1 Kings 8

Ibhokisi Lesivumelwano Lilethwa eThempelini

1Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni wamema abadala bako-Israyeli ukuthi beze kuye eJerusalema, bonke abazinhloko zezizwana lezinduna zezimuli zako-Israyeli, ukuthi balethe ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova lisuka eZiyoni, uMuzi kaDavida. 2Amadoda wonke ako-Israyeli eza ndawonye enkosini uSolomoni ngesikhathi somkhosi ngenyanga ebizwa ngokuthi Ethanimi, inyanga yesikhombisa.

3Kwathi bonke abadala bako-Israyeli sebefikile, abaphristi bathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano, 4njalo basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova kanye leThente lokuHlanganela layo yonke imiceciso engcwele iphakathi kwalo. Abaphristi labaLevi bakuthwala lokhu, 5njalo iNkosi uSolomoni kanye labo bonke abako-Israyeli ababebuthene kuyo babephambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano, benikela ngezimvu langezinkomo ababengeke bazazi inani lazo, bengeke bazibala.

6Abaphristi basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yalo kusiphephelo esingaphakathi kwethempeli, iNdawo eNgcwele Ngcwele, basebelifaka ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubhi.

7Amakherubhi elula izimpiko zawo phezu kwendawo yebhokisi lesivumelwano njalo agubuzela ibhokisi lesivumelwano kanye lezibambo zokulithwala. 8Izibambo lezi zazizinde zibonakala nxa useNdaweni eNgcwele phambi kwesiphephelo esingaphakathi, kodwa hatshi nxa ungaphandle kweNdawo eNgcwele; lezo zilokhu zimi njalo lalamuhla.

9Kwakungelalutho ebhokisini lesivumelwano ngaphandle kwezibhebhedu ezimbili zamatshe uMosi ayezifake phakathi kwalo eseHorebi lapho uJehova enza khona isivumelwano labako-Israyeli ngemva kokuphuma kwabo eGibhithe.

10Kwathi abaphristi sebesukile eNdaweni eNgcwele, iyezi lagcwala lagubuzela ethempelini likaJehova. 11Abaphristi abenzanga inkonzo yabo ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo kaJehova yayigcwele ethempelini lakhe.

12Ngakho uSolomoni wathi, “UJehova utshilo ukuba uzahlala eyezini elimnyama;

13ngempela sengikwakhele ithempeli elibukekayo, indawo ozahlala kiyo kuze kube nini lanini.”

14Kwathi ibandla lonke lako-Israyeli lisemi khonapho, inkosi yaphenduka yalibusisa.

15Ngakho yasisithi: “Udumo kuye uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena ngesandla sakhe ophelelise ukwenza lokho akuthembisa ngowakhe umlomo ethembisa ubaba uDavida. Ngoba wathi, 16‘Kusukela mhla ngikhupha abantu bami abako-Israyeli eGibhithe, bengingakaze ngikhethe idolobho loba kukusiphi isizwana sako-Israyeli ukuthi ngakhelwe ithempeli leBizo lami khona, kodwa ngimkhethile uDavida ukuthi abuse abantu bami bako-Israyeli.’

17“Ubaba uDavida wayelakho enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi akhe ithempeli leBizo likaJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.

18Kodwa uJehova wathi kubaba uDavida, ‘Ngenxa yokuthi kwakukhona enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi ungakhele ithempeli leBizo lami, wenza kuhle ukuthi ukugcine lokhu enhliziyweni yakho. 19Lanxa kunjalo, kakusuwe ozalakha lelothempeli, kodwa lizakwakhiwa yindodana yakho, eyinyama legazi lakho – yiyo ezakwakha ithempeli leBizo lami.’

20“UJehova usigcinile isithembiso asenzayo: Sengithethe ubukhosi bukaDavida ubaba njalo khathesi sengisesihlalweni sobukhosi bako-Israyeli, njengokwethembisa kukaJehova, ngakho sengilakhile ithempeli leBizo likaJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. 21Ngilungisile indawo khonaphana eyebhokisi lesivumelwano, kulapho okulesivumelwano sikaJehova asenza labobaba ekubakhupheni kwakhe kwelamaGibhithe.”

Umthandazo KaSolomoni Wokunikela

22Ngalokho uSolomoni wema e-alithareni likaJehova phambi kwebandla lonke lako-Israyeli, welula izandla zakhe waziphakamisela ezulwini 23wasesithi: “O Jehova, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kakho uNkulunkulu onjengawe ezulwini phezulu loba emhlabeni ngaphansi – wena ogcina isithembiso sakho sothando lezinceku zakho, wena oqhubeka ngenhliziyo yonke endleleni yakho.

24Usigcinile isithembiso sakho encekwini yakho uDavida ongubaba; ngowakho umlomo uthembisile langesandla sakho ugcwalisile lokho – njengoba kunjalo lalamuhlanje.

25“Khathesi Jehova, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, gcinela inceku yakho uDavida ubaba lezozithembiso owazenzayo lapho wathi, ‘Awuyikwehluleka loba sekutheni ukuzuza indoda ezahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi ko-Israyeli, nxa amadodana akho ezananzelela ukuhamba phambi kwami njengalokhu okwenzileyo wena.’

26Njalo khathesi, O Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akuthi lelolizwi owathembisa ngalo inceku yakho uDavida ubaba ligcwaliseke.

27“Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlala emhlabeni na? Amazulu, loba izulu eliphakemeyo, akungeke kukuvalele wena. Pho ithempeli leli engilakhileyo lingayini kuwe na! 28Kodwa yamukela umthandazo wenceku yakho lesikhalazo sayo somusa, O Jehova Nkulunkulu wami. Zwana ukukhala lomthandazo owenziwa yinceku yakho phambi kwakho ngalolusuku.

29Sengathi amehlo akho angahlala phezu kwalelithempeli ebusuku lemini, yonale indawo owathi wena, ‘IBizo lami lizakuba khonapha,’ ukuze uzwe umthandazo wenceku yakho ngale indawo. 30Zwana isikhalazo senceku yakho lesabantu bakho bako-Israyeli nxa bethandaza bekhangele kule indawo. Zwana usezulwini okulikhaya lakho, njalo nxa usizwa, uthethelele.

31“Nxa umuntu onele umakhelwane wakhe njalo kufanele ukuthi enze isifungo abesefika afunge isifungo phambi kwealithare lakho kulelithempeli, 32zwana usezulwini wenze. Yahlulela phakathi kwezinceku zakho, umlahle olecala, wehlisele ekhanda lakhe lokho akwenzileyo. Tshono ukuthi ongonanga kalacala ukuze uveze ukuba msulwa kwakhe.

33“Nxa abantu bakho abako-Israyeli behlulwe yisitha ngenxa yokona kwabo phambi kwakho, kuthi nxa sebephendukela ngakuwe bebiza igama lakho, bekhuleka njalo becela intethelelo kuwe kulelithempeli, 34lapho-ke zwana usezulwini uthethelele izono zabantu bakho bako-Israyeli njalo ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika oyise.

35“Nxa amazulu evaleka njalo kungaselazulu ngenxa yokuthi abantu bakho bonile phambi kwakho, njalo nxa bekhuleka bekhangele kule indawo bavume igama lakho batshiye izono zabo ngoba ubatshayile, 36lapho-ke zwana usezulwini uthethelele izinceku zakho izono zazo, abantu bakho bako-Israyeli. Bafundise indlela yokuphila eqondileyo, uthumele izulu elizweni owalinika abantu bakho ukuba libe yilifa labo.

37“Nxa kufika indlala kumbe isifo elizweni, ukukhunta lengumane, isikhongwane lemihogoyi, loba behanqwa yizitha kwelinye lamadolobho abo, loba yincithakalo enganani loba ngumkhuhlane onjani ongeza, 38kuthi-ke nxa loba ngubani wabo abako-Israyeli ekhuleka loba ekuncenga – bona ngamunye bevele bezazela izinhlupheko ezinhliziyweni zabo, kodwa bephakamisele izandla zabo kulelithempeli – 39lapho-ke zwana usezulwini okulikhaya lakho. Thethelela njalo wenze, ngamunye yenza kuye okufanele kwenziwe, njengoba usazi inhliziyo yakhe (njengoba nguwe wedwa emhlabeni wonke owaziyo), 40yikho bezakwesaba imihla yabo yonke yokuphila beselizweni owalinika obaba.

41“Oyisizwe ongasuye omunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli kodwa evela kude ngenxa yodumo lwebizo lakho –

42ngoba abantu bazakuzwa ngelakho ibizo eliqakathekileyo lesandla sakho esilamandla lengalo yakho eyeluliweyo – nxa esiza akhuleke ekhangele kulelithempeli, 43lapho-ke zwana usezulwini, indawo elikhaya lakho, wenze loba yini owezizweni ayicela kuwe, ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba balazi ibizo lakho njalo bakwesabe, njengoba abantu bakho abako-Israyeli bekwenza, baze bazi ukuthi indlu le engiyakhileyo ithwele iBizo lakho.

44“Abantu bakho nxa besiya empini ukuya kulwa lezitha zabo, nxa ubathuma wena, njalo kuthi nxa bekhuleka kuJehova bekhangele edolobheni olikhethileyo wena kanye lethempelini engalakhela iBizo lakho, 45lapho-ke zwana usezulwini umthandazo wabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubaphathise kulokho.

46“Nxa bonile phambi kwakho – ngoba kakho ongoniyo – ubathukuthelele ubanikele ezitheni zabo, bathunjwe babe yizigqili zezizwe emazweni azo, kude laseduzane; 47kuthi lapho beguquka ezinhliziyweni zabo emazweni abayabe beyizithunjwa kuwo, baphenduke bakuncenge besemazweni abanqobi bathi, ‘Sonile, sesenze impambaniso, sibe buthakathaka sona,’ 48njalo nxa bephendukela kuwe ngezinhliziyo zabo zonke langemiphefumulo yabo elizweni lezitha zabo ezabathumbayo, bakhuleke kuwe bekhangele elizweni owalinika oyise, lasedolobheni owalikhethayo lethempeli engilakhele iBizo lakho, 49ngakho usezulwini, ikhaya lakho zwana imithandazo yabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubenzele khona lokho. 50Ubathethelele abantu bakho, abakonileyo wena, bathethelele kukho konke ukona kwabo kuwe, wenze izitha zabo zibe lomusa kubo,

51ngoba bangabantu bakho njalo bayilifa lakho, bona owabakhipha eGibhithe, esihogweni esivuthayo esincibilikisa insimbi.

52“Sengathi amehlo akho angaba phezu kwenceku yakho ukukhala kwayo lokuncengela kwabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, sengathi ungalalela ukukhala kwabo bekhalaza kuwe. 53Ngoba wabakhetha phakathi kwezizwe zonke zomhlaba ukuthi babe yilifa lakho, njengoba wakhuluma ngenceku yakho uMosi, lapho wena, O Jehova Wobukhosi, wakhipha obaba eGibhithe.”

54Kwathi uSolomoni eseqedile imithandazo le lezikhalazo kuJehova, waphakama wema phambi kwe-alithare likaJehova, lapho ayekade eguqe khona ephakamisele izandla zakhe ezulwini. 55Waphakama wabusisa ibandla labako-Israyeli ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi:

56“Udumo kalube kuJehova, yena olethele abantu bako-Israyeli ukuphumula njengokwethembisa kwakhe. Akukho lokukodwa okungenzekanga kuzo zonke izithembiso ezinhle azenza ngenceku yakhe uMosi. 57Sengathi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu angaba lathi njengoba wayelabobaba; sengathi angaze asitshiya loba asidele. 58Sengathi angaguqulela izinhliziyo zethu kuye, sihambe ezindleleni zakhe sigcine lemilayo yakhe, imithetho lezimiso azipha obaba.

59Sengathi amazwi ami la, engikhuleka ngawo kuJehova, angaba seduze kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu emini lebusuku, ukuze aqinise izikhalazo zenceku yakhe lezikhalazo zabantu bakhe bako-Israyeli kusiya ngeziswelo zabo zemihla ngemihla, 60ukuze abantu bonke bomhlaba bakwazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu lokuthi kakho omunye.

61Kodwa izinhliziyo zenu azigcwale ukuzinikela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, ukuphila ngezimiso zakhe lokulalela imilayo yakhe, njengakhathesi.”

Ukunikelwa kweThempeli

62Ngalokho inkosi labo bonke abako-Israyeli banikela imihlatshelo yabo phambi kukaJehova. 63USolomoni wanikela ngomhlatshelo weminikelo yobudlelwano kuJehova; izinkomo ezizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lambili, izimvu lezimbuzi ezizinkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi amabili. Ngokunjalo inkosi labo bonke abako-Israyeli banikela ithempeli likaJehova.

64Ngalelolanga inkosi yangcwelisa iphakathi leguma phambi kwethempeli likaJehova, njalo kulapho eyanikela khona ngomnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo wamabele kanye lamafutha eminikelo yobudlelwano ngoba ialithare lethusi elaliphambi kukaJehova lalilincinyane kakhulu ukuthi kutshiselwe kilo imihlatshelo yokutshiswa, leminikelo yamabele leminikelo yamafutha obudlelwano.

65Ngakho uSolomoni wenza umkhosi ngalesosikhathi ekanye lo-Israyeli wonke – ibandla elikhulu, abantu abavela eLebho Hamathi kusiya eSihotsheni saseGibhithe. Bawuthakazelela phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu okwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa lezinye eziyisikhombisa njalo zaba litshumi lane sezizonke. 66Ngosuku olulandelayo inkosi yabachitha. Bayibusisa inkosi basuka baya emakhaya abo, belentokozo bejabula ezinhliziyweni zabo ngakho konke okuhle uJehova ayekwenzele inceku yakhe uDavida kanye labantu bakhe bako-Israyeli.