Bible Reading Plan – Day 68

₁Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova; uJehova wabanikela esandleni sakwaMidiyani iminyaka eyisikhombisa. ₂Isandla sakwaMidiyani samahlula u-Israyeli; ngenxa yakwaMidiyani abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bazenzela imihume yasezintabeni, nemigede, nezinqaba. ₃Kwathi nxa abakwa-Israyeli sebelimile, abakwaMidiyani benyuka nama-Amaleki nabasempumalanga, bakhuphukela kubo, ₄bamisa mayelana nabo, bachitha izithelo zomhlaba kwaze kwaba seGaza, abashiyanga kudla kwa-Israyeli, nazimvu, nazinkomo, nazimbongolo. ₅Ngokuba benyuka nezinkomo zabo namatende abo, bafika njengesikhonyane ngobuningi; babengenakubalwa bona namakamela abo; bafika ezweni ukuba baliqede. ₆Abakwa-Israyeli baphela amandla ngenxa yakwaMidiyani; base bekhala abantwana bakwa-Israyeli kuJehova.

₇Kwathi lapho abantwana bakwa-Israyeli besakhala kuJehova ngenxa yakwaMidiyani, ₈uJehova wathuma umprofethi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wathi kubo: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Ngakukhuphula eGibithe, ngakukhipha endlini yobugqila, ₉nganophula esandleni sabaseGibithe nasesandleni sabo bonke abanicindezelayo, ngabaxosha phambi kwenu, nganinika izwe labo, ₁₀ngathi kini: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu; aniyikwesaba onkulunkulu bama-Amori enihlala ezweni lawo,” kepha kanilalelanga izwi lami.’ ”

₁₁Kwafika ingelosi kaJehova, yahlala phansi kwe-oki* lase-Ofira likaJowashi umAbiyezeri; indodana yakhe uGideyoni yayibhula ukolweni esikhamweni sewayini ukuba amthukusele abakwaMidiyani. ₁₂Ingelosi kaJehova yabonakala kuye, yathi kuye: “UJehova unawe wena qhawe elinamandla.”

₁₃UGideyoni wathi kuyo: “O nkosi yami, uma uJehova enathi, konke lokhu kusehlele ngani na? Ziphi izimangaliso zakhe abasitshela ngazo obaba, bathi: ‘UJehova akasikhuphulanga eGibithe na?’ Kepha manje uJehova usilahlile, wasinikela esandleni sakwaMidiyani.”

₁₄UJehova wambheka, wathi: “Hamba ngalawa mandla akho, umsindise u-Israyeli esandleni sakwaMidiyani; angikuthumanga na?”

₁₅Wathi kuye: “O Nkosi, ngiyakumsindisa u-Israyeli ngantoni na? Bheka, umndeni wami umpofu kwaManase, mina ngingomncinyane endlini kababa.”

₁₆UJehova wathi kuye: “Impela ngiyakuba nawe; uyakubabulala abakwaMidiyani kungathi bangumuntu munye.”

₁₇Wathi kuye: “Uma ngifumene umusa emehlweni akho, unginike isibonakaliso ukuthi nguwe okhuluma nami. ₁₈Ake ungamuki lapha, ngize ngibuyele kuwe, ngilethe isipho sami, ngisibeke phambi kwakho.”

Wayesethi: “Ngiyakuhlala uze ubuye.”

₁₉UGideyoni wangena, walungisa izinyane lembuzi namaqebelengwane angenamvubelo e-efa* lempuphu; wayibeka inyama eqomeni, wawuthela umhluzi ekhanzini, wakukhiphela kuye phansi kwe-oki,* wakunikela.

₂₀Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yathi kuye: “Thatha inyama namaqebelengwane angenamvubelo, ukubeke edwaleni leli, uwuthulule umhluzi.” Wenze njalo. ₂₁Ingelosi kaJehova yase yelula isihloko sentonga esesandleni sayo, yathinta inyama namaqebelengwane angenamvubelo; kwenyuka umlilo edwaleni, wadla waqeda inyama namaqebelengwane angenamvubelo; ingelosi kaJehova yayisimuka emehlweni akhe. ₂₂Wayesebona uGideyoni ukuthi iyingelosi kaJehova; uGideyoni wathi: “Maye, Nkosi Nkulunkulu! Ngokuba ngibonile ingelosi kaJehova ubuso nobuso.”

₂₃UJehova wathi kuye: “Ukuthula makube kuwe; ungesabi, awuyikufa.”

₂₄UGideyoni wamakhela uJehova i-altare khona, waliqamba igama lokuthi iJehova Shalomi; kuze kube namuhla lisekhona e-Ofira lama-Abiyezeri.

₂₅Kwathi ngalobo busuku uJehova wathi kuye: “Thatha iduna likayihlo nenye inkunzi eneminyaka eyisikhombisa, ubhidlize i-altare likaBali uyihlo analo, ugawule u-Ashera* ongakulo, ₂₆umakhele uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho i-altare esiqongweni sale nqaba ngokuhlelekileyo, uyithathe inkunzi yesibili, unikele ngomnikelo wokushiswa ngezinkuni zika-Ashera* ozakumgawula.”

₂₇UGideyoni wayesethatha amadoda ayishumi ezincekwini zakhe, wenza njengalokho uJehova ekhulumile kuye; kwathi lokhu ebesaba abendlu kayise nabantu bomuzi ukuba angakwenzi emini, wakwenza ebusuku.

₂₈Lapho abantu bomuzi bevuka ekuseni kakhulu, bheka, i-altare likaBali lase libhidliziwe, no-Ashera* owayengakulo wayegawuliwe, nenkunzi yesibili yayinikelwe phezu kwe-altare elalakhiwe.

₂₉Bakhuluma omunye komunye, bathi: “Kwenziwe ngubani lokhu na?”

Lapho becinga bebuza, bathi: “NguGideyoni indodana kaJowashi owenze lokhu.”

₃₀Base bethi abantu bomuzi kuJowashi: “Khipha indodana yakho ukuba ife, ngokuba ilibhidlizile i-altare likaBali nangokuba imgawulile u-Ashera* owayengakulo.”

₃₁UJowashi wathi kubo bonke ababemi ngakuye: “Niyakumlwela uBali, nimsindise yena, na? Oyakumlwela uBali, makabulawe kusasa ekuseni; uma engunkulunkulu, makazilwele yena, lokhu kukhona olibhidlizile i-altare lakhe.” ₃₂Ngalokho ngalolo suku wambiza ngokuthi uJerubali,* ethi: “UBali makalwe naye ngokuba elibhidlizile i-altare lakhe.”

₃₃Kwabuthana bonke abakwaMidiyani, nama-Amaleki, nabasempumalanga, bawela, bamisa esiGodini saseJizreyeli. ₃₄Kepha uMoya kaJehova wammboza uGideyoni, wabetha icilongo, kwabuthana ama-Abiyezeri, amlandela. ₃₅Wathuma izithunywa kulo lonke lakwaManase, nabo babuthana, bamlandela; wathuma izithunywa ku-Asheri, nakuZebuloni, nakuNafetali, bakhuphuka ukuba babahlangabeze.

₃₆UGideyoni wathi kuNkulunkulu: “Uma uzakusindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami, njengalokho ukhulumile, ₃₇bheka, ngiyakubeka uboya obugundiweyo esibuyeni; uma kukhona amazolo eboyeni bodwa komile emhlabathini wonke, ngiyakwazi ukuthi uzakusindisa u-Israyeli ngesandla sami, njengalokho ukhulumile.” ₃₈Kwaba njalo, ngokuba wavuka ekuseni ngangomuso, wabucindezela uboya, wakhama amazolo eboyeni, kwagcwala isitsha amanzi.

₃₉UGideyoni wathi kuNkulunkulu: “Intukuthelo yakho mayingangivutheli, ngizakukhuluma kanye kuphela: Ake ngilinge kanye kuphela ngoboya; makube komile eboyeni bodwa, kube khona amazolo emhlabathini wonke.” ₄₀Wenze njalo uNkulunkulu ngalobo busuku, ngokuba kwakomile eboyeni bodwa, kepha emhlabathini wonke kwakukhona amazolo.

₁UJerubali* onguGideyoni nabantu bonke ababenaye bavuka ekuseni, bamisa ngasemthonjeni waseHarodi; ikamu* lakwaMidiyani lalingasenyakatho kwabo ngasegqumeni laseMore esigodini. ₂UJehova wathi kuGideyoni: “Abantu abanawe baningi kakhulu ukuba nginikele abakwaMidiyani esandleni sabo, funa u-Israyeli aziqhenye ngakimi ngokuthi: ‘Isandla sami singisindisile.’ ₃Ngalokho memeza ezindlebeni zabantu, uthi: ‘Owesabayo ethuthumela makabuye, amuke entabeni yakwaGileyadi!’ ” Kwabuya abantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nambili, kwasala abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi.

₄UJehova wathi kuGideyoni: “Abantu base baningi; behlisele ngasemanzini, ngikulingele bona khona; kuyakuthi lowo engizakusho ngaye kuwe ukuthi: ‘Lo uzakuhamba nawe,’ yena ahambe nawe; nalowo engizakusho ngaye kuwe ukuthi: ‘Lo akayikuhamba nawe,’ yena akayikuhamba.”

₅Wayesebehlisela abantu ngasemanzini; uJehova wathi kuGideyoni: “Bonke abaxhapha amanzi ngolimi lwabo njengokuxhapha kwenja babeke bodwa, kanjalo nabo bonke abaguqa ngamadolo ukuba baphuze.” ₆Umumo wabaxhaphayo bebeka isandla emlonyeni wawungamadoda angamakhulu amathathu, kepha bonke abanye abantu baguqa ngamadolo ukuba baphuze amanzi.

₇Wayesethi uJehova kuGideyoni: “Ngalawo madoda amakhulu amathathu axhaphayo ngizakunisindisa, ngibanikele abakwaMidiyani esandleni sakho; bonke abanye abantu mabahambe, yilowo nalowo aye endaweni yakhe.” ₈Abantu base bethatha umphako ngesandla sabo namacilongo abo; bonke abanye abakwa-Israyeli wabathuma, kwabayilowo nalowo etendeni lakhe, wagcina lawo madoda amakhulu amathathu; ikamu* lakwaMidiyani laliphansi kwakhe esigodini. ₉Kwathi ngalobo busuku uJehova wathi kuye: “Vuka wehlele ekamu, ngokuba sengilinikele esandleni sakho. ₁₀Kepha uma wesaba ukwehla, yehla noPhura udibi lwakho, niye ekamu; ₁₁uzakuzwa ukuthi bathini, andukuba kuqiniswe izandla zakho ukuba wehlele ekamu.” Khona wehla noPhura udibi lwakhe emaphethelweni abahlomileyo abasekamu. ₁₂AbakwaMidiyani nama-Amaleki nabo bonke abasempumalanga bahlala esigodini njengesikhonyane ngobuningi; amakamela abo ayengenakubalwa, engangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle ngobuningi.

₁₃Lapho efika uGideyoni, bheka, umuntu wayelandisa umngane wakhe iphupho, wathi: “Ngaphupha iphupho; bheka, iqebelengwane lesinkwa sebhali* lagingqikela ekamu lakwaMidiyani, lafika etendeni, lalishaya laze lawa, laligumbuqela, labhadalala.”

₁₄Umngane wakhe waphendula wathi: “Lokhu akulutho ngaphandle kwenkemba kaGideyoni indodana kaJowashi, umuntu wakwa-Israyeli; uNkulunkulu unikele esandleni sakhe uMidiyani nempi yonke.”

₁₅Kwathi uGideyoni ekuzwa ukulandwa kwephupho nokuchazwa kwalo, wakhuleka; wabuyela ekamu lakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Vukani, ngokuba uJehova unikele esandleni senu impi yakwaMidiyani.” ₁₆Wahlukanisela amadoda angamakhulu amathathu izigaba ezintathu, wawanika, kwaba yileyo naleyo amacilongo ezandleni zawo, nezitsha ezingenalutho, nezimbaqa zisezitsheni.

₁₇Wathi kuwo: “Ngibukeni, nenze kanjalo; bhekani, nxa nifika emaphethelweni ekamu, kuyakuthi njengalokho kwenza mina, nenze nani. ₁₈Nxa ngibetha icilongo, mina nabo bonke abanami, bethani nani amacilongo nxazonke zekamu, nithi: ‘EkaJehova nekaGideyoni!’ ”

₁₉UGideyoni namadoda ayikhulu ayenaye base befika emaphethelweni ekamu ngasekuqaleni komlindo ophakathi, besand' ukubeka abalindi; babetha amacilongo, baphohloza izitsha abaziphetheyo ngezandla. ₂₀Izigaba zontathu zabetha amacilongo, zaphohloza izitsha, zaphatha izimbaqa ngezandla zokhohlo namacilongo ngezandla zokunene ukuba ziwabethe; zamemeza zathi: “Inkemba kaJehova nekaGideyoni!” ₂₁Onke amadoda ayemi, kwaba yileyo naleyo, ahaqa ikamu; bonke abasekamu bagijima bamemeza.

₂₂Abetha amacilongo angamakhulu amathathu, uJehova wabhekisa inkemba yalowo nalowo ngakumngane wakhe nakulo ikamu lonke; ikamu labaleka kwaze kwaba seBeti Shitha ngaseSerera, laze lafika emkhawulweni we-Abela Mehola ngaseThabati. ₂₃Amadoda akwa-Israyeli ayebuthene evela kwaNafetali, nakwa-Asheri, nakulo lonke lakwaManase, abaxosha abakwaMidiyani. ₂₄UGideyoni wayesethuma izithunywa ezintabeni zonke zakwa-Efrayimi, wathi: “Yehlani, nihlangabezane nabakwaMidiyani, nibavimbe emanzini kuze kube seBetha Bara naseJordani.” Onke amadoda akwa-Efrayimi ayesebuthana, abavimbela emanzini kwaze kwaba seBetha Bara naseJordani. ₂₅Abamba izikhulu ezimbili zakwaMidiyani, o-Orebi noZebi, ambulala u-Orebi ngasedwaleni lika-Orebi, noZebi bambulala ngasesikhamweni sewayini sikaZebi, abaxosha abakwaMidiyani; aletha ikhanda lika-Orebi nelikaZebi kuGideyoni phesheya kweJordani.

₁Abantu bakwa-Efrayimi bathi kuye: “Ukwenzeleni lokhu kithina ukuthi awusibizanga lapho uyakulwa nabakwaMidiyani na?” Bamkhankatha kakhulu.

₂Wathi kubo: “Ngenzeni mina, uma kulinganiswa nokwenu na? Ukukhothoza kwabakwa-Efrayimi akukuhle yini kunokuvuna umvini kwama-Abiyezeri na? ₃UNkulunkulu unikele esandleni senu izikhulu zakwaMidiyani, o-Orebi noZebi; mina benginamandla okwenzani, uma kulinganiswa nokwenu, na?” Kwase kubohla ukuthukuthela kwabo ngaye, eseshilo lokho.

₄UGideyoni wafika eJordani, wawela, yena namadoda angamakhulu amathathu ayenaye, eyethile, esaxosha nokho. ₅Wayesethi kubantu baseSukoti: “Ake niphe abantu abangilandelayo izinkwa, ngokuba bayethile, ngisaxosha oZeba noSalimuna amakhosi akwaMidiyani.”

₆Izikhulu zaseSukoti zathi: “Izandla zikaZeba noSalimuna sezisesandleni sakho ukuba siphe impi yakho isinkwa na?”

₇UGideyoni wathi: “Ngalokho nxa uJehova enikele oZeba noSalimuna esandleni sami, ngiyakuklebhula inyama yenu ngameva asehlane nangamazinyo ezinqola zokubhula.”

₈Wenyuka lapho, waya ePhenuweli, wakhuluma kubo ngokunjalo; abantu basePhenuweli bamphendula njengabantu baseSukoti bebephendulile. ₉Wakhuluma nakubo abantu basePhenuweli, wathi: “Ekubuyeni kwami ngiphilile ngizakubhidliza lo mbhoshongo.”

₁₀OZeba noSalimuna babeseKarkori, izimpi zabo zinabo kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nanhlanu, bonke ababesele empini yonke yabasempumalanga, ngokuba kwakuwile abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili abahloma inkemba. ₁₁UGideyoni wenyuka ngendlela yabahlala ematendeni ngasempumalanga kwaseNoba neJogibeha, wanqoba impi, impi yayithi ilondekile. ₁₂OZeba noSalimuna babaleka, wabaxosha; wawabamba amakhosi omabili akwaMidiyani, oZeba noSalimuna, wachitha impi yonke.

₁₃UGideyoni indodana kaJowashi wabuya empini ngasekwenyukeni kweHeresi. ₁₄Wabamba insizwa yabantu baseSukoti, wabuza kuyo; yona yamlobela izikhulu zaseSukoti namalunga alo, abantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa nesikhombisa. ₁₅Wayesefika kubantu baseSukoti, wathi: “Bhekani oZeba noSalimuna enangiswabulela ngabo, nathi: ‘Izandla zikaZeba noSalimuna sezisesandleni sakho ukuba siphe amadoda akho ayethileyo isinkwa na?’ ” ₁₆Wayesebamba amalunga omuzi, nameva asehlane, namazinyo ezinqola zokubhula, wagalela ngawo abantu baseSukoti. ₁₇Wawubhidliza umbhoshongo wasePhenuweli, wabulala abantu bomuzi.

₁₈Wayesesho koZeba noSalimuna, ethi: “Babe njani labo bantu enababulala eThabori na?”

Bathi: “Babe njengawe; yilowo nalowo wafana nabantwana benkosi.”

₁₉Wathi: “Babe ngabafowethu, amadodana kamame. Kuphila kukaJehova, uma benibayekile baphila, bengingayikunibulala.” ₂₀Wayesethi kuJetheri izibulo lakhe: “Suka ubabulale.” Kepha umfana kahoshanga inkemba yakhe, ngokuba wesaba lokhu engumfana.

₂₁Base bethi oZeba noSalimuna: “Suka wena, usihlasele, ngokuba njengendoda anjalo amandla ayo.” Wayesesuka uGideyoni, wababulala oZeba noSalimuna, wathatha izimbedu ezinjengenyanga ezazisezintanyeni zamakamela abo.

₂₂Abantu bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuGideyoni: “Sibuse, wena nendodana yakho, nendodana yendodana yakho futhi, ngokuba usisindisile esandleni sakwaMidiyani.”

₂₃UGideyoni wathi kubo: “Angiyikunibusa, nendodana yami ayiyikunibusa; nguJehova oyakunibusa.” ₂₄UGideyoni wathi kubo: “Mangicele okuthile kini ukuba ninginike, kube yilowo nalowo amacici empango yakhe.” Babenamacici egolide, lokhu bebengabakwa-Ishmayeli.

₂₅Bathi: “Siyakukunika wona impela.” Beneka ingubo, baphonsa khona, kwaba yilowo nalowo amacici empango yakhe. ₂₆Isisindo samacici egolide awacelayo sasingamashekeli* ayinkulungwane namakhulu ayisikhombisa egolide, ngaphandle kwezimbedu ezinjengenyanga, neziqhaza, nezingubo ezibubende ezazembethwe ngamakhosi akwaMidiyani, nangaphandle kwamaketanga ayesezintanyeni zamakamela awo. ₂₇UGideyoni wenza ingubo yamahlombe ngakho, wayibeka emzini wakhe e-Ofira; bonke abakwa-Israyeli baya baphinga nayo khona; yaba lugibe kuGideyoni nendlu yakhe.

₂₈AbakwaMidiyani bathotshiswa kanjalo phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ababe besaphakamisa amakhanda abo. Izwe lathula iminyaka engamashumi amane ezinsukwini zikaGideyoni.

₂₉UJerubali* indodana kaJowashi waya wahlala endlini yakhe. ₃₀UGideyoni wayenamadodana angamashumi ayisikhombisa aphuma okhalweni lwakhe, ngokuba wayenabafazi abaningi. ₃₁Isancinza sakhe esasiseShekemi naso samzalela indodana, sayiqamba igama lokuthi u-Abimeleki. ₃₂UGideyoni indodana kaJowashi wafa esemdala, wembelwa ethuneni likaJowashi uyise e-Ofira lama-Abiyezeri.

₃₃Kwathi esefile uGideyoni, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuye baphinga nawoBali, bamenza uBali Beriti unkulunkulu wabo. ₃₄Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babengakhumbuli uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo owabophula esandleni sezitha zonke zabo nxazonke. ₃₅Abenzanga umusa kuyo indlu kaJerubali* onguGideyoni njengakho konke okuhle ayekwenzile ku-Israyeli.