2 IZikhronike 11

₁URehobhowamu esefikile eJerusalema, waqoqa yonke indlu yakwaJuda nesizwana sakwaBhenjamini, abantu abakhethiweyo abayizi-180 000, amabutho, ukuze balwe nendlu yakwa-Israyeli, umbuso bawubuyisele kuye uRehobhowamu, indodana kaSolomoni.

₂Kwase kufika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuShemaya, umuntu kaNkulunkulu, lathi: ₃“Yisho kuRehobhowamu, indodana kaSolomoni, inkosi yakwaJuda, nayo yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli ekwaJuda neyakwaBhenjamini, uthi: ₄‘Usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: ningakhuphuki ukuyolwa nabafowenu, abantu bakwa-Israyeli; phindelani, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe, ngokuba lokhu kuvela kimi.’ ”

Balilalela izwi likaSimakade, baphindela emuva, kabamhlasela uJerobhowamu.

₅URehobhowamu wahlala eJerusalema, wakha imizi eyizinqaba kwaJuda. ₆Wakha iBhethlehema, i-Ethamu, iThekhowa, ₇iBhethi Zuri, iSoko, i-Adulamu, ₈iGathi, iMaresha, iZifi, ₉i-Adorayimi, iLakhishi, i-Azekha, ₁₀iZora, i-Ajaloni, neHebhroni; leyo mizi ebiyelweyo yayikwaJuda nakwaBhenjamini. ₁₁Izinqaba waziqinisa, kuzo wabeka abakhuzi bempi, wagcina ukudla, amafutha, newayini kuzo. ₁₂Kuyo yonke imizi, wabeka izihlangu nemikhonto emzini ngamunye, wayiqinisa kakhulu impela. ElakwaJuda nelakwaBhenjamini kwakungokwakhe.

₁₃Abaphristi nabaLevi ababekulo lonke elakwa-Israyeli bazihlanganisa noRehobhowamu, bevela kuzo zonke izifundazwe. ₁₄AbaLevi bashiya amadlelo abo nefa labo, baya kwaJuda naseJerusalema, ngokuba uJerobhowamu namadodana akhe bawenqabela ukuba abe ngabaphristi bakaSimakade. ₁₅Wazimisela abaphristi bezindawo eziphakemeyo, abezimbuzi nabamathole ayewabumbile. ₁₆Emva kokuhamba kwabo, kwalandela ababevela kuzo zonke izizwana zakwa-Israyeli, ababenhliziyo ziphokophelele ukufuna uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, baya eJerusalema ukuyohlabela uSimakade uNkulunkulu wokhokho babo. ₁₇Base bewuqinisa-ke umbuso wakwaJuda, benza uRehobhowamu, indodana kaSolomoni, waba namandla iminyaka emithathu, ngokuba bahamba iminyaka emithathu endleleni kaDavide noSolomoni.

₁₈URehobhowamu waganwa nguMahalathi, indodakazi kaJerimothi, indodana kaDavide neka-Abhihayili, indodakazi ka-Eliyabe, indodana kaJese. ₁₉Wamzalela lawa madodana: uJewushe, uShemiya noZahamu. ₂₀Emva kwakhe, wathatha uMahakha, indodakazi ka-Absalomu. Yona yamzalela: u-Abhiya, u-Athayi, u-Uza, noShelomithi. ₂₁URehobhowamu wamthanda uMahakha, indodakazi ka-Absalomu, ukwedlula bonke abafazi bakhe nezanciza zakhe; wayeganwe ngabafazi abali-18 nezancinza ezingama-60. Wazala amadodana angama-28, namadodakazi angama-60.

₂₂URehobhowamu wabeka u-Abhiya, indodana kaMahakha, waba yinhloko nombusi phakathi kwabafowabo, kwazise wayehlose ukumbeka abe yinkosi. ₂₃Wenza ukuhlakanipha, amadodana akhe wawehlukanisa, ahlala emazweni wonke akwaJuda nakwaBhenjamini, nasemizini yonke ebiyelweyo; wawanika ukudla okuningi, wawatholela nabafazi abaningi.