Incwadi YeBhayibhile 2—Eksodus

Umbhali: NguMoses

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: Entlango

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Ngowe-1512 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowe-1657-1512 B.C.E.

 1. (a) Ziyintoni iimbalasane ze-Eksodus? (b) Ngawaphi amagama eye yathiywa ngawo iEksodus, kwaye iqhubeka nengxelo yantoni?

IINGXELO ezichukumisayo zemiqondiso nemimangaliso ebalulekileyo eyenziwa nguYehova ekuhlanguleni abantu begama lakhe kwiimbandezelo zaseYiputa, ukulungelelanisa kwakhe amaSirayeli njengempahla yakhe ekhethekileyo ‘njengobukumkani bababingeleli nohlanga olungcwele,’ nokuqalisa kwembali yamaSirayeli njengohlanga lolawulo lobuthixo—ezi ziimbalasane zencwadi yeBhayibhile ye-Eksodus. (Eks. 19:6) NgesiHebhere ibizwa ngokuthi Weʼelʹleh shemohthʹ, okuthetha ukuthi “Ngoku ngawo la amagama,” okanye ngokulula ngokuthi Shemohthʹ, “Amagama,” ngokutsho kwamazwi ayo okuqala. Igama layo lezi mini livela kwiSeptuagint yesiGrike, apho ibizwa ngegama elithi Eʹxo·dos, eliye ngesiLatini laguqulelwa ngokuthi Exodus, elithetha “Ukuphuma” okanye “Ukunduluka.” Isibakala sokuba kwiEksodus kusaqhutyekwa nengxelo ekwiGenesis siboniswa ligama lokuqala elithi, “Ngoku” (ngokoqobo elithetha, “Kwaye ke”), nangokuphinda kudweliswe amagama oonyana bakaYakobi, njengoko ethatyathwe kwingxelo epheleleyo yeGenesis 46:8-27, NW.

 2. Yintoni etyhilwa yiEksodus ngokuphathelele igama elithi YEHOVA?

² Incwadi ye-Eksodus ityhila igama likaThixo elibalaseleyo, UYEHOVA, njengeliqaqambe ngokuzukileyo nelingcwele. Njengokuba wayebonakalisa ubunzulu bentsingiselo yegama lakhe, uThixo waxelela uMoses oku, “NDINGUYE ENDINGUYE,” waza walek’ umsundulo ngokuthi wayefanele axelele amaSirayeli oku, “UNDINGUYE [ngesiHebhere: אהיה, ʼEh·yehʹ, ngokusuka kwisenzi sesiHebhere esinguha·yahʹ] undithumile kuni.” Igama elithi YEHOVA (יהוה, YHWH) livela kwisenzi sesiHebhere esihlobene nalo esinguha·wahʹ, “ukuba [kokuthile],” kwaye ngokoqobo lithetha “O[zi]bangela Abe.” Ngokuqinisekileyo izenzo zikaYehova zobugorha nezoyikekayo awazenzayo ngenxa yabantu bakhe, amaSirayeli, zalibalaselisa zaza zalenza lazuka ngokuqaqambileyo elo gama, zilenza libe sisikhumbuzo ‘kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana,’ gama elo elifanele lihlonelwe kuse kuwo onke amaphakade. Kuyeyona nto iyingenelo ngaphezu kwazo zonke ukwazi imbali emangalisayo engelo gama nokuba sinqule okuphela koThixo oyinyaniso, Lowo uthi, “NdinguYehova.”a—Eks. 3:14, 15; 6:6.

 3. (a) Sazi njani ukuba uMoses ungumbhali we-Eksodus? (b) Yabhalwa nini iEksodus, kwaye igubungela liphi ixesha?

³ UMoses ungumbhali we-Eksodus, njengoko oko kuboniswa sisibakala sokuba ingumqulu wesibini wePentatiki. Le ncwadi ngokwayo ithetha ngezihlandlo ezithathu zaxa uMoses wenza ingxelo ebhaliweyo esalathiswa nguYehova. (17:14; 24:4; 34:27) Ngokutsho kwabaphengululi beBhayibhile uWestcott noHort, uYesu nababhali beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike bacaphula okanye babhekisela kwiEksodus izihlandlo ezingaphezu kwe-100, njengaxa uYesu wathi: “Umthetho aniwunikelwanga na nguMoses?” IEksodus yabhalelwa entlango yaseSinayi, ngonyaka we-1512 B.C.E., malunga nonyaka emva kokuba oonyana bakaSirayeli beyishiyile iYiputa. Igubungela ithuba leminyaka eli-145, ukususela ekufeni kukaYosefu ngowe-1657 B.C.E. kuse ekwakhiweni kwetabarnekile yonqulo lukaYehova ngowe-1512 B.C.E.—Yoh. 7:19; Eks. 1:6; 40:17.

 4, 5. Bubuphi ubungqina obungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala obuxhasa ingxelo ye-Eksodus?

⁴ Xa kuqwalaselwa isibakala sokuba iziganeko ezikwiEksodus zenzeka malunga neminyaka engama-3 500 eyadlulayo, kukho ubungqina obumangalisayo obungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala nobunye ubungqina obungqinela ukuba ingxelo ichanile. Amagama esiYiputa asetyenziswe ngokuchanileyo kwiEksodus, kwaye izibizo ezikhankanyiweyo kuyo zingqinelana nemibhalo yaseYiputa. Inzululwazi engokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ibonisa ukuba kwakulisiko lamaYiputa ukuvumela ukuba abantu bezinye iintlanga bahlale eYiputa kodwa wona azahlule kubo. Amanzi omNayile ayesetyenziselwa ukuqubha, nto leyo esikhumbuza ukuba intombi kaFaro yayiqubha kuwo. Kuye kwafunyanwa izitena ezenziwe ngomququ nezingenziwanga ngawo. Kwakhona, ngemihla yokubalasela kolawulo lwaseYiputa kwakubalasele nabenzi bemilingo.—Eks. 8:22; 2:5; 5:6, 7, 18; 7:11.

⁵ Amatye ezikhumbuzo abonisa ukuba ookumkani baseYiputa babebakhokela ngokobuqu edabini abaphathi babo beenqwelo zokulwa, kwaye iEksodus ibonisa ukuba ukumkani waseYiputa womhla kaMoses walandela eli siko. Enjani yona indlela elimele ukuba laba likhulu ngayo ihlazo awalifumanayo! Kodwa kwenzeka njani ukuba iingxelo zamandulo zaseYiputa zingathethi nto ngokuhlala kwamaSirayeli kwilizwe laseYiputa okwethuba elithile okanye ngentlekele eyehlela iYiputa? Inzululwazi engokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ibonise ukuba kwakulisiko ngabalawuli abatsha baseYiputa ukushenxisa nantoni na eyayingazisi ludumo luhle eyayikwiingxelo zangaphambili. Abazange bakubhale ukoyiswa kwabo okulihlazo. Intlekele eyehlela oothixo baseYiputa—njengothixo womNayile, uthixo wamasele nothixo welanga— eyabathoba isidima aba thixo bobuxoki yaza yambonisa uYehova engowongamileyo, yayingayi kuba yekufanelekeleyo ukuba ibe kwiingxelo zohlanga olunamabhongo.—14:7-10; 15:4.b

 6. Iindawo awaqalisa ukumisa kuzo amaSirayeli zifaniswa naziphi iindawo ngokuqhelekileyo?

⁶ Inkonzo kaMoses yeminyaka engama-40 njengomalusi phantsi kukaYitro yamenza waqhelana neemeko ekwakuphilwa kuzo neendawo awayefumaneka kuzo amanzi nokutya kuloo mmandla, ngaloo ndlela oko kumenza akufanelekele kakuhle ukukhokela iMfuduko. Indlela echanileyo ababehamba ngayo abantu kuloo Mfuduko ayinakuchazwa ngengqiniseko namhlanje, ekubeni iindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezikhankanyiweyo kwingxelo zingenakwalathwa ngengqiniseko. Phofu ke, iMara, eyenye yeendawo zokuqala ekwamiswa kuzo kuSingasiqithi waseSinayi, ngokuqhelekileyo ifaniswa ne-ʽEin Hawwara, ekwiikhilomitha ezingama-80 kuMzantsi woMzantsi-mpuma weSuez yezi mini. IElim, eyindawo yesibini ekwamiswa kuyo, ngokuqhelekileyo ifaniswa neWadi Gharandel, emalunga neekhilomitha ezingama-88 kuMzantsi woMzantsi mpuma weSuez. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, le ndawo yezi mini yaziwa njengendawo enamanzi awaneleyo enohlaza nemithi yesundu, nto leyo ekhumbuza ubani nge-Elim yaseBhayibhileni, ‘eyayinemithombo yamanzi elishumi elinambini nemithi yesundu engamashumi asixhenxe.’c Noko ke, ubunyaniso bengxelo kaMoses abuxhomekekanga kwinkxaso yabembi bezinto zakudala yeendawo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezazikuloo ndlela.—15:23, 27.

 7. Bubuphi obunye ubungqina, kuquka ukwakhiwa kwetabarnekile, obuqinisekisa ukuba iEksodus iphefumlelwe?

⁷ Ingxelo engokwakhiwa kwetabarnekile kumathafa aphambi kweSinayi ifanelana neemeko zasekuhlaleni. Omnye umphengululi wathi: “Ngokwendlela eyayime neyayakhiwe ngayo nezinto zokuyakha, itabarnekile yeyasentlango ngokupheleleyo. Imithi eyasetyenziswayo ekuyakheni ifumaneka apho ngobuninzi.”d Enoba kukumba wamagama, wezithethe, wonqulo weendawo, wokuma komhlaba, okanye weempahla ezazisetyenziswa, ubungqina bangaphandle obuninzi buqinisekisa ukuba ingxelo ye-Eksodus, ngoku ebikho kangangeminyaka enokuba ngama-3 500, iphefumlelwe.

 8. IEksodus iboniswa njani inxibelelene nezinye iZibhalo njengephefumlelweyo neyingenelo?

⁸ Abanye ababhali beBhayibhile babesoloko bebhekisela kwiEksodus, bebonisa ukubaluleka nokuxabiseka kwayo okungokwesiprofeto. Kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-900 kamva, uYeremiya wabhala ‘ngoThixo oyinyaniso, Omkhulu, Oligorha, ogama lakhe linguYehova wemikhosi,’ owabakhuphayo abantu bakhe, amaSirayeli, eYiputa “ngemiqondiso, nangezimanga, nangesandla esithe nkqi, nangengalo eyolukileyo, nangoloyikiso olukhulu.” (Yer. 32:18-21) Kwiminyaka engaphezu kwe-1 500 kamva, uStefano wasekela inkoliso yobungqina obuchukumisayo obakhokelela ekufeleni kwakhe ukholo kwinkcazelo ekwiEksodus. (IZe. 7:17-44) KumaHebhere 11:23-29 ubomi bukaMoses sibucatshulelwa njengomzekelo wokholo, kwaye uPawulos ubhekisela ngokufuthi kwiEksodus xa emisela imizekelo nezilumkiso kuthi namhlanje. (IZe. 13:17; 1 Kor. 10:1-4, 11, 12; 2 Kor. 3:7-16) Konke oku kusinceda siqonde indlela iinxalenye zeBhayibhile ezithungelana ngayo, nxalenye nganye ityhila injongo kaYehova ngendlela eyingenelo.

OKUQULETHWE YIEKSODUS

 9. UMoses uzalelwa aze akhuliselwe phantsi kwaziphi iimeko?

⁹ UYehova uthuma uMoses, egxininisa igama Lakhe elisiSikhumbuzo (1:1–4:31). Yakuba ichaze oonyana bakaSirayeli ababefike eYiputa, ngokulandelayo iEksodus inikela ingxelo yokufa kukaYosefu. Ekuhambeni kwexesha kuvela ukumkani omtsha eYiputa. Xa ebona ukuba amaSirayeli ‘ayanda kwaye aba namandla kakhulu kunene,’ umisela amanyathelo acinezelayo, kuquka ukusebenza ngesinyanzelo, kwaye uzama ukubanciphisa abemi abangamadoda bamaSirayeli ngokukhupha umyalelo wokuba batshatyalaliswe bonke abantwana abangamakhwenkwe abasandul’ ukuzalwa. (1:7, NW) Kuphantsi kwezi meko athi umSirayeli othile wendlu kaLevi azale unyana. Lo mntwana ngowesithathu entsatsheni. Xa eneenyanga ezintathu ubudala, unina umfihla kumkhombe owenziwe ngemizi phakathi kweengcongolo elunxwemeni loMlambo umNayile. Ufunyanwa yintombi kaFaro, ethi iyithande le nkwenkwe ize izikhulisele yona njengomntwana wayo. Unina wale nkwenkwe uba ngumanyisi wayo, kwaye ngenxa yoko, ikhulela ekhayeni lamaSirayeli. Kamva iziswa kwibhotwe lakwaFaro. Ithiywa igama elinguMoses, elithetha ukuthi “Mrholwa [oko kukuthi, osindiswe emanzini].”—Eks. 2:10; IZe. 7:17-22.

10. Ziziphi iziganeko ezikhokelela ekubeni uMoses athunywe ukuya kuphumeza inkonzo ekhethekileyo?

¹⁰ Lo Moses unomdla kwimpilontle yamaSirayeli angoowabo. Ubulala umYiputa ngenxa yokuphatha kakubi umSirayeli. Ngenxa yoko, kufuneka asabe, kwaye ufika kwilizwe lakwaMidiyan. Apho utshata noTsipora intombi kaYitro, umbingeleli wakwaMidiyan. Ekuhambeni kwexesha uMoses uba ngubawo woonyana ababini, uGershom noEliyezere. Kwandula ke, xa aneminyaka engama-80 ubudala, emva kokuba echithe iminyaka engama-40 entlango, uMoses athunywe nguYehova ukuya kuphumeza inkonzo ekhethekileyo ukuze kungcwaliswe igama likaYehova. Ngenye imini ngoxa aluse impahla emfutshane kaYitro kufuphi naseHorebhe, ‘eyintaba kaThixo [oyinyaniso, NW],’ uMoses ubona ityholo elitshayo kodwa lingade litshe liphele. Xa esiya kulihlola, isithunywa sezulu sikaYehova sithetha naye, size simxelele injongo kaThixo yokukhupha abantu Bakhe ‘oonyana bakaSirayeli eYiputa.’ (Eks. 3:1, 10) UMoses uza kusetyenziswa njengesixhobo sikaYehova sokukhulula amaSirayeli kubukhoboka baseYiputa.—IZe. 7:23-35.

11. Ngoku uYehova ulenza laziwe ngayiphi ingqiqo ekhethekileyo igama lakhe?

¹¹ Wandula ke uMoses abuze indlela aya kumchaza ngayo uThixo koonyana bakaSirayeli. Kulapha, okwesihlandlo sokuqala, athi uYehova ayenze yaziwe intsingiselo yokwenene yegama lakhe, elinxulumanisa nenjongo yakhe ekhethekileyo kwaye elimisela ukuze libe sisikhumbuzo. “Wotsho koonyana bakaSirayeli ukuthi, uNDINGUYE undithumile kuni . . . UYehova, uThixo wooyihlo, uThixo ka-Abraham, uThixo kaIsake, uThixo kaYakobi, undithumile kuni.” Igama lakhe, elinguYehova, limchaza njengalowo uya kubangela ukuba iinjongo zakhe ngokuphathelele abantu begama lakhe zizaliseke. Aba bantu, abayinzala ka-Abraham, uya kubanika ilizwe awayelithembise ooyisemkhulu, ‘ilizwe elibaleka amasi nobusi.’—Eks. 3:14, 15, 17.

12. Yintoni uYehova ayichazela uMoses mayela nokukhululwa kwamaSirayeli, kwaye abantu bayamkela njani imiqondiso?

¹² UYehova uchazela uMoses ukuba ukumkani waseYiputa akayi kuwakhulula amaSirayeli kodwa kuqala Yena uya kuyibetha iYiputa ngazo zonke izenzo Zakhe ezimangalisayo. Umntakwabo Moses, uAron, uziswa kuMoses njengesithethi sakhe, kwaye banikwa imiqondiso emithathu abaya kuyenza ukuze amaSirayeli eyiseke kukuba bavela kuYehova. Ngoxa besendleleni eya eYiputa, unyana kaMoses kufuneka aluswe ukuze kungabikho kufa entsatsheni, nto leyo ekhumbuza uMoses ngezinto uThixo azifunayo. (Gen. 17:14) UMoses noAron bahlanganisa amadoda amakhulu koonyana bakaSirayeli baze bawaxelele ngenjongo kaYehova yokuwakhupha eYiputa aze awase kwiLizwe Ledinga. Benza imiqondiso, kwaye abantu bayakholwa.

13. Uba yintoni umphumo wokuhlangana kokuqala kukaMoses noFaro?

¹³ Izibetho kwiYiputa (5:1–10:29). Ngoku uMoses noAron baya kuFaro baze bamchazele ukuba uYehova, uThixo kaSirayeli, uthe: “Bandulule abantu bam.” Ngelizwi eligculelayo, uFaro onekratshi uphendula athi: “Ngubani na uYehova, ukuba ndiphulaphule izwi lakhe, lokuba ndindulule uSirayeli? Andimazi uYehova, kananjalo andiyi kumndulula uSirayeli.” (5:1, 2) Endaweni yokuba akhulule amaSirayeli, uwamisela imisebenzi enzima ngakumbi. Noko ke, uYehova uyawahlaziya amadinga akhe entlangulo, kwakhona oku ekunxibelelanisa nokungcwaliswa kwegama lakhe esithi: “NdinguYehova . . . [Ndiya kuzingqina, NW] ndinguThixo wenu . . . NdinguYehova.”—6:6-8.

14. AmaYiputa anyanzeleka njani ukuba awuqonde ‘umnwe kaThixo’?

¹⁴ Umqondiso uMoses awenza phambi koFaro, ngokuthi uAron aphose intonga yakhe phantsi ize ibe yinyoka enkulu, uyenziwa nazizazi zobugqi zaseYiputa. Nangona iinyoka zazo ziginywa yinyoka enkulu ka-Aron, intliziyo kaFaro iselukhuni. Ngoku uYehova uzisa izibetho ezikhulu ezilishumi ezilandelelanayo phezu kweYiputa. Okokuqala, umlambo wawo uMnayile nawo onke amanzi aseYiputa ajika abe ligazi. Andula ke afikelwe sisibetho samasele. Ezi zibetho zibini ziyenziwa nazizazi zobugqi, kodwa isibetho sesithathu, eso seengcongconi ebantwini nasezinkomeni, azikwazi kusenza. Izazi zaseYiputa kufuneka ziqonde ukuba lo “ngumnwe kaThixo.” Phofu ke, uFaro akamndululi uSirayeli.—8:19.

15. Ziziphi izibetho ezithwaxa amaYiputa kuphela, kwaye siyintoni esikuphela kwesizathu esenza uYehova amvumele uFaro aqhubeke ephila?

¹⁵ Izibetho zokuqala ezithathu zifikela amaYiputa namaSirayeli ngokufanayo, kodwa ukususela kwesesine kuse phambili, ngamaYiputa kuphela athwaxwa zizo, uSirayeli akachatshazelwa nto kuba ekhuselwe nguYehova. Isibetho sesine zizibawu ezininzi. Kwandula ke kufike indyikitya yokufa kuyo yonke imfuyo yaseYiputa, elandelwa ngamathumba nazizilonda ebantwini nasezinkomeni, ngokokude nezazi zobugqi zingabi nako ukuma phambi koMoses. Kwakhona uYehova uvumela intliziyo kaFaro ukuba ibe lukhuni, evakalisa oku kuye ngoMoses: “Noko ke ndikumisele eli thuba lokuba ndiwabonakalalise amandla am kuwe, laziswe igama lam ehlabathini lonke.” (9:16) Wandula ke uMoses axelele uFaro ngesibetho esilandelayo, “isichotho esinzima kunene,” kwaye apha okwesihlandlo sokuqala iBhayibhile inikela ingxelo yokuba bambi phakathi kwabakhonzi bakaFaro bathi baloyike ilizwi likaYehova baze benze ngokuvisisana nalo. Ngokukhawuleza—kulandela isibetho sesibhozo nesethoba—ukuhlasela kweenkumbi nobumnyama obungqingqwa, kwaye uFaro ontamo-lukhuni nonomsindo usongela uMoses ngokumbulala ukuba angaphinda abubone ubuso bakhe.—9:18.

16. Yintoni uYehova ayiyalelayo ngokuphathelele iPasika noMthendeleko Wezonka Ezingenagwele?

¹⁶ IPasika nokubulawa kwamazibulo (11:1–13:16). Ngoku uYehova uvakalisa oku, “Ndisaya kufikisa sibetho sinye phezu koFaro naphezu kweYiputa”—ukufa kwamazibulo. (11:1) Ukhupha umyalelo wokuba inyanga enguAbhibhi ibe yinyanga yokuqala kwiinyanga zamaSirayeli. Ngomhla we-10, afanele athabathe igusha okanye ibhokhwe—eliduna, emnyaka mnye, engenasiphako—aze ayixhele ngomhla we-14. Ngengokuhlwa yaloo mini amele athabathe igazi leso silwanyana aze alitshize kumacala omabini omgubasi nasemqadini womnyango, ibe wona amele ahlale ngaphakathi endlwini atye inyama eyosiweyo yeso silwanyana, ekungamele kwaphulwe nalinye ithambo laso. Akumele kubekho gwele endlwini, kwaye amele atye buphuthuphuthu, ebhinqile kwaye eneembadada ezinyaweni zawo elungele ukuphuma ahambe. Le Pasika imele ibe sisikhumbuzo, umthendeleko kuYehova ezizukulwaneni zawo. Imele ilandelwe nguMthendeleko Wezonka Ezingenagwele weentsuku ezisixhenxe. Oonyana bawo bamele bachazelwe ngokupheleleyo ngentsingiselo yako konke oku. (Kamva, uYehova unikela imiyalelo engakumbi mayela nale mithendeleko, kwaye uyalela ukuba onke amazibulo amaSirayeli angamaduna, awabantu nawezilwanyana, amele angcwaliselwe yena.)

17. Ziziphi iziganeko ezikuphawula oku njengobusuku bokukhunjulwa?

¹⁷ AmaSirayeli enza ngokomyalelo kaYehova. Kwandula ke kwehle intlekele! Ezinzulwini zobusuku uYehova ubulala onke amazibulo amaYiputa, ngoxa egqitha ngaphezulu kwaye ewahlangula amazibulo amaSirayeli. UFaro uyadanduluka esithi: “Sukani niphume phakathi kwabantu bam.” Yaye ‘amaYiputa ayababongoza abantu’ ukuba banduluke ngokukhawuleza. (12:31, 33) AmaSirayeli awanduluki engenanto, kuba ayacela aze afumane kumaYiputa impahla yesilivere neyegolide nempahla yokunxiba. Ayaphuma eYiputa enjengomkhosi wedabi, engamadoda angama-600 000 kunye neentsapho zawo nomxube omninzi wabangengomaSirayeli, kunye nemihlambi emikhulu yemfuyo. Oku kuphawula isiphelo seminyaka engama-430 ukususela ekuweleni kuka-Abraham umEfrati kuse ekungeneni kwilizwe lakwaKanan. Ngokwenene obu bubusuku bokukhunjulwa.—Eks. 12:40, umbhalo osemazantsi wesibini we-NW; Gal. 3:17.

18. Kukuphi ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova okuyincopho okwenzekayo kuLwandle Olubomvu?

¹⁸ Ukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova kuLwandle Olubomvu (13:17–15:21). Ewakhokela ngomqulu welifu emini nangomqulu womlilo ebusuku, uYehova ukhokela amaSirayeli ukuba aphume ngendlela yaseSukoti. Kwakhona uFaro uba neenkani, aze awasukele ngeenqwelo zakhe zokulwa, ngokokucinga kwakhe uwathiyele ngomgibe, akufika kuLwandle Olubomvu. UMoses uyabaqinisekisa abantu, esithi: “Musani ukoyika; misani, nilubone usindiso lukaYehova aya kunenzela lona namhla.” (14:13) Wandula ke uYehova alwahlule kubini ulwandle, evula indlela yokunqumla awakhokela ngayo uMoses ngokukhuselekileyo amaSirayeli ukuya kunxweme olungasempuma. Imikhosi enamandla kaFaro ingena igxalathelana emva kwawo, kodwa yiyo egutyungelwayo ize irhaxwe ngamanzi abuyelanayo. Okunjani kona ukuzuka kokungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova! Onjani yena ukuzuka unobangela wokugcoba kuye! Kwandula ke oko kugcoba kuvakaliswe kwingoma enkulu yoloyiso neyeyokuqala eseBhayibhileni ethi: “Ndiya kuhlabela kuYehova, kuba enobungangamsha obukhulu, ihashe nomkhweli walo ulizulumbele elwandle. Uqhayiya lam, ungoma yam nguYehova; waba lusindiso kum. . . . UYehova uya kuba ngukumkani ngonaphakade kanaphakade.”—15:1, 2, 18.

19. Ziziphi iziganeko eziphawula uhambo lokuya ngaseSinayi?

¹⁹ UYehova wenza umnqophiso woMthetho eSinayi (15:22–34:35). Ngokwamabakala alandelelanayo, njengoko ekhokelwa nguYehova, amaSirayeli aya ngaseSinayi, eyintaba yoThixo oyinyaniso. Xa abantu bekhalazela amanzi akrakra aseMara, uYehova ubenzela abe mnandi. Kwakhona, xa bekhalazela ukungabikho kwenyama nesonka, ngengokuhlwa ubalungiselela izagwityi, nemana emnandi, enjengombethe, ekuseni. Le mana iya kuba sisonka samaSirayeli kangangeminyaka engama-40 elandelayo. Kwakhona, okwesihlandlo sokuqala embalini, uYehova uyalela ukuba kugcinwe umhla wokuphumla, okanye isabatha, evumela amaSirayeli ukuba azibuthele isixa esiphindwe kabini semana ngomhla wesithandathu aze enze kungabikho sixa sifumanekayo ngomhla wesixhenxe. Ukwawavelisela amanzi eRefidim aze awalwele nxamnye nama-Amaleki, ebangela ukuba uMoses abhale ingxelo yesigwebo Sakhe sokuba uya kuwatshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo ama-Amaleki.

20. Kuphunyezwa njani ukulungelelaniswa ngendlela elungileyo?

²⁰ Umkhwe kaMoses, uYitro, umzisela umfazi noonyana bakhe ababini. Ngoku lixesha lokuba izinto zilungelelaniswe kakuhle kwaSirayeli, kwaye uYitro unikela isiluleko esithile esihle nesiluncedo. Ucebisa uMoses ukuba angawuthwali yedwa wonke umthwalo kodwa amisele amadoda anobunkunkqele namoyikayo uThixo okulawula abantu njengabathetheli bamawaka, bamakhulu, bamashumi amahlanu nabamashumi. UMoses uyakwenza oku, kangangokuba ngoku ngamatyala anzima kuphela aziswa kuye.

21. Liliphi idinga alenzayo uYehova ngokulandelayo, kodwa elenza phantsi kwaziphi iimeko?

²¹ Kwiinyanga nje ezintathu emva kweMfuduko, amaSirayeli amisa kwintlango yaseSinayi. Apha uYehova uthembisa oku: “Ngoku ke, ukuba nithe naliphulaphula okunene izwi lam, nawugcina umnqophiso wam, noba yinqobo kum kwizizwe zonke, kuba ihlabathi lonke lelam; nibe bubukumkani bababingeleli kum, nohlanga olungcwele.” Bonke abantu benza isifungo besithi: “Konke akuthethileyo uYehova sokwenza.” (19:5, 6, 8) Emva kwethuba lokungcwaliswa kukaSirayeli, uYehova wehlela entabeni ngosuku lwesithathu, eyibangela ukuba iqhume umsi ize inyikime.

22. (a) Yiyiphi imithetho equlethweyo kuMazwi aliShumi? (b) Yiyiphi eminye imimiselo echazelwa amaSirayeli, kwaye uhlanga lungeniswa njani kumnqophiso woMthetho?

²² Wandula ke uYehova anikele aMazwi aliShumi, okanye iMithetho Elishumi. Le mithetho ibethelela ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kuYehova, ngoxa ibalela abanye oothixo, ukunqulwa kwemifanekiso nokungaxatyiswa kwegama likaYehova. AmaSirayeli ayalelwa ukuba anikele inkonzo imihla emithandathu aze ke ayigcinele uYehova isabatha, nokubeka ooyise noonina. AMazwi aliShumi apheleliswa ngemithetho enxamnye nokubulala, ukukrexeza, ukuba, ukungqina ubuxoki nokubawa. Wandula ke uYehova awabekele imimiselo, imiyalelo yohlanga olutsha, egubungela ukukhuselwa kwamakhoboka, ukuhlaselwa, ukwenzakaliswa, imbuyekezo, ubusela, umonakalo obangelwe ngumlilo, unqulo lobuxoki, ukoniwa kobuntombi bebhinqa, ukuphathwa kakubi kwabahlolokazi neenkedama, ukubolekisa ngemali nangezinye izinto neminye imibandela emininzi. Kunikelwa imithetho yesabatha, kwaye kulungiselelwa imisitho emithathu yaminyaka le ukwenzela ukuba kunqulwe uYehova. Wandula ke uMoses awabhale phantsi amazwi kaYehova, kwenziwa amadini, kwaye isiqingatha segazi sitshizwa esibingelelweni. Incwadi yomnqophiso ifundelwa abantu, kwaye emva kokuba kwakhona beqinisekise ukuba baya kuthobela, igazi eliseleyo litshizwa encwadini nakubo bonke abantu. Ngaloo ndlela uYehova wenza umnqophiso woMthetho namaSirayeli ngomlamli, uMoses.—Heb. 9:19, 20.

23. Yiyiphi imiyalelo uYehova ayinika uMoses entabeni?

²³ Wandula ke uMoses anyukele kuYehova entabeni ukuya kufumana uMthetho. Kangangeemini ezingama-40 nobusuku bazo, unikwa imiyalelo emininzi emayela nezinto zetabarnekile, iinkcukacha ezingeempahla zayo, iinkcukacha ezincinane ezingetabarnekile ngokwayo nokwenziwa kweengubo zababingeleli, kuquka icangci legolide ecocekileyo, elinamagama athi “Ubungcwele bobukaYehova,” kunkontsho luka-Aron. Ukumiselwa kwababingeleli nenkonzo yabo zichazwe ngokweenkcukacha, kwaye uMoses ukhunjuzwa ukuba iSabatha iya kuba ngumqondiso phakathi kukaYehova noonyana bakaSirayeli “ngonaphakade.” Wandula ke uMoses anikwe amacwecwe amabini eSingqino abhalwe ‘ngomnwe kaThixo.’—Eks. 28:36, NW; 31:17, 18.

24. (a) Sisiphi isono esenziwa ngabantu, ibe ngawuphi umphumo? (b) UYehova ulityhila njani ngokulandelayo igama nobuqaqawuli bakhe kuMoses?

²⁴ Okweli thuba abantu baphelelwa ngumonde baze bacele uAron ukuba abenzele uthixo oya kuhamba phambi kwabo. UAron uyakwenza oku, esenza ithole legolide, abathi abantu balinqule koko aye wakubiza ngokuba “ngumthendeleko kuYehova.” (32:5) UYehova uthetha ngokuwatshabalalisa amaSirayeli, kodwa uMoses uyawacamagushela, nangona ewakroboza loo macwecwe ngenxa yokuvutha kwakhe ngumsindo. Ngoku oonyana bakaLevi bathi bamele unqulo oluyinyaniso, bebulala abangama-3 000 kwabo babethe phithi seso siyolo. UYehova uyababetha nabo. Emva kokuba uMoses ebongoze uThixo ukuba aqhubeke ekhokela abantu bakhe, uxelelwa ukuba usenokububona nje kancinane ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo kwaye uyalelwa ukuba aqingqe amanye amacwecwe amabini aya kuwabhala kuwo kwakhona uYehova aMazwi aliShumi. Xa uMoses enyuka esiya entabeni okwesihlandlo sesibini, uYehova uvakalisa kuye igama likaYehova njengoko egqitha esithi: “UYehova, uYehova, uThixo onemfesane, onobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, omninzi ngenceba nenyaniso; olondolozela amawaka inceba.” (34:6, 7) Wandula ke achaze iimeko ekuvunyelenwe phantsi kwazo kuloo mnqophiso wakhe, aze uMoses azibhale phantsi njengoko sinazo namhlanje kwiEksodus. Xa uMoses esihla eNtabeni yeSinayi, ulusu lobuso bakhe lukhupha imitha ngenxa yobuqaqawuli bukaYehova obutyhiliweyo. Ngenxa yoko, umele abugqubuthele ubuso bakhe.—2 Kor. 3:7-11.

25. Yintoni ebaliswa yingxelo ngokuphathelele itabarnekile nokubonakaliswa ngokungakumbi kobuqaqawuli bukaYehova?

²⁵ Ukwakhiwa kwetabarnekile (35:1–40:38). Wandula ke uMoses ahlanganise amaSirayeli aze adlulisele kuwo amazwi kaYehova, ewaxelela ukuba abaneentliziyo ezivumayo banelungelo lokwenza iminikelo yetabarnekile nokuba abaneentliziyo ezinobulumko banelungelo lokusebenza kuyo. Kungekudala kunikelwa le ngxelo kuMoses: “Abantu bazisa ngaphezulu kakhulu kokwanele ukusetyenzwa komsebenzi, awise umthetho ngawo uYehova ukuba wenziwe.” (36:5) Phantsi kolwalathiso lukaMoses abantu abangabasebenzi abazaliswe ngumoya kaYehova bayaqhubeka besakha itabarnekile neempahla zayo nazo zonke yaye benza zonke iimpahla zababingeleli. Kwisithuba esimalunga nonyaka emva kweMfuduko, itabarnekile igqityiwe kwaye imiswe kwithafa eliphambi kweNtaba yeSinayi. UYehova ubonisa ukuba ukholisiwe yiyo ngokugubungela intente yokuhlangana ngelifu lakhe nangokuzalisa itabarnekile ngobuqaqawuli bakhe, ngokokude uMoses angakwazi ukungena ententeni. Eli lifu likwalinye emini nomlilo ebusuku liphawula indlela uYehova awakhokela ngayo amaSirayeli ebudeni bazo zonke iihambo zawo. Ngoku ngunyaka we-1512 B.C.E., kwaye ingxelo ye-Eksodus iphelela apha, igama likaYehova lingcwaliswe ngokuzukileyo ngemisebenzi yakhe emangalisayo ayenzileyo ngenxa yamaSirayeli.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

26. (a) IEksodus ilwakha njani ukholo kuYehova? (b) Iimbekiselo zeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike kwiEksodus zilwandisa njani ukholo lwethu?

²⁶ Ngendlela ebalaseleyo, iEksodus ityhila uYehova njengoMhlanguli nanjengoMlungelelanisi noMzalisekisi omkhulu weenjongo zakhe ezibalulekileyo, kwaye isenza sibe nokholo kuye. Olu kholo luyakhula njengoko sihlolisisa iimbekiselo ezininzi ezalatha kwiEksodus ezikwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, ezibonisa ukuzaliseka kweenkalo ezininzi zomnqophiso woMthetho, ezinikela isiqinisekiso sovuko, ilungiselelo likaYehova lokuzimasa abantu bakhe, imizekelo yomsebenzi wamaKristu wokuhlangula abasezinkxwalekweni, isiluleko esingokuhlonela abazali, izinto ezifunekayo ukuze kuzuzwe ubomi nendlela efanele ijongwe ngayo imithetho yokusesikweni efuna impindezelo okanye imbuyiselo. Ekugqibeleni uMthetho washwankathelwa kwimiyalelo emibini engokubonakalisa ukuthanda uThixo nomntu onguwenu.—Mat. 22:32—Eks. 4:5; Yoh. 6:31-35 neyesi-2 Kor. 8:15—Eks. 16:4, 18; Mat. 15:4 namaEfe. 6:2—Eks. 20:12; Mat. 5:26, 38, 39—Eks. 21:24; Mat. 22:37-40.

27. Ingxelo engokwembali ekwiEksodus iyingenelo njani kumKristu?

²⁷ KumaHebhere 11:23-29 sifunda ngokholo lukaMoses nolwabazali bakhe. Ngokholo wayishiya iYiputa, ngokholo wenza iPasika, kwaye ngokholo wakhokela amaSirayeli ukuwela uLwandle Olubomvu. AmaSirayeli abhaptizelwa kuMoses kwaye akudla ukutya kokomoya aze asisela nesiselo sokomoya. Akhangela phambili kwilitye elilulwalwa lokomoya, okanye uKristu, kodwa sekunjalo uThixo akazange akholiswe ngawo, kuba amvavanya uThixo aza aba ngabanquli bezithixo, abahenyuzi nabakrokri. UPawulos uchaza ukuba oku kuyasebenza kumaKristu namhlanje esithi: “Zonke ke ezo zinto, zabahlelayo bona, beziyimifuziselo; zabhalelwa ke ukululeka thina aba, bafikelweyo ziziphelo zawo amaphakade. Ngoko ke lowo uba umi, makalumke angawi.”—1 Kor. 10:1-12; Heb. 3:7-13.

28. Siye sazaliseka njani isithunzi soMthetho nesemvana yePasika?

²⁸ Ubuninzi bentsingiselo enzulu yokomoya ye-Eksodus, kunye nokusebenza kwayo okungokwesiprofeto, bunikelwe kwiincwadi zikaPawulos, ngokukodwa kumaHebhere isahluko 9 nese-10. “Kuba ekubeni uMthetho unesithunzi nje sodwa sezinto ezilungileyo eziza kubakho, ungenaso sona isimilo sazo izinto, abantu abaze babe nako, iminyaka ngeminyaka, ngaloo madini bawasondeza ngokungapheliyo, ukubenza bagqibelele abo basondelayo.” (Heb. 10:1, NW) Ngoko ke, sinomdla wokwazi isithunzi nokuqonda oko kuzizinto zokwenene. UKristu ‘wasondeza idini lalinye ngenxa yezono esenzela amaxesha onke.’ Uchazwa ‘njengeMvana kaThixo.’ Akukho nalinye ithambo lale “Mvana” elaphulwayo, kanye njengokuba kwakunjalo kweyokomfuziselo. Umpostile uPawulos ugqabaza esithi: “Kuba nathi siyibingelelwe neyethu ipasika, enguKristu. Ngoko ke ukwenza umthendeleko, masingawenzi sinegwele elidala, negwele lobubi, nelokungendawo; masiwenze sinezonka ezingenagwele zokunyaniseka, nenyaniso.”—Heb. 10:12, NW; Yoh. 1:29 nese-19:36—Eks. 12:46; 1 Kor. 5:7, 8—Eks. 23:15.

29. (a) Thelekisa umnqophiso woMthetho nomnqophiso omtsha. (b) Yiyiphi imibingelelo ayinikelayo kuThixo ngoku amaSirayeli okomoya?

²⁹ UYesu waba nguMlamli womnqophiso omtsha, njengokuba uMoses wayengumlamli womnqophiso woMthetho. Umahluko okhoyo phakathi kwale minqophiso ukwachazwa ngokucacileyo ngumpostile uPawulos, othetha ‘ngemimiselo ebhalwe ngesandla’ esusiweyo ngokufa kukaYesu kumthi wentuthumbo. UYesu ovusiweyo njengoMbingeleli Omkhulu ‘ungumkhonzi kawonke wonke wendawo engcwele, nowomnquba wenyaniso owamiswa nguYehova, ongamiswanga ngumntu.’ Ababingeleli ababephantsi koMthetho babenikela ‘inkonzo engcwele kumzekelo, nakwisithunzi sezinto zasemazulwini’ ngokwendlela uMoses awayeyalele ngayo. ‘Kodwa ngoku uYesu uzuze inkonzo kawonke wonke entle ngokugqithiseleyo, kangangokuba ungumlamleli womnqophiso olunge ngakumbi, wona usekwe phezu kwawona madinga alungileyo.’ Umnqophiso omdala waphelelwa lixesha waza washenxiswa njengalowo wawungummiselo odlulisela ukufa. Loo maYuda angakuqondiyo oku achazwa njengangqiqo zawo zenziwe buthuntu, kodwa lawo angamakholwa ayiqondayo into yokuba uSirayeli wokomoya ungaphantsi komnqophiso omtsha anokuthi ‘enobuso nje obubhenqwe isigqubuthelo, abubonakalise njengokwasesipilini ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova,’ ekufanelekele kakuhle ukuba ngabalungiseleli bawo. Enezazela ezicocekileyo ayakwazi ukunikela ‘imibingelelo yendumiso, oko kukuthi, isiqhamo somlomo olivuma ekuhleni igama lakhe.’—Kol. 2:14; Heb. 8:1-6, 13, NW; 2 Kor. 3:6-18; Heb. 13:15, NW; Eks. 34:27-35.

30. Yintoni eyayifanekiselwa kwangaphambili kukuhlangulwa kwamaSirayeli nokuzukiswa kwegama likaYehova eYiputa?

³⁰ IEksodus iyaliphakamisa igama nolongamo lukaYehova, isalatha phambili ekuhlangulweni okuzukileyo kohlanga lwamaKristu angamaSirayeli okomoya, ekuthiwa kulo: “Ke nina nisisizukulwana esinyuliweyo, isibingeleli esibukumkani, uhlanga olungcwele, abantu abayinqobo, ukuze nivakalise isidima salowo wanibizayo ukuba niphume ebumnyameni, ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okungummangaliso; enanifudula ningebantu, ke ngoku ningabantu bakaThixo.” Amandla anawo uYehova njengoko ebonakaliswe ngokuhlanganisa uSirayeli wakhe wokomoya emkhupha ehlabathini ukuze aphakamise igama lakhe angummangaliso ngendlela efanayo namandla awawabonakalisayo ngenxa yabantu bakhe kwiYiputa yamandulo. Ngokumgcina uFaro ephila ukuze ambonise amandla Akhe nokuze kuvakaliswe igama Lakhe, uYehova wafanekisela kwangaphambili ubungqina obukhulu kakhulu obabuza kuphunyezwa ngokusetyenziswa kwamaNgqina Akhe angamaKristu.—1 Pet. 2:9, 10; Roma 9:17; ISityhi. 12:17.

31. Yintoni efanekiselwa kwangaphambili yiEksodus mayela nobukumkani nobukho bukaYehova?

³¹ Ngaloo ndlela, sinokutsho ngokusuka kwiZibhalo ukuba uhlanga olwasekwa phantsi kukaMoses lwalusalatha phambili kuhlanga olutsha phantsi kukaKristu nakubukumkani obungasayi kuze bugungqiswe. Ngenxa yoku, sikhuthazelwa ukuba “sinikele kuThixo inkonzo engcwele sinoloyiko lobuthixo nokungcangcazela.” Kanye njengokuba ubukho bukaYehova babuyigubungele itabarnekile entlango, ngoko uthembisa ukuba uya kuba ekunye nabo ngonaphakade abo bamoyikayo esithi: “Yabona, umnquba lo kaThixo unabantu; uya kuhlala nabo emnqubeni, bona babe ngabantu bakhe, yena uThixo abe nabo, enguThixo wabo. . . . Bhala, ngokuba lawo ngamazwi ayinyaniso, athembekileyo.” Ngokwenene iEksodus iyinxalenye yengxelo yeBhayibhile ebalulekileyo neyingenelo.—Eks. 19:16-19—Heb. 12:18-29, NW; Eks. 40:34—ISityhi. 21:3, 5.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]