Umbuso Uyehlukana

Kwakulokuthula ko-Israyeli ngesikhathi uSolomoni esakhonza uJehova. Kodwa uSolomoni watshada labesifazana abangayisiwo ma-Israyeli futhi ababekhonza izithombe. Kancane kancane uSolomoni watshintsha waqalisa ukukhonza izithombe. Lokhu kwamzondisa uJehova. Wathi kuSolomoni: ‘Ama-Israyeli azakwehlukaniswa abe zingxenye ezimbili. Enye yezinceku zakho izabusa ingxenye enkulu, imuli yakho yona izabusa ingxenye encane.’

UJehova waphinda wacacisa ayefuna ukukwenza. Enye inceku kaSolomoni okwakuthiwa nguJerobhowami yathi izihambela yahlangana lomphrofethi u-Ahija. U-Ahija wadabula isigqoko sakhe saba yiziqa ezingu-12 wasesithi kuJerobhowami: ‘UJehova uzathathela imuli kaSolomoni umbuso wako-Israyeli awehlukanise ube zingxenye ezimbili. Thatha iziqa ezilitshumi kulezi ngoba nguwe ozabusa izizwana ezilitshumi zako-Israyeli.’ INkosi uSolomoni yezwa ngalokhu njalo yayisifuna ukubulala uJerobhowami. Yikho uJerobhowami wabaleka waya eGibhithe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uSolomoni wafa futhi indodana yakhe okuthiwa nguRehobhowami yaba yinkosi. UJerobhowami wabuyela ko-Israyeli.

Abadala bako-Israyeli bathi kuRehobhowami: ‘Abantu obabusayo bazathembeka kuwe nxa ungabaphatha kuhle.’ Kodwa abangane bakaRehobhowami abalingana laye bathi: ‘Kumele ubaphathe kubi abantu. Benze basebenze nzima.’ URehobhowami walalela abangane bakhe. Wabaphatha kubi abantu futhi lokhu kwenza ukuthi bamhlamukele. Benza uJerobhowami inkosi yezizwana ezilitshumi futhi izizwana lezi zacina zisaziwa ngokuthi ngumbuso wako-Israyeli. Izizwana ezimbili zona zacina zisaziwa ngokuthi ngumbuso wakoJuda futhi zahlala zithembekile kuRehobhowami. Izizwana ezingu-12 zako-Israyeli zasezehlukene.

UJerobhowami wayengafuni ukuthi abantu bayekhonza eJerusalema lapho okwakubusa khona uRehobhowami. Uyakwazi ukuthi yindaba? Wayesesaba ukuthi bazamhlamukela basekele uRehobhowami. Yikho wenza amathole amabili egolide wasesithi ebantwini: ‘Kukhatshana kakhulu eJerusalema. Lingakhonza lapha.’ Abantu baqalisa ukukhonza amathole egolide, baphinda bamkhohlwa uJehova.