To The Word – Day 147

₁Ke uYoshafati unyana ka-Asa wangena esikhundleni sikayise, waza ke wawomeleza umkhosi wakhe ukuze angoyiswa nguSirayeli. ₂Wamisa umkhosi kuzo zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaJuda; wamisa amabutho kwaJuda nakwiidolophu zakwaEfrayim ezazithinjwe nguyise uAsa.

₃*UNdikhoyo ke waba naye uYoshafati kuba wayehamba ngeendlela uyise awayehamba ngazo kuqala. Wayengabuzisi kooBhali, ₄koko efunana noThixo kayise, ehamba ngemiyalelo yakhe yonke, engazilandeli izenzo zamaSirayeli. ₅UNdikhoyo wawuzinzisa phantsi kwakhe umbuso wakhe, waza wonke uJuda wazisa izipho kuye, waza ke wasisityebi, futhi wahlonelwa. ₆Wayezinikezele ngentliziyo yakhe yonke kwiindlela zikaNdikhoyo; ngaphezu koko ke wazitshitshisa iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo kunye neentsika zika-Ashera kwelakwaJuda.

₇Ke kaloku ngonyaka wesithathu wolawulo lwakhe uYoshafati wathumela la maphakathi ukuba aye kufundisa kwiidolophu zakwaJuda: uBhen-rhayili, uObhadiya, uZakariya, uNataniyeli, noMikaya. ₈Ayekhatshwa ngaba baLevi: uShemaya, uNetaniya, uZebhadiya, uAsaheli, uShemiramoti, uYehonatan, uAdoniya, uLabhiya, uTobhiya, noTobhi-adoniya, nababingeleli uElishama noYoram. ₉Babephethe incwadi yomthetho kaNdikhoyo, baza ke bafundisa kulo lonke elakwaJuda, bazijikeleza iidolophu zakhona, bafundisa abantu.

₁₀Ke kaloku uNdikhoyo watsho wahlonelwa zizo zonke izikumkani zemihlaba ejikeleze uJuda, ngaloo ndlela ke akwabikho sizwe sikathaza uYoshafati ngemfazwe. ₁₁AmaFilistiya athile arhuma ngezipho nangesiliva, aza ama-Arabhu amzisela imihlambi: amawaka asixhenxe anamakhulu asixhenxe eenkunzi zeegusha, namawaka asixhenxe anamakhulu asixhenxe eebhokhwe.

₁₂UYoshafati waya esomelela ngokomelela. Wakha iinqaba nezixeko ezingoovimba kwaJuda, ₁₃kananjalo umphako omninzi ewugcina kwiidolophu zakwaJuda. Wayenawo namajoni anamava, ewagcina eJerusalem. ₁₄Nalu uludwe lwawo ngokwemilibo:

₁₉La ke ngamadoda awayesebenzela ukumkani, ngaphandle kwalawo awayehlaliswa kwizixeko ezinqatyisiweyo kulo lonke elakwaJuda.

₁Ke kaloku uYoshafati wayemkhulu ngobutyebi nesidima, waza wazihlobanisa noAhabhi ngobulawu. ₂Emva kweminyaka ke waya kutyelela uAhabhi eSamariya. UAhabhi ke wamxhelela iigusha ezininzi, ngokunjalo neenkomo, esenzela yena neqela lakhe; kananjalo wamcenga ukuba ahlasele iRamoti yaseGiliyadi. ₃UAhabhi ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wacela uYoshafati wathi: “Uya kuhamba nam na, silwe neRamoti yaseGiliyadi?”

UYoshafati wathi: “Mna nawe sibanye; abantu bam ngabantu bakho. Siya kuba kunye kule mfazwe.” ₄Kodwa ke uYoshafati waleka ngelithi kukumkani wakwaSirayeli: “Khawuqale ubuzise *kuNdikhoyo.”

₅Ngoko ke ukumkani wakwaSirayeli waqokelela abashumayeli abangamakhulu amane, wabuza wathi: “Singaya kulwa na neRamoti yaseGiliyadi, okanye ndirhoxe?”

Bathi: “Yiya; uThixo uza kuyinikela esandleni sikakumkani.”

₆Kambe ke uYoshafati wathi: “Akusekho mshumayeli kaNdikhoyo na apha esinokubuza kuye?”

₇Ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wathi kuYoshafati: “Kusekho indoda enye esingabuzisa ngayo kuNdikhoyo, kodwa ke mna ndiyithiyile, kuba ayishumayeli okuhle ngokubhekisele kum, soloko ibububi bodwa. Igama layo nguMika, unyana kaImla.”

UYoshafati wathi: “Hayi bo, ukumkani makangathethi njalo.”

₈Ngoko ke ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wabiza elinye lamaphakathi akhe, wathi kulo: “Khawuleza uze noMika, unyana kaImla.”

₉Ke kaloku ukumkani wakwaSirayeli noYoshafati ukumkani wakwaJuda babevethe ezobukhosi, bengqendeve ezihlalweni zabo esandeni sokubhula esikufuphi nesango laseSamariya, nabashumayeli belapho phambi kwabo beshumayela. ₁₀Ke uZedekiya, unyana kaKenana, wayenze iimpondo ngentsimbi, waza ke wathi: “Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Ngezi mpondo ùya kuwahlaba uwatshabalalise ama-Aram.’ ” ₁₁Nabanye ke abashumayeli bashumayela kwaloo nto, besithi: “Phakathi! Yihlasele iRamoti yaseGiliyadi. Uza kuyoyisa, kuba uNdikhoyo uyinikele esandleni sikakumkani.”

₁₂Ke isigidimi esasiphuthume uMika sathi kuye: “Uyabona ke, abanye abashumayeli batsho ngazwi-nye kukumkani ukuthi uza kuphumelela. Nawe ke uze ungaphikisani nabo, koko uthethe okuhle.”

₁₃UMika ke yena wathi: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo, ndiza kuthetha kuphela loo nto andixelela yona uThixo wam!”

₁₄Akuba efikile ke, ukumkani wathi kuye: “Mika, singaya kulwa na neRamoti yaseGiliyadi, okanye ndirhoxe?”

UMika wathi: “Phakathi! Yihlasele; uya kuyoyisa, kuba baza kunikelwa esandleni senu!”

₁₅Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Koda kube kangaphi ndikufungisa ndisithi musa ukundixelela nto yimbi ngaphandle kwenyaniso egameni likaNdikhoyo?”

₁₆UMika wathi: “Ewe, uSirayeli ndimbone ethe saa ezintabeni, engathi ziigusha ezingenamalusi; waza uNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Aba bantu abanankosi, ngoko ke elowo nalowo makagoduke ngoxolo.’ ”

₁₇Ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wathi kuYoshafati: “Bendingatshongo na kuwe ukuba lo mfo akaze ashumayele into entle ngam, koko zezimbi zodwa!”

₁₈Ke uMika waqhuba wathi: “Ngoko ke liveni ilizwi likaNdikhoyo. UNdikhoyo ndimbone ehleli esihlalweni sakhe, umkhosi wonke wasezulwini umi ngasekunene nangasekhohlo kwakhe. ₁₉Waza ke yena wathi: ‘Yaz' ukuba ngubani na oya kulukuhla uAhabhi aze ahlasele iRamoti yaseGiliyadi, khon' ukuze afele khona?’ Omnye uthethe ngolu hlobo, waza ke omnye wathetha ngoluya. ₂₀Ekugqibeleni ke kuvele moya uthile, wema phambi koNdikhoyo, wathi: ‘Ndiya kumlukuhla mna.’ ₂₁‘Uya kumlukuhla kanjani?’ ubuzile uNdikhoyo. Umoya lowo uthe: ‘Ndophuma ndiye ndibe ngumoya wobuxoki emlonyeni wabo bonke abashumayeli.’ Waza ke uNdikhoyo wathi: ‘Hamba ke, wenjenjalo; uya kuphumelela ekumlukuhleni.’ ₂₂Ke ngoku uNdikhoyo ufake umoya wobuxoki emilonyeni yabo bonke aba bashumayeli bakho. Ewe, uNdikhoyo ukumisele intlekele.”

₂₃Wasuka ke uZedekiya unyana kaKenana waya kuMika, wafika wamqhwaba ngempama, wathi: “Ugqithe phi na kum loo moya kaNdikhoyo ukuba aye kuthetha kuwe?”

₂₄UMika wathi: “Loo nto uya kuyiqonda mhla waya kuzimela kwigumbi elingaphakathi.”

₂₅Ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wathi: “Mthatheni uMika lo, nimse kuAmon usibonda wesixeko noYowashe unyana kakumkani, ₂₆nithi: ‘Utsho ukumkani ukuthi: Valelani lo mfo entolongweni, angatyi nto ngaphandle komxheshwana wesonka namanzi, ndide ndibuye ndiphilile.’ ”

₂₇Ke uMika wathi: “Ukuba ngaba ungabuya uphilile, woba uNdikhoyo engathethanga ngomlomo wam.” Waza ke wongezelela ngelithi: “Wagqaleni la mazwi xa ninonke, bantundini!”

₂₈Ngoko ke ukumkani wakwaSirayeli noYoshafati ukumkani wakwaJuda benyuka baya eRamoti yaseGiliyadi. ₂₉Ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wathetha noYoshafati, wathi: “Mna ndiza kungena kweli dabi ndinxibe ngendlela eya kundenza ndingaqondakali ukuba ndingukumkani, kodwa ke wena nxiba ezobukhosi.” Ke ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wazenza mntu wumbi, waza ke waya apho edabini.

₃₀Ke ukumkani wama-Aram waziyalela iingqwayi-ngqwayi zeenqwelo zakhe wathi: “Ze ningalwi naye nawuphi na omnye umntu, nokuba ngomncinci, nokuba ngomkhulu, yilwani nokumkani wakwaSirayeli yedwa.”

₃₁Zithe ke iingqwayi-ngqwayi zeenqwelo zakubona uYoshafati, zacinga zathi: “Nguye lo ukumkani wakwaSirayeli.” Ngoko ke zaphethuka zafunzela kuye, kodwa uYoshafati wasuka wakhala, waza ke uNdikhoyo wamhlangula. Ewe, uThixo wenza ukuba zirhoxe zimke ngakuye; ₃₂kaloku zathi iingqwayi-ngqwayi ezo zakuqonda ukuba akanguye ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, zayeka ukumsukela.

₃₃Kambe ke joni lithile lasuka lajolisa nje ngokungakhathali ngotolo, suka lachana ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, utolo lwangena ekudibaneni kwezikhuselo awayezinxibile. Ukumkani wathetha nomqhubi wenqwelo yakhe, wathi: “Bandingxwelerhile; yijike inqwelo, siphume edabini.” ₃₄Idabi laqhuba ke yonke loo mini, wabe yena ukumkani wakwaSirayeli emi ebambelele enqwelweni yakhe, ejongise ngakuma-Aram kwada kwahlwa. Kambe ke ukutshona kwelanga wafa.

₁Ke kaloku uYoshafati ukumkani wakwaJuda wabuyela ebhotwe eJerusalem esindile, ₂waza ke wahlangatyezwa yimboni uYehu unyana kaHanani, wathi kukumkani: “Ngaba kulungile ukuba usize isikhohlakali, ubathande abo bamthiyileyo *uNdikhoyo? Ngenxa yesi senzo ke ingqumbo kaNdikhoyo iphezu kwakho. ₃Kambe ke kukho le ndawana ikuthethelelayo, le yokuba wazisusa iintsika zika-Ashera kweli lizwe, waza wena wazimisela ukufunana noThixo.”

₄UYoshafati wahlala eJerusalem, wabuya wahamba-hamba phakathi kwabantu, athi eseBheshebha, abe ekweleentaba zakwaEfrayim. Abantu wababuyisela *kuNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise. ₅Wamisela abagwebi kuzo zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaJuda. ₆Wathi kubo: “Zigqaleni ngenyameko izinto enizenzayo. Kaloku ezo zigqibo nizenzayo anizenzeli abantu, koko nizenza egameni likaNdikhoyo. Yena ke uhlala enani nanini na nisiwisa isigwebo. ₇Ngoko ke mhloneleni uNdikhoyo. Ze nigwebe ngenyameko, kuba yena uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu akayenzi into engekho mthethweni; akanagobe, yaye ke akanyobeki.”

₈NaseJerusalem ke uYoshafati wamisela abanye abaLevi nababingeleli neentloko zezindlu zakwaSirayeli, ukuze baphuhlise umthetho kaNdikhoyo, balamle iimbambano. Ke babehlala eJerusalem. ₉Wabayalela ngolu hlobo: “Sebenzani ngentembeko nangomxhelo wenu wonke, nimhlonela uNdikhoyo. ₁₀Kumbandela ngamnye oza kuni uphuma kumawenu ahlala ezixekweni (nokuba ngumcimbi wokuphalala kwegazi, okanye izinto eziphathelele emthethweni, imiyalelo, imimiselo, okanye imiqathango ethile) nina balumkiseni bangamoni uNdikhoyo, kungenjalo ingqumbo yakhe yoba phezu kwenu namawenu lawo. Yenzani loo nto ke ukuze ningoni.

₁₁“Umbingeleli omkhulu uAmariya nguye oya kunongamela kwimicimbi ephathelele kuNdikhoyo; kanti ke yena uZebhadiya unyana kaIshmayeli wonongamela kweziphathelele kukumkani. Ke bona abaLevi boba ngabaququzeleli benu. Yomelelani nizimisele! Ngamana ke uNdikhoyo wangakubo bonke abenza okulungileyo.”

₁Ke kaloku emva koku amaMowabhi nama-Amon ekunye namaMawun aya kulwa noYoshafati.

₂Abathile ke beza kuxelela uYoshafati bathi: “Nantso inyambalala yomkhosi ophuma e-Edom isiza kukuhlasela, ingaphaya ngaphesheya kolwandle. Seyichophele ukuhlasela iphaya eHazezon-tamare.” (YiEngedi ke leyo.)

₃UYoshafati ke wothuka, wazimisela ukufuna uncedo *kuNdikhoyo, wamisela inzila kuJuda ewonke. ₄AbakwaJuda ke baqokelelana ukuza kufuna uncedo kuNdikhoyo; ewe, beza bephuma kuzo zonke iidolophu zakwaJuda befuna uNdikhoyo.

₅Ke uYoshafati waphakama apho kwelo bandla likaJuda kunye neJerusalem endlwini kaNdikhoyo phambi kwaloo nkundla intsha, ₆waza wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Thixo woobawo, andithi na kaloku unguThixo osezulwini? Nguwe olawula zonke izikumkani zezizwe. Amandla nokomelela kusesandleni sakho; akukho mntu unokumelana nawe. ₇Ke kaloku, wena Thixo wethu, wabadudula wabakhupha abemi beli lizwe, amaSirayeli ebukele, waza lona walinikela ukuba libe lelesizukulwana sika-Abraham isihlobo sakho ngonaphakade. ₈Bema kulo ke, baza kulo bakha indawo engcwele egameni lakho, besithi: ₉‘Sothi sakufikelwa sisithwakumbe, noba sisibetho sekrele, ubhubhani, noba yindlala, thina sime phambi kwakho kule ndlu ibizwa ngegama lakho, sikhale kuwe embandezelweni yethu, ke wena usiphulaphule usihlangule.’

₁₀“Ngoko ke ngoku nanga ama-Amon, amaMowabhi nâbo bentaba iSeyire, ummandla lowo wena ungavumanga ukuba awuhlasele uSirayeli ukuphuma kwakhe eJiputa, waza ke uSirayeli wabacezela akabatshabalalisa. ₁₁Khawubone ke indlela abasibuyekeza ngayo ngokuza kusigxotha kwisabelo owasinika ukuze sibe lilifa lethu. ₁₂Thixo wethu, khawubohlwaye. Thina ngokunokwethu asinawo amandla okujongana nale nyambalala yomkhosi osihlaselayo. Ewe, asazi nemasikwenze, koko amehlo ethu akhangele kuwe.”

₁₃Onke amadoda akwaJuda, nabafazi, nabantwana, neentsana, bema phambi koNdikhoyo.

₁₄Ke uMoya kaNdikhoyo wafikela uYaziyeli unyana kaZakariya, kaBhenaya, kaYehiyeli, kaMataniya umLevi oyinzala ka-Asafu, emi njalo apho ebandleni.

₁₅Wathi: “Phulaphulani, kumkani uYoshafati nani bemi bakwaJuda naseJerusalem. UNdikhoyo uthi kuni: ‘Sanukoyika; ze ningatyhafi ngenxa yale nyambalala yomkhosi. Kaloku imfazwe le asiyoyenu, yekaThixo. ₁₆Ngomso phumani niye kubo. Ke bona boba beqabela kwinkalo yaseZizi; nina nobafumana ekupheleni kwengxingwa kwintlango kaJeruweli. ₁₇Asinini abaya kulilwa eli dabi. Yimani ngeendawo zenu, niqingqe nje, nibukele uNdikhoyo enihlangula, ndlundini kaJuda nani bemi baseJerusalem. Ze ningoyiki okanye nityhafe. Ngomso phumani nijongane nabo, uNdikhoyo uya kuba nani.’ ”

₁₈UYoshafati waguqa, ubuso ebujongise emhlabeni, nabantu bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalem bawa phantsi, banqula uNdikhoyo. ₁₉Ke abaLevi abathile, abangamaKohati namaKora, basuka bema ngeenyawo badanduluka kanobom bebonga bedumisa uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli.

₂₀Bavuka kusasa ngengomso, baphuma bajonga kwintlango yaseTekowa. Xa baphumayo ke uYoshafati wema wathi: “Ndiphulaphuleni, maJuda nani bemi baseJerusalem! Kholosani ngoNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, yaye ke yena uya kunixhasa. Ukuba niyabathemba abashumayeli bakhe niya kuphumelela.” ₂₁Akuba ethetha-thethene nabantu uYoshafati wamisela iimvumi zokuculela uNdikhoyo, ukuze zimbonge ngenxa yobunewu-newu bobungcwele bakhe. Zawukhokela ke umkhosi lowo, zimemelela zisithi:

₂₂Bathe bakucula bedumisa, suka uNdikhoyo wawurhwaqelisa umkhosi wama-Amon namaMowabhi, nâbo bentaba iSeyire ababehlasela uJuda; kubo yaba ngathi bangqingiwe, baza ke boyiswa. ₂₃Kaloku ama-Amon namaMowabhi asuka avukelana namadoda entaba iSeyire, awangenela awatshabalalisa. Akuba ewagwintile amadoda aseSeyire, ajika abulalana kwaodwa.

₂₄Athe ke amaJuda akufika kwindawo evelele intlango leyo, akuwujonga loo mkhosi mkhulu kunene, kuphela abona izidumbu zithe gangalala emhlabeni, kungekho nomnye osindileyo. ₂₅Ngoko ke uYoshafati namadoda akhe basuka bachola-chola amaxhoba: impahla eyayikwezo zidumbu, nezinye izinto ezixabisekileyo – intabalala ababengenako ukuyiphatha yonke. Amaxhoba lawo ayemaninzi kangangokuba bathatha iintsuku ezintathu ukuwaqokelela. ₂₆Ngosuku lwesine ke bahlanganisana kwintili yeBheraka, baza ke apho bamdumisa uNdikhoyo. Kungoko ke loo ndawo kwathiwa yintili yeBheraka unanamhlanje.

₂₇AbakwaJuda naseJerusalem ke bonke bakhokelwa nguYoshafati, bajika bevuya baya eJerusalem. Kaloku uNdikhoyo wabatsho banemincili bavuya phezu kweentshaba zabo. ₂₈EJerusalem bangena bajonga endlwini kaNdikhoyo bekhalisa iihapu, imirhubhe, namaxilongo.

₂₉Ithe ke yakuvakala imbali yokulwa kukaNdikhoyo neentshaba zikaSirayeli, suka zonke izizwe nezikumkani zamoyika zamhlonela uThixo. ₃₀Umbuso kaYoshafati ke waxhamla uxolo, kuba kaloku uThixo wakhe wayemnike ukuphumla macal' onke.

₃₁Ngoko ke uYoshafati wamlawula uJuda. Ukuqala kwakhe ukulawula wayeneminyaka emashumi mathathu anantlanu, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka emashumi mabini anantlanu. Unina yayinguAzubha intombi kaShili. ₃₂Yena wahamba ngeendlela zikayise uAsa, akanxaxha kuzo; ewe, yena wayesenza okulungileyo emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo. ₃₃Kambe ke zona iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo zange zitshitshiswe; abantu abazange bade babambelele ngomxhelo wabo kuThixo wooyise.

₃₄Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaYoshafati, ukusukela ekuqalekeni kude kuye esiphelweni, nâzo encwadini yeembali zookumkani bakwaSirayeli, ngcombolo leyo ke ilandwa nguYehu unyana kaHanani.

₃₅Kamva ke ukumkani wakwaJuda uYoshafati wakha unxibelelwano noAhaziya ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, umfo owayesaziwa ngenkohlakalo. ₃₆Wavumelana naye ukuba bakhe igqiza leenqanawa zokurhweba, abathe bazakha e-Eziyon-gebhere. ₃₇Ke uEliyezere unyana kaDodavu waseMaresha washumayela ngoYoshafati wathi: “Ngenxa yokuba unxibelelene noAhaziya, uNdikhoyo uza kuyitshabalalisa loo nto niyenzileyo.” Iinqanawa ezo ke zasuka zatshona, azabi nako ukulithatha elo phulo lorhwebo.

₁Ke uYoshafati waya kuphumla kooyise, waza ke wangcwatywa phakathi kwabo kwisixeko sikaDavide. Esikhundleni sakhe kwangena uYehoram unyana wakhe.

₂Abantakwabo-Yehoram, oonyana bakaYoshafati, yayingooAzariya, uYehiyeli, uZakariya, uAzariyahu, iMikayeli, noShefatiya. Bonke abo ke ngoonyana bakaYoshafati ukumkani wakwaSirayeli. ₃Uyise wabanika intaphane yezipho: isiliva, igolide, nezinto ezixabisekileyo, kananjalo nezixeko ezinqatyisiweyo kwelakwaJuda. Kambe ke wona umbuso wawunika uYehoram, kuba kaloku wayengunyana wamazibulo. ₄Akuba ezinzile embusweni kayise uYehoram wababulala bonke abantakwabo ndawonye namatshawe athile akwaSirayeli.

₅Ukuqala kwakhe ukulawula uYehoram wayeneminyaka emashumi mathathu anambini, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka yasibhozo. ₆Wahamba ekhondweni lookumkani bakwaSirayeli, wenza njengendlu ka-Ahabhi. Kaloku wayethathe intombi yakhe. Wênza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo. ₇Kambe ke, ngenxa yomnqophiso kaNdikhoyo nendlu kaDavide, uNdikhoyo akavumanga ukuyitshabalalisa indlu kaDavide. Kaloku wayemthembise ngelithi womnika isibane ngoonyana bakhe yonke imihla.

₈Ke ngexesha likaYehoram iEdom yamvukela uJuda, yazimisela owayo ukumkani. ₉Ngoko ke uYehoram waya khona namaphakathi akhe, nazo zonke iinqwelo zakhe. Ke amaEdom amrhawula kunye nezo njengele zeenqwelo, kambe ke yena wavuka ngobusuku waphuncuka. ₁₀Unanamhlanje ke iEdom isavukelene noJuda.

Kwangelo xesha neLibhena yenza uvukelo, kuba kaloku uYehoram wayemlahlile uNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise, ₁₁kananjalo wakha iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo kwiinduli zakwaJuda, abantu baseJerusalem wabafaka kumkhwa wobuhenyu. Ewe, wamlahlekisa uJuda.

₁₂UYehoram wafumana ileta evela *kumshumayeli uEliya isithi: “UNdikhoyo uThixo kayihlo uDavide uthi: ‘Wena akuhambanga ngeendlela zikayihlo uYoshafati okanye uAsa ukumkani wakwaJuda, ₁₃koko usuke wahamba ngeendlela zookumkani bakwaSirayeli. UJuda nabantu baseJerusalem ubakhokelele kumkhwa wobuhenyu, njengoko yenzayo indlu ka-Ahabhi. Kananjalo ubabulele abantakwenu, usapho lwendlu kayihlo, amadoda ebengcono kunawe. ₁₄Ngoku ke uNdikhoyo uza kubetha kubantu bakho, oonyana bakho, abafazi bakho, nayo yonke into eyeyakho; ewe, uya kutsho ngesithonga esinzima. ₁₅Wena kanye uza kuhliwa luzenge-zenge lwesifo sezibilini; ewe, eso sifo siya kuzikhupha izibilini zakho.’ ”

₁₆Ke uNdikhoyo uYehoram wamxhokonxela amaFilistiya nama-Arabhu awayehlala ngakumaKushe. ₁₇Bamhlasela uJuda, batyhoboza, baza bazithatha zonke izinto ezixabisekileyo ezafumaneka ebhotwe, ndawonye nabafazi bakakumkani noonyana. Akusalanga namnye unyana ngaphandle kwephelo lakhe uAhaziya.

₁₈Kamva ke uNdikhoyo wabetha uYehoram ngesifo sezibilini esinganyangekiyo. ₁₉Ethubeni, ekupheleni konyaka wesibini, izibilini zakhe zaphuma ngenxa yeso sifo, waza wafela entlungwini emangalisayo. Abantu bakhe ke abazange bamzilele ngomlilo njengoko babenzile kooyise.

₂₀Ekungeneni kwakhe embusweni uYehoram wayeneminyaka emashumi mathathu anambini, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka esibhozo. Ekuswelekeni kwakhe akukho mntu waba buhlungu, waza ke wangcwatyelwa kwisixeko sikaDavide, kodwa ke kungekho kumangcwaba ookumkani.