U-Aleksandriyu Ubeka UJonathani Abe Ngumphristi Omkhulu
1Ngomnyaka we-160, u-Aleksandriyu Ephifanesi, indodana ka-Antiyokhusi, wafika wadla elasePhitholemiyase. Bamemukela, waqala ukubusa lapho. 2Lapho inkosi uDemetriyu izwa ngalokhu, waqoqa impi enkulukazi wagasela khona eyobhekana naye empini. 3UDemetriyu wathumelela uJonathani incwadi enamazwi anokuthula emhlonipha ngayo; 4ngokuba wathi ngaphakathi kwakhe: “Masizame ukwakha ukuthula naye kuqala ngaphambi kokuba enze isivumelwano sokuthula no-Aleksandriyu sokuba babe yizitha zethu, 5ngokuba uyobukhumbula bonke ububi esibenzile kuye nakubafowabo nasesizweni sakubo.”
6Ngakho-ke uDemetriyu wamnikeza igunya lokuba aqoke amabutho futhi awahlomise nokuba abe ngumana wakhe; wayala futhi ukuba bonke ababethunjiwe ezinqabeni bakhululwe babuyiselwe kuye. 7UJonathani wayeseza eJerusalema, wayifunda incwadi kuzwa bonke ababekhona emzini. 8Bamangala kakhulu lapho bezwa ukuthi inkosi imnikeze igunya lokuba abuthe amabutho. 9Labo ababesezinqabeni babakhulula abathunjwa bababuyisela kuJonathani, yena wababuyisela kubazali babo. 10UJonathani wayesehlala eJerusalema waqala ukwakha nokuvusa umuzi. 11Wayala labo ababenza umsebenzi wokwakha izindonga futhi wayibiyela intaba iZiyoni ngamatshe ayizikwele, ukuze abe yisivikelo esihle, bakwenza lokho. 12Kwase kuthi abezizwe ababesezinqabeni ayezakhile uBhakhidesi babaleka; 13bonke bazishiya lezi zindawo babuyela ezweni lakubo. 14KwakuseBhethi Zuri kuphela lapho kwasala khona abanye balabo ababewushiyile umthetho kanye nemiyalo, ngokuba kubo lo muzi wakuyindawo enhle yokubhaca. 15Inkosi u-Aleksandriyu wezwa ngazo zonke izethembiso uDemetriyu azithumele kuJonathani, wezwa futhi nangazo zonke izimpi uJonathani nabafowabo abazilwa, nangezenzo zabo zobuqhawe abazenzayo, nangabo bonke ubunzima ababhekana nabo.
16Ngakho wathi: “Singabuye siyithole enye indoda efana nalena na? Masisuke manje siyomenza umhlobo wethu.”
17Ngakho-ke wabhala incwadi, wayithumela kuye, inala mazwi: 18“Inkosi u-Aleksandriyu iyambingelela umfowabo uJonathani. 19Sizwile ngawe, ukuthi uliqhawe elikhulu elifanele ukuba ngumngani wethu. 20Ngakho-ke siyakumisa namhlanje ukuba ube ngumphristi omkhulu wesizwe sakho; uyakubizwa ngokuthi ngumngani wenkosi futhi uyakuthatha uhlangothi lwethu ubugcine ubungani nathi.”
Wathumelela futhi nengubo ebukhwebezane nomqhele wegolide. 21Ngakho-ke uJonathani wazigqoka izingubo ezibusisiweyo ngenyanga yesikhombisa yonyaka we-160 emkhosini wamadlangala, futhi wabutha amabutho, wawahlomisa ngezikhali eziningi.
UJonathani Weseka U-Aleksandriyu Ephifanesi
22Lapho uDemetriyu ezwa ngazo zonke lezi zinto wakhathazeka kakhulu waze wathi: 23“Kuyini lokhu esikwenzileyo na? U-Aleksandriyu usesidlulile wahamba phambi kwethu ekwenzeni ubuhlobo namaJuda ukuze aziqinise. 24Nami futhi ngizakuyibhala incwadi enamazwi okubagqugquzela futhi ngibethembise ukubahlonipha kanye nezipho, ukuze ngithole usizo lwabo.”
25Ngakho-ke wathumela lo mbiko kubo unala mazwi: “Inkosi uDemetriyu iyasibingelela isizwe sabaJuda. 26Ngakho lokhu nisigcinile isivumelwano senu nathi futhi nabuqhuba ubuhlobo nathi, anazihlanganisa nezitha zethu, sizwile ngakho futhi siyathokoza. 27Ngakho-ke qhubekani nenze kahle, lokhu kokwenza sinenzele okuhle ngenxa yalokho enisenzela khona. 28Siyonivikela ezintweni eziningi futhi sininike nezipho. 29Ngiyawakhulula manje onke abajuda ukuba angabe esakhokha intela, kanye nentela kasawoti neyasebukhosini, 30futhi esikhundleni sokuba niqoqe okwesithathu kokunhlamvana kanye nengxenye yezithelo zemithi obekumele ngikuthole, ngiyanikhulula nakukho kusukela namuhla. Angisenakukuqoqa ezweni lakwaJuda noma ezifundeni ezintathu ezengezwe kini kusukela eSamariya naseGalile, kusukela namuhla kuze kube nini nini.
31“IJerusalema namaphethelo alo, okweshumi kwalo nayo yonke intela yalo, kuyakuba ngcwele futhi kungathathwa ntela kukho. 32Ngiyayekela ukuphatha inqaba eseJerusalema futhi ngiyinikela kumphristi omkhulu, ukuze abeke kuyo amadoda aqokwe nguye ukuba ayilinde. 33Wonke abaJuda ayethathwe njengabathunjwa ezweni lakwaJuda alethwa lapho embusweni wami, ngiyawakhulula ngaphandle kwenkokhelo; futhi makuthi zonke izikhulu zesule yonke intela yemfuyo yabo. 34Yonke imikhosi namasabatha nemikhosi yokuthwasa kwenyanga kanye nezinsuku ezimisiweyo, nezinsuku ezintathu ezendulela umkhosi kanye nezintathu emuva kwawo, mazibe zinsuku ezikhululiwe nezokukhululeka kuwo onke abajuda asembusweni wami. 35Akekho oyakuba negunya lokuthatha utho kubo noma acasule omunye wabo noma ngayiphi into.
36“AbaJuda mawemukelwe abe yingxenye yamabutho enkosi kuze kufike emadodeni ayizi-30 000, futhi mawanikezwe isondlo esinikwa onke amabutho enkosi. 37Abanye babo mababekwe ezinqabeni ezinkulu zenkosi, futhi abanye babo mabanikwe izikhundla eziluphawu lokwethenjwa embusweni. Makuthi izikhulu zabo nabaholi babo baphume kubo, futhi mabaphile njengokwemithetho yabo, njengoba inkosi iyalile ukuba kwenziwe nakwaJuda. 38Mayelana nalezi zifunda ezintathu zaseSamariya ezenezelwe kwaJuda, mazenziwe zibe yingxenye yeJudiya ukuze zibe phansi komholi oyedwa, zingathobeli omunye ngaphandle komphristi omkhulu. 39IPhitholemiyasi kanye nezwe elakhelene nayo ngikunikeze njengesipho endaweni engcwele yaseJerusalema, ukuze kubhekwane nezindleko zendawo engcwele. 40Nginikela futhi minyaka yonke izinkulungwane eziyishumi nanhlanu zamashekeli esiliva aphuma enteleni yenkosi evela ezindaweni ezifanele. 41Yonke enye imali izikhulu zikaHulumeni ezingayikhokhile njengoba zazenzile ngeminyaka yokuqala, ziyakuyikhokha kusukela namuhla ukuze isetshenziselwe ithempeli. 42Ngaphezu kwalokho, izinkulungwane ezinhlanu zesiliva ebezitholwa yizikhulu zombuso wami zivela emsebenzini wethempeli, nakho lokhu ngiyakuqeda, ngokuba lokhu kungokwabaphristi abasenza ethempelini.
43“Bonke abayobhaca ethempelini eJerusalema, noma kunoma yiyiphi ingxenye yalo, ngenxa yokuba bekweleta inkosi, mabakhululwe bonke embusweni wami babuyiselwe impahla yabo. 44Makuthi izindleko zokwakha nokuvuselela indawo engcwele zikhokhwe esikhwameni sentela yenkosi. 45Kanjalo nezindleko zokuvuselelwa kwezingange zeJerusalema kanye nezokuwuqinisa, nezokuvusa ugange eJudiya, zonke mazikhokhwe esikhwameni senkosi.”
46Lapho uJonathani nabantu bezwa la mazwi, abakholwanga futhi abawemukelanga, ngokuba bakhumbula ububi obukhulu uDemetriyu abenza ku-Israyeli nokuthi wayebacindezele kangakanani. 47Bazihlanganisa no-Aleksandriyu, ngokuba nguye owakhuluma kuqala kubo ngokuthula, baba ngomana bakhe zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe. 48Inkosi u-Aleksandriyu yaqoqa amabutho amaningi yakanisa yabhekana noDemetriyu. 49La makhosi amabili atholana empini, kwathi impi kaDemetriyu yabaleka, u-Aleksandriyu wabaxosha wabehlula. 50Wabacindezela elwa nabo laze lashona ilanga, uDemetriyu wafa ngalolo lusuku.
51U-Aleksandriyu wathumela izithunywa kuPhitholemi inkosi yaseGibhithe nalo mbiko: 52“Selokhu ngibuyele embusweni wami ngithathile isihlalo sokhokho bami, futhi ngawusimamisa umbuso wami – ngokuba ngimchithile uDemetriyu ngalidla izwe lakhe; 53ngibhekane naye empini, kwathi yena nempi yakhe sabacoboshisa, futhi sesisithathile isihlalo sombuso wakhe, 54ngakho-ke masenze isivumelwano manje; nginike indodakazi yakho ibe yinkosikazi yami, mina ngiyakuba ngumkhwenyana wakho, futhi ngiyakukunika izipho wena kanye nayo njengokufanele isikhundla sakho.”
55UPhitholemi inkosi waphendula wathi: “Luyathokoza usuku owabuyela ngalo ezweni lokhokho bakho wathatha isihlalo sakho embusweni wabo. 56Ngakho-ke ngizokwenza njengoba ubhalile encwadini yakho, kodwa masihlangane ePhitholemiyase, ukuze sibonane, mina ngiyakuba ngumukhwe wakho, njengoba ushilo.”
57Ngakho-ke uPhitholemi waphuma eGibhithe, yena nendodakazi yakhe uKleyopatra, bafika ePhitholemiyase ngomnyaka we-162. 58Inkosi u-Aleksandriyu yahlangana naye, uPhitholemi wamnika indodakazi yakhe ngokosiko lokuganana, bagubha umkhosi womgcagco ePhitholemiyase ngobukhulu ubuhle lobu njengoba enza amakhosi. 59Inkosi u-Aleksandriyu yayisibhalela uJonathani immema ukuba eze babonane. 60Naye wahamba ngolukhulu udumo wabonana nala makhosi amabili ePhitholemiyase; wabanikeza bona nabangani babo isiliva negolide nezipho eziningi, futhi wathola umusa kubo. 61Idlanzana labangenelisiwe kwa-Israyeli, amahlubuka, ahlangana ukuba amthwese icala; kodwa inkosi ayibanakanga.
62Inkosi yayala ukuba uJonathani akhunyulwe izingubo zakhe agqokiswe ezibukhwebezane, ngakho-ke bakwenza lokho. 63Inkosi yabuye yamhlalisa eduze nayo; yayisithi ezikhulwini zayo: “Hambani naye niye phakathi komuzi nimemezele ukuthi akukho muntu ozoletha izikhalo ngaye noma ngabe yingani, futhi makungabikho omcunulayo nanoma ngasiphi isizathu.”
64Lapho abamangaleli bakhe bebona inhlonipho ayinikwayo, njengokwesimemezelo, futhi bebona egqokiswe ezibukhwebezane, babaleka. 65Inkosi yamhlonipha kanjalo futhi yamenza omunye wabangani bayo abakhulu, yambeka umkhuzi wempi kanye nombusi wesifunda. 66UJonathani wabuyela eJerusalema ngokuthula enokuthokoza okukhulu.
UJonathani Unqoba U-Apoloniyase
67Ngomnyaka we-165, uDemetriyu indodana kaDemetriyu wafika ezweni loyisemkhulu evela kwelaseKhrethe. 68Lapho inkosi u-Aleksandriyu ikuzwa lokho, yakhathazeka kakhulu yase ibuyela e-Antiyokhi. 69UDemetriyu waqoka u-Apoloniyase umbusi wase Kholesiriya, futhi wabutha impi enkulu wakanisa ngaseJaminiya. Wayesethumela lo mbiko kumphristi omkhulu uJonathani: 70“Nguwe kuphela osivukele, futhi sengithole ukuhlekwa okukhulu ngenxa yakho. Wenziwa yini uthathe amandla ngaphandle kwethu kulo lonke elisezintabeni na? 71Uma sewuwethemba amabutho akho, phuma wehlele emathafeni, ake sihlole ukuthi ngubani onamandla kunomunye, ngokuba yimi enginamandla kulowo muzi. 72Buza ukuze uqonde ukuthi ngingubani, nokuthi ngobani abanye abasisizayo. Abantu bayakukutshela ukuthi ungeke wabhekana nathi, ngokuba okhokho bakho kwaze kwaba kabili sibehlula bebaleka bashiya izwe labo. 73Ngakho-ke nawe awunakwazi ukubhekana namabutho empi egcwele iwathanga lokhalo, akukho litshe, nahlozi nandawo ongabalekela kuyo.”
74Lapho uJonathani ewezwa amazwi ka-Apoloniyase, umoya wakhe waphakama. Wakhetha amadoda ayizi-10 000, waphuma eJerusalema, umfowabo uSimoni wahlangana naye ukuba amsize. 75Wakanisa eJopha, lapho u-Apoloniyase wayenebutho khona kodwa abantu bomuzi bawavala amasango awo. 76Ngakho-ke balwa nalo iJopha, abantu bomuzi bagcwala uvalo base bewuvula umuzi, ngakho-ke uJonathani wawudla umuzi waseJopha. 77Kwathi ukuba u-Apoloniyase ezwa ngalokhu, wahlanganisa izi-3 000 zabagibele amahhashi namabutho amaningi, walibhekisa e-Azotusi kungathi uya kude. Ngasona leso sikhathi enye yase ishoshela emathafeni, ngokuba wayenamabutho amaningi agibele amahhashi ayebeke ithemba lakhe elikhulu kuwo.
78UJonathani wamlandela wabheka e-Azotusi, impi yatholana phezulu. 79U-Apoloniyase wayeshiye inkulungwane yabagibele amahhashi ngemuva kwakhe. 80UJonathani wezwa ukuthi kukhona abamlalele ngemuva, ngokuba bayizungeza impi yakhe bayiciba ngemicibisholo kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwantambama. 81Amadoda empi yakhe ama kawanyakaziswa, njengoba ayewayalile uJonathani, kodwa amahhashi empi yesitha aqala ukukhathala. 82USimoni wayesesondela nawakhe amabutho wabhekana namabutho empini ngokuba amahhashi ayesekhathele; waba namandla amakhulu kunabo ngakho-ke babaleka, 83eyabagibele amahhashi yahlakazwa emathafeni. Babaleka balibangisa e-Azotusi bangena eBhethi Dagoni, ithempeli lesithixo sabo, ukuze baphephe. 84Kepha uJonathani wayishisa i-Azotusi kanye nemizi eyakhelene nayo waphanga impango; kwathi ithempeli likaDagoni nababebhace kulo walithungela ngomlilo. 85Inani lalabo abawa ngenkemba, kanye nalabo abashiswa ngomlilo bephila lafinyelela ezinkulungwaneni eziyisishiyagalombili.
86UJonathani wayeseshiya lapho waye wakanekisa maqondana ne-Askaloni, abantu balowo muzi baphuma bamhlangabeza ngomkhulu umdumo lo. 87Yena kanye nabo bonke ayenabo babuyela eJerusalema bephethe impango enkulu. 88Lapho inkosi u-Aleksandriyu izwa ngalezi zinto, yamhlonipha uJonathani kakhulu kunakuqala; 89yamthumelela indondo yegolide njengoba kwakulisiko ukwenze njalo kubafowabo nezihlobo zenkosi. Yamnikeza futhi ne-Ekhroni kanye namaphethelo alo ukuba libe ngelakhe.
