1. Bheka, kwavela kwaJuda umuntu kaNkulunkulu ngezwi likaJehova, weza eBethele; uJerobowamu wayemi e-altare ukushisa impepho.
2. Walibiza i-altare ngezwi likaJehova, wathi: “Altare, altare, usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Bheka, kuzakuzalwa umntwana kuyo indlu kaDavide, nguJosiya igama lakhe; uyakunikela phezu kwakho ngabapristi bezindawo eziphakemeyo abashisa impepho phezu kwakho, bashise namathambo abantu phezu kwakho.’ ”
3. Wabanika isiboniso ngalolo suku, wathi: “Yilesi esiyisiboniso uJehova akhulume ngaso sokuthi: Bheka, i-altare liyakudatshulwa, umlotha ophezu kwalo uchithwe.”
4. Kwathi inkosi isizwile izwi lalowo muntu kaNkulunkulu alibiza ngalo i-altare laseBethele, uJerobowamu waselula isandla sakhe ese-altare, wathi: “Mbambeni.” Kepha isandla sakhe aselulela kuye sashwabana, akaba namandla okusibuyisela kuye.
5. I-altare ladabuka, umlotha we-altare wachitheka e-altare njengesiboniso asinikile lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu ngezwi likaJehova.
6. Inkosi yayisithatha yathi kulowo muntu kaNkulunkulu: “Ake unxuse phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ungikhulekele ukuba isandla sami siphiliswe.” Lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu wanxusa kuJehova, saphiliswa isandla sakhe, saba njengakuqala.
7. Yayisithi inkosi kulowo muntu kaNkulunkulu: “Woza siye ekhaya, uzihlumelele, ngikuphe isipho.”
8. Kepha lowo muntu kaNkulunkulu wathi enkosini: “Noma unginika inxenye yendlu yakho, angiyikuya khona nawe; futhi angiyikudla isinkwa, ngiphuze amanzi kuleyo ndawo;
9. ngokuba ngayalwa kanjalo ngezwi likaJehova ngokuthi: ‘Awuyikudla sinkwa, ungaphuzi manzi, ungabuyi ngendlela oze ngayo.’ ”
10. Wayesehamba ngenye indlela, kabuyanga ngendlela abeze ngayo eBethele.