Umbuso Uhlukana Phakathi

U-Israyeli wayenokuthula ngesikhathi uSolomoni esakhonza uJehova. Nokho, uSolomoni washada abesifazane abaningi bezinye izizwe, futhi amakhosikazi akhe ayekhonza izithombe. Kancane kancane, uSolomoni washintsha, naye waqala ukukhonza izithombe. Wathukuthela uJehova. Wathi kuSolomoni: ‘Umndeni wakho uzophucwa isizwe sakwa-Israyeli futhi sizohlukaniswa phakathi. Ingxenye enkulu ka-Israyeli ngizoyinika inceku yakho, umndeni wakho uzobusa ingxenye encane nje kuphela.’

UJehova wasicacisa nangenye indlela isinqumo sakhe. Enye yezinceku zikaSolomoni, uJerobowamu, wayehamba emgwaqweni lapho ehlangana nomprofethi u-Ahiya. U-Ahiya waklebhula ingubo yakhe yaba izicucu ezingu-12 wathi kuJerobowamu: ‘UJehova uzowuthatha umbuso wakwa-Israyeli emndenini kaSolomoni awuhlukanise kabili. Thatha izicucu eziyishumi ngoba uzoba inkosi phezu kwezizwe eziyishumi.’ INkosi uSolomoni yezwa ngalokhu yafuna ukubulala uJerobowamu! Ngakho uJerobowamu wabaleka waya eGibhithe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uSolomoni wafa, indodana yakhe uRehobowamu yaba inkosi. Ngakho uJerobowamu wabona kuphephile ukuba abuyele kwa-Israyeli.

Amadoda amadala akwa-Israyeli atshela uRehobowamu ukuthi: ‘Uma ubaphatha kahle abantu, bazoba qotho kuwe.’ Nokho, izinsizwa ezingontanga kaRehobowamu zathi: ‘Kumelwe ube nokhahlo kubantu! Benze basebenze kanzima!’ URehobowamu walalela iseluleko sabangane bakhe. Wayephatha abantu ngokhahlo futhi abantu bavukela. Benza uJerobowamu inkosi yezizwe eziyishumi, ezabe sezaziwa ngokuthi umbuso wakwa-Israyeli. Izizwe ezimbili zaziwa ngokuthi umbuso wakwaJuda futhi zahlala ziqotho kuRehobowamu. Manje izizwe ezingu-12 zakwa-Israyeli zase zihlukene phakathi.

UJerobowamu wayengafuni abantu bakhe bahambe bayokhulekela eJerusalema, elalisendaweni ebuswa uRehobowamu. Uyazi kungani? UJerobowamu wayesaba ukuthi abantu bangase bamjikele basekele uRehobowamu. Ngakho wenza amazinyane amabili egolide futhi wathi kubantu bakhe: ‘IJerusalema likude kakhulu. Ningakhulekela lapha.’ Abantu baqala ukukhonza amazinyane amabili egolide bamkhohlwa futhi uJehova.