Incwadi YeBhayibheli Ye-11—1 AmaKhosi

Umlobi: UJeremiya

Yalotshelwa: EJerusalema nakwaJuda

Ukuloba Kwaphela: 580 B.C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: Cishe u-1040–911 B.C.E.

 1. (a) Ukuchuma kukaIsrayeli okukhazimulayo kwaba kanjani incithakalo? (b) Nokho kungani amaKhosi okuQala engachazwa ngokuthi ‘aphefumlelwe futhi anenzuzo’?

UKUNQOBA kukaDavide kwase kunwebe umbuso wakwaIsrayeli waze wafika emingceleni yawo eyayimiswe uNkulunkulu, kusukela emfuleni iEwufrathe enyakatho kuya emfuleni waseGibithe eningizimu. (2 Sam. 8:⁠3; 1 AmaKh. 4:​21) Ngesikhathi uDavide esefile futhi sekubusa indodana yakhe uSolomoni esikhundleni sakhe, “oJuda noIsrayeli babebaningi ngangesihlabathi solwandle ngobuningi, bedla, bephuza, bejabula.” (1 AmaKh. 4:​20) USolomoni wabusa ngokuhlakanipha okukhulu, ukuhlakanipha okwakukudlula kude okwamaGreki asendulo. Wakhela uJehova ithempeli elihle. Nokho, ngisho noSolomoni wawela ekukhulekeleni onkulunkulu bamanga. Ekufeni kwakhe umbuso wadatshulwa kabili, futhi uchungechunge lwamakhosi amabi emibusweni eyayibanga yakwaIsrayeli nakwaJuda lwenza ngokonakalisayo, kuletha usizi kubantu, njengoba nje uSamuweli ayebikezele. (1 Sam. 8:​10-18) Emakhosini angu-14 abusa kwaJuda nakwaIsrayeli ngemva kokufa kukaSolomoni nanjengoba kubukezwa encwadini yamaKhosi okuQala, mabili kuphela aphumelela ekwenzeni okulungile emehlweni kaJehova. Khona-ke, ingabe lomlando ‘uphefumlelwe futhi unenzuzo’? Kunjalo ngempela, njengoba sizobona eziyalweni zawo, eziprofethweni zawo nasemifuziselweni, nasekuhlanganeni kwawo nesihloko esiyinhloko soMbuso sayo “yonke imiBhalo.”

 2. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umlando wencwadi yamaKhosi okuQala nawesiBili ube imiqulu emibili, futhi yahlanganiswa kanjani?

² Ekuqaleni incwadi yamaKhosi yayiwumqingo owodwa, noma umqulu, futhi yayibizwa ngokuthi iMela·khimʹ (amaKhosi) ngesiHeberu. Abahumushi beSeptuagint bayibiza ngokuthi iBa·si·leiʹon, “iMibuso,” futhi babengabokuqala ukuyehlukanisa ibe imiqulu emibili ukuze kube lula ukuyisebenzisa. Kamuva yabizwa ngokuthi incwadi yamaKhosi esiThathu naweSine, okungamagama asaqhubeka emaBhayibhelini amaKatolika kuze kube namuhla. Nokho, ngokuvamile manje yaziwa ngokuthi amaKhosi okuQala nawesiBili. Yehluka kuSamuweli wokuQala nowesiBili ngokucaphuma imilando yangaphambili njengemithombo umhlanganisi acaphune kuyo. Umhlanganisi oyedwa, kuzo zombili lezincwadi, ubhekisela izikhathi ezingu-15 “encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaJuda,” izikhathi ezingu-18 “encwadini yezindaba zemihla ngemihla yamakhosi akwaIsrayeli,” ‘nasencwadini yezindaba zikaSolomoni.’ (1 AmaKh. 15:⁠7; 14:​19; 11:​41) Nakuba lena eminye imilando yasendulo isilahleke ngokuphelele, inhlanganisela ephefumlelwe isekhona​—⁠ukulandisa okunenzuzo kwamaKhosi okuQala nawesiBili.

 3. (a) Ngokungangabazeki ubani owaloba izincwadi zamaKhosi, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo? (b) Kwaqedwa nini ukuloba, futhi amaKhosi okuQala ahlanganisa yiphi inkathi?

³ Ubani owabhala izincwadi zamaKhosi? Ukugcizelela kwazo umsebenzi wabaprofethi, ikakhulukazi uEliya noElisha, kubonisa ukuthi umprofethi kaJehova. Ukufana kolimi, ukuhlelwa, nendlela yokuloba kusikisela umlobi ofanayo nowencwadi kaJeremiya. Amagama amaningi esiHeberu nezinkulumo kuvela encwadini yamaKhosi nekaJeremiya kuphela, akuveli kunoma iyiphi enye incwadi yeBhayibheli. Nokho, uma uJeremiya aloba izincwadi zamaKhosi, kungani kungakhulunywa ngaye kuzo? Kwakungadingekile, ngoba umsebenzi wakhe wawusuhlanganisiwe kakade encwadini ebizwa ngegama lakhe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaKhosi alotshelwa ukukhulisa uJehova nokukhulekelwa kwaKhe, hhayi ukunezela edumeleni likaJeremiya. Eqinisweni, izincwadi zamaKhosi nekaJeremiya ziyathekelana kakhulu, enye igcwalisa lokho enye ekushiyile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunezindaba ezifanayo, ngokwesibonelo, 2 AmaKhosi 24:​18–25:​30 noJeremiya 39:​1-10; 40:​7–41:​10; 52:​1-34. Isiko lamaJuda liyakuqinisekisa ukuthi uJeremiya owaloba amaKhosi okuQala nawesiBili. Ngokungangabazeki waqala ukuhlanganisa zombili lezincwadi eJerusalema, futhi kubonakala sengathi incwadi yesibili yaqedelwa eGibithe cishe ngo-580 B.C.E., ngoba ubhekisela ezenzakalweni zangalowonyaka ekuphetheni ukuloba kwakhe. (2 AmaKh. 25:​27) AmaKhosi okuQala athatha umlando kaIsrayeli kusukela ekupheleni kukaSamuweli wesiBili futhi aqhubeka nawo kuze kufike ku-911 B.C.E., lapho uJehoshafati efa.​—⁠1 AmaKh. 22:⁠50.

 4. Umlando wezwe nemivubukulo kuwaqinisekisa kanjani amaKhosi okuQala?

⁴ AmaKhosi okuQala anendawo efanelekayo embhalweni wemiBhalo eNgcwele, amukelwa yizo zonke izazi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izenzakalo ezikumaKhosi okuQala ziqinisekiswa imilando yezwe yaseGibithe naseAsiriya. Imivubukulo nayo isekela eziningi zezinkulumo ezikulencwadi. Ngokwesibonelo, kwawoku-⁠1 AmaKhosi 7:​45, 46 sifunda ukuthi uHiramu wabumba izitsha zethusi zethempeli likaSolomoni “ethafeni laseJordani . . . phakathi kweSukoti neSaretani.” Abavubukuli ababemba esizeni saseSukoti lasendulo baye bavubukula ubufakazi bemisebenzi yokuncibilikisa insimbi lapho.a Ngaphezu kwalokho, umfanekiso oqoshiwe odongeni lwethempeli laseKarnak (iThebesi yasendulo) uqhosha ngokuhlasela kwenkosi yaseGibithe uSheshonk (uShishaki) kwaJuda, okubhekiselwe kukho kwawoku-⁠1 AmaKhosi 14:​25, 26.b

 5. Yibuphi ubufakazi obuphefumlelwe obufakazela ukwethembeka kwencwadi yamaKhosi okuQala?

⁵ Izikhombo zabanye abalobi beBhayibheli nokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho kusekela ukwethembeka kwamaKhosi okuQala. UJesu wakhuluma ngezenzakalo eziphathelene noEliya nomfelokazi waseSarefati njengezinto ezingokoqobo emlandweni. (Luka 4:​24-26) Ekhuluma ngoJohane uMbhapathizi, uJesu wathi: “Lo unguEliya obezakufika.” (Math. 11:​13, 14) Lapha uJesu wayebhekisela esiprofethweni sikaMalaki, owakhuluma futhi ngosuku oluzayo: “Bhekani, ngiyakuthuma kini uEliya umprofethi, lungakafiki usuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo.” (Mal. 4:⁠5) UJesu waphinda waqinisa ukuba kwamaKhosi okuQala umbhalo ophefumlelwe ngokubhekisela kulokho okulotshwe kuleyoncwadi ngokuqondene noSolomoni kanye nendlovukazi yaseningizimu.​—⁠Math. 6:​29; 12:​42; qhathanisa nawoku-⁠1 AmaKhosi 10:​1-⁠9.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YAMAKHOSI OKUQALA

 6. Kungaphansi kwaziphi izimo lapho uSolomoni enyukela esihlalweni sobukhosi, futhi uqiniswa kanjani embusweni?

⁶ USolomoni uba yinkosi (1:⁠1–2:​46). Umlando wamaKhosi okuQala uqala ngoDavide esezokufa njengoba esesondela ekupheleni kokubusa kwakhe kweminyaka engu-40. Indodana yakhe uAdoniya, ngosizo lukaJowabe induna yempi noAbiyathara umpristi, yenza ugobe lokuthatha ubukhosi. Umprofethi uNathani wazisa uDavide ngalokhu futhi umkhumbuza ngokugudlisela ukuthi kakade usemise uSolomoni ukuba abe inkosi ekufeni kwakhe. Ngakho-ke uDavide uyala uSadoki umpristi ukuba agcobe uSolomoni njengenkosi, ngisho nakuba ababophi bozungu begubha ukulandela kuka-Adoniya esikhundleni. Manje uDavide uyala uSolomoni ukuba aqine futhi azibonakalise eyindoda futhi ahambe ezindleleni zikaJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe, ngemva kwalokho uDavide uyafa futhi umbelwa “emzini kaDavide.” (2:​10) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uSolomoni uxosha uAbiyathara futhi ubulala abaphehli bothuthuva uAdoniya noJowabe. Kamuva, uShimeyi uyabulawa lapho engabonisi inhlonipho ngelungiselelo lomusa elenzelwa ukusindisa ukuphila kwakhe. Manje umbuso uyaqiniswa ezandleni zikaSolomoni.

 7. Yimuphi umthandazo kaSolomoni uJehova awuphendulayo, futhi kuba namuphi umphumela kuIsrayeli?

⁷ Ukubusa kukaSolomoni ngokuhlakanipha (3:⁠1–4:​34). USolomoni wenza isivumelwano somshado neGibithe ngokushada nendodakazi kaFaro. Uthandaza kuJehova ecela inhliziyo elalelayo ukuze ahlulele abantu bakaJehova ngokuqonda. Ngenxa yokuthi akaceli ukuphila okude noma ingcebo, uJehova uthembisa ukumnikeza inhliziyo enokuhlakanipha neqondayo kanye nengcebo nenkazimulo. Ekuqaleni kokubusa kwakhe, uSolomoni ubonisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe lapho abesifazane ababili beza kuye bebanga ingane. USolomoni uyala amadoda akhe ukuba ‘adabule kabili umntwana ophilayo’ futhi anikeze ngamunye wabesifazane ingxenye. (3:​25) Kulokhu unina wangempela unxusela ukuphila komntwana, ethi kungcono athathwe omunye wesifazane. Ngaleyondlela uSolomoni uyambona umama wangempela, futhi nguye othola umntwana. Ngenxa yokuhlakanipha uSolomoni akuphiwe uNkulunkulu, wonke uIsrayeli uyachuma, uyajabula futhi ulondekile. Kufika abantu abavela emazweni amaningi bezokuzwa izaga zakhe ezihlakaniphile.

 8. (a) USolomoni ulakha kanjani ithempeli? Chaza ezinye zezici zalo. (b) Yimuphi omunye umsebenzi wokwakha awenzayo?

⁸ Ithempeli likaSolomoni (5:⁠1–10:​29). USolomoni ukhumbula amazwi kaJehova kuyise, uDavide: “Indodana yakho, engiyakuyibeka esihlalweni sakho sobukhosi esikhundleni sakho, yona iyakwakhela igama lami indlu.” (5:⁠5) Ngakho-ke uSolomoni wenza ilungiselelo lalokhu. UHiramu inkosi yaseTire usiza ngokuthumela izingodo zemisedari nemisayipuresi zisuka eLebanoni nangokuletha izisebenzi ezinekhono. Lezi, kanye nezisebenzi ezibuthwe uSolomoni, ziqalisa umsebenzi wendlu kaJehova ngonyaka wesine wokubusa kukaSolomoni, ngonyaka wama-480 ngemva kokuba amaIsrayeli ephumile eGibithe. (6:⁠1) Akukho-zando, namazembe, nanoma yimaphi amathuluzi ensimbi asetshenziswayo endaweni okwakhiwa kuyo, njengoba wonke amatshe elungiswa futhi elinganiswa enkwalini ngaphambi kokuba alethwe esizeni sethempeli ukuba ahlanganiswe. Lonke ingaphakathi lethempeli, eliqale lavalwa ngemisedari ezindongeni nangamapulangwe omsayipuresi phansi, libe selelekwa kahle ngegolide. Imifanekiso emibili yamakherubi yenziwa ngepulangwe leminqumo, ngamunye uyizingalo eziyishumi (4,5 m) ukuphakama nezingalo eziyishumi ukusuka esihlokweni sephiko kuya esihlokweni sephiko, futhi ibekwa ekamelweni elingaphakathi impela. Amanye amakherubi, kanye nemifanekiso yamasundu neyezimbali, aqoshwa ezindongeni zethempeli. Ekugcineni, ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kweyisikhombisa yomsebenzi, ithempeli elihle liyaphela. USolomoni uyaqhubeka nokwakha: uzakhela indlu, iNdlu Yehlathi LaseLebanoni iNdlu Yezinsika, uMpheme WeSihlalo Sobukhosi, kanye nendlu yendodakazi kaFaro. Wakha futhi izinsika ezimbili ezinkulu zethusi zompheme wendlu kaJehova, ulwandle olubunjiweyo lwegceke, nezinqe zethusi, kanye nemicengezi yethusi nezitsha zegolide.c

 9. Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa kukaJehova namuphi umthandazo kaSolomoni okuphawula ukungeniswa komphongolo wesivumelwano?

⁹ Manje kufika isikhathi sokuba abapristi balethe umphongolo kaJehova wesivumelwano futhi bawubeke ekamelweni elingaphakathi impela, iNgcwelengcwele, ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubi. Njengoba abapristi bephuma, ‘inkazimulo kaJehova igcwalisa indlu kaJehova,’ kangangokuthi abapristi abasakwazi ukuma futhi bakhonze. (8:​11) USolomoni ubusisa ibandla lakwaIsrayeli, futhi ubusisa adumise uJehova. Eguqe ngamadolo futhi eneke izandla zibheke emazulwini, uvuma ngomthandazo ukuthi izulu lamazulu ngeke limanele uJehova, kungasaphathwa-ke lendlu yasemhlabeni ayakhile. Uthandazela ukuba uJehova ezwe bonke abamesabayo lapho bethandaza kulendlu, yebo, ngisho nowezizwe ovela ezweni elikude, “ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi igama lakho, bakwesabe wena njengabantu bakho uIsrayeli.”​—⁠8:⁠43.

10. UJehova uwuphendula ngasiphi isithembiso nesixwayiso esingokwesiprofetho umthandazo kaSolomoni?

¹⁰ Phakathi nedili lezinsuku ezingu-14 elilandelayo, uSolomoni wenza umhlatshelo ngezinkomo ezingu-22 000 nezimvu ezingu-120 000. UJehova utshela uSolomoni ukuthi uwuzwile umthandazo wakhe nokuthi ulingcwelisile ithempeli ngokubeka ‘khona igama laKhe kuze kube-phakade.’ Manje, uma uSolomoni ezohamba ngobuqotho phambi kukaJehova, isihlalo sobukhosi sombuso wakhe siyoqhubeka. Nokho, uma uSolomoni namadodana akhe amlandelayo bekushiya ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova futhi bakhonze abanye onkulunkulu, khona-ke uJehova uthi: “Ngiyakumnquma uIsrayeli ezweni engimniké lona; nalendlu engiyingcwelisele igama lami ngiyakuyilahla ebusweni bami, uIsrayeli abe-yisaga nesifenqo phakathi kwabantu bonke. [“Futhi yona kanye lendlu iyoba yinqwaba yencithakalo,” NW].”​—⁠9:​3, 7, 8.

11. Iba nkulu kangakanani ingcebo nokuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni?

¹¹ Kumthathe iminyaka engu-20 uSolomoni ukuqeda lezindlu ezimbili, indlu kaJehova nendlu yenkosi. Manje uyaqhubeka wakha imizi eminingi kuwo wonke umbuso wakhe, kanye nemikhumbi yokusetshenziswa ekuhwebelaneni namazwe akude. Kanjalo indlovukazi yaseSheba iyezwa ngokuhlakanipha okukhulu uJehova akunike uSolomoni, futhi iyeza ukuba imvivinye ngemibuzo ephicayo. Ngemva kokumuzwa nokubona ukuchuma nenjabulo yabantu bakhe, ithi: “Angitshelwanga nanxenye.” (10:⁠7) Njengoba uJehova eqhubeka ebonisa uthando kuIsrayeli, uSolomoni uba ‘mkhulu kunawo wonke amakhosi omhlaba ngengcebo nangokuhlakanipha.’​—⁠10:⁠23.

12. (a) Yini uSolomoni ahluleka kuyo, futhi yimuphi umoya wokuvukela oqala ukuvela? (b) Yini uAhiya ayiprofethayo?

¹² Ukungathembeki nokufa kukaSolomoni (11:​1-43). Ngokuphambene nomyalo kaJehova, uSolomoni uthatha abafazi abaningi bakwezinye izizwe​—⁠abafazi abangu-700 nezancinza ezingu-300. (Dut. 17:​17) Inhliziyo yakhe iyengelwa ekukhonzeni abanye onkulunkulu. UJehova umtshela ukuthi umbuso uyothathwa kuye, hhayi osukwini lwakhe, kodwa osukwini lwendodana yakhe. Nokho, ingxenye yombuso, isizwe esisodwa ngaphezu kukaJuda, iyobuswa amadodana kaSolomoni. UNkulunkulu uqala ukuvusa abaphikisi bakaSolomoni ezizweni eziseduze, futhi uJerobowamu wesizwe sakwaEfrayimi naye uvukela inkosi. UAhiya umprofethi utshela uJerobowamu ukuthi uzoba inkosi phezu kwezizwe eziyishumi zakwaIsrayeli, futhi uJerobowamu ubalekela eGibithe esindisa ukuphila kwakhe. USolomoni uyafa ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-40, futhi indodana yakhe uRehobowamu iba inkosi ngonyaka ka-997 B.C.E.

13. Ukwahlukana kuvela kanjani embusweni njengoba uRehobowamu eqala ukubusa kwakhe, futhi uJerobowamu uzama kanjani ukuqinisa ubukhosi bakhe?

¹³ Umbuso uyahlukana (12:​1–14:​20). UJerobowamu uyabuya eGibithe futhi ukhuphuka nabantu ukuyocela uRehobowamu ukuba abakhulule kuyo yonke imithwalo uSolomoni ayebathwese yona. Elalela izinsizwa ezingontanga esikhundleni seseluleko sokuhlakanipha sabadala bakwaIsrayeli, uRehobowamu wandisa ubunzima. UIsrayeli uyavukela futhi ubeka uJerobowamu njengenkosi phezu kwezizwe eziyishumi ezisenyakatho. URehobowamu, esele noJuda noBenjamini kuphela, ubutha impi ukuba alwe nezihlubuki, kodwa ngokuyala kukaJehova uphindela emuva. UJerobowamu wakha iShekemi njengekomkhulu lakhe, kodwa usazizwa engalondekile. Wesaba ukuthi abantu bazophindela eJerusalema bayokhulekela uJehova nokuthi bazophinde babe ngaphansi kukaRehobowamu. Ukuze avimbele lokhu, umisa amathole amabili egolide, elinye kwaDani nelinye eBethele, futhi ukuze baqondise ukukhulekela, ukhetha abapristi, hhayi esizweni sakwaLevi, kodwa phakathi kwabantu abavamile.d

14. Isiphi isixwayiso esingokwesiprofetho esimenyezelwayo ngokumelene nendlu kaJerobowamu, futhi yiziphi izinhlupheko eziqalayo?

¹⁴ Lapho uJerobowamu esenza umhlatshelo ealtare eBethele, uJehova uthuma umprofethi ukuba amxwayise ngokuthi uyomisa inkosi ohlwini lukaDavide, okuyothiwa uJosiya, eyothatha isinyathelo esinamandla ngokumelene nalelialtare lokukhulekela kwamanga. Njengesiboniso, ialtare lidatshulwa ngaso lesosikhathi. Kamuva umprofethi ngokwakhe ubulawa ingonyama ngenxa yokungasilaleli isiyalezo sikaJehova sokuba angadli noma aphuze uma esekuthunyweni kwakhe. Usizi manje luqala ukuhlupha indlu kaJerobowamu. Umntanakhe uyafa njengesahlulelo esivela kuJehova, futhi umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uAhiya ubikezela ukuthi indlu kaJerobowamu iyonqunywa ngokuphelele ngenxa yesono sakhe esikhulu sokumisa onkulunkulu bamanga kwaIsrayeli. Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-22, uJerobowamu uyafa futhi indodana yakhe uNadabi iba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe.

15. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka phakathi nokubusa kwamakhosi amathathu alandelayo kwaJuda?

¹⁵ KwaJuda: URehobowamu, uAbiyamu, noAsa (14:​21–15:​24). Phakathi nalesikhathi, ngaphansi kukaRehobowamu, uJuda naye wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, ukhulekela izithombe. Inkosi yaseGibithe iyahlasela futhi ikhukhula eningi yengcebo yasethempelini. Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-17, uRehobowamu uyafa, futhi indodana yakhe uAbiyamu iba yinkosi. Nayo iqhubeka nokona kuJehova, futhi ifa ngemva kokubusa iminyaka emithathu. UAsa indodana yakhe manje uyabusa, futhi ngokuphambene, ukhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo epheleleyo futhi ususa izithombe ezibunjiweyo ezweni. Kunempi engapheli phakathi kukaIsrayeli noJuda. UAsa uthola usizo eAramu (iSiriya), futhi uIsrayeli uphoqeleka ukuba ahoxe. UAsa ubusa iminyaka engu-41 futhi ulandelwa indodana yakhe uJehoshafati.

16. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenzekayo manje kwaIsrayeli, futhi ngani?

¹⁶ KwaIsrayeli: UNadabi, uBahasha, uEla, uZimri, uThibini, uOmri, noAhabi (15:​25–16:​34). Yeka iqembu elibi! UBahasha ubulala uNadabi ngemva kokubusa iminyaka emibili kuphela futhi ulandelisa ngokubulala yonke indlu kaJerobowamu. Uyaqhubeka nokukhulekela kwamanga kanye nokulwa noJuda. UJehova ubikezela ukuthi uzoyishanela yonke indlu kaBahasha, njengoba enzile ngekaJerobowamu. Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-24, uBahasha ulandelwa indodana yakhe uEla, ebulawa eminyakeni emibili kamuva inceku yayo uZimri. Ngokushesha lapho ehlala esihlalweni sobukhosi, uZimri ubulala yonke indlu kaBahasha. Lapho abantu bezwa ngakho, benza uOmri, induna yempi, inkosi futhi bavukela iTirisa, ikomkhulu likaZimri. Lapho ebona ukuthi konke sekulahlekile, uZimri ushisa indlu yenkosi phezu kwakhe, ngaleyondlela afe. Manje uThibini uzama ukubusa njengenkosi eyimbangi, kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi abalandeli bakaOmri bayamnqoba futhi bayambulala.

17. (a) Ukubusa kukaOmri kuphawuleka ngani? (b) Kungani ukukhulekela kweqiniso kungasaziwa phakathi nokubusa kuka-Ahabi?

¹⁷ UOmri uthenga intaba yaseSamariya futhi wakha khona umuzi waseSamariya. Uhamba ngazo zonke izindlela zikaJerobowamu, ecasula uJehova ngokukhulekela izithombe. Eqinisweni, mubi kakhulu kunabo bonke abanye abangaphambi kwakhe. Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-12, uyafa futhi uAhabi indodana yakhe uba inkosi. UAhabi ushada noIzebeli (Jezabeli), indodakazi yenkosi yaseSidoni, khona-ke wakhela uBali ialtare eSamariya. Uyabadlula ngobubi bonke labo abamandulele. Kungalesikhathi lapho uHiyeli waseBethele akha khona kabusha umuzi waseJeriko waze wafelwa indodana yakhe eyizibulo nendodana yakhe yokugcina. Ukukhulekela kweqiniso akusaziwa.

18. UEliya uwuqala ngamaphi amazwi umsebenzi wakhe ongokwesiprofetho kwaIsrayeli, futhi usikhomba kanjani isizathu sangempela sezinkathazo zakwaIsrayeli?

¹⁸ Umsebenzi kaEliya wokuprofetha kwaIsrayeli (17:⁠1–22:​40). Ngokushesha kuvela isithunywa sikaJehova. NguEliya waseThishibi.e Ayashaqisa ngempela amazwi akhe okuqala eNkosini uAhabi: “Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli engimi phambi kwakhe, akuyikubakho-mazolo namvula kuleminyaka, kuphela ngesiyalezo sezwi lami.” (17:⁠1) Ngokushesha okufanayo, uEliya uyemuka ngesiqondiso sikaJehova uya esigodini esisempumalanga yeJordani. Lomisile kwaIsrayeli, kodwa amagwababa amlethela ukudla uEliya. Lapho umfudlana wesigodi usha, uJehova uthuma umprofethi wakhe ukuba ayohlala eSarefati eSidoni. Ngenxa yomusa womfelokazi kuEliya, uJehova wonga ngokuyisimangaliso impuphu yakhe encane namafutha ukuze yena nendodana yakhe bangabulawa yindlala. Kamuva indodana iyagula futhi iyafa, kodwa ngokunxusa kukaEliya uJehova ubuyisela ukuphila komntwana. Khona-ke, onyakeni wesithathu wokomisa, uJehova uyaphinda uthumela uEliya kuAhabi. UAhabi usola uEliya ngokuletha inhlupho kuIsrayeli, kodwa ngesibindi uEliya utshela uAhabi: “Nguwe nendlu kayihlo” ngenxa yokulandela oBali.​—⁠18:⁠18.

19. Ibekwa kanjani inselele yobunkulunkulu, futhi ubukhulu bukaJehova bufakazelwa kanjani?

¹⁹ UEliya uyala uAhabi ukuba ahlanganise bonke abaprofethi bakaBali eNtabeni iKarmeli. Ngeke kusaba khona ukuba manqikanqika emibonweni emibili. Kubekwa inselele: UJehova noma uBali! Phambi kwabo bonke abantu, abapristi bakaBali abangu-450 balungisa inkunzi, bayibeka phezu kwezinkuni ealtare, futhi bathandazela ukuba kwehle umlilo ushise umhlatshelo. Kusukela ekuseni kuze kube semini, babiza uBali kuba nhlanga zimuka nomoya, kukhona nokubhinqa okuvela kuEliya. Bayamemeza futhi bayazisika, kodwa akukho-mpendulo! Ngokulandelayo, umprofethi oyedwa, uEliya, wakha ialtare egameni likaJehova futhi ulungisa izinkuni nenkunzi yomhlatshelo. Uyala abantu ukuba bathele umhlatshelo nezinkuni ngamanzi izikhathi ezintathu, abe esethandaza kuJehova: “Ngiphendule, Jehova, ngiphendule ukuba lababantu bazi ukuthi wena-Jehova unguNkulunkulu.” Kulokho, kwehla umlilo uvela ezulwini, uqothula umhlatshelo, izinkuni, amatshe ealtare, uthuli, namanzi. Lapho bonke abantu bekubona, ngokushesha bawa ngobuso babo bathi: “UJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu; uJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu.” (18:​37, 39) Ukufa kubaprofethi bakaBali! UEliya ngokwakhe obabulalayo, ukuze kungaphunyuki noyedwa. Khona-ke uJehova unisa imvula, ephelisa ukomisa kwaIsrayeli.

20. (a) UJehova ubonakala kanjani kuEliya eHorebe, futhi yisiphi isiyalezo nenduduzo ayinikezayo? (b) Yisiphi isono necala elenziwa uAhabi?

²⁰ Lapho izindaba zokuhlazeka kukaBali zifinyelela kuJezabeli, ufuna ukubulala uEliya. Ngokwesaba, ubalekela ehlane nenceku yakhe, futhi uJehova umqondisa eHorebe. Lapho uJehova ubonakala kuye​—⁠cha, hhayi ngendlela ewumbukwane yomoya noma yokuzamazama noma yomlilo, kodwa ‘ngezwi elincane elihashazayo.’ (19:​11, 12) UJehova umtshela ukuba agcobe uHazayeli njengenkosi yaseAramu (eSiriya), uJehu njengenkosi phezu kukaIsrayeli, noElisha njengomprofethi esikhundleni sakhe. Ududuza uEliya ngezindaba zokuthi abangu-⁠7 000 kwaIsrayeli abazange bamkhothamele uBali. Ngaso lesosikhathi uEliya ugcoba uElisha ngokuphonsa ingubo yakhe phezu kwakhe. UAhabi manje unqoba abaseSiriya kabili kodwa uJehova uyamsola ngokwenza isivumelwano nenkosi yabo esikhundleni sokuyibulala. Khona-ke sekungena indaba kaNaboti, osivini sakhe sihalelwa uAhabi. UJezabeli wenza ukuba ofakazi bamanga bamqambele amanga uNaboti futhi abulawe ukuze uAhabi athathe isivini. Yeka icala elingenakuthethelelwa!

21. (a) Yisiphi isijeziso uEliya asimemezelayo kuAhabi nasendlini yakhe, nakuJezabeli? (b) Yisiphi isiprofetho esigcwaliseka ekufeni kuka-Ahabi?

²¹ UEliya uyaphinda uyavela. Utshela uAhabi ukuthi lapho uNaboti efele khona, izinja ziyokhotha igazi lakhe, nokuthi indlu yakhe iyoqedwa iphele njengekaJerobowamu nekaBahasha. Izinja ziyomudla uJezabeli ngasogangeni lwaseJizreyeli. “Kepha akubangakho onjengoAhabi owazithengisa ukwenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova, edudwa nguIzebeli umkakhe.” (21:​25) Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi uAhabi uyazithoba lapho ezwa amazwi kaEliya, uJehova uthi usizi ngeke lufike ezinsukwini zakhe kodwa ezinsukwini zendodana yakhe. Manje uAhabi uhlangana noJehoshafati, inkosi yakwaJuda, ekulweni neSiriya, futhi ngokuphambene neseluleko somprofethi kaJehova uMikhaya, bayaphuma baya empini. UAhabi ubulawa amanxeba awathola empini. Njengoba inqola yakhe beyihlanza echibini laseSamariya, izinja zikhotha igazi lakhe, njengoba nje uEliya ayeprofethile. UAhaziya indodana yakhe uba inkosi yakwaIsrayeli esikhundleni sakhe.

22. Yini ephawuleka ekubuseni kukaJehoshafati kwaJuda noAhaziya kwaIsrayeli?

²² UJehoshafati ubusa kwaJuda (22:​41-53). UJehoshafati, owahamba noAhabi bayokulwa neSiriya, uthembekile kuJehova njengoAsa uyise, kodwa uyehluleka ukususa ngokuphelele izindawo eziphakemeyo zokukhulekela kwamanga. Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-25, uyafa, futhi uJehoramu indodana yakhe uba inkosi. Ngasenyakatho, kwaIsrayeli, uAhaziya ulandela ezinyathelweni zikayise, ecunula uJehova ngokukhulekela kwakhe uBali.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

23. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso nesikhuthazo amaKhosi okuQala asinikezayo ngokuqondene nomthandazo?

²³ Kunenzuzo enkulu etholakala emfundweni engokwaphezulu kumaKhosi okuQala. Okokuqala, cabangela indaba yomthandazo, evela kaningi kangaka kulencwadi. USolomoni, lapho ebhekene nomthwalo omkhulu wobukhosi kwaIsrayeli, wathandaza ngokuzithoba kuJehova njengomntwana. Wamane wacela ukuqonda nenhliziyo elalelayo, kodwa ngaphezu kokuhlakanipha okukhulu kakhulu, uJehova wamnika futhi nengcebo nenkazimulo. (3:​7-9, 12-14) Kwangathi singaqiniseka namuhla ngokuthi imithandazo yethu yokuzithoba yokucela ukuhlakanipha nesiqondiso enkonzweni kaJehova ngeke ingaphendulwa! (Jak. 1:⁠5) Kwangathi ngaso sonke isikhathi singathandaza ngentshiseko ngokusuka enhliziyweni, sinokwazisa okujulile ngabo bonke ubuhle bukaJehova, njengoba uSolomoni enza ekunikezelweni kwethempeli! (1 AmaKh. 8:​22-53) Kwangathi imithandazo yethu ngaso sonke isikhathi ingabonisa ukwethembela okuphelele kuJehova, njengoba kwenza imithandazo kaEliya ngesikhathi sokulingwa nalapho ebhekene ngqó nesizwe esasikhulekela amademoni! UJehova ubalungiselela ngokumangalisayo labo abamfuna ngomthandazo.​—⁠1 AmaKh. 17:​20-22; 18:​36-40; 1 Joh. 5:⁠14.

24. Yiziphi izibonelo eziyisixwayiso ezibekwe kumaKhosi okuQala, futhi kungani, ngokukhethekile, ababonisi kumelwe baziqaphele?

²⁴ Ngaphezu kwalokho, kumelwe zisixwayise izibonelo zalabo abangazange bazithobe phambi kukaJehova. Yeka indlela ‘uNkulunkulu amelana ngayo nabanjalo abazidlayo’! (1 Pet. 5:⁠5) KwakunoAdoniya, owacabanga ukuthi angakweqa ukumisa kukaJehova okungokwasezulwini (1 AmaKh. 1:⁠5; 2:​24, 25); uShimeyi, owacabanga ukuthi angazinhlanhlathela nje abuye azibuyele (2:​37, 41-46); uSolomoni eminyakeni yakhe yakamuva, okungalaleli kwakhe kwaletha abaphikisi abavela kuJehova (11:​9-14, 23-26); namakhosi akwaIsrayeli, ankolo yawo yamanga yaba elimazayo (13:​33, 34; 14:​7-11; 16:​1-⁠4). Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakunoJezabeli omubi ohahayo, amandla ayeshoshozela uAhabi esihlalweni sobukhosi, osibonelo sakhe esibi sasetshenziswa eminyakeni eyinkulungwane kamuva ekuxwayiseni ibandla laseThiyathira: “Kepha nginalokhu ngawe ukuthi uvumela owesifazane uJezabeli [uIzebeli] ozisho ukuthi ungumprofethikazi, afundise, adukise izinceku zami ukuba zifebe, zidle okuhlatshelwe izithombe.” (IsAm. 2:​20) Ababonisi kumelwe bagcine amabandla ehlanzekile futhi engenawo nakancane amathonya anjengakaJezabeli!​—⁠Qhathanisa nezEnzo 20:​28-⁠30.

25. Yiziphi iziprofetho zencwadi yamaKhosi okuQala eziye zagcwaliseka ngokuphawulekayo, futhi ukuzikhumbula kungasisiza kanjani namuhla?

²⁵ Amandla kaJehova esiprofetho aboniswa ngokucacile ekugcwalisekeni kweziprofetho eziningi ezinikezwe kumaKhosi okuQala. Ngokwesibonelo, kunesibikezelo esiphawulekayo, esenziwa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-300 ngaphambili, sokuthi uJosiya nguye owayezodiliza ialtare likaJerobowamu eBethele. UJosiya wakwenza! (1 AmaKh. 13:​1-⁠3; 2 AmaKh. 23:​15) Nokho, ezivelele kunazo zonke yiziprofetho eziphathelene nendlu kaJehova, eyakhiwa uSolomoni. UJehova watshela uSolomoni ukuthi ukuwela konkulunkulu bamanga kwakuyophumela ekunqumeni kukaJehova uIsrayeli ebusweni bomhlaba nasekuyilahleni phambi kwaKhe indlu ayeyingcwelisele igama lakhe. (1 AmaKh. 9:​7, 8) Kwezesi-⁠2 IziKronike 36:​17-21 sifunda indlela lesiprofetho esabonakala siyiqiniso ngayo ngokuphelele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi ithempeli lamuva elakhiwa uHerode oMkhulu esizeni esifanayo laliyobhekana nokufanayo nangenxa yesizathu esifanayo. (Luka 21:⁠6) Yeka indlela nalokhu okwaba yiqiniso ngayo! Kufanele sizikhumbule lezinhlekelele nesizathu sazo, futhi kufanele zisikhumbuze njalo ukuhamba ezindleleni zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso.

26. Yimuphi umbono ovusa uhlevane wethempeli likaJehova noMbuso onikezwa kumaKhosi okuQala?

²⁶ Inkosikazi yaseSheba yafika ivela ezweni layo elikude izobabaza ukuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni, ukuchuma kwabantu bakhe, nenkazimulo yombuso wakhe, kuhlanganise nendlu enhle kaJehova. Nokho, ngisho noSolomoni wavuma kuJehova: “Izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela; pho, kakhulu kangakanani lendlu encane engiyakhileyo na?” (1 AmaKh. 8:​27; 10:​4-⁠9) Kodwa emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva uKristu Jesu weza ezofeza umsebenzi wokwakha ongokomoya ikakhulukazi ophathelene nokubuyiselwa kokukhulekelwa kweqiniso ethempelini elikhulu elingokomoya likaJehova. (Heb. 8:​1-⁠5; 9:​2-10, 23) Kulona, omkhulu kunoSolomoni, isithembiso sikaJehova siyiqiniso: “Ngiyakusimisa isihlalo sobukhosi sombuso wakho kwaIsrayeli kuze kube-phakade.” (1 AmaKh. 9:⁠5; Math. 1:​1, 6, 7, 16; 12:​42; Luka 1:​32) AmaKhosi okuQala anikeza umbono ovusa uhlevane ngenkazimulo yethempeli likaJehova elingokomoya neyokuchuma, ukuthokoza, nenjabulo emnandi yabo bonke abeza ukuba baphile ngaphansi kokubusa okuhlakaniphile koMbuso kaJehova ngoKristu Jesu. Ukwazisa kwethu ngokubaluleka kokukhulekela kweqiniso nokwelungiselelo likaJehova elimangalisayo loMbuso wakhe ngeMbewu kuyaqhubeka kukhula!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]