Maʻu ʻa e Tui Hangē ko Ia Naʻe ʻia ʻĒpalahamé!
“ʻIlonga akinautolu ʻoku ʻi he tui, ko kinautolu ia ʻa e hako ʻo Epalahame.”—KALETIA 3:7.
1. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fekuki ʻa ʻEpalame mo ha ʻahiʻahi foʻou ʻi Kēnani?
NAʻE liʻaki ʻe ʻEpalame ha moʻui tuʻumālie ʻi ʻUa ʻi heʻene talangofua ki he fekau ʻa Sihová. Ko e ngaahi fakahohaʻa naʻá ne hokosia ʻi he ngaahi taʻu hoko maí ko ha tokateu pē ia ki he ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻo e tuí ʻa ia naʻá ne fehangahangai mo ia ʻi ʻIsipité. ʻOku pehē ʻe he fakamatala ʻa e Tohitapú: “Pea naʻe faifai pea honge ʻa e fonua.” He faingofua ē kia ʻEpalame ke ne ongoʻi mamahi fekauʻaki mo hono tuʻungá! ʻI hono kehé, naʻá ne fai ʻa e ngaahi laka fakapotopoto ke tokonaki ai maʻa hono fāmilí. “Pea ʻalu hifo ʻa Epalame ki Isipite ke ʻaunofo ʻi he potu ko ia; he naʻe mamafa ʻa e honge ʻi he fonua.” Naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke taʻefakatokangaʻi ʻa e fuʻu fāmili tokolahi ʻo ʻEpalamé ʻi ʻIsipite. ʻE fai ʻa Sihova ki heʻene ngaahi talaʻofá ʻo maluʻi ʻa ʻEpalame mei he fakatamakí?—Senesi 12:10; Ekisoto 16:2, 3.
2, 3. (a) Ko e hā naʻe fufū ai ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e tuʻunga totonu ʻo hono uaifí? (e) ʻI he tali fakatatau ki he tuʻungá, naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e feangai ʻa ʻEpalame mo hono uaifí?
2 ʻOku tau lau ʻi he Senesi 12:11-13: “ʻI he faifai pea ne fangafanga hu ki Isipite, pea ne lea ki hono uaifi ko Selai, Sini [“Kātaki,” NW], ʻoku ou ʻilo ko e fefine hoihoifua koe; pea ko ia ka mamata kiate koe ʻa e kakai Isipite te nau pehe, Ko hono uaifi ʻa e fefine ni; pea te nau tamateʻi au, ka ko koe te nau tuku ke moʻui. [Kātaki], ke ke lau ko hoku tuofefine koe; kau tuʻumalie koeʻuhi ko koe, pea hao foki ʻeku moʻui ko e meʻa ʻiate koe.” Neongo naʻe fakalaka ʻa Sēlai ʻi hono taʻu 65, naʻe kei hā mahino pē ʻa ʻene hoihoifuá. Naʻe ʻai ʻe he meʻa ko iá ʻa e moʻui ʻa ʻEpalamé ke ʻi ha tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki.a (Senesi 12:4, 5; 17:17) Ko e meʻa ʻoku mahuʻinga angé, ko e ngaahi meʻa fekauʻaki mo e taumuʻa ʻa Sihová naʻe hoko ʻo fehuʻia, he naʻá ne ʻosi folofola ʻo pehē ʻe tāpuakiʻi ʻa e ngaahi puleʻanga kotoa pē ʻo e māmaní fakafou ʻi he hako ʻo ʻEpalamé. (Senesi 12:2, 3, 7) Koeʻuhi naʻe kei taʻefanau ʻa ʻEpalame, naʻe mahuʻinga ʻaupito ke ne kei moʻui.
3 Naʻe lea ʻa ʻEpalame ki hono uaifí ʻo fekauʻaki mo hono ngāueʻaki ha faʻufaʻu pōtoʻi naʻá na ʻosi felotoi ki ai ki muʻa, ʻa ia, ke ne pehē ko hono tuofefine ia. Fakatokangaʻi neongo naʻá ne maʻu ʻa e mafai fakapēteliake, naʻe ʻikai te ne ngāuehalaʻaki hono tuʻungá, ka naʻá ne maʻu mai ʻa ʻene tokoni loto-leleí mo ʻene poupoú. (Senesi 12:11-13; 20:13) ʻI he meʻá ni, naʻe fokotuʻu ai ʻe ʻEpalame ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ki he ngaahi husepānití ke nau ngāueʻaki ha tuʻunga-ʻulu anga-ʻofa, pea ko Sēlai, ʻi hono fakahāhā ʻa ʻene anganofó, ko ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ia ki he ngaahi uaifi ʻi he ʻaho ní.—Efeso 5:23-28; Kolose 4:6.
4. ʻOku totonu ke fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa e kau sevāniti loto-tōnunga ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he ʻahó ni ʻi he taimi ʻoku ʻi he tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki ai ʻa e moʻui ʻa honau fanga tokouá?
4 Naʻe malava ʻe Sēlai ke ne pehē ko e tuofefine ia ʻo ʻEpalamé koeʻuhi ko hono moʻoní ko iá ko ha tuofefine tamai taha ʻo ʻEpalame. (Senesi 20:12) ʻIkai ngata aí, naʻe ʻikai te ne moʻuaʻaki ʻe ia ke ʻoatu ʻa e fakamatala ko iá ki he kakai naʻe ʻikai haʻanau totonu ki aí. (Mātiu 7:6) Ko e kau sevāniti loto-tōnunga ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he ngaahi taimi ʻi onopōní ʻoku nau tokanga ki he fekau ʻa e Tohitapú ke faitotonú. (Hepelu 13:18) Ko e fakatātaá, heʻikai ʻaupito te nau fuakava loi ʻi ha fakamaauʻanga fakalao. ʻI he taimi ʻoku ʻi he tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki ai ʻa e moʻui fakaesino pe fakalaumālie ʻa honau fanga tokouá, hangē ko ia ʻoku hoko ʻi he ngaahi taimi ʻo e fakatangá pe faingataʻaʻia fakaenofó, tatau ai pē pe ko e hā, ʻoku nau tokanga ki he akonaki ʻa Sīsū ke hoko ʻo “fakapotopoto ʻo hangē ko ha ngata, pea vale ʻi he kovi ʻo hangē ko ha lupe.”—Mātiu 10:16; sio ki he Taua Leʻo, ʻo Nōvema 1, 1996, peesi 32, palakalafi 19.
5. Ko e hā naʻe loto-lelei ai ʻa Sēlai ke talangofua ki he kole ʻa ʻEpalamé?
5 Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e tali ʻa Sēlai ki he kole ʻa ʻEpalamé? ʻOku fakamatalaʻi ʻe he ʻapositolo ko Pitá ʻa e kau fefine hangē ko iá ʻoku nau “falala ki he ʻOtua.” Ko ia ai, naʻe malava ke mahino kia Sēlai ʻa e ngaahi ʻīsiu fakalaumālie naʻe fekauʻaki mo e tuʻungá ni. Tuku kehe ia, naʻá ne ʻofa mo ʻapasia ki hono husepānití. Naʻe fili ai ʻa Sēlai ke ‘anganofo ki hono husepanití’ pea fufū ʻa hono tuʻunga ʻosi malí. (1 Pita 3:5) Ko hono moʻoní, ko hono fai iá, naʻe fakaeʻa atu ai ia ki ha ngaahi tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki. “ʻI he faifai pea hu ʻa Epalame ki Isipite, naʻe vakai ʻe he kakai Isipite ki he fefine ʻoku ne hoihoifua ʻaupito. Naʻe mamata foki kiate ia ʻa e houʻeiki ʻa Felo; pea nau viki ia kia Felo; pea naʻe ʻomi ʻa e fefine ki he fale ʻo Felo.”—Senesi 12:14, 15.
Ko e Fakahaofi ʻa Sihová
6, 7. Ko e hā ʻa e tuʻunga fakahohaʻa naʻe ʻi ai ʻa ʻEpalame mo Sēlaí, pea naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakahaofi ʻe Sihova ʻa Sēlaí?
6 He fakahohaʻa lahi ē kuo pau naʻe fakahoko ʻe he meʻá ni kia ʻEpalame mo Sēlaí! Naʻe hā naʻe ʻi he tuʻunga ʻa Sēlai ke fakamālohiʻi. ʻIkai ngata aí, ko Felo, ʻi he ʻikai lāuʻilo ki he tuʻunga fakaemali moʻoni ʻo Sēlaí, naʻá ne ʻoatu tavale ʻa e ngaahi meʻaʻofa kia ʻEpalame, ko ia naʻá ne “maʻu sipi ai mo e pulu, kaeʻumaʻa ʻa e fanga ʻasi tangata mo ha kau tamaioʻeiki mo ha kau kaunanga, mo e fanga asi fefine foki mo e fanga kameli.”b (Senesi 12:16) Ko ha fehiʻa lahi ē kuo pau naʻe ongoʻi ʻe ʻEpalame ki he ngaahi meʻaʻofá ni! Neongo naʻe hā ngali ʻikai ha ʻamanaki ʻa e tuʻungá ni, naʻe ʻikai ke siʻaki ʻe Sihova ʻa ʻEpalame.
7 “Ka naʻe taaʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa Felo ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi tautea lahi, pehe foki mo hono ʻapi, ko e meʻa ʻia Selai ko e uaifi ʻo Epalame.” (Senesi 12:17) ʻI ha founga ʻikai fakahāhā, naʻe fakahaaʻi ai kia Felo ʻa e tupuʻanga moʻoni ʻo e “ngaahi tautea” ko ʻení. Naʻá ne fai leva ʻa e tali: “Pea ui ʻe Felo ʻa Epalame, ʻo ne meʻa ki ai, Ko e ha kuo ke fai pehe ai kiate au? ko e ha naʻe ʻikai te ke tala ai kiate au ko ho uaifi ia? Ko e ha naʻa ke pehe ai, Ko hoku tuofefine ia, kau toʻo ia mōku uaifi? Pea ko eni, ko ho uaifi ʻena, toʻo pea ke ʻalu. Pea fai ʻe Felo ʻene tuʻutuʻuni ki ha kau tangata ʻia Epalame, pea naʻa nau taki atu ia mo hono uaifi mo ʻene ngaahi meʻa kotoa pe.”—Senesi 12:18-20; Sāme 105:14, 15.
8. Ko e hā ʻa e faʻahinga maluʻi ʻoku talaʻofa mai ʻe Sihova ki he kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní?
8 ʻI he ʻahó ni, ʻoku ʻikai ke fakapapauʻi mai ʻe Sihova ia kiate kitautolu ha maluʻi mei he ngaahi fakaʻauha ʻa e maté, faihiá, hongé, pe ko e fakatamaki fakanatulá. ʻOku talaʻofa mai kiate kitautolu ʻe ʻai maʻu pē ʻe Sihova ke ala maʻu ha maluʻi mei he ngaahi meʻa ʻoku malava ke fakatuʻutāmaki ki hotau tuʻunga fakalaumālié. (Sāme 91:1-4) ʻOkú ne fakahoko tefito ia ʻaki hono tokonaki mai kiate kitautolu ʻa e ngaahi fakatokanga taimi tonu ʻo fakafou mai ʻi heʻene Folofolá pea mo e “tamaioeiki agatonu mo boto.” (Mātiu 24:45, PM) Fēfē ʻa e fakamanamana mai ʻo e mate mei he fakatangá? Neongo ʻoku fakaʻatā nai ha niʻihi tāutaha ke mate, ʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke fakaʻatā ʻe he ʻOtuá hano fakaʻauha fakalūkufua ʻo ʻene kakaí. (Sāme 116:15) Pea kapau ʻoku toʻo atu ʻe he maté ha faʻahinga loto-tōnunga ʻe niʻihi, ʻoku malava ke tau falala fekauʻaki mo ʻenau toetuʻú.—Sione 5:28, 29.
Fai ʻa e Feilaulau ke Tauhi ʻa e Melinó
9. Ko e hā ʻokú ne fakahaaʻi naʻe ʻikai ke nofo maʻu ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi Kēnani?
9 ʻI he hā mahino kuo mahili atu ʻa e honge ʻi Kēnaní, “naʻe ʻalu hake ʻa ʻEpalame mei ʻIsipite, ko ia mo hono uaifí mo ʻene meʻa kotoa pē, pea naʻe ʻalu fakataha mo ia ʻa Lote, ki he Nīkepí [ko e feituʻu pakukā ʻi he fakatonga ʻo e ʻotu moʻunga ʻo Siutá]. Pea naʻe hulu fau ʻa e fanga manu mo e siliva pea mo e koula ʻa ʻEpalamé.” (Senesi 13:1, 2, NW) ʻE sio ki ai ʻa e kau nofo ʻi he fonuá ko ha tangata ʻo e mafai mo e ngeia, ko ha ʻeiki mālohi lahi. (Senesi 23:6) Naʻe ʻikai loto ʻa ʻEpalame ke ne nofo maʻu pea kau ʻi he ngaahi meʻa fakapolitikale ʻa e kau Kēnaní. Ka, “naʻá ne hiki mei he ʻapitanga ki he ʻapitanga mei he Nīkepí ki Pēteli, ki he feituʻu naʻe ʻuluaki ʻi ai hono tēnití ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo Pēteli mo ʻAí.” Hangē pē ko ia naʻe hoko maʻu peé, naʻe fakamuʻomuʻa ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e lotu ʻa Sihová ʻi ha feituʻu pē naʻá ne ʻalu ki ai.—Senesi 13:3, 4, NW.
10. Ko e hā ʻa e palopalema naʻe tupu hake ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e kau tauhi manu ʻa ʻEpalame mo Loté, pea ko e hā naʻe mahuʻinga ai ʻa hono fakaleleiʻi vave iá?
10 “Pea ko Lote foki ʻa ia naʻe ʻalu ʻia Epalame, naʻa ne sipiʻia mo puluʻia mo tenitiʻia. Pea naʻe ʻikai utangi kinaua ʻe he fonua, ke na nofo fakataha; he ko ʻena koloa naʻe lahi, ko ia naʻe ʻikai te na lava ke nofo fakataha. Pea naʻe faifai pea ke ʻa e kau tauhimanu ʻa Epalame mo e kau tauhimanu ʻa Lote; ko haʻa Kenani foki mo haʻa Pelisi naʻe nofo ʻi he fonua ʻi he kuonga ko ia.” (Senesi 13:5-7) Naʻe ʻikai tokonaki mai ʻe he fonuá ha vai mo ha kaikaiʻanga feʻunga ke fakatou tauhiʻaki ʻa e fanga manu ʻa ʻEpalamé mo ia ʻa Loté. Naʻe tupu hake ai ʻa e fepaki mo e felotomamahiʻaki ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e kau tauhi manú. Naʻe taʻefeʻunga ke hoko ha fekeʻikeʻi pehē ʻi he kau lotu ki he ʻOtua moʻoní. Kapau naʻe kei hokohoko mai ʻa e makukú, ʻe iku ki ha maumau tuʻuloa. Ko ia, ʻe fakaleleiʻi fēfē ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e tuʻungá ni? Naʻá ne ohi ʻa Lote ʻi he hili ʻa e mate ʻa e tamai ʻa Loté, ʻo tauhi hake nai ia ko ha konga ʻo hono fāmilí tonu. ʻI he tuʻunga ko ia ʻa e tokotaha motuʻa ange ʻiate kinauá, ʻikai naʻe totonu kia ʻEpalame ke ne toʻo ʻe ia maʻana ʻa e lelei tahá?
11, 12. Ko e hā ʻa e foaki nima-homo naʻe fai ʻe ʻEpalame kia Loté, pea ko e hā naʻe taʻefakapotopoto ai ʻa e fili ʻa Loté?
11 Ka naʻe “lea ʻa Epalame kia Lote, ʻA [“kātaki,” NW], ʻoua naʻa ta kē kitaua, pe ko ʻeta kau tauhimanu; he ʻoku ta kainga. ʻIkai ko ena ʻa e fonua kotoa ke ke faʻiteliha ki ai? Ta mavae muʻa mo au: kapau te ke fakatoʻohema koe, pea u toʻomataʻu au; pea kapau te ke fakatoʻomataʻu, pea te u fakatoʻohema.” Naʻe tuʻu ʻo ofi ki Pēteli ʻa e meʻa naʻe ui ko e “taha ʻo e ngaahi mātanga lalahi ʻo Pālesitainé.” Mei ai nai naʻe “tangaki hake ʻa Lote, ʻo ne vakai ki he Seakale ʻo Sioatani, ʻo fakapehe atu ki Soa, ta ʻoku mohu vai hono kotoa (kuo teʻeki maumau ʻe Sihova ʻa Sotoma mo Komola); ʻio, naʻe hange ko e ngouetapu ʻa Sihova, pe hange ko e fonua ko Isipite.”—Senesi 13:8-10.
12 Neongo ʻoku fakamatalaʻi ʻe he Tohitapú ʻa Lote ko e tokotaha “maʻoniʻoni,” ʻi ha faʻahinga ʻuhinga, naʻe ʻikai te ne fakaongo kia ʻEpalame ʻi he meʻá ni, pea ʻikai hā naʻá ne kumi ki he akonaki ʻa e tangata taʻumotuʻa angé. (2 Pita 2:7) “Pea fili ʻe Lote moʻona ʻa e Seakale ʻo Sioatani, pea naʻe hiki ʻa Lote ki hahake, ʻo na mavae. Ko Epalame naʻa ne nofo ʻi he fonua ko Kenani, ka ka nofo ʻa Lote ʻi he ngahi kolo ʻo e Seakale, pea ne hikihiki teniti ʻo aʻu ki Sotoma.” (Senesi 13:11, 12) Naʻe tuʻumālie pea mo lahi ʻa e ngaahi ʻaonga fakamatelie naʻe ʻomai ʻe Sōtomá. (Isikeli 16:49, 50) Neongo ʻoku hā ngali fakapotopoto nai ʻa e fili ʻa Loté mei ha vakai fakamatelie ki ai, ko ha fili taʻefakapotopoto fakalaumālie ia. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Koeʻuhi “ko e kakai Sotoma ko e faʻahinga naʻe kovi mo fai angahala ʻaupito kia Sihova,” ko e lau ia ʻa e Senesi 13:13. Ko e fili ʻa Lote ke hiki ki aí ʻe faai atu pē ʻo fakatupunga ai ʻa e mamahi lahi ki hono fāmilí.
13. ʻOku tokoni fēfē ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa ʻEpalamé ki he kau Kalisitiane ko ia ʻoku nau hoko nai ʻo kau ʻi ha fakakikihi fakapaʻangá?
13 Neongo naʻe fakahāhā ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e tui ki he talaʻofa ʻa Sihova ʻo pehē ʻe faai atu pē ʻo maʻu ʻe hono hakó ʻa e fonuá fakakātoa; naʻe ʻikai te ne fakakikihiʻi ha kiʻi konga kelekele ʻe taha ʻo ia. ʻI heʻene nima-homó, naʻá ne ngāue ʻo fehoanaki mo e tefitoʻi moʻoni naʻe toki fakamatalaʻi ki mui ʻi he 1 Kolinito 10:24: “Ke ʻoua naʻa kumi ʻe ha taha ʻene lelei aʻana, ka ko e lelei ʻa e taha.” Ko ha fakamanatu lelei ʻeni ki he faʻahinga ko ia ʻoku nau kau nai ʻi ha fakakikihi fakaepaʻanga mo ha kaungātui. ʻI he ʻikai ke muimui ʻi he akonaki ʻi he Mātiu 18:15-17, kuo hanga ʻe he niʻihi ia ʻo ʻave honau fanga tokouá ki he fakamaauʻangá. (1 Kolinito 6:1, 7) ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻe he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa ʻEpalamé ʻoku lelei ange ke te faingataʻaʻia ʻi ha mole fakapaʻanga ʻi hano ʻomai ha luma ki he huafa ʻo Sihová pe ko hano maumauʻi ʻa e melino ʻa e fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiané.—Semisi 3:18.
14. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e pau ke fakapaleʻi ʻo ʻEpalame ʻi heʻene nima-homó?
14 Naʻe pau ke fakapaleʻi ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi heʻene nima-homó. Naʻe talaki ʻe he ʻOtuá: “Te u ngaohi ho hako ke hange ko e efu ʻo e fonua: ʻio, ka toki lava ʻe ha taha ke lau ʻa e efu ʻo e fonua, pea ʻe toki malau ho hako foki.” He fakalototoʻa ē kuo pau naʻe fai ʻe he fakahā ko ʻení ki he taʻefanau ko ʻEpalamé! Ko hono hokó, naʻe fekau ʻe he ʻOtuá: “Tuʻu, pea foli ʻa e fonua, ʻa hono lōloa mo hono māukupu; he te u ʻatu ia moʻou.” (Senesi 13:16, 17) Heʻikai pē ke fakaʻatā ke nofo ʻa ʻEpalame ia ʻi he ngaahi tuʻunga fakafiemālie ʻo ha kolo. Naʻe pau ke ne kei mavahe ai pē mei he kau Kēnaní. Kuo pau ke pehē pē ʻa e nofo mavahe ʻa e kau Kalisitiane he ʻaho ní mei he māmaní. ʻOku ʻikai te nau lau kinautolu ʻoku nau māʻolunga ange ʻi he niʻihi kehé, ka ʻoku ʻikai te nau feohi vāofi mo ha taha pē ʻokú ne tauheleʻi nai kinautolu ke nau kau ʻi ha ʻulungaanga taʻefakatohitapu.—1 Pita 4:3, 4.
15. (a) Ko e hā nai ʻa e mahuʻinga ʻo e fononga takai holo ʻa ʻEpalamé? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe ʻEpalame ki he ngaahi fāmili Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní?
15 ʻI he taimi ʻo e Tohitapú, ki muʻa ke maʻu ʻe ha taha ha konga kelekele, naʻe ʻi ai ʻene totonu ke vakaiʻi ia. Naʻe hoko nai ʻa e fononga takai holó ko ha fakamanatu hokohoko ia ʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ʻaho ʻe maʻu ai ʻa e fonuá ni ʻe he hako ʻo ʻEpalamé. ʻI he talangofuá, naʻe “hikihiki teniti ai ʻe Epalame, ʻo ne haʻu ʻo nofo ʻi he ʻulu oke ʻo Mamili ʻa ia ʻoku ʻi Hepeloni; ʻo ne langa ai ha olita kia Sihova.” (Senesi 13:18) Naʻe toe fakahāhaaʻi heni ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e fakamuʻomuʻa māʻolunga naʻá ne vaheʻi ki he lotú. ʻOku fai ha fakamuʻomuʻa māʻolunga ʻi ho fāmilí ki he ako fakafāmilí, lotu fakafāmilí mo e maʻu fakatahá?
Ko e Ngaahi ʻOho ʻa e Filí
16. (a) Ko e hā ʻoku ongo fakaʻamanaki kovi ai ʻa e ngaahi foʻi lea kamata ʻo e Senesi 14:1? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e ʻuhinga ki he fakatūʻuta ʻa e ngaahi tuʻi hahake ʻe toko faá?
16 “Naʻe hoko eni ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ʻo ʻAmilafeli ko e Tuʻi Sainá, mo ʻAlioke ko e Tuʻi ʻĒlasá, mo Kotolo-lokoma ko e Tuʻi ʻĪlamí,c mo Tītale ko e Tuʻi Koimí, naʻe tau ʻakinautolú ni.” ʻI he tupuʻi lea faka-Hepeluú, ko e ngaahi foʻi lea kamata (“Naʻe hoko eni ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ʻo . . .”) ʻoku nau maʻu ha foʻi ongo fakaʻamanaki kovi, ʻoku tuhu “ki ha vahaʻa taimi ʻo e ʻahiʻahi ʻoku iku ki he tāpuaki.” (Senesi 14:1, 2, NW, fakamatala ʻi laló) Naʻe kamata ʻa e ʻahiʻahí ʻi hono fai ʻe he ngaahi tuʻi hahake ko ʻeni ʻe toko faá mo ʻenau kau taú ha fakatūʻuta fakaefakaʻauha ʻi Kēnani. Ko ʻenau taumuʻá? Ke lōmia ʻa e angatuʻu ʻa e ngaahi kolo ko ia ʻe nima ko Sōtoma, Komola, ʻĀtima, Sipoimi mo Pela. ʻI hono ikunaʻi ʻa e fakafepakí kotoa, naʻa nau “fakakautaha ʻakinautolu ni, ʻo nau omi ki he talalo ko Sitimi, ʻa ia ko e Tahi Masima.” Naʻe nofo ofi ai ʻa Lote mo hono fāmilí.—Senesi 14:3-7.
17. Ko e hā naʻe hoko ai ʻa hono taki pōpula ʻo Loté ko ha ʻahiʻahiʻi ia ʻo e tuí kia ʻEpalame?
17 Naʻe talitekeʻi fefeka ʻe he ngaahi tuʻi Kēnaní ʻa e kau fakatūʻutá, ka naʻa nau fuesia ha foʻi fakamā ʻaupito. “[Ko e kau ikuná naʻa nau] fetuku ʻa e koloa ʻo Sotoma mo Komola, mo ʻenau meʻakai, pea nau ʻalu. Naʻa nau ʻave foki ʻa Lote ko e foha ʻo e tokoua ʻo Epalame, pea mo ʻene koloa, pea nau ʻalu mo kinautolu: he kuo ne nofo fonua ʻi Sotoma.” Naʻe vave ʻa e aʻu mai ʻa e ongoongo ʻo e ngaahi fakaʻauhá ni kia ʻEpalamé: “Pea haʻu ha toko taha naʻe hao mai, ʻo ne fakaʻilo kia Epalame ko e matapule Hepelu, he naʻe ʻapitanga ia ʻi he ʻulu oke ʻo Mamili, ʻa ia ko ha matapule Amoli, ko e tokoua ʻo Esikoli mo e tokoua foki ʻo Aneli: pea ko kinautolu naʻe ai ʻenau taliti mo Epalame. Pea [naʻe] fanongo ʻe Epalame kuo takipopula hono tokoua.” (Senesi 14:8-14) Ko ha ʻahiʻahiʻi lahi ē ʻo e tuí! ʻE tauhi nai ʻe ʻEpalame ha ongoʻi ʻita ki hono ʻilamutú koeʻuhi ko ʻene maʻu ʻa e konga lelei taha ʻo e fonuá? Manatuʻi foki, ko e kau fakatūʻutá ni naʻa nau haʻu mei hono fonua tupuʻangá, ʻa Saina. Ke faitau mo kinautolú ko hano fakaʻauha ai pē ia ʻo ha malava ke faifai angé pea toe foki ki hono fonuá. Tuku kehe ia, ko e hā ʻe malava ʻe ʻEpalame ke fai ki ha kau tau ʻa ia naʻe ʻikai malava ʻe he kau tau fakatahataha ia ʻo Kēnaní ke ikunaʻi?
18, 19. (a) Naʻe malava fēfē ʻe ʻEpalame ke ne fakahaofi mai ʻa Loté? (e) Ko hai naʻá ne maʻu ʻa e lāngilangi ki he ikuna ko ʻení?
18 Naʻe toe tuku ʻe ʻEpalame ʻene falala kakató kia Sihova. “Naʻa ne fakateholo atu mo ʻene kau tau, ko e kakai tonu ʻo hono ʻapi, ko e toko tolungeau mo e toko hongofulu ma valu, pea ne tuli ʻo aʻu ki Tani. Pea ne vahevahe ʻene tau, ʻo ne ʻohofi poʻuli kinautolu, ʻe ia mo ʻene kau tamaioʻeiki; pea ne taʻi kinautolu, ʻo ne tuli ʻo aʻu ki Hopa, ʻa ia ʻoku tuʻu ki he tokelau ʻo Tamasikusi. Pea ne foki mai mo ia ʻa e koloa kotoa, kaeʻumaʻā ʻa Lote ko hono tokoua, pea ne toe ʻomi ʻene koloa, mo e kau fefine foki, mo e kakai.” (Senesi 14:14-16) ʻI ha fakahāhā ʻo e tui mālohi kia Sihová, naʻe taki atu ai ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa ʻene kau tau naʻe mātuʻaki tokosiʻí ki he ikuna, ʻo fakahaofi mai ʻa Lote mo hono fāmilí. Naʻe fakafetaulaki leva ʻa ʻEpalame kia Melekisēteki, ko e tuʻi-taulaʻeiki ʻo Sālemá. “Ko Melikiseteki ko e Tuʻi Salema, naʻa ne ʻalu atu mo ia ʻa e ma mo e uaine, pea ko e tauleʻeiki ia ʻo e ʻOtua Taupotu. Pea ne tapuakiʻi ia, ʻo ne pehe, Ke fakamonuʻia ʻa Epalame ʻe he ʻOtua Taupotu, ko ʻene meʻa ʻa Langi mo Mamani. Pea malo muʻa mo e ʻOtua Taupotu kuo ne tuku ho ngahi fili ke ke faʻiteliha ai. Pea ne ʻatu hono ʻinasi ko e vahe hongofulu ʻo e meʻa kotoa pe.”—Senesi 14:18-20.
19 ʻIo, naʻe ʻa Sihova ʻa e ikuná. Koeʻuhi ko ʻene tuí, naʻe toe hokosia ai ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e fakahaofi ʻa Sihová. Ko e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he ʻaho ní ʻoku ʻikai te nau kau ʻi ha tau moʻoni, ka ʻoku nau fehangahangai mo e ngaahi ʻahiʻahi pea mo e ngaahi pole lahi. Ko ʻetau kupu hoko maí te ne fakahaaʻi mai ʻa e founga ʻe tokoniʻi ai kitautolu ʻe he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa ʻEpalamé ke tau fekuki lavameʻa ai mo kinautolú.
[Fakamatala ʻi lalo]
a Fakatatau ki he Insight on the Scriptures (naʻe pulusi ʻe he Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová), “ʻoku fakamatala ha pepailo motuʻa ʻo kau ki ha Felo ʻa ia naʻá ne fekauʻi atu ha kau tangata toʻo mahafu ke puke mai ha fefine fakaʻofoʻofa pea tāmateʻi hono husepānití.” Ko ia ai, ko e manavahē ʻa ʻEpalamé naʻe ʻikai ko ha fakalahiʻi.
b Ko Hekaʻā, ʻa ia naʻe hoko ki mui ko e sinifu ʻa ʻEpalamé, naʻe kau nai ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau sevāniti naʻe ʻoange kia ʻEpalame ʻi he taimi ko ʻení.—Senesi 16:1.
c Naʻe taukaveʻi ʻe he kau fakaangá ʻi ha taimi ʻo pehē naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ha tākiekina pehē ia ʻo ʻĪlami ʻi Saina pea ko e fakamatala ko ia ʻo e ʻoho naʻe fai ʻe Kotolo-lokomá ko ha loi ia. Ki ha fakamatala ʻa e fakamoʻoni fakaʻāsioloki ʻokú ne poupouʻi ʻa e fakamatala ʻa e Tohitapú, sio ki he The Watchtower, Siulai 1, 1989, peesi 4-7.
Naʻá Ke Fakatokangaʻi?
• Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e hoko ʻa e honge ʻi he fonua ko Kēnaní ko ha ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻo e tuí kia ʻEpalame?
• Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fokotuʻu fakatouʻosi ʻe ʻEpalame mo Sēlai ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ki he ngaahi husepāniti mo e ngaahi uaifi ʻi he ʻaho ní?
• Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi lēsoni ʻoku malava ke tau ako mei hono fakaleleiʻi ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e fakakikihi ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo ʻene kau sevānití mo e kau sevāniti ʻa Loté?
[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 22]
Naʻe ʻikai ke tuʻukāivi atu ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi heʻene ngaahi totonú ka naʻá ne fakamuʻomuʻa ʻa e mahuʻingaʻia ʻa Loté ʻi haʻaná tonu
[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 24]
Naʻe fakahāhā ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa ʻene falala kia Sihová ʻi hono fakahaofi mai hono ʻilamutu ko Loté