Isahluko Seshumi Nesikhombisa
“IBabiloni Liwile!”
1, 2. (a) Sithini isihloko seBhayibheli selilonke, kodwa isiphi isihlokwana esibalulekile esiku-Isaya? (b) IBhayibheli liyichaza kanjani indaba yokuwa kweBabiloni?
IBHAYIBHELI lingase lifaniswe nengoma emnandi enesihloko esivelelayo, nezinye izihlokwana ezincane ezingenelayo, okuthi uma sezizonke zenze umyalezo wayo yonke ucace bhá. Ngendlela efanayo, iBhayibheli linesihloko esikhulu—ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova ngohulumeni woMbuso KaMesiya. Linezinye futhi izihloko ezibalulekile ezilokhu zivela. Esinye sazo ukuwa kweBabiloni.
2 Leso sihloko sivela ku-Isaya isahluko 13 no-14. Sibuye sivele esahlukweni 21 nasesahlukweni 44 no-45. Ngemva kwekhulu leminyaka, uJeremiya uyenaba ngalesi sihloko, futhi incwadi yesAmbulo isiletha esiphethweni esiwumvuthwandaba. (Jeremiya 51:60-64; IsAmbulo 18:1–19:4) Bonke abafundi beBhayibheli abaqotho kudingeka bazikhathaze ngalesi sihlokwana seZwi likaNkulunkulu. U-Isaya isahluko 21 uyasiza kulokhu, ngoba unikeza imininingwane ethakazelisayo ngokuwa kwalowo mbuso wezwe omkhulu okwaprofethwa ngako. Kamuva, sizobona ukuthi u-Isaya isahluko 21 ugcizelela esinye isihloko seBhayibheli esibalulekile—esisisiza ukuba sihlole ukuqapha kwethu njengamaKristu namuhla.
“Umbono Onzima”
3. Kungani iBabiloni libizwa ngokuthi “ihlane lolwandle,” futhi leso siqu sibikezelani ngekusasa lalo?
3 U-Isaya isahluko 21 uqala ngenkulumo ebikezela okubi: “Isimemezelo ngehlane lolwandle: Kuphokophele phambili njengezivunguvungu zaseningizimu, kuyeza kuvela ehlane, ezweni elesabekayo.” (Isaya 21:1) UMfula i-Ewufrathe ulidabula phakathi iBabiloni, ingxenye yalo engasempumalanga isendaweni ephakathi kwemifula emikhulu emibili i-Ewufrathe neTigris. Liqhelile olwandle. Kungani pho libizwa ngokuthi ‘ihlane lolwandle’? Yingoba indawo yaseBabiloni yayivame ukuba nezikhukhula minyaka yonke, kwakheke “ulwandle” olubanzi, oluyixhaphozi. Nokho, abaseBabiloni baye balilungisa leli hlane elinamanzi ngokwakha isimiso esiyinkimbinkimbi sezindonga zokuvimba amanzi nemisele yamanzi. Ngokuhlakanipha, benza la manzi abe ingxenye yesimiso sokuzivikela salo muzi. Noma kunjalo, akukho umuntu angakwenza okungophula iBabiloni esahlulelweni saphezulu. Beliyihlane—lizophinda libe yilo. Inhlekelele iyasondela kulo, kuhle kwezivunguvungu ezinamandla ezivame ukuvunguza kwa-Israyeli zisuka ehlane elesabekayo ziya eningizimu.—Qhathanisa noZakariya 9:14.
4. Umbono ‘weBabiloni Elikhulu’ wencwadi yesAmbulo uwahlanganisa kanjani “amanzi nehlane,” futhi “amanzi” afanekiselani?
4 Njengoba sifundile eSahlukweni 14 sale ncwadi, iBabiloni lasendulo linomfuziselo wanamuhla—“iBabiloni Elikhulu,” umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Encwadini yesAmbulo, iBabiloni Elikhulu lihlotshaniswa ‘nehlane namanzi.’ Umphostoli uJohane uyiswa ehlane eyoboniswa iBabiloni Elikhulu. Utshelwa ukuthi ‘lihlala phezu kwamanzi amaningi’ afanekisela “abantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi.” (IsAmbulo 17:1-3, 5, 15) Inkolo yamanga ibilokhu isindiswa ukusekelwa ngabantu, kodwa lawo “manzi” ngeke ayivikele ekugcineni. Njengozakwabo wasendulo, iyogcina ingenalutho, inganakiwe futhi iyincithakalo.
5. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba iBabiloni libe nedumela lokuba ‘elikhohlisayo neliphangayo’?
5 Osukwini luka-Isaya iBabiloni alikakabi umbuso wezwe ovelele, kodwa uJehova ubona kusengaphambili ukuthi lapho leso sikhathi sifika, liyowasebenzisa kabi amandla alo. U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Kukhona umbono onzima engiwutsheliwe: Umkhohlisi uyakhohlisa, nomphangi uyaphanga.” (Isaya 21:2a) Ngempela iBabiloni liyophanga futhi likhohlise izizwe elizinqobayo, kuhlanganise noJuda. AbaseBabiloni bayoliphanga iJerusalema nethempeli, bathumbele abantu balo eBabiloni. Lapho, lezi zithunjwa ezingenamandla okuzisiza ziyokhohliswa, zenziwe inhlekisa ngenxa yokholo lwazo futhi zinganikezwa themba lokuphindela ezweni lakubo.—2 IziKronike 36:17-21; IHubo 137:1-4.
6. (a) UJehova uyoqeda kuphi ukububula? (b) Yiziphi izizwe okubikezelwa ukuthi ziyohlasela iBabiloni, futhi lokhu kugcwaliseka kanjani?
6 Yebo, iBabiloni liwufanelekela ngokugcwele lo “mbono onzima,” oyosho izikhathi ezinzima kulo. U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Khuphuka, Elamu! Vimbezela, Mediya! Ngibangelé ukuba kuphele konke ukububula okungenxa yakhe.” (Isaya 21:2b) Labo abacindezelwe yilo mbuso okhohlisayo bayothola impumuzo. Ekugcineni, kuyophela ukububula kwabo! (IHubo 79:11, 12) Iyofika kanjani le mpumuzo? U-Isaya usho izizwe ezimbili eziyohlasela iBabiloni: i-Elamu neMediya. Ngemva kwamakhulu amabili eminyaka, ngo-539 B.C.E., uKoresi umPheresiya uyohola ibutho elihlangene lamaPheresiya namaMede lilwe neBabiloni. Amakhosi asePheresiya ayobe esenqobe okungenani ingxenye ethile ye-Elamu ngaphambi kuka-539 B.C.E.a Ngakho amabutho asePheresiya ayohlanganisa nawase-Elamu.
7. Umbono umthinta kanjani u-Isaya, okubonisani?
7 Phawula indlela u-Isaya athi lo mbono umthinta ngayo: “Yingakho izinkalo zami zigcwele izinhlungu ezinzima. Ngigongobele, njengokugongobala kowesifazane obelethayo. Ngikhungatheke kangangokuthi angizwa; ngiphazamiseke kangangokuthi angiboni. Inhliziyo yami iye yazulazula; ukuqhaqhazela kungesabise kakhulu. Ukuhwalala ebengikuthanda kwenziwe kwaba ukuthuthumela kimi.” (Isaya 21:3, 4) Kubonakala sengathi umprofethi uyasijabulela isikhathi sokuhwalala, isikhathi esihle sokuzindla. Kodwa lesi sikhathi sokuhlwa asisathandeki manje, siletha ukwesaba, ubuhlungu nokuthuthumela. Ugongobala njengowesifazane osikwayo, futhi inhliziyo yakhe “iye yazulazula.” Esinye isazi sihumusha le nkulumo ngokuthi “inhliziyo yami ishaya ngamandla,” sithi le nkulumo ibhekisela “ekushayeni kwemithambo yegazi ngendlela enamandla nengavamile.” Kungani ecindezeleke kanjalo? Ngokusobala, imizwa ka-Isaya iyisiprofetho. Ngobusuku buka-October 5/6, 539 B.C.E., abaseBabiloni bayoshaywa uvalo ngendlela efanayo.
8. Njengoba kuprofethiwe, abaseBabiloni benzani, nakuba izitha zabo zingaphandle kwezindonga?
8 Njengoba kuhlwa ngalobo busuku benhlekelele, abaseBabiloni abanasizathu sokushaywa uvalo. Kusasele iminyaka engamakhulu amabili, u-Isaya uyabikezela: “Makulungiswe itafula, kuhlelwe indawo yezihlalo, kudliwe, kuphuzwe!” (Isaya 21:5a) Yebo, inkosi eqhoshayo uBelishasari yenza idili. Izicukuthwane zayo eziyinkulungwane zilungiselelwe izihlalo, kanye namakhosikazi ayo amaningi nezancinza zayo. (Daniyeli 5:1, 2) Izihambeli zalo mbuthano oxokozelayo ziyazi ukuthi kunebutho ngaphandle kwezindonga, kodwa zikholelwa ukuthi umuzi wazo awunakufohlwa. Izizemazema zezindonga zawo nomsele wamanzi ojulile kwenza ubonakale ungenakunqotshwa; onkulunkulu bawo abaningi benza kungacatshangwa nakucatshangwa ukuthi unganqotshwa. Ngakho ‘makudliwe, kuphuzwe!’ UBelishasari uyadakwa, futhi cishe akuyena yedwa odakiwe. Isidingo sokuba izikhulu zivuswe sisikisela ukuthi zisesimweni sokudiyazela, njengoba kubonisa amazwi ka-Isaya alandelayo ayisiprofetho.
9. Kungani kuphakama isidingo ‘sokugcoba isihlangu’?
9 “Sukumani, nina zikhulu, nigcobe isihlangu.” (Isaya 21:5b) Idili liphela kungazelelwe. Izikhulu kumelwe ziphaphame! Umprofethi osekhulile uDaniyeli usebiziwe, futhi ubona indlela uJehova enza ngayo inkosi yaseBabiloni uBelishasari ishaywe uvalo olufana nolwachazwa u-Isaya. Izicukuthwane zenkosi zidunyelwa amakhanda njengoba amabutho amaMede, amaPheresiya nawama-Elamu ebhodloza izivikelo zomuzi. IBabiloni liwa ngokushesha! Kodwa kusho ukuthini ‘ukugcoba isihlangu’? Ngezinye izikhathi iBhayibheli libhekisela enkosini yesizwe njengesihlangu saso ngoba ingumlondolozi nomvikeli wezwe.b (IHubo 89:18) Ngakho, leli vesi lika-Isaya cishe libikezela isidingo senkosi entsha. Ngani? Ngoba uBelishasari ubulawa “ngabo kanye lobo busuku.” Ngakho kunesidingo ‘sokugcoba isihlangu,’ noma ukubeka inkosi entsha.—Daniyeli 5:1-9, 30.
10. Abakhulekeli bakaJehova bangathola yiphi induduzo ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sika-Isaya ngokuphathelene nomkhohlisi?
10 Bonke abathandi bokukhulekela kweqiniso bathola induduzo kule ndaba. IBabiloni lanamuhla, iBabiloni Elikhulu, lingumkhohlisi nomphangi njengoba nje lalinjalo elasendulo. Kuze kube manje, abaholi benkolo bakha uzungu lokuba oFakazi BakaJehova bavinjelwe, bashushiswe noma bajeziswe ngokukhokhiswa intela. Kodwa njengoba lesi siprofetho sisikhumbuza, uJehova uyabubona bonke ubugebengu obunjalo, futhi ngeke aliyeke angalijezisi. Uzoziqeda zonke izinkolo ezikhuluma kabi ngaye nezihlupha abantu bakhe. (IsAmbulo 18:8) Into enjalo ingenzeka? Ukuze sakhe ukholo lwethu, kudingeka sibone indlela eziye zagcwaliseka ngayo izixwayiso zakhe ngokuphathelene nokuwa kweBabiloni lasendulo nomfuziselo walo wanamuhla.
“Liwile!”
11. (a) Uyini umthwalo wemfanelo womlindi, futhi ubani obelokhu esebenza njengomlindi namuhla? (b) Zifanekiselani izinqola zempi zezimbongolo nezamakamela?
11 UJehova manje ukhuluma nomprofethi. U-Isaya uyabika: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo kimi: ‘Hamba umise umqaphi ukuba asho lokho akubonayo.’” (Isaya 21:6) La mazwi ethula esinye isihloko esibalulekile salesi sahluko—isihloko somqaphi noma umlindi. Siyawathakazelisa wonke amaKristu eqiniso namuhla, ngoba uJesu wanxusa abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘bahlale belindile.’ “Isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” asikaze siyeke ukusho esikubonayo mayelana nokuba seduze kosuku lukaNkulunkulu lokwahlulela nezingozi zaleli zwe elonakele. (Mathewu 24:42, 45-47) Umlindi osembonweni ka-Isaya ubonani? “Wabona inqola yempi inesipani samahhashi, inqola yempi yezimbongolo, inqola yempi yamakamela. Wanakisisa ngokunaka okukhulu.” (Isaya 21:7) Cishe lezi zinqola zempi zifanekisela uhide lwezinqola, ziphikelele empini ngejubane lamahhashi aqeqeshiwe. Inqola yempi yezimbongolo neyamakamela iyifanekisela kahle imibuso emibili eyohlangana ihlasele, owamaMede namaPheresiya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umlando ufakazela ukuthi ibutho lasePheresiya lalisebenzisa izimbongolo namakamela empini.
12. Umlindi osembonweni ka-Isaya unaziphi izimfanelo, futhi obani abadinga lezi zimfanelo namuhla?
12 Ngakho-ke, umlindi uyaphoqeleka ukuba abike. “Wamemeza njengengonyama: ‘O Jehova, ngimi njalo phezu kwenqaba yokulinda emini, ngisendaweni yami yokuqapha ubusuku bonke. Manje, bheka, kuza inqola yempi enamadoda, inesipani samahhashi!’” (Isaya 21:8, 9a) Umlindi osembonweni umemeza ngesibindi, “njengengonyama.” Kudinga isibindi ukukhipha isigijimi sokwahlulela isizwe esinamandla njengeBabiloni. Kunenye into edingekayo—ukukhuthazela. Umlindi uhlala endaweni yakhe yokuqapha ubusuku nemini, akalokothi aphazamiseke. Ngokufanayo, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina isigaba somlindi siye sadinga isibindi nokukhuthazela. (IsAmbulo 14:12) Wonke amaKristu eqiniso ayazidinga lezi zimfanelo.
13, 14. (a) Kulihambela kanjani iBabiloni lasendulo, futhi izithombe zalo ziphulwa ngamuphi umqondo? (b) IBabiloni Elikhulu lawa kanjani ngendlela efanayo futhi nini?
13 Umlindi osembonweni ka-Isaya ubona inqola yempi iza. Iphethe zindaba zini? “Waqala ukukhuluma wathi: ‘Liwile! IBabiloni liwile, nayo yonke imifanekiso ebaziweyo yonkulunkulu balo uyiphule yawela emhlabathini!’” (Isaya 21:9b) Yeka umbiko ovusa amadlingozi! Ekugcineni, lo mkhohlisi ophanga abantu bakaNkulunkulu uwile!c Kodwa iphulwa ngamqondo muni imifanekiso ebaziweyo nezithombe zaseBabiloni? Ingabe abahlaseli baseMediya nabasePheresiya bazongena emathempelini aseBabiloni baphihlize izithombe eziningi? Cha, akudingeki kwenziwe into enjalo. Onkulunkulu baseBabiloni abayizithombe bayophulwa ngokuba badalulwe ukuthi abanamandla okuvikela lo muzi. Futhi iBabiloni liyokuwa lapho lingasakwazi ukuqhubeka licindezela abantu bakaNkulunkulu.
14 Kuthiwani ngeBabiloni Elikhulu? Ngokugqugquzela ukucindezelwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, kwafana nokuthi libadingisile okwesikhashana. Umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela wacishe wamiswa. Umongameli nezinye izikhulu eziqavile ze-Watch Tower Society bagqunywa ejele ngenxa yamacala amanga. Kodwa ngo-1919 kwenzeka ushintsho olumangalisayo. Lezi zikhulu zadedelwa ejele, ihhovisi lendlunkulu laphinde lavulwa nomsebenzi wokushumayela waqalwa kabusha. Ngakho, iBabiloni Elikhulu lawa ngenxa yokuthi lalingasenamandla phezu kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.d Encwadini yesAmbulo lokhu kuwa kumenyezelwa yingelosi kabili isebenzisa amazwi esimemezelo esiku-Isaya 21:9.—IsAmbulo 14:8; 18:2.
15, 16. Kungamuphi umqondo abantu bakubo ka-Isaya ‘bengababhuliweyo,’ futhi singafundani esimweni sengqondo sika-Isaya ngabo?
15 U-Isaya uphetha lesi sigijimi esiyisiprofetho ngamazwi esihawu kubantu bakubo. Uthi: “O ababhuliweyo bami nendodana yesibuya sami, lokho engikuzwile kuJehova wamabutho, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, nginibikele kona.” (Isaya 21:10) EBhayibhelini, ukubhula ngokuvamile kufanekisela ukuyalwa nokucwengisiswa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Abantu besivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu bazoba ‘amadodana esibuya,’ lapho ukolweni uphoqeleka khona ukuba uhlukane namakhoba, kusale izinhlamvu ezihlungisisiwe nezidingekayo. Akukhona ukuthi siyamjabulisa u-Isaya lesi siyalo. Kunalokho, unesihawu ngala ‘madodana esibuya’ esikhathi esizayo, amanye awo ayochitha ukuphila kwawo konke eyizithunjwa kwelinye izwe.
16 Lokhu kungase kube isikhumbuzo esiwusizo kithi sonke. Ebandleni lobuKristu namuhla, abanye bangase balahlekelwe isihawu ngabenzi bokubi. Futhi labo abathola isiyalo bangase bathande ukusicasukela. Nokho, uma sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyala abantu bakhe ukuze abacwengisise, ngeke siseye isiyalo nalabo abasuke besithola futhi ngeke sisenqabe uma siza kithi. Isiyalo sokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu masisamukele njengendlela uNkulunkulu asibonisa ngayo uthando.—Heberu 12:6.
Ukubuza Kumlindi
17. Kungani kufaneleka ukuba u-Edomi abizwe ngokuthi ‘iDuma’?
17 Isigijimi sesibili esingokwesiprofetho sika-Isaya isahluko 21 siveza lokho okufanekiselwa umlindi. Siqala kanje: “Isimemezelo ngeDuma: Kukhona ongimemezayo eseSeyiri: ‘Mlindi, kuthiwani ngobusuku? Mlindi, kuthiwani ngobusuku?’” (Isaya 21:11) Ikuphi le Duma? Kusobala ukuthi kwakunamadolobha amaningana abizwa ngaleli gama ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, kodwa akukhulunywa ngawo lapha. IDuma ayikho eSeyiri, okungelinye igama le-Edomi. Igama elithi “Duma” lisho “Ukuthula Du.” Ngakho kubonakala sengathi, njengoba bekunjalo esimemezelweni esingaphambili, le ndawo yethiwa igama elichaza ikusasa layo. U-Edomi, osenesikhathi eside eyisitha sabantu bakaNkulunkulu esifuna ukuziphindiselela, uyothuliswa ekugcineni—ukuthula kokufa. Nokho, kungakenzeki lokho, abanye bayobuza ngekusasa bekhathazekile.
18. Isimemezelo esithi, “Kumelwe kufike ukusa, kanye nobusuku futhi,” sigcwaliseka kanjani ku-Edomi wasendulo?
18 Ngesikhathi kulotshwa u-Isaya, u-Edomi usendleleni yebutho elinamandla lase-Asiriya. Abanye kwa-Edomi bafisa ukwazi ukuthi ubusuku bokucindezelwa buyophela nini. Ithini impendulo? “Umlindi wathi: ‘Kumelwe kufike ukusa, kanye nobusuku futhi.’” (Isaya 21:12a) Izinto azimhambeli kahle u-Edomi. Kuzolokoza ukukhanya kokusa emkhathizwe, kodwa kuzoba okwesikhashana, ukukhohlisa nje. Ubusuku—esinye isikhathi esimnyama sokucindezeleka—buzolandela ezithendeni zokusa. Yeka umfanekiso ofanelekayo wekusasa lika-Edomi! Kuzophela ukucindezela kwe-Asiriya, kodwa lizolandelwa yiBabiloni njengombuso wezwe futhi lizomqothula u-Edomi. (Jeremiya 25:17, 21; 27:2-8) Kuyoba umjikelezo oqhubekayo. Ukucindezela kweBabiloni kuyolandelwa ukucindezela kwePheresiya bese kuba okweGrisi. Kuyobe sekuba khona “ukusa” okufushane ngesikhathi sekubusa amaRoma, lapho oHerode—abadabuka kwa-Edomi—bebusa eJerusalema. Kodwa lokho “kusa” ngeke kuhlale sikhathi. Ekugcineni, u-Edomi uyothuliswa unomphela, angaphinde abe khona emlandweni. Ekugcineni, igama elithi Duma liyomchaza kahle.
19. Kungenzeka ukuthi usho ukuthini umlindi uma ethi, “Uma nina bantu nifuna ukubuza, buzani. Nibuye futhi!”?
19 Umlindi uphetha isigijimi sakhe esifushane ngala mazwi: “Uma nina bantu nifuna ukubuza, buzani. Nibuye futhi!” (Isaya 21:12b) Inkulumo ethi “Nibuye futhi!” kungenzeka ibhekisela ‘ebusuku’ obungapheli obulandelanayo obuphambi kuka-Edomi. Noma ngenxa yokuthi le nkulumo ingahunyushwa nangokuthi “buyela,” kungenzeka ukuthi umprofethi usikisela ukuba noma imuphi umEdomi ofuna ukuphunyuka enhlekeleleni ezokwehlela isizwe kufanele aphenduke futhi ‘abuyele’ kuJehova. Kunoma yikuphi, umlindi uthi akuqhutshekwe kubuzwa.
20. Kungani sibalulekile kubantu bakaJehova namuhla isimemezelo esiku-Isaya 21:11, 12?
20 Lesi simemezelo esifushane sisho okukhulu kubantu bakaJehova ezikhathini zanamuhla.e Siyazi ukuthi isintu singene shí ebusuku obumnyama bokungaboni ngokomoya nokuhlukaniswa noNkulunkulu okuyoholela ekubhujisweni kwalesi simiso sezinto. (Roma 13:12; 2 Korinte 4:4) Phakathi nalesi sikhathi sasebusuku, noma ikuphi ukulokoza kwethemba lokuthi isintu singase silethe ukuthula nokulondeka ngandlela-thile, kufana nokukhanya kokusa okulokozayo okulandelwa ezinye izikhathi zobumnyama. Ukuntwela kwangempela kuyeza—ukuntwela kokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kulo mhlaba. Kodwa uma nje kusesebusuku, kumelwe silandele ukuhola kwesigaba somlindi ngokuhlala siqaphile ngokomoya futhi ngesibindi simemezele ukuba seduze kwesiphelo salesi simiso sezinto esonakele.—1 Thesalonika 5:6.
Kufika Ubusuku Ethafeni Eliwugwadule
21. (a) Yini okungenzeka iqondwe inkulumo ethi “isimemezelo ngethafa eliwugwadule”? (b) Ziyini izindwendwe zamadoda aseDedanimi?
21 Isimemezelo sokugcina sesahluko 21 sika-Isaya sibhekiswe ‘ethafeni eliwugwadule.’ Siqala ngokuthi: “Isimemezelo ngethafa eliwugwadule: Nizochitha ubusuku ehlathini ethafeni eliwugwadule, nina zindwendwe zamadoda aseDedanimi.” (Isaya 21:13) Ngokusobala leli thafa okukhulunywa ngalo i-Arabhiya, ngoba lesi simemezelo sibhekiswe ezizweni eziningana zama-Arabhu. Ngezinye izikhathi igama elisho “ithafa eliwugwadule” lihunyushwa ngokuthi “ubusuku,” okuyigama elifanayo ngesiHeberu. Abanye bathi lokhu ukudlala ngamagama, njengokungathi sekuzofika ubusuku obumnyama—isikhathi sezinkathazo—kule ndawo. Lesi simemezelo siqala ngokuchaza indawo emnyama enezindwendwe zamadoda aseDedanimi, isizwe esivelele sama-Arabhu. Lezo zindwendwe zamadoda zihamba ngezindlela zabathengisi zisuka kwenye indawo evundile ziya kwenye, ethwele izinongo, amaparele namanye amagugu. Kodwa lapha siwabona ephoqeleka ukuba ashiye izindlela zawo esezivuthiwe ayochitha ubusuku obuningi ecashile. Ecasheleni?
22, 23. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima obucindezelayo obuzokwehlela izizwe zama-Arabhu maduze nje, futhi kube namuphi umphumela kuzo? (b) Le nhlekelele izokwenzeka nini, futhi yenziwa ubani?
22 U-Isaya uyachaza: “Lethani amanzi ukuze nihlangabeze owomileyo. Nina bakhileyo ezweni laseThema, hlangabezani obalekayo nimphathele isinkwa. Ngoba babalekile ngenxa yezinkemba, ngenxa yenkemba ehoshiweyo, nangenxa yomnsalo onsaliwe nangenxa yobunzima bempi.” (Isaya 21:14, 15) Yebo, lezi zizwe zama-Arabhu zizothwala ubunzima obucindezelayo bempi. IThema, ekwenye yezindawo ezivundile ezinamanzi amaningi kakhulu kule ndawo, iyaphoqeleka ukuba ilethele ababalekeli bempi abaneshwa amanzi nesinkwa. Izoqala nini le nkathazo?
23 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo kimi: ‘Phakathi nonyaka nje kuphela, ngokweminyaka yesisebenzi esiqashiwe, yonke inkazimulo yeKedari iyophela nokuphela. Futhi abaseleyo esibalweni sabaphatha umnsalo, amadoda anamandla emadodaneni aseKedari, bayoba mbalwa, ngoba uJehova ngokwakhe, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ukukhulumile.’” (Isaya 21:16, 17) IKedari iyisizwe esivelele kangangokuba ngezinye izikhathi isetshenziselwa ukumelela lonke elase-Arabhiya. UJehova unqume ukuba abaphatha umnsalo namadoda anamandla alesi sizwe anciphe ngenani abe ingcosana. Nini? “Phakathi nonyaka nje kuphela” ayobe engasekho, njengoba nje nesisebenzi esiqashiwe singasebenzi isikhathi esingaphezu kwesisiholelayo. Akwaziwa kahle ukuthi lokhu kwagcwaliseka kanjani ngempela. Ababusi ababili base-Asiriya—uSargoni II noSaneheribi—bathi yibona abanqoba i-Arabhiya. Kungenzeka ukuthi omunye wabo waqothula lezi zizwe zama-Arabhu eziqhoshayo, njengoba kwakubikezelwe.
24. Singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi isiprofetho sika-Isaya nge-Arabhiya sizogcwaliseka?
24 Nokho, singaqiniseka ukuthi lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka ngononina. Akukho okunye okungaligcizelela ngamandla leli phuzu kunamazwi okuphetha alesi simemezelo: “UJehova ngokwakhe, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ukukhulumile.” Kubantu bosuku luka-Isaya, kungase kubonakale kungenakwenzeka ukuba iBabiloni lidlondlobale libe ngaphezu kwe-Asiriya bese liyaketulwa embusweni ngobusuku obubodwa bokuzijabulisa okonakele. Kungase kubonakale kungenakwenzeka nokuthi u-Edomi onamandla uyogcina ethuliswe ngokufa noma ukuthi izizwe ezicebile zama-Arabhu ziyoficwa ubusuku bobunzima nokuswela. Kodwa uJehova uthi kuzokwenzeka, futhi kuyenzeka. Namuhla, uJehova usitshela ukuthi umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga uzophela. Akufuniselwa; kuzoba njalo. UJehova ngokwakhe ukushilo!
25. Singasilingisa kanjani isibonelo somlindi?
25 Ngakho-ke masibe njengomlindi. Masihlale siqaphile, njengokungathi sibekwe enqabeni yokulinda ephakeme, sisinga noma iyiphi ingozi esondelayo emkhathizwe. Masizihlanganise nesigaba somlindi esithembekile, amaKristu agcotshiwe asele emhlabeni namuhla. Masihlanganyele naso ekumemezeleni ngesibindi lokho esikubonayo—ubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uKristu uyabusa ezulwini; ukuthi maduzane uzoqeda ubusuku obude nobumnyama bokuhlukaniswa kwesintu noNkulunkulu; nokuthi ngemva kwalokho uyoletha ukuntwela kwangempela, ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane emhlabeni oyipharadesi!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ngezinye izikhathi inkosi yasePheresiya uKoresi yayibizwa ngokuthi “iNkosi yase-Anshan,” okwakuyindawo noma umuzi ose-Elamu. Ama-Israyeli osuku luka-Isaya—ikhulu lesi-8 B.C.E.—kungenzeka ayengalazi iPheresiya, kodwa kufanele ukuba ayelazi i-Elamu. Kungenzeka ukuthi yingakho u-Isaya lapha ebiza iPheresiya nge-Elamu.
b Abakhulumeli beBhayibheli abaningi bacabanga ukuthi la magama athi “nigcobe isihlangu” abhekisela emkhubeni wamabutho wasendulo wokugcoba izihlangu ngamafutha ngaphambi kwempi ukuze imicibisholo yezitha ishibilike. Nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi kunjalo, kufanele kuphawulwe ukuthi ngobusuku owawa ngabo umuzi, abaseBabiloni babengenaso isikhathi sokulwa, ingasaphathwa eyokulungiselela impi ngokugcoba izihlangu zabo ngamafutha!
c Isiprofetho sika-Isaya mayelana nokuwa kweBabiloni sinembe kangangokuthi abanye abagxeki beBhayibheli baye bathi kumelwe ukuba sabhalwa ngemva kwalesi senzakalo. Kodwa njengoba isazi esingumHeberu uF. Delitzsch sisho, ukucabanga kanjalo akudingeki uma sivuma ukuthi umprofethi angaphefumulelwa ukuba abikezele izenzakalo kusasele amakhulu eminyaka ukuba zenzeke.
d Bheka incwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, emakhasini 164-9.
e Eminyakeni yokuqala engu-59 yokukhishwa kwawo, umagazini INqabayokulinda wawuqokomisa u-Isaya 21:11 esembozweni sawo. Wona lo mbhalo wawuyisihloko sentshumayelo yokugcina elotshiwe kaCharles T. Russell, umongameli wokuqala we-Watch Tower Society. (Bheka umfanekiso osekhasini elandulelayo.)
[Isithombe ekhasini 219]
‘Makudliwe kuphuzwe!’
[Isithombe ekhasini 220]
Umlindi “wamemeza njengengonyama”
[Isithombe ekhasini 222]
‘Ngimi njalo emini nasebusuku bonke’