Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-27—UDaniyeli

Umlobi: UDaniyeli

Yalotshelwa: EBabiloni

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-536 B.C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 618–cishe ku-536 B.C.E.

 1. Luhlobo luni lomlando oluqukethwe encwadini kaDaniyeli, futhi uqokomisani?

KULOLUSUKU lapho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zimi onqenqemeni lwenhlekelele, incwadi kaDaniyeli iletha ekunakekeleni izigijimi ezingokwesiprofetho ezinokubaluleka okukhulu. Nakuba izincwadi zeBhayibheli zikaSamuweli, amaKhosi, neziKronike zisekelwe emibhalweni yofakazi bokuzibonela yomlando wombuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso (uhlanga lukaDavide lobukhosi), uDaniyeli ugxila ezizweni zomhlaba futhi unikeza imibono yokuqhubukushana kwamakhosi ohlanga amakhulu kusukela esikhathini sikaDaniyeli kuze kube “sesikhathini sokugcina.” Lona umlando wezwe obhalwe ngaphambi kokuba wenzeke. Uholela emvuthwandaba ovusa amadlingozi ngokubonisa lokho okwenzekayo “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku.” NjengoNebukadinesari, izizwe kumelwe zifunde kanzima “ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu” nokuthi ekugcineni uyinika “onjengendodana yomuntu,” uMesiya noMholi, uKristu Jesu. (Dan. 12:⁠4; 10:​14, NW; 4:​25; 7:​13, 14; 9:​25; Joh. 3:​13-16) Ngokunakekelisisa ukugcwaliseka okungokwesiprofetho kwencwadi ephefumlelwe kaDaniyeli, siyowazisa ngokugcwele ngokwengeziwe amandla kaJehova esiprofetho nokuqinisekisa kwakhe abantu bakhe ngesivikelo nesibusiso.​—⁠2 Pet. 1:⁠19.

 2. Yini eqinisekisa ukuthi uDaniyeli wayengumuntu ongokoqobo, futhi waprofetha phakathi nayiphi inkathi yezenzakalo?

² Lencwadi iqanjwe ngomlobi wayo. Elithi “Daniyeli” (ngesiHeberu, Da·ni·ye’lʹ) lisho ukuthi “UMahluleli Wami UNkulunkulu.” UHezekeli, owaphila ngesikhathi esifanayo, uqinisekisa ukuthi uDaniyeli wayengumuntu ongokoqobo, embala kanye noNowa noJobe. (Hez. 14:​14, 20; 28:⁠3) UDaniyeli unikeza isikhathi incwadi yakhe eyaqalwa ngaso ngokuthi ‘unyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi inkosi yakwaJuda.’ Lokhu kwakungo-618 B.C.E., unyaka wesithathu kaJehoyakimi njengenkosi engaphansi kukaNebukadinesari.a Imibono kaDaniyeli engokwesiprofetho yaqhubeka kwaze kwaba sonyakeni wesithathu kaKoresi, cishe ngo-536 B.C.E. (Dan. 1:⁠1; 2:⁠1; 10:​1, 4) Yeka iminyaka enezigigaba ehlanganiswa isikhathi sokuphila kukaDaniyeli! Izinsuku zakhe zobuntwana waziphila ngaphansi kombuso kaNkulunkulu kwaJuda. Khona-ke, njengenkosana eyeve eminyakeni eyishumi nambili, kanye nabangane bakhe abayizikhulu abangamaJuda, wayiswa eBabiloni ukuba aphile phakathi nokuvuka nokuwa kwalowombuso wezwe wesithathu womlando weBhayibheli. UDaniyeli waphila ukuba akhonze njengesikhulu sombuso embusweni wezwe wesine, wamaMede namaPheresiya. Kumelwe ukuba uDaniyeli waphila iminyaka esondele ekhulwini.

 3. Yini efakazela ukuba yingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli nobuqiniso bencwadi kaDaniyeli?

³ Ngaso sonke isikhathi incwadi kaDaniyeli ibilokhu ifakwe ohlwini lwamaJuda lwemiBhalo ephefumlelwe. Izingxenye zencwadi kaDaniyeli ziye zatholakala phakathi kwalezo zezinye izincwadi ezisohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli eMiqulwini YasoLwandle Olufile, eminye yayo esukela engxenyeni yokuqala yekhulu lokuqala leminyaka B.C.E. Nokho, ubufakazi obubaluleke ngisho nangokwengeziwe bobuqiniso balencwadi butholakala ekubhekiselweni kuyo emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki. UJesu umbiza ngegama uDaniyeli esiprofethweni sakhe ‘ngesiphelo sesimiso sezinto,’ lapho ecaphuna khona kaningana kulencwadi.​—⁠Math. 24:⁠3, qhathanisa neNW; bheka futhi noDan. 9:​27; 11:​31; no-12:​11​—⁠Math. 24:​15 noMarku 13:​14; Dan. 12:1​—⁠Math. 24:​21; Dan. 7:​13, 14​—⁠Math. 24:⁠30.

 4, 5. Imivubukulo iye yabuchitha kanjani ubufakazi babacusumbuli ngokuqondene noDaniyeli?

⁴ Nakuba abacusumbuli beBhayibheli beye bakungabaza ukuba ngokomlando kwencwadi kaDaniyeli, imivubukulo eminyakeni edlule iye yakuchitha ngokuphelele ukugomela kwabo. Ngokwesibonelo, laba baye bagxeka amazwi kaDaniyeli okuthi uBelishasari wayeyinkosi eBabiloni ngesikhathi okwabe kwaziwa ngaso ukuthi nguNabonidasi owayengumbusi. (Dan. 5:⁠1) Imivubukulo manje isikuqinisekise ngokungenakungatshazwa ukuthi uBelishasari wayengumuntu ongokoqobo nokuthi wayengumbusi kanye noNabonidasi eminyakeni yokugcina yoMbuso WaseBabiloni. Ngokwesibonelo, umbhalo wasendulo oqoshiwe ochazwa ngokuthi “Ukulandisa Okusankondlo KukaNabonidasi” uqinisekisa ngokusobala ukuthi uBelishasari wayenegunya lobukhosi eBabiloni futhi uchaza indlela aba ngayo umbusi kanye noNabonidasi.b Obunye ubufakazi bombhalo oqoshiwe busekela umbono wokuthi uBelishasari wayenza imisebenzi yobukhosi. Isibhebhe, esalotshwa ngonyaka we-12 kaNabonidasi, siqukethe isifungo esenziwa egameni likaNabonidasi, inkosi, nelikaBelishasari, indodana yenkosi, ngaleyondlela kubonisa ukuthi uBelishasari wayesesikhundleni esilingana nesikayise.c Lokhu kuyathakazelisa futhi ekuchazeni isizathu sokuba uBelishasari athembise ukwenza uDaniyeli abe “owesithathu embusweni” uma ayengachaza umbhalo osodongeni. UNabonidasi wayeyobhekwa njengowokuqala, uBelishasari wayeyoba owesibili, futhi uDaniyeli wayeyomenyezelwa njengombusi wesithathu. (5:​16, 29) Omunye umcwaningi uthi: “Ukubhekisela kwemibhalo eqoshiwe kuBelishasari kuye kwayikhanyisa kakhulu indima ayifeza kangangokuthi indawo yakhe emlandweni yembuleka ngokucacile. Kunemibhalo eminingi ebonisa ukuthi uBelishasari wayecishe alingane noNabonidasi ngesikhundla nangesithunzi. Ukuhlanganyela umbuso phakathi nengxenye enkulu yokubusa kokugcina koMbuso Omusha waseBabiloni kuyiqiniso elingenakuphikwa. UNabonidasi wasebenzisa igunya eliphakeme esesigodlweni sakhe eThema eArabiya, kuyilapho uBelishasari ebusa naye ezweni lawoyise, iBabiloni liyisikhungo asebenzisa igunya lakhe ekuso. Kusobala ukuthi uBelishasari wayengelona nje isekela lombusi elingelutho; wayephathiswe ‘ubukhosi.’”d

⁵ Abanye baye bazama ukujivaza ubuqiniso bokulandisa kukaDaniyeli ngesithando somlilo (isahl. 3), bethi kuyinganekwane eyaqanjwa. Incwadi yaseBabiloni Lakudala ifundeka kanje, ngokwengxenye: “Usho kanje uRîm-Sin inkosi yakho: Ngoba uphonsé insizwa eyisigqila eziko, nawe phonsa isigqila esithandweni.” Ngokuthakazelisayo, ebhekisela kuyo, uG. R. Driver wathi lesijeziso “sivela endabeni yaMadoda Amathathu Angcwele (Dan. III 6, 15, 19-27).”e

 6. Yiziphi izingxenye ezimbili ezakha incwadi kaDaniyeli?

⁶ AmaJuda awahlanganisanga incwadi kaDaniyeli nabaProfethi, kodwa ayihlanganisa neNgxenye Yesithathu YemiBhalo yawo. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, iBhayibheli lesiZulu lilandela uhlelo lohlu lweSeptuagint yesiGreki neVulgate yesiLatin ngokubeka uDaniyeli phakathi kwabaprofethi abakhulu nabangabalulekile. Eqinisweni lencwadi inezingxenye ezimbili. Eyokuqala yalezi, izahluko 1 kuya ku-⁠6, inikeza okuhlangenwe nakho kukaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe enkonzweni kahulumeni kusukela ngo-617 B.C.E. kuya ku-538 B.C.E. ngokulandelana kwezikhathi. (Dan. 1:​1, 21) Ingxenye yesibili, ehlanganisa izahluko 7 kuya ku-12, ibhalwe ngendlela yokuba kukhulume uDaniyeli ngokwakhe futhi ichaza imibono nezingxoxo phakathi kukaDaniyeli nezingelosi kusukela cishe ngo-553 B.C.E.f kuya cishe ku-536 B.C.E. (7:​2, 28; 8:⁠2; 9:⁠2; 12:​5, 7, 8) Lezingxenye ezimbili zihlangene zakha incwadi kaDaniyeli eyodwa evumelanayo.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KADANIYELI

 7. Yini eholela ekungeneni kukaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe enkonzweni kahulumeni waseBabiloni?

⁷ Ukulungiselelwa inkonzo yaseMbusweni (1:​1-21). Ngo-617 B.C.E. uDaniyeli ufika eBabiloni namaJuda ayizithunjwa. Izitsha ezingcwele zasethempelini laseJerusalema nazo ziyafika, ukuba zigcinwe endlini yengcebo yamaqaba. UDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu baphakathi kwentsha yasebukhosini engamaJuda ekhethelwe ukuqeqeshwa iminyaka emithathu esigodlweni senkosi. Ezinqumele enhliziyweni yakhe ukuba angazingcolisi ngokudla kwenkosi eyiqaba nangewayini, uDaniyeli ucela balingwe izinsuku eziyishumi ngokudla imifino. Lokhu kulingwa kumhambela kahle uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe, futhi uNkulunkulu ubanikeza ulwazi nokuhlakanipha. UNebukadinesari ukhetha laba abane ukuba bame ngaphambi kwakhe njengabeluleki. Ivesi lokugcina lesahluko 1, okungenzeka ukuthi lafakwa esikhathini eside ngemva kokuba ingxenye eyandulelayo isilotshiwe, libonisa ukuthi uDaniyeli wayesesenkonzweni yasembusweni cishe eminyakeni engu-80 ngemva kokuya kwakhe ekuthunjweni, okwenza kube cishe ngo-538 B.C.E.

 8. Yiliphi iphupho nencazelo uNkulunkulu akwembulela uDaniyeli, futhi uNebukadinesari ukubonisa kanjani ukwazisa kwakhe?

⁸ Iphupho lesithombe esesabekayo (2:​1-49). Ngonyaka wesibili wokubusa kwakhe (cishe osukela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E.), uNebukadinesari ukhathazwa yiphupho. Izanusi zakhe ziyehluleka ukwembula iphupho nencazelo yalo. Uzithembisa izipho ezinkulu, kodwa ziphikisa ngokuthi akekho omunye ngaphandle konkulunkulu ongabonisa inkosi into eyibuzayo. Inkosi iyafutheka kakhulu futhi iyala ukuba abahlakaniphileyo babulawe. Njengoba amaHeberu amane ehlanganisiwe kulomyalo, uDaniyeli ucela isikhathi sokwambula iphupho. UDaniyeli nabangane bakhe bathandaza kuJehova becela isiqondiso. UJehova wembula iphupho nencazelo yalo kuDaniyeli, obe eseya phambi kwenkosi futhi athi: “Kukhona uNkulunkulu ezulwini owambula izimfihlakalo; wazisile inkosi uNebukadinesari okuyakuba-khona ngezinsuku ezizayo.” (2:​28) UDaniyeli uchaza iphupho. Liphathelene nesithombe esikhulu. Ikhanda lesithombe liyigolide, isifuba saso nezingalo kuyisiliva, isisu saso namathanga kuyithusi, futhi imilenze yaso iyinsimbi, ingxenye yezinyawo iyinsimbi futhi ingxenye iwubumba. Itshe lishaya futhi lichoboze isithombe futhi liba yintaba enkulu egcwalisa umhlaba wonke. Kusho ukuthini lokhu? UDaniyeli wazisa inkosi yaseBabiloni ukuthi iyikhanda legolide. Ngemva kombuso wayo kuyolandela owesibili, owesithathu, nowesine. Ekugcineni, “uNkulunkulu wasezulwini uyakumisa umbuso ongasoze wachithwa . . . uyakuchoboza, uqede yonke lemibuso, wona uqobo ume phakade.” (2:​44) Ngokubonga nokwazisa, inkosi idumisa uNkulunkulu kaDaniyeli ngokuthi “uNkulunkulu wawonkulunkulu” futhi yenza uDaniyeli ukuba “abuse sonke isifunda saseBabele, abe-ngumholi wababusi babahlakaniphileyo baseBabele.” Abangane bakaDaniyeli abathathu benziwa abaphathi embusweni.​—⁠2:​47, 48.

 9. Uba yini umphumela wokumelana ngesibindi nokukhulekela isithombe kwamaHeberu amathathu?

⁹ AmaHeberu amathathu asinda esithandweni somlilo (3:​1-30). UNebukadinesari umisa isithombe esikhulu segolide, esiyizingalo ezingu-⁠60 (amamitha angu-26,7) ukuphakama, futhi uyala ukuba ababusi bombuso bahlangane ekunikezelweni kwaso. Lapho kukhala umculo okhethekile, bonke kumelwe bawe phansi futhi bakhuleke esithombeni. Noma yibaphi abangenzi kanjalo bayophonswa esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo. Kubikwa ukuthi abangane abathathu bakaDaniyeli, uShadiraki, uMeshaki, noAbedi-Nego, abakwenzanga lokho. Balethwa phambi kwenkosi ethukuthele, lapho befakaza khona ngesibindi: “UNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo unamandla okusikhulula. . . . [Ngeke sikhuleke] esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.” (3:​17, 18) Igcwele ukufutheka, inkosi iyala ukuba isithando somlilo sishisiswe kasikhombisa kunokuvamile nokuba amaHeberu amathathu aboshwe futhi aphonswe phakathi. Njengoba benza lokhu, labo abebezoba ababulali babulawa yilangabi lomlilo. UNebukadinesari uyethuka. Yini lena ayibonayo esithandweni? Amadoda amane ahamba phakathi emlilweni engalimele, futhi “eyesine [i]njengendodana yawonkulunkulu.” (3:​25) Inkosi ibiza amaHeberu amathathu ukuba aphume emlilweni. Ayaphuma, engahanguliwe, kungekho ngisho nephunga lomlilo kuwo! Ngenxa yokumelela kwawo ngesibindi ukukhulekela kweqiniso, uNebukadinesari umemezela inkululeko yokukhulekela kumaJuda kuwo wonke umbuso.

10. Yiliphi iphupho elisabisayo elihilela “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” uNebukadinesari aliphuphayo, futhi ingabe lagcwaliseka kuye?

¹⁰ Iphupho ‘lezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ (4:​1-37). Leliphupho livela embhalweni ogciniwe njengombhalo okopishwe uDaniyeli wencwadi yombuso waseBabiloni. Lalotshwa uNebukadinesari othotshisiwe. Okokuqala uNebukadinesari uvuma amandla nombuso kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. Khona-ke ulandisa iphupho elesabisayo nendlela elagcwaliseka ngayo kuye. Wabona umuthi owawufinyelela ezulwini futhi unikeza umthunzi nokudla kuyo yonke inyama. Umlindi wamemeza: ‘Gawula umuthi. Bopha isiqu sawo ngensimbi nethusi. Makudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwawo, ukuze kwaziwe ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu futhi umisa phezu kwayo ophansi phakathi kwabantu.’ (4:​14-17) UDaniyeli walichaza iphupho, azisa ukuthi umuthi wawumelele uNebukadinesari. Ukugcwaliseka kwaleliphupho eliyisiprofetho kwalandela ngokushesha. Ngesikhathi isabonisa ukuqhosha okukhulu kakhulu, inkosi yashaywa ngobuhlanya; futhi yaphila njengesilo sasendle iminyaka eyisikhombisa. Ngemva kwalokho, ingqondo yayo yabuyiselwa, futhi yabuvuma ubukhulu bukaJehova.

11. UBelishasari uwubona phakathi nakuphi ukuzitika umbhalo ongunqamula-juqu, uDaniyeli uwuchaza kanjani, futhi ugcwaliseka kanjani?

¹¹ Idili likaBelishasari: umbhalo wesandla uyachazwa (5:​1-31). Ubusuku obungunqamula-juqu bango-October 5, 539 B.C.E. Inkosi uBelishasari, indodana kaNabonidasi, njengomunye wababusi baseBabiloni, yenzela izinduna zayo eziyinkulungwane idili elikhulu. Inkosi, imnandi ngenxa yewayini, ithi makulandwe izitsha ezingcwele zegolide nezesiliva ethempelini likaJehova, futhi uBelishasari nezimenywa zakhe baphuza kuzo, ekuzitikeni kwabo, njengoba bedumisa onkulunkulu babo bobuqaba. Ngokushesha kubonakala isandla futhi siloba isigijimi esingaqondakali odongeni. Inkosi iyethuka. Abahlakaniphileyo bayo abakwazi ukuchaza umbhalo. Ekugcineni kungeniswa uDaniyeli. Inkosi imthembisa ukumenza owesithathu embusweni uma engafunda futhi achaze umbhalo, kodwa uDaniyeli uyitshela ukuthi mayizigcine izipho zayo. Khona-ke uyaqhubeka embula umbhalo nencazelo yawo: “MENÉ, MENÉ, TEKÉL, UFARSÍN. . . . UNkulunkulu ubalile umbuso wakho, uwuqedile. . . . Ulinganisiwe esilinganisweni, ufunyenwe ulula. . . . Umbuso wakho wahlukene, unikelwe kumaMede namaPheresiya.” (5:​25-28) Ngalobobusuku uBelishasari uyabulawa, futhi uDariyu umMede wamukela umbuso.

12. Uzungu oluboshelwe uDaniyeli lubhuntshiswa kanjani, futhi yimuphi umthetho uDariyu awukhiphayo?

¹² UDaniyeli emphandwini wezingonyama (6:​1-28). Abongameli bombuso kaDariyu bakhela uDaniyeli uzungu ngokwenza inkosi ikhiphe umthetho owenqabela ukucela kunoma yimuphi unkulunkulu noma umuntu ngaphandle kwenkosi ngezinsuku ezingu-30. Noma ubani ongawulaleli uyophonswa ezingonyameni. UDaniyeli uyenqaba ukulalela lomthetho ophazamisa ukukhulekela kwakhe futhi uphendukela kuJehova ngomthandazo. Uphonswa emphandwini wezingonyama. Ngokuyisimangaliso, ingelosi kaJehova ivimba imilomo yezingonyama, futhi ngakusasa ekuseni iNkosi uDariyu iyajabula ukuthola uDaniyeli engalimele. Manje izingonyama ziphiwa izitha, futhi inkosi ikhipha umthetho wokwesaba uNkulunkulu kaDaniyeli, njengoba ‘enguNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ (6:​26) UDaniyeli uyathuthuka enkonzweni kahulumeni kuze kube sekubuseni kukaKoresi.

13. Ephusheni eliqondene naye, yimuphi umbono uDaniyeli aba nawo ngokuqondene nezilo ezine nobubusi boMbuso?

¹³ Imibono yezilo (7:⁠1–8:​27). Siphindela ‘onyakeni wokuqala kaBelishasari,’ okubusa kwakhe ngokusobala kwaqala ngo-553 B.C.E. UDaniyeli uphupha iphupho eliqondene naye, aliloba ngesiAramu.g Ubona izilo ezine ezinkulu nezisabekayo zivela ngokulandelana. Esesine siqine kakhulu, futhi phakathi kwezinye izimpondo zaso kuvela uphondo oluncane “[olu]khuluma izinto ezinkulu.” (7:⁠8) Kubonakala Omdala Wezinsuku futhi uhlala esihlalweni sakhe. “Izinkulungwane zenkulungwane” ziyamkhonza. “Onjengendodana yomuntu” ufika phambi kwakhe futhi “[u]nikwa ukubusa, nobukhosi, nombuso, ukuze bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ba[m]khonze.” (7:​10, 13, 14) Khona-ke uDaniyeli uthola incazelo yombono wezilo ezine. Zimelela amakhosi amane, noma imibuso. Phakathi kwezimpondo eziyishumi zesilo sesine, kuvela uphondo oluncane. Luba namandla futhi lulwa nabangcwele. Nokho, iBandla lasezulwini liyangenela ukuba linike “umbuso nokubusa nobukhulu bemibuso phansi kwalo lonke izulu . . . isizwe sabangcwele boPhezukonke.”​—⁠7:⁠27.

14. Yimuphi umbono uDaniyeli aba nawo obonisa impongo nenqama enezimpondo ezimbili? UGabriyeli uwuchaza kanjani?

¹⁴ Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuwa kweBabiloni, uDaniyeli ubona omunye umbono, awuloba ngesiHeberu. Impongo enophondo oluqhamileyo emkhathini wamehlo ayo ilwa nenqama eqhoshayo enezimpondo ezimbili, futhi iyayinqoba. Uphondo olukhulu lwempongo luyaphuka, futhi kumila izimpondo ezine ezincane. Kolunye lwalezi kumila uphondo oluncane oluba lukhulu, luze ludlule nebandla lasezulwini. Kubikezelwa inkathi yezinsuku ezingu-⁠2 300 kuze kube yilapho indlu engcwele ‘isihlanjululiwe.’ (8:​14) UGabriyeli uchazela uDaniyeli umbono. Inqama imelela amakhosi amaMede namaPheresiya. Impongo iyinkosi yaseGrisi (eJavani), embuso wayo uyohlukaniswa kane. Kamuva, inkosi elukhuni ngobuso iyovela ‘imelane nesikhulu sezikhulu.’ Njengoba umbono “ungowezinsuku eziningi,” uDaniyeli kumelwe awugcine okwamanje.​—⁠8:​25, 26.

15. Yini ebangela ukuba uDaniyeli athandaze kuJehova, futhi yini uGabriyeli ayenza yaziwe manje ngokuqondene “namasonto ayisikhombisa”?

¹⁵ UMesiya uMholi uyabikezelwa (9:​1-27). ‘Ngomnyaka wokuqala kaDariyu . . . wamaMede’ uDaniyeli uhlola isiprofetho sikaJeremiya. Eqonda ukuthi ukuba kweJerusalema incithakalo iminyaka engu-70 okwabikezelwa kusondela ekupheleni kwakho, uDaniyeli uthandaza kuJehova evuma izono zakhe nezikaIsrayeli. (Dan. 9:​1-⁠4; Jer. 29:​10) UGabriyeli uyavela ukuze azise ukuthi kuyoba “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa . . . ukuqeda iziphambeko, nokukhawula izono, nokwenza ukubuyisana ngobubi.” UMesiya uMholi uyofika ekupheleni kwamasonto angu-69, ngemva kwawo uyonqunywa. Kuyoqiniswa isivumelwano nabaningi kuze kube sekupheleni kwesonto lama-70, futhi ekugcineni, kuyoba nokuchithwa nokukhawuka.​—⁠Dan. 9:​24-⁠27.

16. Ingelosi iphinda ibonakale kuDaniyeli ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo?

¹⁶ Inyakatho ilwa neningizimu, uMikayeli uyavela (10:​1–12:​13). ‘Sekuwumnyaka wesithathu kaKoresi,’ ngalokho cishe ngu-536 B.C.E., amaJuda esanda kubuyela eJerusalema. Ngemva kokuzila amasonto amathathu, uDaniyeli useceleni komfula iHidekeli. (Dan. 10:​1, 4; Gen. 2:​14) Ingelosi ibonakala kuye futhi imchazela ukuthi ‘isikhulu sasePheresiya’ samelana nokuza kwayo kuDaniyeli kodwa “uMikayeli, omunye wezikhulu zokuqala,” wayisiza. Manje ilandisa uDaniyeli umbono ‘ongowengxenye yokugcina yezinsuku.’​—⁠Dan. 10:​13, 14, qhathanisa neNW.

17. Yimuphi umlando ongokwesiprofetho wenkosi yasenyakatho nenkosi yaseningizimu uDaniyeli awulobayo manje?

¹⁷ Njengoba uqala, lombono othumba ingqondo ukhuluma ngokulandelana kwamakhosi asePheresiya nokuqhubukushana okuzayo neGrisi. Inkosi enamandla iyovela inokubusa okukhulu, kodwa umbuso wayo uyophulwa ube yizingxenye ezine. Ekugcineni kuyoba nezinhlu zamakhosi ezimbili ezinde, inkosi yaseningizimu ngokumelene nenkosi yasenyakatho. Ukulwela ukubusa kuyoba umzukuzuku. Lamakhosi amabi ngokungalawuleki ayokhuluma amanga esetafuleni linye. “Ngesikhathi esinqunyiweyo,” impi iyophinda igqashuke. Kuyongcoliswa indlu engcwele kaNkulunkulu, futhi kumiswe “isinengiso esichithayo.” (11:​29-31) Inkosi yasenyakatho iyokhuluma okumangalisayo ngoNkulunkulu wawonkulunkulu futhi idumise unkulunkulu wezinqaba. Lapho “ngesikhathi sokuphela” inkosi yaseningizimu iqhubukushana nenkosi yasenyakatho, inkosi yasenyakatho iyokhukhula emazweni amaningi, ingene futhi “nasezweni elihle.” Ithuswe imibiko evela empumalanga nasenyakatho, iyophuma futhi imise “itende lendlu yayo yobukhosi phakathi kolwandle nentaba enhle engcwele.” Ngakho “iya nokho ekupheleni kwayo, akakho ongayisiza.”​—⁠11:​40, 41, 45.

18. Yiziphi izinto ezenzeka phakathi nokuma kukaMikayeli ‘emela abantwana babantu bakaNkulunkulu’?

¹⁸ Umbono omuhle uyaqhubeka: UMikayeli ubonakala emile ukuze ‘amele abantwana babantu bakaNkulunkulu.’ Kuyoba ‘nesikhathi sokuhlupheka’ esingakaze sibonwe emlandweni wesintu, kodwa labo abafunyanwa belotshiwe encwadini bayosinda. Abaningi bayovuka emhlabathini bavukele ukuphila okuphakade, “abahlakaniphileyo bayakukhanya njengokukhazimula kwesibhakabhaka.” Bayophendulela abaningi ekulungeni. UDaniyeli kumelwe anamathelise incwadi “kuze kube-sesikhathini sokugcina.” “Kuyakuba-nini ukuphela kwalezizimangaliso na?” Ingelosi ikhuluma ngenkathi yezikhathi ezintathu nengxenye, ngezinsuku ezingu-⁠1 290, nangezinsuku ezingu-⁠1 335 futhi ithi yilabo kuphela “abahlakaniphileyo [a]bayakuqonda.” Bayajabula abanjalo! Ekugcineni, ingelosi inikeza uDaniyeli isithembiso esiqinisekisayo sokuthi uyophumula abese esukuma ukuze amukele isabelo sakhe “ngasekupheleni kwezinsuku.”​—⁠12:​1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 13.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

19. Yiziphi izibonelo ezinhle zobuqotho nokuthembela kuJehova ngomthandazo ezitholakala encwadini kaDaniyeli?

¹⁹ Bonke abazimisele ukulondoloza ubuqotho ezweni lobufokazi benza kahle ukucabangela isibonelo esihle sikaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi usongo luwunya kangakanani, laba baqhubeka bephila ngezimiso zaphezulu. Lapho ukuphila kwabo kwakusengozini, uDaniyeli wenza “ngokuhlakanipha nangokuqonda” kanye nangenhlonipho ngegunya eliphakeme lenkosi. (2:​14-16) Lapho inselele iphoqelelwa, amaHeberu amathathu akhetha isithando somlilo esivuthayo kunesenzo sokukhulekela isithombe, futhi uDaniyeli wakhetha umphandu wezingonyama kunokudela ilungelo lakhe lokuthandaza kuJehova. Esimweni ngasinye uJehova wanikeza isivikelo. (3:​4-6, 16-18, 27; 6:​10, 11, 23) UDaniyeli ngokwakhe unikeza isibonelo esihle sokwethembela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo.​—⁠2:​19-23; 9:​3-23; 10:⁠12.

20. Yimiphi imibono emine elotshiwe ngokuqondene nemibuso yezwe, futhi kungani kuqinisa ukholo ukuyicabangela namuhla?

²⁰ Imibono kaDaniyeli ivusa amadlingozi futhi kuqinisa ukholo ukuyibukeza. Okokuqala, cabangela imibono emine ephathelene nemibuso yezwe: (1) Kunombono wesithombe esesabekayo, esikhanda laso legolide limelela ukulandelana kwamakhosi aseBabiloni okuqala kuNebukadinesari, okuthi ngemva kwalo kuvele eminye imibuso emithathu, njengoba ifanekiselwa ezinye izingxenye zesithombe. Lena imibuso echotshozwa “itshe,” lona ngokwalo eliba “umbuso ongasoze wachithwa,” uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (2:​31-45) (2) Kulandela imibono kaDaniyeli eqondene naye, owokuqala owezilo ezine, ezimelela “amakhosi amane.” Lawa anjengengonyama, ibhere, ingwe enamakhanda amane, nesilo esinamazinyo amakhulu ensimbi, izimpondo eziyishumi, nolunye uphondo oluncane olwamila kamuva. (7:​1-8, 17-28) (3) Ngokulandelayo, kunombono wenqama (amaMede namaPheresiya), impongo (iGrisi), nophondo oluncane. (8:​1-27) (4) Ekugcineni, sinombono wenkosi yaseningizimu nenkosi yasenyakatho. UDaniyeli 11:​5-19 uwuchaza ngokunembile umbango phakathi kwamahlumela aseGibithe nawaseSelukiya oMbuso ka-Alexander waseGrisi owenzeka ngemva kokufa kuka-Alexander ngo-323 B.C.E. Kusukela evesini 20 lesiprofetho siyaqhubeka silandela umkhondo wezizwe ezalandela zaseningizimu nasenyakatho. Ukubhekisela kukaJesu ‘esinengisweni esichithayo’ (11:​31), esiprofethweni sakhe ngesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe, kubonisa ukuthi lokhu kulwela ukubusa kwamakhosi amabili kuqhubeka kuze kube ‘sesiphelweni sesimiso sezinto.’ (Math. 24:⁠3, qhathanisa neNW.) Yeka indlela esiduduza ngayo isiqinisekiso sesiprofetho sokuthi ‘esikhathini sokuhlupheka esingazange sibe-khona kusukela ekuveleni kwabantu kuze kube-yilesosikhathi,’ uMikayeli ngokwakhe uyosukuma ukuba asuse izizwe ezingamesabi uNkulunkulu futhi alethe ukuthula esintwini esilalelayo!​—⁠Dan. 11:​20–12:⁠1.

21. Isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli ‘samasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa’ sagcwaliseka kanjani ngokuphawulekayo?

²¹ Khona-ke, kunesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli ‘samasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa.’ Ngemva kwamasonto angu-69 “uMesiya uMholi” wayeyovela. Ngokuphawulekayo, eminyakeni engu-483 (u-69 ephindwa ngeminyaka engu-⁠7) ngemva ‘kokuphuma kwezwi’ lokwakha kabusha iJerusalema, njengoba kwagunyazwa uAritahishashita onyakeni wakhe wama-20 futhi kwafezwa uNehemiya eJerusalema, uJesu waseNazaretha wabhapathizwa eMfuleni iJordani futhi wagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele, eba uKristu, noma uMesiya (okungukuthi, Ogcotshiweyo).h Lokho kwakungonyaka ka-29 C.E. Ngemva kwalokho, njengoba noDaniyeli abikezela, kwaba ‘nokuphela’ lapho iJerusalema lichithwa ngo-70 C.E.​—⁠Dan. 9:​24-27; Luka 3:​21-23; 21:⁠20.

22. Yisiphi isifundo esisifundayo ekuthotshisweni kukaNebukadinesari?

²² Ephusheni likaNebukadinesari eliphathelene nomuthi owagawulwa, njengoba lilotshwe uDaniyeli esahlukweni 4, kulandiswa ukuthi inkosi, eyaqhosha ngalokho eyayikufinyelele futhi eyayithembele emandleni ayo siqu, yathotshiswa uJehova uNkulunkulu. Yenziwa yaphila njengesilo sasendle yaze yazi “ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.” (Dan. 4:​32) Ingabe thina namuhla sizoba njengoNebukadinesari, siqhoshe ngalokho esikufinyelele futhi sibeke ithemba lethu emandleni abantu, kuze kudingeke ukuba uNkulunkulu asijezise, noma ingabe ngokuhlakanipha siyoqaphela ukuthi Yena ubusa imibuso yabantu futhi sibeke ithemba lethu eMbusweni wakhe?

23. (a) Ithemba loMbuso ligcizelelwa kanjani kuyo yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli? (b) Lencwadi yesiprofetho kumelwe isikhuthaze ukuba senzeni?

²³ Ithemba loMbuso ligcizelelwa kuyo yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli ngendlela evusa ukholo! UJehova uNkulunkulu uboniswa enguMbusi oPhakeme omisa uMbuso ongasoze wachithwa noyochoboza yonke eminye imibuso. (2:​19-23, 44; 4:​25) Ngisho namakhosi angamaqaba uNebukadinesari noDariyu baphoqelelwa ukuba babuvume ubukhulu bukaJehova. (3:​28, 29; 4:​2, 3, 37; 6:​25-27) UJehova uphakanyiswa futhi akhazinyuliswe njengoMdala Wezinsuku ohlulela impikiswano yoMbuso futhi anikeze “onjengendodana yomuntu” ‘ukubusa kwaphakade, nobukhosi, nombuso, ukuze bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi, bamkhonze.’ Yilabo “abangcwele boPhezukonke” abahlanganyela noKristu Jesu, “iNdodana yomuntu,” eMbusweni. (Dan. 7:​13, 14, 18, 22; Math. 24:​30; IsAm. 14:​14) UnguMikayeli, isikhulu esiqhamileyo, osebenzisa amandla akhe oMbuso ukuchoboza nokuqeda yonke imibuso yalelizwe elidala. (Dan. 12:⁠1; 2:​44; Math. 24:​3, 21; IsAm. 12:​7-10) Ukuqonda leziprofetho nemibono kumelwe kukhuthaze abathandi bokulunga ukuba babhukule futhi behle benyuka emakhasini eZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze bathole “izimangaliso” zangempela zezinjongo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu esembulelwa zona ngencwadi kaDaniyeli ephefumlelwe futhi enenzuzo.​—⁠Dan. 12:​2, 3, 6.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]