To The Word – Day 18

₁*UNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis wathi: ₂“Yitsho kumaSirayeli abuye umva, afike athi xha phambi kwePi-hahiroti phakathi kweMigdoli noLwandle oluBomvu ngaseBhali-zefon. ₃Yena ukumkani waseJiputa uza kucinga ukuba niyabhadula, nivalelwe yintlango. ₄Ndisaza kumqaqadekisa anisukele, ndize ndithi ndakumoyisa ndawonye nemikhosi yakhe ndizuze udumo. NamaJiputa aya kutsho aqonde ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo.” Okunene ke amaSirayeli enza ngokomyalelo lowo.

₅Ukumkani ndawonye namaphakathi akhe bathi, bakuva ukuba ngenene amaSirayeli emkile, bajibilika. Ewe, suka bazisola, bathi: “Besingenwe yini kakade, ukuze senze into enje? Bekutheni ukuze siwayeke amakhoboka ethu emke?” ₆Ngoko ke ukumkani waxhoba, wabopha iinqwelo zakhe zokulwa, waphuma nomkhosi wakhe. ₇Wakhupha nezona nqwelo zithembekileyo zimakhulu omathandathu, zibhexeshwa ziingqwayi-ngqwayi ezaziwayo. Akashiyanga nanye kwiinqwelo zaseJiputa. ₈UNdikhoyo wamenza waneenkani ukumkani waseJiputa, wawasukela amaSirayeli; aye wona phofu ehamba ngesibindi. ₉Yaphuma imikhosi yamaJiputa, yasukela ngeenqwelo zamahashe. Yayiziinqwelo nabeenyawo. Yabafumana bephumle ngakuLwandle oluBomvu, kufutshane nePi-hahiroti neBhali-zefon.

₁₀AmaSirayeli athi akubona umkhosi wokumkani waseJiputa ugaleleka, ankwantya, abhenela kuNdikhoyo. ₁₁Abhekisa kuMosis athi: “Kungokuba kungekho mangcwaba na eJiputa, le nto usizisa entlango, ukuze sifele khona? Uyayibona ke into oyenzileyo ngokusikhupha eJiputa? Asiyiyo le nto sasiyithetha kuwe phambi kokuba sinduluke? ₁₂Ewe, sasitshilo kuwe sathi siyeke sibe ngamakhoboka amaJiputa. Bekubhetele ukuba sibe ngamakhoboka awo endaweni yokuba size kufela kule ntlango!”

₁₃Ke yena uMosis wathi kuwo: “Sanukoyika; qinani! Niza kubona; uNdikhoyo uza kunihlangula namhlanje! Ke wona la maJiputa niwabonayo namhlanje soze niphinde niwabone kwakhona! ₁₄Zolani nina; uNdikhoyo uza kunilwela!”

₁₅UNdikhoyo wathetha noMosis, wathi: “Sesani ke esi sikhalo nisenzayo? Yitsho amaSirayeli ahambele phambili. ₁₆Wena yolula ingalo yakho, uphakamise induku phezu kolwandle. Amanzi aya kuhlukana kubini, aze amaSirayeli awele ehamba emhlabeni owomileyo. ₁₇AmaJiputa ndiya kuwenza abe neenkani, atyhudise emva kwamaSirayeli. Ke mna olwam uloyiso luya kuqaqamba phezu kokumkani nemikhosi yakhe, ngokunjalo neenqwelo zakhe. ₁₈Ndiya kuthi ndakumoyisa ukumkani wamaJiputa nomkhosi wakhe, abantu bakhe batsho bandazi ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo.”

₁₉Kwesi sithuba ke isithunywa sikaThixo esasiwakhokele amaSirayeli sajikela ngasemva salandela. Ngokunjalo nomqulu welifu owawuwakhokela ₂₀wajika wema phakathi kwamaSirayeli namaJiputa. Ilifu elo lasitha kwatsho kwasebusuku kumaJiputa, kodwa kwakukhanya kumaSirayeli. Loo nto ke yatsho ayabi nakuhlangana loo mikhosi mibini bonke obo busuku.

₂₁Ngenene ke uMosis wasolula isandla sakhe phezu kolwandle, waza uNdikhoyo wathumela umoya onzima wasempuma, walududula ulwandle, kwavela umhlaba owomileyo. Umoya lowo wabhudla ubusuku bonke, aza ahlukana kubini amanzi. ₂₂AmaSirayeli awela emhlabeni owomileyo, amanzi eziindonga ngapha nangapha. ₂₃Ke kaloku amaJiputa xa ewonke, neenqwelo kunye namahashe okumkani, axhabasha angena elwandle esukela amaSirayeli. ₂₄Ekuzeni kokusa uNdikhoyo ekwelo lifu neso sithatha somlilo wayijonga imikhosi yamaJiputa, yatsho yaphithizela. ₂₅Amavili eenqwelo amomana, baza baba ngathini abaqhubi zaxinga. AmaJiputa akhala athi: “UNdikhoyo uyawalwela amaSirayeli; masiwayeke sisabe.”

₂₆Ke kaloku uNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis wathi: “Yolula isandla sakho phezu kolwandle kwakhona, ukuze amanzi awagubungele amaJiputa kunye neenqwelo zawo.” ₂₇UMosis wenza ngokomyalelo lowo, kwaza kwathi ke ngomsobomvu amanzi athi wayi-wayi abuyela endaweni yawo. Athi ke esaduntsuza ezama ukubaleka amaJiputa, uNdikhoyo wawagubungela ngolwandle. ₂₈Ewe, amanzi adibanisa abuyela kwindawo yawo yesiqhelo, aza ke wona amaJiputa neenqwelo zawo nawo wonke umkhosi kakumkani owawuleqa amaSirayeli wantywiliselwa lulwandle, akwasala nomnqongo lo! ₂₉Kanti ke wona amaSirayeli awela emhlabeni owomileyo, amanzi aludonga ngapha nangapha.

₃₀Ngaloo mini ke uNdikhoyo wawasindisa amaSirayeli kumaJiputa. AmaSirayeli ayibona imizimba yamaJiputa iqungquluze elunxwemeni lolwandle. ₃₁Athi amaSirayeli akukubona ukusebenza kwamandla kaNdikhoyo ngokoyisa amaJiputa, angenelwa luloyiko, amhlonela. Ewe, azinikela kuNdikhoyo, akholelwa kwisicaka sakhe uMosis.

₁Kwesi sithuba ke uMosis namaSirayeli bahlabela le ngoma, bedumisa *uNdikhoyo:

₁₉Kaloku kwathi esakungena elwandle amahashe okumkani neenqwelo nabaqhubi, *uNdikhoyo wawagubungela ngamanzi, atshona. Kanti ke wona amaSirayeli aluwela ulwandle ehamba emhlabeni owomileyo.

₂₀Ke kaloku umshumayelikazi uMiriyam, udade boAron, waqubula igubu lakhe, baza bonke ababhinqileyo bamlandela namagubu abo, batsho ngentsholo bengqungqa. ₂₁UMiriyam ke wahlabela ingoma wenjenje:

₂₂UMosis ke wawakhokela amaSirayeli, balushiya uLwandle oluBomvu, baya kungena kwintlango iShure. Baba ntsuku-ntathu behamba kuloo ntlango; bengafumani manzi. ₂₃Ngelikade baya kufika kwindawo ekuthiwa yiMara. Apha ke bawafumana amanzi, koko ayekrakra engaseleki. Kungenxa yeso sizathu kwakusithiwa nguKrakrayo nje igama layo. ₂₄Ke kaloku amaSirayeli amkhalazela uMosis, athi: “Uthi siza kusela ntoni ke?” ₂₅UMosis wakhala *kuNdikhoyo, waza ke yena wathi makakhe ihlamvu lomthi othile, alifake emanzini apho. Akuba enjenjalo ke, baphela ubukrakra emanzini, aba nokuselwa.

Apha ke kulapho wabanika imimiselo yokuziphatha uNdikhoyo, wabavavanya. ₂₆Wenjenje ukuthetha: “Ukuba nithe nandithobela ngokupheleleyo, nenza okuhle nokufanelekileyo ngokuhamba ngemimiselo yam, soze ndinohlwaye ngezibetho nezifo endaziwisela amaJiputa. Kaloku mna ndinguNdikhoyo, ugqirha wenu.”

₂₇Kamva ke bafika e-Elim, apho kwakukho imithombo elishumi elinambini, nemithi yesundu engamashumi asixhenxe. Bahlala ke bakhe baphumla kufuphi naloo manzi.

₁Ke kaloku amaSirayeli anduluka e-Elim, aza athi ngenyanga yesibini kusuku lweshumi elinesihlanu andulukayo eJiputa, agaleleka kwintlango iSin. Yona ke iphakathi kwe-Elim neSinayi. ₂Kanye ke apho kuloo ntlango amaSirayeli abakhalazela ooMosis noAron, ₃athi kubo: “Akwaba *uNdikhoyo wayesibulalele eJiputa. Kaloku noko khona sasisitya inyama; kanti ke nokunye ukutya sasikutya side sikushiye. Kuba kucacile nisizise kule ntlango ukuze eli bandla xa lilonke nilichane ngendlala life.”

₄UNdikhoyo wathetha noMosis wathi: “Uyabona ke ndiza kuthoba ukutya kune njengemvula, ukuze nonke nitye. AmaSirayeli makaphume aye kuzicholela ukutya okulingene imini mihla le. Ndizimisele ukukhe ndiwavavanye ndiwaqonde ukuba azimisele na ukuwuthobela umyalelo wam. ₅Kodwa ke ngomhla wesithandathu makaqokelele azilungiselele ukutya kwemihla emibini.”

₆Ngoko ke uMosis noAron bathetha nawo amaSirayeli, bathi: “Ngokuhlwanje niza kuqonda ukuba nguNdikhoyo owanikhupha eJiputa, ₇kuba ngomso kusasa niya kukubona ukuqaqamba kobukho bukaNdikhoyo. Kaloku yena uzivile izikhalazo zenu; gxebe besingoobani ukuba ningade nisikhalazele thina?” ₈UMosis waqhuba wathi: “UNdikhoyo uza kunipha inyama, nitye ngokuhlwa, kanti nakusasa uza kunipha isonka, nitye nihluthe, kuba uzivile izikrokro zenu enimkhalazela ngazo. Kakade ke besingoobani thina? Hayi bo! Anikrokreli thina, nikrokrela uNdikhoyo!”

₉UMosis wayalela uAron ukuba axelele amaSirayeli aphume aye kubonana noNdikhoyo njengoko ezivile izikhalazo zawo. ₁₀Esathetha nje uAron, athe amaSirayeli akukhangela ngasentlango abubona ubuqaqawuli bukaNdikhoyo bubengezela efini. ₁₁Wathi ke uNdikhoyo kuMosis: ₁₂“Xelela amaSirayeli ukuba ndizivile izikhalazo zawo; ngoko ke ngokuhlwa ndiya kuwanika inyama atye, ndize ngentsasa elandelayo ndiwaphe intaphane yesonka, khon' ukuze andiqonde ukuba ndinguNdikhoyo uThixo wawo.”

₁₃Kwathi ke ngongcwalazi kwagaleleka igquba lwezagwityi, lwathi khakhalala kuyo yonke loo ndawo ayemise kuyo amaSirayeli. Kanti ke ngengomso kwasa kulele umbethe. ₁₄Kuthe ke wakuvuthuluka umbethe lowo kwasala uqweqwe olungathi yiqabaka, lwawambathisa umhlaba. ₁₅AmaSirayeli athe akuyibona le nto angayaziyo, abuzana athi: “Yintoni le?”

UMosis ke wathi kuwo: “Oku kukutya enikuphiwa nguNdikhoyo. ₁₆Uthe umntu ngamnye kuni makathathe kangangesisu sakhe. Lowo uthathela umzi wonke wolinganisela ukuba umntu ngamnye afumane iilitha ezimbini.”

₁₇Ke kaloku amaSirayeli enza ngokomyalelo lowo, abanye bathatha kakhulu, baza bambi bathatha kancinci. ₁₈Kodwa ke athe akukufaka emlinganisweni ukutya oko afumanisa ukuba othathe kakhulu akagqithisanga, kanti ke nothathe kancinci akalambathi. Umntu ngamnye wathatha ngokwentswelo yakhe. ₁₉UMosis wayalela ukuba kungabikho mntu ushiya mbeko. ₂₀Kambe ke abanye abamphulaphulanga bakubeka. Ngengomso ke kwasa kubolile kuneempethu, waza ke uMosis wakhathazeka. ₂₁Ngazo zonke iintsasa babethatha kangangezisu zabo. Kwakusithi ke lakuba shushu ilanga kunyibilike kuphele oko kutya kwabo.

₂₂Ngomhla wesithandathu ke ukutya bakuthatha ngokuphindwe kabini, umntu ngamnye waneelitha ezine. Ke iinkokheli le nto zayixela kuMosis ₂₃owathi yena kuzo: “UNdikhoyo usiyale wathi ngomso ngumhla owodwa wokuphumla, lusuku oluphawulelwe yena. Ngoko ke bhakani namhlanje xa nifuna, futhi nipheke kwanamhlanje, okuseleyo ke nikugcinele ingomso.” ₂₄Okuseleyo ke bakugcinela ingomso ngokokutsho kukaMosis. Kona ke zange konakale. ₂₅UMosis ke wathi kubo: “Yityani namhlanje, kuba olu lusuku lokuphumla oluphawulelwe uNdikhoyo; ngalo aniyi kukufumana ukutya phandle phaya. ₂₆Oku kutya ningakuqokelela iintsuku zibe ntandathu, kodwa ke ngolwesixhenxe *nguMhla wokuPhumla; ngawo ke akukho.”

₂₇Kambe ke nangoMhla wokuPhumla bambi abantu baphuma baya kufuna ukutya, nto nje abakufumananga. ₂₈UNdikhoyo wabhekisa kuMosis wathi: “Koda kube nini ningandithobeli, bantundini? ₂₉Kaloku ndaninika uMhla wokuPhumla; kungenxa yaloo nto ke ndininika ukutya kweentsuku ezimbini nje ngomhla owandulela owokuphumla. NgoMhla wokuPhumla wonke umntu makangenzi nto, angaphumi ekhaya.” ₃₀Ngenene ke abantu baphumla ngoMhla wokuPhumla.

₃₁Oku kutya ke amaSirayeli akuthiya igama athi yimana. Yona ke yayifana nembewu yekoriyanda imhlophe, emlonyeni ingathi ngamaqebengwana enziwe ngobusi.

₃₂UMosis wabaxelela umyalelo kaNdikhoyo, wathi: “UNdikhoyo uthe: ‘Thathani iilitha zibe mbini zemana, nizigcinele izizukulwana ezizayo, ukuze nazo zikubone ukutya endanondla ngako entlango ukunikhupha kwam eJiputa.’ ” ₃₃UMosis wayalela uAron wathi makathathe iilitha zibe mbini zemana, azifake engqayini, azibeke *esibingelelweni phambi koNdikhoyo, ibe nokubonwa nazizizukulwana ezizayo. ₃₄Ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo ke uAron wayithatha, wayibeka kwityesi yomnqophiso, ukuze igcinakale. ₃₅Ke kaloku yaba yiminyaka emashumi mane amaSirayeli esitya imana leyo, ada afika eKanana, apho ema khona. ₃₆(Umlinganiselo ovunyiweyo ke waloo maxesha wawuyiefa, engangamashumi amabini eelitha. Isishumi sayo yayiyioma, engangeelitha ezimbini.)

₁Ekuphumeni kwintlango iSin onke amaSirayeli ahamba amabanga ngamabanga ngokuyalelwa *nguNdikhoyo, ada aya kufika eRefidim, akhe aphumla khona. Kule ndawo ke ayengekho amanzi. ₂AmaSirayeli asuka ke alwa noMosis, athi: “Sinxaniwe; siphe amanzi!”

UMosis wathi kuwo: “Kutheni nisilwa nam nje? Nimlingelani uNdikhoyo?”

₃Kambe ke amaSirayeli akayekanga ukumkhalazela uMosis, kuba ayenxaniwe. Athi: “Kodwa kodwa, ungathini ukusikhupha eJiputa, ukuze uze kusichana ngonxano, thina nentsapho nemfuyo yethu?”

₄UMosis wazibika kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Kodwa ndiza kubathini aba bantu? Bangasuka bandixulube ngamatye.”

₅UNdikhoyo wayalela uMosis, wathi: “Thatha amadoda amakhulu, uhambe nawo, uwashiye amaSirayeli; ungayishiyi induku yakho owabetha ngayo umlambo iNayile. ₆Ke mna uya kufika ndikulinde eliweni eHorebhe. Libethe iliwa elo. Kuya kumpompoza amanzi, amaSirayeli abe nokusela.” Yonke ke le nto uMosis wayenza ekunye namadoda amakhulu. ₇Le ndawo ke yathiywa igama kwathiwa yiMasa neMeribha, kuba kaloku apha amaSirayeli alwa noMosis, amvavanya uNdikhoyo, esithi: “Ukho na phakathi kwethu uNdikhoyo, nokuba hayi?”

₈Apha eRefidim ke ama-Amaleki eza ahlasela amaSirayeli. ₉UMosis ke wayalela uYoshuwa wathi: “Khetha amadoda athile, niphume niye kulwa nama-Amaleki. Ngomso mna ndiya kuma phezu kwentaba ndiphethe laa nduku ndiyinikwe nguThixo.” ₁₀UYoshuwa wenza ngokomyalelo kaMosis, baphuma baya kulwa nama-Amaleki. Ke yena uMosis, enoAron noYuri, benyukela phezu kwentaba. ₁₁Ngalo lonke ixesha uMosis eziphakamisile izandla zakhe, amaSirayeli ayewagxotha ama-Amaleki; kodwa athi akuzithoba izandla, oyiswe amaSirayeli. ₁₂Wathi akudinwa uMosis, uAron noYuri bamhlalisa elityeni, bamxhaka, baphakamisa iingalo zakhe lada latshona ilanga. ₁₃Ngale ndlela ke uYoshuwa wawaswantsulisa ama-Amaleki.

₁₄*UNdikhoyo ke wathetha noMosis, wathi: “Yibhale ingcombolo yale mfazwe, khon' ukuze ingaze ilibaleke. Xelela uYoshuwa ukuba ndizimisele ukuwacim' igama ama-Amaleki kwelimiweyo.” ₁₅UMosis wenza iqonga lamadini, wathi igama lalo nguNdikhoyo intshinga yam, ₁₆esithi: “Yiphakamiseni intshinga kaNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo uya kulwa naye uAmaleki kude kube ngunaphakade.”

₁Ke kaloku uyise womka-Mosis uJetro, owayengumbingeleli waseMidiyan, weva ngezinto awayezenzelwe nguThixo uMosis kunye namaSirayeli, ukubakhupha kwakhe eJiputa. ₂Wasuka weza kuMosis, ehamba noZipora umka-Mosis, ₃noGershom noElizere oonyana bakhe, kuba kaloku bona wayebabuyisele ebukhweni bakhe. UMosis wathi xa ethiya omnye woonyana bakhe wathi nguGershom, kuba esithi: “Ndandingumbhaceli kwelasemzini.” ₄Waza ke omnye wathi nguElizere, kuba esithi: “UThixo woobawo wandinceda wandihlangula kwikrele lokumkani waseJiputa.”

₅OoJetro ke badibana noMosis entlango, emise ngasentabeni kaThixo. ₆Lafika ke ilizwi kuMosis, livela kuJetro, esithi: “Ndiyeza nomkakho noonyana bakho bobabini.” ₇Waphuma ke uMosis, wabahlangabeza. Akufika kuyise womkakhe wakhahlela wamanga. Babuzana impilo ke, baya kungena endlwini kaMosis.

₈UMosis wabalisela uJetro ngazo zonke izenzo *zikaNdikhoyo kumaJiputa, ngokunjalo nangamasuka-ndihlala amaSirayeli ekuphumeni kwawo eJiputa ekhokelwa nguNdikhoyo. ₉UJetro wavuya kakhulu akuziva ezo ndaba zimnandi zokuhlangulwa kwamaSirayeli nguNdikhoyo kumaJiputa. ₁₀Wadanduluka wathi: “Makabongwe uNdikhoyo onihlangule kukumkani waseJiputa nabantu bakhe. ₁₁Ngoku nam ndiyangqina ukuba ehlabathini akakho olingana noNdikhoyo, kuba yena amaSirayeli uwahlangule kolungaka lona ulunya lwamaJiputa.” ₁₂Ngoko ke uJetro wenzela uThixo idini elitshiswayo neminye imibingelelo. Ke uAron, ekunye namadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli, beza baxhamla izidlo ezo kunye noJetro umkhwe kaMosis, bekhonza uThixo.

₁₃Kwangentseni ngomhla olandelayo uMosis waba sisinxadanxada, echophele amatyala, esombulula iingxaki zamaSirayeli kwada kwahlwa.

₁₄Uthe ke uJetro akuyibona le meko yokuxakeka kukaMosis, wabuza wathi: “Khawutsho, yintoni kanye le niyenzayo naba bantu bakho? Khona, ngani ukuba ube wedwa, bona beze bengumngcelele, bafike bakuphahle kwangentseni kude kuhlwe?”

₁₅UMosis waphendula wathi: “Kaloku aba bantu beza kum khon' ukuze ndibabeke emkhondweni mayela nentando kaThixo, ₁₆kuthi xa benembambano beze kum ukuze ndibalamle ndibachazele imimiselo nemiyalelo kaThixo.”

₁₇Ke yena uJetro wathi kuMosis: “Hayi, nyana, olu hlobo wenza ngalo alulunganga. ₁₈Ngale ndlela uqhuba ngayo uyaziqoba. Uya kuxhwaleka uphel' amandla; naba bantu baya kudinwa yile nto. Kaloku umsebenzi onje awukulingananga uwedwa. ₁₉Khawuphulaphule ke ndikucebise; ngamana wakunceda ke uThixo. Into ofanelwe kukuyenza kukuzakuzelela abantu kuThixo, use imicimbi yabo kuye. ₂₀Wena kufuneka ubafundise imimiselo nomthetho kaThixo, ubacacisele indlela yokuziphatha, nako konke okulindelekileyo kubo. ₂₁Ngaphezulu khetha amadoda aziinkokheli ezifanelekileyo, uwamisele phezu kwamaqela ahlulwa-hlulwe angamawaka, amakhulu, namashumi angamahlanu njalo-njalo. La madoda ke mayibe ngabantu abamthobelayo uThixo, abathembekileyo, abantu abanganyobekiyo. ₂₂Wona isigxina sawo mayibe kukuchophela imicimbi yaba bantu. Imicimbi elula makayiphicothe ayilungise ngokwawo, ke yona imicimbi ewaxakayo ayizise kuwe. Ngale ndlela ke nawo aya kuba nenxaxheba kulo msebenzi wakho, akuphungulele umthwalo. ₂₃Ukuba wenjenje ke ngokuvuma kukaThixo, awuyi kuqobeka, futhi ke nabantu aba baya kutsho bavisisane.”

₂₄Ngenene ke uMosis wenza ngokwecebo likaJetro, ₂₅wawakhetha amadoda afanelekileyo kumaSirayeli, wawamisela aziinkokheli phezu kwamaqela ahlulwa-hlulwe angamawaka, amakhulu, namashumi ngamahlanu njalo-njalo. ₂₆Wona ke aba ngabalamli abavunyiweyo bokuphicotha imicimbi yamaSirayeli. Yonke imicimbi elula yayisonjululwa ngawo, ithi ke ewaxakayo ayigqithisele kuMosis. ₂₇Ke kaloku uMosis wamkhulula uJetro, waphindela kwelakowabo.