Abahluleli 12
1 Abantu bako-Efrayimi babiza amabutho abo, bachaphela eZafoni basebesithi kuJeftha, “Kungani wena wayakulwa lama-Amoni ungasibizanga ukuba sihambe lawe na? Sizakutshisela endlini yakho.”
But behold there arose a sedition in Ephraim. And passing towards the north, they said to Jephte: When thou wentest to fight against the children of Ammon, why wouldst thou not call us, that we might go with thee? Therefore we will burn thy house.
2 UJeftha waphendula wathi, “Mina labantu bami sasilengxabano enkulu lama-Amoni njalo, lanxa nje ngalibiza, kalingihlenganga ezandleni zawo.
And he answered them: I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon: and I called you to assist me, and you would not do it.
3 Kwathi sengibona ukuthi lalingeke lingisize, ngabeka impilo yami engozini ngachaphela ngaphetsheya ukuyakulwa lama-Amoni, uThixo wawanikela esandleni sami. Pho kungani lina lamhla selizekulwa lami?”
And when I saw this, I put my life in my own hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hands. What have I deserved, that you should rise up to fight against me?
4 UJeftha wabuthanisa amadoda aseGiliyadi balwa lo-Efrayimi. AbaseGiliyadi babacakazela phansi ngoba abako-Efrayimi babethe, “Lina maGiliyadi labhazuka ko-Efrayimi lakoManase.”
Then calling to him all the men of Galaad, he fought against Ephraim: and the men of Galaad defeated Ephraim, because he had said: Galaad is a fugitive of Ephraim, and dwelleth in the midst of Ephraim and Manasses.
5 AbaseGiliyadi bathumba amazibuko aseJodani awokuya ko-Efrayimi, njalo kwakusithi owako-Efrayimi osindileyo angathi, “Ngivumelani ngichaphele ngaphetsheya,” abantu baseGiliyadi babembuza bathi, “Ungowako-Efrayimi na?” Angaphendula athi, “Hayi,”
And the Galaadites secured the fords of the Jordan, by which Ephraim was to return. And when any one of the number of Ephraim came thither in the flight, and said: I beseech you let me pass: the Galaadites said to him: Art thou not an Ephraimite? If he said: I am not:
6 bathi, “Kulungile, wothi, ‘Shibholethi.’” Nxa angathi, “Sibholethi,” ngoba engeke alitsho kuhle, babemphuthuma bambulalele emazibukweni aseJodani. Abako-Efrayimi abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane lambili babulawa ngalesosikhathi.
They asked him: Say then, Scibboleth, which is interpreted, An ear of corn. But he answered, Sibboleth, not being able to express an ear of corn by the same letter. Then presently they took him and killed him in the very passage of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim two and forty thousand.
7 UJeftha wakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisithupha. UJeftha wafa, wangcwatshwa emzini waseGiliyadi.
And Jephte the Galaadite judged Israel six years: and he died, and was buried in his city of Galaad.
8 Ngemva kwakhe, u-Ibhizani waseBhethilehema wakhokhela abako-Israyeli.
After him Abesan of Bethlehem judged Israel:
9 Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amathathu lamadodakazi angamatshumi amathathu. Amadodakazi akhe wawendisela kwabangaphandle komhlobo wakibo kwathi amadodana akhe wawalethela izintombi ezingamatshumi amathathu ezingasizo zomhlobo wakibo ukuba zibe ngomkawo. U-Ibhizani wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
He had thirty sons, and as many daughters, whom he sent abroad, and gave to husbands, and took wives for his sons of the same number, bringing them into his house. And he judged Israel seven years:
10 U-Ibhizani wafa, wangcwatshwa eBhethilehema.
And he died, and was buried in Bethlehem.
11 Ngemva kwakhe, u-Eloni umZebhuluni wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka elitshumi.
To him succeeded Ahialon a Zabulonite: and he judged Israel ten years:
12 U-Eloni wafa, wangcwatshwa e-Ayijaloni elizweni lakoZebhuluni.
And he died, and was buried in Zabulon.
13 Ngemva kwakhe, u-Abhidoni indodana kaHileli, owasePhirathoni, wakhokhela abako-Israyeli.
After him Abdon, the son of Illel, a Pharathonite, judged Israel:
14 Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amane labazukulu besilisa abangamatshumi amathathu, ayegada obabhemi abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa. Wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka eyisitshiyagalombili.
And he had forty sons, and of them thirty grandsons, mounted upon seventy ass colts, and he judged Israel eight years:
15 U-Abhidoni indodana kaHileli wafa, wangcwatshwa ePhirathoni ko-Efrayimi, elizweni lezintaba elama-Amaleki.
And he died, and was buried in Pharathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of Amalech.
