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

Ikosi yeBhabheli, uNebukadinetsari bekakhamba azibetha phasi iintjhaba. Kokuthoma, wahlula iJerusalema, wabamba iKosi yakhona uJehoyakini, amakhosana wakhona, iingorho zakhona, namadoda walapho aziinkghwari, boke njalo wabaletha eBhabheli. 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 iBhabheli. UJoromiya wamyelelisa wathi: ‘Nawuhlubukako, kuzokubulawana, kube nendlala, namalwelwe kwaJuda.’

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

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

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

Bekuzokwenzekani kwabasebancani abathunjwa njengeembotjhwa bayiswa eBhabheli? Bebazokuhlala bathembekile na kuJehova