UKE wasenta yini setsembiso lotfole kutsi akusimelula kusigcina? Lendvodza lelapha kulesitfombe isentile, futsi kungako iphatseke kabi. Isikhulu saka-Israyeli lesinesibindzi lesibitwa ngekutsi nguJeftha.

Jeftha abephila ngesikhatsi lapho ema-Israyeli labengamkhonti ngaso Jehova. Aphindze futsi enta lokubi. Ngako Jehova wavumela bantfu baka Amoni kutsi bawahlasele. Loku kwenta ema-Israyeli akhala kuJehova atsi: ‘Sonile kuwe, sicela usisindzise!’

Bantfu batisola ngaletintfo letimbi labebatenta. Bakhombisa kutisola kwabo ngekuphindze bakhonte Jehova. Ngako Jehova waphindze wabasekela.

Jeftha wakhetfwa bantfu kutsi ayokulwa nema-Amoni langakalungi. Abefuna kutsi Jehova amsite kulemphi. Ngako wafunga kuye watsi: ‘Nawunganikela ema-Amoni esandleni sami, nobe ngabe ngubani loyawuphuma kucala emnyango wendlu yami kungihlangabeta nasengibuya ekuncobeni imphi yema-Amoni, ngiyawunikela ngaye kuwe.’

Jehova wasilalela lesetsembiso saJeftha, futsi wamsita wancoba kulemphi. Ngalesikhatsi Jeftha sekabuyela ekhaya, uyati yini kutsi ngubani lowaphuma kucala kuyomhlangabeta? Yindvodzakati yakhe lokwakukuphela kwayo. Jeftha wakhala watsi: ‘Awu, ndvodzakati yami ungivise buhlungu, ngoba ngente setsembiso kuJehova lengingeke ngisephule.’

Indvodzakati yakhe nayiva ngalesetsembiso, ekucaleni yaphatseka kabi. Phela loku kwakusho kutsi kwakufanele ishiye babe wayo nebangani bayo. Kodvwa yayitawuhlala imphilo yayo yonkhe ikhonta Jehova ethendeni lakhe lekukhontela leliseShilo. Ngako yatsi kubabe wayo: ‘Nangabe wente setsembiso kuJehova, kufanele usigcine.’

Indvodzakati yaJeftha yahamba yaya eShilo, yahlala lapho kuphila kwayo konkhe ikhonta Jehova. Bekutsi kanye ngemnyaka emakhosikati langema-Israyeli ayivakashele, futsi abefike ahlale nayo emalanga lamane, bese bajabula ndzawonye. Bantfu bebayitsandza lendvodzakati yaJeftha, ngoba beyiyincekukati yaJehova lelungile.