Incwadi YeBhayibhile 4—Numeri

Umbhali: NguMoses

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: Entlango Nakumathafa AkwaMowabhi

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

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowe-1512-1473 B.C.E.

 1. Kutheni le nto kwabhalwa iziganeko zeNumeri, kwaye yintoni eziyibethelelayo kuthi?

IZIGANEKO ezingohambo lwamaSirayeli entlango ziye zabhalwa eBhayibhileni ukuze kungenelwe thina namhlanje.a Kunjengokuba umpostile uPawulos wathi: “Ezo zinto ke zabe ziyimizekelo kuthi, ukuze singabi ngabakhanuki bezinto ezimbi.” (1 Kor. 10:6) Ingxelo ecacileyo ekwiNumeri ibethelela kuthi ukuba ukusinda kuxhomekeke ekungcwaliseni igama likaYehova, ekumthobeleni phantsi kwazo zonke iimeko nasekubonakaliseni intlonelo ngabameli bakhe. Abantu bakhe akabababali ngenxa yako nakuphi na ukulunga okanye imfanelo abanayo kodwa ngenxa yenceba yakhe enkulu nobubele bakhe obunothando.

 2. Igama elithi Numeri libhekisela entwenini, kodwa liliphi igama elifaneleke ngakumbi elasetyenziswa ngamaYuda kule ncwadi?

² Igama elithi Numeri libhekisela ekubalweni kwabantu okwenziwa okokuqala kwiNtaba yeSinayi kwaza kamva kwenziwa kuMathafa akwaMowabhi, njengoko kubhalwe kwisahluko 1-4 nesama-26. Eli gama lithatyathwe kwelithi Numeri kwiVulgate yesiLatini lona elivela kwelithi A·rith·moiʹ leSeptuagint yesiGrike. Noko ke, amaYuda ayibiza ngokufaneleke ngakumbi le ncwadi ngokuthi Bemidh·barʹ, othetha ukuthi “ENtlango.” Igama lesiHebhere elingumidh·barʹ libonisa indawo esempengempengeni, engenazixeko nazidolophu. Iziganeko ezikwiNumeri zenzeka kwintlango esemzantsi nekwimpuma yelakwaKanan.

 3. Yintoni engqina ukuba uMoses ungumbhali weNumeri?

³ Ngokucacileyo iNumeri yayiyinxalenye yomqulu wokuqala ozizahlulo ezihlanu owawuquka iincwadi ezisusela kwiGenesis kuse kwiDuteronomi. Indinyana yayo yokuqala ivula ngesihlanganisi esithi “kwaye ke” (NW), siyinxibelelanisa noko sekwenzekile ngaphambili. Ngaloo ndlela, imele ukuba yabhalwa nguMoses, umbhali weengxelo ezandulelayo. Oku kukwacaciswa ngamazwi asencwadini athi “uMoses wakubhala,” nangamazwi aqukumbelayo athi, “Yiyo leyo imithetho namasiko awawawisayo uYehova ngesandla sikaMoses.”—Num. 33:2; 36:13.

 4. Liliphi ixesha eligutyungelwa yiNumeri, kwaye le ncwadi yagqitywa nini?

⁴ AmaSirayeli ayesele endulukile eYiputa kwisithuba esingaphezulu nje kancinane konyaka ngaphambilana. Iqhubeka nengxelo kwinyanga yesibini yonyaka wesibini emva kweMfuduko, iNumeri igubungela iminyaka elandelayo engama-38 neenyanga ezisithoba, ukususela ngowe-1512 kuse kowe-1473 B.C.E. (Num. 1:1; Dut. 1:3) Nangona zingalifanelekelanga eli xesha, iziganeko ezichazwe kwiNumeri 7:1-88 nesesi-9:1-15 ziqukiwe njengenkcazelo esisiseko. Alithandabuzeki elokuba iinxalenye zokuqala zale ncwadi zabhalwa ebudeni bokwenzeka kweziganeko, kodwa licacile elokuba uMoses akanakuba wayeyigqibile iNumeri de kwaba ngasekupheleni konyaka wama-40 entlango, ekuqaleni konyaka wekhalenda wowe-1473 B.C.E.

 5. Ziziphi iinkalo ezingqinela ubunyaniso beNumeri?

⁵ Akukho mathandabuzo mayela nokuba yinyaniso kwale ngxelo. Ngokuphathalele lonke ilizwe elibharhileyo ababehamba kulo, uMoses wathi ‘laliyintlango enkulu eyoyikekayo,’ kwaye kuyinyaniso nanamhlanje ukuba abemi balo abasasazekileyo basoloko behambahamba befuna amadlelo namanzi. (Dut. 1:19) Ngaphezu koko, imiyalelo eneenkcukacha enokuthanani neendawo olwalumisa kuzo uhlanga, indlela olwaluhamba ngayo nemiqondiso yesigodlo yokulawula imicimbi yasemnqubeni ingqinela ukuba ngokwenene le ngxelo yabhalelwa “entlango.”—Num. 1:1.

 6. Izinto ezifunyenwe ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala ziyixhasa njani iNumeri?

⁶ Kwanengxelo eyoyikisayo yeentlola xa zabuyayo ekuhloleni kwazo elakwaKanan, yokuba ‘imizi enqatyisiweyo mikhulu kunene,’ iyangqinelwa yinzululwazi engokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala. (13:28) Okufunyaniswe kule mihla kubonise ukuba abemi belakwaKanan ngelo xesha babezinqabise ngongcelele lweenqaba ezaziselizweni kwiindawo eziliqela, ukususela kwiNtili yaseYizereli emntla kuse eGerare emzantsi. Izixeko zakhona zazinganqatyiswanga nje kuphela kodwa ngokuqhelekileyo zazakhiwe ezincotsheni zeenduli, zineenqaba eziziveleleyo iindonga zazo, nto leyo eyayizenza zibe nomtsalane kubantu abanjengamaSirayeli, awayekhe ahlala iinkulungwane kumhlaba othe tyaba waseYiputa.

 7. INumeri inabuphi ubungqina bokunyaniseka?

⁷ Iintlanga zehlabathi zinotyekelo lokuzifihla iintsilelo zazo zize zizukise uloyiso lwazo, kodwa ngokunyaniseka okungumqondiso wenyaniso engokwembali, ingxelo yeNumeri isixelela ukuba amaSirayeli oyiswa ngokupheleleyo ngama-Amaleki nangamaKanan. (14:45) Ivuma ngokungqalileyo ukuba abantu bangqineka bengenalukholo nokuba babengamhloneli uThixo. (14:11) Ethetha ngendlela engqale ngokuphawulekayo, umprofeti kaThixo uMoses ubhenca izono zohlanga, zabatshana bakhe nezomntakwabo nodade wabo. Uyazibhenca nezakhe, kuba uthetha ngexesha laxa wathi wasilela ukungcwalisa uYehova xa wathi wavelisa amanzi eMeribha, kangangokuba waphulukana nelungelo lokungena kwiLizwe Ledinga.—3:4; 12:1-15; 20:7-13.

 8. Abanye ababhali beBhayibhile bakungqinela njani ukuphefumlelwa kweNumeri?

⁸ Into yokuba le ngxelo iyinxalenye yokwenene yeZibhalo eziphefumlelwe nguThixo neziyingenelo ingqinelwa sisibakala sokuba phantse zonke iziganeko zayo ezikhulu, kwanezinye iinkcukacha ezininzi, kubhekiselwa kuzo ngokungqalileyo ngabanye ababhali beBhayibhile, abaninzi babo ababalaselisa ukubaluleka kwazo. Ngokomzekelo, uYoshuwa (Yosh. 4:12; 14:2), uYeremiya (2 Kum. 18:4), uNehemiya (Neh. 9:19-22), uAsafu (INdu. 78:14-41), uDavide (INdu. 95:7-11), uIsaya (Isa. 48:21), uHezekile (Hez. 20:13-24), uHoseya (Hos. 9:10), uAmosi (Amosi 5:25), uMika (Mika 6:5), uLuka kwingxelo yakhe engentetho kaStefano (IZe. 7:36), uPawulos (1 Kor. 10:1-11), uPetros (2 Pet. 2:15, 16), uYuda (Yuda 11), noYohane ekubhaleni kwakhe ingxelo yamazwi kaYesu awayesiya kwibandla lasePergamo (ISityhi. 2:14), bonke aba babhale becaphula kwingxelo ekwiNumeri, njengokuba noYesu Kristu wenzayo.—Yoh. 3:14.

 9. Yintoni egxininiswa yiNumeri ngokuphathelele uYehova?

⁹ Ngoko, yiyiphi injongo ephunyezwa yiNumeri? Ngokwenyaniso ingxelo yayo ixabiseke ngakumbi kunokuba ibe yimbali nje. INumeri igxininisa ukuba uYehova unguThixo wocwangco, ofuna uzinikelo olupheleleyo lwezidalwa zakhe. Oku kubetheleleka ngokucacileyo engqondweni yomfundi njengoko ebona ukubalwa, ukucikidwa nokuhluzwa kwamaSirayeli yaye ebona indlela elisetyenziswa ngayo ikhondo lelo hlanga elokungathobeli nelemvukelo ekugxininiseni imfuneko ebalulekileyo yokuthobela uYehova.

10. INumeri yalondolozwa ukuze kungenelwe oobani, kwaye ngoba?

¹⁰ Le ngxelo yalondolozelwa ukuze kungenelwe izizukulwana ezizayo, kanye njengokuba uAsafu wachazayo wathi, “bayame ngoThixo, bangazilibali izenzo ezincamisayo zikaThixo, bayilondoloze imithetho yakhe” nokuba “bangabi njengooyise, isizukulwana esiyinjubaqa, esineenkani, isizukulwana esingayilungisanga intliziyo yaso, esimoya unganyanisanga kuThixo.” (INdu. 78:7, 8) Ngokuphindaphindiweyo, iziganeko ezikwiNumeri kwaphindwa kwathethwa ngazo kwiindumiso, ezaziziingoma ezingcwele kumaYuda kwaye ke ngoko zaziphindaphindwa ngokufuthi njengeziyingenelo eluhlangeni.—IiNdumiso 78, 95, 105, 106, 135, 136.

OKUQULETHWE YINUMERI

11. Okuqulethwe yiNumeri kunokwahlulahlulwa kube ziziphi iinxalenye ezintathu?

¹¹ Ngokusengqiqweni iNumeri iziinxalenye ezintathu. Eyokuqala kwezi, ephela kwisahluko 10, indinyana 10, igubungela iziganeko ezenzeka ngoxa amaSirayeli ayeseseNtabeni yeSinayi. Inxalenye elandelayo, ephela kwisahluko 21, ithetha ngokwenzekayo ebudeni beminyaka engama-38 nenyanga enye okanye ezimbini ngaphezulu, ngoxa ayesentlango de kwasekufikeni kwawo kuMathafa akwaMowabhi. Inxalenye yokugqibela, ephela kwisahluko 36, ithetha ngeziganeko ezenzeka kuMathafa akwaMowabhi njengoko amaSirayeli ayelungiselela ukungena kwawo kwiLizwe Ledinga.

12. Maninzi kangakanani amaSirayeli amise eSinayi, kwaye umnquba ulungelelaniswa njani?

¹² Iziganeko ezenzeka eNtabeni yeSinayi (1:1—10:10). AmaSirayeli sele ekummandla wasezintabeni weSinayi malunga nonyaka. Apha aye abunjwa aba yintlangano emanyeneyo. Ngokomyalelo kaYehova ngoku kubalwa onke amadoda aneminyaka engama-20 ubudala nangaphezulu. Kufunyaniswa ukuba izizwe zisusela kumadoda akwaManase angama-32 200 kuse kwawakwaYuda angama-74 600, nto leyo eyenza inani elipheleleyo lamadoda angama-603 550 akufanelekeleyo ukukhonza emkhosini wakwaSirayeli, ngaphandle kwabaLevi nabafazi nabantwana—mhlawumbi umnquba unabazizizigidi ezithathu nangaphezulu. Intente yokuhlangana, kunye nabaLevi, ikumbindi womnquba. Kwiindawo ezabelweyo kwicala ngalinye kukho amanye amaSirayeli amisileyo, azizizwe ezahlulahlulwe zazithathu, sizwe ngasinye sinemiyalelo emayela nendlela yokuhamba xa umnquba ufuduswa. UYehova ukhupha imiyalelo, kwaye ingxelo ithi: “Benza ke oonyana bakaSirayeli; njengako konke uYehova abemwisele umthetho uMoses.” (2:34) Bayamthobela uYehova kwaye babonakalisa intlonelo kuMoses, ongummeli obonakalayo kaThixo.

13. AbaLevi babelwa inkonzo ngokwaliphi ilungiselelo?

¹³ Bandula ke abaLevi bahlulahlulwe ngokwezabelo zabo zenkonzo kuYehova, njengentlahlela yamazibulo kaSirayeli. Bahlulahlulwa babe ngamaqela amathathu, ngokokuzalwa kwabo ukususela koonyana abathathu bakaLevi: uGeshon, uKehati noMerari. Iindawo abahlala kuzo emnqubeni neembopheleleko zenkonzo zimiselwa ngokwesizinzi soku kwahlulwa kwabo. Abaneminyaka esusela kwengama-30 ubudala kuse phambili, bamele benze umsebenzi onzima wokuthwala itabarnekile. Ukuze umsebenzi olula wenziwe, kwenziwe ilungiselelo lokuba wenziwe ngabanye, abasusela kwiminyaka engama-25 ubudala. (Ngexesha likaDavide le minyaka yancitshiswa yaba ngabanama-20 eminyaka ubudala.)—1 Kron. 23:24-32; Ezra 3:8.

14. Yiyiphi imiyalelo enikelwayo ukuqinisekisa ukuba umnquba unyulu?

¹⁴ Ukuze umnquba ugcinwe unyulu, kunikelwe imiyalelo yokuba bavalelwe bodwa abo bathi babe nesifo, yokuba zicanyagushelwe izenzo zokungathembeki, yokuba ziconjululwe iimeko apho indoda isenokukrokrela ihambo yomfazi wayo neyokuqinisekisa ukuba abo baye bahlulwa ngesibhambathiso ukuba baphile njengaBahlulwa bakaYehova banehambo efanelekileyo. Ekubeni abantu beya kubizwa ngegama loThixo wabo, bamele baziphathe ngokuvisisana nemiyalelo yakhe.

15. (a) Ngokuphathelele ukunikezelwa kwesibingelelo, yiyiphi iminikelo eyenziwayo? (b) Luluphi ulwalamano amele alukhumbule amaSirayeli, kwaye iPasika imele iwakhumbuze ntoni?

¹⁵ Ezalisa iinkcukacha ezithile ethabatha kwezo zenyanga edlulileyo (Num. 7:1, 10; Eks. 40:17), ngokulandelayo uMoses uthetha ngeminikelo yezinto eyenziwa zizikhulu ezili-12 zabantu kwisithuba seentsuku ezili-12 ukususela kwixesha lokunikezelwa kwesibingelelo. Kwakungekho lukhuphiswano okanye ukufuna ukuzizukisa ngenxa yayo; ngamnye wayenikela kanye oko kwakunikelwe ngabanye. Ngoku bonke bamele bakhumbule ukuba ezi zikhulu noMoses ngokwakhe, balawulwa nguYehova uThixo, onikela imiyalelo kuMoses. Bamele bangaze balulibale ulwalamano abanalo noYehova. IPasika imele ibakhumbuze ukuhlangulwa kwabo okungummangaliso nguYehova eYiputa, kwaye bayibhiyozela apha entlango ngexesha elimiselweyo, kwisithuba esingangonyaka emva kokushiya iYiputa.

16. UYehova ulukhokela njani uhlanga, kwaye yiyiphi imiqondiso yamaxilongo elungiselelwayo?

¹⁶ Ngendlela efanayo naleyo wayewalathise ngayo amaSirayeli ukuphuma eYiputa, uYehova uyaqhubeka elukhokela olu hlanga kuhambo lwalo ngelifu eligubungela umnquba wentente yesiNgqino emini nangokukhanya okufana nokomlilo okubonakalayo kulo ebusuku. Xa ilifu lihamba, uhlanga luyahamba. Xa ilifu liphezu kwetabarnekile, uhlanga luyemisa, enoba kukokweentsuku ezimbalwa okanye inyanga okanye ithuba elidana, kuba ingxelo isixelela oku: “Ngokomlomo kaYehova bamisa, ngokomlomo kaYehova banduluka. Basigcina isigxina sikaYehova ngokomlomo kaYehova, ngesandla sikaMoses.” (Num. 9:23) Njengoko ixesha lokunduluka eSinayi lisondela, kulungiselelwa ukuvuthelwa kwamaxilongo okuhlanganisa abantu nawokwalathisa ukunduluka kwabo ngokwamaqela ahlukahlukeneyo kuhambo lwabo lwasentlango.

17. Chaza indlela ekuhanjwa ngayo.

¹⁷ Iziganeko ezenzeka entlango (10:11–21:35). Ekugqibeleni, ngosuku lwama-20 lwenyanga yesibini, uYehova uyaliphakamisa ilifu phezu komnquba, ngaloo ndlela enikela umqondiso wokuba amaSirayeli anduluke kummandla waseSinayi. Enetyeya yomnqophiso kaYehova phakathi kwawo, andulukela eKadeshe-bharneha, eziikhilomitha ezinokuba ngama-240 ukuya emntla. Njengoko ehamba emini, ilifu likaYehova liphezu kwawo. Sihlandlo ngasinye iTyeya induluka, uMoses uthandaza kuYehova ukuba avuke aze azichithachithe iintshaba zakhe, kwaye sihlandlo ngasinye isima, uthandazela ukuba uYehova abuyele “kumawaka amawaka akwaSirayeli.”—10:36.

18. Kukuphi ukukhalaza okuvelayo endleleni eya eKadeshe-bharneha, kwaye uYehova uyihlengahlengisa njani inkqubo yolawulo lobuthixo emnqubeni?

¹⁸ Noko ke, kuthi kuvele inkathazo emnqubeni. Kuhambo oluya ngasentla eKadeshe-bharneha, kuthi kubekho izihlandlo ezithathu ekukhalazwayo ngazo. Ukuze aphelise imvukelo yokuqala, uYehova uthumela umlilo othi ubadle abanye abantu. Wandula ke ‘umxube omninzi’ ubangele amaSirayeli akhalazele ukuba awasenako ukutya okunjengeentlanzi, iikomkomere, iivatala, iilike, amatswele, nekinofile yaseYiputa, kunoko anemana nje kuphela. (11:4) UMoses ukhathazeka kakhulu kangangokuba ucela ukuba uYehova ambulale kunokuba amvumele aqhubeke engumongi wabo bonke aba bantu. Ngobulumko, uYehova ushenxisa inxalenye ethile yomoya wakhe kuMoses aze ayibeke kumadoda amakhulu angama-70, athi ancedisane noMoses njengabaprofeti emnqubeni. Kwandula ke kufumaneke inyama eninzi. Njengoko kwakukhe kwenzeka ngaphambili, umoya ovela kuYehova ududula izagwityi ziphume elwandle, kwaye ngokubawa abantu bazithabathela izixa ezikhulu, ngokuzingca bazigcinela ezinye. UYehova uba nomsindo ovuthayo kwaba bantu, kwaye ubulala abaninzi ngenxa yokubawa kwabo kokuzingca.—Eks. 16:2, 3, 13.

19. UYehova usisingatha njani isityholo esenziwa nguMiriyam noAron?

¹⁹ Iinkathazo ziyaqhubeka zikho. Bengamgqali ngokufanelekileyo umninawa wabo, uMoses, njengommeli kaYehova, uMiriyam noAron bayamgxeka ngenxa yomfazi wakhe, osandul’ ukufika emnqubeni. Bafuna igunya elingakumbi, elilingana nelikaMoses, nangona “indoda le inguMoses ibilulamile kunene kunabantu bonke abasemhlabeni.” (Num. 12:3) UYehova uwulungisa ngokwakhe lo mcimbi kwaye uyenza yaziwe into yokuba uMoses unesigxina esikhethekileyo, embetha ngeqhenqa uMiriyam, ekunokwenzeka ukuba nguye obe ngumxhokonxi wesikhalazo. Kungokungenelela kukaMoses kuphela le nto athi aphiliswe kamva.

20, 21.Ziziphi iziganeko ezibangela ukuba uYehova akhuphe ummiselo wokuba amaSirayeli amele abhadule entlango iminyaka engama-40?

²⁰ Akufika eKadeshe, amaSirayeli emisa ngasekungeneni kwiLizwe Ledinga. Ngoku uYehova uyalela uMoses ukuba athume iintlola ukuya kuhlola eli lizwe. Zingene ngasezantsi, ziyenyuka ziye ‘kufikelela eHamati,’ zihamba amakhulukhulu eekhilomitha iintsuku ezingama-40. (13:21) Xa zibuya ziphethe iziqhamo ezithile zelakwaKanan, ngokungenalukholo iintlola ezilishumi zima ngelokuba bekungaba bubudenge ukulwa nabantu abomelele nabanezixeko ezinqatyiswe kakhulu ngolo hlobo. UKalebhi uzama ukubathuthuzela abantu ngengxelo ekhuthazayo, kodwa utsho phantsi. Iintlola ezinemvukelo ziwabangela oyike amaSirayeli, zisithi elo lizwe “lilizwe elibadlayo abemi balo” nokuba, “Abantu bonke esababonayo kulo babengabafo abade.” Njengoko ukukrokra okunemvukelo kutyhutyha emnqubeni, uYoshuwa noKalebhi bayabongoza besithi, “UYehova unathi; musani ukoyika.” (13:32; 14:9) Phofu ke, ibandla lifuna ukubaxuluba ngamatye.

²¹ Wandula ke uYehova angenelele ngokungqalileyo, esithi kuMoses: “Kuya kuda kube nini na bendigiba aba bantu? Kuya kuda kube nini na bengakholwa kum, kwimiqondiso yonke endiyenzileyo phakathi kwabo?” (14:11) UMoses uyambongoza ukuba angalutshabalalisi olu hlanga, njengoko kubandakanyeke igama nodumo lukaYehova. Ngoko ke uYehova ukhupha ummiselo wokuba amaSirayeli amele aqhubeke ebhadula entlango de babe bafile bonke abo babhalisiweyo phakathi kwabantu, abasusela kwiminyaka engama-20 ubudala kuse phambili. Kumadoda abhalisiweyo, nguKalebhi noYoshuwa kuphela abaya kuvunyelwa ukungena kwiLizwe Ledinga. Abantu bazama ukuzihambela ngabayibonayo kodwa abaphumeleli koko, kwaye ekuphela kwento abayifumanayo kukoyiswa ngokoyikekayo ngama-Amaleki namaKanan. Onjani wona ukuba mkhulu umvuzo abawufumanayo aba bantu ngenxa yokungamhloneli kwabo uYehova nabameli bakhe abanyanisekileyo!

22. Ukubaluleka kokuthobela kugxininiswa ngaziphi iindlela?

²² Ngokwenyaniso, kuninzi abamele bakufunde ngokuthobela. Ngokufanelekileyo, uYehova ubanika imithetho eyongezelelekileyo ebalaselisa le mfuneko. Ubenza bayazi into yokuba xa befika kwiLizwe Ledinga, iimpazamo zimele zicanyagushelwe, kodwa abangathobeliyo ngabom bamele babulawe. Ngaloo ndlela, xa umntu efunyanwa etheza iinkuni esaphula umthetho weSabatha, uYehova uyalela oku: “Makabulawe afe loo mntu.” (15:35) Njengesikhumbuzo semithetho kaYehova nokubaluleka kokuyithobela, uYehova uyalela ukuba abantu bathungele iintshinga emasondweni eengubo zabo.

23. Uyintoni umphumo wemvukelo kaKora, kaDatan noAbhiram?

²³ Sekunjalo, kuqhambuka imvukelo kwakhona. UKora, uDatan, uAbhiram namadoda abalaseleyo ebandla angama-250 bahlanganisana ukuze bamelane negunya likaMoses noAron. UMoses uwusa kuYehova lo mbandela, esithi kubavukeli: ‘Thabathani iingcedevu nesiqhumiso nizibeke phambi koYehova, anyule.’ (16:6, 7) Ngoku kubonakala ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova kulo lonke eli bandla. Ngokukhawuleza uphumeza umgwebo, ebangela ukuba umhlaba ucandeke ukuze ubaginye abendlu kaKora, kaDatan neka-Abhiram, kwaye uthumela umlilo ukuba uwadle amadoda angama-250 anyusa isiqhumiso, kuquka uKora. Kanye ngosuku olulandelayo, abantu baqalisa ukumgxeka uMoses noAron ngenxa yoko kwenziwe nguYehova, kwaye kwakhona uYehova uyabohlwaya ngokuqatha, aze atshabalalise abakhalazi abali-14 700.

24. Nguwuphi umqondiso uYehova awenzayo ukuze aphelise imvukelo?

²⁴ Ngenxa yezi ziganeko, uYehova uyalela ukuba isizwe ngasinye sizise phambi kwakhe intonga, kuquka intonga enegama lika-Aron yesizwe sikaLevi. Ngosuku olulandelayo uAron uboniswa engulowo unyulwe nguYehova ukuba abe ngumbingeleli, kuba yintonga yakhe kuphela efunyaniswa idubule iintyatyambo kwaye ithwele iziqhamo zemiamangile evuthiweyo. Imele igcinwe kwityeya yomnqophiso “ukuba ibe ngumqondiso koonyana bemvukelo.” (Num. 17:10, NW; Heb. 9:4) Emva kokunikela imiyalelo engakumbi yokuxhaswa kombingeleli ngezishumi nephathelele ukusetyenziswa kwamanzi okuhlambulula anomswane wethokazi lenkomo, ingxelo isibuyisela eKadeshe. UMiriyam ufela apha aze angcwatyelwe kwalapha.

25. UMoses noAron basilela njani ukungcwalisa uYehova, ibe ngawuphi umphumo?

²⁵ Kwakhona ekungeneni kwiLizwe Ledinga ibandla lixabana noMoses ngenxa yokungabikho kwamanzi. Oku uYehova ukujonga njengokuxabana Naye, kwaye ubonakala esebuqaqawulini Bakhe, eyalela uMoses ukuba athabathe intonga aze akhuphe amanzi engxondorheni. Ngaba ngoku uMoses noAron bayamngcwalisa uYehova? Endaweni yoko, izihlandlo ezibini uMoses ubetha ingxondorha enomsindo. Abantu nemfuyo yabo bafumana amanzi okusela, kodwa uMoses noAron abamzukisi uYehova. Nangona uhambo olutyhafisayo lwasentlango phantse ukuba luphelile, bobabini abamkholisi uYehova kwaye baxelelwa ukuba abayi kungena kwiLizwe Ledinga. UAron uthi kamva afele kwiNtaba yeHore, kwaye unyana wakhe uElazare ungena kweso sikhundla njengombingeleli omkhulu.

26. Ziziphi iziganeko eziphawula uhambo olude lokujikeleza elakwaEdom?

²⁶ AmaSirayeli aphethukela empuma yaye afuna ukungena kwilizwe lakwaEdom kodwa akavunyelwa. Ngoxa behamba umgama omde bejikeleza elakwaEdom, abantu bangena enkathazweni kwakhona njengoko bekhalazela uThixo noMoses. Bakruqukile yimana, kwaye banxaniwe. Ngenxa yokuvukela kwabo uYehova uthumela iinyoka ezinobuhlungu phakathi kwabo, kangangokuba abaninzi bayafa. Ekugqibeleni, xa uMoses athi angenelele, uYehova umyalela ukuba enze inyoka eyoyikekayo yobhedu aze ayixhome esibondeni. Abo balunyiweyo kodwa baze bakhangele kwinyoka yobhedu bayaphila. Esinge emntla, kwakhona amaSirayeli athintelwa ngookumkani abanobutshaba uSihon wama-Amori no-Ogi wakwaBhashan. AmaSirayeli aboyisa bobabini aba kumkani edabini, kwaye amaSirayeli ahlala kwimihlaba yabo ukusa ngakwimpuma yeRift Valley.

27. UYehova uwatshitshisa njani amacebo kaBhalaki ngokunxulumene noBhileham?

²⁷ Iziganeko ezenzeka kuMathafa akwaMowabhi (22:1–36:13). Ekulindele ngolangazelelo ukungena kwawo eKanan, ngoku amaSirayeli ahlanganisana kumathafa entlango yakwaMowabhi, kumntla woLwandle Olufileyo nangakwimpuma yeYordan phesheya kweYeriko. Ebona eli hlokondiba likhulu kangaka limise phambi kwawo, amaMowabhi aqhiphuka umbilini. Ukumkani wawo uBhalaki, ethethathethane namaMidiyan, uthumela uBhileham ukuba aye kuqalekisa amaSirayeli. Nangona uThixo emxelela ngokungqalileyo uBhileham esithi, “Uze ungahambi nawo,” ufuna ukuhamba. (22:12) Ufuna ukufumana umvuzo. Ekugqibeleni uyahamba, aze amiswe sisithunywa sezulu kuze kuthi ngommangaliso ne-esile lakhe lithethe limkhalimela. Xa ekugqibeleni uBhileham efika ukuza kwenza izihlabo ngoSirayeli, uqhutywa ngumoya kaThixo, kangangokuba amazwi akhe adumileyo awathetha kwizihlandlo ezine aprofeta kuphela iintsikelelo zikaThixo eluhlangeni, ade axele kwangaphambili nokuba kuya kuvela inkwenkwezi kwaYakobi nokuba kwaSirayeli kuya kuvela intonga yoloyiso neyokutshabalalisa.

28. Sisiphi isirhintyelo esichuliweyo esiziswa kumaSirayeli ngokwecebiso likaBhileham, kodwa esi sibetho sinqunyanyiswa njani?

²⁸ Ekubeni emcaphukisile uBhalaki ngokungawaqalekisi kwakhe amaSirayeli, ngoku uBhileham ufuna ukwenzelwa inceba ngukumkani ngokucebisa ukuba amaMowabhi asebenzise iintombi zawo ekubambiseni amadoda akwaSirayeli ukuze abe nesabelo kuqheliselo olungacocekanga olubandakanya unqulo lukaBhahali. (31:15, 16) Apha, kanye emideni yeLizwe Ledinga, amaSirayali aqalisa ukuwela ekuziphatheni okubi ngokunzulu nasekunquleni oothixo bobuxoki. Njengoko umsindo kaYehova uvutha kwaye uzisa isibetho, uMoses uyalela ukuba bohlwaywe ngokuqatha abenzi bobubi. Xa uPinehasi, unyana wombingeleli omkhulu, ebona unyana wesikhulu engenisa intombi yomMidiyan ententeni yakhe kanye ngaphakathi emnqubeni, uyabalandela aze ababulale, eyixabela intombi leyo kumalungu ayo okuzala. Kweli nqanaba, isibetho siyanqunyanyiswa, kodwa emva kokuba kubulewe ama-24 000.

29. (a) Yintoni etyhilwa kukubalwa kwabantu ekupheleni konyaka wama-40? (b) Yintoni ngoku elungiselelwayo ukuze kungenwe kwiLizwe Ledinga?

²⁹ Ngoku uYehova uyalela uMoses noElazare ukuba baphinde babale abantu, njengoko babenzile phantse kwiminyaka engama-39 edluleyo kwiNtaba yeSinayi. Olu balo lokugqibela lubonisa ukuba akukhange kubekho lwando ebantwini. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, liqaqobana nje lamadoda ali-1 820 abhalisiweyo. Kulawo ayebhaliswe eSinayi ukuze akhonze emkhosini akukho nanye eseleyo, ngaphandle kukaYoshuwa noKalebhi. Njengokuba uYehova wayebonisile ukuba kwakuya kwenzeka, onke ayefele entlango. Ngokulandelayo uYehova unikela imiyalelo engokwahlulwa kwelizwe njengelifa. Uyaphinda kwakhona athi uMoses akayi kungena kwiLizwe Ledinga ngenxa yokuba akazange amngcwalise uYehova kumanzi aseMeribha. (20:13; 27:14, imibhalo esemazantsi ye-NW) UYoshuwa uthunywa njengelandela likaMoses.

30. Izinziswa njani imicimbi namaMidiyan, ibe umhlaba ongasempuma yeYordan wabelwa bani?

³⁰ Esebenzisa uMoses, ngokulandelayo uYehova ukhumbuza amaSirayeli ukubaluleka kwemithetho Yakhe emayela namadini nemisitho nengokubaluleka kwezibhambathiso. Ukwasebenzisa uMoses ukuba azinzise imicimbi namaMidiyan ngenxa yendima awaba nayo ekuhendeleni amaSirayeli kuBhahali Pehore. Onke amadoda angamaMidiyan abulawa edabini, kunye noBhileham, kwaye kusindiswa kuphela iintombi ezinyulu, ibe ezingama-32 000 zazo zisiwa ekuthinjweni kunye nempahla equka izilwanyana ezingama-808 000. Akukho namnye umSirayeli ekunikelwa ingxelo yokuba ufele edabini. Oonyana bakaRubhen noGadi, abakhulisa imfuyo yabo, bacela ukuhlala kummandla ongakwimpuma yeYordan, kwaye emva kokuvuma ukuncedisa ekoyiseni ukuze kufumaneke iLizwe Ledinga, isicelo sabo siyamkelwa, kangangokuba ezi zizwe zibini, kunye nesiqingatha sesizwe sikaManase, zinikwa lo mhlaba usithabazi notyebileyo njengelifa lazo.

31. (a) Ekungeneni elizweni, amaSirayeli amele aqhubeke njani ebonakalisa ukuthobela? (b) Yiyiphi imiyalelo enikelwayo ngokuphathelele amafa ezizwe?

³¹ Emva kokuhlola iindawo ebekumiswa kuzo kuhambo lweminyaka engama-40, kwakhona ingxelo itsalela ingqalelo kwimfuneko yokuthobela uYehova. UThixo uwanika ilizwe, kodwa amele abe ngababulali Bakhe, abagxothe abemi abonakeleyo nabanqula iidemon aze atshabalalise lonke uhlobo lwabo lokunqula izithixo. Kunikelwe iinkcukacha ngemida yelizwe lawo alinikwe nguThixo. Amele alahlulahlulelwe ngamaqashiso. AbaLevi, abangenalo ilifa njengesizwe, bamele banikwe izixeko ezingama-48 kunye namadlelo azo, izixeko ezithandathu kwezi zimele zibe yimizi yokusabela kombulali obulele ngengozi. Umhlaba umele ube ngoweso sizwe, ungaze udluliselwe kwesinye isizwe ngomtshato. Ukuba akukho ndlalifa iyindoda, ngoko iintombi ezifumana ilifa—ngokomzekelo, iintombi zikaTselofehadi—zimele zitshate nabantu besizwe sazo. (27:1-11; 36:1-11) INumeri iqukumbela ngale miyalelo kaYehova ayidlulisela ngoMoses nangoonyana bakaSirayeli bekulungele ekugqibeleni ukungena kwiLizwe Ledinga.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

32. UYesu nedini lakhe bafanekiselwa ngaziphi iindlela kwiNumeri?

³² UYesu wabhekisela kwiNumeri izihlandlo eziliqela, ibe abapostile bakhe nabanye ababhali beBhayibhile bayibonisa ngokucacileyo indlela enentsingiselo neyingenelo ngayo ingxelo yayo. Umpostile uPawulos wayithelekisa ngokungqalileyo inkonzo yokuthembeka kaYesu naleyo kaMoses, ebhalwe ubukhulu becala kwiNumeri. (Heb. 3:1-6) Mayela namadini ezilwanyana nokufefezwa komswane wethokazi lenkomo elibomvu kwiNumeri 19:2-9, kwakhona sibona kufanekiselwa ilungiselelo elizuke ngakumbi lokuhlanjululwa ngedini likaKristu.—Heb. 9:13, 14.

33. Kutheni le nto ukuveliswa kwamanzi entlango kukokomdla kuthi namhlanje?

³³ Ngokufanayo, uPawulos wabonisa ukuba ukukhutshwa kwamanzi eliweni entlango kunentsingiselo epheleleyo kuthi, esithi: “Kuba babesela kwiliwa elilelomoya elibe libalandela, iliwa elo ke lalinguye uKristu.” (1 Kor. 10:4; Num. 20:7-11) Ngokufanelekileyo, nguKristu ngokwakhe owathi: “Ke yena othe wasela kuwo amanzi, endiya kumpha wona mna, akasayi kuza anxanwe naphakade; aya kusuka amanzi, endiya kumpha wona, abe ngumthombo kuye wamanzi ampompozela ebomini obungunaphakade.”—Yoh. 4:14.

34. Wabonisa njani uYesu ukuba inyoka yobhedu yayinentsingiselo engokwesiprofeto?

³⁴ UYesu wakwabhekisela ngokungqalileyo kwisiganeko esibhalwe kwiNumeri esasifanekisela kwangaphambili ilungiselelo elimangalisayo elalisenziwa nguThixo ngaye. Wathi: “Njengokuba ke uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwe kukuphakanyiswa ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu; ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.”—Yoh. 3:14, 15; Num. 21:8, 9.

35. (a) AmaKristu afanele azilinde nxamnye nantoni, njengoko kwaboniswayo ngamaSirayeli entlango, kwaye ngoba? (b) Kwiincwadi zabo, uYuda noPetros babhekisela kweyiphi imizekelo yokubawa neyemvukelo?

³⁵ Kutheni le nto amaSirayeli agwetyelwa ukubhadula entlango iminyaka engama-40? Kwakungenxa yokuswela ukholo. Umpostile uPawulos wanikela isiluleko esinamandla kule nkalo esithi: “Lumkani, bazalwana, hleze kubekho kubani wenu intliziyo engendawo, engakholwayo, enokumka kuThixo ophilileyo; manivuselelane imihla ngemihla.” Ngenxa yokungathobeli kwawo nangenxa yokungabi nalukholo kwawo, loo maSirayeli afela entlango. “Masikhuthalele ngoko ukungena koko kuphumla [kukaThixo], ukuze kungabikho namnye ubuya eyele kwakuloo mzekelo wokungeva.” (Heb. 3:7–4:11; Num. 13:25–14:38) Elumkisa nxamnye nabantu abangahloneli Thixo nabazinyelisayo izinto ezingcwele, uYuda wabhekisela ekubaweleni kukaBhileham umvuzo nakwintetho yemvukelo kaKora nxamnye nomkhonzi kaYehova uMoses. (Yuda 11; Num. 22:7, 8, 22; 26:9, 10) UPetros wakwabhekisela kuBhileham njengalowo ‘wathanda umvuzo wokungalungisi,’ noYesu ozukisiweyo kwisityhilelo sakhe ngoYohane wabhekisela kuye njengalowo ‘wabeka phambi kwamaSirayeli isikhubekiso sokunqula izithixo nokuhenyuza.’ Ngokuqinisekileyo ibandla lamaKristu namhlanje lifanele lilunyukiswe nxamnye nabangengcwele abanjalo.—2 Pet. 2:12-16; ISityhi. 2:14.

36. UPawulos walumkisa nxamnye naluphi uqheliselo oluyingozi, kwaye sinokungenelwa njani thina namhlanje sisiluleko sakhe?

³⁶ Xa kwathi kwavela ukuziphatha okubi kwibandla laseKorinte, uPawulos walibhalela mayela ‘nokukhanuka izinto ezimbi,’ ebhekisela ngokungqalileyo kwiNumeri. Waluleka wathi: “Kanjalo masingenzi mbulo, njengokuba inxenye yabo yenza umbulo, kwawa ngamininye amawaka amashumi mabini anamathathu.” (1 Kor. 10:6, 8; Num. 25:1-9; 31:16)b Kuthekani ngesihlandlo saxa abantu bakhalazela ukuba ukuthobela imiyalelo kaThixo kwakubazisela ubunzima nokuba babenganelisekanga lilungiselelo likaYehova lemana? Ngokuphathelele oku, uPawulos uthi: “Kanjalo masingamhendi uYehova, njengokuba inxenye yabo yamhendayo, yaza yatshabalala ziinyoka.” (1 Kor. 10:9, NW; Num. 21:5, 6) Wandula ke uPawulos ahlabele mgama esithi: “Kanjalo musani ukukrokra, njengokuba inxenye yabo yakrokrayo, yaza yatshabalala ngumtshabalalisi.” Hayi indlela abuhlungu ngayo amava awafunyanwa ngamaSirayali ngenxa yokukrokrela kwawo uYehova, abameli bakhe namalungiselelo akhe! Ezi zinto ‘zabahlelayo bona njengemizekelo’ zifanele zibe sisilumkiso esicacileyo kuthi sonke namhlanje, ukuze sibe nokuqhubeka sikhonza uYehova sinokholo olupheleleyo.—1 Kor. 10:10, 11; Num. 14:2, 36, 37; 16:1-3, 41; 17:5, 10.

37. Bonisa indlela iNumeri esinceda ngayo ukuba siqonde ezinye izicatshulwa zeBhayibhile.

³⁷ INumeri ikwanikela isiseko sokuziqonda kakuhle ngakumbi ezinye izicatshulwa ezininzi zeBhayibhile.—Num. 28:9, 10—Mat. 12:5; Num. 15:38—Mat. 23:5; Num. 6:2-4—Luka 1:15; Num. 4:3—Luka 3:23; Num. 18:31—1 Kor. 9:13, 14; Num. 18:26—Heb. 7:5-9; Num. 17:8-10—Heb. 9:4.

38. Incwadi yeNumeri iyingenelo ngaziphi iindlela ezikhethekileyo, kwaye yalathisela ingqalelo yethu entwenini?

³⁸ Ngokwenene okubhalwe kwiNumeri kuphefumlelwe nguThixo, kwaye kuyingenelo ekusifundiseni ngokubaluleka kokuthobela uYehova nokuhlonela abo abenze abaveleli phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Ngengxelo yayo engumzekelo, iyasigweba isenzo esiphosakeleyo, kwaye ngeziganeko ezinentsingiselo ebuprofeti, yalathisela ingqalelo yethu kuLowo uYehova amlungiselele njengoMsindisi neNkokeli yabantu Bakhe namhlanje. Inikela uthungelwano olubalulekileyo nolufundisayo kwingxelo ekhokelela ekumiselweni koBukumkani bukaYehova bobulungisa ezandleni zikaYesu Kristu, lowo wammisa njengoMlamli noMbingeleli Omkhulu.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]