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.”
28. Inkosi isithathe isiluleko, yenza amathole amabili egolide, yathi kubo: “Sekwanele ukuba nikhuphukele eJerusalema; bheka onkulunkulu bakho, Israyeli, abakukhuphula ezweni laseGibithe.”
29. Wabeka elinye eBethele, elinye walibeka kwaDani.
30. Leyo nto yaba yisono, ngokuba abantu baya phambi kwelinye nakwaDani.
31. Wakha nezindlu zezindawo eziphakemeyo, wenza abapristi ngeningi labantu abangesiwo amadodana kaLevi.