UJoshuwa 3:1-17
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Abako-Israyeli bachapha umfula uJodani (1-17)
3 UJoshuwa wavuka ngovivi wasuka lama-Israyeli wonke eShithimi+ baya eJodani. Kodwa kabazange bawuchaphe umfula, balala ubusuku bonke eduze kwawo.
2 Ngemva kwensuku ezintathu abaphathi babantu+ badabula phakathi kwamatende
3 behamba besithi ebantwini: “Lingabona abaphristi abangamaLevi+ sebethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, lihle lisuke ezindaweni zenu libalandele.
4 Kodwa libe khatshana lebhokisi lesivumelwano ngezingalo ezingaba ngu-2 000.* Lingasondeli eduze kwalo ukuze liyibone kuhle indlela ngoba kalikaze lihambe ngayo.”
5 UJoshuwa wasesithi ebantwini: “Zihlambululeni*+ ngoba kusasa uJehova uzalenzela+ izinto ezimangalisayo.”
6 Ngemva kwalokho uJoshuwa wakhuluma labaphristi wathi: “Thwalani ibhokisi+ lesivumelwano lihambe phambi kwabantu.” Ngakho balithwala bahamba phambi kwabantu.
7 UJehova wasesithi kuJoshuwa: “Lamuhla ngizaqalisa ukukunika udumo phambi kwabantu bonke bako-Israyeli+ ukuze bakwazi ukuthi ngizakuba lawe+ njengoba nje ngangiloMosi.+
8 Nanku okumele ukutshele abaphristi abathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano: ‘Lingafika ekhunjini lomfula uJodani, kumele lingene emanzini beselisima mpo.’”+
9 UJoshuwa wathi kwabako-Israyeli: “Buyani lizokuzwa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu utheni.”
10 Wasesithi: “Nanku okuzakwenza lazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo ulani,+ lokuthi uzawaxotsha phambi kwenu amaKhenani, lamaHithi, lamaHivi, lamaPherizi, lamaGirigashi, lama-Amori lamaJebusi:+
11 Ibhokisi lesivumelwano seNkosi yomhlaba wonke lizahamba phambi kwenu lize liyefika emfuleni uJodani.
12 Khethani amadoda angu-12 ezizwaneni zako-Israyeli, lithathe indoda eyodwa esizwaneni ngasinye.+
13 Abaphristi abathwele ibhokisi likaJehova iNkosi yomhlaba wonke bazathi bengena nje emfuleni uJodani, amanzi ageleza evela ngaphezulu azakuma abe ngumduli.”+
14 Abantu bathi besuka ematendeni abo besiyachapha umfula uJodani, abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi+ lesivumelwano bahamba phambi kwabo.
15 (Umfula uJodani uyagcwala uze uchithe+ ngesikhathi sokuvuna.) Abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano bathi bengena nje emfuleni uJodani,
16 amanzi ayegeleza evela ngaphezulu ama aba ngumduli khatshana khonale edolobheni le-Adamu eliseduze leZarethani, kwathi lawo ayegelezela eLwandle lwe-Arabha, uLwandle Lwesawudo, ageleza aphela. Ngakho umfula wama ukugeleza njalo abantu bachapha maqondana leJerikho.
17 Abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova bama emhlabathini owomileyo+ phakathi komfula uJodani. Abako-Israyeli bachapha emhlabathini owomileyo+ njalo abaphristi baqhubeka bemi isizwe sonke saze sachapha.
Amabala angaphansi
^ Leli libanga elingaba ngamamitha angu-890. Khangela iSengezo ku-B14.
^ NgesiHebheru, “Zingcweliseni.”
