Jonatani unonginilila Bafilisitiya
1 Kwakati limwe zhuba Jonatani nkololo wa Saulo kadwa nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kati, “Ngatiyende, ku ikwata tje babhayani be Bafilisitiya tjandiyeno.” Koga wakabe asabudza tate babe. 2 Saulo wakabe egala ku ndzibo we Gibiya kusi kwe nti we pomegiranate mu Migironi, ana bathu bangabe mazana ali matathatu (600). 3 Mubali kwakabe kuna Ahija nkololo wa Ahitubu, batatenini babe ili Ikhabodi, Ahija iwoyu, batategulu babe bakabe bali Finihasi nkololo wa Eli mpirisiti wa Yahwe mu Shilo. Ahija wakabe e ambala khiba ye bupirisiti. Ipapo bathu bakabe basingazibe kuti Jonatani wayenda.
4 Mu nkoto we dombo wakabe Jonatani eshoko bhuda ndiwo, eyenda ku ikwata tje babhayani be Bafilisitiya, kwakabe kuna shongwe dzimile dzakashongoloka dzakabe dzinging'wa pakati kwadzo, zina le imwe shongwe lakabe liyi Bhozezi imwe iye Sene. 5 Imwe shongwe yakabe yakashongoloka ili ku bunandzwa kulingisana ne Mikimashi, imwe ilimile ku burwa kulingisana ne Gebha.
6 Jonatani wakadwa nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kati, “Ngatiyende ku ikwata tje babhayani ibabaje basakathumbigwa, pamwe Yahwe banowotibhatsha, akuna tjingama Yahwe mbeli kutitjidza nge bunji kene nge bushomanana.”
7 Nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kandwa kati, “Thamani tjimwe ne tjimwe tjamakakumbula, dwililani, ndowoma namwi mu tjimwe ne tjimwe.”
8 Jonatani kandwa kakale kati, “Kwakalulwama, towotjulukila ku bali, tikabazwilakidza. 9 Ha bangatidwa beti, ‘Imani ipapo kuswikilila tizha kumuli, towoma ipapo patinowobe tilipo, atitowotathila ku bali.’ 10 Koga ha bangatidwa beti, ‘Tathilani ngeno, towotathila ku bali, ngobe tjowobe tjili tjilakidzo mutili kuti Yahwe batipa kukunda.’ ”
11 Ndizo bose bakazwilakidza ku babhayani be Bafilisitiya. Bafilisitiya bakati bebabona bakati, “Bonani! Bahebheru banobhuda mu mimwina yabakabe bakabgwata muili.” 12 Balume be babhayani bakamimilila Jonatani ne nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe beti, “Izhani ngeno, towomulakidza tjamunoshaka!”
Ndizo Jonatani kadwa nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe kati, “Undisale shule, ngobe Yahwe bapa Iziraela kukunda.” 13 Jonatani wakatathila pezhugwi nge maboko ne makumbo awe, nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe akantobela. Jonatani kanginilila Bafilisitiya kabatema kabaligila pasi, ngono nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe, kazha shule kukwe, kabakowobedza. 14 Mu kuthasela kwabo kwe kutanga Jonatani ne nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe bakabulaya balume bangaswika makumi mabili mu pathu pakaashama kungabe gwamu le ndima ye ng'ombe. 15 Kukabe ne kupaluka moyo kukulu mu ikwata tje babhayani bose be Bafilisitiya bakabe bali mu mishasha ne bakabe bali ku magwilo ne bakabe bali batoleli, shango ikatengenyeka, bose bakabe ne kutja. Kutja ikoku kwakabe kudwa ku Ndzimu.
Bafilisitiya banokundiwa
16 Balindi ba Saulo mu Gibiya mu ntuthu we Bhenjamini bakalinga, ngono bakabona mbunga we bathu uwundumuka utizhila yeno na yeno. 17 Ndizo Saulo kadwa babhayani baakabe anabo kati, “Danani mazina mubone kuti ndiboani bangabe basipo mutili.” Kwakati basinobe badana mazina, ngono bakawana Jonatani ne nsengi we zwibhayano zwizwe basipo.
18 Saulo kadwa Ahija kati, “Zhisa ngeno Bhokisi le Tjidumano tje Ndzimu.” Ngobe mu tjibaka itjetjo Bhokisi le Tjidumano tje Ndzimu lakabe liyenda ne Baiziraela. 19 Kwakati Saulo atjalebeleka ne mpirisiti, zhoba imu mishasha ye Bafilisitiya ikakulila mbeli. Saulo kadwa mpirisiti kati, “Letjedza.” 20 Ipapo Saulo ne bathu bose bakabe banaye bakakubungana bakayenda ku ngwa, bakawana Bafilisitiya bebulayana ne makanu abo, ndizo kukabe ne kudziyana kukulu kwazo. 21 Bahebheru bakabe bagala bana Bafilisitiya, bakayenda nabo ku ngwa, bakabashandukila, ngono bakabgwilila ku Baiziraela bakabe bana Saulo na Jonatani. 22 Kwakati Baiziraela bose bakabe babgwata mu shango ye matuthu ye Ifureimi, behwa kuti Bafilisitiya banotizha, na ibo bakatatana nabo mu ngwa. 23 Mu zhuba ilelo Yahwe bakagwila Baiziraela, ngono ngwa ikanopinda Bhetiaveni.
Zwiyitikalo shule kwe ngwa
24 Mu zhuba ilelo bathu be Iziraela bakadziyidzika kwazo, ngobe Saulo wakatunisa bathu kati, “Kube ne bhiso munli nthu unowoja zojiwa kutangila zhuba lingina, ndisathu azwibgwilizila mu zwita zwangu.” Ndizo akuna nlume wakalabila zojiwa. 25 Bathu ibaba bose bakangina mu ishaka, bawana butji gwe nyutji pasi. 26 Kwakati babhayani beswika mu ishaka, butji gwe nyutji gudotha, ngono akuna ne wakatola kayisa ku nlomo, ngobe bakatja tjisungo. 27 Koga Jonatani wakabe asahwa kuti tate babe batunisa bathu, ndizo katola lukombo gwaakabe akabhata kabhayila theswi yago mu mape e nyutji, kayisa luboko ku nlomo uwe, mesho awe kabe epenya. 28 Ngono mmwe we babhayani kandwa kati, “Tate babo bakatunisa bathu beti, ‘Una bhiso iye unowoja zojiwa mu zhuba la nasi. Ndizo bathu bakafa nge zhala.’ ”
29 Jonatani kabe eti, “Tate badziyidza shango, bona sekwa mesho angu wopenya ndiko, ngobe ndalabila butji gushomanana. 30 Apa kobe kusayita, ha babhayani babe baja zwabo bakasungunuka zojiwa zwabatapa nasi mu zwita zwabo, ngwenu kobe kusabulawa Bafilisitiya nge bunji kene?”
31 Mu zhuba ilelo, Baiziraela basinobulaya Bafilisitiya kudwa mu Mikimashi kunoti ku Aijaloni, bakabe batjinengetela nge zhala. 32 Ndizo bakawila zojiwa zwabatapa pezhugwi, bakatola pkhwizi ne ng'ombe ne phulu, bakazwibhayila pasi koga, bakaja nyama ibhizha malopa. 33 Ndizo mmwe kanobikila Saulo eti, “Lingani, bathu banothamila Yahwe tjibi ngoja nyama ibhizha malopa.” Saulo kashandula eti, “Mathama nlandu, kunguludzilani bgwe gulu kundili.” 34 Saulo kabadwa kati, “Yendani ku bathu, ngono mubadwe muti, ‘Mmwe ne mmwe azhise ng'ombe kene pkhwizi, bazhe bazwibhayile ipapa, bazwije, basithamile Yahwe tjibi ngoja nyama ibhizha malopa.’ ” Ndizo mmwe ne mmwe kazhisa ng'ombe iye busiku igogu kaibhayila ipapo. 35 Saulo kabakila Yahwe Tjibeso tje zwibhayilo, tjakabe tjili tje kutanga etjibaka.
36 Saulo kabe eti, “Atitobeleni Bafilisitiya busiku, tibakikithidze kuswikila mangwanana kuyedza, kushete ne ng'ompela wabo watinowosiya etjila.”
Babhayani bakashandula beti, “Thama tjaunobona tjakakululwamila tokubhatsha.”
Ngono mpirisiti kabe eti, “Ngatizwisedzedzeni ku Ndzimu ipapa.”
37 Ndizo Saulo kabhuzwa Ndzimu eti, “Apa nditobele Bafilisitiya, mothama kuti bakundiwe nge Baiziraela kene?” Koga Ndzimu ukasin'dabile Zhuba ilelo. 38 Saulo kabe eti, “Izhani ngeno mose imwi batungamili be ikwata tje babhayani, ngatishakeni kuti kwathamwa tjibi tjipi nasi. 39 Ndolebesa ndotuna na Yahwe banotjila ibo bakagwila Iziraela, ha kuli kuti kumu nkololo wangu Jonatani, ndolebesa unowofa!” Koga mu bathu bose ibabo ukuna wakanshandula. 40 Saulo kadwa Baiziraela bose kati, “Imwi mume ikoko, imi ne nkololo wangu Jonatani towoma ndingeno.” Ngono bathu bakadabila beti, “Thama tjaunobona tjakakululwamila naswi tiyapobo.”
41 Ndizo Saulo katembezela Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela kati, “Imwi Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela, ini musadabila nlanda wenyu nasi kene? Koga ha nlandu uwoyu uli mundili kene mu nkololo wangu Jonatani, imwi Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela mupe Urimu, koga ha nlandu uli mu bathu benyu Baiziraela mupe Thumimu.” Kukakandigwa kukabhakhwa Jonatani na Saulo, bathu bakasungunuka. 42 Ndizo Saulo kabe eti, “Kandilani pakati kwangu ne nkololo wangu Jonatani.” Ngono kukabhakhwa Jonatani.
43 Saulo kadwa Jonatani kati, “Undibudze, wathamani kene?”
Jonatani kambudza kati, “Ndakalabila butji gwe nyutji bushomanana nge theswi ye lukombo gwandakabe ndakabhata, yezo ndipano, ndingafa?”
44 Saulo kati, “Ndzimu undilobe upaphulula, ha usingake ukafa, Jonatani.”
45 Bathu bakabhuzwa Saulo bakati, “Apa Jonatani unofa kene? Iye wakathama kukunda kukulu zwingapa mu Iziraela! Ndodwa! Totuna na Yahwe banotjila tjoselele, akuna vudzi mu nsholo uwe linowowila pasi, ngobe wathama ikoku nasi nge bhatsho ye Ndzimu.” Ndizo bathu bakasunungula Jonatani, ngono akasife. 46 Ndizo Saulo kaletjedza kutatana ne Bafilisitiya, ngono Bafilisitiya bakayenda kanyi kwabo. 47 Kwakati Saulo asinotola bushe gwe Iziraela, kabhayana ne zwita zwizwe zose pamwe ne pamwe, Moabu ne Baamoni ne Edomu na bomambo be Zobha, nenge Bafilisitiya, kumwe ne kumwe kwaakabe elingako wakabe ekunda. 48 Wakagwa akasima tjilopa, kakunda Baamaleki, kasunungula Baiziraela mu maboko e bakabe bakabatapa.
49 Ipapo bakololo ba Saulo bakabe ili Jonatani na Ishivi na Malikishuwa. Zina le nkololokadzi uwe hwola lakabe liyi Merabhu ntjetjana kuyi Mikhali. 50 Zina le nkadzi wa Saulo lakabe liyi Ahinoami nkololokadzi wa Ahimaazi. Zina le ntungamili we babhayani babe lakabe liyi Abineri nkololo wa Neri batatenini ba Saulo. 51 Kishi wakabe ali tate ba Saulo, ngono Neri ali tate ba Abineri, bakabe bali bakololo ba Abiele.
52 Kwakabe kuli ngwa yakasima ne Bafilisitiya mu misi yose ya Saulo, kwakabe kuti Saulo ebona nlume wakasima kene ali ngwi wakasima tjilopa kazwitolegwa iye kunshingisa.
Jonathan's Daring Deed
1 One day Jonathan said to the young man who carried his weapons, “Let's go across to the Philistine camp.” But Jonathan did not tell his father Saul, 2 who was camping under a pomegranate tree in Migron, not far from Gibeah; he had about six hundred men with him. 3 (The priest carrying the ephod was Ahijah, the son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub, who was the son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh.) The men did not know that Jonathan had left.
4 In Michmash Pass, which Jonathan had to go through to get over to the Philistine camp, there were two large jagged rocks, one on each side of the pass: one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 One was on the north side of the pass, facing Michmash, and the other was on the south side, facing Geba.
6 Jonathan said to the young man, “Let's cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe the Lord will help us; if he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory, no matter how few of us there are.”
7 The young man answered, “Whatever you want to do, I'm with you.”
8 “All right,” Jonathan said. “We will go across and let the Philistines see us. 9 If they tell us to wait for them to come to us, then we will stay where we are. 10 But if they tell us to go to them, then we will, because that will be the sign that the Lord has given us victory over them.”
11 So they let the Philistines see them, and the Philistines said, “Look! Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they have been hiding in!” 12 Then they called out to Jonathan and the young man, “Come on up here! We have something to tell you!”
Jonathan said to the young man, “Follow me. The Lord has given Israel victory over them.” 13 Jonathan climbed up out of the pass on his hands and knees, and the young man followed him. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and knocked them down, and the young man killed them. 14 In that first slaughter Jonathan and the young man killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 15 All the Philistines in the countryside were terrified; the raiders and the soldiers in the camp trembled with fear; the earth shook, and there was great panic.
The Defeat of the Philistines
16 Saul's men on watch at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin saw the Philistines running in confusion. 17 So Saul said to his men, “Count the soldiers and find out who is missing.” They did so and found that Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons were missing. 18 “Bring the ephod here,” Saul said to Ahijah the priest. (On that day Ahijah was carrying it in front of the people of Israel.) 19 As Saul was speaking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp kept getting worse, so Saul said to him, “There's no time to consult the Lord!” 20 Then he and his men marched into battle against the Philistines, who were fighting each other in complete confusion. 21 Some Hebrews, who had been on the Philistine side and had gone with them to the camp, changed sides again and joined Saul and Jonathan. 22 Others, who had been hiding in the hills of Ephraim, heard that the Philistines were running away, so they also joined in and attacked the Philistines, 23 fighting all the way beyond Bethaven. The Lord saved Israel that day.
Events after the Battle
24 The Israelites were weak with hunger that day, because Saul, with a solemn oath, had given the order: “A curse be on anyone who eats any food today before I take revenge on my enemies.” So nobody had eaten anything all day. 25 They all came into a wooded area and found honey everywhere. 26 The woods were full of honey, but no one ate any of it because they were all afraid of Saul's curse. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father threaten the people with a curse; so he reached out with the stick he was carrying, dipped it in a honeycomb, and ate some honey. At once he felt much better. 28 But one of the men told him, “We are all weak from hunger, but your father threatened us and said, ‘A curse be on anyone who eats any food today.’”
29 Jonathan answered, “What a terrible thing my father has done to our people! See how much better I feel because I ate some honey! 30 How much better it would have been today if our people had eaten the food they took when they defeated the enemy. Just think how many more Philistines they would have killed!”
31 That day the Israelites defeated the Philistines, fighting all the way from Michmash to Aijalon. By this time the Israelites were very weak from hunger, 32 and so they rushed over to what they had captured from the enemy, took sheep and cattle, slaughtered them on the spot, and ate the meat with the blood still in it. 33 Saul was told, “Look, the people are sinning against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.”
“You are traitors!” Saul cried out. “Roll a big stone over here to me.” 34 Then he gave another order: “Go among the people and tell them all to bring their cattle and sheep here. They are to slaughter them and eat them here; they must not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood in it.” So that night they all brought their cattle and slaughtered them there. 35 Saul built an altar to the Lord, the first one that he built.
36 Saul said to his men, “Let's go down and attack the Philistines in the night, plunder them until dawn, and kill them all.”
“Do whatever you think best,” they answered.
But the priest said, “Let's consult God first.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you give us victory?” But God did not answer that day. 38 Then Saul said to the leaders of the people, “Come here and find out what sin was committed today. 39 I promise by the living Lord, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.” But no one said anything. 40 Then Saul said to them, “All of you stand over there, and Jonathan and I will stand over here.”
“Do whatever you think best,” they answered.
41 Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Lord, why have you not answered me today? Lord, God of Israel, answer me by the sacred stones. If the guilt is Jonathan's or mine, answer by the Urim; but if it belongs to your people Israel, answer by the Thummim.” The answer indicated Jonathan and Saul; and the people were cleared. 42 Then Saul said, “Decide between my son Jonathan and me.” And Jonathan was indicated. 43 Then Saul asked Jonathan, “What have you done?”
Jonathan answered, “I ate a little honey with the stick I was holding. Here I am—I am ready to die.”
44 Saul said to him, “May God strike me dead if you are not put to death!”
45 But the people said to Saul, “Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death? No! We promise by the living Lord that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with God's help.” So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.
46 After that, Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they went back to their own territory.
Saul's Reign and Family
47 After Saul became king of Israel, he fought all his enemies everywhere: the people of Moab, of Ammon, and of Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he fought he was victorious. 48 He fought heroically and defeated even the people of Amalek. He saved the Israelites from all attacks.
49 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His older daughter was named Merab, and the younger one Michal. 50 His wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; his army commander was his cousin Abner, the son of his uncle Ner. 51 Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
52 As long as he lived, Saul had to fight fiercely against the Philistines. So whenever he found a man who was strong or brave, he would enlist him in his army.