Isahluko 9
Iziprofetho Ezagcwaliseka
Abantu abanakukwazi ukubikezela ikusasa ngokuqiniseka. Ngokuphindaphindiwe imizamo yabo yokubikezela ihluleka ngokudabukisayo. Ngakho incwadi yeziprofetho ezagcwaliseka ngempela kumelwe isikhange. IBhayibheli liyincwadi enjalo.
1. (Hlanganisa nesethulo.) Yini efakazelwa iqiniso lokuthi iBhayibheli lineziprofetho eziye zagcwaliseka?
IZIPROFETHO eziningi zeBhayibheli ziye zagcwaliseka ngayo yonke imininingwane kangangokuba abagxeki bagomela ngokuthi zabhalwa ngemva kokugcwaliseka kwazo. Kodwa ukugomela okunjalo akulona iqiniso. UNkulunkulu, njengomninimandla onke, unekhono eligcwele lokuprofetha. (Isaya 41:21-26; 42:8, 9; 46:8-10) Iziprofetho ezingokweBhayibheli ezagcwaliseka ziwubufakazi bokuthi laphefumlelwa ngokwaphezulu, hhayi bokulotshwa kwamuva. Manje sizobheka ezinye iziprofetho ezivelele ezagcwaliseka—ezinikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe bokuthi iBhayibheli liyizwi likaNkulunkulu, hhayi nje elomuntu.
Ukuthunjelwa EBabiloni
2, 3. Yini eyaholela iNkosi uHezekiya ukuba ibonise izithunywa zaseBabiloni yonke ingcebo yendlu yayo neyombuso wayo?
2 UHezekiya wayeyinkosi eJerusalema cishe iminyaka engama-30. Ngo-740 B.C.E. wabona ukubhujiswa kukamakhelwane wakhe osenyakatho uIsrayeli ezandleni zeAsiriya. Ngo-732 B.C.E. wabona amandla kaNkulunkulu okusindisa, lapho umzamo wama-Asiriya wokunqoba iJerusalema wawehlulekile, nemiphumela eyinhlekelele kumhlaseli.—Isaya 37:33-38.
3 Manje, uHezekiya wamukela izithunywa ezivela kuMerodaki-Baladani, inkosi yaseBabiloni. Ngokubonakala kwangaphandle, lamanxusa azele ukuzohalalisela uHezekiya ngokululama kwakhe ekuguleni okunzima. Nokho, ngokunokwenzeka uMerodaki-Baladani ubona uHezekiya njengongaba umsizi ekulweni nombuso wezwe waseAsiriya. UHezekiya akenzi lutho lokuchitha umqondo onjalo lapho ebonisa abaseBabiloni abavakashile yonke ingcebo yendlu yakhe nombuso wakhe. Mhlawumbe, naye ufuna abasizi bokulwa nokubuya okungenzeka kwabaseAsiriya.—Isaya 39:1, 2.
4. Imiphi imiphumela eyinhlekelele yephutha likaHezekiya eyaprofethwa uIsaya?
4 UIsaya ungumprofethi ovelele walesosikhathi, futhi ngokushesha uqaphela ukungabi nabuhlakani kukaHezekiya. Uyazi ukuthi isivikelo sikaHezekiya esiqinisekile kunazo zonke, uJehova, hhayi iBabiloni, futhi uyamtshela ukuthi isenzo sakhe sokubonisa abaseBabiloni ingcebo yakhe siyoholela enhlekeleleni. “Izinsuku ziyeza,” kusho uIsaya, “konke okusendlini yakho nalokho oyihlo abakubekelele khona kuze kube-namuhla kuyakuyiswa eBabele.” UJehova wamemezela: “Akuyikusala-lutho.”—Isaya 39:5, 6.
5, 6. (a) Yini uJeremiya ayisho ekuqinisekiseni isiprofetho sikaIsaya? (b) Iziprofetho zikaIsaya noJeremiya zagcwaliseka ngayiphi indlela?
5 Emuva ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E., kungenzeka kwabonakala kungenakwenzeka ngalesosiprofetho ukuba sigcwaliseke. Nokho, eminyakeni eyikhulu kamuva, isimo sashintsha. IBabiloni lathatha isikhundla seAsiriya njengombuso wezwe onamandla, kulapho uJuda wonakala kakhulu, ngokwenkolo, kangangokuba uNkulunkulu wasisusa isibusiso sakhe. Manje, omunye umprofethi, uJeremiya, waphefumlelwa ukuba aphinde isixwayiso sikaIsaya. UJeremiya wamemezela: “Ngiyakuthumela, ngilande [abaseBabiloni] ngibehlisele phezu kwalelizwe nabakhileyo kulo . . . Izwe lonke leli liyakuba-yincithakalo nesimangaliso, nalezizizwe ziyakuyikhonza inkosi yaseBabele iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.”—Jeremiya 25:9, 11.
6 Cishe eminyakeni emine ngemva kokuba uJeremiya ememezele lesosiprofetho, abaseBabiloni benza uJuda waba ingxenye yombuso wabo. Eminyakeni emithathu ngemva kwalokho, bathumba amanye amaJuda, kanye nengcebo ethile yethempeli laseJerusalema, kwayiswa eBabiloni. Eminyakeni eyisishiyagalombili kamuva, uJuda wahlubuka futhi wabuye wahlaselwa inkosi yaseBabiloni, uNebukadinesari. Ngalesikhathi, umuzi nethempeli lawo kwabhujiswa. Yonke ingcebo yawo, namaJuda ngokwawo, kwayiswa eBabiloni elikude, njengoba nje uIsaya noJeremiya babebikezele.—2 IziKronike 36:6, 7, 12, 13, 17-21.
7. Isayensi yemivubukulo ikufakazela kanjani ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zikaIsaya noJeremiya ngokuqondene neJerusalema?
7 IArchaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land iphawula ukuthi lapho ukuhlaselwa kwabaseBabiloni sekuphelile, “ukubhujiswa komuzi [iJerusalema] kwakungokuphelele.”1 Isazi semivubukulo uW. F. Albright sithi: “Ukuvubukula nokuhlolwa kwendawo kwaJuda kuye kwabonisa ukuthi imizi yakwaJuda ayizange kuphela ibhujiswe ngokuphelele amaKaledi ekuhlaseleni kwawo okubili, kodwa futhi ayizange ihlalwe-muntu ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane—eminye ayizange iphinde ihlalwe emlandweni.”2 Ngakho, isayensi yemivubukulo iyakuqinisekisa ukugcwaliseka okushaqisayo kwalesiprofetho.
Ukubhujiswa KweTire
8, 9. Isiphi isiprofetho uHezekeli asiprofetha ngeTire?
8 UHezekeli wayengomunye umlobi wasendulo owabhala iziprofetho eziphefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu. Waprofetha kusukela ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesikhombisa leminyaka B.C.E. kuze kube kwelesithupha—okungukuthi phakathi neminyaka eholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema kwase kuba seshumini lokuqala leminyaka lokuthunjelwa kwamaJuda eBabiloni. Ngisho nabanye abacusumbuli banamuhla bayavuma ukuthi lencwadi yalotshwa cishe ngaso lesikhathi.
9 UHezekeli wabhala isiprofetho esiphawulekayo ngokubhujiswa kukamakhelwane kaIsrayeli osenyakatho iTire, elalisuke esimweni sobungane nabantu bakaNkulunkulu laya esimweni sobutha. (1 AmaKhosi 5:1-9; IHubo 83:2-8) Wabhala: “Ngalokho isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Bheka, ngiphezu kwakho, Tire; ngiyakwenyusela kuwe izizwe eziningi njengolwandle lukhuphula amaza alo. Ziyakuchitha izingange zaseTire, zibhidlize imibhoshongo yalo; ngiyakukhukhuza umhlabathi walo kulo, ngilenze idwala eliyinyabule. . . . Babeke amatshe akho nemithi yakho nesihlabathi sakho phakathi kwamanzi.”—Hezekeli 26:3, 4, 12.
10-12. Ekugcineni isiprofetho sikaHezekeli sagcwaliseka nini, futhi kanjani?
10 Ingabe lokhu kwenzeka ngempela? Nokho, eminyakeni embalwa ngemva kokuba uHezekeli ememezele lesiprofetho, inkosi yaseBabiloni, uNebukadinesari, wavimbezela iTire. (Hezekeli 29:17, 18) Nokho, kwakungekhona ukuvimbezela okulula. ITire ngokwengxenye lalakhiwe ezweni (ingxenye ebizwa ngokuthi iTire Elidala). Kodwa enye ingxenye yalomuzi yayisesiqhingini esasicishe sibe amamitha angu-800 ukusuka ogwini. UNebukadinesari wavimbezela lesiqhingi iminyaka eyi-13 ngaphambi kokuba sizithobe kuye ekugcineni.
11 Nokho, kwakungo-332 B.C.E. lapho isiprofetho sikaHezekeli ekugcineni sigcwaliseka yonke imininingwane yaso. Ngalesosikhathi, uAlexander Omkhulu, umnqobi waseMakedoniya, wayehlasela iAsia. ITire, lilondekile endaweni yalo esesiqhingini, lamelana naye. UAlexander akazange afune ukushiya isitha esinamandla ngemva kwakhe, kodwa akazange afune ukuchitha iminyaka evimbezele iTire, njengoba kwakwenze uNebukadinesari.
12 Wayixazulula kanjani lenkinga engokwezempi? Wakha ibhuloho noma indlela emanzini ewelela esiqhingini, ukuze amabutho akhe akwazi ukuhamba awelele ngaphesheya futhi ahlasele lomuzi osesiqhingini. Nokho, phawula lokho akusebenzisa ukuze akhe lendlela ehamba emanzini. IEncyclopedia Americana iyabika: “Ngezingcezu zengxenye esezweni yalomuzi, ayewubhubhisile, wakha indlela enkulu ehamba emanzini ngo-332 ukuze ixhumanise isiqhingi nezwe.” Ngemva kokuvimbezela kwesikhathi esincane uma kuqhathaniswa, umuzi osesiqhingini wabhujiswa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isiprofetho sikaHezekeli sagcwaliseka yonke imininingwane yaso. Ngisho ‘namatshe nemithi nesihlabathi’ kweTire Elidala ‘kwabekwa phakathi kwamanzi.’
13. Isihambi sekhulu le-19 leminyaka sayichaza kanjani indawo yaseTire lasendulo?
13 Isihambi sekhulu le-19 leminyaka saphawula ngalokho okwakusele kweTire lasendulo osukwini lwaso, sithi: “NgeTire lakuqala elalaziwa uSolomoni nabaprofethi bakwaIsrayeli, akukho nomkhondo omncane osele ngaphandle kwasemathuneni alo aqoshwe emadwaleni asemaceleni kwezintaba, nasezindongeni eziyisisekelo . . . Ngisho nesiqhingi, uAlexander Omkhulu, asiguqula saba isiqephu sezwe esingene olwandle ngokugqiba amanzi ayephakathi kwaso nezwe, lapho evimbezele umuzi, asisenazo izinsalela eziphawulekayo zenkathi yangaphambili kunaleyo yeziMpi Zenkolo. Umuzi wesimanje, wonke omusha ngokuqhathaniswa, uthathe ingxenye esenyakatho yalokho okwakukade kuyisiqhingi, lapho cishe yonke ingxenye esele yendawo imboze izincithakalo ezingenakuphawuleka.”3
Izimo Ziphendukela IBabiloni
14, 15. Iziphi iziprofetho ezalotshwa uIsaya noJeremiya ngeBabiloni?
14 Emuva ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E., uIsaya, umprofethi owaxwayisa amaJuda ngokunqotshwa kwawo ngabaseBabiloni okwakuza, wabikezela futhi okuthile okushaqisayo: ukuqothulwa ngokuphelele kweBabiloni ngokwalo. Wabikezela lokhu ngemininingwane evusa amadlingozi: “Bhekani, ngiyakubavusela amaMede . . . IBabele, umhlobiso wemibuso, isivunulo sokuzikhukhumeza kwamaKaledi, liyakuba-njengokuchitha kukaNkulunkulu iSodoma neGomora. Alisoze labuye lakhiwa, akusayikuhlalwa kulo ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane.”—Isaya 13:17-20.
15 Umprofethi uJeremiya naye wabikezela ngokuwa kweBabiloni, okwakuyokwenzeka eminyakeni eminingi kamuva. Futhi wahlanganisa nalomniningwane othakazelisayo: “Makufike ukusha phezu kwamanzi alo, aze ome, . . . Amaqhawe aseBabele ayekile ukulwa, ahlala ezinqabeni zawo; amandla awo aphelile.”—Jeremiya 50:38; 51:30.
16. IBabiloni lanqotshwa nini, futhi ubani?
16 Ngo-539 B.C.E., isikhathi sokubusa kweBabiloni njengombuso wezwe omkhulu safika ekupheleni lapho umbusi onamandla wamaPheresiya uKoresi, owayehambisana nebutho laseMediya, evivela lomuzi. Nokho, lokho uKoresi akuthola, kwakwesabeka. IBabiloni lalizungezwe izindonga ezinkulu futhi ezazibonakala zingangeneki. Umfula omkhulu iEwufrathe, nawo wawugeleza unqamule umuzi futhi waba nengxenye ebalulekile ekuwuvikeleni.
17, 18. (a) Kwenzeka ngayiphi indlela ‘ukusha kwamanzi [aseBabiloni]’? (b) Kungani ‘amaqhawe’ aseBabiloni ‘ayeka ukulwa’?
17 Isazi-mlando esingumGreki uHerodotus sichaza indlela uKoresi asingatha ngayo lenkinga: “Wabeka ingxenye yebutho lakhe endaweni lapho umfula ungenela khona emzini, nelinye ibutho walibeka ngemva kwendawo lapho usuka khona, ngeziyalezo zokuba lamabutho angene emzini ngokuwela umfula, ngokushesha lapho amanzi ebohla ngokwanele . . . Waphambukisa iEwufrathe ngomsele owawungenela edamini [ichibi elalakhiwe elalimbiwe umbusi wangaphambili waseBabiloni], elalibisha ngalesosikhathi, lapho amanzi omfula amuncekela khona ngezinga lokuthi umfula waba owelekayo. Khona-ke amaPheresiya ayeshiyelwe leyonjongo eBabiloni ngaseceleni komfula, awela umfula, owawubohle kangangokuba amanzi ayefika emathangeni, kanjalo angena emzini.”4
18 Ngalendlela umuzi wawa, njengoba uJeremiya noIsaya babexwayisile. Kodwa phawula ukugcwaliseka kwalesiprofetho ngayo yonke imininingwane. Kwaba khona ‘ukusha kwamanzi’ okungokoqobo, ‘futhi oma.’ Kwakuwukuncipha kwamanzi e-Ewufrathe okwenza uKoresi wakwazi ukungena emzini. Ingabe ‘amaqhawe aseBabiloni ayeka ukulwa,’ njengoba uJeremiya ayexwayisile? IBhayibheli—kanye nezazi-mlando ezingamaGreki oHerodotus noXenophon—libika ukuthi abaseBabiloni eqinisweni babesedilini lapho ukuhlasela kwamaPheresiya kwenzeka.5 UMlando kaNabonidasi, umbhalo oqoshiwe ongokomthetho wecuneiform, uthi amabutho kaKoresi angena eBabiloni “ngaphandle kwempi,” cishe okusho ukuthi ngaphandle kwempi eyayidinga ukuhlela okukhulu.6 Ngokusobala, amaqhawe aseBabiloni akukho okutheni akwenza ukuze alivikele.
19. Ingabe sagcwaliseka isiprofetho sokuthi iBabiloni ‘lalingasoze libuye lakhiwe’? Chaza.
19 Kuthiwani ngesibikezelo sokuthi iBabiloni “alisoze labuye lakhiwa”? Lokho akuzange kugcwaliseke ngokushesha ngo-539 B.C.E. Kodwa lesiprofetho sagcwaliseka ngokungenaphutha. Ngemva kokuwa kwalo, iBabiloni laliyisikhungo sokuhlubuka okuningana, kwaze kwaba ngo-478 B.C.E. lapho libhujiswa khona nguXerxes. Ekupheleni kwekhulu lesine leminyaka, uAlexander Omkhulu wahlela ukulivuselela, kodwa wafa umsebenzi ungakafiki ndawo. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi kuqhubeke, umuzi wamane wawohloka. Kwakusenabantu ababehlala lapho ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka leSikhathi sethu Esivamile, kodwa namuhla okusele kuphela kweBabiloni lasendulo yinqwaba yencithakalo eIraq. Ngisho noma amanxiwa alo angavuselelwa ngokwengxenye, iBabiloni lingaba umbukiso nje wezihambi, lingabi umuzi ofanelekayo ukuba kuhlalwe kuwo nogcwele impilo. Isimo sawo esiyincithakalo sinikeza ubufakazi ekugcwalisekeni kokugcina kweziprofetho eziphefumlelwe ngokumelene nalo.
Ukuqhubeka Kwemibuso Yezwe
20, 21. Isiphi isiprofetho esabonwa uDaniyeli sokuqhubeka kwemibuso yezwe, futhi lesi sagcwaliseka kanjani?
20 Ekhulwini lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E., phakathi nokudingiswa kwamaJuda eBabiloni, omunye umprofethi, uDaniyeli, waphefumlelwa ukuba alobe imibono ethile emangalisayo ebikezela indlela izenzakalo zomhlaba ezaziyokwenzeka ngayo esikhathini esizayo. Komunye wayo, uDaniyeli uchaza izilwane eziningana ezingokomfanekiso eziqhubukushanayo zigudluzana emhlabeni. Ingelosi iyachaza ukuthi lezilwane zifanekisela ukuqhubeka kwemibuso yezwe kusukela ngalesosikhathi kuqhubeke. Ikhuluma ngezilo ezimbili zokugcina, ithi: “Inqama oyibonileyo inezimpondo ezimbili, zingamakhosi aseMediya nasePheresiya. Impongo iyinkosi yaseJavani; uphondo olukhulu olusemkhathini wamehlo ayo luyinkosi yokuqala. Kepha olwaphukileyo, esikhundleni salo okwavela ezine, kuyakuvela imibuso emine esizweni salo, ingenamandla alo kodwa.”—Daniyeli 8:20-22.
21 Lombono ongokwesiprofetho wagcwaliseka ngokuqonde ngqó. UMbuso WaseBabiloni wagumbuqelwa amaMede namaPheresiya, lawo, eminyakeni engama-200 kamuva, adedela umbuso wezwe wamaGreki. UMbuso WamaGreki wawuholwa uAlexander Omkhulu, “uphondo olukhulu.” Nokho, ngemva kokufa kuka-Alexander, izinduna zakhe zalwa zodwa zilwela amandla okubusa, futhi ekugcineni umbuso owawusakazeke kabanzi wahlukana waba imibuso emincane emine, “imibuso emine.”
22. Esiprofethweni esihlobene sokuqhubeka kwemibuso yezwe, imuphi omunye umbuso wezwe owaprofethwa?
22 KuDaniyeli isahluko 7, umbono ocishe ufane nawo wabheka kude esikhathini esizayo. Umbuso wezwe waseBabiloni wafanekiselwa ingonyama, owasePheresiya wafanekiselwa ibhere, nowamaGreki wafanekiselwa ingwe enamaphiko amane emhlane wayo namakhanda amane. Khona, uDaniyeli ubona esinye isilo sasendle, “esesabekayo, sinamandla, siqinile kakhulu . . . ; sasinezimpondo eziyishumi.” (Daniyeli 7:2-7) Lesilo sasendle sesine safanekisela uMbuso WamaRoma onamandla, owaqala ukukhula cishe emakhulwini amathathu eminyaka ngemva kokuba uDaniyeli elobe lesiprofetho.
23. Isilo sasendle sesine sesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli ‘sasihluke’ ngayiphi indlela ‘kunayo yonke eminye imibuso’?
23 Ingelosi yaprofetha ngeRoma: “Isilo sesine siyakuba-ngumbuso wesine emhlabeni, oyakwahluka kuyo yonke imibuso, udle wonke umhlaba, uwunyathele, uwaphule.” (Daniyeli 7:23) UH. G. Wells, encwadini yakhe ethi A Pocket History of the World, uthi: “Lombuso omusha wamaRoma owadlondlobalela ukuba ubuse ingxenye esentshonalanga ekhulwini lesibili nelokuqala leminyaka B.C. wawuyinto ehlukile ngezici eziningi kunoma imiphi imibuso emikhulu eyayike yaba khona kuze kube yilesosikhathi kulelizwe eliphucukile.”7 Waqala njengombuso wentando yeningi futhi waqhubeka njengombuso onenkosi eyodwa. Ngokungafani nemibuso yangaphambili, wawungasungulwanga umnqobi oyedwa kodwa wakhula ngokungenakuvinjelwa phakathi namakhulu amaningi eminyaka. Wahlala isikhathi eside kakhulu futhi wabusa indawo enkulu kakhulu kunanoma imuphi umbuso wangaphambili.
24, 25. (a) Zavela kanjani izimpondo eziyishumi zesilo sasendle? (b) Ikuphi ukulwa phakathi kwezimpondo zesilo sasendle uDaniyeli akubona kusengaphambili?
24 Nokho, kuthiwani ngezimpondo eziyishumi zalesilo esikhulu? Ingelosi yathi: “Izimpondo eziyishumi-ke, kulowombuso kuyakuvela amakhosi ayishumi, kuvele enye emva kwawo; iyakwahluka kwawokuqala, ithobise amakhosi amathathu.” (Daniyeli 7:24) Kwenzeka kanjani lokhu?
25 Nokho, lapho uMbuso WamaRoma uqala ukuwohloka ekhulwini lesihlanu leminyaka C.E. akuzange kungene ngokushesha omunye umbuso wezwe esikhundleni sawo. Kunalokho, wahlukana waba imibuso eminingana, “amakhosi ayishumi.” Ekugcineni, uMbuso WaseBrithani wanqoba imibuso emithathu owawubangisana nayo yaseSpain, eFrance, naseNetherlands ukuze ube umbuso wezwe omkhulu. Kanjalo ‘uphondo’ olwalusanda kuvela lwathobisa “amakhosi amathathu.”
Iziprofetho ZikaDaniyeli—Ingabe Zalotshwa Ngemva Kokugcwaliseka?
26. Abagxeki bagomela ngokuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yalotshwa nini, futhi ngani?
26 IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yalotshwa phakathi nekhulu lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E. Nokho, ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zayo kunembe kangangokuba abagxeki bagomela ngokuthi kumelwe ukuba yalotshwa cishe ngo-165 B.C.E., lapho iziprofetho eziningana zase zigcwalisekile kakade.8 Naphezu kweqiniso lokuthi okuwukuphela kwesizathu esingokoqobo sokwenza lokhu kugomela siwukuthi iziprofetho zikaDaniyeli zagcwaliseka, lolusuku lwamuva lokulotshwa kukaDaniyeli lunikezwa njengeqiniso elimisiwe ezincwadini eziningi eziyizikhombo.
27, 28. Imaphi amanye amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli ayilotshwanga ngo-165 B.C.E.?
27 Nokho, ngemfundiso enjalo, kumelwe sicabangele lamaqiniso alandelayo. Okokuqala, lencwadi kwabhekiselwa kuyo ezincwadini zamaJuda ezakhiqizwa phakathi nekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E., njengencwadi yokuqala kaMaccabees. Futhi, yahlanganiswa enguqulweni yeSeptuagint yesiGreki, ukuhunyushwa kwayo okwaqala ekhulwini lesithathu leminyaka B.C.E.9 Okwesithathu, izingxenye zamakhophi kaDaniyeli zaziphakathi kwezincwadi ezazitholakala kaningi eMiqulwini YasoLwandle Olufile—futhi lezingxenye kukholelwa ukuthi zihlehlela emuva cishe ku-100 B.C.E.10 Ngokusobala, ngokushesha ngemva kosuku okuthiwa incwadi kaDaniyeli yalotshwa ngalo, yase yaziwa kakhulu futhi ihlonishwa: ubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi yakhiqizwa esikhathini eside ngaphambi kwaleso abagxeki abathi yalotshwa ngaso.
28 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uDaniyeli uqukethe imininingwane engokomlando eyayingenakwaziwa umlobi wekhulu lesibili leminyaka. Okuvelele yindaba kaBelishasari, umbusi waseBabiloni owabulawa lapho iBabiloni liwa ngo-539 B.C.E. Imithombo emikhulu engeyona engokweBhayibheli yolwazi lwethu ngokuwa kweBabiloni ingoHerodotus (wekhulu lesihlanu leminyaka), uXenophon (wekhulu lesihlanu nelesine leminyaka), noBerossus (wekhulu lesithathu leminyaka). Akekho kulaba owayazi ngoBelishasari.11 Yeka ukuthi kungokungenakwenzeka kanjani ukuba umlobi wekhulu lesibili leminyaka wayengaba nokwaziswa okwakungatholakali kulabalobi bokuqala! Umbhalo ogciniwe ngokuqondene noBelishasari okuDaniyeli isahluko 5 uyiphuzu elinamandla lokuthi uDaniyeli waloba incwadi yakhe ngaphambi kokuba labalobi abanye abathathu balobe ezabo.a
29. Kungani kungenakwenzeka ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yalotshwa ngemva kokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezikuyo?
29 Ekugcineni, kuneziprofetho eziningana kuDaniyeli ezagcwaliseka esikhathini eside ngemva kuka-165 B.C.E. Esinye salezi sasiyisiprofetho esiphathelene noMbuso WamaRoma, ophawulwe ngaphambidlana. Esinye yisiprofetho esimangalisayo esasibikezela ukufika kukaJesu, uMesiya.
Ukuza Kogcotshiweyo
30, 31. (a) Isiphi isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli esabikezela isikhathi sokuvela kukaMesiya? (b) Singawubala kanjani unyaka uMesiya okwakufanele avele ngawo, ngesisekelo sesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli?
30 Lesiprofetho silotshwe kuDaniyeli, isahluko 9, futhi sifundeka kanje: “Amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa [eminyaka, noma iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye] anqunyelwe abantu bakho nomuzi wakho ongcwele.” (Daniyeli 9:24) Yini eyayizokwenzeka phakathi naleminyaka engu-490? Siyafunda: “Kusukela ekuphumeni komyalo wokubuyisela nokwakha iJerusalema kuze kube [sekufikeni] kogcotshiweyo, inkosi, kuyokuba amasonto ayisikhombisa [eminyaka], namasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili [eminyaka].”b (Daniyeli 9:25, The Amplified Bible) Ngakho lesi yisiprofetho esimayelana nesikhathi sokuza ‘kogcotshiweyo,’ uMesiya. Sagcwaliseka kanjani?
31 Umyalo wokubuyiselwa nokwakhiwa kweJerusalema ‘waphuma’ “ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili ka-Aritahishashita inkosi” yasePheresiya, okungukuthi ngo-455 B.C.E. (Nehemiya 2:1-9) Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka engama-49 (amasonto ayi-7 eminyaka), inkazimulo eningi yeJerusalema yayisibuyiselwe. Khona-ke, uma sibala iminyaka egcwele engu-483 (amasonto ayi-7 kuhlanganise nangama-62 eminyaka) kusukela ngo-455 B.C.E., sifika ku-29 C.E. Lona eqinisweni ‘kwakungunyaka weshumi nanhlanu wokubusa kukaTiberiyu Kesari,’ unyaka uJesu abhapathizwa ngawo nguJohane uMbhapathizi. (Luka 3:1) Ngalesosikhathi, uJesu wabonakaliswa obala njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu futhi waqala inkonzo yakhe yokushumayela izindaba ezinhle esizweni samaJuda. (Mathewu 3:13-17; 4:23) Waba “ogcotshiweyo,” noma uMesiya.
32. Ngokwesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli, inkonzo kaJesu yasemhlabeni yayiyothatha isikhathi eside kangakanani, futhi kwakuzokwenzekani ekupheleni kwayo?
32 Isiprofetho siyanezela: “Futhi ngemva kwalawomasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili [eminyaka] ogcotshiweyo uyakunqunywa.” Sithi futhi: “Futhi uyakungenela isivumelwano esinamandla nesiqinile nabaningi isonto elilodwa [iminyaka eyisikhombisa]; futhi phakathi nesonto uyokwenza ukuba imihlatshelo neminikelo kunqamuke.” (Daniyeli 9:26, 27, AB) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, uJesu waya ngokukhethekile ‘kwabaningi,’ amaJuda angokwenyama. Ngesinye isikhathi, washumayela futhi nakumaSamariya, ayeyikholelwa eminye imiBhalo kodwa ayesakhe ihlelo elihlukile kwelobuJuda elaliyinhloko. Khona-ke, “phakathi nesonto,” ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nengxenye yokushumayela, wadela ukuphila kwakhe njengomhlatshelo futhi kanjalo ‘wanqunywa.’ Lokhu kwasho ukuphela koMthetho kaMose nemihlatshelo yawo kanye neminikelo yezipho. (Galathiya 3:13, 24, 25) Ngakho, ngokufa kwakhe, uJesu wabangela “ukuba imihlatshelo neminikelo kunqamuke.”
33. UJehova wayezosebenzelana namaJuda ngokukhethekile isikhathi eside kangakanani, futhi isiphi isenzakalo esaphawula ukuphela kwalenkathi?
33 Noma kunjalo, ngeminye iminyaka emithathu nengxenye ibandla lobuKristu elalisanda kuzalwa lafakaza kumaJuda kuphela, futhi kamuva, kumaSamariya ayehlobene nalo. Nokho, ngo-36 C.E. ngasekupheleni kwamasonto angama-70 eminyaka, umphostoli uPetru waqondiswa ukuba ashumayele kumuntu weZizwe, uKorneliyu. (IzEnzo 10:1-48) Manje, “isivumelwano nabaningi” sasingasalinganiselwe kumaJuda. Insindiso yashunyayelwa futhi nakwabeZizwe abangasokiwe.
34. Ngokuvumelana nesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli, yini eyenzeka kuIsrayeli ongokwenyama ngenxa yokuthi wenqaba uMesiya?
34 Ngenxa yokuthi isizwe samaJuda samenqaba uJesu futhi senza uzungu lokuba abulawe, uJehova akazange asivikele lapho amaRoma efika ebhubhisa iJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. Ngakho, amazwi aqhubekayo kaDaniyeli agcwaliseka: “Futhi abantu bomunye umbusi oyokuza bayobhubhisa umuzi nendlu engcwele. Ukuphela kwawo kuyofika ngesikhukhula, ngisho nasekupheleni kuyokuba nempi.” (Daniyeli 9:26b, AB) ‘Lombusi’ wesibili kwakunguTitus, ujenene waseRoma owabhubhisa iJerusalema ngo-70 C.E.
Isiprofetho Esasiphefumlelwe
35. Iziphi iziprofetho ezengeziwe ngoJesu ezagcwaliseka?
35 Ngalendlela, isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli samasonto angama-70 sagcwaliseka ngokuthe ngqó ngokumangalisayo. Eqinisweni, eziningi zeziprofetho ezilotshwe emiBhalweni YesiHeberu zagcwaliseka phakathi nekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, futhi eziningi zalezi zaziphathelene noJesu. Indawo uJesu azalelwa kuyo, intshiseko yakhe ngendlu kaNkulunkulu, umsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela, ukukhashelwa kwakhe ngezinhlamvu ezingama-30 zesiliva, indlela afa ngayo, iqiniso lokuthi kwenziwa inkatho ngezingubo zakhe—yonke lemininingwane yayiprofethiwe emiBhalweni YesiHeberu. Ukugcwaliseka kwayo kwabonisa ngaphandle kokungabaza ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya, futhi kwabonisa nokuthi leziprofetho zaziphefumlelwe.—Mika 5:2; Luka 2:1-7; Zakariya 11:12; 12:10; Mathewu 26:15; 27:35; IHubo 22:18; 34:20; Johane 19:33-37.
36, 37. Yini esiyifundayo eqinisweni lokuthi iziprofetho ezingokweBhayibheli ziye zagcwaliseka, futhi ikuphi ukuqiniseka lolulwazi olusinikeza khona?
36 Eqinisweni, zonke iziprofetho zeBhayibheli okwakufanele zigcwaliseke ziye zagcwaliseka. Izinto ziye zenzeka ngayo kanye indlela iBhayibheli elathi zazizokwenzeka ngayo. Lokhu kuwubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu. Kumelwe ukuba kwakunokungaphezu kokuhlakanipha komuntu okwabangela ukuba lawomazwi angokwesiprofetho abe anembe kangako.
37 Kodwa kunezinye izibikezelo eBhayibhelini ezingagcwalisekanga ngalezozikhathi. Ngani? Ngoba zazifanele ukugcwaliseka osukwini lwethu, ngisho nasesikhathini sethu esizayo. Ukuthembeka kwalezoziprofetho zasendulo kusenza siqiniseke ukuthi nalezi ezinye izibikezelo ziyogcwaliseka ngaphandle kokungabaza. Njengoba sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo, kunjalo ngempela.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Bheka iSahluko 4, esithi “Likholeka Kangakanani ‘ITestamente Elidala’?” izigaba 16 no-17.
b Kulenguqulo, amazwi abiyelwe aye anezelwa umhumushi wayo ukuze acacise incazelo.
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 133]
Zonke iziprofetho okwakufanele zigcwaliseke zagcwaliseka. Izinto zenzeka ngayo kanye indlela iBhayibheli elathi zazizokwenzeka ngayo
[Isithombe ekhasini 118]
Izazi zemivubukulo ziye zathola ukuthi ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema nguNebukadinesari kwakungo-kuphelele
[Isithombe ekhasini 121]
Isithombe seTire lanamuhla. Akukho nomkhondo omncane osele weTire elalaziwa abaprofethi bakwaIsrayeli
[Isithombe ekhasini 123]
Izihambi ezivakashela indawo yaseBabiloni lasendulo zingofakazi bokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ngalomuzi
[Izithombe ekhasini 126]
Iziprofetho zikaDaniyeli zokuqhubeka kwemibuso yezwe zagcwaliseka ngokunembe kangangokuba abagxeki banamuhla bacabanga ukuthi zalotshwa ngemva kokugcwaliseka kwazo
IBABILONI
IPHERESIYA
IGRISI
IROMA
IBRITHANI
[Isithombe ekhasini 130]
UDaniyeli waprofetha isikhathi esiqondile uMesiya ayezovela ngaso kwaIsrayeli