Numeri

25 Ngesikhathi u-Israyeli ehlala eShithimi, + abantu baqala ukuziphatha kabi ngokuya ocansini namadodakazi akwaMowabi. + 2 Laba besifazane bamemela abantu emihlatshelweni yonkulunkulu babo, + abantu baqala ukudla nokukhothamela onkulunkulu babo. + 3 Ngakho u-Israyeli naye wakhonza nabo uBhali* wasePheyori, + uJehova wamthukuthelela kakhulu u-Israyeli. 4 UJehova wathi kuMose: “Thatha bonke abaholi* balaba bantu kuthi uma sebebulewe, ulengise izidumbu zabo phambi kukaJehova emini bebade,* ukuze uJehova angabe esamthukuthelela u-Israyeli.” 5 UMose wabe esethi kubahluleli bakwa-Israyeli: + “Ngamunye kini kufanele abulale abantu bakubo abakhonza uBhali* wasePheyori.” +

6 Kwathi kusenjalo nje, kwafika umuntu ongumIsrayeli, elethe ekamu owesifazane wakwaMidiyani + phambi kwamehlo kaMose nawayo yonke inhlangano yama-Israyeli, ngesikhathi inhlangano ikhala emnyango wetende lokuhlangana. 7 Lapho uFinehasi + indodana ka-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni umpristi ebona lokhu, wasukuma ngokushesha phakathi kwenhlangano wathatha umkhonto.* 8 Wayilandela le ndoda yakwa-Israyeli wangena etendeni, wababhokoda ngomkhonto bobabili, umkhonto waphumela ngale, wabhokoda le ndoda yakwa-Israyeli nowesifazane ezithweni zakhe zangasese. Ngemva kwalokho isishayo sanqamuka + kuma-Israyeli. 9 Abafa kulesi sishayo baba ngu-24 000. +

10 UJehova wabe esethi kuMose: 11 “UFinehasi + indodana ka-Eleyazare indodana ka-Aroni umpristi ulunqandile ulaka lwami kubantu bakwa-Israyeli ngoba akakubekezelelanga nhlobo ukuba khona kwembangi yami phakathi kwabo. + Ngakho angiwaqothulanga ama-Israyeli ngenxa yokuphikelela kwami ukufuna abantu bazinikele kimi kuphela. + 12 Ngakho yithi, ‘Ngimnika isivumelwano sami sokuthula. 13 Siyoba isivumelwano sobupristi baphakade kuye nasenzalweni yakhe, + ngoba akakubekezelelanga ukuba khona kwembangi kaNkulunkulu wakhe + futhi wabenzela isihlawulelo abantu bakwa-Israyeli.’”

14 Igama lendoda yakwa-Israyeli eyabulawa kanye nowesifazane wakwaMidiyani kwakunguZimri indodana kaSalu, isikhulu sendlu kayise yabakwaSimeyoni. 15 Igama lowesifazane wakwaMidiyani owabulawa kwakunguKozibi indodakazi kaZuri + owayengumholi wemindeni yendlu kayise kwaMidiyani. +

16 Kamuva uJehova wathi kuMose: 17 “Hlasela abakwaMidiyani, ubashaye, + 18 ngoba bebelokhu benikhathaza ngezenzo zabo zobuqili abazenze kini endabeni yasePheyori + nasendabeni kaKozibi indodakazi yesikhulu sakwaMidiyani, owabulawa + ngosuku lwesishayo ngenxa yendaba yasePheyori.” +