< Abahluleli 12 >

1 Abantu bakoEfrayimi basebebizelwa ndawonye, bachaphela enyakatho, bathi kuJefitha: Wachaphelani ukuyakulwa umelene labantwana bakoAmoni, lathi ungasibizanga ukuthi sihambe lawe? Sizatshisa ngomlilo indlu yakho phezu kwakho.
Abasajja ba Efulayimu ne bayitibwa okusomoka okulaga mu Zafoni. Ne bagamba Yefusa nti, “Lwaki wagenda okulwanyisa abaana ba Amoni, n’otatuyita kugenda naawe? Tugenda kukwokera mu nnyumba yo.”
2 UJefitha wathi kibo: Mina labantu bami sasilengxabano enkulu labantwana bakoAmoni; sathi silibiza, kalingikhululanga esandleni sabo.
Yefusa n’abaddamu nti, “Nze n’abantu bange twatawaana nnyo okulwanyisa abaana ba Amoni, era nabakoowoola mujje mutubeere, naye temwajja kutubeera kuva mu mukono gwabwe.
3 Kwathi lapho ngibona ukuthi kalisizanga, ngabeka impilo yami esandleni sami, ngachaphela ebantwaneni bakoAmoni, iNkosi yabanikela esandleni sami. Pho, lenyukeleleni kimi lamuhla ukulwa limelene lami?
Bwe nalaba nga temuzze kutubeera, ne nteeka obulamu bwange mu ngalo zange, ne nsomoka okulwana n’abaana ba Amoni, era Mukama Katonda n’abagabula mu mukono gwange. Kaakano kiki ekibaleeta gye ndi okulwana nange leero?”
4 UJefitha wasebutha wonke amadoda eGileyadi walwa loEfrayimi; amadoda eGileyadi asemtshaya uEfrayimi, ngoba athi: Lingababalekileyo bakoEfrayimi, lina beGileyadi, phakathi kukaEfrayimi loManase.
Awo Yefusa n’akuŋŋaanya abantu b’e Gireyaadi bonna, ne balwanyisa Efulayimu. Abasajja ab’e Gireyaadi baabalwanyisa kubanga Efulayimu baayogera nti, “Mmwe muli bakyewaggula ba Efulayimu ab’e Gireyaadi, wakati mu Efulayimu ne mu Manase.”
5 AbeGileyadi basebethumba amazibuko eJordani aya koEfrayimi. Kwakusithi lapho iziphepheli zakoEfrayimi zisithi: Ake ngichaphe; amadoda eGileyadi athi kuye: UngumEfrayimi yini? Lapho esithi: Hatshi;
Ab’e Gireyaadi ne bawamba ebifo bya Yoludaani okusomokerwa okutuuka mu Efulayimu, era bwe waabangawo ku bakomawo aba Efulayimu eyayagalanga okusomoka, abasajja ab’e Gireyaadi nga bamubuuza nti, “Oli Mwefulayimu?”
6 basebesithi kuye: Ake uthi: Shibolethi. Athi: Sibolethi; ngoba engelakulikhuluma kuhle. Basebembamba, bemhlaba emazibukweni eJordani. Kwasekusiwa ngalesosikhathi kwabakoEfrayimi abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane lambili.
Bwe yeegananga, nga bamugamba ayogere nti, “Shibbolesi.” Bwe yayogeranga nti, “Sibbolesi,” kubanga teyayinzanga kukyogera bulungi, ng’akwatibwa era ng’attibwa awo awasomokerwa ku Yoludaani. Mu biro ebyo, mu Efulayimu ne mufaamu abantu emitwalo ena mu enkumi bbiri.
7 UJefitha wasesahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisithupha. Wasesifa uJefitha umGileyadi, wangcwatshelwa komunye wemizi yeGileyadi.
Awo Yefusa n’alamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka mukaaga. Yefusa Omugireyaadi n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu kimu ku kibuga bya Gireyaadi.
8 Emva kwakhe-ke uIbizani weBhethelehema wahlulela uIsrayeli.
Oluvannyuma lwa Yefusa, Ibuzaani ow’e Besirekemu n’alamula Isirayiri.
9 Njalo wayelamadodana angamatshumi amathathu, wathumela ngaphandle amadodakazi angamatshumi amathathu, wangenisela amadodana akhe amadodakazi angamatshumi amathathu evela ngaphandle; wahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi asatu, n’abaana aboobuwala amakumi asatu. Bawala be n’abafumbiza abantu abataali ba kika kye, ne batabani be n’abawasiza abawala abataali ba kika kye. N’akulembera Isirayiri okumala emyaka musanvu.
10 Wasesifa uIbizani, wangcwatshelwa eBhethelehema.
Ibuzaani n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Besirekemu.
11 Njalo emva kwakhe uEloni umZebuloni wahlulela uIsrayeli; wahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka elitshumi.
Oluvannyuma lwa Ibuzaani, Eroni Omuzebbulooni, n’alamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka kkumi.
12 Wasesifa uEloni umZebuloni, wangcwatshelwa eAjaloni, elizweni lakoZebuluni.
Eroni Omuzebbulooni n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Ayalooni mu nsi ya Zebbulooni.
13 Emva kwakhe-ke uAbidoni indodana kaHileli umPirathoni wahlulela uIsrayeli.
Awo oluvannyuma lwa Eroni, Abudoni mutabani wa Kereri Omupirasoni n’alamula Isirayiri.
14 Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amane, lamadodana amadodana angamatshumi amathathu, ayegada amathole abobabhemi angamatshumi ayisikhombisa; wahlulela uIsrayeli iminyaka eyisificaminwembili.
Yalina abaana aboobulenzi amakumi ana, n’abazzukulu amakumi asatu abeebagalanga endogoyi nsanvu. Yalamula Isirayiri okumala emyaka munaana.
15 Wasesifa uAbidoni indodana kaHileli umPirathoni, wangcwatshelwa ePirathoni elizweni lakoEfrayimi entabeni zamaAmaleki.
Abudoni mutabani wa Kireri Omupirasoni n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Pirasoni mu nsi ya Efulayimu, mu nsi ey’Abamaleki ey’ensozi.

< Abahluleli 12 >