Eyokuqala KaSamuweli
7 Ngoko amadoda aseKiriyati-yarim eza kuyithatha aza ayinyusa iTyeya kaYehova ayisa endlini ka-Abhinadabhi+ endulini. Angcwalisa uEleyazare unyana wakhe ukuba ayigade iTyeya kaYehova.
2 Yahlala ixesha elide kakhulu iTyeya kaThixo eKiriyati-yarim. Yaba yiminyaka eyi-20 ukususela kumhla eyafika ngawo apho. Yonke indlu kaSirayeli yabuyela kuYehova.+ 3 Emva koko, ethetha nayo yonke indlu kaSirayeli, uSamuweli wathi: “Ukuba nibuyela kuYehova ngentliziyo yenu yonke,+ balahleni oothixo basemzini+ kunye nemifanekiso ka-Ashtoreti.+ Nimele niyinikele ngokupheleleyo intliziyo yenu kuYehova, nikhonze yena yedwa,+ yaye uza kunisindisa kumaFilisti.”+ 4 AmaSirayeli abalahla ooBhahali nemifanekiso yawo ka-Ashtoreti, akhonza uYehova kuphela.+
5 Emva koko uSamuweli wathi: “Waqokeleleni eMizpa+ onke amaSirayeli, ukuze ndinithandazele kuYehova.”+ 6 Ngoko aqokelelana eMizpa, akha amanzi aza awachitha phambi koYehova. Ngaloo mini azila nokutya.+ Yaye athi: “Simonile uYehova.”+ USamuweli waqalisa ukuba ngumgwebi+ wamaSirayeli eMizpa.
7 Athi akuva amaFilisti ukuba amaSirayeli aqokelelene eMizpa, iinkosi zamaFilisti+ zenyuka zayokuwahlasela. Xa amaSirayeli ayivayo le nto, awoyika amaFilisti. 8 Ngoko amaSirayeli athi kuSamuweli: “Ungayeki ukusicelela kuYehova uThixo wethu ukuba asincede+ aze asisindise kumaFilisti.” 9 Ngoko uSamuweli wathatha itakane legusha elisancancayo walinikela kuYehova njengomnikelo otshiswayo.+ Wabiza uYehova ecelela uSirayeli uncedo, waza uYehova wamphendula.+ 10 Kanye xa uSamuweli wayenikela umnikelo otshiswayo, amaFilisti asondela ezokulwa noSirayeli. UYehova wabangela ukuba kutsho iindudumo ezinkulu+ ngaloo mini kumaFilisti. Wawenza adideka+ amaFilisti aza oyiswa ngamaSirayeli.+ 11 Amadoda akwaSirayeli ahlasela esuka eMizpa. Awasukela amaFilisti awaxabela ukuyokutsho kumzantsi weBhete-kare. 12 Emva koko uSamuweli wathatha ilitye+ walibeka phakathi kweMizpa neYeshana. Walibiza ngokuba yiEbhenezere,* kuba wayesithi: “UYehova usincedile de kwangoku.”+ 13 Ngaloo ndlela oyiswa amaFilisti, yaye akazange aphinde eze kummandla wakwaSirayeli.+ UYehova waqhubeka esilwa namaFilisti yonke imihla kaSamuweli.+ 14 Zabuyiselwa izixeko amaFilisti awayezithathe kuSirayeli, ukususela e-Ekron ukusa eGati. USirayeli waphinda wayithathela kuye imimandla yakhe ebikumaFilisti.
Kwakukho noxolo phakathi koSirayeli nama-Amori.+
15 USamuweli waba yijaji kwaSirayeli ubomi bakhe bonke.+ 16 Nyaka ngamnye wayesiya eBheteli,+ eGiligali+ naseMizpa,+ eyijaji kuzo zonke ezi ndawo zakwaSirayeli. 17 Kodwa wayephinda abuyele eRama,+ kuba indlu yakhe yayilapho, yaye waba yijaji yamaSirayeli nalapho. Wakhela uYehova isibingelelo apho.+