UJoshuwa 5

1 Kwathi amakhosi ama-Amori ayebusa entshonalanga kweJodani lamakhosi wonke amaKhenani ayebusa ezigcawini ezisekela ulwandle esizwa ukuthi uThixo wayomise njani uJodani phambi kwabako-Israyeli baze bachapha, inhliziyo zawo zathuthumela aswela izibindi zokumelana labako-Israyeli.

2 Ngalesosikhathi uThixo wathi kuJoshuwa, “Khanda izingqamu ezibukhali ubususoka abako-Israyeli njalo.”

3 Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa wakhanda izingqamu ezibukhali wasesoka abako-Israyeli eGibhiya Haralothi.

4 Lokhu wakwenzela ukuthi: Bonke labo abaphuma eGibhithe, wonke amadoda ayengabuthelwa empini afela enkangala esemangweni wokusuka eGibhithe.

5 Bonke abantu abaphumayo babesokiwe, kodwa bonke abantu ababezalelwe enkangala phakathi kohambo lokusuka eGibhithe babengasokwanga.

6 Abako-Israyeli babezulazule enkangala okweminyaka engamatshumi amane, amadoda wonke ayefanele ukubuthelwa empini ngesikhathi esuka eGibhithe aze afa, njengoba engazange amlalele uThixo. Ngoba uThixo wayefunge waqinisa kubo wathi ayengasoze alibone ilizwe ayelithembise okhokho babo ukuthi bazalinikwa, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju.

7 Ngakho wondla amadodana ezikhundleni zawo, njalo yiwo la asokwa nguJoshuwa. Ayelokhu engakasokwa ngoba kungazange kube lethuba lokubasoka endleleni.

8 Kwathi isizwe sonke sesisokiwe, sahlala ezihonqweni baze baphola.

9 UThixo wasesithi kuJoshuwa, “Lamuhla ngisuse ihlazo laseGibhithe kini.” Yikho indawo leyo lokhu ibizwa ngokuthi yiGiligali kuze kube lamhlanje.

10 Kusihlwa ngelanga letshumi lane kuleyo nyanga, bathi belokhu besamise izihonqo zabo eGiligali emagcekeni eJerikho, abako-Israyeli bagcina iPhasika.

11 Ngokusa olwalandela usuku lwePhasika badla okunye kwesivuno sabo ababekuvunile: isinkwa esingelamvubelo lamabele akhanzingiweyo.

12 Imana yema ukukhithika ngelanga elalandela lelo abadla ngalo ukudla okwakuvela emhlabathini; ngakho kwakungasela mana yabako-Israyeli, kodwa ngalowomnyaka badla okwelizwe leKhenani.

13 Kwathi uJoshuwa esesondele eJerikho, wakhangela wabona indoda eyayimi phambi kwakhe ilomhedla esandleni sayo, uJoshuwa wasondela kuyo wayibuza wathi “Ungowakithi kumbe ungowezitha zethu?”

14 Yaphendula yathi “Angikho ndawo, kodwa njengomlawuli webutho likaThixo sengifikile.” UJoshuwa wathi mbo phansi ngobuso edumisa waseyibuza esithi, “Kambe iNkosi yami ilombiko bani wenceku yayo?”

15 Umlawuli wamabutho kaThixo waphendula wathi, “Khulula izicathulo zakho ngoba indawo omi kuyo ingcwele.” UJoshuwa wenza njalo.