Judges 1

U-Israyeli Ulwa Lensalela yamaKhenani

1Emva kokufa kukaJoshuwa, abako-Israyeli babuza uJehova bathi, “Pho ngubani ozahamba kuqala ukuba ayesilwela lamaKhenani na?”

2UJehova waphendula wathi, “NguJuda ozahamba; ilizwe sengilinikele ezandleni zabo.”

3Lapho-ke abantu bakoJuda bathi kumaSimeyoni abafowabo, “Hambani lathi elizweni esalabelwayo, ukuyakulwa lamaKhenani. Lathi sizakwenanisa ngokuhamba lani kwelenu.” Ngakho amaSimeyoni ahamba labo.

4Kwathi uJuda esehlasela, uJehova wanikela amaKhenani lamaPherizi ezandleni zabo wabulala abantu abayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi eBhezekhi. 5Kukhonapho lapho abafica khona u-Adoni-Bhezekhi balwa laye, baqothula amaKhenani kanye lamaPherizi. 6UAdoni-Bhezekhi wabaleka, kodwa baxotshana laye baze bambamba, bamquma izithupha zakhe lamazwane amakhulu.

7U-Adoni-Bhezekhi wasesithi, “Amakhosi angamatshumi ayisikhombisa ayequnywe izithupha zawo lamazwane amakhulu ayedobha imvuthuluka ngaphansi kwetafula yami. Khathesi uNkulunkulu usephindisele kimi ngalokho engakwenza kuwo.” Bamusa eJerusalema lapho afela khona.

8Abantu bakoJuda bahlasela leJerusalema bayithumba. Bahlasela idolobho ngezinkemba balithungela ngomlilo.

9Emva kwalokho abantu bakoJuda bahamba bayakulwa lamaKhenani ayehlala elizweni lezintaba, iNegebi kanye lamawatha ezintaba angasentshonalanga. 10Baqhubeka bayahlasela amaKhenani ayehlala eHebhroni (kuqala eyayithiwa yiKhiriyathi Aribha) banqoba uSheshayi, lo-Ahimani kanye loThalimayi.

11Besuka lapho baqhubeka bayahlasela abantu ababehlala eDebhiri (kuqala eyayithiwa yiKhiriyathi Seferi). 12UKhalebi wasesithi, “Indodakazi yami u-Akhisa ngizayendisela endodeni ezahlasela iKhiriyathi Seferi iyithumbe. 13U-Othiniyeli, indodana kaKhenazi, umnawakhe kaKhalebi, wayithumba; ngakho uKhalebi wendisela indodakazi yakhe u-Akhisa kuye.

14Kwathi ngelinye ilanga u-Akhisa efike ku-Othiniyeli wamtshutshisa ukuba acele insimu kuyise. Esehlile kubabhemi wakhe uKhalebi wambuza wathi, “Kuyini ofuna ngikwenzele khona na?”

15Yena waphendula wathi, “Ake ungenzele umusa othize. Njengoba usungiphe umhlaba eNegebi, ngipha lemithombo yamanzi.” Laphoke uKhalebi wamnika imithombo engaphezulu lengaphansi.

16Abayinzalo kayisezala kaMosi, amaKheni, bahamba labantu bakoJuda besuka edolobheni laMalala besiyahlala phakathi kwabantu basenkangala yakoJuda eNegebi eduze le-Aradi.

17Emva kwalokho abantu bakoJuda bahamba lamaSimeyoni abafowabo bahlasela amaKhenani ayehlala eZefathi, kwathi idolobho balichitha okupheleleyo. Ngakho lathiwa yiHorima. 18Abantu bakoJuda bathumba njalo iGaza, le-Ashikheloni kanye le-Ekhroni – lelo lalelodolobho kanye lelizwe lalo.

19UJehova wayelabantu bakoJuda. Bathumba ilizwe lezintaba, kodwa babenganelisi ukuxotsha abantu basemagcekeni ngoba babelezinqola zempi zensimbi. 20Njengokuthembisa kukaMosi, iHebhroni yaphiwa uKhalebi, owaxotsha kuyo amadodana amathathu ka-Anakhi. 21Kodwa abakoBhenjamini behluleka ukususa amaJebusi ayehlala eJerusalema; lalamhlanje amaJebusi ahlala khona labakoBhenjamini.

22Ngalesosikhathi abendlu kaJosefa bahlasela iBhetheli, njalo uJehova wayelabo.

23Ekuthumeni kwabo abantu ukuba bayehlola iBhetheli (kuqala eyayithiwa yiLuzi), 24izinhloli zabona umuntu ephuma edolobheni zasezisithi kuye, “Sitshengise ukuthi singangena njani edolobheni, thina-ke sizabona ukuthi uphatheka kuhle.” 25Ngakho wazitshengisa, zasezihlasela idolobho ngenkemba kodwa umuntu lowo zamyekela kanye labendlu yakhe bonke.

26Ngakho-ke waya elizweni lamaHithi, lapho akha khona idolobho alibiza ngokuthi yiLuzi, okuyilona bizo lalo lalamhlanje.

27Kodwa uManase kabaxotshanga abantu baseBhethi Shani loba eThahanakhi kumbe eDori loba e-Ibhiliyami kumbe eMegido kanye lasemizaneni yabo eseduzane, ngoba amaKhenani ayezimisele ukuhlala kulelolizwe.

28Kwathi abako-Israyeli sebelamandla bawabamba ngamandla amaKhenani ukuba abasebenzele kodwa kabazange bawaxotshe wonke. 29Labako-Efrayimi kabawaxotshanga amaKhenani ayehlala eGezeri, kodwa amaKhenani aqhubeka ehlala khona labo.

30LabakoZebhuluni kabawaxotshanga amaKhenani ayehlala eKhithironi kanye laseNahaloli, asala ephakathi kwabo; kodwa bawabamba ngamandla ukuba abasebenzele.

31Labako-Asheri kababaxotshanga labo ababehlala e-Akho, kumbe eSidoni, kumbe e-Ahilabi loba e-Akhizibi kumbe eHelibha loba e-Afeki kumbe eRehobi, 32njalo ngenxa yalokhu abantu baka-Asheri bahlala lamaKhenani aye akhe elizweni. 33LabakoNafthali kababaxotshanga labo ababehlala eBhethi Shemeshi kumbe eBhethi Anathi; kodwa abakoNafthali labo bahlala lamaKhenani aye akhe elizweni, kwathi lawo ayehlala eBhethi Shemeshi kanye leBhethi Anathi abanjwa ngamandla ukuba abe yizisebenzi zabo. 34Ama-Amori acindezela abakoDani ukuba bahlale elizweni lezintaba, engabavumeli ukuba behlele phansi emagcekeni. 35Njalo ama-Amori ayezimisele ukuhlala kokuphela eNtabeni iHeresi, le-Ayijaloni kanye leShahalibhimi, kodwa kwathi amandla abendlu kaJosefa esemakhulu, lawo abanjwa ngamandla ukuba abe yizisebenzi. 36Umngcele wama-Amori wawusekela eKhalweni lweNkume usiya eSela kanye laphambili.