ISIFUNDO 31
UJoshuwa LamaGibhiyoni
Ezinye izizwe zaseKhenani zezwa ngokuhlaselwa kweJerikho. Amakhosi aseKhenani avumelana ukuthi ahlangane alwe lama-Israyeli. Kodwa abaseGibhiyoni abazange bahlangane lamanye amakhosi. Baya kuJoshuwa begqoke izigqoko ezindala bathi kuye: ‘Sivela elizweni elikhatshana. Sizwile ngoJehova lalokho alenzela khona eGibhithe laseMowabi. Nxa lingasithembisa ukuthi alisoze lisibulale sizakuba yizigqili zenu.’
UJoshuwa wakukholwa okwakukhulunywe ngabaseGibhiyoni futhi wabathembisa ukuthi wayengasoze ababulale. Sekudlule amalanga amathathu uJoshuwa wezwa ukuthi abaseGibhiyoni babengaveli elizweni elikhatshana. Babevela eKhenani. UJoshuwa wababuza wathi: ‘Yindaba lisitshele amanga?’ AbaseGibhiyoni bathi: ‘Besisesaba. Siyakwazi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyalilwela. Sicela lingasibulali.’ UJoshuwa wasigcina isithembiso sakhe, kazange ababulale abantu baseGibhiyoni.
Amakhosi amahlanu aseKhenani lamasotsha awo ahlangana ukuze ahlasele iGibhiyoni. UJoshuwa lamasotsha akhe bahamba ubusuku
bonke ukuze bayencedisa abaseGibhiyoni. Ngelanga elalandelayo ekuseni kakhulu baqalisa ukulwa labaseKhenani. AbaseKhenani babaleka bagcwala indawo yonke. UJehova wehlisela amatshe amakhulu phezu kwabo ababulala. UJoshuwa wasecela uJehova ukuthi enze ilanga lime. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi wayemthemba kakhulu uJehova ngoba ilanga lalingakaze liyekele ukutshona. UJehova wamlalela uJoshuwa. Ama-Israyeli awabulala wonke amakhosi aseKhenani lamasotsha awo.“Ilizwi lenu elithi ‘Yebo’ kalibe nguyebo, lelithi ‘Hatshi’ kalibe nguhatshi ngoba okwedlula lokho kuvela komubi.”—UMathewu 5:37