Incwadi YeBhayibhile 27—Daniyeli

Umbhali: NguDaniyeli

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EBhabhiloni

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-536 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowama-618 kuse malunga nowama-536 B.C.E.

 1. Luhlobo luni lwembali olukwincwadi kaDaniyeli, kwaye ibalaselisa ntoni?

KULO mhla xa zonke iintlanga zomhlaba zimi kumngcipheko wentlekele, incwadi kaDaniyeli izisa engqalelweni izigidimi ezibuprofeti nezinentsingiselo ebalulekileyo. Ngoxa incwadi yeBhayibhile kaSamuweli, yooKumkani neyeziKronike zisekelwe kwiingxelo zobungqina bokuzibonela bembali yobukumkani bukaThixo bokomfuziselo (umnombo kaDavide), incwadi kaDaniyeli igxininisa kwiintlanga zehlabathi ize inikele imibono kwangaphambili ngosukuzwano lwamagunya amakhulu ukususela kwixesha likaDaniyeli kude kube “lixesha lokuphela.” Le yimbali yehlabathi eyabhalwa ngaphambi kokuba yenzeke. Ifikelela kwincopho ebangel’ umdla ekuboniseni oko kuza kwenzeka “ekupheleni kwemihla.” NjengoNebhukadenetsare, iintlanga zimele zifunde kabuhlungu “ukuba Osenyangweni unegunya ebukumkanini babantu” nokuba ekugqibeleni ubunika “onjengonyana womntu,” uMesiya neNkokeli, uKristu Yesu. (Dan. 12:4; 10:14; 4:25; 7:13, 14; 9:25; Yoh. 3:13-16) Ngokunikela ingqalelo ngenyameko kwinzaliseko yesiprofeto sencwadi ephefumlelweyo kaDaniyeli, siya kuwaqonda ngokuphelele ngakumbi amandla kaYehova esiprofeto neziqinisekiso zakhe zokukhusela nokusikelela abantu bakhe.—2 Pet. 1:19.

 2. Yintoni eqinisekisa ukuba uDaniyeli wayengumntu wokwenene, ibe waprofeta ebudeni baliphi ithuba elaliphawulwa ziziganeko?

² Le ncwadi ithiywe ngombhali wayo. Igama elithi “Daniyeli” (Da·ni·yeʼlʹ, ngesiHebhere) lithetha ukuthi “Umgwebi Wam NguThixo.” UHezekile, owayephila ebudeni beli xesha, uqinisekisa ukuba uDaniyeli wayengumntu wokwenene, embala naye xa ekhankanya uNowa noYobhi. (Hez. 14:14, 20; 28:3) UDaniyeli ulichaza ixesha lakhe lokuqalisa ukubhala incwadi yakhe ‘njengomnyaka wesithathu wobukumkani bukaYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda.’ Oku kwakungowama-618 B.C.E., unyaka wesithathu wokulawula kukaYehoyakim njengokumkani ongaphantsi koNebhukadenetsare.a Imibono kaDaniyeli ebuprofeti yaqhubeka ukuya kuthi ga kunyaka wesithathu kaKoreshi, malunga nowama-536 B.C.E. (Dan. 1:1; 2:1; 10:1, 4) Enjani yona ukuphawulwa ziziganeko iminyaka awaphila ngayo uDaniyeli! Iminyaka yakhe yokuqala wayichithela kubukumkani bukaThixo kwaYuda. Wandula ke, njengomthetheli okwishumi elivisayo, ndawonye namaqabane akhe abekekileyo akwaYuda, wathatyathelwa eBhabhiloni ukuba ahlale khona ebudeni bexesha lokumiselwa nelokubhanga kwegunya lesithathu lehlabathi lembali yeBhayibhile. UDaniyeli wasinda waza wakhonza njengegosa lasebukhosini kwigunya lesine lehlabathi, elamaMedi namaPersi. UDaniyeli umele ukuba waphila iminyaka emalunga nekhulu.

 3. Yintoni engqina ukuba yinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele nobunyaniso bencwadi kaDaniyeli?

³ Incwadi kaDaniyeli iye yasoloko iqukwa kuluhlu lweencwadi zeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo zamaYuda. Kuye kwafunyanwa amacwecwe athile encwadi kaDaniyeli phakathi kwalawo emibhalo engcwele kwimiSongo yoLwandle Olufileyo, wambi awo awabhalwa kwisiqingatha sokuqala senkulungwane yokuqala Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Noko ke, obunye ubungqina obubaluleke ngokokude kwangakumbi bobunyaniso bale ncwadi bufumaneka kwiimbekiselo zayo ezikwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike. UYesu umbiza ngegama uDaniyeli kwisiprofeto sakhe ‘sokupheliswa kwephakade eli,’ apho acaphula kanobom kule ncwadi.—Mat. 24:3; bona kwanoDan. 9:27; 11:31; nesahluko 12:11—Mat. 24:15 noMarko 13:14; Dan. 12:1—Mat. 24:21; Dan. 7:13, 14—Mat. 24:30.

 4, 5. Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kuye kwawatshitshisa njani amabango abahlalutyi abaqatha ngokuphathelele uDaniyeli?

⁴ Nangona abahlalutyi abaqatha beBhayibhile beye basithandabuza isibakala sokuba incwadi kaDaniyeli ingokwembali, izinto ezifunyenwe ngabembi bezinto zakudala ebudeni beminyaka ziye zawatshitshisa ngokupheleleyo amabango abo. Ngokomzekelo, aba bahlalutyi baye bayigxeka ingxelo kaDaniyeli yokuba uBheleshatsare wayengukumkani eBhabhiloni ngexesha ekucingelwa ngalo ukuba uNabonidus wayengumlawuli. (Dan. 5:1) Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ngoku kuye kwayidandalazisa into yokuba uBheleshatsare wayengumlawuli wokwenene kwanokuba wayengumntu oncedisana noNabonidus (coregent) kwiminyaka yokugqibela yoBukhosi baseBhabhiloni. Ngokomzekelo, umbhalo wamandulo woonobumba abatsobhileyo ochazwa ‘njengeNgxelo kaNabonidus’ ungqina ngokucacileyo ukuba uBheleshatsare wayenegunya lobukumkani eBhabhiloni kwaye ucacisa indlela ekwenzeka ngayo ukuba abe ngusekela-mlawuli kaNabonidus.b Obunye ubungqina bombhalo woonobumba abatsobhileyo buxhasa imbono yokuba uBheleshatsare wenza imisebenzi yasebukhosini. Icwecwe, elabhalwa ngonyaka we-12 wokulawula kukaNabonidus, linesifungo esenziwa egameni likaNabonidus, ukumkani, noBheleshatsare, unyana kakumkani, ngaloo ndlela libonisa ukuba uBheleshatsare wayekwisikhundla esilingana nesikayise.c Oku kukwakokomdla ekucaciseni isizathu sokuba uBheleshatsare wathembisa ukwenza uDaniyeli ukuba abe “ngowabathathu ebukumkanini” ukuba wayenokutolika umbhalo wesandla owawuseludongeni. UNabonidus wayeza kugqalwa njengowokuqala, uBheleshatsare wayeza kuba ngowesibini yaye uDaniyeli wayeza kuvakaliswa njengomlawuli wesithathu. (5:16, 29) Omnye umphengululi uthi: “Ukubhekisela kwale mibhalo yoonobumba abatsobhileyo kuBheleshatsare kuyenza icace gca indima awaba nayo khon’ ukuze nesigxina sakhe embalini sibe nokwaziwa ngokucacileyo. Mininzi imibhalo ebonisa ukuba uBheleshatsare wayephantse alingane noNabonidus ngesikhundla nangodumo. Isibakala sokuba abalawuli babesiba babini ngexesha ebudeni bethuba langasekupheleni kolawulo olutsha lwaseBhabhiloni lukaNebhukadenetsare siyinyaniso evunyiweyo. UNabonidus wayenegunya eliphakamileyo kwinkundla yakhe yakwaTema kwelama-Arabhu, ngoxa uBheleshatsare wayesebenza njengosekela-mlawuli kokwabo ngoxa iBhabhiloni yayisisazulu sakhe. Kuyabonakala ukuba uBheleshatsare wayengelilo isekela elingenamandla likakumkani; wayebuphathiswe ngokuthenjwa ‘ubukumkani.’”d

⁵ Bambi baye bazama ukuyibek’ ibala ingxelo kaDaniyeli engeziko elivutha umlilo (isahlu. 3), besithi yintsomi eyiliweyo. Ileta yeBhabhiloni Yamandulo ifundeka ngolu hlobo, ngokuyinxenye: “Utsho njalo uRîm-Sin inkosi yakho: Kuba imphose esitovini umkhonzi, nawe uphosa umkhonzi ezikweni.” Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, ebhekisela koku, uG. R. Driver wachaza ukuba esi sohlwayo “sivela kwibali laMadoda Amathathu Angcwele (Dan. III 6, 15, 19-27).”e

 6. Ngawaphi amacandelo amabini awenza incwadi kaDaniyeli?

⁶ AmaYuda ayiquka incwadi kaDaniyeli, kungekhona kwiingxelo zabaProfeti, kodwa kwiMibhalo. Kwelinye icala, iBhayibhile yesiNgesi ilandela uluhlu lweSeptuagint yesiGrike nolweVulgate yesiLatini ngokubeka uDaniyeli phakathi kwabaprofeti abakhulu nabancinane. Enyanisweni le ncwadi yenziwe ngamacandelo amabini. Icandelo lokuqala, isahluko 1 kuse kwesesi-6, lichaza amava kaDaniyeli namaqabane akhe kwinkonzo yasebukhosini ngokolandelelwano lwamaxesha ukususela ngowama-617 B.C.E. ukusa kowama-538 B.C.E. (Dan. 1:1, 21) Icandelo lesibini, isahluko 7 kuse kwese-12, libhekisela kumntu wokuqala uDaniyeli ngokwakhe njengomnikeli wengxelo kwaye lichaza imibono yasemfihlekweni nodliwano-ndlebe lukaDaniyeli nesithunywa ukususela malunga nowama-553 B.C.E.f ukusa malunga nowama-536 B.C.E. (7:2, 28; 8:2; 9:2; 12:5, 7, 8) La macandelo mabini xa edityanisiwe enza incwadi enye evisisanayo kaDaniyeli.

OKUQULETHWE YEKADANIYELI

 7. Yintoni ekhokelela ekubeni uDaniyeli namaqabane akhe bangenele inkonzo yasebukhosini eBhabhiloni?

⁷ Ukulungiselelwa ukwenza inkonzo yasebuRhulumenteni (1:1-21). Ngowama-617 B.C.E. uDaniyeli usiwa eBhabhiloni namaYuda angabathinjwa. Nempahla engcwele evela etempileni yaseYerusalem isiwa apho, ukuze igcinwe kwindlu yobuncwane yobuhedeni. UDaniyeli namaqabane akhe amathathu angamaHebhere baphakathi kolutsha lwasebukhosini lwakwaYuda olunyulelwe uqeqesho lweminyaka emithathu kwibhotwe likakumkani. Egqibile entliziyweni yakhe ukuba angazingcolisi ngokudla nangewayini yobuhedeni kakumkani, uDaniyeli ucela ukulingwa iintsuku ezilishumi ngesidlo semifuno. Uvavanyo lukaDaniyeli namaqabane akhe luyaphumelela, kwaye uThixo ubanika ulwazi nobulumko. UNebhukadenetsare unyula aba bane ukuba beme phambi kwakhe njengabacebisi. Indinyana yokugqibela yesahluko 1, esenokuba yongezelelwa kude kudala emva kokuba inxalenye eyandulelayo yabhalwayo, ibonisa ukuba uDaniyeli wayesekwinkonzo yasemkhosini iminyaka enokuba ngama-80 emva kokuya kwakhe ekuthinjweni, xesha elo elalinokuba malunga nowama-538 B.C.E.

 8. Liliphi iphupha nentsingiselo yalo elityhilwa nguThixo kuDaniyeli, kwaye uNebhukadenetsare ulubonakalisa njani uxabiso lwakhe?

⁸ Iphupha lomfanekiso owoyikekayo (2:1-49). Ngomnyaka wesibini wobukumkani bakhe (mhlawumbi obaqalisa ngethuba lokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngowama-607 B.C.E.), uNebhukadenetsare ukhathazwa liphupha. Izazi zakhe azikwazi ukulityhila iphupha nentsingiselo yalo. Uzithembisa izipho ezikhulu, kodwa ziyamqononondisa ukuba akukho mntu unokubonisa ukumkani oko akucelayo kodwa ngoothixo kuphela abanokwenjenjalo. Ukumkani uba noburhalarhume kakhulu aze ayalele ukuba la madoda azizilumko abulawe. Ekubeni amaHebhere amane equkiwe kulo mmiselo, uDaniyeli ucela ithuba lokutyhila iphupha. UDaniyeli namaqabane akhe bathandazela ukhokelo lukaYehova. UYehova uyalityhila iphupha nentsingiselo yalo kuDaniyeli, othi ngoko aye phambi kokumkani aze athi: “Kukho uThixo emazulwini, ozityhilayo iimfihlakalo, onokumazisa ukumkani uNebhukadenetsare okuya kubakho ekupheleni kwemihla.” (2:28) UDaniyeli uyalichaza iphupha. Lingomfanekiso omkhulu. Intloko yalo mfanekiso yeyegolide, isifuba neengalo zawo ziyisilivere, isisu namanqe awo elubhedu, yaye imilenze yawo isisinyithi, iinyawo zawo inxalenye isisinyithi enye inxalenye iludongwe. Ilitye liyawuntlitha lize liwutyumze lo mfanekiso kwaye liba yintaba enkulu ezalise wonke umhlaba. Kuthetha ntoni oku? UDaniyeli uvakalisa ukuba ukumkani waseBhabhiloni uyintloko yegolide. Emva kobukumkani bakhe kuya kulandela obesibini, obesithathu nobesine. Ekugqibeleni, “uThixo wamazulu uya kumisa ubukumkani obungayi konakala naphakade. . . . Buya kuzicola buzigqibe zonke ezo zikumkani, bona bume ngonaphakade.” (2:44) Enombulelo noxabiso, ukumkani uyamdumisa uThixo kaDaniyeli ‘njengoThixo woothixo,’ kwaye wenza uDaniyeli ukuba abe “negunya phezu kwelizwe lonke laseBhabheli, waba ngumongameli omkhulu wezilumko zonke zaseBhabheli.” Amaqabane amathathu kaDaniyeli enziwa ukuba abe ngabaphathi ebukumkanini.—2:47, 48.

 9. Kuphumela entwenini ukuma ngokuqinileyo kwamaHebhere amathathu nxamnye nokunqula umfanekiso?

⁹ AmaHebhere amathathu asinda kwiziko elivutha umlilo (3:1-30). UNebhukadenetsare umisa umfanekiso omkhulu wegolide, oziikubhite ezingama-60 (iimitha ezingama-26,7) ukuphakama, kwaye uyalela abalawuli bomkhosi ukuba bahlanganisane ekunikezelweni kwawo. Ekuveni izwi lengoma ekhethekileyo, bonke bafanele bawe phantsi baze baqubude kulo mfanekiso. Nabaphi na abasilelayo ukwenjenjalo baza kuphoselwa ezikweni elivutha umlilo. Kunikelwa ingxelo yokuba amaqabane amathathu kaDaniyeli, uShadraki, uMeshaki noAbhede-nego, abathobelanga. Beziswa phambi kokumkani oligwele ngumsindo, apho banikela ubungqina ngenkalipho besenjenje: “UThixo wethu esimbusayo unako, wosisindisa. . . . Asiyi kuqubuda kumfanekiso wegolide owumisileyo.” (3:17, 18) Evutha ngumsindo, ukumkani uyalela ukuba iziko lenziwe libe shushu ngokuphindwe kasixhenxe kunokuba lalifudula lisenziwa shushu nokuba loo maHebhere mathathu abotshwe aze aphoswe kulo. Njengoko ekwenza oku, amadoda abeza kuba ngababulali abulawa ngamalangatye omlilo. UNebhukadenetsare uyoyika. Yintoni le ayibonayo ezikweni lomlilo? Amadoda amane ahambahamba phakathi emlilweni engenzakaliswanga, kwaye “ukubonakala kweyesine ke kufana nonyana woothixo.” (3:25) Ukumkani uyawabiza la maHebhere mathathu ukuba aphume emlilweni. Ayaphuma, engarhawukanga, engenalo nevumba lomlilo kuwo! Ngenxa yokulumela kwawo ngenkalipho unqulo lwawo, uNebhukadenetsare uvakalisa ukuba nenkululeko engokonqulo kwamaYuda kubo bonke obo bukhosi.

10. Liliphi iphupha eloyikisayo elibandakanya “amaxesha asixhenxe” awaliphuphayo uNebhukadenetsare, kwaye ngaba lazalisekiswa ngaye?

¹⁰ Iphupha ‘lamaxesha asixhenxe’ (4:1-37). Eli phupha livela kwingxelo njengombhalo okhutshelweyo kaDaniyeli oluxwebhu lwasebukhosini eBhabhiloni. Wawubhalwe nguNebhukadenetsare owayelulanyisiwe. Okokuqala uNebhukadenetsare uyawavuma amandla nobukumkani bukaThixo Osenyangweni. Wandula ke abalise ngephupha eloyikisayo nendlela elazalisekiswa ngayo kuye. Wabona umthi okuphakama kwawo kwakufikelela ezulwini owawunikela ikhusi nokudla kuyo yonke inyama. Umlindi wadanduluka esithi: ‘Wugawuleni lo mthi. Sibopheni isiphunzi sawo ngesinyithi nobhedu. Yekani kudlule amaxesha amisiweyo abe sixhenxe phezu kwawo, ukuze kwaziwe ukuba Osenyangweni unegunya ebukumkanini babantu kwaye umisa ophantsi ebantwini phezu kwabo.’ (4:14-17) UDaniyeli wayichaza intsingiselo yeli phupha, evakalisa ukuba lo mthi wawumela uNebhukadenetsare. Inzaliseko yeli phupha libuprofeti yalandela kwakamsinya. Ngexesha laxa wayebonakalisa ikratshi elikhulu, ukumkani wahliselwa impambano; ibe wahlala njengerhamncwa endle kangangeminyaka esixhenxe. Emva koko, wabuyiselwa ezingqondweni, yaye wakuvuma ukongama kukaYehova.

11. Kusebudeni bokuzibhubhisa njani athi uBheleshatsare abone umbhalo wesandla okhwankqisayo, uDaniyeli uwucacisa njani, kwaye uzalisekiswa njani?

¹¹ Isidlo sikaBheleshatsare: ukucaciswa kombhalo wesandla (5:1-31). Bubusuku obukhwankqisayo bukaOktobha 5, 539 B.C.E. UKumkani uBheleshatsare, unyana kaNabonidus, njengosekela-mlawuli waseBhabhiloni, wenzela iwaka lezikhulu zakhe isidlo esikhulu. Ukumkani, akuba eyotywe yiwayini, wathi makuziswe iindebe ezingcwele zegolide nezesilivere ebezisetempileni kaYehova, kwaye uBheleshatsare neendwendwe zakhe basela ngazo ekuzibhubhiseni kwabo, ngoxa bedumisa oothixo babo bobuhedeni. Ngequbuliso kuvela isandla size sibhale isigidimi esintsonkothileyo eludongeni. Ukumkani uyankwantya. Amadoda akhe azizilumko awakwazi ukuwutolika lo mbhalo. Ekugqibeleni kuziswa uDaniyeli. Ukumkani uthembisa ukumenza owesithathu ebukumkanini ukuba unokuwufunda aze awucacise lo mbhalo, kodwa uDaniyeli umxelela ukuba azigcine kuye izipho zakhe. Wandula ke amazise umbhalo lowo nentsingiselo yawo: “MENE, MENE, TEKELE, UFARSIN. . . . UThixo ububalile ubukumkani bakho, wabuphelisa. . . . Wena ulinganisiwe esikalini, wafunyanwa ulula. . . . Buyahlulwa ubukumkani bakho, bunikwe amaMedi namaPersi.” (5:25-28) Kwangobo busuku uBheleshatsare uyabulawa, kwaye uDariyo umMedi uyabufumana ubukumkani.

12. Litshitshiswa njani iyelenqe elenzelwa uDaniyeli, kwaye nguwuphi ummiselo okhutshwa nguDariyo?

¹² UDaniyeli emhadini weengonyama (6:1-28). Abongameli abakhulu kubukhosi bukaDariyo bamenzela iyelenqe uDaniyeli ngokwenza ukumkani awise umthetho wokuba kungathandazwa iintsuku ezingama-30 kuye nawuphi na uthixo okanye umntu ngaphandle kokumkani. Nabani na ongawuthobeliyo lo mthetho uza kuphoswa ezingonyameni. UDaniyeli akawuthobeli lo mthetho uchaphazela unqulo lwakhe kwaye uphethukela kuYehova ngomthandazo. Uphoselwa emhadini weengonyama. Ngokungummangaliso, isithunywa sezulu sikaYehova siyayivala imilomo yeengonyama, kwaye ngentsasa elandelayo uKumkani uDariyo uyavuyiswa kukufumana uDaniyeli engenzakalanga. Ngoku iintshaba zidliwa ziingonyama, kwaye ukumkani ukhupha ummiselo wokuba koyikwe uThixo kaDaniyeli, ngokuba “unguThixo ophilileyo.” (6:26) UDaniyeli uba nempumelelo kwinkonzo yasebukhosini ukusa kulawulo lukaKoreshi.

13. Kwiphupha lakhe, nguwuphi umbono obonwa nguDaniyeli ophathelele amarhamncwa amane negunya loBukumkani?

¹³ Imibono yamarhancwa (7:1–8:27). Sibuyela ‘kunyaka wokuqala kaBheleshatsare,’ olawulo lwakhe ekubonakala ukuba lwaqala ngowama-553 B.C.E. UDaniyeli uphupha iphupha elifihlakeleyo, athi ingxelo yalo ayibhale ngesiAramiki.g Ubona amarhamncwa amane amakhulu nawoyikekayo evela ngokulandelelana. Elesine lomelele ngokungaqhelekanga, yaye kuvela uphondo oluncinane phakathi kwezinye iimpondo zalo luze ‘luthethe izinto ezinkulu kakhulu.’ (7:8) Kuvela uNyangelemihla aze ahlale esihlalweni sakhe. “Amawaka amawaka” azimisa phambi kwakhe. “Onjengonyana womntu” usondezwa phambi kwakhe kwaye ‘unikwa igunya, nobuhandiba, nobukumkani, ukuze zonke iintlanga, nezizwe, neelwimi, zimbuse.’ (7:10, 13, 14) Wandula ke uDaniyeli acaciselwe lo mbono wamarhamncwa amane. Amela ookumkani okanye izikumkani ezine. Phakathi kweempondo ezilishumi zerhamncwa lesine, kuvela uphondo oluncinane. Luba namandla luze lulwe nabangcwele. Noko ke, uMgwebi wasezulwini uyangenelela ukuze anikele “ubukumkani, negunya, nobukhulu bezikumkani phantsi kwamazulu onke, . . . [kubantu] abangcwele bOsenyangweni.”—7:27.

14. Nguwuphi umbono uDaniyeli awubonayo obonisa inkunzi yebhokhwe nenkunzi yegusha eneempondo ezimbini? UGabriyeli uwucacisa njani?

¹⁴ Kwiminyaka emibini kamva, kude kudala ngaphambi kokubhukuqwa kweBhabhiloni, uDaniyeli ubona omnye umbono, athi awubhale ngesiHebhere. Inkunzi yebhokhwe enophondo olubonakalayo phakathi kwamehlo ayo ilwa, ize yoyise, inkunzi yegusha enekratshi neneempondo ezimbini. Olu phondo lukhulu lwenkunzi yebhokhwe lwaphukile, yaye kuvela ezinye iimpondo ezine ezingaphantsi. Kolunye lwazo kuphuma uphondo oluncinane oluba lukhulu, olukwacel’ umngeni umkhosi weenkwenkwezi. Kuxelwa kwangaphambili ithuba elisaseleyo leentsuku ezingama-2 300 ngaphambi kokuba indawo engcwele ‘ilungiswe.’ (8:14) UGabriyeli ucacisela uDaniyeli lo mbono. Inkunzi yegusha imela ookumkani bamaMedi nabamaPersi. Inkunzi yebhokhwe ngukumkani waseGrisi, obukumkani bakhe buya kwahlulwa kane. Kamva, ukumkani obuso bungwanyalala uya kusukela phezulu “kumthetheli wabathetheli.” Ekubeni lo mbono “uya kwimihla emininzi,” uDaniyeli umele awugcine uyimfihlelo okwangoku.—8:25, 26.

15. Yintoni ebangela ukuba uDaniyeli athandaze kuYehova, kwaye yintoni ngoku evakaliswa nguGabriyeli ngokuphathelele “iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe”?

¹⁵ UMthanjiswa oyiNganga owayexelwe kwangaphambili (9:1-27). “Ngomnyaka wokuqala kaDariyo . . . wasembewini yamaMedi” uDaniyeli uhlolisisa isiprofeto sikaYeremiya. Eqonda ukuba ukuphanziswa kweYerusalem kangangama-70 eminyaka okwakuxelwe kwangaphambili kusondela esiphelweni sako, uDaniyeli uthandaza kuYehova echaza izono zakhe nezo zikaSirayeli. (Dan. 9:1-4; Yer. 29:10) Kuvela uGabriyeli ukuze avakalise ukuba kuya kubakho “iiveki ezimashumi asixhenxe . . . sithintelwe isikreqo, zitywinwe izono, bucanyagushelwe ubugwenxa.” UMthanjiswa oyiNganga uya kuza ekupheleni kweeveki ezingama-69, veki ezo aya kuthi emva kwazo anqanyulwe. Umnqophiso uya kuqiniselwa ukwenzela abaninzi kude kube sekupheleni kweveki yama-70, yaye ekugqibeleni, kuya kubakho ukuphanziswa nokupheliswa.—Dan. 9:24-27.

16. Kuphantsi kwaziphi iimeko esithi isithunywa sezulu sivele kwakhona kuDaniyeli?

¹⁶ Ukumkani wasentla ulwa nowasezantsi, uMikayeli uyema (10:1–12:13). ‘Ngunyaka wesithathu kaKoreshi,’ yaye kumalunga nowama-536 B.C.E., kungekudala emva kokubuyela kwamaYuda eYerusalem. Emva kokuzila ukudla kangangeeveki ezintathu, uDaniyeli ungaselunxwemeni lomlambo iHidekele. (Dan. 10:1, 4; Gen. 2:14) Kuvela isithunywa sezulu kuye size simcacisele ukuba ‘umthetheli wamaPersi’ ebengafuni ukuba size kuDaniyeli kodwa “uMikayeli, omnye wakubathetheli abaziintloko,” uye wasinceda. Ngoku sibalisela uDaniyeli ngombono ‘ongowasekupheleni kwemihla.’—Dan. 10:13, 14.

17. Yiyiphi imbali engokwesiprofeto engokumkani wasentla nokumkani wasezantsi ebhalwa nguDaniyeli ngoku?

¹⁷ Njengoko utyhilwa, lo mbono onomtsalane uthetha ngookumkani bamaPersi nokusukuzana neGrisi okuza kubakho. Ukumkani oligorha uya kuma alawule ngolawulo olukhulu, kodwa ubukumkani bakhe buya kwahlukaniswa kane. Ekugqibeleni kuya kubakho izintlu ezimbini ezinde zookumkani, ukumkani wasezantsi esilwa nokumkani wasentla. Kula magunya elinye liyasilela elinye liyaphumelela etshintshisana. Aba kumkani babi ngendlela engathethekiyo baya kuqhubeka bethetha ubuxoki sithebeni sinye. “Ngexesha elimisiweyo,” kuya kuqhambuka imfazwe kwakhona. Kuya kuhlanjelwa ingcwele kaThixo, yaye kuyo kuya kumiswa “izinto ezinezothe, eziphanzisayo.” (11:29-31) Ukumkani wasentla uya kuthetha izinto ezimangalisayo nxamnye noThixo woothixo aze azukise uthixo weenqaba. Xa “ngexesha lokuphela” ukumkani wasezantsi ehlabana nokumkani wasentla, ukumkani wasentla uya kungenela amazwe amaninzi, ekwangena ‘naselizweni eliliGugu.’ Ephazanyiswa ziingxelo ezivela empuma nangasentla, uya kubhavuma ngumsindo aze azitwabulule “iintente zebhotwe lakhe phakathi kweelwandle, ngasentabeni engcwele eligugu.” Ngoko ‘kuya kufuneka afike esiphelweni sakhe yaye kungabikho umncedayo.’—11:40, 41, 45.

18. Ziziphi izinto ezenzeka ebudeni bokumela kukaMikayeli ‘oonyana babantu bakaThixo’?

¹⁸ Lo mbono ozukileyo uyaqhubeka: UMikayeli ubonwa emela ‘oonyana babantu bakaThixo.’ Kuza kubakho “ixesha lembandezelo” elingazange libekho kwimbali yabantu, kodwa abo bafunyenwe bebhaliwe encwadini baya kusinda. Abaninzi baya kuvuka eluthulini lomhlaba baye ebomini obungunaphakade, “abo ke banengqiqo baya kukhazimla njengokukhazimla kwesibhakabhaka.” Baya kuzisa abaninzi ebulungiseni. UDaniyeli umele ayitywine le ncwadi “kude kube lixesha lokuphela.” “Koda kube nini na, ukuphela kwezi zinto zibalulekileyo?” Isithunywa sezulu sikhankanya amaxesha amathathu nesiqingatha sexesha, iintsuku ezili-1 290, neentsuku ezili-1 335 size sithi ‘ngabanengqiqo kuphela abaya kukuqonda oku.’ Banoyolo abo banjalo! Ekugqibeleni, isithunywa sezulu siyamqinisekisa uDaniyeli ngedinga lokuba uya kuphumla aze ke avuke aye eqashisweni lakhe “ekupheleni kwemihla.”—12:1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 13.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

19. Yiyiphi imizekelo emihle yengqibelelo nokuthembela kuYehova ngomthandazo efumaneka kwincwadi kaDaniyeli?

¹⁹ Bonke abo bazimisele ukulondoloza ingqibelelo kweli hlabathi bangabaphambukeli kulo benza kakuhle ukuqwalasela umzekelo omhle kaDaniyeli namaqabane akhe amathathu. Ingakhathaliseki indlela esasisibi ngayo isisongelo abasifumanayo, aba baqhubeka bephila ngokwemigaqo yobuthixo. Xa ubomi babo babusengozini, uDaniyeli wenza “ngecebo nangengqondo” nangokuhlonela igunya eliphakamileyo likakumkani. (2:14-16) Xa esi senzo sanyanzeliswayo, amaHebhere amathathu akhetha iziko elivutha umlilo kunesenzo sokunqula izithixo, yaye uDaniyeli wakhetha umhadi weengonyama kunokuyeka ilungelo awayenalo lokuthandaza kuYehova. Kuzo zonke ezi meko uYehova wabakhusela. (3:4-6, 16-18, 27; 6:10, 11, 23) UDaniyeli umisela umzekelo omhle wokuthembela ngoYehova uThixo ngomthandazo.—2:19-23; 9:3-23; 10:12.

20. Yiyiphi imibono emine ebhaliweyo ngokuphathelele amagunya ehlabathi, kwaye kutheni kusomelez’ ukholo nje ukuyiqwalasela le mibono namhlanje?

²⁰ Imibono kaDaniyeli iyachwayitisa kwaye komeleza ukholo ukuyihlolisisa. Okokuqala, qwalasela imibono emine ephathelele amagunya ehlabathi: (1) Kukho umbono womfanekiso owoyikekayo, ontloko yawo yegolide emela ungcelele lookumkani baseBhabhiloni kuqaliswa ngoNebhukadenetsare, ekuthi emva kwakhe kuvele ezinye izikumkani ezithathu, njengoko zifanekiselwa zezinye iinxalenye zalo mfanekiso. Zezi zikumkani kanye ezithi zityunyuzwe ‘lilitye,’ elithi lona libe ‘bubukumkani obungayi konakala naphakade,’ uBukumkani bukaThixo. (2:31-45) (2) Kuthi ke kulandele imibono eyayiyekaDaniyeli, owokuqala ingulowo wamarhamncwa amane, amela “ookumkani abane.” La anjengengonyama, ibhere, ingwe eneentloko ezine, nerhamncwa elinamazinyo amakhulu esinyithi, iimpondo ezilishumi, yaye kamva elinophondo oluncinane. (7:1-8, 17-28) (3) Ngokulandelayo, kukho umbono wenkunzi yegusha (amaMedi namaPersi), inkunzi yebhokhwe (iGrisi), nophondo oluncinane. (8:1-27) (4) Ekugqibeleni, sinombono wokumkani wasezantsi nokumkani wasentla. UDaniyeli 11:5-19 uchaza ngokuchanileyo ubutshaba obuphakathi kweYiputa nenxalenye yoBukhosi bamaGrike buka-Alesandire eyayilawulwa nguSeleucus emva kokufa kuka-Alesandire ngowama-323 B.C.E. Ukususela kwindinyana 20 esi siprofeto siyaqhubeka silanda umkhondo weentlanga zasezantsi nezasentla ezalandelayo. Ukubhekisela kukaYesu ‘kwinto enezothe, ephanzisayo’ (11:31), kwisiprofeto sakhe esingomqondiso wobukho bakhe, kubonisa ukuba olu sukuzwano lwaba kumkani babini luyaqhubeka ukuza kutsho ‘ekuphelisweni kwephakade eli.’ (Mat. 24:3) Hayi indlela esithuthuzela ngayo isiqinisekiso sesi siprofeto sokuba ‘ngexesha lembandezelo elingazange libekho elinjalo, kususela koko lwabakhoyo uhlanga, de kube ngelo xesha,’ uMikayeli uya kuma ukuze ashenxise iintlanga ezingahloneli Thixo aze azise uxolo kuluntu oluthobelayo!—Dan. 11:20–12:1.

21. Saba nenzaliseko ephawulekayo njani isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli ‘seeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe’?

²¹ Kwandula ke, kubekho isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli ‘seeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe.’ Emva kweeveki ezingama-69 ‘uMthanjiswa oyiNganga’ wayeza kuvela. Ngokuphawulekayo, iminyaka engama-483 (ama-69 aphindaphindwe ngeminyaka esi-7) emva ‘kokuphuma kwelizwi’ lokubuya kwakhiwe iYerusalem, njengoko oko kwagunyaziswa nguArtashashta kumnyaka wakhe wama-20 kwaza kwenziwa nguNehemiya eYerusalem, uYesu waseNazarete wabhaptizwa kuMlambo iYordan waza wathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele, esiba nguKristu, okanye uMesiya (oko kukuthi, uMthanjiswa).h Oko kwenzeka ngonyaka wama-29 C.E. Emva koko, njengokuba noDaniyeli waxelayo kwangaphambili, kwabakho “isiphelo” xa iYerusalem yaphanziswayo ngowama-70 C.E.—Dan. 9:24-27; Luka 3:21-23; 21:20.

22. Sisiphi isifundo esisifundayo ekuthotyweni kukaNebhukadenetsare?

²² Kwiphupha likaNebhukadenetsare eliphathelele umthi ogawulweyo, njengoko ingxelo inikelwe nguDaniyeli kwisahluko 4, kuthiwa lo kumkani, owaqhayisa ngezinto awayeziphumezile nowayenentembelo kumandla akhe, wathotywa nguYehova uThixo. Wenziwa ukuba aphile njengerhamncwa lasendle ade “azi ukuba Osenyangweni unegunya ebukumkanini babantu, ebunika lowo athanda ukumnika.” (Dan. 4:32) Ngaba thina namhlanje siza kuba njengoNebhukadenetsare, siqhayisa ngezinto esiziphumezileyo size sibe nentembelo kumandla abantu, ukuze uThixo asohlwaye, okanye ngaba ngobulumko siya kuvuma ukuba uneGunya ebukumkanini babantu size sibe nentembelo kuBukumkani bakhe?

23. (a) Ligxininiswa njani ithemba loBukumkani kuyo yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli? (b) Le ncwadi yesiprofeto ifanele isikhuthaze ukuba senze ntoni?

²³ Ithemba loBukumkani ligxininiswa kuyo yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli ngendlela eshukumis’ ukholo! UYehova uThixo uboniswa njengoMongami Ophakamileyo omisela uBukumkani obungayi konakaliswa nobuya kutyumza zonke ezinye izikumkani. (2:19-23, 44; 4:25) Kwanookumkani bobuhedeni uNebhukadenetsare noDariyo benziwa ukuba babuvume ubukhulu bukaYehova. (3:28, 29; 4:2, 3, 37; 6:25-27) UYehova uyaphakanyiswa aze azukiswe njengoNyangelemihla ogweba imbambano yoBukumkani aze anike ‘onjengonyana womntu’ “igunya nobuhandiba, nobukumkani, ukuze zonke iintlanga, nezizwe, neelwimi zimbuse” ngonaphakade. “Abangcwele bOsenyangweni” ngabo ababa nesabelo noKristu Yesu, “uNyana woMntu,” eBukumkanini. (Dan. 7:13, 14, 18, 22; Mat. 24:30; ISityhi. 14:14) UnguMikayeli, umthetheli omkhulu, osebenzisa amandla akhe oBukumkani ekutyumzeni nasekupheliseni zonke izikumkani zeli hlabathi lidala. (Dan. 12:1; 2:44; Mat. 24:3, 21; ISityhi. 12:7-10) Ukuqondakala kwezi ziprofeto nale mibono kufanele kukhuthaze abathandi bobulungisa ukuba bathabathe inyathelo baze bafunde konke okuseLizwini likaThixo ukuze bafumane ‘izinto ezibaluleke’ ngokwenyaniso zeenjongo zoBukumkani bukaThixo ezityhilwayo kuthi ngencwadi kaDaniyeli ephefumlelweyo neyingenelo.—Dan. 12:2, 3, 6.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]