Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yesi-7—AbAhluleli

Umlobi: USamuweli

Yalotshelwa: KwaIsrayeli

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-1100 B.C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: Cishe u-1450–cishe ku-1120 B.C.E.

 1. Kungaziphi izindlela inkathi yabahluleli yayiphawuleka?

NANTI ikhasi emlandweni kaIsrayeli eligcwele izenzakalo, eziba ukuhileleka okuyingozi enkolweni yobudemoni kanye nokukhulula kukaJehova ngomusa abantu bakhe abaphendukayo ngabahluleli abamiswe ngokwaphezulu. Zivusa ukholo izenzo zamandla zikaOtheniyeli, uEhudi, uShamgari, nabanye abahluleli abalandela. Njengoba umlobi wamaHeberu asho: “Isikhathi kambe sizakungishiya, uma ngibalisa ngoGideyoni, noBaraki, noSamsoni, noJefta, . . . abathi ngokukholwa banqoba imibuso, basebenza ukulunga, . . . baphiwa amandla ebuthakathakeni, baba-yiziqhwaga empini, baxosha izimpi zabezizwe.” (Heb. 11:​32-34) Ukuze kupheleliswe inani labahluleli abathembekile abangu-12 balenkathi, kukhona futhi uThola, uJayire, uIbisani, uEloni, noAbidoni. (Ngokuvamile uSamuweli akabalwa phakathi kwabahluleli.) UJehova walwela abahluleli izimpi zabo, futhi umoya wawubagubuzela njengoba babefeza izenzo zabo zesibindi. Bayisa lonke udumo nenkazimulo kuNkulunkulu wabo.

 2. Kungayiphi indlela igama lesiHeberu lencwadi yabAhluleli lifaneleka?

² KuyiSeptuagint lencwadi ibizwa ngokuthi iKritaiʹ, futhi eBhayibhelini lesiHeberu, iSho·phetimʹ, okuhunyushwa ngokuthi “abAhluleli.” Elithi Shophetimʹ lisuselwa esenzweni esithi sha·phatʹ, okusho “ukwahlulela, ukulwela, ukujezisa, ukwengamela,” okusibonisa kahle isikhundla salezikhulu ezimiswe ngokwasezulwini ‘zikaNkulunkulu, uMahluleli wabo bonke.’ (Heb. 12:​23) Babengamadoda amiswa uJehova ngezikhathi ezithile ukuba akhulule abantu bakhe ekugqilazweni ngezinye izizwe.

 3. Yalotshwa nini incwadi yabAhluleli?

³ Yalotshwa nini incwadi yabAhluleli? Izinkulumo ezimbili ezikulencwadi zisisiza ukuba sithole impendulo. Nansi eyokuqala: “Kepha amaJebusi ahlala . . . eJerusalema kuze kube-namuhla.” (AbAhl. 1:​21) Njengoba iNkosi uDavide yathumba “inqaba yaseSiyoni” kumaJebusi ngonyaka wesishiyagalombili wokubusa kwayo, noma ngo-1070 B.C.E., kumelwe ukuba incwadi yabAhluleli yalotshwa ngaphambi kwalolosuku. (2 Sam. 5:​4-⁠7) Inkulumo yesibili ivela izikhathi ezine: “Ngalezozinsuku kwakungekho-nkosi kwaIsrayeli.” (AbAhl. 17:⁠6; 18:⁠1; 19:⁠1; 21:​25) Ngakho-ke, lomlando walotshwa esikhathini lapho yayikhona “inkosi kwaIsrayeli,” okungukuthi, ngemva kokuba uSawule ebé inkosi yokuqala ngo-1117 B.C.E. Ngakho-ke kumelwe ukuba yalotshwa phakathi kuka-1117 no-1070 B.C.E.

 4. Ubani owayengumlobi wencwadi yabAhluleli?

⁴ Ubani owayengumlobi? Ngokungangabazeki, kwakuyinceku kaJehova ezinikele. NguSamuweli ohluka yedwa njengommeleli oyinhloko wokukhulekelwa kukaJehova ngalesikhathi sokushintsha ukusuka kubahluleli kuya emakhosini, futhi ungowokuqala ohlwini lwabaprofethi abathembekile. Ngaleyondlela, ngokunengqondo uSamuweli owayengaloba umlando wabahluleli.

 5. Ingabalwa kanjani inkathi yesikhathi yencwadi yabAhluleli?

⁵ Incwadi yabAhluleli ihlanganisa isikhathi eside kangakanani? Lokhu kungabalwa kususelwa kwawoku-⁠1 AmaKhosi 6:⁠1, abonisa ukuthi uSolomoni waqala ukwakha indlu kaJehova ngonyaka wesine wokubusa kwakhe, futhi ‘okwakungumnyaka wamakhulu amane namashumi ayisishiyagalombili emva kokuphuma kwabantwana bakwaIsrayeli ezweni laseGibithe.’ (Njengoba ukuthi “wamakhulu amane namashumi ayisishiyagalombili” kubonisa isibalo esingakapheleli, kumelela iminyaka engu-479 egcwele.) Izinkathi zesikhathi ezaziwayo ezihlanganisiwe eminyakeni engu-479 ziyiminyaka engu-40 ngaphansi kukaMose esehlane (Dut. 8:⁠2), iminyaka engu-40 yokubusa kukaSawule (IzE. 13:​21), iminyaka engu-40 yokubusa kukaDavide (2 Sam. 5:​4, 5), kanye neminyaka yokuqala emithathu egcwele yokubusa kukaSolomoni. Uma sisusa lengqikithi yeminyaka engu-123 eminyakeni engu-479 ekwawoku-⁠1 AmaKhosi 6:⁠1, kusala iminyaka engu-356 yenkathi ephakathi kokungena kukaIsrayeli eKhanani nokuqala kokubusa kukaSawule.a Izenzakalo ezilotshwe encwadini yabAhluleli, eziqala ikakhulukazi ekufeni kukaJoshuwa kwehle kuze kufike esikhathini sikaSamuweli, zihlanganisa cishe iminyaka engu-330 yalenkathi yeminyaka engu-356.

 6. Yini ebonisa ubuqiniso bencwadi yabAhluleli?

⁶ Ubuqiniso bencwadi yabAhluleli abunakungatshazwa. Ngaso sonke isikhathi amaJuda ayeyibheka njengengxenye yezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Abalobi bayo yomibili imiBhalo YesiHeberu neyamaKristu YesiGreki baye basebenzisa umlando wayo, njengakumaHubo 83:9-18; Isaya 9:⁠4; 10:​26; nakumaHeberu 11:​32-34. Ngobuqotho, ayifihli lutho ekushiyekeni nasekusheleleni kukaIsrayeli, kuyilapho ngesikhathi esifanayo iphakamisa umusa wothando kaJehova ongapheli. NguJehova, hhayi nje umahluleli ongumuntu, owamukela inkazimulo njengoMkhululi kwaIsrayeli.

 7. (a) Imivubukulo iwusekela kanjani umlando okubAhluleli? (b) Kungani uJehova akumemezela ngokufanelekile ukuqedwa kwabakhulekeli bakaBali?

⁷ Ngaphezu kwalokho, imivubukulo isekela ubuqotho bencwadi yabAhluleli. Ehlaba umxhwele kakhulu yileyo ekhuluma ngesimo senkolo kaBali yabaseKhanani. Ngaphandle kwezikhombo zeBhayibheli, kuncane kakhulu okwakwaziwa ngokukhulekelwa kukaBali kwaze kwaba yilapho kuvubukulwa idolobha lasendulo lamaKhanani laseUgarit (iRas Shamra yanamuhla ogwini oluseSiriya ngaphesheya kwesihloko esisenyakatho mpumalanga sesiqhingi saseKhupro), kusukela ngo-1929. Lapha, kwembulwa inkolo kaBali njengeyayiqokomisa izinto ezibonakalayo, ukubandlululana kobuzwe okudlulele, nokukhulekelwa kobulili. Ngokusobala idolobha ngalinye laseKhanani lalinethempeli lalo likaBali kanye nezindawo zokukhulekela ezazaziwa ngokuthi izindawo eziphakemeyo. Ngaphakathi kwalezindawo zokukhulekela, kungenzeka kwakunemifanekiso kaBali, futhi eduze kwama-altare ngaphandle kwakukhona izinsika zamatshe​—⁠mhlawumbe imifanekiso yesitho sobulili sikaBali. Lezindawo zokukhulekela zazigcwele igazi lemihlatshelo yabantu enengekayo. Lapho amaIsrayeli engcoliswa ukukhulekelwa kukaBali, nawo ngokufanayo anikela ngamadodana nangamadodakazi awo. (Jer. 32:​35) Kwakunensika engcwele eyayimelela unina kaBali, uAshera. Unkulunkulukazi wenzalo, uAshitaroti, umkaBali, wayekhulekelwa ngemicikilisho yobulili engcolile, kokubili amadoda nabesifazane begcinwa njengezifebe “ezingcwele” zasethempelini. Akumangalisi ukuthi uJehova wayala ukuba kuqedwe ukukhulekelwa kukaBali nabathandi bakho abanobulwane. “Iso lakho lingazihawukeli, ungakhonzi onkulunkulu bazo.”​—⁠Dut. 7:​16.b

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YABAHLULELI

 8. Incwadi yabAhluleli ihlukaniseka kahle ibe yiziphi izingxenye?

⁸ Lencwadi ihlukaniseka kahle ibe yizingxenye ezintathu. Izahluko ezimbili zokuqala zichaza izimo kwaIsrayeli ngalesosikhathi. Izahluko 3 kuya ku-16 zichaza ukukhulula kwabahluleli abangu-12. Khona-ke izahluko 17 kuya ku-21 zichaza ezinye izenzakalo ezihilela umbango wangaphakathi kwaIsrayeli.

 9. Yisiphi isizinda esinikezwa izahluko ezimbili zokuqala zabAhluleli?

⁹ Izimo kwaIsrayeli ngesikhathi sabahluleli (1:⁠1–2:​23). Kuchazwa izizwe zakwaIsrayeli njengoba zihlakazeka ukuba ziyokwakha ezindaweni zazo ezizabelwe. Nokho, kunokuba zixoshe amaKhanani ngokuphelele, amaningi awo zawenza izigqila, ziwavumela ukuba ahlale phakathi kwamaIsrayeli. Ngakho-ke ingelosi kaJehova ithi, “Bayakuba-sezinhlangothini zenu, onkulunkulu babo babe-lugibe kini.” (2:⁠3) Kanjalo, lapho kuvela isizukulwane esisha esingamazi uJehova noma imisebenzi yakhe, ngokushesha abantu bayamshiya ukuba bakhonze oBali nabanye onkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi isandla sikaJehova simelene nabo ukuba silethe usizi, “bantula kakhulu.” Ngenxa yenkani yabo nokwenqaba ukulalela ngisho nabahluleli, uJehova akaxoshi ngisho nesisodwa sezizwe azishiyile ukuba zilinge uIsrayeli. Lesizinda siwusizo ekuqondeni izenzakalo ezilandelayo.​—⁠2:⁠15.

10. UOtheniyeli wahlulela ngamaphi amandla, futhi uba yini umphumela?

¹⁰ UmaHluleli uOtheniyeli (3:​1-11). Becindezelekile ngenxa yokuthunjelwa kwabo kumaKhanani, abantwana bakwaIsrayeli baqala ukukhala kuJehova becela usizo. Uqala ngokuvusa uOtheniyeli njengomahluleli. Ingabe uOtheniyeli wahlulela ngamandla nangokuhlakanipha komuntu? Cha, ngoba siyafunda: “UMoya kaJehova wawuphezu kwakhe” ukuba anqobe izitha zikaIsrayeli. “Izwe lase liba-nokuthula iminyaka engamashumi amane.”​—⁠3:​10, 11.

11. UJehova umsebenzisa kanjani uEhudi ekukhululeni uIsrayeli?

¹¹ UmaHluleli uEhudi (3:​12-30). Lapho abantwana bakwaIsrayeli sebeneminyaka engu-18 bengaphansi kwenkosi yakwaMowabi uEgiloni, uJehova uyaphinda futhi uzwa izicelo zabo zosizo, futhi uvusa umaHluleli uEhudi. Njengoba ebonane nenkosi ngasese, uEhudi oyinxele uhosha inkemba yakhe azakhele yona ngaphansi kwejazi lakhe futhi ubulala uEgiloni ngokubhuja inkemba esiswini esikhulu sikaEgiloni. Ngokushesha uIsrayeli ubuthanela ngasohlangothini lukaEhudi ekulweni namaMowabi, futhi izwe liyaphinda lijabulela ukuthula elikunikwe uNkulunkulu, iminyaka engu-⁠80.

12. Yini ebonisa ukuthi ukunqoba kukaShamgari kungamandla kaNkulunkulu?

¹² UmaHluleli uShamgari (3:​31). UShamgari usindisa uIsrayeli ngokubulala amaFilisti angu-600. Ukuthi ukunqoba kuzuzwa ngamandla kaJehova kuboniswa isikhali asisebenzisayo​—⁠ucijo nje lwenkabi.

13. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezishaqisayo ezifika emvuthwandaba ngehubo lokunqoba likaBaraki noDebora?

¹³ UmaHluleli uBaraki (4:⁠1–5:​31). Ngokulandelayo uIsrayeli uba ngaphansi kwenkosi yamaKhanani uJabini, nenduna yakhe yempi, uSisera, oqhosha ngezinqola zensimbi ezingu-900. Njengoba uIsrayeli ephinda futhi eqala ukukhala kuYe, uJehova uvusa umaHluleli uBaraki, osizwa kahle umprofethikazi uDebora. Ukuze uBaraki nempi yakhe bangabi nasizathu sokuqhosha, uDebora wenza kwaziwe ukuthi impi izoqondiswa uJehova, futhi uyaprofetha: “UJehova uyakumthengisa uSisera esandleni sowesifazane.” (4:⁠9) UBaraki uqoqela ndawonye amadoda akwaNafetali nawakwaZebuloni eNtabeni iThabori. Khona-ke impi yakhe yabangu-10 000 iyehla ukuba iyokulwa. Ukholo oluqinile yilo olunqobayo ngalolosuku. ‘UJehova uqala ukungquzula uSisera nazo zonke izinqola zakhe nempi yakhe yonke,’ ebanqoba ngesikhukhula esavela ngokuphazima kweso esigodini saseKishoni. “Akwasala-muntu.” (4:​15, 16) UJayeli, umkaHebere, umKheni, uSisera abalekela ethendeni lakhe, ufinyelelisa lokhu kubulala emvuthwandaba ngokubethela ikhanda likaSisera emhlabathini ngesikhonkwane setende. “UNkulunkulu wamnqoba uJabini.” (4:​23) UDebora noBaraki bayadumisa ngehubo, bephakamisa amandla kaJehova angenakunqotshwa, owabangela ngisho nezinkanyezi ukuba zilwe noSisera zisezindleleni zazo. Ngempela, isikhathi ‘sokubonga uJehova’! (5:⁠2) Kulandela iminyaka engamashumi amane yokuthula.

14, 15. Yisiphi isibonakaliso sokusekela kukaJehova uGideyoni asitholayo, futhi lokhu kusekela kugcizelelwa kanjani ngokuqhubekayo ekunqotshweni kokugcina kwabakwaMidiyani?

¹⁴ UmaHluleli uGideyoni (6:⁠1–9:​57). Abantwana bakwaIsrayeli bayaphinda benza okubi, futhi izwe lichithwa abakwaMidiyani abahlaselayo. UJehova, ngengelosi yakhe, umisa uGideyoni njengomahluleli, futhi uJehova ngokwakhe wenezela isiqinisekiso ngalamazwi, “Impela ngiyakuba-nawe.” (6:​16) Isenzo sesibindi sokuqala sikaGideyoni siwukudiliza ialtare likaBali emzini wakubo. Amabutho esitha ahlangene manje awelela eJizreyeli, futhi ‘umoya kaJehova umboza uGideyoni’ njengoba ebizela uIsrayeli empini. (6:​34) Ngesivivinyo sokubeka uboya obugundiweyo emazolweni esibuyeni, uGideyoni uthola isibonakaliso esikabili sokuthi uNkulunkulu unaye.

¹⁵ UJehova utshela uGideyoni ukuthi ibutho lakhe labangu-32 000 likhulu kakhulu nokuthi lobobukhulu bungase bubangele ukuqhosha kobuntu ngokunqoba. Abesabayo yibona abaphindiselwa ekhaya kuqala, kusala abangu-10 000 kuphela. (AbAhl. 7:⁠3; Dut. 20:⁠8) Khona-ke, ngesivivinyo sokuphuza amanzi, baphindiselwa emuva bonke ngaphandle kwabangu-300 kuphela abaqaphile nabaphapheme. UGideyoni uhlola ikamu lakwaMidiyani ebusuku futhi uma isibindi lapho ezwa umuntu echaza iphupho njengelisho ukuthi “lokhu akulutho ngaphandle kwenkemba kaGideyoni . . . uNkulunkulu unikele esandleni sakhe uMidiyani nempi yonke.” (AbAhl. 7:​14) UGideyoni ukhulekela uNkulunkulu abese emisa abantu bakhe ngezigaba ezintathu bakake ikamu lakwaMidiyani. Ngokungazelelwe ukuthula kwasebusuku kuphazanyiswa ukukhala kwamacilongo, ukuphahlazwa kwezitsha ezinkulu zamanzi, ukukhanya kwezimbaqa, nawukumemeza kwabangu-300 bakaGideyoni, “Inkemba kaJehova nekaGideyoni.” (7:​20) Ikamu lesitha liba nesiyaluyalu. Amadoda alwa wodwa futhi ayabaleka. UIsrayeli uyawajaha, ewabulala kanye namakhosi awo. Manje abantu bakwaIsrayeli bacela uGideyoni ukuba abuse phezu kwabo, kodwa uyenqaba, ethi, “NguJehova oyakunibusa.” (8:​23) Nokho, wenza ingubo yamahlombe ngempango yempi, kamuva ehlonishwa ngokweqile futhi ngalokho iba ugibe kuGideyoni nabendlu yakhe. Izwe liba nokuthula iminyaka engu-40 phakathi nokuba kukaGideyoni ngumahluleli.

16. Yisiphi isijeziso esehlela umgabadeli wesikhundla uAbimeleki?

¹⁶ UAbimeleki, enye yamadodana kaGideyoni ngesancinza, ugabadela ubukhosi ngemva kokufa kukaGideyoni, futhi ubulala abafowabo ngamzali-munye abangu-70. UJothamu, indodana kaGideyoni yokugcina, nguye kuphela osindayo, futhi esesiqongweni seNtaba iGerizimu umemezela ukwahlulelwa kuka-Abimeleki. Kulomfanekiso ngemithi, ufanisa “ubukhosi” buka-Abimeleki nesihlahla somkhaya esiphansi. Ngokushesha uAbimeleki uhileleka embangweni waseShekemi futhi ubulawa ngendlela eyihlazo, njengoba ebulawa ngowesifazane lapho emjikijela ngembokodwe esembhoshongweni waseThebesi, emphahlaza ikhanda.​—⁠AbAhl. 9:​53; 2 Sam. 11:⁠21.

17. Yini umlando oyishoyo ngabAhluleli uThola noJayire?

¹⁷ AbaHluleli uThola noJayire (10:​1-⁠5). Laba yibo abalandelayo ekukhululeni ngamandla kaJehova, bengabahluleli iminyaka engu-23 nengu-22 ngokulandelana kwabo.

18. (a) Yikuphi ukukhululwa uJefta akulethayo? (b) Yisiphi isifungo kuJehova uJefta asifeza ngokwethembeka? Kanjani?

¹⁸ UmaHluleli uJefta (10:​6–12:⁠7). Njengoba uIsrayeli ephikelela ekuphendukeleni ekukhulekeleni izithombe, intukuthelo kaJehova iyaphinda iyasivuthela isizwe. Manje abantu bacindezelwa abakwa-Amoni namaFilisti. UJefta uyaphinda ubizwa esekuthunjweni ukuba ahole uIsrayeli empini. Kodwa ubani ongumahluleli wangempela kulempikiswano? Amazwi kaJefta ngokwakhe anikeza impendulo: “UJehova uMahluleli makahlulele namuhla phakathi kwabantwana bakwaIsrayeli nabantwana bakwa-Amoni.” (11:​27) Njengoba manje umoya kaJehova ufika phezu kwakhe, ufunga ngokuthi lapho ebuya kwa-Amoni ngokuthula, uyomnikela kuJehova lowo oyophuma kuqala endlini yakhe amhlangabeze. UJefta unqoba uAmoni ngokubulala okukhulu. Njengoba ebuyela ekhaya lakhe eMispa, yindodakazi yakhe siqu eza kuqala igijima imhlangabeza ngenjabulo ekunqobeni kukaJehova. UJefta uyasigcwalisa isifungo sakhe​—⁠cha, hhayi ngomhlatshelo wabantu wobuqaba ngokwemicikilisho kaBali, kodwa ngokunikela lendodakazi okuwukuphela kwayo enkonzweni ekhethekile endlini kaJehova kube udumo kuYe.

19. Yiziphi izenzakalo eziholela ekuvivinyweni ngegama elithi “Shiboleti”?

¹⁹ Amadoda akwaEfrayimi manje akhala ngokuthi awabizwanga ukuba alwe nabakwa-Amoni, futhi asongela uJefta, ophoqelekayo ukuba awaphindisele emuva. Sekukonke, kubulawa abakwaEfrayimi abangu-42 000, abaningi babo emazibukweni aseJordani, lapho bebonakala khona ngokwehluleka kwabo ukubiza kahle igama elithi “Shiboleti.” UJefta uyaqhubeka ahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisithupha.​—⁠12:⁠6.

20. Yibaphi abahluleli abathathu abathintwayo ngokulandelayo?

²⁰ AbaHluleli uIbisani, uEloni, noAbidoni (12:​8-15). Nakuba kukuncane okushiwoyo ngalaba, kuthiwa izinkathi zokwahlulela kwabo ziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa, eyishumi, neyisishiyagalombili ngokulandelana kwabo.

21, 22. (a) Yiziphi izenzo ezinkulu uSamsoni azenzayo, futhi ngamaphi amandla? (b) AmaFilisti amnqoba kanjani uSamsoni? (c) Yiziphi izenzakalo eziphetha ngesenzo sikaSamsoni sesibindi esikhulu, futhi ubani omkhumbulayo ngalelihora?

²¹ UmaHluleli uSamsoni (13:⁠1–16:​31). UIsrayeli uyaphinda futhi uthunjwa amaFilisti. Kulokhu uJehova uvusa uSamsoni njengomahluleli. Abazali bakhe bamnikela njengomNaziri kusukela ekuzalweni, futhi lokhu kudinga ukuba impuco ingalokothi iye ezinweleni zakhe. Njengoba ekhula, uJehova uyambusisa, futhi ‘umoya kaJehova uqala ukumqhuba.’ (13:​25) Imfihlo yamandla akhe ayikho emisipheni yakhe njengomuntu, kodwa isemandleni awanikezwa nguJehova. Kulapho ‘umoya kaJehova ufika kuye ngamandla’ lapho ephiwa khona amandla okubulala ingonyama ngezandla futhi kamuva aphindisele ukukhohlisa kwamaFilisti ngokubulala abangu-30 bawo. (14:​6, 19) Njengoba amaFilisti eqhubeka nokwenza ngokukhohlisa ngokuqondene nokuthembisana kukaSamsoni nentombazane engumFilisti, uSamsoni ubamba izimpungushe ezingu-300, futhi ezifulathelanisa, ufaka izimbaqa phakathi kwemisila yazo futhi uzithumela ukuba zishise amasimu amabele, izivini, neminqumo yamaFilisti. Ube esebulala amaFilisti amaningi, “enqwabelanisa imilenze phezu kwamathanga.” (15:⁠8, NW) AmaFilisti ancenga amaIsrayeli akubo kaSamsoni, amadoda akwaJuda, ukuba ambophe futhi amnikele kuwo, kodwa nalapha ‘umoya kaJehova uqala ukumqhuba,’ futhi kuba sengathi izintambo zakhe ziyancibilika ezandleni zakhe. USamsoni ubulala amaFilisti ayinkulungwane​—⁠“inqwaba, yebo, izinqwaba ezimbili!” (15:​14-16) Siyini isikhali sakhe sokubhubhisa? Umhlathi wembongolo osemusha. UJehova uqabula inceku yakhe ekhathele ngokubangela ukuba kuqhume umthombo wamanzi ngokuyisimangaliso enkundleni yempi.

²² Ngokulandelayo uSamsoni uhlala ubusuku endlini yesifebe eGaza, lapho amaFilisti emkaka khona ngesinyenyela. Nokho, umoya kaJehova uyaphinda uba naye njengoba evuka phakathi kwamabili, encothula izivalo zesango lomuzi nezinsika ezisemaceleni, eziyisa phezulu esiqongweni sentaba ebhekene neHebroni. Ngemva kwalokhu uthandana noDelila okhohlisayo. Njengoba eyithuluzi elivumayo lamaFilisti, umbelesela aze adalule ukuthi ukuzinikela kwakhe kuJehova njengomNaziri, njengoba kubonakaliswa izinwele zakhe ezinde, kungumthombo wangempela wamandla amakhulu. Lapho esalele, umgunda izinwele zakhe. Manje akusasizi ukuba avuke ayokulwa, ngoba “uJehova wayemukile kuye.” (16:​20) AmaFilisti ayambamba, amkhipha amehlo, futhi amsilisa njengesigqila etilongweni lawo. Njengoba kufika isikhathi somkhosi omkhulu wokudumisa unkulunkulu wawo uDagoni, amaFilisti akhipha uSamsoni ukuze awenzele amahlaya. Ehluleka ukubona okushiwo iqiniso lokuthi izinwele zakhe seziyaphinda futhi zikhula ngamandla, amvumela ukuba amiswe phakathi kwezinsika ezimbili ezinkulu zendlu esetshenziselwa ukukhulekela uDagoni. USamsoni ubiza uJehova: “Nkosi Nkulunkulu, ake ungikhumbule, ungiqinise kube-kanye kuphela.” UJehova uyamkhumbula. USamsoni ubamba izinsika futhi ‘ukhothama ngamandla’​—⁠amandla kaJehova⁠—​‘indlu iyawa ngakho abafileyo ababulala ekufeni kwakhe baba baningi kunalabo ababulala phakathi nokuphila kwakhe.’​—⁠16:​28-⁠30.

23. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezilandiswa esahlukweni 17 kuya ku-21, futhi zenzeka nini?

²³ Manje sifika esahlukweni 17 kuya ku-21, ezichaza eminye yemibango yangaphakathi ehlupha uIsrayeli ngokudabukisayo phakathi nalesikhathi. Lezenzakalo zenzeka isanda kuqala nje inkathi yabahluleli, njengoba kubonakala ngokukhulunyelwa kukaJonathani noFinehasi, abazukulu bakaMose noAroni, njengabasaphila.

24. AbakwaDani bayimisa kanjani inkolo ezimele?

²⁴ UMika nabakwaDani (17:⁠1–18:​31). UMika, indoda yakwaEfrayimi, umisa olwakhe uhlelo olungokwenkolo oluzimele, ‘indlu yawonkulunkulu’ enezithombe, enomfanekiso obaziweyo nompristi ongumLevi. (17:⁠5) Abantu besizwe sakwaDani badlula khona lapho beya kofuna ifa enyakatho. Baphuca uMika izinto zakhe ezingokwenkolo nompristi, futhi baqonda enyakatho ekude beyobhubhisa umuzi ongasoli lutho waseLayishi. Endaweni yawo bakha umuzi wabo siqu wakwaDani futhi bamisa umfanekiso kaMika obaziweyo. Kanjalo, balandela inkolo abazikhethele yona zonke izinsuku indlu kaJehova yokukhulekela kweqiniso eyayiqhubeka ngazo eShilo.

25. Umbango wangaphakathi kwaIsrayeli ufinyelela kanjani emvuthwandaba eGibeya?

²⁵ Isono sabakwaBenjamini eGibeya (19:⁠1–21:​25). Isenzakalo esilandelayo esilotshiwe senza uHoseya asho lamazwi kamuva: “Kwasezinsukwini zaseGibeya wonile, Israyeli.” (Hos. 10:⁠9) Ephindela ekhaya nesancinza sakhe, umLevi wakwaEfrayimi uhlala ubusuku nendoda endala yaseGibeya lakwaBenjamini. Abantu ababi bomuzi bahaqa indlu, befuna ukuba nobuhlobo bobulili nomLevi. Nokho, esikhundleni sakhe bayasamukela isancinza sakhe futhi bayasinukubeza bonke ubusuku. Ekuseni sitholakala sifile embundwini. UmLevi uyisa isidumbu saso ekhaya, usiqoba siba izingcezu ezingu-12, futhi uzithumela kulo lonke elakwaIsrayeli. Ngaleyondlela izizwe ezingu-12 ziyavivinywa. Ingabe zizolijezisa elaseGibeya futhi kanjalo zisuse isimo esingcolile kwaIsrayeli? AbakwaBenjamini bayalithalalisa lelicala elibi. Ezinye izizwe zihlangana kuJehova eMispa, lapho zinquma khona ukuyohlasela ngenkatho abakwaBenjamini eGibeya. Ngemva kokwehluleka kabili okwachitheka kukho igazi eliningi, lezi ezinye izizwe ziyaphumelela ngesu lokuqamekela futhi zicishe zisicekele phansi isizwe sakwaBenjamini, kusinda amadoda angu-600 kuphela abalekela edwaleni laseRimoni. Kamuva, uIsrayeli uyadabuka ngokuthi isizwe esisodwa sesinqunyiwe. Kutholakala ithuba lokunikeza abantwana bakwaBenjamini abafazi emadodakazini aseJabeshi-Gileyadi nawaseShilo. Lokhu kuphetha umlando wombango nokusongelana kwaIsrayeli. Njengoba amazwi okuphetha encwadi yabAhluleli ephinda, “Ngalezozinsuku kwakungekho-nkosi kwaIsrayeli; yilowo nalowo wenza okulungile emehlweni akhe.”​—⁠AbAhl. 21:⁠25.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

26. Yiziphi izixwayiso ezinamandla ezikubAhluleli ezisebenzayo nakulolusuku?

²⁶ Kunokuba imane ibe nje umlando wombango nokuchitheka kwegazi, incwadi yabAhluleli iphakamisa uJehova njengoMkhululi omkhulu wabantu bakhe. Ibonisa indlela umusa wakhe ongenakufaniswa nokubekezela kwakhe okubonakaliswa ngayo kubantu begama lakhe lapho beza kuye ngezinhliziyo eziphendukile. Incwadi yabAhluleli inenzuzo kakhulu ekumeleleni kwayo ngokusobala ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova nezixwayiso zayo ezinamandla ngokuqondene nobuwula benkolo yobudemoni, ukuxuba izinkolo, nokuzihlanganisa nabantu abaziphethe kabi. Ukukulahla kukaJehova kanzima ukukhulekelwa kukaBali kumelwe kusishukumisele ukuba sizihlukanise ngokuphelele nemifuziselo yosuku lwanamuhla yokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, ubuzwe, nokuziphatha okubi kobulili.​—⁠2:​11-⁠18.

27. Namuhla singazuza kanjani ngesibonelo esihle sabahluleli?

²⁷ Ukuhlola ukholo lwabahluleli lokungesabi nolwesibindi kumelwe kuvuse ukholo olufanayo ezinhliziyweni zethu. Akumangalisi ukuthi kukhulunywa ngabo kahle kangaka kumaHeberu 11:​32-34! Babelwela ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova, kodwa hhayi ngamandla abo siqu. Babewazi umthombo wamandla abo, umoya kaJehova, futhi bawuvuma ngokuzithoba. Ngokufanayo, thina namuhla singathatha “inkemba kaMoya,” iZwi likaNkulunkulu, sinethemba lokuthi uNkulunkulu uyosinika amandla njengoba enza kuBaraki, uGideyoni, uJefta, uSamsoni, nabanye. Yebo, ekunqobeni izihibe ezinkulu, ngosizo lomoya kaJehova, singaba namandla ngokomoya njengoba noSamsoni ayenjalo ngokwenyama kuphela uma sithandaza kuJehova futhi sincika kuye.​—⁠Efe. 6:​17, 18; AbAhl. 16:⁠28.

28. Incwadi yabAhluleli ikhomba kanjani phambili ekungcwelisweni kwegama likaJehova ngeMbewu yoMbuso?

²⁸ Umprofethi uIsaya ubhekisela kubAhluleli ezindaweni ezimbili ukuze abonise indlela uJehova, ngaphandle kokwehluleka, ayolephula ngayo ijoka izitha zaKhe ezilibeka phezu kwabantu bakhe, njengoba nje enza ezinsukwini zikaMidiyani. (Isaya 9:⁠4; 10:​26) Lokhu kusikhumbuza futhi ngehubo likaDebora noBaraki, eliphetha ngomthandazo wentshiseko: “Mazibhubhe kanjalo zonke izitha zakho, Jehova; kepha abamthandayo mababe-njengelanga, lapho liphuma ngamandla alo.” (AbAhl. 5:​31) Obani laba abamthandayo? Ebonisa ukuthi bayizindlalifa zoMbuso, uJesu Kristu ngokwakhe wasebenzisa amazwi afanayo kuMathewu 13:​43: “Khona abalungileyo bayakukhanya njengelanga embusweni kaYise wabo.” Kanjalo, incwadi yabAhluleli ikhomba phambili esikhathini lapho umaHluleli wokulunga neMbewu yoMbuso, uJesu, eyosebenzisa khona amandla. Ngaye, uJehova uyokhazimulisa futhi angcwelise igama laKhe, ngokuvumelana nomthandazo womhubi ngokuphathelene nezitha zikaNkulunkulu: “Yenza kubo njengakuMidiyani, nakuSisera, nakuJabini ngasemfuleni iKishoni . . . bazi ukuthi nguwe wedwa ogama lakho linguJehova; ungoPhezukonke emhlabeni wonke.”​—⁠IHu. 83:​9, 18; AbAhl. 5:​20, 21.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]