57—Ityeya Ithatyathwe NgamaFilisti

[Esi sahluko sisekwe ku-1 Samuweli 3 ukuya kwi-7.]

Esinye isilumkiso kwakufuneka sinikwe indlu kaEli. UThixo wayengakwazi ukuthetha nombingeleli omkhulu kunye noonyana bakhe; izono zabo, njengelifu elingqingqwa, zazibuvalile ubukho bukaMoya waKhe Oyingcwele. Noko kunjalo, phakathi kobubi, umntwana uSamuweli wanyaniseka kulo iZulu, saza isigidimi sokugweba indlu kaEli sanikelwa kuSamuweli, njengomprofeti wOsenyangweni. “Ilizwi likaYehova laliswelekile ngaloo mihla; kwakungekho mbono utyhilekileyo. Kwathi ngaloo mihla, elele uEli endaweni yakhe, amehlo akhe eqale ukuba norhatyazo ukuba angabi nakubona, singekacinywa isibane sikaThixo, uSamuweli elele ebhotweni likaYehova, apho ibikhona ityeya kaThixo, uYehova wambiza uSamuweli.” Ecinga ukuba lilizwi likaEli, umntwana wakhawuleza waya ngasemandlalweni kambingeleli, esithi, “Ndilapha; ngokuba undibizile.” Impendulo yathi, “Andikubizanga; buya uye kulala.” Kwaba kathathu uSamuweli ebizwa, kwaba kathathu ephendula ngohlobo olufanayo. UEli waqiniseka ukuba olo bizo luyimfihlelo lwalulilizwi likaThixo. UYehova wadlula kumkhonzi wakhe onyuliweyo, indoda eyayisele ingwevu, wathetha nomntwana. Le nto iyodwa, yayibuhlungu kodwa yayikukuthethisa okufanelekileyo kuEli nendlu yakhe.ANa 581.1

Akukho mvakalelo yomnqweno okanye yomona eyabakhoyo kwintliziyo kaEli. Wamyalela uSamuweli ukuba aze athi, xa athe wabizwa kwakhona, aphendule enjenje, “Thetha, Yehova, ngokuba esiva umkhonzi wakho.” Wothuka kakhulu akucinga ukuba uThixo omkhulu angathetha naye kangangokuba akazange akwazi ukuwakhumbula awona mazwi awathi uEli makawathethe.ANa 581.2

“Wathi uYehova kuSamuweli, Uyabona, ndenza into kwaIsrayeli eya kubetha zithi nzwi iindlebe zombini zabantu bonke abaya kuyiva. Ngalo minindiyakumveliselauEliyonkeintoendiyithethileyo ngokusingisele kwindlu yakhe; ndiqalile, ndiya kugqiba. Ndimxelele ukuba ndiyayigweba indlu yakhe kude kuse ephakadeni, ngenxa yobugwenxa abaziyo; ngokuba baziqalekisa oonyana bakhe, akabangxolisa. Ngoko ndiyifungele indlu kaEli, ndathi, Inene ubugwenxa bendlu kaEli abuyi kucanyagushelwa ngambingelelo, nangamnikelo wakudla, naphakade.”ANa 582.1

Phambi kokuba afumane esi sigidimi siphuma kuThixo, “uSamuweli ebengekamazi uYehova, libe lingekatyhileki kuye ilizwi likaYehova;” oko ukuthi, wayengaqhelananga nokubonakala okuthe ngqo kobukho bukaThixo njengoko kwakubakho kubaprofeti. Yayiyinjongo kaYehova ukuzityhila ngendlela engalindelekanga, ukuze uEli ave ngayo ngokumangaliswa nokubuza komfana.ANa 582.2

USamuweli wazaliswa luloyiko nokumangaliswa akucinga ngokunikwa kwakhe isigidimi esoyikeka kangako. Kusasa, wajikeleza ngemisebenzi yakhe ngokwesiqhelo, kodwa enomthwalo onzima phezu kwentliziyo yakhe eselula. UYehova wayengekamyaleli ukuba akutyhile ukuchaswa okoyikekayo, kungoko wathula, ephepha, kangangoko, ukuba phambi kukaEli. Wangcangcazela, hleze kubekho umbuzo oya kumnyanzela ukuba avakalise imigwebo yezulu ngakulowo wayemthanda emhlonela. UEli wayeqinisekile ukuba isigidimi sasixela kwangaphambili intlekele ethile kuye nendlu yakhe. Wambiza uSamuweli, wamyalela ukuba achaze ngokuthembeka oko uYehova akutyhilileyo. Umfana wathobela, yaza indoda enkulu yathoba ngokuzinikela okuthobekileyo kwisigwebo esothusayo. Wathi: “NguYehova; makenze oko kulungileyo emehlweni akhe.”ANa 582.3

Noko kunjalo, uEli akazange abonakalise iziqhamo zenguquko yenene. Walivuma ityala lakhe, kodwa wasilela ukusishiya isono. Umnyaka nomnyaka uYehova wazilibazisa izigwebo ebezixeliwe. Kuninzi okwakunokwenziwa ngaloo minyaka ukuhlangula ukusilela okwadlulayo, kodwa ingwevu yombingeleli ayizange ithabathe manyathelo abonakalayo ukulungisa ububi obabungcolisa ingcwele kaYehova, bukwakhokelela amawaka kwaIsrayeli entshabalalweni. Ukunyamezela kukaThixo kwabenza uHofeni noPinehasi ukuba bazenze lukhuni iintliziyo zabo nokuba babe nesibindi kakhulu ukwaphula umthetho. Izigidimi zokulumkisa nokungxolisa kwindlu yakhe, zenziwa nguEli ukuba zaziwe sisizwe sonke. Ngale ndlela wayethembe ukuthintela, ngandlela ithile, impembelelo embi yokutyeshela kwakhe kwexesha elidlulileyo. Sekunjalo, izilumkiso azizange zikhathalelwe ngabantu, kwangokunjalo nangababingeleli. Abantu bezizwe ezazibangqongile nabo, ababengaswelanga lwazi ngobugwenxa obuphandle obabusenziwa kwaIsrayeli, baya baqina ngakumbi ekunquleni kwabo izithixonokwaphulaumthetho. Abazange bazive benobutyala ngezono zabo, njengoko bebeya kuziva ukuba amaIsrayeli ayekugcinile ukuhlonipheka kwawo. Yona imini yembuyekezo yayisondela. Igunya likaThixo lalibekwe bucala, unqulo lwaKhe lungakhathalelwe, ludeliwe, kwaza kwanyanzeleka ukuba angenelele, ukuze uzuko lwegama laKhe lukwazi ukugcinwa.ANa 582.4

“Aphuma amaIsrayeli, eya kuwahlangabeza amaFilisti [ukuba] alwe nawo; amisa iintente ngase-Ebenezere, amaFilisti amisa eAfeki.” Eli phulo lenziwa ngamaIsrayeli ngaphandle kwecebiso elivela kuThixo, ngaphandle kokuvuma kombingeleli omkhulu okanye umprofeti. Aza amaFilisti akha uluhlu lokulwa namaIsrayeli. Idabi lwanwenwezela, abulawa amaIsrayeli phambi kwamaFilisti. Kwabulawa eluhlwini ethafeni apho amadoda akumawaka amane.” Athi ophuke iintliziyo etyhafile abuyela enkampini yawo, aza “athi amadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli, Yini na ukuba uYehova asibulale namhla phambi kwamaFilisti?” Isizwe sasivuthelwe izigwebo zikaThixo, ukanti abazange babone ukuba izono zabo zizo ezingunobangela wale ntlekele imbi. Baya bathi, “Masiye kuthabatha ityeya yomnqophiso kaYehova eShilo, ibe kuthi, ize phakathi kwethu, isisindise esandleni seentshaba zethu.” UYehova wayenganikanga myalelo okanye mvume ukuba ityeya ize emkhosini; kodwa uIsrayeli waziva eqinisekile ukuba uloyiso luya kuba lolwakhe waza wakhwaza yakuba ithwelelwe enkampini ngoonyana bakaEli.ANa 583.1

AmaFilisti ayikhangela ityeya njengothixo kaIsrayeli. Yonke imisebenzi yamandla kaYehova eyenzelwa abantu baKhe, kwathiwa yenziwa ngamandla ayo. Akuva imikhwazo yovuyo ukufika kwayo, athi, “Sesanina esi sandi sokuduma kungaka eminqubeni yamaHebhere? Azi ke ukuba ityeya kaYehova ifikile eminqubeni. Oyika amaFilisti, kuba ebesithi, UThixo ufikile eminqubeni. Athi, Yeha ke thina! Ngokuba akuzanga kube nje ngaphambili. Yeha ke thina! Ngubani na oya kusihlangula esandleni saba thixo babungangamsha bungaka? Ngaba thixo aba babulala amaYiputa ngezibetho zonke entlango. Yomelelani, nibe ngamadoda, nina maFilisti, hleze nikhonze kumaHebhere, njengokuba ekhonze kuni wona. Yibani ngamadoda, nilwe.”ANa 583.2

AmaFilisti enza uhlaselo olunzima, olwaba nesiphumo sokoyiswa kukaIsrayeli, ngokubulawa okukhulu. Amawaka angamashumi amathathu alala efile kwayiwayo, yaza ityeya kaThixo yathatyathwa, oonyana ababini bakaEli bewe edabini ngexesha belwela ukuyikhusela. Ngoko kwaphinda kwasala kwimbali ubungqina bazo zonke izizukulwana ezilandelayo—bokuba ubugwenxa babantu abazibiza ngoThixo abusayi kuze bungohlwaywa. Okona lulukhulu ulwazi ngentando kaThixo, okona sisikhulu isono sabo bangalukhathaleliyo.ANa 583.3

Eyona ntlekele yoyikisayo enokwenzeka, yamfikela uIsrayeli. Ityeya kaThixo yayithinjiwe, yaye isezandleni zotshaba. Uzuko, ngokwenene, lwalumkile kuIsrayeli xa umfuziselo wobukho obuhlala bukho kunye namandla kaYehova ususiwe phakathi kwabo. Kule bhokisi ingcwele, kwakwayanyiswe nezona zityhilelo zimangalisayo zenyaniso namandla kaThixo. Kwimihla yangaphambili, uloyiso olungummangaliso lwaluzuzwa ngalo lonke ixesha ivela. Yayigqunywe ngamaphiko eekerubhi zegolide, kukho kunye nobuqaqawuli obungathethekiyo beShekina, umfuziselo obonakalayo kaThixo Osenyangweni, ubuhleli phezu kwayo kwingcwele kangcwele. Ngeli xesha, yayingezanga noloyiso. Ayizange ibe lukhuselo kwesi isiganeko, kwaye kukho ukukhala kuye wonke uIsrayeli.ANa 584.1

Abazange bazi ukuba ukholo lwabo lwalulolomlomo nje kuphela, nokuba lwalahlekwa ngamandla alo okoyisa noThixo. Umthetho kaThixo, owawusetyeyeni, nawo wawungumfuziselo wobukho baKhe; kodwa bayicekisa imithetho, bayidelela imiqathango yayo, baza bamenza buhlungu uMoya kaYehova owaye kunye nabo. Xa abantu babeyithobela imiyalelo engcwele, uYehova wayeba kunye nabo ukuba abasebenzele ngamandla aKhe angenasiphelo; kodwa xa bekhangele etyeyeni, bangazihlanganisi noThixo, okanye bangayizukisi intando yaKhe etyhiliweyo ngokuthobela umthetho waKhe, ibingayi kubanceda ukudlula ibhokisi eqhelekileyo. Bakhangela etyeyeni njengesizwe esinqula isithixo sikhangele koothixo baso, ngokungathi apho kuyo kufumaneka amandla nosindiso. Bawaphula umthetho owawukuyo; kuba kwa-ukuyinqula oku ityeya, kwazisa ukwenza ngesiqhelo, ukuhanahanisa, nokunqula isithixo. Isono sabo sabathula kuThixo, waza akakwazi ukubanika uloyiso, bade baguquke, babushiye ubugwenxa babo.ANa 584.2

Kwakunganelanga ukuba ityeya nengcwele zibe phakathi kukaIsrayeli. Kwakunganelanga ukuba ababingeleli benikele imibingelelo, nokuba abantu babizwe ngokuba bangabantwana bakaThixo. UYehova akaziphenduli izicelo zabo banobugwenxa entliziyweni; kubhaliwe kwathiwa, “Osusa indlebe yakhe ekusiphulaphuleni isiyalo, kwanomthandazo wakhe ulisikizi.” Mizekeliso 28:9.ANa 584.3

Ngexesha umkhosi wawusiya edabini, uEli, eyimfama emdala, walinda eShilo. Wayenxube kakhulu ekulindeleni kwakhe iziphumo zemfazwe; “ngokuba ibigubha intliziyo yakhe ngenxa yetyeya kaThixo.” Wathabatha indawo yakhe ngasesangweni lomnquba, wahlala ngasendleleni yonke imihla, elindele ngexhala ukufika komthunywa ovela apho kuliwa khona.ANa 585.1

Emva kwethuba elide, kwavela indoda engumBhenjamin isuka emkhosini, “iingubo zayo zikrazukile, inomhlaba entloko,” yeza ingxamile inyuka iqhina eliza emzini. Yadlula ingayiqaphelanga ingwevu eyayisecaleni kwendlela, yakhawuleza yangena esixekweni, yaxelela isihlwele esilinde sixhalabile iindaba zokoyiswa kunye nelahleko.ANa 585.2

Isandi sokukhala nokumbambazela safikelela kumlindi ongasemnqubeni. Umthunywa waziswa kuye. Yaza yathi indoda kaEli, “Asabile amaIsrayeli phambi kwamaFilisti, kananjalo oonyana bakho bobabini bafile, ooHofeni noPinehasi.” UEli wayenako ukuyinyamezela yonke le nto, imbi injalo, kuba wayeyilindele. Wathi kodwa umthunywa akongeza ngelithi, “ityeya kaThixo ithinjiwe,” inkangeleko yentlungu engathethekiyo yayigubungela imbonakalo yakhe. Ingcamango yokuba isono sakhe asizange simzukise uThixo saza samenza ukuba aburhoxise ubukho baKhe kuIsrayeli, yaba yinto engaphezu kokuba angayithwala; waphelelwa ngamandla, wawa, “waphuka ilungu lentamo, wafa.”ANa 585.3

Umfazi kaPinehasi, engachukunyiswa kukungamoyiki uThixo komyeni wakhe, yena wayengumfazi owayemoyika uYehova. Ukufa kukayisezala kunye nomyeni wakhe, ngaphezu kwako konke, iindaba ezimbi zokuba ityeya kaThixo yayithinjiwe, zabangela ukufa kwakhe. Waqonda ukuba ithemba lokugqibela likaIsrayeli limkile; waza wambiza umntwana awamzala ngale yure yentlekele, ngokuba nguIkabhode, okanye “uzuko lumkile,” njengoko wathi xa ephefumla okokugqibela esifa, enesikhalo, wawaphinda amazwi athi, “Uzuko lumkile kwaIsrayeli; kuba ityeya kaThixo ithinjiwe.”ANa 585.4

Noko kunjalo, uYehova wayengabalahlanga kwaphela abantu baKhe, waye engayi kuyinyamezela thuba lide into yokuvuya kwabahedeni. Wayewasebenzise amaFilisti njengesixhobo sokohlwaya uIsrayeli, waza wasebenzisa ityeya ukuwohlwaya amaFilisti. Ngexesha langaphambili, uBukho bezulu babunayo, ukuba ibe ngamandla nozuko kubantu baKhe abathobelayo. Obo Bukho bungabonakaliyo babuse kuyo, ukuze buzise ukoyika nentshabalao kubaphuli bomthetho waKhe ongcwele. UYehova ukholisa ukusebenzisa ezona ntshaba zimbi ukohlwaya ukunganyaniseki kwabantu ababizwa ngaYe. Abakhohlakeleyo bangoyisa okwexesha xa bebona uIsrayeli esohlwaywa, kodwa ixesha liya kufika xa nabo kuya kufuneka bahlangane nesigwebo sikaThixo ongcwele, osithiyileyo isono. Lonke ixesha kukho ubugwenxa, ngokukhawuleza nangaphandle kwempazamo, izigwebo zezulu ziya kulandela apho.ANa 585.5

AmaFilisti ayisusa ityeya ngovuyo loloyiso ayisa eAshdodi, esinye kwisihlanu sezixeko zawo eziphambili, ayibeka endlwini yothixo wawo uDagon. Ayecinga ukuba amandla awathi, ukuza kufikelela kweli xesha, abonakala ekho kwityeya, aya kuba ngawawo, nokuba, la, xa ehlangene namandla kaDagon, aya kuwenza ukuba angabi nakoyiswa. Athi ngako nje ukuba kungenwe etempileni, abona umbono owawazalisa kukumangaliswa okukhulu. UDagon wayewe ngobuso emhlabeni phambi kwetyeya kaYehova. Ngentlonipho, ababingeleli bamphakamisa bambuyisela endaweni yakhe. Kwathi ngemini elandelayo, bamfumana, onakaliswe ngendlela exakayo, kwakhona ekwalele emhlabeni phambi kwetyeya. Umntla wesi sithixo wawufana nowomntu, aze amazantsi afane nentlanzi. Ngoku, yonke indawo eyayifana nomntu yayisusiwe, kusele kuphela lo mzimba ufana nentlanzi. Ababingeleli nabantu bazaliswa luloyiko; basikhangela esi siganeko simangalisayo njengesixela ububi, esihlola intshabalalo ebazelayo, bona nezithixo zabo, phambi koThixo wamaHebhere. Baya bayisusa ngoku ityeya etempileni yabo bayibeka kwisakhiwo apho yayiyodwa khona.ANa 586.1

Abahlali baseAshdodi babethwa ngesifo esinoxinzelelo nesibulalayo. Bathi bakukhumbula izibetho eyabethwa ngazo iYiputa nguThixo kaIsrayeli, abantu bathi ukubethwa kwabo kubangwa bubukho betyeya phakathi kwabo. Kwagqitywa ukuba ithwalelwe kwaGati. Nalapho isibetho salandela yakuba isusiwe, aza amadoda eso isixeko ayithumela e-Ekron. Apha abantu bayamkela ngoloyiko, bakhala besithi, “Bayijikele kuthi ityeya yoThixo kaIsrayeli, ukuba isibulale thina nabantu bakowethu.” Babhenela koothixo babo befuna ukukhuselwa, njengoko benzayo abantu baseGati naseAshdodi; kodwa umsebenzi womtshabalalisi waqhubeka, kwada, ekuxinzelekeni kwabo, “kwenyuka kwaya ezulwini ukuzibika komzi.” Bathi ngokoyika ukuyigcina ithuba elide ityeya phakathi kwamakhaya amadoda, abantu bayibeka kude ethafeni. Apho kwalandela isibetho seempuku, ezalihlaselayo ilizwe, zitshabalalisa imveliso yomhlaba, koovimba nasemadlelweni. Intshabalalo egqugqisayo, ngesifo okanye indlala, yasifikela isizwe.ANa 586.2

Kwaba ziinyanga ezisixhenxe ityeya ihleli eFilisti, kanti ngalo lonke eli xesha, amaIsrayeli awazange enze zinzame zokubuyiswa kwayo. Eyona nto, ngeli xesha amaFilistiayexunele ukuzikhulula kubukho bayo, njengoko ayenjalo ukuyifumana kwawo. Endaweni yokuba ibe lithende lamandla kuwo, yaba ngumthwalo omkhulu, nesiqalekiso esinzima. Aye engazi nokuba angenza ntoni; kuba, naphina apho yayisiya khona, izibetho zazilandela. Abantu babiza amadoda amakhulu esizwe, nababingeleli, nabaneshologu, babuza bekhathazekile, “Siyithini na ityeya kaYehova? Saziseni into esingayigodusa nayo, iye endaweni yayo?” Bacetyiswa ukuba bayibuyise inomnikelo wetyala wexabiso elikhulu. Bathi ababingeleli, “Niya kuphiliswa; kuya kwandula ukwazeka kuni, ukuba bekungani na ukuba isandla saKhe singesuki kuni.”ANa 587.1

Ukutyhalela kude okanye ukususa isibetho, kwakusisithethe kudala ukwenza umfanekiso wegolide, isilivere, okanye esinye isixhobo, waloo nto yayisenza intshabalalo, okanye wento okanye inxalenye yesiqu eso sichukumisekayo. Lo mfanekiso wawuxhonywa esibondeni okanye kwindawo ebonakalayo, kufuneke ukuba ube lukhuselo olusebenzayo kububi obo umele bona. Into enjalo isenzeka nangoku phakathi kwabantu abangabahedeni. Uthi umntu xa egula sisifo, ayokufuna unyango etempileni yesithixo sakhe, uphatha into eyinxalenye yaleyo ichukumisekileyo, athi ayinikele njengombingelelo kuthixo lowo wakhe.ANa 587.2

Yayihambelana nenkolo eyayilawula into amadoda amakhulu awayalela abantu ukuba bayenze khon’ ukuze banikele kwizibetho ababebethwa ngazo—“amathumba egolide amahlanu, neempuku zegolide ezintlanu, ngokwenani lezikhulu zamaFilisti; ngokuba, bathi, “sinye isibetho kuni nonke, nakwizikhulu zenu.”ANa 587.3

La madoda alumkileyo awavuma amandla ayimfihlelo ahamba netyeya—amandla awayengenabo ubulumko bokuqubisana nawo. Kanti ke, awazange abacebise abantu ukuba babuye ekukhonzeni kwabo izithixo bakhonze uYehova. Ayesamthiyile uThixo kaIsrayeli, nangona ayenyanzelekile zizigwebo ezaziwagubungele ukuba athobe phantsi kwegunya laKhe. Ngoko ke, aboni bangoyisakala zizigwebo zikaThixo ukuba kulilize ukulwa naYe. Banokunyanzeleka ukuba bazithobe phantsi kwamandla aKhe, lo gama entliziyweni beluvukela ulawulo lwaKhe. Ukuvuma okunjalo akunako ukumsindisa umoni. Intliziyo kufuneka inikelwe kuThixo—kufuneka ithotywe lubabalo lwezulu—phambi kokuba yamkeleke inguquko yomntu.ANa 587.4

Hay’ ukuba mkhulu komonde kaThixo ngakubantu abakhohlakeleyo! AmaFilisti anqula izithixo noIsrayeli ohlehlileyo, bonke ngokufanayo, bazonwabela izipho zokubonelela kwaKhe. Amawaka alishumi eenceba ezingaqondwanga zazisiwa ngokuzolileyo endleleni yabantu abangenambulelo nabavukelayo. Yonke intsikelelo yathetha kubo ngoMniki, kodwa abazange balukhathalele uthando lwaKhe. Ukunyamezela kukaThixo kwaba kukhulu kakhulu koonyana babantu; kodwa bathi bakuqhubeka ngeenkani ekungaguqukini kwabo, wasisusa phezu kwabo isandla esikhuselayo. Bala ukuliphulaphula ilizwi likaThixo ngemisebenzi ayidalileyo nezilumkiso, amacebiso, nokuthethisa kwelizwi laKhe, waza wanyanzeleka ukuba athethe nabo ngezibetho.ANa 588.1

Babekho abanye phakathi kwamaFilisti ababelungele ukuyibuyisela ityeya kumhlaba wayo. Ukuvunywa okunjalo kwamandla kaThixo kaIsrayeli, kwakulihlazo kwikratshi lamaFilisti. Noko kunjalo, “ababingeleli nabavumisi” babaluleka abantu ukuba bangalinganisi iinkani zikaFaro kunye namaYiputa, baze bazizisele okunye ukungcungcutheka okungaphezulu. Kwacetyiswa icebo elaya lamkeleka kubo bonke, laza lenziwa ngokukhawuleza. Ityeya, kunye nedini letyala, yabekwa phezu kwenqwelo entsha, ngaloo ndlela kuphetshwa yonke ingozi yokungcoliseka; kule nqwelwana, okanye inqwelo, kwabotshwa amazibulekazi amabini ekungazanga kwabekwa dyokhwe ezintanyeni zawo. Amankonyana awo avalelwa ekhaya, zaza iimazi zayekwa ukuba zikhululeke ziye apho zifuna ukuya khona. Ukuba ityeya kwakufuneka ngaloo ndlela ibuyiselwe kumaIsrayeli ngendlela yaseBhete-shemeshe, esona sixeko sikufuphi sabaLevi, amaFilisti ayeya kuyamkela le nto njengobungqina bokuba uThixo kaIsrayeli wenza kuwo ububi obukhulu; “ukuba kuthe akwaba njalo,” batsho, “sothi sazi ukuba asibethwe sisandla sakhe, sihlelwe sisihlo.”ANa 588.2

Ekukhululweni kwawo, amazibulekazi awashiya amankonyana awo athi, enxakama ehamba, athabatha indlela esinga eBhete-shemeshe. Zathi, zingakhokelwa sisandla somntu, ezi zilwanyana zinomonde zayibamba indlela yazo. Ubukho obungcwele bayikhapha ityeya, yadlula ikhuselekile ukuya kufika ikhuselekile kwindawo kanye ebiqatshiwe. Yayilixesha lokuvuna ngoku, baye abantu baseBhete-shemeshe bevuna entilini. “Bawaphakamisa amehlo abo, bayibona ityeya, bavuya bakuyibona. Inqwelo yafika entsimini kaYoshuwa waseBhete-shemeshe, yema khona. Bekukho ilitye elikhulu khona. Bayicanda imithi yenqwelo, bazinyusa iimazi ezintsha ezo zalidini elinyukayo kuYehova.” Izikhulu zamaFilisti,ezaziyilandelaityeya“emdeniwaseBhete-shemeshe,” zaza zakubona ukwamkelwa kwayo, zaya zabuyela e-Ekron. Isibetho saphela, aza aqiniseka ukuba iintlekele zabo yayizizibetho ezivela kuThixo kaIsrayeli.ANa 588.3

Abantu baseBhete-shemeshe bakhawuleza bazisasaza iindaba zokuba ityeya yayikubo, baza abantu abasuka kwiindawo ezibangqongileyo babuthelana khona ukuba bakwamkele ukubuya kwayo. Ityeya yayibekwe phezu kwelitye elaya lasetyenziswa kuqala njengesibingelelo, kwaza phambi kwayo kongezwa imibingelelo eyanikelwa kuYehova. Ukuba abanquli babeguqukile kwizono zabo, intsikelelo kaThixo ngeyaba phezu kwabo. Babengathobeli umthetho waKhe ngokwenene; baza bathi nangona bevuyiswa kukubuya kwetyeya njengesandulela sokulungileyo, babe bengenalo ulwazi ngobungcwele bayo. Endaweni yokuba balungise indawo efanelekileyo yokwamkelwa kwayo, bayiyeka ukuba ihlale emasimini ekuvunwa kuwo. Bathi ngokuqhubeka beyiqwalasele le bhokisi ingcwele, bethetha ngommangaliso wendlela ebuyiswe ngayo, baqala ukuqashisela ukuba angaba alelephi amandla ayo angaqhelekanga. Ekugqibeleni, beqhutywa kukufuna ukwazi, bazisusa izigqubuthelo banesibindi sokuyivula.ANa 589.1

Wonke uIsrayeli wayefundiswe ukuyiphatha ityeya ngembeko nentlonipho. Xa kufuneka isusiwe endaweni iye kwenye, abaLevi babengakwazi ukuyikhangela. Kwakuba kanye ngonyaka, awayevunyelwa umbingeleli omkhulu ukuba ayikhangele ityeya kaThixo. Nabahedeni bamaFilisti abazange babe nesibindi sokuzisusa izigqubuthelo zayo. Iingelosi zasezulwini, ezingabonwayo, zazisoloko ziyijongile kuko konke ukuhamba kwayo. Ukungahloniphi okunesibindi kwabantu baseBhete-shemeshe kohlwaywa ngokukhawuleza. Abaninzi babethwa ngokufa kwesiquphe.ANa 589.2

Abo basindayo asizange sibenze esi sibetho ukuba baguquke kwisono sabo, kodwa bayibona ityeya ngoloyiko olunenkolo. Bathi ngokulangazelela ukukhululeka kubukho bayo, kodwa bengenasibindi sokuyisusa, abantu baseBhete-shemeshe bathumela isigidimi kubemi baseKiriyati-yeharim, bebamema ukuba bayisuse. Ngovuyo olukhulu amadoda ale ndawo ayamkela ibhokisi engcwele. Babesazi ukuba yayingumqondiso wothando lwezulu kwabathobelayo nabanyanisekileyo. Ngovuyo olunendili, bayizisa kwisixeko sabo bayibeka endlwini ka-Abhinadabhi, umLevi. Le ndoda yanyula unyana wayo uElazare ukuba ayigcine, yaza yahlala apho iminyaka emininzi.ANa 589.3

Ngayo yonke iminyaka, kususela ukuba uYehova waqala ukuzibonakalisa kunyana kaHana, ubizo lukaSamuweli kumsebenzi wobuprofeti waziwa sisizwe sonke. Ukuba agqithisengokuthembeka isilumkiso sezulu kwindlukaEli, ubuhlungu,unzimaunjaloloo msebenzi, uSamuweli wayenikwe ubungqina bokunyaniseka kwakhe njengomthunywa kaYehova; “uYehova waba naye, akwawa phantsi nalinye ilizwi emazwini akhe onke emhlabeni. Onke amaIsrayeli, ethabathele kwaDan esa eBher-shebha, azi ukuba uSamuweli ngumprofeti kaYehova.”ANa 590.1

AmaIsrayeli, njengesizwe, aqhubeka kwimo yokungabi nanto yakwenza nokholo, nokunqula izithixo, kwaza, ukuwohlwaya, ahlala ecinezelwe ngamaFilisti. Ngeli xesha, uSamuweli wahambela izixeko namaphandle kulo lonke ilizwe, ezama ukubuyisela iintliziyo zabantu kuThixo wooyise; yaza imizamo yakhe ayaba neziphumo ezingalunganga. Emva kokubulaleka kwingcinezelo yeentshaba zabo iminyaka engamashumi amabini, amaIsrayeli “akhala kuYehova.” USamuweli wacebisana nawo, “Ukuba nibuyela kuYehova ngentliziyo yenu yonke, basuseni ke phakathi kwenu oothixo bolunye uhlanga nooAshtaroti, nizimise iintliziyo zenu kuYehova, nikhonze yena yedwa.” Apha sibona ubungcwele obuphathekayo, inkolo yentliziyo, yafundiswa ngemihla kaSamuweli njengoko yafundiswa nguKristu ngexesha wayephezu komhlaba. Ngaphandle kobabalo lukaKristu, iindlela zenkolo ebonwa ngaphandle, zazingenalo ixabiso kuIsrayeli wakudala. Ziyafana nezikaIsrayeli wexesha langoku.ANa 590.2

Kukho intswelo namhlanje yemvuselelo enjalo, yenkolo yentliziyo, njengoko waba nayo uIsrayeli. Inguquko linyathelo lokuqala ekufuneka lithatyathiwe ngabo bonke abafuna ukubuyela kuThixo. Akakho onokwenzela omnye lo msebenzi. Kufuneka ngabanye siyithobe imiphefumlo yethu phambi kukaThixo sizisuse izithixo zethu. Sakuba sikwenzile konke esinokukwenza, uYehova uya kulubonakalisa kuthi usindiso lwaKhe.ANa 590.3

Ngokusebenzisana nezikhulu zezizwe, intlanganiso enkulu yahlanganisana eMizpa. Apha, kwabanjwa uzilo oluzukileyo. Ngokuzithoba okukhulu, abantu bazivuma izono zabo; kwathi njengesibonakaliso sokuzimisela kwabo ukuthobela imiyalelo ababeyivile, babeka phezu kukaSamuweli igunya lokuba abe ngumgwebi.ANa 590.4

AmaFilisti ayibona le ngqungquthela njengequmrhu lemfazwe yekhaya, aza athi, ngomkhosi owomeleleyo, aphuma ukuba awachithachithe amaIsrayeli phambi kokuba amacebo awo avuthwe. Iindaba zokuza kwawo zabangela uloyiko olukhulu kuIsrayeli. Abantu bambongoza uSamuweli, “Musa ukuyeka ukusikhalela kuYehova uThixo wethu, asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.”ANa 590.5

Lo gama uSamuweli wayekwisenzo sokunikela imvananjengedinielinyukayo,amaFilistiasondelaukubaeze edabini. Kwathi ngoko, Lowo unamandla owehla phezu kweSinayi phakathi komlilo nomsi nendudumo, owavula uLwandle oluBomvu wenzela abantwana bakaIsrayeli indlela ewela iYordan, waphinda wawabonakalisa amandla aKhe. Kwabakho isaqhwithi esikhulu phezu komkhosi ozayo, umhlaba wathi saa imizimba efileyo yamadoda okulwa angamagorha.ANa 591.1

AmaIsrayeli ema ethe cwaka enoloyiko, engcangcazela lithemba nokoyika. Athi akubona ukubulawa kweentshaba zawo, azi ukuba uThixo ukwamkele ukuguquka kwawo. Nangona ayengalilungelanga idabi, azithabatha izixhobo zamaFilisti abuleweyo awulandela umkhosi osabayo aya kufika eBhetekare. Olu loyiso lungumqondiso lwazuzwa kuyo yonke indawo apho, kwiminyaka engamashumi amabini ngaphambili, uIsrayeli wabethwa khona phambi kwamaFilisti, ababingeleli babulawa, ityeya kaThixo yathatyathwa. Kwizizwe nakubantu ngabanye, indlela yokuthobela uThixo yindlela yenkuseleko nolonwabo, lo gama eyokreqo ikhokelela kuphela kwintlekele nokoyiswa. AmaFilisti ngoku oyiswa ngokupheleleyo kangangokuba azinikela iindawo ezinqabileyo ezazihluthwe kuIsrayeli, aziyeka izenzo zenkohlakalo iminyaka emininzi. Nezinye izizwe zawulandela lo mzekelo, aza amaIsrayeli onwabela uxolo lwada lwaphela ulawulo lukaSamuweli eyedwa.ANa 591.2

Ukuze singaze silityalwe eso siganeko, uSamuweli wabeka, phakathi kweMizpa neShen, ilitye elikhulu ukuba libe sisikhumbuzo. Wathi igama layo yiEbhenezere, “ilitye loncedo,” esithi ebantwini, “Kude kwaba lapha uYehova esinceda.”ANa 591.3