To The Word – Day 145

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon wathi: “*UNdikhoyo wayethe uza kuhlala kwilifu elimnyama; ₂ke mna ndikwakhele ipomakazi lendlu, indawo oya kuhlala kuyo kude kube ngonaphakade.”

₃Lithe lisemi apho lonke elo bandla likaSirayeli, ukumkani wee guququ walithamsanqela, ₄wathi:

“Makabongwe uNdikhoyo, uThixo kaSirayeli, yena othe ngesandla sakhe wasifezekisa isithembiso awasenza ngomlomo wakhe kubawo uDavide. Kaloku yena wathi: ₅‘Ukusukela kwimini endabakhupha ngayo abantu bam eJiputa, andizange ndizikhethele sixeko nakwesiphi na isizwe sakwaSirayeli apho lalinokwakhelwa khona indlu igama lam, kananjalo andizange ndinyule mntu ukuze akhokele abantu bam amaSirayeli. ₆Kambe ke ngoku ndinyule iJerusalem ukuze libe kuyo igama lam, ndaza ndanyula uDavide ukuze abalawule abantu bam amaSirayeli.’

₇“Ubawo uDavide wayezimisele ngomxhelo wakhe ukuba igama likaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli alakhele indlu. ₈Kambe ke uNdikhoyo wathi kubawo uDavide: ‘Ibe yinto entle ukuba uzimisele ukulakhela indlu igama lam. ₉Noko ke kambe asinguwe oza kulakhela indlu igama lam, koko yoba ngunyana wakho; nditsho kanye owesinqe sakho – nguye oya kulakhela indlu igama lam.’

₁₀“UNdikhoyo ke usigcinile eso sithembiso wasenzayo. Naku ngoku ndingene esikhundleni sikabawo uDavide. Ewe, ndichophe kwisihlalo sokulawula sakwaSirayeli ngokwesithembiso sikaNdikhoyo, ndaza ndalakhela indlu igama likaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. ₁₁Kuyo ndayibeka ityesi equlethe umnqophiso kaNdikhoyo awayewenze namaSirayeli.”

₁₂Ke kaloku uSolomon wema phambi kweqonga *likaNdikhoyo, apho phambi kwaloo nginginya yebandla likaSirayeli, waza ke waziphakamisa izandla zakhe. ₁₃Ke kaloku wayenze iqonga lokuma lobhedu, laba ziimitha ezimbini ezinekota ubude nobubanzi, liyimitha enye enekota ukuphakama; walithatha ke walibeka embindini wenkundla engaphandle. Waqabela apho kulo, waza waguqa apho phambi kwaloo nginginya yebandla likaSirayeli, waza izandla zakhe waziphakamisela ezulwini, ₁₄wathi:

“Ewe, Ndikhoyo, Thixo kaSirayeli, akakho uThixo onjengawe ezulwini nasemhlabeni. Kaloku ungulowo uwugcinayo umnqophiso wakhe wokuzithanda izicaka zakhe ezithe rhoqo ngomxhelo wazo wonke ukuhamba ezindleleni zakhe. ₁₅Ngoku ke usigcinile isithembiso sakho kwisicaka sakho uDavide ubawo. Wathembisa ngomlomo wakho; kunamhlanje-nje ke ufezekisile ngesandla sakho.

₁₆“Nangoku ke, Ndikhoyo, Thixo kaSirayeli, isicaka sakho uDavide ubawo khawumgcinele ezo zithembiso wamenzela zona usithi: ‘Akusoze ungabi nayo indoda yokuchopha phambi kwam kwisihlalo sokulawula sakwaSirayeli, ukuba kodwa oonyana bakho bathe bakunyamekela ngandlela zonke ukuhamba phambi kwam ngokomthetho wam njengawe lo.’ ₁₇Ewe, nangoku, Ndikhoyo, Thixo kaSirayeli, ilizwi owalithethayo uthembisa isicaka sakho uDavide malifezeke.

₁₈“Kambe ke, ngaba uThixo angade ahlale emhlabeni phakathi koluntu na? Hayi bo; kaloku namazulu, nditsho namazulu asemajuku-jukwini ngokwawo, akanako ukukuqulatha! Ibeke phi ke yona le ndlu ndiyakhileyo? ₁₉Nakuba kunjalo, Ndikhoyo, Thixo wam, wubekele iindlebe umthandazo wesicaka sakho esizibikayo kuwe. Kuve ukulila nokukhunga kwesicaka sakho esikubongozayo! ₂₀Imini nobusuku ngamana amehlo akho athi ntsho kuyo le ndlu. Kaloku yile wathetha ngayo usithi igama lakho liya kuba kuyo. Ke ngoko wuphulaphule lo mthandazo esiya kuthi isicaka sakho siwubhekise kule ndawo. ₂₁Zibazele iindlebe izikhungo zesicaka sakho ndawonye nabantu bakho xa umthandazo wabo bewubhekisa kule ndawo. Yiva wena usekhayeni lakho ezulwini; ewe, yiva, uvile uxolele.

₂₂“Xa umntu ethe wona ummelwane wakhe kwaza ke kwafuneka enze isifungo, waza ke yena weza kufunga kule ndlu phambi kweqonga lakho, ₂₃wena ke yiva usezulwini, usebenze ngaloo nto. Uze ugwebe phakathi kwezicaka zakho, onetyala umbuyekeze ngesohlwayo esifanele isenzo sakhe. Uze umgwebele umntu omsulwa, khon' ukuze aphuhle ukuba umsulwa.

₂₄“Xa abantu bakho amaSirayeli ethe oyiswa lutshaba ngenxa yokuba ekonile wena, makathi akubuya ebula, evuma igama lakho, ethandaza, esenza isikhungo kuwe kuyo le ndlu, ₂₅wena ke yiva usezulwini, usixolele isono sabantu bakho amaSirayeli, uwabuyisele kulo mhlaba wawunika ooyise.

₂₆“Xa amazulu athe avaleka ayabikho imvula, kuba abantu bakho bekonile, mabathi xa bathe babhekisa kule ndawo ngomthandazo bevuma igama lakho, bezishiya nezono zabo kuba wena ubabandezele, ₂₇wena ke yiva usezulwini, usixolele isono sezicaka zakho, abantu bakho amaSirayeli. Uze ubafundise indlela efanelekileyo yokuziphatha, ulithi jize ngemvula ilizwe elililifa owalinika abantu bakho.

₂₈“Xa kuthe kwakho indlala nokuba ngubhubhani kweli lizwe, okanye kubekho isihlava, isihumba, iinkumbi, iintothoviyane, okanye xa abantu bakho bethe bangqingwa ziintshaba ezixekweni zabo, ukanti nokuba sisiphi na isithwakumbe okanye isifo esibafikeleyo, ₂₉makuthi xa kukho nawuphi na kubantu bakho othandazayo ekhunga ngokuva iimbandezelo neentlungu, izandla zakhe eziphakamisela kule ndlu, ₃₀wena ke yiva usekhayeni lakho ezulwini. Ewe, xolela, ulowo nalowo umphathe ngokwezenzo zakhe, kuba wena uyayazi intliziyo yakhe. Kaloku nguwe wedwa ozaziyo iintliziyo zabantu. ₃₁Ngaloo ndlela ke baya kukuhlonela, bahambe ezindleleni zakho ngalo lonke ixesha lokudla kwabo ubomi kulo mhlaba wawunika oobawo.

₃₂“Kanti ke nowasemzini ongenguye owabantu bakho amaSirayeli, kodwa ofike evela kwelikude ilizwe ngenxa yodumo lwegama lakho, namandla esandla sakho, kunye nobungangamsha bengalo yakho, makathi akuza kuthandaza apha kule ndlu, ₃₃wena ke uve usekhayeni lakho ezulwini, owasemzini lo umenzele konke oko akucelayo kuwe, khon' ukuze zonke izizwe zehlabathi zilazi igama lakho, zikuhlonele kwanjengokuba bekuhlonela abantu bakho amaSirayeli. Ewe, ukuze ziqonde ukuba le ndlu ndiyakhileyo ibizwa ngegama lakho.

₃₄“Nabantu bakho xa bathe baya emfazweni besilwa neentshaba zabo, nokuba ubathumela phi na, mabathi bakuthandaza kuwe, bebhekisa kule ndlu ndiyakhele igama lakho, kwesi sixeko usinyulileyo, ₃₅yithi wena usezulwini uwuve umthandazo nesikhungo sabo, ubagwebele.

₃₆“Xa bathe bakona – kaloku akukho mntu ongoniyo – waza ke wena wakhathazeka wabanikela elutshabeni, luze ke lona lubathimbe lubafuduse, nokuba lubase kwilizwe elikude okanye elikufuphi, ₃₇xa bathe baguquka bazisola kwelo lizwe bathinjelwe kulo, ewe, xa beguquka bezibika kuwe, belapho kwelo lizwe lokuthinjwa, besithi: ‘Ewe, sonile, senze ububi nenkohlakalo,’ ₃₈xa bebuyela kuwe ngomxhelo wabo wonke nentliziyo yabo iphela bekwelo lizwe lokuthinjwa, bethandaza bebhekisa kweli lizwe walinika ooyise, kwesi sixeko wasinyulayo, nakule ndlu ndiyakhele igama lakho, ₃₉yithi ke wena usekhayeni lakho ezulwini, uwuve umthandazo wabo, nezikhungo zabo, ubagwebele. Ewe kaloku, uze ubaxolele abantu bakho abakonileyo.

₄₀“Nakalokunje, Thixo wam, ngamana wena ungawavula amehlo akho, uyibazele iindlebe imithandazo eyenziwa kule ndawo.

₁Ke kaloku uSolomon uthe akugqiba ukuthandaza, suka kwehla umlilo uphuma ezulwini, walidla elo dini litshiswayo kunye neminikelo, kananjalo ubukhazikhazi *bukaNdikhoyo bayizalisa indlu. ₂Ababingeleli zange babe saba nako ukungena apho endlwini kaNdikhoyo, kuba kaloku ubukhazikhazi bukaNdikhoyo babuyizalisile. ₃Xa ewonke ke amaSirayeli athe akuwubona umlilo usihla, kananjalo nobukhazikhazi bukaNdikhoyo buyigubungele indlu leyo, asuka ee guqaqa ejonge phantsi, enqula uNdikhoyo, embonga esithi:

₄Ke ukumkani ndawonye nabantu bonke benzela uNdikhoyo amadini. ₅Ukumkani uSolomon wenza idini ngeenkomo ezingamawaka angamashumi amabini anambini, kunye neegusha neebhokhwe ezilikhulu elinamashumi amabini amawaka. Ngaloo ndlela ke ukumkani kunye nabantu bonke bayivula beyinikela indlu kaThixo. ₆Ababingeleli kunye nabaLevi bema ngeendawo zabo, abaLevi bephethe izikhalisi zokudumisa uNdikhoyo, ezo ukumkani uDavide wayezenzele ukuba zikhaliswe xa bebulela besithi: “Izibele zakhe zimi ngonaphakade.” Ababingeleli babekhangelene nabaLevi, bona bekhalisa amaxilongo, amaSirayeli onke emi ngeenyawo.

₇USolomon wawungcwalisa umbindi wenkundla ephambi kwendlu kaNdikhoyo, waza khona apho wenza amadini atshiswayo, wanikela namanqatha angumnikelo wobudlelwane. Kaloku iqonga lobhedu awayelenzile lalingawalingene amadini atshiswayo, iminikelo yeenkozo, namadini enziwa ngamanqatha.

₈Ngelo thuba ke uSolomon walenza itheko iintsuku zasixhenxe, enamaSirayeli ephela, inyambalala yembizo, abantu abaphuma kwinkalo yeHamati kude kuthi xhaxhe ngomda waseJiputa. ₉Ngosuku lwesibhozo benza intlanganiso. Kaloku itheko lokunikezela iqonga lathatha iintsuku ezisixhenxe, kananjalo nombhiyozo waziintsuku ezisixhenxe. ₁₀Ke ngosuku lwamashumi amabini anantathu kwinyanga yesixhenxe wawandulula agoduka amaSirayeli onwabile enemihlali ngenxa yezinto ezintle uNdikhoyo awayezenzele uDavide noSolomon kunye nabantu bakhe amaSirayeli.

₁₁Ke uSolomon wathi akuba egqibile ukwakha indlu *kaNdikhoyo kunye nebhotwe lakhe, ekufezile nako konke awayezimisele ukukwenza endlwini kaNdikhoyo nakwelo bhotwe lakhe, ₁₂suka uNdikhoyo wabonakala kuye ebusuku, wathi:

“Ndiwuvile umthandazo wakho, ngoko ke le ndawo ndizinyulele yona ukuba ibe yindlu yam yamadini.

₁₃“Ngoko ke kuya kuthi xa ndithe ndawavala amazulu akwabikho mvula, okanye xa ndithe ndathumela iinkumbi zalivikiva eli lizwe, mhlawumbi xa ndithe ndathumela ubhubhani wesifo phakathi kwabantu bam, ₁₄ukuba abantu bam abo babizwa ngegama lam bathe bazithoba bathandaza bendikhunga befuna ubuso bam, bazilahla iindlela zabo ezikhohlakeleyo, ke mna ndiya kubaphulaphula ndibeve ndisezulwini, ndisixolele isono sabo, ndilinyange ilizwe labo. ₁₅Ewe, amehlo am aya kuhlala ejongile, neendlebe zam ndihlale ndizibazele imithandazo eyenziwa kule ndawo. ₁₆Le ndlu ndiyinyule ndayingcwalisa ukuze igama lam lihlale apha kuyo ngonaphakade. Intliziyo yam namehlo am ohla ekule ndawo.

₁₇“Ke wena ukuba uthe wahamba phambi kwam njengoyihlo uDavide, xa uthe wakwenza konke endikuyalela kona, wayigqala imimiselo nemithetho yam, ₁₈ndiya kubuzinzisa ubukhosi bakho njengoko ndandinqophisene noyihlo uDavide ngokuya ndandisithi: ‘Akusoze ungabi nayo indoda engumlawuli kwaSirayeli.’

₁₉“Kambe ke ukuba nithe nayijikela nayilahla imimiselo nemiyalelo endininike yona, naphamba naya kukhonza ninqula thixo bambi, ₂₀mna ndomncothula uSirayeli kweli lizwe lam ndamnika lona, nale ndlu ndiyingcwalisele igama lam ndoyilahla. Ewe, ndiya kuyenza undaba-mlonyeni, ibe sisigculelo kuzo zonke izizwe. ₂₁Ewe, ingade ibe ngoku inomtsalane le ndlu, kodwa bonke abadlula kuyo baya kumangaliseka, bathi: ‘Ngani ukuba uNdikhoyo enze into enje kweli lizwe nakule ndlu?’ ₂₂Bophendula ke abantu bathi: ‘Kungenxa yokuba aba bantu besuke bamfulathela uNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise, lowo wabakhupha eJiputa. Basuke baqhogana nathixo bambi, bababusa babanqula. Kungenxa yeso sizathu ke ebathobele esi sithwakumbe nje.’ ”

₁Ke kaloku ekupheleni kwamashumi amabini eminyaka, xesha elo walithathayo uSolomon ekwakheni kwakhe indlu kaNdikhoyo kunye nebhotwe lakhe, ₂uSolomon wazihlaziya iidolophu awayeziphiwe nguHiram, waza ke wamisa amaSirayeli kuzo. ₃USolomon waya kuhlasela iHamati-zobha wayithimba. ₄Kananjalo wayakha iTademore entlango phaya, ndawonye nazo zonke izixeko ezingoovimba awazimisa eHamati. ₅Wayihlaziya neBhete-horon ephezulu ndawonye naleyo isezantsi, wazenza iinqaba ezibiyelweyo ngeendonga ezinamasango nemivalo, ₆kwakunye neBhalati nazo zonke izixeko zakhe ezingoovimba, nezixeko zeenqwelo kunye nezamahashe akhe, nayo nantoni na awayakhayo eJerusalem naseLebhanon, ukanti nakuwo wonke ummandla awayewulawula.

₇Bekukho abantu ababesele kwiintlanga zamaHiti, ama-Amori, amaPerezi, amaHivi, namaJebhusi. Ezi ntlanga ke zazingengawo amaSirayeli, ₈koko zazisisizukulwana sazo esasingatshatyalaliswanga ngamaSirayeli. Ke uSolomon wazigaya zonke zalibutho labasebenzi abanyanzelwayo, njengoko kusenjalo unanamhla. ₉Kambe ke uSolomon lo amaSirayeli akawafakanga kwibutho labasebenza ngokunyanzelwa, koko wawagayela kumabutho omkhosi, aba ziingqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi nababhexeshi beenqwelo, nabakhweli-mahashe. ₁₀Amanye ke ayengamaphakathi aphambili kakumkani uSolomon, engamagosa angamakhulu amabini anamashumi amahlanu awayongamele amadoda.

₁₁Ke kaloku uSolomon wamkhupha umkakhe owayeyintombi yokumkani waseJiputa phaya kwisixeko sikaDavide, wamsa kwelo bhotwe wayemakhele lona, kuba wayesithi: “Umfazi wam akanakuhlala kwisixeko sikaDavide ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, kuba ifakwe khona ityesi kaNdikhoyo; ngoko ke siyindawo engcwele.”

₁₂Kwiqonga likaNdikhoyo awayelakhile phambi kwevaranda uSolomon wanikela amadini atshiswayo kuNdikhoyo, ₁₃loo nto eyenza ngokwemfuneko nommiselo wemini nganye, ngokomlomo kaMosis mayela *neMihla yoPhumlo, ukuthwasa kwenyanga, naloo matheko mathathu ayesenziwa minyaka le – itheko lezonka ezinganyuswanga, itheko lolibo, netheko lamaphempe. ₁₄Ngokommiselo kayise uDavide naye wazimisa izigaba zababingeleli ngokwemisebenzi yabo, waza ke bona abaLevi wabamisela ukuba babhexeshe iingoma, nokuba basebenzisane nababingeleli ngokweemfuneko zemini nganye. Kananjalo wamisela nabagcini-masango ngokwamasango lawo ahlukeneyo. Kaloku lowo yayingummiselo kaDavide umfo wakwaThixo. ₁₅Ewe, zange banxaxhe nakanye kwizimiso zikakumkani malunga nababingeleli nabaLevi nakuwuphi na umba, nditsho nangokunxulumene noovimba.

₁₆Wonke loo msebenzi kaSolomon wafezekiswa, kusukela mhla sabekwa isiseko sendlu kaNdikhoyo yada ke yagqitywa. Ewe, yagqitywa indlu kaNdikhoyo.

₁₇Ke uSolomon waya e-Eziyon-gebhere nase-Elati kunxweme lolwandle lwase-Edom. ₁₈Ke uHiram wamthumelela iinqanawa ziqhutywa ngoomatiloshe bakhe, izinto ezazilwazi ulwandle, ziphantsi kweengqwayi-ngqwayi zazo. Bona ke bahamba namagosa kaSolomon baya eOfire, baza babuya bethwele igolide ebunzima buziikhilogram ezilishumi elinesihlanu lamawaka, bazinika ukumkani uSolomon.

₁Uthe ke ukumkanikazi waseShebha akuluva udumo lukaSolomon waya eJerusalem ngeenjongo zokukhe amvavanye ngemibuzo enzima. Wafika enehlokondiba lamaphakathi kunye negquba leenkamela zithwele izinongo, nento eninzi yegolide, namatye axabisekileyo, waza waya kuSolomon wathetha naye ngazo zonke izinto ezazisengqondweni yakhe. ₂Ke uSolomon wayiphendula yonke imibuzo yakhe; ayikho into eyamxakayo kwiingcaciso awayezifuna. ₃Ukumkanikazi waseShebha akububona ubulumko bukaSolomon, ebona nelo bhotwe wayelakhile, ₄nokutya okusetafileni yakhe, naloo maphakathi akhe, nendlela ahlaliswe ngayo, nezicaka ziwunduzelisa ngeminweba, nabangcamli bevathe ezabo, naloo madini atshiswayo wayewenza endlwini *kaNdikhoyo, wasuka wee khumnqa.

₅Wathi kukumkani: “Ingxelo endiyive kwelakowethu mayela nempumelelo yakho ndawonye nobulumko bakho kuthe kanti yinyani. ₆Kambe ke zange ndiyikholelwe into ababeyithetha de ndazibonela ngala wam amehlo. Ngenene mayela nobukhulu nobulumko bakho andixelelwanga nesiqingatha esi; wena ukude lee kwingxelo endandiyifumene. ₇Anoyolo amadoda akwakho! Anenyhweba amaphakathi akho asoloko ekuququzelela esiva nobu bulumko bakho! ₈Makabongwe uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, yena ukholisekileyo nguwe waza wakubeka esihlalweni ukuze ulawule esikhundleni sakhe. UThixo wakho uyamthanda uSirayeli, yaye ke ufuna ukumxhasa naphakade, kungoko ke amise wena ukuba ube ngukumkani wamaSirayeli ukuze uzinzise umthetho nobulungisa.”

₉Ke ukumkanikazi waseShebha wanika uSolomon igolide ebunzima bungaphezu kweekhilogram ezingamawaka amane, kunye nentaphane yezinongo, namatye exabiso. Ezingako zona izinongo azizange zibekho njengezo zanikwa ukumkani uSolomon ngukumkanikazi waseShebha.

₁₀Ke amadoda kaHiram nalawo kaSolomon eza negolide eOfire, kunye nomthi wom-algumi namatye exabiso. ₁₁Ngaloo mthi wom-algumi ke ukumkani wenza amanqwanqwa okungena endlwini kaNdikhoyo nakwibhotwe lakhe, waza ngenxalenye yawo wenzela iimvumi iihapu nemirhubhe. Ezinjalo zazingazange zabakho kwaJuda.

₁₂Ukumkani uSolomon wanika ukumkanikazi waseShebha konke awayekunqwenela nawayekucela; wamnika nangaphezu kwezinto awayeze nazo kuye. Ke ukumkanikazi lowo ekunye namaphakathi akhe bajika babuyela kwelakowabo.

₁₃Minyaka le ukumkani uSolomon wayefumana igolide ebunzima bukwisithuba samashumi amabini anantathu amawaka eekhilogram, ₁₄ngaphandle kwengeniso eyayisiza nabarhwebi nabashishini. Kananjalo ookumkani belama-Arabhu nabalawuli belizwe elo baberhuma ngegolide nesiliva kuSolomon.

₁₅Ukumkani uSolomon wenza amakhulu amabini amakhaka amakhulu. Ikhaka ngalinye lalityatyekwe ngegolide ekhandiweyo ebunzima bukwisithuba seekhilogram ezisixhenxe. ₁₆Wenza namakhaka amancinci angamakhulu amathathu, ngalinye kuwo lityatyekwe ngegolide ekhandiweyo ebunzima bukwisithuba seekhilogram ezimbini. Ke ukumkani wawabeka kwibhotwe elibizwa ngokuba lihlathi laseLebhanon.

₁₇Ukumkani wenza isihlalo sobukhosi. Sasisikhulu, sihonjiswe ngamabamba eendlovu, sityatyekwe ngegolide ecwengileyo. ₁₈Esi sihlalo sasinamanqwanqwa okunyuka amathandathu kunye nendawo yokubeka iinyawo eyenziwe ngegolide ithe nca kwalapho kuwo. Macala eso sihlalo sasineendawo zokubeka iingalo, kananjalo kukho nemifanekiso emibini yeengonyama isiphahlile. ₁₉Kuloo manqwanqwa okunyuka amathandathu kwakumi iingonyama ezilishumi elinambini, zingambini ziphahle inqwanqwa ngalinye. Enjalo yona into yayingazange yenziwa nakubuphi na ubukumkani. ₂₀Yonke impahla yokusela kakumkani uSolomon yayiyeyegolide, kananjalo nayo yonke impahla yebhotwe elalibizwa ngokuba lihlathi laseLebhanon yayiyigolide ecikizekileyo. Kwakungekho nto eyayenziwe ngesiliva, kuba kaloku ngemihla kaSolomon isiliva yayingaxabisekanga. ₂₁Ukumkani wayeneqela leenqanawa zokurhweba ezaziqhutywa ngamadoda akwaHiram. Zazibuya kanye ngeminyaka emithathu, zifike zithwele igolide, isiliva, amabamba eendlovu, iinkawu, neemfene.

₂₂Ukumkani uSolomon wayebalasele ngobutyebi nangobulumko kunabo bonke ookumkani behlabathi. ₂₃Bonke ookumkani bamazwe babefuna amacebo kuSolomon ukuze beve ubulumko abunikwe nguThixo. ₂₄Minyaka le umntu ngamnye ozayo wayesiza nomrhumo – izinto zesiliva, ezegolide, iminweba, izixhobo, izinongo, amahashe, neemeyile.

₂₅USolomon wayenezitali zamahashe neenqwelo ezingamawaka amane, enamahashe angamawaka alishumi elinambini, awayewagcina kwizixeko zeenqwelo nakwakhe eJerusalem. ₂₆Xa bebonke ookumkani wayebalawula ukususela kumlambo iEfrati kuye kwelamaFilistiya, kuthi xhaxhe ngomda weJiputa. ₂₇Ke ukumkani lo isiliva wayenza yaxhaphaka eJerusalem oku kwamatye, umsedare wamninzi njengomthombe esihlanjeni. ₂₈USolomon amahashe wayewazuza eJiputa nakuwo onke amanye amazwe.

₂₉Ke zona ezinye iziganeko zolawulo lukaSolomon ukususela ekuqalekeni kude kuye esiphelweni, nâzo kwincwadi yeembali zomshumayeli uNatan, nakwiintshumayelo zika-Ahiya waseShilo, ngokunjalo nakwimibono kaYedi imboni echaza nangoJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati. ₃₀Ke kaloku yaba yiminyaka emashumi mane uSolomon elawula kwaSirayeli eJerusalem. ₃₁Waza ke waya kuphumla kooyise, wangcwatywa kwisixeko sikayise uDavide. URehobhowam unyana wakhe wangena esikhundleni sakhe wangukumkani.

₁Ke kaloku uRehobhowam waya eShekem, kuba onke amaSirayeli ayeye khona ukuze ammisele abe ngukumkani. ₂Uthe ke akuyiva loo nto uJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati, wasuka wabuya apho eJiputa – kaloku wayeseseJiputa oko wayebaleke ukumkani uSolomon. ₃Ewe, bamthumelela uJerobhowam, waza yena noSirayeli ephela baya kuRehobhowam, bathi kuye: ₄“Uyihlo wabeka idyokhwe enzima phezu kwethu. Kambe ke wena xa unokuwenza lula umthwalo ebesiwubekwe nguyihlo, ewe kanye idyokhwe enzima abeyibeke phezu kwethu, sokukhonza.”

₅Ke uRehobhowam wathi: “Ze nibuye nize apha kum emva kweentsuku ezintathu.” Bemka ke abantu abo.

₆Ke ukumkani uRehobhowam wathetha-thethana namadoda amakhulu awayebusa kuyise uSolomon ngexesha lokudla kwakhe ubomi, wathi: “Nicebisa ngelithini na nina ukuze ndibaphendule aba bantu?”

₇Ke wona aphendula athi: “Ukuba uthe wanobubele kwaba bantu, wazama ukubanelisa, wathetha kakuhle nabo, baya kusoloko bezizicaka zakho.”

₈Kambe ke uRehobhowam walikhaba eli cebiso alinikwa ngamadoda amakhulu, waza wathetha-thethana nabafana abaziintanga zakhe, ababembusa. ₉Wabuza kubo wathi: “Nindinika cebiso lini nina? Mandithini ukubaphendula aba bantu bathi: ‘Khawuyenze lula idyokhwe awayibeka phezu kwethu uyihlo’?”

₁₀Abo bafana baziintanga zakhe baphendula bathi: “Abantu bathi: ‘Uyihlo wayenza nzima idyokhwe yethu, kodwa wena yenze ibe lula kuthi.’ Ke wena baxelele uthi: ‘Ucikicane wam ungaphezu kwesinqe sikabawo. ₁₁Ukuba ubawo ubenithwalise idyokhwe enzima, mna ke ndiza kuyenza ibe nzima ngaphezulu. Ubawo ebenibetha ngoswazi, ke mna ndonikatsa ngemvubu.’ ”

₁₂Emva kweentsuku ezintathu ke uJerobhowam nabantu bonke babuyela kuRehobhowam ngokwaloo mlomo wakhe owawuthe: “Ze nibuye nize apha kum emva kweentsuku ezintathu.” ₁₃Ke ukumkani wabaphendula rhabaxa, walilahla icebiso lamadoda amakhulu, ₁₄wathatha elabafana, wathi: “Ubawo wayenza nzima idyokhwe yenu. Mna ke ndiza kuyenza ibe nzima ngaphezulu. Njengoko yena ubawo ebenibetha ngoswazi, ke mna ndiza kunikatsa ngemvubu.” ₁₅Ewe, ukumkani akabaphulaphulanga abantu, phofu ke ukuhamba kwezinto ngale ndlela kwakuvela kuThixo, efezekisa ilizwi awalithetha kuJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati ngomlomo ka-Ahiya waseShilo.

₁₆Ke uSirayeli ewonke uthe akubona ukuba ukumkani uyala ukuphulaphula, wamphendula wathi: