Incwadi YeBhayibhile 16—Nehemiya

Umbhali: NguNehemiya

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EYerusalem

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Emva kowama-443 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowama- 456 kuse emva kowama-443 B.C.E.

 1. Sisiphi isikhundla sembopheleleko awayekuso uNehemiya, kwaye yintoni eyayiyeyona ibalaseleyo engqondweni yakhe?

UNEHEMIYA, ogama lakhe lithetha ukuthi “UYa Uyathuthuzela,” wayengumkhonzi ongumYuda kakumkani uArtashashta (uLongimanus) wasePersi. Wayengumngcamli wewayini kakumkani. Esi yayisisikhundla awayenokuthenjwa kwaye ahlonelwe kakhulu kuso, esinqwenelekayo, kuba sasimenza ubani afikelele kukumkani ngamathuba athile axa ukumkani ezonwabele kwaye ekulungele ukubabala. Phofu ke, uNehemiya wayengomnye wabo bathinjwa bathembekileyo ababekhetha iYerusalem ngaphezu ‘kwemivuyo yabo.’ (INdu. 137:5, 6) Kwiingcinga zikaNehemiya kwakungabalaselanga sikhundla okanye ubutyebi bezinto eziphathekayo kodwa, kunoko, yayikukubuyiselwa konqulo lukaYehova.

 2. Yiyiphi imeko elusizi eyamenza buhlungu uNehemiya, kodwa liliphi ixesha elimiselweyo elalisondela?

² Ngowama-456 B.C.E. abo ‘babesele ekuthinjweni,’ intsalela yamaYuda eyayibuyele eYerusalem, babengaqhubi kakuhle. Babekwimeko elusizi. (Neh. 1:3) Udonga lwesixeko lwaludilikile, kwaye abantu babelugculelo emehlweni abo babesoloko beziintshaba zabo. UNehemiya wayebuhlungu koku. Phofu ke, lafika ixesha elimiselweyo likaYehova lokuba kubekho nto yenziwayo ngodonga lwaseYerusalem. Enoba iintshaba okanye ababengezontshaba babesithini na, iYerusalem nodonga lwayo olukhuselayo zazimele zakhiwe njengophawu lwamaxesha ngokuhlobene nesiprofeto uYehova awayesinike uDaniyeli esimayela nokuza kukaMesiya. (Dan. 9:24-27) Ngokuvisisana noko, uYehova walathisa iziganeko, esebenzisa uNehemiya othembekileyo nonenzondelelo ukuba aphumeze ukuthanda kukaThixo.

 3. (a) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uNehemiya wayengumbhali, ibe kwenzeka njani ukuba le ncwadi ibizwe ngokuba yekaNehemiya? (b) Liliphi ixesha elahlula le ncwadi kwincwadi kaEzra, kwaye yiyiphi iminyaka egutyungelwa yincwadi kaNehemiya?

³ Alithandabuzeki elokuba uNehemiya ungumbhali wale ncwadi enegama lakhe. Amazwi avulayo athi, “Ibali likaNehemiya unyana kaHakaliya,” nokusebenzisa umntu wokuqala ekubhaleni kukungqina ngokucacileyo oku. (Neh. 1:1) Ekuqaleni incwadi kaEzra nekaNehemiya zaziyincwadi enye, eyayibizwa ngokuba yekaEzra. Kamva, amaYuda ayahlukanisa le ncwadi yaba yeyokuQala neyesiBini kaEzra, kwaye kamva njalo eyesiBini kaEzra yaziwa ngokuba yekaNehemiya. Kukho ithuba elinokuba yiminyaka eli-12 phakathi kweziganeko zokugqibela zekaEzra neziganeko zokuqala zekaNehemiya, lowo ke imbali yakhe igubungela ithuba elisusela ekupheleni kowama-456 B.C.E. de kube semva kowama-443 B.C.E.—1:1; 5:14; 13:6.

 4. Incwadi kaNehemiya ivisisana njani nezinye iZibhalo?

⁴ Incwadi kaNehemiya iyavisisana nezinye iZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo, exhomekeke kuzo ngokufanelekileyo. Ibhekisela izihlandlo eziliqela eMthethweni kwaye ibhekisela kwimibandela enjengezivumelwano zomtshato nabasemzini (Dut. 7:3; Neh. 10:30), iimboleko (Lev. 25:35-38; Dut. 15:7-11; Neh. 5:2-11) nakuMthendeleko Weminquba (Dut. 31:10-13; Neh. 8:14-18). Ngokubhekele phaya, le ncwadi iphawula ukuqalisa kokuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli sokuba iYerusalem yayiza kubuya yakhiwe phakathi kwenkcaso, “ekucuthekeni ke kwamaxesha.”—Dan. 9:25.

 5. (a) Bubungqina obuvela kweyiphi imithombo obubonisa ukuba unyaka wokumiselwa kuka-Artashashta wawungowama-475 B.C.E.? (b) Nguwuphi unyaka ophawula unyaka wakhe wama-20? (c) Incwadi kaNehemiya nekaLuka zinxibelelana njani nokuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli esingoMesiya?

⁵ Kuthekani ngonyaka wama-455 B.C.E. wohambo lukaNehemiya lokuya eYerusalem ukuya kulwakha kwakhona udonga lwesixeko? Ubungqina obunokuthenjwa obungokwembali obuvela kwimithombo yamaGrike, yamaPersi neyamaBhabhiloni balatha kowama-475 B.C.E. njengonyaka wokumiselwa kuka-Artashashta nowama-474 B.C.E. njengonyaka wakhe wokuqala ukulawula.a Oku bekuya kwenza ukuba unyaka wakhe wama-20 ube ngowama-455 B.C.E. UNehemiya 2:1-8 ubonisa ukuba kwakungentlakohlaza yaloo nyaka, kwinyanga yamaYuda uNisan, awathi uNehemiya, umngcamli wewayini yasebukhosini, wafumana kukumkani imvume yokubuyisela nokuphinda akhe iYerusalem, udonga lwayo namasango ayo. Isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli sathi iiveki ezingama-69 eminyaka, okanye iminyaka engama-483, yayiya kuqhubeka “kuthabathela ekuphumeni kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiswe yakhiwe iYerusalem, kuse kumthanjiswa oyinganga”—siprofeto eso esazaliseka ngokuphawulekayo ngokuthanjiswa kukaYesu ngowama-29 C.E., mnyaka lowo onokuvisisaniswa nembali yehlabathi neyeBhayibhile.b (Dan. 9:24-27; Luka 3:1-3, 23) Ngokwenene, incwadi kaNehemiya nekaLuka zinxibelelana ngokuphawulekayo nesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli ekuboniseni ukuba uYehova uThixo unguMsunguli noMzalisekisi wesiprofeto esiyinyaniso! Ngokwenyaniso ekaNehemiya iyinxalenye yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo.

OKUQULETHWE YEKANEHEMIYA

 6. (a) Yiyiphi ingxelo ebangela ukuba uNehemiya athandaze kuYehova, kwaye sisiphi isicelo asivumayo ukumkani? (b) AmaYuda asabela njani kwicebo likaNehemiya?

⁶ UNehemiya uthunywa eYerusalem (1:1–2:20). UNehemiya ukhathazeke kakhulu yingxelo evela kuHanani, oye wabuyela eShushan evela eYerusalem eneendaba zemeko elusizi yamaYuda apho nezingokuwa kodonga namasango. Uzila ukudla aze athandaze kuYehova ‘njengoThixo wamazulu, uThixo omkhulu, owoyikekayo, obagcinelayo umnqophiso nenceba abamthandayo, abayigcinayo imithetho yakhe.’ (1:5) Uyazivuma izono zamaSirayeli aze abongoze uYehova ukuba abakhumbule abantu bakhe ngenxa yegama Lakhe, njengoko wathembisayo kuMoses. (Dut. 30:1-10) Xa ukumkani ebuza uNehemiya isizathu sokuba akhangeleke elusizi, uNehemiya umxelela ngemeko yeYerusalem aze acele imvume yokubuyela khona ukuze aphinde asakhe isixeko nodonga lwaso. Isicelo sakhe siyavunywa, kwaye engaphozisanga maseko uthabatha uhambo lokuya eYerusalem. Emva kokuhlola ngobusuku udonga lwesixeko ukuze aziqhelanise nomsebenzi ongaphambili, uxelela amaYuda icebo lakhe, egxininisa ukuba lo mcimbi uxhaswa nguThixo. Akukuva oku athi: “Masisuke sakhe.” (Neh. 2:18) Xa amaSamariya angabamelwane nabanye besiva ukuba umsebenzi uqalisiwe, baqalisa ukugculela nokuhlekisa.

 7. Uqhubeka njani umsebenzi, kwaye yiyiphi imeko ebangela ukuba ulungelelaniswe kwakhona?

⁷ Ukwakhiwa kwakhona kodonga (3:1–6:19). Umsebenzi wokwakha udonga uqaliswa ngosuku lwesithathu lwenyanga yesihlanu, ababingeleli, abathetheli nabantu besabelana ngomsebenzi. Amasango esixeko neendonga eziphakathi kwawo zilungiswa ngokukhawuleza. USanebhalati waseHoron uyangcikiva esithi: “Enza ntoni na la maYuda antshwenyileyo? . . . Ogqiba namhla na?” Kolu ngcikivo, uTobhiya umAmon wongezelela eyakhe ingcikivo esithi: “Nale nto ayakhayo, kungathi kunyuke impungutye le, iluqhekeze udonga lwawo lwamatye.” (4:2, 3) Njengoko udonga lufikelela umphakamo osisiqingatha, iintshaba ezimanyeneyo ziba nomsindo zize zenze iyelenqe lokunyuka zize kulwa neYerusalem. Kodwa uNehemiya ubongoza amaYuda ukuba akhumbule “uYehova omkhulu nowoyikekayo” nokuba alwele iintsapho zawo namakhaya awo. (4:14, NW) Umsebenzi uphinda ulungelelaniswe ukuze kuhlangatyezwane nemeko exhalabisayo; bambi bemi belindile ngemikhonto ngoxa abanye besebenza benamakrele abo ejinga ezinqeni zabo.

 8. UNehemiya uzilungisa njani iingxaki eziphakathi kwamaYuda?

⁸ Noko ke, kukwakho iingxaki phakathi kwamaYuda ngokwawo. Wambi awo abiza inzala eninzi kubanquli bakaYehova abangoowabo, nto leyo echaseneyo nomthetho wakhe. (Eks. 22:25) UNehemiya uyayilungisa le meko, eluleka nxamnye nokuthanda izinto eziphathekayo, kwaye abantu basabela ngokuvumayo. UNehemiya ngokwakhe, ebudeni bayo yonke iminyaka eli-12 yokuba yirhuluneli, ukususela kowama-455 B.C.E. kuse kowama-443 B.C.E., akaze afune isonka esifanelwe yirhuluneli ngenxa yenkonzo enzima phezu kwabantu.

 9. (a) UNehemiya uhlangabezana njani namacebo achuliweyo okunqumamisa umsebenzi wokwakha? (b) Lugqitywa ngaliphi ixesha udonga?

⁹ Ngoku iintshaba zizama amacebo achulwe ngakumbi okunqumamisa umsebenzi wokwakha. Zimema uNehemiya ukuba ehle eze entlanganisweni, kodwa uphendula ngokuba akanakuba nexesha lokungasebenzi kumsebenzi omkhulu awenzayo. Ngoku uSanebhalati utyhola uNehemiya ngokuba uyavukela nangokuba uceba ukuzenza ukumkani kwaYuda, kwaye ngokufihlakeleyo uqesha umYuda ukuba oyikise uNehemiya khon’ ukuze enze isenzo esiphosakeleyo sokuzifihla etempileni. UNehemiya akoyiki, kwaye ngokuzolileyo nangokuthobelayo uqhubeka nomsebenzi wakhe awabelwe nguThixo. Udonga lugqitywa “ngemihla emashumi mahlanu anamibini.”—Neh. 6:15.

10. (a) Bahlala phi abantu, kwaye luluphi ubhaliso olwenziwayo? (b) Ngoku yiyiphi indibano eqhutywayo, kwaye lunjani ucwangciso losuku lokuqala?

¹⁰ Ukufundisa abantu (7:1–12:26). Kukho abantu nezindlu ezimbalwa ngaphakathi esixekweni, kuba inkoliso yamaSirayeli ihlala ngaphandle ngokwamafa ezizwe zawo. UThixo walathisa uNehemiya ukuba ahlanganise izikhakhamela nabo bonke abantu ukuze babhaliswe ngokwemilibo yokuzalwa. Ekwenzeni oku, uhlola ingxelo yabo babuyayo eBhabhiloni. Kwandula ke ngokulandelayo kuqhutywe indibano yeentsuku ezisibhozo endaweni yembutho engakwiSango Lamanzi. UEzra uqalisa ucwangciso emi kwiqonga elenziwe ngemithi. Ubonga uYehova andule ke afunde ngokusuka kwincwadi yoMthetho kaMoses ukususela kusasa de kube semini emaqanda. Uncediswa ngokufanelekileyo ngabanye abaLevi, ababachazela uMthetho abantu baze baqhubeke ‘belesa encwadini, emyalelweni kaThixo, ngokucacileyo, beqononondisa; bakuqonda ke ukulesa oku.’ (8:8) UNehemiya ubongoza abantu ukuba benze umsitho kwaye bagcobe nokuba bawaqonde amandla ala mazwi athi: “Uvuyo lukaYehova ligwiba lenu.”—8:10.

11. Yiyiphi intlanganiso ekhethekileyo eqhutywa ngosuku lwesibini, kwaye indibano iqhubeka njani kugcotyiwe?

¹¹ Ngosuku lwesibini lwendibano, iintloko zabantu ziba nentlanganiso ekhethekileyo noEzra ukuze ziwuqonde ngengqiqo uMthetho. Zifunda ngoMthendeleko Weminquba ofanele ubhiyozelwe kwangale nyanga yesixhenxe, kwaye ngokukhawuleza zilungiselela ukwakha iminquba ukwenzela lo msitho kuYehova. Kukho “uvuyo olukhulu kunene” njengoko zihlala eminqubeni iintsuku ezisixhenxe, zisiva imihla ngemihla ukufundwa koMthetho. Ngosuku lwesibhozo, ziqhuba indibano ezukileyo, “ngokwesiko.”—Neh. 8:17, 18; Lev. 23:33-36.

12. (a) Yiyiphi indibano eqhutywayo kamva kwangenyanga enye, ibe uthini umxholo wayo? (b) Sisiphi isigqibo esamkelwayo? (c) Liliphi ilungiselelo elenziwayo lokuba kumiwe iYerusalem?

¹² Ngosuku lwama-24 kwakule nyanga, kwakhona oonyana bakaSirayeli bayahlanganisana baze bazahlule kubo bonke abasemzini. Baphulaphula ukufundwa okukhethekileyo koMthetho bandule ke baphulaphule impinda ecikida intliziyo yeenkqubano zikaThixo namaSirayeli, eyenziwa liqela labaLevi. Umxholo woku uthi: “Sukani nime. Bongani uYehova uThixo wenu, kususela kwaphakade kude kuse ephakadeni. Malibongwe igama lobuqaqawuli bakho, elikuphakameleyo konke ukubonga nokudumisa.” (Neh. 9:5) Bayazivuma izono zoomawokhulu babo kwaye ngokuzithoba bacela intsikelelo kaYehova. Oku kwenziwa ngesigqibo esingqinelwa litywina labameli bohlanga. Lonke eli qela liyavuma ukuba lingendiselani neentlanga zelo lizwe, ukuba ligcine iiSabatha nokuba lilungiselele inkonzo yasetempileni nabasebenzi. Umntu omnye kwabalishumi ukhethwa ngeqashiso ukuba ahlale ngokusisigxina eYerusalem, ngaphakathi kodonga.

13. Luluphi ucwangciso lwendibano oluphawula ukunikezelwa kodonga, kwaye ngawaphi amalungiselelo aba ngumphumo woko?

¹³ Ukunikezelwa kodonga (12:27–13:3). Ukunikezelwa kodonga olusandul’ ukwakhiwa kulixesha lokuvuma iingoma nelolonwabo. Kusisihlandlo senye indibano. UNehemiya ulungiselela amaqela amabini amakhulu omculo wokubulela nemingcelele yokuhamba phezu kodonga kumacala awahlukeneyo, kwaye okokugqibela kuthelelwa kumadini awenziwa endlwini kaYehova. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo eminikelo yezinto eziphathekayo yokuxhasa ababingeleli nabaLevi etempileni. Ukufundwa kweBhayibhile ngokubhekele phaya kubonisa ukuba ama-Amon namaMowabhi awafanele avunyelwe ukuba angene ebandleni, kwaye ngenxa yoko baqalisa ukuwahlula wonke umxube kumaSirayeli.

14. Chaza izono ezivelayo ebudeni bokungabikho kukaNehemiya, namanyathelo awathabathayo ukuzishenxisa.

¹⁴ Ukucocwa (13:4-31). Emva kokuchitha ixesha elithile eBhabhiloni, uNehemiya ubuyela eYerusalem kwaye ufumanisa ukuba kuye kwathwethwela izono ezitsha phakathi kwamaYuda. Hayi indlela eziye zaguquka ngokukhawulezileyo ngayo izinto! Umbingeleli omkhulu uEliyashibhi ude wenza iholo yokudlela entendelezweni yetempile ukuze isetyenziswe nguTobhiya, umAmon, ongomnye weentshaba zikaThixo. UNehemiya akaphozisi maseko. Uyikhuphela phandle impahla yendlu kaTobhiya aze ayalele ukuba zonke iiholo zokudlela zicocwe. Kwakhona, ufumanisa ukuba kuye kwayekwa ukuziswa kweminikelo yezinto eziphathekayo yabaLevi, ngoko bayayishiya iYerusalem ukuze bafune iindlela zokuziphilisa. Kukho urhwebo oluxhaphakileyo esixekweni. ISabatha ayisagcinwa. UNehemiya ubaxelela oku: “Nongeza ukuvutha komsindo kuSirayeli, niyihlambela nje isabatha.” (13:18) Uvala amasango esixeko ngeSabatha ukuze abathengisi bangangeni, kwaye ubayalela ukuba bemke kudonga lwesixeko. Kodwa kukho ububi obubi ngaphezu kobu, into ababevume ngokupheleleyo ukuba abasayi kuphinda bayenze. Baye bangenisa abafazi basemzini nabangabahedeni esixekweni. Inzala yolu manyano ayisaluthethi ulwimi lwesiYuda. UNehemiya ubakhumbuza ukuba uSolomon wona ngenxa yabafazi basemzini. Ngenxa yesi sono, uNehemiya ugxotha umzukulwana kaEliyashibhi umbingeleli omkhulu.c Wandula ke alungelelanise ababingeleli nomsebenzi wabaLevi.

15. Sisiphi isicelo sokuzithoba asenzayo uNehemiya?

¹⁵ UNehemiya uyiqukumbela incwadi yakhe ngesicelo esilula nesokuzithoba esithi: “Ndikhumbulele okulungileyo, Thixo wam.”—13:31.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

16. UNehemiya ungumzekelo obalaseleyo ngaziphi iindlela kubo bonke abathandi bonqulo olulungileyo?

¹⁶ Ukuhlonela uThixo kukaNehemiya kufanele kubaphembelele bonke abathandi bonqulo olulungileyo. Wayeka isikhundla esibekekileyo ukuze abe ngumveleli othobekileyo phakathi kwabantu bakaYehova. Wade wawala nomnikelo wezinto eziphathekayo awayenelungelo lokuwufumana, kwaye wakugweba ngokupheleleyo ukuthanda izinto eziphathekayo njengomgibe. Usukelo lwenzondelelo nokugcina unqulo lukaYehova zizinto ezo awayezikhuthaza uNehemiya eluhlangeni luphela. (5:14, 15; 13:10-13) UNehemiya wayengumzeleko obalaseleyo kuthi ngokuba ngongazingciyo nonobulumko ngokupheleleyo, indoda ekhutheleyo, engoyikiyo ukumela ubulungisa nokuba ijongene nengozi. (4:14, 19, 20; 6:3, 15) Wayemoyika ngokufanelekileyo uThixo kwaye wayenomdla wokubakha elukholweni abakhonzi abangoowabo. (13:14; 8:9) Wawusebenzisa ngamandla umthetho kaYehova, ngokukodwa njengoko wawuhlobene nonqulo oluyinyaniso nokuchaswa kweempembelelo zasemzini, ezinjengokwendiselana nabahedeni.—13:8, 23-29.

17. UNehemiya ukwanguwo njani umzekelo elwazini nasekusebenziseni umthetho kaThixo?

¹⁷ Kuyo yonke le ncwadi kuyabonakala ukuba uNehemiya wayewazi kakuhle umthetho kaYehova, kwaye wawusebenzisa kakuhle. Wacela intsikelelo kaThixo ngenxa yedinga likaYehova elikwiDuteronomi 30:1-4, enokholo olupheleleyo lokuba uYehova wayeya kunyaniseka kuye. (Neh. 1:8, 9) Walungiselela iindibano eziliqela, ngokuyintloko ukuze aqhelanise amaYuda nezinto ezabhalwa kwangaphambili. Ekufundeni kwabo uMthetho, uNehemiya noEzra babekukhuthalele ukulicacisa iLizwi likaThixo ebantwini nokulilandela ngokulisebenzisa.—8:8, 13-16; 13:1-3.

18. Ziziphi izifundo ofanele uzibethelele umthandazo kaNehemiya wokhokelo kubo bonke abaveleli?

¹⁸ Ukuthembela kukaNehemiya ngokupheleleyo kuYehova nezicelo zakhe zokuzithoba kufanele kusikhuthaze ukuba sivelise isimo sengqondo esifanayo sokuxhomekeka kuThixo ngomthandazo. Phawula indlela imithandazo yakhe eyamzukisa ngayo uThixo, eyabonisa ngayo ukuziqonda kwakhe izono zabantu, nokucela kwakhe ukuba igama likaYehova lingcwaliswe. (1:4-11; 4:14; 6:14; 13:14, 29, 31) Into yokuba lo mveleli unenzondelelo wayebomeleza abantu bakaThixo yaboniswa kukukulungela kwabo ukulandela ulwalathiso lwakhe lobulumko novuyo abalufumanayo ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo kunye naye. Ngenene wayengumzekelo okhuthazayo! Noko ke, uthe akungabikho lo mveleli unobulumko, hayi indlela ekwangenelela ngokukhawulezileyo ngayo ukuthanda izinto eziphathekayo, ukonakala nowexuko olupheleleyo! Ngokuqinisekileyo oku kufanele kubethelele kubo bonke abaveleli abaphakathi kwabantu bakaThixo namhlanje imfuneko yokuhlala bephaphile, benenzondelelo ngezilangazelelo zabazalwana babo abangamaKristu, benokuqonda kwaye bebakhokela ngokuqinileyo kwiindlela zonqulo oluyinyaniso.

19. (a) UNehemiya walisebenzisa njani iLizwi likaThixo ukomeleza intembelo kumadinga oBukumkani? (b) Ithemba loBukumkani libavuselela njani abakhonzi bakaThixo namhlanje?

¹⁹ UNehemiya wathembela ngamandla ngeLizwi likaThixo. Wayengengomfundisi nje onenzondelelo weZibhalo kodwa wakwazisebenzisa ekumiseleni amafa emilibo yokuzalwa nenkonzo yababingeleli nabaLevi phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo ababuyiselweyo. (Neh. 1:8; 11:1–12:26; Yosh. 14:1–21:45) Oku kumele ukuba kwaba lukhuthazo olukhulu kwintsalela yamaYuda. Kwayomeleza intembelo yawo kumadinga azukileyo awayenikelwe ngaphambili amayela neMbewu nokubuyiselwa okukhulu okuza kubakho phantsi koBukumkani Bayo. Lithemba lokubuyiselwa koBukumkani elivuselela abakhonzi bakaThixo ukuba bazilwele ngenkalipho izilangazelelo zoBukumkani nokuba baxakeke ekwakheni unqulo oluyinyaniso emhlabeni wonke.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]