To The Word – Day 117

₁Ke kaloku emva kokusweleka kukakumkani uAhabhi, amaMowabhi amvukela uSirayeli. ₂Ke yena uAhaziya wawa efestileni yegumbi eliphezulu lendlu yakhe eSamariya, waza wenzakala. Ngoko ke wathuma abathunywa, esithi kubo: “Hambani niye kubuzisa kuBhali-zabhubhe, uthixo wase-Ekron, ukuba ngaba ndophila na kule ngozi indihleleyo.”

₃Kambe ke isithunywa *sikaNdikhoyo sathetha noEliya waseTishbhi, sathi: “Hamba uhlangabeze abaya bathunywa bokumkani waseSamariya, uthi kubo: ‘Ngaba kungenxa yokuba engekho na uThixo kwaSirayeli le nto niya kubuzisa kuBhali-zabhube isithixo sase-Ekron?’ ₄Naku ke akuthethayo uNdikhoyo: ‘Akusayi kuvuka kuloo mandlalo ulele kuwo; uza kufa!’ ” Waza ke waya uEliya.

₅Bakubuya ke abathunywa abo, wabuza wathi ukumkani: “Ngani ukuba nijike?”

₆Baphendula ke bona bathi: “Sidibene nomfo othile, wathi masibuyele kuwe, kumkani, sikuxelele sithi: ‘UNdikhoyo uthi: Ngaba kungenxa yokuba kungekho Thixo kwaSirayeli, le nto uhamba uye kubuzisa kuBhali-zabhubhe isithixo sase-Ekron?’ Ewe, uthi: ‘Akusayi kuvuka kuloo mandlalo ulele kuwo; uza kufa.’ ”

₇Ukumkani wathi: “Yayingumfo oluhlobo luni na lowo nidibene naye waza wathetha loo mazwi kuni?”

₈Abathunywa bathi: “Ibingumfo onomnweba owenziwe ngesikhumba esinoboya, ebhinqe ngethwathwa esinqeni.”

Ukumkani wathi: “NguEliya waseTishbhi lowo.”

₉Ngoko ke wathumela apho kuEliya igosa lomkhosi, likunye namadoda alo angamashumi amahlanu. Elo gosa ke laya kuEliya, ehleli encotsheni yenduli, lafika lathi kuye: “Mfo wakwaThixo, ukumkani uthi: ‘Yihla.’ ”

₁₀UEliya waphendula wathi kwelo gosa lomkhosi: “Ukuba ke ndingumfo wakwaThixo, ngamana kwehla umlilo ezulwini, ukutshise ndawonye nala madoda akho angamashumi amahlanu!” Kwehla umlilo ezulwini, walitshisa elo gosa ndawonye naloo madoda alo angamashumi amahlanu.

₁₁Kwesi sithuba ke ukumkani waphinda wathumela elinye igosa lomkhosi kwakuEliya, likwahamba namanye amashumi amahlanu amadoda. Elo gosa lafika lathi kuEliya: “Mfo wakwaThixo, ukumkani uthi: ‘Khawuleza uhle.’ ”

₁₂UEliya waphendula wathi: “Ukuba ke ndingumfo wakwaThixo, ngamana kwehla umlilo ezulwini, ukutshise ndawonye nala madoda akho angamashumi amahlanu!” Kwehla umlilo ezulwini, uvela kuThixo, walitshisa elo gosa ndawonye naloo madoda alo angamashumi amahlanu.

₁₃Kwakhona ukumkani wathumela elesithathu igosa lomkhosi, lihamba namadoda alo angamashumi amahlanu. Eli ke lona igosa lathi lakufika kuEliya laguqa phambi kwakhe, lambongoza lathi: “Mfo wakwaThixo, ndiyakubongoza, yiba nenceba uvelane nam ngenxa yobomi bam nobu bala madoda angamashumi amahlanu, ezi zicaka zakho. ₁₄Kaloku ngaphambili kuye kwehla umlilo ezulwini, wawatshisa amagosa amabini nabo bonke ababehamba nawo. Noko ke ngoku mabuxabiseke kuwe ubomi bam.”

₁₅Ke isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sathetha noEliya sathi: “Musa ukoyika wena, hamba uhle nalo.” Ngoko ke uEliya wahamba nalo, wehla waya kukumkani.

₁₆Wafika wathi kukumkani: “Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Ngaba kungenxa yokuba kungekho Thixo na kwaSirayeli, le nto uthumela abathunywa baye kubuzisa kuBhali-zabhubhe isithixo sase-Ekron? Ngenxa yale nto uyenzileyo ke, akusayi kuvuka kuloo mandlalo ulele kuwo; uza kufa.’ ” ₁₇Ngenene ke wafa uAhaziya ngokwelizwi likaNdikhoyo elathethwa nguEliya.

Ke kaloku uAhaziya lo wayengenanyana, ngoko ke kwangena uYoram endaweni yakhe waba ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli kunyaka wesibini kaYehoram unyana kaYoshafati ukumkani wakwaJuda. ₁₈Ke zona iziganeko zolawulo luka-Ahaziya, nayo yonke imisebenzi yakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaSirayeli.

₁Ke kaloku ngethuba lokuba *uNdikhoyo anyusele uEliya ezulwini ngesaqhwithi, uEliya noElisha babesendleleni evela eGiligali. ₂UEliya wathetha noElisha wathi: “Hlala apha wena, mna uNdikhoyo undithume eBhetele.”

Kodwa yena uElisha wathi: “Ngenene, ngenene, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, nawe ukho nje, andiyi kwahlukana nawe.” Bahamba ke baya eBhetele.

₃Ke abashumayeli ababelapho eBhetele beza kuElisha, bathi kuye: “Uyaqonda nje ukuba uNdikhoyo uza kuyithatha le nkosi yakho namhlanje?”

UElisha wathi: “Ewe, ndiyazi; kodwa ke musani ukuyiphatha loo ndawo!”

₄UEliya ke wathi kuElisha: “Hlala apha, mna uNdikhoyo undithume eJeriko.”

UElisha wathi: “Ngenene, ngenene, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, nawe ukho nje, andiyi kwahlukana nawe.” Ngoko ke bahamba baya eJeriko.

₅Ke abashumayeli ababelapho eJeriko baya kuElisha, bathi kuye: “Uyaqonda nje ukuba uNdikhoyo uza kuyithatha le nkosi yakho namhlanje?”

UElisha wathi: “Ewe, ndiyazi; kodwa ke musani ukuyiphatha loo ndawo!”

₆UEliya ke wathi kuElisha: “Hlala apha, mna uNdikhoyo undithume eJordan.”

Ke yena wathi: “Ngenene, ngenene, ekho nje uNdikhoyo, nawe ukho nje, andiyi kwahlukana nawe!” Ngoko ke bahamba bobabini.

₇Ke kaloku amashumi amahlanu abashumayeli ahamba afika ema mganyana, ejonge ngakuloo ndawo babefike bema kuyo eJordan uEliya noElisha. ₈Ke Eliya wawuthatha umnweba wakhe, wawusonga, waza wawabetha ngawo amanzi. Amanzi ke ahlukana kubini, asinga kweli cala nakweliya, baza ke bobabini bawela emhlabeni owomileyo.

₉Besakuba bewelile ke, uEliya ubuze kuElisha wathi: “Khawutsho, yintoni ofuna ndikwenzele yona phambi kokuba ndahlukaniswe nawe?”

UElisha waphendula wathi: “Mandizuze isabelo esiphindiweyo somoya wakho, sibe lilifa lam.”

₁₀UEliya wathi: “Ùcele into enzima, kambe ke ukuba undibonile xa ndahlukaniswa nawe, woyifumana; kungenjalo ke akunakuyifumana loo nto.”

₁₁Bathe ke besahamba kunye njalo, suka kwee gqi inqwelo yomlilo enamahashe omlilo, yabahlukanisa, uEliya wenyuselwa ezulwini ngesaqhwithi. ₁₂UElisha ke wayibona yonke loo nto, waza wakhala wathi: “Awu, tata wam, tata wam! Nâzo iinqwelo nabamahashe bakwaSirayeli!” UElisha ke akaphindanga ambone uEliya. Wazibamba ke iimpahla zakhe, wazikrazula zaziziqwenge ezibini.

₁₃Wawuchola ke loo mnweba wawuwe kuEliya, waza waya kuma elunxwemeni lomlambo iJordan. ₁₄Wawuthatha loo mnweba wawuwe kuEliya, wabetha ngawo amanzi, wathi: “Uphi ngoku uNdikhoyo uThixo kaEliya, yena kanye?” Uthe ke akuwabetha amanzi lawo, suka ahlukana kubini, asinga kweli cala nakweliya, waza ke wawela.

₁₅Ke kaloku bakumbona abashumayeli ababengaphesheya ngaseJeriko bathi: “Tyhini, nanko umoya kaEliya uhlala kuElisha.” Bamhlangabeza ke, baza bafika bakhahlela baguqa phambi kwakhe. ₁₆Bathi kuye: “Uyabona, thina zicaka zakho sinamashumi amahlanu amadoda angabikwa hlaba. Makahambe aye kukhangela inkosi yakho, hleze kuthi kanti uMoya kaNdikhoyo lo uyithathe wayibeka ntabeni ithile, okanye ke ntilini ithile.”

UElisha wathi: “Hayi, musani ukuwathuma.”

₁₇Kambe ke abo bashumayeli baphikelela ukuyithetha le nto, wada ke naye waneentloni ukubalela, wathi: “Wathumeni.” Bawathuma ke loo madoda angamashumi amahlanu, aza ke amfuna iintsuku zada zantathu, kodwa akamfumana. ₁₈Athe ke akubuya engamfumananga, eza kuElisha owayehlala eJeriko, waza ke yena wathi kuwo: “Bendingatshongo na ukuba sanukuya?”

₁₉Ke amadoda eso sixeko athetha noElisha athi: “Mnumzana, uyayibona nawe le dolophu yethu ukuba imi endaweni entle, kodwa ke amanzi ayo mabi, nomhlaba wayo awunamveliso.”

₂₀Wawaphendula wathi: “Yizani nesitya esitsha, nigalele ityuwa kuso.” Ngenene beza naso ke.

₂₁Ke kaloku wasithatha, waya naso emthonjeni, wafika waphosa ityuwa leyo kuwo, esithi: “Utsho *uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Ndiwanyangile la manzi. Soze aphinde abe nakufa, engasoze aphinde ayidodobalise nemveliso yomhlaba.’ ” ₂₂Nangoku ke loo manzi atsho anempilo unanamhlanje, ngokwelo lizwi lathethwa nguElisha.

₂₃Ukusuka apho ke uElisha waya eBhetele. Ke kaloku wathi esahamba apho endleleni, kwavela makhwenkwe athile apho esixekweni, aza aphoxisa ngaye esithi: “Nyuka, mpandlandini! Nyuka, mpandlandini!”

₂₄Ke yena wajika, wawajonga, waza wawashwabulela egameni likaNdikhoyo. Ke kaloku kwavela iimazi ezimbini zamabhere kuloo mahlathi, zaza zawaqwenga amashumi amane anambini kuloo makhwenkwe. ₂₅Ukusuka apho ke waya kwintaba iKarmele, waza ke wasuka khona wabuyela eSamariya.

₁UYoram, unyana ka-Ahabhi, waba ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli eSamariya kunyaka weshumi elinesibhozo wolawulo lukaYoshafati ukumkani wakwaJuda, walawula iminyaka elishumi elinambini. ₂Ke kaloku wenza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo; noko ke akadanga afike kumgangatho kayise nonina. Walisusa ilitye likaBhali, elo lalenziwe nguyise. ₃Kambe ke naye wabambelela kwizono zikaJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati, ezo wayemlukuhlele kuzo uSirayeli; ewe, naye akashenxanga kuzo.

₄Ke kaloku uMesha ukumkani waseMowabhi wayefuye iigusha, erhuma kukumkani wakwaSirayeli ngekhulu lamawaka amatakane nangoboya beenkunzi zeegusha ezilikhulu lamawaka. ₅Kambe ke akuba engasekho ukumkani uAhabhi, ukumkani waseMowabhi wamgwilikela ukumkani wakwaSirayeli. ₆Ngoko ke ngelo thuba ukumkani uYoram waphuma eSamariya, wayiqokelela yonke imikhosi kaSirayeli. ₇Waza ke wathumela kukumkani uYoshafati wakwaJuda esithi: “Ukumkani waseMowabhi undigwilikele. Awungebi nako na ke ukundixhasa silwe nayo iMowabhi?”

Ke uYoshafati wathi: “Kulungile, ndiyaya. Mna nawe sibanye; abantu bam ngabantu bakho, namahashe am ngamahashe akho.”

₈Waza ke wathi: “Sovela ngaliphi na icala xa sibahlaselayo?”

UYoram waphendula ngelithi: “Ngentlango yase-Edom.”

₉Waphuma ke ngoko ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, enokumkani wakwaJuda nowase-Edom. Emva kwendlela ejikelezayo yeentsuku ezisixhenxe umkhosi lowo waphelelwa ngamanzi, akwabikho nala emfuyo. ₁₀Ke kaloku ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wathi: “Yini le, angathini uNdikhoyo ukuqokelela ookumkani abathathu aba, kanti uza kusuka abanikele esandleni samaMowabhi ngolu hlobo?”

₁₁UYoshafati wathi: “Bekungasekho *mshumayeli kaNdikhoyo esingabuzisa kuNdikhoyo ngaye na apha?”

Ke igosa elithile lokumkani wakwaSirayeli laphendula lathi: “Ukhona apha uElisha, unyana kaShafati. Ngulowa wayelihlakani likaEliya.”

₁₂UYoshafati wathi: “Nanko ke umntu onelizwi likaNdikhoyo!” Ngoko ke ukumkani wakwaSirayeli ekunye noYoshafati nokumkani wase-Edom behla baya kuye.

₁₃Ke uElisha wathi kukumkani wakwaSirayeli: “Andinanto yakwenza nawe! Hamba wena uye kubashumayeli bakayihlo nonyoko!”

Waphendula ke ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wathi: “Hayi kaloku, nguNdikhoyo ngokwakhe osiqokeleleyo thina zikumkani sobathathu, wathi kanti uza kusinikela esandleni samaMowabhi.”

₁₄Ke uElisha wathi: “Inene, ekho nje uNdikhoyo uSomandla, lo ndimkhonzayo, ukuba bekungeyiyo into yokuba ndihlonele ubukho bukakumkani uYoshafati wakwaJuda, ngendinganijongi nokunijonga, ndinganikhathalele futhi. ₁₅Kodwa ke khawuze nomdlali wehapu.”

Uthe ke umdlali-hapu lowo akuyikhalisa, satsho saphezu koElisha isandla sikaNdikhoyo, ₁₆waza wathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Yenzani imisele kule ntili.’ ₁₇Kuba kaloku uNdikhoyo uthi: ‘Akuyi kubakho moya namvula, kodwa yona intili le yophuphuma amanzi, uze ke wena neenkomo zakho nayo yonke imfuyo yakho ningawasweli amanzi okusela.’ ₁₈Leyo ke yinto elula kuNdikhoyo; noMowabhi lowo womnikela esandleni senu. ₁₉Zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo kunye nezo zizezona zibalulekileyo niya kuzoyisa. Yonke imithi emihle niya kuyigawula, niyivingce yonke imithombo, namasimi endyebo onke niwonakalise ngamatye.”

₂₀Ngentsasa elandelayo ke, ngexesha lokunikela amadini, kwaba sekunjalo: amanzi ayempompoza evela ngakwicala lakwaEdom! Ewe, yaba zizantyala-ntyala zamanzi.

₂₁Ke amaMowabhi avile ukuba ookumkani aba beze kulwa nawo; ngoko ke aqokelela yonke into eyindoda, omncinci nomdala onako ukuxhoba ezemfazwe, aza emiswa emideni. ₂₂Ukuvuka kwawo kusasa ilanga lalikhazimla emanzini. Ke kaloku ngaphesheya phaya kumaMowabhi amanzi lawo asuka angathi abomvu njengegazi. ₂₃Athi: “Hayi bo, ligazi eliya! Ookumkani abaya fana balwe bodwa babulalana. Phakathi, maMowabhi! Amaxhoba ahlel' odwa!”

₂₄Kodwa ke athi akufika ekampini yamaSirayeli amaMowabhi lawo, suka avuka amaSirayeli, alwa ada awasukela. Hayi ke, amaSirayeli alihlasela elo lamaMowabhi, akawabulala awaxhela. ₂₅Azitshabalalisa iidolophu, aza kuloo masimi anendyebo yayileyo indoda yaphosa ilitye, yaza yaba lilitye nje kuloo masimi. Ayivingca imithombo, ayigawula nemithi emihle. YiKir-hareshete yodwa ekungazange kuchukunyiswe nelitye eli kuyo, kodwa nayo amadoda axhobe *ngeenkwitshi ayingqinga ayihlasela.

₂₆Uthe ke akubona ukuba idabi limongamele ukumkani waseMowabhi, suka wathatha amakhulu asixhenxe amadoda alwa ngeentshuntshe, wazama ukutyhoboza aphumele kukumkani wase-Edom, kambe ke woyiswa nayile into. ₂₇Ngoku ke wathatha unyana wakhe oyinkulu, eyayiza kuba ngukumkani xa yena engasekho, wenza ngaye idini elitshiswayo phezu kodonga lwesixeko eso. Ke kaloku amaSirayeli akhamnqa ngendlela engathethekiyo; aza ke ahlehla agoduka.

₁Umhlolokazi othile, omyeni wayengomnye wabashumayeli, wakhalela uElisha esithi: “Umyeni wam ongasekhoyo, isicaka sakho, nawe uyamazi ukuba ebemhlonele *uNdikhoyo. Kambe ke ngoku engasekho umntu awayenetyala kuye ufuna ukuthimba amakhwenkwe am amabini abe ngamakhoboka.”

₂UElisha wathi kuye: “Ndingakunceda kanjani ke? Khawutsho, unantoni endlwini yakho?”

Ke yena wathi: “Akukho nto sinayo isicakazana sakho esi ngaphandle kwengqayana yamafutha omnquma.”

₃UElisha wathi: “Khawuhamba-hambe ujikeleze ebumelwaneni, ufune iingqayi ezingenanto, zingabi mbalwa, koko zibe ninzi. ₄Wakuba uzifumene ke, ngena endlwini yakho noonyana bakho, nizivalele khona. Uze ke ugalele amafutha lawo kwezo ngqayi zonke. Yakuzala enye yibeke bucala.”

₅Bahlukana ke, waza wazivalela noonyana bakhe apho endlwini. Bazizisa kuye iingqayi, waza ke yena wamana ezizalisa ngamafutha omnquma. ₆Zithe ke zakuzala zonke, wabhekisa kunyana wakhe wathi: “Yiza nenye kwakhona.”

Kodwa ke yena wathi: “Ziphelile; akukho yimbi eseleyo.” Namafutha ke atsho aphela.

₇Wahamba ke waya kuxelela umfo wakwaThixo owathi kuye: “Hamba uye kuthengisa loo mafutha, uhlawule amatyala akho. Aseleyo ke nophila ngawo, wena noonyana bakho.”

₈Ngenye imini uElisha waya eShunem. Khona apho kwakukho mfazi uthile usisityebi owamcelayo ukuba angene endlwini yakhe afumane into etyiwayo. Ebesithi ke, xa adlulayo, aphambukele khona ukuba afumane into etyiwayo. ₉Lo mfazi ke wathetha nendoda yakhe wathi: “Ndiyaqonda ukuba lo mfo umana engena apha ngumntu okhethekileyo wakwaThixo. ₁₀Ngoko ke masimakhele igunjana apha phezu kwendlu yethu, kulo sibeke umandlalo, itafile, isitulo, nesibane, khon' ukuze athi xa efikile ahlale kulo.”

₁₁Efikile ke ngenye imini uElisha, wangena apho kwelo gumbi lakhe, wangqengqa. ₁₂Wathetha nehlakani lakhe uGehazi, wathi: “Khawubize lo mfazi womShunem eze apha.”

Wambiza ke, waza wafika wema phambi kwakhe. ₁₃UElisha wathi kuGehazi: “Buza kuye uthi: ‘Njengoko usenzele yonke le nquleqhu nje, mna ke ndingakwenzela ntoni? Awungethandi ndikuthethele kukumkani okanye kwinjengele yomkhosi?’ ”

Ke yena wathi: “Hayi noko, ndihleli phakathi kwamawethu.”

₁₄UElisha wathi: “Ngaba angenzelwa ntoni na?”

UGehazi wathi: “Ngathi akananyana, ibe ke nendoda yakhe seyikhulile.”

₁₅UElisha wathi: “Mbize.”

Ngoko ke wambiza, waza wafika wema emnyango. ₁₆UElisha wabhekisa kuye wathi: “Ngeli xesha kunyaka ozayo uya kuba usingathe unyana ezandleni zakho.”

Ke kaloku yena wathi: “Hayi, nkosi yam, mfo wakwaThixo, musa ukusikhohlisa isicakazana sakho.”

₁₇Ewe, umfazi lowo ke wamitha, waza ke kunyaka olandelayo malunga nelo thuba wafumana unyana ngokwelizwi elalithethwe nguElisha.

₁₈Akukhula ke umntwana lowo, ngamhla uthile waya kuyise owayesemasimini nabavuni. ₁₉Wathi kuyise: “Intloko yam; intloko yam!”

Uyise ke wabhekisa kwisicaka sakhe, wathi: “Mthwale umse kunina.” ₂₀Samthwala ke, samsa kunina, umntwana lowo wahlala njalo esingathiwe ngunina, kwada kwasemini, waza ke wasweleka. ₂₁Ke unina wamthatha waya naye kwigumbi lomfo wakwaThixo, wafika wambeka emandlalweni wakhe, waza ke waluvala ucango waphuma.

₂₂Ke wathetha nomyeni wakhe wathi: “Nceda utsho isicaka size nedonki apha; ndifuna ukuya kulaa mfo wakwaThixo ngoku, ndiphinde ndibuye.”

₂₃Ke yena wabuza wathi: “Ngani ukuba uye kuye namhlanje? Inyanga ayikathwasi, ibe ingenguwo *noMhla woPhumlo.”

Umfazi waphendula wathi: “Sukukhathazeka.”

₂₄Waza ke umfazi lowo wabeka isali edonkini, wathi kwisicaka: “Ndikhokele, ungacothi ngaphandle kokuba kutsho mna.” ₂₅Ngoko ke waphuma waya kumfo wakwaThixo kwintaba iKarmele.

Umfo wakwaThixo wambona esemgama, waza wathetha nehlakani lakhe uGehazi, wathi: “Uyabona, nankuya umShunemikazi esiza! ₂₆Yiya kumhlangabeza, ufike ubuze uthi: ‘Uphila njani? Usaphila umyeni wakho? Umntwana yena uphilile?’ ”

“Hayi noko konke nje kulungile,” waphendula watsho.

₂₇Uthe ke akufika apho entabeni kumfo wakwaThixo wasuka wambamba ezinyaweni. Ke yena uGehazi wafuna ukumtyhiliza, kodwa ke umfo wakwaThixo wathi: “Hayi, myeke! Usengxakini ebuhlungu, kambe uNdikhoyo undifihlele, akandixelela ukuba kungenxa yantoni na.”

₂₈Umfazi lowo wathi: “Ngaba ndakha ndamcela na umntwana kuwe, nkosi yam? Ndandingatshongo na ukuthi: ‘Musa ukundinika ilize lethemba’?”

₂₉UElisha wabhekisa kuGehazi wathi: “Finyeza uxhabashe! Thatha induku yam, uhambe ngokukhawuleza, ubaleke. Umntu odibana naye ngendlela uze ungambulisi, nawe xa umntu ekubulisa, uze ungachithi ixesha ngempilo. Le nduku yam uze uyibeke phezu kobuso benkwenkwe leyo.”

₃₀Kodwa ke unina womntwana wathi: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo, ukho nje nawe, andiyi kuhamba ngaphandle kwakho.” Ngoko ke waphakama uElisha wamlandela.

₃₁Ke kaloku uGehazi wabakhokela, wafika wabeka induku leyo phezu kobuso benkwenkwe, kodwa ke kwathi cwaka akwabikho kusabela. Ke uGehazi wajika wahlangabeza uElisha wamxelela esithi: “Laa nkwenkwe ayivuki tu.”

₃₂Ekufikeni kwakhe ke uElisha kwelo khaya, wafumana inkwenkwe leyo isemandlalweni wakhe, iseliswelekile. ₃₃Akufika ke wangena apho egumbini, waza waluvala ucango, basala bobabini, waza ke wathandaza uNdikhoyo. ₃₄Ngoko ke wazolula apho phezu kwaloo nkwenkwe, yangumlomo emlonyeni, neliso elisweni, nezandla ezandleni. Kuthe ke kusenjalo, suka waya ufudumala ngokufudumala umzimba wenkwenkwe leyo. ₃₅UElisha ke wakhe wayishiya, wahamba-hamba apho endlwini, waza ke waphinda wabuya wazolula apho phezu kwenkwenkwana. Ke inkwenkwe leyo yathimla kasixhenxe, yaza ke yawavula amehlo ayo.

₃₆UElisha wayalela uGehazi wathi: “Khawubize umShunemikazi lowo!” Wambiza ke, kwathi akuba efikile wathi: “Thatha, nanko unyana wakho!” ₃₇Wangena ke, wavova, waguqa emhlabeni. Waza ke wasuka wamthatha unyana wakhe lowo, waphuma.

₃₈Ke uElisha wabuyela eGiligali. Ngelo thuba kwakukho imbalela kuloo ngingqi. Ke kaloku iqela labashumayeli lalihleli phambi kwakhe, waza wathi kwihlakani lakhe: “Thatha imbiza enkulu, uphekele aba bashumayeli isityu.”

₃₉Omnye wâbo bashumayeli waphuma, waya emasimini, wafika waqokelela amathangazana. Wawaqokelela wawaqushula ngesondo lengubo yakhe. Akubuya ke wawanqunqela kuloo mbiza yesityu, nakuba kwakungekho mntu uwaziyo into ayiyo. ₄₀Isityu eso ke saphakwa sanikwa loo madoda, kodwa ke athe xa aqalayo ukutya akhala athi: “Mfo wakwaThixo, ukufa kusembizeni!” Akaba nako ke ukusitya esi sityu.

₄₁Ke uElisha wathi: “Ndiziseleni umgubo wengqolowa.” Wawuthatha ke, wawugalela apho embizeni, wathi: “Phakelani abantu batye.” Bakutya ke ukutya oko kungenasikhwa.

₄₂Ke kaloku kwafika umfo othile, evela eBhali-shalisha, ezisele umfo wakwaThixo izonka ezinerhasi ezimashumi mabini. Zazenziwe ngolibo lwerhasi. Kananjalo wayephethe nezikhwebu zolibo olo. UElisha wathi kuye: “Yipha abantu batye.”

₄₃Kambe ke saphendula isicaka sathi: “Ndingathini ukubeka intwana engaka phambi kwabantu abalikhulu?”

Kodwa ke uElisha wathi: “Yipha abantu batye. Kaloku *uNdikhoyo uthi: ‘Baya kutya bade bakushiye.’ ” ₄₄Wakuthatha ke wakunika abantu, baza batya bada bakushiya, ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo.

₁Ke kaloku uNahaman wayeyinjengele yomkhosi wokumkani wakwa-Aram. Yayingumfo ohlonitshwayo noxatyisiweyo nayinkosi yakhe. Kaloku kwakungaye lowo ukuze *uNdikhoyo awaphe uloyiso ama-Aram. Wayelikroti lomfo, nto nje eneqhenqa. ₂Ke iqela elithile lama-Aram laphuma lahlasela uSirayeli, laza lathimba ntombazana ithile, yaza ke yaya kusebenzela umka-Nahaman. ₃Ke yona yathi apho kuloo mfazi: “Akwaba inkosi yam le ibingabonana *nomshumayeli okweliya laseSamariya! Ebengayiphilisayo kweli qhenqa layo.”

₄UNahaman waya enkosini yakhe, wayibikela oko kuthethwe yintombazana yakwaSirayeli. ₅Ke ukumkani wakwa-Aram wathi: “Kulungile, ungaya; ndokuphathisa neleta eya kukumkani wakwaSirayeli.” Wanduluka ke ngoko uNahaman ephethe amashumi amathathu amawaka esiliva, nesithandatu samawaka egolide, kunye neshumi lezambatho zokutshintsha ezenziwe ngelaphu elihle kunene. ₆Loo leta wayisayo kukumkani wakwaSirayeli yayisithi: “Le leta ipheleka iphakathi lam uNahaman, endimthumela kuwe, khon' ukuze umnyange kwelo qhenqa lakhe.”

₇Uthe ke asakuyifunda loo leta ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, suka wazikrazula izambatho zakhe esithi: “Ngaba ndinguThixo ngoku? Ndingabulala kakade, okanye ndiphilise? Ngani ke ukuba lo mfo andithumelele umntu ekufuneka anyangwe iqhenqa? Kucacile ukuba lo mfo uzama ukuqhwaya udushe!”

₈Ke uElisha umfo wakwaThixo uthe akuva ukuba ukumkani wakwaSirayeli uzikrazule izambatho zakhe, wathumela kuye esithi: “Ngani ukuba ude ukrazule izambatho zakho? Loo mntu mthumele apha kum; uya kutsho aqonde ukuba ukho umshumayeli kwaSirayeli.” ₉Ngoko ke uNahaman wahamba naloo mahashe, nezo nqwelo zakhe, waya kuma esangweni kwamshumayeli uElisha. ₁₀UElisha wamthumelela isigidimi esithi: “Yiya emlanjeni iJordan, uhlambe kasixhenxe. Ulusu lwakho lobuyela kwimo yalo yangaphambili, uhlambuluke.”

₁₁Kambe ke uNahaman wemka apho egqusha ngumsindo, esithi: “Mna bendicinga ukuba lo mfo uya kuphuma eze kum, akhe eme anqule igama likaNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe, futhi akhe awangawangise nangesandla kule ndawo, ukuze ke ndinyangeke. ₁₂Kanti, ngaba akukho mlambo ngoku eDamasko? Ziye phi iAbhana neFarpare, imilambo yokwenyani edlula nawuphi na okwaSirayeli? Bendingehlambi khona ndihlambuluke?” Wajika, wahamba enomsindo.

₁₃Ke zona izicaka zikaNahaman zaya kuye, zathi: “Nkosi, ukuba umshumayeli lowa ebethe yenza into enkulu kunale, ngaba ubungayi kuyenza na? Kukangakanani ke, nkosi, xa yena esithi: ‘Hlamba ukuze uhlambuluke’!” ₁₄Ngoko ke uNahaman wehla waya eJordan, wafika wantywila khona kasixhenxe ngokwelizwi awayelixelelwe ngumfo wakwaThixo. Ngenene ke ulusu lwakhe lwahlaziyeka lwahlambuluka lwaba njengolomntwana.

₁₅Ke kaloku uNahaman namaphakathi akhe lawo onke babuyela kumfo wakwaThixo. Wema phambi kwakhe wathi: “Ngoku ndiyaqonda ukuba akukho Thixo wumbi ehlabathini liphela ngaphandle kwalowo wakwaSirayeli! Ngoko ke nceda wamkele nasi isipho osinikwa sisicaka sakho!”

₁₆Ke umshumayeli waphendula wathi: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo, lo ndimkhonzayo, andisayi kwamkela nento le!” Ewe, wala kwaphela, nakuba wazamayo ukumcenga uNahaman.

₁₇UNahaman waqhuba wenjenje: “Xa ke ungavumi ke, nkosi yam, mna ke ndiyakubongoza, mna sicaka sakho, mandiphiwe umhlaba ongumthwalo olingene iimeyile ezimbini, kuba kaloku mna sicaka sakho andisoze ndiphinde nditshise madini, ndenze naminikelo kuthixo ongomnye ngaphandle koNdikhoyo. ₁₈Kodwa ke uNdikhoyo makandixolele mna sicaka sakho, ngenxa yale ndawo: kaloku kuza kuthi xa inkosi yam ingena kwisibingelelo sikaRimon, isiya kunqula khona, ide ibambelele nakule ngalo yam, nam kofuneka ndikhahlele. Ewe, into endiyicelayo kukuba ndithi xa ndinqula apho esibingelelweni sikaRimon, uNdikhoyo andixolele mna sicaka sakho ngaloo nto.”

₁₉UElisha wathi kuye: “Hamba ngoxolo!”

Emzuzwini, uNahaman selehambe umgama othile, ₂₀uGehazi ihlakani likaElisha, umfo wakwaThixo, wathetha yedwa wathi: “Hayi khona, inkosi yam le ide yagabadela ukumlungiselela oku lo mAram unguNahaman. Ingathini ukude ingathathi nomrhumo aze nawo lo? Hayi, suka; ekho nje uNdikhoyo, ndiza kumsukela, ukuze ndibe nento endiyifumanayo kuye!”

₂₁Waxhabasha ke uGehazi emva koNahaman. Uthe uNahaman akumbona ebaleka esiza ngakuye, suka wehla enqwelweni yakhe wamhlangabeza. Wabuza wathi: “Ngaba akukho nto yonakeleyo na kodwa?”

₂₂UGehazi uphendule wathi: “Hayi, akukho monakalo. Nto nje inkosi yam indithumile isithi: ‘Kukho bafana babini beqela labashumayeli abakhov' ukufika, bephuma kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim. Ngoko ke nceda ubaphe amawaka amathathu esiliva nezambatho ezibini zokutshintsha.’ ”

₂₃UNahaman waphendula esithi: “Ewe, kukuwe; ungawafumana amawaka amathandathu esiliva.” Wacenga ke esithi uGehazi makawamkele, waza ke loo siliva wayifaka kwiingxowa ezimbini, wamnika nezo zambatho zibini zokutshintsha. Ke uNahaman loo mthwalo wawunikela kwizicaka ezibini, zamandulela uGehazi ziwuphethe. ₂₄Akufika endulini uGehazi wawuthatha loo mthwalo apho kwizicaka, waya kuwubeka endlwini. Ke zona izicaka ezo wazindulula zemka. ₂₅Kamva ke wangena waya kwinkosi yakhe uElisha.

UElisha wabuza ke wathi: “Uvela phi na, Gehazi?”

UGehazi waphendula wathi: “Hayi, nkosi yam, isicaka esi sakho asiveli ndawo!”

₂₆Waza ke uElisha wathi kuye: “Andithi na kaloku umoya wam ubukunye nawe okuya laa ndoda ibisihla enqwelweni ikuhlangabeza? Uthi ngaba eli lixesha lokwamkela imali, okanye impahla, izinquma, izidiliya, imihlambi yeegusha neyeenkomo, okanye izicaka ezibhinqileyo nezingamadoda? ₂₇Ngoko ke iqhenqa likaNahaman liya kuthi nca kuwe nakwisizukulwana sakho naphakade.”

Ewe, uGehazi wathi esimka apho kuElisha wayeseleneqhenqa, emhlophe qhwa oku kwephepha!