Isahluko Seshumi Nesishiyagalolunye
UJehova Ungcolisa Ukuziqhenya KweTire
1, 2. (a) ITire lasendulo laliluhlobo luni lomuzi? (b) U-Isaya waprofetha wathini ngeTire?
“UBUHLE balo babuphelele” futhi “linengcebo eningi yalo lonke uhlobo.” (Hezekeli 27:4, 12, An American Translation) Iviyo layo lemikhumbi lalidabula ulwandle liye ezindaweni ezikude. ‘Lakhazimula kakhulu enhliziyweni yolwandle oluvulekile,’ futhi ‘lacebisa amakhosi omhlaba ngezinto zalo zenani elikhulu.’ (Hezekeli 27:25, 33) Ekhulwini lesi-7 B.C.E., lase linjalo iTire—umuzi waseFenike osemaphathelweni empumalanga yeMedithera.
2 Nokho, kwakusondela imbubhiso eTire. Kusasele iminyaka engaba yikhulu uHezekeli alichaze, umprofethi u-Isaya wabikezela ukuwa kwale nqaba yaseFenike nosizi lwalabo ababethembele kuyo. U-Isaya waprofetha nokuthi ngemva kwesikhathi uNkulunkulu wayeyophendukela kulo muzi, awenze uphinde uchume. Agcwaliseka kanjani amazwi omprofethi? Futhi yini thina esingayifunda kulokho okwehlela iTire? Ukukuqonda ngokucacile lokho okwalehlela nokuthi kungani kwenzeka izinto ezinjalo kuzoqinisa ukholo lwethu kuJehova nasezithembisweni zakhe.
“Hewulani, Nina Mikhumbi YaseTharishishi!”
3, 4. (a) Lalikuphi iTharishishi, futhi kwakunabuhlobo buni phakathi kweTire neTharishishi? (b) Kungani amatilosi ahwebelana neTharishishi eyoba nesizathu ‘sokuhewula’?
3 Ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Isimemezelo ngeTire,” u-Isaya uthi: “Hewulani, nina mikhumbi yaseTharishishi! ngoba liphangiwe ukuba lingabe lisaba yisikhumulo, lingabe lisaba yindawo okungenwa kuyo.” (Isaya 23:1a) Kucatshangelwa ukuthi iTharishishi laliyingxenye yeSpain, kude neTire empumalanga yeMedithera.a Noma kunjalo, abantu baseFenike babengamatilosi ahlakaniphile, futhi imikhumbi yabo imikhulu, ikufanelekela ukuhamba olwandle. Ezinye izazi-mlando zikholelwa ukuthi abaseFenike yibona abakubona kuqala ukuhlobana kwenyanga nokugubha kolwandle, nabaqala ukusebenzisa isayensi yezinkanyezi ukuze bakwazi ukuqondisa uhambo lwabo olwandle. Ngakho ibanga elide phakathi kweTire neTharishishi lwalungesona isithiyo kubona.
4 Osukwini luka-Isaya, iTharishishi eliqhelile liyindawo iTire elithenga kuyo izinto, mhlawumbe esikhathini esithile emlandweni walo liwumthombo oyinhloko wengcebo yeTire. ISpain inezimayini ezinothe ngesiliva, insimbi, ithini nezinye izinto ezimbiwa phansi. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 10:9; Hezekeli 27:12.) ‘Imikhumbi yaseTharishishi,’ cishe okuyimikhumbi yaseTire eyayihwebelana neTharishishi, iyoba nesizathu esihle ‘sokuhewula,’ ikhalela ukubhujiswa kwetheku layo.
5. Amatilosi avela eTharishishi ayokuzwaphi ngokuwa kweTire?
5 Amatilosi olwandle ayokuzwa kanjani ngokuwa kweTire? U-Isaya uyaphendula: “Kwembuliwe kubo kusukela ezweni laseKitimi.” (Isaya 23:1b) Cishe inkulumo ethi ‘izwe laseKitimi’ ibhekisela esiqhingini saseKhupro, esingamakhilomitha ayikhulu ukusuka ogwini lwaseFenike. Lena indawo yokugcina ema kuyo imikhumbi evela eTharishishi ilibangise empumalanga, ngaphambi kokuba ifike eTire. Ngakho, amatilosi ayozizwa ngesikhathi emi eKhupro izindaba zokuchithwa kwetheku lakubo alithandayo. Yeka ukushaqeka ayokuthola! Elusizi, ‘ayohewula’ ngenxa yokwesaba.
6. Chaza ubuhlobo phakathi kweTire neSidoni.
6 Abantu basogwini lwaseFenike nabo bayokwesaba. Umprofethi uthi: “Thulani nina abakhileyo ngasogwini. Abathengisi baseSidoni, abawela ulwandle—banigcwalisile. Futhi imbewu yaseSihori ibisemanzini amaningi, isivuno saseNayile, inzuzo yalo; yaba yimbuyiselo yezizwe.” (Isaya 23:2, 3) “Abakhileyo ngasogwini”—omakhelwane beTire—bayothula bemangazwe ukuwa okuyinhlekelele kweTire. Obani “abathengisi baseSidoni” ‘abagcwalise’ lezi zakhamuzi, bazicebisa? Ekuqaleni iTire laliyikoloni lomuzi waseSidoni oyitheku, ongamakhilomitha angu-35 ukuya ngasenyakatho. Ezinhlamvwini zalo zemali, iSidoni lizichaza ngokuthi lingunina weTire. Nakuba iTire selicebe ngaphezu kweSidoni, ‘liseyindodakazi yaseSidoni,’ futhi izakhamuzi zakhona zisazibiza ngokuthi zingezaseSidoni. (Isaya 23:12) Ngakho, inkulumo ethi “abathengisi baseSidoni” cishe ibhekisela ezakhamuzini zaseTire ezidayisayo.
7. Abathengisi baseSidoni bayisakaze kanjani ingcebo?
7 Njengoba bedayisa, abathengisi baseSidoni abacebile badabula uLwandle LwaseMedithera. Bayisa imbewu, noma okusanhlamvu kwaseSihori ezindaweni eziningi, iSihori yingxenye esempumalanga yoMfula iNayile lapho umfula ungenela khona olwandle eGibithe. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 2:18.) “Isivuno seNayile” sihlanganisa neminye imikhiqizo evela eGibithe. Ukudayisela abantu nokushintshisana nabo ngezimpahla ezinjalo kuyabazuzisa kakhulu laba bathengisi basolwandle kanye nezizwe abasebenzelana nazo. Abahwebi baseSidoni bangenisa inzalo eningi eTire. Ngempela, bayolila lapho libhujiswa!
8. Ukubhujiswa kweTire kuyoba namuphi umphumela eSidoni?
8 U-Isaya ube esekhuluma neSidoni ngala mazwi: “Yiba namahloni, Sidoni; ngoba ulwandle, wena siphephelo sasolwandle, luthé: ‘Angizange ngisikwe, futhi angizange ngizale, futhi angizange ngikhulise izinsizwa noma izintombi.’” (Isaya 23:4) Ngemva kokubhujiswa kweTire, indawo esogwini okwakwakhiwe kuyo lo muzi iyobukeka iwugwadule futhi iyincithakalo. Kuyoba sengathi ulwandle luyakhala ngenxa yobuhlungu, kuhle kukamama olahlekelwe izingane zakhe futhi osekhungatheke kangangokuba useyaphika nokuthi wake waba nazo. ISidoni liyoba namahloni ngalokho okwehlela indodakazi yalo.
9. Usizi lwabantu ngemva kokuwa kweTire luyofana nokwesaba okwalandela ziphi ezinye izenzakalo?
9 Yebo, izindaba zokubhujiswa kweTire ziyobangela usizi ezindaweni eziningi. U-Isaya uthi: “Njengalapho kufika umbiko ophathelene neGibithe, kanjalo abantu bayoba sezinhlungwini ezinzima ngombiko ophathelene neTire.” (Isaya 23:5) Ubuhlungu babakhalayo buyofana nalobo obubangelwa umbiko ophathelene neGibithe. Umprofethi usho muphi umbiko? Cishe usho ukugcwaliseka “kwesimemezelo” sakhe sangaphambili “ngeGibithe.”b (Isaya 19:1-25) Noma mhlawumbe umprofethi usho umbiko wokubhujiswa kwebutho likaFaro osukwini lukaMose, okwabangela ukwesaba ezindaweni eziningi. (Eksodusi 15:4, 5, 14-16; Joshuwa 2:9-11) Kunoma ikuphi, labo abezwa umbiko wokubhujiswa kweTire bayoba sezinhlungwini ezinzima. Kuthiwa mababalekele kude eTharishishi ukuze baphephe futhi bayalwa ukuba babange umsindo bakhiphe usizi lwabo: “Welelani eTharishishi; hewulani, nina bakhileyo ngasogwini.”—Isaya 23:6.
Wawuthabile “Kusukela Ezikhathini Zawo Zangaphambili”
10-12. Chaza ingcebo yeTire, ukuthi lidala kangakanani, namandla alo.
10 ITire lingumuzi wasendulo, njengoba u-Isaya esikhumbuza lapho ebuza: “Ingabe lo yiwo umuzi wenu owawuthabile kusukela ezinsukwini zakudala, kusukela ezikhathini zawo zangaphambili?” (Isaya 23:7a) Umlando wokuchuma kweTire usuka emuva okungenani esikhathini sikaJoshuwa. (Joshuwa 19:29) Eminyakeni edlule, iTire liye laduma ngokwenza izinto zensimbi, ezengilazi nodayi onsomi. Izingubo zaseTire ezinsomi zimba eqolo, kanti izindwangu ezibizayo zaseTire zithandwa izikhulu. (Qhathanisa noHezekeli 27:7, 24.) ITire liyisikhungo sokuhweba sabantu abangahambi olwandle futhi siyidepho enkulu okuthunyelwa kuyo izimpahla eziya kwezinye izindawo nezifikela kuyo.
11 Ngaphezu kwalokho, lo muzi unamandla kwezempi. UL. Sprague de Camp uyabhala: “Nakuba abantu baseFenike babengakuthandi ukulwa—bengosomabhizinisi, hhayi amasosha—bavikela imizi yabo ngesibindi nenkani emangalisayo. Lezi zimfanelo, kanye nolwazi lwabo oluhle ngemikhumbi yempi, zenza abaseTire bakwazi ukumelana nebutho lase-Asiriya, elalinamandla ukuwedlula wonke ngaleso sikhathi.”
12 Ngempela, iTire livelele ezweni laseMedithera. “Izinyawo zawo zazivame ukuwuyisa kude ukuba uyogogobala khona.” (Isaya 23:7b) Abantu baseFenike baya ezindaweni ezikude, bemisa izindawo zokuhweba namatheku, ngezinye izikhathi ezikhula zibe amakoloni. Ngokwesibonelo, iCarthage, esogwini olusenyakatho ye-Afrika, iyikoloni leTire. Ngemva kwesikhathi, izoyedlula iTire futhi ibange neRoma ukuphatha elaseMedithera.
Ukuziqhenya Kwalo Kuyongcoliswa
13. Kungani kuphakama umbuzo othi ubani lo onesibindi sokukhipha isahlulelo ngeTire?
13 Ngenxa yokuthi iTire lidala futhi linengcebo, uyafaneleka lo mbuzo olandelayo: “Ngubani okhiphé lesi sinqumo ngeTire, lona elethwesa imiqhele, elibathengisi balo babeyizikhulu, elibahwebi balo babengabanodumo emhlabeni?” (Isaya 23:8) Ubani lo onesibindi sokukhuluma ngokumelene nomuzi oye wabeka abantu abanegama ezikhundleni eziphakeme emakoloni awo nakwezinye izindawo—ngaleyo ndlela waba ‘owethwesa imiqhele’? Ubani lo onesibindi sokukhuluma ngokumelene nomuzi oyisikhungo sokuhweba, obathengisi bawo yizikhulu nabahwebi bawo bangabanodumo? UMaurice Chehab, owayengumqondisi wezinto zasendulo eNational Museum of Beirut, eLebanon wathi: “Kusukela ekhulwini lesishiyagalolunye kuya kwelesithupha B.C., iTire lalilokhu linesikhundla esibalulekile esifuze eseLondon ekuqaleni kwekhulu lamashumi amabili.” Pho, ubani lo onesibindi sokukhuluma ngokumelene nalo muzi?
14. Ubani okhipha isahlulelo ngeTire, futhi ngani?
14 Impendulo ephefumulelwe izobenza besabe abantu baseTire. U-Isaya uthi: “NguJehova wamabutho ngokwakhe okhiphé lesi sinqumo, ukuze kungcoliswe ukuziqhenya kwabo bonke ubuhle, ukuze baphathwe ngendelelo bonke abanodumo basemhlabeni.” (Isaya 23:9) Kungani uJehova ekhipha isahlulelo ngokumelene nalo muzi wasendulo ocebile? Ingabe kungenxa yokuthi izakhamuzi zawo zingabakhulekeli bakankulunkulu wamanga uBali? Ingabe kungenxa yobuhlobo beTire noJezebeli—indodakazi yenkosi yaseSidoni u-Etibali, kuhlanganise neTire—owashada nenkosi yakwa-Israyeli u-Ahabi futhi wabulala abaprofethi bakaJehova? (1 AmaKhosi 16:29, 31; 18:4, 13, 19) Impendulo yale mibuzo yomibili ingucha. ITire lilahlwa ngenxa yokuziqhenya kwalo kokuzazisa—liye lazicebisa ngokuncela abanye abantu, kuhlanganise nama-Israyeli. Ekhulwini lesi-9 B.C.E., ngomprofethi uJoweli, uJehova uthi ngeTire neminye imizi: “Nithengisé ngamadodana akwaJuda namadodana aseJerusalema emadodaneni amaGreki, ngenjongo yokuwadedisela kude nendawo yawo.” (Joweli 3:6) Ingabe uNkulunkulu angakubekezelela ukuphatha kweTire abantu bakhe besivumelwano njengento nje yokuhweba?
15. ITire liyosabela kanjani lapho iJerusalema liwela kuNebukadinesari?
15 Ukudlula kweminyaka eyikhulu ngeke kulishintshe iTire. Lapho ibutho lenkosi yaseBabiloni uNebukadinesari libhubhisa iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E., iTire liyokwethaba: “Ashila! Liphuliwe [iJerusalema], izicabha zezizwe! Ngokuqinisekile ukuthambekela kuzoba ngakimi. Ngizogcwala—lona libhuqiwe.” (Hezekeli 26:2) ITire liyojabula, licabanga ukuthi liyozuza ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema. Njengoba inhloko-dolobha yaseJudiya iyobe ingasancintisani nalo, liyolindela ukudayisa izinto eziningi. UJehova uyobaphatha ngendelelo labo abathi “banodumo,” ngokuziqhenya abachema nezitha zabantu bakhe.
16, 17. Yini ezokwenzeka ezakhamuzini zaseTire lapho umuzi uwa? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)
16 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka namazwi kaJehova okulahla iTire: “Dabula izwe lakini njengoMfula iNayile, ndodakazi yaseTharishishi. Asisekho isikhumulo semikhumbi. Welulele isandla sakhe phezu kolwandle; ubangele imibuso ukuba iyaluze. UJehova ngokwakhe unikeze umyalo ngeFenike, ukuba abhuqe iziphephelo zalo. Futhi uthi: ‘Ungaphinde wethabe, wena ocindezelweyo, ndodakazi eyintombi yaseSidoni. Sukuma, welela eKitimi. Ngisho nalapho ngeke ube nakuphumula.’”—Isaya 23:10-12.
17 Kungani iTire libizwa ngokuthi ‘indodakazi yaseTharishishi’? Mhlawumbe kungenxa yokuthi ngemva kokunqotshwa kweTire, iTharishishi yilona eliyoba namandla kakhulu.c Izakhamuzi zaseTire elichithiwe ziyosakazeka kuhle komfula ngesikhathi sesikhukhula, usebe lwawo lubhidlike namanzi awo akapakele kuwo wonke amathafa aseduzane. Isigijimi sika-Isaya ‘endodakazini yaseTharishishi’ sigcizelela ubunzima balokho okuzokwehlela iTire. UJehova ngokwakhe welula isandla akhiphe umyalo. Akekho ongaguqula umphumela.
18. Kungani iTire libizwa ngokuthi ‘indodakazi yaseSidoni eyintombi,’ futhi isimo salo siyoshintsha kanjani?
18 U-Isaya ubuye athi iTire ‘liyindodakazi yaseSidoni eyintombi,’ okubonisa ukuthi alikaze libanjwe futhi liphangwe abanqobi bakwamanye amazwe, nokuthi lisajabulela isimo salo sokuba elingakaze linqotshwe. (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 AmaKhosi 19:21; Isaya 47:1; Jeremiya 46:11.) Kodwa manje lizoqothulwa, futhi njengababaleki, ezinye izakhamuzi zakhona ziyowelela ekoloni laseFenike iKitimi. Noma kunjalo, njengoba sezingasenamandla ngokwezimali, ngeke zikuthole ukuphumula lapho.
AmaKaledi Ayoliphanga
19, 20. Ubani okwaprofethwa ukuthi uyoba umnqobi weTire, futhi sigcwaliseka kanjani leso siprofetho?
19 Imuphi umbuso wezombusazwe oyokhipha isahlulelo sikaJehova phezu kweTire? U-Isaya uyamemezela: “Bheka! Izwe lamaKaledi. Lesi isizwe—i-Asiriya elingazange libe yiso—salisekela ukuba libe elezinzinga-zingwadule. Simisé imibhoshongo yaso yokuvimbezela; siphundlé imibhoshongo yalo yokuhlala; umuntu ulimisé laba yincithakalo ebhidlikayo. Hewulani, nina mikhumbi yaseTharishishi, ngoba isiphephelo senu siphangiwe.” (Isaya 23:13, 14) NgamaKaledi ayonqoba iTire—hhayi abase-Asiriya. Ayokwakha imibhoshongo yawo yokuvimbezela, achithe imizi yaseTire, enze leso siphephelo semikhumbi yaseTharishishi sibe inqwaba ebhidlikayo.
20 Njengokusho kwesiprofetho, kungakabiphi liwile iJerusalema, iTire livukela iBabiloni, futhi uNebukadinesari uyalivimbezela. Njengoba licabanga ukuthi alinakunqotshwa, iTire liyala ukugoba uphondo. Phakathi nokuvinjezelwa, amakhanda amasosha aseBabiloni ‘aphuculwa’ ukukhuhlwa yizigqoko, namahlombe ‘aphuculwa’ ukuthwala izimpahla ezisetshenziselwa ukwakha izinto zokuvimbezela. (Hezekeli 29:18) Lokhu kuvimbezela kumlahlekisela kakhulu uNebukadinesari. Umuzi omkhulu waseTire uyabhujiswa, kodwa akayitholi impango. Ingcebo eningi yaseTire ithuthelwe esiqhingini esincane esiqhele cishe ngekhilomitha ogwini. Njengoba ingenayo imikhumbi, inkosi yamaKaledi ayikwazi ukuthatha lesi siqhingi. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-13, iTire liphonsa ithawula, kodwa lizosinda libone ukugcwaliseka kwezinye iziprofetho.
“Kumelwe Libuyele Ekuqashweni Kwalo”
21. ITire ‘lilitshalwe’ ngayiphi indlela, futhi isikhathi eside kangakanani?
21 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka eprofetha: “Kuyokuthi ngalolo suku iTire lilitshalwe iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa, njengezinsuku zenkosi eyodwa.” (Isaya 23:15a) Ngemva kokuba abaseBabiloni bebhubhise umuzi oyinhloko, umuzi waseTire oyisiqhingi ‘uyolitshalwa.’ Njengokusho kwalesi siprofetho, umuzi waseTire oyisiqhingi ngeke usaba obalulekile ngenxa yamandla angokwezimali—isikhathi ‘esingangesenkosi eyodwa’—uMbuso WaseBabiloni. NgoJeremiya, uJehova uhlanganisa neTire phakathi kwezizwe eziyohlukaniselwa ukuphuza iwayini lentukuthelo yaKhe. Uthi: “Lezi zizwe kuyodingeka zikhonze inkosi yaseBabiloni iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.” (Jeremiya 25:8-17, 22, 27) Yiqiniso, umuzi waseTire oyisiqhingi awukhonzi ngaphansi kweBabiloni iminyaka engu-70 egcwele, njengoba uMbuso WaseBabiloni uwa ngo-539 B.C.E. Ngokusobala, le minyaka engu-70 imelela inkathi yokuvelela okukhulu kweBabiloni—ngesikhathi amakhosi ohlanga aseBabiloni eqhosha ngokuphakamisa kwawo isihlalo sawo sobukhosi size sibe ngaphezu “kwezinkanyezi zikaNkulunkulu.” (Isaya 14:13) Izizwe ezihlukahlukene ziba ngaphansi kwalo mbuso ngezikhathi ezihlukahlukene. Kodwa ekupheleni kweminyaka engu-70, lowo mbuso uzowa. Kuyobe sekwenzekani-ke ezweni laseTire?
22, 23. Kuyokwenzekani ngeTire lapho liphuma ngaphansi kweBabiloni?
22 U-Isaya uyaqhubeka: “Ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa iTire liyokwehlelwa okunjengokushiwo engomeni yesifebe: ‘Thatha ihabhu, zungeza umuzi, sifebe esilitshelwe. Yenza okusemandleni akho ekubetheni izintambo; yandisa izingoma zakho, ukuze ukhunjulwe.’ Kuyothi ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa uJehova alinake iTire, futhi kumelwe libuyele ekuqashweni kwalo lifebe nayo yonke imibuso yomhlaba esebusweni bomhlabathi.”—Isaya 23:15b-17.
23 Ngemva kokuwa kweBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E., iFenike iba ngaphansi kombusi woMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya. Umbusi wasePheresiya, uKoresi Omkhulu, ungumbusi obabekezelelayo abanye. Ngaphansi kwalo mbuso omusha, iTire lizowuqala phansi umsebenzi walo wangaphambili futhi lizikhandle ukuze liphinde liqashelwe njengesikhungo somhlaba sezentengiselwano—njengoba nje nesifebe esilitshelwe futhi salahlekelwa amakhasimende siye sizame ukuthola amasha ngokuzungeza umuzi, sidlale ihabhu laso, sihlabelele nezingoma zaso. Ingabe iTire lizophumelela? Yebo, uJehova uzolinika impumelelo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lo muzi oyisiqhingi uyochuma kangangokuba ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lesithupha B.C.E., umprofethi uZakariya uyothi: “ITire lazakhela igoqo lokuvikela, lanqwabelanisa isiliva njengothuli negolide njengodaka lwezitaladi.”—Zakariya 9:3.
‘Imbuyiselo Yalo Kumelwe Ibe Into Engcwele’
24, 25. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba imbuyiselo yeTire ibe yinto engcwele kuJehova? (b) Naphezu kokusiza kweTire abantu bakaNkulunkulu, yisiphi isiprofetho uJehova aphefumulela ukuba sishiwo ngalo?
24 Yeka indlela amangalisa ngayo la mazwi alandelayo angokwesiprofetho! “Imbuyiselo yayo nenkokhelo yokuqashwa kwayo kumelwe kube into engcwele kuJehova. Ngeke ibekelelwe, noma iqongelelwe, ngoba inkokhelo yokuqashwa kwayo iyoba ngeyalabo abahlala phambi kukaJehova, ukuba badle baneliseke futhi bazembathise ngokuhle.” (Isaya 23:18) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba imbuyiselo yezinto ezibonakalayo zeTire ibe yinto engcwele? UJehova uhlela izinto ngendlela yokuba isetshenziswe ngokwentando yakhe—ukuze abantu bakhe badle baneliseke futhi bazembathise. Lokhu kwenzeka ngemva kokubuya kwama-Israyeli ekudingisweni eBabiloni. Abantu baseTire bayawasiza ngokuwanikeza izingodo zomsedari zokwakha kabusha ithempeli. Babuye baqale nokuhwebelana neJerusalema.—Ezra 3:7; Nehemiya 13:16.
25 Naphezu kwalokhu, uJehova uphefumulela esinye isimemezelo ngeTire. UZakariya uprofetha ngokuqondene nalo muzi oyisiqhingi osunothile manje: ‘Bheka! UJehova ngokwakhe uyowuphuca ifa, futhi ngokuqinisekile uyoshaya ibutho lawo lezempi alifake olwandle; lona liyoshwabadelwa umlilo.’ (Zakariya 9:4) Lokhu kugcwaliseka ngo-July 332 B.C.E. ngesikhathi u-Alexander Omkhulu eyihlakaza leyo nkosazana yasolwandle eqhoshayo.
Gwema Ukuthanda Izinto Ezibonakalayo Nokuqhosha
26. Kungani uNkulunkulu alilahla iTire?
26 UJehova walilahlela ukuqhosha iTire, isici asenyanyayo. “Amehlo aqhoshayo” abalwa kuqala ezintweni eziyisikhombisa azizondayo uJehova. (IzAga 6:16-19) UPawulu wahlanganisa ukuqhosha noSathane uDeveli, futhi incazelo kaHezekeli yeTire eliqhoshayo inezici ezichaza uSathane ngokwakhe. (Hezekeli 28:13-15; 1 Thimothewu 3:6) Laliqhoshelani iTire? Ekhuluma neTire, uHezekeli uthi: “Inhliziyo yakho yaqala ukuzidla ngenxa yomcebo wakho.” (Hezekeli 28:5) Lo muzi wawugxile ekuhwebeni nasekunqwabeleni imali. Ukuphumelela kweTire kulokhu kwalenza lazidla ngendlela engabekezeleleki. NgoHezekeli, uJehova wathi “kumholi weTire”: “Inhliziyo yakho ibe ngezidlayo, futhi ulokhu uthi, ‘Ngingunkulunkulu. Ngizihlalise esihlalweni sikankulunkulu.’”—Hezekeli 28:2.
27, 28. Yiluphi ugibe abantu abangawela kulo, futhi uJesu wanikeza muphi umfanekiso obonisa lokhu?
27 Izizwe zinganqotshwa ukuqhosha nombono oyiphutha ngengcebo—njengoba kungaba njalo nangabantu ngabanye. UJesu wanikeza umfanekiso obonisa indlela olungacasha ngayo lolu gibe. Wakhuluma ngendoda eyisicebi emasimu ayo ayevumile impela. Ijabulile, le ndoda yahlongoza ukwakha izinqolobane ezinkudlwana zemikhiqizo yayo bese ngokujabula ibheka phambili ekuphileni okude kokunethezeka. Kodwa akwenzekanga lokho. UNkulunkulu wathi kuyo: “Muntu ongenangqondo, ngalobu busuku bayawufuna ngenkani umphefumulo wakho kuwe. Khona-ke, ubani ozothola izinto owazibekelelayo?” Yebo, le ndoda yafa, futhi ingcebo yayo ayiyisizanga ngalutho.—Luka 12:16-20.
28 UJesu waphetha lo mfanekiso ngokuthi: “Kunjalo ngomuntu oziqongelelela umcebo kodwa engacebile kuNkulunkulu.” (Luka 12:21) Ukuceba kwakungeyona into engalungile, nokuba nesivuno esihle kwakungesona isono. Iphutha lale ndoda laba sekwenzeni lezi zinto zibe izinto ezisemqoka ekuphileni kwayo. Ithemba layo lonke lalisengcebweni yayo. Lapho icabanga ngekusasa, ayizange imhilele uJehova uNkulunkulu.
29, 30. UJakobe waxwayisa wathini ngokuthembela komuntu kuye ngokwakhe?
29 UJakobe waveza iphuzu elifanayo ngamagama ashubile. Wathi: “Minani, manje, nina enithi: ‘Namuhla noma kusasa sizoya kulo muzi futhi sizochitha unyaka khona, futhi sizohileleka ebhizinisini sithole imbuyiselo,’ kuyilapho ningazi ukuthi ukuphila kwenu kuyoba yini kusasa. Ngoba niyinkungu ebonakala isikhathi esincane bese inyamalala. Esikhundleni salokho, kufanele nithi: ‘Uma uJehova ethanda, sizophila futhi senze lokhu noma lokhuya.’” (Jakobe 4:13-15) UJakobe ube esebonisa ukuhlobana phakathi kwengcebo nokuziqhenya lapho eqhubeka ethi: “Niziqhenya ngokuzigabisa kwenu kokuzazisa. Konke ukuziqhenya okunjalo kubi.”—Jakobe 4:16.
30 Ukuqhuba ibhizinisi akusona isono. Isono ukuziqhenya, ukukhukhumala nokuzethemba komuntu okudalwa ukuba nengcebo. Ngokuhlakanipha, isaga sasendulo sathi: “Unganginiki ubumpofu noma ingcebo.” Ubumpofu bungenza ukuphila kube nzima kakhulu. Kodwa ingcebo ingenza umuntu “aphike [uNkulunkulu] athi: ‘Ngubani uJehova?’”—IzAga 30:8, 9.
31. Yimiphi imibuzo umKristu enza kahle ngokuzibuza yona?
31 Siphila ezweni lapho abaningi beye baba izisulu zokuhaha nobugovu. Ngenxa yesimo sezentengiselwano, kugcizelelwa kakhulu ingcebo. Ngakho, umKristu wenza kahle ngokuzihlola ukuze aqiniseke ukuthi akaweli ogibeni olufanayo nolwabamba umuzi wezentengiselwano iTire. Ingabe uchitha isikhathi sakhe esiningi namandla akhe amaningi ephishekela izinto ezibonakalayo, eqinisweni aze abe isigqila sengcebo? (Mathewu 6:24) Ingabe unomona ngabanye okungenzeka ukuthi banezinto ezengeziwe noma ezingcono kunezakhe? (Galathiya 5:26) Uma kuwukuthi ucebile, ingabe ngokuziqhenya unomuzwa wokuthi ufanelwe ukuqashelwa noma amalungelo engeziwe kunabanye? (Qhathanisa noJakobe 2:1-9.) Uma engacebile, ingabe ‘uzimisele ngokuceba,’ kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ulahlekelwa yini? (1 Thimothewu 6:9) Ingabe ugxile kakhulu ezindabeni zebhizinisi kangangokuba usala nesikhathi esincane kakhulu sokukhonza uNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwakhe? (2 Thimothewu 2:4) Ingabe ubanjwe ukuphishekela ingcebo aze angazinaki izimiso zobuKristu lapho eqhuba ibhizinisi?—1 Thimothewu 6:10.
32. Yisiphi isixwayiso esanikezwa nguJohane, futhi singasisebenzisa kanjani?
32 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isimo sethu sezomnotho siyini, uMbuso kufanele uhlale usendaweni yokuqala ekuphileni kwethu. Kubalulekile ukuba singalokothi silibale amazwi omphostoli uJohane: “Ningathandi izwe noma izinto ezisezweni. Uma noma ubani ethanda izwe, uthando lukaBaba alukho kuye.” (1 Johane 2:15) Yiqiniso, kumelwe sisebenzise amalungiselelo ezomnotho aleli zwe ukuze siqhubeke siphila. (2 Thesalonika 3:10) Ngakho, ‘siyalisebenzisa izwe’—kodwa asilisebenzisi “ngokugcwele.” (1 Korinte 7:31) Uma sizithanda ngokweqile izinto ezibonakalayo—izinto ezisezweni—sisuke singasamthandi uJehova. Ukufuna “isifiso senyama nesifiso samehlo nokuzigabisa ngokokuziphilisa komuntu” akuvumelani nokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu.d Kanti ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu okuholela ekuphileni okuphakade.—1 Johane 2:16, 17.
33. AmaKristu angalugwema kanjani ugibe olwabamba iTire?
33 ElaseTire labanjwa ugibe lokuphishekela izinto ezibonakalayo kuqala ngaphambi kwakho konke okunye. Kwakulihambela kahle ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, laziqhenya kakhulu, futhi lajeziswa ngenxa yalokho. Isibonelo salo siyisixwayiso ezizweni nakubantu ngabanye namuhla. Yeka ukuthi kungcono kanjani ukulandela iseluleko somphostoli uPawulu! Unxusa amaKristu ukuba ‘angaqhoshi, futhi angabeki ithemba lawo engcebweni engaqinisekile, kodwa kuNkulunkulu, osinikeza zonke izinto ngokucebile ukuze sizijabulele.’—1 Thimothewu 6:17.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ezinye izazi ziye zathi iTharishishi yiSardinia, isiqhingi esisentshonalanga yeMedithera. ISardinia nayo yayikude neTire.
b Bheka iSahluko 15 kule ncwadi, amakhasi 200-207.
c Inkulumo ethi “ndodakazi yaseTharishishi” ingabhekisela ezakhamuzini zaseTharishishi. Enye incwadi ithi: “Abantu bendabuko eTharishishi manje sebekhululekile ukuba bahambe futhi bahwebe ngokuthanda kwabo kuhle kweNayile igelezela kuzo zonke izindawo.” Nalapha, kugcizelelwa imiphumela emibi yokuwa kweTire.
d Inkulumo ethi ‘ukuzigabisa’ ihumusha igama lesiGreki elithi a·la·zo·niʹa, elichazwa ngokuthi “umcabango ongengcwele nongenangqondo othembela ekuqineni kwezinto zasemhlabeni.”—The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon.
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 256]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
IYUROPHU
I-ASIA
I-SPAIN (Kungenzeka ukuthi ITHARISHISHI lalilapha)
I-SARDINIA
ULWANDLE LWASEMEDITHERA
IKHUPHRO
ISIDONI
ITIRE
IGIBITHE
I-AFRIKA
[Isithombe ekhasini 250]
ITire lalizothobela iBabiloni, hhayi i-Asiriya
[Isithombe ekhasini 256]
Uhlamvu lwemali olubonisa uMelkart, unkulunkulu omkhulu waseTire
[Isithombe ekhasini 256]
Umfanekiso womkhumbi waseFenike