Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nane
Alukho Usizo Kuleli Zwe
1, 2. (a) Kungani zithuthumela izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema? (b) Uma kucatshangelwa isimo seJerusalema, yimiphi imibuzo efanelekayo?
IZAKHAMUZI zaseJerusalema ziyathuthumela—futhi kube kufanele! I-Asiriya, umbuso onamandla kunayo yonke ngalesi sikhathi, lihlasele ‘yonke imizi yakwaJuda enezivikelo eziqinile layiqhwaga.’ Manje ibutho lase-Asiriya lisongela inhloko-dolobha yakwaJuda. (2 AmaKhosi 18:13, 17) Izokwenzenjani iNkosi uHezekiya nazo zonke izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema?
2 Njengoba eminye imizi yezwe lakhe isinqotshiwe kakade, uHezekiya uyazi ukuthi iJerusalema ngeke labhekana nebutho elinamandla lase-Asiriya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abase-Asiriya banedumela elibi lokuba nonya nobudlova. Ibutho lalesi sizwe lesabeka kangangokuthi ngezinye izikhathi izitha zibaleka zingakalwi nakulwa! Uma kucatshangwa ngesimo seJerusalema esibucayi, izakhamuzi zakhona zingaphendukelaphi ukuze zithole usizo? Ikhona yini indlela yokuphunyula ebuthweni lase-Asiriya? Futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangena kanjani kulesi simo? Ukuze siphendule le mibuzo, kudingeka sibheke emuva sibone indlela uJehova asebenzelana ngayo nesizwe sakhe sesivumelwano eminyakeni engaphambili.
Ukuhlubuka Kwa-Israyeli
3, 4. (a) Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sahlukana nini saba imibuso emibili futhi kanjani? (b) Yisiphi isiqalo esibi uJerobowamu asinikeza umbuso wezizwe eziyishumi zasenyakatho?
3 Kusukela esikhathini u-Israyeli aphuma ngaso eGibithe kuze kube sekufeni kwendodana kaDavide uSolomoni—isikhathi esingaphezudlwana nje kweminyaka engu-500—izizwe ezingu-12 zakwa-Israyeli zaziyisizwe esisodwa. Ngemva kokufa kukaSolomoni, uJerobowamu wenza izizwe eziyishumi zasenyakatho zahlubuka endlini kaDavide, futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, lesi sizwe sahlukana saba imibuso emibili. Lokhu kwenzeka ngo-997 B.C.E.
4 UJerobowamu waba inkosi yokuqala yombuso wakwa-Israyeli enyakatho, futhi waholela abantu bakhe ekuhlubukeni ngokususa ubupristi buka-Aroni nendlela yokukhulekela uJehova engokomthetho, esikhundleni sako wamisa ubupristi obungemthetho nokukhulekelwa kwethole. (1 AmaKhosi 12:25-33) UJehova wayekwenyanya lokhu. (Jeremiya 32:30, 35) Ngenxa yalesi sizathu nezinye, wavumela u-Israyeli ukuba anqotshwe i-Asiriya. (2 AmaKhosi 15:29) INkosi uHosheya yazama ukugqashula ejokeni lase-Asiriya ngokwakha uzungu neGibithe, kodwa lwabhuntsha.—2 AmaKhosi 17:4.
U-Israyeli Uphendukela Esiphephelweni Samanga
5. U-Israyeli uphendukela kubani ukuze athole usizo?
5 UJehova ufuna ukulungisa ukucabanga kwama-Israyeli.a Ngakho uthumela umprofethi u-Isaya nalesi sixwayiso esilandelayo: “Maye kulabo abehlela eGibithe ukuyofuna usizo, labo abathembela emahhashini nje, nababeka ithemba labo ezinqoleni zempi, ngoba ziziningi, nasemahhashini empi, ngoba enamandla kakhulu, kodwa abangazange babheke koNgcwele ka-Israyeli futhi abangazange bamfune uJehova.” (Isaya 31:1) Ave kudabukisa! U-Israyeli uthembele kakhulu emahhashini nasezinqoleni zempi kunakuNkulunkulu ophilayo, uJehova. Ngokucabanga kuka-Israyeli okungokwenyama, amahhashi aseGibithe maningi futhi anamandla. Nakanjani iGibithe liyokuba umlekeleli owusizo ekumelaneni nebutho lase-Asiriya! Nokho, ngokushesha ama-Israyeli azothola ukuthi ukwakha umfelandawonye neGibithe akusizi.
6. Kungani ukuya kuka-Israyeli eGibithe kubonisa ukuluntula okusobala ukholo kuJehova?
6 Ngesivumelwano soMthetho, izakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli nakwaJuda zisebuhlotsheni bokuzinikezela kuJehova. (Eksodusi 24:3-8; 1 IziKronike 16:15-17) Ngokuphendukela eGibithe ukuze athole usizo, u-Israyeli ubonisa ukuntula ukholo kuJehova nokungayinaki imithetho eyingxenye yaleso sivumelwano esingcwele. Ngani? Ngoba emibandeleni yesivumelwano kunesithembiso sikaJehova sokuvikela abantu bakhe uma bebonisa ukuzinikezela okukhethekile kuye. (Levitikusi 26:3-8) Njengokusho kwaleso sithembiso, uJehova uye wazibonakalisa ngokuphindaphindiwe ‘eyinqaba ngesikhathi sokucindezeleka.’ (IHubo 37:39; 2 IziKronike 14:2, 9-12; 17:3-5, 10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngoMose, umlamuleli wesivumelwano soMthetho, uJehova watshela amakhosi akwa-Israyeli ayezolandela ukuba angazandiseli amahhashi. (Duteronomi 17:16) Ukulalela lo mthetho kwakuzobonisa ukuthi la makhosi abheke “koNgcwele ka-Israyeli” ukuze athole isivikelo. Kuyadabukisa ukuthi ababusi bakwa-Israyeli abanalo ukholo olunjalo.
7. AmaKristu namuhla angafundani ekuntuleni kuka-Israyeli ukholo?
7 AmaKristu namuhla angafunda isifundo kule ndaba. U-Israyeli wabheka ekusekeleni kweGibithe ayengakubona kunasekusekeleni kukaJehova okunamandla ngokwengeziwe. Ngokufanayo namuhla, amaKristu angase alingeke ukuba athembele emithonjeni yokulondeka engokwenyama—ama-akhawunti asebhange, isikhundla emphakathini nabangane bezwe—kunakuJehova. Kuyavunywa, izinhloko zemikhaya ezingamaKristu ziwuthatha ngokungathi sína umthwalo wazo wemfanelo wokunakekela imikhaya yazo ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. (1 Thimothewu 5:8) Kodwa azethembeli ezintweni ezibonakalayo. Futhi zigwema “yonke inhlobo yokukhanuka.” (Luka 12:13-21) UJehova uNkulunkulu uwukuphela ‘kwendawo ephakeme elondekile ngezikhathi zokucindezeleka.’—IHubo 9:9; 54:7.
8, 9. (a) Nakuba amaqhinga ka-Israyeli engase abonakale ekahle, uyoba yini umphumela, futhi ngani? (b) Uyini umehluko phakathi kwezithembiso zabantu nezikaJehova?
8 Empeleni u-Isaya ubahleka usulu abaholi bakwa-Israyeli abenze isivumelwano neGibithe, ethi: “Naye uhlakaniphile futhi uyoletha inhlekelele, futhi akazange awahoxise amazwi akhe; ngokuqinisekile uyovukela indlu yabenzi bokubi avukele nosizo lwalabo abakwenza umkhuba okulimazayo.” (Isaya 31:2) Abaholi bakwa-Israyeli bangase bacabange ukuthi bahlakaniphile. Kodwa uMdali wendawo yonke akahlakaniphile yini ngezinga eliphakeme kakhulu? Iqhinga lika-Israyeli lokufuna usizo eGibithe libonakala likahle. Nokho, ukwakha umfelandawonye onjalo wezombangazwe kuwukuphinga ngokomoya phambi kukaJehova. (Hezekeli 23:1-10) Ngenxa yalokho, u-Isaya uthi uJehova ‘uzoletha inhlekelele.’
9 Izithembiso zabantu zinedumela lokungathembeki, nesivikelo sabo asiqinisekile. Ngakolunye uhlangothi uJehova akudingeki ‘ahoxise amazwi akhe.’ Uyokwenza nakanjani lokho akuthembisile. Amazwi akhe awabuyeli-ze kuye.—Isaya 55:10, 11; 14:24.
10. Kuyokwenzekani ngeGibithe no-Israyeli?
10 Ingabe abaseGibithe bayoba isivikelo u-Israyeli angasethemba? Cha. U-Isaya utshela u-Israyeli: “AbaseGibithe bangabantu basemhlabeni, abayena uNkulunkulu; namahhashi abo ayinyama, awawona umoya. UJehova ngokwakhe uyokwelula isandla sakhe, futhi lowo onikeza usizo kuyomelwe akhubeke, nalowo osizwayo kuyomelwe awe, futhi bayophela bonke ngasikhathi sinye.” (Isaya 31:3) Umsizi (iGibithe) nosizwayo (u-Israyeli) bayokhubeka, bawe futhi baphele lapho uJehova elula isandla sakhe ukuze akhiphe isahlulelo sakhe esebenzisa i-Asiriya.
Ukuwa KweSamariya
11. Yiziphi izono u-Israyeli azinqwabelanisile, futhi uba yini umphumela wokugcina?
11 Ngesihe sakhe uJehova ulokhu ethumela abaprofethi beyokhuthaza u-Israyeli ukuba aphenduke abuyele ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. (2 AmaKhosi 17:13) Naphezu kwalokhu, u-Israyeli unezela esonweni sakhe sokukhulekela ithole ngokuba ahlanganyele ekubhuleni, ekukhulekeleni uBali okungahlanzekile nasekusebenziseni izigxobo ezingcwele nezindawo eziphakeme. Ama-Israyeli aze ‘adabulise amadodana namadodakazi awo emlilweni,’ anikele ngesithelo senyama yawo konkulunkulu abangamademoni. (2 AmaKhosi 17:14-17; IHubo 106:36-39; Amose 2:8) Ukuze aqede ububi buka-Israyeli, uJehova uyayala: “Ngokuqinisekile iSamariya nenkosi yalo bayothuliswa, njengehlumela elinqamukile elisebusweni bamanzi.” (Hoseya 10:1, 7) Ngo-742 B.C.E., amabutho ase-Asiriya ahlasela iSamariya, inhloko-dolobha yakwa-Israyeli. Ngemva kokuvinjezelwa iminyaka emithathu, iSamariya liyawa, futhi ngo-740 B.C.E., umbuso wezizwe eziyishumi uyaphela.
12. Yimuphi umsebenzi ogunyazwe uJehova namuhla, futhi kwenzekani kulabo abangasinaki isixwayiso?
12 Osukwini lwethu uJehova ugunyaze umsebenzi wokushumayela womhlaba wonke ukuze axwayise “isintu ukuba sonke kuyo yonke indawo siphenduke.” (IzEnzo 17:30; Mathewu 24:14) Labo abenqaba indlela kaNkulunkulu yensindiso bayofana ‘nehlumela elinqamukile,’ bayobhujiswa njengesizwe sakwa-Israyeli esahlubuka. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, labo abathemba uJehova “bayokudla ifa lomhlaba, futhi bayohlala kuwo kuze kube phakade.” (IHubo 37:29) Yeka indlela okuwukuhlakanipha ngayo-ke ukugwema amaphutha ombuso ka-Israyeli wasendulo! Masethembe ngokuphelele ukuthi uJehova uzosisindisa.
Amandla KaJehova Asindisayo
13, 14. Yimaphi amazwi aduduzayo uJehova awaphathele iZiyoni?
13 IJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha yakwaJuda, liqhele ngamakhilomitha ambalwa emngceleni wakwa-Israyeli oseningizimu. Izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema zikwazi kahle okwehlele iSamariya. Manje zizithola zisongelwa yisona kanye lesi sitha esesabekayo esiqede umakhelwane wazo osenyakatho. Ingabe zizofunda kulokho okwehlele iSamariya?
14 Amazwi ka-Isaya alandelayo ayaziduduza izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema. Uziqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova usabathanda abantu bakhe besivumelwano, ethi: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo kimi: ‘Njengoba nje ingonyama igwavuma, yebo ibhongo lengonyama elinomhlwenga, igwavumela inyamazane yayo, lapho ibizelwa isibalo esigcwele sabelusi, naphezu kwezwi labo ngeke yethuke naphezu kwesiyaluyalu sabo ngeke idede; ngendlela efanayo uJehova wamabutho uyokwehla ukuba alwele iNtaba yaseZiyoni negquma layo.’” (Isaya 31:4) Njengebhubesi elincane lengamé isisulu salo, uJehova uyowuvikela ngomhawu umuzi wakhe ongcwele, iZiyoni. Akukho kuqhosha, akukho zinsongo nasiyaluyalu samabutho ase-Asiriya esiyoshintsha injongo kaJehova.
15. UJehova usebenzelana kanjani ngesisa nangesihawu nezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema?
15 Manje phawula indlela enesisa nesihawu uJehova azosebenzelana ngayo nezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema: “Njengezinyoni ezindizayo, uJehova wamabutho uyolivikela ngendlela efanayo iJerusalema. Lapho elivikela, ngokuqinisekile uyolikhulula futhi. Lapho eliphephisa, uyolenza liphunyuke futhi.” (Isaya 31:5) Inyoni yensikazi ihlale iphaphamele ukuvikela amaphuphu ayo. Ngamaphiko avuliwe intweza phezu kwamaphuphu ayo, futhi ngamehlo aqaphile ibhekisisa noma iluphi uphawu lwengozi. Uma isitha sisondela, yehla ngomshubo iyowavikela. Ngendlela efanayo, uJehova uyozinakekela ngesisa izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema ngenxa yabase-Asiriya abahlaselayo.
“Buyelani”
16. (a) Yikuphi ukunxusa kothando uJehova akwenza kubantu bakhe? (b) Kubonakala nini ikakhulukazi ukuvukela kwabantu bakwaJuda? Chaza.
16 UJehova manje ukhumbuza abantu bakhe ukuthi bonile futhi ubakhuthaza ukuba bashiye izindlela zabo eziyiphutha: “Buyelani kuLowo amadodana ka-Israyeli aye angena shí ekumvukeleni.” (Isaya 31:6) Umbuso ka-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi ubungewodwa ekuhlubukeni. Abantu bakwaJuda, nabo ‘abangamadodana ka-Israyeli, bangene shí ekumvukeleni.’ Lokhu kuyobonakala ikakhulukazi lapho indodana kaHezekiya uManase iba inkosi, ngemva nje kokuba u-Isaya eqede isigijimi sakhe esiyisiprofetho. Ngokulandisa kweBhayibheli, “uManase waqhubeka eyenga uJuda nabakhileyo eJerusalema ukuba benze okubi kakhulu ukwedlula izizwe uJehova ayezibhuqile.” (2 IziKronike 33:9) Cabanga ngalokho! UJehova uqothula izizwe ezingamaqaba ngoba zenza amanyala, nokho izakhamuzi zakwaJuda, ezisebuhlotsheni besivumelwano noJehova, zimbi zedlula abantu balezo zizwe.
17. Izimo namuhla zifana kanjani nezakwaJuda ngaphansi kukaManase?
17 Njengoba sekuzoqala ikhulu lama-21, izimo zifana ngezindlela eziningi nezakwaJuda ezinsukwini zikaManase. Izwe liyaqhubeka lihlukaniswa yinzondo yezenkolo, yobuhlanga neyobuzwe. Izigidi ziye zaba izisulu zokubulawa okunyantisa igazi, ukuhlukunyezwa, ukudlwengulwa nalokho okubizwa ngokuthi ukuhlanzwa kohlanga. Akungabazeki ukuthi abantu nezizwe—ikakhulukazi izizwe zeLobukholwa—‘bangene shí ekuvukeleni kwabo.’ Nokho, singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova ngeke abuvumele ububi buqhubeke unomphela. Ngani? Ngenxa yalokho okwenzeka osukwini luka-Isaya.
IJerusalema Liyakhululwa
18. URabishake umxwayisa ngani uHezekiya?
18 Amakhosi ase-Asiriya ayedumisa onkulunkulu bawo lapho enqobile empini. Incwadi ethi Ancient Near Eastern Texts inemibhalo ka-Ashurbanipal, inkosi yase-Asiriya ethi wayeqondiswa “u-Ashur, uBel noNebo, onkulunkulu abakhulu, onkulunkulu [bakhe], (ababehlale) behamba eceleni (kwakhe), [ngesikhathi] enqoba amasosha (angomad’ ebona) . . . empini enkulu.” Osukwini luka-Isaya, uRabishake, othunywe inkosi yase-Asiriya uSaneheribi, ubonisa ukuthi naye uyakholelwa ekungeneleni konkulunkulu empini yabantu lapho ekhuluma neNkosi uHezekiya. Uxwayisa inkosi yamaJuda ngokuthembela kuJehova ukuze isindiswe, abese eveza ukuthi onkulunkulu bezinye izizwe baye bahluleka ukuvikela abantu babo ebuthweni lase-Asiriya elinamandla.—2 AmaKhosi 18:33-35.
19. UHezekiya usabela kanjani ekungcofweni uRabishake?
19 Isabela kanjani iNkosi uHezekiya? Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuthi: “Kwathi ngokushesha nje lapho iNkosi uHezekiya izwa, masinyane yaklebhula izingubo zayo yembatha indwangu yesaka yangena endlini kaJehova.” (2 AmaKhosi 19:1) UHezekiya uyaqaphela ukuthi munye kuphela ongamsiza kulesi simo esethusayo. Uyazithoba abheke kuJehova ukuze athole isiqondiso.
20. UJehova uzozilwela kanjani izakhamuzi zakwaJuda, futhi yini okufanele ziyifunde kulokhu?
20 UJehova unikeza isiqondiso esidingekayo. Ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uthi: “Ngalolo suku bayokwala yilowo nalowo onkulunkulu bakhe besiliva abangenanzuzo nonkulunkulu bakhe begolide abangasizi ngalutho, izandla zenu ezinenzele bona njengesono.” (Isaya 31:7) Lapho uJehova elwela abantu bakhe, onkulunkulu bakaSaneheribi bayokwembulwa lokho abayikho—abananzuzo. Lesi isifundo okumelwe zisilalele izakhamuzi zakwaJuda. Naphezu kokwethembeka kweNkosi uHezekiya, izwe lakwaJuda, njengelakwa-Israyeli, ligcwele izithombe. (Isaya 2:5-8) Ukuze izakhamuzi zakwaJuda zakhe kabusha ubuhlobo bazo noJehova, kuzodingeka ziphenduke ezonweni zazo futhi “lowo nalowo” alahle ‘onkulunkulu bakhe abangenanzuzo.’—Bheka u-Eksodusi 34:14.
21. U-Isaya uzichaza kanjani ngokwesiprofetho izenzo zikaJehova zokwahlulela umAsiriya?
21 Manje u-Isaya uchaza ngokwesiprofetho izenzo zikaJehova zokwahlulela isitha esesabekayo sikaJuda: “UmAsiriya kumelwe awe ngenkemba, kungeyona eyomuntu; futhi inkemba, okungeyona eyomuntu, iyomshwabadela. Kumelwe abaleke ngenxa yenkemba, futhi izinsizwa zakhe zibe ngezokwenza umsebenzi ophoqelelwe.” (Isaya 31:8) Lapho kufika olwamanqamu, izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema akudingeki nokuba zihoshe izinkemba emigodleni yazo. Ikhethelo lamabutho ase-Asiriya liqothulwa inkemba kaJehova, hhayi izinkemba zabantu. Mayelana nenkosi yase-Asiriya uSaneheribi, “kumelwe abaleke ngenxa yenkemba.” Ngemva kokufa kwamaqhawe akhe angu-185 000 ebulawa ingelosi kaJehova, ubuyela ekhaya. Kamuva, lapho esakhotheme kunkulunkulu wakhe uNisiroki, ubulawa amadodana akhe.—2 AmaKhosi 19:35-37.
22. AmaKristu namuhla angafundani ezigigabeni ezihilela uHezekiya nebutho lase-Asiriya?
22 Akekho noyedwa, ngisho noHezekiya, owayengabona kusengaphambili ukuthi uJehova wayezolikhulula kanjani iJerusalema ebuthweni lase-Asiriya. Noma kunjalo, indlela kaHezekiya yokubhekana nesimo esinzima iyisibonelo esihle kakhulu kulabo ababhekene nobunzima namuhla. (2 Korinte 4:16-18) Ngenxa yedumela elethusayo labase-Asiriya babesongela iJerusalema, kuyaqondakala ukuthi uHezekiya wayesaba. (2 AmaKhosi 19:3) Noma kunjalo, wayenokholo kuJehova, futhi wafuna isiqondiso saKhe, hhayi esomuntu. Yeka isibusiso iJerusalema elasithola ngokwenza kwakhe kanjalo! Nanamuhla amaKristu esaba uNkulunkulu angase acindezeleke ngokwemizwelo lapho engaphansi kwesimo esinzima. Ezimweni eziningi, ukwesaba kuyemukeleka. Nokho, uma ‘siphonsa konke ukukhathazeka kwethu kuJehova,’ uyosinakekela. (1 Petru 5:7) Uyosisiza sinqobe ukwesaba futhi asiqinise ukuze sikwazi ukubhekana nesimo esibangela ukucindezeleka.
23. Kungayiphi indlela kunguSaneheribi, hhayi uHezekiya, osele nemizwelo yokwesaba?
23 Ekugcineni, uSaneheribi, hhayi uHezekiya, osala nemizwelo yokwesaba. Angaphendukela kubani? U-Isaya uyabikezela: “‘Idwala lakhe liyodlula ngenxa nje yokwethuka, futhi ngenxa yesibonakaliso izikhulu zakhe kumelwe zesabe kakhulu,’ kusho uJehova, okukhanya kwakhe kuseZiyoni nosithando sakhe somlilo siseJerusalema.” (Isaya 31:9) Onkulunkulu bakaSaneheribi—“idwala” lakhe, isiphephelo athembele kuso—bayamdumaza. Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ‘bayadlula ngenxa nje yokwethuka.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngisho nezikhulu zikaSaneheribi azisizi ngalutho. Nazo ziyagubhazela uvalo.
24. Yisiphi isigijimi esicacile esitholakala kulokho okwehlela umAsiriya?
24 Le ngxenye yesiprofetho sika-Isaya inikeza isigijimi esicacile kubo bonke abafuna ukuba abaphikisi bakaNkulunkulu. Akukho sikhali, akukho mandla nacebo elingabhuntshisa izinjongo zikaJehova. (Isaya 41:11, 12) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, labo abathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu kodwa bamshiye bafune ukulondeka ezintweni ezingokwenyama, bayodumala. Noma obani “abangazange babheke koNgcwele ka-Israyeli” bayobona uJehova ‘eletha inhlekelele.’ (Isaya 31:1, 2) Ngempela, isiphephelo sangempela nesihlala njalo nguJehova uNkulunkulu.—IHubo 37:5.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Cishe amavesi amathathu okuqala ka-Isaya isahluko 31 abhekiswe ku-Israyeli ngokuyinhloko. Awokugcina ayisithupha kubonakala ebhekiswe kuJuda.
[Isithombe ekhasini 319]
Labo abathembela ezintweni ezibonakalayo bayodumala
[Isithombe ekhasini 322]
Njengengonyama eqaphe isisulu sayo, uJehova uyowuvikela umuzi wakhe ongcwele
[Izithombe ekhasini 324]
Izwe lihlukaniswe inzondo ebangelwa inkolo, ubuhlanga nobuzwe
[Isithombe ekhasini 326]
UHezekiya waya kofuna usizo endlini kaJehova