< Balam 12 >
1 Abasajja ba Efulayimu ne bayitibwa okusomoka okulaga mu Zafoni. Ne bagamba Yefusa nti, “Lwaki wagenda okulwanyisa abaana ba Amoni, n’otatuyita kugenda naawe? Tugenda kukwokera mu nnyumba yo.”
Abantu bakoEfrayimi basebebizelwa ndawonye, bachaphela enyakatho, bathi kuJefitha: Wachaphelani ukuyakulwa umelene labantwana bakoAmoni, lathi ungasibizanga ukuthi sihambe lawe? Sizatshisa ngomlilo indlu yakho phezu kwakho.
2 Yefusa n’abaddamu nti, “Nze n’abantu bange twatawaana nnyo okulwanyisa abaana ba Amoni, era nabakoowoola mujje mutubeere, naye temwajja kutubeera kuva mu mukono gwabwe.
UJefitha wathi kibo: Mina labantu bami sasilengxabano enkulu labantwana bakoAmoni; sathi silibiza, kalingikhululanga esandleni sabo.
3 Bwe nalaba nga temuzze kutubeera, ne nteeka obulamu bwange mu ngalo zange, ne nsomoka okulwana n’abaana ba Amoni, era Mukama Katonda n’abagabula mu mukono gwange. Kaakano kiki ekibaleeta gye ndi okulwana nange leero?”
Kwathi lapho ngibona ukuthi kalisizanga, ngabeka impilo yami esandleni sami, ngachaphela ebantwaneni bakoAmoni, iNkosi yabanikela esandleni sami. Pho, lenyukeleleni kimi lamuhla ukulwa limelene lami?
4 Awo Yefusa n’akuŋŋaanya abantu b’e Gireyaadi bonna, ne balwanyisa Efulayimu. Abasajja ab’e Gireyaadi baabalwanyisa kubanga Efulayimu baayogera nti, “Mmwe muli bakyewaggula ba Efulayimu ab’e Gireyaadi, wakati mu Efulayimu ne mu Manase.”
UJefitha wasebutha wonke amadoda eGileyadi walwa loEfrayimi; amadoda eGileyadi asemtshaya uEfrayimi, ngoba athi: Lingababalekileyo bakoEfrayimi, lina beGileyadi, phakathi kukaEfrayimi loManase.
5 Ab’e Gireyaadi ne bawamba ebifo bya Yoludaani okusomokerwa okutuuka mu Efulayimu, era bwe waabangawo ku bakomawo aba Efulayimu eyayagalanga okusomoka, abasajja ab’e Gireyaadi nga bamubuuza nti, “Oli Mwefulayimu?”
AbeGileyadi basebethumba amazibuko eJordani aya koEfrayimi. Kwakusithi lapho iziphepheli zakoEfrayimi zisithi: Ake ngichaphe; amadoda eGileyadi athi kuye: UngumEfrayimi yini? Lapho esithi: Hatshi;
6 Bwe yeegananga, nga bamugamba ayogere nti, “Shibbolesi.” Bwe yayogeranga nti, “Sibbolesi,” kubanga teyayinzanga kukyogera bulungi, ng’akwatibwa era ng’attibwa awo awasomokerwa ku Yoludaani. Mu biro ebyo, mu Efulayimu ne mufaamu abantu emitwalo ena mu enkumi bbiri.
basebesithi kuye: Ake uthi: Shibolethi. Athi: Sibolethi; ngoba engelakulikhuluma kuhle. Basebembamba, bemhlaba emazibukweni eJordani. Kwasekusiwa ngalesosikhathi kwabakoEfrayimi abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane lambili.
7 Awo Yefusa n’alamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka mukaaga. Yefusa Omugireyaadi n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu kimu ku kibuga bya Gireyaadi.
UJefitha wasesahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisithupha. Wasesifa uJefitha umGileyadi, wangcwatshelwa komunye wemizi yeGileyadi.
8 Oluvannyuma lwa Yefusa, Ibuzaani ow’e Besirekemu n’alamula Isirayiri.
Emva kwakhe-ke uIbizani weBhethelehema wahlulela uIsrayeli.
9 Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi asatu, n’abaana aboobuwala amakumi asatu. Bawala be n’abafumbiza abantu abataali ba kika kye, ne batabani be n’abawasiza abawala abataali ba kika kye. N’akulembera Isirayiri okumala emyaka musanvu.
Njalo wayelamadodana angamatshumi amathathu, wathumela ngaphandle amadodakazi angamatshumi amathathu, wangenisela amadodana akhe amadodakazi angamatshumi amathathu evela ngaphandle; wahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
10 Ibuzaani n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Besirekemu.
Wasesifa uIbizani, wangcwatshelwa eBhethelehema.
11 Oluvannyuma lwa Ibuzaani, Eroni Omuzebbulooni, n’alamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka kkumi.
Njalo emva kwakhe uEloni umZebuloni wahlulela uIsrayeli; wahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka elitshumi.
12 Eroni Omuzebbulooni n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Ayalooni mu nsi ya Zebbulooni.
Wasesifa uEloni umZebuloni, wangcwatshelwa eAjaloni, elizweni lakoZebuluni.
13 Awo oluvannyuma lwa Eroni, Abudoni mutabani wa Kereri Omupirasoni n’alamula Isirayiri.
Emva kwakhe-ke uAbidoni indodana kaHileli umPirathoni wahlulela uIsrayeli.
14 Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi ana, n’abazzukulu amakumi asatu abeebagalanga endogoyi nsanvu. Yalamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka munaana.
Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amane, lamadodana amadodana angamatshumi amathathu, ayegada amathole abobabhemi angamatshumi ayisikhombisa; wahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisificaminwembili.
15 Abudoni mutabani wa Kireri Omupirasoni n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Pirasoni mu nsi ya Efulayimu, mu nsi ey’Abamaleki ey’ensozi.
Wasesifa uAbidoni indodana kaHileli umPirathoni, wangcwatshelwa ePirathoni elizweni lakoEfrayimi entabeni zamaAmaleki.