To The Word – Day 66

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.

₁Ke kaloku amaEfrayim athi kuGidiyon: “Bekutheni ukuze ungasibizi thina ukuphuma kwakho usiya kulwa namaMidiyan? Ngani ukuba usiphathe kanje?” Amxoxisa ngamandla.

₂Ke yena waphendula wathi: “Ukukhwahlaza kwenu, maEfrayim, kube nengeniso egqithe lé kwisivuno sethu, thina ndlu ka-Abhiyezere. ₃Kaloku uThixo uzinikele ezandleni zenu zombini iinkosi zamaMidiyan, uOrebhe noZebhe. Ngaba yintoni na mna endiyenzileyo egqithe oko nikwenzileyo nina?” Akuba etshilo ke yadamba ingqumbo yamaEfrayim ngakuGidiyon.

₄Ngeli thuba ke uGidiyon nomkhosi wakhe omakhulu mathathu bafika kwiJordan. Nakuba babediniwe bayiwela, bawasukela amaMidiyan. ₅Bakufika eSukoti uGidiyon wathi kubantu bakhona: “Umkhosi wam udiniwe; khaniwuphe isonka, kuba ndisukela ookumkani bamaMidiyan uZebha noZalmuna.”

₆Amadoda amakhulu aseSukoti ala, athi: “Yini le? Ngaba sewuboyisile ooZebha noZalmuna, khon' ukuze umkhosi wakho siwunike isonka?”

₇UGidiyon ke wathi: “Hayi ke, kulungile! Akuba ebanikele kum *uNdikhoyo ooZebha noZalmuna, nina ndiya kuniphala ngameva nenkunzane.” ₈Wagqitha ke waya kutsho ePenuweli, nalapho ke wenza kwaeso sicelo kubantu balapho; nabo ke bamphendula kwangolo hlobo lwamaSukoti. ₉Wathi ke kubo: “Akukho nto. Ndiza kubuya xa ndiloyisile utshaba, ndaye ke ndakuba ndibuyile ndiya kuyidiliza le nqaba yenu.”

₁₀Ke uZebha noZalmuna nomkhosi wabo babeseKarekore. Kuloo mkhosi wabantu basempumalanga kwakuwe amadoda akwisithuba samawaka alikhulu elinamashumi amabini, kwasala ishumi elinesihlanu lamawaka kuphela. ₁₁UGidiyon ke wenjenjalo ukumka ngaloo ndlela yabemi basentlango, ngakwimpuma yeNobha neJogebheha, waza wawuqubula loo mkhosi, wawoyisa. ₁₂Ke bona ookumkani abo, uZebha noZalmuna, babaleka, waza ke wabasukela wababamba, watsho nomkhosi wabo warhwaqela.

₁₃Ekubuyeni kwakhe kwelo dabi uGidiyon unyana kaJowashe wahamba ngendlela eqabela kwinkalo yeHeres, ₁₄waza wabamba umfana waseSukoti, wamncina ngemibuzo. Lo mfana wabhalela uGidiyon amagama amadoda amakhulu angamashumi asixhenxe anesixhenxe aseSukoti. ₁₅UGidiyon ke waya kumaSukoti, wafika wathi: “Naba ke uZebha noZalmuna enaniphoxisa ngam ngenxa yabo, nisithi: ‘Ngaba sewuboyisile na ooZebha noZalmuna, le nto selufuna siwunike isonka umkhosi wakhe odiniweyo?’ ”

₁₆Ngoko ke wathatha ameva nenkunzane, wawaphala ngayo, ewafundisa isifundo amadoda amakhulu aseSukoti. ₁₇Wayidiliza nenqaba yasePenuweli, wawabulala amadoda akhona.

₁₈UGidiyon wabuza uZebha noZalmuna wathi: “Ayeluhlobo luni na laa madoda nawabulalayo eTabore?”

Ke bona baphendula bathi: “Ayefana nawe lowo kanye – onke ayengathi ngoonyana bokumkani.”

₁₉UGidiyon wathi: “Yayingabantakwethu abazalwa ngumama. Inene, ndiyafunga, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, ukuba naningawabulalanga bendingazukunibulala nani ngoku.” ₂₀Wayalela unyana wakhe omkhulu, uYetere, wathi: “Khwela kubo; babulale!” Kodwa ke inkwenkwe leyo yoyika, ayabinza, kuba yayiselula.

₂₁UZebha noZalmuna bathi ke kuGidiyon: “Sibulale ngokwakho; kaloku indoda ibonakala ngamandla ayo.” UGidiyon ke wababulala, waza wazithatha izihombiso ezazisezintanjeni zeenkamela zabo.

₂₂Emva koko ke amaSirayeli acela uGidiyon athi: “Masesilawulwa nguwe nenzala yakho. Kaloku nguwe osihlanguleyo kumaMidiyan.”

₂₃Ke yena waphendula wathi: “Hayi, soze nilawulwe ndim nangunyana wam, koko niya kulawulwa *nguNdikhoyo.” ₂₄Waqhuba ke wathi: “Mandicele le nto apha kuni: umntu ngamnye makandiphe icici alifumeneyo lisisabelo sakhe sempahla ethinjiweyo.” (Kaloku amaMidiyan, engamaIshmayeli nje, ayefaka amacici.)

₂₅AmaSirayeli aphendula athi: “Kulungile, siyavuma ukuyenza loo nto.” Baneka ingubo phantsi, yaza ke yangulowo nalowo wabeka kuyo icici alifumeneyo. ₂₆Loo macici egolide awawafumanayo ke uGidiyon aba kwisithuba samashumi amabini eekhilogram ubunzima bawo, ngaphandle kwentsimbi yokuhombisa, amaso, namalaphu amsobo ookumkani bamaMidiyan, nangaphandle kwezihombiso ezazifakwa ezintanyeni zeenkamela. ₂₇Ke uGidiyon wayithatha loo golide, wenza *isidanga sonqulo ngayo, wasibeka apho kowabo eOfra. Onke ke amaSirayeli akreqa kuThixo ngenxa yeso sidanga. Le nto yaba ngumgibe kuGidiyon nomzi wakowabo.

₂₈Kwaba njalo ke ukoyiswa kwamaMidiyan, akaba savusa mnyele. Ilizwe elo ke lafumana amashumi amane eminyaka yenzolo ngemihla kaGidiyon.

₂₉Ke kaloku uJerubhali, uGidiyon unyana kaJowashe, wagoduka waya kuhlala ekhaya. ₃₀Oonyana bakhe babengamashumi asixhenxe; kuba kaloku wayenabafazi abaninzi. ₃₁Futhi ke wayenenkazana eShekem; yona ke yazala unyana, waza wamthiya igama elinguAbhimeleki. ₃₂UGidiyon ke unyana kaJowashe wasweleka selekhulile, waza wafihlwa kwingcwaba likayise uJowashe eOfra, idolophu yama-Abhiyezere.

₃₃Emva kokusweleka kukaGidiyon ke amaSirayeli zange anyaniseke kuThixo, asuka anqula ooBhali. Asuka athi phithi nguBhali womnqophiso, emenza isithixo sawo, ₃₄akaba samkhumbula *uNdikhoyo uThixo wawo, owayewahlangule kuzo zonke iintshaba ezaziwaphahlile. ₃₅AmaSirayeli zange anyaniseke kumzi wakuloJerubhali (uGidiyon ukutsho) ngenxa yobulungisa owawubenzele bona.

₁Unyana kaJerubhali uAbhimeleki waya eShekem kooninalume, wafika wathetha nabo nemizalwana yonke yendlu kayise nonina, wathi: ₂“Khanithethe nabemi baseShekem xa bebonke, nithi: ‘Nikhetha ntoni na: kukho ukuphathwa ngabo bonke oonyana bakaJerubhali abangamashumi asixhenxe, okanye ukulawulwa nguye abe mnye?’ Khumbulani ukuba ndingumntakwenu.”

₃Ooninalume ke bamthethelela kubemi baseShekem, baza ke nabo bavuma, kuba babesithi: “Ngumntakwethu.” ₄Bamnika amashumi asixhenxe eesiliva ababeyithathe endlwini ekunqulelwa kuyo uBhali womnqophiso, waza yena waqesha ngayo iindlavini ukuba zibe ngamahlakani akhe. ₅Waya nazo kowabo eOfra, waza ke wababulala bonke oonyana bakayise, ebabulalela phezu kwelitye elinye. Kambe ke yona inci kaJerubhali uYotam yazimela yaza yasinda. ₆Baphuma ke abemi baseShekem nabo bonke abaseBhete-milo, bahlanganisana baya kumthi omkhulu wom-oki oseShekem, bammisela khona uAbhimeleki waba ngukumkani wabo.

₇Akuyiva le nto uYotam waqabela kwintaba iGerizim, wakhwaza wathi: “Inzwi! Ndiphulaphuleni, maShekem! NoThixo mhlawumbi anganiphulaphula! ₈Imithi yazimisela ukuzithambisela ukumkani. Yathetha nomnquma, yathi: ‘Yiba ngukumkani wethu.’ ₉Ke wona waphendula wathi: ‘Ngaba nifuna ndiyeke ngoku ukuvelisa amafutha abadunyiswa ngawo uThixo nabantu, khon' ukuze ndiyongamele eminye imithi?’ ₁₀Yaza ke imithi yathetha nomkhiwane, yathi kuwo: ‘Yiza ube ngukumkani wethu.’ ₁₁Ke wona waphendula wathi: ‘Ngaba nifuna ndiyeke ukuvelisa ezi ziqhamo zimnandi kunene, khon' ukuze ndiyongamele eminye imithi?’ ₁₂Yaza ke ngoku imithi yathi kumdiliya: ‘Yiba ngukumkani wethu.’ ₁₃Wona ke wathi: ‘Ngaba nifuna ndiyeke ukuvelisa iwayini le yonwabisa uThixo nabantu, khon' ukuze ndiyongamele eminye imithi?’ ₁₄Ngoku ke imithi yabhekisa kumnga, yathi: ‘Yiba ngukumkani wethu.’ ₁₅Kodwa ke wona wathi: ‘Xa ngaba nizimisele ngenene ukundithambisa ndibe ngukumkani wenu, yizani kuzikhusela emthunzini wam; kungenjalo ke makuvele umlilo kula meva am, uyitshise imisedare yaseLebhanon.’ ”

₁₆Waqhuba wathi ke uYotam: “Ngaba niyenze ngokunyaniseka na into yokummisela uAbhimeleki abe ngukumkani wenu? Ngaba nenziwe kukumxabisa nokumhlonipha uJerubhali? Ngaba esi senzo nisenza kwinzala yakhe siyifanele na imisebenzi yakhe? ₁₇Khumbulani kaloku, utata wanilwela. Ubomi bakhe wabubeka esichengeni enihlangula kumaMidiyan. ₁₈Kodwa ke namhlanje niyivukele inzala kabawo. Nibabulele oonyana bakhe, amashumi asixhenxe onke, phezu kwelitye elinye. Nithe uAbhimeleki unyana awamfumana enkazaneni ezalana nani, namenza ukumkani waseShekem. ₁₉Kambe ke ukuba esi senzo senu sinenyani saye simsulwa, yonwabisanani noAbhimeleki. ₂₀Ukuba ke akunjalo, ngamana angadangazela umlilo uAbhimeleki, abatshise abemi baseShekem nabaseBhete-milo; ngamana nabemi baseShekem nabaseBhete-milo bangamlenya ngomlilo noAbhimeleki.” ₂₁Wathi ke, kuba emoyika umntakwabo uAbhimeleki, wasuka wabaleka uYotam, waya kuhlala eBhere.

₂₂Ke uAbhimeleki wabamba iintambo iminyaka emithathu kwaSirayeli. ₂₃UThixo wadala umoya ombi phakathi koAbhimeleki nabemi baseShekem, baza bona benza ubuqhetseba ngakuAbhimeleki. ₂₄Le nto ke yenzeka ukuze uAbhimeleki nabemi baseShekem abamkhuthazileyo ekugwinteni amashumi asixhenxe oonyana bakaJerubhali, bajike badliwe yinja yabo. ₂₅Abemi baseShekem bafuna abantu, bababeka ezintabeni, ukuze balalele uAbhimeleki; suka bona baphanga wonke umntu ogqithayo. Ke uAbhimeleki wayixelelwa yonke le nto.

₂₆Ke kaloku kwafika uGali unyana kaEbhede eShekem enabantakwabo. Abemi baseShekem ke babethembele kuye. ₂₇Baphuma ke baya kukha iidiliya ezidiliyeni zabo, baza baxovula benza iwayini, babhiyoza. Baphuma baya kwindlu yesithixo sabo, batya basela bamqalekisa uAbhimeleki. ₂₈Wathi uGali unyana kaEbhede: “Xa engubani yena uAbhimeleki inzala kaShekem, ukuba sibe phantsi kwakhe? Akanyana kaJerubhali na? AsinguZebhule na ihlakani lakhe? Hayi bo! Masibuse amadoda akwaHamori usoShekem! ₂₉Akwaba ibindim okhokela esi sizwe; bendiya kumsusa uAbhimeleki lo! Bendiya kumxelela ndithi: ‘Mawube ngathi uyaqina umkhosi wakho, uphume, khe sidibane.’ ”

₃₀Akuyiva into ethethwe nguGali wacaphuka uZebhule usibonda weso sixeko. ₃₁Wathumela izigidimi ngasese kuAbhimeleki eAruma, wathi: “UGali unyana kaEbhede nabantakwabo bagalelekile apha eShekem; baxhokonxa abantu khon' ukuze bakuchase. ₃₂Ngoko ke wena thatha umkhosi wakho, nihambe ngobusuku, nilalele emaphandleni. ₃₃Ngomso, xa lithi chapha, ze nivuke nisiqubule nisihlasele isixeko. Aze athi ke uGali nomkhosi wakhe akuphuma esiza kulwa nenze oko isandla senu sinako ukukwenza.”

₃₄Ngenene ke uAbhimeleki waphuma nomkhosi wakhe ngobusuku, baza bazimela ngaphandle kwaseShekem, bengamaqela amane. ₃₅Bathe ke ooAbhimeleki bakumbona uGali ephuma esiya kuma esangweni lesixeko, nabo baphuma ezikhundleni zabo. ₃₆Wababona ke uGali, waza wathi kuZebhule: “Khangela, nangaya amadoda esihla encotsheni yentaba!”

UZebhule uphendule wathi: “Hayi, ngamathunzi nje eentaba la angathi ngabantu.”

₃₇Kwakhona uGali wathi: “Khangela, nangaya amadoda esihla phaya embindini wentaba! Elinye iqela liza ngalaa ndlela ivela kum-oki wezangoma!”

₃₈UZebhule waphendula wathi: “Aye phi kaloku amatshamba akho ngoku? Andithi kaloku nguwe kanye owawusithi: ‘Ngubani yena uAbhimeleki ukuba sibe phantsi kwakhe?’ Nango ke laa madoda obuphoxisa ngawo! Hamba kaloku, uphume uye kulwa nawo!”

₃₉Waphuma ke uGali, wabakhokela abemi baseShekem, balwa noAbhimeleki. ₄₀UGali wasaba, waza ke wasukelwa nguAbhimeleki. Abaninzi benzakalela kwalapho ukuya esangweni lesixeko. ₄₁UAbhimeleki wahlala eAruma, waza uZebhule wamdudula uGali nabantakwabo baphuma eShekem, ababa saba nako ukuhlala khona.

₄₂Ngomhla olandelayo uAbhimeleki waxelelwa ukuba amaShekem aceba ukuphuma aye emaphandleni; ₄₃waza ke waphuma nomkhosi wakhe wawahlula-hlula kathathu, waya kubalalela emaphandleni. Wathi akubona abantu bephuma esixekweni, naye waphuma ekuzimeleni, wababulala. ₄₄Wathi xa axhabashileyo uAbhimeleki neqela lakhe besiya esangweni, aba amanye amaqela la mabini ehlasela abasemaphandleni, ababulala. ₄₅Kwaliwa imini yonke. UAbhimeleki wasihlasela isixeko eso, wasithimba, wababulala abantu baso, wasidiliza, umhlaba wawugalela ityuwa.

₄₆Bathe ke bakuyiva le nto abemi baseShekem ababesenqabeni yakhona, basuka baya kuzimela kwigumbi elinqatyisiweyo lendlu kaBhali womnqophiso. ₄₇Ke kaloku uAbhimeleki waxelelwa ukuba baqokelelene khona, ₄₈waza ke waphuma nomkhosi wakhe, wanyuka intaba iZalmona. Apho ke wathatha izembe, wagawula isebe emthini, walixwaya emagxeni.

Wathi kumadoda omkhosi wakhe: “Khawulezani nenjenjalo nani!” ₄₉Yaba yileyo naleyo ke indoda yagawula isebe emthini; aza ke alandela uAbhimeleki. Ezo nkuni azayamisa apho kwelo gumbi; aza ke kamva azifaka umlilo, abantu belapho ngaphakathi. Bonke ke abantu ababesenqabeni yaseShekem bafa. Babekwisithuba sewaka lamadoda nababhinqileyo.

₅₀UAbhimeleki ke waya eTebheze, isixeko eso wasirhawula wasithimba. ₅₁Apho ke kwakukho inqaba eyomeleleyo kunene, aza ke onke amadoda nabo bonke ababhinqileyo (abemi bonke besixeko ukutsho) bangena kuyo. Bazitshixela, baya kuhlala phezulu eluphahleni. ₅₂Akufika uAbhimeleki, eze kuhlasela inqaba leyo, waya emnyango, efuna ukuyitshisa. ₅₃Kambe ke umfazi othile owayephezulu enqabeni wamgibisela ngelitye lokusila, wamqhekeza ukhakhayi. ₅₄Ngoko nangoko ke wabiza umfana owayephatha izikhali zakhe, wathi: “Rhola ikrele lakho undibulale, ukuze kungathiwa ndibulewe ngumfazi.” Ngoko ke umfana lowo wamgwaza wafa.

₅₅Athi ke amaSirayeli akubona ukuba uAbhimeleki ufile, asuka agoduka onke.

₅₆Ngale ndlela ke uThixo wabuphindezela ububi obabenziwe nguAbhimeleki kuyise ngokubulala abantakwabo abangamashumi asixhenxe. ₅₇UThixo wabohlwaya nabantu baseShekem ngenxa yenkohlakalo yabo, njengoko wathethayo uYotam unyana kaJerubhali xa wayebashwabulela.

₁Emva koAbhimeleki amaSirayeli akhululwa nguTola unyana kaPuwa umzukulwana kaDodo. Yena wayengowendlu kaIsakare, emi eShamire kweleentaba kwaEfrayim. ₂Wayeyinkokheli kwaSirayeli iminyaka engamashumi amabini nantathu. Akusweleka wangcwatyelwa eShamire.

₃Emva koTola kwalandela uJayire waseGiliyadi. Wayeyinkokheli kwaSirayeli amashumi amabini anambini eminyaka. ₄Wayenoonyana abangamashumi amathathu, bonke bekhwele iidonki. Babenezixeko ezimashumi mathathu kwelo laseGiliyadi; nangoku ke kusathiwa ziidolophu zikaJayire. ₅UJayire wasweleka, waza wangcwatywa eKamon.

₆Kwakhona amaSirayeli aphinda amona *uNdikhoyo ngokusuka akhonze ooBhali nooAshtarte, ngokunjalo nezithixo zamaSiriya, amaSidon, ezamaMowabhi, ama-Amon, namaFilistiya. Amfulathela, ayeka ukumkhonza uNdikhoyo. ₇Ngoko ke wavutha ngumsindo uNdikhoyo, amaSirayeli wawayekela oyiswa ngamaFilistiya nama-Amon. ₈Yaba yiminyaka esibhozo ezi zizwe ziwatshutshisa ziwacinezela amaSirayeli awayehlala phesheya kweJordan eGiliyadi kwelama-Amori. ₉Ama-Amon ada ayiwela iJordan, ahlasela kwelakwaJuda, kwaBhenjamin, nakwaEfrayim. AmaSirayeli ayekwenkulu inkxwaleko. ₁₀AmaSirayeli ke ada azibika kuNdikhoyo, athi: “Sikonile; sisuke sakufulathela, wena Thixo wethu, sanqula ooBhali.”

₁₁UNdikhoyo wawaphendula wenjenje: “Nangaphambili koku amaJiputa, ama-Amori, ama-Amon, amaFilistiya, ₁₂amaSidon, ama-Amaleki, namaMawoni, anicinezela, naza nazibika kum. Andithi na kanene ndanihlangula kuwo? ₁₃Nakuba kunjalo naphinda nandishiya, nakhonza thixo bambi; ngoko ke ngoku unakanye ukuba ndiphinde ndinihlangule. ₁₄Hambani niye kuzibika kwabo thixo nizikhethela bona. Mabanihlangule kaloku nakungena ezingxakini.”

₁₅AmaSirayeli ke athi kuNdikhoyo: “Siyasivuma isono sethu. Yenza kuthi ngokubona kwakho; kambe ke nceda usihlangule namhlanje.” ₁₆Asuke ke amaSirayeli abalahla oothixo basemzini, akhonza uNdikhoyo; waza ke yena wahlabeka ngenxa yokubandezeleka kwamaSirayeli.

₁₇Ke ama-Amon axhobela imfazwe, aza ahlanganisana eGiliyadi. Ke wona amaSirayeli ahlanganisana aza emisa eMizpa. ₁₈Ke kaloku amadoda amakhulu aseGiliyadi afakana imilomo esithi: “Ngaba ngubani oza kusikhokela silwe nala ma-Amon? Lowo uya kuba yintloko yethu sonke apha eGiliyadi.”