Incwadi YeBhayibhile 12—2 Kumkani

Umbhali: NguYeremiya

Iindawo Eyabhalelwa Kuzo: EYerusalem naseYiputa

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Ngowama-580 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Malunga nowama-920–580 B.C.E.

 1. Yiyiphi imbali ebaliswa kweyesiBini yooKumkani, kwaye ithethelela ntoni?

INCWADI yesiBini yooKumkani iqhubeka ibonisa ikhondo elinesiphithiphithi lezikumkani zakwaSirayeli nezakwaYuda. UElisha wathabatha ingubo yokwaleka kaEliya waza wasikelelwa ngezahlulo ezibini zomoya kaEliya, wenza imimangaliso eli-16, xa ithelekiswa nesi-8 eyenziwa nguEliya. Waqhubeka eprofeta ngokutshatyalaliswa kukaSirayeli owexukileyo, ekwathi kuye yaba nguYehu kuphela owaba nenzondelelo ngoYehova. Ngokungakumbi nangakumbi, ookumkani bakwaSirayeli baba ngabangendawo, de ekugqibeleni ubukumkani basentla babhukuqwa ngama-Asiriya ngowama-740 B.C.E. Kubukumkani basezantsi bakwaYuda, ookumkani abambalwa ababalaseleyo, ngokuphawulekayo uYehoshafati, uYowashe, uHezekiya noYosiya, baluphelisa okwexeshana uwexuko, kodwa ekugqibeleni uNebhukadenetsare wawuphumeza umgwebo kaYehova ngokutshabalalisa iYerusalem, itempile yayo nelizwe lakwaYuda ngowama-607 B.C.E. Ngaloo ndlela iziprofeto zikaYehova zazaliseka, kwaye ilizwi lakhe lathethelelwa!

 2. Kunokuthiwani mayela nombhali weyesiBini yooKumkani nokuba yinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele kwayo, kwaye liliphi ixesha eligubungelayo?

² Ekubeni eyesiBini yooKumkani ekuqaleni yayiyinxalenye yomsongo omnye neyokuQala yooKumkani, oko sele kuchaziwe mayela nokuba ngumbhali kukaYeremiya kusebenza ngokufanayo nalapha, njengoko kunjalo ngobungqina bokuba yinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele nobunyaniso bale ncwadi. Yagqitywa malunga nowama-580 B.C.E. kwaye igubungela ithuba elisusela kulawulo luka-Ahaziya kwaSirayeli malunga nowama-920 B.C.E. lize liphele ngonyaka wama-37 wokuthinjwa kukaYehoyakin, ngowama-580 B.C.E.—1:1; 25:27.

 3. Ziziphi izinto eziphawulekayo ezifumaneke ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala ezixhasa eyesiBini yooKumkani?

³ Izinto ezifunyenwe ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala ezixhasa ingxelo yeyesiBini yooKumkani zinikela ubungqina obungakumbi bobunyaniso bayo. Ngokomzekelo, kukho iLitye lakwaMowabhi elidumileyo, ekubhalwe kulo ingxelo yokumkani wakwaMowabhi uMesha engemfazwe phakathi kwamaMowabhi namaSirayeli. (3:4, 5) Kukwakho nelitye elimnyama elibizwa ngokuba yibasalt obelisk likaShalmanesere III waseAsiriya, ngoku eliboniswe kwiMyuziyam yaseBritani, eLondon, elimkhankanya ngegama ukumkani wakwaSirayeli uYehu. Kukho imibhalo yokumkani waseAsiriya uTigelate-pilezere III (uPuli), ebabiza ngamagama ookumkani abaliqela bakwaSirayeli nabakwaYuda kuquka uMenahem, uAhazi noPeka.—15:19, 20; 16:5-8.a

 4. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba eyesiBini yooKumkani iyinxalenye esisiseko yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo?

⁴ Ubungqina obucacileyo bobunyaniso bale ncwadi bubonakala ekuzibekeni kwayo izinto njengoko zinjalo ngeyona ndlela ibalaseleyo kwanaxa ichaza ukuphunyezwa kwemigwebo kaYehova kubantu bakhe. Njengoko kuqala kuchithwa ngokupheleleyo ubukumkani bakwaSirayeli kuze ke kulandeliswe ngobukumkani bakwaYuda, sixelelwa ngamandla omgwebo kaYehova ongokwesiprofeto kwiDuteronomi 28:15–29:28. Ekutshatyalalisweni kwezo zikumkani, “wavutha ke umsindo kaYehova kwelo zwe, ukuba kuziswe phezu kwalo zonke iziqalekiso ezibhaliweyo kule ncwadi.” (Dut. 29:27; 2 Kum. 17:18; 25:1, 9-11) Ezinye iziganeko ezibhalwe kweyesiBini yooKumkani zicacisiwe kweminye imibhalo eZibhalweni. KuLuka 4:24-27, emva kokuba uYesu ebhekisele kuEliya nakumhlolokazi waseTsarfati, uthetha ngoElisha noNahaman ukubonisa isizathu sokuba yena engazange amkelwe njengomprofeti kummandla wakowabo. Ngaloo ndlela, eyokuQala neyesiBini yooKumkani iyinxalenye esisiseko yeZibhalo Ezingcwele.

OKUQULETHWE YEYESIBINI YOOKUMKANI

 5. UEliya umkhalimela aze asidlulisele njani isigwebo kuAhaziya, kwaye ngoba?

⁵ UAhaziya, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli (1:1-18). Ekubeni ewile ekhayeni lakhe, lo nyana ka-Ahabhi uthi agule. Uthumela ukuba kuyokubuziswa kuBhahali-zebhubhi, uthixo wase-Ekron enoba uya kuphila kusini na. UEliya uyabakhawulela abathunywa aze ababuyisele emva kukumkani, emkhalimela kuba engabuzanga kuThixo oyinyaniso kwaye emxelela ukuba ngenxa yokuba engaphethukelanga kuThixo kaSirayeli, uya kufa ngokuqinisekileyo. Xa ukumkani ethuma umthetheli namadoda angama-50 ukuba baye kuthabatha uEliya baze bamzise kukumkani, uEliya ubiza umlilo ukuba uhle ezulwini ukuze ubaginye. Kwenzeka into efanayo nakumthetheli wesibini nama-50 akhe. Kuthunywa umthetheli wesithathu nama-50 akhe, kwaye ngesi sihlandlo uEliya uyabusindisa ubomi babo ngenxa yesibongozo sentlonelo somthetheli. UEliya uhamba nabo ukuya kukumkani aze kwakhona amchazele ngesigwebo sokufa uAhaziya. Ukumkani uyafa kanye njengokuba uEliya ebetshilo. Wandula ke uYoram umntakwabo Ahaziya abe ngukumkani wamaSirayeli, kuba uAhaziya akananyana onokungena esikhundleni sakhe.

 6. UEliya wahlukana noElisha phantsi kwaziphi iimeko, kwaye kuboniswa njani ngokukhawuleza ukuba “umoya kaEliya” uhleli kuElisha?

⁶ UElisha ungena esikhundleni sikaEliya (2:1-25). Ngoku kufika ixesha lokuba uEliya athatyathwe. UElisha uhamba naye kuhambo lokusuka eGiligali ukuya eBheteli, naseYeriko, kwaye ekugqibeleni nolokuwela iYordan. UEliya wahlula amanzi eYordan ngokuwabetha ngengubo yakhe yokwaleka. Njengoko ebona inqwelo yomlilo namahashe omlilo esiza phakathi kwakhe noEliya kwaye ebona uEliya enyuka ngesaqhwithi somoya, uElisha ufumana izahlulo ezibini zomoya kaEliya awayezithenjisiwe. Kungekudala ubonisa ukuba “umoya kaEliya” uhleli phezu kwakhe. (2:15) Ethabatha ingubo kaEliya ewileyo, uyisebenzisela ukwahlula amanzi kwakhona. Wandula ke aphilise amanzi amabi aseYeriko. Endleleni eya eBheteli, amakhwenkwana ahlekisa ngaye esithi: “Nyuka, nkqayindini! Nyuka, nkqayindini!” (2:23) UElisha ubiza uYehova, kwaye kuvela iimazi zebhere ezimbini etyholweni zize zibulale abangama-42 kwezi njubaqa ziqaqadekileyo.

 7. Kungenxa yantoni le nto uYehova emhlangula uYehoshafati noYehoram?

⁷ UYehoram, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli (3:1-27). Lo kumkani uqhubeka esenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova, enamathele kwizono zikaYarobheham. Ukumkani wakwaMowabhi ebehlawula izishumi kwaSirayeli kodwa ngoku uyavukela, kwaye uYehoram uncedwa nguKumkani uYehoshafati wakwaYuda nokumkani wakwaEdom ekuhlaseleni elakwaMowabhi. Endleleni eya kuhlaselo, imikhosi yabo ifika kumhlaba ongenamanzi kwaye phants’ ukuba iza kufa. Aba kumkani bathathu bayehla ukuya kuElisha ukuze abuze uYehova uThixo wakhe. Ngenxa kaYehoshafati othembekileyo, uYehova uyabahlangula aze abenze baloyise elakwaMowabhi.

 8. Yiyiphi imimangaliso engakumbi ayenzayo uElisha?

⁸ Imimangaliso engakumbi kaElisha (4:1–8:15). Njengoko ababoleki-mali sele beza kuthabatha oonyana bakhe ababini ukuze babenze amakhoboka, umhlolokazi womnye woonyana babaprofeti ufuna uncedo kuElisha. Ngokungummangaliso wenza isixa seoli esincinane anaso endlwini yakhe sibe sininzi kangangokuba lo mhlolokazi uthengisa ioli eninzi ngokwaneleyo ukuze ahlawule amatyala akhe. Umfazi waseShunem uyaqonda ukuba uElisha ungumprofeti woThixo oyinyaniso, aze yena nendoda yakhe balungise igumbi lokuba alisebenzise xa eseShunem. Ngenxa yobubele bakhe, uYehova umsikelela ngonyana. Kwiminyaka ethile kamva, lo mntwana uyagula aze afe. Ngokukhawuleza lo mfazi ufuna uElisha. UElisha uhamba naye ukuya ekhayeni lakhe, kwaye ngamandla kaYehova uyamvusa lo mntwana. Ebuyela koonyana babaprofeti eGiligali, ngokungummangaliso uElisha ushenxisa “ukufa embizeni” ngokwenza ukuba amathangazana anetyhefu angabi nabungozi. Wandula ke ondle amadoda alikhulu ngezonka zengqolowa ezingama-20, ukanti ‘bayazishiya.’—4:40, 44.

 9. Yiyiphi imimangaliso eyenziwa ngokunxulumene noNahaman nangokunxulumene nentloko yezembe?

⁹ UNahaman, umthetheli-mkhosi waseSiriya, uneqhenqa. Intombazana yomSirayeli engumthinjwa ixelela umfazi kaNahaman ukuba kwaSamari kukho umprofeti onokumphilisa. UNahaman uthabatha uhambo lokuya kuElisha, kodwa kunokuba aye kuye ngokobuqu, uElisha umthumelela nje ilizwi lokuba ahambe aye kuhlamba izihlandlo ezisixhenxe kuMlambo iYordan. UNahaman iyamcaphukisa le mbonakaliso yokungabi nantlonelo. Imilambo yaseDamasko ayilungile kusini na ngaphezu kwamanzi akwaSirayeli? Kodwa uyanyanzeleka ukuba athobele uElisha, kwaye uyaphila. UElisha akavumi ukwamkela isipho njengomvuzo, kodwa kamva umkhonzi wakhe uGehazi usukela uNahaman aze acele isipho egameni likaElisha. Ekubuyeni kwakhe aze azame ukukhohlisa uElisha, uGehazi ubethwa ngeqhenqa. Kwakhona kwenzeka omnye ummangaliso xa uElisha esenza ukuba intloko yezembe idade.

10. Iboniswa njani imikhosi eyongamileyo kaYehova, kwaye uElisha uwarhoxisa njani amaSiriya?

¹⁰ Xa uElisha elumkisa ukumkani wakwaSirayeli ngeyelenqe lamaSiriya lokumbulala, ukumkani waseSiriya uthumela umkhosi eDotan ukuba uye kuthimba uElisha. Ebona isixeko sijikelezwe yimikhosi yamaSiriya, umkhonzi kaElisha uyoyika. UElisha uyamqinisekisa esithi: “Musa ukoyika; ngokuba baninzi abangakuthi, ngaphezu kwabangakubo.” Wandula ke athandaze kuYehova ukuba enze umkhonzi wakhe abone umkhosi omkhulu onoElisha. “Wabona, nantso intaba izele ngamahashe neenqwelo zokulwa zomlilo, zimjikelezile uElisha.” (6:16, 17) Xa amaSiriya ehlasela, kwakhona lo mprofeti uthandaza kuYehova, aze amaSiriya abethwe ngobumfama aze akhokelelwe kukumkani wakwaSirayeli. Phofu ke, kunokuba abulawe, uElisha uxelela ukumkani ukuba awenzele isidlo esikhulu aze awagoduse.

11. Zizaliseka njani iziprofeto zikaElisha ezimayela namaSiriya noBhen-hadade?

¹¹ Kamva, uKumkani uBhen-hadade waseSiriya ungqinga elakwaSamari, kwaye kubakho indlala enkulu. Ukumkani wakwaSirayeli utyhola uElisha, kodwa lo mprofeti uxela kwangaphambili ngentabalala yokudla eya kubakho ngosuku olulandelayo. Ebusuku, uYehova ubangela amaSiriya ukuba eve isandi somkhosi omkhulu, kangangokuba ayabaleka, ezishiyela amaSirayeli zonke izinto zawo. Emva kwexesha elithile uBhen-hadade uyagula. Akuva ingxelo yokuba uElisha ufikile eDamasko, uthumela uHazayeli ukuba aye kubuza enoba uya kuphila kusini na. Impendulo kaElisha ibonisa ukuba ukumkani uya kufa nokuba uHazayeli uya kuba ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe. UHazayeli uyakuqinisekisa oku ngokumbulala ngokwakhe ukumkani aze abuthabathele kuye ubukhosi.

12. Unyana kaYehoshafati uYehoram ungqineka engukumkani oluhlobo luni?

¹² UYehoram, ukumkani wakwaYuda (8:16-29). Okweli thuba, unyana kaYehoshafati uYehoram, ngoku ungukumkani kwaYuda. Uyafana nje nookumkani bakwaSirayeli, esenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova. Umfazi wakhe uAtaliya yintombi ka-Ahabhi, kwaye umnakwabo, naye okwabizwa ngokuba nguYehoram (imo efinyeziweyo, Yoram), ulawula kwaSirayeli. Ekufeni kukaYehoram wakwaYuda, unyana wakhe uAhaziya uba ngukumkani eYerusalem.

13. UYehu ukubonisa ngaluphi uhlaselo lwesiquphe ukuthanjiswa kwakhe?

¹³ UYehu, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli (9:1–10:36). UElisha uthuma omnye woonyana babaprofeti ukuba aye kuthambisa uYehu ukuba abe ngukumkani phezu kwamaSirayeli nokuba amyalele ukuba ayixabele yonke indlu ka-Ahabhi. UYehu akalibazisi ukwenza oko. Usukela uYehoram, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, oseYizereli kuba enyangwa amanxeba akhe emfazwe. Umboniseli ubona umkhosi omkhulu wamadoda usiza, kwaye ekugqibeleni unikela le ngxelo kukumkani: “Ukuqhuba kunjengokuqhuba kukaYehu, unyana kaNimshi; ngokuba uqhuba ngobudlongodlongo.” (9:20) UYehoram wakwaSirayeli noAhaziya wakwaYuda bafuna ukuqonda injongo kaYehu. UYehu uphendula ngokubuza athi: “Luxolo lwani na, xa ukuhenyuza kukaIzebhele unyoko, nokukhafula kwakhe okuninzi, kusahleliyo nje?” (9:22) Njengoko uYehoram ephethuka ukuze abaleke, uYehu umdubula ngotolo entliziyweni. Umzimba wakhe uphoselwa esiqwengeni somhlaba kaNabhoti, ngaloo ndlela kuphindezelelwa igazi elimsulwa elaphalazwa nguAhabhi. Kamva uYehu namadoda akhe basukela uAhaziya, bayamxabela kwaye ufela eMegido. Kuhlaselo lokuqala lukaYehu lwesiquphe, sekufe ookumkani ababini.

14. Sizaliseka njani isiprofeto sikaEliya esimayela noIzebhele?

¹⁴ Ngoku kuziwa kuIzebhele! Njengoko uYehu ephalisa ngoloyiso ukungena eYizereli, uIzebhele uvela efestileni yakhe ezilungise ngeyona ndlela iqaqambileyo. UYehu akachukumiseki koku. Uyalela abakhonzi abathile esithi, “Mkhahleleni phantsi!” Nanko ke ekhahleleka phantsi, latsaza igazi lakhe, lwalutsho lwankone udonga namahashe amxovulayo. Xa besiya kumngcwaba, ekuphela kwento abanokuyifumana lukhakayi lwakhe, ziinyawo zakhe neentende zezandla zakhe. Oku kuzalisekisa isiprofeto sikaEliya sokuba, ‘izinja ziya kuyidla inyama kaIzebhele esiqwengeni somhlaba saseYizereli.’—2 Kum. 9:33, 36, 37; 1 Kum. 21:23.

15. Luluphi uhlaselo oluziintlobo ezahlukeneyo alwenzayo uYehu endleleni eya kwaSamari?

¹⁵ Ngokulandelayo, uYehu uyalela ukuba kubulawe oonyana baka-Ahabhi abangama-70, kwaye iintloko zabo uzenza imfumba esangweni laseYizereli. Bonke abantu abebexhasa uAhabhi eYizereli bayabulawa. Ngoku, ujongise umbombo kwikomkhulu lakwaSirayeli, kwaSamari! Endleleni udibana nezalamane zika-Ahaziya ezingama-42, ezisendleleni eya eYizereli, zingakwazi okwenzekayo. Ziyabanjwa zize zibulawe. Kodwa ngoku uYehu uqubisana nomnye umntu owahlukileyo. UYehonadabhi unyana kaRekabhi uyaphuma ukuza kukhawulela uYehu. Kumbuzo kaYehu othi, “Ithe tye na intliziyo yakho, njengokuba injalo intliziyo yam kwintliziyo yakho?” uYehonadabhi uphendula athi, “Injalo.” Wandula ke uYehu ahambe naye enqweleni yakhe ukuze azibonele ‘ukungakunyamezeli kwakhe nakuphi na ukuvukelwa kukaYehova.’—2 Kum. 10:15, 16.

16. Sicokiseke kangakanani isenzo sikaYehu nxamnye nendlu ka-Ahabhi noBhahali?

¹⁶ Ekufikeni kwakhe kwaSamari, uYehu utshabalalisa yonke into eseleyo ka-Ahabhi, ngokwelizwi likaYehova kuEliya. (1 Kum. 21:21, 22) Noko ke, kuthekani ngonqulo lukaBhahali olulisikizi? UYehu uthi, “UAhabhi wamkhonza kancinane uBhahali, uYehu yena uya kumkhonza kakhulu.” (2 Kum. 10:18) Ebabizele endlwini kaBhahali bonke abo banquli beedemon, ubaxelela ukuba banxibe iingubo zabo zofaniso kwaye uqinisekisa ukuba akukho namnye umnquli kaYehova okhoyo phakathi kwabo. Wandula ke athume amadoda akhe ukuba abaxabele, angasindisi namnye. Indlu kaBhahali iyadilizwa, kwaye le ndawo yenziwa indawo yokuya endle, ibe ihlala injalo de kube ngumhla kaYeremiya. ‘Umtshabalalisa ngaloo ndlela ke uYehu uBhahali kwaSirayeli.’—10:28.

17. UYehu usilela njani, kwaye uYehova uqalisa njani ukuzisa isohlwayo kuSirayeli?

¹⁷ Phofu ke, kwanoYehu onenzondelelo uyasilela. Usilela njani? Usilela ngokuthi alandele amathole egolide awamiswa nguYarobheham eBheteli nakwaDan. “Akakugcinanga ukuhamba ngomyalelo kaYehova uThixo kaSirayeli ngentliziyo yakhe yonke.” (10:31) Kodwa ngenxa yesenzo awasenza nxamnye nendlu ka-Ahabhi, uYehova umthembisa ukuba inzala yakhe iya kulawula phezu kwamaSirayeli kuse kwisizukulwana sesine. Ngemihla yakhe, uYehova uqalisa ukunqamla inxalenye yobukumkani basempuma, ebangela uHazayeli waseSiriya ukuba ahlasele uSirayeli. Emva kokulawula iminyaka engama-28, uYehu uyafa aze alandelwe ngunyana wakhe uYehowahazi.

18. Litshitshiswa njani iyelenqe lika-Ataliya kwaYuda, kwaye yintoni ephawulekayo ngolawulo lukaYehowashe?

¹⁸ UYehowashe, ukumkani wakwaYuda (11:1–12:21). Umama ongukumkanikazi, uAtaliya, uyintombi kaIzebhele emfuze ngayo yonke into. Akuva ngokufa konyana wakhe uAhaziya, uyalela ukuba babulawe bonke abendlu yasebukhosini aze athabathe itrone. Ngumntwana oyinkwenkwe ka-Ahaziya uYehowashe kuphela osindayo ngokuthi afihlwe. Ngomnyaka wesixhenxe wokulawula kuka-Ataliya, uYehoyada umbingeleli uthambisa uYehowashe njengokumkani kwaye ubulala uAtaliya. UYehoyada walathisela abantu kunqulo lukaYehova, uyalela lo kumkani uselula imisebenzi amele ayenze phambi kukaThixo, kwaye ulungiselela ukuba indlu kaYehova ihlaziywe. Esebenzisa izipho, uYehowashe uyalurhoxisa uhlaselo lukaHazayeli ukumkani waseSiriya. Emva kokuba elawule iminyaka engama-40 eYerusalem, uYehowashe ubulawa ngabakhonzi bakhe, aze uAmatsiya unyana wakhe aqalise ukulawula njengokumkani esikhundleni sakhe.

19. (a) Luluphi unqulo lobuxoki oluqhubeka lukho ebudeni bolawulo lukaYehowahazi noYehowashe kwaSirayeli? (b) UElisha uligqiba njani ikhondo lakhe njengomprofeti kaYehova?

¹⁹ UYehowahazi noYehowashe, ookumkani bakwaSirayeli (13:1-25). Unyana kaYehu uYehowahazi uqhubeka nonqulo lwezithixo, kwaye amaSirayeli aba ngaphantsi kwegunya lamaSiriya, nangona uYehowahazi engasuswanga etroneni. Ekuhambeni kwexesha uYehova uyawakhulula amaSirayeli, kodwa ayaqhubeka nonqulo lwethole lukaYarobheham. Ekufeni kukaYehowahazi, unyana wakhe uYehowashe ungena esikhundleni sakhe njengokumkani kwaSirayeli, kwanangoxa omnye uYehowashe elawula kwaYuda. UYehowashe wakwaSirayeli uyaqhubeka nonqulo lwezithixo lukayise. Ekufeni kwakhe unyana wakhe uYarobheham uba ngukumkani. UElisha ugula aze afe ebudeni bolawulo lukaYehowashe, emva kokuba ethethe isiprofeto sakhe sokugqibela sokuba uYehowashe uya kumxabela izihlandlo ezithathu uSiriya, siprofeto eso esizalisekayo ngexesha elifanelekileyo. Ummangaliso wokugqibela ekuthiwa wenziwa nguElisha wenzeka emva kokufa kwakhe, xa kuphoselwa engcwabeni lakhe indoda efileyo, ize isuke ime ngeenyawo iphile ngokukhawuleza yakuba ichukumise amathambo kaElisha.

20. Chaza ulawulo luka-Amatsiya kwaYuda.

²⁰ UAmatsiya, ukumkani wakwaYuda (14:1-22). UAmatsiya wenza okuthe tye emehlweni kaYehova, kodwa akazitshabalalisi iziganga ezisetyenziselwa ukunqula. Emfazweni woyiswa nguYehowashe wakwaSirayeli. Emva kokulawula iminyaka engama-29, ubulawa ngokwenzelwa iyelenqe. UAzariya unyana wakhe uba ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe.

21. Yintoni eyenzekayo ebudeni bolawulo lukaYarobheham II kwaSirayeli?

²¹ UYarobheham II, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli (14:23-29). UYarobheham wesibini ongukumkani kwaSirayeli uqhubeka nonqulo lobuxoki lukamawokhulu wakhe. Ulawula kwaSamari kangangeminyaka engama-41 kwaye uyaphumelela ukuyifumana kwakhona imihlaba yakwaSirayeli eyayithinjiwe. UZekariya unyana wakhe uba lilandela lakhe etroneni.

22. Kuthiwani ngolawulo luka-Azariya kwaYuda?

²² UAzariya (u-Uziya), ukumkani wakwaYuda (15:1-7). UAzariya ulawula kangangeminyaka engama-52. Uthe tye phambi koYehova kodwa akazitshabalalisi iziganga. Kamva, uYehova umbetha ngeqhenqa, aze unyana wakhe uYotam anyamekele imicimbi yasebukhosini, aze abe ngukumkani emva kokufa kuka-Azariya.

23. Bubuphi ububi uSirayeli abethwa ngabo njengoko kuvela isisongelo sama-Asiriya?

²³ UZekariya, uShalum, uMenahem, uPekaya noPeka, ookumkani bakwaSirayeli (15:8-31). Ngokwedinga likaYehova, itrone yakwaSirayeli ihleli endlwini kaYehu ukusa kwisizukulwana sesine, uZekariya. (10:30) Ngokuvisisana noko, uba ngukumkani kwaSamari, kwaye kwiinyanga ezintandathu kamva ubulawa sisigwinta. UShalum, umrhwaphilizi wegunya, ulawula inyanga enye kuphela. AmaSirayeli ayaqhubeka ethwaxwa lunqulo lobuxoki, kukubulawa nakukuhlaselwa njengoko ukumkani uMenahem, uPekaya noPeka belawula ngokulandelelanayo. Ebudeni bolawulo lukaPeka iAsiriya iyangqinga ize ihlasele. UHoseya ubulala uPeka, ukuze abe ngukumkani wokugqibela wakwaSirayeli.

24. Emva koYotam, uAhazi wakwaYuda usenza njani isono ngokubhekisele kunqulo?

²⁴ UYotam noAhazi, ookumkani bakwaYuda (15:32–16:20). UYotam uqhelisela unqulo olunyulu kodwa akazisusi iziganga. UAhazi unyana wakhe uxelisa ookumkani bakwaSirayeli abangabamelwane ngokwenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova. Ehlaselwa ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli nowaseSiriya, ucela uncedo kukumkani waseAsiriya. Ama-Asiriya ayamnceda, athimba iDamasko, kwaye uAhazi uya apho ukuya kukhawulela ukumkani waseAsiriya. Ebone isibingelelo sonqulo apho, uAhazi wakha esinye eYerusalem esifanayo nesi, kwaye uqalisa ukubingelela kuso kunokuba abingelele kwisibingelelo sobhedu esisetempileni kaYehova. Unyana wakhe uHezekiya uba ngukumkani wakwaYuda njengelandela lakhe.

25. Athinjwa njani amaSirayeli, kwaye ngoba?

²⁵ UHoseya, ukumkani wokugqibela wakwaSirayeli (17:1-41). Ngoku amaSirayeli alawulwa yiAsiriya. UHoseya uyavukela aze afune uncedo oluvela eYiputa, kodwa ngomnyaka wesithoba wokulawula kwakhe, uSirayeli woyiswa yiAsiriya aze athatyathelwe ekuthinjweni. Buphela ngaloo ndlela ke ubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli. Kutheni? “Kuba oonyana bakaSirayeli bonayo kuYehova uThixo wabo . . . bakhonza izigodo ezizizithixo, wathi uYehova kubo, Ize ningazenzi ezo nto. UYehova waba nomsindo omkhulu kunene kumaSirayeli, wawasusa ebusweni bakhe.” (17:7, 12, 18) Ama-Asiriya azisa abantu abavela empuma ukuba baze kuhlala kweli lizwe, kwaye aba bantu ‘bayamoyika uYehova,’ nangona beqhubeka benqula oothixo babo.—17:33.

26, 27. (a) UHezekiya wakwaYuda ukwenza njani okulungileyo emehlweni kaYehova? (b) UYehova uwuphendula njani umthandazo kaHezekiya wokuba arhoxise ama-Asiriya? (c) Sizaliseka njani ngokungakumbi isiprofeto sikaIsaya?

²⁶ UHezekiya, ukumkani wakwaYuda (18:1–20:21). UHezekiya wenza okulungileyo emehlweni kaYehova, ngokuvisisana nako konke okwenziwa ngumawokhulu wakhe uDavide. Uphelisa unqulo lobuxoki aze adilize iziganga, kwaye ude atshabalalise nenyoka yobhedu eyenziwa nguMoses, ngenxa yokuba abantu sebede bayinqula ngoku. USaneribhe, ukumkani waseAsiriya, ngoku uhlasela elakwaYuda aze athimbe izixeko ezininzi ezinqatyisiweyo. UHezekiya uzama ukumthothisa ngokuhlawula isishumi esikhulu, kodwa uSaneribhe uthuma umthunywa wakhe uRabheshake, ofika eme ngakwiindonga zaseYerusalem aze afune ngegunya ukuba bazinikele esandleni sabo kwaye uhlekisa ngoYehova besiva bonke abantu. Umprofeti uIsaya uqinisekisa uHezekiya othembekileyo ngomyalezo wokutshatyalaliswa kukaSaneribhe. ‘Utsho uYehova ukuthi, Musa ukoyika.’ (19:6) Njengoko uSaneribhe eqhubeka esongela, uHezekiya ubongoza uYehova esithi: “Ke ngoko, Yehova Thixo wethu, khawusisindise esandleni sakhe, zazi zonke izikumkani zehlabathi ukuba wena unguYehova uThixo wedwa.”—19:19.

²⁷ Ngaba uYehova uyawuphendula lo mthandazo wokungazingci? Okokuqala, esebenzisa uIsaya, uthumela umyalezo wokuba “ubukhwele bukaYehova wemikhosi” buya kulurhoxisa utshaba. (19:31) Wandula ke, kwangobo busuku bunye, athume isithunywa sakhe sezulu ukuba sixabele i-185 000 emnqubeni wama-Asiriya. Ekuseni ‘onke azizidumbu ezifileyo.’ (19:35) USaneribhe uyabuya oyisiwe aze ahlale eNineve. Apho uthixo wakhe uNiseroki akamncedi nganto kwakhona, kuba kungoxa equbudile emnqula abathi oonyana bakhe bambulale, nto leyo ezalisekisa isiprofeto sikaIsaya.—19:7, 37.

28. Udume ngantoni uHezekiya, kodwa yintoni athi one ngayo?

²⁸ UHezekiya ugulela ukufa, kodwa kwakhona uYehova uyawuphulaphula umthandazo wakhe aze abolule ubomi bakhe kangangeminyaka eyongezelelekileyo eli-15. Ukumkani waseBhabhiloni uthuma abathunywa bephethe izipho, kwaye uHezekiya ubabonisa bonke ubuncwane bendlu yakhe. Wandula ke uIsaya aprofete ukuba ngamhla uthile yonke into esendlwini yakhe iya kuthatyathelwa eBhabhiloni. Wandula ke uHezekiya afe, edumile ngobugorha bakhe nangomjelo wamanzi awawakhayo ukuze angenise amanzi aseYerusalem esixekweni.

29. Luluphi unqulo-zithixo olumiselwa nguManase, yiyiphi intlekele ayixela kwangaphambili uYehova, kwaye sisiphi isono esingakumbi esenziwa nguManase?

²⁹ UManase, uAmon noYosiya, ookumkani bakwaYuda (21:1–23:30). UManase ungena esikhundleni sikayise, uHezekiya, kwaye ulawula iminyaka engama-55, esenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova ngomlinganiselo omkhulu. Ubuyisela iziganga zonqulo lobuxoki, wakhela uBhahali izibingelelo, wenza ooAshera njengoko wenzayo uAhabhi, kwaye indlu kaYehova uyenza indawo yokunqula izithixo. UYehova uxela kwangaphambili ukuba uya kuzisa intlekele eYerusalem njengoko enzile kwaSamari, ‘ayisule aze ayisibeke.’ UManase ukwaphalaza negazi elimsulwa ‘elininzi.’ (21:13, 16) Esikhundleni sakhe kungena unyana wakhe uAmon, oqhubeka esenza okubi kangangeminyaka emibini, de abulawe zizigwinta.

30. Kutheni kwaye kukanjani athi uYosiya abuyele kuYehova ngentliziyo yakhe yonke?

³⁰ Ngoku abantu bamenza ukumkani uYosiya unyana ka-Amon. Ebudeni bolawulo lwakhe lweminyaka engama-31, uyakurhoxisa kancinane ukutshatyalaliswa kukaYuda ‘ngokuhamba ngendlela yonke kaDavide umawokhulu wakhe.’ (22:2) Uqalisa ukuyihlaziya indlu kaYehova, kwaye apho umbingeleli omkhulu ufumana incwadi yoMthetho. Oku kuqinisekisa ukuba uhlanga luya kufikelwa yintshabalalo ngenxa yokungamthobeli kwalo uYehova, kodwa uYosiya uqinisekiswa ngokuba ngenxa yokuthembeka kwakhe, ayiyi kufika ngomhla wakhe. Uhlambulula indlu kaYehova nalo lonke ilizwe kunqulo lweedemon kwaye wandisa umsebenzi wakhe wokutshabalalisa izithixo kuse eBheteli, apho atshabalalisa isibingelelo sikaYarobheham nto leyo ezalisekisa isiprofeto esikweyoku-1 yooKumkani 13:1, 2. Uphinda asungule iPasika kaYehova. “Ngaphambi kwakhe akubangakho kumkani unjengaye, ubuyeleyo kuYehova ngentliziyo yakhe yonke, nangomphefumlo wakhe wonke, nangamandla akhe onke, ngokomyalelo wonke kaMoses.” (23:25) Sekunjalo, uYehova usavutha ngumsindo ngenxa yezono zikaManase. UYosiya uyafa ekuqubisaneni kwakhe nokumkani waseYiputa eMegido.

31. Ziziphi iinkathazo ezehlela uYuda emva kokufa kukaYosiya?

³¹ UYehowahazi, uYehoyakim noYehoyakin, ookumkani bakwaYuda (23:31–24:17). Emva kokulawula iinyanga ezintathu, unyana kaYosiya uYehowahazi uthinjwa ngukumkani waseYiputa, kwaye umntakwabo uEliyakim, ogama lakhe liguqulwayo libe nguYehoyakim, ubekwa etroneni. Ulandela ikhondo eliphosakeleyo loomawokhulu bakhe aze abe ngumkhonzi kaNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, kodwa uyamvukela emva kweminyaka emithathu. Ekufeni kukaYehoyakim unyana wakhe uYehoyakin uqalisa ukulawula. UNebhukadenetsare ungqinga iYerusalem, ayithimbe aze abuthwalele eBhabhiloni bonke ubutyebi bendlu kaYehova, “njengoko wakuthethayo uYehova” ngoIsaya. (24:13; 20:17) UYehoyakin nabalawulwa bakhe abaninzi bathinjelwa eBhabhiloni.

32. Ziziphi iziganeko eziphawulekayo ezikhokelela ekuphanzisweni kweYerusalem nelizwe?

³² UZedekiya, ukumkani wokugqibela wakwaYuda (24:18–25:30). UNebhukadenetsare wenza uMataniya uyisekazi kaYehoyakin ukumkani aze alitshintshe igama lakhe libe nguZedekiya. Ulawula eYerusalem kangangeminyaka eli-11 kwaye uyaqhubeka esenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova. Uvukela iBhabhiloni, ngoko ngomnyaka wesithoba kaZedekiya, uNebhukadenetsare nawo wonke umkhosi wakhe bayenyuka ukuza kwakha udonga longqingo olujikeleze iYerusalem. Emva kweenyanga ezili-18 esi sixeko sibhuqwa yindlala. Zandula ke iindonga zidilizwe, aze uZedekiya abanjwe ngoxa ezama ukusaba. Oonyana bakhe babulawa phambi kwakhe, aze yena akrukrwe amehlo. Kwinyanga elandelayo, zonke izindlu eziphambili zesixeko, kuquka nendlu kaYehova nendlu kakumkani, ziyatshiswa zize iindonga zesixeko zidilizwe. Inkoliso yabasindileyo ithinjelwa eBhabhiloni. UGedaliya umiselwa njengerhuluneli phezu kwabambalwa abaseleyo kwilizwe lakwaYuda. Phofu ke, uyabulawa, baze abantu basabele eYiputa. Ngaloo ndlela, ukususela ngenyanga yesixhenxe yowama-607 B.C.E., eli lizwe liphanziswa ngokupheleleyo. Amazwi okuqukumbela eyesiBini yooKumkani athetha ngobabalo ukumkani waseBhabhiloni alubonakalisa kuYehoyakin ngomnyaka wama-37 wokuthinjwa kwakhe.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

33. Yiyiphi imizekelo emihle enikelwe kweyesiBini yooKumkani yokuba siyilandele?

³³ Nangona ithetha ngokubanzi ngokubulawa okuqongqotha izikumkani zakwaSirayeli nezakwaYuda, eyesiBini yooKumkani inemizekelo emininzi yentsikelelo kaYehova kubantu abathanda yena nemigaqo yakhe elungileyo. Njengomhlolokazi waseTsarfati owayengaphambi kwakhe, umfazi waseShunem wafumana intsikelelo enkulu ngenxa yobubele awabubonakalisa kumprofeti kaThixo. (4:8-17, 32-37) Amandla kaYehova okusoloko elungiselela aboniswa xa uElisha wondla amadoda alikhulu ngezonka ezingama-20, kwananjengokuba noYesu wenza ummangaliso ofanayo kamva. (2 Kum. 4:42-44; Mat. 14:16-21; Marko 8:1-9) Phawula indlela uYehonadabhi awafumana ngayo intsikelelo ngokumenywa ukuba ahambe noYehu kwinqwelo yokulwa ukuze abone ukutshatyalaliswa kwabanquli bakaBhahali. Kwakutheni? Kwakungenxa yokuba wenza isenzo esingqalileyo ngokuphuma ukuza kukhawulela uYehu onenzondelelo. (2 Kum. 10:15, 16) Okokugqibela, kukho umzekelo obalaseleyo kaHezekiya noYosiya, ngenxa yokuthobeka kwabo nokulihlonela ngokufanelekileyo igama noMthetho kaYehova. (19:14-19; 22:11-13) Le yimizekelo ebalaseleyo yokuba siyilandele.

34. Yintoni esiyifundiswa yeyesiBini yooKumkani ngokubhekisele ekuhloneleni abakhonzi abamiselweyo nangokubhekisele kwityala legazi?

³⁴ UYehova akakunyamezeli ukudelelwa kwabakhonzi bakhe abamiselweyo. Xa iinjubaqa zahlekisa ngoElisha njengomprofeti Wakhe, uYehova wazohlwaya ngokukhawuleza. (2:23, 24) Ngaphezu koko, uYehova uyalihlonela igazi labamsulwa. Wayigweba ngokuqatha indlu ka-Ahabhi kungengenxa yonqulo lukaBhahali kuphela kodwa kwanangenxa yokuphalazwa kwegazi okwakuhambisana nalo. Ngaloo ndlela, uYehu wathanjiswa ukuba aphindezelele ‘igazi labo bonke abakhonzi bakaYehova esandleni sikaIzebhele.’ Xa kwaphunyezwa umgwebo nxamnye noYehoram, uYehu wakhumbula amazwi kaYehova okuba loo mgwebo wawungenxa ‘yegazi likaNabhoti negazi loonyana bakhe.’ (9:7, 26) Ngokukwanjalo, lityala legazi likaManase elathi ekugqibeleni labangela ukutshatyalaliswa kukaYuda. Ukongezelela kwisono sakhe sonqulo lobuxoki, uManase ‘wayizalisa iYerusalem ngegazi wathabathela kwelinye icala kwesa kwelinye.’ Nakubeni uManase waguqukayo kamva kwikhondo lakhe elibi, ityala lakhe legazi lahlala likho. (2 Kron. 33:12, 13) Kwanolawulo olulungileyo lukaYosiya, nokuluphelisa kwakhe lonke unqulo lwezithixo, kwakungenakulishenxisa ityala legazi elalinalo elo butho ukususela kulawulo lukaManase. Kwiminyaka kamva, xa uYehova waqalisa ukuvelisa abatshabalalisi bakhe beYerusalem, wavakalisa ukuba kwakungenxa yokuba uManase “wayizalisa iYerusalem ngegazi elingenatyala; akavumanga uYehova ukuxolela.” (2 Kum. 21:16; 24:4) Ngokukwanjalo, uYesu wavakalisa ukuba iYerusalem yenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo yayimele itshabalale kuba ababingeleli ababekuyo babengoonyana babo baphalaza igazi labaprofeti, ‘ukuze bafikelwe ligazi elinobulungisa elaphalazwayo emhlabeni apha.’ (Mat. 23:29-36) UThixo ulumkisa ihlabathi ngokuba uya kuliphindezelela igazi elimsulwa eliye laphalazwa, ngokukodwa igazi ‘labo baye babulawa ngenxa yelizwi likaThixo.’—ISityhi. 6:9, 10.

35. (a) UEliya, uElisha noIsaya bangqinwa njani bengabaprofeti bokwenyaniso? (b) Ngokunxulumene noEliya, uthini uPetros mayela nesiprofeto?

³⁵ KweyesiBini yooKumkani kukwaboniswa ukuzaliseka ngokuqinisekileyo nangokungaphazamiyo kwemigwebo kaYehova engokwesiprofeto. Kuyo kuziswa engqalelweni yethu abaprofeti abathathu abaphambili, uEliya, uElisha noIsaya. Iziprofeto zakhe ngamnye ziboniswa zizezizaliseka ngokuphawulekayo. (2 Kum. 9:36, 37; 10:10, 17; 3:14, 18, 24; 13:18, 19, 25; 19:20, 32-36; 20:16, 17; 24:13) UEliya ukwangqinwa engumprofeti wokwenyaniso ekubonakaleni kwakhe enomprofeti uMoses noMprofeti Omkhulu, uYesu Kristu, ekwenziweni kumila kumbi entabeni. (Mat. 17:1-5) Ebhekisela kukubaluleka kweso sihlandlo, uPetros wathi: “Kanjalo sinalo nelona lizwi liqinisekileyo elilelobuprofeti, enityaphayo ukulinyamekela, linjengesibane esikhanyisa endaweni emnyama, kude kuse, liphume ikhwezi ezintliziyweni zenu.”—2 Pet. 1:19.

36. Kutheni le nto uYehova wabonisa inceba kubantu bakhe, kwaye yenziwa nzulu njani intembelo yethu kuBukumkani beMbewu?

³⁶ Iziganeko ezibhalwe kweyesiBini yooKumkani zibonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba uYehova uya kubagweba ngokubatshabalalisa bonke abaqhelisela unqulo lobuxoki nabo bonke abaphalaza ngabom igazi elimsulwa. Kanti, uYehova wabonisa ubabalo nenceba kubantu bakhe “ngenxa yomnqophiso wakhe noAbraham noIsake noYakobi.” (2 Kum. 13:23) Wabalondoloza “ngenxa kaDavide umkhonzi wakhe.” (8:19) Uya kubonisa inceba efanayo kwabo baphethukela kuye namhlanje. Njengoko sihlola ingxelo namadinga eBhayibhile, enjani ukuba nzulu intembelo esikhangele phambili ngayo kuBukumkani ‘bonyana kaDavide,’ uYesu Kristu, iMbewu yedinga, apho kobe kungasekho ukuphalazwa kwegazi nobungendawo!—Mat. 1:1; Isa. 2:4; INdu. 145:20.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]