NAʻE sio takai holo ʻa Tēpola ki he kau sōtia naʻa nau fakatahataha ʻi he funga Moʻunga Tēpoá. Naʻe maongo kiate ia ʻene sio naʻa nau ʻi aí. ʻI he maʻa ʻa e ʻahó, naʻá ne fakakaukauloto ki heʻenau loto-toʻá mo e tui ʻa honau takí, ʻa Pēlaki. Neongo naʻa nau toko 10,000 pē, ko ʻenau tuí mo e loto-toʻá ʻe hoko ia ko ha ʻahiʻahi lahi ʻi he ʻaho ko iá. Naʻa nau ʻalu atu ke faitau mo ha fili anga-kakaha, pea naʻa nau fuʻu tokosiʻi mo ʻikai sai ʻenau meʻataú. Ka naʻa nau haʻu pē ki heni—koeʻuhí pē ko e fakalototoʻa ʻa e fefine ko eni ʻe taha.

Sioloto atu kia Tēpola, ʻi he puhipuhiʻi hono kofú ʻe he havilí ʻi heʻene sio hifo mo Pēlaki ki ha feituʻu fakaʻofoʻofa. Naʻe hangē ʻa e Moʻunga Tēpoá ko ha fuʻu foʻi kouni kae lafalafa hono tumuʻakí. Ko hono tumuʻakí ʻe lava ke sio lelei mei ai ki he Tokalelei ʻo Esdraelon, ʻi he fute nai ʻe 1,300 (mita ʻe 400) ki lalo, ʻa ia ʻoku aʻu atu ia ki he tonga hihifó. Ko e Vaitafe Kīsoní ʻoku tafe atu ia ʻi he feituʻu musié, ʻo aʻu atu ai ki he Tahi Lahí ʻi he Moʻunga Kāmelí. Kuo pau pē naʻe pakukā ʻa e vaitafé ʻi he pongipongi ko iá, ka naʻe toe ʻi ai ha meʻa kehe naʻe tapa mai mei he fuʻu ʻataʻatā ko iá. Naʻe ngaʻunu ke toe ofi ange mai ʻa e kau tau ʻa Sīselá, ʻo ngingila fakamanavahē ʻenau ngaahi fuʻu saliote ukameá. Ko e haʻu ia mei he fuʻu kau pāteʻitau ʻa Sīselá—ko e saliote nai ʻe 900, ʻa ia naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi mataʻihele ʻi he tafaʻaki ʻo e ngaahi vaʻé. Naʻe fakataumuʻa ʻa Sīselá ke tuʻusi ʻa e kau ʻIsileli taʻemateuteú ʻo hangē haʻane tutuʻu paʻalé!

Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Tēpola naʻe tatali ʻa Pēlaki mo ʻene kau tangatá ki haʻane lea, ko ha fakaʻilonga meiate ia. Ko e fefine pē ia naʻe ʻi aí? Naʻá ne ongoʻi fēfē ʻi heʻene fua ʻa e fuʻu fatongia lahi ʻi he tuʻunga ko iá? Naʻá ne fifili ki he meʻa naʻá ne fai ʻi aí? ʻIkai ʻaupito! Naʻe tala ʻe Sihova, ʻa hono ʻOtuá, ke ne kamataʻi ʻa e tau ko ení; naʻá ne toe fakahaaʻi te ne ngāueʻaki ha fefine ke fakangata ia. (Fakamaau 4:9) Ko e hā ʻe lava ke akoʻi mai kia kitautolu ʻe Tēpola mo e kau tau loto-toʻa ko ení fekauʻaki mo e tuí?

ʻI he ʻuluaki hā ʻi he Tohi Tapú ʻa Tēpolá, ʻoku lave ai kiate ia ko ha “fefine palofita.” Ko e tuʻunga ko iá ʻoku ʻai ai ʻa Tēpola ke makehe ʻi he lēkooti ʻa e Tohi Tapú kae ʻikai ko ia tokotaha pē. * Naʻe maʻu ʻe Tēpola ʻa e fatongia ʻe taha. Naʻá ne toe fakaleleiʻi ʻa e ngaahi fekīhiakí ʻaki hono ʻoatu ʻa e tali ʻa Sihova ki ha ngaahi palopalema ʻe hoko.—Fakamaau 4:4, 5.

Naʻe nofo ʻa Tēpola ʻi he fonua moʻunga ʻo ʻIfalemí, ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e kolo ko Pēteli mo Lamá. ʻI aí naʻá ne tangutu ʻi he lalo pāmé ʻo fakamāuʻi ʻa e kakaí ʻo hangē ko e fakahinohino ʻa Sihová. Ko ʻene ngāué naʻe faingataʻa moʻoni, ka naʻe ʻikai fakaʻatā ʻe Tēpola ʻa e faingataʻá ke fakalotosiʻiʻi ia. Naʻe mafatukituki ʻaupito ʻene ngāué. Ko e moʻoni, naʻá ne kau ki mui ai ʻi hono faʻu ha hiva naʻe fakamānavaʻi, pea naʻe kau ai ʻa e fakamatala ko eni fekauʻaki mo hono kakai taʻefaitōnungá: “Naʻa nau fili ʻotua foʻou; toki aʻu mai ki he matanikolo ʻa e tau.” (Fakamaau 5:8) Koeʻuhí naʻe liʻaki ʻe he kau ʻIsilelí ʻa Sihova ka nau tauhi ʻotua kehe, naʻe tuku atu kinautolu ʻe Sihova ki honau ngaahi filí. Naʻe puleʻi kinautolu ʻe he tuʻi Kēnani ko Siapiní, ʻo ngāueʻaki ʻene seniale mālohi ko Sīselá.

Sīsela! Ko e hingoa ko iá naʻá ne fakatupunga ʻa e ilifia mo e manavahē ʻi ʻIsileli. Ko e lotu mo e anga fakafonua ʻo e kau Kēnaní naʻe fuʻu anga-fakamamahi,  ʻo kau ai ʻa e feilaulauʻi ʻa e fānaú mo e feʻauaki ʻi he temipalé. Naʻe fēfē ʻa e fonuá ʻi hono puleʻi ʻe ha seniale Kēnani mo ʻene kau taú? ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻi he hiva ʻa Tēpolá naʻe mātuʻaki faingataʻa ʻa e fefonongaʻaki ʻi he fonuá pea naʻe ʻikai toe nofo ha taha ʻi he koló. (Fakamaau 5:6, 7) ʻOku tau sioloto atu nai ki he hola holo ʻa e kakaí ʻi he vaó mo e ngaahi moʻungá, ʻo ilifia ke ngoue pe nofo ʻi he ngaahi kolo ʻikai malu mo tetetete ke fononga ʻi he ngaahi halá naʻa ʻohofi kinautolu, ʻave ʻenau fānaú mo tohotohoʻi honau kakai fefiné. *

Naʻa nau nofo manavahē ʻi he taʻu ʻe 20 kae ʻoua ke vakai hifo ʻa Sihova naʻe mateuteu hono kakai loto-fefeká ke liliu, pe hangē ko ia ʻoku pehē ʻi he lēkooti fakamānavaʻi ʻo e hiva ʻa Tēpola mo Pēlakí, “ʻO aʻu ki heʻeku tuʻu hake, ʻa au Tepola, ʻeku tuʻu hake ko ha faʻe ʻi Isileli.” ʻOku ʻikai ke tau ʻilo pe ko Tēpolá, ʻa e uaifi ʻo Lapitotí, ko ha faʻē ia, ka ko e kupuʻi lea ko ení naʻe tuʻu fakaefakatātā. Ko hono moʻoní, naʻe vaheʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa Tēpola ke ne tokonaki ha maluʻi fakaefaʻē ki he puleʻangá. Naʻá ne fekauʻi ʻa Tēpola ke ui mai ha tangata tui mālohi, ʻa Fakamaau Pēlaki, pea fakahinohinoʻi ia ke ne ʻalu atu ʻo tauʻi ʻa Sīsela.—Fakamaau 4:3, 6, 7; 5:7.

“ʻAlu ʻo fakatē tau ʻi he moʻunga ko Tepoa,” ko e fekau ia ʻa Sihova fakafou ʻia Tēpolá. Naʻe pau ke fakatahatahaʻi mai ʻe Pēlaki ʻa e kau tangata ʻe toko 10,000 mei he matakali ʻe ua ʻo ʻIsilelí. Naʻe fakahaaʻi ʻe Tēpola ʻa e talaʻofa ʻa e ʻOtuá te nau ikunaʻi ʻa e toʻa ko Sīselá mo ʻene saliote ʻe 900! Naʻe fakaʻohovale moʻoni kia Pēlaki ʻa e talaʻofa ko iá. Naʻe ʻikai ha kau tau ʻa ʻIsileli pea siʻisiʻi mo ʻenau meʻataú. Neongo ia, naʻe loto ʻa Pēlaki ke faitau—kapau pē ʻe haʻu foki mo Tēpola ki he Moʻunga Tēpoá.—Fakamaau 4:6-8; 5:6-8.

Naʻe ʻikai totonu ke ui ʻa Pēlaki ko e taʻetui koeʻuhí ko ʻene kole ko ení. He ko ē, naʻe ʻikai ke ne kole ki he ʻOtuá ki ha meʻatau lahi ange. Ka, ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha tangata ʻo e tuí, naʻe sio ʻa Pēlaki ki he mahuʻinga ʻo e ʻi ai ʻa e fakafofonga ʻa Sihová ke fakaivimālohiʻi ia mo ʻene kau tangatá. (Hepelū 11:32, 33) Naʻe tali lelei ʻe Sihova. Naʻá ne fakaʻatā ʻa Tēpola ke ʻalu, ʻo hangē ko e kole ʻa Pēlakí. Kae kehe, naʻe toe fakamānavaʻi ia ʻe Sihova ke ne kikiteʻi ko e lāngilangi fakaʻosi ʻo e taú heʻikai ke ʻave ia ki ha tangata. (Fakamaau 4:9) Naʻe fili ʻe he ʻOtuá ha fefine ke ne tāmateʻi ʻa e fulikivanu ko Sīselá!

ʻI he māmani ʻo e ʻaho ní, ʻoku hulu fau ʻa e fakamaau taʻetotonu, fakamālohi mo hono ngaohikoviʻi ʻa e kakai fefiné. ʻOku tātātaha ke ʻoange kia kinautolu ʻa e ngeia ʻoku loto ʻa e ʻOtuá ke nau maʻú. Kae kehe, ʻoku mahuʻinga mo tuʻunga tatau pē ki he ʻOtuá ʻa e kakai fefiné mo e kakai tangatá. (Loma 2:11;  Kalētia 3:28) ʻOku fakamanatu mai ʻe he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Tēpolá ʻokú ne toe tāpuakiʻi ʻa e kakai fefiné ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi monū mo e fakaʻilonga ʻo ʻene falalá mo e hōifuá. ʻOku mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ke ʻoua ʻaupito te tau ohi ʻa e tomuʻa fehiʻa ʻoku failahia ʻi he māmani ko ení.

Naʻe ʻalu ʻa Pēlaki ke fakatahatahaʻi ʻene kau taú. Naʻá ne tānaki ʻa e kau tangata ʻe toko 10,000 ʻa ia naʻa nau loto-lahi feʻunga ke tauʻi ʻa e kau tau mālohi ʻa Sīselá. ʻI he taki atu ʻe Pēlaki ʻene kau tangatá ki he Moʻunga Tēpoá, naʻá ne fiefia ke maʻu ha founga ke fakaʻaiʻai ai ʻenau loto-toʻá. ʻOku tau lau: “Naʻe ō mo ia ʻa Tepola.” (Fakamaau 4:10) Sioloto atu ki he loto-toʻa ʻa e kau sōtia ko iá ʻi he sio ki he kau mo kinautolu ʻa e fefine loto-toʻa ko iá ʻi heʻenau laka atu ki he Moʻunga Tēpoá, ʻo loto-lelei ke tuku ʻene moʻuí ke ʻi ha tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki koeʻuhí ko ʻene tui kia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá!

ʻI he taimi naʻe ʻiloʻi ai ʻe Sīsela naʻe loto-toʻa ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí ke ʻalu hake ʻo faitau mo iá, naʻá ne fai leva ha ngāue. Naʻe kau ha ngaahi tuʻi Kēnani tokolahi ʻi he kau tau ʻa Tuʻi Siapiní, ko ia nai naʻe mālohi taha ʻia kinautolú. Naʻe ʻai leva ʻe he ngaahi fuʻu saliote tau ʻa Sīselá ke tetetete ʻa e māmaní ʻi heʻenau ngaʻunu mai ʻi he tokaleleí. Naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe he kau Kēnaní ʻe vave pē ʻenau tauʻi ʻa e kau tau vaivai ʻa ʻIsilelí.—Fakamaau 4:12, 13; 5:19.

Ko e hā ʻe fai ʻe Pēlaki mo Tēpola ʻi he fakaofiofi mai ʻa e filí? Kapau te nau kei ʻi he tafa Moʻunga Tēpoá, te nau ʻi ha tuʻunga lelei ange ke ikunaʻi ʻa e kau tau Kēnaní, koeʻuhí he naʻe fiemaʻu ʻe he ngaahi saliote ko iá ha foʻi tokalelei ke nau faitau ola lelei ai. Ka naʻe faitau ʻa Pēlaki ʻi he fakahinohino ʻa Sihová, ko ia naʻá ne tatali kae ʻoua ke toki lea mai ʻa Tēpola. Naʻe aʻu mai ki he mōmeniti ko iá. Naʻá ne pehē ange: “Tuʻu, he ko e ʻaho eni kuo tuku ai ʻe Sihova ʻa Sisela ki ho nima: ʻikai kuo muʻomuʻa atu ʻa e ʻEiki?” Hokó, ʻoku tau lau: “Ko ia naʻe ʻalu hifo ʻa Pelake mei he moʻunga ko Tepoa, pea muimui ki ai ha kau tangata ʻe toko taha mano.”—Fakamaau 4:14. *

Naʻe ʻalu hifo ʻa e kau tau ʻIsilelí mei he moʻungá ki he tokaleleí ʻo hangatonu atu ki he ngaahi fuʻu saliote tau fakailifiá. Naʻe muʻomuʻa ʻa Sihova ʻia kinautolu, ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe palōmesi ʻe Tēpolá? Naʻe vave ʻenau maʻu ʻa e talí. ʻOku tau lau: “Nae tetetete a mamani, bea nae to ae gaahi lagi.” Naʻe puputuʻu lahi ʻa e kau tau pōlepole ʻa Sīselá. Pea naʻe tō mai leva ha ʻuha! Naʻe tō ha fuʻu ʻuha lahi ʻo taano vave ai ʻa e kelekelé. Tuaiekemo, naʻe hoko ʻa e ngaahi fuʻu saliote ukamea mamafá ʻo fakakavenga kae ʻikai ʻaonga. Naʻa nau pikisia ʻi he pelepelá pea ʻikai toe lava ʻo ngaue.—Fakamaau 4:14, 15; 5:4, PM.

Naʻe ʻikai ko ha palopalema kia Pēlaki mo ʻene kau tangatá ʻa e matangí. Naʻa nau ʻiloʻi ʻa e feituʻu naʻe haʻu mei aí. Naʻa nau lele hangatonu atu ki he kau tau Kēnaní. ʻI heʻenau hoko ko e kau fakahoko tautea ʻa e ʻOtuá, naʻe ʻikai ke tuku ʻe he kau ʻIsilelí ha taha ʻi he kau tau ʻa Sīselá ke moʻui. Naʻe hake ʻo tāfea ʻa e Vaitafe Kīsoní, ʻo tafia atu ai ʻa e ngaahi ʻangaʻangá ki he Tahi Lahí.—Fakamaau 4:16; 5:21.

ʻI he ʻahó ni, ʻoku ʻikai kei tuku atu ʻe Sihova ʻene kau sevānití ke nau kau ʻi he taú. Ka, ʻokú ne kole ki hono kakaí ke nau kau ʻi he faitau fakalaumālie. (Mātiu 26:52; 2 Kolinitō 10:4) Kapau te tau feinga ke talangofua ki he ʻOtuá ʻi he māmani ʻo e ʻaho ní, ʻoku tau tuʻu maʻu ʻi he tau ko iá. ʻOku tau fiemaʻu ʻa e loto-toʻá, he ko e faʻahinga ʻi he tafaʻaki ʻa e ʻOtuá he ʻaho ní ʻoku nau fehangahangai nai mo e fakafepaki kakaha. Ka kuo ʻikai ke liliu ʻa Sihova. ʻOkú ne kei maluʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku tui mo falala kiate Iá, ʻo hangē ko Tēpola, Pēlaki mo e kau sōtia loto-toʻa ʻa ʻIsileli ʻo e kuonga muʻá.

Ko e taha ʻi he ngaahi fili Kēnaní naʻe hola—ʻa e kovi taha ʻia kinautolú! Ko Sīsela, ʻa e tokotaha fakafepaki lahi ki he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá, naʻá ne lele lalo mei he malaʻe taú. ʻI hono tuku ʻene kau tangatá ke mate ʻi he pelepelá, naʻá ne moulu atu mei he kau sōtia ʻIsilelí ʻo lele ki he feituʻu tokaleleí ʻo huʻu atu ki he kolo ofi taha naʻá ne fakakaukau ki aí. ʻI heʻene fakavave atu ʻi he laui maile ʻi he tokaleleí, ʻi he ilifia naʻa maʻu ia ʻi he kau sōtia ʻIsilelí, naʻá ne huʻu atu ki he tēniti ʻo Hepá, ko ha Keini, ʻa ia naʻá ne mavahe ki he tongá mei he toenga ʻo e kakai fehikitakí pea naʻá ne fengāueʻaki ai mo Tuʻi Siapini.—Fakamaau 4:11, 17.

 ʻI he helaʻiá, naʻe aʻu atu ʻa Sīsela ki he tēniti ʻo Hepá. Naʻá ne ʻilo ai naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ʻapi ʻa Hepa. Ka ko e uaifi ʻo e tangatá, ʻa Siaili, naʻe ʻi aí. ʻOku hā mahino naʻe fakakaukau ʻa Sīsela ʻe tokaʻi ʻe Siaili ʻa e fengāueʻaki ʻa hono husepānití mo Tuʻi Siapiní. Mahalo naʻá ne fakakaukau heʻikai ke kehe ʻa e fakakaukau pe tōʻonga ʻa e fefiné mei hono husepānití. Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻiloʻi moʻoni ʻe Sīsela ʻa Siaili! ʻOku hā mahino, naʻe sio ʻa Siaili ʻi hono ngaohikoviʻi ʻe he kau Kēnani fulikivanú ʻa e fonuá; naʻá ne toe sio nai naʻe ʻi ai ʻene fili ke fai. Te ne tokoniʻi nai ʻa e tangata fulikivanu ko ení pe ko ʻene kau mo Sihova ʻi hono taaʻi ʻa e fili ko eni ʻo ʻEne kakaí. Ka ko e hā ʻe lava ke ne faí? ʻE lava fēfē ke ikunaʻi ʻe ha fefine ʻa e fuʻu toʻa ko ení?

Naʻe pau ke vave ʻa e fakakaukau ʻa Siailí. Naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ange kia Sīsela ha feituʻu ke mālōlō ai. Naʻe tala ange ʻe Sīsela kiate ia ke ʻoua ʻe ʻai ke ʻilo ia ʻe ha taha ʻoku kumi nai kiate ia. Naʻá ne fakakafuʻi ia ʻi heʻene tokoto hifó, pea ʻi he taimi naʻe kole ange ai ʻe Sīsela kiate ia ha vaí, naʻá ne ʻoange ha huʻakau. Tuaiekemo naʻe māʻumohe ʻa Sīsela. Naʻe toʻo leva ʻe Siaili ha meʻangāue ʻe ua ʻa ia ʻoku faʻa ngāueʻaki pōtoʻi ʻe he kakai fefine nofo tēnití—ko ha faʻo tēniti mo ha hāmala. ʻI heʻene tūʻulutui ʻo ofi ki he ʻulu ʻo Sīselá, naʻá ne fehangahangai he taimi ko ia mo e ngāue fakailifia ʻo e hoko ko ha tokotaha fakahoko tautea ʻa Sihova. Naʻa mo ha kiʻi veiveiua pe toumoua ʻe lava ke hoko ai ha fakatamaki. Naʻá ne fakakaukau ki he kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá mo e anga hono fakamamahi kinautolu ʻe he tangata ko ení ʻi he ngaahi hongofuluʻi taʻu? Pe naʻá ne fakakaukau ki he monū ʻo ʻene tuʻu maʻa Sihová? ʻOku ʻikai ke tala mai ia ʻe he lēkōtí. Ko e meʻa pē ʻoku tau ʻiló naʻá ne fai leva ʻa e ngāue. Naʻe mate ʻa Sīsela!—Fakamaau 4:18-21; 5:24-27.

Ki mui ai, naʻe haʻu ʻa Pēlaki ʻo kumi ia. ʻI he taimi naʻe fakahaaʻi ange ai ʻe Siaili kiate ia ʻa e ʻangaʻanga ʻo Sīselá ʻa ia ʻoku ʻi hono manifí ʻa e faʻó, naʻá ne ʻiloʻi naʻe hoko moʻoni ʻa e kikite ʻa Tēpolá. Naʻe tāmateʻi ʻe ha fefine ʻa e toʻa ko Sīselá! Ko e kau fakaanga mo e kau tui veiveiua ʻi onopōní naʻa nau ui koviʻi ʻa Siaili, ka naʻe ʻiloʻi lelei ange ia ʻe Pēlaki mo Tēpola. ʻI heʻena hivá, naʻe fakamānavaʻi ai kinaua ke na fakahīkihikiʻi ʻa Siaili ko e “monuʻia taha ʻi he kau fefine” koeʻuhí ko ʻene ngāue loto-toʻá. (Fakamaau 4:22; 5:24) Fakatokangaʻi ʻa e anga-lelei ʻa Tēpolá. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne meheka ʻi hono fakahīkihikiʻi ʻo Siailí; ka naʻá ne tokanga pē ki hono fakahoko moʻoni ʻa e folofola ʻa Sihová.

ʻI he puli atu ʻa Sīselá, naʻe ʻikai toe mālohi ʻa Tuʻi Siapini. Naʻe ngata leva ʻa e fakamamahi ʻa e kau Kēnaní. Naʻe maʻu ʻa e melinó ʻi he taʻu ʻe 40. (Fakamaau 4:24; 5:31) He tāpuakiʻi ē ʻo Tēpola, Pēlaki mo Siaili ʻi heʻenau tui kia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá! Kapau te tau faʻifaʻitaki ki he tui ʻa Tēpolá, ʻo tuʻu loto-toʻa maʻa Sihova pea fakalototoʻaʻi ʻa e niʻihi kehé ke nau fai ʻa e meʻa tatau, ʻe tāpuakiʻi kitautolu ʻe Sihova ʻaki ʻa e ikuna—mo e melino tuʻuloa.