To The Word – Day 112

₁Ngoku ke ukumkani uDavide wayeyindoda eyalupheleyo, iminyaka yakhe seyihambile. Wayekhathazwa kukugodola, kuba wayengafudumali noba selefunjelwe ngeengubo ezininzi. ₂Ke kaloku amaphakathi akhe athetha naye athi: “Masikukhangelele intombi nto, mhlekazi, ukuze ikulungiselele ikonge, ilale kufuphi nawe, ufudumale, mhlekazi.”

₃Behla benyuka ke apho kwaSirayeli, bekhangela loo nzwakazi, bada ke bafumana uAbhishagi umShunemikazi. Bamthatha ke, bamzisa apho kukumkani. ₄Intombi le ke yayiyinzwakazi ecikizekileyo. Yamonga ke ukumkani, yamlungiselela, kambe ke yena ukumkani zange ayambathe.

₅Ke kaloku uAdoniya, unyana kakumkani, onina yayinguHagiti, wazigqatsa wathi: “Ndiza kuba ngukumkani.” Wazilungiselela iinqwelo namahashe, kananjalo wandulelwa ngamashumi amahlanu amadoda. ( ₆Kaloku uyise wayengazanga amngxolise athi kuye: “Uyenzeleni into enje?” Yena wayesalekela uAbhasalom, ibe ke umfo lo eyinzwana.)

₇UAdoniya ke wathetha-thethana noJowabhi unyana kaZeruya, kunye noAbhiyatare owayengumbingeleli, baza ke bona bamxhasa. ₈Ke yena umbingeleli uZadoki, noBhenaya unyana kaJoyada, *nomshumayeli uNatan, noShimeyi, noReyi, kunye noolindikhaya bakaDavide, zange bahambisane noAdoniya.

₉UAdoniya wathatha iigusha neenkomo namathole atyetyisiweyo wenza idini elityeni likaZohelete ngase-En-rogeli. Wabamema bonke abaninawe bakhe, oonyana bakakumkani, nawo onke amadoda akwaJuda angamaphakathi komkhulu. ₁₀Kodwa ke wabashiya abashumayeli uNatan noBhenaya noolindikhaya kunye nomninawa wakhe uSolomon.

₁₁UNatan wabuza kuBhashebha unina kaSolomon wathi: “Uvile nje ukuba uAdoniya ozalwa nguHagiti bamenze ukumkani ngaphandle komhlekazi uDavide? ₁₂Yiva ke, ndikucebise, ukuze usinde, usindise nobomi bonyana wakho uSolomon. ₁₃Yiya kukumkani uDavide, uthi kuye: ‘Mhlekazi, kumkani, kanene wawungafunganga kum wathi: “Ngenene unyana wakho uSolomon woba ngukumkani emva kwam, angene esihlalweni sam”? Ngani ke ngoku kungene uAdoniya abe ngukumkani?’ ₁₄Ke kaloku uya kuthi usathetha njalo nokumkani, nam ndingene ndikungqinele kuloo nto uyithethayo.”

₁₅Ngenene ke wangena uBhashebha, waya kuyibona ingwevu leyo ingukumkani, isegumbini layo lokulala, apho yayihleli noAbhishagi umShunemikazi eyilungiselela. ₁₆UBhashebha wavova, waguqa phambi kokumkani.

Ukumkani wathi: “Kukho nto na uyifunayo?”

₁₇Ke kaloku waphendula wathi: “Mhlekazi, andithi kanene nguwe ngokwakho owafungayo apha kum, mna sicakazana sakho, wabhambathisa *ngoNdikhoyo uThixo wakho usithi: ‘USolomon unyana wakho uya kuba ngukumkani esikhundleni sam, angene esihlalweni sam’? ₁₈Kodwa ke ngoku nanko uAdoniya engukumkani ngaphandle kwakho, mhlekazi kumkani, wena ungazi nto ngaloo nto. ₁₉Wenze idini ngentaphane yeenkomo, amathole atyetyisiweyo, neegusha. Futhi ubamemile noonyana bakho, kunye nombingeleli uAbhiyatare nenjengele yomkhosi uJowabhi. Kambe ke akammemanga uSolomon isicaka sakho. ₂₀Kambe ke, mhlekazi kumkani, uSirayeli ewonke ujonge kuwe, ulindele ukuva ngawe ukuba ngubani na oza kungena ahlale esikhundleni sakho emva kwakho. ₂₁Kungenjalo ke, mhlekazi, uya kuthi nje ukuba ufe ulaliswe nooyihlo, mna nonyana wam uSolomon siphathwe njengabangcatshi.”

₂₂Uthe esathetha nokumkani njalo, wagaleleka umshumayeli uNatan. ₂₃Waxelelwa ke ukumkani kwathiwa: “Nanku umshumyeli uNatan.” Wangena ke, waya kukumkani, wafika wakhahlela, waqubuda ngobuso bakhe emhlabeni.

₂₄UNatan wathi: “Ngaba nguwe na, mhlekazi kumkani, othe uAdoniya uya kuba ngukumkani emva kwakho, angene esihlalweni sakho? ₂₅Kaloku namhlanje uye kwenza idini ngentaphane yeenkomo, amathole atyetyisiweyo, kunye neegusha. Ubamemile bonke oonyana bakho, iinjengele zomkhosi, nombingeleli uAbhiyatare. Ngoku nâbo besela bemana bedanduluka besithi: ‘Khul' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani Adoniya!’ ₂₆Phofu ke akammemanga umbingeleli uZadoki, nam sicaka sakho, noBhenaya unyana kaJoyada, kunye noSolomon isicaka sakho. ₂₇Mhlekazi kumkani, ingaba nguwe lo wenze into enje ungazazisanga izicaka zakho ukuba ngubani na oya kungena ahlale esikhundleni sakho xa ungasekho?”

₂₈Ukumkani uDavide wathi: “Ndibizeleni uBhashebha.” Weza ke, wafika wema phambi kokumkani. ₂₉Ke kaloku ukumkani wafunga wathi: “Ekho nje *uNdikhoyo, yena owandihlangulayo kuzo zonke iinkathazo, ₃₀inene namhlanje ndiza kuyifezekisa into endakufungela yona ngoNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, ndisithi: ‘Unyana wakho uSolomon uya kuba ngukumkani emva kwam, angene esihlalweni sam.’ ”

₃₁UBhashebha wavova, ejonge phantsi, waguqa phambi kokumkani, wathi: “Phil' ud' ukhokhobe, mhlekazi kumkani Davide!”

₃₂Ukumkani uDavide wathi: “Ndibizeleni umbingeleli uZadoki, *nomshumayeli uNatan, noBhenaya unyana kaJoyada.” Bafika ke phambi kokumkani, ₃₃waza wathi kubo: “Thathani amaphakathi am, unyana wam uSolomon nimkhwelise kwimbongolo yam, niye eGihon, ₃₄khona apho ke umbingeleli uZadoki nomshumayeli uNatan bamthambise bammisele abe ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli. Ze nivuthele isigodlo, nidanduluke nithi: ‘Khul' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani Solomon!’ ₃₅Emva koko ke ze nibuye naye, aze kungena ahlale esihlalweni sam, alawule endaweni yam. Ndimtyumbile ukuba abe ngukumkani kwaSirayeli nakwaJuda.”

₃₆Ke yena uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada wamphendula ukumkani wathi: “Makube njalo! Ngamana watsho noNdikhoyo uThixo wenkosi yam ukumkani! ₃₇Njengoko uNdikhoyo wayenenkosi yam ukumkani, ngokunjalo makabe naye uSolomon, ulawulo lwakhe lwande ludlule olwenkosi yam ukumkani uDavide.”

₃₈Behla ke, umbingeleli uZadoki, umshumayeli uNatan, uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada, nabalindi abangamaKreti namaPleti, uSolomon bemkhwelise kwimbongolo kakumkani uDavide, baya naye eGihon. ₃₉Ke kaloku umbingeleli uZadoki waluthatha uphondo lwamafutha awayelufumene *esibingelelweni, waza ke wathambisa uSolomon ngaloo mafutha. Bakhalisa isigodlo, baza bonke abantu bakhwaza bathi: “Phil' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani Solomon!” ₄₀Loo nginginya yabantu ke yamlandela, ihamba ikhalisa amaxilongo, igcobe kangangokuba isingqi sabo sawunyikimisa umhlaba.

₄₁UAdoniya nâbo wayebamemile bayiva le ntshukumo, xa kanye baliphethayo itheko labo. Akusiva isandi sesigodlo uJowabhi wabuza wathi: “Ngaba yeyantoni le ngxokolo ivakala esixekweni?”

₄₂Esabuza njalo kwathi gqi uJonatan unyana wombingeleli uAbhiyatare. UAdoniya wathi: “Ngena! Umntu ohlonipheke njengawe lo unokuba usiphathele iindaba ezimnandi.”

₄₃UJonatan waphendula wathi kuAdoniya: “Hayi bo! Umhlekazi ukumkani uDavide umisele uSolomon wangukumkani. ₄₄Ukumkani umkhuphe nombingeleli uZadoki nomshumayeli uNatan, uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada, nabalindi abangamaKreti namaPleti; bamkhwelise kwimbongolo kakumkani. ₄₅Ke umbingeleli uZadoki nomshumayeli uNatan bamthambisele eGihon wangukumkani. Basuke apho benemincili; nangoku ke kusathe nkxwe esixekweni. Loo ntswahla uyivayo ngabo. ₄₆Ewe, uSolomon selengene esihlalweni phaya ebhotwe. ₄₇Namaphakathi akomkhulu nango evuyisana nomhlekazi ukumkani uDavide esithi: ‘Ngamana uThixo angalenza labalasela ngaphezu kwelakho igama likaSolomon, nolawulo lwakhe aluqaqambise ngaphezulu!’ Nokumkani ke suka wathelela enqula esemandlalweni wakhe. ₄₈Ewe, usuke wathi: ‘Makabongwe uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, othe namhlanje wandenzela inyhweba yokuba ndimbone ngawam amehlo lowo uthatha isihlalo esikhundleni sam.’ ”

₄₉Lakuziva ezi ndaba iqela lika-Adoniya lothuka lachithakala ngoko nangoko. ₅₀Ke yena uAdoniya ngokoyika uSolomon wasuka waya kubambelela ngeempondo zeqonga lamadini. ₅₁Waxelelwa ke uSolomon kwathiwa: “UAdoniya nanko ebambelele ngeempondo zeqonga lamadini kuba esoyika ukumkani uSolomon. Uthi: ‘Ukumkani uSolomon makafunge namhlanje, athembise ukuba akayi kundifaka ikrele andibulale mna sicaka sakhe.’ ”

₅₂USolomon wathi: “Ukuba ufumaniseke engumfo onyanisekileyo, akayi kuba nawo nowempumlo umkrwelo; kambe ke, ukuba ufumaniseke enobubi, uza kufa.” ₅₃Ukumkani uSolomon wathumela amadoda, amphuthuma apho eqongeni lamadini uAdoniya. Ke uAdoniya weza wafika wakhahlela apho kukumkani uSolomon. Ke uSolomon wathi kuye: “Kulungile, goduka.”

₁Lithe lakufika ixesha lokunduluka kukaDavide emhlabeni, wamyalela unyana wakhe uSolomon wathi: ₂“Mna sendiza kuwushiya umhlaba. Ngoko ke wena yomelela ngokwendoda, ₃ungaphazami ukuhamba ngokwesimiso *sikaNdikhoyo uThixo wakho. Hamba endleleni yakhe, uyithobele imimiselo nemithetho yakhe, nayo yonke imigaqo nemiqathango ayimisileyo, njengoko yabhalwayo emthethweni kaMosis. Xa usenjenjalo ke, uya kuba nenkqubela kuyo yonke into oyenzayo, uphumelele naphi na apho ukhoyo. ₄Ke yena uNdikhoyo wosifezekisa isithembiso sakhe kum. Kaloku yena wathi: ‘Ukuba izizukulwana zakho zithe zaziphatha ngendlela efanelekileyo, zanyaniseka, zathembeka kum ngentliziyo yonke nangomphefumlo wonke, ngenene soze ingabikho indoda yendlu yakho kwisihlalo solawulo lwakwaSirayeli.’

₅“Ngoku ke, mfo wam, uyayazi into awandenza yona uJowabhi unyana kaZeruya, nditsho into awayenzayo kwiinjengele ezimbini zomkhosi kaSirayeli, uAbhinere unyana kaNere noAmasa unyana kaYetere. Kaloku wababulala, waliphalaza igazi labo ngexesha loxolo, kwanga kusemfazweni, wayidyobha ngalo ibhanti eyayisesinqeni sakhe neembadada ezazisezinyaweni zakhe. ₆Into omawuyenze kuye wozibonela ngokobulumko bakho, kodwa uze ungamyeki afe ngenxa yokwaluphala, aze aye engcwabeni enoxolo.

₇“Kodwa ke uze wenze ngezibele koonyana bakaBhazilayi waseGiliyadi. Bona mababe phakathi kwâbo batya kunye nawe esithebeni sakho. Kaloku babengakum ngokuya ndandibaleka umntakwenu uAbhasalom. ₈Uze ungamlibali uShimeyi unyana kaGera, umBhenjamin waseBhawurim, lowa wandishwabulela endiqalekisa kabuhlungu mhla ndandisiya eMahanayim. Wathi akuhla endihlangabeza eJordan, ndafunga uNdikhoyo ndathi andisayi kumbulala ngekrele. ₉Kodwa ke ngoku uze ungamthathi njengongenatyala. Kaloku wena ungumfo onobulumko, ngoko ke akuyi kuxakwa yinto onokuyenza kuye. Mse engcwabeni izimvi zakhe zinegazi.”

₁₀Ke kaloku uDavide waya kuphumla kunye nooyise-mkhulu, waza wafihlwa kwisixeko sikaDavide. ₁₁KwaSirayeli walawula iminyaka engamashumi amane. Yaba yiminyaka esixhenxe eHebron, yangamashumi mathathu anantathu eJerusalem. ₁₂USolomon ke wangena esihlalweni sikayise uDavide, lwaza ulawulo lwakhe lwazinza.

₁₃Ke kaloku uAdoniya, unyana kaHagiti, waya kuBhashebha, unina kaSolomon. Ke yena uBhasheba wathi: “Ngaba uza ngoxolo na?”

UAdoniya waphendula wathi: “Ewe, ndiza ngoxolo.” ₁₄Waphinda wathi: “Kukho into endifuna ukuyithetha kuwe.”

UBhashebha wathi: “Kulungile; thetha.”

₁₅Waqhuba uAdoniya wathi: “Njengoko usazi ulawulo yayilolwam, uSirayeli wonke ekhangele kum njengokumkani wakhe. Kodwa izinto zajika, ulawulo lwajika lwawela kumntakwethu uSolomon; nto leyo ke yamiselwa *nguNdikhoyo. ₁₆Kambe ke ngoku ndinasicelo sinye endifuna ukusenza kuwe; uze uncede ungasikhabi.”

UBhashebha waphendula wathi: “Kulungile; thetha ndive.”

₁₇Waqhuba ke wathi: “Khawuncede uthethe nokumkani uSolomon; akanakwala kuwe. Ndifuna andinike uAbhishagi, intombi yomShunemi, abe ngumfazi wam.”

₁₈UBhashebha ke wathi: “Kulungile; ndiya kukuthethela kukumkani.”

₁₉UBhashebha ke waya kukumkani uSolomon, esiya kuthethelela uAdoniya. Akumbona ke ukumkani, waphakama wamhlangabeza, wakhahlela, waza ke wachopha esihlalweni sakhe. Wathi makuziwe nesihlalo, ukuze ahlale kuso unina, waza ke wamhlalisa ngasekunene kwakhe. ₂₀UBhashebha ke wathi: “Ndinesicelo esinye endifuna ukusenza kuwe; uze ungalanduli.”

Ukumkani waphendula wathi: “Thetha, mama; andiyi kulandula.”

₂₁Waqhuba ke wathi: “Kunganjani xa uAbhishagi umShunemikazi enikelwa kumntakwenu uAdoniya abe ngumkakhe?”

₂₂Ukumkani uSolomon uphendule unina wathi: “Ngani ukuba uAbhishagi umShunemikazi umfunele uAdoniya? Kungcono umcelele obu bukumkani buphela – andithi kaloku yena ngumkhuluwa – abe yena exhaswa ngumbingeleli uAbhiyatare noJowabhi unyana kaZeruya!”

₂₃Ukumkani uSolomon wafunga uNdikhoyo wathi: “Makandohlwaye uThixo nokuba kuqatha kangakanani na, ukuba uAdoniya akafanga ngenxa yeli lizwi. ₂₄Ewe, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, lo undimiseleyo ndazinza kwisihlalo sikabawo uDavide, yena lo undenzele umlibo ngokwesithembiso sakhe, inene namhlanje uza kufa uAdoniya!” ₂₅Ke ukumkani uSolomon wayalela uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada, waza wamgwaza uAdoniya, wafa.

₂₆Ukumkani ke wathi kumbingeleli uAbhiyatare: “Wena ke phindela emasimini akho eAnatoti. Ufanelwe kukufa, kambe ke andiyi kukubulala kwangoku, kuba yayithwalwa nguwe ityesi yomnqophiso *kaNdikhoyo uThixo ngexesha likabawo uDavide, futhi wawuzithwele kunye nobawo iimbandezelo zakhe.” ₂₇Ngoko ke uSolomon wamkhiqa uAbhiyatare kububingeleli, ezalisekisa ilizwi awalithethayo uNdikhoyo eShilo malunga nendlu kaEli.

₂₈Akuziva ezi ndaba uJowabhi – kaloku naye wayekho kwiyelenqe lika-Adoniya, nangona wayengekho kwelika-Abhasalom – suka ke yena wabalekela *esibingelelweni sikaNdikhoyo, waya kubambelela ngeempondo zeqonga lamadini. ₂₉Waxelelwa ke uSolomon ukuba nanko uJowabhi ebaleke waya kubambelela ngeempondo zeqonga lamadini esibingelelweni sikaNdikhoyo. Wasuka wathuma uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada esithi: “Yiya umgwaze!”

₃₀UBhenaya ke waya esibingelelweni sikaNdikhoyo, wafika wathi kuJowabhi: “Ukumkani uthi: ‘Phuma apha!’ ”

Kambe ke yena waphendula wathi: “Andiphumi; ndiya kufela apha.”

UBhenaya ke waya kubika olo daba kukumkani, wathi: “UJowabhi uthetha ngolu hlobo; ewe, wenjenje ukuphendula.”

₃₁Ukumkani ke wathi kuBhenaya: “Yiya kuye, wenze njengokuthetha kwakhe. Mosele umngcwabe, ukuze mna nendlu kabawo sahlukane nobutyala ngegazi awaliphalazayo. ₃₂Kaloku yena wahlasela amadoda amabini wawabulala engadibananga nobawo uDavide. Omabini loo madoda, uAbhinere unyana kaNere, injengele yomkhosi wakwaSirayeli, kunye noAmasa unyana kaYetere, injengele yomkhosi wakwaJuda, ewe, omabini la madoda ayengcono enyanisekile kunaye. ₃₃Igazi labo malihlale phezu koJowabhi nezizukulwana zakhe naphakade, kambe ke kuDavide nezizukulwana zakhe, indlu yakhe nobukhosi bakhe, makuphumle uxolo lukaNdikhoyo ngonaphakade.”

₃₄Ngenene ke uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada waya wafika wamosela uJowabhi, waza ke wangcwatyelwa kumhlaba wakhe entlango. ₃₅Ke ukumkani wamisela uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada wayinjengele yomkhosi esikhundleni sikaJowabhi, waza endaweni ka-Abhiyatare wafaka umbingeleli uZadoki.

₃₆Waza ke ukumkani wathumela kuShimeyi wathi: “Zakhele indlu eJerusalem, uhlale kuyo, ungaze uphume khona uye naphi na. ₃₇Mhla waphuma wayiwela le ntili yeKedron, uze wazi ukuba ufile, kambe ke igazi lakho loba phezu kwentloko yakho.”

₃₈UShimeyi uphendule ngelithi kukumkani: “Uthethe kakuhle, mhlekazi. Isicaka sakho siya kuyenza loo nto uyithethileyo, nkosi yam kumkani.” Ngenene ke uShimeyi wahlala eJerusalem ithuba elide.

₃₉Ke kaloku emva kweminyaka emithathu amakhoboka amabini kaShimeyi abalekela kuAkishe unyana kaMahaka ukumkani waseGati, waza ke uShimeyi waxelelwa kwathiwa: “Uyabona, amakhoboka akho aseGati.”

₄₀Akuyiva ke le nto, wabopha idonki yakhe, waya kuAkishe eGati, efuna loo makhoboka. Ke uShimeyi wawafumana apho eGati amakhoboka lawo, wabuya nawo. ₄₁Waxelelwa ke uSolomon ukuba uShimeyi uphume eJerusalem waya eGati, waza waphinda wabuya. ₄₂Ukumkani ke wambiza uShimeyi, wathi kuye: “Kanene ndandingakufungisanga uNdikhoyo na ndikulumkisa ndisithi: ‘Mhla waphuma usiya naphi na ngaphandle, uze wazi ukuba ufile’? Ndathi ndakutsho kuwe wena waphendula usithi: ‘Uthethe kakuhle mhlekazi; ndiya kukuthobela.’ ₄₃Ngani ke ngoku ukuba ungasifezekisi isibhambathiso sakho kuNdikhoyo, uwuthobele nomyalelo wam?”

₄₄Waqhuba ukumkani wathi kuShimeyi: “Uyazazi kakuhle entliziyweni yakho zonke izinto ezimbi owazenzayo kubawo uDavide. Ngoku uNdikhoyo uza kukubuyekeza ngobugwenxa bakho. ₄₅Kambe ke yena ukumkani uSolomon uya kuthamsanqeleka, nesihlalo sikaDavide sohlala siluqilima phambi koNdikhoyo kude kube ngunaphakade.”

₄₆Ke ukumkani wayalela uBhenaya unyana kaJoyada, waza ke wamgwaza uShimeyi, wafa.

Kwesi sithuba ke ulawulo lwaluseluzinzile luluqilima esandleni sikaSolomon.

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon walamana nokumkani waseJiputa ngokuthatha intombi yakhe. Ke yona yeza kuhlala naye kwisixeko sikaDavide lada lagqitywa ukwakhiwa ibhotwe lakhe, ngokunjalo nendlu *kaNdikhoyo kunye nodonga olujikeleze iJerusalem. ₂Kambe ke bona abantu amadini babesawenzela ezindulini, kuba belingekakhelwa indlu igama likaNdikhoyo ngelo xesha. ₃USolomon ke wabonakalisa ukumthanda uNdikhoyo, kuba wayehamba ngokwemimiselo kayise uDavide, ngaphandle nje kwento yokuba wayesenza amadini neziqhumiso ezindulini.

₄Ukumkani waya eGibheyon, esiya kwenza amadini, kuba leyo yayiyeyona nduli ibalulekileyo, waza ke uSolomon wenza iwaka lamadini atshiswayo apho eqongeni. ₅Ke kaloku apho eGibheyon uNdikhoyo wabonakala kuSolomon ephupheni ebusuku, wathetha wenjenje: “Cela nantoni na ofuna ndikuphe yona.”

₆USolomon waphendula wathi: “Wena wasenzela ububele obukhulu isicaka sakho ubawo uDavide, ngenxa yokuba wayethembekile kuwe elilungisa, umfo ontliziyo ithe tse. Ezo zibele zakho ke uziqhubele phambili kwada kwanamhlanje, kuba umnike unyana ukuze achophe esihlalweni sakhe. ₇Ngoko ke ngoku, Ndikhoyo Thixo wam, isicaka sakho esi usenze ukumkani, wandibeka endaweni kabawo uDavide. Kambe ke bendingubani na, ndiyimveku engazi nto nje! Ewe, andazi nendlela endingawuqhuba ngayo lo msebenzi wam. ₈Ewe, isicaka sakho esi siphakathi kwabantu obanyulileyo, ihlokondiba labantu abayinyambalala engenakubalwa. ₉Ngoko ke mna sicaka sakho ndiphe intliziyo enobulumko, ukuze ndikwazi ukubalawula abantu bakho, ndiwazi umahluko phakathi kokulungileyo nokubi. Kaloku akakho umntu onganako ukuyilawula le ndimbane yaba bantu bakho.”

₁₀Ke kaloku iNkosi yakholiswa sesi sicelo sikaSolomon. ₁₁Ngoko ke uThixo wathi kuye: “Ngenxa yokuba ucele ngolu hlobo, awazicelela ubomi obude okanye ubutyebi, awucelanga nokuba kubulawe iintshaba zakho, koko ucele ubuchule bokuthetha amatyala ngobulungisa, ₁₂ke mna ke ndiza kukunika ngokwesicelo sakho. Ewe, ndiza kukupha intliziyo enobulumko nengqiqo ukuze ube yimbalasane kubo bonke abantu, kungaze kubekho mntu ufana nawe kwabaphile ngaphambi kwakho nabaya kulandela emva kwakho. ₁₃Ngaphezulu ke ndiza kukunika nezo zinto ungazicelanga – ubutyebi nesihomo – ukuze ebomini bakho bonke ungabi nantanga kubo bonke ookumkani. ₁₄Ukuba ke uthe wahamba ngeendlela zam, wayithobela imimiselo nemithetho yam njengoDavide uyihlo, ndokuthi jize ngobomi obude.”

₁₅Ke kaloku uSolomon wavuka, waqonda ukuba kuthe kanti liphupha. Wabuyela eJerusalem, wema phambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, waza wenza amadini atshiswayo ngokunjalo nawobudlelwane. Kamva ke wazenzela umbhiyozo zonke izinxiba-mxhaka zakhe.

₁₆Ke kaloku abafazi ababini abangamahenyukazi beza kuma phambi kokumkani, ₁₇omnye wabo wathi: “Mhlekazi, mna nalo mfazi sihlala ndlwini-nye. Ngoku ke mna ndiye ndabeleka ndafumana umntwana, ngoko silala sobabini. ₁₈Ngosuku lwesithathu ndibelekile nalo mfazi ubeleke owakhe umntwana. Ke kaloku ke besisobabini apho endlwini, kungekho mntu wumbi. ₁₉Ngabusuku buthile lo mfazi wamfuthanisela wafa unyana wakhe. ₂₀Kwakuba njalo ke uvukile wachwechwa ezinzulwini zobusuku, weza kûba unyana wam ecaleni lam, mna ke sicakazana sakho ndilele thwii. Suka ke wathatha lo nyana wakhe ungasekhoyo wambeka esifubeni sam, lo wam wamncancisa kuye. ₂₁Ndithe ke ndakuvuka ngentsasa elandelayo, ndizama ukuncancisa usana lwam, lwaye lungasekho! Kuthe ke kwakukhanya ndamqwalasela, ndafumanisa ukuba lo asinguye unyana wam endimzeleyo.”

₂₂Omnye lo ke umfazi wathi: “Hayi bo! Lo mntwana uphilayo ngowam; owakho ngulo ufileyo.”

Lo wokuqala ke umfazi wathi: “Unotshe! Owakho ngulo ufileyo; ngowam lo uphilayo!” Yaba yiloo mpikiswano ke apho phambi kokumkani.

₂₃Ukumkani ke wathi: “Oo! Lo uthi: ‘Ngunyana wam lo uphilayo, ngunyana wakho lo ufileyo;’ abe omnye esithi: ‘Hayi khona, ngunyana wakho lo ufileyo, owam ngulo uphilayo!’ ” ₂₄Suka ke ukumkani wathi: “Ndiziseleni ikrele.” Walinikwa ke ukumkani ikrele elo. ₂₅Wayalela wathi: “Mahluleni kubini lo mntwana uphilayo, icala nilinike omnye waba bafazi, omnye ke nimnike icala.”

₂₆Ke kaloku lo mfazi yayingowakhe umntwana ophilayo wasikwa yinimba, wathi kukumkani: “Ndincede, mhlekazi, musa ukumbulala! Ndaweni yaloo nto mnike lo mfazi lo mntwana uphilayo!”

Ke yena omnye lo umfazi wathi: “Ewe, kungcono singamfumani sobabini; mahlule kubini!”

₂₇Waza ke ukumkani wawisa isigwebo wathi: “Sukuba sambulala umntwana, koko mnike lo mfazi wokuqala, kuba ngenene ngowakhe.”

₂₈Athe ke amaSirayeli akusiva eso sigwebo sikakumkani, atsho amhlonela, kuba eqonda ukuba kuthe kanti uThixo ukumkani umphe ubulumko bokuthetha amatyala ngobulungisa.

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon wayelawula uSirayeli ewonke jikelele.

₂Nazi izinxiba-mxhaka zakhe:

₇USolomon ke wayenabalawuli-zithili abalishumi elinambini apho kuSirayeli ephela. Bona ke babexhasa ukumkani nekomkhulu ngokudla. Kunyaka ngamnye isithili sasithatha inyanga yonke sixhasa. ₈Nanga amagama abo:

₂₀Ke kaloku abantu bakwaJuda nabakwaSirayeli babebaninzi njengentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle; babonwabile besitya besela. ₂₁Ke yena uSolomon wazilawula zonke izikumkani ukusukela kumlambo iEfrati ukuya kuthi xhaxhe ngelamaFilistiya, aye kuthi xhaxhe kumda waseJiputa. Xa zizonke ke ezo zizwe zaziphantsi koSolomon, zinikela imirhumo kuye bonke ubomi bakhe.

₂₂Isixhaso sakwaSolomon semini nganye yayingamawaka amahlanu eelitha zeflawa ecolekileyo, neshumi lamawaka eelitha zomgubo wengqolwa; ₂₃ishumi leenkabi zeenkomo ezityetyisiweyo, namashumi amabini eenkomo ezondliwa emadlelweni; ikhulu leegusha, ngaphandle kwamanxala namabhadi namanqa neenkuku zodidi.

₂₄Kaloku uSolomon wayelawula zonke izikumkani ezikwintshona yomlambo iEfrati, ukusuka eTisa ukuya eGaza, kuyinzolo macal' onke. ₂₅Ngexesha likaSolomon uJuda noSirayeli xa ewonke, ukusuka kwaDan kuye kuthi xhaxhe ngeBheshebha, wayehleli ekhuselekile, umntu ngamnye enesidiliya namakhiwane.

₂₆USolomon wayenamawaka amane emikhumbi yamahashe eenqwelo kunye neshumi elinambini lamawaka amahashe. ₂₇Abalawuli bezithili yayingulowo nalowo enenyanga yakhe, bexhasa ukumkani uSolomon ngokudla okwakutyiwa ngabo bonke abalapho kwisithebe sakomkhulu. Babexhasa kungabikho nto ilambathayo. ₂₈Kananjalo babezisa isixhaso samahashe eenqwelo nesamanye, basibeke endaweni yaso; leyo ke yayiyihabile kunye nengca.

₂₉UThixo wanika uSolomon ubulumko nengqondo egqithisileyo, nolwazi oluphangaleleyo olungenakulinganiswa oku kwentlabathi yaselunxwemeni. ₃₀Ubulumko bukaSolomon babugabadele kunobulumko babo bonke abantu basempuma, kananjalo buthe kratya kubulumko bonke bamaJiputa. ₃₁Ngobulumko wayebagqwesa bonke abantu, kananjalo noEtan umEzra – ethe kratya kunoHeman, uKalkoli, noDarda oonyana bakaMaholi. Udumo lwakhe ngobulumko lwanwenwela kuzo zonke izizwe ezijikelezileyo. ₃₂Wenza izafobe ezingamawaka amathathu; waqamba iingoma eziliwaka elinesihlanu. ₃₃Imithi nezityalo wayichaza, esusela kumsedare waseLebhanon, waya kuthi xhaxhe ngehisophu enaba ezindongeni. Wafundisa nangezilwanyana, iintaka, nezilo ezirhubuluzayo, kwaneentlanzi. ₃₄Ewe, kuSolomon kwakusiza abantu beentlanga zonke, bethunyelwa zizikumkani zehlabathi liphela, ukuze baziphulaphulele ubulumko bakhe obabungundaba-mlonyeni.

₁Ke kaloku ukumkani uHiram waseTire akuva ukuba uSolomon uthanjisiwe wangena esikhundleni sikaDavide, wathumela oonozaku-zaku bakhe kuSolomon, kuba kaloku kwakusoloko kukho unxibelelwano lobuhlobo phakathi kwakhe noDavide. ₂Nanku ke umyalezo owathunyelwa nguSolomon kuHiram: ₃“Kaloku nawe uyazi ukuba ngenxa yeemfazwe awazilwa zivela ngenxa zonke ubawo uDavide akazange abe nako ukwakhela igama *likaNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe indlu, de abe uNdikhoyo uzibeke phantsi kweenyawo zakhe zonke iintshaba zakhe. ₄Kambe ke ngoku mna uNdikhoyo uThixo wam undithe jize ngenzolo macal' onke; andinazintshaba nazithwakumbe. ₅Ngoko ke ndizimisele ukulakhela indlu igama likaNdikhoyo uThixo wam, njengoko uNdikhoyo watshoyo kubawo uDavide. Kaloku wathi: ‘Ngunyana wakho, endiya kumngenisa esihlalweni sakho, oya kulakhela indlu igama lam.’ ₆Ngoko ke wena nceda uyalele ndigawulelwe imisedare eLebhanon. Amadoda am aya kusebenzisana nawakho kulo msebenzi, ndize ke mna amadoda akho ndiwahlawule loo mvuzo uwumisileyo. Kaloku nawe uyazi ukuba abam abasebenzi abanabo ubuchule obunjengobo bamaSidon ekugawuleni imithi.”

₇Akulufumana ke olu daba uHiram wavuya kakhulu, wathi: “Namhlanje makabongwe uNdikhoyo, kuba kaloku uDavide umnike isilumko sonyana ukuze asilawule esi sizwe sikhulu kangaka.” ₈Ke uHiram wathumela kuSolomon esithi: “Umyalezo wakho ndiwufumene, ndaye ke ndiza kwenza njengokuthetha kwakho, ndikugawulele imisedare nemipayini. ₉Amadoda am aya kuyithoba eLebhanon, ayise elwandle, aze ke ayenze iinyanda, ayidadise, ayise kuloo ndawo ufuna ibe kuyo. Aya kuyikhulula ke, uze wena uyithathe umke nayo. Nto oya kuyenza ke wena kukuxhasa ikomkhulu eli ngokutya.” ₁₀Ngale ndlela ke uHiram waxhasa uSolomon ngayo yonke imisedare nezibonda zompayini awayezifuna. ₁₁Ke yena uSolomon waxhasa uHiram ngokutya minyaka le: amashumi amabini eetoni zengqolowa, nesine samakhulu amawaka eelitha zamafutha omnquma acwengileyo. ₁₂Ngokwesithembiso sakhe ke uNdikhoyo uSolomon wamthi jize ngobulumko. Kwabakho uxolo phakathi koHiram noSolomon, baza ke benza umnqophiso.

₁₃Ukumkani uSolomon wavelisa umsebenzi wonyanzelo kuSirayeli ephela, waza ke wagaya amadoda angamashumi amathathu amawaka. ₁₄Wawafaka abolekisana ukuya eLebhanon, ngenyanga nganye kuye ishumi lamawaka. Ngoko ke ayeba semsebenzini inyanga yonke, aze ahlale zibe mbini ekhaya. Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yabo basebenzi ke yayinguAdoniram. ₁₅USolomon wayenamashumi asixhenxe amawaka amadoda okuthwala imithwalo, enamashumi asibhozo amawaka abaqingqi bamatye phaya ezintabeni. ₁₆Kanti ke wayenamashumi amathathu anantathu amakhulu eenduna ezazivelele loo msebenzi, ziphethe abasebenzi. ₁₇Ukumkani wabayalela ukuba bembe amatye omeleleyo, bawaqingqe, ukuze ngawo kwenziwe isiseko sendlu kaThixo. ₁₈Iingcibi zikaSolomon noHiram namadoda aseGebhali zawalungisa zawaqingqa amatye nemithi yokwakha indlu kaThixo.

₁Ezi zizafobe zikaSolomon unyana kaDavide ukumkani wakwaSirayeli.