17 Anduluka ke amaSirayeli, athi emva kweentsuku ezintathu agaleleka apho kwakuhlala khona loo madoda. Izixeko zawo yayiyiGibheyon, iKefira, iBheroti, kunye neKiriyati-yarim.
18 Kambe ke amaSirayeli akazange ababulale aba bantu, kuba kaloku iinkokheli zebandla lawo zazibenzele isifungo ngegama likaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. Lonke ibandla lakwaSirayeli lazikhalazela iinkokheli,
19 zaza iinkokheli zathi: “Kaloku safunga ngegama likaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli kwaba bantu. Ke ngoko asinakubenza nto konke.
20 Naku emasikwenze: masingabachukumisi, hleze sihlelwe yingqumbo ngokutyeshela isifungo.
21 Masibayeke baphile ngokwesifungo sethu, kodwa ngabo abaza kusikhelela amanzi, basicandele iinkuni.”
22 UYoshuwa wathi mabeziswe kuye abantu baseGibheyon, wabhekisa kubo wathi: “Nisikhohlisele ntoni nisithi nivela kude nje, kanti nihlala kufuphi?
23 Niqalekisiwe ngenxa yento eniyenzileyo. Niya kuhlala ningamakhoboka, nithuthe amanzi, nicande neenkuni zomzi woThixo wam.”