1 Samuweli

Isahluko 7

Abantu baseKiriyati Jeharimi bafika, bakhuphula umphongolo kaJehova, bawungenisa endlini ka-Abinadaba entabeni, bamngcwelisa u-Eleyazare indodana yakhe ukuba agcine umphongolo kaJehova.
2 Kwathi kusukela osukwini umphongolo owahlala ngalo eKiriyati Jeharimi, kwaba yisikhathi eside, ngokuba saba yiminyaka engamashumi amabili; yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli yakhalela uJehova.
3 USamuweli wakhuluma kuyo yonke indlu ka-Israyeli, wathi: “Uma nibuyela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu, susani kini onkulunkulu babezizwe no-Ashitaroti, nibhekise izinhliziyo zenu kuJehova, nimkhonze yena yedwa; uyakunophula esandleni samaFilisti.”
4 Abakwa-Israyeli base besusa oBali no-Ashitaroti, bamkhonza uJehova yedwa.
5 USamuweli wathi: “Buthani wonke u-Israyeli eMispa; ngiyakunikhulekela kuJehova.”
6 Babuthana eMispa, bakha amanzi, bawathulula phambi kukaJehova, bazila ngalolo suku, bathi khona: “Sonile kuJehova.” USamuweli wahlulela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli eMispa.
7 AmaFilisti esezwile ukuthi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthene eMispa, amakhosi amaFilisti akhuphuka ukulwa no-Israyeli. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bekuzwile lokho bawesaba amaFilisti.
8 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuSamuweli: “Ungaphezi ukusikhalela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.”
9 USamuweli wathatha iwundlu elincelayo, wanikela ngalo libe ngumnikelo oshiswa wonke kuJehova; uSamuweli wamkhalela u-Israyeli kuJehova; uJehova wamphendula.
10 USamuweli esanikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa, amaFilisti asondela ukulwa no-Israyeli; kepha uJehova waduma ngokuduma okukhulu phezu kwamaFilisti ngalolo suku, wawangquzula, abulawa phambi kuka-Israyeli.
11 Abantu bakwa-Israyeli baphuma eMispa, bawaxosha amaFilisti, bawabulala, baze bafika ngaphansi eBeti Kari.
12 USamuweli wathatha itshe, walimisa phakathi kweMispa neSheni, waqamba igama lalo ngokuthi i-Ebeni Ezeri, ethi: “Kuze kube manje uJehova usisizile.”
13 Ayesahlulwa amaFilisti, awabe esaphinda ukungena emikhawulweni ka-Israyeli; isandla sikaJehova sasimelene namaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweli.
14 Imizi amaFilisti ayeyithathile ku-Israyeli yabuyiselwa ku-Israyeli, kusukela e-Ekroni kuze kube seGati; umkhawulo wayo u-Israyeli wawophula esandleni samaFilisti. Kwaba khona ukuthula phakathi kuka-Israyeli nama-Amori.
15 USamuweli wahlulela u-Israyeli zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe.
16 Wahamba iminyaka ngeminyaka ezungeza, waya eBethele, naseGiligali, naseMispa; wahlulela u-Israyeli kuzo zonke lezo zindawo.
17 Wayebuyela eRama, ngokuba indlu yakhe yayilapho; wahlulela u-Israyeli khona, wamakhela lapho uJehova i-altare.