Ithempeli LikaJehova

Ngesikhathi uSolomoni eseyinkosi yako-Israyeli, uJehova wambuza wathi: ‘Ufuna ngikupheni?’ USolomoni wathi: ‘Ngisesemncane futhi angikwazi engikwenzayo. Ngicela ungiphe inhlakanipho ukuze ngibuse kuhle abantu bakho.’ UJehova wathi: ‘Ngizakwenza uhlakaniphe ukwedlula bonke abantu emhlabeni ngoba yikho okucelileyo. Ngizakunika lenotho. Nxa ungangilalela, ngizakwenza uphile isikhathi eside.’

USolomoni waqalisa ukwakha ithempeli. Wasebenzisa igolide lesiliva elingcono kakhulu, wasebenzisa lezigodo ezinhle kanye lamatshe amahle. Amadoda labesifazana ababewazi umsebenzi bancedisa ekwakheni ithempeli. Ithempeli laphela ngemva kweminyaka eyisikhombisa njalo kwasekumele linikelwe kuJehova. Phakathi kwethempeli kwakule-alithare elalileminikelo phezu kwalo. USolomoni waguqa phambi kwe-alithare wakhuleka wathi: ‘O Jehova, ithempeli leli lincane kakhulu futhi kalilihle kangako, kodwa ngicela wamukele ukukhonza kwethu lemithandazo yethu.’ UJehova wayethokoza yini ngethempeli lelo futhi wawamukela yini umthandazo kaSolomoni? USolomoni wathi eqeda nje ukuthandaza, umlilo wehla uvela kuJehova watshisa iminikelo eyayiphezu kwe-alithare. Lokhu kwakutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayethokoza ngethempeli lelo futhi ama-Israyeli athokoza kakhulu ekubona lokhu.

Ama-Israyeli wonke labantu bezinye izindawo ezikhatshana babekwazi ukuthi uSolomoni uhlakaniphile. Abantu babesiya kuSolomoni ukuze abancedise ngezinhlupho zabo. Lendlovukazi yaseSheba yaya kuSolomoni yambuza imibuzo enzima ukuze ibone ukuthi uhlakaniphile yini. Yathi isizwa izimpendulo zikaSolomoni yathi: ‘Kangizange ngikukholwe engikutshelwe ngabantu mayelana lawe. Kodwa khathesi ngiyabona ukuthi inhlakanipho yakho iyedlula lokho abangitshele khona. UNkulunkulu wakho uJehova ukubusisile.’ Ama-Israyeli ayehlezi kuhle sibili futhi ethokoza. Kodwa izinto zasezizatshintsha.