Incwadi YeBhayibhile 23—Isaya

Umbhali: NguIsaya

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EYerusalem

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Ngemva kowama-732 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Malunga nowama-778 kuse emva kowama-732 B.C.E.

1. Yayinjani imeko eMbindi Mpuma, ngokukodwa kwaSirayeli nakwaYuda, ngenkulungwane yesibhozo Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo?

UKUMKANI okhohlakeleyo waseAsiriya wayebasongela kanobom abanye oorhulumente nezikumkani ezincinane zaseMbindi Mpuma. Intetho yokwenza amayelenqe nomanyano yayingundaba-mlonyeni kuwo wonke loo mmandla. (Isa. 8:9-13) Kungekudala uSirayeli owexukileyo wangasentla wayeza kuba lixhoba leli yelenqe lezizwe ngezizwe, ngoxa ngasezantsi ookumkani bakwaYuda babesalawula ngamabona-ndenzile. (2 Kum., isahlu. 15-21) Kwakuveliswa izixhobo ezitsha zemfazwe kwaye zazisetyenziswa, nto leyo eyayibangela ukuba loo maxesha abe ngawoyikeka ngakumbi. (2 Kron. 26:14, 15) Yayinokufumaneka phi inkuselo nosindiso? Nangona abantu nababingeleli bobukhosi obuncinane bakwaYuda babethetha ngegama likaYehova, iintliziyo zabo zazityekele ekuphambukeleni, okokuqala kwiAsiriya zandula ke zatyekela ezantsi eYiputa. (2 Kum. 16:7; 18:21) Babesele beyekile ukuthembela kumandla kaYehova. Kwiindawo ekwakungekho lunqulo-zithixo luphandle, kwakwesamele uhanahaniso ngokonqulo, olwalusekelwe kwisithethe kunasekumoyikeni ngokwenyaniso uThixo.

2. (a) Ngubani owaphendula ubizo lokuthethela uYehova, kwaye waluphendula nini? (b) Yintoni ephawulekayo ngegama lalo mprofeti?

² Ngoko, ngubani owayeya kuthethela uYehova? Ngubani owayeya kuvakalisa amandla akhe okusindisa? Impendulo yafika ngexesha elililo isithi, “Ndikho, thuma mna.” YayinguIsaya lo wayethetha, owayesele engumprofeti kakade ngaphambi koku. Yayingumnyaka wokufa koKumkani u-Uziya owayeneqhenqa, malunga nowama-778 B.C.E. (Isa. 6:1, 8) Igama elithi Isaya lithetha “Usindiso LukaYehova,” linentsingiselo efanayo negama elithi Yesu (“UYehova Ulusindiso”), nangona ibhalwa ngendlela egqwethiweyo. Ukususela ekuqaleni kuse ekugqibeleni, isiprofeto sikaIsaya sibalaselisa esi sibakala, sokuba uYehova ulusindiso.

3. (a) Yintoni eyaziwayo ngoIsaya? (b) Waprofeta ukutyhubela liphi ithuba, kwaye ngoobani abanye abaprofeti bomhla wakhe?

³ UIsaya wayengunyana ka-Amotsi (akamelwe abhidaniswe noAmosi, owayengomnye umprofeti wakwaYuda). (1:1) IZibhalo azithethi nto ngokuzalwa nokufa kwakhe, nangona ingxelo engokwesithethe yamaYuda isithi wasarhwa nguKumkani uManase ongendawo. (Thelekisa amaHebhere 11:37.) Imibhalo yakhe ibonisa ukuba wayehlala eYerusalem nomfazi wakhe owayengumprofetikazi kwakunye nje noonyana ababini ababenamagama abuprofeti. (Isa. 7:3; 8:1, 3) Wayekhonza phantse ebudeni bamaxesha ookumkani abane bakwaYuda: u-Uziya, uYotam, uAhazi noHezekiya; ekucaca ukuba waqalisa malunga nowama-778 B.C.E. (ekufeni kukaUziya, okanye mhlawumbi ngaphambilana) waza waqhubeka ubuncinane de kwaba semva kowama-732 B.C.E. (umnyaka we-14 kaHezekiya), okanye ithuba elingengaphantsi kweminyaka engama-46. Alithandabuzeki elokuba kwanesiprofeto sakhe wasibhala ngalo mnyaka wamva. (1:1; 6:1; 36:1) Abanye abaprofeti bomhla wakhe yayinguMika kwelakwaYuda kwaye, kwelasemntla, inguHoseya no-Odede.—Mika 1:1; Hos. 1:1; 2 Kron. 28:6-9.

4. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uIsaya wayengumbhali wale ncwadi?

⁴ Into yokuba nguYehova owayalela uIsaya ukuba ayibhale phantsi imigwebo ebuprofeti icaciswe kuIsaya 30:8 ngokuthi: “Yiya ngoku, ukrole oko elucwecweni unabo, ukubhale encwadini, kube yinto yemihla ezayo, yanini, yaphakade.” Abefundisi bamandulo bamaYuda babemgqala uIsaya njengombhali kwaye bayiquka le ncwadi njengencwadi yokuqala kwezabaprofeti abaphambili (uIsaya, uYeremiya noHezekile).

5. Yintoni engqinela ukuvisisana kwencwadi kaIsaya?

⁵ Nangona bambi baye balatha kwisibakala sokuguquka kwesimbo sokubhalwa kwale ncwadi ukususela kwisahluko 40 kuse phambili njengesibonisa ukuba yabhalwa ngumntu owahlukileyo, okanye “uIsaya Wesibini,” ukuguquka kombandela ekuthethwa ngawo kufanele kwanele ukukucacisa oku. Kukho ubungqina obuninzi bokuba uIsaya wayibhala yonke incwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe. Ngokomzekelo, imvisiswano yale ncwadi iboniswa libinzana elithi, “Oyingcwele kaSirayeli,” elibonakala izihlandlo ezili-12 kwisahluko 1 kuse kwesama-39, nezihlandlo ezili-13 kwisahluko 40 kuse kwesama-66, izihlandlo ezingama-25 zizonke; ngoxa libonakala izihlandlo ezi-6 kuphela kuyo yonke inxalenye yeZibhalo zesiHebhere. Umpostile uPawulos ukwangqinela ukuvisisana kwale ncwadi ngokucaphula kuzo zonke iinxalenye zesiprofeto aze athi yonke le ncwadi yabhalwa ngumbhali omnye, uIsaya.—Thelekisa amaRoma 10:16, 20; 15:12 noIsaya 53:1; 65:1; 11:1.

6. UMsongo kaIsaya woLwandle Olufileyo ubunikela njani ubungqina obeyisayo (a) bokuba iiBhayibhile zethu namhlanje zisaqulethe imibhalo yantlandlolo ephefumlelweyo (b) nobokuba yonke le ncwadi yabhalwa nguIsaya omnye?

⁶ Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, ukususela kumnyaka we-1947, kwaye kwavunjululwa eminye yemibhalo yamandulo kwimiqolomba emnyama engekude kuyaphi ukusuka eKhirbet Qumran, kufuphi nonxweme olusemntla-ntshona loLwandle Olufileyo. Le yayiyiMisongo yoLwandle Olufileyo, eyayiquka isiprofeto sikaIsaya. Le ibhalwe ngokusulungekileyo ngesiHebhere esingangxengwanga sangaphambi kweMasora kwaye ineminyaka enokuba ngama-2 000 ikho, ukususela ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibini Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngaloo ndlela umbhalo wayo umalunga neminyaka eliwaka ubudala kunombhalo-ngqangi weMasora ongowona mdala okhoyo, ekusekelwe kuwo iinguqulelo zakutshanje zeZibhalo zesiHebhere. Kukho ukungafani okuncinane kubhalo-magama nomahluko othile kwindlela yokwakhiwa kwezivakalisi, kodwa ngokwemfundiso ayahlukanga kumbhalo weMasora. Obu bubungqina obanelisayo bokuba iiBhayibhile zethu namhlanje ziqulethe isigidimi esiphefumlelweyo santlandlolo sikaIsaya. Ngaphezu koko, le misongo yamandulo iyaliphuthisa ibango labahlalutyi lokuba kwakukho “ooIsaya” ababini, ekubeni isahluko 40 siqalisa kumgca wokugqibela womhlathi wombhalo onesahluko 39, isivakalisi sokuqala sigqityezelwa kumhlathi olandelayo. Ngaloo ndlela, kubonakala ukuba ayizange ithi qatha nokuthi qatha engqondweni yomkhupheli wale ncwadi into yokuba kungahle kucingelwe ukuba kukho omnye umbhali okanye nakuphi na ukungavisisani kule ncwadi kweli nqanaba.a

7. Bubuphi ubungqina obaneleyo nobukhoyo ngokuphethelele ubunyaniso bukaIsaya?

⁷ Kukho ubungqina obaneleyo bobunyaniso bencwadi kaIsaya. Ngaphandle koMoses, akakho omnye umprofeti ekucatshulwa ngokufuthi amazwi akhe ngababhali beBhayibhile abangamaKristu. Ngokunjalo kukho imfumba yezinto ezingokwembali nezinto zakudala ezimbiweyo ezibubungqina bokuba iyeyokwenene, njengeengxelo ezingokwembali zookumkani baseAsiriya, kuquka ilitye elikhazimlayo likaSenaribhe elinamacala amathandathu awabhala kulo ingxelo yakhe ngokungqingwa kweYerusalem.b (Isa. isahl. 36, 37) Amabhodlo akwindawo eyayikhe yayiBhabhiloni asebubungqina bokuzaliseka kukaIsaya 13:17-22.c Mntu ngamnye kumaYuda angamawaka awayegoduka esuka eBhabhiloni, ekhululwe ngukumkani uKoreshi nowabizwa ngegama nguIsaya malunga neminyaka engama-200 ngaphambilana, wayelingqina eliphilayo. Kusenokuba kamva uKoreshi wasiboniswa esi siprofeto sibhaliweyo, kuba, ekukhululeni kwakhe intsalela engamaYuda, wathi wayethunywe nguYehova ukuba enjenjalo.—Isa. 44:28; 45:1; Ezra 1:1-3.

8. Ukuphefumlelwa kwayo kwangqineka njani ngokuzaliseka kweziprofeto ezingoMesiya?

⁸ Okubalaseleyo kwincwadi kaIsaya ziziprofeto ezingoMesiya. UIsaya uye wabizwa ngokuthi “umprofeti ongumVangeli,” ngenxa yokuba zininzi kweziprofeto zakhe ezazaliseka kwiziganeko zobomi bukaYesu. Isahluko 53, ekwakukudala “sisisahluko esiyimfihlelo,” kungekuphela nje kwithenwa elingumTiyopiya ekuthethwa ngalo kwiZenzo isahluko 8 kodwa kwanakwisizwe sakwaYuda xa sisonke, sixela kwangaphambili ngokucacileyo indlela uYesu awaphathwa ngayo ngokungathi ibaliswa lingqina lokuzibonela. KwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike kukho iinzaliseko ezingokwesiprofeto zesi sahluko siphawulekayo sikaIsaya, njengokuba kuboniswa lolu thelekiso lulandelayo: indi. 1—Yohane 12:37, 38; indi. 2—Yohane 19:5-7; indi. 3—Marko 9:12; indi. 4—Mateyu 8:16, 17; indi. 5—1 Petros 2:24; indi. 6—1 Petros 2:25; indi. 7—IZenzo 8:32, 35; indi. 8—IZenzo 8:33; indi. 9—Mateyu 27:57-60; indi. 10—Hebhere 7:27; indi. 11—Roma 5:18; indi. 12—Luka 22:37. Ngubani omnye owayenokuba ngumthombo wesiprofeto esichane ngolo hlobo ngaphandle koThixo?

OKUQULETHWE YEKAISAYA

9. Okuqulethwe yincwadi kaIsaya kunokwahlulahlulelwa kuwaphi amacandelo?

⁹ Izahluko ezithandathu zokuqala zisibonisa imeko eyayikho kwaYuda naseYerusalem kwaye zibalisa isono sikaYuda kuYehova nokuthunywa kukaIsaya. Isahluko 7 ukusa kwese-12 zithetha ngokuhlasela kotshaba okwakusongela nedinga lokuhlangulwa nguMthetheli Woxolo owathunywa nguYehova. Isahluko 13 kuse kwesama-35 ziqulethe ungcelele lwezihlabo ezisingisele kwiintlanga ezininzi nesiprofeto esingosindiso olwaluza kuvela kuYehova. Kwisahluko 36 kuse kwesama-39 kuchazwa iziganeko ezingokwembali zolawulo lukaHezekiya. Izahluko eziseleyo, esama-40 kuse kwesama-66, njengomxholo wazo zibalaselisa ukukhululwa eBhabhiloni, ukubuya kwentsalela engamaYuda nokubuyiselwa kweZiyon.

10. (a) Kutheni le nto uIsaya ebongoza iintlanga ukuba zizinzise imicimbi? (b) Uprofeta athini ngokuphela kwemihla?

¹⁰ Isigidimi sikaIsaya “ngokusingisele uYuda neYerusalem” (1:1–6:13). Khawumbone embethe ezirhwexayo kwaye enxibe iimbadada njengoko emi eYerusalem aze adanduluke esithi: Nina baphathi! Nina bantu! Khanibek’ indlebe! Uhlanga lwenu luyagula ukususela entloko kuse eluzwaneni, kwaye nimkruqule uYehova ngezandla zenu ezinkone ligazi neniziphakamisa xa nithandaza. Khanize, nizokuzinzisa imicimbi kunye naye, ukuze izono eziyingqombela zibe nokwenziwa mhlophe njengekhephu. Ekupheleni kwemihla, intaba yendlu kaYehova iya kuphakanyiswa, kwaye zonke iintlanga ziya kuba ngumsinga ukuya kuyo ukuze zifundiswe. Zingaphindi zifunde ukulwa. UYehova uya kuphakanyiselwa phezulu aze angcwaliswe. Kodwa okwangoku uSirayeli noYuda, nangona babehlwayelwe besisidiliya esinyuliweyo, bavelisa iidiliya zokuchasene nomthetho. Bathi okulungileyo kubi nokubi kulungile, kuba bazizilumko kwawabo amehlo.

11. UIsaya ulufumana kunye nawuphi umbono uthumo lwakhe?

¹¹ UIsaya uthi, “Ndayibona iNkosi [uYehova, NW] ihleli etroneni ende enyukileyo.” Kunye nalo mbono kufika uthumo lukaYehova oluthi: “Yiya, uthi kubo aba bantu, Yivani, ukuva oku niya kuva.” Kode kube nini esitsho? “Kude kuye kuchithwa imizi.”—6:1, 9, 11.

12. (a) UIsaya noonyana bakhe basetyenziswa njani njengemiqondiso yesiprofeto? (b) Liliphi idinga elibalaseleyo elinikelwa kuIsaya isahluko 9?

¹² Ukuhlasela kotshaba okusongelayo nedinga lokuhlangulwa (7:1–12:6). UYehova usebenzisa uIsaya noonyana bakhe ‘njengemiqondiso nezimanga’ ezibuprofeti ukuze okokuqala abonise ukuba ukumanyana kwamaSiriya noSirayeli nxamnye noYuda kwakungayi kuphumelela kodwa ekuhambeni kwexesha uYuda uya kuthinjwa kuze kubuye intsalela kuphela. Intombi le iya kumitha ize izale unyana. Ngubani igama lakhe? NguImanuweli (elithetha ukuba, “UThixo Unathi”). Iintshaba ezimanyeneyo ezilwa noYuda mazilumke! “Bhavumani, zizwe, niqotywe!” La iya kuba ngamaxesha kaxakeka, kodwa kuya kwandula ke kubekho ukukhanya kubantu bakaThixo. Ngokuba sizalelwe umntwana, “kwaye igama lakhe kuya kuthiwa nguMcebisi Omangalisayo, uThixo Oligorha, uBawo Ongunaphakade, uMthetheli Woxolo.”—7:14; 8:9, 18; 9:6, NW.

13. (a) Nguwuphi umphumo olindele uAsiriya oqhayisayo? (b) Uya kuba yintoni umphumo wolawulo ‘lwegatya’ eliphuma kuYese?

¹³ UYehova udanduluka esithi: “Yeha, uAsiriya, ntonga yomsindo wam.” Emva kokusebenzisa loo ntonga nxamnye ‘nohlanga oluyintshembenxa,’ uThixo uya kumtshayela kuthi tu uAsiriya oqhayisayo. Kamva, “amasalela aya kubuya.” (10:5, 6, 21) Ngoku khawubone nalo ihlumelo, igatya esiphunzini sikaYese (uyise kaDavide)! Eli “gatya” liya kulawula ngobulungisa, kwaye ngalo yonke indalo iya kuvuya, kungekho bungozi okanye monakalo, “ngokuba ilizwe liya kuzala kukwazi uYehova, njengamanzi egubungele ulwandle.” (11:1, 9) Ngeli hlumelo elingumqondiso ezintlangeni, kuvuleka umendo ophuma eAsiriya wentsalela ebuyayo. Kuya kubakho imihlali njengoko kukhiwa amanzi emithonjeni yosindiso kwaye kukho intsholo yokumemelela kuYehova.

14. Kuyintoni ukuwa kweBhabhiloni okwaxelwa ngenx’ engaphambili?

¹⁴ Isihlabo sokubhukuqwa kweBhabhiloni (13:1–14:27). Ngoku uIsaya ukhangela ngaphaya komhla weAsiriya ejonge kwixesha lokuphakama kweBhabhiloni. Khawuphulaphule! Kuvakala intswahla yabantu abaninzi, ukuxokozela kwezikumkani, kweentlanga ezihlanganisene ndawonye! UYehova uhlanganisa umkhosi wemfazwe! Liyitshonela emini iBhabhiloni. Abakhwankqisiweyo bajongene namalangatye, kwaye iintliziyo ziyanyibilika. AmaMedi angenalusini aza kuyibhukuqa iBhabhiloni, “ikhazikhazi lezikumkani.” Iza kuba yinkangala engenakumiwa nendawo yokubutha amarhamncwa asendle “ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwana.” (13:19, 20) Abafileyo abaseSheol baxhokonxelwa ukuba bamkele ukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Iimpethu ziba sisingqengqelo sakhe kwaye wambethe amanundu. Okunjani kona ukuwa kweli ‘khwezi, unyana wesifingo’! (14:12) Wayenamabhongo okuphakamisa itrone yakhe kodwa uye waba sisidumbu esilahliweyo, njengokuba uYehova etshayela iBhabhiloni ngembubhiso. Akazi kusalelwa naligama, intsalela, inzala okanye isizukulwana!

15. UIsaya uprofeta ngokuphathelele ukuphanziswa okunjani kwezizwe ngezizwe?

¹⁵ Ukuphanziswa kwezizwe ngezizwe (14:28–23:18). Ngoku uIsaya walatha emva kuFilisti ogudle uLwandle lweMeditera aze ke alathe kuMowabhi, osemzantsi-mpuma woLwandle Olufileyo. Uprofeta ngeDamasko yaseSiriya engaphaya komda osemantla welakwaSirayeli, athethe ngelakwaKushi, elisemzantsi, aze anyuke ngomNayile esiya eYiputa, esithi imigwebo kaThixo iphanzisa konke edibana nako endleleni. Ukhankanya ukumkani uSargon waseAsiriya, umanduleli kaSaneribhe, owathumela uTartan ongumphathi-mkhosi ukuza kuhlasela isixeko samaFilisti iAshdode, kwintshona yeYerusalem. Ngesi sihlandlo uIsaya uxelelwa ukuba akhulule aze ahambe ze kwaye anganxibi neembadada kangangeminyaka emithathu. Ngaloo ndlela ukubonisa ngokucace gca ukuba lilize kokukholosa ngeYiputa nelakwaKushi, mazwe lawo, “ehamba ngeempundu,” aya kuthinjwa yiAsiriya.—20:4.

16. Yiyiphi intlekele efikela iBhabhiloni, uEdom, nabazidlayo baseYerusalem, kunye neTsidon neTire?

¹⁶ Esithi krwaqu esemboniselweni yakhe ubona ukuwa kweBhabhiloni noothixo bayo, kwaye ubona iinkxwaleko ezizela uEdom. UYehova ngokwakhe uthetha nabantu baseYerusalem abazidlayo abathi, ‘Makudliwe kuselwe, kuba ngomso siya kufa.’ UYehova uthi, ‘Niya kufa.’ (22:13, 14) Kwaneenqanawa zaseTarshishe zimele zibhomboloze, kwaye iTsidon imele idane, kuba uYehova wenze icebo ngeTire, lokuba “acukuceze bonke abazukileyo behlabathi.”—23:9.

17. Siyintoni isigwebo nokubuyiselwa okwaxelwa kwangaphambili ngoYuda?

¹⁷ Umgwebo kaYehova nosindiso (24:1–27:13). Kodwa ngoku khawukhangele kwaYuda! UYehova ulithi qongqololo ilizwe. Abantu nombingeleli, ikhoboka nenkosi, umthengi nomthengisi—bonke bamele bahambe, kuba bayigqithile imiyalelo kaThixo kwaye bawaphule umnqophiso ongunaphakade. Kodwa ekuhambeni kwexesha uya kuphethulela ingqalelo yakhe kubathinjwa aze abahlanganise. Uligwiba nehlathi. Uya kwenza isidlo entabeni yakhe aze aginye ukufa ngonaphakade, azisule iinyembezi ebusweni bonke. Kuya kuthiwa, “Lo nguThixo wethu. . . . NguYehova lo.” (25:9) UYuda unesixeko esineendonga zosindiso. Uxolo olungenakuphela lolwabo bakholosa ngoYehova, “kuba uYa, uYehova, uliliwa elingunaphakade.” Kodwa ongendawo “akafundi bulungisa.” (26:4, 10) UYehova uya kuzitshabalalisa iintshaba zakhe, kodwa uya kumbuyisela uYakobi.

18, 19. (a) Ngabaphi ooyeha abavakaliswayo ngoEfrayim xa kuthelekiswa nemivuyo yeZiyon? (b) UYehova uya kubasindisa aze abalawule abantu bakhe ekweziphi izikhundla?

¹⁸ Ubushushu bukaThixo neentsikelelo (28:1– 35:10). Yeha, kumanxila akwaEfrayim, lawo “amakhazikhazi esihombo” sawo amele abune! Kodwa uYehova uza kuba “sisithsaba esimakhazikhazi, nesangqawe sokuhomba” kwintsalela yabantu bakhe. (28:1, 5) Noko ke, amadoda agxekayo aseYerusalem akhangela kwindawo engeyiyo ukuze akhuseleke, kunokukhangela kwilitye lesiseko elicikidiweyo nelinqabileyo eZiyon. Isibetho esingumkhukula siya kubatshayela kuthi tu. Abaprofeti baseYerusalem balele, kwaye incwadi kaThixo itywiniwe kubo. Basondela kuye ngemilebe, kodwa iintliziyo zabo zikude lee. Kodwa iya kufika imini esiya kuthi isithulu siweve amazwi ale ncwadi. Iimfama ziya kubona baze abalulamileyo bagcobe.

¹⁹ Yeha, abo behla baye eYiputa ukuze bazimele kuyo! Aba bantu baneenkani bafuna imibono egudileyo, eyinkohliso. Baya kunqunyulwa, kodwa uYehova uya kuyibuyisela intsalela. Bona aba baya kumbona uMyaleli wabo Ozukileyo, kwaye baya kuyilahla imifanekiso yabo eqingqiweyo, beyibiza ngokuthi “ikukungcola nje kodwa.” (30:22, NW) UYehova unguMkhuseli wokwenyaniso weYerusalem. Ukumkani uya kulawula ngobulungisa, kunye nabathetheli bakhe. Uya kuzisa uxolo, inzolo nonqabiseko ngonaphakade. Ukunginiza kuya kubangela ukuba abathunywa boxolo bakhale ngokukrakra, kodwa kubantu bakhe iNgangamsha, uYehova, unguMgwebi, uMmisi-mthetho noKumkani, kwaye yena uya kubasindisa. Ngelo xesha akukho mmi wakhona uya kuthi: “Ndiyafa.”—33:24.

20. Yintoni eya kwenzeka xa umsindo uphalazelwa kwiintlanga, kodwa yiyiphi intsikelelo elindele intsalela ebuyiselweyo?

²⁰ Umsindo kaYehova umele uphalazelwe kwiintlanga. Izidumbu ziya kunuka, neentaba ziya kunyibilika ligazi. ElakwaEdom limele liphanziswe. Kodwa kubantu abathengwe nguYehova, intlango iya kudubula, kwaye kuya kubonakala “ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, ubungangamela boThixo wethu.” (35:2) Iimfama, izithulu nezidenge ziya kuphiliswa, kwaye iNdlela Engcwele iya kuvulelwa abantu abakhululweyo nguYehova njengoko bebuyela eZiyon benemihlali.

21. UAsiriya uyingcikiva esithini iYerusalem?

²¹ UYehova uphanzisa uAsiriya ngomhla kaHezekiya (36:1–39:8). Ngaba isikhuthazo sikaIsaya sokukholosa ngoYehova siyasebenziseka? Ngaba siluncedo ngexesha lamanqam? Ngomnyaka we-14 wokulawula kukaHezekiya, uSaneribhe waseAsiriya unqumlel’ egoqweni konke okuphambi kwakhe kwelasePalestina kwaye ubangela ukuba eminye imikhosi yakhe izame ukuhlasela iYerusalem. URabheshake, owayengummeli wakhe othetha isiHebhere, ubapheka ebophula ngemibuzo engcikivayo abantu abemi ngakwiindonga zesixeko esithi: ‘Nikholose ngantoni na? NgeYiputa? Leyo yingcongolo evikivekileyo! Ngaba nikholose ngoYehova? Akukho thixo unokunihlangula kukumkani waseAsiriya!’ (36:4, 6, 18, 20) Bethobela ukumkani, abantu abamphenduli.

22. UYehova uwuphendula njani umthandazo kaHezekiya, kwaye usizalisekisa njani isiprofeto sikaIsaya?

²² UHezekiya uthandaza kuYehova ukuba abasindise ngenxa yegama Lakhe, kwaye ngoIsaya, uYehova uyamphendula esithi Yena uya kufaka ikhonkco kwimpumlo yomAsiriya aze ambuyise ngendlela aze ngayo. Isithunywa sezulu sibulala ama-Asiriya ali-185 000, kwaye uSaneribhe ubalekela ekhaya, apho kamva abulawa ngoonyana bakhe kwitempile yakhe yobuhedeni.

23. (a) Yintoni ebangela ukuba uHezekiya aqambele uYehova umhobe? (b) Bubuphi ubuyatha abenzayo, obuphumela kwisiphi isiprofeto sikaIsaya?

²³ UHezekiya ugulela ukufa. Noko ke, ngokungummangaliso uYehova ubangela ukuba isithunzi selanga sibuye umva, njengomqondiso wokuba uHezekiya uya kuphila, kwaye kongezelelwa iminyaka eli-15 kubomi bukaHezekiya. Ezele ngumbulelo uqamba umhobe oluncuthu wokudumisa uYehova. Xa ukumkani waseBhabhiloni ethumela abathunywa, ngokuhanahanisa ezenza ovuyisana naye ngokuchacha kwakhe, ngobuyatha uHezekiya ubabonisa ubutyebi basebukhosini. Ngenxa yoko, uIsaya uprofeta ukuba yonke into esendlwini kaHezekiya ngaminazana ithile iya kuthwalelwa eBhabhiloni.

24. (a) Ziziphi iindaba zentuthuzelo uYehova azivakalisayo? (b) Ngaba oothixo beentlanga banokuthelekiswa noYehova ngobukhulu, kwaye bubuphi ubungqina athi mabunikelwe?

²⁴ UYehova uyawathuthuzela amangqina akhe (40:1–44:28). Igama lokuqala lesahluko 40, elithi, “Thuthuzelani,” liyichaza kakuhle le nxalenye kaIsaya. Ilizwi liyadanduluka entlango lisithi: “Yigeceni entlango indlela kaYehova”! (40:1, 3) Kukho iindaba ezimnandi eziphathelele iZiyon. UYehova uyawalusa umhlambi wakhe, ewathwala ngesifuba sakhe amatakane. Ekumazulu aphakamileyo wondele phantsi emhlabeni. Unokuthelekiswa nantoni na ngobukhulu? Ubapha amandla apheleleyo nokuqina abatyhafileyo nabangenakomelela ababek’ ithemba labo kuye. Uthi imifanekiso etyhidiweyo yeentlanga ibubuvuvu nenkohliso. Onyuliweyo wakhe uya kuba njengomnqophiso wezizwe nokukhanya kweentlanga ukuze kuvulwe amehlo eemfama. UYehova uthi kuYakobi, “Ndikuthandile,” kwaye uthi kwimpuma, kwintshona, kumntla nakumzantsi: ‘Musa ukuthintela! Buyisa oonyana bam neentombi zam.’ (43:4, 6) Njengoko inkundla seyiqalile, ucel’ umngeni oothixo beentlanga ukuba bavelise amangqina okubangqinela ukuba bangoothixo. Abantu bakwaSirayeli bangamangqina kaYehova, umkhonzi wakhe, bengqina ukuba unguThixo noMhlanguli. Uthembisa uYeshurun (“Othe Tye,” uSirayeli) ngokumthobela umoya wakhe aze andule ke abonise udano olukubantu abenze imifanekiso eqingqiweyo engaboniyo nengazinto. UYehova unguMhlawuleli wabantu bakhe; kwakhona iYerusalem iya kuba nabemi kwaye itempile yayo iya kuphinda yakhiwe.

25. Yintoni abantu abamele bayazi ngemigwebo kaYehova phezu kweBhabhiloni noothixo bayo bobuxoki?

²⁵ Impindezelo nxamnye neBhabhiloni (45:1–48:22). Ngenxa kaSirayeli, uYehova ubangela ukuba uKoreshi oyise iBhabhiloni. Abantu baya kwenziwa bazi ukuba uYehova nguye kuphela uThixo, uMdali wamazulu, umhlaba nabantu abakuwo. Ugculela oothixo baseBhabhiloni, uBhele noNebho, kuba Nguye kuphela onokuxela okuzayo kusengaphambili. Intombi enyulu yaseBhabhiloni imele ihlale eluthulini, ikhiqiwe etroneni kwaye ihamba ze, nenyambalala yabacebisi bayo baya kutshiswa njengeendiza. UYehova uxelela abanquli besithixo sakwaSirayeli ‘esinentamo yesinyithi nentloko yobhedu’ ukuba banokuzuza uxolo, ubulungisa nentabalala ngokuphulaphula yena, koko ‘alukho uxolo kwabangendawo.’—48:4, 22.

26. IZiyon iya kuthuthuzelwa njani?

²⁶ Ukuthuthuzelwa kweZiyon (49:1–59:21). Enikela umkhonzi wakhe njengokukhanya kweentlanga, uYehova udanduluka esithi kwabo basebumnyameni: “Phumani” (49:9) IZiyon iya kuthuthuzelwa, kwaye intlango yayo iya kuba njenge-Eden, umyezo kaYehova, iya kuzaliswa yimihlali, imigcobo, imibulelo nezwi lohadi. UYehova uya kuwabangela athi shwaka amazulu njengomsi, umhlaba wonakale njengengubo, kwaye abemi bawo baya kufa njengembuzane. Ngoko kutheni le nto usoyika ugculelo lwabantu abafayo? Indebe ekrakra iYerusalem eye yayisela ngoku imele idluliselwe kwiintlanga eziye zayinyathelela phantsi.

27. Ziziphi iindaba ezilungileyo ezishunyayelwa eZiyon, kwaye sithini isiprofeto ngokuphathelele ‘umkhonzi kaYehova’?

²⁷ ‘Vuka, Ziyon, zivuthulule uthuli!’ Bona nanko umthunywa, ememelela ezintabeni eneendaba ezilungileyo kwaye evakalisa oku kwiZiyon, “Uyalawula uThixo wakho!” (52:1, 2, 7) Phumani kwindawo engcolileyo nize nizigcine nicocekile, nina bakhonza uYehova. Ngoku lo mprofeti uchaza ‘umkhonzi kaYehova.’ (53:11) Uyindoda edelekileyo, eshiyiweyo, ethwala iintlungu zethu ukanti ijongwa njengecinezelwa nguThixo. Yahlatywa ngenxa yezikreqo zethu, kodwa yasiphilisa ngamanxeba ayo. Njengemvu esiwa ekuxhelweni, ayizange yenze lugonyamelo kwaye ayithethanga nkohliso. Yawunikela umphefumlo wayo njengedini letyala ukuze ithwale ubugwenxa babantu abaninzi.

28. Ukusikelelwa okuzayo kweZiyon kuchazwa njani, kwaye ngokunxibelelene nawuphi umnqophiso?

²⁸ Njengenendoda, uYehova uxelela iZiyon ukuba idanduluke ngovuyo ngenxa yokuba iza kuba nenzala. Nangona ilusizana kwaye iphetshethwa, iya kuba sisixeko seziseko zesafire, uqoqo lwerubhi namasango amatye abengezelayo nanqabileyo. Oonyana bayo, abafundiswa nguYehova, baya kunandipha uxolo oluninzi, kwaye akukho sixhobo sakulwa nabo siya kuba nempumelelo. UYehova udanduluka esithi: “Wenani! Nonke nina ninxaniweyo.” Ukuba bayeza, uya kubaquka ‘kumnqophiso wakhe wokumenzela inceba uDavide’; uya kubanika inganga nomwisi-mthetho njengobungqina ezizweni. (55:1-4) Ngokuqinisekileyo ezi ngcinga zikaThixo ziziphakamele iingcinga zomntu, kwaye ngokuqinisekileyo ilizwi lakhe liya kuphumelela. Amathenwa agcina umthetho wakhe, kungakhathaliseki ukuba ngawasiphi na isizwe, aya kufumana igama elilunge ngakumbi kunoonyana neentombi. Indlu kaYehova kuya kuthiwa yindlu yokuthandaza ezizweni zonke.

29. UYehova ubaxelela ntoni abantu abanqula izithixo, kodwa ubaqinisekisa ngelithini abantu bakhe?

²⁹ NjengOphakamileyo nOwongamileyo, ogama lakhe lingcwele, uYehova uxelela abanquli-zithixo abaphanjaniswe sisini ukuba akayi kulwa noSirayeli ngonaphakade. Ukuhanahanisa kwabo ngokuzila ukudla kukufihla ubungendawo babo. Isandla sikaYehova asisifutshane ukuba singasindisi, nendlebe yakhe ayinzima ukuba ingeva, kodwa ‘bubugwenxa benu bantu obunahlukanisileyo noThixo wenu,’ utsho njalo uIsaya. (59:2) Kungenxa yoko le nto bathi belindele ukukhanya kodwa bafathule ebumnyameni. Kwelinye icala, umoya kaYehova ophezu kwabantu bakhe abathembekileyo bomnqophiso ubaqinisekisa ukuba ilizwi lakhe liya kuhlala lisemlonyeni wabo ukusa kwizizukulwana ezizayo, ungenakususwa.

30. UYehova uyihombisa njani iZiyon, njengoko kuboniswa ngawaphi amagama amatsha?

³⁰ UYehova uhombisa iZiyon (60:1–64:12). “Suk’ ume ukhanye, kuba . . . nobuqaqawuli bukaYehova buthe chapha kuwe.” Ngokwahlukileyo koko, isithokothoko sobumnyama sigubungele umhlaba. (60:1, 2) Ngelo xesha iZiyon iya kuwaphakamisa amehlo ayo ize ikhazimle, kwaye intliziyo yayo iya kunkwantya njengoko ibona ubuncwane beentlanga busiza kuyo ngenkitha yeenkamela. Amavukuthu abhabhayo njengamafu, buya kuthontelana kuyo. Abasemzini baya kwakha iindonga zayo, ookumkani baya kuyilungiselela namasango ayo awasokuze avalwe. UThixo wayo umele abe sisihombo sayo, kwaye ngokukhawuleza uya kumphindaphinda omnye abe liwaka nomncinanana abe luhlanga olunamandla. Umkhonzi kaThixo uyadanduluka esithi umoya kaYehova uphezu kwakhe, umthambisela ukuba avakalise ezi ndaba zilungileyo. IZiyon ifumana igama elitsha elinguNdimnanzileyo (Hephzibah), kwaye ilizwe layo libizwa ngokuba nguNokwenda (Beulah). (62:4, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW) Kuphuma umyalelo wokuba kufunjwe umendo ophuma eBhabhiloni nokuba kunyuswe indwe eZiyon.

31. Ngubani oza evela kwaEdom, kwaye nguwuphi umthandazo abantu bakaThixo abawenzayo?

³¹ KwaEdom kuphuma oneengubo ezinkone ligazi evela eBhotsera. Ngomsindo wakhe uye wabaxovula abantu kwisixovulelo sewayini, kwatsaz’ igazi kwayiloo nto. Abantu bakaYehova bayayicekisa imeko yabo engcolileyo kwaye bathandaza ngokulusizi, besithi, ‘Kwowu Yehova, unguBawo wethu. Siludongwe, kwaye wena unguMbumbi wethu. Musa ukuba noburhalarhume, Yehova, kuphele. Singabantu bakho sonke siphela.’—64:8, 9.

32. Ngokwahlukileyo kwabo bamshiyayo uYehova, abantu bakaYehova basenokuvuyiswa yintoni?

³² “Amazulu amatsha nehlabathi elitsha”! (65:1–66:24). Abantu abaye bamshiya uYehova ukuze banqule uthixo ‘onguThamsanqa’ nothixo ‘onguSihlo’ baya kulamba baze badane. (65:11) Abakhonzi bakaThixo baya kuba novuyo olukhulu. Khangela! UYehova udala amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha. Olunjani lona uvuyo nemihlali oluza kufunyanwa eYerusalem nangabantu bayo! Kuya kwakhiwa izindlu kuze kutyalwe izidiliya, ngoxa ingcuka nemvana zisidla ndawonye. Akuyi kubakho bungozi okanye monakalo.

33. Luluphi uvuyo, ubuqaqawuli nento eya kuzuzwa ngonaphakade eyaxelwa kwangaphambili ngabo bangabathandi beYerusalem?

³³ Amazulu ayitrone yakhe kwaye umhlaba usisihlalo seenyawo zakhe, ngoko iyintoni na indlu abanokuyakhela uYehova abantu? Kuya kuzalwa uhlanga ngamini-nye, kwaye bonke abathandi beYerusalem bayamenywa ukuba bagcobe njengokuba uYehova eyizisela uxolo njengomlambo. Iintshaba zakhe uya kuzifikela kanye njengomlilo—iinqwelo zokulwa ezinjengesaqhwithi zibuyekeza umsindo wakhe nxamnye nayo yonke inyama engathobeliyo, ngobushushu namalangatye omlilo. Kuya kuphuma abathunywa besiya kuzo zonke iintlanga nakwiziqithi ezikude ukuya kubalisa olu zuko lwakhe. Amazulu akhe amatsha nomhlaba omtsha aya kuhlala ngonaphakade. Ngokufanayo, abo bamkhonzayo nenzala yabo baya kuhlala bemi. Oku koko baya kukuzuza kungenjalo bafe ngonaphakade.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

34. Yiyiphi eminye imizekeliso ebalaseleyo ebangela ukuba isigidimi sikaIsaya sibe namandla?

³⁴ Iqwalaselwa kuzo zonke iinkalo, incwadi kaIsaya esisiprofeto isesona sipho siyingenelo esivela kuYehova uThixo. Ikhanyisa iingcinga eziphakamileyo zikaThixo. (Isa. 55:8-11) Izithethi zasesidlangalaleni zeenyaniso zeBhayibhile zinokudimbaza kuIsaya njengovimba wobutyebi bemizekeliso ecacileyo nenempumelelo ngokunamandla njengokuba yayinjalo imizekeliso kaYesu. UIsaya ububethelela ngamandla kuthi ubuyatha bomntu osebenzisa umthi omnye ukubasa nokwenza isithixo ukuze asinqule. Usenza sibuve ubunzima bomntu ongqengqe kwisingqengqelo esifutshane gqitha nesigubungelo esincinane gqitha, kwaye usenza sikuve ukurhona kwabaprofeti abaleleyo abanjengezinja ezizizidenge, ezingamavila gqitha ukuba zingakhonkotha. Ukuba thina, njengokuba uIsaya esibongoza, ‘siyafuna encwadini kaYehova size silese,’ sinokusixabisa isigidimi esinamandla uIsaya asiphathele sona kulo mhla.—44:14-20; 28:20; 56:10-12; 34:16.

35. UIsaya uyitsalela njani ingqalelo kuBukumkani obungoMesiya, nakumanduleli onguYohane uMbhaptizi?

³⁵ Esi siprofeto sinikela ingqalelo ngokukhethekileyo kuBukumkani bukaThixo obungoMesiya. UYehova unguKumkani ophakamileyo, kwaye nguye osisindisayo. (33:22) Kodwa kuthekani ngoMesiya? Isaziso sesithunywa sezulu esasisiya kuMariya mayela nomntwana owayeya kuzalwa sabonisa ukuba uIsaya 9:6, 7 wayeya kuzaliseka ekufumaneni kwakhe itrone kaDavide; “abe ngukumkani phezu kwendlu kaYakobi kude kube ngunaphakade, nobukumkani bakhe bungabi nasiphelo.” (Luka 1:32, 33) UMateyu 1:22, 23 ubonisa ukuba ukuzalwa kukaYesu yintombi enyulu kwakuzalisekisa uIsaya 7:14 kwaye umchaza ‘njengoImanuweli.’ Kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-30 kamva, uYohane uMbhaptizi wafika eshumayela esithi “ubukumkani bamazulu busondele.” Bonke ababhali abane beencwadi zeVangeli bacaphula uIsaya 40:3 ukuze babonise ukuba lo Yohane ngulowo ‘wayedanduluka entlango.’ (Mat. 3:1-3; Marko 1:2-4; Luka 3:3-6; Yoh. 1:23) Ekubhaptizweni kwakhe, uYesu waba nguMesiya—uMthanjiswa kaYehova, igatya okanye ingcambu kaYese—ukuze alawule iintlanga. Zimele zibeke ithemba lazo kuye, nto leyo ezalisekisa uIsaya 11:1, 10.—Roma 15:8, 12.

36. Ziziphi iziprofeto ezazalisekayo nezibalulekileyo ezimfanisa ngokucacileyo uMesiya onguKumkani?

³⁶ Khawubone indlela uIsaya aqhubeka emchaza ngayo uKumkani onguMesiya! UYesu walufunda uthumo lwakhe kumsongo kaIsaya ukuze abonise ukuba wayenguMthanjiswa kaYehova, waza wandula ke waqalisa ‘ukuzishumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zobukumkani bukaThixo, ngokuba,’ ngokutsho kwakhe, “ndithunywe oko.” (Luka 4:17-19, 43; Isa. 61:1, 2) Iincwadi ezine zeVangeli zizaliswe ziinkcukacha ezingobulungiseleli bukaYesu basemhlabeni nendlela awafa ngayo njengokuba yaxelwa kwangaphambili kuIsaya isahluko 53. Nangona ayezivile iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani aza ayibona imisebenzi emangalisayo kaYesu, amaYuda awazange akuqonde oko ngenxa yeentliziyo zawo ezingakholwayo, okwakuzalisekisa uIsaya 6:9, 10; 29:13; nesama–53:1. (Mat. 13:14, 15; Yoh. 12:38-40; IZe. 28:24-27; Roma 10:16; Mat. 15:7-9; Marko 7:6, 7) UYesu wayelilitye lesikhubekiso kuwo, kodwa waba lilitye lembombo nelesiseko uYehova awalibeka eZiyon nathi phezu kwalo akhe indlu yakhe yokomoya ekuzalisekiseni uIsaya 8:14 nesama-28:16.—Luka 20:17; Roma 9:32, 33; 10:11; 1 Pet. 2:4-10.

37. Abapostile bakaYesu bawacaphula baza bawasebenzisa njani amazwi kaIsaya?

³⁷ Abapostile bakaYesu Kristu baqhubeka besisebenzisa kakuhle isiprofeto sikaIsaya, besisebenzisa kubulungiseleli. Ngokomzekelo, xa ebonisa ukuba kufuneka abashumayeli ukuze kwakhiwe ukholo, uPawulos ucaphula amazwi kaIsaya esithi: “Hayi, ukuba zintle kwazo iinyawo zabashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zezinto ezilungileyo!” (Roma 10:15; Isa. 52:7; bona namaRoma 10:11, 16, 20, 21.) NoPetros ucaphula amazwi kaIsaya ekuboniseni ukuba iindaba ezilungileyo zohlala zikho esithi: “Ngenxa enokuba yonke inyama injengengca, nabo bonke ubuqaqawuli bomntu bunjengentyatyambo yengca, ingca iyoma, ivuthuluke nentyatyambo yayo; ke lona ilizwi leNkosi lihleli ngonaphakade. Elo ke leli lizwi lashunyayelwayo kuni ngeendaba ezilungileyo.”—1 Pet. 1:24, 25; Isa. 40:6-8.

38. Nguwuphi umxholo obalaseleyo woBukumkani ophakanyiswa kuIsaya, othi ubalaseliswe kamva ngabanye ababhali beBhayibhile?

³⁸ Hayi indlela alizukisa ngayo uIsaya ithemba loBukumkani obuzayo! Khangela! Kukho “amazulu amatsha nehlabathi elitsha,” apho “ukumkani [eya] kulawula ngobulungisa” kwaye abathetheli baya kulawula ngokusesikweni. Esinjani sona isizathu sokuba novuyo nemihlali! (65:17, 18; 32:1, 2) Kwakhona, uPetros ubalaselisa isigidimi sovuyo sikaIsaya esithi: “Thina ke ngokwedinga [likaThixo] silinde elitsha izulu, nomtsha umhlaba, apho kumi ubulungisa.” (2 Pet. 3:13) Lo mxholo umangalisayo woBukumka- ni ubalaseliswa ngokupheleleyo kwizahluko zokugqibela zeSityhilelo.—Isa. 66:22, 23; 25:8; ISityhi. 21:1-5.

39. UIsaya walatha kweliphi ithemba eliqaqambileyo?

³⁹ Ngaloo ndlela, incwadi kaIsaya, ngoxa iqulethe imigwebo eqatha yeentshaba zikaYehova neyabo bahanahanisa ngokuthi bangabakhonzi bakhe, yalatha ngelizwi eliphakamileyo kwithemba eliqaqambileyo loBukumkani bukaMesiya eliya kungcwaliswa ngabo igama likaYehova elikhulu. Inegalelo elikhulu ekucaciseni iinyaniso ezimangalisayo zoBukumkani bukaYehova nasekufudumezeni iintliziyo zethu ngolindelo oluvuyisayo ‘lokusindiswa nguye.’—Isa. 25:9; 40:28-31.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]