Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-30—UAmose
Umlobi: UAmose
Yalotshelwa: KwaJuda
Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-804 B.C.E.
1. Wayengubani uAmose?
AKASIYE umprofethi noma indodana yomprofethi kodwa ungumalusi wezimvu nomtshali wezihlahla zomthombe—yilokho uAmose ayeyikho lapho uJehova embiza futhi emthuma ukuba aprofethe hhayi nje esizweni sakubo sakwaJuda kodwa ikakhulukazi embusweni wakwaIsrayeli wasenyakatho. Wayengomunye wabaprofethi okwabhekiselwa kubo kwawesi-2 AmaKhosi 17:13, 22, 23. Wayevela eThekhowa kwaJuda, cishe amakhilomitha angu-16 eningizimu yeJerusalema futhi cishe uhambo losuku ukusuka emngceleni oseningizimu wombuso wakwaIsrayeli wezizwe eziyishumi.—Amose 1:1; 7:14, 15.
2. Singatholakala kanjani isikhathi sokulotshwa kwesiprofetho sika-Amose?
2 Ivesi lokuqala lesiprofetho sakhe lithi kwakuphakathi nezinsuku zikaUziya inkosi yakwaJuda nezikaJerobowamu II indodana kaJowashi, inkosi yakwaIsrayeli, lapho eqalisa umsebenzi wakhe njengomprofethi, eminyakeni emibili ngaphambi kokuzamazama komhlaba okwakungajwayelekile. Lokhu kwenza lesiprofetho sibe esaphakathi nenkathi yeminyaka engu-26 esukela ku-829 kuya ku-804 B.C.E., okuyisikhathi okwahlangana ngaso ukubusa kwalamakhosi amabili. Umprofethi uZakariya ukhuluma ngokuzamazama komhlaba okubhubhisayo ezinsukwini zikaUziya, okuyisikhathi abantu ababaleka ngaso ngokwesaba. (Zak. 14:5) Isazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus sithi ukuzamazama komhlaba kwenzeka ngesikhathi u-Uziya ngokugabadela ezama ukunikela impepho ethempelini. Nokho, kubonakala sengathi ukuzamazama komhlaba uAmose akhuluma ngakho kwenzeka ngasekuqaleni kokubusa kukaUziya.
3. (a) Kungani isigijimi sika-Amose sikamaye sasifike ngesikhathi? (b) Wabukhulisa kanjani ubukhosi bukaJehova?
3 Igama elithi Amose lisho ukuthi “Ukuba Umthwalo” noma “Ukuthwala Umthwalo.” Nakuba ayethwele izigijimi ezazigcwele umaye kwaIsrayeli nakwaJuda (kanye nasezizweni eziningi ezingabahedeni), wayethwele futhi nesigijimi senduduzo esiphathelene nokubuyiselwa kwabantu bakaJehova. Kwakunezizathu ezizwakalayo zokumemezela umthwalo ongumaye kwaIsrayeli. Ukuchuma, ukuphila kokutamasa, kanye nokuyekelela kwakuyinsakavukela. Abantu base bewukhohliwe uMthetho kaJehova. Lokho okwakubonakala kuwukuchuma kwabaphuphuthekisa kangangokuba babengaboni ukuthi njengesithelo esivuthwe ngokweqile, kakade base beya ekonakaleni okwakuyoholela ekubhujisweni. UAmose waprofetha ukuthi eminyakeni engemingaki, umbuso wezizwe eziyishumi wawuzoya ekuthunjweni ngaphesheya kweDamaseku. Kulokhu wakhulisa ukulunga nobukhosi bukaJehova, abhekisela kuye izikhathi ezingu-21 ngokuthi “iNkosi.”—Amose 1:8.
4. Ukugcwaliseka kwaziphi iziprofetho okufakazela ubuqiniso bencwadi ka-Amose?
4 Ukugcwaliseka kwalesiprofetho kanye nezinye kufakazela ubuqiniso bencwadi ka-Amose. Lomprofethi futhi wabikezela ukuthi izizwe eziyizitha ezizungeze uIsrayeli—amaSiriya amaFilisti, abaseTire, abakwaEdomi, ama-Amoni, nabakwaMowabi—zonke zaziyodliwa umlilo wembubhiso. Kuyindaba engokomlando ukuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ngayinye yezinqaba zalezitha yabhujiswa. Izindlela zikaJuda noIsrayeli zazisoleka ngisho nangokwengeziwe ngoba bashiya uJehova ngenxa yokukhulekela kwamanga. Inqaba yokugcina yakwaIsrayeli, umuzi obiyelwe waseSamariya, ngemva kokuvinjezelwa impi yaseAsiriya ngaphansi kukaShalimaneseri V, yawa ngonyaka ka-740 B.C.E. (2 AmaKh. 17:1-6) UJuda akazange afunde kulokho okwenzeka esizweni esingudadewabo, ngalokho wabhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E.
5. Imivubukulo iwuqinisekisa kanjani umbhalo ogciniwe osencwadini ka-Amose?
5 UAmose walahla uIsrayeli ngokuphila kwakhe kokunethezeka, ngoba abacebile babephanga abampofu ukuze bakhe ezabo “izindlu zophondo lwendlovu,” ababephuzela kuzo iwayini futhi badle ngokuzitika okukhulu. (Amose 3:15; 5:11, 12; 6:4-7) Izazi zemivubukulo ziye zabuvubukula ubufakazi balokhu kuchuma. Izinto eziningi zophondo lwendlovu zatholakala lapho kumbiwa eSamariya. IEncyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land ithi: “Kungabonakala amaqembu amabili ayinhloko: 1. Izingcwecwe eziqoshwe imifanekiso evelé kakhulu, . . . 2. Izingcwecwe eziqoshwe imifanekiso evelé kancane, futhi zahlotshiswa ngamatshe ayigugu afakwe ngaphakathi, ingilazi enombala, ucwecwe lwegolide, njll. . . . Izimpondo zendlovu zibhekwa njengemikhiqizo yobungcweti baseFenike, futhi cishe zazisetshenziswa njengemihlobiso eyayifakwa empahleni yesigodlo samakhosi akwaIsrayeli. IBhayibheli likhuluma ‘ngendlu yophondo lwendlovu’ eyakhiwa uAhabi (1 AmaKh. 22:39) kanye ‘nangemibhede yophondo lwendlovu,’ efanekisela ukuphila kokutamasa okwakuphilwa eSamariya ngokwamazwi ka-Amose okusola (6:4).”a
6. Yini eqinisekisa ubuqiniso bencwadi ka-Amose?
6 Ukuthi incwadi ka-Amose iyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli akunakungatshazwa. Okuqinisekisa ubuqiniso bayo ukusho kukaStefanu amavesi amathathu ngamazwi akhe kuzEnzo 7:42, 43 nokucaphuna kukaJakobe kulencwadi kuzEnzo 15:15-18.—Amose 5:25-27; 9:11, 12.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KA-AMOSE
7. UAmose uxwayisa ngezahlulelo zikaJehova kuziphi izizwe?
7 Izahlulelo ezizweni (1:1–2:3). “UJehova uyaduma eseSiyoni.” (1:2) UAmose uyaqhubeka exwayisa ngezahlulelo zaKhe ezinjengomlilo ezizweni. IDamaseku (iSiriya) iye yabhula iGileyadi ngezibhulo zensimbi. IGaza (iFilistiya) neTire kuye kwakhaphela abathunjwa bakwaIsrayeli kuEdomi. KuEdomi ngokwakhe isihe nothando lobuzalwane bekungekho. UAmoni uye wahlasela iGileyadi. UMowabi ushise amathambo enkosi yakwaEdomi aba-ngumcako. Isandla sikaJehova simelene nazo zonke lezizwe, futhi uthi: “Angiyikuguquka.”—1:3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13; 2:1.
8. Kungani isahlulelo sikaJehova simenyezelwa futhi kwaJuda nakwaIsrayeli?
8 Isahlulelo kwaJuda nakwaIsrayeli (2:4-16). UJehova ngeke ayihoxise intukuthelo yakhe kwaJuda. Wonile ‘ngokulahla umthetho kaJehova.’ (2:4) Kuthiwani ngoIsrayeli? UJehova wachitha ama-Amori asabekayo ngenxa yakhe futhi wamnikeza izwe elihle. Wavusa amaNaziri nabaprofethi phakathi kwakhe, kodwa uIsrayeli wenza amaNaziri ukuba ephule isifungo sawo futhi wayala abaprofethi: “Ningaprofethi.” (2:12) Ngakho-ke uJehova wenza ukuba izisekelo zakhe zintengantenge njengengqukumbane ethwele izithungu ezisand’ ukusikwa. Ngokuqondene namaqhawe akhe, ayobaleka-ze.
9. Yini efakazela ukuthi uJehova ukhulumile, futhi uAmose uprofetha ngobani ngokukhethekile?
9 Ukuhambela uIsrayeli (3:1–6:14). Ngokusebenzisa kwakhe imifanekiso ehlaba umxhwele, uAmose ugcizelela ukuthi ukuprofetha kwakhe ngokwakho kufakazela ukuthi uJehova ukhulumile. “Ngokuba iNkosi uJehova ayenzi-lutho, ingayambulanga imfihlakalo yayo ezincekwini zayo abaprofethi. . . . INkosi uJehova ikhulumile, ngubani ongayikuprofetha na?” (3:7, 8) UAmose uprofetha ngokukhethekile ngabaphangi abathanda ukutamasa abahlala eSamariya. UJehova uyobophula ezingosini zezihlalo zabo, futhi izindlu zabo zophondo lwendlovu ziyobhubha.
10. UJehova umkhumbuzani uIsrayeli, futhi yiluphi usuku lukamaye oseluzofika?
10 UJehova ulandisa ngokujezisa nokuqondisa kwakhe uIsrayeli. Izikhathi eziyisihlanu uyamkhumbuza: “A[wu]buyelanga kimi.” Ngakho-ke, Israyeli, “zilungiselele ukuhlangana noNkulunkulu wakho.” (4:6-12) UAmose uqala isililo esingokwesiprofetho: “Iwile intombi yakwaIsrayeli, ayisayikuvuka; iphonsiwe phansi, akakho ongayivusa.” (5:2) Nokho, uJehova, uMenzi wezinto ezimangalisayo ezulwini nasemhlabeni, uyaqhubeka ebiza uIsrayeli ukuba amfune futhi aphile. Yebo, “funani okuhle, hayi okubi, ukuze niphile.” (5:4, 6, 14) Kodwa luyosho ukuthini usuku lukaJehova kubo? Luyoba usuku lukamaye. Njengomfula luyobakhukhulela ekuthunjweni ngaphesheya kweDamaseku, futhi izindlu ezihlotshiswe ngophondo lwendlovu zamadili abo axokozelayo ziyophendulwa imvithi nemfucumfucu.
11. Yiliphi igunya elenza uAmose aphikelele nokuprofetha ngoIsrayeli?
11 UAmose uyaprofetha naphezu kokuphikiswa (7:1-17). UJehova ubonisa umprofethi wakhe intambo yomthofu wokumisa phakathi kukaIsrayeli. Ngeke kusaba khona okunye ukuxolela. Uyobhubhisa izindlu ezingcwele zakwaIsrayeli futhi avukele indlu kaJerobowamu II ngenkemba. UAmaziya umpristi waseBethele uthumela kuJerobowamu, ethi: “UAmose ukwenzele ugobe.” (7:10) UAmaziya utshela uAmose ukuba aye kwaJuda ayoprofetha khona. UAmose wenza igunya lakhe licace, ethi: “UJehova wangisusa ekulandeleni umhlambi; uJehova wathi kimi: Hamba uprofethe kubantu bami uIsrayeli.” (7:15) Khona-ke uAmose ubikezela okubi ngoAmaziya nendlu yakhe.
12. Iyiphi indlala ebikezelwayo kuIsrayeli, kodwa isiprofetho siphela ngasiphi isithembiso esikhazimulayo?
12 Ukucindezela, isijeziso, nokubuyiselwa (8:1–9:15). UJehova ubonisa uAmose iqoma lezithelo zasehlobo. Ulahla ukucindezela kukaIsrayeli abampofu futhi ufunga “ukuziqhenya kukaJakobe” ngokuthi kuyomelwe balile ngemisebenzi yabo emibi. “Bhekani, izinsuku ziyeza, isho iNkosi uJehova, lapho ngiyakuthuma indlala ezweni, kungabi-yindlala yesinkwa, kungabi-ngukomela amanzi, kepha kube-ngeyokuzwa amazwi kaJehova.” (8:7, 11) Bayokuwa bangabe besavuka. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bafohla endaweni yabafileyo noma bakhuphukela ezulwini, isandla sikaJehova siyobathatha. Izoni kubantu bakhe ziyokufa ngenkemba. Khona-ke, kulandela isithembiso esikhazimulayo! “Ngalolosuku ngiyakumisa idokodo likaDavide eliwileyo, ngivale imifantu yalo; . . . ngilakhe njengasezinsukwini zasendulo.” (9:11) Abathunjwa ababuyisiwe bayochuma kangangokuthi olimayo uyofica ovunayo ngaphambi kokuba abuthe isivuno sakhe esikhulu. Lezibusiso ezivela kuJehova ziyohlala njalo!
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
13. Thina namuhla singazuza kanjani ezixwayisweni zika-Amose?
13 Abafundi beBhayibheli namuhla bangazuza ngokuphawula isizathu sezixwayiso uAmose azimemezela kuIsrayeli, kuJuda, nakomakhelwane babo abaseduze. Labo abalahla umthetho kaJehova, baphambe futhi bacindezele abampofu, abahahayo nabaziphethe kabi, kanye nabakhulekela izithombe ngeke bakuthole ukuvunyelwa uJehova. Kodwa uJehova uyabathethelela labo ababuyayo ezenzweni ezinjalo futhi baphenduke, futhi ubabonisa ububele. Senza ngokuhlakanipha uma sizihlukanisa nabangane abonakalisayo kulelizwe elibi futhi silalele umyalo kaJehova: “Ngifuneni, niphile.”—5:4, 6, 14.
14. Ingabe amaJuda esikhathi sikaStefanu azuza ezikhumbuzweni zika-Amose?
14 Ngesikhathi sokufela kwakhe ukholo, uStefanu wacaphuna uAmose. Wakhumbuza amaJuda ukuthi kwakuwukukhulekela izithombe kukaIsrayeli nawonkulunkulu bezinye izizwe, njengoMoloki noRemfani, okwabangela ukuba bathunjwe. Ingabe lawomaJuda azuza ngokuzwa ukuphindwa kwamazwi ka-Amose? Cha! Ethukuthele, akhanda uStefanu ngamatshe waze wafa futhi ngaleyondlela azibeka ohlwini lwenye inhlekelele ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema, ngo-70 C.E.—Amose 5:25-27; IzE. 7:42, 43.
15. Yiziphi iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa okunenzuzo ukuzicabangela?
15 Kunenzuzo ukucabangela ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho eziningi zika-Amose, hhayi nje kuphela lezo ezagcwaliseka ekujezisweni kukaIsrayeli, uJuda, nezinye izizwe kodwa futhi neziprofetho zokubuyiselwa. Ekugcwalisekeni kwezwi likaJehova ngoAmose, abathunjwa bakwaIsrayeli babuyela ngo-537 B.C.E. beyokwakha futhi bahlale emizini yabo eyayichithiwe futhi batshale izivini zabo nezivande.—Amose 9:14; Ezra 3:1.
16. UJakobe wakubonisa kanjani ukugcwaliseka kuka-Amose 9:11, 12 ngokuphathelene nebandla lobuKristu?
16 Nokho, kwaba nokugcwaliseka okukhazimulayo nokwakhayo kwesiprofetho sika-Amose ezinsukwini zabaphostoli. Exoxa ngokuqoqelwa kwabangewona amaIsrayeli ebandleni lobuKristu, uJakobe, ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa, ukwenza kucace ukuthi lokhu kwakubikezelwe esiprofethweni sika-Amose 9:11, 12. Ubonisa ukuthi ‘ukwakhiwa kabusha kwedokodo likaDavide elaliwile’ kugcwaliseka ngokuhlobene nebandla lobuKristu, “ukuze abaseleyo babantu kanye nabezizwe bonke bayifune iNkosi, elibizwé phezu kwabo igama lami, isho iNkosi [uJehova].” Lokhu, ngempela, kwakuwukusekelwa okungokomBhalo kwesenzakalo esisha, njengoba silandiswa uSimeyoni Petru—sokuthi uNkulunkulu wayethatha ezizweni “abantu begama lakhe.”—IzE. 15:13-19, qhathanisa neNW.
17. Yikuphi ukuchuma nokuhlala njalo uAmose akubikezelayo ngokuphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu?
17 UJesu Kristu, iNhloko yalelibandla lobuKristu, kwenye indawo ubizwa ngokuthi “indodana kaDavide” edla ifa ‘lesihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavide,’ futhi ibuse phakade. (Luka 1:32, 33; 3:31, NW) Kanjalo isiprofetho sika-Amose sikhomba phambili ekugcwalisekeni kwesivumelwano sombuso noDavide. Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi amazwi okuphetha ka-Amose anikeza umbono omangalisayo wokuchuma okukhulu ngesikhathi sokuvusa “idokodo likaDavide” kodwa futhi agcizelela ukuhlala njalo koMbuso kaNkulunkulu: “Ngiyakubatshala ezweni labo, bangabe besasishulwa ezweni labo engibaniké lona, usho uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.” Umhlaba uyogcwala izibusiso zaphakade njengoba uJehova ebuyisela ngokugcwele “idokodo likaDavide”!—Amose 9:13-15.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a 1978, Jerusalem, ikhasi 1046.