Isahluko Sesithupha
Ukusombulula Imfihlakalo Yomuthi Omkhulu
1. Kwenzekani eNkosini uNebukadinesari, okuphakamisa miphi imibuzo?
UJEHOVA wavumela iNkosi uNebukadinesari ukuba ibe umbusi wezwe. Njengombusi waseBabiloni, wayenengcebo eningi, edla izambane likapondo, enesigodlo sikanokusho—zonke izinto ezibonakalayo ayezifisa. Kodwa ngokungazelelwe wathotshiswa. Esephazamisekile engqondweni, uNebukadinesari waziphathisa okwesilwane! Esexoshiwe etafuleni lasebukhosini nasehlalankosi, wahlala emaqeleni, wadla utshani kuhle kwenkabi. Yini eyaholela kule nhlekelele? Futhi kungani kufanele isithinte?—Qhathanisa noJobe 12:17-19; UmShumayeli 6:1, 2.
INKOSI IDUMISA OPHEZUKONKE
2, 3. Inkosi yaseBabiloni yayizifiselani izikhonzi zayo futhi yayimbheka kanjani uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke?
2 Kwathi angalulama nje kulokho kuhanjelwa yingqondo, uNebukadinesari wathumela embusweni wakhe umbiko oyisimanga walokho okwakwenzekile. UJehova waphefumulela umprofethi uDaniyeli ukuba agcine umbhalo onembile walezi zigigaba. Uqala ngala mazwi: “UNebukadinesari inkosi kubo bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ezakhé emhlabeni wonke: ukuthula makuvame kinina. Bekukuhle kimi ukwazisa izibonakaliso nezimangaliso uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke azenzile kimi. Yeka ubuningi bezibonakaliso zakhe, namandla ezimangaliso zakhe! Umbuso wakhe ungumbuso ongunaphakade, nokubusa kwakhe kungokwezizukulwane.”—Daniyeli 4:1-3.
3 Izikhonzi zikaNebukadinesari ‘zazakhé emhlabeni wonke’—umbuso wakhe wawucishe wengamele lonke izwe okukhulunywa ngalo eBhayibhelini. Ngokuqondene noNkulunkulu kaDaniyeli, inkosi yathi: “Umbuso wakhe ungumbuso ongunaphakade.” Yeka ukuthi lawo mazwi amdumisa kanjani uJehova kuwo wonke uMbuso WaseBabiloni! Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwase kungokwesibili uNebukadinesari eboniswa ukuthi nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela ongunaphakade, omi “phakade.”—Daniyeli 2:44.
4. Ngokuqondene noNebukadinesari, zaqala kanjani “izibonakaliso nezimangaliso” zikaJehova?
4 Yiziphi “izibonakaliso nezimangaliso” ezenziwa “oPhezukonke”? Zaqala ngezehlakalo ezenzeka enkosini uqobo ezilandiswa ngala mazwi: “Mina Nebukadinesari ngangihlezi ngokuthula, ngatamasa endlini yami yobukhosi. Ngase ngibona iphupho, langethusa; imicabango embhedeni wami nemibono yekhanda lami yangesabisa.” (Daniyeli 4:4, 5) Inkosi yaseBabiloni yenzani ngaleli phupho eliphazamisayo?
5. UNebukadinesari wayembheka kanjani uDaniyeli, futhi ngani?
5 UNebukadinesari wabiza amadoda ahlakaniphile aseBabiloni wawatshela iphupho. Yeka indlela ahluleka ngayo! Awakwazanga nhlobo ukunikeza incazelo. Ukulandisa kuyenezela: “Ngasekugcineni kwangena uDaniyeli phambi kwami ogama lakhe linguBeliteshasari njengegama likankulunkulu wami, okuye umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele; ngamtshela iphupho.” (Daniyeli 4:6-8) Igama likaDaniyeli lasesigodlweni kwakunguBeliteshasari, futhi lo nkulunkulu wamanga inkosi eyambiza ngokuthi “nkulunkulu wami” kungenzeka ukuthi kwakunguBel noma uNebo noma uMarduk. Njengoba ayekhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi, uNebukadinesari wayebheka uDaniyeli njengomuntu ‘owayenomoya wonkulunkulu.’ Futhi ngenxa yesikhundla sikaDaniyeli sokuba yinduna yawo wonke amadoda ahlakaniphile eBabiloni, inkosi yambiza ngokuthi ‘induna yezanusi.’ (Daniyeli 2:48; 4:9; qhathanisa noDaniyeli 1:20.) Yebo, uDaniyeli okholekile akazange akulahle ukukhulekela uJehova ukuze abe isanusi.—Levitikusi 19:26; Duteronomi 18:10-12.
UMUTHI OMKHULU
6, 7. Ungakuchaza kanjani lokho uNebukadinesari akubona ephusheni lakhe?
6 Laliquketheni iphupho elesabisayo lenkosi yaseBabiloni? “Yayinje imibono yekhanda lami ngisembhedeni wami,” kusho uNebukadinesari, “ngabona, bheka, nanko umuthi phakathi nomhlaba, nokuphakama kwawo kwakukukhulu. Umuthi wakhula, waqina, ubude bawo bafinyelela ezulwini nokubonakala kwawo kwaze kwaba sekugcineni komhlaba. Amaqabunga awo ayemahle, nezithelo zawo zaziziningi, kukhona kuwo ukudla [kwabo] bonke; izilwane zasendle zazinomthunzi phansi kwawo, izinyoni zezulu zazihlala emagatsheni awo, nenyama yonke yondliwa kuwo.” (Daniyeli 4:10-12) Kuthiwa uNebukadinesari wayeyithanda imisedari emikhulu yaseLebanoni, waya koyibona, futhi eminye wathi mayilethwe eBabiloni iyizingodo. Kodwa wayengakaze awubone umuthi ofana nawubona ephusheni lakhe. Wawumi uthé qekelele “phakathi nomhlaba,” ubonakala emhlabeni wonke, wawukhihlika izithelo ezazingase zidliwe yinyama yonke.
7 Kwakunokwengeziwe kuleli phupho ngoba uNebukadinesari wenezela: “Ngabona emibonweni yekhanda lami ngisembhedeni wami, bheka, nango umlindi ongcwele ehla ezulwini. Wamemeza ngamandla, washo kanje, wathi: ‘Gawula umuthi, unqume amagatsha awo, uvuthulule amaqabunga awo, uhlakaze izithelo zawo; izilwane mazisuke phansi kwawo, nezinyoni emagatsheni awo. Nokho shiya isiqu sezimpande zawo emhlabathini, sinesibopho sensimbi nesethusi, ohlazeni lwasendle, simanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, isabelo saso sibe nezilwane zasetshanini bomhlaba.’”—Daniyeli 4:13-15.
8. Kwakungubani “umlindi”?
8 AbaseBabiloni babenowabo umbono ongokwenkolo wokuthi ziyini izidalwa zomoya, ezinhle nezimbi. Kodwa kwakungubani lo “mlindi,” noma unogada, ovela ezulwini? Njengoba ebizwa ngokuthi “ongcwele,” wayeyingelosi elungileyo emelela uNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa namaHubo 103:20, 21.) Cabanga nje ngemibuzo okumelwe ukuba yayihlupha uNebukadinesari! Ugawulelwani lo muthi? Sinanzuzoni isiqu esinqandwa ukuba singakhuli ngokuboshwa ngezibopho zensimbi nethusi? Empeleni, isiqu nje sinamsebenzi muni?
9. Yini ngempela eyashiwo umlindi, futhi lokhu kuphakamisa miphi imibuzo?
9 Kumelwe ukuba kwaphithana ikhanda kuNebukadinesari njengoba ezwa amanye amazwi omlindi: “Inhliziyo yaso iyakuguqulwa ingabi ngeyomuntu, siphiwe inhliziyo yesilwane, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwaso. Kunqunyiwe ngesimemezelo sabalindi nangesiyalezo sezwi labangcwele ukuba abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo, amise phezu kwayo ophansi phakathi kwabantu.” (Daniyeli 4:16, 17, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Isiqu somuthi asinayo inhliziyo yomuntu eshaya ngaphakathi kuso. Nangaphandle kwalokho, isiqu somuthi singaphiwa kanjani inhliziyo yesilwane? Ziyini lezi “zikhathi eziyisikhombisa”? Futhi konke lokhu kuhlobana kanjani nokubusa “imibuso yabantu”? Nakanjani, uNebukadinesari wayefuna ukwazi.
IZINDABA EZIBUHLUNGU NGENKOSI
10. (a) NgokomBhalo, imithi ingafanekiselani? (b) Umeleleni umuthi omkhulu?
10 Lapho ezwa leli phupho, uDaniyeli wathi ukushaqeka, wabe esesaba. Ecelwe uNebukadinesari ukuba alichaze, lo mprofethi wathi: “Nkosi, iphupho malibe kwabakuzondayo, nencazo yalo kuzo izitha zakho. Umuthi owawubonayo, owakhula, waqina . . . , nguwe nkosi okhulile waqina, ngokuba ubukhulu bakho bukhulile bufinyelele ezulwini nokubusa kwakho kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba.” (Daniyeli 4:18-22) EmiBhalweni, imithi ingafanekisela abantu, ababusi nemibuso. (IHubo 1:3; Jeremiya 17:7, 8; Hezekeli, isahluko 31) Njengomuthi omkhulu awuphupha, uNebukadinesari wayeye ‘wakhula waqina’ njengenhloko yombuso wezwe. Kodwa “ukubusa . . . kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba,” okuhlanganisa wonke umbuso wesintu, kumelelwa umuthi omkhulu. Ngakho, ufanekisela ubukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke, ikakhulu ngokuqondene nomhlaba.—Daniyeli 4:17.
11. Iphupho lenkosi labonisa kanjani ukuthi yayizobhekana noshintsho olwaluzoyihlazisa?
11 UNebukadinesari wayezobhekana noshintsho oluhlazisayo. Ekhuluma ngalokhu, uDaniyeli wenezela: “Njengalokho inkosi yabona umlindi ongcwele ehla ezulwini, ethi: ‘Gawula umuthi, uwuchithe, kepha shiya isiqu sezimpande zawo emhlabathini, sinesibopho sensimbi nesethusi, ohlazeni lwasendle, simanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, isabelo saso sibe nezilwane zasendle, kuze kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwaso,’ nansi incazelo, nkosi: kuyisimemezelo soPhezukonke [okumelwe sehlele] inkosi yami, inkosi.” (Daniyeli 4:23, 24, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Ngokuqinisekile, ukunikeza inkosi enamandla lowo myalezo kwakudinga isibindi!
12. Yini eyayizokwehlela uNebukadinesari?
12 Yini eyayizokwehlela uNebukadinesari? Cabanga indlela asabela ngayo njengoba uDaniyeli enezela: “Uyakuxoshwa kubantu, inhlalo yakho ibe nezilwane zasendle, udliswe utshani njengezinkabi, umanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.” (Daniyeli 4:25) Kubonakala sengathi ngisho nezikhulu zesigodlo sikaNebukadinesari ‘zaziyomxosha kubantu.’ Kodwa ingabe wayeyonakekelwa abelusi abanesihawu? Phinde, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayethé uNebukadinesari uyohlala ‘nezilwane zasendle,’ adle utshani.
13. Iphupho lomuthi labonisa ukuthi kwakuyokwenzekani esikhundleni sikaNebukadinesari njengombusi wezwe?
13 Njengoba nje umuthi wagawulwa, uNebukadinesari wayeyoyekiswa ukubusa umhlaba—kodwa okwesikhashana. UDaniyeli wachaza: “Njengalokho bayaleza ukuba kushiywe isiqu sezimpande zomuthi, umbuso wakho uyakuqina kuwe, lapho usufundile ukuthi izulu liyabusa.” (Daniyeli 4:26) Ephusheni likaNebukadinesari isiqu sezimpande, noma isiqu somuthi ogawuliwe sasala, nakuba sasiboshiwe ukuze singakhuli. Kanjalo “isiqu sezimpande” senkosi yaseBabiloni sasiyosala, nakuba sasiyoboshwa “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” ukuze singakhuli. Isikhundla sakhe njengombusi wezwe sasiyoba njengesiqu somuthi esiboshiwe. Sasiyogcinwa silondekile kuze kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa. UJehova wayeyoqikelela ukuthi phakathi naleyo nkathi akukho muntu olandela uNebukadinesari njengombusi waseBabiloni, nakuba indodana yakhe okuthiwa u-Evili-Merodaki kungenzeka ukuthi yayimbambele.
14. UDaniyeli wanxusa uNebukadinesari ukuba enzeni?
14 Ngenxa yalokho okwakubikezelwe mayelana noNebukadinesari, ngesibindi uDaniyeli wanxusa: “Ngalokho, nkosi, masamukeleke kuwe isiluleko sami, unqamule izono zakho ngokulunga, nobubi bakho ngokuba nomusa kwabampofu; mhlawumbe kungelulwa ukuthula kwakho.” (Daniyeli 4:27) Uma uNebukadinesari ayengayishiya inkambo yakhe yesono yokucindezela nokuqhosha, hleze izinto zazingashintsha. Angithi emakhulwini amabili eminyaka ngaphambili, uJehova wayezimisele ukubhubhisa abantu baseNineve, inhloko-dolobha yase-Asiriya, kodwa akabange esababhubhisa ngoba inkosi yakhona nabantu bayo baphenduka. (Jona 3:4, 10; Luka 11:32) Kuthiwani ngoNebukadinesari owayeqhosha? Ingabe wayezozishintsha izindlela zakhe?
UKUFEZEKA KOKUQALA KWEPHUPHO
15. (a) Yisiphi isimo sengqondo uNebukadinesari aqhubeka esibonisa? (b) Imibhalo eqoshiwe yembulani ngemisebenzi kaNebukadinesari?
15 UNebukadinesari akayekanga ukuqhosha. Ehambahamba ophahleni lwesigodlo sakhe ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-12 aphupha ngomuthi, wazishaya isifuba, wathi: “Angithi yileli Babele elikhulu engilakhile libe yindlu yobukhosi ngezikhwepha zamandla ami, libe ludumo lobukhosi bami, na?” (Daniyeli 4:28-30) NguNimrode owayesungule iBabiloni (iBabele), kodwa uNebukadinesari walenza laba nodumo. (Genesise 10:8-10) Komunye wemibhalo yakhe eqoshiwe, uzigabisa athi: “UNebukadiresari, iNkosi yaseBabiloni, umvuseleli we-Esagila ne-Ezida, mina ndodana kaNabopolassar. . . . Ngaqinisa izinqaba zase-Esagila naseBabiloni futhi umbuso wami ngawenzela igama laphakade.” (Archaeology and the Bible kaGeorge A. Barton, 1949, amakhasi 478-9) Omunye umbhalo oqoshiwe ukhuluma ngamathempeli angaba ngu-20 awalungisa noma awakha kabusha. “Ngaphansi kokubusa kukaNebukadinesari,” kusho i-World Book Encyclopedia, “iBabiloni laba omunye wemizi emihle kakhulu ezweni lasendulo. Emibhalweni yakhe, uqabukela ekhulumé ngezimpi azilwa, kodwa wabhala ngemisebenzi yakhe yokwakha nangendlela ayebathanda ngayo onkulunkulu baseBabiloni. Cishe uNebukadinesari wakha iziNgadi Eziphakeme ZaseBabiloni, ezingezinye zeziMangaliso Eziyisikhombisa Zezwe Lasendulo.”
16. UNebukadinesari wayesezothotshiswa kanjani?
16 Nakuba ayeziqhayisa kanjalo, uNebukadinesari oqhoshayo wayesezothotshiswa. Ukulandisa okuphefumulelwe kuthi: “Izwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi, kwehla ezulwini izwi, lithi: ‘We nkosi Nebukadinesari, kukhulunyiwe kuwe ukuthi: Umbuso usukile kuwe; uyakuxoshwa kubantu, inhlalo yakho ibe nezilwane zasendle, udliswe utshani njengezinkabi, kudlule phezu kwakho izikhathi eziyisikhombisa, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.’”—Daniyeli 4:31, 32.
17. Kwenzekani kuNebukadinesari oqhoshayo, futhi ngokushesha wazithola ekuziphi izimo?
17 Ngokushesha uNebukadinesari waphambana ingqondo. Njengoba ayesexoshiwe kubantu, wadla utshani “njengezinkabi.” Njengoba ayehlala nezilwane zasendle, ngokuqinisekile wayengahlezi nje esonge izandla otshanini bendawo eyipharadesi, eshaywa umoya oqabulayo nsuku zonke. E-Iraq yanamuhla, lapho amanxiwa aseBabiloni ekhona, amazinga okushisa asuka ku-50°C. ezinyangeni zasehlobo aye ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa ebusika. Njengoba zazinganakiwe futhi zikhula kulesi simo sezulu, izinwele zikaNebukadinesari ezinde nezimayikayika zazinjengezinsiba zokhozi, izinzipho zakhe ezazinganqunywa zeminwe nezinzwane zafana namazipho ezinyoni. (Daniyeli 4:33) Yeka ukuthotshiswa kwalo mbusi wezwe oqhoshayo!
18. Phakathi nezikhathi eziyisikhombisa, kwenzekani esihlalweni sobukhosi saseBabiloni?
18 Ephusheni likaNebukadinesari, lo muthi omkhulu wagawulwa, isiqu sawo saboshwa ngezibopho ukuze singakhuli siye phezulu kuze kube yizikhathi eziyisikhombisa. Ngokufanayo, uNebukadinesari “wehliswa esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi” lapho uJehova emshaya ngomsangano. (Daniyeli 5:20) Empeleni, lokhu kwashintsha inhliziyo yenkosi yaba eyenkabi, yangabe isaba eyomuntu. Nokho, uNkulunkulu wamgcinela isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi uNebukadinesari kwaze kwaphela izikhathi eziyisikhombisa. Nakuba cishe u-Evili-Merodaki aba yinhloko yesikhashana kahulumeni, uDaniyeli ‘wabusa sonke isifunda saseBabele, waba ngumholi wababusi babahlakaniphileyo baseBabele.’ Abangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu baqhubeka benesandla ekuphatheni izindaba zaleso sifunda. (Daniyeli 1:11-19; 2:48, 49; 3:30) Lezi zithunjwa ezine zazilindele ukubuyiselwa kukaNebukadinesari esihlalweni sobukhosi njengenkosi ephilayo engqondweni eyayizobe isifundile ukuthi “oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.”
UKUBUYELWA YINGQONDO KUKANEBUKADINESARI
19. Ngemva kokuba uJehova enze uNebukadinesari waphila engqondweni, le nkosi yaseBabiloni yaqaphelani?
19 UJehova wenza uNebukadinesari wabuye waphila engqondweni ekupheleni kwezikhathi eziyisikhombisa. Njengoba yayisimazi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, inkosi yathi: “Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku mina Nebukadinesari ngaphakamisa amehlo ami ezulwini, nomqondo wami wabuyela kimi, ngambonga oPhezukonke, ngamdumisa, ngamtusa yena ohlezi phakade, ngokuba ukubusa kwakhe kungukubusa okuphakade, nombuso wakhe ungowezizukulwane ngezizukulwane; bonke abakhé emhlabeni bashaywa ize; uyenza njengentando yakhe empini yasezulwini naphakathi kwabakhileyo emhlabeni; akakho ongavimbela isandla sakhe, noma athi kuye: ‘Wenzani na?’” (Daniyeli 4:34, 35) Yebo, uNebukadinesari waqaphela ukuthi oPhezukonke ngempela unguMbusi Ophakeme emibusweni yabantu.
20, 21. (a) Ukususwa kwezibopho zensimbi esiqwini sezimpande somuthi wephupho kwafana kanjani nalokho okwenzeka kuNebukadinesari? (b) Yini uNebukadinesari ayivuma, futhi ingabe lokhu kwamenza waba umkhulekeli kaJehova?
20 Lapho uNebukadinesari ebuyela esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, kwaba njengokungathi izibopho zensimbi ezazibophe isiqu somuthi wephupho zase zisusiwe. Ngokuqondene nokubuyiselwa kwakhe, wathi: “Ngasona leso sikhathi wabuyela kimi umqondo wami, nobukhosi bami nokucwebezela kwami kwabuyela kimi, kwaba ludumo lombuso wami; abomkhandlu bami nezinduna zami bangifuna; ngase ngibekwa embusweni wami, ngenezelwa ubukhulu obudluleleyo.” (Daniyeli 4:36) Uma kungenzeka ukuthi izikhulu zesigodlo zase ziyeya le nkosi eyayisangene, manje zase ‘ziyifuna’ ngokuzithoba okuphelele.
21 Yeka “izibonakaliso nezimangaliso” uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ayezenzile! Akufanele kusimangaze ukuthi inkosi yaseBabiloni ebuyiselwe yathi: “Kalokhu-ke mina Nebukadinesari ngiyatusa, ngiyaphakamisa, ngiyidumisa iNkosi yezulu, ngokuba yonke imisebenzi yayo iyiqiniso, nezindlela zayo zingukwahlulela; abahamba ngokuzidla inamandla okubathobisa.” (Daniyeli 4:2, 37) Nokho, lokho kuvuma akuzange kumenze uNebukadinesari abe umkhulekeli kaJehova ongoweZizwe.
INGABE BUKHONA UBUFAKAZI BEZWE?
22. Abanye baye bakuhlobanisa nasiphi isifo ukusangana kukaNebukadinesari, kodwa yini okufanele siyiqaphele ngembangela yokusangana kwakhe?
22 Abanye baye bathi ukusangana kukaNebukadinesari kuhlobene ne-lycanthropy. Esinye isichazamazwi sezokwelapha sithi: “Elithi LYCANTHROPY . . . livela kwelithi [lyʹkos], lupus, impisi; [anʹthro·pos], homo, umuntu. Leli gama kwaqanjwa ngalo isifo esiphatha abantu abakholelwa ukuthi baphenduke isilwane esithile, abalingisa umsindo waso, ukukhala kwaso nendlela leso silwane esenza ngayo izinto. Ngokuvamile laba bantu bazibona sebeshintshe baba impisi, inja noma ikati; ngezinye izikhathi beyinkabi, njengoNebukadinesari.” (Dictionnaire des sciences médicales, par une société de médicins et de chirurgiens, Paris, 1818, uMqulu 29, ikhasi 246) Izimpawu ze-lycanthropy ziyefana nezikaNebukadinesari esasangene. Kodwa njengoba ukugula kwakhe ngengqondo kwakuvela kuNkulunkulu, akunakuhlotshaniswa nesifo esaziwayo.
23. Yibuphi ubufakazi bezwe obukhona ngokusangana kukaNebukadinesari?
23 Isazi uJohn E. Goldingay sicaphuna ukufana okuningana ekusanganeni nasekubuyelweni yingqondo kukaNebukadinesari. Ngokwesibonelo, sithi: “Sengathi umbhalo othile oyizicucu ukhuluma ngokuphazamiseka kwengqondo okuthile kukaNebukadinesari, futhi mhlawumbe ukhuluma ngokungalinaki kwakhe iBabiloni nokulishiya.” UGoldingay ucaphuna incwadi ebizwa ngokuthi “Babylonian Job” abese ethi “ifakazela izijeziso zikaNkulunkulu, ukugula, ukuthobisa, ukufuna incazelo yephupho elethusayo, ukuwiswa njengomuthi, ukukhishelwa ngaphandle, ukudla utshani, ukulahlekelwa ingqondo, ukuba njengenkabi, ukumanziswa nguMarduk ngemvula, ukonakala kwezinzipho, ukukhula kwezinwele, ukuboshwa ngamaketango nokubuyelwa yingqondo adumisa unkulunkulu ngakho.”
IZIKHATHI EZIYISIKHOMBISA EZISITHINTAYO
24. (a) Umuthi omkhulu wephupho ufanekiselani? (b) Yini eyavinjwa izikhathi eziyisikhombisa, futhi lokho kwenzeka kanjani?
24 Njengoba ayemelelwe umuthi omkhulu, uNebukadinesari wayefanekisela ububusi bomhlaba. Kodwa khumbula, lo muthi umelela ububusi nobukhosi obukhulu kakhulu kunobenkosi yaseBabiloni. Ufanekisela ubukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke, “iNkosi yamazulu,” ikakhulukazi ngokuqondene nomhlaba. Ngaphambi kokuba abaseBabiloni bachithe iJerusalema, umbuso owawuzinze kulowo muzi, uDavide nezindlalifa zakhe behlezi “esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaJehova,” wawumelele ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu ngokuqondene nomhlaba. (1 IziKronike 29:23) UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe wabugawula lobo bukhosi wabubopha ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho esebenzisa uNebukadinesari ukuba abhubhise iJerusalema. Ubukhosi baphezulu abuzange buphathwe umbuso osohlwini lozalo lukaDavide emhlabeni kwaze kwaphela izikhathi eziyisikhombisa. Zazizinde kangakanani lezi zikhathi eziyisikhombisa? Zaqala nini, futhi yini eyabonisa ukuphela kwazo?
25, 26. (a) Ngokuqondene noNebukadinesari, zazizinde kangakanani “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa,” futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo? (b) Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, zaqala nini futhi kanjani “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa”?
25 Ngesikhathi uNebukadinesari esasangene, “zakhula izinwele zakhe njengezimpaphe zezinkozi nezinzipho zakhe njengamazipho ezinyoni.” (Daniyeli 4:33) Lokhu kwathatha isikhathi esingaphezu kwezinsuku eziyisikhombisa noma amasonto ayisikhombisa. Izinguqulo ezihlukahlukene zithi “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa,” ezinye zithi “izikhathi ezimisiwe (ezinqunyiwe)” noma “izinkathi zesikhathi.” (Daniyeli 4:16, 23, 25, 32) Olunye uhlelo lwesiGreki Esidala (lwe-Septuagint) luthi “iminyaka eyisikhombisa.” Isazi-mlando esingumJuda sekhulu lokuqala uJosephus sabheka lezi “zikhathi eziyisikhombisa” “njengeminyaka eyisikhombisa.” (Antiquities of the Jews, iNcwadi 10, iSahluko 10, isigaba 6) Futhi ezinye izazi ezingamaHeberu zibheka lezi “zikhathi” “njengeziyiminyaka.” I-American Translation, i-Today’s English Version nenguqulo kaJames Moffatt ikubeka ngokuthi “iminyaka eyisikhombisa.”
26 Ngokusobala, “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zikaNebukadinesari zaziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa. Esiprofethweni, unyaka ulingana nezinsuku ezingu-360, noma izinyanga ezingu-12 ezinezinsuku ezingu-30 iyinye. (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 12:6, 14.) Ngakho “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zenkosi, noma iminyaka eyisikhombisa, yayiyizinsuku ezingu-360 ziphindwe kasikhombisa, noma izinsuku ezingu-2 520. Kodwa kuthiwani ngokugcwaliseka okukhulu kwephupho layo? “Izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zesiprofetho zaba zinde kakhulu kunezinsuku ezingu-2 520. Lokhu kwaboniswa amazwi kaJesu: “IJerusalema liyonyathelwa phansi izizwe, kuze kugcwaliseke izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe.” (Luka 21:24) Lokho ‘kunyathelwa’ kwaqala ngo-607 B.C.E. ngesikhathi kubhujiswa iJerusalema futhi umbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso uyeka ukusebenza kwaJuda. Kwakuzophela nini lokhu kunyathelwa? ‘Ngesikhathi sokubuyiselwa kwazo zonke izinto,’ lapho ubukhosi baphezulu buphinde bubonakaliswa emhlabeni ngeJerusalema elingokomfanekiso, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—IzEnzo 3:21.
27. Kungani ubungathi “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” ezaqala ngo-607 B.C.E. aziphelanga ekupheleni kwezinsuku ezingu-2 520 ezingokoqobo?
27 Ukube besingabala izinsuku ezingu-2 520 kusukela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E., besingafika ku-600 B.C.E., unyaka ongabalulekile emiBhalweni. Ngisho nango-537 B.C.E., lapho amaJuda akhululiwe esebuyele kwaJuda, ubukhosi bukaJehova abuzange bubonakaliswe emhlabeni. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uZerubabele, indlalifa yesihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide, akenziwanga inkosi kodwa wenziwa umbusi nje wakwaJuda, isifundazwe sasePheresiya.
28. (a) Yimuphi umthetho okumelwe usetshenziswe ezinsukwini ezingu-2 520 ‘zezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ ezingokwesiprofetho? (b) Zazizinde kangakanani “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa,” futhi zaqala zabuye zaphela ngaziphi izinsuku?
28 Njengoba “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zingokwesiprofetho, kulezi zinsuku ezingu-2 520 kumelwe sisebenzise umthetho ongokomBhalo: ‘Usuku lube ngunyaka.’ Lo mthetho utholakala esiprofethweni esimayelana nokuhaqwa kweJerusalema abaseBabiloni. (Hezekeli 4:6, 7; qhathanisa noNumeri 14:34.) Ngakho-ke “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zokubuswa komhlaba yimibuso yeZizwe ngaphandle kokungenela koMbuso kaNkulunkulu zathatha iminyaka engu-2 520. Zaqala ngokuchithwa kwelakwaJuda neJerusalema ngenyanga yesikhombisa (Tishri 15) ka-607 B.C.E. (2 AmaKhosi 25:8, 9, 25, 26) Kusukela lapho kuze kube ngu-1 B.C.E. yiminyaka engu-606. Le minyaka esele engu-1 914 iqala ngaleso sikhathi kuze kube ngu-1914 C.E. Ngakho, “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa,” noma iminyaka engu-2 520, yaphela ngo-Tishri 15, noma ngo-October 4/5, 1914 C.E.
29. Ubani “ophansi phakathi kwabantu,” futhi yini uJehova ayenza ukuze ambeke esihlalweni sobukhosi?
29 Ngalowo nyaka kwagcwaliseka “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe,” futhi uNkulunkulu wanikeza ububusi “kophansi phakathi kwabantu”—uJesu Kristu—owayebhekwa izitha zakhe njengodeleleke kangangokuba zaze zambethela nokumbethela. (Daniyeli 4:17) Ukuze ayibeke esihlalweni sobukhosi iNkosi enguMesiya, uJehova waqaqa izibopho zensimbi nethusi ezingokomfanekiso okwakuboshwe ngazo “isiqu sezimpande” sobukhosi bakhe. Ngokwenza kanjalo uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wenza ukuba kumile “ihlumela” lasebukhosini kuso, njengeliwukubonakaliswa kobukhosi baphezulu emhlabeni ngoMbuso wasezulwini ophethwe iNdlalifa kaDavide enkulu kunazo zonke, uJesu Kristu. (Isaya 11:1, 2; Jobe 14:7-9; Hezekeli 21:27) Asive simbonga uJehova ngalo mphumela obusisekile nangokusombulula imfihlakalo yomuthi omkhulu!
YINI OYIZUZILE?
• Umuthi omkhulu wephupho likaNebukadinesari wawufanekiselani?
• Kwenzekani kuNebukadinesari ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala kwephupho lakhe lomuthi?
• Ngemva kokugcwaliseka kwephupho lakhe, yini uNebukadinesari ayivuma?
• Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu kwephupho lomuthi elingokwesiprofetho, zazizinde kangakanani “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa,” futhi zaqala zabuye zaphela nini?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 83]
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 91]