UJEREMIYA 41

₁Kwathi ngenyanga yesixhenxe uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya unyana kaElishama, owayengumntwana wegazi ekwayingqwayi-ngqwayi kakumkani, waya eMizpa kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam, ehamba neshumi lamadoda, baza batya kunye. Kwathi ke besahleli etafileni apho ₂suka uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya kunye nelo shumi lamadoda ayehamba naye baphakama bamxabela ngekrele uGedaliya, unyana ka-Ahikam ongumzukulwana kaShafan. Ngeso senzo bamgwinta owayengumphathiswa welo lizwe omiselwe ngukumkani waseBhabheli. ₃Bawabulala namanye amaJuda onke awayeseMizpa kunye noGedaliya, kwakunye namajoni angamaKaledi awayelapho.

₄Ngomhla wesibini olandela ukugwintwa kukaGedaliya, ingekaziwa loo nto, ₅kwafika amashumi asibhozo amadoda, evela eShekem naseShilo naseSamariya. Ayezichebile iindevu, ezikrazule izambatho, imizimba eyicentile. Ayephethe iminikelo yeenkozo kunye nentlaka yesiqhumiso, ezizisa endlwini *kaNdikhoyo. ₆UIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wasuka eMizpa, wawahlangabeza ehamba elila. Ufikile kubo, wathi: “Yizani kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam.” ₇Kodwa athi nje akuthi cakatha phakathi esixekweni, uIshmayeli nabo babehamba naye bawatyakatya loo madoda, bawaphosa emhadini. ₈Ishumi laloo madoda lona lathi kuIshamayeli: “Musa ukusibulala thina; sinokutya esikufihlileyo endle: ingqolowa, neoyile yomnquma, nobusi.” Wawayeka ke lawo amadoda akawabulala njengamanye. ₉Umhadi okwaphoswa kuwo izidumbu zamadoda abulawa nguIshmayeli kwakunye nesikaGedaliya wenziwa ngukumkani uAsa xa wayehlaselwa ngukumkani uBhasha wakwaSirayeli. Ke uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wawuzalisa loo mhadi zizidumbu zabagwintiweyo.

₁₀UIshmayeli wathimba bonke abantu abâsaláyo eMizpa, iintombi zokumkani nabanye bonke abasala ngexesha uNebhuzaradan umphathi-balindi bakomkhulu waphathisa uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam. Wahamba nabo wawelela kwelaseAmon.

₁₁Kwathi bakuvakala kuYohanan unyana kaKareya kunye nabaphathi-mabutho bonke ububi obenziwe nguIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya, ₁₂banduluka nawo onke amadoda amabutho abo, baya kuhlasela uIshmayeli. Bamfumana emise ngakwelaa chibi likhulu laseGibheyon. ₁₃Bavuya abantu ababehamba noIshmayeli bakubona uYohanan esiza nabaphathi-mabutho, ₁₄bajika bonke abo babethinjwe nguIshmayeli eMizpa, bangenela kuYohanan unyana kaKareya. ₁₅Waphuncuka kodwa yena uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya namadoda asibhozo, baya kutsho kwelama-Amon.

₁₆UJohanan unyana kaKareya, ekunye nabaphathi-mabutho, bajika namasalela abantu abaqweqwediswa nguIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya owagwinta uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam esuka nabo eMizpa. Yayingamadoda axhobileyo, abafazi nabantwana, namagosa asebhotwe awayevela nawo eGibheyon. ₁₇Banduluka bemisa eGerute-kimham ngaseBhetelehem kwindlela yabo esinga eJiputa, ₁₈bephepha amaKaledi. Babesoyika kuba uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wagwinta uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam owemiswa ngukumkani waseBhabheli ukuba abe ngumphathiswa welo lizwe.