Isahluko Sesine
Ukuma Nokuwa Kwesizemazema Sesithombe
1. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo esimweni esaphakama sekudlule iminyaka eyishumi iNkosi uNebukadinesari yathumba uDaniyeli nabanye?
SEKUDLULE ishumi leminyaka iNkosi uNebukadinesari yathumba uDaniyeli “nabakhulu bezwe” lakwaJuda yabaletha eBabiloni. (2 AmaKhosi 24:15) UDaniyeli osemusha usebenza esigodlweni senkosi lapho kuphakama isimo esisongela ukuphila. Kungani kufanele kusithakazelise lokhu? Kungoba indlela uJehova uNkulunkulu angenela ngayo endabeni, ayisindisi nje kuphela ukuphila kukaDaniyeli nabanye kodwa isinikeza nombono wokulandelana kwemibuso yezwe yesiprofetho seBhayibheli kuze kube sezikhathini zethu.
INKOSI IBHEKENE NENKANANKANA YENKINGA
2. UNebukadinesari waliphupha nini iphupho lakhe lokuqala elingokwesiprofetho?
2 “Ngomnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari,” kuloba umprofethi uDaniyeli, “uNebukadinesari waphupha amaphupho; umoya wakhe wakhathazeka, nobuthongo bakhe bambalekela.” (Daniyeli 2:1) Owaphupha kwakunguNebukadinesari, inkosi yoMbuso WaseBabiloni. Waphumelela ukuba ngumbusi wezwe ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho uJehova uNkulunkulu emvumela ukuba achithe iJerusalema nethempeli lalo. Ngonyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari njengombusi wezwe (606/605 B.C.E.), uNkulunkulu wamthumelela iphupho elethusayo.
3. Obani abahluleka ukuchaza iphupho lenkosi, futhi uNebukadinesari wasabela kanjani?
3 Leli phupho lamkhathaza kakhulu uNebukadinesari kangangokuba waqwasha. Njengokulindelekile, wayenexhala lokwazi incazelo yalo. Kodwa le nkosi enamandla yayisilikhohliwe iphupho! Ngakho yabiza abenzi bemilingo, abathwebulayo nabalumbi baseBabiloni, yathi mabayitshele iphupho bese beyalichaza. Zayima emthumeni. Ukuhluleka kwabo kwamthukuthelisa uNebukadinesari kangangokuthi wakhipha umyalo wokuba “kubhujiswe bonke abahlakaniphileyo baseBabiloni.” Lo myalo wawuzokwenza umprofethi uDaniyeli abhekane ubuso nobuso nomkhiphi wesahlulelo omisiwe. Ngani? Ngoba yena nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu—uHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya—babephakathi kwabantu abahlakaniphileyo baseBabiloni.—Daniyeli 2:2-14.
UDANIYELI UYAYILAMULA
4. (a) UDaniyeli wakwazi kanjani okwakuqukethwe yiphupho likaNebukadinesari nencazelo yalo? (b) UDaniyeli wambonga wathini uJehova uNkulunkulu?
4 Ngemva kokuzwa isizathu somyalo kaNebukadinesari wonya, “uDaniyeli wayesengena, wacela enkosini ukuba imnike isikhathi ukuze abonise inkosi incazelo.” Wavunyelwa. UDaniyeli waphindela endlini yakhe, yena nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu bathandaza, becela “umusa kuNkulunkulu wasezulwini ngale mfihlakalo.” Ngabo lobo busuku embonweni, uJehova wembulela uDaniyeli imfihlakalo yephupho. Egcwele ukwazisa, uDaniyeli wathi: “Malibongwe igama likaNkulunkulu kusukela kwaphakade kuze kube phakade, ngokuba ukuhlakanipha namandla kungokwakhe; uyaguqula izikhathi nezinkathi; uyasusa amakhosi, abeke amakhosi; unika abahlakaniphileyo ukuhlakanipha, nokwazi kwabaqonda ukwazi; uyambula okujulileyo nokufihlakeleyo; uyazi okusebumnyameni, nokukhanya kuhlezi kuye.” UDaniyeli wadumisa uJehova ngenxa yokukhanyiselwa okunjalo.—Daniyeli 2:15-23.
5. (a) Lapho ephambi kwenkosi, uDaniyeli wamtusa wathini uJehova? (b) Kungani incazelo kaDaniyeli isithakazelisa namuhla?
5 Ngakusasa, uDaniyeli waya ku-Ariyoki, induna yabathenwa, owayemiselwe ukuba abhubhise abahlakaniphileyo baseBabiloni. Wathi angezwa ukuthi uDaniyeli angalichaza iphupho, u-Ariyoki wamphuthumisa enkosini. Engazitusi yena, uDaniyeli watshela uNebukadinesari ukuthi: “Kukhona uNkulunkulu ezulwini owambula izimfihlakalo; wazisile inkosi uNebukadinesari okuyakuba khona ngezinsuku ezizayo.” UDaniyeli wayekulungele ukwambula ikusasa loMbuso WaseBabiloni, achaze nezenzakalo zezwe kusukela osukwini lukaNebukadinesari kuze kufike osukwini lwethu nangalé kwalo.—Daniyeli 2:24-30.
IPHUPHO—LIYAKHUNJULWA
6, 7. Lalithini iphupho uDaniyeli alikhumbuza inkosi?
6 UNebukadinesari walalelisisa lapho uDaniyeli echaza ethi: “Wena nkosi wabona, bheka, isithombe esikhulu. Lesi sithombe esasisikhulu nesikucwebezela kwaso kwakukuhle sema phambi kwakho, nesimo saso sasesabeka. Lesisithombe-ke, ikhanda laso liyigolide elihle, isifuba saso nezingalo zaso kuyisiliva, isisu saso namathanga aso kuyithusi, imilenze yaso iyinsimbi, izinyawo zaso inxenye yinsimbi, inxenye yibumba. Wawusubona ukuthi kwaqheshulwa itshe kungengazandla, lashaya isithombe ezinyaweni zaso eziyinsimbi nebumba, lazichoboza. Kwase kuchotshozwa kanyekanye insimbi, nebumba, nethusi, nesiliva, negolide, kwaba njengamakhoba ezibuya zasehlobo, kwasuswa ngumoya, akutholwanga ndawo; itshe elalisishaya isithombe laba yintaba enkulu, lawugcwalisa umhlaba wonke.”—Daniyeli 2:31-35.
7 Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba uNebukadinesari wajabula ngayo lapho ezwa uDaniyeli ebeka iphupho lakhe njengoba linjalo! Kodwa ake ume! Izihlakaniphi zaseBabiloni zaziyosinda kuphela uma uDaniyeli ebuye alichaze iphupho. Ezikhulumela yena nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu, uDaniyeli wathi: “Yilelo iphupho; nencazo siyakuyisho phambi kwenkosi.”—Daniyeli 2:36.
UMBUSO ONELUNGELO ELIKHETHEKILE
8. (a) Incazelo kaDaniyeli yathi ikhanda legolide lingubani noma liyini? (b) Laba khona nini leli khanda legolide?
8 “Wena nkosi uyinkosi yamakhosi onikwé umbuso, namandla, nodumo nguNkulunkulu wasezulwini. Ezindaweni zonke lapho abantwana babantu behlezi khona, izilwane zasendle nezinyoni zezulu uzinikele esandleni sakho, wenzé ukuba ubuse phezu kwazo zonke. Wena uyikhanda legolide.” (Daniyeli 2:37, 38) La mazwi asebenza kuNebukadinesari ngemva kokuba uJehova emsebenzisele ukuchitha iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi amakhosi ayebekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi eJerusalema ayengawohlu lozalo lukaDavide, inkosi kaJehova egcotshiwe. IJerusalema laliyinhloko-dolobha yakwaJuda, umbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso owawumelela ubukhosi bukaJehova emhlabeni. Ngokuchithwa kwalowo muzi ngo-607 B.C.E., lo mbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso awubange usaba khona. (1 IziKronike 29:23; 2 IziKronike 36:17-21) Imibuso yezwe elandelanayo eyayifanekiselwa izingxenye ezehlukene zesithombe manje yayisingakhonya emhlabeni, ingaphazanyiswa umbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso. Njengekhanda legolide, itshe eliyigugu kunawo wonke ayaziwa ezikhathini zasendulo, uNebukadinesari wayebe nelungelo lokugumbuqela lowo mbuso ngokuba achithe iJerusalema.—Bheka isihloko esithi “Inkosi Eyiqhawe Yakha Umbuso,” ekhasini 63.
9. Lalifanekiselani ikhanda legolide?
9 UNebukadinesari, owabusa iminyaka engu-43, wayeyinhloko yohlu lwamakhosi ayebusa eMbusweni WaseBabiloni. Lwaluhlanganisa umkhwenyana wakwakhe uNabonidasi nendodana yakhe eyizibulo, u-Evili-Merodaki. Lolo luhlu lwamakhosi lwaqhubeka eminye iminyaka engu-43, kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwendodana kaNabonidasi uBelishasari, ngo-539 B.C.E. (2 AmaKhosi 25:27; Daniyeli 5:30) Ngakho ikhanda legolide lesithombe sephupho lalingafanekiseli uNebukadinesari kuphela kodwa lonke uhlu lwamakhosi aseBabiloni.
10. (a) Iphupho likaNebukadinesari lakubonisa kanjani ukuthi uMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni wawungeke uhlale unomphela? (b) Umprofethi u-Isaya wabikezelani ngowayezonqoba iBabiloni? (c) IMediya nePheresiya yayisezingeni eliphansi kuneBabiloni ngamuphi umqondo?
10 UDaniyeli watshela uNebukadinesari ukuthi: “Emva kwakho kuyakuvuka omunye umbuso [ophansi] kunawe.” (Daniyeli 2:39, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Umbuso owafanekiselwa isifuba nezingalo zesiliva zesithombe wawuyolandela ukubusa kohlu lukaNebukadinesari. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngaphambili, u-Isaya wayebikezele ngalo mbuso, waze wayigagula ngisho nangegama inkosi yawo enqobayo—uKoresi. (Isaya 13:1-17; 21:2-9; 44:24–45:7, 13) Lona kwakunguMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya. Nakuba iMediya nePheresiya yasungula impucuko enkulu eyayingasondeli nakusondela kweyoMbuso WaseBabiloni, lo mbuso ufanekiselwa isiliva, itshe elingelona igugu njengegolide. Wawuphansi kunoMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni ngoba awuzange ube nelungelo lokugumbuqela uJuda, umbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso nenhloko-dolobha yawo iJerusalema.
11. Ukubusa kohlu lukaNebukadinesari kwaphelelwa nini yisikhathi?
11 Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-60 achaza iphupho, uDaniyeli wabona isiphetho sokubusa kohlu lukaNebukadinesari. UDaniyeli wayekhona ngobusuku bango-October 5/6, 539 B.C.E., ngesikhathi ibutho lamaMede namaPheresiya linqoba iBabiloni elalibonakala lingenakunqotshwa futhi libulala iNkosi uBelishasari. Ngemva kokufa kukaBelishasari, ikhanda legolide lesithombe sephupho—uMbuso WaseBabiloni—alibange lisaba khona.
UMBUSO UKHULULA ABANTU ABATHUNJIWE
12. Umyalo owakhishwa uKoresi ngo-537 B.C.E. wawazuzisa kanjani amaJuda ayethunjiwe?
12 IMediya nePheresiya yathatha isikhundla soMbuso WaseBabiloni njengombuso wezwe ongumakhonya ngo-539 B.C.E. Eneminyaka engu-62 ubudala, uDariyu umMede waba umbusi wokuqala womuzi onqotshiwe waseBabiloni. (Daniyeli 5:30, 31) Yena noKoresi umPheresiya babusa uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya ngokubambisana okwesikhashana. Lapho uDariyu esefile, uKoresi waba ukuphela kwenhloko yoMbuso WasePheresiya. KumaJuda ayeseBabiloni, ukubusa kukaKoresi kwasho ukukhululwa ekuthunjweni. Ngo-537 B.C.E., uKoresi wakhipha umyalo owawuvumela ukuba izithunjwa ezingamaJuda eBabiloni zibuyele ezweni lakubo zakhe kabusha iJerusalema nethempeli likaJehova. Nakuba kunjalo, umbuso kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso awuzange umiswe kabusha kwaJuda naseJerusalema.—2 IziKronike 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1–2:2a.
13. Sasifanekiselani isifuba nezingalo zesiliva zesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari?
13 Isifuba nezingalo zesiliva zesithombe sephupho kwakufanekisela uhlu lwamakhosi asePheresiya, kusukela kuKoresi Omkhulu. Lolo luhlu lwaqhubeka iminyaka engaphezu kuka-200. Kucatshangwa ukuthi uKoresi wafa ngenkathi esemkhankasweni wempi ngo-530 B.C.E. Emakhosini angaba ngu-12 amlandela esihlalweni sobukhosi soMbuso WasePheresiya, okungenani mabili abaphatha kahle abantu bakaJehova abakhethiwe. Enye kwakunguDariyu I (umPheresiya), enye kungu-Aritahishashita I.
14, 15. UDariyu Omkhulu no-Aritahishashita I bawasiza kanjani amaJuda?
14 UDariyu I wayengowesithathu ohlwini lwamakhosi asePheresiya ngemva kukaKoresi Omkhulu. Amabili angaphambili kwakunguCambyses II nomfowabo uBardiya (noma mhlawumbe uGaumata owayezishaya umPristi Oyisazi). Ngesikhathi uDariyu I, owayaziwa nangokuthi uDariyu Omkhulu, ehlala esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-521 B.C.E., umsebenzi wokwakha kabusha ithempeli eJerusalema wawuvinjelwe. Wathi angavumbulula umbhalo onomyalo kaKoresi enqolobaneni yokugcina umlando e-Akimetha, uDariyu wenza okungaphezu kokuqeda ukuvinjelwa ngo-520 B.C.E. Wanikela nangezimali ezazivela endaweni yomcebo wasebukhosini ukuze kwakhiwe kabusha ithempeli.—Ezra 6:1-12.
15 Omunye umbusi wasePheresiya owasiza emizamweni yamaJuda yokwakha kabusha kwakungu-Aritahishashita I, owalandela uyise u-Ahashiveroshi (uXerxes I) ngo-475 B.C.E. U-Aritahishashita kwathiwa owakwaLongimanus ngoba isandla sakhe sokudla sasiside kunesobunxele. Phakathi nonyaka ka-20 wokubusa kwakhe, ngo-455 B.C.E., wagunyaza umphathizitsha wakhe ongumJuda uNehemiya ukuba abe ngumbusi kwaJuda futhi akhe kabusha izindonga zeJerusalema. Lesi senzo saba ukuqala ‘kwamasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka’ achazwe esahlukweni 9 sikaDaniyeli futhi samisa izinsuku zokuvela nokufa kukaMesiya, noma uKristu, uJesu waseNazaretha.—Daniyeli 9:24-27; Nehemiya 1:1; 2:1-18.
16. UMbuso Wezwe WamaMede NamaPheresiya waphela nini futhi kubusa yiphi inkosi?
16 Inkosi yokugcina kwayisithupha alandela u-Aritahishashita I esihlalweni sobukhosi soMbuso WasePheresiya kwakunguDariyu III. Ukubusa kwakhe kwaphela isigubhukane ngo-331 B.C.E. lapho enqotshwa kabuhlungu u-Alexander Omkhulu eGaugamela, eduze kwaseNineve yasendulo. Lokhu kunqotshwa kwaba ukuphela koMbuso Wezwe WamaMede NamaPheresiya njengoba wawufanekiselwa ingxenye eyisiliva yesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari. Umbuso owawuzolandela wawumkhulu ngezindlela ezithile, kodwa futhi usezingeni eliphansi ngezinye izindlela. Kuba sobala lokhu lapho silalela uDaniyeli eqhubeka echaza iphupho likaNebukadinesari.
UMBUSO OMKHULU KODWA OSEZINGENI ELIPHANSI
17-19. (a) Yimuphi umbuso wezwe owawufanekiselwa isisu namathanga ethusi futhi ukubusa kwawo kwaba kukhulu kangakanani? (b) Kwakungubani u-Alexander III? (c) IsiGreki saba kanjani ulimi lomhlaba wonke, futhi yini esasiyifanelekela kahle?
17 UDaniyeli watshela uNebukadinesari ukuthi isisu namathanga alesi sizemazema sesithombe kwakwakha “omunye umbuso wesithathu wethusi oyakubusa emhlabeni wonke.” (Daniyeli 2:32, 39) Lo mbuso wesithathu wawuyolandela iBabiloni neMediya nePheresiya. Njengoba ithusi lisezingeni eliphansi kunesiliva, lo mbuso wezwe omusha wawuzoba sezingeni eliphansi kuneMediya nePheresiya ngoba wawungeke udunyiswe ngokunikezwa ilungelo elinjengokukhulula abantu bakaJehova. Nokho, lo mbuso wethusi ‘wawuzobusa emhlabeni wonke,’ okubonisa ukuthi wawuyoba mkhulu ngokwengeziwe kuneBabiloni noma iMediya nePheresiya. Amaqiniso omlando athini ngalo mbuso wezwe?
18 Ngokushesha ngemva kokuthola isihlalo sobukhosi saseMakedoniya njengefa ngo-336 B.C.E. eneminyaka engu-20 ubudala, u-Alexander III owayenesifiso sokuvelela waqala umkhankaso wokunqoba. Ngenxa yokuphumelela kwakhe ezimpini, waziwa ngokuthi u-Alexander Omkhulu. Njengoba ayenqoba ephindelela, waqhubeka wangena endaweni yasePheresiya. Lapho enqoba uDariyu III empini eyayibambene eGaugamela ngo-331 B.C.E., uMbuso WasePheresiya waqala ukuwa futhi u-Alexander wamisa iGrisi njengombuso wezwe omusha.
19 Ngemva kokunqoba eGaugamela, u-Alexander waqhubeka wathatha inhloko-dolobha yasePheresiya iBabiloni, iSusa, iPersepolis, ne-Akimetha. Njengoba ayesewunqobe wonke uMbuso WasePheresiya, wagasela entshonalanga yelaseNdiya. Kwamiswa amakoloni amaGreki emazweni ayenqotshiwe. Ngaleyo ndlela, ulimi lwamaGreki namasiko awo kwasakazeka endaweni yonke. Eqinisweni, uMbuso WamaGreki waba mkhulu wayidlula yonke eyayandulele. Njengoba uDaniyeli ayebikezele, umbuso wethusi ‘wabusa emhlabeni wonke.’ Umphumela walokhu waba ukuthi isiGreki (isiKoine) saba ulimi lomhlaba wonke. Njengoba kwakuwulimi olwaluzichaza ngokunembile izinto, lwabonakala lufaneleka kakhulu ukuba kubhalwe ngalo imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki futhi kusakazwe ngalo izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.
20. Kwenzekani eMbusweni WaseGrisi ngemva kokufa kuka-Alexander Omkhulu?
20 U-Alexander Omkhulu waphila iminyaka engu-8 kuphela engumbusi wezwe. Emncane engako, u-Alexander oneminyaka engu-32 ubudala wahlatshwa ukugula ngemva kwedili elithile futhi ngokushesha kamuva wafa ngo-June 13, 323 B.C.E. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, umbuso wakhe omkhulukazi wahlukaniswa waba izingxenye ezine, ngamunye ubuswa omunye wojenene bakhe. Ngaleyo ndlela, embusweni owodwa omkhulu kwavela imibuso emine eyagcina ishwabadelwe uMbuso WamaRoma. Lo mbuso wezwe onjengethusi waqhubeka kwaze kwaba ngu-30 B.C.E. lapho umbuso wokugcina kulena emine—umbuso kaPtolemy owawubusa eGibithe—ekugcineni uwela kwelaseRoma.
UMBUSO OPHIHLIZA WAPHULE
21. UDaniyeli wawuchaza kanjani “umbuso wesine”?
21 UDaniyeli waqhubeka nencazelo yakhe yesithombe sephupho: “Umbuso wesine [ngemva kweBabiloni, iMediya nePheresiya neGrisi] uyakuqina njengensimbi, ngokuba insimbi [iphihliza], igxobe konke; nanjengensimbi ekwaphula konke lokhu, [uyakuphihliza], waphule.” (Daniyeli 2:40, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Ngenxa yamandla awo nekhono lawo lokuphihliza, lo mbuso wezwe wawuyofana nensimbi—ube namandla kunemibuso efanekiselwa yigolide, isiliva, noma ithusi. UMbuso WaseRoma wawunjalo.
22. UMbuso WaseRoma wawufana nensimbi ngayiphi indlela?
22 IRoma yaphihliza futhi yaphula uMbuso WaseGrisi futhi yaqothula izinsalela zombuso wezwe wamaMede namaPheresiya nowaseBabiloni. Njengoba wawungabonisi nhlonipho ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu owawumenyezelwa uJesu Kristu, wambulala esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa ngo-33 C.E. Izama ukuqothula ubuKristu beqiniso, iRoma yashushisa abafundi bakaJesu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaRoma achitha iJerusalema nethempeli lalo ngo-70 C.E.
23, 24. Ngalé koMbuso WaseRoma, imilenze yesithombe ifanekiselani?
23 Imilenze yensimbi yesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari yayingafanekiseli nje kuphela uMbuso WaseRoma kodwa ifanekisela nemixhantela yawo yezombangazwe. Cabanga ngala mazwi alotshwe kusAmbulo 17:10: “Kukhona amakhosi ayisikhombisa: ayisihlanu awile, enye ikhona, enye ayikakafiki, kodwa lapho ifika kumelwe ihlale isikhathi esifushane.” Ngesikhathi umphostoli uJohane eloba la mazwi, wayethunjwe amaRoma esiqhinganeni sasePhatmose. La makhosi amahlanu ayesewile, noma imibuso yezwe, kwakuyiGibithe, i-Asiriya, iBabiloni, amaMede namaPheresiya neGrisi. Owesithupha—uMbuso WaseRoma—wawusabusa. Kodwa nawo wawuzokuwa, bese kuvela inkosi yesikhombisa kwelinye lamazwe aseRoma ayethathiwe. Yimuphi lo mbuso wezwe?
24 IBrithani yake yaba yingxenye esenyakatho-ntshonalanga yoMbuso WaseRoma. Kodwa ngonyaka ka-1763, yayisiwuMbuso WamaNgisi—iBrithani eyayibusa izilwandle ezingu-7. Ngo-1776, amakoloni ayo angu-13 aseMelika ayesezitholele inkululeko ukuze akhe i-United States of America. Nokho, eminyakeni eyalandela iBrithani ne-United States kwalekelelana empini nasekudaleni ukuthula. Ngaleyo ndlela, inhlanganisela yoMbuso WamaNgisi NamaMelika yaba umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. NjengoMbuso WaseRoma, iye yazibonisa ‘iqine njengensimbi,’ isebenzisa igunya elinjengensimbi. Ngakho, imilenze yensimbi yesithombe sephupho ihlanganisa uMbuso WaseRoma nombuso wezwe ombaxambili wamaNgisi NamaMelika.
INHLANGANISELA ENTEKENTEKE
25. UDaniyeli wathini ngezinyawo nezinzwane zesithombe?
25 Ngokulandelayo, uDaniyeli utshela uNebukadinesari: “Njengalokho wabona izinyawo nezinzwani, inxenye iyibumba lombumbi, inxenye insimbi, uyakuba ngumbuso owahlukeneyo; kepha kuyakuba kuwo amandla ensimbi, njengokuba wabona insimbi ixubene nebumba lodaka. Njengalokho izinzwani zezinyawo zaziyinsimbi inxenye, nenxenye ibumba, umbuso uyakuba namandla ngokwenxenye, nangokwenxenye ube buthakathaka. Njengalokho wabona insimbi ixubene nebumba lodaka, bayakuzixubanisa nenzalo yabantu, kepha abayikunamathelana omunye nomunye, njengokuba insimbi ingahlangani nebumba.”—Daniyeli 2:41-43.
26. Ukubusa okufanekiselwa izinyawo nezinzwane kubonakala nini?
26 Ukulandelana kwemibuso yezwe efanekiselwa izingxenye ezihlukahlukene zesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari kwaqala ngekhanda kwehla kwaya ezinyaweni. Kusobala-ke ukuthi izinyawo nezinzwane ‘zensimbi exubene nebumba lodaka’ zazifanekisela ukubonakaliswa kokugcina kokubusa komuntu okwakuyoba khona phakathi ‘nesikhathi sokugcina.’—Daniyeli 12:4.
27. (a) Yisiphi isimo esifanekiselwa izinyawo nezinzwane zensimbi exutshwe nobumba? (b) Izinzwane eziyishumi zesithombe zifanekiselani?
27 Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20, uMbuso WaseBrithani wawubusa umuntu oyedwa kwabane emhlabeni. Eminye imibuso emincane yaseYurophu yayibusa ezinye izigidi zabantu. Kodwa iMpi Yezwe I yaveza amaqembu ezizwe esikhundleni semibuso emincane. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II, lo mkhuba wanda. Njengoba ukushisekela ubuzwe kwakubhebhetheka, inani lezizwe emhlabeni landa ngokuphawulekayo. Izinzwane eziyishumi zesithombe zifanekisela yonke leyo mibuso nohulumeni ababa khona ngasikhathi sinye, ngoba eBhayibhelini ngezinye izikhathi ishumi limelela ukuphelela kwasemhlabeni.—Qhathanisa no-Eksodusi 34:28; Mathewu 25:1; IsAmbulo 2:10.
28, 29. (a) NgokukaDaniyeli, ubumba lwalufanekiselani? (b) Yini engase ishiwo ngengxube yensimbi nobumba?
28 Manje njengoba ‘sesisesikhathini sokugcina,’ sesifinyelele ezinyaweni zesithombe. Abanye ohulumeni abafanekiselwa izinyawo nezinzwane zensimbi exutshwe nobumba ze-sithombe banjengensimbi—bangomashiqela noma banesihluku. Abanye banjengobumba. Ngayiphi indlela? UDaniyeli wahlobanisa ubumba “nenzalo yabantu.” (Daniyeli 2:43) Naphezu kokuba ntekenteke kobumba, lolo inzalo yabantu eyenziwe ngalo, ababusi abanjengensimbi abasadla ngoludala baye baphoqeleka ukuba babalalele ngokwengeziwe abantu abavamile, abafuna ukuba nezwi kohulumeni abababusayo. (Jobe 10:9) Kodwa alukho ubumbano phakathi kwababusi abangomashiqela nabantu abavamile—njengoba nje insimbi nobumba kungenakuhlangana. Lapho isithombe sifa, izwe liyobe lihlukene limaqembuqembu kwezombangazwe!
29 Ingabe isimo sokuhlukana kwezinyawo nezinzwane siyosiwisa sonke isithombe? Kuyokwenzekani esithombeni?
UMVUTHWANDABA OPHAWULEKAYO!
30. Chaza umvuthwandaba wephupho likaNebukadinesari.
30 Cabangela umvuthwandaba waleli phupho. UDaniyeli watshela inkosi: “Wawusubona ukuthi kwaqheshulwa itshe kungengazandla, lashaya isithombe ezinyaweni zaso eziyinsimbi nebumba, lazichoboza. Kwase kuchotshozwa kanyekanye insimbi, nebumba, nethusi, nesiliva, negolide, kwaba njengamakhoba ezibuya zasehlobo, kwasuswa ngumoya, akutholwanga ndawo; itshe elalisishaya isithombe laba-yintaba enkulu, lawugcwalisa umhlaba wonke.”—Daniyeli 2:34, 35.
31, 32. Yini eyabikezelwa ngokuqondene nengxenye yokugcina yephupho likaNebukadinesari?
31 Sinikeza incazelo, lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Ezinsukwini zalawo makhosi uNkulunkulu wasezulwini uyakumisa umbuso ongasoze wachithwa nobukhosi bawo bungayikushiyelwa kwabanye abantu, kepha uyakuchoboza, uqede yonke lemibuso, wona uqobo ume phakade. Njengalokho wabona itshe ukuthi laqheshulwa entabeni kungengazandla, nokuthi lachoboza insimbi, nethusi, nebumba, nesiliva, negolide, uNkulunkulu omkhulu uyazisile inkosi okuyakuba khona emva kwalokhu; iphupho liqinisile, nencazo yalo iyiqiniso.”—Daniyeli 2:44, 45.
32 Ebona ukuthi wayesekhunjuzwe iphupho lakhe futhi lachazwa, uNebukadinesari wavuma ukuthi nguNkulunkulu kaDaniyeli kuphela ‘oyiNkosi yamakhosi, uMambuli wezimfihlakalo.’ Inkosi yabuye yanikeza uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu izikhundla eziphezulu. (Daniyeli 2:46-49) ‘Incazo kaDaniyeli eyiqiniso’ ibaluleke ngani-ke osukwini lwanamuhla?
‘INTABA IGCWALISA UMHLABA’
33. “Itshe” laqheshulwa kuyiphi “intaba,” futhi kwenzeka nini nakanjani lokhu?
33 Ngesikhathi kuphela “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe” ngo-October 1914, “uNkulunkulu wasezulwini” wamisa uMbuso wasezulwini ngokubeka esihlalweni sobukhosi iNdodana yakhe egcotshiwe, uJesu Kristu, ‘njengeNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi.’a (Luka 21:24; IsAmbulo 12:1-5; 19:16) Kwenzeka kanjalo-ke ukuba ngamandla aphezulu, hhayi ngezandla zomuntu, “itshe” eliwuMbuso kaMesiya, liqheshulwe “entabeni” ewubukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke. Lo hulumeni wasezulwini uphethwe uJesu Kristu, lowo uNkulunkulu amnike ukungafi. (Roma 6:9; 1 Thimothewu 6:15, 16) Ngakho, lo “mbuso weNkosi yethu [uNkulunkulu] nokaKristu wayo”—ukubonakaliswa kobukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke—ngeke udluliselwe komunye umuntu. Uyokuma kuze kube phakade.—IsAmbulo 11:15.
34. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzalwe “ezinsukwini zalawo makhosi”?
34 Lo Mbuso wazalwa “ezinsukwini zalawo makhosi.” (Daniyeli 2:44) La makhosi kwakungewona nje kuphela lawo afanekiselwa izinzwane eziyishumi zesithombe kodwa nalawo afanekiselwa izingxenye zaso eziyinsimbi, ithusi, isiliva negolide. Nakuba imibuso yaseBabiloni, iPheresiya, iGrisi nowaseRoma yayisidlulile njengemibuso yezwe, izinsalela zayo zazisekhona ngo-1914. UMbuso WaseTurkey ngaleso sikhathi wawubusa isifunda saseBabiloni, kanti ohulumeni bezwe babebusa ePheresiya (Iran), eGrisi, eRoma nase-Italy.
35. Leli “litshe” liyosiphihliza nini isithombe, futhi lesi sithombe siyocoboshiswa kanjani?
35 UMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini masinyane uzophihliza isithombe esingokomfanekiso ezinyaweni. Umphumela uyoba ukuvithizwa kwayo yonke imibuso esifanekiselayo, uyiqede. Ngempela, “empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke,” igalelo lalelo “litshe” liyoba nomfutho kangangokuba lesi sithombe siyogayeka sibe impuphu, umoya wesivunguvungu sikaNkulunkulu uyiphephule njengamakhoba esibuya. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Khona-ke, njengetshe elakhula laba ngangentaba lagcwalisa umhlaba, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyoba uhulumeni osantaba oyothonya “umhlaba wonke.”—Daniyeli 2:35.
36. Kungani uMbuso kaMesiya ungase ubizwe ngokuthi uhulumeni ozinzile?
36 Nakuba uMbuso kaMesiya usezulwini, amandla awo ayofinyelela embulungeni yethu ukuze kubusiswe bonke abantu abalalelayo emhlabeni. Lo hulumeni ozinzile “awusoze wachithwa” noma “ushiyelwe kwabanye abantu.” Ngokungefani nemibuso yababusi abangabantu abafayo, ‘uyokuma phakade,’ naphakade. (Daniyeli 2:44) Kwangathi ungaba nelungelo lokuba ngomunye wezikhonzi zawo kuze kube phakade.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Bheka iSahluko 6 sale ncwadi.
YINI OYIZUZILE?
• Yimiphi imibuso yezwe emelelwe yizingxenye ezihlukahlukene zesizemazema sesithombe sephupho likaNebukadinesari?
• Yisiphi isimo sezwe esimelelwa izinyawo nezinzwane eziyishumi zensimbi exutshwe nobumba?
• “Itshe” laqheshulwa nini futhi kuyiphi “intaba”?
• “Itshe” liyosiphihliza nini isithombe?
[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 63-67]
INKOSI EYIQHAWE YAKHA UMBUSO
INKOSANA eyindlalifa yaseBabiloni nebutho layo bashaya ikhuhle emabuthweni aseGibithe kaFaro-Nekho eKarikemishi, eSiriya. AbaseGibithe abanqotshiwe babalekela eningizimu ngaseGibithe, abaseBabiloni bayabajaha. Kodwa umyalezo ovela eBabiloni uphoqa le nkosana enqobayo ukuba iyeke ukubajaha. Lo myalezo uthi uyise, uNabopolassar, ushonile. UNebukadinesari unikeza ojenene bakhe umsebenzi wokubuya nezithunjwa nempango, yena uphindela ekhaya masinyane, afike athathe isihlalo sobukhosi esishiywe uyise.
UNebukadinesari wahlala kanjalo esihlalweni sobukhosi saseBabiloni ngonyaka ka-624 B.C.E., waba umbusi wesibili woMbuso WaseBabiloni Elisha. Phakathi neminyaka engu-43 ebusa, wadla izindawo ezazike zaba ezoMbuso Wezwe Wase-Asiriya futhi wawenabisa umbuso wakhe, wadla iSiriya enyakatho, nePalestina entshonalanga kwaze kwayofika emngceleni weGibithe.—Bheka ibalazwe.
Ngonyaka wesine wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari (620 B.C.E.), wenza uJuda waba umbuso okhonza ngaphansi kwakhe. (2 AmaKhosi 24:1) Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu, ukuhlubuka kukaJuda kwenza iBabiloni lavimbezela iJerusalema. UNebukadinesari wathatha uJehoyakini, uDaniyeli nabanye wabathumbela eBabiloni. Le nkosi yathatha nezinye izitsha zethempeli likaJehova. Yenza uyis’ omncane kaJehoyakini, uSedekiya, waba yinkosi yakwaJuda ekhonza ngaphansi kukaNebukadinesari.—2 AmaKhosi 24:2-17; Daniyeli 1:6, 7.
Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile, noSedekiya wahlubuka, wazimbandakanya neGibithe. UNebukadinesari waphinda walivimbezela iJerusalema, kwathi ngo-607 B.C.E., wabhodloza udonga lwalo, washisa ithempeli, wawuchitha lo muzi. Wawabulala wonke amadodana kaSedekiya wabe esekopolota amehlo kaSedekiya wambopha, ukuze amyise eBabiloni eyisiboshwa. UNebukadinesari wathumba abantu abaningi futhi izitsha zethempeli ezazisele wazithuthela eBabiloni. “Wathunjwa kanjalo uJuda ezweni lakubo.”—2 AmaKhosi 24:18–25:21.
UNebukadinesari wanqoba neTire ngokulivimbezela—walivimbezela iminyaka engu-13. Phakathi nalokho kuvinjezelwa, amakhanda amasosha akhe ‘aphucuka’ ngenxa yokukhuhlwa izigqoko zokuzivikela, namahlombe awo ‘aqothulwa’ ukuthwala izinto ezazisetshenziselwa ukwakha izinto zokulivimbezela. (Hezekeli 29:18) Ekugcineni, iTire lacela umaluju emabuthweni aseBabiloni.
Ngokusobala inkosi yaseBabiloni yayingumdidiyeli wempi okhaliphile. Ezinye izincwadi, ikakhulu ezaseBabiloni, zibuye ziyichaze njengenkosi enobulungisa. Nakuba imiBhalo ingalibeki ngembaba elokuthi uNebukadinesari wayenobulungisa, umprofethi uJeremiya wathi nakuba uSedekiya ayehlubukile, wayeyophathwa kahle ‘uma ephuma nokuphuma, aye ezikhulwini zenkosi yaseBabele.’ (Jeremiya 38:17, 18) Futhi ngemva kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, uNebukadinesari wamphatha ngenhlonipho uJeremiya. Ngokuqondene noJeremiya, inkosi yayala: “Mthathe, umbheke, ungamenzeli-lutho olubi, kepha wenze kuye njengokusho kwakhe kuwe.”—Jeremiya 39:11, 12; 40:1-4.
Njengomphathi wombuso, uNebukadinesari washesha ukubona izimfanelo namakhono kaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu—uShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego— abamagama abo esiHeberu ngoHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya. Ngakho-ke inkosi yabasebenzisa ezikhundleni eziphakeme embusweni wayo.—Daniyeli 1:6, 7, 19-21; 2:49.
Ngokwenkolo, uNebukadinesari wayezinikele ngokuyinhloko kuMarduk, unkulunkulu omkhulu waseBabiloni. Le nkosi yayibonga uMarduk ngokunqoba kwayo konke. EBabiloni, yakha amathempeli kaMarduk nawabanye onkulunkulu abaningi baseBabiloni futhi yawenza aba mahle. Kungenzeka ukuthi isithombe segolide esasimiswe ethafeni laseDura sasinikezelwe kuMarduk. Futhi kubonakala sengathi uNebukadinesari wayethembele kakhulu ekubhuleni lapho ehlela izimpi zakhe.
UNebukadinesari waziqhayisa nangokwakha kabusha iBabiloni, umuzi owawubiyelwe omkhulu kunayo yonke eyangaleso sikhathi. Ngokuqedela udonga olukhulu olubhangqene olwaluqale ukwakhiwa uyise, uNebukadinesari wenza le nhloko-dolobha yabonakala ingenakunqobeka. Inkosi yalungisa isigodlo esidala esasisenkabeni yomuzi, yakha isigodlo sasehlobo esiqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba mabili ukuya enyakatho. Ukuze anelise indlovukazi yakhe engumMediya, eyayikhumbula amagquma namahlathi angakubo, kuthiwa uNebukadinesari wakha izingadi ezindaweni eziphakeme—ezibalwa phakathi kwezimangaliso eziyisikhombisa zezwe lasendulo.
“Angithi yileli Babele elikhulu engilakhile libe yindlu yobukhosi ngezikhwepha zamandla ami, libe ludumo lobukhosi bami, na?” kuqhosha inkosi ngelinye ilanga njengoba yayihambahamba esigodlweni saseBabiloni. “Izwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi,” yangenwa umsangano. Njengoba yayingasakufanelekeli ukubusa kwaze kwaphela iminyaka eyisikhombisa, yadla utshani, njengoba nje uDaniyeli ayebikezele. Ekupheleni kwaleyo nkathi, umbuso wabuyiselwa kuNebukadinesari, owabusa waze wafa ngo-582 B.C.E.—Daniyeli 4:30-36.
YINI OYIZUZILE?
Yini engase ishiwo ngokuba kukaNebukadinesari
• umdidiyeli wempi?
• umphathi wombuso?
• umkhulekeli kaMarduk?
• umakhi?
[Ibalazwe]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
UMBUSO WASEBABILONI
ULWANDLE OLUBOMVU
IJerusalema
UMfula I-Ewufrathe
UMfula I-Tigris
INineve
ISusa
IBabiloni
I-Uri
[Isithombe]
IBabiloni, umuzi obiyelwe omkhulu kunayo yonke eyangesikhathi sawo
[Isithombe]
Inyoka yayiwuphawu lukaMarduk
[Isithombe]
Izingadi zodumo zasezindaweni eziphakeme eBabiloni
[Umdwebo/Isithombe ekhasini 6]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
IMIBUSO YEZWE YESIPROFETHO SIKADANIYELI
Isizemazema sesithombe (Daniyeli 2:31-45)
IBABILONI kusukela ngo-607 B.C.E.
AMAMEDE NAMAPHERESIYA kusukela ngo-539 B.C.E.
IGRISI kusukela ngo-331 B.C.E.
IROMA kusukela ngo-30 B.C.E.
UMBUSO WEZWE WAMANGISI NAMAMELIKA kusukela ngo-1763 C.E.
IZWE ELIHLUKENE NGOKWE- ZOMBANGAZWE esikhathini sokuphela
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 47]
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 58]