UJoshuwa 9
1 Kwathi amakhosi wonke ayebusa ngentshonalanga yeJodani, layeselizweni lamaqaqa, layesewatheni lwamaqaqa angentshonalanga, layesekele uLwandle oLukhulu kusiyafika eLebhanoni, amakhosi amaHithi, ama-Amori, amaKhenani, amaPherizi, amaHivi lamaJebusi esizwa ngalezizinto
And it came to pass when all the kings which were beyond Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 ahlangana ukuze alwisane uJoshuwa labako-Israyeli.
that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 Kodwa kwathi ngesikhathi abantu beGibhiyoni sebezwe konke uJoshuwa ayekwenze eJerikho le-Ayi,
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 benza ubuqili: Bahamba njengamanxusa ayelabobabhemi ababethwele amasaka adabukileyo lezigxingi zewayini ezindala ezazidabuke zangcinwa.
they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wineskins, old and rent and bound up;
5 Amadoda ayegqoke amanyathela ayedabukile njalo exaxelwe, begqoke lezigqoko ezigugileyo. Zonke izinkwa ababezithwele njengomphako zazomile njalo zikhuntile.
and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy.
6 Baya kuJoshuwa esihonqweni seGiligali bathi kuye lakwabako-Israyeli, “Sivela elizweni elikude; ngakho yenzani isivumelwano lathi.”
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make ye a covenant with us.
7 Abako-Israyeli baphendula amaHivi bathi, “Kodwa mhlawumbe lihlala eduzane lathi, pho singasenza kanjani isivumelwano lani?”
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?
8 Bathi kuJoshuwa “Siyizinceku zenu.” Kodwa uJoshuwa wababuza wathi, “Lingobani njalo livela ngaphi?”
And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 Baphendula bathi, “Izinceku zakho zivela elizweni elikude njalo zikhangwe yindumela kaThixo uNkulunkulu wenu. Ngoba sesezwa imibiko eminengi ngaye: konke akwenza eGibhithe,
And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 lakho konke akwenza emakhosini amabili ama-Amori empumalanga yeJodani, uSihoni inkosi yeHeshibhoni lo-Ogi inkosi yaseBhashani owayebusa e-Ashitharothi.
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Abadala bethu labo bonke abakhileyo elizweni lakithi bathi kithi, ‘Thwalani umphako wohambo lwenu; lihambe liyehlangana labo lithi kubo, “Sizinceku zenu: yenzani isivumelwano lathi.”’
And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: and now make ye a covenant with us.
12 Isinkwa sethu lesi sasifudumala ngesikhathi sisifaka emigodleni yethu sisesemakhaya ngelanga esasuka ngalo sisiza kini. Kodwa-ke khangelani ukuthi sesome njalo sakhunta njani.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy:
13 Izigxingi lezi zewayini esazigcwalisisayo zazizintsha, kodwa-ke khangelani ukuthi sezidabuke njani. Izigqoko lamanyathela ethu sekudatshulwe yibude bomango.”
and these wineskins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 Abako-Israyeli bahlola imiphako yabo kodwa-ke kabasabuzanga kuThixo.
And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15 Ngakho uJoshuwa wenza isivumelwano sokuthula labo wabavumela ukuthi bahlale, njalo abathungameli bebandla bavumelana lalokhu ngesifungo.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 Sekwedlule insuku ezintathu benze isivumelwano lamaGibhiyoni, abako-Israyeli bezwa ukuthi lababantu babengomakhelwana, ababehlala eduzane labo.
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 Abako-Israyeli baya emadolobheni abo ayebalisa iGibhiyoni, iKhefira, iBherothi leKhiriyathi-Jeyarimi.
And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 Kodwa abako-Israyeli kabazange babahlasele ngenxa yokuthi abathungameli bebandla babefunge ngoThixo, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli. Ibandla lonke lakhonona ngabadala bebandla;
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 kodwa bona bonke baphendula bathi, “Sibanike isifungo sethu ngoThixo, uNkulunkulu wako-Israyeli njalo asingeke sabathinta khathesi.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 Lokhu yikho esizakwenza kubo: Sizabayekela bahlale, ukuze ulaka lungezi kithi ngenxa yokwephula isifungo esasenza phambi kwabo.”
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 Baqhubeka bathi, “Bayekeleni bahlale, kodwa bazakuba ngababandi benkuni labakhi bamanzi abazasebenzela uzulu wonke.” Ngakho-ke isivumelwano sabakhokheli sagcinwa.
And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had spoken unto them.
22 UJoshuwa wabiza wonke amaGibhiyoni wathi kuwo, “Kungani lisikhohlisile ngokuthi, ‘Sihlala khatshana lani, lina lihlala eduzane lathi kangaka?’
And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23 Seliqalekisiwe: kalisoze liyekele ukuba ngababandi benkuni labakhi bamanzi lisebenzela indlu kaNkulunkulu wami.”
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 Baphendula uJoshuwa bathi, “Izinceku zakho zatshelwa mgceke ukuthi uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu walaya njani inceku yakhe uMosi ukuthi alinike ilizwe lonke lokuthi litshabalalise bonke ababakhele kulo lina lingakafiki. Ngakho-ke sesabela impilo zethu ngenxa yenu, yikho okwenze senza lokhu.
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 Sesizinikele ezandleni zenu. Yenzani kithi konke elikubona kufanele njalo kuqondile kini.”
And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa wabasindisa esandleni sika-Israyeli, njalo kabasababulalanga.
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 Ngalelolanga wenza ukuthi amaGibhiyoni abe ngababandi benkuni labakhi bamanzi besebenzela uzulu njalo besebenza e-alithareni likaThixo endaweni eyayikhethwe nguThixo. Yikho abayikhona kuze kube lamhlanje.
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
