IZwi LikaJehova Liyaphila

Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi Ka-Ezra

UKULANDISA kwencwadi yeBhayibheli ka-Ezra kuqala lapho kugcine khona incwadi yeziKronike Zesibili. Umlobi wayo, umpristi u-Ezra, uqala ukulandisa ngokukhishwa kwesimemezelo senkosi yasePheresiya uKoresi esivumela insali yamaJuda ayedingiselwe eBhabhiloni ukuba ibuyele ezweni layo. Ukulandisa kuphela ngesikhathi u-Ezra ethatha izinyathelo zokuhlanza labo abaye bazingcolisa ngokushada nabantu bezizwe. Seyiyonke, le ncwadi ikhuluma ngokwenzeka phakathi neminyaka engu-70—kusukela ngo-537 kuya ku-467 B.C.E.

Ngesikhathi ebhala le ncwadi, u-Ezra wayenomgomo ocacile: ukubonisa indlela uJehova asigcwalisa ngayo isithembiso saKhe sokukhulula abantu bakhe ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni nokuvuselela ukukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema. Ngalokho, u-Ezra ugxila kuphela ezenzakalweni eziqondene nale njongo. Incwadi ka-Ezra iwumlando wokwakhiwa kabusha kwethempeli nendlela ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova okwavuselelwa ngayo naphezu kokuphikiswa nokungapheleli kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kulandisa kuyasizuzisa kakhulu ngoba nathi siphila esikhathini sokubuyiselwa. Abaningi bathuthelekela “entabeni kaJehova,” futhi umhlaba wonke ‘usuzogcwala ukuyazi inkazimulo kaJehova.’—Isaya 2:2, 3; Habakuki 2:14.

ITHEMPELI LAKHIWA KABUSHA

(Ezra 1:1–6:22)

Zilalela umyalo kaKoresi wokuzikhulula, izithunjwa ezingamaJuda ezingaba ngu-50 000 zibuyela eJerusalema ziholwa uMbusi uZerubhabhele noma uSheshibhazari. Ababuyele emuva basheshe bamise i-altare endaweni yalo futhi baqala ukwenzela uJehova imihlatshelo.

Ngonyaka olandelayo ama-Israyeli akha isisekelo sendlu kaJehova. Izitha ziyaqhubeka ziphazamisa umsebenzi wokwakha futhi ekugcineni ziyaphumelela ekutholeni umyalo wenkosi othi umsebenzi umiswe. Abaprofethi uHagayi noZakariya bakhuthaza abantu ukuba baphinde baqale ukwakha ithempeli naphezu kokuvinjelwa. Ukwesaba ukumelana nomthetho ongaguquki wasePheresiya owakhishwa uKoresi kuqeda izitha zabo amandla. Lapho kwenziwa uphenyo oluyalezwe inkosi kutholakala umyalo owakhishwa uKoresi “ngokuphathelene nendlu kaNkulunkulu eseJerusalema.” (Ezra 6:3) Lo msebenzi uqhubeka kahle uze uqedwe.

Izimpendulo Zemibuzo YemiBhalo

1:3-6—Ingabe ama-Israyeli angazange abuyele ezweni lawo ngokuzithandela ayenokholo olubuthakathaka? Kungenzeka ukuthi amanye awazange abuyele eJerusalema ngenxa yokuthi ayethanda izinto ezibonakalayo noma ayentula ukwazisa ngokukhulekela kweqiniso, kodwa lokhu kwakungenjalo ngawo wonke. Okokuqala, uhambo olungamakhilomitha angu-1 600 oluya eJerusalema lwaluthatha izinyanga ezine noma ezinhlanu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuyohlala ezweni elaliyincithakalo iminyaka engu-70 nokwakha kabusha kwakuyoba umsebenzi okhandlayo. Ngakho, akungabazeki ukuthi izimo ezinzima, njengokugula, ukuguga nemithwalo yemfanelo yomkhaya, zavimbela abanye ukuba bangabuyeli.

2:43—Ayengobani amaNethini? Ayengabantu abangewona ama-Israyeli ababekhonza njengezigqila noma izikhonzi zasethempelini. Phakathi kwawo kwakunenzalo yabaseGibheyoni yangosuku lukaJoshuwa nabanye ‘uDavide nezikhulu ababanikela enkonzweni yamaLevi.’—Ezra 8:20.

2:55—Ayengobani amadodana ezinceku zikaSolomoni? Abantu ababengewona ama-Israyeli ababenikwe amalungelo akhethekile enkonzweni kaJehova. Kungenzeka ukuthi babekhonza njengababhali noma abakopishi basethempelini noma kwezinye izikhundla zokuphatha.

2:61-63—Ingabe i-Urimi neThumimi, okwakusetshenziswa lapho kudingeka impendulo evela kuJehova, kwakusekhona ngesikhathi kubuya izithunjwa? Ababethi bayinzalo yabapristi abangazange bakwazi ukunikeza ubufakazi bohlu lwabo lozalo babengase bakwenze ngokusebenzisa i-Urimi neThumimi. U-Ezra usho lokhu kuphela njengento eyayingenzeka. ImiBhalo ayinawo umlando wokusetshenziswa kwe-Urimi neThumimi ngaleso sikhathi noma ngemva kwalokho. NgokwamaJuda, i-Urimi neThumimi kwanyamalala ngesikhathi kubhujiswa ithempeli ngo-607 B.C.E.

3:12—Kungani “amaxhegu ayebone indlu yakuqala” kaJehova akhala? La maxhegu ayekhumbula indlela elalilihle ngayo ithempeli elakhiwa uSolomoni. Uma kuqhathaniswa, isisekelo sethempeli elisha ‘sasinjengento engelutho emehlweni awo.’ (Hagayi 2:2, 3) Ingabe imizamo yawo yayingabuyisa inkazimulo yethempeli lakudala? Kumelwe ukuba azizwa edangele, yingakho akhala.

3:8-10; 4:23, 24; 6:15, 16—Kwathatha iminyaka emingaki ukwakha kabusha ithempeli? Isisekelo sethempeli sakhiwa ngo-536 B.C.E.—“ngonyaka wesibili wokufika kwabo.” Umsebenzi wokwakha wama ezinsukwini zeNkosi u-Aritahishashita, ngo-522 B.C.E. Ukuvinjelwa kwaqhubeka kwaze kwaba ngo-520 B.C.E., unyaka wesibili weNkosi uDariyu. Ithempeli laqedwa ukwakhiwa ngonyaka wesithupha wokubusa kwayo, noma ngo-515 B.C.E. (Bheka ibhokisi elinesihloko esithi “AmaKhosi AsePheresiya Kusukela Ngo-537 Kuya Ku-467 B.C.E.”) Ngakho, ukwakhiwa kwethempeli kwathatha iminyaka engaba ngu-20.

4:8–6:18—La mavesi ayebhalwe ngesi-Aramu. Kungani? Okuningi okuqukethwe yile ngxenye kungamakhophi ezincwadi ezivela ezikhulwini zikahulumeni ziya emakhosini kanye nezimpendulo zawo. U-Ezra wazikopisha ezisusela emibhalweni yomphakathi eyayibhalwe ngesi-Aramu, ulimi olwalusetshenziswa kwezentengiselwano nakwezombusazwe ngaleso sikhathi. Ezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli ezabhalwa ngalolu limi lwasendulo lwamaSemite u-Ezra 7:12-26, uJeremiya 10:11 noDaniyeli 2:4b–7:28.

Izifundo Esizitholayo:

1:2. Lokho u-Isaya akuprofetha kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-200 kwagcwaliseka. (Isaya 44:28) Iziprofetho eziseZwini likaJehova ziyagcwaliseka njalo.

1:3-6. Njengamanye ama-Israyeli asala eBhabhiloni, abaningi boFakazi BakaJehova abanakukwazi ukungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele noma bakhonze lapho indingeko inkulu khona. Noma kunjalo, bayaqhubeka besekela futhi bekhuthaza labo abakwaziyo ukwenzenjalo futhi ngokuzithandela bayanikela ukuze kuthuthukiswe umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi.

3:1-6. Ngenyanga yesikhombisa ngo-537 B.C.E. (uTishri, ohambelana no-September/October), abathembekile ababuyela eJerusalema banikela ngomhlatshelo wokuqala. INkosi uNebukhadinezari yayingene eJerusalema ngenyanga yesihlanu (u-Ab, ohambelana no-July/August) ngo-607 B.C.E. futhi ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili umuzi wawusubhujiswe ngokuphelele. (2 AmaKhosi 25:8-17, 22-26) Iminyaka engu-70 yokuchithwa kweJerusalema yaphela ngesikhathi esifanele njengoba kwakubikezelwe. (Jeremiya 25:11; 29:10) Yonke into ebikezelwa yiZwi likaJehova njalo iyagcwaliseka.

4:1-3. Insali ethembekile yasenqaba isicelo esasizobangela ukuba izihlanganise nabakhulekeli bamanga. (Eksodusi 20:5; 34:12) Ngokufanayo, abakhulekeli bakaJehova namuhla abahileleki kunoma iziphi izinhlangano ezixuba izinkolo.

5:1-7; 6:1-12. UJehova angahlela izinto ukuze abantu bakhe baphumelele.

6:14, 22. Ukuhlanganyela ngentshiseko emsebenzini kaJehova kubangela ukuba asibusise futhi asamukele.

6:21. Ukubona intuthuko yomsebenzi kaJehova kwashukumisela amaSamariya ngaleso sikhathi ayehlala ezweni lamaJuda ukuba ashintshe ukuphila kwawo futhi kwenza nababebuyile ababenqotshwe amathonya amaqaba ukuba bashintshe ukuphila kwabo. Ingabe nathi akufanele sihlanganyele ngentshiseko emsebenzini esiwunikwe uNkulunkulu, ohlanganisa ukumemezela ngoMbuso?

U-EZRA UZA EJERUSALEMA

(Ezra 7:1–10:44)

Sekuphele iminyaka engu-50 selokhu kwanikezelwa indlu kaJehova eyakhiwe kabusha. Manje sekungu-468 B.C.E. Ehamba nensali yabantu bakaNkulunkulu ephethe neminikelo, u-Ezra uyasuka eBhabhiloni uya eJerusalema. Yini ayitholayo lapho?

Izikhulu zitshela u-Ezra: “Abantu bakwa-Israyeli nabapristi namaLevi abazihlukanisanga namaqembu abantu bamazwe ngokuqondene nezinto zabo ezinengekayo.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, “isandla sezikhulu nababusi abangamaphini siye saba phambili kulokhu kungathembeki.” (Ezra 9:1, 2) Kuyamethusa lokhu u-Ezra. Ukhuthazwa ukuba ‘abe namandla athathe isinyathelo.’ (Ezra 10:3, 4) U-Ezra uthatha izinyathelo zokulungisa isimo futhi abantu bayalalela.

Izimpendulo Zemibuzo YemiBhalo

7:1, 7, 11—Ingabe wonke la mavesi abhekisela ku-Aritahishashita owamisa umsebenzi wokwakha? Cha. U-Aritahishashita yigama noma isiqu esasetshenziswa emakhosini amabili asePheresiya. Eyokuqala kungaba uBardiya noma uGaumata, owakhipha umyalo wokuba kumiswe ukwakhiwa kwethempeli ngo-522 B.C.E. U-Aritahishashita wangesikhathi u-Ezra aya ngaso eJerusalema ngu-Aritahishashita Longimanus.

7:28–8:20—Kungani amaJuda amaningi aseBhabhiloni ayemadolonzima ukukhuphukela eJerusalema no-Ezra? Ngisho noma kwase kudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60 kusukela iqembu lokuqala lamaJuda labuyela ezweni lawo, eJerusalema kwakusahlala abantu abayingcosana. Ukubuyela eJerusalema kwakusho ukuqala ukuphila okusha ezimweni ezinzima neziyingozi. IJerusalema langaleso sikhathi lalingenazo izinto ezibonakalayo ezikhangayo kumaJuda okungenzeka ayechuma eBhabhiloni. Okungafanele kunganakwa ukuthi uhambo lwaluyingozi. Ababuyela emuva kwakudingeka babe nokholo oluqinile kuJehova, intshiseko ngokukhulekela kweqiniso kanye nesibindi. Ngisho no-Ezra waziqinisa ngokwesandla sikaJehova esasiphezu kwakhe. Ngenxa yesikhuthazo sika-Ezra, kwasabela imikhaya engu-1 500—mhlawumbe abantu abangaba ngu-6 000. Ngemva kokuba u-Ezra enze eminye imizamo, kwasabela amaLevi angu-38 namaNethini angu-220.

9:1, 2—Kwakuwusongo olungathí sina kangakanani ukuganiselana nabantu bezizwe? Isizwe esibuyiselwe kwakumelwe silondoloze ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuze kufike uMesiya. Ukuganiselana nezinye izizwe kwakuwusongo ngempela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Ngenxa yokuthi abanye babeshade nabantu abakhulekela izithombe, ekugcineni sonke isizwe sasingase sixubane nezizwe ezingamaqaba. Ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile kwakungase kuphele ebusweni bomhlaba. Ngakho, uMesiya wayezofikela kobani? Akumangalisi ukuthi kwamshaqisa u-Ezra ukubona okwakwenzeka lapho!

10:3, 44—Kungani abantwana balahlwa kanye nabafazi? Ukube abantwana basala, ayengaba maningi amathuba okuba laba bafazi ababexoshiwe babuye ngenxa yabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokuvamile abantwana badinga ukunakekelwa onina.

Izifundo Esizitholayo:

7:10. Njengoba ayengumfundi okhuthele weZwi likaNkulunkulu nomfundisi walo ophumelelayo, u-Ezra wasibekela isibonelo. Ngomkhuleko walungisa inhliziyo yakhe ukuze ahlole uMthetho kaJehova. Njengoba u-Ezra ayewuhlola, wagxilisa ingqondo yakhe yonke kulokho okwakushiwo uJehova. U-Ezra wakusebenzisa ayekufunda futhi wazikhandla ekukufundiseni abanye.

7:13. UJehova ufuna izinceku ezizinikele ngenhliziyo yonke.

7:27, 28; 8:21-23. U-Ezra wadumisa uJehova, wamncenga ngobuqotho ngaphambi kokuba athathe uhambo olude noluyingozi oluya eJerusalema futhi wayezimisele ukufaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ngenxa yenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho usibekela isibonelo esihle.

9:2. Kumelwe siwubheke njengobaluleke kakhulu umyalo wokushada “kuphela eNkosini.”—1 Korinte 7:39.

9:14, 15. Ukuzihlanganisa nababi kungaholela ekubeni umuntu angamukelwa uJehova.

10:2-12, 44. Abantu ababeshade nabafazi bezinye izizwe ngokuzithoba baphenduka futhi balungisa izindlela zabo ezimbi. Isimo sabo sengqondo kanye nesinyathelo abasithatha kuyisibonelo.

UJehova Uyazifeza Izithembiso Zakhe

Yeka ukuthi isizuzisa kanjani incwadi ka-Ezra! Ngesikhathi esifanele, uJehova wasigcwalisa isithembiso sakhe sokukhulula abantu bakhe ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni futhi wavuselela ukukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema. Ingabe lokhu akuluqinisi ukholo lwethu kuJehova nasezithembisweni zakhe?

Cabanga ngezibonelo eziqukethwe incwadi ka-Ezra. U-Ezra nensali eyabuyela eJerusalema ukuze ihlanganyele ekuvuseleleni ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile babonisa ukuzinikela kuNkulunkulu okuyisibonelo. Le ncwadi igcizelela nokholo lwabantu bezizwe ababesaba uNkulunkulu nesimo sengqondo sokuthobeka sabenzi bokubi abaphendukayo. Ngempela, amazwi ka-Ezra aphefumulelwe anikeza ubufakazi obucacile bokuthi “izwi likaNkulunkulu liyaphila, linamandla.”—Hebheru 4:12.

[Ishadi/Isithombe ekhasini 18]

AMAKHOSI ASEPHERESIYA KUSUKELA NGO-537 KUYA KU-467 B.C.E.

UKoresi Omkhulu (Ezra 1:1) wafa ngo-530 B.C.E.

UCambyses, noma u-Ahashiveroshi (Ezra 4:6) 530-22 B.C.E.

UDariyu I (Ezra 4:24) 522-486 B.C.E.

U-Aritahishashita Longimanus (Ezra 7:1) 475-24 B.C.E.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe]

U-Ahashiveroshi

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

UKoresi

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

UmBhalo KaKoresi wawunomyalo wokuba izithunjwa zibuyele ezweni lazo

[Umthombo]

Cylinder: Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

Ingabe uyakwazi okwenza ukuba u-Ezra abe umfundisi ophumelelayo?