< UJoshuwa 22 >

1 UJoshuwa wamema abakoRubheni, abakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sikaManase
Zvino Joshua akadana vaRubheni navaGadhi nehafu yorudzi rwaManase
2 wathi kubo, “Selenze konke uMosi inceku kaThixo eyakulayayo, njalo lingilalele kukho konke engililaye ngakho.
akati kwavari, “Makaita zvose zvamakarayirwa naMozisi muranda waJehovha uye makateerera zvose zvandakakurayirai.
3 Okwesikhathi eside khathesi, kuze kube lamuhla, kalizange lihlamukele abafowenu kodwa lenze umsebenzi lowo uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu alinike wona.
Kwenguva refu, kusvikira nhasi, hamuna kurasa hama dzenyu, asi makaita zvamakarayirwa naJehovha Mwari wenyu.
4 Njengoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu wanika abafowenu ukuphumula njengokuthembisa kwakhe, buyelani emakhaya enu elizweni uMosi inceku kaThixo alinika lona ngaphetsheya kweJodani.
Zvino Jehovha Mwari wenyu zvaakazorodza hama dzenyu sezvaakavimbisa, imi chidzokerai kumisha yenyu munyika yamakapiwa naMozisi muranda waJehovha mhiri kweJorodhani.
5 Kodwa linanzelele kakhulu ukuthi lilondoloza umlayo lomthetho uMosi inceku kaThixo alinika wona: Ukuthanda uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, ukuhamba ezindleleni zakhe zonke, ukulalela imilayo yakhe, ukubambelela kuye lokumsebenzela ngenhliziyo yenu yonke lomphefumulo wenu wonke.”
Asi muchenjerere kwazvo kuti muchengete murau nomurayiro wake, munamatire paari uye mumushumire nemwoyo yenyu yose, uye nemweya yenyu yose.”
6 UJoshuwa wasebabusisa wathi kabahambe; yikho basebesiya emizini yabo.
Ipapo Joshua akavaropafadza akati vaende havo, ivo vakaenda kumisha yavo.
7 Ingxenye yesizwana sakoManase uMosi wayeyinike ilizwe eBhashani, kwathi eyinye ingxenye yesizwana uJoshuwa wayeyinike indawo lapho okwakwakhele abafowabo eJodani. Kwathi uJoshuwa esethe kabahambe emakhaya, wababusisa
(Rudzi rwehafu rwaManase, Mozisi akanga apa nyika yomuBhashani, uye imwe hafu yorudzi rwaManase yakapiwa nyika naJoshua kumavirazuva pamwe chete nehama dzavo.) Joshua akati avaendesa kumusha, akavaropafadza,
8 wathi, “Buyelani emakhaya enu lenotho yenu enengi, lilemihlambi emikhulu yezifuyo, lilesiliva, igolide ithusi lensimbi, lamalembu amanengi, beselisabelana labafowenu lokho elakuthumba ezitheni zenu.”
achiti, “Dzokerai kumisha yenyu nepfuma yenyu zhinji, nemombe dzakawanda, nesirivha, negoridhe, ndarira nesimbi, nenhumbi dzakawanda chose, mundogovana nehama dzenyu zvamakapamba kuvavengi venyu.”
9 Ngakho abakoRubheni, abakoGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase batshiya abako-Israyeli eShilo eseKhenani babuyela eGiliyadi, ilizwe labo, ababelizuze kulandela umlayo kaThixo awethula ngoMosi.
Saka vaRubheni, vaGadhi nehafu yorudzi rwaManase vakasiya vaIsraeri paShiro munyika yeKenani vakadzokera kunyika yeGireadhi, nyika yavakanga vapiwa kuti ive yavo, sezvakanga zvarayirwa naJehovha kubudikidza naMozisi.
10 Bathi sebefike eGelithothi eduzane leJodani elizweni leKhenani, abakoRubheni, abakoGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase bakha i-alithari elikhulu eduzane leJodani.
Vakati vasvika paGeriroti pedyo neJorodhani munyika yeKenani, vaRubheni, vaGadhi nehafu yorudzi rwaManase vakavaka aritari huru kwazvo ipapo paJorodhani.
11 Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebezwe ukuthi sebakhe i-alithari emngceleni weKhenani eGelithothi duzane leJodani eceleni lako-Israyeli,
Zvino vaIsraeri vakati vanzwa kuti vakanga vavaka aritari pamuganhu weKenani paGeriroti pedyo neJorodhani kudivi reIsraeri,
12 umphakathi wonke wako-Israyeli wabuthana eShilo ukulungiselela ukulwa labo empini.
ungano yose yavaIsraeri yakaungana paShiro kuti vaende kundorwa navo.
13 Ngakho abako-Israyeli bathuma uFinehasi indodana ka-Eliyazari, umphristi elizweni leGiliyadi kuRubheni, uGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase.
Naizvozvo vaIsraeri vakatuma Finehasi mwanakomana womuprista Ereazari, kunyika yeGireadhi, kuna Rubheni, naGadhi nokuhafu yorudzi rwaManase.
14 Waphelekezelwa zinduna ezilitshumi, inye ngayinye ivela phakathi kwezizwe zonke zako-Israyeli njalo iyinhloko yesigaba semuli yensendo zako-Israyeli.
Akatumwa iye pamwe chete navakuru vamachinda gumi, mumwe chete akamirira rudzi rumwe chete rwavaIsraeri, mumwe nomumwe wavo ari mukuru weimba pakati pamarudzi aIsraeri.
15 Ekuyeni kwabo eGiliyadi, kuRubheni loGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase bathi kubo:
Vakati vaenda kuGireadhi, kuna Rubheni, Gadhi nehafu yorudzi rwaManase, vakati kwavari,
16 “Umphakathi wonke kaThixo uthi: ‘Kungani lisuke langathembeki kuNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli ngale indlela? Kungani lilahle uNkulunkulu lizakhela i-alithari njengokumhlamukela khathesi.
“Ungano yose yaJehovha inoti, ‘Makarasirei kutenda muna Mwari waIsraeri sezvizvi? Mungadzokera shure seiko muchibva kuna Jehovha mukazvivakira aritari muchimumukira zvino.
17 Kambe ukona kukaPheyori kakwanelanga kithi na? Kuze kube lamhla kasikazihlambululi esonweni leso, lanxa umkhuhlane wake wahlasela isizwe sikaThixo!
Ko, chivi chepaPeori chakanga chisina kutiringana here? Kusvikira pazuva ranhasi hatina kuzvichenesa pachivi ichocho kunyange zvazvo hasha dzakawira ungano yaJehovha!
18 Selibalekela uThixo na? Nxa lingahlamukela uThixo lamhla, kusasa uzazondela isizwe sonke sako-Israyeli:
Ko, zvino mava kutsauka kubva pana Jehovha here? “‘Kana mukamukira Jehovha nhasi, mangwana achatsamwira ungano yose yavaIsraeri.
19 Nxa umhlaba elilawo ungcolisiwe wozani emhlabeni kaThixo lapho ithabanikeli likaThixo elimi khona beselisabelana umhlaba lathi. Kodwa lingahlamukeli uThixo kumbe thina ngokuzakhela i-alithari lenu, ngaphandle kwe-alithari likaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu.
Kana nyika yamunayo yakasvibiswa, yambukirai kuno kunyika yaJehovha, kwakamira tabhenakeri yaJehovha mugogovana nyika nesu. Asi regai kumukira Jehovha, kana kutimukira isu, pakuzvivakira imwe aritari parutivi rwearitari yaJehovha Mwari wedu.
20 Lapho u-Akhani indodana kaZera aze angathembeki ezintweni ezingcwelisiweyo, isijeziso kasehlelanga isizwe sonke sako-Israyeli yini? Kayisuye yedwa owafela isono sakhe.’”
Akani mwanakomana waZera paakadarika nokusatenda pachinhu chakatsaurwa naJehovha, kutsamwa hakuna kuwira ungano yose yaIsraeri here? Haasi iye oga akafira chivi chake.’”
21 Ngakho uRubheni, uGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase baphendula abakhokheli bezinsendo zako-Israyeli bathi:
Ipapo Rubheni, Gadhi nehafu yorudzi rwaManase vakapindura vakuru vedzimba dzaIsraeri vakati,
22 “USomandla, uNkulunkulu uThixo! USomandla uNkulunkulu uThixo! Uyazi! Njalo u-Israyeli kabe lolwazi! Nxa lokhu bekuyikuhlamukela kumbe ukuqholozela uThixo, lingasisindisi lamhlanje.
“Iye Oga Wamasimba, Mwari, Jehovha! Iye Oga Wamasimba, Mwari, Jehovha! Anoziva! Uye Israeri ngaizive! Kana izvi kwanga kuri kumukira kana kusateerera Jehovha, musatiponesa nhasi.
23 Nxa sazakhela i-alithari lethu ukwenzela ukubalekela uThixo lokunikela ngeminikelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yamabele, kumbe ukunikela ngeminikelo yokuthula kulo, uThixo ngokwakhe kasijezise.
Kana takazvivakira aritari yedu kuti tifuratire Jehovha uye kuti tipe zvipiriso zvinopiswa nezvipiriso zvezviyo, kana kuti tibayire zvibayiro zvokuwadzana pamusoro payo, Jehovha pachake ngaatitonge.
24 Hatshi! Sakwenza sisesaba ukuthi kwelinye ilanga izizukulwane zenu zingathi kwezethu, ‘Lilani loThixo, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli?
“Kwete! Takazviita tichitya kuti rimwe zuva zvizvarwa zvenyu zvichazoti kuzvizvarwa zvedu, ‘Mune chii chokuita naJehovha Mwari waIsraeri?
25 UThixo sewenza iJodani ibe ngumngcele phakathi kwethu lani lina maRubheni lamaGadi! Kalilasabelo kuThixo.’ Ngakho izizukulwane zenu zingenza ukuthi ezethu ziyekele ukwesaba uThixo.
Jehovha akaita kuti Jorodhani uve muganhu pakati pedu nemi, imi vaRubheni navaGadhi! Hamuna mugove muna Jehovha.’ Saka zvizvarwa zvenyu zvingangokonzera kuti zvizvarwa zvedu zvirege kutya Jehovha.
26 Yikho sathi, ‘Kasilungiseni sakhe i-alithari, kodwa hatshi eleminikelo yokutshiswa kumbe imihlatshelo.’
“Ndokusaka takati, ‘Ngatizvigadzirirei tivake aritari, asi isiri yezvipiriso zvinopiswa kana yezvibayiro.’
27 Ngeyinye indlela, kuzakuba yibufakazi phakathi kwethu lani lezizukulwane ezizalandela, ukuthi sizekhonza uThixo endlini yakhe engcwele ngeminikelo yokutshiswa, iminikelo yethu kanye leyokuthula. Ngakho kwelakusasa izizukulwane zenu kazisoze zithi kwezethu, ‘Kalilasabelo kuThixo.’
Asi kuti ive chapupu pakati pedu nemi uye napakati pezvizvarwa zvedu zvinotevera, kuti tichanamata Jehovha panzvimbo yake tsvene, nezvipiriso zvedu zvinopiswa, nezvibayiro uye nezvipiriso zvokuwadzana. Ipapo panguva inouya zvizvarwa zvenyu hazvingazoti kuzvizvarwa zvedu, ‘Hamuna mugove muna Jehovha.’
28 Njalo sathi, ‘Bangavele batsho lokhu kithi kumbe kuzizukulwane zethu, sizaphendula sithi: Khangelani emfanekisweni we-alithari likaThixo, elakhiwa ngobaba, hatshi eleminikelo yokutshiswa lemihlatshelo, kodwa njengobufakazi phakathi kwethu lani.’
“Uye isu tikati, ‘Kana vakazotaura izvo kwatiri, kana kuzvizvarwa zvedu, tichazopindura tichiti: Tarirai muone mufananidzo wearitari yaJehovha, wakaitwa namadzibaba edu; usiri wezvipiriso zvinopiswa kana wokubayira ipapo, asi sechapupu pakati pedu nemi.’
29 Kukhatshana kithi ukuthi sihlamukele uThixo simfulathele lamhla ngokwakha i-alithari leminikelo yokutshiswa, iminikelo yamabele lemihlatshelo, ngaphandle kwe-alithari likaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu elimi phambi kwethabanikeli lakhe.”
“Ngazvirege kutomboitika kuti isu timukire Jehovha tichitsauka nhasi kubva kwaari nokuvaka aritari yezvipiriso zvinopiswa, zvipiriso zvezviyo, nezvibayiro kunze kwearitari yaJehovha Mwari wedu, imire pamberi petabhenakeri yake.”
30 Kwathi uFinehasi umphristi labakhokheli besizwe, abakhokheli bezinsendo zako-Israyeli, sebezwe okwakutshiwo nguRubheni, uGadi loManase bathokoza.
Finehasi muprista, navatungamiri veungano, vakuru vemhuri dzavaIsraeri, vakati vanzwa zvakanga zvataurwa naRubheni naGadhi naManase, vakafara.
31 UFinehasi indodana ka-Eliyazari, umphristi, wathi kuRubheni, uGadi loManase, “Lamhla siyazi ukuthi uThixo ulathi, ngenxa yokuthi kalizange liyekele ukwethembeka phambi kukaThixo kuloludaba. Khathesi selihlenge abako-Israyeli esandleni sikaThixo.”
Zvino Finehasi mwanakomana waEreazari, muprista, akati kuna Rubheni, Gadhi naManase, “Nhasi tinoziva kuti Jehovha ari pakati pedu, nokuti hamuna kutadzira Jehovha pachinhu ichi. Zvino madzikinura vana vaIsraeri paruoko rwaJehovha.”
32 UFinehasi indodana ka-Eliyazari, umphristi, labakhokheli babuyela eKhenani bevela emhlanganweni wabo labakoRubheni labakoGadi eGiliyadi basebebika kwabako-Israyeli.
Ipapo Finehasi, mwanakomana waEreazari muprista, navatungamiri vakadzokera kuKenani, vachibva kumusangano wavo navaRubheni navaGadhi muGireadhi uye vakandozivisa vaIsraeri zvakanga zvaitika.
33 Bathokoza ukuzwa umbiko basebedumisa uNkulunkulu. Kabasakhulumanga njalo ngokuya empini yokubalwisa ukwenzela ukutshabalalisa ilizwe lapho abakoRubheni labakoGadi ababehlala khona.
Vakafara kunzwa shoko iri vakarumbidza Mwari. Uye havana kuzotaurazve kuti vachandorwa navo, kuti vaparadze nyika yakanga igere vaRubheni navaGadhi.
34 Njalo abakoRubheni labakoGadi banika i-alithari lelibizo: UBufakazi Phakathi Kwethu ukuthi uThixo unguNkulunkulu.
Zvino vaRubheni navanakomana vaGadhi vakatumidza aritari iyi kuti: Aritari yeChapupu Pakati Pedu kuti Jehovha ndiye Mwari.

< UJoshuwa 22 >