< Abahluleli 11 >
1 Njalo uJefitha umGileyadi wayeliqhawe elilamandla, wayeyindodana yewule; uGileyadi wasezala uJefitha.
Yefita wa ku Giliyadi anali wankhondo wa mphamvu. Iyeyu amayi ake anali mkazi wachiwerewere, ndipo abambo ake anali Giliyadi.
2 UmkaGileyadi wasemzalela amadodana; kwathi amadodana omkakhe esekhulile amxotsha uJefitha, athi kuye: Kawuyikudla ilifa endlini kababa, ngoba uyindodana yomunye umfazi.
Mkazi wake wa Giliyadi anabereka naye ana aamuna. Tsono ana amenewa atakula anapirikitsa Yefita ndi kumuwuza kuti, “Sudzalandirako cholowa mʼnyumba ya abambo athu chifukwa ndiwe mwana wa mkazi wina.”
3 UJefitha wasebalekela abafowabo, wahlala elizweni leTobi. Amadoda ayize asebuthana kuJefitha, aphuma laye.
Choncho Yefita anathawa kuchoka kwa abale ake ndi kukakhala mʼdziko la Tobu. Kumeneko anakakopa ndi kusonkhanitsa anthu achabechabe ndipo anatuluka pamodzi kukasakaza zinthu.
4 Kwasekusithi emva kwezinsuku abantwana bakoAmoni balwa loIsrayeli.
Patapita nthawi Aamoni anadzachita nkhondo ndi Israeli.
5 Kwasekusithi lapho abantwana bakoAmoni besilwa loIsrayeli, abadala beGileyadi bahamba ukuyathatha uJefitha elizweni leTobi,
Tsono pamene Aamoni ankathira nkhondo Aisraeli, akuluakulu a ku Giliyadi anapita kukamutenga Yefita ku dziko la Tobu.
6 bathi kuJefitha: Woza ube ngumkhokheli wethu ukuze silwe labantwana bakoAmoni.
Iwo anati kwa iye, “Bwera ukhale mkulu wathu wankhondo kuti timenyane ndi Amoni.”
7 Kodwa uJefitha wathi kubadala beGileyadi: Lina kalingizondanga yini, langixotsha endlini kababa? Pho, lizelani kimi khathesi nxa selisenhluphekweni?
Yefita anawawuza Agiliyadi kuti, “Kodi inu suja munkadana nane ndi kundithamangitsa ku nyumba ya abambo anga? Nʼchifukwa chiyani lero mwabwera kwa ine pamene muli pa mavuto?”
8 Abadala beGileyadi basebesithi kuJefitha: Ngakho khathesi siyabuyela kuwe ukuze uhambe lathi uyekulwa umelene labantwana bakoAmoni, ube yinhloko yethu phezu kwabo bonke abakhi beGileyadi.
Akuluakulu a ku Giliyadi aja anamuyankha kuti, “Chimene tabwerera kwa iwe ndi chakuti upite nafe kukamenyana ndi Aamoni, ndipo udzakhala wolamulira wa onse okhala mu Giliyadi.”
9 UJefitha wasesithi kubadala beGileyadi: Uba lingibuyisa ukulwa ngimelene labantwana bakoAmoni, iNkosi ibanikele phambi kwami, mina ngizakuba yinhloko yenu yini?
Yefita anawayankha akuluakulu a ku Giliyadi kuti, “Ngati mundibwezeranso kwathu kuti ndikachite nkhondo ndi Aamoni ndipo Yehova nʼkukandithandiza kuwagonjetsa, ndidzakhaladi wokulamulirani?”
10 Abadala beGileyadi basebesithi kuJefitha: INkosi iyezwa phakathi kwethu, uba singenzi njalo njengokwamazwi akho.
Akuluakulu a ku Giliyadi anamuyankha kuti, “Yehova akhale mboni pakati pa inu ndi ife, ngati sitidzachita monga mwa mawu anu.”
11 UJefitha wasehamba labadala beGileyadi, abantu basebemenza waba yinhloko lomkhokheli phezu kwabo. UJefitha wasekhuluma wonke amazwi akhe phambi kweNkosi eMizipa.
Choncho Yefita anapita nawo akuluakulu a ku Giliyadi aja, ndipo anthu a kumeneko anamusandutsa kukhala wowalamulira ndi mkulu wankhondo. Tsono Yefita anabwerezanso mawu omwewa pamaso pa Yehova ku Mizipa.
12 UJefitha wasethuma izithunywa enkosini yabantwana bakoAmoni esithi: Ngilani lawe ukuthi uze kimi ukulwa elizweni lami?
Kenaka Yefita anatuma amithenga kwa mfumu ya Aamoni ndi funso lakuti, “Kodi ife takuchimwirani chiyani kuti muzichita nkhondo ndi dziko langa?”
13 Inkosi yabantwana bakoAmoni yasisithi kuzithunywa zikaJefitha: Ngoba uIsrayeli wathatha ilizwe lami ekwenyukeni kwakhe eGibhithe kusukela eArinoni kuze kube seJaboki kuze kube seJordani; ngakho-ke libuyiseni ngokuthula.
Ndipo mfumu ya Aamoni inayankha amithenga a Yefita aja kuti, “Pamene Israeli amatuluka kuchokera mu Igupto, analanda dziko langa kuyambira ku mtsinje wa Arinoni mpaka ku mtsinje wa Yaboki mpakanso ku mtsinje wa Yorodani. Tsopano mundibwezere dziko langa mwamtendere.”
14 UJefitha wasephinda ethuma izithunywa futhi enkosini yabantwana bakoAmoni,
Yefita anatumizanso amithenga akewo kwa mfumu ya Aamoni
15 wathi kuye: Utsho njalo uJefitha: UIsrayeli kalithathanga ilizwe lakoMowabi lelizwe labantwana bakoAmoni,
kukanena kuti, Yefita akuti, “Israeli sanalande dziko la Mowabu kapena dziko la Aamoni.
16 kodwa ekwenyukeni kwabo besuka eGibhithe uIsrayeli wahamba edabula enkangala waya eLwandle oluBomvu, wafika eKadeshi.
Koma pamene Aisraeli ankachoka ku Igupto anadzera njira ya ku chipululu mpaka ku Nyanja Yofiira nakafika ku Kadesi.
17 UIsrayeli wasethuma izithunywa enkosini yeEdoma esithi: Ake sedlule sidabule elizweni lakho; kodwa inkosi yeEdoma kayilalelanga. Wathumela njalo enkosini yakoMowabi, kodwa kayivumanga. Ngakho uIsrayeli wahlala eKadeshi.
Kenaka Israeli anatumiza amithenga kwa mfumu ya ku Edomu kuti, ‘Chonde tiloleni kuti tidutse mʼdziko lanu,’ Koma mfumu ya ku Edomu sinamvere zimenezo. Aisraeli anatumizanso amithenga kwa mfumu ya ku Mowabu, ndipo iyo inakananso. Choncho Israeli anakhala ku Kadesi.
18 Basebedabula enkangala, balibhoda ilizwe leEdoma lelizwe lakoMowabi, bafika lapho eliphuma khona ilanga kwelizwe lakoMowabi. Bamisa inkamba ngaphetsheya kweArinoni, kodwa kabangenanga emngceleni wakoMowabi, ngoba iArinoni yayingumngcele wakoMowabi.
“Pambuyo pake, Aisraeli ananyamuka ulendo kudzera ku chipululu nazungulira dziko la Edomu ndi dziko la Mowabu, ndipo anafika ku mmawa kwa dziko la Mowabu ndi kumanga zinthando zawo ku mbali ina ya mtsinje wa Arinoni. Iwo sanalowe mʼdziko la Mowabu, chifukwa mtsinje wa Arinoni ndiwo unali malire a dziko la Mowabu.
19 UIsrayeli wasethuma izithunywa kuSihoni inkosi yamaAmori, inkosi yeHeshiboni; uIsrayeli wathi kuye: Ake sedlule elizweni lakho siye endaweni yami.
“Pambuyo pake Israeli anatumiza amithenga kwa Sihoni mfumu ya Aamori, amene amalamulira ku Hesiboni ndipo anati kwa iye, ‘Chonde tiloleni kuti tidutse mʼdziko lanu popita kwathu.’
20 Kodwa uSihoni kamthembanga uIsrayeli ukuthi adlule emngceleni wakhe; kodwa uSihoni wabutha bonke abantu bakhe, wamisa inkamba eJahazi, walwa loIsrayeli.
Koma Sihoni sanalole Israeli kuti adzere mʼdziko mwake. Mʼmalo mwake Sihoni anasonkhanitsa ankhondo ake onse nakamanga msasa ku Yahazi ndipo anachita nkhondo ndi Israeli.
21 Kodwa iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, yanikela uSihoni labo bonke abantu bakhe esandleni sikaIsrayeli, babatshaya. Ngakho uIsrayeli wadla ilifa lelizwe lonke lamaAmori, abahlali balelolizwe.
“Koma Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli anamupereka Sihoni pamodzi ndi anthu ake onse mʼmanja mwa Israeli, ndipo anawagonjetsa. Choncho Aisraeli analanda dziko lonse la Aamori amene amakhala mʼdzikolo.
22 Badla ilifa layo yonke imingcele yamaAmori kusukela eArinoni kuze kube seJaboki, njalo kusukela enkangala kuze kube seJordani.
Analanda dziko lonse kuchokera ku Arinoni mpaka ku Yaboki ndiponso kuchokera ku chipululu mpaka ku mtsinje wa Yorodani.
23 Khathesi-ke iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, yawaxotsha elifeni amaAmori phambi kwabantu bayo uIsrayeli; kanti wena uzakudla ilifa lalo yini?
“Ndiye kuti Yehova Mulungu wa Aisraeli ndiye analanda dziko la Aamori, kuwalandirira anthu ake. Kodi inu mukufuna kutilanda dzikolo?
24 Kawuyikudla yini ilifa lalokhu uKemoshi unkulunkulu wakho akunika ukudla ilifa lakho? Ngakho loba ngubani iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu ezamxotsha elifeni phambi kwethu, lokhu sizakudla ilifa lakho.
Bwanji inu osakhazikika mʼdziko limene Kemosi mulungu wanu anakupatsani, ifenso tikhazikike mʼdziko limene Yehova Mulungu wathu anatipatsa?
25 Pho-ke wena ungcono yini okwedlula uBalaki indodana kaZipori inkosi yakoMowabi? Wake waxabana loIsrayeli; kumbe wake walwa labo yini;
Kodi ndinu abwino kuposa Balaki mwana wa Zipori, mfumu ya Mowabu? Kodi iye anakanganapo kapena kuchita nkhondo ndi Israeli?
26 lapho uIsrayeli esehlala eHeshiboni lemizaneni yayo, leAroweri lemizaneni yayo, lakuyo yonke imizi esekhunjini lweArinoni, iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu? Kungani-ke ungayophulanga ngalesosikhathi?
Pamene Aisraeli ankakhala mʼdziko la Hesiboni ndi mʼmidzi yake, mʼdziko la Aroeri ndi midzi yake, komanso mʼmizinda yonse imene ili mʼmbali mwa mtsinje wa Arinoni kwa zaka 300, nʼchifukwa chiyani inu simunalande malowo nthawi imeneyo?
27 Ngakho mina kangonanga kuwe, kodwa wena wenza okubi kimi ngokulwa lami; iNkosi uMahluleli kahlulele lamuhla phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli labantwana bakoAmoni.
Choncho ine sindinakuchimwireni. Koma inu mukundilakwira pomenyana nane. Yehova woweruza, ndiye aweruze lero mlandu wa pakati pa Aisraeli ndi Aamoni.”
28 Kodwa inkosi yabantwana bakoAmoni kayilalelanga amazwi kaJefitha awathumela kuyo.
Koma mfumu ya Aamori, sinasamale mawu amene Yefita anatumiza kwa iyo.
29 UMoya weNkosi wasesiza phezu kukaJefitha, wedlula eGileyadi leManase, wedlula eMizipa yeGileyadi; esuka eMizipa wedlulela kubantwana bakoAmoni.
Tsono Mzimu wa Yehova unatsikira pa Yefita. Ndipo iye ananyamuka nadzera ku Giliyadi ndi ku Manase. Anafika ku Mizipa mʼdziko la Giliyadi, ndipo kuchokera kumeneko anapita kukalimbana ndi Aamoni.
30 UJefitha wafunga isifungo eNkosini wathi: Uba uzanikela lokunikela abantwana bakoAmoni esandleni sami,
Yefita analumbira kwa Yehova kuti, “Ngati mupereka Aamoni mʼmanja mwanga,
31 kuzakuthi loba yikuphi okuphuma eminyango yendlu yami ukungihlangabeza ekubuyeni kwami ngokuthula ngivela kubantwana bakoAmoni, kuzakuba ngokweNkosi, ngizakunikela kube ngumnikelo wokutshiswa.
aliyense amene atuluke pa khomo la nyumba yanga kudzandichingamira pobwerera nditagonjetsa Aamoni adzakhala wake wa Yehova, ndipo ndidzamupereka kuti akhale nsembe yopsereza.”
32 Ngakho uJefitha wasesedlulela ebantwaneni bakoAmoni ukulwa emelene labo; iNkosi yasibanikela esandleni sakhe.
Kenaka Yefita anawolokera kwa Aamoni kukamenya nawo nkhondo, ndipo Yehova anawaperekadi mʼmanja mwake.
33 Wasebatshaya kusukela eAroweri uze ufike eMinithi, imizi engamatshumi amabili, kuze kube seAbeli-Keramimi, ukutshaya okukhulukazi. Ngokunjalo abantwana bakoAmoni behliselwa phansi phambi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Iye anawononga mizinda makumi awiri kuchokera ku Ariori mpaka pafupi ndi mzinda wa Miniti. Anapitirira mpaka ku Abeli-Keranimu. Choncho Aisraeli anagonjetsa Aamoni.
34 UJefitha wasefika eMizipa endlini yakhe. Khangela-ke, indodakazi yakhe yaphuma ukumhlangabeza, ilezigujana, lemigido; yayiyiyo yodwa eyakhe; ngaphandle kwayo wayengelandodana lendodakazi.
Pambuyo pake Yefita anabwerera ku nyumba yake. Tsono anangoona mwana wake wamkazi akutuluka kudzamuchingamira akuyimba ngʼoma ndi kuvina. Uyu anali mwana yekhayo wa Yefita. Analibenso mwana wina wamwamuna kapena wamkazi.
35 Kwasekusithi lapho eyibona wadabula izigqoko zakhe wathi: Maye ndodakazi yami! Ungithobisile kakhulu, njalo wena uphakathi kwabangihluphayo, ngoba mina ngivule umlomo wami eNkosini, ngingeke ngibuyele emuva.
Yefita ataona mwana wake uja, anangʼamba zovala zake ndi kulira, “Kalanga ine! Mwana wanga! Wandivulaza kwambiri ndipo iwe ndi gwero la mavuto anga. Ine ndinalumbira kwa Yehova ndi pakamwa pangapa ndipo sindingathe kubweza malumbiro angawo.”
36 Yasisithi kuye: Baba, uvulile umlomo wakho eNkosini, yenza kimi njengalokho okuphume emlonyeni wakho, lokhu iNkosi ikuphindisele ezitheni zakho, ebantwaneni bakoAmoni.
Mwanayo anayankha kuti, “Abambo, ngati munalonjeza kwa Yehova ndi pakamwa panu, chitani zimene munalonjezera pakuti Yehova wakuthandizani kulipsira adani anu Amowabu.”
37 Yasisithi kuyise: Akungenzele linto: Ngiyekela inyanga ezimbili, ngiye ngehle ezintabeni, ngililele ubuntombi bami, mina labangane bami.
Anatinso kwa abambo ake, “Ndikupempheni chinthu ichi: Mundilole ndikayendeyende ku mapiri miyezi iwiri ndizikalira pamodzi ndi anzanga chifukwa ndikufa ndikanali namwali wosadziwa mwamuna.”
38 Wasesithi: Hamba. Waseyiyekela ihamba inyanga ezimbili. Yasihamba, yona labangane bayo, yalilela ubuntombi bayo ezintabeni.
Yefita anamuyankha kuti, “Pita.” Ndipo anamulola kuti apite miyezi iwiri. Tsono anapita kumapiri ndi atsikana anzake kukalira chifukwa cha unamwali wake.
39 Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kwenyanga ezimbili yabuyela kuyise, owenza kuyo isifungo sakhe asifungayo; yona kayiyazanga indoda. Kwasekusiba ngumkhuba koIsrayeli:
Miyezi iwiri itatha iye anabwerera kwa abambo ake, ndipo anachitadi zimene analonjeza. Motero unakhala mwambo wa Aisraeli,
40 Iminyaka ngeminyaka amadodakazi akoIsrayeli ayehamba ukuyakhumbula indodakazi kaJefitha umGileyadi insuku ezine ngomnyaka.
kuti atsikana a Israeli ankapita chaka chilichonse kukalira maliro a mwana wa mkazi wa Yefita, Mgiliyadi uja masiku makumi anayi pa chaka.