16. Ubhedu olwafumaneka kwezo ntsika zimbini, kwelo chibi, nakwezo nqwelo – zinto ezo ezazenzelwe indlu kaNdikhoyo nguSolomon – lwalungenamlinganiso ngenxa yobuninzi.
17. Intsika nganye kwezo zimbini zobhedu yayiziimitha ezisibhozo ukuphakama, intloko elubhedu iyimitha enesithathu ukuphakama. Intloko nganye yayihonjiswe jikelele ngomnatha wobhedu nangeerharnati zobhedu. Ewe, zombini zazifana, nditsho zinomnatha zinjalo.
18. Loo ngqwayi-ngqwayi yabalindi yamthimba umbingeleli omkhulu uSeraya, kunye nombingeleli onganeno kwakhe uZefaniya, nabagcini-mnyango abathathu.
19. Kwabaseleyo apho esixekweni yathatha umphathi womkhosi kunye nesihlanu sabacebisi basebhotwe. Yamthatha nonobhala owayeligosa eliyintloko elihlela abomkhosi, kunye namahlakani akhe angamashumi amathandathu, bantu abo babeselapho esixekweni.
20. Bonke ke uNebhuzaradan wabathatha waya nabo kukumkani waseBhabheli eRibhela.
21. Khona apho eRibhela kwelaseHamati ukumkani lowo wathi mababulawe.Ngaloo ndlela ke amaJuda afuduselwa ekuthinjweni, kude lee nelizwe lakowawo.
22. Ukumkani waseBhabheli uNebhukadenezare wamisela uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam unyana kaShafan wangumlawuli wâbo bantu wabashiyayo kwelakwaJuda.
23. Ke amagosa omkhosi neqela lawo athi akuva ukuba ukumkani waseBhabheli umisele uGedaliya ukuba abe ngumlawuli, asuka aya kuye uGedaliya eMizpa: uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya, uYohanan unyana kaKareya, uSeraya unyana kaTanumente umNetofa, noYazaniya unyana kaMahakati, bekunye neqela labo.
24. Ke uGedaliya wawaqinisekisa loo madoda efunga esithi: “Musani ukuba naxhala niwoyike amagosa aseBhabheli. Kuphela nina hlalani phantsi nizinze kweli lizwe, nibuse ukumkani waseBhabheli; konke ke konilungela.”
25. Kambe ke kwathi ngenyanga yesixhenxe wasuka uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya kaElishama, owayengumntwana wegazi, weza neshumi lamadoda, bambulala uGedaliya kunye namadoda akwaJuda namaBhabheli awayekunye naye eMizpa.
26. Ngenxa yesi sihelegu ke bonke abantu, kuqalela komdala kuye komncinci bekunye namagosa omkhosi, bathi ngokoyika amaBhabheli basaba baya kwelaseJiputa.