< Vatongi 1 >

1 Mushure mokufa kwaJoshua, vaIsraeri vakabvunza Jehovha vakati, “Ndiani pakati pedu achatanga kukwidza kundorwa navaKenani?”
Emva kokufa kukaJoshuwa, abako-Israyeli babuza uThixo bathi, “Pho ngubani ozahamba kuqala ukuba ayesilwela lamaKhenani na?”
2 Jehovha akapindura akati, “Judha ngaaende; ndapa nyika mumaoko ake.”
UThixo waphendula wathi, “NguJuda ozahamba; ilizwe sengilinikele ezandleni zabo.”
3 Ipapo varume veJudha vakati kuvaSimeoni hama dzavo, “Ngatiendei tose kunyika yatakagoverwa, kuti tindorwa navaKenani. Nesuwo tichaenda nemi kumugove wenyu.” Saka vaSimeoni vakaenda navo.
Lapho-ke abantu bakoJuda bathi kwabakoSimiyoni abafowabo, “Hambani lathi elizweni esalabelwayo, ukuyakulwa lamaKhenani. Lathi sizakwenanisa ngokuhamba lani kwelenu.” Ngakho abakoSimiyoni ahamba labo.
4 Judha paakarwisa, Jehovha akaisa vaKenani navaPerizi mumaoko avo uye vakauraya varume zviuru gumi paBhezeki.
Kwathi uJuda esehlasele, uThixo wanikela amaKhenani lamaPherizi ezandleni zabo, wabulala abantu abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi eBhezekhi.
5 Ipapo ndipo pavakawana Adhoni Bhezeki vakarwa naye.
Kukhonapho abafica khona u-Adoni-Bhezekhi balwa laye, baqothula amaKhenani kanye lamaPherizi.
6 Adhoni Bhezeki akatiza, asi vakamudzinganisa vakamubata, vakagura zvigunwe zvake zvikuru zvomumaoko nezvigunwe zvake zvikuru zvomumakumbo.
U-Adoni-Bhezekhi wabaleka, kodwa baxotshana laye baze bambamba, bamquma izithupha zakhe lamazwane amakhulu.
7 Ipapo Adhoni Bhezeki akati, “Madzimambo makumi manomwe, vagurwa zvigunwe zvikuru zvomumaoko nezvigunwe zvikuru zvokumakumbo, vakanonga zvimedu zvezvokudya pasi petafura yangu. Zvino Mwari anditsiva pane zvandakaita kwavari.” Vakaenda naye kuJerusarema akandofira ikoko.
U-Adoni-Bhezekhi wasesithi, “Amakhosi angamatshumi ayisikhombisa ayequnywe izithupha zawo lamazwane amakhulu ayedobha imvuthuluka ngaphansi kwetafula yami. Khathesi uNkulunkulu usephindisele kimi ngalokho engakwenza kuwo.” Bamusa eJerusalema lapho afela khona.
8 Varume veJudha vakarwisawo Jerusarema vakaritora. Vakakunda guta nomunondo uye vakaripisa.
Abantu bakoJuda bahlasela leJerusalema bayithumba. Bahlasela idolobho ngezinkemba balithungela ngomlilo.
9 Shure kwaizvozvo, varume veJudha vakaburuka vakandorwa navaKenani vaigara munyika yezvikomo, kuNegevhi uye nomujinga mezvikomo zvokumavirira.
Emva kwalokho, abantu bakoJuda bahamba bayakulwa lamaKhenani ayehlala elizweni lezintaba, iNegebi kanye lamawatha ezintaba angasentshonalanga.
10 Vakaenda vakandorwa navaKenani vaigara muHebhuroni (rainzi Kiriati Abha kare) vakakunda Sheshai, Ahimani neTarimai.
Baqhubeka bayahlasela amaKhenani ayehlala eHebhroni (kuqala eyayithiwa yiKhiriyathi Aribha) banqoba uSheshayi, u-Ahimani kanye loThalimayi.
11 Vachibva ipapo, vakaenda vakandorwa navanhu vaigara muDhebhiri (rainzi Kiriati Seferi kare.)
Besuka lapho baqhubeka bayahlasela abantu ababehlala eDebhiri (kuqala eyayithiwa yiKhiriyathi-Sefa).
12 Uye Karebhu akati, “Ndichapa mwanasikana wangu Akisa kuti ave mukadzi kumurume acharwisa uye achatapa Kiriati Seferi.”
UKhalebi wathi, “Ngizakwendisela indodakazi yami u-Akhisa endodeni ezahlasela ithumbe iKhiriyathi-Sefa.”
13 Otinieri mwanakomana waKenazi, mununʼuna waKarebhu, akarikunda, saka Karebhu akapa mwanasikana wake Akisa kuti awanikwe naye.
U-Othiniyeli, indodana kaKhenazi, umnawakhe kaKhalebi, wayithumba; ngakho uKhalebi wendisela indodakazi yakhe u-Akhisa kuye.
14 Rimwe zuva akati achisvika kuna Otinieri, akamukurudzira kuti akumbire munda kuna baba vake. Akati aburuka pambongoro yake, Karebhu akamubvunza akati, “Ndingakuitireiko?”
Ngelinye ilanga u-Akhisa wafika ku-Othiniyeli wamkhuthaza ukuthi acele insimu kuyise. Lapho esehlile kubabhemi wakhe uKhalebi wambuza wathi, “Kuyini engingakwenzela khona?”
15 Iye akapindura akati, “Ndiitirei zvakanaka. Sezvo makandipa nyika kuNegevhi, ndipeiwo matsime emvura.” Ipapo Karebhu akamupa matsime okumusoro neezasi.
Waphendula wathi, “Ngicela ungenzele umusa obalulekileyo. Njengoba unginike umhlaba eNegebi, ngicela unginike lemithombo yamanzi.” Ngakho uKhalebi wamnika imithombo eyayingaphezulu leyayingaphansi.
16 Zvizvarwa zvatezvara vaMozisi, vaKeni, vakakwidza vachibva kuGuta reMichindwe vaine varume veJudha kuti vandogara pakati pavanhu vokuGwenga reJudha riri kuNegevhi pedyo neAradhi.
Abayinzalo kayisezala kaMosi, amaKheni, bahamba labantu bakoJuda besuka edolobheni laMalala besiyahlala phakathi kwabantu basenkangala yakoJuda eNegebi eduze le-Aradi.
17 Ipapo varume veJudha vakaenda navaSimeoni hama dzavo vakandorwisa vaKenani vaigara muZefati, uye vakaparadza guta iri zvachose. Naizvozvo rakatumidzwa kuti Horima.
Emva kwalokho abantu bakoJuda bahamba labakoSimiyoni abafowabo bahlasela amaKhenani ayehlala eZefathi, idolobho basebelichitha ngokupheleleyo. Ngakho lathiwa yiHoma.
18 Varume veJudha vakakundazve Gaza, Ashikeroni neEkironi, guta rimwe nerimwe nenyika yaro.
Abantu bakoJuda bathumba njalo iGaza, i-Ashikheloni kanye le-Ekroni, idolobho linye ngalinye kanye lelizwe lalo.
19 Jehovha akanga ana vanhu veJudha. Vakatora nyika yezvikomo kuti ive yavo, asi havana kugona kudzinga vanhu vaibva mumapani, nokuti vakanga vane ngoro dzesimbi.
UThixo wayelabantu bakoJuda. Bathumba ilizwe lezintaba, kodwa behluleka ukuxotsha abantu ababesemagcekeni ngoba babelezinqola zempi ezenzwe ngensimbi.
20 Sokuvimbisa kwaMozisi, Hebhuroni yakapiwa kuna Karebhu, uyo akabudisa mairi vanakomana vatatu vaAnaki.
Njengokuthembisa kukaMosi, iHebhroni yaphiwa uKhalebi, owaxotsha kuyo amadodana amathathu ka-Anakhi.
21 Kunyange zvakadaro, vaBhenjamini vakatadza kudzinga vaJebhusi, vaigara muJerusarema; kusvikira nhasi vaJebhusi vageremo navaBhenjamini.
Kodwa abakoBhenjamini behluleka ukususa amaJebusi ayehlala eJerusalema; lalamhlanje amaJebusi ahlala khona labakoBhenjamini.
22 Zvino veimba yaJosefa vakarwisa Bheteri, uye Jehovha aiva navo.
Ngalesosikhathi abendlu kaJosefa bahlasela iBhetheli, njalo uThixo wayelabo.
23 Vakati vatuma vanhu kundosora Bheteri (rainzi Ruzi kare),
Ekuthumeni kwabo abantu ukuba bayehlola iBhetheli (kuqala idolobho lelo lalithiwa yiLuzi),
24 Vasori vakaona murume achibuda muguta vakati kwaari, “Tiratidze kuti tingapinda sei muguta tigokuitira zvakanaka.”
inhloli zabona umuntu ephuma edolobheni zasezisithi kuye, “Sitshengise ukuthi singangena njani edolobheni, thina-ke sizabona ukuthi uphatheka kuhle.”
25 Saka akavaratidza, uye vakakunda guta nomunondo asi vakaponesa murume uya nemhuri yake.
Ngakho wazitshengisa, zasezihlasela idolobho ngenkemba kodwa umuntu lowo zamyekela kanye labendlu yakhe bonke.
26 Ipapo akaenda kunyika yavaHiti, kwaakandovaka guta akaritumidza kuti Ruzi, rinova ndiro zita raro nanhasi.
Ngakho-ke waya elizweni lamaHithi, lapho akha khona idolobho alibiza ngokuthi yiLuzi, okulokhe kuyilo ibizo lalo lalamhlanje.
27 Asi Manase haana kudzinga vanhu veBheti Shani kana veTanaki kana veDhori kana veIbhireami kana veMegidho uye nenzvimbo dzavo dzokugara dzakapoteredza, nokuti vaKenani vakanga vazvipira kuti vagare munyika iyoyo.
Kodwa uManase kabaxotshanga abantu baseBhethi-Shani loba eThanakhi kumbe eDori loba e-Ibhiliyami kumbe eMegido kanye lasemizaneni yabo eseduzane, ngoba amaKhenani ayezimisele ukuhlala kulelolizwe.
28 VaIsraeri vakati vasimba vakamanikidza vaKenani kuti vashande basa rechibharo asi havana kumbovadzinga zvachose.
Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebelamandla bawabamba ngamandla amaKhenani ukuba abasebenzele kodwa kabazange bawaxotshe wonke.
29 Uye Efuremu haana kudzingawo vaKenani vaigara muGeeri, asi vaKenani vakaramba vagere pakati pavo.
Labako-Efrayimi kabawaxotshanga amaKhenani ayehlala eGezeri, kodwa amaKhenani aqhubeka ehlala khona labo.
30 NaZebhuruniwo haana kudzinga vaKenani vaigara muKitironi kana muNaharori, avo vakaramba vagere pakati pavo; asi vakaita kuti vaite basa rechibharo.
LabakoZebhuluni kabawaxotshanga amaKhenani ayehlala eKhithironi kanye laseNahaloli, asala ephakathi kwabo; kodwa bawabamba ngamandla ukuba abasebenzele.
31 Uye Asheri haanawo kudzinga vaya vaigara muAko kana veSidhoni kana Ahirabhi kana Akizibhi kana Heribha kana Afeki kana Rehobhi,
Labako-Asheri kababaxotshanga labo ababehlala e-Akho, kumbe eSidoni, kumbe e-Ahilabi loba e-Akhizibhi kumbe eHelibha loba e-Afekhi kumbe eRehobhi,
32 uye nokuda kwaizvozvo vanhu veAsheri vakagara pakati pavaKenani avo vaigara munyika.
njalo ngenxa yalokhu abantu bako-Asheri bahlala lamaKhenani ayeyakhe elizweni.
33 Nafutari haana kudzinga avo vaigara muBheti Shemeshi kana muBheti Anati; asi vaNafutari vakagarawo pakati pavaKenani vaigara munyika, uye vaya vaigara muBheti Shemeshi neBheti Anati vakava vashandi vebasa rechibharo.
LabakoNafithali kababaxotshanga labo ababehlala eBhethi-Shemeshi kumbe eBhethi-Anathi; kodwa abakoNafithali labo bahlala lamaKhenani ayeyakhe elizweni, kwathi lawo ayehlala eBhethi-Shemeshi kanye leBhethi-Anathi abanjwa ngamandla ukuba abe yizisebenzi zabo.
34 VaAmori vakasundira vaDhani kunyika yezvikomo, vakasavatendera kuburuka kuti vauye kumapani.
Ama-Amori ancindezela abakoDani ukuba bahlale elizweni lezintaba, angabavumeli ukuba behlele phansi emagcekeni.
35 Uye vaAmori vakashingirira kuti varambe vari muGomo reHeresi, Aijaroni neShaaribhimi, asi simba reimba yaJosefa rakati richiwanda, naivowo vakamanikidzwa kushanda basa rechibharo.
Njalo ama-Amori ayezimisele ukuhlala kokuphela eNtabeni iHeresi, le-Ayijaloni kanye leShalibhimi, kodwa kwathi amandla abendlu kaJosefa esemakhulu, lawo abanjwa ngamandla ukuba abe yizisebenzi.
36 Muganhu wavaAmori waibva paMupata weChinyavada uchisvika kuSera uye uchipfuurira mberi.
Umngcele wama-Amori wawusekela uMkhandlu weNkume usiya eSela kanye langaphetsheya.

< Vatongi 1 >