To The Word – Day 141

₁Ke kaloku uSathana wavukela uSirayeli ngokuxhokonxa uDavide ukuze awabale amaSirayeli. ₂UDavide wathetha noJowabhi nabanye abaphathi bomkhosi, wathi kubo: “Yiyani kubala amaSirayeli, niqale eBheshebha, nime kwaDan. Nakugqiba ke nize nindinike ingxelo, ukuze ndilazi inani lawo.”

₃Ke yena uJowabhi wathi: “Ngamana *uNdikhoyo wabandisa kalikhulu abantu bakhe. Mhlekazi kumkani, asingobakho bonke na aba bantu? Ngani ke, mhlekazi, ukuba ufune ukwenza into enje? Ngani ukuba umhlekazi azisele uSirayeli ityala?”

₄Kambe ke ilizwi likakumkani lamoyisa uJowabhi, waza wemka uJowabhi wamtyhutyha wonke uSirayeli, kamva ke wabuyela eJerusalem. ₅Inani lamadoda omkhosi walixela kuDavide. KuSirayeli ephela yayisisigidi esinekhulu lamawaka, amadoda akwaziyo ukusebenzisa ikrele, kwakunye namakhulu amane anamashumi asixhenxe amawaka kwelakwaJuda.

₆Kambe ke uJowabhi akambalanga uLevi noBhenjamin, kuba kaloku umyalelo kakumkani wawulumeza kuye. ₇Ewe, lo myalelo wawumbi nakuThixo, ngoko ke wasuka wawohlwaya amaSirayeli.

₈UDavide wathi kuThixo: “Ewe, ndenze into embi gqitha ngesi senzo. Ngoko ke ndiyakubongoza bususe ubutyala bam, mna sicaka sakho. Ndenze into yobutyhakala.”

₉UNdikhoyo wathetha nomshumayeli kaDavide uGadi, wathi: ₁₀“Yiya kuDavide, uthi: ‘Nanga amazwi kaNdikhoyo,’ uthi ndithi makakhethe kwizinto ezintathu, ukuze ndikwazi ukuthatha amanyathelo.”

₁₁UGadi waya ke kuDavide, wafika wathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi khetha into amakakwenze yona: ₁₂iminyaka emithathu yembalela, okanye iinyanga ezintathu zinivuthulula ziniwisa ngamakrele azo iintshaba zenu, kungenjalo ke ibe ziintsuku ezintathu uNdikhoyo ethumele isithunywa sakhe ukuze sifake ubhubhani kuwo wonke umhlaba wakwaSirayeli. Cingisisa undinike impendulo emandiyise kulowo undithumileyo.”

₁₃UDavide waphendula wathi kuGadi: “Ndisengxakini enkulu. Kodwa ke kubhetele ndiwele ezandleni zikaNdikhoyo, kuba inkulu inceba yakhe. Ewe, andikunqweneli ukuwela ezandleni zabantu.”

₁₄Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wathumela isibetho sikabhubhani kwaSirayeli, kwaza kwafa amadoda angamashumi asixhenxe amawaka. ₁₅UThixo wathumela isithunywa sakhe ukuze sitshabalalise iJerusalem, kodwa ke sithe sisawenza loo msebenzi, uNdikhoyo wathi akuyibona loo ntlekele suka wazijika iimbono zakhe, wasinqanda ukuze singabatshabalalisi abantu, wathi: “Kwanele, sirhoxise isandla sakho!” Oku kwenzeke xa kanye isithunywa eso sasimi ngasesandeni sokubhula sika-Aravena umJebhusi.

₁₆Wathi akukhangela uDavide wasibona isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo, simi phakathi kwezulu nomhlaba, siphethe ikrele ngesandla, silijongise eJerusalem. Ke uDavide namadoda amakhulu banxiba ezirhwexayo, bakhahlela bawa emhlabeni.

₁₇UDavide wathi kuThixo: “Indim nje othe makabalwe amadoda omkhosi! Ewe kaloku, ndim owonileyo ndenza okugwenxa. Aba bantu bona banjengeegusha; akukho nto bayenzileyo. Hayi, Ndikhoyo, Thixo wam, isandla sakho masohlwaye mna kunye nomzi kabawo; ke yena lo bhubhani sukumyeka abatshabalalise abantu bakho.”

₁₈Isithunywa sikaNdikhoyo sathetha noGadi, sathi makaye kuxelela uDavide ukuba makakhele uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini kwesiya sanda sokubhula sika-Aravena umJebhusi. ₁₉Ngoko ke uDavide waya ngokwelo lizwi lalithethwe nguGadi egameni likaNdikhoyo.

₂₀Uthe esabhula ingqolowa uAravena waguquka, wabona isithunywa sikaThixo, baza oonyana bakhe abane ababekunye naye bazimela. ₂₁Wathi akuvela uDavide, uAravena wambona, waza wemka apho esandeni sokubhula, wamhlangabeza, wakhahlela ejongise ubuso emhlabeni phambi koDavide.

₂₂UDavide wathi kuye: “Ndinike lo mhlaba sikuwo esi sanda sokubhula, ukuze ndakhele uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini, khon' ukuze isibetho sikabhubhani sinqamke ebantwini. Ndithengisele wona ngexabiso lawo.”

₂₃Wathi uAravena kuDavide: “Kulungile, ungawufumana. Inkosi yam ukumkani mayenze ngokubona kwayo; mna ke ndiza kunikela ngeenkabi zeenkomo zokwenza amadini atshiswayo, izileyi zokubhula zoba ziinkuni. Ndonikela nangengqolowa yokwenza umnikelo weenkozo; zonke ezo zinto ndozikhupha.”

₂₄Kambe ke ukumkani uDavide uphendule uAravena wathi: “Ngunotshe lowo! Ndiza kulihlawula lonke ixabiso lazo. UNdikhoyo andinakumnika izinto zakho, ndingayi kwenza mnikelo nadini litshiswayo ngento endingadlekanga ngayo.”

₂₅Ngoko ke uDavide wahlawula uAravena amakhulu amathandathu eegolide ngeso sanda sokubhula. ₂₆UDavide ke wakhela uNdikhoyo iqonga lamadini apho, waza wenza amadini atshiswayo kunye nawobudlelwana. Wanqula uNdikhoyo, waza ke yena waphendula ngokuthobela umlilo ezulwini kwelo qonga lamadini.

₂₇UNdikhoyo ke wathetha naso isithunywa eso, saza salifaka esingxotyeni salo ikrele laso. ₂₈Ngelo xesha ke uDavide akuqonda ukuba uNdikhoyo umphendule apho kweso sanda sokubhula sika-Aravena umJebhusi, wasuka wanikela amadini apho kuso. ₂₉Ngelo xesha ke isibingelelo sikaNdikhoyo esasenziwe nguMosis entlango kunye neqonga lamadini atshiswayo sasisendaweni ephakamileyo yonqulo eGibheyon. ₃₀Kambe ke uDavide akayanga kubuzisa khona kuThixo, kuba kaloku wayesoyika ikrele lesithunywa sikaNdikhoyo.

₁Ke kaloku uDavide wathi: “Iza kwakhiwa apha indlu *kaNdikhoyo uThixo kunye neqonga lamadini atshiswayo awenzelwa uSirayeli.”

₂Ngoko ke uDavide wayalela ukuba kuqokelelwe bonke abasemzini abemi apho kwaSirayeli, waza ke apho kubo wakhetha abangabaqingqi bamatye, ukuze bakrole amatye okwakha indlu kaThixo. ₃Wakhupha nento eninzi yentsimbi yokwenza izikhonkwane zeengcango zamasango nezokubethelela, kananjalo nobhedu olubunzima bungenamlinganiselo. ₄Wakhupha nenyambalala yezikhuni zomsedare; kaloku zona uDavide wayeziphiwe zazininzi gqitha ngamaSidon namaTire. ₅UDavide wathi: “Umfana wam uSolomon usemncinci, engekabi nawo namava, ibe ke yona le ndlu *kaNdikhoyo eza kwakhiwa kufuneka ibe lipomakazi eliyimbalasane, uduma-kude ngobunewu-newu nakuzo zonke izizwe. Ngoko ke ndiza kuwenza amalungiselelo okwakhiwa kwayo.” Ewe, uDavide wawenza ngokubanzi amalungiselelo lawo kwangaphambi kokusweleka kwakhe.

₆UDavide wathetha nonyana wakhe uSolomon, wamyalela ukuba akhele uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli indlu. ₇Wathi apho kuSolomon: “Mfo wam, ndandizimisele ukulakhela indlu igama *likaNdikhoyo uThixo wam. ₈Kambe ke kwafika ilizwi likaNdikhoyo kum, lisithi: ‘Wena uliphalaze gqitha igazi; ulwe iimfazwe ezininzi gqitha. Ngoko ke asinguwe oya kulakhela indlu igama lam, kuba wena uphalaze igazi elininzi gqitha emhlabeni phambi kwam. ₉Kambe ke uza kuba nonyana oya kuba yindoda yoxolo nenzolo; mna ndiya kumthi jize ngenzolo, ndimphumze macal' onke ezintshabeni zakhe. Igama lakhe liya kuba nguSolomon, ibe ke uSirayeli ndiya kumthi jize ngoxolo nenzolo ngexesha lombuso wakhe. ₁₀Nguye ke oya kulakhela indlu igama lam. Yena uya kuba ngunyana wam, mna ndibe nguYise. Ewe, mna ndiya kusizinzisa isihlalo sombuso wakhe phezu koSirayeli kude kube ngunaphakade.’ ₁₁Ngoko ke ngoku, nyana wam, ngamana wanawe uNdikhoyo; ngamana waphumelela ekuyakheni indlu kaNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, nanjengoko wayethe uya kuyakha. ₁₂UNdikhoyo ngamana wakupha ingqiqo nokuqonda xa ekufaka ukuba wongamele uSirayeli, khon' ukuze uwuthobele umthetho kaNdikhoyo uThixo wakho. ₁₃Ewe, uya kuba nempumelelo xa uthe wanenyameko wayinonophela imimiselo nemithetho leyo uNdikhoyo wayinikezela uSirayeli ngoMosis. Yomelela ukhaliphe; uze ungoyiki utyhafe!

₁₄“Amalungiselelo ndiwenze ngenyameko, ndilungiselela ukwakhiwa kwendlu kaNdikhoyo. Ndiqokelele iitoni zegolide ezingaphezu kwamawaka amathathu anamakhulu amane, kunye neetoni zesiliva ezingaphezu kwamashumi amathathu anesine amawaka, ukuze kwakhiwe indlu leyo, kwakunye nentaphane yobhedu, kunye nentsimbi ebunzima bungenamlinganiselo, ngokunjalo nemithi namatye. Nawe ke ungazongeza ezo zinto. ₁₅Unabo baninzi abasebenzi, abaqingqi bamatye, iingcibi nabachweli, kunye namadoda angamachule kuzo zonke iindidi zomsebenzi. ₁₆Igolide nesiliva, ubhedu nentsimbi, ikho ingenamlinganiselo. Ngoko ke qalisa, uNdikhoyo abe nawe!”

₁₇Ngoko ke uDavide waziyalela zonke iinkokheli zakwaSirayeli ukuze zincedisane naye unyana wakhe uSolomon. ₁₈Wathi kuzo: “Andithi na kaloku uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu unani? Ewe kambe, unithe jize ngenzolo ngeenxa zonke! Kaloku uzinikele esandleni sam zonke iintlanga ezingabemi beli lizwe. Eli lizwe ke ngoko lelikaNdikhoyo nabantu bakhe. ₁₉Ngoko ke zinikezeleni ngomxhelo wenu wonke kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu. Qalisani ukuyakha indlu kaNdikhoyo uThixo, ukuze nibe nako ukuyingenisa ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo kunye nezinto ezingcwele zikaThixo, zonke nizifake kuloo ndlu iza kwakhelwa igama likaNdikhoyo.”

₁Ke kaloku uthe akukhula, xa seleyindoda enkulu, uDavide wabeka unyana wakhe uSolomon wangukumkani kwaSirayeli.

₂Kananjalo waqokelela zonke iinkokheli zakwaSirayeli kunye nababingeleli nabaLevi. ₃Babalwa abaLevi ababudala bungamashumi amathathu nangaphezulu, baza bafumaneka bengamashumi amathathu anesibhozo amawaka. ₄UDavide wathi: “Amashumi amabini anesine amawaka abaLevi baya kongamela umsebenzi wendlu *kaNdikhoyo, size isithandathu samawaka sibe ngamagosa nabagwebi. ₅Ke wona amawaka amane aya kuba ngabagcini-masango; kananjalo amanye amawaka amane adumise uNdikhoyo ngeengoma esebenzisa izikhalisi endizilungiselele loo njongo.”

₆UDavide wabahlula-hlula abaLevi ngokwamaqela oonyana bakaLevi: uGershon, uKohati, noMerari.

₇Oonyana bakaGershon nguLadan noShimeyi. ₈Oonyana bakaLadan bathathu: nguYehiyeli owamazibulo, ibe nguZetam noJoweli. ₉Oonyana bakaShimeyi nabo bathathu: nguShelimoti, noHaziyeli, noHaran. Zizo ezo ke iinkulu zezindlu zakwaLadan. _10-11Oonyana bakaShimeyi bane: nguYahati owamazibulo, kulandele uZina, ibe nguJewushe noBheriya. Ke uJewushe noBheriya babengenanyana baninzi, yaza inzala yabo yabalelwa ekubeni yindlu enye.

₁₂Oonyana bakaKohati bane: nguAmram, noIzare, noHebron, noUziyeli. ₁₃Oonyana baka-Amram nguAron noMosis. UAron nenzala yakhe bachongwa ukuba bagcine izinto ezingcwele zonqulo, bamkhonze uNdikhoyo, bemenzela iziqhumiso, besikelela abantu egameni lakhe kude kube ngunaphakade. ₁₄Ke bona oonyana bakaMosis, umfo wakwaThixo, babalelwa kubaLevi. ₁₅Oonyana bakaMosis nguGershom noElizere. ₁₆Inkulu yoonyana bakaGershom nguShebhuweli. ₁₇Inkulu yoonyana bakaElizere nguRehabhiya. UElizere akazalanga wumbi unyana ngaphandle koRehabhiya, kodwa uRehabhiya wazala oonyana abaninzi gqitha.

₁₈Inkulu yoonyana bakaIzare nguShelomiti. ₁₉Inkulu yoonyana bakaHebron abane nguTeriya, ibe nguAmariya, noYaziyeli, noYekamam. ₂₀Koonyana baka-Aziyeli nguMika inkulu, ibe nguIshiya owesibini.

₂₁Oonyana bakaMerari nguMali noMushi. Oonyana bakaMali nguElazare noKishe. ₂₂UElazare wafa engenanyana, eneentombi zodwa, zaza zathathwa ngamawabo oonyana bakaKishe. ₂₃Oonyana bakaMushi bathathu: nguMali, noEdere, noYeremoti.

₂₄Ezi ke yayizizizukulwana zikaLevi ngokwezindlu zazo – iinkulu zezindlu ngokwamagama okubhaliswa kwazo zibalwa ngazinye, abasebenzi abaminyaka imashumi mabini nangaphezulu, abo babelungiselela endlwini kaNdikhoyo. ₂₅Kaloku uDavide wathi: “Ngoku uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli ubanike ukuphumla abantu bakhe; yena ke uya kusoloko ehlala ehleli eJerusalem. ₂₆Ngoko ke abaLevi aba akuseyomfuneko kubo ukuthwala isibingelelo nezixhobo ezisetyenziswa kuso.” ₂₇Ngokwalo myalelo kaDavide ke abaLevi babalwa kuqalelwa kwabo baneminyaka emashumi mabini nangaphezulu. ₂₈Umsebenzi wabaLevi aba ke yayikukunceda inzala ka-Aron kumsebenzi wendlu kaNdikhoyo: ukujonga iinkundla namagumbi azo, ukuhlanjululwa kwezinto ezingcwele, nokujongana nayo yonke eminye imisebenzi yendlu kaThixo. ₂₉Yayingabo abajongene nesonka esasihlala etafileni, umgubo womnikelo weenkozo, nemiqhathane enganyuswanga, ukubhaka nokuxuba, nazo zonke iindidi zemilinganiselo. ₃₀Ngazo zonke iintsasa kwakufuneka beme babulele badumise uNdikhoyo; nasemalanga ke kwakufuneka benze kwaloo nto. ₃₁Ukanti nanini na kusenzelwa uNdikhoyo amadini atshiswayo *ngeMihla yokuPhumla nangemibhiyozo yokuthwasa kwenyanga, nangawo onke amatheko amisiweyo. Kwakufuneka bahlale belungiselela uNdikhoyo ngamathuba amisiweyo, naloo nto ke beyenza ngendlela emisiweyo.

₃₂Ngoko ke abaLevi abo bawuqhuba umsebenzi wabo apho esibingelelweni nakwindawo engcwele, bephantsi kwabantakwabo abayinzala ka-Aron, belungiselela apho endlwini kaNdikhoyo.

₁Oonyana baka-Aron babahlulwa-hlulwe kanje: Naba oonyana baka-Aron: uNadabhi, uAbhihu, uEliyazare, noItamare. ₂Kambe ke yena uNadabhi noAbhihu basweleka bengenanyana kwangaphambi kokusweleka kukayise. Ngoko ke ababingeleli yaba nguEliyazare noItamare. ₃UDavide wancediswa nguZadoki, owayeyinzala kaEliyazare, kunye noAhimeleki, owayeyinzala kaItamare; baza ke babahlula-hlula bangamaqela okulungiselela ngezigaba ezimisiweyo. ₄Kwafumaneka iqela elikhulu kwinzala kaEliyazare kunelo lafumaneka kwinzala kaItamare, baza ke bahlulwa-hlulwa ngokunjalo: Yaba ziinkulu ezilishumi elinesithandathu kwinzala kaEliyazare, yaziinkulu ezisibhozo kwinzala kaItamare. ₅Babahlula-hlula ngendlela engenaxanasi ngokwenza *amaqashiso, kuba kaloku kwakukho amagosa esibingelelo namagosa ezakwaThixo kuzo zozibini izizukulwana zikaEliyazare nezo zikaItamare.

₆Ke unobhala uShemaya, unyana kaNataniyeli umLevi, wawabhala amagama abo ekho nokumkani kunye nala magosa: umbingeleli uZadoki, uAhimeleki unyana ka-Abhiyatare, kunye neenkulu zezindlu zababingeleli kunye nezabaLevi. Kwakuthathwa indlu ibe nye kuEliyazare, ize ibe nye nakuItamare.

₇Amaqashiso aphuma ngolu hlobo:

₁₉Lulo olo ke uluhlu lokusebenzisana kwabo ekulungiseleleni endlwini kaNdikhoyo ngokwemimiselo abayinikwa ngukhokho wabo uAron ethobela umyalelo kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli.

₂₀Nazi ke ezinye iinkulu zezindlu zakwaLevi:

Abo ke ngabaLevi ngokwezindlu zabo. ₃₁Nabo benza *amaqashiso kwanjengabantakwabo abayinzala ka-Aron, ekho nokumkani uDavide, uZadoki, uAhimeleki, neenkulu zezindlu zababingeleli nezabaLevi. Izindlu zâbo baziinkulu zaziphathwa ngokufanayo nezo zâbo baziinci.

₁Ukumkani uDavide, ekunye neengqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi, wachonga abathile koonyana baka-Asafu, nabakaHeman, nababakaJedutum, wabanika umsebenzi wokushumayela bekhalisa iihapu nemirhubhe namacangci. Nanga ke amadoda awayephethe lo msebenzi:

₂Koonyana baka-Asafu nguZakure, noJosefu, noNetaniya, noAsharela. Babeshumayela ngokomyalelo kakumkani, bephethwe nguAsafu.

₃Koonyana bakaJedutun nguGedaliya, noZeri, noYeshaya, [noShimeyi], noHashabhiya, noMatitiya, bebathandathu. Babephethwe nguyise uJedutun, owayeshumayela esebenzisa ihapu ukubulela nokudumisa *uNdikhoyo.

₄Koonyana bakaHeman nguBhukiya, noMataniya, noUziyeli, noShebhuweli, noJerimoti, noHananiya, noHanani, noEliyata, noGidaleti, noRomamti-ezere, noYoshebhekasha, noMaloti, noHotire, noMaziyoti. ₅Bonke aba babengoonyana bakaHeman *umshumayeli kakumkani. Wayebanikwe ngokwesithembiso sikaThixo sokuphakamisa isidima sakhe. Ewe, uThixo wanika uHeman oonyana abalishumi elinane neentombi ezintathu.

₆Ngokomyalelo kakumkani onke la madoda ayephethwe ngooyise uAsafu, noJedutun, noHeman. Ayevuma enkonzweni endlwini kaNdikhoyo, enamacangci nemirhubhe neehapu. ₇Inani lawo, ekunye nabantakwawo ababeqeqeshelwe iingoma zikaNdikhoyo, lalingamakhulu amabini anamashumi asibhozo anesibhozo. ₈Xa bawabayo umsebenzi benza *amaqashiso, kungekho ukhethe phakathi komncinane nomkhulu, ngokunjalo nokwaziyo nosaqeqeshwayo.

₉Nazi iziphumo zamaqashiso malunga nokulandelelana kwamathuba okusebenza kwamaqela:

Iqela ngalinye beliba namadoda alishumi elinambini, liphantsi kwenkokheli yalo.