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Chinyengo cha Agibiyoni

Mafumu onse okhala kumadzulo kwa Yorodani atamva zimenezi pamodzi ndi mafumu okhala ku mayiko a ku mapiri, mu zigwa, mʼmbali mwa Nyanja yayikulu mpaka ku Lebanoni (mafumu a Ahiti, Aamori, Akanaani, Aperezi, Ahivi, ndi Ayebusi), anapangana kuti achite nkhondo ndi Yoswa ndi Israeli.

Koma Ahivi ena a ku Gibiyoni atamva zomwe Yoswa anachitira mizinda ya Yeriko ndi Ai, anaganiza zochita zachinyengo. Anapita nasenzetsa abulu awo chakudya mʼmatumba akalekale ndiponso matumba a vinyo achikopa ongʼambikangʼambika. Anthuwa anavala nsapato zakutha ndi zazigamba ndiponso anavala sanza. Buledi wawo yense anali wowuma ndi wowola. Ndipo anapita kwa Yoswa ku msasa ku Giligala ndikumuwuza kuti, pamodzi ndi Aisraeli onse, “Ife tachokera ku dziko lakutali, ndipo tikufuna kuti muchite mgwirizano ndi ife.”

Koma Aisraeli anayankha Ahiviwo kuti, “Mwinatu inu mukukhala pafupi ndi ife. Tsono ife tingachite bwanji mgwirizano ndi inu?”

Iwo anati kwa Yoswa, “Ife ndife akapolo anu.”

Tsono Yoswa anawafunsa kuti, “Inu ndinu yani ndipo mukuchokera kuti?”

Iwo anayankha kuti, “Akapolo anufe tachokera ku dziko lakutali chifukwa tamva za Yehova Mulungu wanu. Tamva mbiri yonse ya zimene Iye anachita ku Igupto, 10 ndi zonse zimene anachita kwa mafumu awiri a Aamori kummawa kwa Yorodani, mfumu Sihoni ya Hesiboni ndi Ogi mfumu ya Basani amene amalamulira ku Asiteroti. 11 Tsono akuluakulu athu ndi onse amene akukhala mʼdziko lathu anati kwa ife. Tengani chakudya cha pa ulendo wanu. Pitani mukakumane nawo ndipo mukati kwa iwo, ‘Ife ndife akapolo anu, ndipo tikufuna kuti mugwirizane nafe za mtendere.’ ” 12 Buledi wathuyu anali wotentha pamene timanyamuka ku mudzi kubwera kwa inu. Koma tsopano taonani ali gwaa ndiponso wawola. 13 Zikopa zimene tinathiramo vinyozi zinali zatsopano, koma taonani zathetheka. Zovala zathu ndi nsapato zathu zatha chifukwa cha kutalika kwa ulendo.

14 Aisraeli anatengako chakudya chawo koma sanafunse kwa Yehova. 15 Choncho Yoswa anapangana nawo za mtendere kuti sadzawapha, ndipo atsogoleri a gulu anavomereza pochita lumbiro.

16 Patatha masiku atatu atachita mgwirizano wa mtendere ndi Agibiyoni, Aisraeli anamva kuti anali anansi awo, anthu amene amakhala nawo pafupi. 17 Tsono Aisraeli ananyamuka ulendo ndipo tsiku lachitatu anafika ku mizinda ya Gibiyoni, Kefira, Beeroti ndi Kiriati-Yearimu. 18 Koma Aisraeli sanawaphe anthuwo chifukwa atsogoleri awo anali atalonjeza mʼdzina la Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli za Agibiyoniwo.

Koma anthu onse anatsutsana ndi atsogoleriwo. 19 Koma atsogoleriwo anayankha kuti, “Ife tinawalonjeza mʼdzina la Yehova, Mulungu wa Israeli, ndipo tsopano sitingawaphe. 20 Chimene tidzachita nawo ndi ichi: Tidzawasiya akhale ndi moyo kuti mkwiyo wa Yehova usatigwere chifukwa chophwanya lonjezo limene tinawalonjeza.” 21 Anapitiriza kunena kuti “Asiyeni akhale ndi moyo, komabe akhale otidulira mitengo ndi kutitungira madzi ogwiritsa ntchito pa chipembedzo.” Lonjezo la atsogoleriwo linasungidwa.

22 Kenaka Yoswa anayitanitsa Agibiyoni aja nawafunsa kuti, “Chifukwa chiyani inu munatinyenga ponena kuti mumachokera kutali pamene zoona zake nʼzoti mumakhala pafupi pomwe pano? 23 Tsopano popeza mwachita izi, Mulungu wakutembererani ndipo palibe wina mwa inu amene akhale mfulu. Nthawi zonse inu muzidzatidulira nkhuni ndi kutitungira madzi ku Nyumba ya Yehova.”

24 Iwo anayankha Yoswa kuti, “Ife akapolo anufe tinachita zimenezi chifukwa tinamva bwino lomwe kuti Yehova Mulungu wanu analamula Mose mtumiki wake kuti adzakupatsani dziko lonseli ndi kuti anthu onse okhalamo adzaphedwe. Tsono ife tinachita mantha aakulu ndipo tinachita zimenezi pofuna kupulumutsa miyoyo yathu. 25 Tsopanotu ife tili mʼmanja mwanu, ndipo inu chitani nafe monga kukukomerani.”

26 Tsono Yoswa anawapulumutsa mʼmanja mwa Aisraeli ndipo sanawaphe. 27 Kuyambira tsiku limenelo Agibiyoni aja anasanduka odula nkhuni zaguwa lansembe la Yehova ndiponso otunga madzi. Mpaka lero lino iwo akuchitabe zimenezi kulikonse kumene Yehova anasankha.

The Gibeonite Deception

Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country,(A) in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea(B) as far as Lebanon(C) (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,(D) Hivites(E) and Jebusites)(F) they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

However, when the people of Gibeon(G) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,(H) they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal(I) and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country;(J) make a treaty(K) with us.”

The Israelites said to the Hivites,(L) “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty(M) with you?”

“We are your servants,(N)” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country(O) because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports(P) of him: all that he did in Egypt,(Q) 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon,(R) and Og king of Bashan,(S) who reigned in Ashtaroth.(T) 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire(U) of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace(V) with them to let them live,(W) and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near(X) them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth(Y) and Kiriath Jearim.(Z) 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath(AA) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled(AB) against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath(AC) we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live,(AD) but let them be woodcutters and water carriers(AE) in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way(AF) from you,’ while actually you live near(AG) us? 23 You are now under a curse:(AH) You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told(AI) how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands.(AJ) Do to us whatever seems good and right(AK) to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites(AL) woodcutters and water carriers(AM) for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.(AN) And that is what they are to this day.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 9:4 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) They prepared provisions and loaded their donkeys