To The Word – Day 152

₁Ngonyaka wokuqala kakumkani uKoreshi wasePeshiya, ukuzalisekisa amazwi awawathetha ngomlomo kaJeremiya, *uNdikhoyo wawuxhokonxa umoya kakumkani uKoreshi wasePeshiya, waza wawisa umthetho kuwo wonke ummandla wakhe, wayalela ukuba ubhalwe, kusithiwa:

₂“Utsho uKoreshi, ukumkani wasePeshiya, ukuthi: ‘UNdikhoyo uThixo wezulu uzinikele kum zonke izikumkani zehlabathi, kananjalo undimisele ukuba ndimakhele indlu eJerusalem kwelakwaJuda. ₃Ngoko ke, nabani phakathi kwenu nonke ongowabantu bakhe, ngamana uThixo wakhe waba naye, anduluke aye eJerusalem kwelakwaJuda, ayakhe indlu kaNdikhoyo, uThixo kaSirayeli, uThixo oseJerusalem. ₄Onke amasalela, ezindaweni zonke axhwarhe kuzo, makancedwe ngabantu bezo ndawo akuzo, anikwe isiliva negolide nenye impahla, kunye nemfuyo kwaneminikelo yokuqhutywa yintliziyo ukwenzela indlu kaThixo eJerusalem.’ ”

₅Ke kaloku iinkulu zezindlu zakwaJuda nakwaBhenjamin, ababingeleli, nabaLevi, naye wonke umntu ontliziyo ichukunyiswe nguThixo, balungiselela ukuya kwakha indlu kaNdikhoyo eJerusalem. ₆Bonke abamelwane babo babancedisa ngezinto zesiliva, nezegolide, nenye impahla, nangemfuyo, nezipho ezixabisekileyo, ndawonye neminikelo yokuqhutywa yintliziyo.

₇Kananjalo ke ukumkani uKoreshi wayikhupha impahla eyayisetyenziswa endlwini kaNdikhoyo, leyo yayithinjwe nguNebhukadenezare eJerusalem waza wayibeka endlwini yothixo wakhe. ₈Ukumkani uKoreshi wasePeshiya wathi mayikhutshwe nguMitredati unondyebo, owazibalayo wazinikezela kuSheshbhazare itshawe lakwaJuda.

₉Ngawo la ke amanani azo:

₁₁Zizonke ke ezi zinto zingamawaka amahlanu anamakhulu amane, izezegolide nezesiliva. Xa bagodukayo ke abathinjwa bephuma eBhabheli besiya eJerusalem, uSheshbhazare wazithatha bahamba nazo.

₁Naba ke abantu bephondo lakwaJuda abâkhululwáyo ekuthinjweni kwelaseBhabheli, okuya babethinjwe ngukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli. Ke kaloku babuyela eJerusalem nakwaJuda, elowo waya kwidolophu yakowabo. ₂Babekhokelwe nguZerubhabheli, uYeshuwa, uNehemiya, uSeraya, uRelaya, uModekayi, uBhileshan, uMispare, uBhigwayi, uRewum, noBhana.

Nalu ke uludwe lwamaSirayeli awabuyayo ndawonye namanani awo:

₆₂Aba ke balukhangela uludwe lwemilibo yezindlu zakomawabo, kodwa ke zange balufumane, ngoko ke zange babandakanywe nobubingeleli, koko bathathwa *njengabanomlaza. ₆₃Ke umlawuli wayalela ukuba bangatyi mpela kwizinto ezingcwele, kude kubekho umbingeleli obalungiselelayo *ngeeurim neethumim.

₆₄Bebonke babengamashumi amane anambini amawaka namakhulu amathathu anamashumi amathandathu, ₆₅ngaphandle kwamawaka asixhenxe anamakhulu mathathu, mashumi mathathu anesixhenxe ezicaka ezingamadoda nezibhinqileyo. Ngokunjalo babeneemvumi ezingamakhulu amabini amadoda nababhinqileyo.

₆₆Kananjalo babenamahashe angamakhulu asixhenxe mashumi mathathu nesithandathu; iimeyile ezingamakhulu amabini mashumi mane nesihlanu; ₆₇iinkamela zingamakhulu amane mashumi mathathu nantlanu; iidonki zona zisisithandathu samawaka, amakhulu asixhenxe mashumi mabini.

₆₈Bakufika endlwini kaNdikhoyo eJerusalem ezinye zeenkulu zezindlu zakhupha umnikelo ngokuqhutywa yintliziyo, ukuze kuhlaziywe indlu kaThixo esizeni sayo. ₆₉Banikela ngokwamandla abo kuvimba, bagalela igolide ebunzima buziikhilogram ezimakhulu mahlanu, kunye nesiliva ebunzima buziikhilogram ezimawaka mabini namakhulu asibhozo, kunye nekhulu leminweba yababingeleli.

₇₀Ke kaloku ababingeleli, abaLevi, iimvumi, abalindi-masango, nezicaka zendlu kaThixo, bebonke baya kuma kwiidolophu zakumawabo, ndawonye nabanye abantu. Kananjalo ke nabanye abangamaSirayeli bema ngokweedolophu zakomawabo.

₁Ke kaloku yathi ifika inyanga yesixhenxe, aye amaSirayeli selezinzile kwiidolophu zawo. Ke bonke abantu baqokelelana eJerusalem. ₂UYeshuwa unyana kaJozadaki nabantakwabo ababingeleli kunye noZerubhabheli unyana kaShelatiyeli noogxa bakhe baqalisa ukwakha iqonga likaThixo kaSirayeli lokwenza amadini atshiswayo, ngokwamazwi abhalwe kumthetho kaMosis umfo wakwaThixo. ₃Nakuba babebaxhalele abantu ababemelene nabo, balakha iqonga esizeni salo, baza benzela *uNdikhoyo amadini atshiswayo apho kulo, ndawonye namadini akusasa nawamatshona. ₄Kananjalo njengoko kubhaliwe, babhiyozela iTheko lamaPhempe, imini nganye ngokwamadini atshiswayo amiselweyo. ₅Emva koko banikela amadini atshiswayo amiselweyo: amadini okuthwasa kwenyanga, namadini amatheko kaNdikhoyo amiselweyo, kunye neminikelo yokuqhutywa yintliziyo kuNdikhoyo. ₆Ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga yesixhenxe baqalisa ukwenzela uNdikhoyo amadini atshiswayo.

Sasingekabekwa isiseko sendlu *kaNdikhoyo. ₇Ke bakhupha imali, bayinika abaqingqi bamatye nabachweli. Bakhupha nokutya, into eselwayo, namafutha omnquma, banika abantu baseSidon nabaseTire, ukuze babathwalele izibonda zomsedare eLebhanon, bazifake elwandle, ziye eJopa, ngokomyalelo kakumkani uKoreshi wasePeshiya.

₈Ngenyanga yesibini kunyaka wesibini befikile endlwini kaThixo eJerusalem, uZerubhabheli unyana kaShelatiyeli, uYeshuwa unyana kaJozadaki, nabantakwabo ababingeleli nabaLevi, nabo bonke ababebuyele eJerusalem bephuma ekuthinjweni, bawuqalisa umsebenzi, bamisela abaLevi abaminyaka imashumi mabini nangaphezulu ukuba bavelele umsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwendlu kaNdikhoyo. ₉UYeshuwa noonyana bakhe nabantakwabo, noKademiyeli noonyana bakhe (inzala kaJuda), noonyana bakaHenadadi, noonyana babo, nabantakwabo, bonke bengabaLevi, ewe, xa bebonke babejonge abasebenzi ababesakha indlu kaThixo.

₁₀Bathe abakhi bakusimisa isiseko sendlu kaNdikhoyo, ababingeleli bevathe ezobubingeleli, bephethe amaxilongo, abaLevi bona (oonyana baka-Asafu) bephethe amacangci, bebonke bema ngeendawo zabo, badumisa uNdikhoyo ngokommiselo kaDavide ukumkani wakwaSirayeli. ₁₁Bantyiloza bebonga bedumisa uNdikhoyo, besithi:

Bonke ke abantu bahlokoma ngentswahla, bekhahlela kuNdikhoyo ngenxa yokumiswa kweziseko zendlu kaNdikhoyo. ₁₂Ke bona abadala ababingeleli nabaLevi neenkulu zezindlu, ababeyazi indlu yantlandlolo, ababanga nakuzibamba, koko basuka bangqukruleka bakusibona simiswa isiseko sendlu kaThixo. Ke bona abanye batsho ngentswahla luvuyo. ₁₃Yaba yintsholo nje engazekiyo nokuba yimikhwazo yovuyo na okanye zizikhalo. Kaloku abantu basuka batsho ngamayeyeye, ntsholo leyo yayivakala nakude.

₁Ke iintshaba zikaJuda noBhenjamin zithe zakuva ukuba abo babuyileyo ekuthinjweni nâbo besakha indlu *kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, ₂zasuka zeza kuZerubhabheli neenkulu zezindlu, zathi kubo: “Nathi sifuna ukunincedisa ekwakheni, kuba nathi kwanjengani siyamlangazelela lo Thixo wenu. Nangoku sasoloko simenzela amadini, kusukela kwixesha likakumkani waseAsiriya uEsaradon, lo wasizisa apha.”

₃Ke uZerubhabheli noYeshuwa neenkulu zezindlu zikaSirayeli baphendula bathi: “Aninalo ilungelo lokwakhela uThixo wethu indlu. Sithi sodwa abaza kuyakha le ndlu kaNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli, ngokomyalelo kakumkani uKoreshi wasePeshiya.”

₄Zasuka ke ezo ntlanga zazibangqongile zabatyhafisa abantu bakwaJuda, zabenza boyika ukuwuqhuba umsebenzi wokwakha. ₅Zathenga amagosa awazidodobalisayo izicwangciso ngalo lonke ithuba lolawulo lukaKoreshi ukumkani wasePeshiya yada yalulawulo lukaDariyo ukumkani wasePeshiya.

₆Ke kaloku ekuqaleni kolawulo luka-Asuwerosi bababeka isityholo esibhaliweyo abantu bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalem.

₇Ke ngemihla ka-Atashasta ukumkani wasePeshiya uBhish-lam, uMitredati, noTabheli, namahlakani abo, babhala ileta, bayithumela kuAtashasta. Le leta ke yayibhalwe ngesiAram ngokwendlela isiAram esibhalwa ngayo.

₈URehum igosa eliphetheyo noShimshayi unobhala babhala ileta echasene neJerusalem, bayithumela kuAtashasta ukumkani. Bayibhala ngolu hlobo, ₉yaye iphuma kuRehum igosa eliphetheyo, noShimshayi unobhala, nawo onke amahlakani abo, abagwebi, abalawuli abongamele abantu, amagosa asePeshiya, e-Ereki naseBhabheli, ama-Alam aseSusa, ₁₀nabo bonke abantu abeziswa apho ngohloniphekileyo umhlekazi uOsnapare, abo wabafudusa wabamisa kwisixeko saseSamariya nakwezinye iindawo kwelentshona ye-Efrati. ₁₁Le ke yikopi yeleta abamthumelela yona:

“Kumkani uAtashasta,

“Le leta ivela kwizicaka zakho ezikwelentshona ye-Efrati.

₁₂“Ukumkani simazisa ukuba laa maJuda awawathumela apha kuthi, nango eJerusalem ehlaziya esiya sixeko sidume ngovukelo nenkohlakalo. Ayazivusa iindonga zaso, nesiseko saso ayasilungisa. ₁₃Makaqonde kakuhle ke ukumkani: ukuba esi sixeko sithe savuswa kwakhona neendonga zaso zalungiswa, ziya kunqumka iirhafu, kungekho namrhumo naluphi na uhlobo lomnikelo oluya kuhlawulwa – nto leyo ke iya kuyiqhwalelisa ingxowa yasebhotwe. ₁₄Ngoko ke thina njengabantu abaxhomekeke kwikomkhulu elo, futhi singakunqweneli ukubona ukumkani edelekile, sithe masikuthumele le leta sikwazise, mhlekazi, ₁₅khon' ukuze kwenziwe uphando kumaxwebhu ashiywa ngabo bakwandulelayo. Apho kwezo ngcombolo ke uya kufumanisa ukuba esi sisixeko sabavukeli, abaphembeleli-dushe kookumkani nakumaphondo; kakade yayiyindawo yodushe kwamandulo. Kwakungenxa yaloo nto ukuze sitshatyalaliswe esi sixeko. ₁₆Ewe, siyakulumkisa, mhlekazi: ukuba sikhe sakhiwa esi sixeko, zavuswa neendonga zaso, wena uya kusala ungenanto apha kwelentshona ye-Efrati.”

₁₇Ukumkani ke waphendula wenjenje:

“URehum igosa eliphetheyo, uShimshayi unobhala, nawo onke amahlakani abo ahlala eSamariya naphi na kwelentshona ye-Efrati: Bhotani!

“Ke ₁₈ileta eniyibhalileyo nasithumelela yona ifundiwe yaguqulwa nam ndisiva. ₁₉Ndilugunyazisile uphando, kwaza kwaphengululwa kwafumaniseka ukuba esi sixeko kwakudala sinembali yabavukeli-zikumkani – yindawo yovukelo nesiphithi-phithi. ₂₀EJerusalem kwakukho ookumkani abanamandla, belawula kwelentshona ye-Efrati, irhafu neminikelo nemirhumo ihlawulwa kubo. ₂₁Ngoko ke wisani umyalelo abo bantu bawuyeke loo msebenzi, ukuze eso sixeko singakhiwa de mna ndikuyalele oko. ₂₂Nize nincede ke ningawuyekeleli lo mcimbi. Ningathini ukuyiyeka ihambele phambili into eza kubeka ikomkhulu emngciphekweni?”

₂₃Ithe ke, isakufundwa loo leta yayivela kukumkani uAtashasta, uRehum noShimshayi unobhala namahlakani abo basuka ngoko nangoko baya kumaJuda eJerusalem, bafika bawanyanzela ngenkani ukuba awumise umsebenzi.

₂₄Ngoko ke umsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwendlu kaThixo eJerusalem wema ngxi, yada yangunyaka wesibini wolawulo lukaDariyo ukumkani wasePeshiya.

₁Ke kaloku umshumayeli uHagayi *nomshumayeli uZakariya umzukulwana kaIdo babeshumayela kwaJuda naseJerusalem egameni likaThixo kaSirayeli ophezu kwabo. ₂Ke uZerubhabheli unyana kaShelatiyeli noYeshuwa unyana kaJozadaki baphinda bawuqhubela phambili umsebenzi wokwakha indlu kaThixo eJerusalem. Babekunye nabashumayeli bakaThixo bebancedisa.

₃Ngelo thuba ke uTatenayi umlawuli kwelentshona ye-Efrati, kunye noSheta-bhozenayi namahlakani abo, baya kubo, babuza bathi: “Nigunyaziswe ngubani ukuba niyakhe le ndlu, nisivuse esi sakhiwo?” ₄Baqhuba bathi: “Khona ngoobani amagama abakhi bale ndlu?” ₅Kambe ke iliso likaThixo wawo lawalusa loo madoda makhulu akwaJuda, awade amiswe, kwada kwakhutshwa ingxelo yasiwa kuDariyo, waza ke waphendula.

₆Nantsi ikopi yeleta kaDariyo awayibhalelwa nguTatenayi umlawuli welentshona ye-Efrati, noSheta-bhozenayi namahlakani abo namagosa elentshona ye-Efrati. ₇Ingxelo leyo bayikhuphayo yayisithi:

“Kumkani uDariyo,

“Makube hele kube chosi kuwe!

₈“Siyakwazisa, kumkani, ukuba sikhe satyelela isithili sakwaJuda nendlu yoThixo omkhulu. Phaya ke sifike abantu beyakha ngamatye amakhulu, bemisa namaplanga ezindongeni zayo. Umsebenzi lowo ke wenziwa ngengqiqo, waye uhambela phambili phantsi kwesikhokelo sabo.

₉“Sikhe sawancwina ngemibuzo amadoda amakhulu, sisithi: ‘Nigunyaziswe ngubani ukuba niyakhe le ndlu, nisivuse esi sakhiwo?’ ₁₀Kananjalo siwabuzile namagama awo, khon' ukuze siwabhale aweenkokheli zawo, sikwazise ngawo.

₁₁“Aphendula ngolu hlobo ke, athi:

“ ‘Thina sizizicaka zikaThixo wezulu nehlabathi. Ngoku ke sivusa indlu eyayakhiwe kwiminyaka yamandulo – yayakhiwe yagqitywa yingangalala yokumkani wakwaSirayeli. ₁₂Kambe ke oobawo bamcaphukisa uThixo wezulu, waza wabanikela kuNebhukadenezare umKaledi, ukumkani waseBhabheli. Nguye ke owayidilizayo le ndlu, waza wabathimba abantu, wabasa eBhabheli.

₁₃“ ‘Kwathi ke kunyaka wokuqala kaKoreshi ukumkani waseBhabheli, ukumkani uKoreshi lowo wawisa umyalelo wokuba mayakhiwe le ndlu kaThixo. ₁₄Kwindlu yothixo waseBhabheli wazikhupha izitya ezenziwe ngegolide nezesiliva eyayizezendlu kaThixo, zaza zathathwa nguNebhukadenezare endlwini kaThixo eJerusalem, waya nazo kwindlu yothixo wakhe eBhabheli.

“ ‘Ke ukumkani uKoreshi lowo wazinikezela kumfo ogama linguSheshbhazare, awayemmisele ukuba abe ngumlawuli, ₁₅waza wamyalela wathi: “Thatha ezi zitya, uzise endlwini kaThixo eJerusalem, uze uyakhe indlu kaThixo leyo esizeni sayo.” ₁₆Ngokunjalo ke uSheshbhazare lowo waza wafika wasimisa isiseko sendlu kaThixo apho eJerusalem. Ukusukela kuloo mini ke, kude kube namhlanje, yakhiwa okokoko, kodwa ayikagqitywa.

₁₇“ ‘Ngoko ke, ukuba kukholekile kukumkani, makhe kwenziwe uphando kumaxwebhu eembali zekomkhulu laseBhabheli, ukuze kucace ukuba ukumkani uKoreshi ngenene wayewise umyalelo na wokuba mayivuswe indlu kaThixo eJerusalem. Kamva ke, mhlekazi, wosithumelela isigqibo sakho ngalo mbandela.’ ”

₁Ngoko ke ukumkani wayalela ukuba kwenziwe uphando kumaxwebhu eembali awayegcinwe koovimba baseBhabheli. ₂Ke kaloku kwafumaneka umqulu komkhulu eAmeta kwiphondo lamaMedi. Kuwo ke kwakubhalwe kwathiwa:

“Isikhumbuzo:

₃“Kunyaka wokuqala kakumkani uKoreshi, ukumkani wawisa umyalelo mayela nendlu kaThixo eJerusalem, esithi:

“ ‘Indlu kaThixo mayivuswe, ukuze kuyo kunikelwe amadini. Iziseko zayo mazakhiwe. Mayibe ziimitha ezimashumi mabini anesixhenxe ukuphakama, neemitha ezimashumi mabini anesixhenxe ububanzi. ₄Mayibe nemiqolo emithathu yamatye amakhulu kunye nomqolo omnye wamaplanga. Iindleko zokuyakha ziza kuphuma koovimba bakomkhulu. ₅Izitya zegolide nezesiliva zendlu kaThixo leyo ezazithathwe ngukumkani uNebhukadenezare apho kuloo ndlu eJerusalem, weza nazo eBhabheli, mazibuyiselwe endaweni yazo kuloo ndlu iseJerusalem; maziye kubekwa endlwini kaThixo.

₆“ ‘Ngoko ke, wena Tatenayi, mlawuli wakwelentshona ye-Efrati, nawe Sheta-bhozenayi namahlakani enu, magosa elo phondo, rhoxani. ₇Musani ukuphazamisana nomsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwale ndlu kaThixo. Umlawuli wamaJuda namadoda amakhulu akwaJuda mabayakhe kwasesizeni sayo indlu kaThixo leyo. ₈Ngaphezu koko ke ndiwisa umyalelo wokuba loo madoda makhulu akwaJuda akha indlu kaThixo niwenzele ezi zinto:

“ ‘Inkcitho yala madoda ekwakheni mayihlawulwe ngokupheleleyo, ithathwe koovimba bakomkhulu, kwiingxowa zerhafu yalapho kwelentshona ye-Efrati, ukuze ungemi umsebenzi. ₉Nantoni na efunekayo – iinkunzana zeenkomo, iinkunzi zeegusha, amaxhwane angamaduna okwenzela uThixo wezulu amadini atshiswayo, ngokunjalo nengqolowa, ityuwa, iwayini, namafutha omnquma, ngokwesicelo sababingeleli apho eJerusalem – zonke ezi zinto mabazinikwe yonke imihla kungaphazanywa, ₁₀khon' ukuze babe nako ukumenzela amadini amkholisayo uThixo wezulu, bathandazele intlala-kahle kakumkani noonyana bakhe. ₁₁Kananjalo ke ndiwisa umyalelo wokuba nabani na owujikayo lo mthetho, ze kuncothulwe umqadi endlwini yakhe, axhonywe abethelelwe kuwo, ke yona indlu yakhe yenziwe indawo yangasese ngenxa yelo tyala. ₁₂Ke kaloku uThixo owamisa igama lakhe khona apho, ngamana wamkhiqa nawuphi na ukumkani naye nabani na ozama ukujika lo mthetho okanye ofuna ukutshabalalisa le ndlu kaThixo iseJerusalem.

“ ‘Ndim mna Dariyo owisa lo myalelo. Ngoko ke mawufezekiswe ngentumekelelo.’ ”

₁₃Ngoko ke ngenxa yaloo myalelo kakumkani uDariyo, uTatenayi umlawuli wakwelentshona ye-Efrati noSheta-bhozenayi kunye namahlakani abo bawufezekisa ngenyameko loo mthetho. ₁₄Ke amadoda amakhulu amaJuda aqhubela phambili ekwakheni, aba nenkqubela ephenjelelwa ziintshumayelo *zomshumayeli uHagayi noZakariya umzukulwana kaIdo. Bagqiba ke ukuyakha indlu leyo, ngokomyalelo kaThixo kaSirayeli ndawonye nemiyalelo kaKoreshi, uDariyo noAtashasta ookumkani basePeshiya. ₁₅Ke indlu kaThixo yagqitywa ngomhla wesithathu kwinyanga uAdare, ngonyaka wesithandathu wolawulo lukakumkani uDariyo.

₁₆Ke amaSirayeli, ababingeleli, abaLevi, nabo bonke ababuyileyo ekuthinjweni, benza itheko lokubhiyozela ukuvulwa kwendlu kaThixo, bonwabile. ₁₇Ekuvulweni kwendlu kaThixo banikela ngekhulu leenkunzi zeenkomo, amakhulu amabini eenkunzi zeegusha, amaxhwane angamaduna angamakhulu amane, ngokunjalo neshumi elinambini leebhokhwe ezingamaduna zedini lesono ngenxa kaSirayeli ephela – ibhokhwe enye kwindlu nganye kaSirayeli. ₁₈Bamisela ababingeleli ngokwezindlu zabo, nabaLevi ngokwamaqela abo, ukuze benze umsebenzi kaThixo eJerusalem, ngokomyalelo obhalwe kwincwadi kaMosis.

₁₉Ke kaloku ngomhla weshumi elinesine kwinyanga yokuqala abathinjwa ababuyileyo bayibhiyozela iPasika. ₂₀Ababingeleli kunye nabaLevi babezihlambulule befanelekile. AbaLevi babaxhelela ixhwane lePasika bonke abathinjwa ababuyileyo; ngokunjalo namawabo ababingeleli, nabo ngokwabo bazixhelela. ₂₁Ngoko ke onke amaSirayeli abuyileyo alitya, ndawonye nabo bonke ababezahlule kwimikhwa engcolileyo yeentlanga ababemelene nazo, ukuze bafune *uNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli. ₂₂Yaba ziintsuku ezisixhenxe belibhiyozela ngemihlali iTheko leSonka esingaNyuswanga. Kaloku uNdikhoyo wayebathe jize ngovuyo ngokuguqula iimbono zokumkani waseAsiriya, ukuze abancedise kumsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwendlu kaThixo, uThixo kaSirayeli.