Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-24—UJeremiya
Umlobi: UJeremiya
Yalotshelwa: KwaJuda NaseGibithe
Ukuloba Kwaphela: 580 B.C.E.
Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 647–580 B.C.E.
1. UJeremiya wathunywa nini futhi ngubani?
UMPROFETHI uJeremiya waphila phakathi nezikhathi eziyingozi nezineziyaluyalu. Ngonyaka ka-647 B.C.E. wathunywa uJehova, okwakuwunyaka we-13 wokubusa kweNkosi yakwaJuda eyesaba uNkulunkulu uJosiya. Phakathi nokuvuselelwa kwendlu kaJehova, kwatholakala incwadi yoMthetho kaJehova futhi yafundelwa inkosi. Yasebenza kanzima ekwenzeni ukuba ulandelwe, kodwa yakwazi ukubabuyisa okwesikhashana kuphela ekukhulekeleni izithombe. Umkhulu kaJosiya uManase, owayebuse iminyaka engu-55, kanye noyise uAmoni, owayebulewe ngemva nje kokubusa iminyaka emibili kuphela, bobabili babenze okubi. Babekhuthaze abantu ukuba benze imikhuba yemikhosi yokukhulekela engcolile namasiko ashaqisayo, kangangokuba base benomkhuba wokushisela “inkosikazi yezulu” impepho nokunikela iminikelo yabantu konkulunkulu bamademoni. UManase wayegcwalise iJerusalema ngegazi elingenacala.—Jer. 1:2; 44:19; 2 AmaKh. 21:6, 16, 19-23; 23:26, 27.
2. Wawuyini umsebenzi kaJeremiya, futhi imiphi iminyaka egcwele izenzakalo ukuprofetha kwakhe okwayihlanganisa?
2 Umsebenzi kaJeremiya wawungelula. Kwakufanele akhonze njengomprofethi kaJehova ekubikezeleni ukuchithwa kukaJuda neJerusalema, ukushiswa kwethempeli likaJehova elikhazimulayo, kanye nokuthunjwa kwabantu bakhe—izinhlekelele ezicishe zingakholeki! Ukuprofetha kwakhe eJerusalema kwakufanele kuqhubeke iminyaka engu-40, phakathi nokubusa kwamaKhosi amabi uJehowahazi, uJehoyakimi, uJehoyakini (uKhoniya), noSedekiya. (Jer. 1:2, 3) Kamuva, eGibithe, kwakufanele aprofethe ngokuphathelene nokukhulekela izithombe kwamaJuda ayebalekele lapho. Incwadi yakhe yaqedwa ngo-580 B.C.E. Ngakho-ke isikhathi esihlanganiswe incwadi kaJeremiya siyinkathi yeminyaka engu-67 egcwele izenzakalo.—52:31.
3. (a) Bafakazelwa kanjani ezikhathini zamaHeberu ubuqiniso bencwadi kaJeremiya nokuba kwayo ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli? (b) Yibuphi obunye ubufakazi obuphathelene nalokhu obutholakala emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki?
3 NgesiHeberu igama lomprofethi nelencwadi yakhe uYir·meyahʹ noma Yir·meyaʹhu, ngokunokwenzeka okusho ukuthi, “UJehova Uyaphakamisa; noma, UJehova Uyakhulula [ngokunokwenzeka esizalweni].” Lencwadi itholakala kuzo zonke izinhlu zezincwadi zemiBhalo yesiHeberu, futhi ukuba kwayo ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli kwamukelwa kabanzi. Ukugcwaliseka okuvusa amadlingozi kweziprofetho eziningi phakathi nokuphila kukaJeremiya kubufakazela ngokugcwele ubuqiniso bayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJeremiya ugagulwa ngegama izikhathi eziningana emiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki. (Math. 2:17, 18; 16:14; 27:9) Ukuthi uJesu wayeyifundile incwadi kaJeremiya kusobala ekuhlanganiseni kwakhe ulimi lukaJeremiya 7:11 nolukaIsaya 56:7 lapho ehlanza ithempeli. (Marku 11:17; Luka 19:46) Ngenxa yesibindi nokungesabi kukaJesu, abanye abantu baze ngisho bacabanga ukuthi wayenguJeremiya. (Math. 16:13, 14) Isiprofetho sikaJeremiya sesivumelwano esisha (Jer. 31:31-34) uPawulu ubhekisela kuso kumaHeberu 8:8-12 no-10:16, 17. UPawulu ucaphuna uJeremiya 9:24 uma ethi: “Ozibongayo akazibonge eNkosini.” (1 Kor. 1:31) KusAmbulo 18:21 kukhona ukusetshenziswa okunamandla ngisho nangaphezulu komfanekiso kaJeremiya (Jer. 51:63, 64) wokuwa kweBabiloni.
4. Isayensi yemivubukulo iwusekela kanjani lombhalo ogciniwe?
4 Izinto ezivubukuliwe nazo zisekela umbhalo ogciniwe osencwadini kaJeremiya. Ngokwesibonelo, umlando waseBabiloni oningilizayo ukhuluma ngokuthumba kukaNebukadinesari (Nebukadiresari) iJerusalema ngo-617 B.C.E., lapho ebamba inkosi (uJehoyakini) futhi emisa ethandwa nguye (uSedekiya).—24:1; 29:1, 2; 37:1.a
5. (a) Yini eyaziwayo ngokuphathelene noJeremiya ngokwakhe? (b) Yini engashiwo ngokuphathelene nendlela yakhe yokuloba?
5 Sinomlando wokuphila kukaJeremiya ogcwele ngokwengeziwe ukwedlula noma owabaphi abanye abaprofethi basendulo ngaphandle kukaMose. UJeremiya wembula okuningi ngaye ngokwakhe, imizwa yakhe, nemizwelo yakhe, okubonisa isibindi nokungesabi kobuqhawe, kuhlangene nokuzithoba nobumnene benhliziyo. Wayengeyena nje umprofethi kodwa futhi wayengumpristi, umhlanganisi womBhalo, kanye nesazi somlando esinembayo. Ngokuzalwa wayeyindodana yompristi uHilikiya waseAnathoti, umuzi wompristi ezweni elingasenyakatho neJerusalema, “ezweni lakwaBenjamini.” (1:1) Indlela kaJeremiya yokuloba icacile, iqondile, futhi iqondakala kalula. Igcwele imifanekiso kanye nokuba nombono wemifanekiso engokoqobo, futhi lencwadi inakho kokubili izindaba ezilotshwe ngolimi oluqondile nezilotshwe ngolusankondlo.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAJEREMIYA
6. Ihlelwe kanjani indaba okukhulunywa ngayo yesiprofetho?
6 Indaba ayihlelwanga ngokohlelo lwezikhathi kodwa ngokwendaba okuxoxwa ngayo. Ngakho, ukulandisa kwenza ushintsho oluningi ngokuphathelene nesikhathi kanye nezimo ezizungezile. Ekugcineni, ukuchithwa kweJerusalema nelakwaJuda kuchazwa ngemininingwane ekhanya bhá esahlukweni 52. Lokhu akubonisi nje kuphela ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho eziningi kodwa futhi kunikeza isisekelo sencwadi yeSililo, elandelayo.
7. UJeremiya waba kanjani umprofethi, futhi uJehova umqinisekisa kanjani?
7 UJehova uthuma uJeremiya (1:1-19). Ingabe uJeremiya uthunywa ngenxa yokuthi wayefuna ukuba umprofethi noma kungenxa yokuthi wayevela emkhayeni wobupristi? UJehova ngokwakhe uyachaza: “Ngingakakubumbi esiswini ngakwazi; ungakaphumi esizalweni ngakungcwelisa, ngakubeka umprofethi ezizweni.” Isabelo esivela kuJehova. Ingabe uJeremiya uzimisele ukuhamba? Ngokuzithoba ubeka izaba, “Ngingumntwana.” UJehova uyamqinisekisa: “Bheka, ngibekile amazwi ami emlonyeni wakho. Bona, ngiyakubeka namuhla phezu kwezizwe naphezu kwemibuso ukusiphula nokudiliza, ukuchitha nokubhubhisa, ukwakha nokutshala.” UJeremiya akufanele esabe. “Bayakulwa nawe, kepha abayikukwahlula, ngokuba nginawe, usho uJehova, ukuba ngikophule.”—1:5, 6, 9, 10, 19.
8. (a) IJerusalema alithembekanga kukuphi? (b) UJehova uzoyiletha kanjani inhlekelele?
8 IJerusalema, umfazi ongathembekile (2:1–6:30). Isiphi isigijimi esilethwa izwi likaJehova kuJeremiya? IJerusalema lilukhohliwe uthando lwalo lokuqala. Limlahlile uJehova, uMthombo wamanzi aphilayo, futhi lafeba nonkulunkulu abangaziwa. Lisuka ekubeni umvini obomvu okhethekile, liye lashintshwa laba ‘umvini wabezizwe.’ (2:21) Izingubo zalo zingcoliswe igazi lemiphefumulo yabangenacala. Ngisho noIsrayeli ophingayo uye wabonakala elungile kunoJuda. UNkulunkulu uncenga lamadodana angamambuka ukuba abuye ngoba ungumyeni wawo. Kodwa abé njengowesifazane ongumkhohlisi. Angase abuye uma eyolahla izinto zawo ezenyanyekayo futhi asoke izinhliziyo zawo. “Misani ibhanela elibheka ngaseSiyoni,” ngoba uJehova uyoletha inhlekelele eyovela ngasenyakatho. (4:6) Imbubhiso ngemva kwembubhiso! Njengengonyama iphuma ehlozini layo, njengomoya oshazayo unqamula ehlane, ngezinqola ezinjengesiphepho, umahluleli kaJehova uyakuza kanjalo.
9. (a) Yiliphi izwi uJeremiya alitshela iJerusalema elintamo lukhuni? (b) Zinanzuzoni izimemezelo zabo zokuthula?
9 Jikeleza lonke iJerusalema. Yini oyibonayo? Izono nokungathembeki kuphela! Abantu bamlahlile uJehova, futhi iZwi lakhe emlonyeni kaJeremiya kufanele libe umlilo oyobaqothula njengezinkuni. Njengoba nje bemlahlile uJehova ukuze bakhonze unkulunkulu wabezizwe, kanjalo naYe uyobenza bakhonze abantu bezinye izizwe ezweni labezizwe. Nina bantamo zilukhuni! Banamehlo kodwa ababoni, futhi banezindlebe kodwa abezwa. Yeka ukuthi kudabukisa kanjani! Empeleni abaprofethi nabapristi baprofetha amanga, “abantu bami bayakuthanda kanjalo,” kusho uJehova. (5:31) Inhlekelele iyasondela ivela ngasenyakatho, nokho “kusukela kwabancane babo kuya kwabakhulu babo bayaphanga impango bonke.” Bathi, “Ngukuthula, ngukuthula; kepha akukho ukuthula.” (6:13, 14) Kodwa umphangi uyofika ngokuzumayo. UJehova wenzé uJeremiya ukuba abe umhloli wensimbi phakathi kwabo, kodwa akutholakali lutho ngaphandle kwamanyela nesiliva elilahlwayo. Babi ngokuphelele.
10. Kungani kufanele iJerusalema libe nesiphetho esifanayo neShilo nelakwaEfrayimi?
10 Isixwayiso sokuthi ithempeli alisona isivikelo (7:1–10:25). Izwi likaJehova lifika kuJeremiya, futhi kumelwe enze isimemezelo esangweni lethempeli. Muzwe njengoba ememeza labo abangenayo: ‘Niqhosha ngethempeli likaJehova, kodwa yini eniyenzayo? Nicindezela intandane nomfelokazi, nichitha igazi labangenacala, nilandela abanye onkulunkulu, niyeba, nibulale, niphinge, nifunge ngenkohliso, nenza iminikelo kuBali! Nina bazenzisi! Nenzé indlu kaJehova “umhume wabaphangi.” Khumbulani lokho uJehova akwenza eShilo. Uyokwenza okufanayo endlini yenu, Oh Juda, futhi uyonikhiphela ngaphandle, njengoba nje akhiphela abakwaEfrayimi (uIsrayeli) enyakatho.’—Jer. 7:4-11; 1 Sam. 2:12-14; 3:11-14; 4:12-22.
11. Kungani uJuda engeke asizakale noma engathandazelwa?
11 UJuda ngeke asizakale noma angathandazelwa. Phela, abantu sebenzela ngisho ‘nenkosikazi yezulu’ amaqebelengwane! Ngempela, “yilesisizwe esingalilalelanga izwi likaJehova uNkulunkulu waso, singamukelanga ukulaywa; iqiniso libhubhile.” (Jer. 7:18, 28) UJuda ubeke izinto ezenyanyekayo endlini kaJehova futhi uye washisa amadodana namadodakazi akhe ezindaweni eziphakeme zaseThofeti esigodini sikaHinomu. Bheka! Siyobizwa ngokuthi “isiGodi sokuBulala,” futhi izidumbu zabo ziyoba ukudla kwezinyoni nezilwane. (7:32) Ukujabula nokuthokoza kufanele kuphele kwaJuda naseJerusalema.
12. Esikhundleni sokuthula, yini ezofikela uJuda nonkulunkulu bakhe bezinye izizwe?
12 Babenethemba lokuthula nokuphulukiswa, kodwa bheka, ukwesaba! Ngenxa yokuba ntamo lukhuni kwabo kuyoba khona ukusakazeka, ukubhujiswa, kanye nokukhala. ‘UJehova unguNkulunkulu ophilayo neNkosi kuze kube phakade.’ Onkulunkulu abangazange benze amazulu nomhlaba, abanawo umoya. Bayize futhi bawumsebenzi wenkohliso, futhi bayobhubha. (10:10-15) UJehova uyoxosha izakhamuzi zomhlaba. Lalelani! Ukuzamazama okukhulu okuvela ezweni lasenyakatho elizobhubhisa imizi yakwaJuda. Umprofethi uyavuma: ‘Akukuyo indoda [yasemhlabeni, NW] ukuba iqondise izinyathelo zayo,’ futhi uthandazela ukuqondiswa ukuze angenziwa ize.—10:23.
13. Kungani uJeremiya enqatshelwa ukuba athandazele uJuda, futhi uJehova umqinisa kanjani uJeremiya kulelihora eliyingozi?
13 Abaphuli besivumelwano baqalekisiwe (11:1–12:17). UJuda akawalalelanga amazwi esivumelwano sakhe noJehova. Akusizi ukuba abantu bacele usizo. UJeremiya akufanele amthandazele uJuda, ngoba uJehova “uyakuphemba umlilo” wokushisa lomnqumo owawuluhlaza ubukeka. (11:16) Njengoba izakhamuzi ezikanye noJeremiya zaseAnathoti zibopha uzungu lokumbulala, lomprofethi uphendukela kuJehova ecela amandla nosizo. UJehova uthembisa ukuliphindisela iAnathoti. UJeremiya ubuza ukuthi, ‘Kungani indlela yababi iphumelela?’ UJehova uyamqinisekisa: ‘Ngizakubasiphula futhi ngibhubhise isizwe esingalaleli.’—12:1, 17.
14. (a) UJehova wenza kwazeke ukuthi iJerusalema alinakuguquka nanokuthi isahlulelo salo asinakuhlehliswa ngamiphi imifanekiso? (b) Uba yini umphumela kuJeremiya ngokudla amazwi kaJehova?
14 IJerusalema alinakuguquka futhi lilahlelwé ukubhujiswa (13:1–15:21). UJeremiya ukhumbula indlela uJehova amyale ngayo ukuba abophe ibhande lelineni ezinkalweni zakhe abese elifihla esiweni esingase-Ewufrathe. Lapho uJeremiya eza ukuzolimba, lase lonakele. “Lalingasenamsebenzi.” Ngalendlela uJehova wabonisa ukuzimisela kwakhe ukonakalisa “ukuziqhenya kukaJuda nokuziphakamisa okukhulu kweJerusalema.” (13:7, 9) Uyobaphahlaza ndawonye ebudakweni babo, njengezitsha ezinkulu ezigcwele iwayini. “UmKushe angasiguqula isikhumba sakhe, nengwe amabala ayo, na?” (13:23) Kanjalo ngokufanayo iJerusalema alinakuguquka. UJeremiya akufanele abathandazele lababantu. Ngisho noma uMose noSamuweli babengeza phambi kukaJehova babancengele, wayengeke alalele, ngoba usenqumile ukulilahlela ekubhujisweni iJerusalema. UJehova uqinisa uJeremiya ngokumelene nabamhlambalazayo. UJeremiya uthola futhi adle amazwi kaJehova, okuphumela ‘ekujabuleni nasekuthokozeni kwenhliziyo.’ (15:16) Lesi akusona isikhathi sokuntela, kodwa esokuthembela kuJehova, othembise ukwenza uJeremiya abe ugange lwethusi oluqinile ngokumelene nabantu.
15. (a) Zingezingathi sína kangakanani izikhathi, futhi uJehova ukugcizelela ngamuphi umyalo lokhu? (b) Abantu bayolazi kanjani igama likaJehova, futhi kungani isono sabo singamkhohlisi?
15 UJehova uyothumela abadobi nabazingeli (16:1–17:27). Ngenxa yembubhiso esondelayo, uJehova weluleka uJeremiya: “Awuyikuzithathela umfazi, ungabi-namadodana namadodakazi kulendawo.” (16:2) Akusona isikhathi sokukhala noma sokwenza idili nabantu, ngoba sekuseduze uJehova abalahlele ngaphandle kwezwe. Khona-ke uJehova uthembisa futhi ukuthumela ‘abadobi ukuba babadobe nabazingeli ukuba babazingele,’ futhi ngokufeza kwakhe konke lokhu, “bazi ukuthi igama [lakhe] linguJehova.” (16:16, 21) Isono sikaJuda siqoshwe ezinhliziyweni zabantu ngothi lokuloba lwensimbi, yebo, ngesihloko sedayimane. “Inhliziyo iyakhohlisa ngaphezu kwakho konke futhi imbi,” kodwa uJehova uyakwazi ukuhlola inhliziyo. Akekho ongamkhohlisa. Labo abahlubukayo “bamshiyile uJehova, umthombo wamanzi aphilayo.” (17:9, 13) Uma uJuda engenakulingcwelisa usuku lweSabatha, uJehova uyoqothula ngomlilo amasango nemibhoshongo yakhe.
16. UJehova ufanekiselani ngombumbi nezitsha zakhe zobumba?
16 Umbumbi nobumba (18:1–19:15). UJehova uyala uJeremiya ukuba ehlele endlini yombumbi. Lapho uphawula indlela umbumbi ashintsha ngayo isitsha esenziwe ngobumba esonakele, asenze sibe esinye isitsha ngokwendlela athanda ngayo. Khona-ke uJehova uzimemezela ukuthi unguMbumbi endlini kaIsrayeli, unamandla okudiliza noma okwakha. Ngokulandelayo, utshela uJeremiya ukuba athathe uphiso lombumbi aluyise esiGodini sikaHinomu futhi lapho umemezela inhlekelele evela kuJehova ngenxa yokuthi abantu bagcwalise indawo ngegazi elingenacala, beshisa amadodana abo emlilweni njengeminikelo yokushiswa eya kuBali. Khona-ke uJeremiya kufanele aluphule uphiso efanekisela ukwephula kukaJehova iJerusalema nabantu bakwaJuda.
17. Ikuphi okuhlangenwe nakho okunzima uJeremiya aba nakho, kodwa ingabe lokhu kuyamthulisa?
17 Akukho ukuhlehla ngaphansi koshushiso (20:1-18). Ecasulwe ukushumayela kukaJeremiya ngesibindi, umbonisi wethempeli uPhashuri uvalela uJeremiya esitokisini ubusuku obubodwa. Lapho ekhululwa, uJeremiya ubikezela ngokuthunjwa nokufa kukaPhashuri eBabiloni. Elusizi ngenxa yokuba inhlekisa kanye nokuhlanjalazwa okulethwa kuye, uJeremiya uhlongoza ukuyeka. Nokho, akakwazi ukuthula. Izwi likaJehova ‘enhliziyweni yakhe liba njengomlilo ovuthayo ovalelwe emathanjeni akhe,’ kangangokuba uphoqeleleka ukuba akhulume. Nakuba eqalekisa usuku azalwa ngalo, uyamemeza: “Hlabelelani kuJehova, nimdumise uJehova, ngokuba wophula umphefumulo wompofu esandleni sababi.”—20:9, 13.
18. UJeremiya umqaphelisa ngani uSedekiya?
18 Intukuthelo kaJehova ngokumelene nababusi (21:1–22:30). Ephendula umbuzo kaSedekiya, uJeremiya umqaphelisa ngentukuthelo kaJehova ngokumelene nomuzi: Inkosi yaseBabiloni iyowuhlasela, futhi uyobhujiswa ngesifo, inkemba, indlala, nangomlilo. UShalumi (uJehowahazi) uyofela ekuthunjweni, uJehoyakimi uyongcwatshwa njengembongolo, futhi indodana yakhe uKhoniya (uJehoyakini) iyokhishelwa ngaphandle kwelakwaJuda ukuba ifele eBabiloni.
19. Yini uJeremiya ayiprofethayo ngokuphathelene ‘nehlumela elilungileyo,’ futhi yini efanekiselwa amaqoma amabili amakhiwane?
19 Ukuthembela ‘ehlumeleni elilungileyo’ (23:1–24:10). UJehova uthembisa ukufika kwabelusi bangempela abazothatha isikhundla sabelusi bamanga kanye ‘nehlumela elilungileyo’ eliyophuma esiqwini sikaDavide, inkosi ‘eyakubusa njengenkosi, ibe-nokuhlakanipha, yenze ukwahlulela nokulunga ezweni.’ Ingubani igama layo? “Igama eliyakubizwa ngalo lokuthi: UJEHOVA UNGUKULUNGA KWETHU.” Iyoqoqa insali esakazekile. (23:5, 6) Ukuba abaprofethi babeme emkhandlwini kaJehova, babeyokwenza ukuba abantu bezwe futhi baphenduke endleleni yabo embi. Kunalokho, kusho uJehova, “badukise abantu bami ngamanga abo.” (23:22, 32) “Bheka, amaqoma amabili amakhiwane.” UJeremiya usebenzisa amakhiwane amahle namabi ukuze afanekisele insali ethembekile ebuyela ezweni lakubo ngomusa kaNkulunkulu kanye nesinye isigaba esiqedwa ngenhlekelele.—24:1, 5, 8-10, qhathanisa neNW.
20. UJehova ulisebenzisa kanjani iBabiloni njengenceku yakhe, kodwa yini nalo eliyimiselwe?
20 Ukulwa kukaJehova nezizwe (25:1-38). Lesisahluko siwukufingqwa kwezahlulelo ezichazwe ngokuningilizwe kakhulu ezahlukweni 45-49. Ngeziprofetho ezintathu ezifanayo, uJehova manje umemezela inhlekelele eyokwehlela zonke izizwe ezisemhlabeni. Okokuqala, uNebukadiresari uchazwa njengenceku kaJehova ezobhubhisa uJuda kanye nezizwe ezizungezile, “nalezizizwe ziyakuyikhonza inkosi yaseBabele iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.” Khona-ke neBabiloni liyothola owalo umvuzo, futhi liyoba “yincithakalo ephakade.”—25:1-14.
21. Ubani okufanele aphuze endebeni yokufutheka kukaJehova? Kube namuphi umphumela?
21 Isiprofetho sesibili siwumbono wendebe yewayini lokufutheka kukaJehova. UJeremiya kufanele lendebe ayiyise ezizweni, futhi “ziyakuphuza, zintengantenge, zihlanye” ngenxa yembubhiso kaJehova eza phezu kwazo. Okokuqala, eJerusalema nakwaJuda! Bese kulandela iGibithe, kuphindele eFilistiya, kunqamule kuye e-Edomi, kukhuphuke kuye eTire, emazweni akude naseduze, nakuyo “yonke imibuso yezwe esebusweni bomhlaba; nenkosi yaseSheshaki iyakuphuza emva kwabo.” ‘Bayakuphuza bahlanze futhi bawe.’ Akekho oyosinda.—25:15-29.
22. Intukuthelo kaJehova evuthayo iyobonakaliswa ngayiphi inhlekelele enkulu?
22 Esiprofethweni sesithathu, uJeremiya ukhuluma ngolimi oluhle olujulile olusankondlo. “UJehova uyakuduma ephezulu . . . kubo bonke abakhileyo emhlabeni.” Kube nomsindo, inhlekelele, kanye nokuhlokoma okukhulu! “Ababuleweyo bakaJehova bayakusukela komunye umkhawulo womhlaba, baze bafike komunye.” Ngeke bakhalelwe, ngeke bangcwatshwe. Bayoba njengomquba emhlabathini. Abaprofethi bamanga bayobulawa, kanye nezikhulu zomhlambi wabo. Abanakubaleka. Yizwa ukuhewula kwabo! UJehova ngokwakhe “uyachitha idlelo labo, . . . ngenxa yokufutheka kolaka lukaJehova.”—25:30-38.
23. (a) Yiluphi uzungu oluboshelwa uJeremiya, uzivikela kanjani, futhi ibaphi abanduleli bakhe okubhekiselwa kubo ukuze akhululwe? (b) UJeremiya ukubonisa kanjani ngezenzo ukuthunjelwa eBabiloni okuzayo, futhi isiphi isiprofetho esiphathelene noHananiya esiba yiqiniso?
23 UJeremiya uyalwelwa (26:1–28:17). Ababusi nabantu baceba ukubulala uJeremiya. UJeremiya uyazivikela. Yizwi likaJehova alikhulumile. Uma bembulala, bayobe babulala umuntu ongenacala. Isinqumo: akanacala. Amadoda amadala aveza izibonelo zabaprofethi uMika noUriya lapho ekhuluma ngenkambo kaJeremiya. Ngokulandelayo uJehova uyala uJeremiya ukuba enze izintambo namajoka, akufake entanyeni yakhe, abese ekuthumela kwabezizwe njengezibonakaliso zokuthi kufanele bakhonze inkosi yaseBabiloni izizukulwane ezintathu zababusi. UHananiya, omunye wabaprofethi bamanga, uphikisa uJeremiya. Umemezela ukuthi ijoka laseBabiloni liyokwephulwa phakathi neminyaka emibili futhi ufanekisela lokhu ngokuphula ijoka lokhuni. UJehova ugcizelela isiprofetho sakhe ngokutshela uJeremiya ukuba enze amajoka ensimbi futhi abikezele ukuthi uHananiya kufanele afe ngalowonyaka. UHananiya uyafa.
24. (a) Yisiphi isigijimi uJeremiya asithumela kubathunjwa eBabiloni? (b) UJehova uyosenza nobani isivumelwano esisha, futhi lesi siyobonakala kanjani sisihle kunesivumelwano sangaphambili?
24 Induduzo ngabathunjwa baseBabiloni (29:1–31:40). UJeremiya ubhalela abathunjwa abayiswe eBabiloni kanye noJekoniya (uJehoyakini): Zinzani lapho, ngokuba ngaphambi kokuba uJehova anibuyise, kuza inkathi yeminyaka engu-70 yokuthunjwa. UJehova uyala uJeremiya ukuba alobe encwadini ngokubuya kwabo: UJehova uyoliphula ijoka labo, futhi “bakhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, noDavide inkosi yabo [mina Jehova] engiyakubavusela yena.” (30:9) URaheli kufanele abambe izwi lakhe angakhali, ngoba amadodana akhe ‘ayakubuya ezweni lesitha.’ (31:16) Futhi manje, kunesimemezelo esiqinisekisayo esenziwa uJehova! Uyokwenza isivumelwano esisha nendlu kaJuda noIsrayeli. Lesi sihle kakhulu kunesivumelwano ababesephulile! UJehova uyoloba umthetho wakhe ngaphakathi ekujuleni, ezinhliziyweni zabo. “Ngibe-nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona babe-ngabantu bami.” Kusukela komncane kuye komkhulu, bonke bayomazi uJehova, futhi uyothethelela ububi babo. (31:31-34) Umuzi wabo uyokwakhiwa kabusha njengokuthile okungcwele kuJehova.
25. Ukuqiniseka kokubuyiselwa kukaIsrayeli kugcizelelwa kanjani, futhi izwi likaJehova liletha ziphi izindaba?
25 Isivumelwano sikaJehova noDavide siqinisekile (32:1–34:22). Phakathi nokuhlasela iJerusalema kokugcina kukaNebukadiresari, uJeremiya uvalelwe. Nokho, njengesibonakaliso sokuthi uJehova ngokuqinisekile uyombuyisela uIsrayeli, uJeremiya uthenga insimu eAnathoti futhi izincwadi ezigunyaza ukudluliselwa kobunikazi uzifaka zodwa esitsheni sobumba. Izwi likaJehova manje liletha izindaba ezinhle: UJuda neJerusalema bazojabula futhi, futhi uJehova uyosigcwalisa isivumelwano sakhe noDavide. Kodwa, Wo wena Sedekiya, yizwa isixwayiso sokuthi inkosi yaseBabiloni izowushisa lomuzi ngomlilo futhi wena uyothunjelwa eBabiloni. Maye kwabanezigqila abavume ukuzikhulula kodwa abasephulile isivumelwano sabo!
26. Isiphi isithembiso uJehova asenzayo kumaRekabi, futhi ngani?
26 Isithembiso sikaJehova kuRekabi (35:1-19). Ezinsukwini zeNkosi uJehoyakimi, uJehova uthumela uJeremiya kumaRekabi. Ekuhlaseleni kokuqala kwabaseBabiloni athola isiphephelo eJerusalema. UJeremiya uwapha iwayini ukuba aliphuze. Ayalenqaba ngenxa yeseluleko sikakhokho wawo uJonadaba awanikeza sona eminyakeni engu-250 ngaphambili. Ngempela, inkambo ehluke ngokuphelele enkambweni kaJuda yokungathembeki! UJehova uyawathembisa: “UJonadaba indodana kaRekabi akayikunqunyelwa-muntu wokuma phambi kwami kuze kube-phakade.”—35:19.
27. Yini eyenza kudingeke ukuba ukulotshwa kweziprofetho zikaJeremiya kwenziwe kabusha?
27 UJeremiya uyibhala kabusha incwadi (36:1-32). UJehova uyala uJeremiya ukuba alobe phansi wonke amazwi eziprofetho zakhe kuze kube yilesosikhathi. UJeremiya uwatshela uBaruki, obe esewafunda ngokuzwakalayo endlini kaJehova ngosuku lokuzila ukudla. INkosi uJehoyakimi ithumela ukuba kuyolandwa umqulu, futhi lapho izwa ingxenye yawo, ngokuthukuthela iyawudabula futhi iwuphonsa emlilweni. Iyala ukuba kuboshwe uJeremiya noBaruki, kodwa uJehova uyabafihla futhi utshela uJeremiya ukuba abhale omunye umqulu.
28. (a) Yiziphi iziprofetho eziphikelelayo uJeremiya azikhiphayo? (b) Inkambo kaEbedi-Meleki yehluka kanjani kweyezikhulu?
28 Izinsuku zokugcina zeJerusalema (37:1–39:18). Umlando ubuyela ekubuseni kukaSedekiya. Inkosi icela uJeremiya ukuba athandazele uJuda kuJehova. Umprofethi uyenqaba, ethi ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema kuqinisekile. UJeremiya uzama ukuya eAnathoti kodwa uyabanjwa ngoba kuthiwa uyisihlubuki, uyashaywa, futhi uvalelwa ejele izinsuku eziningi. Khona-ke uSedekiya uthumela ukuba alandwe. Ingabe likhona izwi elivela kuJehova? Ngokuqinisekile likhona! “Uyakunikelwa esandleni senkosi yaseBabele.” (37:17) Zithukutheliswe iziprofetho zikaJeremiya eziphikelelayo zokubhujiswa, izikhulu zimphonsa emgodini onodaka. UEbedi-Meleki ongumKushe, umthenwa osendlini yenkosi, ngomusa uyamncengela, kangangokuthi uJeremiya uyophulwa egodini lokufa alengela kulo, kodwa uhlala eyisiboshwa eGcekeni Letilongo. USedekiya uyaphinda ubizela uJeremiya phambi kwakhe, umane nje utshelwa ukuthi: ‘Zinikele enkosini yaseBabiloni noma ubhekane nokuthunjwa kanye nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema.’—38:17, 18.
29. Iyiphi inhlekelele manje eyehlela iJerusalema, kodwa kubahambela kanjani oJeremiya noEbedi-Meleki?
29 Ukuhlaselwa kweJerusalema kuthatha izinyanga ezingu-18, futhi ngonyaka we-11 kaSedekiya umuzi uyathathwa. Inkosi iyabaleka namabutho ayo kodwa iyabanjwa. Amadodana ayo nezikhulu abulawa phambi kwamehlo ayo, futhi ikhishwa amehlo bese iyiswa eBabiloni iboshwe ngamaketanga. Umuzi uyashiswa futhi wenziwa incithakalo, futhi bonke bathunjelwa eBabiloni ngaphandle kwabantu abampofu abambalwa. Ngomyalo kaNebukadiresari, uJeremiya uyakhululwa egcekeni letilongo. Ngaphambi kokuba akhululwe utshela uEbedi-Meleki ngesithembiso sikaJehova sokumkhulula, ‘ngokuba wathembela kuJehova.’—39:18.
30. Abantu abasele bahluleka kanjani ukulalela iseluleko sikaJeremiya, futhi isiphi isahlulelo sembubhiso uJeremiya asenza saziwe eGibithe?
30 Izenzakalo zokugcina eMispa naseGibithe (40:1–44:30). UJeremiya uhlala eMispa noGedaliya, lowo abaseBabiloni abamenza umbusi phezu kwabantu abasele. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbili uGedaliya uyabulawa. Abantu bafuna iseluleko sikaJeremiya, futhi udlulisela izwi likaNkulunkulu kubo: ‘UJehova ngeke anisiphule kulelizwe. Ningesabi ngenxa yenkosi yaseBabiloni. Nokho, uma nehlela eGibithe, nizokufa!’ Behlela eGibithe, bethatha uJeremiya noBaruki. EThahipanesi eGibithe, uJeremiya wazisa ngesahlulelo sikaJehova sembubhiso: Inkosi yaseBabiloni iyomisa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi eGibithe. Akusizi ukuba uIsrayeli akhulekele onkulunkulu baseGibithe nokuphinde enzele “inkosikazi yezulu” umnikelo. Ingabe sebekhohliwe indlela uJehova alenza ngayo iJerusalema laba incithakalo ngenxa yokukhonza kwalo izithombe? UJehova uzobehlisela inhlekelele ezweni laseGibithe, futhi ngeke baphindele kwaJuda. Njengesibonakaliso, uJehova unikela uFaro Hofira ezandleni zezitha zakhe.
31. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso uBaruki asinikezwayo?
31 Isabelo sikaBaruki (45:1-5). UBaruki ukhathazekile ngokuzwa iziprofetho zikaJeremiya eziphindaphindwayo zembubhiso. Utshelwa ukuba acabange kuqala ngomsebenzi kaJehova wokwakha kanye nokudiliza esikhundleni ‘sokuzifunela izinto ezinkulu.’ (45:5) Uyosindiswa kuyo yonke inhlekelele.
32. Obani abayofikelwa “inkemba kaJehova”?
32 Inkemba kaJehova ngokumelene nezizwe (46:1–49:39). UJeremiya ulandisa ngokunqoba kweBabiloni iGibithe eKharikemishi nakwezinye izindawo. Nakuba izizwe zizobhujiswa, uJakobe uzosala kodwa ngeke ayekwe angajeziswa. ‘Inkemba kaJehova’ iyokulwa namaFilisti, abakwaMowabi abazidlayo kanye nabakwa-Amoni abaqhoshayo, ne-Edomi kanye neDamaseku, iKedari neHasori. (47:6) Umnsalo wase-Elamu uyokwephulwa.
33. (a) Yini ezokwenzeka endebeni yegolide, eyiBabiloni? (b) Ngakho-ke, abantu bakaNkulunkulu kufanele benzenjani?
33 Inkemba kaJehova ngokumelene neBabiloni (50:1–51:64). UJehova ukhuluma ngokuphathelene neBabiloni: Litshele phakathi kwezizwe. Hluba udlubu ekhasini. IBabiloni lithunjiwe futhi onkulunkulu balo basehlazweni. Balekani kulo. Lesisando somhlaba esibhubhise izizwe zomhlaba wonke naso ngokwaso sephuliwe. “Nawe ozikhukhumezileyo,” mcindezeli kaIsrayeli noJuda othunjiweyo, yazi ukuthi uJehova wezimpi unguMhlengi wabo. IBabiloni liyoba indawo yezilwane ezihewulayo. “Njengalokho uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma neGomora . . . akuyikuhlala-muntu khona.” (50:31, 40) IBabiloni beliyindebe yegolide esandleni sikaJehova yokwenza izizwe zidakwe, kodwa ngokuzumayo seliwile, ukuze nalo ngokwalo lephulwe. Likhaleleni, nina bantu. UJehova uvuse umoya wamakhosi amaMede ukuba alibhubhise. Amaqhawe aseBabiloni ayekile ukulwa. Anjengabesifazane. Indodakazi yaseBabiloni iyonyathelelwa phansi njengesibuya. “Balale ubuthongo obuphakade, bangavuki.” Ulwandle lugcwele futhi lusibekela iBabiloni ngamaza amaningi. “Phumani phakathi kwalo, bantu bami, nizikhulule, kube-yilowo nalowo ekufuthekeni kwentukuthelo kaJehova.” (51:39, 45) Lalelani ukumemeza, ukuwa okukhulu okuvela eBabiloni! Izikhali zempi zaseBabiloni kufanele zibhujiswe, ngoba uJehova unguNkulunkulu wemivuzo. Nakanjani uyophindisela.
34. Isiphi isibonakaliso esibonisa ukuwa kweBabiloni?
34 UJeremiya weluleka uSeraya: ‘Hamba uye eBabiloni futhi ufunde ngokuzwakalayo lawamazwi esiprofetho esimelene neBabiloni. Bese ubophela itshe encwadini futhi uyiphonse ekujuleni kwe-Ewufrathe. Uthi: Kanjalo iBabele liyakushona, lingabe lisavuka ngenxa yokubi engiyakulehlisela khona.’—51:61-64.
35. Yimuphi umlando manje olandelayo?
35 Umlando wokuwa kweJerusalema (52:1-34). Lokhu kulandisa kucishe kufane nalokho okuhlanganiswe ngaphambili kwawesi-2 AmaKhosi 24:18-20; 25:1-21, 27-30.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO
36. (a) Yisiphi isibonelo sentshiseko yesibindi esisithola kuJeremiya? (b) Kungaziphi izindlela oBaruki, amaRekabi, noEbedi-Meleki beyizibonelo ezinhle kithi?
36 Lencwadi ephefumlelwe iyakha futhi inenzuzo ngokuphelele. Bheka isibonelo sokuba nesibindi somprofethi ngokwakhe. Wayengesabi ekumemezeleni isigijimi esingathandeki kubantu abangenankulunkulu. Wabenqaba ubudlelwane nabantu ababi. Wakuqaphela ukuphuthuma kwesigijimi sikaJehova, ezinikela ngenhliziyo yonke emsebenzini kaJehova futhi engadangali. Wathola izwi likaNkulunkulu linjengomlilo emathanjeni akhe, futhi laliyinjabulo futhi liyintokozo yenhliziyo yakhe. (Jer. 15:16-20; 20:8-13) Kwasengathi singalishisekela njalo izwi likaJehova! Kwasengathi futhi singazisekela ngokwethembeka izinceku zikaNkulunkulu, njengoba kwenza uBaruki kuJeremiya. Ukulalela okuqotho kwamaRekabi kuyisibonelo esihle futhi kithi, kanye nokumcabangela kwesihe umprofethi oshushiswayo kukaEbedi-Meleki.—36:8-19, 32; 35:1-19; 38:7-13; 39:15-18.
37. Ukucabangela incwadi kaJeremiya kuluqinisa kanjani ukholo emandleni kaJehova esiprofetho?
37 Izwi likaJehova elafika kuJeremiya lagcwaliseka ngokunemba okumangalisayo. Lokhu ngokuqinisekile kuqinisa ukholo emandleni kaJehova esiprofetho. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho uJeremiya ngokwakhe asinda ukuze akubone, njengokuthunjwa kukaSedekiya nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema (21:3-10; 39:6-9), ukususwa esihlalweni sobukhosi kanye nokufela ekuthunjweni kweNkosi uShalumi (uJehowahazi) (Jer. 22:11, 12; 2 AmaKh. 23:30-34; 2 IziKr. 36:1-4), ukuthunjelwa eBabiloni kweNkosi uKhoniya (uJehoyakini) (Jer. 22:24-27; 2 AmaKh. 24:15, 16), kanye nokufa phakathi nonyaka owodwa komprofethi wamanga uHananiya (Jer. 28:16, 17). Zonke leziprofetho, nezinye, zagcwaliseka njengoba nje uJehova ayebikezele. Abaprofethi nezinceku zikaJehova zamuva nazo zathola isiprofetho sikaJeremiya singathenjelwa futhi sinenzuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uDaniyeli wabona ezincwadini zikaJeremiya ukuthi ukuba yincithakalo kweJerusalema kufanele kube iminyaka engu-70, futhi uEzra wadonsela ukunakekela ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaJeremiya ekupheleni kweminyaka engu-70.—Dan. 9:2; 2 IziKr. 36:20, 21; Ezra 1:1; Jer. 25:11, 12; 29:10.
38. (a) Yisiphi isivumelwano, uJesu naye abhekisela kuso, esiqokonyiswa esiprofethweni sikaJeremiya? (b) Yiliphi ithemba loMbuso elimenyezelwayo?
38 Ngesikhathi emisa umkhosi weSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa enabafundi bakhe, uJesu wabonisa ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJeremiya ngokuphathelene nesivumelwano esisha. Kanjalo, wabhekisela ‘esivumelwaneni esisha egazini lami,’ lapho izono zabo zazithethelelwa khona futhi babeqoqwa njengesizwe sikaJehova esingokomoya. (Luka 22:20; Jer. 31:31-34) Abagcotshwe ngomoya abalethwa esivumelwaneni esisha yilabo uKristu enza nabo isivumelwano soMbuso, sokubusa naye emazulwini. (Luka 22:29; IsAm. 5:9, 10; 20:6) LoMbuso kubhekiselwa kuwo izikhathi eziningi esiprofethweni sikaJeremiya. Phakathi kwazo zonke izahlulelo zeJerusalema elingathembekile, uJeremiya wakhomba kulomsebe wethemba: “Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza, usho uJehova, lapho ngiyakumisela uDavide iHlumela elilungileyo; liyakubusa njengenkosi, libe-nokuhlakanipha, lenze ukwahlulela nokulunga ezweni.” Yebo, inkosi ebizwa ngokuthi “UJEHOVA UNGUKULUNGA KWETHU.”—Jer. 23:5, 6.
39. Ukubuya kwensali eBabiloni, njengoba kwabikezelwa uJeremiya, kunikeza isiqinisekiso sani?
39 UJeremiya uyaphinda ukhuluma ngokuvuselela: “Kepha bakhonze uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, noDavide inkosi yabo engiyakubavusela yena.” (30:9) Ekugcineni, ukhuluma ngezwi elihle elikhulunywe uJehova ngokuphathelene noIsrayeli noJuda, elalichaza ukuthi ‘ngalezozinsuku nangalesosikhathi [uJehova] uyakuhlumisela uDavide iHlumela lokuLunga,’ ukuze andise inzalo yakhe futhi ukuze kube khona ‘indodana yokubusa esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.’ (33:15, 21) Njengoba nje insali yabuya ngokuqinisekile eBabiloni, kanjalo uMbuso ‘waleliHlumela’ uyokwenza ukwahlulela ngokulunga nokulunga emhlabeni wonke.—Luka 1:32.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 2, amakhasi 326, 480.