To The Word – Day 140

₁Bahamba nayo ityesi kaThixo, bayibeka ngaphakathi kwintente eyenzelwe yona nguDavide, baza ke benzela uThixo amadini atshiswayo nawobudlelwane. ₂Uthe akugqiba ukwenza loo madini atshiswayo nawobudlelwane uDavide wacelela abantu amathamsanqa kuNdikhoyo. ₃Kamva ke wonke umSirayeli, indoda nomfazi, wamnika iqebengwana lesonka nesuntswana leedatile neleerasentyisi.

₄Wamisela abaLevi abathile ukuze balungiselele phambi koNdikhoyo, benze izikhungo, imibulelo, neendumiso zokubonga uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. ₅Babekhokelwa nguAsafu, isekela inguZakariya, kulandela uYehiyeli, uShemiramoti, uYehiyeli, uMatitiya, uEliyabhi, uBhenaya, uObhedi-edom, noYehiyeli. Babeza kukhalisa imirhubhe neehapu, uAsafu abethe amacangci, ₆ababingeleli uBhenaya noYaziyeli bona bavuthele amaxilongo njalo-njalo apho phambi kwetyesi yomnqophiso kaThixo.

₇Ngaloo mini ke uDavide wanikela lo mhobe wokubulela *uNdikhoyo kuAsafu namahlakani akhe:

Ke kaloku bonke abantu bathi: “Huntshuu! Makabongwe uNdikhoyo!”

₃₇Ke kaloku uDavide wamshiya apho phambi kwetyesi kaNdikhoyo uAsafu namahlakani akhe ukuze basoloko belungiselela ngokweemfuneko zemini nganye. ₃₈Kananjalo wamshiya no-Obhedi-edom namahlakani akhe angamashumi amathandathu ukuze nabo balungiselele. UObhedi-edom, unyana kaJedutun, kunye noHosa, yayingabagcini-masango.

₃₉Umbingeleli uZadoki namahlakani akhe uDavide wabashiya esibingelelweni sikaNdikhoyo kwindawo yonqulo eGibheyon, ₄₀ukuze bahlale besenzela uNdikhoyo amadini atshiswayo kwelo qonga lamadini atshiswayo, loo nto ke beyenza kusasa, nasemalanga, ngokwemimiselo yonke ebhalwe encwadini yomthetho kaNdikhoyo leyo wayinikezela kuSirayeli. ₄₁Apho kubo ke washiya noHeman noJedutun nabo bonke ababenyuliwe bakhankanywa ukuze benze imibulelo kuNdikhoyo ngenxa yezibele zakhe ezingatshitshiyo. ₄₂UHeman noYedutun ngabo ababemiselwe ukuhlokomisa amaxilongo namacangci kananjalo badlale nezinye izikhalisi zeengoma zokudumisa uThixo. Ke bona oonyana bakaYedutun bamiselwa isango.

₄₃Ke kaloku bonke abantu bemka, yangulowo nalowo wagoduka. NoDavide ke wagoduka, waya kuthamsanqela usapho lwakhe.

₁Akuba uDavide ezinzile kwikomkhulu lakhe wathetha *nomshumayeli uNatan, wathi: “Khangela, mna ndihlala kwibhotwe elakhiwe ngamaplanga omsedare, ukanti yona ityesi yomnqophiso *kaNdikhoyo ihlala nje ententeni.”

₂UNatan wathi kuDavide: “Nantoni na oyicingayo ungayenza, uThixo unawe.”

₃Ngobo busuku ke lafika kuNatan ilizwi likaThixo lisithi: ₄“Hamba uye kuxelela isicaka sam uDavide uthi: ‘Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Asinguwe umntu oza kundakhela indlu endiya kuhlala kuyo. ₅Ukususela mhla ndamkhupha eJiputa uSirayeli kude kube namhla andizange ndihlale endlwini. Ndasoloko nditshintsha izikhundla, ndithi ndikule indawo yokumisa intente, ndibe ndikuleya. ₆Oko ndajikeleza ndihamba namaSirayeli, andizange ndikhalaze kwiinkokheli endaziyalela ukuba zaluse abantu bam, andizange ndizibuze ndithi: Ngani ukuba ningandakheli indlu yomsedare?’

₇“Ke ngoko, yithi kuDavide isicaka sam: ‘Utsho uNdikhoyo onamandla onke ukuthi: Wena Davide ndakuthatha emadlelweni, ekwaluseni iigusha, ndakwenza umlawuli wabantu bam amaSirayeli. ₈Ndakukhapha kwiindawo zonke owawuhamba kuzo, ndazisusa zonke iintshaba zakho phambi kwakho. Ngoko ke ngoku igama lakho ndiza kulenza lidume lifane nelabakhulu emhlabeni. ₉Abantu bam amaSirayeli ndobabonela indawo abaza kuma kuyo, ndibazinzise, babe nendawo yabo, bangabuye babandezelwe nanini. Abantu abakhohlakeleyo abayi kuba sabacinezela njengoko bebesenjenjalo ngaphambili, ₁₀ukusukela kwimihla endabamisela abantu bam amaSirayeli iinkokheli. Ndiza kuzoyisa zonke iintshaba zakho.

“ ‘Nditsho kuwe ukuthi nguNdikhoyo oya kuyizinzisa indlu yakho. ₁₁Yakuphela imihla yakho, xa sowuye kuphumla kooyihlo, ndokuvusela ihlumelo, lithathe isikhundla sakho. Ewe, nditsho omnye woonyana bakho. Ndiya kuluzinzisa ulawulo lwakhe. ₁₂Nguye ke oya kundakhela indlu, ndiluzinzise ulawulo lwakhe ngonaphakade. ₁₃Mna ndiya kuba nguyise kuye, yena abe ngunyana wam. Uthando lwam kuye alusoze lutshitshe, njengoko lwenzayo kumfo owangena esikhundleni sakhe wena. ₁₄Ndiya kummisela endlwini yam, alawule kude kube ngunaphakade. Ewe, ulawulo lwakhe lohlala ngonaphakade.’ ”

₁₅Ke uNatan waya kuxelela uDavide onke amazwi alo mbono.

₁₆Ke kaloku ukumkani uDavide wangena waya kuhlala phambi *koNdikhoyo, waza wathi: “Kuxa ndingubani mna, Ndikhoyo Thixo? Iyintoni yona indlu yam, ukuba ude uze kundibeka kule ndawo ndikuyo ngoku? ₁₇Kanti ke akwanelanga ukwenjenjalo kuphela, Thixo: ngoku uthetha nangekamva lendlu yesicaka sakho. Ewe, Ndikhoyo, Thixo wam, ude wandiphatha ngathi ndingumntu onewonga.

₁₈“Mandithini, mna Davide, ukuthetha nawe, Ndikhoyo, wena osiwonga kangaka isicaka sakho? Kaloku uyabazi ubunjani besicaka sakho! ₁₉Ngenxa yesicaka sakho, nangokuthanda kwakho, wenze le nto inkulu kangaka, waza wavakalisa nezi zithembiso zingaka.

₂₀“Akakho onjengawe, Ndikhoyo, kungekho naThixo ngaphandle kwakho, njengoko sazivelayo ngezi zethu iindlebe. ₂₁Ngoobani abanjengabantu bakho amaSirayeli? Kaloku wona asisizwe ekukuphela kwaso ehlabathini esiThixo waso waphumayo waya kuzikhululela abantu bakhe, ukuze uzenzele igama ngezigigaba ezimangalisayo, xa wawuqwakanisa izizwe uzigxotha khon' ukuze endaweni yazo kungene abantu owabakhulula kwelaseJiputa. ₂₂Waza ke amaSirayeli wawenza abantu bakho ncakasana ngonaphakade. Wena ke, Ndikhoyo, waba nguThixo wabo.

₂₃“Ngoku ke, Ndikhoyo, isithembiso osenzileyo ngokuphathelele kwisicaka sakho kunye nendlu yaso masibe njalo ngonaphakade. Yenza ngokwesithembiso sakho, ₂₄ukuze sona sizinze, negama lakho libalasele ngonaphakade. Nabantu ke botsho bathi: ‘UNdikhoyo uSomandla, uThixo kaSirayeli, nguye uThixo wakhe.’ Nendlu yesicaka sakho uDavide ke iya kuzinza phambi kwakho.

₂₅“Wena Thixo wam, usithyilele isicaka sakho ukuba uya kusakhela indlu. Yiyo ke loo nto isicaka sakho sibe nobuganga bokuthandaza kuwe. ₂₆Wena Ndikhoyo, unguThixo! Isicaka sakho esi usenzele esi sithembiso sihle kangakanana. ₂₇Wena ubone kufanelekile ukuba uyithamsanqele indlu yesicaka sakho esi, ukuze ihlale ikukhonza njalo. Kaloku wena Ndikhoyo, uyithamsanqele, ngoko ke yothamsanqeleka ngonaphakade!”

₁Ke kaloku ekuhambeni kwexesha uDavide wawahlasela amaFilistiya wawoyisa, wayihlutha iGati namaphandle ayingqongileyo, ayabi sabakho phantsi kwamaFilistiya.

₂Ngokunjalo wawoyisa namaMowabhi, aza aba phantsi kwakhe, amnika imirhumo.

₃Kananjalo uDavide walwa nokumkani waseZobha uHadadizere, wamoyisa, wamsukelisa, waya kumfaka eHamati, xa kanye wayezama ukumilisela ulawulo lwakhe kummandla womlambo iEfrati. ₄UDavide wathimba iwaka leenqwelo zakhe, kunye namawaka asixhenxe abakhweli-mahashe, ngokunjalo namashumi amabini amawaka amajoni ahamba ngeenyawo. Amahashe ke wawanqumla imisipha, washiya amahashe eenqwelo alikhulu.

₅Athe ke ama-Aram aseDamasko akuzama ukuncedisa uHadadizere ukumkani waseZobha, wasuka uDavide wabulala amashumi amabini anambini amawaka awo. ₆Wasuka ke wabeka amabutho akhe kuwo wonke umbuso wama-Aram aseDamasko, ahlala ephantsi kwakhe, akhupha imirhumo kuye. UDavide wanikwa uloyiso nguNdikhoyo apho konke ahamba khona.

₇UDavide wawahlutha amakhaka egolide awayephathwa ngamaphakathi kaHadadizere, waya nawo eJerusalem. ₈Kwiidolophu zikaHadadizere iTebha neKun, uDavide wathimba intaphane yobhedu olwasetyenziswa nguSolomon xa wayesenza ichibi lobhedu, iintsika, kwanezinye izinto ezazenziwe ngobhedu.

₉Zaya kutsho naseHamati kukumkani uToyu iindaba zokoyiswa nguDavide komkhosi wokumkani waseZobha uHadadizere. ₁₀Wandulula unyana wakhe uHadoram ukuba ase imibuliso yakhe kukumkani uDavide, avuyisane naye ngokoyisa kwakhe uHadadizere owalwa kaninzi-ninzi nokumkani uToyu. UHadoram waphathela uDavide izipho ezenziwe ngegolide nangesiliva nangobhedu.

₁₁Ezo zipho ke uDavide wazinikezela kuNdikhoyo, kwanjengoko wenjenjalo ngesiliva negolide awayeyithimbe kuzo zonke ezi zizwe: amaEdom, amaMowabhi, ama-Amon, amaFilistiya, nama-Amaleki.

₁₂Ke uAbhishayi unyana kaZeruya wabulala ishumi elinesibhozo lamawaka amaEdom kwiNtlambo yeTyuwa. ₁₃Wamisa amabutho akhe e-Edom, aza amaEdom aba phantsi koDavide. UNdikhoyo wamnika uloyiso uDavide konke apho ahamba khona.

₁₄Ke kaloku uDavide walawula uSirayeli ewonke jikelele, ebaphethe kakuhle nangobulungisa bonke abantu bakhe. ₁₅UJowabhi, unyana kaZeruya, wayeyinjengele yomkhosi, uYoshafati, unyana ka-Ahilude, engumthathi-manqaku. ₁₆Ke yena uZadoki, unyana ka-Ahitubhi, noAhimeleki, unyana ka-Abhiyatare, babengababingeleli, uShavesha yena engunobhala. ₁₇UBhenaya, unyana kaJoyada, wayongamele abalindi abangamaKreti namaPleti. Ke bona oonyana bakaDavide bengamaphakathi kakumkani aphambili.

₁Emva koko wafa ukumkani uNahashe wama-Amon, kwaza ke esikhundleni sakhe kwalawula unyana wakhe. ₂Ke uDavide wathi: “Mandimenzele ububele uHanun, unyana kaNahashe, kuba uyise wandenzela ububele.” Wathumela izigidimi ke uDavide ukuba ziye kukhuza ukumkani uHanun ngenxa kayise.

Athe ke loo madoda akufika kuHanun kwelama-Amon, eze kumkhuza, ₃zasuka izikhulu zama-Amon zathi kuHanun: “Ucinga ukuba ngaba uDavide lo unika imbeko kuyihlo ngokuthumela la madoda kuwe esithi eze kukukhuza? Ayikho loo nto! La madoda ngoongcothoza; eze kuhlola eli lizwe ukuze akwazi ukulibhukuqa.” ₄UHanun wasuka wawabamba loo madoda kaDavide, wawagugula iindevu, nezambatho zawo wazigumpula embindini kwaya kuthi xhaxhe ezimpundwini, waza ke wawandulula.

₅Uthe ke uDavide akuxelelwa ngoko kwenzekileyo kula madoda, wathumela izigidimi, zawahlangabeza, kuba kaloku ayehlaziswe gqitha. Ukumkani wathi: “Hlalani eJeriko, ningabuyi de zikhule iindevu.”

₆Ke kaloku aqonda ama-Amon ukuba azigqwalisile kuDavide, waza ke uHanun enama-Amon ephela bathumela amashumi amathathu anane amawaka eekhilogram zesiliva, ukuze kuqeshwe iingqwelo namajoni eAram-narayim, eAram-maka, naseZobha. ₇Baqesha amashumi amathathu anambini amawaka eenqwelo namajoni azo, kwakunye nokumkani waseMaka nomkhosi wakhe. Ke yena waza wafika wamisa ngaseMedeba; abe ke wona ama-Amon ecombuluka ephuma kuzo zonke iidolophu zawo, exhobele imfazwe.

₈Akuyiva loo nto uDavide wakhupha uJowabhi nomkhosi wonke wamagorha. ₉Ama-Amon aphuma akha uhlelo lokulwa ngasesangweni lesixeko. Baye ke bona ookumkani ababeze kuncedisa bethe gingqi bodwa phaya ethafeni.

₁₀Ke kaloku uJowabhi wabona ukuba uphahlwe ngumkhosi ngaphambili nangasemva. Ngoko ke wakhetha awona mabutho aphambili kwaSirayeli, wawamisa ajongana nama-Aram. ₁₁Elinye icandelo lomkhosi walinika umntakwabo uAbhishayi, aza ahlelwa loo madoda ajongana nama-Amon. ₁₂UJowabhi wathi: “Ukuba athe andongamela ama-Aram la, kofuneka uze kundihlangula; ukanti ke xa ethe akongamela ama-Amon, nam ndoza kukuhlangula. ₁₃Uze uqine, silwe ngobukroti, ngenxa yabantu bethu, nangenxa yezixeko zoThixo wethu. UNdikhoyo uya kwenza oko kukholekileyo kuye.” ₁₄UJowabhi namabutho akhe wafunza kuwo ama-Aram, aza wona abaleka. ₁₅Athe ke ama-Amon akubona ama-Aram ebaleka, asuka nawo abaleka angena ngaphakathi esixekweni, esaba kuAbhishayi umntakwabo-Jowabhi. Ngoko ke uJowabhi wajika waya eJerusalem nomkhosi wakhe.

₁₆Akubona ukuba oyisiwe ngamaSirayeli ama-Aram, athumela amema ama-Aram aphesheya komlambo iEfrati; aza afika ekhokelwa nguShofaki injengele yomkhosi kaHadadizere.

₁₇Akuluva olo daba uDavide wawuqokelela wonke umkhosi wakwaSirayeli, wawela nawo umlambo iJordan. Wathi ngqo kuwo, waza wakha uhlelo lwakhe ejongene nawo. Ewe, uDavide walwakha uhlelo lwakhe lwangqalana nama-Aram, zaza ke zanqoza. ₁₈Kambe ke ama-Aram aswantsuliswa ngamaSirayeli, waza uDavide wabulala isixhenxe samawaka amajoni eenqwelo, kunye namashumi amane amawaka amajoni ahamba ngeenyawo. Kananjalo wayibulala nenjengele yomkhosi wawo uShofaki.

₁₉Zonke iikumkani ezaziphantsi kukaHadadizere zathi zakuqonda ukuba ziyoyiswa ngamaSirayeli, zenza uxolo noDavide, zaba phantsi kwakhe.

Ukususela oko ama-Aram akaphindanga avume ukuwanceda emfazweni ama-Amon.

₁Ke kaloku uJowabhi waphuma nawo umkhosi wakowabo ngexesha lentlakohlaza, ithuba abadla ngokulwa iimfazwe ngalo ookumkani. Walibhuqa walivuthulula elama-Amon, waza waya kungqinga iRabha. Ke yena uDavide wayeshiyeke eJerusalem. NeRabha leyo wayihlasela uJowabhi, wayishiya ingamabhodlo. ₂UDavide wasothula isithsaba esasisentloko yokumkani wama-Amon. Sasibunzima bumalunga namashumi amathathu anantlanu eekhilogram, senziwe ngegolide, sihonjiswe ngamatye axabisekileyo. UDavide wasithweswa eso sithsaba. Wathatha amaxhoba amaninzi kweso sixeko, ₃abemi balapho wabathatha wabafaka emsebenzini wokusarha, nowokumba, nokucanda. Wenjenjalo ke uDavide nakwabanye abemi bezixeko zama-Amon. Emva koko uDavide wabuyela eJerusalem kunye nomkhosi wakhe wonke.

₄Ekuhambeni kwethuba amaSirayeli alwa namaFilistiya eGezere. Ngelo thuba ke uSibhekayi umHusha wabulala uSipayi ongomnye wenzala kaRafa; aza ke amaFilistiya oyiswa.

₅Kwelinye idabi namaFilistiya uEl-hanani, unyana kaJayire, wabulala uLami owayengumntakwabo-Goliyati umGati, lowa wayenomkhonto ongangesibonda.

₆Kanti ke kwelinye idabi elaliwa eGati, kwakukho ingxilimbela yomfo otsho ngeminwe emithandathu ezandleni zozibini nasezinyaweni zombini, ingamashumi amabini anesine iyonke. Naye wayeyinzala kaRafa. ₇Wathi esahlekisa ngamaSirayeli wasuka wabulalwa nguJonatan unyana kaShimeya umntakwabo-Davide.

₈Esi ke yayisisizukulwana sikaRafa eGati. Kambe ke bawela ezandleni zikaDavide nomkhosi wakhe.