1. Nkaambo nzi ncokwakali buumba akulila mu Silo?

SAMUELE wakali kukonzya kubona kuti bantu bakali mubuumba mu Silo. Cakali kulibonya mbuli kuti bantu boonse bakali mubuumba. Ino mbangaye bamakaintu abana ibakali kulila akaambo kamulumbe wamause iwakali kujatikizya bamaalumi, alimwi abana basankwa ibatakali kuyakupiluka kumaanda? Tuzyi buyo kuti basikalumamba bana Israyeli basika ku 30,000 bakafwa nobakazundwa abana Filisti kakwiindide buyo kaindi kasyoonto kuzwa nobakafwa abamwi bali 4,000 munkondo iimbi.—1 Sam. 4: 1, 2, 10.

2, 3. Mapenzi nzi aakapa kuti kube kuusa akubula bulemu mu Silo?

² Eeli ndipenzi buyo lyomwe akati kamapenzi aakacitika. Bana bobilo babyaabi ba Mupaizi Mupati Eli, Hofeni a Pinehasi, bakalilobokede kuzwa mu Silo abbokesi lisetekene lyacizuminano. Eeli bbokesi lyakali kukkala mubusena busalalisya bwatente—tente lyakali mbuli tempele—eeli bbokesi lyakali kwiiminina kubako kwa Leza. Mpoonya bantu nobakaunka kunkondo, bakalitoleezya Bbokesi kabayeeya kuti lilakonzya kubakwabilila akubapa kuzunda munkondo. Pele bana Filisti bakabanyanga Bbokesi eeli akubajaya ba Hofeni a Pinehasi.—1 Sam. 4: 3-11.

³ Tente lyaku Silo lyakali kulemekwa akaambo ka Bbokesi lyakali mumo kwamyaanda yamyaka. Pele lino tiilyakaciliko. Eli iwakajisi myaka yakuzyalwa iili 98 naakamvwa buyo mulumbe ooyu, wakawa acuuno cakwe akufwa. Awalo mukamwanaakwe iwakafwidwa mulumi, wakafwa antumbukila buzuba mbubwenya oobo. Katanafwa wakaamba kuti: ‘Bulemu bwalonga kuzwa mu Israyeli akutolwa mubuzike.’ Masimpe, munzi wa Silo taukabi limbi mbowakabede.—1 Sam. 4: 12-22.

4. Ncinzi ncotuyakubandika mucibalo eeci?

⁴ Ino Samuele wakeelede kucita buti akutyompwa ooku kutaambiki? Sena wakali kuyakuzumanana kuba alusyomo akugwasyilizya bantu batakajisi lukwabililo alugwasyo lwa Jehova? Toonse buyo mazuba  aano, zimwi ziindi tulaswaanganya buyumuyumu alimwi tulatyompwa calo cikonzya kupa kuti lusyomo lwesu lusunkwe, aboobo atubone ncotukonzya kwiiya kuli Samuele.

‘Wakacita Ziluleme’

5, 6. Ino Bbaibbele litwaambila nzi kujatikizya myaka iili 20, alimwi ino Samuele wakajisi bubi buti mumyaka eeyo?

⁵ Kuzikusika waawa Bbaibbele lyaleka kwaamba zya Samuele akutalika kwaamba zya Bbokesi lisetekene, kututondezya mbobakapenga ba Filisti akaambo kakubweza Bbokesi eeli alimwi ambobakasinikizyigwa kulipilusya. Bbaibbele lyakaamba alimwi zya Samuele nokwakainda myaka iili 20. (1 Sam. 7:2) Ino Samuele wakali kucita mulimo nzi mumyaka eeyo? Bbaibbele lilatwaambila.

⁶ Kacitanasika ciindi eeci, ‘ijwi lya Samuele lyakazumanana kusika kubana Israyeli boonse.’ (1 Sam. 4:1) Zilembedwe zitondezya kuti nocakainda ciindi eeci, Samuele wakaba acilengwa cakuswaya minzi yotatwe mu Israyeli mwaka amwaka, kubamba twaambo akwiingula mibuzyo. Kumane wakali kupiluka kucisi cokwabo ku Rama. (1 Sam. 7: 15-17) Cakutadooneka, Samuele lyoonse wakajisi bubi, alimwi mumyaka iili 20 eeyo, wakajisi zinji zyakucita.

7, 8. (a) Mulumbe nzi ngwaakabaambila bantu Samuele nokwakainda myaka iili 20 kabeleka canguzu? (b) Ino bantu bakacita nzi nobakamvwa cisyomezyo ca Samuele?

⁷ Kutalilemeka akutasyomeka kwabana ba Eli kwakanyonganya lusyomo lwabantu. Kulibonya kuti, eeci cakapa kuti bantu banji batalike kukomba mituni. Nokwakainda myaka iili 20 kabeleka canguzu, Samuele wakaambila bantu mulumbe ooyu wakuti: “Kuti mwapiluka kuli-Jehova camoyo woonse, amugwisye mizimo myeenzu kuzwa mukati kanu, abalo ba-Astoreti amubagwisye. Amubambe myoyo yanu kuli-Jehova, mumanine nguwe luzutu milimo, kuti amuvune kuzwa mumaanza aaba-Filisti.”—1 Sam. 7:3.

⁸ ‘Maanza aaba Filisti’ akali kubapenzya bantu. Basikalumamba bana Israyeli nobakajaigwa, ba Filisti bakalimvwa kuti inga bapenzya bantu ba Leza nokuba kuti kunyina cibi ncobacita. Pele Samuele wakabasyomezya bantu kuti naa bapiluka kuli Jehova zyintu zyakali kukonzya kucinca. Sena bakali kuyanda kucita oobo? Icakamukkomanisya Samuele ncakuti, bana Israyeli bakaleka kukomba mituni ‘akutalika kumanina Jehova luzutu milimo.’ Samuele wakabunganya bantu ku Mizipa, dolopo lili munsi amalundu cisi ca Jerusalemu nkocili kunyika. Bantu bakabungana, bakaliimya kulya akweempwa kuzibi zyabo zyakukomba mituni.—Amubale 1 Samuele 7:4-6.

9. Ncoolwe nzi ncobakabona bana Filisti, alimwi ino bantu ba Leza bakacita buti akaambo kantenda eeyi?

 ⁹ Nokuba boobo, ba Filisti bakazyiba kuti bana Israyeli bakajisi muswaangano mupati alimwi bakabona kuti eeci cakali coolwe cabo. Bakatuma basikalumamba babo ku Mizipa kuyoolwana bakombi ba Jehova aaba. Bana Israyeli bakaamvwa makani aaya aayoosya. Kabayoowede, bakaambila Samuele kuti apaile. Samuele wakacita oobo, alimwi wakapa acipaizyo. Aciindi eeci camuswaangano, basikalumamba bana Filisti bakasika ku Mizipa. Mpoonya Jehova wakaingula mupailo wa Samuele. Elyo ndilyona, Jehova wakavwuluma cabukali. Jehova ‘wakapa kuti kube kuzuma kupati mubuzuba obo kuba Filisti.’—1 Sam. 7:7-10.

10, 11. (a) Nkaambo nzi ncotukonzya kwaamba kuti kuzuma Jehova nkwaakapa kuti kucitike kwakababeda cintu ceenzu bana Filisti? (b) Ncinzi cakatobela akaambo kankondo iyakatalikila ku Mizipa?

¹⁰ Sena tweelede kuyeeya kuti bana Filisti bakali mbuli bana basyoonto bayoowa akuyuba kuli bamanyina ikuti bamvwa kuzuma kwamvwula? Peepe, aaba bakali basikalumamba ncobeni bazyibide kulwana. Aboobo, kulibonya kuti kuzuma ooku kwakababeda cintu ceenzu. Sena bakayoowa ‘kuzuma ooku kupati’? Sena kuzuma ooku kwakazwide kujulu ikwakanyina makumbi aamvwula naa kwakazwide kumbali aamalundu? Kufwumbwa mbocakabede, bana Filisti bakayoowa akunyongana. Kabacinyongene, zyintu zyakacinca cakufwambaana, bakatalika kuzundwa. Bamaalumi bana Israyeli bakazwa ku Mizipa akubalwana bana Filisti akubatandaanya kwamakkilomita aali mbwaabede, kusika kubusena buli kumusanza lwaambo kwa Jerusalemu.—1 Sam. 7: 11.

¹¹ Kuzwa ciindi cankondo eeyi zyintu zyakacinca kapati kubantu ba Leza. Bana Filisti bakali kuyoowa kulwana mumazuba oonse Samuele ngaakali mubetesi. Minzi yoonse yakatalika kweendelezyegwa abantu ba Leza.—1 Sam. 7: 13, 14.

12. Ino majwi aakuti Samuele ‘wakacita ziluleme’ aamba nzi, alimwi mbube nzi bwakamugwasya kucita oobo?

¹² Nokwakainda myaanda yamyaka, mwaapostolo Paulo wakamubikkilizya Samuele aali baabo babetesi abasinsimi bakali kusyomeka ‘ibakacita ziluleme.’ (Heb. 11:32, 33) Masimpe, Samuele wakagwasyilizya kucita zyintu zili kabotu alimwi ziluzi mumeso a Leza. Wakazumanana kusyomeka akaambo kakuti wakali kulangila kuli Jehova, kasyomeka kumulimo ngwaakapedwe nociba ciindi nobakamutyompya. Alimwi wakatondezya muuya wakulumba. Naakazunda ku Mizipa, Samuele wakaimika ciibalusyo cakumuyeezya Jehova mbwaakagwasya bantu bakwe.—1 Sam. 7:12.

13. (a) Mbube nzi mbotuyandika ikuti katuyanda kwiiya cikozyanyo ca Samuele? (b) Ino muyeeya kuti ndilili notweelede kuba abube mbuli mbwaakajisi Samuele?

 ¹³ Sena mulayanda ‘kucita ziluleme’? Kuti kacili boobo, muyoocita kabotu kwiiya kukkazyika moyo, kulicesya akuba amuuya wakulumba mbuli Samuele. (Amubale 1 Petulo 5:6.) Ino nguni akati kesu uutabuyandi bube oobu? Cakali kabotu kuli Samuele kuba abube oobu akubutondezya naakacili mwana, akaambo kakuti wakatyompwa kapati ciindi naakakomena.

14, 15. (a) Nkutyompwa kuli buti kupati Samuele nkwaakaswaanganya ciindi ‘naakacembaala’? (b) Sena Samuele wakali muzyali uutabikkili maano mbubwenya mbwaakabede Eli? Amupandulule.

¹⁴ Makani aatobela kuzwa ciindi eeco, aamba zyabuumi bwa Samuele kali ‘mucembele.’ Aciindi eeci Samuele wakalijisi bana basankwa bobilo bapati, Joeli a Abija, alimwi wakabapa mulimo wakumugwasya kubeteka. Cuusisya ncakuti, tiibakasyomeka. Nokuba kuti Samuele wakali kusyomeka akucita ziluleme, bana bakwe bakabelesya zyuuno zyabo kulijanina mpindu lwabo beni, akupilinganya lubeta akutambula makulo.—1 Sam. 8:1-3.

¹⁵ Bumwi buzuba, bapati babana Israyeli bakabungana akutongaukila musinsimi ooyu iwakacembeede. Bakamwaambila kuti: “Bana bako  tabeendi munzila zyako.” (1 Sam. 8: 4, 5) Sena Samuele wakalilizyi penzi eeli? Bbaibbele talitwaambili pe. Nokuba boobo, mukwiimpana a Eli, Samuele wakali muzyali uubikkila maano. Jehova wakamusubula Eli akaambo kakwaalilwa kugwasya bana bakwe ibakali kucita zyintu zibi alimwi akulemeka bana bakwe kwiinda Leza. (1 Sam. 2:27-29) Jehova kunyina naakajana bubi buli boobu muli Samuele.

16. Ino bazyali ibajisi bana bazangi balimvwa buti, alimwi mbuti bazyali mbobakonzya kujana luumbulizyo alulayo mucikozyanyo ca Samuele?

¹⁶ Bbaibbele taakwe noliyubununa kuusa, kupenga mumoyo, naa kutyompwa kwa Samuele ciindi naakazyiba zibi nzyobakali kucita bana bakwe. Nokuba boobo, bazyali banji balakonzya kuzyiba mbwaakalimvwa. Munyika iino iili mumudima, kuzangila bweendelezyi alulayo lwabazyali bwaba bulwazi buyambukila. (Amubale 2 Timoteyo 3:1-5.) Bazyali balwana penzi eeli balakonzya kujana luumbulizyo alulayo mucikozyanyo ca Samuele. Samuele kunyina naakalekela kutasyomeka kwabana bakwe kuti kumupe kuleka kusyomeka. Nokuba kuti lulayo tiilwacinca myoyo yabana banu, mutalubi kuti cikozyanyo canu ncecibelesyo ciyandika kapati mukuyiisya bana banu. Alimwi bazyali lyoonse balijisi coolwe cakukkomanisya Usyi wabo, Jehova Leza—mbuli mbwaakacita Samuele.

17. Ino bapati babana Israyeli bakamwaambila nzi Samuele, alimwi ino Samuele wakalimvwa buti?

¹⁷ Bana ba Samuele tiibakayeeya cakali kukonzya kucitika akaambo kabulyato akuliyanda kwabo. Bapati babana Israyeli bakaambila Samuele kuti: “Lino utubikile mwami wakutubeteka mbuli misyobo yoonse.” Sena kuyanda kwabantu ooku kwakatondezya kuti bamukaka Samuele? Aciindi eeci Samuele ngowakali kwiiminina Jehova akubeteka bantu aaba kwamyaka iili mbwiibede. Lino, bakali kuyanda mwami kuti abe ngomubetesi wabo kutali buyo musinsimi mbuli Samuele. Izisi izyakazingulukide zyakajisi mami, aboobo bana Israyeli abalo bakali kuyanda mwami. Ino Samuele wakalimvwa buti? Tubala kuti “makani akabija mumeso aa-Samuele.”—1 Sam. 8:5, 6.

18. Mbuti Jehova mbwaakamuumbulizya Samuele alimwi mbuti mbwaakamutondezya mbocakali cipati cibi cabana Israyeli?

¹⁸ Amubone mbwaakamwiingula Jehova ciindi Samuele naakapaila kulinguwe: “Swiilila majwi aabantu mbuli makani oonse ngobakwaambila, nkaambo kakuti teensi nduwe ngubasampaula, ndime ngubasampaula kutaba mwami kulimbabo.” Eelo kaka wakaumbulizyigwa Samuele, nokuba kuti eeci cakamucisa Leza Singuzuzyoonse! Jehova wakaambila musinsimi wakwe kuti acenjezye bana Israyeli mbobakali kuyoopenga akaambo kakuba amwami muntunsi. Ciindi Samuele naakatobela malailile, balo bakazumanana kuti: “Ne! Ncobeni tuleelede kuba amwami.” Mbwaanga Samuele wakali kumvwida Leza lyoonse, wakaunka akumunanika mwami ngwaakasala Jehova.—1 Sam. 8:7-19.

19, 20. (a) Muunzila nzi Samuele mwaakamvwida malailile aa Jehova aakuti ananike Saulo kuba mwami wabana Israyeli? (b) Mbuti Samuele mbwaakazumanana kubagwasya bantu ba Jehova?

 ¹⁹ Mbuti Samuele mbwaakamvwida? Sena wakacita oobu kacimidwe akwiinzya buyo mulawo? Sena kutyompwa kwakwe kwakamupa kubisya moyo akuba alusulo? Mubukkale buli boobu bunji bwabantu nobakacita oobo, pele kutali Samuele. Samuele wakamunanika Saulo akuzumina kuti ooyu wakasalidwe a Jehova. Wakamumyonta Saulo, citondezyo cakumutambula alimwi akulibombya kumwami mupya. Mpoonya Samuele wakaambila bantu kuti: “Sa mwamubona oyu ngwaasala Jehova? Taakwe umbi uuli boobu akati kabantu boonse.”—1 Sam. 10:1, 24.

²⁰ Samuele kunyina naakabikkila maano kuzibi zyamuntu ooyu Jehova ngwaakasala, pele wakabikkila maano kububotu bwakwe. Walo mwini, wakabikkila maano kukusyomeka kwakwe kuli Leza kutali kukutasyomeka kwabantu ibakali kucinca-cinca. (1 Sam. 12:1-4) Alimwi wakaubeleka mulimo wakwe cakusyomeka, kulaya bantu ba Leza kujatikizya ntenda zyakumuuya izyakali kukonzya kunyonganya cilongwe cabo a Jehova akubakulwaizya kuzumanana kusyomeka kuli Jehova. Lulayo lwakwe bakalukkomanina kapati alimwi bantu bakamulomba Samuele kuti apaile. Wakabaingula kabotu, wakati: ‘Cilatonda kuti mbisizye Jehova kwiinda mukuleka kumukombela, ndeelede kumuyiisya makani aanzila mbotu iiluleme.’—1 Sam. 12:21-24.

21. Mbuti cikozyanyo ca Samuele mbocikonzya kumugwasya ikuti mwatyompwa akaambo kakuti kwasalwa umbi akupegwa mikuli?

²¹ Sena kuli nomwakatyompedwe akaambo kakuti umwi wapegwa mukuli? Cikozyanyo ca Samuele cituyiisya kuti tatweelede kuba amunyono naa lusulo. (Amubale Tusimpi 14:30.) Leza ulijisi milimo minji iikkomanisya njabambilide babelesi bakwe boonse basyomeka.

22. Nkaambo nzi ncocakali buyo kabotu kuti kumatalikilo Samuele wakabona bubotu muli Saulo?

²² Samuele wakaliluzi kubona bubotu muli Saulo; nkaambo ooyu muntu wakali cikozyanyo cibotu. Wakali mulamfwu alimwi uuboneka kabotu, wakali sicamba alimwi uucizyi kubamba twaambo alimwi wakali kulibombya kumatalikilo. (1 Sam. 10:22, 23, 27) Kuyungizya abube oobu, wakalijisi acipego cimwi cibotu kapati—ikucikonzya kulisalila cakucita mubuumi bwakwe. (Dt. 30:19) Sena wakacibelesya kabotu cipego eeci?

23. Mbube nzi bubotu mbwaakajisi Saulo ibwakasaanguna kumana naakapegwa nguzu, alimwi mbuti mbwaakatondezya kuti wakalilekede kubikkila maano?

 ²³ Cuusisya ncakuti, ikuti muntu wapegwa nguzu kulibombya kanji-kanji nkokusaanguna kumana. Kakutanainda ciindi Saulo wakatalika kulisumpula. Wakasala kutyola milawo ya Jehova njaakapedwe kwiinda muli Samuele. Ciindi cimwi, Saulo cakamukatazya kulindila, aboobo wakatuula cipaizyo ncaakali kuyanda kutuula Samuele. Samuele wakamululamika Saulo cakutainda mumbali aakumwaambila kuti bwami tabukazumanani mumukwasyi wakwe. Muciindi cakutobela lulayo ndwaakapegwa, Saulo wakazumanana kucita zyintu zibi zinji.—1 Sam. 13:8, 9, 13, 14.

24. (a) Mbuti Saulo mbwaatakamvwida Jehova ciindi nobakali kulwana abana Amaleki? (b) Ino Saulo wakacita buti naakalulamikwa, alimwi ino Jehova wakasala kucita nzi?

²⁴ Kwiinda muli Samuele, Jehova wakaambila Saulo kulwana bana Amaleki. Malailile aa Jehova akali kubikkilizya akujaya mwami mubyaabi Agagi. Nokuba boobo, Saulo kunyina naakamujaya Agagi alimwi azyintu izyakeelede kunyonyoonwa tiizyakanyonyoonwa pe. Ciindi Samuele naakaboola kululamika Saulo, wakajana kuti Saulo wakalicincide. Muciindi cakutambula lulayo cakulibombya, wakalibotya-botya, akupa cilitamizyo, akuubya-ubya zibi zyakwe, akuzimaazya kaambo, alimwi wakaamba kuti bantu mbebakapa kuti alubizye. Saulo naakasola kuubya-ubya lulayo kwiinda mukwaamba kuti zyintu nzyaatakanyonyoona wakali kuyanda kutuula kuli Jehova, Samuele wakaamba majwi aazyibidwe kapati aakuti: ‘Bona! Kuswiilila nkubotu kwiinda kupaizya.’ Cabusicamba, Samuele wakamukalalila mwaalumi ooyu akumwaambila makanze aa Jehova aakuti: Uyakunyangwa bwami bwako akubupa kumuntu uumbi—uuli kabotu. *—1 Sam. 15:1-33.

25, 26. (a) Nkaambo nzi Samuele ncaakamulila Saulo, alimwi mbuti Jehova mbwaakamululamika musinsimi wakwe? (b) Nciiyo nzi Samuele ncaakaiya naakali kuŋanda ya Jese?

²⁵ Samuele wakanyongana kapati akaambo kakulubizya kwa Saulo. Samuele wakalila busiku boonse kuli Jehova kujatikizya makani  aaya. Alimwi buya wakamulila mwaalumi ooyu. Samuele wakalimubwene Saulo kuti wakali kukonzya kucita zyintu zibotu kapati, pele lino bulangizi boonse oobu bwakamana. Muntu ngwaakazyi wakacinca—bube bwakwe bubotu bwakalimanide alimwi wakamuzangila Jehova. Samuele wakakaka kubonana a Saulo alimwi. Mukuya kwaciindi, Jehova wakamululamika Samuele naakati: “Ino kusikila kuciindinzi ncocinoolilila Saulo? Mebo ndamukaka kuba mwami waba-Israyeli. Kozuzya luja lwako mafuta, unyamuke, ndakutuma kuli-Jese waku-Betelehemu, nkaambo ndalisalila mwami akati kabana bakwe.”—1 Sam. 15:34, 35; 16:1.

²⁶ Makanze aa Jehova taayeeme abantu batasyomeki lyoonse ibatalondokede. Kuti muntu omwe waleka kusyomeka, Jehova uyoojana uumbi kutegwa acite kuyanda kwakwe. Aboobo, mudaala Samuele wakacileka kumulila Saulo. Samuele wakatobela malailile aa Jehova akuunka kuŋanda ya Jese ku Betelehemu ooko nkwaakajana bana basankwa ba Jese ibakali kuboneka kabotu. Nokuba boobo, kuzwa buyo kumatalikilo, Jehova wakamuyeezya Samuele kuti teelede kulanga buyo ciwa pe. (Amubale 1 Samuele 16:7.) Kumamanino, Samuele wakamujana mwana musankwa, Jehova ngwaakasala—Davida!

27. (a) Ncinzi cakagwasya kuti lusyomo lwa Samuele luzumanane kuyuma? (b) Ino mulimvwa buti kujatikizya cikozyanyo ncaakasiya Samuele?

²⁷ Kalaafwaafwi kufwa, Samuele wakalibonena kabotu-kabotu kaambo Jehova ncaakasalila Davida kutali Saulo. Saulo wakaba amunyono calo cakamupa kuti ayande kujaya Davida alimwi wakaba siluleyo. Pele Davida walo wakatondezya bube bubotu—busicamba, kusyomeka, alusyomo. Samuele naakali aafwaafwi akufwa, lusyomo lwakwe lwakazumanana kuyuma. Wakabona kuti kutyompwa kuli koonse ulakonzya kukumana Jehova alimwi akuti ulakonzya kukucinca kutegwa kube cilongezyo. Kumane, Samuele wakafwa akusiya mpuwo mbotu iyakazumanana kumvwugwa noliba leelyo nokwakainda myaka iili 100. Tacigambyi kuti bana Israyeli boonse bakamulila mwaalumi ooyu iwakali kusyomeka. Kusikila sunu, babelesi ba Jehova beelede kulibuzya kuti, ‘Sena inga ndaciiya cikozyanyo ca Samuele cakusyomeka?’