UJehova Ukhuluma NoSamuweli

Umpristi Ophakeme u-Eli wayenamadodana amabili ayengabapristi etabernakele. Amagama awo kwakunguHofini noFinehasi. Abazange bayilalele imithetho kaJehova futhi babebaphatha kabi abantu. Lapho ama-Israyeli eletha imihlatshelo kuJehova, uHofini noFinehasi babezithathela inyama engcono kunayo yonke. U-Eli wezwa ukuthi amadodana akhe ayenzani kodwa wangenza lutho ngalokho. Ingabe uJehova wayezoyivumela lento iqhubeke yenzeka?

Nakuba uSamuweli ayemncane kakhulu kunoHofini noFinehasi, akazange abalingise. UJehova wamthanda uSamuweli. Ngobunye ubusuku esalele, uSamuweli wezwa izwi limbiza. Wavuka, wagijima waya ku-Eli, wathi: ‘Ngilapha!’ Kodwa u-Eli wathi: ‘Angizange ngikubize. Hamba uyolala.’ USamuweli wabuyela embhedeni. Waphinde walizwa izwi. Lapho uSamuweli ezwa izwi okwesithathu, u-Eli wabona ukuthi uJehova ombizayo. Watshela uSamuweli ukuthi lapho ephinda ezwa izwi, kufanele athi: ‘Khuluma, Jehova, ngoba inceku yakho ilalele.’

USamuweli wahamba wayolala. Wabe esezwa izwi lithi: ‘Samuweli! Samuweli!’ Waphendula: ‘Khuluma, ngoba inceku yakho ilalele.’ UJehova wathi: ‘Tshela u-Eli ukuthi ngizomjezisa, yena nomndeni wakhe. Uyazi ukuthi amadodana akhe enza izinto ezimbi etabernakele lami kodwa akenzi lutho.’ Ngakusasa ekuseni uSamuweli wavuka wavula iminyango yetabernakele, njengoba ayehlale enza. Wayesaba ukutshela umpristi ophakeme lokho okwakushiwo uJehova. Kodwa u-Eli wambiza wambuza: ‘Ndodana yami, utheni uJehova kuwe? Ngicela ungitshele konke.’ Ngakho uSamuweli watshela u-Eli yonke into.

Njengoba uSamuweli ekhula, uJehova waqhubeka enaye. Kulo lonke izwe, ama-Israyeli ayazi ukuthi uJehova ukhethe uSamuweli ukuba abe umprofethi nomahluleli.