To The Word – Day 185

₁UShefathiya indodana kaMathani, noGedaliya indodana kaPhashuri, noJukali indodana kaShelemiya, noPhashuri indodana kaMalikhiya bawezwa amazwi uJeremiya awakhulumayo kubo bonke abantu ukuthi: ₂“Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Osele kulo muzi uyakufa ngenkemba, nangendlala, nangesifo, kepha ophumela kumaKaledi uyakuphila, nokuphila kwakhe kuyakuba yimpango kuye, aphile.’ ₃Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Lo muzi uyakunikelwa nokunikelwa esandleni sempi yenkosi yaseBabele, iwuthathe.’ ”

₄Zase zithi izikhulu enkosini: “Makabulawe lo muntu, njengokuba edangalisa izandla zamadoda empi asele kulo muzi nezandla zabantu bonke ngokukhuluma amazwi anjalo kubo, ngokuba lo muntu akafuni ukuthula kwalaba bantu, ubafunela okubi.”

₅USedekiya inkosi wayesethi: “Bhekani, usesandleni senu, ngokuba inkosi ayinamandla okuphambana nani ngalutho.”

₆Zase zimthatha uJeremiya, zamphonsa emgodini kaMalikhiya indodana yenkosi owawusegcekeni letilongo, bamehlisa uJeremiya ngezintambo. Emgodini kwakungekho manzi, udaka lodwa; uJeremiya washona odakeni.

₇U-Ebedi Meleki umKushe, umthenwa, owayesendlini yenkosi, esezwile ukuthi bamfake uJeremiya emgodini, inkosi ihlezi esangweni lakwaBenjamini, ₈u-Ebedi Meleki waphuma endlini yenkosi, wakhuluma enkosini, wathi: ₉“Nkosi yami, nkosi, laba bantu benzile okubi ngakho konke abakwenzile kuJeremiya umprofethi, abamphonsile emgodini; uyakufela endaweni lapho ekhona ngokulamba, ngokuba akusekho ukudla emzini.”

₁₀Inkosi yayisimyala u-Ebedi Meleki umKushe, ithi: “Thatha lapha abantu abangamashumi amathathu, uhambe nabo, umkhiphe uJeremiya umprofethi emgodini, engakafi.”

₁₁U-Ebedi Meleki wabathatha abantu, wahamba nabo, waya endlini yenkosi phansi kwendlu yengcebo, wakhipha khona amadlephudlephu amadala namanikiniki abolileyo, wawehlisela kuJeremiya emgodini ngezintambo. ₁₂U-Ebedi Meleki umKushe wathi kuJeremiya: “Faka lawa madlephudlephu amadala namanikiniki abolileyo emakhwapheni phansi kwezintambo.” UJeremiya wenze njalo. ₁₃Base bemdonsa uJeremiya ngezintambo, bamkhipha emgodini; uJeremiya wahlala egcekeni letilongo.

₁₄USedekiya inkosi wathumela wamthatha uJeremiya umprofethi, wamzisa kuye esikhaleni sesithathu esisendlini kaJehova; inkosi yathi kuJeremiya: “Ngithanda ukubuza into kuwe, ungangifihleli lutho.”

₁₅UJeremiya wathi kuSedekiya: “Uma ngikutshela, awuyikungibulala nokungibulala na? Uma ngikululeka, awuyikungilalela.”

₁₆Inkosi uSedekiya yayisifunga ngasese kuJeremiya, yathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova owasenzela lo mphefumulo, angiyikukubulala, futhi angiyikukunikela esandleni salawa madoda afuna ukuphila kwakho.”

₁₇Wayesethi uJeremiya kuSedekiya: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Uma uphuma nokuphuma, uye ezikhulwini zenkosi yaseBabele, umphefumulo wakho uyakuphila, futhi lo muzi awuyikushiswa ngomlilo, uphile wena nendlu yakho; ₁₈kepha uma ungaphumi uye ezikhulwini zenkosi yaseBabele, lo muzi uyakunikelwa esandleni samaKaledi, awushise ngomlilo, ungaphunyuki esandleni sabo.’ ”

₁₉Inkosi uSedekiya yathi kuJeremiya: “Ngiyesaba abaJuda abahlubukele kumaKaledi, funa nginikelwe esandleni sabo, bangiklolodele.”

₂₀Kepha uJeremiya wathi: “Abayikukunikela. Ake ulilalele izwi likaJehova kulokhu engikukhulumayo kuwe; kuyakuba kuhle kuwe, umphefumulo wakho uphile. ₂₁Kepha uma wala ukuphuma, yileli zwi uJehova angibonisile lona lokuthi: ₂₂Bheka, bonke abesifazane abasele endlini yenkosi yakwaJuda bayakukhishelwa izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele; bheka, bayakuthi:

₂₃“Bayakukhiphela amaKaledi bonke abafazi bakho nabantwana bakho; awuyikuphunyuka esandleni sabo, kepha uyakubanjwa ngesandla senkosi yaseBabele, wenze ukuba lo muzi ushiswe ngomlilo.”

₂₄USedekiya wayesethi kuJeremiya: “Makungabikho muntu owazi lawa mazwi, funa ufe. ₂₅Uma izikhulu zizwa ukuthi ngikhulumile nawe, bese zifika kuwe, zithi kuwe: ‘Ake usitshele okukhulumileyo enkosini, ungasifihleli khona, asiyikukubulala, nalokho inkosi eyakukhuluma kuwe,’ ₂₆uyakuthi kubo: ‘Nganxusa enkosini ukuba ingangibuyiseli endlini kaJonathani, funa ngifele khona.’ ”

₂₇Zonke izikhulu zafika kuJeremiya, zambuza. Wazitshela onke lawa mazwi inkosi emyale ngawo. Zathula, zasuka kuye, ngokuba indaba ayizwakalanga.

₂₈Kepha uJeremiya wasala egcekeni letilongo, kwaze kwafika usuku elanqotshwa ngalo iJerusalema.

₁Kwathi lapho iJerusalema selinqotshiwe ngomnyaka wesishiyagalolunye kaSedekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, ngenyanga yeshumi kwafika uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, nempi yakhe yonke eJerusalema, walivimbezela; ₂ngomnyaka weshumi nanye kaSedekiya ngenyanga yesine ngolwesishiyagalolunye lwenyanga umuzi wafohlwa ₃kwangena zonke izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele, zahlala esangweni eliphakathi, oNerigali Sareseri, noSamigari Nebo, noSaresekimi induna yezinceku, noNerigali Sareseri induna yabapristi, kanye nazo zonke ezinye izikhulu zenkosi yaseBabele. ₄Kwathi lapho uSedekiya inkosi yakwaJuda nawo onke amadoda empi bezibona, babaleka, bephuma emzini ebusuku ngendlela yensimu yenkosi ngesango phakathi kwezingange zombili; waphuma ngendlela yase-Araba.

₅Kepha impi yamaKaledi yabaxosha, yamfica uSedekiya emahlane aseJeriko, yambamba, yamkhuphulela kuNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, eRibila ezweni laseHamati, wamahlulela. ₆Inkosi yaseBabele yabulala amadodana kaSedekiya eRibila phambi kwamehlo akhe; futhi inkosi yaseBabele yabulala bonke abakhulu bakwaJuda. ₇Yakhipha namehlo kaSedekiya, yambopha ngamaketanga ukuba imyise eBabele.

₈AmaKaledi ashisa indlu yenkosi nezindlu zabantu ngomlilo, azidiliza izingange zaseJerusalema. ₉Insali yabantu ababesala emzini, nabahlubuki ababehlubukela kuye, nensali yabantu abaseleyo uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabathumbela eBabele. ₁₀Kepha uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabashiya abantu abampofu ababengenalutho ezweni lakwaJuda, wabanika izivini namasimu ngasikhathi sinye.

₁₁UNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, wamyala uNebuzaradani, induna yabalindi, ngoJeremiya, wathi: ₁₂“Mthathe, umbheke, ungamenzeli lutho olubi, kepha wenze kuye njengokusho kwakhe kuwe.” ₁₃UNebuzaradani induna yabalindi kanye noNebushazibani induna yezinceku, noNerigali Sareseri induna yabapristi, nezikhulu zonke zenkosi yaseBabele base bethumela, ₁₄bathuma bamkhipha uJeremiya egcekeni letilongo, bamnikeza kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani ukuba amyise ekhaya; wayesehlala phakathi kwabantu.

₁₅Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya esavalelwe egcekeni letilongo, lithi: ₁₆“Hamba ukhulume ku-Ebedi Meleki umKushe, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela amazwi ami kulo muzi kube kubi, kungabi kuhle, abe ngaphambi kwakho ngalolo suku. ₁₇Kepha ngiyakukophula ngalolo suku, usho uJehova, unganikelwa esandleni sabantu obesabayo. ₁₈Ngokuba ngiyakukukhulula nokukukhulula, awuyikuwa ngenkemba, kepha ukuphila kwakho kuyakuba yimpango kuwe, ngokuba ungethembile, usho uJehova.’ ”

₁Izwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuJehova, uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi esemvumele ukuba asuke eRama ngokumthatha eboshiwe ngamaketanga phakathi kwabo bonke abathunjwa baseJerusalema nakwaJuda ababeyakuthunjelwa eBabele. ₂Induna yabalindi yamthatha uJeremiya, yathi kuye: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho wakhuluma lokhu okubi kule ndawo; ₃usekulethile uJehova, wakwenza njengokukhuluma kwakhe, ngokuba nonile kuJehova, kanililalelanga izwi lakhe; ngalokho le nto inehlele. ₄Bheka, manje sengiyakukhulula namuhla emaketangeni asezandleni zakho. Uma kukuhle emehlweni akho ukuya nami eBabele, woza ngiyakukubheka; kepha uma kukubi emehlweni akho ukuya nami eBabele, kuyeke; bheka, izwe lonke lisebusweni bakho; lapho kukuhle nalapho kulungile emehlweni akho ukuya khona, yiya lapho.” ₅Engakabuyi, yathi: “Buyela kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani, inkosi yaseBabele emenze abe ngumbusi phezu kwemizi yakwaJuda, uhlale naye phakathi kwabantu; noma lapho kulungile emehlweni akho ukuya khona, yiya lapho.” Induna yabalindi yayisimnika umphako nesipho, yamvumela ukuba ahambe. ₆Wayesehamba uJeremiya, waya kuGedaliya, indodana ka-Ahikamu, eMispa, wahlala naye phakathi kwabantu ababesele ezweni.

₇Zonke izinduna zempi ezazisendle, zona nabantu bazo, sezizwile ukuthi inkosi yaseBabele imenzile uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu umbusi ezweni nokuthi inikele kuye abesilisa, nabesifazane, nabantwana, nabayizimpofana bezwe abangathunjelwanga eBabele, ₈zaya kuGedaliya eMispa: u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya, noJohanani noJonathani amadodana kaKhareya, noSeraya indodana kaThanihumeti, namadodana ka-Efayi waseNethofa, noJahazaniya indodana yomMahakha, bona nabantu babo. ₉UGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani wafunga kubo nakubantu babo, wathi: “Ningesabi ukukhonza amaKaledi: hlalani ezweni, niyikhonze inkosi yaseBabele, kuyakuba kuhle kini. ₁₀Bhekani, mina ngiyakuhlala eMispa, ngiwakhonze lawo maKaledi ayakufika kithina, kepha nina, buthani iwayini, nezithelo, namafutha, nikubeke ezitsheni zenu, nihlale emizini yenu eniyithathileyo.”

₁₁Futhi lapho bonke abaJuda ababekwaMowabi, naphakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Amoni, nakwa-Edomi, nababesemazweni onke sebezwile ukuthi inkosi yaseBabele ishiyile insali kwaJuda nokuthi ibeke phezu kwabo uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani ukuba abe ngumbusi phezu kwabo, ₁₂bonke abaJuda babuya ezindaweni zonke ababexoshelwe kuzo, bafika ezweni lakwaJuda kuGedaliya eMispa, babutha kakhulu iwayini nezithelo.

₁₃UJohanani indodana kaKhareya nazo zonke izinduna zempi ezazisendle beza kuGedaliya eMispa, ₁₄bathi kuye: “Uyazi yini ukuthi uBahalisi inkosi yabantwana bakwa-Amoni uthume u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya ukuba akubulale na?” Kepha uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu akabakholwanga.

₁₅UJohanani indodana kaKhareya wakhuluma kuGedaliya eMispa ngasese, wathi: “Mangihambe ngimbulale u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya, kungaziwa muntu; ubeyakukubulalelani, ukuze bonke abaJuda ababuthene kuwe bahlakazake, insali yakwaJuda ichithwe, na?”

₁₆Kepha uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu wathi kuJohanani indodana kaKhareya: “Awuyikwenza le nto, ngokuba ukhuluma amanga ngo-Ishmayeli.”

₁Kwathi ngenyanga yesikhombisa u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya ka-Elishama, wozalo lwenkosi nowezikhulu zenkosi, wafika namadoda ayishumi kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu eMispa, badla khona isinkwa kanyekanye eMispa. ₂Wayesesuka u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya namadoda ayishumi ayenaye, bamshaya uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani ngenkemba, bambulala, yena inkosi yaseBabele ebimenze umbusi ezweni. ₃U-Ishmayeli wabulala nabo bonke abaJuda ababe naye uGedaliya eMispa, namaKaledi, amadoda empi ayefunyanwa khona.

₄Kwathi ngosuku lwesibili esembulele uGedaliya, kungaziwa muntu, ₅kwafika amadoda angamashumi ayisishiyagalombili evela eShekemi, naseShilo, naseSamariya, izilevu zawo ziphuculiwe nezingubo ziklejuliwe, bezisikile, bephethe iminikelo yempuphu nempepho ezandleni zabo ukuba bakulethe endlini kaJehova. ₆U-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya waphuma eMispa ukubahlangabeza, ehamba ekhala. Kwathi lapho esehlangana nabo, wathi kubo: “Ngenani kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu.”

₇Kwathi sebengenile phakathi komuzi, u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wababulala, wabalahla emgodini, yena namadoda ayenaye. ₈Kepha kwafunyanwa amadoda ayishumi phakathi kwabo asho ku-Ishmayeli, athi: “Ungasibulali, ngokuba sinokolweni, nebhali,* namafutha, nezinyosi okubekelelwe endle.” Wayesebayeka, akababulalanga kanye nabafowabo. ₉Umgodi u-Ishmayeli alahla kuwo zonke izidumbu zabantu ayebabulele wawungumgodi omkhulu owenziwa yinkosi u-Asa ngenxa kaBahasha inkosi ka-Israyeli; u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wawugcwalisa ngababuleweyo.

₁₀U-Ishmayeli wayesethumba bonke abantu abaseleyo eMispa, amadodakazi enkosi nabo bonke abantu ababesele eMispa, uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi ayebanikele kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu, yebo, u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wabathumba, wahamba ukuba adlulele kubantwana bakwa-Amoni.

₁₁Kepha lapho uJohanani indodana kaKhareya nazo zonke izinduna zempi ezazinaye sebezwile konke okubi u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya abekwenzile, ₁₂bathatha bonke abantu, baya ukulwa no-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya, bamfumana ngasemanzini amaningi aseGibeyoni. ₁₃Kwathi lapho bonke abantu ababe no-Ishmayeli bembona uJohanani indodana kaKhareya nazo zonke izinduna zempi ezazinaye, bathokoza. ₁₄Base bephenduka bonke abantu u-Ishmayeli ayebathumbile eMispa, babuya, baya kuJohanani indodana kaKhareya. ₁₅Kepha u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya waphunyuka kuJohanani enamadoda ayisishiyagalombili, waya kubantwana bakwa-Amoni.

₁₆UJohanani indodana kaKhareya nazo zonke izinduna zempi ezazinaye base bethatha yonke insali yabantu ayeyibuyisile ku-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya eMispa, yena esembulele uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu, amadoda empi, nabesifazane, nabantwana, nabathenwa ayebabuyisile eGibeyoni. ₁₇Bahamba, bahlala endaweni yokuphumula eKimihamu elingaseBetlehema ukuba bahambe, bangene eGibithe ₁₈ngenxa yamaKaledi, ngokuba babewesaba, lokhu u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya ebembulele uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu, inkosi yaseBabele eyamenza umbusi ezweni.

₁Zase zisondela zonke izinduna zempi, noJohanani indodana kaKhareya, noJezaniya indodana kaHoshaya, nabantu bonke abancane nabakhulu, ₂zathi kuJeremiya umprofethi: “Ukunxusa kwethu makwamukeleke ngaphambi kwakho, usikhulekele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, unxusele yonke le nsali, ngokuba sisele singaba yingcosana kwabaningi, njengalokhu amehlo akho ekubona nje, ₃ukuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho asibonise indlela esiyakuhamba ngayo, nalokhu esiyakukwenza.”

₄Wayesethi kubo uJeremiya umprofethi: “Nginizwile; bhekani, ngiyakukhuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu njengamazwi enu; kuyakuthi noma yintoni uJehova ayakuniphendula ngayo, nginitshele yona, nginganigodleli lutho.”

₅Bathi kuJeremiya: “UJehova makabe ngufakazi oqinisileyo nothembekileyo ngathi, uma singenzi njengamazwi onke uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ayakukuthuma nawo kithi. ₆Noma lilihle, noma lilibi, siyakulilandela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu esikuthuma kuye ukuba kube kuhle kithi, lapho sililalela izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.”

₇Kwathi emva kwezinsuku eziyishumi izwi likaJehova lafika kuJeremiya. ₈Wayesembiza uJohanani indodana kaKhareya, nazo zonke izinduna zempi ezazinaye, nabo bonke abantu abancane nabakhulu, wathi kubo: ₉“Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli eningithume kuye ukubeka ukunxusa kwenu phambi kwakhe, uthi: ₁₀‘Uma nihlala nokuhlala kuleli zwe, ngiyakunakha nginganidilizi, nginitshale nginganisiphuli, ngokuba ngiyazisola ngokubi engikwenzile kini. ₁₁Ningayesabi inkosi yaseBabele eniyesabayo; ningayesabi, usho uJehova, ngokuba nginani ukuba nginisindise, nginophule esandleni sayo. ₁₂Ngiyakuniphatha ngobubele ukuba inihawukele, inibuyisele ezweni lakini.’

₁₃“Kepha uma nithi: ‘Asiyikuhlala kuleli zwe,’ nize ningalilaleli izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu, ₁₄nithi: ‘Qha, ngokuba siyakuya ezweni laseGibithe, lapho singayikubona khona impi, singezwa ukukhala kwecilongo, singalambeli ukudla, sihlale khona,’ ₁₅yizwa manje izwi likaJehova wena nsali yakwaJuda; usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Uma nibhekisa nokubhekisa ubuso benu ukuya eGibithe, nihambe ukuba nigogobale khona, ₁₆inkemba eniyesabayo iyakunifica khona ezweni laseGibithe, indlala eninovalo ngayo inamathele kini lapho eGibithe, nifele khona. ₁₇Kuyakuba njalo bonke abantu ababhekisa ubuso babo ukuya eGibithe ukuba bagogobale khona; bayakufa ngenkemba, nangendlala, nangesifo, kungabikho kubo oyakusala, aphunyuke ebubini engiyakubehlisela phezu kwabo.’ ₁₈Ngokuba usho kanje uJehova Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Njengalokhu intukuthelo yami nokufutheka kwami kuthululelwe phezu kwabakhileyo eJerusalema, kanjalo ukufutheka kwami kuyakuthululelwa phezu kwenu, nxa ningena eGibithe, nibe yisithuko, nesimangaliso nesiqalekiso, nehlazo, ningabe nisayibona le ndawo.’

₁₉“UJehova ukhulumile ngani ukuthi: ‘Wena nsali yakwaJuda, ungayi eGibithe;’ yazi nokwazi ukuthi ngifakazile kini namuhla. ₂₀Ngokuba nazidukisa, lapho nangithuma kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ukuthi: ‘Sinxusele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, usitshele konke ayakukusho uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, siyakukwenza.’ ₂₁Namuhla senginitshelile, kepha anililalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu nakokukodwa angithume ngakho kini. ₂₂Ngalokho yazini nokwazi ukuthi niyakufa ngenkemba, nangendlala, nangesifo endaweni enifisa ukuya kuyo ukuba nigogobale khona.”