To The Word – Day 144

₁USolomoni indodana kaDavide waqiniswa ebukhosini bakhe; uJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe wayenaye, wamkhulisa kakhulu.

₂USolomoni wakhuluma kuye wonke u-Israyeli, nakuzo izinduna zezinkulungwane nezamakhulu, nakubahluleli, nakuzo zonke izikhulu kwa-Israyeli wonke, izinhloko zawoyise. ₃Wahamba uSolomoni, nebandla lonke linaye, waya endaweni ephakemeyo yaseGibeyoni, ngokuba kwakukhona lapho itende lokuhlangana likaNkulunkulu elalenziwe nguMose inceku kaJehova ehlane. ₄Kepha umphongolo kaNkulunkulu uDavide wayewukhuphulile eKiriyati Jeharimi, wawuyisa endaweni uDavide ayewulungisele yona, ngokuba wayewumisele itende eJerusalema. ₅Futhi i-altare lethusi elalenziwe nguBesaleli indodana ka-Uri kaHure lalilapho phambi kwetabernakele* likaJehova; uSolomoni nebandla baya ukubuza kulo. ₆USolomoni wanikela khona phambi kukaJehova e-altare lethusi elalingasetendeni lokuhlangana, wanikela ngeminikelo eyinkulungwane yokushiswa phezu kwalo.

₇Ngalobo busuku uNkulunkulu wabonakala kuSolomoni, wathi kuye: “Cela lokhu othanda ukuba ngikunike khona.”

₈Wayesethi uSolomoni kuNkulunkulu: “Umenzele uDavide ubaba umusa omkhulu, wangibeka inkosi esikhundleni sakhe. ₉Ngalokho, Jehova Nkulunkulu, maliqiniswe izwi lakho kuDavide ubaba, ngokuba ungibeke inkosi phezu kwabantu abangangothuli lomhlabathi ngobuningi. ₁₀Ngiphe manje ukuhlakanipha nokwazi ukuba ngiphume, ngingene phambi kwalabo bantu, ngokuba ngubani ongahlulela labo bantu bakho abakhulu kangaka na?”

₁₁Wayesethi uNkulunkulu kuSolomoni: “Ngenxa yokuba lokho kwakusenhliziyweni yakho, ungacelanga ingcebo, nemfuyo, nodumo, nokuphila kwabakuzondayo, futhi ungacelanga imihla eminingi, kepha wazicelela ukuhlakanipha nokwazi ukuba wahlulele abantu bami engikubeke inkosi phezu kwabo, ₁₂uyakuphiwa ukuhlakanipha nokwazi; ngiyakukunika nengcebo, nemfuyo, nodumo, angazange abe nakho okungako amakhosi ayengaphambi kwakho, nalandelayo emva kwakho awayikuba nakho.”

₁₃USolomoni wayesesuka endaweni ephakemeyo yaseGibeyoni etendeni lokuhlangana, waya eJerusalema; wabusa phezu kuka-Israyeli.

₁₄USolomoni wabutha izinqola nabamahhashi; wayenezinqola eziyinkulungwane namakhulu amane nabamahhashi abayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili, owakubeka emizini yezinqola nasenkosini eJerusalema.

₁₅Inkosi yenza isiliva negolide kuvame eJerusalema njengamatshe, nemisedari* yayenza ibe njengemithombe esigodini ngobuningi. ₁₆Amahhashi uSolomoni ayenawo ayekhishwe eGibithe; abathengi benkosi bawamukela ngamadlanzi, yilelo nalelo dlanzi ngentengo yalo. ₁₇Bakhuphula, bakhipha eGibithe inqola ngamashekeli* angamakhulu ayisithupha esiliva, nehhashi ngayikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu; bawakhiphela kanjalo onke amakhosi amaHeti namakhosi ase-Aramu ngezandla zabo.

₁USolomoni wahlosa ukwakhela igama likaJehova indlu kanye nendlu yombuso wakhe. ₂USolomoni wabala abantu abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa ukuba bathwale imithwalo, nabantu abayizinkulungwane eziyishiyagalombili ukuba babe ngababazi bamatshe ezintabeni, nezinkulungwane ezintathu namakhulu ayisithupha ukubabonisa.

₃USolomoni wathumela kuHiramu inkosi yaseTire, wathi: “Njengalokho wakwenza kuDavide ubaba, wathuma kuye imisedari,* azakhele ngayo indlu ukuba ahlale kuyo, yenze njalo nakimi. ₄Bheka, ngiyakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wami indlu ukuba ngimngcwelisele yona, ngishise phambi kwakhe impepho ethaphukayo, kubekwe njalo izinkwa zokubukwa, kunikelwe ngeminikelo yokushiswa ekuseni nakusihlwa ngamasabatha, nangokwethwasa kwenyanga, nangemikhosi emisiweyo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu. Lokhu kungumthetho kwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.

₅“Indlu engiyakuyakha iyakuba nkulu, ngokuba mkhulu uNkulunkulu wethu phezu kwabo bonke onkulunkulu. ₆Kodwa ngubani onamandla okumakhela indlu, lokhu izulu nezulu lamazulu lingemanele na? Pho, mina ngingubani ukuba ngimakhele indlu, ukuze kushiswe impepho phambi kwakhe na?

₇“Ngalokho mawuthume kimi umuntu oyingcweti yokusebenza ngegolide, nangesiliva, nangethusi, nangensimbi, nangokububende, nangokubomvu, nangokuluhlaza, owazi ukuqopha yonke imiqopho kanye nezingcweti ezinami kwaJuda naseJerusalema, ezamiswa nguDavide ubaba.

₈“Ngithumele futhi imisedari,* nemisayipuresi,* nemi-alimugi* evela eLebanoni, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi izinceku zakho ziyakwazi ukugawula imithi eLebanoni; bheka, izinceku zami ziyakuba nezinceku zakho ₉ukungilungisela imithi eminingi, ngokuba indlu engiyakuyakha iyakuba nkulu ngokumangalisayo. ₁₀Bheka, ngiyakunika izinceku zakho, abagawuli abagawula imithi, amakhora* ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili kakolweni obhuliweyo, namakhora ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili ebhali,* namabhati* ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili ewayini, namabhati ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili amafutha.”

₁₁UHiramu inkosi yaseTire waphendula ngokuloba, wakuthuma kuSolomoni, wathi: “Ngokuba uJehova uyathanda abantu bakhe, ukubeke inkosi phezu kwabo.”

₁₂UHiramu wathi futhi: “Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owenza izulu nomhlaba, nowanika uDavide inkosi indodana ehlakaniphileyo, enolwazi nengqondo, eyakwakhela uJehova indlu nendlu yombuso wakhe.

₁₃“Manje sengithumile umuntu ohlakaniphileyo nonolwazi, uHiramu Abi, ₁₄indodana yowesifazane wamadodakazi akwaDani; uyise wayengumuntu waseTire, owayekwazi ukusebenza ngegolide, nangesiliva, nangethusi, nangensimbi, nangamatshe, nangemithi, nangokububende, nangokuluhlaza, nangelineni elicolekileyo, nangokubomvu, nangokuqopha imiqopho yonke, nangokuqamba yonke imisebenzi yobungcweti, ukuba anikwe indawo kanye nezingcweti zakho nezingcweti zenkosi yami uDavide uyihlo.

₁₅“Ngalokho ukolweni, nebhali,* namafutha, newayini, inkosi yami ekhulume ngakho, mayikuthume kuzo izinceku zayo. ₁₆Thina siyakugawula imithi eLebanoni njengokuswela konke kwakho, siyiyise kuwe eJopha elwandle ngezihlenga, wena uyikhuphulele eJerusalema.”

₁₇USolomoni wabala bonke abezizwe ababesezweni lakwa-Israyeli ngokubalwa uDavide uyise ayebabalile ngakho; kwafumaniseka ukuthi babe yizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisihlanu nezinkulungwane ezintathu namakhulu ayisithupha. ₁₈Kubona wamisa izinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa ukuba bathwale imithwalo, nezinkulungwane ezingamashumi ayisishiyagalombili ukuba babe ngababazi ezintabeni, nezinkulungwane ezintathu namakhulu ayisithupha ukuba babe ngababonisi bokusebenzisa abantu.

₁USolomoni wayeseqala ukwakha indlu kaJehova eJerusalema entabeni yaseMoriya, lapho uJehova abonakala khona kuDavide uyise, nalapho eselungisile khona endaweni kaDavide esibuyeni sika-Orinani umJebusi. ₂Waqala ukwakha ngolwesibili lwenyanga yesibili ngomnyaka wesine wokubusa kwakhe.

₃Yilesi isisekelo uSolomoni asibekela ukuba kwakhiwe indlu kaNkulunkulu: ubude ngezingalo zesilinganiso esidala babuyizingalo ezingamashumi ayisithupha, ububanzi babuyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili. ₄Umpheme owawuphambi kwendlu ende malungana nobubanzi bendlu wawuyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili, nokuphakama kwakuyikhulu namashumi amabili; wawunameka phakathi ngegolide elicwengekileyo. ₅Indlu enkulu wayembesa imisayipuresi,* wayinameka ngegolide elihle, waqopha kulo amasundu namaketanga. ₆Wayihlobisa indlu ngamatshe ayigugu ukuze ivunuliswe; igolide laliyigolide laseParivayimi. ₇Wanameka nendlu, nemishayo, nemibundu, nezindonga zayo, neminyango yayo ngegolide, waqopha amakherubi* ezindongeni.

₈Wenza indlu engcwelengcwele; yayimalungana nobubanzi bendlu; ubude bayo babuyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili, nobubanzi bayo babuyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili; wayinameka ngegolide elihle, lingamatalenta* angamakhulu ayisithupha. ₉Isisindo sezipikili sasingamashekeli* angamashumi ayisihlanu egolide. Amakamelo angaphezulu wawanameka ngegolide.

₁₀Endlini engcwelengcwele wenza amakherubi* amabili aqoshiweyo; bawanameka ngegolide. ₁₁Amaphiko amakherubi ayeyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili; iphiko lelinye laliyizingalo eziyisihlanu, lathinta odongeni lwendlu; elinye iphiko nalo laliyizingalo eziyisihlanu, lathinta ephikweni lelinye ikherubi. ₁₂Iphiko lelinye ikherubi laliyizingalo eziyisihlanu, lathinta odongeni lwendlu; elinye iphiko laliyizingalo eziyisihlanu nalo, lafinyelela ephikweni lelinye ikherubi. ₁₃Amaphiko alawo makherubi azelula izingalo ezingamashumi amabili; ema ngezinyawo zawo, ubuso bawo bubheke endlini.

₁₄Wenza isihenqo ngokuluhlaza nangokububende nangokubomvu, nangelineni elicolekileyo, wabeka kuso amakherubi.

₁₅Wenza ngaphakathi kwendlu izinsika ezimbili, ukuphakama kwazo kwakuyizingalo ezingamashumi amathathu nanhlanu; isihloko esasingaphezu kwaleyo naleyo sasiyizingalo eziyisihlanu. ₁₆Wenza amaketanga egumbini, wawabeka ezihlokweni zezinsika; wenza amapomegranati* ayikhulu, wawabeka emaketangeni. ₁₇Wazimisa izinsika phambi kwethempeli, enye ngakwesokunene nenye ngakwesokhohlo, wabiza igama lengakwesokunene ngokuthi uJakini negama lengakwesokhohlo ngokuthi uBowazi.

₁Wenza i-altare lethusi; ubude balo babuyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili, nobubanzi balo babuyizingalo ezingamashumi amabili, nokuphakama kwalo kwakuyizingalo eziyishumi. ₂Wenza nolwandle olubunjiweyo; lwaluyizingalo eziyishumi kusukela kolunye udini kuze kufike kolunye, lwaluyisiyingilizi; ukuphakama kwalo kwakuyizingalo eziyisihlanu; umucu oyizingalo ezingamashumi amathathu waluzungeza nxazonke. ₃Phansi kwalo kwakukhona okufana nezintangazane nxazonke ezaluzungeza izingalo eziyishumi nxazonke; izintangazane zazisezinhleni ezimbili nxazonke zolwandle, zibunjiwe ekubunjweni kwalo.

₄Lwalumi phezu kwezinkabi eziyishumi nambili, ezintathu zibheke ngasenyakatho, ezintathu zibheke ngasentshonalanga, ezintathu zibheke ngaseningizimu, ezintathu zibheke ngasempumalanga; ulwandle lwalumiswe phezu kwazo, zonke zifulathelene. ₅Uhlonze lwalo lwalungangobubanzi besandla; udini lwalo lwalwenziwe njengodini lwendebe, lunjengembali yomnduze; lwamukela okulingene namabhati* ayizinkulungwane ezintathu.

₆Wenza imicengezi eyishumi, wabeka eyisihlanu ngakwesokunene neyisihlanu ngakwesokhohlo ukuhlambela kuyo; okweminikelo yokushiswa babekugezela kuyo, kepha ulwandle lwalungolokuhlambela abapristi.

₇Wenza izinti zezibani zegolide njengomthetho wazo, wazibeka ethempelini, eziyisihlanu ngakwesokunene neziyisihlanu ngakwesokhohlo.

₈Wenza amatafula ayishumi, wawabeka ethempelini, ayisihlanu ngakwesokunene nayisihlanu ngakwesokhohlo. Wenza nezitsha eziyikhulu zegolide.

₉Wenza igceke labapristi, negceke elikhulu, neminyango yegceke, wazinameka izivalo zayo ngethusi. ₁₀Walubeka ulwandle ngakwesokunene ngasempumalanga yangaseningizimu.

₁₁UHiramu wenza amakhanzi, namafosholo, nezitsha. UHiramu wayeseqeda ukwenza umsebenzi abewenzela inkosi uSolomoni endlini kaNkulunkulu: ₁₂izinsika ezimbili, nezihloko ezimbili ezinjengezinkamba ezaziphezu kwezinsika, namanetha amabili okwembesa izihloko ezimbili ezinjengezinkamba ezaziphezu kwezinsika, ₁₃namapomegranati* angamakhulu amane amanetha omabili, izinhla ezimbili zamapomegranati kulelo nalelo netha, okwembesa izihloko zombili ezazinjengezinkamba phezu kwezinsika. ₁₄Wazenza nezinqe; nemicengezi wayenza ezinqeni, ₁₅nolwandle lunye, nezinkabi eziyishumi nambili phansi kwalo. ₁₆Namakhanzi, namafosholo, nezingwegwe zenyama, nezinto zonke zalokho uHiramu Abi wakwenzela inkosi uSolomoni ngethusi elikhazimulayo kube ngokwendlu kaJehova. ₁₇Inkosi yakubumba ethafeni likaJordani emhlabathini webumba phakathi kweSukoti neSereda. ₁₈USolomoni wazenza zonke lezo zinto, zaziningi kangako ukuba isisindo sethusi sasingenakutholwa.

₁₉USolomoni wenza-ke zonke izinto ezazisendlini kaNkulunkulu, kanye ne-altare legolide, namatafula okwakukhona kuwo izinkwa zokubukwa, ₂₀nezinti zezibani kanye nezibani zazo ukuba zivuthe njengomthetho phambi kwegumbi, ngegolide elicwengekileyo, ₂₁nezimbali, nezibani, nezindlawu, ngegolide, igolide elipheleleyo, ₂₂nezizenze, nezitsha, nezinkezo, nemicengezi yomlilo, ngegolide elicwengekileyo; iminyango-ke yendlu, izivalo zayo ezingaphakathi zendawo engcwelengcwele nezivalo zendlu yethempeli, zaziyigolide.

₁Wawusuphela-ke wonke umsebenzi uSolomoni awenzela indlu kaJehova. USolomoni wangenisa izinto ezazingcweliswe nguDavide uyise, kanye nesiliva negolide, nazo zonke izitsha, wakubeka engcebeni yendlu kaNkulunkulu.

₂Khona uSolomoni wabutha amalunga akwa-Israyeli, nazo zonke izinhloko zezizwe, izikhulu zawoyise babantwana bakwa-Israyeli eJerusalema ukuba bakhuphule umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova emzini kaDavide oyiSiyoni. ₃Onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli abuthana enkosini emkhosini wasenyangeni yesikhombisa.

₄Esefikile onke amalunga akwa-Israyeli, amaLevi aphakamisa umphongolo. ₅Akhuphula umphongolo, netende lokuhlangana, nazo zonke izinto ezingcwele ezazisetendeni, kwakhushulwa ngabapristi namaLevi. ₆Inkosi uSolomoni nayo yonke inhlangano yakwa-Israyeli eyayihlangene kuyo babe phambi komphongolo behlaba izimvu nezinkabi ezingenakulotshwa, zingenakubalwa ngobuningi bazo.

₇Abapristi bawungenisa umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yawo egumbini lendlu, indawo engcwelengcwele, phansi kwamaphiko amakherubi.* ₈Ngokuba amakherubi* awelula amaphiko awo phezu kwendawo yomphongolo, amakherubi asibekela umphongolo nezinti zawo ngaphezulu. ₉Izinti zazizinde kangako ukuba izihloko zezinti zibonakale zeqe emphongolweni phambi kwegumbi; kepha zazingabonakali ngaphandle; usekhona lapho kuze kube namuhla. ₁₀Kwakungekho lutho emphongolweni, kuphela izibhebhe ezimbili zamatshe ezabekwa khona nguMose eHorebe, lapho uJehova enza isivumelwano nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ekuphumeni kwabo eGibithe.

₁₁Kwathi lapho abapristi sebephumile endaweni engcwele ngokuba bonke abapristi ababe khona babezingcwelisile bengazigcinanga izigaba zabo, ₁₂kusemi ngasempumalanga kwe-altare amaLevi, abahlabeleli bonke, kanye no-Asafa, noHemani, noJeduthuni, namadodana abo, nabafowabo, bembethe ilineni elicolekileyo, bephethe amasimbali,* nezingubhu, namahabhu,* kukhona kanye nabo abapristi abayikhulu namashumi amabili bekhalisa amacilongo ₁₃nalapho abaphethe amacilongo nabahlabeleli bezwakalisa kanyekanye izwi linye lokudumisa nokubonga uJehova, nanxa bekhalisa amacilongo namasimbali* nezinto zokubethwa, bedumisa uJehova ngokuba muhle nangokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade, khona indlu yagcwaliswa yifu, yona le ndlu kaJehova, ₁₄baze bangema abapristi ukukhonza ngenxa yefu; ngokuba inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwalisa indlu kaNkulunkulu.