Izifundo Ezisekelwe KwiZibhalo Eziphefumlelweyo Nemvelaphi Yazo

Isifundo 2—Ixesha NeZibhalo Ezingcwele

Apha kuchazwa indlela elahlulahlulwe ngayo ixesha elisetyenziswe eBhayibhileni, iikhalenda ezazisetyenziswa ngokubanzi, iminyaka ebalulekileyo ephawulwe eBhayibhileni neengongoma ezibangel’ umdla ngokubhekisele “kumsinga wexesha.”

 1, 2. Yintoni eyabhalwa nguSolomon ngokuphathelele ixesha, ibe ngenxa yokubaleka kwexesha, sifanele senze ntoni ngalo?

UMNTU ukuphaphele ngokunzulu ukuhamba kwexesha. Ngesandi ngasinye sokukhenkceza kwewotshi, uthabatha inyathelo eliya phambili njengoko ixesha lihamba. Eneneni, ukuba ulisebenzisa ngokufanelekileyo ixesha lakhe unobulumko. Kunjengokuba uKumkani uSolomon wabhala oku: “Into yonke inexesha elimisiweyo, nomcimbi wonke unexesha lawo phantsi kwezulu: ukuzala kunexesha lako, ukufa kunexesha lako; ukutyala kunexesha lako, ukunyothula okutyelweyo kunexesha lako; ukubulala kunexesha lako, ukuphilisa kunexesha lako; ukuchitha kunexesha lako, ukwakha kunexesha lako; ukulila kunexesha lako; ukuhleka kunexesha lako.” (INtshu. 3:1-4) Hayi indlela elibaleka ngayo ixesha! Iminyaka engama-70 eyiminyaka eqhelekileyo yobomi bomntu imbalwa gqitha ukuba ingalixesha lokuba umntu azi izinto ezininzi nelokuba aziyolise ngazo zonke izinto ezintle uYehova azenzele umntu kulo mhlaba. “Zonke izinto uzenze zantle ngexesha lazo; kwanephakade ulinikele ezintliziyweni zabo ngohlobo lokuba umntu angasifumani isenzo asenzayo uThixo, athabathele ekuqaleni ade ase ekupheleni.”—INtshu. 3:11; INdu. 90:10.

² UYehova yena uphila ngonaphakade. Kuye kwamvuyisa ukubandakanya izidalwa zakhe kumsinga wexesha. Izithunywa zezulu ezisemazulwini, kuquka noSathana owavukelayo, zikuqonda ngokupheleleyo ukuhamba kwexesha. (Dan. 10:13; ISityhi. 12:12) Mayela noluntu kubhalwe oku, “Bonke bephela bafikelwa lixesha nasisihlo.” (INtshu. 9:11) Unoyolo umntu othi ngamaxesha onke abandakanye uThixo ezintweni azicingayo nowamkela ilungiselelo likaThixo lokufumana “ukudla ngexesha elifanelekileyo”!—Mat. 24:45.

 3. Ixesha lifana njani nesibhakabhaka?

³ Ixesha Liya Kwicala Elinye. Nangona ixesha lisebenza kwindalo iphela, akukho mntu uphilayo unokulixela oko likuko. Alinakulinganiswa njengoko sinjalo isibhakabhaka. Akukho bani unokucacisa apho waqalisa khona umsinga wexesha nokuba uya kuphelela phi na. Zonke ezi zinto zilulwazi lukaYehova olungenamlinganiselo, ochazwa enguThixo “kususela kwaphakade kude kuse ephakadeni.”—INdu. 90:2.

 4. Yintoni enokuthethwa ngendlela elihamba ngayo ixesha?

⁴ Kwelinye icala, ixesha lineempawu ezithile ezinokuqondwa. Isantya esibonakalayo elihamba ngaso sinokulinganiswa. Ukongezelela, liya kwicala elinye kuphela. Njengezithuthi ezihamba kwisitrato esiya cala-nye, ixesha lithe chu lisiya kwicala elinye—lisiya phambili, lingasayi kuze libuye mva. Nokuba lihamba ngesantya esingakanani na ukuya phambili, ixesha alisayi kuze libuyiswe umva. Siphila kwixesha langoku eliphawuleka kakhulu. Noko ke, eli xesha langoku alimanga ndawonye, ngokuqhubekayo liba lelidluleyo. Alinakumiswa nangayiphi na indlela.

 5. Kutheni kunokuthiwa umntu uye waphumelela okanye waneentsilelo ezithile kwixa elidluleyo?

⁵ Ixesha Elidlulileyo. Ixesha elidlulileyo lidlulile ke, sele liyimbali, ibe alisayi kuze liphindwe. Naliphi na ilinge lokubuyisa ixesha elidlulileyo liyinto engenakwenzeka kanye njengokuzama ukwenza amanzi engxangxasi aqukuqele ukunyusa induli okanye ukudubula utolo lubuyele kwisaphetha obeludutyulwe luphuma kuso. Iimpazamo zethu zishiye uphawu lwazo kumsinga wexesha, phawu olo olunokususwa nguYehova kuphela. (Isa. 43:25) Ngendlela efanayo, imisebenzi yomntu emihle yexesha elidluleyo ibe yingxelo eya ‘kubuyela kuye’ inentsikelelo evela kuYehova. (IMize. 12:14; 13:22) Umntu uye waphumelela okanye waneentsilelo ezithile kwixa elidluleyo. Ngoku alisenakulawulwa nangayiphi na indlela. Kuye kwabhalwa oku ngokubhekisele kubantu abangendawo: “Ngokuba baya kusikwa kamsinyane njengengca, babune njengohlaza oluphumayo.”—INdu. 37:2.

 6. Lahluke njani ikamva kwixa elidluleyo, ibe kutheni sifanele sibe nomdla ngokukhethekileyo kulo?

⁶ Ikamva. Ikamva lona lahlukile. Sisoloko sikhangele phambili kulo. Ngoncedo lweLizwi likaThixo, sinokuyiphawula imiqobo esilindele ngaphambili size silungiselele ukuhlangabezana nayo. Sinokuziqwebela “ubutyebi emazulwini.” (Mat. 6:20) Obu butyebi abuyi kudlula nomsinga wexesha. Siya kuhlala sinabo ibe buya kusoloko bukho ukusa kwikamva elingunaphakade lentsikelelo. Sinomdla ekulisebenziseni ngobulumko ixesha, njengoko lichaphazela elo kamva.—Efe. 5:15, 16.

 7. Ziziphi izinto ezibonisa ixesha aye uYehova wazilungiselela umntu?

⁷ Izinto Ezibonisa Ixesha. Iiwotshi ezincinane nezinkulu esinazo kule mihla zizizinto ezibonisa ixesha. Zinjengabalawuli abalinganisa ixesha. Ngendlela efanayo uYehova, uMdali, uye wasebenzisa izinto ezinkulu ezibonisa ixesha—umhlaba ujikeleza kwintsika yawo, inyanga ijikeleza umhlaba nelanga—ukuze ngokwembono yakhe, umntu osemhlabeni abe nokwaziswa ngendlela echanileyo ngexesha. “Wathi uThixo, Makubekho izikhanyiso esibhakabhakeni samazulu, zibe ngumahlulo wokwahlula imini kubusuku; zibe zezemiqondiso, zibe zezamaxesha amisiweyo [onyaka, NW], zibe zezemihla neminyaka.” (Gen. 1:14) Ngaloo ndlela, njengezinto ezininzi ezifeza injongo enye ethile, ezi zinto zasezulwini zijikeleza iyileyo kwisangqa sayo, zilinganisa ngokuqhubekayo nangokungenampazamo isantya sokuhamba cala-nye kwexesha.

 8. Ziziphi iintsingiselo ezahlukeneyo elisetyenziswe ngazo igama elithi “imini” eBhayibhileni?

⁸ Imini. EBhayibhileni igama elithi “imini” lisetyenziswe laneentsingiselo eziliqela ezahlukeneyo, kanye njengokuba lisetyenziswa ngeendlela ezahlukahlukeneyo nakumaxesha anamhla. Njengoko umhlaba ugqiba umjikelo omnye opheleleyo kwintsika yawo, ugqiba imini enye eneeyure ezingama-24. Ngale ngqiqo, imini iyilwa lixesha lasemini nexesha lasebusuku, iiyure ezingama-24 ezipheleleyo. (Yoh. 20:19, TE) Noko ke, ixesha elikhanyayo lemini, elidla ngokuba nomlinganiselo weeyure ezili-12, likwabizwa ngokuba yimini. “Wathi uThixo ukukhanya yimini, wathi ubumnyama bubusuku.” (Gen. 1:5) Oku kwabangela ukuba kuvele ixesha elibizwa ngokuthi “bubusuku,” ixesha elidla ngokuba nomlinganiselo weeyure ezili-12 zobumnyama. (Eks. 10:13) Enye ingqiqo elinayo igama elithi “(i)imini” kuxa libhekisela kwisihlandlo esithile sexesha ekwakuphila ngalo umntu othile obalaseleyo. Ngokomzekelo, uIsaya wabona umbono wakhe “ngemihla [“ngeemini,” NW] yoUziya, noYotam, noAhazi, noHezekiya” (Isa. 1:1), ibe iimini zikaNowa nezikaLote zikhankanywa njengezesiprofeto. (Luka 17:26-30) Omnye umzekelo wokusetyenziswa ngendlela eguquguqukayo okanye efuziselayo kwegama elithi “imini” ngamazwi kaPetros athi “phambi kweNkosi imini enye injengeminyaka eliwaka.” (2 Pet. 3:8) Kwingxelo yeGenesis, umhla [imini] wokudala ude wasisihlandlo esidana sexesha—amawaka eminyaka. (Gen. 2:2, 3; Eks. 20:11) Umongo weBhayibhile ubonisa ingqiqo elisetyenziswa ngayo igama elithi “imini.”

 9. (a) Kwaqala njani ukwahlulahlula imini enye ibe ziiyure ezingama-24 zemizuzu engama-60? (b) Ziziphi izinto ezibonisa ixesha ezikhankanyiweyo kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere?

⁹ Iyure. Ukwahlulwahlulwa kwemini ukuba ibe ziiyure ezingama-24 kwaqala eYiputa. Ukwahlulahlulwa okwenziwa kule mihla yethu kweyure ibe yimizuzu engama-60 kwavela kwizifundo zemathematika zaseBhabhiloni, ezaziyinkqubo esekelwe kwinani lama-60. Ukwahlulwahlulwa ngokweeyure akukhankanywanga kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere.a Endaweni yokwahlulahlula imini ibe ngokweeyure ezithile, iZibhalo zesiHebhere zisebenzisa amabinzana anjengokuthi “kusasa,” “emini enkulu,” “emini emaqanda,” nelithi “ngexa langokuhlwa” njengezinto ezibonisa ixesha. (Gen. 24:11; 43:16; Dut. 28:29; 1 Kum. 18:26) Ubusuku babusahlulwahlulwa bube ngamaxesha amathathu abizwa ngokuthi “imilindo yasebusuku” (INdu. 63:6), emibini yayo ebizwe ngokungqalileyo ngamagama eBhayibhileni: ‘umlindo ophakathi kobusuku’ (ABagwe. 7:19) ‘nomlindo wokusa.’—Eks. 14:24; 1 Sam. 11:11.

10. AmaYuda ayezibala njani iiyure ngexesha likaYesu, ibe ukwazi oku kusinceda njani sazi ixesha lokufa kukaYesu?

¹⁰ Noko ke, igama elithi “ilixa [“iyure,” NW]” likhankanywa ngokufuthi kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike. (Yoh. 12:23; Mat. 20:2-6) Iiyure zazibalwa ukususela ekuphumeni kwelanga, okanye malunga neye-6 kusasa. IBhayibhile ikhankanya “iyure yesithathu,” enokuba malunga neye-9 kusasa. “Iyure yesithandathu” ikhankanywa njengexesha laxa kwakuqalisa ukuba mnyama eYerusalem ngethuba lokubethelelwa kukaYesu. Oku kuthi bekuya kungqamana neye-12 emin’ emaqanda. Ukuqhawuka kukaYesu esifa emthini wentuthumbo kuboniswa ukuba kwenzeka “malunga neyure yethoba,” okanye malunga neyesi-3 emva kwemini.—Marko 15:25; Luka 23:44; Mat. 27:45, 46.b

11. Kwaqala nini ukusetyenziswa ‘kweveki’ xa kubalwa ixesha?

¹¹ Iveki. Kwasekuqaleni kwembali yakhe umntu waqalisa ukubala iintsuku ngokuzahlula ngemijikelo esixhenxe. Ngokwenza oku, wayelandela umzekelo woMdali wakhe, owaphelelisa iintsuku zakhe ezintandathu zokudala ngesihlandlo ekuthiwa sesesixhenxe esikwabizwa ngokuba lusuku. UNowa wabala iintsuku ngokuzahlula ngemijikelo esixhenxe. KwisiHebhere, “iveki” ibhekisela ngokoqobo kwinto okanye isihlandlo sexesha esahlulwe kasixhenxe.—Gen. 2:2, 3; 8:10, 12; 29:27.

12. Yintoni inyanga yomjikelo wenyanga, ibe yahluke njani kwiinyanga esizisebenzisa kule mihla?

¹² Iinyanga Zomjikelo Wenyanga Yasebusuku. IBhayibhile ithetha ‘ngeenyanga [zomjikelo wenyanga].’ (Eks. 2:2; Dut. 21:13; 33:14; Ezra 6:15, thelekisa i-NW.) Ubalo lwethu lweenyanga kule mihla aluhambi ngolo hlobo, kuba alusekelwanga kumjikelo wenyanga yasebusuku. Kukwahlulwahlulwa nje konyaka opheleleyo okungasekelwanga ntweni ekubeni ube ngamaxesha ali-12. Inyanga ebalwa ngokusekelwe kumjikelo wenyanga yasebusuku iphela xa kusifa inyanga. Ukumila kwenyanga kuguquguquka kangangezihlandlo ezine, nguquko ezo ezenza umjikelo opheleleyo othabatha malunga neentsuku ezingama-29, iiyure ezili-12 nemizuzu engama-44. Umntu umele nje kuphela ajonge ukumila kwenyanga ukuze athelekelele ukuba lusuku lwesingaphi na lomjikelo wenyanga yasebusuku.

13. Labhalwa njani ngokuchanileyo ixesha loMkhukula?

¹³ Endaweni yokusebenzisa ngokungqongqo umjikelo wenyanga ekubaleni ixesha, kubonakala ukuba uNowa wazibhala iziganeko ngokweenyanga ezineentsuku ezingama-30 inye. Ngokusebenzisa isigodo uNowa awayesigcine emkhombeni, siyaqonda ukuba amanzi oMkhukula azalisa umhlaba ithuba leenyanga ezintlanu, okanye “imihla elikhulu elinamanci mahlanu.” Kwaba semva kweenyanga ezili-12 neentsuku ezili-10 ekwathi umhlaba woma ukuze abo babesemkhombeni bakwazi ukuphuma. Ngaloo ndlela, amaxesha abandakanyekileyo kwesi siganeko abhalwa ngokuchanileyo.—Gen. 7:11, 24; 8:3, 4, 14-19.

14. (a) UYehova walenza njani ilungiselelo lokubakho kwamaxesha onyaka? (b) Liya kuqhubeka likho ixesha elingakanani ilungiselelo lokubakho kwamaxesha onyaka?

¹⁴ Amaxesha Onyaka. Elungiselela ukuba umhlaba umiwe, uYehova wenza ilungiselelo lobulumko nelothando lokumisela amaxesha onyaka. (Gen 1:14) La maxesha abakho ngenxa yokuba umhlaba uthambekile, okanye utyekile kangangomlinganiselo wama-23,5° kumendo ohamba kuwo njengoko ujikeleza ilanga. Oku kubangela ukuba okokuqala uMzantsi Weikhweyitha uthambekele ngaselangeni kuze ke, kwiinyanga ezintandathu kamva, kuthambeke uMntla Weikhweyitha, ukuze amaxesha onyaka aqhubeke ngolungelelwano. Oku kuguquguquka kwamaxesha onyaka kubangela ukuba kubekho amaxesha okulima nawokuvuna awahlukahlukeneyo, angafaniyo nalawulwa kuko. ILizwi likaThixo lisiqinisekisa ukuba eli lungiselelo lokuguquguquka nokungafani kwamaxesha onyaka okwenzeka ebudeni bonyaka liza kuqhubeka ngonaphakade. “Kuthabathela apha, ngayo yonke imihla yehlabathi, akuyi kuphela ukuhlwayela nokuvuna, ukubanda nobushushu, ihlobo nobusika, imini nobusuku.”—Gen. 8:22.

15, 16. (a) Anokwahlulwahlulwa njani amaxesha onyaka aneemvula eLizwe Ledinga? (b) Chaza amaxesha onyaka aneemvula nendlela ahlobene ngayo la maxesha onyaka nezolimo.

¹⁵ Unyaka weLizwe Ledinga unokwahlulwahlulwa ngokubanzi ekubeni lixesha lonyaka elineemvula nelingenazo. Ukususela malunga noAprili phakathi kuse phakathi kuOktobha, kuna imvula encinane kakhulu. Ixesha lonyaka elineemvula linokwahlulelwa ekubeni yimvula yokuqala, okanye “eyasekwindla” (ngo-Oktobha ukuya kuNovemba); izandyondyo zemvula ezina ebusika nemozulu eqhaqhazelis’ amazinyo (ngoDisemba ukuya kuFebruwari); nemvula ena mva, okanye “yasentwasahlobo,“ (ngoMatshi ukuya kuAprili). (Dut. 11:14, NW; Yoweli 2:23, NW) Oku kwahlulwahlulwa kwamaxesha kuyaqikelelwa, ekubeni la maxesha onyaka esibakho ngexesha elinye ngenxa yokuguquguquka kwemozulu kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zeli lizwe. Imvula yokuqala ithambisa umhlaba owomileyo, ukuze uOktobha ukuya kuNovemba ibe lixesha ‘lokulima nelokuhlwayela.’ (Eks. 34:21; Lev. 26:5) Ngexesha lezandyondyo zemvula zasebusika elisusela ngoDisemba ukuya kuFebruwari, kusoloko kusiwa ikhephu, ibe ngoJanuwari noFebruwari, kwiindawo eziphakamileyo iqondo lobushushu lehlela ngezantsi kweqondo lokukhenkca. IBhayibhile ithetha ngoBhenaya, enye yamadoda kaDavide angamagorha, njengowabulala ingonyama “mini ngekhephu.”—2 Sam. 23:20.

¹⁶ Inyanga kaMatshi neka-Aprili (ezisenokuba ngesiHebhere yinyanga enguNisan nenguIyyar) ziinyanga “zemvula yasentwasahlobo.” (Zek. 10:1, NW) Le yimvula yamva, efunekayo ukudumbisa imbewu ebityalwe ekwindla, ukuze kufunyanwe isivuno esichumileyo. (Hos. 6:3; Yak. 5:7) Eli ikwalixesha lonyaka lesivuno sokuqala, ibe uThixo waxelela uSirayeli ukuba anikele le ntlahlela yesivuno ngoNisan 16. (Lev. 23:10; Rute 1:22) Lixesha laxa ilizwe liyintombazana yaye konwatyiwe ngalo. “Iintyantyambo zibonakele ezweni; ixesha lokuntyiloza kweentaka lifikile; izwi lehobe livakele ezweni lethu; umkhiwane ukrwala amakhiwane awo, imidiliya ityatyambile, itsho ngevumba elimnandi.”—INgoma 2:12, 13.

17. (a) Zixhaswa njani izityalo ebudeni bexesha lonyaka elingenazimvula? (b) Khawuqwalasele isicangca esithi “Unyaka WamaSirayeli” uze wahlulahlule unyaka ngokwamaxesha onyaka njengoko kuxutyushwa kwisiqendu 15-17. (c) Sasibakho nini isivuno sokuqala, isivuno sengqolowa, nexesha laxa zonke iziqhamo zazihlanganiswa, ibe yiyiphi imithendeleko eyayingqamana nezi ziganeko?

¹⁷ Malunga noAprili phakathi kuqalisa ixesha lonyaka elingenamvula, kodwa phantse ngalo lonke eli xesha umbethe omninzi uxhasa izityalo zasehlotyeni, ingakumbi kumathafa angaselunxwemeni nakumathambeka eentaba asentshona. (Dut. 33:28) Ebudeni bukaMeyi, kuvunwa ingqolowa, ibe uMthendeleko Weeveki (wePentekoste) wawubhiyozelwa ekupheleni kwale nyanga. (Lev. 23:15-21) Kwandula ke, njengoko imozulu iya ifudumala nomhlaba usoma, iidiliya ezisemdiliyeni ziyavuthwa zize zivunwe, kulandele ezinye iziqhamo zasehlotyeni, ezinjengeminquma, iidatilisi namakhiwane. (2 Sam. 16:1) Xa kuphela ixesha lonyaka elingenamvula ibe kuqalisa ixesha leemvula zokuqala, yonke imveliso iba sele ivuniwe, ibe kwakusiba ngelo xesha (ngasekuqaleni kukaOktobha) ekwakuthi kubhiyozelwe uMthendeleko weMinquma, okanye weTabarnekile.—Eks. 23:16; Lev. 23:39-43.

18. (a) Kutheni intsingiselo yegama lesiHebhere elithi “unyaka” ifanelekile nje? (b) Mde kangakanani unyaka wasemhlabeni obalwa ncam ngokujikeleza komhlaba ilanga?

¹⁸ Unyaka. Ngoku ufundisiso lwethu ngexesha eBhayibhileni lusifikisa kwigama elithi “unyaka.” Ukususela ekuqaleni kwembali yomntu, eli gama liyakhankanywa. (Gen. 1:14) Igama lesiHebhere eliguqulelwe ngokuthi “unyaka,” elithi sha·nahʹ, lisuka kwintsingiselo esisiseko ethi “phinda; yenza kwakhona” ibe linengcamango yomjikelo wexesha. Oku kwakufanelekile, ekubeni nyaka ngamnye kwakuphindwa umjikelo wamaxesha onyaka. Unyaka wasemhlabeni lixesha umhlaba olithabathayo ukugqiba umjikelo, okanye uhambo lwawo lokujikeleza ilanga. Elona xesha kuthi olithabathayo apha emhlabeni ukugqiba olu hambo ziintsuku ezingama-365 iiyure ezi-5 imizuzu engama-48 imizuzwana engama-46, okanye malunga nama-365 1/4 eentsuku. Oku kubizwa ngokuba ngunyaka obalwa ncam ngokujikeleza komhlaba ilanga.

19. (a) Yayibalwa njani iminyaka yamandulo yeBhayibhile? (b) Nguwuphi “umnyaka ongcwele“ awawumisela kamva uYehova?

¹⁹ Iminyaka YeBhayibhile. Ngokobalo lwamandulo lweBhayibhile, unyaka wawuqalisa ekwindla uye kuphela ngolunye ukwindla. Oku kwakuvisisaniswa ngokukhethekileyo, nenkqubo yezolimo, ekubeni unyaka wawuqala ngokulima nokuhlwayela, ngasekuqaleni kwenyanga yethu uOktobha, uze uphele ngokubuthwa kwesivuno. UNowa wawubala unyaka njengoqala ekwindla. Wabhala uNogumbe njengowaqala “ngenyanga yesibini,” eyayinokungqamana nesiqingatha sokugqibela sikaOktobha nesokuqala sikaNovemba. (Gen. 7:11, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW) Ukuza kuthi ga namhlanje, abantu abaninzi emhlabeni basawuqalisa unyaka wabo omtsha ekwindla. Ngexesha leMfuduko ukushiya iYiputa, ngowe-1513 B.C.E., uYehova wakhupha umyalelo wokuba uAbhibhi (uNisan) wayefanele abe “yintloko [“isiqalo,” NW] yeenyanga” zamaYuda, ukuze ngelo xesha abe nonyaka ongcwele, oqalisa entwasahlobo uye kuphela ngenye intwasahlobo. (Eks. 12:2) Noko ke, kulo mhla wethu amaYuda agcina unyaka omiselwe apha emhlabeni, okanye osemthethweni, oqalisa ekwindla nonenyanga yokuqala enguTishri.

20. Wahlengahlengiswa njani unyaka obalwa ngomjikelo wenyanga ukuba ungqamane nonyaka obalwa ngokujikeleza komhlaba ilanga, ibe iyintoni iminyaka esekelwe elangeni nasenyangeni?

²⁰ Unyaka Osekelwe Kwinyanga Nelanga. De kwalixesha likaKristu, iintlanga ezininzi bezisebenzisa iminyaka ebalwa ngemijikelo yenyanga yasebusuku ukuze zibale ixesha, zivelisa iindlela ezahlukahlukeneyo zokuhlengahlengisa ukuba lo nyaka ube bungqamana nonyaka obalwa ngokujikeleza komhlaba ilanga. Ngokuqhelekileyo unyaka obalwa ngemijikelo yenyanga oneenyanga ezili-12 ezibalwa kwangolo hlobo uneentsuku ezingama-354, iinyanga zawo zineentsuku ezingama-29 okanye ezingama-30, kuxhomekeka kwimbonakalo yenyanga nganye entsha. Ngoko ke unyaka obalwa ngemijikelo yenyanga yasebusuku mfutshane ngeentsuku ezimalunga nezili-11 1/4 kunyaka obalwa ncam ngomjikelo womhlaba elangeni oneentsuku ezingama-365 1/4. AmaHebhere ayesebenzisa unyaka obalwa ngemijikelo yenyanga. EBhayibhileni ayicaciswanga indlela kanye awayewuhlengahlengisa ngayo lo nyaka ukuze ungqamane nonyaka obalwa ngomjikelo womhlaba elangeni kunye namaxesha onyaka, kodwa kumele ukuba ayesongezelela, okanye afakele ekhalendeni, iinyanga ezazifuneka. Kamva kwinkulungwane yesihlanu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo eli lungiselelo lokufakela iinyanga ekhalendeni lenziwa inkqubo ngoku eyaziwa ngokuba ngumjikelo kaMeton. Oku kwavul’ indlela yokuba inyanga efakelwe ekhalendeni yongezwe kangangezihlandlo ezisixhenxe rhoqo emva kweminyaka eli-19, ibe kwikhalenda yamaYuda, yayisongezwa emva kwenyanga ye-12, enguAdare, ibe yayibizwa ngokuba nguVeadar, okanye “uAdare wesibini.” Njengoko ikhalenda eneenyanga zomjikelo wenyanga yasebusuku ihlengahlengiswa ukuze ihambisane nelanga, iminyaka, eneenyanga ezili-12 okanye ezili-13, yaziwa ngokuba yiminyaka esekelwe kwinyanga nelanga.

21. (a) Iyintoni ikhalenda kaJulius? (b) Kutheni ikhalenda kaGregory ichane ngakumbi?

²¹ Ikhalenda kaJulius nekaGregory. Ikhalenda yinkqubo yokumisela ukuqalisa, ubude nokwahlulwahlulwa konyaka nokuzilungelelanisa ezi zahlulo ngolandelelwano. Ikhalenda kaJulius yaveliswa nguJulius Caesar ngowama-46 B.C.E., ukuze anike amaRoma inkqubo yexesha lonyaka obalwa ngomjikelo womhlaba elangeni endaweni yonyaka obalwa ngemijikelo yenyanga. Ikhalenda kaJulius ineentsuku ezingama-365 ngonyaka, ngaphandle konyaka ngamnye wesine (unyakande), ekuthi kuwo kongezwe usuku olunye, ukuyila iintsuku ezingama-366. Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwafunyaniswa ukuba unyaka wekhalenda kaJulius uthe kratya kancinane ngemizuzu eli-11 ubude kunonyaka obalwa ncam ngomjikelo womhlaba elangeni. Ngenkulungwane ye-16 C.E., kwakusele kukho umahluko weentsuku ezilishumi. Ngaloo ndlela, ngowe-1582, uPopu Gregory XIII wenza nje inguqulelo engatheni, esungula oko ngoku kwaziwa ngokuba yikhalenda kaGregory. Ngokomyalelo kapopu iintsuku ezilishumi zashenxiswa ukususela ngonyaka we-1582, ukuze usuku olwalulandela uOktobha 4 lube nguOktobha 15. Ikhalenda kaGregory imisela ukuba iinkulungwane ezingenakwahlulwahlulwa ngama-400 azinakugqalwa njengoonyakande. Ngokomzekelo, ngokungafaniyo nonyaka wama-2000, unyaka we-1900 awuzange wenziwe unyakande kuba i-1 900 alinakwahlulwahlulwa ngama-400. Ngoku ikhalenda kaGregory yeyona isetyenziswa ngokubanzi kwimimandla emininzi yehlabathi.

22, 23. Mde kangakanani unyaka wesiprofeto?

²² “Umnyaka” Wesiprofeto. Kwisiprofeto seBhayibhile igama elithi “umnyaka” lidla ngokusetyenziswa ngengqiqo ekhethekileyo njengolingana neenyanga ezili-12, nyanga nganye ineentsuku ezingama-30, nto leyo eyenza inani elipheleleyo leentsuku ezingama-360. Phawula oko kuthethwa kwenye incwadi egqabaza ngoHezekile 4:5, 6: “Simele sicinge ukuba uHezekile wayesazi unyaka weentsuku ezingama-360. Lo asinguwo unyaka obalwa ngomjikelo womhlaba elangeni okanye obalwa ngemijikelo yenyanga. Ungunyaka ‘oqhelekileyo’ ekuthi kuwo nyanga nganye ibe neentsuku ezingama-30.”c

²³ Unyaka wesiprofeto ukwabizwa ngokuba ‘lixesha,’ ibe ukufundisisa ISityhilelo 11:2, 3 nesahluko 12:6, 14 kutyhila indlela “ixesha” elinye elibalwa ngayo njengeentsuku ezingama-360. Kangangezihlandlo eziliqela kwisiprofeto unyaka ukwamelwa ngokufuziselayo ‘lusuku.’—Hez. 4:5, 6.

24. Abantu abaninzi bakudala baqala njani ukubala?

²⁴ Akukho Nyaka Ungunothi. Abantu ababephila mandulo, kuquka amaGrike, amaRoma namaYuda afundileyo, babengalazi inani elingunothi. Kubo, yonke into yayibalwa kuqaliswa kwisinye. Xa wawufunda ngamanani esiRoma esikolweni (I, II, III, IV, V, X, njl.), ngaba wafunda ngenani elimela unothi? Akunjalo, ngenxa yokuba amaRoma ayengenalo. Ekubeni amaRoma ayengenalo inani elingunothi, iXesha Eliqhelekileyo laqalisa ngowoku-1 C.E., kungekhona ngonyaka ongunothi. Kwakhona oku kwavelisa ukulungelelaniswa kwamanani ekuthiwa ziiordinal, njengokuthi elokuqala (1st), elesibini (2nd), elesithathu (3rd), eleshumi (10th) nelekhulu (100th). Kwimathematika yale mihla, umntu uthelekelela yonke into njengeqala kwinto engekhoyo, okanye kunothi. Unothi usenokuba waveliswa ngamaHindu.

25. Ahluke njani amanani aziiordinal kumanani aziicardinal?

²⁵ Ngaloo ndlela oku kuthetha ukuba nanini na kusetyenziswa amanani aziiordinal, simele sithabathe isinye ukuze sifumane inani elipheleleyo. Ngokomzekelo, xa sithetha ngomhla othile kwinkulungwane yama-20 yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba sele kudlule iinkulungwane ezizeleyo ezingama-20? Akunjalo, kodwa kuthetha ukuba kudlule iinkulungwane ezizeleyo ezili-19 kunye neminyaka ethile. Ukuze ichaze amanani azeleyo, iBhayibhile, kunye nemathematika yale mihla, isebenzisa amanani ekuthiwa ziicardinal, anjengo-1, 2, 3, 10 ne-100. La manani akwabizwa ngokuba “ngamanani apheleleyo.”

26. Ubunokuyibala njani (a) iminyaka ephakathi ko-Oktobha 1, 607 B.C.E. no-Oktobha 1, 1914 C.E.? (b) iminyaka engama-2 520 ukususela kuOktobha 1, 607 B.C.E.?

²⁶ Ngoku, ekubeni inkulungwane yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ingazange iqalise ngonyaka ongunothi kodwa yaqalisa ngowoku-1 C.E., ibe ikhalenda yeminyaka engaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ingazange iqalise ukubala kunyaka ongunothi kodwa yaqalisa kowoku-1 B.C.E., inani elisetyenziselwa unyaka wawo nawuphi na umhla eneneni liyiordinal. Oku kuthetha ukuthi, owe-1990 C.E. ngokwenene umela iminyaka epheleleyo eli-1 989 ukususela ekuqaleni kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ibe umhla kaJulayi 1, 1990, umela iminyaka eli-1 989 kuquka unyaka osisiqingatha ukususela ekuqaleni kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Lo mgaqo ufanayo uyasebenza nakwiminyaka yangaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngoko ukuze ubale iminyaka ephakathi kukaOktobha 1, 607 B.C.E., no-Oktobha 1, 1914 C.E., dibanisa iminyaka engama-606 (kunye neenyanga ezintathu zokugqibela zonyaka wama-607) kunye neli-1 913 (kunye neenyanga ezisithoba zokuqala zowe-1914), uya kufumana iminyaka engama-2 519 (eneenyanga ezili-12), okanye engama-2 520. Okanye ukuba ufuna ukubala ukuba yayiya kungqamana nawuphi na umhla iminyaka engama-2 520 eyadlula emva ko-Oktobha 1, 607 B.C.E., khumbula ukuba owama-607 linani eliyiordinal—ngokwenene limela iminyaka engama-606 epheleleyo—ibe ekubeni sibala, kungekhona ukususela kuDisemba 31, 607 B.C.E., kodwa sisusela kuOktobha 1, 607 B.C.E., simele sidibanise kunyaka wama-606 iinyanga ezintathu ezisekupheleni kowama-607 B.C.E. Ngoku ke thabatha ama-606 1/4 kuma-2 520 eminyaka. Kusala i-1 913 3/4. Oko kuthetha ukuba iminyaka engama-2 520 ukususela kuOktobha 1, 607 B.C.E., isisa kwiminyaka eli-1 913 3/4 kwiXesha Eliqhelekileyo—iminyaka epheleleyo eli-1 913 isizisa ekuqaleni kowe-1914 C.E., ibe xa sisongeza iikota ezintathu zonyaka sifikelela kuOktobha 1, 1914 C.E.d

27. Iyintoni imihla ebalulekileyo ephawula ixesha, ibe kutheni ibaluleke kakhulu nje?

²⁷ IMihla Ebalulekileyo Ephawula Ixesha. Ubalo-maxesha olunokuthenjwa lweBhayibhile lusekelwe kwimihla ethile ebalulekileyo ephawula ixesha. Umhla obalulekileyo ophawula ixesha ngunyaka wekhalenda wembali owamkelwa ngesizathu esivakalayo nongqamana nesiganeko esithile esibhalwe eBhayibhileni. Ngoko kunokuqaliswa kuwo xa kungqanyaniswa ngokuchanileyo ungcelele lweziganeko zeBhayibhile nemihla yekhalenda. Wakuba nje umisiwe lo mhla ubalulekileyo uphawula ixesha, kubalwa ngokusuka kuwo kuyiwe phambili okanye kubuywe umva iminyaka esekelwe kwiingxelo ezichanileyo zeBhayibhile, njengeminyaka exeliweyo yobomi babantu okanye ubude bexesha lokulawula kookumkani. Ngaloo ndlela, siqalisa kunyaka ophawuliweyo, sinokusebenzisa ubalo-maxesha olunokuthenjwa nolusetyenziswe kwaseBhayibhileni ukuze sifumane iminyaka ezehla ngayo iziganeko ezininzi eziseBhayibhileni.

28. Nguwuphi umhla obalulekileyo ophawula ixesha esiwunikwa kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere?

²⁸ IMihla Ebalulekileyo Ephawula Ixesha YeZibhalo ZesiHebhere. Isiganeko esibalaseleyo esibhalwe eBhayibhileni nakwimbali yehlabathi kukubhukuqwa kwesixeko saseBhabheli ngamaMedi namaPersi phantsi kukaKoreshi. EBhayibhileni esi siganeko sibhalwe kuDaniyeli 5:30. Imithombo eyahlukahlukeneyo yembali (kuquka icwecwe likaDiodorus, lika-Africanus, likaEusebius, likaPtolemy nelaseBhabhiloni) ixhasa owama-539 B.C.E. njengonyaka wokubhukuqwa kweBhabhiloni nguKoreshi. INcwadi Yeziganeko kaNabonidus inikela inyanga nosuku lokuwa kwesi sixeko (unyaka awuxelwanga). Ababali-maxesha behlabathi baye ngaloo ndlela bamisela umhla wokuwa kweBhabhiloni njengo-Oktobha 11, 539 B.C.E., ngokwekhalenda kaJulius, okanye ngo-Oktobha 5 ngokwekhalenda kaGregory.e

29. Wakhutshwa nini umyalelo kaKoreshi, uvulel’ ithuba lantoni?

²⁹ Emva kokuwa kweBhabhiloni, nasebudeni bonyaka wakhe wokuqala njengomlawuli weBhabhiloni eyoyisiweyo, uKoreshi wakhupha umyalelo wakhe odumileyo ovumela amaYuda ukuba abuyele eYerusalem. Ngemva kokuhlolisisa ingxelo yeBhayibhile, kubonakala ukuba lo myalelo wakhutshwa ngasekupheleni kowama-538 B.C.E. okanye malunga nentwasahlobo yowama-537 B.C.E. Oku kwakuza kunikela ithuba elaneleyo lokuba amaYuda aphinde alime ilizwe lawo lokuzalwa aze eze eYerusalem ukuza kubuyisela unqulo lukaYehova ‘ngenyanga yesixhenxe,’ uTishri, okanye malunga no-Oktobha 1, 537 B.C.E.—Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-6.f

30. Umhla obalulekileyo kunye nesiprofeto esizalisekileyo zilimisela njani ixesha lokubhaptizwa kukaYesu, nelokuzalwa kwakhe?

³⁰ IMihla Ebalulekileyo Ephawula Ixesha YeZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike. Umhla obalulekileyo ophawula ixesha weZibhalo ZamaKristu ZesiGrike uphawulwa ngomhla awathi ngawo uTibheriyo Kesare wangena esikhundleni soMlawuli uAwugusto. UAwugusto wafa ngoAgasti 17, 14 C.E. (ngokwekhalenda kaGregory); uTibheriyo wamiselwa njengomlawuli liBhunga laseRoma ngoSeptemba 15, 14 C.E. KuLuka 3:1, 3 kuboniswa ukuba uYohane uMbhaptizi waqalisa ubulungiseleli bakhe ngonyaka we-15 wolawulo lukaTibheriyo. Ukuba iminyaka yayibalwa ukususela ekufeni kuka-Awugusto, unyaka we-15 waqalisa ngoAgasti wowama-28 C.E. ukusa kuAgasti wowama-29 C.E. Ukuba ubalwa ukususela kwixesha laxa uTibheriyo wamiselwa njengomlawuli liBhunga, lo nyaka waqalisa ngoSeptemba wowama-28 C.E. ukusa kuSeptemba wowama-29 C.E. Kungekudala emva koku, uYesu, owayemncinane malunga neenyanga ezintandathu kunoYohane uMbhaptizi, wabhaptizwa, xa ‘waneyeminyaka engamashumi amathathu ezelwe.’ (Luka 3:2, 21-23; 1:34-38) Oku kuvumelana nesiprofeto esikuDaniyeli 9:25 sokuba “iiveki” ezingama-69 (iiveki ezingokwesiprofeto eziyiminyaka esi-7 inye, ngaloo ndlela zisiba yiminyaka engama-483 xa zizonke) zaziya kuphela ukususela “ekuphumeni kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiswe yakhiwe iYerusalem,” neendonga zayo de kuvele uMesiya. (Dan. 9:24, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW) Elo “lizwi” laligunyaziswe nguArtashashta (uLongimanus) ngowama-455 B.C.E. ibe lasetyenziswa nguNehemiya eYerusalem kwisiqingatha sokugqibela saloo nyaka. Ibe kwiminyaka engama-483 kamva, ngasekupheleni kowama-29 C.E., xa wathi wabhaptizwa nguYohane, uYesu wakwathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele owawuvela kuThixo, ngaloo ndlela esiba nguMesiya, okanye uMthanjiswa. Isibakala sokuba uYesu wabhaptizwa waza waqalisa ubulungiseleli bakhe kwisiqingatha sokugqibela saloo nyaka sikwavumelana nesiprofeto sokuba wayeza kunqunyulwa “ngesiqingatha seveki” emelwa yiminyaka (okanye emva kweminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha). (Dan. 9:27) Ekubeni wafa entwasahlobo, kumele ukuba ubulungiseleli bakhe beminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha babuqalise ngasekwindla lowama-29 C.E.g Kwakhona, oku kububungqina bokuba uYesu wazalwa ekwindla lowe-2 B.C.E., ekubeni uLuka 3:23 ebonisa ukuba uYesu wayeneminyaka engama-30 ubudala xa waqalisa ubulungiseleli bakhe.h

31. (a) Kutheni isantya sokuhamba kwexesha sibonakala sisahlukahlukana? (b) Ngoko ke abantu abaselula banayiphi ingenelo?

³¹ Indlela Elibaleka Ngayo Ixesha. Kukho intetho yakudala ethi “iketile egadiweyo ayize ibile.” Kuyinyaniso ukuba xa ixesha siligadile, xa silibalela, xa silindele into ethile ukuba yenzeke, liye libonakale licotha gqitha. Noko ke, ukuba sixakekile, ukuba sinomdla ibe sixakeke gqitha koko sikwenzayo, ngoko ngenene kuye kubonakale ngathi “alibaleki lisusa amaphepha.” Ngaphezu koko, kubantu abakhulileyo ixesha libonakala lidlula ngokukhawuleza kakhulu kunokuba linjalo ebantwaneni. Kutheni oku kunjalo nje? Xa kusongezelelwa unyaka kumntwana ononyaka omnye ubudala, oko kuthetha ukuba amava akhe ebomini ande nge-100 ekhulwini kunawanyakenye. Xa kusongezelelwa unyaka kumntu onama-50 eminyaka yobomi oko kuthetha ukwanda kwamava akhe ngesibini kuphela ekhulwini. Emntwaneni, unyaka ubonakala ulixesha elide gqitha. Ukuba umntu omkhulu uxakekile ibe usempilweni entle, ufumanisa ukuba iminyaka ibonakala iqengqeleka ngokukhawuleza. Ufikelela ekuwaqondeni ngokunzulu la mazwi kaSolomon: “Akukho nto intsha phantsi kwelanga.” Kwelinye icala, iminyaka yokukhula yabantu abaselula ibonakala ithe chu kuhle. Endaweni ‘yokusukelana nomoya’ nehlabathi elithanda izinto eziphathekayo, le minyaka basenokuyisebenzisa ngokunengenelo ekuzifumbeleni ubutyebi bamava obuthixo. Asexesheni amazwi kaSolomon abhekele phaya athi: “Uze umkhumbule ke uMdali wakho ngemihla yobutsha bakho, ingekezi imihla yobubi, ingekafiki iminyaka owothi ngayo, Ayindiyolele.”—INtshu. 1:9, 14; 12:1.

32. Abantu banokuyiqonda ngokuphelele ngakumbi njani imbono kaYehova ngexesha?

³² Ixesha—Xa Abantu Bephila Ngonaphakade. Noko ke, sikhangele kwimihla evuyisayo ngaphambili engasayi kuba nabubi konke konke. Abathandi bobulungisa, ‘abamaxesha abo asesandleni sikaYehova,’ banokukhangela phambili kubomi obungunaphakade kummandla woBukumkani bukaThixo. (INdu. 31:14-16; Mat. 25:34, 46) Phantsi kobo Bukumkani, akuyi kuba sabakho kufa. (ISityhi. 21:4) Ubuvila, ukugula, ukukruquka nokusebenzela ilize kuya kube kungasekho. Kuya kubakho umsebenzi ofuna ukwenziwa, onandiphekayo nothandekayo, ofuna ukuba umntu asebenzise ubuchule bakhe obugqibeleleyo nozisa ulwaneliseko olupheleleyo koko kufeziweyo. Kuya kubonakala ngathi iminyaka iqengqeleka ngokukhawuleza ngakumbi nangakumbi, ibe iingqondo eziphaphileyo nezingalibaliyo ziya kuqhubeka zizele ziinkumbulo zeziganeko ezonwabisayo. Njengoko kudlula amawakawaka eminyaka, ngokungathandabuzekiyo abantu kulo mhlaba baya kuyiqonda ngokuphelele ngakumbi imbono kaYehova ngexesha: ‘Ngokuba iwaka leminyaka emehlweni kaYehova linjengemini yezolo xa idlule.’—INdu. 90:4.

33. Ngokubhekisele kwixesha, yiyiphi intsikelelo aye wayizisa uYehova?

³³ Ekubeni silijonga ixesha ngokwembono yomntu esinayo ngoku yaye silinikel’ ingqalelo idinga likaThixo lehlabathi elitsha lobulungisa, hayi indlela ezivuyisa ngayo iintsikelelo zaloo mini: “Ngokuba uYehova wayimisela apho intsikelelo, ubomi, kude kuse ephakadeni”!—INdu. 133:3.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 281]

UNYAKA WAMASIRAYELI

Igama Lenyanga Nisan (Abhibhi)

Ingqamana no Matshi - Aprili

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yoku-1

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-7

Iingcaphulo Eks. 13:4; Neh. 2:1

Imithendeleko Nisan 14 IPasika

Nisan 16 Ukunikelwa kweentlahlela

Igama Lenyanga Iyyar (Zivi)

Ingqamana no Aprili - Meyi

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-2

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-8

Iingcaphulo 1 Kum. 6:1

Igama Lenyanga Sivan

Ingqamana no Meyi - Juni

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-3

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-9

Iingcaphulo Estere 8:9

Igama Lenyanga Tamuzi

Ingqamana no Juni - Julayi

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-4

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga ye-10

Iingcaphulo Yer. 52:6

Igama Lenyanga Abhi

Ingqamana no Julayi - Agasti

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-5

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga ye-11

Iingcaphulo Ezra 7:8

Igama Lenyanga Eluli

Ingqamana no Agasti - Septemba

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-6

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga ye-12

Iingcaphulo Neh. 6:15

Igama Lenyanga Tishri (Etanim)

Ingqamana no Septemba - Oktobha

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-7

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yoku-11

Iingcaphulo Kum. 8:2

Imithendeleko Tishri 1 UMhla wokuvuthelwa kwexilongo

Tishri 10 UMhla Wocamagusho

Tishri 15-21 UMthendeleko Weminquma

Tishri 22 Indibano engcwele

Igama Lenyanga Heshvan (Bhuli)

Ingqamana no Oktobha - Novemba

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-8

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-2

Iingcaphulo 1 Kum. 6:38

Igama Lenyanga Kislevu

Ingqamana no Novemba - Disemba

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga yesi-9

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-3

Iingcaphulo Neh. 1:1

Igama Lenyanga Tebhete

Ingqamana no Disemba - Januwari

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga ye-10

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-4

Iingcaphulo Estere 2:16

Igama Lenyanga Shebhati

Ingqamana no Januwari - Februwari

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga ye-11

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-5

Iingcaphulo Zek. 1:7

Igama Lenyanga Adare

Ingqamana no Februwari - Matshi

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga ye-12

Unyaka Wekhalenda Inyanga yesi-6

Iingcaphulo Estere 3:7

Igama Lenyanga Veadar

Ingqamana no (Inyanga efakelweyo)

Unyaka Ongcwele Inyanga ye-13