1 AMakhosi 19:1-18

U-Ahabi wambikela uJezebheli konke okwakwenziwe ngu-Eliya, nokuthi ubulele bonke abaphrofethi ngenkemba. UJezebheli wayesethumela isithunywa ku-Eliya, ethi: “Sengathi onkulunkulu bami bangenza kanjalo kimi, futhi benezele, uma nje ngalesi sikhathi kusasa ngingakwenzi wena ube njengomunye wabo.” Esekuzwile lokho u-Eliya, wasuka wahamba ukuze asindise impilo yakhe, waya eBheri Sheba kwaJuda, wayishiya khona inceku yakhe. Yena wahamba uhambo losuku ehlane, waze wayohlala phansi kwesihlahla sonwele. Enhliziyweni yakhe wafisa ukufa, wathi: “Sekwanele manje, Simakade! Sale usuwuthatha umphefumulo wami, ngokuba angilungile kunokhokho bami.” Wabeka uhlangothi phansi walala ubuthongo phansi konwele; wezwa ingelosi imthinta, yathi kuye: “Vuka udle.” Wayesevuka; bheka, nanto iqebelengwane ngasekhanda lakhe, elalenziwe ematsheni ashisayo, nophiso lwamanzi. Wadla, waphuza; wabuye walala phansi. Ingelosi kaSimakade yabuya okwesibili, yamthinta, yathi kuye: “Vuka udle, ngokuba indlela yakho inde.” Wavuka, wadla waphuza, wahamba ngamandla alokho kudla izinsuku ezingama-40 nobusuku obungama-40, waya entabeni kaNkulunkulu, iHorebhe. Wangena lapho emgedeni, walala khona. Kwase kufika izwi likaSimakade, lathi kuye: “Eliya, wenzani lapha na?” Wathi: “Ngishisekele nokushisekela uSimakade uNkulunkulu Wamabandla, ngokuba abantu bakwa-Israyeli basilahlile isivumelwano sakho, badilize ama-althare akho, babulala abaphrofethi bakho ngenkemba; sekusele mina ngedwa, sebefuna umphefumulo wami ukuba bawususe.” Wathi: “Phuma, ume entabeni phambi kukaSimakade.” USimakade wedlula, umoya omkhulu onamandla wadabula izintaba, waphahlaza amadwala phambi kukaSimakade, kodwa uSimakade wayengekho emoyeni. Emva komoya kwazamazama umhlaba, kodwa wayengekho uSimakade ekuzamazameni komhlaba. Emva kokuzamazama komhlaba, kwaba khona umlilo, kodwa wayengekho uSimakade emlilweni. Emva komlilo, kwaba nezwi elincane elihlebezayo. Kwathi lapho u-Eliya elizwa wagubuzela ubuso bakhe ngengubo yakhe, waphuma, wema ekungeneni komgede. Kwase kufika kuye izwi, lathi: “Eliya, wenzani lapha na?” Wathi: “Ngishisekele nokushisekela uSimakade uNkulunkulu Wamabandla, ngokuba abantu bakwa-Israyeli basilahlile isivumelwano sakho, badilize ama-althare akho, babulala abaphrofethi bakho ngenkemba, kusele mina ngedwa; sebefuna umphefumulo wami ukuba bawususe.” USimakade wayesethi kuye: “Hamba, ubuyele ngendlela oze ngayo, uye ehlane eDamaseku; lapho usufikile khona uyakugcoba uHazayeli abe yinkosi yase-Aramu. Ugcobe futhi noJehu, indodana kaNimishi, abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli, bese ugcoba no-Elisha, indodana kaShafathi wase-Abhela Mehola, abe ngumphrofethi esikhundleni sakho. Kuyokuthi obalekela inkemba kaHazayeli, abulawe nguJehu, obalekela inkemba kaJehu, abulawe ngu-Elisha. Ngiyakushiya kwa-Israyeli abayizi-7 000, bonke abamadolo abo engazange aguqe kuBhali nemilomo yabo yonke engazange imange.”