Isigwebo sakaZimu ku-Arhaziya
1Emva kokuhlongakala kwaka-Arhabi, uMowabi wahlubuka u-Israyeli.
2U-Arhaziya warhohlomela efesidereni-mluko lelawu elingaphezulu lesigodlo sakhe eSamariya, wamadlheka phasi, wazilimaza. Yeke wathumela iinthunywa wathi kizo: “Khambani niyokuthukula kuBhali-Zebhubi, uzinyana we-Ekroni nizwe bona ngizokuphola ekulimalenokhu na?”
3Kodwana ingilozi kaSomnini yathi ku-Eliya umTitjhibe: “Khuphuka uhlangabeze iinthunywa zekosi yeSamariya uzibuze uthi, ‘Kungenca yokobana kunganaZimu kwa-Israyeli bonyana ningaze niyokuthukula kuBhali-Zebhubi uzinyana we-Ekroni na? 4Yeke nakhu okutjhiwo nguSomnini:
“ ‘Angekhe usasuka embhedeni olele kiwo.
Ngiqinisile uzokufa!’ ”
U-Eliya wakhamba-ke.
5Iinthunywa zabuyela ekosini. Ikosi yazibuza yathi: “Nibuya ngaliphi?”
6Zaphendula zathi: “Kunomuntu osihlangabezileko wafese wathi kithi, ‘Buyelani ekosini enithumileko nithi kiyo: Nakhu okutjhiwo nguSomnini, “Kungenca yokobana kunganaZimu kwa-Israyeli bonyana ungaze uthumele abantu bona bayokuthukula kuBhali-Zebhubi, uzinyana we-Ekroni na? Yeke angekhe usasuka embhedeni olele kiwo. Ngiqinisile uzokufa!” ’ ”
7Ikosi u-Arhaziya yazibuza yathi: “Gade kumhlobo bani umuntu ofese wanihlangabeza lo, wanitjela lokhu?”
8Zaphendula zathi: “Bekuyindoda enesambatho soboya nebhetjha edinini lakhe.”
Ikosi yathi: “Ngu-Eliya umTitjhibe loyo.”
9Yeke yathumela induna nesiqhema sayo sabantu abamatjhumi amahlanu ku-Eliya. Induna yakhuphukela ku-Eliya ogade ahlezi esiqongolweni sombundu yafese yathi kuye: “Muntu kaZimu, ikosi ithi, ‘Yewehle!’ ”
10U-Eliya wayiphendula wathi: “Nakubanyana ngimumuntu kaZimu, akwehle umlilo ezulwini uqothule wena nabantu bakho abamatjhumi amahlanu.” Mbala kwehla umlilo ezulwini waqothula induna nabantu bayo.
11U-Arhaziya wathumela godu enye induna nabantu bayo abamatjhumi amahlanu. Induna yakhuphuka yafika ku-Eliya yathi: “Muntu kaZimu, nakhu okutjhiwo yikosi u-Arhaziya, ‘Yehla masinyana!’ ”
12U-Eliya wathi: “Nakubanyana ngimumuntu kaZimu, akwehle umlilo ezulwini uqothule wena nabantu bakho abamatjhumi amahlanu!” Kwehla umlilo kaZimu ezulwini waqothula induna nabantu bayo abamatjhumi amahlanu.
13Godu u-Arhaziya wathumela kwesithathu induna nabantu bayo abamatjhumi amahlanu. Induna yesithathu yona yenyuka yafese yaguqa phambi kwaka-Eliya yamrabhela yathi: “Muntu kaZimu, ngiyakurabhela akhese ubabalele ipilwami kanye neempilo zabantu abamatjhumi amahlanwaba! 14Qala-nje, kwehle umlilo ezulwini waqothula iinduna ezimbili nabantu bazo boke. Kodwana njesi akhese ubabalele ipilwami.”
15Nje-ke ingilozi kaSomnini yathi ku-Eliya: “Yehla naye, ungesabi.” Yeke u-Eliya wasikima wehlela nayo ekosini.
16U-Eliya wathi ekosini: “Nakhu okutjhiwo nguSomnini uZimu, ‘Ngebanga lokobana uthumele iinthunywa kobana ziyokuthukula kuBhali-Zebhubi uzinyana we-Ekroni, kwanga akunaZimu kwa-Israyeli ongabuza kuye ngelizwi lakhe, ngalokho-ke awuzukwehla embhedeni olele kiwo. Ngiqinisile uzokufa.’ ”
17Wahlongakala njalo-ke u-Arhaziya ngokuya ngelizwi lakaZimu agade alikhulume ngo-Eliya. Ngebanga lokobana gade anganandodana, umnakwabo uJoramu waba yikosi esikhundleni sakhe emnyakeni wesibili wokubusa kwakaJehoramu umsa kaJehotjhafathi ikosi yakwaJuda.
18Zoke izehlakalo zokubusa kwaka-Arhaziya nalokho akwenzileko, kutlolwe encwadini yemilando yamakhosi wakwa-Israyeli.
