To The Word – Day 145

₁Khona wakhuluma uSolomoni, wathi: “UJehova ushilo ukuthi uyakuhlala esigayegayeni. ₂Kepha ngikwakhele indlu yokuhlala, indawo yokuhlala kwakho kuze kube phakade.”

₃Inkosi yayisiphenduka, yalibusisa lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli lalimi. ₄Yathi: “Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owakhuluma ngomlomo wakhe kuDavide ubaba, ukugcwalisile ngesandla sakhe, ethi: ₅‘Kusukela osukwini engakhipha ngalo abantu bami u-Israyeli ezweni laseGibithe angikhethanga muzi ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli ukwakha indlu ukuba igama lami libe khona lapho, futhi angikhethanga muntu ukuba abe ngumbusi wabantu bami u-Israyeli, ₆kodwa ngikhethe iJerusalema ukuba igama lami libe khona lapho, ngakhetha noDavide ukuba abe phezu kwabantu bami u-Israyeli.’

₇“Kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavide ubaba ukwakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. ₈Kepha uJehova wathi kuDavide ubaba: ‘Njengokuba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela igama lami indlu, wenza kahle, ngokuba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho lokho; ₉kepha wena awuyikwakha indlu, kodwa indodana yakho eyakuphuma okhalweni lwakho, yiyona eyakwakhela igama lami indlu.’

₁₀“UJehova uliqinisile izwi alikhulumayo, ngokuba mina ngivelile esikhundleni sikaDavide ubaba, ngihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli njengokusho kuka Jehova, ngakhele igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. ₁₁Ngiwumisile lapho umphongolo okukuwo isivumelwano sikaJehova asenza nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.”

₁₂Wema phambi kwe-altare likaJehova ebusweni balo lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, welula izandla zakhe, ₁₃ngokuba uSolomoni wayenzile ibhesitulu* lethusi; ubude balo babuyizingalo eziyisihlanu, nobubanzi balo babuyizingalo eziyisihlanu, nokuphakama kwalo kwakuyizingalo ezintathu; walimisa phakathi negceke, wema kulo, wayeseguqa ngamadolo phambi kwalo lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, welulela izandla zakhe ngasezulwini, ₁₄ethi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akakho unkulunkulu onjengawe ezulwini noma emhlabeni, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nezinceku zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo, ₁₅ogcine nenceku yakho uDavide ubaba lokho owakusho kuyo; yebo, owakukhuluma ngomlomo wakho usukugcwalisile ngesandla sakho njengokuba kunjalo namuhla.

₁₆“Ngalokho, Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, gcina nenceku yakho uDavide ubaba lokho owakusho kuyo ukuthi: ‘Akuyikunqunywa muntu kuwe emehlweni ami ukuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli, uma kuphela abantwana bakho beqaphela indlela yabo ukuba bahambe emthethweni wami, njengalokho wena uhambe phambi kwami.’ ₁₇Ngalokho, Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, maliqiniseke izwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho uDavide.

₁₈“Kepha uNkulunkulu uyakuhlala impela nabantu emhlabeni na? Bheka, izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela; pho, kakhulu kangakanani le ndlu encane engiyakhileyo na? ₁₉Mawubheke umkhuleko wenceku yakho nokunxusa kwayo, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, uzwe ukukhala nokukhuleka, inceku yakho ekukhuleka phambi kwakho namuhla, ₂₀ukuba amehlo akho avulekele le ndlu ubusuku nemini, indawo owasho ngayo ukuthi uyakubeka khona igama lakho, uze ulalele umkhuleko inceku yakho eyakuwukhuleka ibhekene nale ndawo. ₂₁Kulalele ukunxusa kwenceku yakho nokwabantu bakho u-Israyeli abayakukukhuleka bebhekene nale ndawo, ukuzwe usendaweni yakho yokuhlala ezulwini, nalapho usuzwile, uthethelele.

₂₂“Uma umuntu ona umakhelwane wakhe, athweswe isifungo sokumfungisa, abeseza ukufunga phambi kwe-altare lakho kule ndlu, ₂₃mawuzwe wena ezulwini, wenze, wahlulele izinceku zakho, kuphindiselwe konecala, ubeke indlela yakhe phezu kwekhanda lakhe, uthethelele olungileyo, umnike njengokulunga kwakhe.

₂₄“Uma abantu bakho u-Israyeli benqotshwa yisitha, ngokuba bonile kuwe, kepha bese bebuya bephindela kuwe, balivume igama lakho, bakhuleke, banxuse kuwe kule ndlu, ₂₅mawuzwe wena ezulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho u-Israyeli, ubabuyisele ezweni owalinika bona nawoyise.

₂₆“Lapho izulu livaliwe, imvula ingekho, ngokuba bonile kuwe, kepha bese bekhuleka bebhekene nale ndawo, balivume igama lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo, ngokuba uyabajezisa, ₂₇mawuzwe wena ezulwini, uthethelele isono sezinceku zakho nesabantu bakho u-Israyeli, lapho ubafundisa indlela enhle abayakuhamba ngayo, uthume imvula ezweni lakho obanike abantu bakho libe yifa labo.

₂₈“Uma kukhona indlala ezweni, noma kukhona isifo, noma kukhona ukuhamuka, nesikhutha, nesikhonyane, nemiswenya, noma izitha zabo zibavimbezela ezweni lemizi yabo, noma kuyiphi inhlupheko nasiphi isifo, ₂₉bese kuzwakala namuphi umkhuleko nakuphi ukunxusa noma ngumuphi umuntu noma yibo bonke abantu bakho u-Israyeli abayakwazi, kube yilowo nalowo inhlupheko yakhe nosizi lwakhe, elulele izandla zakhe kule ndlu, ₃₀mawuzwe wena ezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, uthethelele, unike, kube yilowo nalowo njengezindlela zakhe zonke, wena owaziyo inhliziyo yakhe ngokuba wena kuphela uyazi izinhliziyo zabantwana babantu ₃₁ukuba bakwesabe, bahambe ngezindlela zakho zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwabo ezweni owalinika obaba.

₃₂“Futhi owezizwe ongesiye owabantu bakho u-Israyeli, lapho evela ezweni elikude ngenxa yegama lakho elikhulu nesandla sakho esinamandla nengalo yakho eyeluliweyo, abesefika ukukhuleka kule ndlu, ₃₃mawuzwe wena ezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, wenze njengakho konke lo wezizwe akhala ngakho kuwe, ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi igama lakho, bakwesabe wena njengabantu bakho u-Israyeli, nokuze bazi ukuthi le ndlu engiyakhileyo ibiziwe ngegama lakho.

₃₄“Uma abantu bakho bephuma impi ukulwa nezitha zabo ngendlela obathuma ngayo, bese bekhuleka kuJehova bebhekene nalo muzi owukhethileyo nale ndlu engiyakhele igama lakho, ₃₅mawuzwe wena ezulwini umkhuleko wabo nokunxusa kwabo, ubavume.

₃₆“Uma bona kuwe ngokuba akukho muntu ongoniyo bese wubathukuthelela wena, ubanikele esitheni, ukuze ababathumbayo babamukisele ezweni lesitha, likude noma liseduze, ₃₇kepha bese becabanga ezweni lapho bethunjelwe khona, baphenduke, banxuse kuwe ezweni lababathumbayo ngokuthi: ‘Sonile, senzile ngokuphambeneyo, saziphatha kabi;’ ₃₈uma bephendukela kuwe ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo nangawo wonke umphefumulo wabo ezweni lokuthunjwa kwabo, lapho bebathumbele khona, bakhuleke bebhekene nezwe lakubo owalinika oyise, nomuzi owukhethileyo, nendlu engiyakhele igama lakho, ₃₉mawuzwe wena ezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, umkhuleko wabo nokunxusa kwabo, ubavume, uthethelele abantu bakho abonile kuwe.

₄₀“Ngalokho, Nkulunkulu wami, amehlo akho mawavulekele, nezindlebe zakho maziwulalele umkhuleko owenziwa kule ndawo.

₁USolomoni eseqedile ukukhuleka, kwehla umlilo ezulwini, wadla umnikelo wokushiswa nemihlatshelo; inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwalisa indlu. ₂Abapristi babengenakungena endlini kaJehova, ngokuba inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwalisa indlu kaJehova. ₃Lapho abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bebona ukwehla komlilo, nenkazimulo kaJehova iphezu kwendlu, bakhothama phansi ngobuso phezu kwendawo egandaywe ngamatshe, bakhuleka, babonga uJehova, ngokuba muhle nangokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade. ₄Inkosi nabo bonke abantu base benikela ngomhlatshelo phambi kukaJehova. ₅Inkosi uSolomoni yanikela ngomhlatshelo wezinkunzi eziyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nambili nezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili. Inkosi nabo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bahlambulula-ke indlu kaJehova. ₆Abapristi bema njengezikhundla zabo kanye namaLevi, benezinto zokubethwa ayezenzile uDavide inkosi ukuba babonge uJehova, ngokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade, lapho uDavide edumisa ngezandla zabo; abapristi bakhalisa amacilongo ngaphambi kwabo, esemi wonke u-Israyeli.

₇USolomoni wangcwelisa ingaphakathi legceke elalingaphambi kwendlu kaJehova, ngokuba wanikela lapho ngeminikelo yokushiswa namanoni eminikelo yokuthula, ngokuba i-altare lethusi ayelenzile uSolomoni lalingenakwanela umnikelo wokushiswa, nomnikelo wempuphu, namanoni.

₈USolomoni wagubha-ke umkhosi ngaleso sikhathi izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, wonke u-Israyeli enaye, ibandla elikhulu kakhulu, kusukela ekuyeni eHamati kuze kube semfuleni waseGibithe. ₉Ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili benza umhlangano ozothileyo ngokuba ukuhlanjululwa kwe-altare bakwenza izinsuku eziyisikhombisa nomkhosi izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. ₁₀Ngosuku lwamashumi amabili nantathu lwenyanga yesikhombisa wabamukisa abantu baya ematendeni abo, bethokoza benezinhliziyo ezenamileyo ngobuhle uJehova abenzele oDavide noSolomoni no-Israyeli abantu bakhe.

₁₁USolomoni waqeda-ke indlu kaJehova nendlu yenkosi; konke okwangena enhliziyweni kaSolomoni ukukwenza endlini kaJehova nasendlini yakhe, wakuphumelelisa. ₁₂UJehova wabonakala kuSolomoni, wathi kuye: “Ngiwuzwile umkhuleko wakho, ngizikhethele le ndawo ukuba ibe yindlu yomhlatshelo.

₁₃“Uma ngivala izulu ukuba kungabikho mvula, noma ngiyaleza isikhonyane ukuba sidle izwe, noma ngithuma isifo phakathi kwabantu bami, ₁₄bazithobe abantu bami ababizwa ngegama lami, bakhuleke, bafune ubuso bami, baphenduke ezindleleni zabo ezimbi, ngiyakuzwa ezulwini, ngithethelele isono sabo, ngiphilise izwe labo. ₁₅Manje amehlo ami ayakuvuleka, izindlebe zami zilalele umkhuleko owenziwa kule ndawo. ₁₆Manje sengiyikhethile ngayingcwelisa le ndlu ukuba igama lami libe khona lapho kuze kube phakade; amehlo ami nenhliziyo yami kuyakuba khona lapho isikhathi sonke.

₁₇“Wena-ke, uma uyakuhamba phambi kwami njengokuhamba kukaDavide uyihlo, wenze njengakho konke engikuyale ngakho, ugcine izimiso zami nezahlulelo zami, ₁₈ngiyakusimisa isihlalo sobukhosi sombuso wakho njengesivumelwano sami noDavide uyihlo ngokuthi: ‘Akuyikunqunywa muntu kuwe ukuba kungabikho mbusi kwa-Israyeli.’

₁₉“Kepha uma nibuya, nishiye izimiso zami nemiyalo yami engikubeke phambi kwakho, nihambe nikhonze abanye onkulunkulu, nikhuleke kubo, ₂₀ngiyakubasiphula ezweni lami engibanike lona, nale ndlu engiyingcwelisele igama lami ngiyakuyilahla ebusweni bami, ngiyenze isaga nesifenqo phakathi kwabantu bonke. ₂₁Le ndlu ephakeme kangaka, yilowo nalowo odlula kuyo uyakumangala athi: ‘UJehova wenzeleni kanje kuleli zwe nakule ndlu na?’ ₂₂Bayakuphendula bathi: ‘Kungokuba bamshiya uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise owabakhipha ezweni laseGibithe, babambelela kwabanye onkulunkulu, bakhuleka kubo, babakhonza; ngalokho ubehlisele konke lokho okubi.’ ”

₁Kwathi ngasekugcineni kweminyaka engamashumi amabili uSolomoni akhe ngayo indlu kaJehova nendlu yakhe, ₂imizi uHiramu anike yona uSolomoni, uSolomoni wayivusa, wahlalisa khona abantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₃USolomoni waya eHamati Soba, walahlula. ₄Wakha iTadimori ehlane, nayo yonke imizi yokubekelela ayakha eHamati. ₅Wakha neBeti Horoni laseNhla, neBeti Horoni laseNzansi, imizi ebiyelweyo enezingange, namasango, nemigoqo, ₆kanye neBalati nayo yonke imizi yokubekelela uSolomoni ayenayo, nayo yonke imizi yezinqola zakhe, nemizi yabamahhashi bakhe, nakho konke uSolomoni ayefisa ukukwakha eJerusalema, naseLebanoni, nasezweni lonke lokubusa kwakhe.

₇Abantu bonke abaseleyo kumaHeti, nama-Amori, namaPherizi, namaHivi, namaJebusi, abangesibo abakwa-Israyeli, ₈abantwana babo abasala emva kwabo ezweni, abangaqedwanga ngabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, kubona uSolomoni wabiza izisebenzi kuze kube namuhla. ₉Kepha kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli uSolomoni akakhiphanga izigqila zomsebenzi wakhe, ngokuba babengamadoda empi, nabakhulu bezinduna zakhe, nezinduna zezinqola zakhe, nabamahhashi bakhe. ₁₀Lezo zaziyizinduna ezinkulu zenkosi uSolomoni; zazingamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisihlanu, zazibusa phezu kwabantu.

₁₁USolomoni wakhuphula indodakazi kaFaro emzini kaDavide, wayiyisa endlini ayakhele yona, ngokuba wathi: “Akuyikuhlala owesifazane endlini kaDavide inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, ngokuba ingcwele, lapho kufike khona umphongolo kaJehova.”

₁₂Khona uSolomoni wanikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa kuJehova e-altare likaJehova ayelakhe phambi kompheme ₁₃njengokudingekayo imihla ngemihla, enikela njengemiyalo kaMose ngamasabatha, nangokwethwasa kwenyanga, nangemikhosi emisiweyo, kathathu ngomnyaka: ngomkhosi wesinkwa esingenamvubelo, nangomkhosi wamasonto, nangomkhosi wamadokodo. ₁₄Wamisa njengomthetho kaDavide uyise izigaba zabapristi enkonzweni yabo, namaLevi ezikhundleni zawo ukuba adumise, akhonze phambi kwabapristi njengokudingekayo imihla ngemihla, nabalindisango ngezigaba zabo emasangweni ngamasango, ngokuba uDavide umuntu kaNkulunkulu wayeyale kanjalo. ₁₅Abaphambukanga emiyalweni yenkosi kubapristi namaLevi ngalutho, nangengcebo.

₁₆Wonke umsebenzi kaSolomoni walungiswa kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubeka isisekelo sendlu kaJehova, yaze yaphela. Yayisiphelile indlu kaJehova.

₁₇Khona uSolomoni waya e-Esiyoni Geberi, nase-Elito, ogwini lolwandle ezweni lakwa-Edomi. ₁₈UHiramu wathuma kuye ngezandla zezinceku zakhe imikhumnbi nezinceku ezazilwazi ulwandle; zafika nezinceku zikaSolomoni e-Ofiri, zalanda khona amatalenta* angamakhulu amane namashumi ayisihlanu egolide, zawayisa enkosini uSolomoni.

₁Inkosikazi yaseSheba isizwile udumo lukaSolomoni yeza ukumvivinya uSolomoni eJerusalema ngezimfumbe, inehele elikhulu kakhulu, namakamela ethwele amakha, negolide eliningi, namatshe ayigugu; isifikile kuSolomoni yakhuluma naye ngakho konke okusenhliziyweni yayo. ₂USolomoni wayiphendula ezindabeni zayo zonke; kwakungekho nto eyayifihlelwe uSolomoni angayitshelanga yona. ₃Inkosikazi yaseSheba isibonile ukuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni, nendlu ayakhileyo, ₄nokudla kwasetafuleni lakhe, nokuhlala kwezinceku zakhe, nokuma kwezikhonzi zakhe, nezambatho zazo, kanye nabaphathizitsha nezambatho zabo, nesikhwelo sakhe akhuphukela ngaso endlini kaJehova, akwabe kusabakho moya kuyo. ₅Yathi enkosini: “Yayiqinisile indaba engayizwa ezweni lami ngamazwi akho nangokuhlakanipha kwakho. ₆Kepha angikholwanga ngamazwi abo, ngaze ngafika, kwabona amehlo ami; bheka, angitshelwanga nanxenye yobukhulu bokuhlakanipha kwakho; uyadlula udumo engaluzwayo. ₇Babusiswe abantu bakho, zibusisiwe lezi zinceku zakho ezimi njalo phambi kwakho, zizwa ukuhlakanipha kwakho. ₈Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho owenamele wena ukuba akubeke esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi ukuba ube yinkosi kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho; ngokuba uNkulunkulu wakho wamthanda u-Israyeli waze wammisa kuze kube phakade, ngalokho wakubeka inkosi phezu kwabo ukuba wenze ukwahlulela nokulunga.”

₉Yanika inkosi amatalenta* ayikhulu namashumi amabili egolide, namakha amaningi kakhulu, namatshe ayigugu; awazange abe khona amakha anjengalawo inkosi uSolomoni eyaphiwa wona yinkosikazi yaseSheba.

₁₀Izinceku zikaHiramu nezinceku zikaSolomoni ezabuya negolide e-Ofiri zaletha imi-alimugi* namatshe ayigugu. ₁₁Ngemi-alimugi* inkosi yenzela indlu kaJehova nendlu yenkosi izikhwelo, kanye namahabhu,* nezingubhu zabahlabeleli; akuzange kubonwe phambili okunjengakho ezweni lakwaJuda.

₁₂Inkosi uSolomoni yanika inkosikazi yaseSheba konke ekufunayo nekucelayo ngaphandle kwalokho ebikulethele inkosi. Yayisibuya, yaya ezweni layo, yona nezinceku zayo.

₁₃Isisindo segolide elafika kuSolomoni iminyaka yonke sasingamatalenta* angamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi ayisithupha nesithupha egolide ₁₄ngaphandle kokuvela kubahwebi nabathengisi; onke amakhosi ase-Arabiya nababusi bezwe baletha igolide nesiliva kuSolomoni.

₁₅Inkosi uSolomoni yenza izihlangu ezingamakhulu amabili zegolide elikhandiweyo, kwaba ngamashekeli* angamakhulu ayisithupha egolide elikhandiweyo kuso isihlangu sinye, ₁₆kanjalo nezihlangu ezingamakhulu amathathu egolide elikhandiweyo, amashekeli angamakhulu amathathu egolide kuso isihlangu sinye; inkosi yazibeka endlini yehlathi laseLebanoni.

₁₇Inkosi yenza nesihlalo sobukhosi esikhulu sezimpondo zendlovu, yasinameka ngegolide elicwengekileyo. ₁₈Isihlalo sobukhosi sasinezikhwelo eziyisithupha, sinesenabelo segolide esasinamathelisiwe esihlalweni sobukhosi, nemikhono ngalapha nangalapha kwendawo yokuhlala, kumi izingonyama ezimbili ngaseceleni kwemikhono. ₁₉Kwakumi izingonyama eziyishumi nambili ngalapha nangalapha ezikhwelweni eziyisithupha. Okunjalo akwenziwanga komunye umbuso. ₂₀Zonke izitsha zokuphuza zenkosi uSolomoni zaziyigolide, nazo zonke izitsha zendlu yehlathi laseLebanoni zaziyigolide elicwengekileyo, isiliva lingento yalutho emihleni kaSolomoni. ₂₁Ngokuba inkosi yayinemikhumbi eyaya eTharishishi kanye nezinceku zikaHiramu; kanye ngeminyaka emithathu yafika imikhumbi yaseTharishishi iletha igolide, nesiliva, nezimpondo zendlovu, nezimfene, namapikoko.*

₂₂Inkosi uSolomoni yaba nkulu kunawo onke amakhosi omhlaba ngengcebo nangokuhlakanipha. ₂₃Onke amakhosi omhlaba afuna ubuso bukaSolomoni ukuba ezwe ukuhlakanipha kwakhe, uNkulunkulu akubekile enhliziyweni yakhe. ₂₄Baletha, kwaba yilowo nalowo isipho sakhe, izitsha zesiliva, nezitsha zegolide, nezingubo, nezikhali, namakha, namahhashi, neminyuzi,* okwenziwa iminyaka ngeminyaka.

₂₅USolomoni wayenezipani* eziyizinkulungwane ezine zamahhashi nezinqola, nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili, owababeka emizini yezinqola nasenkosini eJerusalema. ₂₆Wabusa phezu kwawo onke amakhosi kusukela emfuleni kuze kube sezweni lamaFilisti nasemkhawulweni waseGibithe. ₂₇Inkosi yenza isiliva livame eJerusalema njengamatshe, nemisedari* yayenza ibe njengemithombe ehlanzeni ngobuningi. ₂₈Bamlethela uSolomoni amahhashi evela eGibithe nasemazweni onke.

₂₉Ezinye izindaba zikaSolomoni, ezokuqala nezokugcina, angithi zilotshiwe ezindabeni zikaNathani umprofethi, nasesiprofethweni sika-Ahiya waseShilo, nasemibonweni ka-Ido umboni ngoJerobowamu indodana kaNebati na? ₃₀USolomoni wabusa eJerusalema phezu kuka-Israyeli wonke iminyaka engamashumi amane. ₃₁USolomoni wayeselala koyise, wembelwa emzini kaDavide uyise; uRehobowamu indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁URehobowamu waya eShekemi, ngokuba wonke u-Israyeli wayefikile eShekemi ukumbeka inkosi. ₂Kwathi lapho uJerobowamu indodana kaNebati ekuzwile ngokuba wayeseGibithe, lapho ayebalakele khona, ebalekele ubuso benkosi uSolomoni uJerobowamu wabuya eGibithe. ₃Bathuma bambiza; uJerobowamu naye wonke u-Israyeli beza, bakhuluma kuRehobowamu, bathi: ₄“Uyihlo wenza ijoka lethu laba lukhuni; ngalokho yenza wena ube lula umsebenzi olukhuni kayihlo nejoka lakhe elisindayo owalibeka phezu kwethu, siyakukukhonza.”

₅Wathi kubo: “Buyelani kimi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu.” Basuka-ke abantu.

₆Inkosi uRehobowamu yelulekana namalunga ayemile phambi kukaSolomoni uyise esekhona, yathi: “Nina ningeluleka ukubuyisela mpenduloni kulaba bantu na?”

₇Akhuluma kuye, athi: “Uma uzakuba muhle kulaba bantu, ubathokozise, ukhulume amazwi amahle kubo, bayakuba yizinceku zakho izinsuku zonke.” ₈Kepha walahla isiluleko samalunga ameluleke ngaso, welulekana nezinsizwa eziyintanga yakhe, ezazimi phambi kwakhe. ₉Wathi kuzo: “Nina niluleka ukuba sibuyise mpenduloni kulaba bantu abakhulume kimi ngokuthi: ‘Yenza ijoka uyihlo alibeka phezu kwethu libe lula,’ na?”

₁₀Zase zikhuluma kuye izinsizwa eziyintanga yakhe, zithi: “Uyakusho kanje kubantu abakhulume kuwe ngokuthi: ‘Uyihlo walenza ijoka lethu lasinda, kepha wena ulenze libe lula kithina,’ uyakusho kubo kanje ukuthi: ‘Ucikicane wami mkhulu kunokhalo lukababa. ₁₁Manje ubaba wanithwesa ijoka elisindayo, mina ngiyakwenezela ejokeni lenu; ubaba wanishaya ngeziswebhu, mina ngawofezela.’ ”

₁₂UJerobowamu nabantu bonke base befika kuRehobowamu ngosuku lwesithathu njengokusho kwenkosi ithi: “Buyelani kimi ngosuku lwesithathu.” ₁₃Inkosi yabaphendula kalukhuni; inkosi uRehobowamu yalahla isiluleko samalunga, ₁₄yakhuluma kubo njengesiluleko sezinsizwa ngokuthi: “Ubaba walenza ijoka lenu lasinda, mina ngiyakwenezela kulo; ubaba wanishaya ngesiswebhu, mina ngawofezela.” ₁₅Inkosi ayibalalelanga abantu, ngokuba kwakuyisiyiba esivela kuNkulunkulu, ukuze uJehova amise izwi lakhe alikhulumayo ngesandla sika-Ahiya waseShilo kuJerobowamu indodana kaNebati.

₁₆Wonke u-Israyeli esebonile ukuthi inkosi ayibalalelanga, abantu babuyisela izwi enkosini, bathi:

Wayesesuka u-Israyeli wonke, waya ematendeni akhe. ₁₇Kepha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli abakhe emizini yakwaJuda, uRehobowamu wabusa phezu kwabo.

₁₈Inkosi uRehobowamu yathuma u-Adoramu owayephezu kwezisebenzi; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bamkhanda ngamatshe, wafa. Inkosi uRehobowamu yashesha ukukhwela inqola yayo ukuba ibalekele eJerusalema. ₁₉U-Israyeli wayeseyihlubuka-ke indlu kaDavide kuze kube namuhla.