Linembe Kangakanani Ikhalenda LamaJuda?

NGOKWEKHALENDA lamaJuda, uLwesine, u-September 16, 1993, wawuwusuku lomkhosi weRosh Hashanah. Ngokwesiko kwakukhaliswa i-shofar, noma icilongo elakhiwe ngophondo lwenqama ukuze kumenyezelwe ukuza konyaka omusha. Lowonyaka u-5754 (ngokwekhalenda lamaJuda), futhi uqala kusukela ku-September 16, 1993, uphele ngo-September 5, 1994.

Zisuka nje, siphawula ukuthi kunomehluko weminyaka engu-3 760 phakathi kokubala isikhathi kwamaJuda nokubala kwaseNtshonalanga, noma ikhalenda likaGregory, manje elisetshenziswa kakhulu. Kungani kunalomehluko? Futhi linembe kangakanani ikhalenda lamaJuda?

Ukuthola Inkathi Okuqalwa Kuyo

Noma isiphi isimiso sokubala isikhathi kumelwe sibe nenkathi ethile okuqalwa noma okubhekiselwa kuyo. Ngokwesibonelo, eLobukholwa libala isikhathi kusukela onyakeni okucatshangwa ukuthi uJesu Kristu wazalwa ngawo. Izinsuku ezisukela kulesosikhathi kuthiwa zisenkathini kaKristu. Ngokuvamile ziboniswa ngophawu oluthi A.D., olususelwa ku-anno Domini wesiLatini osho ukuthi “ngonyaka weNkosi.” Izinsuku zangaphambi kwaleyonkathi ziphawulwe ngo-B.C., “Before Christ [Ngaphambi KukaKristu].”a AmaShayina asadla ngoludala ngokufanayo abala isikhathi kusukela ku-2698 B.C.E., ukuqala kokubusa kukaHuang-Ti wasenganekwaneni, uMbusi Ophuzi. Ngakho, u-February 10, 1994, waphawula ukuqala konyaka wamaShayina we-lunar ka-4692. Ngakho, kuthiwani ngekhalenda lamaJuda.

I-Jewish Encyclopedia ithi: “Indlela yamanje evamile phakathi kwamaJuda yokubhala usuku lwesenzakalo iwukuphawula inani leminyaka eye yadlula kusukela kwadalwa izwe.” Lesisimiso, esaziwa kumaJuda ngokuthi iNkathi Yokudala, saqala ukusetshenziswa kakhulu cishe ekhulwini lesishiyagalolunye C.E. Ngakho, izinsuku ekhalendeni lamaJuda ngokuvamile zandulelwa isiqu esithi A.M. Lesisiqu simelela u-anno mundi, owukufushaniswa kuka-ab creatione mundi, okusho ukuthi “kusuka ekudalweni kwezwe.” Njengoba lonyaka kuwu-A.M. 5754, ngokwalesisimiso sokubala isikhathi, “ukudalwa kwezwe” kubhekwa njengokwenzeka eminyakeni engu-5 753 edlule. Ake sibone indlela lokho okutholwa ngayo.

“INkathi Yokudala”

I-Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971) inikeza lencazelo: “Ekubaleni okuhlukahlukene korabi ‘iNkathi Yokudala’ yaqala ekwindla yomunye weminyaka ephakathi kuka-3762 no-3758 B.C.E. Nokho, kusukela ngekhulu le-12 C.E. kwamukelwa ukuthi ‘iNkathi Yokudala’ yaqala ngo-3761 B.C.E. (ngokunembile, ngo-Oct. 7 walowonyaka). Lokhu kubala kusekelwe ezicini zokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi ezivezwe eBhayibhelini nasezibalweni ezatholwa ezincwadini zokuqala zamaJuda zangemva kwezikhathi zeBhayibheli.”

Isimiso sokubala izinsuku kusukela “ekudalweni kwezwe” sisekelwe ngokuyinhloko ezincazelweni zorabi zokulandisa kweBhayibheli. Ngenxa yenkolelo yabo yokuthi izwe nakho konke okukulo kwadalwa ngezinsuku eziyisithupha ezingokoqobo zamahora angu-24, izazi ezingorabi, kanye nezeLobukholwa, zicabanga ukuthi ukudalwa komuntu wokuqala, u-Adamu, kwenzeka ngesikhathi esifanayo nesokudalwa kwezwe. Nokho, lokhu akunembile neze.

Isahluko sokuqala sikaGenesise sivula ngalamazwi: “Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu wadala izulu nomhlaba.” Khona-ke siqhubeka sichaza lokho uNkulunkulu akwenza ‘ezinsukwini’ eziyisithupha ezilandelanayo ukuze aguqule umhlaba awususe esimweni sokuba ‘ihlane elingenalutho’ awenze ube indawo efanelekile yokuhlala abantu. (Genesise 1:1, 2) Kungenzeka ukuthi kwadlula izigidi zeminyaka phakathi nalezizikhathi ezimbili. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izinsuku zokudala zazingeyona inkathi yamahora angu-24, njengokungathi imisebenzi yoMdali yayiphoqelelwa ukulinganiselwa okunjalo. Ukuthi “usuku” kulomongo kungaba isikhathi esingaphezu kwamahora angu-24 kuboniswa kuGenesise 2:4, okhuluma ngazo zonke izinkathi zokudala ‘njengomuhla.’ Izinkulungwane eziningi zeminyaka ziye zadlula phakathi nosuku lokuqala lokudala nolwesithupha, lapho u-Adamu edalwa. Ukuthi u-Adamu wadalwa ngaso kanye isikhathi okwadalwa ngaso amazulu nomhlaba okungokoqobo akukhona okungokomBhalo noma okungokwesayensi. Nakuba kunjalo, kwanqunywa kanjani ukuthi “iNkathi Yokudala” yaqala ngo-3761 B.C.E.?

Isisekelo Sokulandelana Kwezenzakalo Ngokohlelo Lwezikhathi

Ngeshwa, izincwadi eziningi zamaJuda okusekelwe kuzo lezizibalo esixoxa ngazo azisatholakali. Okusele incwadi yokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi ekuqaleni eyayibizwa ngokuthi i-Seder ʽOlam (Uhlelo Lwezwe). Kuthiwa yabhalwa isazi seTalmud sekhulu lesibili C.E. uYose ben Halafta. Lencwadi (kamuva eyabizwa ngokuthi i-Seder ʽOlam Rabbah ukuze ihlukaniswe kuleyo elandisa ngezenzakalo zomlando weNkathi Ephakathi enesihloko esithi Seder ʽOlam Zuṭa) inikeza umlando wokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi kusukela ku-Adamu kuya ekuvukeleni kwamaJuda iRoma ngaphansi kukaMesiya wamanga uBar Kokhba ngekhulu lesibili C.E. Umlobi wakuthola kanjani ukwaziswa okunjalo?

Nakuba uYose ben Halafta azama ukulandela ukulandisa kweBhayibheli, wanezela izincazelo zakhe siqu lapho umbhalo ungacaci ngokuphathelene nezinsuku ezihilelekile. “Ezimweni eziningi, . . . wanikeza izinsuku ngokuvumelana nesiko, futhi ngaphandle kwalokho, wanezela amazwi ne-halakot [amasiko] orabi abamandulela nababephila ngesikhathi sakhe,” kusho i-Jewish Encyclopedia. Abanye bayeqisa ekulinganiseleni kwabo. I-Book of Jewish Knowledge iyagomela: “Wabala kusukela eNkathini Yokudala futhi, ngokufanelekile, wabhekisela ezinsukwini ezingenabo ubufakazi obuphathekayo ukuze achaze izenzakalo ezihlukahlukene zamaJuda okwakucatshangwa ukuthi zenzeka kusukela ku-Adamu, umuntu wokuqala, kuya ku-Alexander Omkhulu.” Kodwa izincazelo ezinjalo nokunezela okuthile kwakuthinta kanjani ukunemba nokuthenjelwa kokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi zamaJuda? Ake sibone.

Amasiko Nezincazelo

Ngokuvumelana nesiko lorabi, uYose ben Halafta wabala ukuthi ithempeli lesibili laseJerusalema lahlala iminyaka engu-420. Lokhu kwakusekelwe encazelweni yorabi yesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli ‘samasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,’ noma iminyaka engu-490. (Daniyeli 9:24) Lenkathi kwathiwa yayiphakathi nesikhathi sokubhujiswa kwethempeli lokuqala nokuchithwa kwelesibili. Evumela iminyaka engu-70 yokuthunjelwa eBabiloni, uYose ben Halafta wafinyelela esiphethweni sokuthi ithempeli lesibili lahlala iminyaka engu-420.

Nokho, lencazelo ihlangabezana nengqinamba engathi sína. Unyaka wokuchithwa kweBabiloni (539 B.C.E.) nalowo wokubhujiswa kwethempeli lesibili (70 C.E.) iyizinsuku ezaziwayo zomlando. Ngakho, inkathi yethempeli lesibili yayiyoba iminyaka engu-605 kunokuba kube iminyaka engu-420. Ngokunikeza lenkathi iminyaka engu-420 kuphela, ukulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi lwamaJuda lusilela ngeminyaka engu-185.

Isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli asiphathelene nokuthi ithempeli laseJerusalema lalizohlala isikhathi esingakanani. Kunalokho, sabikezela isikhathi uMesiya ayeyobonakala ngaso. Lesisiprofetho sibonisa ngokukhanyayo ukuthi “kusukela ekuphumeni kwezwi lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema kuze kufike ogcotshiweyo, umbusi, [kwakuyoba] ngamasonto ayisikhombisa, . . . amasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili.” (Daniyeli 9:25, 26) Nakuba isisekelo sethempeli sabekwa ngonyaka wesibili wokubuya kwamaJuda ekuthunjweni (536 B.C.E.), ‘izwi’ lokwakhiwa kabusha komuzi waseJerusalema alizange likhishwe kwaze kwaba “ngomnyaka wamashumi amabili ka-Aritahishashita inkosi.” (Nehemiya 2:1-8) Umlando wezwe onembile uveza ukuthi lowonyaka u-455 B.C.E. Uma sibala “amasonto” angu-69 siya phambili, noma iminyaka engu-483, sifinyelela ku-29 C.E. Leso kwakuyisikhathi sokubonakala kukaMesiya, lapho kubhapathizwa uJesu.b

Elinye iphuzu lencazelo yorabi elabangela iphutha elikhulu ekulandelaneni kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi lwamaJuda liphathelene nesikhathi sokuzalwa kuka-Abrahama. Orabi benezela iminyaka yezizukulwane ezilandelanayo ezilotshwe kuGenesise 11:10-26 futhi bathi lenkathi iyiminyaka engu-292 kusukela kuZamcolo kuya ekuzalweni kuka-Abrahama (Abrama). Nokho, inkinga isekuchazeni korabi ivesi 26, elithi: “UThera wahamba iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa, wazala oAbrama, noNahori, noHarana.” Kulokhu, ngokwesiko lamaJuda kucatshangwa ukuthi uThera wayeneminyaka engu-70 ubudala lapho u-Abrama ezalwa. Nokho, lelivesi alisho ngokuqondile ukuthi uThera waba uyise ka-Abrahama lapho eneminyaka engu-70 ubudala. Kunalokho, limane nje lithi waba uyise wamadodana amathathu ngemva kokuba eneminyaka engu-70 ubudala.

Ukuze sithole iminyaka eqondile kaThera lapho u-Abrahama ezalwa, kudingeka nje sifunde ukulandisa kweBhayibheli. KuGenesise 11:32–12:4, sifunda ukuthi ngemva kokufa kukaThera lapho eneminyaka engu-205 ubudala, u-Abrahama nomkhaya wakhe bathutha eHarana ngokuyala kukaJehova. Ngalesosikhathi u-Abrahama wayeneminyaka engu-75 ubudala. Khona-ke, kumelwe ukuthi u-Abrahama wazalwa lapho uThera eneminyaka engu-130 ubudala, kunokuba kube iminyaka engu-70. Ngakho, inkathi esukela kuZamcolo kuya ekuzalweni kuka-Abrahama yayiyiminyaka engu-352, kunokuba kube iminyaka engu-292. Lapha ukulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi lwamaJuda kunephutha ngeminyaka engu-60.

Insalela Engokwenkolo

Amaphutha nokungavumelani okunjalo okuku-Seder ‘Olam Rabbah nezinye izincwadi zokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi lweTalmud kubangele ukudumazeka okukhulu nezingxoxo eziningi phakathi kwezazi zamaJuda. Nakuba kuye kwenziwa imizamo eminingi yokuvumelanisa lokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi namaqiniso omlando aziwayo, ayizange iphumelele ngokuphelele. Ngani? “Isithakazelo sabo sasigxile kakhulu enkolweni kunasemfundweni,” kuphawula i-Encyclopaedia Judaica. “Isiko kwakumelwe liphakanyiswe kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani, ikakhulukazi ngenxa yokungavumelani kwamahlelo.” Esikhundleni sokususa ukukhungatheka okubangelwa amasiko azo, ezinye izazi zamaJuda zazama ukuhlambalaza ukulandisa kweBhayibheli. Ezinye zazama ukufuna ukusekelwa ezinganekwaneni nasemasikweni aseBabiloni, eGibithe, nawamaHindu.

Ngenxa yalokho, izazi-mlando azisayibheki “iNkathi Yokudala” njengengxenye enokwethenjelwa yomsebenzi wokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi. Zimbalwa izazi zamaJuda ezingazama ukuyivikela, futhi ngisho nezinye izincwadi ezingokomthetho njenge-Jewish Encyclopedia ne-Encyclopaedia Judaica zinombono ophambene ngazo. Ngakho, indlela yamaJuda engokwesiko yokubala isikhathi kusukela ekudalweni kwezwe ayinakubhekwa njengenembile ngokombono wokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi lweBhayibheli, uhlelo lukaJehova uNkulunkulu lwezikhathi olungokwesiprofetho olwambulekayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]