Ithempeli LikaJehova

Ngemva kokuba uSolomoni ebe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli, uJehova wambuza: ‘Yini ofuna ngikunike yona?’ USolomoni wathi: ‘Ngisemncane, futhi angazi ukuthi yini engiyenzayo. Ngicela ungiphe ukuhlakanipha ukuze ngikwazi ukuphatha abantu bakho.’ UJehova wathi: ‘Ngenxa yokuthi ucele ukuhlakanipha hhayi ingcebo, ngizokwenza indoda ehlakaniphe kunawo wonke umuntu emhlabeni. Ngizokwenza ucebe kakhulu. Uma ungilalela, uzophila isikhathi eside.’

USolomoni waqala ukwakha ithempeli. Wasebenzisa igolide elicolekile, isiliva, izinkuni namatshe. Izinkulungwane zamadoda nabesifazane abanekhono zazisebenza ethempelini. Ngemva kweminyaka eyisikhombisa, ithempeli lase likulungele ukunikezelwa kuJehova. Laline-altare okwakwenzelwa kulo imihlatshelo. USolomoni waguqa phambi kwe-altare wathandaza wathi: ‘O Jehova, leli thempeli alilikhulu ngokwanele noma alilihle ngokwanele kuwe, kodwa ngicela wamukele ukukhulekela kwethu ulalele nemithandazo yethu.’ Yini uJehova ayeyicabanga ngethempeli nangomthandazo kaSolomoni? Lapho eqeda nje ukuthandaza, kwehla umlilo uvela ezulwini washisa umhlatshelo owawuse-altare. UJehova walamukela ithempeli. Lapho ama-Israyeli ekubona lokhu, ajabula.

INkosi uSolomoni yaziwa kulo lonke elakwa-Israyeli ngokuhlakanipha kwayo ngisho nasezindaweni ezikude. Abantu beza kuSolomoni nezinkinga zabo ukuze abasize. Ngisho nendlovukazi yaseSheba yeza izomvivinya ngemibuzo enzima. Lapho izwa izimpendulo zakhe yathi: ‘Angikukholwanga lokho abantu abangitshele khona ngawe, kodwa manje ngiyabona ukuthi uhlakaniphe kakhulu kunalokho abangitshele khona. UNkulunkulu wakho, uJehova, ukubusisile.’ Ukuphila kwakusihambela kahle isizwe sakwa-Israyeli, abantu babejabule. Nokho izinto zase zizoshintsha.