1 Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli beqa ngokuqalekisiweyo, lokhu u-Akani kaKarmi kaZabidi kaZera, owesizwe sakwaJuda, ethatha kukho okuqalekisiweyo; intukuthelo kaJehova yabavuthela abantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
2 UJoshuwa wathuma amadoda, asuka eJeriko aya e-Ayi eliseceleni kweBeti Aveni ngasempumalanga kwaseBethele, wakhuluma kuwo, wathi: “Khuphukani, nilihlole izwe.” Amadoda akhuphuka ahlola i-Ayi.
3 Abuyela kuJoshuwa, athi kuye: “Mabangakhuphuki bonke abantu; makuhambe amadoda kungathi izinkulungwane ezimbili noma ezintathu, alichithe i-Ayi; ungabakhathazi bonke abantu ngokuya khona, ngokuba bayingcosana nje.”
4 Kwase kukhuphukela khona abantu abayizinkulungwane ezintathu, kepha babaleka phambi kwamadoda ase-Ayi.
5 Amadoda ase-Ayi abulala abantu abangamashumi amathathu nesithupha, abaxosha esuka phambi kwesango aze afika eShebarimi, ababulala emthambekeni; izinhliziyo zabantu zaphela amandla, zaba njengamanzi.