2 Kings 18

UHezekhiya iNkosi YakoJuda

1Ngomnyaka wesithathu kaHosheya indodana ka-Ela inkosi yako-Israyeli, uHezekhiya indodana ka-Ahazi inkosi yakoJuda waqalisa ukubusa.

2Wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amabili lanhlanu esiba yinkosi, njalo wabusa eJerusalema okweminyaka engamatshumi amabili lafica munye. Ibizo likanina lalingu-Abhija indodakazi kaZekhariya. 3Wenza okulungileyo phambi kukaJehova, njengalokhu okwakwenziwe nguyise uDavida. 4Wadiliza izindawo zokukhonzela wabhidliza amatshe ababewakhonza kanye lezinsika zika-Ashera. Watshaya wenza izicucu inyoka yethusi eyayenziwe nguMosi, ngoba kuze kube yilesosikhathi abako-Israyeli babelokhu beyitshisela impepha. (Yayibizwa ngokuthi Nehushithani.)

5UHezekhiya wayethembele kuJehova ka-Israyeli. Kakho owayenjengaye kuwo wonke amakhosi akoJuda, loba kulabo abamandulelayo kumbe labo abamlandelayo ekubuseni. 6Wabambelela kuJehova kazange ayekele ukumlandela, wagcina imilayo uJehova ayeyinike uMosi. 7UJehova wayelaye; waphumelela kukho konke ayekwenza. Wahlamukela inkosi yase-Asiriya kasabanga ngaphansi kwayo. 8Kusukela emphongolweni wesilindo kusiya emzini oyinqaba, wanqoba amaFilisti, kuze kuye fika khonale eGaza lamazwe akhona.

9Ngomnyaka wesine wenkosi uHezekhiya, okwakungumnyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kukaHosheya indodana ka-Ela inkosi yako-Israyeli, uShalimaneseri inkosi yase-Asiriya wayahlasela iSamariya wayivimbezela.

10Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu ama-Asiriya alithumba. Ngakho iSamariya yathunjwa ngomnyaka wesithupha wokubusa kukaHezekhiya, okwakungumnyaka wesificamunye wokubusa kukaHosheya inkosi yako-Israyeli.

11Inkosi yase-Asiriya yaxotshela abako-Israyeli e-Asiriya yabahlalisa eHala ngaseGozani eMfuleni uHabhori lasemizini yamaMede.

12Lokhu kwenzakala ngoba bengalalelanga uJehova wabo, kodwa sebephule isivumelwano sakhe, lakho konke uMosi inceku kaJehova ayebalaye ngakho. Abazanga balalele njalo abazanga bakwenze.

13Ngomnyaka wetshumi lane wokubusa kwenkosi uHezekhiya, uSenakheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wahlasela yonke imizi yakoJuda eyinqaba wayithumba. 14Ngakho uHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda wathumela ilizwi enkosini yase-Asiriya eLakhishi esithi, “Ngiphambanisile. Suka kimi, mina ngizakubhadala konke okufunayo kimi.” Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathi uHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda kayinike amathalenta esiliva angamakhulu amathathu kanye legolide elingamathalenta angamatshumi amathathu. 15Ngakho uHezekhiya wamnika sonke isiliva esatholakala ethempelini likaJehova lasezindlini zenotho yesigodlweni senkosi.

16Ngalesisikhathi uHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda waxexebula igolide elalisezivalweni zethempeli likaJehova lelalinanyathiselwe emigubazini yethempeli likaJehova, walinika inkosi yase-Asiriya.

USenakheribi Usongela iJerusalema

17Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathumela umlawuli omkhulu wamabutho ayo, lesikhulu somndlunkulu kanye lomlawuli wamabutho lamabutho amanengi, besuka eLakhishi besiya enkosini uHezekhiya eJerusalema. Bafika eJerusalema bema ngasemfolweni wechibi elingaphezulu, elisendleleni yeNsimu yoMgezisi.

18Babiza inkosi ngokwayo: Kodwa kweza u-Eliyakhimu indodana kaHilikhiya umphathi wesigodlo, loShebhina umabhalane, loJowa indodana ka-Asafi umbhali.

19Umlawuli wamabutho wathi kubo, “Tshelani uHezekhiya ukuthi: “ ‘Inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya ithi: Uthembeni ngalesisibindi sakho na?

20Uthi ulamaqhinga lamabutho alamandla, kodwa yikukhuluma ize. Usuthembe bani ukuze ungivukele na? 21Khangela-ke, uthembe iGibhithe, yona enjengomhlonga ozimvava osika isandla somuntu umlimaze nxa eseyama kuwo. Unjalo-ke uFaro inkosi yaseGibhithe kubo bonke abathembele kuye. 22Nxa wena ungathi kimi, “Sithembele kuJehova wethu,” kanti kayisuye olendawo zokukhonzela lamaalithare okwasuswa nguHezekhiya esithi kuJuda leJerusalema, “Limele likhonze phambi kwaleli i-alithare eliseJerusalema na”?

23“ ‘Ngakho-ke, yenza isivumelwano lenkosi yami, inkosi yase-Asiriya: Ngizakunika amabhiza azinkulungwane ezimbili nxa ungazuza abangawagada!

24Kambe ungamehlula njani lomncane wezikhulu zenkosi yami loba uthembele eGibhithe ukuthola izigqoko zempi labagadi bamabhiza? 25Kambe ngize ukuchitha lindawo ngaphandle kwelizwi elivela kuJehova na? UJehova nguye ongitshele ukuba ngihlasele ilizwe leli ngilichithe.’ ”

26Ngakho u-Eliyakhimu indodana kaHilikhiya, loShebhina loJowa basebesithi kumlawuli wamabutho, “Ake ukhulume lezinceku zakho ngolimi lwesi-Aramu, njengoba siluzwa. Ungasikhulumisi ngesiHebheru laba abaphezu kwemiduli besizwa.”

27Kodwa umlawuli wamabutho waphendula esithi, “Likhumbula ukuthi inkosi yami ingithume ukuba ngitsho lezizinto enkosini yenu lakini kuphela hatshi lakulaba abaphezu komduli, bona abafanele ukuthi labo njengani, bazakudla amanyala abo banathe lemithambiso yabo na?”

28Umlawuli wasephakama wamemezela ngesiHebheru esithi, “Zwanini nanti ilizwi lenkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya! 29Nanku okutshiwo yinkosi: Lingabokhohliswa nguHezekhiya. Angeke alikhulula esandleni sami. 30Lingaboyekela uHezekhiya elincenga ukuthi lithembele kuJehova lapho esithi, ‘UJehova ngempela uzasikhulula, umuzi lo angeke awunikela ezandleni zenkosi yase-Asiriya.’

31“Lingamlaleli uHezekhiya. Nanku okutshiwo yinkosi yase-Asiriya: Yenzani isivumelwano sokuthula lami njalo phumani lize kimi. Ngalokho omunye lomunye wenu uzazidlela izithelo zamavini akhe lezithelo zemikhiwa yakhe azinathele amanzi omthombo wakhe, 32ngize ngifike ngilithathe, ngilise elizweni elifanana lelakini, eligcwele amabele lewayini elitsha ilizwe lesinkwa lezivini, ilizwe lezihlahla zama-oliva lezinyosi. Khethani impilo hatshi ukufa! “Lingamlaleli uHezekhiya, ngoba uyalikhohlisa nxa esithi, ‘UJehova uzasikhulula.’ 33Kambe ukhona unkulunkulu wesinye isizwe osewake wakhulula ilizwe lakhe esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya na? 34Bangaphi onkulunkulu baseHamathi le-Ariphadi na? Bangaphi onkulunkulu baseSefavayimi labaseHena labase-Iva na? Bayikhulule iSamariya esandleni sami na? 35Nguwuphi kubo bonke onkulunkulu balawomazwe osindise ilizwe lakhe esandleni sami na? Pho uJehova angayikhulula njani iJerusalema esandleni sami na?”

36Abantu bathula, kabaze baphendula langelilodwa ilizwi ngoba inkosi yayilaye yathi, “Lingamphenduli.”

37U-Eliyakhimu indodana kaHilikhiya owayengumgcini wesigodlo, loShebhina umabhalane, loJowa indodana ka-Asafi, owayengumbhali, beza kuHezekhiya izigqoko zabo zidabukile bamtshela okwakutshiwo ngumlawuli omkhulu webutho.