To The Word – Day 144

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon unyana kaDavide wazinza embusweni wakhe, kuba *uNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe wayengakuye, waza wamphakamisa kakhulu.

₂Ke uSolomon wathetha noSirayeli ewonke, iingqwayi-ngqwayi zamabutho aliwaka nalikhulu, abagwebi, nawo onke amadoda aphambili kwaSirayeli kunye neenkulu zezindlu. ₃Yena uSolomon nebandla lonke baya endaweni ephakamileyo yonqulo eGibheyon, kuba kaloku yayilapho intente *yesibingelelo yokuhlangana noThixo, leyo yayenziwe nguMosis isicaka sikaNdikhoyo entlango. ₄Kaloku yena uDavide wayeyithathile ityesi kaThixo eKiriyati-yarim waya nayo kuloo ndawo wayeyilungiselele yona, njengoko wayeyimisele intente eJerusalem. ₅Kodwa lona iqonga lamadini lobhedu elalenziwe nguBhezaleli unyana kaUri unyana kaYuri laliseseGibheyon phambi kwesibingelelo sikaNdikhoyo. Ngoko ke uSolomon nebandla elo babuzisa kuNdikhoyo khona apho. ₆Ewe, uSolomon waya kuNdikhoyo kwelo qonga lobhedu apho esibingelelweni sokuhlangana noNdikhoyo, wanikela kuso apho amadini atshiswayo aba liwaka.

₇Ngobo busuku uThixo wabonakala kuSolomon, wathetha naye wathi: “Cela nantoni na ofuna ndikuphe yona.”

₈USolomon ke uphendule uThixo wathi: “Umenzele ububele obukhulu ubawo uDavide, waza nam lo wandenza ukumkani esikhundleni sakhe. ₉Ngoku ke, Ndikhoyo Thixo wam, idinga owalimilisela ubawo uDavide khawuncede ulibethelele lifezeke, kuba kaloku undenze ukumkani wenyambalala engaka yabantu abaninzi njengothuli lomhlaba. ₁₀Ke mna ndiphe ubulumko nokuqonda ukuze ndikwazi ukubakhokela aba bantu; kaloku akukho mntu unganako ngokwakhe ukuyilawula le nginginya yabantu bakho.”

₁₁UThixo ke uthe kuSolomon: “Ngenxa yokuba lo ke ingumnqweno wentliziyo yakho, ungacelanga butyebi, nabunhanha, okanye ubuhandiba, ungatsho nokuba manditshabalalise iintshaba zakho, ewe, awucelanga nabomi bude, koko ucele ubulumko nokuqonda ukuze ube nako ukulawula abantu bam endikwenze ukumkani wabo, ₁₂ngoko ke ndiza kukunika ubulumko nokuqonda, kananjalo ndikuthi jize ngobutyebi nobunhanha, ube sisihandiba sokumkani ekungekho wumbi wakha wanjengawe ngaphambili, engayi kubakho nasemva kwakho.”

₁₃Ke uSolomon waya eJerusalem ukusuka kwakhe apho kwindawo ephakamileyo yonqulo eGibheyon, apho phambi kwaloo ntente yesibingelelo. Waza ke wamlawula uSirayeli.

₁₄USolomon waqokelela iinqwelo namahashe; ishumi elinesine lamakhulu eenqwelo, neshumi elinesibini lamawaka amahashe; zinto ezo wazigcina kwizixeko zeenqwelo, ezinye ke wazigcina kwakumkani eJerusalem. ₁₅Ukumkani lo ke isiliva negolide wayiqokelela eJerusalem yaninzi njengamatye, umthi womsedare wamninzi njengomthombe esihlanjeni. ₁₆USolomon amahashe wayewathenga eJiputa naseKewe. Abarhwebi bakomkhulu babewathenga eKewe ngexabiso ekuvunyelwene ngalo. ₁₇Babethenga iinqwelo eJiputa, ixabiso layo nganye liziisiliva ezimakhulu mathandathu, nehashe ngeesiliva ezilikhulu elinamashumi amahlanu. Kananjalo babewathengisa kookumkani bamaHiti nabama-Aram.

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon wazimisela ukwakhela igama *likaNdikhoyo indlu, kunye nelakhe ibhotwe. ₂Wamisa amadoda angamawaka angamashumi asixhenxe ukuze athwale izinto zokwakha, namanye angamashumi asibhozo amawaka awayeza kuqingqa amatye ezindulini phaya, kunye neenduna ezingamawaka amathathu anamakhulu amathandathu.

₃USolomon wathumela umyalezo kukumkani uHiram waseTire, esithi: “Nam khawundithumele izikhuni zomsedare kwanjengoko wenzayo kubawo uDavide ngokuya wayeza kuzakhela ibhotwe. ₄Ngoku mna ndiza kwakhela igama likaNdikhoyo uThixo wam indlu. Yona ndoyinikela kuye, kuyo kutshiswe iziqhumiso ezivumba limnandi, kusenzelwa yena. Kwalapho kuyo kohlala kubekwa isonka esinikelwa kuye, kwenziwe namadini atshiswayo mihla le kusasa nasemalanga, *ngeMihla yokuPhumla, nangamathuba okuthwasa kwenyanga, nangamatheko amisiweyo kaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu. Lowo ke ngummiselo wakwaSirayeli ongasoze waphela.

₅“Le ndlu ndiza kuyakha iza kuba yimbalasane, kuba uThixo wethu akalingani nathixo ngobukhulu. ₆Ewe, akukho namntu ungamakhela ndlu; kuba kaloku namazulu, nditsho amazulu asemajuku-jukwini, akanako ukumqulatha. Bendingubani ke mna, ukuba ndide ndimakhele indlu, ngaphandle nje kokuba ndakhe indawo yokutshisa amadini phambi kwakhe?

₇“Ngoko ke nceda undithumele indoda elichule ngokusebenza ngegolide nesiliva, ubhedu nentsimbi; ichule kumalaphu amsobo, amfusa, naluhlaza; nditsho ingcali yokukrola; ukuze isebenze kwaJuda naseJerusalem ikunye nezam iingcali, ezo zafunwa ngubawo uDavide.

₈“Kananjalo ndithumele izikhuni zomsedare, ipayini, nom-algumi, kuloo mahlathi aseLebhanon. Kaloku ndiyazi ukuba amadoda akho ziingcali ekugawuleni imithi apho eLebhanon. Amadoda am osebenzisana nawakho, ₉andilungiselele intaphane yemithi, kuba le ndlu ndiza kuyakha kufuneka ibe nkulu, ibe yinzwakazi. ₁₀Izicaka zakho ezigawula imithi ndozinika amawaka amabini eetoni zengqolowa, namawaka amabini eetoni zerhasi, kunye namakhulu amane amawaka eelitha zewayini, namakhulu amane amawaka eelitha zamafutha omnquma.”

₁₁Ke ukumkani uHiram waseTire waphendula uSolomon ngeleta wenjeje: “Ngenxa yokubathanda kwakhe uNdikhoyo abantu bakhe, umise wena wangukumkani wabo.”

₁₂Waqhuba uHiram wathi: “Makadunyiswe uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, umenzi wamazulu nehlabathi! Ukumkani uDavide umphe unyana osisilumko, othiwe jize ngengqiqo neliso elibukhali, yena oza kwakhela uNdikhoyo indlu, naye azakhele ibhotwe.

₁₃“Ngoko ke ndikuthumelela uHuram-abhi, indoda elichule kunene. ₁₄Unina ngowakwaDan, uyise ngumTire. Uqeqeshelwe ukusebenza ngegolide, isiliva, ubhedu, intsimbi, ilitye, nomthi, kanti nangamalaphu elinen amsobo, aluhlaza, namfusa, nditsho nacikizekileyo. Unamava kuwo wonke umsebenzi wokukrola; akukho plani imxakayo. Ke uya kusebenza naloo machule akho kunye nalawo omhlekazi uDavide uyihlo.

₁₅“Ngoko ke umhlekazi makathumelele izicaka zakhe ingqolowa abethethe ngayo, kunye nerhasi, namafutha omnquma, newayini. ₁₆Ke thina sokugawulela eLebhanon yonke imithi oyifunayo, siyenze iinyanda, siyifake elwandle, idade iyokutsho eJopa. Ke wena woyithatha khona, uyise eJerusalem.”

₁₇USolomon wazibala zonke iintlanga ezazihlala apho kwaSirayeli, ngokoluya balo lwalenziwe nguyise uDavide, zafumaneka zingamawaka alikhulu elinamashumi amahlanu anantathu anamakhulu amathandathu. ₁₈Amashumi asixhenxe amawaka kuzo wawamisela ukuthwala izinto zokwakha, amashumi asibhozo amawaka wawamisa angabaqingqi bamatye, aza ke amawaka amathathu anamakhulu amathandathu aziinduna zokujonga ukuba umsebenzi uqhubeke.

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon waqalisa ukuyakha indlu *kaNdikhoyo eJerusalem kwintaba iMoriya, apho uNdikhoyo wayebonakele khona kuyise uDavide. Kwakuloo ndawo yalungiselelwa nguDavide esandeni sokubhula sika-Aravena umJebhusi. ₂Ke ukwakha oko wakuqala ngomhla wesibini kwinyanga yesibini ngonyaka wakhe wesine engukumkani.

₃Isiseko sendlu kaThixo eyakhiwe nguSolomon sasiziimitha ezingamashumi amabini anesixhenxe ubude, siziimitha ezilithoba ububanzi. ₄Ke yona ivaranda phambili phaya yayiziimitha ezilithoba ububanzi, ukuphakama kuziimitha ezingamashumi amahlanu anane. Umphakathi lo ke wona wawutyatyekwe ngegolide. ₅Igumbi elikhulu laloo ndlu walaleka ngompayini, walityabeka ngegolide, walihombisa ngemifanekiso yamasundu nemixokelelwana. ₆Ewe, indlu kaThixo wayihombisa ngamatye axabisekileyo. Wayesebenzisa igolide yasePavayim. ₇Imiqadi, imigubasi, iindonga, neengcango, zonke wazityabeka ngegolide; ezindongeni wakrola *izithunywa ezimaphiko.

₈Walakha negumbi eliyingcwele kangcwele. Ubude balo babulingana nobubanzi bendlu iyonke, liziimitha ezilithoba ubude nobubanzi. Iindonga zalo wazityabeka ngegolide engaphezu kweetoni ezingamashumi amabini. ₉Izikhonkwane zegolide ezazisetyenziswa zazinobunzima obungamakhulu amahlanu anamashumi asixhenxe eegram. Kananjalo namagumbi aphezulu wawatyabeka kwangegolide.

₁₀Ngaphakathi apho kwigumbi eliyingcwele kangcwele wakrola izithunywa ezimaphiko zazibini, wazityabeka ngegolide. _11-12Iphiko ngalinye lezo zithunywa laliziimitha ezimbini ezinekota ubude balo. Isithunywa ngasinye sasithe naa amaphiko, elinye ke iphiko lirhece udonga lwendlu leyo; kanti ke amabini amaphiko kwezo zithunywa ayerhecana. ₁₃Amaphiko ezi zithunywa ayethathe umgama oziimitha ezilithoba. Zazimi ngeenyawo, zikhangele ngaphakathi.

₁₄Umkhusane wawenza ngelaphu eliluhlaza, nelimsobo, nelimfusa, waza wawuhombisa ngemifanekiso ethungiweyo yezithunywa ezimaphiko.

₁₅Phambi kwendlu leyo wamisa iintsika ezimbini, nganye kuzo iziimitha ezilishumi elinesihlanu ezinesiqingatha ubude. Intsika nganye yayinentloko ekuphakama kuziimitha ezimbini ezinekota. ₁₆Wenza nemixokelelwana ephotheneyo, wayithi cwa kwezo ntloko zezo ntsika. Kuloo mxokelelwano wanxibelela iirharnathi ezilikhulu. ₁₇Ezo ntsika wazimisa apho phambi kwendlu kaThixo, enye ngezantsi enye ngasentla. Le ingezantsi kwathiwa nguJakin, le ingentla yona kwathiwa nguBhowazi.

₁USolomon wenza iqonga lamadini lobhedu liziimitha ezilithoba ububanzi nobude, liziimitha ezine ezinesiqingatha ukuphakama. ₂Wenza nechibi elingqukuva ngobhedu. Laliziimitha ezilishumi elinesithathu nekota xa ulijikeleza. ₃Phantsi komphetho lalijikelezwe yimifanekiso yeenkunzi zeenkomo. Ezo nkunzi zaziyimiqolo emibini, ziyinto enye nechibi elo.

₄Eli chibi lalimi phezu kweenkunzi zeenkomo ezilishumi elinambini ezenziwe ngobhedu, ezintathu zikhangele ngasentla, ezintathu zijonge ngasentshona, ezintathu zikhangele ngasezantsi, zaza kananjalo ezintathu zajonga ngasempuma. Ichibi lalithe ngxishi phezu kwazo, izinqe zazo zijonge embindini walo. ₅Ububanzi balo babulingana nesandla, umphetho walo ufana nowekomityi, kanye oku kwenyibiba edubulayo. Lwalungena iilitha ezingamawaka angamashumi amathandathu.

₆Kananjalo wenza nezitya zokuhlambela zalishumi, isihlanu sazo wasibeka kwicala langezantsi, esinye isihlanu wasibeka ngasentla. Apho kuzo kwakuza kuhlanjwa izinto zokwenza amadini atshiswayo; kodwa ke apho echibini kwakuza kuhlamba ababingeleli.

₇Wenza neziphatho zezibane zegolide ezilishumi, ezenza ngokwemilinganiselo yazo; waza ke wazibeka apho endlwini kaThixo. Isihlanu sazo wasibeka kwicala langezantsi, waza esinye isihlanu wasibeka kwicala langasentla.

₈Kwakhona wenza neetafile zalishumi, wazifaka apho endlwini kaThixo, ezintlanu ngasezantsi, ezintlanu ngasentla. Kananjalo wenza neendebe zegolide zokufefa zalikhulu.

₉Waza ke wenza nenkundla yababingeleli, kunye nenkundla enkulu, neengcango zenkundla. Zona wazityabeka ngobhedu. ₁₀Ichibi elo walibeka kumazantsi-mpuma endlu kaThixo.

₁₁Kananjalo wenza iimbiza, iifotsholo, nezitya zokufefa.

Ngoko ke uHuram wawugqiba umsebezi awayewenzela ukumkani uSolomon endlwini kaThixo:

Zonke ke ezo zixhobo ezazenziwe nguHuram-abhi, ezenzela ukumkani uSolomon ukuze zisetyenziswe endlwini kaNdikhoyo, zazenziwe ngobhedu olugudisiweyo. ₁₇Ezo zinto ukumkani wathi mazibunjwe ngezibumbi zomdongwe kwintili yeJordan phakathi kweSukoti neZaretan. ₁₈Ubunzima bazo xa zizonke ezi zinto wazenzayo uSolomon babubukhulu ngangokuba abuzange bube namlinganiso.

₁₉Kananjalo uSolomon wazenza zonke iimpahla zendlu kaThixo:

₁Uthe ke wakufezeka loo msebenzi uSolomon awayewenzela indlu kaNdikhoyo, wazithatha zonke ezo zinto zazinikezelwe nguyise uDavide (isiliva, igolide, nazo zonke ezinye izinto zokusebenza) waza ke wazifaka koovimba bendlu kaThixo.

₂Ke kaloku uSolomon wawabizela eJerusalem onke amadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli, bonke abaziintloko zezizwe, namadoda aziinkulu zezindlu zamaSirayeli, ukuze aye kuthatha ityesi yomnqophiso *kaNdikhoyo eZiyon isixeko sikaDavide. ₃Onke ke amadoda akwaSirayeli aqokelelana kukumkani ngexesha lombhiyozo kwinyanga yesixhenxe.

₄Athe ke akuphelela amadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli, abaLevi bayithatha ityesi, ₅kunye nentente yesibingelelo, nazo zonke izinto ezingcwele ezazikuyo. Ababingeleli ababengabaLevi bazithwala ezo zinto. ₆Ke yena ukumkani uSolomon nalo lonke ibandla likaSirayeli elaliqokelelene kuye babemi phambi kwetyesi besenza amadini ngeegusha neenkomo ezininzi, ziyinyambalala engenakubalwa.

₇Ababingeleli ke bayithatha ityesi yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo, bayisa endaweni yayo kwigumbi elingaphakathi endlwini kaThixo – ingcwele kangcwele – bayibeka phantsi kwamaphiko ezo *zithunywa zimaphiko. ₈Izithunywa ezo ke zawathi naa loo maphiko azo, zayigquma loo ndawo yayikuyo ityesi ndawonye namanqwanqwa okuyiphatha. ₉La manqwanqwa ke ayemade ngangokuba zazibonakala iziphetho zawo kumntu ophambi kwegumbi elingaphakathi, kodwa ke zingabonakali kongaphandle kweyona ndawo ingcwele. Aselapho ke unanamhlanje. ₁₀Apho kuloo tyesi kwakungekho nto ngaphandle kwamacwecwe amabini amatye, lawo ayefakwe kuyo nguMosis eHorebhe, apho uNdikhoyo wenza umnqophiso namaSirayeli akuba ephumile eJiputa.

₁₁Ke kaloku ababingeleli abo baphuma apho endaweni engcwele. Bonke ababingeleli ababelapho – nditsho abeendidi zonke – babezihlambulule. ₁₂Bonke abaLevi ababeziimvumi – uAsafu, uHeman, noJedutun, noonyana babo, nezizalwane zabo – babemi kwicala lasempuma apho eqongeni, bevethe ezelinen entle kunene, bakhalisa amacangci, iihapu, nemirhubhe. Babekhatshwa likhulu elinamashumi amabini lababingeleli behlokomisa amaxilongo. ₁₃Abo bamaxilongo ngokunjalo nabaculayo batsho ngoncuthu oluyondeleleneyo, ngazwi-nye bedumisa bebulela uNdikhoyo. Babekhatshwa ngamaxilongo, amacangci, nezinye izikhalisi. Ewe, badanduluka ngendumiso bebonga uNdikhoyo besithi:

Ke kaloku indlu kaNdikhoyo leyo yazaliswa lilifu. ₁₄Ngenxa yelo lifu ababingeleli ababanga nako ukwenza imisebenzi yabo. Kaloku ubukhazikhazi besidima sikaNdikhoyo babuyizalisile indlu leyo kaThixo.

( ₂₀Iyaphela apha incwadi yemihobe kaDavide unyana kaJese.)