Arca da aliança
A Arca da Aliança era o símbolo mais sagrado de Israel — representava a presença de Deus no meio do seu povo. Sobre ela brilhava a glória do Senhor entre os querubins.
"Kabenze umtshokotsho ngezigodo zesihlahla somʼakhakhiya, ubude bawo kube zingalo ezimbili ezilengxenye, ububanzi kube yingalo elengxenye njalo ukuyaphezulu kwawo kube yingalo elengxenye. Lilihuqe ngegolide elicolekileyo, ngaphakathi langaphandle, ubuye ulizingelezele ngomqolo wegolide. Libumbele amasongo amane egolide liwanamathisele ezinyaweni zalo zozine, amabili kwelinye icele kuthi amabili kwelinye njalo. Beselisenza imijabo ngesihlahla somʼakhakhiya liyihuqe ngegolide. Hlomani imijabo kulawo masongo asemaceleni omtshokotsho kube yizibambo. Izigodo lezi zizahlala emasongweni alumtshokotsho, zingakhitshwa. Beselifaka ubufakazi emtshokotshweni engizakunika bona.
Yenzani isihlalo somusa ngegolide elicolekileyo, ubude baso bube zingalo ezimbili ezilengxenye lengxenye eyodwa ububanzi. Lizakwenza amakherubhi amabili ngegolide elikhandiweyo, liwenze ekucineni kwesisibekelo esiyisihlalo somusa emaceleni womabili. Yenzani ikherubhi elilodwa nganxanye kuthi ngakwelinye icele lenze elinye, uzawenza amakherubhi abe yinto yinye lesisibekelo emaceleni womabili. Amakherubhi kumele elulele amaphiko awo phezulu embese isisibekelo ngawo. Kuzamele amakherubhi akhangelane, ubuso bawo bukhangele isisibekelo. Bekani isisibekelo phezu komtshokotsho, ubusufaka ubufakazi engizakunika bona ebhokisini lesivumelwano.
Kulapho engizahlangana lawe khona ngikunika imithetho ka-Israyeli ngisesihlalweni somusa, phakathi laphakathi kwamakherubhi aphezu komtshokotsho wobufakazi."
UBhezaleli wabaza umtshokotsho ngezigodo zesihlahla somʼakhakhiya ubude bawo kuzingalo ezimbili ezilengxenye, ububanzi kuyingalo elengxenye njalo ukuyaphezulu kwawo kuyingalo elengxenye.
UThixo wasesithi kuMosi: "Misa ithabanikeli, ithente lokuhlangana, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yakuqala. Beka umtshokotsho wesivumelwano kulo ube ususitha umtshokotsho wobufakazi ngekhetheni.
Wathatha izibhebhedu zobufakazi wazibeka emtshokotshweni wesivumelwano, wahloma imijabo kuwo wasefaka isihlalo somusa phezu kwawo. Wasengenisa umtshokotsho wobufakazi ethabanikeleni, waphanyeka ikhetheni lokusitha wawugubuzela, njengalokho okwakulaywe nguThixo.
Kwathi uMosi engena ethenteni lokuhlangana ukuba ayekhuluma loThixo, wezwa ilizwi likhuluma laye liphuma sengathi liphahlwe ngamakherubhi amabili ngaphezu kwesisibekelo sesihlalo somusa, phezu kwebhokisi lobuFakazi. Wasekhuluma laye.
Ngakho basuka entabeni kaThixo bahamba okwensuku ezintathu. Umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo wahamba phambi kwabo okwalezonsuku ezintathu ukubafunela indawo yokuphumula. Iyezi likaThixo lalisiba phezu kwabo emini lapho sebesuka ezihonqweni.
Kwakusithi lapho umtshokotsho wesivumelwano usuka, uMosi athi,
"Phakama, Thixo!
Sengathi izitha zingahlakazeka;
sengathi izitha zakho zingabaleka phambi kwakho."
Kwakusithi lingema, athi,
"Buya, Thixo,
kuzinkulungwane zako-Israyeli ezingebalwe."
UThixo wathi kuMosi, "Tshela abako-Israyeli ukuthi bakuphe intonga ezilitshumi lambili, kuphume ibenye kumkhokheli munye ngamunye wesizwana sabokhokho bakhe. Bhala ibizo lendoda ngayinye entongeni yayo. Entongeni kaLevi uzabhala ibizo lika-Aroni, ngoba kumele kube lentonga eyodwa emele inhloko inye ngayinye yesizwana sabokhokho bayo. Zifake ethenteni lokuhlangana phambi komtshokotsho wobufakazi, lapho engihlangana lawe khona. Intonga yendoda engizayikhetha izahluma, njalo mina ngizahle ngikuqede lokhu kukhonona okulokhu kuqhubeka kusolwa wena ngabako-Israyeli."
Ngakho uMosi wakhuluma kwabako-Israyeli, abakhokheli babo bamnika intonga ezilitshumi lambili, ngayinye ingeyomkhokheli wesizwana sabokhokho bakhe, kwathi leka-Aroni yayibalelwa kuzo. UMosi wabeka intonga lezo phambi kukaThixo ethenteni lobufakazi.
Ngosuku olulandelayo uMosi wangena ethenteni lobufakazi wabona ukuthi intonga ka-Aroni eyayimele indlu kaLevi, yayisihlumile yaqhakaza, isilamaluba njalo isithele izithelo ze-alimondi. Ngakho uMosi wazisusa zonke intonga phambi kukaThixo waziletha phambi kwabo bonke abako-Israyeli. Bazikhangela, ngulowo wathatha eyakhe intonga.
UThixo wathi kuMosi, "Buyisela intonga ka-Aroni phambi komtshokotsho wobufakazi, igcinwe khonapho ibe yisibonakaliso kulabo abahlamukayo. Lokhu kuzaqeda ukukhonona kwabo ngami, ukuze bangafi." UMosi wenza khona lokho kanye uThixo ayemlaye ngakho.
Ngakho kwathi abantu sebesuke ezihonqweni ukuze bayechapha uJodani, abaphristi ababethwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano bahamba phambili. UJodani wayehlala egcwele ngezikhathi zonke zokuvuna. Kukanti kwathi abaphristi ababethwele umtshokotsho befika eJodani inyawo zabo zazithinta amanzi, amanzi ayevelela ngaphezulu ema ukugeleza. Abuthana aba yinqwaba ema khatshana laphaya, malungana ledolobho elithiwa yi-Adamu duzane leZarethani kukanti amanzi ayegelezela phansi ngekuyeni olwandle lwe-Arabha (okutsho uLwandle Lwetswayi) ahle ehlukaniswa ngokupheleleyo. Ngakho-ke abantu bachaphela ngaphetsheya malungana leJerikho. Abaphristi ababethwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo bema bathi mpo emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJodani, ngesikhathi abantu bonke bako-Israyeli bechapha isizwe sonke saze saqeda ukuchapha emhlabathini owomileyo.
Abaphristi baphuma emfuleni bethwele umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo. Bonela ukunyathela umhlabathi owomileyo amanzi eJodani ahle abuyela endaweni yawo, ageleza okomfula ogcweleyo njengakuqala.
IJerikho yayivalwe ngci ngenxa yabako-Israyeli. Akulamuntu owayephuma loba owayengena.
Ngakho uThixo wathi kuJoshuwa, "Khangela, senginikele iJerikho, inkosi yayo kanye lamabutho ayo ezandleni zakho. Hambani libhode idolobho kanye lamadoda wonke ahlomileyo. Kwenzeni lokhu okwensuku eziyisithupha. Abaphristi abayisikhombisa kabathwale amacilongo enziwe ngempondo zenqama phambi komtshokotsho wesivumelwano. Ngosuku lwesikhombisa libhode idolobho kasikhombisa, abaphristi bevuthela amacilongo. Nxa lingabezwa sebetshaya amacilongo bedonsa, abantu bonke kabahlabe umkhosi; umduli wedolobho uzadilika abantu bahle bangene, yilowo lalowo aqonde phambili."
Ngakho uJoshuwa indodana kaNuni wabiza abaphristi wathi kubo, "Thathani umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo kuthi abaphristi abayisikhombisa bahambe phambi kwawo bethwele amacilongo." Waselaya abantu esithi, "Akuhanjwe! Hambani libhode idolobho, amabutho ahlomileyo ehamba phambi komtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaThixo."
Kwathi amacilongo ekhala abantu bahlaba umkhosi; ekukhaleni kwecilongo, abantu sebehlaba umkhosi omkhulu, umduli wabhidlika, ngakho wonke umuntu wangena phakathi balithatha idolobho.
AmaFilistiya ahlela amabutho awo ukuba ayohlangana labako-Israyeli, kwathi ekumemethekeni kwempi, u-Israyeli wehlulwa ngamaFilistiya, abulala abaphosa babe zinkulungwane ezine enkundleni yokulwela. Kwathi esebuyele ezihonqweni, abadala bako-Israyeli bathi, "Kungani uThixo esilethele ukwehlulwa lamhla phambi kwamaFilistiya na? Kasiyenithatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sika Thixo eShilo, ukuze lihambe lathi lisisindise esandleni sezitha zethu."
Ngakho abantu bathuma amadoda eShilo, abuya lebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo uSomandla, ehlezi ebukhosini phakathi kwamakherubhi. Lamadodana ka-Eli amabili, uHofini loFinehasi, ayekhona lebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu.
Kwathi lapho ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo lifika ezihonqweni, wonke u-Israyeli wenza umsindo omkhulu iphansi laze lanyikinyeka. Esizwa ukuxokozela amaFilistiya abuza athi, "Utshoni umsindo wonke lo ezihonqweni zamaHebheru na?"
Kwathi esezwile ukuthi ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo laselikhona ezihonqweni, amaFilistiya esaba. Athi, "Unkulunkulu usefikile ezihonqweni. Siphakathi kohlupho. Akulanto enje eseyake yenzakala ngaphambili. Maye kithi! Ngubani ozasikhulula esandleni sabonkulunkulu laba abalamandla abatshaya amaGibhithe ngenhlobo zonke zezifo enkangala? Qinani, maFilistiya! Wobani ngamadoda hlezi libe yizichaka zamaHebheru, njengalokhu ababeyikho kini. Wobani ngamadoda, lilwe!"
Ngakho amaFilistiya alwa, abako-Israyeli behlulwa njalo amadoda wonke abalekela emathenteni awo. Ababulawayo babebanengi kakhulu; u-Israyeli walahlekelwa ngamabutho ezinyawo azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amathathu. Ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu lathunjwa, lamadodana amabili ka-Eli, Hofini loFinehasi, afa.
Isandla sikaThixo sasinzima phezu kwabantu base-Ashidodi laseduze kwayo; wehlisela incithakalo phezu kwabo yabahlupha langamathumba. Kwathi abantu base-Ashidodi bebona okwakusenzakala, bathi, "Ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikankulunkulu ka-Israyeli akumelanga lihlale lathi lapha, ngoba isandla sakhe sinzima phezu kwethu laphezu kukaDagoni unkulunkulu wethu." Ngakho babiza bonke ababusi bamaFilistiya bababuza bathi, "Sizakwenzani ngebhokisi lesivumelwano sikankulunkulu ka-Israyeli na?"
Baphendula bathi, "Ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikankulunkulu ka-Israyeli liseni eGathi." Ngakho ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu balisa eGathi.
Kodwa kwathi sebelihambisile, isandla sikaThixo samelana lalelodolobho, okwenza kwaba lokuthuthumela okukhulu kulo. Wahlupha abantu bedolobho lelo, abatsha labadala, ngokuphihlika kwamathumba. Ngakho ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu lasiwa e-Ekroni.
Kwathi ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu lifika e-Ekroni, abantu base-Ekroni bakhala besithi, "Sebelethe ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikankulunkulu ka-Israyeli kithi lapha ukuzasibulala kanye labantu bakithi." Ngakho babiza bonke ababusi bamaFilistiya, bathi, "Susani ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikankulunkulu ka-Israyeli; kalibuyele emuva endaweni yalo, hlezi lisibulale thina kanye labantu bakithi." Ngoba ukufa kwakwenze kwaba lokuthuthumela edolobheni; isandla sikaNkulunkulu sasinzima kakhulu phezu kwalo.
Kwathi ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo selihlale elizweni lamaFilistiya izinyanga eziyisikhombisa, amaFilistiya abiza abaphristi labahlahluli athi, "Sizakwenzani ngebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo na? Sitsheleni ukuthi singalibuyisela njani emuva endaweni yalo."
Baphendula bathi, "Nxa libuyisela ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikankulunkulu ka-Israyeli, lingalibuyiseli lingelalutho, kodwa impela thumelani umnikelo wecala kuye. Ngalokho lizasila, njalo lizakwazi ukuthi kungani isandla sakhe singasuswanga kini."
Ngakho-ke bakwenza lokhu. Bathatha amankomokazi amabili anjalo bawabophela enqoleni kwathi amankonyane awo bawavalela esibayeni. Babeka ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo enqoleni ndawonye lomxhaka owawulamagundwane egolide lezifanekiso zamathumba. Emva kwalokho amankomokazi ahamba eqonde eBhethi-Shemeshi, elokhu esemgwaqweni njalo ebhonsa indlela yonke; kawazange aphambukele kwesokudla kumbe kwesenxele. Ababusi bamaFilistiya bawalandela baze bayafika emngceleni weBhethi Shemeshi.
Ngalesosikhathi abantu beBhethi-Shemeshi babevuna ingqoloyi yabo esigodini, njalo bathi lapho bekhangela babona ibhokisi lesivumelwano, bathokoza ukulibona. Inqola yafika ensimini kaJoshuwa waseBhethi-Shemeshi, yasisima khonapho phansi kwedwala elikhulu. Abantu babanda inqola yaba zinkuni basebehlaba amankomokazi ukuba ngumnikelo wokutshiswa kuThixo. AbaLevi bethula ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo, kanye lomxhaka owawulezinto zegolide, bakubeka phezu kwedwala elikhulu. Ngalelolanga abantu baseBhethi-Shemeshi banikela iminikelo yokutshiswa benza lemihlatshelo kuThixo.
Ngakho abantu baseKhiriyathi-Jeyarimi beza balithatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo. Balisa endlini ka-Abhinadabi eqaqeni bangcwelisa u-Eliyazari indodana yakhe ukuba agcine ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo.
Kwakuyisikhathi eside, iminyaka engamatshumi amabili isiyonke, ibhokisi lesivumelwano liseKhiriyathi-Jeyarimi.
Njalo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bakhala befuna uThixo.
Inkosi uDavida watshelwa kwathiwa, "UThixo useyibusisile indlu ka-Obhedi-Edomi lakho konke alakho ngenxa yebhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu." Ngakho uDavida wahamba wayathatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu endlini ka-Obhedi-Edomi walisa eDolobheni likaDavida ngokuthokoza. Kwakusithi labo ababethwele ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo bangahamba izinyathelo eziyisithupha, anikele umhlatshelo wenkunzi lethole elinonisiweyo. UDavida wayegqoke isigqoko samahlombe selineni, wagida phambi kukaThixo ngamandla akhe wonke, lapho yena kanye lendlu yonke ka-Israyeli beletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo ngokumemeza langokukhala kwamacilongo.
Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni wamema abadala bako-Israyeli ukuthi beze kuye eJerusalema, bonke abazinhloko zezizwana lezinduna zezimuli zako-Israyeli, ukuthi balethe ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo lisuka eZiyoni, uMuzi kaDavida. Amadoda wonke ako-Israyeli eza ndawonye enkosini uSolomoni ngesikhathi somkhosi ngenyanga ebizwa ngokuthi ngu-Ethanimi, inyanga yesikhombisa.
Kwathi bonke abadala bako-Israyeli sebefikile, abaphristi bathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano, njalo basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo kanye leThente lokuHlanganela layo yonke imiceciso engcwele iphakathi kwalo. Abaphristi labaLevi bakuthwala lokhu, njalo inkosi uSolomoni kanye lebandla lonke lako-Israyeli babebuthene ndawonye phambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano, benikela ngezimvu langenkomo ababengeke bakwazi ukuloba inani lazo loba ukuzibala.
Abaphristi basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo endaweni yalo engcwele engaphakathi kwethempeli, iNdawo eNgcwelengcwele, basebelifaka ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubhi. Amakherubhi elula impiko zawo phezu kwendawo yebhokisi lesivumelwano njalo agubuzela ibhokisi lesivumelwano kanye lezibambo zokulithwala. Izigodo lezi zazizinde zibonakala nxa useNdaweni eNgcwele phambi kwesiphephelo esingaphakathi, kodwa hatshi nxa ungaphandle kweNdawo eNgcwele; lezo zilokhu zimi njalo lalamuhla. Kwakungelalutho ebhokisini lesivumelwano ngaphandle kwezibhebhedu ezimbili zamatshe uMosi ayezifake phakathi kwalo eseHorebhi lapho uThixo enza khona isivumelwano labako-Israyeli ngemva kokuphuma kwabo eGibhithe.
Kwathi abaphristi sebesukile eNdaweni eNgcwele, iyezi lagcwala lagubuzela ethempelini likaThixo. Abaphristi abenzanga inkonzo yabo ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo kaThixo yayigcwele ethempelini lakhe.
"Phendukani, bantu abangathembekanga," kutsho uThixo, "ngoba ngingumyeni wenu. Ngizalikhetha, oyedwa edolobheni lababili emulini ngililethe eZiyoni. Lapho-ke ngizalinika abelusi abathandwa yimi, abazalikhokhela ngokwazi langokuqedisisa. Ngalezonsuku, ubunengi benu sebande kakhulu elizweni," kutsho uThixo, "abantu kabasayikuthi, ‘Ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo.’ Kaliyikufika emicabangweni yabo kumbe likhunjulwe; kaliyikudingakala, njalo akuyikwenziwa elinye futhi.
Isivumelwano sakuqala sasilezimiso zokukhonza kanye lendawo engcwele yasemhlabeni. Kwakhiwa ithabanikeli. Ekamelweni lalo lakuqala kwakuloluthi lwesibane, letafula kanye lesinkwa esingcwelisiweyo; lokhu kwakubizwa ngokuthi yiNdawo eNgcwele. Ngemva kwekhetheni lesibili kwakulekamelo elalithiwa yiNdawo eNgcwelengcwele, eyayile-alithare lokutshisela impepha elalihuqwe ngegolide kanye lomtshokotsho wesivumelwano owawuhuqwe ngegolide. Umtshokotsho wakhona wawulembizanyana yemana, lentonga ka-Aroni eyahlumayo kanye lezibhebhedu zamatshe esivumelwano. Phezu komtshokotsho kwakulamakherubhi eNkazimulo enze ithunzi phezu kwendawo yomhlatshelo. Kodwa khathesi asingeke silandise okugcweleyo ngalezozinto.
Emva kwalokho ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lavulwa ezulwini phakathi kwethempeli lakhe kwabonakala umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sakhe. Kwasekusiba lokuphazima kwemibane lokundindizela lokukhwaza kwezulu lokuzamazama komhlaba kanye lesiqhotho esikhulu.