To The Word – Day 65

₁Kwathi emva kokufa kukaJoshuwa abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bambuza uJehova, bathi: “Ngubani phakathi kwethu oyakusikhuphukelela kuwo amaKhanani kuqala ukulwa nawo na?”

₂UJehova wathi: “Kuyakukhuphuka uJuda; bheka, ngilinikele izwe esandleni sakhe.”

₃UJuda wayesethi kuSimeyoni umfowabo: “Khuphuka nami, siye esabelweni sami, silwe namaKhanani, nami ngiye esabelweni sakho.” USimeyoni wayesehamba naye.

₄UJuda wakhuphuka; uJehova wanikela esandleni sabo amaKhanani namaPherizi, babulala kuwo abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi eBezeki. ₅EBezeki bafumana u-Adoni Bezeki, balwa naye, bawabulala amaKhanani namaPherizi. ₆Kepha u-Adoni Bezeki wabaleka; bamxosha, bambamba, bamnquma izithupha nawoqukula.

₇Wayesethi u-Adoni Bezeki: “Amakhosi angamashumi ayisikhombisa enqunyiwe izithupha nawoqukula acosha ukudla kwawo phansi kwetafula lami; njengalokho ngenzile, kanjalo uNkulunkulu uphindisele kimi.” Bamyisa eJerusalema, wafela khona.

₈Abantwana bakwaJuda balwa neJerusalema, balithatha, balichitha ngosiko lwenkemba, bathungela umuzi ngomlilo.

₉Ngasemuva behla abantwana bakwaJuda ukuba balwe namaKhanani ayakhe ezintabeni, nangaseningizimu, nasenzansi. ₁₀UJuda wayesehlasela amaKhanani ayakhe eHebroni igama leHebroni laliyiKiriyati Araba kuqala babulala oSheshayi, no-Ahimani, noTalimayi.

₁₁Wasuka lapho, waya kwabakhe eDebiri; igama leDebiri laliyiKiriyati Seferi kuqala. ₁₂UKalebi wathi: “Onqoba iKiriyati Seferi, alithathe, yena ngiyakumnika u-Akisa indodakazi yami abe ngumkakhe.” ₁₃U-Otheniyeli indodana kaKenazi, umnawe kaKalebi, walithatha; wayesemnika u-Akisa indodakazi yakhe abe ngumkakhe. ₁₄Kwathi ekufikeni kwakhe wamnxusa ukuba acele insimu kuyise; wehla embongolweni yakhe; uKalebi wathi kuye: “Ukhala ngani?”

₁₅Wathi kuye: “Ngiphe isipho; lokhu unginike izwe laseningizimu ngiphe nemithombo yamanzi.” UKalebi wamupha imithombo yasenhla nemithombo yasenzansi.

₁₆Abantwana bomKheni umukhwe kaMose benyuka emzini wamasundu nabantwana bakwaJuda, baya ehlane lakwaJuda elingaseningizimu kwase-Aradi; baya bakha nabantu bakhona.

₁₇UJuda wahamba noSimeyoni umfowabo, bachitha amaKhanani ayakhe eSefati, baliqothula. Igama lomuzi laliyiHorma. ₁₈UJuda wathatha iGaza nomkhawulo walo, ne-Ashikeloni nomkhawulo walo, ne-Ekroni nomkhawulo walo.

₁₉UJehova wayenaye uJuda, waxosha abasezintabeni; wayengenakuxosha kodwa abakhe esigodini, lokhu bebenezinqola zensimbi. ₂₀Bamnika uKalebi iHebroni, njengalokho ebekhulumile uMose; waxosha khona amadodana amathathu ka-Anaki. ₂₁Abantwana bakwaBenjamini abawaxoshanga amaJebusi ayakhe eJerusalema, kepha amaJebusi ahlala nabantwana bakwaBenjamini eJerusalema kuze kube namuhla.

₂₂Kwenyukela eBethele nabendlu kaJosefa; uJehova wayenabo. ₂₃Abendlu kaJosefa bathuma bahlola iBethele; igama lomuzi laliyiLuze kuqala. ₂₄Zase zibona izinhloli umuntu ephuma emzini, zathi kuye: “Ake usikhombise intuba yokungena emzini, siyakukwenzela umusa.” ₂₅Wazikhombisa intuba yokungena emzini, zawuchitha umuzi ngosiko lwenkemba; kepha zamvumela lowo muntu nomndeni wakhe ukuba bahambe. ₂₆Lowo muntu wayesengena ezweni lamaHeti, wakha umuzi, waqamba igama lawo ngokuthi iLuze okuyigama lawo kuze kube namuhla.

₂₇UManase akaxoshanga abaseBeti Sheyani nemizana yalo, nabaseThahanaki nemizana yalo, nabakhe eDori nemizana yalo, nabakhe eJibileyamu nemizana yalo, nabakhe eMegido nemizana yalo; amaKhanani aphumelela ukuhlala kulelo zwe. ₂₈Kwathi u-Israyeli esenamandla, bawasebenzisa amaKhanani, kepha abawaxoshanga nokuwaxosha. ₂₉Naye u-Efrayimi akaxoshanga amaKhanani ayakhe eGezeri; kepha amaKhanani ahlala phakathi kwabo eGezeri. ₃₀UZebuloni akaxoshanga abakhe eKitroni, nabakhe eNahaloli; kepha amaKhanani ahlala phakathi kwabo, asetshenziswa. ₃₁U-Asheri akaxoshanga abakhe e-Ako, nabakhe eSidoni, nase-Ahlabi, nase-Akizibi, naseHelba, nase-Afiki, naseRehobe; ₃₂kepha ama-Asheri ahlala phakathi kwamaKhanani ayakhe kulelo zwe, ngokuba abawaxoshanga. ₃₃UNafetali akaxoshanga abakhe eBeti Shemeshi nabakhe eBeti Anati, kepha wahlala phakathi kwamaKhanani ayakhe kulelo zwe; kodwa abakhe eBeti Shemeshi naseBeti Anati basetshenziswa yibo. ₃₄Ama-Amori adudulela abantwana bakwaDani ezintabeni, ngokuba awabavumelanga ukwehlela esigodini. ₃₅Kepha ama-Amori aphumelela ukuhlala entabeni yaseHeresi, nase-Ajaloni, naseShahalabimi; kodwa isandla sendlu kaJosefa sahlula, aze asetshenziswa. ₃₆Umkhawulo wama-Amori wasukela ekwenyukeni kwe-Akarabimi naseSela, waya ngenhla njalo.

₁Ingelosi kaJehova yakhuphuka eGiligali, yaya eBokimi. Yathi: “Nganikhuphula eGibithe, nginilethile ezweni engalifungela oyihlo; ngathi: ‘Angisoze ngaphula kuze kube phakade isivumelwano sami nani, ₂kepha aniyikwenza sivumelwano nabakhe kuleli zwe; niyakudiliza ama-altare abo.’ Kodwa anililalelanga izwi lami. Nenzeleni lokho na? ₃Ngalokho ngithi manje: Angiyikubaxosha phambi kwenu, kepha bayakuba sezinhlangothini zenu, onkulunkulu babo babe lugibe kini.”

₄Kwathi ingelosi kaJehova isikhulumile lawo mazwi kubo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, abantu badazuluka, bakhala. ₅Baqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iBokimi, bahlabela uJehova khona.

₆UJoshuwa esemukisile abantu, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bahamba, yilowo nalowo waya efeni lakhe ukuba balidle izwe. ₇Abantu bamkhonza uJehova izinsuku zonke zikaJoshuwa nezinsuku zonke zamalunga asalayo emva kukaJoshuwa, ayebonile wonke umsebenzi omkhulu ayewenzele u-Israyeli.

₈UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eneminyaka eyikhulu neshumi. ₉Bammbela emkhawulweni wefa lakhe eThimnati Heresi ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi ngasenyakatho kwentaba yakwaGahashi.

₁₀Naso sonke leso sizukulwane sabuthelwa koyise; savela esinye isizukulwane emva kwaso esasingamazi uJehova nomsebenzi ayewenzele u-Israyeli. ₁₁Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, bakhonza oBali; ₁₂bamshiya uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise owabakhipha ezweni laseGibithe, balandela abanye onkulunkulu, onkulunkulu babantu ababebazungeza, babakhothamela, bamcunula uJehova. ₁₃Bamshiya-ke uJehova, bakhonza oBali no-Ashitaroti. ₁₄Intukuthelo kaJehova yavuthela abakwa-Israyeli, wabanikela esandleni sabaphangi ababaphanga, wathengisa ngabo esandleni sezitha zabo nxazonke. Ababe besaba nakuma phambi kwezitha zabo. ₁₅Nomaphi lapho bephumela khona, isandla sikaJehova sasimelene nabo sibenzela okubi njengokukhuluma kukaJehova nanjengokufunga kukaJehova kubo; bantula kakhulu.

₁₆UJehova wavusa abahluleli ababasindisa esandleni sababaphangayo. ₁₇Nabahluleli ababalalelanga, ngokuba baya baphinga nabanye onkulunkulu, babakhothamela; baphambuka masinyane endleleni abahamba ngayo oyise, belalela imiyalo kaJehova; bona abenzanga njalo.

₁₈Lapho uJehova ebavusela abahluleli, uJehova wayenaye umahluleli, wabasindisa esandleni sezitha zabo izinsuku zonke zomahluleli, ngokuba uJehova waba nesihe ngokubulawa kwabo ngenxa yababacindezelayo nababakhathazayo. ₁₉Kepha kwathi ekufeni komahluleli babuyela emuva, bona kakhulu kunawoyise, ngokulandela abanye onkulunkulu ukuba babakhonze, babakhothamele; abayekanga izenzo zabo nendlela yabo yenkani.

₂₀Intukuthelo kaJehova yavuthela u-Israyeli, wathi: “Ngokuba lesi sizwe seqile isivumelwano sami engabayala ngaso oyise, singalalelanga izwi lami, ₂₁angiyikuphinda ngixoshe phambi kwabo noyedwa walezo zizwe azishiyayo uJoshuwa ekufeni kwakhe, ₂₂ukuze ngivivinye ngazo u-Israyeli, uma beyakugcina indlela kaJehova ukuba bahambe ngayo njengalokho oyise bebeyigcina, noma qha.” ₂₃UJehova wayeseyeka lezo zizwe zingaxoshwa masinyane, futhi kazinikelanga esandleni sikaJoshuwa.

₁Lezi ziyizizwe aziyekile uJehova ukuze amvivinye ngazo u-Israyeli, bonke abakwa-Israyeli ababengazi mpi eKhanani, ₂kuphela ukuba izizukulwane zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli zazi, zifundiswe impi, ikakhulu labo ababengayazi ngaphambili. ₃Amakhosi ayisihlanu amaFilisti, nawo onke amaKhanani, namaSidoni, namaHivi ahlala entabeni yaseLebanoni, kusukela entabeni yaseBali Hermoni kuze kube sekuyeni eHamati. ₄Zazingezokuba u-Israyeli avivinywe ngazo, kwazeke uma beyakulalela imiyalo kaJehova abayala ngayo oyise ngesandla sikaMose.

₅Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bahlala phakathi kwamaKhanani, namaHeti, nama-Amori, namaPherizi, namaHivi, namaJebusi, ₆bathatha amadodakazi awo aba ngomkabo, banika amadodana awo amadodakazi abo, bakhonza onkulunkulu bawo.

₇Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, bamkhohlwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, bakhonza oBali no-Ashitaroti. ₈Ngalokho intukuthelo kaJehova yavuthela u-Israyeli, wathengisa ngabo esandleni sikaKushani Rishatayimi inkosi yase-Aramu Naharayimi; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamkhonza uKushani Rishatayimi iminyaka eyisishiyagalombili. ₉Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhala kuJehova; uJehova wabavusela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli umsindisi owabasindisa, u-Otheniyeli indodana kaKenazi, umnawe kaKalebi. ₁₀UMoya kaJehova wayephezu kwakhe, wahlulela u-Israyeli, waphuma impi, uJehova wanikela uKushani Rishatayimi inkosi yase-Aramu Naharayimi esandleni sakhe; isandla sakhe samahlula uKushani Rishatayimi. ₁₁Izwe lase liba nokuthula iminyaka engamashumi amane. Wafa u-Otheniyeli indodana kaKenazi.

₁₂Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuye benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova; uJehova wamnika u-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi amandla phezu kuka-Israyeli, lokhu benze okubi emehlweni kaJehova. ₁₃Wazibuthela abantwana bakwa-Amoni nabakwa-Amaleki, waya wachitha u-Israyeli, badla umuzi wamasundu. ₁₄Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamkhonza u-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili.

₁₅Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhala kuJehova, uJehova wabavusela umsindisi, u-Ehudi indodana kaGera, umBenjamini, umuntu oyinxele; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathuma isipho ngaye ku-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi. ₁₆U-Ehudi wazenzela inkemba ebukhali izinsiko zombili, ubude bayo buyingalo, wayibhinca phansi kwengubo yakhe ethangeni lokunene.

₁₇Wamnika u-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi isipho, kepha u-Egiloni wayengumuntu okhulupheleyo kakhulu. ₁₈Kwathi eseqedile ukumnika isipho, wamukisa abantu ababesithwele isipho. ₁₉Kepha yena wabuya endaweni yezithombe ezibaziweyo engaseGiligali, wathi: “Nginendaba eyisifuba kuwe nkosi.”

Wathi: “Thulani.” Base bephuma bonke ababemi ngakuye.

₂₀U-Ehudi wasondela kuye; wayehlezi ekamelweni eliphezulu elipholileyo; wayesethi u-Ehudi: “Nginodaba oluvela kuNkulunkulu kuwe.” Wasukuma esihlalweni sakhe. ₂₁U-Ehudi wayeselula isandla sakhe sokhohlo, wabamba inkemba ethangeni lakhe lokunene, wamgwaza esiswini sakhe; ₂₂kwangena nesibambo emva kwenkemba, amanoni azungeza inkemba, ngokuba akayikhiphanga inkemba esiswini sakhe; yaphumela emuva. ₂₃U-Ehudi wayesephumela ekamelweni eliphambili, wazivalela iminyango yekamelo eliphezulu, wayihluthulela.

₂₄Nxa esephumile yena, kwafika izinceku zakhe; zabona, bheka, iminyango yekamelo eliphezulu yayihluthulelwe; zathi: “Mhlawumbe uyembesa ezinyawo zakhe ekamelweni lakhe elipholileyo.” ₂₅Zalinda zaze zajabha; bheka, akayivulanga iminyango yekamelo eliphezulu; ngalokho zathatha ukhiye, zayivula; bheka, inkosi yazo yayiwele phansi ifile.

₂₆U-Ehudi waphunyuka zisalinda, wadlula endaweni yezithombe ezibaziweyo, wabalekela eSeyiri. ₂₇Kwathi esefikile, wabetha icilongo ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli behla naye ezintabeni, yena ephambi kwabo.

₂₈Wathi kubo: “Ngilandeleni, ngokuba uJehova unikele izitha zenu abakwaMowabi esandleni senu!” Behla emva kwakhe, bavimba amazibuko aseJordani ababewela ngawo abakwaMowabi, abavumanga ukuba kuwele muntu. ₂₉Babulala kwabakwaMowabi ngaleso sikhathi kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi abayizidlakela namajaha, akwaphunyuka muntu. ₃₀UMowabi wathotshiswa kanjalo ngalolo suku phansi kwesandla sakwa-Israyeli. Izwe laba nokuthula iminyaka engamashumi ayisihiyagalombili.

₃₁Emva kwakhe kwafika uShamgari indodana ka-Anati owabulala kuwo amaFilisti abantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha ngocijo lwenkabi; naye wasindisa u-Israyeli.

₁Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuye benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, esefile u-Ehudi. ₂UJehova wathengisa ngabo esandleni sikaJabini inkosi yaseKhanani, owabusa eHasori, onduna yempi yakhe yayinguSisera owahlala eHarosheti labezizwe. ₃Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhala kuJehova, ngokuba wayenezinqola ezingamakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye zensimbi; wacindezela kakhulu abantwana bakwa-Israyeli iminyaka engamashumi amabili.

₄UDebora umprofethikazi, umkaLapidoti, wahlulela u-Israyeli ngaleso sikhathi. ₅Wayehlala phansi kwesundu likaDebora phakathi kweRama neBethele ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhuphukela kuye ukuba bahlulelwe. ₆Wathuma wabiza uBaraki indodana ka-Abinohama waseKedeshi Nafetali, wathi kuye: “UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli akayalanga yini ngokuthi: ‘Hamba usondele entabeni yaseThabori, uye nabantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi babantwana bakwaNafetali nabantwana bakwaZebuloni, na? ₇Ngiyakusondeza kuwe emfudlaneni iKishoni uSisera induna yempi kaJabini, nezinqola zakhe, nesixuku sakhe, ngimnikele esandleni sakho.’ ”

₈UBaraki wathi kuye: “Uma uhamba nami, ngiyakuhamba; kepha uma ungahambi nami, angiyikuhamba.”

₉Wathi kuye: “Impela ngiyakuhamba nawe, kodwa indlela oyakuhamba ngayo ayiyikuba ngeyodumo lwakho, ngokuba uJehova uyakumthengisa uSisera esandleni sowesifazane.” Wayesesuka uDebora, wahamba noBaraki, baya eKedeshi. ₁₀UBaraki wabiza oZebuloni noNafetali ukuba beze eKedeshi; kwakhuphuka abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi ezinyathelweni zakhe; naye uDebora wakhuphuka naye.

₁₁Kepha uHebere umKheni wayezahlukanisile namaKheni, abantwana bakwaHobabi umukhwe kaMose, wamisa itende lakhe kwaze kwaba se-okini* laseShananimi eliseduze neKedeshi.

₁₂Bamtshela uSisera ukuthi uBaraki indodana ka-Abinohama ukhuphukele entabeni yaseThabori. ₁₃USisera wayesebutha zonke izinqola zakhe, izinqola ezingamakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye zensimbi, nabantu bonke ababenaye, kusukela eHarosheti labezizwe kuze kube semfudlaneni iKishoni.

₁₄UDebora wathi kuBaraki: “Vuka, ngokuba yilolu suku uJehova anikele ngalo uSisera esandleni sakho; uJehova akaphumanga phambi kwakho na?” UBaraki wehla entabeni yaseThabori nabantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi emva kwakhe. ₁₅UJehova wamngquzula uSisera nazo zonke izinqola zakhe nempi yakhe yonke ngosiko lwenkemba phambi kukaBaraki; uSisera wehlika enqoleni yakhe, wabaleka ngezinyawo. ₁₆Kepha uBaraki waxosha izinqola nempi kwaze kwaba seHarosheti labezizwe; yonke impi kaSisera yawa ngosiko lwenkemba, akwasala muntu.

₁₇Kepha uSisera wabaleka ngezinyawo, wafika etendeni likaJayeli umkaHebere umKheni, ngokuba kwakukhona ukuthula phakathi kukaJabini inkosi yaseHasori nendlu kaHebere umKheni.

₁₈UJayeli waphuma ukumhlangabeza uSisera, wathi kuye: “Phambuka, nkosi yami; phambukela kimi, ungesabi.” Waphambukela kuye etendeni, wamembesa ingubo.

₁₉Wayesethi kuye: “Ake ungiphuzise ingcosana yamanzi, ngokuba ngomile.” Wavumbulula igabha lobisi, wamphuzisa, wamembesa.

₂₀Wathi kuye: “Yima emnyango wetende; kuyakuthi nxa kufika umuntu abuze kuwe athi: ‘Kukhona muntu lapha na?’ uthi: ‘Qha.’ ”

₂₁UJayeli umkaHebere wayesethatha isikhonkwane setende, waphatha isando ngesandla, wanyonyobela kuye, wambethela esikhaleni sendlebe ngesikhonkwane, sagqobhoza, saphumela emhlabathini, ngokuba wayelele ubuthongo obukhulu ediniwe; wafa kanjalo.

₂₂Bheka, uBaraki esamxosha uSisera, uJayeli waphuma ukumhlangabeza, wathi kuye: “Woza, ngikubonise omfunayo.” Waya kuye; bheka, uSisera wayelele efile, isikhonkwane sisesikhaleni sendlebe yakhe.

₂₃Ngalolo suku uNkulunkulu wamnqoba uJabini inkosi yaseKhanani phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₂₄Isandla sabantwana bakwa-Israyeli saqhubeka saba namandla njalo phezu kukaJabini inkosi yaseKhanani, baze bamqeda uJabini inkosi yaseKhanani.

₁Base behlabelela oDebora noBaraki indodana ka-Abinohama ngalolo suku, bethi:

Izwe selaba nokuthula iminyaka engamashumi amane.