Incwadi YeBhayibhile 5—Duteronomi

Umbhali: NguMoses

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: Kumathafa AkwaMowabhi

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Ngowe-1473 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Iinyanga Ezimbini (Ngowe-1473 B.C.E.)

 1. Yiyiphi imibuzo esenokubuzwa mayela nokungena kwamaSirayeli kwiLizwe Ledinga?

INCWADI yeDuteronomi inesigidimi esinamandla kubantu bakaYehova. Emva kokubhadula entlango iminyaka engama-40, ngoku oonyana bakaSirayeli babesele beza kungena kwiLizwe Ledinga. Yintoni eyayingaphambi kwabo? Ziziphi iingxaki ezingaqhelekanga ababeza kujamelana nazo kwelinye icala leYordan? Yintoni awayeza kuthi uMoses ekugqibeleni ayithethe kolu hlanga? Sikwanokubuza oku, Kutheni le nto kuyingenelo kuthi namhlanje ukwazi iimpendulo zale mibuzo?

 2. IDuteronomi ibaluleke ngokubalaseleyo ngayiphi indlela?

² Iimpendulo zifumaneka kumazwi awathethwa nguMoses waza wawabhala kwincwadi yesihlanu yeBhayibhile, iDuteronomi. Nangona iphinda ingxelo eninzi evela kwiincwadi zokuqala, iDuteronomi ibaluleke ngeyayo indlela ebalaseleyo. Kutheni kunjalo nje? Igxininisa ngokungakumbi kwisigidimi sobuthixo, esanikelwa ngexesha laxa abantu bakaYehova babelufuna ngokwenene ukhokelo olunamandla nolwalathiso olungqalileyo kwimbali yabo. Kwakumbovu ukuba bangene kwiLizwe Ledinga phantsi kwenkokeli entsha. Kwakufuneka bakhuthazelwe ukuba batyhalele phambili, ibe kwangaxeshanye kwakufuneka banikwe isiluleko sobuthixo ukuze bahambe ngekhondo elifanelekileyo elikhokelela kwintsikelelo kaYehova.

 3. Yintoni ayigxininisayo uMoses kuyo yonke iDuteronomi, kwaye kutheni loo nto ibalulekile kuthi namhlanje?

³ Ngokuvisisana nale mfuneko, uMoses washukunyiswa ngamandla ngumoya kaYehova ukuba awabongoze ngokungqalileyo amaSirayeli ukuba athobele kwaye athembeke. Kuyo yonke le ncwadi, ugxininisa ukuba uYehova unguThixo Osenyangweni, ofuna uzinikelo olupheleleyo nonqwenela ukuba abantu bakhe ‘bamthande ngentliziyo yabo yonke, ngomphefumlo wabo wonke nangamandla abo onke.’ “NguThixo woothixo yena, nguNkosi kankosi, nguThixo omkhulu, oligorha, owoyikekayo, ongakhethi buso, ongamkeli sicengo [“onganyotywayo,” NW].” Akakunyamezeli ukukhweletiswa. Ukumthobela kuthetha ubomi, ukungamthobeli kuthetha ukufa. Umyalelo kaYehova, njengoko unikelwe kwiDuteronomi, wawulilungiselelo nesiluleko esasifuneka kumaSirayeli ukwenzela imisebenzi ebalulekileyo eyayiphambi kwawo. Ukwaluhlobo lwesiluleko esifunekayo kuthi namhlanje ukuze siqhubeke sihamba ngokoyika uYehova, singcwalisa igama lakhe phakathi kwehlabathi elonakeleyo.—Dut. 5:9, 10; 6:4-6; 10:12-22.

 4. Iyintoni intsingiselo yegama elithi Duteronomi, kwaye iyintoni injongo yale ncwadi?

⁴ Igama elithi Duteronomi livela kwigama elikwinguqulelo yeSeptuagint yesiGrike elithi, Deu·te·ro·noʹmi·on, elidibanisa elithi deuʹte·ros, elithetha ukuthi “eyesibini,” nelithi noʹmos, elithetha ukuthi “umthetho.” Ngoko ke lithetha ukuthi “Umthetho Wesibini; Ukuphindwa Komthetho.” Oku kuvela kwinguqulelo yesiGrike yebinzana lesiHebhere elikwiDuteronomi 17:18, elithi mish·nehʹ hat·toh·rahʹ, eliguqulelwe ngokuchanileyo ngokuthi ‘umbhalo womthetho.’ Noko ke, phezu kwayo nje intsingiselo yegama elithi Duteronomi, le ncwadi yeBhayibhile ayinguwo umthetho wesibini ingekuko nokuphindwa nje koMthetho. Kunoko, ikukucaciswa koMthetho, ibongoza amaSirayeli ukuba amthande aze amthobele uYehova kwiLizwe Ledinga aza kungena kulo kungekudala.—1:5.

 5. Yintoni ebubungqina bokuba uMoses wayengumbhali weDuteronomi?

⁵ Ekubeni le ncwadi ingumsongo okanye umqulu wesihlanu wePentatiki, umbhali wayo umele ukuba ukwangulowo wabhala iincwadi ezine ezandulelayo, obizwa ngokuba nguMoses. Intshayelelo yayo iyichaza iDuteronomi ‘njengamazwi awathethwa nguMoses kuwo onke amaSirayeli,’ kwaye amabinzana amva, njengelithi ‘uMoses wawubhala lo mthetho’ nelithi “wayibhala uMoses loo ngoma,” ngokucacileyo angqina ukuba ungumbhali wayo. Igama lakhe phantse ukuba livela izihlandlo ezingama-40 kule ncwadi, ngokufuthi njengomthombo wokudlulisela ezi ngxelo. Isimela-bizo esibhekisela kuMoses, sisetyenziswa ngokufuthi kuyo yonke. Iindinyana zokuqukumbela zongezelelwa emva kokufa kukaMoses, ngokunokwenzeka nguYoshuwa okanye nguElazare umbingeleli omkhulu.—1:1; 31:9, 22, 24-26.

 6. (a) Liliphi ithuba eligutyungelwa yiDuteronomi? (b) Kunokwenzeka ukuba yagqitywa nini le ncwadi?

⁶ Zenzeka nini iziganeko zeDuteronomi? Kwasekuqaleni nje, le ncwadi ngokwayo ithi “ngomnyaka wamashumi omane, ngenyanga yeshumi elinanye, ngolokuqala enyangeni leyo, wathetha uMoses koonyana bakaSirayeli.” Ekugqityweni kwengxelo ekwiDuteronomi, incwadi kaYoshuwa iqhubeka nale ngxelo ukususela kwiintsuku ezintathu ngaphambi kokuwelwa kweYordan “ngolweshumi enyangeni yokuqala.” (Dut. 1:3; Yosh. 1:11; 4:19) Oku kwenza ukuba kubekho ithuba leenyanga ezimbini neveki enye lokwenzeka kweziganeko zeDuteronomi. Phofu ke, iintsuku ezingama-30 zeli thuba leeveki ezisithoba zachithelwa ekuzileleni ukufa kukaMoses. (Dut. 34:8) Oku kuthetha ukuba phantse zonke iziganeko zeDuteronomi zinokuba zenzeka ngenyanga ye-11 yomnyaka wama-40. Ngasekupheleni kwaloo nyanga, ukubhalwa kwale ncwadi kumele ukuba nako phantse kwakusekugqityiwe, waza uMoses wafa ekuqaleni kwenyanga ye-12 yomnyaka wama-40, okanye ekuqaleni kowe-1473 B.C.E.

 7. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba iDuteronomi iyinyaniso?

⁷ Ubungqina obusele bunikelwe bobunyaniso beencwadi ezine zokuqala zePentatiki bubonisa okufanayo ngeDuteronomi, incwadi yesihlanu. Ikwayenye yeencwadi ezine kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere ezicatshulwa ngokufuthi kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, ezinye zazo yiGenesis, iiNdumiso noIsaya. Kukho iingcaphulo ezingama-83 kwezi, kwaye ziincwadi ezintandathu kuphela kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike ezingabhekiseliyo kwiDuteronomi.a

 8. Bubuphi ubungqina obungenakukhanyelwa obanikelwa nguYesu obubonisa ubunyaniso beDuteronomi?

⁸ NoYesu ngokwakhe unikela obona bungqina bunamandla obuxhasa iDuteronomi. Kwasekuqaleni kobulungiseleli bakhe, wahendwa izihlandlo ezithathu nguMtyholi, ibe kuzo zozithathu ezo zihlandlo waphendula wathi, “Kubhaliwe.” Kubhalwe phi? Ewe, encwadini yeDuteronomi (8:3; 6:16, 13), awayicaphulayo uYesu njengegunya lakhe eliphefumlelweyo esithi: “Akaphili ngasonka sodwa umntu, uphila ngamazwi onke aphuma emlonyeni kaThixo.” “Uze ungayihendahendi iNkosi uThixo wakho.” “YiNkosi uThixo wakho oya kuqubuda kuyo, ukhonze yona yodwa.” (Mat. 4:1-11) Kamva, xa abaFarisi beza kumlinga ngokuphathelele imithetho kaThixo, ekuphenduleni uYesu wacaphula ‘owona mthetho mkhulu nowokuqala’ okwiDuteronomi 6:5. (Mat. 22:37, 38; Marko 12:30; Luka 10:27) Ngokungathandabuzekiyo ubungqina bukaYesu bubonisa iDuteronomi njengeyinyaniso.

 9. Bubuphi obunye ubungqina obuthethelela iDuteronomi?

⁹ Ngaphezu koko, iziganeko nenkcazelo ekule ncwadi ingqinelana ngokuchanileyo nemeko-bume engokwembali. Iimbekiselo ezenziweyo ngeYiputa, ngelakwaKanan, ngoAmaleki, ngoAmon, ngoMowabhi nangoEdom ziyangqamana namaxesha, kwaye amagama eendawo achazwe ngokuchanileyo.b Inzululwazi engokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala iyaqhubeka ivelisa ubungqina obuninzi mayela nokuchana kweencwadi zikaMoses. UHenry H. Halley ubhala oku: “Kutshanje inzululwazi engokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala iye yayikhanyisa imbono eqhelekileyo yokuba [nguMoses owabhala iPentatiki]. Ingcamango yokuba ukubhala kwakuyinto engaziwayo ngomhla kaMoses ayixhaswa nje kwaphela. Ibe minyaka le eYiputa, ePalestina naseMesopotami, kumbiwa ubungqina, obukwimibhalo ekroliweyo nobukumaleko womhlaba, bokuba iziganeko ezichazwe [kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere] ziziingxelo zokwenyaniso ezingokwembali. Ibe ‘nemithombo yezemfundo’ isixhasa ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo isibakala sokuba le ncwadi yabhalwa nguMoses.”c Ngaloo ndlela, nobunye ubungqina buyayixhasa iDuteronomi, nayo yonke iPentatiki, njengengxelo eyinyaniso nenokuthenjwa eyabhalwa ngumprofeti kaThixo uMoses.

OKUQULETHWE YIDUTERONOMI

10. Yintoni equlethwe yiDuteronomi?

¹⁰ Ngokuyintloko le ncwadi inongcelele lweentetho uMoses awazidlulisela koonyana bakaSirayeli kuMathafa akwaMowabhi ngaseYeriko. Eyokuqala yezi ntetho iphela kwisahluko 4, eyesibini iqhubeka iye kuphela kwisahluko 26, eyesithathu iqhubeka njalo ukusa kwisahluko 28, kwaye enye intetho iqhubeka njalo ukusa ekupheleni kwesahluko 30. Emva kokuba uMoses enze amalungiselelo okugqibela ngenxa yokuba sele eza kufa, kuquka ukumisela kwakhe uYoshuwa njengelandela lakhe, wandula ke abhale eyona ngoma imnandi yokudumisa uYehova, aze emva koko asikelele izizwe zakwaSirayeli.

11. UMoses uyitshayelela njani intetho yakhe yokuqala?

¹¹ Intetho yokuqala kaMoses (1:1–4:49). Le ntetho itshayelela imbali yoko kulandelayo. Okokuqala uMoses uhlola iindlela uYehova awaqhubana ngazo ngokuthembekileyo nabantu Bakhe. UMoses ubaxelela ukuba bahambe baze balime ilizwe elalithenjiswe oomawokhulu babo uAbraham, uIsake noYakobi. Ubalisa indlela uYehova awawulungelelanisa ngayo umsebenzi weli butho lolawulo lobuthixo kwasekuqaleni kohambo lwasentlango ngokwenza ukuba uMoses akhethe amadoda anobulumko naziinkunkqele ukuba abe ngabathetheli bamawaka, bamakhulu, bamashumi ngamahlanu nabamashumi. Kwakukho intlangano ezukileyo, eyayondelwe nguYehova, njengoko amaSirayeli ‘ayihamba yonke loo ntlango inkulu yoyikekayo.’—1:19.

12. Ziziphi iziganeko ezinokuthanani nokuhlolwa okokuqala kwelakwaKanan azibalisayo ngokulandelayo?

¹² Ngoku uMoses ukhumbula isono sabo semvukelo xa bathi beva ingxelo yeentlola ezazibuya zivela kwaKanan baza bakhalaza ngokuba uYehova wayebathiyile kuba, bathi, wabakhupha eYiputa ukuba abayekele nje kuma-Amori. Ngenxa yokungabi nalukholo kwaso, uYehova wasixelela eso sizukulwana singendawo ukuba kwakungekho namnye kuso owayeya kulibona ilizwe elihle, ngaphandle kukaKalebhi noYoshuwa. Bakukuva oku kwakhona bavukela, baba nomsindo bonke baza baluhlasela ngokwabo utshaba, kodwa ekuphela kwento eyenzekayo yaba kukuba ama-Amori abasukela okwebubu leenyosi aze abachithachitha.

13. UMoses waqinisekisa uYoshuwa ngoloyiso ngokwasiphi isizinzi?

¹³ Bahamba njalo entlango besiya kuLwandle Olubomvu, kwaye ebudeni beminyaka engama-38, sonke isizukulwana samadoda emfazwe safa. Wandula ke uYehova wabayalela ukuba bawele baze balihluthe ilizwe elisentla kweArnon, esithi: “Ngale mini ndiya kuqala ukubeka ukunkwantya ngawe nokoyikeka kwakho phezu kwabantu abaphantsi kwezulu lonke, abaya kuluva udaba lwakho bagungqe, bazibhijabhije ngenxa enawe.” (2:25) USihon nelizwe lakhe bawela kumaSirayeli, kwaye ubukumkani bukaOgi boyiswa. UMoses waqinisekisa uYoshuwa ukuba uYehova wayeya kuwalwela amaSirayeli ngendlela efanayo ukuze oyise zonke izikumkani. Wandula ke uMoses wabuza uThixo enoba kwakunokwenzeka kusini na ngaye ukuba angene kwilizwe elihle ngaphesheya kweYordan, kodwa uYehova waqhubeka engavumi, emxelela ukuba amisele, akhuthaze aze omeleze uYoshuwa.

14. Yintoni uMoses ayigxininisayo ngoMthetho kaThixo nangokuzinikela ngokupheleleyo?

¹⁴ Ngoku uMoses ugxininisa ngamandla kuMthetho kaThixo, elumkisa nxamnye nokongezelela okanye ukunciphisa kwimithetho Yakhe. Ukungathobeli kuya kuzisa intlekele: “Kodwa zigcine, uwugcine umphefumlo wakho kunene, hleze uzilibale izinto azibonileyo amehlo akho; hleze zimke entliziyweni yakho yonke imihla yokuphila kwakho. Uze uzazise oonyana bakho, noonyana boonyana bakho.” (4:9) Abazange babone mbonakalo xa uYehova wathetha kubo aMazwi Alishumi phantsi kweemeko ezoyikisayo eHorebhe. Ngoku ukuba baphethukela ekunquleni izithixo nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo baya kutshatyalaliswa, kuba, njengoko uMoses esitsho, “uYehova uThixo wakho ungumlilo odlayo, unguThixo onekhwele [“ofuna uzinikelo olupheleleyo,” NW].” (4:24) Nguye owabathandayo oomawokhulu babo waza wabanyula. Akukho Thixo ungomnye emazulwini phezulu okanye emhlabeni phantsi. UMoses ubongoza esithi mabamthobele Yena, ‘ukuze bayolule imihla yabo emhlabeni, lowo abanika wona uYehova uThixo wabo, imihla yonke.’—4:40.

15. Liliphi ilungiselelo lezixeko zokusabela elenziwayo kwimpuma yeYordan?

¹⁵ Emva kokuqukumbela le ntetho inamandla, uMoses wahlula iBhetsere, iRamoti neGolan ukuba zibe zizixeko zokusabela empumalanga yeYordan.

16. Yintoni ebethelelwa yintetho yesibini kaMoses?

¹⁶ Intetho yesibini kaMoses (5:1–26:19). Apha amaSirayeli ayalelwa ukuba aphulaphule uYehova, owathetha nawo ubuso ngobuso eSinayi. Phawula indlela uMoses awuchaza ngayo kwakhona uMthetho ohlengahlengiswe ngandlel’ ithile ngokuyimfuneko, ngaloo ndlela usiba ngofanelekele ubomi bawo obutsha phesheya kweYordan. Asikokubalisa nje imithetho nemimiselo. Onke amazwi awo abonisa ukuba intliziyo kaMoses imzondelele kwaye izinikele ngokupheleleyo kuThixo wakhe. Uyenza le ntetho ngenxa yempilontle yohlanga. Kuyo yonke ubethelela ukuthotyelwa koMthetho—intobelo esuka entliziyweni enothando, kungekhona ngokunyanzelwa.

17. AmaSirayeli amele aluxelise njani uthando uYehova alubonakalise kuwo?

¹⁷ Okokuqala, uMoses uphinda aMazwi Alishumi, iMithetho Elishumi, aze axelele amaSirayeli ukuba ayithobele, angatyekeli ekunene okanye ekhohlo, ukuze ayolule imihla yawo elizweni nokuze abe maninzi kakhulu. “Yiva, Sirayeli: uYehova uThixo wethu nguYehova mnye.” (6:4) Umele athandwe ngentliziyo, ngomphefumlo nangamandla onke, kwaye amaSirayeli amele afundise oonyana bawo aze abaxelele ngemiqondiso nemimangaliso emikhulu awayenzayo uYehova eYiputa. Amele angenzi zivumelwano zomtshato namaKanan anqula izithixo. UYehova uwanyule amaSirayeli ukuba abe yimpahla yakhe ekhethekileyo, kungekhona ngenxa yokuba emaninzi, kodwa ngenxa yokuba uyawathanda kwaye uya kuwagcina amazwi esifungo awawenza noomawokhulu bawo. AmaSirayeli amele akuphephe ukurhintyelwa lunqulo lweedemon, ayitshabalalise imifanekiso eqingqiweyo eselizweni, aze abambelele kuYehova, ‘onguThixo omkhulu, nowoyikekayo’ ngokwenyaniso.—7:21.

18. Yintoni uMoses abongoza amaSirayeli ukuba azilinde nxamnye nayo?

¹⁸ UYehova wawenza athobeka entlango kangangeminyaka engama-40, ewafundisa ukuba umntu akaphili ngemana okanye ngesonka, kodwa uphila ngamazwi onke aphuma emlonyeni kaYehova. Ebudeni bayo yonke loo minyaka yokulungiswa kwawo, impahla yawo ayizange iguge neenyawo zawo azizange zidumbe. Ngoku sele eza kungena kwilizwe elinobutyebi nentabalala! Noko ke, amele ayilumkele imigibe yezinto eziphathekayo neyokuzingca aze akhumbule ukuba uYehova ‘nguye onika amandla okuzuza ubutyebi’ nokuba nguye ozitshabalalisayo iintlanga ezingendawo. (8:18) Wandula ke uMoses abalise ngezihlandlo zaxa amaSirayeli amcaphukisayo uThixo. Amele akhumbule indlela owavutha ngayo umsindo kaYehova kuwo entlango, ngesibetho, ngomlilo nangokubulawa! Amele akhumbule ukunqula kwawo ithole legolide okuphosakeleyo, okwaphumela ekubeni uYehova abe nomsindo ovuthayo nasekwenziweni ngokutsha kwamacwecwe oMthetho! (Eks. 32:1-10, 35; 17:2-7; Num. 11:1-3, 31-35; 14:2-38) Ngokuqinisekileyo ngoku amele akhonze kwaye abambelele kuYehova, owathandileyo ngenxa yooyise bawo waza wawenza ‘amaninzi njengeenkwenkwezi zezulu.’—Dut. 10:22.

19. Luluphi ukhetho oluchazwa ngokucacileyo, kwaye yiyiphi imithetho oluyibekelwayo uhlanga?

¹⁹ AmaSirayeli amele awugcine “wonke umthetho,” kwaye amele amthobele nakanjani na uYehova, amthande njengoThixo wawo aze amkhonze ngentliziyo yawo yonke nangomphefumlo wawo wonke. (11:8, 13) UYehova uya kuwaxhasa aze awavuze ukuba ayamthobela. Phofu ke, amele azibhokoxe kwaye abafundise ngenkuthalo oonyana bawo. Ukhetho oluphambi kwamaSirayeli luchazwe ngokucacileyo ngokuthi: Ukuthobela kukhokelela kwintsikelelo, ukungathobeli kukhokelela kwisiqalekiso. Amele ‘angalandeli thixo bambi.’ (11:26-28) Wandula ke uMoses andlale imithetho engqalileyo echaphazela amaSirayeli njengoko ehamba esiya kulihlutha iLizwe Ledinga. Kukho (1) imithetho echaphazela unqulo; (2) imithetho ehlobene nokwenziwa kokusesikweni, norhulumente nemfazwe; (3) nemithetho elawula ubomi bobuqu nobentlalo yabantu.

20. Ziziphi iingongoma ezibalaselisa imithetho emayela nonqulo?

²⁰ (1) Unqulo (12:1–16:17). Xa amaSirayeli engena elizweni, amele alutshabalalise ngokupheleleyo lonke uhlobo lonqulo lobuxoki—iindawo eziphakamileyo, izibingelelo, iintsika, ooAshera nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo. AmaSirayeli amele anqule kuphela kwindawo uYehova uThixo wawo akhethe ukulibeka kuyo igama lakhe, kwaye apho onke amele agcobe kuye. Imithetho engokudliwa kwenyama nengamadini iquka izikhumbuzo eziphindaphindiweyo zokuba amele angalidli igazi. “Kodwa qina ungalidli igazi . . . Uze ungalidli; ukuze kulunge kuwe, nakoonyana bakho emva kwakho, xa uthe wakwenza okuthe tye emehlweni kaYehova.” (12:16, 23-25, 27; 15:23) Ngoku uMoses ngokungafihlisiyo ugxeka ukunqulwa kwezithixo. AmaSirayeli awamele afune nokuzazi iindlela zonqulo lobuxoki. Ukuba umprofeti ungqineka elixoki, umele abulawe, ibe abawexuki—kwanesalamane okanye isihlobo esithandekayo sikabani, ewe, kwanazo zonke izixeko—ngokukwanjalo zimele zitshatyalaliswe. Ngokulandelayo kunikelwa imithetho engokutya okulungileyo nokuyinqambi, ukuhlawulwa kwezishumi nenyameko yabaLevi. Izilangazelelo zabantu abanamatyala, zamahlwempu nezamakhoboka zimele zikhuselwe ngokunothando. Okokugqibela, uMoses uchaza imisitho yonyaka njengamaxesha okubulela uYehova ngenxa yentsikelelo yakhe esithi: “Izihlandlo ezithathu ngomnyaka mayibonakale into yonke eyindoda ebusweni bukaYehova uThixo wakho, kuloo ndawo aya kuyinyula; ngomthendeleko wezonka ezingenagwele, nangomthendeleko weeveki, nangomthendeleko weminquba. Makangabonakali ke engaphethe lutho ebusweni bukaYehova.”—16:16.

21. Yiyiphi imithetho ehlobene nokusesikweni enikelwayo, kwaye sisiphi isiprofeto esibalulekileyo asivakalisayo uMoses?

²¹ (2) Okusesikweni, urhulumente nemfazwe (16:18–20:20). Okokuqala, uMoses unikela imithetho echaphazela abagwebi namagosa. Okusesikweni kuyinto ebalulekileyo, ukunyoba nokugqwetha ugwebo kuthiyiwe nguYehova. Kuboniswe iinkqubo emazilandelwe ekumiseleni ubungqina nasekusingatheni amatyala angokwasemthethweni. “Ofanele ukufa wobulawa ngomlomo wamangqina amabini, nokuba ngamangqina amathathu.” (17:6) Kuchazwe imithetho enokuthanani nookumkani. Kwenziwe ilungiselelo lababingeleli nabaLevi. Ukusebenzelana nemimoya kuchazwa ‘njengokulisikizi kuYehova.’ (18:12) Ekhangele phambili kwikamva, uMoses uthi: “UYehova uThixo wakho uya kunivelisela umprofeti ophuma phakathi kwenu, kubazalwana benu, onjengam; ize niphulaphule yena.” (18:15-19) Phofu ke, umprofeti wobuxoki umele afe. Eli candelo liqukumbela ngemithetho emayela nezixeko zokusabela nokuphindezelwa kwegazi, kunye neemfaneleko zokungabikho emkhosini nemithetho yemfazwe.

22. Yiyiphi imithetho elawula imicimbi yangasese neyentlalo exutyushwayo?

²² (3) Ubomi bobuqu nobentlalontle (21:1–26:19). Imithetho echaphazela ubomi bemihla ngemihla bamaSirayeli iboniswe kwimicimbi enjengokufunyanwa komntu obuleweyo, ukutshata nabafazi abathinjiweyo, ilungelo lezibulo, unyana onemvukelo, ukuxhonywa kwesaphuli-mthetho emthini, ubungqina bokuba intombi inyulu, ulwaphulo-mthetho olungokwesini, ukuthenwa, imigqakhwe, indlela yokuphathwa kwabantu basemzini, imigaqo yezempilo, ukuhlawulwa kwenzala nezibhambathiso, uqhawulo-mtshato, ukubiwa kwabantu, imali-mboleko, imivuzo nokubhikica ngexesha lokuvuna. Umntu akamele abethwe imivumbo engaphezu kwama-40. Inkomo ayimele ibotshwe umlomo ngoxa ibhula. Kwandlalwe inkqubo emayilandelwe ngokutshata kwabazalanayo. Izinto zimele zilinganiswe ngokuchanileyo, kuba okungekho sikweni ukuthiyile uYehova.

23. Yintoni uMoses abonisa ukuba iya kuba ngumphumo xa abantu bakaThixo beyithobela imithetho Yakhe?

²³ Ngaphambi kokuba ayiqukumbele le ntetho ebangel’ ihlombe, uMoses ukhumbula indlela awathi uAmaleki wawaxabela ngayo amaSirayeli awayetyhafile ewavela ngasemva njengoko ayesaba eYiputa, kwaye uMoses uyalela amaSirayeli ukuba ‘asicime isikhumbuzo sika-Amaleki phantsi kwezulu.’ (25:19) Xa engena elizweni, amele anikele intlahlela yeziqhamo zomhlaba egcobile, kwaye akwamele anikele izishumi esenza umthandazo wombulelo kuYehova: “Vela ekhayeni lakho elingcwele emazulwini, uqondele, ubasikelele abantu bakho, amaSirayeli, nomhlaba lo usinikileyo, njengoko wafungayo koobawo, ilizwe elibaleka amasi nobusi.” (26:15) Ukuba le miyalelo ayiphumeza ngentliziyo nangomphefumlo wawo wonke, uYehova, kwelakhe icala, uya ‘kuwaphakamisa ngaphezu kweentlanga zonke azenzileyo, ukuze adunyiswe, abe negama nendili; abe ngabantu abangcwele kuYehova uThixo wawo, njengoko wathethayo.’—26:19.

24. Ziziphi iintsikelelo neziqalekiso ezibekwa phambi kwamaSirayeli yintetho yesithathu?

²⁴ Intetho yesithathu kaMoses (27:1–28:68). Kule ntetho amadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli nababingeleli banxulumene noMoses njengoko etyatyadula ngeziqalekiso uYehova aya kuzizisa ngenxa yokungathobeli neentsikelelo aya kuzizisa ngenxa yokuthembeka. Kunikelwa izilumkiso ezibalulekileyo mayela nemiphumo emibi yokungathembeki. Ukuba amaSirayeli njengabantu bakhe abangcwele ayaqhubeka eliphulaphula ilizwi likaYehova uThixo wawo, aya kunandipha iintsikelelo ezingummangaliso, kwaye zonke izizwe zomhlaba ziya kubona ukuba abiza egameni likaYehova. Phofu ke, ukuba ayasilela koku, uYehova uya kuwathumelela “isiqalekiso, nokudungwadungwa, nokukhalinyelwa.” (28:20) Aya kubethwa ngesifo esoyikekayo, ngembalela nangendlala; iintshaba zawo ziya kuwasukela zize ziwenze amakhoboka, kwaye aya kuchithachithwa aze atshatyalaliswe elizweni. Ezi ziqalekiso, nezingakumbi, ziya kuwafikela ukuba ‘akawenzi onke amazwi alo myalelo, abhaliweyo kule ncwadi, ukuze aloyike eli gama lizukileyo neloyikekayo, uYehova uThixo [wawo].’—28:58.

25. (a) Nguwuphi ngoku umnqophiso uYehova awenza namaSirayeli? (b) Luluphi ukhetho uMoses alubeka phambi kwabantu?

²⁵ Intetho yesine kaMoses (29:1–30:20). Ngoku uYehova wenza umnqophiso namaSirayeli kwaMowabhi. Lo mnqophiso ubandakanya uMthetho, njengoko waphinda wachazwa nguMoses, oya kuba lukhokelo kumaSirayeli njengoko engena kwiLizwe Ledinga. Isifungo sokunyaniseka esihambisana nalo mnqophiso sibethelela iimbopheleleko olunazo olu hlanga. Ekugqibeleni, uMoses ungqinisisa amazulu nehlabathi njengoko ebeka phambi kwaba bantu ubomi nokufa, intsikelelo nesiqalekiso, aze abongoze athi: “Nyula ke ubomi, ukuze uphile, wena nembewu yakho; ukuba umthande uYehova uThixo wakho, uliphulaphule ilizwi lakhe, unamathele kuye: ngokuba bubomi bakho, nokolulwa kweemini zakho; ukuze uhlale emhlabeni lowo awafunga uYehova kooyihlo ooAbraham noIsake noYakobi, ukuba wobanika.”—30:19, 20.

26. Ngawaphi amalungiselelo okugqibela awenzayo uMoses ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe?

²⁶ Ukumiselwa kukaYoshuwa nengoma kaMoses (31:1–32:47). Isahluko 31 sibalisa indlela uMoses ammisela ngayo uYoshuwa, emva kokuba ebhale uMthetho waza wanikela imiyalelo emayela nokufundwa kwawo ekuhleni ngokuthe rhoqo, emxelela ukuba akhaliphe aze omelele, size ke sibalise indlela uMoses ayilungiselela ngayo ingoma yesikhumbuzo nendlela akugqiba ngayo ukubhala amazwi oMthetho aze alungiselele ukuba ubekwe ecaleni kwetyeya yomnqophiso kaYehova. Emva koko, uMoses uthetha amazwi ale ngoma kulo lonke ibandla njengesibongozo sokugqibela.

27. Sisiphi isigidimi esinamandla esikwingoma kaMoses?

²⁷ Enjani yona ukuba noxabiso indlela evula ngayo ingoma kaMoses, ichaza uMthombo ohlaziyayo wemfundiso yakhe! “Ichaphaze njengemvula imfundiso yam, ihle njengombethe intetho yam, njengomkhumezelo phezu kohlaza, njengamathontsi phezu kotyani. Ngokuba ndiya kuvakalisa igama likaYehova.” Ewe, makanikwe ubukhulu “uThixo wethu,” “uLiwa.” (32:2-4) Iwenza waziwe umsebenzi wakhe ogqibeleleyo, iindlela zakhe ezisesikweni nokuthembeka kwakhe, ubulungisa nokuthi tye kwakhe. Kwakulihlazo ukuba amaSirayeli enze izinto eziwazisela intlekele, nangona uYehova wayewakhusele kwintlango eyayibharhile neyinkqantosi, ewalondoloze njengokhozo lweliso lakhe kwaye ewagcine njengokhozi phezu kwamantshontsho alo. Wabatyebisa abantu bakhe, ebabiza ngokuthi Yeshurun, “Othe Tye,” kodwa bamenza wanekhwele ngoothixo basemzini baza baba “ngoonyana abangenantembeko.” (32:20) Impindezelo nesohlwayo zezikaYehova. Uyabulala kwaye uyaphilisa. Xa elola ikrele lakhe elimenyezelayo aze aphumeze umgwebo ngesandla sakhe, ngokwenene uya kuphindezela kwiintshaba zakhe. Enjani yona intembelo ekufanele kuyibangele kubantu bakhe! Njengoko ingoma isitsho ekuqukumbeleni, kulixesha lokuba ‘nimemelele, zintlanga, ngenxa yabantu bakhe.’ (32:43) Nguwuphi umbongo wehlabathi onokuze ube nentsingiselo entle, enamandla nenobunzulu ngokufana nale ngoma ebhekiswa kuYehova?

28. UYehova uphakanyiswa njani kwintsikelelo yokugqibela kaMoses?

²⁸ Intsikelelo yokugqibela kaMoses (32:48–34:12). Ngoku uMoses unikwa imiyalelo yokugqibela emayela nokufa kwakhe, kodwa akakayigqibi inkonzo yakhe yobuthixo. Okokuqala, umele asikelele uSirayeli, ibe xa esenza oku, kwakhona uphakamisa igama likaYehova, uKumkani eYeshurun, njengobengezelayo nemikhosi yakhe engcwele ezizigidi ngezigidi. Isizwe ngasinye sibizwa ngegama size sifumane iintsikelelo, andule ke uMoses adumise uYehova njengaLowo unobungangamsha esithi: “Likhaya uThixo wamandulo, ngaphantsi ziingalo ezingunaphakade.” (33:27) Ngentliziyo ezele luxabiso, wandula ke athethe amazwi akhe okugqibela eluhlangeni esithi: “Unoyolo, Sirayeli! Ngubani na onjengawe, bantu basindiswe nguYehova?”—33:29.

29. UMoses wayebalasele ngaziphi iindlela?

²⁹ Emva kokuhlola iLizwe Ledinga ekwiNtaba yeNebho, uMoses uyafa, kwaye uYehova umngcwabela kwaMowabhi, ingcwaba lakhe alaziwa kwaye alihlonelwa unanamhla. Uye waphila iminyaka eli-120 ubudala, kodwa ‘belingenalurhatyazo iliso lakhe, esomelele nokomelela.’ UYehova wayemsebenzise ukuba enze imiqondiso nemimangaliso emikhulu, ibe njengokuba isahluko sokugqibela sinikela ingxelo, “akubanga savela kwaSirayeli mprofeti unjengoMoses, awathi uYehova wamazi, bakhangelana ebusweni.”—34:7, 10.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

30. IDuteronomi iyiqukumbela njani ngokufanelekileyo iPentatiki?

³⁰ Njengencwadi yokugqibela yePentatiki, iDuteronomi ihlanganisa konke okwenzekileyo ngaphambili ekuvakaliseni nasekungcwaliseni igama elikhulu likaYehova uThixo. Nguye kuphela uThixo, ofuna uzinikelo olupheleleyo nongakunyamezeliyo ukukhweletiswa ngoothixo bobudemon bonqulo lobuxoki. Namhlanje, onke amaKristu amele anikele ingqalelo enyanisekileyo kwimigaqo emikhulu eyintloko nesisiseko somthetho kaThixo aze amthobele ukuze angaqalekiswa nguye njengoko elola ikrele lakhe elimenyezelayo lempindezelo kwiintshaba zakhe. Ubomi bawo bumele bukhokelwe ngowona mthetho wakhe mkhulu nongowokuqala ongulo: “Uze umthande uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho yonke, nangomphefumlo wakho wonke, nangamandla akho onke.”—6:5.

31. Ezinye izibhalo eziphefumlelweyo ziyisebenzisa njani iDuteronomi ekwandiseni uxabiso ngeenjongo zikaThixo?

³¹ Ezinye iZibhalo zibhekisela ngokufuthi kwiDuteronomi ukuze zandise uxabiso ngeenjongo zikaThixo. Ukongezelela kwiingcaphulo zakhe xa wayephendula uMhendi, uYesu wenza ezinye iimbekiselo ezininzi. (Dut. 5:16—Mat. 15:4; Dut. 17:6—Mat. 18:16 noYoh. 8:17) Ezi mbekiselo zikho nakwiSityhilelo, apho uYesu ozukisiweyo alumkisa okokugqibela nxamnye nokongezelela okanye nokunciphisa kwincwadi yesiprofeto sikaYehova. (Dut. 4:2—ISityhi. 22:18) UPetros ucaphula kwiDuteronomi xa ebethelela intetho yakhe enamandla yokuba uYesu unguKristu noMprofeti omkhulu kunoMoses lowo uYehova wathembisa ukumvelisa kwaSirayeli. (Dut. 18:15-19—IZe. 3:22, 23) UPawulos ucaphula kuyo xa ebhekisela kwimivuzo yabasebenzi, ekuhlolisisweni ngokucokisekileyo kombandela ngomlomo wamangqina nasekufundisweni kwabantwana.—Dut. 25:4—1 Kor. 9:8-10 neyoku-1 Tim. 5:17, 18; Dut. 13:14 nese-19:15—1 Tim. 5:19 neyesi-2 Kor. 13:1; Dut. 5:16—Efe. 6:2, 3.

32. UYoshuwa, uGidiyon nabaprofeti bayimizekelo emihle njani kuthi?

³² Asingobabhali beZibhalo zamaKristu kuphela abafundiswayo baza bakhuthazwa yiDuteronomi kodwa kwanabakhonzi bakaThixo bamaxesha angaphambi kobuKristu. Senza kakuhle ukulandela umzekelo wabo. Khawuqwalasele nje ukuthobela ngokupheleleyo kwelandela likaMoses, uYoshuwa, ekutshabalaliseni izixeko ezoyisiweyo ebudeni bokuhlasela elakwaKanan, engathabathi nanye into esingelwe phantsi njengoko wenzayo uAkan. (Dut. 20:15-18 nesama-21:23—Yosh. 8:24-27, 29) UGidiyon wayethobela uMthetho ngokubashenxisa emkhosini wakhe abo ‘babesoyika nababegubha.’ (Dut. 20:1-9—ABagwe. 7:1-11) Kwakungenxa yokuthembeka kumthetho kaYehova le nto abaprofeti kwaSirayeli nakwaYuda bathetha ngokungafihlisiyo nangenkalipho xa babegxeka iintlanga ezazihamba ngekhondo eliphosakeleyo. UAmos umisela umzekelo obalaseleyo woku. (Dut. 24:12-15—Amos 2:6-8) Eneneni, kukho imizekelo emininzi yokoqobo enxibelelanisa iDuteronomi nenxalenye yeLizwi likaThixo, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba iyinxalenye esisiseko neyingenelo yayo yonke le ncwadi ivisisanayo.

33. (a) IDuteronomi iyisa njani indumiso kuYehova? (b) Yintoni eboniswa sisicangca esilapha mayela nokuqonda kweentlanga zehlabathi imigaqo yomthetho kaThixo?

³³ Owona mongo weDuteronomi ukukuba kudunyiswe uThixo onguMongami, uYehova. Kuyo yonke kubethelelwa oku: ‘Nqula uYehova; zinikele ngokupheleleyo kuye.’ Nangona amaKristu engasabotshwanga nguMthetho, imigaqo yawo esisiseko ayitshitshiswanga. (Gal. 3:19) Hayi indlela amaKristu okwenyaniso anokufunda lukhulu ngayo kule ncwadi inamandla yomthetho kaThixo, njengoko inemfundiso eqhubela phambili, izichaza izinto ngokungqalileyo kwaye ichazwe ngokulula! Ewe, kwaneentlanga zehlabathi ziye zakuqonda ukubalasela komthetho kaYehova omkhulu, zaza imithetho emininzi ekwiDuteronomi zayibhala kwiincwadi zazo zomthetho. Isicangca esilapha sinikela imizekelo ebangel’ umdla yemithetho eziye zayisebenzisa njengomgaqo.

34. Luluphi unxibelelwano olukhoyo phakathi koku ‘Kuphindwa koMthetho’ noBukumkani bukaThixo?

³⁴ Ngaphezu koko, le ngcaciso yoMthetho yalatha kwaye yandisa uxabiso ngoBukumkani bukaThixo. Njani? Ngoxa wayesemhlabeni uKumkani Otyunjiweyo, uYesu Kristu, wayeqhelene kakuhle nale ncwadi ibe wayisebenzisa, njengoko iimbekiselo zakhe zobuchule kuyo zibonisa. Ekusasazeni ulawulo loBukumkani bakhe phezu komhlaba wonke, uya kulawula ngokuvisisana nemigaqo efanelekileyo yalo “mthetho” ukwamnye, kwaye bonke abezayo ukuze basikelelwe nguye ‘njengembewu’ yoBukumkani kuya kufuneka bayithobele le migaqo. (Gen. 22:18; Dut. 7:12-14) Kuluncedo kwaye kuyingenelo ukuqalisa ukuyithobela ngoku. Kunokuba ube uphelelwe lixesha, lo “mthetho” uneminyaka engama-3 500 ukho uthetha ngamandla nathi namhlanje, ibe uya kuqhubeka uthetha de kungenwe kwihlabathi elitsha phantsi koBukumkani bukaThixo. Kwanga igama likaYehova lingaqhubeka lingcwaliswa phakathi kwabantu bakhe kusetyenziswa yonke imfundiso eyingenelo yePentatiki, efikelela encotsheni yayo ngokuzukileyo kwiDuteronomi—ngokuqinisekileyo eyinxalenye ephefumlelweyo nenempembelelo yaso “sonke iSibhalo”!

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 41]

IMIZEKELO ETHILE ENGOKOMTHETHO EKWIDUTERONOMId

I. Imithetho yobuqu neyentsapho Izahluko Neendinyana

A. Ulwalamano lobuqu

1. Abazali nabantwana 5:16

2. Ulwalamano emtshatweni 22:30; 27:20, 22, 23

3. Imithetho yoqhawulo-mtshato 22:13-19, 28, 29

B. Amalungelo eempahla 22:1-4

II. Imithetho yolawulo

B. Imithetho yomkhosi

2. Abaphathi abangaphantsi 20:9

III. Imicimbi yokugweba

A. Imisebenzi yabagwebi 16:18, 20

IV. Imithetho yolwaphulo-mthetho

2. Isifungo sobuxoki 5:20

1. Ukukrexeza 5:18; 22:22-24

1. Ukubulala nokuhlasela 5:17; 27:24

2. Ukudlwengula nokulukuhla 22:25-29

V. Imithetho yenceba

A. Ukuba nobubele kwizilwanyana 25:4; 22:6, 7

B. Ulwazelelelo ngabangamahlwempu 24:6, 10-18

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]