Isithembiso SikaJefta

Ama-Israyeli aphinde amshiya uJehova futhi akhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Lapho ehlaselwa abakwa-Amoni, ama-Israyeli awasitholanga isivikelo konkulunkulu bawo bamanga. Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi ama-Israyeli ehlupheka. Ekugcineni athi kuJehova: ‘Sonile. Sicela usisindise ezitheni zethu.’ Ama-Israyeli aphihliza izithixo zawo aphinde akhonza uJehova. UJehova wayengasafuni ukuwabona ehlupheka.

Isosha elibizwa ngokuthi uJefta lakhethwa ukuba lihole amasosha azolwa nabakwa-Amoni. UJefta wathi kuJehova: ‘Uma ungisiza ngiyinqobe le mpi, ngiyakuthembisa, lapho ngibuyela ekhaya, ngiyokunika umuntu oyophuma kuqala ezongihlangabeza.’ UJehova wawulalela umthandazo kaJefta futhi wamsiza wayinqoba impi.

Lapho uJefta ebuyela ekhaya, indodakazi yakhe okuwukuphela kwayo yiyo eyaphuma kuqala ukuzomhlangabeza. Yayidansa, idlala nethamborini. Wayezokwenzenjani uJefta? Wakhumbula isithembiso sakhe wabe esethi: ‘Awu kodwa ndodakazi yami! Waze wangiphula inhliziyo. Ngenze isithembiso kuJehova. Ukuze ngisifeze, kumelwe ngikuthumele ukuba uyokhonza etabernakele eShilo.’ Kodwa indodakazi yakhe yathi kuye: ‘Baba, uma wenze isithembiso kuJehova, kumelwe usifeze. Ngicela into eyodwa nje kuphela, ukuthi mina nabangane bami siyohlala ezintabeni izinyanga ezimbili. Ngemva kwalokho ngizohamba.’ Indodakazi kaJefta yakhonza ngokwethembeka etabernakele ukuphila kwayo konke. Abangane bayo babeyivakashela njalo ngonyaka eShilo.