48—Ukwabiwa KweKanan

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuYoshuwa 10:40-43; 11; 14 ukuya kuma-22.]`

Uloyiso lwaseBhete-horon lwakhawuleza lwalandelwa luloyiso lomzantsi Kanan. “Walibulala ke uYoshuwa lonke ilizwe leentaba, nelasezantsi nelezihlambo. . . . Wabathimba uYoshuwa bonke abo kumkani, nelizwe labo, ngasihlandlo sinye, ngokuba uYehova uThixo kaIsrayeli ebewalwela amaIsrayeli. Wabuya uYoshuwa enamaIsrayeli onke, weza eminqubeni eGiligali.”ANa 510.1

Izizwe ezazikumantla wePalestina, ngokoyika impumelelo eyayihamba nemikhosi kaIsrayeli, zaya zavumelana ukuba zihlangane ukuyichasa. Phambili kule ntlangano, yayinguYabhin, ukumkani waseHatsore, indawo ekwintshona yeChibi iMerom. “Baphuma ke bona nemikhosi yabo yonke.” Lo mkhosi wawumkhulu kunayo yonke amaIsrayeli akha aqubisana nayo eKanan, “abantu abaninzi njengentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle ukuba baninzi, namahashe, neenqwelo zokulwa, into eninzi kunene. Bavumelana ke abo kumkani bonke; beza bamisa ndawonye emanzini aseMerom, ukuba balwe namaIsrayeli.” Kwaphindwa kwanikwa uYoshuwa isigidimi senkuthazo: “Musa ukoyika ngenxa yabo; ngokuba ngomso eli xa ndiya kubanikela bonke bephela, behlatyiwe, emandleni amaIsrayeli.”ANa 510.2

Kufuphi neChibi iMerom, wayifikela inkampu yemikhosi ehlangeneyo wayisukela iphela imikhosi yayo. “UYehova wabanikela esandleni samaIsrayeli, ababulala, abasukela . . . kwada akwasala namnye kubo usindileyo.” Iinqwelo zokulwa namahashe izinto ezaziligugu nekuqhayiswa ngazo ngamaKanan, kwakungafunekanga zithatyathiwe ngamaIsrayeli. Ngokomyalelo kaThixo, iinqwelo zatshiswa, amahashe alinyazwa, ukuze angakufaneli ukusetyenziswa emfazweni. AmaIsrayeli kwakungafuneki abeke ithemba lawo ezinqweleni zokulwa okanye emahasheni, kodwa “egameni likaYehova uThixo wabo.”ANa 510.3

Isixeko emva kwesixeko, zathatyathwa,neHatsore eyayiyinqaba yentlangano, yatshiswa. Imfazwe yaqhuba iminyaka emininzi, kodwa ukuphela kwayo, uYoshuwa waba eyinkosi yeKanan. “Lazola ke ilizwe, akwabakho mfazwe.”ANa 511.1

Nangona amandla amaKanan ayaphulwe, ayengekahluthwa ngokupheleleyo. Kwicala lasentshona, amaFilisti ayesabambe isithabazi esityebileyo ngaselunxwemeni lolwandle, kanti ngasentla kwawo yayingumhlaba wamaTsidon. ILebhanon nayo yayikwa ngumhlaba wamaTsidon; ngasezantsi ukusinga ngaseYiputa, ilizwe lalisamiwe ziintshaba zikaIsrayeli.ANa 511.2

UYoshuwa wayengasazi kuqhuba nemfazwe. Kwakukho omnye umsebenzi ekufuneka le nkokeli inkulu iwenze phambi kokuba yahlukane nokulawula uIsrayeli. Ilizwe lonke, iindawo esele zoyisiwe kunye nezo kwakusafuneka zoyisiwe, kwakufuneka labelwe izizwe. Yayingumthwalo wesizwe ngasinye ukoyisa ngokupheleleyo indawo elilifa laso. Ukuba abantu babengathembeka kuThixo, wayeya kuzigxotha iintshaba zabo phambi kwabo; kwaye wathembisa [uThixo] ukubanika imihlaba emikhulu ukuba bebengathi banyaniseke kumnqophiso waKhe.ANa 511.3

KuYoshuwa nakuElazare umbingeleli omkhulu, nakwiintloko zezizwe, kwaya kwayekelwa kubo ukwabiwa komhlaba, indawo yesizwe ngasinye isenziwa ngamaqashiso. UMoses ngokwakhe wayeyimisile imida yelizwe ngendlela elaliza kwabiwa ngayo phakathi kwezizwe xa zithe zafika zayihlutha iKanan, waza wanyula indoda enkulu kwisizwe ngasinye ukuba ijongane nokwahlulwa. Isizwe sakwaLevi, njengoko sasinikelwe kumsebenzi wengcwele, sasingabalwanga ekwabelweni; kodwa amashumi amane anesibhozo ezixeko kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zelizwe, zabekelwa abaLevi ukuba zibe lilifa labo.ANa 511.4

Phambi kokuba kwabiwe ilizwe, uKalebhi, ekhatshwa ziintloko zezizwe, weza enebango elikhethekileyo. Ngaphandle kukaYoshuwa, uKalebhi wayengoyena umdala kwaIsrayeli. UKalebhi noYoshuwa babekuphela kwabo kwiintlola ababuya nengxelo entle ngeLizwe leDinga, eyayibakhuthaza abantu ukuba banyuke balithabathe ilizwe egameni likaYehova. UKalebhi wamkhumbuza uYoshuwa ngesithembiso esasenziwe ngoko, njengomvuzo wokunyaniseka kwakhe: “Ilizwe elinyathelwe lunyawo lwakho lobalilifa lakho, neloonyana bakho, kude kuse ephakadeni, ngokuba ukuzalisile ukumlandela uYehova.” Wabeka phambi kwakhe isicelo sokuba iHebron inikelwe kuye ukuba ayime. Le ndawo yayilikhaya lika-Abraham, noIsake, noYakobi iminyaka emininzi;kwalapha, emininzi; kwalapha, kumqolomba waseMakapela, bangcwatywa khona. EHebron kulapho kwakukho uAnaki owayesoyikwa, onkangeleko yobukhulu bakhe yazoyikisayo iintlola, kwathi ngengxelo yazo sanyamalala isibindi sakhe wonke uIsrayeli. Le, ngaphezu kwazo zonke ezinye, yindawo awathi uKalebhi, ngokuthembela kumandla kaThixo, wayikhetha ukuba ibe lilifa lakhe.ANa 511.5

“Khangela ke ngoko, uYehova undisindisile njengoko watshoyo,” watsho, “le minyaka imashumi mane anamihlanu, kususela koko walithethayo uYehova elo lizwi kuMoses: . . . yabona ke, ngoku namhla ndiminyaka imashumi asibhozo anamihlanu ndizelwe. Ndisomelele nanamhla, kwanjengamini wandithumayo uMoses; njengoko ayenjalo amandla am oko, asenjalo nangoku amandla am okulwa, kwa-awokuphuma nawokubuya. Ke ngoko ndinike ezo ntaba wathetha zona uYehova ngaloo mini; ngokuba weva wena ngaloo mini ukuba ama-Anaki akhona, imizi yawo mikhulu, inqatyisiwe. Mhlawumbi uYehova woba nam, ndiwagqogqe ke, njengoko watshoyo uYehova.” Esi sicelo saxhaswa ngamadoda aziintloko zakwaYuda. UKalebhi, yayinguye owanyulwayo kwesi sizwe ukuba alabe ilizwe, wakhetha ukuba abamanye naye aba bantu ekwenzeni ibango lakhe, ukuze kungabi ngathi usebenzisa igunya lakhe ukuzizuzela okuhle.ANa 512.1

Ibango lakhe lanikwa ngokukhawuleza. Wayengekho omnye owayefanelekile ukuba anikwe lo mzi womeleleyo. “UYoshuwa wamsikelela, wamnika iHebron uKalebhi unyana kaYefune, . . . ngenxa enokuba wazalisayo ukumlandela uYehova, uThixo kaIsrayeli.” Ukholo lukaKalebhi, nangeli xesha lwalusafana nokuba lwalunjalo xa ingxelo yakhe yaphikisana nengxelo engeyiyo yezinye iintlola. Wayekholelwe kwisithembiso sikaThixo sokuba uya kubabeka abantu baKhe ukuba bayithabathe iKanan, ekwenzeni oku, wamlandela ngokupheleleyo uYehova. Wayenyamezele, yena nabantu bakhe, uhambo olude lwasentlango, besabelana ngezidaniso nemithwalo yabanetyala; kodwa akazange akhalaze ngenxa yoko, endaweni yoko wayibabaza inceba kaThixo eyamgcinayo entlango xa abazalwana bakhe babenqunyulwa. Phakathi kwazo zonke iinzima, iintlekele, nezibetho zokubhadula entlango, nangeminyaka yeemfazwe seloko bangena eKanan, uYehova wamgcina; kanti nangoku sele engaphaya kwamashumi asibhozo, amandla akhe ayengathothanga. Akazange azifunele umhlaba osele uhluthiwe, kodwa indawo, ngokwezinye iintlola, eyayingekhe yoyiswe. Ngoncedo lukaThixo, wayeza kuyihlutha le nqaba kwiingxilimbela awathi amandla azo aludidizelisa ukholo lukaIsrayeli. Yayingekuko ukufunaukuphakanyiswaokanyeukufumanainzuzo okwakhuthaza isicelo sikaKalebhi. Igorha elidala elinesibindi, lalilangazelela ukubanika abantu umzekelo owawuya kumzukisa uThixo, uzikhuthaze izizwe ukuba zilithabathe ngokupheleleyo ilizwe ooyise ababelibona njengelingenako ukoyiswa.ANa 512.2

UKalebhi wafumana ilifa apho intliziyo yakhe yayithe tyaba khona amashumi amane eminyaka, wathi ethembe ukuba uThixo uya kuba naye, “wabagqogqa apho uKalebhi oonyana bobathathu baka-Anaki.” Nangona wawufumanayo umhlaba wakhe nendlu yakhe, inzondelelo yakhe ayizange ihle; akazange ahlale onwabele ilifa lakhe, kodwa waqhubeka nokulwela inzuzo yesizwe nokuzukiswa kukaThixo.ANa 513.1

Amagwala nabavukeli batshabalala entlango, kodwa iintlola ezingamalungisa zatya iidiliya zase-Eshekoli. Elowo wanikwa ngokholo lwakhe. Abangakholwayo balubona uloyiko lwabo luzaliseka. Nangona uThixo wayethembisile, bona bathi akunako ukwenzeka ukuba bayidle ilifa iKanan, ngokwenene abayizuza. Abo bona baya bamthemba uThixo, bengakhangelanga kangako kubunzima ababeza kuhlangana nabo, ngaphezu kwamandla aLowo unaMandla Onke unguMncedi, bangena kwilizwe elihle. Kwakungokholo ekwathi abafanelekileyo bakudala “beyisa izikumkani, . . . basinda kwiintlangothi zekrele, bomelela ekubeni bebeswele amandla, baba ngamagorha emfazweni, bagxotha imikhosi yabasemzini.” Hebhere 11:33, 34. “Lulo ke olu uloyiso oluleyisayo ihlabathi, ukholo lwethu.” 1 Yohane 5:4.ANa 513.2

Olunye ubango olwalubhekiselele ekwahlulweni komhlaba, lwaveza umoya owahluke kakhulu kulowo kaKalebhi. Lwalusenziwa ngabantwana bakaYosefu, uhlanga lukaEfrayim nesiqingatha sesizwe sikaManase. Ngokujongwa kwamanani aphezulu, ezi zizwe zafuna isahlulo esiphindwe kabini somhlaba. Indawo esasiyabelwe yayiyeyona ityebileyo elizweni, ihlanganisa iintili ezityebileyo zaseSharon; kodwa izixeko eziphambili entilini apho zazisamiwe ngamaKanan, zaza ezi ntlanga zoyika ukusebenza nzima, kunye nengozi ekoyiseni abo yayiyeyabo le ndawo, zaza zafuna indawo yelizwe esele yoyisiwe. Isizwe sakwaEfrayim yayisesinye sezikhulu kwaIsrayeli, nesizwe awayengowaso uYoshuwa, aza amalungu aso azithabatha njengekunyanzelekileyo ukuba afumane ukuqatshelwa ngendlela ekhethekileyo. “Yini na ukuba usinike ilifa laqashiso linye, nasabelo sinye,” batsho, “singabantu abaninzi nje?” Noko ke, ayizange ibe nakususwa ebulungiseni obungqongqo inkokeli engagungqiyo.ANa 513.3

Impenduloyayoyathi,“Ukubaningabantuabaninzi,nyukani niye emahlathini, nizihlahlele ezweni lamaPerizi nelamaRama, xa kuxineneyo kuni ezintabeni zakwaEfrayim.”ANa 513.4

Impendulo yabo yabonisa oyena nobangela wesikhalazo. Babeswele ukholo nesibindi sokugxotha amaKanan. “Ilizwe elineentaba alisilingene; ke ziinqwelo zesinyithi kumaKanan onke amiyo ezweni lamathafa.”ANa 514.1

UThixo wayethembise ngamandla aKhe kubantu baKhe, ngoko ke, ukuba amaEfrayim ayenesibindi nokholo lukaKalebhi, akukho lutshaba lwaluya kuma phambi kwawo. UYoshuwa waqubisana ngamandla nolangazelelo lwabo lokuphepha ubunzima nengozi. “Ningabantu abaninzi, ninamandla amakhulu,” watsho, “niya kuwagqogqa amaKanan, nakuba eneenqwelo zesinyithi, nakuba omelele.” Ngaloo ndlela ingxoxo yabo yaba ibuyiselwa kwakubo. Ukuba babe ngabantu abaninzi, ngokutsho kwabo, babenakho ngokupheleleyo ukuzivulela eyabo indlela njengoko benzayo abazalwana babo. Ngoncedo lukaThixo, abamele kuzoyika iinqwelo zesinyithi.ANa 514.2

Ukususela ngoko, iGiligali yaba ngundlunkulu wesizwe nendawo yomnquba. Ngeli xesha kwakufuneka umnquba ususiwe wasiwa kwindawo esisimakade eyayikhethiwe. Le yayiyiShilo, idolophana ekwiqashiso likaEfrayim. Yayikufuphi nombindi welizwe, kulula ukufikelela kuyo kuzo zonke izizwe. Kule ndawo kwakukho umhlaba owawubhuqiwe ngokwenene [abantu bawo], ukuze abantu abanqulayo bangaphatheki kakubi. “Labizelwa ndawonye lonke ibandla lakwaIsrayeli eShilo; bayimisa khona intente yokuhlangana.” Izizwe ezazisahlala enkampini ngexesha umnquba ufuduselwa eGiligali zawulandela, zamisa iintente kufuphi neShilo. Zahlala apho zada zasasazelwa kwizabelo zazo.ANa 514.3

Ityeya yahlala eShilo iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu, yada, ngenxa yezono zendlu kaEli, yawela ezandleni zamaFilisti, yona iShilo yatshatyalaliswa. Ityeya ayizange ibe ibuyiselwe kulo mnquba, inkonzo yengcwele, ekugqibeleni yafuduselwa kwitempile eseYerusalem, yaza iShilo yaphelelwa sisidima. Into ekhoyo ziindonga ezibonisa nje indawo apho yayimi khona. Ixesha elide emva koko, isiphelo sayo sasisetyenziswa njengesilumkiso kwiYerusalem. “Khaniye endaweni yam ebiseShilo,” watsho njalo uYehova ngomprofeti uYeremiya, “apho ndalibeka khona igama lam ekuqaleni, nibone endakwenzayo kuyo, ngenxa yezinto ezimbi zabantu bam amaIsrayeli .. . .ndokwenza kulendlu, ibizwa ngegamalam, nikholosangayo, nakulandawo ndaninika yona nina nooyihlo, njengoko ndakwenzayo kwiShilo.” Yeremiya 7:12-14.ANa 514.4

Baya “bagqiba ke ukulaba ilizwe,” zaye zonke izizwe zinikwe ilifa lazo. UYoshuwa wabeka elakhe ibango. Yena, njengoKalebhi, wayenikwe isithembiso esisodwa selifa; kanti akazange afune umhlaba omkhulu, kodwa wafuna isixeko esinye. “Bamnika umzi awawubizayo, . . . wawakha loo mzi, wahlala kuwo.” Igama owabizwa ngalo umzi lowo kwathiwa yiTimnati-sera, “indawo eseleyo,” ubungqina obumiyo besimilo esihloniphekileyo nomoya ongabawiyo womnqobi, owathi, endaweni yokuba aqale ngaye ukufumana kumaxhoba emfazwe, ayeke ukubanga bade, nabona bantu bathobekileyo, banikwe bonke.ANa 515.1

Izixeko ezithandathu ezazabelwe abaLevi, zizithathu kwicala ngalinye leYordan, zanyulelwa ukuba zibe zizixeko zokubalekela, apho wayeza kuthi umbulali abalekele khona ukuze akhuseleke. Ukukhethwa kwezi zixeko kwakuyalelwe nguMoses, “abalekele khona umbulali obulele umntu ngengozi. Yoba yimizi yenu yokusaba kumphindezeli,” watsho, “ade eme phambi kwebandla, lithethwe ityala lakhe.” Numeri 35:11, 12. Lo msindleko unenceba kwabonakala ufanelekile ngokwesithethe sakudala sokuziphindezela komntu ngasese, ekwakusithi ngawo ukohlwaywa kombulali kuthi gqi kwisizalwana esikufutshane okanye kwindlalifa elandela lowo ufileyo. Kwiimeko apho ityala lalicace ngokupheleleyo, kwakungekho mfuneko yokuba kulindelwe ukuxoxwa kwetyala ngabagwebi. Umphindezeli wayesuka amsukele lowo waphule umthetho naphi na, ambulale naphi apho amfumana khona. UYehova akazange abone kufanelekile ukuba asibhangise esi sithethe ngelo xesha, kodwa wenza umsindleko wokuqinisekisa ukukhuseleka kwabo babulele bengaqondanga.ANa 515.2

Izixeko zokusabela zazisasazwe ngendlela yokuba zibe nokufikeleleka ngohambo lwesiqingatha sosuku kuyo yonke indawo elizweni. Iindlela ezikhokelela kuzo kwakufuneka zisoloko zilungiswe kakuhle; konke apha endleleni kubekho izalatha-ndlela ezimisiweyo zinombhalo othi “Isiphephelo” ngamagama acacileyo, amakhulu, ukuze osabayo angalibaziseki nomzuzwana. Wonke ubani, umHebhere, owasemzini, okanye umphambukeli, wayenenxaxheba kulo msindleko. Nangona abangenatyala kwakungafuneki babulawe ngokungxama, kwakungafuneki ukuba abanetyala basinde ekohlwayweni. Ityala lembacu kwakufuneka lixoxwe kakuhle ngamagunya angawo, kube kuphela xa ifunyenwe ingenatyala ngokubulala ingaqonde kwenza njalo, eya kuthi ikhuselwe kwisixeko sokusabela. Abanetyala banikelwa kumphindezeli wegazi. Abo babe nelungelo lokukhuselwa babelufumana kuphela phantsi kwemeko ethi kufuneka bahlale apho phakathi kwesixeko eso sikhethiweyo. Ukuba ubani uthe wesuka wemka ngaphaya kwemida ebekiweyo, aze afunyanwe ngumphindezeli wegazi, ubomi bakhe babuya kuhlawula isohlwayo sokutyeshela umsindleko kaYehova. Akuba efile umbingeleli omkhulu, phofu, bonke ababefune inkuseleko kwizixeko zokusabela, babekhululekile ukuba babuyele kwiindawo zabo.ANa 515.3

Ekuxoxweni kwetyala lokubulala, lowo umangalelweyo kwakungafuneki agwetywe ngobungqina bengqina elinye, nokuba ukubonakala kweenkcukacha ezimchasayo kukhulu. Umyalelo kaYehova wawusithi, “Bonke ababulele umntu, makabulawe umbulali lowo ngomlomo wamangqina; kodwa ingqina lilinye aliyi kungqina ngomntu afe.” Numeri 35:30. NguKristu owayenike uMoses le miyalelo kaIsrayeli; wathi naxa ekho ngokwaKhe enabafundi emhlabeni, xa wayebafundisa indlela yokuphatha abonileyo, iTitshala eNkulu yasiphinda isifundo esithi, ubungqina bomntu omnye abunako ukukhulula okanye bugwebe. Iimbono nezimvo zomntu omnye akufuneki ziphelise imiba yembambano. Kuyo yonke le micimbi kufuneka ababini okanye ngaphezulu ukuba bathwale uxanduva, “ukuze onke amazwi amiswe ngomlomo wamangqina amabini, nokuba ngamathathu.” Mateyu 18:16.ANa 516.1

Ukuba lowo usiwe enkundleni ngokubulala ufunyenwe enetyala, akukho sicamagushelo okanye ntlawulelo inokumkhulula. “Ophalaza igazi lomntu, igazi lakhe lophalazwa ngumntu.” Genesis 9:6. “Ize ningathabathi lucamagusho ngenxa yomphefumlo wombulali osukuba engongendawo, engowokufa; makabulawe afe.” “Uze umsuse nasesibingelelweni sam, afe,” yayingumyalelo kaThixo; “ilizwe alinakucanyagushelwa ngenxa yegazi eliphalaziweyo kulo, kungengagazi lowaliphalazayo.” Numeri 35:31; Eksodus 21:14, Numeri 35:33. Ukukhuseleka nobunyulu besizwe babudinga ukuba isono sombulali sohlwaywe qatha. Ubomi bomntu, obunokunikwa kuphela nguThixo, kufuneka buqatshelwe ngobungcwele.ANa 516.2

Izixeko zokusabela ezazibekelwe abantu bakaThixo bakudala, zazingumfuziselo wendawo yokusabela enguKristu. Kwalo Msindisi unenceba owamisa ezo zixeko zokusabela zexesha, uthe, ngokuphalaza elaKhe igazi, wenza umsindleko wokuba, abo bathe bagqitha umthetho kaThixo babe nendawo eqinisekileyo yokusithela, apho banokubalekela khona ukuze bakhuseleke kukufa kwesibini. Alikho igunya elinokuthabathaezandlenizaKhe imiphefumloethi ifune uxolelo kuYe.“Akukho kugwetywa kwabakuKristuYesu.”“Ngubani na ogwebayo, inguKristu nje owafayo? ngaphezu koko ke, wabuya wavuka; ongasekunene kukaThixo, osithethelelayo?” ukuze “sithi thina basindileyo, sabamba ithemba elibekwe phambi kwethu, sibe novuselelo olunamandla.” Roma 8:1, 34; Hebhere 6:18.ANa 516.3

Lowo wayebalekela kwisixeko sokusabela, kwakufuneka angalibazisi. Usapho nomsebenzi, konke kwakushiywa ngasemva. Lalingekho ixesha lokubulisa abathandwayo. Ubomi bakhe babusesichengeni, ngoko yonke enye into ayithandayo kufuneka ayincame ngenxa yenjongo enye, ukufika kwindawo yenkuseleko. Ukudinwa kwakulityalwa, ubunzima bungahoywa. Imbacu yayingasithobi isantya nomzuzwana ide ibe ngaphakathi kwiindonga zesixeko.ANa 517.1

Umoni ujongene nokufa okungunaphakade, ade afumane indawo yokuzimela kuKristu; kwaye njengokuba ukuzula nje nokungakhathali kunokumhlutha oyimbacu ithuba ekuphela kwalo analo, ngokunjalo ukulibazisa nokungakhathali kunokuba yintshabalalo yomphefumlo. USathana, umchasi omkhulu, uthe chu elandela ekhondweni lomntu ngamnye owaphula umthetho ongcwele kaThixo, aze athi lowo ungayinanzanga ingozi yakhe, angafuni ngokuzingisileyo indawo yokuphephela kwindawo yokubalekela engunaphakade, uya kuba lixhoba lomtshabalalisi.ANa 517.2

Umbanjwa othe nangaliphi ixesha waphuma kwisixeko sokubalekela, wayeyekelwa kumphindezeli wegazi. Ngoko ke, abantu babefundiswa ukubambelela kwiindlela obuthe ubulumko obungenamda bazinyulela ukukhuseleka kwabo. Sekunjalo, akwanele ukuba umoni akholwe kuKristu ukuze axolelwe isono; kufuneka, ngokholo nokuthobela, ahlale kuYe. “Kuba, xa sithi sone ngabom, emveni kokuba sakwamkelayo ukwazi inyaniso, akusasele dini ngenxa yezono; sekusele ke ukulinda okoyikekayo kakhulu, umgwebo nomsindo womlilo, oza kudla abo bachasileyo.” Hebhere 10:26, 27.ANa 517.3

Izizwe ezibini zikaIsrayeli, esikaGadi nesikaRubhen, kunye nesiqingatha sesizwe sikaManase, zafumana ilifa lazo ngaphambi kokuwela iYordan. Kubantu abangabelusi, umhlaba okwizithabazi ezibanzi kwindawo ephakamileyo, kunye namahlathi atyebileyo aseGiliyadi nakwaBhashan, anendawo eninzi yomhlaba wamadlelo emihlambi namaqela emfuyo yabo, ziindawo ezazinomtsalane ezazingafumaneki eKanan, baza aba bazalwana babini kunye nesiqingatha sohlanga, ngokufuna ukuma apha, bazibophelela ngokuthi baza kukhupha inxalenye yamadoda abo axhobileyo ukuba akhaphe abazalwana babo ukuwela iYordan abe nenxaxheba kwiimfazwe zabo bade nabo bangene kwelabo ilifa. Lomthwalo wenziwa ngokunyaniseka. Ukungena kwezizwe ezilishumi eKanan, amawaka angamashumi amane “oonyana bakaRubhen, noonyana bakaGadi, nesiqingatha sesizwe sakwaManase . . . axhobele ukuphuma umkhosi, abawelayo phambi koYehova, besiya emfazweni, ezinkqantosini zaseYeriko.” Yoshuwa 4:12, 13. Kwakuyiminyaka besilwa beyamene nabazalwana babo. Ngoku lalifikile ixesha lokuba baye kowabo umhlaba. Njengoko babemanyene nabazalwana babo ezimfazweni, ngokukwanjalo babelana ngamaxhoba; baya babuyela, [ilizwi lithe] “ninobutyebi obukhulu ninengqwebo eninzi kunene, nesilivere, negolide, nobhedu, nesinyithi, neengubo ezininzi kunene,” izinto zonke ekwakufuneka babelane nabo babesele neentsapho nemihlambi.ANa 517.4

Ngoku babeza kuhlala kude nengcwele kaYehova, waza uYoshuwa wakubukela ukuhamba kwabo ezaliswe lixhala, kuba esazi ukuba zaziya kuba namandla kangakanani izilingo, kubomi babo bebhadula bebodwa, ukwenza ukuba bawele kwizithethe zezizwe zabahedeni ababehlala kwimida yazo.ANa 518.1

Ngexesha iingqondo zikaYoshuwa nezinye iinkokeli zazisaxineke lixhala lezinto ezinokwenzeka, bafikelwa ziindaba ezingaqhelekanga. NgaseYordan, ngakwindawo apho uIsrayeli wenzelwa indlela ngommangaliso emlanjeni, isibini esinesiqingatha sezizwe zenza isibingelelo esikhulu, esifana nesibingelelo somnikelo onyuswayo eShilo. Umthetho kaThixo wawusala, ngesigwebo sokubulawa, ukuba kunyuswe olunye unqulo ngaphandle kolwasengcweleni. Ukuba oko kwakuyinjongo yesi sibingelelo, ukuba sasiya kuvunyelwa siqhube, sasiya kubakhokela abantu bemke enkolweni yenene.ANa 518.2

Abameli babantu bahlangana eShilo, kwathi kubushushu bokuthabatheka kwabo kunye nengqumbo, baceba ukuba babahlasele kwangoko abo babonile. Ngempembelelo yabachula ukunyathela, kwagqitywa ukuba kuthunyelwe abathunywa kwisibini esinesiqingatha kufunwe inkcazelo yokuziphatha kwazo. Ishumi lamadoda amakhulu, inye kwisizwe ngasinye, lakhethwa. Entloko kwakukho uPinehazi, owayezibalule ngenzondelelo yakhe kumcimbi kaPehore.ANa 518.3

Isibini esinesiqingatha sasiphazame ngokungena, singachazanga, kwisenzo esinjalo ukukrokrisa. Abathunywa, becinga ukuba abazalwana babo banetyala, babathethisa kalukhuni. Babatyhola ngokuvukela uYehova, bathi mabakhumbule imigwebo eyehla kuIsrayeli ngokuzimanyanoBhahali-pehore. EmiendawenikaIsrayeliwonke, kaIsrayeli wonke,uPinehaziwabaxelelaabantwana bakaGadi noRubhen ukuthi, kuba babengakulungelanga ukuhlala kwelo zwe ngaphandle kwesibingelelo sokubingelela, baya kuvumeleka ukuba babelane ngezinto namalungelo kunye nabazalwana babo abakwelinye icala.ANa 518.4

Ukuphendula, abo batyholwayo bachaza ukuba isibingelelo sabo sasingajonge ukuba kubingelelwe kuso, kodwa nje ukuba sibe bubungqina bokuba, nangona bahlulwe ngumlambo, babesengabenkolo enye nabazalwana babo abaseKanan. Babenoloyiko lokuba kwiminyaka elandelayo abantwana babo baya kubekwa bucala emnqubeni, njengabangenayo inxaxheba kuIsrayeli. Ngoko ke, esi sibingelelo esakhiwe ngokwemfano nesibingelelo sikaYehova esiseShilo, sasiya kuba bubungqina bokuba, abakhi baso nabo babe ngabakhonzi bakaThixo ophilayo.ANa 519.1

Ngovuyo olukhulu, onozakuzaku bayamkela inkcazelo, bakhawuleza bazisa iindaba kwabo babebathumile. Zasuswa zonke iingcinga zemfazwe, baza abantu bahlangana ekuvuyeni nasekumdumiseni uThixo.ANa 519.2

Oonyana bakaGadi nabakaRubhen baya babeka phezu kwesibingelelo sabo umbhalo owalatha kwinjongo yokwakhiwa kwaso; bathi, “Lingqina phakathi kwethu ukuba uYehova unguye uThixo.” Ngaloo ndlela bazama ukukhusela ukungaqondi kakuhle kwexesha elizayo, nokususa into eyayinokwenza ukuba kubekho isilingo.ANa 519.3

Kuba kangakanani ekuthi kubekho ubunzima obukhulu ngenxa yokungaqondani okulula, naphakathi kwabo baqhutywa ziinjongo ezixabiseke kakhulu; kuthi, kungakhange kusetyenziswe intlonipho nokunyamezela, kulandele iziphumo ezibi neziyingozi. Izizwe ezilishumi zakhumbula indlela, kwimeko ka-Akan, uThixo awakulwisa ngayo ukungaphaphameli ukuzifumana izono ezikhoyo phakathi kwabo. Ngoku, bagqiba ukuba nento abayenzayo ngokukhawuleza nangokunyanisekileyo; kodwa ekufuneni ukuphepha impazamo yabo yokuqala, basuka baya le kwelinye icala. Endaweni yokwenza uphando ngentlonipho, ukuze bazi izizathu zomcimbi, bahlangana nabazalwana babo ngokubagxeka nokubagweba. Ukuba abantu bakaGadi noRubhen babephendule ngomoya ofanayo, ngekwabakho imfazwe. Naxa kubalulekile kwelinye icala ukuphepha ukuyekelela ukuhlasela isono, kukwabalulekile kwelinye ukuphepha ukugweba kalukhuni nokuba nokusola okungamilanga ntweni.ANa 519.4

Nangona abanye bekhathazeka msinyane kakhulu kukugxekwa nje okuncinane kwento abayenzayo, bayathanda ukuba bukhali kakhulu ekuphatheni abo bacinga ukuba bayona. Akakho umntu obuyiswayo ekwenzeni okungekuko ngokugxekwa nokuhlaselwa; basuka abaninzibagxothwebemke kakhulukwindlelaeyiyo bakhokelelwe ekuzenzeni lukhuni iintliziyo zabo kunokuba boyisakale. Umoya wobubele, wentlonipho, nowokuziphatha okunonyamezelo, ungamsindisa owonayo, ugubungele inkitha yezono.ANa 519.5

Ubulumko obaboniswa ngabantu bakaRubhen kunye namaqabane abo, bufanelwe ukulinganiswa. Ngexesha babezama ukukhuthaza umsebenzi wenkolo yenene, babonwa kakubi baza bathethiswa kalukhuni; kodwa abazange babonakalise ntiyo. Baphulaphula ngembeko nomonde kwizityholo zabazalwana babo ngaphambi kokuba bazithethelele, baza bachaza ngokupheleleyo iinjongo zabo, babonisa ukuba msulwa. Ngaloo ndlela, ubunzima obabungathi bunganeziphumo ezibi, balungiswa ngendlela elungileyo.ANa 520.1

Nangaphantsi kokutyholwa kuxokwa, abo bakwicala elilungileyo banakho ukuzola babe novelwano. UThixo uqhelene nako konke okungaqondwa kakuhle nokuthatyathwa ngolunye uhlobo ngabantu, kwaye kungaba kuhle siwubeke umcimbi wethu ezandleni zaKhe. Ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuyityhila indlela yabo babeke ithemba labo kuYe njengoko waliphandayo ityala lika-Akan. Abo baqhutywa ngumoya kaKristu, baya kuba nothando olunonyamezelo nolunobubele.ANa 520.2

Yintando kaThixo ukuba umanyano nothando lobuzalwana lubekho phakathi kwabantu baKhe. Umthandazo kaKristu kanye phambi kokubethelelwa kwaKhe wawungowokuba,` abafundi baKhe babe banye njengoko Yena noYise bebanye, ukuze ihlabathi likholwe ukuba uThixo wamthuma. Lo mthandazo uchukumisayo nokwamangalisa ufikelela ezizukulwaneni, nakule mihla yethu; amazwi aKhe athi, “Andiceleli ke aba bodwa, ndicelela nabo baya kukholwa kum ngelizwi labo.” Yohane 17:20. Nangona kungafunekanga sibekele bucala namnye umthetho-siseko wenyaniso, kufuneka ibe yinjongo yethu ethe rhoqo ukufikelela kwimo yobunye. Obu bubungqina bokuba ngabafundi kwethu. UYesu wathi, “Ngayo le nto baya kwazi bonke, ukuba ningabafundi bam, ukuba nithe nathandana.” Yohane 13:35. Umpostile uPetros uyalivuselela ibandla, “Cingani nto-nye nonke, velanani, thandanani njengabazalwana, yibani nemfesane kakhulu, yibani nobubele. Ningabuyekezi bubi ngobubi, nokutshabhisa ngokutshabhisa; kanye ke sikelelani, nisazi ukuba nabizelwa oku, ukuze niyidle ilifa intsikelelo.” 1 Petros 3:8, 9.ANa 520.3