Isahluko Sesibili

UDaniyeli—Incwadi Emangalelwayo

 1, 2. Incwadi kaDaniyeli imangalelwe ngamuphi umqondo, futhi kungani ucabanga ukuthi kubalulekile ukucabangela ubufakazi obuyivikelayo?

AKE uzicabange usenkantolo, uzolalela icala elibalulekile. Indoda ethile ibekwe icala lokukhohlisa. Umshushisi umi kwelokuthi le ndoda inecala. Nokho, selokhu kwathi nhló ummangalelwa unedumela lokuba qotho. Ubungeke yini uthande ukuzwa ubufakazi bommangalelwa?

² Usesimweni esifanayo lapho kuziwa encwadini yeBhayibheli kaDaniyeli. Umlobi wayo kwakungumuntu owaziwa ngobuqotho. Sekuyizinkulungwane zeminyaka ihlonishwa incwadi ebizwa ngegama lakhe. Iwumlando oyiqiniso, owalotshwa uDaniyeli, umprofethi ongumHeberu owayephila phakathi nekhulu lesikhombisa nelesithupha B.C.E. Ukulandelana okunembile kwezenzakalo ngokohlelo lwezikhathi zeBhayibheli kubonisa ukuthi incwadi yakhe ihlanganisa inkathi esuka cishe ku-618 kuya ku-536 B.C.E. futhi yaqedwa ngalo nyaka wamuva. Kodwa le ncwadi iyamangalelwa. Amanye ama-encyclopedia nezinye izincwadi zokucwaninga zisikisela noma zilibeka ngembaba elokuthi iyakhohlisa.

 3. I-New Encyclopædia Britannica ithini ngokuqondene nokuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli?

³ Ngokwesibonelo, i-New Encyclopædia Britannica iyavuma ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yake “yabhekwa njengomlando oyiqiniso, onesiprofetho esiyiqiniso.” Nokho, le-Britannica ithi eqinisweni incwadi kaDaniyeli “yalotshwa esikhathini sakamuva senhlekelele yesizwe—ngesikhathi amaJuda eshushiswa kanzima ngaphansi [kweNkosi yase-Aramu] u-Antiochus IV Epiphanes.” Le encyclopedia ithi le ncwadi yalotshwa phakathi kuka-167 no-164 B.C.E. Yona le ncwadi igomela ngokuthi umlobi wencwadi kaDaniyeli akaprofethi ngesikhathi esizayo kodwa umane aveze “izenzakalo azaziyo eziwumlando azibeke njengeziyiziprofetho zezinto eziyokwenzeka esikhathini esizayo.”

 4. Yaqala nini ukugxekwa incwadi kaDaniyeli, futhi yini eyabangela ukugxekwa okunjalo emakhulwini eminyaka amuva?

⁴ Ivelaphi le mibono enjena? Incwadi kaDaniyeli ayiqali ukugxekwa. Kwaqala kudala ngekhulu lesithathu C.E. ngesazi sefilosofi okuthiwa uPorphyry. Njengabaningi eMbusweni WaseRoma, wayezizwa esongelwa ithonya lobuKristu. Waloba izincwadi ezingu-15 ukuze agxeke le nkolo “entsha.” Eye-12 yayigxeka incwadi kaDaniyeli. UPorphyry wathi le ncwadi iyakhohlisa, wathi yalotshwa umJuda othile ngekhulu lesibili B.C.E. Ukuhlaselwa okufanayo kwavela ngekhulu le-18 nele-19. Ngokwabacusumbuli nabantu abathembela ekucabangeni kwabo, ukuprofetha—ukubikezela izenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo—akunakwenzeka. UDaniyeli waba yisisulu esikhethekile. Kufana nokuthi yena nencwadi yakhe bamangalelwa enkantolo. Abagxeki babethi banobufakazi obanele bokuthi le ncwadi ayilotshwanga uDaniyeli phakathi nokuthunjwa kwamaJuda eBabiloni, kodwa yalotshwa omunye nje umuntu emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva.a Ukuhlasela okunjalo kwanda kangangokuba umlobi othile waze waloba incwadi yokumvikela ebizwa ngokuthi Daniel in the Critics’ Den.

 5. Kungani indaba yokuthi iyiqiniso yini incwadi kaDaniyeli ibalulekile?

⁵ Bukhona yini ubufakazi balezi zinto abagxeki abazisho ngokuqiniseka? Noma ingabe ubufakazi buvuna ummangalelwa? Kuningi okuhilelekile lapha. Akulona nje kuphela idumela lale ncwadi yasendulo elihilelekile, kodwa nekusasa lethu lihilelekile. Uma incwadi kaDaniyeli iyinkohliso, izithembiso ezikuyo zekusasa lesintu ziyimbudane-ke nje. Kodwa uma iqukethe iziprofetho eziyiqiniso, ngokungangabazeki uzoba magange ukufunda ukuthi zisho ukuthini kithi namuhla. Sinalokho engqondweni, ake sihlole okunye kokuhlaselwa kwencwadi kaDaniyeli.

 6. Ngezinye izikhathi umlando osencwadini kaDaniyeli umangalelwa ngani?

⁶ Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela ukumangalela okwenziwe kuyi-Encyclopedia Americana: “Imininingwane eminingi yomlando wezinkathi zokuqala [njengokuthunjelwa eBabiloni] ihlanekezelwe kabi kakhulu” encwadini kaDaniyeli. Ingabe kunjalo ngempela? Ake sicabangele okuthathu okuthiwa kungamaphutha, sithathe okukodwa ngesikhathi.

INDABA YENKOSI ENGATHOLAKALI

 7. (a) Kungani sekuyisikhathi eside abagxeki beBhayibheli bethokoziswa ukukhuluma kukaDaniyeli ngoBelishasari? (b) Kwenzekani embonweni wokuthi uBelishasari wayemane engumlingiswa oqanjiwe?

⁷ UDaniyeli waloba ukuthi uBelishasari “indodana” kaNebukadinesari, wayebusa njengenkosi eBabiloni ngesikhathi lo muzi uchithwa. (Daniyeli 5:1, 11, 18, 22, 30) Sekuyisikhathi eside abagxeki bekuphikisa lokhu, ngoba igama likaBelishasari lalingatholakali ndawo ngaphandle kwaseBhayibhelini. Kunalokho, izazi-mlando zasendulo zithi uNabonidasi, owalandela uNebukadinesari, nguyena oyinkosi yokugcina emakhosini aseBabiloni. Ngakho, ngo-1850, uFerdinand Hitzig wathi kusobala ukuthi uBelishasari wayengumuntu oqanjwe ngumlobi engqondweni yakhe. Kodwa awucabangi yini ukuthi uHitzig wafinyelela kulo mbono ngokuxhamazela? Ukuthi akukho lapho kukhulunywa khona ngale nkosi—ikakhulukazi ngenkathi okwaziwayo ukuthi imibhalo engokomlando yayiyindlala—ingabe ngempela kufakazela ukuthi ayikaze ibe khona? Noma ngabe yikuphi, ngo-1854 kwavubukulwa imiphongolwana yobumba emanxiweni omuzi wase-Uri laseBabiloni lasendulo manje oyiningizimu Iraq. Le mibhalo eqoshiwe yeNkosi uNabonidasi yayihlanganisa nomthandazo wokucelela “uBel-sar-ussur, indodana yami endala.” Ngisho nabagxeki kwadingeka bavume: Nangu uBelishasari wencwadi kaDaniyeli.

 8. Incazelo kaDaniyeli yokuthi uBelishasari wayeyinkosi ebusayo ifakazelwe kanjani ukuthi iyiqiniso?

⁸ Nakuba kunjalo, abagxeki abazange baneliseke. “Lokhu akufakazeli lutho,” kuloba omunye okuthiwa uH. F. Talbot. Uthi le ndodana esembhalweni kungenzeka kwakuyingane nje, kanti uDaniyeli uyiveza iyinkosi ebusayo. Nokho, ngemva konyaka kushicilelwe le nkulumo kaTalbot, kwavubukulwa izibhebhe eziqoshiwe ezengeziwe ezazikhuluma ngokuthi uBelishasari wayenomabhalane nezisebenzi zasendlini. Kwakungeyona-ke ingane le! Okokugcina, ezinye izibhebhe zishayelela isipikili kule ndaba, zibika ukuthi uNabonidasi wayeke angabibikho eBabiloni iminyaka eminingi. Lezi zibhebhe ziveza ukuthi phakathi nalezo zikhathi, “ubukhosi” baseBabiloni “wayebuphathisa” indodana yakhe endala (uBelishasari). Ngalezo zikhathi, kwakufana nokuthi uBelishasari uyinkosi—ebambele uyise.b

 9. (a) UDaniyeli kungenzeka wayesho ngamuphi umqondo ukuthi uBelishasari wayeyindodana kaNebukadinesari? (b) Kungani abagxeki beshaye phansi ngokugomela ngokuthi uDaniyeli akamphathi nakumphatha uNabonidasi?

⁹ Njengoba bengakaneliseki, abanye abagxeki bakhala ngokuthi iBhayibheli libiza uBelishasari ngokuthi indodana kaNebukadinesari, hhayi ekaNabonidasi. Abanye bagomela ngokuthi uDaniyeli akamphathi nakumphatha uNabonidasi. Nokho, kokubili lokhu kuphikisa kuphelelwa isisindo lapho kuhlolwa. Kubonakala sengathi uNabonidasi wayeshade nendodakazi kaNebukadinesari. Lokhu kwenza uBelishasari abe umzukulu kaNebukadinesari. Ulimi lwesiHeberu nolwesi-Aramu alunawo amagama athi “umkhulu” noma “umzukulu wesilisa”; elithi “indodana ka-” lingasho ukuthi “umzukulu wesilisa ka-” futhi lingasho nanokuthi “inzalo ka-.” (Qhathanisa noMathewu 1:1.) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuyavuma ukuba uBelishasari abizwe ngendodana kaNabonidasi. Lapho ethuswa umbhalo wesandla oyibika lokubi odongeni, uBelishasari odidekile uthi uzonikeza noma ubani ongachaza lawo magama indawo yesithathu embusweni. (Daniyeli 5:7) Kungani ethi eyesithathu engathi eyesibili? Lokhu kusho ukuthi indawo yokuqala neyesibili zase zithathiwe kakade. Eqinisweni kwakunjalo—zazithathwe uNabonidasi nendodana yakhe, uBelishasari.

10. Kungani ukulandisa kukaDaniyeli ngobukhosi baseBabiloni kunemininingwane eyengeziwe kunokwezinye izazi-mlando zasendulo?

¹⁰ Ngakho ukukhuluma kukaDaniyeli ngoBelishasari akubona ubufakazi ‘bokuhlanekezela kabi’ umlando. Kunalokho, uDaniyeli—nakuba ayengabhali umlando waseBabiloni—usinikeza umbono ocace ngokwengeziwe wokubusa kwamakhosi aseBabiloni kunezinye izazi-mlando zezwe zasendulo ezinjengoHerodotus, uXenophon noBerossus. Kungani uDaniyeli akwazi ukuloba amaqiniso abaphunyuka? Kungenxa yokuthi wayekhona eBabiloni. Incwadi yakhe iyincwadi kafakazi wokuzibonela, hhayi umkhohlisi wamakhulu eminyaka akamuva.

WAYENGUBANI UDARIYU UMMEDE?

11. NgokukaDaniyeli, wayengubani uDariyu umMede, kodwa yini eye yashiwo ngaye?

¹¹ UDaniyeli ubika ukuthi lapho iBabiloni ligumbuqelwa, inkosi egama layo ‘linguDariyu umMede’ yaqala ukubusa. (Daniyeli 5:31) Alikatholakali namanje igama likaDariyu umMede ezincwadini zezwe noma emivubukulweni. Ngenxa yalokho, i-New Encyclopædia Britannica igomela ngokuthi lo Dariyu “ungumlingiswa oqanjiwe.”

12. (a) Kungani kufanele ngabe abagxeki beBhayibheli abalimisi ngesihloko elokuthi uDariyu umMede akakaze abe khona? (b) Kucatshangelwa ukuthi wayengubani uDariyu umMede, futhi ibuphi ubufakazi obubonisa lokhu?

¹² Ezinye izazi ziye zathi ukuqapha. Angithi abagxeki bake bathi uBelishasari naye “uqanjiwe.” Ngokungangabazeki, nendaba kaDariyu iyobaveza ukuthi banephutha. Kumanje nje izibhebhe eziqoshiwe ziye zembula ukuthi uKoresi umPheresiya akazange abizwe ngesiqu esithi “INkosi yaseBabiloni” ngemva nje kokunqoba. Omunye umcwaningi usikisela lokhu: “Noma ubani owayebizwa ngesiqu esithi ‘INkosi yaseBabiloni’ wayeyinkosi ekhonza ngaphansi kukaKoresi, hhayi uKoresi ngokwakhe.” Kungenzeka yini ukuthi elithi Dariyu lalibhekisela egameni noma esiqwini somuntu owayebusa, isikhulu esinamandla saseMediya esasiphathiswe iBabiloni? Abanye basikisela ukuthi uDariyu kungenzeka kwakungumuntu ogama lakhe linguGubaru. UKoresi wamisa uGubaru njengombusi eBabiloni, futhi imibhalo yezwe iyaqinisekisa ukuthi wabusa ngamandla amakhulu. Ezinye izibhebhe eziqoshiwe zithi wamisa ababusi abangaphansi eBabiloni. Ngokuthakazelisayo, uDaniyeli uphawula ukuthi uDariyu wamisa ababusi bezifundazwe abangu-120 ukuba babuse embusweni waseBabiloni.—Daniyeli 6:1.

13. Yisiphi isizathu esinengqondo sokuba uDariyu umMede kukhulunywe ngaye encwadini kaDaniyeli kodwa kungakhulunywa ngaye ezincwadini zezwe?

¹³ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, bungase butholakale ubufakazi obunembe ngokwengeziwe bokuthi le nkosi yayingubani ngempela. Okwamanje, ukuthi imivubukulo ayivezi lutho ngalokhu akusona neze isisekelo sokuchaza uDariyu ngokuthi “uqanjiwe,” ingasaphathwa eyokuchaza yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli ngokuthi iyakhohlisa. Kunengqondo kakhulu ukubheka ukulandisa kukaDaniyeli njengobufakazi obuningiliziwe bomuntu owazibonela ngawakhe kunezincwadi zezwe ezikhona.

UKUBUSA KUKAJEHOYAKIMI

14. Kungani kungekho ukuphikisana phakathi kwencwadi kaDaniyeli nekaJeremiya ngokuqondene neminyaka yokubusa kweNkosi uJehoyakimi?

¹⁴ UDaniyeli 1:1 ufundeka kanje: “Ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi inkosi yakwaJuda kwafika uNebukadinesari inkosi yaseBabele eJerusalema, walivimbezela.” Abagxeki baye bathi kunephutha kulo mbhalo ngoba kubonakala ungavumelani noJeremiya, yena othi unyaka wesine kaJehoyakimi kwakungunyaka wokuqala kaNebukadinesari. (Jeremiya 25:1; 46:2) Ingabe uDaniyeli wayephikisa uJeremiya? Ngokuthola ukwaziswa okwengeziwe, le ndaba isheshe icace. Ngesikhathi eqala ukubekwa njengenkosi nguFaro-Nekho ngo-628 B.C.E., uJehoyakimi wamane waba upopayi walowo mbusi waseGibithe. Kwakusasele iminyaka emithathu ngaphambi kokuba uNebukadinesari alandele uyise esihlalweni sobukhosi saseBabiloni, ngo-624 B.C.E. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho (ngo-620 B.C.E.), uNebukadinesari wahlasela uJuda futhi wamisa uJehoyakimi njengenkosi engaphansi kweBabiloni. (2 AmaKhosi 23:34; 24:1) KumJuda ohlala eBabiloni, “unyaka wesithathu” kaJehoyakimi kwakungaba unyaka wesithathu wokusebenza kwakhe ekhonza eBabiloni. UDaniyeli wabhala ngalowo mqondo. Kanti uJeremiya wabhala ngomqondo wamaJuda ayehlala eJerusalema. Ngakho wakhuluma ngobukhosi bukaJehoyakimi njengobuqala lapho uFaro-Nekho embeka njenkosi.

15. Kungani kuyiphuzu elingenasisindo ukugxeka isikhathi esikuDaniyeli 1:1?

¹⁵ Khona-ke, lokhu okuthiwa ukuphikisana kuqinisa ubufakazi bokuthi uDaniyeli wayilobela eBabiloni incwadi yakhe ngesikhathi enezithunjwa ezingamaJuda. Kodwa kunentuba kule nkulumo ephikisa incwadi kaDaniyeli. Khumbula ukuthi umlobi wencwadi kaDaniyeli ngokusobala wayenayo incwadi kaJeremiya futhi waze wabhekisela kuyo. (Daniyeli 9:2) Ukube umlobi wencwadi kaDaniyeli wayengumkhohlisi ohlakaniphile, njengoba kusho abagxeki, ingabe wayengalinga aphikise incwadi ehlonishwa njengekaJeremiya—bese kuba sevesini lokuqala ngqá lencwadi yakhe pho? Wayengeke!

IMINININGWANE EZWAKALAYO

16, 17. Ubufakazi babavubukuli buyisekele kanjani indaba kaDaniyeli (a) yokumisa kukaNebukadinesari isithombe senkolo ukuze bonke abantu bakhe basikhulekele? (b) yesimo sengqondo sikaNebukadinesari sokuqhosha ngemisebenzi yakhe yokwakha eBabiloni?

¹⁶ Manje ake sisuse izingqondo zethu ezintweni ezimbi sigxile kwezinhle. Cabangela eminye imininingwane esencwadini kaDaniyeli ebonisa ukuthi umlobi wayenolwazi oluhle lwezikhathi ayebhala ngazo.

¹⁷ Ukujwayelana kukaDaniyeli nemininingwane ecashile ngeBabiloni lasendulo kuwubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuba yiqiniso kokulandisa kwakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, uDaniyeli 3:1-6 ubika ukuthi uNebukadinesari wamisa isithombe esikhulu esasizokhulekelwa yibo bonke abantu. Abavubukuli bathole obunye ubufakazi bokuthi le nkosi yayifuna bonke abantu bayo bangene shí emikhubeni yobuzwe neyenkolo. Ngokufanayo, uDaniyeli ubhala ngesimo sengqondo sikaNebukadinesari sokuqhosha ngezinto eziningi ayezakhile. (Daniyeli 4:30) Kuze kwaba sezikhathini zanamuhla kuphela lapho abavubukuli beqinisekise khona ukuthi uNebukadinesari ngempela wazixhasa eziningi zezakhiwo ezakhiwa eBabiloni. Mayelana nokuqhosha—angithi le ndoda yenza ukuba kugxivizwe negama layo ezitinini! Abagxeki bencwadi kaDaniyeli abakwazi ukuchaza ukuthi lo muntu wabo abambiza ngomkhohlisi wezikhathi zikaMaccabee (167-63 B.C.E.) wayeyokwazi kanjani ngaleyo misebenzi yokwakha—ngemva kwamakhulu amane eminyaka kwakhiwe futhi kusasele isikhathi eside ngaphambi kokuba abavubukuli bazithole.

18. Ukulandisa kukaDaniyeli ngezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zesijeziso ngaphansi kombuso waseBabiloni nowasePheresiya kukubonisa kanjani ukunemba?

¹⁸ Incwadi kaDaniyeli ibuye yembule umehluko obalulekile phakathi komthetho waseBabiloni nowamaMede namaPheresiya. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphansi komthetho waseBabiloni abangane bakaDaniyeli abathathu baphonswa esithandweni somlilo ngenxa yokwenqaba ukulalela umyalo wenkosi. Ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka, uDaniyeli waphonswa emphandwini wezingonyama ngenxa yokwenqaba ukulalela umthetho wasePheresiya owawulimaza unembeza wakhe. (Daniyeli 3:6; 6:7-9) Abanye baye bazama ukuyiphebeza indaba yesithando somlilo bathi iyinsumansumane, kodwa abavubukuli baye bathola incwadi yangempela yaseBabiloni lasendulo ekhuluma ngokuqondile ngalolu hlobo lwesijeziso. Nokho, kumaMede namaPheresiya umlilo wawungcwele. Ngakho ayesebenzisa ezinye izinhlobo ezinesihluku zesijeziso. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi kukhulunywa ngomphandu wezingonyama.

19. Yimuphi umehluko ocaciswa incwadi kaDaniyeli phakathi kwesimiso somthetho saseBabiloni nesamaMede namaPheresiya?

¹⁹ Kuvela nomunye umehluko. UDaniyeli uveza ukuthi uNebukadinesari wayengamisa imithetho futhi ayishintshe ngokuthanda kwakhe. Ayikho into uDariyu ayengayenza ukuze ashintshe ‘umthetho wamaMede namaPheresiya’—ngisho naleyo eyayimiswe nguye uqobo! (Daniyeli 2:5, 6, 24, 46-49; 3:10, 11, 29; 6:12-16) Isazi-mlando uJohn C. Whitcomb siyaloba: “Umlando wasendulo uyawufakazela lo mehluko, eBabiloni inkosi yayingaphezu komthetho, kanti kumaMede namaPheresiya inkosi yayingaphansi komthetho.”

20. Yimiphi imininingwane mayelana nedili likaBelishasari ebonisa ukuthi uDaniyeli wayengawezwanga ngendaba amasiko aseBabiloni?

²⁰ Indaba evusa amadlingozi yedili likaBelishasari, elotshwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 5, inemininingwane eminingi. Kusobala ukuthi laqala ngokuba kudliwe ukudla okulula futhi kuphuzwe kakhulu, ngoba kukhulunywa kaningi ngewayini. (Daniyeli 5:1, 2, 4) Eqinisweni, imidwebo eqoshiwe yamadili anjalo ibonisa kuphuzwa iwayini kuphela. Kusobala-ke ukuthi iwayini lalibaluleke kakhulu emicimbini enjalo. UDaniyeli uthi futhi kwakukhona nabesifazane kuleli dili—amakhosikazi enkosi nezancinza zayo. (Daniyeli 5:3, 23) Isayensi yemivubukulo iyasisekela lesi sici sesiko laseBabiloni. Umqondo wokuba amakhosikazi abe kanye namadoda edilini wawuwacasula amaJuda namaGreki enkathi kaMaccabee. Mhlawumbe yingakho izinguqulo zakuqala zencwadi kaDaniyeli kuyi-Septuagint yesiGreki zingakhulumi ngalaba besifazane.c Nokho, lowo okuthiwa umkhohlisi olobe incwadi kaDaniyeli wayeyobe ephila kuwo lo mphakathi oguqulelwe ebuGrekini, futhi mhlawumbe ngisho nangenkathi okwenziwa ngayo i-Septuagint!

21. Iyiphi incazelo enengqondo kunazo zonke yokuba uDaniyeli azazi kahle kangaka izikhathi namasiko asekuthunjweni eBabiloni?

²¹ Uma kucatshangelwa imininingwane enjalo, kubonakala kuxaka impela ukuthi i-Britannica ingachaza umlobi wencwadi kaDaniyeli ngokuthi wayenolwazi nje “olungatheni nolunganembile” lwenkathi yokuthunjwa. Umkhohlisi weminyaka yakamuva wayeyowazi kanjani kahle kangaka amasiko aseBabiloni lasendulo nawasePheresiya? Khumbula futhi ukuthi yomibili le mibuso yayiwe kusasele isikhathi eside ngaphambi kwekhulu lesibili B.C.E. Ngokusobala babengekho abavubukuli ngaleso sikhathi; namaJuda angaleso sikhathi ayengaluqhakambisi ulwazi lwawo ngamasiko nomlando wezinye izizwe. NguDaniyeli umprofethi kuphela, umuntu owazibonela ngawakhe lezo zikhathi nezenzakalo azichaza, owayengabhala le ncwadi yeBhayibheli ebizwa ngegama lakhe.

INGABE IZICI ZANGAPHANDLE ZIFAKAZELA UKUTHI INCWADI KADANIYELI IYAKHOHLISA?

22. Yini eshiwo abagxeki mayelana nendawo incwadi kaDaniyeli ekuyo ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli zemiBhalo YesiHeberu?

²² Enye yezinto evame ukuphikiswa ngazo incwadi kaDaniyeli ithinta indawo ekuyo ohlwini lwezincwadi zemiBhalo YesiHeberu. Orabi basendulo bahlela izincwadi zemiBhalo YesiHeberu zaba amaqoqo amathathu: uMthetho, abaProfethi neziNkondlo Nomlando. Incwadi kaDaniyeli bayihlanganisa neziNkondlo Nomlando, hhayi nabaProfethi. Abacusumbuli bathi lokhu kusho ukuthi le ncwadi yayingaziwa ngesikhathi kuhlanganiswa izincwadi zabanye abaprofethi. Ihlanganiswa neziNkondlo Nomlando ngoba kuthiwa zahlanganiswa kamuva.

23. AmaJuda asendulo ayeyibheka kanjani incwadi kaDaniyeli, futhi sikwazi kanjani lokhu?

²³ Nakuba kunjalo, akubona bonke abacwaningi beBhayibheli abavumayo ukuthi orabi basendulo bahlukanisa izincwadi ngendlela engaguquki kanjalo noma ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli bayikhipha kubaProfethi. Kodwa noma ngabe orabi babefake incwadi kaDaniyeli eziNkondlweni Nomlando, ingabe lokhu bekungafakazela ukuthi yalotshwa kamuva? Cha. Izazi ezinedumela elihle ziye zasikisela izizathu eziningana ezazingenza orabi bangayifaki incwadi kaDaniyeli kubaProfethi. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzeka lokho bakwenziswa ukuthi le ncwadi yayibacasula noma babebheka uDaniyeli ngokwakhe njengohlukile kwabanye abaprofethi ngoba wayenesikhundla kwelinye izwe. Noma ngabe yikuphi, nakhu okubaluleke ngempela: AmaJuda asendulo ayeyihlonipha ngokujulile incwadi kaDaniyeli futhi ekholelwa ukuthi iyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ubufakazi busikisela ukuthi uhlu lwezincwadi zemiBhalo YesiHeberu kwase kuyisikhathini eside luphothuliwe ngaphambi kwekhulu lesibili B.C.E. Akuzange kuvunyelwe nhlobo ukuba kwenezelwe ezinye izincwadi, kuhlanganise nezinye ezazilotshwe phakathi nalo ikhulu lesibili B.C.E.

24. Incwadi engengcwele i-Ecclesiasticus iye yasetshenziswa kanjani ngokumelene nencwadi kaDaniyeli, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi le ndlela yokucabanga iyiphutha?

²⁴ Okuxakayo ukuthi enye yalezi zincwadi zakamuva ezenqatshwayo iye yasetshenziswa ekuphikiseni incwadi kaDaniyeli. Ngokusobala incwadi engengcwele kaJesus Ben Sirach, i-Ecclesiasticus, yalotshwa cishe ngo-180 B.C.E. Abagxeki bathanda ukuveza ukuthi uDaniyeli akekho ohlwini olude lwamadoda alungileyo olukule ncwadi. Bathi kumelwe ukuba uDaniyeli wayengaziwa ngalesi sikhathi. Izazi ziyayamukela impela le mpikiswano. Kodwa cabangela lokhu: Lona lolu luhlu alumbali u-Ezra noMordekayi (bobabili ababengamaqhawe amakhulu kumaJuda angemva kwenkathi yokuthunjwa), inkosi enhle uJehoshafati nendoda eqotho uJobe; kubo bonke abahluleli, ikhuluma ngoSamuweli kuphela.d Ngenxa yokuthi lawo madoda awekho kulolu luhlu okungashiwo neze ukuthi luqukethe wonke amagama, olusencwadini engekho ohlwini lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, ingabe kumelwe sithi wonke angabantu abaqanjiwe? Lowo mqondo uwubuwula.

UBUFAKAZI BANGAPHANDLE OBUVUNA INCWADI KADANIYELI

25. (a) UJosephus wakufakazela kanjani ukuthi ukulandisa kukaDaniyeli kuqotho? (b) Ukulandisa kukaJosephus ngokuphathelene no-Alexander Omkhulu nencwadi kaDaniyeli kuvumelana kanjani nomlando owaziwayo? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi wesibili.) (c) Ubufakazi obuphathelene nolimi buyisekela kanjani incwadi kaDaniyeli? (Bheka ikhasi 26.)

²⁵ Ake siphinde sigxile kokuhle futhi. Kuye kwasikiselwa ukuthi ayikho enye incwadi yemiBhalo YesiHeberu efakazelwa kahle njengekaDaniyeli. Ngokwesibonelo: Isazi-mlando esidumile esingumJuda uJosephus siyayifakazela ukuthi iyiqiniso. Sithi ngesikhathi u-Alexander Omkhulu elwa nePheresiya ngekhulu lesine B.C.E., wafika eJerusalema, lapho abapristi bamkhombisa khona ikhophi yencwadi kaDaniyeli. U-Alexander ngokwakhe waphetha ngokuthi amazwi esiprofetho sikaDaniyeli akhonjiswa wona ayebhekisela embhidlangweni wakhe wokuhlasela iPheresiya.e Lokhu kwenzeka cishe kusasele iminyaka eyikhulu namashumi amahlanu ngaphambi kokuba “kwenziwe ukukhohlisa” okushiwo abagxeki. Yebo, abagxeki baye bamhlasela uJosephus ngokuqondene nale nkulumo. Bamhlasela nangenxa yokuthi uveza ukuthi ezinye iziprofetho ezisencwadini kaDaniyeli zagcwaliseka. Nokho, njengoba isazi-mlando uJoseph D. Wilson saphawula, “cishe [uJosephus] wayazi okuningi ngale ndaba kunabo bonke abagxeki emhlabeni.”

26. ImiQulu YasoLwandle Olufile ikusekele kanjani ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli?

²⁶ Ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli kwagcizelelwa ngokwengeziwe lapho kutholakala imiQulu YasoLwandle Olufile emihumeni yaseQumran, kwa-Israyeli. Okumangazayo ukuthi ezintweni eziningi ezatholakala ngo-1952 kwakukhona imiqulu nezingxenye zencwadi kaDaniyeli. Omdala kunayo yonke kuthiwa owangasekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili B.C.E. Ngakho, ngaleso sikhathi sakudala incwadi kaDaniyeli yase yaziwa kahle futhi ihlonishwa kakhulu. I-Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible ithi: “Sekumelwe kuyekwe manje ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yalotshwa ngenkathi kaMaccabee, ngoba asikho isikhathi esanele phakathi kokuhlanganiswa [kwayo] ibe yincwadi nokutholakala kwayo ingamakhophi emtatsheni wezincwadi wehlelo lenkolo elithile lenkathi kaMaccabee.”

27. Yibuphi ubufakazi obudala kunabo bonke bokuthi uDaniyeli wayengumuntu ongokoqobo owayaziwa kakhulu ngesikhathi sokuthunjelwa eBabiloni?

²⁷ Nokho, kunobufakazi obudala kakhulu nobuthembeke ngokwengeziwe bokuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli iyiqiniso. Omunye wababephila noDaniyeli kwakungumprofethi uHezekeli. Naye wayekhonza njengomprofethi lapho bethunjelwe eBabiloni. Incwadi kaHezekeli ithinta igama likaDaniyeli izikhathi eziningana. (Hezekeli 14:14, 20; 28:3) Le mibhalo ibonisa ukuthi ngisho nalapho esaphila, ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E., uDaniyeli wayaziwa kahle njengendoda elungileyo nehlakaniphile, efanelekela ukubalwa kanye noNowa noJobe abesaba uNkulunkulu.

UFAKAZI OMKHULU KUNABO BONKE

28, 29. (a) Yibuphi ubufakazi obugculisa kunabo bonke bokuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli? (b) Kungani kufanele sibamukele ubufakazi bukaJesu?

²⁸ Okokugcina, masicabangele ufakazi omkhulu kunabo bonke wokuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli—akekho omunye ngaphandle kukaJesu Kristu. Lapho exoxa ngezinsuku zokugcina, uJesu wakhuluma “ngoDaniyeli umprofethi” nangesinye seziprofetho zikaDaniyeli.—Mathewu 24:15; Daniyeli 11:31; 12:11.

²⁹ Uma-ke le nkolelo-mbono kaMaccabee yabagxeki iyiqiniso, okukodwa kokubili kungadingeka kube yiqiniso. Kungaba ukuthi uJesu wayekhohliswe yile nkohliso noma akazange akusho lokhu uMathewu amcaphuna ekusho. Kokubili lokhu akwamukeleki. Uma singeke sathembela ekulandiseni kweVangeli likaMathewu, singathembela kanjani kwezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli? Uma siyisusa leyo misho, yimaphi amanye amagama esiyowasusa emakhasini emiBhalo Engcwele? Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Yonke imiBhalo iphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu futhi inenzuzo yokufundisa, . . . yokuqondisa izinto.” (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Ngakho uma uDaniyeli ayengumkhohlisi, noPawulu wayenguye futhi! Ingabe uJesu wayengakhohliseka? Phinde. Wayephila ezulwini ngesikhathi kulotshwa incwadi kaDaniyeli. UJesu waze wathi: “Ngaphambi kokuba u-Abrahama abe khona, bengikhona mina.” (Johane 8:58) Kubo bonke abantu abake baphila, nguJesu obekungafaneleka ukuba simbuze ngokuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli. Kodwa akudingeki sibuze. Njengoba sesibonile, ubufakazi bakhe bucace bhá.

30. UJesu wakufakazela kanjani ngokwengeziwe ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli iyiqiniso?

³⁰ UJesu wabuye wafakazela incwadi kaDaniyeli ukuthi iyiqiniso ngesikhathi ebhapathizwa. Wabe eseba uMesiya, egcwalisa isiprofetho esikuDaniyeli esiphathelene namasonto angu-69 eminyaka. (Daniyeil 9:25, 26; bheka iSahluko 11 sale ncwadi.) Ngisho noma bekungathiwa kuyiqiniso ukuthi yabhalwa kamuva, umlobi wencwadi kaDaniyeli wayazi ikusasa kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-200. Yebo, uNkulunkulu wayengeke aphefumulele umkhohlisi ukuba asho iziprofetho eziyiqiniso azibize ngegama-mbumbulu. Cha, abantu abathembekile kuNkulunkulu babamukela ngenhliziyo yonke ubufakazi bukaJesu. Ukube zonke izingcweti, bonke abagxeki basemhlabeni bebengakha umfelandawonye bamelane nencwadi kaDaniyeli, ubufakazi bukaJesu bebungabaveza benamanga, ngoba ‘ungufakazi okholekileyo noqinisileyo.’—IsAmbulo 3:14.

31. Kungani abagxeki beBhayibheli abaningi bengakagculiseki ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli iyiqiniso?

³¹ Ngisho nalobu bufakazi abubagculisi abagxeki abaningi beBhayibheli. Ngemva kokucabangela le ndaba ngokucophelela, ungazibuza ukuthi bukhona yini obunye ubufakazi obunganela ukuze bagculiseke. Omunye uprofesa e-Oxford University waloba: “Akusizi ngalutho ukumane kuphendulwe ukuphikisa, uma nje kusekhona lo mbono wokuqala ogxekayo othi, ‘akusoze kwaba khona isiprofetho esingaphezu kwamandla avamile.’” Ngakho ukugxeka kwabo kubavala amehlo. Kodwa okwabo loko—yibona abayolahlekelwa.

32. Yini esizoyithola ekutadisheni kwethu incwadi kaDaniyeli?

³² Kuthiwani ngawe? Uma ubona ukuthi asikho isizathu sangempela sokungabaza ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli, khona-ke ululungele uhambo olujabulisayo lokuthungatha. Izindaba ezixoxwa encwadini kaDaniyeli uzozithola zivusa amadlingozi, iziprofetho zizokuthakazelisa kakhulu. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, uzothola ukuthi ukholo lwakho luya lukhula ngemva kwesahluko ngasinye. Awusoze wazisola ngokusinaka isiprofetho sencwadi kaDaniyeli!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Incwadi kaDaniyeli iye yamangalelwa ngani?

• Kungani ukuphikisa kwabagxeki incwadi kaDaniyeli kungenazisekelo?

• Yibuphi ubufakazi obusekela ukuba yiqiniso kokulandisa kukaDaniyeli?

• Yibuphi ubufakazi obugculisa kunabo bonke bokuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli iyiqiniso?

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 26]

Indaba Yolimi

INCWADI kaDaniyeli yaqedwa ukulotshwa cishe ngo-536 B.C.E. Yayilotshwe ngolimi lwesiHeberu nolwesi-Aramu, inamagama ambalwa esiGreki nawesiPheresiya. Ukuxutshwa kwezilimi kanjalo akujwayelekile kodwa kukhona emiBhalweni. Incwadi yeBhayibheli ka-Ezra nayo yalotshwa ngesiHeberu nesi-Aramu. Nokho, abanye abagxeki bayaphikelela bethi umlobi wencwadi kaDaniyeli wasebenzisa lezi zilimi ngendlela efakazela ukuthi wayiloba ngemva kuka-536 B.C.E. Omunye umgxeki ucashunwa kaningi ethi ukusetshenziswa kwamagama esiGreki encwadini kaDaniyeli kwenza kufaneleke ukuthi yalotshwa nganeno. Ugomela ngokuthi isiHeberu siyakusekela ukuthi yalotshwa nganeno nokuthi isi-Aramu okungenani siyakuvumela lokho—kuze kuthiwe ngekhulu lesibili B.C.E.

Nokho, akuzona zonke izazi zolimi ezivumayo. Ezinye ziye zaveza ukuthi isiHeberu sikaDaniyeli sifana nesikaHezekeli nesika-Ezra kanti asifani nesitholakala ezincwadini zakamuva ezingengcwele njengethi Ecclesiasticus. Ngokuqondene nokusebenzisa kukaDaniyeli isi-Aramu, cabangela imibhalo emibili eyatholakala emiQulwini YasoLwandle Olufile. Nayo ingesi-Aramu futhi eyangekhulu lokuqala nelesibili B.C.E.—okungekudala kakhulu ngemva kokukhohlisa okuthiwa kwenziwa ngencwadi kaDaniyeli. Kodwa izazi ziye zaphawula umehluko omkhulu phakathi kwesi-Aramu esikule mibhalo naleso esisencwadini kaDaniyeli. Ngakho, ezinye zisikisela ukuthi kumelwe ukuba sekungamakhulu eminyaka incwadi kaDaniyeli ikhona kunokuba kugomela abagxeki bayo.

Kuthiwani ngamagama esiGreki “ayinkingana” encwadini kaDaniyeli? Amanye awo kuye kwatholakala ukuthi awesiPheresiya, awasona nakancane isiGreki! Okuwukuphela kwamagama okucatshangwa ukuthi ayisiGreki amagama ezinsimbi zomculo ezintathu. Ingabe ukuba khona kwala magama amathathu ngempela kwenza kufaneleke ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yalotshwa nganeno? Cha. Abavubukuli baye bathola ukuthi isiko lamaGreki lase linethonya emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba iGrisi ibe umbuso wezwe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukube incwadi kaDaniyeli yayilotshwe phakathi nekhulu lesibili B.C.E., ngesikhathi isiko nolimi lwesiGreki sekusabalele, ingabe yayiyoba namagama esiGreki amathathu kuphela? Ibingeke. Cishe yayiyoba namaningi kakhulu. Ngakho ubufakazi bolimi buyakusekela ngempela ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi kaDaniyeli.

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 12]

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

(Ngezansi) Isitsha sobumba sasethempelini laseBabiloni sinegama leNkosi uNabonidasi nendodana yakhe uBelishasari

(Ngenhla) Lo mbhalo oqoshiwe unamazwi kaNebukadinesari okuqhosha ngemisebenzi yakhe yokwakha

[Isithombe ekhasini 21]

NgokoMlando kaNabonidasi, ibutho likaKoresi langena eBabiloni ngaphandle kokulwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 22]

(Kwesokudla) “Ukulandisa Okusankondlo KukaNabonidasi” kubika ukuthi uNabonidasi waphathisa izibulo lakhe ubukhosi

(Kwesobunxele) Umbhalo waseBabiloni okhuluma ngokuhlasela kukaNebukadinesari kwaJuda