Jotjhuwa

4 Msinyana isitjhaba soke nasiqeda ukuyama iJordani, uJehova wathi kuJotjhuwa: 2 “Thatha amadoda ali-12 hlangana nabantu, indoda yinye ekorweni ngayinye,+ 3 uwayale uthi: ‘Thathani amatje ali-12 phakathi kweJordani, lapho bekujame khona iinyawo zabaphristi,+ niwathwale nikhambe nawo niyowabeka lapho eniyokulala khona ebusuku.’”+

4 Yeke uJotjhuwa wabiza amadoda ali-12 ebekawakhethe phakathi kwama-Israyeli, indoda yinye ekorweni ngayinye, 5 wathi kiwo: “Dlulani phambi komFaji kaJehova uZimenu niye phakathi kweJordani, omunye nomunye wenu kufuze athathe ilitje alitjathe emahlombe, ngokwesibalo seenkoro zakwa-Israyeli, 6 bona abe litshwayo phakathi kwenu. Nange abantwabenu banibuza* ngokukhamba kwesikhathi bathi, ‘Kubayini ninamatje la?’+ 7 kufuze nithi kibo: ‘Ngombana amanzi weJordani ajanyiswa phambi komfaji+ wesivumelwano sakaJehova. Ngesikhathi uyama iJordani, amanzi weJordani ajanyiswa. Amatje la azokuba sikhumbuzo ngokungapheliko ebantwini bakwa-Israyeli.’”+

8 Yeke ama-Israyeli enza njengombana uJotjhuwa awayalile. Athatha amatje ali-12 phakathi kweJordani, njengombana uJehova bekayale uJotjhuwa bona alingane nesibalo seenkoro zakwa-Israyeli. Awathatha awasa lapho ebewayokulala khona ebusuku, awabeka lapho.

9 UJotjhuwa naye wabeka amatje ali-12 phakathi kweJordani lapho ebekujame khona iinyawo zabaphristi ebebathwele umfaji wesivumelwano,+ amatje lawo aseselapho bekube kunamhlanjesi.

10 Abaphristi abathwele umFaji bebasolo bajame phakathi kweJordani bekwaba kulapho sekuqedwe koke lokho uJehova ebekayale ngakho uJotjhuwa bona atjele abantu ukuthi bakwenze, ngokuvumelana nakho koke uMosi ebekayale ngakho uJotjhuwa. Ngesikhatheso, abantu bayama barhabile. 11 Msinyana woke umuntu nakaqeda ukuyama, umFaji kaJehova nabaphristi bayama phambi kwabantu.+ 12 BakwaRubeni, bakwaGadi nesiquntu sekoro yakwaManase bayama ngendlela ehlelekileko njengeenqhema zamasotja+ phambi kwama-Israyeli, njengombana uMosi bekabayalile.+ 13 Amasotja angaba zii-40 000 ahlomele ipi ayamela emmangweni othabaleleko weJerikho phambi kwakaJehova.

14 Ngelangelo uJehova waphakamisa uJotjhuwa emehlweni wama-Israyeli woke+ begodu amhlonipha* khulu yoke imihla yokuphila kwakhe, njengombana bewamhlonipha khulu noMosi.+

15 Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wathi kuJotjhuwa: 16 “Yala abaphristi abathwele umfaji+ wobuFakazi bona bakhuphuke baphume eJordani.” 17 Yeke uJotjhuwa wayala abaphristi wathi: “Khuphukani niphume eJordani.” 18 Kwathi abaphristi abathwele umfaji+ wesivumelwano kaJehova nabakhuphuka phakathi kweJordani begodu iinyawo zabo zigadanga ehlabathini eyomileko, amanzi weJordani abuyela endawenawo begodu yathoma ukuphuphuma+ njengaphambilini.

19 Abantu bakhuphuka bavela eJordani ngelanga letjhumi lenyanga yokuthoma begodu bahloma ikampa eGiligali+ emkhawulweni ongepumalanga yeJerikho.

20 Amatje ali-12 abawathatha eJordani, uJotjhuwa wawabeka eGiligali.+ 21 Ngemva kwalokho, wathi kuma-Israyeli: “Ngomuso, abantwabenu nababuza aboyise bathi, ‘Atjho ukuthini amatje la?’+ 22 kufuze nihlathululele abantwabenu nithi: ‘U-Israyeli wayama iJordani ehlabathini eyomileko+ 23 lokha uJehova uZimenu nakomisa amanzi weJordani phambi kwakhe bekwaba kulapho ayiyamile, njengalokha uJehova uZimenu enza eLwandle eliBomvu nakalomisa phambi kwethu bekwaba kulapho siliyama.+ 24 Wenza lokhu bona zoke iintjhaba ephasini zazi bonyana isandla sakaJehova sinamandla kangangani+ nokobana nisabe uJehova uZimenu ngeenkhathi zoke.’”