< Numeri 22 >
1 Ipapo vaIsraeri vakafamba vachienda kumapani eMoabhu vakadzika misasa yavo vakatevedza Jorodhani nechemhiri kweJeriko.
Abako-Israyeli basuka lapho baya emagcekeni aseMowabi bamisa izihonqo zabo zisekele umfula iJodani ngaphetsheya kweJerikho.
2 Zvino Bharaki mwanakomana waZipori akaona zvose zvakanga zvaitwa navaIsraeri kuvaAmori,
UBhalaki indodana kaZiphori wabona konke okwenziwa ngu-Israyeli kuma-Amori,
3 Moabhu akatya nokuti pakanga pane vanhu vazhinji. Zvirokwazvo, Moabhu yakazara nokudedera nokuda kwavaIsraeri.
ngakho uMowabi wesaba ngoba abantu bako-Israyeli babebanengi kakhulu. Ngempela uMowabi watshaywa luvalo ngenxa yokwesaba abako-Israyeli.
4 VaMoabhu vakati kuvakuru veMidhiani, “Vanhu vazhinji ava vachananzva zvinhu zvose zvakatipoteredza, semombe inonanzva sora romusango.” Saka Bharaki mwanakomana waZipori, uyo akanga ari Mambo weMoabhu panguva iyoyo,
AmaMowabi athi ebadaleni bamaMidiyani, “Ixuku leli lizahuquluza konke esilakho, njengenkabi isidla utshani emadlelweni.” Ngakho uBhalaki indodana kaZiphori, owayeyinkosi yamaMowabi ngalesosikhathi,
5 akatuma nhume kundodana Bharamu mwanakomana waBheori, uyo akanga ari paPetori, pedyo noRwizi, munyika yaakaberekerwa. Bharaki akati: “Vanhu vakabva kuIjipiti, vakazadza nyika yose, uye vagara pedyo neni.
wathumela izithunywa ukuyabiza uBhalamu indodana kaBheyori, owayehlala ePhethori eduzane lomfula iYufrathe elizweni lakibo lomdabuko. UBhalaki wathi, “Kulabantu abanengi kakhulu abavela eGibhithe; bagcwele ilizwe lonke njalo bahlezi eduze kwami.
6 Zvino, uya utuke vanhu ava, nokuti simba ravo iguru kwazvo kwandiri. Zvichida ipapo ndingagona kuvakunda ndikavadzinga vabude munyika ino. Nokuti ndinoziva kuti avo vaunoropafadza vanoropafadzwa, uye vaunotuka vanotukwa.”
Woza khathesi uzeletha isithuko phezu kwabo, ngoba balamandla kulami. Mhlawumbe ngalokho ngingabehlula ngibaxotshe elizweni. Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi labo obabusisayo bayabusiseka, njalo labo obaqalekisayo bayaqalekiswa.”
7 Vakuru veMoabhu neveMidhiani vakabva, vakatora mari yokuripa kuvuka. Vakati vasvika kuna Bharamu vakamuudza zvakanga zvarehwa naBharaki.
Abadala bamaMowabi labamaMidiyani basuka, bathatha imbadalo yokuhlahlula. Bathe befika kuBhalamu, bamtshela lokho okwatshiwo nguBhalaki.
8 Bharamu akati kwavari, “Chivatai pano, ndichauya nemhinduro yandichapiwa naJehovha.” Saka machinda eMoabhu akagara naye.
“Lalani lapha okwalamuhla,” watsho uBhalamu kubo, “Ngizalilethela impendulo engizayiphiwa nguThixo.” Ngakho amakhosana amaMowabi ahlala laye.
9 Mwari akauya kuna Bharamu akamubvunza akati, “Vanhu vaunavo ndivanaaniko?”
UNkulunkulu weza kuBhalamu wambuza wathi, “Amadoda la olawo ngobani?”
10 Bharamu akati kuna Mwari, “Bharaki mwanakomana waZipori, mambo weMoabhu, akanditumira nhume idzi achiti, ‘Vanhu vakabuda kubva kuIjipiti vakazadza nyika yose.
UBhalamu wathi kuNkulunkulu, “UBhalaki indodana kaZiphori inkosi yamaMowabi ungithumele lelizwi elithi:
11 Zvino uya unditukire vanhu ava. Zvichida izvozvi ndingagona kurwa navo ndikavadzingira kure.’”
‘Kulabantu abavele eGibhithe abagcwele elizweni lonke. Woza masinyane uzongiqalekisela lababantu. Mhlawumbe ngingaba lakho ukubalwisa ngibaxotshe lapha.’”
12 Asi Mwari akati kuna Bharamu, “Usaenda navo. Haufaniri kutuka vanhu avo, nokuti vakaropafadzwa.”
Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathi kuBhalamu, “Ungahambi labo. Ungabaqalekisi lababantu, ngoba babusisiwe.”
13 Fume mangwana, Bharamu akamuka akati kumachinda aBharaki, “Dzokerai kunyika yokwenyu, nokuti Jehovha aramba kuti ndiende nemi.”
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo uBhalamu wavuka esithi kumakhosana kaBhalaki, “Buyelani ezweni lenu, ngoba uThixo walile ukuthi ngihambe lani.”
14 Saka machinda eMoabhu akadzokera kuna Bharaki akati, “Bharamu akaramba kuuya nesu.”
Ngakho amakhosana amaMowabi abuyela kuBhalaki athi, “UBhalamu walile ukubuya lathi.”
15 Ipapo Bharaki akatumazve mamwe machinda, akawanda chose uye aikudzwa kupinda vokutanga.
Ngakho uBhalaki wathumela amanye amakhosana amanengi njalo adumileyo kulawakuqala.
16 Vakasvika kuna Bharamu vakati: “Zvanzi naBharaki mwanakomana waZipori: Usatendera chimwe chinhu kukukonesa kuuya kwandiri,
Eza kuBhalamu afika athi: “Nanku okutshiwo nguBhalaki indodana kaZiphori: Akungabi lalutho olungakuvimbela ukuza kimi,
17 nokuti ndichakupa mubayiro wakanaka kwazvo uye ndichaita zvose zvaunoreva. Uya unditukire vanhu ava.”
ngoba ngizakunika umvuzo omuhle njalo ngenze konke okutshoyo. Woza uzongiqalekisela lababantu.”
18 Asi Bharamu akavapindura akati, “Kunyange dai Bharaki akandipa muzinda wake uzere nesirivha negoridhe, handingagoni kuita chimwe chinhu chikuru kana chiduku kuti tiite zvinodarika murayiro waJehovha Mwari wangu.
Kodwa uBhalamu wabaphendula wathi, “Loba uBhalaki enganginika isigodlo sakhe sigcwele isiliva legolide, angingeke ngenze ulutho olukhulu loba oluncane oluphambene lelizwi likaThixo uNkulunkulu wami.
19 Zvino chivatai pano manheru ano sezvakaita vamwe, ini ndichanzwa kana Jehovha ane zvimwe zvaangandiudza.”
Khathesi hlalani lapha okwalobubusuku njengalokhu okwenziwe ngabanye, mina ngizadingisisa ukuthi kuyini okunye uThixo azangitshela khona.”
20 Usiku ihwohwo Mwari akauya kuna Bharamu akati kwaari, “Sezvo vanhu ava vauya kuzokudana, enda hako navo, asi uite chete zvandinokuudza.”
Ngalobobusuku uNkulunkulu weza kuBhalamu wathi, “Njengoba ethunywe ukuzakubiza, hamba lawo, kodwa wenze lokho kuphela engizakutshela khona.”
21 Bharamu akamuka mangwanani, akaisa chigaro pambongoro yake akaenda namachinda eMoabhu.
UBhalamu wavuka ekuseni, wagada ubabhemi wakhe wahle wahamba lamakhosana amaMowabi.
22 Asi Mwari akamutsamwira zvikuru paakaenda, uye mutumwa waJehovha akamira munzira kuti amukonese. Bharamu akanga akatasva mbongoro yake, uye varanda vake vaviri vaiva naye.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu wathukuthela kakhulu ngokuhamba kwakhe, ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yajama phambi kwakhe yamvimbela. UBhalamu wayegade ubabhemi wakhe elezinceku zakhe ezimbili.
23 Mbongoro yakati ichiona mutumwa waJehovha amire munzira ane munondo wakavhomorwa muruoko rwake, yakabuda munzira ikapinda mumunda. Bharamu akairova kuti idzokere munzira.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo imi endleleni iphethe inkemba esandleni sayo, waphambuka endleleni waqonda iganga. UBhalamu wamtshaya ubabhemi embuyisela endleleni.
24 Ipapo mutumwa waJehovha akamira pakamanikana pakati peminda miviri yemizambiringa, paiva namasvingo kumativi ose.
Ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yayakuma emkhandlwini phakathi kwezivini ezimbili, kulemiduli inxa zonke.
25 Mbongoro yakati ichiona mutumwa waJehovha, yakazvimanikidzira kurusvingo ikatsimbirira rutsoka rwaBharamu parwuri. Saka akapamhazve kuirova.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo, ubabhemi wasondela emdulini, ehluzulela unyawo lukaBhalamu emdulini. Ngalokho wamtshaya njalo ubabhemi.
26 Ipapo mutumwa waJehovha akapfuurira mberi akandomira panzvimbo yakamanikana pakanga pasina mukana wokutendeukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe.
Ngakho ingilosi kaThixo yaya phambili yema emkhandlwini onciphileyo lapho okwakungelandlela yokuphendukela kwesokudla loba esenxele.
27 Mbongoro yakati ichiona mutumwa waJehovha, yakavata pasi paBharamu, iye akatsamwa zvikuru akairova netsvimbo yake.
Kwathi ubabhemi ebona ingilosi kaThixo, ubabhemi walala phansi, uBhalamu wathukuthela kakhulu wamtshaya ubabhemi ngentonga yakhe.
28 Ipapo Jehovha akashamisa muromo wembongoro, ikati kuna Bharamu, “Ndaiteiko kwamuri zvaita kuti mundirove katatu kose aka?”
Ngalokho uThixo wavula umlomo kababhemi, wathi kuBhalamu, “Kanti ngenzeni na kuwe uze ungitshaye okwamahlandla amathathu?”
29 Bharamu akapindura mbongoro akati, “Wandiita benzi iwe! Dai ndanga ndiine munondo muruoko rwangu ndingadai ndakuuraya izvozvi.”
UBhalamu waphendula ubabhemi wathi, “Ungenze isiwula! Ngabe bengilenkemba esandleni sami bengizakubulala khathesi.”
30 Mbongoro yakati kuna Bharamu, “Ko, handisi mbongoro yenyu, yamunogara muchitasva kusvikira zuva rino here? Ko, ndinogara ndichikuitirai zvakadai here?” Iye akati, “Kwete.”
Ubabhemi wathi kuBhalamu, “Kanti kangisubabhemi wakho na ovele uhlezi umgada insuku zonke kuze kube namhlanje? Kambe ngiyake ngikwenze lokhu kuwe na?” UBhalamu waphendula wathi, “Hatshi.”
31 Ipapo Jehovha akasvinudza meso aBharamu, iye akaona mutumwa waJehovha amire munzira ane munondo wake wakavhomorwa. Saka akakotama akawira pasi nechiso chake.
Ngakho uThixo wavula amehlo kaBhalamu, wabona ingilosi kaThixo imi endleleni iqaphise inkemba. Ngakho wakhothama wawa phansi ngobuso.
32 Mutumwa waJehovha akamubvunza achiti, “Warovereiko mbongoro yako rutatu rwose urwu? Ini ndauya pano kuzokudzivisa nokuti nzira yako haina kururama kwandiri.
Ingilosi kaThixo yambuza yathi, “Kungani utshaye ubabhemi wakho okwamahlandla amathathu na? Ngize lapha ukukuvimbela ngoba indlela yakho iyibutshapha phambi kwami.
33 Mbongoro yandiona ikatsauka ichibva pandiri katatu aka kose. Dai isina kutsauka, zvirokwazvo ndingadai ndakuuraya izvozvi, asi iyo ndairaramisa.”
Ubabhemi ungibonile waphambuka okwamahlandla amathathu. Alubana kaphambukanga, ngabe khathesi sengikubulele wena, ngayekela ubabhemi.”
34 Bharamu akati kumutumwa waJehovha, “Ndatadza. Handina kuziva kuti manga mumire munzira kuti mundidzivise. Zvino kana musingafari, ndodzokera hangu.”
UBhalamu wathi engilosini kaThixo, “Ngonile. Angizange nginanzelele ukuthi umi endleleni ukungivimbela. Nxa kungakuthokozisi khathesi, ngizabuyela emuva.”
35 Mutumwa waJehovha akati kuna Bharamu, “Chienda hako navarume ava, asi utaure zvandinokuudza zvoga.” Saka Bharamu akaenda namachinda aBharaki.
Ingilosi kaThixo yathi kuBhalamu, “Hamba lawo lamadoda, kodwa ukhulume lokho engikutshela khona kuphela.” Ngakho uBhalamu wahamba lamakhosana kaBhalaki.
36 Bharaki akati anzwa kuti Bharamu akanga achiuya, akabuda kuti andosangana naye paguta ravaMoabhu pamuganhu weAnoni, kumagumo kwenyika yake.
Kwathi uBhalaki esizwa ukuthi uBhalamu uyeza, waphuma ukumhlangabeza edolobheni lamaMowabi emngceleni wase-Arinoni emaphethelweni elizwe lakhe.
37 Bharaki akati kuna Bharamu, “Handina kukudana nokukurumidza here? Seiko usina kuuya kwandiri? Ini handigoni kukupa mubayiro here?”
UBhalaki wathi kuBhalamu, “Angikuthumelanga ilizwi lokuphangisa na? Kungani ungezanga kimi? Kambe kangenelisi ukukupha umvuzo na?”
38 Bharamu akapindura akati, “Zvakanaka, zvino ndauya kwauri. Asi ndingataura zvose zvose here? Ndinofanira kungotaura chete zvinenge zvaiswa mumuromo mangu naMwari.”
UBhalamu waphendula wathi, “Yebo, sengifikile kuwe khathesi. Kodwa angiyikukhuluma loba yini engiyifunayo. Ngizakhuluma lokho uNkulunkulu azakubeka emlonyeni wami kuphela.”
39 Ipapo Bharamu akaenda naBharaki kuKiriati Huzoti.
Ngakho uBhalamu wahamba loBhalaki eKhiriyathi-Huzothi.
40 Bharaki akabayira mombe namakwai, akapa zvimwe kuna Bharamu namachinda akanga anaye.
UBhalaki wenza umhlatshelo wenkomo lezimvu, njalo ezinye wazipha uBhalamu ezinye wazipha amakhosana ayehamba lawo.
41 Fume mangwana, Bharaki akatora Bharamu akakwidza naye kuBhamoti Bhaari, uye ikoko akaona chikamu chavanhu.
Ekuseni ngosuku olulandelayo uBhalaki wathatha uBhalamu waya eBhamothi-Bhali, kulapho abona khona izihonqo zabako-Israyeli.