18. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababachithanga, ngokuba izikhulu zenhlangano zazifungile kubo uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. Yonke inhlangano yakhonona ngezikhulu.
19. Zonke izikhulu zase zithi kuyo yonke inhlangano: “Sifungile kubo uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; ngalokho asinakubathinta manje.
20. Siyakwenza lokho kubo, sibayeke baphile, funa sehlelwe lulaka ngenxa yesifungo esasifunga kubo.”
21. Izikhulu zase zithi kubo: “Mabayekwe baphile; baba ngabagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi kuyo yonke inhlangano njengalokho izikhulu zazibatshelile.”
22. UJoshuwa wababiza, wakhuluma kubo, wathi: “Nisikhohliseleni ngokuthi: ‘Sikude kakhulu nani,’ lokhu nakhile phakathi kwethu, na?
23. Ngalokho seniqalekisiwe, akuyikunqamuka ukuvela kini izigqila, abagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi kuyo indlu kaNkulunkulu wami.”
24. Bamphendula uJoshuwa, bathi: “Kungokuba izinceku zakho zatshelwa nokutshelwa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho wayala inceku yakhe uMose ukuba aninike izwe lonke, achithe bonke abakhileyo ezweni phambi kwenu; ngalokho sesaba kakhulu ngokuphila kwethu ngenxa yenu, sakwenza lokho.
25. Bheka, manje sesisesandleni sakho; okuhle nokulungile emehlweni akho ukuba ukwenze kithi, kwenze.”
26. Wayesenze njalo kubo, wabophula esandleni sabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, baze bangababulali.
27. UJoshuwa wabenza ngalolo suku abagawuli bemithi nabakhi bamanzi kuyo inhlangano nakulo i-altare likaJehova kuze kube namuhla endaweni abeyakuyikhetha.