Iinhloli Ezilitjhumi Nambili

Ama-Israyeli asuka eNtabeni yeSinayi atjhinga eKhadeshi, adlula iParana. Kulapho-ke uJehova atjela khona uMosi wathi: ‘Thumela amadoda ali-12, avela ekorweni ngayinye, uthumele nomrholi bona ayokuhlola inarha yeKanana engayinikela ama-Israyeli.’ Yeke uMosi wakhetha amadoda ali-12 wathi kiwo: ‘Tjhingani ngeKanana niyokuqala bona inarha yakhona yihle na. Niqale nokuthi abantu abahlala kiyo banamandla namkha babuthakathaka, niqale ukuthi inarha yakhona yihle namkha yimbi nokuthi amadorobho wakhona avikelekile namkha awanamithangala na.’ Iinhloli ezili-12 kuhlanganise uJotjhuwa noKalebi, bakhamba boke nabaya eKanana.

Ngemva kwamalanga ama-40, iinhloli zabuya ekuhloleni inarha, ziphethe amafeyi, amarharinadi namadiribe. Zabikela uMosi, zathi: ‘Yinarha ehle, nokho abantu bakhona ziintsitsirimba namadorobho wakhona anemithangala begodu aziinthabathaba.’ UKalebi wathi: ‘Asiyithumbeni inarha!’ Uyazi kubayini uKalebi atjho njalo? Ngombana yena noJotjhuwa bebamthemba uJehova. Kodwana ezinye iinhloli ezilitjhumi zathi: ‘Awa! Angekhe sikghone ukukhuphuka, ngombana amadoda la ziintsitsirimba, thina sifana neentethe kiwo.’

Ama-Israyeli adana. Athoma ukunghonghoyila komunye nomunye, athi: ‘Asizikhetheleni umrholi, sibuyele eGibhide. Kubayini kufuze siye endaweni le, siyokubulawa?’ UJotjhuwa noKalebi bathi: ‘Lisani ukuhlubuka kuJehova, begodu ningesabi. UJehova uzosivikela.’ Kodwana ama-Israyeli azange alalele. Aluka namano wokubulala uJotjhuwa noKalebi.

UJehova wenzani ngalokho? Wathi kuMosi: ‘Ngaphezu kweembonakaliso engizenzele u-Israyeli, nanje akangilaleli. Yeke bazakuhlala emmangweni iminyaka ema-40 begodu bazakufela lapho. NguJotjhuwa noKalebi nabantwababo kwaphela abazakungena enarheni enganithembisa ukuninikela yona.’