To The Word – Day 146

₁Akufika eJerusalem uRehobhowam waqokelela indlu kaJuda nekaBhenjamin – amawaka alikhulu elinamashumi asibhozo ewonke amadoda omkhosi – ukuze alwe noSirayeli alubuyisele ulawulo kuRehobhowam.

₂Kambe ke kwafika eli lizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuShemaya umfo wakwaThixo lisithi: ₃“Thetha noRehobhowam unyana kaSolomon ukumkani wakwaJuda namaSirayeli onke kwaJuda nakwaBhenjamin, uthi: ₄‘Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Musani ukuya kulwa namawenu. Godukani nonke ngabanye, kuba le nto yenziwe ndim.’ ” Ngoko ke bawathobela amazwi kaNdikhoyo, babuya ekuhlaseleni uJerobhowam.

₅URehobhowam wema eJerusalem, waza wazihlaziya wazakha iidolophu ezithile ukukhusela uJuda. ₆Wahlaziya iBhetelehem, iEtam, iTekowa, ₇iBhete-zure, iSoko, iAdulam, ₈iGati, iMeresha, iZifi, ₉iAdorayim, iLakishe, iAzeka, ₁₀iZoram, iAyalon, neHebron. Ezi yayiziidolophu ezinqatyisiweyo kwaJuda nakwaBhenjamin. ₁₁Wazomeleza iinqaba zazo, wafaka iingqwayi-ngqwayi kuzo nesixhaso sokutya, amafutha omnquma, newayini. ₁₂Kuzo zonke ezi zixeko wabeka amakhaka nemikhonto, wazitsho zomelela kunene. Ngoko ke uJuda noBhenjamin yaba ngabakhe.

₁₃Ke kaloku ababingeleli nabaLevi bazo zonke izithili bawelela ngakuye. ₁₄AbaLevi bayishiya imihlaba yabo ngokunjalo namadlelo abo, baya kwaJuda naseJerusalem, kuba uJerobhowam noonyana bakhe babubukula ububingeleli babo ngokumiselwa *nguNdikhoyo. ₁₅Wasuka wamisela abakhe ababingeleli ukuze basebenze kwiindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo nakwimifanekiso yebhokhwe neyethole awayeyenzile. ₁₆Kuzo zonke izindlu zikaSirayeli abantu ababezimisele ukulandela uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli bemka nabaLevi, baya eJerusalem, ukuze banikele amadini kuNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise. ₁₇Bawomeleza umbuso wakwaJuda, bamxhasa uRehobhowam unyana kaSolomon iminyaka yamithathu, behamba ngeendlela ababehamba ngazo besaphila uDavide noSolomon.

₁₈URehobhowam wathatha uMahalati intombi yonyana kaDavide uJerimoti kunye noAbhihayili intombi yonyana kaJese uEliyabhi. ₁₉Wamzalela la madodana: uJewushe, uShemariya, noZahama. ₂₀Waphinda wathatha uMaka intombi ka-Abhasalom owazala uAbhiya, uAtayi, uZiza, noShelomiti. ₂₁Ke uRehobhowam wayemthanda gqitha uMahaka lo uyintombi ka-Abhasalom, kuye ebalasele kunabo bonke abafazi bakhe ndawonye namaqadi. Wayenabafazi abalishumi elinesibhozo, amaqadi wona engamashumi amathandathu. Oonyana bakhe babengamashumi amabini anesibhozo, iintombi zingamashumi amathandathu.

₂₂Ke kaloku uRehobhowam wamisela uAbhiya wayeyona nkulu koonyana bakhe ukuze abe ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe xa engasekho yena. ₂₃URehobhowam wenza ubuchule, oonyana bakhe wabasarhaza kuzo zonke izithili zakwaJuda nakwaBhenjamin, kuzo zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo. Wabaxhasa ngokwaneleyo, wabathathela abafazi abaninzi.

₁Ke kaloku uRehobhowam akuba ewuzinzisile umbuso wakhe selomelele, wasuka yena noSirayeli ephela bawulahla umthetho *kaNdikhoyo. ₂Ngenxa yokunganyaniseki kwabo *kuNdikhoyo, uShishaki ukumkani waseJiputa wayihlasela iJerusalem xa ukumkani eRehobhowam akunyaka wesihlanu. ₃Umkhosi wakhe wawuneshumi elinambini lamakhulu eenqwelo, namawaka angamashumi amathandathu abakhweli-mahashe, kunye nenyambalala yamajoni angamaLibhiya namaSuki namaKushe awayephuma nawo eJiputa. ₄Wazithimba iidolophu ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaJuda, wada waya kuthi xhaxhe eJerusalem.

₅Ngelo thuba ke kwafika umshumayeli uShemaya kuRehobhowam neenkokheli zakwaJuda ezaziqokelelene eJerusalem ngokoyika uShishaki, wathetha nabo wathi: “UNdikhoyo uthi: ‘Kaloku nindilahlile, ngoko ke ngoku nam ndiza kuniyekela kuShishaki.’ ”

₆Ke kaloku iinkokheli zakwaSirayeli kunye nokumkani zazithoba zathi: “UNdikhoyo wenza ngobulungisa!”

₇Ke uNdikhoyo, akubona ukuba bayazithoba, wathumela eli lizwi kuShemaya wathi: “Ngenxa yokuba bezithobile andisayi kubatshabalalisa, koko ndokhawuleza ndibahlangule. Andisayi kuwuphokozela eJerusalem ngoShishaki umsindo wam. ₈Kambe ke baza kuba phantsi kwakhe, ukuze bawufunde umahluko phakathi kokukhonza mna nokukhonza ookumkani bezinye izizwe.”

₉Ke kaloku uShishaki ukumkani waseJiputa wayihlasela iJerusalem, waza wabuthimba ubutyebi obabusendlwini kaNdikhoyo nobo babukoovimba basebhotwe. Wabutha konke nje kunye naloo makhaka egolide ayenziwe nguSolomon. ₁₀Ngoko ke ukumkani uRehobhowam wenza amakhaka obhedu endaweni yawo, waza wawanikezela ukuba agadwe ngabalindi ababelinda isango lasebhotwe. ₁₁Wayesithi ukumkani xa aya endlwini kaNdikhoyo abalindi bahambe naye bephethe loo makhaka, aze ke akumka bawabuyisele endlwini yabo.

₁₂Ngenxa yokuzithoba kwakhe ke uRehobhowam umsindo kaNdikhoyo wetha phezu kwakhe, akamtshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo. Ewe, kwakusekho noko okuhle kwaJuda.

₁₃Ke ukumkani uRehobhowam wazinza eJerusalem, waza wawuqhuba wahamba kakuhle umbuso wakhe. Ukungena kwakhe embusweni wayeneminyaka emashumi mane ananye, waza ke walawula iminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe eJerusalem, isixeko esachongwayo nguNdikhoyo kuzo zonke izizwe zakwaSirayeli, apho walimisa khona igama lakhe. Unina yayinguNama umAmonikazi. ₁₄Wênza okubi, kuba akazange azimisele ukumlandela ngomxhelo wakhe uNdikhoyo.

₁₅Ke ezinye zeziganeko zikaRehobhowam, ukususela ekuqaleni kuye kutsho esiphelweni, nâzo kwincwadi yeembali zomshumayeli uShemaya nencwadi yeembali zemboni uIdo, umshumayeli oyichazileyo imilibo yokuzalwa. Yaba soloko iluzenge-zenge lwemfazwe phakathi koRehobhowam noJerobhowam. ₁₆URehobhowam waya kuphumla kooyise, waza wangcwatyelwa kwisixeko sikaDavide. Esikhundleni sakhe kwangena unyana wakhe uAbhiya.

₁Ke kaloku ngonyaka weshumi elinesibhozo wolawulo lukaJerobhowam, uAbhiya waba ngukumkani wakwaJuda, ₂waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka emithathu. Unina yayinguMahaka intombi kaUriyeli waseGibheya.

Yayisoloko iyimfazwe phakathi koAbhiya noJerobhowam. ₃UAbhiya walwa noJerobhowam, uAbhiya enomkhosi wamawaka angamakhulu amane amajoni angoompondo-zihlanjiwe. Ke uJerobhowam wangena kuloo mfazwe enomkhosi ongamakhulu asibhozo amawaka amajoni aziimbalasane.

₄UAbhiya wema kwintaba iZemarayim kwelo leentaba lakwaEfrayim, waza wathi: “Phulaphulani, Jerobhowam nani nonke maSirayeli! ₅Ngaba anazi na ukuba *uNdikhoyo uThixo wakwaSirayeli umbuso wakwaSirayeli wawunikela kwindlu kaDavide nesizukulwana sayo ngomnqophiso wetyuwa oya kuma ngonaphakade? ₆Kambe ke yena uJerobhowam unyana kaNebhati owayeliphakathi likaSolomon unyana kaDavide wasuka wavukelana nenkosi yakhe. ₇Iqedlana leendlavini lasuka langakuye, lachasana noRehobhowam unyana kaSolomon, bamvuyelela kuba eselula, engekabi namava, futhi engekomeleli ukuba abe nokuchasana naye.

₈“Nangoku ke nisazimisele ukuwuchasa umbuso kaNdikhoyo osesandleni sikaDavide nesizukulwana sakhe. Ngenene ningumkhosi omkhulu, futhi ninaloo mathole enziwe ngegolide enawanikwa nguJerobhowam ukuze abe *ngoothixo benu. ₉Andithi na kaloku nabagxotha ababingeleli bakaNdikhoyo abangoonyana baka-Aron kunye nabaLevi, naza nina nazimisela abenu ababingeleli njengezinye izizwe? Kuni nabani na ozihlambulula ngenkunzi yenkomo eselula, kunye nesixhenxe seenkunzi zeegusha, lowo ke uba ngumbingeleli wento engenguye nothixo.

₁₀“Ke thina uNdikhoyo nguThixo wethu, asimlahlanga. Ababingeleli abalungiselela uNdikhoyo ngoonyana baka-Aron bencediswa ngabaLevi. ₁₁Ngazo zonke iintsasa neenjikalanga banikela amadini atshiswayo, benzele uNdikhoyo isiqhumiso esivumba liyolileyo. Babeka isonka kwitafile ehlambulukileyo, balumeke izibane ezikwisiphatho segolide ngazo zonke iinjikalanga. Thina siyazigqala izinto ezifunwa nguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu. Ke nina nisuke namfulathela. ₁₂Niyabona, uThixo unathi; nguye osikhokelayo. Nangoku ababingeleli bakhe baza kunihlabel' umkhosi ngamaxilongo abo. Ewe, maSirayeli, musani ukulwa noNdikhoyo onguThixo wooyihlo, kuba ke soze niphumelele.”

₁₃Ke kaloku uJerobhowam wathumela inxenye yomkhosi wakhe, warhawula uJuda ngasemva, kodwa yena wayengaphambili. ₁₄UJuda ke wathi akujonga ngemva wafumanisa ukuba uhlaselwa ngaphambili nangesemva. Waza ke wakhala kuNdikhoyo, ababingeleli bona bakhalisa amaxilongo. ₁₅Ke wona amadoda akwaJuda ahlab' umkhosi. Yathi yakuvakala intlaba-mkhosi, uThixo wamvuthulula uJerobhowam namaSirayeli onke phambi koAbhiya noJuda. ₁₆AmaSirayeli ke aswantsula phambi koJuda; uThixo wamhlangula uJuda esandleni sawo. ₁₇UAbhiya namadoda akhe bawabetha amaSirayeli atsho anelahleko enkulu, kwawa amawaka angamakhulu amahlanu eengxwelerha kuloo majoni aziimbalasane akwaSirayeli. ₁₈Ewe, uSirayeli woyiswa ngeso sihlandlo, uJuda yena wabuya noloyiso, kuba kaloku wayekholose ngoNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise.

₁₉UAbhiya wamsukelisa uJerobhowam, waza wathimba ezi dolophu: iBhetele, iYeshana ne-Efron namaphandle ayingqingileyo. ₂₀UJerobhowam ke akaphindanga abe namandla ngethuba lonke lika-Abhiya. UNdikhoyo wambetha, waza ke wafa.

₂₁Kodwa ke uAbhiya waya esomelela ngokomelela. Wathatha abafazi abalishumi elinesine, waza wazala oonyana abangamashumi amabini anambini neentombi ezilishumi elinesithandathu.

₂₂Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo luka-Abhiya, imisebenzi neentetho zakhe, nâzo kwincwadi yeembali zomshumayeli uIdo.

₁UAbhiya ke waya kuphumla kooyise, waza wangcwatywa kwisixeko sikaDavide. UAsa unyana wakhe wangena esikhundleni sakhe. Ngemihla yakhe ilizwe lazola iminyaka yalishumi.

₂UAsa yena wênza okulungileyo emehlweni kaNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe. ₃Wazitshabalalisa iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo ndawonye namaqonga asemzini; wawacumza amatye anqulwayo, wazigawula iintsika zika-Ashera. ₄UJuda wamyalela ukuba alandele uNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise, ayithobele imithetho nemiyalelo yakhe. ₅Wazitshitshisa iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo namaqonga eziqhumiso kuzo zonke iidolophu zakwaJuda, laza ke ilizwe laxhamla inzolo ngexesha lakhe. ₆Ngelo thuba lenzolo ke wazihlaziya wazakha izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zelakwaJuda. UNdikhoyo ke wamthi jize ngenzolo nokuphumla, akwabakho sizwe silwa naye ngaloo minyaka.

₇Wathetha noJuda wathi: “Masizomeleze ezi dolophu, sizibiyele zibe neenqaba namasango nemivalo. Lo mhlaba ngowethu, kuba simfunile uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu; ewe, simzondelele ukumfuna, waza ke wasinika ukuphumla macal' onke.” Ngoko ke bakha, baza banenkqubela.

₈UAsa lo ke wayenomkhosi ongamawaka angamakhulu amathathu amadoda akwaJuda axhoba ngemikhonto namakhaka amakhulu; awakwaBhenjamin wona angamawaka angamakhulu amabini anamashumi asibhozo, iinto ezixhoba ngeentolo namakhaka amancinci; onke ke lawo ingoompondo-zihlanjiwe kwezemfazwe.

₉UmKushe onguZera wabahlasela enomkhosi ongamawaka-waka, enamakhulu amathathu eenqwelo. Wahamba ke wema ngeMaresha. ₁₀UAsa waphuma wamhlangabeza, baza ke bamisa amahlelo abo okulwa kwintili yaseZefata ngaseMaresha.

₁₁UAsa ke wabiza kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe, wathi: “Ndikhoyo, akekho onjengawe omncedayo ongenamandla angabhuqwa ngonamandla. Ngoko ke sincede, Ndikhoyo, Thixo wethu. Kaloku thina sithembele ngawe; naku ke ngoku egameni lakho sijongene nalo mkhosi ungaka. Ndikhoyo, unguThixo wethu; musa ukuvumela umntu amelane nawe.”

₁₂UNdikhoyo ke wawabetha amaKushe lawo, oyiswa nguAsa noJuda. AmaKushe abaleka, ₁₃waza uAsa nomkhosi wakhe wawasukela wada wee xhaxhe ngeGerare. Kwafa inyambalala yamaKushe, ngangokude angabi sabi nako ukuphinda enze ibuyambo; ewe, uNdikhoyo nomkhosi wakhe wawatshabalalisa. Ke amadoda akwaJuda athatha into eninzi yamaxhoba. ₁₄Azitshabalalisa zonke iidolophana ezijikeleze iGerare; kaloku bonke babengcangcazela besoyika uNdikhoyo. Bazitshabalalisa zonke ezo dolophana, abe ke amaxhoba emaninzi gqitha apho. ₁₅Kananjalo bazihlasela nezigqubo zabelusi, bathimba imihlambi yeegusha neebhokhwe neenkamela; baza ke bagoduka baya eJerusalem.

₁Ke kaloku uMoya kaThixo wafikela uAzariya unyana kaOdede, ₂waza wanduluka waya kuAsa, wafika wathi kuye: “Khanindiphulaphule, Asa, nani nonke maJuda namaBhenjamin! Niyabona, *uNdikhoyo uba nani xa nani ningakuye. Xa nizondelela ukumfuna nomfumana; kodwa ke xa nithe namshiya, naye wonishiya. ₃Yaba lithuba elide amaSirayeli engenaye uThixo wokwenene, engenaye nambingeleli wakufundisa; ewe, engenawo namthetho. ₄Kuloo nkxwaleko ke abuyela kuNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, amfuna, aza amfumana. ₅Ngaloo mihla kwakungumngcipheko ukuhamba-hamba, kuba kaloku abemi belizwe babephithizela. ₆Isizwe sasitshatyalaliswa sesinye, isixeko sibhuqwa sesinye, kuba uThixo wayebaphithizelisa ngeendidi zonke zeenkxwaleko. ₇Kambe ke nina yomelelani ninganikezeli, kuba umsebenzi wenu woba nomvuzo.”

₈Suka ke uAsa wakhuthazeka akuyiva intshumayelo yomshumayeli unyana kaOdede. Wayitshitshisa imifanekiso engamasikizi kuwo wonke umhlaba wakwaJuda nowakwaBhenjamin, nakwiidolophu awazithimba kweleentaba lakwaEfrayim. Walilungisa iqonga likaNdikhoyo elaliphambi kwevaranda yendlu kaNdikhoyo. ₉Waza ke wamqokelela wonke uJuda noBhenjamin kwakunye namaEfrayim, amaManase, namaSimon awayeze kuma phakathi kwabo; kaloku into eninzi kubo yayimshiyile uSirayeli, yeza kuAsa, yakuqonda ukuba uNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe ungakuye.

₁₀Ewe, bahlanganisana eJerusalem ngenyanga yesithathu kunyaka weshumi elinesihlanu wolawulo luka-Asa. ₁₁Ngelo thuba ke benzela uNdikhoyo amadini ngamakhulu asixhenxe eenkomo namawaka asixhenxe eegusha neebhokhwe; mfuyo leyo ke yayingamaxhoba ababuya nawo. ₁₂Bazibophelela kumnqophiso wokufuna uNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise ngomxhelo wabo wonke nangomphefumlo wonke. ₁₃Ke bona bonke ababengazimiselanga ukumfuna uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli bamiselwa ukubulawa, omdala nomncinci, oyindoda nongumfazi. ₁₄Bafunga phambi koNdikhoyo, baduma batsho ngentswahla namaxilongo nezigodlo. ₁₅Wonke uJuda wasithakazelela eso sifungo kuba wayesenze ngomxhelo wakhe wonke. UThixo bamfuna ngolangazelelo, baza ke bamfumana. Ngoko ke uNdikhoyo wabaphumza ngeenxa zonke.

₁₆Ukumkani uAsa wamkhiqa unina-khulu uMaka kwisikhundla sokuba yikumkanikazi; kaloku yena wayenze isikizi eliyintsika ka-Ashera. UAsa wayigawula loo ntsika wayinqunqa, waza wayitshisa kwintili yeKedron. ₁₇Nangona engazitshitshisanga iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo kwaSirayeli, noko uAsa wayenqula uNdikhoyo ngomxhelo wakhe wonke bonke ubomi bakhe. ₁₈Wayizisa endlwini kaThixo isiliva negolide nenye impahla yonqulo, leyo yena noyise babeyenze umnikelo.

₁₉Akuphindanga kubekho mfazwe, yada yangunyaka wamashumi amathathu anantlanu wolawulo luka-Asa.

₁Ke kaloku kwathi kunyaka wamashumi amathathu anantandathu wolawulo luka-Asa kwanyuka uBhayesha ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, weza kuhlasela uJuda, wafika wayingqinga iRama, wavala akwabi nakungena nakuphuma mntu kummandla ka-Asa ukumkani wakwaJuda.

₂Ke uAsa wayithatha isiliva negolide eyayikoovimba bendlu *kaNdikhoyo nakwabo bebhotwe lakhe, waza wayithumela kuBhenadadi ukumkani wama-Aram owayelawula eDamasko. ₃Wathi kuye: “Makubekho umnqophiso phakathi kwam nawe, nanjengokuba wawukhona phakathi kukabawo noyihlo. Nâso isipho endikunika sona: igolide nesiliva. Wuqhawule ke umnqophiso ophakathi kwakho noBhayesha ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, khon' ukuze andiyeke.”

₄UBhenadadi ke wavumelana nokumkani uAsa, waza wathumela iingqwayi-ngqwayi zomkhosi wakhe, zaya kuhlasela iidolophu zakwaSirayeli, bayoyisa i-Iyon, nesixeko sakwaDan, neAbhele-mayim, nazo zonke izixeko ezingoovimba zakwaNafetali. ₅Akuyiva le nto uBhayesha wayeka ukwakha engqinga iRama, wawushiya loo msebenzi. ₆Ke ukumkani uAsa weza nawo onke amadoda akwaJuda, baza bawafudusa eRama amatye kunye nemithi eyayisetyenziswa khona nguBhayesha. Ngezo zinto ke wakha iGebha neMizpa.

₇Ngelo thuba ke imboni uHanani yeza kukumkani uAsa wakwaJuda, yathi kuye: “Ngenxa yokuba usuke wakholosa ngokumkani wama-Aram endaweni yokukholosa ngoNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, ngoko ke umkhosi wama-Aram uza kuphuncuka esandleni sakho. ₈Andithi na amaKushe namaLibhiya ayengumkhosi onamandla onenyambalala yeenqwelo nabakhweli-mahashe? Kanti ke wathi ngokukholosa ngoNdikhoyo, yena wawunikela esandleni sakho loo mkhosi. ₉Kaloku wona amehlo kaNdikhoyo akulo lonke ihlabathi, yaye ke uyabomeleza abo babambelele kuye ngokupheleleyo. Ewe, wenze into yobuyatha; ngoko ke ukusukela ngoku uza kuntyumpa-ntyumpeka emfazweni.”

₁₀Kambe ke uAsa wasuka wakhathazeka yiloo nto yayithethwe yimboni kuye, ngangokuba ade ayibambe ayivalele entolongweni. Kananjalo ke uAsa wasuka ngoku wabangcungcuthekisa ngengcinezelo abanye abantu.

₁₁Ke kaloku iziganeko zolawulo luka-Asa, ukusuka ekuqalekeni kuye esiphelweni, nâzo zibhalwe encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaJuda nabakwaSirayeli. ₁₂Ngonyaka wamashumi amathathu anethoba wolawulo lwakhe uAsa wangenelwa sisifo seenyawo. Nangona wayebambekile, naxa yayingasekuko, akazange afune uncedo kuNdikhoyo, koko wabhenela kumagqirha. ₁₃Ke kaloku kunyaka wamashumi amane ananye wasweleka uAsa, waya kuphumla kooyise. ₁₄Wangcwatywa kwingcwaba awayezenzele lona kwisixeko sikaDavide. Umzimba wakhe bawusebenza ngobulawu, loo nto beyenza ngobugcisa, bamqhola ngeendidi ngeendidi zeziqholo; baza ke bamzilela ngomlilo omkhulu.