To The Word – Day 65

₁Akuba engasekho uYoshuwa, amaSirayeli abuzisa *kuNdikhoyo, athi: “Ngubani onokusikhokela ukuya kuhlasela amaKanana?”

₂Ke yena waphendula wathi: “Mayibe nguJuda; ndiwunikele esandleni sakhe loo mhlaba.”

₃Ke indlu kaJuda yathi kumawabo amaSimon: “Sincediseni xa silwa namaKanana ukuzuza isabelo sethu somhlaba, khon' ukuze nathi sinincedise xa nilwela esenu isabelo.” Ngoko ke ahamba nendlu kaJuda amaSimon. ₄Bahlasela ke abendlu kaJuda, uNdikhoyo wawanikela ezandleni zabo amaKanana namaPerezi, baza babulala ishumi lamawaka eBhezeki. ₅Apho ke bafumana uAdoni-bhezeki, balwa naye, bawaswantsulisa amaKanana namaPerezi. ₆Ke yena uAdoni-bhezeki wabaleka, baza bona bamsukela, bambamba, bamnqumla oobhontsi bezandla nabeenyawo.

₇UAdoni-bhezeki wathi: “Amashumi asixhenxe ookumkani ababhontsi babo bezandla neenyawo bashunqulweyo babefudula bechola-chola iimvuthuluka apho ndityela khona. Kodwa ke ngoku uThixo undiphindezele ngaloo nto ndandibenza yona.” Wathathwa ke, wasiwa eJerusalem, apho wafela khona.

₈Abendlu kaJuda ke bayihlasela bayithimba iJerusalem. Abemi bayo babatshabalalisa, sona isixeko basifak' umlilo. ₉Emva koko ke balwa namaKanana akweleentaba, namazantsi azo, ngokunjalo nakwintlango esezantsi. ₁₀Bahlasela namaKanana awayemi eHebron eyayibizwa ngokuba yiKiriyati-arbha mandulo. Bayoyisa ke imizi yamaSheshayi, ama-Ahiman, namaTalmayi.

₁₁Abendlu kaJuda baya kuhlasela abantu abahlala eDebhiri, ekwakusithiwa yiKiriyati-sefere mandulo. ₁₂UKalebhi wathi: “Intombi yam uAkesa ndoyendisela kumntu oya kuze ayihlasele ayithimbe iKiriyati-sefere.” ₁₃UOteniyeli, unyana kaKenazi umninawa omncinci kaKalebhi, wasithimba ke eso sixeko, waza ke uKalebhi wayendisela kuye intombi yakhe uAkesa. ₁₄Bakuba betshatile wacenga uOteniyeli amvumele acele umhlaba kuyise. Wehla kwidonki awayekhwele kuyo uAkesa, waza uKalebhi wambuza wathi: “Kwenzeke ntoni?”

₁₅Wathi ukuphendula uAkesa: “Ndicela intsikelelo. Kaloku umhlaba ondinike wona ukwindawo ebharhileyo. Nceda undinike imithombo.” UKalebhi ke wamnika imithombo engasentla nengasezantsi.

₁₆Inzala kayise womka-Mosis, umKeni, yahamba nendlu kaJuda ukuphuma kwisiXeko samaSundu, yaya kumhlaba oyintlango ezantsi kweArade kwelakwaJuda, yaza ke yema phakathi kwabantu balapho. ₁₇Ke uJuda noSimon badibana, baza bawoyisa amaKanana awayehlala eZefati. Eso sixeko basivuthulula, basitshabalalisa, baza basithiya igama eliyiHoma.

_18-19*UNdikhoyo wayinceda indlu kaJuda, yawuthatha umhlaba okweleentaba. Phofu abakwaJuda zange babe nako ukubagxotha abantu ababemi kwintili egudle ulwandle, kuba babeneenqwelo ezenziwe ngentsimbi. Izixeko zabo ibiyiGaza, iAshkelon, ne-Ekron, zinemimandla yazo. ₂₀Ngokomlomo kaMosis iHebron yanikwa uKalebhi, owagxotha izindlu ezintathu khona ezaziyinzala ka-Anaki. ₂₁Kodwa ke amaBhenjamin zange awagxothe amaJebhusi awayehlala eJerusalem – asemi khona ndawonye namaBhenjamin unanamhla.

_22-23Abendlu kaJosefu bahlasela iBhetele, ekwakusithiwa yiLuzi ngaloo maxesha. *UNdikhoyo wabanceda. Bathumela iintlola apho esixekweni, ₂₄zaza zabona indoda iphuma khona, zathi kuyo: “Sibonise indlela yokungena esixekweni. Ukuba uthe wenjenjalo asiyi kukwenzakalisa.” ₂₅Yazibonisa ke, aza amaJosefu ababulala bonke abantu bakhona, ashiya loo ndoda nendlu yayo kuphela. ₂₆Emva koko yaya kwelamaHiti, yakha isixeko, yathi yiLuzi igama laso. Sisabizwa ngelo gama ke nangoku.

₂₇AmaManase zange azigxothe izizwe ezazihlala eBhete-shan, eTanaki, eDore, eIbleyam, eMegido, nakwiilali ezikufuphi nezi dolophu, kuba amaKanana ayezimisele ukuhlala apho. ₂₈Athi ke akomelela amaSirayeli azenza izicaka zawo ezo zizwe, kodwa akazigxotha.

₂₉NamaEfrayim zange awagxothe amaKanana awayehlala eGezere; awayeka bahlala kunye.

₃₀AmaZebhulon nawo zange awagxothe amaKanana awayehlala eKitron naseNalali, kodwa ahlala nawo, awenza izicaka.

₃₁Nama-Ashere zange abagxothe abemi baseAko, nabaseSidon, nabaseAlabhi, nabaseAkezibhi, nabaseHelebha, nabaseAfeki, nabaseRehobhi. ₃₂Ngoko ke ama-Ashere ahlala nawo loo maKanana.

₃₃Indlu kaNafetali zange ibagxothe abemi baseBhete-shemeshe nabaseBhete-anati. Loo maKanana ke ahlala namaNafetali, aba zizicaka zawo.

₃₄AmaDan oyiswa ngama-Amori, atsho ahlala kweleentaba, akaba nako ukuhlela emathafeni. ₃₅Ama-Amori ayezimisele ukunganikezeli eAyalon, naseShalabhim, nakwintaba iHeres; kodwa ke amaJosefu ada awongamela, aba zizicaka zawo.

₃₆Umda wama-Amori wawuhamba uye kuphuma ngenkalo yeAkrabhim, uye kudlula eSela.

₁Isithunywa *sikaNdikhoyo saphuma eGiligali, saya eBhokim, saza sathi: “Ndanikhupha kwelaseJiputa, ndanizisa kweli lizwe ndabathembisa ngalo ooyihlo-mkhulu ngesifungo. Ndathi: ‘Andisoze ndiwaphule umnqophiso wam nani. ₂Ke nina ze ningaze nenze mnqophiso nabemi beli lizwe. Kufuneka niwadilize amaqonga abo amadini.’ Kambe ke anenzanga ngokwelizwi endalithethayo kuni. Yintoni le niyenzileyo? ₃Ngoko ke ndiyanazisa ukuba andiyi kuzigxotha ezi zizwe. Zona ke ziya kuba ngumgibe kuni, nirhintyelwe yindlela ezinqula ngayo *oothixo bazo.”

₄Sakuthetha la mazwi ke isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo, onke amaSirayeli asitsho isikhalo. ₅Ngenxa yaloo nto ke igama laloo ndawo kuthiwa yiBhokim. Khona apho uNdikhoyo amenzela amadini amaSirayeli.

₆Ke kaloku uYoshuwa amaSirayeli wawandulula. Indlu nganye yaya kuthatha esayo isabelo somhlaba esililifa layo. ₇Ngalo lonke ixesha esadla ubomi uYoshuwa, amaSirayeli ambusa amnqula *uNdikhoyo. Nasekufeni kwakhe aqhubela phambili amnqula lo gama esaphila amadoda amakhulu awayeyibone ngamehlo imimangaliso awayeyenzele amaSirayeli uNdikhoyo.

₈UYoshuwa, unyana kaNune, isicaka sikaNdikhoyo, wabhubha xa enekhulu elineshumi leminyaka ezelwe. ₉Wangcwatywa kumhlaba olilifa lakhe eTimnata-heres kweleentaba kwaEfrayim, ngasentla kwentaba iGahashe. ₁₀Sakuba sitshonile sonke eso sizukulwana, kwavela sizukulwana simbi, singamaziyo uNdikhoyo, ngokunjalo naloo misebenzi yakhe wayeyenzela amaSirayeli.

₁₁Ke amaSirayeli amona *uNdikhoyo ngokunqula ooBhali, ₁₂asuka amfulathela uNdikhoyo, uThixo wooyise-mkhulu, uThixo owawakhupha kwelaseJiputa. Asuka abusa *thixo bambi kwizithixo zabantu ababewangqingile. UNdikhoyo amcaphukisa ngokusuka akhahlele abuse ezo zithixo. ₁₃Amfulathela uNdikhoyo, asuka akhonza ooBhali nooAshtarte. ₁₄Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo waba nomsindo, amaSirayeli wawayekela ngeentshaba, zawahlasela ziwaphanga. Wazivulela macala onke, zawongamela, ada akaba nako ukuzikhusela. ₁₅Ayesithi xa ephumile aya edabini, uNdikhoyo awayekele, ngokomlomo wakhe. Kwathi ke kwakuba nje amaSirayeli abandezeleka kunene.

₁₆Noko ke uNdikhoyo amaSirayeli wawanika iinkokheli ezawasindisayo kwabo babewahlasela bewaphanga. ₁₇Kambe ke wona amaSirayeli zange azikhathalele ezo nkokheli. Ewe kaloku, uSirayeli suka waqhogana nathixo bambi endaweni kaNdikhoyo. Ooyise bona babeyithobele imiyalelo kaNdikhoyo, kodwa sona isizukulwana esitsha sisuke saphuma kwelo khondo. ₁₈UNdikhoyo ke wayesithi xa enika amaSirayeli inkokheli ayixhase iwahlangule amaSirayeli ezintshabeni ngalo lonke ithuba lokudla kwayo ubomi. UNdikhoyo wayeba nenceba, kuba ayenesingqala egogoza phantsi kweengcinezelo. ₁₉Kodwa ke kwakusithi yakubhubha inkokheli leyo, amaSirayeli abuyele kwesezolo, abe nesimo esilumezayo kunesooyise. Ayebusa anqule thixo bambi, engavumi ukwahlukana neenkani zawo, alumleke kwezo ndlela zawo zigwenxa. ₂₀UNdikhoyo ke wayesuka abe nomsindo, athi: “Esi sizwe siwaphule umnqophiso endayalela ooyise-mkhulu ukuba siwuthobele. Ngoko ke, ngenxa yokuba singandithobeli, ₂₁nam andiyi kuba sazigxotha ezi zizwe zashiyekayo ukufa kukaYoshuwa. ₂₂Ndiya kuwalinga ngazo amaSirayeli, ndibone ukuba akayi kuhamba ngeendlela zam na, andithobele njengooyise-mkhulu.”

₂₃Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo izizwe ezasalayo waziyeka apho kwelo lizwe. Kaloku uNdikhoyo ezi zizwe akazigxothanga ngokukhawuleza ngokuzinikela esandleni sikaYoshuwa.

₁*UNdikhoyo washiya izizwe ezithile ukuze zibe luvavanyo kumaSirayeli awayengekangeni ezimfazweni kwelaseKanana. ₂Le nto ke wayenza kuba efuna ukuzifundisa ngemfazwe zonke izizukulwana zamaSirayeli ezivelayo, ngakumbi ke ezo zazingazange zibe semadabini ngaphambili. ₃Iintlanga ezasala kwelo lizwe ke yaba ngamaFilistiya neenkosi zawo ezintlanu, namaKanana ephela, namaSidon, namaHivi awayehlala kwiintaba zeLebhanon ukusuka kwintaba iBhali-hermon ukuya kuthi xhaxhe ngenkalo yeHamati. ₄Zashiyelwa ukuba kuvavanywe amaSirayeli, khon' ukuze acace ukuba azimisele na ukuyithobela imimiselo eyanikezelwa nguNdikhoyo kookhokho bawo ngoMosis. ₅Ngoko ke amaSirayeli ema phakathi kwamaKanana, amaHiti, ama-Amori, amaPerezi, amaHivi, namaJebhusi. ₆AmaSirayeli endiselana nazo ezi ntlanga, anqula *nezithixo zazo.

₇AmaSirayeli amlibala *uNdikhoyo uThixo wawo, akreqa kuye, anqula ooBhali nooAshera. ₈Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo waba nomsindo, waza wawayekela ngokumkani uKushan-rishatayim waseAram-naharayim, wawoyisa, aba phantsi kwakhe iminyaka esibhozo.

₉Ke kaloku amaSirayeli adanduluka akhala kuNdikhoyo, waza ke yena wawathumela umkhululi. Lowo ke yayinguOteniyeli unyana kaKenazi umninawe omncinci kaKalebhi. ₁₀Ke kaloku uOteniyeli wonganyelwa nguMoya kaNdikhoyo, waza waba yinkokheli yamaSirayeli. UOteniyeli waya emfazweni, wathiwa jize ngoloyiso nguNdikhoyo, wamoyisa ukumkani uKushan-rishatayim waseAram. ₁₁Kwalandela amashumi amane eminyaka yoxolo ke apho, wada wafa uOteniyeli unyana kaKenazi.

₁₂Aphinda amaSirayeli akreqa *kuNdikhoyo. Ngenxa yeso sizathu ke uNdikhoyo womeleza uEglon ukumkani wamaMowabhi, waqina kunawo. ₁₃UEglon ke wadibana nama-Amon nama-Amaleki, baza bawahlasela amaSirayeli, basithatha isiXeko samaSundu. ₁₄AmaSirayeli ke aba phantsi koEglon ukumkani wamaMowabhi iminyaka elishumi elinesibhozo.

₁₅Aphinda amaSirayeli akhala kuNdikhoyo, waza ke yena wawathumela umkhululi uEhudi, inxele, unyana kaGera wendlu kaBhenjamin. AmaSirayeli athumela uEhudi kukumkani uEglon waseMowabhi, emphathele umrhumo.

₁₆Ke uEhudi wazenzela isabile ebazwe macala, ingamashumi amahlanu eesentimitha ubude. Wayibophelela kwithangá lakhe lasekunene phantsi kwempahla. ₁₇Wawuthatha ke umrhumo lowo, waya nawo kuEglon, umfo owayemkhulu ngesiqu, etyebile. ₁₈Wathi ke, akuba ewunikezele umrhumo lowo, uEhudi wawandulula loo madoda ayemphathisile, agoduka. ₁₉Kambe ke yena wajika ngakwimifanekiso yezithixo ekufuphi neGiligali, wabuya waya kuEglon, wafika wathi kuye: “Mhlekazi, ndicela khe sihlinz' impuku.”

Ngoko ke ukumkani wathi: “Shenxani!” Zaphuma ke izicaka zakhe.

₂₀Wathi ke esahleli apho kwelo gumbi lakhe lokuphola, likumgangatho ophezulu, suka uEhudi wonda ngaye, wathi: “Ndinomyalezo wakho ovela kuThixo.” Ke yena ukumkani wema ngenyawo. ₂₁Ngesandla sasekhohlo uEhudi warhola isabile yakhe apho wayeyifihle khona ethangéni lakhe lokunene, wayimilisela kweso sisu sikakumkani. ₂₂Yatshona yonke nywam nesiphatho sayo, yawagramza ayifihla loo mateketeke amanqatha. UEhudi wayiyeka apho, waza ke yena waya kuphuma ngasemva, ₂₃waluvala ucango, watshixa, ₂₄wemka. Izicaka ke zeza, zaza zakusondela zabona tyhini iingcango zitshixiwe, zacinga ukuba fana ukumkani ulapho ngaphakathi, ese. ₂₅Zakha zalinda umzuzu omde ucango lungavulwa. Zada zancama, zathatha izitshixo, zavula. Tyhini! Nanko umhlekazi ethe gangalala apho phantsi, itshoba lilel' umbethe.

₂₆Zathi zisathingaza izicaka zikakumkani, wesuka wemka yena uEhudi, waya kugqitha kuloo mifanekiso yezithixo, waya kutsho eSeyira. ₂₇Wathi akufika kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim wavuthela isigodlo, ahlangana amaSirayeli, wawakhokela wehla nawo kwezo nduli. ₂₈Wathi kuwo: “Yizani! UNdikhoyo uzinikele ezandleni zenu iintshaba zenu amaMowabhi.” Ngoko ke amaSirayeli ehla, ekhokelwa nguEhudi, aza awalalela amaMowabhi emazibukweni ayeza kuyiwela ngawo iJordan; avala ke apho, akwawela nendoda enye le. ₂₉Ngaloo mihla ke abulala kwisithuba seshumi lamawaka awona majoni omeleleyo anobukroti omkhosi wamaMowabhi; zange kusinde nelinye. ₃₀Ewe, ngaloo mihla amaSirayeli awoyisa amaMowabhi, kwaza ke kwalandela iminyaka yenzolo engamashumi asibhozo.

₃₁UEhudi walandelwa nguShamgare unyana ka-Anati. Naye ke wawakhulula amaSirayeli. Wabulala amaFilistiya angamakhulu amathandathu ngesixhobo sokuqhuba iinkomo esifana nomkhonto.

₁Akuba engasekho uEhudi amaSirayeli aphinda akreqa *kuNdikhoyo. ₂Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wawayekela oyiswa nguJabhin, ukumkani wamaKanana owayehlala eHazore. Injengele yomkhosi wakhe yayinguSisera owayehlala eHarosheti-hagoyim. ₃UJabhin lo ke wayenamakhulu alithoba eenqwelo ezenziwe ngentsimbi. AmaSirayeli wawaphatha gadalala isithuba samashumi amabini eminyaka. AmaSirayeli ke asuka azibika kuNdikhoyo.

₄Ke kaloku umshumayelikazi uDibhora umka-Lapidoti waba yinkokheli kwaSirayeli ngelo thuba. ₅Inkundla yakhe yayiphantsi komthi wesundu ekwakusithiwa ngokaDibhora kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim phakathi kweRama neBhetele. Ke wona amaSirayeli ayesiya kuye ukuze awacombululele imicimbi yawo.

₆UDibhora wathumela wabiza uBharaki unyana ka-Abhinowam eKedeshe kwaNafetali. Wathetha naye wathi: “Nanku umyalelo ophuma kuNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli: Qokelela ishumi lamawaka amadoda kwaNafetali nakwaZebhulon, uhambe nawo uye kwintaba iTabhore. ₇Ke mna ndiya kumenza uSisera, injengele yomkhosi kaJabhin, eze kuwe kumlambo iKishon. Uya kuba exhobile, eneenqwelo namabutho akhe, kodwa ke ndiya kumnikela esandleni sakho.”

₈UBharaki ke waphendula wathi: “Kulungile, ukuba siza kuhamba kunye, kodwa ukuba akuyi wena, nam andiyi.”

₉Ke yena wathi: “Ewe, ukuhamba oku ndiya kuhamba, kodwa ke uze wazi ukuba udumo lwale mfazwe aluyi kuza kuwe, kuba uNdikhoyo uya kumnikela emfazini uSisera lowo.”

Ngoko ke uDibhora waya eKedeshe ehamba noBharaki. ₁₀UBharaki wazibizela eKedeshe izizwe zakwaZebhulon nakwaNafetali. Wahamba neshumi lamawaka lamadoda, ekhatshwa nguDibhora.

₁₁Ngaloo mihla uHebhere umKeni wayemise intente yakhe eKedeshe kufuphi nomthi omkhulu wom-oki eZananim. Yena wafuduka kumawabo, inzala kaHobhabhi usibali kaMosis.

₁₂Akuxelelwa uSisera ukuba uBharaki unyana ka-Abhinowam unyuke intaba iTabhore, ₁₃wawuqokelela umkhosi wakhe, amakhulu alithoba eenqwelo, nawo onke amadoda akhe, wawakhupha eHarosheti-hagoyim, waya nawo kumlambo iKishon.

₁₄UDibhora ke wathi kuBharaki: “Phambili! UNdikhoyo uyakukhokela. Yiyo le imini amnikele ngayo esandleni sakho uSisera.” Wehla ke uBharaki apho entabeni iTabhore, enelo shumi lamawaka amadoda. ₁₅Akuhlasela uBharaki, uNdikhoyo wamtsho wadideka uSisera ndawonye naloo mkhosi wakhe uneenqwelo. USisera ke wehla kuloo nqwelo yakhe, wabaleka ngeenyawo. ₁₆Lo mkhosi uneenqwelo ke uBharaki wawusukelisa, wesa eHarosheti-hagoyim. Umkhosi kaSisera watshatyalaliswa wonke, akwasala nempunde le.

₁₇USisera wabalekela ententeni kaJayeli, umka-Hebhere umKeni, kuba ukumkani uJabhin waseHazore wayevana nendlu kaHebhere. ₁₈UJayeli waphuma wahlangabeza uSisera, waza wathi kuye: “Yiza, mhlekazi; ngena apha kwam, ungoyiki.” Wangena ke, waza uJayeli wamfihla ngaphaya komkhusane.

₁₉Wathi kuye: “Khawuncede undiphe amanzi; ndinxaniwe.” Ke yena wamthululela amasi entsubeni, wamnika wasela, waza waphinda wamqhusheka.

₂₀USisera wathi: “Yima emnyango. Xa kukho umntu obuzayo ukuba akungenanga ndoda na apha ententeni, yithi: ‘Hayi.’ ”

₂₁USisera wasuka wee yoyi bubuthongo. Ke yena uJayeli wathatha isando nesikhonkwane sentente, wachwechwa waya kuye, wafika wabethelela isikhonkwane eso entloko kuSisera, saza saya kuphumela kwelinye icala, wafa ke uSisera.

₂₂Wathi akufika uBharaki, esukela uSisera, uJayeli waphuma wamhlangabeza, wathi kuye: “Yiz' apha ndikubonise lo mntu umfunayo.” Wangena naye ke uBharaki, waza wamfumana uSisera edunduluze apho ententeni efile, isikhonkwane sentente sibethelelwe entloko.

₂₃Ngaloo mini ke uThixo amaSirayeli wawoyisela uJabhin ukumkani wamaKanana. ₂₄Amandla amaSirayeli aya esanda ngokwanda ukuba ngqongqo kuJabhin, ada amtshabalalisa.

₁Ngaloo mini ke uDibhora noBharaki unyana ka-Abhinowam bahlabela le ngoma:

Emva koko ke kwalandela amashumi amane eminyaka yenzolo.