“Nimuntegereze”

“Ni cyo gituma Uwiteka avuga ati ‘nimuntegereze.’”​—ZEFANIYA 3:8.

 1. Ni uwuhe muburo watanzwe n’umuhanuzi Zefaniya, kandi se, ni iki ibyo bishishikajeho abantu bariho muri iki gihe?

“UMUNSI ukomeye w’Uwiteka uri bugufi.” Uwo muburo watanzwe mu ijwi riranguruye n’umuhanuzi Zefaniya mu kinyejana cya karindwi rwagati M.I.C. (Zefaniya 1:14). Mu myaka igera kuri 40 cyangwa 50, ubwo buhanuzi bwaje gusohora, ubwo umunsi wo gusohoza imanza za Yehova wageraga kuri Yerusalemu no ku mahanga yarwanyije ubutegetsi bw’ikirenga bwa Yehova binyuriye mu kugirira nabi ubwoko bwe. Kuki ibyo byashishikaza abantu bariho mu iherezo ry’iki kinyejana cya 20? Iki gihe turimo, ni igihe “umunsi ukomeye” wa nyuma wa Yehova udusatira wihuta. Kimwe no mu gihe cya Zefaniya, ‘umujinya ukaze [“ugurumana,” Traduction du monde nouveau]’ wa Yehova, uri hafi gukongora Yerusalemu y’iki gihe—ari yo Kristendomu—hamwe n’amahanga yose agirira nabi ubwoko bwa Yehova kandi akarwanya ubutegetsi bwe bw’ikirenga.​—Zefaniya 1:4; 2:4, 8, 12, 13; 3:8; 2 Petero 3:12, 13.

Zefaniya—Umuhamya w’Intwari

2, 3. (a) Ni iki tuzi kuri Zefaniya, kandi se, ni iki kigaragaza ko yari umuhamya wa Yehova w’intwari? (b) Ni ibihe bintu bituma tumenya igihe Zefaniya yahanuriye, n’aho yahanuye ari?

² Umuhanuzi Zefaniya, izina rye (mu Giheburayo, Tsephan·yahʹ) rikaba risobanura ngo “Uwahishwe na Yehova (Uwarinzwe),” azwiho bike. Mu buryo bunyuranye n’uko bimeze ku bandi bahanuzi, Zefaniya we yavuze amasekuruza ye ageza ku gisekuruza cya kane gusa, ni ukuvuga kugeza kuri “Hezekiya.” (Zefaniya 1:1; gereranya na Yesaya 1:1; Yeremiya 1:1; Ezekiyeli 1:3.) Kubera ko ibyo bidasanzwe, abenshi mu ntiti mu bihereranye no gusesengura Bibiliya, bavuga ko se wa sekuruza we, yari Umwami w’indahemuka Hezekiya. Niba ibyo ari ko byari bimeze, Zefaniya yakomokaga mu muryango wa cyami, bityo ibyo bikaba bishobora kuba byaratumye ubutumwa bwe bukaze bwo guciraho iteka ibikomangoma by’i Buyuda burushaho kuremera, kandi yagaragaje ko yari umuhamya w’intwari n’umuhanuzi wa Yehova. Kuba yari afite ubumenyi bwimbitse ku bihereranye n’imiterere y’umujyi wa Yerusalemu, hamwe n’ibyakorerwaga ibwami, byumvikanisha ko ashobora kuba yaratangaje imanza za Yehova mu murwa mukuru ubwaho.​—Reba Zefaniya 1:8-11.

³ Tuzirikane ko n’ubwo Zefaniya yatangaje imanza z’Imana ku ‘bikomangoma’ by’i Buyuda (imfura n’abatware b’imiryango) hamwe n’“abana b’umwami,” ntiyigeze atunga urutoki umwami ubwe muri uko kunenga kwe (Zefaniya 1:8; 3:3).a Ibyo birumvikanisha ko Umwami Yosiya wari ukiri muto yari yaramaze kugaragaza umutima wo guhindukirira ugusenga k’ukuri, n’ubwo, dufatiye ku mimerere yamaganywe na Zefaniya, bigaragara ko atari yagatangiye ivugurura rye mu bihereranye n’iby’idini. Ibyo byose byumvikanisha ko Zefaniya yahanuye i Buyuda mu myaka ya mbere yo ku ngoma ya Yosiya, wategetse kuva mu wa 659 kugeza mu wa 629 M.I.C. Nta gushidikanya ubwo buhanuzi bukaze bwa Zefaniya, bwatumye uwo musore Yosiya arushaho kumenya ibikorwa byo gusenga ibigirwamana, urugomo, no kwakira impongano, byari byiganje i Buyuda icyo gihe, kandi bikaba byarateye inkunga igikorwa yaje gukora nyuma y’aho cyo kurwanya ibyo gusenga ibigirwamana mu gihugu hose.​—2 Ngoma 34:1-3.

Impamvu Zatumye Yehova Agira Uburakari Bukongora

 4. Ni mu yahe magambo Yehova yavuzemo iby’uburakari yari afitiye u Buyuda na Yerusalemu?

⁴ Yehova yari afite impamvu nziza zo kurakarira abayobozi n’abaturage b’i Buyuda, hamwe n’umurwa wayo Yerusalemu. Binyuriye ku muhanuzi we, Zefaniya, yagize ati “nzarambura ukuboko kwanjye, ntere ab’i Buyuda n’abatuye i Yerusalemu bose; nzaca ibyasigaye bya Bāli aho hantu, n’izina ry’Abakemari hamwe n’abatambyi; n’abasenga ingabo zo mu ijuru bari hejuru y’amazu yabo; n’abasenga barahira Uwiteka bakagerekaho na Milikomu.”​—Zefaniya 1:4, 5.

5, 6. (a) Ni iyihe mimerere yo mu rwego rw’idini yari iri i Buyuda mu gihe cya Zefaniya? (b) Ni iyihe mimerere yarangwaga mu bayobozi b’i Buyuda hamwe n’ibisonga byabo?

⁵ I Buyuda hari harandujwe n’imigenzo y’akahebwe ihereranye n’uburumbuke yo gusenga Bāli, igikorwa cya kidayimoni cyo kuragurisha inyenyeri, hamwe no gusenga imana y’abapagani, Milikomu. Niba Milikomu ari yo Moleki, nk’uko bamwe babivuga, rero ugusenga kw’ikinyoma kw’i Buyuda kwari gukubiyemo n’igikorwa cy’agahomamunwa cyo gutamba abana. Ibyo bikorwa bya kidini byari ikizira mu maso ya Yehova (1 Abami 11:5, 7; 14:23, 24; 2 Abami 17:16, 17). Bikururiye uburakari bwe bwinshi cyane, bitewe n’uko abasengaga ibigirwamana barahiraga mu izina rya Yehova. Nta kuntu yari gukomeza kwihanganira ibyo bikorwa byanduye bya kidini, kandi yagombaga kurimbura abatambyi b’abapagani, n’ab’abahakanyi na bo.

⁶ Byongeye kandi, abayobozi b’i Buyuda bari barangiritse. Ibikomangoma byaho byari bimeze nk’“intare zitontoma” z’inkazi, kandi abacamanza baho bari bameze nk’“amasega” aryana (Zefaniya 3:3). Ibisonga byaho, byaregwaga kuba ‘byaruzuzaga inyumba ya shebuja mo urugomo n’uburiganya’ (Zefaniya 1:9). Ibyo gukunda ubutunzi byari byiganje mu bantu. Muri iyo mimerere, hari benshi baboneragaho uburyo bwo kwirundaniriza ubutunzi.​—Zefaniya 1:13.

Gushidikanya ku Bihereranye n’Umunsi wa Yehova

 7. Mbere y’uko “umunsi ukomeye w’Uwiteka” wahanuwe na Zefaniya uza, hahise igihe kingana iki, kandi se, ni iyihe mimerere yo mu by’umwuka yarangwaga mu Bayahudi benshi?

⁷ Nk’uko twamaze kubibona, imimerere y’akandare yari iriho mu gihe cya Zefaniya mu byerekeye idini, igaragaza ko yakoze umurimo we wo kuba umuhamya n’umuhanuzi mbere y’uko Umwami Yosiya atangira igikorwa cye cyo kurwanya ibyo gusenga ibigirwamana mu gihugu hose, ahagana mu wa 648 M.I.C. (2 Ngoma 34:4, 5). Birashoboka rero ko Zefaniya yaba yarahanuye nibura mu myaka igera kuri 40 mbere y’uko “umunsi ukomeye w’Uwiteka” ugera ku bwami bwa Yuda. Hagati aho, Abayahudi benshi bakomeje gushidikanya, maze ‘basubira inyuma’ bareka gukorera Yehova, bityo bahinduka indakoreka. Zefaniya yavuze ibihereranye n’“abatigeze gushaka Uwiteka haba no kumusenga” (Zefaniya 1:6). Uko bigaragara, abantu b’i Buyuda bari abantu batagira icyo bitaho, habe no gushishikarira ibyerekeye Imana.

8, 9. (a) Kuki Yehova yari kugenzura ‘abantu bari bibumbiye hamwe nk’inzoga y’itende’? (b) Ni mu buhe buryo Yehova yari guhindukirira abaturage b’i Buyuda, abategetsi hamwe n’abayobozi babo ba kidini?

⁸ Yehova yamenyekanishije umugambi we wo kugenzura abihandagazaga bavuga ko ari ubwoko bwe. Mu bitwaga ko bamusenga, yari kureba ko harimo ab’imitima yabo yari yuzuyemo gushidikanya ku bihereranye n’ubushobozi bwe cyangwa imigambi ye yo kugira uruhare mu bikorwa bireba abantu. Yaravuze ati “icyo gihe, nzashakisha muri Yerusalemu imuri, mpane abantu bibumbiye hamwe nk’inzoga y’itende, bibwira mu mitima yabo bati ‘ari icyiza ari n’ikibi, Uwiteka nta cyo azadutwara’” (Zefaniya 1:12). Imvugo ngo “abantu bibumbiye hamwe nk’inzoga y’itende,” (ihereranye no kwenga divayi) yerekeye ku bantu biyicariraga bakigumira hamwe nk’itende riri mu ndiba y’ikibindi, badashaka ko hari uwababuza amahoro agira icyo ari cyo cyose abatangariza ku bihereranye n’igikorwa cy’Imana cyari cyugarije cyo kugira uruhare mu bireba abantu.

⁹ Yehova yari guhindukirira abatuye i Buyuda n’i Yerusalemu, hamwe n’abatambyi baho bamusengaga babivangitiranya n’ubupagani. N’igihe bari kumva bafite umutekano, nk’aho baba bikingirije ijoro bagoswe n’inkike za Yerusalemu, yari kubashaka akoresheje itara rifite urumuri rutyaye rwari gucengera mu mwijima wo mu buryo bw’umwuka bari barihishemo. Yari kubavumbura muri ubwo bunenganenzi bwabo mu bihereranye n’iby’idini, mbere na mbere akoresheje ubutumwa buteye ubwoba bw’urubanza rwe, hanyuma akabavumbura asohoza izo manza.

“Umunsi Ukomeye w’Uwiteka Uri Bugufi”

10. Ni gute Zefaniya yavuze iby’“umunsi ukomeye w’Uwiteka”?

¹⁰ Yehova yahumekeye Zefaniya kugira ngo atangaze ati “umunsi ukomeye w’Uwiteka uri bugufi; ndetse umuhindo wawo ugeze hafi, kandi urihuta: intwari irataka inyinyiriwe” (Zefaniya 1:14). Iminsi isharira yari yugarije umuntu wese rwose—baba abatambyi, ibikomangoma, hamwe na rubanda—bari baranze kumvira umuburo no guhindukirira ugusenga kutanduye. Mu kuvuga iby’uwo munsi wo gusohoza urubanza, ubwo buhanuzi bukomeza bugira buti “uwo munsi ni umunsi w’uburakari, ni umunsi w’amakuba n’umubabaro, ni umunsi wo kurimbura no kwangiza, ni umunsi urimo umwijima n’ibihu, ni umunsi w’ibicu n’umwijima w’icuraburindi, ni umunsi wo kuvuza impanda n’induru, bivugira imidugudu y’ibihome n’iminara miremire.”​—Zefaniya 1:15, 16.

11, 12. (a) Ni ubuhe butumwa bw’urubanza bwatangarijwe Yerusalemu? (b) Mbese, ubutunzi bwari kurokora Abayahudi?

¹¹ Nyuma y’imyaka mike ibarirwa muri za mirongo yari gusa n’aho yihuse cyane, ingabo z’i Babuloni zari gusakiza i Buyuda. Nta bwo Yerusalemu yajyaga kuzirokoka. Uturere twayo twarimo amazu y’abategetsi n’ay’ubucuruzi, twari guhindurwa umusaka. “‘Uwo munsi,’ ni ko Uwiteka avuga, ‘hazumvikana induru ku irembo ry’Amafi, n’umuborogo ukomeye mu ruhande rwa kabiri, no guhorera gukomeye kuzaba guturutse mu misozi. Nimuboroge yemwe abatuye i Makiteshi [akarere ko muri Yerusalemu], kuko abantu b’i Kanāni baciwe, n’abikorezi b’ifeza batsembweho’”​—Zefaniya 1:10, 11.

¹² Kubera ko Abayahudi benshi bari baranze kwemera ko umunsi wa Yehova wari uri bugufi, bari barirundumuriye mu nduruburi z’ubucuruzi zabazaniraga inyungu. Ariko kandi, binyuriye ku muhanuzi we w’indahemuka Zefaniya, Yehova yahanuye ko ubutunzi bwabo bwari ‘kugendaho iminyago, n’amazu yabo akaba imisaka.’ Nta bwo bari kunywa divayi y’inzabibu zabo, kandi ‘ifeza zabo n’izahabu zabo ntizari kubasha kubakiza ku munsi w’uburakari bw’Uwiteka.’​—Zefaniya 1:13, 18.

Andi Mahanga Yaciriweho Iteka

13. Ni ubuhe butumwa bw’urubanza Zefaniya yatangarije Mowabu, Amoni, na Ashuri?

¹³ Binyuriye ku muhanuzi we Zefaniya, nanone Yehova yavuze iby’uburakari bwe ku mahanga yagiriye nabi ubwoko bwe. Yagize ati “numvise ibitutsi by’Abamowabu, no kwiyenza kwa bene Amoni, batutse ubwoko bwanjye, bakarenga urugabano rwabo babasuzuguye. Ni cyo gituma nirahiye; ni ukuri Mowabu hazamera nk’i Sodomu, na bene Amoni nk’i Gomora, ahantu huzuye ibisura, n’ibigugu by’imyunyu, haba ikidaturwa iteka ryose. . . . Kandi azaramburira ukuboko kwe aherekera ikasikazi, arimbure Ashuri; i Nineve azahahindura amatongo, hume nko mu mburamazi.”​—Zefaniya 2:8, 9, 13.

14. Ni iki kigaragaza ko amahanga ‘yirase’ ku Bisirayeli no ku Mana yabo Yehova?

¹⁴ Abamowabu n’Abamoni bari abanzi ba Isirayeli ba karande. (Gereranya n’Abacamanza 3:12-14.) Ibuye ry’i Mowabu riri mu nzu ndangamurage yitwa Musée de Louvre, i Paris, ririho inyandiko yuzuyemo amagambo arangwamo ubwirasi yavuzwe n’Umwami wa Mowabu witwaga Mesha. Yavuganye ubwibone ukuntu yigaruriye imigi myinshi ya Isirayeli abifashijwemo n’imana ye Kemoshi (2 Abami 1:1). Yeremiya wabayeho mu gihe cya Zefaniya, yavuze iby’ukuntu Abamoni bigaruriye ubutaka bw’Isirayeli mu karere ka Gadi, mu izina ry’imana yabo Malukamu (Yeremiya 49:1). Ku bihereranye na Ashuri, Umwami Shalumaneseri V, yagerereje i Samariya maze ahafata mpiri mbere y’igihe cya Zefaniya ho imyaka igera hafi ku kinyejana (2 Abami 17:1-6). Nyuma y’igihe gito, Umwami Senakeribu yagabye igitero i Buyuda, yigarurira imigi y’aho myinshi yari igoteshejwe inkike, ndetse na Yerusalemu arayugariza (Yesaya 36:1, 2). Umuvugizi w’umwami wa Ashuri yirase kuri Yehova rwose igihe yasabaga Yerusalemu kwishyira mu maboko yabo.​—Yesaya 36:4-20.

15. Ni gute Yehova yari gucisha bugufi imana z’amahanga yirase ku bwoko bwayo?

¹⁵ Zaburi ya 83, ivuga ibihugu byinshi, hakubiyemo na Mowabu, Amoni na Ashuri, byagiye byirata kuri Isirayeli, maze bikavugana ubwibone bigira biti “nimuze, tubarimbure bataba ishyanga, kugira ngo izina ry’Abisirayeli ritibukwa ukundi” (Zaburi 83:5, umurongo wa 4 muri Biblia Yera). Umuhanuzi Zefaniya yahanuranye ubutwari avuga ko ibyo bihugu byose byishyiraga hejuru, hamwe n’imana zabyo, byari gucishwa bugufi na Yehova nyiringabo. “Ibyo ni byo bazīturirwa ubwibone bwabo, kuko batukaga ubwoko bw’Uwiteka Nyiringabo, bakabīrātaho. Uwiteka azababera igiteye ubwoba; kuko izatera ubwonde ibigirwamana byo mu isi byose, kandi abantu bazamusenga, umuntu wese azava iwe, ndetse n’abo mu birwa by’abanyamahanga byose.”​—Zefaniya 2:10, 11.

“Nimuntegereze”

16. (a) Kuba umunsi wa Yehova wari uri bugufi, byari isoko y’ibyishimo kuri ba nde, kandi kuki? (b) Ni ukuhe guhamagarwa gushishikaje kwagejejwe kuri abo bantu b’indahemuka?

¹⁶ N’ubwo umwijima wo mu buryo bw’umwuka, urwikekwe, gusenga ibigirwamana, kwakira impongano, no gukunda ubutunzi byari byiganje mu bayobozi no mu baturage benshi b’i Buyuda n’i Yerusalemu, uko bigaragara, bamwe mu Bayahudi b’indahemuka bategeye amatwi ubuhanuzi bw’umuburo bwa Zefaniya. Bababazwaga n’ibikorwa by’agahomamunwa byakorwaga n’ibikomangoma by’i Buyuda, abacamanza, hamwe n’abatambyi baho. Amagambo ya Zefaniya yari isoko y’ihumure kuri abo bantu b’indahemuka. Aho kugira ngo bahagarikwe umutima no kuba umunsi wa Yehova wari uri bugufi, ibyo byababeraga isoko y’ibyishimo, kubera ko wari guhagarika ibyo bikorwa bibi. Abo bantu b’indahemuka basigaye, bumviye uku guhamagarwa kwa Yehova gushishikaje kwagiraga kuti “nimuntegereze, mugeze ku munsi nzahagurutswa no kubanyaga; kuko nagambiriye guteraniriza amahanga hamwe, ibihugu byose binteranireho, mbasukeho uburakari bwanjye, n’umujinya wanjye ukaze: kuko isi yose izatsembwaho n’umuriro wo gufuha kwanjye.”​—Zefaniya 3:8.

17. Ni ryari kandi ni gute ubutumwa bw’urubanza bwatangiye gusohorezwa ku mahanga?

¹⁷ Abumviye uwo muburo, ntibatunguwe. Hari benshi babagaho bategereje isohozwa ry’ubuhanuzi bwa Zefaniya. Mu wa 632 M.I.C., Ninewe yarafashwe kandi isenywa n’ingabo zishyize hamwe z’Abanyebabuloni, iz’Abamedi, hamwe n’aborozi bo mu majyaruguru, wenda abo bakaba bari Abasikuti. Umuhanga mu by’amateka witwa Will Durant, yagize ati “ingabo z’Abanyebabuloni ziyobowe na Nabopolassar, zifatanije n’iz’Abamedi ziyobowe na Cyaxares (soma Siyakisaresi), hamwe n’aborozi b’Abasikuti bo muri Caucase (soma Kokase), maze mu buryo bworoshye, butangaje kandi bidatinze, bafata mpiri imidugudu y’ibihome yo mu majyaruguru. . . . Nuko mu kanya nk’ako guhumbya, Ashuri igira itya isibangana mu mateka.” Ibyo byahuje neza neza n’uko Zefaniya yari yarabihanuye.​—Zefaniya 2:13-15.

18. (a) Ni gute urubanza rw’Imana rwasohorejwe kuri Yerusalemu, kandi kuki? (b) Ni gute ubuhanuzi bwa Zefaniya buhereranye na Mowabu na Amoni bwasohojwe?

¹⁸ Abayahudi benshi bakomeje gutegereza Yehova, nanone babagaho bategereje ko imanza ze zisohorezwa ku Buyuda no kuri Yerusalemu. Ku byerekeye Yerusalemu, Zefaniya yari yarahanuye ati “umurwa w’ubugome wanduye, kandi urenganya, uzabona ishyano. Ntiwumviye kubwirizwa; ntiwemeye guhanwa; ntiwiringiye Uwiteka; ntiwegereye Imana yawo” (Zefaniya 3:1, 2). Kubera ubuhemu bwayo, Yerusalemu yagererejwe n’Abanyebabuloni incuro ebyiri zose, hanyuma amaherezo iza gufatwa kandi isenywa mu wa 607 M.I.C. (2 Ngoma 36:5, 6, 11-21). Na ho ku byerekeye Mowabu na Amoni, dukurikije uko umuhanga mu by’amateka w’Umuyahudi witwa Josephus abivuga, mu myaka itanu nyuma yo kugwa kwa Yerusalemu, Abanyebabuloni babagabyeho ibitero maze barabatsinda. Nyuma y’aho, baje kuzimangatana nk’uko byari byarahanuwe.

19, 20. (a) Ni gute Yehova yagororeye abakomeje kumutegereza? (b) Kuki ibyo bifite icyo biturebaho, kandi ni iki kizasuzumwa mu gice gikurikira?

¹⁹ Isohozwa ry’ibyo, hamwe n’ibindi bintu bivugwa mu buryo burambuye mu buhanuzi bwa Zefaniya, byakomeje ukwizera kw’Abayahudi hamwe n’abandi bantu batari Abayahudi bakomeje gutegereza Yehova. Mu barokotse irimbuka ryageze ku Buyuda na Yerusalemu, harimo Yeremiya, Umunyetiyopiya witwaga Ebedimeleki, hamwe n’ab’inzu ya Yonadabu, mwene Rekabu (Yeremiya 35:18, 19; 39:11, 12, 16-18). Abayahudi b’indahemuka bari mu bunyage hamwe n’urubyaro rwabo, bakomeje gutegereza Yehova, babaye bamwe mu basigaye bari bafite ibyishimo, babohowe mu maboko ya Babuloni mu wa 537 M.I.C. maze basubira i Buyuda kongera kuhagarura ugusenga kutanduye.​—Ezira 2:1; Zefaniya 3:14, 15, 20.

²⁰ Ni irihe sano ibyo byose bifitanye n’iki gihe turimo? Mu buryo bwinshi, imimerere yari iriho mu gihe cya Zefaniya, ihuje n’ibintu byangwa urunuka biboneka muri Kristendomu muri iki gihe. Byongeye kandi, imyifatire inyuranye Abayahudi bagize muri ibyo bihe, isa n’iyo dushobora kubona muri iki gihe, ndetse no mu bagize ubwoko bwa Yehova. Ibyo ni byo bizasuzumwa mu gice gikurikira.

[Ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji]

Isubiramo

◻ Ni iyihe mimerere yo mu rwego rw’idini yari i Buyuda mu gihe cya Zefaniya?

◻ Ni iyihe mimerere yarangwaga mu bayobozi, kandi se abenshi muri rubanda bari bafite iyihe myifatire?

◻ Ni gute amahanga yirase ku bwoko bwa Yehova?

◻ Ni uwuhe muburo Zefaniya yahaye u Buyuda hamwe n’andi mahanga?

◻ Ni gute abakomeje gutegereza Yehova bagororewe?

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 15]

Ibuye rya Mowabu ryemeza ko Umwami w’Abamowabu, Mesha, yabwiye Abisirayeli amagambo y’urukozasoni

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Ibuye rya Mowabu: Inzu Ndangamurage y’i Louvre, i Paris

[Ifoto yo ku ipaji ya 16]

Mu gushyigikira ubuhanuzi bwa Zefaniya, iyo nyandiko imeze nk’udusumari, ikubiyemo Amateka ya Babuloni, ivuga iby’irimbuka rya Ninewe, irimbuwe n’ingabo zisunganye

[Aho ifoto yavuye]

Inyandiko imeze nk’udusumari: Uburenganzira bwatanzwe na The British Museum