Joshuwa

4 Ngokushesha nje lapho sonke isizwe sesiqedile ukuwela iJordani, uJehova wathi kuJoshuwa: 2 “Thatha amadoda angu-12 kubantu, indoda eyodwa esizweni ngasinye, + 3 uwayale, uthi: ‘Thathani amatshe angu-12 maphakathi neJordani, lapho kumi khona abapristi, + niwathwale niwele nawo niwabeke endaweni enizobe nilele kuyo ebusuku.’” +

4 Ngakho uJoshuwa wabiza amadoda angu-12 ayewamisile ayethathwe kuma-Israyeli, indoda eyodwa esizweni ngasinye, 5 uJoshuwa wathi kuwo: “Hambani phambi koMphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu niye maphakathi neJordani, ngamunye wenu afike aqukule itshe alitshathe ehlombe, ngokuvumelana nenani lezizwe zakwa-Israyeli, 6 ukuze la matshe abe uphawu phakathi kwenu. Uma kwenzeka izingane* zenu zinibuza esikhathini esizayo, zithi, ‘Awani la matshe?’ + 7 kumele nithi kuzo: ‘La matshe ayisikhumbuzo esiyohlala njalo kuma-Israyeli, + ngenxa yokuthi amanzi omfula iJordani anqamuka phambi komphongolo + wesivumelwano sikaJehova lapho uwela iJordani.’”

8 Ngakho ama-Israyeli enza njengoba nje uJoshuwa ayewayalile. Athatha amatshe angu-12 maphakathi neJordani, njengoba nje uJehova ayeyale uJoshuwa, ngokuvumelana nenani lezizwe zakwa-Israyeli. Awathatha aya nawo endaweni ayezolala kuyo awabeka khona.

9 UJoshuwa wabeka amanye amatshe angu-12 phakathi eJordani endaweni okwakumi kuyo abapristi ababethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano, + lawo matshe aselapho kuze kube namuhla.

10 Abapristi ababethwele uMphongolo baqhubeka bemi maphakathi neJordani kwaze kwaba yilapho sekwenziwe konke uJehova ayeyale uJoshuwa ukuba akutshele abantu, ngokuvumelana nakho konke uMose ayekuyale uJoshuwa. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, abantu baphuthuma bawela. 11 Ngokushesha nje lapho bonke abantu sebeqedile ukuwela, abapristi nabo bawela bethwele uMphongolo kaJehova, bebukwa yiwo wonke umuntu. + 12 AbakwaRubeni, abakwaGadi nohhafu wesizwe sakwaManase bawela behlomele impi + behamba phambi kwamanye ama-Israyeli, njengoba nje uMose ayebayalile. + 13 Amasosha angaba ngu-40 000 ahlomele impi awelela emathafeni awugwadule aseJeriko futhi uJehova wayenawo.

14 Ngalolo suku uJehova wamenza waba mkhulu uJoshuwa emehlweni awo wonke ama-Israyeli, + futhi amhlonipha kakhulu* zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe, njengoba nje ayemhlonipha kakhulu noMose. +

15 UJehova wabe esethi kuJoshuwa: 16 “Yala abapristi abathwele umphongolo + wobuFakazi ukuba baphume eJordani.” 17 Ngakho uJoshuwa wayala abapristi, wathi: “Phumani eJordani.” 18 Lapho abapristi ababethwele umphongolo + wesivumelwano sikaJehova besuka maphakathi neJordani bephuma futhi izinyawo zabapristi zinyathela emhlabathini owomile, amanzi eJordani abuyela endaweni yawo, agcwala + njengasekuqaleni.

19 Abantu basuka eJordani ngosuku lweshumi lwenyanga yokuqala bamisa amatende eGiligali + emngceleni weJeriko ongasempumalanga.

20 UJoshuwa wawabeka eGiligali amatshe angu-12 ababewathathe eJordani. + 21 Wabe esethi kuma-Israyeli: “Lapho izingane zenu zibuza oyise esikhathini esizayo, zithi, ‘Awani la matshe?’ + 22 kumele nizichazele izingane zenu, nithi: ‘Ama-Israyeli awela iJordani emhlabathini owomile + 23 ngesikhathi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu omisa amanzi eJordani phambi kwawo kwaze kwaba yilapho eseliwelile, njengoba nje uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu enza oLwandle Olubomvu lapho elomisa phambi kwethu kwaze kwaba yilapho sesiluwelile. + 24 Lokhu wakwenza ukuze zonke izizwe zomhlaba zazi ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sinamandla + kangakanani nokuba nimesabe njalo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.’”