Mose Akumbutsa Aisraeli za ku Horebu
1Awa ndi mawu amene Mose anayankhula kwa Aisraeli onse mʼchipululu kummawa kwa Yorodani, ku Araba moyangʼanana ndi Sufi, pakati pa Parani ndi Tofeli, Labani, Heziroti ndi Dizahabu. 2(Kuyenda kuchokera ku Horebu kukafika ku Kadesi Barinea kudzera njira ya ku Phiri la Seiri ndi ulendo wa masiku khumi ndi limodzi).
3Mʼchaka cha makumi anayi, pa tsiku loyamba la mwezi 11, Mose anafotokozera Aisraeli zonse zimene Yehova anamulamula zokhudza iwowo. 4Apa nʼkuti atagonjetsa Sihoni mfumu ya Aamori, amene amalamulira ku Hesiboni, ndipo pa Ederi anagonjetsa Ogi mfumu ya ku Basani, amene amalamulira mu Asiteroti.
5Chakummawa kwa Yorodani mʼchigawo cha Mowabu, Mose anayamba kufotokozera lamulo ili kunena kuti:
6Ku Horebu, Yehova Mulungu wathu anati kwa ife, “Mwakhalitsa pa phiri lino. 7Sasulani msasa ndipo pitani ku dziko la mapiri la Aamori. Pitani kwa anthu onse oyandikana nawo ku Araba, ku mapiri, mʼmbali mwa mapiri a ku madzulo, ku Negevi ndiponso mʼmbali mwa nyanja, ku dziko la Akanaani ndi ku Lebanoni mpaka ku mtsinje waukulu wa Yufurate. 8Taonani, Ine ndakupatsani dziko ili. Lowani ndi kulilanda dziko limene Yehova analumbira kuti adzapereka kwa makolo anu, Abrahamu, Isake ndi Yakobo komanso kwa zidzukulu zawo.”
Kukhazikitsa Atsogoleri
9Pa nthawi imeneyi ine ndinati kwa inu, “Inu ndinu katundu olemera kwambiri woti sindingathe kumunyamula ndekha. 10Yehova Mulungu wanu wakuchulukitsani kotero kuti lero lino ndinu ochuluka ngati nyenyezi za kumwamba. 11Yehova Mulungu wa makolo anu wachulukitsa chiwerengero chanu ndipo wakudalitsani monga momwe analonjezera! 12Koma nanga ndekha ndidzasenza bwanji zovuta ndi zipsinjo zanu komanso milandu yanu? 13Sankhani amuna ena anzeru, ozindikira ndi amene mumawalemekeza kuchokera ku mtundu uliwonse wa mitundu yanu, ndipo ndidzawayika kuti akulamulireni.”
14Inu munandiyankha kuti, “Maganizo amenewa ndi abwino kuwachita.”
15Choncho ndinatenga anthu otsogolera mafuko anu, anzeru ndi omwe mumawalemekeza, ndipo ndinawayika kuti azikulamulirani mʼmagulu a 1,000, ena 100, ena makumi asanu ndi ena khumi, kuti akhalenso ngati akapitawo a mafuko. 16Ndipo pa nthawi imeneyo ndinawawuza olamula anu kuti, “Muzimva milandu ya pakati pa abale anu ndi kuweruza mosakondera, kaya mlanduwo uli pakati pa Aisraeli okhaokha kapena mmodzi wa iwo ndi mlendo. 17Osamayangʼana nkhope poweruza koma muzimvetsera aangʼono ndi aakulu omwe chimodzimodzi. Musamaope munthu aliyense, pakuti chiweruzo ndi cha Mulungu. Muzindibweretsera mlandu uliwonse wovuta ndipo ndidzaumva.” 18Ndipo nthawi imeneyo ndinakuwuzani chilichonse chimene munayenera kuchita.
Atumizidwa Kukazonda Dziko
19Tsono monga Yehova Mulungu wathu anatilamulira, tinanyamuka kuchoka ku Horebu ndi kupita cha ku dziko lamapiri la Aamori kudzera ku chipululu chachikulu ndi choopsa chija munachionachi, kotero kuti tinakafika ku Kadesi Barinea. 20Ndipo ndinati kwa inu, “Mwafika ku dziko la mapiri la Aamori, limene Yehova Mulungu wathu akutipatsa. 21Taonani, Yehova Mulungu wanu wakupatsani dzikoli. Pitani ndi kulitenga monga Yehova, Mulungu wa makolo anu anakuwuzirani. Musaope kapenanso kugwa mphwayi.”
22Tsono nonse munabwera kwa ine ndi kuti, “Tiyeni titumize anthu ayambe apita kuti akazonde dzikolo ndi kutibweretsera mawu pa za njira yomwe tidzere ndi za mizinda imene tikafikireko.”
23Ndinaona kuti maganizo amenewa anali abwino, choncho ndinasankha anthu khumi ndi awiri, mmodzi ku fuko lililonse. 24Iwo ananyamuka napita mʼdziko la mapiri, ndipo anafika ku Chigwa cha Esikolo ndi kukazonda dzikolo. 25Pobwerera anatitengerako zipatso za mʼdzikomo ndipo anatipatsa mawu akuti, “Dziko limene Yehova Mulungu wathu akutipatsa ndi labwino.”
Awukira Yehova
26Koma inu simunafune kupitako ndipo munawukira lamulo la Yehova Mulungu wanu. 27Inu munanyinyirika mʼmatenti anu nʼkumati, “Mulungu amatida nʼchifukwa chake anatitulutsa ku Igupto kuti atipereke mʼmanja mwa Aamori kuti atiwononge. 28Tigwire mtengo wanji? Abale athu anatitayitsa mtima. Iwo akuti, ‘Anthuwo ndi amphamvu ndi aatali kuposa ife, mizindayo ndi yayikulu ndipo mipanda yake ndi yayitali yofika kumwamba. Ife tinaonanso Aanaki kumeneko.’ ”
29Ndipo ine ndinati kwa inu, “Musachite mantha kapena kuwaopa. 30Yehova Mulungu wanu, amene akukutsogolerani, adzakumenyerani nkhondo monga muja anachitira ku Igupto inu mukuona, 31ndi mʼchipululu muja. Kumeneko munaona mmene Yehova Mulungu wanu anakunyamulirani monga abambo anyamulira mwana wawo, njira yonse yomwe munayenda mpaka munafika pamalo ano.”
32Ngakhale zinali choncho, simunadalire Yehova Mulungu wanu 33amene anakutsogolerani pa ulendo wanu, ndi moto nthawi ya usiku ndi mtambo nthawi ya masana, kukufunirani malo woti mumange msasa ndi kukuonetsani njira yoti muyendemo.
34Yehova atamva zimene munanena anakwiya nalumbira kuti, 35“Palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe mwa mʼbado woyipawu amene adzaona dziko labwino limene ndinalumbira kupatsa makolo anu, 36kupatula Kalebe mwana wa Yefune. Iye adzaliona, ndipo ndidzamupatsa iye ndi adzukulu ake, dziko limene adzapondamo popeza anatsata Yehova ndi mtima wake wonse.”
37Chifukwa cha inu, Yehova anakwiyiranso ine ndipo anati, “Iwenso sudzalowa mʼdzikomo. 38Koma Yoswa mwana wa Nuni amene amakuthandiza, adzalowa mʼdzikomo. Umulimbikitse chifukwa adzatsogolera Israeli kukalandira dzikolo. 39Ndipo angʼonoangʼono amene munati adzagwidwa ukapolo, ana anu amene sanadziwe kusiyanitsa chabwino ndi choyipa, amenewo adzalowa mʼdzikolo. Ndidzalipereka kwa iwo ndipo lidzakhala lawo. 40Koma inu, tembenukani nyamukani kulowera cha ku chipululu kutsatira njira ya ku Nyanja Yofiira.”
41Ndipo inuyo munati, “Tachimwa pamaso pa Yehova. Tipita ndi kukachita nkhondo monga Yehova Mulungu wathu watilamulira.” Choncho aliyense wa inu anavala zankhondo, ndi kuganiza kuti nʼkosavuta kupita mʼdziko la mapiri lija.
42Koma Yehova anandiwuza kuti, “Awuze anthuwa kuti, ‘Musapite kukachita nkhondo chifukwa Ine sindidzakhala nanu. Mudzagonjetsedwa ndi adani anu.’ ”
43Choncho ndinakuwuzani koma simunamve. Inu munawukira lamulo la Yehova ndipo mwamwano munayenda kulowa mʼdziko la mapiri. 44Aamori amene ankakhala mʼmapiriwo anatuluka kukakumana nanu ndipo anakuthamangitsani ngati gulu la njuchi ndipo anakukanthani kuchokera ku Seiri, njira yonse mpaka ku Horima. 45Munabwererako mukulira pamaso pa Yehova, koma Iye sanalabadire kulira kwanuko ndipo sanakumvetsereni. 46Pamenepo munakhala ku Kadesi masiku ambiri kwa nthawi yayitali ndithu.
The Lord Commands Israel to Leave Mount Horeb
1These are the words Moses spoke to all the Israelites. At that time, they were in the desert east of the Jordan River. It’s in the Arabah Valley across from Suph. The people were between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2It takes 11 days to go from Mount Horeb to Kadesh Barnea if you travel on the Mount Seir road.
3It was the 40th year since the Israelites had left Egypt. On the first day of the 11th month, Moses spoke to them. He told them everything the Lord had commanded him to tell them. 4They had already won the battle over Sihon. Sihon was the king of the Amorites. He had ruled in Heshbon. Israel had also won the battle over Og at Edrei. Og was the king of Bashan. He had ruled in Ashtaroth.
5The people were east of the Jordan River in the territory of Moab. There Moses began to explain the law. Here is what he said.
6The Lord our God spoke to us at Mount Horeb. He said, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7Take your tents down. Go into the hill country of the Amorites. Go to all the people who are their neighbors. Go to the people who live in the Arabah Valley. Travel to the mountains and the western hills. Go to the people in the Negev Desert and along the coast. Travel to the land of Canaan and to Lebanon. Go as far as the great Euphrates River. 8I have given you all this land. Go in and take it as your own. The Lord promised he would give the land to your fathers. He promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He also said he would give it to their children after them.”
Some Officials Are Chosen to Help Moses
9At that time I spoke to you. I said, “You are too heavy a load for me to carry alone. 10The Lord your God has caused there to be many of you. Today you are as many as the stars in the sky. 11The Lord is the God of your people. May he cause there to be a thousand times more of you. May he bless you, just as he promised he would. 12But I can’t handle your problems and troubles all by myself. I can’t settle your arguments. 13So choose some wise men from each of your tribes. They must understand how to give good advice. The people must have respect for them. I will appoint those men to have authority over you.”
14You answered me, “Your suggestion is good.”
15So I chose the leading men of your tribes who were wise and respected. I appointed them to have authority over you. I made them commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. I appointed them to be officials over the tribes. 16Here is what I commanded your judges at that time. I said, “Listen to your people’s cases when they argue with one another. Judge them fairly. It doesn’t matter whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and an outsider living among you. 17When you judge them, treat everyone the same. Listen to those who are important and those who are not. Don’t be afraid of anyone. God is the highest judge. Bring me any case that is too hard for you. I’ll listen to it.” 18At that time I told you everything you should do.
Twelve Men Check Out the Land of Canaan
19The Lord our God commanded us to start out from Mount Horeb. So we did. We went toward the hill country of the Amorites. We traveled all through the huge and terrible desert you saw. Finally, we reached Kadesh Barnea. 20Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites. The Lord our God is giving it to us. 21The Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take it. Do what the Lord says. He’s the God of your people. Don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope.”
22Then all of you came to me. You said, “Let’s send some men ahead of us. They can check out the land for us and bring back a report. They can suggest to us which way to go. They can tell us about the towns we’ll come to.”
23That seemed like a good idea to me. So I chose 12 of you. I picked one man from each tribe. 24They left and went up into the hill country. There they came to the Valley of Eshkol. They checked it out. 25They got some of the fruit of that land. Then they brought it down to us and gave us their report. They said, “The Lord our God is giving us a good land.”
Israel Refuses to Obey the Lord
26But you wouldn’t go up. You refused to obey the command of the Lord your God. 27You spoke against him in your tents. You said, “The Lord hates us. That’s why he brought us out of Egypt to hand us over to the Amorites. He wanted to destroy us. 28Where can we go? The men who checked out the land have made us afraid. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are. The cities are large. They have walls that reach up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’ ”
29Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. 30The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will fight for you. With your own eyes you saw how he fought for you in Egypt. 31You also saw how the Lord your God brought you through the desert. He carried you everywhere you went, just as a father carries his son. And now you have arrived here.”
32In spite of that, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God. 33He went ahead of you on your journey. He was in the fire at night and in the cloud during the day. He found places for you to camp. He showed you the way you should go.
34The Lord heard what you said. So he became angry. He made a promise. He said, 35“I promised to give this good land to your people of long ago. But no one alive today will see it. 36Only Caleb will see the land. He is the son of Jephunneh. I will give him and his children after him the land he walked on. He followed me with his whole heart.”
37Because of you, the Lord became angry with me also. He said, “You will not enter the land either. 38But Joshua, the son of Nun, is your helper. Joshua will enter the land. Help him to be brave. Give him hope. He will lead Israel to take the land as their own. 39You said your little ones would be taken prisoner. But they will enter the land. They do not yet know right from wrong. But I will give them the land. They will take it as their own. 40As for you, turn around. Start out toward the desert. Go along the road that leads to the Red Sea.”
41Then you replied, “We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight. We’ll do just as the Lord our God has commanded us.” So all of you got your swords and put them on. You thought it would be easy to go up into the hill country.
42But the Lord spoke to me. He said, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight. I will not be with you. Your enemies will win the battle over you.’ ”
43So I told you what the Lord said. But you wouldn’t listen. You refused to obey his command. You were so filled with pride that you marched up into the hill country. 44The Amorites who lived in those hills came out and attacked you. Like large numbers of bees they chased you. They beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. 45You came back and wept in front of the Lord. But he didn’t pay any attention to your weeping. He wouldn’t listen to you. 46So you stayed in Kadesh for many years. You spent a long time in that area.
