To The Word – Day 121

₁UManase wayeneshumi elinesibini leminyaka ukuqala kwakhe ukuba ngukumkani, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka emashumi mahlanu anesihlanu. Unina yayinguHefezibha. ₂Wênza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo, wasuka wahamba ekhondweni lemikhwa emasikizi yezo zizwe wazigxothayo uNdikhoyo phambi kwamaSirayeli. ₃Iindawo zonqulo eziphakamileyo awazitshitshisayo uyise uHezekiya, yena wabuya wazivusa, kananjalo wakhela noBhali amaqonga, wenza nentsika ka-Ashera, kanye ngendlela awayenze ngayo uAhabhi ukumkani wakwaSirayeli. Wayequbuda nakwiindidi zonke zeenkwenkwezi ezinqula. ₄Wakha amaqonga endlwini kaNdikhoyo, nangona uNdikhoyo wayeyalele wathi: “Igama lam ndolimisa eJerusalem.” ₅Kuzo zombini iinkundla endlwini kaNdikhoyo wakhela iinkwenkwezi amaqonga. ₆Unyana wakhe wamfaka emlilweni, esenza idini ngaye. Wayethe phithi yimilingo nokuvumisa, ehamba kumagqirha noosiyazi. Wayegqithisile ukwenza ububi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo, emqumbisa.

₇Wathatha intsika ka-Ashera awayeyikrolile, wayifaka endlwini kaThixo, ukanti ke uNdikhoyo wayemyalile uDavide ndawonye noSolomon unyana wakhe, wathi: “Igama lam ndolimisa kude kube ngunaphakade apha kule ndlu eJerusalem, ndawo leyo ndayinyulayo phakathi kwazo zonke izindlu zikaSirayeli. ₈Ukuba amaSirayeli abe nenyameko, akwenza konke endiwayalele kona, awuthobela wonke umthetho awawunikwa sisicaka sam uMosis, mna andisoze ndibuye ndiwenze abhadule emke kweli lizwe ndalinika ooyise.” ₉Kodwa akaphulaphulanga, kuba uManase wawalahlekisa ngangokuba wada wabalasela ekwenzeni ububi kunezo zizwe wazitshabalalisayo uNdikhoyo phambi kwamaSirayeli.

₁₀UNdikhoyo wathetha ngomlomo wezicaka zakhe *abashumayeli, wathi: ₁₁“UManase ukumkani wakwaJuda wenze izono ezilumezayo. Yena ubalasele ekwenzeni okubi kunawo nama-Amori awayelapho ngaphambi kwakhe. Ngale mifanekiso yakhe uJuda umlukuhlele esonweni. ₁₂Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo, uThixo kaSirayeli, utsho ukuthi: ‘Niyabona, iJerusalem ndawonye noJuda ndiza kuyithobela isithwakumbe esiya kubetha zithi nzwii iindlebe zakhe wonke umntu ophulaphuleyo. ₁₃Apha phezu kweJerusalem ndiza kuthoba isohlwayo esifana neso ndayohlwaya ngaso iSamariya kunye nendlu ka-Ahabhi. IJerusalem ndoyitshabalalisa ndiyibhukuqe oku komntu osula isitya aze asiphethule. ₁₄Ndosuka ndiwabukule amasalela alilifa lam; ewe, ndowanikezela ezandleni zeentshaba zawo. Aya kuxhatshazwa abhunculwe ziintshaba zawo. ₁₅Kaloku wona asuke enza okubi emehlweni am, awuxhokonxa umsindo wam, nto leyo ke yenzeka kwamhla bâphuma ooyise eJiputa kude kube namhla.’ ”

₁₆Ngaphezu koko ke uManase waliphalaza gqitha igazi elingenatyala, eqalela kweli cala, athi xhaxhe kweliya icala leJerusalem; nangaphandle kwesono awalukuhlela amaJuda kuso ukuze enze okubi emehlweni kaNdikhoyo.

₁₇Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaManase, nayo yonke imisebenzi yakhe ikunye neso sono sakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaJuda. ₁₈Ke uManase waya kuphumla kooyise, waza wangcwatywa emyezweni wakhe apho ebhotwe – lowo ke ngumyezo kaUza. Unyana wakhe uAmon wangena esikhundleni sakhe wangukumkani.

₁₉Ke kaloku uAmon wayeneminyaka emashumi mabini anambini ezelwe ukuqala kwakhe ukulawula, waza ke walawula iminyaka emibini eJerusalem. Unina yayinguMeshulemete intombi kaHaruze eYotebha. ₂₀KwanjengoManase uyise naye wênza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo. ₂₁Yena wahamba ekhondweni likayise, akanxaxha; naye wanqula imifanekiso *yezithixo njengoyise, equbuda kuyo. ₂₂Wasuka wambukula uNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise, akahamba ngendlela yakhe.

₂₃Ke amaphakathi kakumkani uAmon amenzela iyelenqe, ambulalela kwakhe ebhotwe. ₂₄Bona ke abantu belo zwe bababulala bonke abo babenzele ukumkani uAmon iyelenqe, baza babeka unyana wakhe uJosiya wangukumkani esikhundleni sakhe.

₂₅Ezinye ke iziganeko zolawulo luka-Amon, nemisebenzi yakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaJuda. ₂₆Wangcwatyelwa engcwabeni lakhe emyezweni kaUza. Unyana wakhe uJosiya waba ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe.

₁UJosiya waqalisa ukulawula eneminyaka esibhozo, waza walawula eJerusalem iminyaka emashumi mathathu ananye. Unina yayinguYedida intombi ka-Adaya waseBhozekati. ₂Ke yena wênza okuhle emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo, ehamba ekhondweni likayise-mkhulu uDavide, enganxaxhi.

₃Ngonyaka wakhe weshumi elinesibhozo ukumkani uJosiya wathumela unobhala onguShafan unyana ka-Azaliya kaMeshulam endlwini kaNdikhoyo, wathi kuye: ₄“Yiya kumbingeleli omkhulu uHilekiya, utsho alungise laa mali ibiziswe endlwini kaNdikhoyo, leya ibiqokelelwe ngabagcini-mnyango ebantwini. ₅Yitsho bayigcinise kuloo madoda amiselwe ukongamela umsebenzi wendlu kaThixo. Loo madoda ke wona aze ahlawule abasebenzi abahlaziya indlu kaNdikhoyo: ₆abachweli, abakhi, neengcibi. Kananjalo mabathenge imithi namatye akroliweyo, ukuze kuhlaziywe indlu kaThixo. ₇Kambe ke ze bangenzi nkcukacha yangxelo ngaloo mali isezandleni zabo, kuba bangabantu abasebenza ngentembeko.”

₈UHilekiya umbingeleli omkhulu ke waxelela uShafan unobhala lowo, wathi: “Apha endlwini kaNdikhoyo ndifumene incwadi yomthetho.” Waza ke wamnika, ke yena uShafan wayifunda. ₉UShafan lowo ke waya kukumkani, waza wamazisa wathi: “Izicaka zakho ziyikhuphile imali ebisendlwini kaNdikhoyo, zaza zayinikezela kubasebenzi nakwabo bongamele umsebenzi wokuhlaziywa kwendlu kaThixo.” ₁₀Kananjalo ke unobhala lowo unguShafan wathi kukumkani: “Umbingeleli uHilekiya undinike incwadi.” Waza ke wayirhola, wayifundela ukumkani lowo.

₁₁Uthe ke ukumkani akuweva amazwi encwadi leyo yomthetho, suka wazikrazula izambatho zakhe. ₁₂Wamnika lo myalelo, ewubhekisa kumbingeleli uHilekiya, uAhikam unyana kaShafan, uAkibho unyana kaMikaya, uShafan unobhala, kunye noAsaya igosa likakumkani, esithi: ₁₃“Hambani niye kuqondisisa kuNdikhoyo egameni lam, nelabantu, noJuda ephela, nibuzise ngako konke okubhaliweyo kule ncwadi ifunyenweyo. Awunganganto umsindo kaNdikhoyo ngakuthi ngenxa yoobawo abangazange bawathobele amazwi ale ncwadi. Ewe, abenzanga ngokufanelekileyo mayela namazwi athethwa yile ncwadi ngokubhekiselele kuthi.”

₁₄Ke umbingeleli uHilekiya, noAhikam, uAkibho, uShafan, noAsaya, baya kuthetha nomshumayelikazi uHulda owayengumka-Shalum unyana kaTikiwa kaHarase, owayengumgcini wegumbi lezambatho. Yena wayehlala kwisithili sesibini eJerusalem.

₁₅Ke yena wathetha nabo wathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Mxeleleni loo mntu unithume kum nithi: ₁₆Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Niyabona, le ndawo ndiza kuyizisela isithwakumbe kunye nabantu bayo, ngokwamazwi onke abhaliweyo kule ncwadi ayifundileyo ukumkani wakwaJuda. ₁₇Kaloku bona bandilahlile, basuka benza iziqhumiso, besenzela thixo bambi, nto leyo iwuxhokonxileyo umsindo wam. Ewe, umsindo wam soze uthothe mayela neli lizwe; kaloku abantu balo basuke baxabisa imifanekiso abayenze ngezandla zabo. ₁₈Mxeleleni ukumkani wakwaJuda onithume ukuba nize kubuzisa kuNdikhoyo nithi: La ngamazwi athethwe nguNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ngokunxulumene namazwi owevileyo. ₁₉Ke ngenxa yokuba wena uhlabekile, waza wazithoba kum wakuweva amazwi endawathethayo ngokubhekiselele kule ndawo nabantu bayo, xa ndandisithi baqalekisiwe, futhi le ndawo iya kwenziwa ibe yinkangala, wena ke ngenxa yokuba usuke walila wazikrazula izambatho zakho, mna Ndikhoyo ndithi ndikuvile. ₂₀Ngoko ke ndiya kukubuyisela kooyihlo, ungcwatywe ngoxolo. Awakho amehlo akasayi kusibona isithwakumbe endiza kusithoba phezu kweli lizwe.’ ”

Loo mpendulo ke bâya kuyixelela ukumkani.

₁Ke ukumkani uJosiya wawaqokelela onke amadoda amakhulu akwaJuda nawaseJerusalem. ₂Wahamba waya endlwini *kaNdikhoyo kunye namadoda akwaJuda, nabantu baseJerusalem, ababingeleli nabashumayeli. Ewe, waqokelela umntu wonke, eqalela komncinci aye komdala. Wabafundela onke amazwi encwadi yomnqophiso, leyo yayifunyenwe endlwini kaNdikhoyo. ₃Ukumkani wema ngasentsikeni, wawuhlaziya umnqophiso kunye noNdikhoyo, ethembisa ukulandela uNdikhoyo, ayithobele imiyalelo, imiqathango, nemimiselo yakhe, oko ekwenza ngomxhelo wakhe wonke, ngokwamazwi aloo mnqophiso wawubhalwe apho encwadini. Nabantu ke bathembisa bazibophelela apho emnqophisweni.

₄Ukumkani wayalela umbingeleli omkhulu uHilekiya, nababingeleli abanganeno kwakhe, nabagcini-mnyango, ukuba bazisuse apho endlwini kaNdikhoyo zonke izinto ezazenzelwe uBhali noAshera neenkwenkwezi. Zonke ezo zinto wazitshisela ngaphandle kweJerusalem kwezo ntili zeKedron; ke lona uthuthu waluthatha walusa eBhetele. ₅Wabadenda abo babingeleli banqula *izithixo, abo babemiselwe ngookumkani bakwaJuda ukuze benze iziqhumiso kwiindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo kwiidolophu zakwaJuda, nakwezo zingqonge iJerusalem. Abo ke babesenzela uBhali iziqhumiso, besenzela ilanga, inyanga, nazo zonke iinkwenkwezi ezisesibhaka-bhakeni. ₆Intsika ka-Ashera wayincothula endlwini kaNdikhoyo, wayisa kwintili yeKedron ngaphandle kweJerusalem, wayitshisela khona. Wayisila yaluthuli, waza olo thuli lwayo walusarhaza phezu kwamangcwaba abantu. ₇Wawachitha amagumbi awayehlala amahenyu apho endlwini kaNdikhoyo, apho abafazi babezalukela khona iimpahla zika-Ashera.

₈UJosiya wabaqokelela bonke ababingeleli kwiidolophu zakwaJuda, waza wazibhangisa iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo, eqalela eGebha, wathi xhaxhe ngeBheshebha, ndawo ezo babeqhumisa kuzo ababingeleli abo. Wazidiliza izibingelelo emasangweni phaya, ekungeneni kwisango likaYoshuwa unolali elingasekhohlo kwisango lesixeko. ₉Nangona ababingeleli beendawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo babengasebenzi kwiqonga likaNdikhoyo eJerusalem, kodwa babesitya isonka esinganyuswanga kunye noogxa babo abangababingeleli.

₁₀UJosiya wayibhangisa iTofeti eyayikwintili yeBhen-hinom, ukuze ingabi sasetyenziselwa ukwenzela uMoleki amadini ngabantwana. ₁₁Apho esangweni elingena endlwini kaNdikhoyo wawasusa loo mahashe ayenikezelwe ngookumkani bakwaJuda elangeni. Ayesenkundleni ngakwigumbi legosa ekwakuthiwa nguNatan-meleki. Neenqwelo ezazinikezelwe kwilanga wazitshisa.

₁₂Wawadiliza amaqonga awayakhiwe ngookumkani bakwaJuda ngaphezu kwegumbi eliphezulu lika-Ahazi, kunye naloo maqonga wawakhayo uManase kwiinkundla zombini zendlu kaNdikhoyo. Ewe, wawasusa wawadiliza ayimvuthuluka yenkunkuma awayiphosa kwintili yeKedron. ₁₃Ke kaloku ukumkani wazixabhela neendawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo ezazikwimpuma yeJerusalem, ngezantsi kwenduli yomonakalo, ezo uSolomon ukumkani wamaSirayeli wayezakhele uAshtoreti isikizi lesithixokazi samaSidon, neendawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo zikaKemoshe, isikizi lesithixo samaMowabhi, nesikaMilikom isikizi lesithixo sama-Amon. ₁₄UJosiya wazaphula iintsika zamatye, waza wazigawula iintsika zika-Ashera, waza ezo ndawo zazo wazigquma ngamathambo abantu.

₁₅Walidiliza neqonga eliseBhetele, loo ndawo yonqulo yayenziwe nguJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati, lowo walukuhlela amaSirayeli esonweni, konke nje wakutshabalalisa, loo ndawo yonqulo wayitshisa wayisila yaluthuli, ngokunjalo nentsika ka-Ashera wayitshisa. ₁₆UJosiya wakhangela ngapha nangapha waza wabona amangcwaba awayelapho kwelo thambeka, wathi makakhutshwe kuwo amathambo, waza wawatshisela eqongeni ukulixabhela ngokwelizwi likaNdikhoyo elavakaliswa ngumfo wakwaThixo owazixelayo kwangaphambili ezo zinto.

₁₇Ukumkani wathi: “Elaa litye lengcwaba ndilibonayo lelikabani?”

Amadoda eso sixeko athi kuye: “Eliya lingcwaba lomfo wakwaThixo owayevela kwaJuda, waza waxela ezi zinto uzenzileyo mayela neli qonga laseBhetele.”

₁₈Wathi: “Liyekeni ke; makungaze kubekho mntu uwachukumisayo amathambo akhe.” Ngoko ke bawayeka amathambo akhe kunye nalawo omshumayeli owayevela eSamariya.

₁₉Kwanjengoko wenzayo eBhetele uJosiya wazisusa wazixabela zonke izibingelelo ezindaweni eziphakamileyo zonqulo, ezo zazakhiwe ngookumkani bakwaSirayeli kwiidolophu zaseSamariya, nto leyo eyawuxhokonxayo umsindo kaNdikhoyo. ₂₀UJosiya wababulalela apho emaqongeni bonke ababingeleli bezo ndawo zonqulo, watshisa amathambo omntu kuloo maqonga. Waza ke wabuyela eJerusalem.

₂₁Ke kaloku ukumkani wabanika umyalalelo bonke abantu othi: “Yenzani *iPasika *kaNdikhoyo uThixo wenu njengoko kubhaliweyo kule ncwadi yomnqophiso.” ₂₂IPasika le ke yayingazange yenziwa, kwaukususela kwimihla yeenkokheli ezazikhokela uSirayeli, ingazange yenziwa nakwimihla yookumkani bakwaSirayeli, ngokunjalo nakweyâbo bakwaJuda. ₂₃Kambe ke ngonyaka weshumi elinesibhozo kakumkani uJosiya yabhiyozelwa iPasika kaNdikhoyo eJerusalem.

₂₄Ngaphezu koko ke uJosiya wazibhangisa zonke izangoma namagqirha, nayo yonke imilonde-khaya nemifanekiso ezizithixo, nazo zonke izinto ezingamasikizi ezazifumaneka ezweni lakwaJuda naseJerusalem. Yonke ke loo nto wayenza efezekisa imiqathango yomthetho eyayibhalwe kuloo ncwadi yayifunyenwe ngumbingeleli uHilekiya endlwini kaNdikhoyo. ₂₅Ngaphambili nasemva kwakhe uJosiya wayengazange abekho, engaphindanga wakhona, ukumkani owayezinikezele kuNdikhoyo njengaye, loo nto eyenza ngomxhelo wakhe uphela, nangamandla akhe, njengoko usitsho umthetho kaMosis.

₂₆Nakuba kunjalo ke kodwa, yena uNdikhoyo akajikanga kwingcwangu yomsindo wakhe owawuvutha ngakuJuda, ngenxa yezinto awayemxhokonxe ngazo uManase. ₂₇Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wathi: “Ndiza kumgxotha phambi kwam uJuda kwanjengoko ndenzayo kuSirayeli; ewe, ndoyibukula iJerusalem, isixeko endasinyulayo, nditsho nkqu nayo le ndlu endandithethe ngayo ndathi: ‘Lohlala kuyo igama lam.’ ”

₂₈Ke zona ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaJosiya, nayo yonke imizabalazo yakhe, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaJuda.

₂₉Ke kaloku ngaloo mihla kakumkani uJosiya ukumkani waseJiputa uNeko wanyuka waya kuncedisa ukumkani waseAsiriya ngakumlambo iEfrati. Ukumkani uJosiya waphuma nomkhosi wakhe wamhlangabeza. Kodwa ke uNeko lowo wagagana naye eMegido, wamosela wafa. ₃₀Ke amaphakathi akhe awuthatha umzimba kaJosiya apho eMegido, awuthwala ngenqwelo, aya nawo eJerusalem, afika amfaka engcwabeni lakhe. Abemi belizwe ke bathatha uYowahazi unyana kaJosiya, bamthambisa bammisela wangukumkani esikhundleni sikayise.

₃₁Ukuqala kwakhe ukulawula uYowahazi wayeneminyaka emashumi mabini anantathu, walawula apho eJerusalem iinyanga zantathu. Unina yayinguHamutali intombi kaJeremiya okhaya laliseLibhena. ₃₂Naye wathatha ikhondo looyise-mkhulu ngokwenza okubi emehlweni kaNdikhoyo. ₃₃Ukumkani waseJiputa uNeko wamkhonkxa ngamatyathanga eRibhela, umhlaba waseHamati, waza ke akabi nako ukulawula apho eJerusalem. Kananjalo uJuda wammisela irhafu yeekhilogram zesiliva ezimawaka mathathu makhulu mane, kunye neekhilogram zegolide ezimashumi mathathu anane.

₃₄Ke kaloku ukumkani waseJiputa uNeko lowo wathatha unyana kaJosiya uEliyakim wammisela wangukumkani esikhundleni sikayise, igama lakhe elo walijika wathi nguJoyakim. Ke yena uYowahazi wamfudusela eJiputa, apho wafela khona. ₃₅UJoyakim wayeyikhupha loo siliva naloo golide yayimiselwe ngukumkani waseJiputa. Loo mrhumo ke wawukhupha ngokurhafisa abantu belizwe lakhe, bekhupha isiliva negolide ngokwezinto abanazo.

₃₆UJoyakim waqalisa ukulawula eneminyaka emashumi mabini anantlanu, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka elishumi elinanye. Unina yayinguZebhida intombi kaPedaya waseRuma. ₃₇Wênza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo; naye wathatha ikhondo looyise-mkhulu.

₁Ngexesha lolawulo lukaJoyakim, ukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli walihlasela elakwaJuda, waza uJoyakim waba phantsi kwakhe iminyaka emithathu. Phofu ke uJoyakim wabuya wamvukela uNebhukadenezare lowo. ₂Kambe ke *uNdikhoyo wamthumelela ngeentshaba ezamhlaselayo, ingamaKaledi, nama-Aram, namaMowabhi, nama-Amon. Ezo ntshaba zazikho ukuze zimtshabalalise uJuda, ngokwelizwi likaNdikhoyo elavakaliswa zizicaka zakhe *abashumayeli. ₃Ewe, ezi zinto uJuda zamhlela ngokomyalelo kaNdikhoyo, ukuze amgxothe phambi kwakhe ngenxa yezono nazo zonke izenzo ezazenziwe nguManase, ₄ndawonye nelo gazi limsulwa waliphalazayo. Kaloku iJerusalem wayizalisa ngegazi labamsulwa, ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wayengazimiselanga ukumxolela.

₅Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaJoyakim, kunye nemisebenzi yakhe nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaJuda. ₆UJoyakim waya kuphumla kooyise. Esikhundleni sakhe kwangena unyana wakhe uJoyakin.

₇Ukumkani waseJiputa akaphindanga aphume elizweni lakhe aye kuhlasela, kuba kaloku ukumkani waseBhabheli wawuthatha wonke umhlaba wakhe ukuqalela kumda waseJiputa kuye kuthi xhaxhe ngomlambo iEfrati.

₈UJoyakin waqala ukulawula eneminyaka elishumi elinesibhozo, waza walawula eJerusalem iinyanga ezintathu. Unina yayinguNehushta intombi kaElinatan waseJerusalem. ₉Wênza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo kwanjengooyise.

₁₀Ngelo xesha ke iingqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi zikakumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli zahlasela iJerusalem zayingqinga, ₁₁waza ke nokumkani uNebhukadenezare weza ngokwakhe apho eJerusalem, ngoko ingqingiweyo ngumkhosi wakhe. ₁₂Ke ukumkani wakwaJuda uJoyakin kunye nonina, nezicaka zakhe, izikhulu namagosa akhe, bebonke bazinikezela kukumkani waseBhabheli.

Ke kaloku kwathi kunyaka wesibhozo elawula ukumkani waseBhabheli wamthimba walibanjwa uJoyakin. ₁₃Ke kaloku ngokomlomo kaNdikhoyo uNebhukadenezare wabufudusa bonke ubutyebi endlwini kaNdikhoyo nakoovimba basebhotwe, wazinqunqa zonke ezo zinto zegolide ezazenzelwe indlu kaNdikhoyo ngukumkani uSolomon wakwaSirayeli. ₁₄Xa iyonke iJerusalem wayithimba: onke amaphakathi namadoda omkhosi, iingcibi namagcisa, bebonke yayilishumi lamawaka. Kuphela kwasala abona bantu bangamahlwempu kwaJuda.

₁₅UNebhukadenezare wathimba uJoyakin waya naye eBhabheli. Kananjalo wafudusela apho eBhabheli unina kakumkani, nabafazi bakakumkani, namagosa akhe, kunye namadoda aphambili elizweni. ₁₆Waya nawo eBhabheli wonke umkhosi – amawaka asixhenxe amadoda, nditsho amagorha, izinto ezilindele umayenzeke – kunye newaka leengcibi namagcisa. ₁₇Ke ukumkani waseBhabheli wamisela uMataniya uyisekazi kaJoyakin wangukumkani esikhundleni sikaJoyakin. Igama lakhe elo lona walijika wathi nguZedekiya.

₁₈Ukuqala kwakhe ukuba ngukumkani uZedekiya wayeneminyaka emashumi mabini ananye, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka elishumi elinanye. Unina yayinguHamutali intombi kaJeremiya waseLibhena. ₁₉KwanjengoJoyakim naye wenza ububi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo. ₂₀Kungenxa yengqumbo kaNdikhoyo ukuba uJuda neJerusalem bahlelwe yile ntlekele, bade ekugqibeleni ke bagxothwa phambi kwakhe.

UZedekiya wavukelana nokumkani waseBhabheli.

₁Ngoko ke kwathi kunyaka wethoba wolawulo lukaZedekiya, ngomhla weshumi wenyanga yeshumi, ukumkani waseBhabheli uNebhukadenezare wagaleleka eJerusalem nomkhosi wakhe uphela. Wamisa ngaphandle kwesixeko, wasingqinga ngokusakhela udonga. ₂Sahlala singqingiwe njalo ke isixeko eso yada yangunyaka weshumi elinanye kakumkani uZedekiya.

₃Kwathi ngomhla wethoba kwinyanga yesine yabe indlala ibhokile apho esixekweni, kangangokuba abantu baphelelwa kukutya. ₄Ke kaloku wonke umkhosi watyhoboza apho eludongeni ngobusuku, wasaba uphuma ngesango eliphakathi kwezo ndonga zimbini ngakumyezo kakumkani, nakuba wona amaKaledi ayesingqingile isixeko. Wabalekela ngakwintili yeJordan. ₅Kambe ke umkhosi wamaKaledi wasukelisa, waza wambamba uZedekiya nomkhosi wakhe xa asezinkqantosini zaseJeriko. Wahlukaniswa nomkhosi lowo, wona wasarhaka, ₆waza yena wathinjwa. Wathathwa wasiwa eRibhela kukumkani waseBhabheli, apho wagwetywa khona. ₇Oonyana bakhe uZedekiya babulawa ekhangele. Yena uZedekiya bamtyhaphaza amehlo, baza bamkhonkxa ngamatyathanga obhedu, baya naye eBhabheli.

₈Ke kaloku kwathi ngomhla wesixhenxe wenyanga yesihlanu kunyaka weshumi elinethoba kakumkani waseBhabheli uNebhukadenezare ingqwayi-ngqwayi yabalindi uNebhuzaradan eyayiliphakathi likakumkani waseBhabheli yagaleleka eJerusalem. ₉Indlu *kaNdikhoyo wayintumeka umlilo, yatsha kunye nebhotwe ngokwalo, nazo zonke izakhiwo zaseJerusalem. Zonke izakhiwo ezibalulekileyo wazitshisa. ₁₀Wonke loo mkhosi waseBhabheli phantsi kwaloo ngqwayi-ngqwayi yabalindi basebhotwe walungenela waludiliza lonke udonga olwalujikeleze iJerusalem. ₁₁UNebhuzaradan lowo wababamba wabathimba abantu ababesekhona apho esixekweni, ndawonye namagcisa kwakunye nâbo babesebewelele ngakumaBhabheli. ₁₂Kambe ke ingqwayi-ngqwayi leyo yabashiya abantu abahleleleke kakhulu, ukuze basebenze amasimi nezidiliya.

₁₃AmaBhabheli azaphula iintsika zobhedu kwakunye neenqwelo, nechibi lobhedu, zinto ezo zazisendlwini kaNdikhoyo, aza aluthatha lona ubhedu olo, aya nalo eBhabheli. ₁₄Azithatha neembiza, iifotsholo, izikhwezeli-zibane, namacephe, nazo zonke izinto ezenziwe ngobhedu ezazisetyenziswa apho endlwini kaThixo. ₁₅Ewe, ingqwayi-ngqwayi leyo yazithatha neepani zesiqhumiso, kunye nezitya zokufefa, nayo yonke into eyayenziwe ngegolide okanye isiliva.

₁₆Ubhedu olwafumaneka kwezo ntsika zimbini, kwelo chibi, nakwezo nqwelo – zinto ezo ezazenzelwe indlu kaNdikhoyo nguSolomon – lwalungenamlinganiso ngenxa yobuninzi. ₁₇Intsika nganye kwezo zimbini zobhedu yayiziimitha ezisibhozo ukuphakama, intloko elubhedu iyimitha enesithathu ukuphakama. Intloko nganye yayihonjiswe jikelele ngomnatha wobhedu nangeerharnati zobhedu. Ewe, zombini zazifana, nditsho zinomnatha zinjalo.

₁₈Loo ngqwayi-ngqwayi yabalindi yamthimba umbingeleli omkhulu uSeraya, kunye nombingeleli onganeno kwakhe uZefaniya, nabagcini-mnyango abathathu. ₁₉Kwabaseleyo apho esixekweni yathatha umphathi womkhosi kunye nesihlanu sabacebisi basebhotwe. Yamthatha nonobhala owayeligosa eliyintloko elihlela abomkhosi, kunye namahlakani akhe angamashumi amathandathu, bantu abo babeselapho esixekweni. ₂₀Bonke ke uNebhuzaradan wabathatha waya nabo kukumkani waseBhabheli eRibhela. ₂₁Khona apho eRibhela kwelaseHamati ukumkani lowo wathi mababulawe.

Ngaloo ndlela ke amaJuda afuduselwa ekuthinjweni, kude lee nelizwe lakowawo.

₂₂Ukumkani waseBhabheli uNebhukadenezare wamisela uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam unyana kaShafan wangumlawuli wâbo bantu wabashiyayo kwelakwaJuda. ₂₃Ke amagosa omkhosi neqela lawo athi akuva ukuba ukumkani waseBhabheli umisele uGedaliya ukuba abe ngumlawuli, asuka aya kuye uGedaliya eMizpa: uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya, uYohanan unyana kaKareya, uSeraya unyana kaTanumente umNetofa, noYazaniya unyana kaMahakati, bekunye neqela labo. ₂₄Ke uGedaliya wawaqinisekisa loo madoda efunga esithi: “Musani ukuba naxhala niwoyike amagosa aseBhabheli. Kuphela nina hlalani phantsi nizinze kweli lizwe, nibuse ukumkani waseBhabheli; konke ke konilungela.”

₂₅Kambe ke kwathi ngenyanga yesixhenxe wasuka uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya kaElishama, owayengumntwana wegazi, weza neshumi lamadoda, bambulala uGedaliya kunye namadoda akwaJuda namaBhabheli awayekunye naye eMizpa. ₂₆Ngenxa yesi sihelegu ke bonke abantu, kuqalela komdala kuye komncinci bekunye namagosa omkhosi, bathi ngokoyika amaBhabheli basaba baya kwelaseJiputa.

₂₇Ke kaloku kwathi ngonyaka wamashumi amathathu anesixhenxe wathinjwayo uJoyakin ukumkani wakwaJuda, nyaka lowo waqala ngawo ukulawula uEvili-merodaki ukumkani waseBhabheli, wasuka wamkhulula uJoyakin entolongweni. Loo nto ke yenzeka ngomhla wamashumi mabini anesixhenxe kwinyanga yeshumi elinambini. ₂₈Wathetha naye ngobulali, wamnika isihlalo sembeko esingaphezu kwezo zabanye ookumkani awayenabo apho eBhabheli. ₂₉Ngoko ke uJoyakin wazikhulula iimpahla zasentolongweni, waza wasoloko esesithebeni sokumkani lonke ixesha lobomi bakhe. ₃₀Ukumkani lowo ke wathi rhoqo wamxhasa ngokutya uJoyakin, loo nto eyenza imihla ngemihla ngabo bonke ubomi bukaJoyakin.