Bible Society of South Africa

To The Word – Day 152

Ezra 1–6

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

UEZRA 1

UKoreshi ukhulula abathinjwa

(2 Gan 36:22-23)

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:

izitya zegolide 30
izitya zesiliva 1 000
iipani zesiliva 29
10 iindebe zegolide 30
iindebe zesiliva eziyeleleneyo 410
ezinye izitya 1 000

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

UEZRA 2

Uludwe lwabathinjwa ababuyileyo

(Neh 7:6-69)

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:

3 inzala kaParoshe 2 172
4 ekaShefatiya 372
5 eka-Ara 775
6 ekaPahati-mowabhi ngomlibo kaYeshuwa noJowabhi 2 812
7 ekaElam 1 254
8 ekaZatu 945
9 ekaZakayi 760
10 ekaBhani 642
11 ekaBhebhayi 623
12 eka-Azegadi 1 222
13 eka-Adonikam 666
14 ekaBhigwayi 2 056
15 eka-Adin 454
16 eka-Atere ngoHezekiya 98
17 ekaBhezayi 323
18 ekaYora 112
19 ekaHashum 223
20 ekaGibhare 95
21 abantu baseBhetelehem 123
22 abaseNetofa 56
23 abaseAnatoti 128
24 abaseAzemavete 42
25 abaseKiriyati-yarim, eKefira, naseBheroti 743
26 abaseRama naseGebha 621
27 abaseMikimashe 122
28 abaseBhetele naseAyi 223
29 abaseNebho 52
30 abaseMagebhishe 156
31 abenye iElam 1 254
32 abaseHarim 320
33 abaseLodi, iHadide, neOno 725
34 abaseJeriko 345
35 abaseSena 3 630

36Ababingeleli:

inzala kaYedaya ngendlu kaYeshuwa 973
37 ekaImere 1 052
38 ekaPashure 1 247
39 ekaHarim 1 017

40AbaLevi:

inzala kaYeshuwa noKademiyeli ngomlibo kaHodaviya 74

41Iimvumi:

inzala ka-Asafu 128

42Abalindi-masango endlu kaThixo:

inzala kaShalum, uAtere, uTalemon, uAkubhi, uHatita, noShobhayi 139

43Izicaka zendlu kaThixo:

inzala kaZiya, uHasufa, uTabhayoti, 44 uKerose, uSiyaha, uPadon, 45 uLebhana, uHagabha, uAkubhi, 46 uHagabhi, uShalemayi, uHanan, 47 uGidele, uGahare, uRaya, 48 uRezin, uNekoda, uGazam, 49 u-Uza, uPaseya, uBhesayi, 50 uAsna, uMewunim, uNefusim, 51 uBhakebhuki, uHakufa, uHarure, 52 uBhazeluti, uMehida, uHasha, 53 uBhakose, uSisera, uTama, 54 uNeziya, noHatifa

55Inzala yezicaka zikaSolomon:

inzala kaSotayi, uSoferete, uPeruda, 56 uYala, uDakon, uGidele, 57 uShefatiya, uHatili, uPokerete-zebhayim, noAmi 58 Izicaka zendlu kaThixo nenzala yezicaka zikaSolomon 392

59Aba balandelayo babesuka kwiidolophu zaseTele-mela, eTele-hasha, eKerubhi, eAdan, naseImere; kambe ke ababanga nako ukuluvelisa uludwe lwemilibo yezindlu zabo kwaSirayeli:

60 inzala kaDelaya nekaTobhiya nekaNekoda 652

61Ke kwinzala yababingeleli:

inzala kaHabhaya, uHakozi, noBhazilayi (umfo owayethathe intombi kaBhazilayi umGiliyadi waza wabizwa ngaloo mlibo)

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.

UEZRA 3

Ukuvuswa kweqonga lamadini

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.

Ukwakhiwa ngokutsha kwendlu kaThixo

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:

“Hayi kambe ukulunga kwakhe!

Izibele zakhe kuSirayeli zimi ngonaphakade.”

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.

UEZRA 4

Inkcaso mayela nokwakha

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.

Inkcaso ngethuba lika-Atashasta

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.

UEZRA 5

UTatenayi ubhalela uDariyo

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.’ ”

UEZRA 6

Umyalelo kaDariyo

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.’ ”

Ukugqitywa nokuvulwa kwendlu kaThixo

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.

IPasika

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.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.7
SIFUMANE KU-