Muva nje, abacwaningi babenesithakazelo ezingcezwini zembiza yobumba ezineminyaka engu-3 000, ezambiwa ngo-2012. Yini eyayikhetheke kangaka ngalezi zingcezu? Kwakungezona izingcezu ngokwazo kodwa yilokho okwakubhalwe kuzo.

Lapho abavubukuli ekugcineni behlanganisa izingcezu zembiza, bakwazi ukuqonda incazelo yombhalo wasendulo wamaKhanani. Uthi: “Eshba’al Ben [indodana ka] Beda’.” Abavubukuli babeqala ngqa ukuthola leli gama liqoshwe emvubukulweni wasendulo.

Eqinisweni, kunomunye u-Eshibhali okukhulunywa ngaye eBhayibhelini—wayengenye yamadodana eNkosi uSawulu. (1 IziKro. 8:33; 9:39) UProfesa uYosef Garfinkel, owaba yingxenye yeqembu elavubukula lo mbhalo wathi: “Kuyathakazelisa ukuphawula ukuthi igama elithi Eshibhali belilokhu livela eBhayibhelini kuphela, kodwa manje selivela nasemivubukulweni yangesikhathi sokubusa kweNkosi uDavide.” Abanye bacabanga ukuthi leli gama lalisetshenziswa kuphela ngesikhathi seNkosi uDavide. Lona omunye umniningwane oseBhayibhelini ofakazelwa imivubukulo.

Kwenye indawo eBhayibhelini, igama elithi Eshibhali limelelwa elithi Ishi-bhosheti; elithi “bhali” lithathelwe indawo elithi “boshethi.” (2 Sam. 2:10) Kungani? Abacwaningi bathi: “Encwadini yesibili kaSamuweli igama elithi Eshibhali alisetshenziswanga izikhathi eziningi, okwakuyigama elifana nelikankulunkulu wamaKhanani wesiphepho uBhali, nokho leli gama . . . lalondolozwa eNcwadini yeziKronike.”