Umfowabo Uphendukela Kumfowabo
U-Efrayimi, ezizwa edelelekile ngokushiywa ngaphandle, usongela ukushisa indlu kaJefta kodwa esikhundleni salokho ulahlekelwa amadoda azinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane nambili emazibukweni aseJordani, edalulwa yindlela ababiza ngayo igama elilodwa. Bese uBaba wethu uvusa u-Ibhizani, u-Eloni no-Abhidoni, abakhunjulwa kakhulu ngamadodana abo amaningi nezimbongolo zabo.
12 1Amadoda akwa-Efrayimi abuthana awela aya eZafoni. Athi kuJefta: “Kungani uwelele ukulwa nama-Amoni ungasibizanga ukuba sihambe nawe na? Sizokushisela indlu yakho phezu kwakho!”
2UJefta wathi kuwo: “Mina nabantu bami sasinempikiswano enzima nama-Amoni; nganibiza, kodwa anizange ningisindise ezandleni zawo. 3Lapho ngibona ukuthi anisayikungisindisa, ngathatha impilo yami ngayibeka esandleni sami ngawela ngaya kuma-Amoni, uBaba wethu wawanikela esandleni sami. Pho, nizele ngani kimi namuhla ukuzolwa nami na?”
4Ngakho uJefta wabutha wonke amadoda akwaGileyadi walwa no-Efrayimi. AbakwaGileyadi babashaya abakwa-Efrayimi, ngokuba abakwa-Efrayimi babethe: “Nina baseGileyadi niyizimbacu zakwa-Efrayimi, phakathi kwa-Efrayimi, phakathi kwakwaManase.” 5AbakwaGileyadi bawathatha amazibuko aseJordani belwa no-Efrayimi. Kwakuthi lapho imbacu yakwa-Efrayimi ithi: “Ake ngiwele,” amadoda akwaGileyadi abuze: “Ungowakwa-Efrayimi na?” Uma ithi: “Cha,” 6ayethi: “Yisho uthi ‘Shibholethi.’” Yona ithi “Sibholethi,” ngokuba yayingakwazi ukuliphimisa ngendlela efanele. Base beyibamba beyibulala emazibukweni aseJordani. Ngaleso sikhathi kwawa abakwa-Efrayimi abangu-42 000. a a v6 IShibholethi lalisho “umfula” noma “isikhwebu sokudla,” kodwa incazelo yalo yayingasho lutho — ulimi lwabakwa-Efrayimi lwalungenakho ukwakha umsindo othi “sh,” ngakho leli gama ngokwalo laveza ukuthi bangobani.
7UJefta wahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisithupha. UJefta waseGileyadi wabe esefa, wembelwa komunye umuzi waseGileyadi.
UBaba Wethu Uvusa Abanye Abehluleli
8Emva kwakhe, u-Ibhisani waseBhetlehema wahlulela u-Israyeli. 9Wayenamadodana angamashumi amathathu namadodakazi angamashumi amathathu. Wawendisela amadodakazi akhe angamashumi amathathu ngaphandle komndeni, waletha amadodakazi angamashumi amathathu avela ngaphandle ukuba abe ngawamadodana akhe. Wahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa. 10U-Ibhisani wabe esefa, wembelwa eBhetlehema.
11Emva kwakhe, u-Eloni waseZebuloni wahlulela u-Israyeli; wahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyishumi. 12U-Eloni waseZebuloni wabe esefa, wembelwa e-Ayaloni ezweni lakwaZebuloni.
13Emva kwakhe, u-Abidoni indodana kaHileli, wasengove, wahlulela u-Israyeli. 14Wayenamadodana angamashumi amane nabazukulu abangamashumi amathathu, ababegibela izimbongolo ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa. Wahlulela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisishiyagalombili. 15U-Abidoni indodana kaHileli wasengove wafa, wembelwa ePhirathoni ezweni lakwa-Efrayimi, ezweni lezintaba lama-Amaleki.
