Abahluleli 2:6-23

Lapho uJoshuwa emukisa abantu, abantwana bakwa-Israyeli baya, kwaba yilowo nalowo efeni lakhe ukuba badle ifa lezwe. Abantu bamkhonza uJehova zonke izinsuku zikaJoshuwa nezinsuku zonke zamalunga ayesephila emva kukaJoshuwa ababona zonke izenzo ezinkulu zikaJehova azenzele u-Israyeli. UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, inceku kaJehova, wafa eneminyaka eyikhulu neshumi. Bammbela emkhawulweni wefa lakhe eThimnatha ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi ngasenyakatho kwentaba iGahashi. Sonke leso sizukulwane sabuthelwa koyise, kwavela esinye isizukulwane emva kwaso uJehova ayengasazi nemisebenzi ayeyenzele u-Israyeli. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, bakhonza oBali. Bamshiya uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise owabakhipha ezweni laseGibithe, balandela abanye onkulunkulu bezizwe ezazibazungeza, bakhothamela, bamcunula uJehova intukuthelo. Bamshiya uJehova, bakhonza oBali no-Ashitaroti. Intukuthelo kaJehova yamvuthela u-Israyeli, wabanikela esandleni sabaphangi ababaphanga, wathengisa ngabo esandleni sezitha zabo nxazonke, ukuze bangabe besakwazi ukuma phambi kwezitha zabo. Nomaphi lapho bephumela khona, isandla sikaJehova sasimelene nabo ngokubi, njengokukhuluma kukaJehova nanjengoba uJehova wayebathembisile ngesifungo; bakhathazeka kakhulu. Kodwa uJehova wavusa abahluleli ababasindisa esandleni salabo ababebaphanga. Nokho kabalalelanga abahluleli bawo, kodwa baphinga ngokulandela abanye onkulunkulu, babakhothamela. Kodwa kabakwenzanga lokho. Kwathi lapho uJehova ebavusela abahluleli, uJehova wayenaye umahluleli, wabasindisa esandleni sezitha zabo zonke izinsuku zomahluleli; ngokuba uJehova wazisola kubo, wakhala ngenxa yalabo ababebacindezela. Futhi wabacasula. Kwathi lapho esefile umahluleli, babuya futhi bonakalisa bona ngaphezu kwawoyise ngokulandela abanye onkulunkulu ukuba babakhonze futhi babakhothamele; abazange bayeke izenzo zabo kanye nezindlela zabo ezilukhuni. Intukuthelo kaJehova yamvuthela u-Israyeli; wathi: “Ngokuba laba bantu beqile isivumelwano sami engabayala ngaso oyise, bengalalelanga izwi lami; Futhi kusukela manje kuqhubeke ngeke ngixoshe muntu phambi kwabo ezizweni uJoshuwa azishiya lapho efa. Ukuze ngivivinye u-Israyeli ngabo uma bayakuyigcina indlela kaJehova ukuhamba ngayo njengalokho oyise bayigcina, noma qha. Ngalokho uJehova wazishiya lezo zizwe, angazixoshanga ngokuphangisa; futhi akabanikelanga esandleni sikaJoshuwa.