Isahluko Seshumi Nanhlanu

Isinqumo SikaJehova Ngezizwe

Isaya 14:24–19:25

 1. U-Isaya uloba siphi isahlulelo nge-Asiriya?

UJEHOVA angasebenzisa izizwe ukuze ajezise abantu bakhe ngenxa yobubi babo. Kodwa nalapho, akazithetheleli lezo zizwe ngonya lwazo olungadingekile, ukuzidla kwazo nenzondo ezinayo ngokukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngakho, kusasele isikhathi eside, uphefumulela u-Isaya ukuba alobe “isimemezelo ngeBabiloni.” (Isaya 13:1) Nokho, iBabiloni liyoba usongo esikhathini esizayo. Ngosuku luka-Isaya, i-Asiriya licindezele abantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano. Libhubhisa umbuso wakwa-Israyeli osenyakatho lichithe nengxenye enkulu yakwaJuda. Kodwa ukunqoba kwe-Asiriya kulinganiselwe. U-Isaya uyabhala: “UJehova wamabutho ufungile, ethi: ‘Impela njengoba nje ngicabangile, kumelwe kwenzeke kanjalo . . . ukuze ngiphule um-Asiriya ezweni lami futhi ngimnyathele ezintabeni zami; futhi ukuze ijoka lakhe limuke phezu kwabo futhi nawo kanye umthwalo wakhe usuke ehlombe labo.’” (Isaya 14:24, 25) Kungakabiphi u-Isaya ekhiphé lesi siprofetho, usongo lwe-Asiriya luyasuswa kwaJuda.

2, 3. (a) Endulo, uJehova welula isandla ngokumelene nobani? (b) Kusho ukuthini ukuthi uJehova welula isandla sakhe ngokumelene “nazo zonke izizwe”?

² Kuthiwani-ke ngezinye izizwe eziyizitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano? Nazo kumelwe zahlulelwe. U-Isaya uthi: “Yilesi isinqumo engisinqumile ngawo wonke umhlaba, futhi yilesi isandla esiluliwe ngokumelene nazo zonke izizwe. Ngoba uJehova wamabutho ngokwakhe unesinqumo, ubani ongasihlakaza? Futhi yisandla sakhe esiluliwe, ubani ongasibuyisela emuva?” (Isaya 14:26, 27) “Isinqumo” sikaJehova asisona nje iseluleko. Siwukuzimisela kwakhe okuqinile, umyalo wakhe. (Jeremiya 49:20, 30) “Isandla” sikaNkulunkulu singamandla akhe awasebenzisayo. Emavesini okugcina esahluko 14 nasezahlukweni 15 kuya ku-19 zika-Isaya, isinqumo sikaJehova simelene namaFilisti, uMowabi, iDamaseku, iTopiya neGibithe.

³ Kodwa u-Isaya uthi isandla sikaJehova silulwe ngokumelene “nazo zonke izizwe.” Ngakho, nakuba lezi ziprofetho zika-Isaya zigcwaliseka okokuqala ezikhathini zasendulo, isimiso sazo siyasebenza naphakathi ‘kwesikhathi sokuphela’ lapho uJehova elula isandla sakhe kuyo yonke imibuso yomhlaba. (Daniyeli 2:44; 12:9; Roma 15:4; IsAmbulo 19:11, 19-21) Kusasele isikhathi eside, uNkulunkulu umninimandla onke, uJehova, wembula isinqumo sakhe ngokuqiniseka. Akekho ongasifinyeza isandla sakhe esiluliwe.—IHubo 33:11; Isaya 46:10.

“Inyoka Yomlilo Endizayo” Emelene NeFilistiya

 4. Sithini isimemezelo sikaJehova ngeFilistiya?

⁴ Kuqalwa ngamaFilisti. “Ngonyaka eyafa ngawo iNkosi u-Ahazi kwafika lesi simemezelo: ‘Ungajabuli, O Filistiya, nanoma ubani okuwe, ngenxa nje yokuthi ubhoko lwalowo okushayayo luphukile. Ngoba empandeni yenyoka kuyovela inyoka enesihlungu, futhi isithelo sayo kuyoba inyoka yomlilo endizayo.’”—Isaya 14:28, 29.

5, 6. (a) Kungayiphi indlela u-Uziya afana ngayo nenyoka kumaFilisti? (b) UHezekiya uzibonakalisa eyini kumaFilisti?

⁵ INkosi u-Uziya yayinamandla okunqanda usongo lwamaFilisti. (2 IziKronike 26:6-8) Yayifana nenyoka kuwo, futhi ubhoko lwayo lwalulokhu lumshaya lo makhelwane ongenamusa. Lapho u-Uziya esefile—‘ubhoko lwakhe lwaphuka’—kwabusa uJothamu othembekile, kodwa “abantu babesenza ngendlela echithayo.” U-Ahazi wabe eseba inkosi. Izinto zashintsha, amaFilisti aphumelela ukuhlasela uJuda. (2 IziKronike 27:2; 28:17, 18) Kodwa manje izinto seziyashintsha futhi. Ngo-746 B.C.E., iNkosi u-Ahazi iyafa bese uHezekiya osemusha ehlala esihlalweni sobukhosi. Uma amaFilisti ecabanga ukuthi izinto zizoqhubeka ziwahambela kahle, ashaye phansi. UHezekiya uba isitha esibulalayo. Njengoba eyinzalo ka-Uziya (“isithelo” esivela “empandeni” yakhe), uHezekiya ufana ‘nenyoka yomlilo endizayo’—uphuma eqhasha eyohlasela, agadle kuhle kombani, isisulu sizwe ukuqaqamba sengathi sifakwe ushevu.

⁶ Le ncazelo iyayifanela le nkosi entsha. “[NguHezekiya] owabulala amaFilisti kuze kufike eGaza nezindawo zalo.” (2 AmaKhosi 18:8) Ngokwemibhalo yomlando yeNkosi yase-Asiriya uSaneheribi, amaFilisti akhonza ngaphansi kukaHezekiya. “Abantu abaphansi”—umbuso wakwaJuda owenziwe buthaka—bajabulela ukulondeka nensada yezinto ezibonakalayo, kanti amaFilisti abulawa yindlala.—Funda u-Isaya 14:30, 31.

 7. Yisiphi isimemezelo sokholo uHezekiya okumelwe asitshele izithunywa eJerusalema?

⁷ Kubonakala sengathi kunezithunywa ezithile kwaJuda—mhlawumbe zifuna kwakhiwe umbimbi oluzolwa ne-Asiriya. Kufanele zitshelweni? “Umuntu uyoziphendula athini izithunywa zesizwe?” Ingabe uHezekiya kufanele afune ukulondeka ngokwakha umbimbi nezinye izizwe? Cha! Kufanele athi kulezi zithunywa: “UJehova ngokwakhe usibekile isisekelo seZiyoni, futhi abahluphekileyo kubantu bakhe bayophephela kulo.” (Isaya 14:32) Inkosi kumelwe imethembe ngokuphelele uJehova. Isisekelo seZiyoni siqinile. Lo muzi uyosinda ekusongeleni kom-Asiriya, ube indawo elondekile.—IHubo 46:1-7.

 8. (a) Namuhla izizwe ezithile ziye zaba kanjani njengeFilistiya? (b) Njengoba enza ezikhathini zasendulo, yini uJehova ayenzile ukuze asekele abantu bakhe namuhla?

⁸ NjengeFilistiya, ezinye izizwe namuhla zibaphikisa ngendluzula abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu. AmaKristu angoFakazi BakaJehova aye agqunywa emajele nasemakamu okuhlushwa. Aye avinjelwa. Amaningi aye abulawa. Abaphikisi bayaqhubeka ‘behlasela umphefumulo wolungileyo ngeziqubu ezinamandla.’ (IHubo 94:21) Ezitheni zalo, leli qembu lamaKristu lingase libukeke ‘lingabantu abaphansi nabampofu.’ Kodwa ngosizo lukaJehova, lithola insada engokomoya, izitha zalo zibe zibulawa indlala. (Isaya 65:13, 14; Amose 8:11) Lapho uJehova elula isandla sakhe ngokumelene namaFilisti anamuhla, laba “bantu abaphansi” bayolondeka. Kuphi? Ngokuhlanganyela ‘namalungu endlu kaNkulunkulu,’ leyo uJesu ayitshe legumbi layo lesisekelo. (Efesu 2:19, 20) Futhi bayoba ngaphansi kwesivikelo ‘seJerusalema lasezulwini,’ uMbuso kaJehova wasezulwini, uJesu Kristu ayiNkosi yawo.—Heberu 12:22; IsAmbulo 14:1.

UMowabi Uyathuliswa

 9. Isimemezelo esilandelayo senziwa ngobani, futhi laba bantu bazibonakalise kanjani beyisitha sabantu bakaNkulunkulu?

⁹ EMpumalanga yoLwandle Olufile kunomunye umakhelwane ka-Israyeli—uMowabi. Ngokungafani namaFilisti, uMowabi uhlobene no-Israyeli, uzalwa indodana yomfowabo ka-Abrahama uLoti. (Genesise 19:37) Naphezu kwalobo buhlobo, uMowabi unomlando wokuba nobutha no-Israyeli. Ngokwesibonelo, emuva ezinsukwini zikaMose, inkosi yakwaMowabi yaqasha umprofethi uBalami, inethemba lokuthi uzoqalekisa ama-Israyeli. Lapho kubhuntsha lokho, uMowabi wayengela u-Israyeli ekuziphatheni okubi nasekukhulekeleni uBali. (Numeri 22:4-6; 25:1-5) Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi manje uJehova uphefumulela u-Isaya ukuba abhale lesi “simemezelo ngoMowabi”!—Isaya 15:1a.

10, 11. Yini eyokwenzeka kuMowabi?

¹⁰ Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sibhekiswe emizini nasezindaweni eziningi ezikwaMowabi, kuhlanganise i-Ari, iKhiri (noma iKhiri-haresheti) neDiboni. (Isaya 15:1b, 2a) AbakwaMowabi bayokhalela amakhekhe amagilebhisi omisiwe “aseKhiri-haresheti,” mhlawumbe okuwumkhiqizo oyinhloko kulo muzi. (Isaya 16:6, 7) Izindawo zaseSibima naseJazeri, ezazidume ngokutshala umvini, ziyophangwa. (Isaya 16:8-10) I-Egila-shelishiya, egama layo lingase lisho ukuthi “Isithole Esineminyaka Emithathu,” iyofana nethole elinamandla, elikhala kabuhlungu ngenxa yosizi. (Isaya 15:5) Utshani bezwe buyokoma ‘namanzi aseDimoni’ agcwale igazi ngenxa yokubulawa kwabakwaMowabi. “Amanzi aseNimrimi” ayoba “izincithakalo nje,” ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso noma ongokoqobo—cishe ngoba amabutho ezitha avimba imifula yakhona.—Isaya 15:6-9.

¹¹ AbakwaMowabi bayobhinca indwangu yesaka, ingubo yokuzila. Bayophuca amakhanda abo abe yimbungculu, okufanekisela amahloni nokulila. Izintshebe zabo ‘zigundiwe,’ okubonisa usizi nokuthotshiswa okukhulu kakhulu. (Isaya 15:2b-4) U-Isaya naye, eqiniseka ngokugcwaliseka kwalezi zahlulelo, uthinteka ngokujulile ngokomzwelo. Njengezintambo ezinyakazayo zehabhu, izibilini zakhe zishukunyiswa isihe ngenxa yesigijimi sikamaye ngoMowabi.—Isaya 16:11, 12.

12. Agcwaliseka kanjani amazwi ka-Isaya ngoMowabi?

¹² Siyogcwaliseka nini lesi siprofetho? Maduze nje. “Yileli izwi uJehova alikhuluma ngokuphathelene noMowabi ngaphambili. Manje uJehova ukhulumile, ethi: ‘Phakathi neminyaka emithathu, ngokweminyaka yesisebenzi esiqashiwe, inkazimulo kaMowabi nayo kumelwe ihlazeke ngesiyaluyalu esikhulu salo lonke uhlobo, labo abasalayo bayoba mbalwa kakhulu, ngeke babe namandla.’” (Isaya 16:13, 14) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, kunobufakazi bemivubukulo bokuthi phakathi nekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E., uMowabi wahlupheka ngendlela edabukisayo futhi izindawo eziningi zakhona zasala zingenabantu. UTiglath-pileser III wabala noSalamanu wakwaMowabi phakathi kwababusi ababekhonza ngaphansi kwakhe. USaneheribi wathola inkokhiso evela kuKammusunadbi, inkosi yakwaMowabi. Amakhosi ase-Asiriya u-Esar-haddon no-Ashurbanipal abiza amaKhosi akwaMowabi uMusuri noKamashaltu ngokuthi ayizikhonzi zawo. Emakhulwini eminyaka adlule, abakwaMowabi baphela njengesizwe. Kuye kwatholakala amanxiwa emizi okucatshangwa ukuthi eyabakwaMowabi, kodwa buncane ubufakazi obusatholakele ngalesi sitha sika-Israyeli esake saba namandla.

“UMowabi” Wosuku Lwanamuhla Uyashabalala

13. Iyiphi inhlangano engafaniswa noMowabi namuhla?

¹³ Namuhla kunenhlangano yomhlaba wonke efuze uMowabi wasendulo. ELobukholwa, liyingxenye eyinhloko ‘yeBabiloni Elikhulu.’ (IsAmbulo 17:5) UMowabi no-Israyeli bayinzalo kayise ka-Abrahama, uTera. Ngokufanayo, eLobukholwa, njengebandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe namuhla, lithi lizalwa ibandla lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala. (Galathiya 6:16) Kodwa eLobukholwa—njengoMowabi—lonakele, likhuthaza ukuziphatha okubi ngokomoya nokukhulekela abanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. (Jakobe 4:4; 1 Johane 5:21) Njengeqembu, abaholi beLobukholwa bayabaphikisa labo abashumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.—Mathewu 24:9, 14.

14. Naphezu kwenjongo kaJehova ‘ngoMowabi’ wanamuhla, amalungu ngamanye ale nhlangano analiphi ithemba?

¹⁴ UMowabi wagcina ethulisiwe. Kuzokwenzeka okufanayo nakweLobukholwa. Esebenzisa i-Asiriya losuku lwanamuhla, uJehova uyolenza libe incithakalo. (IsAmbulo 17:16, 17) Nokho, likhona ithemba ‘ngoMowabi’ wosuku lwanamuhla. Esaprofetha ngoMowabi, u-Isaya uthi: “Isihlalo sobukhosi ngokuqinisekile siyomiswa ngokuqinile ngomusa wothando; umuntu kumelwe ahlale kuso ngeqiniso etendeni likaDavide, ahlulela futhi efuna ubulungisa futhi eshesha ngokuphathelene nokulunga.” (Isaya 16:5) Ngo-1914, uJehova wasimisa saqina isihlalo sobukhosi sikaJesu, uMbusi wohlu lweNkosi uDavide. Ubukhosi bukaJesu buwukubonakaliswa komusa kaJehova wothando, futhi ekugcwalisekeni kwesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu asenza neNkosi uDavide, siyohlala phakade. (IHubo 72:2; 85:10, 11; 89:3, 4; Luka 1:32) Abaningi abathobekileyo bamshiyile “uMowabi” wosuku lwanamuhla futhi baye bazithoba kuJesu ukuze bazuze ukuphila. (IsAmbulo 18:4) Yeka indlela okubaduduza ngayo laba ukwazi ukuthi uJesu “uyocacisela izizwe ukuthi ubulungisa buyini”!—Mathewu 12:18; Jeremiya 33:15.

IDamaseku Liba Incithakalo Ebolayo

15, 16. (a) Yiziphi izinyathelo ezibonisa ubutha iDamaseku no-Israyeli elizithathela uJuda, futhi uba yini umphumela ngeDamaseku? (b) Ubani ohlanganiswayo esimemezelweni esimelene neDamaseku? (c) AmaKristu namuhla angafundani esibonelweni sika-Israyeli?

¹⁵ U-Isaya ube esebhala “isimemezelo ngeDamaseku.” (Funda u-Isaya 17:1-6.) IDamaseku, elisenyakatho ka-Israyeli, ‘liyinhloko yeSiriya.’ (Isaya 7:8) Phakathi nokubusa kwenkosi yakwaJuda u-Ahazi, uResini waseDamaseku ehlangene noPheka wakwa-Israyeli bahlasela uJuda. Nokho, ngokwesicelo sika-Ahazi, uTiglath-pileser III wase-Asiriya ulwa neDamaseku, alinqobe, athumbe nezakhamuzi zakhona eziningi. Ngemva kwalokho, iDamaseku alibe lisaba usongo kuJuda.—2 AmaKhosi 16:5-9; 2 IziKronike 28:5, 16.

¹⁶ Cishe ngenxa yokuhlangana kuka-Israyeli neDamaseku, isimemezelo sikaJehova ngeDamaseku sihlanganisa namazwi esahlulelo abhekiswe embusweni wasenyakatho ongathembekile. (Isaya 17:3-6) U-Israyeli uyoba njengensimu enokusanhlamvu okuncane kakhulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, noma njengomnqumo ozithelo za-wo eziningi zivuthukile emagatsheni. (Isaya 17:4-6) Yeka isibonelo esisangulukisayo kulabo abazinikezele kuJehova! Ulindele ukuzinikela okukhethekile futhi wamukela kuphela inkonzo engcwele esuka enhliziyweni. Futhi uyabazonda abaphendukela abafowabo.—Eksodusi 20:5; Isaya 17:10, 11; Mathewu 24:48-50.

Ukuthembela KuJehova Ngokuphelele

17, 18. (a) Abanye kwa-Israyeli basabela kanjani ezimemezelweni zikaJehova, kodwa iningi lisabela kanjani? (b) Izenzakalo zanamuhla zifana kanjani nezosuku lukaHezekiya?

¹⁷ U-Isaya manje uthi: “Ngalolo suku umuntu wasemhlabeni uyobheka phezulu kuMenzi wakhe, futhi amehlo akhe ayomgqolozela oNgcwele ka-Israyeli. Ngeke abheke ama-altare, umsebenzi wezandla zakhe; futhi ngeke agqolozele lokho iminwe yakhe ekwenzile, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izigxobo ezingcwele noma izinti zezitsha zempepho.” (Isaya 17:7, 8) Yebo, abanye kwa-Israyeli bayasilalela isimemezelo sikaJehova esixwayisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uHezekiya ethumela isimemo ezakhamuzini zakwa-Israyeli sokuba zihlanganyele noJuda ekugubheni iPhasika, amanye ama-Israyeli ayasamukela isimemo futhi aya eningizimu ayohlanganyela nabafowabo ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. (2 IziKronike 30:1-12) Noma kunjalo, izakhamuzi zakwa-Israyeli eziningi zizihleka usulu izithunywa eziphethe lesi simemo. Izwe lihlubuke ngendlela engenakulungiseka. Ngakho, isinqumo sikaJehova ngalo siyagcwaliseka. I-Asiriya libhubhisa imizi yakwa-Israyeli, izwe liba incithakalo, amadlelo awahlumi.—Funda u-Isaya 17:9-11.

¹⁸ Kuthiwani ngosuku lwanamuhla? U-Israyeli wayeyisizwe esihlubukile. Ngakho, indlela uHezekiya azama ngayo ukusiza abantu baleso sizwe ukuba babuyele ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso isikhumbuza indlela amaKristu eqiniso namuhla azama ngayo ukusiza abantu abasezinhlanganweni zeLobukholwa ezihlubukile. Kusukela ngo-1919, izithunywa ‘zika-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ ziye zaya kweLobukholwa, zimema abantu ukuba bahlanganyele ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. (Galathiya 6:16) Abaningi benqabile. Abaningi baye baziklolodela izithunywa. Kodwa abanye basabelile. Manje babalwa ngezigidi, futhi bayakuthokozela ‘ukugqolozela oNgcwele ka-Israyeli,’ befundiswa nguye. (Isaya 54:13) Bayakuyeka ukukhulekela ema-altare angengcwele—ukuzinikela nokwethembela konkulunkulu abenziwe umuntu—baphendukela kuJehova ngobuqotho. (IHubo 146:3, 4) NjengoMika owaphila ngasikhathi sinye no-Isaya, ngamunye wabo uthi: “Kodwa mina, ngizohlala ngibheke uJehova. Ngizobonisa isimo sengqondo sokumlinda uNkulunkulu wensindiso yami. UNkulunkulu wami uzongizwa.”—Mika 7:7.

19. Obani uJehova azobakhuza, futhi lokhu kuyosho ukuthini ngabo?

¹⁹ Yeka ukuthi bahluke kanjani kulabo abathembela kumuntu ofayo! Amagagasi ayaluzayo obudlova nezinxushunxushu akhathaza isintu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. “Ulwandle” lwesintu esiyaluzayo nesivukelayo ludala ukunganeliseki nokuvukela. (Isaya 57:20; IsAmbulo 8:8, 9; 13:1) UJehova ‘uyosikhuza’ lesi sixuku esinomsindo. UMbuso wakhe wasezulwini uyobhubhisa zonke izinhlangano nabantu abadala uthuthuva, futhi ‘bayobalekela kude njengekhakhasi lizululeka phambi kwesivunguvungu.’—Isaya 17:12, 13; IsAmbulo 16:14, 16.

20. Naphezu ‘kokuphangwa’ izizwe, amaKristu eqiniso aqiniseka ngani?

²⁰ Uba yini umphumela? U-Isaya uthi: “Ngesikhathi sakusihlwa, phela, bheka! kukhona ukwesaba okukhulu okungazelelwe. Ngaphambi kokuba kuse—akusekho. Lesi yisabelo salabo abasiphangayo, nenkatho yalabo abasiphangayo.” (Isaya 17:14) Baningi abaphanga abantu bakaJehova, bebaphatha ngendluzula nangokwedelela. Ngenxa yokuthi awayona ingxenye yoquqaba lwezinkolo zezwe—futhi awafisi ukuba yiyo—abagxeki abachemile nabaphikisi abashisekayo babheka amaKristu eqiniso njengezisulu ezilula. Kodwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayaqiniseka ukuthi ‘ukusa’ oluyophela ngakho usizi lwabo, kusondela ngokushesha.—2 Thesalonika 1:6-9; 1 Petru 5:6-11.

ITopiya Iletha Isipho KuJehova

21, 22. Yisiphi isizwe esithola isimemezelo esilandelayo sesahlulelo, futhi amazwi ka-Isaya aphefumulelwe agcwaliseka kanjani?

²¹ Okungenani izikhathi ezimbili, iTopiya, eseningizimu yeGibithe, iye yalwa noJuda. (2 IziKronike 12:2, 3; 14:1, 9-15; 16:8) Manje u-Isaya ubikezela isahlulelo kuleso sizwe: “Wo ngezwe lezilokazane ezinamaphiko ezibhuzayo, elisesifundeni semifula yaseTopiya!” (Funda u-Isaya 18:1-6.)a UJehova uthi iTopiya ‘iyonqunywa, isuswe.’

²² Umlando usitshela ukuthi ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesi-8 B.C.E., iTopiya yanqoba iGibithe futhi yalibusa iminyaka engaba ngu-60. Ababusi base-Asiriya u-Esar-haddon no-Ashurbanipal nabo bahlasela. I-Asiriya lanqoba iGibithe ngokubhujiswa kweThebes ngu-Ashurbanipal, kwaphela kanjalo ukubusa kweTopiya iSigodi SaseNayile. (Bheka no-Isaya 20:3-6.) Kuthiwani ngezikhathi zanamuhla?

23. “ITopiya” yanamuhla ifeza yiphi indima, futhi kungani ifika esiphelweni sayo?

²³ Esiprofethweni sikaDaniyeli ‘sesikhathi sokuphela’ iTopiya neLubi ichazwa njengehamba ‘ezinyathelweni zenkosi yasenyakatho’ enonya, okusho ukuthi la mazwe alalela isiqondiso sayo. (Daniyeli 11:40-43) Kuvezwa nokuthi iTopiya isemabuthweni alwa “noGogi wezwe lakwaMagogi.” (Hezekeli 38:2-5, 8) Amabutho kaGogi, kuhlanganise nenkosi yasenyakatho, abhujiswa lapho ehlasela isizwe esingcwele sikaJehova. Ngakho, isandla sikaJehova siyolulwa simelane ‘neTopiya’ yosuku lwanamuhla ngenxa yokuphikisana kwalo nobukhosi bukaJehova.—Hezekeli 38:21-23; Daniyeli 11:45.

24. UJehova uzithole ngaziphi izindlela ‘izipho’ ezizweni?

²⁴ Nokho, lesi siprofetho sibuye sithi: “Ngaleso sikhathi kuyolethwa isipho kuJehova wamabutho, sivela esizweni eselulekile nesinesikhumba esikhuhlekile, yebo esizweni esesabeka yonke indawo . . . siye endaweni yegama likaJehova wamabutho, iNtaba iZiyoni.” (Isaya 18:7) Nakuba izizwe zingabuqapheli ubukhosi bukaJehova, ngezinye izikhathi ziye zenza ngendlela ebazuzisayo abantu bakhe. Kwamanye amazwe iziphathimandla ziye zamisa imithetho futhi zakhipha izinqumo zenkantolo ezinikeza abakhulekeli bakaJehova abathembekile amalungelo angokomthetho. (IzEnzo 5:29; IsAmbulo 12:15, 16) Futhi kunezinye izipho. “Amakhosi azoletha izipho kuwe. . . . Izinto zethusi elixutshiwe ziyovela eGibithe; iKhushe [iTopiya] liyolulela ngokushesha izandla zalo ezinezipho kuNkulunkulu.” (IHubo 68:29-31) Namuhla, izigidi ‘zabaseTopiya’ bosuku lwanamuhla abesaba uJehova baletha “isipho” sokukhulekela. (Malaki 1:11) Bahlanganyela emsebenzini omkhulu wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso emhlabeni wonke. (Mathewu 24:14; IsAmbulo 14:6, 7) Yeka isipho esihle esinganikezwa uJehova!—Heberu 13:15.

Inhliziyo YeGibithe Iyancibilika

25. Kwenzekani eGibithe lasendulo lapho kugcwaliseka u-Isaya 19:1-11?

²⁵ Umakhelwane kaJuda oseduze eningizimu yiGibithe, osekunesikhathi eside liyisitha sabantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano. U-Isaya isahluko 19 ulandisa ngesimo esingesihle seGibithe ngesikhathi sika-Isaya. Kunempi yombango eGibithe, ‘umuzi ulwa nomuzi, umbuso ulwa nombuso.’ (Isaya 19:2, 13, 14) Izazi-mlando zinikeza ubufakazi bokuthi amakhosi ayizimbangi ayebusa izingxenye ezihlukahlukene zezwe ngesikhathi esisodwa. Ukuhlakanipha elizigqaja ngako iGibithe, ‘nonkulunkulu balo abangasizi lutho nabathwebuli,’ akulophuli “esandleni senkosi elukhuni.” (Isaya 19:3, 4) IGibithe linqotshwa i-Asiriya, iBabiloni, iPheresiya, iGrisi neRoma ngokulandelana. Zonke lezi zigigaba zigcwalisa iziprofetho zika-Isaya 19:1-11.

26. Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, izakhamuzi ‘zeGibithe’ lanamuhla ziyosabela kanjani ezenzweni zikaJehova zokwahlulela?

²⁶ Nokho, eBhayibhelini iGibithe ngokuvamile lifanekisela izwe likaSathane. (Hezekeli 29:3; Joweli 3:19; IsAmbulo 11:8) Khona-ke ingabe “isimemezelo” sika-Isaya “ngeGibithe” sinokugcwaliseka okukhudlwana? Yebo kunjalo! Amazwi esethulo salesi siprofetho kufanele enze wonke umuntu aqaphele: “Bheka! UJehova ugibele ifu elinejubane futhi uza eGibithe. Ngokuqinisekile onkulunkulu abangasizi ngalutho baseGibithe bayovevezela ngenxa yakhe, nayo kanye inhliziyo yeGibithe iyoncibilika phakathi kwalo.” (Isaya 19:1) Maduze nje uJehova uzothatha isinyathelo ngokumelene nenhlangano kaSathane. Ngaleso sikhathi, onkulunkulu balesi simiso sezinto bayobonakala bengasizi lutho. (IHubo 96:5; 97:7) “Nayo kanye inhliziyo yeGibithe iyoncibilika” ngenxa yokwesaba. UJesu wabikezela okuyokwenzeka ngaleso sikhathi: “Kuyoba khona . . . usizi lwezizwe, zingayazi indlela yokuphuma ngenxa yokuduma kolwandle nokuyaluza kwalo, kuyilapho abantu beba nesinxi ngenxa yokwesaba nokulindela izinto ezehlela umhlaba owakhiweyo.”—Luka 21:25, 26.

27. Yiluphi uqhekeko olwabikezelwa ngaphakathi ‘eGibithe,’ futhi lokhu kugcwaliseka kanjani namuhla?

²⁷ Ngokuphathelene nesikhathi esiholela ekukhipheni kwakhe isahlulelo, uJehova ngokwesiprofetho uthi: “Ngizoqhatha abaseGibithe nabaseGibithe, futhi ngokuqinisekile bayokulwa yilowo nalowo nomfowabo, nalowo nalowo nomngane wakhe, umuzi ulwe nomuzi, umbuso ulwe nombuso.” (Isaya 19:2) Kusukela kwamiswa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngo-1914, “isibonakaliso sokuba khona [kukaJesu]” siye sabonakala ngokuthi isizwe sivukele esinye nombuso uvukele omunye. Ukubulawa kwezizwe ezincane ngobuningi bazo, ukuqothulwa kohlanga okugcwele igazi, nalokho okubizwa ngokuthi ukuhlanzwa kohlanga kuye kwabulala izigidi zabantu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. “Imihelo yokucindezeleka” enjalo izokuba mibi nakakhulu njengoba isiphelo sisondela.—Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8.

28. Ngosuku lokwahlulela, inkolo yamanga iyokwenzani ukuze isindise lesi simiso sezinto?

²⁸ “Umoya weGibithe uyosambatheka phakathi kwalo, futhi ngiyophithanisa icebo lalo. Ngokuqinisekile bayophendukela konkulunkulu abangasizi lutho nakubathwebuli nakwabanemimoya nakubabikezeli bezenzakalo abangochwepheshe.” (Isaya 19:3) Lapho uMose ekhuluma noFaro, abapristi baseGibithe bahlaziswa, bahlulwa amandla kaJehova. (Eksodusi 8:18, 19; IzEnzo 13:8; 2 Thimothewu 3:8) Ngokufanayo, ngosuku lokwahlulela, inkolo yamanga ngeke ikwazi ukusindisa lesi simiso esonakele. (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 47:1, 11-13.) Ekugcineni, iGibithe laba ngaphansi ‘kwenkosi elukhuni,’ i-Asiriya. (Isaya 19:4) Lokhu kufanekisela ikusasa elimnyama esibhekene nalo lesi simiso sezinto.

29. Lapho kufika usuku lukaJehova, abezombusazwe bayoba lusizo luni?

²⁹ Kuthiwani-ke kodwa ngabaholi bezombusazwe? Bona bangasiza? “Impela izikhulu zaseZowani ziyiziwula. Ngokuqondene nabahlakaniphileyo kubeluleki bakaFaro, iseluleko sabo siyinto engenangqondo.” (Isaya 19:5-11) Yeka ukuthi akunangqondo kanjani ukwethemba ukuthi abeluleki abangabantu bayoba usizo ngosuku lokwahlulela! Nakuba benalo lonke ulwazi lwezwe, abanakho ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 3:19) Bamshiyile uJehova baphendukela kulokho okuthiwa isayensi, ifilosofi, imali, injabulo nabanye onkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, abazazi izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Bakhohlisiwe futhi badidekile. Imisebenzi yabo iyize. (Funda u-Isaya 19:12-15.) “Abahlakaniphileyo babe namahloni. Besabe kakhulu futhi bayobanjwa. Bheka! Balé lona kanye izwi likaJehova, banakuhlakanipha kuni?”—Jeremiya 8:9.

Isibonakaliso Nobufakazi KuJehova

30. Kungayiphi indlela “umhlabathi wakwaJuda uyoba yimbangela yokudiyazela kulo iGibithe”?

³⁰ Nokho, nakuba abaholi “baseGibithe” bebuthaka “njengabesifazane,” basekhona abafuna ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu. Abagcotshiwe bakaJehova nabangane babo ‘bamemezela kabanzi ubuhle bukaNkulunkulu.’ (Isaya 19:16; 1 Petru 2:9) Benza konke abangakwenza ukuze baxwayise abantu ngokuthi inhlangano kaSathane izulelwa amanqe. Ebheka phambili kulesi simo, u-Isaya uthi: “Umhlabathi wakwaJuda uyoba yimbangela yokudiyazela kulo iGibithe. Noma ubani akhuluma naye ngalo unengebhe ngenxa yesinqumo sikaJehova wamabutho asinqumile ngaye.” (Isaya 19:17) Izithunywa ezithembekile zikaJehova ziyaphuma ziyotshela abantu iqiniso—kuhlanganise nesimemezelo sezinhlupho esabikezelwa uJehova. (IsAmbulo 8:7-12; 16:2-12) Lokhu kuyabaphazamisa abaholi benkolo baleli zwe.

31. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ‘ulimi lwaseKhanani’ lukhulunywe emizini yaseGibithe (a) ezikhathini zasendulo? (b) namuhla?

³¹ Uyini umphumela obungalindelekile walo msebenzi wokumemezela? “Ngalolo suku kuyoba khona imizi emihlanu ezweni laseGibithe ekhuluma ulimi lwaseKhanani futhi efunga kuJehova wamabutho. Omunye umuzi uyobizwa ngokuthi uMuzi Wokudiliza.” (Isaya 19:18) Kusobala ukuthi endulo lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka ngesikhathi isiHeberu sikhulunywa emizini yaseGibithe ngamaJuda ayebalekele kuyo. (Jeremiya 24:1, 8-10; 41:1-3; 42:9–43:7; 44:1) Namuhla, kunabantu abaye bafunda ukukhuluma “ulimi oluhlanzekile” lweqiniso leBhayibheli “eGibithe” lanamuhla. (Zefaniya 3:9) Omunye wemizi engokomfanekiso eyisihlanu ubizwa ngokuthi “uMuzi Wokudiliza,” okubonisa ukuthi ingxenye ‘yolimi oluhlanzekile’ ihlobene nokudalula ‘nokudiliza’ inhlangano kaSathane.

32. (a) Yiliphi “i-altare” eliphakathi kwezwe laseGibithe? (b) Abagcotshiwe bafana kanjani ‘nensika’ ngasemngceleni weGibithe?

³² Ngenxa yalo msebenzi wokumemezela owenziwa abantu bakaJehova, igama lakhe elikhulu lizokwaziwa nakanjani kulesi simiso sezinto. “Ngalolo suku kuyoba khona i-altare likaJehova phakathi kwezwe laseGibithe, nensika kaJehova eceleni komngcele walo.” (Isaya 19:19) La mazwi abhekisela esikhundleni samaKristu agcotshiwe, anobuhlobo besivumelwano noNkulunkulu. (IHubo 50:5) ‘Njenge-altare’ banikela imihlatshelo yabo; ‘njengensika nozime lweqiniso,’ bafakazela uJehova. (1 Thimothewu 3:15; Roma 12:1; Heberu 13:15, 16) ‘Baphakathi kwezwe,’ batholakala emazweni naseziqhingini ezingaphezu kuka-230—kanye nabangane babo ‘bezinye izimvu.’ Kodwa ‘abayona ingxenye yezwe.’ (Johane 10:16; 17:15, 16) Ngokomfanekiso, bami emngceleni ophakathi kwaleli zwe noMbuso kaNkulunkulu, balungele ukweqa lowo mngcele bamukele umvuzo wabo wasezulwini.

33. Kungaziphi izindlela abagcotshiwe ‘beyisibonakaliso nobufakazi eGibithe’?

³³ U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Kumelwe kube yisibonakaliso nobufakazi kuJehova wamabutho ezweni laseGibithe; ngoba bayokhala kuJehova ngenxa yabacindezeli, futhi uyobathumelela umsindisi, yebo omkhulu, oyobakhulula.” (Isaya 19:20) ‘Njengesibonakaliso nanjengobufakazi,’ abagcotshiwe bayahola emsebenzini wokushumayela futhi baphakamisa igama likaJehova kulesi simiso sezinto. (Isaya 8:18; Heberu 2:13) Kuwo wonke umhlaba kuzwakala ukukhala kwabantu abacindezelwe, kodwa ngokuvamile, ohulumeni babantu abakwazi ukubasiza. Kodwa uJehova uzothumela uMsindisi Omkhulu, iNkosi uJesu Kristu, ukuba akhulule bonke abathobekileyo. Lapho lezi zinsuku zokugcina zifika emvuthwandaba empini ye-Armagedoni, uyolethela abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu impumuzo nezibusiso zaphakade.—IHubo 72:2, 4, 7, 12-14.

34. (a) “AbaseGibithe” bayomazi kanjani uJehova, futhi bayomnikeza umhlatshelo wani nasipho sini? (b) UJehova uyogalela nini ‘kwelaseGibithe,’ futhi yikuphi ukuphulukiswa okuyolandela?

³⁴ Okwamanje kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ukuba zonke izinhlobo zabantu zizuze ulwazi olunembile futhi zisindiswe. (1 Thimothewu 2:4) Ngakho, u-Isaya uyabhala: “Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyokwaziwa kwabaseGibithe; futhi abaseGibithe bayomazi uJehova ngalolo suku, bayonikela umhlatshelo nesipho benze isifungo kuJehova futhi basigcwalise. Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyoligalela iGibithe. Kuyoba khona ukugalela nokuphulukisa; bayobuyela kuJehova, futhi uyovuma ukuba ancengwe yibo, abaphulukise.” (Isaya 19:21, 22) Abantu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe zezwe likaSathane, “abaseGibithe,” bafunda ukumazi uJehova futhi bamenzele umhlatshelo, “isithelo sezindebe ezivuma obala igama lakhe.” (Heberu 13:15) Benza isifungo kuJehova ngokuzinikezela kuye, futhi isifungo sabo basifeza ngokuphila ukuphila kwenkonzo yokwethembeka. Ngemva ‘kwegalelo’ uJehova ayogalela ngalo kulesi simiso sezinto e-Armagedoni, uyosebenzisa uMbuso wakhe ukuba uphulukise isintu. Phakathi nokuBusa KukaJesu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, isintu siyopheleliswa ngokomoya, ngokwengqondo, ngokuziphatha nangokwenyama—ukuphulukiswa kwangempela!—IsAmbulo 22:1, 2.

“Masibusiswe Isizwe Sami”

35, 36. Ekugcwalisekeni kuka-Isaya 19:23-25, ikuphi ukuhlangana okwaba khona endulo phakathi kweGibithe, i-Asiriya no-Israyeli?

³⁵ Umprofethi ube esebona isenzakalo esimangalisayo: “Ngalolo suku kuyoba khona umgwaqo omkhulu ophuma eGibithe oya e-Asiriya, futhi i-Asiriya empeleni liyongena eGibithe, neGibithe lingene e-Asiriya; ngokuqinisekile ayonikela inkonzo, iGibithe kanye ne-Asiriya. Ngalolo suku u-Israyeli uyoba owesithathu kanye neGibithe ne-Asiriya, okungukuthi, isibusiso phakathi komhlaba, ngoba uJehova wamabutho uyobe elibusisile, ethi: ‘Masibusiswe isizwe sami, iGibithe, nomsebenzi wezandla zami, i-Asiriya, nefa lami, u-Israyeli.’” (Isaya 19:23-25) Yebo, ngelinye ilanga iGibithe ne-Asiriya kuyoba nobuhlobo obuhle. Kanjani?

³⁶ Lapho uJehova ehlenga abantu bakhe ezizweni ngesikhathi esidlule, kwafana nokuthi wazakhela imigwaqo emikhulu eya enkululekweni. (Isaya 11:16; 35:8-10; 49:11-13; Jeremiya 31:21) Ukugcwaliseka okuncane kwalesi siprofetho kwenzeka ngemva kokunqotshwa kweBabiloni lapho izithunjwa zase-Asiriya naseGibithe kanye nezaseBabiloni, zibuyiselwa eZweni Lesithembiso. (Isaya 11:11) Kuthiwani kodwa ngezikhathi zanamuhla?

37. Izigidi namuhla ziphila kanjani njengokungathi kunomgwaqo omkhulu phakathi ‘kwe-Asiriya neGibithe’?

³⁷ Namuhla, insali yama-Israyeli agcotshiwe angokomoya ‘iyisibusiso phakathi komhlaba.’ Igqugquzela ukukhulekela kweqiniso futhi imemezela isigijimi soMbuso kubantu bazo zonke izizwe. Ezinye zalezi zizwe zinjenge-Asiriya, zihlome ziyizingovolo. Ezinye zinombono ovulekile, mhlawumbe njengeGibithe—elake laba “inkosi yaseningizimu” esiprofethweni sikaDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 11:5, 8) Izigidi zabantu abavela ezizweni ezihlomile nakwezinemibono evulekile ziye zamukela indlela yokukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngakho, abantu bazo zonke izizwe bamunye ‘ekunikeleni inkonzo.’ Abahlukaniswa ubuzwe. Bayathandana, futhi kungashiwo ngempela ukuthi ‘i-Asiriya lingena eGibithe neGibithe lingena e-Asiriya.’ Kusengathi kunomgwaqo omkhulu osuka ngapha uye ngapha.—1 Petru 2:17.

38. (a) Kuyokwenzeka kanjani ukuba u-Israyeli ‘abe owesithathu kanye neGibithe ne-Asiriya?’ (b) Kungani uJehova ethi “Masibusiswe isizwe sami”?

³⁸ Kwenzeka kanjani-ke kodwa ukuthi u-Israyeli ‘abe owesithathu kanye neGibithe ne-Asiriya’? Ekuqaleni ‘kwesikhathi sokuphela,’ iningi lalabo abakhonza uJehova emhlabeni babengamalungu ‘ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’ (Daniyeli 12:9; Galathiya 6:16) Kusukela ngawo-1930 kuye kwavela isixuku esikhulu ‘sezinye izimvu,’ esinethemba lasemhlabeni. (Johane 10:16a; IsAmbulo 7:9) Njengoba sivela ezizweni—ezifanekiselwa iGibithe ne-Asiriya—sigobhozela endlini kaJehova yokukhulekela futhi simema abanye ukuba beze. (Isaya 2:2-4) Senza umsebenzi wokushumayela ofanayo nowenziwa abafowabo abagcotshiwe, sikhuthazelela uvivinyo olufanayo, sibonisa ukukholeka nobuqotho obufanayo futhi sidla etafuleni elifanayo elingokomoya. Ngempela, abagcotshiwe “nezinye izimvu” ‘bamhlambi munye, namalusi munye.’ (Johane 10:16b) Ukhona yini ongabaza ukuthi uJehova, uma ebona intshiseko nokukhuthazela kwabo, uyawujabulela umsebenzi wabo? Akumangazi ukuthi ubafisela okuhle, ethi: “Masibusiswe isizwe sami”!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 191]

Amabutho amaFilisti asukela izitha zawo (umbhalo oqoshiwe waseGibithe wekhulu le-12 B.C.E.)

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Umfanekiso oqoshiwe webutho noma unkulunkulu wakwaMowabi (phakathi nekhulu le-11 nelesi-8 B.C.E.)

[Isithombe ekhasini 196]

Iqhawe laseSiriya ligibele ikamela (ekhulwini lesi-9 B.C.E.)

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“Ulwandle” lwesintu esihlubukayo ludala ukunganeliseki nokuvukela

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Abapristi baseGibithe bahlulwa amandla kaJehova