Isahluko Seshumi Elinesine
UYehova Uyasithoba Isixeko Esizikhukhumalisileyo
1. Ziziphi iziganeko zexesha elizayo ezixelwa kwangaphambili yincwadi kaIsaya?
INCWADI yesiprofeto kaIsaya yabhalwa ngenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ngethuba lokuhlasela kweAsiriya iLizwe Lesithembiso. Njengoko sibonile kwizahluko ezingaphambilana zale ncwadi, uIsaya uzixela kwangaphambili ngokuchane ngqo iziganeko zexesha elizayo. Noko ke, le ncwadi idlulela nakwiziganeko ezingasemva kwexesha lokulawula kweAsiriya. Ixela kwangaphambili ngokubuya kwabantu bakaYehova bomnqophiso abathinjelwe kumazwe amaninzi, kuquka elaseShinare, elikummandla waseBhabhiloni. (Isaya 11:11) KuIsaya isahluko 13, kukho isiprofeto esihlab’ umxhelo esiya kuthi sakuzaliseka sihlahl’ indlela yokubuya kwabo. Esi siprofeto sitshayelelwa ngala mazwi: “Nasi isibhengezo nxamnye neBhabhiloni awasibonayo uIsaya unyana ka-Amotsi embonweni.”—Isaya 13:1.
‘Ikratshi Ndiya Kulithoba’
2. (a) UHezekiya uzibandakanya njani neBhabhiloni? (b) Uyintoni “umqondiso” oza kuphakanyiswa?
2 UYuda uzibandakanya neBhabhiloni ngexesha likaIsaya. UKumkani uHezekiya ugulel’ ukufa aze aphinde achache. Kufika abameli baseBhabhiloni bezokuvuyisana naye ekuchacheni kwakhe, mhlawumbi ngenjongo yokumrhwebeshela ukuba amanyane nabo ekulweni neAsiriya. Ngokungebobulumko, uKumkani uHezekiya ubabonisa bonke ubuncwane bakhe. Ngenxa yoko, uIsaya uxelela uHezekiya ukuba emva kokufa kwakhe yena kumkani, bonke obo butyebi buza kuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni. (Isaya 39:1-7) Oku kuzaliseka ngowama-607 B.C.E. ngokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem lwaza olu hlanga lwasiwa ekuthinjweni. Noko ke, abantu bakaThixo abanyuliweyo abayi kuhlala ngonaphakade eBhabhiloni. UYehova uxela kwangaphambili indlela aza kubabuyisela ngayo ekhaya. Uqala ngokuthi: “Phakamisani umqondiso phezu kwentaba enamawa angenanto. Baphakamiseleni ilizwi, niwangawangise ngesandla, ukuze beze emasangweni ezidwangube.” (Isaya 13:2) Lo “mqondiso” ligunya lehlabathi elitsha eliza kuyingqula phantsi iBhabhiloni. Liya kuma “phezu kwentaba enamawa angenanto”—okutsh’ ukuthi iya kuvakala ngokucacileyo indumasi yalo lisekude. Njengoko linyulelwe ukuba lihlasele iBhabhiloni, elo gunya litsha lehlabathi liya kutyhoboza “emasangweni ezidwangube,” emasangweni eso sixeko sikhulu, lize lisoyise.
3. (a) Ngoobani “abo bangcwalisiweyo” aza kubaphakamisa uYehova? (b) Imikhosi yobuhedeni ‘ingcwaliswe’ ngayiphi ingqiqo?
3 Wandula ngoku uYehova athi: “Mna ndikhuphe umyalelo kwabo bangcwalisiweyo bam. Ndibabizele ukubonakalisa umsindo wam abam abanamandla, abam abagcobileyo ngobuhandiba. Phulaphula! Isihlwele ezintabeni, ngathi sisizwana esikhulu! Phulaphula! Ukuxokozela kwezikumkani zeentlanga zihlanganiselwe ndawonye! UYehova wemikhosi uhlanganisa umkhosi wemfazwe.” (Isaya 13:3, 4) Ngoobani aba “bangcwalisiweyo” banyulelwe ukuthoba iBhabhiloni ezikhukhumalisileyo? Bayimikhosi emanyeneyo yeentlanga, ‘iintlanga ezihlanganiselwe ndawonye.’ Ziyiphumela iphulo iBhabhiloni zisuka kummandla okude weleentaba. “Beza bevela kwilizwe elikude, eziphelweni zamazulu.” (Isaya 13:5) Zingcwaliswe ngayiphi ingqiqo? Ngokuqinisekileyo akukho ngengqiqo yokuba zingcwele. Ziyimikhosi yobuhedeni engenamdla ekukhonzeni uYehova. Noko ke, kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, ‘ukungcwaliswa’ kuthetha “ukunyulwa ngenjongo yokusetyenziswa nguThixo.” UYehova unako ukuyingcwalisa imikhosi yeentlanga aze asebenzise amabhongo azo okuzingca ukuze abonakalise umsindo wakhe. Wayisebenzisa ngale ndlela iAsiriya. Uza kuyisebenzisa ngendlela efanayo neBhabhiloni. (Isaya 10:5; Yeremiya 25:9) Yaye uza kusebenzisa ezinye iintlanga ukohlwaya iBhabhiloni.
4, 5. (a) Yintoni uYehova ayixela kwangaphambili ngeBhabhiloni? (b) Yintoni ekuza kufuneka bajamelane nayo abo baza kuhlasela iBhabhiloni?
4 IBhabhiloni ayikabi lilo igunya elibalaseleyo lehlabathi. Kodwa, esebenzisa uIsaya, uYehova ubhengeza kwangaphambili ixesha lokubalasela nelokuwa kwayo. Uthi: “Bhombolozani, kuba imini kaYehova isondele! Iya kuza njengokuphanga ivela kuSomandla.” (Isaya 13:6) Ewe, ukuqhayisa kweBhabhiloni kuya kujika kube kukubhomboloza kabuhlungu. Ngoba? Ngenxa ‘yemini kaYehova,’ imini yokugwetywa kwayo nguYehova.
5 Phofu ke, bangayiqala ngaphi into yokuphanga iBhabhiloni? Xa ixesha likaYehova lifikile lokuba kwenzeke oku, esi sixeko siya kubonakala sinqabisekile. Imikhosi ehlaselayo kuza kufuneka iqale yonde ngesikhuselo sayo semvelo esinguMlambo umEfrate, onqumla embindini weso sixeko nongumjelo wokhuselo nowamanzi okusela. Kukwakho noorhec’ izulu beendonga eziphindwe kabini zaseBhabhiloni, ekubonakala kungenakugqithwa kuzo. Ngaphezu koko, esi sixeko siya kube sinokutya okuninzi ngokwaneleyo. Incwadi iDaily Bible Illustrations ithi uNabonidus—ukumkani wokugqibela waseBhabhiloni—“wenza unako-nako ukufumba idolophu yakhe ngezixa ezaneleyo [zokutya] okwakunokondla abemi balapho kangangeminyaka engamashumi amabini.”
6. Yintoni eza kwenzeka ngesiquphe xa ukuhlaselwa okuxelwe kwangaphambili kweBhabhiloni kusenzeka?
6 Noko ke, azisoloko zinjengokuba zibonakala. UIsaya uthi: “Kungenxa yoko le nto zonke izandla ziya kuwa, nentliziyo iphela yomntu ofayo iya kunyibilika. Yaye abantu baphazamisekile. Babanjwe yinimba nokuzibhijabhija; njengomfazi ozalayo baneentlungu zokubeleka. Bayajongana bethe manga. Ubuso babo bubuso bamalangatye.” (Isaya 13:7, 8) Xa imikhosi ehlaselayo igaleleka kweso sixeko, inkululeko yabemi baso iya kujika ngesiquphe ibe yintlungu enkulu efana neyomfazi obelekayo. Iintliziyo zabo ziya kunyibilika luloyiko. Baya kuba buthathaka, ziwe izandla zabo, bangakwazi ukuzikhusela. Ubuso babo buya kuba bubuso “bamalangatye” ngenxa yoloyiko nokunxuba. Baya kujongana bethe manga, bengawukholelwa lo mhlola wokuwa kwesixeko sabo esikhulu.
7. Yiyiphi “imini kaYehova” ezayo, kwaye iya kuba nayiphi imiphumo kwiBhabhiloni?
7 Kodwa ke, ukuwa kona siza kuwa. Iza kufika imini yokugwetywa kweBhabhiloni, “imini kaYehova,” eya kuba buhlungu ngokwenene. UMgwebi ophakamileyo uza kuwubonakalisa umsindo wakhe aze abazisele umgwebo obafaneleyo abemi abanesono baseBhabhiloni. Isiprofeto sithi: “Khangela! Imini kaYehova iyeza, ikhohlakele inobushushu nokuvutha komsindo, ukuze yenze ilizwe libe yinto yokukhwankqiswa, nokuze kubhujiswe aboni belizwe eli.” (Isaya 13:9) IBhabhiloni ijingelwa lilifu elimnyama. Kufana nokungathi ilanga, inyanga, neenkwenkwezi azisayikhanyiseli. “Kuba zona kanye iinkwenkwezi zamazulu namakroza azo eKesile akayi kukhazimlisa kukhanya kwawo; okunene ilanga liya kuba mnyama ekuphumeni kwalo, nenyanga ayiyi kukhanyisa ukukhanya kwayo.”—Isaya 13:10.
8. Kutheni uYehova evakalisa ukuwa kweBhabhiloni?
8 Siyintoni isizathu sokufikelwa kwesi sixeko sinekratshi lishwangusha elingaka? UYehova uthi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kulohlwaya ilizwe elinemveliso ngenxa yobubi balo, nesiphoso sabo kwabo bangendawo. Kwaye okunene ndiya kuliyekisa ikratshi labo bakhukhumeleyo, nekratshi loozwilakhe ndiya kulithoba.” (Isaya 13:11) Ukuthululwa kwengqumbo kaYehova kuya kuba kukohlwaywa kweBhabhiloni ngenxa yokubaphatha kwayo ngenkohlakalo abantu bakaThixo. Lonke ilizwe liya kubandezeleka ngenxa yobubi bamaBhabhiloni. Abasayi kuze baphinde aba zwilakhe banekratshi bamdelele ekuhleni uYehova!
9. Yintoni eza kwenzeka kwiBhabhiloni ngomhla womgwebo kaYehova?
9 UYehova uthi: “Umntu ofayo ndiya kumenza anqabe ngakumbi kunegolide esulungekisiweyo, nomntu wasemhlabeni anqabe ngakumbi kunegolide yakwaOfire.” (Isaya 13:12) Ewe, esi sixeko siya kuba senkangala, sibe ngamabhodlo. UYehova uhlabela mgama esithi: “Kungenxa yoko le nto ndiya kulibangela izulu liphazamiseke, nomhlaba uya kunyikima ushenxe endaweni yawo ngokuvutha komsindo kaYehova wemikhosi nangemini yomsindo wakhe ovuthayo.” (Isaya 13:13) “Izulu” leBhabhiloni, eliyintlaninge yoothixo noothixokazi bayo, liya kuphazamiseka, lingakwazi ukusinceda esi sixeko ekuxhwalekeni kwaso. ‘Umhlaba,’ obuBukhosi baseBhabhiloni, uya kunyikimiswa ushenxe endaweni yawo, uphoswe kwelokulibala, njengeminye imikhosi engasekhoyo. “Kuya kuthi ke, njengebhadi elisukelwayo nanjengomhlambi ongenabani wokuwuqokelela, bajike, ngamnye aye ebantwini bakowabo; yaye baya kusaba, ngamnye aye kwilizwe lakowabo.” (Isaya 13:14) Bonke abaxhasi basemzini beBhabhiloni baya kuyishiya basabe, ngelinge lokwakha ulwalamano olutsha negunya lehlabathi eloyisileyo. Ekugqibeleni iBhabhiloni iya kuva ukungcungcutheka kokoyiswa kwayo, nto leyo yona ebikade iyenza kwabaninzi ngemihla yokuzuka kwayo: “Wonke ubani ofunyenweyo uya kuhlatywa, yaye wonke ubani obanjiweyo xa kutshayelwa uya kuwa likrele; nabantwana babo kanye baya kutyunyuzwa phambi kwamehlo abo. Izindlu zabo ziya kuphangwa, nabafazi babo baya kudlwengulwa.”—Isaya 13:15, 16.
Isixhobo SikaThixo Sokutshabalalisa
10. Ngoobani uYehova aza kubasebenzisela ukoyisa iBhabhiloni?
10 Liliphi igunya aza kulisebenzisa uYehova ukuwisa iBhabhiloni? Malunga nama-200 eminyaka ngaphambi kwexesha, uYehova uyityhila impendulo ngokuthi: “Yabona, ndibathumelela amaMedi, wona ayigqala njengento engento isilivere nalawo angayoliswayo yigolide. Izaphetha zawo ziya kubageqa abafana. Isiqhamo sesizalo akayi kusisizela; iliso lawo aliyi kuba nosizi ngoonyana. Kwaye iBhabhiloni, umhombiso wezikumkani, ubuhle beqhayiya lamaKhaledi, imele ibe njengaxa uThixo wabhukuqa iSodom neGomora.” (Isaya 13:17-19) IBhabhiloni yodumo iza kuwa, yaye isixhobo sikaYehova sokuphumeza oku siya kuba yimikhosi esuka kude, kwilizwe leentaba lamaMedi.a Ekugqibeleni, iBhabhiloni iza kuphanziswa njengezixeko iSodom neGomora ezazidume ngokuziphatha okubi.—Genesis 13:13; 19:13, 24.
11, 12. (a) Kwenzeka njani ukuba elamaMedi libe ligunya lehlabathi? (b) Sisiphi isimo sengqondo esingaqhelekanga semikhosi yamaMedi esikhankanywa kwesi siprofeto?
11 Ngomhla kaIsaya, elamaMedi neBhabhiloni ziphantsi kwedyokhwe yama-Asiriya. Malunga nenkulungwane kamva, ngowama-632 B.C.E., elamaMedi neBhabhiloni zamanyana zaza zabhukuqa iNineve, elikomkhulu laseAsiriya. Oku kuhlahlela indlela yokuba iBhabhiloni ibe ligunya lehlabathi elongamileyo. Ayiyiqondi into yokuba kwisithuba seminyaka eli-100 emva koko, iza kutshatyalaliswa lelamaMedi! Ngubani omnye ngaphandle kukaYehova uThixo obenokusichaza ngenkalipho kwangaphambili isiganeko esinjalo?
12 Ekuchazeni isixhobo sakhe sokuyitshabalalisa, uYehova uthi imikhosi yamaMedi ‘iyigqala njengento engento isilivere, kwaye ayiyoliswa yigolide.’ Esinjani sona ukungaqheleki isimo sengqondo sala majoni emfazwe! Umphengululi weBhayibhile uAlbert Barnes uthi: “Eneneni, imbalwa imikhosi ehlasela ingenanjongo yakuphanga.” Ngaba imikhosi yamaMedi imngqine enyanisile uYehova kule nkalo? Ewe. Phawula la magqabaza afumaneka kwiThe Bible-Work, kaJ. Glentworth Butler: “Ngokungafaniyo neentlanga ezininzi ezakha zalwa imfazwe, amaMedi, ingakumbi amaPersi, ayecinga kakhulu ngokoyisa nangozuko kunokucinga ngegolide.”b Ngoko ke, ayimangalisi into yokuba ekukhululeni kwakhe amaSirayeli ekuthinjweni kwaseBhabhiloni, umlawuli wamaPersi uKoreshi ubuyisela kuwo amawakawaka ezitya zegolide nezesilivere awayeziphangile uNebhukadenetsare etempileni eYerusalem.—Ezra 1:7-11.
13, 14. (a) Nangona abaphumi-mkhosi bamaMedi namaPersi bengenamdla kumaxhoba, yintoni abanamabhongo ayo? (b) UKoreshi ukoyisa njani ukunqabiseka eziqhenya ngako iBhabhiloni?
13 Ngoxa abaphumi-mkhosi bamaMedi namaPersi bengenamsebenzi kangako namaxhoba, noko ke, banamabhongo. Abazimiselanga ukushiyiselwa lulo naluphi na olunye uhlanga ehlabathini. Ngaphezu koko, uYehova uzenze zanyolukela ‘ukuphanga’ iintliziyo zabo. (Isaya 13:6) Ngenxa yoko, bazimisele ukuyoyisa iBhabhiloni ngezaphetha zabo zesinyithi—ezinokusetyenziselwa kungekuphela nje ukudubula iintolo kodwa kwanokubetha bahlekeze amajoni aziintshaba zabo, nayinzala yoomama baseBhabhiloni.
14 UKoreshi, inkokeli yemikhosi yamaMedi namaPersi, akathintelwa kukunqabiseka kweBhabhiloni. Ngobusuku bango-Oktobha 5/6, 539 B.C.E., uyalela ukuba kujikwe umjelo wamanzi oMlambo umEfrate. Njengoko amanzi ewuthile ada afikelela emathangeni, abahlaseli bathubeleza bangene esixekweni, begudla udonga lomlambo. Abemi baseBhabhiloni baqutyulwa bengalindelanga, yaba kukuwa kweBhabhiloni oko. (Daniyeli 5:30) UYehova uThixo uphefumlela uIsaya ukuba aprofete ngezi ziganeko, ukuze ingathandabuzeki into yokuba Nguye owalathisa imicimbi.
15. Liyintoni ikamva leBhabhiloni?
15 Uya kuba mkhulu kangakanani umkhamo wokutshatyalaliswa kweBhabhiloni? Khawuphulaphule njengoko uYehova echaza esithi: “Ayisoze imiwe, ingasoze ihlale izizukulwana ngezizukulwana. UmArabhu akayi kumisa ntente yakhe apho, yaye akukho balusi baya kuyeka imihlambi yabo ibuthe apho. Abemi bemimandla engumqwebedu ngokuqinisekileyo baya kubutha apho, nezindlu zabo ziya kuzaliswa zizihuluhulu. Iya kuba likhaya leenciniba, needemon ezimilise okweebhokhwe ziya kudloba apho. Noodyakalashe baya kwenza umkhulungwane kwiinqaba zayo zokuhlala, nenyoka enkulu iya kuba semabhotweni oyolo olugqibeleleyo. Ixesha layo likufuphi, nemihla yayo ayiyi kubekelwa elinye ixesha.” (Isaya 13:20-22) Esi sixeko siza kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo.
16. Imeko yeBhabhiloni ngoku isinika yiphi intembelo?
16 Oku akwenzekanga zisuka nje ngowama-539 B.C.E. Sekunjalo, namhlanje kucace gca ukuba konke oko uIsaya wakuxela kwangaphambili ngokuphathelele iBhabhiloni kuye kwazaliseka. IBhabhiloni “sekuziinkulungwane ngoku iyinkangala enkulu enamabhodlo,” utsho njalo omnye umhlalutyi weBhayibhile. Wandula ongezelele athi: “Akwenzeki ukuba uyibone le ndawo uze ungakhumbuli indlela okwazaliseka ngokuthe ngqo ngayo oko kwachazwa nguIsaya noYeremiya.” Ngokucacileyo, akukho mntu ngomhla kaIsaya owayenokukuxela kwangaphambili ukuwa kweBhabhiloni nokuphanziswa kwayo ekugqibeleni. Ngapha koko, oku kuwela kweBhabhiloni kumaMedi namaPersi kwenzeke kwisithuba seminyaka engama-200 emva kokuba uIsaya ebhale incwadi yakhe! Yaye ukuphanziswa kwayo kokugqibela kwenzeka emva kweenkulungwane kamva. Ngaba oku akuluqinisi na ukholo lwethu eBhayibhileni njengeliLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo? (2 Timoti 3:16) Ngaphezu koko, ekubeni uYehova wazizalisekisayo iziprofeto zamaxesha adluleyo, sinokuba nentembelo epheleleyo yokuba neziprofeto zeBhayibhile ezingekazaliseki ziza kuzaliseka ngexesha likaThixo elifanelekileyo.
“Phumla Kwintlungu Yakho”
17, 18. Ukoyiswa kweBhabhiloni kuya kuthetha ziphi iintsikelelo kuSirayeli?
17 Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni kuya kuzisa isiqabu kuSirayeli. Kuya kuthetha ukukhululeka ekuthinjweni nokuvuleka kwethuba lokubuyela kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Kungako nje, uIsaya ngoku esithi: “UYehova uya kumenzela inceba uYakobi, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kunyula uSirayeli; amnike ukuphumla emhlabeni wakhe, nabahambi baphambukele kuye, anamathelane nendlu kaYakobi. Izizwana ziya kumgodusa uSirayeli, zimbuyisele emhlabeni awunikwe nguYehova njengelifa, zize zona zibe zizicaka nezicakakazi zakhe; yaye abo bamthimbileyo baya kujika babe ngabathinjwa bakhe, kwaye umele abe nobukhosi kwabo babemqweqwedisa emsebenzini.” (Isaya 14:1, 2) “UYakobi” apha ubhekisela kuSirayeli ephela—zonke izizwe ezili-12. UYehova uza kuba nenceba ‘kuYakobi’ ngokuvumela olo hlanga ukuba lugoduke. Luya kuphelekwa ngamawakawaka abantu basemzini, abaninzi babo abaya kuwakhonza amaSirayeli njengezicaka zasetempileni. Wambi amaSirayeli aza kude abe negunya kwabo babesakuba nobukhosi kubo.c
18 Kuya kuphela ukubandezeleka kokuphila njengabathinjwa. Kunoko, uYehova uya kubanika abantu bakhe “ukuphumla kwintlungu [yabo] nasekuphazamisekeni [kwabo] nakubukhoboka obunzima [abakhotyokiswa] ngabo.” (Isaya 14:3) Ekubeni ekhululwe kwingcinezelo yobukhoboka bokwenyama, uSirayeli akasayi kuphinda angcungcuthekiswe yintlungu yokuphila phakathi kwabanquli boothixo bobuxoki. (Ezra 3:1; Isaya 32:18) Igqabaza ngako oku, incwadi ethi Lands and Peoples of the Bible ithi: “Kummi waseBhabhiloni oothixo bakhe babefana nqwa naye, benazo zonke iimpawu zobuntu bakhe obubi. Babengamagwala, bengamanxila neziphukuphuku.” Esinjani sona isiqabu ekusiso ukushiya imeko enjalo ukuwohloka yezonqulo!
19. Yintoni ekufuneka eyenzile uSirayeli ukuze axolelwe nguYehova, ibe yintoni esiyifundayo koku?
19 Noko ke, inceba kaYehova inemiqathango. Ixhomekeka ekuzisoleni kwabantu bakhe ngenxa yobungendawo babo, obube yimbangi yokohlwaywa kwabo ngokuqatha nguThixo. (Yeremiya 3:25) Ukusivuma kwabo ngokuphandle nangokusuk’ entliziyweni isono sabo kuya kubenza baxolelwe nguYehova. (Bona uNehemiya 9:6-37; Daniyeli 9:5.) Lo mgaqo uyasebenza nanamhlanje. Ekubeni ‘kungekho mntu ungoniyo,’ sonke siyayifuna inceba kaYehova. (2 Kronike 6:36) UYehova, uThixo onenceba, usimema ngothando ukuba sizivume kuye izono zethu, siguquke, size siyeke naliphi na ikhondo eliphosakeleyo, ukuze siphiliswe. (Duteronomi 4:31; Isaya 1:18; Yakobi 5:16) Oku akupheleli nje ngokusenza sikholeke kuye kodwa kukwayintuthuzelo kuthi.—INdumiso 51:1; IMizekeliso 28:13; 2 Korinte 2:7.
‘Intetho Engumzekeliso’ Nxamnye NeBhabhiloni
20, 21. Abamelwane beBhabhiloni bakuvuyela njani ukuwa kwayo?
20 Ngaphezu kweminyaka eli-100 ngaphambi kokuma kweBhabhiloni njengegunya elibalaseleyo lehlabathi, uIsaya uxela kwangaphambili indlela eliza kusabela ngayo ihlabathi ekuweni kwayo. Eprofeta, uyalela amaSirayeli akhululweyo ebukhobokeni bayo, esithi: “[Uze] uphakamise le ntetho ingumzekeliso nxamnye nokumkani waseBhabhiloni, uthi: ‘Kwenzeke njani ukuba lowo uqweqwedisa abanye emsebenzini ayeke, ingcinezelo iphele! UYehova uyaphule intonga yabo bangendawo, umsimelelo wabo balawulayo, lowo ubetha izizwana ngokuvutha komsindo, ebetha ngokungapheziyo, lowo woyisa iintlanga ngomsimelelo opheleleyo ngentshutshiso engathintelwayo.’” (Isaya 14:4-6) IBhabhiloni izakhele igama njengomoyisi, nomcinezeli okhobokisa abantu abakhululekileyo. Hayi indlela ekufaneleke ngayo ukuba ukuwa kwayo kubhiyozelwe ‘ngentetho engumzekeliso’ ebhekiswa ngokuyintloko kubalawuli baseBhabhiloni—ukususela kuNebhukadenetsare kuye kuqhina ngoNabonidus noBheleshatsare—ababesongamela ebudeni bemihla yokuzuka kweso sixeko sikhulu!
21 Olunjani lona utshintsho oluya kubangelwa kukuwa kwayo! “Umhlaba uphela uphumle, awuphazanyiswa. Abantu bachwayitile yintswahla yemivuyo. Kwanemithi yejunipha iye yanemihlali ngawe, imisedare yaseLebhanon, isithi, ‘Ukususela ekulaleni kwakho, akunyuki mgawuli weenkuni nxamnye nathi.’” (Isaya 14:7, 8) Ookumkani beentlanga eziselumelwaneni, babegqalwa ngabalawuli baseBhabhiloni, njengemithi yokugawulwa ize isetyenziselwe iinjongo zabo. Noko ke, konke oko kuphelile. Umgawuli waseBhabhiloni ugqibelisile ukugawula!
22. Ngengqiqo ebumbongorha, iShiyol ichatshazelwa njani kukuwa kwabalawuli baseBhabhiloni?
22 Kukhwankqisa kakhulu ukuwa kweBhabhiloni kangangokuba nengcwaba ngokwalo liyasabela kuko: “KwaneShiyol ngaphantsi iphazamisekile nguwe ukuze ikuhlangabeze ekungeneni kwakho. Ikuvusele abo bangenamandla ekufeni, zonke iinkokeli zomhlaba ezinjengeebhokhwe. Bonke ookumkani bomhlaba ibaphakamisile ezitroneni zabo. Bonke bayathetha baze bathi kuwe, ‘Ngaba nawe wenziwe buthathaka njengathi? Nawe wenziwe wafana nathi na? Iqhayiya lakho lihliselwe eShiyol, ingxolo yemirhubhe yakho. Ngaphantsi kwakho, wandlalelwe iimpethu zaba sisingqengqelo sakho; nemibungu yaba sisigubungelo sakho.’” (Isaya 14:9-11) Onjani wona ukuba namandla umfanekiso-ngqondweni obumbongorha! Kufana nokungathi ingcwaba eliqhelekileyo loluntu liza kubavusa ekufeni bonke abo kumkani babekhe balawula eBhabhiloni ukuze bayamkele engcwabeni. Bayaligculela igunya elilawulayo eBhabhiloni, elingasenakuzinceda ngoku, lilele emandlalweni weempethu kunasesingqengqelweni esixabiso likhulu, ligqunywe ziimpethu endaweni yeengubo ezixabisekileyo.
“Njengesidumbu Esinyathelweyo”
23, 24. Kukuphi ukuzikhukhumalisa ngokugqithiseleyo okubonakaliswa ngookumkani baseBhabhiloni?
23 UIsaya uyaqhubeka nentetho yakhe engumzekeliso, esithi: “Hayi indlela owe ngayo ezulwini, wena ukhanyayo, nyana wesifingo! Hayi indlela ogawulwe ngayo wawela emhlabeni, wena owalimaza iintlanga!” (Isaya 14:12) Ikratshi lokuzingca lishukumisela ookumkani baseBhabhiloni ukuba baziphakamise ngaphezu kwabo babangqongileyo. Njengenkwenkwezi ephume yodwa ngokuqaqambileyo esibhakabhakeni ekuseni, nabo baphume bodwa ngokusebenzisa kakubi amandla negunya. Eyona nto baziqhenya ngayo kukubhukuqa kukaNebhukadenetsare iYerusalem, nto leyo eyoyisa ama-Asiriya. Kule ntetho engumzekeliso abalawuli abanekratshi baseBhabhiloni bachazwa njengabathi: “Ndiya kunyuka ndiye ezulwini. Itrone yam ndiya kuyiphakamisa phezu kweenkwenkwezi zikaThixo, yaye ndiya kuhlala phantsi entabeni yokuhlangana, kweyona mimandla ithe qelele yasemntla. Ndiya kunyukela phezulu kwiindawo eziphakamileyo emafini; ndiya kuzifanisa nOyena Uphakamileyo.” (Isaya 14:13, 14) Ngaba ikho indelelo eyogqitha le?
24 EBhayibhileni ookumkani bomnombo wasebukhosini kaDavide bafaniswa neenkwenkwezi. (Numeri 24:17) Ukususela kuDavide kuse phambili, ezo “nkwenkwezi” bezilawula zikwiNtaba yeZiyon. Emva kokuba uSolomon akhe itempile eYerusalem, igama elithi iZiyon labhekisela kwisixeko siphela. Phantsi komnqophiso woMthetho, onke amadoda akwaSirayeli ayemele aye eZiyon kathathu ngonyaka. Ngoko yaba ‘yintaba yokuhlangana.’ Ngokuzimisela kukaNebhukadenetsare ukoyisa ookumkani bakwaYuda aze abashenxise kuloo ntaba, uyenza icace injongo yakhe yokuziphakamisa ngaphezu kwezo “nkwenkwezi.” Udumo akalusi kuYehova ngokuzoyisa kwakhe. Kunoko, ngokuzikhukhumalisa, usuka azibeke endaweni kaYehova.
25, 26. Umnombo wabalawuli baseBhabhiloni ufikelela njani esiphelweni esilihlazo?
25 Hayi indlela abaza kuqethulwa ngayo aba kumkani banekratshi baseBhabhiloni! IBhabhiloni ayisayi kuze iphakanyiswe ngaphezu kweenkwenkwezi zikaThixo. Kunoko, uYehova uthi: “Uya kuhliselwa eShiyol, kweyona mimandla ithe qelele emhadini. Abo bakubonayo baya kukondela wena kanye; baya kukuhlolisisa ngokusondeleyo wena kanye, besithi, ‘Yiyo na le indoda eyayiphazamisa umhlaba, eyayisenza izikumkani zinyikime, eyenza ilizwe elinemveliso lanjengentlango neyabhukuqa nezixeko zalo, eyayingazange iwavulele namabanjwa ayo indlela esinge ekhaya?’” (Isaya 14:15-17) Aba balawuli banamabhongo baya kwehlela eHadesi (eShiyol), njengamntu wonke.
26 Liya kube liphi ke ngoko, elaa gunya loyisa izikumkani, latshabalalisa ilizwe elinemveliso, laza labhukuqa izixeko ezingenakubalwa? Liya kube liphi elaa gunya lehlabathi lathabatha abathinjwa laza alabavumela ukuba bagoduke? Kaloku, abo balawuli baseBhabhiloni abasayi kwenzelwa nkqu nomngcwabo lo ondilisekileyo! UYehova uthi: “Bonke abanye ookumkani beentlanga, ewe, bonke, balele eluzukweni, ngamnye endlwini yakhe. Kodwa wena ke, ulahlwe kude ungenandawo ungcwatyelwa kuyo, njengehlumelo elicekisekayo, wambeswe ngabantu ababuleweyo abaxhokrozwe ngekrele abehla baye ematyeni omhadi, njengesidumbu esinyathelweyo. Akuyi kubandakanywa nabo engcwabeni, ngenxa yokuba ulonakalisile ilizwe lakho, wababulala abantu bakho. Inzala yabenzi-bubi ayiyi kuba nagama ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (Isaya 14:18-20) Mandulo, kwakulihlazo ngokumkani ukungenzelwa umngcwabo ondilisekileyo. Ngoko, kuthekani ngabalawuli basebukhosini baseBhabhiloni? Enyanisweni, kusenokwenzeka ukuba ookumkani ngabanye babengcwatywa ngokundilisekileyo, kodwa bona ookumkani basebukhosini abasusela kuNebhukadenetsare balahlwa “njengehlumelo elicekisekayo.” Kufana nokungathi aba balawuli babephoswa nje engcwabeni elingaziwayo—njengejoni elihamba ngeenyawo elibulewe edabini. Okunjani kona ukuthotywa!
27. Izizukulwana ezizayo zamaBhabhiloni ziza kubandezeleka njani ngenxa yobugwenxa booyihlo?
27 Le ntetho engumzekeliso iqukunjelwa ngemiyalelo yokugqibela ebhekiswa kumaMedi namaPersi oyisayo: “Oonyana bakhe balungiseleleni ukusikwa ngenxa yesiphoso sookhokho babo, ukuze bangasuki bawudle ilifa umhlaba, bazalise ilizwe elinemveliso ngezixeko.” (Isaya 14:21) IBhabhiloni iza kuwa ngonaphakade. Umnombo wabalawuli baseBhabhiloni uza kubhangiswa. Awusayi kuze uvuselelwe kwakhona. Izizukulwana ezizayo zamaBhabhiloni ziza kubandezeleka ngenxa “yobugwenxa booyihlo.”
28. Wawuyintoni unobangela oyintloko wesono sookumkani baseBhabhiloni, ibe yintoni esiyifundayo koku?
28 Lo mgwebo ovakaliswa kubalawuli baseBhabhiloni unesifundo esibalulekileyo nakuthi. Unobangela oyintloko wesono sookumkani baseBhabhiloni ngamabhongo abo angaphele ndawo. (Daniyeli 5:23) Iintliziyo zabo zazizaliswe ngumnqweno wokuba negunya. Babefuna ukongamela abanye. (Isaya 47:5, 6) Babebawela uzuko oluvela ebantwini, zuko olo olufanele lubhekiswe kuThixo. (ISityhilelo 4:11) Oku kusisilumkiso kubo bonke abasegunyeni—kwanasebandleni lobuKristu. UYehova akayi kuwanyamezela amabhongo nekratshi lokuzingca, elibonakaliswa ngabantu ngabanye okanye ziintlanga.
29. Ikratshi namabhongo abalawuli baseBhabhiloni zazibonakalisa ntoni?
29 Ikratshi labalawuli baseBhabhiloni lalibonakalisa umoya ‘wothixo wale nkqubo yezinto,’ uSathana uMtyholi. (2 Korinte 4:4) Naye ubawela igunya yaye ulangazelela ukuzibeka kwisigxina esingaphezu kwesikaYehova uThixo. Njengoko kwakunjalo ngokumkani waseBhabhiloni nangabantu awaboyisayo, amabhongo angendawo kaSathana abangele ukunxunguphala nokubandezeleka kulo lonke uluntu.
30. Yiyiphi enye iBhabhiloni ekhankanyiweyo eBhayibhileni, yaye nguwuphi umoya ewubonakalisileyo?
30 Ukongezelela, encwadini yeSityhilelo, sifunda ngenye iBhabhiloni—“iBhabhiloni Enkulu.” (ISityhilelo 18:2) Le ntlangano, ebubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki, iye nayo yabonakalisa umoya wekratshi, nowengcinezelo, nowenkohlakalo. Ngenxa yoko, nayo iza kufikelwa ‘yimini kaYehova’ ize itshatyalaliswe ngexesha likaThixo elifanelekileyo. (Isaya 13:6) Ukususela ngowe-1919 kuye kwavakaliswa emhlabeni wonke isigidimi esithi: “IBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile!” (ISityhilelo 14:8) Xa yoyisakalayo ukugcina abantu bakaThixo ekuthinjweni, yaba kukuwa kwayo oko. Kungekudala iza kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo. Ngokuphathelele iBhabhiloni yamandulo, uYehova wayalela wathi: “Yibuyiseleni ngokomsebenzi wayo. Yenzani kuyo ngako konke ekwenzileyo. Kuba ikhukhumalele uYehova, Lowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli.” (Yeremiya 50:29; Yakobi 2:13) IBhabhiloni Enkulu iza kufumana umgwebo ofanayo.
31. Yintoni eza kwenzeka kungekudala kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu?
31 Ngoko, amazwi okugqibela kaYehova kwesi siprofeto sencwadi kaIsaya awabhekiseli kwiBhabhiloni yamandulo kuphela kodwa kwanakwiBhabhiloni Enkulu: “Ndiya kusukela phezulu kubo . . . Kwaye ndiza kunqumla igama nentsalela nenzala nezizukulwana eBhabhiloni . . . Ndiya kuyenza ilifa leencanda namachibi amanzi aneengcongolo, yaye ndiza kuyitshayela ngomtshayelo wembubhiso.” (Isaya 14:22, 23) Amabhodlo eBhabhiloni yamandulo abonisa oko uYehova aza kukwenza kamsinya kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu. Enjani yona intuthuzelo kubathandi bonqulo lokwenyaniso! Esinjani sona isikhuthazo sokuba sizabalazele ukungaze sivumele ukuba kuvele kuthi imikhwa ephenjelelwa nguSathana enjengekratshi, ukuzikhukhumalisa nenkohlakalo!
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a UIsaya ukhankanya amaMedi kuphela ngegama, kodwa ziliqela iintlanga eziya kumanyana nxamnye neBhabhiloni—amaMedi, amaPersi, amaElam, nezinye iintlanga ezincinane. (Yeremiya 50:9; 51:24, 27, 28) Iintlanga eziselumelwaneni zibhekisela kumaMedi nakumaPersi ngokuthi “amaMedi.” Ukongezelela, ngomhla kaIsaya, elamaMedi liligunya eligqugqisileyo. ElamaPersi liqale ukubalasela ngexesha likaKoreshi.
b Noko ke, kubonakala ukuba kamva amaMedi namaPersi azithanda kakhulu izinto zobutofo-tofo.—Estere 1:1-7.
c Ngokomzekelo, uDaniyeli wamiselwa njengegosa eliphakamileyo eBhabhiloni phantsi kolawulo lwamaMedi namaPersi. Yaye malunga nama-60 eminyaka kamva, uEstere waba ngukumkanikazi woKumkani wamaPersi uAhaswerosi, waza yena uMordekayi waba yinkulumbuso yoBukhosi basePersi buphela.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 178]
IBhabhiloni ewileyo iza kuba yindawo yokuhlala izidalwa zasentlango
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 186]
NjengeBhabhiloni yamandulo, iBhabhiloni Enkulu iza kuba yimfumba yamabhodlo