Jos 4 | NdeIBE | STEP | Kwathi isizwe sonke sesiqede ukuchapha uJodani, uJehova wathi kuJoshuwa,

Joshua 4

1 Kwathi isizwe sonke sesiqede ukuchapha uJodani, uJehova wathi kuJoshuwa,

2 “Khetha amadoda alitshumi lambili phakathi kwabantu, yileyo imele isizwana sako-Israyeli,

3 ubusubatshela ukuthi bathathe amatshe alitshumi lambili phakathi laphakathi kweJodani kusukela lapho okwakumi khona abaphristi beseliwathwala liwabeke endaweni elizalala kuyo lamhla ebusuku.”

4 Ngakho-ke uJoshuwa wabiza amadoda alitshumi lambili ayewakhethe phakathi kwabako-Israyeli, eyodwa esizwaneni.

5 Wasesithi kuwo, “Hambani phambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu liye phakathi laphakathi kweJodani. Omunye lomunye wenu kumele athwale ilitshe ehlombe lakhe, kusiya ngenani lezizwana zako-Israyeli,

6 ukuze kube luphawu phakathi kwenu. Kwelakusasa uma abantwana belibuza besithi, ‘Kanti amatshe la atshoni?’ 7 Batsheleni ukuthi ukugeleza kweJodani kwamiswa phambi kweBhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova. Kwathi lapho ibhokisi lichapha iJodani, amanzi omfula uJodani ehlukaniswa. Amatshe la azakuba yisukhumbuzo ebantwini bako-Israyeli nini lanini.”

8 Ngakho-ke abako-Israyeli benza njengokulaya kuka Joshuwa. Bathatha amatshe alitshumi lambili phakathi laphakathi kweJodani, kusiya ngenani lezizwana zako-Israyeli, njengokulaywa kukaJoshuwa nguJehova; basebewathwalela ezihonqweni zabo lapho abafika bawabeka phansi.

9 UJoshuwa wamisa amatshe alitshumi lambili ayekade ephakathi laphakathi kweJodani, endaweni lapho abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano ababefike bema khona njalo lokhu ekhonapho kuze kube lamhlanje.

10 Abaphristi ababethwele ibhokisi baqhubeka bemi phakathi kweJodani abantu baze benza konke uJehova akulaya uJoshuwa, njengokuqondiswa kukaJoshuwa nguMosi. Abantu bedlula ngokuphangisa 11 njalo bathi bonke sebechaphile, ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova labaphristi beza kwelinye icele abantu bekhangele. 12 Amadoda akoRubheni, akoGadi lengxenye yesizwana sakoManase achapha ehlomile phambi kwabako-Israyeli njengokuqondisa kukaMosi. 13 Abantu abaphose bafike kunkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane ababehlomele impi bachapha phambi kukaJehova besiya emagcekeni eJerikho ukuyakulwa impi.

14 Ngalelolanga uJehova waphakamisa uJoshuwa emehlweni abo bonke abako-Israyeli; njalo bamhlonipha okwempilo yakhe yonke, njengoba babehloniphe uMosi.

15 UJehova wathi kuJoshuwa, 16 “Laya abaphristi abathwele ibhokisi loBufakazi bakhuphuke baphume eJodani.”

17 Ngakho uJoshuwa walaya abaphristi esithi, “Phumani phakathi kweJodani.”

18 Abaphristi baphuma emfuleni bethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova. Bonela ukunyathela umhlabathi owomileyo amanzi eJodani abuyela endaweni yawo ageleza okomfula ogcweleyo njengakuqala.

19 Ngelanga letshumi enyangeni yokuqala abantu basuka eJodani bayamisa izihonqo eGiligali emngceleni ongempumalanga yeJerikho. 20 UJoshuwa wamisa amatshe alitshumi ayethethwe phakathi kweJodani eGiligali. 21 Wakhuluma kwabako-Israyeli wathi, “Kwelakusasa uma izizukulwana zenu zingabuza oyise zisithi, ‘Amatshe la atshoni?’

22 batsheleni ukuthi ‘Abako-Israyeli bachapha uJodani emhlabathini owomileyo!’ 23 Ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu womisa uJodani phambi kwenu laze lachapha. UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wenza kuJodani lokho akwenza eLwandle Olubomvu aze alomise phambi kwethu saze sachapha sonke. 24 Wenza lokhu ukuze abantu bonke bomhlaba bakwazi ukuthi isandla sikaJehova silamandla lokuthi lihlale limesaba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.