72—Uvukelo Luka-Abhisalom

[Esi sahluko sisekwe ku-2 Samuweli 13 ukuya kwi-19.]

“Iya kuyimisela ngesine,” esi yayisisigwebo esenziwe nguDavide phezu kwakhe engaqondanga, akuba ephulaphule umzekeliso kamprofeti uNatan; kwathi ngokwesigwebo sakhe, kwafuneka egwetyiwe. Abane koonyana bakhe kufuneka bewile, kwaye ukulahleka kwakhe ngamnye kuya kuba sisiphumo sesono sikayise.ANa 727.1

Ulwaphulo-mthetho olulihlazo luka-Amnon, izibulo, lwavunyelwa nguDavide ukuba ludlule lungakhange lohlwaywe okanye lukhalinyelwe. Umthetho wawusithi umkrexezi makafe, kanti ukwaphula umthetho kuka-Amnon kona kwakumenza ukuba abe nobutyala ngokuphindwe kabini. Sekunjalo, uDavide, ezigwebile yena ngesakhe isono, wasilela ukuzisa ubulungisa kulo moni. Kwaba yiminyaka emibini yonke, uAbhisalom, umkhuseli wemveli wodade wabo owoniwe kakubi kangako, eyifihlile injongo yakhe yempindezelo, kodwa eqinisekile ukuba ekugqibeleni uza kuyenza. Kwathi kwitheko loonyana bakakumkani, uAmnon owayenxilile, nowacaphukisayo wabulawa ngokomyalelo womntakwabo.ANa 727.2

Isigwebo esintlantlu-mbini sabekwa phezu kukaDavide. Isigidimi esibi sathunyelwa kuye, “UAbhisalom ubabulele bonke oonyana bokumkani, akwasala namnye. Wesuka ukumkani, wazikrazula iingubo zakhe, waqungquluza emhlabeni; bonke abakhonzi bakhe bemi ngakuye, bezikrazule iingubo zabo.” Oonyana bakakumkani, bebuyela bothukile eYerusalem, bayityhila kuyise inyaniso; uAmnon wayebulewe; “baliphakamisa ilizwi labo, balila: kananjalo ukumkani nabakhonzi bakhe bonke batsho isililo esikhulu kunene.” Yena uAbhisalom wabalekela kuTalemayi, ukumkani waseGeshuri, uyisemkhulu wakhe ngonina.ANa 727.3

Njengabanye oonyana bakaDavide, uAmnon wayeyekelwe ekuzibhodlozeni kokuthanda kwakhe. Wayesemva kokwanelisa yonke ingcinga yentliziyo yakhe, engakhathali nokuba ifuna ntoni intando kaThixo. Nangona enesono esikhulu, uThixo wayemnyamezele. Iminyaka emibini wayenikwe ithuba lokuguquka; kodwa waqhubeka esona, waza wathi enobutyala phezu kwakhe, wanqunyulwa kukufa, ukuze alindele ukuvela kwinkundla yamatyala eyoyikekayo ngomgwebo.ANa 727.4

UDavide walutyeshela uxanduva lokohlwaya ukona kuka-Amnon, kwathi ngenxa yokungathembeki kokumkani nonguyise kunye nokungaguquki konyana, uYehova wavumela iziganeko ukuba zihambe indawo yazo, akambamba uAbhisalom. Xa abazali okanye abalawuli betyeshela uxanduva lokohlwaya ubugwenxa, uThixo ngokwaKhe uya kuwuthabathela kuYe umcimbi. Amandla aKhe athintelayo aya kuthi, okwethutyana, asuswe kwizithunywa zobubi, ukuze umsinga weemeko unyuke, oya kuthi wohlwaye isono ngesono.ANa 728.1

Iziphumo ezibi zokumyekela okungalunganga kukaDavide uAmnon azizange ziphele, kuba kulapha apho ubutshaba phakathi kuka-Abhisalom noyise baqala khona. Emva kokuba ebalekele eGeshure, uDavide, ebona ukuba ityala lonyana wakhe lidinga ukohlwaywa ngandlela ithile, wala ukumnika imvume ukuba abuye. Oku kwakholisa ukubandisa endaweni yokubucutha ububi obungenako ukuconjululwa awangena kubo ukumkani. UAbhisalom, onamandla, othanda udumo, nongaqeqeshekanga, owavalelwa kukuzigxotha kwakhe ukuba angabi nanxaxheba kwimicimbi yobukumkani, waya wazinikela ekubeni enze amacebo ayingozi.ANa 728.2

Ekupheleni kweminyaka emibini, uYowabhi wazimisela ukuba enze ukuba kubekho uxolelwano phakathi kukayise nonyana. Wathi enale njongo, wafumana uncedo lomfazi waseTekowa, owayesaziwa ngobulumko. Eyalelwe nguYowabhi, lo mfazi wazimisa phambi kukaDavide njengomhlolokazi owayenoonyana ababini ukuba bamxhase bamthuthuzele. Ekuxabaneni, omnye kubo wambulala omnye, zaza ngoku zonke izihlobo zosapho zanyanzelisa ukuba lowo usindileyo anikelwe kumphindezeli wegazi. “Ukuze,” watsho unina “bacime ilahle lam eliseleyo, bangayisaliseli indoda yam igama nempunde emhlabeni.” Izimvo zikakumkani zachukumiseka sesi sibheno, waza wamqinisekisa umfazi lowo ngokhuselo lwasebukumkanini ngenxa yonyana wakhe.ANa 728.3

Emva kokuba efumene kuye izithembiso eziphindaphindiweyo ngenkuseleko yomfana, wamcenga ukumkani ukuba amnyamezele, esithi, uthethe njengonetyala (ukumkani), kuba engambuyiselanga ekhaya umgxothwa wakhe. “Ngokuba,” watsho, “simelwe kukufa, sinjengamanzi aphaleleyo emhlabeni, angenakuhlanganiswa; noThixo akasusi mphefumlo, ufuna icebo, ukuze angamgxothi kuye umgxothwa. ” Lo mzobo uthandekayo nochukumisayo wothando lukaThixo ngakumoni, ngakumbi uvela kuYowabhi, isoldati elinobukrwada, usisibonakaliso esicacileyo sokuqhelana kwamaIsrayeli neenyaniso ezinkulu zokuhlangulwa. Wathi ukumkani, esiva okwakhe ukuyidinga inceba kaThixo, akabi nako ukusala esi sicelo. UYowabhi wanikwa umyalelo, “Hamba uye, umbuyise umfana lowo uAbhisalom.”ANa 728.4

UAbhisalom wavunyelwa ukuba abuyele eYerusalem, kodwa angaveli phambi kwenkundla okanye ahlangane noyise. UDavide wayeqalile ukusibona isiphumo esibi sokubayekelela abantwana bakhe; wathi ngobubele, njengoko wayemthanda lo nyana wakhe mhle, unazo neziphiwo, wabona kufanelekile, njengesifundo kuAbhisalom nasebantwini, ukuba ukuthiyeka kolwaphulo-mthetho olunjalo makubonakaliswe. UAbhisalom wahlala iminyaka emibini endlwini yakhe, kodwa egxothiwe enkundleni. Udade wabo wahlala naye, baza ubukho bakhe bayigcina ihleli engqondweni yakhe inkumbulo yobubi obenziwa kuye. Ngokucinga kwabantu, inkosana yayiligorha endaweni yokuba ngumoni. Ngenxa yoku thatyathwa kakuhle, yazimisela ukuba izibe, izizuze iintliziyo zabantu. Ukuvela kwayo esidlangalaleni kwakunenjongo yokuba ibukwe ngabo bonke abayibonayo. “Ke kumaIsrayeli onke bekungekho ndoda injengoAbhisalom ukuba yinzwana, ngokokuze adunyiswe kunene; kwathabathela entendeni yonyawo kwesa elukaKayini phezulu, kungekho siphako kuye.” Yayingebubo ubulumko kukumkani ukuba amyeke umntu onesimilo sika-Abhisalom, oneminqweno [yokuhlonitshwa], isingxami, noligcalagcala, ukuba afukame iminyaka emibini into ayibona njengezikhalazo. Isenzo sikaDavide sokumvumela ukuba abuyele eYerusalem, kodwa angamvumeli ukuba avele phambi kwakhe, senza ukuba asizelwe [uAbhisalom] ngabantu.ANa 729.1

Njengoko wayesoloko eyikhumbula indlela yena awagqitha ngayo umthetho kaThixo, uDavide wakhangeleka eqhokreke kakhulu ngasekuziphatheni ngokusesikweni; wababuthakathaka, kwanzima ukwenza izigqibo, kanti ke, ngaphambi kwesono sakhe wayenesibindi esima entweni. Impembelelo yakhe ebantwini yaba nobuthakathaka. Konke oku kwaba kuhle kumacebo onyana wakhe ofana nongaqhelekanga.ANa 729.2

Ngempembelelo kaYowabhi, uAbhisalomi waphinda wavunyelwa ukuba avele phambi kukayise; kodwa kwathi, nangona ngokwembonakalo yangaphandle kwakungathi kukho uxolelwano, waqhubeka yena nokuceba ukwenza ngokweminqweno yakhe. Ngoku, wazimisa ngokomntu ongukumkani, eneenqwelo namahashe, namashumi amahlanu amadoda ahamba phambi kwakhe. Kwathi kuba ukumkani wayefuna, ngakumbi nangakumbi, ukuphumla nokuba yedwa, uAbhisalom ngobuqhophololo, wakufumana ukuthandwa ngabantu.ANa 729.3

Impembelelo yokudangala nokuthingaza kukaDavide yanabela kubantu abalawulayo; ukungakhathali nokuba nemizanga kwabonakala ekwenzeni ubulungisa. UAbhisalom, ngobuchule, wayijikela kokwakhe ukulungelwa yonke into enokunganeliseki. Imihla ngemihla le ndoda yayibonakala ingumntu obekekileyo, yayihlala esangweni lesixeko,aphoizihlwelezabakhalazayozazilindelakhonaukuba zigqithise izikhalo zazo ukuba zibonelelwe. UAbhisalom wayezixuba kunye nabo, aphulaphule izikhalazo zabo, abonise uvelwano ngeentlungu zabo abebuhlungu ngokungabi nasakhono kolawulo. Yakuba iliphulaphule ibali lomntu wakwaIsrayeli, inkosana ibiphendula ithi, “Yabona, indawo zakho ezi zilungile, zithe tse; koko akunamntu wokuzithetha kukumkani;” ongeze athi, “Andaba bendimisiwe ndaba ngumgwebi ezweni apha, beze kum bonke abantu abanendawo ekubanjwene ngayo; ngendibalungisa! Ubesithi, akusondela umntu eza kuqubuda kuye, asuke amnike isandla sakhe, ambambe, amange.”ANa 729.4

Kwathi ngokuxhokonxwa kukuzithandisa ngobuchulekwenkosana, ukunganeliseki lulawulo kwanwenwa ngokukhawuleza. Ukunconywa kuka-Abhisalom kwaba semilonyeni yabo bonke. Wathatyathwa njengendlalifa yasebukhosini; abantu bakhangela kuye ngebhongo njengosifaneleyo isikhundla esiphezulu, lwaza ulangazelelo lokuhlala etroneni lwaphembeka. “Waziba uAbhisalom iintliziyo zamadoda akwaIsrayeli.” Kwathi, kuba ukumkani emfamekiswe kukumthanda unyana wakhe, akakrokrela nto. Indlela enesidima awaziphatha ngayo uAbhisalom, yathatyathwa nguDavide njengezisa intlonipho kwibhotwe lakhe, nanjengebonisa uvuyo kuxolelaniso.ANa 730.1

Zathi zakuba iingqondo zabantu zilungiselwe oko kwakuza kulandela, emfihlakalweni, uAbhisalom wanyula amadoda kuzo zonke izizwe, ukuba ahlanganise amacebo ovukelo. Ngoku kwambathwa ingubo yokuzinikela ngokwasenkolweni ukuze kufihle amaqhinga akhe okungcatsha. Isibhambathiso esasenziwe kudala ngexesha wayesabalekele eHebron kwakufuneka sizalisekisiwe. Wathi uAbhisalom kukumkani, “Makhe ndiye ndisizalise isibhambathiso, endabhambathisa ngaso kuYehova eHebron; ngokuba umkhonzi wakho wabhambathisa ngesibhambathiso ekuhleni kwakhe eGeshuri kwa-Aram, esithi, Ukuba uYehova uthe wandibuyisela ngenene eYerusalem, ndomkhonza uYehova.”ANa 730.2

Uyise onothando, ethuthuzelwa yile mbonakalo yobungcwele kunyana wakhe, wamndulula ngentsikelelo yakhe. Iyelenqe lakhe ngeli xesha lalise livuthwe ngokupheleleyo. Isenzo sokugqibela senkohliso ka-Abhisalom sasingajonganga kuphela ukumfamekisa ukumkani, kodwa nokumisela ukuthenjwa kwakhe ngabantu, nokuze akwazi ukubakhokelela ekuvukeleni ukumkani lowo uThixo wamnyulayo.ANa 730.3

UAbhisalom wahamba ukusinga eHebron, “kwaphuma eYerusalem amakhulu amabini amadoda amenyiweyo; ayehamba eyeke umzimba, engazi nto.” La madoda ahamba noAbhisalom engakhange ayicinge into yokuba ukuthanda kwawo unyana kwakuwakhokelela kuvukelo ngakuyise. AthiakufikaeHebron,uAbhisalomwabizauAhitofele ngokukhawuleza, omnye wamaphakathi amakhulu kaDavide, indoda eyayisaziwa kakhulu ngobulumko, ecebiso layo likhuseleke nelilumke, njengeliphuma kusiyazi, ngokucinga kwabantu. UAhitofele wazimanya nabayili beyelenqe, yaza inkxaso yakhe yenza ukuba injongo ka-Abhisalom ibukeke iqinisekile ukuba iyaphumelela, itsalela phantsi kwebhanile yakhe amadoda amaninzi anempembelelo kuzo zonke iinkalo zelizwe. Lathi lakukhala ixilongo lovukelo, iintlola zenkosi kulo lonke ilizwe zasasaza udaba lokuba uAbhisalom ungukumkani, baza abaninzi kubantu beza bahlanganisana kuye.ANa 730.4

Ngelo xesha kwaya kuhlatywa umkhosi eYerusalem kukumkani. Wabizwa ngokukhawuleza uDavide ukuba abone ukuba kufuphi kovukelo oluqalileyo kwitrone yakhe. Unyana wakhe nqo--unyana awayemthanda emthembile, wayehleli eceba ukusithabatha isithsaba sakhe, ngaphandle kwentandabuzo, kwanobomi bakhe. Kwingozi enkulu awayekuyo, uDavide walususa uxinzelelo olwalusoloko luphezu kwakhe ithuba elide, wathi, ngomoya awakha wanawo ngeminyaka yobutsha bakhe, walungiselela ukuhlangabezana nalo mngeni mbi nokhawulezileyo. UAbhisalom wayiqokelela imikhosi yakhe eHebron, kangangamashumi amabini eemayile kuphela ukuba kude. Abavukeli babeza kukhawuleza bafike emasangweni eYerusalem.ANa 731.1

Wathi ekwibhotwe lakhe, uDavide wakhangela kwikomkhulu lakhe: “Intle ukuphakama kwayo, yimihlali yehlabathi, . . . umzi woKumkani omkhulu.” Ndumiso 48:2. Wangcangcazela akucinga ngoyibeka esichengeni somlo nentshabalalo. Ingaba kufuneka abizele kuye abantu abalawulayo, abo basanyanisekileyo kwitrone yakhe, ukuba baze kumnceda, beme, bakhusele ikomkhulu lakhe? Ingaba kufuneka avumele ukuba iYerusalem intyumpa-ntyumpeke egazini? Wasenza isigqibo. Ububi bemfazwe akufuneki buze kwisixeko esinyuliweyo. Wayeza kuyishiya iYerusalem, aze ahlole ukuthembeka kwabantu bakhe, abanike ithuba lokuhlangana naye ukuza kumxhasa. Kule ntlekele inkulu, yayingumthwalo wakhe kuThixo nakubantu bakhe ukugcina igunya elabekwa phezu kwakhe liZulu. Umcimbi wemfazwe wayeza kuwuyekela kuThixo.ANa 731.2

Ngokuthobeka nangentlungu, uDavide wawashiya amasango eYerusalem—egxothiwe kwitrone yakhe, kwibhotwe lakhe, kwityeya kaThixo, luvukelo lonyana wakhe amthandayo. Abantu balandela bengumqokozo omde olusizi, njengomkrozo womngcwabo. Amafa-nankosi kaDavide amaKreti, namaPelatiya, namakhulu amathandathu amaGati awayevela eGati, phantsi komphathi uItayi, bamkhapha ukumkani. UDavide, njengomntu ongenamona umthetho wakhe, akazange avume ukuba aba bantu basemzini, babefuna inkuseleko kuye, bangabandakanyeka kwintlekele yakhe. Wavakalisa ukumangaliswa kukuba bakulungele ukwenza umbingelelongenxayakhe.Wathi ukumkani kuItayi waseGati,Yininaukubanawe uhambe nathi? Buya, uhlale nokumkani; ngokuba ungowasemzini, ungumfiki, buyela endaweni yakho; ungathi, ufike izolo eli, ndikubhadulise nanamhla, ndikuhambise nathi na, ndisiya apho ndingaya khona nje? Buya ubuyise abazalwana bakho; inceba nenyaniso ibe nawe.”ANa 731.3

UItayi waphendula, “Ehleli nje uYehova, ihleli nje inkosi yam ukumkani, inene, endaweni eya kuba kuyo inkosi yam ukumkani, nokuba kusekufeni, nokuba kusebomini, uya kuba lapho umkhonzi wakho.” La madoda ayeguqulwe esuka ebuhedenini eza kunqulo lukaYehova, aza athi, ngembeko, abonakalisa ukuthembeka kwawo kuThixo wawo nakukumkani. UDavide, ezaliswe ngumbulelo entliziyweni, wakwamkela ukuzinikela kwawo kumsebenzi wakhe owawubonakala uzika, baza bonke bawuwela umlambo iKidron besendleleni esinga entlango.ANa 732.1

Waphinda wema umngcelele. Kwavela iqela elalinxibe iingubo ezingcwele. “Nanko, uTsadoki nabaLevi bonke benaye, bethwele ityeya yomnqophiso kaThixo.” Abalandeli bakaDavide bawukhangela lo mqondiso njengovuyisayo. Ubukho bomfuziselo ongcwele kubo yayisisibhambathiso sokuhlangulwa kwabo noloyiso lwabo ekugqibeleni. Wawuza kubakhuthaza abantu ukuba babe nesibindi sokwayama kukumkani. Ukungabikho kwawo eYerusalem bekusa kuzisa uloyiko kwabo bayame kuAbhisalom.ANa 732.2

Ukubonakala kwetyeya kwazisa uvuyo nethemba okomzuzwana kwayivuyisa intliziyo kaDavide. Kungekudala nje emva koko, kwafika ezinye iingcinga kuye. Njengomlawuli onyuliweyo welifa likaThixo, wayenoxanduva olunendili. Kungezizo izinto ezizezakhe, kodwa ezozuko lukaThixo nokulungelwa kwabantu, zizinto ezo ezaziphambili engqondweni yokumkani kaIsrayeli. UThixo, owayehlala phakathi kweekherubhi, wathi ngeYerusalem, “Nantsi indawo yam yokuphumla kwam” (Ndumiso 132:14); kwaye, ngaphandle kwegunya lezulu, akukho noyedwa, nokuba ngumbingeleli okanye ukumkani, owayenalo ilungelo lokuwususa loo mfuziselo wobukho baKhe. Wayesazi uDavide ukuba intliziyo nobomi bakhe kufuneka buhambelane nemiyalelo engcwele, kungenjalo ityeya yayiya kuba sisixhobo sentlekele kunokuba sibe sesempumelelo. Isono sakhe esikhulu sasisoloko siphambi kwakhe. Wakuphawula, kubuqhetseba bakhe, ukohlwaya kukaThixo okunobulungisa. Ikrele elalingasayi kuze lisuke endlwini yakhe lalikhutshiwe esingxotyeni salo. Wayengazi ukuba isiphumo sedabi sasiya kuba yintoni na. Kwakungeko kwakhe ukususa kwandlunkulu wesizwe imiyalelo engcwele eyayiquke intando yeNgangamsha yabo yezulu, neyayingumgaqo wobukumkani nesiseko sempumelelo yabo.ANa 732.3

Wayalela uTsadoki, “Yibuyisele kuwo umzi ityeya kaThixo. Ukuba ndithe ndababalwa nguYehova wondibuyisa, andibonise yona kwanekhaya lakhe. Ukuba uthe, Andikunanzile; nanku ndikho, makenze kum ngoko kulungileyo emehlweni akhe.”ANa 735.1

UDavide waqokela wathi, “Akuyiyo kanti imboni?” [NKJV],—indoda eyayinyulwe nguThixo ukuba iluleke abantu. “Buyela kuwo umzi unoxolo, no-Ahimahatse unyana wakho, noYonatan unyana ka-Abhiyatare, . . . Yabonani, ndozilazila emazibukweni entlango, kude kufike ilizwi elivela kuni lokundixelela.” Esixekweni, ababingeleli baya benza okulungileyo kuye, ukufunda iindlela neenjongo zabavukeli, baze bathi, ekhusini, bazixele kukumkani ngoonyana bakhe, uAhimatse noYonatan.ANa 735.2

Xa ababingeleli babebuya umva besinga eYerusalem, ithunzi elimnyama kakhulu lawa phezu kwesihlwele esasisimka. Ukumkani wabo eyimbacu, bona bengabalahlelwe phandle, beshiywe nayityeya kaThixo—ikamva lalimnyama kukoyika nokunxuba. “UDavide wenyuka eqhineni leminquma, enyuka elila, egqubuthele intloko, ehamba engenazimbadada ezinyaweni zakhe; bonke abantu abenabo begqubuthele elowo intloko yakhe; benyuka, benyuka belila. Kwaxelwa kuDavide, kwathiwa, uAhitofele ukubacebisi baka-Abhisalom.” UDavide waphinda wanyanzeleka ukuba, kwiintlekele zakhe, abone iziphumo zesakhe isono. Ukushiywa nguAhitofele, eyona nkokeli enesakhono neyona inamaqhinga kwiinkokeli zasembusweni, kwaphenjelelwa yimpindezelo ngenxa yehlazo kusapho, olwalubandakanya uBhatshebha, owayengumzukulwana wakhe (yena Ahitofele).ANa 735.3

“Wathi uDavide, Yehova, khawulitshitshise icebo lika-Ahitofele.” Wathi akufika encotsheni yentaba, ukumkani wathoba wathandaza, elahlela phezu kukaThixo umthwalo womphefumlo wakhe, ngokuzithoba ecela inceba yezulu. Umthandazo wakhe kwakhangeleka ngathi uphendulwe kwangoko. UHushayi umArki, iphakathi elilumkileyo nelinesakhono, elazibonakalisa ukuba lingumhlobo onyanisekileyo kaDavide, ngeli xesha weza kuye, ezikrazule iingubo zakhe enothuli entloko, uDavide wabona, ngokokukhanyiselwa lizulu, ukuba, le ndoda, ithembekileyo nentliziyo yayo inyanisekileyo, yeyona yayifuneka ukuba ibe luncedo kwiimfuno zikakumkani kumaqumrhu asebhotwe. Ngokucelwa nguDavide, uHushayi wabuyela eYerusalem ukuba ayokusebenza no-Abhisalom ukuze aphuthise iingcebiso zobuqhophololo zika-Ahitofele.ANa 735.4

Ngalo lozi-lozi wokukhanya ebumnyameni, ukumkani nabalandeli bakhe balandela indlela yabo eyayisihla ngakwicala lasempuma kwithambeka lentaba yeMinquma, ephumela kwindawo enamawa neyinkqantosi, kwimiwonyo emibi, idlule kwiindlela ezinamatye nezimqengqelezi, ukuya ngaseYordan. “Wafika ukumkani uDavide eBhahurim, nanko, kuphuma khona indoda yomzalwane wendlu kaSawule, egama linguShimehi, unyana kaGera; yaphuma yahamba itshabhisa. Yamxuluba ngamatye uDavide, nabakhonzi bonke bokumkani uDavide; bonke abantu namagorha onke babengasekunene nangasekhohlo kuye. Wathi uShimehi ukutshabhisa kwakhe, Phuma, phuma, mfondini wamagazi, mfondini ulitshijolo; uYehova uwabuyisele phezu kwakho onke amagazi endlu kaSawule, othe wena wangukumkani esikhundleni sakhe; uYehova ubunikele ubukumkani esandleni sika-Abhisalom, unyana wakho. Yabona, weyele ebubini bakho, ngokuba ungumfo wamagazi.”ANa 736.1

Kuyo yonke impumelelo kaDavide, uShimehi akazange wabonisa ngelizwi okanye ngesenzo ukuba ungumkhonzi ongathembekanga. Ekutshutshisweni kukakumkani, lo mBhenjamin wasibonakalisa esona similo sakhe. Wayemhlonipha uDavide esetroneni yakhe, kodwa wamqalekisa akusingelwa phantsi. Engumntu onganyanisekanga nonomona, waya wabakhangela abanye abantu njengabafana naye ngesimilo, waza wathi, ekhuthazwa nguSathana, wavuthuza intiyo yakhe phezu kwalowo uThixo semohlwayile. Umoya okhokelela umntu ukuba avuyelele, agculele okanye afake uxinzelelo kulowo usembandezelweni, ngumoya kaSathana.ANa 736.2

Izityholo zikaShimehi ngakuDavide zaye zibubuxoki ngokupheleleyo—isinyeliso esingenasihlahla nesibi. UDavide akazange abe netyala lokona ngakuSawule okanye indlu yakhe. Ngexesha uSawule wayesegunyeni lakhe (Davide) ngokupheleleyo, abe wayenokumbulala, wasuka wasika isondo lengubo yakhe, nalapho wazingxolisa ngokubonisa oku kungabi nantlonipho kumthanjiswa kaThixo.ANa 736.3

Ngendlela uDavide awayebuxabise ngayo njengobungcwele ubomi bomntu, bukho ubungqina obucacileyo obunikwayo, kanye ngeli xesha yena wayesukelwa njengesilwanyana esilixhoba. Ngenye imini, ngexesha wayezimele emqolombeni ka-Adullam, iingcinga zakhe zabuya umva zaya kwinkululeko yobomi bakhe basebuntwaneni, eyayingenazo iinkathazo, imbacu yadanduluka yathi, “Akwaba, bethu, bendingasezwa amanzi equla laseBhetelehem, elisesangweni!” 2 Samuweli 23:13-17. IBhetelehem ngelo xesha yayiphantsi kwamaFilisti; kodwa amadoda amathathu ebutho likaDavide angamakroti, anqumla kubalindi, eza namanzi aseBhetelehem kwinkosi yawo.UDavideakazange akwazi ukuwasela. “Makube lee kum,” wakhala; “Asiligazi na eli lamadoda ahambe encame imiphefumlo yawo?” Wathi ngentlonipho, wawaphalaza amanzi njengomnikelo kuThixo. UDavide wayeyindoda yemfazwe, ubomi bakhe obuninzi wabuchitha phakathi kwemiboniso yobubhovubhovu; kodwa kubo bonke abadlulaphantsi kwaloo ntlungu, bambalwa ngokwenene abaya bachukunyiswa kancinane yimpembelelo yayo eqaqadekisayo neyonakalisa isimilo, njengoDavide.ANa 736.4

Umtshana kaDavide, uAbhishayi, enye yamadoda angamagorha kubaphathi mkhosi, akazange abe nomonde wokumamela amazwi okugculela kukaShimehi. “Kungani na,” wadanduluka “ukuba le nja ifileyo iyitshabhise inkosi yam ukumkani? Makhe ndiwele, ndiyinqumle intloko.” Ukumkani wamalela. “Niyabona,” watsho, “unyana wam . . . ungxamele umphefumlo wam: angabeka phi na ke ngoku lo mBhenjamin? Myekeni atshabhise; ngokuba utshilo kuye uYehova. Mhlawumbi uYehova angabukhangela ubugwenxa bam, uYehova andibuyisele okulungileyo, esikhundleni sokutshabhiswa kwam namhla.”ANa 737.1

Isazela sasithetha iinyaniso ezikrakra nezithoba isidima kuDavide. Ngoku abanyanisekileyo kwabaphethweyo bemangele ukuba zijikwe yintoni izinto, yayingeyiyo imfihlelo kuye ukumkani. Wayesoloko enento ehleli iyilindele iyure enje ngale. Wayesoloko emangalisiwe yindlela uThixo amnyamezele ngayo kwizono zakhe, wayilibazisa imbuyekezo efanelekileyo. Ngoku ke, ekubalekeni kwakhe okungxamileyo nokulusizi, engafakanga zimbadada, esuse ingubo yakhe wambatha ezirhwexayo, izikhalo zabalandeli bakhe zivakala ezindulini, wacinga ngebhotwe lakhe alithandayo, indawo ekwakulapho wasenza khona isono sakhe, wathi akukhumbula ukulunga nokunyamezela kukaThixo, akalahlekelwa lithemba. Waba nento ethi uThixo usaya kumphatha ngenceba.ANa 737.2

Aboni abaninzi bazithethelela kwisono sabo ngokwalatha ekuweni kukaDavide, kodwa bambalwa ababonakalisa inguquko nokuthobeka kukaDavide. Bambalwa kakhulu abakwazi ukunyamezela ukungxoliswa nokuthethiswa ngomonde nokuqina awakubonakalisayo. Wayesivumile isono sakhe, kwaza kwayiminyaka, efuna ukwenza umsebenzi wakhe njengomkhonzi kaThixo onyanisekileyo; esebenza nzima esakha ubukumkani bakhe, kwathi phantsi kolawulo lwakhe, bafikelela kumandla nakwimpumelelo obungazange buyifikelele ngaphambili. Wayeqokelele iimfumba zezixhobo zexabiso zokwakha indlu kaThixo. Ingaba ke ngoku konke ukusebenza nzima ubomi bakhe bonke kwakuza kulahlwa? Kungaba kufuneka iziphumo zokusebenza nzima ngokuzinikela kweminyaka, umsebenzi wengqondo, nokuzinikela, nokuphatha imicimbi yesizwe, konke kudlulelekwizandlazonyana ongakhathaliyo nongumngcatshi, ongakhathalele nokumzukisa uThixo kunye nempumelelo kaIsrayeli? Bekuya kubonakala kufaneleka kangakanani ukuba uDavide amsole uThixo ngale ngcikivo enkulu kangaka!ANa 737.3

Kwathi kunjalo, wabona kwesakhe isono, unobangela wenkathazo yakhe. Amazwi kamprofeti uMika, aphefumla kanye umoya owaphembelela intliziyo kaDavide. “Ndihleli emnyameni nje, uYehova uya kuba kukukhanya kum. Ukujala kukaYehova ndiya kukuthwala, kuba ndonile kuye, ade andithethelele etyaleni lam, andilungisele; uya kundikhuphela ekukhanyeni; ndiya kububona ubulungisa bakhe.” Mika 7:8, 9. UYehova akazange amshiye uDavide. Esi sahluko kumava akhe, xa kanye ephantsi kweyona mposiso ikhohlakeleyo nokunyeliswa, eziveza ethobekile, engenamona, enobubele, ezinikela, sesona sibalaseleyo kuwo onke amava akhe. Akazange wakha wamkhulu ngokwenene umlawuli wakwaIsrayeli emehlweni ezulu ngaphezu kwale yure yokuhlaziswa kwakhe okunzulu nokubonakalayo.ANa 738.1

Ukuba uThixo wayemvumele uDavide ukuba aqhubeke singakhalinyelwanga isono, athi lo gama aphule imithetho engcwele, ahlale eseluxolweni enempumelelo etroneni yakhe, othandabuzayo nongakholwayo ebeya kuba nesizathu sokucaphula imbali kaDavide njengesinyeliso kwinkolo yeBhayibhile. Ngenxa yoko, kumava aye wamenza ukuba adlule kuwo uDavide, uYehova ubonisa ukuba akanako ukusinyamezela okanye ukusiyekela isono. Yona imbali kaDavide yenza ukuba sikwazi ukubona neziphelo ezikhulu uThixo azibonayo ekuphatheni kwaKhe isono; isenza ukuba sikwazi ukulanda, nakwezona zigwebo zimnyama, ukusebenza kweenjongo zaKhe zenceba nobubele. Wamenza uDavide ukuba anqumle phantsi kwentonga, kodwa akaze amtshabalalise; iziko lomlilo lelokuhlambulula, asililo elokuphelisa. UYehova uthi, “Ukuba bathe bayihlambela imimiselo yam, abayigcina imithetho yam: ndoluvelela ukreqo lwabo ngentonga, nobugwenxa babo ngemivumbo. Ke yona inceba yam andiyi kuyaphula kuye, ndingaxoki ekuthembekeni kwam.” Ndumiso 89:31-33.ANa 738.2

Kungekudala emva kokuba uDavide eyishiyile iYerusalem, uAbhisalom nomkhosi wakhe bangena, kwathi ngaphandle kobunzima, wayithabathela kuye inqaba kaIsrayeli. UHushayi waba kwabokuqala ukumbulisa ukumkani omtsha osanda kuthweswa isithsaba, yaza inkosi yamangaliswa yanombulelo kukufikelela komhlobo omdala nephakathi likayise. UAbhisalom waqiniseka ngempumelelo. Ukuza kuthi ga kule ndawo, amacebo akhe ayephumelele, wathi, enolangazelelo lokuqinisa itrone yakhe nokuqinisela ukuthenjwa sisizwe, wamamkela uHushayi kwibhotwe lakhe.ANa 738.3

UAbhisalom ngoku wayerhangqwe ngumkhosi omkhulu, kodwa wawande ngamadoda angaqeqeshelwanga ukulwa imfazwe. Eyona nto, ayengekaze ahlangane nemfazwe. UAhitofele wayesazi kakuhle ukuba umcimbi kaDavide wawukude kakhulu ukuba ungathatyathwa njengombi. Iqela elikhulu lesizwe lalisanyanisekile kuye; wayerhangqwe ngamasoldati anamava, awayenyanisekile kukumkani wawo, kwaye umkhosi wakhe wawukhokelwa ziinjengele ezinesakhono nezinamava. UAhitofele wayesazi ukuba emva kokugqabhuka kokuqala komoya wokufuna ukumkani omtsha, impendulo iya kubakho. Ukuba uvukelo luye lwawa phantsi, uAbhisalom angakwazi ukubuya axolelaniswe noyise; aze yena Ahitofele, njengephakathi lakhe elikhulu, abe ngoyena unobutyala obukhulu ngenxa yovukelo; ukuze kubekwe phezu kwakhe esona sikhulu isohlwayo. Ukumthintela uAbhisalom ukuba angabi sabuyela emva, uAhitofele wamcebisa ukuba enze isenzo esasiya kuthi emehlweni aso sonke isizwe senze ukuba uxolelaniso lungaze lube nokwenzeka. Ngobuqhophololo bongendawo, le ndoda yesizwe inamaqhinga nengenamthetho, yamkhuthaza uAbhisalom ukuba ongeze ulwaphulo-mthetho kolo vukelo ngokwenza umbulo. Emehlweni kaIsrayeli wonke, wayeza kuthabathela kuye amashweshwe kayise, ngokwesiko leentlanga zasempuma, ngaloo ndlela abonisa ukuba ungene kwitrone kayise. UAbhisalom walenza eli cebiso likhohlakeleyo. Azaliseka amazwi kaThixo kuDavide ngomprofeti, “Ndikuvelisela ububi obuya kuphuma endlwini yakho; ndibathabathe abafazi bakho emehlweni akho, ndibanike ummelwane wakho. . . . Ekubeni wena ukwenze oku ngasese, ke mna ndiya kuyenza le nto phambi kwamaIsrayeli onke, naphambi kwelanga eli.” 2 Samuweli 12:11, 12. Kwakungekuko ukuba uThixo wenza ukuba zenziwe ezi zenzo zenkohlakalo, kodwa kuba, ngenxa yesono sikaDavide, (uThixo) akawasebenzisanga amandla aKhe ukuba zithinteleke.ANa 739.1

UAhitofele wayehlonitshwe kakhulu ngobulumko bakhe, kodwa wayengenako ukukhanya okuvela kuThixo. “Yingqalo yokulumka ukoyika uYehova” (Imizekeliso 9:10); Le nto, uAhitofele wayengenayo, okanye ngewayengazange wayixhoma impumelelo yokuvukela phezu kolwaphulo-mthetho lombulo. Abantu abonakele iintliziyo, baceba inkohlakalo, njengokungathi alukho ulawulo lwangasentla lokwazelelela kukaThixo olunokuwanqumla phakathi amacebo abo; kodwa “Ohleli emazulwini uyahleka, iNkosi iyabagculela.” Ndumiso 2:4. UYehova uthi, “abalivuma icebo lam, basigiba sonke isohlwayo sam: baya kudla ke isiqhamo sendlela yabo, bahluthe ngamacebo abo. Kuba ukuphamba kweziyatha kuyazibulala, nobunqobo bezinyabi buyazitshabalalisa.” Imizekeliso 1:30-32.ANa 739.2

Wathi akuba ephumelele kwicebo lokuzizuzela ukhuseleko, uAhitofele wamkhuthaza uAbhisalom ukuba abe nento ekhawulezileyo ayenzayo ngakuDavide. “Makhe ndinyule ishumi lamawaka elinamawaka amabini amadoda, ndisuke, ndimsukele uDavide ngobu busuku; ndimfikele ediniwe, ewe izandla, ndimothuse; basabe bonke abantu anabo; ndibulale ukumkani yedwa; ndibabuyisele kuwe bonke abantu.” Eli cebo lamkelwa ngamaphakathi kakumkani. Ukuba lalilandelwe, ngokwenene uDavide ngewayebulewe, ngaphandle kokuba uYehova angenelele ukuba amsindise. Ubulumko obungaphezulu kobo bendoda eyaziyo uAhitofele babuzilawula iziganeko. “UYehova wayemise ukuba litshitshiswe icebo elilungileyo lika-Ahitofele, ukuze uYehova amzisele ububi uAbhisalom.”ANa 740.1

UHushayi wayengabizwanga ebhungeni, waye akazange afune ukuzifaka engacelwanga, hleze kubekho ukusola ukuthi kanti ungungcothoza; kodwa emva kokuchitheka komhlangano, uAbhisalom, owayelihloniphe kakhulu iphakathi likayise, wamxelela icebo lika-Ahitofele. UHushayi wabona ukuba, ukuba icebo elibekiweyo lingalandelwa, angalahleka uDavide. Wathi, “Icebo uAhitofele acebisa lona alilungile okwangoku. Wathi uHushayi, Wena uyamazi uyihlo namadoda akhe, ukuba ngamagorha amphefumlo uligcalagcala, njengebhere ehluthwe amathole ayo ezindle; uyihlo yindoda eqhele ukulwa akalali ebantwini. Yabona, kungokunje uzimele emgongxweni, nokuba kukwenye indawo;” wabeka esithi, ukuba imikhosi ka-Abhisalom ithe yamsukela uDavide, ayisayi kumbamba ukumkani; kuthi ukuba akwenzekanga ukuba imbambe, iya kutyhafa ize ibe iyayilimaza injongo ka-Abhisalom. “Ngokuba,” watsho, “onke amaIsrayeli ayazi ukuba uyihlo ligorha, abo banaye ngamakroti.” Waza wazisa icebo elinomtsalane, [kodwa elingento] nelilunge, kwimbonakalo yalo yokuzithandela, linembonakalo yokubonisa amandla: “Ndithi elam icebo, makahlanganiswe, ahlananiselwe kuwe, onke amaIsrayeli, athabathele kwaDan ese eBher-sheba, abe njengentlabathi engaselwandle ubuninzi, uye emfazweni ngesiqu. Sofika ke kuye endaweni apho afumaneke khona, sithi qatha phezu kwakhe, njengokulala kombethe emhlabeni, kungasali namnye kuye nakumadoda onke anaye. Ke ukuba uthe warholela emzini, onke amaIsrayeli ozisa izintya kuloo mzi, siwukrwiqilizele emlanjeni, kude kungafumaneki nelityana khona.ANa 740.2

“Wathi uAbhisalom namadoda onke akwaIsrayeli, Icebo likaHushayi umArki lilungile kunecebo lika-Ahitofele.” Noko kunjalo, ukho yena ongazange akhohliseke, owasibona kwangaphambili isiphumo sale mpazamo iyingozi ka-Abhisalom. UAhitofele wazi ukuba icebo labavukeli sele loyisiwe. Wayesazi kanjalo ukuba, nokuba isiphelo senkosana singathini, alikho ithemba lomcebisi owaphembelela ulwaphulo-mthetho lwakhe olukhulu. UAhitofele wamkhuthaza uAbhisalom ukuba avukele; wamcebisa kwezona zakha zathiyeka iinkohlakalo, ukungamhloniphi uyise; wamcebisa ukuba abulale uDavide wazama ukuba oko kuphumelele; wakuchitha ukuphumelela koxolelwano olwalunokubakho nokumkani; kodwa ngoku kukhethwa omnye endaweni yakhe, nanguAbhisalom. Enomona, enomsindo, enxunguphele, uAhitofele “wesuka, wagoduka, waya emzini wakhe, wayolela, wazikrwitsha wafa.” Saba njalo isiphumo sobulumko balowo uthe enazo zonke izipho ezikhulu, akamenza uThixo ukuba abe ngumcebisi wakhe. USathana ubaloba abantu ngezithembiso ezikhohlisayo, kodwa ekugqibeleni kuya kufunyaniswa nguwo wonke umphefumlo ukuba “umvuzo wesono kukufa.” Roma 6:23.ANa 741.1

UHushayi, engaqinisekanga ukuba icebo lakhe liya kulandelwa ngukumkani obuthakathaka, akazange achithe xesha ngokumlumkisa uDavide ukuba aphangise ukusabela ngaphesheya kweYordan. Kubabingeleli, ababeza kusidlulisa ngoonyana babo, uHushayi wathumela isigidimi: “Wenjenje, wenjenje uAhitofele ukumpha icebo uAbhisalom namadoda amakhulu akwaIsrayeli; ke mna ndenjenje ukubapha icebo. Ke ngoko, . . . musa ukulala ngobu busuku emazibukweni entlango; khawuleza uwele, hleze aginywe ukumkani nabantu bonke anabo.”ANa 741.2

Amadodana ayekrokrelwa asukelwa, kodwa aphumelela ukwenza umsebenzi wawo oyingozi. UDavide, ephelile kukusebenza nzima nentlungu emva kosuku lokuqala lokubhaca, wasamkela isigidimi sokuba awele iYordan ngobo busuku, kuba unyana wakhe wayefuna ukumbulala.ANa 741.3

Zazisithini izimvo zikabawo nokumkani, owoniwe kangako, ngelixesha lentlekele embi? “Igorha elinobukroti,” indoda yokulwa, ukumkani, olizwi lakhe lingumthetho, eyangcatshwa ngunyana wayo, awamthandayo, wamyekelela, wamthemba ngokungafanelekileyo, oniwe washiywa ngabantu abalawulayo eqanyangelwe kuye (unyana) ngamaqhina awomeleleyo embeko nokumthemba—ngamazwi athini awawathethayo ukuthulula ngawo uDavide imvakalelo yomphefumlo wakhe? Ngeyure yokona kumnyama ukulingwa, intliziyo yakhe uDavide yahlala kuThixo, wavuma ingoma:ANa 741.4

“Yehova, hayi, ukuba baninzi
kwabandibandezelayo!
Baninzi abasukela phezulu kum.
Baninzi abathi kumphefumlo wam,
Akunalusindiso kuThixo.
Ke wena, Yehova, uyingweletshetshe kum,
Uluzuko lwam, umphakamisi wentloko yam.
Ndidanduluka kuYehova ngezwi lam,
Andiphendule entabeni yakhe engcwele.
Ndalala phantsi, ndalala ubuthongo;
Ndavuka, ngokuba uYehova endixhasa.
Andoyiki izigidi zabantu
Abakhe uluhlu ngeenxa zonke kum. . . .
Usindiso lolukaYehova:
Mayibe phezu kwabantu bakho intsikelelo yakho.”ANa 742.1

Ndumiso 3:1-8.

UDavide nalo lonke iqela lakhe, amadoda okulwa nawolawulo, amadoda amadala nolutsha, abafazi nabantwana abancinane, ebumnyameni bobusuku, bawela umlambo onzulu nonamanzi abaleka ngokukhawuleza. “Kwathi kusasa kwabe kungasekho namnye ungayiwelanga iYordan.”ANa 742.2

UDavide nemikhosi yakhe wabuyela eMahanayim, indawo eyayilikhaya lobukhosi bukaIshbhoshete. Yayisisixeko esinqatyiswe kakhulu esi, sirhangqwe sisithili esineentaba ezilunge kakhulu ukuba kungabalekelwa kuzo xa kukho imfazwe. Ilizwe lalityebile kakhulu, baye abantu babekuthanda kakhulu ukusebenza kukaDavide. Abantu abaninzi apha bazimanya naye, lo gama amadoda azizityebi amphathela umsindleko wezipho ezininzi, kunye nezinye izinto ezazifuneka.ANa 742.3

Icebo likaHushayi lakwenza oko wayekufuna, ukunika uDavide ithuba lokuzimela; kodwa inkosana eligagu nengxama kakhulu ayizange ikwazi ukuzibamba ixesha elide, yasuka yalandela, isukela uyise. “UAbhisalom wayiwela iYordan, yena namadoda onke akwaIsrayeli kunye naye.” UAbhisalom wenza uAmasa, unyana wodade kaDavide, uAbhigeli, umphathi wemikhosi yakhe. Umkhosi wakhe wawumkhulu, kodwa wawungaqeqeshekanga ungakulungelanga ukumelana namasoldati kayise anamava.ANa 742.4

UDavide wayahlula yangamabutho amathathu imikhosi yakhe phantsi kukaYowabhi, uAbhishayi, noItayi umGite. Yaye iyinjongo yakhe ukukhokelela umkhosi wakhe edabini; kodwa abaphathi bomkhosi, abacebisi, nabantu bonke bayala ngamandla loo ngcamango. “Uze ungaphumi;” batsho: “ngokuba xa sithe sasaba, sisabile, abayi kusibekela ntliziyo thina; nokuba kuthe kwafa isiqingatha kuthi,abayi kusibekela ntliziyo;ngokuba ungangamawakaalishumi kuthi; kulungile kanye ukuba usincede, ukuwo umzi. Wathi ukumkani kubo, Okulungileyo emehlweni enu ndokwenza.” 2 Samuweli 18:3, 4.ANa 742.5

Xa uphezu kweendonga zesixeko, imikrozo emide yomkhosi wovukelo yayibonakala. Umvukeli wayekhatshwa ngumkhosi omkhulu, ekuthi xa kuthelekiswa nawo, okaDavide ubonakale ulibathwana nje. Xa ukumkani ekhangele imikhosi ejameleneyo, eyona nto yayisengqondweni yakhe, yayingesiso isithsaba nobukumkani, ingebubo nobomi bakhe, izinto ezazixhomekeke ekuhambeni kwedabi. Intliziyo katata, yayizaliswe luthando nosizi ngenxa yonyana wakhe ovukeleyo. Wathi xa umkhosi uphuma emasangweni esixeko, uDavide wawakhuthaza amasoldati athembekileyo, ewathuma ukuba abheke phambili ethembe ukuba uThixo kaIsrayeli uya kuwanika uloyiso. Nangeli xesha, wayengakwazi ukulucinezela uthando lwakhe ngakuAbhisalom. Wathi xa uYowabhi, okhokele ibutho lokuqala, edlula ukumkani wakhe, umoyisi kumakhulu amathafa okulwa amadabi, wanqwala intloko enokuziphakamisa ukuba eve isigidimi sokugqibela sekumkani, ngexesha isithi, ngelizwi elingcangcazelayo, “Mphatheni kakuhle umfana uAbhisalom, ngenxa yam.” UAbhishayi noItayi bafumana kwa loo myalelo mnye—“Mphatheni kakuhle umfana uAbhisalom, ngenxa yam.” Inkathalo kakumkani yakhangeleka ixela ukuba, kuye uAbhisalom wayethandeka ngaphezu kobukumkani bakhe, ekwathandeka kunabantu abaphetheyo abathembekileyo kwitrone yakhe, nto leyo eyayandisayo ingqumbo kumasoldati achasene nonyana owenza okungaqhelekanga.ANa 743.1

Indawo yedabi yayilihlathi kufuphi neYordan, apho amanani amakhulu omkhosi ka-Abhisalom aphela eba yingxaki kuye. Phakathi kwamatyholo nemigxobhozo yehlathi, la mabutho angaqeqeshekanga adideka akalawuleka. “Babulawelwa khona abantu bakwaIsrayeli phambi kwabakhonzi bakaDavide; ngaloo mini kwabakho khona uxabelo olukhulu, amawaka angamashumi omabini.” Wathi uAbhisalom akubona ukuba imini yayinelahleko (yokoyiswa), wajika wabaleka, kwaba ngoko eyathi intloko yakhe yabambeka phakathi kumasebe omthi avulekileyo, yesuka yahamba imbongolo abeyiqabele, wasala ejinga esisisulu, elixhoba kwiintshaba zakhe. Wathi ekule meko, wafunyanwa lisoldati, elathi, ngokoyika ukungamanelisi ukumkani, lamsindisa uAbhisalom, kodwa labika kuYowabhi oko likubonileyo. UYowabhi wayengayazi into ekuthiwa kukuzilawula. Wayenze ubuhlobo noAbhisalom, emxolelanise kabini noDavide, waza waphoxwa ngendlela engenasidima koko kumthemba kwakhe (uAbhisalom). Ukuba bekungengazinzuzo ezafunyanwa nguAbhisalom ngenxa yokungenelela kukaYowabhi, olu vukelo, nazo zonke izinto zalo ezimbi, ngelungazanga lwenzeka. Ngoku kwakusemandleni kaYowabhi ukuba athi, ngegalelo elinye, amtshabalalise umphembi wabo bonke obu bubi. “Wathabatha izikhali zazithathu ngesandla sakhe, wamhlaba uAbhisalom. . . . Bamthabatha uAbhisalom, bamphosa ehlathini emgongxweni omkhulu, bafumba imfumba enkulu kakhulu yamatye phezu kwakhe.”ANa 743.2

Baba bayatshabalala ngolo hlobo abaphembi bovukelo kwaIsrayeli. UAhitofele wazibulala ngesakhe isandla. Inkosana uAbhisalom, obuhle bakhe babuligugu kuIsrayeli, wasingelwa phantsi emandleni obutsha bakhe, umzimba wakhe waphoswa emhadini, wagqunywa khona apho ngemfumba yamatye, umqondiso wengcikivo engunaphakade. Ngexesha lokudla kwakhe ubomi, uAbhisalom wayezenzele isikhumbuzo esinexabiso entilini kakumkani, kodwa isikhumbuzo ekuphela kwaso esaphawula ingcwaba lakhe yaba yimfumba yamatye, entlango.ANa 744.1

Yakuba ibulewe inkokeli yovukelo, uYowabi wavuthela ixilongo wawubiza umkhosi wakhe ukuba ubuye ekusukeleni umkhosi owawubaleka, kwaza kwathunywa abathunywa ngokukhawuleza ukuba base iindaba kukumkani.ANa 744.2

Umlindi phezu kodonga lwesixeko, ekhangele kwicala elalinedabi, wabona indoda ebalekayo iyodwa. Kwaba ngumzuzwana, kwabonakala eyesibini. Yathi ngokuya isondela eyokuqala, umlindi wathi kukumkani, owayelinde ngasesangweni, “Ndikubona ukubaleka kwephambili kufana nokubaleka kuka-Ahimatse, unyana kaTsadoki. Wathi ukumkani, Yindoda elungileyo leyo, iza neendaba ezilungileyo. Wamemeza uAhimatse, wathi kukumkani, Hlala kakuhle. Waqubuda ngobuso emhlabeni kukumkani, wathi, Makabongwe uYehova uThixo wakho, owanikeleyo amadoda asiphakamisayo isandla sawo enkosini yam ukumkani.” Kumbuzo kakumkani oxhalabileyo, “Ihleli kakuhle na indodana uAbhisalom?” u-Ahimatse wanika impendulo ewuphephayo.ANa 744.3

Umthunywa wesibini wafika, ememeza, “Mayishunyayezwe iindaba ezilungileyo inkosi yam ukumkani; ngokuba uYehova ukugwebele namhla, wakukhulula esandleni sabo bonke ababesukele phezulu kuwe.” Kwaphuma kwakhona emilebeni kayise umbuzo oxhelayo, “Ihleli kakuhle na indodana uAbhisalom?” Wathi, engakwazi ukuzifihla iindaba ezinzima, umthunywa waphendula, “Iintshaba zenkosi yam ukumkani, nabo bonke abasukele phezulu kuwe ukwenza into embi, mababe njengaloo ndodana.” Kwanela. Akaphindanga abuze uDavide, kodwa ethobe intloko “wenyuka waya egumbini eliphezu kwesango, walila, wathetha ekuyeni kwakhe, esithi, Nyana wam, Abhisalom! Nyana wam, nyana wam, Abhisalom! Akwaba bekufe mna esikhundleni sakho, Abhisalom, nyana wam, nyana wam!”ANa 744.4

Umkhosi owoyisileyo, ubuya emfazweni, weza esixekweni usenza ingxolo yoloyiso eyayihlokoma ezindulini. Wathi nje ukuba ufike esangweni lesixeko, yathi cwaka imikhwazo, zawa iibhanile ezandleni, babheka phambili bekhangele phantsi kanye njengaboyisiweyo ngokungafaniyo naboyisileyo. Eyona nto, ukumkani wayengabalindelanga ukuze abamkele, kodwa, kwavakala kuphuma egumbini elingaphezu kwesango isijwili, Nyana wam, Abhisalom! Nyana wam, nyana wam, Abhisalom! Akwaba bekufe mna esikhundleni sakho, Abhisalom, nyana wam, nyana wam!” “Usindiso lwajika lwaba sisijwili ngaloo mini ebantwini bonke; ngokuba abantu beva ngaloo mini kusithiwa, Ukumkani wenza isijwili ngonyana wakhe. Abantu banyebeleza ngaloo mini ukungena kwabo phakathi komzi, njengokunyebeleza kwabantu abazihlazisileyo ngokusaba ekulweni.”ANa 745.1

UYowabhi wazaliswa yingqumbo. UThixo wayebanike ithuba lokoyisa novuyo; olona vukelo lukhulu olwaka lwabonwa kwaIsrayeli lwaluphelisiwe; nangona olu loyiso lukhulu lwajika lwasisikhalo ngenxa yalowo ukwaphula kwakhe umthetho kwachitha igazi lamawaka amadoda angamakroti. Umphathi-mkhosi okrwada, nothetha nje phandle, waya ngesibindi phambi kokumkani, wathi, “Ubudanisile namhla ubuso babakhonzi bakho bonke, abawusindisileyo namhla umphefumlo wakho, nomphefumlo woonyana bakho noweentombi zakho, . . . ngokubathanda abakuthiyayo, nangokubathiya abakuthandayo. Ngokuba uxelile namhla, ukuba abanto kuwe abathetheli nabakhonzi; ngokuba ndazile namhla, ukuba ngekulungile emehlweni akho, ukuba ubethe wadla ubomi uAbhisalom, thina safa sonke siphela. Vuka kaloku, uphume uthethe kakuhle nabakhonzi bakho; ngokuba ndifunga uYehova; ukuba akuthanga uphume, inene, akuyi kuhlala mntu nawe ngobu busuku; kube kubi kuwe oko, ngaphezu kobubi bonke obukufikeleyo, kuthabathela ebuncinaneni bakho kuzise kweli xesha.ANa 745.2

Nangona kwakulukhuni kukwakhohlakele ukuthethiswa kukakumkani ontliziyo yaphukileyo, uDavide akazange akuthiye. Wabona ukuba umphathi wakhe wayelungisa, wehla waya esangweni, ngamazwi enkuthazo nokuncoma, wawabulisa amakhalipha amadoda omkhosi xa ayedlula phambi kwakhe.ANa 745.3