Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nesishiyagalolunye
Ukholo LweNkosi Luyavuzwa
1, 2. UHezekiya wazibonakalisa kanjani eyinkosi engcono kuno-Ahazi?
UHEZEKIYA wayeneminyaka engu-25 ubudala ngesikhathi eba yinkosi yakwaJuda. Wayezoba umbusi onjani? Ingabe wayezolandela ezinyathelweni zikayise, iNkosi u-Ahazi, enze izikhonzi zakhe zikhonze onkulunkulu bamanga? Noma ingabe wayezohola abantu ekukhulekeleni uJehova, njengoba kwenza uyisemkhulu iNkosi uDavide?—2 AmaKhosi 16:2.
2 Ngemva nje kokuba uHezekiya ethathe ubukhosi, kwaba sobala ukuthi wayehlose ‘ukwenza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova.’ (2 AmaKhosi 18:2, 3) Ngonyaka wakhe wokuqala, wakhipha umyalo wokuba ithempeli likaJehova lilungiswe nezinkonzo zasethempelini ziphinde ziqalwe. (2 IziKronike 29:3, 7, 11) Wabe esehlela ukuba kube nendumezulu yomkhosi wePhasika okwakumenywe kuwo sonke isizwe—kuhlanganise nezizwe eziyishumi zakwa-Israyeli ezisenyakatho. Kwakuyingqopha-mlando yomkhosi! Kwakungakaze kube khona ofana nawo kusukela ezinsukwini zeNkosi uSolomoni.—2 IziKronike 30:1, 25, 26.
3. (a) Yisiphi isenzo esenziwa izakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli nakwaJuda ezazisePhasikeni elalihlelwe uHezekiya? (b) AmaKristu namuhla afundani esenzweni esiwujuqu esenziwa ababesePhasikeni?
3 Ekupheleni komkhosi wePhasika, ababekhona bashukunyiselwa ukuba baphule izinsika ezingcwele, bagawule izigxobo ezingcwele, badilize izindawo eziphakeme nama-altare onkulunkulu babo bamanga, ngemva kwalokho babuyela emizini yabo, bezimisele ukukhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso. (2 IziKronike 31:1) Yeka umehluko esimweni sengqondo ababenaso ngaphambili ngenkolo! Kulokhu, amaKristu eqiniso namuhla angafunda ukubaluleka ‘kokungakuyeki ukubuthana ndawonye.’ Imibuthano enjalo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isemabandleni endawo noma emihlanganweni yesifunda neyesigodi, inendima ebalulekile ekuwanikezeni isikhuthazo, futhi ashukunyiswe ubuzalwane nomoya kaNkulunkulu ukuba ‘avuselelane othandweni nasemisebenzini emihle.’—Heberu 10:23-25.
Ukholo Luyavivinywa
4, 5. (a) UHezekiya ukubonise kanjani ukuthi akafuni ukulawulwa yi-Asiriya? (b) USaneheribi umthathele siphi isinyathelo sezempi uJuda, futhi uHezekiya uthatha ziphi izinyathelo ukuze agweme ukuhlaselwa kweJerusalema? (c) UHezekiya ukulungiselela kanjani ukuvikela iJerusalema kwabase-Asiriya?
4 IJerusalema lilindelwe izilingo ezingathi sína. UHezekiya uqede umfelandawonye uyise ongathembekile u-Ahazi ayewenze nabase-Asiriya. Usenqobe ngisho namaFilisti, awumbimbi ne-Asiriya. (2 AmaKhosi 18:7, 8) Kuyicasulile lokhu inkosi yase-Asiriya. Ngakho, siyafunda: “Kwathi ngonyaka weshumi nane weNkosi uHezekiya, uSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya wakhuphuka eyokulwa nayo yonke imizi yakwaJuda enezivikelo eziqinile futhi wayithatha.” (Isaya 36:1) Mhlawumbe enethemba lokuvikela iJerusalema ekuhlaseleni kwebutho lase-Asiriya elingazibekile phansi, uHezekiya uyavuma ukukhokhela uSaneheribi isizumbulu sentela engamathalenta esiliva angu-300 namathalenta egolide angu-30.a—2 AmaKhosi 18:14.
5 Njengoba igolide nesiliva elisendaweni yomcebo yasebukhosini linganele ukukhokha intela, uHezekiya uthatha noma yiziphi izinto zensimbi eziyigugu angazithola ethempelini. Ukhipha neminyango yethempeli, eyayihuqwe ngegolide, ayithumele kuSaneheribi. LomAsiriya uyaneliseka, kodwa okwesikhashana. (2 AmaKhosi 18:15, 16) Ngokusobala, uHezekiya uyabona ukuthi abase-Asiriya ngeke baliyeke isikhathi eside iJerusalema bengalihluphi. Ngakho kudingeka kubhukulwe. Abantu bavala imithombo yamanzi engase inikeze abase-Asiriya amanzi lapho behlasela. UHezekiya uqinisa nezivikelo zeJerusalema, akhe nendawo yokugcina izikhali, kanye ‘nezikhali ezijikijelwayo ngobuningi nezihlangu.’—2 IziKronike 32:4, 5.
6. UHezekiya uthembela kubani?
6 Nokho, uHezekiya akathembele emaqhingeni empi ahlakaniphile noma ezivikelweni, kodwa uthembele kuJehova wamabutho. Uyala izikhulu zempi yakhe: “Yibani nesibindi niqine. Ningesabi noma nethuke ngenxa yenkosi yase-Asiriya nangenxa yaso sonke lesi sixuku esinayo; ngoba abanathi baningi kakhulu kunalabo abanayo. Yena unengalo yenyama, kodwa thina sinoJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ukuba asisize futhi alwe izimpi zethu.” Besabela kulokhu, abantu baqala “ukuziqinisa ngamazwi kaHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda.” (2 IziKronike 32:7, 8) Zibone ngeso lengqondo izenzakalo ezithakazelisayo ezilandelayo njengoba sibukeza izahluko 36 kuya ku-39 zesiprofetho sika-Isaya.
URabishake Ubeka Udaba Lwakhe
7. Ubani uRabishake futhi uthunyelwani eJerusalema?
7 USaneheribi uthuma uRabishake (isiqu sezempi, akulona igama lakhe) kanye nezinye izikhulu ezimbili eJerusalema ukuba zitshele lo muzi ukuba uzinikele kuye. (2 AmaKhosi 18:17) Bahlangatshezwa ngaphandle kodonga lomuzi abameleli bakaHezekiya abathathu, u-Eliyakimi owayengamele indlu kaHezekiya, uShebina unobhala noJowa indodana ka-Asafa umgcini-mibhalo.—Isaya 36:2, 3.
8. URabishake uzama kanjani ukuqeda isibindi seJerusalema?
8 Inhloso kaRabishake ilula—iwukwenza iJerusalema lizinikele lingalwanga. Ekhuluma ngesiHeberu, uqale ampongoloze athi: “Liyini leli themba enithembele kulo? . . . Ngubani lona enithembele kuye, ukuba ningadlubulunda kimi?” (Isaya 36:4, 5) URabishake ube esebhuqa la maJuda asethukile, ewakhumbuza ukuthi awavikelekile neze. Azophendukela kubani ukuze athole ukusekelwa? ‘Emhlangeni ofohlokile’ oyiGibithe? (Isaya 36:6) Okwamanje iGibithe liyafana nomhlanga ofohlokile; eqinisweni lo mbuso wezwe wangaphambili usanqotshwe iTopiya okwesikhashana, futhi iNkosi uTirhakah, enguFaro waseGibithe manje, ayiyena umGibithe kodwa ingumTopiya. Futhi akusekude linqotshwe i-Asiriya. (2 AmaKhosi 19:8, 9) Njengoba iGibithe lingenakuzisindisa lona ngokwalo, ngeke limsize ngalutho uJuda.
9. Cishe yini eyenza uRabishake aphethe ngokuthi uJehova uzobalahla abantu baKhe, kodwa ayini amaqiniso?
9 URabishake manje uthi uJehova ngeke abalwele abantu baKhe ngoba ubacasukele. URabishake uthi: “Uma nithi kimi, ‘Sithembele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,’ akuyena yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakeme futhi oma-altare akhe uHezekiya akususile?” (Isaya 36:7) Yebo, ukudiliza izindawo eziphakeme nama-altare akuleli zwe akusho neze ukuthi amaJuda alahle uJehova, kunalokho kubonisa ukuthi empeleni abuyele kuye.
10. Kungani kungabalulekile ukuthi abavikeli bakwaJuda baningi noma bambalwa?
10 URabishake uphinde akhumbuze amaJuda ukuthi awalutho kwezempi. Uphonsa le nselele yokuziphakamisa: “Mangininike amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili ukuze ngibone ukuthi nizokwazi yini ukubeka abagibeli phezu kwawo.” (Isaya 36:8) Kodwa eqinisweni kunendaba yini ukuthi abakhwele amahhashi abaqeqeshiwe bakwaJuda baningi noma bambalwa? Cha, ngoba insindiso kaJuda ayincikile emandleni ezempi amakhulu. IzAga 21:31 zichaza le ndaba kanje: “Ihhashi yinto elungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa insindiso ingekaJehova.” URabishake ube esegomela ngokuthi isibusiso sikaJehova sikwabase-Asiriya hhayi kumaJuda. Uthi ukube bekungenjalo abase-Asiriya bebengeke bakwazi ukungena kangaka ezweni lakwaJuda.—Isaya 36:9, 10.
11, 12. (a) Kungani uRabishake ephikelela nokukhuluma “ngesiJuda,” futhi uzama kanjani ukuyenga amaJuda alalele? (b) Amazwi kaRabishake angase abe namuphi umphumela kumaJuda?
11 Abameleli bakaHezekiya bakhathazekile ngomphumela izinkulumo zikaRabishake ezingaba nawo kubantu abamuzwayo abaphezulu odongeni lomuzi. Lezi zikhulu ezingamaJuda ziyacela: “Sicela ukhulume nezinceku zakho ngesiSiriya, ngoba siyasizwa; ungakhulumi nathi ngesiJuda ezindlebeni zabantu abaphezu kodonga.” (Isaya 36:11) Kodwa uRabishake akazimisele ukukhuluma ngesiSiriya. Ufuna ukufaka umoya wokungabaza nokwesaba kumaJuda ukuze azinikele futhi iJerusalema linqotshwe lingazange lilwe! (Isaya 36:12) Ngakho lomAsiriya uphinde akhulume “ngesiJuda.” Uxwayisa izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema: “Ningavumeli uHezekiya anikhohlise, ngoba akakwazi ukunikhulula.” Ngemva kwalokho, uzama ukuyenga labo abalalele ngokuchaza ukuthi ukuphila kwamaJuda kungaba njani uma ebuswa yi-Asiriya: “Yenzani ukuthula nami, niphumele kimi nidle, kube yilowo nalowo emvinini wakhe, kube yilowo nalowo emkhiwaneni wakhe, niphuze, kube yilowo nalowo amanzi omthombo wakhe ngize ngifike nginiyise ezweni elinjengezwe lakini, izwe lamabele newayini, izwe lesinkwa nezivini.”—Isaya 36:13-17.
12 AmaJuda ngeke athole sivuno kulo nyaka—ukuhlasela kwe-Asiriya kuwavimbele ukuba atshale. Ithemba lokudla amagilebhisi amnandi nokuphuza amanzi amtoti kumelwe ukuba liwakhanga kakhulu amadoda alalele esodongeni. Kodwa uRabishake akakaqedi ukuzama ukuwathena amandla amaJuda.
13, 14. Naphezu kwezinkulumo zikaRabishake, kungani okwenzeka eSamariya kungahlangani nesimo sikaJuda?
13 Kulezi zinkulumo zakhe eziningi, uRabishake uhosha esinye isikhali samazwi. Uxwayisa amaJuda ukuba angamkholwa uHezekiya uma engase athi: “UJehova uzosikhulula.” URabishake ukhumbuza amaJuda ukuthi onkulunkulu baseSamariya behluleka ukuvikela izizwe eziyishumi ekunqotshweni abase-Asiriya. Futhi kuthiwani ngonkulunkulu bezinye izizwe ezanqotshwa i-Asiriya? Uthi: “Baphi onkulunkulu baseHamati nabase-Aripadi? Baphi onkulunkulu baseSefarivayimi? Balikhululile yini iSamariya esandleni sami na?”—Isaya 36:18-20.
14 Yiqiniso, uRabishake, njengoba engumkhulekeli wonkulunkulu bamanga, akaqondi ukuthi kunomehluko omkhulu phakathi kweSamariya eliyisihlubuki neJerusalema elibuswa uHezekiya. Onkulunkulu bamanga baseSamariya babengenamandla okophula lo mbuso wezizwe eziyishumi. (2 AmaKhosi 17:7, 17, 18) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, iJerusalema elibuswa uHezekiya libashiyile onkulunkulu bamanga, labuyela ekukhonzeni uJehova. Nokho, laba bameleli bamaJuda abathathu abazami ukumchazela lokhu uRabishake. “Baqhubeka bethule abazange bamphendule ngazwi, ngoba umyalo wenkosi wawuthé: ‘Ningamphenduli.’” (Isaya 36:21) U-Eliyakimi, uShebina noJowa babuyela kuHezekiya bamnikeza umbiko walokho okushiwo uRabishake.—Isaya 36:22.
UHezekiya Wenza Isinqumo
15. (a) Yisiphi isinqumo okumelwe uHezekiya asenze manje? (b) UJehova ubaqinisekisa ngokuthini abantu bakhe?
15 INkosi uHezekiya kufanele yenze isinqumo manje. Ingabe iJerusalema lizozinikela kwabase-Asiriya? lizosizana neGibithe? noma lizoshaya phansi ngonyawo lizilwele? UHezekiya ungaphansi kokucindezeleka okukhulu. Uya ethempelini likaJehova, ngesikhathi esifanayo uthuma u-Eliyakimi noShebina kanye namanye amadoda amadala angabapristi ukuba bayobuza kuJehova ngomprofethi u-Isaya. (Isaya 37:1, 2) Egqoke indwangu yesaka, amanxusa enkosi aya ku-Isaya, afike athi: “Lolu suku luwusuku lokucindezeleka nolokusolwa nolokweyiswa ngokuklolodelwa . . . Mhlawumbe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzowezwa amazwi kaRabishake, lowo inkosi yase-Asiriya inkosi yakhe emthumile ukuba aklolodele uNkulunkulu ophilayo, futhi empeleni amenze ukuba alandise ngala mazwi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho awezwile.” (Isaya 37:3-5) Yebo, abase-Asiriya baphonsela uNkulunkulu ophilayo inselele! Ingabe uJehova uzokuzwa ukukloloda kwabo? Ngo-Isaya, uJehova uqinisekisa amaJuda: “Ungesabi ngenxa yamazwi owezwile izikhonzi zenkosi yase-Asiriya eziwakhulume ngokuchaphayo ngami. Bheka ngifaka umoya kuyo, izokuzwa umbiko ibuyele ezweni layo; futhi ngokuqinisekile ngizoyenza ukuba iwe ngenkemba ezweni layo.”—Isaya 37:6, 7.
16. USaneheribi uthumela izincwadi zani?
16 Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uRabishake uyabizwa ukuba ayosiza iNkosi uSaneheribi ngesikhathi ilwa eLibina. USaneheribi uzobuye alibone iJerusalema. (Isaya 37:8) Nokho, ukuhamba kukaRabishake akukudambisi ukucindezeleka kukaHezekiya. USaneheribi uthumela izincwadi ezinezinsongo ezichaza izinto okumelwe izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema zizilindele uma zenqaba ukuzinikela: “Wena ngokwakho uzizwele lokho amakhosi ase-Asiriya akwenzile kuwo wonke amazwe ngokuwanikela ekubhujisweni, ingabe-ke wena uzokhululwa? Ingabe onkulunkulu bezizwe okhokho bami abazichitha bazikhululile? . . . Iphi inkosi yaseHamati nenkosi yase-Aripadi nenkosi yomuzi waseSefarivayimi—yaseHena neyase-Iva na?” (Isaya 37:9-13) Ngokuyinhloko, lomAsiriya uthi akunangqondo ukudaza inkani—ukudaza inkani kuzoletha izinkathazo ezengeziwe!
17, 18. (a) Siyini isisusa sikaHezekiya sokucela isivikelo kuJehova? (b) Ngo-Isaya, uJehova umphendula athini umAsiriya?
17 Ekhathazeke kakhulu ngemiphumela yesinqumo okumelwe asenze, uHezekiya uchaya izincwadi zikaSaneheribi phambi kukaJehova ethempelini. (Isaya 37:14) Ngomthandazo osuka enhliziyweni uncenga uJehova ukuba alalele izinsongo ze-Asiriya, abese ephetha umthandazo wakhe ngala mazwi: “Manje, Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe, ukuze yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena, Jehova, unguNkulunkulu wena wedwa.” (Isaya 37:15-20) Kulo mthandazo kusobala ukuthi uHezekiya akakhathaleli ukukhululwa kwakhe siqu, kodwa ngokuyinhloko ukhathazeke ngenxa yesihlamba esizothelwa egameni likaJehova uma i-Asiriya linqoba iJerusalema.
18 Impendulo kaJehova yomthandazo kaHezekiya ifika ngo-Isaya. IJerusalema malingazinikeli e-Asiriya; kumelwe liqine. Njengokungathi ukhuluma noSaneheribi, u-Isaya utshela lomAsiriya isigijimi sikaJehova ngesibindi: “Indodakazi eyintombi yaseZiyoni ikudelelile, ikuhleke usulu. Indodakazi yaseJerusalema inikine ikhanda [sakukuklolodela] ngemva kwakho.” (Isaya 37:21, 22) UJehova ube esenezela: ‘Ungubani wena ukuba ungaklolodela oNgcwele ka-Israyeli? Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho. Uyakuthanda ukuvelela; awuve uqhosha. Uye wathembela emandleni akho ezempi futhi wanqoba amazwe amaningi. Kodwa akusho ukuthi awunakunqotshwa. Ngizowabhuntshisa amacebo akho. Ngizokuhlula. Ngiyobe sengikwenza lokhu okwenze kwabanye. Ngiyofaka ingwegwe ekhaleni lakho ngikuhole ngikubuyisele e-Asiriya!’—Isaya 37:23-29.
“Yilokhu Okuyokuba Yisibonakaliso Kuwe”
19. UJehova umnikeza siphi isibonakaliso uHezekiya, futhi sisho ukuthini?
19 UHezekiya unasiqiniseko sini sokuthi isiprofetho sika-Isaya sizogcwaliseka? UJehova uyaphendula: “Yilokhu okuyokuba yisibonakaliso kuwe: Kulo nyaka kuzodliwa amakhikhizela amile ezinhlamvwini ezichithekile, ngonyaka wesibili kube ngokusanhlamvu okuzimilelayo; kodwa ngonyaka wesithathu nihlwanyele imbewu, nivune, nitshale izivini nidle izithelo zazo.” (Isaya 37:30) UJehova uzowanikeza ukudla amaJuda avalelekile. Nakuba engakwazi ukutshala ngenxa yokuvinjezelwa i-Asiriya, ayokwazi ukuthola ukudla uma ekhothoza isivuno sonyaka owandulele. Ngonyaka olandelayo, unyaka wesabatha, kumelwe angawalimi amasimu awo, naphezu kwesimo esinzima abhekene naso. (Eksodusi 23:11) UJehova uthembisa ukuthi uma abantu belalela izwi lakhe, kuyomila ukudla okwanele emasimini okuyobagcina bephila. Kuyokuthi ngonyaka olandelayo, abantu batshale imbewu ngendlela evamile futhi bajabulele izithelo zomsebenzi wabo.
20. Kungayiphi indlela labo abaphunyuka ekuhlaseleni kwe-Asiriya ‘beyokuba nezimpande ngaphansi futhi baveze izithelo ngaphezulu’?
20 UJehova manje uqhathanisa abantu bakhe nesitshalo esingasiphuleki kalula: “Abaphunyukayo bendlu kaJuda . . . ngokuqinisekile bayokuba nezimpande ngaphansi futhi baveze izithelo ngaphezulu.” (Isaya 37:31, 32) Yebo labo abathembela kuJehova akudingeki besabe. Bona nenzalo yabo ngeke bathi nyaka ezweni.
21, 22. (a) Yini eprofethwayo ngoSaneheribi? (b) Amazwi kaJehova ngoSaneheribi agcwaliseka kanjani futhi nini?
21 Kuthiwani ngokusongela kwe-Asiriya iJerusalema? UJehova uyaphendula: ‘Ngeke lingene kulo muzi, futhi ngeke licibishele umcibisholo lapho, noma liwuhlasele ngesihlangu, noma lakhe igoqo lokuwuvimbezela. Liyophindela emuva ngendlela elize ngayo, futhi ngeke lingene kulo muzi.’ (Isaya 37:33, 34) Ngeke ibe khona impi phakathi kwe-Asiriya neJerusalema. Kuyamangalisa ukuthi ngabase-Asiriya abanqotshwa ngaphandle kokulwa, hhayi amaJuda.
22 Ngokuvumelana nakushilo, uJehova uthuma ingelosi ukuba ibulale ikhethelo lamabutho kaSaneheribi—amadoda angu-185 000. Cishe lokhu kwenzeka eLibina, futhi lapho uSaneheribi evuka uthola abaholi bempi yakhe, izinduna namashoshozela empi yakhe befile. Edumele, uphindela eNineve, kodwa naphezu kokuhlulwa kwakhe okukhulu, uqhubeka ngenkani ezinikele kunkulunkulu wakhe wamanga uNisiroki. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, lapho ekhulekela ethempelini likaNisiroki, uSaneheribi ubulawa amadodana akhe amabili. UNisiroki ongaphili uphinde azibonise engenamandla okumsindisa.—Isaya 37:35-38.
Ukholo LukaHezekiya Luqiniswa Ngokwengeziwe
23. Yini embi eyenzeka kuHezekiya lapho uSaneheribi ehlasela uJuda okokuqala, futhi isho ukuthini?
23 Ngesikhathi uSaneheribi ehlasela uJuda okokuqala, uHezekiya uhlatshwa ukugula okubi. U-Isaya umtshela ukuthi uzokufa. (Isaya 38:1) Le nkosi eneminyaka engu-39 ikhungathekile. Ayikhathazekele nje inhlalakahle yayo kuphela kodwa nekusasa lesizwe. IJerusalema noJuda kusengozini yokuhlaselwa abase-Asiriya. Uma uHezekiya efa, ubani ozohola impi? Okwamanje, uHezekiya akanayo indodana engathatha izintambo. Ngomthandazo oqotho, uHezekiya uncenga uJehova ukuba ambonise isihe.—Isaya 38:2, 3.
24, 25. (a) UJehova uwuphendula kanjani ngomusa umthandazo kaHezekiya? (b) UJehova wenza siphi isimangaliso, njengoba sichazwe ku-Isaya 38:7, 8?
24 U-Isaya akakaphumi emagcekeni esigodlo ngesikhathi uJehova emphindisela embhedeni wale nkosi edabukile nesigijimi esithi: “Ngiwuzwile umthandazo wakho. Ngizibonile izinyembezi zakho. Bheka nginezela iminyaka eyishumi nanhlanu ezinsukwini zakho; futhi ngizokukhulula entendeni yesandla senkosi yase-Asiriya wena kanye nalo muzi, futhi ngizowuvikela lo muzi.” (Isaya 38:4-6; 2 AmaKhosi 20:4, 5) UJehova uzoqinisekisa isithembiso sakhe ngesibonakaliso esingavamile: “Bheka ngenza isithunzi sezitebhisi ebesehlile ezitebhisini zika-Ahazi sehliswa yilanga ukuba sibuyele emuva izitebhisi eziyishumi.”—Isaya 38:7, 8a.
25 Ngokwesazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus, kwakunezitebhisi phakathi esigodlweni, mhlawumbe kunensika eduze kwazo. Lapho ilanga lihlaba kule nsika, kwakuba nesithunzi ezitebhisini. Umuntu wayengabona ukuthi yisikhathi sini sosuku ngokubuka isithunzi esisezitebhisini. UJehova uzokwenza isimangaliso manje. Ngemva kokuba isithunzi sehle ngezitebhisi ngendlela evamile, sizobuyela emuva sihlehle ngezitebhisi eziyishumi. Ubani owake wezwa into enjena? IBhayibheli lithi: “Kancane kancane ilanga labuyela emuva izitebhisi eziyishumi ezitebhisini elalehlile kuzo.” (Isaya 38:8b) Ngokushesha kamuva, uHezekiya uyalulama ekuguleni. Lezi zindaba zisakazeka zize ziyofika naseBabiloni. Lapho inkosi yaseBabiloni izizwa, ithumela izithunywa eJerusalema ukuba ziyokuzwa ukuthi le ndaba iyiqiniso yini.
26. Uyini omunye wemiphumela yokwelulwa kokuphila kukaHezekiya?
26 Cishe ngemva kweminyaka emithathu uHezekiya elulame ngokuyisimangaliso, kuzalwa uManase, izibulo lakhe. Ekukhuleni kwakhe uManase akabonisi kwazisa ngesihawu sikaNkulunkulu, ayengeke azalwe ukube kwakungengenxa yaso! Kunalokho, ingxenye enkulu yokuphila kwakhe, uManase wenza okubi phambi kukaJehova ngezinga elikhulu.—2 IziKronike 32:24; 33:1-6.
Iphutha Ekwahluleleni
27. UHezekiya ukubonisa ngaziphi izindlela ukwazisa ngoJehova?
27 Njengoyise uDavide, uHezekiya uyindoda yokholo. Uyalazisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu. NgokwezAga 25:1, uyena owahlela ukwaziswa manje okutholakala kuzAga izahluko 25 kuya ku-29. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi waloba neHubo 119. Ingoma yokubonga ethinta inhliziyo eyaqanjwa uHezekiya ngemva kokululama ekuguleni yembula ukuthi uyindoda enemizwa ejulile. Uphetha ngokuthi into ebaluleke kunazo zonke ekuphileni ukuba sikwazi ukudumisa uJehova ethempelini laKhe “zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwethu.” (Isaya 38:9-20) Kwangathi sonke singazizwa ngale ndlela ngokukhulekela okumsulwa!
28. Yiliphi iphutha ekwahluleleni uHezekiya alenzayo ngemva kokuphulukiswa ngokuyisimangaliso?
28 Nakuba ethembekile, uHezekiya akaphelele. Ngemva kokuba uJehova emelulamisile, wenza iphutha elibi kakhulu ekwahluleleni. U-Isaya uyachaza: “Ngaleso sikhathi uMerodaki-baladani indodana kaBaladani inkosi yaseBabiloni wathumela izincwadi nesipho kuHezekiya, ngemva kokuba esezwile ukuthi wayegula kodwa wayesenamandla futhi. Ngakho uHezekiya waqala ukuwajabulela futhi wawabonisa indlu yakhe yomcebo, isiliva negolide namafutha ebhalsamu namafutha amahle nayo yonke inqolobane yakhe yezikhali nakho konke okwakutholakala emicebweni yakhe. Akukho lutho uHezekiya angazange awabonise kona endlini yakhe nakuwo wonke umbuso wakhe.”—Isaya 39:1, 2.b
29. (a) Kungenzeka ukuthi siyini isisusa sikaHezekiya sokubonisa ithimba laseBabiloni ingcebo yakhe? (b) Iyoba yini imiphumela yephutha likaHezekiya ekwahluleleni?
29 Ngisho nangemva kokunqotshwa kabuhlungu yingelosi kaJehova, i-Asiriya lisaqhubeka liwusongo ezizweni eziningi, kuhlanganise neBabiloni. Kungenzeka ukuthi uHezekiya wayefuna ukuthonya inkosi yaseBabiloni ukuze imelekelele esikhathini esizayo. Nokho, uJehova akafuni ukuba izakhamuzi zakwaJuda zilekelelane nezitha zazo; ufuna zithembele kuye! Ngomprofethi u-Isaya, uJehova wembulela uHezekiya ikusasa: “Kuza izinsuku, futhi konke okusendlini yakho nalokho okhokho bakho abakubekelele kuze kube yilolu suku impela kuyothwalwa kuyiswe eBabiloni. Akukho lutho oluyosala . . . Namanye amadodana akho ayophuma kuwe, oyowazala, nawo ngokwawo ayothathwa futhi abe yizikhulu zegceke esigodlweni senkosi yaseBabiloni.” (Isaya 39:3-7) Yebo, sona kanye lesi sizwe uHezekiya abefuna ukusihlaba umxhwele siyoyiphanga ingcebo yaseJerusalema ekugcineni futhi sigqilaze izakhamuzi zakhona. Ukubonisa kukaHezekiya abaseBabiloni ingcebo yakhe kwabenza bayihalela.
30. UHezekiya wasibonisa kanjani isimo sengqondo esihle?
30 Cishe ibhekisela kulesi senzo sikaHezekiya sokutshengisa abaseBabiloni ingcebo yakhe, eyesi-2 IziKronike 32:26 ithi: “UHezekiya wazithoba kulokho kuzidla kwenhliziyo yakhe, yena nabakhileyo eJerusalema, nentukuthelo kaJehova ayizange yehlele phezu kwabo ezinsukwini zikaHezekiya.”
31. Zamhambela kanjani izinto uHezekiya, futhi lokho kusifundisani?
31 Naphezu kokungapheleli kwakhe, uHezekiya wayeyindoda yokholo. Wayazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wakhe, uJehova, ungumuntu ongokoqobo nonemizwa. Ngesikhathi ecindezelekile, uHezekiya wathandaza ngobuqotho kuJehova, futhi uJehova wamphendula. UJehova uNkulunkulu wamnikeza ukuthula izinsuku zakhe zonke, futhi uHezekiya wambonga ngenxa yalokho. (Isaya 39:8) UJehova kufanele abe ngokoqobo kanjalo nakithi namuhla. Lapho kuphakama izinkinga, kwangathi nathi, njengoHezekiya, singabheka kuJehova ukuze sithole ukuhlakanipha nekhambi, “ngoba unika bonke ngokuphana ngaphandle kokusola.” (Jakobe 1:5) Uma siqhubeka sikhuthazela futhi sibonisa ukholo kuJehova, singaqiniseka ukuthi uyoba “umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho,” manje nasesikhathini esizayo.—Heberu 11:6.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Engaphezu kwamaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-58,3 ngemali yanamuhla.
b Ngemva kokunqotshwa kukaSaneheribi, izizwe ezingomakhelwane zalethela uHezekiya izipho zegolide nezesiliva namanye amagugu. Kweyesi-2 IziKronike 32:22, 23, 27, sifunda ukuthi “uHezekiya waba nengcebo nenkazimulo ngesilinganiso esikhulu kakhulu” nokuthi “waba ophakeme emehlweni azo zonke izizwe.” Kungenzeka ukuthi lezi zipho zamenza wakwazi ukuphinde agcwalise indlu yakhe yomcebo, leyo ayekhiphe kuyo yonke ingcebo ngesikhathi ekhokha intela kwabase-Asiriya.
[Isithombe ekhasini 383]
INkosi uHezekiya ithembela kuJehova lapho ibhekene ne-Asiriya elinamandla
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 384]
[Isithombe ekhasini 389]
Inkosi ithumela amanxusa ayo ku-Isaya ukuba ayokuzwa iseluleko sikaJehova
[Isithombe ekhasini 390]
UHezekiya uthandazela ukuba igama likaJehova lidunyiswe ngokunqotshwa kwe-Asiriya
[Isithombe ekhasini 393]
Ingelosi kaJehova ibulala abase-Asiriya abangu-185 000