Isahluko Sesishiyagalolunye

Ubani Oyobusa Izwe?

 1-3. Chaza iphupho nemibono uDaniyeli ayithola ngonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kukaBelishasari.

ISIPROFETHO sikaDaniyeli esithakazelisayo manje sisiphindisela emuva onyakeni wokuqala wenkosi yaseBabiloni uBelishasari. Sekuyisikhathi eside uDaniyeli eyisithunjwa eBabiloni, kodwa ubuqotho bakhe kuJehova abukaze buntengantenge. Manje njengoba esevile eminyakeni engu-70 ubudala, lo mprofethi okholekile ubona “iphupho nemibono yekhanda lakhe embhedeni wakhe.” Yeka indlela emethusa ngayo leyo mibono!—Daniyeli 7:1, 15.

² “Bheka laphaya” kumemeza uDaniyeli. “Imimoya yomine yezulu yavumbuluka elwandle olukhulu. Izilo ezine ezinkulu zakhuphuka elwandle, zahlukile esinye kwesinye.” Yeka izilo ezingavamile! Esokuqala yingonyama enamaphiko, esesibili sifana nebhere. Bese kuba ingwe enamaphiko amane namakhanda amane! Esesine esinamandla ngokungajwayelekile sinamazinyo amakhulu ensimbi nezimpondo eziyishumi. Phakathi kwezimpondo zaso eziyishumi kuvela uphondo “oluncane” ‘olunamehlo anjengamehlo omuntu nomlomo okhuluma izinto ezinkulu.’—Daniyeli 7:2-8.

³ Imibono kaDaniyeli ibe isiphendukela ezulwini. OMdala Wezinsuku uhlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, ekhazimula njengoMahluleli eNkantolo yasezulwini. ‘Kunezinkulungwane zezinkulungwane ezimkhonzayo, nezinkulungwane eziyishumi zezinkulungwane eziyishumi ezimi ngaphambi kwakhe.’ Unikeza izilo isahlulelo sokulahlwa, uzephuca ukubusa abese ebhubhisa isilo sesine. ‘Onjengendodana yomuntu’ unikezwa ukubusa okungapheli phezu ‘kwabantu, izizwe nezilimi.’—Daniyeli 7:9-14.

 4. (a) UDaniyeli waya kubani ukuze athole ukwaziswa okunokwethenjelwa? (b) Kungani kubalulekile kithi lokho uDaniyeli akubona nakuzwa ngalobo busuku?

⁴ “Mina,” kusho uDaniyeli, “umoya wami wawukhathazeka edokodweni lawo nemibono yekhanda lami yangihlupha.” Ngakho ucela engelosini “iqiniso lakho konke lokhu.” Ingelosi iyamnika ngempela “incazelo yezindaba.” (Daniyeli 7:15-28) Lokho uDaniyeli akuzwa futhi wakubona ngalobo busuku kusithakazelisa kakhulu, ngoba kwacacisa izenzakalo zezwe zesikhathi esizayo kuze kube sesikhathini sethu, lapho lowo “onjengendodana yomuntu” enikwa ukubusa phezu “kwabantu, izizwe nezilimi.” Ngosizo lweZwi likaNkulunkulu nomoya wakhe, nathi singakuqonda okushiwo yile mibono engokwesiprofetho.a

IZILO EZINE ZIPHUMA OLWANDLE

 5. Ulwandle olugubhaziswa umoya lwalufanekiselani?

⁵ “Izilo ezine ezinkulu zakhuphuka elwandle,” kusho uDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 7:3) Lwalufanekiselani lolu lwandle olwalugubhaziswa umoya? Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, umphostoli uJohane wabona isilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa siphuma “olwandle.” Lolo lwandle lwalumelela “abantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi”—uquqaba lwesintu esihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu. Khona-ke, ulwandle luwuphawu olufanelekayo loquqaba lwesintu esikude noNkulunkulu.—IsAmbulo 13:1, 2; 17:15; Isaya 57:20.

 6. Izilo ezine zimelelani?

⁶ Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yathi: “Lezo zilo ezinkulu ezine zingamakhosi amane ayakuvela emhlabeni.” (Daniyeli 7:17) Ngokusobala ingelosi yacacisa ukuthi lezi zilo ezine ezabonwa uDaniyeli ‘zingamakhosi amane.’ Ngakho, lezi zilo zimelela amakhosi omhlaba. Kodwa maphi wona?

 7. (a) Abanye abahlaziyi beBhayibheli bathini ngombono kaDaniyeli oyiphupho wezilo ezine nangephupho leNkosi uNebukadinesari lesizemazema sesithombe? (b) Imelelani ingxenye ngayinye yezakhi zesithombe?

⁷ Abahlaziyi beBhayibheli bavame ukuhlobanisa iphupho likaDaniyeli eliwumbono wezilo ezine nephupho likaNebukadinesari lesizemazema sesithombe. Ngokwesibonelo, i-Expositor’s Bible Commentary ithi: “Isahluko 7 [sikaDaniyeli] sifana nesahluko 2.” I-Wycliffe Bible Commentary ithi: “Kuyavunyelwana ngokuthi ukulandelana kwemibuso emine yeZizwe . . . lapha [kuDaniyeli isahluko 7] kuyefana nalokho okucatshangelwa esahlukweni 2 [sikaDaniyeli].” Imibuso yezwe emine efanekiselwa izakhi zesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari kwakuwuMbuso WaseBabiloni (ikhanda legolide), owamaMede NamaPheresiya (isifuba nezingalo zesiliva), iGrisi (amathanga nesisu sethusi), noMbuso WaseRoma (imilenze yensimbi).b (Daniyeli 2:32, 33) Ake sibone ukuthi le mibuso ifana kanjani nezilo ezinkulu ezine ezabonwa uDaniyeli.

SINONYA NJENGENGONYAMA, SISHESHA NJENGOKHOZI

 8. (a) UDaniyeli wasichaza kanjani isilo sokuqala? (b) Isilo sokuqala sasimelele muphi umbuso, futhi wafana kanjani nengonyama?

⁸ Yeka izilo ezabonwa uDaniyeli! Echaza esinye, wathi: “Esokuqala sasinjengengonyama, sinamaphiko okhozi; ngabheka aze ahluthwa amaphiko aso, saphakanyiswa emhlabeni, samiswa ngezinyawo ezimbili njengomuntu, sanikwa inhliziyo yomuntu.” (Daniyeli 7:4) Lesi silo sasifanekisela wona lowo mbuso owawumelelwe yikhanda legolide lesithombe esikhulu, uMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni (607-539 B.C.E.). ‘Njengengonyama’ ebulalayo, iBabiloni laziqhobozela izizwe, kuhlanganise nabantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Jeremiya 4:5-7; 50:17) Njengokungathi inamaphiko okhozi, le “ngonyama” yaqhubekela phambili ngesivinini inqoba ngobudlova.—IsiLilo 4:19; Habakuki 1:6-8.

 9. Yiziphi izinguquko ezenzeka esilweni esinjengengonyama, futhi zaba namuphi umphumela kuso?

⁹ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, amaphiko ale ngonyama engavamile “ahluthwa.” Ngasekupheleni kokubusa kweNkosi uBelishasari, kwaphela ukunqoba ngesivinini kweBabiloni, kwaphela nokuba kwalo ingqungqulu phezu kwezizwe, kuhle kwengonyama. Lafana nomuntu ohamba ngezinyawo. Ngokunikwa “inhliziyo yomuntu,” laba buthaka. Njengoba lingasenayo ‘inhliziyo yengonyama,’ iBabiloni alibange lisakwazi ukuziphathisa okwenkosi “njengengonyama phakathi kwezilwane zasehlathini.” (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Samuweli 17:10; Mika 5:8.) Lashwabadelwa esinye isilo esikhulu.

SIYIGOVU NJENGEBHERE

10. “Ibhere” lalifanekisela luphi uhlu lwababusi?

¹⁰ “Bheka,” kusho uDaniyeli, “esinye isilo, esesibili, sinjengebhere, samiswa ngolunye uhlangothi, izimbambo ezintathu zisemlonyeni waso phakathi kwamazinyo aso; kwathiwa kuso: ‘Vuka, udle inyama eningi.’” (Daniyeli 7:5) Inkosi eyayifanekiselwa “yibhere” yiyo kanye le eyayimelelwa izingalo zethusi nesifuba sethusi sesizemazema sesithombe—uhlu lwababusi baseMediya nasePheresiya (539-331 B.C.E.) oluqala ngoDariyu umMede noKoresi Omkhulu lugcine ngoDariyu III.

11. Kwakubonisani ukumiswa okungokomfanekiso kwebhere ngolunye uhlangothi nokuba kwalo nezimbambo ezintathu emlonyeni?

¹¹ Ibhere elingokomfanekiso ‘lamiswa ngolunye uhlangothi,’ mhlawumbe ukuze lilungele ukuhlasela nokunqoba izizwe, ngaleyo ndlela libe umbuso wezwe. Kanti kungenzeka nokuthi le ndlela yokuma yayihloselwe ukuveza ukuthi uhlu lwababusi basePheresiya lwaluyophakama kunenkosi yaseMediya eyayiyinye, uDariyu. Izimbambo ezintathu phakathi kwamazinyo ebhere zingabhekisela ezinkalweni ezintathu elanqoba kuzo. “Ibhere” laseMediya nasePheresiya laya enyakatho lafike lahlula iBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E. Labe selilibangisa ngasentshonalanga lanqamula e-Asia Minor lafika eThrace. Ekugcineni, leli “bhere” laya eningizimu liyonqoba iGibithe. Njengoba ngezinye izikhathi isibalo sokuthathu sifanekisela ukuqinisa, lezi zimbambo ezintathu kungenzeka zigcizelela ukuhahela ukunqoba kwaleli bhere elingokomfanekiso.

12. Waba yini umphumela wokulalela kwebhere elingokomfanekiso lo myalo: “Vuka, udle inyama eningi”?

¹² Leli “bhere” lahlasela izizwe, lilalela la mazwi: “Vuka, udle inyama eningi.” Ngokuqhobozela iBabiloni ngokuvumelana nentando yaphezulu, iMediya nePheresiya yayisesimweni sokwenzela abantu bakaJehova inkonzo ebalulekile. Futhi yenza kanjalo! (Bheka isihloko esithi “Inkosi Ebekezelela Abanye,” ekhasini 149.) NgoKoresi Omkhulu, uDariyu I (uDariyu Omkhulu) no-Aritahishashita I, iMediya nePheresiya yakhulula izithunjwa ezingamaJuda eBabiloni futhi yazisiza ukuba zakhe kabusha ithempeli likaJehova, zilungise nezindonga zeJerusalema. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iMediya nePheresiya yabusa izifunda ezingu-127, umyeni weNdlovukazi u-Esteri, u-Ahashiveroshi (Xerxes I), ‘wabusa kusukela kwelaseNdiya kuze kube seKushe [eTopiya].’ (Esteri 1:1) Nokho, kwakuseduze ukuvuka kwesinye isilo.

SISHESHA NJENGENGWE ENAMAPHIKO!

13. (a) Isilo sesithathu sasifanekiselani? (b) Yini engase ishiwo ngejubane lesilo sesine nendawo yaso?

¹³ Isilo sesithathu ‘sasinjengengwe, sinamaphiko amane enyoni emhlane; isilo sasinamakhanda amane, sanikwa ukubusa.’ (Daniyeli 7:6) Njengozakwabo—isisu namathanga ethusi esithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari—le ngwe enamaphiko amane namakhanda amane yayifanekisela uhlu lwababusi baseMakedoniya, noma baseGrisi, oluqala ngo-Alexander Omkhulu. Ngobunono nejubane lengwe, u-Alexander walibhekisa e-Asia Minor, eningizimu eGibithe nasemngceleni osentshonalanga yelaseNdiya. (Qhathanisa noHabakuki 1:8.) Umbuso wakhe wawumkhulu ‘kunowebhere,’ ngoba wawuhlanganisa iMakedoniya, iGrisi noMbuso WasePheresiya.—Bheka isihloko esithi “Inkosi Esencane Inqoba Umhlaba,” ekhasini 153.

14. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba “ingwe” ibe namakhanda amane?

¹⁴ Le “ngwe” yaba namakhanda amane ngemva kokufa kuka-Alexander ngo-323 B.C.E. Ojenene bakhe abane ekugcineni bamlandela babusa izingxenye ezihlukene zombuso wakhe. USeleucus waphatha iMesopotamiya neSiriya. UPtolemy wabusa iGibithe nePalestina. ULysimachus wabusa i-Asia Minor neThrace kanti uCassander wathola iMakedoniya neGrisi. (Bheka isihloko esithi “Umbuso Omkhulu Uyahlukana,” ekhasini 162.) Kwabe sekuphakama usongo olusha.

ISILO ESESABEKAYO SIHLUKILE

15. (a) Chaza isilo sesine. (b) Isilo sesine sifanekiselani, futhi sakuphula sakunyathela kanjani konke okwakusendleleni yaso?

¹⁵ UDaniyeli wachaza isilo sesine ngokuthi ‘siyesabeka, sinamandla, siqine kakhulu.’ Waqhubeka: “Sasinamazinyo amakhulu ensimbi, sadla, saphula, sanyathela okuseleyo ngezinyawo zaso; sahlukile kuzo zonke izilo ezazingaphambi kwaso; sasinezimpondo eziyishumi.” (Daniyeli 7:7) Lesi silo esesabekayo saqala siwumbuso waseRoma wezombangazwe nezempi. Kancane kancane sathatha zozine izingxenye zoMbuso WaseGrisi, futhi ngonyaka ka-30 B.C.E., iRoma yayisidlondlobele njengombuso wezwe olandelayo wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Njengoba wawuthobisa konke okwakuphambi kwawo ngebutho lempi, uMbuso WaseRoma ekugcineni wadlondlobala wahlanganisa indawo esuka eZiqhingini zaseBrithani yehle inqamule ingxenye enkulu yeYurophu, izungeze iMedithera, nangalé kweBabiloni kuze kuyofika ePersian Gulf.

16. Yikuphi ukwaziswa okwanikezwa yingelosi ngokuqondene nesilo sesine?

¹⁶ Efisa ukuqiniseka ngencazelo ‘yalesi silo esesabeka kakhulu,’ uDaniyeli walalela ngokucophelela njengoba ingelosi ichaza: “Izimpondo [zaso] eziyishumi-ke, kulowo mbuso kuyakuvela amakhosi ayishumi, kuvele enye emva kwawo; iyakwahluka kwawokuqala, ithobise amakhosi amathathu.” (Daniyeli 7:19, 20, 24) Zaziyini lezi “zimpondo eziyishumi,” noma “amakhosi ayishumi”?

17. “Izimpondo eziyishumi” zesilo sesine zifanekiselani?

¹⁷ Njengoba iRoma yayiya inotha futhi iya iwohloka ngenxa yendlela yokuphila kokuyekelela yesigaba sakhona esibusayo, ayibange isaba umbuso wezempi. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaba sobala ukuphela kwamandla ezempi eRoma. Ekugcineni lo mbuso onamandla wahlakazeka waba imibuso emincane eminingi. Njengoba iBhayibheli livame ukusebenzisa ishumi ukuze libonise ukuphelela, “izimpondo eziyishumi” zesilo sesine zimelela yonke imibuso eyaba khona ngenxa yokuhlakazeka kweRoma.—Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 4:13; Luka 15:8; 19:13, 16, 17.

18. IRoma yaqhubeka kanjani ibusa eYurophu iminyaka eminingi ngemva kokususwa kombusi wakhona wokugcina?

¹⁸ Nokho, uMbuso Wezwe WaseRoma awuphelanga lapho kugudluzwa umbusi wokugcina waseRoma ngo-476 C.E. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka iRoma ebuswa opapa yaqhubeka ibusa iYurophu kwezombangazwe, ikakhulukazi nakwezenkolo. Lokhu yakwenza ngokusebenzisa isimiso samakhosi, lapho abantu abaningi baseYurophu babephathwa isikhulu esithile, bese beba ngaphansi kwenkosi. Futhi wonke amakhosi ayeliqaphela igunya likapapa. Ngakho uMbuso WaseRoma Ongcwele, uholwa yiRoma eyayibuswa opapa, waba ungqó shishilizi ezindabeni zezwe phakathi nenkathi ende yomlando ebizwa ngokuthi iNkathi Yobumnyama.

19. Ngokwesinye isazi-mlando, iRoma yayinjani uma iqhathaniswa nemibuso eyayandulele?

¹⁹ Ubani ongaphika ukuthi isilo sesine ‘sasihlukile kweminye imibuso’? (Daniyeli 7:7, 19, 23) Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, isazi-mlando uH. G. Wells, sabhala: “Lo mbuso omusha waseRoma . . . wawuhluke ngezici eziningana kweminye imibuso emikhulu eyayike yakhonya ezweni eliphucukile kuze kube yileso sikhathi. . . . [Wa]hlanganisa cishe wonke amaGreki emhlabeni, futhi amaHamite namaJuda ayembalwa kunakunoma imuphi umbuso owawandulele. . . . Kuze kube yileso sikhathi wawuwuhlobo olusha emlandweni . . . UMbuso WaseRoma wawukhula, ukhula ngendlela engacetshiwe nentsha; amaRoma azithola esesemsebenzini omkhulu wokuphatha enganakile.” Nokho, lesi silo sesine sasisazokhula ngokwengeziwe.

UPHONDO OLUNCANE LUYAPHAKAMA

20. Yathini ingelosi ngokuphathelene nokumila kophondo oluncane ekhanda lesilo sesine?

²⁰ “Ngabuka izimpondo,” kusho uDaniyeli, “bheka, kwavela phakathi kwazo olunye uphondo, oluncane, okungaphambi kwalo ezintathu zezimpondo zokuqala zasimbulwa.” (Daniyeli 7:8) Ngokuphathelene nalolo phondo oluncane, ingelosi yatshela uDaniyeli: “Kuvele enye emva kwawo [amakhosi ayishumi]; iyakwahluka kwawokuqala, ithobise amakhosi amathathu.” (Daniyeli 7:24) Ingubani le nkosi, yabonakala nini futhi yimaphi amakhosi amathathu eyawathobisa?

21. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba iBrithani ibe uphondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso lwesilo sesine?

²¹ Cabangela lezi zenzekalo ezilandelayo. Ngo-55 B.C.E., uJenene waseRoma uJulius Caesar wahlasela iBrithani kodwa wehluleka ukuvula indawo yokuhlala yasikhathi sonke. Ngo-43 C.E., uMbusi uClaudius waqala ukuyinqoba ngokuphelele iBrithani eseningizimu. Kwathi ngo-122 C.E., uMbusi uHadrian waqala ukwakha udonga olwalusuka eMfuleni iTyne luya kuyiSolway Firth, olwaba umngcele osenyakatho woMbuso WaseRoma. Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesihlanu, amabutho aseRoma asishiya lesi siqhingi. “Ngekhulu leshumi nesithupha,” kuchaza esinye isazi-mlando, “iNgilandi yayiwumbuso osezingeni eliphansi. Ingcebo yayo yayincane uma iqhathaniswa neyaseNetherlands. Abantu bakhona bembalwa kunabaseFrance. Amabutho akhona (kuhlanganise nebutho lasemanzini) ayesezingeni eliphansi kunawaseSpain.” Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo, iBrithani yayiwumbuso ongabalulekile ngaleso sikhathi, yayiwuphondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso lwesilo sesine. Kodwa kwakuzoshintsha lokho.

22. (a) Yiziphi ezinye izimpondo ezintathu zesilo sesine ezanqotshwa uphondo “oluncane”? (b) IBrithani yabe isiba yini?

²² Ngo-1588, uPhilip II waseSpain wakhipha iSpanish Armada ukuba iyohlasela iBrithani. Le mikhumbi engu-130, eyayinamadoda angaphezu kuka-24 000, yenyusa i-English Channel, nokho yehlulwa ibutho lasemanzini laseBrithani futhi yabhuqwa izivunguvungu neziphepho ezesabekayo zase-Atlantic. Lesi sigigaba “sasho ukuthi amabutho asemanzini aseNgilandi ayesenamandla kunawaseSpain,” kusho esinye isazi-mlando. Ekhulwini le-17, amaDashi aba nemikhumbi yokuhweba emikhulu kunayo yonke emhlabeni. Kodwa njengoba amakoloni aphesheya kwezilwandle ayanda, iBrithani yadlondlobala kunalowo mbuso. Ngekhulu le-18, iBrithani yalwa neFrance eNyakatho Melika naseNdiya, okwaholela eSivumelwaneni SaseParis ngo-1763. Lesi sivumelwano, kusho umbhali uWilliam B. Willcox, “saqaphela isikhundla esisha seBrithani sokuba umbuso waseYurophu onamandla endaweni engalé kweYurophu.” Ukuphakama kweBrithani kwaqinisekiswa ukunqotshwa okubuhlungu kukaNapoléon waseFrance ngo-1815 C.E. Ngakho, “amakhosi amathathu” ‘athotshiswa’ yiBrithani kwakuyiSpain, iNetherlands neFrance. (Daniyeli 7:24) Ngenxa yalokho, iBrithani yaba umbuso wamakoloni nowezentengiselwano omkhulu kunayo yonke emhlabeni. Yebo, lolu phondo “oluncane” lwakhula lwaba umbuso wezwe!

23. Lolu phondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso ‘lwawubhubhisa’ kanjani ‘umhlaba wonke’?

²³ Ingelosi yatshela uDaniyeli ukuthi isilo sesine, noma umbuso wesine, ‘wawuyokudla wonke umhlaba.’ (Daniyeli 7:23) Kwaba njalo ngesifundazwe saseRoma esasibizwa ngokuthi iBritannia. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sabizwa ngokuthi uMbuso WaseBrithani futhi ‘sadla wonke umhlaba.’ Lo mbuso wake wabusa ingxenye yesine yomhlaba nengxenye yesine yabantu ababekuwo.

24. Esinye isazi-mlando sathini ngokuphathelene nokuhluka koMbuso WaseBrithani?

²⁴ Njengoba uMbuso WaseRoma wawuhlukile emibusweni yezwe yangaphambili, inkosi eyayifanekiselwa uphondo “oluncane” nayo ‘yayiyokwahluka kwawokuqala.’ (Daniyeli 7:24) Ngokuphathelene noMbuso WaseBrithani, isazi-mlando uH. G. Wells saphawula: “Akukaze kube nento enjalo ngaphambili. Okwakuphambili nokwakubalulekile kuso sonke isimiso ‘kwakuyi-republic’ ye-United British Kingdoms ‘ephethwe inkosi’ . . . Akukho mnyango namuntu owayeke wawuqonda uMbuso WaseBrithani uwonke. Wawuyingxube yokwanda nokukhula okwakungafani nhlobo nanoma yini eyayike yabizwa ngombuso ngaphambili.”

25. (a) Ezenzakalweni zalo zakamuva, lolu phondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso lwakhiwa yini? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo lolu phondo “oluncane” ‘lunamehlo anjengawomuntu nomlomo okhuluma izinto ezinkulu’?

²⁵ Lolu phondo “oluncane” lwaluhilela okwengeziwe kunoMbuso WaseBrithani. Ngo-1783, iBrithani yanikeza amakoloni ayo angu-13 aseMelika inkululeko. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi i-United States of America yaba umlekeleli weBrithani, ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II yaba isizwe esiqavile emhlabeni. Namanje isenobuhlobo obuqinile neBrithani. Umbuso wezwe ombaxambili wamaNgisi NamaMelika owaba umphumela wakha ‘uphondo olunamehlo.’ Ngempela, lo mbuso wezwe usheshe uzibone izinto, uneso elibukhali! ‘Ukhuluma izinto ezinkulu,’ ushayela izingxenye ezinkulu zomhlaba umthetho futhi ube umkhulumeli wazo, noma “umprofethi wamanga.”—Daniyeli 7:8, 11, 20; IsAmbulo 16:13; 19:20.

UPHONDO OLUNCANE LUPHIKISA UNKULUNKULU NABANGCWELE BAKHE

26. Ingelosi yabikezelani ngenkulumo nezenzo zophondo olungokomfanekiso ezenziwa kuJehova nasezincekwini zakhe?

²⁶ UDaniyeli uyaqhubeka echaza umbono wakhe, ethi: “Ngisabheka, lolo phondo lwalwa nabangcwele, lwabahlula.” (Daniyeli 7:21) Ngokuphathelene nalolu “phondo,” noma inkosi, ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yabikezela: “Iyakukhuluma amazwi ngoPhezukonke, ikhathaze abangcwele boPhezukonke; iyakuhlosa ukuguqula izikhathi nomthetho; bayakukhashelwa esandleni sayo kuze kube yisikhathi nezikhathi nenxenye yesikhathi.” (Daniyeli 7:25) Le ngxenye yalesi siprofetho yagcwaliseka kanjani futhi nini?

27. (a) Obani “abangcwele” abashushiswa uphondo “oluncane”? (b) Uphondo olungokomfanekiso lwaluhlose ‘ukuziguqula’ kanjani “izikhathi nomthetho”?

²⁷ “Abangcwele” abashushiswa uphondo “oluncane”—uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika—abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshwe ngomoya abasemhlabeni. (Roma 1:7; 1 Petru 2:9) Kusasele iminyaka ngaphambi kweMpi Yezwe I, insali yalaba abangcwele yaxwayisa obala ukuthi ngo-1914 kwakuyophela “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe.” (Luka 21:24) Lapho kugqashuka impi ngalowo nyaka, kwaba sobala ukuthi uphondo “oluncane” lwalungasinakanga lesi sixwayiso, ngoba lwaqhubeka lukhathaza “abangcwele” abagcotshiwe. UMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika waze wamelana nanemizamo yabo yokwenza lokho uJehova akufunayo (noma, “umthetho”), okuwukuba ofakazi bakhe bashumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 24:14) Ngaleyo ndlela, lolu phondo “oluncane” lwazama ‘ukushintsha izikhathi nomthetho.’

28. Side kangakanani “isikhathi, izikhathi nengxenye yesikhathi”?

²⁸ Ingelosi kaJehova yakhuluma ngenkathi engokwesiprofetho ‘eyisikhathi, izikhathi nengxenye yesikhathi.’ Yinde kangakanani le nkathi? Ngokuvamile abahlaziyi beBhayibheli bayavuma ukuthi le nkulumo isho izikhathi ezintathu nengxenye—ingqikithi etholakala ngokuhlanganisa isikhathi esisodwa, izikhathi ezimbili nengxenye yesikhathi. Njengoba “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zokuhlanya kukaNebukadinesari zaziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa, lezi zikhathi ezintathu nengxenye ziyiminyaka emithathu nengxenye.c (Daniyeli 4:16, 25) Inguqulo i-American Translation ifundeka kanje: “Uyonikezwa zona unyaka, iminyaka emibili nengxenye yonyaka.” Inguqulo kaJames Moffatt ithi: “Iminyaka emithathu nengxenye yonyaka.” Kukhulunywa ngenkathi efanayo kusAmbulo 11:2-7, esithi ofakazi bakaNkulunkulu babeyoshumayela begqoke indwangu yamasaka izinyanga ezingu-42, noma izinsuku ezingu-1 260, bese bebulawa. Le nkathi yesikhathi yaqala futhi yaphela nini?

29. Yaqala nini iminyaka emithathu nengxenye engokwesiprofetho?

²⁹ KumaKristu agcotshiwe, iMpi Yezwe I yaba isikhathi sokuvivinywa. Ekupheleni kuka-1914, ayekulindele ukushushiswa. Eqinisweni, isihloko sonyaka esakhethwa ngo-1915 sasiwumbuzo uJesu awubuza abafundi bakhe, “Ningasiphuza yini isitsha engizakusiphuza na?” Sasisekelwe kuMathewu 20:22. Ngakho, kusukela ngo-December 1914, lelo dlanzana lofakazi lashumayela ligqoke “izingubo zamasaka.”

30. UMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika wawahlukumeza kanjani amaKristu agcotshiwe phakathi neMpi Yezwe I?

³⁰ Njengoba igagasi lempi laliya likhula, amaKristu agcotshiwe abhekana nokuphikiswa okwandayo. Amanye agqunywa ejele. Amanye, njengoFrank Platt eNgilandi noRobert Clegg eCanada, ahlukunyezwa iziphathimandla ezinonya. Ngo-February 12, 1918, i-British Dominion yaseCanada yawuvala umqulu wesikhombisa we-Studies in the Scriptures owawusanda kukhishwa, owawunesihloko esithi The Finished Mystery kanye namapheshana ayenesihloko esithi The Bible Students Monthly. Ngenyanga elandelayo, uMnyango Wezobulungisa Wase-United States wamemezela ukuthi kwakungekho emthethweni ukusakaza umqulu wesikhombisa. Waba yini umphumela? Phela, kwapeqululwa imizi, kwathathwa izincwadi futhi abakhulekeli bakaJehova baboshwa!

31. Saphela nini futhi kanjani “isikhathi, izikhathi nengxenye yesikhathi”?

³¹ Ukuhlushwa kwabagcotshiwe bakaNkulunkulu kwafinyelela umvuthwandaba ngo-June 21, 1918, lapho umongameli, uJ. F. Rutherford, namalungu aqavile e-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society begwetshwa isikhathi eside ejele ngenxa yokumangalelwa ngamanga. Njengoba lwaluhlose “ukuguqula izikhathi nomthetho,” lolu phondo “oluncane” lwaluphumelele ukuqeda umsebenzi wokushumayela ohleliwe. (IsAmbulo 11:7) Ngakho inkathi eyayibikezelwe ‘yesikhathi, nezikhathi nengxenye yesikhathi’ yaphela ngo-June 1918.

32. Kungani ungase uthi uphondo “oluncane” aluzange lubaqothule “abangcwele”?

³² Kodwa “abangcwele” abaqothulwanga ukuhlukunyezwa uphondo “oluncane.” Njengoba kwaprofethwa encwadini yesAmbulo, ngemva kwenkathi emfushane yokungasebenzi, amaKristu agcotshiwe abuye aphila futhi aphinde aba matasa. (IsAmbulo 11:11-13) Ngo-March 26, 1919, umongameli we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society nabangane bakhe bakhululwa ejele, kwathi kamuva asulwa amacala amanga ababebekwe wona. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, insali egcotshiwe yaqala ukuhlela kabusha umsebenzi owengeziwe. Nokho, kwakuzokwenzekani ngophondo “oluncane”?

OMDALA WEZINSUKU UBIZA INKANTOLO

33. (a) Ubani oMdala Wezinsuku? (b) Yiziphi ‘izincwadi ezavulwa’ eNkantolo yasezulwini?

³³ Ngemva kokwethula izilo ezine, uDaniyeli ususa amehlo akhe kuzo awabhekise embonweni osezulwini. Ubona oMdala Wezinsuku ehlala phansi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi esicwazimulayo njengoMahluleli. Lona oMdala Wezinsuku uJehova uNkulunkulu uqobo. (IHubo 90:2) Njengoba iNkantolo yasezulwini ingena, uDaniyeli ubona ‘kuvulwa izincwadi.’ (Daniyeli 7:9, 10) Njengoba ukuba khona kukaJehova kungenasiqalo, wazi wonke umlando wesintu njengokungathi ulotshwe encwadini. Uzibonile zozine izilo ezingokomfanekiso futhi angazahlulela ngolwazi lwakhe angalutholanga ngamuntu.

34, 35. Yini ezokwenzeka ophondweni “oluncane” nakweminye imibuso enjengezilo?

³⁴ UDaniyeli uyaqhubeka: “Ngabheka ngaleso sikhathi ngenxa yenhlokomo yamazwi amakhulu akhulunywa luphondo; ngabheka saze sahlatshwa isilo, wachithwa umzimba waso, sanikelwa ukuba sishiswe ngomlilo. Kepha ezinye izilo, ukubusa kwazo kwasuswa, kodwa ukuphila kwazo kwelulwa isikhathi nenkathi.” (Daniyeli 7:11, 12) Le ngelosi itshela uDaniyeli: “Abahluleli bayakuhlala basuse ukubusa kwayo kudliwe, kuchithwe kuze kube sekupheleni.”—Daniyeli 7:26.

³⁵ Ngomyalo kaMahluleli Omkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, uphondo olwahlambalaza uNkulunkulu, lwahlukumeza ‘nabangcwele’ bakhe luyobhekana nalokho uMbuso WaseRoma, owashushisa amaKristu okuqala, owabhekana nakho. Ukubusa kwalo kuyophela. Kuyophela nokubusa ‘kwamakhosi’ aphansi anjengezimpondo avela eMbusweni WaseRoma. Kuthiwani-ke ngokubusa okuvela emibusweni yangaphambili enjengezilo? Njengoba kwabikezelwa, ukuphila kwazo kwelulwa “isikhathi nenkathi.” Izindawo zayo zisaqhubeka zinabantu kuze kube manje. Ngokwesibonelo, i-Iraq isendaweni eyayiyiBabiloni lasendulo. IPheresiya (Iran) neGrisi kusekhona. Izinsalela zale mibuso yezwe ziyingxenye yeZizwe Ezihlangene. Le mibuso emincane nayo iyophela lapho kuqothulwa umbuso wezwe wokugcina. Bonke ohulumeni babantu bayochithwa “empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.” (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Uyobe usubuswa ubani-ke umhlaba?

UKUBUSA KWAPHAKADE KUSEDUZE!

36, 37. (a) Ubani “onjengeNdodana yomuntu,” futhi waya nini eNkantolo yasezulwini, eyela yiphi injongo? (b) Yini eyamiswa ngo-1914 C.E.?

³⁶ “Ngabona emibonweni ebusuku; bheka,” kusho uDaniyeli. “Kwafika namafu ezulu onjengendodana yomuntu; yafika komdala wezinsuku, yasondezwa phambi kwakhe.” (Daniyeli 7:13) Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu Kristu wazibiza ngokuthi ‘uyiNdodana yomuntu,’ ebonisa ukuhlobana kwakhe nesintu. (Mathewu 16:13; 25:31) KuyiSanhedrini, noma inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda, uJesu wathi: “Nizobona iNdodana yomuntu ihlezi ngakwesokunene samandla futhi iza iphezu kwamafu ezulu.” (Mathewu 26:64) Ngakho embonweni kaDaniyeli, lowo ozayo, ongabonakali ngamehlo enyama, okwazi ukubonana noJehova uNkulunkulu kwakunguJesu Kristu ovusiwe, okhazinyulisiwe. Kwenzeka nini lokhu?

³⁷ UNkulunkulu wenze isivumelwano soMbuso noJesu Kristu, njengoba nje ayesenzile neNkosi uDavide. (2 Samuweli 7:11-16; Luka 22:28-30) Lapho kuphela “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe” ngo-1914 C.E., uJesu Kristu, njengendlalifa kaDavide yasebukhosini, kwakufaneleka ukuba anikwe ukubusa koMbuso. Umlando kaDaniyeli oyisiprofetho ufundeka kanje: “Yanikwa ukubusa, nobukhosi, nombuso, ukuze bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi bayikhonze; ukubusa kwayo kungukubusa okuphakade okungayikudlula, nombuso wayo yiwo ongayikuchithwa.” (Daniyeli 7:14) Ngakho uMbuso KaMesiya wamiswa ezulwini ngo-1914. Nokho, lokhu kubusa kunikezwa nabanye.

38, 39. Ubani oyonikwa ukubusa kwaphakade phezu komhlaba?

³⁸ “Abangcwele boPhezukonke bayakwamukeliswa umbuso,” kusho ingelosi. (Daniyeli 7:18, 22, 27) UJesu Kristu uyinhloko yabangcwele. (IzEnzo 3:14; 4:27, 30) Laba “abangcwele” abahlanganyela ekubuseni bangamaKristu angu-144 000 athembekile agcotshwe ngomoya, ayizindlalifa noKristu. (Roma 1:7; 8:17; 2 Thesalonika 1:5; 1 Petru 2:9) Bavuswa kwabafileyo beyimimoya engafi ukuze babuse noKristu entabeni yasezulwini iZiyoni. (IsAmbulo 2:10; 14:1; 20:6) Ngakho, uKristu Jesu namaKristu avusiwe agcotshiwe bayobusa isintu.

³⁹ Ngokuphathelene nokubusa kweNdodana yomuntu nabanye ‘abangcwele’ abavusiwe, ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yathi: “Umbuso nokubusa nobukhulu bemibuso phansi kwalo lonke izulu kuyakunikwa isizwe sabangcwele boPhezukonke; umbuso wakhe ungumbuso ongunaphakade; yonke imibuso iyakumkhonza, imlalele.” (Daniyeli 7:27) Yeka izibusiso eziyotholwa isintu esilalelayo ngaphansi kwalowo Mbuso!

40. Singazuza kanjani ngokunaka iphupho nemibono kaDaniyeli?

⁴⁰ UDaniyeli wayengakuqondi konke ukugcwaliseka okuyisimangaliso kwemibono ayeyinikwe uNkulunkulu. Wathi: “Nakhu ukuphela kwendaba. Mina Daniyeli, imicabango yami yangikhathaza kakhulu, nokucwebezela kwami kwaguquka kimi, kepha ngayigcina indaba enhliziyweni yami.” (Daniyeli 7:28) Nokho, thina siphila esikhathini esikuqonda ngaso ukugcwaliseka kwalokho uDaniyeli akubona. Ukunaka lesi siprofetho kuyoqinisa ukholo lwethu nokuqiniseka kwethu ukuthi iNkosi kaJehova enguMesiya iyobusa umhlaba.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Sifanekiselani isilo ngasinye ‘kwezine ezinkulu eziphuma olwandle’?

• Yini eyakha uphondo “oluncane”?

• Uphondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso lwabahlukumeza kanjani “abangcwele” phakathi neMpi Yezwe I?

• Kuzokwenzekani ophondweni oluncane olungokomfanekiso nakweminye imibuso enjengezilo?

• Uzuzeni ngokunaka iphupho nemibono kaDaniyeli ephathelene ‘nezilo ezinkulu ezine’?

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 149-152]

INKOSI EBEKEZELELA ABANYE

UMLOBI othile ongumGreki wekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E. wayemkhumbula ngokuthi wayeyinkosi ebabekezelelayo abanye nekahle. EBhayibhelini ubizwa ngokuthi “ogcotshiweyo” kaNkulunkulu nangokuthi “inqe” elivela “empumalanga.” (Isaya 45:1; 46:11) Le nkosi okukhulunywa ngayo kanjena uKoresi Omkhulu, wasePheresiya.

Ukudlondlobala kukaKoresi kwaqala cishe ngo-560/559 B.C.E., ngenkathi elandela uyise uCambyses I esihlalweni sobukhosi sase-Anshan, umuzi noma isifunda sasePheresiya lasendulo. I-Anshan ngaleso sikhathi yayibuswa inkosi yamaMede u-Astyages. Evukela ukubusa kwamaMede, uKoresi wanqoba kalula ngoba impi ka-Astyages yambuka. AmaMede abe esemethemba uKoresi. Ngemva kwalokho, amaMede namaPheresiya ayesizana lapho elwa ngaphansi kokuhola kwakhe. Waba khona kanjalo-ke umbuso wamaMede namaPheresiya okwathi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wanda usuka oLwandle i-Aegean waze wafika eMfuleni i-Indus.—Bheka ibalazwe.

Njengoba amabutho amaMede nawamaPheresiya ayehlangene, uKoresi waqale wathatha isinyathelo sokunqoba indawo eyayihlupha—ingxenye esentshonalanga yeMediya lapho inkosi yaseLidiya uCroesus yayikade yandisa khona umbuso wayo waze wafinyelela nasendaweni yamaMede. Njengoba ayeqhubekela emngceleni osempumalanga woMbuso WaseLidiya e-Asia Minor, uKoresi wamnqoba uCroesus futhi wadla inhloko-dolobha yakhe, iSardesi. UKoresi wabe esenqoba amadolobha ase-Ionia, lonke elase-Asia Minor walifaka ngaphansi koMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya. Ngaleyo ndlela waba imbangi enkulu yeBabiloni nenkosi yalo uNabonidasi.

UKoresi wabe esezilungiselela ukubhekana neBabiloni elinamandla. Futhi kusukela kuleli qophelo, wayesehileleke ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Emakhulwini eminyaka acishe abe mabili ngaphambili, ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uJehova wayegagule uKoresi njengombusi owayeyogumbuqela iBabiloni futhi akhulule amaJuda ebugqilini. Yilokhu kumiswa kukaKoresi kusengaphambili okwenza imiBhalo imbize ngokuthi “ogcotshiweyo” kaJehova.—Isaya 44:26-28.

Lapho uKoresi ehlasela iBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E., wahlangabezana nomsebenzi omkhulu kakhulu. Njengoba lo muzi wawubiyelwe ngezindonga ezinkulu futhi uzungezwe umsele wamanzi obanzi nojulile owawenziwe umfula i-Ewufrathe, wawubonakala ungenakunqobeka. Lapho kugeleza khona i-Ewufrathe eBabiloni, kwakunodonga oluphakeme kakhulu olwalugudla usebe lomfula lunobhazabhaza bamasango ethusi. UKoresi wayengalinqoba kanjani nje iBabiloni?

Eminyakeni engaphezu kwekhulu nesigamu ngaphambili, uJehova wayebikezele “ukusha kwamanzi alo” futhi wayethe kumelwe “ome.” (Jeremiya 50:38) Njengoba lesi siprofetho sasishilo, uKoresi waphambukisa amanzi oMfula i-Ewufrathe amakhilomitha ambalwa ukuya ngasenyakatho yeBabiloni. Impi yakhe yabe isigxambuza emfuleni, yakhuphuka umqansa oya odongeni, yangena kalula nje kulo muzi ngoba amasango ethusi ayeshiywe evuliwe. ‘Njengenqe’ elixhakathisa isisulu salo ngokushesha, lo mbusi ‘wasempumalanga’ walithatha ngobusuku obubodwa iBabiloni!

KumaJuda eBabiloni, ukunqoba kukaKoresi kwasho ukufika kokukhululwa ekuthunjweni okwase kukudala kulindelwe, nokuphela kweminyaka engu-70 izwe lawo liyincithakalo. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba athokoza ngayo lapho uKoresi ekhipha isimemezelo esasiwagunyaza ukuba aphindele eJerusalema akhe kabusha ithempeli! UKoresi wawabuyisela nezitsha zethempeli eziyigugu ezazithathwe uNebukadinesari waziyisa eBabiloni, wanikeza imvume yasebukhosini yokulanda izingodo eLebanoni, wagunyaza nokukhishwa kwezimali endlini yenkosi ukuze zikhokhele izindleko zokwakha.—Ezra 1:1-11; 6:3-5.

UKoresi wayenobuntu futhi ebabekezelela abantu ayesuke ebanqobile. Esinye isizathu salokhu kuziphatha kwakhe kungenzeka kwakuyinkolo yakhe. Cishe uKoresi wayelandela izimfundiso zomprofethi wasePheresiya uZoroaster futhi ekhulekela u-Ahura Mazda—unkulunkulu okwakucatshangwa ukuthi ungumdali wakho konke okuhle. Encwadini yakhe i-Zoroastrian Tradition, uFarhang Mehr uyaloba: “UZoroaster wayechaza uNkulunkulu ngokuthi uwukuziphatha okuphelele. Wayetshela abantu ukuthi u-Ahura Mazda akaphindiseli kodwa ulungile, ngakho-ke akufanele esatshwe kodwa kumelwe athandwe.” Ukukholelwa kunkulunkulu oziphethe kahle nolungileyo kungenzeka kwathonya indlela kaKoresi yokuziphatha futhi yamkhuthaza ukuba abe nenhliziyo enhle futhi angakhethi.

Nokho, le nkosi yayingakwazi ukubekezelela isimo sezulu saseBabiloni. Yayihluleka ukubekezelela ihlobo elishisa kakhulu. Ngakho nakuba iBabiloni lalilokhu liwumuzi oyisigodlo sombuso, liyisikhungo senkolo namasiko, lalivame ukusebenza njengenhloko-dolobha yakhe yasebusika. Eqinisweni, ngemva kokunqoba iBabiloni, ngokushesha uKoresi waphindela enhloko-dolobha yakhe yasehlobo, e-Akimetha, eyayiphakeme ngamamitha angu-1 900 ngaphezu kogu lolwandle, phansi kweNtaba i-Alwand. Wayebuthanda ubusika bakhona obubandayo obabenziwa ngcono ihlobo elipholile. UKoresi wakha nesigodlo sikanokusho enhloko-dolobha yakhe yangaphambili, iPasargadae, (eduze kwasePersepolis) eqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-650 eningizimu-mpumalanga ye-Akimetha. Lena kwakuyindawo yakhe yokuphumula.

Ngaleyo ndlela uKoresi wazenzela igama lokuba umnqobi onesibindi nenkosi ebekezelela abanye. Ukubusa kwakhe kweminyaka engu-30 kwaphela lapho efa ngo-530 B.C.E. ngesikhathi esemkhankasweni wokulwa. Indodana yakhe uCambyses II yamlandela esihlalweni sobukhosi sasePheresiya.

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• UKoresi wasePheresiya wazibonisa kanjani ‘engogcotshiweyo’ kaJehova?

• Iyiphi inkonzo ebalulekile uKoresi ayenzela abantu bakaJehova?

• UKoresi wayebaphatha kanjani abantu ayebanqoba?

[Ibalazwe]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UMBUSO WAMAMEDE NAMAPHERESIYA

IMAKEDONIYA

IMemphis

IGIBITHE

ITOPIYA

IJerusalema

IBabiloni

I-Akimetha

ISusa

IPersepolis

ELASENDIYA

[Isithombe]

Ithuna likaKoresi, ePasargadae

[Isithombe]

Umfanekiso oqoshiwe ePasargadae, obonisa uKoresi

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 153-161]

INKOSI ESENCANE INQOBA UMHLABA

EMINYAKENI engaba ngu-2 300 edlule, ujenene wempi onezinwele ezimhloshana, owayeneminyaka eyevile kwengu-20 wama ogwini loLwandle iMedithera. Amehlo akhe ayethé njo emzini oyisiqhingi owawuqhele cishe ngekhilomitha. Njengoba ayenqatshelwe ukungena, lo jenene owayethukuthele engqangqa wayezimisele ukuwunqoba lo muzi. Wayezosebenzisa liphi iqhinga? Wayezokwakha ibhuloho eliya kulesi siqhingi abese evivisa amabutho akhe ahlasele lo muzi. Kwase kuqaliwe kakade ukwakhiwa kwaleli bhuloho.

Kodwa umyalezo ovela enkosini enkulu yoMbuso WasePheresiya wamphazamisa lo jenene osemncane. Ezimisele ukudala ukuthula, umbusi wasePheresiya wacela ukumnikeza isipho esingavamile: amatalenta egolide angu-10 000 (okuyimali engaphezu kwamaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-12 000 ngemali yamanje), nenye yamadodakazi enkosi ukuba ayishade futhi abuse yonke ingxenye esentshonalanga yoMbuso WasePheresiya. Konke lokhu wayezokunikezwa ukuze kubuyiswe umkhaya wenkosi owawuthunjwe yilo jenene.

Lo mkhuzi wempi okwakudingeka enze isinqumo sokusamukela isipho noma sokusenqaba kwakungu-Alexander III waseMakedoniya. Asamukele lesi sipho? “Kwakuwumzuzu obucayi ezweni lasendulo,” kusho isazi-mlando u-Ulrich Wilcken. “Imiphumela yesinqumo sakhe ngempela yafinyelela eNkathini Ephakathi kwaze kwaba sosukwini lwethu, eMpumalanga naseNtshonalanga.” Singakayizwa impendulo ka-Alexander, ake sibone ukuthi yiziphi izenzakalo ezaholela kulo mzuzu obucayi.

UKUQEQESHELWA UKUBA UMNQOBI

U-Alexander wazalelwa ePella, eMakedoniya, ngo-356 B.C.E. Uyise kwakuyiNkosi uPhilip II, unina kungu-Olympias. U-Olympias wafundisa u-Alexander ukuthi amakhosi aseMakedoniya ayengawozalo lukaHercules, indodana kankulunkulu wamaGreki uZeus. Ngokusho kuka-Olympias, ukhokho ka-Alexander kwakungu-Achilles, iqhawe lenkondlo kaHomer ethi Iliad. Njengoba abazali bakhe babemlolongele ukunqoba nodumo lwamakhosi kanjalo, u-Alexander osemncane wayengenandaba kangako nezinye izinto. Lapho ebuzwa ukuthi wayezogijima yini emncintiswaneni weMidlalo Yama-Olympic, u-Alexander wathi wayezogijima uma ezogijima namakhosi. Isifiso sakhe kwakuwukwenza izenzo ezinkulu kunezikayise futhi athole udumo ngayekufezile.

Eneminyaka engu-13 ubudala, u-Alexander wajabulela ukufundiswa yisazi sefilosofi yamaGreki u-Aristotle, owamsiza waba nesithakazelo kuyifilosofi, kwezokwelapha nakuyisayensi. Kuyaphikiswana ngokuthi izimfundiso zefilosofi zika-Aristotle zayilolonga kangakanani indlela ka-Alexander yokucabanga. “Kubonakala kuphephile ukusho ukuthi kwakungekuningi ababekubona ngaso linye bobabili,” kuphawula uBertrand Russell, isazi sefilosofi sekhulu lama-20. “Imibono yezombangazwe ka-Aristotle yayisekelwe esimisweni samaGreki sedolobha eliyisifundazwe esase siphelelwa yisikhathi.” Umqondo kahulumeni owakhiwe idolobha elincane eliyisifundazwe wawungeke uthandeke enkosaneni enesifiso sokuvelela eyayifuna ukwakha umbuso omkhulu. Kumelwe nokuba u-Alexander wayengasizwisisi isimiso sika-Aristotle sokuphatha abangemaGreki njengezigqila, ngoba yena wayenombono wombuso onokubambisana okuhle phakathi kwabanqobi nabanqotshiwe.

Nokho, akukho kungabaza ngokuthi u-Aristotle wahlakulela isithakazelo sika-Alexander sokufunda. U-Alexander waba umfundi ozimisele kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe, ezithanda ngokukhethekile izincwadi ezilotshwe uHomer. Kuthiwa yonke inkondlo ethi Iliad—enemisho engu-15 693—wayeyazi ngekhanda.

Ukufundiswa u-Aristotle kwaphela isigubhukane ngo-340 B.C.E. lapho le nkosana eneminyaka engu-16 ubudala iphindela ePella iyobusa eMakedoniya ngesikhathi uyise engekho. Futhi le nkosana eyindlalifa yasheshe yahlabana ezimpini. Okwajabulisa uPhilip ukuthi u-Alexander ngokushesha wathobisa isizwe saseThrace samaMaedi esasivukela, wathatha idolobha laso elikhulu ngendlovuyangena, wayeseqamba le ndawo ngegama lakhe, wathi i-Alexandroúpolis.

UKUNQOBA KUYAQHUBEKA

Ukubulawa kukaPhilip ngo-336 B.C.E. kwaholela ekubeni u-Alexander oneminyaka engu-20 ubudala athole isihlalo sobukhosi saseMakedoniya njengefa. Lapho engena e-Asia ngaseHellespont (manje okuyiDardanelles) entwasahlobo ka-334 B.C.E., u-Alexander waqala umkhankaso wokunqoba ngebutho elincane kodwa eliqeqeshwe kahle lamasosha angu-30 000 ayimigundatshani nangu-5 000 ayekhwele amahhashi. Ibutho lakhe laliphelezelwa onjiniyela, abaklami, abadwebi bamapulani, ososayensi nezazi-mlando.

EMfuleni i-Granicus echosheni elisenyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Asia Minor (manje eyiTurkey), u-Alexander wanqoba empini yakhe yokuqala namaPheresiya. Ngalobo busika wanqoba i-Asia Minor esentshonalanga. Ekwindla elandelayo kwaba nempi yesibili engumnqamula-juqu namaPheresiya e-Issus, echosheni eliseningizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia Minor. Inkosi enkulu yasePheresiya uDariyu III, enebutho lamadoda angaba yingxenye yesigidi, wafika lapha ezohlangana no-Alexander. UDariyu owayezethemba ngokweqile weza nonina, umkakhe namanye amalungu omkhaya wakhe ukuze bazibonele lokho okwakuzoba ukunqoba okumangalisayo. Kodwa amaPheresiya ayengakulindele ukuhlasela kwabaseMakedoniya okusheshayo nokunamandla. Amabutho ka-Alexander aliqeda nyá ibutho lasePheresiya, uDariyu wabaleka, washiya umkhaya wakhe ezandleni zika-Alexander.

Kunokuba ajahe abasePheresiya ababebaleka, u-Alexander walibangisa ngaseningizimu yoGu LweMedithera, ethatha izizinda zezikhali zempi ezazisetshenziswa yimpi yasePheresiya. Kodwa umuzi waseTire eyisiqhingi wenqaba ukugoba uphondo. Ezimisele ukuwunqoba, u-Alexander wawuvimbezela izinyanga eziyisikhombisa. Phakathi nalokho kuvinjezelwa kwafika isicelo sikaDariyu sokuthula okukhulunywe ngaso ekuqaleni. Lezi zipho zazizinhle kangangokuba umeluleki othembekile ka-Alexander, uParmenio kuthiwa wathi: ‘Ukube bengingu-Alexander, bengizozamukela.’ Kodwa lo jenene osemncane waphendula: ‘Nami bengizokwenza kanjalo, ukube benginguParmenio.’ Engafuni ukuba kuxoxiswane, u-Alexander waqhubeka nokuvimbezela futhi ngo-July 332 B.C.E. wayihlakaza leyo ntokazi yasolwandle eziqhenyayo.

Eyeka iJerusalema, elacela umaluju, u-Alexander walibangisa eningizimu, wanqoba iGaza. Njengoba lase licikekile ukubusa kwamaPheresiya, iGibithe lamemukela njengomkhululi. EMemphis wanikela umhlatshelo enkunzini u-Apis, ngokwenza kanjalo wajabulisa abapristi baseGibithe. Wasungula nedolobha lase-Alexandria, kamuva elancintisana ne-Athens ngokuba isikhungo semfundo futhi lisabizwa ngegama lakhe.

Ngokulandelayo, u-Alexander walibhekisa enyakatho-mpumalanga, wanqamula ePalestina waya ngaseMfuleni iTigris. Ngonyaka ka-331 B.C.E., walwa okwesithathu empini enkulu namaPheresiya, eGaugamela, kude buduze namanxiwa agugile aseNineve. Ibutho lika-Alexander lamadoda angu-47 000 lehlula elasePheresiya elase lihlelwe kabusha linamadoda angu-250 000! UDariyu wabaleka, kamuva wabulawa abantu bakubo.

Ejatshuliswe ukunqoba, u-Alexander walibangisa eningizimu, wanqoba inhloko-dolobha yamaPheresiya yasebusika iBabiloni. Wadla nenhloko-dolobha eyayiseSusa nasePersepolis, waqhwaga nengcebo enkulu yamaPheresiya futhi washisa isigodlo esikhulu sikaXerxes. Ekugcineni, wanqoba inhloko-dolobha yase-Akimetha. Lo mnqobi osheshayo wabe esethobisa lonke elasePheresiya, kuze kuyofika empumalanga eMfuleni i-Indus, esePakistan yanamuhla.

Eseyiwelile i-Indus, endaweni emalungana nesifundazwe sasePheresiya iTaxila, u-Alexander wanqwamana nembangi eyesabekayo, inkosi yamaNdiya uPorus. Ngo-June 326 B.C.E. u-Alexander walwa naye empini yakhe yesine neyokugcina enkulu. Ibutho likaPorus labantu abangu-35 000 lalihlanganisa nezindlovu ezingu-200, ezethusa amahhashi abaseMakedoniya. Le mpi yayinonya futhi kwaphalala igazi eliningi, kodwa amabutho ka-Alexander anqoba. UPorus wacela umaluju futhi waba umlekeleli.

Kwase kudlule iminyaka engaphezu kuka-8 ibutho laseMakedoniya liwelele e-Asia futhi amasosha ayesekhathele esekhumbule nasemakhaya. Ethuswe impi enonya noPorus, ayesefuna ukuphindela ekhaya. Nakuba ayemathintanyawo ekuqaleni, u-Alexander wavumelana nezifiso zawo. Ngempela iGrisi yayisiwumbuso wezwe. Njengoba kwakumiswe amakoloni amaGreki emazweni ayenqotshiwe, isiGreki namasiko amaGreki kwasakazeka kuyo yonke indawo.

UBUNTU BANGEMPELA BENDODA YEMPI

Inhlaka eyayihlanganise ibutho laseMakedoniya eminyakeni yalo yokunqoba kwakuwubuntu buka-Alexander. Ngemva kwezimpi, kwakuwumkhuba ka-Alexander ukuvakashela abalimele, abheke ukuthi balimele kangakanani, ancome amasosha ngezenzo zawo zobuqhawe, awahlomulise nangemali ngokwalokho ayekwenzile. Ngokuqondene nalabo ababephelela empini, u-Alexander wayehlela ukuba bangcwatshwe kahle. Abazali nezingane zababefile babengakhokhi zintela, bengazikhokheli nezinkonzo ababenzelwa zona. Ukuze bazilibazise ngemva kwezimpi, u-Alexander wayehlela ukuba kube nemidlalo nemincintiswano. Wake wahlela nokuba amadoda ayesanda kushada athathe ikhefu, akwazi ukuchitha isikhathi sasebusika nomkabo eMakedoniya. Izenzo ezinjalo zamakhela ugazi emabuthweni akhe.

Ngokuphathelene nomshado ka-Alexander nenkosazana yaseBactria uRoxana, umlobi wemilando yabantu ongumGreki uPlutarch uyaloba: “Kwakuwuthando ngempela, nokho ngesikhathi esifanayo kwabonakala kuvumelana nomgomo wakhe. Ngoba kwakubathokozisa abantu abanqotshiwe ukumbona ekhetha inkosikazi phakathi kwabo, futhi kwakubenza bazizwe bemthanda ngokujulile, lapho bebona ukuthi nakuba ayeyithanda ngokungazenzisi, njengoba ayeyindoda ekwazi ukuzibamba, akahlangananga nayo ngokobulili kwaze kwaba yilapho eseyithole ngendlela esemthethweni nehloniphekile.”

U-Alexander wayeyihlonipha nemishado yabanye. Nakuba umkaDariyu inkosi ayeyisithunjwa sakhe, waqikelela ukuthi uphathwa ngendlela ehloniphekile. Ngokufanayo, lapho ezwa ukuthi amasosha amabili aseMakedoniya ayexhaphaze amakhosikazi abafokazi, wakhipha umyalo wokuba abulawe uma etholakala enecala.

Njengonina u-Olympias, u-Alexander wayeyithanda kakhulu inkolo. Wayenza imihlatshelo ngaphambi nangemva kwezimpi, aye kubabhuli bakhe ayofuna incazelo yamabika athile. Waya nakunkulunkulu othile wase-Ammon, eLibya. Futhi eBabiloni wenza lokho ayekutshelwa amaKaledi ngokuqondene nemihlatshelo, ikakhulukazi leyo eyayenzelwa unkulunkulu waseBabiloni uBel (Marduk).

Nakuba u-Alexander ayelinganisela emikhubeni yakhe yokudla, ekugcineni weqisa ngasophuzweni. Wayeye akhulume undendende lapho ephuza indebe yewayini futhi azishaye isifuba ngayekufezile. Isenzo esibi kunazo zonke u-Alexander asenza kwaba ukubulala umngane wakhe uClitus, lapho esedakiwe. Kodwa u-Alexander wazisola kakhulu kangangokuba walala embhedeni izinsuku ezintathu, engadli futhi engaphuzi lutho. Ekugcineni, abangane bakhe bakwazi ukumenza adle.

Njengoba isikhathi siqhubeka, ukuhahela kuka-Alexander udumo kwaveza ezinye izici ezingathandeki. Waqala ukuwakholelwa kalula amacala amanga futhi waqala ukukhipha isijeziso esinzima kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, esenziwe wakholelwa ukuthi uPhilotas wayethinteka etulweni lokumbulala, u-Alexander wathi yena noyise, uParmenio, umeluleki ayemethemba ekuqaleni, mababulawe.

UKUNQOTSHWA KUKA-ALEXANDER

Ngokushesha ngemva kokubuyela eBabiloni, u-Alexander wangenwa umalaleveva, akabange esalulama. Ngo-June 13, 323 B.C.E., esephile iminyaka engu-32 nezinyanga ezingu-8 nje kuphela, u-Alexander wanqotshwa isitha esesabeka kunazo zonke, ukufa.

Kwaba njengoba ezinye izihlakaniphi zaseNdiya zaziphawulile: “O Nkosi Alexander, umuntu ngamunye unendawo engaka nje emhlabeni engangalena esimi kuyo; futhi njengoba uyindoda njengamanye amadoda, ngaphandle kokuthi wena ugcwele umdlandla futhi awukhathali, wehla wenyuka kuwo wonke lo mhlaba kude nasemzini wakho, ukhathazekile wena futhi uhlupha nabanye. Kodwa kungakabiphi uzofa, futhi uzoba nendawo engaka nje emhlabeni eyanele igodi lakho.”

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Siyini isizinda sika-Alexander Omkhulu?

• Ngokushesha ngemva kokuthola isihlalo sobukhosi saseMakedoniya njengefa, u-Alexander waqala umkhankaso wani?

• Chaza okunye kokunqoba kuka-Alexander.

• Yini engase ishiwo ngobuntu buka-Alexander?

[Ibalazwe]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IZINDAWO EZANQOTSHWA U-ALEXANDER

IMAKEDONIYA

IGIBITHE

IBabiloni

UMfula I-Indus

[Isithombe]

U-Alexander

[Isithombe]

U-Aristotle nomfundi ayemfundisa u-Alexander

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi]

[Isithombe]

Uhlamvu lwegolide oluqoshwe u-Alexander Omkhulu

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 162, 163]

UMBUSO OMKHULU UYAHLUKANA

NGOKUQONDENE nombuso ka-Alexander Omkhulu, iBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi uyoqhekeka wahlukane ‘ungabi ngowenzalo yakhe.’ (Daniyeli 11:3, 4) Ngokuvumelana nalokho, phakathi neminyaka engu-14 ngemva kokufa okuzumayo kuka-Alexander ngo-323 B.C.E., indodana yakhe esemthethweni u-Alexander IV nendodana yakhe yangaphandle komshado uHeracles babulawa.

Ngonyaka ka-301 B.C.E., ojenene abane baka-Alexander bazithathela amandla okubusa umbuso omkhulu owawakhiwe umkhuzi wabo. UJenene Cassander wabusa iMakedoniya neGrisi. UJenene Lysimachus wathola i-Asia Minor neThrace. USeleucus I Nicator wathola iMesopotamiya neSiriya. UPtolemy Lagus, noma uPtolemy I wabusa iGibithe nePalestina. Yavela kanjalo imibuso emine yamaGreki embusweni owodwa omkhulu ka-Alexander.

Kule mibuso emine yamaGreki, ukubusa kukaCassander kwathatha isikhathi esifushane kunakho konke. Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa uCassander ebusa, abantu besilisa bozalo lwakhe bafa bonke, kwathi ngo-285 B.C.E., uLysimachus wathatha ingxenye yeYurophu yoMbuso WaseGrisi. Ngemva kweminyaka emine, uLysimachus wafela empini kulwiwa noSeleucus I Nicator, okwamenza wabusa ingxenye enkulu yezindawo zase-Asia. USeleucus waba inkosi yokuqala ohlwini lwamakhosi akwaSeleucus eSiriya. Wasungula i-Antiyokiya eSiriya wayenza inhloko-dolobha yakhe entsha. USeleucus wabulawa ngo-281 B.C.E., kodwa uhlu lwamakhosi aluqala lwaqhubeka lubusa kwaze kwaba ngu-64 B.C.E. ngenkathi uJenene ongumRoma uPompey enza iSiriya ibe isifundazwe saseRoma.

Ezingxenyeni ezine zombuso ka-Alexander, okaPtolemy wahlala isikhathi eside kunayo yonke. UPtolemy I waba inkosi ngo-305 B.C.E. futhi waba inkosi yokuqala emakhosini aseMakedoniya, noma oFaro baseGibithe. Wenza i-Alexandria yaba inhloko-dolobha, ngokushesha wabe eseqala uhlelo lwentuthuko. Omunye wemisebenzi yakhe emikhulu yokwakha kwaba i-Alexandrian Library. Ukuze kuqondiswe lo msebenzi omkhulu, uPtolemy walanda isazi esaziwayo saseGrisi e-Athens, uDemetrius Phalereus. Kubikwa ukuthi ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., lo mtapo wawunemiqulu eyisigidi. Uhlu lokubusa lukaPtolemy lwaqhubeka lubusa eGibithe kwaze kwaba yilapho iGibithe liwela kumaRoma ngo-30 B.C.E. IRoma yabe seyiba umbuso wezwe oqavile esikhundleni seGrisi.

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Wahlukana kanjani umbuso omkhulu ka-Alexander?

• Uhlu lwamakhosi akwaSeleucus lwaqhubeka lubusa eSiriya kwaze kwaba nini?

• Waphela nini umbuso waseGibithe kaPtolemy?

[Ibalazwe]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UKUQHEKEKA KOMBUSO KA-ALEXANDER

UCassander

ULysimachus

UPtolemy I

USeleucus I

[Izithombe]

UPtolemy I

USeleucus I

[Umdwebo/Isithombe ekhasini 139]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IMIBUSO YEZWE YESIPROFETHO SIKADANIYELI

Isizemazema sesithombe (Daniyeli 2:31-45)

Izilo ezine ziphuma olwandle (Daniyeli 7:3-8, 17, 25)

IBABILONI kusukela ngo-607 B.C.E.

AMAMEDE NAMAPHERESIYA kusukela ngo-539 B.C.E.

IGRISI kusukela ngo-331 B.C.E.

IROMA kusukela ngo-30 B.C.E.

UMBUSO WEZWE WAMANGISI NAMAMELIKA kusukela ngo-1763 C.E.

IZWE ELIHLUKENE NGOKWE- ZOMBANGAZWE esikhathini sokuphela

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 128]

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 147]