21 URehobowamu esefikile eJerusalema wabutha yonke indlu yakwaJuda nesizwe sakwaBenjamini, abantu abakhethiweyo abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisishiyagalombili, amabutho, ukuba balwe nendlu yakwa-Israyeli, bawubuyisele umbuso kuRehobowamu indodana kaSolomoni.
22 Lase lifika izwi likaNkulunkulu kuShemaya umuntu kaNkulunkulu, lathi:
23 “Khuluma kuRehobowamu indodana kaSolomoni inkosi yakwaJuda, nakuyo yonke indlu yakwaJuda neyakwaBenjamini, nakubantu abaseleyo, ngokuthi:
24 ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Aniyikukhuphuka, ningalwi nabafowenu abantwana bakwa-Israyeli; buyelani, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe, ngokuba le nto ivela kimi.’ ” Balalela izwi likaJehova, babuya, bahamba njengokusho kukaJehova.
25 UJerobowamu waqinisa iShekemi ezintabeni zakwa-Efrayimi, wahlala khona; waphuma lapho, waqinisa iPhenuweli.
26 UJerobowamu wathi enhliziyweni yakhe: “Manje umbuso uyakubuyela endlini kaDavide.
27 Uma laba bantu benyuka ukunikela ngemihlatshelo endlini kaJehova eJerusalema, inhliziyo yalaba bantu iyakuphindela enkosini yabo, kuRehobowamu inkosi yakwaJuda, bangibulale mina, babuyele kuRehobowamu inkosi yakwaJuda.”