Incwadi YeBhayibhile 26—Hezekile

Umbhali: NguHezekile

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EBhabhiloni

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-591 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowama-613 kuse malunga nowama-591 B.C.E.

 1. Zazinjani iimeko kubathinjwa ababeseBhabhiloni, kwaye ziziphi iimvavanyo ezintsha abajamelana nazo?

NGONYAKA wama-617 B.C.E., uYehoyakin, ukumkani wakwaYuda, wanikezela iYerusalem kuNebhukadenetsare, owathabathela eBhabhiloni abantu abayinqobo yelizwe nobuncwane bendlu kaYehova nobendlu kakumkani. Phakathi kwabantu ababethinjiwe kwakukho intsapho nabathetheli bakakumkani; amadoda angamagorha, anobukroti; iingcibi nabakhi; noHezekile unyana kaBhuzi umbingeleli. (2 Kum. 24:11-17; Hez. 1:1-3) Eneentliziyo ezibuhlungu, la maSirayeli athinjiweyo ayelugqibile uhambo lwawo oludinisayo esuka kwilizwe elineenduli, elinemithombo nelineentlambo esiya kwelo linamathafa amakhulu athe tyaba. Ngoku ayehlala kufutshane nomlambo iKebhare phakathi kubukhosi obunamandla, ejikelezwe ngabantu abanamasiko angaqhelekanga onqulo lobuhedeni. UNebhukadenetsare wawavumela amaSirayeli ukuba azakhele izindlu zawo, abe nabakhonzi, aze abandakanyeke kwezoshishino. (Hez. 8:1; Yer. 29:5-7; Ezra 2:65) Ukuba ayekhuthele, ayenokuba zizityebi. Ngaba ayeza kuwela kwimigibe yonqulo lwaseBhabhiloni nasekuthandeni izinto eziphathekayo? Ngaba ayeza kuqhubeka emvukela uYehova? Ngaba ayeza kukwamkela ukuthinjwa kwawo njengoqeqesho oluvela kuye? Ayeza kuhlangabezana neemvavanyo ezintsha kwilizwe awayethinjelwe kulo.

 2. (a) Ngabaphi abaprofeti abathathu ababebalasele ebudeni beminyaka yomngcipheko yangaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem? (b) Uchazwa njani ngokukhethekileyo uHezekile, kwaye lithetha ntoni igama lakhe? (c) Kusebudeni bayiphi iminyaka awaprofeta ngayo uHezekile, kwaye yintoni eyaziwayo ngobomi nangokufa kwakhe?

² Ebudeni bale minyaka yomngcipheko eyayikhokelela ekutshatyalalisweni kweYerusalem, uYehova akazange azigatye iinkonzo zomprofeti okanye awabandeze amaSirayeli iinkonzo ezinjalo. UYeremiya wayeseYerusalem phakathi, uDaniyeli wayekwikomkhulu laseBhabhiloni yaye uHezekile wayengumprofeti wamaYuda awayesekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni. UHezekile wayengumbingeleli okwangumprofeti, sigxina eso ngokufanayo esananditshwa nguYeremiya saza kamva sananditshwa nguZekariya. (Hez. 1:3) Kwincwadi yakhe yonke uchazwa kangangezihlandlo ezingaphezu kwama-90 ‘njengonyana womntu,’ ngongoma leyo ekhethekileyo xa ufundisisa isiprofeto sakhe kuba, kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, ngokufanayo kangangezihlandlo eziphantse zibe ngama-80 kubhekiselwa kuYesu ‘njengoNyana womntu.’ (Hez. 2:1; Mat. 8:20) Igama lakhe elithi Hezekile (Yechez·qeʼlʹ, ngesiHebhere) lithetha ukuthi “UThixo Uyomeleza.” Kwakungonyaka wesihlanu wokuthinjwa kukaYehoyakin, ngowama-613 B.C.E., awathi uHezekile wathunywa nguYehova njengomprofeti. Sifunda ngaye esekumsebenzi wakhe ngonyaka wama-27 wokuthinjwa, iminyaka engama-22 kamva. (Hez. 1:1, 2; 29:17) Wayetshatile, kodwa umkakhe wafa ngomhla awathi ngawo uNebhukadenetsare waqalisa ukungqinga kwakhe kokugqibela iYerusalem. (24:2, 18) Umhla nendlela yena awafa ngayo azaziwa.

 3. Yintoni enokuthethwa ngokuba ngumbhali kukaHezekile, kwanokuba yinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele nobunyaniso bencwadi kaHezekile?

³ Into yokuba ngokwenene uHezekile wayibhala incwadi ethiywe ngegama lakhe nokuba inendawo efanelekileyo kwimibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo asinto kuphikiswana ngayo. Yayiqukiwe kwimibhalo engcwele yomhla kaEzra kwaye iyavela kuludwe lweencwadi zamaxesha obuKristu bokuqala, ngokuphawulekayo kwimibhalo engcwele kaOrigen. Ubunyaniso bayo bukwangqinwa kukufana okumangalisayo okuphakathi kwemizekeliso yayo naleyo kaYeremiya neyeSityhilelo.—Hez. 24:2-12—Yer. 1:13-15; Hez. 23:1-49—Yer. 3:6-11; Hez. 18:2-4—Yer. 31:29, 30; Hez. 1:5, 10—ISityhi. 4:6, 7; Hez. 5:17—ISityhi. 6:8; Hez. 9:4—ISityhi. 7:3; Hez. 2:9; 3:1—ISityhi. 10:2, 8-10; Hez. 23:22, 25, 26—ISityhi. 17:16; 18:8; Hez. 27:30, 36—ISityhi. 18:9, 17-19; Hez. 37:27—ISityhi. 21:3; Hez. 48:30-34—ISityhi. 21:12, 13; Hez. 47:1, 7, 12—ISityhi. 22:1, 2.

 4. Yiyiphi inzaliseko ecacileyo eye yakho kwiziprofeto zikaHezekile?

⁴ Ubungqina obubhekele phaya bobunyaniso bayo bufunyanwa kwinzaliseko ecacileyo yeziprofeto zikaHezekile nxamnye neentlanga ezingabamelwane, ezinjengeTire, iYiputa ne-Edom. Ngokomzekelo, uHezekile waprofeta ukuba iTire yayiza kuphanziswa, yaye oku kwazaliseka ngokuyinxenye xa uNebhukadenetsare wasithabathayo eso sixeko emva kongqingo olwathabatha iminyaka eli-13. (Hez. 26:2-21) Oku kungavisisani akuzange kuthethe siphelo sipheleleyo seTire. Phofu ke, umgwebo kaYehova wawukukuba yayifanele itshatyalaliswe ngokupheleleyo. NgoHezekile wayexele kwangaphambili ukuba: “Ndolutshayela uthuli lwayo kuyo, ndiyenze ibe yingxondorha ebalelelwe lilanga. . . . Bawatshonise emanzini amatye akho, nemithi yakho, nothuli lwakho.” (26:4, 12) Konke oku kwazalisekiswa kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-250 kamva xa uAlesandire Omkhulu waya kuhlasela isiqithi sesixeko saseTire. Amajoni ka-Alesandire abutshayela bonke ubutyobo besixeko selizwe elatshatyalaliswayo aza abududulela elwandle, esenza indlela ephakamileyo enobude obuziimitha ezingama-800 ephumela ngaphaya kweso sixeko sisesiqithini. Andula ke, ngeenqaba ezinde awazakhayo, angena kwiindonga ezinobude obuziimitha ezingama-46 ukuze asithabathe eso sixeko ngowama-332 B.C.E. Amawakawaka abantu abulawa, kwaye abaninzi ngakumbi bathengiswa njengamakhoboka. Njengokuba uHezekile wayekwaxele kwangaphambili, iTire yaba ‘yingxondorha ebalelelwe lilanga yaza yaba yindawo yokwaneka iminatha.’ (26:14)a Kwelinye icala leLizwe Ledinga, amaEdom azizityebi nawo atshatyalaliswa, ukuzalisekisa isiprofeto sikaHezekile. (25:12, 13; 35:2-9)b Kambe ke, iziprofeto zikaHezekile ezazingokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem nokubuyiselwa kwamaSirayeli nazo zangqineka zichanile.—17:12-21; 36:7-14.

 5. Asabela njani amaYuda kwiziprofeto zokuqala zikaHezekile?

⁵ Kwiminyaka yakhe yokuqala kumsebenzi wokuba ngumprofeti, uHezekile wavakalisa imigwebo eyayiqinisekile kaThixo nxamnye neYerusalem engathembekanga waza wabalumkisa abantu ababethinjiwe nxamnye nokunqula izithixo. (14:1-8; 17:12-21) AmaYuda awayesekuthinjweni ayengabonisi mpawu zokwenene zokuguquka. Abantu bolu hlanga abanembopheleleko babecela icebiso kuHezekile, kodwa abazange bazinikele ngqalelo izigidimi ezazivela kuYehova ezanikelwa nguHezekile kubo. Baqhubela phambili nokukhonza kwabo izithixo noqheliselo lokuthanda izinto eziphathekayo. Ukulahlekelwa kwabo yitempile, sisixeko sabo esingcwele nangumnombo wookumkani babo kwabothusa ngokoyikekayo, kodwa ngabambalwa kuphela abazithobayo nabaguqukayo.—INdu. 137:1-9.

 6. Zagxininisa ntoni iziprofeto zamva zikaHezekile, kwaye ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova kubalaseliswa njani?

⁶ Kwiminyaka eyalandelayo iziprofeto zikaHezekile zagxininisa kwithemba lokubuyiselwa. Kwakhona zivakalisa ukukhalinyelwa kweentlanga ezingabamelwane bakwaYuda ngenxa yokuba nemihlali kwazo ngokuwa kwakhe. Ukuhlaziswa kwazo, ndawonye nokubuyiselwa kukaSirayeli, kwakuza kungcwalisa uYehova phambi kwazo. Ngokushwankathelayo, injongo yokuthinjwa neyokubuyiselwa yayiyile: ‘Nina zintlanga, maYuda nezizwe, niya kwazi ukuba ndinguYehova.’ (Hez. 39:7, 22) Oku kungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova kubalaseliswa kuyo yonke le ncwadi, elithi kuyo livele kangangezihlandlo ezingaphezu kwama-60 ibinzana elithi: “Nazi [okanye, bazi] ukuba ndinguYehova.”—6:7, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW.

OKUQULETHWE YEKAHEZEKILE

 7. Le ncwadi kaHezekile inawaphi amacandelo amathathu?

⁷ Le ncwadi inamacandelo amathathu. Elokuqala, isahluko 1 kuse kwesama-24, liqulethe izilumkiso zentshabalalo eqinisekileyo yeYerusalem. Icandelo lesibini, isahluko 25 kuse kwesama-32, liqulethe iziprofeto zokutshatyalaliswa kweentlanga ezininzi ezingabahedeni. Icandelo lokugqibela, isahluko 33 ukuya kwesama-48, lineziprofeto zokubuyiselwa, ezifikelela uvutho-ndaba ngombono wetempile entsha nesixeko esingcwele. Ubukhulu becala, ezi ziprofeto zilungelelaniswe ngokolandelelwano lwamaxesha nangokwezi mini.

 8. Ubona ntoni uHezekile kumbono wakhe wokuqala?

⁸ UYehova uthuma uHezekile njengomlindi (1:1–3:27). Kumbono wakhe wokuqala, ngowama-613 B.C.E., uHezekile ubona umoya ovuthuzayo uvela ngasentla, ndawonye nelifu elikhulu nomlilo obumbeneyo njengembumbulu. Kuwo kuphuma izinto eziphilileyo ezine, zinobuso bomntu, bengonyama, benkomo nobokhozi. Imbonakalo yazo ibiyeyamalahle avuthayo, kwaye nganye yazo ikhatshwa, ngokungathi kunjalo, livili elingaphakathi kwevili eliphakame ngokoyikekayo, iifeleni zazo zizele ngamehlo. Ziya nokuba kukweliphi na icala ngokumanyana okungaguquguqukiyo. Ngaphezu kweentloko zezinto eziphilileyo kukho into efana nesibhakabhaka, yaye ngaphezu kwesibhakabhaka kukho itrone ekukho kuyo “imbonakalo yomfanekiselo wobuqaqawuli bukaYehova.”—1:28.

 9. Kubandakanyeke ntoni kuthumo lukaHezekile?

⁹ UYehova ubiza uHezekile oqubudileyo esithi: “Nyana womntu, yima ngeenyawo.” Wandula ke amthume njengomprofeti kuSirayeli nakwiintlanga ezivukelayo. Enoba ziyathobela okanye azithobeli oko akunamsebenzi. Ubuncinane ziya kwazi ukuba umprofeti weNkosi uYehova ubephakathi kwazo. UYehova uyalela uHezekile ukuba atye incwadi esongwayo, ethi ibe nencasa enjengeyobusi emlonyeni wakhe. Umxelela oku: “Nyana womntu, ndikwenze umboniseli kwindlu kaSirayeli.” (2:1; 3:17) UHezekile umele asinikele ngokuthembeka esi silumkiso, kungenjalo uya kufa.

10. UHezekile wenza wuphi umqondiso kuSirayeli?

¹⁰ Ukwenziwa komqondiso wokungqingwa kweYerusalem (4:1–7:27). UYehova uxelela uHezekile ukuba akrole umfanekiso weYerusalem phezu kwesitena. Umele enze ungqingo oluthile oluhlekisayo njengomqondiso kuSirayeli. Ukugxininisa le ngongoma, umele alale ngecala lakhe langasekhohlo phambi kwesi sitena kangangeentsuku ezingama-390 aze alale ngecala lakhe langasekunene kangangeentsuku ezingama-40, ngoxa ephila ngokutya okuncinane kakhulu. Into ebonisa ukuba uHezekile ngokwenene wakwenza oku sisibongozo sakhe esilusizi asibhekisa kuYehova sokuba atshintshe izibaso zokupheka.—4:9-15.

11. (a) UHezekile uwenza njani umqondiso wesiphelo esiyintlekele sokungqingwa? (b) Kutheni le nto kungayi kubakho kukhululwa?

¹¹ UYehova uxelela uHezekile ukuba enze umqondiso wesiphelo esiyintlekele solu ngqingo ngokucheba iinwele neendevu zakhe. Isahlulo sesithathu sazo umele asitshise, isahlulo sesithathu asixabele ngekrele, aze isahlulo sesithathu asisasaze emoyeni. Ngaloo ndlela, ekupheleni kolu ngqingo, abanye kubemi baseYerusalem baya kufa yindlala, yindyikitya yokufa nalikrele, yaye bonke abaseleyo baya kusasazeka ezintlangeni. UYehova uya kuyiphanzisa. Ngasiphi isizathu? Ngenxa yobugwenxa bayo bokunqula izithixo okubi nokulisikizi. Ubutyebi abuyi kuyikhulula. Ngomhla wokuvutha komsindo kaYehova, abantu baseYerusalem baya kuyiphosa ezitratweni isilivere yabo, “bazi ukuba ndinguYehova.”—7:27.

12. Ziziphi izinto ezingamasikizi ezibonwa nguHezekile kumbono wakhe weYerusalem ewexukileyo?

¹² Umbono kaHezekile weYerusalem ewexukileyo (8:1–11:25). Ngoku ngunyaka wama-612 B.C.E. Embonweni uHezekile uthunyelwa kwiYerusalem ekude, apho abona izinto ezingamasikizi ezenzeka etempileni kaYehova. Entendelezweni, kukho umfanekiso ohlazisayo nobangela ukuba uYehova abe nekhwele. Egqobhoze eludongeni, uHezekile ufumana amadoda amakhulu angama-70 enqula phambi kwemifanekiso ekrolwe eludongeni yeenkomo ezinezothe, neyezigodo. Asithela ngesebe lenkawu esithi: “UYehova akasiboni, uYehova ulilahlile ilizwe.” (8:12) Kwisango elikhangele ngasentla, abafazi balilela uthixo wobuhedeni uTamuzi. Kodwa oko akuphelelanga apho! Kanye ekungeneni kwetempile, kukho amadoda angama-25, ayinikele umva itempile, enqula ilanga. Awamhloneli uYehova, kwaye ngokuqinisekileyo uza kuwuphalazela kuwo umsindo wakhe!

13. Yiyiphi imiyalelo ephunyezwa yindoda eyambethe ilinen emhlophe namadoda amathandathu anezixhobo?

¹³ Ngoku khangela! Kuvela amadoda amathandathu ephethe izixhobo zokuhlekeza. Phakathi kwawo kukho indoda yesixhenxe eyambethe ilinen emhlophe, inezinto zokubhala. UYehova uxelela le ndoda yambethe ilinen emhlophe ukuba icande esazulwini somzi ize ibeke uphawu emabunzini amadoda agcumayo nancwinayo ngenxa yamasikizi onke awenzekayo esazulwini sawo. Ngokulandelayo, uxelela amadoda amathandathu ukuba angene kulo mzi aze abulale wonk’ ubani, “amaxhego, amadodana nomthinjana, abantwana nabafazi,” abangenalo uphawu. La madoda ayakwenza oku, eqala ngamadoda amakhulu aphambi kwendlu. Indoda eyambethe ilinen emhlophe inikela le ngxelo: “Ndenze njengoko ubundiwisele umthetho ngako.”—9:6, 11.

14. Yintoni ekugqibeleni eboniswa ngulo mbono ngokuphathelele uzuko nemigwebo kaYehova?

¹⁴ Kwakhona uHezekile ubona ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova, bunyuka busuka ezikerubhini. Ikerubhi ithabatha amalahle anomlilo aphakathi kweevili ezijikelezayo, kwaye indoda eyambethe ilinen emhlophe iyawathabatha ize iwasasaze phezu kwawo umzi. Ngokuphathelele abo basasazekileyo bakwaSirayeli, uYehova uthembisa ukuphinda abahlanganise aze abanike umoya omtsha. Kodwa kuthekani ngaba banquli bangendawo nabobuxoki baseYerusalem? UYehova uthi, “Ndiya kubanika ngokwendlela yabo entlokweni yabo.” (11:21) Ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova bubonwa bunyuka phezu kwawo umzi, kwaye uHezekile uyaqhubeka ewuxela lo mbono kubantu abathinjiweyo.

15. Kungawuphi umzekeliso obhekele phaya athi uHezekile abonise ukuba abemi baseYerusalem baya kuthinjwa ngokuqinisekileyo?

¹⁵ Iziprofeto ezibhekele phaya eBhabhiloni ngokuphathelele iYerusalem (12:1–19:14). UHezekile uba ngumdlali komnye umbono ofuziselayo. Emini, ukhupha endlwini yakhe umthwalo wakhe wokuthinjwa, aze ke ebusuku afathule ephumela kwimbobo eseludongeni lomzi ebugqubuthele ubuso bakhe. Ukuchaza oku njengomqondiso woko kuya kwenzeka kubo esithi: “Baya kufuduswa, bathinjwe.” (12:11) Ezinjani zona izidenge zabaprofeti abalatyuziswa ziintshukumisa zabo! Bayadanduluka besithi, “Luxolo!” kube kungekho luxolo. (13:10) Kwanokuba uNowa, uDaniyeli noYobhi babeseYerusalem, babengenakuhlangula namnye umphefumlo ngaphandle kweziqu zabo.

16. Kufanekiswa njani ukungabi nto yanto kweYerusalem, kodwa kutheni le nto kuza kubakho ukubuyiselwa?

¹⁶ Lo mzi unjengomdiliya ongento yanto. Umthi wawo awulungelanga ukwenza izibonda, kungenakwenziwa nezikhonkwane zokhuni ngawo! Zakutshiswa iincam zawo zombini uyarhawuka nasembindini—awunto yanto. Hayi indlela eye ayathembeka neye ayabi nto yanto ngayo iYerusalem! Njengoko ivela kwilizwe lamaKanan, yathatyathwa nguYehova njengemveku elahliweyo. Wayikhulisa waza wenza umnqophiso womtshato kunye nayo. Wayihombisa, ukuze ‘iphumelele ebukumkanini.’ (16:13) Kodwa isuke yahenyuza, iguqukela ezintlangeni njengoko zidlula. Iye yanqula imifanekiso yazo eqingqiweyo yaza yatshisa oonyana bayo emlilweni. Isiphelo sayo siya kuba kukutshatyalaliswa kwazezi ntlanga, izithandane zayo. Imbi ngaphezulu gqitha kunoodade bayo abayiSodom nelakwaSamari. Sekunjalo, uYehova, uThixo onenceba, uya kuyicamagushela aze ayibuyisele ngokomnqophiso wakhe.

17. Ubonisa ntoni uYehova ngeqhina lokhozi kunye nomdiliya?

¹⁷ UYehova unika umprofeti iqhina aze ngoko achaze intsingiselo yalo. Libonisa ubudenge beYerusalem bokuguqukela kwiYiputa ekufuneni uncedo. Ukhozi olukhulu (uNebhukadenetsare) luyeza luze luqhawule ihlamvu elisemantloko (uYehoyakin) lomsedare omde, lulisa eBhabhiloni, luze endaweni yawo lutyale umdiliya (uZedekiya). Umdiliya uphethulela amasebe awo kolunye ukhozi (iYiputa), kodwa ngaba uyaphumelela? Unyothulwa neengcambu zawo! UYehova uya kuthabatha ihlamvu elithambileyo emantloko omsedare omde aze awutyale entabeni ephakamileyo. Apho liya kukhula libe ngowona msedare mde noyindawo yokuhlala yazo “zonke iintaka zeentlobo ngeentlobo.” Bonke baya kwazi ukuba uYehova ukwenzile oku.—17:23, 24.

18. (a) Yiyiphi imigaqo uYehova ayikhankankanyayo ekukhalimeleni amaYuda asekuthinjweni? (b) Nguwuphi umgwebo olindele ookumkani bakwaYuda?

¹⁸ UYehova uyawakhalimela amaYuda angabathinjwa ngenxa yokuba esenza ngokuvisisana nesaci esithi: “Ooyise badle iidiliya ezimuncu, kwaba buthelezi amazinyo oonyana.” Akunjalo, “umphefumlo owonayo, kuya kufa wona.” (18:2, 4) Olilungisa uya kuhlala ephila. Akumnandi kuYehova ukufa kongendawo. Kumnandi kuye ukubona ongendawo ebuya kwiindlela zakhe ezimbi aze aphile. Bona ke ookumkani bakwaYuda, njengeengonyama ezintsha babanjiswe yiYiputa neBhabhiloni. Ilizwi labo ‘aliyi kuba savakala ezintabeni zakwaSirayeli.’—19:9.

19. (a) Ngokwahlukileyo kwimvelaphi yokubhangiswa okunganik’ ithemba, liliphi ithemba elaziswa nguHezekile? (b) Ukuzekelisa njani ukungathembeki kukaSirayeli noYuda nemiphumo yako?

¹⁹ Imigwebo nxamnye neYerusalem (20:1–23:49). Ixesha liye lahamba ukuya kufikelela kowama-611 B.C.E. Kwakhona amadoda amakhulu aphakathi kwabathinjwa eza kuHezekile ukuba abuzise kuYehova. Akuvayo kukucengcelezwa kwembali ende yokuvukela kukaSirayeli nobubi bakhe bokukhonza izithixo nesilumkiso sokuba uYehova ubize ikrele lokuphumeza umgwebo kuye. IYerusalem uya ‘kuyiphenula, ayiphenule, ayiphenule.’ Kodwa, kukho ithemba elizukileyo! UYehova uya kubuphakamisa ubukumkani (“isithsaba”) ebuphakamisela lowo uzayo ‘okukokwakhe ukugweba’ kwaye uya kubunika yena. (21:26, 27) UHezekile uhlolisisa izinto ezingamasikizi ezenziwe eYerusalem, “umzi wamagazi.” Indlu kaSirayeli isuke ‘yanjengegwebu lentsimbi’ kwaye ifanele ibuthelwe eYerusalem ize inyityilikiswe njengasemlilweni. (22:2, 18) Ukungathembeki kukaSamari (uSirayeli) nokukaYuda kuzekeliswa ngeentombi ezimbini. USamari ofanekiselwa nguOhola (NW) uhenyuza nama-Asiriya kwaye utshatyalaliswa zizithandane zakhe. UYuda ofanekiselwa nguOholibha (NW) akafundi sifundo koku kodwa wenza okubi kwanangaphezulu, okokuqala ehenyuza neAsiriya aze ke ahenyuze neBhabhiloni. Uza kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo, ukuze “nazi ukuba ndiyiNkosi uYehova.”—23:49.

20. Ifaniswa nantoni iYerusalem engqingiweyo, ibe nguwuphi umqondiso onamandla onikelwa nguYehova ngokuphathelele umgwebo wakhe kuyo?

²⁰ Ukungqingwa kokugqibela kweYerusalem kuyaqalisa (24:1-27). Kungowama-609 B.C.E. UYehova uvakalisa kuHezekile ukuba ukumkani waseBhabhiloni uyingqingile iYerusalem ngalo mhla weshumi kwinyanga yeshumi. Lo mzi ungqingiweyo uwufanisa nembiza, enabemi bayo abanjengenyama ekuyo. Yitshise! Kutshise konke ukungacoceki konqulo-zithixo olunezothe lwaseYerusalem! Kwangolo suku lunye, umfazi kaHezekile uyafa, kodwa ethobela uYehova, lo mprofeti akalili. Lo ngumqondiso wokuba abantu bamele bangakulileli ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, kuba ngumgwebo ovela kuYehova, ukuze bazi ukuba ungubani na. UYehova uya kuthumela osindileyo ukuba azise ngokutshatyalaliswa ‘kwemihlali yesihombo sabo,’ kwaye de afike, uHezekile umele angabuyi athethe nabo bathinjiweyo.—24:25.

21. Ziya kumazi njani iintlanga uYehova nempindezelo yakhe?

²¹ Iziprofeto nxamnye neentlanga (25:1–32:32). UYehova ubona kwangaphambili ukuba iintlanga eziyingqongileyo ziya kukuvuyela ukuwa kweYerusalem zize eso sihlandlo zisisebenzisele ukugculela uThixo wakwaYuda. Ziya kohlwaywa! UAmon uya kunikelwa koonyana baseMpumalanga, kwanoMowabhi ngokufanayo. IEdom iya kwenziwa ilizwe elibharhileyo, yaye kuya kwenziwa izenzo ezikhulu zempindezelo nxamnye namaFilisti. UYehova uthi, bonke “bazi ukuba ndinguYehova, ekwenzeni kwam impindezelo kuwo.”—25:17.

22. ITire ikhankanywa njani ngokukhethekileyo, kwaye uYehova uya kungcwaliswa njani ngeTsidon?

²² ITire ikhankanywa ngokukhethekileyo. Ineqhayiya ngempumelelo kurhwebo lwayo, injengenqanawa entle esembilinini yeelwandle, kodwa kungekudala iza kuwela emazantsi amanzi yaphukile. Inganga yayo iqhayisa ngokuthi, ‘ndinguthixo.’ (28:9) UYehova wenza ukuba umprofeti wakhe amzisele isimbonono ukumkani waseTire: Njengekerubhi entle ethanjisiweyo, waye ese-Eden, emyezweni kaThixo; kodwa uYehova uya kumlahla emke entabeni Yakhe ngokwento engcolileyo, kwaye uya kutshiswa ngomlilo. UYehova uthi kwakhona uya kungcwaliswa ngokuzisa intshabalalo kwiTsidon edelelayo.

23. Yintoni eya kwaziwa yiYiputa, kwaye kuza kwenzeka njani oku?

²³ UYehova ngoku uxelela uHezekile ukuba abhekise ubuso bakhe ngaseYiputa nokumkani wayo aze aprofete nxamnye nabo. Ukumkani waseYiputa uyaqhayisa esithi, ‘Ngowam uMlambo umNayile, ndizenzele mna.’ (29:3) Yena, namaYiputa akholelwa kuye, nabo baya kwazi ukuba uYehova unguThixo, kwaye esi sifundo siya kuvakaliswa ngokubharhiswa kwelizwe kangangeminyaka engama-40. Apha uHezekile unikela inkcazelo eneneni eyatyhilwa kuye kamva, ngowama-591 B.C.E. UYehova uya kuyinikela iYiputa kuNebhukadenetsare njengembuyiselo yenkonzo yakhe yokutshabalalisa iTire. (UNebhukadenetsare wathabatha ixhoba elincinane gqitha eTire, ekubeni abantu baseTire basaba nenkoliso yobutyebi babo besabela kwisixeko esisesiqithini.) Ngesimbonono, uHezekile uvakalisa ukuba uNebhukadenetsare uya kuliphelisa ikratshi leYiputa, kwaye “baya kwazi ukuba ndinguYehova.”—32:15.

24. (a) Yiyiphi imbopheleleko kaHezekile njengomlindi? (b) Kwiindaba ezingokuwa kweYerusalem, sisiphi isigidimi esivakaliswa nguHezekile kwabathinjiweyo? (c) Liliphi idinga lentsikelelo elibalaseliswa kwisahluko 34?

²⁴ Umlindi ekuthinjweni; ukuxelwa kwangaphambili kokubuyiselwa (33:1–37:28). UYehova ubuya athethe noHezekile ngembopheleleko yakhe njengomlindi. Abantu bathi, “Indlela kaYehova ayilungelelene.” Ngoko uHezekile umele ayenze icace kubo indlela abangachananga ngayo. (33:17) Kodwa ngoku kungowama-607 B.C.E., umhla wesihlanu kwinyanga yeshumi.c Osindileyo uyafika evela eYerusalem ukuza kuxelela umprofeti oku: “Umzi ubulewe.” (33:21) UHezekile, ngoku ekhululekile kwakhona ukuthetha nabathinjiweyo, ubaxelela ukuba naziphi iingcinga abanazo zokusindisa uYuda zililize. Nangona besiza kuHezekile ukuza kuva ilizwi likaYehova, kubo ufana nje nemvumi yeengoma ezimnandi, njengalowo unelizwi eliyolileyo nolubetha kamnandi uhadi. Abanikeli ngqalelo. Noko ke, xa oku kusenzeka, baya kwazi ukuba bekukho umprofeti phakathi kwabo. UHezekile ukhalimela abalusi bobuxoki abaye bawushiya umhlambi ukuze bazondle bona. UYehova, uMalusi Ogqibeleleyo, uya kuzihlanganisa izimvu eziziintsali aze azibuyisele kwidlelo elilungileyo elisezintabeni zakwaSirayeli. Apho uya kumisa phezu kwazo umalusi abe mnye, ‘umkhonzi wakhe uDavide.’ (34:23) UYehova uya kuba nguThixo wabo. Uya kwenza umnqophiso woxolo aze athulele phezu kwabo iintsikelelo ezininzi.

25. (a) Kutheni uYehova eya kulenza ilizwe lifane ne-Eden yaye uya kukwenza njani oku? (b) Yintoni efanekiselwa ngumbono wamathambo awomileyo? ngulowo weentonga ezimbini?

²⁵ Kwakhona uHezekile uprofeta ngokuba senkangala kweNtaba yakwaSehire (uEdom). Phofu ke, iindawo eziphanzisiweyo zakwaSirayeli ziya kubuya zakhiwe, kuba uYehova uya kuba nemfesane ngegama lakhe elingcwele, ukuba alingcwalise phambi kweentlanga. Uya kunika abantu bakhe intliziyo entsha nomoya omtsha, kwaye kwakhona ilizwe labo liya kuba “njengomyezo wase-Eden.” (36:35) UHezekile ngoku ubona umbono welakwaSirayeli lifanekiselwa yintlambo ezele ngamathambo awomileyo. UHezekile uprofeta phezu kwala mathambo. Ngokungummangaliso aqalisa ukumila inyama, ayaphefumla aze aphile kwakhona. UYehova uya kuwavula ngaloo ndlela kanye amangcwaba abathinjwa baseBhabhiloni aze ambuyisele uSirayeli elizweni lakhe kwakhona. UHezekile uthabatha iintonga ezimbini ezimela izindlu ezimbini zakwaSirayeli, eyakwaYuda neyakwaEfrayim. Esandleni sakhe ziba yintonga enye. Ngaloo ndlela, xa uYehova embuyisela uSirayeli, ziya kumanyaniswa kumnqophiso woxolo phantsi komkhonzi wakhe “uDavide.”—37:24.

26. Kutheni uGogi wakwaMagogi ehlasela nje, kwaye uba yintoni umphumo woko?

²⁶ Intlaselo kaGogi wakwaMagogi kuSirayeli obuyiselweyo (38:1–39:29). Kuya kwandula ke kubekho intlaselo evela kummandla omtsha! Etsalelwa ekubeni ahlasele ngenxa yokubona uxolo nempumelelo enqwenelekayo yabantu bakaYehova ababuyiselweyo, uGogi wakwaMagogi uya kuhlasela ngokuphambeneyo. Uya kuza engxamile ukuba abagubungele. Ekwenzeni kwakhe oku, uYehova uya kunyuka ngomlilo wokuphuphuma komsindo wakhe. Uya kumisela ikrele lomntu nxamnye nomzalwana wakhe aze abazisele indyikitya yokufa negazi nesiphango esikhulukazi samatye esichotho, umlilo nesulfure. Baya kuhamba besazi ukuba uYehova ‘ungoyingcwele kwaSirayeli.’ (39:7) Baya kwandula ke abantu bakhe ukuphemba umlilo ukuba batshise izixhobo zemfazwe ezaphukileyo zeentshaba baze bawatshise amathambo ‘kuMfula Wengxokolo kaGogi.’ (39:11) Iintaka ezidla inyama ebolileyo namarhamncwa asendle ziya kutya inyama yabo babuleweyo zize zisele igazi labo. Ngenxa yoko uSirayeli uya kuhlala enqabisekile, kungekho bani umngcangcazelisayo, yaye uYehova uya kuthululela umoya wakhe kuye.

27. Yintoni ebonwa nguHezekile kutyelelo lwasembonweni lwelizwe lakwaSirayeli, kwaye bubonakala njani ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo?

²⁷ Umbono kaHezekile wetempile (40:1–48:35). Sifikelela kunyaka wama-593 B.C.E. Ngunyaka we-14 ukususela ekutshatyalalisweni kwetempile kaSolomon, kwaye abaguqukileyo phakathi kwabo babethinjiwe baswele ukhuthazo nethemba. UYehova uthumela uHezekile embonweni kwilizwe lakwaSirayeli aze ambeke phezu kwentaba ephakamileyo. Apha embonweni, ubona itempile ‘nesakhiwo somzi ngasezantsi.’ Isithunywa sezulu simyalela sisithi: “Xelela indlu kaSirayeli konke okubonayo.” (40:2, 4) Sandula ke simbonise uHezekile zonke iinkcukacha zetempile neentendelezo zayo, silinganisa iindonga, amasango, amagumbi okulinda, amagumbi netempile ngokwayo, eneNgcwele yayo neNgcwele kaNgcwele. Simsa uHezekile kwisango elingasempuma. “Nabo ke ubuqaqawuli boThixo kaSirayeli, buvela ngendlela yangasempumalanga, isandi sabo sinjengesandi samanzi amaninzi; ihlabathi lakhanya bubuqaqawuli bakhe.” (43:2) Isithunywa sezulu simyalela ngokupheleleyo uHezekile ngokuphathelele iNdlu (okanye itempile); isibingelelo neziqhumiso zaso; amalungelo nemisebenzi yababingeleli, abaLevi, nezikhulu; nokwabiwa kwelizwe.

28. Ubonisa ntoni umbono kaHezekile ngokuphathelele umsinga oqukuqelayo uphuma kuyo iNdlu, kwaye yintoni etyhilwayo ngokuphathelele umzi negama lawo?

²⁸ Isithunywa sezulu sibuyisela uHezekile ekungeneni kweNdlu, apho lo umprofeti abona khona amanzi ephuma ngaphantsi komnyango weNdlu esinga ngasempumalanga, ngakwicala langasezantsi lesibingelelo. Aqalisa kancinane kodwa aba maninzi ngokuba maninzi ade abe ngumlambo. Ayandula ke aqukuqelele kuLwandle Olufileyo, ekuthi kulo kubekho iintlanzi kuze kuqaliswe nomsebenzi wokuloba. Kuwo onke amacala alo mlambo, imithi inika ukudla yaye iphilisa abantu. Kuyandula ke kulo mbono kwabiwe amafa ezizwe ezili-12, bengalityalwa abaphambukeli nezikhulu, kuze kuchazwe isixeko esingcwele ngasezantsi, esinamasango ali-12 abizwa ngamagama ezi zizwe. Esi sixeko siza kubizwa ngelona gama lizukileyo: “NguYehova-ekhona.”—48:35.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

29. Abantu bakwaYuda abasekuthinjweni bangenelwa ngayiphi indlela kwisiprofeto sikaHezekile?

²⁹ Isibhengezo, imibono namadinga uYehova awawanikela kuHezekile konke oko kwachazwa ngokuthembekileyo kumaYuda awayesekuthinjweni. Ngoxa uninzi lwamgxeka lwaza lwamgculela lo mprofeti, bambi bakholelwa. Aba bangenelwa ngokugqithiseleyo. Bomelezwa ngamadinga okubuyiselwa. Ngokungafaniyo nezinye iintlanga ezazisekuthinjweni, babugcina ubuzwe babo, kwaye uYehova wayibuyisela le ntsalela, njengoko wayexele kwangaphambili, ngowama-537 B.C.E. (Hez. 28:25, 26; 39:21-28; Ezra 2:1; 3:1) Baphinda bayakha indlu kaYehova baza baluhlaziya unqulo lokwenyaniso apho.

30. Yiyiphi imigaqo eyandlalwe kwincwadi kaHezekile exabisekileyo kuthi namhlanje?

³⁰ Imigaqo eyandlalwe kwincwadi kaHezekile ikwaxabiseke gqitha nakuthi namhlanje. Uwexuko nokunqula izithixo, okuhambisana nokuvukela, kunokusikhokelela kuphela ekubeni ngabangakholekanga kuYehova. (Hez. 6:1-7; 12:2-4, 11-16) Ngamnye uya kuphendula ngesono sakhe, kodwa uYehova uya kumxolela lowo uguqukayo kwikhondo lakhe elibi. Lowo uya kwenzelwa inceba aze ahlale ephila. (18:20-22) Abakhonzi bakaThixo bamele babe ngabalindi abathembekileyo njengoHezekile, kwanakwizabelo ezinzima kwanaphantsi kokugxekwa nokungcikivwa. Asimele sibayeke abangendawo bafe bengalunyukiswanga, lize igazi labo libe phezu kweentloko zethu. (3:17; 33:1-9) Abalusi babantu bakaThixo banembopheleleko enzima yokunyamekela umhlambi.—34:2-10.

31. Ziziphi iziprofeto zikaHezekile ezixela kwangaphambili ukuza kukaMesiya?

³¹ Eyona nto ibalaseleyo kwincwadi kaHezekile ziziprofeto eziphathelele uMesiya. Kubhekiselwa kuye njengalowo “kukokwakhe ukugweba” kwitrone kaDavide nalowo imele inikelwe kuye. Kwiindawo ezimbini kuthethwa ngaye ‘njengomkhonzi wam uDavide,’ ‘kwananjengomalusi,’ ‘ukumkani’ ‘nesikhulu.’ (21:27; 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25) Ekubeni kwakukudala wafayo uDavide, uHezekile wayethetha ngaLowo wayeza kuba nguNyana kwaneNkosi kaDavide. (INdu. 110:1; Mat. 22:42-45) UHezekile, njengoIsaya, uthetha ngokutyalwa kwehlamvu elithambileyo eliza kubekwa kwindawo ephakamileyo nguYehova.—Hez. 17:22-24; Isa. 11:1-3.

32. Uthelekiswa njani umbono kaHezekile wetempile nombono weSityhilelo ‘womzi ongcwele’?

³² Kuyinto ebangel’ umdla ukuthelekisa umbono kaHezekile wetempile nombono weSityhilelo ‘womzi ongcwele iYerusalem.’ (ISityhi. 21:10) Kukho izinto ezahlukeneyo ezimele ziphawulwe; ngokomzekelo, itempile kaHezekile yahluliwe yaye ingakumntla womzi, ngoxa uYehova ngokwakhe eyitempile yomzi weSityhilelo. Noko ke, kwimeko nganye, kukho ukuqukuqela komlambo wobomi, kukho imithi evelisa iziqhamo iinyanga ngeenyanga namagqabi okuphilisa, yaye kukho ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova. Mbono ngamnye ufak’ isandla ekuqondweni kobukumkani bukaYehova nelungiselelo lakhe lokusindisa abo banikela kuye inkonzo engcwele.—Hez. 43:4, 5—ISityhi. 21:11; Hez. 47:1, 8, 9, 12—ISityhi. 22:1-3.

33. Yintoni egxininiswa nguHezekile, yaye uya kuba yintoni umphumo kwabo ngoku bangcwalisa uYehova ebomini babo?

³³ Incwadi kaHezekile igxininisa ukuba uYehova ungcwele. Ivakalisa ukuba ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova kubaluleke ngakumbi kunayo nayiphi na enye into. “Ndiya kulingcwalisa igama lam elikhulu, . . . zazi iintlanga ukuba ndinguYehova, itsho iNkosi uYehova.” Njengoko esi siprofeto sibonisa, uya kulingcwalisa igama lakhe ngokutshabalalisa bonke abangcolisi belo gama, kuquka uGogi wakwaMagogi. Balumkile bonke abo bathi ngoku bamngcwalise uYehova ebomini babo ngokuhlangabezana neemfuneko zakhe zonqulo olwamkelekileyo. Aba baya kufumana ukuphiliswa nobomi obungunaphakade kumlambo oqukuqela uvela etempileni yakhe. Ugqithisile ebuqaqawulini kwaye mhle kakhulu umzi obizwa ngokuba “nguYehova-ekhona”!—Hez. 36:23; 38:16; 48:35.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]