To The Word – Day 153

₁Emva kwalokho esabusa u-Aritahishashita, inkosi yasePheresiya, u-Ezra kaSeraya ka-Azariya kaHilikiya, ₂kaShalumi kaSadoki ka-Ahithubi ₃ka-Amariya ka-Azariya kaMerayoti ₄kaZeraya ka-Uzi kaBuki ₅ka-Abishuwa kaFinehasi ka-Eleyazare ka-Aroni umpristi omkhulu, ₆u-Ezra lo wakhuphuka eBabele; wayengumbhali echwepheshile emthethweni kaMose awunikiweyo nguJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; inkosi yamnika konke akucelayo ngokwesandla sikaJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe esasiphezu kwakhe. ₇Kwakhuphuka nabanye abantwana bakwa-Israyeli, nabapristi, namaLevi, nabahlabeleli, nabalindisango, namaNethini,* baya eJerusalema ngomnyaka wesikhombisa ka-Aritahishashita inkosi.

₈Wafika eJerusalema ngenyanga yesihlanu ngomnyaka wesikhombisa wenkosi. ₉Ngokuba ngolokuqala lwenyanga yokuqala waqala ukukhuphuka eBabele; ngolokuqala lwenyanga yesihlanu wafika eJerusalema ngokwesandla esihle sikaNkulunkulu wakhe esasiphezu kwakhe, ₁₀ngokuba u-Ezra wayebhekise inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwa-Israyeli.

₁₁Lokhu kuyimpinda yencwadi inkosi u-Aritahishashita eyamnika yona u-Ezra umpristi nombhali, umbhali wamazwi emiyalo kaJehova nawezimiso zakhe ku-Israyeli, yokuthi:

₁₂“U-Aritahishashita, inkosi yamakhosi ku-Ezra, umpristi nombhali womthetho kaNkulunkulu wezulu; ukuthula, nokuthi nokuthi.

₁₃“Ngikhipha isimemezelo sokuthi bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli, nabapristi babo, namaLevi embusweni wami, abafuna ukuya eJerusalema, bangahamba nawe, ₁₄njengokuba uthunyiwe yinkosi nabeluleki bayo abayisikhombisa ukubuza ngelakwaJuda neJerusalema njengokomthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho osesandleni sakho, ₁₅nokuyisa isiliva negolide inkosi nabeluleki bayo abalinikele ngesihle kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ondlu yakhe iseJerusalema, ₁₆kanye nalo lonke isiliva negolide oyakukufumana ezweni lonke laseBabele, neminikelo yesihle yabantu neyabapristi, benikelela ngesihle indlu kaNkulunkulu wabo eseJerusalema. ₁₇Ngalokho uyakuthenga ngesineke sonke ngale mali izinkunzi, nezinqama, namawundlu kanye neminikelo yakho yempuphu neminikelo yakho yokuphuzwa, unikele ngakho e-altare lendlu kaNkulunkulu wenu eseJerusalema.

₁₈“Okuhle kuwe nakubafowenu ukuba nikwenze ngesiliva negolide eliseleyo, kwenzeni ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu wenu. ₁₉Izitsha onikwe zona ukuba zibe ngezenkonzo yendlu kaNkulunkulu wakho, zibuyisele phambi kukaNkulunkulu waseJerusalema. ₂₀Okunye okudingekayo endlini kaNkulunkulu wakho, ofanele ukukunika, kukhiphe endlini yengcebo yenkosi.

₂₁“Kimina, yebo, mina Aritahishashita inkosi, kukhishwa isimemezelo kubo bonke abaphathizikhwama abangaphesheya koMfula* ukuthi konke u-Ezra umpristi nombhali womthetho kaNkulunkulu wezulu ayakukubiza kini, makwenziwe ngesineke sonke, ₂₂kuze kube ngamatalenta* ayikhulu esiliva, namakhora* ayikhulu kakolweni, namabhati* ayikhulu ewayini, namabhati ayikhulu amafutha, nosawoti ongabaliwe. ₂₃Konke okusesimemezelweni sikaNkulunkulu wezulu makwenzelwe ngesineke indlu kaNkulunkulu wezulu, ngokuba kungase kube khona intukuthelo phezu kombuso wenkosi namadodana ayo na? ₂₄Futhi siyanazisa ukuthi akakho onegunya lokuthelisa abapristi namaLevi, nabahlabeleli, nabalindisango, namaNethini,* nezinceku zale ndlu kaNkulunkulu intela, nenkokhiso, nemali yendlela.

₂₅“Wena-ke, Ezra, ngokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu wakho okusesandleni sakho, misa abahluleli nabaholi abayakwahlulela bonke abantu abangaphesheya koMfula,* bonke abazi imithetho kaNkulunkulu wakho; nongayaziyo nimfundise. ₂₆Bonke abangayikwenza umthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho nomthetho wenkosi mabahlulelwe ngaso sonke isineke, noma kube ngokokufa noma okokuxoshwa, noma impahla yabo ibe yisizi, noma kube ngukuboshwa.”

₂₇Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wawobaba obeke enhliziyweni yenkosi ukuhlobisa indlu kaJehova eseJerusalema, ₂₈wehlisela phezu kwami umusa phambi kwenkosi, nabeluleki bayo, naphambi kwezikhulu zonke zenkosi ezingamaqhawe. Mina ngaqiniswa ngokwesandla seNkosi uNkulunkulu wami esasiphezu kwami, ngabutha ku-Israyeli abayizinhloko ukuba bakhuphuke nami.

₁Nazi izinhloko zawoyise, nazi izizukulwane zabakhuphuka nami eBabele ekubuseni kuka-Aritahishashita inkosi:

₂Kumadodana kaFinehasi: nguGereshomu; kumadodana ka-Itamari: nguDaniyeli; kumadodana kaDavide: nguHathushi. ₃Kumadodana kaShekaniya, kumadodana kaPharoshi: nguZakariya; kanye naye kwabhalwa ngezizukulwane abesilisa abayikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu. ₄Kumadodana kaPhahati Mowabi: ngu-Eliyohenayi indodana kaZeraya; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamakhulu amabili. ₅Kumadodana kaShekaniya: yindodana kaJahaziyeli; kanye nayo ngabesilisa abangamakhulu amathathu. ₆Kumadodana ka-Adini: ngu-Ebedi indodana kaJonathani; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamashumi ayisihlanu. ₇Kumadodana ka-Elamu: nguJeshaya indodana ka-Athaliya; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamashumi ayisikhombisa. ₈Kumadodana kaShefathiya: nguZebadiya indodana kaMikayeli; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamashumi ayisishiyagalombili. ₉Kumadodana kaJowabe: ngu-Obadiya indodana kaJehiyeli; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamakhulu amabili neshumi nesishiyagalombili. ₁₀Kumadodana kaShelomiti: yindodana kaJosifiya; kanye nayo ngabesilisa abayikhulu namashumi ayisithupha. ₁₁Kumadodana kaBebayi: nguZakariya indodana kaBebayi; kanye naye ngabesilisa abangamashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili. ₁₂Kumadodana ka-Azigadi: nguJohanani indodana kaHakathani; kanye naye ngabesilisa abayikhulu neshumi. ₁₃Kumadodana ka-Adonikamu, awokugcina: nanka amagama awo: ngo-Elifeleti, noJehiyeli, noShemaya, nabesilisa abangamashumi ayisithupha kanye nabo. ₁₄Kumadodana kaBigivayi: ngo-Uthayi noZabudi; kanye nabo ngabesilisa abanamashumi ayisikhombisa.

₁₅Ngababutha emfuleni oya e-Ahava; samisa khona izinsuku ezintathu; ngabheka abantu nabapristi, angifumananga khona noyedwa wamadodana kaLevi. ₁₆Ngase ngithuma ngibiza o-Eliyezeri, no-Ariyeli, noShemaya, no-Elinathani, noJaribi, no-Elinathani, noNathani, noZakariya, noMeshulamu abayizinhloko, kanye noJoyaribi no-Elinathani abafundisayo. ₁₇Ngabathuma ku-Ido, inhloko yasendaweni yaseKhasifiya, ngabeka emlonyeni wabo amazwi abayakuwakhuluma ku-Ido nakubafowabo amaNethini* endaweni yaseKhasifiya ukuba basilethele izinceku zendlu kaNkulunkulu wethu. ₁₈Ngesandla esihle sikaNkulunkulu wethu esasiphezu kwethu basilethela umuntu onengqondo wamadodana kaMaheli indodana kaLevi ka-Israyeli, kanye noSherebiya namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nesishiyagalombili, ₁₉noHashabiya enoJeshaya wamadodana kaMerari, nabafowabo namadodana abo, bengamashumi amabili, ₂₀nakuwo amaNethini* uDavide nezikhulu ababewanikele enkonzweni yamaLevi amaNethini angamakhulu amabili namashumi amabili, abizwa onke ngamagama.

₂₁Ngase ngimemezela khona ukuzila ukudla ngasemfuleni i-Ahava ukuba sizithobe phambi kukaNkulunkulu, sizifunele kuye indlela emhlophe, thina nabantwana bethu, nemfuyo yethu yonke. ₂₂Ngokuba nganginamahloni ukucela enkosini impi nabamahhashi ukuba basisize ezitheni zasendleleni, ngokuba sasikhulumile enkosini, sathi: “Isandla sikaNkulunkulu wethu siphezu kwabo bonke abamfunayo ukuba kube kuhle, kepha amandla akhe nentukuthelo yakhe kuphezu kwabo bonke abamshiyayo.” ₂₃Sase sizila-ke, sanxusa uNkulunkulu wethu ngalokho, wasizwa.

₂₄Ngase ngahlukanisa ezikhulwini zabapristi abayishumi nambili: oSherebiya, noHashabiya, nabafowabo abayishumi kanye nabo, ₂₅ngabalinganisela isiliva negolide nezitsha, umnikelo wendlu kaNkulunkulu wethu, okwakunikelwe ngawo yinkosi nabeluleki bayo, nezikhulu zayo, naye wonke u-Israyeli owayelapho; ₂₆ngalinganisela ezandleni zabo amatalenta* angamakhulu ayisithupha namashumi ayisihlanu esiliva, namatalenta ayikhulu ayizitsha zesiliva, namatalenta ayikhulu egolide, ₂₇nezindebe ezingamashumi amabili zegolide ezingamadarike* ayinkulungwane, nezitsha ezimbili zethusi elikhazimulayo nelihle, eliyigugu njengegolide.

₂₈Ngathi kubo: “Ningcwele kuJehova, nezitsha zingcwele; isiliva negolide kungumnikelo wesihle kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo. ₂₉Lindani, nikugcine, nize nikulinganise ngaphambi kwezikhulu zabapristi nezamaLevi nezikhulu zawoyise bakwa-Israyeli eJerusalema emakamelweni endlu kaJehova.” ₃₀Base bamukela abapristi namaLevi okulinganisiweyo, isiliva negolide nezitsha, ukuba bakuyise eJerusalema endlini kaNkulunkulu wethu.

₃₁Sase sisuka emfuleni i-Ahava ngolweshumi nambili lwenyanga yokuqala ukuba siye eJerusalema; isandla sikaNkulunkulu wethu sasiphezu kwethu, wasophula esandleni sesitha nakumqamekeli endleleni. ₃₂Safika eJerusalema, sahlala khona izinsuku ezintathu.

₃₃Ngosuku lwesine kwalinganiswa isiliva negolide nezitsha endlini kaNkulunkulu wethu, kwanikezwa esandleni sikaMeremoti, indodana ka-Uriya, umpristi; u-Eleyazare indodana kaFinehasi wayenaye; uJozabadi indodana kaJeshuwa noNohadiya, indodana kaBinuwi, amaLevi, babe nabo, ₃₄konke-ke kwenziwa ngomumo nangesisindo; sonke isisindo salotshwa ngaleso sikhathi.

₃₅Abathunjwa abaphuma ekuthunjweni banikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli eyizinkunzi eziyishumi nambili ngaye wonke u-Israyeli, nezinqama ezingamashumi ayisihiyagalolunye nesithupha, namawundlu angamashumi ayisikhombisa nesikhombisa, nezimpongo eziyishumi nambili zibe ngumnikelo wokona; konke kwakungumnikelo wokushiswa kuJehova. ₃₆Banika imithetho yenkosi kothulasizwe benkosi nakubabusi phesheya koMfula;* basekela abantu nendlu kaNkulunkulu.

₁Kwathi sekuphelile lokho, izikhulu zasondela kimi, zathi: “Abantu bakwa-Israyeli nabapristi namaLevi abazahlukanisanga nabantu bezizwe nezinengiso zabo, ezamaKhanani, namaHeti, namaPherizi, namaJebusi, nama-Amoni, nabakwaMowabi, nabaseGibithe, nama-Amori. ₂Ngokuba bazithathele amadodakazi abo, bona namadodana abo, kuze kuthi inzalo engcwele isixubene nabantu bezizwe; izandla zezikhulu nababusi yizona ebeziphambili kuleso siphambeko.”

₃Lapho ngizwa leyo ndaba, ngaklebhula ingubo yami nejazi lami, ngahluthula izinwele zekhanda lami nesilevu sami, ngahlala phansi ngimangele. ₄Kwase kubuthana kimi bonke abathuthumela ngamazwi kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ngenxa yesiphambeko sabathunjwa; ngahlala ngimangele kwaze kwaba sesikhathini somnikelo wakusihlwa.

₅Ngesikhathi somnikelo wakusihlwa ngavuka ekuzileni kwami, ingubo yami nejazi lami kuklebhukile, ngaguqa ngamadolo, ngelulela izandla zami kuJehova uNkulunkulu wami, ₆ngathi: “Nkulunkulu wami, nginamahloni, ngiyakhophoza ukuba ngiphakamisele ubuso bami kuwe Nkulunkulu wami, ngokuba izono zethu zandile ngaphezu kwamakhanda ethu, namacala ethu akhulile kuze kube sezulwini. ₇Kusukela ezinsukwini zawobaba kuze kube namuhla sinecala elikhulu; ngenxa yezono zethu sanikelwa thina namakhosi ethu nabapristi bethu ezandleni zamakhosi abezizwe enkembeni, nasekuthunjweni, nasekuphangweni, nasemahlonini obuso njenganamuhla.

₈“Kepha manje senzelwe isikhashana umusa ovela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukusishiyela insali yabasindileyo nokusinika isikhonkwane endaweni yakhe engcwele ukuba uNkulunkulu wethu akhanyise amehlo ethu, asinike ikhefu elincane ebugqileni bethu. ₉Ngokuba siyizigqila; nokho uNkulunkulu wethu akasishiyanga ebugqileni bethu, kepha usenzele isihawu emehlweni amakhosi asePheresiya ukuba asinike ikhefu, simise indlu kaNkulunkulu wethu, sivuse incithakalo yayo, asinike ugange kwaJuda naseJerusalema.

₁₀“Manje siyakuthini, Nkulunkulu wethu, emva kwalokhu na? Ngokuba sishiyile imiyalo yakho ₁₁oyale ngayo ngezandla zezinceku zakho abaprofethi ngokuthi: ‘Izwe eniya kulo ukulidla liyizwe elingcolileyo ngenxa yokungcola kwabantu bezizwe ngezinengiso zabo eziligcwalisile ngokonakalisa kwabo, kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kufike ekugcineni. ₁₂Ngalokho ninganiki amadodana abo amadodakazi enu, futhi ningathatheli amadodana enu amadodakazi abo, ningafuni ukuthula kwabo nenhlalakahle yabo kuze kube phakade, ukuze nibe namandla, nidle okuhle kwezwe, nilishiye libe yifa labantwana benu kuze kube phakade.’

₁₃“Ngasemva kwakho konke okufike phezu kwethu ngenxa yezenzo zethu ezimbi, nangecala lethu elikhulu, nangokuba wena Nkulunkulu wethu awusijezisanga ngokufanele izono zethu, wasinika isigaba sabasindileyo njengalesi, ₁₄singabuye saphule yini imiyalo yakho, sendiselane nalabo bantu abazenza lezi zinengiso na? Nga ungasithukutheleli uze usiqede, kuze kungabikho nsali nosindayo na? ₁₅Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ulungile, ngokuba sishiyiwe siyinsali nje njenganamuhla; bheka, siphambi kwakho necala lethu, nokho akakho ongema phambi kwakho ngenxa yalokho.”

₁U-Ezra esakhuleka, evuma izono ngokukhala, eziwise phansi phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, kwabuthana kuye kuvela ku-Israyeli ibandla elikhulu kakhulu labesilisa nabesifazane nabantwana, ngokuba abantu bakhala ngokukhala okukhulu. ₂UShekaniya, indodana kaJehiyeli, enye yamadodana ka-Elamu, wathatha wathi ku-Ezra: “Siphambukile kuNkulunkulu wethu, sithathe abesifazane babezizwe kubantu bezwe. Nokho lisekhona ithemba ku-Israyeli ngale nto. ₃Ngalokho masenze isivumelwano noNkulunkulu wethu ukuba silahle bonke abesifazane nabazelwe yibo ngesiluleko senkosi nesabathuthumela ngomyalo kaNkulunkulu wethu; akwenziwe ngomthetho. ₄Vuka, ngokuba iphezu kwakho le ndaba; thina sinawe; yiba nesibindi, ukwenze.”

₅Wayesevuka u-Ezra, wafungisa izikhulu zabapristi, namaLevi, naye wonke u-Israyeli ukuba benze ngokwaleli zwi. Bafunga-ke. ₆Wayesevuka u-Ezra phambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu, wangena ekamelweni likaJehohanani indodana ka-Eliyashibi, kepha esefike khona akadlanga sinkwa, kaphuzanga manzi, ngokuba walila ngenxa yesiphambeko sabathunjwa.

₇Bathumela izwi kwaJuda naseJerusalema kubo bonke abathunjwa ukuba babuthane eJerusalema ₈ngokuthi bonke abangafiki ngezinsuku ezintathu ngokwesiluleko sezikhulu namalunga kuyakudliwa yonke impahla yabo, bona bahlukaniswe nebandla labathunjwa.

₉Bonke abantu bakwaJuda nabakwaBenjamini babuthana eJerusalema ngezinsuku ezintathu; kwakuyinyanga yesishiyagalolunye, ngolwamashumi amabili lwenyanga; bonke abantu bahlala esigcawini ngaphambi kwendlu kaNkulunkulu bethuthumela ngale ndaba nangemvula enkulu. ₁₀U-Ezra, umpristi, wasukuma, wathi kubo: “Niphambukile nithathe abesifazane babezizwe ukwandisa icala lakwa-Israyeli. ₁₁Ngalokho vumani izono kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo, nenze intando yakhe, nizahlukanise nabantu bezwe nabesifazane babezizwe.”

₁₂Lase liphendula lonke ibandla, lathi ngezwi elikhulu: “Njengokusho kwakho kithina nga sikwenza. ₁₃Kepha abantu baningi, futhi kuyisikhathi semvula enkulu, asinakuma phandle, futhi lo msebenzi awusiwo walusuku lunye nowezimbili, ngokuba siphambukile kakhulu ngale ndaba. ₁₄Izinduna zethu mazime phambi kwebandla lonke; bonke abasemizini yethu abathathe abesifazane babezizwe mabeze ngesikhathi esinqunyiweyo, benamalunga emizi ngemizi nabahluleli bayo, ize ibuye kithi intukuthelo evuthayo kaNkulunkulu wethu kule ndaba.” ₁₅UJonathani, indodana ka-Asaheli, noJahazeya indodana kaThikiva kuphela bamelana nalokho; oMeshulamu noShabethayi umLevi babasiza.

₁₆Kepha abathunjwa benze njalo. Kwakhethwa u-Ezra, umpristi, namadoda ayizinhloko zawoyise njengezindlu zawoyise, bonke ngamagama; bahlala ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yeshumi ukuyiphenya le ndaba. ₁₇Baqeda namadoda ayethathe abesifazane babezizwe ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yokuqala.

₁₈Abafunyaniswa phakathi kwamadodana abapristi ukuthi bathathe abesifazane babezizwe nampa: kumadodana kaJeshuwa indodana kaJosadaki nakubafowabo: ngoMahaseya, no-Eliyezeri, noJaribi, noGedaliya. ₁₉Banika izandla zabo zokuthi bayakulahla abafazi babo; lokhu benecala, banikela ngenqama yomhlambi ngecala labo. ₂₀Kumadodana ka-Imeri: ngoHanani noZebadiya. ₂₁Kumadodana kaHarimi: ngoMahaseya, no-Eliya, noShemaya, noJehiyeli, no-Uziya. ₂₂Kumadodana kaPhashuri: ngo-Eliyohenayi, noMahaseya, no-Ishmayeli, noNethaneli, noJozabadi, no-Eleyasa. ₂₃KumaLevi: ngoJozabadi, noShimeyi, noKhelaya onguKelitha, noPhethahiya, noJuda, no-Eliyezeri. ₂₄Kubahlabeleli: ngu-Eliyashibi; kubalindisango: ngoShalumi, noTeleme, no-Uri. ₂₅Ku-Israyeli: Kumadodana kaPharoshi: ngoRamiya, no-Iziya, noMalikhiya, noMijamini, no-Eleyazare, noMalikhiya, noBenaya. ₂₆Kumadodana ka-Elamu: ngoMathaniya, noZakariya, noJehiyeli, no-Abidi, noJeremoti, no-Eliya. ₂₇Kumadodana kaZathu: ngo-Eliyohenayi, no-Eliyashibi, noMathaniya, noJeremoti, noZabadi, no-Aziza. ₂₈Kumadodana kaBebayi: ngoJehohanani, noHananiya, noZabayi, no-Atilayi. ₂₉Kumadodana kaBani: ngoMeshulamu, noMaluki, no-Adaya, noJashubi, noSheyali, noJeremoti. ₃₀Kumadodana kaPhahati Mowabi: ngo-Adina, noKhelali, noBenaya, noMahaseya, noMathaniya, noBesaleli, noBinuwi, noManase. ₃₁Amadodana kaHarimi: o-Eliyezeri, noJishiya, noMalikhiya, noShemaya, noShimeyoni, ₃₂noBenjamini, noMaluki, noShemariya. ₃₃Kumadodana kaHashumi: ngoMathenayi, noMathatha, noZabadi, no-Elifeleti, noJeremayi, noManase, noShimeyi. ₃₄Kumadodana kaBani: ngoMahadayi, no-Amramu, no-Uweli, ₃₅noBenaya, noBedeya, noKeluhi, ₃₆noVaniya, noMeremoti, no-Eliyashibi, ₃₇noMathaniya, noMathenayi, noJahasu, ₃₈noBani, noBinuwi, noShimeyi, ₃₉noShelemiya, noNathani, no-Adaya, ₄₀noMakenadebayi, noShashayi, noSharayi, ₄₁no-Azareli, noShelemiya, noShemariya, ₄₂noShalumi, no-Amariya, noJosefa. ₄₃Kumadodana kaNebo: ngoJehiyeli, noMatithiya, noZabadi, noSebina, no-Ido, noJoweli, noBenaya.

₄₄Bonke labo babethathe abesifazane babezizwe; kwakukhona phakathi kwabo abesifazane ababezele abantwana.