1 Iyo Sandugu y’Uhoraho imaze mu gihugu c’Abafilisitiya amezi indwi, 2 Abafilisitiya bahamagara abaherezi n’abapfumu barababaza bati: "Iyi Sandugu y’Uhoraho tuyigire dute? Tubwire uko twoyirungika igasubira iyo yaje iva."

3 Barabishura bati: "Nimwasubiza iyo Sandugu y’Imana y’Abisirayeli, ntimuyirungike igaragara, ariko muyirungikane n’ikimazi co kwisaba, kugira ngo mukire ivyo vyago. Nimwakira, muzoca mumenya ko ivyo vyago mwabiterwa n’ukuboko kwayo."

4 Abafilisitiya barababaza bati: "Ni ikihe kimazi co kwisaba twoyishikanira?"

Barabishura bati: "Ni ibihute bitanu bicuzwe mu nzahabu n’imbeba zitanu zicuzwe mu nzahabu, nk’uko igitigiri c’abatware b’Abafilisitiya kingana, kuko ivyo vyago vyabateye mwebwe n’abatware banyu bose. 5 Mucure ibishushanyo vy’ivyo bihute n’izo mbeba biriko biratikiza igihugu, hanyuma mubirungikire iyo Mana y’Abisirayeli muyihe icubahiro. Kumbure yobagirira ikigongwe ikabakurako ukuboko kwayo kubahanamiye mwebwe n’imana zanyu n’igihugu canyu. 6 Ni kuki mukomantaza imitima yanyu nka kumwe Abanyegiputa na Farawo bagira? Mbega iyo Mana imaze kubahana bikomeye, ntibahavuye barekura Abisirayeli bakigira?

7 Nuko rero, nimurondere umukogote mushasha, n’inka zibiri zonsa kandi zitigeze zambikwa ingogo, muheze muziremeke uwo mukogote, ariko inyana zazo muzisubize mu ruhongore. 8 Mwakire ya Sandugu y’Uhoraho muyishire kuri wa mukogote, mushire i ruhande yayo akandi gasandugu karimwo vya bihute na za mbeba bicuzwe mu nzahabu mwateguye kumushikanira nk’ikimazi co kwisaba, hanyuma muce mureka izo nka zigende, 9 ariko muzikurikize amaso. Nizaduga zija mu gihugu ca Isirayeli, zikagenda zerekeye i Beti-Shemeshi, azoba ari Uhoraho yaduteje ibi vyago. Ariko nibitaba uko, tuzoca tumenya ko atari ukuboko kw’Uhoraho kwadukubise, ko ivyadushikiye ari ivyizanye gutyo gusa."

10 Nuko bakora uko nyene. Bafata za nka baziboherako wa mukogote baca basubiza inyana zazo mu ruhongore. 11 Bashira ya Sandugu y’Uhoraho ku mukogote hamwe na ka gasandugu karimwo za mbeba zicuzwe mu nzahabu na vya bimenyetso vy’ibihute. 12 Nuko za nka zigenda zerekeye i Beti-Shemeshi, zitumbereye inzira kandi zigenda zabira inzira yose; ntizahindukira i buryo canke i bubamfu. Abatware b’Abafilisitiya barazikurikira gushika zigeze ku rubibe rw’i Beti-Shemeshi.

13 Abantu b’i Beti-Shemeshi bariko barimbura ingano mu kiyaya, bunamutse babona ya Sandugu y’Uhoraho, banezerezwa cane no kuyibona. 14 Uwo mukogote uraza ushika mu murima wa Yosuwa w’i Beti-Shemeshi, uhagararaho i ruhande y’igitandara kinini. Abantu baca basatagura ibiti bigize wa mukogote baca batanga za nka kw’ikimazi co guturirwa bagishikanira Uhoraho. 15 Abalewi bururutsa ya Sandugu y’Uhoraho, na ka gasandugu karimwo vya bintu bicuzwe mu nzahabu, babirambika kuri ca gitandara kinini. Kuri uwo musi abantu b’i Beti-Shemeshi bashikanira Uhoraho amashikanwa aturiwe n’ibimazi. 16 Ba bakuru batanu b’Abafilisitiya babonye ivyo vyose baca basubira i Ekuroni kuri uwo musi nyene.

17 Vya bihute bicuzwe mu nzahabu Abafilisitiya barungitse nk’ikimazi co kwisaba bashikaniye Uhoraho vyatanzwe n’abakuru b’ibisagara vya Ashidodi, Gaza, Ashikeloni, Gati na Ekuroni. 18 Igitigiri ca za mbeba zicuzwe mu nzahabu cangana n’igitigiri c’ibisagara vy’i Bufilisitiya vyatwarwa n’abatware batanu, ibisagara bizitijwe inzitiro n’imihana ihakikije. Ico gitandara kinini, bateretseko iyo Sandugu y’Uhoraho, ni icabona c’ivyabaye gushika n’uno musi aho kiri mu murima wa Yosuwa w’i Beti-Shemeshi.

19 Ariko Uhoraho ahana abantu bamwe b’i Beti-Shemeshi, yica mirongo indwi muri bo kuko baravye mw’Isandugu y’Uhoraho. Abantu barabagandarira bababajwe n’uko Uhoraho yari yabahanye bikomeye. 20 Abantu b’i Beti-Shemeshi barabazanya bati: "Ni nde yoshobora guhagarara imbere y’Uhoraho, iyo Mana itunganye? Mbega iyi sandugu twoyijana kwa nde ngo tuyikure hano?"

21 Baca barungika intumwa ku bantu b’i Kiriyati-Yeyarimu, bavuga bati: "Abafilisitiya bagarukanye ya Sandugu y’Uhoraho. Nimumanuke muyidugane iwanyu."