To The Word – Day 17

₁UJehova wathi kuMose: “Bheka, ngikwenze ube njengonkulunkulu kuFaro; u-Aroni umfowenu uyakuba ngumprofethi wakho. ₂Wena uyakukhuluma konke engikuyala ngakho; u-Aroni umfowenu uyakukhuluma kuFaro ukuba abavumele abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuphuma ezweni lakhe. ₃Mina ngiyakuyenza inhliziyo kaFaro ibe lukhuni, ngandise izibonakaliso zami nezimangaliso zami ezweni laseGibithe. ₄Kepha uFaro akayikunilalela; ngiyakubeka isandla sami phezu kweGibithe, ngikhiphe amabandla ami, isizwe sami, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ezweni laseGibithe ngezahlulelo ezinkulu. ₅AbaseGibithe bayokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova, nxa ngelula isandla sami phezu kweGibithe, ngikhiphe abantwana bakwa-Israyeli phakathi kwabo.”

₆OMose no-Aroni benze njalo; njengalokho uJehova ebayalile, benze njalo-ke. ₇UMose wayeneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalombili, u-Aroni eneminyaka engamashumi ayisishiyagalombili nantathu, mhla bekhuluma kuFaro.

₈UJehova wakhuluma koMose no-Aroni, wathi: ₉“Nxa uFaro ekhuluma kini, ethi: ‘Zifakazeleni ngesimangaliso,’ uyakusho ku-Aroni ukuthi: ‘Thatha induku yakho, uyiphonse phansi phambi kukaFaro,’ ukuze iphenduke inyoka.”

₁₀OMose no-Aroni bangena kuFaro, benza njengalokho uJehova ebayalile; u-Aroni waphonsa phansi induku yakhe phambi kukaFaro naphambi kwezinceku zakhe, yaphenduka inyoka. ₁₁Khona uFaro wabiza izihlakaniphi nabalumbi; izanusi zaseGibithe nazo zenze njalo ngemilingo yazo. ₁₂Ngokuba yilowo nalowo waphonsa phansi induku yakhe, zaphenduka izinyoka; kepha induku ka-Aroni yagwinya izinduku zabo. ₁₃Inhliziyo kaFaro yaba lukhuni, kabalalelanga, njengalokho eshilo uJehova.

₁₄UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Inhliziyo kaFaro ilukhuni: uyenqaba ukuba abantu bahambe. ₁₅Yana kuFaro kusasa ekuseni; bheka, uyaphuma ukuya emanzini; yima ogwini lomfula ukumhlangabeza; induku eyaphenduka inyoka woyiphatha ngesandla sakho. ₁₆Wothi kuye: ‘UJehova, uNkulunkulu wamaHeberu, ungithume kuwe, uthi: Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe bangikhonze ehlane; bheka, kuze kube manje awulalelanga. ₁₇UJehova usho kanje, uthi: Ngalokhu uyokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova: bheka, ngenduku esesandleni sami ngiyakushaya phezu kwamanzi asemfuleni, aphenduke igazi. ₁₈Izinhlanzi ezisemfuleni ziyakufa, umfula unuke; abaseGibithe bayakunengwa ngukuphuza amanzi emfuleni.’ ”

₁₉UJehova wathi kuMose: “Yisho ku-Aroni, uthi: ‘Thatha induku yakho, welule isandla sakho phezu kwamanzi aseGibithe, naphezu kwemifula, naphezu kweminonjana yabo, naphezu kweziziba, naphezu kwamachibi amanzi abo onke ukuba aphenduke igazi,’ kube khona igazi ezweni lonke laseGibithe ezitsheni zemithi nasezitsheni zamatshe.”

₂₀OMose no-Aroni base bekwenza-ke njengalokho uJehova ebayalile; waphakamisa induku, washaya amanzi asemfuleni emehlweni kaFaro nasemehlweni ezinceku zakhe; onke amanzi asemfuleni aphenduka igazi. ₂₁Izinhlanzi zasemfuleni zafa; umfula wanuka; abaseGibithe babengenakuphuza amanzi asemfuleni; igazi lalikhona ezweni lonke laseGibithe.

₂₂Izanusi zaseGibithe zenze njalo ngemilingo yazo, yaze yaba lukhuni inhliziyo kaFaro; kabalalelanga, njengalokho eshilo uJehova. ₂₃UFaro waphenduka wangena endlini yakhe, kayibekanga inhliziyo yakhe nakulokho. ₂₄AbaseGibithe bemba nxazonke zomfula ukuthola amanzi okuphuza, ngokuba babengenakuphuza amanzi asemfuleni. ₂₅Zaphelela izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, selokhu uJehova eshayile umfula.

₁UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Ngena kuFaro, uthi kuye: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe, bangikhonze. ₂Uma wenqaba ukuba basuke, bheka, mina ngiyakushaya izwe lakho lonke ngamasele; ₃umfula uyakuvama amasele; ayakukhuphuka, angene endlini yakho, nasekamelweni lakho lokulala, naphezu kombhede wakho, nasendlini yezinceku zakho, naphezu kwabantu bakho, nasemaziko akho, nasezingqwembeni zakho zokuxova izinkwa. ₄Yebo, kuwena, nakubantu bakho, nasezincekwini zakho zonke ayakwenyukela amasele.’ ”

₅UJehova wathi kuMose: “Yisho ku-Aroni, uthi: ‘Yelula isandla sakho nenduku yakho phezu kwemifula, naphezu kweminonjana, naphezu kweziziba, wenyusele ezweni laseGibithe.’ ”

₆U-Aroni wayeselula isandla sakhe phezu kwamanzi aseGibithe; amasele akhuphuka-ke, asibekela izwe laseGibithe. ₇Izanusi zenze njalo ngemilingo yazo, zenyusela amasele ezweni laseGibithe.

₈Khona uFaro wababiza oMose no-Aroni, wathi: “Ncengani uJehova ukuba asuse amasele kimi nakubantu bami; ngizakuvumela abantu ukuba bahambe, bahlabele uJehova.”

₉UMose wathi kuFaro: “Ziphakamise phezu kwami, usho ukuthi ngizakukuncengela ngasiphi isikhathi wena nezinceku zakho, nabantu bakho ukuba achithwe amasele kuwe nasezindlini zakho, asale emfuleni kuphela.”

₁₀Wayesethi: “Ngomuso.”

Wathi: “Makube njengezwi lakho ukuba wazi ukuthi akakho onjengaye uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu. ₁₁Amasele ayakusuka kuwe, nasezindlini zakho, nasezincekwini zakho, nakubantu bakho, asale emfuleni kuphela.”

₁₂OMose no-Aroni baphuma kuFaro; uMose wakhala kuJehova ngamasele ayewalethile kuFaro. ₁₃UJehova wenza njengezwi likaMose; amasele afa ezindlini, nasemagcekeni, nasemasimini. ₁₄Bawabuthela izinqwaba ngezinqwaba, izwe lanuka. ₁₅Esebona uFaro ukuthi kuyiphefu, wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe, kabalalelanga, njengalokho eshilo uJehova.

₁₆UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Yisho ku-Aroni, uthi: ‘Yelula induku yakho, ushaye uthuli lomhlabathi, lube ngomiyane ezweni lonke laseGibithe.’ ” ₁₇Benze njalo-ke; u-Aroni welula isandla sakhe nenduku yakhe, washaya uthuli lomhlabathi, lwaba ngomiyane kubantu nasezinkomeni; uthuli lonke lomhlabathi lwaba ngomiyane ezweni lonke laseGibithe. ₁₈Nezanusi zenze njalo ngemilingo yazo ukuba ziveze omiyane, kepha zahluleka. Omiyane babe khona kubantu nasezinkomeni.

₁₉Zase zithi izanusi kuFaro: “Lokhu kungumunwe kaNkulunkulu.” Kepha inhliziyo kaFaro yaba lukhuni, kabalalelanga, njengalokho eshilo uJehova.

₂₀UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Vuka ekuseni kusasa, ume phambi kukaFaro; bheka, uyaphuma ukuya emanzini; thana kuye: ‘UJehova usho kanje, uthi: Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe bangikhonze. ₂₁Ngokuba uma wenqaba ukuba basuke, bheka, ngizakuthumela kuwe izibawu, nakuzo izinceku zakho, nakubantu bakho, nasezindlini zakho; izindlu zabaseGibithe ziyakugcwala izibawu kanye nomhlabathi ezikuwo.

₂₂“ ‘Ngalolo suku ngiyakwahlukanisa izwe laseGosheni abakhe kulo abantu bami ukuba kungabikho izibawu khona, ukuze wazi ukuthi nginguJehova phakathi kwezwe. ₂₃Ngizakwahlukanisa abantu bami nabantu bakho; ngomuso siyakuvela lesi sibonakaliso.’ ”

₂₄Wenze njalo uJehova; kwangena uswebezane olwesabekayo lwezibawu endlini kaFaro, nasezindlini zezinceku zakhe, nasezweni lonke laseGibithe; izwe lachithwa ngenxa yezibawu.

₂₅Khona uFaro wababiza oMose no-Aroni, wathi: “Hambani nihlabele uNkulunkulu wenu kuleli zwe.”

₂₆Wayesethi uMose: “Akufanele ukwenze njalo, ngokuba siyakuhlabela uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu lokhu okunengeka kwabaseGibithe; bheka, singahlaba okunengeka kwabaseGibithe emehlweni abo, bangasikhandi ngamatshe, na? ₂₇Siyakuhamba ibanga lezinsuku ezintathu, siye ehlane, sihlabele uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, njengalokho ezakusiyala.”

₂₈Wayesethi uFaro: “Ngizakunivumela ukuba nihambe nihlabele uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ehlane, kepha ningayi kude kakhulu nokho; ngikhulekeleni.”

₂₉Wathi uMose: “Bheka, ngiyaphuma kuwe; ngiyakuncenga uJehova ukuba izibawu zimuke, zisuke kuFaro, nakuzo izinceku zakhe, nakubantu bakhe ngomuso; kodwa uFaro angabuyi akhohlise ngokungavumeli abantu ukuba bahambe bahlabele uJehova.”

₃₀UMose wayesephuma kuFaro, wamncenga uJehova. ₃₁UJehova wayesenza njengezwi likaMose; wasusa izibawu kuFaro, nakuzo izinceku zakhe, nakubantu bakhe; akwasala nesisodwa. ₃₂UFaro wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe nangaleso sikhathi futhi, kabavumelanga abantu ukuba bahambe.

₁UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Ngena kuFaro, umtshele ukuthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uNkulunkulu wamaHeberu, uthi: Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe, bangikhonze. ₂Ngokuba uma wenqaba ukuba bahambe usababambile, ₃bheka, isandla sikaJehova siyakuba phezu kwemfuyo yakho esendle, naphezu kwamahhashi, naphezu kwezimbongolo, naphezu kwamakamela, naphezu kwezinkomo, naphezu kwezimvu, silethe isifo esinzima kakhulu. ₄UJehova uyakwahlukanisa imfuyo yakwa-Israyeli nemfuyo yaseGibithe, kungafi lutho kukho konke okwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.’ ”

₅UJehova wanquma isikhathi, wathi: “Kusasa uJehova uzakwenza lokhu ezweni.” ₆Wakwenza-ke lokho uJehova ngangomuso; yafa yonke imfuyo yaseGibithe, kepha emfuyweni yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli akwafa neyodwa. ₇UFaro wathumela; bheka, emfuyweni yakwa-Israyeli akufanga neyodwa; kepha inhliziyo kaFaro yayilukhuni, kabavumelanga abantu ukuba bahambe.

₈UJehova wayesethi kuMose naku-Aroni: “Caphunani izinkweshe zomlotha waseziko uMose awusakazele ngasezulwini phambi kukaFaro. ₉Uyakuba yibhuqu ezweni lonke laseGibithe, uphenduke amathumba ayakuqhamuka nezilonda kubantu nasezinkomeni ezweni lonke laseGibithe.”

₁₀Base bethatha umlotha waseziko, bema phambi kukaFaro; uMose wawusakazela ngasezulwini, waphenduka amathumba aqhamuka nezilonda kubantu nasezinkomeni. ₁₁Izanusi zazingenakuma phambi kukaMose ngenxa yamathumba, ngokuba amathumba ayekhona kuzo izanusi nakubo bonke abaseGibithe. ₁₂UJehova wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo kaFaro, kabalalelanga, njengalokho uJehova eshilo kuMose.

₁₃UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Vuka ekuseni kusasa, ume phambi kukaFaro, uthi kuye: ‘UJehova, uNkulunkulu wamaHeberu, usho kanje, uthi: Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe, bangikhonze. ₁₄Ngokuba kulesi sikhathi ngizakuthuma zonke izinhlupho zami enhliziyweni yakho, nasezincekweni zakho, nakubantu bakho, ukuze wazi ukuthi akakho onjengami emhlabeni wonke. ₁₅Ngokuba ngase ngiselule isandla sami, ngakushaya wena nabantu bakho ngesifo, uze uchitheke emhlabeni, ₁₆kepha ngikumise ngalokhu ukuba ngikubonise amandla ami, igama lami lishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke. ₁₇Usabavimbela abantu bami, ungabavumeli ukuba bahambe, na? ₁₈Bheka, kusasa ngalesi sikhathi ngiyakuwisa isichotho esinzima kakhulu, esingazange sibe khona esingaka eGibithe, selokhu lakhiwa kuze kube manje. ₁₉Ngalokho thuma, ubuyise imfuyo yakho nakho konke onakho endle; bonke abantu nazo zonke izinkomo okuyakufunyanwa endle kungagoduswanga kuyakuwelelwa yisichotho, kufe.’ ”

₂₀Yena owalesaba izwi likaJehova phakathi kwezinceku zikaFaro wazenza izinceku zakhe nezinkomo zakhe ukuba zibalekele ezindlini. ₂₁Kepha onganakanga izwi likaJehova washiya izinceku zakhe nemfuyo yakhe endle.

₂₂Wayesethi uJehova kuMose: “Yelula isandla sakho ngasezulwini ukuba kuwe isichotho ezweni lonke laseGibithe, phezu kwabantu, naphezu kwazinkomo naphezu kwayo yonke imifino ezweni lonke laseGibithe.” ₂₃UMose wayeselula induku yakhe ngasezulwini; uJehova wathuma ukuduma nesichotho; nomlilo wehlela emhlabeni; uJehova wawisa isichotho phezu kwezwe laseGibithe. ₂₄Kwase kuwa isichotho nomlilo owanyazima njalo phakathi kwesichotho; kwakunzima kakhulu, okwakungazange kube khona ezweni laseGibithe okungangako, selokhu laba yisizwe. ₂₅Isichotho sashaya konke okwakusendle, abantu nezinkomo, ezweni lonke laseGibithe; isichotho sashaya yonke imifino yasendle, saphula yonke imithi yasendle. ₂₆Ezweni laseGosheni kuphela, lapho babe khona abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, kwakungawi sichotho.

₂₇UFaro wathuma wababiza oMose no-Aroni, wathi kubo: “Ngonile lesi sikhathi; uJehova ulungile, kepha mina nabantu bami sibabi. ₂₈Ncengani kuJehova, ngokuba sekwanele lokhu kuduma okungaka nesichotho; ngizakunivumela ukuba nihambe, ningabe nisahlala.”

₂₉Wayesethi uMose kuye: “Nxa sengiphumile emzini, ngizakwelula izandla zami kuJehova; kuyakunqamuka ukuduma, nesichotho asisayikuba khona, ukuze wazi ukuthi umhlaba ungokaJehova. ₃₀Kepha wena nezinceku zakho ngiyazi ukuthi anikamesabi uJehova uNkulunkulu.”

₃₁Kwashaywa ifilakisi* nebhali,* ngokuba ibhali lalikhahlele, nefilakisi laliqhakazile. ₃₂Kepha ukolweni nespelite* akushaywanga, ngokuba kwakungakakhuli.

₃₃UMose waphuma emzini kaFaro, welula izandla zakhe kuJehova; kwanqamuka-ke ukuduma nesichotho, alabe lisana emhlabeni. ₃₄UFaro esebonile ukuthi imvula nesichotho nokuduma sekunqamukile, wabuye wona, wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe, yena nezinceku zakhe. ₃₅Inhliziyo kaFaro yayilukhuni, kabavumelanga abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuba bahambe, njengalokho uJehova eshilo ngoMose.

₁UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Ngena kuFaro, ngokuba ngenze lukhuni inhliziyo yakhe nenhliziyo yezinceku zakhe ukuba ngizenze lezi zibonakaliso zami phakathi kwabo, ₂ukuze utshele indodana yakho ezindlebeni nendodana yendodana yakho lokho engikwenzele iGibithe, nezibonakaliso zami engizenzile phakathi kwabo, nize nazi ukuthi nginguJehova.”

₃OMose no-Aroni bangena-ke kuFaro, bathi kuye: “Usho kanje uJehova, uNkulunkulu wamaHeberu, uthi: ‘Koze kube nini wenqaba ukuzithoba phambi kwami na? Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe, bangikhonze. ₄Ngokuba uma wenqaba ukuba abantu bami bahambe, bheka, ngomuso ngizakuletha isikhonyane ezweni lakho. ₅Siyakusibekela ubuso bomhlaba, ukuze kungabe kusabonwa mhlabathi; siyakudla okuseleyo okusindile, enikushiyelwe yisichotho, sidle yonke imithi enimilelayo endle. ₆Izindlu zakho, nezindlu zezinceku zakho zonke, nezindlu zabo bonke abaseGibithe ziyakugcwaliswa yiso, abangazange basibone esinjalo oyihlo nawoyise bawoyihlo, selokhu bafika emhlabeni kuze kube namuhla.’ ” Waphenduka, waphuma kuFaro.

₇Kepha izinceku zikaFaro zathi kuye: “Lo muntu uzakuba lugibe kuze kube nini na? Bavumele abantu ukuba bahambe bakhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo. Awukwazi ukuthi iGibithe seliyashabalala na?”

₈OMose no-Aroni babuyiselwa kuFaro; wathi kubo: “Hambani nimkhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu; kepha ngobani abazakuhamba na?”

₉UMose wathi: “Siyakuhamba nabasha bethu, nabadala bethu, namadodana ethu, namadodakazi ethu, nezimvu zethu, nezinkomo zethu, ngokuba sinomkhosi kaJehova.”

₁₀Wayesethi kubo: “Makabe nani-ke uJehova, njengokuba ngizakunivumela ukuba nihambe nezingane zenu; bhekani, ngokuba okubi kuphambi kwenu. ₁₁Kungabi njalo; hambani nina madoda nimkhonze uJehova, ngokuba yikho enikufunayo.” Base bexoshwa ebusweni bukaFaro.

₁₂UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Yelula isandla sakho phezu kwezwe laseGibithe, kufike isikhonyane ukuba senyukele ezweni laseGibithe, sidle imifino yonke, konke okwashiywa yisichotho.”

₁₃UMose wayeselula induku yakhe phezu kwezwe laseGibithe; uJehova waletha umoya wasempumalanga ezweni ngalo lonke lolo suku nobusuku bonke; sekusile umoya wasempumalanga waletha isikhonyane. ₁₄Isikhonyane senyukela ezweni lonke laseGibithe, sahlala ezweni lonke laseGibithe, sasinzima kakhulu; ngaphambi kwaso kwakungazange kube khona isikhonyane esingangaso, nangasemva kwaso asisayikuba khona esingangaso. ₁₅Ngokuba sasibekela ubuso bonke bomhlaba, laze laba mnyama izwe. Sadla imifino yonke nezithelo zonke zemithi ezishiywe yisichotho; akwasala lutho oluluhlaza emithini nasemifinweni yasendle ezweni lonke laseGibithe.

₁₆Khona uFaro washesha wababiza oMose no-Aroni, wathi: “Ngonile kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nakinina. ₁₇Ngalokho ake nithethelele isono sami ngalesi sikhathi esisodwa nje, nincenge uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ukuba asuse kimi lokhu kufa kuphela.”

₁₈Waphuma kuFaro, wamncenga uJehova. ₁₉UJehova wayesewuphendula umoya waba ngowasentshonalanga onamandla amakhulu; wona wasusa isikhonyane, wasilahla eLwandle Olubomvu; akwasala sikhonyane nesisodwa ezweni lonke laseGibithe. ₂₀Kepha uJehova wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo kaFaro, kabavumelanga abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuba bahambe.

₂₁UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Yelula isandla sakho ngasezulwini ukuba kube khona ubumnyama ezweni laseGibithe obuphatheka ngesandla.” ₂₂UMose wayeseselula isandla sakhe ngasezulwini; kwaba khona isigayegaye esinzima ezweni lonke laseGibithe izinsuku ezintathu. ₂₃Ababonananga; akusukanga muntu endaweni yakhe izinsuku zaze zaba ntathu; kepha kubo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli kwakukhona ukukhanya emakhaya abo.

₂₄UFaro wambiza uMose, wathi: “Hambani nimkhonze uJehova, kusale kuphela izimvu zenu nezinkomo zenu; izingane zenu zingahamba nani.”

₂₅Wathi uMose: “Wonikela esandleni sethu imihlatshelo neminikelo yokushiswa, ukuze sihlabele uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu. ₂₆Imfuyo yethu nayo iyakuhamba nathi; akuyikusala nanselo, ngokuba siyakuthatha kuyo lokhu esiyakumkhonza ngakho uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu; asikwazi esiyakumkhonza ngakho uJehova, singakafiki khona.”

₂₇Kepha uJehova wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo kaFaro, kabavumelanga ukuba bahambe. ₂₈UFaro wathi kuye: “Suka kimi, uqaphele ukuba ungabuboni ubuso bami futhi; ngokuba mhla ubona ubuso bami, uyakufa.”

₂₉Wathi uMose: “Ukhulume kahle; angisayikubuye ngibone ubuso bakho.”

₁UJehova wayesethi kuMose: “Ngisezakuletha inhlupheko eyodwa kuFaro nakulo iGibithe; ngasemuva uyakunivumela ukuba nisuke lapha; yebo, nxa eniyeka ukuba nihambe, uzakunixosha nokunixosha lapha. ₂Khuluma manje ezindlebeni zabantu ukuba yilowo nalowo mlisa acele kumakhelwane wakhe, yilowo nalowo wesifazane acele kumakhelwane wakhe izinto zesiliva nezinto zegolide.” ₃UJehova wabapha abantu umusa emehlweni abaseGibithe. Futhi lowo muntu uMose wayemkhulu kakhulu ezweni laseGibithe emehlweni ezinceku zikaFaro nasemehlweni abantu.

₄UMose wathi: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Ngaphakathi kwamabili ngizakuphuma, ngiye phakathi kweGibithe; ₅amazibulo onke asezweni laseGibithe ayakufa, kusukela kulo izibulo likaFaro ohlala esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi kuze kube kulo izibulo lencekukazi engasetsheni lokugaya, kanye namazibulo onke ezinkomo. ₆Kuyakuba khona ukukhala okukhulu ezweni lonke laseGibithe, okungazange kube khona okungangako, okungasayikuba khona futhi okungangako. ₇Kepha kubo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli akuyikubakho nanja eyakugwavumela umuntu nenkomo,’ ukuze nazi ukuthi uJehova uyahlukanisa iGibithe no-Israyeli. ₈Zonke lezi zinceku zakho ziyakwehla, zifike kimi, zingikhothamele, zithi: ‘Phuma wena nabantu bonke abakulandelayo; emva kwalokho ngizakuphuma.’ ” Waphuma kuFaro evutha ulaka.

₉Wayesethi uJehova kuMose: “UFaro akayikukulalela ukuba izimangaliso zami zande ezweni laseGibithe.” ₁₀OMose no-Aroni bazenza zonke lezi zimangaliso ebusweni bukaFaro; uJehova wayenza lukhuni inhliziyo kaFaro, kabavumelanga abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ukuphuma ezweni lakhe.

₁UJehova wayesekhuluma kuMose naku-Aroni ezweni laseGibithe, ethi: ₂“Le nyanga iyakuba kini inhloko yezinyanga, ibe yinyanga yokuqala emnyakeni kini. ₃Khulumani kuyo inhlangano yonke yakwa-Israyeli, nithi: ‘Ngolweshumi lwale nyanga yilowo nalowo makazithathele iwundlu ngokwezindlu zawoyise, kube yiwundlu ngendlu; ₄uma abomuzi bengalaneli iwundlu, wolithatha nomakhelwane wakhe oseduze nomuzi wakhe njengenani labantu; kulelo nalelo wundlu anobala inani elithile njengokudla kwalowo nalowo muntu. ₅Iwundlu malingabi nasici, libe ngeleduna, libe nomnyaka munye, nilithathe ezimvini noma ezimbuzini; ₆niyakuligcina kuze kube sosukwini lweshumi nane lwaleyo nyanga; ibandla lonke lenhlangano yakwa-Israyeli liyakulihlaba ngakusihlwa. ₇Bazakuthabatha igazi, balibhece ezinsikeni zombili zomnyango nasekhothameni lomnyango ezindlini abayakulidlela kuzo. ₈Bazakuyidla inyama ngalobo busuku, yosiwe ngomlilo; bayakuyidla kanye nesinkwa esingenamvubelo nemifino ebabayo. ₉Ningalidli liseluhlaza, noma liphekwe nokuphekwa ngamanzi, kepha losiwe ngomlilo, ikhanda lalo kanye nemilenze yalo nezibilini zalo. ₁₀Ningashiyi lutho kuze kube sekuseni; kepha okusele kulo kuze kube sekuseni nizakukushisa ngomlilo. ₁₁Niyakulidla kanje: izinkalo zenu ziboshiwe, izicathulo zenu zisezinyaweni zenu, nezindondolo zenu zisezandleni zenu; niyakulidla ngokushesha; kuyiphasika likaJehova.

₁₂“ ‘Ngokuba ngiyakudabula izwe laseGibithe ngalobo busuku, ngibulale onke amazibulo ezweni laseGibithe, abantu nezinkomo, ngenze izahlulelo kuzo zonke izithixo zaseGibithe; nginguJehova. ₁₃Igazi liyakuba luphawu lwenu ezindlini lapho nikhona; nanxa ngibona igazi, ngiyakudlula kini, ningehlelwa yisifo sokunibhubhisa, lapho ngibulala izwe laseGibithe.

₁₄“ ‘Lolo suku luyakuba yisikhumbuzo kini, nilugcine lube ngumkhosi kaJehova; anolugcina izizukulwane ngezizukulwane ngokomthetho waphakade. ₁₅Izinsuku eziyisikhombisa niyakudla isinkwa esingenamvubelo; yebo, ngosuku lokuqala noyikhipha imvubelo ezindlini zenu, ngokuba bonke abadla okuvutshelweyo, kusukela osukwini lokuqala kuze kufike usuku lwesikhombisa, labo bantu bayakunqunywa kwa-Israyeli. ₁₆Ngosuku lokuqala niyakuba nomhlangano ongcwele, nangosuku lwesikhombisa nibe nomhlangano ongcwele; kungasetshenzwa ngazo, kuphela okudliwa ngabantu bonke; lokhu kodwa makwenziwe yinina.

₁₇“ ‘Niyakugcina umkhosi wesinkwa esingenamvubelo, ngokuba ngalona lolo suku ngikhiphile amabandla enu ezweni laseGibithe; ngalokho anogcina lolu suku ezizukulwaneni zenu zonke ngokomthetho waphakade. ₁₈Ngenyanga yokuqala ngosuku lweshumi nane ngakusihlwa niyakudla isinkwa esingenamvubelo, kuze kufike usuku lwamashumi amabili nanye lwenyanga ngakusihlwa. ₁₉Izinsuku eziyisikhombisa akuyikutholakala mvubelo ezindlini zenu, ngokuba yilowo nalowo odlayo okuvutshelweyo yena uyakunqunywa ebandleni lakwa-Israyeli, noma engumfokazi noma engowokuzalwa ezweni. ₂₀Ningadli lutho oluvutshelweyo; ezindlini zenu zonke anodla isinkwa esingenamvubelo.’ ”

₂₁UMose wayesebiza amalunga akwa-Israyeli, wathi kuwo: “Hambani nizithathele amawundlu ngokwemindeni yenu, nihlabe iphasika. ₂₂Nothatha isithungu sehisopi,* nisicwilise egazini elisemcengezini, nibhece ikhothamo nezinsika zombili zomnyango ngegazi elisemcengezini; akuyikuphuma muntu emnyango waleyo ndlu kuze kube sekuseni. ₂₃Ngokuba uJehova uyakudabula ukuyoshaya abaseGibithe; nanxa ebona igazi elisekhothameni nasezinsikeni zombili, uJehova uyakudlula kulowo mnyango, angamvumeli umbhubhisi ukuba angene ezindlini zenu ukuyobulala.

₂₄“Niyakugcina le nto ibe ngumthetho kuwena nakuwo amadodana akho kuze kube phakade. ₂₅Kuyakuthi lapho senifike ezweni uJehova azakuninika lona njengesithembiso sakhe, niyakugcina inkonzo yakhe. ₂₆Kuyakuthi nxa abantwana benu besho kini, bethi: ‘Iyini le nkonzo kini na?’ ₂₇nithi: ‘Kungumhlatshelo wephasika likaJehova owadlula kuzo izindlu zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli mhla ebulala abaseGibithe, ezophula izindlu zethu.’ ” Abantu bakhothama, bakhuleka. ₂₈Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli basuka, benze njalo; njengalokho uJehova ebayalile oMose no-Aroni, benze njalo-ke.

₂₉Kwathi phakathi kwamabili uJehova wabulala onke amazibulo ezweni laseGibithe, kusukela kulo izibulo likaFaro owayehlala esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi kuze kube kulo izibulo lesiboshwa esasisetilongweni, kanye namazibulo onke ezinkomo. ₃₀UFaro wavuka ebusuku, yena nezinceku zakhe zonke, nabo bonke abaseGibithe; kwaba khona ukukhala okukhulu eGibithe, ngokuba kwakungekhondlu, lapho kungafanga muntu khona.

₃₁Wababiza oMose no-Aroni ebusuku, wathi: “Vukani niphume kubantu bami, nina nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nihambe niyokhonza uJehova, njengalokho nishilo. ₃₂Thathani izimvu zenu nezinkomo zenu, njengalokho nishilo, nihambe, ningibusise nami.”

₃₃AbaseGibithe babebacindezela abantu ukuba babakhiphe ezweni ngokushesha, ngokuba bathi: “Thina sonke sifile.” ₃₄Abantu base bethatha inhlama yabo ingakavutshelwa, nezingqwembe zabo zokuxova isinkwa, ziboshwe ezingutsheni zabo emahlombe abo. ₃₅Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza-ke njengezwi likaMose; bacela kwabaseGibithe izinto zesiliva, nezinto zegolide, nezingubo. ₃₆UJehova wabenzela abantu umusa emehlweni abaseGibithe, babapha lokho abakucelayo. Babaphundla abaseGibithe.

₃₇Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli basuka eRamesesi, bafika eSukoti, kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu ayisithupha behamba phansi, bengamadoda ngaphandle kwabantwana. ₃₈Kwenyuka nabo ingxubevange yabantu, nezimvu, nezinkomo, imfuyo eningi kakhulu. ₃₉Ngenhlama abaphuma nayo eGibithe benza amaqebelengwane angenamvubelo, ngokuba yayingavutshelwe, lokhu baxoshwa eGibithe bengenakulibala, futhi bengazilungiselanga mphako.

₄₀Ukuhlala kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli abakuhlalayo eGibithe kwakuyiminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu. ₄₁Kwathi ekupheleni kweminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu, kwathi ngalona lolo suku, amabandla onke kaJehova aphuma ezweni laseGibithe. ₄₂Kungubusuku obuzakugcinelwa uJehova ngokubakhipha kwakhe ezweni laseGibithe, ngubusuku bukaJehova obuzakugcinwa yibo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ezizukulwaneni zabo.

₄₃UJehova wayesethi kuMose naku-Aroni: “Lokhu kungumthetho wephasika: owezizwe makangalidli; ₄₄kepha zonke izigqila ezithengwa ngumuntu ngemali mazilidle, uma zisokiwe. ₄₅Izihambi noqashiweyo mabangalidli.

₄₆“Liyakudliwa endlini inye; ungaphumisi lutho lwenyama ngaphandle kwendlu; ningaphuli thambo lalo. ₄₇Ibandla lonke lakwa-Israyeli liyakukugcina lokhu.

₄₈“Nxa umfokazi ogogobeleyo kuwe ezakumgcinela uJehova iphasika, mabasoke bonke abesilisa bakhe, asondele aligcine, abe njengowokuzalwa ezweni; kepha malingadliwa muntu ongasokiwe. ₄₉Mawube munye umthetho kowokuzalwa ekhaya nakumfokazi ogogobeleyo phakathi kwenu.”

₅₀Benza kanjalo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli; njengalokho ebayalile oMose no-Aroni, benze njalo-ke. ₅₁Kwathi ngalona lolo suku uJehova wakhipha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ezweni laseGibithe ngamabandla abo.

₁UJehova wakhuluma kuMose, wathi: ₂“Ngahlukanisele onke amazibulo, konke okuvula isizalo phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, kubantu nasezinkomeni; kungokwami.”

₃UMose wayesethi kubantu: “Khumbulani lolu suku eniphume ngalo eGibithe, indlu yobugqila, ngokuba ngesandla esinamandla uJehova unikhiphile kule ndawo: akuyikudliwa sinkwa esivutshelweyo. ₄Namuhla niyaphuma, ngenyanga ka-Abibi. ₅Kuyakuthi nxa uJehova ekungenisile ezweni lamaKhanani, nelamaHeti, nelama-Amori, nelamaHivi, nelamaJebusi alifungela koyihlo ukukunika lona, izwe elivama ubisi nezinyosi, uyakugcina le nkonzo kule nyanga. ₆Izinsuku eziyisikhombisa uyakudla isinkwa esingenamvubelo, ngolwesikhombisa kube khona umkhosi kaJehova. ₇Isinkwa esingenamvubelo siyakudliwa izinsuku eziyisikhombisa; akuyikubonakala sinkwa esivutshelweyo kuwe, kungabonwa namvubelo ezweni lakho lonke. ₈Uzakutshela indodana yakho ngalolo suku, uthi: ‘Kungenxa yalokho uJehova angenzela khona ekuphumeni kwami eGibithe.’ ₉Kuyakuba luphawu kuwe esandleni sakho, kube yisikhumbuzo phakathi kwamehlo akho, ukuze umthetho kaJehova ube semlonyeni wakho, ngokuba ngesandla esinamandla uJehova wakukhipha eGibithe. ₁₀Ngakho uyakuwugcina lo mthetho ngesikhathi sawo iminyaka ngeminyaka.

₁₁“Kuyakuthi lapho uJehova esezakukungenisa ezweni lamaKhanani, njengalokho wafunga kuwe nakoyihlo, akuphe lona, ₁₂wodlulisela kuJehova konke okuvula isizalo nawo onke amazibulo ezinkomo onawo; amaduna onke azakuba ngakaJehova. ₁₃Onke amazibulo ezimbongolo wowahlenga ngewundlu; uma ungawahlengi, wowaphula intamo; amazibulo onke abantu kumadodana akho wowahlenga.

₁₄“Kuyakuthi lapho indodana yakho ikubuza ngesikhathi esizayo, ithi: ‘Kuyini lokhu?’ wothi kuyo: ‘Ngesandla esinamandla uJehova wasikhipha eGibithe, indlu yobugqila. ₁₅Kwathi uFaro evuma kalukhuni ukuba sihambe, uJehova wabulala amazibulo onke asezweni laseGibithe, amazibulo abantu namazibulo ezinkomo; ngalokho ngiyahlabela uJehova konke okuvula isizalo okungamaduna; kepha onke amazibulo amadodana ami ngiyawahlenga.’ ₁₆Kuyakuba luphawu esandleni sakho nesikhumbuzo phakathi kwamehlo akho, ngokuba ngesandla esinamandla uJehova wasikhipha eGibithe.”

₁₇Kwathi uFaro esebavumele abantu ukuba bahambe, uNkulunkulu akabaholanga ngendlela yasezweni lamaFilisti, noma kwakuyiyona eseduze; ngokuba uNkulunkulu wathi: “Funa mhlawumbe abantu bazisole, nxa bebona impi, babuyele eGibithe.” ₁₈Kepha uNkulunkulu wabagwegwisa abantu ngendlela yasehlane ngaseLwandle Olubomvu; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhuphuka ezweni laseGibithe behlomile.

₁₉UMose wathatha amathambo kaJosefa, wahamba nawo, ngokuba wayebafungisile nokubafungisa abakwa-Israyeli, ethi: “Impela uNkulunkulu uyakunihambela nokunihambela, nikhuphule lapha amathambo ami kanye nani.”

₂₀Basuka eSukoti; baya bamisa e-Etamu eceleni kwehlane. ₂₁UJehova wahamba phambi kwabo emini ngensika yefu eyobahola endleleni, nasebusuku ngensika yomlilo eyobakhanyisela ukuba bahambe imini nobusuku. ₂₂Insika yefu emini nensika yomlilo ebusuku ayisukanga ebusweni babantu.