1 Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni wamema abadala bako-Israyeli ukuthi beze kuye eJerusalema, bonke abazinhloko zezizwana lezinduna zezimuli zako-Israyeli, ukuthi balethe ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo lisuka eZiyoni, uMuzi kaDavida. 2 Amadoda wonke ako-Israyeli eza ndawonye enkosini uSolomoni ngesikhathi somkhosi ngenyanga ebizwa ngokuthi ngu-Ethanimi, inyanga yesikhombisa.

3 Kwathi bonke abadala bako-Israyeli sebefikile, abaphristi bathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano, 4 njalo basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo kanye leThente lokuHlanganela layo yonke imiceciso engcwele iphakathi kwalo. Abaphristi labaLevi bakuthwala lokhu, 5 njalo inkosi uSolomoni kanye lebandla lonke lako-Israyeli babebuthene ndawonye phambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano, benikela ngezimvu langenkomo ababengeke bakwazi ukuloba inani lazo loba ukuzibala.

6 Abaphristi basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo endaweni yalo engcwele engaphakathi kwethempeli, iNdawo eNgcwelengcwele, basebelifaka ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubhi. 7 Amakherubhi elula impiko zawo phezu kwendawo yebhokisi lesivumelwano njalo agubuzela ibhokisi lesivumelwano kanye lezibambo zokulithwala. 8 Izigodo lezi zazizinde zibonakala nxa useNdaweni eNgcwele phambi kwesiphephelo esingaphakathi, kodwa hatshi nxa ungaphandle kweNdawo eNgcwele; lezo zilokhu zimi njalo lalamuhla. 9 Kwakungelalutho ebhokisini lesivumelwano ngaphandle kwezibhebhedu ezimbili zamatshe uMosi ayezifake phakathi kwalo eseHorebhi lapho uThixo enza khona isivumelwano labako-Israyeli ngemva kokuphuma kwabo eGibhithe.

10 Kwathi abaphristi sebesukile eNdaweni eNgcwele, iyezi lagcwala lagubuzela ethempelini likaThixo. 11 Abaphristi abenzanga inkonzo yabo ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo kaThixo yayigcwele ethempelini lakhe.