Izinhloli Ezingu-12

KHANGELA izithelo ezithwele ngamadoda la. Khangela ukuthi amagilebisi la manengi kangakanani! Aze athwalwe ngamadoda amabili ngogodo. Khangela njalo amakhiwane lamaphomegranethi. Izithelo ezinhle kangaka zivele ngaphi? Zivele elizweni leKhenani. Uyakhumbula yini ukuthi eKhenani kulapho okwakuhlala khona u-Abhrahama, u-Isaka loJakhobe? Kodwa ngenxa yendlala eyaba khona endaweni le, uJakhobe lemuli yakhe bathuthela eGibhithe. Khathesi sekudlule iminyaka engu-216, uMosi usekhokhela ama-Israyeli ewabuyisela eKhenani. Sebefike endaweni esegangeni okuthiwa yiKhadeshi.

Kuhlala abantu abangalunganga eKhenani. Yikho uMosi uthuma izinhloli ezingu-​12, njalo uthi kuzo: ‘Hlolani ukuthi kulabantu abangaki lokuthi baqine okunganani. Likhangele ukuthi umhlabathi wakhona muhle yini ukuthi kungalinywa. Njalo libuye lezinye izithelo.’

Lapho amadoda la angu-12 ayehambe ukuyahlola esephendukile eKhadeshi, atshela uMosi ukuthi: ‘Lilizwe elihle.’ Ukuze bakufakazele lokhu batshengisa uMosi izithelo ababuye lazo. Kodwa izinhloli ezilitshumi zithi: ‘Abantu abahlala khona bakhulu njalo baqinile. Sizabulawa singazama ukuthatha ilizwe labo.’

Ama-Israyeli ayesaba lapho ekuzwa lokhu, abesesithi: ‘Ngabe sazifela eGibhithe kumbe khonapha egangeni. Sizabulawa empini, abafazi labantwana bethu bathunjwe. Asikhipheni uMosi esikhundleni, sikhethe omunye umkhokheli asibuyisele eGibhithe!’

Kodwa izinhloli ezimbili zithemba uJehova njalo zizama ukuthulisa abantu. Amabizo azo nguJoshuwa loKhalebi. Zithi: ‘Lingesabi. UJehova ulathi. Kuzaba lula ukuthi silithathe ilizwe.’ Kodwa abantu bayala ukulalela. Bafuna lokubulala uJoshuwa loKhalebi.

Lokhu kuyamzondisa uJehova, abesetshela uMosi ukuthi: ‘Akula muntu loyedwa oleminyaka engu-20 loba ephezulu, ozangena elizweni leKhenani. Bazibonile izimangaliso engazenza eGibhithe lasegangeni, kodwa lokhu bengangithembi. Ngenxa yalokhu, bazazulazula egangeni okweminyaka engu-40 baze bafe bonke. NguJoshuwa loKhalebi abazangena elizweni leKhenani.’