1 Kwathi lapho isizwe sonke sesiwele iJordani saphelela, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi:
2 “Zithatheleni amadoda ayishumi nambili, indoda ibenye ngesizwe,
3 niwayale nithi: ‘Zikhipheleni lapha phakathi kweJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi zazimi khona ziqinile, amatshe ayishumi nambili, niwele nawo, niwabeke endaweni eniyakulala kuyo ebusuku.’ ”
4 UJoshuwa wayesebiza lawo madoda ayishumi nambili ayewakhethile kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, indoda inye ngesizwe.
5 UJoshuwa wathi kuwo: “Welani phambi komphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, niye phakathi kweJordani, netshathe, kube yilowo nalowo itshe ehlombe lakhe njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli
6 ukuba lokho kube yisikhumbuzo phakathi kwenu, kuze kuthi lapho abantwana benu bebuza ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe kini na?’
7 anothi kubo: ‘Kungokuba amanzi aseJordani enqamuka phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova; ekuweleni kwawo iJordani amanzi aseJordani anqamuka; lawa matshe ayakuba yisikhumbuzo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.’ ”
8 Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza-ke njengalokho uJoshuwa ebayalile, bakhipha amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi kweJordani, njengalokho uJehova ekhulumile kuJoshuwa, njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; bawela nawo, baya endaweni yokulala, bawabeka khona.
9 UJoshuwa wamisa amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi neJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo zazimi khona; akhona kuze kube namuhla.
10 Abapristi abathwala umphongolo babemi phakathi neJordani, kwaze kwaphelela konke uJehova amyale ngakho uJoshuwa ukuba akukhulume kubantu njengakho konke uMose abemyale ngakho uJoshuwa; abantu bashesha bawela.
11 Kwathi lapho bonke abantu sebewelile baphelela, umphongolo kaJehova wawela kanye nabapristi emehlweni abantu.
12 Abantwana bakwaRubeni, nabantwana bakwaGadi, nenxenye yesizwe sakwaManase bawela behlomile phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, njengalokho uMose ebekhulumile kubo;
13 kwawela phambi kukaJehova kungathi abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane behlomele ukulwa ukuba baphume impi, baye emathafeni aseJeriko.
14 Ngalolo suku uJehova wamkhulisa uJoshuwa emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli; bamesaba njengalokho babemesaba uMose izinsuku zonke zokuhamba kwakhe.
15 UJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi:
16 “Yala abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano ukuba benyuke eJordani.”
17 UJoshuwa wayala-ke abapristi, wathi: “Yenyukani eJordani.”
18 Kwathi lapho abapristi abathwala umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova sebenyuke phakathi kweJordani, amathe ezinyawo zabapristi esefike emhlabathini owomileyo, amanzi aseJordani abuyela endaweni yawo, aphuphuma lonke ugu njengakuqala.
19 Abantu benyuka eJordani ngolweshumi lwenyanga yokuqala, bamisa eGiligali emkhawulweni wangasempumalanga kwaseJeriko.
20 Lawo matshe ayishumi nambili abawakhipha eJordani wawamisa eGiligali.
21 Wakhuluma kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Nxa abantwana benu beyakubuza oyise ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe na?’
22 anobazisa abantwana benu, nithi: ‘U-Israyeli wawela leli Jordani emhlabathini owomileyo,’
23 ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wawamisa amanzi aseJordani phambi kwenu, naze nawela, njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu wenza eLwandle Olubomvu, alomisa phambi kwethu, saze sawela,
24 ukuba abantu bonke bomhlaba bazi isandla sikaJehova ukuthi sinamandla, nesabe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu kuze kube phakade.”