1 Ngesikhathi u-Israyeli esehlala eShithima, amadoda aqala ukuhlobonga labafazi bamaMowabi, 2 bona abamema amadoda ako-Israyeli ukuba eze emihlatshelweni yabonkulunkulu babo. Abantu laba babesidla ukudla kwabonkulunkulu labo njalo bebakhothamele. 3 Ngakho u-Israyeli wahlanganyela ekukhonzeni uBhali wasePheyori. Yikho uThixo wabathukuthelela kakhulu.

4 UThixo wathi kuMosi, “Thatha bonke abakhokheli balababantu, ubabulale njalo ubeke izidumbu zabo egcekeni emini libalele phambi kukaThixo, ukuze intukuthelo eyesabekayo kaThixo isuke ku-Israyeli.”

5 Ngakho uMosi wathi kubahluleli bako-Israyeli, “Kumele ukuthi munye ngamunye wenu abulale amadoda akini lawo asehlanganyela ekukhonzeni uBhali wasePheyori.”

6 Kwathi indoda ethile yako-Israyeli yaletha umfazi woMidiyani emulini yayo khonapho phambi kukaMosi laphambi kwabako-Israyeli bonke ababebuthene bekhala esangweni lethente lokuhlangana. 7 Kwathi uFinehasi indodana ka-Eliyazari indodana ka-Aroni, umphristi, ekubona lokho, watshiya ababebuthene, 8 wathatha umkhonto wayilandela indoda leyo ethenteni. Wagadla ngomkhonto wabagwaza bobabili wayathutsha ngale komʼIsrayeli wangena wayathutshela esiswini sowesifazane. Ngakho sasesiphela isifo esasesihlasele abako-Israyeli; 9 kodwa labo abasebefile ngenxa yesifo babezinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lane (24,000).

10 UThixo wathi kuMosi, 11 “UFinehasi indodana ka-Eliyazari indodana ka-Aroni umphristi, uqedile ukuthukuthelela kwami abantu bako-Israyeli, ngoba wayetshisekela udumo lwami phakathi kwabo njengami, ukuze ngesihawu sami ngingabaqedi. 12 Ngalokho umtshele ukuthi sengisenza isivumelwano sokuthula laye. 13 Yena kanye lezizukulwane zakhe bazakuba lesivumelwano sobuphristi esimi kokuphela, ngoba utshisekelele udumo lukaNkulunkulu wakhe njalo wenzele abako-Israyeli indlela yokubuyisana.”

14 Ibizo lendoda yako-Israyeli eyabulawa kanye lowesifazane weMidiyani kwakunguZimri indodana kaSalu, umkhokheli wabemuli yamaSimiyoni. 15 Njalo ibizo lowesifazane woMidiyani owabulawayo lalinguKhozibhi indodakazi kaZuri, induna yesizwana semuli yamaMidiyani.

16 UThixo wathi kuMosi, 17 “Kumele liphathe amaMidiyani njengezitha njalo liwabulale, 18 ngoba aliphathe njengezitha alikhohlisa ngendaba kaPheyori kanye lodadewabo uKhozibhi indodakazi yomkhokheli wamaMidiyani, owesifazane owabulawa ngesikhathi sokuhlasela kwesifo esabakhona ngenxa kaPheyori.”