1 AMakhosi 12:1-33

URehobhowamu waya eShekhemi, lapho wonke u-Israyeli ayebuthene khona ukuba ambeke inkosi. Kwathi lapho uJerobhowamu, indodana kaNebhathi, ekuzwa lokho, kwazise wayeseseGibhithe lapho ayebalekele khona, ebalekela inkosi uSolomoni, wayohlala eGibhithe. Bathumela bayombiza uJerobhowamu nebandla lonke lakwa-Israyeli, beza bakhuluma noRehobhowamu, bathi: “Uyihlo wenza ijoka lethu laba nzima, manje siyakucela ukuba wena uwenze lula umsebenzi olukhuni uyihlo ayesethwese wona, nejoka lakhe elinzima ayelibeke phezu kwethu, siyokukhonza uma wenze kanjalo.” Wathi kubo: “Hambani, kuthi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu nibuye nize kimi.” Basuka-ke abantu. Inkosi uRehobhowamu yacela iseluleko ezingwevini ezazikade zeluleka uSolomoni, uyise, esaphila, yathi: “Nina ningeluleka ukuba ngibuyisele impendulo ethini kulaba bantu na?” Zakhuluma kuye, zathi: “Uma namuhla uzokuba yinceku yalaba bantu, ubakhonze, ukhulume amazwi amahle lapho ubaphendula, bayokuba yizinceku zakho, zonke izinsuku zabo.” Kepha akasishayanga mkhuba iseluleko sezingwevu ezazimeluleke ngaso, wayesecela iseluleko ezinsizweni ezaziyintanga yakhe. Wathi kuzo: “Nina ningeluleka ukuba ngibaphendule ngithini laba bantu abakhulume kimi, bathi: ‘Yenza lula ijoka uyihlo alibeka phezu kwethu’ na?” Izinsizwa ezaziyintanga yakhe zathi kuye: “Uyothi kulaba bantu abakhulume kuwe, bathi: ‘Uyihlo walenza laba nzima ijoka lethu, kepha wena lenze libe lula kithina,’ uyokhuluma kanje kubo: ‘Ucikicane wami mkhulu kunokhalo lukababa. Ubaba wanethwesa ijoka elinzima, mina-ke ngizothasisela ejokeni lenu. Ubaba wanishaya ngeziswebhu, kodwa mina ngizonishaya ngofezela.’ ” UJerobhowami nabo bonke abantu, bafika kuRehobhowamu ngosuku lwesithathu njengalokhu yayishilo inkosi, yathi: “Buyani kimi ngosuku lwesithathu.” Inkosi yabaphendula kanzima abantu, yasishaya indiva iseluleko amalunga ayeyeluleke ngaso. Yakhuluma kubo njengokwelulekwa yizinsizwa, yathi: “Ubaba wayenethwese ijoka elinzima, mina-ke ngizothasisela ejokeni lenu; ubaba wanishaya ngeziswebhu, mina ngizonishaya ngofezela.” Inkosi ayibalalelanga abantu ngokuba lokho kwakuvela kuSimakade, ukuze kufezeke izwi uSimakade alikhuluma ngomlomo ka-Ahiya waseShilo kuJerobhowamu, indodana kaNebhathi. Wonke u-Israyeli lapho ebona ukuthi inkosi ayibalalelanga, abantu bayiphendula inkosi, bathi: “Sinasabelo sini kuDavide na? Asinafa endodaneni kaJese. Israyeli, buyela emathendeni akho, zibhekele indlu yakho manje, Davide.” U-Israyeli wabuyela emathendeni akhe. Kepha uRehobhowamu wabusa phezu kwabo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli ababakhe emizini yakwaJuda. Inkosi uRehobhowamu yathuma u-Adoramu owayengamele izisebenzi ezaziphoqiwe. Kepha u-Israyeli wonke wamkhanda ngamatshe, wafa. Inkosi uRehobhowamu yashesha yagibela enqoleni yayo yabalekela eJerusalema. U-Israyeli wayihlubuka indlu kaDavide kuze kube yinamuhla. Kwathi lapho u-Israyeli wonke esezwile ukuthi uJerobhowamu ubuyile, bathumela bambizela enhlanganweni, base bembeka inkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli wonke. Kwakungekho muntu omunye owalandela indlu kaDavide, ngaphandle kwesizwana sakwaJuda kuphela. URehobhowamu, esefikile eJerusalema, waqoqa yonke indlu yakwaJuda nesizwe sakwaBhenjamini, abantu abakhethiweyo abayizi-180 000 zamabutho, ukuze balwe nendlu yakwa-Israyeli, umbuso bawubuyisele kuye uRehobhowamu, indodana kaSolomoni. Kwase kufika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuShemaya, umuntu kaNkulunkulu, lathi: “Yisho kuRehobhowamu, indodana kaSolomoni, inkosi yakwaJuda, nayo yonke indlu yakwaJuda neyakwaBhenjamini nabantu bonke, uthi: ‘Usho kanje uSimakade, uthi: ningakhuphuki ukuyolwa nabafowenu abantu bakwa-Israyeli; phindelani emuva, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe, ngokuba lokhu kuvela kimi.’ ” Balilalela izwi likaSimakade, baphindela emuva njengokusho kwakhe. UJerobhowamu wakha iShekhemu ezintabeni kwa-Efrayimi, wahlala kulo; wedlula lapho wayokwakha nePhenuweli. UJerobhowamu wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Manje umbuso ungahle ubuyele endlini kaDavide. Uma laba bantu beqhubeka benyuka beyonikela imihlatshelo endlini kaSimakade eJerusalema, inhliziyo yalaba bantu ingahle iphindele enkosini yabo, uRehobhowamu, inkosi yakwaJuda, bangibulale mina, babuyele kuRehobhowamu, inkosi yakwaJuda.” Inkosi yathola iseluleko, yenza amathole amabili egolide, yathi kwabakwa-Israyeli: “Sekwanele manje ukuba nilokhu nikhuphukela eJerusalema; manje nampa onkulunkulu bakho, Israyeli, abakukhuphula eGibhithe.” Walibeka elinye eBhethele, elinye walibeka kwaDani. Leyo nto yaba yisono. Abantu baya phambi kwelikwaDani. Wakha izindlu ezindaweni eziphakemeyo, wabeka abaphristi ngangokomumo wabantu noma babengesiwo amadodana kaLevi. UJerobhowamu wamisa umkhosi ngenyanga yesishiyagalombili, ngosuku lwe-15, wagubha umkhosi njengalokhu kwakwenza abakwaJuda, wanikela e-althare, wenza nakanjalo eBhethele ukuba ahlabele amathole ayewenzile. Wabeka eBhethele abaphristi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo ayezenzile. Wanikela e-althare ayelenzile eBhethele, ngosuku lwe-15, ngenyanga yesishiyagalombili, okuyinyanga ayeyinqume yena; wenzela abantu bakwa-Israyeli umkhosi, wenyukela e-althare, washisa impepho.