AbAhluleli 3:15-30

Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bakhala kuJehova, uJehova wabavusela umsindisi, u-Ehudi indodana kaGera, umBenjamini, umuntu oyinxele; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathuma isipho ngaye ku-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi. U-Ehudi wazenzela inkemba ebukhali izinsiko zombili, ubude bayo buyingalo, wayibhinca phansi kwengubo yakhe ethangeni lokunene. Wamnika u-Egiloni inkosi yakwaMowabi isipho, kepha u-Egiloni wayengumuntu okhulupheleyo kakhulu. Kwathi eseqedile ukumnika isipho, wamukisa abantu ababesithwele isipho. Kepha yena wabuya endaweni yezithombe ezibaziweyo engaseGiligali, wathi: “Nginendaba eyisifuba kuwe nkosi.” Wathi: “Thulani.” Base bephuma bonke ababemi ngakuye. U-Ehudi wasondela kuye; wayehlezi ekamelweni eliphezulu elipholileyo; wayesethi u-Ehudi: “Nginodaba oluvela kuNkulunkulu kuwe.” Wasukuma esihlalweni sakhe. U-Ehudi wayeselula isandla sakhe sokhohlo, wabamba inkemba ethangeni lakhe lokunene, wamgwaza esiswini sakhe; kwangena nesibambo emva kwenkemba, amanoni azungeza inkemba, ngokuba akayikhiphanga inkemba esiswini sakhe; yaphumela emuva. U-Ehudi wayesephumela ekamelweni eliphambili, wazivalela iminyango yekamelo eliphezulu, wayihluthulela. Nxa esephumile yena, kwafika izinceku zakhe; zabona, bheka, iminyango yekamelo eliphezulu yayihluthulelwe; zathi: “Mhlawumbe uyembesa ezinyawo zakhe ekamelweni lakhe elipholileyo.” Zalinda zaze zajabha; bheka, akayivulanga iminyango yekamelo eliphezulu; ngalokho zathatha ukhiye, zayivula; bheka, inkosi yazo yayiwele phansi ifile. U-Ehudi waphunyuka zisalinda, wadlula endaweni yezithombe ezibaziweyo, wabalekela eSeyiri. Kwathi esefikile, wabetha icilongo ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli behla naye ezintabeni, yena ephambi kwabo. Wathi kubo: “Ngilandeleni, ngokuba uJehova unikele izitha zenu abakwaMowabi esandleni senu!” Behla emva kwakhe, bavimba amazibuko aseJordani ababewela ngawo abakwaMowabi, abavumanga ukuba kuwele muntu. Babulala kwabakwaMowabi ngaleso sikhathi kungathi abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi abayizidlakela namajaha, akwaphunyuka muntu. UMowabi wathotshiswa kanjalo ngalolo suku phansi kwesandla sakwa-Israyeli. Izwe laba nokuthula iminyaka engamashumi ayisihiyagalombili.