< Abahluleli 6 >
1 Abako-Israyeli benza okubi futhi emehlweni kaThixo, wabanikela ezandleni zamaMidiyani iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
Abayisirayiri ne bakola ebibi mu maaso ga Mukama Katonda. N’abawaayo mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani okumala emyaka musanvu.
2 Ngenxa yokuthi umbuso wamaMidiyani wawuncindezela kakhulu, abako-Israyeli bazakhela amadumba ezingoxweni zezintaba, lasezimbalwini kanye lasezinqabeni.
Abayisirayiri ne batulugunyizibwa nnyo Abamidiyaani. Kyebaava beesimira empuku ne beetoolooza ebibuga byabwe agasenge.
3 Kwakusithi abako-Israyeli bangalima izilimo zabo, amaMidiyani lama-Amaleki kanye labanye abantu basempumalanga bahlasele ilizwe labo.
Buli Abayisirayiri lwe baasiganga ensigo, Abamidiyaani, Abamaleki n’abantu ab’ebuvanjuba ne babalumbanga.
4 Bahlala elizweni bachitha izilimo umango wonke kusiya eGaza kabaze bamtshiyela lutho oluphilayo u-Israyeli, loba izimvu kumbe inkomo loba obabhemi.
Ne basiisira mu nsi eyo, ne bazikiriza ebirime byonna okutuusiza ddala e Gaaza. Ne bawemmenta endiga, ente, endogoyi era tebaalekera Bayisirayiri kantu konna.
5 Beza lezifuyo zabo lamathente abo benjengemitshitshi yezintethe ngobunengi. Ubunengi babantu lamakamela abo kwakungabaleki; bahlasela ilizwe balichithiza.
Kubanga baayiikanga ng’enzige mu bungi nga tebabalika. Nga bajja n’eweema, ente, n’eŋŋamira zaabwe. Bwe batyo ne bazikiriza ensi.
6 AmaMidiyani abaphundla abako-Israyeli baze bakhala kuThixo ukuba abasize.
Abayisirayiri baajeezebwa nnyo Abamidiyaani, Abayisirayiri kyebaava balaajaanira Mukama Katonda.
7 Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebekhalile kuThixo ngenxa yamaMidiyani,
Awo Abayisirayiri bwe baalaajanira Mukama olw’Abamidiyaani,
8 wabathumela umphrofethi, owathi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: Ngalikhupha eGibhithe, ngalikhupha elizweni lobugqili.
Mukama, n’atumira Abayisirayiri Nnabbi, n’abagamba nti, “Mukama Katonda w’Abayisirayiri agamba bw’ati: nabakulembera okuva mu Misiri, ne mbaggya mu nnyumba ey’obuddu,
9 Ngalihluthuna emandleni eGibhithe lasezandleni zabancindezeli benu bonke. Ngabaxotsha phambi kwenu ngalipha ilizwe labo.
ne mbanunula okuva mu mikono gy’Abamisiri, ne mu mikono gy’abo bonna abababonnyabonnyanga ne mbafuumuula ku lwammwe era ne mbawa mmwe ensi yaabwe;
10 Ngathi kini, ‘Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, lingabakhonzi onkulunkulu bama-Amori, elihlala elizweni lawo.’ Kodwa kalingilalelanga.”
ne mbagamba nti, ‘Nze Mukama Katonda wammwe, temussanga kitiibwa mu bakatonda b’Abamoli, bannannyini nsi gye mubeeramu.’ Naye mmwe temugondedde ddoboozi lyange.”
11 Ingilosi kaThixo yafika yahlala ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi e-Ofira esasingesikaJowashi umʼAbhiyezeri lapho indodana yakhe uGidiyoni eyayibhula khona amabele esikhamelweni sewayini ukuze iwafihlele amaMidiyani.
Malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’ajja mu Ofula, n’atuula wansi w’omuti omwera ogwali ogwa Yowaasi ow’omu ssiga lya Abiezeri: ne mutabani we Gidyoni yali akubira eŋŋaano mu ssogolero alyoke agikweke Abamidiyaani.
12 Ingilosi kaThixo isibonakele kuGidiyoni yathi kuye, “UThixo ulawe, butho elilamandla.”
Malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’amulabikira, n’amugamba nti, “Ggwe omusajja omulwanyi namige. Mukama ali wamu naawe.”
13 UGidiyoni waphendula wathi, “Kodwa nkosi, nxa uThixo elathi, pho kungani konke lokhu kwenzakele kithi? Zingaphi izimanga zakhe zonke obaba abasitshela ngazo besithi, ‘UThixo kasikhuphanga eGibhithe na?’ Kodwa khathesi uThixo usesidelile wasinikela ezandleni zamaMidiyani.”
Gidyoni n’abuuza nti, “Ayi Mukama wange, obanga Mukama ali wamu naffe, kale lwaki bino byonna bitutuuseeko? Eby’amagero eby’ekitalo bajjajjaffe bye baatubuulirako nti, ‘Mukama yatuggya mu Misiri, byo biruwa?’ Naye Kaakano Mukama Katonda atwabulidde era atuwaddeyo mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani.”
14 UThixo waphendukela kuye wathi, “Hamba ngamandla olawo uhlenge u-Israyeli ezandleni zamaMidiyani. Kanti kangikuthumi na?”
Mukama Katonda n’amukyukira n’agamba nti, “Ggenda n’amaanyigo g’olina, onunule Abayisirayiri mu mikono gy’Abamidiyaani: si nze nkutumye?”
15 UGidiyoni wabuza wathi, “Kodwa nkosi yami, u-Israyeli ngingamhlenga kanjani na? Usendo lwakwethu koManase kalulamandla, njalo mina ngingomncinyane emulini yakwethu.”
N’amuddamu nti, “Ayi Mukama wange, nnyinza ntya okununula Abayisirayiri? Kubanga essiga mwe nva lye lisinga okunyoomebwa mu kika kya Manase ate nze nsembayo obuto mu maka ga kitaffe.”
16 UThixo waphendula wathi, “Ngizakuba lawe, njalo uzawacakazela phansi wonke amaMidiyani, ungatshiyi lamunye wabo.”
Mukama n’amugamba nti, “Ndibeera wamu naawe, era olifufuggaza Abamidiyaani ng’olinga akuba omuntu omu.”
17 UGidiyoni waphendula wathi, “Nxa khathesi sengithole umusa emehlweni akho, nginika isibonakaliso sokuthi impela nguwe sibili okhuluma lami.
Gidyoni n’amuddamu nti, “Obanga nsiimiddwa mu maaso go mpa obukakafu nga ddala ggwe wuuyo ayogera nange.
18 Ngiyakucela ukuba ungahambi ngize ngiphenduke ngilethe umnikelo wami ngiwubeke phambi kwakho.” UThixo wathi, “Ngizahlala uze uphenduke.”
Nkwegayiridde, tova wano, ka ŋŋende nkuleetere ekirabo kyange nkiteeke mu maaso go.” Mukama n’agamba nti, “Kale kambeere wano okutuusa lw’onookomawo.”
19 UGidiyoni wangena phakathi wahlaba izinyane lembuzi, wasesenza isinkwa esingelamvubelo ngehefa yefulawa. Esebeke inyama esitsheni lomhluzi wayo embizeni, waphuma lakho wayakunikela kuye ngaphansi komʼOkhi.
Gidyoni n’ayingira mu nju ye, n’atta omwana gw’embuzi n’ateekateeka n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa ng’akozesa kilo abiri ez’obuwunga bw’eŋŋaano. Ennyama n’agiteeka mu kibbo; ne guleevi waayo ne bamussa mu kibya, n’abimuleetera wansi w’omwera n’abimuwa.
20 Ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yathi kuye, “Thatha inyama lesinkwa esingelamvubelo ukubeke phezu kwedwala leli, uthele umhluzi.” UGidiyoni wenza njalo.
Naye malayika wa Katonda n’amulagira nti, “Ddira ennyama n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa obiteeke ku jjinja lino obifukeko guleevi.” Gidyoni n’akola bw’atyo.
21 Ngesihloko somqwayi eyayiwuphethe ingilosi kaThixo yathinta inyama lesinkwa esingelamvubelo. Umlilo walavuka edwaleni watshisa inyama lesinkwa. Ingilosi kaThixo yasinyamalala.
Awo malayika wa Mukama Katonda n’akoma ku nnyama ne ku migaati egitazimbulukuswa nga yeeyambisa omuggo gwe yalina. Omuliro ne guva mu jjinja ne gububuuka ne gwokya ennyama n’emigaati egitazimbulukuswa byonna ne bisaanawo. Amangwago malayika wa Mukama n’abulawo.
22 Kwathi uGidiyoni esenanzelele ukuthi kwakuyingilosi kaThixo, wamemeza wathi, “Awu, Thixo Wobukhosi! Ngibone ingilosi kaThixo ubuso ngobuso!”
Gidyoni n’ategeera ng’oyo abadde malayika wa Mukama; Gidyoni n’agamba nti, “Zinsanze, Ayi Mukama Katonda, kubanga tulabaganye ne malayika wa Mukama maaso ku maaso.”
23 Kodwa uThixo wathi kuye, “Ukuthula! Ungesabi. Kawuyikufa.”
Naye Mukama Katonda n’amugamba nti, “Emirembe gibe ku ggwe tootya tojja kufa.”
24 Ngakho uGidiyoni wakhela uThixo i-alithari khonapho walibiza ngokuthi uThixo uyiKuthula. Kuze kube lamhla likhona e-Ofira lama-Abhiyezeri.
Gidyoni n’azimbira Mukama Katonda ekyoto mu kifo ekyo; n’akituuma erinnya Yakuwasalumu (Mukama gy’emirembe); n’okutuusa kaakano kikyaliyo mu Ofula eky’ab’omu ssiga lya Abiezeri.
25 Ngalobobusuku uThixo wathi kuye, “Thatha inkunzi yesibili emhlambini kayihlo, eleminyaka eyisikhombisa ubudala. Udilize i-alithari likayihlo alakhela uBhali, ugamule lezinsika zika-Ashera eziphansi kwalo.
Ekiro ekyo Mukama Katonda n’agamba Gidyoni nti, “Mmennya ekyoto kwe basinziza Baali, ofuneyo ente eya sseddume ensava eddirira esinga obulungi okuva mu kiraalo kya kitaawo; otemeeteme ekifaananyi ekibajje ekya Asera ekiriraanye ekyoto kya Baali:
26 Emva kwalokho wakhele uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho umhlobo we-alithari oluyilo engqongeni yalinqaba. Unikele inkunzi yesibili njengomnikelo wokutshiswa usebenzisa inkuni zensika zika-Ashera ozigamuleyo.”
mu kifo ekyo kungulu ozimbireko Mukama Katonda wo ekyoto mu nzimba entuufu eyalagirwa, oddire ente eyo eya sseddume gy’oggye mu kiraalo kya kitaawo ogiweeyo ng’ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa ng’ogyokya n’ebibajjo by’ekifaanannyi kya Asera.”
27 Ngakho uGidiyoni wathatha izinceku zakhe ezilitshumi wenza njengokutshelwa kwakhe nguThixo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayesesaba abemuli yakwabo labantu basedolobheni, wakwenza ebusuku kulokuba kube semini.
Awo Gidyoni n’atwala kkumi ku baddu be, n’akola nga Mukama bwe yamulagira, naye kino yakikola kiro olw’okutya ab’omu nju ya kitaawe n’abantu abalala ab’omu kibuga.
28 Ekuseni kwathi abantu bedolobho lelo bevuka babona i-alithari likaBhali lidiliziwe, lezinsika zika-Ashera emaceleni alo ziganyulwe lenkunzi yesibili inikelwe phezu kwe-alithari elalisanda kwakhiwa!
Abantu b’omu kibuga baagenda okugolokoka ku nkya mu makya, nga ekyoto kwe baasinzizanga Baali kimenyeddwamenyeddwa, n’ekifaananyi kya Asera ekyakiri okumpi nga nakyo kitemeddwatemeddwa, n’ente eya ssava ng’eweereddwayo ku kyoto ekiggya.
29 Babuzana besithi, “Ngubani owenze lokhu?” Kwathi sebebuzisise kakuhle babatshela ukuthi, “Kwenziwe nguGidiyoni indodana kaJowashi.”
Ne beebuuza nti, “Ani akoze kino?” Awo bwe babuuliriza, ne bategeezebwa nti, “Gidyoni mutabani wa Yowaasi y’akikoze”.
30 Abantu bakulelodolobho bathonisa uJowashi bathi, “Ikhuphe indodana yakho. Kumele ife, ngoba idilize i-alithari likaBhali yagamula lezinsika zika-Ashera emaceleni alo.”
Abantu b’omu kibuga ne bagamba Yowaasi nti, “Ffulumya mutabani wo tumutte, kubanga amenyeemenye ekyoto kwetusinziza Baali; ate era n’atemaatema n’ekifaananyi kya Asera ekibadde kikiriraanye.”
31 Kodwa uJowashi waphendula ixuku lelo elalifuthelene limhanqile wathi, “Lizakhulumela uBhali na? Lizama ukumhlenga na? Loba ngubani omlwelayo uzabulawa ekuseni! Nxa uBhali engunkulunkulu sibili, angazivikela nxa umuntu ediliza i-alithari lakhe.”
Yowaasi n’addamu ekibinja ky’abantu abaali bamulumbye nti, “Mwagala kulwanirira Baali? Mwagala kuwagira bigendererwa bye? Omuntu yenna ayagala okumulwanirira wa kuttibwa nga obudde tebunakya; obanga ddala Baali ye Katonda, yerwanirire yekka, kubanga ekyoto kye kyamenyeddwamenyeddwa.”
32 Ngakho ngalelolanga uGidiyoni bambiza ngokuthi “Jerubhi-Bhali,” besithi, “UBhali kalwe laye,” ngoba wadiliza i-alithari likaBhali.
Okuva ku olwo Gidyoni ne bamukazaako erya Yerubbaali ekitegeeza nti, “Baali amulwanyise.” Kubanga yamenyaamenya ekyoto kya Baali.
33 Ngalesosikhathi wonke amaMidiyani, lama-Amaleki kanye labanye abantu basempumalanga bamanyana bachapha iJodani, bamisa eSigodini saseJezerili.
Awo Abamidiyaani, Abamaleki n’abantu b’ebuvanjuba ne beegatta bonna ne basomoka omugga Yoludaani ne basiisira mu kiwonvu ky’e Yezuleeri.
34 Umoya kaThixo wafika kuGidiyoni, wasetshaya icilongo emema ama-Abhiyezeri ukuba amlandele.
Omwoyo wa Mukama Katonda n’akka ku Gidyoni; n’afuuwa ekkondeere ng’ayita ab’essiga lya Abiyezeeri bamugoberere.
35 Wathuma izithunywa kulolonke elakoManase, ebatshela ukuba bahlome, lako-Asheri, koZebhuluni kanye lakoNafithali, ukuze labo bayebahlangabeza.
N’atuma ababaka eri ab’ekika kya Manase nabo bamugoberere. N’atuma n’ababaka abalala eri ab’ekika kya Aseri, n’ekya Zebbulooni n’ekya Nafutaali bamusisinkane.
36 UGidiyoni wathi kuNkulunkulu, “Nxa uzasindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami njengoba uthembisile,
Awo Gidyoni n’agamba Katonda nti, “Obanga olinunula Abayisirayiri ng’oyita mu nze nga bwe wasuubiza,
37 khangela ngizabeka uboya bewulu esizeni. Kungaba lamazolo eboyeni bewulu kuphela iphansi lomile, ngizakwazi ukuthi uzamsindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami njengoba utshilo.”
ka nteeke ebyoya by’endiga mu kifo awakubirwa eŋŋaano; bwe binaatoba omusulo naye ng’ettaka eribyetoolodde lyo kkalu, ne ndyoka nkakasa ddala ng’olinunula Abayisirayiri ng’oyita mu nze nga bwe wasuubiza.”
38 Lokho yikho okwenzakalayo. Kusisa uGidiyoni wavuka ekuseni wakhama uboya wahluza amazolo, umganu wagcwala amanzi.
Ddala bwe kityo bwe kyali; kubanga Gidyoni bwe yagolokoka enkeera mu makya ebyoya by’endiga n’abikamulamu omusulo ne muvaamu ekibya kiramba eky’amazzi.
39 UGidiyoni wasesithi kuNkulunkulu, “Ungangithukutheleli. Ngivumela ngenze esinye isicelo esisodwa. Ngivumela ukuhlola kanye futhi ngoboya. Khathesi yomisa uboya kuthi iphansi ligcwale amazolo.”
Gidyoni n’agamba Katonda nti, “Nkwegayiridde tonsunguwalira, kankusabe obukakafu omulundi omulala gumu gwokka. Ku luno njagala ebyoya by’endiga bye biba bibeera ebikalu, ettaka eribyetoolodde litobe omusulo.”
40 Ngalobobusuku uNkulunkulu wenza njalo. Uboya kuphela yibo obabomile; iphansi lonke ligcwele amazolo.
Ekiro ekyo Katonda n’akola nga Gidyoni bwe yamusaba, ebyoya by’endiga ne biba bikalu, lyo ettaka eribyetoolodde ne litoba omusulo.