Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-26—UHezekeli

Umlobi: UHezekeli

Yalotshelwa: EBabiloni

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-591 B.C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 613–cishe ku-591 B.C.E.

 1. Zazinjani izimo zabathunjwa eBabiloni, futhi iziphi izilingo ezintsha ababhekana nazo?

NGONYAKA ka-617 B.C.E., uJehoyakini, inkosi yakwaJuda, wanikela iJerusalema kuNebukadinesari, owathatha abantu abavelele bezwe nengcebo yendlu kaJehova neyendlu yenkosi wakuyisa eBabiloni. Phakathi kwabathunjwa kwakunomkhaya wenkosi namakhosana; amadoda angamaqhawe nanamandla; izingcweti nabakhi; noHezekeli indodana kaBuzi umpristi. (2 AmaKh. 24:​11-17; Hez. 1:​1-⁠3) Edabukile, lamaIsrayeli athunjiwe ayeqede uhambo lwawo olukhathazayo esuka ezweni lamagquma, imithombo, nezigodi eya kwelamathafa. Manje ayesehlala ngasemfuleni iKhebari embusweni onamandla, ezungezwe abantu abanemikhuba angayazi nokukhulekela kobuqaba. UNebukadinesari wawavumela amaIsrayeli ukuba abe nezindlu zawo, abe nezinceku, futhi aqhube amabhizinisi. (Hez. 8:⁠1; Jer. 29:​5-⁠7; Ezra 2:​65) Uma ayekhuthele, ayengachuma. Ingabe ayeyowela ezingibeni zenkolo nasekuthandeni izinto ezibonakalayo kwaseBabiloni? Ingabe ayeyoqhubeka ehlubuka kuJehova? Ingabe ayeyokwamukela ukuthunjwa kwawo njengesijeziso esivela kuye? Ayeyohlangabezana nezilingo ezintsha ezweni athunjelwe kulo.

 2. (a) Ibaphi abaprofethi abathathu ababevelele phakathi neminyaka enzima ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema? (b) Ngokuphawulekayo, ubizwa ngokuthini uHezekeli, futhi igama lakhe lisho ukuthini? (c) UHezekeli waprofetha phakathi namiphi iminyaka, futhi yini eyaziwayo ngokuphila nokufa kwakhe?

² Phakathi naleminyaka enzima eholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema, uJehova akazange azincishe yena noma amaIsrayeli izinkonzo zabaprofethi. UJeremiya wayekhona kanye eJerusalema, uDaniyeli wayesesigodlweni saseBabiloni, futhi uHezekeli wayengumprofethi kubathunjwa abangamaJuda eBabiloni. UHezekeli wayengumpristi futhi engumprofethi, okuyilungelo elihlukile elalijatshulelwa nawuJeremiya futhi kamuva nawuZakariya. (Hez. 1:⁠3) Kuyo yonke incwadi yakhe ubizwa izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezingu-90 ngokuthi ‘indodana yomuntu,’ okuyiphuzu elibalulekile lapho ufunda isiprofetho sakhe, ngoba emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki, uJesu ngokufanayo ubizwa ngokuthi “iNdodana yomuntu” cishe izikhathi ezingu-80. (Hez. 2:⁠1; Math. 8:​20) Igama lakhe elithi Hezekeli (ngesiHeberu, Yechez·qe’lʹ) lisho ukuthi “UNkulunkulu Uyaqinisa.” Kwakungunyaka wesihlanu wokuthunjwa kukaJehoyakini, ngo-613 B.C.E., lapho uHezekeli ethunywa uJehova njengomprofethi. Sifunda ngaye esesemsebenzini wakhe ngonyaka wama-27 wokuthunjwa, eminyakeni engu-22 kamuva. (Hez. 1:​1, 2; 29:​17) Wayeshadile, kodwa umkakhe wafa ngosuku uNebukadinesari aqala ngalo ukulivimbezela okokugcina iJerusalema. (24:​2, 18) Usuku nendlela afa ngayo yena akwaziwa.

 3. Yini engashiwo ngokuba kukaHezekeli umlobi, nangokuba kwencwadi kaHezekeli ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli nobuqiniso bayo?

³ Akungatshazwa ukuthi uHezekeli owaloba lencwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe nokuthi isendaweni efanele ohlwini lwemiBhalo. Yafakwa ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli osukwini lukaEzra futhi iyavela ezincwadini zangesikhathi samaKristu okuqala, ikakhulukazi ohlwini lwezincwadi zikaOrigen. Ubuqiniso bayo bufakazelwa futhi ukufana okuphawulekayo phakathi kolimi olungokomfanekiso olusetshenziswe kuyo nolusetshenziswe encwadini kaJeremiya neyesAmbulo.​—⁠Hez. 24:​2-12​—⁠Jer. 1:​13-15; Hez. 23:​1-49​—⁠Jer. 3:​6-11; Hez. 18:​2-4​—⁠Jer. 31:​29, 30; Hez. 1:​5, 10​—⁠IsAm. 4:​6, 7; Hez. 5:17​—⁠IsAm. 6:⁠8; Hez. 9:4​—⁠IsAm. 7:⁠3; Hez. 2:⁠9; 3:1​—⁠IsAm. 10:​2, 8-10; Hez. 23:​22, 25, 26​—⁠IsAm. 17:​16; 18:⁠8; Hez. 27:​30, 36​—⁠IsAm. 18:​9, 17-19; Hez. 37:27​—⁠IsAm. 21:⁠3; Hez. 48:​30-34​—⁠IsAm. 21:​12, 13; Hez. 47:​1, 7, 12​—⁠IsAm. 22:​1, 2.

 4. Iziprofetho zikaHezekeli ziye zagcwaliseka kanjani ngokuphawulekayo?

⁴ Ubufakazi obengeziwe bobuqiniso bayo butholakala ekugcwalisekeni okuphawulekayo kweziprofetho zikaHezekeli ngokumelene nezizwe ezingomakhelwane, njengeTire, iGibithe, ne-Edomi. Ngokwesibonelo, uHezekeli waprofetha ukuthi iTire laliyochithwa, futhi lokhu kwagcwaliseka ngokwengxenye lapho uNebukadinesari ewuthatha lomuzi ngemva kokuwuvimbezela iminyaka engu-13. (Hez. 26:​2-21) Lempi ayizange ilibhubhise ngokuphelele iTire. Nokho, isahlulelo sikaJehova sasiwukuba libhujiswe ngokuphelele. Wayebikezele lokhu ngoHezekeli: “Ngiyakukhukhuza umhlabathi walo kulo, ngilenze idwala eliyinyabule. . . . Babeke amatshe akho nemithi yakho nesihlabathi sakho phakathi kwamanzi.” (26:​4, 12) Konke lokhu kwagcwaliseka eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-250 kamuva lapho uAlexander Omkhulu ehlasela umuzi waseTire osesiqhingini. Amasosha ka-Alexander akhuculula yonke imvithimvithi yomuzi ochithiwe osezwekazini ayiphonsa olwandle, enza indlela engamamitha angu-800 eya emzini osesiqhingini. Khona-ke, ngokuvimbezela kobuciko okuyinkimbinkimbi, acaca ezingangeni zomuzi ezingamamitha angu-46 ukuphakama ukuze awuthathe umuzi ngo-332 B.C.E. Kwabulawa izinkulungwane, futhi abaningi abengeziwe bathengiselwa ebugqilini. Njengoba uHezekeli ayebikezele futhi, iTire laba ‘idwala eliyinyabule nendawo yokweneka amanetha.’ (26:​14)a Ngakolunye uhlangothi lweZwe Lesithembiso, abakwaEdomi abanobuqili nabo babhujiswa, kugcwaliseka isiprofetho sikaHezekeli. (25:​12, 13; 35:​2-⁠9)b Yiqiniso, neziprofetho zikaHezekeli eziphathelene nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema nokubuyiselwa kukaIsrayeli nazo zaba yiqiniso.​—⁠17:​12-21; 36:​7-⁠14.

 5. AmaJuda asabela kanjani eziprofethweni zikaHezekeli zokuqala?

⁵ Eminyakeni yokuqala yomsebenzi wakhe wobuprofethi, uHezekeli wamemezela izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu eziqinisekile ngokumelene neJerusalema elingathembekile futhi waxwayisa abathunjwa ngokukhonza izithombe. (14:​1-⁠8; 17:​12-21) AmaJuda athunjiwe ayengabonisi zimpawu zangempela zokuphenduka. Amadoda awo anomthwalo wemfanelo ayenomkhuba wokubuza kuHezekeli, kodwa engazilaleli izigijimi ezivela kuJehova uHezekeli ayezidlulisela kuwo. Aqhubeka nokukhonza kwawo izithombe nemikhuba yokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. Ukulahleka kwethempeli lawo, umuzi wawo ongcwele, nohlanga lwamakhosi awo kwawethusa kakhulu, kodwa kwenza ambalwa kuphela ukuba azithobe futhi aphenduke.​—⁠IHu. 137:​1-⁠9.

 6. Yini egcizelelwa iziprofetho zikaHezekeli zakamuva, futhi ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova kuqokonyiswa kanjani?

⁶ Iziprofetho zikaHezekeli eminyakeni eyalandela zagcizelela ithemba lokubuyiselwa. Futhi zazibeka icala izizwe ezingomakhelwane bakaJuda ngenxa yokujabulela ukuwa kwakhe. Ukuthotshiswa kwazo siqu, kanye nokubuyiselwa kukaIsrayeli, kwakuyongcwelisa uJehova phambi kwazo. Ngamafuphi, injongo yokuthunjwa nokubuyiselwa yayiwukuba: ‘Nina bantu, kokubili nina maJuda nabezizwe, nazi ukuthi nginguJehova.’ (Hez. 39:​7, 22) Lokhu kungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova kuqokonyiswe kuyo yonke lencwadi, lapho izikhathi ezingaphezu kwezingu-60 kuvela khona amazwi athi: “Nazi [noma, bazi] ukuthi mina nginguJehova.”​—⁠6:⁠7, umbhalo waphansi weNW.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAHEZEKELI

 7. Incwadi kaHezekeli ngokuzenzakalelayo ihlukana ibe iziphi izingxenye ezintathu?

⁷ Lencwadi ihlukana ngokuzenzakalelayo ibe izingxenye ezintathu. Eyokuqala, izahluko 1 kuya ku-24, iqukethe izixwayiso zokubhujiswa okuqinisekile kweJerusalema. Ingxenye yesibili, izahluko 25 kuya ku-32, iqukethe iziprofetho zokubhujiswa kwezizwe eziningana zamaqaba. Ingxenye yokugcina, izahluko 33 kuya ku-48, iqukethe iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa, okufinyelela umvuthwandaba ngombono wethempeli elisha nomuzi ongcwele. Ngokuyinhloko, iziprofetho zihlelwe ngokwezikhathi nangokwezihloko.

 8. Yini ebonwa uHezekeli embonweni wakhe wokuqala?

⁸ UJehova uthuma uHezekeli ukuba abe umlindi (1:⁠1–3:​27). Embonweni wakhe wokuqala, ngo-613 B.C.E., uHezekeli ubona umoya omkhulu ovela enyakatho, kanye nefu elikhulu nomlilo ovuthayo. Kuphuma kuwo izidalwa ezine ezinamaphiko, zinobuso bomuntu, obengonyama, obenkunzi, nobokhozi. Zinesimo esinjengamalahle avuthayo, futhi ngasinye kunjengokungathi sihambisana nesondo eliphakathi kwesondo eliphakeme ngokwesabekayo, elinamafelange agcwele amehlo. Ngaso sonke isikhathi aya nomaphi ngobunye. Ngenhla kwamakhanda alezidalwa eziphilayo kukhona okunjengomkhathi, futhi ngaphezu komkhathi kunesihlalo sobukhosi okuhlezi kuso ‘okunjengesimo senkazimulo kaJehova.’​—⁠1:⁠28.

 9. Yini ehilelekile ekuthunyweni kukaHezekeli?

⁹ UJehova ubiza uHezekeli owe ngobuso: “Ndodana yomuntu, yima ngezinyawo zakho.” Khona-ke ube esemthuma ukuba abe umprofethi kuIsrayeli nasezizweni ezihlubukayo ezimzungezile. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bayalalela yini noma cha. Okungenani bayokwazi ukuthi umprofethi weNkosi uJehova ubephakathi kwabo. UJehova udlisa uHezekeli umqulu wencwadi, oba njengoju ngobumnandi emlonyeni wakhe. Uthi kuye: “Ndodana yomuntu, ngikwenzé umlindi kuyo indlu yakwaIsrayeli.” (2:⁠1; 3:​17) UHezekeli kumelwe asinikeze ngokwethembeka isixwayiso, kungenjalo uzofa.

10. Yisiphi isibonakaliso kuIsrayeli uHezekeli asifanekisela ngezenzo?

¹⁰ Ukufanekisa ngezenzo ukuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema (4:⁠1–7:​27). UJehova utshela uHezekeli ukuba aqophe umfanekiso weJerusalema esitinini. Kumelwe enze isenzo esifanekisela ukuvinjezelwa kwalo njengesibonakaliso kuIsrayeli. Ukuze agcizelele iphuzu, kumelwe alale phambi kwesitini izinsuku ezingu-390 ngohlangothi lwesobunxele nezinsuku ezingu-40 ngolwesokudla, kuyilapho ephila ngokudla okuncane kakhulu. Ukuthi uHezekeli ukwenza ngempela kuboniswa ukunxusa kwakhe uJehova ngendlela ebanga usizi ecela ukuba kushintshwe lokho ayephemba ngakho umlilo.​—⁠4:​9-⁠15.

11. (a) UHezekeli usifanekisela kanjani isiphelo esiyinhlekelele sokuvinjezelwa? (b) Kungani kungayikuba nampumuzo?

¹¹ UJehova wenza uHezekeli ukuba abonise isiphelo esiyinhlekelele sokuvinjezelwa ngokuba agunde izinwele zakhe nentshebe. Ingxenye yesithathu yalokhu kumelwe ayishise, ingxenye yesithathu elandelayo ayiqobe ngommese, futhi enye ingxenye yesithathu ayihlakazele emoyeni. Kanjalo, ekupheleni kokuvinjezelwa, ezinye zezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema ziyofa ngendlala, ubhadane, nangenkemba, futhi ezinye ezisele ziyohlakazeka phakathi kwezizwe. UJehova uyolenza libe yincithakalo. Ngani? Ngenxa yokunyanyeka kokukhonza kwalo izithombe okonakele, nokunengekayo. Ingcebo ngeke iyithenge impumuzo. Ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaJehova, abantu baseJerusalema bayolahla isiliva labo ezitaladini, “bazi ukuthi nginguJehova.”​—⁠7:⁠27.

12. Yiziphi izinto ezinengekayo ezibonwa uHezekeli embonweni wakhe weJerusalema eliyisihlubuki?

¹² Umbono kaHezekeli weJerusalema eliyisihlubuki (8:⁠1–11:​25). Manje sekungu-612 B.C.E. Embonweni uHezekeli uyiswa eJerusalema ekude, lapho ebona khona izinto ezinengekayo ezenzeka ethempelini likaJehova. Egcekeni, kukhona uphawu olunengekayo olubangela uJehova ukuba abe nomhawu. Lapho ebhoboza imbobo ogangeni, uHezekeli uthola amadoda amadala angu-70 ekhuleka phambi kwemifanekiso yezilo ezinengekayo eqoshwe odongeni naphambi kwezithombe ezihlazisayo. Azithethelela ngokuthi: “UJehova akasiboni, uJehova ulishiyile izwe.” (8:​12) Esangweni elisenyakatho, abesifazane balilela unkulunkulu wamaqaba uTamuzi. Kodwa akupheleli lapho! Khona kanye emnyango wethempeli ngokwalo, kunamadoda angu-25, afulathele ithempeli, ekhulekela ilanga. Adelela uJehova isidanasi, futhi ngokuqinisekile uyothatha isinyathelo ngokufutheka kwakhe!

13. Yimiphi imiyalo indoda embethe ilineni namadoda ayisithupha aphethe izinkemba ayigcinayo?

¹³ Manje bheka! Kuvela amadoda ayisithupha ephethe izikhali zokubulala. Phakathi kwawo kukhona eyesikhombisa, yembethe ilineni, inophondo lukayinki womlobi. UJehova utshela lendoda embethe ilineni ukuba idabule phakathi komuzi futhi ibeke uphawu emabunzini abantu ababubulayo nabakhalayo ngenxa yezinto ezinyanyekayo ezenziwa phakathi kwawo. Ngokulandelayo, utshela amadoda ayisithupha ukuba angene abulale wonke umuntu, “amaxhegu, nezinsizwa, nezintombi, nezingane, nabesifazane,” ongenalo uphawu. Ayakwenza lokhu, eqala ngamadoda amadala aphambi kwendlu. Indoda embethe ilineni iyabika: “Ngenzile njengokungiyala kwakho.”​—⁠9:​6, 11.

14. Yini umbono ekugcineni oyibonisayo ngenkazimulo kaJehova nangezahlulelo zakhe?

¹⁴ UHezekeli uyaphinda futhi ubona inkazimulo kaJehova, inyukela ngenhla kwamakherubi. Ikherubi likhipha amalahle avuthayo phakathi kwamasondo, futhi indoda embethe ilineni iyawathatha futhi iwasakaza phezu komuzi. Ngokuqondene nabantu bakwaIsrayeli abahlakazekile, uJehova uthembisa ukuphinde abahlanganise futhi abanike umoya omusha. Kodwa kuthiwani ngalabakhulekeli ababi bamanga eJerusalema? “Ngiyakwehlisela phezu kwamakhanda abo indlela yabo,” kusho uJehova. (11:​21) Inkazimulo kaJehova ibonakala ikhuphuka ivela phezu komuzi, futhi uHezekeli utshela abantu abathunjiwe ngalombono.

15. Imuphi omunye umfanekiso uHezekeli abonisa ngawo ukuthi izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema nakanjani zizoya ekuthunjweni?

¹⁵ Iziprofetho ezengeziwe eBabiloni ngokuqondene neJerusalema (12:​1–19:​14). UHezekeli uba umdlali kwesinye isigcawu esingokomfanekiso. Emini, ukhipha endlini yakhe umthwalo wakhe wokuya ekuthunjweni, bese kuthi ebusuku angene ngembobo esogangeni lomuzi emboze ubuso. Uchaza lokhu njengesibonakaliso: “Bayakuya ekuthunjweni, baboshwe.” (12:​11) Labobaprofethi abayiziwula abahamba belandela umoya wabo siqu! Bayamemeza, “Ngukuthula!” kuyilapho kungekho. (13:​10) Ngisho noma uNowa, uDaniyeli, noJobe babeseJerusalema, babengenakukhulula mphefumulo ngaphandle kwabo siqu.

16. Ubuze beJerusalema bufanekiselwa kanjani, kodwa kungani kuyoba nokubuyiselwa?

¹⁶ Umuzi unjengomvini oyize. Ukhuni alulungile ukuba lwenze izinsika, ngisho nezikhonkwane! Lushiswé nhlangothi zombili futhi luhangukile phakathi nendawo​—⁠alunamsebenzi. Yeka indlela iJerusalema eliye laba elingenalukholo futhi laba yize ngayo! Lizelwe ezweni lamaKhanani, latholwa uJehova njengosana olulahliwe. Walikhulisa futhi wenza isivumelwano somshado nalo. Walenza laba lihle, “lafanelekela isikhundla sasebukhosini.” (16:​13, NW) Kodwa liye laba isifebe, liphendukela ezizweni njengoba zidlula. Liye lakhulekela izithombe zazo futhi lashisa amadodana alo emlilweni. Isiphelo salo siyoba ukubhujiswa yizo kanye lezizizwe, amashende alo. Libi kakhulu kunodadewabo iSodoma neSamariya. Ngisho noma kunjalo, uJehova, uNkulunkulu onomusa, uyolihlangula futhi alibuyisele njengokwesivumelwano sakhe.

17. Yini uJehova ayibonisayo ngemfumbe yokhozi nomvini?

¹⁷ UJehova unika lomprofethi imfumbe abese elandisa incazelo yayo. Ibonisa ubuze bokuphendukela kweJerusalema eGibithe ukuze lithole usizo. Kufika ukhozi olukhulu (uNebukadinesari) futhi luncothule isihloko somsedari ophakeme (uJehoyakini), lusilethe eBabiloni, lutshale esikhundleni saso umvini (uSedekiya). Umvini uphendulela amagatsha awo kolunye ukhozi (iGibithe), kodwa ingabe uyaphumelela? Uyasishulwa! UJehova ngokwakhe uyothatha igatsha elithambile esihlokweni esiphakeme somsedari alitshale entabeni ephakeme. Lapho liyokhula libe umsedari omkhulu ube indawo yokuphumula ‘yezinyoni zezinhlobo zonke.’ Bonke bayokwazi ukuthi uJehova okwenzile.​—⁠17:​23, 24.

18. (a) Iziphi izimiso uJehova azishoyo ekusoleni abathunjwa abangamaJuda? (b) Yisiphi isahlulelo esilindele amakhosi akwaJuda?

¹⁸ UJehova usola abathunjwa abangamaJuda ngenxa yesaga sabo esithi: “Oyise badlile izithelo zomvini ezimuncu, amazinyo abantwana aba-bushelezi.” Cha, “umphefumulo owonayo [yiwona o]yakufa.” (18:​2, 4) Olungileyo uyoqhubeka ephila. UJehova akakujabuleli ukufa komubi. Ujabulela ukubona omubi ephenduka ezindleleni zakhe ezimbi futhi aphile. Ngokuqondene namakhosi akwaJuda, njengamawundlu engonyama, abanjwe ogibeni iGibithe neBabiloni. Izwi lawo ‘alisayikuzwakala ezintabeni zakwaIsrayeli.’​—⁠19:⁠9.

19. (a) Naphezu kwencithakalo, iliphi ithemba uHezekeli alenza laziwe? (b) Ukufanekisela kanjani ukungathembeki kukaIsrayeli noJuda nomphumela wakho?

¹⁹ Izahlulelo ngokumelene neJerusalema (20:1–​23:​49). Isikhathi siye saqhubeka safika ku-611 B.C.E. Amadoda amadala phakathi kwabathunjwa ayaphinda futhi eza kuHezekeli ezobuza ngaye kuJehova. Lokho akuzwayo kuwukuphindwa komlando omude wokuhlubuka kukaIsrayeli nowokukhonza kwakhe izithombe okungcolile nesixwayiso sokuthi uJehova uye wayala ukuba inkemba ikhiphe isahlulelo ngokumelene naye. Uyokwenza ukuba iJerusalema ‘ligumbuqelwe, ligumbuqelwe, ligumbuqelwe.’ Kodwa, kunethemba elikhazimulayo! UJehova uzogcina ubukhosi (“umqhele”) abugcinele lowo oza ‘nemfanelo’ futhi amnike bona. (21:​26, 27) UHezekeli ubukeza izinto ezinyanyekayo ezenziwa eJerusalema, “umuzi wegazi.” Indlu kaIsrayeli isibe ‘amanyela’ futhi kumelwe ihlanganiselwe eJerusalema futhi incibilikiswe njengokungathi iseklobeni lomlilo. (22:​2, 18) Ukungathembeki kweSamariya (uIsrayeli) nokukaJuda kufanekiselwa amantombazane amabili andawonye. ISamariya njengo-Ohola lifeba nabaseAsiriya futhi libhujiswa izithandwa zalo. UJuda njengo-Oholiba akafundi sifundo kodwa wenza okubi ngisho nangaphezulu, efeba okokuqala neAsiriya futhi kamuva neBabiloni. Uzobhujiswa ngokuphelele, “nazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi uJehova.”​—⁠23:⁠49.

20. IJerusalema elivinjezelwe lifaniswa nani, futhi yiluphi uphawu olunamandla uJehova alunikezayo ngokuqondene nesahlulelo sakhe kulo?

²⁰ Ukuvinjezelwa kokugcina kweJerusalema kuyaqala (24:​1-27). Unyaka ka-609 B.C.E. UJehova utshela uHezekeli ukuthi inkosi yaseBabiloni ivimbezele iJerusalema ngalolusuku lweshumi lwenyanga yeshumi. Uwufanisa nekhanzi lomuzi obiyelwe ngezingange, izakhamuzi zawo zekhethelo ezifanisa nenyama ekulo. Lishisise! Bilisa konke ukungcola kokukhonza izithombe okunyanyekayo kweJerusalema! Ngalolosuku olufanayo, umkaHezekeli uyafa, kodwa elalela uJehova, lomprofethi akalili. Lokhu kuwuphawu lokuthi abantu akumelwe bakulilele ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema, ngoba kuyisahlulelo esivela kuJehova, ukuze bazi ukuthi ungubani. UJehova uyothumela umbaleki ukuba axwayise ngokubhujiswa ‘kwentokozo nobuhle babo,’ futhi engakafiki, uHezekeli akumelwe akhulume nabathunjwa.​—⁠24:⁠25.

21. Izizwe ziyomazi kanjani uJehova nempindiselo yakhe?

²¹ Iziprofetho ngokumelene nezizwe (25:⁠1–32:​32). UJehova ukubona kusengaphambili ukuthi izizwe ezizungezile ziyokujabulela ukuwa kweJerusalema futhi zikusebenzise njengethuba lokuhlambalaza uNkulunkulu kaJuda. Aziyikuyekwa zingajeziswa! UAmoni uyonikelwa kwabaseMpumalanga, noMowabi ngokufanayo. UEdomi uyokwenziwa indawo eyincithakalo, futhi kuyokwenziwa izenzo ezinkulu zokuphindisela kumaFilisti. UJehova uthi, zonke “[z]azi ukuthi nginguJehova, lapho ngibeka impindiselo yami ku[z]o.”​—⁠25:⁠17.

22. Kuthiwani ngokukhethekile ngeTire, futhi uJehova uyongcweliswa kanjani ngokuqondene neSidoni?

²² ITire kukhulunywa ngalo ngokukhethekile. Liqhosha ngezentengiselwano zalo ezichumayo, linjengomkhumbi omuhle phakathi nolwandle, kodwa ngokushesha liyoba yizicucu ekujuleni kwamanzi. Umholi walo uqhosha ngokuthi: “ngingunkulunkulu mina.” (28:⁠9) UJehova wenza ukuba umprofethi wakhe alethe isililo ngokuqondene nenkosi yaseTire: Njengekherubi elihle eligcotshiweyo, yayise-Edene, insimu kaNkulunkulu; kodwa uJehova uyoyisusa entabeni yaKhe njengengcolile, futhi iyodliwa umlilo ovela ngaphakathi kuyo. UJehova uthi uyongcweliswa futhi ngokubhubhisa iSidoni eleyisayo.

23. Yini iGibithe okuyomelwe liyazi, futhi lokhu kuyokwenzeka kanjani?

²³ UJehova manje utshela uHezekeli ukuba abhekise ubuso bakhe eGibithe nakuFaro walo futhi aprofethe ngokumelene nalo. “Umfula [iNayile, NW] ungowami, mina ngiwenzile,” kuqhosha uFaro. (29:⁠3) UFaro, nabaseGibithe abakholelwa kuye, nabo kuyomelwe bazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu, futhi lesifundo siyolethwa ngencithakalo yeminyaka engu-40. UHezekeli lapha unezela okunye ukwaziswa empeleni akwambulelwa kamuva, ngo-591 B.C.E. UJehova uyolinika uNebukadinesari iGibithe njengenkokhelo yomsebenzi wakhe wokunqoba iTire. (UNebukadinesari wathatha impango encane kakhulu eTire, njengoba abaseTire babebaleke neningi yengcebo yabo baya emzini wabo oyisiqhingi.) Esililweni, uHezekeli ukwenza kwaziwe ukuthi uNebukadinesari uyophanga lokho okubangela ukuqhosha kweGibithe, futhi “bayakwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.”​—⁠32:⁠15.

24. (a) Uyini umthwalo wemfanelo kaHezekeli njengomlindi? (b) Lapho ezwa izindaba zokuwa kweJerusalema, yisiphi isigijimi uHezekeli asimemezela kubathunjwa? (c) Yisiphi isithembiso sesibusiso esiqokonyiswa esahlukweni 34?

²⁴ Umlindi wabathunjwa; kubikezelwa ukubuyiselwa (33:⁠1–37:​28). UJehova noHezekeli babukeza umthwalo wakhe wemfanelo njengomlindi. Abantu bathi, “Indlela yeNkosi ayilingani.” Ngakho uHezekeli kumelwe akwenze kucace kubo ukuthi banephutha kangakanani. (33:​17) Kodwa manje sekungu-607 B.C.E., usuku lwesihlanu lwenyanga yeshumi.c Umbaleki uyafika evela eJerusalema ezotshela umprofethi: “Umuzi unqotshiwe.” (33:​21) UHezekeli, manje usekhululekile futhi ukuba akhulume nabathunjwa, ubatshela ukuthi noma yimiphi imicabango abanayo yokukhulula uJuda iyize. Nakuba beza kuHezekeli ukuzokuzwa izwi likaJehova, kubo unjengomculi wezingoma zothando, njengomuntu onezwi elimnandi odlala kahle ugubhu. Abanaki. Nokho, lapho sekwenzeka ngempela, bayokwazi ukuthi umprofethi ubephakathi kwabo. UHezekeli usola abelusi bamanga abalahle umhlambi ukuba bazondle bona ngokwabo. UJehova, uMalusi Ophelele, uyobutha izimvu ezihlakazekile futhi azilethe emadlelweni anothile ezintabeni zakwaIsrayeli. Lapho uyozimisela umalusi oyedwa, ‘inceku yakhe uDavide.’ (34:​23) UJehova ngokwakhe uyoba uNkulunkulu wabo. Uyokwenza isivumelwano sokuthula futhi abathululele inqwaba yezibusiso.

25. (a) Kungani uJehova eyokwenza izwe libe njenge-Edene futhi kanjani? (b) Yini efanekiselwa umbono wamathambo omile? nowezinti ezimbili?

²⁵ UHezekeli uyaphinda futhi uprofetha ngokuchithwa kweNtaba iSeyiri (iEdomi). Nokho, izindawo ezichithiwe zakwaIsrayeli ziyophinde zakhiwe futhi, ngoba uJehova uyoba nesihawu ngegama lakhe elingcwele, ukuze alingcwelise phambi kwezizwe. Uyonika abantu bakhe inhliziyo entsha nomoya omusha, futhi izwe labo liyophinda libe “njengensimu yase-Edene.” (36:​35) UHezekeli manje ubona umbono kaIsrayeli emelelwe isigodi samathambo omile. UHezekeli uyaprofetha phezu kwalamathambo. Ngokuyisimangaliso aqala ukuba nenyama, ayaphefumula futhi aba nokuphila. Ngendlela efanayo uJehova uyovula izindawo zokuthumba ezingamathuna zaseBabiloni futhi aphinde abuyisele uIsrayeli ezweni lakhe. UHezekeli uthatha izinti ezimbili ezimelela izindlu zakwaIsrayeli ezimbili, uJuda noEfrayimi. Esandleni sakhe ziba uthi olulodwa. Kanjalo, lapho uJehova ebuyisela uIsrayeli, bayohlangana esivumelwaneni sokuthula ngaphansi kwenceku yakhe “uDavide.”​—⁠37:⁠24.

26. Kungani uGogi wakwaMagogi ehlasela, futhi kuba namuphi umphumela?

²⁶ Ukuhlaselwa kukaIsrayeli obuyiselwe uGogi wakwaMagogi (38:⁠1–39:​29). Kuyobe sekufika ukuhlasela okuvela endaweni entsha! Ehehwa ukuthula nokuchuma okufiselekayo kwabantu bakaJehova ababuyiselwe, uGogi wakwaMagogi uyohlasela ngobuhlanya. Uyophulukundlela ukuba abashwabadele. Kulokhu, uJehova uyosukuma ngentukuthelo yakhe evuthayo. Uyokwenza ukuba inkemba yomuntu imelane nomfowabo futhi abalethele ubhadane negazi nesichotho esikhukhulayo, umlilo nesibabule. Bayokufa bazi ukuthi uJehova ‘ungoNgcwele wakwaIsrayeli.’ (39:⁠7) Abantu bakhe bayobe sebephemba imililo ngezikhali zempi eziphohloziwe zezitha futhi bangcwabe amathambo ‘esigodini saseHamoni-Gogi.’ (39:​11) Izinyoni nezilwane ezidla izidumbu ziyodla inyama yalabo ababulewe ziphuze negazi labo. Kusuka ngalesosikhathi uIsrayeli uyohlala ngokulondeka, kungekho muntu oyomenza athuthumele, futhi uJehova uyothululela umoya wakhe kuye.

27. Yini uHezekeli ayibonayo ekuhambeleni kwakhe ngombono ezweni lakwaIsrayeli, futhi inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ivela kanjani?

²⁷ Umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli (40:⁠1–48:​35). Sesifika onyakeni ka-593 B.C.E. Sekungunyaka we-14 kusukela ekubhujisweni kwethempeli likaSolomoni, futhi abaphendukile phakathi kwabathunjwa badinga isikhuthazo nethemba. UJehova uyisa uHezekeli ngombono ezweni lakwaIsrayeli futhi umbeka entabeni ephakeme kakhulu. Lapha, embonweni, ubona ithempeli ‘nesakhiwo somuzi ngaseningizimu.’ Ingelosi iyamyala: “Yitshele indlu yakwaIsrayeli konke okubonayo.” (40:​2, 4) Ngemva kwalokho ibonisa uHezekeli yonke imininingwane yethempeli namagceke alo, ilinganisa izindonga, amasango, amakamelo abalindi, amakamelo okudlela, nethempeli ngokwalo, kanye nendawo yalo eNgcwele neNgcwelengcwele. Ithatha uHezekeli imyisa esangweni elingasempumalanga. “Bheka, inkazimulo kaJehova kaIsrayeli yavela ngasempumalanga, izwi lakhe lalinjengokuholoba kwamanzi amaningi, umhlaba wakhanya ngenkazimulo yakhe.” (43:⁠2) Ingelosi imyala ngokugcwele uHezekeli ngeNdlu (noma ithempeli); ngealtare nemihlatshelo yalo; ngamalungelo nemisebenzi yabapristi, amaLevi, nesikhulu; nangokuhlukaniswa kwezwe.

28. Umbono kaHezekeli ubonisani ngokuqondene nomfudlana ovela eNdlini, futhi yini embulwayo ngokuqondene nomuzi negama lawo?

²⁸ Ingelosi ibuyisela uHezekeli emnyango weNdlu, lapho umprofethi ebona khona amanzi evela embundwini weNdlu ongasempumalanga, ngasohlangothini olungaseningizimu lwealtare. Aqala njengomfudlana kodwa aya anda aze abe umfula omkhulu. Khona-ke ugelezela oLwandle Olufile, lapho izinhlanzi ziqala khona ukuphila futhi kuqala nebhizinisi lokudoba. Nhlangothi zombili zomfula, imithi iveza ukudla nokokwelashwa kwabantu. Umbono ube sewunikeza izizwe ezingu-12 amafa azo, ungasikhohlwa isakhamuzi esigogobele kanye nesikhulu, futhi uchaza umuzi ongcwele oseningizimu, namasango awo angu-12 ethiwe ngezizwe. Umuzi kumelwe ubizwe ngegama elikhazimula kunawo wonke: “UJEHOVA ULAPHA.”​—⁠48:⁠35.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

29. Iyiphi indlela abathunjiweyo abangamaJuda abazuza ngayo esiprofethweni sikaHezekeli?

²⁹ Izimemezelo, imibono, nezithembiso uJehova azinika uHezekeli konke kwalandiswa ngokwethembeka kumaJuda ayesekuthunjweni. Nakuba amaningi amhleka usulu umprofethi, amanye akholwa. Lawa azuza kakhulu. Aqiniswa izithembiso zokubuyiselwa. Ngokungafani nezinye izizwe ezathunjwa, abulondoloza ubuzwe bawo, futhi uJehova wabuyisela insali, njengoba ayebikezele, ngo-537 B.C.E. (Hez. 28:​25, 26; 39:​21-28; Ezra 2:⁠1; 3:⁠1) Aphinda ayakha indlu kaJehova futhi avuselela ukukhulekela kweqiniso lapho.

30. Yiziphi izimiso ezihlelwe encwadini kaHezekeli eziyinzuzo kithi namuhla?

³⁰ Izimiso ezibekwe encwadini kaHezekeli ziyinzuzo enkulu nakithi namuhla. Ukuhlubuka nokukhonza izithombe, okuhambisana nokudlubulunda, kungaholela kuphela ekungamukelekini kuJehova. (Hez. 6:​1-⁠7; 12:​2-4, 11-16) Ngamunye uyoziphendulela ngesono sakhe, kodwa uJehova uyomthethelela ophendukayo enkambweni yakhe engalungile. Lowo uyoboniswa umusa futhi uyoqhubeka ephila. (18:​20-22) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kumelwe zibe abalindi abathembeke njengoHezekeli, ngisho nasezabelweni ezinzima nangaphansi kokuhlekwa usulu nokuhlanjalazwa. Akumelwe siyeke ababi bafe bengaxwayiswanga, igazi labo liphezu kwamakhanda ethu. (3:​17; 33:​1-⁠9) Abelusi babantu bakaNkulunkulu banomthwalo wemfanelo omkhulu wokunakekela umhlambi.​—⁠34:​2-⁠10.

31. Yiziphi iziprofetho zikaHezekeli ezibikezela ukuza kukaMesiya?

³¹ Okuvelele encwadini kaHezekeli iziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya. Kubhekiselwa kuye ngokuthi “omfanelo ingeyakhe” ukuba sesihlalweni sobukhosi sikaDavide nokufanele asinikwe. Ezindaweni ezimbili kuthiwa “inceku yami uDavide,” “umalusi,” “iNkosi,” ‘nesikhulu.’ (21:​27; 34:​23, 24; 37:​24, 25) Njengoba uDavide kwase kukade afa, uHezekeli wayekhuluma ngaLowo owayezoba yikho kokubili iNdodana neNkosi kaDavide. (IHu. 110:⁠1; Math. 22:​42-45) UHezekeli, njengoIsaya, ukhuluma ngokutshalwa kwegatsha elithambile [ihlumela] uJehova ayoliphakamisa.​—⁠Hez. 17:​22-24; Isaya 11:​1-⁠3.

32. Umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli ufana ngayiphi indlela nombono wesAmbulo ‘womuzi ongcwele’?

³² Kuyathakazelisa ukuqhathanisa umbono kaHezekeli wethempeli nombono wesAmbulo ‘womuzi ongcwele waseJerusalema.’ (IsAm. 21:​10) Kunomehluko ophawulekayo; ngokwesibonelo, ithempeli likaHezekeli lihlukene nomuzi futhi lingasenyakatho yawo, kuyilapho uJehova ngokwakhe eyithempeli lomuzi kusAmbulo. Nokho, endabeni ngayinye kugeleza umfula wokuphila, kukhona imithi ethela izithelo nyanga zonke namacembe okwelapha, futhi kukhona inkazimulo kaJehova. Umbono ngamunye unengxenye ekwaziseni ubukhosi bukaJehova nelungiselelo lakhe lokusindiswa kwalabo abanikela inkonzo engcwele kuye.​—⁠Hez. 43:​4, 5​—⁠IsAm. 21:​11; Hez. 47:​1, 8, 9, 12​—⁠IsAm. 22:​1-⁠3.

33. Yini incwadi kaHezekeli eyigcizelelayo, futhi uyoba yini umphumela kulabo abangcwelisa uJehova manje ngokuphila kwabo?

³³ Incwadi kaHezekeli igcizelela ukuthi uJehova ungcwele. Ikwenza kwaziwe ukuthi ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova kubaluleke ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye. “Ngiyakulingcwelisa igama lami elikhulu . . . izizwe zazi ukuthi nginguJehova, isho iNkosi uJehova.” Njengoba isiprofetho sibonisa, uyongcwelisa igama lakhe ngokubhubhisa bonke abangcolisa lelogama, kuhlanganise noGogi wakwaMagogi. Bahlakaniphile bonke abangcwelisa uJehova manje ekuphileni kwabo ngokuhlangabezana nezimfuneko zakhe zokukhulekela okwamukelekayo. Laba bayothola ukwelashwa nokuphila okuphakade emfuleni ogeleza uvela ethempelini lakhe. Ukhazimula ngokwedlulele futhi muhle ngokuphelele umuzi obizwa ngokuthi “UJEHOVA ULAPHA”!​—⁠Hez. 36:​23; 38:​16; 48:⁠35.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]