Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yesi-9—1 Samuweli
Abalobi: USamuweli, uGadi, uNathani
Yalotshelwa: KwaIsrayeli
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-1078 B.C.E.
Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: Cishe ngo-1180–1078 B.C.E.
1. Yiluphi ushintsho olukhulu ekuhlelweni kwesizwe sakwaIsrayeli olwenzeka ngo-1117 B.C.E. futhi yiziphi izimo ezazizolandela emva kwalokho?
NGONYAKA ka-1117 B.C.E., kwaba khona ushintsho olukhulu ekuhlelweni kwesizwe sakwaIsrayeli. Kwamiswa inkosi engumuntu! Lokhu kwenzeka lapho uSamuweli ayekhonza njengomprofethi kaJehova kwaIsrayeli. Nakuba uJehova ayekwazile futhi ekubikezele kusengaphambili, ushintsho lobukhosi, njengoba lwalufunwa abantu bakwaIsrayeli, lweza njengegalelo elishaqisayo kuSamuweli. Njengoba ayezinikele enkonzweni kaJehova kusukela ekuzalweni, futhi njengoba ayegcwele ukwazisa okunenhlonipho ngobukhosi bukaJehova, uSamuweli wabona kusengaphambili imiphumela eyinhlekelele ngamalungu akanye naye esizwe sikaNkulunkulu esingcwele. Kungaphansi kokuqondisa kukaJehova kuphela ukuthi uSamuweli wavumelana nalokho ababekufuna. “USamuweli wayesebatshela abantu amalungelo ombuso, wawaloba encwadini, wayibeka phambi kukaJehova.” (1 Sam. 10:25) Ngakho isikhathi sabahluleli safika esiphelweni, futhi kwaqalisa isikhathi samakhosi angabantu ayeyobona uIsrayeli edlondlobala eba namandla nodumo okungakaze kube khona, okwathi ekugcineni wawela ehlazweni nasekulahlekelweni umusa kaJehova.
2. Obani abaloba uSamuweli wokuQala, futhi zaziyini izimfanelo zabo?
2 Ubani owayeyofanelekela ukwenza umbhalo ogciniwe waphezulu walenkathi ebalulekile? Ngokufanelekile, uJehova wakhetha uSamuweli othembekile ukuba aqalise ukuloba. Elithi Samuweli lisho ukuthi “Igama LikaNkulunkulu,” futhi ngempela wayevelele njengomphakamisi wegama likaJehova ngalezozinsuku. Kubonakala ukuthi uSamuweli waloba izahluko ezingu-24 zokuqala zalencwadi. Khona-ke, lapho efa, uGadi noNathani baqhubeka nokuloba, beqedela iminyaka embalwa yokugcina yombhalo ogciniwe kwehle kuze kufike ekufeni kukaSawule. Lokhu kuboniswa incwadi yezoku-1 IziKronike 29:29, efundeka kanje: “Izenzo zikaDavide inkosi, ezokuqala nezokugcina, bheka, zilotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zikaSamuweli umboni, nasencwadini yezindaba zikaNathani umprofethi, nasencwadini yezindaba zikaGadi umboni.” Ngokungafani namaKhosi neziKronike, izincwadi zikaSamuweli cishe azinasikhombo esibhekisela emibhalweni egciniwe yokuqala, futhi kanjalo uSamuweli, uGadi, noNathani abaphila ngesikhathi esifanayo noDavide, bafakazelwa njengabalobi. Womathathu lamadoda ayesezikhundleni zokwethenjwa njengabaprofethi bakaJehova futhi ayemelene nokukhulekelwa kwezithombe okwakuthene amandla esizwe.
3. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uSamuweli wokuQala abe incwadi yeBhayibheli ehlukene nowesiBili? (b) Yaqedwa nini, futhi yisiphi isikhathi esihlanganisayo?
3 Ekuqaleni izincwadi ezimbili zikaSamuweli zaziwumqingo noma umqulu owodwa. USamuweli wahlukaniswa waba izincwadi ezimbilli lapho kukhishwa lengxenye yeSeptuagint yesiGreki. KuyiSeptuagint, uSamuweli wokuQala wayebizwa ngokuthi Imibuso Yokuqala. Lokhu kuhlukanisa kanye negama elithi AmaKhosi OkuQala kwasetshenziswa iVulgate yesiLatini futhi kuyaqhubeka emaBhayibhelini amaKatolika kuze kufike kulolusuku. Ukuthi uSamuweli wokuQala nowesiBili ekuqaleni babeyincwadi eyodwa kuboniswa amazwi alotshwe embhalweni okuthiwa iMasora abhekisela ku-1 Samuweli 28:24, aphawula ukuthi lelivesi liphakathi nendawo encwadini kaSamuweli. Kubonakala ukuthi lencwadi yaqedwa cishe ngawo-1078 B.C.E. Ngakho-ke, ngokunokwenzeka uSamuweli wokuQala uhlanganisa inkathi engaphezulu kancane kweminyaka eyikhulu, kusukela ngo-1180 kuya ku-1078 B.C.E.
4. Kuye kwasekelwa kanjani ukunemba kombhalo ogcinwe kuSamuweli wokuQala?
4 Kunobufakazi obuningi bokunemba kwalombhalo ogciniwe. Izindawo ngokokuma kwezwe zifanelana nezenzakalo ezichazwayo. Ngokuthakazelisayo, ukuhlasela kukaJonathani okuphumelelayo enqabeni yamaFilisti eMikimashi, okwaholela ekuchithweni ngokuphelele kwamaFilisti, kwaphindwa futhi eMpini Yezwe I isikhulu sezeMpi saseBrithani, okubikwa ukuthi sachitha ngokuphelele abantu baseTurkey ngokulandela izimpawu zezwe ezichazwe embhalweni ogciniwe ophefumlelwe kaSamuweli.—14:4-14.a
5. Abalobi beBhayibheli bakufakazela kanjani ukwethembeka kukaSamuweli wokuQala?
5 Nokho, kukhona ngisho nobufakazi obuqine ngokwengeziwe bokuphefumlelwa nokuthembeka kwalencwadi. Iqukethe ukugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo kwesiprofetho sikaJehova sokuthi uIsrayeli wayeyocela inkosi. (Dut. 17:14; 1 Sam. 8:5) Eminyakeni kamuva, uHoseya wafakazela umbhalo wayo ogciniwe, ecaphuna uJehova ethi, “ngikunike inkosi ngentukuthelo yami, ngayisusa ngolaka lwami.” (Hos. 13:11) UPetru wayeqonde ukuthi uSamuweli wayephefumlelwe lapho efakazela uSamuweli njengomprofethi ‘owayememezele lezozinsuku’ zikaJesu. (IzE. 3:24) UPawulu wacaphuna eyoku-1 Samuweli 13:14 ekubukezeni kafushane umlando kaIsrayeli. (IzE. 13:20-22) UJesu ngokwakhe wafakazela lokhu kulandisa njengokuthembekile ngokubuza abaFarisi osukwini lwakhe: “Anifundanga yini akwenzayo uDavide msukwana elambile kanye nababenaye?” Khona-ke walandisa ngendaba yokucela kukaDavide isinkwa sokubukwa. (Math. 12:1-4; 1 Sam. 21:1-6) UEzra futhi wamukela lokhu kulandisa njengokuqotho, njengoba sekuphawuliwe kakade.—1 IziKr. 29:29.
6. Yibuphi obunye ubufakazi obutholakala eBhayibhelini obubonisa ukwethembeka kukaSamuweli wokuQala?
6 Njengoba lokhu kuwukulandisa kokuqala ngezenzo zikaDavide, konke ukulandisa okuphathelene noDavide kuyo yonke imiBhalo kufakazela incwadi kaSamuweli njengeyingxenye yeZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe. Ezinye zezenzakalo zayo kuze ngisho kubhekiselwe kuzo emazwini ezethulo zamahubo kaDavide, njengakumaHubo 59 (1 Sam. 19:11), iHubo 34 (1 Sam. 21:13, 14), nakumaHubo 142 (1 Sam. 22:1 noma 1 Sam. 24:1, 3). Ngakho, ubufakazi obungaphakathi beZwi likaNkulunkulu siqu bufakazela ngokungenakungatshazwa ukwethembeka kukaSamuweli WokuQala.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KASAMUWELI WOKUQALA
7. Umlando oqukethwe kulencwadi uphathelene nokuphila kwabaphi abaholi bakwaIsrayeli?
7 Lencwadi ihlanganisa ngokwengxenye noma ngokuphelele isikhathi sokuphila kwabane babaholi bakwaIsrayeli: UEli umpristi omkhulu, uSamuweli umprofethi, uSawule inkosi yokuqala, noDavide owagcotshwa ukuba abe inkosi elandelayo.
8. USamuweli wazalwa futhi waba “inceku kaJehova” ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo?
8 Ukwahlulela kukaEli noSamuweli osemusha (1:1– 4:22). Njengoba ukulandisa kuqalisa, sethulwa kuHana, umfazi oyintandokazi kaElkana, umLevi. Akanabantwana futhi ngenxa yalokhu omunye umfazi kaElkana, uPhenina, uyameya. Lapho umkhaya uthatha olunye uhambo lwawo lwaminyaka yonke lokuya eShilo, lapho kuhlala khona umphongolo kaJehova wesivumelwano, uHana uthandaza ngobuqotho kuJehova ukuba amuphe indodana. Uthembisa ukuthi uma umthandazo wakhe uphendulwa, ingane uyoyinikela enkonzweni kaJehova. UNkulunkulu uyawuphendula umkhuleko wakhe, futhi uzala indodana, uSamuweli. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba elunyuliwe, umletha endlini kaJehova futhi umbeka ngaphansi kokunakekela kompristi omkhulu uEli, ‘njengonikelwe kuJehova.’ (1:28) Khona-ke uHana ubonisa ukwazisa kwakhe ngokuhlabelela ingoma emnandi yokubonga nokujabula. Umfana uba ‘isikhonzi sikaJehova phambi kukaEli umpristi.’—2:11.
9. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uSamuweli abe umprofethi kwaIsrayeli?
9 Akukho okuhamba kahle ngoEli. Usemdala, futhi amadodana akhe amabili aye aba izichwensi ezingenalusizo ‘ezingamazi uJehova.’ (2:12) Asebenzisa izikhundla zawo zobupristi ukuze anelise ukuhaha nezinkanuko zawo zokuziphatha okubi. UEli uyahluleka ukuwakhuza. Ngakho-ke uJehova uqalisa ukuthumela izigijimi zaphezulu ngokumelene nendlu kaEli, exwayisa ngokuthi “akuyikubakho-xhegu endlini yakho” nokuthi womabili amadodana kaEli ayokufa ngosuku olulodwa. (1 Sam. 2:30-34; 1 AmaKh. 2:27) Ekugcineni, uthumela umfana uSamuweli kuEli nesigijimi sesahlulelo esibuhlungu. Ngakho uSamuweli osemusha uthola ukuvunyelwa njengomprofethi kwaIsrayeli.—1 Sam. 3:1, 11.
10. UJehova usikhipha kanjani isahlulelo endlini kaEli?
10 Ngesikhathi esifanele uJehova ukhipha lesahlulelo ngokuletha amaFilisti. Njengoba igagasi lempi liphendukela uIsrayeli, amaIsrayeli, ekhamuluka kakhulu, alanda umphongolo wesivumelwano eShilo awuletha phakathi kwekamu lempi yawo. Ezwa ukukhamuluka futhi eqaphela ukuthi uMphongolo uphakathi kwekamu lamaIsrayeli, amaFilisti ayaziqinisa futhi ayayinqoba lempi ethusayo, ewachitha ngokuphelele amaIsrayeli. UMphongolo uyathunjwa, futhi amadodana amabili kaEli ayafa. Inhliziyo yakhe ithuthumela, uEli uzwa umbiko. Lapho kukhulunywa ngoMphongolo, uwa nyovane esihlalweni sakhe futhi uyafa ngokuphuka intamo. Iphela kanjalo iminyaka yakhe engu-40 yokwahlulela. Ngempela “inkazimulo isukile kwaIsrayeli,” ngenxa yokuthi uMphongolo umelela ukuba khona kukaJehova kubantu bakhe.—4:22.
11. UMphongolo uzibonakalisa kanjani ungeyona intelezi yenhlanhla?
11 USamuweli wahlulela uIsrayeli (5:1–7:17). Manje amaFilisti nawo kumelwe afunde kabuhlungu kakhulu ukuthi umphongolo kaJehova akumelwe usetshenziswe njengentelezi yenhlanhla. Lapho engenisa uMphongolo ethempelini likaDagoni eAshidodi, unkulunkulu wabo uwela phansi ngobuso. Ngosuku olulandelayo uDagoni uwela phansi futhi embundwini, kulesikhathi anqamuke ikhanda nezandla zakhe zombili. Lokhu kuqalisa umkhuba wamaFilisti oyinkolelo-ze ‘wokunganyatheli embundwini kaDagoni.’ (5:5) AmaFilisti aphuthumisa uMphongolo eGati bese ewudlulisela e-Ekroni kodwa konke lokho akusizi! Ukuhlushwa kuza ngohlobo lwengebhe, amathumba, nesifo sezilonda. Ephelelwe ithemba okokugcina njengoba inani labantu abafayo linyuka, amakhosi amaFilisti abuyisela uMphongolo kuIsrayeli ngenqola entsha edonswa izinkomazi ezimbili ezazincelisa. EBeti-Shemeshi amanye amaIsrayeli avelelwa inhlekelele ngenxa yokuthi abuka uMphongolo. (1 Sam. 6:19; Num. 4:6, 20) Ekugcineni, uMphongolo ubekwa endlini ka-Abinadaba esigodini samaLevi saseKiriyati-Jeharimi.
12. Yiziphi izibusiso eziza ngenxa yokusekela kukaSamuweli ukukhulekela okufanele?
12 UMphongolo uhlala endlini ka-Abinadaba iminyaka engu-20. USamuweli, eseyindoda, unxusa uIsrayeli ukuba asuse izithombe zoBali noAshitaroti futhi akhonze uJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakhe. Lokhu bayakwenza. Njengoba behlangana eMispa ukuze bakhulekele, amakhosi amaFilisti abamba lelithuba ukuze alwe futhi azume uIsrayeli engazelele. UIsrayeli unxusa uJehova ngoSamuweli. Umsindo omkhulu wokuduma ovela kuJehova usanganisa amaFilisti, futhi amaIsrayeli, eqiniswa umhlatshelo nomkhuleko, azuza ukunqoba okukhulu. Kusukela kulesosikhathi kuqhubeke, ‘isandla sikaJehova simelana namaFilisti zonke izinsuku zikaSamuweli.’ (7:13) Nokho, uSamuweli akakutholi ukuphumula. Wahlulela uIsrayeli konke ukuphila kwakhe, ezungeza iminyaka ngeminyaka kusukela eRama, ngasenyakatho yeJerusalema, kuya eBethele, eGiligali, naseMispa. Wakhela uJehova ithempeli eRama.
13. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uIsrayeli enqabe uJehova njengeNkosi, futhi uSamuweli uxwayisa ngamiphi imiphumela?
13 Inkosi yokuqala yakwaIsrayeli, uSawule (8:1–12:25). USamuweli usekhulile enkonzweni kaJehova, kodwa amadodana akhe awahambi ezindleleni zikayise, ngenxa yokuthi amukela ukufunjathiswa futhi aphendukezele nokwahlulela. Kulesikhathi amalungu akwaIsrayeli aya kuSamuweli futhi athi: “Sibekele inkosi ukuba isahlulele njengezizwe zonke.” (8:5) Ephazamiseke kakhulu, uSamuweli ufuna uJehova ngomkhuleko. UJehova uyaphendula: “Akusuwe abakulahlileyo, kepha balahlé mina, ukuze ngingabi-yinkosi phezu kwabo. . . . Manje lalela izwi labo.” (8:7-9) Nokho, okokuqala uSamuweli kumelwe abaxwayise ngemiphumela esabekayo yesicelo sabo sokuhlubuka: ukuphoqelelwa, ukukhokha intela, ukungabi nayo inkululeko, futhi ekugcineni ukudabuka kamunyu nokukhala kuJehova. Bengathiyiwe ezifisweni zabo, abantu bafuna inkosi.
14. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uSawule amiswe ebukhosini?
14 Manje sihlangana noSawule, indodana kaKhishi wesizwe sakwaBenjamini futhi oyindoda enhle nende kunawo wonke kwaIsrayeli. Uqondiswa kuSamuweli, omnikeza udumo emkhosini, amgcobe, bese emethula kuwo wonke uIsrayeli emhlanganweni eMispa. Nakuba okokuqala uSawule ecasha phakathi kwezimpahla, ekugcineni ulethwa njengokhethwe uJehova. USamuweli uyaphinda futhi akhumbuze uIsrayeli ngamalungelo enkosi, ewabhala encwadini. Nokho, isikhundla sikaSawule njengenkosi siyaqiniswa ngemva kokuba enqobé abakwa-Amoni, okukhulula ukuvinjezelwa kwaseJabeshi-Gileyadi, ngakho abantu bavuma ukuba kwakhe inkosi eGiligali. USamuweli futhi uyabayala ukuba besabe, bakhonze, futhi balalele uJehova, futhi ucela uJehova ukuba athumele isibonakaliso ngesimo sokuduma nemvula ngenkathi yokuvuna. Ngesibonakaliso esithusayo, uJehova ubonisa ulaka lwakhe ngokumenqaba kwabo njengeNkosi.
15. Yisiphi isono sokugabadela esiholela ekuhlulekeni kukaSawule?
15 Ukungalaleli kukaSawule (13:1–15:35). Njengoba amaFilisti eqhubeka nokuhlupha uIsrayeli, indodana kaSawule eyiqhawe uJonathani icekela phansi inqaba yamaFilisti. Ukuze siziphindisele kulokhu, isitha sithumela impi enkulu, ‘engangesihlabathi solwandle’ ngenani, futhi ikanisa eMikimashi. Ukukhathazeka kunqoba izinhlu zamaIsrayeli. ‘Uma nje uSamuweli engeza ukuze asinikeze isiqondiso sikaJehova!’ Ephelelwe isineke sokulinda uSamuweli, uSawule uyona ngokunikela ngokwakhe ngokugadabela umnikelo wokushiswa. Ngokushesha uSamuweli uyafika. Engakunaki ukuzithethelela okungagculisi kukaSawule wazisa ngesahlulelo sikaJehova: “Kepha manje umbuso wakho awuyikuqhubeka; uJehova usezifunele umuntu ngokwenhliziyo yakhe; uJehova ummisile abe-ngumholi wabantu bakhe, ngokuba ungagcinanga lokho uJehova akuyala ngakho.”—13:14.
16. Ukujaha kukaSawule kuphumela kuziphi izinkinga?
16 UJonathani, eshisekela igama likaJehova, uyaphinda uhlasela inqaba yamaFilisti, kulesikhathi enodibi lwezikhali zakhe kuphela, futhi ngokushesha bacekela phansi cishe amadoda angu-20. Ukuzamazama komhlaba kwenezela ekudidekeni kwesitha. Siyachithwa, futhi uIsrayeli usixosha ngokuphelele. Nokho, umfutho wokunqoba uncishiswa isifungo sikaSawule samawala esenqabela amabutho ukuba adle ngaphambi kokuba impi iphele. Amadoda akhathala ngokushesha futhi ayona kuJehova ngokudla isilwane esisanda kubulawa engaziniki isikhathi sokukhipha igazi. UJonathani yena uye waziqabula ngekhekheba lezinyosi ngaphambi kokuba ezwe ngesifungo, asisola ngokuqinile njengesiyisithiyo. Abantu bayamhlenga ekufeni ngenxa yokusindisa okukhulu aye wakwenza kwaIsrayeli.
17. Yikuphi okunye ukwenqatshwa kukaSawule okulandela isono sakhe sesibili esingathi sína?
17 Manje kufika isikhathi sokukhipha isahlulelo sikaJehova kuma-Amaleki anengekayo. (Dut. 25:17-19) Kufanele aqothulwe ngokuphelele. Akukho lutho okumelwe lushiywe, umuntu noma isilwane. Akukho mpango okumelwe ithathwe. Yonke into kumelwe inikelwe ekubhujisweni. Nokho, uSawule ngokungalaleli usindisa uAgagi, inkosi yama-Amaleki, kanye nemihlambi yezimvu neyezinkomo engcono kakhulu, ayethi uzokwenza ngazo umhlatshelo kuJehova. Lokhu akumjabulisi neze uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli kangangokuthi uphefumlela uSamuweli ukuba aveze ukulahlwa kwesibili kukaSawule. Engakunaki ukuzithethelela kukaSawule kokungafuni ukulahlekelwa udumo lwakhe, uSamuweli uthi: “UJehova uyenamela yini iminikelo yokushiswa nemihlatshelo, njengalokhu enamele ukulalelwa kwezwi likaJehova, na? Bheka, ukulalela kuhle kunomhlatshelo . . . Ngokuba ulilahlile izwi likaJehova, naye ukulahlile wena ukuba ungabe usaba-yinkosi.” (1 Sam. 15:22, 23) Khona-ke uSawule ubamba uSamuweli ukuze amncenge futhi kuklebhuka ingubo yakhe kuhlukana isingenhla nesingezansi. USamuweli uyamqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova uyowuklebhula kanjalo umbuso kuSawule futhi awunikeze umuntu ongcono kunaye. USamuweli ngokwakhe uthatha inkemba, ubulala uAgagi, futhi ufulathela uSawule, akaphindanga ambone futhi.
18. UJehova umkhetha ngaphezu kwasiphi isisekelo uDavide?
18 Ukugcotshwa kukaDavide, ubuqhawe bakhe (16:1–17:58). Ngokulandelayo uJehova uqondisa uSamuweli endlini kaJese eBetlehema lakwaJuda ukuba akhethe futhi agcobe inkosi yesikhathi esizayo. Ukuze ahlolwe, amadodana kaJese adlula ngayinye kodwa ayenqatshwa. UJehova ukhumbuza uSamuweli: ‘UJehova akabukisi okomuntu; umuntu ubheka okusemehlweni, kepha uJehova ubheka okusenhliziyweni.’ (16:7) Ekugcineni, uJehova ubonisa ukuvumela kwakhe uDavide, omncane kunabo bonke, ochazwa ‘njengobomvana enamehlo amahle, emuhle ngokubukeka,’ futhi uSamuweli umgcoba ngamafutha. (16:12) Manje umoya kaJehova wehlela kuDavide, kodwa uSawule ungenwa umoya omubi.
19. Yikuphi ukunqoba kokuqala uDavide akuzuza ngegama likaJehova?
19 AmaFilisti ayaphinda futhi ahlasela kwaIsrayeli, ebeka iqhawe lawo uGoliyati ngaphambili, umdondoshiya onobude bezingalo eziyisithupha nesandla (cishe amamitha angu-2,9). Mkhulu ngokwesabekayo kangangokuthi ibhantshi lakhe lensimbi linesisindo samakhilogremu angu-57 futhi ukudla komkhonto wakhe kungamakhilogremu angu-6,8. (17:4, 5, 7) Usuku nosuku ngokuhlambalaza nangendelelo loGoliyati ubekela uIsrayeli inselele yokuba akhethe umuntu ukuba eze futhi alwe naye, kepha akekho ophendulayo. USawule uyaqhaqhazela etendeni lakhe. Nokho, uDavide uyeza ukuze ezwe ukweyisa komFilisti. Ngentukuthelo yokulunga nesibindi esiphefumlelwe, uDavide uthi: “Ngubani lowomFilisti ongasokile ukuba ayeyise impi kaNkulunkulu ophilayo na?” (17:26) Enqaba ingubo yensimbi kaSawule ngenxa yokuthi wayengakaze ayizame ngaphambili, uDavide uyaphuma ukuze alwe, ehlome kuphela ngenduku kamalusi, indwayimane, namatshe amahlanu abushelelezi. Lapho eziqhathanisa nalomfana osemncane ongumalusi, njengomehlisa isithunzi, uGoliyati uqalekisa uDavide. Impendulo yokuzethemba iyezwakala: “Wena uza kimi nenkemba, nomkhonto, nengcula, kepha mina ngiza kuwe ngegama likaJehova-Sebawoti.” (17:45) Itshe eliqondiswe kahle liphuma endwayimaneni kaDavide, futhi iqhawe lamaFilisti liwela emhlabathini! Egijimela kuye, ebonakala kahle kuzo zombili izimpi, uDavide uhosha inkemba yomdondoshiya futhi uyayisebenzisa ukuze anqume ikhanda lomniniyo. Yeka ukukhululwa okukhulu okuvela kuJehova! Yeka injabulo eba sekamu lamaIsrayeli! Manje ngoba iqhawe lawo lifile, amaFilisti ayabaleka, namaIsrayeli achichima injabulo esezithendeni zawo.
20. Isimo sikaJonathani ngoDavide sehluka kanjani kwesikaSawule?
20 Ukuzingela kukaSawule uDavide (18:1–27:12). Isenzo sikaDavide sokungesabi ngenxa yegama likaJehova simvulela ubungane obumangalisayo. Lobu ubungane noJonathani, oyindodana kaSawule futhi ngokwemvelo nguyena osohlwini lobukhosi. UJonathani ‘umthanda njengenhliziyo yakhe,’ kangangokuthi bobabili benza isivumelwano sokuba abangane. (18:1-3) Njengoba udumo lukaDavide luba lukhulu kwaIsrayeli, ngokuthukuthela uSawule ufuna ukumbulala, ngisho nakuba emnikeza indodakazi yakhe uMikhali ukuba ashade nayo. Ubutha bukaSawule buya bumhlanyisa ngokwengeziwe, kangangokuthi ekugcineni uDavide kumelwe abaleke ngosizo lothando aluthola kuJonathani. Bobabili bayakhala lapho behlukana, futhi uJonathani uyaphinda aqinisekise ukwethembeka kwakhe kuDavide, ethi: “Sengathi uJehova ngokwakhe angazibonakalisa ephakathi kwami nawe naphakathi kwenzalo yami nenzalo yakho kuze kube sesikhathini esinganqunyiwe.”—20:42, NW.
21. Yiziphi izenzakalo eziphawula ukubalekela kukaDavide uSawule?
21 Ekubalekeleni kwakhe uSawule owotha ubomvu, uDavide nebutho lakhe elincane labasekeli abalambile uya eNobi. Lapha umpristi uAhimeleki, lapho ethola isiqinisekiso sokuthi uDavide namadoda akhe bahlanzekile kwabesifazane, uyabavumela ukuba badle isinkwa sokubukwa esingcwele. Manje ehlome ngenkemba kaGoliyati, uDavide ubalekela eGati ezweni lamaFilisti, lapho ezenza khona uhlanya. Khona-ke ubalekela emhumeni waseAdulamu, abese ebalekela kwaMowabi, futhi kamuva, ngeseluleko sikaGadi umprofethi, ubuyela ezweni lakwaJuda. Esaba ukuvukelwa abantu abathanda uDavide, uSawule ohlanyiswa umona uthumela uDowegi umEdomi ukuba abulale bonke abapristi baseNobi, uAbiyathara kuphela obalekayo ukuze azihlanganise noDavide. Uba ngumpristi weqembu.
22. UDavide ukubonisa kanjani ukuthembeka kuJehova nenhlonipho ngenhlangano yaKhe?
22 Njengesikhonzi esithembekile sikaJehova, manje uDavide uviva impi ephumelelayo yeqembu lakhe ngokumelene namaFilisti. Nokho, uSawule uyaqhubeka nomkhankaso wakhe ngokungayekethisi ukuze abambe uDavide, ehlanganisa amadoda akhe empi futhi emzingela ‘ehlane lase-Eni-Gedi.’ (24:1) UDavide, othandekayo kaJehova, uyakwazi ngaso sonke isikhathi ukusinda ngokulambisa kubazingeli bakhe. Ngesinye isikhathi uba nethuba lokubulala uSawule, kodwa akambulali, umane nje usika kuphela umphetho wengubo kaSawule ukuze kube nobufakazi bokuthi uye wasindisa ukuphila kwakhe. Ngisho nalesisenzo esingenangozi sihlaba uDavide enhliziyweni, ngenxa yokuthi unomuzwa wokuthi uye wenza ngokumelene nogcotshiwe kaJehova. Yeka inhlonipho enhle anayo ngenhlangano kaJehova!
23. UAbigayili ukwenza kanjani ukuthula noDavide futhi ekugcineni abe ngumkakhe?
23 Nakuba manje kubhalwa ngokufa kukaSamuweli (25:1), umlobi omlandelayo uyaqhubeka nokulandisa. UDavide ucela uNabali waseMahoni kwaJuda ukuba alungiselele yena namadoda akhe ukudla ngenxa yokuphatha kahle kwabo abelusi bakaNabali. UNabali umane nje ‘athukuthelele’ amadoda kaDavide, futhi uDavide uyaphuma ukuze amjezise. (25:14) Eqaphela ingozi, umfazi kaNabali uAbigayili, uthatha ukudla ukuyisa kuDavide ngasese futhi uyamnxusa. UDavide uyambusisa ngalesenzo sokuhlakanipha futhi umhambisa ngokuthula. Lapho uAbigayili etshela uNabali ngalokho okwenzekile, inhliziyo yakhe iyagula, futhi ezinsukwini eziyishumi kamuva uyafa. Manje uDavide ushada noAbigayili omuhle nonomusa.
24. UDavide ukusindisa kanjani futhi ukuphila kukaSawule?
24 Ngokwesithathu, uSawule uzingela uDavide ngamandla, futhi uphinda athole umusa kaDavide. ‘Ubuthongo obunzima obuvela kuJehova’ behlela uSawule namadoda akhe. Lokhu kwenza ukuba uDavide akwazi ukungena ekamu futhi athathe umkhonto kaSawule, kodwa uyakugwema ukwelulela isandla sakhe ‘kogcotshiweyo kaJehova.’ (26:11, 12) UDavide uphoqeleleka okwesibili ukuba abalekele kumaFilisti ukuze athole isiphephelo, futhi amnikeza iSikilagi njengendawo yokuhlala. Elapha uyaqhubeka nokuhlasela ngokumelene nabanye abayizitha zikaIsrayeli.
25. Yisiphi isono sesithathu esingathi sína esenziwa uSawule?
25 Isiphetho sikaSawule sokuzibulala (28:1–31:13). Amakhosi amaFilisti abutha impi ehlangene aya eShunemi. Ehlangabezana nawo, uSawule umisa eNtabeni yaseGilibowa. Ngokwesaba ufuna isiqondiso kodwa akatholi mpendulo evela kuJehova. Uma nje kuphela engakwazi ukuthintana noSamuweli! Ezifihla, uSawule uphinda futhi enze esinye isono esingathi sína lapho eya ukuyofuna konedlozi e-Eni-Dori, ngemva kwezinhlu zamaFilisti. Lapho emthola, umnxusa ukuba amhlanganise noSamuweli. Egijimela eziphethweni, uSawule uphetha ngokuthi lesithunzi singuSamuweli ofile. Nokho, “uSamuweli” akayinikezi umbiko oduduzayo inkosi. Kusasa izokufa, futhi njengoba uJehova ayeshilo, umbuso uzothathwa kuyo. Kwelinye ikamu, amakhosi amaFilisti anyukela empini. Ebona uDavide nezamadoda akhe phakathi kwawo, aqala ukusola futhi amphindisela ekhaya. Amadoda kaDavide afika eSikilagi ngaso kanye isikhathi! Iviyo elihlaselayo lama-Amaleki lishaye lachitha nomkhaya kanye nezimpahla zikaDavide nezamadoda akhe, kodwa uDavide namadoda akhe bayalixosha, futhi konke kuyatholakala kungalimalanga.
26. Ukubusa kosizi kwenkosi yokuqala yakwaIsrayeli kuphela kanjani?
26 Impi manje isihlangene eNtabeni iGilibowa. UIsrayeli unqotshwa ngokudabukisayo, futhi amaFilisti alawula izindawo zokuqapha isitha. UJonathani namanye amadodana kaSawule bayabulawa, futhi uSawule olimele kabi uyazibulala ngenkemba yakhe. AmaFilisti anqobile alengisa isidumbu sikaSawule nezamadodana akhe amathathu ezindongeni zomuzi waseBeti-Shani kodwa amadoda aseJabeshi-Gileyadi ayazisusa kulesisimo esiyihlazo. Ukubusa okugcwele usizi kwenkosi yokuqala yakwaIsrayeli kufinyelele isiphetho sakho esiyinhlekelele.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
27. (a) Kukuphi lapho uEli noSawule bahluleka khona? (b) Kukuziphi izici uSamuweli noDavide abayizibonelo ezinhle kuzo kubabonisi nasezikhonzini ezisezintsha?
27 Yeka umlando oqukethwe encwadini kaSamuweli wokuQala! Ithembeke ngokuphelele kuyo yonke imininingwane, idalula ngokungananazi kokubili ubuthakathaka namandla kaIsrayeli. Sithola abaholi abane kwaIsrayeli, ababili abawulalela umthetho kaNkulunkulu nababili abangazange bawulalele. Phawula indlela uEli noSawule abahluleka ngayo: Owokuqala wahluleka ukuthatha isinyathelo, futhi owamuva wenza ngokugabadela. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uSamuweli noDavide babonisa uthando ngendlela kaJehova kusukela ebusheni babo kuqhubeke, futhi bachuma ngokufanelekile. Yeka izifundo eziwusizo esizitholayo lapha zabo bonke ababonisi! Yeka indlela okudingeke ngayo ngalaba ukuba baqine, baqaphele ukuhlanzeka nokuhleleka enhlanganweni kaJehova, behlonipha amalungiselelo akhe, bangesabi, bangahluthuki, babe nesibindi, futhi bacabangele abanye ngothando! (2:23-25; 24:5, 7; 18:5, 14-16) Phawula futhi ukuthi laba ababili ababa nempumelelo baba nethuba eliyinzuzo lokuqeqeshwa okuhle okungokwasezulwini kusukela ebusheni babo kuqhubeke, nokuthi kusukela ebuncaneni babo babenesibindi ekukhulumeni ngesigijimi sikaJehova kanye nokuvikela inkonzo ababeyiphathisiwe. (3:19; 17:33-37) Sengathi bonke abakhulekeli bakaJehova abasha namuhla bangaba “oSamuweli” “noDavide” abancane!
28. Ukulalela kugcizelelwa kanjani, futhi yisiphi iseluleko sikaSamuweli wokuQala kamuva esiphindwe abanye abalobi beBhayibheli?
28 Ngokusobala amazwi okumelwe akhunjulwe phakathi kwawo wonke amazwi anenzuzo alencwadi yilawo uJehova aphefumlela uSamuweli ukuba awasho ekwahluleleni uSawule ngenxa yokwehluleka kwakhe ‘ukwesula inkumbulo ka-Amaleki phansi kwezulu.’ (Dut. 25:19) Isifundo sokuthi “ukulalela kuhle kunomhlatshelo” siphindaphindiwe ezimweni ezihlukahlukene kuHoseya 6:6, Mika 6:6-8, nakuMarku 12:33. (1 Sam. 15:22) Kubalulekile ukuba thina namuhla sizuze kulombhalo ogciniwe ophefumlelwe ngokulilalela ngokugcwele nangokuphelele izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu! Ukulalela ngokuqaphela ubungcwele begazi nakho kulethwe ekunakekeleni kwethu kweyoku-1 Samuweli 14:32, 33. Ukudla inyama ngaphandle kokukhipha igazi ngokwanele kwakuthathwa ‘njengokona kuJehova.’ Lokhu futhi kuyasebenza ebandleni lobuKristu, njengoba kwenziwe kwacaca kuzEnzo 15:28, 29.
29. USamuweli wokuQala ubonisa imiphumela yaliphi iphutha lesizwe ngasengxenyeni kaIsrayeli, nasiphi isixwayiso kubantu abangamaphika-nkani?
29 Incwadi kaSamuweli wokuQala ibonisa iphutha eliyingozi lesizwe esaqala ukubheka ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu kwasezulwini njengokungekhona okungokoqobo. (1 Sam. 8:5, 19, 20; 10:18, 19) Izingozi nobuze bokubusa komuntu kuchazwe ngokucacile nangokwesiprofetho. (8:11-18; 12:1-17) Ekuqaleni uSawule uboniswa njengendoda ethobekile eyayinomoya kaNkulunkulu (9:21; 11:6), kodwa isahlulelo sakhe safiphala futhi inhliziyo yakhe yaba yimbi lapho uthando lokulunga nokholo kuNkulunkulu kunyamalala. (14:24, 29, 44) Umbhalo wakhe ogciniwe wokuqala wokushiseka wasulwa izenzo zakhe zakamuva zokuqhosha, ukungalaleli, nokuntula ukholo kuNkulunkulu. (1 Sam. 13:9; 15:9; 28:7; Hez. 18:24) Ukuntula kwakhe ukholo kwaveza ukungalondeki, okwakhulela ekubeni nomona, inzondo, nokubulala. (1 Sam. 18:9, 11; 20:33; 22:18, 19) Wafa ngendlela ayephila ngayo, eyisehluleki kuNkulunkulu nakubantu bakhe, futhi njengesixwayiso kunoma ubani ongase abe ‘iphika-nkani’ njengoba enza.—2 Pet. 2:10-12.
30. Yiziphi izimfanelo zikaSamuweli ezingase zihlakulelwe ngokwenzuzo yizikhonzi zosuku lwanamuhla?
30 Nokho, kukhona okuhle okungafani nalokho. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula inkambo kaSamuweli othembekile, owakhonza uIsrayeli konke ukuphila kwakhe ngaphandle kwenkohliso, ukubandlulula, noma ukukhetha ubuso. (1 Sam. 12:3-5) Wayezimisele ukulalela kusukela esengumfana kuqhubeke (3:5), emnene futhi enenhlonipho (3:6-8), enokwethenjelwa ekwenzeni izabelo zakhe (3:15), eqinile ekuzinikezeleni nasekuzinikeleni kwakhe (7:3-6; 12:2), ezimisele ukulalela (8:21), ekulungele ukulondoloza izinqumo zikaJehova (10:24), eqinile ekwahluleleni kwakhe kungakhathaliseki ubuntu babanye (13:13), eqinile ekulaleleni (15:22), futhi ephikelela ekugcwaliseni ukuthunywa. (16:6, 11) Wayengumuntu futhi okhulunyelwa kahle abanye. (2:26; 9:6) Inkonzo yakhe kwasebusheni akumelwe nje kuphela ikhuthaze abasha ukuba bangenele inkonzo namuhla (2:11, 18) kodwa ukuqhubeka kwakhe engakhathali kuze kube sekupheleni kwezinsuku zakhe kumelwe kuqinise labo asebegugile.—7:15.
31. UJonathani wayeyisibonelo esihle kukuphi?
31 Kukhona futhi nesibonelo esivelele sikaJonathani. Akazange abonise imizwa yobutha ngokuthi uDavide wayegcotshelwe ubukhosi obabungase bube yifa lakhe. Kunalokho, waqaphela izimfanelo ezinhle zikaDavide futhi wenza isivumelwano sobungane naye. Ubungane obufanayo obungenabugovu bungase bube obakhayo nobukhuthaza kakhulu phakathi kwalabo namuhla abakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka.—23:16-18.
32. Yiziphi izici ezinhle okumelwe zibhekwe kwabesifazane uHana noAbigayili?
32 Kwabesifazane, kunesibonelo sikaHana, owayehamba njalo nomyeni wakhe ukuya endaweni yokukhulekela kukaJehova. Wayengowesifazane othandazayo nothobekile, owakhetha ukwehlukana nendodana yakhe ukuze agcine izwi lakhe futhi abonise ukwazisa ngomusa kaJehova. Ngempela wawumangalisa umvuzo wakhe lapho eyibona iqalisa inkonzo evuzayo yesikhathi sokuphila kwayo konke kuJehova. (1:11, 21-23, 27, 28) Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunesibonelo sika-Abigayili, owabonisa ukuzithoba nokuhlakanipha kobufazi okwamzuzela ukudunyiswa uDavide, kangangokuba kamuva waba ngumkakhe.—25:32-35.
33. Uthando nokuthembeka kukaDavide kokungesabi kumelwe kusishukumisele kuyiphi inkambo?
33 Uthando lukaDavide ngoJehova luvezwe ngendlela evusa imizwelo ejulile kumahubo uDavide awaqamba lapho ezingelwa uSawule ehlane, “ogcotshiweyo kaJehova” ophambukayo. (1 Sam. 24:6; IHu. 34:7, 8; 52:8; 57:1, 7, 9) Futhi yeka indlela uDavide angcwelisa ngayo igama likaJehova ngokwazisa okusuka ekujuleni kwenhliziyo njengoba ayebekela owayemedelela uGoliyati inselele ngesibindi! “Mina ngiza kuwe ngegama likaJehova-Sebawoti . . . Namuhla uJehova uyakukunikela esandleni sami . . . ukuze umhlaba wonke wazi ukuthi kukhona uNkulunkulu kwaIsrayeli, yazi yonke lenhlangano ukuthi uJehova akasindisi ngenkemba nangomkhonto; ngokuba ukulwa kungokukaJehova; uyakuninikela esandleni sethu.” (1 Sam. 17:45-47) UDavide, ‘ogcotshiweyo’ kaJehova onesibindi nothembekile, wadumisa uJehova njengoNkulunkulu womhlaba wonke nowukuphela koMthombo wensindiso. (2 Sam. 22:51) Sengathi singasilandela njalo lesibonelo sokungesabi!
34. Zembuleka kanjani futhi izinjongo zoMbuso kaJehova ngokuphathelene noDavide?
34 Yini uSamuweli wokuQala asitshela yona ngokuthuthukiswa kwezinjongo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu? Ah, lokhu kusiletha ephuzwini langempela elivelele lalencwadi yeBhayibheli! Ngenxa yokuthi yilapha lapho sihlangana khona noDavide, ngokunokwenzeka ogama lakhe lisho ukuthi “Othandekayo.” UDavide wayengothandiweyo kaJehova futhi wakhethwa ‘njengomuntu othandwa inhliziyo yakhe,’ umuntu ofanelekayo ukuba abe yinkosi kwaIsrayeli. (1 Sam. 13:14) Ngakho umbuso wadlulela esizweni sakwaJuda, ngokuvumelana nesibusiso sikaJakobe kuGenesise 49:9, 10, futhi ubukhosi babuzohlala busesizweni sakwaJuda kuze kube yilapho kufika uMbusi ofanelwe ukulalelwa yibo bonke abantu.
35. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba igama likaDavide lihlobane nalelo leMbewu yoMbuso, futhi yiziphi izimfanelo zikaDavide leyoMbewu esazozibonisa?
35 Ngaphezu kwalokho, igama likaDavide lihlangene nalelo leMbewu yoMbuso, nayo eyazalwa eBetlehema futhi eyayingeyohlu lukaDavide. (Math. 1:1, 6; 2:1; 21:9, 15) Leyombewu inguJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe, “iNgonyama yesizwe sakwaJuda, iMpande kaDavide,” ‘nempande nenzalo kaDavide, inkanyezi yokusa ecwebezelayo.’ (IsAm. 5:5; 22:16) Ibusa emandleni oMbuso, ‘leNdodana kaDavide’ iyobonisa konke ukuqina nesibindi sokubekezela kwayo okukhazimulayo ekulweni nezitha zikaNkulunkulu kube ukuwa kwazo nokungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Yeka ukuthi ithemba lethu liqine kangakanani kuleMbewu yoMbuso!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a The Romance of the Last Crusade, 1923, iNduna Yempi uVivian Gilbert, amakhasi 183-6.