Imfundo Ngezikhathi ZeBhayibheli
“Niyakuwafundisa abantwana benu.”—DUTERONOMI 11:19.
1. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova unesithakazelo emfundweni yezinceku zakhe?
UJEHOVA unguMfundisi Omkhulu. Akakaze ashiye izinceku zakhe zisesimweni sokungazi. Ubelokhu ezimisele ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuhlanganyela ulwazi kanye nazo. Uzifundisa intando yakhe nezindlela zakhe. Izinkulungwane ezingenakubalwa zeminyaka iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa yayiseduze naye, ifunda njalo ‘njengengcweti’ kaNkulunkulu. (IzAga 8:30) Lapho esemhlabeni uJesu wathi: “Ngikhuluma lokhu njengokuba uBaba engifundisile.” (Johane 8:28) Ebhekisela kuNkulunkulu njengoMfundisi Ongenakuqhathaniswa, uElihu wabuza: “Ngubani ofundisa njengaye na?” (Jobe 36:22) Umprofethi uIsaya wakhuluma ngoJehova ngokuthi ‘unguMfundisi Omkhulu’ wabantu baKhe futhi waprofetha: “Bonke abantwana bakho bayakuba-ngabafundi bakaJehova, nokuthula kwabantwana bakho kuyakuba-kukhulu.” (Isaya 30:20; qhathanisa neNW; 54:13) Ngokungangabazeki, uJehova ufuna ukuba izidalwa zakhe ezihlakaniphile zikhanyiselwe futhi zibe ezifundiswe kahle.
Imfundo Yangezikhathi Zezinzalamizi
2, 3. (a) Izinzalamizi ezithembekile zaziyibheka kanjani imfundo yabantwana bazo, futhi yimuphi umyalo uJehova awunikeza uAbrahama? (b) Umyalo wokufundisa inzalo ka-Abrahama wawunayiphi injongo enhle?
2 Elinye lamagunya ayisisekelo enhloko yomkhaya ezikhathini zezinzalamizi kwakuwukufundisa abantwana bayo nabendlu yayo. Ezikhonzini zikaNkulunkulu imfundo yabantwana bazo yayiwumsebenzi ongokwenkolo. UJehova wathi ngoAbrahama inceku yakhe: “Ngimkhethele ukuba ayale abantwana bakhe nendlu yakhe emva kwakhe ukugcina indlela kaJehova nokusebenza ukulunga nokwahlulela, ukuze uJehova amenzele uAbrahama lokho amthembisé khona.”—Genesise 18:19.
3 Lamazwi angokwaphezulu abonisa ukuthi uJehova wayebheka imfundo njengebaluleke kakhulu. UNkulunkulu wayefuna ukuba uAbrahama, uIsaka, noJakobe bafundise imikhaya yabo ngezindlela zaKhe zokulunga nokwahlulela ukuze izizukulwane ezizayo zibe sesimweni sokugcina indlela kaJehova. Ngaleyondlela, uJehova wayeyofeza izithembiso zakhe ezimayelana nembewu ka-Abrahama nokubusiswa ‘kwezizwe zonke zomhlaba.’—Genesise 18:18; 22:17, 18.
Isimiso Semfundo KwaIsrayeli
4, 5. (a) Yini eyayehlukanisa isimiso semfundo samaIsrayeli kuleso sezinye izizwe? (b) Yimuphi omunye umehluko obalulekile ophawulwe kuyiEncyclopaedia Judaica, futhi ngokungangabazeki yini eyabangela lomehluko?
4 IEncyclopaedia Judaica ithi: “IBhayibheli lingumthombo oyinhloko wokuqonda inqubo yezemfundo kwaIsrayeli wasendulo.” UJehova wasebenzisa uMose njengomuntu wokuqala owayefundisa uIsrayeli. (Duteronomi 1:3, 5; 4:5) UMose wadlulisela amazwi ayewanikwe uJehova. (Eksodusi 24:3) Ngakho, eqinisweni uNkulunkulu wayenguMfundisi oyinhloko kaIsrayeli. Lokhu ngokwakho kwahlukanisa isimiso semfundo sikaIsrayeli kwesezinye izizwe.
5 Yona lencwadi efanayo ithi: “Imfundo ephakeme noma ukufunda ngezincwadi eMesopotamiya naseGibithe kwakuyinto engokomthetho futhi kulinganiselwe esigabeni sababhali, okubonakala sengathi kwakungenjalo kwaIsrayeli. Ngokungangabazeki umehluko wawubangelwa isimiso esilula sokubhala ngama-alfabhethi esasisetshenziswa amaHeberu. . . . Ukubaluleka kokubhala ngama-alfabhethi emlandweni wemfundo akumelwe kunganakwa. Kwafika lapho kusukwa emasikweni akudala ababhali aseGibithe, eMesopotamiya, naseKhanani yangenkulungwane yesibili yeminyaka. Ukuba ngofundile kwakungasesona isici esihlukanisayo nesikhethekile sesigaba sababhali abangochwepheshe nabapristi, ababegogodile emibhalweni engaqondakali yecuneiform nemibhalo yehieroglyphic.”
6. Yibuphi ubufakazi obungokweBhayibheli obukhona bokuthi kusukela ekuqaleni nje komlando wawo, amaIsrayeli ayengabantu abafundile?
6 IBhayibheli linikeza ubufakazi bokuthi amaIsrayeli ayengabantu abafundile. Ngaphambi kokuba angene ngisho naseZweni Lesithembiso, atshelwa ukuba alobe imithetho kaJehova ezinsikeni zeminyango yawo nasemasangweni awo. (Duteronomi 6:1, 9; 11:20; 27:1-3) Nakuba lomyalo ngokungangabazeki wawungokomfanekiso, ngokuqinisekile wawungeke ube nangqondo kumIsrayeli ovamile uma ayengakwazi ukufunda nokubhala. ImiBhalo enjengoJoshuwa 18:9 nabAhluleli 8:14 ibonisa ukuthi nabanye ngaphandle kwabaholi abanjengoMose noJoshuwa babekwazi ukubhala esikhathini eside ngaphambi kokuba kumiswe isimiso sobukhosi kwaIsrayeli.—Eksodusi 34:27; Joshuwa 24:26.
Izindlela Zokufundisa
7. (a) NgokwemiBhalo, ubani owayenikeza abantwana bamaIsrayeli imfundo yabo eyisisekelo? (b) Yikuphi ukwaziswa okunikezwa yisazi seBhayibheli esingumFulentshi?
7 KwaIsrayeli, abantwana babefundiswa besebancane kakhulu yibo bobabili ubaba nomama. (Duteronomi 11:18, 19; IzAga 1:8; 31:26) KuyiDictionnaire de la Bible yesiFulentshi, isazi seBhayibheli uE. Mangenot wabhala: “Ngokushesha nje lapho esekwazi ukukhuluma, umntwana wayefunda izindinyana ezimbalwa eMthethweni. Unina wayephindaphinda ivesi elithile; uma eselazi, wayemnika elinye. Kamuva, abantwana babenikwa ezandleni lowombhalo olotshiwe wamavesi abase bekwazi kakade ukuwasho ngekhanda. Ngaleyondlela, babengeniswa ekufundeni, futhi lapho sebebadadlana, babengaqhubeka nemfundo yabo yezenkolo ngokufunda nangokuzindla ngomthetho weNkosi.”
8. (a) Iyiphi indlela eyisisekelo yokufundisa eyayisetshenziswa kwaIsrayeli, kodwa yayinasiphi isici esibalulekile? (b) Yiziphi izinsiza-nkumbulo ezazisetshenziswa?
8 Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi indlela eyisisekelo yokufundisa eyayisetshenziswa yayiwukubamba izinto ngekhanda. Izinto ezazifundwa ezaziphathelene nemithetho kaJehova nokusebenzelana kwakhe nabantu bakhe kwakumelwe zingene enhliziyweni. (Duteronomi 6:6, 7) Kwakumelwe kuzindlwe ngazo. (IHubo 77:11, 12) Ukuze kusizwe abancane nabadala ukuba babambe ngekhanda, kwakusetshenziswa izinsiza-nkumbulo eziningana. Lezinsiza-nkumbulo zazihlanganisa amagama afundeka ndlela zonke, amavesi alandelanayo ehutsheni aqala ngohlamvu oluhlukile, ngokulandelana kwama-alfabhethi (njengakuzAga 31:10-31, NW); ifanamsindo (amagama aqala ngohlamvu olufanayo noma umsindo ofanayo); nokusetshenziswa kwezinombolo, njengalezo ezisetshenziswe engxenyeni yokugcina yezAga isahluko 30. Ngokuthakazelisayo, iKhalenda LaseGezeri, elingesinye sezibonelo ezindala kakhulu zemibhalo yesiHeberu yasendulo, ezinye izazi zicabanga ukuthi laliyisivivinyo somfana wesikole sokuhlola inkumbulo.
Uhlelo Lwemfundo
9. (a) Iyiphi ingxenye eyayibalulekile yesimiso sokufunda sabantwana bamaIsrayeli? (b) Enye iencyclopedia yeBhayibheli ithini mayelana nokufundisa okwakwenziwa maqondana nemikhosi yaminyaka yonke?
9 Imfundo kwaIsrayeli yayingalinganiselwe ekufundeni ukuzifundela nokubhala. Esinye isifundo esibalulekile esasifundiswa kwakungezomlando. Ukufunda ngezenzo zikaJehova ezimangalisayo ngenxa yabantu bakhe kwakuyingxenye ebalulekile yemfundo. Lamaqiniso angokomlando kwakumelwe afundiswe izizukulwane ngezizukulwane. (Duteronomi 4:9, 10; IHubo 78:1-7) Ukugujwa kwemikhosi yaminyaka yonke kwakunikeza ithuba elihle ngenhloko yomkhaya ukuba ifundise abantwana bayo. (Eksodusi 13:14; Levitikusi 23:37-43) Mayelana nalokhu i-International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ithi: “Ngokufundisa kukababa ekhaya nangokuchaza kwakhe ngokubaluleka kwaleyomikhosi, abantwana abangamaHeberu babefunda indlela uNkulunkulu ayezibonakalise ngayo kubo esikhathini esidlule, indlela okwakumelwe baphile ngayo ngalesosikhathi, nokuthi zaziyini izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nekusasa labantu baKhe.”
10. Yikuphi ukuqeqesha okuwusizo okwakunikezwa amantombazane? abafana?
10 Ukufundisa kwabazali kwakuhlanganisa nokuqeqesha kwangokoqobo. Amantombazane ayefundiswa amakhono asekhaya. Isahluko sokuphetha sezAga sibonisa ukuthi lemisebenzi yayiminingi futhi ihlukahlukene; yayihlanganisa ukuphotha, ukwaluka, ukupheka, ukuhweba, nokuphathwa kwekhaya lilonke. Abafana ngokuvamile babefundiswa umsebenzi kayise wokuziphilisa, kungaba kwezolimo noma umsebenzi othile noma ubuciko. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi orabi bamaJuda babevame ukuthi: “Lowo ongayifundisi indodana yakhe umsebenzi onenzuzo uyikhulisela ukuba ibe isela.”
11. Yini ebonisa injongo eyisisekelo yemfundo kwaIsrayeli, futhi lokhu kunasiphi isifundo kwabasha namuhla?
11 Ukujula okungokomoya kwezindlela zokufundisa ezazisetshenziswa kwaIsrayeli kusobala kuyo yonke incwadi yezAga. Ibonisa ukuthi injongo yayiwukufundisa “abangenalwazi” izinto eziphakeme ezinjengokuhlakanipha, isiyalo, ukuqonda, ukwahlulela, ubuhlakani, ulwazi, nekhono lokucabanga—konke lokhu ngenxa ‘yokwesaba uJehova.’ (IzAga 1:1-7; 2:1-14) Kugcizelela izisusa okufanele zishukumise ngayinye yezinceku zikaNkulunkulu namuhla ukuba ithuthukise imfundo yayo.
Abapristi, AmaLevi, Nabaprofethi
12. Obani ngaphandle kwabazali ababehlanganyela ekufundiseni abantu bakwaIsrayeli, futhi iyini incazelo eyisisekelo yegama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umthetho”?
12 Nakuba imfundo eyisisekelo yayinikezwa ngabazali, uJehova wabuye wafundisa abantu bakhe ngabapristi, amaLevi angebona abapristi, nabaprofethi. Ekusibusiseni kwakhe kokugcina isizwe samaLevi, uMose wathi: “Bafundisa uJakobe izahlulelo zakho, noIsrayeli umthetho wakho.” (Duteronomi 33:8, 10) Ngokuphawulekayo, igama elithi “umthetho” ngesiHeberu (toh·rahʹ) lisuselwa emsukeni osho “ukubonisa,” “ukufundisa,” “ukuyala,” esimweni sawo sesenzo. IEncyclopaedia Judaica ithi: “Ngakho-ke igama elithi [torah] lisho ‘imfundo,’ ‘imfundiso,’ noma ‘ukuyala.’”
13. Kungani uMthetho kaIsrayeli wawehlukile ezimisweni zomthetho zezinye izizwe?
13 Nalokhu kwahlukanisa uIsrayeli kwezinye izizwe ngisho nezizwe zosuku lwanamuhla. Izizwe zezombangazwe namuhla zinendikimba yemithetho uquqaba lomphakathi olwazi ingxenye encane kuphela yayo. Lapho abantu bephula umthetho, kumelwe bakhokhele abameli izimali ezinkulu ukuze babavikele. Izikole zomthetho ezochwepheshe kuphela. Kodwa, kwaIsrayeli uMthetho wawuyindlela kaNkulunkulu yokutshela abantu bakhe ngendlela ayefuna bamkhulekele ngayo futhi baphile ngokuvumelana nentando yakhe. Ngokungefani nezinye izimiso zomthetho, wawuhlanganisa ukuba nothando ngoNkulunkulu nomakhelwane. (Levitikusi 19:18; Duteronomi 6:5) UMthetho wawungeyona nakancane incwadi yomthetho engaphili. Wawunikeza imfundiso, imfundo, nokuyala ngendlela yokuphila okwakumelwe ifundwe.
14. Yisiphi esinye isizathu esenza uJehova walahla ubupristi bamaLevi? (Malaki 2:7, 8)
14 Ngenkathi besathembekile, abapristi, namaLevi babeyifeza kahle imithwalo yabo yemfanelo yokufundisa abantu. Kodwa ngokuvame kakhulu, abapristi babewudebeselela umsebenzi wabo wokufundisa isizwe. Lokhu kuntuleka kokufundiswa ngoMthetho kaNkulunkulu kwakuzoba nemiphumela emibi kakhulu kokubili kubapristi nakubantu. Ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E., uJehova waprofetha: “Abantu bami babhujiswa ngokuswela ukwazi; ngokuba ukulahlile ukwazi nami ngiyakukulahla wena, ungabi-ngumpristi wami; lokhu ukhohliwe umthetho kaNkulunkulu wakho nami ngiyakukhohlwa abantwana bakho.”—Hoseya 4:6.
15. (a) Ngaphezu kwabapristi, obani uJehova abavusa ukuba babe abafundisi kwaIsrayeli, futhi yini esinye isazi seBhayibheli esayibhala maqondana nendima yabo njengabafundisi? (b) Yini eyenzeka ekugcineni kuIsrayeli nakuJuda ngenxa yokulahla kwabo ulwazi ngoJehova nangezindlela zakhe?
15 Ngaphezu kwabapristi, uJehova wavusa abaprofethi ukuba babe abafundisi. Siyafunda: “UJehova wayexwayisile oIsrayeli noJuda ngesandla sabo bonke abaprofethi nababoni ukuthi: Phendukani ezindleleni zenu ezimbi, nigcine imiyalo yami nezimiso zami njengawo wonke umthetho engayala ngawo oyihlo nengawuthuma kini ngesandla sezinceku zami abaprofethi.” (2 AmaKhosi 17:13) Mayelana nendima yabaprofethi njengabafundisi, isazi seBhayibheli esingumFulentshi uRoland de Vaux sabhala: “Nabaprofethi babenokuthunywa kokufundisa abantu; lokhu okungenani kwakuyingxenye yomsebenzi wabo njengokubikezela ngekusasa. Futhi ukuphefumlelwa kwesiprofetho kwanikeza ukushumayela kwabo igunya lezwi likaNkulunkulu. Kusobala ukuthi ngaphansi kwesimiso sobukhosi abaprofethi babengabafundisi babantu bezenkolo nezokuziphatha; futhi, singanezela ukuthi, babengabafundisi abangcono kakhulu kunabo bonke, nababelalelwa kakhulu ngaso sonke isikhathi.” Ngenxa yokungafundiswa ngokufanelekile ngabapristi namaLevi kanye nokwehluleka ukulalela abaprofethi bakaJehova, amaIsrayeli azishiya izindlela zikaJehova. ISamariya lawela kuma-Asiriya ngo-740 B.C.E., futhi iJerusalema nethempeli lalo labhujiswa abaseBabiloni ngo-607 B.C.E.
Imfundo Ngesikhathi Sokuthunjwa Nangemva Kwakho
16, 17. (a) Yisiphi isimiso semfundo esaphoqelelwa kuDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu? (b) Yini eyabenza bakwazi ukungenela lemfundo yaseBabiloni kodwa bahlala bethembekile kuJehova?
16 Eminyakeni engaba yishumi ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, iNkosi uJehoyakini neqembu lezinduna nezikhulu bayiswa eBabiloni yiNkosi uNebukadinesari. (2 AmaKhosi 24:15) Phakathi kwabo kwakunoDaniyeli nezinye izikhulu ezintathu ezisezintsha. (Daniyeli 1:3, 6) UNebukadinesari wabayala bobane ukuba bangenele imfundo ekhethekile yokuqeqeshwa yeminyaka emithathu yokufundiswa “izincwadi nolimi lwamaKaledi.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, babenikwa “isabelo semihla ngemihla sokudla kwenkosi nesewayini eliphuzayo.” (Daniyeli 1:4, 5) Lokhu kwakungabangela ingozi ngezizathu eziningana. Cishe, loluhlelo lwemfundo lwalungeyona nje imfundo yolimi yeminyaka emithathu. Igama elithi “amaKaledi” kulendima libhekwa abanye njengelisho “abangebona abaseBabiloni njengeqembu labantu, kodwa isigaba sezifundiswa.” (The Soncino Books of the Bible) Lapho ekhulumela uDaniyeli, uC. F. Keil uthi: “UDaniyeli nabangane bakhe babezofundiswa ngokuhlakanipha kwabapristi bamaKaledi namadoda afundile, okwakufundiswa ezikoleni zaseBabiloni.” Isabelo sokudla kwenkosi futhi sabachayela ekwephuleni imigoqo yokudla eyayibekwe uMthetho kaMose. Benze njani?
17 Njengomkhulumeli walezikhulu ezisezintsha ezine ezingamaJuda, uDaniyeli wakwenza kwacaca zisuka nje ukuthi babengeke badle noma baphuze ukuze bangonakalisi unembeza wabo. (Daniyeli 1:8, 11-13) UJehova wakubusisa lokhu kuma okuqinile futhi wathambisa inhliziyo yesikhulu saseBabiloni esasiphethe. (Daniyeli 1:9, 14-16) Ngokuphathelene nezifundo zabo, izenzakalo ezalandela ekuphileni kwawo womane lamaHeberu asemasha zikufakazela ngalé kokungabaza ukuthi loluhlelo oluphoqelelwe lokufunda ngamasiko aseBabiloni lweminyaka emithathu aluzange luwabangele ukuba aphambuke ekunamatheleni kwawo okuvelele kuJehova nasekukhulekeleni kwakhe okumsulwa. (Daniyeli, izahluko 3 no-6) UJehova wawenza akwazi ukuphuma engenamyocu kulokhu kucwila okuphoqelelwe emfundweni ephakeme yaseBabiloni yeminyaka emithathu. “Lababafana abane uNkulunkulu wabanika ukwazi nokuqonda encwadini nasekuhlakanipheni; uDaniyeli wayenengqondo kuyo yonke imibono namaphupho. Ezintweni zonke zokuhlakanipha nezokuqonda inkosi eyayibabuza ngazo yabafumanisa bedlula kayishumi zonke izanusi nabathwebulayo ababesembusweni wayo wonke.”—Daniyeli 1:17, 20.
18. Yisiphi isimiso semfundo esaqhutshwa kwaJuda ngemva kokuthunjwa kwaseBabiloni?
18 Ngemva kokuthunjwa kwaseBabiloni, umsebenzi omkhulu wokufundisa waqhutshwa uEzra, umpristi ‘owayebhekisé inhliziyo yakhe ukufuna umthetho kaJehova, nokwenza nokufundisa izimiso nezahlulelo kwaIsrayeli.’ (Ezra 7:10) Kulokhu wayesizwa amaLevi athembekile, ‘ayefundisa abantu umthetho.’ (Nehemiya 8:7) UEzra wayeyisazi seBhayibheli futhi ‘engumbhali ochwepheshile.’ (Ezra 7:6) Kwakusosukwini lwakhe lapho ababhali bavelela khona njengesigaba.
Izikole ZoRabi
19. Yisiphi isigaba sabafundisi esase sivelile kwaIsrayeli ngesikhathi uJesu efika emhlabeni, futhi kungenxa yaziphi izizathu ezibalulekile yena nabafundi bakhe bengazange bayingenele imfundo ephakeme yamaJuda?
19 Ngesikhathi uJesu efika emhlabeni, ababhali base beyisigaba esiphakeme sabafundisi, benamathele kakhulu emasikweni kunasezimfundisweni zeqiniso zeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Babethanda ukubizwa ngokuthi “Rabi,” okwase kuyisiqu sokuhlonipha esisho ukuthi “Wena Omkhulu (Ohloniphekile).” (Mathewu 23:6, 7, umbhalo waphansi weNW) EmiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki, ababhali ngokuvamile bahlanganiswa nabaFarisi, abanye babo ababengabafundisi boMthetho. (IzEnzo 5:34) UJesu wawasola womabili lamaqembu ngokwenza izwi likaNkulunkulu libe yize ngenxa yesiko lawo nangokufundisa “izifundiso eziyimiyalo yabantu.” (Mathewu 15:1, 6, 9) Akumangalisi ukuthi uJesu neningi labafundi bakhe babengafundanga ezikoleni zorabi.—Johane 7:14, 15; IzEnzo 4:13; 22:3.
20. Lokhu kubukeza imfundo yangezikhathi zeBhayibheli kuye kwasibonisani, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova ziyayidinga imfundo?
20 Lokhu kuhlola imfundo yangezikhathi zeBhayibheli kuye kwabonisa ukuthi uJehova unguMfundisi Omkhulu wabantu bakhe. NgoMose, uNkulunkulu wahlela isimiso semfundo esikahle kwaIsrayeli. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi eside, kwavela isimiso semfundo ephakeme yamaJuda esafundisa izinto eziphambene neZwi likaNkulunkulu. Nakuba uJesu engazange aye ezikoleni ezinjalo zobuJuda, nokho, wayenguMfundisi ongenakuqhathaniswa. (Mathewu 7:28, 29; 23:8; Johane 13:13) Wathuma nabafundi bakhe ukuba bayofundisa, kuze kube ngisho nasekupheleni kwesimiso sezinto. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Ukuze benze lokhu, kwakuyodingeka babe abafundisi abahle futhi ngenxa yalokho babeyodinga imfundo. Ngakho amaKristu eqiniso kufanele ayibheke kanjani imfundo namuhla? Lombuzo uzohlolwa esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Isivivinyo Senkumbulo
◻ Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova unesithakazelo emfundweni yezinceku zakhe?
◻ Isimiso semfundo sakwaIsrayeli sasehluke ngaziphi izici kwesezinye izizwe?
◻ Hlobo luni lwemfundo abantwana bakwaIsrayeli ababeluthola?
◻ Yiziphi izindlela zokufundisa ezazisetshenziswa kwaIsrayeli?
◻ Kungani uJesu nabafundi bakhe bengazange baye ezikoleni zamaJuda zemfundo ephakeme?
[Isithombe ekhasini 14]
Imfundo ephoqelelwe eBabiloni ayizange idedisele uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe kude noJehova