UJoshuwa 22
1 Ngalesosikhathi uJoshuwa wabiza abakoRubeni labakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sabakoManase,
At that time Joshua called the Reubenites, 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.
He said to them, “You have done everything that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you. You have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.
3 Kalibatshiyanga abafowenu kulezinsuku ezinengi, kuze kube lamuhla; kodwa ligcinile imfanelo yomlayo weNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
You have not deserted your brothers these many days, down to this present day, and you have fulfilled the duties required by the commandments of Yahweh 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.
Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, just as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land you own, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you on the other side of 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.
Just be very careful to observe the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to cling to him and worship 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 back to 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 one-half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given an inheritance in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave an inheritance beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. Joshua sent them away to 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 said to them, “Return to your tents with much money, and with very much livestock, and with silver and gold, and with bronze and iron, and with very many garments. Divide the plunder from your enemies with your brothers.”
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.
So the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh returned home, leaving the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. They left to go to the region of Gilead, to their own land, which they themselves possessed, in obedience to the commandment of Yahweh, 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.
When they came to the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar beside the Jordan, a very large and prominent altar.
11 Kwathi abantwana bakoIsrayeli besizwa kuthiwa: Khangelani, abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase bakhile ilathi maqondana lelizwe leKhanani emingceleni eJordani ehlangothini lwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.
The people of Israel heard about this and said, “Look! The people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the front of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth, in the region near the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.”
12 Kwathi abantwana bakoIsrayeli bekuzwa, inhlangano yonke yabantwana bakoIsrayeli yabuthana eShilo ukwenyukela kubo empini.
When the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go up to make war against them.
13 Abantwana bakoIsrayeli basebethuma kubantwana bakoRubeni lakubantwana bakoGadi lengxenyeni eyodwa kwezimbili yesizwe sakoManase elizweni leGileyadi uPhinehasi indodana kaEleyazare umpristi,
Then the people of Israel sent messengers to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead. They also sent Phinehas 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 leaders, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, and every one of them was the head of a family among the clan of Israel.
15 Basebefika kubantwana bakoRubeni lakubantwana bakoGadi lengxenyeni eyodwa kwezimbili yesizwe sakoManase elizweni leGileyadi, bakhuluma labo besithi:
They came to the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke to them:
16 Itsho njalo inhlangano yonke yeNkosi: Kuyisiphambeko bani eseliphambeke ngaso limelane loNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, liphambuka lamuhla ekuyilandeleni iNkosi, ekuzakheleni ilathi, ukuze lihlamukele iNkosi lamuhla?
“The whole assembly of Yahweh says this, 'What is this unfaithfulness that you have committed against the God of Israel, by turning this day from following Yahweh by building yourself an altar this day in rebellion against Yahweh?
17 Ngabe isiphambeko sePeyori sincinyane kakhulu kithi yini, esingahlanjululwanga kuso kuze kube lamuhla, lanxa inhlupheko yayiphakathi kwenhlangano yeNkosi,
Was our sin at Peor not enough for us? Yet we have not even now cleansed ourselves from it. For that sin there came a plague on the assembly of Yahweh.
18 ukuze lina liphenduke lamuhla ekuyilandeleni iNkosi? Kuzakuthi uba lina liyihlamuka iNkosi lamuhla, kusasa izayithukuthelela inhlangano yonke yakoIsrayeli.
Must you also turn away from following Yahweh at this present day? If you also rebel against Yahweh today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole assembly 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.
If the land that you possess is defiled, then you should pass over into the land where Yahweh's tabernacle stands and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves other than the altar of Yahweh 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 son of Zerah break faith in the matter of those things that had been reserved for God? Did not wrath fall on all the people of Israel? That man did not perish alone for his iniquity.'”
21 Abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi lengxenye yesizwe sakoManase basebephendula bathi kunhloko zezinkulungwane zakoIsrayeli:
Then the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh replied in answer to the heads of the clans of Israel:
22 UNkulunkulu wabonkulunkulu, iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wabonkulunkulu, iNkosi, uyazi, loIsrayeli kakwazi; uba bekungokuhlamuka kumbe uba ngokuphambuka eNkosini, lingasisindisi lamuhla,
“The Mighty One, God, Yahweh! The Mighty One, God, Yahweh!—He knows, and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against Yahweh, do not spare us on 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.
for having built an altar to turn ourselves away from following Yahweh. If we built that altar in order to offer on it burnt offerings, grain offerings, or peace offerings, then let Yahweh make us pay for it.
24 Kodwa ngeqiniso sikwenze ngokunqineka ngaloludaba sisithi: Kusasa abantwana benu bazakhuluma kubantwana bethu bathi: Lilani leNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli?
No! We did it for fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with Yahweh, 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 Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you. You people of Reuben and people of Gad, you have nothing to do with Yahweh.' So your children might make our children cease to worship Yahweh.
26 Ngakho sathi: Kasizilungiseleni khathesi ukwakha ilathi, lingabi ngelomnikelo wokutshiswa, njalo lingabi ngelomhlatshelo,
So we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offerings nor for any sacrifices,
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 to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we will perform the service of Yahweh before him, with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, so that your children will never say to our children in time to come, “You have no share in Yahweh.”'
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.
So we said, 'If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we would say, “Look! This is a copy of the altar of Yahweh, which our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices, but as 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.
May it be far from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and today turn away from following him by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering, or for sacrifice, other than the altar of Yahweh 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.
When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the people, that is, the heads of the clans of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said, that it was good in their eyes.
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.
Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against him. Now you have rescued the people of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh.”
32 UPhinehasi indodana kaEleyazare umpristi lezinduna basebebuyela bevela ebantwaneni bakoRubeni lebantwaneni bakoGadi elizweni leGileyadi, besiya elizweni leKhanani ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli, babuyisela ilizwi kubo.
Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and the leaders returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites, out of the land of Gilead, back to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them.
33 Lodaba lwaluluhle emehlweni abantwana bakoIsrayeli; abantwana bakoIsrayeli bambusisa uNkulunkulu, kabasakhulumanga ngokwenyukela kubo empini ukuchitha ilizwe abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi ababehlala kulo.
Their report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. The people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more about making war against the Reubenites and the Gadites, in order to destroy the land where they had settled.
34 Abantwana bakoRubeni labantwana bakoGadi balibiza ilathi ngokuthi: Liyibufakazi phakathi kwethu bokuthi iNkosi inguNkulunkulu.
The Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar “Witness,” for they said, “It is a witness between us that Yahweh is God.”
