< UJoshuwa 10 >

1 Kwasekusithi lapho uAdonizedeki inkosi yeJerusalema esezwile ukuthi uJoshuwa uyithumbile iAyi, wayitshabalalisa, njengalokho akwenza eJeriko lenkosini yayo, wenze njalo eAyi lenkosini yayo, lokuthi abahlali beGibeyoni benza ukuthula loIsrayeli, babephakathi kwabo,
Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, learned that Joshua had captured Ai and destroyed the town completely, as he had also done to Jericho, and had killed its king, just as he had the king of Jericho. He also heard that the Gibeonites had made peace with the Israelites and were allied with them.
2 besaba kakhulu, ngoba iGibeyoni yayingumuzi omkhulu njengomunye wemizi yenkosi, langoba yayinkulu kuleAyi, lamadoda ayo wonke engamaqhawe.
The people of Jerusalem were very frightened by this because Gibeon was a large town—as large as any town ruled by the king, and larger than Ai, and its men were tough fighters.
3 Ngakho uAdonizedeki inkosi yeJerusalema yathumela kuHohamu inkosi yeHebroni, lakuPiramu inkosi yeJarimuthi, lakuJafiya inkosi yeLakishi, lakuDebiri inkosi yeEgiloni, esithi:
So Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, sent a message to Hoham, king of Hebron, Piram, king of Jarmuth, Japhia, king of Lachish, and Debir, king of Eglon, saying,
4 Yenyukelani kimi lingisize, ukuze siyitshaye iGibeyoni; ngoba yenzile ukuthula loJoshuwa labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
“Come and help me attack Gibeon because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”
5 Ngakho amakhosi amahlanu amaAmori, inkosi yeJerusalema, inkosi yeHebroni, inkosi yeJarimuthi, inkosi yeLakishi, inkosi yeEgiloni, ahlangana enyuka, wona lamabutho awo wonke, amisa inkamba maqondana leGibeyoni, alwa layo.
So these five Amorite kings (the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) and their armies gathered and set off. They surrounded Gibeon and then began their attack.
6 Amadoda eGibeyoni asethumela kuJoshuwa enkambeni yeGiligali esithi: Isandla sakho singatshiyi izinceku zakho; yenyukela kithi masinyane usisindise usisize, ngoba amakhosi wonke amaAmori ahlala ezintabeni asesihlanganyele.
The Gibeonites sent a message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Please don't abandon us, your servants! Come quickly and save us! We need your help for all the Amorite kings of the hill country have joined in attacking us.”
7 Ngakho uJoshuwa wenyuka esuka eGiligali, yena labo bonke abantu bempi kanye laye, lawo wonke amaqhawe alamandla.
So Joshua, all his fighting men and best fighters, set off from Gilgal.
8 INkosi yasisithi kuJoshuwa: Ungabesabi, ngoba ngibanikele esandleni sakho; kakulamuntu wabo ozakuma phambi kwakho.
The Lord had said to Joshua, “Don't be afraid of them, for you will defeat them. Not a single one will be able to stand against you.”
9 UJoshuwa wasebajuma, enyuke ubusuku bonke esuka eGiligali.
By marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua arrived without warning.
10 INkosi yabasanganisa phambi kukaIsrayeli, yabatshaya ngokutshaya okukhulu eGibeyoni, yaxotshana labo endleleni enyukela eBhethi-Horoni, yabatshaya kwaze kwaba seAseka kwaze kwaba seMakeda.
The Lord threw the Amorite armies into a panic when they saw the Israelites. He struck them down with a great blow at Gibeon; he chased them all the way up to Beth-horon, cutting them down on the way to Azekah and Makkedah.
11 Kwasekusithi besabaleka phambi kukaIsrayeli ekwehleni kweBhethi-Horoni, iNkosi yaphosela phezu kwabo amatshe amakhulu evela emazulwini, kwaze kwaba seAzeka, njalo bafa. Babebanengi abafa ngesiqhotho okwedlula labo abantwana bakoIsrayeli abababulala ngenkemba.
As they ran away from the Israelites down the slope from Beth-horon, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the skies all the way to Azekah. More were killed by the hailstones than we killed by the swords of the Israelites.
12 Ngalesosikhathi uJoshuwa wakhuluma eNkosini mhla iNkosi inikela amaAmori phambi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli, wathi phambi kwamehlo kaIsrayeli: Langa, mana eGibeyoni, lawe nyanga, esihotsheni seAjaloni.
On the day that the Lord handed the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke by the Lord in the presence of the Israelites, saying, “Sun, stand still over Gibeon! Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon!”
13 Lelanga lathi mpo lenyanga yema, abantu baze baziphindisela ezitheni zabo. Lokhu kakubhaliwe yini egwalweni lukaJashari? Ngakho ilanga lema phakathi komkhathi, kalaze laphangisa ukutshona phose okosuku olupheleleyo.
The sun stopped moving, and the moon stood still, until the nation of Israel had inflicted defeat on their enemies. (This is recorded in the Book of Jashar). The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not go down for around a full day.
14 Kaluzanga lube khona usuku olunjalo ngaphambi kwalo loba emva kwalo lapho iNkosi eyalizwa khona ilizwi lomuntu, ngoba iNkosi yamlwela uIsrayeli.
There wasn't a day like this ever before or since when the Lord listened to a human voice in such a way. It was because the Lord was fighting for Israel.
15 UJoshuwa wasebuyela enkambeni eGiligali loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye.
Then Joshua and all the army returned to the camp at Gilgal.
16 Kodwa lawomakhosi amahlanu abaleka, acatsha ebhalwini eMakeda.
The five kings had run away and hid in a cave at Makkedah.
17 Kwasekubikwa kuJoshuwa ukuthi: Amakhosi amahlanu atholwe ecatshile ebhalwini eMakeda.
When Joshua was told that the five kings were hiding in a cave at Makkedah,
18 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Giqelani amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni wobhalu, limise amadoda kulo ukuwalinda.
he gave this order, “Roll some large stones to block the entrance to the cave and have some men guard it.
19 Kodwa lina lingami; xotshanani lezitha zenu, lizitshaye ngemuva kwazo, lingaziyekeli zingene emizini yazo, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu izinikele esandleni senu.
But don't you stay there. Chase the enemy down and attack them from the rear. Don't let them escape to their towns for the Lord has given them to you to defeat.”
20 Kwasekusithi lapho uJoshuwa labantwana bakoIsrayeli sebeqedile ukuzitshaya ngokutshaya okukhulukazi zaze zaqedwa, insali eyasalayo yazo yangena emizini evikelweyo.
So Joshua and the Israelites totally defeated them, striking them down and killing them. Only a few of them survived to escape back to their towns.
21 Labantu bonke babuyela enkambeni kuJoshuwa eMakeda ngokuthula; kakho owanyikinya ulimi lwakhe emelana labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
The army returned to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah, and no one dared even to threaten the Israelites.
22 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Vulani umlomo wobhalu, likhuphele kimi lawomakhosi amahlanu evela ebhalwini.
Then Joshua said, “Open the cave entrance and bring out the five kings to me from the cave.”
23 Basebesenza njalo, bawakhuphela kuye lawomakhosi amahlanu evela ebhalwini: Inkosi yeJerusalema, inkosi yeHebroni, inkosi yeJarimuthi, inkosi yeLakishi, inkosi yeEgiloni.
So they did, bringing out the five kings from the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24 Kwasekusithi sebewakhuphele kuJoshuwa lawomakhosi, uJoshuwa wabiza wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli, wathi ezinduneni zamadoda empi ezazihambe laye: Sondelani, libeke inyawo zenu entanyeni zalamakhosi. Zasezisondela, zabeka inyawo zazo entanyeni zawo.
When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the fighting men, and said to the commanders who had gone with him, “Come here, and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came over and put their feet on their necks.
25 UJoshuwa wasesithi kuzo: Lingesabi lingatshaywa luvalo; qinani lime isibindi, ngoba iNkosi izakwenza njalo kuzo zonke izitha zenu elilwa limelene lazo.
Joshua said to them, “Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! Be strong and be brave! For the Lord is going to do the same thing to all your enemies that you're going to fight!”
26 Emva kwalokho uJoshuwa wasewatshaya wawabulala, wawalengisa ezihlahleni ezinhlanu; njalo ayelenga ezihlahleni kwaze kwahlwa.
Then Joshua killed the kings and hung their bodies on five trees and left them hanging there until the evening.
27 Kwasekusithi ngesikhathi sokutshona kwelanga uJoshuwa walaya ukuthi bawethule ezihlahleni, bawaphosele ebhalwini ayecatshe khona; basebefaka amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni wobhalu, akhona kuze kube yilona lolusuku.
As the sun went down Joshua gave the order to take their bodies down from the trees and throw them into the cave where they had been hiding. Then the Israelites piled up stones over the entrance to the cave, and they are there to this very day.
28 UJoshuwa wathumba layo iMakeda ngalolosuku, wayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba, watshabalalisa lenkosi yayo, bona, layo yonke imiphefumulo eyayikiyo, katshiyanga insali. Wasesenza enkosini yeMakeda njengalokho akwenza enkosini yeJeriko.
That day Joshua captured Makkedah, killing all its inhabitants, including the king. He set it apart and completely destroyed it and everyone in it, leaving no survivors. He killed the king of Makkedah just as he had killed the king of Jericho.
29 UJoshuwa, loIsrayeli wonke laye, wasedlula esuka eMakeda waya eLibhina, walwa emelene leLibhina.
Then Joshua and the Israelite army left Makkedah and went to attack Libnah,
30 INkosi yasiyinikela layo lenkosi yayo esandleni sikaIsrayeli; waseyitshaya ngobukhali benkemba lemiphefumulo yonke eyayikiyo; katshiyanga insali kiyo; wenza enkosini yayo njengalokho akwenza enkosini yeJeriko.
and the Lord gave the town and its king to the Israelites. Joshua had everyone in it killed, leaving no survivors. He killed its king just as he had killed the king of Jericho.
31 UJoshuwa wasesedlula esuka eLibhina, loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, waya eLakishi, wamisa inkamba maqondana layo, walwa emelene layo.
Then Joshua and the Israelite army moved on from Libnah to Lachish, surrounding the town and attacking it.
32 INkosi yasiyinikela iLakishi esandleni sikaIsrayeli; waseyithumba ngosuku lwesibili, wayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba layo yonke imiphefumulo eyayikiyo, njengakho konke akwenza eLibhina.
The Lord gave the town to the Israelites who captured it on the second day. Joshua had everyone in it killed, just as he had done in Libnah.
33 Ngalesosikhathi uHoramu inkosi yeGezeri wenyuka ukusiza iLakishi; kodwa uJoshuwa wamtshaya labantu bakhe, kwaze kwathi kamtshiyelanga insali.
Then Horam, king of Gezer, came with his army to help Lachish, but Joshua and his men killed them, leaving no survivors.
34 UJoshuwa wasesedlula esuka eLakishi, loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, baya eEgiloni, bamisa inkamba maqondana layo, balwa bemelene layo.
Joshua and the Israelite army moved on from Lachish to Eglon, surrounding the town and attacking it.
35 Bayithumba ngalolosuku, bayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba, lemiphefumulo yonke eyayikiyo bayitshabalalisa ngalolosuku, njengakho konke akwenza eLakishi.
They captured it the same day. Joshua had everyone in it killed that very day. He set it apart and completely destroyed it, just as he had done in Lachish.
36 UJoshuwa wasesenyuka esuka eEgiloni loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, baya eHebroni, balwa bemelene layo,
Joshua and the Israelite army left Eglon and went to attack Hebron.
37 bayithumba, bayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba, lenkosi yayo lemizi yayo yonke lawo wonke umphefumulo owawukiyo; katshiyanga insali, njengakho konke akwenza eEgiloni, wawutshabalalisa lawo wonke umphefumulo owawukiyo.
They captured the town, as well as the towns nearby. Joshua had all the inhabitants killed, leaving no survivors. Just as he had done in Eglon, he set it apart and completely destroyed it and everyone in it.
38 UJoshuwa wasebuyela eDebiri loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, balwa bemelene layo,
Then Joshua and the Israelite army turned and went to attack Debir.
39 bayithumba lenkosi yayo layo yonke imizi yayo, bayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba, batshabalalisa wonke umphefumulo owawukiyo; katshiyanga insali. Njengokwenza kwakhe eHebroni wenza njalo eDebiri lenkosini yayo, lanjengokwenza kwakhe eLibhina lenkosini yayo.
He captured it and its king and all the towns nearby. Joshua had all the inhabitants killed, leaving no survivors. Just as he had done in Hebron, he set it apart and completely destroyed it and everyone in it. He killed the king of Debir just as he had killed the king of Libnah.
40 Ngakho uJoshuwa walitshaya ilizwe lonke lezintaba leleningizimu lelesihotsha lelamawatha lawo wonke amakhosi abo; katshiyanga insali, kodwa watshabalalisa konke okuphefumulayo, njengokulaya kweNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli.
So Joshua conquered the whole land—the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes—and all their kings. He didn't leave a single survivor. He killed everyone as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.
41 UJoshuwa wasebatshaya kusukela eKadeshi-Bhaneya kwaze kwaba seGaza, lelizwe lonke leGosheni, kwaze kwaba seGibeyoni.
Joshua destroyed them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and the whole of the land from Goshen to Gibeon.
42 UJoshuwa wasethumba wonke lamakhosi lelizwe lawo ngasikhathi sinye, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli yamlwela uIsrayeli.
All the kings and their lands were conquered by Joshua in one campaign because the Lord, the God of Israel, was fighting for the Israelites.
43 UJoshuwa wasebuyela, loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, enkambeni eGiligali.
Joshua and the Israelite army then returned to the camp at Gilgal.

< UJoshuwa 10 >