Isahluko Seshumi Elinanye

Ukutyhilwa Kwexesha Lokuza KukaMesiya

 1. Ekubeni uYehova enguMgcini-xesha Obalaseleyo, yintoni esinokuqiniseka ngayo?

UYEHOVA nguMgcini-xesha Obalaseleyo. Onke amaxesha namathuba aphathelele umsebenzi wakhe asezandleni zakhe. (IZenzo 1:7) Zonke iziganeko azimisele ukuba zenzeke ngaloo maxesha ngokuqinisekileyo ziza kwenzeka. Soze zisilele.

 2, 3. Sisiphi isiprofeto uDaniyeli awanikela ingqalelo kuso, ibe bubuphi ubukhosi obabulawula iBhabhiloni ngelo xesha?

² Ekubeni wayezifunda ngenkuthalo iZibhalo, umprofeti uDaniyeli wayekholelwa kwelokuba uYehova unamandla okumisela amaxesha eziganeko aze abangele ukuba zizaliseke. Ezona zazibangel’ umdla kuDaniyeli yayiziziprofeto ezaziphathelele ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem. UYeremiya wayebhale phantsi oko kwakutyhilwe nguThixo ngobude bexesha esasiya kuthi eso sixeko singcwele sihlale siyinkangala, ibe uDaniyeli wasihlolisisa ngenyameko esi siprofeto. Wabhala: “Ngonyaka wokuqala kaDariyo unyana ka-Ahaswerosi wembewu yamaMedi, owaba ngukumkani phezu kobukumkani bamaKhaledi; mna, Daniyeli, ndakufunda ezincwadini oko wakuthethayo uYehova kuYeremiya umprofeti, ndaza ndakuqonda ukuzaliseka kwenani leminyaka yokuphanziswa kweYerusalem, oko kukuthi, iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe.”—Daniyeli 9:1, 2; Yeremiya 25:11.

³ Ngelo xesha yayinguDariyo umMedi owayebambe iintambo ‘kubukumkani bamaKhaledi.’ Isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli sangaphambilana xa wayetolika umbhalo owawuseludongeni sazaliseka ngokukhawuleza. UBukhosi baseBhabhiloni babungasabonakali nangetshengele. “Banikelwa kumaMedi namaPersi” ngowama-539 B.C.E.—Daniyeli 5:24-28, 30, 31.

UDANIYELI UKHUNGA KUYEHOVA NGOKUZITHOBA

 4. (a) Yintoni eyayifuneka ukuze ubani ahlangulwe nguThixo? (b) UDaniyeli wasondela njani kuYehova?

⁴ UDaniyeli waqonda ukuba isiphelo sokuphanziswa kweYerusalem kangangeminyaka engama-70 sasisemnyango. Wayeza kuthini ke ngoku? Uyasichazela: “Ngoko ndabubhekisa ubuso bam kuYehova uThixo oyinyaniso, ukuze ndimfune ngomthandazo nangezibongozo, ngokuzila ukutya nangamarhonya nangothuthu. Ndathandaza kuYehova uThixo wam.” (Daniyeli 9:3, 4) Kwakufuneka ubani alungise intliziyo yakhe ukuze enzelwe inceba aze ahlangulwe nguThixo. (Levitikus 26:31-46; 1 Kumkani 8:46-53) Kwakufuneka ukholo, ukuthobeka nokuguquka ngokupheleleyo kwizono ezazikhokelele ekuthinjweni nasebukhobokeni. Ngoko ke, egameni labantu bakowabo ababenkone zizono, uDaniyeli wasondela kuThixo. Njani? Ngokuzila nangokunxiba amarhonya, nto leyo eyayibonisa inguquko nokunyaniseka kwentliziyo.

 5. Yintoni enokuba yayisenza uDaniyeli abe nentembelo yokuba amaYuda ayeza kubuyiselwa elizweni lawo?

⁵ Isiprofeto sikaYeremiya sasimshiye enethemba uDaniyeli, kuba sabonisa ukuba kungekudala amaYuda ayeza kubuyiselwa elizweni lawo lakwaYuda. (Yeremiya 25:12; 29:10) Alithandabuzeki elokuba, uDaniyeli waziva eqinisekile ukuba iintsizi zamaYuda zaziza kupheliswa kuba kwakukho indoda egama linguKoreshi eyayisele ingukumkani ePersi. Kaloku uIsaya wayengaprofetanga na esithi uKoreshi wayeza kuwakhulula amaYuda ukuze aphinde akhe iYerusalem netempile? (Isaya 44:28–45:3) Kodwa ke uDaniyeli wayengazi nowathwethwa ngendlela okwakuza kwenzeka ngayo oko. Ngoko waqhubeka embongoza uYehova.

 6. Yintoni eyavunywa nguDaniyeli emthandazweni?

⁶ UDaniyeli wanikel’ ingqalelo kwinceba nobubele obunothando bukaThixo. Ngokuthobeka, wavuma ukuba amaYuda ona ngokuvukela, ngokuyinikel’ umva imiyalelo kaYehova nangokutyeshela abaprofeti bakhe. UThixo wayefanele ‘ukuwasasaza ngenxa yokungathembeki kwawo.’ UDaniyeli wathandaza esithi: “Owu Yehova, sisehlazweni, thina nookumkani bethu, neenkosana zethu, nookhokho bethu, kuba sikonile. Ngamana Yehova Thixo wethu ungaba nenceba kuthi, usixolele, ngokuba sikuvukele. Asilithobelanga ilizwi lakho Yehova Thixo wethu ngokuhamba emithethweni yakho owayibeka phambi kwethu ngesandla sabakhonzi bakho abaprofeti. Nabo bonke abakwaSirayeli bawugqithile umthetho wakho, baphambuka abalithobela ilizwi lakho, wada wathulula phezu kwethu isiqalekiso nesifungo esinzulu esibhalwe emthethweni kaMoses umkhonzi kaThixo oyinyaniso, kuba simonile Yena.”—Daniyeli 9:5-11; Eksodus 19:5-8; 24:3, 7, 8.

 7. Kutheni kunokuthiwa uYehova watyapha ngokuvumela amaYuda athinjwe?

⁷ UThixo wayewalumkisile amaSirayeli ngemiphumo yokungamthobeli neyokutyeshela umnqophiso awayewenze nawo. (Levitikus 26:31-33; Duteronomi 28:15; 31:17) UDaniyeli uyavuma ukuba uThixo utyaphile ngokwenjenje, esithi: “Uwaphumezile ke amazwi akho owawathethayo nxamnye nathi nabagwebi bethu abasigwebayo, ngokusizisela intlekele enkulu eYerusalem, ekungazange kubekho injengayo phantsi kwamazulu ephela. Kanye njengoko kubhaliwe emthethweni kaMoses, yonke le ntlekele—isifikele, yaye asimbongozanga uYehova uThixo wethu ngokubuya kwisiphoso sethu, siqiqe ngenyaniso yakho. Wayiphaphela ke Yehova intlekele waza ekugqibeleni wayizisa phezu kwethu, kuba ulilungisa Yehova Thixo wethu kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakho oyenzileyo; thina ke asilithobelanga ilizwi lakho.”—Daniyeli 9:12-14.

 8. UDaniyeli usisekela entwenini isibongozo asenza kuYehova?

⁸ UDaniyeli akazami kuzithethelela izenzo zabantu bakowabo. Babekufanelekele ukuthinjwa, njengoko evuma lula esithi: “Sikonile, senza ngokungendawo.” (Daniyeli 9:15) Injongo yakhe asikokuhlangulwa ezintsizini. Isibongozo sakhe usenzela uzuko nendili kaYehova. Kaloku ngokuxolela amaYuda nangokuwabuyisela kwilizwe lawo, uThixo wayeza kuzalisekisa idinga awalenza kuYeremiya aze azukise igama Lakhe elingcwele. UDaniyeli uyabongoza: “Owu Yehova, ngokwezenzo zakho zonke zobulungisa, ngamana ungabuya umsindo wakho nobushushu bakho kwisixeko sakho iYerusalem, intaba yakho engcwele; kuba, ngenxa yezono zethu nangenxa yeziphoso zookhokho bethu, iYerusalem nabantu bakho basisingcikivo kubo bonke abo basijikelezileyo.”—Daniyeli 9:16.

 9. (a) UDaniyeli uqukumbela ngokucela ntoni kumthandazo wakhe? (b) Yintoni edandathekisa uDaniyeli, kodwa ubonisa njani ukuba uyalibeka igama likaThixo?

⁹ Ethandaza ngokusuk’ entliziyweni, uDaniyeli uyaqhubeka: “Owu Thixo wethu, khawuwuphulaphule umthandazo womkhonzi wakho nezibongozo zakhe, uze ukhanyise ubukho bakho phezu kwengcwele yakho ephanzileyo, ngenxa yegama lakho Yehova. Khawubek’ indlebe, Thixo wam, uve. Khawuvule amehlo ukubone ukuphanza kwethu nesixeko esibizwe ngegama lakho; kuba akungenxa yezenzo zethu zobulungisa le nto sikubongozayo, kodwa kungenxa yenceba yakho enkulu. Nceda usiphulaphule, Yehova. Nceda usixolele, Yehova. Nceda unikele ingqalelo kuthi Yehova, uze wenze. Nceda ungalibazisi, ngenxa yegama lakho, Thixo wam, kuba isixeko sakho nabantu bakho babizwa ngalo igama lakho.” (Daniyeli 9:17-19) Ukuba uThixo wayenokungabaxoleli abantu bakhe aze abayeke bethinjwe benjalo, evumela isixeko sakhe esingcwele, iYerusalem, sibe yinkangala kanaphakade, ngaba iintlanga zaziya kumgqala enguMongami Wendalo Iphela? Ngaba zazingayi kuthi uYehova woyisiwe ngoothixo baseBhabhiloni? Kunjalo kanye, igama likaYehova laliya kunyeliswa, ibe yiloo nto kanye ekhathaza uDaniyeli. Kwizihlandlo ezili-19 elivela ngazo igama likaThixo, uYehova, kule ncwadi kaDaniyeli, ezili-18 zivela ngokunxibelelene nalo mthandazo!

UGABRIYELI UZA EXHABASHILE

10. (a) Ngubani owathunyelwa kuDaniyeli, yaye kwakutheni? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uDaniyeli achaze uGabriyeli ‘njengendoda’?

¹⁰ Uthi esathandaza njalo uDaniyeli, kubonakale ingelosi uGabriyeli. Ithi: “Daniyeli, ndilapha nje ndize kukuvula ingqiqo ukuze uqonde. Uthe usaqala nje ukubongoza kwaphuma ilizwi, yaye mna ndize kukuchazela ngalo, kuba ungonqweneleka kakhulu. Ngoko nikela ingqalelo koku, uze uwuqonde lo mbono.” Kodwa kutheni uDaniyeli emchaza ‘njengendoda uGabriyeli’? (Daniyeli 9:20-23) Kaloku, xa uDaniyeli wayefuna ukucaciselwa umbono wakhe wangaphambilana wenkunzi yebhokhwe neyegusha, wabona “uthile onembonakalo enjengeyendoda eyomeleleyo.” Yayiyingelosi uGabriyeli ke leyo, ithunywe ukuba ize kunika uDaniyeli ingqiqo. (Daniyeli 8:15-17) Kwakhona, emva komthandazo kaDaniyeli, le ngelosi yasondela kuye inomzimba womntu yaza yathetha naye ngendlela umntu athetha ngayo nomnye.

11, 12. (a) Nangona kwakungekho tempile okanye sibingelelo sikaYehova eBhabhiloni, amaYuda azinikeleyo kunqulo abonisa njani ukuba ayewahlonela amadini ekwakufuneka ewanyusile ngokutsho koMthetho? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uDaniyeli abizwe ngokuba “ungonqwenelekayo kakhulu”?

¹¹ UGabriyeli ufika “ngexesha lomnikelo osisipho wangokuhlwa.” Isibingelelo sikaYehova sasitshatyalaliswe kunye netempile eYerusalem, ibe amaYuda ayethinjwe ngabahedeni abangamaBhabhiloni. Ngoko amaYuda awayeseBhabhiloni ayenganyusi madini aya kuThixo. Noko ke, ngamaxesha okunyusa amadini amiselwe nguMthetho kaMoses, amaYuda awayeseBhabhiloni awayenamathele kunqulo ayenako ukudumisa nokukhunga kuYehova. Nanjengendoda ezinikele ngokupheleleyo kuThixo, uDaniyeli wabizwa ngokuba “ungonqwenelekayo kakhulu.” Wayeyinceke kaYehova, ‘uMphulaphuli wemithandazo,’ ibe kwathunyelwa uGabriyeli ukuba akhawuleze ukuya kuphendula umthandazo wokholo kaDaniyeli.—INdumiso 65:2.

¹² Kwanaxa ukuthandaza kuYehova kwakububeka emngciphekweni ubomi bakhe, uDaniyeli waqhubeka ethandaza kuThixo kathathu ngosuku. (Daniyeli 6:10, 11) Akumangalisi ngoko ukuba uYehova amfumanise enqweneleka kangaka! Ukongezelela ekuthandazeni, ukucamngca kukaDaniyeli ngeLizwi likaThixo kwamenza wakwazi ukuthanda kukaYehova. UDaniyeli wazingisa emthandazweni ibe wayeyazi indlela yokusondela kuYehova ngokuchanileyo ukuze imithandazo yakhe iphendulwe. Wabubalaselisa ubulungisa bukaThixo. (Daniyeli 9:7, 14, 16) Ibe nangona iintshaba zakhe zingazange zifumane tyheneba kuye, uDaniyeli wayesazi ukuba ungumoni emehlweni kaThixo ibe akazange alibazise ekuvumeni isono sakhe.—Daniyeli 6:4; Roma 3:23.

KUSELE “IIVEKI EZINGAMASHUMI ASIXHENXE” SIPHELISWE ISONO

13, 14. (a) Yiyiphi inkcazelo ebalulekileyo eyadluliselwa nguGabriyeli kuDaniyeli? (b) Zithabatha ixesha elide kangakanani “iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe,” yaye sazi njani?

¹³ Enjani yona ukuchukimisa impendulo efunyanwa nguDaniyeli ozingisayo emthandazweni! UYehova akaneli kumqinisekisa ngokubuyiselwa kwamaYuda kwilizwe lawo nje kuphela kodwa ukwamthela thsuphe ngento ebaluleke gqitha—ukubonakala kukaMesiya owayexelwe kwangaphambili. (Genesis 22:17, 18; Isaya 9:6, 7) UGabriyeli uxelela uDaniyeli oku: “Bamiselwe iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe abantu bakowenu nesixeko sakowenu esingcwele, zokuba kupheliswe ukunxaxha, ngokunjalo nesono sicinywe, sicanyagushelwe isiphoso, kubekho ubulungisa ukusa kwixesha elinganammiselo, kutywinwe umbono nomprofeti, neNgcwele yeeNgcwele ithanjiswe. Yazi ke, uqonde ukuba, ukususela ekuphumeni kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiselwe ize yakhiwe iYerusalem kude kuse kuMesiya iNkokeli, yoba ziiveki ezisixhenxe, neeveki ezingamashumi amathandathu anesibini. Iya kubuyiswa, yakhiwe kwakhona, ibe nendawo yembutho nomjelo wamanzi, kodwa ngamaxesha okubandezeleka.”—Daniyeli 9:24, 25.

¹⁴ Ngokwenene ezo yayiziindaba ezimnandi! Kwakungayi kuphelela ekwakhiweni kwakhona kweYerusalem nasekubuyiselweni konqulo kwitempile entsha kodwa ngaxa lithile kwakuza kubonakala ‘noMesiya iNkokeli.’ Oko kwakuza kwenzeka ‘kwiiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe.’ Ekubeni uGabriyeli engakhankanyi zintsuku, ezi asizoveki eziyilwa ziintsuku ezisixhenxe, ebeziya kuthi zakudityaniswa zibe yimihla engama-490—unyaka oneenyanga ezintathu kuphela. Ukwakhiwa ngokutsha kweYerusalem “ibe nendawo yembutho nomjelo wamanzi” okwakuxelwe kwangaphambili kwathabatha ixesha elide kunelo. Ezo veki yayiziiveki zeminyaka. Iinguqulelo zale mihla ezininzi zibonisa ukuba veki nganye iyilwa yiminyaka esixhenxe. Ngokomzekelo, iTanakh—The Holy Scriptures epapashwe yiThe Jewish Publication Society iguqulela umbhalo osemazantsi kaDaniyeli 9:24 ngokuthi “ziiveki zeminyaka ezingamashumi asixhenxe.” IAn American Translation ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Kumiselwe iiveki zeminyaka ezingamashumi asixhenxe kubantu bakowenu nakwisixeko sakowenu esingcwele.” Inguqulelo kaMoffatt nekaRotherham nazo zisebenzise inguqulelo efanayo.

15. “Iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe” zahlulwe zaba ngawaphi amaxesha amathathu, ibe ayeza kuqalisa nini?

¹⁵ Ngokwamazwi engelosi, “iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe” zaziza kwahlulwa zibe ngamaxesha amathathu: (1) “iiveki ezisixhenxe,” (2) “iiveki ezingamashumi amathandathu anesibini,” kunye (3) neveki enye. Ngamany’ amazwi yiminyaka engama-49, nengama-434 kunye nesi-7—ethi xa idibene yenze iminyaka engama-490. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, iThe Revised English Bible ithi: “Iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe ephindwe kasixhenxe iphawulelwe abantu bakowenu nakwisixeko sakowenu esingcwele.” Emva kokuthinjwa nokubandezeleka kwawo eBhabhiloni kangangeminyaka engama-70, amaYuda ayeya kuba ngabantu abakhethekileyo kuThixo kangangeminyaka engama-490, okanye engama-70 ephindaphindwe kasi-7. Yayiza kuqala ukubalwa ukususela “ekuphumeni kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiselwe nokuba ibuye yakhiwe iYerusalem.” Yayiza kwenzeka nini loo nto?

“IIVEKI EZINGAMASHUMI ASIXHENXE” ZIYAQALISA

16. Ngokutsho komyalelo wakhe, kwakutheni ukuze uKoreshi abuyisele amaYuda kwilizwe lawo?

¹⁶ Zithathu iziganeko esimele sibek’ umnwe kuzo ngokuphathelele ukuqalisa ‘kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe.’ Esokuqala senzeka ngowama-537 B.C.E. xa uKoreshi wakhupha umyalelo wakhe owawubuyisela amaYuda kwilizwe lawo. Siyafunda: “Utsho uKoreshi ukumkani wasePersi ukuthi, ‘Zonke izikumkani zomhlaba uYehova uThixo wamazulu uzinike mna, yaye undimisele ukuba ndimakhele indlu eYerusalem, ekwaYuda. Nabani na ophakathi kwenu ebantwini bakhe bonke, wanga uThixo wakhe anganaye. Ngoko makenyuke aye eYerusalem, ekwaYuda, aze abuye akhe indlu kaYehova uThixo kaSirayeli—unguThixo oyinyaniso—eyayiseYerusalem. Nabani na oye wasala kuzo zonke iindawo ahlala kuzo njengomphambukeli, amadoda endawo yakhe makamncede ngesilivere nangegolide nangeempahla nangezilwanyana zasekhaya kunye nomnikelo wokuzithandela wendlu yoThixo oyinyaniso, eyayiseYerusalem.’” (Ezra 1:2-4) Kuyabonakala ukuba, eyona njongo yalo myalelo yayikukwakha itempile—“indlu kaYehova”—kwisiza eyayakhiwe kuso eyokuqala.

17. Ileta eyanikwa uEzra yathi wayeyokwenza ntoni eYerusalem?

¹⁷ Isiganeko sesibini senzeka ngonyaka wesixhenxe wolawulo lukaKumkani uArtashashta wamaPersi (uArtashashta Longimanus, unyana kaXerxes I). Ngelo xesha, uEzra owayengumkhupheli wathabatha uhambo lweenyanga ezine olwalusuka eBhabhiloni lusinge eYerusalem. Wayephethe ileta ekhethekileyo eyayivela kukumkani, kodwa ke yayingagunyazisi ukwakhiwa ngokutsha kweYerusalem. Kunoko, uEzra wayethunywe ukuba aye ‘kuhombisa indlu kaYehova’ nje kuphela. Kungoko le leta yayisithi unqulo lwasetempileni lwaluza kuxhaswa ngegolide nesilivere, izitya ezingcwele, iminikelo yengqolowa, yewayini, yeoli neyetyuwa, kuquka nokungahlawuliswa rhafu kwabo bakhonza etempileni.—Ezra 7:6-27.

18. Ziziphi iindaba ezaphazamisa uNehemiya, ibe zafikelela njani kuKumkani uArtashashta?

¹⁸ Isiganeko sesithathu senzeka kwiminyaka eli-13 kamva, ngonyaka wama-20 kaKumkani uArtashashta wamaPersi. Ngelo xesha uNehemiya wayengumngcamli “kwinqaba iShushan.” Intsalela eyayibuye eBhabhiloni yayiyakhe ukusa kumlinganiselo othile iYerusalem. Kodwa izinto zazingahambi kakuhle. UNehemiya weva ukuba “udonga lwaseYerusalem ludiliziwe, namasango ayo atshiswe ngomlilo.” Oku kwamphazamisa kakhulu, ibe intliziyo yakhe yadakumba. Wathi akubuzwa ngokudakumba kwakhe, uNehemiya waphendula esithi: “Phila ngonaphakade kumkani! Ndiya kuthini na ukungadakumbi ekubeni isixeko, indlu yendawo yokungcwaba ookhokho bam, iphanzisiwe, namasango aso edliwe agqitywa ngumlilo?”—Nehemiya 1:1-3; 2:1-3.

19. (a) Xa uNehemiya wayebuzwa nguKumkani uArtashashta, yintoni awaqala wayenza? (b) Yintoni eyacelwa nguNehemiya, ibe yintoni awayithethayo ukubonisa ukuba wayeyiqonda indima kaThixo kulo mba?

¹⁹ Ingxelo engoNehemiya ihlabela mgama isithi: “Ukumkani wathi kum: ‘Yintoni na ke oyifunayo?’ Kwaoko ndathandaza kuThixo wamazulu. Emva koko ndathi kukumkani: ‘Ukuba kubonakala kulungile kukumkani, yaye ukuba umkhonzi wakho ubonakala elungile phambi kwakho, ukuba undithume kwaYuda, kwisixeko sendawo yokungcwaba ookhokho bam, ukuba ndiye kusakha kwakhona.’” Esi sicelo samvuyisa uArtashashta, waza wamkela nesinye isicelo awasenzayo uNehemiya: “Ukuba kubonakala kulungile kukumkani, iirhuluneli ezingaphaya koMlambo [umEfrati] mazinikwe iincwadi, ukuze zindivumele ndidlule de ndiye kufika kwaYuda; nencwadi eya kuAsafu umgcini wepaki kakumkani, ukuze andinike imithi yokwakha isango leNqaba yasendlwini ngamaplanga, nodonga lwesixeko nendlu endiza kungena kuyo.” UNehemiya wavuma ukuba isandla sikaYehova sasinegalelo kuyo yonke le nto, esithi: “Ngoko ukumkani wandinika zona, ngokwesandla esilungileyo sikaThixo wam esiphezu kwam.”—Nehemiya 2:4-8.

20. (a) Laphuma nini ilizwi ‘lokuba ibuyiselwe nokuba ibuye yakhiwe iYerusalem’? (b) Zaqala nini “iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe,” yaye zaphela nini? (c) Bubuphi ubungqina obubonisa ukuchana kwexesha lokuqalisa nelokuphela ‘kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe’?

²⁰ Nangona imvume yanikelwa ngenyanga kaNisan, ngasebutsheni bonyaka wama-20 wolawulo luka-Artashashta, okona ‘kuphuma kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiselwe nokuba ibuye yakhiwe iYerusalem’ kwenzeka kwiinyanga ezithile kamva. Kwenzeka xa uNehemiya wafika eYerusalem waza waqalisa umsebenzi wakhe wokuyibuyisela. Uhambo lukaEzra lwaluthabathe iinyanga ezine, kodwa iShushan yayikwiikhilomitha ezingaphezu kwama-322 kwimpuma yeBhabhiloni ibe ngaloo ndlela yayikudana eYerusalem. Ngoko, kusenokwenzeka ukuba uNehemiya wafika eYerusalem ngasekupheleni konyaka wama-20 ka-Artashashta, okanye ngowama-455 B.C.E. Ziqale apho ke “iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe,” okanye iminyaka engama-490 eyayixelwe kwangaphambili. Zaziza kuphela kwisiqingatha sokugqibela sowama-36 C.E.—Bona umxholo othi “UArtashashta Waqalisa Nini Ukulawula?” kwiphepha 197.

“UMESIYA INKOKELI” UYABONAKALA

21. (a) Yintoni eyayiza kuphunyezwa ebudeni ‘beeveki zokuqala ezisixhenxe,’ ibe yayiza kuphunyezwa phantsi kwaziphi iimeko? (b) UMesiya wayefanele avele ngawuphi unyaka, ibe incwadi yeVangeli kaLuka ithi kwenzeka ntoni ngelo xesha?

²¹ Kwathabatha iminyaka emingaphi ukwakhiwa ngokutsha kweYerusalem? Kaloku, ukubuyiselwa kweso sixeko kwakuza kugqitywa “ngamaxesha okubandezeleka” ngenxa yeengxaki ezazidl’ umzi kumaYuda ngokwawo kunye nenkcaso eyayiza kuvela kumaSamariya nakwabanye. Ubungqina bubonisa ukuba malunga nowama-406 B.C.E.—kungekapheli ‘neeveki ezisixhenxe,’ okanye iminyaka engama-49, loo msebenzi wawusele ugqityiwe ukusa kumlinganiselo oyimfuneko. (Daniyeli 9:25) Ngoku kwakuza kulandela ixesha leeveki ezingama-62, okanye iminyaka engama-434. Emva kwelo xesha, wayeza kubonakala uMesiya ekwakukudala ethenjisiwe. Xa ubala iminyaka engama-483 (engama-49 edityaniswe nengama-434) ukususela kowama-455 B.C.E. ufika kowama-29 C.E. Kwenzeka ntoni ngelo xesha? Umbhali wencwadi yeVangeli uLuka uyasixelela: “Ngonyaka weshumi elinesihlanu wolawulo lukaTibheriyo Kesare, xa uPontiyo Pilato wayeyirhuluneli yelakwaYuda, noHerode engumlawuli wesithili saseGalili, . . . kwafika ilizwi likaThixo kuYohane unyana kaZekariya esentlango. Ngoko wafika kulo lonke ilizwe elijikeleze iYordan, eshumayela ubhaptizo olufuzisela inguquko ukuze kuxolelwe izono.” Ngelo xesha “abantu babenolindelo” ngoMesiya.—Luka 3:1-3, 15.

22. UYesu waqalisa nini ukuba nguMesiya owayexelwe kwangaphambili yaye kwenzeka njani oko?

²² UYohane wayengenguye uMesiya othenjisiweyo. Kodwa xa wayebalisa okwenzekayo xa wayebhaptiza uYesu waseNazarete, ngokwindla lowama-29 C.E., uYohane wathi: “Ndawubona umoya usihla njengehobe uphuma ezulwini, waza wahlala phezu kwakhe. Nam ndandingamazi, kodwa Lowo wandithumayo ukubhaptiza emanzini wathi kum, ‘Othe wambona kusihla umoya phezu kwakhe, nguye obhaptizela kumoya oyingcwele.’ Kwaye ndiwubonile, ndaza ndangqina ukuba lo nguye uNyana kaThixo.” (Yohane 1:32-34) Xa wayebhaptizwa, uYesu waba nguMthanjiswa—uMesiya okanye uKristu. Kungekudala emva koko, umfundi kaYohane uAndreya wadibana noYesu othanjisiweyo waza waxelela uSimon Petros oku: “Simfumene uMesiya.” (Yohane 1:41) Ngaloo ndlela, “uMesiya iNkokeli” wabonakala kanye ngexesha elalimiselwe—ekupheleni kweeveki ezingama-69!

IZIGANEKO ZEVEKI YOKUGQIBELA

23. Kutheni kwakuyimfuneko ukuba “uMesiya iNkokeli” afe, ibe kwakuza kwenzeka nini oko?

²³ Yintoni eyayiza kwenzeka ngeveki yama-70? UGabriyeli wathi ixesha ‘leeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe’ lalimiselwe “ukuze kunqamke ukunxaxha, nokuze kupheliswe isono, nokucamagushela isiphoso, nokuzisa ubulungisa kangangamaxesha angenammiselo, nokushicilela itywina embonweni nakumprofeti, nokuthambisa iNgcwele yeeNgcwele.” Ukuze kwenzeke oku, kwakuza kufuneka “uMesiya iNkokeli” afe. Nini? UGabriyeli wathi: “Emva kweeveki ezingamashumi amathandathu anesibini uMesiya uya kunqunyulwa, engenanto anayo. . . . Inkokeli leyo iya kwenza umnqophiso nabaninzi, oya kusebenza kangangeveki enye; yaye ekupheleni kwesiqingatha saloo veki iya kuyiphelisa imibingelelo neminikelo esisipho.” (Daniyeli 9:26a, 27a) Eli xesha lobunzima laliza kuba ‘kwisiqingatha seveki,’ ngamany’ amazwi, phakathi kweveki yokugqibela yeminyaka.

24, 25. (a) Njengoko kwakuprofetiwe, wafa nini uKristu, ibe yintoni eyapheliswa kukufa nokuvuswa kwakhe? (b) Yintoni eyenziwa yafumaneka ngokufa kukaYesu?

²⁴ Ubulungiseleli bokugqibela bukaYesu Kristu baqalisa kwinxalenye yokugqibela yowama-29 C.E. baza baqhubeka iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. Njengoko kwakuprofetiwe, ngasebutsheni bowama-33 C.E., uKristu ‘wanqunyulwa’ xa wafa kwisibonda sentuthumbo, enikela ngobomi bakhe bokwenyama njengentlawulelo yoluntu. (Isaya 53:8; Mateyu 20:28) Wathi uYesu ovusiweyo akunikela ngexabiso lobomi bakhe bokwenyama kuThixo ezulwini yatsho yaphela imfuneko yokunyusa amadini ezilwanyana nemibingelelo yezipho eyayiyalelwa nguMthetho. Nangona ababingeleli abangamaYuda baqhubeka bebingelela de yatshatyalaliswa itempile yaseYerusalem ngowama-70 C.E., loo madini ayengasamkeleki kuThixo. Ayethatyathelw’ indawo lidini elibhetele, ekwakungeyomfuneko ukuba liphindaphindwe. Umpostile uPawulos wabhala: “[UKristu] wanikela umbingelelo omnye wezono ngokungapheliyo . . . Kuba ngomnikelo omnye wombingelelo ubenze bagqibelela ngokungapheliyo abo bangcwalisiweyo.”—Hebhere 10:12, 14.

²⁵ Nangona isono nokufa zaqhubeka ziluthwaxa uluntu, ukubulawa nokuvuselwa kubomi basezulwini kukaYesu kwasizalisekisa isiprofeto. ‘Kwanqamla ukunxaxha, kwaphelisa isono, kwacamagushela isiphoso, kwaza kwezisa ubulungisa.’ UThixo wayewushenxisile umnqophiso woMthetho, owawubhence waza wagweba amaYuda njengaboni. (Roma 5:12, 19, 20; Galati 3:13, 19; Efese 2:15; Kolose 2:13, 14) Ngoku izono zaboni abaguqukayo zazinokususwa, nezohlwayo zishenxiswe. Abo banokholo babenako ukucel’ ibuyambo kuThixo ngenxa yombingelelo wokucamagushela kaMesiya. Babenokukhangela phambili ekufumaneni isipho sikaThixo ‘sobomi obungunaphakade ngoKristu Yesu.’—Roma 3:21-26; 6:22, 23; 1 Yohane 2:1, 2.

26. (a) Nangona umnqophiso woMthetho wawushenxisiwe, nguwuphi umnqophiso ‘owagcinwa usebenza kangangeveki enye’? (b) Kwenzeka ntoni ekupheleni kweveki yama-70?

²⁶ Ngaloo ndlela ke uYehova wawushenxisa umnqophiso woMthetho ngokufa kukaKristu ngowama-33 C.E. Kodwa ke kwakunokutshiwo njani ukuba uMesiya “umele agcinele abaninzi umnqophiso usebenza kangangeveki enye”? Kungenxa yokuba wagcina umnqophiso ka-Abraham usebenza. UThixo waqhubeka eyisikelela ngaloo mnqophiso inzala ka-Abraham engamaHebhere de kwasekupheleni kweveki yama-70. Kodwa ekupheleni ‘kweeveki zeminyaka ezingamashumi asixhenxe,’ ngowama-36 C.E., umpostile uPetros washumayeza iTaliyane elalizinikele kunqulo uKorneli, indlu yalo nabanye abantu beeNtlanga. Yaye ukususela loo mini, iindaba ezilungileyo zaqalisa ukushunyayelwa kubantu beentlanga.—IZenzo 3:25, 26; 10:1-48; Galati 3:8, 9, 14.

27. Yiyiphi le “Ngcwele yeeNgcwele” eyathanjiswayo, ibe yathanjiswa njani?

²⁷ Kwakhona esi siprofeto saxela kwangaphambili ngokuthanjiswa ‘kweNgcwele yeeNgcwele.’ Oku asikokuthanjiswa kwEyona Ngcwele, okanye elona gumbi liphakathi kwitempile yaseYerusalem. Apha ibinzana elithi “iNgcwele yeeNgcwele” libhekisela kwingcwele yasezulwini kaThixo. Kulapho uYesu wadlulisela khona idini lomzimba wakhe wenyama kuYise. Ukubhaptizwa kukaYesu, ngowama-29 C.E., kwathambisa, okanye kwahlula loo ndawo yokomoya yasezulwini eyayifuziselwe yEyona Ngcwele yetabanakile eyayisemhlabeni neyathi kamva yasetempileni.—Hebhere 9:11, 12.

ISIPROFETO SIQINISEKISWA NGUTHIXO

28. Kwakuthetha ntoni ‘ukushicilela itywina embonweni nakumprofeti’?

²⁸ Isiprofeto esingoMesiya esasivela kwingelosi uGabriyeli sathetha ‘nangokushicilela itywina embonweni nakumprofeti.’ Oku kuthetha ukuba konke okwakuxelwe kwangaphambili ngoMesiya—konke awakuphumezayo ngedini, ngovuko nangokubonakala kwakhe ezulwini, kuquka nezinye izinto ezenzeka ngeveki yama-70—kwakuya kutyobelwa ngetywina elibonisa ukuba uThixo uyakuxhasa, kungqineke kuyinyaniso yaye kunokuthenjwa. Lo mbono wawuza kutywinwa, uze upheleliselwe kuMesiya kuphela. Inzaliseko yawo yayiya kuza ngaye nangemisebenzi kaThixo awayeza kuyenza ngaye. Ingcombolo echanileyo yalo mbono inokuchazwa ngokuchanileyo kuphela ngokunxibelelene noMesiya owaxelwa kwangaphambili. Ayikho enye into enokuyityhila intsingiselo yawo.

29. Yintoni eyayimele yenziwe ukuze iYerusalem yakhiwe ngokutsha, ibe kwakutheni?

²⁹ Ngaphambilana uGabriyeli wayeprofete esithi iYerusalem yayiza kuphinda yakhiwe. Ngoku uxela kusengaphambili ngokutshatyalaliswa kweso sixeko netempile yaso ezazakhiwe ngokutsha, esithi: “Isixeko nendawo engcwele ziya konakaliswa ngabantu benkokeli ezayo. Ukuphela kwayo kuya kuba ngomkhukula. Kuya kugquba imfazwe kuyo kude kube sekupheleni, ide iphanziswe, njengoko kumiselwe ukuba kube njalo. . . . Kumaphiko ezinto ezinezothe kuza kube kuhleli lowo uphanzisayo; yaye kuya kuzaliseka oko kugqitywe kuko ngalowo uphanzileyo, de kufike intshabalalo.” (Daniyeli 9:26b, 27b) Nangona yayiza kuphanziswa emva ‘kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe,’ oko kwakuya kubangelwa ngokungqalileyo ziziganeko ‘zeveki’ yokugqibela, xa amaYuda ayeya kuchasa uKristu aze ambulale.—Mateyu 23:37, 38.

30. Njengoko kuboniswa ziincwadi zembali, wazalisekiswa njani umyalelo woMgcini-xesha Obalaseleyo?

³⁰ Iincwadi zembali zibonisa ukuba ngowama-66 C.E., imikhosi yamaRoma eyayiphantsi kweRhuluneli engumSiriya uCestius Gallus yayingqinga iYerusalem. Phezu kwako nje ukuxhathalaza kwamaYuda, imikhosi yamaRoma eyayixwaye iimbasa yonqulo-zithixo, yangena kweso sixeko yaza yaqalisa ukudiliza udonga lwetempile olungasemntla. Ukuma kwayo apho kwayenza “into elizothe” eyayinokuphanzisa yonke into. (Mateyu 24:15, 16) ‘Njengomkhukula,’ amaRoma awayephantsi kukaNjengele Titus ada asiphanzisa eso sixeko kunye netempile yaso ngowama-70 C.E. Akukho nto yawathintelayo, kuba oko kwakuyalelwe—‘kugqityiwe’—nguThixo. UMgcini-xesha Obalaseleyo, uYehova, wayephinde walizalisekisa ilizwi lakhe!

UZUZE NTONI?

• Xa iminyaka engama-70 yokuphanziswa kweYerusalem yayisondela esiphelweni, ziziphi izibongozo ezenziwa nguDaniyeli kuYehova?

• Zathabatha ixesha elide kangakanani “iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe,” ibe zaqala zaza zaphela nini?

• Wabonakala nini “uMesiya iNkokeli,” ibe “wanqunyulwa” ngaliphi ixesha lamanzithinzithi?

• Nguwuphi umnqophiso owagcinelwa ‘abaninzi usebenza kangangeveki enye’?

• Kwenzeka ntoni emva ‘kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe’?

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 197]

UArtashashta Waqalisa Nini Ukulawula?

ABABHALI-MBALI bayaphikisana ngonyaka awaqalisa ngawo ukulawula uKumkani wamaPersi uArtashashta. Bambi bathi wathweswa ulawulo ngowama-465 B.C.E. kuba uyise, uXerxes, waqalisa ukulawula ngowama-486 B.C.E. waza wafa ngonyaka wama-21 wolawulo lwakhe. Kodwa bukho ubungqina bokuba uArtashashta wangena kwisihlalo sobukhosi ngowama-475 B.C.E. waza waqalisa ukulawula ngowama-474 B.C.E.

Imibhalo nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo evunjululwe kwikomkhulu lamandulo lasePersi iPersepolis ibonisa ukuba uXerxes noyise, uDariyo I, babengamabamba bobabini. Ukuba oko kwaqhubeka kangangeminyaka eli-10 waza uXerxes walawula yedwa kangangeminyaka eli-11 emva kokufa kukaDariyo ngowama-486 B.C.E., ngoko uArtashashta waqalisa ukulawula ngowama-474 B.C.E.

Obunye ubungqina bobuphathelele uNjengele Themistocles waseAthene, owaswantsulisa imikhosi kaXerxes ngowama-480 B.C.E. Kamva wathiywa ngamaGrike aza amtyhola ngokuwangcatsha. UThemistocles waziph’ amathafa waya kugob’ ityholo kwibhotwe lamaPersi, apho wafika wamkelwa ngezandl’ ezishushu. Ngokutsho kombhali-mbali ongumGrike uThucydides, oku kwenzeka uArtashashta “esandul’ ukungena kwisihlalo sobukhosi.” Umbhali-mbali ongumGrike uDiodorus Siculus uthi uThemistocles wafa ngowama-471 B.C.E. Ekubeni uThemistocles wacela ukuba aphiwe ixesha elingangonyaka efunda isiPersi ngaphambi kokuba aluman’ indlebe noKumkani uArtashashta, umele ukuba wafika eAsia Minor kungekhona emva kowama-473 B.C.E. KwaneChronicle of Eusebius kaJerome iyawungqinela loo mhla. Ekubeni uArtashashta ‘wayesandul’ ukungena kwisihlalo sobukhosi’ ukufika kukaThemistocles eAsia ngowama-473 B.C.E., kwincwadi yakhe ethi Christology of the Old Testament, umphengululi ongumJamani uErnst Hengstenberg wathi ulawulo luka-Artashashta lwaqalisa ngowama-474 B.C.E., phofu engqinelana nezinye iincwadi. Walek’ umsundulo esithi: “UArtashashta wadibanisa iminyaka engama-20 elawula ngowama-455 ngaphambi kukaKristu.”

[Umfanekiso]

Umfanekiso womzimba ongentla kaThemistocles

[Umzobo/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 188, 189]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

“IIVEKI EZINGAMASHUMI ASIXHENXE”

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 180]

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 193]