1-3. (a) Kwakuhambe njani kuze kube lebutho elalifuna ukuhlasela abendlu ka-Abhigeli? (b) Sizafundani mayelana lowesifazana lo owayelesimilo esihle?

U-ABHIGELI wabona ngejaha lithutsha liphaphatheka. Laselethuke laginqa tshitshi! Phela kwakusiza ingozi enkulu. Amaqhawe angaba yi-400 ayesendleleni ezobulala yonke indoda eyayisemzini kaNabhali, owayengumka-Abhigeli. Kwakutheni?

² UNabhali nguye owayehlokoze indlu kalonyovu. Wayevele elolunya futhi ekhangelela abantu emanzini. Kodwa khathesi wayesethuke uDavida, umkhokheli webutho elalimthanda, limsekela njalo liqeqetshwe okuzwayo. Yikho-ke inceku kaNabhali, mhlawumbe eyayingumalusi, yayisifike ku-Abhigeli ilethemba lokuthi wayezabakhupha emlonyeni wengwenya. Kambe owesifazana lo wayengenelisa yini ukumisana lebutho leli njengoba wayeyedwa nje?

³ Ake siqale sifunde okunengi ngo-Abhigeli, owesifazana owayelesimilo esihle. Wayengubani? Kwakutheni kuze kube lenkemenkeme engaka? Kanti njalo singafundani kowesifazana lo owayelokholo?

4. Chaza ukuthi uNabhali wayeyindoda enjani.

⁴ U-Abhigeli loNabhali babeyimpumalanga lentshonalanga. UNabhali wayetshaye ebambile ku-Abhigeli, wayengamthola nzima umfazi owayengadlula lapho. Kodwa u-Abhigeli wayetshade lomuntu owayengasizi ngalutho. UNabhali wayezibona eqakatheke kakhulu ngoba wayengumaliyavuza. Lanxa kunjalo, abanye babembona njani? EBhayibhilini kukhanya angani ngomunye wabantu ababebizwa ngendlela engelasithunzi ngitsho. Ibizo lakhe litsho ukuthi “Sithutha” kumbe “Ongelangqondo.” Kambe abazali bakhe yibo ababemuphe ibizo leli ezalwa, kumbe waliphiwa ngenxa yokuziphatha kwakhe? Izenzo zakhe zazisenza ukuthi ibizo leli limfanele sibili. UNabhali “wayelenhliziyo embi kwabanye abantu.” Wayehlukuluza abanye futhi eyisidakwa sokucina yikho abantu abanengi babemesaba futhi bemzonda.—1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 17, 21, 25.

5, 6. (a) Kuyini okuthanda kakhulu ngobuntu buka-Abhigeli? (b) Kuyini okungabe kwabangela ukuthi u-Abhigeli endele endodeni engelangqondo?

 ⁵ U-Abhigeli wayengafanani ngitsho loNabhali. Ibizo lika-Abhigeli litsho ukuthi “Ubaba Uzithokozisile.” Loba nguphi ubaba angazigqaja ngokuba lendodakazi elitshatshazi kodwa ubaba ohlakaniphileyo uthokoza kakhulu nxa ilesimilo esihle. Kujayelekile ukuthi umuntu abe muhle kodwa aswele ukuqedisisa, ukuhlakanipha, isibindi kumbe ukholo. Kodwa u-Abhigeli wayelakho konke lokhu. IBhayibhili lithi wayemuhle liphinde limncome ngokukhalipha kwakhe.—Bala u-1 Samuyeli 25:3.

⁶ Loba kunjalo, abanye bangazibuza ukuthi kanti vele kwakutheni owesifazana okhaliphe kangaka aze endele endodeni engelangqondo. Khumbula ukuthi endulo abantu abanengi babekhethelwa umuntu wokutshada laye. Lanxa umuntu wayengazidingela, kwakumele abazali bakhe baqale bamvumele. Mhlawumbe abazali baka-Abhigeli bamkhethela kumbe bavuma ukuthi athathwe nguNabhali bebona ukuthi wayenothile futhi edumile. Bangabe bafuqwa ludubo yini? Ngeke sitsho, kodwa kuyakhanya ukuthi uNabhali wayeyindoda ngebizo nje lanxa wayelemali.

7. (a) Kuyini okungamelanga abazali bakwenze endabeni zokutshada? (b) U-Abhigeli wazimisela ukwenzani?

⁷ Abazali kufanele bafundise abantwababo ukuthi ukutshada kakusikho kudlala amandlwane. Akumelanga babakhuthaze ukuthi batshadele ukuthola imali, njalo akufanelanga babafuqele ukuthi baqalise indaba zothando bona besesebancane kakhulu ukuthi babe ngobaba kumbe omama bemizi. (1 Khor. 7:36) Kodwa ku-Abhigeli laselidume ledlula, kungasancedi ukuthi atshone ecabanga ngezinto lezi. Yikho-ke wazimisela ukuthi enze ubungcono bakhe ukuze umtshado wakhe uphumelele.

8. UNabhali wayethethise bani, njalo ubona angani kungani akwenzayo kwakuyibuthutha bokucina?

⁸ U-Abhigeli wayesephakathi kobunzima obukhulu, kwazise zonelwa mvunye. Phela uNabhali wayethethise uDavida, inceku kaJehova ethembekileyo eyayigcotshwe ngumphrofethi uSamuyeli. UNkulunkulu wayekhethe inceku le ukuthi ithathe isikhundla senkosi uSawuli. (1 Sam. 16:1, 2, 11-13) Kodwa iNkosi uSawuli yaba lomhawu yasifuna ukuyibulala. Yikho-ke yabaleka yayahlala enkangala lamaqhawe ayo athembekileyo angu-600.

9, 10. (a) Kuyini okwakusenza ukuthi uDavida lamaqhawe akhe baphile nzima? (b) Kungani kwakumele ukuthi uNabhali abonge ngalokho uDavida lamaqhawe akhe ababemenzele khona? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi endima 10.)

⁹ UNabhali wayehlala eMawoni kodwa wayesebenzela eKhameli  futhi kungenzeka ukuthi wayelepulazi khonale. * Amadolobho la ayesezindaweni eziphakemeyo ezazilamadlelo amahle. Kwakufuywa izimvu njalo uNabhali wayelezingu-3 000. Kodwa ayegonjolozelwe zindawo eziliganga. Ngale ngaseningizimu kwakulenkangala yasePharani, besekusithi le empumalanga nxa usubanga eLwandle lweTshwayi wawudabula phakathi kwamagceke ayelezihotsha lezimbalu. Ngesikhathi behlala endaweni lezo, uDavida lamaqhawe akhe babephila nzima. Engxenye babezingela ukuze bathole ukudla. Babejayele ukubonana labelusi bakaNabhali ababegcine imfuyo yakhe enengi.

¹⁰ Amaqhawe la ayekhuthele abaphatha njani abelusi laba? Ayengenelisa ukuthi abezithathela izimvu zikaNabhali kodwa wona kawazange. Aba ngumduli owawuhonqolozele umhlambi kaNabhali kanye lezinceku zakhe. (Bala u-1 Samuyeli 25:15, 16.) Endaweni le kwakulezingozi ezinengi kakhulu ezazisehlela abelusi kanye lezimvu zabo. Kwakugcwele izinswelaboya njalo kwakuseduze kakhulu lomngcele owawuseningizimu okokuthi babehlala behlaselwa yizikliwi ezivela kwezinye izizwe kanye lamasela. *

11, 12. (a) UDavida watshengisa njani ukuthi wayehlakaniphile futhi ehlonipha ngesikhathi ethuma abantu kuNabhali? (b) UNabhali waphambanisa ngani ngesikhathi ephendula izithunywa zikaDavida?

¹¹ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwakunzima ukuthola ukudla okwakuzasuthisa amadoda wonke la ayesenkangala. Yikho-ke ngelinye ilanga uDavida wathuma amajaha alitshumi ukuthi ayecela uncedo kuNabhali. UDavida wayewathume ngesikhathi esihle sibili. Phela kwakuyisikhathi sokugunda izimvu lapho abantu ababejayele ukuba lamadili njalo belomusa. Waphinda wakhuluma loNabhali ngenhlonipho, wakhetha lamazwi amahle. Waze wazibiza ngokuthi ‘uyindodana yakhe,’ mhlawumbe etshengisa ukuthi uyamhlonipha ngoba emdala kulaye khatshana. UNabhali yena wathini?—1 Sam. 25:5-8.

¹² Wathukuthela wabila! Ijaha leliya okukhulunywe ngalo ekuqaliseni latshela u-Abhigeli ukuthi uNabhali ‘wazithethisa’ izithunywa zikaDavida. Watshinga uNabhali wazitshela ukuthi kafuni lesinkwa sakhe, lamanzi akhe kanye lenyama yakhe ayeyihlabile. Wathethisa uDavida esithi kasimuntu walutho, waze wathi ufana nje lenceku ebalekele inkosi yayo. Kukhanya angani uNabhali wayenjengoSawuli, emzonda uDavida. Kodwa uJehova yena wayemthanda uDavida. Wayembona eyindoda eyayizakuba yinkosi yako-Israyeli, hatshi inceku ehlamukileyo.—1 Sam. 25:10, 11, 14.

13. (a) UDavida wenzani ngesikhathi etshelwa ukuthi uNabhali wayemthethisile? (b) UJakhobe 1:20 usifundisani ngalokho uDavida ayesefuna ukukwenza?

 ¹³ Izithunywa zafika zayibika indaba kuDavida. Laye wazonda wadla amalahle. Watshela amaqhawe akhe wathi: “Hlomani ngezinkemba zenu!” Laye wahloma, wakhokhela amabutho akhe angu-400 esiyahlasela. Wafunga ukuthi wayezathanyela aqede wonke amadoda endlu kaNabhali. (1 Sam. 25:12, 13, 21, 22) Kwakungelanto embi ngokuzonda kwakhe, kodwa indlela ayesefuna ukutshengisa ngayo ukuthi uzondile yiyo eyayingaqondanga. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ukuthukuthela komuntu kakulethi ukuphila okulungileyo okufiswa nguNkulunkulu.” (Jak. 1:20) Pho u-Abhigeli wayengabalamulela njani abendlu yakhe?

14. (a) U-Abhigeli watshengisa njani ukuthi wayezimisele ukulungisa umonakalo owawusudalwe ngumkakhe? (b) Umahluko owawukhona phakathi kukaNabhali lo-Abhigeli ungasifundisani? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁴ U-Abhigeli kazange ephulele izigodo endlebeni njengomkakhe uNabhali kodwa walalela. Lokhu kwakuyinto yokuqala ayenzayo ukuze alungise umonakalo lo owawusudalwe ngumkakhe. Ijaha leliya elaliyinceku lalingeke lizihluphe ngokuya kuNabhali ngoba lathi: ‘Ungumuntu omubi okungelamuntu ongakhuluma laye.’ * (1 Sam. 25:17) Kuyadanisa ukuthi uNabhali wayengazimiselanga ukulalela ngoba wayezibona eqakathekile. Kodwa akuthandabuzwa ukuthi inceku yakhe yayibona ukuthi u-Abhigeli uyazwisisa, yikho yamlanda yamtshela ngohlupho olwaseluzabehlela. Lalamuhla bagcwele abantu abazikhukhumezayo.

15, 16. (a) U-Abhigeli watshengisa njani ukuthi wayenjengowesifazana okhutheleyo okukhulunywa ngaye kuZaga? (b) U-Abhigeli wayemdelela yini umkakhe owayeyinhloko yemuli? Chaza.

¹⁵ U-Abhigeli wacabanga masinya, wahle wasukumela phezulu. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kasachithanga sikhathi.” Endabeni le kulamanye amavesi atshengisa ukuthi wayengelasidensi. Enye ithi “wehla ngokuphangisa,” enye ithi “waphanga” njalo kuthiwa lapho esiya kuDavida ‘wafika masinyane.’ U-Abhigeli walungiselela uDavida kanye lebutho lakhe ukudla okunengi. Kwakuyisinkwa, iwayini, izimvu ezihlinziweyo, amabele akhanzingiweyo, amakhekhe, amagilebisi awonyisiweyo kanye lamakhekhe omkhiwa okhanyiweyo. Kuyazikhanyela ukuthi u-Abhigeli wayenjengenkosikazi ekhutheleyo okukhulunywa ngayo kuZaga. (Zaga. 31:10-31) Wayezazi kuhle izinto zomuzi wakhe futhi wayesiba leqiniso  lokuthi konke kuhamba kuhle. Wathuma ezinye izinceku zakhe ukuthi zihambe kuqala lokudla, yena waselandela eyedwa. “Kodwa umkakhe uNabhali kamtshelanga.”—1 Sam. 25:18, 19.

¹⁶ Manje sesingathi u-Abhigeli wayemdelela yini umkakhe owayeyinhloko yemuli? Hatshi! Khumbula ukuthi uNabhali wayethuke inceku kaJehova egcotshiweyo njalo lokhu kwakungabulalisa abantu abanengi ababengelacala ababesemzini wakhe. Kambe ngabe u-Abhigeli wagoqa izandla, wayengeke yini abe lecala njengomkakhe? Lapha-ke kwasekumele aqakathekise ukuzithoba kuNkulunkulu ukwedlula ukuzithoba kumkakhe.

17, 18. U-Abhigeli wenzani ehlangana loDavida, wathini kuye, njalo kuyini okwenza ukuthi uDavida amlalele?

¹⁷ Ngesikhatshana nje, u-Abhigeli wahlangana loDavida kanye lebutho lakhe. Lalapha futhi kazange abe lesidensi. Wehla ngokuphangisa, wakhothama phambi kukaDavida. (1 Sam. 25:20, 23) Wamtshela okwakusenhliziyweni yakhe njalo wancenga esancenga ecela ukuthi axolele umkakhe kanye labendlu yakhe. Kuyini okwenza ukuthi uDavida amlalele?

¹⁸ U-Abhigeli wathatha icala walenza laba ngelakhe, wasezicelela ukuthi uDavida amthethelele. Kanti njalo wavuma ukuthi umkakhe wayeyisithutha sibili njengokutshiwo libizo lakhe, mhlawumbe esitsho ukuthi nxa uDavida wayengalwisana laye wayezabe ezehlisa isithunzi. Watshengisa ukuthi wayekukholwa ukuthi uDavida wayengummeli kaNkulunkulu kanye lokuthi wayesilwa “izimpi zikaJehova.” Wamtshela ukuthi ‘uJehova wayezambeka ukuba ngumkhokheli wako-Israyeli.’ Lokhu kuveza ukuthi wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayethembise uDavida ukuthi wayezakuba yinkosi. Waphinda wakhuthaza uDavida ukuthi angenzi loba yini eyayizakwenza ukuthi abe lecala lokuchitha igazi kumbe ahlale ‘elesazela.’ (Bala u-1 Samuyeli 25:24-31.) Kambe amazwi amnandi kangaka ayengeke athophele enhliziyweni?

19. UDavida wathini ngalokho okwakukhulunywa ngu-Abhigeli, njalo kungani wamncoma?

¹⁹ UDavida yena wenzani? Wakwamukela ayekuphathelwe ngu-Abhigeli wasesithi: “Kadunyiswe uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, okuthumileyo lamhla ukuzabonana lami. Sengathi ungabusiswa ngenxa yokwahlulela kwakho okuhle lokuvimbela kwakho ekuchitheni igazi lamhla.” UDavida wamncoma u-Abhigeli ngokuthi waba lesibindi sokumhlangabeza masinyane. Wavuma lokuthi wayemncede ukuthi angachithi igazi. Wamtshela wathi: “Buyela ekhaya ngokuthula,” njalo wazithoba wathi: “Ngiwazwile amazwi akho.”—1 Sam. 25:32-35.

20, 21. (a) Kuyini okuncomekayo ngokuzimisela kuka-Abhigeli ukuthi abuyele kumkakhe? (b) U-Abhigeli watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelesibindi kanye lokukhalipha lapho ekhetha ukukhuluma loNabhali ekuseni?

²⁰ Kumele ukuthi u-Abhigeli esesukile wayelokhu ecabanga ngokwakwenzakele.  Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wakubona ukuthi uDavida wayethembekile, elomusa futhi engafanani lomkakhe owayelolunya. Kodwa akazange atshone esecabanga ngaye. Kuthiwa ‘u-Abhigeli wabuyela kuNabhali.’ Wabuyela sibili kumkakhe ezimisele ukuyakwenza konke okwakusemandleni akhe ukuze abe yinkosikazi enhle. Kwakumele amtshele ukuthi wayephe uDavida kanye lebutho lakhe isipho. Umkakhe wayelelungelo lokwazi okwakwenzakele. Kwakungcono ukuthi angakuzweli komakhelwana ukuthi u-Abhigeli wayevimbe inkalakatha yengozi ngoba wayezayangeka aze afise ukuthi umhlaba umginye. Kodwa kwakuyisikhathi esihle yini sokumtshela? Phela uNabhali wayeledili elinjengelenkosi futhi wayedakwe efile.—1 Sam. 25:36.

²¹ Yikho-ke u-Abhigeli wamelela kwaze kwaba sekuseni lapho umkakhe ayezavuka khona sekuthe dlwe ekhanda. Lalapha watshengisa ukuthi wayelesibindi futhi ekhaliphile. Njengoba uNabhali wayeyabe engasadakwanga, wayezazwisisa kodwa kwakulengozi yokuthi wayengavuka ngolaka. Lanxa kunjalo, u-Abhigeli wamlanda wamtshela konke okwakwenzakele. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi wayelindele ukuthi athunqe avuke eseganga, mhlawumbe aze aphose lenqindi. Kodwa waqhubeka ethe kho, kazange anyikinyeke ngitsho.—1 Sam. 25:37.

22. Kwenzakalani kuNabhali, njalo indaba le isifundisani ngokuhlukuluzwa kwabantu emakhaya?

²² Kwasekwenzakaleni kuNabhali? ‘Wayesetshaywe luvalo woma qha.’ Engxenye wayesetshaywe yisitrokhu. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezilitshumi wafa, kodwa kabulawanga ngumkhuhlane kuphela. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJehova wamtshaya uNabhali wafa.” (1 Sam. 25:38) Isijeziso sikaNabhali esasimfanele sasisitsho ukuthi u-Abhigeli wayesekhululiwe emendweni wakhe owawugcwele izinhlupho. Lamuhla uJehova kasababulali abantu abaphatha abanye kubi. Kodwa indaba le isifundisa ukuthi uyabe ekhangele nxa kulomuntu ohlukuluzwayo ngekhaya. Kayekeli ukulungisisa izinto ngesikhathi sakhe esifaneleyo.—Bala uLukha 8:17.

23. Yisiphi esinye isibusiso esatholwa ngu-Abhigeli, njalo watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelokhu ezithoba?

²³ U-Abhigeli wathi esekhululiwe emendweni wakhe owawulameva, wathola esinye isibusiso. UNabhali wayesefile, yikho uDavida wathuma izithunywa zakhe ukuthi ziyecela ukuthi u-Abhigeli atshade laye. U-Abhigeli waphendula wathi: “Nansi incekukazi yakho, ilungele ukukusebenzela lokugezisa izinyawo zezinceku zeNkosi yami.” Siyabona-ke ukuthi waqhubeka ezithoba lanxa wayesezakuba ngumkaDavida. Watsho lokuthi wayezakuba yincekukazi yezinceku zikaDavida. Lalapha futhi  kazange aphozise amaseko, walungiselela ukuya kuye.—1 Sam. 25:39-42.

24. Yibuphi ubunzima obabakhona empilweni ka-Abhigeli esethethwe nguDavida, njalo umkakhe kanye loNkulunkulu wakhe babembona engumuntu onjani?

²⁴ Kodwa ukuthi u-Abhigeli wayesethethwe nguDavida akutsho ukuthi izinto zaziyahlala zitshelela. UDavida wayevele esetshade lo-Ahinowami. Lanxa uNkulunkulu wayesivumela isithembu, kumele ukuthi sasibathwalisa nzima abesifazana ababethembekile. Kanti njalo bunengi ubunzima uDavida ayesazohlangana labo ngoba wayengakabi yinkosi. Lanxa kunjalo, u-Abhigeli wayemsekela futhi emncedisa, waze wamzalela lendodana. Ngaso sonke isikhathi leso wazibonela ukuthi wayethethwe yindoda eyayimqakathekisa futhi imvikela. Ngelinye ilanga yaze yamhlenga ezitheni ezasezimthumbile. (1 Sam. 30:1-19) Yikho-ke uDavida wayelingisela uJehova uNkulunkulu obathandayo futhi obaqakathekisa kakhulu abesifazana abakhaliphileyo, abalesibindi njalo abathembekileyo.