Isahluko Seshumi Elinesihlanu

Isigqibo SikaYehova Nxamnye Neentlanga

Isaya 14:24–19:25

 1. Sisiphi isibhengezo sokugwetywa kweAsiriya asibhalayo uIsaya?

UYEHOVA unokuzisebenzisa iintlanga ekuqeqesheni abantu bakhe ngenxa yobungendawo babo. Sekunjalo, oko akuzenzi zithetheleleke ezo ntlanga xa zibonakalisa inkohlakalo, ikratshi, nobutshaba kunqulo lokwenyaniso. Ngoko ke, kusekude ngaphambili uphefumlela uIsaya ukuba abhale “isibhengezo nxamnye neBhabhiloni.” (Isaya 13:1) Oku kungenxa yokuba, iBhabhiloni iza kuba sisisongelo kwixesha elizayo. Ngomhla kaIsaya, yiAsiriya ecinezela abantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso. IAsiriya le itshabalalisa ubukhosi basentla bukaSirayeli ize iliphanzise phantse lonke elakwaYuda. Kodwa uloyiso lweAsiriya lulinganiselwe. UIsaya ubhala athi: “Ufungile uYehova wemikhosi, esithi: ‘Ngokuqinisekileyo kanye njengoko ndicinge ngako, koba njalo . . . ukuze ndimaphule umAsiriya elizweni lam, ndimnyathelele phantsi ezintabeni zam; imke idyokhwe yakhe kubo, nomthwalo wakhe umke egxalabeni labo.’” (Isaya 14:24, 25) Akubanga thuba lide emva kokuvakalisa kukaIsaya esi siprofeto, sashenxiswa isisongelo seAsiriya kuYuda.

2, 3. (a) Kumaxesha amandulo, uYehova usolula nxamnye nabani isandla sakhe? (b) Kutheth’ ukuthini ukolula kukaYehova isandla sakhe nxamnye nazo “zonke iintlanga”?

² Noko ke, kuthekani ngezinye iintlanga eziziintshaba zabantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso? Nazo zimele zigwetywe. UIsaya uthi: “Yiyo leyo into endigqibe kuyo nxamnye nomhlaba wonke, yaye isandla sam ndisolulele kuzo zonke iintlanga. Siso eso isigqibo sikaYehova wemikhosi, yaye ngubani na onokusaphula? Isandla sakhe soluliwe, ngubani na onokusibuyisa?” (Isaya 14:26, 27) “Isigqibo” sikaYehova asiyonto nje ecetywayo. Siyinto eqinisekileyo, ummiselo wakhe. (Yeremiya 49:20, 30) “Isandla” sikaThixo sibhekisela ekusebenziseni kwakhe amandla akhe. Kwiindinyana zokugqibela zikaIsaya isahluko 14 nakwisahluko 15 ukusa kwese-19, isigqibo sikaYehova sinxamnye neFilisti, iMowabhi, iDamasko, iTiyopiya neYiputa.

³ Noko ke, uIsaya uthi isandla sikaYehova solulelwe kuzo “zonke iintlanga.” Oko kubonisa ukuba, nangona ezi ziprofeto zikaIsaya ziqala ukuzaliseka kumaxesha amandulo, kodwa zikwakhombe ‘nakwixesha lesiphelo’ laxa uYehova eya kolulela isandla sakhe kuzo zonke izikumkani zomhlaba. (Daniyeli 2:44; 12:9; Roma 15:4; ISityhilelo 19:11, 19-21) UThixo ongusomandla, uYehova, usityhila kusekude ngaphambili isigqibo sakhe. Akukho bani unokusibuyisa isandla sakhe esoluliweyo.—INdumiso 33:11; Isaya 46:10.

“Inyoka Ebumlilorha Ephaphazelayo” Nxamnye NeFilisti

 4. Ziziphi ezinye zeenkcukacha zesibhengezo sikaYehova nxamnye neFilisti?

⁴ Ingqalelo inikelwa kumaFilisti kuqala. “Ngonyaka wokufa kukaKumkani uAhazi kwabakho esi sibhengezo: ‘Musa ukuba nemihlali, Filisti, nabani na kuwe, ngenxa nje yokuba umsimelelo walowo ubekubetha waphukile. Kuba engcanjini yenyoka kuya kuphuma inyoka enobuhlungu, kwaye isiqhamo sayo iya kuba yinyoka ebumlilorha ephaphazelayo.’”—Isaya 14:28, 29.

5, 6. (a) Kungayiphi indlela awathi u-Uziya waba njengenyoka kumaFilisti? (b) Ungqineka eyintoni uHezekiya ngokuphathelele iFilisti?

⁵ UKumkani u-Uziya wayomelele ngokwaneleyo ukuba angamelana nesisongelo samaFilisti. (2 Kronike 26:6-8) Kuwo, wayefana nenyoka, yaye waqhubeka embetha ngomsimelelo wakhe lo mmelwane ungenabuhlobo. Emva kokufa kukaUziya—‘umsimelelo wakhe waphuka’—kwaza kwalawula uYotham othembekileyo, kodwa “abantu babesenza ngokonakala.” Emva koko, kwalandela uAhazi njengokumkani. Iimeko zatshintsha, kwaza oko kwakhokelela ekubeni amaFilisti aphumelele ekuhlaseleni uYuda. (2 Kronike 27:2; 28:17, 18) Kodwa ke ngoku, izinto ziphinde zatshintsha kwakhona. UKumkani uAhazi uye wafa ngowama-746 B.C.E., kwaza kwangena uHezekiya oselula etroneni. Ukuba amaFilisti acinga ukuba aya kuhlala eyithwele intshinga, azidyobha ngentshongo emehlweni. UHezekiya ulutshaba olunobungozi ngeyona ndlela. Njengoko eyinzala kaUziya (“isiqhamo” esiphuma “engcanjini” yakhe), uHezekiya ufana ‘nenyoka ebumlilorha ephaphazelayo’—ethi phinye-phinye, yenze amatshe xa ihlasela, etsho kutshotshozele ngoxa inqoloba amaxhoba ayo ngobuhlungu bayo.

⁶ Le nkcazelo imfanela ngqo lo kumkani mtsha. “Nguye [uHezekiya] owaxabela amaFilisti ukuya kufikelela eGaza nemimandla yayo.” (2 Kumkani 18:8) Imbali kaKumkani uSaneribhe waseAsiriya, isithela thsuphe ukuba amaFilisti asingelwa phantsi nguHezekiya. “Abo bazizisweli”—ubukhosi bakwaYuda obubuthathaka—banqabisekile yaye banentabalala yezinto eziphathekayo, ngoxa iFilisti ibhuqwa yindlala.—Funda uIsaya 14:30, 31.

 7. Sisiphi isibhengezo sokholo amele asenze uHezekiya koonozakuzaku abaseYerusalem?

⁷ Kubonakala ukuba kukho oonozakuzaku abathile kwaYuda—mhlawumbi ngenjongo yokumrhwebeshela ukuba azimanye nabo ekulweni neAsiriya. Kufanele kuthiweni kubo? “Uya kuthini na umntu ekuphenduleni abathunywa bohlanga?” Ngaba uHezekiya ufanele afune unqabiseko ngokuzimanya namazwe asemzini? Akunjalo! Ufanele athi kwaba bathunywa: “UYehova ubeke isiseko seZiyon, yaye abaxhwalekileyo ebantwini bakhe baya kusabela kuyo.” (Isaya 14:32) Lo kumkani umele akholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova. Isiseko seZiyon siqinile. Esi sixeko siza kusinda kwisisongelo sama-Asiriya.—INdumiso 46:1-7.

 8. (a) Ezinye iintlanga namhlanje ziye zafana njani neFilisti? (b) Njengoko wenzayo kumaxesha amandulo, yintoni ayenzileyo uYehova ukuxhasa abantu bakhe namhlanje?

⁸ NjengeFilisti, nanamhlanje zikho iintlanga ezithile ezibachase ngokukrakra abanquli bakaThixo. AmaNgqina kaYehova angamaKristu aye avalelwa ezintolongweni nakwiinkampu zoxinaniso. Uye wavalwa umsebenzi wawo. Amaninzi kuwo aye abulawa. Abachasi bayaqhubeka ‘bewuhlasela kabukhali umphefumlo welungisa.’ (INdumiso 94:21) Kwiintshaba zalo, eli qela lamaKristu lisenokubonakala ‘lizizisweli’ yaye ‘lihlwempuzekile.’ Kodwa, ngoncedo lukaYehova, linandipha intabalala ngokomoya, ngoxa iintshaba zalo zithwaxwa yindlala. (Isaya 65:13, 14; Amosi 8:11) Xa uYehova esolula isandla sakhe nxamnye namaFilisti ale mihla, aba “bazizisweli” baza kunqabiseka. Phi? Kumanyano abaya kube belunandipha ‘namalungu endlu kaThixo,’ leyo uYesu alilitye layo lembombo eliqinileyo. (Efese 2:19, 20) Yaye baya kukhuseleka ‘kwiYerusalem yasezulwini,’ ebuBukumkani bukaYehova basezulwini, apho uYesu Kristu enguKumkani.—Hebhere 12:22; ISityhilelo 14:1.

UMowabhi Uyathuliswa

 9. Senziwa nxamnye nabani isibhengezo esilandelayo, yaye esi sizwana singqineke njani silutshaba lwabantu bakaThixo?

⁹ NgaseMpuma koLwandle Olufileyo kukho omnye ummelwane kaSirayeli—uMowabhi. Ngokungafaniyo namaFilisti, amaMowabhi ahlobene noSirayeli, njengoko eyinzala yomtshana ka-Abraham uLote. (Genesis 19:37) Nakuba behlobene, kodwa uMowabhi kudala enobutshaba noSirayeli. Ngokomzekelo, emva phayaa ngemihla kaMoses, ukumkani wakwaMowabhi waqesha umprofeti uBhileham, enethemba lokuba wayeza kuwaqalekisa amaSirayeli. Kwathi kwakungaphumeleli oko, uMowabhi wasebenzisa ukuziphatha okubi nonqulo lukaBhahali ukurhintyela uSirayeli. (Numeri 22:4-6; 25:1-5) Akumangalisi ke ngoko ukuba, ngoku uYehova aphefumlele uIsaya ukuba abhale “isibhengezo nxamnye noMowabhi”!—Isaya 15:1a.

10, 11. Kuza kwenzeka ntoni kuMowabhi?

¹⁰ Esi siprofeto sikaIsaya sibhekiswa kwizixeko nakwimimandla eliqela yakwaMowabhi, kuquka iAri, iKire (okanye iKire-hareseti) neDibhon. (Isaya 15:1b, 2a) AmaMowabhi aya kudumzela ngenxa yezicumba zeerasintyisi zaseKire-hareseti, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba ziyimveliso ephambili kweso sixeko. (Isaya 16:6, 7) ISibhema neYazere, ezidume ngokulima izidiliya, ziza kutshatyalaliswa. (Isaya 16:8-10) IEgelati-shelishiya, egama layo lisenokuthetha “Ithokazi Lenkomo Eliminyaka Mithathu Ubudala,” iya kuba njengethokazi lenkomo elindlongondlongo ligxwala emswaneni. (Isaya 15:5) Ingca yelizwe iya koma ngoxa “amanzi aseDimon” eya kuzala ligazi ngenxa yokuxatyelwa kwamaMowabhi. “Amanzi aseNimrim” aya kuba “sisiphanziso esipheleleyo,” ngengqiqo yokomfuziselo okanye yokoqobo—mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuba iintshaba ziyivalile imijelo yamanzi.—Isaya 15:6-9.

¹¹ AmaMowabhi aya kubhinqa amarhonya, izambatho zokuzila. Aya kucheba inkqayi ukubonisa ihlazo nosizi lwawo. Iindevu zawo ziya ‘kunquthulwa,’ ukubonisa intlungu enzulu nokuthotywa kwawo. (Isaya 15:2b-4) UIsaya ngokwakhe, ekubeni eqinisekile ngokuzaliseka kwezi zigwebo, uqalisa ukubindeka. Kanye njengokushukuma kweengcingo zokudlala uhadi, izibilini zakhe ziyaxokozela kukusizela uMowabhi ngenxa yeli shwangusha limzelayo.—Isaya 16:11, 12.

12. Azaliseka njani amazwi kaIsaya nxamnye noMowabhi?

¹² Siza kuzaliseka nini esi siprofeto? Kungekudala. “Lilo elo ilizwi awalithethayo uYehova ngokuphathelele uMowabhi ngaphambili. Ke kaloku uYehova uthethile, esithi: ‘Kwiminyaka emithathu, ngokweminyaka yomqeshwa, uzuko lwakwaMowabhi lumele luhlazeke ngalo lonke uhlobo lwengxokolo eninzi, nabo baseleyo baya kuba mbalwa kakhulu, bengenamandla.’” (Isaya 16:13, 14) Ngokuvisisana noku, kukho ubungqina obungokwenzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala bokuba ebudeni benkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uMowabhi wathwaxwa kanobom yaza imimandla yakhe emininzi yaphanziswa. UTigelati-pilesere III wakhankanya uSalamanu wakwaMowabhi njengomnye wabalawuli ababerhafa kuye. USenaribhe wayerhafisa uKammusunadbi, ukumkani wakwaMowabhi. Abalawuli baseAsiriya uEsar-haddon noAshurbanipal babhekisela kooKumkani bakwaMowabhi uMusuri noKamashaltu njengabaphantsi kwabo. Kwiinkulungwane eziliqela ezidluleyo, saye saphela isizwe samaMowabhi. Kuye kwafunyanwa amabhodlo ekucingelwa ukuba ngawezixeko zakwaMowabhi, kodwa akukho bungqina bubambekayo bento eyakhe yavunjululwa ekunokuthiwa yeyolu tshaba lunamandla lukaSirayeli.

Ukutshatyalaliswa “KukaMowabhi” Wale Mihla

13. Yiyiphi intlangano namhlanje enokufaniswa noMowabhi?

¹³ Namhlanje kukho intlangano yehlabathi lonke efanayo noMowabhi wamandulo. YiNgqobhoko, eyinxalenye eyintloko ‘yeBhabhiloni Enkulu.’ (ISityhilelo 17:5) Bobabini uMowabhi noSirayeli bayinzala kayise ka-Abraham, uTera. Ngokufanayo, nayo iNgqobhoko iyikhomba imvelaphi yayo kwibandla lamaKristu lenkulungwane yokuqala, njengoko kunjalo nangebandla lamaKristu athanjisiweyo namhlanje. (Galati 6:16) Noko ke, iNgqobhoko—ngokufanayo noMowabhi—yonakele, ikhuthaza ukuziphatha okubi ngokomoya nokunqulwa koothixo kunokuphela koThixo oyinyaniso, uYehova. (Yakobi 4:4; 1 Yohane 5:21) Njengeqela, iinkokeli zeNgqobhoko zibachasile abo bashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani.—Mateyu 24:9, 14.

14. Phezu kwalo nje icebo likaYehova nxamnye ‘noMowabhi’ wale mihla, liliphi ithemba elinalo ilungu ngalinye laloo ntlangano?

¹⁴ Ekugqibeleni uMowabhi wathuliswa. Kuza kwenzeka okufanayo nakwiNgqobhoko. UYehova uza kusebenzisa iAsiriya yale mihla ukuba iyiphanzise. (ISityhilelo 17:16, 17) Kodwa ke, likho ithemba kubantu ‘abakuMowabhi’ wale mihla. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, uIsaya uthi xa eprofeta nxamnye noMowabhi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo itrone iya kumiselwa ngokuqinileyo ngobubele bothando; kuhlale kuyo onenyaniso ententeni kaDavide, egweba ngokusesikweni yaye ekhawuleza ukuphumeza ubulungisa.” (Isaya 16:5) Ngowe-1914, uYehova wayimisela ngokuqinileyo itrone kaYesu, uMlawuli womnombo kaKumkani uDavide. Ukulawula kukaYesu njengokumkani kuyimbonakaliso yobubele bothando bukaYehova, yaye kuya kuqhubeka ngonaphakade, njengoko uThixo wayenqophisene noKumkani uDavide. (INdumiso 72:2; 85:10, 11; 89:3, 4; Luka 1:32) Abaninzi abalulamileyo baye bamshiya ‘uMowabhi’ wale mihla baza bazithoba kuYesu ukuze bazuze ubomi. (ISityhilelo 18:4) Hayi indlela ekuthuthuzela ngayo ngabo ukwazi ukuba uYesu ‘uya kukwenza kucace okusesikweni ezintlangeni’!—Mateyu 12:18; Yeremiya 33:15.

IDamasko Iba Ngamabhodlo

15, 16. (a) Ngawaphi amanyathelo obutshaba athatyathwa yiDamasko kunye noSirayeli nxamnye noYuda, yaye uba yintoni umphumo kwiDamasko? (b) Ngubani oqukiweyo kwisibhengezo nxamnye neDamasko? (c) Yintoni amaKristu anokuyifunda namhlanje kumzekelo kaSirayeli?

¹⁵ Ngokulandelayo, uIsaya ubhala “isibhengezo nxamnye neDamasko.” (Funda uIsaya 17:1-6.) IDamasko, ekumntla wakwaSirayeli, ‘iyintloko yeSiriya.’ (Isaya 7:8) Ebudeni bokulawula kukaKumkani uAhazi wakwaYuda, uRetsin waseDamasko ekunye noPeka wakwaSirayeli bahlasela uYuda. Kodwa ke, ngokucelwa nguAhazi, uTigelati-pilesere III waseAsiriya walwa neDamasko, wayoyisa waza wathimba abemi bayo abaninzi. Emva koko, iDamasko yayeka ukuba sisisongelo kuYuda.—2 Kumkani 16:5-9; 2 Kronike 28:5, 16.

¹⁶ Mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuzimanya kukaSirayeli neDamasko, isibhengezo sikaYehova nxamnye nayo sikwaquka ukugwetywa kobo bukhosi basentla bungathembekanga. (Isaya 17:3-6) USirayeli uya kufana nentsimi ngexesha lokuvuna enokudla okuziinkozo okuncinane okanye umnquma oneminquma emininzi evuthulukileyo emasebeni awo. (Isaya 17:4-6) Onjani wona ukuxhokonx’ ingcamango umzekelo kwabo bazinikeleyo kuYehova! Ulindele uzinikelo olupheleleyo kubo yaye wamkela kuphela inkonzo engcwele eyenziwa ngokusuk’ entliziyweni. Yaye ubathiyile abo babavukelayo abazalwana babo.—Eksodus 20:5; Isaya 17:10, 11; Mateyu 24:48-50.

Ukuba Nentembelo Epheleleyo KuYehova

17, 18. (a) Bambi kuSirayeli basabela njani kwisibhengezo sikaYehova, kodwa injani intsabelo ngokubanzi? (b) Iziganeko zanamhlanje zifana njani nezo zomhla kaHezekiya?

¹⁷ UIsaya ngoku uthi: “Ngaloo mini umntu wasemhlabeni uya kukhangela phezulu kuMenzi wakhe, namehlo akhe aya kondela kuLowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli. Akayi kukhangela ezibingelelweni, umsebenzi wezandla zakhe; yaye akayi kondela nakoko kwenziwe yiminwe yakhe, nokuba kukwizibonda ezingcwele okanye kwiziganga zeziqhumiso.” (Isaya 17:7, 8) Ewe, abathile kwaSirayeli bayasithobela isibhengezo sikaYehova sesilumkiso. Ngokomzekelo, xa uHezekiya ethumela isimemo kubemi bakwaSirayeli sokuba bathelele uYuda ekubhiyozeleni iPasika, amanye amaSirayeli ayasabela aze ahambe ukuya ngasemzantsi ukuya kuthelela abantakwabo kunqulo olunyulu. (2 Kronike 30:1-12) Ukanti, inkoliso yabemi bakwaSirayeli, iyabagculela abathunywa abazise esi simemo. Eli lizwe lizaliswe luwexuko. Ngenxa yoko, isigqibo sikaYehova nxamnye nalo siyazaliseka. IAsiriya iyazitshabalalisa izixeko zakwaSirayeli, lize elo lizwe libe yinkangala enamadlelo atshileyo.—Funda uIsaya 17:9-11.

¹⁸ Kuthekani namhlanje? USirayeli wayeluhlanga oluwexukileyo. Ngoko, indlela uHezekiya awazama ngayo ukunceda abantu bolo hlanga ukuba babuyele kunqulo lokwenyaniso isikhumbuza indlela amaKristu okwenyaniso namhlanje azama ngayo ukunceda abantu abakwintlangano ewexukileyo yeNgqobhoko. Ukususela ngowe-1919, abathunywa abavela ‘kuSirayeli kaThixo’ baye bayityhutyha iNgqobhoko, bemema abantu ukuba babe nenxaxheba kunqulo olunyulu. (Galati 6:16) Inkoliso iye yala. Abaninzi baye babagculela aba bathunywa. Noko ke, bakho abaye basabela. Ngoku bafikelele kwizigidi, yaye bayayoliswa ‘kukondela kuLowo Ungcwele kaSirayeli,’ njengoko befundiswa nguye. (Isaya 54:13) Bayakutyeshela ukunqula kwimibingelelo engengcwele—ukuzinikela nokukholosa ngoothixo abenziwe ngabantu—baze baphethukele ngolangazelelo kuYehova. (INdumiso 146:3, 4) NjengoMika owayephila ngexesha likaIsaya, ngamnye kubo uthi: “Kodwa mna ke, ndiza kuhlala ndikhangele kuYehova. Ndiza kubonisa isimo sengqondo sokulindela kuThixo wosindiso lwam. UThixo wam uya kundiva.”—Mika 7:7.

19. Ngoobani aya kubakhalimela uYehova, yaye oku kuya kuthetha ntoni kubo?

¹⁹ Enjani yona ukwahluka imeko kweyabo bakholose ngabantu abafayo! Abantu kule mihla yokugqibela bathwaxwa lugonyamelo olunjengamaza naziintlekele. ‘Ulwandle’ olungabantu abangazinzanga nabangalawulekiyo lubangela ukunganeliseki nemvukelo. (Isaya 57:20; ISityhilelo 8:8, 9; 13:1) UYehova uza ‘kusikhalimela’ esi sihlwele sinengxolo. UBukumkani bakhe basezulwini buya kutshabalalisa intlangano nganye kwanomntu ngamnye odal’ inkathazo, yaye baya ‘kusabela kude njengesivuthevuthe sameva phambi kwesaqhwithi somoya.’—Isaya 17:12, 13; ISityhilelo 16:14, 16.

20. Phezu kwako nje ‘ukuphangwa’ ziintlanga, yiyiphi intembelo anayo amaKristu okwenyaniso?

²⁰ Uya kuba yintoni umphumo woko? UIsaya uthi: “Ngexesha langokuhlwa ziya kunkwantya ngequbuliso. Kungekasi—azikho. Siso eso isabelo sabo basiphangayo, neqashiso labo bazirhwaphilizelayo kuthi.” (Isaya 17:14) Abaninzi bayabaphanga abantu bakaYehova, bebaphatha rhabaxa nangokungenantlonelo. Ngenxa yokuba engeyiyo—yaye enganqweneli kuba yiyo—inxalenye yeenkonzo eziphambili zehlabathi, amaKristu okwenyaniso agqalwa njengezisulu ngabagxeki abanekhethe nangabachasi abanenzondelelo yempambano. Kodwa abantu bakaThixo banentembelo yokuba ‘ukusa’ kokuphela kwembandezelo yabo kusemnyango.—2 Tesalonika 1:6-9; 1 Petros 5:6-11.

ITiyopiya Izisa Isipho KuYehova

21, 22. Luluphi uhlanga olufumana isibhengezo somgwebo esilandelayo, yaye amazwi aphefumlelweyo kaIsaya azaliseka njani?

²¹ Ubuncinane kangangezihlandlo ezibini, iTiyopiya, esemazantsi kweYiputa, iye yalwa noYuda. (2 Kronike 12:2, 3; 14:1, 9-15; 16:8) Ngoku uIsaya uxela kwangaphambili ukugwetywa kolo hlanga, esithi: “Kwowu, ilizwe lezinambuzane ezinenzwinini yamaphiko, elikummandla wemilambo yaseTiyopiya!” (Funda uIsaya 18:1-6.)a UYehova uwisa ummiselo wokuba iTiyopiya iza ‘kunqunyulwa, ishenxiswe, ize ithenwe.’

²² Imbali yehlabathi ibonisa ukuba ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibhozo ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, iTiyopiya yayoyisa iYiputa yaza yayilawula kangangama-60 eminyaka. Emva koko kwahlasela abaLawuli baseAsiriya uEsar-haddon noAshurbanipal. Ngokutshatyalaliswa kweThebes nguAshurbanipal, iAsiriya yayoyisa iYiputa, ngaloo ndlela iphelisa ukulawula kweTiyopiya kwiNtlambo yoMnayile. (Bona kwanoIsaya 20:3-6.) Kuthekani kule mihla?

23. ‘ITiyopiya’ yanamhlanje idlala yiphi indima, yaye kutheni ifikelela esiphelweni?

²³ Kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli ‘sexesha lesiphelo,’ kuthiwa “ukumkani wasentla” oneengcwangu uya ‘kulandelwa’ ngamaTiyopiya namaLibhiya, oko kukuthi, aya kuthobela ulwalathiso lwakhe. (Daniyeli 11:40-43) Kwakhona iTiyopiya ichazwa njengekumkhosi wedabi ‘kaGogi welizwe lakwaMagogi.’ (Hezekile 38:2-5, 8) Imikhosi kaGogi, kuquka ukumkani wasentla, ifikelela esiphelweni sayo xa ihlasela uhlanga lukaYehova olungcwele. Ngoko, isandla sikaYehova siza kolulwa kwananxamnye ‘neTiyopiya’ yanamhlanje ngenxa yokuchasa kwayo ulongamo lukaYehova.—Hezekile 38:21-23; Daniyeli 11:45.

24. UYehova uzifumana ngayiphi indlela “izipho” kwiintlanga?

²⁴ Kodwa, isiprofeto sikwathi: “Ngelo xesha kuya kuziswa isipho kuYehova wemikhosi, sivela kwisizwana eside nesigudileyo, sona kanye isizwana esoyikekayo kuyo yonk’ indawo . . . sisiwe kwindawo yegama likaYehova wemikhosi, iNtaba yeZiyon.” (Isaya 18:7) Nangona iintlanga zingalunanzanga ulongamo lukaYehova, ziye maxa wambi izenzo zazo zabazisela iingenelo abantu bakaYehova. Kwamanye amazwe abasemagunyeni baye bawisa imigaqo-siseko benza nezigqibo zeenkundla zamatyala ezibanika amalungelo asemthethweni abanquli abathembekileyo bakaYehova. (IZenzo 5:29; ISityhilelo 12:15, 16) Yaye kukho nezinye izipho. “Ookumkani baya kukuzisela izipho. . . . Izinto ezenziwe ngobhedu ziya kufika zivela eYiputa; uKushe [iTiyopiya] uya kukhawuleza olule isandla sakhe sinezipho zikaThixo.” (INdumiso 68:29-31) Namhlanje, izigidi ‘zamaTiyopiya’ oyika uYehova zizisa “isipho” esilunqulo lwawo. (Malaki 1:11) Zinesabelo kumsebenzi omkhulu wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani emhlabeni wonke. (Mateyu 24:14; ISityhilelo 14:6, 7) Esinjani sona ukuba sihle isipho ezisinika uYehova!—Hebhere 13:15.

Intliziyo YeYiputa Iyanyibilika

25. Ukuzalisekisa uIsaya 19:1-11, kwenzeka ntoni kwiYiputa yamandulo?

²⁵ Ummelwane osondeleyo kuYuda kwicala elingasemazantsi yiYiputa, ekukudala ilutshaba lwabantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso. UIsaya isahluko 19 uchaza isiphithiphithi saseYiputa ngexesha likaIsaya. Kukho imfazwe yamakhaya eYiputa, kulwa “isixeko nxamnye nesixeko, ubukumkani nxamnye nobukumkani.” (Isaya 19:2, 13, 14) Ababhali-mbali banikela ubungqina bokuxambulisana kwabalawuli bemimandla eyahlukeneyo yelo lizwe kwangaxeshanye. Ubulumko bayo eqhayisa ngabo iYiputa, ‘noothixo bayo abangenaxabiso nabo basebenzisa amakhubalo,’ abayisindisi “esandleni senkosi elukhuni.” (Isaya 19:3, 4) Ngokulandelelanayo iYiputa yoyiswa yiAsiriya, iBhabhiloni, iPersi, iGrisi neRoma. Zonke ezi ziganeko zizalisekisa iziprofeto ezikuIsaya 19:1-11.

26. Kwinzaliseko engakumbi, abemi ‘baseYiputa’ yanamhlanje basabela njani kumgwebo kaYehova?

²⁶ Noko ke, eBhayibhileni, iYiputa isoloko ifanekisela ihlabathi likaSathana. (Hezekile 29:3; Yoweli 3:19; ISityhilelo 11:8) Ngoko ke, ngaba “isibhengezo” sikaIsaya “nxamnye neYiputa” sinenzaliseko engakumbi? Eneneni, kunjalo! Intshayelelo yesi siprofeto ifanele ishukumisele wonk’ ubani ukuba acingisise nzulu ngaso: “Khangela! UYehova ukhwele kwilifu elikhawulezayo esiya eYiputa. Kwaye oothixo baseYiputa abangenaxabiso ngokuqinisekileyo baya kudidizela ngenxa yakhe, nentliziyo yeYiputa iya kunyibilika ngaphakathi kuyo.” (Isaya 19:1) Kungekudala uYehova uza kuthabatha inyathelo nxamnye nentlangano kaSathana. Ngelo xesha, oothixo bale nkqubo yezinto baya kubonakala bengenaxabiso. (INdumiso 96:5; 97:7) ‘Intliziyo yeYiputa iya kunyibilika’ luloyiko. UYesu walichaza kwangaphambili elo xesha, esithi: ‘Kuya kubakho ukubandezeleka kweentlanga, zingayazi indlela yokuphuma ngenxa yokugquma kolwandle nokuyaluzela kwalo, ngoxa abantu besifa isiqaqa ngenxa yoloyiko nolindelo lwezinto ezifikela umhlaba omiweyo.’—Luka 21:25, 26.

27. Yiyiphi iyantlukwano ekwaxelwa kwangaphambili ukuba iza kubakho “eYiputa,” yaye oku kuzaliseka njani namhlanje?

²⁷ Ethetha ngexesha elikhokelela ekuphunyezweni komgwebo wakhe, uYehova uprofeta athi: “Ndiza kuwaxhokonxa amaYiputa nxamnye namaYiputa, yaye ngokuqinisekileyo aya kulwa elowo nomntakwabo, elowo neqabane lakhe, isixeko nxamnye nesixeko, ubukumkani nxamnye nobukumkani.” (Isaya 19:2) Ukususela ekumiselweni koBukumkani bukaThixo ngowe-1914, “umqondiso wobukho” bukaYesu uye waphawulwa kukuvukelana kohlanga nohlanga nokuvukelana kobukumkani nobukumkani. Ukubulalana ngenxa yobuzwe, nokutshatyalaliswa kohlanga, kuye kwasuba ubomi bezigidi zabantu ebudeni bale mihla yokugqibela. Oko “kuqala kwenimba” kuya kuba mandundu njengoko isiphelo sisondela.—Mateyu 24:3, 7, 8.

28. Ngomhla womgwebo, yintoni unqulo lobuxoki oluya kukwazi ukuyenza ukuze lusindise le nkqubo yezinto?

²⁸ “AmaYiputa aya kudubadubeka, ndilitshitshise icebo lawo. Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo aya kubhenela koothixo abangenaxabiso nakwabasebenzisa amakhubalo nakwabaneshologu nakubaxeli-ziganeko kwangaphambili abaziinkunkqele.” (Isaya 19:3) Xa uMoses wema phambi kukaFaro, ababingeleli baseYiputa bahlaziswa, bengakwazi ukumelana namandla kaYehova. (Eksodus 8:18, 19; IZenzo 13:8; 2 Timoti 3:8) Ngokufanayo, ngomhla womgwebo, unqulo lobuxoki aluyi kukwazi ukuyisindisa le nkqubo yonakeleyo. (Thelekisa uIsaya 47:1, 11-13.) Ekugqibeleni, iYiputa yaba phantsi ‘kwenkosi elukhuni,’ iAsiriya. (Isaya 19:4) Oku kufanekisela kwangaphambili ikamva elimfiliba ejamelene nalo le nkqubo yezinto.

29. Ekufikeni kwemini kaYehova, baya kuba luncedo kangakanani abezobupolitika?

²⁹ Noko ke, kuthekani ngeenkokeli zobupolitika? Ngaba zona zinokunceda? “Iinkosana zaseTsowan eneneni zizizidenge. Ngokubhekisele kwizilumko ezikubacebisi bakaFaro ke, icebo lazo liyinto engekho ngqiqweni.” (Funda uIsaya 19:5-11.) Hayi indlela ekungekho ngqiqweni ngayo ukuthemba ukuba abacebisi babantu baya kuba luncedo ngomhla womgwebo! Nakuba benalo lonke ulwazi lwehlabathi, kodwa abanabo ubulumko bobuthixo. (1 Korinte 3:19) Baye bamgatya uYehova baza baphethukela koko kufane kubizwe ngokuba yinzululwazi, intanda-bulumko, imali, iziyolo, nakwabanye oothixo. Ngenxa yoko, abanalo ulwazi ngeenjongo zikaThixo. Bakhohlisiwe yaye badidekile. Imisebenzi yabo ililize. (Funda uIsaya 19:12-15.) “Izilumko zibe neentloni. Zinkwantyile kwaye ziya kubanjiswa. Khangela! Ziligatyile ilizwi likaYehova, zinabuphi na ke ubulumko?”—Yeremiya 8:9.

Umqondiso Nobungqina KuYehova

30. ‘Umhlaba wakwaYuda uyenza igxadazele iYiputa’ ngayiphi indlela?

³⁰ Noko ke, ngoxa iinkokeli ‘zaseYiputa’ zibuthathaka, “njengabafazi,” basekho abantu abafuna ubulumko bobuthixo. Abathanjiswa bakaYehova namaqabane abo ‘bavakalisa ngokubanzi iimbalasane zikaThixo.’ (Isaya 19:16; 1 Petros 2:9) Benza konke okusemandleni abo ukulumkisa abantu ngokusondela kwesiphelo sentlangano kaSathana. Ekhangele phambili kule meko, uIsaya uthi: “Umhlaba wakwaYuda uya kuyenza igxadazele iYiputa. Wonke ubani athe umntu wawukhankanya kuye uyankwantya ngenxa yesigqibo agqibe kuso uYehova wemikhosi nxamnye naye.” (Isaya 19:17) Abathunywa abathembekileyo bakaYehova babaxelela inyaniso abantu—nyaniso leyo equka isibhengezo sezibetho azixele kwangaphambili uYehova. (ISityhilelo 8:7-12; 16:2-12) Oku kuyaziphazamisa iinkokeli zonqulo zehlabathi.

31. Kwenzeka njani ukuba “ulwimi lwakwaKanan” luthethwe kwizixeko zaseYiputa (a) kumaxesha amandulo? (b) kumaxesha ale mihla?

³¹ Uyintoni umphumo omangalisayo woku kuvakalisa kwabo? “Ngaloo mini kuya kubakho izixeko ezihlanu kwilizwe laseYiputa ezithetha ulwimi lwakwaKanan nezifunga uYehova wemikhosi. Esinye isixeko siya kubizwa ngokuba sisiXeko Sokuchitha.” (Isaya 19:18) Kumaxesha amandulo kubonakala ukuba esi siprofeto sazaliseka xa ulwimi lwesiHebhere lwaluthethwa kwizixeko zaseYiputa ngamaYuda awayesabele apho. (Yeremiya 24:1, 8-10; 41:1-3; 42:9–43:7; 44:1) Nanamhlanje, bakho abantu kumhlaba ‘weYiputa’ yanamhlanje abaye bafunda ukuthetha “ulwimi olusulungekileyo” lwenyaniso yeBhayibhile. (Zefaniya 3:9) Esinye sezo zixeko zihlanu zokomfuziselo sibizwa ngokuba “sisiXeko Sokuchitha,” nto leyo ebonisa ukuba inxalenye ‘yolwimi olusulungekileyo’ inento yokwenza nokubhencwa ‘kwanokuchithwa’ kwentlangano kaSathana.

32. (a) Sisiphi “isibingelelo” esiphakathi kwelizwe laseYiputa? (b) Abathanjiswa bayiyo ngayiphi indlela ‘intsika’ ngasemdeni weYiputa?

³² Ngenxa yomsebenzi wokubhengeza wabantu bakaYehova, igama lakhe elikhulu liya kwaziwa ngokuqinisekileyo kule nkqubo yezinto. “Ngaloo mini kuya kubakho isibingelelo kuYehova phakathi kwelizwe laseYiputa, nentsika kaYehova ibe ngasemdeni wayo.” (Isaya 19:19) La mazwi alatha kwisigxina samaKristu athanjisiweyo, akulwalamano lomnqophiso noThixo. (INdumiso 50:5) ‘Njengesibingelelo’ anikela imibingelelo; ‘njengentsika nesixhaso senyaniso,’ anikela ubungqina kuYehova. (1 Timoti 3:15; Roma 12:1; Hebhere 13:15, 16) ‘Aphakathi kwelizwe,’ njengoko efumaneka—wona kunye namaqabane awo “ezinye izimvu”—kumazwe nakwiziqithi zolwandle ezingaphezu kwama-230. Kodwa ‘akayiyo inxalenye yehlabathi.’ (Yohane 10:16; 17:15, 16) Ngokungathi kunjalo, ami emdeni weli hlabathi noBukumkani bukaThixo, elungele ukuwuwela loo mda aze amkele umvuzo wawo wasezulwini.

33. Abathanjiswa banguwo ngaziphi iindlela “umqondiso nobungqina” “eYiputa”?

³³ UIsaya uhlabela mgama esithi: “Siya kuba ngumqondiso nobungqina kuYehova wemikhosi kwilizwe laseYiputa; kuba baya kudanduluka kuYehova ngenxa yabacinezeli, yaye uya kubathumelela umsindisi ozukileyo, oya kuthi okunene abahlangule.” (Isaya 19:20) ‘Njengomqondiso’ “nobungqina,” abathanjiswa bayakhokela emsebenzini wokushumayela yaye baphakamisa igama likaYehova kule nkqubo yezinto. (Isaya 8:18; Hebhere 2:13) Ehlabathini lonke kuvakala isikhalo sabantu abacinezelwayo, kodwa ubukhulu becala, oorhulumente babantu abakwazi kubanceda. Noko ke, uYehova uza kuthumela uMsindisi Ozukileyo, uKumkani uYesu Kristu, ukuba akhulule bonke abalulamileyo. Xa le mihla yokugqibela ifikelela incopho yayo ngemfazwe yeArmagedon, uya kubazisela isiqabu neentsikelelo ezingunaphakade abantu aboyik’ uThixo.—INdumiso 72:2, 4, 7, 12-14.

34. (a) UYehova uza kwaziwa njani ‘ngamaYiputa,’ yaye nguwuphi umbingelelo nesipho aya kumnika sona? (b) UYehova uya kuyibetha nini ngesibetho “iYiputa,” yaye kukuphi ukuphilisa okuya kulandela?

³⁴ Okwangoku, ukuthanda kukaThixo kukuba zonke iintlobo zabantu zizuze ulwazi oluchanileyo zize zisindiswe. (1 Timoti 2:4) Kungako nje, uIsaya ebhala esithi: “UYehova uya kuzazisa kumaYiputa; amazi uYehova amaYiputa ngaloo mini, kwaye amele anikele umbingelelo nesipho yaye amele enze isibhambathiso kuYehova aze asifezekise. UYehova uya kuyibetha ngesibetho iYiputa. Iya kubethwa ngesibetho ize iphiliswe; baya kubuyela kuYehova, aze asabele akubongozwa ngabo, abaphilise.” (Isaya 19:21, 22) Abantu bazo zonke iintlanga zehlabathi likaSathana, “amaYiputa,” bafikelela ekumazini uYehova baze banikele umbingelelo kuye, “isiqhamo semilebe evakalisa ekuhleni igama lakhe.” (Hebhere 13:15) Benza isibhambathiso kuYehova ngokuzinikela kuye, yaye basizalisekisa isibhambathiso sabo ngokunikela inkonzo enyanisekileyo. Emva kokuyibetha kukaYehova “ngesibetho” le nkqubo yezinto eArmagedon, uza kusebenzisa uBukumkani bakhe ukuphilisa uluntu. Ebudeni beWaka Leminyaka Lokulawula kukaYesu, uluntu luya kuphakanyiselwa kwimfezeko engokomoya, engokwengqondo, engokokuziphatha nengokwasemzimbeni—ukuphiliswa ngokwenene!—ISityhilelo 22:1, 2.

“Mabasikelelwe Abantu Bam”

35, 36. Ukuzalisekisa uIsaya 19:23-25, luluphi ulwalamano olwabakho ngamaxesha amandulo phakathi kweYiputa, iAsiriya noSirayeli?

³⁵ Wandula ngoku umprofeti abone kwangaphambili isiganeko esimangalisayo: “Ngaloo mini kuya kubakho uhola wendlela ophuma eYiputa oya eAsiriya, eze ama-Asiriya eYiputa, namaYiputa aye eAsiriya; akhonze kunye amaYiputa nama-Asiriya. Ngaloo mini uSirayeli uya kuba ngowesithathu kunye neYiputa neAsiriya, oko kukuthi, intsikelelo phakathi komhlaba, ngenxa yokuba uYehova wemikhosi uya kube eyisikelele, esithi: ‘Mabasikelelwe abantu bam, iYiputa, nomsebenzi wezandla zam, iAsiriya, nelifa lam, uSirayeli.’” (Isaya 19:23-25) Ewe, ngaminazana ithile kuya kubakho ulwalamano lobuhlobo phakathi kweYiputa neAsiriya. Luya kubakho njani?

³⁶ Xa uYehova wabahlangulayo kwiintlanga abantu bakhe kumaxesha adluleyo, wabenzela oohola abaya enkululekweni, ngokungathi kunjalo. (Isaya 11:16; 35:8-10; 49:11-13; Yeremiya 31:21) Inzaliseko elinganiselweyo yesi siprofeto yabakho emva kokoyiswa kweBhabhiloni xa abathinjwa baseAsiriya nabaseYiputa, kwanabaseBhabhiloni, babuyiselwa kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. (Isaya 11:11) Kodwa kuthekani ngamaxesha anamhlanje?

37. Izigidi namhlanje ziphila njani ngokungathi bekukho uhola wendlela phakathi ‘kweAsiriya’ “neYiputa”?

³⁷ Namhlanje, intsalela yamaSirayeli okomoya athanjisiweyo ‘iyintsikelelo phakathi komhlaba.’ Ikhuthaza unqulo lokwenyaniso yaye ivakalisa isigidimi soBukumkani kubantu bazo zonke iintlanga. Ezinye zezi ntlanga zifana neAsiriya, eyayixhobe yafohlela. Ezinye iintlanga zinikela inkululeko engakumbi, njengeYiputa—eyakhe ngaxa lithile yaba ‘ngukumkani wasezantsi’ kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 11:5, 8) Izigidi zabantu abavela kwiintlanga ezixhobe zafohlela nezinikela inkululeko engakumbi ziye zamkela unqulo lokwenyaniso. Ngaloo ndlela, abantu bazo zonke iintlanga baye ‘bakhonza’ ngokumanyeneyo. Akukho lucalucalulo lobuhlanga phakathi kwabo. Bayathandana, yaye ke ngoko kunokutshiwo ngokunyanisekileyo ukuthi ‘iAsiriya iza eYiputa neYiputa iza eAsiriya.’ Kufana nokungathi kukho uhola wendlela ozidibanisayo.—1 Petros 2:17.

38. (a) Kuza kwenzeka njani ukuba uSirayeli abe “ngowesithathu neYiputa neAsiriya”? (b) Kutheni uYehova esithi “Mabasikelelwe abantu bam”?

³⁸ Noko ke, kwenzeka njani ukuba uSirayeli abe “ngowesithathu neYiputa neAsiriya”? Ekuqaleni ‘kwexesha lesiphelo,’ inkoliso yabo bakhonza uYehova emhlabeni babengamalungu ‘oSirayeli kaThixo.’ (Daniyeli 12:9; Galati 6:16) Ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1930, kuye kwavela isihlwele esikhulu ‘sezinye izimvu,’ esinethemba lokuphila emhlabeni. (Yohane 10:16a; ISityhilelo 7:9) Siphuma ezintlangeni—ezifanekiselwa yiYiputa neAsiriya—singumsinga ukuya endlwini kaYehova yonqulo yaye simema nabanye ukuba basithelele. (Isaya 2:2-4) Senza umsebenzi ofanayo nalowo wabantakwabo abathanjisiweyo, sinyamezela izilingo ezifanayo, sibonakalisa ukholo nengqibelelo efanayo, yaye sidla etafileni efanayo yokomoya. Enyanisweni, abathanjiswa kunye “nezinye izimvu” ‘bamhlambi mnye, benomalusi omnye.’ (Yohane 10:16b) Ngaba kukho nabani na onokuyithandabuza into yokuba uYehova, xa ebona inzondelelo nonyamezelo lwabo, uyakholiswa ngumsebenzi wabo? Asingomnqa ke ngoko into yokuba avakalise athi ngabo: “Mabasikelelwe abantu bam”!

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 191]

Abaphumi-mkhosi bamaFilisti besukela iintshaba zabo (Umkrolo waseYiputa ukususela ngenkulungwane ye-12 B.C.E.)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 192]

Umkrolo oselityeni womphumi-mkhosi okanye uthixo wamaMowabhi (phakathi kwenkulungwane ye-11 neye-8 B.C.E.)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 196]

Umphumi-mkhosi waseSiriya ekhwele inkamela (ngenkulungwane yesithoba ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo)

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 198]

‘Ulwandle’ olungabantu abavukelayo ludala isiphithiphithi nemvukelo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 203]

Ababingeleli baseYiputa abakwazanga kuzilinganisa noYehova ngamandla