1. URehobowamu esefikile eJerusalema wabutha indlu yakwaJuda noBenjamini, abantu abakhethiweyo abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisihiyagalombili, amabutho, ukuba balwe no-Israyeli, bawubuyisele umbuso kuRehobowamu.
2. Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuShemaya umuntu kaNkulunkulu, lathi:
3. “Khuluma kuRehobowamu indodana kaSolomoni, inkosi yakwaJuda, nakuye wonke u-Israyeli kwaJuda noBenjamini, ngokuthi:
4. ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Aniyikukhuphuka, ningalwi nabafowenu; buyelani, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe, ngokuba le nto ivela kimi.’ ” Balalela amazwi kaJehova, babuya ekumhlaseleni uJerobowamu.
5. URehobowamu wahlala eJerusalema, wakha imizi ukuba ibe yizinqaba kwaJuda.
6. Wakha iBetlehema, ne-Etamu, neThekhowa,
7. neBeti Suri, neSoko, ne-Adulamu,
8. neGati, neMaresha, neZifi,
9. ne-Adorayimi, neLakishi, ne-Azeka,
10. neSora, ne-Ajaloni, neHebroni, ekwaJuda nakwaBenjamini, imizi ebiyelweyo.
11. Waziqinisa izinqaba, wabeka izinduna kuzo, nokudla, namafutha, newayini.
12. Emizini yonke, yileyo naleyo, wabeka izihlangu nemikhonto, wayiqinisa kakhulu impela. ElakwaJuda nelakwaBenjamini lalingelakhe.
13. Abapristi namaLevi ayekwa-Israyeli wonke bazihlanganisa naye bephuma emikhawulweni yonke.
14. Ngokuba amaLevi ashiya amadlelo awo nefa lawo, aya kwaJuda naseJerusalema, ngokuba uJerobowamu namadodana akhe bawalahla ukuba angabe esaba ngabapristi bakaJehova,