To The Word – Day 82

₁Wathi uDavide esand' ukuthi tyishi nje eyishiya incopho, wagagana noZibha iphakathi likaMefibhoshete. Wayeqhuba iidonki ezimbini zibotshiwe zithwele amakhulu amabini ezonka, nekhulu lezikhinkci zeerasentyisi, nekhulu lezikhinkci zeziqhamo ezisand' ukukhiwa, kunye nemvaba ezele yiwayini. ₂Ukumkani wambuza uZibha wathi: “Wenza ntoni ngezi zinto?”

Lithe elikaZibha: “Ezi donki ndizizise ukuze usapho lukakumkani lukhwele kuzo. Izonka kunye neziqhamo ndiziphathele amadoda kakumkani ukuze azixhase ngazo, athobe nangewayini xa aziva ephelelwe entlango.”

₃Uqhube wathi ukumkani: “Uphi uMefibhoshete, umzukulwana kaSawule, inkosi yakho?”

UZibha wathi: “Usele eJerusalem. Kaloku uthi: ‘Namhlanje indlu kaSirayeli iza kububuyisela kum ubukhosi bukabawo-mkhulu uSawule.’ ”

₄Waqokela wathi ukumkani kuZibha: “Iza kuba yeyakho yonke into ebikade iyeyikaMefibhoshete.”

UZibha wathi: “Ndohlala ndisisicaka sakho, mhlekazi; bendinga ndingasoloko ndisenzelwa inceba nguwe.”

₅Uthe ukumkani uDavide akuya kufika eBhawurim, kwavela uShimeyi, unyana kaGera, owayezalana noSawule, eze kumhlangabeza, emthuka wonke lo gama aya kuye. ₆UShimeyi usuke wagxoga uDavide ngamatye, ekunye naloo maphakathi akhe, engqongwe macala ngamadoda omkhosi nabalindi bakhe. ₇Wayemthuka esithi: “Mka apha; hamba sigebengandini setshijolo! ₈*UNdikhoyo uya kukubuyekeza ngenxa yegazi lendlu kaSawule othe wena waba ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe. Ubukhosi uNdikhoyo ubunike uAbhasalom unyana wakho. Hayi ke, sigebengandini, isikhuni sibuye nomkhwezeli!”

₉Kwavela uAbhishayi owayezalwa nguZeruya, wathi kukumkani: “Mhlekazi, uyamyeka lo mfi wenja akuthuke wena kumkani? Ndiyeke mna ndiye kumnqumla intloko.”

₁₀Ukumkani wathi: “Ayifuni nina le nto, bonyana bakaZeruya. Ukuba undithuka ngokuthunywa nguNdikhoyo, ngubani onegunya lokuthi kuye: ‘Uyenzela ntoni le nto?’ ” ₁₁Uqhube wathi uDavide, ebhekisa kuAbhishayi nakumaphakathi akhe onke: “Ingunyana wam ozelwe ndim nje lo ufuna ukundibulala, nothuswa yintoni kule nto yenziwa ngulo mBhenjamin? NguNdikhoyo othe makandithuke; myekeni ke andithuke. ₁₂UNdikhoyo angahle ayibone le ntlupheko ndikuyo, andithamsanqele endaweni yesiqalekiso salo mntu.”

₁₃Bahamba indlela yabo ke ooDavide. Wahamba ngaphezu kwenduli leyo uShimeyi eshwabula, egxoga ngamatye, eqhumisa uthuli. ₁₄Ukufika kukakumkani neqela lakhe eJordan babesebefile kukudinwa, bakha baphumla apho.

₁₅Wagaleleka eJerusalem uAbhasalom, ehamba namaSirayeli onke, kukho noAhitofele. ₁₆Wathi uHushayi umArki, umhlobo othembekileyo kaDavide, akuthi thu uAbhasalom, wakhahlela esithi: “Huntshu-u-u! Khul' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani!”

₁₇UAbhasalom wathi kuHushayi: “Tyhini, yindlela obonakalisa ukuthembeka kwakho kumhlobo wakho uDavide le! Kutheni ungahambanga naye nje?”

₁₈UHushayi wathi kuAbhasalom: “Ndingayenza njani into enjalo? Mna ndingakwicala lalowo utyunjwe *nguNdikhoyo nangabantu nangamaSirayeli ephela. Ndiza kuhamba nawe. ₁₉Kakade ke ndingathoba phantsi kukabani xa ingenguye unyana wenkosi? Ndiza kuthoba phantsi kwakho ngoku njengoko bendisenza kuyihlo.”

₂₀Ubuzile ke kuAhitofele uAbhasalom wathi: “Ucebisa ntoni ke? Ngaba masithini?”

₂₁UAhitofele wathi kuAbhasalom: “Yiya kungena kumaqadi kayihlo, lawa awagcinise ibhotwe. Ngaloo ndlela indlu yonke kaSirayeli iya kuqonda ukuba uzinukisile kuyihlo, babe nesibindi ke ngoko abakulandelayo.” ₂₂Kwamiswa intente phezu kophahla lwebhotwe, waza uAbhasalom wawangena amaqadi kayise ejongwe ngamaSirayeli onke.

₂₃Icebo lika-Ahitofele lalithathwa njengelizwi elivela kuThixo ngenkqu. Lalingadli ngakuwa phantsi kuDavide, kanti nakuAbhasalom kwakukwanjalo.

₁Wathi uAhitofele kuAbhasalom: “Ndivumele ndikhethe ishumi elinambini lamawaka amadoda, ndiphume ngobu busuku, ndimsukele uDavide. ₂Ndifuna ukumhlasela esadiniwe nje, emi nematha. Ndifuna ukuwothusa abaleke la madoda ahamba naye. Ndifuna ukubulala ukumkani kuphela, ₃ndiwazise kuwe onke amanye amadoda. Andithi mnye qha lo mntu ufuna ukumbulala, bonke abanye babuye bephila?” ₄Lavakala njengecebo eliphilileyo eli kuAbhasalom nakumadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli xa ewonke.

₅Uthe uAbhasalom: “Khanibize kwanoHushayi umArki, silive nelakhe icebo.” ₆Uthe akufika uHushayi uAbhasalom wamchazela iqhinga lika-Ahitofele, waza wathi: “Utsho ke uAhitofele; uthini wena?”

₇UHushayi wathi kuAbhasalom: “Hayi, mhlekazi, kwesi sihlandlo kum ngathi alilihle iqhinga lika-Ahitofele konke. ₈Wazi kakuhle ukuba uyihlo uDavide neqela lakhe ngamadoda aqhele ukulwa, yaye bayakhwankqisa, ngathi yimazi yebhere inxakamela amathole ayo. Uwaqhelile amadabi uyihlo, ngoko ke akahlali ndawonye nomkhosi wakhe ebusuku. ₉Ngoku ndithethayo ngahle uzimele mqolombeni uthile, okanye uthe nca ndaweni ithile. Ukuba yena uthe waba ngowokuqala ukuhlasela amadoda akho, abakuvayo oko baya kusuka bathi: ‘Axheliwe amadoda ka-Abhasalom.’ ₁₀Ndithi nawona madoda aziingonyama ukukhalipha aya kunkwantya, kuba kwaSirayeli uyihlo udume ngokulwa, yaye nomkhosi wakhe ngamagorha.

₁₁“Mna ke ndicebisa ukuba uwaqokelele onke amaSirayeli kulo lonke eli, ukususela kwaDan kuye kutsho eBheshebha, abe maninzi ngokungathi yintlabathi yaselwandle, uze uwakhokele wena ngenkqu ukuya edabini. ₁₂UDavide yena somfuna apho azimele khona, simhlasele okombethe olele kwiindawo zonke, kungasindi namnye kuye nakuloo madoda onke anaye. ₁₃Uya kuba ngaya dolophini ithile, sifike nalapho singamaSirayeli, sithandele ngeentambo, sizitsale ezo ndonga zidilike, ziye kuthi didli ezantsi entilini, kude kungabikho nalinye ilitye apho.”

₁₄UAbhasalom namadoda onke akwaSirayeli bathi: “Icebo likaHushayi umArki lelona lilungileyo kunelika-Ahitofele.” Yayisisigqibo *sikaNdikhoyo kakade ukuba maliphanze icebo lika-Ahitofele, khon' ukuze aze kuhlelwa lishwangusha uAbhasalom.

₁₅Usuke apho uHushayi waya kwazisa ooZadoki noAbhiyatare ababingeleli ngeqhinga yena acebise ngalo uAbhasalom namadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli kwanangelo lalivela kuAhitofele. ₁₆Uqhube wathi: “Ke ngoko khawulezani nithumele kuDavide, nithi kuye: ‘Uze ungahlali phaya ngakumazibuko asentlango ngobu busuku. Welela ngaphesheya kweJordan, hleze ukumkani nabantu bonke abanaye bacinywe.’ ”

₁₇UJonatan kunye noAhimazi babehlala belinde kulaa mthombo wase-En-rogele, kuba bekungafuneki babonwe bengena esixekweni. Kwathunywa isicakazana, saya kubaxelela, baza bona baya kwazisa ukumkani uDavide. ₁₈Kodwa babhaqwa yinkwenkwana eyaya kuxelela uAbhasalom. Bakhawuleza ke bemka kuloo ndawo, baya kuzimela mzini wasemathileni eBhawurim. Kwakukho iqula ngakuloo mzi, baza ke baya kuhlala ngaphakathi kwalo. ₁₉Inkosikazi yalapho yathatha into, yaligquma ngayo, yaneka imbewu ngaphezulu, ukuze kungabikho bani urhanela nto. ₂₀Afika apho kuloo mzi amaphakathi ka-Abhasalom, athi kuloo mfazi: “Baphi ooAhimazi noJonatan?”

Waphendula ngelithi loo mfazi: “Bagqithe apha, baya ngasemlanjeni.” Loo maphakathi afuna, afuna, ada ancama, abuyela kwaseJerusalem.

₂₁Akuba emkile loo madoda, baphuma kwelo qula ooAhimazi noJonatan, basa udaba ababeluthunyiwe kuDavide. Bamxelela ngeyelenqe lika-Ahitofele, batsho besithi: “Phakama ukhawuleze uwelele ngaphesheya komlambo.” ₂₂Bawela ke ooDavide namaphakathi, kwathi kusisa babe bengaphesheya kweJordan bonke.

₂₃Uthe akubona uAhitofele ukuba iqhinga lakhe alisiwanga so, suka wakhwela idonki yakowabo, wagoduka esinga kweyakubo idolophu. Uthe nje ukuba agqibe ukulungisa imicimbi yakhe, waya wazixhoma wafa. Ungcwatyelwe apho kumangcwaba ooyise-mkhulu.

₂₄Wayeselefikile uDavide kwidolophu yaseMahanayim, ngexesha yena uAbhasalom namaSirayeli onke awayenaye bawela iJordan. ₂₅UAbhasalom wenza uAmasa injengele yomkhosi esikhundleni sikaJowabhi. UAmasa wayengunyana kaYetere umSirayeli, ezalwa nguAbhigeli intombi kaNahashe, engudade boZeruya unina kaJowabhi. ₂₆UAbhasalom namaSirayeli bazimisa iintente zabo kummandla waseGiliyadi.

₂₇UDavide ukufika kwakhe eMahanayim wayehlangatyezwa nguShobhi unyana kaNahashe owayevela kwidolophu iRabha kwelama-Amon, nanguMakire unyana ka-Amiyeli waseLodebhare, noBhazilayi umGiliyadi waseRogelim. ₂₈Babephethe iimandlalo, izitya, neengqayi, kunye nengqolowa, nerhasi, nomgubo, nogcado, neembotyi, neentlumayo, nokunye ukutya okugcadiweyo, ₂₉nobusi, nebhotolo, neegusha, netshizi yobisi lweenkomo. Konke oku babekuphathele ukuxhasa uDavide nabantu bakhe, kuba babesithi: “Aba bantu balambile, badiniwe, banxaniwe nokunxanwa apha entlango.”

₁UDavide uwaqokelele onke amadoda omkhosi wakhe, wawahlula-hlula, wawamisela izinxiba-mxhaka eziphethe amajoni aliwaka neziphethe amajoni alikhulu. ₂Emva koko umkhosi uwahlule waba ngamaqela amathathu, elinye liphethwe nguJowabhi, elinye nguAbhishayi umntakwabo-Jowabhi, elinye liphethwe nguItayi waseGati. Ke uDavide wathi kumkhosi wakhe: “Nam ngenkqu ndiza kuphuma kunye nani.”

₃Amadoda omkhosi athi: “Hayi, mhlekazi, mus' ukuya edabini. Akungebi lutho xa utshaba luswantsulisa thina, nokuba kungade kuwe isiqingatha sethu, kodwa ubukho bakho bufana neshumi lamawaka amadoda. Kuhle ke ukuba usale apha esixekweni, uze ukwazi ukusithumela amancedo.”

₄Ukumkani wathi kubo: “Kulungile ke, mandenze loo nto ikholekileyo kuni.” Wema ngasesangweni, ewajongile ukunduluka kwawo, ephuma engamaqela amajoni alikhulu naliwaka. ₅Ukumkani wabayalela ooJowabhi noAbhishayi kunye noItayi, wathi: “Nize nindincede niyiphathe kakuhle laa ntwana inguAbhasalom.” Loo myalelo kaDavide awayewubhekisa kwiinjengele weviwa ngawo onke amadoda omkhosi.

₆Wenjenjeya umkhosi kaDavide ukuya kuqubisana namaSirayeli endle ngakwihlathi lakwaEfrayim, zanqoza. ₇AmaSirayeli oyiswa ngumkhosi kaDavide. Abethwa kakubi, kwasala apho edabini amawaka angamashumi amabini. ₈Idabi layigqiba yonke loo ndawo, uninzi lwafela ehlathini, lwangaphezulu kwabo babefele edabini.

₉UAbhasalom wagaxeleka phakathi kweqela lamadoda kaDavide. Wayekhwele embongolweni. Kuthe xa ithubeleza ngaphantsi kom-oki omkhulu, wabambeka ngentloko kuloo masebe omthi. Yabaleka yemka imbongolo, wasala yena ejinga emoyeni.

₁₀Wabonwa ngumfo othile owaxelela uJowabhi wathi: “UAbhasalom ndimbone ejinga emthini wom-oki.”

₁₁Uthe uJowabhi kuloo ndoda: “Xa umbonileyo kutheni ukuze ungambulali kwangoko nje? Mna bendiya kukuhlawula ngeshumi leesiliva, ndikuthi jize ngomxhaka ngaphezu koko.”

₁₂Loo mfo uphendule uJowabhi ngelithi: “Nokuba ubungade undihlawule iwaka leesiliva, bendingasoze ndimse sandla mna unyana kakumkani wam. Kaloku simve ngezethu iindlebe ukumkani ngokuya ebekuyala wena noAbhishayi noItayi esithi: ‘Nokuba ngubani na azayikhusele laa ntwana uAbhasalom.’ ₁₃Ukuba bendenze ubugwenxa ndambulala uAbhasalom, ubeza kuyiva loo nto ukumkani, yaye akukho nto ifihlakeleyo kuye, ube wena ungayi kundithethelela.”

₁₄UJowabhi wathi: “Hayi, andizi kudla xesha apha ngawe.” Uthathe iintshuntshe zantathu, wamgwaza ngazo entliziyweni uAbhasalom esaphila, ejinga kuloo mthi wom-oki. ₁₅Emva koko kwafika ishumi lamadoda omkhosi kaJowabhi, amjikeleza uAbhasalom, amhlaba amgqibezela.

₁₆Uthe uJowabhi makuvuthelwe isigodlo, iphele imfazwe, abuye amadoda awayesukela amaSirayeli. ₁₇Awuthatha umzimba ka-Abhasalom, awuphosa emngxunyeni omkhulu owawulapho ehlathini, awugqumelela ngemfumba enkulu yamatye. Abaleka onke amaSirayeli, yayileyo indoda yajonga kowayo.

₁₈Esaphila uAbhasalom wayezenzele ilitye lesikhumbuzo kwiNtili kaKumkani, kuba wayesithi: “Andinanyana oza kuvusa igama lam.” Walithiya ngegama lakhe. Unanamhla oku kusathiwa lilitye lesikhumbuzo lika-Abhasalom ukubizwa kwalo.

₁₉Emva koko uAhimazi, unyana kaZadoki, wathi kuJowabhi: “Mandikhawuleze ndise kukumkani iindaba zovuyo zokuba *uNdikhoyo umgwebele wamkhulula kwiintshaba zakhe.”

₂₀UJowabhi wathi kuye: “Hayi, akukho zindaba zovuyo uya kuzisa kukumkani namhlanje. Loo nto uya kuyenza ngenye imini. Kaloku unyana kakumkani ufile.” ₂₁Waza ke uJowabhi wathi kumfo waseKushe: “Yiya kuxelela ukumkani oko ukubonileyo.” Wakhahlela umKushe, wangena endleleni.

₂₂UAhimazi unyana kaZadoki waphinda wathi kuJowabhi: “Kungehla okuhlayo, ndiyeke ndingene endleleni emva kwaloo mKushe.”

“Kutheni wafuna ukuya ngokwakho kukumkani? Akukho mvuzo aza kukunika wona phofu,” utshilo uJowabhi.

₂₃“Ndithe kuwe kungehla okuhlayo, ndifuna ukuhamba,” utshilo uAhimazi.

Ke uJowabhi wathi: “Thatha khona!” Wasuka ke uAhimazi wangena endleleni, waya kuthi gubhu kulaa ntili yeJordan, wamshiya endleleni umKushe lowo.

₂₄UDavide wayehleli kwindawo ephakathi kwamasango angaphakathi nawangaphandle kwesixeko. Kwesuka umlindi waya kukhwela phezu kodonga lwesixeko, wema ngapha kophahla lwesango, wondela, wabona kukho indoda ehamba yodwa, ibaleka. ₂₅Wabhekisa ngezantsi kukumkani, wamxelela, waza ukumkani wathi: “Xa ehamba yedwa uzisa iindaba zovuyo.” Eso sigidimi saya sisondela ngokusondela.

₂₆Ubuye wabona esinye isigidimi loo mlindi, wabhekisa kumgcini-masango wathi: “Nantso nenye indoda isiza ibaleka iyodwa.”

Uthe ukumkani: “Nalowo usekwaza neendaba ezimnandi.”

₂₇Uthe umlindi: “Ukubaleka kwakhe lo ungaphambili ngathi nguAhimazi unyana kaZadoki.”

Ukumkani wathi: “Kowu, lilunga lomfo elo; usiphathele iindaba zovuyo.”

₂₈UAhimazi wabhekisa kukumkani wathi: “Izinto zihamba kakuhle!” Wafika wakhahlela ejongise ubuso emhlabeni, wathi, “Mbonge uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho! Uboyisile abo bebeyivukela inkosi yam ukumkani!”

₂₉Ukumkani wathi: “Ngaba usindile umfana uAbhasalom?”

Uphendule wathi uAhimazi: “Mhlekazi, ngokuya bendithunywa nguJowabhi iphakathi lakho, ndibone kukho isiphithi-phithi, phofu andingetsho ukuba bekutheni na.”

₃₀Ukumkani wathi: “Khawume bucala ulinde.” Wahamba ke, waya kuma bucala.

₃₁Ke kaloku wafika umKushe, wathi kukumkani: “Ndize neendaba zovuyo, mhlekazi, nkosi yam! Namhlanje uNdikhoyo ukugwebele waboyisa bonke abo bebekuvukela.”

₃₂Ukumkani wathi kumKushe: “Yena umfana uAbhasalom usindile phofu?”

UmKushe wathi: “Mhlekazi, bendinga into emhleleyo unyana wakho ibinga ingenzeka kuzo zonke iintshaba zakho, nakwabo bakuvukelayo.”

₃₃Ukumkani waba nengevane, wenyuka waya kwigumbi eliphezu kwesango, wafika walila. Wayehamba elila, esithi: “Yini umntwana wam! Awu, nyana wam Abhasalom, nyana wam Abhasalom! Akwaba ibindim ofileyo, Abhasalom, nyana wam, nyana wam!”