UJoshuwa 24
1 UJoshuwa wasebuthanisa zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli eShekema, wabiza abadala bakoIsrayeli lenhloko zabo labahluleli babo lenduna zabo, bazimisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
Ipapo Joshua akaunganidza marudzi ose aIsraeri paShekemu. Akadana vakuru vavaIsraeri, vatungamiri, vatongi, navatariri vavo vakazviisa pamberi paMwari.
2 UJoshuwa wasesithi kubo bonke abantu: Itsho njalo iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Endulo oyihlo babehlala ngaphetsheya komfula, uTera uyise kaAbrahama loyise kaNahori, babekhonza abanye onkulunkulu.
Joshua akati kuvanhu vose, “Zvanzi naJehovha Mwari waIsraeri: ‘Kare madzitateguru enyu pamwe chete naTera, baba vaAbhurahama naNahori, vaigara mhiri kwoRwizi vachishumira vamwe vamwari.
3 Ngasengimthatha uyihlo uAbrahama ngimsusa ngaphetsheya komfula, ngamhambisa wadabula elizweni lonke leKhanani, ngayandisa inzalo yakhe, ngamnika uIsaka.
Asi ndakatora baba wenyu Abhurahama kubva kunyika iri mhiri kweRwizi ndikamufambisa munyika yose yeKenani ndikamupa vana vazhinji. Ndakamupa Isaka,
4 LakuIsaka nganika uJakobe loEsawu. LakuEsawu nganika intaba yeSeyiri ukudla ilifa layo, kodwa uJakobe labantwana bakhe behlela eGibhithe.
uye kuna Isaka ndakapa Jakobho naEsau. Ndakapa Esau nyika yezvikomo yeSeiri, asi Jakobho navanakomana vake vakaenda kuIjipiti.
5 Ngasengithuma uMozisi loAroni, ngatshaya iGibhithe, njengalokho engakwenzayo phakathi kwayo; lemva kwalokho ngalikhupha.
“‘Ipapo ndakatuma Mozisi naAroni uye ndakatambudza vaIjipita nezvandakaita ikoko, uye ndakakubudisai.
6 Ngasengibakhupha oyihlo eGibhithe, lafika elwandle, amaGibhithe asexotshana lani ngenqola langamabhiza aze afika eLwandle oluBomvu.
Pandakabudisa madzibaba enyu muIjipiti, vakasvika pagungwa, vaIjipita vakavatevera vaine ngoro navatasvi vamabhiza kusvikira paGungwa Dzvuku.
7 Kwathi bekhala eNkosini, yabeka umnyama phakathi kwenu lamaGibhithe, yaletha ulwandle phezu kwabo, yabasibekela. Lamehlo enu abona engakwenza eGibhithe. Lahlala enkangala insuku ezinengi.
Asi ivo vakachema kuna Jehovha, akaisa rima pakati penyu navaIjipita; akauyisa gungwa pamusoro pavo rikavafukidza. Makaona nameso enyu chaiwo zvandakaita kuvaIjipita. Ipapo makagara murenje kwenguva refu.
8 Ngasengililetha elizweni lamaAmori ayehlala ngaphetsheya kweJordani, asesilwa lani, ngawanikela esandleni senu, lalidla ilifa lelizwe lawo, ngawachitha phambi kwenu.
“‘Ndakauya nemi kunyika yavaAmori vaigara kumabvazuva kweJorodhani. Vakakurwisai asi ndakavaisa mumaoko enyu. Ndakavaparadza pamberi penyu, imi mukatora nyika yavo.
9 UBalaki indodana kaZipori inkosi yakoMowabi wasesukuma walwa loIsrayeli, wathuma wabiza uBalami indodana kaBeyori ukuthi aliqalekise.
Zvino Bharaki mwanakomana waZipori mambo weMoabhu, akati agadzirira kundorwa naIsraeri, akatuma nhume kundodana Bharamu mwanakomana waBheori kuti akutukei.
10 Kodwa kangithandanga ukulalela uBalami; ngakho walibusisa lokulibusisa, ngasengilikhulula esandleni sakhe.
Asi ini ndakaramba kunzwa Bharamu, naizvozvo akaramba achingokuropafadzai, ini ndikakurwirai paruoko rwake.
11 Lachapha iJordani, lafika eJeriko, izakhamizi zeJeriko zalwa zimelene lani, amaAmori, lamaPerizi, lamaKhanani, lamaHethi, lamaGirigashi, amaHivi, lamaJebusi; ngawanikela esandleni senu.
“‘Ipapo makayambuka Jorodhani, mukasvika paJeriko. Vanhu veJeriko vakarwa nemi, sezvakaitawo vaAmori, vaPerizi, vaKenani, vaHiti, vaGirigashi, vaHivhi navaJebhusi, asi ndakavaisa mumaoko enyu.
12 Ngathuma olonyovu phambi kwenu abawaxotsha phambi kwenu, amakhosi amabili amaAmori; hatshi ngenkemba yakho njalo hatshi ngedandili lakho.
Ndakatuma mago pamberi penyu, iwo akavadzinga pamberi penyu, uyewo namadzimambo maviri avaAmori. Hamuna kuzviita nomunondo wenyu kana nouta hwenyu.
13 Ngasengilinika ilizwe elingalisebenzelanga, lemizi elingayakhanga, lihlala kiyo. Lidla okwezivini lezivande zemihlwathi elingakuhlanyelanga.
Saka ndakakupai nyika yamusina kushandira namaguta amusina kuvaka; uye mugere maari uye munodya zvinobva muminda yemizambiringa nemiorivhi yamusina kusima.’
14 Khathesi-ke yesabeni iNkosi, liyikhonze ngobuqotho langeqiniso, lisuse onkulunkulu oyihlo ababakhonza ngaphetsheya komfula leGibhithe, njalo likhonze iNkosi.
“Zvino ityai Jehovha uye mumushumire nokutendeka kwose. Rasai vamwari vainamatwa namadzitateguru enyu mhiri kworwizi nokuIjipiti, uye mushumire Jehovha.
15 Uba-ke kukubi emehlweni enu ukuyikhonza iNkosi, zikhetheleni lamuhla lowo elizamkhonza; kumbe onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo ababengaphetsheya komfula, loba onkulunkulu bamaAmori elihlala elizweni lawo. Kodwa mina lendlu yami sizayikhonza iNkosi.
Asi kana kushumira Jehovha kusingakufadzei, zvino zvisarudzirei nhasi wamuchashumira, vamwari vaishumirwa namadzitateguru enyu mhiri kwoRwizi kana vamwari vavaAmori, munyika mamugere. Asi kana ndirini neimba yangu tichashumira Jehovha.”
16 Basebephendula abantu besithi: Kakube khatshana lathi ukuthi sitshiye iNkosi, sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu.
Ipapo vanhu vakapindura vachiti, “Ngazvive kure nesu kuti tisiye Jehovha kuti tishumire vamwe vamwari!
17 Ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu iyiyo eyasenyusayo labobaba sivela elizweni leGibhithe, endlini yobugqili, eyenza phambi kwamehlo ethu lezizibonakaliso ezinkulu, yasilondoloza endleleni yonke esahamba kiyo, laphakathi kwabo bonke abantu esedlule phakathi kwabo.
Jehovha Mwari wedu pachake, ndiye akatibudisa isu namadzibaba edu kubva muIjipiti, nyika youranda, uye akaita zviratidzo zvikuru zvatakaona. Akatidzivirira parwendo rwedu rwose rwatakafamba pakati pendudzi dzose dzatakapfuura nokwadziri.
18 INkosi yasixotsha phambi kwethu zonke izizwe, lamaAmori ayehlala elizweni. Thina lathi sizayikhonza iNkosi, ngoba inguNkulunkulu wethu.
Uye Jehovha akadzinga pamberi pedu ndudzi dzose pamwe chete navaAmori vakanga vagere munyika ino. Nesuwo tichashumira Jehovha, nokuti ndiye Mwari wedu.”
19 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini: Kalilakuyikhonza iNkosi, ngoba inguNkulunkulu ongcwele, inguNkulunkulu olobukhwele. Kayiyikuthethelela iziphambeko zenu lezono zenu.
Joshua akapindura vanhu achiti, “Hamungagoni kushumira Jehovha. NdiMwari mutsvene; ndiMwari ane godo. Haangakukanganwirei kumumukira kwenyu nezvivi zvenyu.
20 Uba liyitshiya iNkosi likhonze onkulunkulu abezizwe, izaphenduka yenze okubi kini, iliqede, emva kokuthi ilenzele okuhle.
Kana mukarasa Jehovha, mukashumira vamwari vavatorwa, iye achakupindukirai agouyisa njodzi pamusoro penyu agokuparadzai.”
21 Abantu basebesithi kuJoshuwa: Hatshi, kodwa sizayikhonza iNkosi.
Asi vanhu vakati kuna Joshua, “Kwete! Isu tichashumira Jehovha.”
22 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini: Lingabafakazi ngani ukuthi lina lizikhethele iNkosi ukuyikhonza. Basebesithi: Singabafakazi.
Ipapo Joshua akati, “Ndimi zvapupu zvezvamaita kuti masarudza kushumira Jehovha.” Ivo vakapindura vachiti: “Hongu, tiri zvapupu.”
23 Khathesi-ke, susani onkulunkulu abezizwe abaphakathi kwenu, lithobele inhliziyo yenu eNkosini, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli.
Joshua akati, “Naizvozvo rasai vamwari vavatorwa vari pakati penyu murerekere mwoyo yenyu kuna Jehovha Mwari waIsraeri.”
24 Abantu basebesithi kuJoshuwa: INkosi uNkulunkulu wethu sizayikhonza, lelizwi layo sililalele.
Vanhu vakati kuna Joshua, “Tichashumira Jehovha Mwari wedu, uye tichamuteerera.”
25 Ngakho uJoshuwa wasebenzela abantu isivumelwano ngalolosuku, wababekela isimiso lesimiselo eShekema.
Pazuva iro Joshua akaitira vanhu sungano, akavadzikira mitemo nemirayiro ipapo paShekemu.
26 UJoshuwa wasebhala lawomazwi egwalweni lomlayo kaNkulunkulu; wathatha ilitshe elikhulu, walimisa lapho ngaphansi kwesihlahla se-okhi elingasendlini engcwele yeNkosi.
Joshua akanyora mashoko aya mubhuku romurayiro waMwari. Ipapo akatora ibwe guru akariisa pasi pomuouki, pedyo nenzvimbo tsvene yaJehovha.
27 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini bonke: Khangelani, lelilitshe lizakuba yibufakazi ngathi, ngoba liwezwile wonke amazwi eNkosi eyawakhuluma kithi; ngakho lizakuba yibufakazi ngani, hlezi lenze inkohliso kuNkulunkulu wenu.
Akati kuvanhu vose, “Tarirai! Ibwe iri richava chapupu pamusoro pedu. Ranzwa mashoko ose ataurwa naJehovha kwatiri. Richava chapupu pamusoro penyu kana musina kutendeka kuna Mwari wenyu.”
28 UJoshuwa wasebayekela abantu ukuthi bahambe, ngulowo lalowo waya elifeni lakhe.
Ipapo Joshua akaendesa vanhu, mumwe nomumwe kunhaka yake.
29 Kwasekusithi emva kwalezizinto uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku yeNkosi, wafa eleminyaka elikhulu letshumi.
Mushure mezvinhu izvi Joshua mwanakomana waNuni, muranda waJehovha, akafa ava namakore zana negumi.
30 Basebemngcwabela emngceleni welifa lakhe eThiminathi-Sera esentabeni yakoEfrayimi enyakatho kwentaba iGahashi.
Uye vakamuviga munyika yenhaka yake, paTimunati Sera, munyika yamakomo yaEfuremu, nechokumusoro kweGomo reGaashi.
31 Njalo uIsrayeli wayikhonza iNkosi zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa lazo zonke izinsuku zabadala abelula insuku emva kukaJoshuwa, njalo ababewazi wonke umsebenzi weNkosi eyawenzela uIsrayeli.
VaIsraeri vakashumira Jehovha nguva dzose dzoupenyu hwaJoshua, uye napamazuva ose avakuru vakasara vari vapenyu Joshua afa, avo vakaona zvinhu zvose zvakanga zvaitirwa Israeri naJehovha.
32 Lamathambo kaJosefa abantwana bakoIsrayeli ababenyuke lawo bevela eGibhithe bawangcwaba eShekema, esiqintini sensimu uJakobe asithenga kubantwana bakaHamori uyise kaShekema ngenhlamvu zesiliva ezilikhulu; saba-ke yilifa labantwana bakoJosefa.
Mapfupa aJosefa, ayo akanga auyiwa nawo navana vaIsraeri kubva kuIjipiti, akavigwa paShekemu, munzvimbo yakanga yatengwa naJakobho kuvanakomana vaHamori, baba vaShekemu, nezana remari yesirivha. Iyi yakava nhaka yezvizvarwa zvaJosefa.
33 UEleyazare indodana kaAroni wasesifa, bamngcwaba eqaqeni lukaPhinehasi indodana yakhe, ayeluphiwe entabeni yakoEfrayimi.
Uye Ereazari mwanakomana waAroni akafa, akavigwa paGibhea munzvimbo yakanga yapiwa mwanakomana wake Finehasi, munyika yamakomo yaEfuremu.
