Bible Reading Plan – Day 73

₁Base bephuma bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, inhlangano yahlangana njengomuntu munye, kusukela kwaDani kwaze kwaba seBeri Sheba kanye nezwe lakwaGileyadi kuJehova eMispa. ₂Izinhloko zabantu bonke, izizwe zonke zakwa-Israyeli, zafika ebandleni labantu bakaNkulunkulu, abantu abayimigundatshani; abayizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane, abahlome inkemba. ₃Abantwana bakwaBenjamini bezwa ukuthi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babenyukele eMispa. Bathi abantwana bakwa-Israyeli: “Sitsheleni ukuthi lobu bubi benziwa kanjani na?”

₄UmLevi, umyeni wowesifazane owayebulewe, waphendula wathi: “Ngafika eGibeya lakwaBenjamini, mina nesancinza sami, ukulala khona. ₅Abantu baseGibeya bangivukela, bahaqa indlu nxazonke zami ebusuku; bacabanga ukungibulala mina, nesancinza sami basona; sesifile. ₆Ngase ngithatha isancinza sami, ngasihlahlela, ngasithuma ezweni lonke lefa lakwa-Israyeli, ngokuba babesebenzile ukona nobuwula kwa-Israyeli. ₇Bhekani nina bantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nina nonke; qondisani, niluleke lapha.”

₈Bonke abantu bavuka njengomuntu munye, bathi: “Asiyikuya, sisho namunye etendeni lakhe; asiyikuphambukela sisho namunye endlini yakhe. ₉Kepha nakhu esiyakukwenza eGibeya: Siyakulihlasela ngenkatho, ₁₀sithathe abantu abayishumi ekhulwini kuzo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli, nabayikhulu enkulungwaneni, nabayinkulungwane ezinkulungwaneni eziyishumi, ukuba balande ukudla kwabantu, nalapho sebefike eGibeya lakwaBenjamini benze ngokobuwula ababenzile kwa-Israyeli.” ₁₁Abantu bonke bakwa-Israyeli babehlanganyele umuzi, bebumbene kungathi ngumuntu munye.

₁₂Izizwe zakwa-Israyeli zathuma abantu emindenini yonke yakwaBenjamini, zathi: “Ububi buni lobu obenziwe phakathi kwenu na? ₁₃Ngalokho khiphani labo bantu, abantu ababi, abaseGibeya, ukuba sibabulale, sixoshe ububi kwa-Israyeli.” Kepha uBenjamini kavumanga ukulalela izwi labafowabo, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₁₄Abantwana bakwaBenjamini babuthana eGibeya, bevela emizini, ukuba baphume balwe nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₁₅Abantwana bakwaBenjamini abavela emizini babalwa ngalolo suku baba ngamadoda ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nesithupha ahlome inkemba ngaphandle kwabakhileyo eGibeya ababalwa baba ngamakhulu ayisikhombisa, amadoda akhethiweyo. ₁₆Phakathi kwabo bonke labo bantu kwakukhona amadoda angamakhulu ayisikhombisa akhethiweyo angamanxele; onke ayekwazi ukuphonsa amatshe ngisho nasonweleni, engageji.

₁₇Abantu bakwa-Israyeli ngaphandle kukaBenjamini babalwa baba yizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane, amadoda ahlome inkemba; bonke labo babe ngamadoda empi.

₁₈Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bavuka, bakhuphukela eBethele, babuza kuNkulunkulu, bathi: “Ngubani oyakusikhuphukelela kuqala ukulwa nabantwana bakwaBenjamini na?”

UJehova wathi: “NguJuda kuqala.”

₁₉Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bavuka ekuseni, bamisa malungana neGibeya. ₂₀Abantu bakwa-Israyeli baphuma ukuba balwe noBenjamini; abantu bakwa-Israyeli bazihlelela ukulwa nabo eGibeya. ₂₁Abantwana bakwaBenjamini baphuma eGibeya, babulala kwabakwa-Israyeli ngalolo suku amadoda ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nambili. ₂₂Abantu, amadoda akwa-Israyeli, baziqinisa, babuye bahlela impi endaweni abazihlela kuyo ngosuku lokuqala. ₂₃Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhuphuka, bakhala phambi kukaNkulunkulu kwaze kwahlwa; babuza kuJehova, bathi: “Siyakuphinda sisondele ukulwa nabantwana bakwaBenjamini umfowethu na?”

UJehova wathi: “Yenyukelani kuye.”

₂₄Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli basondela kubantwana bakwaBenjamini ngosuku lwesibili. ₂₅UBenjamini waphuma eGibeya ukuhlangabezana nabo ngosuku lwesibili, wabuye wabulala kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli amadoda ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nesishiyagalombili; bonke labo babehlome inkemba.

₂₆Base bekhuphuka bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, abantu bonke, bafika eBethele, bakhala, bahlala khona phambi kukaJehova, bazila ukudla ngalolo suku kwaze kwahlwa; banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa nangeminikelo yokuthula phambi kukaJehova. ₂₇Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuza kuJehova ngokuba umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu wawulapho ngalezo zinsuku; ₂₈uFinehasi indodana ka-Eleyazare ka-Aroni wema phambi kwawo ngalezo zinsuku bathi: “Siyakuphinda siphume ukuba silwe nabantwana bakwaBenjamini umfowethu, nokuba siyeke na?”

UJehova wathi: “Khuphukani, ngokuba kusasa ngiyakubanikela esandleni sakho.”

₂₉U-Israyeli wabeka abaqamekeli kulo iGibeya nxazonke. ₃₀Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhuphuka ukulwa nabantwana bakwaBenjamini ngosuku lwesithathu, bazihlelela ukulwa neGibeya njengakwezinye izikhathi. ₃₁Abantwana bakwaBenjamini baphuma ukulwa nabantu, badonswa, baphuma emzini; baqala ukubulala nokuceka abantu njengakwezinye izikhathi emendweni, omunye okhuphukela eBethele, omunye oya eGibeya ensimini, kungathi amadoda angamashumi amathathu kwa-Israyeli.

₃₂Abantwana bakwaBenjamini bathi: “Babulewe phambi kwethu njengakuqala.”

Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi: “Masibaleke, sibadonse, baphume emzini, baye emendweni.”

₃₃Bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli basuka endaweni yabo, bazihlela eBali Tamari; abaqamekeli bakwa-Israyeli bavumbuluka endaweni yabo eMare Geba. ₃₄Kweza malungana neGibeya abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi abakhethiweyo kuye wonke u-Israyeli; ukulwa kwakunzima, kepha babengazi ukuthi ingozi isifikile kubo. ₃₅UJehova wanqoba uBenjamini phambi kuka-Israyeli; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babulala ngalolo suku kwaBenjamini abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nanhlanu nekhulu; bonke labo babehlome inkemba. ₃₆Base bebona abantwana bakwaBenjamini ukuthi banqotshiwe; abantu bakwa-Israyeli bamdela uBenjamini lokhu bebebethemba abaqamekeli ababebabekile ngaseGibeya. ₃₇Abaqamekeli bashesha badumela eGibeya; abaqamekeli basuka bachitha umuzi wonke ngosiko lwenkemba. ₃₈Isiboniso esinqunyiweyo phakathi kwabantu bakwa-Israyeli nabaqamekeli sasiyilesi sokuba bathunqise umusi omkhulu wenyuke emzini. ₃₉Abantu bakwa-Israyeli babuyela emuva empini; uBenjamini wayeseqalile ukubulala nokuceka kubantu bakwa-Israyeli kungathi abantu abangamashumi amathathu, ngokuba bathi: “Impela babulewe phambi kwethu njengasekulweni kwakuqala.”

₄₀Kepha lapho sekuqale ukuthunqa insika yomusi emzini, abakwaBenjamini babheka emuva, nanko umuzi wonke uthunqela ngasezulwini. ₄₁Base bephenduka abantu bakwa-Israyeli, nabantu bakwaBenjamini bashaywa luvalo, ngokuba babona ukuthi behlelwe ngububi. ₄₂Ngalokho bafulathela phambi kwabantu bakwa-Israyeli, bahamba ngendlela yasehlane, kepha ukulwa kwabalandela; abaphuma emizini bababulala phakathi kwayo. ₄₃Babahaqa abakwaBenjamini nxazonke, babaxosha, babanyathela phansi endaweni yabo yokuphumula, baze bafika malungana neGibeya ngasempumalanga. ₄₄Kwawa abantu bakwaBenjamini abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nesishiyagalombili; bonke labo babe ngamaqhawe. ₄₅Baphenduka babalekela ehlane edwaleni lakwaRimoni; bakhothoza kubo emendweni abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisihlanu, babaxosha kwaze kwabaseGideyomu, babulala kubo abantu abayizinkulungwane ezimbili.

₄₆Bonke abawa ngalolo suku kwaBenjamini babe ngabantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nanhlanu abahlome inkemba; bonke labo babe ngamaqhawe. ₄₇Kepha abantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha baphenduka, babalekela ehlane edwaleni lakwaRimoni, bahlala edwaleni lakwaRimoni izinyanga ezine. ₄₈Abantu bakwa-Israyeli babuyela kubantwana bakwaBenjamini, bababulala ngosiko lwenkemba ababesaphila emzini, nezinkomo, yebo, konke okwafunyaniswayo; futhi yonke imizi abayifumanisayo bayithungela ngomlilo.

₁Abantu bakwa-Israyeli babefungile eMispa, bethi: “Akuyikubakho muntu oyakunika owakwaBenjamini indodakazi yakhe ibe ngumkakhe.”

₂Abantu base befika eBethele, bahlala khona kwaze kwahlwa phambi kukaNkulunkulu, baphakamisa izwi labo, bakhala kakhulu. ₃Bathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, lokhu kwenzelweni kwa-Israyeli ukuba kusilale namuhla esinye isizwe sakwa-Israyeli na?”

₄Kwathi ngakusasa abantu bavuka ekuseni, bakha khona i-altare, banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa neminikelo yokuthula.

₅Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi: “Yisiphi phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli esingakhuphukelanga ebandleni kuJehova na?” Ngokuba bebefungile isifungo esikhulu ngaye ongakhuphukeli kuJehova eMispa ukuthi wobulawa nokubulawa.

₆Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamhawukela uBenjamini umfowabo, bathi: “Kunqunyiwe namuhla esinye isizwe kwa-Israyeli. ₇Siyakwenze njani ukuba abaseleyo babe nabafazi, lokhu sifungile uJehova ukuthi asiyikubanika amadodakazi ethu abe ngomkabo, na?” ₈Bathi: “Yisiphi kuzo izizwe zakwa-Israyeli esingakhuphukelanga kuJehova eMispa na?” Bheka, akufikanga muntu ekamu* ovela eJabeshi Gileyadi ukuya ebandleni. ₉Sebebalwa abantu; bheka, kwakungekho muntu kwabakhile eJabeshi Gileyadi lapho.

₁₀Inhlangano yathuma khona abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili abangamaqhawe amakhulu, yabayala yathi: “Hambani nibabulale abakhe eJabeshi Gileyadi ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nabesifazane nezingane. ₁₁Yilokhu eniyakukwenza: Niyakuchitha nokuchitha bonke abesilisa nabo bonke abesifazane abake balala nendoda.” ₁₂Bafumana phakathi kwabakhileyo eJabeshi Gileyadi izintombi ezintsha ezingamakhulu amane ezingazanga ndoda ngokulala nayo; baziyisa ekamu* eShilo elisezweni laseKhanani.

₁₃Yonke inhlangano yathuma yakhuluma kubantwana bakwaBenjamini ababesedwaleni lakwaRimoni, yamemezela ukuthula kubo. ₁₄UBenjamini wabuya ngaleso sikhathi; babanika abesifazane ababebasindisile kwabesifazane baseJabeshi Gileyadi; kepha ababanelanga.

₁₅Abantu bamhawukela uBenjamini, ngokuba uJehova wayenze ukwahlukana ezizweni zakwa-Israyeli. ₁₆Amalunga enhlangano ayesethi: “Siyakwenze njani ukuba abaseleyo babe nabafazi, lokhu abesifazane bechithiwe kwaBenjamini, na?” ₁₇Athi: “Nga liba khona ifa labaphunyukileyo bakwaBenjamini, ukuze kungesulwa sizwe kwa-Israyeli. ₁₈Kepha asinakubanika nokho amadodakazi ethu abe ngomkabo, ngokuba abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babefungile bethi: ‘Makaqalekiswe onika owakwaBenjamini umfazi.’ ” ₁₉Athi: “Bheka, kukhona umkhosi kaJehova iminyaka ngeminyaka eShilo elingasenyakatho kwaseBethele ngasempumalanga komendo okhuphuka eBethele uya eShekemi nangaseningizimu kwaseLebona.”

₂₀Abayala abantwana bakwaBenjamini, athi: “Hambani niqamekele ezivinini, ₂₁nibone: bhekani, uma amadodakazi aseShilo ephuma ukusina lapho kusinwa khona, anophuma ezivinini, nizibambele, kube yilowo nalowo umkakhe kuwo amadodakazi aseShilo, niye ezweni lakwaBenjamini. ₂₂Kuyakuthi lapho oyise noma abanewabo befika ukuphikisana nathi, sithi kubo: ‘Sinikeni wona ngomusa, ngokuba asithathanga, kwaba yilowo nalowo umkakhe empini, futhi anibanikanga wona; khona ngabe nitholile icala.’ ”

₂₃Abantwana bakwaBenjamini benze njalo, bazithathela abafazi njengenani labo kwabasinayo, ababaqhwagayo; bahamba, babuyela efeni labo, bakha imizi, bahlala kuyo.

₂₄Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamuka khona ngaleso sikhathi, yilowo nalowo waya esizweni sakhe nasemndenini wakhe, baphuma lapho, yilowo nalowo waya efeni lakhe.

₂₅Ngalezo zinsuku kwakungekho nkosi kwa-Israyeli; yilowo nalowo wenza okulungile emehlweni akhe.