UJoshuwa 4:1-24
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Amatshe la azakuba yisikhumbuzo (1-24)
4 Isizwe sonke sathi sesiqedile ukuchapha umfula uJodani, uJehova wathi kuJoshuwa:
2 “Khetha amadoda angu-12 phakathi kwabantu, uthathe indoda eyodwa esizwaneni ngasinye,+
3 ubususithi kuwo: ‘Thathani amatshe angu-12 phakathi komfula uJodani lapho okume khona abaphristi,+ liwathwale liyewabeka endaweni elizalala kuyo.’”+
4 Ngakho uJoshuwa wabiza amadoda angu-12 ayewakhethe phakathi kwabako-Israyeli. Wayekhethe indoda eyodwa esizwaneni ngasinye.
5 UJoshuwa wasesithi kuwo: “Dlulani liye phambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu phakathi komfula uJodani. Ngamunye wenu adobhe ilitshe elilodwa alithwale ehlombe. Inani lamatshe kumele lilingane lenani lezizwana zako-Israyeli.
6 Amatshe la azakuba yisikhumbuzo kini. Nxa abantwabenu bangalibuza ukuthi ngawani,+
7 kumele libatshele lithi: ‘Amatshe la ngawokunceda abako-Israyeli+ ukuthi bahlale bekhumbula okwenzakala ngesikhathi bechapha umfula uJodani. Abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi+ lesivumelwano sikaJehova bathi bengena nje emfuleni uJodani, amanzi ama ukugeleza.’”
8 Ngakho abako-Israyeli benza lokho uJoshuwa ayebatshele khona. Bathatha amatshe angu-12 phakathi komfula uJodani njengoba nje uJehova wayetshilo kuJoshuwa. Bawathwala bahamba lawo endaweni ababezalala kuyo, bafika bawabeka khona. Inani lamatshe la lalilingana lenani lezizwana zako-Israyeli.
9 UJoshuwa waphinda wabeka amanye amatshe angu-12 phakathi komfula uJodani lapho okwakumi khona+ abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano. Amatshe la alokhu ekhona kuze kube lamuhla.
10 Abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi baqhubeka bemile phakathi komfula uJodani abantu baze baqeda ukwenza konke uJehova ayekutshele uJoshuwa. Konke lokhu kwakuhambelana lalokho uMosi ayekutshele uJoshuwa. Abantu bachapha baya ngaphetsheya.
11 Bathi beqeda nje ukuchapha, abaphristi balandela bethwele ibhokisi likaJehova, bonke abantu bebakhangele.+
12 AbakoRubheni labakoGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase bachapha behlomele impi+ behamba phambi kwabako-Israyeli, njengoba nje uMosi wayebatshelile.+
13 Kwachapha amadoda angaba ngu-40 000 ayehlomile ehamba phambi kukaJehova esiya emagcekeni aseJerikho.*
14 Ngalolosuku uJehova wamnika udumo uJoshuwa phambi kwabantu bonke bako-Israyeli+ futhi bamhlonipha kakhulu* okwempilo yakhe yonke, njengoba nje babemhlonipha kakhulu uMosi.+
15 UJehova wasesithi kuJoshuwa:
16 “Tshela abaphristi abathwele ibhokisi+ loBufakazi ukuthi baphume emfuleni uJodani.”
17 Ngakho uJoshuwa wathi kubaphristi: “Phumani emfuleni.”
18 Abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi+ lesivumelwano sikaJehova bathi bephuma nje emfuleni, inyawo zabo zinyathela emhlabathini owomileyo, amanzi omfula aqala ukugeleza, umfula wagcwala waze wachitha+ njengakuqala.
19 Abantu basuka eJodani mhlaka 10 ngenyanga yokuqala bafika bahlala eGiligali+ emngceleni osempumalanga kweJerikho.
20 UJoshuwa wathatha amatshe angu-12 ababewathethe emfuleni uJodani wawabuthelela eGiligali.+
21 Wasekhuluma labako-Israyeli wathi: “Nxa abantwabenu sebelibuza kusasa ukuthi amatshe la ngawani,+
22 libatshele lithi: ‘Abako-Israyeli bachapha umfula uJodani emhlabathini owomileyo+
23 uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aze omise umfula uJodani phambi kwabo. Amanzi omfula oma baze bachapha bonke njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akwenza sichapha+ uLwandle Olubomvu.
24 Lokhu wayekwenzela ukuthi abantu emhlabeni bakwazi ukuthi isandla sikaJehova silamandla+ lokuthi lani lihlale limesaba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.’”
