Isahluko Sesikhombisa
Amagama Amane Águqula Izwe
1. Waba mkhulu kangakanani umphumela wamagama amane ayelotshwe odongeni kudala?
AMAGAMA amane alula abhalwé odongeni lukasimende. Nokho, lawo magama ethusa umbusi onamandla kwaphela nasozwaneni. Ayememezela ukwehliswa kwamakhosi amabili esihlalweni, ukufa kweyodwa yawo nokuphela kombuso wezwe onamandla. Umphumela walawo magama waba ukuhlaziswa kwehlelo lenkolo elihlonishwayo. Okubaluleke nakakhulu ukuthi aphakamisa ukukhulekelwa okumsulwa kukaJehova futhi agcizelela ubukhosi bakhe ngesikhathi abantu abaningi bengakunaki kokubili lokhu. Phela lawo magama ácacisa nezenzakalo zezwe zanamuhla! Amagama amane ayengakwenza kanjani konke lokho? Ake sibone.
2. (a) Kwenzekani eBabiloni ngemva kokufa kukaNebukadinesari? (b) Iyiphi inkosi eyayisiphethe izintambo manje?
2 Kwase kudlule amashumi eminyaka kwenzeke izigigaba ezichazwe esahlukweni sesine sikaDaniyeli. Ukubusa kweminyaka engu-43 kwenkosi eqhoshayo uNebukadinesari eBabiloni kwaphela lapho ishona ngo-582 B.C.E. Uhlu lwabamlandela lwavela emndenini wakhe, kodwa ukubusa kwabo kwaqedwa ukufa okuzumayo noma ukubulawa kwabo ngokulandelana. Ekugcineni, indoda okuthiwa uNabonidasi yathatha isihlalo sobukhosi ngokuvukela. Njengoba ayeyindodana yompristikazi ophakeme kankulunkulu wenyanga uSin, kusobala ukuthi uNabonidasi wayengesona isihlobo segazi sasebukhosini baseBabiloni. Ezinye izincwadi zisikisela ukuthi washada nendodakazi kaNebukadinesari ukuze enze ukubusa kwakhe kube semthethweni, wenza indodana yabo uBelishasari ibamba lakhe, futhi wayemshiya emphathise iBabiloni iminyaka eminingi ngesikhathi. Uma kunjalo, uBelishasari wayengumzukulu kaNebukadinesari. Kulokho okwakwehlele umkhulu wakhe, ingabe wayefundile ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu Ophakeme, okwazi ukuthobisa noma iyiphi inkosi? Phinde!—Daniyeli 4:37.
KUSUKA ISIDUMO EDILINI
3. Lalinjani idili likaBelishasari?
3 Isahluko sesihlanu sikaDaniyeli siqala ngedili. “UBelishasari inkosi wenzela izinduna zakhe eziyinkulungwane idili, waphuza iwayini ngaphambi kwaleyo nkulungwane.” (Daniyeli 5:1) Njengoba ungase ucabange, kumelwe ukuba kwadingeka ihholo elikhulu lokuhlalisa wonke la madoda, kanye namanye amakhosikazi enkosi nezancinza zayo. Esinye isazi siyaphawula: “Amadili aseBabiloni ayeba iziphihli, nakuba ayevame ukuphetha ngokudakwa. Iwayini elalithengwa phesheya, nazo zonke izinhlobo zezibiliboco kwakugcwala etafuleni. Ihholo lalithaphuka amakha; abahlabeleli nabadlali bezimfijoli bejabulisa izivakashi ezazibuthene lapho.” Ehlezi lapho bonke abantu babengambona khona, uBelishasari waliphuza eliphuzile iwayini.
4. (a) Kungani kungase kubonakale kuxaka ukuthi abaseBabiloni babenedili ngobusuku buka-October 5/6, 539 B.C.E.? (b) Ngokusobala, yini eyamisa abaseBabiloni isibindi naphezu kokuba khona kwamabutho ahlaselayo?
4 Kubonakala kuxaka ukuthi abaseBabiloni babethokoze kangaka ngalobu busuku—ngo-October 5/6, 539 B.C.E. Isizwe sabo sasisempini, futhi izinto zazingabahambeli kahle. UNabonidasi wayesanda kuhlulwa ngamabutho amaMede namaPheresiya ayehlasela futhi wayebalekele eBorsippa, eningizimu-ntshonalanga yeBabiloni. Futhi manje amabutho kaKoresi ayekanise ngaphandle kweBabiloni. Kodwa kubonakala sengathi uBelishasari nezikhulu zakhe babengakugqizi qakala lokho. Angithi umuzi wabo kwakuyiBabiloni elingenakunqotshwa! Izindonga zalo ezinkulu zazibonakala phezu kwemisele ejulile eyayiphakelwa uMfula i-Ewufrathe lapho ugeleza udabula kulo muzi. Kwase kuphele iminyaka eyinkulungwane kungekho sitha esasike sanqoba iBabiloni. Pho, babezokhathazwa yini? Mhlawumbe uBelishasari wayecabanga ukuthi ukuxokozela kwabo kwakuzotshengisa izitha ezingaphandle ukuthi babezethemba, bese ziphela amandla.
5, 6. UBelishasari wenzani lapho esehlulwe iwayini, futhi kungani lokhu kwakuwukudelela uJehova okukhulu kakhulu?
5 Kungakapholi maseko, ukuphuza kuze kweqe kwamehlula uBelishasari. Njengoba izAga 20:1 zisho, “iwayini liyisideleli.” Ngempela, kule ndaba iwayini lénza inkosi yenza iphutha elibi kakhulu. Yayala ukuba kulethwe izitsha ezingcwele zethempeli likaJehova kuleli dili. Lezi zitsha, ezazithathwe uNebukadinesari njengempango lapho enqoba iJerusalema, kwakufanele zisetshenziselwe ukukhulekela okumsulwa kuphela. Ngisho nabapristi abangamaJuda ababegunyazwe kudala ukuba bazisebenzise ethempelini eJerusalema babexwayiswe ukuba bazigcine behlanzekile.—Daniyeli 5:2; qhathanisa no-Isaya 52:11.
6 Nokho, uBelishasari wayesacabanga nangesinye isenzo sokweyisa. “Inkosi, nezikhulu zayo, nawomkayo, nezancinza zayo . . . baphuza iwayini, batusa onkulunkulu begolide, nabesiliva, nabethusi, nabensimbi, nabomuthi, nabetshe.” (Daniyeli 5:3, 4) Ngakho, uBelishasari wayeqonde ukuphakamisa onkulunkulu bakhe bamanga ngaphezu kukaJehova! Kubonakala sengathi lesi simo sengqondo sasivamile kubantu baseBabiloni. Babezeya izithunjwa zabo ezingamaJuda, behlekisa ngokukhulekela kwazo futhi bengazinikezi themba lokuphindela ezweni lazo ezilithandayo. (IHubo 137:1-3; Isaya 14:16, 17) Mhlawumbe le nkosi eyayisidakiwe yayinomuzwa wokuthi ukwehlisa lezi zithunjwa nokuthuka uNkulunkulu wazo kwakuzoyakhela ugazi komkayo nasezikhulwini zayo, kuyenze ibonakale inamandla.a Kodwa uma uBelishasari ayezizwa enamandla, awuhlalanga sikhathi lowo muzwa.
UMBHALO WESANDLA ODONGENI
7, 8. Idili likaBelishasari laphazamiseka kanjani, futhi kwayithinta kanjani inkosi?
7 “Ngasona leso sikhathi,” kusho ukulandisa okuphefumulelwe, “kwavela iminwe yesandla somuntu, yaloba maqondana nothi lwezibani kokunamekiweyo kodonga lwendlu yenkosi; inkosi yabona inxenye yesandla esalobayo.” (Daniyeli 5:5) Yeka umbono othusayo! Kwavele kwathushuka isandla esithubeni, sintanta emoyeni eduze kwengxenye yodonga ekhanya bhá. Cabanga nje iqembu lezivakashi lithula lithi dú njengoba lisigqolozela. Lesi sandla saqala ukuloba umyalezo oyimfihlo odongeni olunamekiweyo.b Lesi sigigaba sasiyibika lokubi futhi asizange silibaleke, kangangokuba nanamuhla abantu basebenzisa inkulumo ethi “kunombhalo wesandla odongeni” uma besikisela isixwayiso ngenhlekelele eseduze.
8 Waba yini umphumela kule nkosi eqhoshayo eyayizame ukuziphakamisa yona nawonkulunkulu bayo ngaphezu kukaJehova? “Kwase kuguquka ukucwebezela kwayo, nemicabango yayo yayesabisa, zaxhega izinyonga zokhalo lwayo, namadolo ayo ashayana.” (Daniyeli 5:6) UBelishasari wayehlose ukuziveza ezikhonzini zakhe emkhulu futhi ephakeme kakhulu. Kodwa kunalokho, wabonisa ukuthi umuntu owethuke kakhulu uba njani—waphaphatheka ebusweni, amanyonga akhe axega, umzimba wakhe wonke waqhaqhazela ngamandla kwaze kwashayana amadolo. Ngempela, ayeyiqiniso amazwi ale ngoma kaDavide ayeyibhekise kuJehova: “Amehlo akho aphezu kwabaqhoshileyo ukuba ubathobise.”—2 Samuweli 22:1, 28; qhathanisa nezAga 18:12.
9. (a) Kungani ukwesaba kukaBelishasari kwakungafani nokwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu? (b) Inkosi yazithembisani izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni?
9 Kufanele kuphawulwe ukuthi ukwesaba kukaBelishasari kwakungekhona ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, ukumhlonipha ngokujulile uJehova, okuwukuqala kokuhlakanipha. (IzAga 9:10) Cha, lokhu kwakuwukwesaba okukhwantabalisayo, futhi akuyenzanga yahlakanipha nakancane le nkosi eyayithuthumela.c Esikhundleni sokucela intethelelo kaNkulunkulu ayesanda kumethuka, wabiza “abathwebulayo, namaKaledi, nabahlola imihlola.” Waze wathi: “Ongafunda lo mbhalo, angitshele incazo yawo uyakwembathiswa okububende, abe nomgexo wegolide entanyeni yakhe, abuse engowesithathu embusweni.” (Daniyeli 5:7) Umbusi wesithathu kulo mbuso wayeyoba namandla impela, andulelwé amakhosi amabili nje vó ayebusa, uNabonidasi noBelishasari ngokwakhe. Leso sikhundla ngokuvamile sasingase sigcinelwe izibulo likaBelishasari. Inkosi yayijahe kangako ukuchazelwa lo myalezo oyisimanga!
10. Zenze njani lezi zihlakaniphi emizamweni yazo yokuchaza umbhalo wesandla osodongeni?
10 Amadoda ahlakaniphileyo atheleka ehholo elikhulu. Ayemaningi kakhulu ngoba iBabiloni laliwumuzi owawungene shí enkolweni yamanga futhi unamathempeli amaningi. Ayemaningi impela amadoda ayethi akwazi ukuchaza amabika futhi afunde umbhalo oyimfihlo. Kumelwe ukuba la madoda ajabula kakhulu ngokuthola leli thuba. Nanti ithuba lokuveza ubungcweti bawo phambi kwezitatanyiswa, ithuba lokuthola umusa wenkosi, futhi zithole isikhundla esasizowanika amandla. Kodwa yeka izehluleki aba yizo! “Behluleka ukuwufunda umbhalo nokwazisa inkosi incazelo.”d—Daniyeli 5:8.
11. Kungani izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni zazingase zingakwazi ukufunda umbhalo?
11 Akunasiqiniseko sokuthi izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni zawuthola ungafundeki yini umbhalo ngokwawo—zona kanye izinhlamvu. Uma zazingafundeki, la madoda angathembekile ayengaziqambela noma iyiphi incazelo ekhohlisayo, mhlawumbe aqambe incazelo yokuthopha inkosi. Kungenzeka nokuthi izinhlamvu zazifundeka kahle. Kodwa njengoba izilimi ezinjengesi-Aramu nesiHeberu zazibhalwa ngaphandle konkamisa, igama ngalinye lalingaba nezincazelo eziningana. Uma kunjalo, lezi zihlakaniphi cishe azikwazanga ukunquma ukuthi kuqondwe maphi amagama. Ngisho noma zazingase zikwazi ukunquma, zazizokwehluleka ukuqonda ukuthi la magama asho ukuthini ukuze ziwachaze. Kunoma yikuphi, yinye into okuqinisekwa ngayo: izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni zahluleka—kabi kakhulu!
12. Ukuhluleka kwalezi zihlakaniphi kwafakazelani?
12 Ngakho lezi zihlakaniphi zavela obala ukuthi zingabakhohlisi, ihlelo lazo lenkolo elihlonishwayo labonakala liyinkohliso. Yeka ukudumala ezakubangela! Lapho uBelishasari ebona ukuthi wayebathembele ize laba bantu benkolo, wethuka nakakhulu, waphaphatheka nakakhulu, nezikhulu zakhe “zamangala.”e—Daniyeli 5:9.
KUBIZWA INDODA ENOKUQONDA
13. (a) Kungani indlovukazi yasikisela ukuba kubizwe uDaniyeli? (b) UDaniyeli wayephila hlobo luni lokuphila?
13 Kulo mzuzu obucayi, indlovukazi uqobo lwayo—cishe engunina wenkosi—iyatheleka ehholo elinomcimbi. Yayisizwile ngesiphithiphithi esasisuke edilini, futhi ukhona eyayazi ukuthi angawufunda umbhalo wesandla osodongeni. Emashumini eminyaka ngaphambili, uyise uNebukadinesari, wayebeke uDaniyeli phezu kwazo zonke izihlakaniphi zakhe. Indlovukazi yakhumbula ukuthi wayengumuntu ‘onokukhanya nokuqonda nokuhlakanipha okudluleleyo.’ Njengoba kubonakala sengathi uBelishasari wayengamazi uDaniyeli, cishe lo mprofethi akabange esaba nesikhundla esiphakeme kuhulumeni ngemva kokufa kukaNebukadinesari. Kodwa uDaniyeli wayengenandaba nokuvelela. Mhlawumbe wayesevile eminyakeni engu-90 manje, esakhonza uJehova ngokukholeka. Nakuba ayeneminyaka engu-80 athunjwa eBabiloni, wayesaziwa ngegama lakhe lesiHeberu. Ngisho nendlovukazi yambiza ngelithi Daniyeli, ayimbizanga ngegama lakhe laseBabiloni ayethiwe lona. Empeleni, yanxusa inkosi: “Makabizwe uDaniyeli, uyakubonakalisa incazelo.”—Daniyeli 1:7; 5:10-12.
14. Yaba yini inkinga kaDaniyeli lapho ebona umbhalo osodongeni?
14 UDaniyeli wabizwa futhi weza phambi kukaBelishasari. Kwakubanga amahloni ukuncenga usizo kulo mJuda, oNkulunkulu wakhe inkosi yayisanda kumethuka. Noma kunjalo uBelishasari wazama ukuthopha uDaniyeli, ethi uzomnika wona lowo mvuzo—indawo yesithathu embusweni—uma engafunda futhi achaze la magama ayimfihlakalo. (Daniyeli 5:13-16) UDaniyeli waphakamisa amehlo akhe wabheka umbhalo wesandla osodongeni, umoya ongcwele wamenza wakwazi ukuqonda incazelo yawo. Kwakuwumyalezo wembubhiso ovela kuJehova uNkulunkulu! UDaniyeli wayengayitshela kanjani emehlweni le nkosi engelutho isahlulelo esibuhlungu—phambi kwamakhosikazi ayo nezicukuthwane zayo pho? Cabanga inkinga ayekuyo uDaniyeli! Ingabe amthonya amazwi enkosi athophayo nokuthi izomnika ingcebo nokuvelela? Ingabe lo mprofethi wayezosilulaza isimemezelo sikaJehova?
15, 16. Yisiphi isifundo esisemqoka uBelishasari ayehlulekile ukusifunda emlandweni, futhi kuvame kangakanani ukuhluleka okunjalo namuhla?
15 UDaniyeli wakhuluma ngesibindi, ethi: “Izipho zakho mazibe kuwe, umuphe omunye imivuzo yakho; nokho ngiyakufundela inkosi umbhalo, ngiyazise incazelo.” (Daniyeli 5:17) UDaniyeli wabe esekhuluma ngobukhulu bukaNebukadinesari, inkosi eyayinamandla kangangokuthi yayikwazile ukubulala, ukushaya, ukuphakamisa noma ukuthobisa noma ubani eyayithanda ukumenza kanjalo. Nokho, uDaniyeli wakhumbuza uBelishasari ukuthi nguJehova, “oPhezukonke,” owayenze uNebukadinesari waba mkhulu. NguJehova owathobisa leyo nkosi enamandla lapho isizikhukhumeza. Yebo, uNebukadinesari waphoqeleka ukuba afunde ukuthi “uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ubeka phezu kwayo amthandayo.”—Daniyeli 5:18-21.
16 UBelishasari ‘wayekwazi konke lokhu.’ Nokho, wayehlulekile ukufunda emlandweni. Eqinisweni, wayenze okungaphezu kwesono sikaNebukadinesari sokuqhosha kungafanele, wenza isenzo sokudelela uJehova ingcaca. UDaniyeli wasiveza obala isono senkosi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, phambi kwaleso sixuku esingamaqaba esasibuthene, ngesibindi watshela uBelishasari ukuthi onkulunkulu bamanga ‘ababoni, abezwa, abazi.’ Umprofethi kaNkulunkulu onesibindi wanezela ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu “omphefumulo wakho usesandleni sakhe,” ngokungefani nalabo nkulunkulu abangenalusizo. Nanamuhla, abantu benza izinto ezingaphili zibe onkulunkulu, bakhulekela imali, imisebenzi yokuziphilisa, izikhundla ngisho nenjabulo. Kodwa kulezi zinto ayikho neyodwa enganikeza ukuphila. UJehova kuphela sonke esimkweleta ukuphila, esithembele kuye ukuze sithole umoya esiwuhogelayo.—Daniyeli 5:22, 23; IzEnzo 17:24, 25.
IMPICABADALA IYAXAZULULWA!
17, 18. Yimaphi amagama amane ayelotshwe odongeni, futhi ngokwezwi nezwi asho ukuthini?
17 Manje lo mprofethi osekhulile wenza into eyayihlule zonke izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni. Wafunda futhi wachaza umbhalo wesandla owawubhalwe odongeni. Amagama ayethi: “ME’NE, ME’NE, TE’KEL nelithi PAR’SIN.” (Daniyeli 5:24, 25) Asho ukuthini?
18 Ngokwezwi nezwi, la magama asho ukuthi “umina, umina, ishekeli, nohhafu weshekeli.” Igama ngalinye lalibhekisela entweni yokukala isisindo semali, kuqala enkulu kwehle kugcine encane. Yeka indlela ayedida ngayo! Ngisho noma izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni zazingase zikwazi ukufunda izinhlamvu, akumangalisi nokho ukuthi zehluleka ukuzichaza.
19. Yayithini incazelo yegama elithi “ME’NE”?
19 Eqondiswa umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, uDaniyeli wachaza: “Nansi incazo yale nto: MENÉ, uNkulunkulu ubalile umbuso wakho, uwuqedile.” (Daniyeli 5:26) Ongwaqa begama lokuqala bavumela kokubili igama elithi “umina” kanye negama lesi-Aramu elisho ukuthi “kubaliwe,” kuye ngokuthi umfundi ufakela baphi onkamisa. UDaniyeli wayazi kahle ukuthi ukuthunjwa kwamaJuda kwase kuzophela. Kwase kudlule iminyaka engu-68 kwengu-70 yokuthunjwa eyayibikezelwe. (Jeremiya 29:10) UMgcini-sikhathi Omkhulu, uJehova, wayezibalile izinsuku zokubusa kweBabiloni njengombuso wezwe, futhi ukuphela kwase kusondele kakhulu kunalokho okwakucatshangwa yinoma ubani edilini likaBelishasari. Eqinisweni, isikhathi sase siphelile—singaphelele nje uBelishasari kuphela kodwa noyise, uNabonidasi. Lokhu kungase kube yisizathu sokubhalwa kabili kwegama elithi “ME’NE”—ukumemezela isiphetho sokubusa kwabo bobabili.
20. Lalisho ukuthini igama elithi “TE’KEL,” futhi lasebenza kanjani kuBelishasari?
20 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, elithi “TE’KEL” lalibhalwe kanye kuphela futhi lisebunyeni. Lokhu kungaba ukuthi lalibhekiswe ikakhulu kuBelishasari. Futhi lokhu kungafaneleka, ngoba uyena owayebonise ukungamhloniphi okubi kakhulu uJehova. Leli gama lisho “ishekeli,” kodwa ngenxa yongwaqa balo lingaba nayigama elithi “linganisiwe.” Ngakho, uDaniyeli wathi kuBelishasari: “TEKÉL: ulinganisiwe esilinganisweni, ufunyenwe ulula.” (Daniyeli 5:27) KuJehova, izizwe zonke ziwubala njengothuli esikalweni. (Isaya 40:15) Azinawo amandla okubhuntshisa izinjongo zakhe. Pho-ke, ibiyini inkosi eyodwa ezikhukhumezayo? UBelishasari wayezamé ukuziphakamisa ngaphezu koMbusi wendawo yonke. Lo muntu nje ongatheni wayebe nesibindi sokwethuka uJehova futhi ahlekise ngokukhulekela kweqiniso, kodwa ‘wayefunyanwe entula.’ Yebo, uBelishasari wayesifanele impela isahlulelo esasisondela ngokushesha!
21. Kukanjani elithi “PAR’SIN” kuyigama elalingachazwa kathathu, futhi leli gama lavezani ngekusasa leBabiloni njengombuso wezwe?
21 Igama lokugcina odongeni lalithi “PAR’SIN.” UDaniyeli walifunda laba sebunyeni, “PE’RES,” mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuthi wayekhuluma nenkosi eyodwa enye ingekho. Leli gama laphetha impicabadala enkulu kaJehova ngegama elalingase lichazwe kathathu. Ngokwezwi nezwi, elithi “par’sin” lisho “uhhafu wamashekeli.” Kodwa ngenxa yezinhlamvu, lingaba nezinye izincazelo ezimbili—ethi “ukuhlukana” nethi “amaPheresiya.” Ngaleyo ndlela uDaniyeli wabikezela ukuthi: “PERÉS: umbuso wakho wahlukene, unikelwe kumaMede namaPheresiya.”—Daniyeli 5:28.
22. UBelishasari wasabela kanjani ekusombululweni kwempicabadala, futhi yini okungenzeka ukuthi wayeyithembile?
22 Yasombululwa kanjalo-ke impicabadala. IBabiloni elinamandla lase lizowela emabuthweni amaMede namaPheresiya. Nakuba ayedunyazwe yilesi simemezelo sembubhiso, uBelishasari waligcina izwi lakhe. Wayaleza izinceku zakhe ukuba zembathise uDaniyeli okububende, ahlobe ngomgexo wegolide, futhi wambeka waba umbusi wesithathu embusweni. (Daniyeli 5:29) UDaniyeli akakwenqabanga lokhu kudunyiswa, eqaphela ukuthi kwakubonisa udumo olufanele uJehova. Yebo, kungenzeka ukuthi uBelishasari wayenethemba lokwenza ngcono isahlulelo sikaJehova ngokuhlonipha umprofethi waKhe. Uma kunjalo, wayesindwe izinyawo.
UKUWA KWEBABILONI
23. Yisiphi isiprofetho sasendulo esasigcwaliseka ngisho nangesikhathi kuqhubeka idili likaBelishasari?
23 Ngesikhathi uBelishasari nezinceku zakhe bephuza bedumisa onkulunkulu babo futhi behlekisa ngoJehova, kwakwenzeka umhlola ebumnyameni, ngaphandle kwesigodlo. Kwakugcwaliseka isiprofetho esasibikezelwe u-Isaya cishe emakhulwini eminyaka amabili ngaphambili. Ngokuqondene neBabiloni, uJehova wayebikezele: “Konke ukukhala [elikubangelayo] ngikwenza kuphele.” (Qhathanisa ne-NW.) Yebo, konke ukucindezelwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu abakhethiwe okwakwenziwa yilowo muzi okhohlakele kwakuzophela. Kanjani? Sona lesi siprofetho sathi: “Yenyuka, Elamu, vimbezela, Mediya.” I-Elamu laba yingxenye yePheresiya ngemva kwesikhathi somprofethi u-Isaya. Ngesikhathi sedili likaBelishasari, nalo elalibikezelwe kuso lesi siprofethi sika-Isaya, izwe lasePheresiya nelaseMediya ngempela ayesehlangene ukuze ‘enyuke’ ‘avimbezele’ iBabiloni.—Isaya 21:1, 2, 5, 6.
24. Yimiphi imininingwane ephathelene nokuwa kweBabiloni eyayibikezelwe yisiprofetho sika-Isaya?
24 Eqinisweni, kwagama lomholi wala mabutho lalibikezelwe, njengoba kwakubikezelwe nezinto eziyinhloko eziphathelene namaqhinga akhe okulwa. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngaphambili, u-Isaya wayebikezele ukuthi uJehova uyogcoba umuntu okuthiwa uKoresi ukuba azolwa neBabiloni. Phakathi nalokho kuhlasela, zonke izithiyo zaziyosuswa phambi kwakhe. Amanzi aseBabiloni ‘ayeyosha,’ nezivalo ezinkulu zishiywe zivuliwe. (Isaya 44:27–45:3) Kwaba njalo. Amabutho kaKoresi aphambukisa uMfula i-Ewufrathe, okwabohlisa amanzi ukuze amabutho akwazi ukuwela umfula. Onogada ababudedengu babeshiye amasango odonga lwaseBabiloni engavaliwe. Njengoba izazi-mlando zezwe zivuma, lo muzi wahlaselwa ngesikhathi izakhamuzi zawo zizitika. IBabiloni lanqotshwa lingalwanga. (Jeremiya 51:30) Nokho, kukhona oyedwa okufa kwakhe kungokuphawulekayo. UDaniyeli wabika: “Ngalobo busuku uBelishasari inkosi yamaKaledi wabulawa. UDariyu umMede wamukela umbuso eneminyaka engamashumi ayisithupha nambili.”—Daniyeli 5:30, 31.
UKUFUNDA EMBHALWENI WESANDLA OSODONGENI
25. (a) Kungani iBabiloni lasendulo lisifanekisela kahle isimiso sanamuhla sembulunga yonke senkolo yamanga? (b) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zanamuhla zazithunjelwe eBabiloni ngamuphi umqondo?
25 Ukulandisa okuphefumulelwe okukuDaniyeli isahluko sesihlanu kubaluleke kakhulu kithina. Njengoba laliyisidleke semikhuba yenkolo yamanga, iBabiloni lasendulo liwufanekisela kahle umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Njengoba encwadini yesAmbulo ifaniswa nesifebe esomele igazi, le nhlanganisela ekhohlisayo yembulunga yonke ibizwa ngokuthi “iBabiloni Elikhulu.” (IsAmbulo 17:5) Njengoba lingazinaki zonke izixwayiso ngemikhuba nezimfundiso zalo zamanga ezihlambalaza uNkulunkulu, liye lashushisa labo abashumayela iqiniso ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Njengezakhamuzi zakwaJuda naseJerusalema lasendulo, insali ekholekile yamaKristu agcotshiwe kwafana nokuthi ithunjelwe ‘eBabiloni Elikhulu’ lapho ushushiso olwalugqugquzelwa abefundisi lucishe luwumisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso ngo-1918.
26. (a) “IBabiloni Elikhulu” lawa kanjani ngo-1919? (b) Yisiphi isixwayiso okufanele sisilalele futhi sisitshele nabanye?
26 Nokho, “iBabiloni Elikhulu” lawa ngokuzumayo! Yeka ukuwa okungenamsindo—njengoba nje neBabiloni lasendulo lawa cishe kwangaba namsindo ngo-539 B.C.E. Naphezu kwalokho, lokhu kuwa okungokomfanekiso kwenza umonakalo. Kwenzeka ngo-1919 C.E., lapho abantu bakaJehova bekhululwa ekuthunjweni yiBabiloni futhi bebusiswa ngomusa waphezulu. Lokhu kwaqeda amandla ‘eBabiloni Elikhulu’ phezu kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi kwaba ukuqala kokudalulwa kwalo emphakathini njengomkhohlisi ongathembekile. Lokho kuwa kuye kwabonakala kungenakuhlehliswa, futhi ukubhujiswa kwalo kusondele. Ngenxa yalokho, izinceku zikaJehova bezilokhu ziphindaphinda lesi sixwayiso: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami, uma ningafuni ukuhlanganyela nalo ezonweni zalo.” (IsAmbulo 18:4) Ingabe wena uyasilalela leso sixwayiso? Uyabatshela yini abanye ngaso?f
27, 28. (a) Yiliphi iqiniso elisemqoka uDaniyeli angazange alilibale? (b) Yibuphi ubufakazi esinabo bokuthi uJehova uzolithathela isinyathelo ngokushesha leli lizwe lanamuhla elonakele?
27 Ngakho kunenhlekelele ezayo—kodwa ayifikeli “iBabiloni Elikhulu” kuphela. Khumbula iqiniso elisemqoka eliwumgogodla encwadini kaDaniyeli: UJehova unguMbusi Wendawo Yonke. Uyena kuphela onegunya lokumisela isintu umbusi. (Daniyeli 4:17, 25; 5:21) Noma yini ephikisana nezinjongo zikaJehova iyosuswa. Akusezinsuku zatshwala uJehova athathe isinyathelo. (Habakuki 2:3) UDaniyeli wagcina esibonile leso sikhathi ngonyaka wekhulu wokuphila kwakhe. Wabe esebona uJehova esusa umbuso wezwe—umbuso owawulokhu ucindezele abantu bakaNkulunkulu kusukela uDaniyeli esengumfana.
28 Kunobufakazi obungenakuphikwa bokuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu usembekile uMbusi wesintu esihlalweni sobukhosi sasezulwini. Ukuthi izwe aliyigqizi qakala le Nkosi nokuthi liye lamelana nokubusa kwayo kuwubufakazi obuqinisekile bokuthi maduze uJehova uzobasusa bonke abamelene nokubusa koMbuso. (IHubo 2:1-11; 2 Petru 3:3-7) Ingabe wenza ngokuvumelana nokuphuthuma kwesikhathi esiphila kuso futhi ubeke ithemba lakho eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu? Uma kunjalo, ufundile ngempela embhalweni wesandla osodongeni!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Embhalweni oqoshiwe wasendulo, iNkosi uKoresi yathi ngoBelishasari: “Sekubekwe ivaka [njengombusi] wezwe.”
b Ngisho nalesi sici esincane sokulandisa kukaDaniyeli siye sabonakala sinembile. Abavubukuli baye bathola ukuthi izindonga zesigodlo saseBabiloni lasendulo zazakhiwe ngezitini ezinanyekwe ngosimende.
c Mhlawumbe izinkolelo-ze zaseBabiloni zenza lesi simangaliso sethusa nakakhulu. Incwadi i-Babylonian Life and History iyaphawula: “Ngalé kwenani lawonkulunkulu ababekhulekelwa ngabaseBabiloni, sithola ukuthi babekholelwa kakhulu emimoyeni, kangangokuthi imithandazo namazwi okuloya kwakunengxenye enkulu ezincwadini zabo zenkolo.”
d Iphephabhuku i-Biblical Archaeology Review liyaphawula: “Izazi zaseBabiloni zaqoqa izinkulungwane zezimpawu zezibikezelo. . . . Lapho uBelishasari efuna ukwazi ukuthi usho ukuthini umbhalo osodongeni, akungabazeki ukuthi izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni zavula le miqulu yezibikezelo. Kodwa ayisizanga ngalutho.”
e Abalobi bezichazamazwi baveza ukuthi igama elisetshenziswe lapha elisho ukuthi “mangala” lisho isiphithiphithi esikhulu, njengokungathi kwaba nokudideka kulo mbuthano.
f Bheka amakhasi 205-71 encwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!, enyatheliswa i-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
YINI OYIZUZILE?
• Idili likaBelishasari laphazamiseka kanjani ngobusuku buka-October 5/6, 539 B.C.E.?
• Yayithini incazelo yombhalo owawusodongeni?
• Yisiphi isiprofetho esiphathelene nokuwa kweBabiloni esasigcwaliseka ngesikhathi kuqhubeka idili likaBelishasari?
• Indaba yombhalo osodongeni isho ukuthini osukwini lwethu?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 98]
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 103]