1, 2. Besinjani simo ngesikhatsi Samuweli akhuluma nebantfu baka-Israyeli, futsi yini leyenta kwaba nesidzingo sekutsi abasite baphendvuke?

SAMUWELI abegcolotele bantfu bakubo emehlweni. Sive besihlangene edolobheni laseGilgali, sihlanganiswe ngulendvodza leyetsembekile lebeseyibe ngumphrofethi nemehluleli iminyaka leminyenti. Bekuyinyanga yeNkhwekhweti nome yeNhlaba ngekwekhalenda yalamuhla; kusikhatsi sesomiso. Emasimu kuyo yonkhe indzawo abesanakolo futsi asakulungele kuvunwa. Sicumbi sathula satsi dvu! Samuweli abetayitsintsa njani inhlitiyo yaso?

² Bantfu bebangacondzi kutsi simo labakuso besisibi kangakanani. Bebafune ngenkhani kutsi babuswe yinkhosi lengumuntfu. Bebangacondzi kutsi bebakhombise kungamhloniphi Nkulunkulu wabo Jehova kanye nemphrofethi wakhe. Ecinisweni bebalahla iNkhosi yabo Jehova! Samuweli abetawubasita njani kutsi baphendvuke?

3, 4. (a) Yini leyenta Samuweli wakhuluma ngemalanga ebusha bakhe? (b) Kungani sibonelo saSamuweli sekukholwa silusito kitsi lamuhla?

³ Samuweli wakhuluma esicumbini sebantfu watsi: “Mine-ke sengimdzala, futsi sengimphunga.” Kuba mphunga kwakhe kwenta emavi akhe aba nesisindvo. Wachubeka watsi: “Bengingumholi wenu kusukela ebusheni bami kuze kube ngulamuhla.” (1 Sam. 11:14, 15; 12:2) Nanobe Samuweli abesakhulile, abengakabukhohlwa busha bakhe. Abesawakhumbula kahle emalanga angesikhatsi asasemncane. Tincumo latitsatsa ngalesikhatsi asengumfana, tamholela emphilweni yekukholwa kanye nekutinikela kuNkulunkulu wakhe, Jehova.

 ⁴ Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi, Samuweli bekudzingeka ahlale acinisa kukholwa kwakhe futsi akulondvolote njalo ngisho nome abekakwe bantfu labete kukholwa nalabangaketsembeki. Nalamuhla, kumatima kakhulu kwakha kukholwa, ngobe siphila eveni lelite kukholwa nalelingcolile. (Fundza Lukha 18:8.) Asesibone kutsi yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni saSamuweli, sicale ngesikhatsi asesemusha.

5, 6. Samuweli wakhula ngendlela lengakavami ngayiphi indlela, futsi yini leyenta batali bakhe baciniseka ngekutsi utawuphatseka kahle?

⁵ Samuweli wakhula ngendlela lengakavami. Ngemuva nje kwekulunyulwa, mhlawumbe aneminyaka lemitsatfu budzala nome ngetudlwana, wacala kukhonta ethendeni lekukhontela laJehova lebeliseShilo futsi lebelikhashane nasekhaya lakubo eRama ngemakhilomitha langetulu kwalangu-32. Batali bakhe, bo-Elkhana naHana, banikela ngemfana wabo kuJehova kutsi afeze umsebenti lokhetsekile wekuba ngumNaziri kuphila kwakhe konkhe. * Loko kusho kutsi batali baSamuweli bebamlahlile yini futsi bangamtsandzi?

⁶ Cha, akusinjalo! Bebati kahle kutsi indvodzana yabo itawuphatseka kahle eShilo. Akungabateki kutsi Eli, uMphristi Lophakeme nguye labenakekela konkhe ngobe Samuweli abesebentelana edvute naye. Bekukhona nalabanye labasikati labebakhonta kuletinye tincenye telithende lekukhontela ngendlela lehlelekile.​—Eks. 38:8; Khu. 11:34-40.

7, 8. (a) Njalo ngemnyaka, batali baSamuweli bebamnika njani sikhutsato selutsandvo? (b) Yini batali lamuhla labangayifundza kubatali baSamuweli?

⁷ Ngetulu kwaloko, boHana na-Elkhana abazange balikhohlwe litibulo labo, lebelikuphendvuleka kwemthantazo wabo. Hana abecele indvodzana kuNkulunkulu, wetsembisa nekutsi utawunikela ngayo kutsi ikhonte Nkulunkulu kuphila kwayo konkhe emsebentini longcwele. Hana abetsi njalo ngemnyaka nakayovakashela Samuweli, amphatsele lijazi lelingenamikhono labementele lona kuze aligcoke nakenta imisebenti yasethendeni lekukhontela. Lomfana lomcane abekujabulela mbamba lokuvakashelwa ngunina. Akungabateki kutsi abesijabulela sikhutsato selutsandvo nesicondziso labesitfola kubatali bakhe njengobe bebamfundzisa ngelilungelo lekukhonta Jehova kulendzawo lemangalisako.

⁸ Kunyenti lamuhla batali labangakufundza kuHana na-Elkhana. Kuyintfo levamile ngebatali lamuhla kutsi nabakhulisa bantfwababo, banake kakhulu tidzingo tenyama bese bakhohlwa sidzingo sabo sekuba nebuhlobo naJehova. Batali baSamuweli bona babeka buhlobo bemndeni wabo naJehova kucala, futsi loko kwaba nesandla ekutseni umfana wabo akhule abe ngulendvodza laba ngiyo.​—Fundza Taga 22:6.

9, 10. (a) Chaza kutsi lithende lekukhontela belinjani, uchaze nekutsi Samuweli abetiva njani ngalo. (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.) (b) Ngumiphi imisebenti lebeyentiwa nguSamuweli, futsi ucabanga kutsi bantfu labasebasha lamuhla bangasilingisa njani sibonelo sakhe?

 ⁹ Singase simbone ngemehlo engcondvo lomfana akhula aba nemandla futsi ahambahamba emagcumeni lakake iShilo. Njengobe abuka lelidolobha asetulu, abuka netihosha letingakulolunye luhlangotsi, inhlitiyo yakhe yagcwala injabulo lenkhulu nekutigcabha ngelithende laJehova lekukhontela labelibona. Lithende lekukhontela beliyindlu lengcwele sibili. * Belakhiwe eminyakeni lengaba ngu-400 leyendlulile kulandzelwa ticondziso lebetikhishwa nguMosi cobo lwakhe, futsi bekungiyo yodvwa indzawo yekukhonta Jehova ngendlela lehlantekile emhlabeni wonkhe.

¹⁰ Samuweli wakhula walitsandza lelithende lekukhontela. Incwadzi layibhala ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi itsi: “Samuweli abekhonta ethempelini laSimakadze, angumfanyana, avunula sidziya sebaphristi selineni lecolisakele.” (1 Sam. 2:18) Lengubo lebeyingenamikhono beyiluphawu lwekutsi Samuweli abesita baphristi ethendeni lekukhontela. Ngisho nome abengasiye umphristi, imisebenti yaSamuweli beyifaka ekhatsi kuvula iminyango yelibala lelithende lekukhontela ekuseni, kanye nekunakekela Eli labesakhulile. Nangetulu kwekujabulela lilungelo lekusebenta ethendeni lekukhontela, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi inhlitiyo yakhe yakhatsateka kakhulu. Kukhona lokubi lebekwenteka endlini yaJehova.

11, 12. (a) BoHofni naFinehasi bakukhombisa njani kwedzelela? (b) Ngubuphi bubi nekonakala boHofni naFinehasi lebebakwenta ethendeni lekukhontela? (Fundza nembhalo longentansi.)

¹¹ Asemncane, Samuweli wabona bubi lobukhulu nekonakala. Eli abenemadvodzana lamabili, boHofni naFinehasi. Lendzaba yaSamuweli ifundzeka ngalendlela: “Emadvodzana a-Eli abengemadvodza lakhohlakele; abengenandzaba naSimakadze.” (1 Sam. 2:12) Lamaphuzu lamabili lakulelivesi ayahambisana. BoHofni naFinehasi ‘bekungemadvodza lakhohlakele’​—nakuhunyushwe njengobe kunjalo kutsi “emadvodzana langenamsebenti”—​ngobe bebangenandzaba naJehova. Abatinakanga tindlela takhe letilungile netintfo labetifuna kubo. Kungatihloniphi tindlela taJehova kanye netintfo latifunako kwabaholela ekwenteni letinye tono.

 ¹² UMtsetfo waNkulunkulu bewungaligudli liguma mayelana nemisebenti yebaphristi nangendlela lebekufanele bayente ngayo iminikelo ethendeni lekukhontela. Tizatfu taloko tiyevakala! Leminikelo beyimelela sipho saNkulunkulu sekutsetselela tono kuze bantfu babe ngulabahlobile embikwakhe, bakufanele kutfola sibusiso nesicondziso sakhe. Kepha boHofni naFinehasi babangela labanye baphristi kutsi bakhombise kungayihloniphi iminikelo. *

13, 14. (a) Bantfu labacotfo batsintseka kanjani nababona bubi lobebentiwa ethendeni lekukhontela? (b) Eli wehluleka njani kwekhuta emadvodzana akhe, njengeyise nanjengemphristi lophakeme?

¹³ Asewumbone ngeliso lengcondvo Samuweli lomncane abuka loku lokwentekako futsi amangele njengobe lobubi buyekelwa. Bangakhi bantfu Samuweli labebabona​—lokufaka ekhatsi labaphuyile, labatfobekile, labangenamandla ekutilwela—​basondzela kulelithende lekukhontela lelingcwele banelitsemba lekutsi batawutfola indvudvuto nesikhutsato, kodvwa ekugcineni bancandzeke badvumele, bakhubekile nobe kubukiswe ngabo? Ucabanga kutsi wativa njani nakatfola kutsi boHofni naFinehasi bebayedzelela imitsetfo yaJehova lemayelana nekutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicansi, njengobe bebalalana nalabasikati lebebasebenta ethendeni lekukhontela? (1 Sam. 2:22) Mhlawumbe abenelitsemba lekutsi Eli utabatsatsela sinyatselo.

¹⁴ Eli abesesimeni lesikahle kutsi angalungisa lenkinga. Njengobe abengumphristi lophakeme, nguye labebuke konkhe lokwentekako ethendeni lekukhontela, futsi njengababe bekungumtfwalo wakhe kukhuta emadvodzana akhe. Ngetulu kwaloko, lamadvodzana akhe abetilimata wona cobo lwawo kanye nelinyenti lebantfu lebelikuleyo ndzawo. Nobe kunjalo, Eli wehluleka kuwekhuta, njengeyise nanjemphristi lophakeme. Seluleko lawanika sona besimelula kakhulu. (Fundza 1 Samuweli 2:23-25.) Lamadvodzana akhe abedzinga seluleko lesicine kakhulu. Bewenta tono lebetiwenta afanelwe kufa!

15. Ngusiphi secwayiso lesinemandla Jehova lasitfumela ku-Eli, futsi umndeni wa-Eli wentani nawuva ngalesecwayiso?

¹⁵ Simo saba sibi kakhulu, Jehova wadzimate watfumela “umuntfu waNkulunkulu,” lokungumphrofethi lelingashiwo libito lakhe, kutsi amikise umlayeto ku-Eli lomayelana nesehlulelo lesinemandla. Jehova watsi ku-Eli: “Uhloniphe kakhulu emadvodzana akho kunekutsi uhloniphe mine.” Nkulunkulu wabese utsi emadvodzana a-Eli lamabi atawufa ngelilanga linye futsi umndeni wa-Eli utawuhlupheka kakhulu, udzimate ulahlekelwe nalilungelo lekuba baphristi. Lesecwayiso lesinemandla saluletsa yini lushintjo kulomndeni? Lomlandvo walendzaba awuveti  ngisho naloluncane lushintjo lolwenteka kulomndeni wa-Eli.​—1 Sam. 2:27–3:1.

16. (a) Ngumuphi umbiko lesifundza ngawo mayelana nentfutfuko yaSamuweli labesemncane? (b) Leyo mibiko iyakhutsata yini? Chaza.

¹⁶ Konkhe lokonakala kwamtsintsa njani Samuweli labesemncane? Kulendzaba lembi kangaka siyatitfola naletinye tintfo letinhle lebetenteka, njengetindzaba letimnandzi letimayelana nekukhula kwaSamuweli nentfutfuko yakhe. Khumbula kutsi ku-1 Samuweli 2:18, sifundza kutsi Samuweli “abekhonta ethempelini laSimakadze, angumfanyana.” Ngisho asesemncane, Samuweli wanikela kuphila kwakhe ekukhonteni Nkulunkulu. Evesini 21 laso lesehluko, sifundza ngalokunye lokukhutsata kakhulu kutsi: “Umfana longuSamuweli abesolomane achubeka akhula embikwaSimakadze.” Njengobe achubeka akhula, bungani bakhe neYise wasezulwini bebuchubeka bucina kakhulu. Bungani lobunjalo naJehova busicinisekiso sesivikelo kunome nguluphi luhlobo lwekonakala.

17, 18. (a) Bantfu labasha labangemaKhristu bangasilingisa njani sibonelo saSamuweli nabatungeletwe konakala? (b) Yini lekhombisa kutsi Samuweli wakhetsa indlela lelungile?

¹⁷ Bekungaba melula ngaSamuweli kutiyenga ngekutsi nangabe umphristi lophakeme nemadvodzana akhe benta tono, naye angenta nome yini layifisako. Kepha konakala kwalabanye, ngisho nekwalabo labanemagunya, akusiso saba sekwenta sono. Lamuhla, linyenti lebantfu labasha labangemaKhristu lilandzela sibonelo saSamuweli ‘sekuchubeka likhula embikwaJehova’​—ngisho nome labanye behluleka kuba tibonelo letinhle.

¹⁸ Kutiphatsa lokunjalo kwaSamuweli kwamsebentela njani? Siyafundza: “Umfana Samuweli wachubeka wakhula ngesicu semtimba nasekutsandvweni nguSimakadze nasekutsandzekeni kubantfu.” (1 Sam. 2:26) Samuweli abetsandvwa kakhulu ngulabo labetsatsa imibono yabo njengalebalulekile. NaJehova  wamtsandza lomfana ngenca yekwetsembeka kwakhe. Akungabateki nekutsi Samuweli bekati kutsi Nkulunkulu abetabutsatsela sinyatselo lobubi lebebenteka eShilo, kepha kungenteka abetibuta kutsi utasitsatsa nini. Ngalobunye busuku, wayitfola imphendvulo yalombuto wakhe.

19, 20. (a) Chaza loko lokwenteka kuSamuweli ngalobunye busuku ethendeni lekukhontela. (b) Samuweli watfola njani kutsi lelivi lichamuka kubani, futsi abemphatsa njani Eli?

¹⁹ Besekutakusa kepha bekusesemnyama; sibane sasendlini lengcwele besisakhanya. Njengobe bekuthulile, Samuweli weva livi limbita. Wacabanga kutsi livi la-Eli, labesamdzala kakhulu futsi nemehlo akhe asabona kalufifi. Samuweli wavuka “wagijima waya ku-Eli.” Uyambona yini ngemehlo engcondvo lomfanyana agijima angakagwabeli lutfo ayewukuva kutsi kukhona yini Eli lakudzingako? Kukhutsata mbamba kubona kutsi Samuweli abemhlonipha Eli futsi amphatsa ngemusa. Nangetulu kwato tonkhe tono takhe, Eli abesesengumphristi lophakeme waJehova.​—1 Sam. 3:2-5.

²⁰ Samuweli wavusa Eli watsi: “Sengikhona, ngive ungibita.” Eli watsi akakambiti, wase utsi akabuyele ayewulala. Kepha kwenteka lokufanako emahlandla lambalwa! Ekugcineni Eli wabona kutsi yini lena lebeyenteka. Besekungakavami kutsi Jehova atfumele umbono nome umlayeto losiphrofetho kubantfu, futsi kumelula kusicondza sizatfu saloko. Kepha Eli bekati kutsi bekunguJehova lona labekhuluma nalomfana! Eli watjela Samuweli kutsi abuyele ayewulala wabese umtjela kutsi aphendvule njani nakaphindze aliva lelivi. Samuweli walalela. Ngekushesha waphindze waliva lelivi limbita litsi: “Samuweli! Samuweli!” Lomfana waphendvula watsi: “Khuluma, ngobe inceku yakho ilalele.”​—1 Sam. 3:1, 5-10.

21. Singamlalela njani Jehova lamuhla, futsi kungani kutawuba lusito kwenta njalo?

²¹ Ekugcineni Jehova abesayitfolile inceku eShilo lebeyimlalela. Kulalela kwaba yindlela yaSamuweli yekuphila. Nakuwe kuyindlela yakho yekuphila yini? Kute sidzingo sekutsi simele kuva livi lesingati kutsi lichamukaphi likhuluma natsi ebusuku. Lamuhla, livi laNkulunkulu lihlale likhuluma natsi ngandlela tsite. Litfolakala eVini lakhe leliphelele, liBhayibheli. Nasimlalela Nkulunkulu futsi senta loko lakushoko, kukholwa kwetfu kutawucina. Kwaba njalo nangaSamuweli.

22, 23. (a) Lomlayeto Samuweli lacale wesaba kuwendlulisa wagcina ugcwaliseke njani? (b) Yini leyenta Samuweli wachubeka atiwa kahle?

²² Ngalobo busuku eShilo, kuphila kwaSamuweli kwatfutfukela ezingeni lelisetulu kakhulu, ngobe ngulapho acala khona kuba nebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova, waba ngumphrofethi wakhe waphindze waba nangumkhulumeli wakhe. Ekucaleni lomfana abesaba kwendlulisela umlayeto waJehova ku-Eli, ngobe bekukwekugcina kukhishwa siphrofetho lesitsi lomndeni utawehlulelwa madvutane. Kepha Samuweli waba nesibindzi sekukhuluma na-Eli, kantsi naye Eli wasemukela ngekutfobeka sehlulelo saJehova. Kungakendluli sikhatsi lesidze, yonkhe intfo Jehova  labeyishilo yenteka. Ema-Israyeli aya emphini alwa nemaFilisti, boHofni naFinehasi babulawa ngalelo langa. Eli yena wafa nakeva nje kutsi Libhokisi Lesivumelwane litfunjiwe.​—1 Sam. 3:10-18; 4:1-18.

²³ Nobe kunjalo, Samuweli abesolo atiwa njengemphrofethi lowetsembekile. ‘Jehova wachubeka anaye,’ futsi liBhayibheli litsi Jehova akavumelanga ngisho nasinye siphrofetho saSamuweli kutsi sehluleke.​—Fundza 1 Samuweli 3:19.

24. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, ngusiphi sincumo ema-Israyeli lasenta, futsi yini leyenta kutsi leso kube sono lesikhulu?

²⁴ Ema-Israyeli asilandzela yini sibonelo saSamuweli, aba sedvutane naJehova futsi etsembeka kuye? Cha. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, enta sincumo sekutsi kufanele angagcini nje ngekuba nemphrofethi lotawuwehlulela. Abese afuna kuba njengaletinye tive, nawo abe nenkhosi letawabusa. Samuweli walandzela sicondziso saJehova, wasemukela sicelo sawo. Kepha kwadzingeka awakhombise ema-Israyeli kutsi sono sawo besisikhulu kangakanani. Abengalahli nje umuntfu, kepha abelahla Jehova cobo lwakhe! Ngako-ke, Samuweli wabitela bonkhe bantfu eGilgali.

25, 26. EGilgali, Samuweli labesakhulile wagcina abasite njani bantfu babona kutsi sono sabo kuJehova besisikhulu kangakanani?

²⁵ Asesibuyele kulesikhatsi lesimatima lapho Samuweli abekhuluma khona nema-Israyeli eGilgali. Samuweli labesakhulile wakhumbuta ema-Israyeli ngemlandvo wakhe webucotfo newekwetsembeka. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Samuweli wabita Simakadze.” Wacela Jehova kutsi atfumele kudvuma kwelitulu.​—1 Sam. 12:17, 18.

²⁶ Litulu lingadvuma yini ngesikhatsi sesomiso? Leyo yintfo lengakase seyenteke! Nangabe kwaba khona kungabata kulabanye nome kuphukuta, akutsatsanga sikhatsi lesidze. Ngekushesha sibhakabhaka saba nemafu lamnyama. Umoya lomkhulu washaya kolo emasimini. Kwaba nekudvuma lokukhulu. Imvula yayitsela. Bantfu benta njani? “Sonkhe sive sema simangele ngaSimakadze nangaSamuweli.” Ekugcineni sabona kutsi sono saso besisikhulu kangakanani.​—1 Sam. 12:18, 19.

27. Jehova utiva njani ngalabo labalingisa kukholwa kwaSamuweli?

²⁷ Akusuye Samuweli lowatsintsa tinhlitiyo talabantfu labavukelako, kepha bekunguNkulunkulu Jehova. Kusukela ebusheni bakhe kuye ebudzaleni bakhe, Samuweli abesolo akhombisa kukholwa kuNkulunkulu, futsi Jehova wambusisa. Kudzimate kube ngulamuhla, Jehova akakashintji. Usabasekela labo labalingisa kukholwa kwaSamuweli.