ʻĒpalahame—Ko ha Faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻo e Tuí
“[Ko ʻĒpalahame] ko e tamai ʻanautolu kotoa pe ʻoku tui.”—LOMA 4:11.
1, 2. (a) ʻOku anga-fēfē hono manatua ʻo ʻĒpalahame ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní? (e) Ko e hā ʻoku ui ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame “ko e tamai ʻanautolu kotoa pe ʻoku tui”?
KO IÁ ko e kui ʻa ha fuʻu puleʻanga mālohi, ko ha palōfita, ko ha tangata pisinisi pea ko ha taki. Neongo ia, ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní, ʻoku manatua lelei taha ia ʻi he ʻulungaanga ʻa ia naʻá ne ueʻi ʻa Sihova ko e ʻOtuá ke ne vakai ai kiate ia ko ha kaumeʻa—ko ʻene tui pīkitaí. (Aisea 41:8; Semisi 2:23) Ko hono hingoá ko ʻĒpalahame, pea ʻoku ui ia ʻe he Tohitapú “ko e tamai ʻanautolu kotoa pe ʻoku tui.”—Loma 4:11.
2 ʻIkai naʻe fakahāhā ʻe he kau tangata ki muʻa ʻia ʻĒpalahamé, hangē ko ʻĒpeli, ʻĪnoke mo Noa ʻa e tuí? ʻIo, ka ko ʻĒpalahame ia naʻe fai ki ai ʻa e fuakava ke tāpuakiʻi ʻa e kotoa ʻo e ngaahi puleʻanga ʻo e māmaní. (Senesi 22:18) Naʻá ne hoko ai ko e tamai fakaefakatātā ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa pē te nau tui ki he Hako naʻe talaʻofá. (Kaletia 3:8, 9) ʻI ha tuʻunga, ʻoku malava ke lau ai ʻa ʻĒpalahame ko ʻetau tamai, he ʻoku hoko ʻene tuí ko ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ia ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ki ai. ʻOku lava ke vakai ki heʻene moʻuí fakakātoa ko ha fakahāhā ia ʻo e tuí, he naʻe kau ki ai ʻa e ngaahi ʻahiʻahi mo e ngaahi faingataʻa lahi. Ko e moʻoni, ki muʻa fuoloa pea fehangahangai ʻa ʻĒpalahame mo e meʻa ko ia ʻoku lava ke ui ko e ʻahiʻahiʻi lahi taha ʻo ʻene tuí—ʻa e fekau ko ia ke ne feilaulauʻaki ʻa hono foha ko ʻAisaké—naʻe ʻosi fakamoʻoniʻi ʻe ʻĒpalahame ʻa ʻene tuí ʻi he ngaahi ʻahiʻahi iiki angé. (Senesi 22:1, 2) Tau sivisiviʻi he taimí ni ʻa e niʻihi ʻo e ngaahi muʻaki ʻahiʻahiʻi ko ʻeni ʻo e tuí pea sio pe ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi lēsoni ʻoku lava ke ne akoʻi mai kiate kitautolu he ʻaho ní.
Ko e Fekau ke Mavahe mei ʻUá
3. Ko e hā ʻoku tala mai ʻe he Tohitapú kiate kitautolu ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻātakai ʻo ʻEpalamé?
3 ʻOku fuofua fakahaaʻi mai ʻe he Tohitapú kiate kitautolu ʻa ʻEpalame (naʻe ʻiloa ki mui ko ʻĒpalahamé) ʻi he Senesi 11:26, ʻa ia ʻoku pehē: “Kuo moʻui ʻa Tela ko e taʻu ʻe fitungofulu pea ai ʻene fanau, ko Epalame, mo Nehoa, pea mo H[a]lani.” Ko ʻEpalamé ko e hako ia ʻo e tokotaha manavahē-ʻOtua ko Semí. (Senesi 11:10-24) Fakatatau ki he Senesi 11:31, naʻe nofo ʻa ʻEpalame mo hono fāmilí ʻi he feituʻu tuʻumālie ko “Ua ʻo e kau Kalitia,” ko ha kolo lahi naʻe tuʻu ʻi he hahake ʻo e Vaitafe ʻIufaletesí.a Ko ia, naʻe ʻikai te ne tupu hake ko ha tokotaha nofo tēniti hikihiki holo ka ko ha tokotaha nofo kolo lahi ʻi he feituʻu naʻe lahi ai ʻa e koloá mo e fiemālié. Ko e ngaahi koloa hū maí naʻe malava ke fakatau mai ia ʻi he ngaahi pasā ʻi ʻUá. Ko e ngaahi fale lalahi hinehina mo loki 14, kakato ʻi he meʻa fakapalamá ʻa loto, naʻe tuʻu fakaholoholo ia ʻi hono ngaahi halá.
4. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi pole naʻe fakahoko mai ʻe ʻUa ki he kau lotu ki he ʻOtua moʻoní? (e) Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e hoko ʻa ʻEpalame ʻo tui kia Sihová?
4 Tuku kehe ʻa e kotoa ʻo hono ngaahi lelei fakamatelié, naʻe fakahoko mai ʻe ʻUa ha pole mafatukituki ki ha taha pē naʻá ne loto ke tauhi ʻa e ʻOtua moʻoní. Ko ha kolo ia naʻe kau lahi ʻi he tauhi-ʻaitolí mo e tui fakafaʻahikehé. Ko e moʻoni, naʻe eʻa mei hono funga fonuá ha fuʻu temipale māʻolunga ki hono fakalāngilangiʻi ʻa e ʻotua-māhina ko Nana. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻe tofanga ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi ha tenge lahi ke kau ʻi he lotu ololalo ko ʻení, ʻo kau nai ai ʻa e tenge mei he ngaahi kāingá. Fakatatau ki he ngaahi talatukufakaholo faka-Siu ʻe niʻihi, ko e tamai ʻa ʻEpalamé, ʻa Tela, ko ha tokotaha faʻu ʻaitoli ia. (Siosiua 24:2, 14, 15) Tatau ai pē pe ko e hā ʻa e tuʻungá, naʻe ʻikai ko ha tokotaha ʻa ʻEpalame naʻá ne fai ʻa e lotu loi ololaló. Ko ʻene kui taʻumotuʻa ko Semí naʻe kei moʻui pea ʻoku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻá ne vahevahe ange ʻa ʻene ʻilo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtua moʻoní. Ko hono olá, naʻe tui ai ʻa ʻEpalame kia Sihova, ʻikai kia Nana!—Kaletia 3:6.
Ko ha ʻAhiʻahiʻi ʻo e Tuí
5. Ko e hā ʻa e fekau mo e talaʻofa naʻe ʻoange ʻe he ʻOtuá kia ʻEpalame he lolotonga ʻo ʻene kei ʻi ʻUá?
5 Naʻe teu ke ʻahiʻahiʻi ʻa e tui ʻa ʻEpalamé. Naʻe hā ʻa e ʻOtuá kiate ia ʻo fekau: “Hiki ko e mei ho fonua, pea mei ho tupuʻanga, pea mei he fale ʻo hoʻo tamai, ki he fonua te u fakaha kiate koe. Pea te u ngaohi koe ko e puleʻanga lahi, pea te u fakamonuʻia koe, pea te u fakatauʻolunga ho hingoa; pea te ke hoko ko e monuʻiaʻanga. Pea te u ʻofeina ʻakinautolu te nau ʻofeina koe, pea ko ia te ne tutukuʻi koe te u fakamalaʻia; pea ʻe monuʻia ʻiate koe ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa pe ʻo e kelekele.”—Senesi 12:1-3; Ngāue 7:2, 3.
6. Ko e hā naʻe fiemaʻu ai kia ʻEpalame ʻa e tui moʻoni ka ne mavahe mei ʻUá?
6 Ko ʻEpalamé naʻe motuʻa pea taʻefanau. ʻE malava fēfē ke ʻai ia ke hoko ko ha “puleʻanga lahi”? Pea ko fē tonu naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e fonua ko ʻeni naʻe tuʻutuʻuni ke ne ʻalu ki aí? Naʻe ʻikai ke tala ia ki ai ʻe he ʻOtuá ʻi he taimi ko iá. Ko ia ai, naʻe fiemaʻu ʻa e tui moʻoni ia kia ʻEpalame ke ne mavahe ai mei ʻUa koloaʻia pea mo e kotoa ʻo hono tuʻumālié. Ko e tohi ko e Family, Love and the Bible ʻoku fakamatala ai ʻo fekauʻaki mo e kuonga muʻá: “Ko e mamafa taha ʻi he kotoa ʻo e ngaahi tautea naʻe malava ke hilifaki ki ha mēmipa ʻo ha fāmili naʻe hoko ʻo halaia ʻi ha faihia mamafa ko hono kapusi ia, ko e toʻo ia mei hono ‘tuʻunga mēmipa’ ʻi he fāmilí. . . . Ko e ʻuhinga ia naʻe hoko ai ko ha fakahāhā anga-kehe ʻeni ʻo e talangofua taʻetoefehuʻia mo e falala ki he ʻOtuá, ʻa e muimui ʻa ʻĒpalahame ki he fekau fakaʻotua, ʻo ne mavahe, ʻo ʻikai mei hono fonuá pē, kae toe pehē foki mei hono kāingá.”
7. ʻOku anga-fēfē nai ʻa e fehangahangai ʻa e kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní mo e ngaahi ʻahiʻahi hangē ko ia naʻe fehangahangai mo ʻEpalamé?
7 ʻOku fehangahangai nai ʻa e kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní mo e ngaahi ʻahiʻahi meimei tatau. ʻI he hangē ko ʻEpalamé, ʻoku tau ongoʻi nai ʻoku tenge kitautolu ke ʻai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa fakamatelié ia ʻo muʻomuʻa ʻi he ngaahi meʻa fakateokalatí. (1 Sione 2:16) ʻOku tau maʻu nai ha fakafepaki mei he ngaahi mēmipa taʻetui ʻi he fāmilí, ʻo kau ai ʻa e ngaahi kāinga kuo tuʻusí, ʻa ia ʻoku nau feinga nai ke tauheleʻi kitautolu ki he feohi ʻoku ʻikai leleí. (Mātiu 10:34-36; 1 Kolinito 5:11-13; 15:33) Naʻe fokotuʻu ai ʻe ʻEpalame ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei maʻatautolu. Naʻá ne ʻai ʻa e kaumeʻa mo Sihová ʻo muʻomuʻa ia ʻi he meʻa kotoa pē—naʻa mo e ngaahi fehokotaki fakafāmilí. Naʻe ʻikai te ne ʻilo pau ʻa e founga, taimi, pe ko e feituʻu ʻe fakahoko ai ʻa e ngaahi talaʻofa ʻa e ʻOtuá. Ka neongo ia, naʻá ne loto-lelei ke fakatefito ʻene moʻuí ʻi he falala ki he ngaahi talaʻofa ko iá. Ko ha fakalototoʻa lelei ē ka ko ʻeni ʻa hono fakamuʻomuʻa ʻa e Puleʻangá ʻi heʻetau moʻui tonu ʻi he ʻaho ní!—Mātiu 6:33.
8. Ko e hā ʻa e kaunga ʻo e tui ʻa ʻEpalamé ki he ngaahi mēmipa ʻo hono fāmilí tonu, pea ko e hā nai ʻe ako ʻe he kau Kalisitiané mei he meʻá ni?
8 Fēfē ʻa e ngaahi mēmipa ʻi he fāmili tonu ʻo ʻEpalamé? Ngalingali, naʻe ʻi ai ha kaunga lahi ʻo e tui mo e falala-pau ʻa ʻEpalamé kiate kinautolu, he ko hono uaifí, ʻa Sēlai, fakatouʻosi mo hono ʻilamutu paea ko Loté naʻe ueʻi kinaua ke na talangofua ki he fekau ʻa e ʻOtuá peá na mavahe mei ʻUa. Ko e tokoua ʻo ʻEpalame ko Nēhoá pea mo e niʻihi ʻo ʻene fānaú naʻa nau mavahe ki mui mei ʻUa ʻo nau nofo ʻi Hālani, ʻa ia naʻa nau lotu ai kia Sihova. (Senesi 24:1-4, 10, 31; 27:43, PM; Senesi 29:4, 5, PM) Ko ē, naʻa mo e tamai ʻa ʻEpalamé, ʻa Tela, naʻá ne loto ke mavahe fakataha mo hono fohá! Ko ia ai, ʻoku fakamatala kiate ia ʻa e Tohitapú, ʻi he tuʻunga ko e ʻulu ʻo e fāmilí, ʻi heʻene fai ʻa e hiki ki Kēnaní. (Senesi 11:31) ʻIkai te tau fiefia mo kitautolu foki ʻi ha tuʻunga ʻo e lavameʻá kapau te tau fakamoʻoni pōtoʻi ki hotau ngaahi kāingá?
9. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi teuteu naʻe pau ke fai ʻe ʻEpalame ki heʻene fonongá, pea ko e hā naʻe kau nai ai ha feilaulaú?
9 Ki muʻa ke kamata ʻene fonongá, naʻe lahi ʻa e meʻa ke fai ʻe ʻEpalamé. Naʻe pau ke ne fakatau atu hono ʻapí mo e ngaahi koloá pea fakatau mai ha ngaahi tēniti, fanga kāmeli, meʻakai mo e naunau naʻe fiemaʻú. Naʻe fuesia nai ʻe ʻEpalame ha mole fakapaʻanga ʻi hono fai ʻa e ngaahi teuteu fakavavevave ko iá, ka naʻá ne fiefia ke talangofua kia Sihova. Ko ha ʻaho mahuʻinga lahi ē kuo pau naʻe ʻi aí ʻi he taimi naʻe kakato ai ʻa e ngaahi teuteú pea tuʻu ʻa e kalavana ʻa ʻEpalamé ʻi tuʻa ʻi he ngaahi ʻā ʻo ʻUá, ʻo teuteu ki he fonongá! ʻI he fou he ngaofe ʻo e Vaitafe ʻIufaletesí, naʻe fononga fakatokelau-hihifo ai ʻa e kalavaná. ʻI he hili ha ngaahi uike ʻo e fonongá, ʻo ʻosi nai ʻa e kilomita ʻe 1,000, naʻe aʻu ai ki ha kolo ʻi he fakatokelau ʻo Mesopotēmiá naʻe ui ko Hālani, ko ha tauʻanga ki he ngaahi kalavaná.
10, 11. (a) Ko e hā ʻoku ngalingali ai naʻe nofo maʻu ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi Hālani ʻi ha taimí? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e fakalototoʻa ʻoku malava ke ʻoatu ki he kau Kalisitiane ko ia ʻoku nau tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi mātuʻa taʻumotuʻá?
10 Naʻe nofo maʻu ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi Hālani, ngalingali naʻe fai ia ʻi he fakakaukau lahi ki heʻene tamai taʻumotuʻá, ʻa Tela. (Livitiko 19:32) ʻOku maʻu ʻe he kau Kalisitiane tokolahi he ʻahó ni ʻa e fatongia meimei tatau ko hono tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi mātuʻa taʻumotuʻá pe mahamahakí, pea kuo aʻu ʻo pau ki he niʻihi ke nau fai ʻa e feʻunuʻaki koeʻuhi kae lava ke fai ia. ʻI he taimi ʻoku fiemaʻu ai iá, ʻoku malava ʻe he faʻahinga peheé ke fakapapauʻi ko ʻenau ngaahi feilaulau ʻofá ʻoku “hangai fofonga ki ai ʻa e ʻOtua.”—1 Timote 5:4.
11 Naʻe mahili atu ha taimi. “Koe gaahi aho o Tela koe taʻu e uageau ma nima: bea nae bekia a Tela i Halani.” Naʻe hanga ʻe he mole ko ʻení ʻo fakalotomamahiʻi moʻoni ʻa ʻEpalame, ka ʻi he taimi naʻe mahili atu ai ʻa e vahaʻa taimi mamahí ni, naʻá ne mavahe leva. “Nae fitugofulu ma nima taʻu ae motua o Ebalame i he ene alu mei Halani. Bea nae ave e Ebalame a hono unoho ko Selai, mo Lote koe foha o hono tokoua, moe nau gaahi mea [“koloa,” NW] kotoabe kuo nau tanaki, moe kakai kuo nau maʻu i Halani; bea naa nau alu atu ke fonoga ki he fonua ko Kenani; bea naa nau hoko ai ki he fonua ko Kenani.”—Senesi 11:32, PM; Senesi 12:4, 5, PM.
12. Ko e hā naʻe fai ʻe ʻEpalame he lolotonga ʻo ʻene nofo ʻi Hālaní?
12 ʻOku mahuʻinga ke fakatokangaʻi ko e lolotonga ko ia ʻo e ʻi Hālaní, naʻe ‘tanaki koloa’ ʻa ʻEpalame. Neongo naʻá ne fai ha ngaahi feilaulauʻi ʻo e meʻa fakamatelié koeʻuhi kae mavahe mei ʻUa, naʻe mavahe ʻa ʻEpalame mei Hālaní ko ha tangata koloaʻia. ʻOku hā mahino, naʻe tupu ʻení ʻi he tāpuaki ʻa e ʻOtuá. (Koheleti 5:19) Neongo ʻoku ʻikai ke talaʻofa mai ʻe he ʻOtuá ha koloa ki he kotoa ʻo ʻene kakaí he ʻahó ni, ʻokú ne faitōnunga ki heʻene talaʻofa ke tokonaki mai ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu ʻa e faʻahinga ko ia ʻoku nau ‘liʻaki ʻa ʻapi, ngaahi tokoua, pe ngaahi tuofāfine’ koeʻuhi ko e Puleʻangá. (Maake 10:29, 30) Naʻe toe ‘maʻu kakai’ ʻa ʻEpalame, ʻa ia, ko ha kau sevāniti tokolahi. ʻOku pehē ʻe he Tākumu Selusalemá mo e Liliu Kalitiá naʻe ‘faifakaului’ ʻa ʻEpalame. (Senesi 18:19) ʻOku ueʻi koe ʻe hoʻo tuí ke ke talanoa ki ho ngaahi kaungāʻapí, ngaahi kaungāngāué, pe ngaahi kaungāakó? ʻI he ʻikai ke nofo maʻu pē pea fakangaloʻi ʻa e fekau ʻa e ʻOtuá, naʻe ngāueleleiʻaki ʻe ʻEpalame hono taimi ʻi Hālaní. Ka ʻi he taimi ko ʻení ne ngata ai hono taimi nofo ʻi aí. “Pea hiki ʻa Epalame, ʻo hange ko e folofola ʻa Sihova kiate ia.”—Senesi 12:4.
ʻI he Tafaʻaki ʻe Taha ʻo ʻIufaletesí
13. Ko e fē ʻa e taimi naʻe kolosi ai ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi he Vaitafe ʻIufaletesí, pea ko e hā ʻa e mahuʻinga ʻo e foʻi ngāue ko iá?
13 Naʻe pau leva ke toe fononga ʻa ʻEpalame. ʻI he mavahe mei Hālaní, naʻe huʻu ʻene kalavaná ki he hihifó, ʻo fononga ai ʻi he kilomita ʻe 90 nai. Naʻe kiʻi tuʻu nai ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi ha feituʻu ʻi ʻIufaletesi mei he tafaʻaki ʻe taha ʻo e senitā fefakatauʻaki motuʻa ʻo Kalikimisí. Ko e feituʻu tefito ʻeni naʻe kolosi ai ʻa e ngaahi kalavaná.b Ko e hā ʻa e ʻaho naʻe kolosi ai ʻa e kalavana ʻa ʻEpalamé ʻi he vaitafé? ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻe he Tohitapú naʻe hoko ia ʻi he taʻu ʻe 430 ki muʻa ʻi he Fuʻu Mavahe ʻa e kau Siú mei ʻIsipite ʻi Nīsani 14, 1513 K.M. ʻOku pehē ʻe he Ekisoto 12:41: “ʻI he ʻosi ʻa e taʻu ʻe fangeau ma tolungofulu, ʻi he ʻaho pe ko ia naʻe ʻalu atu mei Isipite ʻa e ngaahi matatau ʻo Sihova.” (Fakaʻītali ʻamautolu.) Ko ia, ʻoku ngalingali naʻe ngāue ʻa e fuakava ʻia ʻĒpalahamé ʻi Nīsani 14, 1943 K.M., ʻi he taimi naʻe talangofua ai ʻa ʻEpalame ʻo kolosi ʻi ʻIufaletesí.
14. (a) Ko e hā naʻe malava ʻe ʻEpalame ke ne sio ki ai ʻaki ʻa hono mata ʻo e tuí? (e) ʻI he ʻuhinga fē ʻoku tāpuakiʻi ai ʻa e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻi he ʻaho ní ʻo lahi ange ia ʻia ʻEpalamé?
14 Naʻe liʻaki ʻe ʻEpalame ha kolo tuʻumālie. Neongo ia, naʻe malava ʻi he taimi ko ʻení ke ne sioloto atu “ki he kolo ʻoku oʻona ʻa e ngaahi tuʻunga,” ko ha founga-pule māʻoniʻoni ki he faʻahinga ʻo e tangatá. (Hepelu 11:10) ʻIo, ʻaki ha kiʻi fakamatala siʻisiʻi pē, naʻe kamata ai ke mahino kia ʻEpalame ʻa e palani ʻo fekauʻaki mo e taumuʻa ʻa e ʻOtuá ke huhuʻi ʻa e faʻahinga fakaʻaʻau ke mate ʻo e tangatá. ʻI he ʻahó ni, ʻoku tāpuakiʻi kitautolu ʻi heʻetau maʻu ha fuʻu mahino lahi mamaʻo ange ʻia ʻEpalame ki he ngaahi taumuʻa ʻa e ʻOtuá. (Palovepi 4:18) Ko e “kolo,” pe founga-pule ʻa e Puleʻangá, ʻa ia naʻe ʻamanaki ki ai ʻa ʻEpalamé ko ha moʻoniʻi meʻa ia he taimí ni—naʻe fokotuʻu ia ʻi hēvani talu mei 1914. Ko ia ai, ʻikai ʻoku totonu ke ueʻi kitautolu ki he ngaahi ngāue ʻoku fakahaaʻi ai ʻa e tui pea mo e falala kia Sihová?
Kamata ʻa e ʻĀunofo ʻi he Fonua ʻo e Talaʻofá
15, 16. (a) Ko e hā naʻe fiemaʻu ai ʻa e loto-toʻa kia ʻEpalame ki hono langa ha ʻōlita kia Sihová? (e) ʻE malava fēfē ke loto-toʻa ʻa e kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní ʻo hangē ko ʻEpalamé?
15 ʻOku tala mai ʻe he Senesi 12:5, 6 (PM) kiate kitautolu: “Naa nau hoko ai ki he fonua ko Kenani. Bea nae alu atu a Ebalame i he fonua ki he botu o Sikemi, ki he botu akauia o Mole.” Ko Sīkemí naʻe kilomita ʻe 50 ki he tokelau ʻo Selusalemá pea naʻe tuʻu ʻi ha teleʻa maʻuiʻui ʻa ia kuo fakamatalaʻi ko e “palataisi ʻo e fonua toputapú.” Neongo ia, “koe kakai Kenani nae i he fonua i he kuoga koia.” Koeʻuhi naʻe fakalielia fakaeʻulungaanga ʻa e kau Kēnaní, naʻe pau kia ʻEpalame ke ne fai ha tokanga ke maluʻi hono fāmilí mei heʻenau tākiekina ololaló.—Ekisoto 34:11-16.
16 ʻI hono tuʻo uá, naʻe “ha ʻa Sihova kia Epalame, ʻo ne folofola ʻo pehe, Ko ho hako te u ʻatu ki ai ʻa e fonua ni.” He meʻa fakalotofiefia ē! Ko hono moʻoní, naʻe pau ke maʻu ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e tui ka ne fiefia ʻi he meʻa ʻa ia ko hono hako pē ʻi he kahaʻú te nau fiefia aí. Neongo ia, ʻi he tali ki aí naʻe hanga ai ʻe ʻEpalame ʻo “langa ʻi he potu ko ia ha olita kia Sihova ʻa ia ne ha kiate ia.” (Senesi 12:7) ʻOku fokotuʻu mai ʻe ha mataotao Tohitapu ʻe taha: “Ko hono langa [ʻo ha] ʻōlita ʻi he fonuá ko hono moʻoní ko ha founga anga-maheni ia ki hono maʻu ʻo e fonuá ʻo makatuʻunga ʻi ha totonu kuo maluʻi ki hono ngāueʻi ʻo ʻene tuí.” Ko hono langa ʻo ha ʻōlita peheé naʻe toe hoko ia ko ha ngāue loto-toʻa. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua, ko e ʻōlita ko ʻení ko e kalasi ia naʻe fakahaaʻi ki mui ʻi he Lao fuakavá, naʻe faʻuʻaki ʻa e ngaahi maka fakanatula (naʻe ʻikai tā). (Ekisoto 20:24, 25) ʻE hā mātuʻaki kehe ia mei he ngaahi ʻōlita naʻe ngāueʻaki ʻe he kau Kēnaní. Naʻe fai ai ʻe ʻEpalame ha tuʻu fakahāhā loto-toʻa ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha tokotaha lotu ʻa e ʻOtua moʻoní, ʻa Sihova, ʻo fakaeʻa atu ia ki he loto-kovi mo e fakatuʻutāmaki fakaesino ʻe malava ke hokó. Fēfē kitautolu ʻi he ʻaho ní? ʻOku ʻi ai ha niʻihi ʻo kitautolu—tautefito ki he fānaú—ʻoku fakaʻehiʻehi mei hono ʻai hotau ngaahi kaungāʻapí pe kaungāakó ke nau ʻilo ʻoku tau lotu kia Sihová? ʻOfa ke fakalototoʻaʻi kotoa kitautolu ʻe he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga loto-toʻa ʻa ʻEpalamé ke tau laukauʻaki ʻa e hoko ko e kau sevāniti ʻa Sihová!
17. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakamoʻoniʻi ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa ia tonu ko ha tokotaha malanga ʻo e huafa ʻo e ʻOtuá, pea ko e hā ʻoku fakamanatu mai ʻe he meʻá ni ki he kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní?
17 ʻIlonga ha feituʻu naʻe ʻalu ki ai ʻa ʻEpalame, naʻe fakamuʻomuʻa maʻu pē ai ʻa e lotu ʻa Sihová. “Pea ne hiki mei ai ki ha moʻunga naʻe tuʻu ki he potu hahake ʻo Peteli, pea ne folahi ai hono teniti; ʻo tuʻu ʻa Peteli mei lulunga, pea ko Ai mei hahake; pea ne fokotuʻu ʻi he potu ko ia ha olita kia Sihova, pea ne fai ai ʻa e lotu [“ui,” NW] ki he huafa ʻo Sihova.” (Senesi 12:8) Ko e kupuʻi lea faka-Hepelū ki he “ui ki he huafa” ʻoku toe ʻuhinga ia ko e “fanongonongo (malangaʻi) ʻa e huafá.” ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua, naʻe fanongonongo loto-toʻa ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e huafa ʻo Sihová ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo hono ngaahi kaungāʻapi Kēnaní. (Senesi 14:22-24) ʻOku fakamanatu mai ʻe he meʻá ni kiate kitautolu hotau ngafa ke kau ʻi he lahi taha ʻe malavá ʻi hono “fanongonongo fakahāhā hono huafá” ʻi he ʻahó ni.—Hepelu 13:15, NW; Loma 10:10.
18. Ko e hā ʻa e vahaʻangatae ʻo ʻEpalame mo e kakai ʻo Kēnaní?
18 Naʻe ʻikai ke nofo ʻa ʻEpalame ʻi ha taha ʻo e ngaahi feituʻu ko iá ʻo fuʻu fuoloa. “ʻI he hili iá naʻe veteki ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e ʻapitangá, ʻo ne hiki ai pē mei he ʻapitanga ki he ʻapitanga ʻo aʻu ki Nīkepi”—ko e feituʻu ʻoku siʻi ai ʻa e ʻuhá ʻi he fakatonga ʻo e ʻotu moʻunga ʻo Siutá. (Senesi 12:9, NW) ʻI he hokohoko atu ʻa e hikí pea mo hono fakamoʻoniʻi tonu ia ko ha tokotaha lotu ʻa Sihova ʻi he feituʻu foʻou taki taha, naʻe hanga ai ʻe ʻEpalame mo hono falé ʻo “fanongonongo fakahāhā ko e kau muli mo e kau ʻāunofo kinautolu ʻi he fonuá.” (Hepelu 11:13, NW) Lolotonga iá, naʻa nau fakaʻehiʻehi maʻu pē mei he fuʻu anga-fakakaumeʻa ki honau ngaahi kaungāʻapi panganí. Kuo pau ke tatau mo ia ʻa e kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní ʻo tuʻumaʻu ai pē ʻi he “ʻikai te nau ʻo māmāni.” (Sione 17:16) Neongo ʻoku tau anga-ʻofa mo anga-fakaʻapaʻapa ki hotau ngaahi kaungāʻapí mo e ngaahi kaungāfeohi ʻi he ngāué, ʻoku tau tokanga ke ʻoua ʻe fihia ʻi he ʻulungaanga ʻoku tapua mai ai ʻa e laumālie ʻo e māmani ʻoku mavahe mei he ʻOtuá.—Efeso 2:2, 3.
19. (a) Ko e hā ne fakahoko ai ʻe he moʻui hikihiki holó ʻa e ngaahi pole kia ʻEpalame mo Sēlaí? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e toe ngaahi pole naʻe maluʻaki mai kia ʻEpalamé?
19 ʻAi ke ʻoua naʻa ngalo ʻiate kitautolu ko e feʻunuʻaki ki he ngaahi tuʻunga fefeka ʻo e moʻui hikihiki holó naʻe ʻikai faingofua ia kia ʻEpalame pe ko Sēlai. Naʻá na kai mei he lahi ʻo ʻena ngaahi tākangá kae ʻikai mei he meʻakai naʻe fakatau ʻi he taha ʻo e ngaahi pasā mahu ʻo ʻUá; naʻá na nofo ʻi he ngaahi tēniti kae ʻikai ʻi ha ʻapi naʻe langa lelei. (Hepelu 11:9) Naʻe femoʻuekina ʻa e ngaahi ʻaho ʻo ʻEpalamé; naʻe lahi ʻa e meʻa ke ne fai ʻi hono tokangaʻi ʻa ʻene ngaahi tākangá mo ʻene kau sevānití. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻe fai ʻe Sēlai ʻa e ngaahi ngāue tukufakaholo ʻa ē naʻe fai ʻe he kau fefine ʻo e tōʻonga fakafonua ko iá: ʻa e natu ʻo e mahoaʻá, taʻo maá, takai filó mo e tuitui ʻo e valá. (Senesi 18:6, 7; 2 Tuʻi 23:7; Palovepi 31:19; Isikeli 13:18) Neongo ia, naʻe kei maluʻaki mai pē ha ngaahi ʻahiʻahi foʻou. Naʻe vave ʻa e pau ke fetaulaki ʻa ʻEpalame mo hono falé mo ha tuʻunga te ne ʻai ʻenau moʻuí tonu ki ha tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki! ʻE fakamoʻoniʻi ʻoku mālohi feʻunga ʻa e tui ʻa ʻEpalamé ke ne malava ai ke fehangahangai mo e pole ko iá?
[Fakamatala ʻi lalo]
a Neongo ʻoku lolotonga lele ʻa ʻIufaletesi ʻi he kilomita ʻe 16 nai ʻi he hahake ʻo e tuʻuʻanga ki muʻa ʻo ʻUá, ʻoku fakahaaʻi ʻe he fakamoʻoní naʻe lele pē ia ʻi he hihifo ʻo e koló ʻi he kuonga muʻá. Ko ia, naʻe lava ke lave ai ki mui kia ʻEpalame ko ʻene haʻu mei he “tafaʻaki ʻe taha ʻo e Vaitafe [ʻIufaletesí].”—Siosiua 24:3, NW.
b ʻI ha ngaahi senituli ki mui ai, naʻe ngāueʻaki ai ʻe Tuʻi ʻAsanasepale II ʻo ʻAsīliá ha ngaahi vakavakaʻāmei ke kolosi ai ʻi ʻIufaletesi ʻo ofi ki Kalikimisi. Pe naʻe fai pehē ʻa ʻEpalame pe naʻá ne aʻa pē ia ki he tafaʻaki ʻe tahá mo ʻene kalavaná, ʻoku ʻikai ha lau ia ki ai ʻa e Tohitapú.
Naʻá Ke Fakatokangaʻi?
• Ko e hā ʻoku ui ai ʻa ʻEpalame “ko e tamai ʻanautolu kotoa pe ʻoku tui”?
• Ko e hā naʻe fiemaʻu ai ʻa e tuí kia ʻEpalame ka ne mavahe mei ʻUa ʻo e kau Kalitiá?
• Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakahaaʻi ʻe ʻEpalame naʻá ne fakamuʻomuʻa ʻa e lotu ʻa Sihová?
[Mape ʻi he peesi 16]
(Ki he konga tohi kuo fokotuʻu kakató, sio ki he tohi)
FONONGA ʻA ʻEPALAMÉ
ʻUa
Hālani
Kalikimisi
KĒNANI
Tahi Lahí
[Maʻuʻanga]
Based on a map copyrighted by Pictorial Archive (Near Eastern History) Est. and Survey of Israel
[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 15]
Naʻe pau ke maʻu ʻe ʻEpalame ʻa e tui ka ne mavahe ai mei he ngaahi faingamālie naʻe ʻomai ʻe he moʻui ʻi ʻUá
[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 18]
ʻI he nofo ʻi he ngaahi tēnití, naʻe hanga ai ʻe ʻEpalame mo hono falé ʻo “fanongonongo fakahāhā ko e kau muli mo e kau ʻāunofo kinautolu”