2 Amakhosi 18:8-22 Ibhayibheli Elingcwele (ZUL59)

8. Wachitha amaFilisti kwaze kwaba seGaza nemikhawulo yalo, imibhoshongo yabalindi nemizi ebiyelweyo.

9. Kwathi ngomnyaka wesine wenkosi uHezekiya owawungumnyaka wesikhombisa kaHosheya indodana ka-Ela, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli, uShalimaneseri inkosi yase-Asiriya wenyuka walivimbezela iSamariya.

10. Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka emithathu balithatha; ngomnyaka wesithupha kaHezekiya owawungumnyaka wesishiyagalolunye kaHosheya inkosi yakwa-Israyeli iSamariya lathathwa.

11. Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathumbela u-Israyeli e-Asiriya, yababeka eHala naseHabori ngasemfuleni waseGozani nasemizini yamaMede,

12. ngokuba abalalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, kepha beqa isivumelwano sakhe; konke ayala ngakho uMose inceku kaJehova kabavumanga ukukulalela nokukwenza.

13. Ngomnyaka weshumi nane wenkosi uHezekiya, uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wenyuka wahlasela yonke imizi ebiyelweyo yakwaJuda, wayithatha.

14. UHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda wathumela enkosini yase-Asiriya eLakishi, wathi: “Ngonile; buya kimi; okubeka kimi ngiyakukwenza.” Inkosi yase-Asiriya yamnqumela uHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda amatalenta* angamakhulu amathathu esiliva namatalenta angamashumi amathathu egolide.

15. UHezekiya wamnika lonke isiliva elalifunyanwa endlini kaJehova nasengcebeni endlini yenkosi.

16. Ngaleso sikhathi uHezekiya wanquma izivalo zethempeli likaJehova nezinsika uHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda ayezinamekile, wakunika inkosi yase-Asiriya.

17. Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathuma oTharithani, noRabi Sarisi, noRabi Shake ukuba basuke eLakishi, baye enkosini uHezekiya eJerusalema, benempi enkulu. Benyuka bafika eJerusalema. Sebenyukile bafika, bema ngasemseleni wechibi lasenhla elingasendleleni yeNsimu yoMhlanzi.

18. Bayibiza inkosi, kwaphumela kubo u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, noJowa indodana ka-Asafa, umabhalana.

19. Wathi kubo uRabi Shake: “Ake nisho kuHezekiya, nithi: ‘Isho kanje inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ithi: Yithemba lini leli olethembayo na?

20. Wena uyakhuluma, kepha kungamazwi angawomlomo nje lana ngesu nangamandla okulwa. Pho, wethemba bani, lokhu ungihlubukile, na?

21. Manje bheka, wethemba udondolo lwalo mhlanga ofecekileyo oyiGibithe; kepha uma umuntu ezimelela ngalo, luyakungena esandleni sakhe, lusihlabe; unjalo uFaro inkosi yaseGibithe kubo bonke abamethembayo.

22. Kepha uma nithi kimi: “Siyamethemba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,” akusiye yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakemeyo nama-altare akhe akususile uHezekiya, wathi kuJuda nakulo iJerusalema: “Niyakukhuleka phambi kwaleli altare eJerusalema,” na?

2 Amakhosi 18