< UJoshuwa 10 >

1 U-Adoni-Zedekhi inkosi yaseJerusalema wezwa ukuthi uJoshuwa wayesethumbe i-Ayi wayitshabalalisa, njengalokho akwenza eJerikho lenkosini yayo, lokuthi abantu baseGibhiyoni babenze isivumelwano sokuthula labako-Israyeli njalo sebehlala labo.
Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction —doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them.
2 Yena labantu bakhe besaba kakhulu ngalokhu, ngenxa yokuthi iGibhiyoni kwakulidolobho eliqakatheke kakhulu, njengelinye lamadolobho esikhosini; lalilikhulu kule-Ayi, njalo amadoda alo wonke ayezingwazi ezilamandla.
So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
3 Ngakho u-Adoni-Zedekhi inkosi yaseJerusalema wakhalaza kuHohamu inkosi yaseHebhroni, kuPhiramu inkosi yaseJamuthi, kuJafiya inkosi yaseLakhishi lakuDebhiri inkosi yase-Egiloni.
Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,
4 Wathi kubo, “Wozani lizongincedisa ukuhlasela iGibhiyoni ngenxa yokuthi yenze isivumelwano sokuthula loJoshuwa labako-Israyeli.”
“Come up and help me. We will attack Gibeon, because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”
5 Ngakho amakhosi womahlanu ama-Amori, aseJerusalema, eHebhroni, eJamuthi, eLakhishi lase-Egiloni abambana. Aphuma lamabutho awo wonke ayihonqolozela iGibhiyoni ayihlasela.
So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
6 AmaGibhiyoni athumela ilizwi kuJoshuwa ezihonqweni zaseGiligali athi: “Ungalahli izinceku zakho. Woza ngapha kithi ngokuphangisa uzosisiza! Sincede, ngoba wonke amakhosi ama-Amori abusa emazweni asemaqaqeni asebambene ukuze alwisane lathi.”
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites from the hill country have joined forces against us.”
7 Ngakho uJoshuwa wasuka eGiligali, wenyuka kanye lebutho lakhe lonke, elaligoqela wonke amadoda ayekwazi ukulwa.
So Joshua and his whole army, including all the mighty men of valor, came from Gilgal.
8 UThixo wathi kuJoshuwa, “Ungabesabi; sengibanikele esandleni sakho. Kakho loyedwa ozakwenelisa ukumelana lawe.”
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.”
9 Ngemva kokuhamba okobusuku bonke besuka eGiligali, uJoshuwa wabajuma.
After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.
10 UThixo wenza ukuthi basanganiseke phambi kuka-Israyeli, wabehlula ngokunqoba okukhulu eGibhiyoni. Abako-Israyeli baxotshana labo emgwaqweni oya eBhethi-Horoni, baxhumana labo baze bayafika e-Azekha leMakheda.
And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
11 Lapho bebalekela abako-Israyeli emgwaqweni osuka eBhethi-Horoni usiya e-Azekha, uThixo wehlisa isiqhotho esikhulu sivela emkhathini, njalo inengi labo lafa libulawa yisiqhotho ukwedlula ababulawa zinkemba zabako-Israyeli.
As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.
12 Ngalelolanga uThixo wanikela ngalo ama-Amori kwabako-Israyeli, uJoshuwa wathi kuThixo phambi kwabako-Israyeli: “We langa, mana uthi mpo ngaphezu kweGibhiyoni, lawe nyanga, mana ngaphezu kweSigodi se-Ayijaloni.”
On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 Ngakho ilanga lema lathi mpo, lenyanga yema, isizwe saze saphindisela ngokupheleleyo ezitheni zaso, njengoba kulotshiwe oGwalweni lukaJasha. Ilanga lema phakathi laphakathi kwesibhakabhaka laphuza ukutshona okosuku lonke.
So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”
14 Kakuzange kube losuku olwafana lalo ngaphambili kumbe kuze kube lamhlanje, usuku lapho uThixo alalela khona umuntu. Ngeqiniso uThixo wayelwela u-Israyeli!
There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD fought for Israel.
15 Ngakho uJoshuwa waphindela labo bonke abako-Israyeli ezihonqweni zaseGiligali.
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
16 Amakhosi lawo womahlanu abaleka ayacatsha ebhalwini lwaseMakheda.
Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
17 Kwathi uJoshuwa esetshelwe ukuthi amakhosi womahlanu ayetholakale ecatshile ebhalwini lweMakheda,
And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
18 wathi, “Giqani amatshe amakhulu liwafake emlonyeni wobhalu, beselisithi amanye amadoda alinde.
So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them.
19 Kodwa lingemi! Xotshani izitha zenu, lingazivumeli ukuthi zifike emadolobheni azo, ngoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu esezinikele ezandleni zenu.”
But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”
20 Ngakho uJoshuwa labako-Israyeli bababhubhisa baphosa baphela bonke kodwa abalutshwana abasalayo banelisa ukufika emadolobheni abo ayezinqaba.
So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities.
21 Ibutho lonke lenelisa ukuphenduka ngokuthula kuJoshuwa esihonqweni seMakheda, njalo kakho owake wakhuluma okubi ngabako-Israyeli.
The whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one dared to utter a word against the Israelites.
22 UJoshuwa wathi, “Vulani umlomo wobhalu beseliletha amakhosi womahlanu eze kimi.”
Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”
23 Ngakho bakhupha amakhosi womahlanu ebhalwini, inkosi yaseJerusalema, eyeHebhroni, yeJamuthi, eyeLakhishi kanye leyase-Egiloni.
So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24 Bathi sebelethe amakhosi la kuJoshuwa, wabiza wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli wasesithi kubo bonke abalawuli bamabutho ababeze laye, “Wozani lapha lizofaka inyawo zenu entanyeni zala amakhosi.” Ngakho beza phambili basebefaka inyawo zabo entanyeni zawo.
When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.
25 UJoshuwa wathi kubo, “Lingesabi; lingadangali qinani libe lezibindi. Lokhu yikho okuzakwenziwa nguThixo kuzozonke izitha elizalwisana lazo.”
“Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all the enemies you fight.”
26 Ngakho uJoshuwa wawabulala amakhosi la wawalengisa ensikeni ezinhlanu, alenga lapho kwaze kwahlwa.
After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees and left them there until evening.
27 Ekutshoneni kwelanga uJoshuwa walaya ukuthi bawethule bawaphose ebhalwini lapho ayekade ecatshe khona. Emlonyeni wobhalu bafaka amatshe amakhulu alokhu ekhona lanamhlanje.
At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.
28 Ngalelolanga uJoshuwa wathumba iMakheda. Wahlasela idolobho kanye lenkosi yalo ngenkemba, wabhubhisa wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo. Kakho owatshiywa ephila. Wenza enkosini yeMakheda lokho ayekwenze enkosini yaseJerikho.
On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
29 Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababelaye basuka eMakheda baya eLibhina balihlasela.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
30 UThixo waphinda wanikela lelodolobho lenkosi yalo esandleni sika-Israyeli. UJoshuwa wahlasela ngenkemba idolobho laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo. Kakho owatshiywa ephila lapho. Wenza enkosini yalo lokho ayekwenze enkosini yeJerikho.
And the LORD also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel, and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ayelabo bahamba besuka eLibhina besiya eLakhishi; balihanqa basebelihlasela.
And Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish. They laid siege to it and fought against it.
32 UThixo wanikela iLakhishi ku-Israyeli, uJoshuwa wayithatha ngelanga lesibili. Idolobho laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo wakuhlasela ngenkemba, njengalokho ayekwenze eLibhina.
And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, and Joshua captured it on the second day. He put all the people to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.
33 Kunjalo-nje uHoramu inkosi yaseGezeri yayize ukuzoncedisa iLakhishi kodwa uJoshuwa wayehlula ndawonye lebutho layo, kakho owatshiywa ephila.
At that time Horam king of Gezer went to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.
34 Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababelaye basuka eLakhishi baya edolobheni le-Egiloni; basebelihanqa balihlasela.
So Joshua moved on from Lachish to Eglon, and all Israel with him. They laid siege to it and fought against it.
35 Balithumba ngalelolanga, balihlakaza ngenkemba basebebhubhisa wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo, njengalokho ababekwenze eLakhishi.
That day they captured Eglon and put it to the sword, and Joshua devoted to destruction everyone in the city, just as he had done to Lachish.
36 Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababelaye bahamba besuka e-Egiloni baya eHebhroni bayihlasela.
Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and fought against it.
37 Balithumba lelodolobho ngenkemba ndawonye lamakhosi alo, imizana yalo laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo, kakho owatshiywa ephila. Njengalokho abakwenza e-Egiloni, balitshabalalisa laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo.
They captured it and put to the sword its king, all its villages, and all the people. Joshua left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon; he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it.
38 Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ayelabo baphenduka bahlasela iDebhiri.
Finally Joshua and all Israel with him turned toward Debir and fought against it.
39 Bathumba lelidolobho, inkosi lemizi yalo, bayihlasela ngenkemba. Bonke abantu ababephakathi kwalo babhujiswa baphela. Kakho owatshiywa ephila. Benza eDebhiri lenkosini yakhona lokho abakwenza eLibhina lenkosini yakhona kanye leHebhroni.
And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king.
40 Ngakho uJoshuwa wasinqoba sonke isabelo, okugoqela ilizwe lamaqaqa, iNegebi, emawatheni ezintaba entshonalanga lemithezukweni yezintaba ndawonye lamakhosi alapho wonke. Kakho owatshiywa ephila. Wabhubhisa bonke abebephefumula, njengoba uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wayebalayile.
So Joshua conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.
41 UJoshuwa wabanqoba kusukela eKhadeshi Bhaneya kusiya eGaza lakuso sonke isabelo seGosheni kusiya eGibhiyoni.
Joshua conquered the area from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and the whole region of Goshen as far as Gibeon.
42 Wonke amakhosi la lamazwe awo athunjwa nguJoshuwa ekuhlaseleni kunye, ngenxa yokuthi uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, walwela u-Israyeli.
And because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel, Joshua captured all these kings and their land in one campaign.
43 Ngakho uJoshuwa waphindela laye wonke u-Israyeli ezihonqweni zaseGiligali.
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

< UJoshuwa 10 >