Agano Lafanywa Upya Huko Shekemu
124:1 Mwa 49:2; 12:6; 1Sam 12:7; 1Fal 8:14; Yos 7:6; 23:2; Amu 9:1-3; Kut 18:25; 1Sam 10:10; Mdo 10:33Ndipo Yoshua akaita pamoja makabila yote ya Israeli huko Shekemu. Akawaita wazee, viongozi, waamuzi na maafisa wa Israeli, nao wakaja mbele za Mungu.
224:2 Mwa 23:2; 11:32; Kum 26:5; Isa 51:2Yoshua akawaambia watu wote, “Hili ndilo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: ‘Hapo zamani baba zenu, pamoja na Tera baba yake Abrahamu na Nahori, waliishi ngʼambo ya Mto nao waliiabudu miungu mingine. 324:3 Mwa 12:1; 1:28; 12:2; 21:3; Mdo 7:2; Za 127:3Lakini nilimwondoa baba yenu Abrahamu kutoka nchi hiyo ngʼambo ya Mto, nami nikamwongoza katika nchi yote ya Kanaani, nikampa wazao wengi. Nikampa Isaki, 424:4 Mwa 25:26; 14:6; Hes 24:18; Mwa 46:5-6; Kum 2:5; Mdo 17:26naye Isaki nikampa Yakobo na Esau. Esau nikampa nchi ya vilima ya Seiri, lakini Yakobo pamoja na wanawe wakashuka Misri.
524:5 Kut 3:10; 12:51“ ‘Kisha nikawatuma Mose na Aroni, nami nikawapiga Wamisri kwa kile nilichokitenda huko, tena nikawatoa ninyi huko. 624:6 Kut 14:22; 14:9; 4:23; Mik 6:4; Neh 9:11; Za 78:13; Isa 63:12, 13Nilipowatoa baba zenu Misri, mlifika kwenye bahari, nao Wamisri wakawafuatia baba zenu kwa magari na wapanda farasi mpaka kwenye Bahari ya Shamu. 724:7 Kut 14:10, 20, 28; 19:4; Kum 1:46Lakini wakamlilia Bwana wakitaka msaada, naye akaweka giza kati yenu na Wamisri, akaileta bahari juu yao ikawafunika. Ninyi mliona kwa macho yenu wenyewe kile nilichowatendea Wamisri. Kisha mliishi jangwani kwa muda mrefu.
824:8 Kut 23:23; Hes 21:31“ ‘Nikawaleta katika nchi ya Waamori ambao waliishi mashariki mwa Yordani. Wakapigana nanyi, lakini nikawatia mikononi mwenu. Nikawaangamiza mbele yenu nanyi mkaimiliki nchi yao. 924:9 Hes 22:2, 6; 23:7Wakati Balaki mwana wa Sipori, mfalme wa Moabu, alipojiandaa kupigana dhidi ya Israeli, alimwita Balaamu mwana wa Beori apate kuwalaani. 1024:10 Hes 23:10; Kum 23:5Lakini sikumkubali Balaamu, kwa hiyo aliwabariki tena na tena, nami niliwaokoa toka mkononi mwake.
1124:11 Kut 14:29; Yos 6:1; 3:10; Mwa 15:18-21; Kut 23:23; Kum 7:1“ ‘Ndipo mlipovuka Yordani mkafika Yeriko. Raiya wa Yeriko wakapigana nanyi, kama walivyofanya Waamori, Waperizi, Wakanaani, Wahiti, Wagirgashi, Wahivi na Wayebusi, lakini niliwatia mikononi mwenu. 1224:12 Kut 23:28; Za 44:3-7; Kut 23:31; Za 135:11; Kum 7:20Nikatuma manyigu mbele yenu, ambao pia waliwafukuza mbele yenu, hao wafalme wawili wa Waamori. Siyo upanga au upinde wenu wenyewe vilivyowapatia ushindi. 1324:13 Kut 6:8; Kum 6:10-11; Yos 11:13; Mit 13:22Hivyo nikawapa ninyi nchi ambayo hamkuitaabikia na miji ambayo hamkuijenga na mnaishi ndani yake na kula toka kwa mashamba ya mizabibu na mizeituni msiyoipanda.’
1424:14 1Sam 12:14; Ay 23:15; Za 19:9; 119:120; Kum 10:12; 18:13; 1Sam 12:24; 2Kor 1:20; Mwa 31:19; Kut 12:12; 18:11; 20:3; Hes 25:2; Kum 11:28; Amu 10:16; 10:16; Rut 1:15; Isa 55; 7; Eze 23; 3“Sasa basi mcheni Bwana na kumtumikia kwa uaminifu wote. Itupeni mbali miungu ambayo baba zenu waliiabudu huko ngʼambo ya Mto Frati na huko Misri, nanyi mtumikieni Bwana. 1524:15 Amu 6:10; Rut 1:15-16; 2:12; Mwa 35:2; 1Fal 18:21; Dan 3:18Lakini msipoona vyema kumtumikia Bwana, chagueni hivi leo mtakayemtumikia, kama ni miungu ile ambayo baba zenu waliitumikia ngʼambo Frati, au miungu ya Waamori, ambao mnakaa katika nchi yao. Lakini mimi na nyumba yangu, tutamtumikia Bwana.”
1624:16 Yos 22:29Ndipo hao watu wakajibu, “Hili jambo liwe mbali nasi la kumsahau Bwana na kuitumikia miungu mingine! 1724:17 Amu 6:8; Kut 10:1Bwana Mungu wetu mwenyewe ndiye alitutoa sisi na baba zetu akatupandisha kutoka Misri, kutoka nchi ile ya utumwa, na kutenda zile ishara kubwa mbele ya macho yetu. Ndiye aliyetulinda katika safari yetu yote na kutokana na mataifa yote ambayo tulipita katikati yao. 1824:18 Kut 23:31; Kum 33:27; Mdo 7:45; Mwa 28:21Bwana akayafukuza mbele yetu mataifa yote pamoja na Waamori, walioishi katika nchi hii. Hivyo sisi nasi tutamtumikia Bwana kwa kuwa yeye ndiye Mungu wetu.”
1924:19 Law 11:44; 20:26; Kut 20:5; 34:7; 23:21; Rut 1:15; Mt 6:24; Lk 14:25-33; Law 19:2; 1Sam 6:20; Za 99:5, 9; Isa 5:16; Kut 23:21Yoshua akawaambia watu, “Hamwezi kumtumikia Bwana. Yeye ni Mungu Mtakatifu, ni Mungu mwenye wivu. Hatasamehe uasi wenu na dhambi zenu. 2024:20 1Nya 28:9, 20; 2Nya 24:18; Mdo 7:42; 1Sam 12:25; Hos 13:11; Yos 23:15; Ezr 8:22; Isa 1:28; 63:10; Yer 17:13; Ebr 10:26-28Ikiwa mkimwacha Bwana na kuitumikia miungu migeni, atageuka na kuwaleteeni maafa na kuwaangamiza, baada ya kuwa mwema kwenu.”
21Lakini watu wakamwambia Yoshua, “Sivyo! Sisi tutamtumikia Bwana.”
2224:22 Rut 2:10; Isa 8; 2; 43:10; 44:8; Yer 42:5; Mal 2:14; Za 119:30, 173; Kum 25:9Ndipo Yoshua akawaambia, “Ninyi mmekuwa mashahidi juu yenu wenyewe kuwa mmechagua kumtumikia Bwana.”
Nao wakajibu, “Ndiyo, tu mashahidi.”
2324:23 1Fal 8:58; Za 119:36; 141:4; Yer 31:33Yoshua akawaambia, “Sasa basi, itupeni mbali hiyo miungu migeni iliyo katikati yenu, nanyi mtoleeni Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mioyo yenu.”
2424:24 Kut 19:8; Yer 42:6Nao watu wakamwambia Yoshua, “Tutamtumikia Bwana Mungu wetu na kumtii yeye.”
2524:25 Kut 24:8; Yos 17:7; Kut 15:25Siku ile Yoshua akafanya agano kwa ajili ya watu na hapo Shekemu ndipo alipowaandikia amri na sheria. 2624:26 Kum 17:18; 28:61; 31:24; Mwa 28:18; Kum 27:2; Mwa 12:6; Amu 4:11Naye Yoshua akayaandika mambo haya katika Kitabu cha Sheria ya Mungu. Ndipo akalitwaa jiwe kubwa, akalisimamisha huko chini ya mwaloni, karibu na mahali patakatifu pa Bwana.
2724:27 Mwa 28:18; 21:30; Yos 22:27; 7:11; Hes 11:20; Mit 30:9Yoshua akawaambia watu wote, “Angalieni! Jiwe hili litakuwa shahidi juu yetu. Limesikia maneno yote Bwana aliyotuambia. Litakuwa shahidi juu yenu kama mtakuwa waongo kwa Mungu wenu.”
Kuzikwa Katika Nchi Ya Ahadi
2824:28 Amu 21:23-24Basi Yoshua akawatuma watu kila mmoja aende katika urithi wake mwenyewe.
2924:29 Amu 1:1; Mwa 50:22Baada ya mambo haya, Yoshua mwana wa Nuni, mtumishi wa Bwana akafa akiwa na umri wa miaka mia moja na kumi. 3024:30 Yos 19:50; 2Sam 23:30; Amu 2:7Nao wakamzika katika nchi ya urithi wake, huko Timnath-Sera24:30 Unajulikana pia kama Timnath-Heresi, ona Yos 19:50; Amu 2:9. katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu, kaskazini ya Mlima wa Gaashi.
3124:31 Yos 7:6Israeli wakamtumikia Bwana siku zote za maisha ya Yoshua, na za hao wazee walioishi baada ya Yoshua kufa, ambao waliona kila kitu Bwana alichowatendea Israeli.
3224:32 Ebr 11:22; Mwa 47:29-30; 33:19; Yn 4:6; Mdo 7:16; Mwa 50:25; Kut 13:19Nayo ile mifupa ya Yosefu, ambayo Waisraeli waliipandisha kutoka huko Misri, wakaizika huko Shekemu kwenye eneo, ambalo Yakobo alilinunua kwa wana wa Hamori baba yake Shekemu, kwa vipande mia vya fedha. Eneo hili likawa ni urithi wa uzao wa Yosefu.
3324:33 Yos 22:13; 15:57; Kut 6:25; 1Sam 9:4; 1Fal 8:4; Kut 6:25; Amu 20:28Naye Eleazari mwana wa Aroni akafariki akazikwa huko Gibea, mlima aliokuwa amepewa mtoto wake Finehasi, kwenye nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu.
The Covenant Is Renewed at Shechem
1Joshua gathered all Israel’s tribes together at Shechem. He sent for the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel. They came and stood there in the sight of God.
2Joshua spoke to all the people. He said, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Long ago your people lived east of the Euphrates River. They worshiped other gods there. Your people included Terah. He was the father of Abraham and Nahor. 3I took your father Abraham from the land east of the Euphrates. I led him all through Canaan. I gave him many children and grandchildren. I gave him Isaac. 4To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau. But Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.
5“ ‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron. I made the people of Egypt suffer because of the plagues I sent on them. But I brought you out of Egypt. 6When I brought your people out, they came to the Red Sea. The people of Egypt chased them with chariots and with men on horses. They chased them all the way to the sea. 7But your people cried out to me for help. So I put darkness between you and the people of Egypt. I swept them into the sea. It completely covered them. Your own eyes saw what I did to them. After that, you lived in the desert for a long time.
8“ ‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites. They lived east of the Jordan River. They fought against you. But I handed them over to you. I destroyed them to make room for you. Then you took over their land. 9Balak, the son of Zippor, prepared to fight against Israel. Balak was the king of Moab. He sent for Balaam, the son of Beor. Balak wanted Balaam to put a curse on you. 10But I would not listen to Balaam’s curses. So he blessed you again and again. And I saved you from his power.
11“ ‘Then you went across the Jordan River. You came to Jericho. Its people fought against you. So did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites. But I handed them over to you. 12I sent hornets ahead of you. They drove your enemies out to make room for you. That included the two Amorite kings. You did not do that with your own swords and bows. 13So I gave you a land you had never farmed. I gave you cities you had not built. You are now living in them. And you are eating the fruit of vineyards and olive trees you did not plant.’
14“So have respect for the Lord. Serve him. Be completely faithful to him. Throw away the gods your people worshiped east of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord. 15But suppose you don’t want to serve him. Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve. You can choose the gods your people served east of the Euphrates River. Or you can serve the gods of the Amorites. After all, you are living in their land. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
16Then the people answered Joshua, “We would never desert the Lord! We would never serve other gods! 17The Lord our God himself brought us and our parents up out of Egypt. He brought us out of that land where we were slaves. With our own eyes, we saw those great signs he did. He kept us safe on our entire journey. He kept us safe as we traveled through all the nations. 18He drove them out to make room for us. That included the Amorites. They also lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord. That’s because he is our God.”
19Joshua said to the people, “You aren’t able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He won’t forgive you when you disobey him. He won’t forgive you when you sin against him. 20Suppose you desert the Lord. Suppose you serve the gods that people in other lands serve. If you do, he will turn against you. He will bring trouble on you. He will destroy you, even though he has been good to you.”
21But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”
22Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves. You have said that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”
“Yes. We are witnesses,” they replied.
23“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the statues of the gods that are among you. People from other lands serve those gods. Give yourselves completely to the Lord. He is the God of Israel.”
24Then the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him.”
25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people. There at Shechem he reminded them of its rules and laws. 26He recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he got a large stone. He set it up in Shechem under the oak tree. It was near the place that had been set apart for the Lord.
27“Look!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has spoken to us. Suppose you aren’t faithful to your God. Then the stone will be a witness against you.”
28Joshua sent the people away. He sent all of them to their own shares of land.
Joshua Is Buried in the Promised Land
29Then Joshua, the servant of the Lord, died. He was the son of Nun. He was 110 years old when he died. 30His people buried him at Timnath Serah on his own property. It’s north of Mount Gaash in the hill country of Ephraim.
31Israel served the Lord as long as Joshua lived. They also served him as long as the elders lived. Those were the elders who lived longer than Joshua did. They had seen for themselves everything the Lord had done for Israel.
32The Israelites had brought Joseph’s bones up from Egypt. They buried his bones at Shechem in the piece of land Jacob had bought. He had bought it from the sons of Hamor. He had paid 100 pieces of silver for it. Hamor was the father of Shechem. That piece of land became the share that belonged to Joseph’s children after him.
33Aaron’s son Eleazar died. He was buried at Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim. Gibeah had been given to Eleazar’s son Phinehas.
