UGidiyon, Indoda Enamandla Enobukroti Abagwebi 6 1 Oonyana bakaSirayeli benza ububi emehlweni kaYehova; uYehova wabanikela esandleni samaMidiyan iminyaka esixhenxe. 2 Isandla samaMidiyan saba namandla phezu kwamaSirayeli; ngenxa yamaMidiyan oonyana bakaSirayeli bazenzela imiqolomba esezintabeni, nemiqolomba, neenqaba. 3 Kwathi, xa amaSirayeli ehlwayele, enyuka amaMidiyan, nama-Amaleki, nabemi basempumalanga, benyuka baya kuwahlasela; 4 Bamisa iintente zabo, batshabalalisa imveliso yomhlaba, kwada kwaya kufika eGaza, abashiyanga nto idliwayo kwaSirayeli, nagusha, nankomo, naesile. 5 Kuba benyuka neenkomo zabo neentente zabo, beza njengeenkumbi ezininzi, ngokuba bona neenkamela zabo babengenakubalwa; bangena kwelo lizwe ukuze balitshabalalise. 6 AmaSirayeli aba hlwempuzekile kakhulu ngenxa yamaMidiyan; bakhala oonyana bakaSirayeli kuYehova. 7 Kwathi, bakukhala oonyana bakaSirayeli kuYehova ngenxa yamaMidiyan, 8 UYehova wathuma umprofeti koonyana bakaSirayeli, wathi kubo, Utsho uYehova, uThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi, Ndaninyusa eYiputa, ndanikhupha endlwini yobukhoboka; 9 Ndanihlangula esandleni samaYiputa, nasesandleni sabo bonke ababenicinezela, ndabagxotha phambi kwenu, ndaninika ilizwe labo; 10 Ndathi kuni, NdinguYehova, uThixo wenu; musani ukuboyika oothixo bama-Amori, enihleli ezweni lawo; analiphulaphula ilizwi lam. 11 Kweza isithunywa sikaYehova, sahlala phantsi kom-oki oseOfra, kaYowashe umAbhihezere; uGidiyon, unyana wakhe, wayebhula ingqolowa esixovulelweni sewayini, ukuze ayifihle kumaMidiyan. 12 Kwabonakala isithunywa sikaYehova kuye, sathi kuye, UYehova unawe, gorhandini linobukroti. 13 Wathi uGidiyon kuye, Nkosi yam, ukuba uYehova unathi, kungani na ukuba konke oku kusehlele? Iphi na yonke imimangaliso yakhe abasixelela ngayo oobawo, besithi, UYehova akasikhuphi na eYiputa? Kaloku uYehova usilahlile, wasinikela esandleni samaMidiyan.
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UGidiyon, Indoda Enamandla Enobukroti
14 Wabheka ke uYehova kuye, wathi, Hamba ngala mandla akho, uwasindise amaSirayeli esandleni samaMidiyan; andikuthumanga ndim na? 15 Wathi kuye, Nkosi yam, ndowasindisa ngantoni na amaSirayeli? Khangela, usapho lwam luhlwempuzekileyo kwaManase, kwaye mna ndingoyena mncinane endlwini kabawo. 16 Wathi uYehova kuye, Ndiya kuba nawe, uwabulale amaMidiyan njengandoda-nye. 17 Wathi kuye, Ukuba ndibabalwe nguwe, khawundenzele umqondiso wokuba nguwe othetha nam. 18 Nceda ungasuki apha, ndide ndize kuwe, ndizise isipho sam, ndisibeke phambi kwakho.” Wathi, “Ndiza kuhlala apha ude ubuye.” 19 UGidiyon wangena, walungisa itakane lebhokhwe, neesonka ezingenagwele ze-efa yomgubo; inyama wayibeka engobozini, wabeka umhluzi embizeni, wazisa kuye phantsi kom-oki, wanikela ngawo. 20 Ingelosi kaThixo yathi kuye: “Thabatha inyama neesonka ezingenagwele, uzibeke phezu kweli litye, uthulule umhluzi.” Wenjenjalo ke. 21 Ingelosi kaYehova yolula incam yentonga eyayisesandleni sayo, yachukumisa inyama neesonka ezingenagwele, kwaphuma umlilo eliweni, wayidla inyama neesonka ezingenagwele. Saza isithunywa sikaYehova semka emehlweni akhe. 22 Wabona uGidiyon ukuba sisithunywa sikaYehova, wathi uGidiyon, Hayi, Nkosi Yehova! Kuba ndibone isithunywa sikaYehova ubuso ngobuso. 23 UYehova wathi kuye, Uxolo malube kuwe; musa ukoyika; akuyi kufa. 24 UGidiyon wamakhela khona isibingelelo uYehova, wathi igama laso nguYehova-shalom; sisekho nanamhla eOfra yama-Abhihezere. 25 Kwathi ngobo busuku, uYehova wathi kuye, Thabatha inkunzi yenkomo kayihlo, eyesibini inkunzi eminyaka isixhenxe, udilize isibingelelo sikaBhahali sikayihlo, umgawule uAshera ongakuso; 26 Wakhele uYehova uThixo wakho isibingelelo encotsheni yale ngxondorha, ngokwesiko layo, uthabathe eyesibini inkunzi, unikele idini elinyukayo ngeenkuni zoAshera oza kumgawula. 27 UGidiyon wathabatha amadoda alishumi kubakhonzi bakhe, wenza njengoko uYehova wayethethile kuye; kwathi, kuba wayesoyika indlu kayise namadoda aloo mzi, akwaba nako ukukwenza emini, wakwenza ebusuku. 28 Akuba amadoda omzi evukile kusasa, nanko isibingelelo sikaBhahali sidiliziwe, noAshera obekuso unqunyulwe, nenkunzi yesibini yenkomo inikelwe phezu kwesibingelelo esakhiweyo. 29 Bathi omnye komnye, Ngubani na owenze le nto? Bathi bakuyibuza, bathi, NguGidiyon unyana kaYowashe owenze le nto. 30 Athi amadoda aloo mzi kuYowashe, Khupha unyana wakho, afe; ngokuba usidilizile isibingelelo sikaBhahali, nangokuba emgawulile uAshera obekuso. 31 Wathi uYowashe kubo bonke ababemchasile: “Niya kumlwela uBhali na? Niya kumsindisa na? Lowo umthethelelayo makabulawe kusekusasa; ukuba unguThixo, makazithethelele, kuba kukho umntu odilize isibingelelo sakhe.” 32 Ngaloo mini wambiza ngokuba nguYerubhahali, esithi, UBhahali makammangalele, ngokuba esidilizile isibingelelo sakhe. 33 Ahlanganisana ke onke amaMidiyan, nama-Amaleki, nabantu basempumalanga, awela, amisa entilini yaseYizereli. 34 UMoya kaYehova wangena kuGidiyon, wavuthela isigodlo; ama-Abhihezere ahlanganiselwa emva kwakhe. 35 Wathumela abathunywa kulo lonke elakwaManase, nabo bahlanganiswa emva kwakhe; wathumela abathunywa kwa-Ashere, nakwaZebhulon, nakwaNafetali; benyuka baya kubahlangabeza. 36 Wathi uGidiyon kuThixo, Ukuba uyawasindisa amaSirayeli ngesandla sam, njengoko uthethileyo, 37 Khangela, ndiza kubeka uboya begusha esandeni; ukuba umbethe uphezu koboya begusha bodwa, womile emhlabeni wonke, ndiya kwazi ke ukuba uya kuwasindisa amaSirayeli ngesandla sam, njengoko uthethileyo.
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38 Kwaba njalo ke; wavuka kusasa ngengomso, wabuxuba uboya, wakhama umbethe eboyeni, kwaza kwaphuma isitya esizele ngamanzi. 39 Wathi uGidiyon kuThixo, Umsindo wakho mawungandivutheli, ndithethe okwesi sihlandlo sodwa; mandilinge okwesi sihlandlo sodwa ngoboya; makube komile eboyeni bodwa, kubekho umbethe emhlabeni wonke. 40 Wenjenjalo uThixo ngobo busuku; ngokuba komile eboyeni bodwa, umbethe wawuphezu komhlaba wonke.
Abagwebi 7 1 UYerubhahali, onguGidiyon, nabantu bonke ababenaye, bavuka kusasa, bamisa emacaleni omthombo waseHarodi; ke umkhosi wamaMidiyan wawungasemantla kubo, ngasendulini yaseMore, entilini. 2 Wathi uYehova kuGidiyon, Baninzi kakhulu abantu abanawe, ukuba ndiwanikele amaMidiyan esandleni sabo; hleze amaSirayeli aqhayise ngam, athi, Sindisindisile ngesandla sam. 3 Ngoko ke memeza ezindlebeni zabantu, uthi, ‘Nabani na owoyikayo nowoyikayo makabuye ahambe ngokukhawuleza entabeni yaseGiliyadi.’ Kwabuya ke abantu abangama-22 000, kwasala ishumi lamawaka. 4 Wathi uYehova kuGidiyon, Abantu basebaninzi kakhulu; behlisele emanzini, ndikulinge bona apho; kothi, endithe kuwe, Lo uya kuhamba nawe, yena ahambe nawe; ke wonke endithe kuwe, Lo akayi kuhamba nawe, akayi kuhamba nawe. 5 Wehla nabantu waya emanzini; wathi uYehova kuGidiyon, Bonke abakhapha amanzi ngolwimi lwabo, njengoko ixhapha inja, uze ubamise bodwa; bonke abaguqa ngamadolo ukuba basele. 6 Inani labo basela ngesandla emlonyeni wabo lalingamakhulu amathathu amadoda; bonke abanye abantu baguqa ngamadolo abo ukuba basele amanzi. 7 Wathi uYehova kuGidiyon, Ndiya kunisindisa ngala madoda angamakhulu amathathu axhaphayo, ndiwanikele amaMidiyan esandleni sakho; bonke abanye abantu mabahambe, elowo aye endaweni yakhe. 8 Bathabatha ke abantu umphako ngesandla sabo, nezigodlo zabo; wabathuma bonke abanye abakwaSirayeli, elowo waya ententeni yakhe; wagcina loo madoda angamakhulu amathathu; umkhosi wamaMidiyan wawungaphantsi kwakhe entilini. 9 Kwathi ngobo busuku, uYehova wathi kuye, Vuka, uhle uye empini; ngokuba ndiyinikele esandleni sakho. 10 Ukuba uyoyika ukuhla, yihla nomfana wakho uFura, uye emkhosini; 11 Uza kuva oko bakuthethayo, uze emva koko izandla zakho zomelele ukuze wehle uye enkampini.” Waza ke yena noPhura, umkhonzi wakhe, baya ngaphandle kwamadoda axhobileyo awayesenkampini. 12 AmaMidiyan nama-Amaleki nabo bonke abantu baseMpuma babelele entlanjeni njengeenkumbi ezininzi; neenkamela zabo zazingenakubalwa, njengentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle ngobuninzi. 13 Akufika uGidiyon, nanko indoda ixelela ummelwane wayo iphupha, isithi, Yabona, ndiphuphe iphupha; nanko isonka serhasi siqengqeleka singena emkhosini wamaMidiyan, safika ententeni, sayibetha yawa, sayibhukuqa, yalala phantsi. 14 Waphendula ummelwane wakhe wathi, Loo nto ayilulo olunye uhlobo, likrele likaGidiyon unyana kaYowashe, indoda yakwaSirayeli; kuba uThixo uwanikele esandleni sakhe amaMidiyan nomkhosi wonke. 15 Kwathi, akukuva uGidiyon ukubaliswa kwephupha nokutyhilwa kwalo, waqubuda, wabuyela emkhosini wamaSirayeli, wathi, Vukani, ngokuba uYehova uyinikele umkhosi wamaMidiyan esandleni senu. 16 Wawahlula amadoda angamakhulu amathathu aba ngamaqela amathathu, wabeka izigodlo esandleni sawo onke, neengqayi ezingenanto, nezibane ngaphakathi kweengqayi.
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17 Wathi kuwo, Khangelani kum, nenze njalo; yabonani, ndakufika ngaphandle kwenkampu, nothi njengoko ndenzayo mna, nenze nani. 18 Xa ndivuthela ngesigodlo, mna nabo bonke abanam, nivuthele nani izigodlo ngeenxa zonke emkhosini wonke, nithi, Ikrele likaYehova nelikaGidiyon. 19 Wafika uGidiyon namadoda alikhulu awayenaye, ekupheleni kwenkampu ekuqaleni komlindo ophakathi, besandula ukumisa abalindi; bavuthela izigodlo, baziqhekeza iingqayi ezazisesandleni sabo. 20 Avuthela izigodlo amaqela omathathu, aqhekeza imiphanda, aphatha izibane ngezandla zawo zasekhohlo, namaxilongo ngezandla zawo zasekunene, ukuba avuthele; akhwaza athi, Ikrele likaYehova nelikaGidiyon! 21 Ema elowo endaweni yakhe ngeenxa zonke zenkampu; yabaleka yonke impi, yakhala, yasaba. 22 Amakhulu amathathu avuthela izigodlo; uYehova wabhekisa ikrele lendoda kummelwane wayo, nakumzi wonke; yasaba impi, yaya eBhete-shita eTserera, yaya emdeni weAbhele-mehola ngaseTabhati. 23 Ahlanganiselwa ndawonye amadoda akwaSirayeli evela kwaNafetali, nakwa-Ashere, nakwaManase wonke, asukela amaMidiyan. 24 UGidiyon wathumela abathunywa kulo lonke elaseentaba lakwaEfrayim, esithi, Yihlani niye kulwa namaMidiyan, niwathimbe phambi kwawo amanzi ukuya eBhete-bhara naseYordan. Ahlanganisana onke amadoda akwaEfrayim, athimba amanzi ukuya eBhete-bhara naseYordan. 25 Babamba iinkosana ezimbini zamaMidiyan, uOrebhe noZebhe; bambulala uOrebhe eweni likaOrebhe, noZebhe bambulala esixovulelweni sewayini sikaZebhe, bawasukela amaMidiyan, bazisa iintloko zikaOrebhe noZebhe kuGidiyon phesheya kweYordan.
Abagwebi 8 1 Athi amadoda akwaEfrayim kuye, Yintoni na le nto uyenzileyo kuthi, ungasibizanga xa ubusiya kulwa namaMidiyan? Aphikisana naye kabukhali. 2 Wathi kubo, Ndenze ntoni na ngoku xa kuthelekiswa nani? Ukubhikica iidiliya zakwaEfrayim akukuhle na kunokuvunwa kweediliya zakwa-Abhi-ezere? 3 UThixo uzinikele ezandleni zenu iinkosana zakwaMidiyan, uOrebhe noZebhe. Yintoni na endinokuyenza xa ndithelekiswa nani?” Yaza loo msindo wabo waphela ngakuye, akuba etshilo loo nto. 4 Wafika uGidiyon eYordan, wawela, yena namadoda angamakhulu amathathu awayenaye, ediniwe, esasukela noko. 5 Wathi kumadoda aseSukoti, Khanibaphe abantu abandilandelayo izonka zesonka, ngokuba batyhafile, ndisukela uZebha noTsalimuna, ookumkani bakwaMidiyan. 6 Bathi abathetheli baseSukoti, Izandla zikaZebha noTsalimuna zisesandleni sakho na, ukuba sinike umkhosi wakho isonka? 7 Wathi uGidiyon, Xa uYehova ebanikele ooZebha noTsalimuna esandleni sam, ndoyidlavula inyama yenu ngameva asentlango nangamakhakakhaka. 8 Wenyuka khona, waya ePenuweli, wathetha kubo kwangokunjalo; amphendula amadoda asePenuweli njengoko amphendulayo amadoda aseSukoti. 9 Watsho nakubantu basePenuweli, esithi, Ekubuyeni kwam ngoxolo, ndoyidiliza le nqaba. 10 Ke kaloku uZebha noTsalimuna babeseKarkore, benemikhosi yabo, malunga neshumi elinesihlanu lamawaka amadoda, bonke abaseleyo kwimikhosi yonke yasempumalanga; ngokuba kwawa amadoda alikhulu elinamanci mabini amawaka, arhola ikrele. 11 Wenyuka uGidiyon ngendlela yabahlala ezintenteni, ngasempumalanga yeNobha neYogebheha, wayibulala impi; impi leyo ibingaxolanga. 12 Basaba ooZebha noTsalimuna, wabasukela, wababamba ookumkani ababini bamaMidiyan, ooZebha noTsalimuna, wawonakalisa wonke umkhosi.
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13 UGidiyon unyana kaYowashe wabuya emfazweni ngaphambi kokuba ilanga liphume. 14 Wabamba umfana wamadoda aseSukoti, wambuza; wambhalela abathetheli baseSukoti, namadoda amakhulu alo, amadoda angamashumi asixhenxe anesixhenxe. 15 Wafika kumadoda aseSukoti, wathi, Naba ooZebha noTsalimuna, enandingcikiva ngabo, nisithi, Izandla zikaZebha noTsalimuna sezisesandleni sakho na, ukuba sinike amadoda akho adiniweyo isonka? 16 Wathabatha amadoda amakhulu omzi, nameva asentlango, namakhakakhaka, wawafundisa ngawo amadoda aseSukoti. 17 Wayidiliza inqaba ende yasePenuweli, wawabulala amadoda aloo mzi. 18 Wathi kuZebha noTsalmuna, Yayingabantu abanjani na ababuleweyo eTabhore? Bathi, Njengoko unjalo, babenjalo nabo; ngamnye wayefana nonyana wokumkani. 19 Wathi, Babengabazalwana bam, oonyana bakamama; ehleli nje uYehova, ukuba benibasindisile, ngendinganibulali. 20 Wathi kuYetere izibulo lakhe: “Sukuma, ubabulale.” Kodwa umfana akalirholanga ikrele lakhe, kuba wayesoyika, kuba wayesengumfana. 21 UZebha noTsalmuna bathi: “Sukuma, usihlasele, kuba njengoko indoda injalo, namandla ayo anjalo.” UGidiyon wasukuma, wababulala ooZebha noTsalmuna, wazithatha izihombiso ezazisezintanyeni zeenkamela zabo. 22 Athi amadoda akwaSirayeli kuGidiyon, Silawule, wena nonyana wakho, nonyana wonyana wakho; ngokuba usisindisile esandleni samaMidiyan. 23 Wathi uGidiyon kubo, Andiyi kunilawula mna, akayi kunilawula nonyana wam; nguYehova oya kunilawula nina. 24 Wathi uGidiyon kubo, Ndicela into enye kuni, ukuba nindinike elowo ijikazi lexhoba lakhe. (Kuba babenamajikazi egolide, kuba babengamaIshmayeli.) 25 Bathi, Siya kukunika ngokuzithandela. Bazandlala ingubo, baphosa kuyo elowo ijikazi lexhoba lakhe. 26 Ubunzima bamacici egolide awawacelayo babuziishekele zegolide eziliwaka elinamakhulu asixhenxe, ngaphandle kwezihombiso, neekhola, neengubo ezimfusa ezazikuokumkani bamaMidiyan, nangaphandle kweentsimbi ezazisezintanyeni zeenkamela zabo. 27 UGidiyon wenza iefodi ngayo, wayibeka emzini wakhe eOfra; onke amaSirayeli ahenyuza ngokuyilandela khona; yaba ngumgibe kuGidiyon nakwindlu yakhe. 28 Ngaloo ndlela amaMidiyan oyiswa phambi koonyana bakaSirayeli, kangangokuba abazange baphinde baphakamise iintloko zabo. Kwaye ilizwe lazola iminyaka engamashumi amane ngemihla kaGidiyon. 29 UYerubhahali, unyana kaYowashe, waya kuhlala endlwini yakhe. 30 UGidiyon wayenoonyana abangamashumi asixhenxe abazalwa ngumzimba wakhe, kuba wayenabafazi abaninzi. 31 Neshweshwe lakhe elalikwaShekem lamzalela unyana, awamthiya igama lokuba nguAbhimeleki. 32 UGidiyon unyana kaYowashe wafa eseluphele kakhulu, wangcwatyelwa engcwabeni likaYowashe uyise, eOfra yama-Abhihezere. 33 Kwathi, akuba efile uGidiyon, babuya oonyana bakaSirayeli, bahenyuza ngokulandela ooBhahali, bamenza uBhahali-bheriti uthixo wabo. 34 Oonyana bakaSirayeli abamkhumbulanga uYehova uThixo wabo, owabahlangulayo esandleni seentshaba zabo zonke ngeenxa zonke; 35 Abayenzelanga nceba indlu kaYerubhahali, uGidiyon, ngokokulunga konke awakwenzela amaSirayeli.
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Ulwahlulo lwevesi ngevesi Ibali likaGidiyon kwisahluko sesi-6 ukuya kwesesi-8 sabaGwebi lelinye lamabali achukumisayo eBhayibhileni. Lichaza umjikelo wesizwe wokuvukela nokucinezelwa, ubizo olungathandekiyo noloyikekayo lweqhawe elingalindelekanga, uloyiso lomkhosi olumangalisayo olufunyenwe ngamadoda angama-300 kuphela, kunye nemiphumo enzima yempumelelo.
Isahluko 6: Ingcinezelo, Ubizo, kunye noLungiselelo Iivesi 1–6 (Uxinzelelo lwamaMidiyan): Ngenxa yokuba amaSirayeli enze ububi emehlweni kaYehova, uThixo wawanikela esandleni samaMidiyan iminyaka esixhenxe. AmaMidiyan, amaAmaleki, kunye nabantwana basempuma batshabalalisa ilizwe, betshabalalisa izityalo kunye nemfuyo, benyanzela amaSirayeli ukuba azimele emiqolombeni, emiqolombeni nasezintabeni. Iivesi 7–10 (Ukukhalinyelwa Kwesiprofeto): Xa uSirayeli wakhala kuYehova ngenxa yamaMidiyan, uThixo wathumela umprofeti ukuba awakhumbuze ngobubele Bakhe—indlela awabakhupha ngayo eYiputa waza wabayalela ukuba bangoyiki oothixo bama-Amori—kodwa abazange baliphulaphule ilizwi Lakhe. Iivesi 11–16 (Ingelosi yeNkosi iyavela): Ingelosi yeNkosi yeza yahlala phantsi kom-oki eOfra, owawungokaYowashe umAbhihezere. Unyana wakhe, uGidiyon , wayebhula ingqolowa esixovulelweni sewayini ukuze ayifihle kumaMidiyan. Ingelosi yathi, “INkosi inawe, qhawe elinobukroti.” UGidiyon wabuza oku, ekhomba ubuhlwempu bukaSirayeli kunye nesikhundla sakhe esiphantsi endlwini kayise. INkosi yamqinisekisa, yathi, “Ndiya kuba nawe.” Iivesi 17–24 (Umqondiso Wokwamkelwa): UGidiyon wacela umqondiso wokubonisa ukuba nguThixo othethayo ngokwenene, elungiselela inyama kunye neesonka ezingenagwele. Xa iNgelosi yachukumisa umnikelo ngencam yentonga yayo, umlilo waphuma edwaleni wawutshisa, yaza iNgelosi yanyamalala. Eqonda ukuba ngubani, uGidiyon woyika ubomi bakhe, kodwa iNkosi yathi kuye, “Uxolo malube kuwe; musa ukoyika; akuyi kufa.” UGidiyon wakha isibingelelo apho esibizwa ngokuba yiYehova-shalom (iNkosi Luxolo). Iivesi 25–32 (Ukutshatyalaliswa kwesibingelelo sikaBhahali): Kwangobo busuku, uThixo waxelela uGidiyon ukuba athathe inkunzi yesibini kayise aze adilize isibingelelo sikayise sikaBhahali, agawule umthi womthi (uAshera) osecaleni kwawo. UGidiyon wakwenza oku ebusuku nabakhonzi abalishumi ngenxa yokoyika usapho lwakhe namadoda esixeko. Akufunyanwa kusasa olulandelayo, abantu basedolophini bafuna ukuba abulawe, kodwa uYowashe wamkhusela, esithi, "Niya kumlwela na uBhahali?... makamthethelele ngokwakhe." Ngenxa yesi sizathu, uGidiyon wabizwa ngokuba nguYerubhahali ("UBhahali makamthethelele"). Iivesi 33–35 (UMoya kaThixo Unika UGidiyon Amandla): AmaMidiyan nama-Amaleki ahlangana ndawonye aza amisa iintente entlanjeni yaseYizereli. "UMoya kaYehova wafika kuGidiyon" (ngokoqobo wambesa), waza wavuthela isigodlo, eqokelela izizwana zama-Abhiyezere, ama-Ashere, amaZebhulon namaNafetali ukuba amlandele. Iivesi 36–40 (Umqondiso woboya): Esafuna isiqinisekiso, uGidiyon wacela uThixo ukuba amnike umqondiso esebenzisa uboya begusha. Okokuqala, wacela umbethe kuphela eboyeni ngelixa umhlaba wawusomile; uThixo wavuma. Okulandelayo, wacela ukuba uboya begusha bome ngelixa umhlaba unembethe; uThixo wenza njalo.
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UGidiyon, Indoda Enamandla Enobukroti
Isahluko 7: Umkhosi Onciphileyo Noloyiso LwamaMidiyan Iivesi 1–3 (Ukucheba Umkhosi): UYerubhahali (uGidiyon) nomkhosi wakhe bamisa iintente kufutshane nequla laseHarodi, ngelixa amaMidiyan ayesemantla. UThixo waxelela uGidiyon ukuba abantu baninzi kakhulu , hleze amaSirayeli azibize ngokuba azuke ngaphezu koThixo. UThixo wayalela uGidiyon ukuba abhengeze ukuba nabani na owoyikayo angahamba. Amadoda angama22,000 ahamba , eshiya i-10,000 ngasemva. Iivesi 4–8 (Uvavanyo Lwamanzi): UThixo wathi kusekuninzi kakhulu. Waxelela uGidiyon ukuba abazise emanzini, apho wayeza kubahlula khona. Abo bawasela amanzi ngolwimi lwabo njengenja (amadoda angama-300) bahlukaniswa. Abo baguqa phantsi ukuze basele bathunyelwa emakhaya. Ngamadoda angama-300 kuphela, uThixo wathembisa ukuba uza kuwanikela amaMidiyan ezandleni zikaGidiyon. Iivesi 9–15 (Iphupha lamaMidiyan): Ngobo busuku, uThixo waxelela uGidiyon ukuba ehle aye kwinkampu yotshaba kuba wayeyinikele esandleni sakhe. Ehamba nomkhonzi wakhe uPhurah, uGidiyon weva isosha lamaMidiyan lixelela iqabane lakhe iphupha malunga nesonka serhasi esiwela kwinkampu yamaMidiyan, sibetha intente yaza yawa. Elinye isosha layitolika: "Le ayiyonto ngaphandle kwekrele likaGidiyon... kuba uThixo umnikele esandleni sakhe amaMidiyan." Enqula uThixo, uGidiyon wabuyela kumadoda akhe ngokuzithemba. Iivesi 16–22 (Icebo Lezibane Neengqayi): UGidiyon wahlula amadoda angama-300 abe ngamaqela amathathu. Wanika indoda nganye isigodlo, ingqayi engenanto, kunye nesibane (isibane) ngaphakathi kwengqayi . Bejikeleza inkampu ebusuku, bavuthela izigodlo, baphula izitya, babamba izitya ngezandla zabo zasekhohlo kunye nezigodlo ngasekunene, baza bakhwaza bathi, “Ikrele likaYehova, nelikaGidiyon.” Uloyiko lwahlasela inkampu yamaMidiyan, kwaye uYehova wabeka ikrele lomntu ngamnye nxamnye nomnye kuyo yonke inkampu. Iivesi 23–25 (Umleqo): Amadoda akwaSirayeli avela kwaNafetali, kwa-Ashere, nakwaManase asukela amaMidiyan awayebaleka. UGidiyon wathumela abathunywa ngaphesheya kweentaba zakwaEfrayim ukuba baye kuthimba amanzi aphambi kwabo eBhete-bhara naseJordan, ebamba aze abulale iinkosana ezimbini zakwaMidiyan, uOrebhi noZebhe , abazisa iintloko zabo kuGidiyon.
Isahluko 8: Ukusukela, Iingxabano, kunye neMva Iivesi 1–3 (Isigqibo Sobudlelwane NoEfrayim): Amadoda akwaEfrayim akhalaza kabukhali ngokuba ayengabizwanga ngaphambili ukuba alwe. UGidiyon waphendula ngokuthobeka nangobuchule: “Ndenze ntoni na ngoku xa kuthelekiswa nani? Ukubhikica iidiliya zakwaEfrayim akungcono na kunokuvunwa kweediliya zakwa-Abhiyezere?” Impendulo yakhe ethambileyo yawubuyisa umsindo wabo. Iivesi 4–9 (Ukwala eSukoti nasePenuweli): UGidiyon namadoda akhe angama-300 adiniweyo bawela umlambo iJordani besukela ookumkani bamaMidiyan abaseleyo, uZebha noTsalmuna. Bacela isonka kumadoda amakhulu aseSukoti nasePenuweli ukuze bondle umkhosi odiniweyo, kodwa iinkokeli zahlekisa ngoGidiyon zaza azala, zisithi azikabathimbi ookumkani. UGidiyon wabalumkisa ukuba uza kubuya aze kubohlwaya ngameva namakhakakhaka. Iivesi 10–17 (Isohlwayo Nokubanjwa): UGidiyon wothusa umkhosi wamaMidiyan oseleyo waza wabamba ukumkani uZebha noTsalmuna . Ekubuyeni kwakhe, wabohlwaya amadoda amakhulu
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UGidiyon, Indoda Enamandla Enobukroti
aseSukoti esebenzisa ameva asentlango namakhakakhaka, waza wayidiliza inqaba yasePenuweli waza wabulala amadoda esixeko. Iivesi 18–21 (Isiphelo Sookumkani): UGidiyon wabuza uZebha noTsalmuna ukuba baluhlobo luni lwamadoda abawabulele eTabhore, wafumanisa ukuba ngabazalwana bakhe. Wayalela unyana wakhe omkhulu, uYetere, ukuba ababulale, kodwa umfana wayesoyika kuba wayesemncinci. Ookumkani ababini bacela uGidiyon ukuba ababulale ngokwakhe, waza uGidiyon wababulala, ethatha imihombiso yenyanga entanyeni yeenkamela zabo. Iivesi 22–27 (I-Efodi Yegolide Nokuphulukana KwamaSirayeli): USirayeli wazama ukwenza uGidiyon kunye nomnombo wakhe babe ngabalawuli abazuzwe ilifa, kodwa uGidiyon wala ngokuqinileyo, esithi, “UYehova uya kunilawula.” Nangona kunjalo, uGidiyon wenza isicelo: sokuba ngamnye anikwe ijikazi lempumlo kwixhoba lakhe. Waqokelela iishekele zegolide ezili1,755 waza wenza i- efodi , wayibeka kwisixeko sakhe saseOfra. Okubuhlungu kukuba, onke amaSirayeli ahenyuza nayo apho , yaba ngumgibe kuGidiyon nakwindlu yakhe. Iivesi 28–35 (Ukufa kukaGidiyon kunye nokuLibala kukaSirayeli): AmaMidiyan oyiswa, ilizwe laphumla iminyaka engama-40 ngexesha lokuphila kukaGidiyon. UGidiyon wafa emdala kakhulu waza wangcwatyelwa engcwabeni likayise uYowashe. Emva nje kokufa kwakhe, amaSirayeli abuyela ekukrexezeni ngokomoya, enqula uBhahali-bheriti kwaye engabonisi bubele endlwini kaYerubhahali (uGidiyon) ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ezilungileyo awayezenzile.
Izifundo ezibalulekileyo kwiBali likaGidiyon UThixo Usebenzisa Abangenakulindelwa Nababuthathaka: UGidiyon waqala ukuzimela ngoloyiko waza wabona isizwe sakhe sibuthathaka kakhulu kwaManase. UThixo wanciphisa ngabom umkhosi wakhe ukusuka kuma-32,000 ukuya kuma-300 ukuze abonise ukuba uloyiso luvela kumandla kaThixo, kungekhona kumandla omntu. Umonde Nokuthandabuza Komntu: UThixo wahlangabezana nokungaqiniseki okunzulu kukaGidiyon kunye nezicelo zemiqondiso (umlilo kunye noboya begusha) ngomonde omkhulu nobubele, wakha ukholo lwakhe ngobunono inyathelo ngenyathelo. UbuNkokheli Bokwenyani Bubandakanya Ukuthobeka: UGidiyon waphumelela ekulawuleni ezopolitiko ezibuthathaka zesizwe (ethomalalisa amaEfrayim) waza wala ngamandla obukumkani, evuma ukuba nguThixo kuphela omele alawule uSirayeli. Ingozi Yokuvumelana Empumelelweni: Nangona wayephumelele ngendlela emangalisayo, uGidiyon wadala i-efodi yegolide yaba ngumgibe wokomoya (ukunqula izithixo) kusapho lwakhe nakwisizwe sakhe, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba kufuneka ulumko lokomoya—ingakumbi—emva koloyiso olukhulu.
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