Isahluko Seshumi Elinanye
Yeha Kubavukeli!
1. Sisiphi isiphoso esibi esenziwa nguYerobhoham?
XA ABANTU bakaYehova bomnqophiso bahlulwayo baba bubukhosi obuntlu-mbini, ubukhosi basentla bezizwe ezilishumi baba phantsi kolawulo lukaYerobhoham. Lo kumkani mtsha wayengumlawuli onobuchule nokhaliphileyo. Kodwa wayengenalo ukholo lokwenene kuYehova. Ngenxa yoko wenza isiphoso esibi kakhulu esayonakalisa yonke imbali yobukhosi basentla. EMthethweni kaMoses, amaSirayeli ayeyalelwe ukuba aye etempileni yaseYerusalem kathathu ngonyaka, tempile leyo ngoku eyayikubukhosi basezantsi bakwaYuda. (Duteronomi 16:16) Esoyikela ukuba oku kungahle kudale ubuhlobo phakathi kwabantu bakhe kunye nabantakwabo abakummandla wasezantsi, uYerobhoham “wenza amathole amabini enkomo ngegolide waza wathi ebantwini: ‘Yinkxamleko ukuba niye eYerusalem. Nanku uThixo wakho, Sirayeli, owakukhupha ezweni laseYiputa.’ Wandula ke wabeka elinye eBheteli, waza elinye walibeka kwaDan.”—1 Kumkani 12:28, 29.
2, 3. Isiphoso sikaYerobhoham saba nawuphi umphumo kuSirayeli?
2 Okwethutyana, icebo likaYerobhoham labonakala lisebenza. Ngokuthe ngcembe abantu bayeka ukuya eYerusalem baza banqula phambi kwala mathole mabini. (1 Kumkani 12:30) Noko ke, olu qheliselo lonqulo lowexuko lwabonakalisa ubukhosi bezizwe ezilishumi. Ekuhambeni kweminyaka, kwanoYehu, owayebonise inzondelelo encomekayo ngokutshabalalisa unqulo lukaBhahali kwaSirayeli, waqhubeka equbuda kuloo mathole egolide. (2 Kumkani 10:28, 29) Nguwuphi omnye umonakalo obangelwe sesi sigqibo sitenxileyo sikaYerobhoham? Sabenza bahexa ngokwezobupolitika, nto leyo eyabazisela iintsizi neenzingo abantu.
3 Ngenxa yokuwexuka kukaYerobhoham, uYehova wathi imbewu yakhe yayingayi kulilawula ilizwe, yaye ekugqibeleni ubukhosi basentla babuza kwehlelwa yintlekele embi. (1 Kumkani 14:14, 15) Ilizwi likaYehova lazaliseka. Ookumkani abasixhenxe bakwaSirayeli babengena bephuma esihlalweni, kunzima nokuba bagqibe iminyaka emibini—kwabanye yayisiba ziintsukwana nje ezimbalwa. Omnye ukumkani wazibulala, baza abathandathu bagetyengwa ngamadoda awayenyolukela izikhundla zabo. Iye yaqatsela ngakumbi le meko ekupheleni kolawulo lukaYerobhoham II, malunga nowama-804 B.C.E. ngoxa u-Uziya wayelawula kwaYuda. Kwakuzizixholo-xholo, nezidube-dube, nobutyadidi nje kwaSirayeli. Yiyo loo nto ebangele ukuba uYehova athumele ngoIsaya isilumkiso, okanye “ilizwi” elingqalileyo, kubukhosi basentla. “UYehova wathumela ilizwi kwaYakobi, lawela kwaSirayeli.”—Isaya 9:8.a
Ikratshi Nokuqaqadeka Kwabo Kubazisela Ingqumbo KaThixo
4. Liliphi “ilizwi” alithumelayo uYehova nxamnye noSirayeli, yaye ngoba?
4 “Ilizwi” likaYehova aliwi phantsi. “Ngokuqinisekileyo abantu baya kulazi, bona bonke, uEfrayim nommi waseSamariya, ngenxa yekratshi labo nangenxa yokusa kwentliziyo yabo.” (Isaya 9:9) ‘UYakobi,’ ‘uSirayeli,’ “uEfrayim,” ‘neSamariya,’ konke oku kubhekisela kubukhosi basentla bakwaSirayeli, yaye isizwe sakwaEfrayim sesona sibalaseleyo kubo, ize iSamariya ibe likomkhulu labo. Ilizwi likaYehova nxamnye nobo bukhosi livakalisa umgwebo onamandla, ngenxa yokuba uEfrayim uwexuke ngokupheleleyo kuYehova yaye akaqaqadeke uphum’ izithuba. UThixo akasayi kubakhusela abantu kwimiphumo yeendlela zabo ezingendawo. Baza kunyanzeleka ukuba baliphulaphule okanye banikel’ ingqalelo kwilizwi likaThixo.—Galati 6:7.
5. AmaSirayeli akubonisa njani ukungazinanzi izigwebo zikaYehova?
5 Njengoko iimeko ziya zisiba maxongo, abantu bajamelana nelahleko enkulu, bade balahlekelwe nangamakhaya abo—ngokuqhelekileyo akhiwe ngezitena zodaka nangamaplanga angabizi kangako. Ngaba babonakala bezisola? Ngaba baza kubathobela abaprofeti bakaYehova baze babuyele kuThixo wenyaniso?b UIsaya usichazela ngempendulo yabo yokuqaqadeka, besithi: “Kuwe izitena, kodwa siya kwakha ngamatye aqingqiweyo. Kugawulwe imithi yesikamore, koko siya kuyithabathel’ indawo ngemisedare.” (Isaya 9:10) La maSirayeli ayamdelela uYehova, aze abakhabe ngawo omane abaprofeti bakhe, abawachazela isizathu sokubandezeleka kwawo. Kangangokuba, ade alikhupha athi: ‘Bafane bazitshabalalisa izindlu zethu zodaka naloo maplangana azo axegayo, baza kuthi shu, ngoba siza kuzakhela ezikumgangatho ophakame ngakumbi—ngamatye aqingqiweyo nangemisedare!’ (Thelekisa uYobhi 4:19.) Ngoko uYehova akanandlela-mbini, ngaphandle kokuba awohlwaye ngakumbi.—Thelekisa uIsaya 48:22.
6. UYehova ulitshitshisa njani iqhinga leSiriya kunye noSirayeli nxamnye noYuda?
6 UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “UYehova uya kuzibeka iintshaba zikaRetsin phezulu nxamnye naye.” (Isaya 9:11a) UKumkani uPeka wakwaSirayeli noKumkani uRetsin waseSiriya bamanyene. Babhunga ukuboyisa ubukhosi bezizwe ezibini zakwaYuda baze babeke etroneni kaYehova eseYerusalem unomgogwana wokumkani—“unyana kaTabheheli.” (Isaya 7:6) Kodwa iqhinga labo lidliwe yimpuku. URetsin uneentshaba ezixhobe zafohlela, yaye uYehova uza ‘kuzibeka phezulu’ ezo ntshaba nxamnye “naye,” oko kukuthi nxamnye noSirayeli. Ibinzana elithi ‘ukubeka phezulu’ lithetha ukuba uza kuzivumela zilwe zilubhodloze olo manyano lwabo, zilitshitshise neqhinga labo.
7, 8. Ukoyiswa kweSiriya yiAsiriya kumchaphazela njani uSirayeli?
7 Oku kudutywa-dutywa kolu manyano kuqalise ngokuhlaselwa kweSiriya yiAsiriya. “Ukumkani waseAsiriya wanyuka waya eDamasko [elikomkhulu leSiriya], wayithimba waza wakhokelela abantu bayo ekuthinjweni eKire, yaye uRetsin wambulala.” (2 Kumkani 16:9) Uthe uPeka akulahlekelwa leli hlakani lakhe linamandla, waqala waqonda ukuba iqhinga lakhe nxamnye noYuda lidliwe yimpuku. Kangangokuba, akubanga ntsuku zingaphi emva kokufa kukaRetsin, naye uPeka wagwintwa nguHosheya, owathi ukusuk’ apho warhwaphiliza igunya lokulawula eSamariya.—2 Kumkani 15:23-25, 30.
8 ISiriya, ebikade iqhogene noSirayeli, ngoku iphantsi kweAsiriya, eligunya eligqugqisayo kuloo mmandla. UIsaya uprofeta ngendlela uYehova aza kulisebenzisa ngayo eli gunya litsha lezobupolitika, esithi: “Neentshaba zalowo [zikaSirayeli] [uYehova] uya kuzixhokonxa, iSiriya ngasempuma namaFilisti ngasemva, yaye ziya kumdla zimgqibe uSirayeli ngomlomo ovulekileyo. Ngenxa yako konke oku umsindo wakhe awubuyanga, kodwa isandla sakhe usasolulile.” (Isaya 9:11b, 12) Ewe, ngoku iSiriya ilutshaba lukaSirayeli, yaye uSirayeli umele aqule kuba uza kuhlaselwa yiAsiriya kwanayiSiriya uqobo. Olu hlaselo luyaphumelela. Yaye akuba oyisiwe laa mrhwaphilizi onguHosheya, iAsiriya imrhumisa ngokuqatha. (Kumashumi ambalwa eminyaka ngaphambilana, iAsiriya yafumana isityhwentywe semali kuKumkani uMenahem wakwaSirayeli.) Hayi indlela abe yinyaniso ngayo amazwi omprofeti uHoseya, athi: “Abasemzini bawadle bawagqiba amandla akhe [uEfrayim]”!—Hoseya 7:9; 2 Kumkani 15:19, 20; 17:1-3.
9. Sinokutsho njani ukuba amaFilisti ahlasela “ngasemva”?
9 Akatshongo na uIsaya ukuthi amaFilisti nawo aza kumhlasela “ngasemva”? Kunjalo kanye. Kaloku ngaphambi kokusetyenziswa kweekhampasi zemagneti zale mihla, amaHebhere ayelazi icala aya ngakulo ngokuthi ajonge ngasempuma-langa. Ngoko, umphambili wawufanekisela ‘impuma,’ uze wona ‘umva’ ufanekisele intshona, apho ayehlala khona amaFilisti. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba “uSirayeli” okhankanywa kuIsaya 9:12 uquka uYuda kuba amaFilisti akhe amhlasela uYuda ngexesha lokulawula kuka-Ahazi, womhla kaPeka, aza athimba izixeko neenqaba ezininzi zakwaYuda. NjengoEfrayim ongasentla, naye uYuda simfanele esi sohlwayo sikaYehova, kuba naye unkone luwexuko.—2 Kronike 28:1-4, 18, 19.
Uhlanga Oluvukelayo —Ukusuka ‘Entloko Kuse Emsileni’
10, 11. UYehova uza kumohlwaya njani uSirayeli ngenxa yokuzingisa kwakhe ekuvukeleni?
10 Phezu kwako nje konke ukubandezeleka kwabo—naphezu kwazo nje izibhengezo ezinamandla zabaprofeti bakaYehova—ubukhosi basentla buthe gqolo bumvukela uYehova. “Abantu ababuyelanga kuLowo ubabethayo, yaye abamfunanga uYehova wemikhosi.” (Isaya 9:13) Ngenxa yoko, umprofeti uthi: “UYehova uya kunqumla intloko nomsila kwaSirayeli, ihlumelo nomzi ngamini-nye. Owalupheleyo nohlonipheke kakhulu yintloko ke leyo, umprofeti onikela uyalelo lobuxoki ngumsila. Nabo bakhokela esi sizwana bangqineke bengabo basibangela siphambuke; nabo bakhokelwayo, ngabo abadidekileyo.”—Isaya 9:14-16.
11 ‘Intloko nehlumelo’ zifanekisela “owalupheleyo nohlonipheke kakhulu”—iinkokeli zohlanga. ‘Umsila nomzi’ zibhekisela kubaprofeti bobuxoki abanyumbaza iindlebe zeenkokeli zabo. Omnye umphengululi weBhayibhile ubhala athi: “AbaProfeti bobuxoki babizwa ngokuba ngumsila, ngenxa yokuba yayingabona bantu baziphethe kakubi, nangenxa yokuba babelandela yaye bexhasa abalawuli abangendawo.” UNjingalwazi Edward J. Young uthi ngaba baprofeti bobuxoki: “Bona babengezonkokeli, kodwa baberhorhozela emva kweenkokeli zabo, oku kwenja ishukumisa umsila, ibungezelela umniniyo.”—Thelekisa eyesi-2 kuTimoi 4:3.
‘Kwanabahlolokazi Namakhwenkwe Angenayise’ Ayavukela
12. Kwande ngomkhamo ongakanani ukonakala kwabantu bakwaSirayeli?
12 UYehova unguMmeli wabahlolokazi namakhwenkwe angenayise. (Eksodus 22:22, 23) Kodwa, khawumve uIsaya ngoku xa esithi: “UYehova [akayi] kuba nemihlali kwanangenxa yabafana babo, nakumakhwenkwe abo angenayise nakubahlolokazi babo akayi kuba nanceba; ngenxa yokuba bonke bangabawexuki nabenzi bobubi kwaye imilomo yonke ithetha oko kungenangqiqo. Ngenxa yako konke oku umsindo wakhe awubuyanga, kodwa isandla sakhe usasolulile.” (Isaya 9:17) Uwexuko lutyhefe wonk’ umntu, kuquka nabahlolokazi kwanamakhwenkwe angenayise! UYehova ngomonde uthumela abaprofeti bakhe, ngethemba lokuba aba bantu baza kuguquka kwiindlela zabo. Ngokomzekelo, uHoseya ubongoza esithi: “Buya, Sirayeli, uze kuYehova uThixo wakho, kuba ukhubekile ngesiphoso sakho.” (Hoseya 14:1) Imele ukuba yamvisa ubuhlungu ngokwenene uMmeli wabahlolokazi namakhwenkwe angenayise into yokuba kude kufuneke ukuba nawo awagwebe!
13. Yintoni esinokuyifunda kwimeko yomhla kaIsaya?
13 NjengoIsaya, nathi siphila kumaxesha anzima awandulela imini kaYehova yokugweba abangendawo. (2 Timoti 3:1-5) Ngoko, kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba amaKristu okwenyaniso ahlale ecocekile ngokomoya, ngokokuziphatha, nangokwengqondo, ukuze akholeke kuThixo, kungakhathaliseki ukuba injani na imeko yawo ebomini. Kwanga ngamnye wethu angahlala elubek’ esweni ulwalamano lwakhe noYehova. Kwanga abo bayishiyileyo ‘iBhabhiloni Enkulu abangebelani nayo ngezono zayo’ kwakhona.—ISityhilelo 18:2, 4.
Unqulo Lobuxoki Luqhwaya Ugonyamelo
14, 15. (a) Uyintoni umphumo wonqulo lobudemon? (b) Bubuphi ubunzima obuza kufikela uSirayeli aprofeta ngabo uIsaya?
14 Inyani ikukuba, unqulo lobuxoki, lunqulo lweedemon. (1 Korinte 10:20) Njengokuba kwakunjalo ngaphambi koMkhukula, impembelelo yeedemon ikhokelela kugonyamelo. (Genesis 6:11, 12) Asingomnqa ke ngoko into yokuba, xa uSirayeli ephethukela kuwexuko aze aqalise ukunqula iidemon, kubakho ugonyamelo nobungendawo kulo lonke ilizwe.—Duteronomi 32:17; INdumiso 106:35-38.
15 UIsaya ukuchaza ngokuthe gca ukwanda kobungendawo nogonyamelo kwaSirayeli, esithi: “Ubungendawo buyavutha kanye njengomlilo; buya kuwadla buwagqibe amatyholo anameva nokhula. Buya kutshisa ezintshinyeleni zehlathi, yaye ziya kuthwalelwa phezulu njengomqulu womsi. Ekuvutheni komsindo kaYehova wemikhosi ilizwe litshile, yaye abantu baya kudliwa ngumlilo. Akukho bani uya kubonisa imfesane kwanakumntakwabo. Baya kusika ngasekunene, balambe noko; badle ngasekhohlo, kodwa banganeli. Baya kudla elowo inyama yengalo yakhe, uManase adle uEfrayim, noEfrayim uManase. Xa bebonke baya kuba nxamnye noYuda. Ngenxa yako konke oku umsindo wakhe awubuyanga, kodwa isandla sakhe usasolulile.”—Isaya 9:18-21.
16. Amazwi kaIsaya 9:18-21 azaliseka njani?
16 Njengokunwenwa komlilo wedobo, ugonyamelo lwabo alulawuleki yaye lwenza amatshe ukuya “kutshisa ezintshinyeleni zehlathi,” lutsho ngogonyamelo olunamandla gqitha. Abahlalutyi beBhayibhile uKeil noDelitzsch bawuchaza umkhamo wolu gonyamelo ngokuthi “kokona kutshabalalisana kumanyumnyezi kwakha kwakho ebudeni bezixholo-xholo zemfazwe yamakhaya. Ngokungenalusini, baqwengana ngoburhovu.” Mhlawumbi, isizathu sokuba apha kubalaseliswe isizwe sakwaEfrayim nesakwaManase sikukuba zizezona zibalaseleyo kubukhosi basentla, yaye ekubeni zizezomnombo woonyana ababini bakaYosefu, zezona zihlobene ngokusondeleyo kwizizwe ezilishumi. Noko ke, zithi xha okwethutyana ekuqwenganeni kwazo xa zisilwa noYuda osemazantsi.—2 Kronike 28:1-8.
Ukugwetywa Kwabagwebi Abangamaqotha-qikili
17, 18. Yonakele kangakanani inkqubo yolawulo nokusemthethweni kwaSirayeli?
17 Ngoku uYehova ujolisa umgwebo wakhe kubagwebi kunye namanye amagosa angamaqotha-qikili kwaSirayeli. Balisebenzisa kakubi igunya labo ngokuphanga abantu abasweleyo nabaxhwalekileyo abaze kucela uncedo kubo. UIsaya uthi: “Yeha ke abo bamisela imimiselo eyenzakalisayo nabo bathi, bebhala rhoqo, babhale inkathazo, ukuze bashenxise izisweli etyaleni nokuze bahluthe okusesikweni kwabaxhwalekileyo babantu bam, ukuba abahlolokazi babe lixhoba labo, nokuze babe nokuphanga kwanamakhwenkwe angenayise!”—Isaya 10:1, 2.
18 UMthetho kaYehova uyazalela zonke iintlobo zokungekho sikweni, usithi: “Nize ningenzi okungekho sikweni ekugwebeni. Uze ungamphathi ngomkhethe osweleyo, yaye ungakhethi ubuso besikhulu.” (Levitikus 19:15) Ewubetha ngoyaba loo mthetho, la magosa azenzela eyawo “imimiselo eyenzakalisayo” ukuze abenze bube semthethweni ubusela obuzicaceleyo benkohlakalo—obukukuhlutha abahlolokazi namakhwenkwe angenayise loo ntwanana yokugqibela banayo. Kambe ke, oothixo bobuxoki bakwaSirayeli, abakuboni konke oku kuxhaphaza kungekho sikweni, kodwa akunjalo ngoYehova. Esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova ngoku ubatyityimbisel’ umnwe aba bagwebi bangendawo.
19, 20. Ziza kubatshintshela njani iimeko aba bagwebi bakwaSirayeli bangamaqotha-qikili, yaye luza kuphelela phi “uzuko” lwabo?
19 “Niya kuthini na ke ngemini yokunikwa ingqalelo neyokonakaliswa okuvela kude? Niya kusabela kubani na ukuba anincede, yaye niya kulushiya phi na uzuko lwenu, ngaphandle kokuguqa phakathi kwamabanjwa nokuba abantu bawele phakathi kwababuleweyo?” (Isaya 10:3, 4a) Abahlolokazi namakhwenkwe angenayise akanabo abagwebi abanyanisekileyo abanokubhenela kubo. Ngoko, utyaphile uYehova ukuwabuza loo maqotha-qikili abagwebi bakwaSirayeli ukuba aza kubalekela kubani na njengokuba eza kuwaphendulisa nje. Ewe, aza kufunda isifundo sokuba “kuyinto eyoyikekayo ukuwela ezandleni zoThixo ophilayo.”—Hebhere 10:31.
20 “Uzuko” lwaba bagwebi bangendawo—abantu abadumileyo nezinhanha zoosomaqhuzu abasezimbekweni—luza kuphela kungekudala. Abanye baza kuba ngamabanjwa emfazwe, ‘baguqe’ kunye namanye amabanjwa, ngoxa abanye beza kube bebulewe, izidumbu zabo ziqungquluze kunye nezamanye amaxhoba emfazwe. “Uzuko” lwabo lukwaquka ubutyebi ababuzuze ngobuqhetseba, obuya kuthi buphangwe lutshaba.
21. Ngemva koku kohlwaywa kukaSirayeli, ngaba umsindo kaYehova nxamnye naye udambile?
21 UIsaya uliqukumbela eli candelo lokugqibela ngesilumkiso esibukhali, esithi: “Ngenxa yako konke oku [bonke ooyeha olubandezeleke ngabo olu hlanga ukuza kuthi ga ngoku] umsindo wakhe awubuyanga, kodwa isandla sakhe usasolulile.” (Isaya 10:4b) Ewe, uYehova akakagqibi ngoSirayeli. Isandla sikaYehova esoluliweyo asiyi kubuyela kuye de abe ubuhlekeze okokugqibela ubukhosi obuvukelayo basentla.
Ungaze Ube Lixhoba Lobuxoki Nelokuzigwagwisa Kwabanye
22. Yintoni esinokuyifunda koko kwehlela uSirayeli?
22 Ilizwi likaYehova ngoIsaya limfikele ngamandla uSirayeli yaye ‘alibuyelanga kuye lingakuphumezanga’ oko akuthethileyo. (Isaya 55:10, 11) Imbali ichaza isiphelo esilusizi sobukumkani basentla bakwaSirayeli, singasathethi ke ngokubandezeleka kwabantu bakhona. Ngokuqinisekileyo, ilizwi likaThixo liza kuzaliseka nakuyo le nkqubo yezinto, ingakumbi kwiNgqobhoko ewexukileyo. Hayi indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ke ngoko ukuba amaKristu angaziphulaphuli nokuziphulaphula iingcamango zobuxoki nezinxamnye noThixo! Asikuko nokuba lisincedile iLizwi likaThixo, ngokusibhencela amaqhinga kaSathana, ukuze angasongameli njengoko wenzayo kubantu bakwaSirayeli wamandulo. (2 Korinte 2:11) Ngamana sonke singangayeki ukunqula uYehova “ngomoya nenyaniso.” (Yohane 4:24) Ngaloo ndlela, isandla sakhe esoluliweyo asiyi kubabetha abanquli bakhe njengoko senzayo kuEfrayim ovukelayo; kunoko iingalo zakhe ziya kubagona ngokufudumeleyo, yaye uya kubanceda bahlale kwindlela esa ebomini obungunaphakade emhlabeni oyiparadesi.—Yakobi 4:8.
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a UIsaya 9:8–10:4 ungamacandelo amane anesiphelo esifanayo esothusayo, esithi: “Ngenxa yako konke oku umsindo wakhe awubuyanga, kodwa isandla sakhe usasolulile.” (Isaya 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4) Esi sakhono sokubhala simbopha ngabande linye uIsaya 9:8–10:4 ‘njengelizwi’ elinye. (Isaya 9:8) Kwakhona, phawula ukuba uYehova ‘usasolulile isandla sakhe,’ kungekhona ngenjongo yokwenza uxolelwaniso, kodwa ukuze abagwebe.—Isaya 9:13.
b Abaprofeti uYehova abathumela kubukhosi basentla bakwaSirayeli baquka uYehu (ingenguye ukumkani), uEliya, uMikaya, uElisha, uYona, uOdedi, uHoseya, uAmosi noMika.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 139]
Ubungendawo nogonyamelo bunwenwa kwaSirayeli njengomlilo wedobo
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 141]
UYehova uza kubaphendulisa abo baxhaphaza abanye