To The Word – Day 149

₁UJothamu wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nesithupha eJerusalema; igama likanina lalinguJerusha indodakazi kaSadoki. ₂Wenza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke akwenzileyo u-Uziya, kepha akangenanga ethempelini likaJehova. Abantu babesasebenza ukonakala. ₃Wakha iSango Lasenhla lendlu kaJehova; nasogangeni lwase-Ofeli wakha okuningi. ₄Wakha imizi ezintabeni zakwaJuda; emahlathini wakha izinqaba nemibhoshongo.

₅Walwa nenkosi yabantwana bakwa-Amoni, wabahlula. Abantwana bakwa-Amoni bamnika ngawo lowo mnyaka amatalenta* ayikhulu esiliva, namakhora* ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi kakolweni, nawebhali* ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi. Lokho-ke abantwana bakwa-Amoni bakuyisa kuye nangomnyaka wesibili nangowesithathu.

₆UJothamu waba namandla, ngokuba walungisa izindlela zakhe phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe.

₇Ezinye izindaba zikaJothamu, nakho konke ukulwa kwakhe, nezindlela zakhe, bheka, zilotshiwe encwadini yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli nakwaJuda. ₈Wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nesithupha eJerusalema. ₉UJothamu wayeselala koyise; bammbela emzini kaDavide; u-Ahazi indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁U-Ahazi wayeneminyaka engamashumi amabili ekuqaleni kwakhe ukubusa, wabusa iminyaka eyishumi nesithupha eJerusalema; akenzanga okulungile emehlweni kaJehova njengoDavide uyise, ₂kepha wahamba ngezindlela zamakhosi akwa-Israyeli, wenzela oBali izithombe ezibunjiweyo. ₃Washisa impepho esigodini sendodana kaHinomu, washisa abantwana bakhe emlilweni njengezinengiso zabezizwe uJehova abaxosha phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli. ₄Wahlaba, washisa impepho ezindaweni eziphakemeyo, nasemagqumeni, naphansi kwayo yonke imithi eluhlaza.

₅UJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe wayesemnikela esandleni senkosi yase-Aramu, bamshaya, bathumba kuye isixuku esikhulu sabathunjwa, babayisa eDamaseku. Naye wanikelwa esandleni senkosi yakwa-Israyeli eyamshaya ngokushaya okukhulu.

₆Ngokuba uPheka indodana kaRemaliya wabulala kwaJuda izinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili ngalusuku lunye, bonke bengamadoda anamandla, ngokuba bebeshiyile uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise. ₇UZikiri, iqhawe lakwa-Efrayimi, wabulala uMahaseya, indodana yenkosi, no-Azirikamu umbusi wendlu, no-Elkana owelama inkosi. ₈Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bathumba kubafowabo izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili, abesifazane, namadodana, namadodakazi, besusa kubo nempango eningi, beyiyisa impango eSamariya.

₉Kepha kwakukhona lapho umprofethi kaJehova ogama lakhe lalingu-Odedi; waphuma ukuhlangabeza impi eyayiza eSamariya, wathi kubo: “Bhekani, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo wayethukuthelele uJuda, wabanikela esandleni senu, kepha nina nibabulele ngokufutha okufinyelele nasezulwini. ₁₀Manje-ke nithi niyakunyathela phansi abantwana bakwaJuda nabaseJerusalema babe yizigqila nezigqilakazi zenu. Kepha aniyikuba necala kuJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngalokho kuphela na? ₁₁Ngalokho ngizweni, nibuyise abathunjwa enibathumbile kubafowenu, ngokuba ulaka olushisayo lukaJehova luphezu kwenu.”

₁₂Kwase kusukuma abezinhloko zabantwana bakwa-Efrayimi, u-Azariya indodana kaJohanani, noBerekiya indodana kaMeshilemoti, noJehizikiya indodana kaShalumi, no-Amasa indodana kaHadilayi, bamelana nabaphuma empini, ₁₃bathi kubo: “Ningabangenisi abathunjwa lapha, ngokuba nicabanga okuyakuba yicala lethu kuJehova ukuba kwenezele ezonweni zethu nasecaleni lethu, ngokuba icala lethu selilikhulu namanje; ulaka olushisayo luphezu kuka-Israyeli.”

₁₄Abahlomileyo base bebashiya abathunjwa nempango phambi kwezikhulu nebandla lonke. ₁₅Namadoda abizwe ngamagama ayesesukuma, abathatha abathunjwa, abembathisa impango bonke ababehamba ze, abembathisa, abafaka izicathulo, abapha ukudla, abaphuzisa, abagcoba, abakhweza ezimbongolweni bonke ababebuthakathaka, abayisa eJeriko umuzi wamasundu kubafowabo; ayesebuyela eSamariya.

₁₆Ngaleso sikhathi inkosi u-Ahazi yathumela emakhosini ase-Asiriya ukuba ayisize. ₁₇Ngokuba phezu kwakho konke babefikile abakwa-Edomi, bashaya uJuda, bathumba abathunjwa. ₁₈NamaFilisti ayengenele imizi yasehlanzeni neyaseningizimu yakwaJuda, athatha iBeti Shemeshi, ne-Ajaloni, neGederoti, neSoko kanye nemizana yalo, neThimna nemizana yalo, neGimizo nemizana yalo; ahlala khona. ₁₉Ngokuba uJehova wathobisa uJuda ngenxa ka-Ahazi inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, ngokuba wayedlubulundile kwaJuda, waphambuka nokuphambuka kuJehova. ₂₀Wayesefika kuye uThiligati Philineseri inkosi yase-Asiriya, wamhlupha, akamqinisanga. ₂₁Ngokuba u-Ahazi waphanga indlu kaJehova nendlu yenkosi neyezikhulu, wakunika inkosi yase-Asiriya, kepha akumsizanga.

₂₂Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka kwakhe waqhubeka ekuphambukeni kuJehova, yona leyo nkosi u-Ahazi. ₂₃Wahlabela onkulunkulu baseDamaseku ababemshayile, wathi: “Ngokuba onkulunkulu bamakhosi ase-Aramu bawasiza, ngiyakubahlabela ukuba bangisize nami.” Kepha baba yisikhubekiso kuye nakuye wonke u-Israyeli.

₂₄U-Ahazi waqoqa izinto zendlu kaNkulunkulu, wazihlahlela izinto zendlu kaNkulunkulu, wavala izivalo zendlu kaJehova, wazenzela ama-altare emagumbini onke aseJerusalema. ₂₅Nakuyo yonke imizi yakwaJuda, imizi ngemizi, wenza izindawo eziphakemeyo zokuba ashisele abanye onkulunkulu impepho, wamcunula uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise.

₂₆Ezinye izindaba zakhe nazo zonke izindlela zakhe, ezokuqala nezokugcina, bheka, zilotshiwe encwadini yamakhosi akwaJuda nakwa-Israyeli. ₂₇U-Ahazi wayeselala koyise; bammbela emzini, iJerusalema, ngokuba abamyisanga emathuneni amakhosi akwa-Israyeli; uHezekiya indodana yakhe waba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

₁UHezekiya waqala ukubusa eneminyaka engamashumi amabili nanhlanu, wabusa iminyaka engamashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye eJerusalema; igama likanina lalingu-Abiya indodakazi kaZakariya. ₂Wenza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova njengakho konke akwenzileyo uDavide uyise.

₃Ngomnyaka wokuqala wokubusa kwakhe ngenyanga yokuqala wavula izivalo zendlu kaJehova, wazilungisa. ₄Wangenisa abapristi namaLevi, wababutha esigcawini ngasempumalanga, ₅wathi kubo: “Ngizweni nina maLevi; zingcweliseni, niyingcwelise nendlu kaJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise, nikhiphe ukungcola endaweni engcwele. ₆Ngokuba oyihlo baphambukile, benza okubi emehlweni kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, bamshiya, baphendula ubuso babo endlini kaJehova, bamfulathela. ₇Bavala nezivalo zompheme, bacima izibani, abashisanga impepho, abanikelanga ngeminikelo yokushiswa endaweni engcwele kuNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. ₈Intukuthelo kaJehova yayisiba phezu kukaJuda neJerusalema, wabanikela baba yisibonelo esibi, nesimangaliso, nento enximfelwayo, njengalokhu nibona ngamehlo enu. ₉Bhekani, obaba bawile ngenkemba, amadodana ethu namadodakazi ethu nawomkethu basekuthunjweni ngenxa yalokho. ₁₀Manje sekusenhliziyweni yami ukwenza isivumelwano noJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ukuba ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo lubuye kithina. ₁₁Madodana ami, ningadebeseli, ngokuba nina uJehova unikhethile ukuba nime phambi kwakhe, nimkhonze, nibe yizikhonzi zakhe, nishise impepho.”

₁₂Kwase kusukuma amaLevi: nguMahathi indodana ka-Amasayi noJoweli indodana ka-Azariya emadodaneni amaKohati; emadodaneni kaMerari: nguKishi indodana ka-Abidi no-Azariya indodana kaJehaleli; kumaGereshoni: nguJowa indodana kaZima no-Edene indodana kaJowa; ₁₃emadodaneni ka-Elisafani: ngoShimri noJehiyeli; emadodaneni ka-Asafa: ngoZakariya noMathaniya; ₁₄emadodaneni kaHemani: ngoJehiyeli noShimeyi; emadodaneni kaJeduthuni: ngoShemaya no-Uziyeli.

₁₅Babutha abafowabo, bazingcwelisa, bangena njengesiyalezo senkosi ngamazwi kaJehova ukuba bayihlambulule indlu kaJehova. ₁₆Abapristi bangena kokuphakathi kwendlu kaJehova ukuba bayihlambulule, nakho konke ukungcola abakufumanisayo ethempelini likaJehova bakukhiphela egcekeni lendlu kaJehova. AmaLevi akuthatha, akukhipha, akuyisa emfudlaneni iKidroni. ₁₇Baqala ukungcwelisa ngolokuqala lwenyanga yokuqala; ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili lwenyanga bafika emphemeni kaJehova, bayingcwelisa indlu kaJehova ngezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili; ngosuku lweshumi nesithupha lwenyanga yokuqala baqeda.

₁₈Base bengena phakathi kuHezekiya inkosi, bathi: “Sihlambulule yonke indlu kaJehova, ne-altare leminikelo yokushiswa, kanye nazo zonke izinto zayo, netafula lezinkwa zokubukwa. ₁₉Zonke izinto inkosi u-Ahazi eyazilahla ekuphambukeni kwayo isabusa, sizilungisile, sazingcwelisa; bheka, seziphambi kwe-altare likaJehova.”

₂₀UHezekiya inkosi wayesevuka ekuseni, wabutha izinduna zomuzi, wakhuphukela endlini kaJehova. ₂₁Baletha izinkunzi eziyisikhombisa, nezinqama eziyisikhombisa, namawundlu ayisikhombisa, nezimpongo eziyisikhombisa, kube ngumnikelo wokona ngombuso nangendlu engcwele nangoJuda. Wayaleza abapristi, amadodana ka-Aroni, ukuba banikele ngakho e-altare likaJehova. ₂₂Base bezihlaba izinkunzi; abapristi bamukela igazi, bafafaza ngalo i-altare; bazibulala izinqama, bafafaza i-altare ngegazi; bawabulala amawundlu, bafafaza i-altare ngegazi. ₂₃Base besondeza izimpongo ngenxa yomnikelo wesono phambi kwenkosi nebandla; babeka izandla zabo phezu kwazo; ₂₄abapristi bazihlaba, benza umnikelo wesono ngegazi lazo e-altare ukuba benzele u-Israyeli wonke ukubuyisana, ngokuba inkosi yayaleza ukuba umnikelo wokushiswa nomnikelo wesono ube ngoka-Israyeli wonke.

₂₅Wawamisa amaLevi endlini kaJehova ephethe amasimbali,* nezingubhu, namahabu* njengesiyalezo sikaDavide nesikaGadi umboni wenkosi nesikaNathani umprofethi, ngokuba isiyalezo sasingesikaJehova ngesandla sabaprofethi bakhe. ₂₆AmaLevi ayesema ephethe izinto zokubethwa zikaDavide, ekanye nabapristi bephethe amacilongo.

₂₇UHezekiya wayala ukunikela ngomnikelo wokushiswa e-altare. Ngesikhathi sokuqala komnikelo wokushiswa kwaqala nesihlabelelo sikaJehova, namacilongo, kanye nezinto zokubethwa zikaDavide inkosi yakwa-Israyeli. ₂₈Lonke ibandla lakhuleka, abahlabeleli bahlabelela, abamacilongo babetha; konke kwaqhubeka waze waphela umnikelo wokushiswa.

₂₉Sebeqedile ukunikela, inkosi nabo bonke ababe nayo bakhothama, bakhuleka. ₃₀UHezekiya inkosi nezikhulu bawayala amaLevi ukumdumisa uJehova ngamazwi kaDavide nangaka-Asafa umboni. Badumisa ngokuthokoza, bakhothamisa amakhanda abo, bakhuleka.

₃₁Wayesethatha uHezekiya, wathi: “Senizahlukanisele uJehova; sondelani, nilethe imihlatshelo neminikelo yokubonga endlini kaJehova.” Ibandla laletha imihlatshelo neminikelo yokubonga, nabo bonke abaqhutshwa yinhliziyo evumayo baletha iminikelo yokushiswa.

₃₂Inani leminikelo yokushiswa elalethwa yibandla laliyizinkunzi ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa, nezinqama eziyikhulu, namawundlu angamakhulu amabili; konke lokhu kwakungokomnikelo wokushiswa kuJehova. ₃₃Okungcwelisiwe kwakuyizinkabi ezingamakhulu ayisithupha nezimvu eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu. ₃₄Abapristi babe yingcosana nje, babengenakuhlinza yonke iminikelo yokushiswa; abafowabo amaLevi base bebasiza, waze waphela umsebenzi, nabapristi baze bazingcwelisa, ngokuba amaLevi ayelungele ngezinhliziyo kunabapristi ukuba azingcwelise. ₃₅Neminikelo yokushiswa yayiminingi kanye namanoni eminikelo yokuthula neminikelo yokuphuzwa yeminikelo yokushiswa. Yayisihleliwe inkonzo yendlu kaJehova. ₃₆UHezekiya wathokoza kanye nabantu bonke ngenxa yalokho uNkulunkulu ayebalungisele khona abantu, ngokuba leyo nto yavela ingalindelwanga.

₁UHezekiya wathumela kuye wonke u-Israyeli noJuda, walobela o-Efrayimi noManase izincwadi ukuba beze endlini kaJehova eJerusalema, bamenzele uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli iphasika. ₂Ngokuba inkosi yayelulekene nezikhulu zayo nebandla lonke laseJerusalema ukuba bagcine iphasika ngenyanga yesibili. ₃Ngokuba babengenakulenza ngaleso sikhathi, lokhu abapristi bebengazingcwelisanga ngokwaneleyo nabantu bebengakabuthani eJerusalema. ₄Leyo nto yabe ilungile emehlweni enkosi nasebandleni lonke. ₅Benza isinqumo sokuhambisa izwi ku-Israyeli wonke kusukela eBeri Sheba kuze kube kwaDani ukuba bafike, bamenzele uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli iphasika eJerusalema, ngokuba babengalenzanga ebandleni njengokulotshiweyo.

₆Zase zihamba izigijimi nezincwadi eziphuma esandleni senkosi nasezikhulwini zayo, zaya kuye wonke u-Israyeli noJuda ngesiyalezo senkosi sokuthi: “Nina bantwana bakwa-Israyeli, buyelani kuJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama noka-Isaka noka-Israyeli ukuba abuyele kuyo insali yenu yabasindileyo esandleni samakhosi ase-Asiriya. ₇Ningabi njengoyihlo nabafowenu ababephambuka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise, waze wabanikela encithakalweni, njengalokhu nibona. ₈Ningabi ntamo elukhuni njengawoyihlo, kepha nimnike uJehova isandla senu, ningene endlini yakhe engcwele ayingcwelisile kuze kube phakade, nimkhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ukuba ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo lubuye kini. ₉Ngokuba ekubuyeleni kwenu kuJehova abafowenu nabantwana benu bayakuthola umusa phambi kwababathumbayo, babuyele kuleli zwe, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu unomusa nesihe, akayikunifulathela, uma nibuyela kuye.”

₁₀Izigijimi zazilokhu zidlula emizini ngemizi ezweni lakwa-Efrayimi nelakwaManase kwaze kwaba kwaZebuloni; kepha bazihleka usulu, baziklolodela. ₁₁Kepha abathile babakwa-Asheri nabakwaManase nabakwaZebuloni bazithoba, beza eJerusalema. ₁₂NakwaJuda sasikhona isandla sikaNkulunkulu ukubanika inhliziyonye ukuba benze isiyalezo senkosi nesezikhulu ngezwi likaJehova.

₁₃Kwabuthana eJerusalema abantu abaningi ukuba bagubhe umkhosi wesinkwa esingenamvubelo ngenyanga yesibili, ibandla elikhulu kakhulu. ₁₄Basuka, basusa ama-altare aseJerusalema; nawo onke ama-altare empepho bawasusa, bawaphonsa emfudlaneni iKidroni.

₁₅Base belihlaba iphasika ngolweshumi nane lwenyanga yesibili; abapristi namaLevi babe namahloni, bazingcwelisa, baletha iminikelo yokushiswa endlini kaJehova. ₁₆Bema ezindaweni zabo njengehlelo labo ngokomthetho kaMose, umuntu kaNkulunkulu; abapristi bafafaza ngegazi elalisesandleni samaLevi. ₁₇Ngokuba babe baningi ebandleni ababengazingcwelisanga; amaLevi ayephezu kokuhlatshwa kwamaphasika abo bonke ababengahlambulukile ukuba abangcwelisele uJehova. ₁₈Ngokuba isixuku sabantu, abaningi bakwa-Efrayimi nakwaManase nakwa-Isakare nakwaZebuloni, sasingazihlambululanga, salidla iphasika ngokungalotshiwe. Ngokuba uHezekiya wayebakhulekele ngokuthi: “UJehova omuhle makathethelele ₁₉bonke ababebhekisa izinhliziyo zabo ukufuna uNkulunkulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise, noma kungenjengokuhlanjululwa kwendlu engcwele.” ₂₀UJehova wamuzwa uHezekiya, wabaphilisa abantu.

₂₁Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli ababe khona eJerusalema bawugubha umkhosi wesinkwa esingenamvubelo izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngokuthokoza okukhulu; amaLevi nabapristi bamdumisa uJehova imihla ngemihla ngezinto zokubethwa ezizwakalayo kuJehova.

₂₂UHezekiya wakhuluma kahle kuwo onke amaLevi ayebonakalisa ukuqonda inkonzo kaJehova. Badla-ke iminikelo yomkhosi izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, benikela ngemihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula, bembonga uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise.

₂₃Lonke ibandla lase livumelana ukugubha ezinye izinsuku eziyisikhombisa; bagubha ezinye izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ngokuthokoza. ₂₄Ngokuba uHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda wayenikile ibandla izinkunzi eziyinkulungwane nezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa zibe yiminikelo, nezikhulu zazinikile ibandla izinkunzi eziyinkulungwane nezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyishumi; abapristi abaningi bazingcwelisa. ₂₅Lonke ibandla lakwaJuda kanye nabapristi namaLevi, nalo lonke ibandla elaphuma ku-Israyeli, nabafokazi abaphuma ezweni lakwa-Israyeli behlezi kwaJuda, bathokoza. ₂₆Kwakukhona-ke ukuthokoza okukhulu eJerusalema, ngokuba kusukela esikhathini sikaSolomoni indodana kaDavide, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, akuzange kube khona okunjalo eJerusalema. ₂₇Base besukuma abapristi namaLevi, bababusisa abantu; izwi labo lezwakala, nomkhuleko wabo wafika endaweni yakhe engcwele ezulwini.