UJoshuwa 2:1-16

UJoshuwa, indodana kaNuni, wayesethumela izinhloli ezimbili isinyenyela, zisuka eShithimu, wathi kuzo: “Hambani nisihlolele izwe, ikakhulu iJerikho.” Zahamba, zafike zangenisa endlini yesifebe esibizo laso nguRahabi, zalala khona. Inkosi yaseJerikho yabikelwa ukuthi: “Abanye bakwa-Israyeli bafikile kusihlwa ukuzohlola izwe.” Inkosi yaseJerikho yayisithumela umyalezo kuRahabi, yathi: “Khipha lawo madoda afikele kwakho, angena endlini yakho, ngokuba eze ukuzohlola lonke izwe.” Kepha owesifazane wawathatha lawo madoda amabili wawafihla. Wayesethi: “Yebo, impela lawo madoda afikile kimi, kodwa angiwazanga ukuthi avelaphi. Kuthe kusihlwa sekuzovalwa isango, asuka ahamba. Angazi ukuthi aphume alibhekisaphi. Phuthumani niwalandele, ngokuba ningase niwafice.” Kodwa ngaleso sikhathi wayesezikhuphulele phezulu ophahleni lwendlu yakhe, wazifihla phansi kwenyanda yekhwani ayeyibeke lapho. Amadoda azilandela ngendlela elibangise eJordani aze ayofinyelela emazibukweni alo. Athi ukuba aphume amadoda ayezilandela, lavalwa isango. Zingakalali izinhloli, uRahabi wakhuphukela kuzo ophahleni; wathi kuzo: “Ngiyazi ukuthi uSimakade uNkulunkulu uninikile leli lizwe nokuthi sonke sigcwele ingebhe ngenxa yenu, nokuthi zonke izakhamuzi zaleli lizwe zinesaba okokufa. Ngokuba sizwile ukuthi uSimakade wawomisa kanjani amanzi oLwandle Lomhlanga phambi kwenu lapho niphuma eGibhithe, nalokho enakwenza emakhosini amabili ama-Amori ayengaphesheya kweJordani, kuSihoni no-Ogi enababhubhisa bashabalala. Sithe ukuba sizwe ngalokho izinhliziyo zangenwa yingebhe, kwangaba bikho muntu onesibindi sokuma phambi kwenu, ngokuba uSimakade uNkulunkulu wenu, unguNkulunkulu ezulwini phezulu nasemhlabeni phansi. Manje-ke lokhu nginiphathe kahle, fungani kimi ngoSimakade ukuthi nani niyakubenzela umusa abendlu kababa; nginikeni uphawu oluzakuba yisiqiniseko sokuthi nizokwethembeka, nokuthi niyomsindisa ubaba, umama, abafowethu, odadewethu nakho konke okungokwabo, nisikhulule ekufeni.” Amadoda athi kuye: “Singanifela nokunifela. Uma ningaludaluli lolu daba lwethu, siyakuniphatha ngomusa nangokwethembeka lapho uSimakade esesinika izwe.” URahabi wayesewehlisa ngentambo aphuma ngefasitela, ngoba indlu ayehlala kuyo yayiyingxenye yodonga lomuzi, yena ehlala ngaphakathi kodonga. Wathi kuwo: “Hambani nilibhekise kwelezintaba, ukuze abanixoshayo banganitholi. Cashani lapho izinsuku ezintathu baze babuye abanixoshayo, bese niqhubeka nohambo lwenu.”