IBhayibheli lithi uGoliyadi “ubude bakhe babungaba mamitha amathathu [“iingalo ezisithandathu nesipani sinye,” NW].” (1 Samyela 17:4) Ubude okukhulunywa ngabo la, ingalo masenthimitha ayi-44.5; isipani sibe masenthimitha ayi-22.2. Nakuhlanganiswako lokho kuba mamitha ayi-2.9. Abanye abavumi ukuthi uGoliyadi bekangaba mude kangako, kodwana cabanga nganaku: Esikhathini sanamhlanjesi umuntu omude khulu ephasini kuba ngomamitha angaphezu kwayi-2.7 ubude. Njeke kuyasolisa na ukuthi uGoliyadi bekangaba masenthimitha ayi-15 ubude emuntwini loyo? Phela bekangewesitjhaba samaRafa, amadoda ebakadume ngobutsitsirimba bawo. Ihlaka leGibhide langeminyaka yabo-1300 liyatjho ukuthi iinkutana ebezisatjwa esifundeni seKanana bezimamitha ayi-2.4 ubude. Njeke nanyana ubude bakaGoliyadi burara nje bebuliqiniso.

Khekwaba nesikhathi lapho izazi ezakhe zalinga ukuthi iKosi uDavida bekungasi mumuntu wamambala, kodwana zabhalelwa kukwenza njalo. Abavumbululi bafumana umtlolo okhuluma “ngendlu kaDavida.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu Krestu naye wakhuluma ngoDavida njengomuntu wamambala. (Matewu 12:3; 22:43-45) Ukuba kwakaJesu nguMesiya kufakazelwa mlando wefuzo onabileko wokuthi udabuka ekorweni yeKosi uDavida. (Matewu 1:6-16; Lukasi 3:23-31) Nangambala, uDavida bekamumuntu wamambala.

IBhayibheli lithi ipi yenzeka emrhobeni we-Ela. Liphinde linqophe khudlwana naliveza ukuthi amaFilista bekahlome itende lawo phakathi kweSoko ne-Azeka. Ama-Israyeli wona bekajame magega nomrhoba loyo ngakwelinye ihlangothi lawo. Njeke, kghani bekuzindawo zamambala lezi?

Khewuzwe bona esinye isivakatjhi esavakatjhela indawo leyo ukuthi sithini: “Umnqophisi wethu—ebakangasi ngekwekolo—wasisa emrhobeni we-Ela. Sangena endledlaneni eyasisa esoqongolweni sentaba leyo. Njengombana siqale umrhoba loyo, wathi sifunde yoku-1 Samyela 17:1-3. Wakhomba emrhobeni wathi: ‘Laphaya ngesinceleni senu, marubhi weSoko. Wajika wathi, ‘Laphaya ngakwesokudla marubhi we-Azeka. AmaFilista bekahlome amatende wawo phakathi kwemizi le entabeni eniqalene nayo. Njeke kungenzeka sijame lapho ama-Israyeli ebekajame khona.’ Ngacabanga ngoSawula noDavida bajame poro la ebengijame khona. Sathi nasisakhamba njalo sadlula endaweni eyomileko ezele amatje. Ngavele ngacabanga ngoDavida aguqile adobha amatje amahlanu abutjhelelezi, elinye lawo abulala ngalo uGoliyadi.” Isivakatjheso, njengezinye ezinengi, sasala sibambe ongenzasi nasibona imininingwana evumalana kangaka nalokho okuseBhayibhelini.

Angekhe-ke sabilayela ngobufakazi obuliqiniso lobu obufakazela indaba le. Bekubabantu bamambala neendawo zamambala. Okuqakatheke khulu kukuthi, kuseliZwini lakaZimu eliphefumulelweko, yeke kuvela emaqinisweni kaZimu, loyo “ongaleyi amala.”—Titosi 1:2; 2 Thimothi 3:16.