1 URehobowamu esefikile eJerusalema wabutha indlu yakwaJuda noBenjamini, abantu abakhethiweyo abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi ayisihiyagalombili, amabutho, ukuba balwe no-Israyeli, bawubuyisele umbuso kuRehobowamu.
2 Lase lifika izwi likaJehova kuShemaya umuntu kaNkulunkulu, lathi:
3 “Khuluma kuRehobowamu indodana kaSolomoni, inkosi yakwaJuda, nakuye wonke u-Israyeli kwaJuda noBenjamini, ngokuthi:
4 ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Aniyikukhuphuka, ningalwi nabafowenu; buyelani, kube yilowo nalowo endlini yakhe, ngokuba le nto ivela kimi.’ ” Balalela amazwi kaJehova, babuya ekumhlaseleni uJerobowamu.
5 URehobowamu wahlala eJerusalema, wakha imizi ukuba ibe yizinqaba kwaJuda.
6 Wakha iBetlehema, ne-Etamu, neThekhowa,
7 neBeti Suri, neSoko, ne-Adulamu,