INGXENYE 8
Abantu Bakwa-Israyeli Bangena EKhanani
UJoshuwa uhola u-Israyeli ekunqobeni iKhanani. UJehova unikeza abahluleli amandla okuba bakhulule abantu bakhe ebugqilini
EMAKHULWINI eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba u-Israyeli angene eKhanani, uJehova wathembisa ukuthi lelo zwe uzolinika inzalo ka-Abrahama. Manje ngaphansi kokuhola kukaJoshuwa, ama-Israyeli ayesezolidla lelo Zwe Lesithembiso.
UNkulunkulu wayebone ukuthi abantu baseKhanani bafanelwe ukubhujiswa. Babegcwalise izwe ngemikhuba yobulili engcole ngokwedlulele nangokuchitha igazi ngonya. Ngenxa yalokho, imizi yaseKhanani eyanqotshwa ama-Israyeli kwakudingeka iqothulwe iphele nyá.
Ngaphambi kokuba angene kulelo zwe, uJoshuwa wathumela izinhloli ezimbili, ezafike zahlala emzini waseJeriko nowesifazane okuthiwa uRahabi. Wazamukela lezi zinhloli emzini wakhe futhi wazivikela nakuba ayazi ukuthi zingama-Israyeli. URahabi wayenokholo kuNkulunkulu wama-Israyeli ngoba wayezwile ngezenzo zikaJehova zokusindisa abantu bakhe. Wafungisa izinhloli ukuthi yena nendlu yakhe babezosindiswa.
Kamuva, lapho ama-Israyeli engena eKhanani futhi esefike qathatha eJeriko, uJehova wadiliza izindonga zaseJeriko ngokuyisimangaliso. Amabutho kaJoshuwa ayesetheleka, awuqothula umuzi kodwa amsindisa uRahabi nomkhaya wakhe. Ngemva kwalokho, kwaba nomshuduliswano owadonsa iminyaka eyisithupha okwathi kuwo uJoshuwa wanqoba ingxenye enkulu yeZwe Lesithembiso. Izwe labe selihlukaniselwa izizwe zakwa-Israyeli.
Lapho uJoshuwa esezoqeda inkonzo yakhe ende, waqoqela abantu ndawonye. Wabakhumbuza ngokusebenzelana kukaJehova nokhokho babo futhi wabakhuthaza ukuba bakhonze uJehova. Noma kunjalo, ngemva kokuba uJoshuwa namadoda amadala sebefile, ama-Israyeli amshiya uJehova akhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Phakathi neminyaka engaba ngu-300, lesi sizwe sasiyilalela imithetho kaJehova sibuye singayilaleli. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uJehova wavumela izitha zama-Israyeli, njengamaFilisti, ukuba ziwacindezele. Kodwa lapho ama-Israyeli ekhalela usizo kuJehova, wamisa abahluleli ukuba bawasindise—babengu-12 sebebonke.
Inkathi yabaHluleli okukhulunywa ngayo encwadini yabaHluleli yaqala ngo-Otheniyeli yaphela ngoSamsoni, indoda eyayinamandla kunawo wonke ake aphila. Iqiniso eliyisisekelo elivela njalo ekulandiseni okujabulisayo okusencwadini yeBhayibheli yabaHluleli yileli: Ukuzithoba kuJehova kuletha izibusiso, ukungazithobi kuletha inhlekelele.
—Isekelwe kuJoshuwa; AbaHluleli; Levitikusi 18:24, 25.