UJoshuwa 4

₁Lapho isizwe sonke sesiliwelile iJordani, uSimakade wakhuluma kuJoshuwa wathi: ₂“Ziqokeleni amadoda ali-12 phakathi kwabantu, uqoke indoda ibe yinye kuleso naleso sizwe. ₃Uwayale ukuba ngayinye ithathe itshe phakathi nomfula lapho kumi khona izinyawo zabaphristi, athathe amatshe ali-12. Niyakuwathatha niwele nawo, niwabeke endaweni lapho niyophumula khona, lapho niyolala khona ngalobo busuku.”

₄UJoshuwa wayesebiza lawo madoda ali-12 ayeqokwe phakathi kwabantu bakwa-Israyeli, indoda eyodwa isizwe ngesizwe. ₅UJoshuwa wathi kuwo: “Welani phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano sikaSimakade uNkulunkulu wenu, phakathi komfula iJordani, kuthi indoda ngayinye ngokwenani lezizwe ithathe itshe iletshathe ehlombe njengokwezizwe zakwa-Israyeli, ₆abe wuphawu phakathi kwenu, ukuze kuthi lapho zinibuza izingane zenu ngesikhathi esizayo, zithi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe kini na?’ ₇nithi kuzo: ‘Amanzi omfula iJordani anqamuka phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano sikaSimakade lapho kuwela umphongolo eJordani; lawa matshe ayisikhumbuzo kubantu bakwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.’ ”

₈Abantu bakwa-Israyeli benza njengoba uJoshuwa wayebayalile; bathatha amatshe ali-12 phakathi neJordani njengalokhu uSimakade ayeshilo kuJoshuwa, njengokwezizwe zakwa-Israyeli; bawathwala bawela nawo, baya endaweni lapho babezolala khona, base bewabeka phansi lapho. ₉UJoshuwa wamisa amanye amatshe ali-12 phakathi nomfula iJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabaphristi ababethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano zazimi khona. Asekhona lapho kuze kube namuhla.

₁₀Abaphristi ababethwele umphongolo bama phakathi eJordani, kwaze kwaphela konke lokho uSimakade ayeyale uJoshuwa ukuba akusho kubantu, njengakho konke uMose ayemyale ngakho uJoshuwa. Abantu bawela ngokushesha. ₁₁Lapho bonke abantu sebeqedile ukuwela, abaphristi bawela nomphongolo kaNkulunkulu abantu bebuka. ₁₂Abozalo lukaRubeni nolukaGadi nengxenye yesizwana sakwaManase bawela umfula behlomile phambi kwabantu bakwa-Israyeli, njengalokhu uMose ayebayalile. ₁₃Kwawela phambi kukaSimakade amadoda ayizi-40 000 ayehlome ephelele alibangisa emathafeni eJerikho ukuyolwa.

₁₄Ngalolo lusuku uSimakade wamphakamisa uJoshuwa emehlweni abo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli; bamesaba njengoba babesaba uMose izinsuku zonke zokuphila kwakhe.

₁₅USimakade wathi kuJoshuwa: ₁₆“Yala abaphristi abathwele umphongolo wesivumelwano ukuba bakhuphuke baphume eJordani.”

₁₇Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa wabayala abaphristi, wathi: “Khuphukani niphume eJordani.”

₁₈Lapho abaphristi ababethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaSimakade bephuma phakathi nomfula iJordani, amathe ezinyawo zabo esethinte emhlabathini owomileyo, amanzi eJordani abuyela endaweni yawo, umfula wagola izintethe njengakuqala.

₁₉Abantu baliwela iJordani ngolweshumi enyangeni yokuqala, base bekanisa eGiligali empumalanga yomngcele eJerikho. ₂₀Lawo matshe ali-12 ababewathathe eJordani, uJoshuwa wawamisa eGiligali, ₂₁ethi kwabakwa-Israyeli: “Boyise, lapho abantwana benu benibuza ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Achazani lawa matshe na?’ ₂₂anobaphendula nibatshele ukuthi: ‘U-Israyeli wawela iJordani ehamba emhlabathini owomileyo, ₂₃ngokuba uSimakade uNkulunkulu wenu wayewomisile amanzi eJordani phambi kwethu saze sawela sonke, njengalokhu ayenzile kulo uLwandle Lomhlanga alomisa phambi kwethu saze sawela sonke,’ ₂₄ukuze bonke abantu emhlabeni bazi ukuthi isandla sikaSimakade sinamandla, nokuba bamesabe uSimakade uNkulunkulu zonke izinsuku.”