Ithempeli LakaJehova

Ngemva kobana uSolomoni abe yikosi yakwa-Israyeli, uJehova wambuza wathi: ‘Yini ongathanda ngikuphe yona?’ USolomoni wathi: ‘Ngisesemncani begodu angazi bona ngenzani. Ngibawa ungiphe ukuhlakanipha, ngikwazi ukutlhogomela abantu bakho.’ UJehova wathi: ‘Ngebanga lokuthi ubawe ukuhlakanipha, ngizokwenza umuntu ohlakaniphe ukubadlula boke ephasini. Ngizokwenza nokuthi unjinge. Kanti nawungangilalela, uzakuphila isikhathi eside.’

USolomoni wathoma ukwakha ithempeli. Wasebenzisa igolide, isiliva, iingodo namatje. Iinkulungwana zabafazi namadoda abanamakghono zasebenza ekwakheni ithempeli. Ngemva kweminyaka elikhomba, ithempeli besele likulungele ukusetjenziselwa ukulotjha uJehova. Beline-aldara, kunomhlatjelo phezu kwalo. USolomoni waguqa phambi kwe-aldara wathandaza: ‘Maye Jehova, ithempeleli alisilikhulu begodu alisilihle ngokwaneleko bona lingaba ngelakho, kodwana sibawa wamukele ukulotjha kwethu ulalele nemithandazwethu.’ UJehova wazizwa njani ngethempeli nomthandazo kaSolomoni? Msinyana ngemva kokuthandaza, umlilo wehla uvela emkayini, watjhisa umhlatjelo ogade uphezu kwe-aldara. UJehova walamukela ithempeli. Kuthe ama-Israyeli angabona isenzakalweso, athaba.

IKosi uSolomoni beyaziwa ngokuhlakanipha kwayo kiyo yoke indawo yakwa-Israyeli ngitjho neendaweni ezikude khulu. Abantu bebeza kuSolomoni ngemirarwabo bafuna isizo. Kazi nendlovukazi yeTjheba yeza kuye izomlinga ngokuthi imbuze imibuzo ebudisi. Kuthe nayizwa iimpendulo zakaSolomoni, yathi: ‘Bengingabakholwa abantu nabangitjela ngawe, kodwana nje ngiyabona ukuthi uhlakaniphe ukudlula indlela abakuhlathulula ngayo. UZimakho, uJehova, ukubusisile.’ Ipilo beyimnandi esitjhabeni sakwa-Israyeli begodu abantu bebathabile. Kodwana izinto besezizokutjhuguluka.