< 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.”
Abasajja ba Efulayimu ne bayitibwa okusomoka okulaga mu Zafoni. Ne bagamba Yefusa nti, “Lwaki wagenda okulwanyisa abaana ba Amoni, n’otatuyita kugenda naawe? Tugenda kukwokera mu nnyumba yo.”
2 UJeftha waphendula wathi, “Mina labantu bami sasilengxabano enkulu lama-Amoni njalo, lanxa nje ngalibiza, kalingihlenganga ezandleni zawo.
Yefusa n’abaddamu nti, “Nze n’abantu bange twatawaana nnyo okulwanyisa abaana ba Amoni, era nabakoowoola mujje mutubeere, naye temwajja kutubeera kuva mu mukono gwabwe.
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?”
Bwe nalaba nga temuzze kutubeera, ne nteeka obulamu bwange mu ngalo zange, ne nsomoka okulwana n’abaana ba Amoni, era Mukama Katonda n’abagabula mu mukono gwange. Kaakano kiki ekibaleeta gye ndi okulwana nange leero?”
4 UJeftha wabuthanisa amadoda aseGiliyadi balwa lo-Efrayimi. AbaseGiliyadi babacakazela phansi ngoba abako-Efrayimi babethe, “Lina maGiliyadi labhazuka ko-Efrayimi lakoManase.”
Awo Yefusa n’akuŋŋaanya abantu b’e Gireyaadi bonna, ne balwanyisa Efulayimu. Abasajja ab’e Gireyaadi baabalwanyisa kubanga Efulayimu baayogera nti, “Mmwe muli bakyewaggula ba Efulayimu ab’e Gireyaadi, wakati mu Efulayimu ne mu Manase.”
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,”
Ab’e Gireyaadi ne bawamba ebifo bya Yoludaani okusomokerwa okutuuka mu Efulayimu, era bwe waabangawo ku bakomawo aba Efulayimu eyayagalanga okusomoka, abasajja ab’e Gireyaadi nga bamubuuza nti, “Oli Mwefulayimu?”
6 bathi, “Kulungile, wothi, ‘Shibholethi.’” Nxa angathi, “Sibholethi,” ngoba engeke alitsho kuhle, babemphuthuma bambulalele emazibukweni aseJodani. Abako-Efrayimi abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane lambili babulawa ngalesosikhathi.
Bwe yeegananga, nga bamugamba ayogere nti, “Shibbolesi.” Bwe yayogeranga nti, “Sibbolesi,” kubanga teyayinzanga kukyogera bulungi, ng’akwatibwa era ng’attibwa awo awasomokerwa ku Yoludaani. Mu biro ebyo, mu Efulayimu ne mufaamu abantu emitwalo ena mu enkumi bbiri.
7 UJeftha wakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisithupha. UJeftha wafa, wangcwatshwa emzini waseGiliyadi.
Awo Yefusa n’alamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka mukaaga. Yefusa Omugireyaadi n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu kimu ku kibuga bya Gireyaadi.
8 Ngemva kwakhe, u-Ibhizani waseBhethilehema wakhokhela abako-Israyeli.
Oluvannyuma lwa Yefusa, Ibuzaani ow’e Besirekemu n’alamula Isirayiri.
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.
Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi asatu, n’abaana aboobuwala amakumi asatu. Bawala be n’abafumbiza abantu abataali ba kika kye, ne batabani be n’abawasiza abawala abataali ba kika kye. N’akulembera Isirayiri okumala emyaka musanvu.
10 U-Ibhizani wafa, wangcwatshwa eBhethilehema.
Ibuzaani n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Besirekemu.
11 Ngemva kwakhe, u-Eloni umZebhuluni wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka elitshumi.
Oluvannyuma lwa Ibuzaani, Eroni Omuzebbulooni, n’alamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka kkumi.
12 U-Eloni wafa, wangcwatshwa e-Ayijaloni elizweni lakoZebhuluni.
Eroni Omuzebbulooni n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Ayalooni mu nsi ya Zebbulooni.
13 Ngemva kwakhe, u-Abhidoni indodana kaHileli, owasePhirathoni, wakhokhela abako-Israyeli.
Awo oluvannyuma lwa Eroni, Abudoni mutabani wa Kereri Omupirasoni n’alamula Isirayiri.
14 Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amane labazukulu besilisa abangamatshumi amathathu, ayegada obabhemi abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa. Wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka eyisitshiyagalombili.
Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi ana, n’abazzukulu amakumi asatu abeebagalanga endogoyi nsanvu. Yalamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka munaana.
15 U-Abhidoni indodana kaHileli wafa, wangcwatshwa ePhirathoni ko-Efrayimi, elizweni lezintaba elama-Amaleki.
Abudoni mutabani wa Kireri Omupirasoni n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Pirasoni mu nsi ya Efulayimu, mu nsi ey’Abamaleki ey’ensozi.

< Abahluleli 12 >