“Ngilindeleni”

“Ngalokho, ngilindeleni, usho uJehova.”—ZEFANIYA 3:8.

 1. Yisiphi isixwayiso esanikezwa ngumprofethi uZefaniya, futhi kungani abantu abaphila namuhla benesithakazelo kuso?

“USUKU olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze.” Lesi sixwayiso sanikezwa ngumprofethi uZefaniya phakathi nekhulu lesikhombisa B.C.E. (Zefaniya 1:14) Kungakapheli neminyaka engu-40 noma 50, lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka lapho usuku lokukhishwa kwezahlulelo zikaJehova lufika phezu kweJerusalema naphezu kwalezo zizwe ezazidelele ubukhosi bukaJehova ngokuphatha kabi abantu bakhe. Kungani abantu abaphila ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lama-20 benesithakazelo kulokhu? Siphila esikhathini lapho “usuku olukhulu” lokugcina lukaJehova lusondela ngokushesha. Njengasesikhathini sikaZefaniya, ‘ulaka lukaJehova oluvuthayo’ luzovuthela lokho okufana neJerusalema namuhla—eLobukholwa—nazo zonke izizwe eziphatha kabi abantu bakaJehova futhi zidelele ubukhosi bakhe bendawo yonke.—Zefaniya 1:4; 2:4, 8, 12, 13; 3:8; 2 Petru 3:12, 13.

UZefaniya—UFakazi Onesibindi

2, 3. (a) Yini esiyaziyo ngoZefaniya, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi wayengufakazi kaJehova onesibindi? (b) Yimaphi amaqiniso asenza sikwazi ukuthola isikhathi uZefaniya aprofetha ngaso kanye nendawo ayekuyo?

² Kuncane okwaziwayo ngomprofethi uZefaniya, ogama lakhe (ngesiHeberu, Tsephan·yahʹ) lisho ukuthi “UJehova Ufihlile (Ulondolozile).” Nokho, ngokungafani nabanye abaprofethi, uZefaniya wanikeza uhlu lozalo lwakhe lwagcina esizukulwaneni sesine, ‘kuHezekiya.’ (Zefaniya 1:1; qhathanisa no-Isaya 1:1; Jeremiya 1:1; Hezekeli 1:3.) Lokhu akuvamile kangangokuba abahlaziyi abaningi bachaza iNkosi uHezekiya ngokuthi ukhokho kakhokho wakhe. Uma kunjalo, kusho ukuthi uZefaniya wayeyinzalo yasebukhosini, futhi lokhu kubonisa ukuthi kungani azilahla ngokuqinile izikhulu zakwaJuda kubonisa nokuthi wayengufakazi kaJehova onesibindi nomprofethi. Ulwazi lwakhe olunzulu ngesimo sendawo saseJerusalema nangalokho okwakuqhubeka ehlalankosi kusikisela ukuthi kungenzeka wayememezela izahlulelo zikaJehova enhloko-dolobha uqobo.—Bheka uZefaniya 1:8-11, imibhalo yaphansi ye-NW.

³ Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi, nakuba uZefaniya amemezela izahlulelo zaphezulu ngokumelene ‘nezikhulu’ zesizwe zakwaJuda (noma izinduna) “namadodana enkosi,” akazange akhulume ngenkosi ngokwayo ekusoleni kwakhe.a (Zefaniya 1:8; 3:3) Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi iNkosi esencane uJosiya yayisikubonisile kakade ukuthambekela ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa, nakuba ngenxa yesimo esasilahlwa uZefaniya, ngokusobala yayingakaqali ukugqugquzela izinguquko ezingokwenkolo. Konke lokhu kusikisela ukuthi uZefaniya waprofetha kwaJuda phakathi neminyaka yokuqala kaJosiya, owabusa kusukela ngo-659 kuya ku-629 B.C.E. Ukuprofetha kukaZefaniya ngomfutho ngokungangabazeki kwakhulisa ukuqaphela kukaJosiya owayesemncane ukukhonza izithombe, ubudlova, nokonakala okwakudlangile kwaJuda ngaleso sikhathi, futhi kwaba isisusa somkhankaso wakhe wakamuva wokuqeda ukukhonza izithombe.—2 IziKronike 34:1-3.

Izizathu Zolaka LukaJehova Oluvuthayo

 4. Yimaphi amazwi uJehova azwakalisa ngawo ukuthukuthelela kwakhe uJuda neJerusalema?

⁴ UJehova wayenesizathu esihle sokuthukuthelela abaholi nezakhamuzi zakwaJuda nenhloko-dolobha yalo iJerusalema. Ngomprofethi wakhe uZefaniya, wathi: “Ngiyakwelula isandla sami phezu kukaJuda naphezu kwabo bonke abakhileyo eJerusalema, nginqume insali kaBali kulendawo, negama labapristi bezithixo kanye nabapristi, nabakhuleka kulo ibandla lasezulwini phezu kwezindlu, nabakhuleka kuJehova bemfunga, befunga futhi uMilkomu.”—Zefaniya 1:4, 5.

5, 6. (a) Sasiyini isimo esingokwenkolo kwaJuda ngesikhathi sikaZefaniya? (b) Sasiyini isimo sabaholi besizwe bakwaJuda nabantu ababebabusa?

⁵ UJuda wayengcoliswe imikhuba yokuzala yokukhulekelwa kukaBali eyonakalisayo, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi kobudemoni, nokukhulekelwa kukankulunkulu wamaqaba uMilkomu. Uma uMilkomu enguMoleki, njengoba abanye besikisela, khona-ke ukukhulekela kwamanga kukaJuda kwakuhlanganisa nomkhuba onyanyekayo wokwenza imihlatshelo ngabantwana. Imikhuba enjalo engokwenkolo yayenyanyeka emehlweni kaJehova. (1 AmaKhosi 11:5, 7; 14:23, 24; 2 AmaKhosi 17:16, 17) Babemthukuthelisa nakakhulu ngoba laba bakhonzi bezithombe babesafunga ngegama likaJehova. Wayengeke esakubekezelela ukungahlanzeki okungokwenkolo okunjalo futhi wayeyobabulala abapristi abangamaqaba nabayizihlubuki.

⁶ Ngaphezu kwalokho, abaholi besizwe bakwaJuda babonakele. Izikhulu zakhona ‘zazinjengezingonyama ezibhongayo,’ futhi abahluleli bakhona babefana ‘nezimpisi’ eziphangayo. (Zefaniya 3:3) Abantu ababebabusa babekwa icala ‘lokugcwalisa indlu yamakhosi abo ngobudlova nangenkohliso.’ (Zefaniya 1:9) Ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kwakudlangile. Abaningi babesizakala ngalesi simo ukuze baqongelele ingcebo.—Zefaniya 1:13.

Ukungabaza Usuku LukaJehova

 7. UZefaniya waprofetha kusasele isikhathi esingakanani ngaphambi “kosuku olukhulu lukaJehova,” futhi sasiyini isimo esingokomoya samaJuda amaningi?

⁷ Njengoba sesibonile kakade, isimo esingokwenkolo esiyinhlekelele esasikhona osukwini lukaZefaniya sibonisa ukuthi wenza umsebenzi wakhe njengofakazi nomprofethi ngaphambi kokuba iNkosi uJosiya iqale umkhankaso wayo omelene nokukhonza izithombe, cishe ngo-648 B.C.E. (2 IziKronike 34:4, 5) Cishe-ke, uZefaniya waprofetha okungenani iminyaka engu-40 ngaphambi kokufika ‘kosuku olukhulu lukaJehova’ phezu kombuso wakwaJuda. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, amaJuda amaningi avumela ukungabaza futhi ‘ahlehla’ ekukhonzeni uJehova, aba anganaki. UZefaniya ukhuluma ngalabo “abangamfunanga uJehova bengabuzanga ngaye.” (Zefaniya 1:6) Ngokusobala, abantu kwaJuda babengenandaba, bengazihluphi ngoNkulunkulu.

8, 9. (a) Kungani uJehova ayeyohlola “abantu abajiyile enhleseni yabo”? (b) UJehova wayeyokugxilisa kanjani ukunakekela ezakhamuzini zakwaJuda nakubaholi besizwe nabenkolo?

⁸ UJehova wazisa ngenjongo yakhe yokuhlola labo ababethi bangabantu bakhe. Phakathi kwababezibiza ngabakhulekeli bakhe, wayeyofuna labo ababefukamele ukungabaza ezinhliziyweni zabo ngokuqondene namandla akhe noma ngenhloso yakhe yokungenela ezindabeni zesintu. Wathi: “Kuyakuthi ngalesosikhathi ngicwaninge iJerusalema ngezibani, ngihambele abantu abajiyile enhleseni yabo, abathi ezinhliziyweni zabo: UJehova akenzi okuhle, akenzi nokubi.” (Zefaniya 1:12) Inkulumo ethi “abantu abajiyile enhleseni yabo” (ebhekisela ekwenzeni iwayini) ibhekisela kulabo abaye bazinza, njengenhlese esinqeni somphongolo wewayini, futhi abangafuni ukuphazanyiswa yinoma yikuphi ukumenyezelwa kokungenela kwaphezulu okusondelayo ezindabeni zesintu.

⁹ UJehova wayeyobhekisa ukunakekela ezakhamuzini zakwaJuda naseJerusalema nakubapristi bazo ababexube ukukhulekelwa kwakhe nobuqaba. Uma babezizwa belondekile, njengokungathi bambozwe ubusuku ngaphakathi kwezindonga zaseJerusalema, wayeyobafuna njengokungathi ngezibani ezikhanya bhá ezaziyokhanyisa nasebumnyameni obungokomoya ababephephele kubo. Wayeyobashukumisa abayekise ukunganaki kwabo okungokwenkolo, okokuqala ngezigijimi ezesabekayo zesahlulelo, bese kuba ngokwenza okufunwa yilezo zahlulelo.

“Usuku Olukhulu LukaJehova Luseduze”

10. UZefaniya waluchaza kanjani “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova”?

¹⁰ UJehova waphefumulela uZefaniya ukuba amemezele: “Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze; luseduze, lushesha kakhulu; umsindo wosuku lukaJehova uyababa.” (Zefaniya 1:14) Izinsuku ezibuhlungu ngempela zaziyofikela bonke abantu—abapristi, izikhulu, nabantu—abenqaba ukulalela isixwayiso babuyele ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. Sichaza lolo suku lokukhishwa kwesahlulelo, lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Lolosuku lungusuku lolaka, usuku lokuhlupheka nolosizi, usuku lwencithakalo nolokuyize, usuku lobumnyama nolwesigayegaye, usuku lwamafu nolobumnyama obukhulu, usuku lwecilongo nolokuhlaba umkhosi ngasemizini ebiyelweyo nasemibhoshongweni yasezingosini.”—Zefaniya 1:15, 16.

11, 12. (a) Yisiphi isigijimi sesahlulelo esamenyezelwa ngokumelene neJerusalema? (b) Ingabe ukuchuma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo kwakuyowasindisa amaJuda?

¹¹ Emashumini eminyaka ambalwa, afika ngokushesha, amabutho aseBabiloni ayeyohlasela elakwaJuda. IJerusalema lalingeke liphunyuke. Izindawo zalo zokuhlala nezamabhizinisi zaziyokwenziwa incithakalo. “Ngalolosuku, usho uJehova, kuyakuba-khona izwi lokukhala, livela eSangweni leziNhlanzi, nokuhewula, kuvela eNxenyeni yesiBili, nokufahlazeka okukhulu, kuvela emagqumeni. Hewulani nina enakhé esiGqulweni [ingxenye yeJerusalema], ngokuba bonke abantu abathengisayo bachithekile, bonke abathweswé isiliva banqunyiwe.”—Zefaniya 1:10, 11, umbhalo waphansi we-NW.

¹² Enqaba ukukholelwa ukuthi usuku lukaJehova luseduze, amaJuda amaningi ayengene shí emabhizinisini angenisa inzuzo. Kodwa ngomprofethi wakhe othembekile uZefaniya, uJehova wabikezela ukuthi ingcebo yawo yayiyoba ‘impango, nezindlu zawo zibe incithakalo.’ Ayengeke aliphuze iwayini ayelenzile, futhi ‘isiliva lawo negolide lawo lalingayikuba namandla okuwophula ngosuku lwentukuthelo lukaJehova.’—Zefaniya 1:13, 18.

Ezinye Izizwe Ziyahlulelwa

13. Yisiphi isigijimi sesahlulelo uZefaniya asimemezela ngokumelene noMowabi, abakwa-Amoni, ne-Asiriya?

¹³ Ngomprofethi wakhe uZefaniya, uJehova wabuye wazwakalisa intukuthelo yakhe ezizweni ezazibaphathe kabi abantu bakhe. Wathi: “Ngiyizwile inhlamba yakwaMowabi nezithuko zabantwana bakwa-Amoni abathuké ngazo abantu bami, bazikhulisela imikhawulo yabo [“bazikhukhumeza endaweni yabo,” NW]. Ngalokho, kuphila kwami, usho uJehova-Sebawoti, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, uthi: Impela uMowabi uyakuba-njengeSodoma, nabantwana bakwa-Amoni njengeGomora, izwe lezimbabazane nelemigodi kasawoti nencithakalo yaphakade; . . . Uyakwelulela isandla sakhe ngasenyakatho, achithe iAsiriya, alenze iNineve libe-yincithakalo, lome njengehlane.”—Zefaniya 2:8, 9, 13.

14. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi ezinye izizwe ‘zazikhukhumeza’ phambi kwama-Israyeli noNkulunkulu wawo, uJehova?

¹⁴ UMowabi no-Amoni babeyizitha zika-Israyeli ezaziwayo. (Qhathanisa nabAhluleli 3:12-14.) ITshe LakwaMowabi, eliseMnyuziyamu waseLouvre eParis, linombhalo onamazwi okuqhosha ashiwo iNkosi yakwaMowabi uMesha. Ngokuqhosha ilandisa ngokuthatha kwayo imizi eminingana yakwa-Israyeli ngosizo lukankulunkulu wayo uKemoshi. (2 AmaKhosi 1:1) UJeremiya, owayephila ngesikhathi sikaZefaniya, wakhuluma ngokuthatha kwabakwa-Amoni indawo yama-Israyeli yakwaGadi egameni likankulunkulu wabo uMilkomu. (Jeremiya 49:1) Ngokuqondene ne-Asiriya, iNkosi uShalimanesari V yayihlasele futhi yathatha iSamariya cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu ngaphambi kosuku lukaZefaniya. (2 AmaKhosi 17:1-6) Esikhathini esithile kamuva, iNkosi uSaneheribi yahlasela uJuda, yathatha eminingi yemizi yakhona ebiyelweyo, futhi yasongela ngisho neJerusalema. (Isaya 36:1, 2) Umkhulumeli wenkosi yase-Asiriya wazikhukhumeza ngempela phambi kukaJehova lapho etshela iJerusalema ukuba lizinikele.—Isaya 36:4-20.

15. UJehova wayeyobathobisa kanjani onkulunkulu bezizwe ezazizikhukhumeze phambi kwabantu bakhe?

¹⁵ IHubo 83 likhuluma ngenani lezizwe, kuhlanganise noMowabi, abakwa-Amoni, nabase-Asiriya, ezazikhukhumeza phambi kuka-Israyeli, futhi ngokuqhosha zathi: “Wozani sibaqothule, bangabe besaba-yisizwe, negama likaIsrayeli lingabe lisakhunjulwa.” (IHubo 83:4) Ngesibindi, umprofethi uZefaniya wamemezela ukuthi zonke lezi zizwe eziqhoshayo nonkulunkulu bazo zaziyothotshiswa uJehova-Sebawoti. “Lokhu kuyakuba-sesikhundleni sokuziphakamisa kwabo ngokuba bathukile, bazikhulisela abantu [“bazikhukhumeza phambi kwabantu,” NW] bakaJehova-Sebawoti. UJehova uyakwesabeka phezu kwabo, ngokuba uyakuzacisa bonke onkulunkulu bomhlaba, bakhuleke kuye, kube-yilowo nalowo endaweni yakhe, zonke iziqhingi zezizwe.”—Zefaniya 2:10, 11.

‘Hlalani Nilindile’

16. (a) Ukusondela kosuku lukaJehova kwakuwumthombo wenjabulo kobani, futhi ngani? (b) Yimuphi umyalo oshukumisayo owanikezwa lensali ethembekile?

¹⁶ Nakuba ukozela okungokomoya, ukungabaza, ukukhonza izithombe, ukonakala, nokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kwakwandile phakathi kwabaholi nezakhamuzi eziningi zakwaJuda naseJerusalema, ngokusobala amanye amaJuda athembekile alalela iziprofetho zikaZefaniya eziyisixwayiso. Adatshukiswa imikhuba enyanyekayo yezikhulu zakwaJuda, abahluleli, nabapristi. Izimemezelo zikaZefaniya zaba umthombo wenduduzo kulaba abathembekile. Esikhundleni sokuba imbangela yosizi, ukusondela kosuku lukaJehova kwakuwumthombo wenjabulo kubo, ngoba kwakuyoqeda imikhuba enjalo enyanyekayo. Lensali ethembekile yalalela umyalo kaJehova oshukumisayo: “Ngalokho, ngilindeleni, usho uJehova, kuze kube-lusuku engivuka ngalo ukuba ngiphange, ngokuba kuyisinqumo sami ukubutha izizwe ukuba ngiqoqe imibuso, ukuze ngithulule phezu kwabo intukuthelo yami, lonke ulaka lwami oluvuthayo.”—Zefaniya 3:8.

17. Izigijimi zokwahlulela zikaZefaniya zaqala nini ukugcwaliseka phezu kwezizwe, futhi kanjani?

¹⁷ Labo abalalela leso sixwayiso abazange bamangale. Abaningi baphila baze babona ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaZefaniya. Ngo-632 B.C.E., iNineve lanqotshwa futhi labhujiswa ngokuhlangana kwabaseBabiloni, amaMede, namabutho asenyakatho, cishe amaSkithe. Isazi-mlando uWill Durant siyalandisa: “Ibutho labaseBabiloni ngaphansi kukaNabopolassar lahlangana nebutho lamaMede ngaphansi kukaCyaxares nebutho lamaSkithe aseCaucasus, futhi ngendlela elula ngokumangalisayo nangokuphazima kweso bathatha izinqaba zasenyakatho. . . . Ngegalelo elilodwa i-Asiriya lanyamalala emlandweni.” Yilokho kanye uZefaniya ayekuprofethile.—Zefaniya 2:13-15.

18. (a) Isahlulelo saphezulu sakhishwa kanjani phezu kweJerusalema, futhi ngani? (b) Isiprofetho sikaZefaniya mayelana noMowabi nabakwa-Amoni sagcwaliseka kanjani?

¹⁸ AmaJuda amaningi ayelindele uJehova nawo aphila aze abona izahlulelo zakhe zikhishwa phezu kukaJuda neJerusalema. Ngokuqondene neJerusalema, uZefaniya wayeprofethile: “Wo kohlubukileyo nongcolileyo muzi ocindezelayo! Awuzwa-zwi, awamukeli ukulaywa, awumethembi uJehova, awusondelanga kuNkulunkulu wawo.” (Zefaniya 3:1, 2) Ngenxa yokungathembeki kwalo, iJerusalema lavinjezelwa kabili abaseBabiloni futhi ekugcineni lanqotshwa futhi labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E. (2 IziKronike 36:5, 6, 11-21) Ngokuqondene noMowabi nabakwa-Amoni, ngokwesazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus, ngonyaka wesihlanu ngemva kokuwa kweJerusalema, abaseBabiloni balwa nabo futhi babanqoba. Ngemva kwalokho abaphindanga baba khona, njengoba kwakuprofethiwe.

19, 20. (a) UJehova wabavuza kanjani labo ababemlindele? (b) Kungani sinesithakazelo kulezi zenzakalo, futhi yini ezocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁹ Ukugcwaliseka kwalemininingwane kanye neminye yesiprofetho sikaZefaniya kwaba yinto eqinisa ukholo kumaJuda nabangewona amaJuda ababelindele uJehova. Phakathi kwalabo abasinda ekubhujisweni okwehlela uJuda neJerusalema kwakunoJeremiya, u-Ebedi-Meleki ongumKushe, nendlu kaJonadaba, umRekabi. (Jeremiya 35:18, 19; 39:11, 12, 16-18) AmaJuda athembekile ayesekudingisweni nabantwana bawo, aqhubeka elindele uJehova, aba yingxenye yensali ejabulayo eyakhululwa eBabiloni ngo-537 B.C.E. yabuyela kwaJuda ukuze ivuselele ukukhulekela okumsulwa.—Ezra 2:1; Zefaniya 3:14, 15, 20.

²⁰ Kusho ukuthini konke lokhu esikhathini sethu? Ngezindlela eziningi isimo sosuku lukaZefaniya sifuze esezinto ezenyanyekayo ezenzeka namuhla kweLobukholwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izimo zengqondo ezihlukahlukene zamaJuda ngalezo zikhathi zifana nsé nezimo zengqondo ezitholakala namuhla, ngezinye izikhathi ngisho naphakathi kwabantu bakaJehova. Lezi izinto ezizocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Njengendlela Yokubukeza

◻ Sasiyini isimo esingokwenkolo kwaJuda osukwini lukaZefaniya?

◻ Yiziphi izimo ezazikhona phakathi kwabaholi besizwe, futhi sasiyini isimo sengqondo sabantu abaningi?

◻ Izizwe zazikhukhumeza kanjani phambi kwabantu bakaJehova?

◻ Yisiphi isixwayiso uZefaniya asinikeza uJuda nezinye izizwe?

◻ Bavuzwa kanjani labo abahlala belindele uJehova?

[Isithombe ekhasini 9]

ITshe LakwaMowabi lifakazela ukuthi iNkosi yakwaMowabi uMesha yakhuluma amazwi ahlambalaza u-Israyeli wasendulo

[Umthombo]

Moabite Stone: Musée du Louvre, Paris

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Sisekela isiprofetho sikaZefaniya, lesi sibhebhe esibhalwe nge-“cuneiform” soMlando WaseBabiloni silandisa ngokubhujiswa kweNineve yinhlanganisela yamabutho

[Umthombo]

Cuneiform tablet: Courtesy of The British Museum