunkulu, lobatsandzako futsi lobatsatsa njengalababalulekile bafati labahlakaniphile, labanesibindzi, nalabetsembekile.