28 – UGidiyon woyisa amaMidiyan

₁Kwakhona amaSirayeli aphinda akreqa *kuNdikhoyo, waza ke wawanikela ezandleni zamaMidiyan iminyaka esixhenxe. ₂AmaMidiyan la ke ayewaphatha gadalala amaSirayeli. Ngoko ke amaSirayeli azenzela iindawo zokuzimela ezintabeni emiqolombeni nasemaweni ngenxa yokoyika amaMidiyan.

₃AmaSirayeli ayesithi akulima, afike amaMidiyan nama-Amaleki neentlanga zasempumalanga awahlasele. ₄Ezi ntlanga zazifika zimise kwimida yamaSirayeli, zizitshabalalise zonke izilimo, ziyokuma ezantsi ngaseGaza. Zazithimba konke okushukumayo: iigusha, iinkomo, needonki, zingawashiyeli nento le amaSirayeli. ₅Zazisiza nemfuyo, neentente zazo, kutsho kunyakaze ngathi libubu leenkumbi. Lo mkhosi ke ukunye nezo nkamela wawusuka ube yinyambalala. Wawusuka ulitshabalalise ilizwe lonke, _6-7kangangokuba ahlwempuzeka amaSirayeli engenakwenza nto.

Ngenxa yale mpatho yamaMidiyan ke amaSirayeli azibika kuNdikhoyo. ₈Ke yena wawathumela umshumayeli owathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Ndanikhupha eJiputa, ilizwe enaningamakhoboka kulo. ₉Ndanihlangula kumaJiputa nakwiintlanga ezanicinezelayo kweli lizwe. Ndazigxotha xa ningenayo, ndaza ndaninika umhlaba wazo. ₁₀Ndaniyala ndathi: “Mna ndinguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu; ningaze niboyike oothixo bama-Amori enihlala emhlabeni wawo.” Kuloo nto yonke ke anindiphulaphulanga.’ ”

₁₁Ke kaloku isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo saya kwilali yaseOfra, safika sahlala phantsi komthi wom-oki owawungokaJowashe, umfo womzi ka-Abhiyezere. Unyana wakhe uGidiyon wayebhula ingqolowa esixovulweni seediliya khon' ukuze angabonwa ngamaMidiyan. ₁₂Isithunywa eso ke sabonakala kuye sathi: “UNdikhoyo unawe, gorhandini lomeleleyo!”

₁₃UGidiyon wathi kuso: “Ngxe, Mhlekazi! Ukuba uNdikhoyo unathi, kungani ukuba sihlelwe zizinto ezinje? Zaya phi eza zigigaba zezinto ezimangalisayo sasihlala sibaliselwa ngazo ngoobawo, kusithiwa uNdikhoyo wayezenza – ezo wazenzayo nasekubakhululeni kwakhe eJiputa? Kungokunje uNdikhoyo usilahlile; usinikele ezandleni zamaMidiyan.”

₁₄UNdikhoyo ke wabheka kuye, wathi: “Hamba ngala mandla unawo, uwasindise amaSirayeli ezandleni zamaMidiyan. Kaloku ndim okugunyazisayo.”

₁₅UGidiyon wathi: “Camagu, Nkosi yam, ndingawahlangula njani na amaSirayeli? Umzi wakowethu ungento nje kwaManase, nam ndingongazelwe nto kowethu nje?”

₁₆UNdikhoyo waphendula wathi: “Ndiya kuba nawe. AmaMidiyan uya kuwatshayela, abe ngathi kuwe angumntu omnye.”

₁₇UGidiyon waphendula wathi: “Ukuba ungakum, nceda undenzele umqondiso wokuba nguwe Ndikhoyo lo uthetha nam. ₁₈Nceda, sukumka de ndibuye nomnikelo, ndiwubeke phambi kwakho.”

Saphendula sathi: “Hayi ke, ndiza kuhlala apha ude ubuye.”

₁₉UGidiyon ke waya kuxhela ibhokhwe esencinci, wayipheka. Wenza nesonka ngomgubo oziikhilogram ezilishumi. Intlama leyo zange ayidibanise nagwele. Inyama leyo wayifaka ebhaskitini, waza wawuphatha ngembiza umhluzi; waya nazo ezo zinto kwisithunywa sikaNdikhoyo esasiphantsi komthi wom-oki. ₂₀Ke sona sathi kuye: “Inyama leyo nesonka zibeke phezu kweli litye, uzigalele umhluzi.” Wenjenjalo ke uGidiyon. ₂₁Ke sona isithunywa eso sachukumisa inyama leyo nesonka ngentonga esasiyiphethe. Kwaqhambuka umlilo elityeni, wayilenya inyama leyo kunye nesonka eso. Emva koko isithunywa saphel' emehlweni.

₂₂Waqonda ke uGidiyon ukuba sisithunywa sikaNdikhoyo esi asibonileyo. Wavakala esithi: “Yhuu, Ndikhoyo, Ngangalala! Isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo ndisibone ubuso ngobuso!”

₂₃Waphendula ke uNdikhoyo wathi: “Xola, ungatatazeli; awuzukufa.” ₂₄Ke uGidiyon wakhela uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini kuloo ndawo, wathi igama lalo nguNdikhoyo-uluxolo. (Lisekhona ke nangoku eOfra, engumhlaba womzi ka-Abhiyezere.)

₂₅Ngobo busuku ke uNdikhoyo wayalela uGidiyon wathi: “Thatha inkunzi yenkomo kwezikayihlo, nditsho le yesibini, le inesixhenxe seminyaka. Uzulidilize ke iqonga likayihlo elakhelwe uBhali, unqunqe nomfanekiso womthi wesithixokazi uAshera osecaleni kweqonga elo. ₂₆Yakhela uNdikhoyo iqonga encotsheni yale nqaba, wenze idini elitshiswayo ngenkunzi yesibini leyo, ubase ngalaa mfanekiso ka-Ashera uwunqunqileyo.” ₂₇UGidiyon wathatha amadoda alishumi kwizicaka zakhe, wenza ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo. Lo msebenzi ke wawenza ngobusuku, kuba esoyika amawabo nabamelwana.

₂₈Bavuka ngentsasa elandelayo abantu baloo lali: nâlo iqonga likaBhali lidiliziwe, nomfanekiso ka-Ashera unqunqiwe, kwaza kwenziwa idini ngenkunzi yenkomo yesibini kwelo qonga lakhiwe kuloo ndawo! ₂₉Babuzana ke bathi: “Ngubani na owenze le nto?” Bawuphanda ke lo mcimbi, beva kusithiwa: “NguGidiyon unyana kaJowashe owenze le nto!”

₃₀Bathetha noJowashe ke, bathi: “Mkhuphe unyana wakho, simbulale! Udilize iqonga likaBhali, wawunqunqa umfanekiso ka-Ashera obungakulo.”

₃₁UJowashe wathi kuloo madoda ayemrharhamela: “Kanti ngoku seningakuBhali? Nini abamkhuselayo? Wonke umntu ongakuBhali uza kufa kungekasi. Ukuba uBhali nguthixo makazilwele; kaloku kudilizwe iqonga lakhe.” ₃₂Ukusukela ngoko ke uGidiyon kwathiwa nguJerubhali, kuba uJowashe ethe: “UBhali makahlanganise, kuba liqonga lakhe elidiliziweyo.”

₃₃Ahlanganisana ke amaMidiyan nama-Amaleki nezizwe zasempumalanga, baza bawela iJordan, baya kumisa kwintili yaseYizereli. ₃₄UGidiyon wagutyungelwa nguMoya kaNdikhoyo, wakhalisa isigodlo ememeza amawabo omzi ka-Abhiyezere ukuba abophelele amlandele. ₃₅Wathumela izigidimi ukuba abizwe eze kuye amadoda onke akwaManase. Wathumela nakwa-Ashere, kwaZebhulon, nakwaNafetali, zaza ke zeza nezo zindlu.

₃₆UGidiyon wathi ke kuThixo: “Ukuba ngenene uza kuhlangula amaSirayeli ngesandla sam naku ke endiza kukwenza: ₃₇Ndiza kubeka uboya begusha phaya esandeni sengqolowa. Ukuba ke kuse ibuboya obo bodwa obunombethe, ungekho kodwa emhlabeni, ndiya kuqonda ke ukuba ngenene uza kuwahlangula ngesandla sam amaSirayeli.” ₃₈Kwaba njalo ke. Ngengomso wathi akubukhama obo boya kwaphuma ingqayi yonke yamanzi.

₃₉Ngoku ke wathi uGidiyon kuThixo: “Ungakhathazeki; mandiphinde ndenze esinye isicelo. Nceda undiqinisekise kwakhona ngobu boya. Kwesi isihlandlo ndifuna uboya bome qoko, kodwa wona umhlaba ube manzi.” ₄₀Ngobo busuku ke uThixo wayenza loo nto. Ngengomso kwasa uboya bomile, ke wona umhlaba wonke umanzi ngumbethe.

₁UJerubhali, oko kukuthi uGidiyon, nawo onke amadoda akhe bavuka ngentseni, baya kumisa ngakumthombo waseHarodi. Ke yona ikampu yamaMidiyan yayikwintili engentla kwabo ngakwinduli yeMore.

₂*UNdikhoyo wathi kuGidiyon: “La madoda unawo maninzi gqitha; andingekhe ndiwanikele ezandleni zawo amaMidiyan, hleze aqhayise athi: ‘Sizizuzele ngawethu amandla olu loyiso.’ ₃Ngoko ke thetha nawo uthi: ‘Nabani na ogubhayo luloyiko makagoduke, anyebeleze emke apha kwiintaba zeGiliyadi.’ ” Akuba etshilo ke kwajika amashumi amabini amawaka, kwaza kwasala ishumi lamawaka kuphela.

₄UNdikhoyo waqhuba wathi kuGidiyon: “Nangoku asemaninzi la madoda unawo. Yihla nawo uye emfuleni; ndiza kuwaphungula. Ke indoda endithe mayihambe nawe, yohamba, kodwa endithe mayisale, mayisale.”

₅UGidiyon ke waya nawo emanzini apho, waza uNdikhoyo wathi kuye: “Wahlula-hlule la madoda; yonke indoda esela amanzi ngokuwakha ngesandla, ngathi yinja ixhaph' amanzi, yahlule kuleyo icambalalayo xa iselayo.” ₆Ke kaloku amadoda awakha ngezandla amanzi xa aselayo aba ngamakhulu amathathu; aza ke amanye lawo acambalala xa aselayo.

₇UNdikhoyo ke wathi kuGidiyon: “Uyabona ke ngoku ndiza kunihlangula ngala makhulu mathathu axhapha amanzi, ndiwanikele ezandleni zakho la maMidiyan. Amanye la amadoda makagoduke.” ₈Ngoko ke uGidiyon wawagodusa amaSirayeli, ngaphandle kwalaa makhulu mathathu awawugcina umphako ngokunjalo nezigodlo ebezize namanye. Ke wona amaMidiyan ayemise kwintili esezantsi kwabo.

₉Ngobo busuku ke uNdikhoyo wathetha noGidiyon wathi: “Yihla uye ekampini yamaMidiyan; ndiwanikela esandleni sakho. ₁₀Kambe ke, ukuba uyoyika, khawuthathe isicaka sakho uPura, niye kuwakrobela. ₁₁Uya kuthi wakuziva iincoko zawo utsho ube nesibindi, uwahlasele.”

Ngoko ke uGidiyon noPura isicaka sakhe behla baya kutsho emdeni wekampu yotshaba. ₁₂AmaMidiyan nama-Amaleki nezizwe zasempumalanga babethe saa kuloo ntili, sebengathi libubu leenkumbi; kanti ke neenkamela zabo zaziyinyambalala engenakubalwa enjengentlabathi elunxwemeni lolwandle.

₁₃Wafika uGidiyon xa kanye indoda ilawulela uwayo iphupha layo, isithi: “Ndiphuphe kuqengqeleka isonka serhasi; senze uqulukubhode sada saza kufika apha kulo mkhosi wethu, sabhodloza enye intente, sayibetha yasisicaba.”

₁₄Uwayo lowo ke uthe ukuphendula: “Tyhini, mfondini; nanjani na, lowo ngumkhonto kaGidiyon unyana kaJowashe, umfo wakwaSirayeli. Loo nto ke ithetha ukuba lo mkhosi wamaMidiyan uphela uThixo uwunikela kuye.”

₁₅UGidiyon akuliva eli phupha lalo mfo ngokunjalo nokuchazwa kwalo, wasuka wee guqaqa wanqula uThixo. Emva koko ke wabuyela kwakumaSirayeli, wafika wathi: “Qulani niye; uNdikhoyo uwunikele esandleni senu umkhosi wamaMidiyan.” ₁₆Loo madoda omkhosi wakhe omakhulu mathathu wawahlula-hlula kathathu, waza indoda nganye wayinika isigodlo nengqayi enesikhuni esivuthayo ngaphakathi. ₁₇Wawayala wathi: “Ze nindiqwalasele, nithi sakusondela phaya ekampini yotshaba, nenze loo nto ndiyenzayo. ₁₈Xa mna neqela lam sikhalisa izigodlo nani ze nenjenjalo, nijikeleze loo kampu, ngokunjalo nikhwaze nithi: ‘Iwu-u-u, watsh' umkhonto kaNdikhoyo nokaGidiyon!’ ”

₁₉UGidiyon nelo khulu lakhe lamadoda waya kufika emdeni wekampu yotshaba, kancinane nje phambi kobhadakazi ebusuku, kanye emva kokutshintshwa kwabalindi. Ke kaloku basuka batsho ngomtyangampo bekhalisa amaxilongo, bazikroboza nezo ngqayi babeziphethe. ₂₀Omathathu amaqela ke enza kwaloo nto. Ngezandla zawo zokhohlo athi qhiwu ezo zikhuni zivuthayo; zaye izigodlo zikwesokunene, ekhwaza esithi: “Iwu-u-u, watsh' umkhonto kaNdikhoyo nokaGidiyon!” ₂₁Onke ke loo madoda abamb' uhlelo, ewujikelezile loo mkhosi wotshaba, waza ke wacela kooxhongo, uhamba ubhomboloza.

₂₂Kwathi ke kuloo ntswahla yayisenziwa ngamadoda kaGidiyon ngezigodlo zawo uNdikhoyo wawubetha wancitheka umkhosi wotshaba, walwa wabulalana wodwa. Wabaleka ke, waya ngaseZerera, waya kufikelela eBhete-shita, ukuya kutsho eAbhele-mehola kufuphi neTabhata.

₂₃Kwesi sithuba ke nazo izizwe zakwaNafetali, kwa-Ashere, nakwaManase macal' onke, zahlatyelwa umkhosi, zeza nazo zawasukelisa amaMidiyan. ₂₄UGidiyon wathumela izigidimi kulo lonke eleentaba lakwaEfrayim, esithi: “Yihlani nize kulwa namaMidiyan. Vingcan' amazibuko eJordan nasezintlanjeni nide niye kufika eBhete-bhara, khon' ukuze angaweli amaMidiyan.” AmaEfrayim eza ngendlu yawo, aza ke ayivingca iJordan neentlambo zayo ukuya kuthi xhaxhe ngeBhete-bhara.

₂₅Azibamba zombini iinkosi zamaMidiyan, uOrebhe noZebhe. UOrebhe ambulalela kwiliwa likaOrebhe, ke yena uZebhe ambulalela kwisixovulelo-diliya sikaZebhe. Awasukela amaMidiyan, aza eza nentloko kaOrebhe nekaZebhe kuGidiyon owayengekayiweli iJordan ngelo xesha.