2 Amakhosi 23
1 Inkosi yasithumela, basebebuthanisa kuye bonke abadala bakoJuda labeJerusalema.
Inkosi yasibiza bonke abadala bakoJuda labeJerusalema.
2 Inkosi yasisenyukela endlini kaJehova, lawo wonke amadoda akoJuda labo bonke abahlali beJerusalema kanye laye, labapristi labaprofethi, labo bonke abantu kusukela komncinyane kusiya komkhulu, yasifunda endlebeni zabo wonke amazwi ogwalo lwesivumelwano olwaficwa endlini yeNkosi.
Yasuka yaya ethempelini likaThixo lamadoda akoJuda, abantu baseJerusalema, abaphristi labaphrofethi, abantu bonke kusukela kubantukazana kusiya kuzo kanye izikhulu. Yabafundela bonke besizwa wonke amazwi oGwalo lweSivumelwano, olwatholakala ethempelini likaThixo.
3 Inkosi yema-ke ngasensikeni, yenza isivumelwano phambi kweNkosi, sokuhamba emva kweNkosi, lokugcina imilayo yayo lemithetho yayo lezimiso zayo ngenhliziyo yonke langomphefumulo wonke, ukuqinisa amazwi alesisivumelwano abhaliweyo kulolugwalo. Bonke abantu basebesima esivumelwaneni.
Inkosi yema ngasensikeni, yavuselela isivumelwano phambi kukaThixo sokumlandela lokugcina imilayo yakhe lemithetho yakhe lezimiso zakhe ngenhliziyo yayo yonke langomoya wayo wonke, ngalokho iqinisa amazwi esivumelwano ayebhaliwe kulolugwalo. Ngakho bonke abantu bazinikela kuso isivumelwano.
4 Inkosi yasilaya uHilikhiya umpristi omkhulu labapristi besigaba sesibili labalindi bombundu womnyango ukuthi bakhuphe ethempelini leNkosi zonke izitsha ezazenzelwe uBhali lesixuku lebutho lonke lamazulu, wazitshisela ngaphandle kweJerusalema eziqintini zeKidroni, wathwalela umlotha wazo eBhetheli.
Inkosi yalaya uHilikhiya umphristi omkhulu labaphristi abalandelayo labalindi beminyango ukuba bakhuphe ethempelini likaThixo zonke izitsha ezazenzelwe uBhali lo-Ashera, lazozonke izinkanyezi zaphezulu, wazitshisela ngaphandle kweJerusalema eziqintini zeSigodi saseKhidironi, umlotha wazo wawuthwalela eBhetheli.
5 Wasesusa abapristi bezithombe amakhosi akoJuda ayebabekile ukuthi batshise impepha endaweni eziphakemeyo, emizini yakoJuda, lendawo ezizingelezele iJerusalema, lalabo ababetshisa impepha kuBhali, elangeni, lenyangeni, lezinkanyezini, lebuthweni lonke lamazulu.
Wakhupha abaphristi bezithombe ababekhethwe yinkosi yakoJuda ukuba batshise impepha emizini yakoJuda lakuleyo ephansi kweJerusalema, labo ababetshisa impepha kuBhali lelanga lenyanga lezinkanyezi zonke zaphezulu.
6 Wakhupha isixuku endlini yeNkosi, ngaphandle kweJerusalema, wasisa esifuleni iKidroni, wasitshisa esifuleni iKidroni, wasichola saba luthuli, waphosela uthuli lwaso emangcwabeni abantwana babantu.
Wakhupha ethempelini likaThixo insika ka-Ashera, wayisa esigodini seKhidironi ngaphandle kweJerusalema, wayitshisela khona, wayichola yaba luthuli wasechithachithela umlotha wayo phezu kwamangcwaba abantukazana.
7 Wadiliza izindlu zezinkotshana ezazingasendlini yeNkosi lapho abesifazana ababeselukela khona amaveyili esixuku.
Wadiliza izindlu zabesilisa ababefeba ethempelini likaThixo lapho abesifazane ababethungela khona u-Ashera amaveli.
8 Wakhupha bonke abapristi emizini yakoJuda, wangcolisa indawo eziphakemeyo lapho abapristi ababetshisela khona impepha, kusukela eGeba kusiya eBherishebha. Wadiliza indawo eziphakemeyo zamasango ezisekungeneni kwesango likaJoshuwa umbusi womuzi, ezazingakwesokhohlo somuntu esangweni lomuzi.
UJosiya waletha bonke abaphristi besuka emizini yakoJuda, wangcolisa izindawo zokukhonzela, kusukela eGebha kusiya lapho abaphristi ababetshisela khona impepha eBherishebha. Wabhidliza izindawo zokukhonzela emasangweni ekungeneni kwesango likaJoshuwa umphathi womuzi, ngakwesokhohlo kwesango lomuzi.
9 Loba kunjalo abapristi bendawo eziphakemeyo kabenyukelanga elathini leNkosi eJerusalema, kodwa badla izinkwa ezingelamvubelo phakathi kwabafowabo.
Loba abaphristi bezindawo zokukhonzela bengaphathisanga e-alithareni likaThixo eJerusalema, kodwa badla isinkwa esingelamvubelo kanye labanye abaphristi ababedlelana labo.
10 Wasengcolisa iTofethi elisesihotsheni sendodana kaHinomu ukuze kungabi khona umuntu odabulisa indodana yakhe kumbe indodakazi yakhe emlilweni kuMoleki.
Wangcolisa iThofethi elisesihotsheni saseBheni-Hinomu ukuze kungabikhona otshisa indodana yakhe kumbe indodakazi emlilweni kaMoleki.
11 Wasesusa amabhiza amakhosi akoJuda ayewanikele elangeni ekungeneni kwendlu yeNkosi, ngasekamelweni likaNathani-Meleki umthenwa elalisekhulusini, wazitshisa inqola zelanga ngomlilo.
Entubeni yethempeli likaThixo wasusa amabhiza amakhosi abakoJuda ayewahlukanisele ilanga, wona ayeseduze lendlu yesikhulu esasithiwa nguNathani-Meleki. UJosiya wasetshisa izinqola zempi ezazehlukaniselwe ilanga.
12 Lamalathi ayesephahleni lwendlu kaAhazi engaphezulu awenzayo amakhosi akoJuda, lamalathi uManase ayewenzile emagumeni womabili endlu yeNkosi, inkosi yawadiliza yawachoboza iwasusa lapho, yaluphosela uthuli lwawo esifuleni iKidroni.
Wadilizela phansi ama-alithare ayakhiwe ngamakhosi akoJuda ephahleni eduze lendlu ephezulu ka-Ahazi lama-alithare uManase ayewakhile emagumeni womabili ethempeli likaThixo. Wawasusa lapho, wawachoboza, aba yizicucu waziphosela eSigodini seKhidironi.
13 Lendawo eziphakemeyo, ezaziphambi kweJerusalema, ezazingakwesokunene sentaba yokubola, uSolomoni inkosi yakoIsrayeli eyayizakhele uAshitarothi isinengiso samaSidoni, loKemoshi isinengiso samaMowabi, loMilkomu isinengiso sabantwana bakoAmoni, inkosi yazingcolisa.
Inkosi yangcolisa izindawo zokukhonzela ezazingempumalanga kweJerusalema, ngaseningizimu kwentaba yokuXhwala, uSolomoni inkosi yako-Israyeli eyayizakhele u-Ashithorethi unkulunkulukazi oyisinengiso wamaSidoni, loKhemoshi uNkulunkulu oyisinengiso wamaMowabi, kanye loMoleki oyisinengiso wama-Amoni.
14 Wasephahlaza insika eziyizithombe, wagamula izixuku, wagcwalisa izindawo zazo ngamathambo abantu.
UJosiya wabhidliza amatshe okukhonza, waquma izinsika zika-Ashera, wafaka amathambo abantu abanengi endaweni yazo.
15 Lelathi lalo elaliseBhetheli, lendawo ephakemeyo, ayenzayo uJerobhowamu indodana kaNebati owenza uIsrayeli ukuthi one, kokubili lelolathi lendawo ephakemeyo wakudiliza, watshisa indawo ephakemeyo, wayichoboza yaba luthuli, watshisa isixuku.
Le-alithari elaliseBhetheli indawo yokukhonzela eyayenziwe nguJerobhowamu indodana kaNebhathi owenza ukuba u-Israyeli one, lalelo-alithare lendawo yokukhonzela, wakubhidliza. Watshisa indawo yokukhonzela wayichola yaba yimpuphu njalo watshisa insika ka-Ashera.
16 Lapho uJosiya ephenduka wabona amangcwaba ayelapho entabeni, wathuma wasekhupha amathambo emangcwabeni, wawatshisela phezu kwelathi, walingcolisa, njengelizwi leNkosi umuntu kaNkulunkulu ayelimemezele, owamemezela lamazwi.
UJosiya wathalaza ngapha langapha, kwathi ebona amangcwaba amanengi ayelapho ewatheni loqaqa wathi kawasuswe, atshiswe e-alithareni ukulingcolisa mayelana lelizwi likaThixo elamenyezelwa ngumuntu kaThixo owaziphrofethayo lezizinto.
17 Wasesithi: Yisikhumbuzo sani lesiyana engisibonayo? Abantu bomuzi basebesithi kuye: Lingcwaba lomuntu kaNkulunkulu owavela koJuda wamemezela lezizinto ozenzileyo umelene lelathi leBhetheli.
Inkosi yabuza yathi, “Ilitshe lesikhumbuzo sengcwaba leliyana engilibonayo ngelani?” Abantu bomuzi bathi, “Liphawule ingcwaba lenceku kaNkulunkulu eyavela koJuda, yaqalekisa i-alithari laseBhetheli ngalezizinto ozenze kulo.”
18 Wasesithi: Myekeleni, kakungabi lamuntu othinta amathambo akhe. Basebewayekela amathambo akhe kanye lamathambo omprofethi owavela eSamariya.
Yena wasesithi, “Liyekeleni lingavumeli muntu awathinte amathambo akhe.” Ngakho bawayekela amathambo akhe kanye lalawo awomphrofethi owavela eSamariya.
19 Njalo lazo zonke izindlu zezindawo eziphakemeyo ezisemizini yeSamariya, amakhosi akoIsrayeli ayezenzile ukuthukuthelisa, uJosiya wazisusa, wenza kizo njengayo yonke imisebenzi ayeyenze eBhetheli.
UJosiya wasusa amathempeli ezindawo zokukhonzela ezisemizini yaseSamariya ayekade akhiwe ngamakhosi ako-Israyeli, ethukuthelisa uThixo, wenza kiwo lokho ayekwenze eBhetheli.
20 Wasebulala bonke abapristi bezindawo eziphakemeyo, ababekhonapho, phezu kwamalathi, watshisa amathambo abantu phezu kwawo. Wasebuyela eJerusalema.
UJosiya wabulalela abaphristi bezindawo zokukhonzela phezu kwama-alithare, watshisela amathambo abantu phezu kwawo. Wasebuyela eJerusalema.
21 Inkosi yasilaya bonke abantu isithi: Gcinani iphasika eNkosini uNkulunkulu wenu, njengalokhu kubhaliwe kulolugwalo lwesivumelwano.
Inkosi uJosiya yalaya bonke abantu yathi, “Ligcine iPhasika likaThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, njengoba kulotshiwe eGwalweni LweSivumelwano.”
22 Ngoba kwakungagcinwanga elinjengaleli iphasika kusukela ensukwini zabehluleli abehlulela uIsrayeli, kumbe kuzo zonke izinsuku zamakhosi akoIsrayeli, kumbe zamakhosi akoJuda.
Lalingagcinwa iPhasika elinjalo kusukela ensukwini zabehluleli abaphatha u-Israyeli, lakuzo zonke insuku zamakhosi ako-Israyeli lezamakhosi akoJuda.
23 Kodwa ngomnyaka wetshumi lesificaminwembili wenkosi uJosiya lagcinwa leliphasika eNkosini eJerusalema.
Kodwa ngomnyaka wetshumi lasificaminwembili wenkosi uJosiya, lagcinwa iPhasika likaThixo eJerusalema.
24 Ngaphezu kwalokho-ke abalamadlozi, labalumbayo, lamatherafi, lezithombe, lawo wonke amanyala abonakala elizweni lakoJuda leJerusalema, uJosiya wakususa, ukuze aqinise amazwi omlayo ayebhalwe ogwalweni uHilikhiya umpristi alufica endlini yeNkosi.
Wakwenza njalo uJosiya ukususa izangoma, labahlahluli, labonkulunkulu basezindlini, lezithombe kanye lazozonke izinto zamanyala ezazikhona koJuda laseJerusalema. Lokhu kwakuyikugcwalisa izimiso zomlayo owawulotshwe encwadini umphristi uHilikhiya ayithola ethempelini likaThixo.
25 Langaphambi kwakhe kakubanga khona inkosi eyafanana laye eyaphendukela eNkosini ngenhliziyo yayo yonke langomphefumulo wayo wonke langamandla ayo wonke, njengokomlayo wonke kaMozisi. Futhi emva kwakhe kakuvelanga eyafanana laye.
Ngaphambi kwakhe noma ngemva kwakhe uJosiya kakubanga khona inkosi eyafanana laye eyaphendukela kuThixo njengalokhu akwenzayo ngenhliziyo yakhe langomphefumulo wakhe wonke njalo langamandla akhe wonke mayelana lawo wonke uMthetho kaMosi.
26 Kanti iNkosi kayiphendukanga ekuvutheni kolaka lwayo olukhulu, olaka lwayo eyavuthela ngalo uJuda, ngenxa yazo zonke intukutheliso uManase ayithukuthelisa ngazo.
Kanti uThixo kadedanga ekuvutheni kolaka lwakhe olwavutha kakhulu koJuda ngenxa yazo zonke izinto uManase amthukuthelisa ngazo.
27 INkosi yasisithi: Ngizamsusa loJuda phambi kwami, njengoba ngasusa uIsrayeli, ngiwulahle lumuzi weJerusalema engawukhethayo, lendlu engathi ngayo: Ibizo lami lizakuba lapho.
Ngakho uThixo wathi, “Ngizamsusa phambi kwami uJuda njengoba ngasusa u-Israyeli, ngiwulahle lumuzi waseJerusalema engawukhethayo, lethempeli leli engathi ngalo, ‘Ibizo lami lizakuba kulo.’”
28 Ezinye-ke zezindaba zikaJosiya, lakho konke akwenzayo, kakubhalwanga yini egwalweni lwemilando yamakhosi akoJuda?
Ezinye izehlakalo ngombuso kaJosiya, lakho konke akwenzayo, akulotshwanga yini egwalweni lwembali yamakhosi akoJuda na?
29 Ensukwini zakhe uFaro Neko inkosi yeGibhithe wenyuka wamelana lenkosi yeAsiriya emfuleni iYufrathi. Inkosi uJosiya yasisiyahlangabezana laye; wayibulalela eMegido eseyibonile.
Ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaJosiya, uFaro Nekho inkosi yaseGibhithe waya eMfuleni uYufrathe ukuyancedisa inkosi yase-Asiriya. Inkosi uJosiya wamhlangabeza empini kodwa uNekho waqondana laye wambulala eMegido.
30 Inceku zakhe zasezimthwala efile ngenqola, zisuka eMegido, zamusa eJerusalema, zamngcwaba engcwabeni lakhe. Abantu belizwe basebethatha uJehowahazi indodana kaJosiya, bamgcoba, bambeka waba yinkosi esikhundleni sikayise.
Izisebenzi zikaJosiya zaletha isidumbu sakhe ngenqola yokulwa zisuka eMegido zisiya eJerusalema njalo zamngcwabela ethuneni lakhe. Ngakho abantu elizweni bathatha uJehowahazi indodana kaJosiya bamgcoba ubukhosi bukayise.
31 UJehowahazi wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amabili lantathu lapho esiba yinkosi; wabusa inyanga ezintathu eJerusalema. Lebizo likanina lalinguHamuthali indodakazi kaJeremiya weLibhina.
UJehowahazi wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amabili lantathu ubudala bakhe esiba yinkosi, njalo wabusa eJerusalema inyanga ezintathu. Ibizo likanina kwakunguHamuthali indodakazi kaJeremiya njalo wayevela eLibhina.
32 Wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi njengakho konke oyise abakwenzayo.
Wenza ububi emehlweni kaThixo njengabokhokho bakhe.
33 UFaro Neko wasembopha eRibila elizweni leHamathi ukuthi angabusi eJerusalema, wahlawulisa ilizwe amathalenta esiliva alikhulu lethalenta legolide.
Inkosi uFaro Nekho wambopha ngamaketani eRibhila elizweni lamaHamathi ukuze angabusi eJerusalema, wamthelisa kakhulu uJuda amathalenta alikhulu esiliva, lethalenta legolide.
34 UFaro Neko wasebeka uEliyakhimi indodana kaJosiya ukuthi abe yinkosi esikhundleni sikaJosiya uyise, waphendula ibizo lakhe wathi nguJehoyakhimi. Wasethatha uJehowahazi; wasesiza eGibhithe, wafela khona.
UFaro Nekho wabeka u-Eliyakhimu indodana kaJosiya esihlalweni sobukhosi esikhundleni sikayise uJosiya waseguqula ibizo lakhe wathi nguJehoyakhimi. Kodwa wathatha uJehowahazi waya laye eGibhithe, wafela khonale.
35 UJehoyakhimi wasemnika uFaro isiliva legolide, kodwa wathelisa ilizwe ukuze anike leyomali njengokomlayo kaFaro. Wakhuphisa abantu belizwe isiliva legolide, ngulowo lalowo ngokomthelo wakhe, yokunika uFaro Neko.
UJehoyakhimi wathela ngenani lesiliva legolide elalifunwa nguFaro Nekho. Ukuze akwenelise lokho wayethelisa abantu elizweni ngesiliva legolide ngesilinganiso ayebona sibalingene.
36 UJehoyakhimi wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amabili lanhlanu lapho esiba yinkosi; wabusa iminyaka elitshumi lanye eJerusalema. Lebizo likanina lalinguZebida indodakazi kaPhedaya weRuma.
UJehoyakhimi wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amabili lanhlanu ubudala bakhe ethatha ubukhosi, yena wabusa eJerusalema iminyaka elitshumi lanye. Ibizo likanina lalinguZebhuda indodakazi kaPhedaya owayevela eRuma.
37 Wasesenza okubi emehlweni eNkosi njengakho konke oyise abakwenzayo.
Wenza ububi phambi kukaThixo, njengabokhokho bakhe.
