Amaphuzu Avelele EBhayibheli Nehemiya 1:1–13:31

Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kuyanqoba

Ukukhulekela kweqiniso kunqoba ngesinyathelo sokuzimisela nokuthembela kuJehova ngokungantengantengi. Yilowo umongo wencwadi kaNehemiya. Iyindaba eqabulayo yokwakhiwa kabusha kodonga lwaseJerusalema ngaphansi kokuhola ngesibindi kukaNehemiya.

Lencwadi ihlanganisa isikhathi esibalulekile, okwakuzoqala phakathi naso amasonto angama-70 aholela ekubonakaleni kukaMesiya. (Daniyeli 9:24-27) Ivesi lokuqala Ne 1:1 kanye nokulandisa komuntu wokuqala kubonisa ngokukhanyayo uNehemiya njengomlobi. Lencwadi ilandela uEzra, ithatha izingxenye zendaba cishe eminyakeni eyi-12 ngemva kwezenzakalo ezalotshwa uEzra.

Njengoba sifunda lendaba, sibona indlela emangalisayo uJehova ahlela ngayo izenzakalo ukuze kufezeke intando yakhe. Siphawula futhi indlela aqinisa naduduza ngayo izinceku zakhe ezithembekile.

Ukuhlupheka KweJerusalema

Siza ufunde uNehemiya 1:1–2:20. UNehemiya, umphathizitsha wenkosi yasePheresiya, uthola ukuthi izindonga zaseJerusalema zisadilikile nokuthi abantu bakhona ‘basekuhluphekeni okukhulu.’ Ekhathazeke kakhulu, uNehemiya uthululela inhliziyo yakhe kuJehova ngomthandazo onentshiseko. Inkosi iyakuqaphela ukudabuka kwakhe, kanjalo ivula indlela ngoNehemiya ukuba aye eJerusalema ukuze abone ukuthi udonga lomuzi luyakhiwa yini kabusha.

◆ 1:1—Kwakungumuphi unyaka?

Lona kwakungunyaka wama-20 weNkosi uAritahishashita (Longimanus). (2:1) Njengoba uChislev (November-December) ubekwe ngaphambi kukaNisan (March-April) kulendaba, ngokusobala amakhosi asePheresiya ayebala unyaka ngamunye wokubusa kwawo kusukela ekwindla kuya ekwindla, noma kusukela ngesikhathi ahlala ngaso ngokoqobo esihlalweni sobukhosi. Ubufakazi obuthembekile obungokomlando neziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezigcwalisekile zikhomba ku-455 B.C.E. njengonyaka okuphela ngawo uNisan wonyaka wama-20 ka-Aritahishashita. Kanjalo, indaba kaNehemiya iqala ekwindla ka-456 B.C.E., futhi isimemezelo sokwakha kabusha udonga lweJerusalema sakhishwa entwasahlobo ka-455 B.C.E.

◆ 2:4—Ingabe lona kwakungumthandazo wokuphelelwa yithemba wokugcina?

Cha, ngoba incithakalo eyayiseJerusalema kwase kunesikhathi eside uNehemiya eyithandazela “imini nobusuku.” (1:4, 6) Lapho enikezwa ithuba lokutshela iNkosi uAritahishashita ngesifiso sakhe sokwakha kabusha izindonga zeJerusalema, uNehemiya waphinde wathandaza, ngaleyondlela enza lokho kakade ayekwenza ngokuphindaphindiwe. Impendulo kaJehova yomusa yaphumela ekuthunyweni ukuyokwakha kabusha izindonga zomuzi.

Isifundo esisitholayo: UNehemiya wayebheka kuJehova ngokuqondiswa. Lapho sibhekene nesinqumo esingathi sína, nathi futhi, kumelwe ‘ekukhulekeni siqinisele njalo’ futhi senze ngokuvumelana nokuqondisa kukaJehova.—Roma 12:12.

Udonga Lwakhiwa Naphezu Kozungu

Funda izahluko 3:1–6:19. Njengoba ukwakhiwa kodonga kuqala, izitha ziyabhinqa futhi ziyakloloda. Kamuva, zisongela ukuhlasela. Ngokungesabi, uNehemiya ukhuthaza izisebenzi: “Khumbulani iNkosi [uJehova] enkulu neyesabekayo.” Ingxenye yabo ima iqaphe ngemikhonto nangeminsalo, futhi abanye basebenza behlome ngezikhali. Naphezu kosongo nozungu, amaJuda aqeda udonga ngezinsuku ezingama-52!

◆ 3:5—Kwakungobani laba “abakhulu”?

KwakungamaJuda avelele phakathi kwezakhamuzi noma ayeyizakhamuzi zaseThekhowa, cishe idolobha elingamakhilomitha ayi-16 ukuya eningizimu yeJerusalema. Laba “abakhulu” ngokusobala babeqhoshe kakhulu ukuba bazithobe futhi basebenze ngaphansi kwejoka lababonisi ababemiswe nguNehemiya.—Qhathanisa noJeremiya 27:11.

◆ 4:17—Babesebenza kanjani ngesandla esisodwa?

Abakhi kwakumelwe bazisebenzise zombili izandla emsebenzini wabo. Babebhince izikhali zabo ezinkalweni zabo. (4:18) Abathwala imithwalo babengasiphatha kalula isikhali ngesinye isandla basekele imithwalo kadoti noma izingcezu zamatshe nokunye ngamahlombe abo noma ngamakhanda.—Genesise 24:15, 45.

◆ 5:7—Kungani inzalo yayingalungile?

Lokhu kwakungokwephula ngokuqondile umthetho kaJehova. (Levitikusi 25:36; Duteronomi 23:19) ‘Eyekhulu,’ uma ibizwa ngenyanga, yayiyoba ngamaphesenti ayi-12 ngonyaka. (5:11) Abantu kakade babesebunzimeni obungathi sína ngenxa yendlala nentela emba eqolo yamaPheresiya. (5:3, 4) Kanti futhi abacebileyo ngokungacabangeli babebiza inzalo enkulu kubafowabo abampofu.

◆ 6:5—Kungani kwaba “incwadi evulekileyo”?

Izincwadi eziyimfihlo ngokuvamile zazifakwa esikhwameni esasivalwe ngokucophelela. Ngalokho ukuthumela kukaSanibalati “incwadi evulekileyo” kungenzeka kwakuhloswe ukuba kube yinhlamba. Noma, njengoba icala ‘elalisencwadini evulekileyo’ lalingafundwa ngabanye, kungenzeka wayethemba ukuthi uNehemiya wayezocasuka kakhulu kangangokuthi aze ashiye iJerusalema eze azozihlanza kulawomacala. USanibalati kungenzeka futhi wayethemba ukuthi leyoncwadi yayizobanga isiphazamiso kangangokuthi amaJuda ayeke umsebenzi wawo.

Isifundo esisitholayo: Akumelwe sibheke umsebenzi onzima njengowehlisa isithunzi sethu bese sihlehla ‘njengabakhulu’ baseThekhowa. Kunalokho, kumelwe sizinikele njengamaThekhowa avamile afeza imisebenzi emibili.—Nehemiya 3:5, 27.

Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kuyavuselelwa

Funda izahluko 7:1–10:39. Wonke lomsebenzi wenzelwa injongo eyodwa: ukubuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngemva kokubalwa kwabantu, abantu bayahlangana ukuba bezwe uEzra namaLevi befunda futhi bechaza uMthetho. Kanjalo ngemva ‘kokuzuza ukuqonda,’ ngenjabulo bagubha uMkhosi wamaDokodo. Abantu bayazila futhi bavuma izono zabo, futhi bathatha izinyathelo zokulungisa lamaphutha.

◆ 7:6—Kungani loluhlu lwehluka kolukaEzra?

Zombili lezincwadi ziyavuma ukuthi, ngaphandle kwezigqila nabaculi, isibalo sabayizi-42 360 sabuya. (Ezra 2:64, 65; Nehemiya 7:66, 67) Kodwa kunomehluko esibalweni sababuya emindenini ethile. Ngokunokwenzeka, uEzra noNehemiya basebenzisa izindlela ezihlukene ekuhleleni izinhlu zabo. Ngokwesibonelo, omunye kungenzeka wabhala uhlu lwalabo ababhalisela ukubuya, kanti omunye wabala labo ababuya ngokoqobo. Abanye abapristi, futhi ngokunokwenzeka nabanye, abakwazanga ukuthola okhokho babo. (7:64) Lokhu kungase kube isizathu esenza isamba sabantu ababhalwe ohlwini singahambisani nesibalo esishiwo sabayizi-42 360.

◆ 8:8—‘Wawuchazwa’ kanjani uMthetho?

Ngokusobala, ngaphandle kokusebenzisa izinkulumo ezinhle ezihleliwe nokugcizelela ngomlomo, uEzra nabasizi bakhe babechaza uMthetho futhi bezisebenzisa izimiso zoMthetho ukuze abantu bawuqonde kangcono. Izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini nemihlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova nayo isiza ‘ekuchazeni’ iZwi likaNkulunkulu.

◆ 9:1—Kungani amaIsrayeli ayembatha izindwangu zamasaka nothuli?

Ukumbatha indwangu yamasaka—ingubo enombala onsundu egundwe eboyeni bemvu—kwakuyisibonakaliso sokudabuka. Ngokufanayo, ukufaka umhlabathi noma umlotha ekhanda noma emzimbeni kubonisa ukuzila ngokujulile noma ukuzithoba. (1 Samuweli 4:12; 2 Samuweli 13:19) AmaJuda ayekwenzela ukubonakalisa ukuqaphela kwawo izono zawo okudabukisayo nokokuzithoba. Lokhu kwakulandelwa ukwenza ‘isivumelwano’ sokuvuma izono, “isivumelwano esiqinisileyo.” (9:38) Ngokufanayo, kumelwe siqaphele futhi sivume izono zethu ngokuzithoba uma sifuna ukulondoloza ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu.—1 Johane 1:6-9.

◆ 10:34—Ingabe iminikelo yezinkuni yayikhona eMthethweni?

Cha, kodwa izinkuni eziningi zazidingeka emlilweni wasealtare. Ngokusobala, kwakungesiwo amaNethinimi anele—izigqila zasethempelini ezingewona amaIsrayeli ‘ayengabagawuli bemithi’—ayephakathi kwababuya. (Joshuwa 9:23, 27) Ngakho ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuthi izinkuni zihlale zikhona, kwakwenziwa inkatho ukuze kutholakale ukuthi isiphi isizwe okumelwe sizilethe ngesikhathi esithile.

Isifundo esisitholayo: “Injabulo kaJehova” yayitholakala ngokuzuza ukuqondisisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu, ukulenza lisebenze kumuntu siqu, nokulalela iziqondiso ezingokwasezulwini. (8:10) Ngokufanayo, oFakazi BakaJehova bayakuqaphela ukubaluleka kwesifundo somuntu siqu, ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni, nenkonzo yasensimini ekulondolozeni injabulo.

Isiqalo Esijabulisayo

Funda izahluko 11:1–12:47. Ukuze iJerusalema liqhubeke njengendawo yokukhulekela kweqiniso, lidinga abantu abaningi abahlala khona. Ngaphandle kwezisebenzi zokuzithandela, kwenziwa inkatho ngoyedwa kubo bonke abantu abayishumi abahlala ngaphandle ukuba athuthele emzini. Khona-ke udonga lomuzi luqaliswa ngelungiselelo elijabulisayo. Kwenziwa imihlatshelo emikhulu, futhi intokozo yabantu izwakala kude.

◆ 11:2—Kungani izisebenzi zokuzithandela ‘zabusiswa’?

Ukushiya ifa nokuthuthela eJerusalema kwakungaphumela ezindlekweni ezithile nasekulahlekelweni okuthile. Labo abahlala kulowomuzi nabo kwakungenzeka bahlangabezane nezingozi ezihlukahlukene. Ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo, abanye babebheka izisebenzi zokuzithandela njengezitusekayo futhi ngokungangabazeki bathandaza ukuba uJehova azibusise.

◆ 12:27—Lwamiswa nini udonga?

Udonga lwaqedwa ngosuku lwama-25 lwenyanga yesithupha, uElul, ngo-455 B.C.E., futhi imihlangano ephawulekayo yenziwa ngenyanga elandelayo. (6:15; 8:2; 9:1) Ngokunokwenzeka ukumiswa kwalandela ngokushesha njengomvuthwandaba wesenzakalo esijabulisayo.

Isifundo esisitholayo: Umoya wokuzithandela nokubonakaliswa kokubonga kuJehova ngengoma nangemitshingo kwakuthokozisa. Namuhla, emihlanganweni nakwezinye izenzakalo, oFakazi BakaJehova banikela ngezinkonzo zabo ukuze bazuzise abanye futhi ngenhliziyo yonke bahlabelele badumise uNkulunkulu.

Ukungcola Kwahlanzwa

Funda isahluko 13:1-31. Esebuyile ohambweni oluya enkantolo yasePheresiya, uNehemiya uthuswa yilokho okwenzeka phakathi nesikhathi engekho. Uthatha izinyathelo ezisheshayo ukuze alungise izinkinga.

◆ 13:3—Ubani owenza ‘lengxubevange’?

“Ingxubevange” ngokusobala yayihlanganisa abezizwe njengabakwaMowabi, abakwa-Amoni, nabantwana bakwaIsrayeli abazalwa kubantu bezizwe. (13:1, 2) Lokhu kufakazelwa yiqiniso lokuthi ngaphambili amaJuda ayexoshe kokubili abesifazane babezizwe nabantwana babo. (Ezra 10:44) AmaJuda ayebuya athatha abesifazane babezizwe futhi, futhi lokhu kwenza kwadingeka ukuba laba besifazane nabantwana babo bahlukaniswe nomphakathi, ngisho nezwe ngokwalo, futhi kanjalo bahlukaniswe namalungelo okukhulekela nabantu bakaJehova.—Nehemiya 13:23-31.

Isifundo esisitholayo: AmaJuda ahlehlayo ayizibonelo eziyisixwayiso kithi. Sidinga ukuba ngabahlala beqaphile ukuba singayengwa ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, isono, nokuhlubuka.

Ngokuphindaphindiwe, incwadi kaNehemiya igcizelela isimiso sokuthi “uma uJehova engayakhi indlu, basebenzela ize abayakhayo.” (IHubo 127:1) Isifundo esiyisisekelo kithi siwukuthi kukho konke esikwenzayo, siyophumelela kuphela uma sinesibusiso sikaJehova. Futhi lesosibusiso sixhomeke ekugcineni kwethu ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuqala ekuphileni kwethu.