2 Imilando 20
1 Ngemva kwalokho amaMowabi lama-Amoni kanye labanye bamaMewuni baphuma impi ukuba bayehlasela uJehoshafathi.
Kwasekusithi emva kwalokho abantwana bakoMowabi labantwana bakoAmoni belabanye ngaphandle kwamaAmoni beza bamelana loJehoshafathi empini.
2 Amanye amadoda aya kuJehoshafathi afika athi kuye, “Kulempi enkulu ezayo ukuzakuhlasela evela ngase-Edomi, ngaphetsheya kolwandle. IsiseHazazoni Thamari” (okuyikuthi, Eni-Gedi).
Kwasekusiza abanye babikela uJehoshafathi besithi: Kuyeza ixuku elikhulu ukumelana lawe elivela phetsheya kolwandle, eSiriya; khangela-ke, liseHazazoni-Tamari, eyiEngedi.
3 Ngokwethuka, uJehoshafathi wazimisela ukumdinga uThixo, wamemezela ukuba akuzilwe ukudla kulolonke elakoJuda.
UJehoshafathi wasesesaba, wamisa ubuso bakhe ukudinga iNkosi, wamemezela ukuzila ukudla kuye wonke uJuda.
4 Abantu bakoJuda baqoqana bahlangana bezodinga usizo kuThixo, lakanye baphuma kuyo yonke imizi yakoJuda.
UJuda wasezibuthanisa ukudinga eNkosini; lasemizini yonke yakoJuda baphuma beza ukudinga iNkosi.
5 Ngakho uJehoshafathi wema phambi kwebandla lakoJuda lelaseJerusalema ethempelini likaThixo phambi kweguma elitsha
UJehoshafathi wasesima ebandleni lakoJuda leJerusalema endlini yeNkosi phambi kweguma elitsha.
6 wathi, “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wabokhokho, kakusuwe yini uNkulunkulu osezulwini? Ubusa phezu kwemibuso yezizwe zonke. Amandla asesandleni sakho, njalo kakho ongamelana lawe.
Wasesithi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu wabobaba, wena kawusuye yini uNkulunkulu emazulwini? Yebo, kawubusi yini kuyo yonke imibuso yezizwe? Lesandleni sakho kukhona amandla lengalo, ukuze kungabi khona ongamelana lawe.
7 Oh Nkulunkulu wethu, awubaxotshanga ababekuleli lizwe phambi kwabantu bakho bako-Israyeli wabanika ukuba libe ngelabo nini lanini abesizukulwane sika-Abhrahama umngane wakho na?
KawusiNkulunkulu wethu yini? Uxotshile abahlali balelilizwe elifeni phambi kwabantu bakho uIsrayeli, walinika inzalo kaAbrahama umngane wakho kuze kube phakade.
8 Sebehlale kulo njalo sebakhe indawo yokukhonzela yeBizo lakho, besithi,
Basebehlala kilo, bakwakhela indawo engcwele kulo eyebizo lakho, besithi:
9 ‘Nxa sisehlelwa zinhlupheko, loba yinkemba yokwahlulela, loba yizifo loba yindlala, sizakuma ngobukhona bakho phambi kwalelithempeli elileBizo lakho sikhale kuwe ekuhlukuluzweni kwethu, wena uzasizwa njalo usisindise.’
Uba kusehlela phezu kwethu ububi, inkemba, isahlulelo, loba umatshayabhuqe wesifo, loba indlala, sizakuma phambi kwalindlu laphambi kwakho (ngoba ibizo lakho likulindlu), sikhale kuwe ekubandezelekeni kwethu, uzakuzwa-ke usindise.
10 Kodwa khathesi nanka amadoda ama-Amoni lamaMowabi labeNtabeni yaseSeyiri, abelizwe owalela u-Israyeli ukuba alinqobe ekuphumeni kwakhe eGibhithe; okwabangela ukuthi babatshiye abaze bababhubhisa.
Ngakho-ke, khangela, abantwana bakoAmoni labakoMowabi labentabeni iSeyiri ongavumanga ukuthi uIsrayeli adlule phakathi kwabo lapho besuka elizweni leGibhithe, kodwa babafulathela kabababhubhisanga;
11 Khangela ukuthi khathesi baphindisela ngokunganani ngokusemuka isipho owasipha sona ukuba sibe yilifa lethu.
khangela-ke, basivuza beza ukuzasixotsha elifeni lakho owenze ukuthi silidle.
12 Oh Nkulunkulu wethu, awuyikubahlulela na? Ngoba asilamandla okumelana lebutho elikhulu kangaka elisihlaselayo. Asikwazi esingakwenza, kodwa amehlo ethu aphezu kwakho.”
Nkulunkulu wethu, kawuyikubahlulela yini? Ngoba amandla kawakho kithi okumelana lalelixuku elikhulu elize ukumelana lathi; njalo thina kasikwazi esingakwenza, kodwa amehlo ethu akuwe.
13 Wonke amadoda akoJuda, labomkabo labantwabawo lensane, bema lapho phambi kukaThixo.
UJuda wonke wasesima phambi kweNkosi, lensane zabo, omkabo labantwana babo.
14 UMoya kaThixo wehlela kuJahaziyeli indodana kaZakhariya, indodana kaBhenaya, indodana kaJeyiyeli, indodana kaMathaniya, umLevi oyisizukulwane sika-Asafi, emi phambi kwebandla.
Khona uJahaziyeli indodana kaZekhariya indodana kaBhenaya indodana kaJeyiyeli indodana kaMathaniya, umLevi emadodaneni kaAsafi, uMoya weNkosi wafika phezu kwakhe phakathi kwebandla.
15 Wasesithi: “Lalela, wena Nkosi Jehoshafathi labo bonke abahlala koJuda labaseJerusalema! Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo kini: ‘Lingesabi njalo lingadediswa yibukhulu bebutho laleyompi. Ngoba ukulwa akusikwenu, kodwa ngokukaNkulunkulu.
Wasesithi: Lalelani lonke bakoJuda labahlali beJerusalema, lawe nkosi Jehoshafathi; itsho njalo iNkosi kini: Lina lingesabi lingatshaywa luvalo ngenxa yalelixuku elikhulu, ngoba impi kayisiyo yenu, kodwa ngekaNkulunkulu.
16 Kusasa hambani liyejamelana labo. Bona bazakhwela ngokhalo lwaseZizi, lina lizabathola ekucineni kodonga eNkangala yaseJeruweli.
Kusasa yehlani limelane labo; khangela, bayenyuka ngomqanso weZizi; lizabathola ekucineni kwesihotsha phambi kwenkangala yeJeruweli.
17 Aliyikuyilwa limpi. Lunganini ezindaweni; lime ngesibindi lizabona ukuhlenga kukaThixo azalenzela khona, Oh lina bakaJuda lani beJerusalema. Lingesabi, lingadangali. Phumani kusasa liyehlasela, uThixo uzakuba lani.’”
Kakusikwenu ukulwa kule impi; zimiseni lime, libone usindiso lweNkosi lani, Juda leJerusalema. Lingesabi lingatshaywa luvalo; kusasa phumani limelene labo, ngoba iNkosi izakuba lani.
18 UJehoshafathi wakhothama ubuso buphansi kanti njalo bonke abakoJuda labaseJerusalema bawela phansi ngobuso bemkhonza uThixo.
UJehoshafathi wasekhothamisa ikhanda emhlabathini, laye wonke uJuda labahlali beJerusalema bawa phambi kweNkosi, beyikhonza iNkosi.
19 Ngakho abanye abaLevi bamaKhohathi, lamaKhora bema bamdumisa uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngelizwi eliphakemeyo okuphezulu.
AmaLevi kubantwana bakoKohathi lakubantwana bakoKora asesukuma ukudumisa iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngelizwi elikhulu eliphezulu.
20 Kwathi ekuseni kakhulu basuka baya eNkangala yaseThekhowa. Bathi besuka lapho, uJehoshafathi waphakama wathi, “Lalelani kimi, bantu bakoJuda lani baseJerusalema! Thembelani kuThixo uNkulunkulu wenu uzaliphathisa; likholwe abaphrofethi bakhe, lizaphumelela.”
Basebevuka ekuseni kakhulu, baphuma baya enkangala yeThekhowa; lekuphumeni kwabo uJehoshafathi wema wathi: Ngilalelani Juda labahlali beJerusalema. Kholwani eNkosini uNkulunkulu wenu, lizaqiniswa; likholwe kubaprofethi bayo, lizaphumelela.
21 Ngemva kokubuza abantu, uJehoshafathi wakhetha amadoda okuhlabelela uThixo lokumdumisa ngenxa yenkazimulo yobungcwele bakhe bekhokhele amabutho, besithi: “Mbongeni uThixo, ngoba uthando lwakhe lumi nininini.”
Esecebisene labantu wamisela iNkosi abahlabeleli, abazadumisa ubuhle bobungcwele, ekuphumeni phambi kwabahlomileyo, besithi: Dumisani iNkosi, ngoba umusa wayo umi kuze kube nininini.
22 Bathi beqalisa ukuhlabelela njalo bedumisa, uThixo wabeka abantu bokucathamela abase-Amoni labase-Mowabi labaseNtabeni iSeyiri ababedinga ukuhlasela uJuda, behlulwa.
Kwathi lapho beqalisa ukuhlabelela lokudumisa, iNkosi yabeka abacathameli ukumelana labantwana bakoAmoni, uMowabi, lentaba iSeyiri, ababezemelana loJuda; basebetshaywa.
23 Amadoda ako-Amoni lawamaMowabi avukela amadoda ayevela eNtabeni yaseSeyiri ukuba bawabulale bawatshabalalise. Ngemva kokuba sebeqedile ukubulala abaseSeyiri, banceda ngokubulalana bodwa.
Ngoba abantwana bakoAmoni labakoMowabi basukuma bamelana labahlali bentaba yeSeyiri ukutshabalalisa lokuchitha; njalo sebebaqedile abahlali beSeyiri, bancedisa ngulowo umakhelwane wakhe encithakalweni.
24 Amadoda akoJuda athe efika endaweni emalungana lenkangala bakhangela lapho okwakulebutho elikhulu khona babona ngezidumbu zelekene phansi, kungekho loyedwa owayebalekile.
UJuda esefikile enqabeni yokulinda enkangala bakhangela ngasexukwini, khangela-ke, kwakulezidumbu eziwele emhlabathini; njalo kungekho ophephileyo.
25 Ngakho uJehoshafathi lamanye amadoda bahamba bayabutha impango, njalo phakathi kwayo bafumana impahla zokusebenzisa lezembatho lezinye njalo impahla eziligugu ukwedlula lezo ababengazithwala. Impango yayinengi kwaze kwathatha insuku ezintathu beyithutha.
UJehoshafathi labantu bakhe sebefikile ukuphanga impango bathola phakathi kwabo ngobunengi, impahla lazo, lezidumbu, lezinto eziligugu, baziphangela baze behluleka ukuzithwala. Njalo baba lensuku ezintathu bephanga impango ngoba yayinengi.
26 Ngosuku lwesine babuthana eSigodini saseBherakha, lapho abadumisela khona uThixo. Kungenxa yalokho yonale indawo yabizwa ngokuthi iSigodi saseBherakha kuze kube lamuhla.
Njalo ngosuku lwesine babuthana esihotsheni seBeraka, ngoba lapho bayibusisa iNkosi; ngenxa yalokho babiza ibizo laleyondawo ngokuthi yisihotsha seBeraka kuze kube lamuhla.
27 Ngakho wonke amadoda akoJuda lawaseJerusalema abuyela ngokuthokoza eJerusalema, bekhokhelwa nguJehoshafathi ngoba uThixo wayebenzele lokho okwakubajabulisile phezu kwezitha zabo.
Basebebuyela, wonke umuntu wakoJuda leJerusalema, loJehoshafathi enhlokweni yabo, ukuthi babuyele eJerusalema belentokozo, ngoba iNkosi yabathokozisa phezu kwezitha zabo.
28 Bangena eJerusalema baya ethempelini likaThixo betshaya imihubhe lemiqangala lamacilongo.
Basebengena eJerusalema belezigubhu zezintambo lamachacho lezimpondo, baya endlini yeNkosi.
29 Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwehlela phezu kwayo yonke imibuso emazweni besizwa ngokulwa kukaThixo esilwa lezitha zika-Israyeli.
Uvalo ngoNkulunkulu lwaselusiba phezu kwayo yonke imibuso yamazwe lapho besizwa ukuthi iNkosi yalwa lezitha zikaIsrayeli.
30 Lakanye umbuso kaJehoshafathi waba lokuthula, ngoba uNkulunkulu wakhe wayemnike ukuphumula inxa zonke.
Ngakho umbuso kaJehoshafathi waba lokuthula, ngoba uNkulunkulu wakhe wamphumuza inhlangothi zonke.
31 Ngakho uJehoshafathi wabusa koJuda. Waba yinkosi yakoJuda eleminyaka engamatshumi amathathu lanhlanu, wabusa eJerusalema okweminyaka engamatshumi amabili lanhlanu. Unina wayengu-Azubha indodakazi kaShilihi.
UJehoshafathi wabusa-ke phezu kukaJuda; wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amathathu lanhlanu lapho esiba yinkosi, wabusa iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lanhlanu eJerusalema. Lebizo likanina lalinguAzuba indodakazi kaShilehi.
32 Wahamba ngezindlela zikayise u-Asa njalo kazange aphambuke kuzo; wenza okulungileyo phambi kukaThixo.
Wasehamba ngendlela kayise uAsa, kaphambukanga kuyo, esenza okulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi.
33 Izindawo zokukhonzela kazisuswanga njalo abantu babelokhu bengazimiselanga ngezinhliziyo zabo ngokupheleleyo kuNkulunkulu waboyise.
Lanxa kunjalo indawo eziphakemeyo kazisuswanga; ngoba abantu babelokhu bengalungisanga inhliziyo yabo kuNkulunkulu waboyise.
34 Ezinye izehlakalo ngombuso kaJehoshafathi kusukela ekuqaleni kusiya ekucineni, zilotshiwe embalini kaJehu, indodana kaHanani, yona elotshwe egwalweni lwamakhosi ako-Israyeli.
Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaJehoshafathi, ezokuqala lezokucina, khangela, zibhaliwe ezindabeni zikaJehu indodana kaHanani ezagoqelwa egwalweni lwamakhosi akoIsrayeli.
35 Ngokuqhubeka kwezikhathi, uJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda waba lesibopho asenza lo-Ahaziya inkosi yako-Israyeli, owayelecala lokwenza okubi.
Lemva kwalokho uJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda wazihlanganisa loAhaziya inkosi yakoIsrayeli owenza ngenkohlakalo ekwenzeni.
36 Wavumelana laye ukuba bakhe imikhumbi yokuthwala impahla zokuthengiselana. Ngemva kokuba isiyakhiwe e-Eziyoni-Gebheri,
Wasezihlanganisa laye ukwenza imikhumbi yokuya eTarshishi; basebeyenza imikhumbi eEziyoni-Geberi.
37 u-Eliyezari indodana kaDodavahu waseMaresha wakhuluma isiphrofethi esilahla uJehoshafathi, esithi, “Ngenxa yokuthi wenza isibopho lo-Ahaziya, uThixo uzadiliza lokho okwenzileyo.” Imikhumbi yabhidlika ayaze yenelisa ukungena olwandle isiyathengisa.
UEliyezeri indodana kaDodavahu weMaresha waseprofetha emelene loJehoshafathi esithi: Ngoba uzihlanganise loAhaziya, iNkosi yephulile imisebenzi yakho. Ngakho imikhumbi yephuka, ayaze yenelisa ukuya eTarshishi.
