2 IZikhronike 36

₁Abantu bezwe bathatha uJehowahazi indodana kaJosiya, bambeka inkosi eJerusalema esikhundleni sikayise.

₂UJehowahazi wayeneminyaka engama-23 ngesikhathi eba yinkosi, wabusa izinyanga ezintathu eJerusalema. ₃Inkosi yaseGibhithe yamsusa eJeruselema, izwe yalikhokhisa intela engamathalenta esiliva ayikhulu nethalenta legolide. ₄Inkosi yaseGibhithe yabeka u-Eliyakimi, umfowabo, waba yinkosi kwaJuda naseJerusalema, yaliguqula igama lakhe laba nguJehoyakimi. UNekho wamthatha uJehowahazi, umfowabo, wamyisa eGibhithe.

₅UJehoyakimi wayeneminyaka engama-25 ngesikhathi eba yinkosi, wabusa iminyaka eli-11 eJerusalema. Wenza okubi emehlweni kaSimakade uNkulunkulu wakhe. ₆Kwase kukhuphuka uNebukhadinezari, inkosi yaseBhabhele, wambopha ngamaketango, wamyisa eBhabhele. ₇UNebukhadinezari wayisa ezinye izitsha zendlu kaSimakade eBhabhele, wazibeka esigodlweni sakhe eBhabhele.

₈Ezinye izindaba zikaJehoyakimi, nezinengiso azenzayo, nokunye okwafumaniseka kuye; bheka, kulotshwe encwadini yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli nakwaJuda; uJehoyakini, indodana yakhe, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₉UJehoyakini wayeneminyaka eyisishiyagalombili ngesikhathi eba yinkosi, wabusa izinyanga ezintathu nezinsuku ezilishumi eJerusalema. Wenza okubi phambi kukaSimakade. ₁₀Kwathi ekuqaleni konyaka inkosi uNebukhadinezari yathumela ukuba kulethwe inkosi eBhabhele, nezitsha ezinhle zendlu kaSimakade. Yabe isibeka uZedekiya, umfowabo, ukuba abe yinkosi kwaJuda naseJerusalema.

₁₁UZedekiya wayeneminyaka engama-21 ngesikhathi eba yinkosi, wabusa iminyaka eli-11 eJerusalema. ₁₂Wenza okubi phambi kukaSimakade uNkulunkulu wakhe. Akazithobanga phambi kukaJeremiya, umphrofethi owayengumlomo kaSimakade. ₁₃Wayihlubuka futhi nenkosi uNebukhadinezari eyayimfungisile ngoSimakade, wayenza lukhuni intamo yakhe, nenhliziyo yakhe wayenza lukhuni, akaze aphendukela kuSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. ₁₄Zonke izikhulu zabaphristi nabantu baphambuka kakhulu, benza okungalungile, balandela zonke izinengiso zabezizwe, bayingcolisa indlu kaSimakade ayeyingcwelise eJerusalema.

₁₅USimakade uNkulunkulu wokhokho babo wathumela izithunywa zakhe ephindelela, ngokuba wayenozwelo ngabantu bakhe nangendawo ahlala kuyo. ₁₆Kepha bazidelela izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu ngokuwabukela phansi amazwi akhe, nangokubhuqa abaphrofethi bakhe, yaze yaba nkulu intukuthelo kaSimakade ngabantu bakhe, kwesweleka ikhambi lokuyelapha. ₁₇Ngakho-ke wabehlisela inkosi yamaKhaledi, yabulala izinsizwa zakhona ngenkemba endlini yabo engcwele. Ayibanga naluzwelo ensizweni, entombini, kwabadala, nasemidodovini; wabanikela bonke esandleni sayo. ₁₈Zonke izitsha zendlu kaNkulunkulu, ezinkulu nezincane, ingcebo yendlu kaSimakade nengcebo yenkosi neyezikhulu zayo, konke yakuyisa eBhabhele. ₁₉Bayishisa indlu kaNkulunkulu, baludiliza ugange eJerusalema, bazishisa zonke izigodlo ngomlilo, babhubhisa zonke izitsha zakhona ezinxanelekayo.

₂₀Abasele enkembeni yabathumba yabayisa eBhabhele, baba yizinceku zayo nezamadodana ayo, kwaze kwabusa umbuso wamaPheresiya, ₂₁ukuba ligcwaliseke izwi likaSimakade ngomlomo kaJeremiya, ukuze izwe laneliseke ngamasabatha alo. Ngazo zonke izikhathi, liyakuba yincithakalo liphumule kuze kuphele iminyaka engama-70.

₂₂Ngonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kukaKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuze kufezeke izwi likaSimakade alikhuluma ngomlomo kaJeremiya, uSimakade wavusa umoya kaKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, ukuba imemezele embusweni wayo wonke, futhi kulotshwe ukuthi:

₂₃“Usho kanje uKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, uthi: ‘USimakade uNkulunkulu wezulu unginike yonke imibuso yomhlaba, ungiqokile ukuba ngimakhele indlu eJerusalema elikwaJuda. Noma ngubani ophakathi kwenu wabantu bakhe, uSimakade uNkulunkulu makabe naye, akhuphuke.’ ”