Vatongi 6
1 VaIsraeri vakaitazve zvakaipa pamberi paJehovha, uye akavaisa mumaoko avaMidhiani kwamakore manomwe.
Abako-Israyeli benza okubi futhi emehlweni kaThixo, wabanikela ezandleni zamaMidiyani iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
2 Nokuda kwokuti ruoko rwavaMidhiani rwakavadzvinyirira kwazvo, vaIsraeri vakazvigadzirira nzvimbo dzokuvanda mumakomo, mumapako uye nenhare.
Ngenxa yokuthi umbuso wamaMidiyani wawuncindezela kakhulu, abako-Israyeli bazakhela amadumba ezingoxweni zezintaba, lasezimbalwini kanye lasezinqabeni.
3 VaIsraeri vaingoti vakadyara mbeu dzavo, vaMidhiani, vaAmareki navamwe vanhu vokumabvazuva, vaiuya kuzorwisa nyika yavo.
Kwakusithi abako-Israyeli bangalima izilimo zabo, amaMidiyani lama-Amaleki kanye labanye abantu basempumalanga bahlasele ilizwe labo.
4 Vakadzika misasa yavo munyika uye vakaparadza zvirimwa kubva kuGaza yose, uye havana kusiyira vaIsraeri chinhu, makwai, mombe kana mbongoro.
Bahlala elizweni bachitha izilimo umango wonke kusiya eGaza kabaze bamtshiyela lutho oluphilayo u-Israyeli, loba izimvu kumbe inkomo loba obabhemi.
5 Vakauya nezvipfuwo zvavo namatende avo vakawanda sechimokoto chemhashu. Zvakanga zvisingagoneki kuti uverenge vanhu nengamera dzavo; vakapinda munyika kuti vaiparadze.
Beza lezifuyo zabo lamathente abo benjengemitshitshi yezintethe ngobunengi. Ubunengi babantu lamakamela abo kwakungabaleki; bahlasela ilizwe balichithiza.
6 VaMidhiani vakaita kuti vaIsraeri vave varombo zvokuti vakachema kuna Jehovha kuti avabatsire.
AmaMidiyani abaphundla abako-Israyeli baze bakhala kuThixo ukuba abasize.
7 VaIsraeri vakati vachema kuna Jehovha nokuda kwavaMidhiani,
Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebekhalile kuThixo ngenxa yamaMidiyani,
8 Akatuma muprofita, akati kwavari, “Zvanzi naJehovha: Mwari waIsraeri: Ndakakubudisai kubva muIjipiti, munyika youtapwa.
wabathumela umphrofethi, owathi, “Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli: Ngalikhupha eGibhithe, ngalikhupha elizweni lobugqili.
9 Ndakakubvutai kubva musimba reIjipiti, nokubva muruoko rwavadzvinyiriri venyu vose. Ndakavadzinga pamberi penyu ndikakupai nyika yavo.
Ngalihluthuna emandleni eGibhithe lasezandleni zabancindezeli benu bonke. Ngabaxotsha phambi kwenu ngalipha ilizwe labo.
10 Ndakati kwamuri, ‘Ndini Jehovha Mwari wenyu, musanamata vamwari vavaAmori, vamugere munyika yavo.’ Asi hamuna kunditeerera.”
Ngathi kini, ‘Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, lingabakhonzi onkulunkulu bama-Amori, elihlala elizweni lawo.’ Kodwa kalingilalelanga.”
11 Mutumwa waJehovha akauya akagara pasi pomuouki muOfira raJoashi muAbhiezeri, paipurwa gorosi naGidheoni mwanakomana wake muchisviniro chewaini, kuti aivanze kubva kuvaMidhiani.
Ingilosi kaThixo yafika yahlala ngaphansi kwesihlahla somʼOkhi e-Ofira esasingesikaJowashi umʼAbhiyezeri lapho indodana yakhe uGidiyoni eyayibhula khona amabele esikhamelweni sewayini ukuze iwafihlele amaMidiyani.
12 Mutumwa waJehovha akati azviratidza kuna Gidheoni, akati kwaari, “Jehovha anewe, iwe murume wesimba noumhare.”
Ingilosi kaThixo isibonakele kuGidiyoni yathi kuye, “UThixo ulawe, butho elilamandla.”
13 Gidheoni akapindura akati, “Asika, ishe wangu, kana Jehovha anesu, seiko izvi zvose zvakaitika kwatiri? Zvishamiso zvake zvose zviripiko zvatakaudzwa namadzibaba edu pavakati, ‘Jehovha haana kutibudisa muIjipiti here?’ Asi zvino Jehovha akatisiya uye akatiisa muruoko rwavaMidhiani.”
UGidiyoni waphendula wathi, “Kodwa nkosi, nxa uThixo elathi, pho kungani konke lokhu kwenzakele kithi? Zingaphi izimanga zakhe zonke obaba abasitshela ngazo besithi, ‘UThixo kasikhuphanga eGibhithe na?’ Kodwa khathesi uThixo usesidelile wasinikela ezandleni zamaMidiyani.”
14 Jehovha akatendeukira kwaari akati, “Enda nesimba raunaro uponese Israeri muruoko rwavaMidhiani. Handizini ndakutuma here?”
UThixo waphendukela kuye wathi, “Hamba ngamandla olawo uhlenge u-Israyeli ezandleni zamaMidiyani. Kanti kangikuthumi na?”
15 Gidheoni akabvunza akati, “Asika Ishe, ndingaponesa Israeri seiko? Imba yangu ndiyo dukusa maManase, uye ini ndiri mudukusa mumhuri yangu.”
UGidiyoni wabuza wathi, “Kodwa nkosi yami, u-Israyeli ngingamhlenga kanjani na? Usendo lwakwethu koManase kalulamandla, njalo mina ngingomncinyane emulini yakwethu.”
16 Jehovha akapindura akati, “Ndichava newe, uye iwe uchauraya vaMidhiani vose pamwe chete.”
UThixo waphendula wathi, “Ngizakuba lawe, njalo uzawacakazela phansi wonke amaMidiyani, ungatshiyi lamunye wabo.”
17 Gidheoni akapindura akati, “Zvino kana ndawana nyasha pamberi penyu, ndipei chiratidzo kuti ndizive kuti ndimi munotaura neni.
UGidiyoni waphendula wathi, “Nxa khathesi sengithole umusa emehlweni akho, nginika isibonakaliso sokuthi impela nguwe sibili okhuluma lami.
18 Ndapota hangu, musabva pano kusvikira ndadzoka uye ndauya nechipiriso changu ndigochiisa pamberi penyu.” Uye Jehovha akati, “Ndichamira pano kusvikira wadzoka.”
Ngiyakucela ukuba ungahambi ngize ngiphenduke ngilethe umnikelo wami ngiwubeke phambi kwakho.” UThixo wathi, “Ngizahlala uze uphenduke.”
19 Gidheoni akapinda, akandogadzira mbudzana, uye akaita chingwa chisina kuviriswa cheefa youpfu hwakatsetseka. Akaisa nyama mudengu uye muto wayo akauisa muhari, akabuda nazvo akazvipa kwaari pasi pomuouki.
UGidiyoni wangena phakathi wahlaba izinyane lembuzi, wasesenza isinkwa esingelamvubelo ngehefa yefulawa. Esebeke inyama esitsheni lomhluzi wayo embizeni, waphuma lakho wayakunikela kuye ngaphansi komʼOkhi.
20 Mutumwa waMwari akati kwaari, “Tora nyama nechingwa chisina mbiriso, uzviise paruware urwu, uye ugodirapo muto wacho.” Uye Gidheoni akaita saizvozvo.
Ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yathi kuye, “Thatha inyama lesinkwa esingelamvubelo ukubeke phezu kwedwala leli, uthele umhluzi.” UGidiyoni wenza njalo.
21 Mutumwa waJehovha akagunzva nyama nechingwa chisina mbiriso nomuromo wetsvimbo yaiva muruoko rwake. Moto wakabuda paruware, ukapisa nyama nechingwa. Ipapo mutumwa waJehovha akanyangarika.
Ngesihloko somqwayi eyayiwuphethe ingilosi kaThixo yathinta inyama lesinkwa esingelamvubelo. Umlilo walavuka edwaleni watshisa inyama lesinkwa. Ingilosi kaThixo yasinyamalala.
22 Gidheoni akati aziva kuti akanga ari mutumwa waJehovha, akadanidzira akati, “Maiwe, Ishe Jehovha! Ndaona mutumwa waJehovha chiso nechiso!”
Kwathi uGidiyoni esenanzelele ukuthi kwakuyingilosi kaThixo, wamemeza wathi, “Awu, Thixo Wobukhosi! Ngibone ingilosi kaThixo ubuso ngobuso!”
23 Asi Jehovha akati kwaari, “Rugare! Usatya. Hausi kuzofa.”
Kodwa uThixo wathi kuye, “Ukuthula! Ungesabi. Kawuyikufa.”
24 Saka Gidheoni akavakira Jehovha aritari ipapo akaitumidza kuti Jehovha Ndiye Rugare. Nanhasi ichakamirapo muOfira ravaAbhiezeri.
Ngakho uGidiyoni wakhela uThixo i-alithari khonapho walibiza ngokuthi uThixo uyiKuthula. Kuze kube lamhla likhona e-Ofira lama-Abhiyezeri.
25 Usiku hwacho ihwohwo Jehovha akati kwaari, “Tora hando yechipiri kubva pamombe dzababa vako iyo ina makore manomwe. Uputsire pasi aritari yababa vako yaBhaari uye ugotema danda raAshera riri pairi.
Ngalobobusuku uThixo wathi kuye, “Thatha inkunzi yesibili emhlambini kayihlo, eleminyaka eyisikhombisa ubudala. Udilize i-alithari likayihlo alakhela uBhali, ugamule lezinsika zika-Ashera eziphansi kwalo.
26 Ipapo ugovakira Jehovha Mwari wako aritari kwayo pamusoro penhare iyi. Utore hando yechipiri ugoibayira sechipiriso chinopiswa uchishandisa huni dzedanda raAshera rawakatema.”
Emva kwalokho wakhele uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho umhlobo we-alithari oluyilo engqongeni yalinqaba. Unikele inkunzi yesibili njengomnikelo wokutshiswa usebenzisa inkuni zensika zika-Ashera ozigamuleyo.”
27 Saka Gidheoni akatora varanda vake gumi akaita sezvaakaudzwa naJehovha. Asi nokuda kwokuti akanga achitya vemhuri yake uye navanhu vomuguta, akaita izvi usiku pano kuzviita masikati.
Ngakho uGidiyoni wathatha izinceku zakhe ezilitshumi wenza njengokutshelwa kwakhe nguThixo. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayesesaba abemuli yakwabo labantu basedolobheni, wakwenza ebusuku kulokuba kube semini.
28 Vanhu vomuguta vakati vachimuka mangwanani, vakaona heyo aritari yaBhaari yakaputswa, nedanda raAshera parutivi rwayo rakatemwa, uye hando yechipiri yakabayirwa paaritari itsva yakanga yavakwa!
Ekuseni kwathi abantu bedolobho lelo bevuka babona i-alithari likaBhali lidiliziwe, lezinsika zika-Ashera emaceleni alo ziganyulwe lenkunzi yesibili inikelwe phezu kwe-alithari elalisanda kwakhiwa!
29 Vakabvunzana vakati, “Ndianiko aita izvi?” Vakati vanyatsoferefeta, vakaudzwa kuti, “Gidheoni mwanakomana waJoashi ndiye aita izvi.”
Babuzana besithi, “Ngubani owenze lokhu?” Kwathi sebebuzisise kakuhle babatshela ukuthi, “Kwenziwe nguGidiyoni indodana kaJowashi.”
30 Vanhu vomuguta vakati kuna Joashi, “Budisa mwanakomana wako. Anofanira kufa, nokuti akaputsa aritari dzaBhaari uye akatema danda raAshera parutivi payo.”
Abantu bakulelodolobho bathonisa uJowashi bathi, “Ikhuphe indodana yakho. Kumele ife, ngoba idilize i-alithari likaBhali yagamula lezinsika zika-Ashera emaceleni alo.”
31 Asi Joashi akapindura ungano yakanga ine hasha kwazvo yakamukomberedza akati, “Ko, imi munoda kurwira Bhaari here? Muri kuda kuedza kumuponesa here? Ani naani achamurwira achaurayiwa mangwanani ano! Kana Bhaari ari mwari chaiye, anogona kuzvidzivirira kana mumwe munhu achiputsa aritari yake.”
Kodwa uJowashi waphendula ixuku lelo elalifuthelene limhanqile wathi, “Lizakhulumela uBhali na? Lizama ukumhlenga na? Loba ngubani omlwelayo uzabulawa ekuseni! Nxa uBhali engunkulunkulu sibili, angazivikela nxa umuntu ediliza i-alithari lakhe.”
32 Saka pazuva iroro vakatumidza Gidheoni zita rokuti, “Jerubhi-Bhaari,” vachiti, “Bhaari ngaarwe naye, nokuti akaputsa aritari yaBhaari.”
Ngakho ngalelolanga uGidiyoni bambiza ngokuthi “Jerubhi-Bhali,” besithi, “UBhali kalwe laye,” ngoba wadiliza i-alithari likaBhali.
33 Zvino vaMidhiani, vaAmareki navamwe vanhu vokumabvazuva vakabatana vakayambuka Jorodhani vakandodzika matende avo muMupata weJezireeri.
Ngalesosikhathi wonke amaMidiyani, lama-Amaleki kanye labanye abantu basempumalanga bamanyana bachapha iJodani, bamisa eSigodini saseJezerili.
34 Ipapo mweya waJehovha wakauya pamusoro paGidheoni, uye akaridza hwamanda, achidana vaAbhiezeri kuti vamutevere.
Umoya kaThixo wafika kuGidiyoni, wasetshaya icilongo emema ama-Abhiyezeri ukuba amlandele.
35 Akatuma nhume munyika yose yaManase, achivakoka kuhondo, uyewo muAsheri, Zebhuruni neNafutari, kuti naivowo vakwidze kundosangana navo.
Wathuma izithunywa kulolonke elakoManase, ebatshela ukuba bahlome, lako-Asheri, koZebhuluni kanye lakoNafithali, ukuze labo bayebahlangabeza.
36 Gidheoni akati kuna Mwari, “Kana muchizoponesa Israeri noruoko rwangu sezvamakavimbisa,
UGidiyoni wathi kuNkulunkulu, “Nxa uzasindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami njengoba uthembisile,
37 tarirai, ndichaisa chisumbu chewuru paburiro. Kana dova rikava pachisumbu chewuru chete uye pasi pose pakaoma, ipapo ndichaziva kuti muchaponesa Israeri noruoko rwangu, sezvamakareva.”
khangela ngizabeka uboya bewulu esizeni. Kungaba lamazolo eboyeni bewulu kuphela iphansi lomile, ngizakwazi ukuthi uzamsindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami njengoba utshilo.”
38 Uye izvi ndizvo zvakaitika. Gidheoni akamuka mangwanani ezuva rakatevera; akasvina chisumbu chewuru akabudisa dova, akazadza mbiya nemvura.
Lokho yikho okwenzakalayo. Kusisa uGidiyoni wavuka ekuseni wakhama uboya wahluza amazolo, umganu wagcwala amanzi.
39 Ipapo Gidheoni akati kuna Mwari, “Musanditsamwira henyu. Regai ndiite hangu chimwezve chikumbiro. Nditenderei ndiedzezve nechisumbu chewuru. Panguva ino itai kuti chisumbu chewuru chiome asi pasi pose pafukidzwe nedova.”
UGidiyoni wasesithi kuNkulunkulu, “Ungangithukutheleli. Ngivumela ngenze esinye isicelo esisodwa. Ngivumela ukuhlola kanye futhi ngoboya. Khathesi yomisa uboya kuthi iphansi ligcwale amazolo.”
40 Usiku ihwohwo Mwari akaita izvozvo. Wuru yakanga yakaoma; pasi pose pakanga pakafukidzwa nedova.
Ngalobobusuku uNkulunkulu wenza njalo. Uboya kuphela yibo obabomile; iphansi lonke ligcwele amazolo.
