1 AmaKhosi 8:1-21

Khona uSolomoni wabutha amalunga akwa-Israyeli nezinhloko zezizwe, izikhulu zawoyise babantwana bakwa-Israyeli enkosini uSolomoni eJerusalema, ukuba bakhuphule umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova emzini kaDavide oyiSiyoni. Onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli abuthana enkosini uSolomoni emkhosini wasenyangeni ka-Ethanimi eyinyanga yesikhombisa. Esefikile onke amalunga akwa-Israyeli, abapristi baphakamisa umphongolo. Bakhuphula umphongolo kaJehova, netende lokuhlangana, nazo zonke izinto ezingcwele ezazisetendeni, kwakhushulwa ngabapristi namaLevi. Inkosi uSolomoni nayo yonke inhlangano yakwa-Israyeli eyayihlangene kuyo babenayo phambi komphongolo, behlaba izimvu nezinkabi ezingenakulotshwa, zingenakubalwa ngobuningi bazo. Abapristi bawungenisa umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yawo egumbini lendlu, indawo engcwelengcwele, phansi kwamaphiko amakherubi.* Ngokuba amakherubi ayewelula amaphiko awo phezu kwendawo yomphongolo, amakherubi asibekela umphongolo nezinti zawo ngaphezulu. Izinti zazizinde kangako ukuba izihloko zezinti zibonakale endaweni engcwele phambi kwegumbi; kepha zazingabonakali ngaphandle; zisekhona lapho kuze kube namuhla. Kwakungekho lutho emphongolweni, kuphela izibhebhe ezimbili zamatshe ezabekwa khona nguMose eHorebe, lapho uJehova enza isivumelwano nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ekuphumeni kwabo eGibithe. Kwathi lapho abapristi sebephumile endaweni engcwele, ifu lagcwalisa indlu kaJehova, abapristi baze bangema ukukhonza ngenxa yefu, ngokuba inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwalisa indlu kaJehova. Khona wakhuluma uSolomoni, wathi: “UJehova ushilo ukuthi uyakuhlala esigayegayeni. Ngikwakhele nokukwakhela indlu yokuhlala, indawo yokuhlala kwakho kuze kube phakade.” Inkosi yayisiphenduka, yalibusisa lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lalimi. Yathi: “Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owakhuluma ngomlomo wakhe kuDavide ubaba, ukugcwalisile ngesandla sakhe, ethi: ‘Kusukela osukwini engakhipha ngalo abantu bami u-Israyeli eGibithe angikhethanga muzi ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli ukwakha indlu ukuba igama lami libe khona lapho, kepha ngamkhetha uDavide abe phezu kwabantu bami u-Israyeli.’ “Kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavide ubaba ukwakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. Kepha uJehova wathi kuDavide ubaba: ‘Njengokuba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela igama lami indlu, wenza kahle, ngokuba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho lokho; kepha wena awuyikuyakha indlu, kodwa indodana yakho eyakuphuma okhalweni lwakho yiyona eyakwakhela igama lami indlu.’ “UJehova uliqinsisile izwi alikhulumayo, ngokuba mina ngivelile esikhundleni sikaDavide ubaba, ngihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli njengokusho kukaJehova, ngakhele igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. Ngimisile lapho indawo yomphongolo okukuwo isivumelwano sikaJehova asenza nawobaba ekubakhipheni ezweni laseGibithe.”