Isahluko Seshumi Nantathu

Amakhosi Amabili Angqubuzanayo

 1, 2. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo esiprofethweni esikuDaniyeli isahluko 11?

AMAKHOSI amabili ayizimbangi asemshikashikeni wokulwela ubukhulu. Njengoba iminyaka idlula, eyokuqala iyadlondlobala bese kuba enye. Ngezinye izikhathi, enye inkosi ishaya amaphiko ngenkathi enye ilalise umhlwenga, bese kuba nezinkathi angalwi ngazo. Kodwa kubuye kubheduke enye impi kungazelelwe, abese eyaqhubeka elwa. Kulo mshuduliswano kuye kwahileleka inkosi yaseSiriya uSeleucus I Nicator, inkosi yaseGibithe uPtolemy Lagus, inkosazana yaseSiriya eyaba indlovukazi yaseGibithe uCleopatra I, ababusi abangamaRoma u-Awugustu noTiberiyu nendlovukazi yasePalmyra uZenobia. Njengoba le mpi isondela ekupheleni, kuye kwahileleka neJalimane LobuNazi, izizwe zobuKhomanisi, uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, iNhlangano Yezizwe neZizwe Ezihlangene. Isiphetho siyisehlakalo zonke lezi zinhlangano zezombangazwe ezingasiboni kusengaphambili. Ingelosi kaJehova yatshela umprofethi uDaniyeli ngalesi siprofetho esivusa amadlingozi eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 500 edlule.—Daniyeli, isahluko 11.

² Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba uDaniyeli wathokoza ngayo lapho ezwa ingelosi imembulela ngokuningiliziwe umbango ophakathi kwamakhosi amabili ayesazoba khona! Le ndaba iyasithakazelisa nathi ngoba lo mshikashika wokulwela amandla ophakathi kwamakhosi amabili ufinyelela nasosukwini lwethu. Ukubona indlela umlando oye wayibonisa iyiqiniso ngayo ingxenye yokuqala yalesi siprofetho kuzoqinisa ukholo lwethu nokuqiniseka ngokuthi ingxenye yokugcina yalokhu kulandisa okungokwesiprofetho izogcwaliseka nakanjani. Ukunaka lesi siprofetho kuzosinika umbono ocacile wokuthi sikuphi nesikhathi. Kuzoqinisa nokuzimisela kwethu ukuhlala singathathi hlangothi kule mpi njengoba silindela uNkulunkulu ngesineke ukuba athathe isinyathelo. (IHubo 146:3, 5) Khona-ke, masilalelisise njengoba ingelosi kaJehova ikhuluma noDaniyeli.

IYOMELANA NOMBUSO WASEGRISI

 3. Ingelosi yasekela bani “ngomnyaka wokuqala kaDariyu umMede”?

³ “Mina-ke,” kusho ingelosi, “ngomnyaka wokuqala kaDariyu umMede [539/538 B.C.E.], ngema ukumqinisa ukuba abe namandla.” (Daniyeli 11:1) UDariyu wayengasaphili, kodwa ingelosi yabhekisela ekubuseni kwakhe njengesiqalo salo myalezo ongokwesiprofetho. Yile nkosi eyathi uDaniyeli makakhishwe emphandwini wezingonyama. UDariyu wayekhiphe nomyalo wokuba bonke abantu bakhe besabe uNkulunkulu kaDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 6:21-27) Nokho, ingelosi yayingasukumeli ukuqinisa uDariyu umMede, kodwa uzakwabo wale ngelosi, uMikayeli—isikhulu sabantu bakubo kaDaniyeli. (Qhathanisa noDaniyeli 10:12-14.) Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yayinikeza lolu sizo ngesikhathi uMikayeli elwa nesikhulu esiyidemoni saseMediya nasePheresiya.

 4, 5. Ayengobani amakhosi amane asePheresiya ayebikezelwe?

⁴ Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yaqhubeka: “Bheka, kusezakuvela amakhosi amathathu ePheresiya; eyesine iyakunotha kunawo onke; isiqinile ngengcebo yayo iyakuvusa bonke ukulwa nombuso waseJavani.” (Daniyeli 11:2) Babengobani nje nempela laba babusi basePheresiya?

⁵ Amakhosi okuqala amathathu kwakunguKoresi Omkhulu, uCambyses II noDariyu I. Njengoba uBardiya (noma mhlawumbe umzenzisi ogama lakhe linguGaumata) abusa izinyanga ezingu-7 kuphela, lesi siprofetho asizange sikuhlanganise ukubusa kwakhe okufushane. Ngo-490 B.C.E., inkosi yesithathu, uDariyu I, wazama ukuhlasela iGrisi okwesibili. Kodwa abasePheresiya banqotshwa eMarathon futhi babalekela e-Asia Minor. Nakuba uDariyu akulungiselela ngokucophelela ukubuye ahlasele iGrisi, akakwazanga ukukwenza lokho waze washona ngemva kweminyaka emine. Lokho kwasalela indodana yakhe eyamlandela, inkosi “yesine,” uXerxes I. WayeyiNkosi u-Ahashiveroshi eyashada no-Esteri.—Esteri 1:1; 2:15-17.

 6, 7. (a) Inkosi yesine ‘yabavusa’ kanjani “bonke ukulwa nombuso waseJavani”? (b) Waba yini umphumela womkhankaso kaXerxes wokulwa neGrisi?

⁶ UXerxes I ngempela ‘wabavusa bonke ukulwa nombuso waseJavani,’ okusho ukuthi izifundazwe zamaGreki ezizimele njengeqoqo. “Enxenxwa izinduna ezifuna ukuvelela,” kusho incwadi ethi The Medes and Persians—Conquerors and Diplomats, “uXerxes wahlasela esebenzisa ibutho lasezweni nelasolwandle.” Isazi-mlando esingumGreki uHerodotus, wekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E., ubhala athi “asikho isenzo esingaqhathaniswa nalesi.” Ukulandisa kwakhe kuthi ibutho lasolwandle “selilonke lalingamadoda angu-517 610. Inani lemigundatshani lalingu-1 700 000; abamahhashi babengu-80 000; kuleli nani kumelwe kwenezelwe nama-Arabhu ayehamba ngamakamela, nabaseLibya ababelwa ngezinqola zempi, engingabalinganisela ku-20 000. Khona-ke, ingqikithi yamabutho asezweni nawasolwandle ifinyelela emadodeni angu-2 317 610.”

⁷ Njengoba ayejonge ukunqoba ngokuphelele, uXerxes I wahlasela iGrisi ngo-480 B.C.E., ngaleli butho elikhulu. Bechitha iqhinga lamaGreki lokubabambezela eThermopylae, abasePheresiya bayichitha i-Athens. Nokho, eSalamis banqotshwa kabuhlungu. AmaGreki abuye anqoba nasePlataea, ngo-479 B.C.E. Emakhosini angu-7 alandela uXerxes esihlalweni sobukhosi soMbuso WasePheresiya eminyakeni engu-143 eyalandela, ayikho neyodwa eyahlasela iGrisi. Kodwa kwabe sekuvela inkosi enamandla eGrisi.

UMBUSO OMKHULU UHLUKANA IZINGXENYE EZINE

 8. Iyiphi “inkosi enamandla” eyavela, futhi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ‘ibuse ngokubusa okukhulu’?

⁸ “Kuyakuvela inkosi enamandla eyakubusa ngokubusa okukhulu, yenze njengentando yayo,” kusho ingelosi. (Daniyeli 11:3) U-Alexander oneminyaka engu-20 ubudala ‘wavela’ njengenkosi yaseMakedoniya ngo-336 B.C.E. Waba “inkosi enamandla”—u-Alexander Omkhulu. Efuqwa yicebo likayise, uPhilip II, wadla izifundazwe zasePheresiya eMpumalanga Ephakathi. Lapho ewela umfula i-Ewufrathe neTigris, ibutho lakhe lamadoda angu-47 000 lahlakaza amabutho kaDariyu III angu-250 000 eGaugamela. Ngemva kwalokho, uDariyu wabaleka futhi wabulawa, lwaphela kanjalo uhlu lwamakhosi asePheresiya. Manje iGrisi yaba umbuso wezwe, futhi u-Alexander ‘wabusa ngokubusa okukhulu, wenza njengentando yakhe.’

 9, 10. Sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esithi umbuso ka-Alexander wawungeke ube owenzalo yakhe?

⁹ Ukubusa kuka-Alexander emhlabeni kwakuzoba kufushane, ngoba ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yenezela: “Iyakwanele ukuvela nje, umbuso wayo uyakufohlozwa, wahlukaniselwe emimoyeni yomine yezulu, ungabi ngowenzalo yayo, ungabi njengasekubuseni kwayo eyabusa ngakho, ngokuba umbuso wayo uyakusishulwa, ube ngowabanye ngaphandle kwalaba.” (Daniyeli 11:4) U-Alexander wayengakayihlanganisi ngempela iminyaka engu-33 ubudala lapho enqotshwa ukugula okuzumayo eBabiloni ngo-323 B.C.E.

¹⁰ Umbuso omkhulu ka-Alexander ‘awubanga owenzalo yakhe.’ Umfowabo uPhilip III Arrhidaeus wabusa iminyaka engaphansi kwengu-7 wabe esebulawa ngokwesicelo sika-Olympias, unina ka-Alexander, ngo-317 B.C.E. Indodana ka-Alexander, u-Alexander IV, yabusa kwaze kwaba ngu-311 B.C.E. lapho ibulawa uCassander, omunye wojenene bakayise. Indodana ka-Alexander ayithola ngaphandle komshado, uHeracles, yayifuna ukubusa ngegama likayise kodwa yabulawa ngo-309 B.C.E. Lwaphela kanjalo-ke uhlu lozalo luka-Alexander, “umbuso” wakhe wasuka emndenini wakhe.

11. Umbuso ka-Alexander ‘wahlukaniselwa’ kanjani “emimoyeni yomine yezulu”?

¹¹ Ngemva kokufa kuka-Alexander, umbuso wakhe ‘wahlukaniselwa emimoyeni yomine yezulu.’ Ojenene bakhe abaningi baxabana njengoba babephangelana ngezindawo. UJenene Antigonus I owayeyichide wazama ukulawula wonke umbuso ka-Alexander. Kodwa wabulawa empini yase-Ipsus ePhrygia. Ngonyaka ka-301 B.C.E., ojenene abane baka-Alexander babephethe izintambo endaweni enkulu eyayinqotshwe umkhuzi wabo. UCassander wabusa eMakedoniya naseGrisi. ULysimachus waphatha e-Asia Minor naseThrace. USeleucus I Nicator wathola iMesopotamiya neSiriya. Kanti uPtolemy Lagus wathola iGibithe nePalestina. Njengokusho kwezwi lesiprofetho, umbuso omkhulu ka-Alexander wahlukana waba imibuso yamaGreki emine.

KUVELA AMAKHOSI AMABILI AYIZIMBANGI

12, 13. (a) Imibuso yamaGreki emine yancishiswa kanjani yaba mibili? (b) Yiluphi uhlu lwamakhosi olwamiswa uSeleucus eSiriya?

¹² Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa ebusa, uCassander wafa, kwathi ngo-285 B.C.E., uLysimachus wathatha ingxenye yaseYurophu yoMbuso WaseGrisi. Ngo-281 B.C.E., uLysimachus wabulawa uSeleucus I Nicator empini, okwenza uSeleucus walawula ingxenye enkulu yezindawo zase-Asia. U-Antigonus II Gonatas, umzukulu womunye wojenene baka-Alexander, wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi saseMakedoniya ngo-276 B.C.E. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iMakedoniya yencika eRoma futhi yagcina isiyisifundazwe saseRoma ngo-146 B.C.E.

¹³ Yimibuso yamaGreki emibili kwemine manje eyayisele ivelele—owawuphethwe uSeleucus I Nicator nowawuphethwe uPtolemy Lagus. USeleucus wamisa uhlu lwamakhosi akwaSeleucus eSiriya. Phakathi kwamadolobha awakha kubalwa i-Antiyokiya—inhloko-dolobha entsha yaseSiriya—netheku laseSelukiya. Kamuva umphostoli uPawulu wafundisa e-Antiyokiya, lapho kwaqala khona ukuba abalandeli bakaJesu babizwe ngokuthi amaKristu. (IzEnzo 11:25, 26; 13:1-4) USeleucus wabulawa ngo-281 B.C.E., kodwa uhlu lwamakhosi akhe lwabusa kwaze kwaba ngu-64 B.C.E. lapho ujenene waseRoma uGnaeus Pompey enza iSiriya isifundazwe saseRoma.

14. Uhlu lwamakhosi kaPtolemy lwamiswa nini eGibithe?

¹⁴ Umbuso wamaGreki owahlala isikhathi eside kunayo yonke kulena emine kwakungokaPtolemy Lagus, no-ma uPtolemy I, owazithathela isiqu sokuba inkosi ngo-305 B.C.E. Uhlu lwamakhosi kaPtolemy alumisa lwaqhubeka lubusa eGibithe, kwaze kwaba yilapho ithathwa yiRoma ngo-30 B.C.E.

15. Yimaphi amakhosi amabili anamandla avela emibusweni emine yamaGreki, futhi aqala hlobo luni lomshuduliswano?

¹⁵ Ngaleyo ndlela, emibusweni emine yamaGreki, kwavela amakhosi amabili anamandla—uSeleucus I Nicator owayephethe iSiriya noPtolemy I owayephethe iGibithe. Waqala ngala makhosi amabili umshuduliswano osuthathe isikhathi eside phakathi ‘kwenkosi yasenyakatho’ ‘nenkosi yaseningizimu,’ ochazwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 11. Ingelosi kaJehova ayiwashongo amagama ala makhosi, ngoba la makhosi nobuzwe bawo babuyoshintsha phakathi namakhulu eminyaka. Njengoba yayishiya imininingwane engadingekile, ingelosi yakhuluma ngababusi nezenzakalo eziphathelene nalokhu kungqubuzana kuphela.

UKUNGQUBUZANA KUYAQALA

16. (a) La makhosi amabili ayesenyakatho naseningizimu yani? (b) Yimaphi amakhosi aqala ukuba “inkosi yasenyakatho” ‘nenkosi yaseningizimu’?

¹⁶ Lalela! Ichaza ukuqala kwalokhu kungqubuzana okukhulu, ingelosi kaJehova ithi: “Inkosi yaseningizimu iyakuba namandla, kanjalo esinye sezikhulu [zika-Alexander], yebo, sibe namandla kunayo [inkosi yasenyakatho], sibuse, nokubusa kwaso kuyakuba ngukubusa okukhulu.” (Daniyeli 11:5) Inkulumo ethi “inkosi yasenyakatho” nethi “inkosi yaseningizimu” ibhekisela emakhosini ayesenyakatho naseningizimu yabantu bakubo kaDaniyeli, ngaleso sikhathi abase bekhululiwe ekuthunjweni eBabiloni futhi babuyiselwa ezweni lakwaJuda. “Inkosi yaseningizimu” yokuqala kwakunguPtolemy I waseGibithe. Omunye wojenene baka-Alexander owavelela kunoPtolemy I futhi wabusa ‘ngokubusa okukhulu’ kwakuyinkosi yaseSiriya uSeleucus I Nicator. Wathatha indima yokuba “inkosi yasenyakatho.”

17. Izwe lakwaJuda lalibuswa ubani lapho kuqala ukungqubuzana phakathi kwenkosi yasenyakatho nenkosi yaseningizimu?

¹⁷ Lapho kuqala loku kungqubuzana, izwe lakwaJuda lalibuswa inkosi yaseningizimu. Kusukela cishe ngo-320 B.C.E., uPtolemy I wathonya amaJuda ukuba eze eGibithe njengabaphathi bekoloni. Landa ikoloni lamaJuda e-Alexandria, lapho uPtolemy I amisa khona umtapo wodumo. AmaJuda ayekwaJuda ahlala engaphansi kokulawulwa yiGibithe elaliphethwe uPtolemy, inkosi yaseningizimu, kwaze kwaba ngu-198 B.C.E.

18, 19. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, la makhosi amabili ayizimbangi angena kanjani ‘esivumelwaneni’?

¹⁸ Ngokuqondene nala makhosi amabili, ingelosi yaprofetha: “Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka bayakuhlangana, kufike indodakazi yenkosi yaseningizimu enkosini yasenyakatho ukwenza isivumelwano; kepha ayiyikugcina amandla engalo, nayo inkosi ayiyikuma nengalo yayo, kodwa iyakunikelwa nabayilethayo, nowayizalayo, nowayisizayo ngalezo zikhathi.” (Daniyeli 11:6) Kwenzeka kanjani lokhu?

¹⁹ Lesi siprofetho asikhulumi ngendodana kaSeleucus I Nicator eyamlandela, u-Antiochus I, ngoba akazange ahlasele futhi anqobe inkosi yaseningizimu. Kodwa owayilandela, u-Antiochus II, walwa isikhathi eside noPtolemy II, indodana kaPtolemy I. Phakathi kuka-Antiochus II noPtolemy II omunye waba inkosi yasenyakatho omunye waba inkosi yaseningizimu. U-Antiochus II wayeshade noLaodice, benendodana egama layo kunguSeleucus II, kanti uPtolemy II wayenendodakazi egama layo kunguBerenice. Ngo-250 B.C.E., la makhosi amabili angena ‘esivumelwaneni.’ Ukuze afeze okwakuhilelekile kulesi sivumelwano, u-Antiochus II wahlukanisa nomkakhe uLaodice washada noBerenice, “indodakazi yenkosi yaseningizimu.” KuBerenice, wathola indodana eyaba indlalifa yesihlalo sobukhosi saseSiriya esikhundleni samadodana kaLaodice.

20. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ‘ingalo’ kaBerenice ingami? (b) UBerenice, ‘abamlethayo nowamsizayo’ banikelwa kanjani? (c) Ubani owaba inkosi yaseSiriya ngemva kokuba u-Antiochus II elahlekelwe ‘ingalo yakhe,’ noma amandla?

²⁰ ‘Ingalo’ kaBerenice, noma amandla ayemsekela, kwakunguyise uPtolemy II. Lapho uyise efa ngo-246 B.C.E., uBerenice ‘akawagcinanga amandla engalo yakhe’ nomyeni wakhe. U-Antiochus II wamlahla, waphinde washada noLaodice, wakhomba indodana yabo ukuba imlandele njengenkosi. Njengoba uLaodice ayehlelile, uBerenice nendodana yakhe babulawa. Ngokusobala, izinceku ezazilethe uBerenice eSiriya esuka eGibithe—“abayilethayo”—nazo zabulawa. ULaodice wamdlisa ushevu u-Antiochus II, futhi ngenxa yalokho ‘ingalo yakhe,’ noma amandla, nayo ‘ayimanga.’ Ngakho, uyise kaBerenice—“owayizalayo”—nomyeni wakhe waseSiriya—‘owayeyisizile’ okwesikhashana—bobabili bafa. Lokhu kwenza uSeleucus II, indodana kaLaodice, waba inkosi yaseSiriya. Inkosi elandelayo yohlu lwamakhosi kaPtolemy yayiyosabela kanjani kukho konke lokhu?

INKOSI IPHINDISELELA UKUBULAWA KUKADADEWABO

21. (a) Ngubani owavela “ehlumeleni lezimpande” zikaBerenice, futhi ‘wavela’ kanjani? (b) UPtolemy III ‘wangena’ kanjani “enqabeni yenkosi yasenyakatho” wayahlula?

²¹ Ingelosi yathi: “Kepha ehlumeleni lezimpande zayo kuyakuvela omunye esikhundleni sayo oyakuya empini, angene enqabeni yenkosi yasenyakatho, amelane nabo, ahlule.” (Daniyeli 11:7) Ovela “ehlumeleni” labazali bakaBerenice, noma ‘izimpande,’ kwaba ngumfowabo. Ngemva kokufa kukayise, umfowabo kaBerenice ‘wavela’ njengenkosi yaseningizimu, uFaro waseGibithe uPtolemy III. Ngaphandle kokuchitha isikhathi waqala ukuyophindiselela ukubulawa kukadadewabo. Lapho ehlasela inkosi yaseSiriya uSeleucus II, lowo uLaodice ayemsebenzisile ekubulaleni uBerenice nendodana yakhe, watheleka “enqabeni yenkosi yasenyakatho.” UPtolemy III wathatha ingxenye ye-Antiyokiya eyinqaba futhi wabulala uLaodice. Eya ngasempumalanga edabula indawo yenkosi yasenyakatho, waphanga iBabiloni wabe esephikelela eNdiya.

22. UPtolemy III waphindela nani eGibithe, futhi kungani ‘ayiyeka inkosi yasenyakatho iminyaka ethile’?

²² Kwabe sekwenzekani? Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu iyasitshela: “Nawonkulunkulu babo kanye nezithombe zabo ezibunjiweyo nezitsha zabo ezinxanelekayo zesiliva nezegolide uyakukuthumba, akuyise eGibithe, ayiyeke inkosi yasenyakatho iminyaka ethile.” (Daniyeli 11:8) Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-200 ngaphambili, inkosi yasePheresiya uCambyses II yayinqobe iGibithe yahamba nawonkulunkulu baseGibithe, ‘izithombe zabo ezibunjiweyo.’ Lapho ephanga iSusa, okwakuyinhloko-dolobha yasebukhosini basePheresiya, uPtolemy III wathola lab’ onkulunkulu ‘wabathumba’ wabayisa eGibithe. Wabuya ‘nanezitsha’ eziningi kakhulu “zesiliva nezegolide.” Njengoba ayephoqelekile ukuba ayodambisa ukuvukela okwakwenzeka ekhaya, uPtolemy III ‘wayiyeka inkosi yasenyakatho,’ wangabe esaqhubeka eyilimaza.

INKOSI YASESIRIYA IYAPHINDISELA

23. Kungani inkosi yasenyakatho ‘yabuyela ezweni lakubo’ ngemva kokungena embusweni wenkosi yaseningizimu?

²³ Yasabela kanjani inkosi yasenyakatho? UDaniyeli watshelwa: “Kepha yona iyakungena embusweni wenkosi yaseningizimu, kodwa iyakubuyela ezweni lakubo.” (Daniyeli 11:9) Inkosi yasenyakatho—inkosi yaseSiriya uSeleucus II—yaphindisela. Yangena “embusweni,” noma endaweni yenkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe kodwa yanqotshwa. Njengoba ayesesele nebutho elincane, uSeleucus II ‘wabuyela ezweni lakubo,’ wabalekela enhloko-dolobha yaseSiriya i-Antiyokiya cishe ngo-242 B.C.E. Ngemva kokufa kwakhe, walandelwa indodana yakhe uSeleucus III.

24. (a) Kwenzekani kuSeleucus III? (b) Inkosi yaseSiriya u-Antiochus III ‘yafika’ kanjani ‘yakhukhula, yadlula’ embusweni wenkosi yaseningizimu?

²⁴ Yini eyayibikezelwe ngokuqondene nenzalo yenkosi yaseSiriya uSeleucus II? Ingelosi yatshela uDaniyeli: “Amadodana ayo ayakuhloma, abuthe isixuku sezimpi eziningi; ziyakufika nokufika, zikhukhule, zidlule; ziyakubuya, zilwe kuze kube senqabeni yayo.” (Daniyeli 11:10) Ukubusa kukaSeleucus III kwaphela lapho ebulawa ngemva kweminyaka engaphansi kwemithathu. Umfowabo u-Antiochus III, wamlandela esihlalweni sobukhosi saseSiriya. Le ndodana kaSeleucus II yabutha amabutho amaningi ukuze kuhlaselwe inkosi yaseningizimu, ngaleso sikhathi okwase kunguPtolemy IV. Le nkosi entsha yasenyakatho eSiriya yalwa ngempumelelo neGibithe, yabuyelwa itheku laseSelukiya, isifundazwe saseCoele-Syria, idolobha laseTire nelasePtolemaïs namadolobha angomakhelwane. Yanqoba ibutho leNkosi uPtolemy IV, yathatha amadolobha amaningi akwaJuda. Entwasahlobo ka-217 B.C.E., u-Antiochus III wasuka ePtolemaïs waya enyakatho, ‘enqabeni yakhe’ eSiriya. Kodwa izinto zase zizoshintsha.

ISONDO LIYAJIKA

25. UPtolemy IV no-Antiochus III balwela kuphi, futhi yini ‘eyanikelwa esandleni’ senkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe?

²⁵ NjengoDaniyeli, silalela ngokulangazela njengoba ingelosi kaJehova ibikezela: “Inkosi yaseningizimu iyakubaba, iphume, ilwe nenkosi yasenyakatho; iyakuveza isixuku esikhulu, isixuku sinikelwe esandleni sayo.” (Daniyeli 11:11) Inamasosha angu-75 000, inkosi yaseningizimu, uPtolemy IV, yaya enyakatho iyohlasela isitha. Inkosi yasenyakatho eSiriya, u-Antiochus III, yayibuthe “isixuku esikhulu” sabantu abangu-68 000 ukuba silwe nenkosi yaseningizimu. Kodwa lesi “sixuku” ‘sanikelwa esandleni’ senkosi yaseningizimu empini eyayisedolobheni laseRaphia elisogwini, bude buduze nomngcele waseGibithe.

26. (a) Yisiphi “isixuku” esasuswa yinkosi yaseningizimu empini yaseRaphia, futhi kwavunyelwana ngani esivumelwaneni sokuthula esenziwa lapho? (b) Kungani uPtolemy IV engawasebenzisanga ‘amandla’ akhe? (c) Ubani owaba inkosi elandelayo yaseningizimu?

²⁶ Lesi siprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Kepha isixuku sesisusiwe, inhliziyo yayo iyakuziphakamisa, iwise phansi izinkulungwane ezingamashumi amaningi, kepha ayiyikuba namandla.” (Daniyeli 11:12) UPtolemy IV, inkosi yaseningizimu, ‘yasusa’ imigundatshani yaseSiriya engu-10 000 nabamahhashi abangu-300 ngokubabulala futhi yabopha abangu-4 000. La makhosi abe esenza isivumelwano okwathi ngaso u-Antiochus III wagcina itheku lakhe laseSiriya iSelukiya kodwa walahlekelwa iFenike neCoele-Syria. Ngenxa yalokhu kunqoba, inhliziyo yenkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe ‘yaziphakamisa,’ yamelana ikakhulukazi noJehova. UJuda wahlala engaphansi kukaPtolemy IV. Nokho, akawasebenzisanga “amandla” akhe ukuba aphinde ahlasele inkosi yasenyakatho eSiriya. Kunalokho, uPtolemy IV waphila ukuphila kokuzitika ngamanyala, kwathi indodana yakhe eneminyaka emihlanu, uPtolemy V, yaba inkosi yaseningizimu kusasele iminyaka ethile ngaphambi kokufa kuka-Antiochus III.

UMCHITHI UYABUYA

27. Inkosi yasenyakatho yabuya kanjani “ngasekupheleni kwezikhathi” izolanda izindawo eGibithe?

²⁷ Ngenxa yazo zonke izenzo zakhe zokuchitha, u-Antiochus III wabizwa ngokuthi u-Antiochus Omkhulu. Ingelosi yathi ngaye: “Inkosi yasenyakatho iyakubuya, iveze isixuku esikhulu kunesokuqala, ifike nokufika ngasekupheleni kwezikhathi eziyiminyaka nempi enkulu nempahla eningi.” (Daniyeli 11:13) Lezi “zikhathi” zaziyiminyaka engu-16 noma ngaphezulu ngemva kokuba abaseGibithe behlule abaseSiriya eRaphia. Lapho uPtolemy V omncane eba inkosi yaseningizimu, u-Antiochus III waphuma ‘nesixuku esikhulu kunesokuqala’ eyothatha izindawo ayezamukwe yinkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe. Ukuze afeze lokho, walekelelana nenkosi yaseMakedoniya uPhilip V.

28. Yiziphi izinkinga inkosi yaseningizimu esencane eyayinazo?

²⁸ Inkosi yaseningizimu yayinezinkinga ngisho nasembusweni wayo. “Ngalezo zikhathi abaningi [“bayakumelana nenkosi,” NW] yaseningizimu,” kusho ingelosi. (Daniyeli 11:14a) Abaningi ‘bamelana nenkosi yaseningizimu.’ Ngaphandle kwamabutho ka-Antiochus III nomlekeleli wakhe waseMakedoniya eyayibhekene nawo, le nkosi esencane yaseningizimu yayibhekene nezinkinga ekhaya, eGibithe. Ngenxa yokuthi umbheki wayo u-Agathocles, owayebusa egameni layo, wayebaphatha ngendluzula abaseGibithe, abaningi bavukela. Ingelosi yanezela: “Nabaphangi babantu bakho bayakuziphakamisa ukuwuqinisa umbono, kepha bayakuwa.” (Daniyeli 11:14b) Ngisho nabanye babantu bakubo kaDaniyeli baba “abaphangi,” noma abashisekeli bezinguquko. Kodwa noma imuphi “umbono” lawo maJuda ayenawo wokuqeda ukubuswa kwezwe lawo ngabeZizwe wawuyiphutha, futhi ayeyohluleka, noma ‘awe.’

29, 30. (a) “Izingalo zaseningizimu” zanqotshwa kanjani yinyakatho? (b) Inkosi yasenyakatho ‘yama’ kanjani “ezweni elihle”?

²⁹ Ingelosi kaJehova yaqhubeka yabikezela: “Iyakufika inkosi yasenyakatho, inqwabele iduli, ithathe umuzi obiyelweyo; izingalo zaseningizimu aziyikuma, nabantu bayo abakhethiweyo abayikuba namandla okuma. Kepha omsukelayo uyakwenza njengentando yakhe, akakho oyakuma phambi kwakhe; uyakuma ezweni elihle, abhubhise ngesandla sakhe.”—Daniyeli 11:15, 16.

³⁰ Amabutho ayengaphansi kukaPtolemy V, noma “izingalo zaseningizimu,” anqotshwa ngabasenyakatho. EPaneas (eKesariya Filipi), u-Antiochus III waqhuba uJenene Scopas waseGibithe namadoda akhe ekhethelo angu-10 000, noma “abakhethiweyo,” wamyisa eSidoni, “umuzi obiyelweyo.” Lapho, u-Antiochus III ‘wanqwabela iduli,’ wathatha itheku laseFenike ngo-198 B.C.E. Wenza “njengentando yakhe” ngoba amabutho enkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe ahluleka ukubhekana naye. U-Antiochus III wabe eseyohlasela iJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha ‘yezwe elihle,’ kwaJuda. Ngo-198 B.C.E., iJerusalama nelakwaJuda alibange lisabuswa inkosi yaseningizimu eGibithe kodwa labuswa inkosi yasenyakatho eSiriya. U-Antiochus III, inkosi yasenyakatho, waqala ‘ukuma ezweni elihle.’ ‘Wayewabhubhisa ngesandla’ wonke amaJuda nabaseGibithe abaphikisana naye. Le nkosi yasenyakatho yayiyoqhubeka isikhathi eside kangakanani yenza ekuthandayo?

IROMA ICINDEZELA UMCHITHI

31, 32. Kungani inkosi yasenyakatho yagcina yenze ‘izivumelwano’ zokuthula nenkosi yaseningizimu?

³¹ Ingelosi kaJehova isinikeza le mpendulo: ‘[Inkosi yasenyakatho] iyakubhekisa ubuso bayo ukufika namandla ombuso wayo wonke kanye nezivumelwano, izenze; iyakumnika indodakazi yowesifazane, iyonakalise, kepha ayiyikuma, ingabi ngowayo.’—Daniyeli 11:17.

³² Inkosi yasenyakatho, u-Antiochus III, ‘yabhekisa ubuso bayo’ ukuze ibuse iGibithe ‘ngamandla ombuso wayo wonke.’ Kodwa yagcina yenze ‘izivumelwano’ zokuthula noPtolemy V, inkosi yaseningizimu. Izimfuno zeRoma zazenze u-Antiochus III washintsha umqondo. Ngesikhathi yena nenkosi yaseMakedoniya uPhilip V behlangana behlasela inkosi yaseGibithe esencane ukuze bayiphuce izindawo zayo, ababheki bakaPtolemy V baphendukela eRoma ukuze bathole isivikelo. Isebenzisa leli thuba ukuze yenabise ithonya layo, iRoma yakhipha amangwevu ayo.

33. (a) Kwavunyelwana ngani esivumelwaneni sokuthula esenziwa u-Antiochus III noPtolemy V? (b) Yayiyini injongo yomshado kaCleopatra I noPtolemy V, futhi kungani leli cebo labhuntsha?

³³ Ephoqwe iRoma, u-Antiochus III wenza isivumelwano sokuthula nenkosi yaseningizimu. Kunokuba adedele izindawo ayezinqobile, njengoba kwakusho iRoma, u-Antiochus III waceba ukuba asho ngomlomo nje ukuthi uyazidedela, ngokwenza indodakazi yakhe uCleopatra I—“indodakazi yowesifazane”—ishade noPtolemy V. UPtolemy V wayeyonikwa izifundazwe ezazihlanganisa nelakwaJuda, ‘izwe elihle,’ njengesipho esifika nomakoti. Kodwa emshadweni owaba ngo-193 B.C.E. inkosi yaseSiriya ayivumanga ukuba lezi zifundazwe ziye kuPtolemy V. Lo mshado wawunezisusa zezombangazwe, wawuklanyelwe ukwenza iGibithe likhonze ngaphansi kweSiriya. Kodwa leli cebo labhuntsha ngoba uCleopatra I ‘akaqhubekanga engowakhe,’ ngoba kamuva waba ngakumyeni wakhe. Lapho kugqashuka impi phakathi kuka-Antiochus III namaRoma, iGibithe laba ngasohlangothini lweRoma.

34, 35. (a) Inkosi yasenyakatho yaphendulela ubuso bayo kumaphi “amazwe asogwini”? (b) IRoma yasiqeda kanjani “isihlamba” esasivela enkosini yasenyakatho? (c) Wafa kanjani u-Antiochus III, futhi ubani owaba inkosi elandelayo yasenyakatho?

³⁴ Ikhuluma ngamashwa enkosi yasenyakatho, ingelosi yanezela: “[U-Antiochus III] uyophendulela ubuso bakhe emazweni asogwini futhi empeleni uyothumba amaningi. Umlawuli [iRoma] kuyomelwe ukuba enze isihlamba sakhe sisuke kuye [iRoma], ukuze isihlamba sakhe [esivela ku-Antiochus III] singabi bikho. [IRoma] iyokwenza ukuba sibuyele kuyo leya. [U-Antiochus III] uyophendulela ubuso bakhe ezinqabeni zezwe lakhe siqu, futhi ngokuqinisekile uyokhubeka awe, futhi ngeke atholakale.”—Daniyeli 11:18, 19, qhathanisa ne-NW.

³⁵ La ‘mazwe asogwini’ kwakuyilawo aseMakedoniya, eGrisi nase-Asia Minor. EGrisi kwagqashuka impi ngo-192 B.C.E., futhi u-Antiochus III wahehwa ukuba aye eGrisi. Icasulwe imizamo yenkosi yaseSiriya yokuthatha izindawo ezengeziwe, iRoma yalwa nayo. Yahlulwa amaRoma eThermopylae. Ngemva cishe konyaka ihluliwe empini yaseMagnesia ngo-190 B.C.E., kwadingeka idele konke okwakuseGrisi, e-Asia Minor nasezindaweni ezisentshonalanga yeZintaba zaseTaurus. IRoma yayikhokhisa kanzima inkosi yasenyakatho eSiriya futhi yabusa phezu kwayo. Njengoba ayesexoshiwe eGrisi nase-Asia Minor futhi eselahlekelwe cishe yiyo yonke imikhumbi yempi, u-Antiochus III ‘waphendulela ubuso bakhe ezinqabeni zezwe lakhe siqu,’ iSiriya. AmaRoma ‘ayebuyisele isihlamba sakhe kuye.’ U-Antiochus III wafa ngesikhathi ezama ukuphanga ithempeli lase-Elymaïs, ePheresiya, ngo-187 B.C.E. Ngakho ‘wawa’ ngokufa futhi walandelwa indodana yakhe uSeleucus IV, inkosi elandelayo yasenyakatho.

UKUNGQUBUZANA KUYAQHUBEKA

36. (a) Inkosi yaseningizimu yazama kanjani ukuqhubeka nempi, kodwa kwenzekani kuyo? (b) USeleucus IV wawa kanjani, futhi ubani owamlandela?

³⁶ Njengenkosi yaseningizimu, uPtolemy V wazama ukuthola izifundazwe okwakufanele zize kuye njengesipho esasifike noCleopatra, kodwa wadliswa ushevu yaphela leyo mizamo yakhe. Walandelwa uPtolemy VI. Kuthiwani ngoSeleucus IV? Njengoba ayedinga imali yokukhokhela iRoma inhlawulo enkulu, wathuma umphathizimali wakhe uHeliodorus ukuba ayophanga ingcebo okwakuthiwa igcinwe ethempelini laseJerusalema. Njengoba uHeliodorus ayehahela isihlalo sobukhosi, wabulala uSeleucus IV. Kodwa inkosi yasePhergamu u-Eumenes nomfowabo u-Attalus babeka esihlalweni sobukhosi umfowabo wenkosi eyayibulewe u-Antiochus IV.

37. (a) U-Antiochus IV wazama kanjani ukubonakala enamandla kunoJehova uNkulunkulu? (b) Ukungahlonishwa kwethempeli laseJerusalema ngu-Antiochus IV kwaholelaphi?

³⁷ Le nkosi entsha yasenyakatho, u-Antiochus IV, yayizimisele ukubonakala inamandla kunoNkulunkulu ngokuzama ukuqeda ilungiselelo likaJehova lokukhulekela. Idelela uJehova, yanikezela ithempeli laseJerusalema kuZeus, noma uJupiter. Ngo-December 167 B.C.E., kwakhiwa i-altare lamaqaba phezu kwe-altare elikhulu egcekeni lethempeli lapho kwakwenzelwa khona iminikelo yansuku zonke kuJehova. Ngemva kwezinsuku eziyishumi, kwenzelwa uZeus umhlatshelo kuleli altare lamaqaba. Lokhu kungahloniphi kwaholela ekuvukeleni kwamaJuda eholwa amaMaccabee. U-Antiochus IV walwa nawo iminyaka emithathu. Ngo-164 B.C.E., ngosuku okwakwenziwe ngalo isenzo sokungahloniphi, uJudas Maccabaeus walinikezela kabusha ithempeli likaJehova futhi kwamiswa umkhosi wokunikezela—iHanukkah.—Johane 10:22.

38. Kwaphela kanjani ukubusa kwamaMaccabee?

³⁸ Cishe amaMaccabee enza isivumelwano neRoma ngo-161 B.C.E. futhi amisa umbuso ngo-104 B.C.E. Kodwa ukungezwani kwawo nenkosi yasenyakatho eSiriya kwaqhubeka. Ekugcineni, iRoma yacelwa ukuba ingenele. UJenene Gnaeus Pompey waseRoma wathatha iJerusalema ngo-63 B.C.E. ngemva kokulivimbezela izinyanga ezintathu. Ngo-39 B.C.E., iSigele SaseRoma samisa uHerode—um-Edomi—ukuba abe inkosi yakwaJuda. Walithatha iJerusalema ngo-37 B.C.E., wakuqeda ukubusa kwamaMaccabee.

39. Uzuzeni ngokufunda uDaniyeli 11:1-19?

³⁹ Yeka indlela okujabulisa ngayo ukubona ingxenye yokuqala yalesi siprofetho samakhosi amabili angqubuzanayo igcwaliseka ngayo yonke imininingwane! Ngempela, yeka indlela okujabulisa ngayo ukuhlola umlando weminyaka engaba ngu-500 ngemva kokuba umyalezo oyisiprofetho unikezwe uDaniyeli futhi sibone ababusi ababesezikhundleni zokuba inkosi yasenyakatho nenkosi yaseningizimu! Nokho, la makhosi amabili ashintsha njengoba impi ephakathi kwawo iqhubeka phakathi nesikhathi uJesu Kristu afika ngaso emhlabeni kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Ngokumatanisa izenzakalo ezingokomlando nemininingwane evusa isithakazelo embulwe kulesi siprofetho, sizokwazi ukuthola ukuthi angobani la makhosi aphikisanayo.

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Yiziphi izinhlu ezimbili zamakhosi anamandla ezavela emibusweni yamaGreki, futhi la makhosi aqala hlobo luni lomshuduliswano?

• Njengoba kwabikezelwa kuDaniyeli 11:6, la makhosi amabili angena kanjani ‘esivumelwaneni’?

• Yaqhubeka kanjani ingxabano phakathi

kukaSeleucus II noPtolemy III (Daniyeli 11:7-9)?

kuka-Antiochus III noPtolemy IV (Daniyeli 11:10-12)?

kuka-Antiochus III noPtolemy V (Daniyeli 11:13-16)?

• Yayiyini injongo yokushada kukaCleopatra I noPtolemy V, futhi kungani leli cebo labhuntsha (Daniyeli 11:17-19)?

• Uzuzeni ngokufunda uDaniyeli 11:1-19?

[Ishadi/Izithombe ekhasini 228]

AMAKHOSI AKUDANIYELI 11:5-19

INkosi YaseNyakatho INkosi YaseNingizimu

Daniyeli 11:5 USeleucus I Nicator UPtolemy I

Daniyeli 11:7-9 USeleucus II UPtolemy III

Daniyeli 11:10-12 U-Antiochus III UPtolemy IV

[Isithombe]

Uhlamvu lwemali olunomfanekiso kaPtolemy II nomkakhe

[Isithombe]

USeleucus I Nicator

[Isithombe]

U-Antiochus III

[Isithombe]

UPtolemy VI

[Isithombe]

UPtolemy III nabamlandela bakha leli thempeli likaHorus e-Idfu, eNhla neGibithe

[Ibalazwe/Izithombe ekhasini 216]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Isiqu esithi “inkosi yasenyakatho” nesithi “inkosi yaseningizimu” zibhekisela emakhosini ayesenyakatho naseningizimu yezwe labantu bakubo kaDaniyeli

IMAKEDONIYA

IGRISI

I-ASIA MINOR

KWA-ISRAYELI

ILIBYA

IGIBITHE

ITOPIYA

ISIRIYA

IBabiloni

I-ARABIYA

[Isithombe]

UPtolemy II

[Isithombe]

U-Antiochus Omkhulu

[Isithombe]

Itshe elinemiyalo engokomthetho eyakhishwa u-Antiochus Omkhulu

[Isithombe]

Uhlamvu lwemali olubonisa uPtolemy V

[Isithombe]

Isango likaPtolemy III, eKarnak, eGibithe

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 210]

[Isithombe ekhasini 215]

USeleucus I Nicator

[Isithombe ekhasini 218]

UPtolemy I