< 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,
U-Adoni-Zedekhi inkosi yaseJerusalema wezwa ukuthi uJoshuwa wayesethumbe i-Ayi wayitshabalalisa, njengalokho akwenza eJerikho lenkosini yayo, lokuthi abantu baseGibhiyoni babenze isivumelwano sokuthula labako-Israyeli njalo sebehlala labo.
2 besaba kakhulu, ngoba iGibeyoni yayingumuzi omkhulu njengomunye wemizi yenkosi, langoba yayinkulu kuleAyi, lamadoda ayo wonke engamaqhawe.
Yena labantu bakhe besaba kakhulu ngalokhu, ngenxa yokuthi iGibhiyoni kwakulidolobho eliqakatheke kakhulu, njengelinye lamadolobho esikhosini; lalilikhulu kule-Ayi, njalo amadoda alo wonke ayezingwazi ezilamandla.
3 Ngakho uAdonizedeki inkosi yeJerusalema yathumela kuHohamu inkosi yeHebroni, lakuPiramu inkosi yeJarimuthi, lakuJafiya inkosi yeLakishi, lakuDebiri inkosi yeEgiloni, esithi:
Ngakho u-Adoni-Zedekhi inkosi yaseJerusalema wakhalaza kuHohamu inkosi yaseHebhroni, kuPhiramu inkosi yaseJamuthi, kuJafiya inkosi yaseLakhishi lakuDebhiri inkosi yase-Egiloni.
4 Yenyukelani kimi lingisize, ukuze siyitshaye iGibeyoni; ngoba yenzile ukuthula loJoshuwa labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Wathi kubo, “Wozani lizongincedisa ukuhlasela iGibhiyoni ngenxa yokuthi yenze isivumelwano sokuthula loJoshuwa labako-Israyeli.”
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.
Ngakho amakhosi womahlanu ama-Amori, aseJerusalema, eHebhroni, eJamuthi, eLakhishi lase-Egiloni abambana. Aphuma lamabutho awo wonke ayihonqolozela iGibhiyoni ayihlasela.
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.
AmaGibhiyoni athumela ilizwi kuJoshuwa ezihonqweni zaseGiligali athi: “Ungalahli izinceku zakho. Woza ngapha kithi ngokuphangisa uzosisiza! Sincede, ngoba wonke amakhosi ama-Amori abusa emazweni asemaqaqeni asebambene ukuze alwisane lathi.”
7 Ngakho uJoshuwa wenyuka esuka eGiligali, yena labo bonke abantu bempi kanye laye, lawo wonke amaqhawe alamandla.
Ngakho uJoshuwa wasuka eGiligali, wenyuka kanye lebutho lakhe lonke, elaligoqela wonke amadoda ayekwazi ukulwa.
8 INkosi yasisithi kuJoshuwa: Ungabesabi, ngoba ngibanikele esandleni sakho; kakulamuntu wabo ozakuma phambi kwakho.
UThixo wathi kuJoshuwa, “Ungabesabi; sengibanikele esandleni sakho. Kakho loyedwa ozakwenelisa ukumelana lawe.”
9 UJoshuwa wasebajuma, enyuke ubusuku bonke esuka eGiligali.
Ngemva kokuhamba okobusuku bonke besuka eGiligali, uJoshuwa wabajuma.
10 INkosi yabasanganisa phambi kukaIsrayeli, yabatshaya ngokutshaya okukhulu eGibeyoni, yaxotshana labo endleleni enyukela eBhethi-Horoni, yabatshaya kwaze kwaba seAseka kwaze kwaba seMakeda.
UThixo wenza ukuthi basanganiseke phambi kuka-Israyeli, wabehlula ngokunqoba okukhulu eGibhiyoni. Abako-Israyeli baxotshana labo emgwaqweni oya eBhethi-Horoni, baxhumana labo baze bayafika e-Azekha leMakheda.
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.
Lapho bebalekela abako-Israyeli emgwaqweni osuka eBhethi-Horoni usiya e-Azekha, uThixo wehlisa isiqhotho esikhulu sivela emkhathini, njalo inengi labo lafa libulawa yisiqhotho ukwedlula ababulawa zinkemba zabako-Israyeli.
12 Ngalesosikhathi uJoshuwa wakhuluma eNkosini mhla iNkosi inikela amaAmori phambi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli, wathi phambi kwamehlo kaIsrayeli: Langa, mana eGibeyoni, lawe nyanga, esihotsheni seAjaloni.
Ngalelolanga uThixo wanikela ngalo ama-Amori kwabako-Israyeli, uJoshuwa wathi kuThixo phambi kwabako-Israyeli: “We langa, mana uthi mpo ngaphezu kweGibhiyoni, lawe nyanga, mana ngaphezu kweSigodi se-Ayijaloni.”
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.
Ngakho ilanga lema lathi mpo, lenyanga yema, isizwe saze saphindisela ngokupheleleyo ezitheni zaso, njengoba kulotshiwe oGwalweni lukaJasha. Ilanga lema phakathi laphakathi kwesibhakabhaka laphuza ukutshona okosuku lonke.
14 Kaluzanga lube khona usuku olunjalo ngaphambi kwalo loba emva kwalo lapho iNkosi eyalizwa khona ilizwi lomuntu, ngoba iNkosi yamlwela uIsrayeli.
Kakuzange kube losuku olwafana lalo ngaphambili kumbe kuze kube lamhlanje, usuku lapho uThixo alalela khona umuntu. Ngeqiniso uThixo wayelwela u-Israyeli!
15 UJoshuwa wasebuyela enkambeni eGiligali loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye.
Ngakho uJoshuwa waphindela labo bonke abako-Israyeli ezihonqweni zaseGiligali.
16 Kodwa lawomakhosi amahlanu abaleka, acatsha ebhalwini eMakeda.
Amakhosi lawo womahlanu abaleka ayacatsha ebhalwini lwaseMakheda.
17 Kwasekubikwa kuJoshuwa ukuthi: Amakhosi amahlanu atholwe ecatshile ebhalwini eMakeda.
Kwathi uJoshuwa esetshelwe ukuthi amakhosi womahlanu ayetholakale ecatshile ebhalwini lweMakheda,
18 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Giqelani amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni wobhalu, limise amadoda kulo ukuwalinda.
wathi, “Giqani amatshe amakhulu liwafake emlonyeni wobhalu, beselisithi amanye amadoda alinde.
19 Kodwa lina lingami; xotshanani lezitha zenu, lizitshaye ngemuva kwazo, lingaziyekeli zingene emizini yazo, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu izinikele esandleni senu.
Kodwa lingemi! Xotshani izitha zenu, lingazivumeli ukuthi zifike emadolobheni azo, ngoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wenu esezinikele ezandleni zenu.”
20 Kwasekusithi lapho uJoshuwa labantwana bakoIsrayeli sebeqedile ukuzitshaya ngokutshaya okukhulukazi zaze zaqedwa, insali eyasalayo yazo yangena emizini evikelweyo.
Ngakho uJoshuwa labako-Israyeli bababhubhisa baphosa baphela bonke kodwa abalutshwana abasalayo banelisa ukufika emadolobheni abo ayezinqaba.
21 Labantu bonke babuyela enkambeni kuJoshuwa eMakeda ngokuthula; kakho owanyikinya ulimi lwakhe emelana labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Ibutho lonke lenelisa ukuphenduka ngokuthula kuJoshuwa esihonqweni seMakheda, njalo kakho owake wakhuluma okubi ngabako-Israyeli.
22 UJoshuwa wasesithi: Vulani umlomo wobhalu, likhuphele kimi lawomakhosi amahlanu evela ebhalwini.
UJoshuwa wathi, “Vulani umlomo wobhalu beseliletha amakhosi womahlanu eze kimi.”
23 Basebesenza njalo, bawakhuphela kuye lawomakhosi amahlanu evela ebhalwini: Inkosi yeJerusalema, inkosi yeHebroni, inkosi yeJarimuthi, inkosi yeLakishi, inkosi yeEgiloni.
Ngakho bakhupha amakhosi womahlanu ebhalwini, inkosi yaseJerusalema, eyeHebhroni, yeJamuthi, eyeLakhishi kanye leyase-Egiloni.
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.
Bathi sebelethe amakhosi la kuJoshuwa, wabiza wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli wasesithi kubo bonke abalawuli bamabutho ababeze laye, “Wozani lapha lizofaka inyawo zenu entanyeni zala amakhosi.” Ngakho beza phambili basebefaka inyawo zabo entanyeni zawo.
25 UJoshuwa wasesithi kuzo: Lingesabi lingatshaywa luvalo; qinani lime isibindi, ngoba iNkosi izakwenza njalo kuzo zonke izitha zenu elilwa limelene lazo.
UJoshuwa wathi kubo, “Lingesabi; lingadangali qinani libe lezibindi. Lokhu yikho okuzakwenziwa nguThixo kuzozonke izitha elizalwisana lazo.”
26 Emva kwalokho uJoshuwa wasewatshaya wawabulala, wawalengisa ezihlahleni ezinhlanu; njalo ayelenga ezihlahleni kwaze kwahlwa.
Ngakho uJoshuwa wawabulala amakhosi la wawalengisa ensikeni ezinhlanu, alenga lapho kwaze kwahlwa.
27 Kwasekusithi ngesikhathi sokutshona kwelanga uJoshuwa walaya ukuthi bawethule ezihlahleni, bawaphosele ebhalwini ayecatshe khona; basebefaka amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni wobhalu, akhona kuze kube yilona lolusuku.
Ekutshoneni kwelanga uJoshuwa walaya ukuthi bawethule bawaphose ebhalwini lapho ayekade ecatshe khona. Emlonyeni wobhalu bafaka amatshe amakhulu alokhu ekhona lanamhlanje.
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.
Ngalelolanga uJoshuwa wathumba iMakheda. Wahlasela idolobho kanye lenkosi yalo ngenkemba, wabhubhisa wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo. Kakho owatshiywa ephila. Wenza enkosini yeMakheda lokho ayekwenze enkosini yaseJerikho.
29 UJoshuwa, loIsrayeli wonke laye, wasedlula esuka eMakeda waya eLibhina, walwa emelene leLibhina.
Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababelaye basuka eMakheda baya eLibhina balihlasela.
30 INkosi yasiyinikela layo lenkosi yayo esandleni sikaIsrayeli; waseyitshaya ngobukhali benkemba lemiphefumulo yonke eyayikiyo; katshiyanga insali kiyo; wenza enkosini yayo njengalokho akwenza enkosini yeJeriko.
UThixo waphinda wanikela lelodolobho lenkosi yalo esandleni sika-Israyeli. UJoshuwa wahlasela ngenkemba idolobho laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo. Kakho owatshiywa ephila lapho. Wenza enkosini yalo lokho ayekwenze enkosini yeJerikho.
31 UJoshuwa wasesedlula esuka eLibhina, loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, waya eLakishi, wamisa inkamba maqondana layo, walwa emelene layo.
Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ayelabo bahamba besuka eLibhina besiya eLakhishi; balihanqa basebelihlasela.
32 INkosi yasiyinikela iLakishi esandleni sikaIsrayeli; waseyithumba ngosuku lwesibili, wayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba layo yonke imiphefumulo eyayikiyo, njengakho konke akwenza eLibhina.
UThixo wanikela iLakhishi ku-Israyeli, uJoshuwa wayithatha ngelanga lesibili. Idolobho laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo wakuhlasela ngenkemba, njengalokho ayekwenze eLibhina.
33 Ngalesosikhathi uHoramu inkosi yeGezeri wenyuka ukusiza iLakishi; kodwa uJoshuwa wamtshaya labantu bakhe, kwaze kwathi kamtshiyelanga insali.
Kunjalo-nje uHoramu inkosi yaseGezeri yayize ukuzoncedisa iLakhishi kodwa uJoshuwa wayehlula ndawonye lebutho layo, kakho owatshiywa ephila.
34 UJoshuwa wasesedlula esuka eLakishi, loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, baya eEgiloni, bamisa inkamba maqondana layo, balwa bemelene layo.
Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababelaye basuka eLakhishi baya edolobheni le-Egiloni; basebelihanqa balihlasela.
35 Bayithumba ngalolosuku, bayitshaya ngobukhali benkemba, lemiphefumulo yonke eyayikiyo bayitshabalalisa ngalolosuku, njengakho konke akwenza eLakishi.
Balithumba ngalelolanga, balihlakaza ngenkemba basebebhubhisa wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo, njengalokho ababekwenze eLakhishi.
36 UJoshuwa wasesenyuka esuka eEgiloni loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, baya eHebroni, balwa bemelene layo,
Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababelaye bahamba besuka e-Egiloni baya eHebhroni bayihlasela.
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.
Balithumba lelodolobho ngenkemba ndawonye lamakhosi alo, imizana yalo laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo, kakho owatshiywa ephila. Njengalokho abakwenza e-Egiloni, balitshabalalisa laye wonke umuntu owayephakathi kwalo.
38 UJoshuwa wasebuyela eDebiri loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, balwa bemelene layo,
Ngakho uJoshuwa labo bonke abako-Israyeli ayelabo baphenduka bahlasela iDebhiri.
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.
Bathumba lelidolobho, inkosi lemizi yalo, bayihlasela ngenkemba. Bonke abantu ababephakathi kwalo babhujiswa baphela. Kakho owatshiywa ephila. Benza eDebhiri lenkosini yakhona lokho abakwenza eLibhina lenkosini yakhona kanye leHebhroni.
40 Ngakho uJoshuwa walitshaya ilizwe lonke lezintaba leleningizimu lelesihotsha lelamawatha lawo wonke amakhosi abo; katshiyanga insali, kodwa watshabalalisa konke okuphefumulayo, njengokulaya kweNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli.
Ngakho uJoshuwa wasinqoba sonke isabelo, okugoqela ilizwe lamaqaqa, iNegebi, emawatheni ezintaba entshonalanga lemithezukweni yezintaba ndawonye lamakhosi alapho wonke. Kakho owatshiywa ephila. Wabhubhisa bonke abebephefumula, njengoba uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli wayebalayile.
41 UJoshuwa wasebatshaya kusukela eKadeshi-Bhaneya kwaze kwaba seGaza, lelizwe lonke leGosheni, kwaze kwaba seGibeyoni.
UJoshuwa wabanqoba kusukela eKhadeshi Bhaneya kusiya eGaza lakuso sonke isabelo seGosheni kusiya eGibhiyoni.
42 UJoshuwa wasethumba wonke lamakhosi lelizwe lawo ngasikhathi sinye, ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli yamlwela uIsrayeli.
Wonke amakhosi la lamazwe awo athunjwa nguJoshuwa ekuhlaseleni kunye, ngenxa yokuthi uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, walwela u-Israyeli.
43 UJoshuwa wasebuyela, loIsrayeli wonke kanye laye, enkambeni eGiligali.
Ngakho uJoshuwa waphindela laye wonke u-Israyeli ezihonqweni zaseGiligali.

< UJoshuwa 10 >