Incwadi YeBhayibhile 14—2 Kronike

Umbhali: NguEzra

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EYerusalem (?)

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-460 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowe-1037–537 B.C.E.

 1. Wazigqiba nini iziKronike uEzra, ibe wayenayiphi injongo?

EKUBENI kubonakala ukuba eyokuQala neyesiBini yeziKronike ekuqaleni zaziyincwadi enye, iingxubusho ezinikelwe kwisahluko esingaphambilana mayela nenkcazelo, nombhali, ixesha lokubhalwa kwazo, ukuba yinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele nobunyaniso zisebenza kuzo zombini ezi ncwadi. Ngokuvisisana nobungqina obunikelweyo, uEzra wayigqiba eyesiBini yeziKronike malunga nowama-460 B.C.E., mhlawumbi eYerusalem. Injongo kaEzra yayikukulondoloza imibandela engokwembali eyayisengozini yokulahleka. Uncedo lomoya oyingcwele, kunye nobuchule bakhe bokufumana iinkcukacha nokuzilungelelanisa njengombhali-mbali, kwamenza uEzra wakwazi ukwenza ingxelo echanileyo nehlal’ ihleli. Oko wayekujonga njengenyaniso engokwembali wakulondolozela ixesha elizayo. Incwadi kaEzra yabhalwa ngelona xesha lifanelekileyo, njengoko ngelo xesha kwakukwayimfuneko ukuqokelela yonke imibhalo engcwele yesiHebhere eyayibhalwe kwiinkulungwane ezidluleyo.

 2. Kutheni le nto kungekho sizathu sokukuthandabuza ukuchana kweziKronike?

² AmaYuda omhla kaEzra angenelwa kakhulu yingxelo ephefumlelweyo kaEzra. Yabhalelwa ukuze kufundiswe wona nokuze akhuthazwe ukuba anyamezele. Ngovuselelo lweZibhalo, ayenokuba nethemba. Ayamkela incwadi yeziKronike njengenxalenye yemibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile. Ayesazi ukuba ekuquletheyo kwakunokuthenjwa. Ayenokuyithelekisa neminye imibhalo ephefumlelweyo nezinye iingxelo ezingokwembali ezininzi zehlabathi ezacatshulwa nguEzra. Nangona azivumelayo ukuba zibhangiswe iingxelo ezingokwembali ezingaphefumlelwanga zehlabathi, azilondoloza ngenyameko iziKronike. Abaguquleli beSeptuagint baziquka iziKronike njengenxalenye yeBhayibhile yesiHebhere.

 3. Ezinye izibhalo zibonisa njani ukuba iziKronike ziyinyaniso?

³ UYesu Kristu nababhali beZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike bazamkela njengeziyinyaniso neziphefumlelweyo. Alithandabuzeki elokuba uYesu wayecinga ngeziganeko ezinjengeso sibhalwe kweyesi-2 yeziKronike 24:21 xa wayegxeka iYerusalem njengeyabulala yaza yabaxuluba ngamatye abaprofeti nabakhonzi bakaYehova. (Mat. 23:35; 5:12; 2 Kron. 36:16) Xa uYakobi wabhekisela kuAbraham ‘njengesihlobo sikaYehova,’ mhlawumbi wayebhekisela kumazwi kaEzra akweyesi-2 yeziKronike 20:7. (Yak. 2:23) Le ncwadi ikwaneziprofeto ezazaliseka ngokuchanileyo.—2 Kron. 20:17, 24; 21:14-19; 34:23-28; 36:17-20.

 4. Yintoni efunyenwe ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala engqinela ubunyaniso beyesiBini yeziKronike?

⁴ Inzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala nayo iyabungqinela ubunyaniso beyesiBini yeziKronike. Xa kwakusimbiwa kummandla eyayikuwo iBhabhiloni yamandulo kuye kwavunjululwa amacwecwe omdongwe ahlobene nexesha lokulawula kukaNebhukadenetsare, elinye lawo elinamazwi athi “UYawukin, ukumkani welizwe lakwaYahudi,” oko kukuthi, “uYehoyakin, ukumkani welizwe lakwaYuda.”a Oku kungqinelana kakuhle nengxelo yeBhayibhile yokuthinjelwa kukaYehoyakin eBhabhiloni ebudeni bomnyaka wesixhenxe wokulawula kukaNebhukadenetsare.

 5. Liliphi ixesha eligutyungelwa kweyesiBini yeziKronike, kwaye kutheni le nto kubalaseliswa imbali yakwaYuda kunokuba kubalaseliswe leyo yobukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi?

⁵ Ingxelo yeyesiBini yeziKronike ibalisa ngeziganeko zakwaYuda ukususela kulawulo lukaSolomon, olwaqalisa ngowe-1037 B.C.E., kuse kummiselo kaKoreshi wowama-537 B.C.E. wokuba iphinde yakhiwe indlu kaYehova eYerusalem. Kule mbali yeminyaka engama-500, ubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi kubhekiselwa kubo kuphela njengoko bubandakanyeka kwimicimbi yakwaYuda, kwaye ukutshatyalaliswa kobukumkani basentla ngowama-740 B.C.E. akukhankanywa kwaukukhankanywa. Kutheni kunjalo nje? Kungenxa yokuba umbingeleli uEzra wayexhalabele ngokuyintloko unqulo lukaYehova kwindawo yalo efanelekileyo, indlu Yakhe eYerusalem nobukumkani bomnombo kaDavide, lowo uYehova wayenze naye umnqophiso Wakhe. Ngaloo ndlela, uEzra walathisela ingqalelo kubukumkani basezantsi ekuxhaseni unqulo oluyinyaniso nasekulindeleni ukuba kuvele umlawuli kwaYuda.—Gen. 49:10.

 6. Ziziphi iinkalo ezenza ukuba eyesiBini yeziKronike ikhuthaze kwaye ichukumise?

⁶ UEzra unembono ephangaleleyo. Kwizahluko ezingama-36 zeyesiBini yeziKronike, ezisi-9 zokuqala zithetha ngolawulo lukaSolomon, kwaye ezi-6 kwezi zithetha ngokupheleleyo ngokulungiselelwa nokunikezelwa kwendlu kaYehova. Ingxelo ayikukhankanyi ukusilela kukaSolomon. Kwizahluko ezingama-27 eziseleyo, ezili-14 zithetha ngookumkani abahlanu abathi ngokusisiseko balandela umzekelo kaDavide wokuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kunqulo lukaYehova: uAsa, uYehoshafati, uYotam, uHezekiya noYosiya. Kwanakwezinye izahluko ezili-13, uEzra uzibalaselisa ngenyameko iimpawu ezintle zookumkani ababi. Usoloko egxininisa iziganeko ezihlobene nokubuyiselwa nokulondolozwa konqulo oluyinyaniso. Hayi indlela echukumisa ngayo!

OKUQULETHWE YEYESIBINI YEZIKRONIKE

 7. UYehova umenza njani uSolomon abe “mkhulu ngokugqwesileyo”?

⁷ Ukuzuka kolawulo lukaSolomon (1:1–9:31). Kwintshayelelo yeyesiBini yeziKronike, sibona uSolomon unyana kaDavide esomelela ebukumkanini. UYehova unaye kwaye “umenza mkhulu ngokugqwesileyo.” (NW) Xa uSolomon esenza imibingelelo eGibheyon, kuvela uYehova kuye ebusuku, aze athi: “Cela into, ndikuphe.” USolomon ucela ulwazi nobulumko ukuze abalawule ngokufanelekileyo abantu bakaYehova. Ngenxa yesi sicelo sokungazingci, uThixo uthembisa ukunika uSolomon kungekuphela nje ubulumko nolwazi kodwa kwanobutyebi nozuko “ekungabangakho unjalo kookumkani ababephambi kwakho, ekungayi kubakho unjalo emva kwakho.” Isixeko siba nobutyebi obuninzi kangangokuba ekuhambeni kwexesha uSolomon ‘wenza isilivere negolide eninzi njengamatye eYerusalem.’—1:1, 7, 12, 15.

 8. Uqhubeka njani umsebenzi wetempile, kwaye ziziphi ezinye zeenkcukacha zokwakhiwa kwayo?

⁸ USolomon ubizela abasebenzi kumsebenzi wokwakha indlu kaYehova, kwaye uKumkani uHiram waseTire uba nentsebenziswano ngokuthumela imithi yokwakha nabasebenzi abanobuchule. “Ngomnyaka wesine wokulawula [kukaSolomon],” kuqaliswa umsebenzi wokwakha, kwaye ugqitywa kwiminyaka esixhenxe enesiqingatha kamva, ngowe-1027 B.C.E. (3:2, NW) Itempile inevaranda enkulu engaphambili enomphakamo oziikubhithe ezili-120 (iimitha ezingama-53,4). Ngaphambi kwevaranda kukho iintsika ezimbini ezinkulu zobhedu, enye ibizwa ngokuthi Yakin, othetha ukuthi “Kwanga [uYehova] Angazinzisa Ngokuqinileyo,” kwaye enye ibizwa ngokuthi Bhohazi, ekubonakala ukuba uthetha ukuthi “Ngamandla.” (3:17, NW) Indlu yona incinane ngentelekiso, iziikubhite ezingama-60 (iimitha ezingama-26,7) ubude, iikubhite ezingama-30 (iimitha ezili-13,4) ukuphakama neekubhite ezingama-20 (iimitha ezisisi-8,9) ububanzi, kodwa iindonga nomgangatho wayo ophezulu (isilingi) walekwe ngegolide; igumbi layo elingaphakathi, eYona Ngcwele, lona ngokwalo lihonjiswe kakuhle ngegolide. Likwaneekerubhi ezimbini zegolide, enye kwicala ngalinye legumbi, ezolule amaphiko azo aze adibane embindini.

 9. Chaza impahla nezixhobo zentendelezo netempile.

⁹ Kwintendelezo engaphakathi, kukho isibingelelo esikhulu sobhedu esinobude nobubanzi obulinganayo obuziikubhite ezingama-20 (iimitha ezisi-9) nomphakamo oziikubhite ezili-10 (iimitha ezisi-4,5). Enye into emangalisayo kule ntendelezo lulwandle olutyhidiweyo, lufana nesitya esikhulu sobhedu esibekwe phezu kweenkomo zobhedu ezili-12 ezikhangele ngaphandle, zintathu kwicala ngalinye. Olu lwandle lugcina amanzi ‘aziibhate ezimawaka mathathu’ (iilitha ezingama-66 000), asetyenziswa ngababingeleli xa bezihlamba. (4:5) Kwakhona kule ntendelezo kukho izitya ezincinane zokuhlambela zobhedu ezilishumi ezibekwe phezu kweenqwelo zobhedu ezihonjisiweyo, kwaye kula manzi, kuhlanjwa izinto ezinokuthanani namadini anyukayo. Ezi zitya zobhedu zizaliswa ngamanzi akolu lwandle lutyhidiweyo zize ziqhutywe ngeenqwelo zazo zisiwe naphi na apho kufuneka khona amanzi. Ukongezelela, kukho iziphatho zezibane zegolide ezilishumi nezinye izixhobo ezininzi, ezinye zezegolide ezinye zezobhedu, ezenzelwe unqulo lwasetempileni.b

10. Kwenzeka ntoni xa iTyeya iziswa kweYona Ngcwele?

¹⁰ Ekugqibeleni, indlu kaYehova igqitywa emva kokusetyenzwa iminyaka esixhenxe enesiqingatha. (1 Kum. 6:1, 38) Umhla wokunikezelwa kwayo ulixesha lokuzisa umfuziselo wobukho bukaYehova kwelona gumbi lingaphakathi lesi sakhiwo sizukileyo. Ababingeleli bazisa “ityeya yomnqophiso kaYehova endaweni yayo, kwelona gumbi lingaphakathi endlwini, kweYona Ngcwele, phantsi kwamaphiko eekerubhi.” (NW) Yintoni eyenzekayo emva koko? Njengoko iimvumi ezingabaLevi zidumisa kwaye zibulela uYehova ngengoma eculwa ngokumanyeneyo, indlu izaliswa lilifu, kwaye ababingeleli abakwazi ukuma balungiselele ngenxa yokuba “ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova” buzalise indlu yoThixo oyinyaniso. (2 Kron. 5:7, 13, 14) Ngaloo ndlela uYehova ubonisa ukuba ukholisiwe yitempile kwaye ubonisa nokuba ukho apho.

11. Uthini umthandazo awenzayo uSolomon, kwaye ucela ntoni?

¹¹ Kuye kwakhiwa iqonga lobhedu eliziikubhite ezintathu (iimitha ezisisi-1,3) ukuphakama ukwenzela esi sihlandlo, kwaye limiswe kwintendelezo engaphakathi kufuphi nesibingelelo esikhulu sobhedu. Kule ndawo iphakamileyo, uSolomon unokubonwa zizihlwele ezikhulu eziye zahlanganisana ukwenzela ukunikezelwa kwetempile. Emva kwembonakaliso engummangaliso yobukho bukaYehova ngelifu eliqaqambileyo, uSolomon uguqa phambi kwesihlwele aze enze umthandazo ochukumisayo wombulelo nowendumiso, oquka ungcelele lwezicelo zokuzithoba zokuxolelwa nentsikelelo. Ekuqukumbeleni, ubongoza esithi: “Kaloku, Thixo wam, makavuleke amehlo akho, iindlebe zakho zibazele ukuthandaza okukule ndawo. Yehova, Thixo, musa ukumlandulela umthanjiswa wakho; khumbula iinceba owazithembisa uDavide, umkhonzi wakho.”—6:40, 42.

12. UYehova uwuphendula njani umthandazo kaSolomon, kwaye uphela ngawaphi amazwi onwabisayo umbhiyozo weentsuku ezili-15?

¹² Ngaba uYehova uyawuphulaphula lo mthandazo kaSolomon? Akugqiba nje ukuthandaza uSolomon, kuhla umlilo uvela emazulwini uze ulidle idini elinyukayo nemibingelelo, kwaye indlu izaliswa ‘bubuqaqawuli bukaYehova.’ Oku kukhokelela ekubeni bonke abantu baguqe baze babulele kuYehova, ‘kuba ulungile, inceba yakhe ingunaphakade.’ (7:1, 3) Kwandula ke kwenziwe umbingelelo omkhulu kuYehova. Umsitho weveki yonke wonikezelo ulandelwa nguMsitho weveki yonke Wokuhlanganisa nesabatha yokuphumla emsebenzini. Emva kwalo mbhiyozo wonwabisayo nowomelezayo ngokomoya weentsuku ezili-15, uSolomon uthumela abantu emakhayeni abo bevuyile kwaye bechulumancile entliziyweni. (7:10) NoYehova ukholisiwe koku. Kwakhona uqinisekisa umnqophiso woBukumkani kuSolomon, kwangaxeshanye elumkisa ngemiphumo eyoyikekayo yokungathobeli.

13. (a) Nguwuphi umsebenzi wokwakha owenziwa emva kwalowo wetempile? (b) Ukumkanikazi waseShebha ukuvakalisa njani ukuchukumiseka kwakhe xa ebona ubukumkani bukaSolomon?

¹³ Ngoku uSolomon uqhubeka nomsebenzi owandisiweyo wokwakha kubo bonke ubukhosi bakhe, engazakheli nje ibhotwe kuphela kodwa kwanezixeko ezinqatyisiweyo, izixeko ezingoovimba, izixeko zeenqwelo zokulwa nezixeko zabakhweli bamahashe, nayo yonke into anqwenela ukuyakha. Eli lithuba lokuhambela phambili ngokuzukileyo neloxolo ngenxa yokuba ukumkani nabantu bacinga ngonqulo lukaYehova. Kwanokumkanikazi waseShebha, ovela kumgama oziikhilomitha ezingaphezu kwe-1 900, uva ngempumelelo nobulumko bukaSolomon aze athabathe uhambo olude noluqobayo lokuya kuzibonela ngokwakhe. Ngaba kukho nto imdanisayo? Akunjalo konke konke, kuba uyavuma esithi: “Andikholwanga ngamazwi abo, ndada ndeza, abona amehlo am; yabona, ndibe ndingaxelelwanga nesiqingatha esi sobuninzi bobulumko bakho; ulugqithile udaba endibe ndiluvile. Anoyolo amadoda akho; banoyolo abakhonzi bakho.” (9:6, 7) Akukho namnye kookumkani bomhlaba omgqwesayo uSolomon ngobutyebi nangobulumko. Ulawula eYerusalem kangangeminyaka engama-40.

14. Kutheni le nto uSirayeli ethatyathelwa izinto ezimenzela uzuko ngokukhawuleza okungaka?

¹⁴ Ulawulo lukaRehabheham noAbhiya (10:1–13:22). Ulawulo olungqongqo nolucinezelayo lonyana kaSolomon uRehabheham luphembelela izizwe ezilishumi zasentla eziphantsi kukaYarobheham ukuba zivukele ngowama-997 B.C.E. Phofu ke, ababingeleli nabaLevi bazo zozibini ezi zikumkani bema ngakuRehabheham, benyaniseka kumnqophiso woBukumkani ngaphezu kobuhlanga. Kungekudala uRehabheham uyawutyeshela umthetho kaYehova, kwaye ukumkani waseYiputa uShishaki uyahlasela, ayingenele iYerusalem aze aphange ubuncwane bendlu kaYehova. Hayi indlela ekubuhlungu ngayo ukuba kungaphelanga neminyaka engaphezu kwama-30 emva kokwakhiwa kwazo, ezi zakhiwo zimbejembeje ziphangwa lonke uzuko lwazo! Isizathu soku sikukuba: Uhlanga luye “lwaziphatha ngokungathembekanga kuYehova.” Ekuhambeni kwexesha uRehabheham uyazithoba, kangangokuba uYehova akalonakalisi kuphele olu hlanga.—12:2, NW.

15. Ngawaphi amadabi athi abekho emva kokufa kukaRehabheham, kwaye kutheni le nto uYuda ongamile kunoSirayeli?

¹⁵ Akufa uRehabheham omnye woonyana bakhe abangama-28, uAbhiya, wenziwa ukumkani. Ulawulo luka-Abhiya lweminyaka emithathu luphawuleka ngemfazwe enegazi namaSirayeli asemantla. Imikhosi ephantsi kukaYarobheham engama-800 000 iyiphinda kabini imikhosi yakwaYuda engama-400 000. Ebudeni bamadabi amakhulu athi alandele, abaphumi-mkhosi bamaSirayeli bayancipha babe ngaphantsi kwesiqingatha, kwaye abanquli bethole abasisiqingatha sesigidi bayatshatyalaliswa. Oonyana bakaYuda bangqineka bengabongamileyo ngenxa yokuba bayame “ngoYehova uThixo wooyise.”—13:18.

16. UYehova uwuphendula njani umthandazo ongxamisekileyo ka-Asa?

¹⁶ UKumkani uAsa owoyik’ uThixo (14:1–16:14). UAbhiya ulandelwa ngunyana wakhe uAsa. UAsa ungumthetheleli wonqulo oluyinyaniso. Wenza iphulo lokucoca ilizwe kunqulo lwemifanekiso eqingqiweyo. Kodwa, khawukhangele oku! UYuda usongelwa ngumkhosi omkhulu wamaKushi asisigidi. UAsa uthandaza esithi: “Sincede, Yehova, Thixo wethu; ngokuba sayame ngawe, size kule ngxokolo egameni lakho.” UYehova uphendula ngokumenza oyise ngokutshabalalisayo.—14:11.

17. UAsa ukhuthazwa njani ukuba ahlaziye unqulo kwaYuda, kodwa yintoni akhalinyelwayo kuyo?

¹⁷ UAzariya ufikelwa ngumoya kaThixo ukuba axelele uAsa oku: “UYehova unani ekubeni ninaye; ukuba nithe namquqela, nomfumana.” (15:2) Ekhuthazeke kakhulu, uAsa uhlaziya unqulo kwaYuda, kwaye abantu benza umnqophiso wokuba nabani na ongayi kuquqela kuYehova ufanele abulawe. Noko ke, xa uBhahesha, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, esakha imida yokunqumamisa ukuthontelana kwamaSirayeli kwaYuda, uAsa wenza impazamo enzulu ngokuqesha uBhen-hadade, ukumkani waseSiriya, ukuba alwe namaSirayeli, kunokuba afune uncedo kuYehova. UYehova uyamkhalimela ngenxa yoku. Phezu kwako nje oku, intliziyo ka-Asa ingqineka “igqibelele yonke imihla yakhe.” (15:17) Ufa kumnyaka wama-41 wolawulo lwakhe.

18. (a) UYehoshafati ulenza njani iphulo lokumisela unqulo oluyinyaniso, ibe ngayiphi imiphumo? (b) Isivumelwano sakhe somtshato siphantse sikhokelele kwintlekele ngayiphi indlela?

¹⁸ Ulawulo olulungileyo lukaYehoshafati (17:1–20:37). Unyana ka-Asa uYehoshafati uyaqhubeka esilwa nxamnye nonqulo lwemifanekiso eqingqiweyo kwaye uqalisa iphulo elikhethekileyo elingokwemfundo, kukho abayaleli abahamba kuzo zonke izixeko zakwaYuda, befundisa abantu ngokusuka kwincwadi yoMthetho kaYehova. Kulandela ixesha lempumelelo noxolo olukhulu, kwaye uYehoshafati uya “eba mkhulu ngokuba mkhulu.” (17:12) Kodwa ke wandula enze isivumelwano somtshato noKumkani ongendawo uAhabhi wakwaSirayeli aze ehle ukuya kumncedisa ekulweni namaSiriya awandayo, engamnanzi umprofeti kaYehova uMikaya kwaye esinda cebetshu xa uAhabhi ebulawa edabini eRamoti yaseGiliyadi. Umprofeti kaYehova uYehu uyamkhalimela uYehoshafati ngenxa yokuba enze isivumelwano noAhabhi ongendawo. Emva koko uYehoshafati umisela abagwebi kulo lonke ilizwe, kwaye ubayalela ukuba bayiphumeze imisebenzi yabo besoyika uThixo.

19. Kuvutho-ndaba lolawulo lukaYehoshafati, kungqineka njani ukuba imfazwe yekaThixo?

¹⁹ Ngoku ulawulo lukaYehoshafati lufikelela kuvutho-ndaba. Imikhosi emanyeneyo yamaMowabhi, yama-Amon neyommandla wasezintabeni wakwaSehire ihlasela uYuda ngamandla. Iyenyuka ilibubu ukutyhubela intlango eyiEngedi. Uhlanga lufikelwa luloyiko. UYehoshafati nawo onke amaYuda, “neentsana zawo, nabafazi bawo, noonyana bawo,” bema phambi kukaYehova baze bamfune ngomthandazo. UYahaziyeli umLevi ufikelwa ngumoya kaYehova, osixelela oku isihlwele sabantu abahlanganiseneyo: “Bazani iindlebe, nonke maYuda, nani bemi baseYerusalem, nawe kumkani Yehoshafati. Utsho uYehova ukuthi kuni, Musani ukoyika, musani ukuqhiphuka umbilini ngenxa yale ngxokolo inje ukuba ninzi; ngokuba imfazwe le asiyeyenu, yekaThixo. Yihlani ngomso niye kulwa nabo. . . . UYehova unani.” Evuka kwakusasa, amaYuda ayamatsha ekhokelwa ziimvumi ezingabaLevi. UYehoshafati uwakhuthaza esithi: “Kholwani kuYehova . . . kholwani kubaprofeti bakhe, noba nempumelelo.” Iimvumi zimzukisa ngokunovuyo uYehova, “ngokuba ingunaphakade inceba yakhe.” (20:13, 15-17, 20, 21) UYehova ubonakalisa inceba yakhe ngendlela emangalisayo, ngokubangela ukuba iintshaba ezihlaselayo zilalelwe lutshaba ukuze zibulalane. Akufika emboniselweni esentlango, amaYuda agcobileyo abona kuphela izidumbu ezifileyo. Ngokwenyaniso, imfazwe yekaThixo! UYehoshafati uqhubeka ehamba ngokuthembekileyo phambi kukaYehova de kube sekupheleni kolawulo lwakhe lweminyaka engama-25.

20. Ngawaphi amashwangusha oluphawuleka ngawo ulawulo lukaYehoram?

²⁰ Ulawulo olungalunganga lukaYehoram, luka-Ahaziya noluka-Ataliya (21:1–23:21). Unyana kaYehoshafati uYehoram uqalisa ukulawula kakubi ngokubulala bonke abantakwabo. Phofu ke, uYehova umgcina ephilile ngenxa yomnqophiso Wakhe awawenza noDavide. UEdom uqalisa ukuvukela. Esendaweni ethile uEliya uthumela incwadi, elumkisa uYehoram ngokuba uYehova uya kuyibetha ngesibetho esikhulu indlu yakhe nokuba yena uya kufa ngokoyikekayo. (21:12-15) Ngokuvisisana nesi siprofeto, amaFilisti nama-Arabhi ahlasela aze atshise iYerusalem, kwaye ukumkani ubulawa sisifo sezibilini, emva kokulawula iminyaka esibhozo.

21. Ziziphi izinto ezimbi ezingumphumo wokulawula kuka-Ataliya kwaYuda, kodwa uYehoyada uphumelela njani ekubuyiseleni itrone kaDavide?

²¹ UYehoram ulandelwa nguAhaziya (uYehowahazi), ongokuphela konyana wakhe osindileyo, kodwa uphenjelelwa ukuba enze okubi ngunina uAtaliya, intombi ka-Ahabhi noIzebhele. Emva konyaka ulawulo lwakhe lunqanyulwa kukutshabalalisa kukaYehu abendlu ka-Ahabhi. Kule nkalo, uAtaliya ubulala abazukulwana bakhe aze ayithabathele kuye itrone. Phofu ke, omnye woonyana baka-Ahaziya uyasinda. NguYowashe onomnyaka omnye ubudala, oziswa endlwini kaYehova ngudadeboyise uYehoshabhati. UAtaliya ulawula kangangeminyaka emithandathu, ize ke indoda kaYehoshabhati, uYehoyada umbingeleli omkhulu, ngenkalipho ithabathe uYowashe oselula ize imvakalise engukumkani, njengomnye ‘woonyana bakaDavide.’ Akufika endlwini kaYehova, uAtaliya ukrazula impahla yakhe aze adanduluke athi, “Licebo! Licebo!” Kodwa oko akumncedi nganto. UYehoyada uyalela ukuba aphoselwe ngaphandle kwetempile aze abulawe.—23:3, 13-15.

22. Ulawulo lukaYowashe luqalisa njani kakuhle kodwa luphele kakubi?

²² Ulawulo lukaYowashe, luka-Amatsiya nolukaUziya luqalisa kakuhle kodwa luphela kakubi (24:1–26:23). UYowashe ulawula kangangeminyaka engama-40, kwaye lo gama uYehoyada esaphila ukuze amphembelele kokulungileyo wenza okulungileyo. Ude abe nomdla kwindlu kaYehova aze ayihlaziye. Noko ke, akufa uYehoyada, uYowashe uphenjelelwa ngabathetheli bakwaYuda ukuba alushiye unqulo lukaYehova ukuze akhonze ooAshera nezithixo. Xa umoya kaThixo ushukumisa uZekariya unyana kaYehoyada ukuba akhalimele ukumkani, uYowashe uyalela ukuba lo mprofeti axulutywe ngamatye afe. Kungekudala emva koko umkhosi omncinane wamaSiriya uyahlasela, kwaye umkhosi omkhulu wamaYuda awukwazi ukuwududula ngenxa yokuba ‘amshiyile uYehova, uThixo wooyise.’ (24:24) Ngoku abakhonzi bakaYowashe bayamvukela baze bambulale.

23. Nguwuphi umzekelo wokungathembeki awulandelayo uAmatsiya?

²³ UAmatsiya ungena ezihlangwini zikayise uYowashe. Uluqalisa kakuhle ulawulo lwakhe lweminyaka engama-29 kodwa kamva uYehova akakholiswa nguye ngenxa yokuba umisela aze anqule izithixo zamaEdom. Umprofeti kaYehova umlumkisa esithi, “UThixo ugqibe kwelokuba akutshabalalise.” (25:16) Noko ke, uAmatsiya uyazigwagwisa aze awacel’ umngeni amaSirayeli asemntla. Ngokwelizwi likaThixo, woyiswa ngokulihlazo ngamaSirayeli. Emva kolo loyiso, kuvela abenzi beyelenqe baze bambulale.

24. Ukomelela kukaUziya kuba bubuthathaka bakhe njani, ibe ngawuphi umphumo?

²⁴ Unyana ka-Amatsiya u-Uziya ulandela emanyathelweni kayise. Ubukhulu becala ulawula kakuhle iminyaka engama-52, edume ngokuba yincutshe emkhosini, njengomakhi weenqaba ‘nanjengomthandi wokulima.’ (26:10) Uwuxhobisa ngezikhali umkhosi. Noko ke, ukomelela kwakhe kuba bubuthathaka bakhe. Uba nekratshi aze awuthabathele kuye umsebenzi wababingeleli wokunikela idini etempileni kaYehova. Ngenxa yoku, uYehova umbetha ngeqhenqa. Ngenxa yoko, uhlala yedwa, kude nendlu kaYehova nakwindlu yokumkani, apho unyana wakhe uYotam alawula khona abantu esikhundleni sakhe.

25. Kutheni le nto uYotam ephumelela nje?

²⁵ UYotam ukhonza uYehova (27:1-9). Ngokungafaniyo noyise, uYotam ‘akangeni etempileni kaYehova.’ Kunoko ‘wenza okuthe tye emehlweni kaYehova.’ (27:2) Ebudeni bolawulo lwakhe lweminyaka eli-16, wenza umsebenzi omninzi wokwakha kwaye uyiphelisa ngokuphumelelayo imvukelo yama-Amon.

26. UAhazi uwela kubuphi ubungendawo obunzulu ngendlela engenakuchazwa?

²⁶ UKumkani ongendawo uAhazi (28:1-27). Unyana kaYotam uAhazi ungqineka engoyena ungendawo ngokugqithiseleyo kookumkani bamaYuda abangama-21. Ude agabadele ngokunikela ngoonyana bakhe njengamadini anyukayo koothixo babahedeni. Ngokomphumo noYehova umyekela kwimikhosi yamaSiriya, yamaSirayeli, yamaEdom neyamaFilisti. Ngoko uYehova uyawathoba amaYuda ngenxa yokuba uAhazi ‘wenza inyala kwaYuda, wenza ubumenemene kuYehova.’ (28:19) Esenza okude kwakubi nangakumbi, uAhazi ubingelela koothixo baseSiriya ngenxa yokuba amaSiriya anamandla kunaye edabini. Uyazivala iingcango zendlu kaYehova aze unqulo lukaYehova aluthabathel’ indawo ngonqulo loothixo babahedeni. Kungethuba lide, ulawulo luka-Ahazi luyaphela emva kweminyaka eli-16.

27. UHezekiya uyibonisa njani inzondelelo ngonqulo lukaYehova?

²⁷ Ukumkani othembekileyo uHezekiya (29:1–32:33). UHezekiya, unyana ka-Ahazi, ulawula kangangeminyaka engama-29 eYerusalem. Isenzo sakhe sokuqala kukuzivula nokuzilungisa kwakhona iingcango zendlu kaYehova. Wandula ke ahlanganise ababingeleli nabaLevi aze abanike imiyalelo yokucoca itempile nokuyingcwalisela inkonzo kaYehova. Uvakalisa ukuba ufuna ukwenza umnqophiso noYehova ukuze awubuyise umsindo Wakhe ovuthayo. Unqulo lukaYehova lubuyiselwa ngendlela ezukileyo.

28. Nguwuphi umsitho omkhulu awenzayo uHezekiya eYerusalem, kwaye abantu baluvakalisa njani uvuyo lwabo?

²⁸ Kucetywa ukwenziwa kwePasika enkulu, kodwa ekubeni kungekho xesha lokuyilungiselela kwinyanga yokuqala, kusetyenziswa ilungiselelo loMthetho, kwaye ibhiyozelwa kwinyanga yesibini yomnyaka wokuqala wokulawula kukaHezekiya. (2 Kron. 30:2, 3; Num. 9:10, 11) Ukumkani akamemi nje kuphela onke amaYuda ukuba abekho kodwa kwanamaSirayeli, ibe ngoxa abanye kwaEfrayim, kwaManase nakwaZebhulon behlekisa ngokumenywa, abanye bayazithoba baze baye eYerusalem namaYuda onke. Emva kwePasika, kuqhutywa uMthendeleko Wezonka Ezingenagwele. Onjani wona ukuvuyisa umsitho weentsuku ezisixhenxe! Ngokwenene, lo ngumsitho owakhayo, kangangokuba lonke ibandla liyawandisa ukuba uqhutywe kangangezinye iintsuku ezisixhenxe. Kukho “uvuyo olukhulu ke eYerusalem; ngokuba kususela kwiimini zikaSolomon unyana kaDavide, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, akuzanga kubekho nto injalo eYerusalem.” (2 Kron. 30:26) Abantu ababuyiselweyo ngokomoya balandelisa ngokuphuma iphulo lokutshabalalisa ukuze baluphelise unqulo-zithixo kwaYuda nakwaSirayeli, ngoxa uHezekiya, kwelakhe icala, ebuyisela izinto eziphathekayo ekunikelwe ngazo ukwenzela abaLevi neenkonzo zasetempileni.

29. UYehova ukuvuza njani ukukholosa ngokupheleleyo kukaHezekiya Ngaye?

²⁹ Wandula ke uSaneribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya ahlasele elakwaYuda aze asongele iYerusalem. UHezekiya uba nenkalipho, uyazilungisa iindawo zokukhusela zesixeko, aze angazinanzi izisongelo zotshaba. Ekholose ngokupheleleyo ngoYehova, uyaqhubeka ethandaza ecela uncedo. UYehova uwuphendula ngendlela echukumisayo lo mthandazo wokholo. “Wathuma isithunywa sezulu, sawenza athi shwaka onke amagorha anobukroti, neenganga, nabathetheli, emkhosini wokumkani waseAsiriya.” (32:21) USaneribhe ubuyela ekhaya ehlazekile. Kwanoothixo bakhe abakwazi ukumsindisa, kuba kamva ubulawelwa esibingelelweni sabo ngoonyana bakhe. (2 Kum. 19:7) UYehova ubolula ngokungummangaliso ubomi bukaHezekiya, kwaye uba nobutyebi nozuko olukhulu, onke amaYuda emzukisa ekufeni kwakhe.

30. (a) Bubuphi ubungendawo uManase abuyela kubo, kodwa yintoni eyenzekayo emva kokuba eguqukile? (b) Yintoni ephawula ulawulo olufutshane luka-Amon?

³⁰ UManase noAmon balawula ngokungendawo (33:1-25). Unyana kaHezekiya uManase ubuyela kwikhondo elingendawo likayisemkhulu uAhazi, ekuphelisa konke okulungileyo okwaphunyezwa ebudeni bolawulo lukaHezekiya. Wakha iziganga, umisela ooAshera, kwaye ude abingelele ngoonyana bakhe koothixo bobuxoki. Ekugqibeleni, uYehova ubangela ukuba ukumkani waseAsiriya ahlasele amaYuda, kwaye uManase usiwa ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni. Apho uyaguquka kwisenzo sakhe esiphosakeleyo. Xa uYehova embonakalisela inceba ngokumbuyisela ebukumkanini bakhe, uzama ukulutshabalalisa unqulo lweedemon aze abuyisele unqulo oluyinyaniso. Phofu ke, xa uManase esifa emva kolawulo olude lweminyaka engama-55, unyana wakhe uAmon uba setroneni aze kwakhona alubalaselise ngokungendawo unqulo lobuxoki. Emva kweminyaka emibini, abakhonzi bakhe bayambulala.

31. Lubalasele ngantoni ulawulo lwenkalipho lukaYosiya?

³¹ Ulawulo lwenkalipho lukaYosiya (34:1–35:27). UYosiya oselula, unyana ka-Amon, wenza ilinge lenkalipho lokubuyisela unqulo oluyinyaniso. Utshabalalisa izibingelelo nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo kaBhahali, aze ayilungise indlu kaYehova, apho ifumaneka khona “incwadi yomyalelo kaYehova, eyabhalwa ngesandla sikaMoses,” ngokungathandabuzekiyo umbhalo wokuqala. (34:14) Sekunjalo, uYosiya olilungisa uxelelwa ukuba ilizwe liya kwehlelwa yintlekele ngenxa yokungathembeki okusele kukho, kodwa kungekhona ngomhla wakhe. Ngomnyaka we-18 wolawulo lwakhe, ulungiselela umbhiyozo obalaseleyo wePasika. Emva komnyaka wama-31 wolawulo, uYosiya ufa ngenxa yelinge elililize lokuthintela imikhosi yamaYiputa ekunqumleni elizweni kwindlela yayo esinge kumEfrati.

32. Ookumkani abane bokugqibela bawakhokelela njani amaYuda kwisiphelo sawo esiyintlekele?

³² UYehowahazi, uYehoyakim, uYehoyakin, uZedekiya nokuphanziswa kweYerusalem (36:1-23). Ubungendawo bookumkani abane bokugqibela bakwaYuda benza ukuba olu hlanga lufikelwe ngokukhawuleza sisiphelo salo esiyintlekele. Unyana kaYosiya uYehowahazi ulawula iinyanga ezintathu kuphela, aze ashenxiswe nguFaro-neko waseYiputa. Uthatyathelw’ indawo ngumntakwabo uEliyakim, ogama lakhe liguqulwa libe nguYehoyakim, kwaye kusebudeni bolawulo lwakhe elithi elakwaYuda loyiswe ligunya lehlabathi elitsha, iBhabhiloni. (2 Kum. 24:1) Xa uYehoyakim evukela, uNebhukadenetsare uyenyuka ukuza eYerusalem ukuze amohlwaye ngowama-618 B.C.E., kodwa uYehoyakim ufa kwangalo nyaka mnye, emva kokulawula iminyaka eli-11. Uthatyathelw’ indawo ngunyana wakhe uYehoyakin oneminyaka eli-18 ubudala. Emva kolawulo olungathabathanga neenyanga ezintathu, uYehoyakin unikezela kuNebhukadenetsare aze yena asiwe ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni. Ngoku uNebhukadenetsare ubeka etroneni unyana wesithathu kaYosiya, uZedekiya onguyisekazi kaYehoyakin. UZedekiya ulawula kakubi kangangeminyaka eli-11, engafuni ‘ukuzithoba ebusweni bukaYeremiya umprofeti, obethetha okwasemlonyeni kaYehova.’ (2 Kron. 36:12) Ngomlinganiselo omkhulu wokungathembeki, ababingeleli nabantu ngokufanayo bayayingcolisa indlu kaYehova.

33. (a) Kuqalisa njani ukuphanziswa kweminyaka engama-70, ‘ukuze kuzaliseke ilizwi likaYehova’? (b) Nguwuphi ummiselo ongokwembali obhalwe kwiindinyana ezimbini zokugqibela zeyesiBini yeziKronike?

³³ Ekugqibeleni, uZedekiya uvukela iBhabhiloni, ibe ngesi sihlandlo uNebhukadenetsare akabonakalisi nceba. UYehova uyavutha ngumsindo, kwaye awubambeki. IYerusalem iyawa, itempile yayo iyaphangwa ize itshiswe, kwaye abasindi abasinde kungqingo lweenyanga ezili-18 basiwa eBhabhiloni njengabathinjwa. ElakwaYuda lishiywa liphanzisiwe. Ngaloo ndlela, kwangalo nyaka wama-607 B.C.E., kuqalisa ukuphanziswa ‘ukuze lizaliseke ilizwi likaYehova ngomlomo kaYeremiya, ukuba kuzaliswe iminyaka engamashumi ashixhenxe.’ (36:21) Wandula ke umbhali wengxelo alitsibe eli thuba eliphantse ukuba yiminyaka engama-70 ukuze kwiindinyana ezimbini zokugqibela anikele ingxelo engommiselo ongokwembali kaKoreshi ngowama-537 B.C.E. Abathinjwa abangamaYuda bamele bakhululwe! IYerusalem imele yakhiwe kwakhona!

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

34. Yintoni egxininiswa lukhetho lukaEzra lombandela, ibe oku kwaba yingenelo njani eluhlangeni?

³⁴ EyesiBini yeziKronike yongezelela ubungqina bayo obunamandla kobunye ubungqina obumayela neli thuba lesi siganeko, sowama-1037-537 B.C.E. Ngaphezu koko, inikela inkcazelo eyongezelelekileyo nexabisekileyo engafumanekiyo kwezinye iingxelo ezingokwembali zemibhalo engcwele, ngokomzekelo, njengakweyesi-2 yeziKronike isahluko 19, 20 nesama-29 kuse kwesama-31. Ukhetho lukaEzra lombandela lwagxininisa izinto ezisisiseko nezisisigxina kwimbali yohlanga, njengababingeleli nenkonzo yabo, itempile nomnqophiso woBukumkani. Oku kwakuyingenelo ekulugcineni lumanyene uhlanga kwithemba likaMesiya noBukumkani bakhe.

35. Ziziphi iingongoma ezibalulekileyo eziboniswa kwiindinyana zokugqibela zeyesiBini yeziKronike?

³⁵ Iindinyana zokugqibela zeyesiBini yeziKronike (36:17-23) zinikela ubungqina obungathandabuzekiyo bokuzaliseka kukaYeremiya 25:12 kwaye, ukongezelela, zibonisa ukuba iminyaka engama-70 epheleleyo imele ibalwe ukususela ekuphanzisweni ngokupheleleyo kwelizwe kuse ekubuyiselweni konqulo lukaYehova eYerusalem ngowama-537 B.C.E. Ngoko ke oku kuphanziswa kuqalisa ngowama-607 B.C.E.c—Yer. 29:10; 2 Kum. 25:1-26; Ezra 3:1-6.

36. (a) Sisiphi isiluleko esinamandla esikweyesiBini yeziKronike? (b) Ilomeleza njani ulindelo ngokuphathelele uBukumkani?

³⁶ EyesiBini yeziKronike inesiluleko esinamandla kwabo bahamba ngokholo lwamaKristu. Ookumkani abaninzi bakwaYuda baqalisa kakuhle kodwa bandula bawela kwiindlela ezingendawo. Hayi indlela le ngxelo engokwembali ekubonisa ngamandla ngayo ukuba ukuphumelela kuxhomekeke ekuthembekeni kuThixo! Ngoko ke sifanele silumke ‘singabi ngabahlehla baye entshabalalweni, kodwa sibe ngabokholo olusa ekuzuzeni umphefumlo.’ (Heb. 10:39) KwanoKumkani uHezekiya othembekileyo waba nekratshi akuchacha ekuguleni kwakhe, kwaye kuphela kwaba ngenxa yokuba wazithoba ngokukhawuleza le nto wakwaziyo ukuwuphepha umsindo kaYehova. EyesiBini yeziKronike ibalaselisa iimpawu ezimangalisayo zikaYehova kwaye iphakamisa igama nolongamo lwakhe. Yonke le mbali ibalaselisa ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kuYehova. Njengoko ikwagxininisa kumnombo wasebukhosini wakwaYuda, yomeleza ulindelo lwethu lokubona unqulo olunyulu luphakanyiswa phantsi koBukumkani obungunaphakade bukaYesu Kristu, “unyana kaDavide” onyanisekileyo.—Mat. 1:1; IZe. 15:16, 17.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]