Bible Reading Plan – Day 209

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.”