IJerusalema Ngezikhathi ZeBhayibheli—Isayensi Yemivubukulo Yembulani?

KUYE kwenziwa imisebenzi emikhulu nethakazelisayo yemivubukulo eJerusalema, ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1967. Eziningi zezindawo ezambiwa sezingabonwa umphakathi, ngakho ake sivakashele ezinye zazo sibone ukuthi isayensi yemivubukulo ivumelana kangakanani nomlando weBhayibheli.

IJerusalema LeNkosi UDavide

Indawo iBhayibheli elibhekisela kuyo njengeNtaba iSiyoni, lapho uMuzi KaDavide wasendulo wawakhiwe khona, ibonakala ingabalulekile neze edolobheni elikhulu laseJerusalema namuhla. Ukuvubukulwa koMuzi KaDavide, okwakuholwa uprofesa osewashona uYigal Shiloh phakathi no-1978-85, kwembula isakhiwo esikhulu esisazitebhisi, noma udonga olusekelayo, engxenyeni engasempumalanga yegquma.

UProfesa Shiloh wathi kumelwe ukuba kwakuyizinsalela zesisekelo esikhulu sezindonga zokubiyela amaJebusi (izakhamuzi zangaphambi kokunqoba kukaDavide) akha kuso inqaba. Wachaza ukuthi lesi sakhiwo esisazitebhisi asithola phezu kwalezi zindonga zokubiyela sasiyingxenye yenqaba entsha eyakhiwa uDavide endaweni yenqaba yamaJebusi. Kweyesi-2 Samuweli 5:9, siyafunda: “UDavide wahlala enqabeni, wayibiza ngokuthi umuzi kaDavide. UDavide wakha nxazonke kusukela eMilo kuya ngaphakathi.”

Eduze kwalesi sakhiwo kunezindawo okungena kuzo izimiso zamanzi zomuzi zasendulo, izingxenye zazo ezibonakala zingezangesikhathi sikaDavide. Enye inkulumo yeBhayibheli ephathelene nomhubhe wesimiso samanzi saseJerusalema iye yabangela imibuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uDavide watshela izinceku zakhe ukuthi “yilowo nalowo ochitha amaJebusi maka[wa]sukele [emhubheni, NW] wamanzi.” (2 Samuweli 5:8) Umlawuli webutho likaDavide uJowabe wenza kanjalo. Kushiwoni ngempela ngenkulumo ethi ‘umhubhe wamanzi’?

Eminye imibuzo iye yaphakanyiswa ngokuphathelene noMhubhe WaseSilowama odumile, cishe owagujwa onjiniyela beNkosi uHezekiya ngekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E. nokubhekiselwa kweyesi-2 AmaKhosi 20:20 nakwezesi-2 IziKronike 32:30. (Qhathanisa ne-NW.) Lamaqembu amabili ayemba umhubhe, emba esuka ezinhlangothini ezimbili ezihlukene, ayengakwazi kanjani ukuhlangana? Kungani athatha umzila omazombezombe, owenza umhubhe ube mude kakhulu kunoqondile? Ayewuthola kanjani umoya owanele wokuphefumula, ikakhulukazi njengoba kungenzeka ayesebenzisa izibani zamafutha?

Umagazini othi Biblical Archaeology Review uye wanikeza okungase kube izimpendulo zalemibuzo. UDan Gill, isazi sesayensi yokwakheka komhlaba esasiwumxhumanisi walokhu kuvubukula, ucashunwa ethi: “Ngaphansi koMuzi KaDavide kunesimiso esingokwemvelo esithuthukisiwe se-karst. Elithi karst igama elisetshenziswa kuyisayensi yokwakheka komhlaba elichaza indawo engaqondile enemifantu, imihume nemisele ebangelwe amanzi angaphansi komhlaba njengoba ephuma ngokumfimfa abese ehamba emadwaleni angaphansi komhlaba. . . . Ukuhlola kwethu isimiso samanzi esingaphansi koMuzi KaDavide ngokwesayensi yokuma komhlaba kubonisa ukuthi senziwa ngokuyinhloko abantu ababenekhono abakhulisa imisele nemigodi engokwemvelo (eyi-karst) bayihlanganisa yaba isimiso samanzi esisebenzayo.”

Lokhu kungase kusize ekuchazeni indlela uMhubhe WaseSilowama owambiwa ngayo. Kungenzeka ukuthi walandela umzila omazombezombe womsele ongokwemvelo ongaphansi kwegquma. Lamaqembu ayesebenza ukusuka ohlangothini ngalunye kungenzeka emba umhubhe wesikhashana ngokukhulisa imihume eyayikhona. Kwabe sekumbiwa umsele owehlayo ukuze amanzi asemthonjeni waseGihoni agelezele eChibini LaseSilowama, okungenzeka lalingaphakathi kwezindonga zomuzi. Lesi kwakuyisenzo sobunjiniyela ngempela njengoba umehluko wobude phakathi kwezinhlangothi ezimbili ungamasentimitha angu-32 kuphela naphezu kobude bawo obungamamitha angu-533.

Sekuyisikhathi eside izazi ziqaphela ukuthi umthombo oyinhloko wamanzi walomuzi wasendulo kwakuwumthombo waseGihoni. Wawungaphandle kwezindonga zomuzi kodwa useduze ngokwanele ukuba kumbiwe umhubhe nomgodi ongamamitha angu-11, okwakuyokwenza izakhamuzi zikwazi ukukha amanzi ngaphandle kokuphumela ngaphandle kwezindonga eziyisivikelo. Waziwa ngokuthi iWarren’s Shaft, eqanjwe ngoCharles Warren, owathola lesi simiso ngo-1867. Kodwa wenziwa nini lomhubhe nomgodi? Ingabe kwakukhona ngesikhathi sikaDavide? Ingabe lona umhubhe wamanzi owawusetshenziswa uJowabi? UDan Gill uyaphendula: “Ukuze sihlole ukuthi iWarren’s Shaft yayiwumfantu ongokwemvelo ngempela yini, sacubungula izingcezu zoqweqwe lwe-calcium oluvela ezindongeni zayo ezingaqondile ukuze sihlole ukuthi inayo yini i-carbon-14. Yayingenayo, okubonisa ukuthi lolo qweqwe luneminyaka engaphezu kuka-40 000: Lokhu kunikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ikhanda bokuthi akunakwenzeka ukuthi lomgodi wambiwa umuntu.”

Izinsalela Zangesikhathi SikaHezekiya

INkosi uHezekiya yaphila ngesikhathi isizwe sase-Asiriya esasiqothula ngaso konke okwakusendleleni yaso. Ngonyaka wesithupha wokubusa kwayo, abase-Asiriya banqoba iSamariya, inhloko-dolobha yombuso wezizwe eziyishumi. Eminyakeni engu-8 kamuva (ngo-732 B.C.E.) abase-Asiriya baphinde babuya, besongela uJuda neJerusalema. IziKronike zesiBili 32:1-8 zichaza isu likaHezekiya lokuzivikela. Ingabe bukhona ubufakazi obubonakalayo baleso sikhathi?

Yebo, ngo-1969, uProfesa Nahman Avigad wathola izinsalela zaleso sikhathi. Imivubukulo yembula ingxenye yodonga olukhulu, ingxenye yokuqala yalo ingamamitha angu-40 ubude, angu-7 ububanzi, futhi kucatshangelwa ukuthi ingamamitha angu-8 ukuphakama. Enye ingxenye yalolu donga yayiphezu kwedwala elingaphansi futhi enye isezindlini ezazisanda kwakhiwa. Ubani owakha lolu donga futhi nini? “U-Avigad wasizwa izindima ezimbili zeBhayibheli ukuba akhombe ngokuqondile isikhathi nenjongo yodonga,” kubika umagazini wesayensi yemivubukulo. Lezi zindima zifundeka kanje: “Waziqinisa, wakha lonke ugange olwaludiliziwe, wabeka imibhoshongo phezu kwalo, nolunye ugange ngaphandle.” (2 IziKronike 32:5) “Nazidiliza izindlu ukuba niluqinise ugange.” (Isaya 22:10) Namuhla izivakashi zingayibona ingxenye yalokhu okuthiwa uGange Olubanzi eSifundeni SamaJuda soMuzi Wakudala.

Imivubukulo ehlukahlukene yembula nokuthi iJerusalema ngaleso sikhathi lalilikhulu kakhulu kunalokhu obekucatshangwa kuze kube manje, cishe ngenxa yokuthutheleka kwababaleki abavela embusweni wasenyakatho ngemva kokuba unqotshwe abase-Asiriya. UProfesa Shiloh wasikisela ukuthi umuzi wamaJebusi wawuhlanganisa indawo engaba amahektare ayisithupha. Ngesikhathi sikaSolomoni wawuhlanganisa cishe amahektare angu-16. Eminyakeni engu-300 kamuva, ngesikhathi seNkosi uHezekiya, indawo ebiyelwe yomuzi yase ikhule yafinyelela kumahektare angaba ngu-60.

Amathuna Angesikhathi Sethempeli Lokuqala

Amathuna angesikhathi seThempeli Lokuqala, okuwukuthi, ngaphambi kokuba iBabiloni libhubhise iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E., aye aba omunye umthombo wokwaziswa. Kwatholakala ukwaziswa okuvusa amadlingozi lapho kuvubukulwa imigede eminingi yokungcwaba emithambekeni yaseSigodini SikaHinomu ngo-1979/80. “Kuwo wonke umlando wokucwaninga kwesayensi yemivubukulo eJerusalema, lokhu kungenye yezindawo ezimbalwa zeThempeli Lokuqala ezitholakala zinakho konke okwakukuzo. Yayinezinto ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane,” kusho isazi semivubukulo uGabriel Barkay. Siyaqhubeka: “Iphupho eliyigugu kakhulu lazo zonke izazi zemivubukulo ezisebenza kwa-Israyeli, futhi ikakhulukazi eJerusalema, ukuthola okuthile okubhaliwe.” Kwatholakala imiqulu emincane emibili yesiliva, inani?

UBarkay uyachaza: “Lapho ngibona umdweshu oyisiliva ovuliwe futhi ngiwufaka ngaphansi kwesibona-khulu, ngakwazi ukubona ukuthi wawugcwele izinhlamvu ezazenziwe ngobuciko, zibhalwe ngethulusi elicijile kulolu qwembe lwesiliva olulula noluntekenteke. . . . IGama Laphezulu elalibonakala ngokucacile kulombhalo linezinhlamvu ezine zesiHeberu ezibhalwe embhalweni wasendulo wesiHeberu, yod-he-waw-he.” Encwadini yakamuva, uBarkay uyenezela: “Samangala lapho sibona ukuthi zombili lezi zingqwembe zesiliva zazibhalwe amazwi ezibusiso acishe afane neSibusiso Sobupristi saseBhayibhelini.” (Numeri 6:24-26) Kwakungokokuqala ukuba kutholakale igama likaJehova embhalweni otholakale eJerusalema.

Izazi zasinquma kanjani isikhathi salemiqulu yesiliva? Ngokuyinhloko ngokwezinto ezavubukulwa phakathi kwazo. Kulendawo kwatholakala izingcezu zobumba ezingaphezu kuka-300 ezazingezesikhathi esithile, zikhomba ekhulwini lesi-7 nelesi-6 B.C.E. Lombhalo, lapho uqhathaniswa neminye imibhalo yangesikhathi esaziwayo, ikhomba enkathini efanayo. Lemiqulu ibekwe e-Israel Museum eJerusalema.

Ukubhujiswa KweJerusalema Ngo-607 B.C.E.

IBhayibheli likhuluma ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. kweyesi-2 AmaKhosi isahluko 25, 2 IziKronike isahluko 36 nakuJeremiya isahluko 39, libika ukuthi ibutho likaNebukadinesari lathungela lomuzi ngomlilo. Ingabe imivubukulo yamuva iye yakufakazela lokhu kulandisa okungokomlando? NgokukaProfesa Yigal Shiloh, “ubufakazi beBhayibheli [bokubhujiswa kweBabiloni] . . . busekelwa ubufakazi bemivubukulo obucacile; ukubhujiswa ngokuphelele kwezakhiwo ezihlukahlukene, nekloba lomlilo elangqongqisa izingxenye ezihlukahlukene zezindlu ezakhiwe ngamapulangwe.” Waqhubeka ephawula: “Izinkomba zalokhu kubhujiswa ziye zatholakala isikhathi ngasinye lapho kuvubukulwa eJerusalema.”

Izivakashi zingazibona izinsalela zalokhu kubhujiswa okwenzeka eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-2 500 edlule. INqaba Yama-Israyeli, iGumbi Elishile neNdlu Yokubeka Uphawu kungamagama ezindawo ezidumile zesayensi yemivubukulo ezilondoloziwe futhi ezingase zibonwe umphakathi. Izazi zemivubukulo uJane M. Cahill noDavid Tarler zakufingqa ngalendlela encwadini ethi Ancient Jerusalem Revealed: “Ukubhujiswa okukhulu kweJerusalema abaseBabiloni akubonakali kuphela ezingqimbeni zezinsalela zezinto ezishe zangqongqa ezivumbululwe ngaphansi kwezakhiwo ezinjengeGumbi Elishile neNdlu Yokubeka Uphawu, kodwa nasezicucwini zamatshe ezakhiwo ezadilika ezatholakala zimboze umthambeka wangasempumalanga. Izincazelo zeBhayibheli zokubhujiswa komuzi . . . zisekela ubufakazi besayensi yemivubukulo.”

Ngakho, umbono weBhayibheli ngeJerusalema kusukela esikhathini sikaDavide kuze kube sekubhujisweni kwalo ngo-607 B.C.E. uye wafakazelwa ngezindlela eziningi imivubukulo engokwesayensi eyenziwe phakathi neminyaka engu-25 edlule. Kodwa kuthiwani ngeJerusalema langekhulu lokuqala C.E.?

IJerusalema Osukwini LukaJesu

Imivubukulo, iBhayibheli, isazi-mlando esingumJuda sekhulu lokuqala uJosephus neminye imithombo kusiza izazi zikwazi ukuba nombono weJerusalema losuku lukaJesu, ngaphambi kokuba libhujiswe amaRoma ngo-70 C.E. Umbukiso walo, obekwe ngemva kwehhotela elikhulu laseJerusalema, uhlale uthuthukiswa ngokwalokho okwembulwa imivubukulo emisha. Isici esiyinhloko somuzi kwakuyiSiqongo Sethempeli, uHerode asenza saba sikhulu ngokuphindwe kabili kunesangesikhathi sikaSolomoni. Kwakuyindawo ephakeme enkulu kunazo zonke ezenziwa umuntu esikhathini sasendulo, eyayingamamitha angaba ngu-480 aphindwe ngamamitha angu-280. Amanye amatshe okwakha ayenesisindo esingamathani angu-50, elinye lize libe ngamathani acishe abe ngu-400 futhi ngokwesinye isazi, “lalingekho elilingana nalo noma kuphi ngesikhathi sasendulo.”

Akumangalisi ukuthi abanye abantu bashaqeka lapho bezwa uJesu ethi: “Dilizani lelithempeli, mina ngizolivusa ngezinsuku ezintathu.” Babecabanga ukuthi wayesho leso sakhiwo esikhulukazi sethempeli, nakuba yena ayesho ‘ithempeli lomzimba wakhe.’ Ngakho-ke, bathi: “Leli thempeli lakhiwa iminyaka engamashumi amane nesithupha, futhi ingabe wena uzolivusa ngezinsuku ezintathu?” (Johane 2:19-21) Ngenxa yokuvubukulwa kwezindawo ezazizungeze iSiqongo Sethempeli, manje izivakashi zingabona izingxenye zezindonga nezinye izici zesakhiwo sangesikhathi sikaJesu futhi zingahamba ngisho nasezitebhisini okungenzeka wakhuphuka ngazo eya emasangweni ethempeli angaseningizimu.

Eduze nodonga olungasentshonalanga lweSiqongo Sethempeli, eSifundeni SamaJuda soMuzi Wakudala, kunezindawo ezimbili zangekhulu lokuqala C.E. ezavubukulwa zabuyiselwa kahle, ezaziwa ngokuthi iNdlu Eshile neSifunda SikaHerode. Ngemva kokutholwa kweNdlu Eshile, isazi semivubukulo uNahman Avigad sabhala: “Manje kwase kusobala ukuthi lesi sakhiwo sashiswa amaRoma ngo-70 A.D., ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema. Ngokokuqala ngqá emlandweni wokuvubukulwa kwalomuzi, kwatholakala ubufakazi obusobala nobucacile besayensi yemivubukulo bokuthi lomuzi washiswa.”—Bheka imifanekiso ekhasini 12.

Ezinye zalezi zinto ezatholakala zicacisa ezinye zezenzakalo ekuphileni kukaJesu. Lezi zakhiwo zaziNgenhla Nomuzi, lapho kwakuhlala khona izigwili zaseJerusalema, kuhlanganise nabapristi abakhulu. Kwatholakala obhavu abaningi abasetshenziselwa ukuhlanzwa okungokwesiko kulezo zindlu. Esinye isazi siyaphawula: “Inani elikhulu lobhavu lifakazela ukugcinwa ngokucophelela kwemithetho yokuhlanzwa okungokwesiko okwakwenziwa izakhamuzi zaNgenhla Nomuzi ngesikhathi seThempeli Lesibili. (Lemithetho ilotshwe kuyiMishnah, enikeza imininingwane ye-mikveh ezahlukweni eziyishumi.)” Lokhu kwaziswa kusisiza ukuba siwaqonde amazwi kaJesu kubaFarisi nababhali ngokuphathelene nalamasiko.—Mathewu 15:1-20; Marku 7:1-15.

Kuye kwatholakala nenani elikhulu ngokumangalisayo lezitsha zetshe eJerusalema. UNahman Avigad uyaphawula: “Kungani phó zavela ngokushesha nangamanani amakhulu kangaka emikhayeni yaseJerusalema? Impendulo ingatholakala kuyi-halakhah, imithetho yamaJuda yokuhlanzeka okungokwesiko. I-Mishnah isitshela ukuthi izitsha zetshe ziphakathi kwezinto ezingangenwa ukungcola . . . Itshe lalingenakuba elingcolile ngokwesiko.” Kusikiselwa ukuthi lokhu kuchaza ukuthi kungani amanzi uJesu awaphendula iwayini ayegcinwe ezitsheni zetshe kunasezitsheni zobumba.—Levitikusi 11:33; Johane 2:6.

Lapho uvakashela e-Israel Museum uyobona imiphongolo emibili engavamile yokufaka amathambo abafileyo. I-Biblical Archaeology Review iyachaza: “Imiphongolo yokufaka amathambo abafileyo yayisetshenziswa ngokuyinhloko cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema amaRoma ngo-70 C.E. . . . Isidumbu sasifakwa emgodini ogwedwe odongeni lomgede wokungcwaba; ngemva kokuba inyama isibolile, kwakuqoqwa amathambo afakwe kulemiphongolo—ngokuvamile eyayenziwa nge-limestone ehlotshisiwe.” Emibili okukhangiswa ngayo yatholakala emgedeni wokungcwaba ngo-November 1990. Isazi semivubukulo uZvi Greenhut siyabika: “Igama elithi . . . ‘Caiapha’ emiphongolweni emibili yamathambo eyayisethuneni kungokokuqala livela lapha kuyisayensi yemivubukulo. Kubonakala sengathi igama lomkhaya womPristi Omkhulu uKayafase, okukhulunywa ngaye . . . eTestamenteni Elisha . . . UJesu wayesemzini walompristi eJerusalema lapho enikelwa kumbusi wesifunda ongumRoma uPontiyu Pilatu.” Omunye umphongolo wawunamathambo endoda engaba neminyaka engu-60. Izazi zicabanga ukuthi lawo empeleni amathambo kaKayafase. Esinye isazi sibhekisela kulokho okwatholwa njengokwangesikhathi sikaJesu: “Uhlamvu lwemali olwatholakala komunye walemiphongolo lwalwenziwe uHerode Agripha (37-44 C.E.). Lemiphongolo emibili kaKayafase ingase ihlehlele emuva ekuqaleni kwekhulu leminyaka.”

UWilliam G. Dever, uprofesa wemivubukulo yaseMpumalanga Eseduze e-University of Arizona, wathi ngeJerusalema: “Akulona ihaba ukuthi eminyakeni engu-15 edlule siye sathola umlando owengeziwe wesayensi yemivubukulo walendawo eyinhloko kunangeminyaka engu-150 yangaphambili isiyonke.” Ngokuqinisekile eminingi yemisebenzi yemivubukulo yaseJerusalema phakathi namashumi eminyaka amuva iye yaveza imininingwane ecacisa umlando weBhayibheli.

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 9]

Reproduction of the City of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple – located on the grounds of the Holyland Hotel, Jerusalem

[Izithombe ekhasini 10]

Ngenhla: Igumbi eliseningizimu-ntshonalanga leSiqongo Sethempeli laseJerusalema

Ngakwesokudla: Ukwehlela kuyiWarren’s Shaft