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.