ABahluleli

3 Kulezizwe uJehova azivumela ukuthi zisale elizweni ukuze zilinge abako-Israyeli ababengazibonanga izimpi zaseKhenani.+ 2 (Lokhu kwakuzakwenza ukuthi izizukulwane zama-Israyeli ezazingayibonanga impi ziyibonele khonapho.) 3 Kwasala amakhosi amahlanu amaFilisti,+ lawo wonke amaKhenani, lamaSidoni,+ lamaHivi+ ayehlala entabeni iLebhanoni,+ kusukela entabeni iBhali-hemoni kuze kuyefika eLebho-hamathi.*+ 4 Izizwe lezi zaba yisilingo kwabako-Israyeli ukuze kukhanye ukuthi babezayilalela yini imilayo kaJehova ayinika oyise esebenzisa uMosi.+ 5 Yikho abako-Israyeli bahlala phakathi kwamaKhenani,+ lamaHithi, lama-Amori, lamaPherizi, lamaHivi kanye lamaJebusi. 6 Bathatha amadodakazi ezizwe lezi aba ngomkabo njalo bendisela amadodakazi abo kuzo, baqalisa ukukhonza onkulunkulu bazo.+

7 Abako-Israyeli benza okubi phambi kukaJehova,* bamkhohlwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo futhi bakhonza oBhali+ lezithombe zika-Ashera.*+ 8 UJehova wabathukuthelela kakhulu ngenxa yalokhu, wasebanikela* esandleni sikaKhushani-rishathayimi inkosi yeMesophothamiya.* Abako-Israyeli baba ngaphansi kombuso kaKhushani-rishathayimi okweminyaka engu-8. 9 Ngakho bakhala kuJehova becela ukuthi abancede,+ uJehova wasebanika umkhululi,+ u-Othiniyeli+ indodana kaKhenazi. UKhenazi wayengumnawakhe kaKhalebhi. 10 Umoya kaJehova wehlela ku-Othiniyeli+ futhi waba ngumahluleli wabako-Israyeli. Wasuka wayakulwa loKhushani-rishathayimi inkosi yeMesophothamiya* futhi uJehova wamsiza ukuthi anqobe. 11 Ngemva kwalokho kwaba lokuthula elizweni okweminyaka engu-40. U-Othiniyeli indodana kaKhenazi wasesifa.

12 Abako-Israyeli baphinda benza okubi phambi kukaJehova.*+ UJehova wasevumela ukuthi u-Egiloni inkosi yakoMowabi+ abe lamandla phezu kwabantu bako-Israyeli ngoba basebesenza okubi phambi kukaJehova.* 13 Kanti njalo wenza abako-Israyeli bahlaselwa ngama-Amoni+ lama-Amaleki.+ Alwa labo athumba idolobho elilezihlahla zelala.+ 14 Abako-Israyeli babuswa ngu-Egiloni inkosi yakoMowabi okweminyaka engu-18.+ 15 Bakhala kuJehova becela ukuthi abasize,+ uJehova wasethuma u-Ehudi ukuthi abakhulule.+ U-Ehudi+ wayeyindodana kaGera umBhenjamini+ futhi wayesebenzisa isandla senxele.+ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abako-Israyeli bathuma u-Ehudi ukuthi ahambise isipho* ku-Egiloni inkosi yakoMowabi. 16 U-Ehudi wazenzela inkemba esika inxa zombili futhi ubude bayo babuyingalo eyodwa.* Wayibophela emlenzeni wakhe wesokudla ngaphansi kwesembatho sakhe, 17 wasesiyanika u-Egiloni inkosi yakoMowabi isipho. U-Egiloni wayeyindoda eqatha kakhulu.

18 U-Ehudi wathi eseyiphile inkosi isipho sayo wasuka labantu ababemthwalele isipho leso. 19 Kodwa bathi befika eGiligali+ lapho okulezithombe ezibaziweyo khona,* u-Ehudi wabuyela enkosini wafika wathi: “Nkosi, kulendaba eyimfihlo engifisa ukukutshela yona.” Inkosi yasisithi: “Mana kancane!” Izinceku zathi zisizwa inkosi isitsho njalo zahle zasuka, 20 u-Ehudi wasesiya enkosini. Yayihlezi endlini yayo esephahleni ebetha umoya. U-Ehudi wafika wathi: “Ngilelizwi lakho elivela kuNkulunkulu.” Ngakho inkosi yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi. 21 U-Ehudi waseselula isandla sakhe senxele wahwatsha inkemba eyayisemlenzeni wakhe wesokudla, wayithela esiswini senkosi. 22 Inkemba yangena yatshona yonke lesilanda* sayo phakathi kwamafutha, kwasekuphuma umswane. Kazange ayihwatshe esiswini senkosi. 23 Ngemva kwalokhu u-Ehudi waphuma, wavala iminyango yendlu esephahleni wakhiya. 24 Wathi esehambile izinceku zenkosi zaphenduka zathola iminyango yendlu esephahleni ikhiyiwe. Yikho zathi: “Engxenye usesambuzini* esisendlini engaphakathi.” 25 Zalinda zaze zakhathazeka. Zathi zibona inkosi ilokhu ingavuli zathatha ikhiye zavula iminyango, zayithola ithe daca phansi ifile!

26 U-Ehudi wabaleka besalibele, wadlula endaweni elezithombe ezibaziweyo*+ wahamba waze wayafika eSeyira. 27 Wathi efika lapho watshaya uphondo+ ezintabeni zako-Efrayimi,+ abako-Israyeli behla ezintabeni bamlandela. 28 Wasesithi kubo: “Ngilandelani ngoba uJehova usenikele izitha zenu ezingamaMowabi ezandleni zenu.” Yikho bamlandela basebevimba amaMowabi emazibukweni* aseJodani ukuze angadluli. Kabavumelanga muntu ukuthi achaphe. 29 Ngalesosikhathi babulala amadoda akoMowabi angaba ngu-10 000.+ Wonke amadoda la ayelamandla futhi engamaqhawe kodwa akuphunyukanga leyodwa.+ 30 AbakoMowabi banqotshwa ngama-Israyeli njalo kwaba lokuthula elizweni okweminyaka engu-80.+

31 Ngemva kuka-Ehudi kwaba loShamigari+ indodana ka-Anathi. Wabulala amaFilisti angu-600+ esebenzisa ugodo olucijileyo lokuthinta inkomo.+ Laye wabakhulula abantu bako-Israyeli.