Isahluko Seshumi Nane

UJehova Uthobisa Umuzi Ozikhukhumezayo

Isaya 13:1–14:23

 1. Incwadi ka-Isaya ibhekisela esikhathini esiphambili kangakanani manje?

INCWADI ka-Isaya eyisiprofetho yalotshwa ekhulwini lesi-8 B.C.E. ngesikhathi um-Asiriya ehlasela iZwe Lesithembiso. Njengoba sibonile ezahlukweni ezandulele zencwadi yakhe, u-Isaya ubikezela ngokunemba okukhulu indlela izinto ezizokwenzeka ngayo. Kodwa le ncwadi ibhekisela nangalé kwesikhathi sokudlondlobala kwe-Asiriya. Ibikezela ukubuya kwabantu bakaJehova besivumelwano ekudingisweni emazweni amaningi, kuhlanganise neShineyari, indawo yaseBabiloni. (Isaya 11:11) Ku-Isaya isahluko 13, sithola isiprofetho esihle kakhulu okuyothi lapho sigcwaliseka kuvuleke indlela yokuba babuye. Lesi siprofetho siqala ngala mazwi: “Isimemezelo ngeBabiloni u-Isaya indodana ka-Amose asibona embonweni.”—Isaya 13:1.

‘Ukuzidla Ngiyokuqeda’

 2. (a) UHezekiya uthintana kanjani neBabiloni? (b) Yisiphi “isibonakaliso” esiyophakanyiswa?

² UJuda uthintana neBabiloni phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kuka-Isaya. INkosi uHezekiya igula kakhulu bese iyalulama. Kufika amanxusa evela eBabiloni ezoyibongela ngokululama kwayo, cishe ehlose ukuba athole usizo lukaHezekiya empini yawo ne-Asiriya. Ngobuwula, iNkosi uHezekiya iwabonisa yonke ingcebo yayo. Ngenxa yalokho, u-Isaya utshela uHezekiya ukuthi uma esekhotheme, yonke leyo ngcebo iyoyiswa eBabiloni. (Isaya 39:1-7) Lokhu kugcwaliseka ngo-607 B.C.E. ngesikhathi iJerusalema libhujiswa nesizwe sithunjwa. Kodwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu abakhethiwe ngeke bahlale unomphela eBabiloni. UJehova ubikezela indlela ayovula ngayo indlela yokuba babuyele ekhaya. Uthi: “Phakamisani isibonakaliso phezu kwentaba yamadwala angenalutho. Phakamisela izwi kubo, qhweba ngesandla, ukuze beze bangene ngeminyango yezicukuthwane.” (Isaya 13:2) Lesi “sibonakaliso” siwumbuso wezwe ofufusayo oyokhipha iBabiloni esikhundleni salo sokuvelela. Uyophakanyiselwa “phezu kwentaba yamadwala angenalutho”—ubonakale kahle umuntu ekude. Njengoba ubizelwe ukuba uzohlasela iBabiloni, lowo mbuso wezwe omusha uyongena ngendlov’ iyangena “eminyango yezicukuthwane,” amasango alowo muzi omkhulu, futhi uyowunqoba.

 3. (a) Obani “abangcwelisiwe” uJehova azobaphakamisa? (b) Amabutho amaqaba ‘angcweliswe’ ngamuphi umqondo?

³ UJehova manje uthi: “Mina ngokwami ngikhiphé umyalo kwabangcwelisiwe bami. Futhi ngibizé abanamandla bami ukuba ngibonise intukuthelo yami, abantu bami abethabé ngendlela evelele. Lalela! Isixuku ezintabeni, okuthile okunjengesizwe esinabantu abaningi! Lalela! Isiyaluyalu semibuso, sezizwe ezibuthene ndawonye! UJehova wamabutho ubutha ibutho lempi.” (Isaya 13:3, 4) Obani laba “abangcwelisiwe” abamiselwe ukuthobisa iBabiloni elizidlayo? Bangamabutho ezizwe ahlanganisiwe, ‘izizwe ezibuthene ndawonye.’ Behlela eBabiloni besuka endaweni ekude enezintaba. “Bavela ezweni elikude kakhulu, emkhawulweni wamazulu.” (Isaya 13:5) Bangcweliswe ngamuphi umqondo? Ngokuqinisekile, hhayi ngomqondo wokuba ngcwele. Bangamabutho angamaqaba angenandaba nokukhonza uJehova. Kodwa emiBhalweni YesiHeberu, elithi “ngcwelisiwe” lisho “ukuhlukaniselwa injongo yokusetshenziswa nguNkulunkulu.” UJehova angawangcwelisa amabutho ezizwe futhi asebenzise ukuthanda kwawo ukuvelela ngobugovu ukuze akhiphe intukuthelo yakhe. I-Asiriya walisebenzisa ngale ndlela. NeBabiloni uyolisebenzisa ngendlela efanayo. (Isaya 10:5; Jeremiya 25:9) Futhi uyosebenzisa ezinye izizwe ukuba zijezise iBabiloni.

4, 5. (a) UJehova ubikezelani ngeBabiloni? (b) Yini okuyodingeka babhekane nayo labo abahlasela iBabiloni?

⁴ IBabiloni alikakabi umbuso wezwe oqavile. Kodwa, ngokukhipha isimemezelo ngo-Isaya, uJehova ubheka esikhathini lapho liyobe selikuleso sikhundla, futhi ubikezela ukuwa kwalo. Uthi: “Hewulani, nina bantu, ngoba usuku lukaJehova luseduze! Luzofika njengokuphanga okuvela kuMninimandla onke.” (Isaya 13:6) Yebo, esikhundleni sokuqhosha kweBabiloni kuyokuba nokuhewula okugcwele usizi. Ngani? Ngenxa ‘yosuku lukaJehova,’ usuku uJehova ayolahlulela ngalo.

⁵ Nokho, kuyokwenzeka kanjani ukuba iBabiloni liphangwe? Lapho isikhathi sikaJehova salokhu sifika, lo muzi uyobonakala ulondekile. Amabutho ahlaselayo kuyodingeka aqale abhekane nesivikelo semvelo esinikezwa nguMfula i-Ewufrathe, onqamula phakathi kwalo muzi, ugcwalise umsele omkhulukazi oyisivikelo futhi unikeze lo muzi amanzi okuphuza. Bese kuba nezindonga ezinkulu zaseBabiloni ezibhangqene, okubonakala kungenakungenwa kuzo. Kanti nokudla kuyobe kuyiziduli zabasali kulo muzi. Incwadi ethi Daily Bible Illustrations ithi uNabonidasi—inkosi yokugcina yaseBabiloni—“wayezikhandle kakhulu ukuze agcwalise lo muzi ngokudla, futhi kwakuthiwa [unokudla] okwanele ukondla izakhamuzi zawo iminyaka engamashumi amabili.”

 6. Yini eyokwenzeka kungalindelekile lapho iBabiloni lihlaselwa njengoba kwabikezelwa?

⁶ Kodwa ukubukeka kwento kungakhohlisa. U-Isaya uthi: “Yingakho zonke izandla ziyoyetha, nayo yonke inhliziyo yomuntu ofayo iyogcwala amanzi. Abantu baphazamisekile. Ukudlikizela nezinhlungu zokubeletha kuyabamba; banemihelo njengowesifazane obelethayo. Babhekana bemangele. Ubuso babo buwubuso obubhejile.” (Isaya 13:7, 8) Lapho amabutho anqobayo ehlasela lo muzi, esikhundleni sentokomalo yezakhamuzi zawo kuyokuba nobuhlungu obusheshayo nobunamandla njengobowesifazane obelethayo. Izinhliziyo zazo ziyogcwala amanzi ngenxa yokwesaba. Zingenamandla, izandla zazo ziyoyetha, zingakwazi ukuzivikela. Ubuso bazo ‘buyobheja’ ngenxa yokwesaba nobuhlungu. Ziyobukana zimangele, zizibuza ukuthi umuzi wazo omkhulu ungawa kanjani.

 7. Yiluphi “usuku lukaJehova” oluzayo, futhi luyoba namiphi imiphumela eBabiloni?

⁷ Noma kunjalo, wona uyokuwa. IBabiloni liyobhekana nosuku lokwahlulela, “usuku lukaJehova,” oluyokuba buhlungu ngempela. UMahluleli ophakeme uyokhipha ulaka lwakhe alethele izakhamuzi ezinesono zaseBabiloni isahlulelo esizifanele. Isiprofetho sithi: “Bheka! Usuku lukaJehova luyeza, lunonya kokubili ngokufutheka nangentukuthelo evuthayo, ukuze lwenze izwe libe yinto eshaqisayo, ukuze lubhuqe izoni zezwe ziphele kulo.” (Isaya 13:9) Amathemba eBabiloni afiphele. Kusengathi ilanga, inyanga nezinkanyezi konke kuyayeka ukukhanya. “Ngoba zona kanye izinkanyezi zamazulu nemilaza yazo yeKhesili ngeke zibaneke ukukhanya kwazo; ilanga liyoba mnyama ekuphumeni kwalo, nenyanga ngeke ikhanyise.”—Isaya 13:10.

 8. Kungani uJehova ememezela ukuwa kweBabiloni?

⁸ Kungani lo muzi oqhoshayo uthola isiphetho esinjena? UJehova uthi: “Ngokuqinisekile ngizobuyisela ububi balo phezu kwezwe elikhiqizayo, nesiphambeko sabo phezu kwabantu ababi ngokwabo. Ngizobangela ukuba ukuziqhenya kwabagabadelayo kuphele, ngehlise nokuzidla komashiqela.” (Isaya 13:11) Ukuthululwa kolaka lukaJehova kuyokuba isijeziso sonya lweBabiloni kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Lonke izwe liyohlupheka ngenxa yobubi babantu baseBabiloni. Lab’ omashiqela abaziqhenyayo ngeke besamdelela ingcaca uJehova!

 9. Yini elindele iBabiloni ngosuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela?

⁹ Kunalokho, uJehova uthi: “Ngizokwenza ukuba umuntu nje ofayo abe ivelakancane kunegolide elicwengiweyo, umuntu wasemhlabeni abe ivelakancane kunegolide lase-Ofiri.” (Isaya 13:12) Yebo, ngeke besaba khona abantu kulo muzi, uyoba incithakalo. UJehova uyaqhubeka: “Yingakho ngizobangela ukuba kuyaluze izulu ngokwalo, nomhlaba uyozamazama usuke endaweni yawo ngokufutheka kukaJehova wamabutho nangosuku lwentukuthelo yakhe evuthayo.” (Isaya 13:13) “Izulu” leBabiloni, onkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi balo abaningi, bayoyaluza, bahluleke ukusiza lo muzi ngesikhathi odinga ngaso usizo. “Umhlaba,” uMbuso WaseBabiloni, uyozanyazanyiswa ukhishwe esikhundleni, ukhunjulwe nje njengomunye umbuso ongasekho. “Njengensephe exoshwayo nanjengomhlambi wezimvu ongenamuntu wokuwuqoqela ndawonye, bayophendukela yilowo nalowo kubantu bakubo; babaleke yilowo nalowo aye ezweni lakubo.” (Isaya 13:14) Bonke abasekeli beBabiloni bakwamanye amazwe bayolishiya babaleke, benethemba lokwakha ubuhlobo obusha nombuso wezwe onqobayo. Ekugcineni iBabiloni liyokuzwa umunyu womuzi onqotshiwe, umunyu elawubangela imizi eminingi ngesikhathi lisabusa: “Wonke umuntu otholakalayo uyogwazwa, futhi wonke umuntu oficwa yilokho kukhukhula uyokuwa ngenkemba; bona kanye abantwana babo bayophahlazwa babe izicucu phambi kwamehlo abo. Izindlu zabo ziyophangwa, nomkabo bayodlwengulwa.”—Isaya 13:15, 16.

Ithuluzi likaNkulunkulu Lokubhubhisa

10. Ubani uJehova ayomsebenzisela ukunqoba iBabiloni?

¹⁰ Imuphi umbuso uJehova ayowusebenzisela ukuwisa iBabiloni? Kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-200, uJehova uyayiveza impendulo: “Bheka ngibavusela amaMede, lawo abheka isiliva njengelingelutho, futhi angajatshuliswa yigolide. Imicibisholo yawo iyophahlaza ngisho nezinsizwa zibe izicucu. Ngeke asihawukele isithelo sesisu; iso lawo ngeke liwahawukele amadodana. IBabiloni, umhlobiso wemibuso, ubuhle bokuziqhenya kwamaKaledi, kumelwe libe njengalapho uNkulunkulu egumbuqela iSodoma neGomora.” (Isaya 13:17-19) IBabiloni eliwubukhazikhazi liyokuwa, futhi ithuluzi likaJehova lokufeza lokhu kuyoba amabutho ezwe laseMediya elikude nelisezintabeni.a Ekugcineni, iBabiloni liyoba yincithakalo njengemizi yaseSodoma naseGomora engcolile ngokuziphatha.—Genesise 13:13; 19:13, 24.

11, 12. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba iMediya ibe umbuso wezwe? (b) Yisiphi isici esingavamile esishiwo isiprofetho ngamabutho aseMediya?

¹¹ Osukwini luka-Isaya, iMediya neBabiloni ingaphansi kwejoka lom-Asiriya. Cishe ngemva kwekhulu leminyaka, ngo-632 B.C.E., iMediya neBabiloni bayalekelelana ekugumbuqeleni iNineve, inhloko-dolobha yase-Asiriya. Lokhu kwenza ukuba iBabiloni libe umbuso wezwe oqavile. Alazi ukuthi ngemva kweminyaka cishe eyikhulu, iMediya iyolibhubhisa! Ukhona yini ongenza isibikezelo esidinga isibindi kanjalo, ngaphandle kukaJehova uNkulunkulu?

¹² Lapho eveza ithuluzi alikhethile lokubhubhisa, uJehova uthi amabutho aseMediya ‘abheka isiliva njengelingelutho, futhi, awajatshuliswa yigolide.’ Yeka isici esingavamile ngamasosha aselukhuni ngenxa yempi! Isazi seBhayibheli u-Albert Barnes sithi: “Ambalwa ngempela amabutho ahlaselayo ayesuke engathonywanga ukuthi azothola impango.” Ingabe amabutho aseMediya abonakalisa uJehova eqinisile kulokhu? Yebo. Cabanga ngala mazwi atholakala ku-Bible-Work, eyabhalwa uJ. Glentworth Butler: “Ngokungafani nezizwe eziningi ezake zalwa, amaMede, ikakhulukazi amaPheresiya, ayebheka ukunqoba nodumo njengokubalulekile kunegolide.”b Ngenxa yalokhu, akumangalisi ukuthi lapho ekhulula ama-Israyeli ekuthunjweni eBabiloni, umbusi wasePheresiya uKoresi uphindisela izinkulungwane zezitsha zegolide nesiliva uNebukadinesari ayeziphange ethempelini laseJerusalema.—Ezra 1:7-11.

13, 14. (a) Nakuba engenandaba nempango, yini ethandwa amaqhawe amaMede namaPheresiya? (b) UKoresi wasinqoba kanjani isivikelo iBabiloni elalizigqaja ngaso?

¹³ Nakuba amaqhawe aseMediya nasePheresiya engenandaba kangako nempango, ayakuthanda ukuvelela kodwa. Awazimisele ukukhonza noma yisiphi isizwe emhlabeni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova ufaka ‘ukuphanga’ ezinhliziyweni zawo. (Isaya 13:6) Ngakho, ngemicibisholo yawo yensimbi—engasetshenziselwa nje kuphela ukuciba kodwa nokugalela nokuchoboza amasosha ezitha, inzalo yomama baseBabiloni—azimisele ukunqoba iBabiloni.

¹⁴ UKoresi, umholi wamabutho amaMede namaPheresiya, akavinjwa izivikelo zaseBabiloni. Ngobusuku buka-October 5/6, 539 B.C.E., ukhipha umyalo wokuba amanzi oMfula i-Ewufrathe aphanjukiswe. Njengoba amanzi ebohla, abahlaseli bangena kulo muzi ngokunyenya, behamba emfuleni onamanzi afika emathangeni. Izakhamuzi zaseBabiloni ziyazunywa, iBabiloni libe seliwa ngobusuku obubodwa. (Daniyeli 5:30) UJehova uNkulunkulu uphefumulela u-Isaya ukuba aprofethe ngalezi zenzakalo, enza kungabi nakungabaza ukuthi uYena oqondisa izinto.

15. Liyini ikusasa leBabiloni?

¹⁵ Ukubhujiswa kweBabiloni kuyokuba okuphelele kangakanani? Lalela amazwi kaJehova: “Ngeke liphinde lakhiwe, futhi ngeke liphinde lithole indawo yokuhlala izizukulwane ngezizukulwane. Um-Arabhu ngeke agxumeke itende lakhe khona, futhi abekho abelusi abayodedela imihlambi yabo ilale khona. Futhi yilapho ngokuqinisekile kuyolala khona okuvama ezifundeni ezingenamanzi, futhi izindlu zako ziyogcwala izikhovankozi. Kuyohlala khona izintshe, namademoni anjengezimbuzi ayotshakadula khona. Nezimpungushe ziyohewula emibhoshongweni yalo yokuhlala, nenyoka enkulu iyoba sezigodlweni zenjabulo enkulu. Kuseduze ukuba inkathi yalo ifike, futhi izinsuku zalo ngeke zihlehliswe.” (Isaya 13:20-22) Lo muzi uyobhujiswa uphele nya.

16. Isimo samanje seBabiloni sisiqinisekisa ngani?

¹⁶ Lokhu akwenzekanga ngokushesha ngo-539 B.C.E. Noma kunjalo, kusobala namuhla ukuthi konke okwabikezelwa u-Isaya ngeBabiloni kuye kwagcwaliseka. IBabiloni “manje liyindawo yencithakalo enkulu, futhi liyinqwaba yezimvithi, futhi sekungamakhulu eminyaka linjalo,” kusho omunye umhlaziyi weBhayibheli. Ube esenezela: “Akwenzeki ukuba ubone le ndawo ungakhumbuli indlela eziye zagcwaliseka ngokunembe ngayo izibikezelo zika-Isaya noJeremiya.” Ngokusobala, akukho muntu ngosuku luka-Isaya owayengabikezela ukuwa kweBabiloni nokuba kwalo incithakalo ekugcineni. Phela ukuwela kweBabiloni kumaMede namaPheresiya kwenzeka eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngu-200 u-Isaya elobe incwadi yakhe! Futhi ukuba kwalo incithakalo ngokuphelele kwenzeka ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka. Ingabe lokhu akuluqinisi ukholo lwethu eBhayibhelini njengeliyiZwi likaNkulunkulu? (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba uJehova agcwalisa iziprofetho ezikhathini ezidlule, singaqiniseka ngokuphelele ukuthi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezingakagcwaliseki ziyogcwaliseka ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele.

“Ukuphumula Ebuhlungwini Benu”

17, 18. Ukunqotshwa kweBabiloni kuyomlethela ziphi izibusiso u-Israyeli?

¹⁷ Ku-Israyeli, liyobe liphume nobovu lapho kuwa iBabiloni. Kuyosho ukukhululwa ekuthunjweni nethuba lokubuyela eZweni Lesithembiso. Ngakho, u-Isaya manje uthi: “UJehova uyobonisa isihe kuJakobe, futhi ngokuqinisekile usazomkhetha u-Israyeli; impela uyomnika ukuphumula enhlabathini yakhe, futhi umfokazi kumelwe ahlanganiswe naye, kumelwe bazihlanganise nendlu kaJakobe. Izizwe ziyomthatha zimlethe endaweni yakhe, futhi indlu ka-Israyeli iyozithathela zona njengempahla enhlabathini kaJehova njengezinceku nezincekukazi; iyoba abathumbi balabo abayigcine njengezithunjwa, futhi labo ababeyisebenzisa kanzima kuyomelwe bayithobele.” (Isaya 14:1, 2) Elithi “Jakobe” lapha libhekisela ku-Israyeli ewonke—zonke izizwe ezingu-12. UJehova uyobonisa isihe “kuJakobe” ngokwenza lesi sizwe sibuyele ekhaya. Siyophelezelwa izinkulungwane zabafokazi, abaningi babo abayokhonza ama-Israyeli njengezinceku zasethempelini. Amanye ama-Israyeli ayoze abe negunya phezu kwabantu ababewathumbile.c

¹⁸ Buyobe sebuphelile ubuhlungu bokuphila njengezithunjwa. Kunalokho, uJehova uyonikeza abantu bakhe “ukuphumula ebuhlungwini [babo] nasekuphazamisekeni [kwabo] nasekugqilazekeni kanzima [ababegqilazwe] kukho.” (Isaya 14:3) Esekhululiwe ebunzimeni obungokwenyama bokugqilazwa, u-Israyeli ngeke esabuzwa ubuhlungu nokuphazamiseka okubangelwa ukuphila phakathi kwabakhulekeli bonkulunkulu bamanga. (Ezra 3:1; Isaya 32:18) Ikhuluma ngalokhu, incwadi ethi Lands and Peoples of the Bible ithi: “Kumuntu waseBabiloni onkulunkulu bakhe babefana nje naye, kuzo zonke izici ezimbi zobuntu bakhe. Babengamagwala, beyizidakwa, bengasile nasemakhanda.” Yeka impumuzo okuyiyo ukusuka esimweni senkolo esiphansi kanjalo!

19. Yini edingekayo ukuze u-Israyeli athole intethelelo kaJehova, futhi sifundani kulokhu?

¹⁹ Noma kunjalo, isihe sikaJehova sinemibandela. Abantu bakhe kumelwe babonakalise ukuzisola ngobubi babo, obenza ukuba uNkulunkulu abajezise kanzima kangaka. (Jeremiya 3:25) Ukuvuma izono ngokukhululeka nangokusuka enhliziyweni kuyobalethela intethelelo kaJehova. (Bheka uNehemiya 9:6-37; Daniyeli 9:5.) Lesi simiso sisasebenza nanamuhla. Njengoba ‘kungekho muntu ongoni,’ sonke siyasidinga isihe sikaJehova. (2 IziKronike 6:36) UJehova, uNkulunkulu ogcwele isihe, usicela ngothando ukuba sivume izono zethu kuye, siphenduke, futhi sishiye noma iyiphi inkambo engalungile, ukuze siphulukiswe. (Duteronomi 4:31; Isaya 1:18; Jakobe 5:16) Lokhu akusibuyiseli emseni wakhe kuphela kodwa kusinikeza nenduduzo.—IHubo 51:1; IzAga 28:13; 2 Korinte 2:7.

‘Isisho Esiyisaga’ NgeBabiloni

20, 21. Omakhelwane beBabiloni bajabula kanjani ngokuwa kwalo?

²⁰ Eminyakeni engaphezu kwekhulu ngaphambi kokuba iBabiloni libe umbuso wezwe ovelele, u-Isaya ubikezela indlela umhlaba oyosabela ngayo lapho liwa. Ngokwesiprofetho, uyala ama-Israyeli akhululwé ekuthunjweni yilo: “Uphakamise lesi sisho esiyisaga ngenkosi yaseBabiloni uthi: ‘Yeka indlela lowo osebenzisa abanye kanzima ayekiswa ngayo, ukucindezela kuyaphela! UJehova uyiphulile induku yababi, udondolo lwababusayo, yena oshaya izizwe ngokufutheka ngemivimbo ngokungaphezi, onqoba izizwe ngentukuthelo yodwa ngoshushiso olungavinjelwa.’” (Isaya 14:4-6) IBabiloni lizakhele idumela elikhulu lokuba umnqobi, umcindezeli owenza abantu abakhululekile babe izigqila. Yeka indlela okufaneleka ngayo ukuba ukuwa kwalo kuhalaliselwe ‘ngesisho esiyisaga’ esibhekiswe ikakhulu ohlwini lwamakhosi aseBabiloni—kusukela kuNebukadinesari kugcine ngoNabonidasi noBelishasari—ayebusa ngesikhathi lo muzi omkhulu usemvuthwandaba wobukhulu bawo!

²¹ Yeka umehluko oyodalwa ukuwa kwalo! “Wonke umhlaba usuphumule, usukhululekile ekuphazanyisweni. Abantu baye benama ngokukhamuluka kwenjabulo. Ngisho nezihlahlana zejunipha nazo ziye zajabula ngawe, imisedari yaseLebanoni, ithi, ‘Kusukela ulele phansi, akukho mgawuli okhuphukela kithi.’” (Isaya 14:7, 8) Kubabusi baseBabiloni, amakhosi ezizwe ezingomakhelwane ayefana nemithi okumelwe igawulwe isetshenziselwe izinjongo zabo. Sekuphelile konke lokho. Umgawuli waseBabiloni usewugawulile umuthi wakhe wokugcina!

22. Ngomqondo osankondlo, iSheyoli lithinteka kanjani ngokuwa kombuso waseBabiloni?

²² Ukuwa kweBabiloni kushaqisa kangangokuba ithuna imbala liyasabela kukho: “Ngisho neSheyoli ngaphansi liye layaluza ngawe ukuze likuhlangabeze lapho ungena. Lapho likubona liye labavusa labo abangenamandla ekufeni, bonke abaholi bomhlaba abanjengezimbuzi. Liye lenza ukuba wonke amakhosi ezizwe asukume ezihlalweni zawo zobukhosi. Wonke ayakhuluma athi kuwe, ‘Ingabe nawe wenziwé buthakathaka njengathi? Ingabe wenziwé wafana nathi? Ukuziqhenya kwakho kwehliselwe eSheyoli, inhlokomo yezinsimbi zakho zomculo ezinezintambo. Ngaphansi kwakho, kwendlaleke izimpethu njengokhukho; nezibungu ziyingubo yakho.’” (Isaya 14:9-11) Yeka umfanekiso osankondlo onamandla! Kusengathi ithuna elivamile lesintu livusa wonke lawo makhosi andulela uhlu lwamakhosi aseBabiloni ngokufa, ukuze abingelele osanda kufika. Ayawuhleka umbuso waseBabiloni obusayo, manje ongenakuzisiza, olele embhedeni wezimpethu esikhundleni sombhede kanokusho obizayo, umbethe izibungu esikhundleni sezingubo zokulala ezibizayo.

“Njengesidumbu Esinyatheliwe”

23, 24. Yikuphi ukuzikhukhumeza okweqile okuboniswa amakhosi aseBabiloni?

²³ U-Isaya uqhubeka nesisho esiyisaga: “O yeka indlela owé ngayo ezulwini, wena okhanyayo, ndodana yokuntwela! Yeka indlela ogawulelwé ngayo phansi emhlabeni, wena owawukhubaza izizwe!” (Isaya 14:12) Ukuziqhenya kobugovu kwenza amakhosi aseBabiloni aziphakamise ngaphezu kwalabo abawazungezile. Kuhle kwenkanyezi ekhanya bhá esibhakabhakeni ekuseni ngovivi, asebenzisa amandla negunya ngokuzikhukhumeza. Ukuziqhenya kubangelwa ukunqoba kukaNebukadinesari iJerusalema, into i-Asiriya elahluleka ukuyenza. La mazwi ayisaga aveza amakhosi aseBabiloni aziqhenyayo njengokungathi athi: “Ngizokwenyukela emazulwini. Ngizophakamisela isihlalo sami sobukhosi ngaphezu kwezinkanyezi zikaNkulunkulu, futhi ngizohlala entabeni yomhlangano, ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zenyakatho. Ngizokwenyukela ezindaweni eziphakeme zamafu; ngizozenza ngifane noPhezukonke.” (Isaya 14:13, 14) Kukhona yini ukuhlambalaza okwedlula lokhu?

²⁴ EBhayibhelini amakhosi ohlu lukaDavide afaniswa nezinkanyezi. (Numeri 24:17) Kusukela kuDavide kuqhubeke, lezo ‘zinkanyezi’ zabusela eNtabeni YaseZiyoni. Ngemva kokuba uSolomoni akhe ithempeli eJerusalema, igama elithi Ziyoni labe selibhekisela kuwo wonke umuzi. Ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho, wonke ama-Israyeli esilisa ayebophekile ukuba aye eZiyoni kathathu ngonyaka. Ngakho, yaba ‘intaba yomhlangano.’ Ngokuzimisela ukuba anqobe amakhosi aseJudiya futhi awasuse kuleyo ntaba, uNebukadinesari umemezela inhloso yakhe yokuzibeka ngaphezu kwalezo ‘zinkanyezi.’ Akanikezi uJehova udumo ngokuzinqoba. Empeleni, kunalokho ngokuzikhukhumeza uzibeka esikhundleni sikaJehova.

25, 26. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba umbuso waseBabiloni uthole isiphetho esiyihlazo?

²⁵ Yeka ukushintsha kwezimo okulindele amakhosi aseBabiloni! IBabiloni ngeke liphakanyiswe ngaphezu kwezinkanyezi zikaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, uJehova uthi: “Uzokwehliselwa phansi eSheyoli, ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zegodi. Abakubonayo bayokugqolozela; bayokuhlolisisa, bethi, ‘Lo muntu nguye yini owayeyaluzisa umhlaba, owayezamazamisa imibuso, owenza izwe elikhiqizayo laba njengehlane nowagumbuqela imizi yalo imbala, ongazange avulele iziboshwa zakhe indlela eya ekhaya?’” (Isaya 14:15-17) Lo mbuso onomoya wokuvelela uyokwehlela eHayidese (eSheyoli), njengabo bonke abantu.

²⁶ Uyobe ukuphi-ke umbuso owawunqoba imibuso emincane, uqothule ezweni elikhiqizayo, ubhubhise nemizi eminingi? Uyobe ukuphi umbuso wezwe owawuthatha izithunjwa ungaphinde uzidedele zibuyele ekhaya? Phela, lo mbuso waseBabiloni ngeke wenzelwe ngisho nomngcwabo ohloniphekile! UJehova uthi: “Wonke amanye amakhosi ezizwe, yebo, wonke ngothi lwawo, alele phansi ngenkazimulo, yileyo naleyo endlini yayo. Kodwa wena, untshingiwe kwangaba bikho ndawo yokukungcwaba, njengehlumela elinengekayo, wembeswe amadoda abulewe agwazwe ngenkemba ehlela ematsheni egodi, njengesidumbu esinyatheliwe. Ngeke uhlanganiswe nawo ethuneni, ngoba wachitha izwe lakho siqu, wabulala abantu bakho. Inzalo yabenzi bokubi ngeke ibe nagama phakade.” (Isaya 14:18-20) Endulo, kwakuyihlazo ukuba inkosi ingangcwatshwa ngenhlonipho. Kuthiwani-ke ngohlu lozalo lwasebukhosini baseBabiloni? Kuyiqiniso ukuthi amakhosi cishe angcwatshwa ngenhlonipho, kodwa uhlu lwamakhosi asuka kuNebukadinesari alahlwa “njengehlumela elinengekayo.” Kunjengokungathi la makhosi aphonswa ethuneni elingaziwa—njengesosha eliwumgundatshani elifele empini. Yeka ukuthotshiswa!

27. Izizukulwane zabaseBabiloni zesikhathi esizayo zihlupheka ngayiphi indlela ngenxa yesiphambeko sokhokho bazo?

²⁷ Lesi sisho esiyisaga siphetha ngemiyalezo yokugcina eya kumaMede namaPheresiya anqobayo: “Lungisani isigodo sokuhlabela amadodana akhe ngenxa yesiphambeko sokhokho bawo, ukuze angavuki futhi empeleni adle ifa lomhlaba agcwalise ubuso bezwe elikhiqizayo ngemizi.” (Isaya 14:21) IBabiloni liyowa unomphela. Umbuso waseBabiloni ngeke uphinde ube khona. Ngeke uvuke futhi. Izizukulwane zabaseBabiloni ziyohlupheka ngenxa ‘yesiphambeko sokhokho bazo.’

28. Wawuyini umsuka wesono samakhosi aseBabiloni, futhi sifundani kulokhu?

²⁸ Isahlulelo esinikezwa umbuso waseBabiloni sisifundisa isifundo esibalulekile thina. Umsuka wesono samakhosi aseBabiloni kwakuyisifiso sawo esingapheli sokuvelela. (Daniyeli 5:23) Izinhliziyo zawo zazigcwele isifiso sokulawula. Ayefuna ukubusa abanye. (Isaya 47:5, 6) Futhi ayekhanukela inkazimulo yabantu, okufanele iyiswe kuNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 4:11) Lokhu kuyisixwayiso kubo bonke abaphethe—ngisho nasebandleni lobuKristu. Ukufuna ukuvelela nokuziqhenya kobugovu kuyizici uJehova angeke azibekezelele, kungaba kumuntu ngamunye noma ezizweni.

29. Ukuziqhenya nesifiso sokuvelela sababusi baseBabiloni sasiwukuboniswa kwani?

²⁹ Ukuziqhenya kwababusi baseBabiloni kwakuwukuboniswa komoya ‘kankulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto,’ uSathane uDeveli. (2 Korinte 4:4) Naye ukhanukela ukulawula futhi ulangazelela ukuba ngaphezu kukaJehova uNkulunkulu. Njengoba kwakunjalo ngenkosi yaseBabiloni nabantu eyabanqoba, isifiso sikaSathane sokuvelela esingengcwele siye saphumela osizini nasekuhluphekeni kwaso sonke isintu.

30. Yiliphi elinye iBabiloni okukhulunywa ngalo eBhayibhelini, futhi liye labonisa muphi umoya?

³⁰ Ngaphezu kwalokho, encwadini yesAmbulo, sifunda ngelinye iBabiloni—“iBabiloni Elikhulu.” (IsAmbulo 18:2) Le nhlangano, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, iye yabonisa umoya wokuzidla, wokucindezela nowonya. Ngenxa yalokho, nayo kumelwe ibhekane ‘nosuku lukaJehova’ futhi ibhujiswe ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele. (Isaya 13:6) Kusukela ngo-1919 lesi sigijimi siye samenyezelwa emhlabeni wonke: “IBabiloni Elikhulu liwile!” (IsAmbulo 14:8) Lapho lihluleka ukugcina abantu bakaNkulunkulu ekuthunjweni, lawa. Maduze nje lizobhujiswa ngokuphelele. NgeBabiloni lasendulo, uJehova wayala: “Libuyiseleni ngokomsebenzi walo. Yenzani kulo ngokwakho konke elikwenzile. Ngoba liye lenza ngokugabadela ngokumelene noJehova, ngokumelene noNgcwele ka-Israyeli.” (Jeremiya 50:29; Jakobe 2:13) IBabiloni Elikhulu liyothola isahlulelo esifanayo.

31. Yini ezokwenzeka maduze nje eBabiloni Elikhulu?

³¹ Ngakho, amazwi okugcina kaJehova kulesi siprofetho esisencwadini ka-Isaya awasebenzi kuphela eBabiloni lasendulo kodwa naseBabiloni Elikhulu: “Ngizowavukela . . . Ngizonquma eBabiloni igama nensali nenzalo yomuntu nenzalo yesizukulwane sakhe . . . Ngizolenza libe yifa lezingungumbane namachibi amanzi anomhlanga, ngilishanele ngomshanelo obhuqayo.” (Isaya 14:22, 23) Amanxiwa angenalutho eBabiloni lasendulo abonisa lokho uJehova azokwenza maduze nje eBabiloni Elikhulu. Yeka induduzo kubathandi bokukhulekela kweqiniso! Yeka isikhuthazo sokuba silwele ukuba singazivumeli nakancane izici zobuSathane eziwukuzidla, ukuziphakamisa nonya zikhule kithina!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 178]

IBabiloni eliwile liyovama izidalwa zasogwadule

[Izithombe ekhasini 186]

NjengeBabiloni lasendulo, iBabiloni Elikhulu liyoba inqwaba yemvithi