To The Word – Day 185

₁UJeremiya waviwa nguShefatiya unyana kaMatan, noGedaliya unyana kaPashure, noYukali unyana kaShelemiya, bekunye noPashure kaMalkiya, xa wayebhekisa kubantu jikelele esithi: ₂“Utsho *uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Umntu oya kusala kwesi sixeko uza kufa ngekrele, yindlala, nangubhubhani, kanti ke lowo uzinikezelayo kumaKaledi uya kusinda, aphile.’ ₃Kaloku utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: ‘Esi sixeko siza kunikezelwa esandleni somkhosi wokumkani waseBhabheli oza kusithimba.’ ”

₄Emva koko iziphathamandla ezo zathi kukumkani: “Lo mfo makafe, kuba utyhafisa amajoni ashiyekileyo apha esixekweni, kwakunye nabantu bonke, ngezi zinto azithethayo. Akabanqweneleli buhle abantu; ubanqwenelela ububi.”

₅“Usezandleni zenu; mna kumkani andinakuphikisana nani,” waphendula ngelitshoyo ukumkani uZedekiya.

₆Bamthatha ke uJeremiya, baya kumfaka emhadini owawusenkundleni yabalindi kwaMalekiya unyana kakumkani. Bamthoba ngentambo ukumsa ezantsi kuloo mhadi owawungenamanzi, iludaka lodwa. Watshona kwelo daka ke uJeremiya.

₇Zaya kufika kwigosa lasebhotwe uEbhedi-meleki, owayengumKushe, ezo ndaba zokuba uJeremiya weyehliselwe emhadini. Kwathi ukumkani esahleli ngakwiSango lakwaBhenjamin, ₈uEbhedi-meleki waya apho kuye evela ebhotwe, wafika wathi: ₉“Noko, mhlekazi, imbi yonke le nto yenziwe ngala madoda kumshumayeli uJeremiya, ukweyelisela umntu emhadini apho aya kulamba afele khona xa kungasekho kutya esixekweni.”

₁₀Ukumkani wathi kumKushe uEbhedi-meleki: “Thatha amashumi amathathu amadoda, uye kunyula umshumayeli uJeremiya kuloo mhadi, engekafeli apho.”

₁₁Wanduluka ke naloo madoda uEbhedi-meleki, waya nawo kwigumbi elalisebhotwe ngaphantsi kwendlu enguvimba wasebhotwe. Wathatha amadlavu apho, wawathobela emhadini kuJeremiya, ebotshwe ngentambo. ₁₂Ke uEbhedi-meleki umKushe wathi kuJeremiya: “Faka la madlavu emakhwapheni, ukuze ungatyatyulwa ziintambo.” enjenjalo ke uJeremiya, ₁₃baza bona bamrhola emhadini ngezo ntambo. UJeremiya wahlala enkundleni yabalindi.

₁₄Emva koko ukumkani uZedekiya wathi makaye kubizwa umshumayeli uJeremiya, asiwe kumnyango wesithathu wendlu *kaNdikhoyo. Uthe akufika uJeremiya, ukumkani wathi: “Ndifuna ukukubuza into; uze ungandifihleli.”

₁₅UJeremiya yena uthe kuZedekiya: “Ukuba ndikuxelele akuyi kundibulala kodwa? Ukanti nokuba ndingakucebisa, soze undiphulaphule.”

₁₆Ukumkani uZedekiya wafunga ngasese enoJeremiya, wenjenje: “Ekho nje uNdikhoyo, kanye lo usinika ubomi, andiyi kukubulala, ndingayi kukunikela esandleni sâbo bazungula ubomi bakho.”

₁₇UJeremiya ke ubhekise kukumkani uZedekiya wenjenje: “Utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo onamandla onke onguThixo kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Ukuba uyaphuma ngoku uzinikezele kubaphathi-mkhosi bokumkani waseBhabheli, ubomi bakho buya kusinda, nesi sixeko singàtshatyalaliswa ngomlilo, usinde kunye nentsapho yakho. ₁₈Kodwa ukuba uyala ukunizikezela kubaphathi-mkhosi bokumkani waseBhabheli, esi sixeko siya kunikezelwa esandleni samaKaledi, asitshise siphele, nawe ungasindi kuwo.’ ”

₁₉Uphendule ngelithi ukumkani uZedekiya: “Ndoyika amaJuda aselezinikezele kumaKaledi, hleze nam ndinikezelwe kuwo ngamaKaledi, aze wona andiphathe gadalala.”

₂₀Uthe uJeremiya: “Akayi kukunikezela. Thobela uNdikhoyo wena ngokwenza le nto ndikuxelela yona, xa ufuna ukulungelwa, usindise nobomi bakho. ₂₁Kodwa ke ukuba uyala ukuzinikezela, uNdikhoyo undityhilele ukuba ₂₂bonke abafazi abasesebhotwe lokumkani wakwaJuda baya kusiwa kumaphakathi okumkani waseBhabheli. Abo bafazi bothi kuwe:

₂₃“Bonke abafazi bakho nabantwana bakho baya kusiwa kumaKaledi. Wena akuyi kuphuncula esandleni sawo: uya kubanjwa ngukumkani waseBhabheli, nesi sixeko sitshatyalaliswe ngomlilo.”

₂₄Emva koko uthe ukumkani uZedekiya kuJeremiya: “Uze ungayithethi mntwini le ncoko yethu, ukuba akufuni kufa. ₂₅Kodwa ke xa zithe iziphathamandla zeva ukuba bekhe sadibana, zize ke zithi kuwe: ‘Sixelele, ubusithini kukumkani, waza yena wathini kuwe? Ukuba uthethe konke, asiyi kukubulala,’ ₂₆uze uthi: ‘Bendiye kucenga ukumkani ukuba angandibuyiseli kulaa ndlu kaJonatan, kuba ndoyika ukufela khona.’ ”

₂₇Zaya kuJeremiya zonke iziphathamandla, zafika zambuza ngencoko yakhe nokumkani. Wazixelela konke athe ukumkani aze azixelele kona. Azibanga nakumphikisa kuba yayingavelwanga bani incoko yakhe nokumkani. ₂₈Wahlala apho uJeremiya kuloo nkundla yabalindi kwada kwafika umhla wokuthinjwa kweJerusalem.

Ukuthinjwa kweJerusalem kwahamba ngolu hlobo:

₅Umkhosi wamaKaledi wabasukela wamfumana uZedekiya kuloo mathafa aseJeriko. Amthatha amsa kukumkani uNebhukadenezare waseBhabheli owayeseRibhela ezweni laseHamati. Lathethwa apho ityala likaZedekiya, waza wagwetywa. ₆Ukumkani waseBhabheli wababulala apho eRibhela oonyana bakaZedekiya ejongile, ngokunjalo wazibulala neendwalutho zonke zakwaJuda. ₇Wamtyhaphaza amehlo uZedekiya, wamfaka amakhamandela enziwe ngobhedu, ukuze asiwe eBhabheli.

₈Ibhotwe lokumkani, nezindlu zabantu, zatshiswa ngomlilo ngamaKaledi, adiliza neendonga zeJerusalem. ₉Umphathi wabalindi bekumkani, uNebhuzaradan, wabaqhubela eBhabheli ekuthinjweni abantu abasala esixekweni, bekunye nabo babezinikezele, nabanye abantu abaseleyo. ₁₀Kodwa inxalenye yabantu ababengamahlwempu angenanto tu, wabashiya ezweni lakwaJuda umphathi uNebhuzaradan, wababela amasimi nezidiliya.

₁₁Mayela noJeremiya ukumkani uNebhukadenezare wayalela umphathi-balindi bakomkhulu uNebhuzaradan wathi: ₁₂“Mthathe uJeremiya, umphathe kakuhle, ungamenzakalisi, umenzele loo nto ayifunayo.” ₁₃Ngoko ke umphathi-balindi uNebhuzaradan ekunye noNebhushazibhan umphathi oyintloko, nengqwayi-ngqwayi yomkhosi uNerigale-sharezere, bekunye nezinye iindwalutho zokumkani waseBhabheli, ₁₄bathi makuye kukhutshwa uJeremiya kulaa nkundla yabalindi wayehlala kuyo. Bamnikezela kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam unyana kaShafan ukuba amgoduse. Wasala wahlala phakathi kwabantu bakowabo ke uJeremiya.

₁₅Ngexesha uJeremiya wayevaleleke enkundleni yabalindi lavakala kuye ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, lisithi: ₁₆“Yiya kuxelela uEbhedi-meleki umKushe uthi: ‘Utsho *uNdikhoyo uSomandla-onke, uThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi: Amazwi am mayela nesi sixeko ndiya kuwazalisekisa ngokusihlisela intlekele, ingabi kokulungileyo. Loo nto iza kuhla uyijongile, lakufika ixesha. ₁₇Kodwa wena ndokuhlangula ngaloo mini. Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo. Wena akuyi kunikezelwa esandleni saloo madoda uwaxhaleleyo. ₁₈Inene, ndiza kukuhlangula, ungawi likrele, businde ubomi bakho, kuba ubuthembele ngam wena. Lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo.’ ”

₁Lavakala ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo kuJeremiya, akuba ekhululwe nguNebhuzaradan umphathi-balindi bakomkhulu, eRama. UNebhuzaradan wafika uJeremiya ekhonkxiwe ephakathi kwabathinjwa baseJerusalem nakwaJuda, ababesisiwa ekuthinjweni eBhabheli.

₂Akufika kuJeremiya umphathi-balindi wathi: “*NguNdikhoyo uThixo wenu ocwangcise le ntlekele inihleleyo kule ndawo. ₃Uyenzile ke uNdikhoyo loo nto njengokuba wayetshilo. Nifikelwe yile nto ngenxa yokuba nimonile uNdikhoyo anamphulaphula. ₄Uyabona, namhlanje ndiza kukukhulula kula matyathanga ubotshwe izandla ngawo. Ungaya nam eBhabhehli ukuba uyafuna; ndokulungiselela. Phofu ungasala uhlale apha ukuba akufuni, okanye ungaya naphi na apho uthanda khona kweli lizwe.”

₅Kambe ke engekahambi uJeremiya uNebhuzaradan uqokele wenjenje: “Ungabuyela kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam ozalwa nguShafan, omiselwe ukuba alawule iidolophu zakwaJuda ngukumkani waseBhabheli. Ungahlala naye phakathi kwamawenu, okanye uye naphi na apho uthanda khona.” Watsho emnika umphako loo mphathi-balindi kwakunye nesipho, wamndulula uJeremiya. ₆Wesuka apho uJeremiya, waya kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam owayeseMizpa, wafika wahlala naye phakathi kwabantu ababesele kwelo lizwe.

₇Ukumkani waseBhabheli wamisela uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam ukuba abe ngumphathiswa welizwe elo, abe phantsi kwakhe loo madoda nabafazi nabantwana kwabo bahlelelekileyo ababengafuduswanga basiwa eBhabheli. Ke abaphathi bamabutho ababesemaphandleni benamadoda awo, bakukuva oku, ₈basuka baya eMizpa apho kuGedaliya. Babekhokelwe ngooIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya, uYohanan noJonatan oonyana bakaKareya, kunye noSeraya unyana kaTanumeti, bekunye noonyana bakaEfayi wakwaNetofa, kunye noYaziya umfo waseMahaka, nabalandeli babo.

₉Wafunga uGedaliya, unyana ka-Ahikam, umzukulwana kaShafan, wathi kubo nabalandeli babo: “Ze ningoyiki ukuwakhonza amaKaledi. Hlalani apha kweli lizwe, nithobele ukumkani waseBhabheli. Xa nenjenjalo niya kulungelwa. ₁₀Mna ke ndiza kuhlala eMizpa, ndibe ngummeli wenu kumaKaledi asihambelayo. Yiyani kuqokelela iwayini, neziqhamo zasehlotyeni, neoyile yeminquma, nifake koovimba, nihlale kwezo dolophu nizithathileyo.”

₁₁Athi amaJuda awayekwaMowabhi, nawayekwa-Amon, nakwaEdom, nakuwo onke amanye amazwe, akuva ukuba ukumkani waseBhabheli washiya igcudwana kwaJuda, waza wamisa uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam ozalwa nguShafan ukuba abe ngumphathiswa, ₁₂asuka onke, abuyela kwelakwaJuda, aya kuGedaliya eMizpa. Ayesuka kumazwe ngamazwe awayethe saa kuwo. Aqokelela intaphane yewayini neziqhamo zasehlotyeni.

₁₃Kwafika uYohanan unyana kaKareya kuGedaliya eMizpa, ehamba nabanye abaphathi bamabutho awayesemaphandleni, ₁₄bathi kuye: “Akuvanga na ukuba uBhahalisi ukumkani wama-Amon uthumele uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya ukuba akugwinte?” UGedaliya yena unyana ka-Ahikam akazange abakholelwe.

₁₅Emva koko uYohanan unyana kaKareya waya kuGedaliya ngasese apho eMizpa, wathi: “Ndivumele ndiye kubulala uIshamyeli unyana kaNetaniya; akukho mntu uya kuyazi loo nto. Makangayekwa akubulale, aze la maJuda aqokeleleke apha phantsi kwakho athi saa, atshabalale amasalela akwaJuda.”

₁₆UGedaliya waphendula uYohanan ngelithi: “Uze ungakhe uyenze into enjalo! Bubuxoki le nto wena uyithethayo ngoIshmayeli.”

₁Kwathi ngenyanga yesixhenxe uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya unyana kaElishama, owayengumntwana wegazi ekwayingqwayi-ngqwayi kakumkani, waya eMizpa kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam, ehamba neshumi lamadoda, baza batya kunye. Kwathi ke besahleli etafileni apho ₂suka uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya kunye nelo shumi lamadoda ayehamba naye baphakama bamxabela ngekrele uGedaliya, unyana ka-Ahikam ongumzukulwana kaShafan. Ngeso senzo bamgwinta owayengumphathiswa welo lizwe omiselwe ngukumkani waseBhabheli. ₃Bawabulala namanye amaJuda onke awayeseMizpa kunye noGedaliya, kwakunye namajoni angamaKaledi awayelapho.

₄Ngomhla wesibini olandela ukugwintwa kukaGedaliya, ingekaziwa loo nto, ₅kwafika amashumi asibhozo amadoda, evela eShekem naseShilo naseSamariya. Ayezichebile iindevu, ezikrazule izambatho, imizimba eyicentile. Ayephethe iminikelo yeenkozo kunye nentlaka yesiqhumiso, ezizisa endlwini *kaNdikhoyo. ₆UIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wasuka eMizpa, wawahlangabeza ehamba elila. Ufikile kubo, wathi: “Yizani kuGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam.” ₇Kodwa athi nje akuthi cakatha phakathi esixekweni, uIshmayeli nabo babehamba naye bawatyakatya loo madoda, bawaphosa emhadini. ₈Ishumi laloo madoda lona lathi kuIshamayeli: “Musa ukusibulala thina; sinokutya esikufihlileyo endle: ingqolowa, neoyile yomnquma, nobusi.” Wawayeka ke lawo amadoda akawabulala njengamanye. ₉Umhadi okwaphoswa kuwo izidumbu zamadoda abulawa nguIshmayeli kwakunye nesikaGedaliya wenziwa ngukumkani uAsa xa wayehlaselwa ngukumkani uBhasha wakwaSirayeli. Ke uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wawuzalisa loo mhadi zizidumbu zabagwintiweyo.

₁₀UIshmayeli wathimba bonke abantu abâsaláyo eMizpa, iintombi zokumkani nabanye bonke abasala ngexesha uNebhuzaradan umphathi-balindi bakomkhulu waphathisa uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam. Wahamba nabo wawelela kwelaseAmon.

₁₁Kwathi bakuvakala kuYohanan unyana kaKareya kunye nabaphathi-mabutho bonke ububi obenziwe nguIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya, ₁₂banduluka nawo onke amadoda amabutho abo, baya kuhlasela uIshmayeli. Bamfumana emise ngakwelaa chibi likhulu laseGibheyon. ₁₃Bavuya abantu ababehamba noIshmayeli bakubona uYohanan esiza nabaphathi-mabutho, ₁₄bajika bonke abo babethinjwe nguIshmayeli eMizpa, bangenela kuYohanan unyana kaKareya. ₁₅Waphuncuka kodwa yena uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya namadoda asibhozo, baya kutsho kwelama-Amon.

₁₆UJohanan unyana kaKareya, ekunye nabaphathi-mabutho, bajika namasalela abantu abaqweqwediswa nguIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya owagwinta uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam esuka nabo eMizpa. Yayingamadoda axhobileyo, abafazi nabantwana, namagosa asebhotwe awayevela nawo eGibheyon. ₁₇Banduluka bemisa eGerute-kimham ngaseBhetelehem kwindlela yabo esinga eJiputa, ₁₈bephepha amaKaledi. Babesoyika kuba uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya wagwinta uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam owemiswa ngukumkani waseBhabheli ukuba abe ngumphathiswa welo lizwe.

₁Emva koko bonke abaphathi-mabutho kunye noYohanan unyana kaKareya bekunye noYazaniya unyana kaHoshaya nabantu bonke, abancinane nabakhulu, baya ₂kumshumayeli uJeremiya, bafika bathi kuye: “Nceda usamkele isicelo sethu kuwe: Sithandazele *kuNdikhoyo uThixo wakho, ucelele onke la masalela, kuba nawe ngokwakho uyabona ukuba naxa sasibaninzi ngoku sesisele siliqaqobana. ₃Mcele uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho ukuba asityhilele indlela emasihambe ngayo, nento emasiyenze.”

₄Umshumayeli uJeremiya usuke wenjenje ukuthetha nabo: “Ndivile. Ndiza kunithandazela kuNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, ndaye ndiya kunazisa yonke into uNdikhoyo aniphendula ngayo; andiyi kunifihlela nto konke.”

₅Bathi bona kuJeremiya: “UNdikhoyo aze abe lingqina elithembekileyo nelinyanisekileyo, achasane nathi xa singayenziyo yonke into uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho akuthumayo ukuba usixelele. ₆Nokuba limnandi, nokuba libi ilizwi likaNdikhoyo uThixo wethu lo sikuthuma kuye, siya kulithobela, khon' ukuze silungelwe. Ewe, inene, siya kumthobela uNdikhoyo uThixo wethu.”

₇Emva kweentsuku ezilishumi lavakala ilizwi likaNdikhoyo kuJeremiya. ₈Wabiza uYohanan unyana kaKareya kunye nabo bonke abaphathi-mabutho ababenaye, nabantu bonke, abancinci nabakhulu, ₉wathi kubo: “UNdikhoyo uThixo kaSirayeli enindithume ukuze ndisigqithisele kuye isicelo senu, utsho ukuthi: ₁₀‘Ukuba nithe nahlala kulo mhlaba, ndiya kunakha ndinganidilizi; ndonityala ndinganincothuli, kuba ndiyazisola ngeshwangusha endinihlisele lona! ₁₁Ngoko ke musan' ukuba noloyiko ngukumkani waseBhabheli lo nimoyikayo ngoku. Musan' ukumoyika,’ lowo ngumlomo kaNdikhoyo, ‘kuba ndinani, ndiza kunihlangula, nisinde esandleni sakhe. ₁₂Ndiza kusikwa yimfesane nini, naye ukumkani avelane nani, aniyeke nihlale kulo mhlaba wenu.’

₁₃“Kusenokwenzeka kambe ningamthobeli uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu, nithi: ‘Asizi kuhlala apha kweli lizwe thina. ₁₄Siza kuhamba siye kuhlala eJiputa, apho kungekho zimfazwe, kungakhali zintlaba-mkhosi, kungalanjwayo khona.’ ₁₅Ke ngoko nali ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, nina masalela akwaJuda, utsho uNdikhoyo uThixo onamandla onke kaSirayeli ukuthi: ‘Xa nizimisele ukuya eJiputa, nifike nime apho, ₁₆ewe, ikrele eli niloyikayo lonifikela apho, naloo ndlala niyisabayo iya kuthana mbende kunye nani naseJiputa – niya kufela apho. ₁₇Bonke abo bazimisele ukuya kuhlala eJiputa baya kufa ngekrele, yindlala, nangubhubhani; akuyi kusala nokuba mnye usindayo kwelo shwangusha ndonihlisela lona.’ ₁₈Utsho uNdikhoyo onamandla onke, uThixo kaSirayeli, ukuthi: ‘Nanjengoko umsindo wam nengqumbo yam zathululwa phezu kwabemi baseJerusalem, yokwenjenjalo nani ukunifikela ingqumbo yam xa nixhinele ukuya eJiputa. Noba zizinto ezisisiqalekiso nezikhwankqisayo, izinto ezisisigculelo nesingcikivo. Anisobe nibuye niyibone le ndawo kwakhona.’

₁₉“Uthi ke ngoko kuni uNdikhoyo, nina masalela akwaJuda: ‘Musani ukuya eJiputa.’ Ke ngoko yiqondeni kakuhle le ndawo; ndiyaniyala namhlanje. ₂₀Nizikhohlisile nabubeka ubomi benu esichengeni ngokuya benisithi: ‘Sithandazele kuNdikhoyo uThixo wethu, usixelele konke athi masikwenze, kuba sokwenza.’ ₂₁Ndinixelele konke ke namhla, kodwa nina animthobeli uNdikhoyo uThixo wenu kwizinto athe maze ndinixelele zona. ₂₂Ngoko ke yazini ngokuphandle le nto: niza kufa ngekrele, nayindlala, nangubhubhani, kanye kuloo ndawo nizimisele ukuphambukela kuyo.”