2 AMakhosi 22:1-20

UJosiya wayeneminyaka eyisishiyagalombili ngesikhathi eba yinkosi, wabusa iminyaka engama-31 eJerusalema. Igama likanina kwakunguJedida, indodakazi ka-Adayiya waseBhozikhathi. Wenza okulungile emehlweni kaSimakade, wahamba ngayo yonke indlela uDavide, ukhokho wakhe, ayehambe ngayo, kachezukelanga ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo. Kwathi ngonyaka we-18 wokubusa kwenkosi uJosiya, inkosi uJosiya yathumela uShafani, indodana ka-Azaliya kaMeshulamu, umbhali, endlini kaSimakade, wathi: “Yenyukela kuHilikiya, umphristi omkhulu, uthi makabale imali yonke esendlini kaSimakade eqoqwe ngabalindiminyango kubantu, mayinikwe izisebenzi ezimiselwe ukwenza umsebenzi endlini kaSimakade; mayinikwe izisebenzi ezisendlini kaSimakade ukuze zilungise izimfa endlini kaSimakade, ababazi, abakhi, abakha ngamatshe, ukuze bathenge imithi namatshe abaziweyo kokulungisa indlu. Nokho akuyukubuzwa midanti ngokusebenzisa kwabo imali ababeyamukele, ngokuba umsebenzi wabo babewenza ngokwethembeka.” UHilikiya, umphristi omkhulu, wathi kuShafani, umbhali: “Bheka, ngithole incwadi yomthetho endlini kaSimakade.” UHilikiya wayinika uShafani leyo ncwadi, ukuba ayifunde. UShafani, umbhali, waya enkosini, wafike wayethulela umbiko othi: “Izinceku zakho ziyithululile imali eyatholakala endlini, zayinika izisebenzi ezimiselwe ukwenza umsebenzi endlini kaSimakade.” UShafani, umbhali, wabika enkosini, ukuthi: “UHilikiya, umphristi, unginike incwadi.” UShafani wayeseyifunda phambi kwenkosi. Kwathi lapho inkosi iwezwa amazwi ayesencwadini yomthetho, yaklebhula izingubo zayo. Inkosi yayala uHilikiya, umphristi, u-Ahikamu, indodana kaShafani, u-Akhibhori, indodana kaMikhaya, uShafani, umbhali no-Asaya, inceku yenkosi, yathi kubo: “Hambani ningibuzele kuSimakade, mina nabantu naye wonke uJuda, maqondana namazwi ale ncwadi etholakeleyo, ngokuba inkulu intukuthelo kaSimakade esivuthelayo. Okhokho bethu abawalalelanga amazwi ale ncwadi, ukuze benze njengakho konke okulotshwe ngathi kuyo.” UHilikiya umphristi, u-Ahikamu, u-Akhibhori, uShafani, no-Asaya baya kuHulda umphrofethikazi, umkaShalumi, indodana kaThikiva kaHarihasi, umgcinizingubo, owayehlala eJerusalema engxenyeni yesibili, bakhuluma naye. Wathi kubo: “Usho kanje uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Yishoni kumuntu onithumele kimi nithi: usho kanje uSimakade uthi: ngiyokwehlisela okubi kule ndawo naphezu kwabakhe kuyo, njengokusho kwawo wonke amazwi encwadi eyifundile inkosi yakwaJuda, ngokuba bangishiyile, bashisela abanye onkulunkulu impepho, bachukuluza ulaka lwami ngawo wonke umsebenzi wezandla zabo. Intukuthelo yami iyakuyivuthela le ndawo, futhi ayiyukucinywa.’ Kepha enkosini yakwaJuda enithumileyo ukuba nibuze kuSimakade, niyothi kuyo: ‘Usho kanje uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: amazwi owezwileyo, ngenxa yokuba inhliziyo yakho ithambile, wazithoba phambi kukaSimakade, ngesikhathi uwezwa, lokho engakukhuluma kule ndawo nakwabakhileyo kuyo, ukuthi kuyakuba yincithakalo nesiqalekiso, wawusuklebhula izingubo zakho, wakhala phambi kwami, nami ngikuzwile, kusho uSimakade. Ngakho-ke ngiyokubuthela kokhokho bakho, ubuthelwe edlinzeni lakho ngokuthula, amehlo akho awayukukubona konke okubi engiyakukwehlisela phezu kwale ndawo.’ ” Base bebuyisela enkosini lelo lizwi.