3 USamuweli wakhuluma kuyo yonke indlu ka-Israyeli, wathi: “Uma nibuyela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yenu, susani kini onkulunkulu babezizwe no-Ashitaroti, nibhekise izinhliziyo zenu kuJehova, nimkhonze yena yedwa; uyakunophula esandleni samaFilisti.”
4 Abakwa-Israyeli base besusa oBali no-Ashitaroti, bamkhonza uJehova yedwa.
5 USamuweli wathi: “Buthani wonke u-Israyeli eMispa; ngiyakunikhulekela kuJehova.”
6 Babuthana eMispa, bakha amanzi, bawathulula phambi kukaJehova, bazila ngalolo suku, bathi khona: “Sonile kuJehova.” USamuweli wahlulela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli eMispa.
7 AmaFilisti esezwile ukuthi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthene eMispa, amakhosi amaFilisti akhuphuka ukulwa no-Israyeli. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bekuzwile lokho bawesaba amaFilisti.
8 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuSamuweli: “Ungaphezi ukusikhalela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba asisindise esandleni samaFilisti.”
9 USamuweli wathatha iwundlu elincelayo, wanikela ngalo libe ngumnikelo oshiswa wonke kuJehova; uSamuweli wamkhalela u-Israyeli kuJehova; uJehova wamphendula.