URahabi Ufihla Izinhloli

AMADODA la asengozini. Kumele abaleke ngoba angabulawa. Ayizinhloli zama-Israyeli njalo umfazi obancedayo nguRahabi. URahabi uhlala lapha, endlini esemdulini wedolobho laseJerikho. Ake sibone ukuthi kungani amadoda la esengozini.

Ama-Israyeli aselungele ukuchapha uMfula uJodani angene elizweni laseKhenani. Kodwa bengakenzi njalo, uJoshuwa uthuma izinhloli ezimbili. Uyabatshela: ‘Hambani liyebona ilizwe njalo lihlole ledolobho leJerikho.’

Lapho izinhloli zifika eJerikho, ziya endlini kaRahabi. Kodwa kulomuntu otshela inkosi yaseJerikho: ‘Kulama-Israyeli afike lapha ebusuku ezohlola ilizwe.’ Lapho isizwa lokho, inkosi ithuma amadoda kuRahabi njalo afika athi: ‘Khipha amadoda asendlini yakho!’ Kodwa uRahabi uwafihle ophahleni lwendlu. Ngakho uthi: ‘Kulamadoda afike endlini yami kodwa angikwazi ukuthi abevela ngaphi. Asuke lapha sekuzaba mnyama, amagedi edolobho engakavalwa. Nxa lingaphangisa, lingabathola!’ Ngakho amadoda la ayaphuma abalandele.

Lapho sebehambile, uRahabi ukhwela ophahleni ngokuphangisa. Utshela izinhloli: ‘Ngiyakwazi ukuthi uJehova uzalinika ilizwe leli. Sizwile ukuthi womisa uLwandle Olubomvu ngesikhathi liphuma eGibhithe, lokuthi labulala njani inkosi uSihoni lenkosi u-Ogi. Ngibe lomusa kini, ngakho ngiyacela ukuthi lingithembise ukuthi lami lizangitshengisa umusa. Sindisani umama lobaba wami, labafowethu labodadewethu.’

Izinhloli zithembisa ukuthi zizakwenzanjalo, kodwa kulokunye okumele uRahabi akwenze. Izinhloli zithi: ‘Thatha intambo le ebomvu uyibophele ewindini lakho, ubusuthatha izihlobo zakho zonke uzehlala lazo endlini yakho. Nxa sesibuya ukuzothatha iJerikho, sizayibona intambo le ebomvu ewindini lakho njalo kasisoze sibulale loba ngubani oyabe esendlini yakho. Lapho izinhloli zibuyela kuJoshuwa, zimtshela konke okwenzakeleyo.