< Abahluleli 4 >
1 Abako-Israyeli baphinda benza okubi phambi kukaThixo, emva kokuba u-Ehudi esefile.
2 Ngakho uThixo wabanikela ezandleni zikaJabhini, inkosi yaseKhenani, owayebusa eHazori. Umlawuli webutho lakhe wayenguSisera, owayehlala eHaroshethi-Hagoyimi.
3 Ngoba wayelezinqola zempi ezensimbi ezingamakhulu ayisificamunwemunye munye njalo encindezele abako-Israyeli kabuhlungu okweminyaka engamatshumi amabili, bacela usizo kuThixo.
4 Ngalesosikhathi u-Israyeli wayekhokhelwa nguDibhora umphrofethikazi, umkaLaphidothi.
5 Wayethonisela amacala ngaphansi kwesihlahla seLala likaDibhora phakathi kweRama leBhetheli elizweni lezintaba lako-Efrayimi, njalo abantu bako-Israyeli baya kuye ukuba kwenziwe izinqumo ngemibono yabo.
6 Wabiza uBharakhi indodana ka-Abhinowami waseKhedeshi koNafithali wathi kuye, “UThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uyakulaya uthi: ‘Suka, uhambe labantu bakoNafithali labakoZebhuluni abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi ubakhokhelele eNtabeni iThabhori.
7 Ngizahugela uSisera, umlawuli webutho likaJabhini, lezinqola zakhe zempi kanye lamabutho emfuleni uKhishoni ngimnikele ezandleni zakho.’”
8 UBharakhi wathi kuye, “Nxa uhamba lami, ngizahamba; kodwa nxa ungahambi lami, kangiyikuhamba.”
9 UDibhora wathi, “Kulungile, ngizahamba lawe. Kodwa ngenxa yendlela oqhuba ngayo lokhu udumo kaluyikuba ngolwakho, ngoba uThixo uzanikela uSisera kowesifazane.” Ngakho uDibhora wahamba loBharakhi eKhedeshi
10 lapho abizela khona uZebhuluni loNafithali. Abantu abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi bamlandela. UDibhora laye wahamba labo.
11 Ngalesosikhathi uHebheri umKheni wayetshiye amanye amaKheni, izizukulwane zikaHobhabhi, uyisezala kaMosi, wamisa ithente lakhe phansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi eZananimi eduze leKhedeshi.
12 Kwathi uSisera sebemtshelile ukuthi uBharakhi indodana ka-Abhinowami wayeseye eNtabeni iThabhori,
13 uSisera waqoqela ndawonye izinqola zakhe zempi ezensimbi ezingamakhulu ayisificamunwemunye munye lawo wonke amadoda ayelaye, kusukela eHaroshethi-Hagoyimi kusiya emfuleni uKhishoni.
14 UDibhora wasesithi kuBharakhi, “Hamba! Lolu yilo usuku uThixo anikele ngalo uSisera ezandleni zakho. Kanti uThixo kahambanga phambi kwakho na?” Ngakho uBharakhi wehlela eNtabeni iThabhori elandelwa ngabantu abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi.
15 UBharakhi wathi esesondela uThixo wamhlasela uSisera lezinqola zakhe zonke zempi kanye lebutho ngenkemba, njalo uSisera watshiya izinqola zakhe zempi wabaleka ngezinyawo.
16 Kodwa uBharakhi waxotshana lezinqola zempi lebutho waze wafika eHaroshethi-Hagoyimi. Wonke amabutho kaSisera abulawa ngenkemba, akukho muntu owasilayo.
17 Kodwa uSisera wabaleka ngezinyawo waze wayafika ethenteni likaJayeli, umkaHebheri umKheni, ngoba kwakulobudlelwano obuhle phakathi kukaJabhini inkosi yaseHazori lomndeni kaHebheri umKheni.
18 UJayeli waphuma wahlangabeza uSisera wasesithi kuye, “Woza nkosi yami, ngena phakathi sibili. Ungesabi.” Ngakho uSisera wangena ethenteni likaJayeli, wasemembesa ngengubo.
19 Wasesithi, “Ngomile. Ake unginathise.” Wavula umxhaka wesikhumba sochago, wamnathisa, wasemembesa.
20 USisera wasesithi, “Mana emnyango wethente. Kungaba lomuntu ofika akubuze athi, ‘Kulomuntu lapha na?’ wena kumele uthi ‘Hatshi.’”
21 Kodwa uJayeli, umkaHebheri, wathatha isikhonkwane sethente lesando, wamnyenyela ephakathi kobuthongo obukhulu, ngoba wayediniwe. Wabethela isikhonkwane enhlafunweni sangena saze sayafika emhlabathini, wafa.
22 UBharakhi wafika exotshana loSisera, uJayeli waphuma wayamhlangabeza. Wathi, “Woza, ngizakutshengisa umuntu omdingayo.” Ngakho wangena laye khonapho, uSisera wayelele isikhonkwane sethente singene satshona enhlafunweni yakhe esefile.
23 Ngalolosuku uNkulunkulu wamnqoba uJabhini, inkosi yamaKhenani, phambi kwabako-Israyeli.
24 Amandla abako-Israyeli okumelana loJabhini inkosi yamaKhenani akhula, aze amchitha.