Besele kumumukghwa wabantu bakwaJuda ukujikela uJehova, balotjhe abozimu bamala. Besele kuminyaka eminengi khulu uJehova alinga ukubasiza. Bekathumela abaphorofidi abanengi bona babayelelise kodwana babhalelwa kulalela. Kunalokho, bebadlala ngabaphorofidabo. Yeke uJehova wakuqeda njani ukulotjha kwabo iinthombe?

Ikosi yeBhabhiloni, uNebukadinetsari beyikhamba izibetha phasi iintjhaba. Nayihlula iJerusalema kokuthoma, yabamba iKosi yakhona uJehoyakini, amakhosana wakhona, iingorho zakhona, namadoda walapho aziinkghwari, boke njalo wabaletha eBhabhiloni. Wathatha nawo woke amagugu ebekasethempelini lakaJehova. Ngemva kwalokho, uNebukadinetsari wenza uTsedekhiya waba yikosi yakwaJuda.

Ekuthomeni, uTsedekhiya bekamlalela uNebukadinetsari. Kodwana iintjhaba ebebakhelene nazo nabaphorofidi bamala zakhuthaza uTsedekhiya bona ajikele iBhabhiloni. UJoromiya wamyelelisa wathi: ‘Nawuhlubukako, kuzokubulawana, kube nendlala, namalwele kwaJuda.’

Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka ebunane, uTsedekhiya wakhetha ukulihlubuka iBhabhiloni. Wabawa ibutho leGibhide limsize ekwenzeni njalo. Bese kwathi uNebukadinetsari wathumela ibutho lakhe bona liyokusahlela iJerusalema, lagugubala magega nedorobho. UJoromiya watjela uTsedekhiya wathi: ‘UJehova uthi nawuzinikela eBhabhiloni, wena nedorobho lakho nizokusinda. Kodwana nawungenzi njalo, abantu beBhabhiloni bazolithungela ngomlilo iJerusalema, wena  bakubophe.’ UTsedekhiya wathi: ‘Angekhe ngizinikele ebantwinabo!’

Ngemva konyaka owodwa nesiquntu, ibutho leBhabhiloni lagiriza amaboda weJerusalema, langena lathungela idorobho ngomlilo. Latjhisa ithempeli, labulala iwomakazi labantu, ezinye iinkulungwana zabantwabo lazibopha.

UTsedekhiya wabaleka eJerusalema kodwana abantu beBhabhiloni bamgijimisa. Bambamba eduze kweJerikho, bamletha kuNebukadinetsari. Ikosi yeBhabhiloni yabulala amadodana kaTsedekhiya phambi kwakhe aqalile. Bese yaphophaza uTsedekhiya, yamvalela ejele, okukulapho afela khona. Kodwana uJehova wathembisa bakwaJuda wathi: ‘Ngemva kweminyaka ema-70, ngizonibuyisela ekhaya eJerusalema.’

Bekuzokwenzekani kwabasese bancani abathunjwa njengeembotjhwa bayiswa eBhabhiloni? Bebazokuhlala bathembekile na kuJehova?