Umkhaya Uthuthela EGibhithe

UJOSEFA akasakwazi ukuzibamba. Utshela izinceku zakhe zonke ukuba ziphume endlini. Lapho esesele yedwa nabafowabo, uJosefa uyakhala. Singacabanga ukuthi abafowabo bamangala kanjani, ngoba abazi ukuthi ukhalelani. Ekugcineni uthi: ‘NginguJosefa. Ingabe ubaba usaphila?’

Abafowabo bamangala kangangokuthi bayahluleka ukukhuluma. Bayesaba. Kodwa uJosefa uthi: ‘Sizani nisondele.’ Lapho besondela, uthi: ‘Ngingumfowenu uJosefa, enamthengisa eGibhithe.’

UJosefa uyaqhubeka ekhuluma ngendlela yomusa: ‘Ningazibeki icala ngokungithengisa kwenu lapha. Eqinisweni ngangithunywa uNkulunkulu eGibhithe ukuba ngisindise ukuphila kwabantu. UFaro uye wangenza umbusi wezwe lonke. Manje phuthumani niye kubaba nimtshele lokhu. Nimtshele ukuba eze azohlala lapha.’

UJosefa azilahle kubafowabo, abange bonke. Uma uFaro ezwa ukuthi abafowabo bakaJosefa bafikile, utshela uJosefa: ‘Mabathathe izinqola bahambe balande uyise nemikhaya yabo beze lapha. Ngizobanika izwe elihle kakhulu eGibhithe lonke.’

Benza kanjalo. Lapha ungambona uJosefa ehlangana noyise lapho efika eGibhithe nomkhaya wakhe wonke.

Umkhaya kaJakobe usumkhulu impela. Bebonke babengama-70 abathuthela eGibhithe, uma sibala uJakobe nabantwana bakhe nabazukulu. Kodwa kwakukhona nabafazi futhi, cishe nezinceku eziningi. Bonke laba bahlala eGibhithe. Babizwa ngokuthi ama-Israyeli, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayeshintshe igama likaJakobe laba u-Israyeli. Ama-Israyeli aba ngabantu abakhethekile kuNkulunkulu, njengoba sizobona kamuva.