ABAKHOKHELI 12

₁Abantu bakwa-Efrayimu babizelwa embizweni bahlomile, bayama umlambo weJordani eTsafoni, bathi kuJafta: “Kubayini uyamele ngaphetjheya ulwe nama-Amoni ungasibizi bona sikhambe nawe? Sizokutjhisa kanye nekumbakho.”

₂UJafta wathi kibo: “Mina nabantu bami silwe khulu nama-Amoni, ngithe nanginibizako azange ningisize esandleni sawo. ₃Ngathi nangibona bonyana aniyingeni, ngabeka ipilwami emlonyeni wethuna. Ngayamela ngaphetjheya ngayokulwa nama-Amoni, uSomnini wawanikela esandleni sami. Alo, kubayini nijamelane nami namhlanjesi? Kghani nifuna ukulwa nami?”

₄Abantu bakwa-Efrayimu baphendula bathi: “Nina bantu bakwaGiliyadi, nihlubuke kwa-Efrayimu. Kuhlekuhle uGiliyadi uyingcenye yakwa-Efrayimu neyakwaManase.”

Ngalokho uJafta wabuthelela ndawonye boke abantu bakwaGiliyadi walwa nabantu bakwa-Efrayimu wabahlula. ₅Abantu bakwaGiliyadi bavimbezela amazibuko weJoridani ukuyela ngakwa-Efrayimu. Bekuthi lokha omunye wabakwa-Efrayimu ophunyurhileko nakhombela ukudlula, amadoda wakwaGiliyadi bekambuza athi: “UmEfrayimu na?” Lokha nathi “Awa”, ₆bese athi kuye: “Akhe uthi ‘tjhibolethi’.” Nahluleka ukuphimisa kuhle igameli bese athi “sibolethi” ambambe ambulalele khona ezibukweni leJordanapho. Lapho kwafela abantu bakwa-Efrayimu abaziinkulungwana ezimatjhumi amane nambili.

₇UJafta, umGiliyadi wakhokhela ama-Israyeli iminyaka esithandathu. Ngemva kwalokho wahlongakala, wabulungelwa edorobheni lakhe eGiliyadi.

₈Ngemva kwakaJafta ama-Israyeli akhokhelwa ngu-Ibitsani weBhethe-Lehema. ₉Yena gade anamadodana amatjhumi amathathu namadodakazi amatjhumi amathathu. Wendisela amadodakazi lawo eenkorweni zangaphandle, godu wathathela amadodanakhe abomalukazana eenkorweni zangaphandle. Wakhokhela ama-Israyeli iminyaka elikhomba. ₁₀U-Ibitsani wahlongakala, wabulungelwa eBhethe-Lehema.

₁₁Ngemva kwakhe ama-Israyeli akhokhelwa ngu-Eloni umZebuloni. Yena wawakhokhela iminyaka elitjhumi. ₁₂Wahlongakala, wabulungelwa e-Ayaloni enarheni yakwaZebuloni.

₁₃Ngemva kwakhe ama-Israyeli akhokhelwa ngu-Abidoni umsa kaHileli umPiratoni. ₁₄Gade anamadodana amatjhumi amane neenzukulwana eziduna ezimatjhumi amathathu. Labo-ke gade bakhwela abodumbana abamatjhumi alikhomba. Yena wakhokhela ama-Israyeli iminyaka ebunane. ₁₅Wahlongakala, wabulungelwa ePiratoni enarheni yakwa-Efrayimu ngentabeni ye-Amalekhi.