23 “Thetha noRehobhowam unyana kaSolomon ukumkani wakwaJuda, nayo yonke indlu kaJuda nekaBhenjamin, nakubo bonke abaseleyo, uthi:
24 ‘Utsho uNdikhoyo ukuthi: Musani ukuya kulwa namawenu amaSirayeli. Godukani nonke ngabanye, kuba le nto yenziwe ndim.’ ” Ngoko ke balithobela ilizwi likaNdikhoyo, bagoduka ngokomyalelo wakhe.
25 UJerobhowam wayixhobisa iShekem kwelo lakwaEfrayim, waza wahlala khona. Kananjalo waya kuyakha nePeniyeli.
26 UJerobhowam wathi ngaphakathi kwakhe: “Hleze lo mbuso ubuyele kwindlu kaDavide.
27 Ukuba aba bantu bamane besiya kwenza amadini endlwini *kaNdikhoyo eJerusalem, bangasuka baphinde bakhahlele kwinkosi yabo uRehobhowam ukumkani kaJuda. Xa inokwenzeka loo nto bangandibulala, babuyele kukumkani uRehobhowam.”
28 Emva kokucebisana nabathile ukumkani wenza amathole amabini ngegolide. Wabhekisa ebantwini wathi: “Niyaxhamleka kukunyuka niye eJerusalem. Nanku uThixo wakho, Sirayeli, owakukhupha ezweni laseJiputa!”
29 Elinye walibeka eBhetele, elinye lâkwaDan.