UJoshuwa 4

₁Kwathi lapho isizwe sonke sesiwele iJordani saphelela, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi: ₂“Zithatheleni amadoda ayishumi nambili, indoda ibenye ngesizwe, ₃niwayale nithi: ‘Zikhipheleni lapha phakathi kweJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi zazimi khona ziqinile, amatshe ayishumi nambili, niwele nawo, niwabeke endaweni eniyakulala kuyo ebusuku.’ ”

₄UJoshuwa wayesebiza lawo madoda ayishumi nambili ayewakhethile kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, indoda inye ngesizwe. ₅UJoshuwa wathi kuwo: “Welani phambi komphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, niye phakathi kweJordani, netshathe, kube yilowo nalowo itshe ehlombe lakhe njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ₆ukuba lokho kube yisikhumbuzo phakathi kwenu, kuze kuthi lapho abantwana benu bebuza ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe kini na?’ ₇anothi kubo: ‘Kungokuba amanzi aseJordani enqamuka phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova; ekuweleni kwawo iJordani amanzi aseJordani anqamuka; lawa matshe ayakuba yisikhumbuzo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.’ ”

₈Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza-ke njengalokho uJoshuwa ebayalile, bakhipha amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi kweJordani, njengalokho uJehova ekhulumile kuJoshuwa, njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; bawela nawo, baya endaweni yokulala, bawabeka khona. ₉UJoshuwa wamisa amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi neJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo zazimi khona; akhona kuze kube namuhla.

₁₀Abapristi abathwala umphongolo babemi phakathi neJordani, kwaze kwaphelela konke uJehova amyale ngakho uJoshuwa ukuba akukhulume kubantu njengakho konke uMose abemyale ngakho uJoshuwa; abantu bashesha bawela. ₁₁Kwathi lapho bonke abantu sebewelile baphelela, umphongolo kaJehova wawela kanye nabapristi emehlweni abantu. ₁₂Abantwana bakwaRubeni, nabantwana bakwaGadi, nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase bawela behlomile phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, njengalokho uMose ebekhulumile kubo; ₁₃kwawela phambi kukaJehova kungathi abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane behlomele ukulwa ukuba baphume impi, baye emathafeni aseJeriko.

₁₄Ngalolo suku uJehova wamkhulisa uJoshuwa emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli; bamesaba njengalokho babemesaba uMose izinsuku zonke zokuhamba kwakhe.

₁₅UJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi: ₁₆“Yala abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano ukuba benyuke eJordani.”

₁₇UJoshuwa wayala-ke abapristi, wathi: “Yenyukani eJordani.”

₁₈Kwathi lapho abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova sebenyuke phakathi kweJordani, amathe ezinyawo zabapristi esefike emhlabathini owomileyo, amanzi aseJordani abuyela endaweni yawo, aphuphuma lonke ugu njengakuqala.

₁₉Abantu benyuka eJordani ngolweshumi lwenyanga yokuqala, bamisa eGiligali emkhawulweni wangasempumalanga kwaseJeriko. ₂₀Lawo matshe ayishumi nambili abawakhipha eJordani wawamisa eGiligali. ₂₁Wakhuluma kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Nxa abantwana benu beyakubuza oyise ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe na?’ ₂₂anobazisa abantwana benu, nithi: ‘U-Israyeli wawela leli Jordani emhlabathini owomileyo,’ ₂₃ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wawamisa amanzi aseJordani phambi kwenu, naze nawela, njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wenza eLwandle Olubomvu, alomisa phambi kwethu, saze sawela, ₂₄ukuba abantu bonke bomhlaba bazi isandla sikaJehova ukuthi sinamandla, nesabe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kuze kube phakade.”