UJoshuwa 24:1-33 - Compare All Versions

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UJoshuwa wabutha zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli eShekemi, wabiza amalunga akwa-Israyeli, nezinhloko zakhe, nabahluleli bakhe, nezinduna zakhe, bema phambi kukaNkulunkulu. UJoshuwa wathi kubantu bonke: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Oyihlo bahlala endulo ngaphesheya koMfula,* uThera uyise ka-Abrahama noyise kaNahori, bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu. Ngamthatha uyihlo u-Abrahama ngaphesheya koMfula,* ngamhambisa ezweni lonke laseKhanani, ngayandisa inzalo yakhe, ngamupha u-Isaka. Ngamupha u-Isaka oJakobe no-Esawu; ngamnika u-Esawu intaba yaseSeyiri ukuba ayidle; uJakobe nabantwana bakhe behlela eGibithe. “ ‘Ngathuma oMose no-Aroni, ngahlupha iGibithe ngalokho engakwenza phakathi kwalo; ngasemuva nganikhipha. Ngakhipha oyihlo eGibithe; nafika elwandle; abaseGibithe babaxosha oyihlo ngezinqola nangabamahhashi, baze bafika eLwandle Olubomvu. Lapho bekhala kuJehova, wabeka ubumnyama phakathi kwenu nabaseGibithe, waluhambisa ulwandle phezu kwabo, wabasibekela; amehlo enu abona engakwenzayo eGibithe; nahlala ehlane izinsuku eziningi. “ ‘Nganingenisa ezweni lama-Amori ahlala ngaphesheya kweJordani, alwa nani; ngawanikela esandleni senu, nadla izwe lawo; ngawachitha phambi kwenu. Kwase kuvuka uBalaki indodana kaSipori, inkosi yakwaMowabi, walwa no-Israyeli; wathuma wabiza uBileyamu indodana kaBeyori ukuba aniqalekise, kepha angithandanga ukumlalela uBileyamu, kodwa kakhulu wanibusisa, nganophula esandleni sakhe. “ ‘Nase niwela iJordani, nafika eJeriko; amadoda aseJeriko alwa nani, nama-Amori, namaPherizi, namaKhanani, namaHeti, namaGirigashi, namaHivi, namaJebusi, ngawanikela esandleni senu. Ngathuma iminyovu phambi kwenu eyawaxosha phambi kwenu amakhosi omabili ama-Amori, kungengankemba yakho noma ngomnsalo wakho. Nganinika izwe eningakhandlekanga kulo, nemizi eningayakhanga nihlala nokho kuyo; niyadla ezivinini naseminqumeni eningakutshalanga.’ “Manje yesabani uJehova, nimkhonze ngobuqotho nangeqiniso, nisuse onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo phesheya koMfula* naseGibithe, nimkhonze uJehova. Uma kukubi emehlweni enu ukumkhonza uJehova, khethani namuhla ukuthi ngubani eniyakumkhonza, noma onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo besengaphesheya koMfula,* noma onkulunkulu bama-Amori enihlala ezweni lawo; kepha mina nendlu yami siyakumkhonza uJehova.” Abantu baphendula bathi: “Makube kude nathi ukumshiya uJehova ukuba sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguye owasikhuphula thina nawobaba ezweni laseGibithe, indlu yobugqila, nowazenza lezo zibonakaliso emehlweni ethu, wasilondoloza endleleni yonke esahamba ngayo, naphakathi kwabo bonke abantu esadlula phakathi kwabo. UJehova waxosha phambi kwethu bonke abantu, nama-Amori futhi ayehlala ezweni; ngalokho nathi siyakumkhonza uJehova, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu wethu.” UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: “Aninakumkhonza uJehova, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu ongcwele; unguNkulunkulu onomhawu, akayikuthethelela iziphambeko zenu nezono zenu. Uma nimshiya uJehova, nikhonze onkulunkulu babezizwe, uyakuphenduka, anenzele okubi, aniqede esenenzele okuhle.” Kepha abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “Qha, ngokuba siyakumkhonza uJehova.” Wayesethi uJoshuwa kubantu: “Nina ningofakazi benu bokuthi nizikhethele uJehova ukuba nimkhonze yena.” Bathi: “Singofakazi.” Wathi: “Susani manje onkulunkulu babezizwe abaphakathi kwenu, nithobele izinhliziyo zenu kuJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.” Abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu siyakumkhonza, sililalele izwi lakhe.” UJoshuwa wayesenza isivumelwano nabantu ngalolo suku, wabamisela isimiso nomthetho eShekemi. UJoshuwa waloba lawo mazwi encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu, wathatha itshe elikhulu, walimisa lapho phansi kwe-oki* elingasendlini engcwele kaJehova. Wayesethi uJoshuwa kubo abantu bonke: “Bhekani, leli tshe liyakuba ngufakazi ngathi, ngokuba lizwile onke amazwi kaJehova awakhuluma kithi; ngalokho liyakuba ngufakazi ngani, funa nimphike uNkulunkulu wenu.” UJoshuwa wayesebamukisa abantu, yilowo nalowo waya efeni lakhe. Kwathi emva kwalezo zinto uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eneminyaka eyikhulu neshumi. Bammbela emkhawulweni wefa lakhe eThimnati Sera elisezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi ngasenyakatho kwentaba yakwaGahashi. U-Israyeli wamkhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa nazo zonke izinsuku zamalunga ayekhona izinsuku ezithile emva kukaJoshuwa, ayeyazi yonke imisebenzi kaJehova ayeyenzele u-Israyeli. Amathambo kaJosefa akhushulwa eGibithe ngabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bawembela eShekemi esiqeshini sezwe asithengayo uJakobe kumadodana kaHamori uyise kaShekemi ngamakesita* ayikhulu, laba ifa labantwana bakwaJosefa. U-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni wafa; bammbela egqumeni likaFinehasi indodana yakhe, abenikiwe lona ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi.

UJoshuwa wayeseqoqa zonke izizwana zakwa-Israyeli eShekhemi, wabiza amalunga akwa-Israyeli, izinhloko, abehluleli, nezikhulu, bema phambi kukaNkulunkulu. UJoshuwa wathi kubo bonke abantu: “Usho kanje uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Emandulo okhokho benu, uThera namadodana akhe u-Abhrahama noNahori, babehlala ngaphesheya komfula, bekhonza abanye onkulunkulu. Ngamthatha ukhokho wenu u-Abhrahama ngaphesheya komfula, ngamhola edabula lonke iKhanani, ngenza isizukulwane sakhe saba singi, ngamnika u-Isaka. U-Isaka ngamnika uJakobe no-Esawu. Ngamnika u-Esawu elezintaba kuze kube seSeyiri ukuba alidle libe yifa lakhe, kodwa uJakobe nabantwana bakhe behlela eGibhithe. “ ‘Ngathumela uMose no-Aroni, ngalihlupha iGibhithe ngalokho engakwenza phakathi kwalo; emveni kwalokho nganikhipha. Lapho ngibakhipha okhokho benu eGibhithe, nafika olwandle; abaseGibhithe babaxosha okhokho benu ngezinqola nangamahhashi, baze bafika oLwandle Lomhlanga. Lapho bekhala kuSimakade, waletha ubumnyama phakathi kwenu nabaseGibhithe. Wenza ulwandle ukuba lubuyele phezu kwabo lubagubuzele; nakubona engakwenza kwabaseGibhithe; emveni kwalokho nahlala ehlane izinsuku eziningi. “ ‘Nganingenisa ezweni lama-Amori ahlala phesheya kweJordani, alwa nani; ngawanikela esandleni senu, nalidla izwe lawo; ngawabhubhisa phambi kwenu. Inkosi uBhalaki, indodana kaZiphori wakwaMowabi, waphuma ukuyolwa no-Israyeli. Wathumela ukuyobiza uBhileyamu indodana kaBheyori ukuba aniqalekise, kodwa angimlalelanga uBhileyamu; ngakho-ke wanibusisa, nganikhulula esandleni sakhe. “ ‘Lapho niwela iJordani, nafika eJerikho; izakhamuzi zalo zalwa nani, kanjalo nama-Amori, amaPherizi, amaKhanani, amaHithi, amaGirigashi, amaHivi, namaJebusi, ngabanikela esandleni senu. Ngathumela iminyovu phambi kwenu, eyaxosha phambi kwenu amakhosi amabili ama-Amori, kwakungengankemba yakho noma ngomnsalo wakho. Nganinika izwe eningalikhandlekelanga nemizi eningayakhanga, nihlala kuyo; nidla izithelo zemivini nezeminqumo eningakutshalanga.’ “Manje mesabeni uSimakade, nimkhonze ngobuqotho nangeqiniso, nibasuse onkulunkulu ababekhonzwa ngokhokho besengaphesheya komfula naseGibhithe, nikhonze uSimakade. Uma kukubi emehlweni enu ukukhonza uSimakade, khethani namuhla ukuthi ngubani eniyakumkhonza, noma ngonkulunkulu ababekhonzwa ngokhokho benu besengaphesheya komfula, noma ngonkulunkulu bama-Amori enihlala ezweni lawo, kepha mina nendlu yami siyakumkhonza uSimakade.” Abantu baphendula bathi: “Makube kude nathi ukushiya uSimakade sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu, ngokuba uSimakade uNkulunkulu wethu nguYena owasikhipha thina nokhokho bethu Gibhithe, endlini yobugqila, nowenza lezo zibonakaliso emehlweni ethu. Wasivikela endleleni yonke esahamba kuyo, naphakathi kwabo bonke abantu esedlula phakathi kwabo. USimakade waxosha bonke abantu phambi kwethu, ama-Amori ayehlala ezweni; yingakho siyomkhonza uSimakade, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu wethu.” UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: “Aninakumkhonza uSimakade, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu ongcwele. UnguNkulunkulu onomhawu, akayukuxolela iziphambeko zenu noma izono zenu. Uma nimshiya uSimakade, nikhonze abanye onkulunkulu babezizwe, uyophenduka, anenzakalise, aniqothule esenenzele lokhu okuhle.” Abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “Qha, siyokumkhonza uSimakade.” UJoshuwa wayesethi kubantu: “Nina ningofakazi uqobo bokuthi yinina enizikhethele uSimakade ukuba nimkhonze.” Bathi: “Singofakazi.” Wathi kubo: “Ngakho-ke lahlani onkulunkulu babezizwe abaphakathi kwenu, niphendulele izinhliziyo zenu kuSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.” Abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “Siyomkhonza uSimakade uNkulunkulu wethu, silalele izwi lakhe.” Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa wenza isivumelwano nabantu ngalolo lusuku, wabamisela izimiso nemithetho eShekemi. UJoshuwa wawaloba lawa mazwi encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu, wathatha itshe elikhulu, walimisa lapho phansi komu-okhi, endaweni engcwele kaSimakade. UJoshuwa wathi kubo bonke abantu: “Bhekani, leli litshe liyokuba ngufakazi ngathi, ngokuba lizwile wonke amazwi kaSimakade awakhulume kithi; liyoba ngufakazi ngani, uma senimphika uNkulunkulu wenu.” UJoshuwa wayesebadedela abantu, babuyela efeni labo. Kwathi emveni kwazo zonke lezo zinto uJoshuwa, indodana kaNuni, inceku kaSimakade, wafa eseneminyaka eyi-110. Bamngcwaba eThiminathi Sera eyifa lakhe, ekwelezintaba kwa-Efrayimi, enyakatho yentaba iGahashi. U-Israyeli wamkhonza uSimakade ngazo zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa, nangezamalunga aphila izinsuku ezedlula ezikaJoshuwa, futhi ayekwazi konke uSimakade ayekwenzele u-Israyeli. Amathambo kaJosefa ayekhushulwe ngabakwa-Israyeli eGibhithe, bawangcwaba eShekhemi esiqeshini somhlaba esasithengwe nguJakobe emadodaneni kaHamori, uyise kaShekemi, ngamakesita ayikhulu, saba yifa labantu bakwaJosefa. U-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni wafa; bamngcwaba eGibheya umuzi kaFinehasi indodana yakhe, ayewunikiwe kwelezintaba kwa-Efrayimi.

UJoshuwa wabutha zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli eShekemi, wabiza amalunga akwa-Israyeli, nezinhloko zabo, nabahluleli bakhe, nezinduna zabo; bazimisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu. UJoshuwa wayesethi kubo bonke abantu: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Ezinsukwini zasendulo oyihlo babehlala ngaphesheya koMfula, uThera, uyise ka-Abrahama, noyise kaNahori; bakhonza abanye onkulunkulu. Ngamthatha uyihlo u-Abhrahama ngaphetsheya kukazamcolo, ngamhambisa elizweni lonke laseKhanani, ngayandisa inzalo yakhe ngamnika u-Isaka. Ngamnika u-Isaka oJakobe no-Esawu; ngamnika u-Esawu intaba yaseSeyiri ukuba ayidle; kepha uJakobe kanye nabantwana bakhe behlela eGibithe. Ngathuma oMose no-Aroni, ngalihlupha iGibithe njengalokho ngenza phakathi kwalo; ngasemuva nganikhipha. Ngakhipha oyihlo eGibithe, nafika olwandle; abaseGibithe baxosha oyihlo ngezinqola nangabamahhashi kwaze kwaba seLwandle LwaseShelefu. Lapho bembiza uJehova, wabeka ubumnyama phakathi kwenu nabaseGibhithe, waletha ulwandle phezu kwabo, wabasibekela; amehlo enu akubona engakwenzayo eGibithe, nahlala isikhathi eside ehlane. Nganingenisa ezweni lama-Amori ahlala ngaphesheya kweJordani; futhi balwa nawe; ngiwanikele esandleni senu, ukuze lidle ilifa lelizwe lawo; ngabachitha phambi kwakho. UBalaki indodana kaSipori, inkosi yakwaMowabi, wasukuma walwa no-Israyeli, wathumela wabiza uBileyamu indodana kaBeyori ukuba aniqalekise. Kepha angivumanga ukumlalela uBileyamu; ngakho-ke usakubusisa; ngalokho nganisindisa esandleni sakhe. Nawela iJordani, nafika eJeriko, amadoda aseJeriko alwa nani, ama-Amori, namaPherizi, namaKhanani, namaHeti, namaGirigashi, namaHivi, namaJebusi; ngiwanikele esandleni sakho. Ngathuma iminyovu phambi kwenu, eyawaxosha phambi kwenu, amakhosi amabili ama-Amori; kodwa kungabi ngenkemba yakho noma ngomnsalo wakho. Nganinika izwe eningalisebenzelanga, nemizi eningayakhanga, nahlala kuyo; izivini neminqumo eningayitshalanga niyadla. Mesabeni manje uJehova, nimkhonze ngobuqotho nangeqiniso; nisuse onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo phesheya koMfula naseGibithe; nikhonze uJehova. Uma kukubi emehlweni enu ukumkhonza uJehova, zikhetheleni namuhla ukuthi ngubani eniyakumkhonza; noma onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo ababephesheya komfula, nonkulunkulu bama-Amori enihlala ezweni lawo; kepha mina nendlu yami siyakumkhonza uJehova. Abantu baphendula bathi: “Masingamshiyi uJehova, sikhonze abanye onkulunkulu; Ngoba nguJehova uNkulunkulu wethu owasikhupha thina lobaba elizweni leGibhithe, endlini yobugqili, owenza lezozibonakaliso ezinkulu phambi kwamehlo ethu, wasilondoloza endleleni yonke esahamba ngayo langaphansi. Bonke abantu esadlula kubo; UJehova wabaxosha bonke abantu phambi kwethu, ama-Amori ayehlala ezweni; ngalokho nathi siyakumkhonza uJehova; ngoba unguNkulunkulu wethu. UJoshuwa wayesethi kubantu: “Aninakumkhonza uJehova, ngokuba unguNkulunkulu ongcwele; unguNkulunkulu onomhawu; kayikuthethelela iziphambeko zenu lezono zenu. Uma nimshiya uJehova, nikhonze onkulunkulu bezizweni, uyakuniguqula, alinise, anibhubhise emva kokuba esenenzele okuhle. Abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “Qha; kepha thina siyakumkhonza uJehova. UJoshuwa wathi kubantu: “Nina ningofakazi ngokumelene nani ukuthi nizikhethele uJehova ukuba nimkhonze. Futhi bathi: “Singofakazi.” Manje, uthi, susani onkulunkulu bezizweni abaphakathi kwenu, nithambekise inhliziyo yenu kuJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Abantu bathi kuJoshuwa: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu siyakumkhonza, silalele izwi lakhe. UJoshuwa wenza isivumelwano nabantu ngalolo suku, wabamisela isimiso nesimemezelo eShekemi. UJoshuwa waloba lawa mazwi encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu, wathatha itshe elikhulu, walimisa lapho phansi kwesihlahla somtholo esisendlini engcwele kaJehova. UJoshuwa wayesethi kubo bonke abantu: “Bhekani, leli tshe liyakuba ngufakazi wethu; ngoba lizwile wonke amazwi eNkosi ewakhulume kithi. Ngakho uJoshuwa wabahambisa abantu, kwaba yilowo nalowo waya efeni lakhe. Ngemva kwalezi zinto uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eneminyaka eyikhulu neshumi. Bammbela emkhawulweni wefa lakhe eThimnati Sera ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi ngasenyakatho kwentaba iGahashi. U-Israyeli wamkhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa nazo zonke izinsuku zamalunga asala kuJoshuwa futhi azi wonke usizi. Amathambo kaJosefa abantwana bakwa-Israyeli abakhuphula ngawo eGibithe bawembela eShekemi endaweni uJakobe ayithenga emadodaneni kaHamori uyise kaShekemi ngamashekeli ayikhulu esiliva; ifa labantwana bakwaJosefa. U-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni wafa; bammbela entabeni yendodana yakhe uFinehasi, anikwa yona ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi.