Isahluko 4
Likholeka Kangakanani “ITestamente Elidala”?
Ezahlukweni ezimbalwa ezilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokunye kokumangalelwa kweBhayibheli okwenziwa ngabagxeki banamuhla. Abanye balimangalela ngokuthi iBhayibheli liyaziphikisa futhi “alilona elingokwesayensi,” futhi lokhu kumangalelwa kuzocatshangelwa kamuva. Kodwa okokuqala, cabangela ukumangalelwa okwenziwa ngokuvamile kokuthi iBhayibheli liyiqoqo nje lezinganekwane nezinsumansumane. Ingabe abaphikisi beBhayibheli banezizathu eziqinile zokugxeka okunjalo? Okokuqala, asibheke imiBhalo YesiHeberu, ebizwa ngokuthi iTestamente Elidala.
1, 2. Kwakunjani ukuvinjezelwa kweJeriko, futhi imiphi imibuzo ephakanyiswayo ngokuqondene nakho?
UMUZI wasendulo uvinjezelwe. Abahlaseli bawo baye babuthana ngaphesheya koMfula iJordani futhi manje bakanise ngaphambi kwezindonga zomuzi eziphakeme. Kodwa yeka amasu empi angandile! Usuku ngalunye ngezinsuku eziyisithupha, ibutho elihlaselayo liye lamasha lizungeza umuzi, lithule ngaphandle kweqembu labapristi elihambisana nalo lishaya amacilongo. Manje, ngosuku lwesikhombisa, ibutho limasha buthule lizungeza umuzi izikhathi eziyisikhombisa. Ngokushesha, abapristi bashaya amacilongo abo ngawo wonke amandla abo. Ibutho linqamula ukuthula kwalo ngokukhamuluka kwempi okunamandla, futhi izindonga zomuzi ezinde ziyawa zidale ifu lezintuli, zishiya umuzi ungavikelekile.—Joshuwa 6:1-21.
2 Yilendlela incwadi kaJoshuwa, incwadi yesithupha yemiBhalo YesiHeberu, ekuchaza ngayo ukuwa kweJeriko okwenzeka cishe eminyakeni eyizi-3 500 edlule. Kodwa ingabe kwenzeka ngempela? Abacusumbuli abaningi bemibhalo bangaphendula ngokuthi cha.a Bathi incwadi kaJoshuwa, kanye nezincwadi eziyisihlanu zeBhayibheli ezingaphambi kwayo, ziqukethe izinganekwane ezabhalwa emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka ngemva kokuba lezenzakalo okubhekiselwa kuzo sezenzeka. Izazi zemivubukulo eziningi nazo zingaphendula ngokuthi cha. Ngokwazo, lapho amaIsrayeli engena ezweni laseKhanani, iJeriko kungenzeka lalingekho ngisho nokuba khona.
3. Kungani kubalulekile ukuxoxa ngokuthi iBhayibheli liqukethe umlando weqiniso noma cha?
3 Lokhu ukumangalelwa okungathi sína. Njengoba ufunda lonke iBhayibheli, uyoqaphela ukuthi izimfundiso zalo zihlangene ngokuqinile nomlando. UNkulunkulu usebenzelana namadoda angokoqobo, abesifazane, imikhaya, nezizwe, futhi imiyalo yakhe inikezwa abantu abangokomlando. Izazi zanamuhla ezingabaza ubuqiniso obungokomlando beBhayibheli zingabaza futhi nokubaluleka nokwethembeka kwesigijimi salo. Uma iBhayibheli ngempela liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu, khona-ke umlando walo kumelwe uthembeke futhi ungaqukathi nje izinsumansumane nezinganekwane. Ingabe labagxeki banezizathu zokubekela ubuqiniso balo obungokomlando inselele?
Ukucusumbula Imibhalo—Kuthembeke Kangakanani?
4-6. Imiphi eminye yemibono kaWellhausen yokucusumbula imibhalo?
4 Ukucusumbula iBhayibheli kwaqala ngomfutho phakathi nekhulu leminyaka le-18 nele-19. Engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19 leminyaka, umgxeki weBhayibheli waseJalimane uJulius Wellhausen wasakaza umbono wokuthi izincwadi zokuqala eziyisithupha zeBhayibheli, kuhlanganise noJoshuwa, zabhalwa ekhulwini lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E.—cishe eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngemva kwezenzakalo ezichaziwe. Nokho, washo ukuthi ziqukethe ukwaziswa okwakubhalwe ngaphambidlana.1 Lombono wanyatheliswa ohlelweni lwe-11 lwe-Encyclopædia Britannica, eyakhishwa ngo-1911, eyachaza: “UGenesise uyincwadi eyabhalwa ngemva kokukhululwa ekuthunjweni eBabiloni ehlanganisa imibhalo yabapristi yangemva kokukhululwa ekuthunjweni nemibhalo yangaphambidlana engeyona eyabapristi ehluke ngokuphawulekayo enkathini engemva kokukhululwa ekuthunjweni ngendlela yokukhuluma, nombono wenkolo.”
5 UWellhausen nabalandeli bakhe babheka wonke umlando olotshwe engxenyeni yokuqala yemiBhalo YesiHeberu ‘njengongewona umlando ongokoqobo, kodwa njengamasiko athandwayo esikhathi esidlule.’2 Ukulandisa kokuqala kwacatshangelwa njengokumane nje kuwukukhumbula umlando wakwaIsrayeli wakamuva. Ngokwesibonelo, kwaphawulwa ukuthi ubutha phakathi kukaJakobe noEsawu abuzange ngempela bube khona, kodwa babubonisa ubutha phakathi kwesizwe sakwaIsrayeli nesakwaEdomi ezikhathini zakamuva.
6 Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, labagxeki baba nomuzwa wokuthi uMose akazange athole noma yimuphi umyalo wokwenza umphongolo wesivumelwano nokuthi itabernakele, isikhungo sokukhulekela samaIsrayeli ehlane, alikaze libe khona. Bakholelwa futhi ukuthi igunya lobupristi buka-Aroni laqiniswa ngokugcwele eminyakeni embalwa kuphela ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngabaseBabiloni, abagxeki abakholelwa ukuthi kwenzeka ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E.3
7, 8. Yibuphi “ubufakazi” uWellhausen ayenabo ngemibono yakhe, futhi ingabe babunengqondo?
7 Yibuphi “ubufakazi” ababenabo ngalemiqondo? Abacusumbuli bemibhalo bathi bayakwazi ukuhlukanisa umbhalo wezincwadi zokuqala zeBhayibheli ube izincwadi eziningana ezihlukene. Isimiso esiyinhloko abasisebenzisayo siwukucabangela ukuthi, ngokuvamile, noma yiliphi ivesi leBhayibheli elisebenzisa igama lesiHeberu elisho uNkulunkulu (’Elo·himʹ) lilodwa lalotshwa umlobi oyedwa, kanti noma yiliphi ivesi elibhekisela kuNkulunkulu ngegama lakhe elithi, Jehova, kumelwe ukuba lalotshwa omunye—njengokungathi umlobi oyedwa wayengenakuwasebenzisa womabili lamagama.4
8 Ngokufanayo, noma nini uma isenzakalo silotshwe ngaphezu kwesikhathi esisodwa encwadini, kuthathwa njengobufakazi bokuthi kwakunabalobi abangaphezu koyedwa kuleyoncwadi, ngisho nakuba izincwadi zasendulo zaseningizimu-ntshonalanga yeAsia zinezinye izibonelo ezifanayo zokuphindaphinda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kucatshangelwa ukuthi noma yiluphi ushintsho lwendlela yokuloba lusho ushintsho lomlobi. Kodwa, ngisho nabalobi bolimi lwanamuhla ngokuvamile babhala ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene, emabangeni ahlukahlukene omsebenzi wabo, noma lapho bebhala ngesihloko sendaba esihlukile.b
9-11. Yibuphi obunye ubuthakathaka obuvelele bokucusumbula imibhalo kwanamuhla?
9 Ingabe bukhona ubufakazi bangempela balemibono? Lutho neze. Omunye umhlaziyi waphawula: “Ukucusumbula, ngisho noma kucophelela kangakanani, kuyacabangela futhi akuqinisekile, okuthile ngaso sonke isikhathi okungalungiswa noma kuboniswe kunephutha futhi kudinge ukuba kuthathelwe indawo ngokuthile. Kuwukuvivinya ingqondo, okungaphansi kwakho konke ukungabaza nokuqagela okungenakuhlukaniswa nakho.”5 Ukucusumbulwa kombhalo weBhayibheli, ikakhulukazi, “kuyacabangela futhi akuqinisekile” ngendlela eyeqile.
10 UGleason L. Archer, Jnr., ubonisa elinye iphutha endleleni yokucabanga yokucusumbula imibhalo. Uthi inkinga iwukuthi “iqembu likaWellhausen laqala ngokucabangela okumsulwa (elingazange lizikhathaze ngokukufakazela) kokuthi inkolo yamaIsrayeli yayimane nje isungulwe umuntu njenganoma iyiphi enye, nokuthi kwakumelwe ichazwe njengomkhiqizo nje wokuziphendukela kwemvelo.”6 Ngamanye amazwi, uWellhausen nabalandeli bakhe baqala ngokucabangela ukuthi iBhayibheli limane nje liyizwi lomuntu, khona-ke baveza imibono yabo bethathela lapho.
11 Emuva ngo-1909, iJewish Encyclopedia yaphawula ezinye izici ezimbili eziwubuthakathaka zombono kaWellhausen: “Amaphuzu uWellhausen acishe wathumba ngawo ngokuphelele bonke abagxeki beBhayibheli besikhathi sakhe asekelwe ekucabangeleni okubili: okokuqala, ukuthi isiko lenkolo liya liba inkimbinkimbi njengoba inkolo ithuthuka; okwesibili, ukuthi imibhalo emidala iphathelene namazinga okuqala okuthuthuka kwesiko lenkolo. Ukucabangela kokuqala kumelene nobufakazi bamasiko ayisidala, futhi okwamuva akusekelwa ubufakazi bezimiso zamasiko ezinjengalezo zaseNdiya.”
12. Ukucusumbula imibhalo kwanamuhla kubhekana kanjani nesayensi yemivubukulo?
12 Ingabe ikhona indlela yokuhlola ukucusumbulwa kwemibhalo ukuze sibone ukuthi imibono yako ilungile noma cha? IJewish Encyclopedia yaqhubeka yathi: “Imibono kaWellhausen isekelwe cishe ngokuphelele ekuhlaziyweni kwezinto ezisobala, futhi kuyodingeka ithasiselwe ngokuhlola okwenziwa ngombono wesayensi yemivubukulo emisiwe.” Njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka, ingabe isayensi yemivubukulo yabonakala isekela ukuthembeka kwemibono kaWellhausen? INew Encyclopædia Britannica iyaphendula: “Ukucusumbula kwesayensi yemivubukulo kuye kwabonakala kusekela ukwethembeka kwemininingwane engokomlando ngisho neyezikhathi zakudala kakhulu [zomlando weBhayibheli] futhi kuwuhlaba umbono wokuthi ukulandisa kwePentateuch [imibhalo egciniwe engokomlando esezincwadini zokuqala kunazo zonke zeBhayibheli] kumane nje kuwukukhunjulwa kwenkathi yamuva kakhulu.”
13, 14. Naphezu kwezisekelo zakho ezintengantengayo, kungani ukucusumbula imibhalo kukaWellhausen kusamukeleka kabanzi namuhla?
13 Ngokucabangela ubuthakathaka bako, kungani ukucusumbulwa kwemibhalo kuthandeka kangaka phakathi kwabantu abayizihlakaniphi namuhla? Ngoba kubatshela izinto abafuna ukuzizwa. Esinye isazi sekhulu le-19 leminyaka sachaza: “Ngokwami, ngayamukela kakhulu lencwadi kaWellhausen cishe kunanoma iyiphi enye; ngoba inkinga ecindezelayo yomlando weTestamente Elidala yabonakala kimi ixazululekile ekugcineni ngendlela evumelana nesimiso sokuziphendukela kwemvelo komuntu engiphoqeleke ukuba ngisisebenzise emlandweni wayo yonke inkolo.”7 Ngokusobala, ukucusumbulwa kwemibhalo kwavumelana nemibono yaso esontekile njengomsekeli wokuziphendukela kwemvelo. Futhi, empeleni, lemibono emibili isebenzela injongo efanayo. Njengoba nje ukuziphendukela kwemvelo kwakuyosusa isidingo sokukholelwa kuMdali, kanjalo ukucusumbula imibhalo kukaWellhausen kwakuyosho ukuthi akudingeki ukuba umuntu akholelwe ukuthi iBhayibheli laphefumlelwa nguNkulunkulu.
14 Kulelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka lenkolelo esekelwe ezizathwini, umcabango wokuthi iBhayibheli alilona izwi likaNkulunkulu kodwa elomuntu ubonakala unengqondo kubantu abayizihlakaniphi.c Kulula kakhulu ngabo ukukholelwa ukuthi iziprofetho zabhalwa ngemva kokugcwaliseka kwazo kunokuzamukela njengeziyiqiniso. Bakhetha ukululaza ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngezimangaliso ngokuthi ziyizinganekwane, izinsumansumane, noma izindaba eziqanjiwe, kunokucabangela ukuthi kungenzeka zenzeka ngempela. Kodwa umbono onjalo uhlanekezelwe futhi awusinikezi isizathu esiqinile sokwenqaba iBhayibheli njengeliyiqiniso. Ukucusumbula imibhalo kunamaphutha angathi sína, futhi ukuhlasela kwako iBhayibheli kuye kwahluleka ukubonisa ukuthi iBhayibheli alilona iZwi likaNkulunkulu.
Ingabe Isayensi Yemivubukulo Isekela IBhayibheli?
15, 16. Ukuba khona kwamuphi umbusi wasendulo okuphawulwe eBhayibhelini okwaqinisekiswa isayensi yemivubukulo?
15 Isayensi yemivubukulo iwumkhakha wokuhlola onesisekelo esiqinile kunokucusumbula imibhalo. Izazi zemivubukulo, ngokumba ezinsaleleni zempucuko yesikhathi esidlule, ngezindlela eziningi ziye zandisa ukuqonda kwethu indlela izinto ezazingayo ezikhathini zasendulo. Ngakho, akumangalisi ukuthi umbhalo ogciniwe wemivubukulo uvumelana ngokuphindaphindiwe nalokho esikufunda eBhayibhelini. Ngezinye izikhathi, isayensi yemivubukulo iye ngisho yalwela iBhayibheli kubagxeki balo.
16 Ngokwesibonelo, ngokwencwadi kaDaniyeli, umbusi wokugcina eBabiloni ngaphambi kokuba liwele kumaPheresiya wabizwa ngokuthi uBelishasari. (Daniyeli 5:1-30) Njengoba kwabonakala kungekho ndawo lapho kukhulunywa khona ngoBelishasari ngaphandle kwaseBhayibhelini, kwathiwa iBhayibheli lalinephutha nokuthi lendoda ayikaze ibe khona. Kodwa phakathi nekhulu le-19 leminyaka, kwatholakala imiphongolo eminingana emincane eqoshwe ngombhalo wecuneiform emanxiweni athile aseningizimu Iraq. Kwatholakala ukuthi iqukethe nomthandazo ocelela impilo yendodana endala kaNabonidasi, inkosi yaseBabiloni. Lalingubani igama lalendodana? UBelishasari.
17. Singalichaza kanjani iqiniso lokuthi iBhayibheli libiza uBelishasari ngokuthi inkosi, kuyilapho imibhalo eminingi eqoshiwe imbiza ngokuthi inkosana?
17 Ngakho wayekhona uBelishasari! Nokho, ingabe wayeyinkosi lapho iBabiloni liwa? Izincwadi eziningi ezatholakala ngokulandelayo zabhekisela kuye njengendodana yenkosi, eyindlalifa yesihlalo sobukhosi. Kodwa incwadi ethile yombhalo wecuneiform echazwe ngokuthi “ukuLandisa Okusankondlo KukaNabonidasi,” yasicacisa ngokwengeziwe isikhundla seqiniso sikaBelishasari. Yabika: “[UNabonidasi] waphathisa ‘iKamu’ (endodaneni) yakhe endala, izibulo, wayaleza amabutho kuyo yonke indawo ezweni ukuba abe ngaphansi (kokuphatha) kwayo. Wadedela (konke), wayiphathisa nobukhosi.”8 Ngakho uBelishasari waphathiswa ubukhosi. Ngokuqinisekile, ngokoqobo wenziwa inkosi!d Lobuhlobo phakathi kukaBelishasari noyise, uNabonidasi, buchaza ukuthi kungani uBelishasari, phakathi nalelodili lokugcina eBabiloni, athembisa ukwenza uDaniyeli umbusi wesithathu embusweni. (Daniyeli 5:16) Njengoba uNabonidasi ayengumbusi wokuqala, uBelishasari ngokwakhe wayengumbusi waseBabiloni wesibili.
Obunye Ubufakazi Obusekelayo
18. Ikuphi ukwaziswa okunikezwa isayensi yemivubukulo ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuthula nokuchuma okwakuwumphumela wokubusa kukaDavide?
18 Ngempela, okuningi okutholwe yisayensi yemivubukulo kuye kwabonisa ukunemba okungokomlando kweBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, iBhayibheli libika ukuthi ngemva kokuba iNkosi uSolomoni isithathe ubukhosi kuyise, uDavide, uIsrayeli wajabulela ukuchuma okukhulu. Siyafunda: “OJuda noIsrayeli babebaningi ngangesihlabathi solwandle ngobuningi, bedla, bephuza, bejabula.” (1 AmaKhosi 4:20) Ekusekeleni lamazwi, siyafunda: “Ubufakazi bemivubukulo bembula ukuthi kwakunokuchichima kwenani labantu kwaJuda phakathi nekhulu leshumi leminyaka B.C. nangemva kwalo lapho ukuthula nokuchuma okwalethwa uDavide kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukwakha imizana eminingi emisha.”10
19. Yikuphi ukwaziswa okwengeziwe isayensi yemivubukulo ekunikezayo ngokuqondene nempi phakathi kukaIsrayeli noMowabi?
19 Kamuva, uIsrayeli noJuda baba izizwe ezimbili, futhi uIsrayeli wanqoba izwe lwakwaMowabi elingumakhelwane. Ngesinye isikhathi uMowabi, ngaphansi kweNkosi uMesha, wahlubuka, futhi uIsrayeli wazihlanganisa noJuda nombuso wakwaEdomi ongumakhelwane ukuba balwe noMowabi. (2 AmaKhosi 3:4-27) Ngokuphawulekayo, ngo-1868 eJordani, kwatholakala istela (ucezu lwetshe elibaziwe) eqoshwe ngolimi lwakwaMowabi inokulandisa kwakhe siqu uMesha ngalokhu kulwa.
20. Isayensi yemivubukulo isitshelani ngokubhujiswa kwamaIsrayeli ngabaseAsiriya?
20 Khona-ke, ngonyaka ka-740 B.C.E., uNkulunkulu wavumela umbuso wakwaIsrayeli wasenyakatho ohlubukayo ukuba ubhujiswe abaseAsiriya. (2 AmaKhosi 17:6-18) Sikhuluma ngokulandisa kweBhayibheli ngalesenzakalo, isazi semivubukulo uKathleen Kenyon siyaphawula: “Umuntu angase abe nomzindlo wokuthi okunye kwalokhu kuyihaba.” Kodwa ingabe kuyilo? Siyanezela: “Ubufakazi bemivubukulo bokuwa kombuso wakwaIsrayeli cishe bucace kakhudlwana kunalobo bomlando ongokweBhayibheli. . . . Ukubhuqwa ngokuphelele kwemizana yamaIsrayeli yaseSamariya naseHasori nembubhiso eyayihambisana nakho yaseMegido kuwubufakazi bemivubukulo obuyiqiniso bokuthi umlobi [weBhayibheli] wayengeqisi.”11
21. Imiphi imininingwane enikezwa isayensi yemivubukulo ngokunqotshwa kukaJuda ngabaseBabiloni?
21 Kamuva futhi, iBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi iJerusalema ngaphansi kweNkosi uJehoyakini lavinjezelwa abaseBabiloni futhi lahlulwa. Lesenzakalo silotshwe eMilandweni YaseBabiloni, isibhebhe esilotshwe ngecuneiform esatholwa izazi zemivubukulo. Ngalokhu, siyafunda: “Inkosi yaseAkkad [iBabiloni] . . . yavimbezela umuzi wakwaJuda (iahudu) futhi lenkosi yathatha umuzi ngosuku lwesibili lwenyanga ka-Addaru.”12 UJehoyakini wayiswa eBabiloni futhi wavalelwa etilongweni. Kodwa kamuva, ngokweBhayibheli, wakhululwa etilongweni futhi wanikezwa isabelo sokudla. (2 AmaKhosi 24:8-15; 25:27-30) Lokhu kusekelwa izincwadi zabaphathi ezitholakala eBabiloni, ezifaka ohlwini izabelo ezanikezwa “uYaukîn, inkosi yakwaJuda.”13
22, 23. Sekukonke, buyini ubuhlobo phakathi kwesayensi yemivubukulo nokulandisa okungokomlando kweBhayibheli?
22 Ngokuqondene nobuhlobo phakathi kwesayensi yemivubukulo nokulandisa kweBhayibheli okungokomlando, uProfesa David Noel Freedman waphawula: “Nokho, ngokuvamile, isayensi yemivubukulo iye yabonakala isekela ubuqiniso obungokomlando bokulandisa kweBhayibheli. Uhlaka olubanzi lwezenzakalo ezisukela ezinzalamizini kuya ezikhathini zeT[estamente] E[lisha] luyavumelana nemininingwane yemivubukulo. . . . Okuyotholakala esikhathini esizayo cishe kuyosekela isikhundla samanje esilinganiselwe sokuthi isiko elingokweBhayibheli linomsuka ongokomlando, futhi ladluliselwa ngokwethembeka, nakuba lingewona umlando ngomqondo wabagxeki noma ongokwesayensi.”
23 Khona-ke, ngokuqondene nemizamo yabacusumbuli bemibhalo yokuhlaba iBhayibheli, uthi: “Imizamo yokwakhiwa kabusha komlando weBhayibheli yezazi zanamuhla—ngokwesibonelo, umbono kaWellhausen wokuthi inkathi yezinzalamizi yayiwukukhumbula okwenzeka ngenkathi yombuso ohlukanisiwe; noma ukwenqaba ukuba ngokomlando kukaMose nohambo lokufuduka nokwakhiwa kabusha okwalandela komlando wamaIsrayeli uNoth nabalandeli bakhe—akuzange kusinde emininingwaneni yemivubukulo nasekulandiseni okungokweBhayibheli.”14
Ukuwa KweJeriko
24. Yikuphi ukwaziswa iBhayibheli elisinikeza khona ngokuwa kweJeriko?
24 Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi isayensi yemivubukulo ivumelana neBhayibheli kukho konke? Cha, kunokungavumelani okuningana. Okunye kwakho kuwukunqotshwa okumangalisayo kweJeriko okuchazwe ekuqaleni kwalesahluko. NgokweBhayibheli, iJeriko laliwumuzi wokuqala owanqotshwa uJoshuwa lapho eholela amaIsrayeli ezweni laseKhanani. Umlando wezenzakalo zeBhayibheli ubonisa ukuthi lomuzi wawa engxenyeni yokuqala yekhulu le-15 leminyaka B.C.E. Ngemva kokunqotshwa, iJeriko lashiswa ngomlilo lalotha futhi labe selishiywa lingakhiwe amakhulu amaningi eminyaka.—Joshuwa 6:1-26; 1 AmaKhosi 16:34.
25, 26. Yiziphi iziphetho ezimbili ezihlukene izazi zemivubukulo eziye zafinyelela kuzo njengomphumela wokuvubukula iJeriko?
25 Ngaphambi kwempi yezwe yesibili, indawo okwakukholelwa ukuthi yayiyiJeriko yavubukulwa uProfesa John Garstang. Wathola ukuthi lomuzi wawumdala kakhulu futhi wawubhujiswe wabuye wakhiwa izikhathi eziningi. UGarstang wathola ukuthi phakathi nokunye kwalokhu kubhujiswa, izindonga zawa, ngokungathi ziwiswe ukuzamazama komhlaba, nomuzi washiswa ngomlilo walotha. UGarstang wakholelwa ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka cishe ngo-1400 B.C.E., okungekude kakhulu nesikhathi esiboniswe ngokweBhayibheli sokubhujiswa kweJeriko uJoshuwa.15
26 Ngemva kwempi, esinye isazi semivubukulo, uKathleen Kenyon, senza okunye ukuvubukula eJeriko. Safinyelela isiphetho sokuthi izindonga eziwile uGarstang ayezibonile zazingezenkathi ehlehlela eminyakeni engamakhulu amaningi ngaphambili kunalokho ayekucabanga. Sabona ukuthi kwaba nokubhujiswa okukhulu kweJeriko ekhulwini le-16 leminyaka B.C.E. kodwa sathi kwakungekho muzi endaweni yaseJeriko phakathi nekhulu le-15 leminyaka—lapho iBhayibheli lithi uJoshuwa wayehlasela izwe. Siyaqhubeka sibika izimpawu ezingenzeka zokunye ukubhujiswa okungenzeka ukuthi kwenzeka kulendawo ngo-1325 B.C.E. futhi siyasikisela: “Uma ukubhujiswa kweJeriko kumelwe kuhlanganiswe nokuhlasela okwakungaphansi kukaJoshuwa, lolu [lwamuva] usuku olusikiselwa isayensi yemivubukulo.”16
27. Kungani ukungavumelani phakathi kwesayensi yemivubukulo neBhayibheli kungafanele kusikhathaze ngokungadingekile?
27 Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi iBhayibheli linephutha? Lutho neze. Kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi nakuba isayensi yemivubukulo isinikeza indlela yokubona esikhathini esidlule, akuyona indlela ecacile njalo. Ngokungangabazeki ngezinye izikhathi iba lufifi. Njengoba omunye umhlaziyi aphawula: “Ubufakazi besayensi yemivubukulo ngeshwa, buyizicucu, ngakho bulinganiselwe.”17 Lokhu kuyiqiniso ikakhulukazi ngezinkathi zokuqala zomlando wamaIsrayeli, lapho ubufakazi besayensi yemivubukulo bungacacile khona. Ngempela, ubufakazi bungobungacacile kakhulu kunalokho eJeriko, njengoba lendawo iye yaguguleka kabi.
Ukulinganiselwa Kwesayensi Yemivubukulo
28, 29. Ikuphi okunye ukulinganiselwa kwesayensi yemivubukulo okuye kwavunywa izazi?
28 Izazi zemivubukulo ngokwazo ziyavuma ukuthi isayensi yazo ilinganiselwe. Ngokwesibonelo, uYohanan Aharoni, uyachaza: “Uma kuziwa encazelweni engokomlando noma yokuma kwezwe nomlando, isazi semivubukulo siyaphuma endaweni yesayensi eqonde ngqó, futhi kumelwe sithembele ekwahluleleni kwaso lokho esikuvubukulile nasemibonweni engakaqinisekiswa ukuze sifinyelele umfanekiso ongokomlando oqondakalayo.”18 Ngokuphathelene nezinsuku ezinikezwe okutholiwe okuhlukahlukene, siyanezela: “Ngakho-ke kumelwe sikhumbule njalo, ukuthi akuzona zonke izinsuku ezishaya emhloleni futhi ngokwamazinga ahlukene ziwukucabangela,” nakuba sinomuzwa wokuthi izazi zemivubukulo zanamuhla zingaqiniseka ngokwengeziwe ekunikezeni kwazo izinsuku kunokuba kwakunjalo esikhathini esidlule.19
29 IWorld of the Old Testament ibuza lombuzo: “Ingeqotho noma ingokwesayensi kangakanani ngempela indlela yesayensi yemivubukulo?” Iyaphendula: “Izazi zemivubukulo ziqotho ngokwengeziwe lapho zivubukula amaqiniso kunalapho ziwachaza. Kodwa izithakazelo zazo zobuntu ziyozithinta izindlela ezizisebenzisa ‘nasekumbeni.’ Azikwazi ukugwema ukuchitha ubufakazi bazo njengoba zimba izingqimba zomhlaba, ngakho azinakukwazi ukuhlola ‘ukulinga’ kwazo ngokukuphinda. Lokhu kwenza isayensi yemivubukulo ibe ingqayizivele phakathi kweminye imikhakha yesayensi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwenza ukubika kwesayensi yemivubukulo kube umsebenzi obizelayo nogcwele izisele.”20
30. Abafundi beBhayibheli bayibheka kanjani isayensi yemivubukulo?
30 Ngakho isayensi yemivubukulo ingaba usizo kakhulu, kodwa njenganoma yimuphi umzamo womuntu, inamaphutha. Nakuba sicabangela imibono yesayensi yemivubukulo ngesithakazelo, akufanele silokothe siyibheke njengeqiniso elingenakuguquka. Uma izazi zemivubukulo zichaza ezikutholayo ngendlela ephikisana neBhayibheli, akufanele ukuba kalula nje kucatshangwe ukuthi iBhayibheli linephutha futhi izazi zemivubukulo zilungile. Izincazelo zazo zaziwa njengezishintshayo.
31. Yikuphi ukusikisela okusha okuye kwavezwa muva nje ngokuphathelene nokuwa kweJeriko?
31 Kuyathakazelisa ukuphawula ukuthi ngo-1981 uProfesa John J. Bimson wabuye wabheka ukubhujiswa kweJeriko. Wahlolisisa ukubhujiswa ngomlilo kweJeriko okwenzeka—ngokukaKathleen Kenyon—phakathi nekhulu le-16 leminyaka B.C.E. Ngokusho kwakhe, leyombubhiso ayizange nje kuphela ifanelane nokulandisa kweBhayibheli kokubhubhisa kukaJoshuwa lomuzi kodwa umfanekiso wesayensi yemivubukulo weKhanani lilonke ufanelana ngokuphelele nencazelo yeBhayibheli yeKhanani lapho amaIsrayeli ehlasela. Ngakho, usikisela ukuthi ukubalwa kwezinsuku kwesayensi yemivubukulo kunephutha futhi usikisela ukuthi lembubhiso yenzeka ngempela phakathi nekhulu le-15 leminyaka B.C.E., phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila sikaJoshuwa.21
IBhayibheli Liwumlando Oyiqiniso
32. Yikuphi ukuthambekela okuye kwaqashelwa phakathi kwezazi ezithile?
32 Lokhu kubonisa iqiniso lokuthi izazi zemivubukulo ngokuvamile zihlukana zodwa. Ngakho, akumangalisi ukuthi ezinye azivumelani neBhayibheli kanti ezinye zivumelana nalo. Noma kunjalo, ezinye izazi ziqala ukubuhlonipha ubuqiniso bomlando weBhayibheli usuwonke, uma kungeyona yonke imininingwane. UWilliam Foxwell Albright wamelela omunye umbono lapho ebhala: “Iningi liye labuyela ekwaziseni ukunemba, kokubili komqondo usuwonke nasemininingwaneni eyiqiniso, komlando wenkolo wakwaIsrayeli. . . . Ngamafuphi, manje singaphinde sibheke iBhayibheli kusukela ekuqaleni kuya ekugcineni njengencwadi ethembekile yomlando wenkolo.”22
33, 34. ImiBhalo YesiHeberu ngokwayo ibunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuba enembile ngokomlando?
33 Eqinisweni, iBhayibheli ngokwalo linophawu lomlando onembile. Izenzakalo zihlanganiswe nezikhathi eziqondile nezinsuku, ngokungafani nalezo zezinganekwane nezinsumansumane eziningi zasendulo. Izenzakalo eziningi ezilotshwe eBhayibhelini zisekelwa imibhalo eqoshiwe ehlehlela kulezozikhathi. Lapho kunomehluko khona phakathi kweBhayibheli nombhalo othile oqoshiwe wasendulo, umehluko ngokuvamile ungabalelwa ekungathandini kwababusi basendulo ukuba balobe ukunqotshwa kwabo siqu nasesifisweni sabo sokukhulisa ukuphumelela kwabo.
34 Ngempela, eminingi yaleyomibhalo eqoshiwe yasendulo iyinkulumo-ze engokomthetho kunokuba ibe umlando. Ngokuphambene, abalobi beBhayibheli babonisa ukungagunci okuyivela kancane. Abantu abavelele basendulo abanjengoMose noAroni bembulwa nabo bonke ubuthakathaka babo namandla abo. Ngisho namaphutha enkosi enkulu uDavide embulwa ngokwethembeka. Ukushiyeka kwesizwe sisonke kudalulwa ngokuphindaphindiwe. Lokhu kwethembeka kusekela imiBhalo YesiHeberu njengeyiqiniso nengathenjelwa futhi kunikeza isisindo emazwini kaJesu, okwathi, lapho ethandaza kuNkulunkulu, wathi: “Izwi lakho liyiqiniso.”—Johane 17:17.
35. Izazi ezikholelwa ezizathwini ziye zahluleka ukwenzani, futhi abafundi beBhayibheli babhekaphi ukuze bafakazele ukuphefumlelwa kweBhayibheli?
35 UAlbright waqhubeka wathi: “Kunoma yikuphi iBhayibheli livelele ngelikuqukethe ngaphezu kwazo zonke izincwadi zenkolo zakuqala; futhi livelele ngokufanayo ngendlela ehlaba umxhwele ngaphezu kwazo zonke izincwadi ezalandela ngobulula obuqondile besigijimi salo nangokunwebeka [okuhlanganisa konke] kokukhanga kwalo kubantu bawo wonke amazwe nezikhathi.”23 ‘Yilesigijimi esivelele,’ kunobufakazi bezazi, okufakazela ukuphefumlelwa kweBhayibheli, njengoba sizobona ezahlukweni ezizolandela. Kodwa asiphawule lapha ukuthi abantu abacabangayo banamuhla abakholelwa ezizathwini bahlulekile ukubonisa ukuthi imiBhalo YesiHeberu ayiwona umlando oyiqiniso, kuyilapho lemibhalo ngokwayo inikeza bonke ubufakazi bokuba enembile. Ingabe kungashiwo okufanayo ngemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, “iTestamente Elisha”? Sizocabangela lokhu esahlukweni esilandelayo.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a “Ukucusumbula imibhalo” (noma “indlela yokucusumbula ubuqiniso bomlando”) igama elisetshenziselwa ukuchaza ukufunda iBhayibheli ngombono wokuthola imininingwane enjengokwazi umlobi, umthombo wokwaziswa, nesikhathi sokulotshwa kwencwadi ngayinye.
b Ngokwesibonelo, imbongi eyiNgisi uJohn Milton yabhala inkondlo yayo elandisayo yezinga eliphezulu ethi “Paradise Lost” ngendlela ehluke ngempela enkondlweni yayo ethi “L’Allegro.” Futhi amapheshana ayo ezombangazwe ayebhalwe ngenye futhi indlela ehlukile.
c Eziningi izihlakaniphi namuhla zithambekele ekuthuthukiseni irationalism. Ngokwesichazamazwi, irationalism isho “ukuncika ezizathwini njengesisekelo sokumiswa kweqiniso lenkolo.” Abantu abathuthukisa inkolelo esekelwe ezizathwini bazama ukuchaza noma yini ngezindlela zabantu kunokuba bacabangele ukuthi kungenzeka kube isinyathelo saphezulu.
d Ngokuthakazelisayo, umfanekiso wombusi wasendulo owatholakala enyakatho yeSyria ngawo-1970 wabonisa ukuthi kwakuyinto eyaziwayo ukuba umbusi abizwe ngokuthi inkosi, kuyilapho eqinisweni enesiqu esingaphansi. Umfanekiso wawungowombusi waseGozani futhi wawuqoshwe ngesiAsiriya nangesiAramu. Umbhalo oqoshwe ngesiAsiriya wabiza lendoda ngokuthi umbusi waseGozani, kodwa umbhalo oqoshwe ngesiAramu ohambisana nawo wambiza ngokuthi inkosi.9 Ngakho kwakungenakuba okuqatshukwayo ngoBelishasari ukuba abizwe ngokuthi inkosana eyindlalifa yesihlalo sobukhosi emibhalweni eqoshiwe yaseBabiloni engokomthetho lapho embhalweni kaDaniyeli wesiAramu ebizwa ngokuthi inkosi.
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 53]
Ngokungafani nemilando yezwe yasendulo, iBhayibheli liwalandisa ngokungagunci amaphutha abantu abahlonishwayo abanjengoMose noDavide
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 44]
Inzuzo Yesayensi Yemivubukulo
“Isayensi yemivubukulo inikeza amasampula amathuluzi asendulo nezitsha, izindonga nezakhiwo, izikhali nezinto zokuhlobisa. Okuningi kwalokhu kungahlelwa ngokulandelana kwezenzakalo futhi kuhlanganiswe namagama afanelekile nomongo oqukethwe eBhayibhelini. Ngalomqondo iBhayibheli lilondoloza ngokunembile ngendlela elotshiwe isimo samasiko alo asendulo. Imininingwane yezindaba ezingokweBhayibheli ayiyona imikhiqizo ecatshangelwe yokuzicabangela komlobi kodwa kunalokho iyizikhumbuzo zeqiniso ngezwe okwenzeka kulo lezenzakalo ezilotshiwe, kusukela kwezamukelekayo kuya kwezimangalisayo.”—The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 50]
Lokho Isayensi Yemivubukulo Engakwenza Nengenakukwenza
“Isayensi yemivubukulo ayilifakazeli noma ilihlabe iBhayibheli ngamazwi awujuqu, kodwa ineminye imisebenzi, enokubaluleka okukhulu. Ibuyisela ngezinga elithile izwe elibonakalayo elisikiselwe iBhayibheli kusengaphambili. Ukwazi, ngokwesibonelo, izinto indlu eyakhiwa ngazo, noma ukuthi ‘indawo ephakeme’ yayibukeka kanjani, kukukhulisa kakhulu ukuqonda kwethu umbhalo. Okwesibili, kugcwalisa umbhalo ogciniwe ongokomlando. Ngokwesibonelo, iTshe LakwaMowabi, lisinikeza olunye uhlangothi lwendaba ecatshangelwe kweyesi-2 AmaKhosi 3:4, namavesi alandelayo. . . . Okwesithathu, kwembula ukuphila nokucabanga komakhelwane bakwaIsrayeli wasendulo—okuthakazelisayo ngokwakho, nokucacisa imiqondo okwavela kuyo umqondo kaIsrayeli wasendulo.”—Ebla—A Revelation in Archaeology.
[Isithombe ekhasini 41]
UMilton wabhala ngezindlela ezihlukene, hhayi eyodwa kuphela. Ingabe abacusumbuli bemibhalo bakholelwa ukuthi incwadi yakhe iwumkhiqizo wababhali abaningi abahlukene?
[Isithombe ekhasini 45]
“UkuLandisa Okusankondlo KukaNabonidasi” kubika ukuthi uNabonidasi waphathisa izibulo lakhe ubukhosi
[Isithombe ekhasini 46]
ITshe LakwaMowabi linikeza ukulandisa kweNkosi uMesha ngempi phakathi kukaMowabi noIsrayeli
[Isithombe ekhasini 47]
Imibhalo egciniwe engokomthetho yaseBabiloni isekela ukulandisa kweBhayibheli ngokuwa kweJerusalema