To The Word – Day 121

₁UManase wayeneminyaka eyishumi nambili ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka engamashumi ayisihlanu nanhlanu eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguHefisiba. ₂Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova njengezinengiso zabezizwe uJehova abaxosha phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₃Wabuye wakha izindawo eziphakemeyo uHezekiya uyise azichithile; wamisela uBali ama-altare, wenza u-Ashera* njengokwenza kuka-Ahabi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, wakhuleka kulo lonke ibandla lasezulwini, walikhonza. ₄Wakha ama-altare endlini kaJehova, uJehova asho ngayo ukuthi: “Ngiyakubeka igama lami eJerusalema.” ₅Wakhela nalo lonke ibandla lasezulwini ama-altare emagcekeni omabili endlu kaJehova. ₆Wadabulisa indodana yakhe emlilweni, wahlola imihlola, wenza imilingo, wamisa abanamadlozi, nabathakathi, wenza okubi okuningi emehlweni kaJehova, waze wamcunula.

₇Wabeka isithombe esibaziweyo sika-Ashera* asenzileyo endlini asho ngayo uJehova kuDavide nakuSolomoni indodana yakhe ukuthi: “Kule ndlu naseJerusalema engilikhethile ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli ngiyakubeka igama lami kuze kube phakade; ₈futhi angisayikuzulisa izinyawo zika-Israyeli, zisuke ezweni engalinika oyise, uma beyakugcina kuphela ukwenza njengakho konke engibayale ngakho nanjengawo wonke umthetho eyabayala ngawo inceku yami uMose.” ₉Kepha abalalelanga; uManase wabaphambukisa baze benza okubi kunabezizwe abachithayo uJehova phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

₁₀UJehova wayesekhuluma ngezinceku zakhe abaprofethi, wathi: ₁₁“Ngokuba uManase inkosi yakwaJuda enzile lezi zinengiso, enze kabi kunakho konke ukwenza kwama-Amori ayephambi kwakhe, wonisa noJuda ngezithombe zakhe, ₁₂ngalokho usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Bheka, ngiletha okubi phezu kweJerusalema naphezu kukaJuda ngangokuthi bonke abakuzwayo, izindlebe zabo zombili ziyakunkeneza ngakho. ₁₃Ngiyakwelula phezu kweJerusalema umucu wokulinganisa waseSamariya, nomthofu wokumisa indlu ka-Ahabi; ngiyakwesula iJerusalema njengalokho umuntu esula isitsha, esesula asigumbuqele. ₁₄Ngiyakushiya insali yefa lami, ngiyinikele esandleni sezitha zayo, ibe yimpango nento ebanjiweyo yazo zonke izitha zayo; ₁₅ngokuba yenzile okubi emehlweni ami, ingicunulile kusukela osukwini oyise abaphuma ngalo eGibithe kuze kube namuhla.’ ”

₁₆Futhi uManase wachitha kakhulu igazi elingenacala, waze wagcwalisa iJerusalema kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube sekugcineni, ngaphandle kwesono sakhe onisa ngaso uJuda ngokwenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova.

₁₇Ezinye izindaba zikaManase, nakho konke akwenzayo, nesono sakhe ona ngaso, angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda na? ₁₈UManase wayeselala koyise, wembelwa ensimini yendlu yakhe, insimu ka-Uza; u-Amoni indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁₉U-Amoni wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nambili ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka emibili eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguMeshulemeti, indodakazi kaHarusi waseJothiba. ₂₀Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova njengalokho enzile uManase uyise. ₂₁Wahamba ngezindlela zonke uyise ahamba ngazo, wakhonza izithombe azikhonzayo uyise, wakhuleka kuzo; ₂₂washiya uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise, kahambanga ngendlela kaJehova.

₂₃Izinceku zika-Amoni zamenzela ugobe, zayibulala inkosi endlini yayo. ₂₄Kepha abantu bezwe bababulala bonke ababeyenzela inkosi u-Amoni ugobe; abantu bezwe bambeka uJosiya indodana yakhe inkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₂₅Ezinye izindaba zika-Amoni azenzayo angithi zilotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda na? ₂₆Wembelwa ethuneni lakhe ensimini ka-Uza; uJosiya indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁UJosiya wayeneminyaka eyisishiyagalombili ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nanye eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguJedida indodakazi ka-Adaya waseBosikati. ₂Wenza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova, wahamba ngendlela yonke kaDavide uyise, kachezukelanga ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo.

₃Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalombili wenkosi uJosiya inkosi yathuma uShafani indodana ka-Asaliya kaMeshulamu, umbhali, endlini kaJehova, yathi: ₄“Yenyukela kuHilikiya umpristi omkhulu ukuba abale imali eyiswe endlini kaJehova, iqoqwe ngabalindimnyango kubantu, ₅bayibeke esandleni sezisebenzi eziphethe indlu kaJehova, bakhokhele ngayo abasebenza umsebenzi wasendlini kaJehova ukulungisa izimfa zendlu, ₆ababazi, nabakhi, nabakha ngamatshe, nokuthenga imithi namatshe abaziweyo ukulungisa indlu. ₇Nokho akubalelwananga nabo ngemali eyabekwa esandleni sabo, ngokuba babethembekile ekuphatheni kwabo.”

₈UHilikiya, umpristi omkhulu, wathi kuShafani umbhali: “Ngifumene incwadi yomthetho endlini kaJehova.” UHilikiya wanika uShafani leyo ncwadi, wayifunda. ₉UShafani umbhali waya enkosini, waletha umbiko enkosini, wathi: “Izinceku zakho zithululile imali eyafunyanwa endlini, zayibeka esandleni sezisebenzi eziphethe indlu kaJehova.” ₁₀UShafani umbhali wayitshela inkosi, wathi: “UHilikiya umpristi unginike incwadi.” UShafani wayifunda phambi kwenkosi.

₁₁Kwathi lapho inkosi isizwile amazwi encwadi yomthetho, yaziklebhula izingubo zayo. ₁₂Inkosi yayala uHilikiya umpristi, no-Ahikamu indodana kaShafani, no-Akibori indodana kaMikhaya, noShafani umbhali, no-Asaya inceku yenkosi, ithi: ₁₃“Hambani ningibuzele kuJehova, mina nabantu, naye wonke uJuda ngamazwi ale ncwadi efunyenweyo, ngokuba inkulu intukuthelo kaJehova esivuthelayo, ngokuba obaba abalalelanga amazwi ale ncwadi ukwenza njengakho konke okulotshiwe ngathi.”

₁₄Base behamba uHilikiya umpristi, no-Ahikamu, no-Akibori, noShafani, no-Asaya, baya kuHulida umprofethikazi, umkaShalumi, indodana kaThikiva kaHarihasi, umgcinizingubo – wahlala eJerusalema enxenyeni yesibili – bakhuluma kuye.

₁₅Wathi kubo: “Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Tshelani umuntu onithume kimi ukuthi: ₁₆Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Bhekani, ngiyakwehlisela okubi phezu kwale ndawo naphezu kwabakhileyo kuyo, onke amazwi aleyo ncwadi eyifundile inkosi yakwaJuda, ₁₇ngokuba bangishiyile, bashisela abanye onkulunkulu impepho baze bangicunula ngawo wonke umsebenzi wezandla zabo; intukuthelo yami iyakuvuthela le ndawo, ayiyikucinywa.’ ₁₈Kepha enkosini yakwaJuda eyanithuma ukubuza kuJehova niyakusho kuyo kanje, nithi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: Maqondana namazwi owezwileyo, ₁₉ngenxa yokuba inhliziyo yakho yayithambile wazithoba phambi kukaJehova, lapho wezwa lokho engakukhuluma ngale ndawo nangabakhileyo kuyo ukuthi kuyakuba yincithakalo nesiqalekiso, waklebhula izingubo zakho, wakhala phambi kwami, mina ngikuzwile, usho uJehova. ₂₀Ngalokho bheka, ngiyakukubuthela koyihlo ubuthelwe ethuneni lakho ngokuthula, angaboni amehlo akho konke okubi engiyakukwehlisela phezu kwale ndawo.’ ” Babuyisela enkosini leli zwi.

₁Inkosi yathumela, babuthela kuyo onke amalunga akwaJuda nawaseJerusalema. ₂Inkosi yenyukela endlini kaJehova, bonke abantu bakwaJuda nabo bonke abakhileyo eJerusalema benayo, kanye nabapristi nabaprofethi, yebo, abantu bonke, abancane nabakhulu, yafunda ezindlebeni zabo onke amazwi encwadi yesivumelwano ebifunyenwe endlini kaJehova. ₃Inkosi yema ngasensikeni, yenza isivumelwano phambi kukaJehova ukumlandela uJehova nokugcina imiyalo yakhe, nobufakazi bakhe, nezimiso zakhe ngenhliziyo yonke nangomphefumulo wonke ukuqinisa amazwi alesi sivumelwano alotshwe kule ncwadi; bonke abantu basivuma isivumelwano.

₄Inkosi yayisiyala uHilikiya umpristi omkhulu, nabapristi besigaba sesibili, nabalindimnyango ukukhipha ethempelini likaJehova zonke izinto ezazenzelwe oBali, no-Ashera,* nebandla lonke lasezulwini, yazishisa ngaphandle kweJerusalema emasimini aseKidroni, yayisa umlotha wazo eBethele. ₅Yabasusa abapristi bezithombe amakhosi akwaJuda abamisele ukushisa impepho ezindaweni eziphakemeyo emizini yakwaJuda nanxazonke zeJerusalema, kanye nabashisa impepho kuBali nakulo ilanga nenyanga nezinkanyezi nalo lonke ibandla lasezulwini. ₆Yakhipha u-Ashera* endlini kaJehova, yamkhiphela phandle kweJerusalema, yamyisa ngasemfudlaneni iKidroni, yamshisa ngasemfudlaneni iKidroni, yamcolisisa waba yincushuncushu, yayiphonsa incushuncushu yakhe emathuneni abantu nje. ₇Yadiliza izindlu zezifebe zethempeli ezazisendlini kaJehova, lapho abesifazane bemelukela khona u-Ashera* amatende.

₈Yakhipha bonke abapristi emizini yakwaJuda, yangcolisa izindawo eziphakemeyo, lapho abapristi bebeshise khona impepho, kusukela eGeba kuze kube seBeri Sheba; yadiliza izindawo eziphakemeyo zasemasangweni asesikhaleni sesango likaJoshuwa umphathimuzi, ezazingakwesokhohlo somuntu ngasesangweni lomuzi. ₉Kodwa abapristi basezindaweni eziphakemeyo babengenyukeli e-altare likaJehova eJerusalema, kepha badla isinkwa esingenamvubelo phakathi kwabafowabo.

₁₀Yangcolisa iThofeti elisesigodini sabantwana bakwaHinomu ukuba kungabikho muntu odabulisa indodana yakhe noma indodakazi yakhe emlilweni kuMoloki. ₁₁Yasusa namahhashi amakhosi akwaJuda anikele ngawo kulo ilanga ngasendleleni yokungena endlini kaJehova ngasekamelweni likaNathani Meleki induna yasePariwarimi, yashisa izinqola zelanga ngomlilo.

₁₂Ama-altare ayesophahleni lwekamelo eliphezulu lika-Ahazi, elenziwe ngamakhosi akwaJuda, nama-altare enziwe nguManase emagcekeni omabili endlu kaJehova inkosi yawadiliza, yasuka yagijima, yalahla uthuli emfudlaneni iKidroni. ₁₃Izindawo eziphakemeyo ezaziphambi kweJerusalema, ngakwesokunene kweNtaba Yokonakala, uSolomoni inkosi yakwa-Israyeli ayezakhele u-Ashitaroti isinengiso samaSidoni, noKemoshi isinengiso sakwaMowabi, noMilkomu isinengiso sabantwana bakwa-Amoni, inkosi yazingcolisa. ₁₄Yaphahlaza izinsika, yanquma o-Ashera,* yagcwalisa izindawo zabo ngamathambo abantu.

₁₅I-altare elaliseBethele, nendawo ephakemeyo eyenziwe nguJerobowamu indodana kaNebati owonisa u-Israyeli, nalelo altare kanye nendawo ephakemeyo yakudiliza, yayishisa indawo ephakemeyo, yayicolisisa yaba yincushuncushu, yashisa no-Ashera.* ₁₆UJosiya waphenduka, wabona amathuna ayelapho entabeni; wathumela wakhipha amathambo emathuneni, wawashisa e-altare, walingcolisa njengezwi likaJehova alimemeza lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu owamemezela lezi zinto.

₁₇Wayesethi: “Yitshe lini leli engilibonayo na?”

Abantu bomuzi bamtshela bathi: “Yithuna lalowo muntu kaNkulunkulu owavela kwaJuda, wamemezela lezi zindaba osuzenzile nge-altare laseBethele.”

₁₈Wathi: “Myekeni; mawanganyakaziswa muntu amathambo akhe.” Base beyeka amathambo akhe kanye namathambo alowo mprofethi owavela eSamariya.

₁₉Nazo zonke izindlu zezindawo eziphakemeyo ezazisemizini yaseSamariya, ezenziwa ngamakhosi akwa-Israyeli acunula ngazo, uJosiya wazisusa, wenza kuzona njengazo zonke izenzo azenzileyo eBethele. ₂₀Wabulala ema-altare bonke abapristi basezindaweni eziphakemeyo ababe lapho, washisa amathambo abantu phezu kwawo, wabuyela eJerusalema.

₂₁Inkosi yayisiyala bonke abantu ngokuthi: “Yenzelani uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu iphasika njengokulotshiwe kule ncwadi yesivumelwano.” ₂₂Ngokuba iphasika elinjalo lalingagcinwanga kusukela emihleni yabahluleli abahlulela u-Israyeli, nasemihleni yonke yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli, nakweyakwaJuda. ₂₃Kepha ngomnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalombili wenkosi uJosiya leli phasika lenzelwa uJehova eJerusalema.

₂₄Futhi abanamadlozi, nabathakathi, namatherafi,* nezithombe, nazo zonke izinengiso ezazibonwa ezweni lakwaJuda naseJerusalema uJosiya wakuqeda ukuba afeze amazwi omthetho alotshwe encwadini uHilikiya umpristi ayifumanayo endlini kaJehova. ₂₅Kwakungekho nkosi phambi kwakhe eyaphendukela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yayo nangawo onke amandla ayo njengawo wonke umthetho kaMose, nangasemva kwakhe akuvelanga enjengaye.

₂₆Nokho uJehova akabuyanga ekuvutheni kwentukuthelo yakhe enkulu, intukuthelo yakhe eyavuthela ngakho uJuda, ngenxa yakho konke ukucunula uManase ayemcunule ngakho. ₂₇UJehova wathi: “Naye uJuda ngiyakumsusa ebusweni bami, njengalokho ngisuse u-Israyeli, ngiwulahle lo muzi engawukhethayo, nendlu engasho ngayo ukuthi igama lami liyakuba khona lapho.”

₂₈Ezinye izindaba zikaJosiya nakho konke akwenzayo angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda na?

₂₉Emihleni yakhe uFaro Nekho inkosi yaseGibithe wenyukela enkosini yase-Asiriya ngasemfuleni u-Ewufrathe; inkosi uJosiya yaya ukuhlangabezana naye; wayibulala eMegido, isanele ukumbona nje. ₃₀Izinceku zayo zayisusa ngenqola eMegido ifile, zayiyisa eJerusalema, zayimbela ethumeni layo. Abantu bezwe bamthatha uJehowahazi indodana kaJosiya, bamgcoba, bambeka inkosi esikhundleni sikayise.

₃₁UJehowahazi wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nantathu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa izinyanga ezintathu eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguHamuthali, indodakazi kaJeremiya waseLibina. ₃₂Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke abakwenzileyo oyise. ₃₃UFaro Nekho wambopha eRibila ezweni laseHamati ukuba angabe esabusa eJerusalema, wathelisa izwe amatalenta* ayikhulu esiliva netalenta legolide. ₃₄UFaro Nekho wambeka u-Eliyakimi indodana kaJosiya inkosi esikhundleni sikaJosiya uyise, waguqula igama lakhe laba nguJehoyakimi, kepha wamsusa uJehowahazi, waze waya eGibithe, wafela khona. ₃₅UJehoyakimi wamnika uFaro isiliva negolide, kepha wathelisa izwe ukuba anike imali njengezwi likaFaro. Wakhiphisa abantu bezwe isiliva negolide, kwaba yilowo nalowo njengentela yakhe ukunika uFaro Nekho.

₃₆UJehoyakimi wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nanye eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguZebida, indodakazi kaPhedaya waseRuma. ₃₇Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke abakwenzileyo oyise.

₁Emihleni yakhe kwenyuka uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele; uJehoyakimi wayeyinceku yakhe iminyaka emithathu; wayesebuya, wamhlubuka. ₂UJehova wathuma kuye amaviyo amaKaledi, namaviyo ama-Aramu, namaviyo abakwaMowabi, namaviyo abantwana bakwa-Amoni, wawathuma kuJuda ukumchitha njengezwi likaJehova alikhulumayo ngesandla sezinceku zakhe abaprofethi. ₃Impela kwaba khona lokho kwaJuda ngezwi likaJehova ukubasusa ebusweni bakhe ngenxa yezono zikaManase njengakho konke akwenzileyo, ₄nangenxa yegazi elingenacala alichithayo, ngokuba wagcwalisa iJerusalema ngegazi elingenacala, lokhu uJehova akavumanga ukukuthethelela.

₅Ezinye izindaba zikaJehoyakimi nakho konke akwenzayo angithi kulotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda na? ₆UJehoyakimi wayeselala koyise; uJehoyakini indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₇Inkosi yaseGibithe ayiphindanga futhi ukuphuma ezweni lakubo, ngokuba inkosi yaseBabele yayithathile konke okwakungokwenkosi yaseGibithe, kusukela emfuleni waseGibithe kuze kube semfuleni u-Ewufrathe.

₈UJehoyakini wayeneminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa izinyanga ezintathu eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguNehushita indodakazi ka-Elinathani waseJerusalema. ₉Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke akwenzileyo uyise.

₁₀Ngaleso sikhathi izinceku zikaNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele zenyukela eJerusalema, umuzi wavinjezelwa. ₁₁UNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele weza emzini, izinceku zakhe zisawuvimbezele. ₁₂UJehoyakini inkosi yakwaJuda waphuma, waya enkosini yaseBabele, yena nonina, nezinceku zakhe, nezikhulu zakhe, nezinduna zakhe; inkosi yaseBabele yamthatha ngomnyaka wesishiyagalombili wokubusa kwakhe. ₁₃Yakhipha khona yonke ingcebo yendlu kaJehova nengcebo yendlu yenkosi, yahlahlela zonke izinto zegolide uSolomoni inkosi yakwa-Israyeli azenzileyo ethempelini likaJehova njengokukhuluma kukaJehova. ₁₄Yathumba lonke iJerusalema, nazo zonke izikhulu, nawo onke amaqhawe anamandla, abathunjwa abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi, nezinyanga zonke zemisebenzi, nabakhandi; akushiywanga muntu ngaphandle kwabantu abayizimpofana bezwe.

₁₅Yathumba uJehoyakini, yamyisa eBabele; nonina wenkosi, nabafazi benkosi, nezinduna zayo, nabakhulu bezwe yabamukisa ngokubathumba eJerusalema, yabayisa eBabele. ₁₆Onke amadoda anamandla, ayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa, nezinyanga, nabakhandi, abayinkulungwane, bonke bengamaqhawe azilungiselele ukulwa, nabo inkosi yaseBabele yabayisa eBabele ngokubathumba. ₁₇Inkosi yaseBabele yambeka uMathaniya, uyisekazi, inkosi esikhundleni sakhe, yaguqula igama lakhe laba nguSedekiya.

₁₈USedekiya wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nanye ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nanye eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguHamithali, indodakazi kaJeremiya waseLibina. ₁₉Wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke akwenzileyo uJehoyakimi. ₂₀Ngokuba kwenzeka lokho eJerusalema nakwaJuda ngenxa yentukuthelo kaJehova, waze wabalahla ebusweni bakhe; uSedekiya wayihlubuka inkosi yaseBabele.

₁Kwathi ngomnyaka wesishiyagalolunye wokubusa kwakhe, ngenyanga yeshumi ngolweshumi lwenyanga, uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele wafika, yena nayo yonke impi yakhe, eJerusalema, wamisa malungana nalo; bakha inqaba ngakulo nxazonke. ₂Wawusuvinjezelwa umuzi kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka weshumi nanye wenkosi uSedekiya. ₃Ngosuku lwesishiyagalolunye lwenyanga indlala yaba namandla emzini, akubangakho kudla kubantu bezwe. ₄Kepha wawusufohlwa umuzi, onke amadoda empi abaleka ebusuku ngendlela yesango phakathi kwezingange zombili ezazingasensimini yenkosi amaKaledi ayekhona nxazonke zomuzi ahamba ngendlela yase-Araba. ₅Kodwa impi yamaKaledi yayixosha inkosi, yayifica emathafeni aseJeriko, yonke impi yayo yahlakazeka. ₆Ayeseyibamba inkosi, ayenyusela enkosini yaseBabele eRibila; ayahlulela. ₇Abulala amadodana kaSedekiya phambi kwamehlo akhe, akhipha amehlo kaSedekiya, ambopha ngamaketanga, amyisa eBabele.

₈Ngenyanga yesihlanu ngolwesikhombisa lwenyanga okwakungumnyaka weshumi nesishiyagalolunye wenkosi uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, kwafika uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi, inceku yenkosi yaseBabele, eJerusalema. ₉Washisa indlu kaJehova nendlu yenkosi; nazo zonke izindlu zaseJerusalema, zonke izindlu ezinkulu, wazishisa ngomlilo. ₁₀Yonke impi yamaKaledi induna yabalindi eyayinayo yadiliza izingange zaseJerusalema nxazonke. ₁₁Abanye abantu ababesele emzini, nabahlubukileyo behlubukela enkosini yaseBabele, nesixuku esiseleyo uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabathumba. ₁₂Kepha induna yabalindi yashiya abantu bezwe abayizimpofana ukuba baphathe izivini namasimu.

₁₃Izinsika zethusi ezazisendlini yenkosi, nezinqe, nolwandle lwethusi okwakusendlini kaJehova amaKaledi akuhlephula, athuthela ithusi lakho eBabele. ₁₄Amakhanzi, namafosholo, nezizenze, nezinkezo, nazo zonke izitsha zethusi ababekhonza ngazo akuthatha. ₁₅Nemicengezi yomlilo, nezitsha, okwegolide lodwa nesiliva lodwa, nalokho induna yabalindi yakuthatha.

₁₆Izinsika zombili, nolwandle olwalulunye nje, nezinqe uSolomoni ayekwenzele indlu kaJehova, ithusi lazo zonke lezi zinto lalingenakulinganiswa. ₁₇Ukuphakama kwensika eyodwa kwakuyizingalo eziyishumi nesishiyagalombili; phezu kwayo kwakukhona isihloko sethusi; ukuphakama kwesihloko esisodwa kwakuyizingalo ezintathu; kwakukhona nenetha namapomegranati* phezu kwesihloko nxazonke, konke kwakungokwethusi; kwakunjalo nasensikeni yesibili enetheni.

₁₈Induna yabalindi yathatha uSeraya umpristi omkhulu, noZefaniya umpristi wesibili, nabalindimnyango abathathu; ₁₉yathatha emzini induna eyayimiswe phezu kwamadoda empi, nabantu abayisihlanu kwababesebusweni benkosi abafunyanwa emzini, nombhali wenduna yempi eyayibala abantu bezwe, nabantu bezwe abangamashumi ayisithupha abafunyanwa emzini. ₂₀UNebuzaradani induna yabalindi wabathatha, wabayisa enkosini yaseBabele eRibila. ₂₁Inkosi yaseBabele yabashaya, yababulala eRibila ezweni laseHamati. Wathunjwa kanjalo uJuda ezweni lakubo.

₂₂Abantu abaseleyo ezweni lakwaJuda abashiyiwe nguNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele, phezu kwabo wenza uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani abe ngumbusi. ₂₃Zonke izinduna zempi, zona nabantu bazo, sezizwile ukuthi inkosi yaseBabele imenzile uGedaliya umbusi ezweni, zaya kuGedaliya eMispa: u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya, noJohanani indodana kaKhareya, noSeraya indodana kaThanihumeti waseNethofa, noJahazaniya indodana yomMahakha, bona nabantu babo. ₂₄UGedaliya wafunga kubo nakubantu babo, wathi kubo: “Ningesabi izinceku zamaKaledi; hlalani ezweni, niyikhonze inkosi yaseBabele, kuyakuba kuhle kini.”

₂₅Kepha kwathi ngenyanga yesikhombisa wafika u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya ka-Elishama wozalo lwenkosi, abantu abayishumi benaye, wamshaya uGedaliya waze wafa, kanye nabaJuda namaKaledi ayenaye eMispa. ₂₆Abantu bonke, abancane nabakhulu, nezinduna zempi basuka baya eGibithe, ngokuba besaba amaKaledi.

₂₇Kwathi ngomnyaka wamashumi amathathu nesikhombisa wokuthunjwa kukaJehoyakini inkosi yakwaJuda ngenyanga yeshumi nambili ngolwamashumi amabili nesikhombisa lwenyanga, u-Evili Merodaki inkosi yaseBabele, ngomnyaka wokuqala wokubusa kwakhe, waphakamisa ikhanda likaJehoyakini inkosi yakwaJuda, wamkhipha etilongweni, ₂₈wakhuluma kahle kuye, wabeka isihlalo sakhe phezu kwezihlalo zamakhosi ayenaye eBabele. ₂₉Waguqula izingubo zakhe zasetilongweni; wadla njalo phambi kwakhe zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe. ₃₀Isabelo sakhe sasiyisabelo esimiyo semihla ngemihla, asiphiwa yinkosi zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe.