To The Word – Day 141

₁USathane wema ukulwa no-Israyeli, wavusa uDavide ukuba abale u-Israyeli. ₂UDavide wayesethi kuJowabe nasezinduneni zabantu: “Hambani nibale u-Israyeli kusukela eBeri Sheba kuze kube kwaDani, nilethe umumo wabo kimi ukuba ngiwazi.”

₃UJowabe wathi: “UJehova makenezele kubantu bakhe, kuphindwe kayikhulu phezu kwalokhu abayikho; kepha, nkosi yami, nkosi, abasizo izinceku zenkosi yami bonke na? Inkosi yami ifunelani le nto na? Iyakuba yicala ngani ku-Israyeli na?”

₄Nokho izwi lenkosi lamahlula uJowabe. UJowabe waphuma, wadabula wonke u-Israyeli, wafika eJerusalema. ₅UJowabe wanika uDavide umumo wabantu ababaliweyo; wonke u-Israyeli wayeyizinkulungwane eziyinkulungwane nezinkulungwane eziyikhulu abahloma inkemba; uJuda wayeyizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane namashumi ayisikhombisa.

₆Kepha oLevi noBenjamini akababalanga phakathi kwabo, ngokuba izwi lenkosi lalinengekile kuJowabe. ₇Kwaba kubi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu; ngalokho washaya u-Israyeli.

₈UDavide wayesethi kuNkulunkulu: “Ngonile kakhulu ngalokho engikwenzileyo; kepha manje, Jehova, mawuthethelele ububi benceku yakho, ngokuba ngintumazele kakhulu.”

₉UJehova wayesekhuluma kuGadi, umboni kaDavide, ethi: ₁₀“Hamba ukhulume kuDavide ngokuthi: ‘UJehova usho kanje, uthi: Ngiyakubekela izinto ezintathu; khetha enye kuzo ukuba ngikwenzele yona.’ ”

₁₁UGadi wayesefika kuDavide, wathi kuye: “UJehova usho kanje, uthi: ₁₂‘Zikhethele noma indlala yeminyaka emithathu, noma ukuchithwa yizitha zakho izinyanga ezintathu uficwa yinkemba yezitha zakho, noma izinsuku ezintathu zenkemba kaJehova nesifo ezweni, ingelosi kaJehova ichithe emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli.’ Manje zibonele izwi engiyakulibuyisela kongithumileyo.”

₁₃UDavide wathi kuGadi: “Nginosizi kakhulu; mangiwele esandleni sikaJehova, ngokuba umusa wakhe mkhulu kakhulu; kepha esandleni somuntu mangingaweli kuso.”

₁₄UJehova wayesethuma isifo phezu kuka-Israyeli; kwafa kwa-Israyeli abantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa. ₁₅UNkulunkulu wathuma ingelosi eJerusalema ukulichitha; kwathi lapho isalichitha, uJehova wabuka, wazisola ngalobo bubi, wathi engelosini echithayo: “Sekwanele; buyisa isandla sakho.” Ingelosi kaJehova yayimi ngasesibuyeni sika-Orinani umJebusi.

₁₆UDavide wayesephakamisa amehlo akhe, wayibona ingelosi kaJehova imi emkhathini womhlaba nezulu, inenkemba ehoshiweyo esandleni sayo, yelulelwe phezu kweJerusalema. UDavide namalunga bembethe izindwangu zamasaka bawa ngobuso babo.

₁₇UDavide wathi kuNkulunkulu: “Akusimi yini owayaleza ukuba abantu babalwe na? Yimina engonileyo; ngenze kabi kakhulu, kepha lezi zimvu zenzeni na? Isandla sakho, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, masibe phezu kwami naphezu kwendlu kababa, singabi phezu kwabantu bakho ukubashaya ngesifo.”

₁₈Ingelosi kaJehova yamyala uGadi ukusho kuDavide ukuba uDavide enyuke, amisele uJehova i-altare esibuyeni sika-Orinani umJebusi. ₁₉UDavide wenyuka ngezwi likaGadi alikhulumayo egameni likaJehova.

₂₀U-Orinani waphenduka, wayibona ingelosi; amadodana akhe amane ayenaye acasha. U-Orinani wayebhula ukolweni. ₂₁UDavide esefika ku-Orinani, u-Orinani wabuka, wambona uDavide, waphuma esibuyeni, wakhothamela uDavide, ubuso bakhe bubheke phansi.

₂₂UDavide wathi ku-Orinani: “Nginike indawo yalesi sibuya ukuba ngakhele uJehova i-altare kuyo: uyakunginika yona ngemali epheleleyo ukuba lesi sifo sinqamuke kubantu.”

₂₃U-Orinani wathi kuDavide: “Zithathele yona; inkosi yami, inkosi, mayenze okuhle emehlweni ayo; bheka, ngiyakupha izinkabi zibe ngezeminikelo yokushiswa, nezibhulo zibe yizinkuni, nokolweni abe ngumnikelo wempuphu; ngikunika konke.”

₂₄Inkosi uDavide yathi ku-Orinani: “Qha, ngiyakukuthenga nokukuthenga ngemali epheleleyo, ngokuba angizukumthathela uJehova okungokwakho, nginikele ngomnikelo wokushiswa ngengikuthole ngeze.”

₂₅UDavide wayesemnika u-Orinani ngendawo amashekeli* angamakhulu ayisithupha egolide ngesisindo. ₂₆UDavide wamakhela khona uJehova i-altare, wanikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa nangeminikelo yokuthula, wambiza uJehova; wamphendula esezulwini ngomlilo e-altare lomnikelo wokushiswa.

₂₇UJehova wayiyala ingelosi; yabuyisela inkemba yayo emgodleni wayo.

₂₈Ngaleso sikhathi lapho uDavide esebonile ukuthi uJehova umphendulile esibuyeni sika-Orinani umJebusi, wahlaba khona. ₂₉Ngokuba itabernakele* likaJehova alenza uMose ehlane ne-altare lomnikelo wokushiswa kwakusendaweni ephakemeyo eGibeyoni ngaleso sikhathi. ₃₀Kepha uDavide wayengenakuya phambi kwalo ukubuza kuNkulunkulu, ngokuba wagebhezelela inkemba yengelosi kaJehova.

₁UDavide wathi: “Le iyindlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu, leli liyi-altare lomnikelo wokushiswa ka-Israyeli.”

₂UDavide wayala ukuba babuthe bonke abafokazi ababe sezweni lakwa-Israyeli, wabeka abakhi ukubaza amatshe axhoziweyo ukuba bakhe indlu kaNkulunkulu. ₃UDavide walungisa insimbi eningi yezipikili zezivalo zamasango nezokuhlanganisa, kanye nethusi eliningi elingenakulinganiswa, ₄nemisedari* engenakubalwa, ngokuba amaSidoni nabaseTire baletha imisedari eminingi kuDavide.

₅UDavide wathi: “USolomoni indodana yami usengumfana, usathambile, nendlu eyakwakhelwa uJehova nga iba nkulu, ibatshazwe, ibe negama nodumo emazweni onke; ngizakuyilungisela.” Wayeseyilungisela kakhulu uDavide engakafi.

₆Wayesebiza uSolomoni indodana yakhe, wamyala ukumakhela uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. ₇UDavide wathi kuSolomoni indodana yakhe: “Mina-ke, kwakusenhliziyweni yami ukwakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wami indlu. ₈Kepha izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: ‘Uchithile igazi eliningi, uphake izimpi ezinkulu; awuyikwakhela igama lami indlu, ngokuba uchithe igazi eliningi emhlabathini emehlweni ami; ₉bheka, uyakuzalelwa indodana eyakuba ngumuntu wokuthula; ngiyakumnika ukuphumula ezitheni zakhe nxazonke, ngokuba igama lakhe liyakuba nguSolomoni;* ukuthula nokuzola ngiyakumnika khona u-Israyeli emihleni yakhe; ₁₀uyakwakhela igama lami indlu; uyakuba yindodana yami, mina ngibe nguyise; ngiyakuqinisa isihlalo sobukhosi sombuso wakhe kwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.’

₁₁“Kalokhu, ndodana yami, uJehova makabe nawe, ube nempumelelo, wakhe indlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho njengokukhuluma kwakhe kuwe. ₁₂Kuphela, uJehova makakuphe ukuhlakanipha nokuqonda, akuyale ngo-Israyeli ukuba ugcine umthetho kaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho. ₁₃Khona uyakuphumelela, uma ugcina ukwenza izimiso nezahlulelo uJehova ayala ngazo uMose ngo-Israyeli; qina, ume isibindi; ungesabi, ungabi naluvalo.

₁₄“Bheka, ekuhluphekeni kwami ngilungisele indlu kaJehova amatalenta* ayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu egolide, namatalenta ayizinkulungwane eziyinkulungwane esiliva, nethusi nensimbi okungenakulinganiswa, ngokuba kuningi; ngilungisile nemithi namatshe; uyakwenezela kukho. ₁₅Kukhona kuwe izisebenzi eziningi, ababazi, nezisebenzi zamatshe nezemithi, nabo bonke abayizingcweti emisebenzini yonke: ₁₆eyegolide, neyesiliva, neyethusi, neyensimbi, kungenakubalwa; suka usebenze; uJehova makabe nawe.”

₁₇UDavide wayala zonke izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli ukusiza uSolomoni, wathi: ₁₈“UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu akanani na? Akaniphanga ukuphumula nxazonke na? Ngokuba unikele esandleni sami abakhileyo ezweni; izwe linyatheliwe phambi kukaJehova naphambi kwabantu bakhe. ₁₉Kalokhu nikelani inhliziyo yenu nomphefumulo wenu ekufuneni uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu; sukani nakhe indlu engcwele kaJehova uNkulunkulu ukuba kungeniswe umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova nezinto ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu endlini eyakwakhelwa igama likaJehova.”

₁UDavide wayesemdala, esanelisiwe yizinsuku; wambeka uSolomoni indodana yakhe abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli. ₂Wabutha zonke izikhulu zakwa-Israyeli kanye nabapristi namaLevi. ₃AmaLevi abalwa kusukela kwaneminyaka engamashumi amathathu kuya phezulu; umumo wawo ngezinhloko zawo, indoda ngendoda, wawuyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu nesishiyagalombili. ₄Ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nane kuwona ayengawokwengamela umsebenzi wendlu kaJehova; izinkulungwane eziyisithupha zaziyizinduna nabahluleli; ₅izinkulungwane ezine zazingabalindisango; izinkulungwane ezine ziyakudumisa uJehova ngezinto zokubethwa engazenzayo, washo uDavide, ukuba zidumise ngazo.

₆UDavide wabahlukanisa ngezigaba njengamadodana kaLevi: oGereshoni, noKohati, noMerari.

₇KumaGereshoni: ngoLadani noShimeyi. ₈Amadodana kaLadani: nguJehiyeli inhloko, noZethamu, noJoweli, bebathathu. ₉Amadodana kaShimeyi: ngoShelomoti, noHaziyeli, noHarana, bebathathu. Labo babe yizinhloko zawoyise bakaLadani. ₁₀Amadodana kaShimeyi: ngoJahati, noZina, noJewushe, noBeriya. Labo bobane babe ngamadodana kaShimeyi. ₁₁UJahati wayeyinhloko, noZiza ngowesibili; kepha oJewushe noBeriya babengenamadodana amaningi; ngalokho baba yindlu inye kayise, bebalwa kanyekanye. ₁₂Amadodana kaKohati: ngo-Amramu, noJisihari, noHebroni, no-Uziyeli, bebane. ₁₃Amadodana ka-Amramu: ngo-Aroni noMose; u-Aroni wahlukaniswa ukuba angcwelise izinto ezingcwelengcwele, yena namadodana akhe, kuze kube phakade, ukushisa impepho phambi kukaJehova, nokumkhonza, nokubusisa egameni lakhe kuze kube phakade. ₁₄Kepha uMose, lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu, amadodana akhe abizwa ngesizwe sakwaLevi. ₁₅Amadodana kaMose: ngoGereshomu no-Eliyezeri. ₁₆Amadodana kaGereshomu: nguShebuweli owayeyinhloko. ₁₇Amadodana ka-Eliyezeri: nguRehabiya inhloko. U-Eliyezeri wayengenawo amanye amadodana; kepha amadodana kaRehabiya ayemaningi kakhulu. ₁₈Amadodana kaJisihari: nguShelomiti inhloko. ₁₉Amadodana kaHebroni: nguJeriya inhloko, no-Amariya owesibili, noJahaziyeli owesithathu, noJekameyamu owesine. ₂₀Amadodana ka-Uziyeli: nguMika inhloko noJishiya owesibili. ₂₁Amadodana kaMerari: ngoMaheli noMushi. Amadodana kaMaheli: ngo-Eleyazare noKishi. ₂₂U-Eleyazare wafa engenamadodana, enamadodakazi odwa; abafowabo, amadodana kaKishi, bawathatha. ₂₃Amadodana kaMushi: ngoMaheli, no-Edere, noJeremoti, bebathathu.

₂₄Yilabo ababe ngamadodana kaLevi ngezindlu zawoyise, izinhloko zawoyise, bebalwa ngomumo wamagama ngezinhloko zabo, abawenza umsebenzi wenkonzo yendlu kaJehova, kusukela kwabaneminyaka engamashumi amabili kuya phezulu. ₂₅Ngokuba uDavide wathi: “UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli unike abantu bakhe ukuphumula; uhlezi eJerusalema kuze kube phakade; ₂₆namaLevi awasayikuthwala itabernakele* nazo zonke izinto zalo zenkonzo yalo.” ₂₇Ngokuba amadodana kaLevi abalwa ngamazwi okugcina kaDavide, kusukela kwaneminyaka engamashumi amabili kuya phezulu.

₂₈Ngokuba indawo yawo yayingasesandleni samadodana ka-Aroni ukukhonza endlini kaJehova, nasemagcekeni, nasemakamelweni, nokuhlambulula zonke izinto ezingcwele, nomsebenzi wenkonzo endlini kaNkulunkulu, ₂₉eyezinkwa zokubukwa, neyempuphu ecolekileyo yomnikelo wempuphu, neyemiqathane engenamvubelo, neyokuphekwe ekhanzini, neyexutshanisiweyo, neyazo zonke izilinganiso nobukhulu; ₃₀nokuma njalo ekuseni ukubonga nokudumisa uJehova, kanjalo nakusihlwa; ₃₁nokunikela njalo ngayo yonke iminikelo yokushiswa kuJehova ngamasabatha, nangokwethwasa kwenyanga, nanemikhosi emisiweyo ngomumo onjengomthetho wabo, phambi kukaJehova; ₃₂bayakugcina imfanelo yetende lokuhlangana, nemfanelo yendawo engcwele, nemfanelo yamadodana ka-Aroni abafowabo ekukhonzeni endlini kaJehova.

₁Nazi izigaba zamadodana ka-Aroni: amadodana ka-Aroni: ngoNadabi, no-Abihu, no-Eleyazare, no-Itamari. ₂Kepha oNadabi no-Abihu bandulela uyise ukufa, bengenabantwana; ngalokho o-Eleyazare no-Itamari kuphela babe ngabapristi. ₃ODavide, noSadoki wamadodana ka-Eleyazare, no-Ahimeleki wamadodana ka-Itamari babahlukanisa ngezigaba zabo njengenkonzo yabo. ₄Kwafunyaniswa emadodaneni ka-Eleyazare amadoda amaningi ayizinhloko kunasemadodaneni ka-Itamari; bahlukaniswa kanje: emadodaneni ka-Eleyazare kwakukhona abayishumi nesithupha abayizinhloko zezindlu zawoyise, nasemadodaneni ka-Itamari babe yisishiyagalombili njengezindlu zawoyise. ₅Bahlukaniswa ngenkatho, laba nalaba, ngokuba kwakukhona izikhulu zendlu engcwele nezikhulu zikaNkulunkulu emadodaneni ka-Eleyazare nasemadodaneni ka-Itamari.

₆UShemaya, indodana kaNethaneli, umbhali ongowamaLevi, wabaloba phambi kwenkosi, nezikhulu, noSadoki, nezikhulu, noSadoki umpristi, no-Ahimeleki indodana ka-Abiyathara, nezinhloko zawoyise babapristi namaLevi; enye indlu yawoyise yakhishelwa u-Eleyazare, nenye yakhishelwa u-Itamari.

₇Inkatho yokuqala yadla uJehoyaribi, neyesibili uJedaya, ₈neyesithathu uHarimi, neyesine uSehorimi, ₉neyesihlanu uMalikhiya, neyesithupha uMijamini, ₁₀neyesikhombisa uHakhosi, neyesishiyagalombili u-Abiya, ₁₁neyesishiyagalolunye uJeshuwa, neyeshumi uShekaniya, ₁₂neyeshumi nanye u-Eliyashibi, neyeshumi nambili uJakimi, ₁₃neyeshumi nantathu uHupha, neyeshumi nane uJeshebeyabe, ₁₄neyeshumi nanhlanu uBiliga, neyeshumi nesithupha u-Imeri, ₁₅neyeshumi nesikhombisa uHeziri, neyeshumi nesishiyagalombili uHaphisesi, ₁₆neyeshumi nesishiyagalolunye uPhethahiya, neyamashumi amabili uJehezekeli, ₁₇neyamashumi amabili nanye uJakini, neyamashumi amabili nambili uGamuli, ₁₈neyamashumi amabili nantathu uDelaya, neyamashumi amabili nane uMahaziya.

₁₉Lezo zaziyizigaba zabo njengenkonzo yabo ukuba bangene endlini kaJehova njengomthetho ababewunikwe ngesandla sika-Aroni uyise, njengalokho uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ebemyalile.

₂₀Abaseleyo emadodaneni kaLevi babe yilaba: emadodaneni ka-Amramu nguShubayeli; emadodaneni kaShubayeli nguJehedeya. ₂₁KuRehabiya: emadodaneni kaRehabiya: nguJishiya inhloko. ₂₂KumaJisihari: nguShelomoti; emadodaneni kaShelomoti: nguJahati. ₂₃Amadodana kaHebroni: nguJeriya inhloko, no-Amariya owesibili, noJahaziyeli owesithathu, noJekameyamu owesine. ₂₄Amadodana ka-Uziyeli: nguMika; emadodaneni kaMika: nguShamiri. ₂₅Umfowabo kaMika: nguJishiya; emadodaneni kaJishiya: nguZakariya. ₂₆Amadodana kaMerari: ngoMaheli noMushi; amadodana kaJahaziya: nguBeno. ₂₇Amadodana kaMerari: ngoJahaziya, noBeno, noShohamu, noZakuri, no-Ibiri. ₂₈KuMaheli: ngu-Eleyazare, owayengenabantwana. ₂₉KuKishi, kungamadodana kaKishi: nguJerameli. ₃₀Amadodana kaMushi: ngoMaheli, no-Edere, noJerimoti. Yilabo ababe ngamadodana amaLevi ngezindlu zawoyise. ₃₁Nalabo benza inkatho njengabafowabo, amadodana ka-Aroni, ebusweni bukaDavide inkosi, noSadoki, no-Ahimeleki, nezinhloko zawoyise babapristi namaLevi, inhloko yawoyise njengomfowabo omncane.

₁UDavide nezinduna zempi base bahlukanisela inkonzo amanye amadodana ka-Asafa, nakaHemani, nakaJeduthuni, ayeyakuprofetha ngamahabhu,* nangezingubhu, nangamasimbali;* umumo wabantu balo msebenzi wenkonzo wawunje: ₂emadodaneni ka-Asafa: ngoZakuri, noJosefa, noNethaniya, no-Asharela, amadodana ka-Asafa, phansi kwezandla zika-Asafa owaprofetha ngezandla zenkosi. ₃KuJeduthuni: amadodana kaJeduthuni: ngoGedaliya, noSeri, noJeshaya, noShimeyi, noHashabiya, noMatithiya, bebayisithupha, phansi kwezandla zikayise uJeduthuni owaprofetha ngehabhu* ngokubonga nangokudumisa uJehova. ₄KuHemani: amadodana kaHemani: ngoBukiya, noMathaniya, no-Uziyeli, noShebuweli, noJerimoti, noHananiya, noHanani, no-Eliyatha, noGidaliti, noRomamiti Ezeri, noJoshibekasha, noMaloti, noHothiri, noMahaziyoti; ₅bonke labo babe ngamadodana kaHemani umboni wenkosi ngamazwi kaNkulunkulu okuphakamisa uphondo lwakhe; uNkulunkulu wamnika uHemani amadodana ayishumi nane namadodakazi amathathu.

₆Onke lawo ayephansi kwezandla zikayise ekuhlabeleleni endlini kaJehova ngamasimbali,* nangezingubhu, nangamahabu* enkonzweni yasendlini kaNkulunkulu, o-Asafa noJeduthuni noHemani bephansi kwezandla zenkosi. ₇Umumo wabo kanye nabafowabo ababefundisiwe ukuhlabelela kuJehova nabayizazi wawungamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisishiyagalombili nesishiyagalombili. ₈Benza inkatho ngenkonzo, omunye ngomunye, omncane njengomkhulu, isazi nomfundi.

₉Inkatho yokuqala yadla uJosefa ka-Asafa, neyesibili uGedaliya; yena nabafowabo namadodana akhe babe yishumi nambili; ₁₀eyesithathu uZakuri, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₁eyesine uJisiri, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₂eyesihlanu uNethaniya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₃eyesithupha uBukiya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₄eyesikhombisa uJesharela, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₅eyesishiyagalombili uJeshaya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₆eyesishiyagalolunye uMathaniya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₇eyeshumi uShimeyi, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₈eyeshumi nanye u-Azareli, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₁₉eyeshumi nambili uHashabiya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₀eyeshumi nantathu uShubayeli, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₁eyeshumi nane uMatithiya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₂eyeshumi nanhlanu uJeremoti, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₃eyeshumi nesithupha uHananiya, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₄eyeshumi nesikhombisa uJoshibekasha, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₅eyeshumi nesishiyagalombili uHanani, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₆eyeshumi nesishiyagalolunye uMaloti, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₇eyamashumi amabili u-Eliyatha, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₈eyamashumi amabili nanye uHothiri, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₂₉eyamashumi amabili nambili uGidaliti, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₃₀eyamashumi amabili nantathu uMahaziyoti, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili; ₃₁eyamashumi amabili nane uRomamiti Ezeri, namadodana akhe nabafowabo, beyishumi nambili.