Isahluko Sesihlanu
Ukholo Lwabo Lwasinda Ovivinyweni Olunzima
1. Abaningi bazizwa kanjani ngokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu nasezweni lakubo?
INGABE kufanele uzinikele kuNkulunkulu noma ezweni ohlala kulo? Abaningi bangaphendula ngokuthi, ‘Ngikukhonzé kokubili. Ngikhulekela uNkulunkulu ngokwemithetho yenkolo yami; ngesikhathi esifanayo, ngizinikele ezweni lakithi.’
2. Kungayiphi indlela inkosi yaseBabiloni yayingumuntu wenkolo nowezombangazwe?
2 Umehluko phakathi kokuzinikela okungokwenkolo nokushisekela izwe ungase ungacaci kahle namuhla, kodwa eBabiloni lasendulo wawungekho nhlobo. Empeleni, izinto eziphathelene nomphakathi nezinto ezingcwele zazihlangene kangangokuba ngezinye izikhathi zazingahlukaniseki. UProfesa Charles F. Pfeiffer uyabhala: “EBabiloni lasendulo inkosi yayiba umPristi Ophakeme iphinde ibe umbusi womphakathi. Yayenza imihlatshelo futhi inqumele izikhonzi zayo indlela engokwenkolo yokuphila.”
3. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uNebukadinesari wayengumuntu oyithanda ngokujulile inkolo?
3 Cabanga ngeNkosi uNebukadinesari. Igama lakhe lisho ukuthi “O Nebo, Vikela Indlalifa!” UNebo kwakungunkulunkulu waseBabiloni wenhlakanipho nezolimo. UNebukadinesari wayengumuntu oyithanda ngokujulile inkolo. Njengoba sekuphawuliwe ngaphambili, wakha amathempeli onkulunkulu abaningi baseBabiloni, wawenza aba mahle futhi wayezinikele ngokukhethekile kuMarduk, okunguyena ayembonga ngokunqoba kwakhe izimpi.a Kubonakala sengathi uNebukadinesari wayethembele kakhulu nasekubhuleni lapho akha amaqhinga akhe empi.—Hezekeli 21:18-23.
4. Chaza umoya wenkolo waseBabiloni.
4 Ngempela, kulo lonke elaseBabiloni kwakuheleza umoya wenkolo. Lo muzi wawunamathempeli angaphezu kuka-50 okwakukhulekelwa kuwo izinhlobonhlobo zonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi, kuhlanganise noziqu-zintathu ongu-Anu (unkulunkulu wesibhakabhaka), u-Enlil (unkulunkulu womhlaba, umoya nesivunguvungu), no-Ea (unkulunkulu wamanzi). Omunye uziqu-zintathu wayakhiwa uSin (unkulunkulu wenyanga), uShamash (unkulunkulu welanga), no-Ishtar (unkulunkulukazi wenzalo). Ukwenza imilingo, ukuthakatha nokufunda izinkanyezi kwakunendima ebalulekile ekukhulekeleni kwaseBabiloni.
5. Isimo esingokwenkolo saseBabiloni sazibekela yiphi inselele izithunjwa ezingamaJuda?
5 Ukuphila phakathi kwabantu ababekhulekela onkulunkulu abaningi kwabekela izithunjwa ezingamaJuda inselele enkulu. Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili, uMose wayexwayise ama-Israyeli ukuthi uma ekhetha ukuhlubuka kuMniki-mthetho Ophakeme, kwakuyoba nemiphumela emibi kakhulu. UMose wawatshela: “UJehova uyakuyisa wena nenkosi oyibeké phezu kwakho kuso isizwe ongasazi, wena nawoyihlo, ukhonze lapho abanye onkulunkulu, imithi namatshe.”—Duteronomi 28:15, 36.
6. Kungani kwakuyinselele ekhethekile ngoDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya ukuhlala eBabiloni?
6 AmaJuda manje azithola ekuso kanye leso simo esivivinyayo. Kwakuzoba nzima ukugcina ubuqotho kuJehova, ikakhulukazi kuDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya. Laba basha abane abangamaHeberu babekhethwe ngokukhethekile ukuze baqeqeshelwe umsebenzi kahulumeni. (Daniyeli 1:3-5) Khumbula ukuthi babethiwe ngisho namagama aseBabiloni—elithi Beliteshasari, Shadiraki, Meshaki nelithi Abedi-Nego—cishe ukuze benziwe bazivumelanise nendawo yabo entsha.b Izikhundla eziphezulu zalezi zinsizwa zaziyokwenza kusheshe kubonakale lapho zenqaba ukukhulekela onkulunkulu bakuleli lizwe—kube ngisho ukuvukela umbuso.
ISITHOMBE SEGOLIDE SIBA USONGO
7. (a) Chaza isithombe esamiswa uNebukadinesari. (b) Yayiyini injongo yalesi sithombe?
7 Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo, lapho ezama ukuqinisa ubunye bombuso wakhe, uNebukadinesari wamisa isithombe segolide ethafeni laseDura. Sasiyizingalo ezingu-60 (amamitha angu-27) ukuphakama, siyizingalo eziyisithupha (amamitha angu-2,7) ububanzi.c Abanye bakholelwa ukuthi lesi sithombe sasiyinsika nje, noma insika esatshe elide elibaziwe. Kungenzeka sasinesisekelo esiphakeme kakhulu okwakumiswe kuso umfanekiso omkhulu womuntu, mhlawumbe omelela uNebukadinesari uqobo noma unkulunkulu uNebo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yikuphi, lesi sikhumbuzo esiphakeme sasiwuphawu loMbuso WaseBabiloni. Kwakufanele sibonakale futhi sikhulekelwe.—Daniyeli 3:1.
8. (a) Obani ababizwa ekumisweni kwesithombe, futhi bonke ababekhona kwakudingeka benzeni? (b) Sasizoba yini isijeziso sokwenqaba ukukhothama phambi kwesithombe?
8 UNebukadinesari wahlela ukuba kube nomkhosi wokumiswa kwaso. Waqoqa ababusi bakhe bezifunda, izinduna, ababusi, abeluleki, abaphathi-zimali, abahluleli, izimantshi, nabo bonke abaphathi bezifunda. Ummemezeli wayesememeza: “We nina bantu nezizwe, nezilimi, niyayalwa, ukuba ngesikhathi enizwa ngaso ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, niwe phansi, nikhuleke esithombeni segolide uNebukadinesari inkosi asimisileyo. Ongawi phansi, akhuleke, uyakuphonswa ngasona leso sikhathi phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo.”—Daniyeli 3:2-6.
9. Kubonakala sengathi kwakubaluleke ngani ukukhothama phambi kwesithombe esasimiswe uNebukadinesari?
9 Abanye bakholelwa ukuthi uNebukadinesari wahlela ukuba kube nalo mkhosi ngoba ezama ukuphoqa amaJuda ukuba ayeke ukukhulekela uJehova. Sengathi kwakungenjalo ngoba ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo, yizikhulu zikahulumeni kuphela ezazibiziwe kulo mkhosi. Ngakho, amaJuda ayezoba khona kwakuzoba yilawo kuphela asezikhundleni ezithile zikahulumeni. Khona-ke, kubonakala sengathi ukukhothama phambi kwesithombe kwakuwumkhosi ohloselwe ukuqinisa ubumbano phakathi kwesigaba esibusayo. Isazi uJohn F. Walvoord siyaphawula: “Ngakolunye uhlangothi ukubukisa okunjalo ngezikhulu kwakuwukuboniswa okujabulisayo kwamandla ombuso kaNebukadinesari kanti ngakolunye uhlangothi kwakubalulekile ngoba kwakubonisa ukuqaphela onkulunkulu okwakucatshangwa ukuthi babebenza banqobe.”
IZINCEKU ZIKAJEHOVA ZIYENQABA UKUYEKETHISA
10. Kungani abangemaJuda babengeke babe nenkinga yokulalela umyalo kaNebukadinesari?
10 Nakuba abaningi kulabo ababebuthene phambi kwesithombe sikaNebukadinesari babezinikele konkulunkulu abahlukahlukene ababebavikela, kwakungeke kuthi dikí kubo lapho besikhulekela. “Bonke babekujwayele ukukhulekela izithombe, futhi ukukhulekela unkulunkulu othile kwakungabavimbeli ukuba bakhonze omunye,” kuchaza esinye isazi seBhayibheli. Saqhubeka: “Kwakuvumelana nemibono eyayivamile yabakhulekeli bezithombe yokuthi kwakunonkulunkulu abaningi . . . nokuthi kwakungeyona into engafanele ukukhulekela noma imuphi omunye unkulunkulu wabanye abantu noma welinye izwe.”
11. UShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego benqabelani ukukhothama phambi kwesithombe?
11 Kodwa kwakuyindaba ehlukile kumaJuda. UNkulunkulu wawo, uJehova, wayewayalile, wathi: “Ungazenzeli izithombe ezibaziweyo, namfanekiso wokusezulwini ngaphezulu, nowokusemhlabeni phansi, nowokusemanzini phansi komhlaba; ungazikhothameli, ungazikhonzi, ngokuba mina Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho nginguNkulunkulu onomhawu.” (Eksodusi 20:4, 5) Ngakho, lapho umculo uqala futhi labo ababebuthene bekhothama phambi kwesithombe, amaHeberu amasha amathathu—uShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego—aqhubeka emile.—Daniyeli 3:7.
12. Amanye amaKaledi awamangalela ngani amaHeberu amathathu, futhi kungani kwakunjalo?
12 Ukwenqaba kwezikhulu ezintathu ezingamaHeberu ukukhulekela isithombe kwawathukuthelisa amanye amaKaledi. Aqonda enkosini ngaso leso sikhathi futhi “amangalela la maJuda.”d AmaKaledi ayengafuni kuzwa ncazelo. Njengoba ayefuna ukuba la maHeberu ajeziselwe ukungethembeki nokuvukela umbuso, laba bamangali bathi: “Kukhona amadoda abaJuda owabeké phezu kwezindaba zesifunda saseBabele, oShadiraki, noMeshaki, noAbedi-Nego; lawa madoda, nkosi, awakunakanga; awakhonzi onkulunkulu bakho, awakhuleki esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”—Daniyeli 3:8-12.
13, 14. UNebukadinesari wasabela kanjani enkambweni eyathathwa uShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego?
13 Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba kwamshaqisa ngayo uNebukadinesari ukuthi la maHeberu amathathu ayengawulalelanga umyalo wakhe! Kwakusobala ukuthi wayehlulekile ukuguqula oShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego ukuba babe abasekeli abaqotho boMbuso WaseBabiloni. Wayengabafundisanga yini ukuhlakanipha kwamaKaledi? Angithi wayebashintshe ngisho namagama! Kodwa uma uNebukadinesari ayecabanga ukuthi imfundo ephakeme yayiyobafundisa indlela entsha yokukhulekela, noma uma ayecabanga ukuthi ukubashintsha amagama kwakuyobashintsha lokho abayikho, wayeshaye phansi ngendlela edabukisayo. UShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego bahlala beyizinceku zikaJehova eziqotho.
14 INkosi uNebukadinesari yathukuthela yangqangqa. Yathumela ukuba babizwe ngaso leso sikhathi oShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego. Yababuza: “Kungamabomu yini, Shadiraki, Meshaki, no-Abedi-Nego ningakhonzi unkulunkulu wami, ningakhuleki esithombeni segolide engisimisileyo, na?” Akungabazeki ukuthi uNebukadinesari washo la mazwi engakholwa futhi eshaqekile. Kumelwe ukuba wacabanga, ‘Amadoda amathathu aphilé saka engqondweni angawushaya kanjani indiva umyalo ocace kangaka—umyalo onesijeziso esinzima nakangaka pho, uma weqiwa?’—Daniyeli 3:13, 14.
15, 16. UNebukadinesari wawanikeza liphi ithuba amaHeberu amathathu?
15 UNebukadinesari wayezimisele ukunikeza la maHeberu amathathu elinye ithuba. Wathi: “Manje uma nilungele ukuba ngesikhathi enizwa ngaso ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu, nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, niwe phansi, nikhuleke esithombeni engisenzileyo, kuhle; kepha uma ningakhuleki, niyakuphonswa ngasona leso sikhathi phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo; ngumuphi lowo nkulunkulu oyakunikhulula ezandleni zami na?”—Daniyeli 3:15.
16 Kusobala ukuthi isifundo esimayelana nesithombe sephupho (elilotshwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 2) asizange siyithinte ingqondo nenhliziyo kaNebukadinesari. Mhlawumbe wayesekukhohliwe nalokho ayekushó kuDaniyeli, ukuthi: “UNkulunkulu wakho unguNkulunkulu wawonkulunkulu, neNkosi yamakhosi.” (Daniyeli 2:47) Manje kwabonakala sengathi uNebukadinesari ubekela uJehova inselele, ethi kwaYena wayengenakuwasindisa la maHeberu esijezisweni esasiwalindele.
17. UShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego basabela kanjani esicelweni senkosi?
17 UShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego kwakungadingeki bacabangisise kabusha ngale ndaba. Baphendula ngokuphazima kweso: “Nebukadinesari, thina asidingi ukukuphendula kule ndaba. Uma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo unamandla okusikhulula esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo; yebo, uyakusikhulula esandleni sakho, nkosi. Kepha noma kungenjalo, makwazeke kuwe nkosi ukuthi asiyikukhonza onkulunkulu bakho, singakhuleki esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”—Daniyeli 3:16-18.
ESITHANDWENI SOMLILO!
18, 19. Kwenzekani lapho amaHeberu amathathu ephonswa esithandweni somlilo?
18 Engqangqa, uNebukadinesari wayala izinceku zakhe ukuba zishisise isithando somlilo ngokuphindwe kasikhombisa kunokuvamile. Wabe eseyala “amadoda anamandla” ukuba abophe oShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego abaphonse “esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo.” Enza njengokusho kwenkosi, ajikijela la maHeberu amathathu emlilweni eboshiwe futhi egqoke aphelela—mhlawumbe ukuze asheshe ashe. Nokho, izethenjwa zikaNebukadinesari yizona ezabulawa amalangabi.—Daniyeli 3:19-22.
19 Kodwa kunento eyinqaba eyayenzeka. Nakuba uShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego babephakathi esithandweni somlilo, amalangabi ayengabashisi. Cabanga nje ngokumangala kukaNebukadinesari! Babephonswe emlilweni ogqamuka amalangabi, beboshwé ngqí, kodwa babesaphila. Phela babezihambela nje ngokukhululeka emlilweni! Kodwa uNebukadinesari waphawula nokunye futhi. “Angithi siphonsé amadoda amathathu eboshiwe phakathi komlilo na?” ebuza izikhulu zakhe zasebukhosini. Zaphendula: “Uqinisile, nkosi.” “Bhekani,” kumemeza uNebukadinesari, “ngibona amadoda amane akhululekileyo ehamba phakathi emlilweni, awachithwanga; ukubonakala kweyesine kunjengendodana yawonkulunkulu.”—Daniyeli 3:23-25.
20, 21. (a) UNebukadinesari waphawulani ngoShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego ngesikhathi bephuma emlilweni? (b) Yini uNebukadinesari aphoqeleka ukuba ayivume?
20 UNebukadinesari waya ngasemnyango wesithando somlilo. “Shadiraki, Meshaki, no-Abedi-Nego, nina zinceku zikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke,” ememeza, “phumani nize lapha.” La maHeberu amathathu aphuma emlilweni. Akungabazeki ukuthi bonke ababezibonela lesi simangaliso—kuhlanganise nababusi bezifundazwe, izinduna, ababusi nezikhulu—babamba ongezansi. Phela kwakungathi lezi zinsizwa ezintathu zazingazange zingene nakungena esithandweni! Zazingenalo ngisho nephunga lomlilo, futhi kwakungazange kuhanguke ngisho nonwele emakhanda azo.—Daniyeli 3:26, 27.
21 Manje iNkosi uNebukadinesari yaphoqeleka ukuba ivume ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. Yathi: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi-Nego othumile ingelosi yakhe, wakhulula izinceku zakhe ebezimethemba, zaze zaguqula izwi lenkosi, zanikela imizimba yazo ukuba zingakhonzi, zingakhuleki kunkulunkulu noyedwa, uNkulunkulu wabo kuphela.” Inkosi yabe seyenezela lesi sixwayiso esiqinile: “Ngikhipha isimemezelo sokuba bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ezikhuluma okungafanele ngoNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi-Nego ziyakuhlahlelwa, izindlu zazo zenziwe iquba, ngokuba akakho omunye unkulunkulu ongophula ngale ndlela.” La maHeberu amathathu ayesebuyiselwa ezikhundleni zasebukhosini futhi ‘achuma esifundeni saseBabele.’—Daniyeli 3:28-30.
UKHOLO NOVIVINYO OLUNZIMA NAMUHLA
22. Kukanjani izinceku zikaJehova zanamuhla zibhekana nezimo ezinjengezikaShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego?
22 Namuhla, abakhulekeli bakaJehova babhekana nezimo ezinjengezikaShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego. Kuyavunywa, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangase bangabi izithunjwa ngomqondo ongokoqobo. Nokho, uJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe babengeke babe “ingxenye yezwe.” (Johane 17:14) ‘Bangabafokazi’ ngokuthi abawamukeli amasiko, izimo zengqondo nemikhuba engasekelwe emiBhalweni yalabo abaphila nabo. Njengoba umphostoli uPawulu aloba, amaKristu kumelwe ‘ayeke ukulolongwa afane nalesi simiso sezinto.’—Roma 12:2.
23. AmaHeberu amathathu abonisa kanjani ukuthi aqinile, futhi amaKristu namuhla angasilandela kanjani isibonelo sawo?
23 La maHeberu amathathu enqaba ukulolongwa afane nesimiso saseBabiloni. Ngisho nokufundiswa kahle ukuhlakanipha kwamaKaledi akuzange kuwathonye. Ukuma kwawo endabeni yokukhulekela kwakungeke kushintshe, futhi ayezinikele kuJehova kuphela. AmaKristu namuhla kudingeka ame aqine ngendlela efanayo. Akudingeki azenyeze ngoba ehlukile kulabo abasezweni. Ngempela, “izwe liyadlula kanjalo nesifiso salo.” (1 Johane 2:17) Ngakho kungaba ubuwula futhi kube yize ukuzivumelanisa nalesi simiso sezinto esifayo.
24. Ukuma kwamaKristu eqiniso kufana kanjani nokwamaHeberu amathathu?
24 AmaKristu kudingeka aqaphe zonke izinhlobo zokukhulekela izithombe, kuhlanganise nezinhlobo ezicashile.e (1 Johane 5:21) UShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego balalela futhi ngenhlonipho bama phambi kwesithombe segolide, kodwa baqaphela ukuthi ukusikhothamela kwakungaphezu nje kokusihlonipha. Kwakuwukusikhulekela, futhi ukuhlanganyela kukho kwakuyothukuthelisa uJehova. (Duteronomi 5:8-10) UJohn F. Walvoord uyaloba: “Empeleni kwakuwukushayela ifulege indesheni, nakuba kwakungase kuthintane nenkolo, ngenxa yokuxubana kwezibopho zenkolo nezobuzwe.” Namuhla, amaKristu eqiniso athatha ukuma okuqine ngendlela efanayo ngokukhulekela izithombe.
25. Ufunde siphi isifundo kulokho okwenzeka ekuphileni kukaShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego?
25 Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngoShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego kubanikeza isifundo esihle kakhulu bonke abazimisele ukuzinikezela kuJehova ngokukhethekile. Ngokusobala umphostoli uPawulu wayecabanga ngala maHeberu amathathu lapho ekhuluma ngabaningi ababonisa ukholo, kuhlanganise nalabo ‘abamisa amandla omlilo.’ (Heberu 11:33, 34) UJehova uyobavuza bonke abalingisa ukholo olunjalo. AmaHeberu amathathu ophulwa esithandweni somlilo, kodwa singaqiniseka ukuthi uyobavusa bonke abaqotho abalahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo bengabagcini bobuqotho futhi ababusise ngokuphila okumi phakade. Kunoma yikuphi, uJehova “uyagcina imiphefumulo yabamkhonzayo; uyabasindisa ezandleni zababi.”—IHubo 97:10.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Abanye bakholelwa ukuthi uMarduk, owayebhekwa njengomsunguli woMbuso WaseBabiloni, umelela uNimrode owayenziwe unkulunkulu. Nokho, akunakugonyelwa ngalokhu.
b Elithi “Beliteshasari” lisho ukuthi “Vikela Ukuphila Kwenkosi.” Elithi “Shadiraki” lingasho ukuthi “Umyalo Ka-Aku,” unkulunkulu wenyanga waseSumeri. Elithi “Meshaki” cishe libhekisela kunkulunkulu waseSumeri, kanti elithi “Abedi-Nego” lisho ukuthi “Inceku KaNego,” noma kaNebo.
c Uma zicabangela ubukhulu balesi sithombe, ezinye izazi zeBhayibheli zikholelwa ukuthi sasakhiwe ngokhuni sabe seselekwa ngegolide.
d Inkulumo yesi-Aramu ehunyushwe ngokuthi “mangalela” isho ‘ukudla izicubu’ zomuntu—ukumudla izithende, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ngokumnyundela.
e Ngokwesibonelo, ukuminza nokukhanuka, iBhayibheli likuhlobanisa nokukhonza izithombe.—Filipi 3:18, 19; Kolose 3:5.
YINI OYIZUZILE?
• UShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego benqabelani ukukhothama phambi kwesithombe esasimiswe uNebukadinesari?
• UNebukadinesari wasabela kanjani ekumeni okwathathwa amaHeberu amathathu?
• UJehova wawavuza kanjani amaHeberu amathathu ngokholo lwawo?
• Yini oyifundile ngokucabangela lokho okwenzeka ekuphileni kukaShadiraki, uMeshaki no-Abedi-Nego?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 68]
[Isithombe ekhasini 70]
1. Umbhoshongo wethempeli (“ziggurat”) eBabiloni
2. Ithempeli likaMarduk
3. Umfanekiso wethusi obonisa unkulunkulu uMarduk (kwesobunxele) noNebo (kwesokudla) bemi phezu kwezinyoka
4. Itshe eliyigugu elinomfanekiso kaNebukadinesari, owaziwa ngemisebenzi yakhe yokwakha
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 76]
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 78]