UJOROMIYA 41

₁Ngenyanga yekhomba u-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya omsa ka-Elitjhama obegade angewebukhosini, akhuliselwe ngesigodlweni weza namadoda alitjhumi kuGedaliya umsa ka-Arhikhamu eMitsipha. Kwathi nabasagoma ndawonye lapho, ₂u-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya namadoda alitjhumi ebegade akhamba naye basikima bamadlha phasi uGedaliya umsa ka-Arhikhamu omsa kaTjhafani ngesabula, bambulala loyo obegade abekwe yikosi yeBhabheli kobana abe mbusi phezu kwenarha. ₃U-Itjhimayeli godu wabulala woke amaJuda ebegade anoGedaliya eMitsipha kanye namajoni wamaKasidi agade alapho.

₄Elangeni elilandelako ngemva kokubulawa kwakaGedaliya, phambi kobana abantu bazi ngalokho, ₅kwafika amadoda amatjhumi abunane avela eTjhekemu, eTjhilo neSamariya alethe umnikelo weenthoro netjhwalo kobana azokunikela ethempelini lakaSomnini. Wona gade agude iindevu zawo, adabula izambatho zawo abe azisika. ₆U-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya waphuma eMitsipha kobana awahlangabeze. Bekakhamba akhihla isililo. Kwathi nahlangana nawo wathi: “Yenize kwaGedaliya umsa ka-Arhikhamu.” ₇Lokha amadoda lawo nasele angaphakathi kwedorobho, u-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya nesiqhema sakhe bawarhayila bebawaphosela ngaphakathi komphathamanzi. ₈Kodwana phakathi kwawo kwaba namadoda alitjhumi athi ku-Itjhimayeli: “Ungasibulali! Sinamagugu esiwafihle emmangweni, okutjho ikoroyi nebhali, amafutha we-oliva neliju.” Yeke wahlukana nawo, azange awabulale kanye nabafowabo. ₉Umphathamanzi aphosele ngakiwo iindumbu zamadoda awabuleleko bekungomkhulu ikosi u-Asa awenzako kobana avikele uJuda kuBhatjha ikosi yakwa-Israyeli. U-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya wawuzalisa ngababuleweko.

₁₀U-Itjhimayeli wathumba boke abaseleko ebegade baseMitsipha. Phakathi kwabo gade kunamakhosazana kanye nabo boke abanye ebegade basele lapho. Abantwabo ngilabo ebegade bangaphasi kwakaGedaliya umsa ka-Arhikhamu owabekwa nguNebuzaradani umphathi wobuzimba. U-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya wabathumba kobana aye nabo kuma-Amoni.

₁₁Lokha uJorhanani umsa kaKhareyarhi nazo zoke iinduna zeenqhema zamajoni ebegade zinaye nabezwa ngabo boke ubulelesi obenziwe ngu-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya, ₁₂bathatha woke amadoda bayokulwa no-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya. Bamfunyana eduze kwelitsha leGibeyoni. ₁₃Kwathi boke abantu ebebano-Itjhimayeli nababona uJorhanani umsa kaKhareyarhi kanye neenduna zeenqhema zamajoni ebegade zinaye, bajabula. ₁₄Boke abantu ebebathunjwe ngu-Itjhimayeli eMitsipha bajika ngelitshelo baya kuJorhanani umsa kaKhareyarhi. ₁₅Kodwana u-Itjhimayeli namadoda abunane baphunyurha ezandleni zakaJorhanani babalekela kuma-Amoni.

₁₆Nje-ke uJorhanani umsa kaKhareyarhi nazo zoke iinduna zeenqhema zamajoni ebegade zikhamba naye bathatha boke abantu abasalako abathunjwa ngu-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya eMitsipha ngemva kobana abulale uGedaliya umsa ka-Arhikhamu. Labo bekumadoda, amajoni, abafazi nabantwana kanye nabaphakulwa ebekabathethe eGibeyoni. ₁₇Bakhamba njalo bayokujama eGeruthi-Kimuhamu eduze neBhethe-Lehema nabaya eGibhide ₁₈ukubalekela amaKasidi. Bebawesaba ngombana u-Itjhimayeli umsa kaNetaniya gade abulele uGedaliya umsa ka-Arhikhamu obegade abekwe yikosi yeBhabheli kobana abe mbusi phezu kwenarha.