UJoshuwa 22

1 Ngalesosikhathi uJoshuwa wabiza abakoRubeni labakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sabakoManase,

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

2 wathi kubo: Lina ligcinile konke uMozisi inceku yeNkosi eyalilaya khona, lalilalela ilizwi lami kukho konke engalilaya khona.

and said unto them: 'Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have hearkened unto my voice in all that I commanded you;

3 Kalibatshiyanga abafowenu kulezinsuku ezinengi, kuze kube lamuhla; kodwa ligcinile imfanelo yomlayo weNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.

ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.

4 Khathesi-ke, iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu ibanikile abafowenu ukuphumula, njengalokho akukhuluma kubo. Ngakho-ke buyelani lina liye emathenteni enu elizweni lelifa lenu, alinika lona uMozisi inceku yeNkosi ngaphetsheya kweJordani.

And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as He spoke unto them; therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan.

5 Kuphela liqaphelisise ukwenza umlayo lomthetho uMozisi inceku yeNkosi alilaya wona, ukuthanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu, lokuhamba endleleni zayo zonke, lokugcina imilayo yayo, lokunamathela kuyo, lokuyikhonza ngenhliziyo yenu yonke langomphefumulo wenu wonke.

Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.'

6 Wasebabusisa uJoshuwa ebayekela behamba, baya emathenteni abo.

So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went unto their tents.

7 Njalo kungxenye yesizwe sakoManase uMozisi wayenike indawo eBashani; kodwa kungxenye yayo uJoshuwa wayinika indawo labafowabo nganeno kweJordani entshonalanga. Njalo-ke nxa uJoshuwa ebayekela behamba besiya emathenteni abo, wababusisa.

Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but unto the other half gave Joshua among their brethren beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away unto their tents, he blessed them,

8 Wakhuluma labo esithi: Buyelani emathenteni enu lilenotho enengi lezifuyo ezinengi kakhulu lilesiliva legolide lethusi lensimbi lezigqoko ezinengi kakhulu; lehlukaniselane impango yezitha zenu labafowenu.

and spoke unto them, saying: 'Return with much wealth unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.'

9 Abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase basebebuyela, besuka ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli bephuma eShilo eselizweni leKhanani, ukuya elizweni leGileyadi, elizweni lelifa labo ababelizuzile, ngokomlayo weNkosi ngesandla sikaMozisi.

And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

10 Kwathi sebefikile emingceleni yeJordani eselizweni leKhanani, abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase bakha khona ilathi ngaseJordani, ilathi elikhulu ngokubonakala.

And when they came unto the region about the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look upon.

11 Kwathi abantwana bakoIsrayeli besizwa kuthiwa: Khangelani, abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase bakhile ilathi maqondana lelizwe leKhanani emingceleni eJordani ehlangothini lwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.

And the children of Israel heard say: 'Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertaineth to the children of Israel.'

12 Kwathi abantwana bakoIsrayeli bekuzwa, inhlangano yonke yabantwana bakoIsrayeli yabuthana eShilo ukwenyukela kubo empini.

And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.

13 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebethuma kubantwana bakoRubeni lakubantwana bakoGadi lengxenyeni eyodwa kwezimbili yesizwe sakoManase elizweni leGileyadi uPhinehasi indodana kaEleyazare umpristi,

And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest;

14 lezinduna ezilitshumi laye, induna eyodwa ngendlu ngayinye yaboyise ivela kuzo zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli; ngayinye yayiyinhloko yendlu yaboyise, kunkulungwane zakoIsrayeli.

and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers' house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were every one of them head of their fathers' houses among the thousands of Israel.

15 Basebefika kubantwana bakoRubeni lakubantwana bakoGadi lengxenyeni eyodwa kwezimbili yesizwe sakoManase elizweni leGileyadi, bakhuluma labo besithi:

And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying:

16 Itsho njalo inhlangano yonke yeNkosi: Kuyisiphambeko bani eseliphambeke ngaso limelane loNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, liphambuka lamuhla ekuyilandeleni iNkosi, ekuzakheleni ilathi, ukuze lihlamukele iNkosi lamuhla?

'Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD: What treachery is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, to rebel this day against the LORD?

17 Ngabe isiphambeko sePeyori sincinyane kakhulu kithi yini, esingahlanjululwanga kuso kuze kube lamuhla, lanxa inhlupheko yayiphakathi kwenhlangano yeNkosi,

Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves unto this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of the LORD,

18 ukuze lina liphenduke lamuhla ekuyilandeleni iNkosi? Kuzakuthi uba lina liyihlamuka iNkosi lamuhla, kusasa izayithukuthelela inhlangano yonke yakoIsrayeli.

that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to-day against the LORD, that to-morrow He will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

19 Kodwa ngeqiniso, uba ilizwe lemfuyo yenu lingcolile, chaphelani lina elizweni lemfuyo yeNkosi lapho ithabhanekele leNkosi elihlala khona, lizizuzele imfuyo phakathi kwethu; kodwa lingayihlamukeli iNkosi njalo lingasihlamukeli ekuzakheleni kwenu ilathi ngaphandle kwelathi leNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu.

Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us; but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God.

20 UAkani indodana kaZera kaphambekanga yini ngesiphambeko entweni eqalekisiweyo, kwasekusiba lolaka phezu kwenhlangano yonke yakoIsrayeli? Leyondoda kayibhubhanga-ke yodwa esiphambekweni sayo.

Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass concerning the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.'

21 Abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase basebephendula bathi kunhloko zezinkulungwane zakoIsrayeli:

Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke unto the heads of the thousands of Israel:

22 UNkulunkulu wabonkulunkulu, iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wabonkulunkulu, iNkosi, uyazi, loIsrayeli kakwazi; uba bekungokuhlamuka kumbe uba ngokuphambuka eNkosini, lingasisindisi lamuhla,

'God, God, the LORD, God, God, the LORD, He knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD — save Thou us not this day —

23 ukuthi sizakhele ilathi ukuphambuka ekuyilandeleni iNkosi, loba sinikelele phezu kwalo umnikelo wokutshiswa loba umnikelo wokudla, loba ukwenza phezu kwalo iminikelo yokuthula, iNkosi uqobo kayikudinge.

that we have built us an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if to offer thereon burnt-offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let the LORD Himself require it;

24 Kodwa ngeqiniso sikwenze ngokunqineka ngaloludaba sisithi: Kusasa abantwana benu bazakhuluma kubantwana bethu bathi: Lilani leNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli?

and if we have not rather out of anxiety about a matter done this, saying: In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying: What have ye to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?

25 Ngoba iNkosi iyenzile iJordani yaba ngumngcele phakathi kwethu lani, lina bantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi, kalilasabelo eNkosini. Ngalokho abantwana benu benze abantwana bethu ukuthi bayekele ukuyesaba iNkosi.

for the LORD hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in the LORD; so might your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.

26 Ngakho sathi: Kasizilungiseleni khathesi ukwakha ilathi, lingabi ngelomnikelo wokutshiswa, njalo lingabi ngelomhlatshelo,

Therefore we said: Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice;

27 kodwa libe yibufakazi phakathi kwethu lani lezizukulwana zethu emva kwethu, ukuthi sikhonze inkonzo yeNkosi phambi kwayo ngeminikelo yethu yokutshiswa langemihlatshelo yethu langeminikelo yethu yokuthula, ukuze abantwana benu bangathi ebantwaneni bethu kusasa: Kalilasabelo eNkosini.

but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come: Ye have no portion in the LORD.

28 Sasesisithi: Kuzakuthi-ke, nxa bekhuluma lokhu kithi lesizukulwaneni sethu kusasa, sizakuthi: Bonani umfanekiso welathi leNkosi obaba abalakhayo, kungeyisilo lomnikelo wokutshiswa lingeyisilo lomhlatshelo, kodwa liyibufakazi phakathi kwethu lani.

Therefore said we: It shall be, when they so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say: Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.

29 Kakube khatshana lathi ukuthi siyihlamuke iNkosi, lokuthi siphenduke lamuhla ekuyilandeleni iNkosi, ukwakha ilathi lomnikelo wokutshiswa lelomnikelo wokudla lelomhlatshelo, ngaphandle kwelathi leNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu eliphambi kwethabhanekele layo.

Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn away this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt-offering, for meal-offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the LORD our God that is before His tabernacle.'

30 Kwathi uPhinehasi umpristi lenduna zenhlangano lenhloko zezinkulungwane zakoIsrayeli ezazilaye bewezwa amazwi abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi labantwana bakoManase abawakhulumayo, kwakukuhle emehlweni abo.

And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well.

31 UPhinehasi indodana kaEleyazare umpristi wasesithi kubantwana bakoRubeni lakubantwana bakoGadi lakubantwana bakoManase: Lamuhla siyazi ukuthi iNkosi iphakathi kwethu, ngoba kaliphambekanga lesisiphambeko eNkosini; khathesi likhulule abantwana bakoIsrayeli esandleni seNkosi.

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh: 'This day we know that the LORD is in the midst of us, because ye have not committed this treachery against the LORD; now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.'

32 UPhinehasi indodana kaEleyazare umpristi lezinduna basebebuyela bevela ebantwaneni bakoRubeni lebantwaneni bakoGadi elizweni leGileyadi, besiya elizweni leKhanani ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli, babuyisela ilizwi kubo.

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them back word.

33 Lodaba lwaluluhle emehlweni abantwana bakoIsrayeli; abantwana bakoIsrayeli bambusisa uNkulunkulu, kabasakhulumanga ngokwenyukela kubo empini ukuchitha ilizwe abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi ababehlala kulo.

And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt.

34 Abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi balibiza ilathi ngokuthi: Liyibufakazi phakathi kwethu bokuthi iNkosi inguNkulunkulu.

And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar —: 'for it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.'