Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yesi-4—UNumeri
Umlobi: UMose
Yalotshelwa: Ehlane nasemaThafeni AkwaMowabi
Ukuloba Kwaphela: 1473 B.C.E.
Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 1512-1473 B.C.E.
1. Kungani izenzakalo ezikuNumeri zalotshwa, futhi yini eziyigcizelelayo kithi?
IZENZAKALO zohambo lwamaIsrayeli lwasehlane ziye zalotshwa eBhayibhelini ngenjongo yenzuzo yethu namuhla.a Njengoba umphostoli uPawulu asho: “Kepha lokho kwaba-yizibonelo kithi, size singafisi okubi.” (1 Kor. 10:6) Umlando okhanyayo kuNumeri ugcizelela kithi ukuthi ukusinda kuxhomeke ekungcweliseni igama likaJehova, ukumlalela ngaphansi kwazo zonke izimo, nokubonisa inhlonipho ngabameleli bakhe. Ukuvunyelwa nguye akuzi ngenxa yanoma yibuphi ubuhle noma ukufaneleka kwabantu bakhe kodwa ngobubele bakhe obukhulu nomusa ongasifanele.
2. Libhekiselaphi igama elithi Numeri, kodwa yiliphi igama elifaneleka ngokwengeziwe amaJuda aqamba ngalo lencwadi?
2 Igama elithi Numeri (Izibalo) libhekisela ekubalweni kwabantu okwenzeka okokuqala eNtabeni iSinayi futhi kamuva emaThafeni akwaMowabi, njengoba kulotshwe ezahlukweni 1-4 no-26. Leligama lithathwe egameni elithi Numeri elikuyiVulgate yesiLatin futhi lisuselwa kwelithi A·rith·moiʹ kuyiSeptuagint yesiGreki. Nokho, amaJuda ayibiza ngokufaneleke ngokwengeziwe lencwadi ngokuthi iBemidh·barʹ, okusho ukuthi “Ehlane.” Igama lesiHeberu elithi midh·barʹ lisho indawo evulekile, engenawo amadolobha namadolobhana. Izenzakalo zikaNumeri zenzeka ehlane ngaseningizimu nangasempumalanga yeKhanani.
3. Yini ebonisa ukuthi incwadi kaNumeri yalotshwa uMose?
3 Ngokusobala incwadi kaNumeri yayiyingxenye yomqulu wokuqala wezincwadi eziyisihlanu ezazihlanganisa izincwadi ezisukela kuGenesise kuya kuDuteronomi. Ivesi lalencwadi lokuqala kuyiNew World Translation liqala ngesihlanganiso esithi “futhi,” siyihlanganisa nalokho okwandulelayo. Ngakho, kumelwe ukuba yalotshwa uMose, umlobi wemibhalo eyandulelayo. Lokhu kuyakhanya futhi ngamazwi akulencwadi athi “uMose waloba,” nangalamazwi achazayo, “Leyo iyimiyalo nezahlulelo uJehova ayala ngakho ngesandla sikaMose.”—Num. 33:2; 36:13.
4. Iyiphi inkathi yesikhathi ehlanganiswa incwadi kaNumeri, futhi yaqedwa nini?
4 AmaIsrayeli ayesenesikhathi esingaphezudlwana kancane konyaka ephumile eGibithe. Iqalisa ukulandisa enyangeni yesibili yonyaka wesibili ngemva koFuduko, incwadi kaNumeri ihlanganisa iminyaka elandelayo engu-38 nezinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye, kusukela ku-1512 kuya ku-1473 B.C.E. (Num. 1:1; Dut. 1:3) Nakuba zingangeni ngempela kulenkathi yesikhathi, izenzakalo ezilandiswa kuNumeri 7:1-88 no-9:1-15 zihlanganiswe njengokwaziswa okuyisisekelo. Ngokungangabazeki izingxenye zokuqala zalencwadi zazilotshwa njengoba izenzakalo zenzeka, kodwa kusobala ukuthi kwaze kwaba ngasekupheleni konyaka wama-40 ehlane lapho uMose akwazi khona ukuqeda incwadi kaNumeri, ekuqaleni konyaka wekhalenda ka-1473 B.C.E.
5. Yiziphi izici ezifakazela ubuqiniso bencwadi kaNumeri?
5 Akunakuba nakungabaza ngokwethembeka kwalokhu kulandisa. Ngehlane eliwugwadule ababehamba kulo, uMose wathi ‘kwakuyihlane elikhulu nelisabekayo,’ futhi kuyiqiniso ngisho nanamuhla ukuthi izakhamuzi ezihlakazekile zihlala zizulazula zifuna amadlelo namanzi. (Dut. 1:19) Ngaphezu kwalokho, iziyalezo ezinemininingwane ngokuphathelene nokukanisa kwesizwe, uhlelo lokumasha, nokukhala kwamacilongo kokuqondisa izindaba zasekamu kufakazela ukuthi ngempela lokhu kulandisa kwalotshelwa “ehlane.”—Num. 1:1.
6. Imivubukulo iyisekela kanjani incwadi kaNumeri?
6 Ngisho nombiko othusayo wezinhloli lapho zibuya ekuhloleni kwazo iKhanani, wokuthi “imizi ibiyelwe, mikhulu kakhulu,” imivubukulo iyawufakazela. (13:28) Imivubukulo yosuku lwanamuhla iye yabonisa ukuthi ngalesosikhathi izakhamuzi zaseKhanani zaziqinise umuzi wazo ngochungechunge lwezinqaba ezazidabula izwe ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene, kusukela eThafeni laseJizreyeli enyakatho kuya eGerari eningizimu. Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi imizi yayibiyelwe kodwa ngokuvamile yayakhiwe eziqongweni zamagquma, inemibhoshongo ephakeme ngaphezu kwezindonga zayo, okwakuyenza ithuse kakhulu kubantu abanjengamaIsrayeli, okwase kuyizizukulwane ngezizukulwane behlala ezweni eliyithafa laseGibithe.
7. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso sokwethembeka incwadi kaNumeri enaso?
7 Izizwe zomhlaba zithambekele ekukuzibeni ukwehluleka kwazo futhi zikhulise ukunqoba kwazo, kodwa ngokwethembeka okubonisa iqiniso elingokomlando, ukulandisa kukaNumeri kusitshela ukuthi ama-Amaleki namaKhanani amnqoba ngokuphelele uIsrayeli. (14:45) Kuvuma ngokungagwegwesi ukuthi abantu babonakala bengenalukholo futhi bameyisa uNkulunkulu. (14:11) Ngokungakhethi okuphawulekayo, umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uMose udalula izono zesizwe, zabashana bakhe, nezomfowabo nodadewabo. Naye akazishiyi, ngoba ukhuluma ngesikhathi ahluleka ngaso ukungcwelisa uJehova lapho benikezwa amanzi eMeriba, waze walahlekelwa ilungelo lokungena eZweni Lesithembiso.—3:4; 12:1-15; 20:7-13.
8. Abanye abalobi beBhayibheli bakufakazela kanjani ukuphefumlelwa kukaNumeri?
8 Ukuthi ukulandisa ngempela kuyingxenye yemiBhalo ephefumlelwe nguNkulunkulu futhi enenzuzo kufakazelwa iqiniso lokuthi cishe zonke izenzakalo zakho ezinkulu, kanye neminye imininingwane eminingi, abanye abalobi beBhayibheli babhekisela kuzo ngokuqondile, abaningi babo baqokomisa ukubaluleka kwazo. Ngokwesibonelo, uJoshuwa (Josh. 4:12; 14:2), uJeremiya (2 AmaKh. 18:4), uNehemiya (Neh. 9:19-22), uAsafa (IHu. 78:14-41), uDavide (IHu. 95:7-11), uIsaya (Isaya 48:21), uHezekeli (Hez. 20:13-24), uHoseya (Hos. 9:10), uAmose (Amose 5:25), uMika (Mika 6:5), uLuka ekulobeni kwakhe inkulumo kaStefanu (IzE. 7:36), uPawulu (1 Kor. 10:1-11), uPetru (2 Pet. 2:15, 16), uJuda (Juda 11), noJohane ekulobeni amazwi kaJesu ebandleni lasePhergamu (IsAm. 2:14), bonke bacaphuna umlando okuNumeri, njengoba noJesu Kristu ngokwakhe enza.—Joh. 3:14.
9. Yini incwadi kaNumeri eyigcizelelayo ngokuqondene noJehova?
9 Khona-ke, incwadi kaNumeri ifeza yiphi injongo? Ngokuqinisekile ukulandisa kwayo kungaphezu kokubaluleka okungokomlando nje. Incwadi kaNumeri igcizelela ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu wokuhleleka, ofuna ukuzinikela okukhethekile ezidalweni zakhe. Lokhu kugcizelelwa kahle engqondweni yomfundi njengoba ephawula ukubalwa, ukuvivinywa, nokuhlungwa kukaIsrayeli futhi ebona indlela inkambo yesizwe yokungalaleli neyokuhlubuka esetshenziswa ngayo ekugcizeleleni isidingo esikhulu sokulalela uJehova.
10. Incwadi kaNumeri yalondolozwa ngenzuzo yobani, futhi ngani?
10 Lomlando walondolozwa ukuze kuzuze izizukulwane ezazizokuza, njengoba nje uAsafa achaza, “[ukuze] babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu, bangakhohlwa imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kepha bagcine imiyalo yakhe” futhi ukuze “bangabi-njengawoyise, isizukulwane esiphambeneyo nesihlubukayo, isizukulwane esingaqinisanga inhliziyo yaso, nesimoya waso wawungathembekile kuNkulunkulu.” (IHu. 78:7, 8) Ngokuphindaphindiwe, izenzakalo zikaNumeri zalandiswa kumahubo, ayeyizingoma ezingcwele kumaJuda futhi kanjalo ayephindwa njalo njengayinzuzo esizweni.—AmaHubo 78, 95, 105, 106, 135, 136.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KANUMERI
11. Yiziphi izingxenye ezintathu okuqukethwe incwadi kaNumeri okungahlukaniselwa kuzo?
11 Ngokunengqondo incwadi kaNumeri iba izingxenye ezintathu. Eyokuqala yalezi, ephela esahlukweni 10, evesini 10, ihlanganisa izenzakalo ezenzeka lapho amaIsrayeli esakanise eNtabeni iSinayi. Ingxenye elandelayo, ephela ngesahluko 21, ilandisa ngalokho okwenzeka phakathi neminyaka engu-38 eyalandela nenyanga eyodwa noma ezimbili ngaphezulu, ngenkathi esesehlane kuze kube yilapho efika emaThafeni akwaMowabi. Ingxenye yokugcina, efika esahlukweni 36, iphathelene nezenzakalo zasemaThafeni akwaMowabi njengoba amaIsrayeli elungiselela ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso.
12. Likhulu kangakanani ikamu lamaIsrayeli eSinayi, futhi ikamu lihlelwe kanjani?
12 Izenzakalo zaseNtabeni iSinayi (1:1–10:10). AmaIsrayeli cishe asenonyaka kakade esezintabeni zaseSinayi. Lapha asenziwe aba inhlangano ebumbene. Manje ngokuyala kukaJehova kubalwa wonke amadoda aneminyaka engu-20 kuya phezulu. Izizwe zitholakala zisukela ezinsizweni ezingu-32-200 kwaManase kuya ku-74 600 kwaJuda, zenza ingqikithi yamadoda angu-603 550 afanelekayo ukukhonza empini yakwaIsrayeli, ngaphandle kwamaLevi nabesifazane nabantwana—mhlawumbe yikamu elifinyelela ezigidini ezintathu noma ngaphezulu. Itende lokuhlangana, kanye namaLevi, liphakathi nekamu. Ezindaweni azabelwe ohlangothini ngalunye kukanise amanye amaIsrayeli, ngezigaba zezizwe ezintathu, isizwe ngasinye sineziyalezo ngohlelo lokumasha lapho ikamu lithutha. UJehova ukhipha iziyalezo, futhi umlando uthi: “Benze njalo-ke abantwana bakwaIsrayeli; njengakho konke uJehova amyalé ngakho uMose.” (2:34) Bayamlalela uJehova futhi babonisa inhlonipho ngoMose, ummeleli kaNkulunkulu obonakalayo.
13. AmaLevi abelwa inkonzo ngokwaliphi ilungiselelo?
13 Khona-ke amaLevi ahlukaniselwa inkonzo kaJehova, njengesihlengo sezibulo likaIsrayeli. Ahlukaniswa aba izigaba ezintathu, ngokozalo lwawo emadodaneni amathathu kaLevi: uGereshoni, uKohati, noMerari. Izindawo zawo ekamu nemithwalo yemfanelo yenkonzo kunqunywa ngesisekelo salokhu kwahlukaniswa. Kusukela kwabaneminyaka engu-30 ubudala kuqhubeke, kumelwe benze umsebenzi onzima wokuthutha itabernakele. Ukuze nomsebenzi olula wenziwe, kwenziwa ilungiselelo lokuba nabanye bakhonze, kusukela kwabaneminyaka engu-25 ubudala. (Esikhathini sikaDavide lokhu kwehliswa kwaba iminyaka engu-20.)—1 IziKr. 23:24-32; Ezra 3:8.
14. Yiziphi iziyalezo ezinikezwayo ukuze kuqinisekiswe ubumsulwa bekamu?
14 Ukuze ikamu lihlale lihlanzekile, kunikezwa iziyalezo zokwehlukanisa labo ababa nezifo, ukwenza ukubuyisana ngezenzo zokungathembeki, ukuxazulula izindaba ezinjengalapho umuntu esola ukuziphatha komkakhe, nezokuqinisekisa ukuziphatha okufanele kwalabo abahlukaniswa ngesifungo ukuba baphile njengamaNaziri kuJehova. Njengoba abantu bezoba negama likaNkulunkulu phezu kwabo, kumelwe baziphathe ngokuvumelana nemiyalo yakhe.
15. (a) Ngokuqondene nokumiswa kwealtare, imiphi iminikelo eyenziwa? (b) Yibuphi ubuhlobo uIsrayeli okumelwe abukhumbule, futhi iPhasika kumelwe limkhumbuzeni?
15 Egcwalisa imininingwane ethile eyayisale enyangeni engaphambili (Num. 7:1, 10; Eks. 40:17), ngokulandelayo uMose ulandisa ngeminikelo yezimpahla eyenziwa izinduna ezingu-12 zabantu phakathi nenkathi yezinsuku ezingu-12 kusukela esikhathini sokumiswa kwealtare. Kwakungekho kuncintisana noma ukuzifunela udumo kukho; umuntu ngamunye wayenikela lokho kanye abanye ababekunikele. Bonke kumelwe bakhumbule manje ukuthi phezu kwalezinduna, naphezu kukaMose ngokwakhe, kukhona uJehova uNkulunkulu, onikeza uMose iziyalezo. Akumelwe neze bakhohlwe ubuhlobo babo noJehova. IPhasika elokubakhumbuza ngokubakhulula kukaJehova okuyisimangaliso eGibithe, futhi baligubha lapha ehlane ngesikhathi esimisiwe, esikhathini esingangonyaka ngemva kokuphuma eGibithe.
16. UJehova usihola kanjani isizwe, futhi ikuphi ukukhala kwamacilongo okuhlelwayo?
16 Ngendlela efanayo naleyo aqondisa ngayo ukuphuma kukaIsrayeli eGibithe, uJehova uyaqhubeka nokuhola isizwe ekuhambeni kwaso ngefu elisibikela itabernakele letende lobuFakazi emini nangokubonakala komlilo lapho ebusuku. Lapho ifu lisuka, nesizwe siyasuka. Uma ifu lihlala phezu kwetabernakele, nesizwe siyahlala ekamu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izinsuku ezimbalwa noma inyanga noma ngaphezulu, ngoba ukulandisa kusitshela ukuthi: “Ngesiyalezo sikaJehova bamisa, nangesiyalezo sikaJehova bahamba; bagcina inkonzo kaJehova ngesiyalezo sikaJehova ngesandla sikaMose.” (Num. 9:23) Njengoba isikhathi sokuthutha eSinayi sisondela, kulungiselelwa ukukhala kwamacilongo kokubili ukuze kuhlanganiswe abantu nokuba kuqondiswe izigaba ezihlukahlukene zabakanisile ohambweni lwabo lwasehlane.
17. Chaza inqubo yokumasha.
17 Izenzakalo zasehlane (10:11–21:35). Ekugcineni, ngosuku lwama-20 lwenyanga yesibili, uJehova ususa ifu phezu kwetabernakele, ngaleyondlela enikeza uIsrayeli uphawu lokuba athuthe endaweni yaseSinayi. Enomphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova phakathi kwawo, aya eKadeshi-Barineya, cishe amakhilomitha angu-240 ukuya ngasenyakatho. Njengoba emasha emini, ifu likaJehova liphezu kwawo. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho uMphongolo uphuma, uMose uthandaza kuJehova ukuba asukume futhi ahlakaze izitha zakhe, futhi isikhathi ngasinye lapho ubekwa phansi, uthandaza kuJehova ukuba abuyele “emindenini eyizinkulungwane zakwaIsrayeli.”—10:36.
18. Yikuphi ukukhononda okuba khona endleleni eya eKadeshi-Barineya, futhi uJehova uyishintsha kanjani inqubo engokwasezulwini ekamu?
18 Nokho, kuvela inkathazo ekamu. Ohambweni oluya ngasenyakatho eKadeshi-Barineya, kuba nezikhathi okungenani ezintathu zokukhononda. Ukuze athulise okokuqala, uJehova uthumela umlilo ukuba uqede abanye abantu. Khona-ke “ingxubevange” yenza uIsrayeli akhononde ngokuthi akasakutholi ukudla okunjengezinhlanzi, amakukamba, amakhabe, amaliki, ohanyanisi, nesweli laseGibithe, kodwa imana kuphela. (11:4) UMose ucindezeleka kakhulu kangangokuthi ucela uJehova ukuba ambulale kunokuba amvumele aqhubeke enakekela bonke lababantu. Ngokucabangela, uJehova ususa ingxenye ethile yomoya kuMose futhi uyibeka phezu kwamadoda amadala angu-70, aqhubeka esiza uMose njengabaprofethi ekamu. Inyama iza ngobuningi. Njengoba kwake kwenzeka ngaphambili, umoya ovela kuJehova uletha izigwaca ezivela olwandle, futhi ngokuhaha abantu babutha eziningi kakhulu, bezigcina ngobugovu. Intukuthelo kaJehova iyabavuthela abantu, ibulala abaningi ngenxa yokuhaha kwabo kobugovu.—Eks. 16:2, 3, 13.
19. UJehova ukusingatha kanjani ukuthola kukaMiriyamu noAroni iphutha?
19 Izinkathazo ziyaqhubeka. Behluleka ukubheka ngokufanelekile umfowabo omncane, uMose, njengommeleli kaJehova, uMiriyamu noAroni bathola iphutha kuye ngomkakhe, osanda kufika ekamu. Bafuna igunya elengeziwe, elifana nelikaMose, nakuba “lowomuntu uMose wayemnene kunabo bonke abantu ababesebusweni bomhlaba.” (Num. 12:3) UJehova ngokwakhe uyayilungisa indaba futhi wenza kwaziwe ukuthi uMose usesikhundleni esikhethekile, ushaya uMiriyamu, ngokunokwenzeka owayengumshoshozeli wokukhononda, ngochoko. Kamuva uphulukiswa kuphela ngokungenela kukaMose.
20, 21. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenza ukuba uJehova amemezele ukuthi uIsrayeli kumelwe azulazule ehlane iminyaka engu-40?
20 Lapho efika eKadeshi, uIsrayeli ukanisa emngceleni weZwe Lesithembiso. Manje uJehova uyala uMose ukuba athumele izinhloli ziyohlola izwe. Njengoba zingena ngaseningizimu, ziya ngasenyakatho “ekuyeni ngaseHamati,” zihamba amakhulu amakhilomitha izinsuku ezingu-40. (13:21) Lapho zibuya nezinye zezithelo ezinhle zaseKhanani, eziyishumi zezinhloli ngokuntula ukholo ziphikisa ngokuthi kuzoba ubuwula ukuyokulwa nabantu abanamandla kangaka nemizi ebiyelwe kangaka. UKalebi uzama ukuthulisa inhlangano ngombiko omuhle, kodwa akaphumeleli. Izinhloli ezihlubukayo zifaka ukwesaba ezinhliziyweni zamaIsrayeli, zithi izwe “lidla abakhileyo kulo” futhi zithi, “Bonke abantu esababona kulo bangabantu abajaheleyo.” Njengoba ukukhononda kokuhlubuka kugcwala lonke ikamu, uJoshuwa noKalebi bayancenga: “UJehova unathi; ningabesabi.” (13:32; 14:9) Nokho, inhlangano iqala ukukhuluma ngokubakhanda ngamatshe.
21 Khona-ke uJehova ungenela ngokuqondile, ethi kuMose: “Koze kube-nini lababantu bengidelela na? Koze kube-nini bengakholwa yimi ngezibonakaliso zonke engizenzile phakathi kwabo na?” (14:11) UMose umnxusa ukuba angasibhubhisi isizwe, njengoba kuhileleke igama nodumo lukaJehova. Ngakho-ke uJehova umemezela ukuthi uIsrayeli kumelwe aqhubeke ezulazula ehlane kuze kufe bonke labo ababhalisa phakathi kwabantu, kusukela kwabaneminyaka engu-20 ubudala kuya phezulu. Kwabesilisa ababhalisa, uKalebi noJoshuwa kuphela abayovunyelwa ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso. Abantu bazama ukuzihambela ngokwabo bayokulwa kodwa abaphumeleli, bamane bathola ukunqotshwa okubuhlungu ngama-Amaleki namaKhanani. Yeka ukulahlekelwa okukhulu abantu abakutholayo ngokwedelela kwabo uJehova nabameleli bakhe abathembekile!
22. Ukubaluleka kokulalela kugcizelelwa ngaziphi izindlela?
22 Ngempela, kuningi okumelwe bakufunde ngokuqondene nokulalela. Ngokufanelekile, uJehova ubanikeza imithetho eyengeziwe eqokomisa lesidingo. Ubenza bazi ukuthi lapho befika eZweni Lesithembiso, kumelwe kwenziwe ukubuyisana ngamaphutha, kodwa abangalaleli ngamabomu kumelwe banqunywe nakanjani. Kanjalo, uma kutholakala umuntu etheza ngokwephula umthetho weSabatha, uJehova uyayala: “Lowomuntu wobulawa nokubulawa.” (15:35) Njengesikhumbuzo semiyalo kaJehova nokubaluleka kokuyilalela, uJehova uyala abantu ukuba benze izinsephe emiphethweni yezingubo zabo.
23. Uyini umphumela wokuhlubuka kukaKora, uDathani, noAbiramu?
23 Nokho, kuyaphinda kuba khona ukuhlubuka. UKora, uDathani, uAbiramu, namadoda angu-250 avelele enhlangano ayahlangana emelana negunya likaMose noAroni. UMose uyisa lendaba kuJehova, ethi ezihlubukini: ‘Thathani imicengezi yomlilo nempepho nikubeke phambi kukaJehova, nenze yena akhethe.’ (16:6, 7) Manje inkazimulo kaJehova ibonakala kuyo yonke inhlangano. Ngokushesha ukhipha isahlulelo, enza ukuba umhlaba uvuleke ukuze ugwinye indlu kaKora, uDathani, noAbiramu, futhi uthumela umlilo ukuba uqede amadoda angu-250 anikela ngempepho, kuhlanganise noKora. Ngakusasa, abantu baqala ukusola uMose noAroni ngalokho uJehova akwenzile, futhi Yena uyaphinda uyabahlupha, ekhukhula abakhonondayo abangu-14-700.
24. Yisiphi isibonakaliso uJehova asenzayo ukuze aqede ukuhlubuka?
24 Ngenxa yalezenzakalo, uJehova uyala ukuba isizwe ngasinye silethe intonga phambi kwakhe, kuhlanganise nentonga yesizwe sakwaLevi enegama lika-Aroni. Ngakusasa uAroni uboniswa njengalowo okhethwe uJehova ukuba abe umpristi, ngoba intonga yakhe kuphela etholakala ikhahlele ngokugcwele futhi ithele ama-alimondi avuthiwe. Kumelwe igcinwe emphongolweni wesivumelwano “ibe-luphawu kubahlubuki.” (Num. 17:10; Heb. 9:4) Ngemva kweziyalezo ezengeziwe ngokusekela ubupristi ngokweshumi nangokuphathelene nokusetshenziswa kwamanzi ahlanzayo nomlotha wesithole esibomvu, ukulandisa kusiphindisela eKadeshi. Lapha uMiriyamu uyafa futhi uyangcwatshwa.
25. UMose noAroni bahluleka kanjani ukungcwelisa uJehova, futhi kuba namuphi umphumela?
25 Inhlangano iyaphinda futhi ilwa noMose emngceleni weZwe Lesithembiso ngenxa yokuswelakala kwamanzi. UJehova ukuthatha njengokulwa naYe, futhi ubonakala enkazimulweni yaKhe, eyala uMose ukuba athathe intonga futhi akhiphe amanzi edwaleni. Ingabe uMose noAroni manje bayamngcwelisa uJehova? Kunalokho, ngokucasuka uMose ulishaya kabili idwala. Abantu nemfuyo yabo bathola amanzi okuphuza, kodwa uMose noAroni bayahluleka ukunikeza uJehova udumo. Nakuba selucishe luphele uhambo lwasehlane oludabukisayo, bobabili bazilethela ulaka lukaJehova futhi batshelwa ukuthi ngeke bangene eZweni Lesithembiso. UAroni uyafa kamuva eNtabeni iHori, futhi indodana yakhe uEleyazare ithatha imisebenzi yompristi omkhulu.
26. Yiziphi izenzakalo eziholela ekuthatheleni ngokujikeleza iEdomi?
26 UIsrayeli uphendukela empumalanga futhi ufuna ukudabula ezweni lakwaEdomi kodwa uyachezukiswa. Njengoba bethathela bejikeleza iEdomi, abantu bayaphinda bangena enkathazweni njengoba bekhononda ngoNkulunkulu noMose. Sebekhathele imana, futhi bomile. Ngenxa yokuhlubuka kwabo uJehova uthumela izinyoka ezinesihlungu phakathi kwabo, kanjalo abaningi bayafa. Ekugcineni, lapho uMose ebashwelezela, uJehova umyala ukuba enze inyoka yethusi enesihlungu ayibeke ensikeni. Labo abalunyiwe kodwa ababheka inyoka yethusi bayasinda. Eqonde enyakatho, amaIsrayeli, manje avinjwa amakhosi anonya uSihoni wama-Amori no-Ogi waseBashani. UIsrayeli uwanqoba womabili empini, futhi uIsrayeli uhlala ezindaweni zawo ngasempumalanga yeRift Valley.
27. UJehova uwashafisa kanjani amacebo kaBalaki ngokuqondene noBileyamu?
27 Izenzakalo zasemaThafeni akwaMowabi (22:1–36:13). Elangazelela ngentshiseko ukungena kwawo eKhanani, amaIsrayeli manje abuthana ogwadule lwasemathafeni akwaMowabi, enyakatho yoLwandle Olufile ngasempumalanga yeJordani phesheya kweJeriko. Bebona lamakamu amaningi phambi kwabo, abakwaMowabi baba nokwesaba okukhulu. Inkosi yabo uBalaki, ngemva kokubonana nabakwaMidiyani, ilanda uBileyamu ukuba abhule futhi aqalekise uIsrayeli. Nakuba uNkulunkulu emtshela ngokuqondile uBileyamu, “Awuyikuhamba nawo,” yena ufuna ukuhamba. (22:12) Ufuna umvuzo. Ekugcineni uyahamba, kodwa umiswa ingelosi futhi imbongolo yakhe ikhuluma naye ngokuyisimangaliso imkhuza. Lapho ekugcineni uBileyamu ephumelela ukukhuluma okuthile ngoIsrayeli, umoya kaNkulunkulu uyamqhuba, ukuze amazwi akhe amane ayizaga aprofethe izibusiso kuphela ngesizwe sikaNkulunkulu, ebikezela ngisho nokuthi kuyovela inkanyezi kuJakobe nentonga yobukhosi iyovuka kwaIsrayeli ukuba inqobe futhi ibhubhise.
28. Yiluphi ugibe lobuqili olulethwa kuIsrayeli ngokusikisela kukaBileyami, kodwa isishayo simiswa kanjani?
28 Esemthukuthelisile uBalaki ngokwehluleka kwakhe ukuqalekisa uIsrayeli, uBileyamu manje ufuna umusa omuhle wenkosi ngokusikisela ukuba abakwaMowabi basebenzise abesifazane babo ekuyengeni amadoda akwaIsrayeli ukuba ahlanganyele emikhubeni engcolile ehileleke ekukhulekeleni uBali. (31:15, 16) Lapha, khona kanye emngceleni weZwe Lesithembiso, amaIsrayeli aqala ukuwela ekuziphatheni okubi kakhulu nasekukhulekeleni onkulunkulu bamanga. Njengoba intukuthelo kaJehova ivutha ngokukhipha isishayo, uMose uyala ukuba abenzi bobubi bajeziswe kakhulu. Lapho uFinehasi, indodana yompristi omkhulu, ebona indodana yenduna ingenisa owesifazane wakwaMidiyani etendeni layo khona kanye phakathi ekamu, uyabalandela futhi uyababulala, egwaza owesifazane ezithweni zakhe zokuzala. Ngalokhu, isishayo siyamiswa, kodwa hhayi ngaphambi kokuba abangu-24-000 bebulawe yiso.
29. (a) Kwembulani ukubalwa kwabantu ekupheleni konyaka wama-40? (b) Yiliphi ilungiselelo elenziwayo manje lokungena eZweni Lesithembiso?
29 Manje uJehova uyala uMose noEleyazare ukuba baphinde babale abantu, njengoba kwakwenziwe cishe eminyakeni engu-39 ngaphambili eNtabeni yaseSinayi. Ukubala kokugcina kubonisa ukuthi izibalo zabo azizange zande. Ngokuphambene, amadoda abhaliswayo anciphe ngo-1 820. Akekho owabhaliselwa inkonzo yempi eSinayi osekhona, ngaphandle kukaJoshuwa noKalebi. Njengoba uJehova ayebonisile ukuthi kuyokwenzeka, bonke babefele ehlane. Ngokulandelayo uJehova unikeza iziyalezo ngokuphathelene nokwahlukaniswa kwezwe njengefa. Uyaphinda ukuthi uMose ngeke angene eZweni Lesithembiso ngenxa yokwehluleka kwakhe ukungcwelisa uJehova emanzini aseMeriba. (20:13; 27:14, imibhalo yaphansi yeNW) UJoshuwa umiswa njengomlandeli kaMose.
30. Indaba yabakwaMidiyani ilungiswa kanjani, futhi yikuphi ukwabiwa kwendawo okwenziwayo empumalanga yeJordani?
30 NgoMose, ngokulandelayo uJehova ukhumbuza uIsrayeli ngokubaluleka kwemithetho yaKhe ephathelene nemihlatshelo nemikhosi nangokubaluleka kwezifungo. Uyala uMose futhi ukuba alungise indaba nabakwaMidiyani ngenxa yengxenye yabo ekuyengeleni uIsrayeli kuBali-Peyori. Bonke abesilisa bakwaMidiyani bayabulawa empini, kanye noBileyamu, futhi kushiywa amantombazane ayizintombi kuphela, angu-32 000 awo athunjwa kanye nempango ehlanganisa izilwane ezingu-808 000. Akukho noyedwa umIsrayeli okubikwa ukuthi ulahlekile empini. Abantwana bakwaRubeni nabakwaGadi, abafuyile, bacela ukuhlala endaweni esempumalanga yeJordani, futhi ngemva kokuba bevumile ukusiza ekunqobeni iZwe Lesithembiso, isicelo sabo siyavunywa, ngakho lezizwe zombili, kanye nengxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, zinikezwa lelizwe elicebile eliyithafa njengefa lazo.
31. (a) Ekungeneni ezweni, uIsrayeli kumelwe aqhubeke kanjani ebonisa ukulalela? (b) Yiziphi iziyalezo ezinikezwayo ngokuqondene namafa ezizwe?
31 Ngemva kokubukeza izindawo abama kuzo ohambweni lweminyaka engu-40, umlando uphinda ugxilisa ukunakekela esidingweni sokulalela uJehova. UNkulunkulu ubanikeza izwe, kodwa kumelwe babe abakhiphi bezahlulelo zaKhe, baxoshe izakhamuzi ezonakele, ezikhulekela amademoni futhi babhubhise yonke iminonjana yenkolo yabo yokukhulekela izithombe. Kunikezwa imininingwane yemingcele yezwe abaliphiwe uNkulunkulu. Kumelwe balihlukaniselane ngenkatho. AmaLevi, angenalo ifa lesizwe, kumelwe anikezwe imizi engu-48 namadlelo ayo, engu-6 yalena kumelwe kube imizi yesiphephelo yombulali ongahlosile. Indawo kumelwe igcinwe yilesosizwe, ingadluliselwa kwesinye isizwe ngomshado. Uma ingekho indlalifa yesilisa, khona-ke amadodakazi athola ifa—ngokwesibonelo, amadodakazi kaSelofehadi—kumelwe ashadele phakathi esizweni sawo. (27:1-11; 36:1-11) Incwadi kaNumeri iphetha ngalemiyalo kaJehova ngoMose futhi ekugcineni abantwana bakwaIsrayeli sebelungele ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
32. Kungaziphi izindlela uJesu nomhlatshelo wakhe afanekiselwa ngazo encwadini kaNumeri?
32 UJesu wabhekisela kuNumeri izikhathi eziningana, futhi abaphostoli bakhe nabanye abalobi beBhayibheli babonisa ngokucacile ukuthi umlando walencwadi unenjongo futhi unenzuzo kangakanani. Umphostoli uPawulu waqhathanisa ngokuqondile inkonzo kaJesu yokwethembeka nekaMose, elotshwe ikakhulukazi kuNumeri. (Heb. 3:1-6) Emihlatshelweni yezilwane nasekufafazeni ngomlotha wesithole esibomvu kuNumeri 19:2-9, siphinda sibona kufanekiselwa ilungiselelo elihle ngisho nangokwengeziwe lokuhlanza ngomhlatshelo kaKristu.—Heb. 9:13, 14.
33. Kungani kusithakazelisa thina namuhla ukuvezwa kwamanzi ehlane?
33 Ngokufanayo, uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ukuvezwa kwamanzi edwaleni ehlane kusho okukhulu kithi, ethi: “Baphuza edwaleni lomoya elabalandelayo. Idwala lelo lalinguKristu.” (1 Kor. 10:4; Num. 20:7-11) Ngokufanelekile, uKristu ngokwakhe owathi: “Kepha lowo oyakuphuza amanzi engiyakumnika wona kasayikoma naphakade; kepha amanzi engiyakumnika wona, phakathi kwakhe ayakuba-ngumthombo wamanzi aphuphumayo, kube-ngukuphila okuphakade.”—Joh. 4:14.
34. UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi inyoka yethusi yayinencazelo engokwesiprofetho?
34 UJesu futhi wabhekisela ngokuqondile esenzakalweni esilotshwe kuNumeri esasifanekisela ilungiselelo elimangalisayo uNkulunkulu ayelenza ngaye. “Njengokuba uMose waphakamisa inyoka ehlane,” esho, “kanjalo iNdodana yomuntu imelwe ukuphakanyiswa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo abe-nokuphila okuphakade.”—Joh. 3:14, 15; Num. 21:8, 9.
35. (a) Yini amaKristu okumelwe ayiqaphele, njengoba kuboniswa amaIsrayeli ehlane, futhi ngani? (b) Ezincwadini zabo, yiziphi izibonelo zokuhaha nokuhlubuka uJuda noPetru ababhekisela kuzo?
35 Kungani amaIsrayeli agwetshelwa ukuzulazula ehlane iminyaka engu-40? Ngenxa yokuntula ukholo. Umphostoli uPawulu wanikeza iseluleko esinamandla kuleliphuzu: “Xwayani, bazalwane, ukuba nakoyedwa kini kungabikho-nhliziyo embi, engakholwayo, emhlubukisa kuNkulunkulu ophilayo; kepha yalanani imihla ngemihla.” Ngenxa yokungalaleli kwawo nangenxa yokuntula kwawo ukholo, lawomaIsrayeli afela ehlane. “Ngakho-ke masikhuthalele ukungena kulokhokuphumula [kukaNkulunkulu], ukuze kungawi-muntu ngalesosiboniso sokungalaleli.” (Heb. 3:7–4:11; Num. 13:25–14:38) Exwayisa ngabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu abakhuluma kabi ngezinto ezingcwele, uJuda wabhekisela ekuhaleleni kukaBileyamu umvuzo nasenkulumweni kaKora yokuhlubuka encekwini kaJehova uMose. (Juda 11; Num. 22:7, 8, 22; 26:9, 10) UPetru wabhekisela nakuBeliyamu njengomuntu “owathanda umvuzo wokungalungi,” noJesu okhazinyulisiwe wabhekisela kuye esambulweni sakhe ngoJohane njengomuntu ‘owabeka isikhubekiso sokukhonza izithombe nobufebe phambi kukaIsrayeli.’ Ngokuqinisekile ibandla lobuKristu namuhla kumelwe lixwayiswe ngabanjalo abangengcwele.—2 Pet. 2:12-16; IsAm. 2:14.
36. Yimiphi imikhuba elimazayo uPawulu axwayisa ngayo, futhi thina namuhla singazuza kanjani ngeseluleko sakhe?
36 Lapho kuvela ukuziphatha okubi ebandleni laseKorinte, uPawulu wababhalela ‘ngokufisa okubi,’ ebhekisela kuNumeri ngokuqondile. Wayala: “Futhi asingenzi ubufebe njengokuba abanye kubo benza ubufebe, bafa ngalusuku lunye abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nantathu.” (1 Kor. 10:6, 8; Num. 25:1-9; 31:16)b Kuthiwani ngesikhathi lapho abantu bekhononda bethi ukulalela imiyalo kaNkulunkulu kwakuletha ubunzima kumuntu nokuthi babenganelisekile ngelungiselelo likaJehova lemana? Ngalokhu, uPawulu uthi: “Futhi asingayilingi iNkosi njengabanye kubo bayilinga, babhujiswa izinyoka.” (1 Kor. 10:9; Num. 21:5, 6) Khona-ke uPawulu uyaqhubeka: “Futhi ningakhononi njengabanye kubo bakhonona, babhujiswa ngumbulali.” Yeka ukuthi okuhlangenwe nakho kukaIsrayeli kubuhlungu kanjani ngenxa yokukhononda kwabo ngoJehova, abameleli bakhe, nangamalungiselelo akhe! Lezizinto “[e]zabehlela bona kube-yisibonelo” kumelwe zihlale ziyisixwayiso esisobala kithi sonke namuhla, ukuze siqhubeke sikhonza uJehova ngokholo olugcwele.—1 Kor. 10:10, 11; Num. 14:2, 36, 37; 16:1-3, 41; 17:5, 10.
37. Bonisa indlela incwadi kaNumeri esisiza ngayo ukuba siqonde ezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli.
37 Incwadi kaNumeri futhi inikeza isizinda esingaqonda ngaso kangcono eziningi ezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli.—Num. 28:9, 10—Math. 12:5; Num. 15:38—Math. 23:5; Num. 6:2-4—Luka 1:15; Num. 4:3—Luka 3:23; Num. 18:31—1 Kor. 9:13, 14; Num. 18:26—Heb. 7:5-9; Num. 17:8-10—Heb. 9:4.
38. Kungaziphi izindlela ezikhethekile incwadi kaNumeri inenzuzo, futhi ikuqondisaphi ukunakekela kwethu?
38 Lokho okulotshwe kuNumeri kuphefumlelwe uNkulunkulu ngempela, futhi kunenzuzo ekusifundiseni ukubaluleka kokulalela uJehova nokuhlonipha labo abenzé baba ababonisi phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Ngesibonelo, iyakusola ukwenziwa kobubi, futhi ngezenzakalo ezinokubaluleka okungokwesiprofetho, iqondisa ukunakekela kwethu kuLowo uJehova amlungiselele njengoMsindisi nomHoli wabantu baKhe namuhla. Inikeza iketanga elibalulekile nelifundisayo emlandweni eliholela ekumisweni koMbuso kaJehova wokulunga ezandleni zikaJesu Kristu, lowo ammisa njengoMlamuleli nomPristi Omkhulu.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, amakhasi 540-2.
b Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, ikhasi 233.