Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yesi-6—UJoshuwa
Umlobi: UJoshuwa
Yalotshelwa: EKhanani
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-1450 B.C.E.
Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 1473–cishe ku-1450 B.C.E.
1. Yisiphi isimo amaIsrayeli ayebhekene naso ngo-1473 B.C.E.?
UNYAKA u-1473 B.C.E. Izenzakalo zingeziphawuleka kakhulu futhi zivusa amadlingozi. AmaIsrayeli, ekanise emaThafeni akwaMowabi, alungele ukungena kwawo eKhanani, iZwe Lesithembiso. Leyondawo ngaphesheya kweJordani inemibuso eminingi emincane, ngamunye unamabutho awo angasese. Ihlukene phakathi futhi yenziwa buthaka ngenxa yeminyaka eminingi yokubusa okonakele kwaseGibithe. Nokho, esizweni sakwaIsrayeli, ukuphikiswa kuyesabeka. Imizi eminingi enezindonga eziqinile, enjengeJeriko, iAyi, iHasori, neLakishi, kumelwe ithathwe uma izwe lizonqotshwa. Isikhathi esinzima sisengaphambili. Izimpi ezingujuqu kumelwe zilwiwe futhi zinqotshwe, uJehova ngokwakhe engenela ngezimangaliso ezinamandla ngenxa yabantu bakhe, ukuze afeze isithembiso sakhe sokubahlalisa ezweni. Ngokungangabazeki, lezizehlakalo ezivusa usinga, eziphawuleka kangaka ekusebenzelaneni kukaJehova nabantu bakhe, kuzodingeka zibhalwe, futhi lokho kwenziwe ufakazi wokuzibonela. Iyiphi indoda engcono engaba khona ukuba yenze lokhu ngaphandle kukaJoshuwa ngokwakhe, lowo omiswe uJehova njengomlandeli kaMose esikhundleni!—Num. 27:15-23.
2. Kungani ukukhethwa kukaJoshuwa, kokubili ukuba abe umholi nombhali, kufaneleka?
2 Ukukhethwa kukaJoshuwa, kokubili njengomholi nanjengombhali wezehlakalo ezizokwenzeka, kufaneleka kakhulu. Uye waba umngane oseduze kakhulu kaMose kuyo yonke iminyaka engu-40 edlule ehlane. Uye waba “yisikhonzi sikaMose kusukela ebuncaneni bakhe,” okubonisa ukuthi uyafaneleka ukuba umholi ongokomoya kanye nowempi. (Num. 11:28, NW; Eks. 24:13; 33:11; Josh. 1:1) Ngo-1513 B.C.E., unyaka uIsrayeli ahamba ngawo eGibithe, wayeyinduna yamabutho akwaIsrayeli ekunqotshweni kwama-Amaleki. (Eks. 17:9-14) Njengomngane oqotho kaMose nomqondisi wempi onesibindi, wavele wakhethwa ukuba amelele isizwe sakwaEfrayimi lapho kukhethwa indoda eyodwa esizweni ngasinye ngenjongo yokuthunywa okuyingozi kokuyohlola iKhanani. Isibindi sakhe nokwethembeka kulokho kwaqinisekisa ukungena kwakhe eZweni Lesithembiso. (Num. 13:8; 14:6-9, 30, 38) Yebo, lendoda uJoshuwa, indodana kaNuni, ‘ingumuntu onomoya,’ indoda ‘eyalandela uJehova ngokupheleleyo,’ indoda ‘egcwele umoya wokuhlakanipha.’ Akumangalisi ukuthi “uIsrayeli wamkhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa.”—Num. 27:18; 32:12; Dut. 34:9; Josh. 24:31.
3. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJoshuwa wayeyinceku engokoqobo kaJehova, kanye nombhali wencwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe?
3 Ngenxa yokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe, ukuqeqeshwa, nezimfanelo ezivivinyiwe njengomkhulekeli weqiniso kaJehova, uJoshuwa ngempela wayesesimweni sokusetshenziswa njengomunye wababhali ‘bemiBhalo ephefumlelwe uNkulunkulu.’ UJoshuwa akayena nje umuntu wasenganekwaneni kodwa uyinceku engokoqobo kaJehova. Ubizwa ngegama emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki. (IzE. 7:45; Heb. 4:8) Kunengqondo ukuthi njengoba nje uMose asetshenziswa ukuba abhale ngokuphathelene nezehlakalo zesikhathi sokuphila kwakhe, kanjalo nomlandeli wakhe esikhundleni, uJoshuwa, wayezosetshenziswa ukuba abhale phansi izehlakalo ayezibone ngawakhe. Ukuthi lencwadi yabhalwa othile owazibona izehlakalo kuboniswa uJoshuwa 6:25. Isiko lamaJuda linikeza uJoshuwa udumo njengomlobi wayo, futhi lencwadi ngokwayo ithi: “UJoshuwa waloba lawomazwi encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu.”—Josh. 24:26.
4. Ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaJoshuwa kuye kwaboniswa kanjani kokubili ngokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho nangobufakazi bababhali beBhayibheli bakamuva?
4 Ngesikhathi sokubhujiswa kweJeriko, uJoshuwa wabeka isiqalekiso esingokwesiprofetho ekwakhiweni kabusha komuzi, esaba nokugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo ezinsukwini zika-Ahabi inkosi yakwaIsrayeli, eminyakeni engu-500 kamuva. (Josh. 6:26; 1 AmaKh. 16:33, 34) Ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaJoshuwa kuboniswa ngokuqhubekayo ukubhekisela okuningi abalobi beBhayibheli bakamuva abakwenza ezehlakalweni ezibhalwe kuyo. Ngokuphindaphindiwe, abahubi babhekisela kuzo (IHu. 44:1-3; 78:54, 55; 105:42-45; 135:10-12; 136:17-22), njengoba noNehemiya enza (Neh. 9:22-25), uIsaya (Isaya 28:21), umphostoli uPawulu (IzE. 13:19; Heb. 11:30, 31), nomfundi uJakobe (Jak. 2:25).
5. (a) Iyiphi inkathi ehlanganiswe yincwadi kaJoshuwa? (b) Kungani igama elithi Joshuwa lifaneleka?
5 Incwadi kaJoshuwa ihlanganisa isikhathi seminyaka engaphezu kwengu-20, kusukela ekungeneni eKhanani ngo-1473 B.C.E., kuya cishe ku-1450 B.C.E., okungunyaka ngokunokwenzeka uJoshuwa afa ngawo. Lona kanye igama elithi Joshuwa (ngesiHeberu, Yehoh·shuʹaʽ)elisho ukuthi “UJehova Uyinsindiso,” lifaneleka kakhulu uma kubhekwa indima kaJoshuwa njengomholi obonakalayo kwaIsrayeli phakathi nokunqotshwa kwezwe. Wanikeza uJehova lonke udumo njengoMkhululi. KuyiSeptuagint lencwadi ibizwa ngokuthi I·e·sousʹ (igama lesiGreki lelithi Yehoh·shuʹaʽ), futhi kuleligama kuye kwavela igama elithi Jesu. Ezimfanelweni zakhe ezinhle zesibindi, ukulalela, nobuqotho, uJoshuwa ngempela wayewumfuziselo omuhle kakhulu ongokwesiprofetho ‘weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.’—Roma 5:1.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAJOSHUWA
6. Ihlukene izingxenye ezingaki incwadi kaJoshuwa?
6 Lencwadi ihlukene izigaba ezine: (1) ukuwelela eZweni Lesithembiso, (2) ukunqotshwa kweKhanani, (3) ukwabiwa kwezwe, (4) nokunxusa kukaJoshuwa kokuvalelisa. Yonke indaba ilandiswe ngokucacile futhi igcwele izehlakalo ezivusa amadlingozi.
7. Yisiphi isikhuthazo neseluleko uJehova asinika uJoshuwa?
7 Ukuwelela eZweni Lesithembiso (1:1–5:12). Azi ngovivinyo olungaphambili, uJehova unikeza uJoshuwa isiqinisekiso neseluleko esinengqondo zisuka nje: “Qina kuphela, ume isibindi kakhulu . . . Lencwadi yomthetho mayingasuki emlonyeni wakho, kepha wozindla ngayo imini nobusuku ukuba uqaphele ukwenza njengakho konke okulotshwé kuyo, ngokuba lapho uyakuhlahlamelisa indlela yakho, uphumelele kahle. Angikuyalile na? Qina, ume isibindi . . . ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona.” (1:7-9) UJoshuwa unikeza uJehova udumo njengoMholi wangempela noMqondisi futhi ngokushesha uqala ukulungiselela ukuwela iJordani njengoba eyaliwe. AmaIsrayeli amamukela njengolandela uMose esikhundleni, futhi athembisa ukwethembeka. Khona-ke, kuqhutshekelwa phambili ekunqobeni iKhanani!
8. (a) URahabi ulubonisa kanjani ukholo? (b) UJehova uzibonisa kanjani ‘enguNkulunkulu’ phakathi kukaIsrayeli?
8 Amadoda amabili athunywa ukuba ayohlola iJeriko. URahabi isifebe ubamba ithuba lokubonisa ukholo lwakhe kuJehova ngokucashisa izinhloli ebeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini. Nezinhloli nazo, zifunga ukuthi uyosindiswa lapho iJeriko libhujiswa. Izinhloli zibuyela emuva nombiko wokuthi zonke izakhamuzi zezwe zinovalo ngenxa yamaIsrayeli. Njengoba umbiko umuhle, uJoshuwa ngokushesha uya eMfuleni iJordani, njengamanje ongenisayo. Manje uJehova unikeza ubufakazi obuqinile bokuthi uyamsekela uJoshuwa nokuthi, njengasesikhathini sikaMose, “uNkulunkulu ophilayo” uphakathi kukaIsrayeli. (3:10) Njengoba abapristi abathwele umphongolo wesivumelwano bengena eJordani, amanzi avela ngenhla ayama, evumela amaIsrayeli ukuba ahambe emhlabathini owomile. UJoshuwa uthatha amatshe angu-12 phakathi nomfula njengesikhumbuzo futhi ubeka amanye amatshe angu-12 emfuleni, lapho abapristi bemi khona, ngemva kwalokho abapristi bayawela futhi amanzi ayabuyela aba izikhukhula.
9. Kwenzekani ngokulandelayo eGiligali?
9 Lapho sebengaphesheya, abantu bakanisa eGiligali, phakathi kweJordani neJeriko, futhi lapha uJoshuwa ubeka amatshe esikhumbuzo njengobufakazi ezizukulwaneni ezizayo ‘nokuba abantu bonke bomhlaba bazi isandla sikaJehova ukuthi sinamandla, nesabe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kuze kube-phakade.’ (4:24) (UJoshuwa 10:15 ubonisa ukuthi ngemva kwalokho kungenzeka ukuthi iGiligali lasetshenziswa njengendawo yokukanisa isikhathi esithile.) Yilapha lapho amadodana akwaIsrayeli esokwa khona, njengoba kwakungazange kube khona ukusoka phakathi nohambo lwasehlane. Kugujwa iPhasika, imana liyaphela, futhi ekugcineni amaIsrayeli aqala ukudla umkhiqizo wezwe.
10. UJehova umyala kanjani uJoshuwa ngokuphathelene nokuthathwa kweJeriko, futhi kulandela siphi isenzakalo esiphawulekayo?
10 Ukunqotshwa kweKhanani (5:13–12:24). Manje umgomo wokuqala useduze kakhulu. Kodwa bazowuthatha kanjani lomuzi waseJeriko obiyelweyo ‘onamasango avaliwe’? (6:1) UJehova ngokwakhe unikeza imininingwane yokuzokwenziwa, ethuma ‘isikhulu sebandla likaJehova’ ukuba siyale uJoshuwa. (5:14) Kanye ngosuku izinsuku eziyisithupha, amabutho kaIsrayeli kumelwe amashe azungeze umuzi, amadoda empi ehamba phambili, alandelwe abapristi abashaya izimpondo zezinqama nabanye abathwele umphongolo wesivumelwano. Ngosuku lwesikhombisa, kumelwe bazungeze kasikhombisa. UJoshuwa ngokwethembeka uphindaphinda leziyalo kubantu. Njengoba nje eyaliwe, amabutho amasha azungeze iJeriko. Akukho-zwi elikhulunywayo. Akukho-msindo ngaphandle komsindo wezinyawo nokukhala kwamacilongo ashaywa abapristi. Khona-ke, ngosuku lokugcina, ngemva kokuqedwa komjikelezo wesikhombisa, uJoshuwa wenza uphawu lokuba bamemeze. Bayamemeza, ‘ukukhamuluka okukhulu,’ futhi izindonga zaseJeriko ziyawa! (6:20) Njengokungathi umuntu oyedwa, bagijimela emzini, bayawuthatha, futhi bawubhubhisa ngomlilo. URahabi othembekile kuphela nomkhaya wakubo abasindayo.
11. Ukunqotshwa kokuqala eAyi kulungiswa kanjani?
11 Khona-ke baqhubekela ngasentshonalanga baya eAyi! Ukuqiniseka ngokunye ukunqoba okulula kuba ukudumala, njengoba amadoda aseAyi exosha amasosha amaIsrayeli angu-3 000, athunyelwe ukuba athathe umuzi. Kwenzekeni? Ingabe uJehova ubalahlile? UJoshuwa ngokukhathazeka ubuza uJehova. Ephendula uJehova wembula ukuthi ngokuphambene nomyalo wakhe wokubhubhisa yonke into eJeriko, othile ekamu akalalelanga, entshontsha okuthile futhi ekufihla. Lokhu kungcola kumelwe kususwe ekamu ngaphambi kokuba uIsrayeli aqhubeke echuma ngesibusiso sikaJehova. Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwaphezulu, uAkani, umenzi wobubi, uyatholakala, futhi yena nendlu yakhe bakhandwa ngamatshe baze bafe. Njengoba umusa kaJehova usubuyiselwe, amaIsrayeli manje ahlasela iAyi. UJehova uyaphinda futhi ngokwakhe wembula isu elizosetshenziswa. Amadoda aseAyi ayengelwa ukuba aphume emzini wawo obiyelwe futhi azithola ebhajwe phakathi kwalabo abawaqamekele. Umuzi uyathathwa futhi ubhujiswa nabo bonke abahlala kuwo. (8:26-28) Akukho ukuzwelana nesitha!
12. Yimuphi umyalo waphezulu uJoshuwa awugcinayo?
12 Ngokulalela umyalo kaJehova awusho ngoMose, ngokulandelayo uJoshuwa wakha ialtare eNtabeni iEbali futhi kulo ubhala “impinda yomthetho.” (8:32) Khona-ke ufunda amazwi oMthetho, kanye nesibusiso nesiqalekiso, enhlanganweni yesizwe sonke njengoba simi, ngokwengxenye phambi kweNtaba iGerizimu nangokwengxenye phambi kweNtaba iEbali.—Dut. 11:29; 27:1-13.
13. Uba yini umphumela wokwenza kwabaseGibeyoni ‘ngobuqili’?
13 Ishaqiswe ukuhlasela okusheshayo, imibuso emincane eminingi yaseKhanani iyahlangana emzamweni wokuvimbela ukuhlasela kukaJoshuwa. Nokho, lapho ‘abakhileyo eGibeyoni bezwa lokho uJoshuwa akwenzile kulo iJeriko neAyi, benza ngobuqili.’ (Josh. 9:3, 4) Bezenza abantu abavela ezweni elikude neKhanani, bangena esivumelwaneni noJoshuwa “ukuba baphile.” Lapho ubuqili butholakala, amaIsrayeli ayasihlonipha isivumelwano kodwa enza abantu baseGibeyoni babe “abagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi,” ‘njengezigqila zezigqila,’ ngaleyondlela begcwalisa ngokwengxenye isiqalekiso esiphefumlelwe sikaNowa asisho kuKhanani, indodana kaHamu.—Josh. 9:15, 27; Gen. 9:25.
14. UJehova ubonisa kanjani eGibeyoni ukuthi ulwela uIsrayeli?
14 Lokhu kuzinikela kwabantu baseGibeyoni akuyona into encane, ngoba “iGibeyoni lalingumuzi omkhulu . . . lalilikhulu kuneAyi, onke amadoda alo engamaqhawe.” (Josh. 10:2) UAdoni-Sedeki, inkosi yaseJerusalema, kulokhu ubona usongo kuye ngokwakhe nakweminye imibuso yaseKhanani. Kumelwe kwenziwe isibonelo ukuze kuvinjelwe ukuzihlanganisa okuqhubekayo nesitha. Ngakho uAdoni-Sedeki namanye amakhosi amane (lawo emibuso yemizi yaseHebroni, eJarimuthi, eLakishi, nase-Egiloni) ayahlela futhi alwa neGibeyoni. Ehlonipha isivumelwano sakhe nabaseGibeyoni, uJoshuwa uhamba ubusuku bonke eyobasiza futhi uxosha amabutho amakhosi amahlanu. UJehova uyaphinda futhi uyangenela empini, esebenzisa amandla angaphezu kwawomuntu nezibonakaliso, okwaba nemiphumela ebhubhisayo. Isichotho esinamandla sehla sivela ezulwini, sibulala abaningi kakhulu besitha kunababulewe ngezinkemba zempi yamaIsrayeli. Khona-ke futhi, isimanga sezimanga, ‘ilanga liyama emazulwini futhi alisheshi ukushona kungathi usuku lonke.’ (10:13) Ngaleyondlela, imisebenzi yokubhubhisa iyakwazi ukuqedwa. Abahlakaniphele izinto zezwe bangase bazame ukuphikisa lesehlakalo esiyisimangaliso, kodwa amadoda okholo ayawuvuma umlando waphezulu, ewaqaphela kahle amandla kaJehova okulawula amandla endawo yonke nokuwaqondisa ngokwentando yakhe. Ngempela, “uJehova wamlwela uIsrayeli.”—10:14.
15. Chaza indlela yokuhlasela nomvuthwandaba wakho eHasori.
15 Ngemva kokubulala amakhosi amahlanu, uJoshuwa ubhubhisa iMakheda. Edlulela ngokushesha eningizimu, ubhubhisa ngokuphelele iLibina, iLakishi, iEgiloni, iHebroni, neDebiri—imizi esemagqumeni phakathi koLwandle Lukasawoti noLwandle Olukhulu. Njengamanje izindaba zokuhlasela sezisakazeke kulo lonke elaseKhanani. Enhla enyakatho, icilongo lishaywa uJabini, inkosi yaseHasori. Kuzo zonke izindawo, ezingxenyeni ezimbili zeJordani, ubiza imbizo yokuba kuhlanganwe ukuze kulwiwe namaIsrayeli. Njengoba ekanisa ngasemfuleni waseMerome, ngaphansi kweNtaba iHermoni, amabutho ahlangene esitha ‘maningi ngangesihlabathi esisogwini lolwandle.’ (11:4) UJehova uyaphinda futhi uqinisekisa uJoshuwa ngokunqoba futhi achaze isu lempi. Uba yini umphumela? Okunye ukuhlulwa okubhubhisayo kwezitha zabantu bakaJehova! IHasori ishiswa ngomlilo, futhi imizi engumakhelwane wayo namakhosi ayo kuyabhujiswa. Ngaleyondlela uJoshuwa wenabisela indawo yombuso wamaIsrayeli kulo lonke elaseKhanani. Sekunqotshwe amakhosi angamashumi amathathu nanye.
16. Yikuphi ukwabiwa kwezwe okwenziwayo?
16 Ukwaba izwe (13:1–22:34). Naphezu kwalokhu kunqoba okuningi, nemizi eminingi ebiyelwe eyinhloko ibhujisiwe futhi amabutho ahleliwe eqediwe okwesikhashana, “kusasele izwe elikhulu kakhulu eliyakudliwa.” (13:1) Nokho, uJoshuwa manje usezohlanganisa iminyaka engu-80 ubudala, futhi kusenomunye umsebenzi omkhulu okusamelwe awenze—lowo wokwaba izwe njengefa lezizwe eziyisishiyagalolunye eziphelele nengxenye yesizwe sakwaManase. URubeni, uGadi, nengxenye yesizwe sakwaManase sebelitholile kakade ifa lezwe labo ngasempumalanga yeJordani, futhi isizwe sakwaLevi ngeke sithole lutho, njengoba “uJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli” eyifa labo. (13:33) Ngosizo lukaEleyazare umpristi, uJoshuwa manje waba izwe elingasentshonalanga yeJordani. UKalebi oneminyaka engu-85 ubudala, efisa ukulwa nezitha zikaJehova kuze kube sekugcineni, ucela ukuba abelwe esifundeni saseHebroni esasigcwele ama-Anaki futhi uyasithola. (14:12-15) Ngemva kokuba izizwe sezithole ifa lazo ngenkatho, uJoshuwa ucela umuzi waseThimnati-Sera ezintabeni zakwaEfrayimi, futhi uyawuthola “ngesiyalezo sikaJehova.” (19:50) Itende lokuhlangana limiswa eShilo, okuyindawo futhi esezintabeni zakwaEfrayimi.
17. Yiliphi ilungiselelo elenziwayo ngemizi yesiphephelo nemizi yokuhlala amaLevi?
17 Imizi eyisithupha yesiphephelo kumbulali ongahlosile ibekwa eceleni, nganeno nangaphesheya kweJordani kubekwa emithathu. Leyo esentshonalanga yeJordani iKedeshi eseGalile, iShekemi ekwaEfrayimi, neHebroni esezweni elisezintabeni zakwaJuda. Leyo esempumalanga iBezeri esendaweni yakwaRubeni, iRamoti eGileyadi, neGolani eBashani. Lena ‘bayayingcwelisa.’ (20:7) Imizi engamashumi amane nesishiyagalombili namadlelo ayo yabiwa ngenkatho njengemizi yokuhlala amaLevi. Lena ihlanganisa imizi eyisithupha yesiphephelo. Ngaleyondlela abakwaIsrayeli “balidla [izwe], bakha kulo.” Njengoba uJehova ayethembisile, kanjalo “kwenziwa konke.”—21:43, 45.
18. Iyiphi ingxabano eba khona phakathi kwezizwe ezisempumalanga nezisentshonalanga, kodwa ixazululwa kanjani?
18 Amadoda empi asezizweni zakwaRubeni nakwaGadi nasengxenyeni yesizwe sakwaManase, aye ahamba noJoshuwa kuze kube yilesikhathi, manje abuyela ezabelweni zefa lawo ngaphesheya kweJordani, ephethe ukunxusa kukaJoshuwa kokwethembeka nesibusiso sakhe. Endleleni, njengoba esondela eJordani, amisa ialtare elikhulu. Lokhu kwenza isiphithiphithi. Njengoba indawo emisiwe yokukhulekelwa kukaJehova isetendeni lokuhlangana eShilo, izizwe ezisentshonalanga zesaba ukuvukela nokungathembeki, futhi zilungiselela ukulwa nalabo ezicabanga ukuthi bayizihlubuki. Nokho, ukuchitheka kwegazi kuyagwenywa lapho kuchazwa ukuthi ialtare alenzelwe iminikelo kodwa kuphela ukuba libe “ngufakazi phakathi kwethu [uIsrayeli ongasempumalanga nongasentshonalanga yeJordani] ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu.”—22:34.
19, 20. (a) Yikuphi ukunxusa kokuvalelisa uJoshuwa akwenzayo? (b) Iyiphi impikiswano ayibeka phambi kukaIsrayeli, futhi ukugcizelela kanjani ukukhetha okuqondile uIsrayeli okumelwe akwenze?
19 Ukunxusa kukaJoshuwa kokuvalelisa (23:1–24:33). ‘Futhi kuyenzeka ezinsukwini eziningi ngemva kokuba uJehova esenikeze uIsrayeli impumuzo kuzo zonke izitha ezimzungezile, uJoshuwa esemdala sezimhambele nezinsuku,’ ukuthi abizele ndawonye wonke uIsrayeli ukuze enze ukunxusa kokuvalelisa. (23:1) Ezithoba kuze kube sekugcineni, unikeza uJehova lonke udumo ngokunqoba okukhulu ezizweni. Bonke manje mabaqhubeke bethembekile! “Yimani kakhulu isibindi ukugcina nokwenza konke okulotshiwe encwadini yomthetho kaMose, ukuze ningachezuki kukho ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo.” (23:6) Kumelwe bagweme onkulunkulu bamanga futhi ‘baqaphele njalo ukuba bamthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo.’ (23:11) Akumelwe kube khona ubudlelwane namaKhanani asasele, kungabi khona zivumelwano zokuganiselana noma zokuxutshwa kwezinkolo, ngoba lokhu kuyokwehlisa ulaka oluvuthayo lukaJehova.
20 Njengoba ehlanganisa zonke izizwe eziseShekemi futhi ebiza izikhulu ezingabameleli bazo phambi kukaJehova, uJoshuwa ube eselandisa ukulandisa kukaJehova ngokwakhe kokusebenzelana kwaKhe nabantu baKhe kusukela esikhathini abiza ngaso uAbrahama futhi wamletha eKhanani kuze kube sekunqotshweni nasekuthathweni kweZwe Lesithembiso. UJoshuwa uphinda futhi axwayise ngenkolo yamanga, enxusa uIsrayeli ukuba ‘esabe uJehova futhi amkhonze ngobuqotho nangeqiniso.’ Yebo, ‘akhonze uJehova’! Khona-ke impikiswano uyibeka ngendlela ekhanya bhá: “Khethani namuhla ukuthi ngubani eniyakumkhonza, noma onkulunkulu ababakhonzayo oyihlo . . . noma onkulunkulu bama-Amori enihlala ezweni lawo; kepha mina nendlu yami siyakumkhonza uJehova.” Ngokuqiniseka okufana nokukaMose, ukhumbuza uIsrayeli ukuthi uJehova “unguNkulunkulu ongcwele; unguNkulunkulu onomhawu.” Ngakho, kumelwe bayeke onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe! Khona-ke abantu bashukunyiselwa ukuba basho njengokungathi umuntu oyedwa: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu siyakumkhonza, sililalele izwi lakhe.” (24:14, 15, 19, 24) Ngaphambi kokubatshela ukuba bahambe, uJoshuwa wenza isivumelwano nabo, ubhala lamazwi encwadini yomthetho kaNkulunkulu, futhi umisa itshe elikhulu njengofakazi. Khona-ke uJoshuwa uyafa esemdala eneminyaka engu-110 futhi ungcwatshwa eThimnati-Sera.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
21. Yikuphi ukuyala okuhlakaniphile encwadini kaJoshuwa okuzuzisa ngokuphawulekayo namuhla?
21 Njengoba ufunda ukunxusa kukaJoshuwa kokuvalelisa ngokuphathelene nenkonzo yokwethembeka, ingabe akuyishukumisi inhliziyo? Ingabe awuwenaneli amazwi kaJoshuwa awasho eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-3 400 edlule: “Kepha mina nendlu yami siyakumkhonza uJehova”? Noma uma ukhonza uJehova ngaphansi kwezimo zokulingwa noma zokuhlukaniswa nabanye abathembekile, ingabe awusitholi isikhuthazo emazwini kaJehova awasho kuJoshuwa, ashiwo ekuqaleni kokumasha kokungena eZweni Lesithembiso: “Qina, kuphela ume isibindi kakhulu”? Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingabe awuyitholi inzuzo engenakulinganiswa ekulandeleni isiyalo saKhe ‘sokufunda [iBhayibheli] imini nobusuku, ukuze uhlahlamelise indlela yakho’? Ngokuqinisekile, bonke abalandela iseluleko esinjalo sokuhlakanipha bayosithola sizuzisa ngokuphawulekayo.—24:15; 1:7-9.
22. Yiziphi izimfanelo ezidingekile zokukhulekela kweqiniso eziqokonyiswayo?
22 Izehlakalo ezibhalwe ngokucace kangaka encwadini kaJoshuwa zingaphezu nje kokuba umlando wasendulo. Ziqokomisa izimiso zikaNkulunkulu—ikakhulukazi ukuthi ukholo oluqinile nokulalela uJehova kubalulekile ukuze sithole isibusiso sakhe. Umphostoli uPawulu ubhala ukuthi ngokukholwa “izingange zaseJeriko zawa, sezizungeziwe izinsuku eziyisikhombisa,” nokuthi ngokukholwa “uRahabi isifebe akabhubhanga kanye nabangalalelanga.” (Heb. 11:30, 31) Ngokufanayo, uJakobe ucaphuna uRahabi njengesibonelo esizuzisayo kumaKristu ekuboniseni imisebenzi yokholo.—Jak. 2:24-26.
23. Yiziphi izikhumbuzo ezinamandla eziqukethwe kuJoshuwa?
23 Izenzakalo ezingavamile zamandla angaphezu kwawomuntu ezibhalwe kuJoshuwa 10:10-14, lapho ilanga nenyanga kuma, kanye nezinye izimangaliso eziningi uJehova azenza ngenxa yabantu bakhe, ziyizikhumbuzo ezinamandla zamandla kaJehova nenjongo yokuletha imbubhiso yokugcina kubo bonke abaphikisi ababi bakaNkulunkulu. IGibeyoni, inkundla yempi kokubili esikhathini sikaJoshuwa nasesikhathini sikaDavide, ihlanganiswa uIsaya nokusukuma kukaJehova ngentukuthelo ukuze enze lokhu kubhubhisa “ukuze enze umsebenzi wakhe, umsebenzi wakhe ongavamile, afeze isenzo sakhe, isenzo sakhe esimangalisayo.”—Isaya 28:21, 22.
24. Incwadi kaJoshuwa ihlangana kanjani nezithembiso zoMbuso, futhi yisiphi isiqinisekiso esinikezayo sokuthi lokhu ‘kuyokwenzeka konke’?
24 Ingabe izehlakalo zencwadi kaJoshuwa zikhomba phambili eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu? Ngokuqinisekile kunjalo! Ukuthi ukunqotshwa nokuhlalwa kweZwe Lesithembiso kumelwe kuhlanganiswe nokuthile okukhulu kakhulu kwaboniswa umphostoli uPawulu: “Ngokuba uma uJoshuwa wayebaphumuzile, [uNkulunkulu, NW] wayengayikukhuluma emva kwalokhu ngolunye usuku. Ngakho-ke kubasalele abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuphumula kwesabatha.” (Heb. 4:1, 8, 9) Bayaphikelela beqinisekisa “ukungena embusweni waphakade weNkosi yethu noMsindisi uJesu Kristu.” (2 Pet. 1:10, 11) Njengoba kuboniswa uMathewu 1:5, uRahabi waba ukhokhokazi kaJesu Kristu. Ngaleyondlela incwadi kaJoshuwa inikeza okunye ukuxhumana okubalulekile emlandweni oholela ekuvezweni kweMbewu yoMbuso. Inikeza isiqinisekiso esiqinile sokuthi izithembiso zoMbuso kaJehova ziyogcwaliseka ngokuqinisekile. Kukhuluma ngesithembiso uNkulunkulu asenza kuAbrahama, uIsaka, noJakobe futhi saphindwa kumaIsrayeli, inzalo yabo, ukulandisa kuthi ngokuphathelene nosuku lukaJoshuwa: “Akuphuthanga-lutho kukho konke okuhle uJehova akukhuluma khona kuyo indlu kaIsrayeli; kwenziwa konke.” (Josh. 21:45; Gen. 13:14-17) Ngokufanayo, ‘nesithembiso’ sikaJehova esiphathelene noMbuso olungile wasezulwini—siyogcwaliseka!