“Ndimirirei”

“Naizvozvo, ndimirirei—ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha.”—ZEFANIA 3:8.

 1. Inyeveroi yakapiwa nomuporofita Zefania, uye iyoyo ndeyefariroi kuvanhu vari kurarama nhasi?

“ZUVA guru raJehovha rava pedyo.” Uku kudanidzira kwenyevero kwakaitwa nomuporofita Zefania pakati pezana ramakore rechinomwe B.C.E. (Zefania 1:14) Mukati memakore 40 kana kuti 50, uporofita hwacho hwakazadzikwa apo zuva rokuita marutongeso aJehovha rakasvika paJerusarema uye pamarudzi aye akanga azvidza uchangamire hwaJehovha kupfurikidza nokubata zvisina kufanira vanhu vake. Nei ikoku kuri kwefariro kuvanhu vari kurarama pamugumo wezana ramakore rechi20? Tiri kurarama panguva apo “zuva guru” raJehovha rokupedzisira riri kusvika nokukurumidza. Kungofanana nomunguva yaZefania, “hasha” dzaJehovha dzodokuitirwa chakaenzana neJerusarema chomuzuva razvino uno—chiKristudhomu—uye marudzi ose anobata vanhu vaJehovha zvisina kufanira uye kuzvidza uchangamire hwake hwemuchisiko chose.—Zefania 1:4; 2:4, 8, 12, 13; 3:8; 2 Petro 3:12, 13.

Zefania—Chapupu Chaiva Noushingi

 2, 3. (a) Tinozivei pamusoro paZefania, uye chii chinoratidzira kuti akanga ari chapupu chaiva noushingi chaJehovha? (b) Maidii anotigonesa kuwana nguva nenzvimbo zvokuporofita kwaZefania?

² Zvishomanene zvinozivikanwa nezvemuporofita Zefania, ane zita (muchiHebheru, Tsephan·yahʹ) rinoreva kuti, “Jehovha Akavanza (Akachengeta).” Mukupesana navamwe vaporofita, zvisinei, Zefania akagovera dzinza rake kusvikira kuchizvarwa chechina, kusvikira kuna “Hezekia.” (Zefania 1:1; enzanisa naIsaya 1:1; Jeremia 1:1; Ezekieri 1:3.) Ikoku ndokwechienzi kwazvo zvokuti vatsinhiri vazhinjisa vanozivisa tateguru wake saMambo Hezekia akanga akatendeka. Kana akanga ari, ipapo Zefania akanga ari womumutsara woumambo, uye ikoku kungadai kwakawedzera ukoshi kushurikidzo yake yehasha yamachinda eJudha uye kwakaratidza kuti akanga ari chapupu chaiva noushingi nomuporofita waJehovha. Kusanoziva kwake zvimiro zvenyika zveJerusarema uye kwezvakanga zvichiitika muimba youmambo kunokarakadza kuti iye angave akazivisa marutongeso aJehovha mudzimbahwe rimene.—Ona Zefania 1:8-11, NW, mashoko omuzasi.

³ Rinokosha iidi rokuti, nepo Zefania akazivisa marutongeso oumwari pamusoro pa“machinda” enyika yaJudha (vakakwirira, kana kuti madzishe erudzi) na“vanakomana vamambo,” haana kutongodudza mambo amene mutsoropodzo yake.a (Zefania 1:8; 3:3) Ikoku kunokarakadza kuti Mambo muduku Josia akanga atoratidza kuda kunamata kwakachena, kunyange zvazvo, mukurangarira mamiriro ezvinhu akanga ashurikidzwa naZefania, sezvinooneka akanga achigere kutanga kushandura kwake kworudzidziso. Kwose ikoku kunokarakadza kuti Zefania akaporofita muna Judha mukati memakore apakuvamba aJosia, uyo akatonga kubvira muna 659 kusvikira kuna 629 B.C.E. Kuporofita kwokushingaira kwaZefania pasina panikiro kwakawedzera kuziva kwaJosia muduku kunamata zvidhori, masimba masimba, uye ushati izvo zvakanga zvakapararira muna Judha panguva iyoyo ndokukurudzira nhimbe yake yakatevera mukurwisana nekunamata zvidhori.—2 Makoronike 34:1-3.

Zvikonzero Zvokutsamwa Kukuru kwaJehovha

 4. Jehovha akataura kutsamwira kwake Judha neJerusarema mumashokoi?

⁴ Jehovha akanga aine chikonzero chakanaka chokutsamwira vatungamiriri navagari veJudha nedzimbahwe rayo Jerusarema. Kupfurikidza nomuporofita wake Zefania, akati: “Ndichatambanudzira ruoko rwangu kuna Judha, nokuna vose vagere Jerusarema; ndichabvisa vakasara vaBhaari panzvimbo ino, nezita ravaKemarimi pamwe chete navaprista; navanonamata hondo dzokudenga pamatenga edzimba, navanamati, vanopika naJehovha vachipikawo naMarkami.”—Zefania 1:4, 5.

 5, 6. (a) Ndeapi akanga ari mamiriro ezvinhu orudzidziso muna Judha panguva yaZefania? (b) Ndeapi akanga ari mamiriro ezvinhu avatungamiriri venyika veJudha navadzorwi vavo?

⁵ Judha yakasvibiswa netsika dzoruzvaro dzinoshatisa dzokunamata Bhaari, kunzvera nyeredzi kwoudhemoni, uye kunamatwa kwamwari wechihedheni Markami. Kana Markami ari mumwe cheteyo naMoreki, sezvinokarakadza vamwe, ipapo kunamata kwenhema kweJudha kwaibatanidza kubayirwa kunonyangadza kwavana. Miitiro yakadaro yorudzidziso yaisembura mumeso aJehovha. (1 Madzimambo 11:5, 7; 14:23, 24; 2 Madzimambo 17:16, 17) Vakawana kutsamwa kwake kukuru sezvo vanamati vezvidhori vakanga vachiri kuita mhiko muzita raJehovha. Akanga asati achashivirira kusachena kworudzidziso kwakadaro uye aizouraya vaprista vechihedheni navakaramba kutenda zvakafanana.

⁶ Uyezve, vatungamiriri venyika veJudha vakanga vakashata. Machinda ayo akanga akaita se“shumba dzinoomba” dzinorura, uye vatongi vayo vakanga vakaenzana na“mapere” ane makaro. (Zefania 3:3) Vadzorwi vavo vaipomerwa ku“zadza imba yatenzi wavo nokupambara nokunyengera.” (Zefania 1:9) Kudisa zvenyika kwakanga kwakapararira. Vazhinji vakanga vachishandisa mamiriro acho ezvinhu kuunganidza upfumi.—Zefania 1:13.

Panikiro Pamusoro Pezuva raJehovha

 7. Zefania akaporofita nguva yakareba sei “zuva guru raJehovha” risati rasvika, uye ndeupi wakanga uri mumiriro wezvinhu womudzimu wavaJudha vazhinji?

⁷ Sezvatatoona, mamiriro ezvinhu orudzidziso ane ngwavaira akapararira muzuva raZefania anoratidzira kuti akaita basa rake sechapupu nomuporofita Mambo Josia asati avamba nhimbe yake mukurwisana nekunamata zvidhori, munenge muna 648 B.C.E. (2 Makoronike 34:4, 5) Sezvingabvira, ipapo, Zefania akaporofita anenge makore 40 “zuva guru raJehovha” risati rauya paumambo hweJudha. Munguva yapakati pacho, vaJudha vazhinji vaiva nepanikiro ndoku‘rega’ kubatira Jehovha, vachiva vasingaitiri hanya. Zefania anotaura nezvaavo “vasina kutsvaka Jehovha kana kumubvunza.” (Zefania 1:6) Sezviri pachena, vanhu vamwe navamwe muJudha vakanga vasingakendengi, vasingazvinetsi nezvaMwari navamwe.

 8, 9. (a) Nemhaka yei Jehovha aizonzvera “varume vagere pamasese avo”? (b) Jehovha aizopa ngwariro kuvagari veJudha navatungamiriri vavo venyika neverudzidziso munzirai?

⁸ Jehovha akazivisa chinangwa chake chokunzvera avo vaitaura kuva vanhu vake. Pakati pevaiti vanamati vake, aizotsvaka avo vaichengeta mumwoyo yavo panikiro pamusoro pesimba rake kana kuti vavariro yokupindira muzvinhu zvavanhu. Akati: “Zvino nenguva iyo ndichanzvera Jerusarema nemwenje; ndicharova varume vagere pamasese avo, vanoti mumwoyo yavo: Jehovha haangaiti zvakanaka, uye haangaiti zvakaipa.” (Zefania 1:12) Kutaura kwokuti “varume vagere pamasese avo” (nongedzero kukugadzira waini) kunonongedzera kuavo vakagara pasi, samasese pasi petangi, uye vasingadi kudzonyongedzwa nekuziviswa kupi nokupi kwokupindira kwava pedyo kwoumwari muzvinhu zverudzi rwomunhu.

⁹ Jehovha aizopa ngwariro kuvagari veJudha neJerusarema uye kuvaprista vavo avo vakanga vasanganisa kunamatwa kwake nechihedheni. Kana vainzwa vakachengeteka, sokunge kuti pasi pechifukidziro chousiku mukati memasvingo eJerusarema, aizovatsvaka ndokuvabudisa sokunge kuti nemarambi aipenya ayo aizopinda murima romudzimu umo vakanga vatizira. Aizovazunungusa kuti vabude mukusakatara kwavo kworudzidziso, kutanga kupfurikidza nemashoko anotyisa orutongeso, ipapo kupfurikidza nokuita marutongeso iwayo.

“Zuva Guru raJehovha Rava Pedyo”

10. Zefania akarondedzera sei “zuva guru raJehovha”?

¹⁰ Jehovha akafuridzira Zefania kuzivisa, kuti: “Zuva guru raJehovha rava pedyo, rava pedyo, rinokurumidza kwazvo, iro inzwi rezuva raJehovha.” (Zefania 1:14) Mazuva akakasharara zvirokwazvo akanga ari mberi kwomunhu ari wose—vaprista, machinda, uye vanhu—avo vairamba kuteerera nyevero uye kudzokera kukunamata kwakachena. Huchirondedzera zuva iroro rokuita rutongeso, uporofita hwacho hunopfuurira, kuti: “Zuva iro izuva rokutsamwa, zuva rokutambudzika nokumanikidzwa, zuva rokurashwa nokuparadzwa, zuva rerima nerokusviba, zuva ramakore nerezarima guru, zuva rehwamanda neremhere, zvinoridzirwa maguta akakomberedzwa namasvingo neshongwe dzakakwirira.”—Zefania 1:15, 16.

11, 12. (a) Ishokoi rorutongeso rakaziviswa paJerusarema? (b) Rubudiriro rwokunyama rwaizoponesa vaJudha here?

¹¹ Mukati memakumi amakore mashomanene aipfuura nokukurumidza, hondo dzeBhabhironi dzaizovhozhokera Judha. Jerusarema raisazopukunyuka. Zvikamu zvaro zvokugara nezvebhizimisi zvaizoparadzwa. “Zvino nezuva iro—ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha—kuchanzwika mhere inobva pasuo rehove, nokuchema kunobva kurutivi rutsva rweguta, nokukoromoka kukuru kunobva kumakomo. Chemai imi mugere Makteshi [chimwe chikamu cheJerusarema, NW, mashoko omuzasi]; nokuti vanhu vose veKanani vapera, vose vakanga vakafuma sirivha vabviswa.”—Zefania 1:10, 11.

¹² Vachiramba kudavira kuti zuva raJehovha rakanga rava pedyo, vaJudha vazhinji vakanga vabatanidzwa zvikuru mumabasa emubhizimisi anobhadhara. Asi kupfurikidza nomuporofita wake akatendeka Zefania, Jehovha akafanotaura kuti upfumi hwavo hwaizova “zvakapambwa, nedzimba dzavo matongo.” Vaisazonwa waini yavaigadzira, uye “sirivha yavo kunyange ndarama yavo [zvaisagona] kuvarwira nezuva rokutsamwa kwaJehovha.”—Zefania 1:13, 18.

Mamwe Marudzi Anotongwa

13. Ishokoi rorutongeso iro Zefania akataurira Moabhi, Amoni, uye Asiria?

¹³ Kupfurikidza nomuporofita wake Zefania, Jehovha akataurawo kutsamwira kwake marudzi akanga abata zvisina kufanira vanhu vake. Akazivisa, kuti: “Ndakanzwa kuzvidza kwaMoabhi, nokutuka kwavana vaAmoni, kwavakazvidza nako vanhu vangu, vachiita manyawi pamuganho wavo. Naizvozvo noupenyu hwangu—ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha wehondo, Mwari waIsraeri: Zvirokwazvo, Moabhi vachaita seSodhoma, navana vaAmoni seGomora, nyika yorukato, namakomba omunyu, namatongo nokusingaperi; vanhu vangu vakasara vachavaita chinhu chakatapwa, vakasara vorudzi rwangu vachavagara nhaka. . . . Uchatambanudzira ruoko rwake kurutivi rwokumusoro, ndokuparadza Asiria; Ninevhe uchariita dongo, riome serenje.”—Zefania 2:8, 9, 13.

14. Ufakazii huripo hwokuti marudzi okumwe aka‘zvikudza zvikuru’ pana vaIsraeri naMwari wavo, Jehovha?

¹⁴ Moabhi naAmoni vakanga vari vavengi vaIsraeri venguva refu. (Enzanisa naVatongi 3:12-14.) Moabite Stone, iri muLouvre Museum muParis, ine runyoro rune kutaura kwokuganza kwakaitwa naMambo weMoabhi Mesha. Nokudada anorondedzera kutora kwake maguta anoverengeka echiIsraeri nebetsero yamwari wake Kemoshi. (2 Madzimambo 1:1) Jeremia, murarami wapanguva imwe cheteyo naZefania, akataura nezvekutora kwavaAmoni nyika yeIsraeri yaGadhi muzita ramwari wavo Markami. (Jeremia 49:1) Kana iri Asiria, Mambo Sharmaneseri V akanga akomba ndokutora Samaria rinenge zana ramakore zuva raZefania risati rasvika. (2 Madzimambo 17:1-6) Gare gare zvishomanene, Mambo Sanheribhi akarwisa Judha, akatora mazhinji amaguta aro aiva norusvingo, uye akatotyisidzira Jerusarema. (Isaya 36:1, 2) Mutauriri wamambo weAsiria akazvikudza zvikuru pana Jehovha pakurayira kutera kweJerusarema.—Isaya 36:4-20.

15. Jehovha aizonyadzisa sei vamwari vamarudzi avo vakanga vazvikudza zvikuru pana vanhu vake?

¹⁵ Pisarema 83 rinodudza marudzi akati, kubatanidza Moabhi, Amoni, uye Asiria, ayo akazvikudza zvikuru pana Israeri, uye nokuganza akati: “Uyai, tivaparadze, varege kuzova rudzi; kuti zita raIsraeri rirege kuzorangarirwa.” (Pisarema 83:4) Muporofita Zefania noushingi akazivisa kuti marudzi ose iwaya aizvitutumadza navamwari vawo aizonyadziswa naJehovha wehondo. “Ndizvo zvavachapiwa nokuda kwokuzvikudza kwavo, nokuti vakazvidza vanhu vaJehovha wehondo nokuzvikudza kwavari. Jehovha uchavatyisa kwazvo, nokuti uchaparadza vamwari vose venyika; vanhu vachamunamata iye, mumwe nomumwe achibva panzvimbo yake, naizvo zviwi zvose zvendudzi.”—Zefania 2:10, 11.

“Ndimirirei”

16. (a) Kusvika kwezuva raJehovha kwakanga kuri manyuko omufaro nokuda kwaani, uye nei? (b) Idanidzoi inonyandura yakaenda kuava vakasarira vakatendeka?

¹⁶ Nepo kuneta mumudzimu, kupanikira, kunamata zvidhori, ushati, uye kudisa zvenyika kwakapararira pakati pavatungamiriri navazhinji vavagari veJudha neJerusarema, sezviri pachena vamwe vaJudha vakatendeka vakateerera uporofita hwaZefania hunonyevera. Vakasuruvariswa nemiitiro yainyangadza yamachinda, vatongi, uye vaprista veJudha. Ziviso dzaZefania dzakanga dziri manyuko enyaradzo kune ava vakavimbika. Panzvimbo pokuva chisakiso chenhamo, kusvika kwezuva raJehovha kwakanga kuri manyuko omufaro kwavari, nemhaka yokuti raizogumisa miitiro yakadaro yainyangadza. Ava vakasarira vakatendeka vakateerera murayiro waJehovha wainyandura, wokuti: “Naizvozvo, ndimirirei—ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha—kusvikira zuva randichasimuka kuzopamba; nokuti ndatonga kuti ndichaunganidza ndudzi dzavanhu, kuti ndikokere ushe hwose, ndidire pamusoro pavo hasha dzangu, iko kutsamwa kwangu kukuru; nokuti nyika yose ichaedzwa nomwoto wegodo rangu.”—Zefania 3:8.

17. Mashoko aZefania orutongeso akavamba kuzadzikwa sei pamarudzi uye rini?

¹⁷ Avo vakateerera nyevero iyoyo havana kushamiswa. Vazhinji vakararama kuti vaone kuzadzikwa kwouporofita hwaZefania. Muna 632 B.C.E., Ninevhe yakatapwa ndokuparadzwa nemubatanidzwa wavaBhabhironi, vaMedhia, uye mapoka aibva kuchamhembe, zvimwe vaScythia. Wezvenhau Will Durant anorondedzera, kuti: “Imwe hondo yavaBhabhironi yaitungamirirwa naNabopolassar yakabatana nehondo yavaMedhia yaitungamirirwa naCyaxares neboka ravaScythia raibva kuCaucasus, uye vakatapa nhare dzokuchamhembe zviri nyore uye nokukurumidza kunoshamisa. . . . Pakurovanya kumwe Asiria yakatsakatika munhau.” Ndizvo chaizvo zvakanga zvaporofitwa naZefania.—Zefania 2:13-15.

18. (a) Rutongeso rwoumwari rwakaitwa sei paJerusarema, uye nei? (b) Uporofita hwaZefania pamusoro paMoabhi uye Amoni hwakazadzikwa sei?

¹⁸ VaJudha vazhinji avo vakaramba vakamirira Jehovha vakararamawo kuti vaone marutongeso ake achiitwa paJudha neJerusarema. Pamusoro peJerusarema, Zefania akanga aporofita, kuti: “Rine nhamo iro guta rinomukira Jehovha, rakasvibiswa, rinomanikidza! Harina kuteerera inzwi, harina kutenda kurangwa, harina kuvimba naJehovha, harina kuswedera kuna Mwari waro.” (Zefania 3:1, 2) Nemhaka yokusatendeka kwaro, Jerusarema rakakombwa kaviri navaBhabhironi uye pakupedzisira rakatapwa ndokuparadzwa muna 607 B.C.E. (2 Makoronike 36:5, 6, 11-21) Kana iri Moabhi neAmoni, maererano newezvenhau wechiJudha Josephus, mugore rechishanu pashure pokuwa kweJerusarema, vaBhabhironi vakarwa hondo navo ndokuvakurira. Vakaguma kuvapo pakupedzisira, sezvakaporofitwa.

19, 20. (a) Jehovha akatusa sei avo vakaramba vakamumirira? (b) Neiko tichiitira hanya zvinhu izvi, uye chii chicharangarirwa munyaya inotevera?

¹⁹ Kuzadzikwa kweizvi nehumwe udzame hwouporofita hwaZefania chakanga chiri chiitiko chinosimbisa kutenda nokuda kwavaJudha uye vaisava vaJudha avo vakaramba vakamirira Jehovha. Pakati peavo vakapukunyuka ruparadziko rwakawira Judha neJerusarema pakanga paina Jeremia, Ebhedhi-mereki muEtiopia, uye imba yaJehonadhabhi, muRekabhi. (Jeremia 35:18, 19; 39:11, 12, 16-18) VaJudha vakatendeka vakanga vari muutapwa nevana vavo, avo vakapfuurira kumirira Jehovha, vakava rutivi rwavakasarira vaifara avo vakanunurwa muBhabhironi muna 537 B.C.E. ndokudzokera kuna Judha kunotangazve kunamata kwechokwadi.—Ezra 2:1; Zefania 3:14, 15, 20.

²⁰ Ikoku kwose kunorevei nokuda kwenguva yedu? Munzira zhinji mamiriro ezvinhu muzuva raZefania anowirirana nezvinhu zvinonyangadza zviri kuitika nhasi muchiKristudhomu. Uyezve, zvimiro zvendangariro zvakasiyana-siyana zvavaJudha munguva idzodzo zvakafanana nezvimiro zvendangariro zvinogona kuwanwa nhasi, pane dzimwe nguva kunyange pakati pavanhu vaJehovha. Izvi ndizvo zvinhu zvicharangarirwa munyaya inotevera.

[Mashoko Omuzasi]

Nokuhwirudzura

◻ Ndeapi akanga ari mamiriro ezvinhu orudzidziso muJudha muzuva raZefania?

◻ Mamiriroi ezvinhu akapararira pakati pavatungamiriri venyika, uye ndechipi chakanga chiri chimiro chendangariro chavanhu vazhinji?

◻ Marudzi akazvikudza zvikuru sei pavanhu vaJehovha?

◻ Inyeveroi iyo Zefania akapa kuna Judha nemamwe marudzi?

◻ Avo vakaramba vakamirira Jehovha vakatuswa sei?

[Mufananidzo uri papeji 9]

Moabite Stone inosimbisa kuti Mambo weMoabhi Mesha akataura mashoko anozvidza kuna Israeri wakare

[Kwazvakatorwa]

Moabite Stone: Musée du Louvre, Paris

[Mufananidzo uri papeji 10]

Richitsigira uporofita hwaZefania, iri hwendefa recuneiform reBabylonian Chronicle rinoshuma kuparadzwa kweNinevhe kwakaitwa nomubatanidzwa wehondo

[Kwazvakatorwa]

Cuneiform tablet: Courtesy of The British Museum