“Hiva kia Sihova”!

Naʻe toitoi ʻa e taʻahiné ʻo kiʻi mamaʻo atu, ko hono matá naʻe tāfataha ki ha foʻi feituʻu ʻi he loto kahó. Naʻá ne tuʻu maʻu pea hangē ka mamate hono sinó, lolotonga ia ʻa e tafe māmālie hake ʻa e fuʻu Vaitafe Nailá. ʻOku ʻalu pē taimí, ka naʻá ne hanganaki tatali pē mo sio, neongo e mumuhu holo ʻa e fanga kiʻi ʻinisēkité. Ko e feituʻu naʻá ne sio fakamamaʻu ki aí, naʻe fūfuuʻi ai ha kiʻi kato ʻoku malu mei he vaí; pea ʻoku faʻo ʻi loto ʻa hono kiʻi tuongaʻané. Ko e fakakaukau atu ki heʻene ʻi ai toko taha pea ʻikai ha maluʻí, naʻe mātuʻaki fakalotomamahi kiate ia. Ka naʻá ne ʻiloʻi naʻe moʻoni ʻene ongo mātuʻá; ko e founga pē eni ʻe taha ʻe lava ke hao moʻui ai ʻa e kiʻi pēpeé ʻi he taimi fakalilifu ko ení.

Ko e kiʻi taʻahine ko iá naʻá ne fakahāhā ʻa e loto-toʻa naʻe makehe atu, pea te ne toe fakahāhā lahi ange ia. Naʻe ʻosi kamata ke fakatupulekina ʻi hono lotó ha ʻulungaanga fakaofo​—ko e tuí. ʻE hā māʻalaʻala ia ʻi he ngaahi mōmeniti ka hokó, pea te ne fakafuo ʻa e ʻalunga kotoa ʻo ʻene moʻuí. ʻI he ngaahi taʻu ki mui aí, ʻi heʻene taʻumotuʻá, ko ʻene tuí te ne tataki ia lolotonga ʻa e taimi fakatoʻoaloto lahi taha ʻi he hisitōlia ʻo hono kakaí. Ko e ʻulungaanga pē eni naʻá ne toe tokoniʻi ia ʻi he taimi naʻá ne fai ai ha fehālaaki mafatukituki. Ko hai ʻa e taʻahiné? Pea ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei heʻene tuí?

Meliame ko e Tama ʻa ha Ongo Pōpula

ʻOku ʻikai ke tala mai ʻe he fakamatala Fakatohitapú ʻa e hingoa ʻo e kiʻi tamá, ka ʻoku ʻikai ha toe fakaʻalongaua pe ko hai ia. Ko Meliame ia, ko e lahi taha ʻi he fānau ʻa ʻAmilami mo Siokāpesí, ko ha ongo pōpula Hepelū ʻi he fonua ko ʻIsipité. (Nōmipa 26:59) Ko hono kiʻi tuongaʻané ē ʻe fakahingoa ki mui ai ko Mōsesé. Ko ʻĒlone, ʻa e tokoua lahi ʻo e kiʻi pēpeé, naʻá ne taʻu tolu nai ʻi he taimi ko ení. ʻOku ʻikai ke ʻiloʻi pau pe naʻe taʻu fiha ʻa Meliame, ka ʻoku ngali ʻuhinga lelei ke pehē naʻe teʻeki ai ke ne taʻu hongofulu.

Naʻe moʻui ʻa Meliame ʻi ha kuonga fakapoʻuli. Ko e kau ʻIsipité naʻa nau vakai ki hono kakaí, ʻa e kau Hepeluú, ko ha fuʻu fakamanamana ki honau fonuá, ko ia naʻá nau fakapōpulaʻi mo lōmekina kinautolu. ʻI he hanganaki lakalakaimonū mo tupulekina ʻa e tokolahi ʻo e kau pōpulá, naʻe fili ʻa e kau ʻIsipite manavaheé ke ngāueʻaki ha founga naʻe toe anga-kakaha ange. Naʻe tuʻutuʻuni ʻa Felo ke tāmateʻi ʻa e fanga kiʻi pēpē tangata Hepelū kotoa pē ʻi hono fanauʻí. ʻOku pau pē naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Meliame ʻa e tui naʻe fakahāhā ʻe he ongo māʻuli ko Sīfila mo Puá, ʻa ia naʻá na fakafetau fakalongolongo ki he tuʻutuʻuní.​—ʻEkisoto 1:8-22.

Naʻe sio foki ʻa Meliame ki he tui naʻe fakahāhā ʻe heʻene ongo mātuʻá tonu. Hili hono fanauʻi ʻa e tama fika tolu ʻa ʻAmilami mo Siokāpesí, naʻá na fūfuuʻi ia ʻi he ʻuluaki māhina ʻe tolu ʻo ʻene moʻuí. Naʻe ʻikai ke na fakaʻatā ʻa e mate manavahē ʻi he tuʻutuʻuni ʻa e tuʻí ke tenge ai kinaua ke tuku ange ʻena kiʻi tamá ke tāmateʻi. (Hepelū 11:23) Ka ko ha meʻa faingataʻa ia ke fūfuuʻi ha kiʻi pēpē, pea taimi nounou mei ai naʻá na fehangahangai mo ha fili fakamamahi. Naʻe pau ke fūfuuʻi ʻe Siokāpesi ʻa e kiʻi tamá pea tuku ʻi ha feituʻu ʻe lava ke maʻu nai ia ʻe ha taha, ko ha taha ʻe lava ke ne maluʻi mo ʻohake ia. Fakaʻuta atu ki he lotu tōtōivi ʻa e faʻeé lolotonga ia ʻene ngaohi ha kiʻi kato mei he kahó, valiʻaki ia ʻa e meʻa hangē ha valitaá ke ʻoua ʻe lava ʻa e vaí ʻo hū ki loto, pea tuku ʻene kiʻi tama ʻofeiná ʻi he Vaitafe Nailá! ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻá ne tala kia Meliame ke nofo ʻo sio pe ko e hā ʻa e meʻa ʻe hokó.​—ʻEkisoto 2:1-4.

Meliame ko e Faifakahaofí

Ko ia naʻe tatali ʻa Meliame. Faai atu pē, naʻá ne fakatokangaʻi atu ha ngaue holo. Ko ha kulupu ʻo e kau fefine naʻa nau fakaofi mai. Pea naʻe ʻikai ko e kau ʻIsipite lāuvalé kinautolu. Ko e ʻofefine ia ʻo Feló pea mo hono kau fefine tauhí, naʻa nau omi ke kaukau ʻi he Vaitafe Nailá. Ngalingali naʻe tō hifo ʻa e loto ʻo Meliamé. Te ne ʻamanekina moʻoni ko e ʻofefine tonu ʻo Feló te ne fakafepaki ki he tuʻutuʻuni ʻa e tuʻí pea fili ke maluʻi ʻa e kiʻi pēpē Hepelū ko ení? ʻOku pau pē naʻe lotu tōtōivi ʻa Meliame ʻi he ngaahi mōmeniti ko iá.

Ko e ʻofefine ʻo Feló naʻá ne ʻuluaki fakatokangaʻi atu ʻa e kató ʻi he vao kahó. Naʻá ne fekauʻi leva ʻene kaunangá ke ʻomai ia kiate ia. ʻOku pehē leva ʻe he fakamatalá ʻo fekauʻaki mo e pilinisesí: “ʻI heʻene fakaava hake iá, naʻá ne sio ai ki he tamá, pea naʻe tangi ʻa e tamasiʻí.” Naʻá ne mahaloʻi leva ʻa e meʻa kuo hokó: Naʻe ʻi ai ha faʻē Hepelū naʻá ne feinga ke fakahaofi ʻa e moʻui ʻa ʻene tamá. Ka ko e manavaʻofa ki he kiʻi pēpē fakaʻofoʻofa ko iá naʻá ne ueʻi ʻa e loto ʻo e ʻofefine ʻo Feló. (ʻEkisoto 2:5, 6) Ko e mata-kilokilo ko Meliamé ʻoku pau pē naʻe lava ke ne tala ʻa e fakafōtunga ʻi he mata ʻo e fefiné. Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe he kiʻi taʻahiné ko hono taimí eni, ʻa e taimi ke fakahāhā ai ʻene tui kia Sihová. ʻI heʻene maʻu pē ʻa e loto-toʻá, naʻá ne fakaofiofi atu ki he ʻofefine ʻo Feló mo hono ngaahi kaungāfonongá.

ʻOku ʻikai ke tau ʻilo pe ko e hā ʻa e fakafeangai ʻe ʻamanekina nai ʻe ha kiʻi taʻahine pōpula Hepelū ʻi heʻene fakatoʻotoʻa ke fakaofiofi ki ha houʻeiki pea lea kiate ia. Neongo ia, naʻe ʻeke hangatonu ʻe Meliame ha fehuʻi ki he pilinisesí: “Te u ʻalu ʻo ui mai ha fefine tauhi mei he kau Hepeluú ke ne tauhi ʻa e tamá maʻau?” Ko e fehuʻi tofu pē eni ke ne ʻeké. Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe he ʻofefine ʻo Feló naʻe ʻikai ke ne ʻi ha tuʻunga ke tauhi ha pēpē. Mahalo naʻá ne ongoʻi ʻe fakapotopoto ange kapau naʻe tauhi hake ʻa e tamasiʻí ʻi he haʻohaʻonga ʻo hono kakaí; pea ki mui ai ʻe lava ke ne ʻomai ia ki hono falé ʻo ohi ko ʻene tama pea ʻohake mo akoʻi ia. Kuo pau pē naʻe fiefia lahi ʻa Meliame ʻi he tali ange ʻe he pilinisesí ʻaki ha foʻi lea pē ʻe taha: “ʻAlu!”​—ʻEkisoto 2:7, 8.

Naʻe lele fakavave ʻa Meliame ki ʻapi ki heʻene ongo mātuʻa loto-hohaʻá. Sioloto atu ki heʻene fakamatala fiefia ki heʻene faʻeé ʻa e ongoongó. Ko Siokāpesi, ʻi heʻene tuipau moʻoni ko ha meʻa ʻeni meia Sihova, naʻá ne foki mo Meliame ki he ʻofefine ʻo Feló. Mahalo pē naʻe feinga ʻa Siokāpesi ke fūfuuʻi ʻene fiefiá mo ʻene fiemālié ʻi he taimi naʻe fekau ai ʻe he pilinisesí: “Ke ke ʻalu mo e kiʻi tamá ni ʻo tauhi ia maʻaku, pea te u ʻoatu ha totongi kiate koe.”​—ʻEkisoto 2:9.

Naʻe ako lahi ʻa Meliame fekauʻaki mo hono ʻOtuá, ʻa Sihova, ʻi he ʻaho ko iá. Naʻá ne ako ʻoku tokanga ʻa Sihova fekauʻaki mo hono kakaí pea ʻokú ne fanongo ki heʻenau ngaahi lotú. Pea naʻá ne ako ko e loto-toʻá mo e tuí ʻoku ʻikai ke fakangatangata pē ia ki he kakai lalahí pe kakai tangatá. ʻOku fanongo ʻa Sihova ki he kotoa ʻene kau sevāniti faitōnungá. (Saame 65:2) Ko kitautolu kotoa ʻi he ʻaho ní​—ʻa e kei siʻi mo e taʻumotuʻa, tangata mo e fefine​—ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau manatuʻi eni ʻi he ngaahi taimi faingataʻa ko ʻení.

Meliame ko e Tuofefine Anga-Kātaki

Naʻe tauhi mo tokangaʻi ʻe Siokāpesi ʻa e pēpeé. ʻOku lelei nai ke tau sioloto atu ki he vāofi ʻa Meliame mo hono tuongaʻane naʻá ne tokoni ke fakahaofí. Mahalo naʻá ne tokoniʻi ia ke ako lea peá ne fiefia ʻi he fuofua taimi naʻá ne puʻaki ai ʻa e huafa ʻo hono ʻOtuá, ʻa Sihova. ʻI he fuʻu lahi ʻa e kiʻi tamá, naʻe taimi ke ʻave ia ki he ʻofefine ʻo Feló. (ʻEkisoto 2:10) Ko e māvaé naʻe fakamamahi moʻoni ki he fāmilí kotoa. Kuo pau pē naʻe vēkeveke ʻa Meliame ke sio pe ʻe fēfē ʻa Mōsese, ʻa e hingoa naʻe fakahingoaʻaki ʻe he ʻofefine ʻo Feló, ʻi heʻene hoko ʻo fuʻu tangatá! Te ne tauhi maʻu ʻene ʻofa kia Sihová lolotonga ʻene tupu hake ʻi he haʻohaʻonga ʻo e haʻa tuʻi ʻIsipité?

ʻI he faai atu ʻa e taimí, naʻe hoko ʻo māʻalaʻala ʻa e talí. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻe mātuʻaki laukauʻaki ʻe Meliame ʻa hono kiʻi tuongaʻané ʻi heʻene ʻiloʻi naʻá ne tupu hake ʻo hoko ko ha tangata naʻe fili ke tauhi ki he ʻOtuá kae ʻikai ke ne ngāueleleiʻaki ʻa e ngaahi faingamālie naʻe tuʻuaki ange ʻe he fale fakatuʻi ʻo Feló! ʻI he taʻu 40 ʻa Mōsesé, naʻá ne tuʻu maʻa hono kakaí. Naʻá ne tāmateʻi ha tokotaha ʻIsipite ʻi heʻene ngaohikoviʻi ha pōpula Hepelū. ʻI he ilifia ʻa Mōsese telia naʻa mole ʻene moʻuí, naʻá ne hola mei ʻIsipite.​—ʻEkisoto 2:11-15; Ngāue 7:23-29; Hepelū 11:24-26.

Naʻe ʻikai nai ke toe felōngoaki ʻa Meliame mo hono tuongaʻané ʻi he taʻu ʻe fāngofulu hono hokó lolotonga ʻene nofo mamaʻo ʻi Mitiani, ko ha tauhi-sipi. (ʻEkisoto 3:1; Ngāue 7:29, 30) Lolotonga ʻa e kātaki ʻa Meliame ʻo aʻu ki he taʻumotuʻá, naʻá ne sio ki he fakaʻau ke toe lahi ange ʻa e faingataʻaʻia hono kakaí.

Meliame ko e Palōfita Fefine

Ko Meliamé ʻoku ngalingali naʻá ne taʻu 80 tupu ʻi he taimi naʻe foki atu ai ʻa Mōsesé, ʻi hono fekauʻi ʻe he ʻOtuá ke fakahaofi ʻa Hono kakaí. Naʻe ngāue ʻa ʻĒlone ko e tangata-lea ia ʻa Mōsesé, pea ko e ongo tuongaʻane ko eni ʻo Meliamé naʻá na hū fakataha atu kia Felo ke kole kiate ia ke ne tuku ange ʻa e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá ke nau ʻalu. ʻOku pau pē naʻá ne fai hono lelei tahá ke poupouʻi mo fakalototoʻaʻi kinaua hili hono talitekeʻi kinaua ʻe Feló pea mo e taimi naʻá na toutou foki ai lolotonga hono tuku atu ʻe Sihova ʻa e mala ʻe hongofulú ke fakatokanga ki he kau ʻIsipité. Faifai ange, ʻi he mala fakaʻosí​—ʻi hono tāmateʻi ʻa e ʻuluaki foha kotoa pē ʻo ʻIsipité​—naʻe hoko mai leva ʻa e taimi ki he fuʻu ʻEkisoto ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí! Sioloto atu kia Meliame ʻokú ne tokoni taʻemālōlō ki hono kakaí ʻi hono tataki atu kinautolu ʻe Mōsesé.​​—ʻEkisoto 4:​14-​16, 27-​31; 7:1–​12:51.

Ki mui ai, ʻi he fihia ʻa e kau ʻIsilelí ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e Tahi Kulokulá mo e kau tau ʻIsipité, naʻe sio ʻa Meliame ki hono tuongaʻane ko Mōsesé ʻokú ne tuʻu ʻi muʻa he tahí pea hiki hake hono tokotokó. Naʻe mavaeua ʻa e tahí! ʻI heʻene tataki atu ʻa e kakaí ʻi he kilisitahi mōmoá, ʻoku pau pē naʻe ongoʻi ʻe Meliame ko ʻene tui kia Sihová naʻe aʻu ki he taupotu tahá. Naʻá ne tauhi ki ha ʻOtua ʻoku malava ke ne fai ha meʻa pē pea fakahoko ha faʻahinga talaʻofa pē!​​—ʻEkisoto 14:​1-​31.

Hili iá, ʻi he hao ʻa e kakaí ki he tafaʻaki ʻe tahá pea haʻaki hifo ʻa e tahí ʻia Felo mo ʻene kau taú, naʻe sio ʻa Meliame ko Sihová naʻá ne mālohi ange ʻi he kau tau mālohi taha ʻi he māmaní. Naʻe ueʻi ʻa e kakaí ke nau hivaʻi ha hiva kia Sihova. ʻI he tali ki aí, naʻe takiʻi ʻe Meliame ʻa e kau fefiné ʻi hono hivaʻi ʻa e ngaahi lea ko ení: “Hiva kia Sihova, he kuo hoko ʻo hakeakiʻi lahi ia.Ko e hōsí mo ia ʻoku heka aí kuó ne fakapuna ki he tahí.”​​—ʻEkisoto 15:20, 21; Saame 136:15.

Ko ha tumutumu ia naʻe aʻu ki ai ʻa e moʻui ʻa Meliamé, ko ha mōmeniti heʻikai ʻaupito ke toe ngalo ʻiate ia. ʻI he konga ko eni ʻo e fakamatalá, ʻoku ui ʻe he Tohi Tapú ʻa Meliame ko ha palōfita fefine. Ko Meliame ʻa e fuofua fefine ke ne maʻu ʻa e tuʻunga ko iá. Ko Meliame ko e taha ia ʻi he kau fefine tokosiʻi naʻe fili ke nau ngāue kia Sihova ʻi he founga makehe ko ení.​​—Fakamaau 4:4; 2 Tuʻi 22:14; ʻAisea 8:3; Luke 2:​36.

ʻOku fakamanatu mai ʻe he Tohi Tapú ʻoku siofi kitautolu ʻe Sihova pea ʻokú ne vēkeveke ke fakalāngilangiʻi ʻetau ngaahi feinga anga-fakatōkilaló, ko ʻetau kātakí, pea mo ʻetau holi ke fakahīkihikiʻi iá. Pe ʻoku tau kei siʻi pe taʻumotuʻa, tangata pe fefine, te tau fakahāhā nai ʻa e tui kia Sihova. Ko e tui peheé ʻokú ne leleiʻia ai; ʻoku ʻikai ʻaupito ke ne fakangaloʻi ia, pea ʻokú ne fiefia ke fakapaleʻi ia. (Hepelū 6:​10; 11:6) He ʻuhinga lelei ē ke faʻifaʻitaki ki he tui ʻa Meliamé!

Meliame Pōlepole

Ko e ngaahi monuú mo e tuʻunga tuʻu-ki-muʻá ʻokú ne ʻomai ʻa e ngaahi tāpuaki pea pehē foki ki he ngaahi fakatuʻutāmaki. ʻI he taimi naʻe fakatauʻatāinaʻi ai ʻa ʻIsileli mei he nofo pōpulá, naʻe ngalingali ko Meliame ʻa e fefine tuʻu-ki-muʻa taha ʻi he puleʻangá. Te ne tō ʻi he pōlepolé mo e ʻafungí? (Palōveepi 16:18) Ko e meʻa fakamamahí, naʻá ne tō ʻi ha kiʻi taimi.

Hili ha ngaahi māhina siʻi mei he ʻEkisotó, naʻe talitali lelei ʻe Mōsese ha kulupu naʻa nau haʻu mei he mamaʻó​—ko e tamai ʻa hono malí, ʻa Setelō, fakataha mo e uaifi ʻo Mōsesé, ʻa Sīpola, pea mo ʻena ongo tamaiki tangatá. Naʻá ne mali mo Mōsese lolotonga ʻene ʻāunofo taʻu ʻe 40 ʻi Mitianí. Ki muʻa atú naʻe foki ʻa Sīpola ki hono fāmilí ʻi Mitiani, ko ha ʻaʻahi pē nai, pea ko eni kuo ʻomai ia ʻe heʻene tamaí ki he ʻapitanga ʻo e kau ʻIsilelí. (ʻEkisoto 18:1-5) Fakaʻuta atu ki he ngatū ʻa e kakai ʻo Mōsesé ʻi heʻenau fakatūʻuta atú! ʻOku ngalingali ko e tokolahi naʻa nau vēkeveke ke sio ki he uaifi ʻo e tangata naʻe fili ʻe he ʻOtuá ke taki atu kinautolu mei ʻIsipité.

Naʻe fiefia mo Meliame? Mahalo pē ʻi he kamatá. Ka ʻoku hā ngali ʻi he faai atu ʻa e taimí naʻá ne tukulolo ki he pōlepolé. Naʻá ne ongoʻi nai naʻe fakamanamanaʻi ia, ʻi he fakakaukau ʻe fetongi ia ʻe Sīpola ʻi hono tuʻunga ko e fefine tuʻu-ki-muʻa taha ʻi he puleʻangá. Pe ko e hā pē tuʻungá, ko Meliame mo ʻĒlone naʻá na fai ha ngaahi talanoa ʻikai lelei. Pea ko e talanoa peheé, hangē ko ia ʻoku faʻa hokó, naʻe vave ʻene liliu ki he tāufehiʻá mo e loto-koví. ʻI he kamatá ko ʻena talanoá naʻe fakatefito ʻia Sīpola; naʻá na lāunga naʻe ʻikai ko ha ʻIsileli ia ka ko ha Kusa.a Ka naʻe fakalalahi ʻa e talanoá ʻo na lāunga fekauʻaki mo Mōsese tonu. Naʻe pehē ʻe Meliame mo ʻĒlone: “He ko Mōsese pē koā kuo folofola ki ai ʻa Sihová? ʻIkai kuó ne toe folofola mai fakafou ʻiate kimaua?”​—Nōmipa 12:1, 2.

Meliame ko e Kiliá

ʻI he ngaahi lea ko iá, ʻoku tau sio ki ha tōʻonga fakatupu kona naʻe tupulekina ʻia Meliame mo ʻĒlone. ʻI heʻena taʻefiemālie ʻi he founga naʻe ngāueʻaki ai ʻe Sihova ʻa Mōsesé, naʻá na fiemaʻu ha mafai lahi ange mo ha mālohi faitākiekina lahi ange. Naʻe hoko eni koeʻuhí ko Mōsese ko ha tokotaha fakaaoao mo kumi pē ki hono lāngilangi ʻoʻoná? Ko e moʻoni naʻe ʻi ai ʻene ngaahi tōnounou, ka naʻe ʻikai ke kau ai ʻa e sio tuʻungá mo e pōlepolé. ʻOku pehē ʻe he lēkooti fakamānavaʻí: “Pea ko e tangata ko Mōsesé ʻa e tangata anga-vaivai taha ʻi he kau tangata kotoa pē ʻi he funga ʻo māmaní.” Pe ko e hā pē tuʻungá, ko Meliame mo ʻĒlone naʻá na fakalaka atu ʻi he meʻa naʻe totonu ke na ngata aí, pea naʻá na ʻi ha tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki. Hangē ko ia ʻoku hā ʻi he fakamatalá, “naʻe fanongo ki ai ʻa Sihova.”​—Nōmipa 12:2, 3.

Fakafokifā pē naʻe fekauʻi mai ʻe Sihova ʻa e toko tolú ki he tēniti feʻiloakiʻangá. Ko e pou ʻaó, ʻa ia ʻokú ne fakafofongaʻi ʻa e ʻi ai ʻa Sihová, naʻe ʻalu hifo ki ai ʻo tuʻu ʻi he hūʻangá. Naʻe folofola leva ʻa Sihova. Naʻá ne valokiʻi ʻa Meliame mo ʻĒlone, ʻo fakamanatu kiate kinaua ʻa e vahaʻangatae makehe naʻá Ne maʻu mo Mōsesé pea mo e falala lahi kuó Ne fili ke tuku ki he tangata ko iá. Naʻe ʻeke ange ʻe Sihova, “Ko e hā leva naʻe ʻikai te mo manavahē ai ke muhu ʻo kau ki heʻeku sevānití, ʻo fakafepaki kia Mōsesé?” ʻOku pau pē naʻe tetetete ʻa Meliame mo ʻĒlone. Naʻe vakai ʻa Sihova ki he taʻefakaʻapaʻapa naʻá na fakahāhā kia Mōsesé ko ha taʻefakaʻapaʻapa ia kiate ia tonu.​—Nōmipa 12:4-8.

ʻOku hā mahino ko Meliame naʻá ne kamataʻi ʻa e meʻá, ʻo taki hono tuongaʻane siʻisiʻí ke na kau fakataha ʻi he fakafepaki ki he mali ʻo Mōsesé. ʻOku tokoni ia ke mahinoʻi ʻa e ʻuhinga naʻe tauteaʻi ai ʻa Meliamé. Naʻe taaʻi ia ʻe Sihova ʻaki ʻa e kiliá. Ko e mahaki fakalilifú naʻá ne ʻai ʻa hono kilí ke “hinehina hangē ko e sinoú.” ʻI he taimi pē ko iá naʻe fakavaivaiʻi ʻe ʻĒlone ʻa ia tonu ʻi he ʻao ʻo Mōsesé, ʻo kōlenga kiate ia ke ne fai ha meʻa, ʻo pehē: “Kuó ma fai vale ʻi he meʻa kuó ma faí.” Ko Mōsese, ʻi heʻene anga-vaivaí, naʻá ne tangi kia Sihova: “ʻE ʻOtua, kātaki muʻa ʻo fakamoʻui ia! Kātaki muʻa!” (Nōmipa 12:9-13) Ko e loto-mamahi lahi ko eni ʻa e ongo tautehiná ʻokú ne fakaeʻa mai ʻa e lahi ʻo ʻena ʻofa ʻi hona tuofefiné, neongo ʻene ngaahi tōnounoú.

Toe Fakafoki ʻa Meliame

Naʻe fakafeangai ʻa Sihova ʻi he faimeesi. Naʻá ne fakamoʻui ʻa Meliame fakatomala. Kae kehe, naʻá ne fiemaʻu ke fakamavaheʻi ia ʻi he ʻaho ʻe fitu ʻi tuʻa ʻi he ʻapitanga ʻo ʻIsilelí. Kuo pau pē ko ha meʻa fakamā moʻoni ia kia Meliame ke talangofua, ʻo mavahe mei he ʻapitangá ʻi he ngalivale. Ka naʻe fakahaofi ia ʻe heʻene tuí. ʻI hono lotó, naʻá ne ʻiloʻi moʻoni ko ʻene Tamaí, ʻa Sihova, naʻá ne fakamaau totonu pea naʻá ne akonakiʻi ia makatuʻunga ʻi he ʻofá. Ko ia naʻá ne fai ʻa e meʻa naʻe tala ange kiate iá. Naʻe ʻosi atu ʻa e ʻaho ʻe fitu ʻo e tuēnoá lolotonga ia naʻe tatali ʻa e ʻapitangá. Naʻe toe fakahāhā ʻe Meliame ʻene tuí​—ʻi he taimi ko ení naʻá ne anga-fakatōkilalo ʻo fakaʻatā ia ke “fakafoki mai.”​—Nōmipa 12:14, 15.

ʻOku akonakiʻi ʻe Sihova ʻa e faʻahinga ʻokú ne ʻofa aí. (Hepelū 12:5, 6) Ko ʻene ʻofa lahi ia ʻia Meliamé naʻe ʻikai ke ne tuku ai ʻene pōlepolé ke ʻalu taʻefakatonutonu. Naʻe fakamamahi ʻa e fakatonutonú, ka naʻe fakahaofi ai ia. Koeʻuhí naʻá ne tali loto-moʻoni ʻa e akonakí, naʻá ne toe maʻu ʻa e hōifua ʻa e ʻOtuá. Naʻá ne moʻui ʻo meimei aʻu ki he ngataʻanga ʻo e ʻāunofo ʻa ʻIsileli ʻi he toafá. ʻI heʻene mate ʻi Kētesi ʻi he toafa Siniá, ʻoku ngalingali naʻá ne ofi ki he taʻu 130.b (Nōmipa 20:1) Hili ha laui senituli mei ai, naʻe anga-ʻofa ʻa Sihova ʻo fakalāngilangiʻi ʻa Meliame ʻi heʻene ngāue faitōnungá. Fakafou ʻi heʻene palōfita ko Maiká, naʻá ne fakamanatu ki hono kakaí: “Naʻá ku huhuʻi koe mei he fale fakapōpulá; naʻá ku tuku atu ʻa Mōsese, ʻĒlone, mo Meliame ke nau muʻomuʻa ʻiate koe.”​—Maika 6:4.

ʻE lava ke tau ako ʻa e meʻa lahi mei he moʻui ʻa Meliamé. ʻOku fiemaʻu ke tau maluʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ʻoku ʻikai hanau maluʻí pea lea loto-toʻa ʻo taukapoʻi ʻa e meʻa ʻoku totonú, hangē ko ia naʻá ne fai ʻi heʻene kei siʻí. (Sēmisi 1:27) ʻI he hangē ko Meliamé, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau vahevahe fiefia ʻa e ngaahi pōpoaki ʻa e ʻOtuá. (Loma 10:15) ʻI he hangē ko Meliamé, kuo pau ke tau ako ke fakaʻehiʻehi mei he kona fakatuʻutāmaki ʻo e meheká mo e loto-koná. (Palōveepi 14:30) Pea ʻi he hangē ko Meliamé, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau tali ʻa e fakatonutonu meia Sihová ʻi he anga-fakatōkilalo. (Hepelū 12:5) ʻI heʻetau fai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ko iá, te tau faʻifaʻitaki moʻoni ai ki he tui ʻa Meliamé.