ABahluleli
2 Ingilosi kaJehova+ yasuka eGiligali+ yaya eBhokhimi, yafika yathi kwabako-Israyeli: “Ngalikhipha eGibhithe ngaliletha elizweni engafunga ukuthi ngizalipha okhokho benu.+ Ngaphinda ngathi, ‘Kangisoze ngisephule isivumelwano engasenza lani.+ 2 Ngakho lani lingenzi isivumelwano labantu abahlala elizweni leli+ futhi kumele lidilize ama-alithare abo.’+ Kodwa lina kalingilalelanga.+ Kungani lingangilalelanga? 3 Yikho lami ngathi, ‘Kangisoze ngibasuse phakathi kwenu.+ Bazakuba ngumjibila kini+ njalo onkulunkulu babo bazalidukisa.’”+
4 Abantu bako-Israyeli bakhala kakhulu besizwa amazwi ayekhulunywa yingilosi kaJehova. 5 Yikho babiza indawo leyo ngokuthi yiBhokhimi* basebenikela imihlatshelo kuJehova.
6 UJoshuwa wasesithi abantu babuyele emizini yabo. Ngakho wonke ama-Israyeli ahamba ezindaweni zawo ukuze ayethatha ilizwe ayeliphiwe.+ 7 Abantu baqhubeka bekhonza uJehova ngesikhathi uJoshuwa esaphila langesikhathi kuseselabadala abasala bephila uJoshuwa esefile. Abadala laba babezibonile zonke izimanga uJehova ayezenzele ama-Israyeli.+ 8 UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eseleminyaka engu-110.+ 9 Ngakho bamngcwaba endaweni eyayililifa lakhe eThiminathi-heresi+ ezintabeni zako-Efrayimi, enyakatho kwentaba iGahashi.+ 10 Sonke isizukulwane leso saphela kwasekulandela esinye isizukulwane esasingamazi uJehova kanye lalokho ayekwenzele abako-Israyeli.
11 Yikho abako-Israyeli benza okubi phambi kukaJehova,* bakhonza oBhali.+ 12 Bamfulathela uJehova uNkulunkulu waboyise owabakhipha elizweni laseGibhithe,+ balandela onkulunkulu bezizwe ezazingomakhelwane+ njalo babakhothamela. Lokhu kwamthukuthelisa uJehova.+ 13 Bamtshiya uJehova bakhonza uBhali lezithombe zika-Ashithorethi.+ 14 UJehova wathi ekubona lokhu wabathukuthelela kakhulu abako-Israyeli, wasebanikela ezitheni zabo ezabahlaselayo, zatshaya zabhuqa impahla yabo.+ Wabanikela ezitheni zabo ezazibahanqile+ futhi babengasenelisi ukumelana lazo.+ 15 UJehova wamelana labo kukho konke ababekwenza njalo wabehlisela inhlupho.+ Phela uJehova wayevele etshilo futhi uJehova wayefungile ukuthi lokho yikho okwakuzakwenzakala.+ Ngakho bathwala nzima kakhulu.+ 16 Kodwa uJehova wabeka abahluleli ukuze babakhulule ezandleni zezitha zabo ezazibahlasela.+
17 Lanxa kunjalo kabazange babalalele abahluleli laba kodwa bakhonza abanye* onkulunkulu futhi babakhothamela. Baphambuka masinyane endleleni eyayilandelwa ngokhokho babo ababelalela imilayo kaJehova,+ behluleka ukwenza njengabo. 18 UJehova wayesithi angabeka umahluleli+ amsekele umahluleli lowo, njalo uJehova wayebakhulula ezitheni zabo ngesikhathi umahluleli esaphila, ngoba uJehova wayebazwela*+ nxa bebubula ngenxa yokucindezelwa+ lokuhlutshwa yizitha zabo.
19 Kodwa kwakusithi nxa umahluleli angafa baphinde baqalise ukwenza okubi ukwedlula lokho okwakusenziwa ngoyise. Babelandela abanye onkulunkulu, bebakhonza futhi bebakhothamela.+ Kabazange batshiye izenzo zabo lobuqholo babo. 20 Ekucineni uJehova wabathukuthelela kakhulu abako-Israyeli+ wathi: “Ngenxa yokuthi isizwe lesi sephule isivumelwano+ engasenza labokhokho baso njalo kasingilalelanga,+ 21 lami kangisoze ngixotshe loba yisiphi isizwe phakathi kwalezo ezatshiywa nguJoshuwa ngesikhathi esifa,+ 22 ukuze ngibahlole abako-Israyeli, ngibone ukuthi bazazilandela yini izindlela zikaJehova+ njengaboyise.” 23 Ngakho uJehova wazivumela izizwe lezi ukuthi zisale. Kazange ahle azixotshe njalo kazange azinikele esandleni sikaJoshuwa.