1UMowabi wahlubuka kwa-Israyeli emva kokufa kuka-Ahabi.
2U-Ahaziya wawa eheleni lekamelo lakhe eliphezulu laseSamariya, wagula, wathuma izithunywa, wathi kuzo: “Hambani nibuze kuBali Zebubi unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni, uma ngiyakusinda kulokhu kugula kwami.”
3Kepha ingelosi kaJehova yathi ku-Eliya waseThishibi: “Suka ukhuphuke ukuhlangabeza izithunywa zenkosi yaseSamariya, uthi kuzo: ‘Kungokuba kungekho Nkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli ukuba niye nibuze kuBali Zebubi unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni na?’ ”
4Ngalokho uJehova usho kanje, uthi: “Umbhede okhuphukele kuwo awuyikwehlika kuwo, kepha uyakufa nokufa.” Wayesesuka u-Eliya.
5Izithunywa zabuyela kuye; wathi kuzo: “Nibuyeleni na?”
6Zathi kuye: “Kwakhuphuka umuntu ukuba asihlangabeze, wathi kithi: ‘Hambani, nibuyele enkosini enithumileyo, nithi kuyo: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Kungokuba kungekho Nkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli ukuba uthume ukubuza kuBali Zebubi unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni na? Ngalokho umbhede okhuphukele kuwo awuyikwehlika kuwo, kepha uyakufa nokufa.” ’ ”
7Wathi kuzo: “Bekungumuntu onjani owakhuphuka ukunihlangabeza, wanitshela lawo mazwi na?”
8Zathi kuye: “Umuntu wayenengubo yoboya, ebhince ibhande* lesikhumba okhalweni lwakhe.” Wathi: “Bekungu-Eliya waseThishibi.”
9Wayesethuma kuye induna yamashumi ayisihlanu inamashumi ayisihlanu ayo. Yakhuphukela kuye; bheka, wayehlezi esiqongweni sentaba. Yakhuluma kuye, yathi: “We muntu kaNkulunkulu, inkosi ishilo ukuthi: ‘Yehla.’ ”
10U-Eliya waphendula, wathi enduneni yamashumi ayisihlanu: “Uma ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, makwehle umlilo ezulwini, ukuqede wena namashumi ayisihlanu akho.” Wehla-ke umlilo ezulwini, wayiqeda yona namashumi ayisihlanu ayo.
11Wabuye wathuma kuye enye induna yamashumi ayisihlanu inamashumi ayisihlanu ayo. Yathatha yathi kuye: “We muntu kaNkulunkulu, isho kanje inkosi, ithi: ‘Shesha wehle.’ ”
12Wayesephendula u-Eliya, wathi kubo: “Uma ngingumuntu kaNkulunkulu, makwehle umlilo ezulwini, ukuqede wena namashumi ayisihlanu akho.” Wehla-ke umlilo kaNkulunkulu ezulwini, wayiqeda yona namashumi ayisihlanu ayo.
13Wabuye wathuma induna yesithathu yamashumi ayisihlanu inamashumi ayisihlanu ayo. Yakhuphuka le nduna yesithathu yamashumi ayisihlanu, yafika yaguqa ngamadolo phambi kuka-Eliya, yamnxusa, yathi kuye: “We muntu kaNkulunkulu, ukuphila kwami nokuphila kwalezi zinceku zakho ezingamashumi ayisihlanu makube yigugu emehlweni akho.
14Bheka, kwehle umlilo ezulwini, waqeda izinduna zamashumi ayisihlanu ezimbili zokuqala zinamashumi ayisihlanu azo; kepha manje makube yigugu emehlweni akho ukuphila kwami.”
15Ingelosi kaJehova yathi ku-Eliya: “Yehla naye, ungamesabi.” Wasuka wehla naye, waya enkosini.
16Wayesethi kuyo: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: ‘Lokhu uthume izithunywa ukubuza kuBali Zebubi unkulunkulu wase-Ekroni kungokuba kungekho Nkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli ukuba kubuzwe ngezwi lakhe na? Ngalokho awuyikwehlika embhedeni okhuphukele kuwo, kepha uyakufa nokufa.’ ”
17Yayisifa njengezwi likaJehova alikhulumileyo u-Eliya. UJehoramu waqala ukubusa esikhundleni sakhe ngomnyaka wesibili kaJehoramu indodana kaJehoshafati, inkosi yakwaJuda, ngokuba wayengenandodana.
18Ezinye izindaba zika-Ahaziya azenzayo angithi zilotshiwe encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwa-Israyeli na?