2 Kwasala phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli izizwe eziyisikhombisa ezingakabelwa ifa lazo.
3 UJoshuwa wathi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli: “Niyakuyekethisa kuze kube nini ukuya ukulidla izwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo aninike lona na?
4 Zimiseleni amadoda amathathu izizwe ngezizwe; ngiyakuwathuma ukuba asuke ahambe ezweni, alilobe njengamafa azo, aze afike kimi.
5 Ayakwahlukanisa izabelo eziyisikhombisa: uJuda uyakuhlala emkhawulweni wakhe ngaseningizimu, indlu kaJosefa ihlale emkhawulweni wayo ngasenyakatho.
6 Anoloba izwe kube yizabelo eziyisikhombisa, nikulethe lapha kimi, nginenzele inkatho lapha phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.
7 Ngokuba amaLevi awanasabelo phakathi kwenu, lokhu ubupristi bukaJehova buyifa lawo; oGadi noRubeni nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase sebamukela ifa labo ngaphesheya kweJordani ngasempumalanga abanika lona uMose inceku kaJehova.”
8 Amadoda ayesesuka, ahamba; uJoshuwa wayala abahambayo ukuba balobe izwe, wathi: “Sukani nihambe ezweni, nililobe, nibuyele kimi, nginenzele inkatho phambi kukaJehova eShilo.”