Eyesibili EkaSamuyeli

11 Ekuqaliseni komnyaka,* ngesikhathi amakhosi ahamba ngaso ukuyahlasela, uDavida wathuma uJowabi lezinceku zakhe lalo lonke ibutho lako-Israyeli ukuthi bayetshabalalisa ama-Amoni. Bahamba bayavimbezela iRabha,+ kodwa uDavida yena wasala eJerusalema.+

2 Ngelinye ilanga ntambama uDavida wavuka embhedeni wakhe wahambahamba ephahleni lwendlu yenkosi.* Wathi elapho wabona nanguya owesifazana egeza futhi owesifazana lo wayemuhle kakhulu. 3 UDavida wathuma umuntu ukuthi ayebuza ngowesifazana lo. Umuntu lo uthe ephenduka wathi: “NguBhathishebha+ indodakazi ka-Eliyami,+ futhi ungumka-Uriya+ umHithi.”+ 4 UDavida wasethuma izithunywa ukuthi ziyemthatha.+ Ngakho uBhathishebha wabuya, uDavida waselala laye.+ (Lokhu kwenzakala ngesikhathi uBhathishebha ezihlambulula ekungcoleni kwakhe.*)+ Ngemva kwalokho wabuyela endlini yakhe.

5 UBhathishebha wananzelela ukuthi usezithwele, yikho wathumela ilizwi kuDavida emtshela ukuthi usezithwele. 6 UDavida wathi ekuzwa lokho wathumela ilizwi kuJowabi wathi: “Thuma u-Uriya umHithi abuye kimi.” Ngakho uJowabi wathuma u-Uriya kuDavida. 7 U-Uriya wathi esefikile, uDavida wambuza ukuthi uJowabi unjani, wambuza langamabutho langokuthi impi yayihamba njani. 8 UDavida wasesithi ku-Uriya: “Hamba endlini yakho uyephumula.” U-Uriya wathi esuka endlini yenkosi, inkosi yathumela abantu ukuthi bayemnika isipho.* 9 Kodwa u-Uriya walala emnyango wendlu yenkosi lezinye izinceku zenkosi yakhe, kazange aye endlini yakhe. 10 UDavida watshelwa ukuthi u-Uriya kazange aye endlini yakhe. Ngakho wathi ku-Uriya: “Angithi usanda kufika uvela khatshana? Manje kungani ungazange uye endlini yakho?” 11 U-Uriya waphendula uDavida wathi: “Amabutho ako-Israyeli lawakoJuda asezihonqweni lebhokisi+ likaNkulunkulu, futhi inkosi yami uJowabi lezinceku zayo bamise inkamba egangeni. Manje mina sengingaya endlini yami ngiyekudla nginathe ngilale lomkami?+ Ngiyafunga phambi kwakho,* angisoze ngikwenze lokho!”

12 Ngakho uDavida wathi ku-Uriya: “Hlala lapha lalamuhla, kusasa ngizakuvumela ukuthi uhambe.” U-Uriya watshona eJerusalema ngalelolanga langelanga elilandelayo. 13 UDavida wathuma abantu bayabiza u-Uriya. Wadla laye futhi wanatha laye waze wamdakisa. Kodwa ntambama u-Uriya wahamba wayalala endaweni yakhe lezinye izinceku zenkosi yakhe, kazange aye endlini yakhe. 14 Ekuseni uDavida wabhalela uJowabi incwadi wayiphathisa u-Uriya. 15 Wabhala wathi: “U-Uriya umfake phambili lapho impi etshisa khona kakhulu, beselibuyela emuva asale yedwa ukuze abulawe.”+

16 UJowabi wayelihlolisise kuhle idolobho, yikho wafaka u-Uriya lapho ayekwazi ukuthi kulamabutho esitha alamandla. 17 Amabutho edolobho lelo aphuma alwa loJowabi futhi ezinye izinceku zikaDavida zabulawa, lo-Uriya umHithi laye wafa.+ 18 Ngemva kwalokho uJowabi wabikela uDavida konke okwakwenzakele empini. 19 Watshela isithunywa wathi: “Nxa usuqedile ukubikela inkosi konke okwenzakale empini, 20 mhlawumbe inkosi izazonda ithi kuwe, ‘Kungani lisondele eduze kwedolobho ngesikhathi lisilwa labo? Belingazi yini ukuthi bazalitshoka ngemitshoko bephezu komduli? 21 Ngubani owabulala u-Abhimeleki+ indodana kaJerubheshethi?+ Angithi ngowesifazana owayephezu komduli owaphosela ilitshe lokuchola phezu kwakhe wahle wambulala eThebhezi? Manje kungani lisondele kakhulu eduze komduli?’ Nxa inkosi ingatsho njalo wena uthi, ‘Inceku yakho u-Uriya umHithi layo ifile.’”

22 Ngakho isithunywa sahamba safika sabikela uDavida konke esasikuthunywe nguJowabi. 23 Satshela uDavida sathi: “Amadoda edolobho asikhulele. Aphume azokulwa lathi egangeni kodwa silwe lawo sawabuyisela emuva saze sayafika egedini ledolobho. 24 Amabutho emitshoko abetshoka izinceku zakho ephezu komduli futhi ezinye izinceku zenkosi zifile, lenceku yakho u-Uriya umHithi ifile.”+ 25 UDavida wathi esizwa lokho waphendula isithunywa wathi: “Hamba uyetshela uJowabi uthi: ‘Ungavumi ukuthi okwenzakeleyo kukukhathaze ngoba inkemba kayikhethi, ibulala loba ngubani. Bophani ziqine lihlasele idolobho lilinqobe.’+ Umqinise uJowabi.”

26 Umka-Uriya wathi esizwa ukuthi u-Uriya ufile wamlilela umkakhe. 27 Isikhathi sokulila sathi sisanda kudlula, uDavida wathuma abantu bayathatha uBhathishebha bamletha endlini yakhe. Waba ngumkakhe+ futhi wamzalela indodana. Kodwa lokho okwakwenziwe nguDavida kwamzondisa uJehova.*+