To The Word – Day 148

₁Abantu baseJerusalem bamisela uAhaziya unyana wamaphelo kaYehoram wangukumkani esikhundleni sakhe. Kaloku abahlaseli ababekunye nama-Arabhu bababulala bonke oonyana bakhe abadala. Ngoko ke waqalisa ukulawula uAhaziya unyana kaYehoram ukumkani wakwaJuda.

₂UAhaziya waqalisa ukulawula xa eneminyaka emashumi mabini anambini, waza walawula eJerusalem unyaka wamnye. Unina yayinguAtaliya umzukulwana kaOmri.

₃Naye ke wahamba ekhondweni lendlu ka-Ahabhi, ekubeni wayekhuthazwa ngunina ekwenzeni ububi. ₄Wênza okubi emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo kwanjengendlu ka-Ahabhi. Kaloku akuba engasekho uyise kweza abendlu ka-Ahabhi baba ngabacebisi bakhe, nto leyo yaluphuthisayo ulawulo lwakhe. ₅Walandela icebo labo, waya emfazweni noYoram unyana ka-Ahazi ukumkani wakwaSirayeli xa wayesilwa noHazayeli ukumkani wama-Aram kwiRamoti yaseGiliyadi. Ama-Aram amngxwelerha uYoram, ₆waza ke yena waya eYizereli khon' ukuze achache kuloo manxeba wayewafumene eRamoti kwelo dabi noHazayeli ukumkani wakwa-Aram.

Ke uAhaziya unyana kaYehoram ukumkani wakwaJuda wehla waya eYizereli esiya kubona uYoram unyana ka-Ahabhi njengoko wayenzakele.

₇Ukuwa kuka-Ahaziya ekutyeleleni kwakhe uYoram kwaphuma kuThixo. Akufika uAhaziya wahamba noYoram baya kubonana noYehu unyana kaNimshi owayethanjiswe nguNdikhoyo ukuze atshabalalise indlu ka-Ahabhi. ₈Xa uYehu wayewisa isigwebo kwindlu ka-Ahabhi, wafumana namatshawe akwaJuda nezizalwana zoonyana baka-Ahaziya ezazisonga uAhaziya, nazo ke wazibulala. ₉Waza ke wamzingela uAhaziya owafunyanwa ngamahlakani akhe ezimele eSamariya. Bamzisa kuYehu, wabulawa. Bamngcwaba ke, kuba babesithi: “Kaloku yena ungunyana kaYoshafati, umfo owayemfuna ngomxhelo wakhe wonke uNdikhoyo.” Ngoko ke endlwini ka-Ahaziya akusalanga mntu unako ukubuphatha ubukumkani.

₁₀UAtaliya unina ka-Ahaziya, akubona ukuba unyana wakhe ufile, wasuka wayitshabalalisa yonke indlu yekomkhulu lakwaJuda. ₁₁Ke yena uYoshebha, intombi kakumkani uYehoram, wesuka weba uYowashe unyana ka-Ahaziya, wemka naye apho phakathi kweenkosana ezaziza kubulawa, wamfihla neneni yakhe kwigumbi lokulala. Kaloku uYoshebha intombi kakumkani uYehoram owayengumfazi wombingeleli uJoyada wayengudade boAhaziya; yiyo ke loo nto wasuka wamfihla umntwana lowo ukuze angabulawa nguAtaliya. ₁₂Wahlala ezinyelisiwe ke endlwini kaThixo iminyaka yamithandathu, xesha elo kwakusalawula uAtaliya apho kwaJuda.

₁Ke kaloku ngonyaka wesixhenxe uJoyada wabona ukuba lifikile ixesha. Wenza umnqophiso neengqwayi-ngqwayi zamaqela alikhulu: uAzariya unyana kaYehoram, uIshamayeli unyana kaYohanan, uAzariya unyana kaObhedi, uMaseya unyana ka-Adaya, noElishafati unyana kaZikri. ₂Balityhutyha elakwaJuda, baqokelela abaLevi neentloko zazo zonke izindlu zamaSirayeli kuzo zonke iidolophu. Bakufika ke eJerusalem ₃lonke elo bandla lenza umnqophiso nokumkani endlwini kaThixo.

Wathi kubo uJoyada: “Unyana kakumkani uza kulawula ngokomlomo *kaNdikhoyo mayela nesizukulwana sikaDavide. ₄Ngoko yenzani le nto: isinye esithathwini sababingeleli nabaLevi abaza kuba semsebenzini *ngoMhla woPhumlo masilinde iminyango; ₅esinye isinye esithathwini apha kuni masibe sebhotwe; size ke esinye sibe seSangweni lesiSeko; aze ke onke amanye amadoda abe sezinkundleni zendlu kaNdikhoyo. ₆Makungabikho mntu ungenayo endlwini kaNdikhoyo ngaphandle kwababingeleli nabaLevi abasebenzayo. Bona bangangena, kuba bahlambulukile, kambe ke bonke abanye mabalinde ngokwezinto abamiselwe zona nguNdikhoyo. ₇AbaLevi bona mabaphahle ukumkani, indoda nganye iphethe isixhobo sayo ngesandla. Nabani na ongenayo endlwini kaThixo makabulawe. Hlalani nikufuphi nokumkani naphi na apho aya khona.”

₈AbaLevi ke ndawonye nawo onke amadoda akwaJuda benza njengoko babeyalelwe ngumbingeleli uJoyada. Ngamnye kubo wemka neqela lakhe, abo babesebenza *ngoMhla woPhumlo nabo babephumile emsebenzini – kaloku umbingeleli uJoyada zange akhulule nalinye iqela. ₉Ke iingqwayi-ngqwayi zamaqela wazinika imikhonto namakhaka amakhulu namancinci, lawo awayengawokumkani uDavide, egcinwe endlwini kaThixo. ₁₀Onke amadoda wawamisa aphahla ukumkani exhobile, bemi ngaseqongeni lendlu kaThixo, ukusukela kwicala elingasezantsi ukuya kwelingasentla apho endlwini kaThixo.

₁₁Ke uJoyada noonyana bakhe baphuma naye unyana kakumkani, baza bamthwesa isithsaba, bamnika umnqophiso obhaliweyo, bebhengeza ukuba ungukumkani. Bamthambisa, bakhwaza bathi: “Phil' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani!”

₁₂Akuva loo ntswahla yayisenziwa ngabantu bebaleka bevuyisana nokumkani, uAtaliya waya kubo endlwini kaNdikhoyo. ₁₃Akukhangela wabona, tyhini, nanko ukumkani emi ngakwintsika yakhe esesangweni. Amaphakathi nabakhalisi-maxilongo babephahle ukumkani, baye bonke abemi belizwe benemihlali bekhalisa amaxilongo, nezinye iimvumi ezinezikhalisi zikhokela ngemibongo. Ke uAtaliya wasuka wazikrazula iingubo zakhe, wadanduluka wathi: “Uvukelo! Uvukelo!”

₁₄Umbingeleli uJoyada wathuma iingqwayi-ngqwayi zamabutho ezo zazongamele amabutho omkhosi, wathi kuzo: “Mthatheni nimkhuphe phakathi kwamabutho; nabani na omlandelayo nimbulale ngekrele.” Kaloku umbingeleli wayesithi: “Sanukumbulalela endlwini kaNdikhoyo.” ₁₅Ngoko ke bambamba xa efika kwiSango lamaHashe eyadini yakomkhulu, bambulalela apho.

₁₆Ke uJoyada wenza umnqophiso wokuba yena nabantu kunye nokumkani baya kuba ngabantu bakaNdikhoyo. ₁₇Bonke ke abantu baya endlwini yokunqula uBhali, bafika bayidiliza. Bawantlekeza amaqonga ndawonye nemifanekiso, baza bambulala umbingeleli kaBhali uMatan apho phambi kwamaqonga.

₁₈UJoyada wamisela ababingeleli ukuze bavelele indlu kaNdikhoyo, abo ke ngabo yayingabaLevi ababemiselwe ukusebenza endlwini kaThixo nguDavide, ukuze banikele amadini kaNdikhoyo atshiswayo njengoko kubhaliwe encwadini kaMosis. Loo nto babeyenza ngemivuyo bememelela ngokomlomo kaDavide. ₁₉Wamisela nabagcini-masango emasangweni endlu kaNdikhoyo, ukuze kungangeni namnye kubantu abangahlambulukanga.

₂₀Waqokelela iingqwayi-ngqwayi zamabutho alikhulu, izikhulu nabalawuli babantu, nabo bonke abemi belizwe, wamthatha nokumkani endlwini kaThixo, baya kungena ngesango elingasentla apho ebhotwe, ukumkani bamhlalisa kwisihlalo sobukhosi, ₂₁baza ke bonke abantu bavuya. Isixeko eso ke saba nokuzola, kuba uAtaliya ebulewe ngekrele.

₁Ukungena kwakhe ebukhosini uYowashe wayeneminyaka esixhenxe, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka engamashumi amane. Unina yayinguZibheya intombi yaseBheshebha. ₂Ngalo lonke ixesha lombingeleli uJoyada uYowashe wenza okuhle emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo. ₃UJoyada wamfunela abafazi ababini, waza ke wanoonyana neentombi.

₄Emva koko ke uYowashe wazimisela ukuyihlaziya indlu kaNdikhoyo. ₅Wabiza ababingeleli nabaLevi, wathi kubo: “Ngenani kwiidolophu zakwaJuda, niqokelele imali engumrhumo wonyaka kuwo onke amaSirayeli, ukuze kulungiswe indlu yoThixo wenu. Loo nto ke yenzeni ngoku.” Kodwa ke abaLevi abayenzanga kwangoko loo nto.

₆Ngoko ke ukumkani wabiza umbingeleli omkhulu uJoyada, wathi kuye: “Ngani ukuba ungatsho abaLevi bezise imali engumrhumo owamiswa nguMosis isicaka *sikaNdikhoyo waza wabethelelwa libandla likaSirayeli – mrhumo lowo abaLevi bebefanele ukuwuqokelela kumaJuda naseJerusalem – ingumrhumo wentente engqinela ubukho bukaNdikhoyo.”

₇Ke amahlakani alaa mfazi ukhohlakeleyo uAtaliya aqhekeza indlu kaThixo, aza athatha izitya ezingcwele zendlu kaNdikhoyo, azisebenzisa kunqulo lukaBhali.

₈Ngomyalelo kakumkani kwenziwa ityesana, yaza yabekwa ngaphandle kwesango lendlu kaNdikhoyo. ₉Wonke uJuda neJerusalem wakhutshelwa isaziso sokuba makezise kuNdikhoyo loo mrhumo wamiswa nguMosis isicaka sikaThixo, ewumisela uSirayeli entlango. ₁₀Onke amaphakathi kwakunye nabantu bonke, bakuthakazelela ukuzisa loo mrhumo, baza ke bamana bewufaka apho kuloo tyesana yada yazala. ₁₁Loo tyesana yayisithi yakuziswa ngabaLevi kumaphakathi kakumkani aze abone ukuba sekukho isixa semali, unobhala wasebhotwe negosa lombingeleli omkhulu babeyithatha bayikhuphe loo mali, baze bayiphindisele kwasendaweni yayo ityesana leyo. Le nto ke babeyenza njalo-njalo, baza ke ngaloo ndlela baqokelela imali eninzi. ₁₂Ukumkani noJoyada bayinikezela kuloo madoda ayesenza umsebenzi wendlu kaNdikhoyo. Baqesha iingcibi nabachweli ukuze zihlaziye indlu kaNdikhoyo, kananjalo bafuna nabasebenzi bentsimbi nobhedu ukuze balungise indlu kaNdikhoyo.

₁₃Loo madoda ayongamele umsebenzi lowo ayekhuthele, waza ke umsebenzi wokuhlaziya waqhubela phambili phantsi kwawo. Indlu kaThixo baphinda bayakha, bayibuyisela kwimo yayo yantlandlolo bayixhasa. ₁₄Bakuyiphetha ke, imali eseleyo bayisa kukumkani noJoyada; kwaza ke ngayo kwenziwa izinto zokusetyenziswa endlwini kaNdikhoyo: izixhobo zokusebenza, ezamadini atshiswayo, imicephe, nezinye izinto zegolide nezesiliva. Ngethuba lobomi bukaJoyada amadini atshiswayo ayenikezelwa engaphezi endlwini kaNdikhoyo.

₁₅Ke uJoyada wayeseleneminyaka, ekhulile emdala, enekhulu elinamashumi amathathu eminyaka ukufa kwakhe. ₁₆Wangcwatywa phakathi kookumkani kwisixeko sikaDavide, kuba kaloku wayenze okulungileyo kuThixo nendlu yakhe kwaSirayeli.

₁₇Emva kokusweleka kukaJoyada amaphakathi akwaJuda eza kubusa kukumkani, waza ke wawaphulaphula. ₁₈Bayilahla indlu *kaNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise, banqula iintsika zika-Ashera nemifanekiso. Ngenxa yobutyala bawo ke ingqumbo kaThixo yaba phezu koJuda neJerusalem. ₁₉UNdikhoyo wathumela *abashumayeli apho ebantwini ukuze babashumayeze baguqukele kuye, kodwa abazange baguquke naxa bebakhalimela.

₂₀Ke uMoya kaThixo wamfikela uZakariya unyana wombingeleli uJoyada. Wema phambi kwabantu, wathi: “UThixo uthi: ‘Kungani na ukuba ningayithobeli imiyalelo kaNdikhoyo? Soze nibe nto! Ngenxa yokuba nimlahlile uNdikhoyo, naye ke unilahlile.’ ”

₂₁Kambe ke basuka bamenzela iyelenqe, baza ngokomyalelo kakumkani bamgibisela ngamatye wafela enkundleni yendlu kaNdikhoyo. ₂₂Ukumkani uYowashe wabulibala ubuntu awayebenzelwe nguyise kaZakariya, wasuka wambulala unyana wakhe. Ke xa afayo uZakariya wathi: “Ngamana uNdikhoyo wakugqala ngesi senzo, akubuyekeze.”

₂₃Ngentlakohlaza yaloo nyaka umkhosi wama-Aram wahlasela uYowashe, wamngenela uJuda neJerusalem, wazibulala zonke iinkokheli zabantu. Amaxhoba onke bawathumela kukumkani wabo eDamasko. ₂₄Nangona loo mkhosi wama-Aram wawungemkhulu ngamanani kodwa uNdikhoyo wanikezela esandleni sawo umkhosi omkhulu kunawo. UJuda wamlahla uNdikhoyo uThixo wooyise, yaza ke ingqumbo yawa phezu koYowashe. ₂₅Ukurhoxa kwawo ama-Aram lawo amshiya emngxwelerhile uYowashe. Amaphakathi akhe amenzela iyelenqe, aza ambulala ngenxa yokuba wabulala unyana wombingeleli uJoyada; ewe, bambulalela emandlalweni wakhe. Wafa ke, waza wangcwatyelwa kwisixeko sikaDavide, phofu akafihlwa phakathi kookumkani.

₂₆Abamenzela iyelenqe nguZabhadi ozalwa nguShimeyati umAmonikazi, noYozabhadi ozalwa nguShimriti umMowabhikazi. ₂₇Ke ingcombolo yoonyana bakhe kwaneentshumayelo ezingaye, nenkcazo mayela nokuhlaziywa kwendlu kaThixo, nâzo encwadini yamanqaku eembali zookumkani. Esikhundleni sakhe kwangena unyana wakhe uAmaziya.

₁UAmaziya waba ngukumkani eneminyaka emashumi mabini anantlanu, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka emashumi mabini anethoba. Unina yayinguYowadan intombi yaseJerusalem. ₂Yena wenza okulungileyo emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo, noxa wayengaphelelisanga. ₃Akuziqonda ukuba uzinzile embusweni wawabulala amaphakathi awayebulele uyise. ₄Kambe ke zange ababulale oonyana bawo, koko wenza njengoko kubhaliweyo emthethweni kwincwadi kaMosis, apho uNdikhoyo ayalela ngokuthi: “Ooyise abayi kubulawa ngenxa yabantwana, kanti nabantwana abayi kubulawa ngenxa yooyise, koko ulowo nalowo uya kufela izono zakhe.”

₅UAmaziya wawaqokelela onke amaJuda, waza wawaba ngokwemizi, ewenza amabutho aliwaka nalikhulu – nditsho uJuda noBhenjamin. Wabagaya abaminyaka imashumi mabini nangaphezulu, waza wazuza amakhulu amathathu amawaka amadoda asemgangathweni wokungenela umkhosi, lawo anako ukusebenzisa umkhonto nekhaka. ₆Kananjalo waqesha amajoni akwaSirayeli alikhulu lamawaka, ngesiliva ebunzima buziikhilogram ezingamawaka amathathu anamakhulu amane.

₇Kodwa ke kwafika indoda yakwaThixo kuye, yathi: “Hayi, kumkani, la mabutho akwaSirayeli sukuwadibanisa namabutho akho, kuba kaloku *uNdikhoyo umchasile uSirayeli naye nabani na ongowakwaEfrayim. ₈Noba ungade ukhaliphe kangakanani na emfazweni, uThixo uya kukuyekela ngolo tshaba; kaloku uThixo nguye onegunya lokunceda nelokuyekela.”

₉UAmaziya ke wathi kuloo mfo wakwaThixo: “Kothekani kodwa ngaloo mawaka amakhulu mathathu anamakhulu amane esiliva endiyihlawule ngaloo majoni akwaSirayeli?”

Umfo wakwaThixo ke waphendula wathi: “UNdikhoyo unako ukukunika nangaphezulu.”

₁₀Ngoko ke uAmaziya wawarhoxisa loo mabutho wayewathathe kwaEfrayim, waza wawagodusa. Kambe ke agoduka evutha ngumsindo enganelisekanga seso senzo sikaJuda.

₁₁Ke uAmaziya wabuya womelezeka wawukhokelela kwiNtili yeTyuwa umkhosi wakhe, apho ke wageqa amadoda aseSeyire alishumi lamawaka. ₁₂Kananjalo umkhosi kaJuda wathimba amadoda alishumi lamawaka, wawathatha loo mabanjwa wawasa kwincopho yeliwa, waza wawajulela ezantsi antlekeka afa onke.

₁₃Ke wona laa mabutho wawagodusayo uAmaziya, asuka ahamba enqoloba iidolophu zakwaJuda ukususela eSamariya kuye eBhete-horon. Abulala abantu abangamawaka amathathu, aza athimba intaphane yamaxhoba.

₁₄UAmaziya ukubuya kwakhe evela kubulala amaEdom wabuya nazo izithixo zabantu abo baseSeyire. Wazimisela ezo zithixo zaba zezakhe, waqubuda kuzo, wazenzela namadini atshiswayo. ₁₅Ke ingqumbo kaNdikhoyo yavutha ngakuAmaziya. Waza ke wamthumelela umshumayeli owathi kuye: “Ngani ukuba uthembele kwaba thixo bolu hlanga, bengabanga nako nje ukubahlangula abantu babo esandleni sakho?”

₁₆Esathetha njalo, ukumkani wathi kuye: “Umiswe ngubani ukuba ucebise ukumkani wena? Suk' apha, thula! Kungenjalo ke ndakukubulala!”

Umshumayeli ke wayekelela, kodwa waleka ngelithi: “Kambe ke ndiyazi ukuba uNdikhoyo uzimisele ukukutshabalalisa ngenxa yokuba uyenzile le nto, akwaliphulaphula necebiso lam.”

₁₇Ke uAmaziya ukumkani wakwaJuda uthe akuba ethetha-thethene nabacebisi bakhe wasuka wathumela ecel' umngeni kuYehowashe unyana kaYowahazi, kaYehu ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, esithi: “Yiza sihlangane!”

₁₈Kambe ke uYehowashe ukumkani wakwaSirayeli waphendula uAmaziya ukumkani wakwaJuda wathi: “Umthana wameva waseLebhanon wathumela udaba kumsedare waseLebhanon usithi: ‘Yendisela intombi yakho kunyana wam!’ Kusenjalo kwavela irhamncwa apho eLebhanon, laza lawunyhasha ngeenyawo loo mthana wameva. ₁₉Ngenxa yokuba usithi uwoyisile amaEdom, ngoku ukhukhumele unekratshi. Kambe ke mna ndithi: ‘Hlal' ekhaya! Ngani ukuba uziqhwayele inkathazo eya kukukhahlela phantsi wena ndawonye noJuda?’ ”

₂₀Kambe ke uAmaziya zange aphulaphule, kuba kaloku uThixo wayeselezimisele ukumnikezela kuYehowashe, kuba esuke wathembela kwizithixo zamaEdom. ₂₁Ngoko ke uYehowashe ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wamhlasela. Yena noAmaziya ukumkani wakwaJuda baqubisana eBhete-shemeshe kwelakwaJuda. ₂₂UJuda ke wavuthululwa nguSirayeli, yaza ke yayileyo indoda yabalekela kowayo. ₂₃UYehowashe ukumkani wakwaSirayeli wambamba uAmaziya ukumkani wakwaJuda unyana kaYowashe, ka-Ahaziya, eBhete-shemeshe. Ke uYehowashe wamsa eJerusalem, wafika waludiliza udonga lweJerusalem, ukusukela kwiSango lakwaEfrayim ukuya kwiSango leKona, umgama okwisithuba seemitha ezimakhulu mabini. ₂₄Wayithimba yonke igolide nesiliva, nayo yonke impahla awayifumana endlwini kaThixo, zinto ezo zazigcinwe nguObhedi-edom, ndawonye nobutyebi basebhotwe namabanjwa lawo, waza ke wabuyela eSamariya.

₂₅Ke uAmaziya unyana kaYowashe ukumkani wakwaJuda wahlala iminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu emva kokufa kukaYehowashe unyana kaYowahazi ukumkani wakwaSirayeli. ₂₆Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo luka-Amaziya, ukusukela ekuqalekeni kuye esiphelweni, nâzo encwadini yookumkani bakwaJuda nabakwaSirayeli. ₂₇UAmaziya ke wathi akugwilika ekulandeleni *uNdikhoyo asuka amenzela iyelenqe amawabo eJerusalem, waza ke wabalekela eLakishe. Phofu ke nalapho amthumelela amadoda, aza ambulalela khona. ₂₈Ke kaloku wathwalwa ngamahashe wabuyiswa, waza wangcwatywa phakathi kooyise kwisixeko sikaJuda.

₁Ke onke amaJuda athatha u-Uziya ambeka wangukumkani esikhundleni sikayise uAmaziya. U-Uziya lo ke wayeneminyaka elishumi elinesithandathu ezelwe. ₂Nguye owayakhayo ngokutsha iElati, waza wayibuyisela kuJuda emva kokusweleka kuka-Amaziya.

₃U-Uziya wangena ebukhosini eneshumi elinesithandathu leminyaka, waza ke walawula eJerusalem iminyaka engamashumi amahlanu anambini. Unina yayinguYekoliya intombi yaseJerusalem. ₄U-Uziya wenza okuhle emehlweni *kaNdikhoyo, njengoko wenzayo noyise uAmaziya. ₅Wayemfuna ngenzondelelo uThixo ngemihla kaZakariya owayemluleka ngokuhlonela uThixo. Ngalo lonke ithuba emlandela uNdikhoyo, uThixo wamthi jize ngempumelelo.

₆U-Uziya walwa namaFilistiya, waza wazidiliza iindonga zaseGati nezaseYabhene nezaseAshdode. Kamva ke wakha iidolophu ngaseAshdode nakwezinye iindawo apho kwelamaFilistiya. ₇UThixo wamnceda ngakumaFilistiya nama-Arabhu awayehlala eGur-bhali, ndawonye namaMewun. ₈Ama-Amon ayekhuphela u-Uziya imirhumo; ewe, udumo lwakhe lwanabela nakwimida yeJiputa. Kaloku wayenamandla.

₉U-Uziya wakha iinqaba eJerusalem kwiSango leKona, nakwiSango leNtili, nasedolweni lodonga, waza ke waziqinisa. ₁₀Nasentlango wakha iinqaba, wemba namaqula amaninzi njengoko wayenemfuyo eninzi emazantsi eentaba nasemathafeni. Wayenabasebenzi bamasimi nabezidiliya ezintabeni nakwimihlaba echumayo – kaloku wayewuthanda umhlaba.

₁₁U-Uziya wayenomkhosi oqeqeshiweyo, ohleli uchophele ukuphuma ngamabutho ngokwezigaba zawo. Wawusesandleni sikaYehiyeli unobhala kunye noMaseya igosa ababephantsi koHananiya elinye lamaphakathi asebhotwe. ₁₂Inani leenkokheli zamabutho amiselwe ngokweziduko lalingamawaka amabini namakhulu amathandathu. ₁₃Zaziphethe umkhosi omadoda angamakhulu amathathu anesixhenxe amawaka namakhulu amahlanu, izinto eziyiqeqeshelweyo imfazwe – mkhosi lowo owawungamandla okuxhasa ukumkani ezintshabeni zakhe. ₁₄Lo mkhosi wonke ke wawuxhaswa ngu-Uziya ngamakhaka, imikhonto, iminqwazi, izikhuselo zentsimbi, izaphetha, neenkwitshi. ₁₅EJerusalem wenza oomatshini abaqingqwa ngamachule ukuze basetyenziswe ezinqabeni nakwizikhuselo ezisezikoneni zeendonga ukuze ke kudutyulwe ngeentolo, kugityiselwe ngamatye amakhulu. Udumo lwakhe lwanabela kulo lonke. Kaloku wancedwa waxhaswa kakhulu, wada ke wayingangamsha.

₁₆Kambe akuba ekhulile wanobungangamsha, u-Uziya wangenelwa likratshi elamrhuqela ekuweni. Wasuka akathembeka kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakhe, wada wangena endlwini kaNdikhoyo wenza isiqhumiso eqongeni leziqhumiso. ₁₇Ke umbingeleli uAzariya enamashumi asibhozo ababingeleli bakaNdikhoyo abangamatsha-ntliziyo bamlandela bangena naye. ₁₈Bamxelelisa ukumkani u-Uziya bathi: “Asikokwakho, Uziya, ukuba wena wenzele uNdikhoyo isiqhumiso. Lowo ngumsebenzi wababingeleli, isizukulwana sika-Aron, abantu abakhutshelwa bucala ukuze batshise isiqhumiso. Ngoko ke phuma apha kwindawo engcwele, kuba le nto uyenzileyo kukunganyaniseki, yaye ke uNdikhoyo uThixo akasayi kukuxabisa.”

₁₉U-Uziya wayephethe umcephe ngesandla, selelungele ukwenza isiqhumiso. Ke kaloku wasuka wacaphuka. Uthe ke esavutha njalo umsindo kubo ababingeleli abo apho phambi kweqonga endlwini kaNdikhoyo, suka iqhenqa lee tyaba ebunzini lakhe. ₂₀Umbingeleli omkhulu uAzariya nabanye ababingeleli abo bathe bakumkhangela babona ukuba uneqhenqa ebunzi; ngoko ke bakhawuleza bamkhuphela ngaphandle. Ewe, naye ngokwakhe wayeselekungxamele ukuphuma, kuba kaloku uNdikhoyo wayemvelele ngesohlwayo.

₂₁Ke kaloku ukumkani u-Uziya wathiwa nca lelo qhenqa, wada wasweleka. Wayehlala endlwini yakhe yedwa ngenxa yelo qhenqa, engenakungena nasendlwini kaNdikhoyo. Unyana wakhe uYotam waba libamba apho ebhotwe, yanguye obalawulayo abantu belizwe elo.

₂₂Ke ezinye zeziganeko zolawulo lukaUziya, ukusukela ekuqaleni kude kuye esiphelweni, nâzo kwingcombolo yomshumayeli uIsaya unyana ka-Amozi. ₂₃U-Uziya ke waya kuphumla kooyise, waza wangcwatyelwa kufuphi nabo kumhlaba wokungcwaba owawungowookumkani, kuba abantu besithi: “Kaloku ebeneqhenqa.” Unyana wakhe uYotam wangena esikhundleni sakhe.