1 AmaKhosi 12:1-14

URehobowamu waya eShekemi, ngokuba wonke u-Israyeli wayefikile eShekemi ukumbeka inkosi. Kwathi lapho uJerobowamu indodana kaNebati ekuzwile – ngokuba wayeseGibithe, lapho ayebalekele khona, ebalekele ubuso benkosi uSolomoni; wahlala-ke uJerobowamu eGibithe, kepha bathuma bambiza – uJerobowamu nebandla lonke lakwa-Israyeli beza, bakhuluma kuRehobowamu, bathi: “Uyihlo wenza ijoka lethu laba lukhuni; ngalokho yenza wena ube lula umsebenzi olukhuni kayihlo nejoka lakhe elisindayo owalibeka phezu kwethu, siyakukukhonza.” Wathi kubo: “Hambani izinsuku zibe zintathu, bese nibuyela kimi.” Basuka-ke abantu. Inkosi uRehobowamu yelulekana namalunga ayemile phambi kukaSolomoni uyise, esekhona, yathi: “Nina ningeluleka ukubuyisela mpenduloni kulaba bantu na?” Akhuluma kuye, athi: “Uma uyakuba yinceku yalaba bantu namhla nje, ubakhonze, ubaphendule, ukhulume amazwi amahle kubo, bayakuba yizinceku zakho izinsuku zonke.” Kepha walahla isiluleko samalunga ameluleke ngaso, welulekana nezinsizwa eziyintanga yakhe, ezazimi phambi kwakhe. Wathi kuzo: “Nina ningeluleka ukuba sibuyisele mpenduloni kulaba bantu abakhulume kimi ngokuthi: ‘Yenza ijoka uyihlo alibeka phezu kwethu libe lula,’ na?” Zase zikhuluma kuye izinsizwa eziyintanga yakhe, zithi: “Uyakusho kanje kulaba bantu abakhulume kuwe ngokuthi: ‘Uyihlo walenza ijoka lethu lasinda, kepha wena ulenze libe lula kithina,’ uyakukhuluma kanje kubo, uthi: ‘Ucikicane wami mkhulu kunokhalo lukababa. Manje ubaba wanithwesa ijoka elisindayo, mina ngiyakwenezela ejokeni lenu; ubaba wanishaya ngeziswebhu, mina ngiyakunishaya ngawofezela.’ ” UJerobowamu nabantu bonke base befika kuRehobowamu ngosuku lwesithathu njengokusho kwenkosi, ithi: “Buyelani kimi ngosuku lwesithathu.” Inkosi yaphendula abantu kalukhuni, yalahla isiluleko samalunga ameluleke ngaso, yakhuluma kubo njengesiluleko sezinsizwa ngokuthi: “Ubaba walenza ijoka lenu lasinda, mina ngiyakwenezela ejokeni lenu; ubaba wanishaya ngeziswebhu, mina ngiyakunishaya ngawofezela.”