Isahluko 1
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Kwathi emva kokufa kukaSawule, uDavide esebuyile ekubulaleni ama-Amaleki, futhi uDavide esehlale izinsuku ezimbili eSikilagi,
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kwathi-ke ngosuku lwesithathu, bheka, kwaphuma umuntu ekamu likaSawule, izingubo zakhe ziklebhukile, enomhlabathi ekhanda, wawa phansi ekufikeni kwakhe kuDavide, wakhuleka.
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UDavide wathi kuye: “Uvelaphi na?” Wathi kuye: “Ngibalekile ekamu lakwa-Israyeli.”
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UDavide wayesethi kuye: “Bekunjani na? Ake ungitshele.” Wathi: “Abantu babalekile empini, nabantu abaningi bawile, bafa; oSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafile nabo.”
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UDavide wathi kuleyo nsizwa eyamtshelayo: “Wazi kanjani ukuthi oSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe bafile na?”
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Insizwa eyamtshelayo yathi: “Ngithe ngisentabeni yaseGilibowa, bheka, uSawule wencika emkhontweni, kwamjonga kakhulu izinqola nabamahhashi.
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Lapho ebheka emuva, wangibona, wangibiza. Ngaphendula ngokuthi: ‘Ngilapha.’
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“Wathi kimi: ‘Wena ungubani na?’ Ngathi kuye: ‘NgingumAmaleki.’
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“Wathi kimi: ‘Ake ume ngakimi, ungibulale, ngokuba ngishaywe yisiyezi, nokuphila kusekhona kimi.’
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“Ngase ngima ngakuye, ngambulala, ngokuba ngakwazi ukuthi angephile esewile, ngathatha umqhele owawusekhanda lakhe, nesongo elalisengalweni yakhe, ngikulethile lapha enkosini yami.”
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UDavide wayesebamba izingubo zakhe, waziklebhula kanye nawo onke amadoda ayenaye.
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Balila, bakhala, bazila ukudla kwaze kwahlwa ngenxa kaSawule, noJonathani indodana yakhe, nabantu bakaJehova, nendlu ka-Israyeli, ngokuba bebewile ngenkemba.
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Wathi uDavide kuyo insizwa eyayimtshelile: “Ungowaphi na?” Wathi: “Ngiyindodana yomuntu ogogobele nje, umAmaleki.”
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UDavide wathi kuyo: “Yini ukuba ungesabanga ukwelula isandla sakho, ubhubhise ogcotshiweyo kaJehova, na?”
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UDavide wayesebiza enye yezinsizwa, wathi: “Sondela, umsukele.” Yamshaya waze wafa.
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UDavide wathi kuye: “Igazi lakho malibe phezu kwekhanda lakho, ngokuba umlomo wakho ufakazile ngawe, lapho uthi: ‘Ngibulele ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.’ ”
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UDavide walila ngalesi sililo ngoSawule noJonathani indodana yakhe,
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wathi mabafundiswe abantwana bakwaJuda eyoMnsalo; bheka, silotshiwe eNcwadini Yoqotho.
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“Udumo lwakho, Israyeli, lubulewe ezindaweni eziphakemeyo. Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe!
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“Ningakusho eGati, ningakumemezeli ezitaladini zase-Ashikeloni, funa amadodakazi amaFilisti ajabule, namadodakazi abangasokile athokoze.
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“Nina zintaba zaseGilibowa, makungabikho mazolo namvula phezu kwenu, nokugubha kotwa, ngokuba isihlangu samaqhawe santshingwa, isihlangu sikaSawule, singagcotshwanga ngamafutha.
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Egazini lababuleweyo nasemanonini amaqhawe umnsalo kaJonathani awuphindelanga emuva, nenkemba kaSawule ayibuyelanga ize.
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“OSawule noJonathani babethandeka, bemnandi; ekuphileni nasekufeni kwabo kabahlukaniswanga; babenejubane kunezinkozi, babenamandla kunezingonyama.
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“Nina madodakazi akwa-Israyeli, mkhaleleni uSawule owanigqokisa kamnandi ngokubomvu, owavunulisa izambatho zenu ngezivunulo zegolide.
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“Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe phakathi kokulwa! UJonathani ubulewe ezindaweni zakho eziphakemeyo.
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“Ngidabukile ngawe mfowethu Jonathani; wawumnandi kakhulu kimi; lwaluyisimangaliso kimi uthando lwakho, ludlula uthando lwabesifazane.
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“Yeka ukuwa kwamaqhawe, nokuphela kwezikhali zokulwa!”