To The Word – Day 66

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.

₁U-Abimeleki indodana kaJerubali* waya kubafowabo bakanina, wakhuluma kubo nomndeni wonke wendlu kayise kanina, wathi: ₂“Ake nikhulume ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu baseShekemi, nithi: ‘Yikuphi okuhle kini ukuba onke amadodana kaJerubali* angabantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa anibuse nokuba nibuswe ngumuntu munye na?’ Khumbulani ukuthi mina ngiyithambo lenu nenyama yenu.”

₃Abafowabo bakanina base bekhuluma ngaye ezindlebeni zabo bonke abantu baseShekemi onke lawo mazwi; izinhliziyo zabo zathanda ukumlandela u-Abimeleki, ngokuba bathi: “Ungumfowethu.” ₄Bamnika amashekeli* angamashumi ayisikhombisa esiliva endlini kaBali Beriti, u-Abimeleki aqasha ngawo izidenga namayiyane, bamlandela. ₅Waya endlini kayise e-Ofira, wabulala abafowabo, amadodana kaJerubali,* abantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa etsheni linye, kepha kwasala uJothamu indodana encinyane kaJerubali, ngokuba wacasha. ₆Bonke abantu baseShekemi bahlangana nabo bonke abaseBeti Milo, baya bambeka u-Abimeleki inkosi ngase-okini* letshe lesikhumbuzo elaliseShekemi.

₇Lapho kubikwa lokho kuJothamu, waya wema esiqongweni sentaba yaseGerizimu, waphakamisa izwi lakhe, wamemeza, wathi kubo: “Ngilaleleni nina bantu baseShekemi ukuba uNkulunkulu anilalele nina. ₈Imithi yake yaya ukuzigcobela inkosi, yathi kuwo umnqumo: ‘Yiba yinkosi yethu.’

₉“Kepha umnqumo wathi kuyo: ‘Ngiyakuwayeka yini amafutha ami abadunyiswa ngawo onkulunkulu nabantu, ngiye ngintengantenge phezu kwemithi, na?’

₁₀“Imithi yayisithi kuwo umkhiwane: ‘Woza wena, ube yinkosi yethu.’

₁₁“Kepha umkhiwane wathi kuyo: ‘Ngiyakubuyeka yini ubumnandi bami nezithelo zami ezinhle, ngiye ngintengantenge phezu kwemithi, na?’

₁₂“Yayisithi imithi kuwo umvini: ‘Woza wena, ube yinkosi yethu.’

₁₃“Umvini wathi kuyo: ‘Ngiyakuliyeka yini iwayini lami elithokozisa onkulunkulu nabantu, ngiye ngintengantenge phezu kwemithi, na?’

₁₄“Yonke imithi yayisithi kuso isihlahla somkhaya: ‘Woza wena, ube yinkosi yethu.’

₁₅“Isihlahla somkhaya sathi kuyo imithi: ‘Uma ningigcoba impela ngibe yinkosi yenu, wozani niphephele emthunzini wami; uma kungenjalo, makuphume umlilo kuso isihlahla somkhaya, uqede imisedari* yaseLebanoni.’

₁₆“Ngalokho uma nenzile ngeqiniso nangobuqotho lapho nimbeka u-Abimeleki inkosi, uma nimphathile kahle uJerubali* nendlu yakhe, nenza kuye njengokufanele izandla zakhe ₁₇ngokuba ubaba wanilwela wazidela, wanophula esandleni sabakwaMidiyani; ₁₈kepha niyivukele namuhla indlu kababa, nibulele amadodana akhe, abantu abangamashumi ayisikhombisa etsheni linye, nimbekile u-Abimeleki indodana yesigqilakazi sakhe inkosi yabaseShekemi ngokuba engumfowenu; ₁₉uma nimphathile kahle uJerubali* nendlu yakhe namuhla, thokozani ngo-Abimeleki, naye athokoze ngani; ₂₀kepha uma kungenjalo, makuphume umlilo ku-Abimeleki, uqede abantu baseShekemi neBeti Milo, umlilo uphume nakubantu baseShekemi naseBeti Milo, umqede u-Abimeleki.”

₂₁UJothamu wayesebaleka, weqa, waya eBeri, wahlala khona ngenxa ka-Abimeleki umfowabo.

₂₂U-Abimeleki wayeyisikhulu phezu kuka-Israyeli iminyaka emithathu. ₂₃UNkulunkulu wathuma umoya omubi phakathi kuka-Abimeleki nabantu baseShekemi; abaseShekemi bambhumbuluza u-Abimeleki ₂₄ukuba ubudlova obenziwe kuwo amadodana angamashumi ayisikhombisa kaJerubali* bufike, negazi labo libekwe phezu kuka-Abimeleki umfowabo owababulala, naphezu kwabaseShekemi abaqinisa izandla zakhe ukuba abulale abafowabo. ₂₅AbaseShekemi bambekela abaqamekeli eziqongweni zezintaba, baphanga bonke ababedlula kubo ngaleyo ndlela; kwabikwa ku-Abimeleki.

₂₆Kwafika uGali indodana ka-Ebedi nabafowabo, waya eShekemi; abaseShekemi bamethemba. ₂₇Baya endle, bavuna izivini zabo, banyathela imivini, bagubha umkhosi, bangena endlini kankulunkulu wabo, badla, baphuza, bamqalekisa u-Abimeleki. ₂₈UGali indodana ka-Ebedi wathi: “Ngubani u-Abimeleki, ngubani uShekemi, ukuba simkhonze, na? Akasiyo indodana kaJerubali,* noZebule yinduna yakhe na? Khonzani abantu bakaHamori uyise kaShekemi. Thina siyakumkhonzelani yena na? ₂₉Sengathi laba bantu nga besesandleni sami; bengiyakumsusa u-Abimeleki.” Wathi ku-Abimeleki: “Yandisa impi yakho, uphume.”

₃₀Lapha uZebule umphathi womuzi ezwa amazwi kaGali indodana ka-Ebedi, kwavutha ulaka lwakhe. ₃₁Wathuma izithunywa ku-Abimeleki ngobuqili, wathi: “Bheka, uGali indodana ka-Ebedi nabafowabo bafikile eShekemi; bheka, bakuvusela umuzi. ₃₂Ngalokho vukani ebusuku, wena nabantu abanawe, niqamekele endle; ₃₃kuyakuthi ekuseni lisaphuma ilanga, uvuke, uhlasele umuzi; bheka, lapho yena nabantu abanye bephuma ukuba balwe nawe, wenze kubo njengokubona kwakho.”

₃₄U-Abimeleki nabo bonke abantu ababenaye basuka ebusuku, baqamekela iShekemi ngezigaba ezine. ₃₅UGali indodana ka-Ebedi waphuma, wema esikhaleni sesango lomuzi; u-Abimeleki wayeseqhamuka nabantu ababenaye ekuqamekeleni.

₃₆Lapho uGali ebona abantu, wathi kuZebule: “Bheka, kwehla abantu eziqongweni zezintaba.”

UZebule wathi kuye: “Uyabona amathunzi ezintaba kungathi ngabantu.”

₃₇UGali wabuye wakhuluma, wathi: “Bheka, kwehla abantu eNkabeni yezwe, esinye isigaba sifika ngendlela ye-oki* lokuhlola imihlola.”

₃₈UZebule wayesethi kuye: “Uphi manje umlomo wakho ukuba uthi: ‘Ngubani u-Abimeleki ukuba simkhonze na?’ Akusibo labo bantu obadeleleyo na? Ake uphume manje, ulwe nabo.”

₃₉UGali waphuma phambi kwabantu baseShekemi, walwa no-Abimeleki. ₄₀U-Abimeleki wamxosha, wabaleka phambi kwakhe, kwawa abaningi bekhutshaziwe kwaze kwaba sesikhaleni sesango. ₄₁U-Abimeleki wahlala e-Aruma; uZebule wamxosha uGali nabafowabo ukuba bangahlali eShekemi.

₄₂Kwathi ngangomuso abantu baya endle, bamtshela u-Abimeleki. ₄₃Wathatha abantu, wabahlukanisela izigaba ezintathu, waqamekela endle; wabheka, nampa abantu bephuma emzini; wabavukela, wababulala. ₄₄U-Abimeleki nezigaba ezazinaye zadumela, zema esikhaleni sesango lomuzi; izigaba zombili zadumela bonke abasendle, zababulala. ₄₅U-Abimeleki walwa nomuzi lonke lolo suku; wawuthatha umuzi, wabulala abantu ababekuwo, wawubhidliza umuzi, wahlwanyela usawoti kuwo.

₄₆Lapho bezwa lokho bonke abasembhoshongweni waseShekemi, bangena enqabeni yendlu yase-Eli Beriti. ₄₇Kwabikwa ku-Abimeleki ukuthi bonke abasembhoshongweni waseShekemi babehlangene ndawonye. ₄₈U-Abimeleki wenyukela entabeni yaseSalimoni, yena nabantu bonke ababenaye; u-Abimeleki wathatha izembe ngesandla, wagawula igatsha emithini, walithatha, walibeka ehlombe, wathi kubantu ababenaye: “Lokho eningibone ngikwenza, sheshani nikwenze njengami.” ₄₉Bonke abantu bagawula, kwaba yilowo nalowo igatsha lakhe kanjalo, bamlandela u-Abimeleki, bawabeka enqabeni, bayithungela inqaba ngomlilo phezu kwabo; bafa bonke abantu abasembhoshongweni waseShekemi, kungathi abayinkulungwane, abesilisa nabesifazane.

₅₀U-Abimeleki wayeseya eThebesi, wamisa malungana neThebesi, walithatha. ₅₁Kepha phakathi komuzi wawukhona umbhoshongo oqinileyo; babalekela khona bonke abesilisa nabesifazane, nabo bonke abomuzi, bazivalela phakathi, benyukela ophahleni lombhoshongo. ₅₂U-Abimeleki wafika embhoshongweni, walwa nawo, wasondela emnyango wombhoshongo ukuba awushise ngomlilo. ₅₃Owesifazane othile waphonsa imbokodwe ekhanda lika-Abimeleki, wachimiza ikhanda lakhe.

₅₄Wayeseshesha ebiza udibi olwaluphethe izikhali zakhe, wathi kulo: “Hosha inkemba yakho, ungibulale ukuba abantu bangasho ngami ukuthi: ‘Wabulawa ngowesifazane.’ ” Udibi lwakhe lwase lumgwaza, wafa. ₅₅Kwathi abantu bakwa-Israyeli bebonile ukuthi u-Abimeleki ufile, bamuka baya, kwaba yilowo nalowo endaweni yakhe.

₅₆Kanjalo uNkulunkulu wabuyisela ububi buka-Abimeleki abebenzile kuyise ngokubulala abafowabo abangamashumi ayisikhombisa. ₅₇UNkulunkulu wabuyisela bonke ububi babantu baseShekemi emakhanda abo, behlelwa yisiqalekiso sikaJothamu indodana kaJerubali.*

₁Emva kuka-Abimeleki kwavela uThola indodana kaPhuwa kaDodo, umuntu wakwa-Isakare, ukuba asindise u-Israyeli; wayehlala eShamiri ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi. ₂Wamahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka engamashumi amabili nantathu, wafa, wembelwa eShamiri.

₃Emva kwakhe kwavela uJayire wakwaGileyadi, wamahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka engamashumi amabili nambili. ₄Wayenamadodana angamashumi amathathu agibela amathole ezimbongolo angamashumi amathathu; ayenemizi engamashumi amathathu ethiwa iHavoti Jayire kuze kube namuhla, esezweni lakwaGileyadi. ₅UJayire wafa, wembelwa eKhamoni.

₆Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuye benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, babakhonza oBali, no-Ashitaroti, nawonkulunkulu base-Aramu, nawonkulunkulu baseSidoni, nawonkulunkulu bakwaMowabi, nawonkulunkulu babantwana bakwa-Amoni, nawonkulunkulu bamaFilisti, bamshiya uJehova, kabamkhonza. ₇Intukuthelo kaJehova yamvuthela u-Israyeli, wathengisa ngabo esandleni samaFilisti nasesandleni sabantwana bakwa-Amoni. ₈Bakhathaza, bacindezela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ngalowo mnyaka; iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili babacindezela bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababengaphesheya kweJordani ezweni lama-Amori elikwaGileyadi. ₉Abantwana bakwa-Amoni bawela iJordani ukuba balwe noJuda noBenjamini nendlu yakwa-Efrayimi; u-Israyeli wantula kakhulu. ₁₀Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhala kuJehova, bathi: “Sonile kuwe, ngokuba simshiyile uNkulunkulu wethu, sakhonza oBali.”

₁₁UJehova wathi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli: “Anginisindisanga yini kubo abaseGibithe, nakuwo ama-Amori, nakubo abantwana bakwa-Amoni, nakuwo amaFilisti, na? ₁₂Nacindezelwa ngamaSidoni, nama-Amaleki, namaMahoni, nakhala kimi, nganisindisa esandleni sawo. ₁₃Nokho ningishiyile, nakhonza abanye onkulunkulu; ngalokho angisayikunisindisa. ₁₄Hambani nikhale konkulunkulu enibakhethileyo; mabanisindise ngesikhathi sosizi lwenu.”

₁₅Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuJehova: “Sonile; yenza kithi okuthandayo; kepha ake usophule kuphela namuhla.” ₁₆Base besusa onkulunkulu babezizwe phakathi kwabo, bamkhonza uJehova; umphefumulo wakhe wakhathazeka ngokuhlupheka kwabakwa-Israyeli.

₁₇Kwabuthwa abantwana bakwa-Amoni, bamisa kwaGileyadi. Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babuthana, bamisa eMispa. ₁₈Abantu, izikhulu zakwaGileyadi, bathi omunye komunye: “Ngumuphi umuntu oyakuqala ukulwa nabantwana bakwa-Amoni na? Yena uyakuba yinhloko yabo bonke abakhe kwaGileyadi.”