< Abahluleli 11 >

1 Njalo uJefitha umGileyadi wayeliqhawe elilamandla, wayeyindodana yewule; uGileyadi wasezala uJefitha.
Jefuta muGireadhi, akanga ari murwi ane simba. Baba vake vainzi Gireadhi; mai vake vakanga vari chifeve.
2 UmkaGileyadi wasemzalela amadodana; kwathi amadodana omkakhe esekhulile amxotsha uJefitha, athi kuye: Kawuyikudla ilifa endlini kababa, ngoba uyindodana yomunye umfazi.
Mukadzi waGireadhi akamuberekerawo vanakomana, uye vakati vakura, vakadzinga Jefuta. Vakati, “Iwe hauna nhaka ipi zvayo yauchawana mumhuri yedu, nokuti uri mwanakomana womumwe mukadzi.”
3 UJefitha wasebalekela abafowabo, wahlala elizweni leTobi. Amadoda ayize asebuthana kuJefitha, aphuma laye.
Saka Jefuta akatiza kubva pavanunʼuna vake akandogara munyika yeTobhi, uko kwaakandounganirwa navarume vakaipa uye vakamutevera.
4 Kwasekusithi emva kwezinsuku abantwana bakoAmoni balwa loIsrayeli.
Mushure menguva yakati kuti, vaAmoni vakarwa navaIsraeri,
5 Kwasekusithi lapho abantwana bakoAmoni besilwa loIsrayeli, abadala beGileyadi bahamba ukuyathatha uJefitha elizweni leTobi,
Vakuru veGireadhi vakaenda kundotora Jefuta kubva kunyika yeTobhi.
6 bathi kuJefitha: Woza ube ngumkhokheli wethu ukuze silwe labantwana bakoAmoni.
Vakati, “Uya uzova mutungamiri wehondo, kuti tigorwa navaAmoni.”
7 Kodwa uJefitha wathi kubadala beGileyadi: Lina kalingizondanga yini, langixotsha endlini kababa? Pho, lizelani kimi khathesi nxa selisenhluphekweni?
Jefuta akati kwavari, “Hamuna kundivenga here mukandidzinga mumba mababa vangu? Sei mava kuuya kwandiri zvino, imi mava munhamo?”
8 Abadala beGileyadi basebesithi kuJefitha: Ngakho khathesi siyabuyela kuwe ukuze uhambe lathi uyekulwa umelene labantwana bakoAmoni, ube yinhloko yethu phezu kwabo bonke abakhi beGileyadi.
Vakuru veGireadhi vakati kwaari, “Zvisinei hazvo, isu hedu tiri kudzokera kwamuri iye zvino; handei tose kundorwa navaAmoni, uye muchava mukuru wedu pamusoro pavose vagere muGireadhi.”
9 UJefitha wasesithi kubadala beGileyadi: Uba lingibuyisa ukulwa ngimelene labantwana bakoAmoni, iNkosi ibanikele phambi kwami, mina ngizakuba yinhloko yenu yini?
Jefuta akapindura akati, “Ngatimboti madzokera neni kundorwa navaAmoni uye Jehovha akavapa kwandiri, ndichava mukuru wenyu zvechokwadi here?”
10 Abadala beGileyadi basebesithi kuJefitha: INkosi iyezwa phakathi kwethu, uba singenzi njalo njengokwamazwi akho.
Vakuru veGireadhi vakapindura vakati, “Jehovha ndiye chapupu chedu; zvirokwazvo tichaita sezvaunoreva.”
11 UJefitha wasehamba labadala beGileyadi, abantu basebemenza waba yinhloko lomkhokheli phezu kwabo. UJefitha wasekhuluma wonke amazwi akhe phambi kweNkosi eMizipa.
Saka Jefuta akaenda navakuru veGireadhi, vanhu vakamuita mukuru wavo uye nomutungamiri wehondo. Uye akadzokorora mashoko ake ose pamberi paJehovha muMizipa.
12 UJefitha wasethuma izithunywa enkosini yabantwana bakoAmoni esithi: Ngilani lawe ukuthi uze kimi ukulwa elizweni lami?
Ipapo Jefuta akatuma nhume kuna mambo wavaAmoni nomubvunzo wokuti, “Mhosva yamunayo nesu ndeyeiko zvamunorwisa nyika yedu?”
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.
Mambo wavaAmoni akapindura nhume dzaJefuta achiti, “VaIsraeri pavakabuda muIjipiti, vakatora nyika yangu kubva kuArinoni kusvikira kuJabhoki, kwose nokuJorodhani. Zvino idzosei norugare.”
14 UJefitha wasephinda ethuma izithunywa futhi enkosini yabantwana bakoAmoni,
Jefuta akatumazve nhume kuna mambo wavaAmoni
15 wathi kuye: Utsho njalo uJefitha: UIsrayeli kalithathanga ilizwe lakoMowabi lelizwe labantwana bakoAmoni,
achiti, “Zvanzi naJefuta: Israeri haina kutora nyika yeMoabhu kana nyika yavaAmoni.
16 kodwa ekwenyukeni kwabo besuka eGibhithe uIsrayeli wahamba edabula enkangala waya eLwandle oluBomvu, wafika eKadeshi.
Asi pavakabuda muIjipiti, Israeri yakaenda nomurenje kusvikira kuGungwa Dzvuku uye nokumusoro kuKadheshi.
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.
Ipapo Israeri yakatuma nhume kuna mambo weEdhomu, ichiti, ‘Titendereiwo kupfuura nomunyika yenyu,’ asi mambo weEdhomu akaramba kunzwa. Vakatumawo nhume kuna mambo weMoabhu, naiyewo akaramba. Saka vakagara paKadheshi.
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.
“Shure kwaizvozvo vakafamba nomurenje, vachitenderera nyika dzeEdhomu neMoabhu, vakandodzika musasa kuno rumwe rutivi rweArinoni. Havana kupinda munyika yeMoabhu, nokuti Arinoni waiva muganhu wayo.
19 UIsrayeli wasethuma izithunywa kuSihoni inkosi yamaAmori, inkosi yeHeshiboni; uIsrayeli wathi kuye: Ake sedlule elizweni lakho siye endaweni yami.
“Ipapo vaIsraeri vakatuma nhume kuna Sihoni mambo wavaAmori, akanga achitonga muHeshibhoni, akati kwaari, ‘Titendereiwo kupfuura nomunyika yenyu tichienda kunzvimbo yedu.’
20 Kodwa uSihoni kamthembanga uIsrayeli ukuthi adlule emngceleni wakhe; kodwa uSihoni wabutha bonke abantu bakhe, wamisa inkamba eJahazi, walwa loIsrayeli.
Kunyange zvakadaro, Sihoni haana kuvimba navaIsraeri kuti vapfuure nomunyika yake. Akaunganidza vanhu vake vose vakandodzika musasa paJahazi uye vakarwa navaIsraeri.
21 Kodwa iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, yanikela uSihoni labo bonke abantu bakhe esandleni sikaIsrayeli, babatshaya. Ngakho uIsrayeli wadla ilifa lelizwe lonke lamaAmori, abahlali balelolizwe.
“Ipapo Jehovha, Mwari waIsraeri, akaisa Sihoni navanhu vake vose mumaoko avaIsraeri, uye vakavakunda. Israeri yakatora nyika yose yavaAmori vaigara munyika iyo,
22 Badla ilifa layo yonke imingcele yamaAmori kusukela eArinoni kuze kube seJaboki, njalo kusukela enkangala kuze kube seJordani.
vakaitapa yose kubva paArinoni kusvikira kuJabhoki uye kubva kurenje kusvikira kuJorodhani.
23 Khathesi-ke iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, yawaxotsha elifeni amaAmori phambi kwabantu bayo uIsrayeli; kanti wena uzakudla ilifa lalo yini?
“Zvino sezvo Jehovha, Mwari waIsraeri akadzinga vaAmori pamberi pavanhu vake Israeri, iwe une kodzero ipi yokuti uitore?
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.
Ko, hautori here zvaunopiwa namwari wako Kemoshi? Naizvozvo zvose zvatinopiwa naJehovha Mwari wedu, ndizvo zvatichatora.
25 Pho-ke wena ungcono yini okwedlula uBalaki indodana kaZipori inkosi yakoMowabi? Wake waxabana loIsrayeli; kumbe wake walwa labo yini;
Ko, iwe uri nani kupfuura Bharaki mwanakomana waZipori mambo weMoabhu here? Akambopopotedzana navaIsraeri kana kurwa navo here?
26 lapho uIsrayeli esehlala eHeshiboni lemizaneni yayo, leAroweri lemizaneni yayo, lakuyo yonke imizi esekhunjini lweArinoni, iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu? Kungani-ke ungayophulanga ngalesosikhathi?
Israeri yakagara muHeshibhoni, Aroeri, nemisha yakapoteredza uye namaguta ose akatarisana neArinoni. Wakaregereiko kuatora panguva iyoyo?
27 Ngakho mina kangonanga kuwe, kodwa wena wenza okubi kimi ngokulwa lami; iNkosi uMahluleli kahlulele lamuhla phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli labantwana bakoAmoni.
Ini handina kukutadzira asi iwe ndiwe wava kundikanganisira nokuda kurwa neni. Jehovha, iye mutongi ngaatonge, ngaatonge gakava iri nhasi riri pakati pavaIsraeri navaAmoni.”
28 Kodwa inkosi yabantwana bakoAmoni kayilalelanga amazwi kaJefitha awathumela kuyo.
Kunyange zvakadaro, mambo weAmoni, haana kuteerera nhume dzaJefuta dzaakatuma.
29 UMoya weNkosi wasesiza phezu kukaJefitha, wedlula eGileyadi leManase, wedlula eMizipa yeGileyadi; esuka eMizipa wedlulela kubantwana bakoAmoni.
Ipapo Mweya waJehovha wakauya pamusoro paJefuta. Akayambuka Gireadhi neManase, akapfuura napaMizipa yeGireadhi, uye kubva ipapo akafamba akandorwa navaAmoni.
30 UJefitha wafunga isifungo eNkosini wathi: Uba uzanikela lokunikela abantwana bakoAmoni esandleni sami,
Uye Jefuta akaita mhiko kuna Jehovha akati, “Kana mukaisa vaAmoni mumaoko angu,
31 kuzakuthi loba yikuphi okuphuma eminyango yendlu yami ukungihlangabeza ekubuyeni kwami ngokuthula ngivela kubantwana bakoAmoni, kuzakuba ngokweNkosi, ngizakunikela kube ngumnikelo wokutshiswa.
chose chichabuda napamukova weimba yangu kuzosangana neni pakudzoka kwangu ndakunda vaAmoni, chichava chaJehovha, uye ndichachibayira sechipiriso chinopiswa.”
32 Ngakho uJefitha wasesedlulela ebantwaneni bakoAmoni ukulwa emelene labo; iNkosi yasibanikela esandleni sakhe.
Ipapo Jefuta akabuda kundorwa navaAmoni, uye Jehovha akavapa mumaoko ake.
33 Wasebatshaya kusukela eAroweri uze ufike eMinithi, imizi engamatshumi amabili, kuze kube seAbeli-Keramimi, ukutshaya okukhulukazi. Ngokunjalo abantwana bakoAmoni behliselwa phansi phambi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.
Akaparadza maguta makumi maviri kubva kuAroeri kusvikira pedyo neMiniti, akandoguma kuAbheri Keramimi. Nokudaro Israeri yakakunda Amoni.
34 UJefitha wasefika eMizipa endlini yakhe. Khangela-ke, indodakazi yakhe yaphuma ukumhlangabeza, ilezigujana, lemigido; yayiyiyo yodwa eyakhe; ngaphandle kwayo wayengelandodana lendodakazi.
Jefuta akati odzokera kumusha kwake kuMizipa, ndiani akazouya kuzomuchingamidza kunze kwomwanasikana wake, achitamba, matambureni achiridzwa! Ndiye akanga achingova mwana wake oga. Akanga asina mwanakomana kana mwanasikana kunze kwake iye oga.
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.
Akati achimuona akabvarura nguo dzake uye akachema achiti, “Haiwa mwanasikana wangu! Wandishungurudza nokuti ndaita mhiko kuna Jehovha yandisingagoni kuputsa.”
36 Yasisithi kuye: Baba, uvulile umlomo wakho eNkosini, yenza kimi njengalokho okuphume emlonyeni wakho, lokhu iNkosi ikuphindisele ezitheni zakho, ebantwaneni bakoAmoni.
Akapindura akati, “Baba vangu, mapa shoko renyu kuna Jehovha. Ndiitirei henyu sezvamakavimbisa, sezvo zvino Jehovha akatsivira vavengi venyu, ivo vaAmoni.
37 Yasisithi kuyise: Akungenzele linto: Ngiyekela inyanga ezimbili, ngiye ngehle ezintabeni, ngililele ubuntombi bami, mina labangane bami.
Asi nditenderei henyu chikumbiro chimwe chete ichi. Ndipei henyu mwedzi miviri kuti ndiende kuzvikomo ndinochema pamwe chete neshamwari dzangu, nokuti handichazowanikwi.”
38 Wasesithi: Hamba. Waseyiyekela ihamba inyanga ezimbili. Yasihamba, yona labangane bayo, yalilela ubuntombi bayo ezintabeni.
Iye akati, “Ungaenda hako.” Uye akamutendera kuti aende kwemwedzi miviri. Iye navamwe vasikana vakaenda kuzvikomo vakandochema nokuti akanga asingazombowanikwi.
39 Kwasekusithi ekupheleni kwenyanga ezimbili yabuyela kuyise, owenza kuyo isifungo sakhe asifungayo; yona kayiyazanga indoda. Kwasekusiba ngumkhuba koIsrayeli:
Shure kwemwedzi miviri akadzoka kuna baba vake uye vakaita kwaari sezvavakanga vapika. Uye akanga ari mhandara. Ndipo pakabva tsika yavaIsraeri
40 Iminyaka ngeminyaka amadodakazi akoIsrayeli ayehamba ukuyakhumbula indodakazi kaJefitha umGileyadi insuku ezine ngomnyaka.
yokuti gore rimwe nerimwe, vanasikana veIsraeri vanobuda kwamazuva mana kundoita chirangaridzo chomwanasikana waJefuta muGireadhi.

< Abahluleli 11 >