Incwadi YeBhayibhile 1—Genesis

Umbhali: NguMoses

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: Entlango

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Ngowe-1513 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: “Ukususela ekuqalekeni” ukusa kowe-1657 B.C.E.

 1. Yiyiphi eminye yemibandela ebalulekileyo egutyungelwe kwiGenesis?

KHAWUZITHELEKELELE uthabatha incwadi enezahluko ezifutshane ezingama-50 nje kuphela uze kwiphepha lokuqala okanye lesibini layo ufumane ekuphela kwengxelo echanileyo ngembali yokuqala yomntu nengxelo ebonisa ulwalamano umntu analo noThixo, uMdali wakhe, nolwalamano analo nomhlaba onezigidi ngezigidi zezidalwa! Kuloo maphepha ambalwa, kwakhona, uzuza ukuqonda okunzulu ngenjongo kaThixo yokubeka umntu emhlabeni. Xa ufunda ngokubhekele phaya, ufumanisa isizathu sokuba umntu esifa nesizathu sokuba abe ngoku ukwimeko eneenkathazo, kwaye uthi ucacelwe sisiseko sokwenene sokholo nesethemba, ukwacacelwa nayindlela yokufanisa isixhobo sikaThixo sentlangulo—iMbewu yedinga. Incwadi ebalaseleyo equlethe zonke ezi zinto yiGenesis, incwadi yokuqala kwezingama-66 zeBhayibhile.

 2. Iyintoni intsingiselo yegama elithi Genesis, kwaye iyinxalenye yokuqala yantoni?

² Igama elithi “Genesis” lithetha “iSiqalo; Ukuzalwa,” eli gama lithatyathwe kwinguqulelo yale ncwadi kwiSeptuagint yesiGrike. Kwimibhalo-ngqangi yesiHebhere, igama layo elithi Bereʼ·shithʹ, “ekuqaleni” (en ar·kheiʹ ngesiGrike) livela kwigama ekuvulwa ngalo. IGenesis iyincwadi yokuqala yePentatiki (Pentateuch). Kuyabonakala ukuba ekuqaleni le yayiyincwadi enye eyayibizwa ngokuba yiTorah (UMthetho) okanye “incwadi yomthetho kaMoses” kodwa kamva yahlulahlulwa yayimisongo emihlanu ekulula ukuyiphatha.—Yosh. 23:6, NW; Ezra 6:18.

 3. (a)Ngubani uMyili weGenesis, kodwa yabhalwa ngubani? (b) Kusenokuba uMoses wayifumana njani inkcazelo awayiquka kwiGenesis?

³ UYehova uThixo unguMyili weBhayibhile, kodwa waphefumlela uMoses ukuba abhale incwadi yeGenesis. UMoses wayifumana phi inkcazelo awayibhala kwiGenesis? Yimbi usenokuba wayifumana ngokutyhilelwa ngokungqalileyo nguThixo kwaye enye, phantsi kolwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele, wayifumana ngokuyibaliselwa. Kukwanokwenzeka ukuba uMoses wayenamaxwebhu abhaliweyo awayelondolozwe ngooyisemkhulu njengaxabisekileyo, awayeziingxelo ezixabisekileyo ezingesiqalo soluntu.a

 4. (a)UMoses wakugqiba ephi kwaye nini ukubhala kwakhe? (b) Kusenokuba uMoses wawufumana njani umbandela awawufakela kwinxalenye yokugqibela yeGenesis?

⁴ Kunokwenzeka ukuba uMoses, ephantsi kwempefumlelo, wakugqiba ukubhala kwakhe entlango yaseSinayi ngowe-1513 B.C.E. (2 Tim. 3:16; Yoh. 5:39, 46, 47) UMoses wayifumana phi inkcazelo yenxalenye yokugqibela yeGenesis? Ekubeni uyisemkhulu uLevi wayengumntakwabo Yosefu ngoyise, ezi nkcukacha zisenokuba zazisaziwa ngokuchanileyo entsatsheni yakowabo. Kusenokwenzeka nokuba uLevi wayephila ngaxeshanye noyise kaMoses, uAmram. Ngokungakumbi, kwakhona umoya kaYehova wawuya kuqinisekisa ukuba le nxalenye yeZibhalo yayibhalwe ngokuchanileyo.—Eks. 6:16, 18, 20; Num. 26:59.

 5. Bubuphi ubungqina beBhayibhile obungaphakathi obungqinela ukuba uMoses wayengumbhali?

⁵ Akukho mathandabuzo mayela nomntu owabhala iGenesis. “Incwadi yomthetho kaMoses” nezinye iimbekiselo ezifanayo ezibhekisela kwiincwadi zokuqala ezintlanu zeBhayibhile, iGenesis eyenye yazo, zifumaneka ngokufuthi ukususela kwixesha lelandela likaMoses, uYoshuwa, kuse phambili. Enyanisweni, kwiincwadi zamva zeBhayibhile ezingama-27 kukho iindawo ezinokuba ngama-200 ezithetha ngoMoses. Ukuba ngumbhali kukaMoses akuzange kuthandatyuzwe ngamaYuda. IZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike zisoloko zikhankanya uMoses njengombhali ‘womthetho,’ obona bungqina bubalaseleyo boku ibobo bukaYesu Kristu. UMoses wabhala eyalelwa ngokungqalileyo nguYehova kwanaphantsi kwempefumlelo Yakhe.—Eks. 17:14; 34:27; Yosh. 8:31; Dan. 9:13; Luka 24:27, 44.

 6. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba ukubhala kwaqaliswa kwasekuqaleni kwembali yomntu?

⁶ Bambi abantu abanesimo sengqondo sokuthandabuza baye babuza oku, Kodwa uMoses nabanye ababemandulela babekwazi njani ukubhala? Ngaba ukubhala kwakungeyonto eyaba yinkqubela yamva yabantu? Kuyabonakala ukuba ukubhala kwaqaliswa kwasekuqaleni kwembali yomntu, mhlawumbi ngaphambi koNogumbe womhla kaNowa, owabakho ngowama-2370 B.C.E. Ngaba kukho nabuphi na ubungqina obungobuchule bokuqala bomntu bokubhala? Ngoxa kuyinyaniso ukuba abembi bezinto zakudala baye bamisela imihla engaphambi kowama-2370 B.C.E. besithi amacwecwe athile omdongwe abaye bawavumbulula abhalwa ebudeni bayo, imihla enjalo iyingqikelelo nje. Noko ke, kufanele kuphawulwe ukuba iBhayibhile ikubonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba ukwakhiwa kwezixeko, ukuveliswa kwezixhobo zomculo nokuveliswa kwezixhobo zesinyithi kwaqaliswa kude kudala ngaphambi koNogumbe. (Gen. 4:17, 21, 22) Ngoko, ngokusengqiqweni, kwakungenakuba nzima kangako ngomntu ukuvelisa indlela yokubhala.

 7. Bubuphi ubungqina behlabathi obukhoyo obungonogumbe womhlaba wonke nobeminombo emithathu yesizwe esingabantu, njengoko buchazwe kwingxelo yeBhayibhile?

⁷ Kwezinye iinkalo ezininzi, iGenesis iye yangqineka ingqinelana ngokumangalisayo nezibakala ezingqinelweyo. YiGenesis kuphela enikela ingxelo eyinyaniso nechanileyo ngoMkhukula nabasindayo kuwo, nangona iingxelo ezingonogumbe nokusinda kwabantu (ubukhulu becala ngenxa yokulondolozwa ephenyaneni) zifumaneka kumabali eentlanga ngeentlanga zentsapho yoluntu. Ingxelo yeGenesis ikwathetha ngokuqalisa kweminombo eyahlukahlukeneyo yesizwe esingabantu esusela koonyana abathathu bakaNowa—uShem, uHam noYafete.b UGqr. Melvin G. Kyle, weSikolo saBefundisi saseXenia, eMissouri, eUnited States, uthi: “Ngokuyintloko, ayinakukhanyelwa into yokuba kwindawo ethile, kwelo laseMesopotami, yemka inzala kaHam yafudukela emzantsi-ntshona, inzala kaYafete yafudukela emntla-ntshona, yaza inzala kaShem yafudukela ‘ngasempuma’ kufuphi ‘nelizwe laseShinare.’”c

 8. Bubuphi obunye ubungqina obungqinela ukuba iGenesis iyinyaniso?

⁸ Ubunyaniso beGenesis njengenxalenye yengxelo yobuthixo buboniswa nakukuvisisana koko kungaphakathi kuyo, nakukuvumelana kwayo ngokupheleleyo nenxalenye yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo. Ukuthetha kwayo ngokuphandle kubonakalisa umbhali owayesoyika uYehova nowayethanda inyaniso nowathi ngokungathandabuziyo wabhala ngezono zohlanga nezabo babebalasele kwaSirayeli. Ngaphezu kwako konke, ukuchana okungaguquguqukiyo eziye zazaliseka ngako iziprofeto zayo, njengoko kuza kuboniswa ngasekupheleni kwesi sahluko, kuphawula iGenesis njengomzekelo obalaseleyo wencwadi ephefumlelwe nguYehova uThixo.—Gen. 9:20-23; 37:18-35; Gal. 3:8, 16.

OKUQULETHWE YIGENESIS

 9. (a)Yintoni ebaliswayo kwisahluko sokuqala seGenesis mayela nokudala kukaThixo? (b) Ziziphi iinkcukacha ezongezelelekileyo esizinikelayo isahluko sesibini mayela nomntu?

⁹ Ukudalwa kwamazulu nomhlaba, nokulungiswa komhlaba ukuba ube yindawo yokuhlala umntu (1:1–2:25). Ngokucacileyo xa kubuyelwa emva kwiminyaka yexesha ezizigidi ngezigidi, iGenesis ivula ngamazwi alula nachukumisayo athi: “Ekuqalekeni uThixo wadala amazulu nehlabathi.” Okuphawulekayo kukuba, esi sivakalisi sivulayo sichaza uThixo njengoMdali nendalo yakhe ebonakalayo njengamazulu nomhlaba. Ngamazwi azukileyo nakhethwe kakuhle, isahluko sokuqala sihlabela mgama sichaza ngokubanzi ingxelo yomsebenzi wokudala ohlobene nomhlaba. Lo msebenzi uphunyezwa kwizahlulo zexesha ezithandathu ezibizwa ngokuba yimihla, ngasinye siqalisa ngengokuhlwa, xa umsebenzi wokudala welo thuba ungachazwanga, uze uphele ngentsasa eqaqambileyo, njengoko ukuzuka komsebenzi wokudala kuthi kubonakale ngokucacileyo. ‘Kwimihla’ elandelelanayo kuvela ukukhanya; isibhakabhaka somoya; umhlaba owomileyo nohlaza; izikhanyiso zokwahlula imini nobusuku; iintlanzi neentaka; izilwanyana zasemhlabeni kuze ekugqibeleni kuvele umntu. Apha uThixo uwenza waziwe umthetho wakhe olawula ezi ntlobo zezinto, umqobo ongenakugqithwa nto owenza kungabi nakwenzeka ukuba olunye uhlobo luguquke ngenkqubo yendaleko lube lolunye. Akuba emenzile umntu ngokomfanekiselo wakhe, uThixo uvakalisa injongo Yakhe entlu-ntathu ngomntu emhlabeni eyile: ukuwuzalisa ngenzala engamalungisa, ukuweyisa nokuba nobukhosi kwakhe kwindalo ezizilwanyana. “Umhla” wesixhenxe uyasikelelwa uze uvakaliswe ungcwele nguYehova, othi ngoku ‘aphumle kuwo wonke umsebenzi wakhe awenzileyo.’ Ngokulandelayo ingxelo inikela imbono eyandisiweyo, okanye eneenkcukacha ngakumbi yomsebenzi kaThixo wokudala onokuthanani nomntu. Ichaza umyezo wase-Eden nendawo okuyo, ithetha ngomthetho kaThixo womthi owalelweyo, ibalisa ngokuthiya amagama kuka-Adam izilwanyana, ize ke inikele ingxelo ngokulungiselela kukaYehova umtshato wokuqala ngokubumba umfazi ngokusuka kumzimba ka-Adam aze amzise kuAdam.

10. IGenesis ikucacisa njani ukuqaleka kwesono nokufa, ibe yiyiphi injongo ebalulekileyo eyaziswayo apha?

¹⁰ Isono nokufa zingena ehlabathini; “imbewu” ixelwa kwangaphambili njengomhlanguli (3:3–5:5). Umfazi utya isiqhamo esalelweyo aze aphembelele indoda yakhe ukuba imthelele ekuvukeleni, kwaye ngaloo ndlela iEden iyonakala ngenxa yokungathobeli. Ngokukhawuleza uThixo walatha kwindlela eya kuphunyezwa ngayo injongo yakhe: “Wathi uYehova uThixo kwinyoka [uSathana, umxhokonxi wemvukelo ongabonakaliyo], . . . Ndiya kumisa ubutshaba phakathi kwakho nomfazi, naphakathi kwembewu yakho nembewu yakhe; yona iya kukutyumza intloko, wena uya kuyityumza isithende.” (3:14, 15) Umntu uyagxothwa emyezweni, ukuba aphile entlungwini kwaye ebulaleka phakathi kwemithana enameva neenkunzane. Ekugqibeleni, umele afe aze abuyele emhlabeni awayethatyathwe kuwo. Yinzala yakhe kuphela enokuthembela kwiMbewu yedinga.

11. Imiphumo emibi yesono iqhubeka isenza ntoni ngaphandle kwe-Eden?

¹¹ Imiphumo emibi yesono iyaqhubeka ibonakala ngaphandle kwe-Eden. UKayin, umntwana wokuqala ozelwe ngumntu, ubulala umntakwabo uAbheli, umkhonzi othembekileyo kaYehova. UYehova uyamgxotha uKayin emgxothela kwilizwe lakwaKuphalaphala, apho avelisa inzala ethi kamva itshatyalaliswe ngoNogumbe. Ngoku uAdam unomnye unyana, uSete, oba nguyise kaEnoshe; ngeli xesha abantu baqalisa ukubiza egameni likaYehova behanahanisa. UAdam ufa xa aneminyaka engama-930 ubudala.

12. Umhlaba wonakaliswa njani ngemihla kaNowa?

¹² Abantu nezithunywa zezulu ezingendawo bonakalisa umhlaba; uThixo uzisa uNogumbe (5:6–11:9). Apha kunikelwe ingxelo yomlibo wenzala kaSete. Umntu obalaseleyo kule nzala kaSete nguEnoki, othi angcwalise igama likaYehova ‘ngokuhamba noThixo oyinyaniso.’ (5:22) Omnye umntu onokholo oluphawulekayo ngumzukulwana womzukulwana kaEnoki uNowa, owazalwa kwiminyaka eli-1 056 emva kokudalwa kuka-Adam. Ebudeni beli xesha kukho into eyenzekayo eyandisa ugonyamelo emhlabeni. Izithunywa zezulu zikaThixo ziyalishiya ikhaya lazo lasemazulwini ukuze zitshate iintombi zabantu ezikhangeleka zintle. Oku kuhlalisana kungekho mthethweni kubangela ukuba kuveliswe iingxilimbela eziyinzala engamabhastile eyaziwa ngokuba ziiNephilim (okuthetha “Abawisi”), ezizenzela zona igama, kungekhona uThixo. Ngoko ke uYehova wazisa uNowa ukuba uya kumtshabalalisa umntu nezilwanyana ngenxa yobubi boluntu obuqhubekayo. NguNowa kuphela obabalwa nguYehova.

13. Ngoku uYehova ulingcwalisa njani igama lakhe?

¹³ UNowa uzala uShem, uHam noYafete. Njengokuba ugonyamelo nokonakalisa kuqhubeka emhlabeni, uYehova utyhilela uNowa ukuba sele eza kulingcwalisa igama Lakhe ngomkhukula omkhulu, kwaye uyalela uNowa ukuba akhe umkhombe wokulondoloza, emnika iiplani zokwakha ezineenkcukacha. UNowa ukuthobela ngokukhawulezileyo oku aze ahlanganise intsapho yakhe yabantu abasibhozo, kunye nezilwanyana neentaka; kuze ke, ngomnyaka wama-600 wokudla kwakhe ubomi (owama-2370 B.C.E.), kuqalise uMkhukula. Izandyondyo zemvula zigalela ngamandla kangangeentsuku ezingama-40, de kwaneentaba eziphakamileyo zigutyungelwe ngamanzi kangangeekubhite ezili-15 (iimitha ezisi-6,7). Xa, emva konyaka, athi ekugqibeleni uNowa aphume nentsapho yakhe emkhombeni, isenzo sokuqala asenzayo kukunikela idini elikhulu lokubulela uYehova.

14. Yintoni ngoku uYehova ayiyalelayo nenza umnqophiso wayo, yaye ubomi bukaNowa buzaliswa ziziphi iziganeko?

¹⁴ Ngoku uYehova uyamsikelela uNowa nentsapho yakhe aze abayalele ukuba bazalise umhlaba ngenzala yabo. Ummiselo kaThixo uyabavumela ukuba badle inyama kodwa ufuna ukuba bazikhwebule egazini, elingumphefumlo, okanye ubomi, benyama, kwaye ufuna ukuba umbulali wangabom abulawe. Umnqophiso kaThixo wokungaze aphinde azise unogumbe emhlabeni uqinisekiswa ngokubonakala komnyama emazulwini. Kamva, uHam ubonakalisa ukungamhloneli umprofeti kaYehova uNowa. Akukufumanisa oku, uNowa uqalekisa unyana kaHam uKanan, kodwa wongezelela intsikelelo ebonisa ukuba uShem uya kubabalwa ngokukhethekileyo nokuba uYafete naye uya kusikelelwa. UNowa ufa xa aneminyaka engama-950 ubudala.

15. Abantu bazama njani ukuzenzela igama elizukileyo, kwaye uYehova uyiphuthisa njani injongo yabo?

¹⁵ Oonyana abathathu bakaNowa bayawuphumeza umyalelo kaThixo wokuqhama bande, bevelisa iintsapho ezingama-70, oomawokhulu bohlanga lwabantu abakhoyo. UNimrodi, umzukulwana kaHam, akabalelwa kubo, ngokucacileyo ngenxa yokuba uba “ligorha lezingela elichase uYehova.” (10:9, NW) Umisela ubukumkani aze aqalise ukwakha izixeko. Ngeli xesha bonke abantu emhlabeni bathetha intetho enye. Endaweni yokuba basasazeke emhlabeni ukuze bawume baze bawulime, abantu bagqiba ekubeni bakhe isixeko nenqaba efikelela emazulwini ukuze bazenzele igama elizukileyo. Phofu ke, uYehova uyayiphuthisa injongo yabo ngokuduba intetho yabo, aze ke abachithachithe. Esi sixeko sibizwa ngokuba yiBhabheli (gama elo elithetha “Isidubedube”).

16. (a)Kutheni le nto umlibo wenzala kaShem ubalulekile? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuba uAbraham abizwe ngokuba ‘sisihlobo sikaYehova,’ kwaye ziziphi iintsikelelo azifumanayo?

¹⁶ Ukuqhubana kukaThixo noAbraham (11:10–25:26). Apha kulandwe umlibo wokuzalwa obalulekileyo osusela kuShem kuse kunyana kaTera uAbram, okwasinika nengxelo yonxibelelwano lolandelelwano lweziganeko. Kunokuba afune ukuzenzela igama, uAbram uba nokholo kuThixo. Uyasishiya isixeko samaKaledi saseUre ngokuyalelwa nguThixo aze, eneminyaka engama-75 ubudala, awele umEfrati esinge kwilizwe lakwaKanan, ebiza egameni likaYehova. Ngenxa yokholo nokuthobela kwakhe, uthi abizwe ngokuba ‘sisihlobo [umthandi] sikaYehova,’ kwaye uThixo wenza umnqophiso wakhe kunye naye. (Yak. 2:23; 2 Kron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8) UThixo uyamkhusela uAbram nomkakhe ebudeni bokuhlala kwabo okwexeshana eYiputa. Emva eKanan, uAbram ubonakalisa ububele bakhe nokuba ngonoxolo kwakhe ngokuvumela umtshana nomnquli onguwabo, uLote, ukuba akhethe eyona nxalenye intle yelo lizwe. Kamva, uhlangula uLote kookumkani abane abebemthimbile. Ekubuyeni kwakhe ekulweni, uAbram uhlangana noMelkitsedeke, ukumkani waseSalem, othi yena njengombingeleli kaThixo asikelele uAbram, nalowo uAbram anikela kuye izishumi.

17. UThixo uwandisa njani umnqophiso wakhe, ibe yintoni etyhilwayo ngokuphathelele imbewu ka-Abram?

¹⁷ Kamva uThixo ubonakala kuAbram, evakalisa ukuba ulikhaka lika-Abram kwaye esongezelela kwidinga lomnqophiso ngokutyhila ukuba imbewu ka-Abram iya kuba ninzi kangangeenkwenkwezi zezulu. UAbram uxelelwa ukuba imbewu yakhe iya kubandezeleka kangangeminyaka engama-400 kodwa iya kuhlangulwa nguThixo, ngokulugweba uhlanga oluyibandezeleyo. Xa uAbram aneminyaka engama-85 ubudala, uSarayi umkakhe, ongekabi namntwana, umnika isicakakazi sakhe esingumYiputakazi uHagare ukuba amzalele umntwana uAbram ngaso. Kuzalwa uIshmayeli kwaye ujongwa njengoya kuba yindlalifa. Noko ke, uYehova unenjongo eyahlukileyo koko. Xa uAbram aneminyaka engama-99 ubudala, uYehova uyalitshintsha igama lakhe libe nguAbraham, alitshintshe negama likaSarayi ukuba libe nguSara, aze athembise uSara ukuba uya kuzala unyana. UAbraham unikwa umnqophiso wolwaluko, kwaye yonke indlu yakhe yaluswa ngokukhawuleza.

18. Ziziphi iziganeko eziphawulekayo eziba yincopho yobomi bukaLote?

¹⁸ Ngoku uThixo wazisa umhlobo Wakhe uAbraham isigqibo anaso sokutshabalalisa iSodom neGomora ngenxa yesono sazo esikhulu. Izithunywa zezulu zikaYehova zilumkisa uLote zize zimncede ukuba asabe eSodom nomfazi wakhe neentombi zakhe ezimbini. Phofu ke, umfazi wakhe, ezilazila ekhangela kwizinto ezingasemva, uba yintsika yetyuwa. Ukuze zivelise inzala, iintombi zikaLote zinxilisa uyise ngewayini, kwaye ngeentlobano zesini kunye naye, zizala oonyana ababini, abathi babe ngabaseki bohlanga lwamaMowabhi nolwama-Amon.

19. Luluphi uvavanyo uAbraham ahlangabezana nalo ngempumelelo ngokuphathelele iMbewu, kwaye yintoni uYehova ayityhilayo ngokubhekele phaya ekuqinisekiseni idinga Lakhe?

¹⁹ UThixo uyamkhusela uSara ekungcolisweni nguAbhimeleki wamaFilisti. Xa uAbraham eneminyaka eli-100 ubudala kwaye uSara eneminyaka emalunga nengama-90, kuzalwa indlalifa yedinga, uIsake. Kwiminyaka emihlanu emva koku, uIshmayeli oneminyaka eli-19 ubudala wenza intlekisa ngoIsake, indlalifa, nto leyo ephumela ekugxothweni kukaHagare noIshmayeli, ngokuvunyelwa nguThixo. Kwiminyaka ethile kamva, uThixo uvavanya uAbraham ngokumyalela ukuba abingelele ngonyana wakhe uIsake kwenye yeentaba zaseMoriya. Ukholo luka-Abraham kuYehova aluxengaxengi. Uzama ukubingelela ngonyana wakhe nendlalifa kodwa unqunyanyiswa nguYehova, othi alungiselele inkunzi yegusha ukuba isetyenziswe njengedini endaweni yakhe. UYehova uyaliqinisekisa kwakhona idinga Lakhe kuAbraham, esithi uya kuyandisa imbewu ka-Abraham njengeenkwenkwezi zezulu nanjengentlabathi eselunxwemeni lolwandle. Ubonisa ukuba le mbewu iya kulithimba isango leentshaba zakhe nokuba zonke iintlanga zomhlaba ziya kusikelelwa ngokuqinisekileyo ngale Mbewu.

20. Yiyiphi inyameko uAbraham anayo ekulungiseleleni uIsake umfazi, kwaye kwenziwa njani ukuba uIsake ibe nguye kuphela indlalifa?

²⁰ USara ufa xa aneminyaka eli-127 ubudala kwaye ungcwatyelwa kumhlaba uAbraham awuthenge koonyana bakaHeti. Ngoku uAbraham uthuma umkhonzi oyintloko wendlu yakhe ukuba aye kufumanela uIsake umfazi kwilizwe lezalamane zakhe. UYehova ukhokelela lo mkhonzi kwintsapho yonyana kaNahore uBhetuweli, kwaye kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba uRebheka abuyele naye emva. Ngokuvumayo uRebheka uyahamba, esikelelwe yintsapho yakowabo, kwaye uba ngumtshakazi kaIsake. Kwelakhe icala, uAbraham uzithabathela umfazi, uKetura, othi amzalele oonyana abathandathu. Phofu ke, aba nyana ubapha izipho aze abathumele kwenye indawo aze uIsake amenze okuphela kwendlalifa yakhe. Kuthi ke, xa akubudala beminyaka eli-175, afe uAbraham.

21. Kwenzeka njani ukuba uIsake noRebheka babe noonyana ababini abangamawele?

²¹ Njengokuba uYehova wayexele kwangaphambili, uIshmayeli umntakwabo Isake ngoyise uba yintloko yohlanga olukhulu, olusekelwe koonyana bakhe abali-12 abaziintloko zezizwe. Kangangeminyaka engama-20 uRebheka uhlala engazali, kodwa uIsake uyaqhubeka ebongoza uYehova, aze uRebheka azale amawele amabini, uEsawu noYakobi, awayemxelele ngawo uYehova ukuba elikhulu laliya kukhonza elincinane. Ngoku uIsake uneminyaka engama-60 ubudala.

22. UEsawu noYakobi bawujonga njani umnqophiso owenziwe noAbraham, kwaye ngayiphi imiphumo?

²² UYakobi noonyana bakhe abali-12 (25:27–37:1). UEsawu uthanda ukuzingela. Engawuxabisi umnqophiso owenziwa noAbraham, ngenye imini ubuya ekuzingeleni aze athengise ngelungelo lakhe lobuzibulo kuYakobi ngomthamo nje wesityu. Kwakhona utshata abafazi ababini abangamaHeti (kwaye kamva ongumIshmayeli), abathi babe ngunobangela wobuhlungu kubazali bakhe. Encediswa ngunina, uYakobi uzenza uEsawu ukuze afumane intsikelelo yobuzibulo. UEsawu, owayengazange amxelele uIsake ukuba wayelithengisile ilungelo lobuzibulo, ngoku uceba ukubulala uYakobi akukuqonda oko uYakobi akwenzileyo, ngoko uRebheka ucebisa uYakobi ukuba asabele kwaHaran kumnakwabo uLabhan. Ngaphambi kokuba uYakobi emke, uIsake uyamsikelela kwakhona aze amyalele ukuba azithabathele umfazi ongengomhedeni, kodwa uthile kwabendlu yakulonina. EBheteli, esendleleni eya kwaHaran, ubona uYehova ephupheni, othi amqinisekise aze aliqinise idinga lomnqophiso elinokuthanani naye.

23. (a)Kwenzeka njani ukuba uYakobi abe noonyana abali-12? (b) URubhen uphulukana njani nelungelo lobuzibulo?

²³ KwaHaran, uYakobi usebenzela uLabhan, kwaye utshata iintombi zakhe ezimbini, uLeya noRakeli. Nangona lo mtshato wesithembu ubangelwe liqhinga likaLabhan, uThixo uyawusikelela ngokunika uYakobi oonyana abali-12 kunye nentombi awabazalelwa ngabafazi nazizicakakazi zabo ezibini, uZilipa noBhiliha. UThixo uyaqinisekisa ukuba imihlambi kaYakobi yanda kakhulu aze amyalele ukuba abuyele kwilizwe looyisemkhulu. Usukelwa nguLabhan, kodwa benza umnqophiso endaweni ebizwa ngokuba yiGaledi neMboniselod (iham·Mits·pahʹ ngesiHebhere). Ethabathisa kuhambo kwakhona, uYakobi uyaqinisekiswa kwakhona ngezithunywa zezulu kwaye ebusuku ubambana nesithunywa sezulu, esithi ekugqibeleni simsikelele size silitshintshe igama lakhe ekubeni nguYakobi libe nguSirayeli. Ngoxolo uYakobi ulungiselela ukuhlangana noEsawu aze ahambe aye kwaShekem. Apha intombi yakhe, uDina, yoniwa ngunyana wesikhulu samaHivi. Abantakwabo uSimon noLevi bayaphindezela ngokubulala onke amadoda akwaShekem. UYakobi akakholiswa koku kuba, njengommeli kaYehova, kumzisela igama elibi elizweni. UThixo umxelela ukuba aye eBheteli ukuya kwakha isibingelelo khona. Endleleni ephuma eBheteli, uRakeli uyafa ngoxa ezalela uYakobi unyana we-12, uBhenjamin. URubhen wona isicakakazi sikaRakeli, uBhiliha, unina woonyana ababini bakaYakobi, kwaye ngenxa yoku uphulukana nelungelo lobuzibulo. Kungekudala emva koko uIsake uyafa, eneminyaka eli-180 ubudala, kwaye uEsawu noYakobi bayamngcwaba.

24. Kutheni le nto uEsawu nabendlu yakhe befudukela kummandla wasezintabeni wakwaSehire?

²⁴ UEsawu nendlu yakhe bafudukela kummandla wasezintabeni wakwaSehire, ekubeni ubutyebi abaziqwebele bona uEsawu noYakobi bubukhulu kakhulu ukuba babe bangahlala kunye kwakhona. Kunikelwe uludwe lwenzala kaEsawu kunye nolwezikhulu nookumkani bakwaEdom. UYakobi uqhubeka ehleli kwaKanan.

25. Ziziphi iziganeko ezikhokelela ekubeni uYosefu abe likhoboka eYiputa?

²⁵ Ukuya eYiputa ukuze kusindiswe ubomi (37:2–50:26). Ngenxa yokubabalwa nguYehova nangenxa yamaphupha athile amenza ukuba awaphuphe uYosefu, abakhuluwa bakhe bayamthiya uYosefu. Baceba ukumbulala kodwa endaweni yoko bamthengisa kubarhwebi abangamaIshmayeli abadlula ngendlela. Beyithe nkxu egazini lebhokhwe ingubo kaYosefu, bayisa kuYakobi njengobungqina bokuba lo mfana une-17 leminyaka ubudala ubulewe lirhamncwa lasendle. UYosefu uthatyathelwa eYiputa aze athengiswe kuPotifare, umphathi wabalindi bakaFaro.

26. Kutheni le nto ingxelo engokuzalwa kukaPeretse ibalulekile?

²⁶ Isahluko 38 siyishiya okwethutyana ingongoma eyintloko ekuthethwa ngayo size sinikele ingxelo ngokuzalwa kukaPeretse nguTamare, owathi, ngobuchule, wabangela uyisezala uYuda ukuba amngene ngokwemfanelo yomtshato nto leyo eyayifanele ukuba ibe yenziwe ngunyana kaYuda. Kwakhona le ngxelo ibalaselisa inyameko ekhethekileyo iZibhalo eziyinikelayo yesiganeko ngasinye esikhokelela ekuvelisweni kweMbewu yedinga. Unyana kaYuda uPeretse uba ngomnye wookhokho bakaYesu.—Luka 3:23, 33.

27. UYosefu uba nguye njani umveleli oyintloko eYiputa?

²⁷ Njengoko ithuba lihamba, uYehova uyamsikelela uYosefu eYiputa, kwaye uYosefu uba mkhulu endlwini kaPotifare. Phofu ke, ufikelwa bubunzima xa esala ukunyelisa igama likaThixo ngokuhenyuza nomkaPotifare, ngoko utyholwa ngobuxoki aze aphoswe entolongweni. Apho usetyenziswa nguYehova ukutyhila amaphupha amabanjwa amabini avalelwe nawo, umngcamli wewayini nomoji wezonka wakwaFaro. Kamva, xa uFaro eye waphupha iphupha elimkhathaza kakhulu, uxelelwa ngobuchule uYosefu anabo, kangangokuba ngokukhawuleza uziswa kuFaro ephuma entolongweni awayekuyo. Ezukisa uThixo, uYosefu utolika iphupha njengelithetha iminyaka esixhenxe yendyebo, eya kulandelwa yiminyaka esixhenxe yendlala. UFaro uyawuqonda ‘umoya kaThixo’ anawo uYosefu kwaye ummisela njengomongameli oyintloko wokulawula le meko. (Gen. 41:38) Ngoku eneminyaka engama-30 ubudala, uYosefu uvelela ngobulumko ngokugcina ukutya ebudeni beminyaka esixhenxe yendyebo. Ke ebudeni bendlala esehlabathini lonke ethi ilandele, uthengisa ukutya okuziinkozo kubantu baseYiputa nabezinye iintlanga eziza eYiputa zizokufuna ukutya.

28. Ziziphi iziganeko ezibangela ukufudukela kwentsapho kaYakobi eYiputa?

²⁸ Ekugqibeleni uYakobi uthumela eYiputa oonyana bakhe abakhulu abalishumi ukuya kufuna ukutya. UYosefu uyabaqonda, kodwa bona abamqondi. Egcina uSimon njengebanjwa, ufuna ukuba xa beze kufuna ukutya kwakhona beze nomntakwabo ongoyena umncinane. Xa oonyana abasithoba bebuya noBhenjamin, uYosefu uyazityhila, evakalisa ukubaxolela aba balishumi banetyala, aze abayalele ukuba baye kuthabatha uYakobi baze bafudukele eYiputa ukwenzela impilontle yabo ebudeni bexesha lendlala. Ngokuvisisana noko, uYakobi, nenzala yakhe yabantu abangama-66, bafudukela ezantsi eYiputa. UFaro ubanika owona mhlaba mhle, umhlaba waseGoshen, amabahlale kuwo.

29. Luluphi ungcelele lweziprofeto ezibalulekileyo alwenzayo uYakobi xa sele eza kufa?

²⁹ Njengoko uYakobi sele eza kufa, usikelela uEfrayim noManase, oonyana bakaYosefu, andule ke ahlanganise oonyana bakhe abali-12 ukuze abaxelele okuya kubehlela “ngemihla yokugqibela.” (49:1) Ngoku ngokweenkcukacha unikela ungcelele lweziprofeto, zonke eziye zazaliseka ngokuphawulekayo ukususela ngoko.e Apha uxela kwangaphambili ukuba intonga yokulawula iya kuhlala iyeyesizwe sikaYuda de kufike uShilo (gama elo elithetha ukuthi “Lowo KukoKwakhe; OkungoKwakhe Yena”) iMbewu yedinga. Ngoko, emva kokusikelela iintloko zezizwe ezili-12 nasemva kokunikela imiyalelo emayela nokungcwatyelwa kwakhe kwiLizwe Ledinga kwixesha elizayo, uYakobi uyafa eneminyaka eli-147 ubudala. UYosefu uyaqhubeka ebanyamekele abantakwabo neentsapho zabo de kuse ekufeni kwakhe xa aneminyaka eli-110 ubudala, athi ngelo xesha avakalise ukholo lwakhe lokuba uThixo uya kuwabuyisela kwakhona amaSirayeli elizweni lawo aze acele ukuba namathambo akhe athatyathwe asiwe kwelo Lizwe Ledinga.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

30. (a)Sisiphi isiseko iGenesis esinikelayo sokuqonda ezinye iincwadi zamva zeBhayibhile? (b) IGenesis yalatha kweyiphi injongo efanelekileyo?

³⁰ Njengesiqalo seLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo, iGenesis iyingenelo engenakuthelekiswa nanto ekuchazeni iinjongo ezizukileyo zikaYehova uThixo. Esinjani sona isiseko esinikelayo sokuqonda ezinye iincwadi zamva zeBhayibhile! Ngomlinganiselo wayo obanzi, ichaza isiqalo nesiphelo sehlabathi elinobulungisa e-Eden, ukuvela nokutshatyalaliswa okuyintlekele kwehlabathi lokuqala labantu abangahloneli Thixo nokuvela kwehlabathi elingendawo elikhoyo. Okubalaseleyo kukuba, imisela umxholo weBhayibhile iphela, ongulo, ukuthethelelwa kukaYehova ngoBukumkani obulawulwa ‘yimbewu’ yedinga. Ibonisa isizathu sokuba umntu esifa. Ukususela kwiGenesis 3:15 kuse phambili—ibe ngokukodwa kwingxelo engeenkqubano zikaThixo noAbraham, noIsake noYakobi—inika ithemba lobomi kwihlabathi elitsha phantsi koBukumkani beMbewu. Iyingenelo ekwalatheni kwinjongo efanelekileyo yoluntu lonke—ukuba ngabagcini bengqibelelo nokuba ngabangcwalisi begama likaYehova.—Roma 5:12, 18; Heb. 11:3-22, 39, 40; 12:1; Mat. 22:31, 32.

31. Ubhekisela kwisicangca esilapha, bonisa ukuba iGenesis iqulethe (a) iziprofeto ezinentsingiselo (b) nemigaqo exabisekileyo.

³¹ IZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike zibhekisela kuzo zonke iziganeko ezibalulekileyo nabantu, ababhalwe kwincwadi yeGenesis. Ngaphezu koko, njengokuba kuboniswe kuzo zonke iZibhalo, iziprofeto ezibhalwe kwiGenesis ziye zazaliseka ngokungaphazamiyo. Esinye sezi, ukubandezeleka kwembewu ka-Abraham “iminyaka engamakhulu amane,” saqalisa xa uIshmayeli wagculela uIsake ngowe-1913 B.C.E. saza saphela ngokuhlangulwa eYiputa ngowe-1513 B.C.E.f (Gen. 15:13) Imizekelo yezinye iziprofeto ezinentsingiselo nokuzaliseka kwazo iboniswe kwisicangca esilapha. Kwakhona enye into eyingenelo kakhulu ekwakheni ukholo nasekuqondeni yimigaqo engokobuthixo echazwe okokuqala kwiGenesis. Abaprofeti bakudala, kunye noYesu nabafundi bakhe, ngokufuthi babhekisela kwaye basebenzisa izicatshulwa eziphuma kwincwadi yeGenesis. Siya kuba senza kakuhle ukulandela umzekelo wabo, kwaye ukuhlolisisa isicangca esilapha kufanele kusincede koku.

32. Yiyiphi inkcazelo ebalulekileyo enayo iGenesis ngomtshato, ngomlibo wokuzalwa nokubalwa kwexesha?

³² IGenesis ikutyhila ngokucacileyo ukuthanda kukaThixo nenjongo yakhe ngokuphathelele umtshato, ulwalamano olufanelekileyo lwendoda nomfazi nemigaqo yobuntloko nengqeqesho yentsapho. NoYesu wayisebenzisa le nkcazelo, ecaphula isahluko sokuqala nesesibini seGenesis kwamanye amazwi akhe athi: “Anilesanga na ukuba owadalayo kwasekuqalekeni wabadala bayindoda nenkazana, wathi, Ngenxa yoko umntu womshiya uyise nonina, anamathele emfazini wakhe, baze abo babini babe nyama-nye?” (Mat. 19:4, 5; Gen. 1:27; 2:24) Ingxelo ekwiGenesis iluncedo ekunikeleni umlibo wokuzalwa kwentsapho engabantu nasekubaleni ixesha abekho ngalo umntu apha emhlabeni.—Gen. isahl. 5, 7, 10, 11.

33. Chaza imigaqo noqheliselo oluthile olubalulekileyo ekuqondeni iBhayibhile olwalusenziwa libutho loosolusapho.

³³ Kwakhona okuyingenelo ngokwenene kubafundi beZibhalo luhlolisiso lwebutho loosolusapho ekuthethwa ngalo kwiGenesis. Ibutho loosolusapho yayilibutho lolawulo lweentsapho elalisebenza phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo ukususela ngomhla kaNowa de kwasekunikelweni koMthetho kwiNtaba yaseSinayi. Iinkcukacha ezininzi ezaziqukiwe kumnqophiso woMthetho zazisele ziqheliselwa kwibutho loosolusapho. Imigaqo enjengokuzuza iingenelo njengebutho (18:32), imbopheleleko yebutho labantu (19:15), isohlwayo sokubulala kwanobungcwele begazi nobomi (9:4-6), nokukuthiya kukaThixo ukuzukiswa kwabantu (11:4-8) iye yaluchaphazela uluntu ukutyhubela imbali. Uqheliselo nolawulo oluninzi olungokwasemthethweni luzenza zicace iziganeko eziye zenzeka kamva, ukuhla ukuza kufikelela nakwimihla kaYesu. Umthetho wosolusapho owawulawula ukukhuselwa kwabantu nempahla (Gen. 31:38, 39; 37:29-33; Yoh. 10:11, 15; 17:12; 18:9) nendlela yokudluliselwa kwempahla ethile komnye (Gen. 23:3-18) kwanomthetho owawulawula ukudliwa kwelifa ngulowo ufumene ilungelo lobuzibulo (48:22), simele siwazi ukuba siza kuba nenkcazelo esisiseko efunekayo ukuze siyiqonde ngokucacileyo iBhayibhile. Olunye uqheliselo lwebutho loosolusapho olwaluqukiwe eMthethweni lwalulolwamadini, ulwaluko (olwanikelwa kuqala kuAbraham), ukwenziwa kweminqophiso, ukwendiselwa komhlolokazi kumntakwabo ndoda (38:8, 11, 26) nokusetyenziswa kwezifungo ukuze kuqinisekiswe umcimbi othile.—22:16; 24:3.g

34. Ziziphi izifundo, ezixabisekileyo kumaKristu, ezinokufundwa ngokuhlolisisa iGenesis?

³⁴ IGenesis, incwadi yokuqala yeBhayibhile, inikela izifundo ezininzi ezingengqibelelo, ukholo, ukuthembeka, ukuthobela, intlonelo, isimilo nenkalipho. Nantsi imizekelo embalwa: ukholo nenkalipho awayenayo uEnoki ekuhambeni noThixo phezu kwazo nje iintshaba ezazinogonyamelo; ukuba lilungisa, ukungabi nasiphako nokuthobela ngokupheleleyo kukaNowa; ukholo, uzimiselo nonyamezelo luka-Abraham, imvakalelo awayenayo yokuba nembopheleleko njengentloko-ntsapho nomfundisi wemithetho kaThixo kubantwana bakhe, ububele bakhe nothando lwakhe; ukuzithoba kukaSara kwindoda yakhe eyintloko nokukhuthala kwakhe; ukuba nobulali kukaYakobi nokuxhalabela kwakhe idinga likaThixo; ukuthobela kukaYosefu uyise, ukuthi tye kwakhe ngokokuziphatha, inkalipho yakhe, ihambo yakhe entle entolongweni, ukuwahlonela kwakhe amagunya awongamileyo, ukuthobeka kwakhe ekuzukiseni uThixo nokubaxolela kwakhe ngokuqhutywa yinceba abantakwabo; umnqweno ongazenzisiyo wabo bonke aba bantu wokungcwalisa igama likaYehova. Ezi mpawu zingumzekelo zibalasele kubomi babo bahamba noThixo ebudeni bethuba elide leminyaka engama-2 369 ukususela ekudalweni kuka-Adam kuse ekufeni kukaYosefu, njengoko oko kugutyungelwe kwincwadi yeGenesis.

35. Yintoni eyakha ukholo iGenesis eyalatha phambili kuyo?

³⁵ Ngokwenyaniso, ingxelo ekwiGenesis iyingenelo ekwakheni ukholo, imisela njengokuba isenza imizekelo ebalaseleyo yokholo, olo hlobo lokholo lucikidiweyo oluzabalazela ukuya kufikelela kumzi owakhiwe noyilwe nguThixo, urhulumente woBukumkani bakhe awaqalisa ukumlungiselela kude kudala ngeMbewu yakhe yedinga, engumngcwalisi ophambili wegama likaYehova elikhulu.—Heb. 11:8, 10, 16.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 18]

IGENESIS—IPHEFUMLELWE KWAYE IYINGENELO

2:7 Umntu ungumphefumlo 1 Kor. 15:45

9:4 Ubungcwele begazi IZe. 15:20, 29

20:3 Ukukrexeza kuphosakele 1 Kor. 6:9

24:3; 28:1-8 Ukutshata kuphela nekholwa 1 Kor. 7:39

28:7 Ukuthobela abazali Efe. 6:1

Iziprofeto Ezizalisekileyo Nemizekelo Engokwesiprofeto

49:9 Ingonyama yesizwe sakwaYuda ISityhi. 5:5

Ezinye Izibhalo Ezasetyenziswa Ngabaprofeti, NguYesu Nangabafundi—Kumzekeliso, Ekusetyenzisweni Kwazo, okanye njengoMzekelo—Ezingqinela Ngokubhekele Phaya Ubunyaniso BeGenesis

3:1-6 Inyoka yakhohlisa uEva 2 Kor. 11:3

4:8 UKayin wabulala uAbheli Yuda 11; 1 Yoh. 3:12

4:9, 10 Igazi lika-Abheli Mat. 23:35

5:21 UEnoki Yuda 14

5:29 UNowa Hez. 14:14; Mat. 24:37

6:13, 17-20 UMkhukula Isa. 54:9; 2 Pet. 2:5

15:6 Ukholo luka-Abraham Roma 4:3; Yak. 3:23

15:13, 14 Ukufudukela eYiputa IZe. 7:1-7

18:1-5 Ukubuka iindwendwe Heb. 13:2

19:26 Umfazi kaLote Luka 17:32

20:7 Umprofeti uAbraham INdu. 105:9, 15

21:9 UIshmayeli ungcikiva uIsake Gal. 4:29