Iintlola Eziyi-12

AmaSirayeli emka kwiNtaba YeSinayi, anqumla intlambo yaseParan esiya eKadeshe. Apho uYehova wathi kuMoses: ‘Kwisizwe ngasinye kweziyi-12, khupha indoda ibe nye, aze xa ewonke aye kuhlola ilizwe endiza kuninika lona, iKanan.’ UMoses wawakhetha la madoda ayi-12 waza wathi: ‘Hambani niye kuhlola ukuba ukutya kungachuma na eKanan. Nibone ukuba abantu bomelele okanye banamandla na, nokuba bahlala ezintenteni okanye ezixekweni.’ Ezi ntlola, ekwakukho kuzo uYoshuwa noKalebhi, zaya eKanan.

Emva kweentsuku eziyi-40, iintlola zabuya ziphethe amakhiwane, iirharnati neediliya. Zathi: ‘Umhlaba wona mhle, kodwa abantu zizigantsontso kwaye izixeko zakhona zineendonga eziphakamileyo.’ UKalebhi wathi: ‘Singaboyisa. Masiyeni ngoku!’ Uyazi ukuba kwakutheni ukuze uKalebhi atsho? Kungenxa yokuba yena noYoshuwa babemthembile uYehova. Ezinye iintlola eziyi-10 zathi: ‘Asinakuboyisa! Aba bantu zizigantsontso! Besingathi siziintethe ecaleni kwabo.’

AmaSirayeli ayephoxekile. Akhalaza esithi: ‘Masikhetheni omnye umntu oza kusikhokela, sibuyele eYiputa. Kutheni siza kuya kule ndawo siza kubulawa kuyo?’ UYoshuwa noKalebhi bathi: ‘Musani ukungamthobeli uYehova ibe yekani nokoyika. UYehova uza kusikhusela.’ Kodwa amaSirayeli akazange amamele. Asuka afuna ukubulala uYoshuwa noKalebhi!

Wenza ntoni uYehova? Wathi kuMoses: ‘Emva kwayo yonke into endiwenzele yona amaSirayeli, awandithobeli. Ngoko aza kuhlala iminyaka eyi-40 apha kule ntlango, ade afele kuyo. Kuphela ngabantwana babo, noYoshuwa noKalebhi abaza kuhlala kwilizwe endibathembise lona.’