1 Usamuweli 13:2-12 Ibhayibheli Elingcwele (ZUL59)

2. USawule wazikhethela abantu abayizinkulungwane ezintathu kwa-Israyeli; izinkulungwane ezimbili zazinoSawule eMikimashi nasentabeni yaseBetlehema, nenkulungwane yayinoJonathani eGibeya lakwaBenjamini; abanye abantu wabamukisa, kwaba yilowo nalowo etendeni lakhe.

3. UJonathani wachitha ikhanda lamaFilisti elaliseGeba, amaFilisti akuzwa. USawule wabetha icilongo ezweni lonke, wathi: “Makezwe amaHeberu.”

4. Wonke u-Israyeli wezwa kuthiwa uSawule uchithile ikhanda lamaFilisti nokuthi u-Israyeli uyanengeka kuwo amaFilisti. Abantu babuthwa ukuba bamlandele uSawule, baye eGiligali.

5. AmaFilisti abuthana ukuba alwe no-Israyeli: izinqola eziyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu, nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, nabantu abangangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle ngobuningi; benyuka bamisa eMikimashi ngasempumalanga kwaseBeti Aveni.

6. Lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli bebona ukuthi basengcingweni, ngokuba bacindezelwa kakhulu, abantu bacasha emihumeni, nasemahlozini, nasemaweni, nasezinqabeni, nasemigodini.

7. NamaHeberu ayewelile iJordani ukuya ezweni lakwaGadi nakwelakwaGileyadi; kepha uSawule wayeseseGiligali; abantu bonke bamlandela bethuthumela.

8. Wahlala izinsuku eziyisikhombisa njengesikhathi esimisiwe nguSamuweli, kepha uSamuweli akafikanga eGiligali; abantu bahlakazeka kuye.

9. USawule wayesethi: “Lethani kimi umnikelo wokushiswa neminikelo yokuthula.” Wanikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa.

10. Kwathi eseqedile ukunikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa, bheka, uSamuweli wafika; uSawule waphuma ukumhlangabeza ukuba ambingelele.

11. USamuweli wathi: “Wenzeni na?”USawule wathi: “Njengokuba ngabona ukuthi abantu bahlakazekile kimi, nokuthi awufikanga ngesikhathi esimisiweyo, nokuthi amaFilisti abuthene eMikimashi,

12. ngathi: ‘Manje amaFilisti ayakwehlela kimi eGiligali ngingakhulekanga;’ ngase ngiziphoqa, nganikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa.”

1 Usamuweli 13