U-Ezra 4:1-16

Kwathi ukuba izitha zamadoda akwaJuda nawakwaBhenjamini zizwe ukuthi labo ababebuye ekuthunjweni sebelakha kabusha ithempeli likaSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, zaya kuZerubhabhele nasezinhlokweni zemindeni, zathi kubo: “Masinisize nathi ekwakheni, ngokuba sikhonza uNkulunkulu njengani; besilokhu sethula imihlatshelo kuye kusukela ngezinsuku zika-Esari Hadoni, inkosi yase-Asiriya, okunguyena owasiletha lapha.” Kepha uZerubhabhele noJeshuwa nabanye ababeyizinhloko zemindeni yakwa-Israyeli babaphendula bathi: “Aninalo ilungelo lokusisiza ekwakheni indlu kaNkulunkulu wethu; yithina ngokwethu esizomakhela uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli; nguKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, osiyale ukuba senze kanjalo.” Abantu bendawo bazama ukubadikibalisa abantu bakwaJuda ababebuye ekuthunjweni, ukuze bayeke ukwakha indu. Zafumbathisa izikhulu ukuba zimelane nesu labo ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaKhoresi, inkosi yasePheresiya, kwaze kwaba ngesokubusa kukaDariyu, inkosi yasePheresiya. Ngesikhathi sokubusa kuka-Ahasheveroshi, esaqala nje ukubusa, izitha zabhala incwadi zimangalela izakhamuzi zakwaJuda naseJerusalema. Sekubusa u-Arithahishashitha, inkosi yasePheresiya, uBhishilamu, uMithiredathi, uThabeheli nabo bonke ababebambisene nabo babhalela u-Arithahishashitha, inkosi yasePheresiya, incwadi ngesi-Aramayikhi, bayihumusha. URehumi, umbusi noShimishayi, unobhala, babhala incwadi emelana neJerusalema, bayiqondisa enkosini u-Arithahishashitha, ithi: URehumi umbusi, umShimshayi unobhala, nabanye, nabo bonke abangani babo, abehluleli nazo zonke izikhulu ezidabuka e-Erekhi, eBhabhele naseShushani ezweni lama-Elamu, nazo zonke izizwe ezathunjwa ngu-Osinaphari omkhulu nonamandla wazihlalisa emzini eSamariya nakwezinye izindawo, esifundazweni entshonalanga yeYufrathe. Leli yifuzela lencwadi abayithumela ku-Arithahishashitha, inkosi: “Le ncwadi ivela ezincekwini zakho, amadoda asentshonalanga yeYufrathe. “Sifuna ukuyazisa inkosi ukuthi abaJuda abavela ezindaweni zakho sebefike eJerusalema bawakha kabusha umuzi ohlubukayo nomubi. Sebeqedile ukwakha kabusha izingange, nokuvuselela izisekelo. “Manje makwazeke enkosini ukuthi uma lo muzi nezingange zawo kwakhiwa kabusha kuphele, abantu bazoyeka ukukhokha intela, imali yendlela, nentela yasebukhosini izokwehla. Manje, ngoba thina sikukhonze ngempela nkosi, asifuni le nto yenzeke, asifuni ukubona inkosi idelelwa; ngakho-ke sithumele ukuzokwazisa inkosi ngalokhu, ukuze kuphenywe emiqulwini yemilando yokhokho bakho. Uyokuthola kuyo ukuthi lo muzi bewuhlale uwuhlupho, uvukela umbuso, nokuthi kusukela emandulo amakhosi nababusi bezifunda bewubahlalisa lubhojozi. Abantu bakhona bavele bangamambuka, yingakho nje umuzi wabhujiswa. Makwazeke enkosini ukuthi uma lo muzi nezingange zawo kwakhiwa kabusha kuphele, ngeke usathola sabelo esifundeni esingaphesheya komfula.”