1. Kwathi lapho isizwe sonke sesiwele iJordani saphelela, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa, wathi:
2. “Zithatheleni amadoda ayishumi nambili, indoda ibenye ngesizwe,
3. niwayale nithi: ‘Zikhipheleni lapha phakathi kweJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi zazimi khona ziqinile, amatshe ayishumi nambili, niwele nawo, niwabeke endaweni eniyakulala kuyo ebusuku.’ ”
4. UJoshuwa wayesebiza lawo madoda ayishumi nambili ayewakhethile kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, indoda inye ngesizwe.
5. UJoshuwa wathi kuwo: “Welani phambi komphongolo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, niye phakathi kweJordani, netshathe, kube yilowo nalowo itshe ehlombe lakhe njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli
6. ukuba lokho kube yisikhumbuzo phakathi kwenu, kuze kuthi lapho abantwana benu bebuza ngesikhathi esizayo, bethi: ‘Ayini lawa matshe kini na?’
7. anothi kubo: ‘Kungokuba amanzi aseJordani enqamuka phambi komphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova; ekuweleni kwawo iJordani amanzi aseJordani anqamuka; lawa matshe ayakuba yisikhumbuzo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.’ ”
8. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benza-ke njengalokho uJoshuwa ebayalile, bakhipha amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi kweJordani, njengalokho uJehova ekhulumile kuJoshuwa, njengokomumo wezizwe zabantwana bakwa-Israyeli; bawela nawo, baya endaweni yokulala, bawabeka khona.
9. UJoshuwa wamisa amatshe ayishumi nambili phakathi neJordani, endaweni lapho izinyawo zabapristi abathwala umphongolo zazimi khona; akhona kuze kube namuhla.
10. Abapristi abathwala umphongolo babemi phakathi neJordani, kwaze kwaphelela konke uJehova amyale ngakho uJoshuwa ukuba akukhulume kubantu njengakho konke uMose abemyale ngakho uJoshuwa; abantu bashesha bawela.
11. Kwathi lapho bonke abantu sebewelile baphelela, umphongolo kaJehova wawela kanye nabapristi emehlweni abantu.