1 Ngomnyaka wetshumi lasificaminwembili wokubusa kukaJerobhowamu, u-Abhija waba yinkosi yakoJuda, 2 njalo wabusa eJerusalema okweminyaka emithathu. Ibizo likanina lalinguMikhaya, indodakazi ka-Uriyeli waseGibhiya.

Kwaba lempi phakathi kuka-Abhija loJerobhowamu. 3 Bathi behlangana ekulweni, u-Abhija wayelamadoda aqinileyo azinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amane, kanti uJerobhowamu wahlangabezana laye elamadoda azinkulungwane ezificaminwembili.

4 U-Abhija wema phezu kweNtaba iZemarayimu, elizweni lamaqaqa lako-Efrayimi, wathi: “Wena Jerobhowamu kanye laye wonke u-Israyeli, lalelani kimi, lizwe! 5 Alikwazi na ukuthi uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, unikele ubukhosi bako-Israyeli kuDavida lenzalo yakhe kuze kube nininini ngesivumelwano setswayi na? 6 Kukanti uJerobhowamu indodana kaNebhathi, isikhulu sikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, uhlamukele inkosi yakhe. 7 Abantu ababi bamlandela behlamukela uRehobhowami indodana kaSolomoni esesemncinyane engakaqedisisi njalo engakabi lamandla okumelana labo.

8 Khathesi licabanga ukumelana lombuso kaThixo, ophethwe ngamadodana kaDavida ngoba libona libanengi kakhulu, lilamathole eGolide elawenzelwa nguJerobhowamu ukuba abe ngonkulunkulu. 9 Kalibaxotshanga yini abaphristi bakaThixo, amadodana ka-Aroni, kanye labaLevi, lazibekela abenu abaphristi njengalokhu okwenziwa ngabantu bamanye amazwe na? Kuthi lowo ofika elenkunzi loba inqama eziyisikhombisa ukuba ahlukaniselwe uThixo waba ngumphristi walokho okungayisikho onkulunkulu.

10 Kodwa thina, uThixo uNkulunkulu ngowethu, asimdelanga. Thina abaphristi esilabo ngamadodana ka-Aroni, amkhonzayo uThixo, njalo baphathiswa ngabaLevi. 11 Bayanikela kuThixo ekuseni lantambama insuku zonke iminikelo yokutshiswa lempepha elephunga elihle. Bayalungisa izinkwa ezahlukaniselwe uThixo etafuleni legolide elihle, balumathise izibane oluthini lwegolide ntambama nsuku zonke. Thina siyawulalela umlayo kaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu. Kodwa lina limdelile. 12 UNkulunkulu ulathi, nguye osikhokhelayo. Abaphristi bakhe abaphethe amacilongo bazawavuthela besibizela ekulweni lani. Madoda ako-Israyeli, lingabokulwa loThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho benu, ngoba aliyikuphumelela.”

13 UJerobhowamu wayesethumele elinye iviyo lamabutho akhe ngemva ukuze athi yena ejamelane labakoJuda phambili lona licathamele ngemva kwabo. 14 AbakoJuda bafulathela kodwa babona ukuthi babehlaselwa inxa zonke phambili langemva kwabo. Bakhala kuThixo. Abaphristi bevuthela amacilongo abo 15 kwathi abakoJuda bakhwaza ngephimbo lokuhlasela empini. Kuthe kuzwakala ukukhwaza ngephimbo lokuhlasela, uNkulunkulu wabhuqa uJerobhowamu labo bonke abako-Israyeli phambi kuka-Abhija labakoJuda. 16 Abako-Israyeli babalekela abakoJuda njalo uNkulunkulu wabanikela ezandleni zabo. 17 U-Abhija lamabutho akhe babulala amadoda amanengi kakhulu, kwafa amadoda ako-Israyeli aqinileyo empini azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amahlanu. 18 Amadoda ako-Israyeli aqinileyo ngalesosikhathi anqotshwa, kwathi abakoJuda baphumelela ngoba babethembele kuThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho babo.

19 U-Abhija waxotshana loJerobhowamu wamthathela amadolobho eBhetheli, leleJeshana kanye lele-Efroni, lemizi eyayiseduzane khonapho. 20 UJerobhowamu kazange abuse futhi kusabusa u-Abhija. UThixo wamtshaya wafa.

21 Kodwa u-Abhija waqina waba lamandla embusweni. Wathatha abafazi abalitshumi lane waba lamadodana angamatshumi amabili lamadodakazi alitshumi lesithupha.

22 Ezinye izehlakalo ekubuseni kuka-Abhija, akwenzayo lakutshoyo, kulotshiwe ezindabeni zomphrofethi u-Ido.