Yatshatyalaliswa Nini IYerusalem Yamandulo?—Inxalenye Yokuqala

Isizathu Sokuba Kubalulekile; Oko Kuboniswa Bubungqina

Eli linqaku lokuqala kumanqaku eMboniselo amabini alandelelanayo athetha ngemibuzo yabaphengululi ephathelele umhla wokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem. La manqaku aphendula ngendlela ecokisekileyo ngokusuka eBhayibhileni imibuzo eye yadida abafundi.

“Ngokutsho kwezazi ngembali nabaphengululi bezinto zakudala, owama-586 okanye owama-587 B.C.E. uthatyathwa njengonyaka eyatshatyalaliswa ngawo iYerusalem.a Kutheni amaNgqina kaYehova esithi yatshatyalaliswa ngowama-607 B.C.E.? Niwuthatha phi lo mhla?”

OMNYE wabafundi bethu wabuza loo mbuzo. Kutheni simele sibe nomdla kulo mhla ekubeni uKumkani waseBhabhiloni uNebhukadenetsare II watshabalalisa isixeko saseYerusalem? Okokuqala, kungenxa yokuba esi siganeko siphawula umhla obalulekileyo kwimbali yabantu bakaThixo. Esinye isazi sembali sathi wakhokelela “kweyona ntlekele inkulu.” Ngalo mhla kwatshatyalaliswa itempile eyayisisazulu sokunqula uThixo uSomandla iminyaka engaphezu kwama-400. Umdumisi weBhayibhile wakhala wathi: ‘Owu Thixo, ziyenze inqambi itempile yakho engcwele; iYerusalem ziyenze imfumba yamanxuwa.’—INdumiso 79:1.b

Okwesibini, ukwazi owona nyaka yenzeka ngawo le “ntlekele inkulu” nokuqonda indlela ukubuyiselwa konqulo lokwenyaniso eYerusalem okwasizalisekisa ngayo isiprofeto seBhayibhile siya kukwenza ulithembe ngakumbi iLizwi likaThixo. Kutheni amaNgqina kaYehova ebambelele kumhla owahluke ngeminyaka engama-20 kulowo wamkelwa ngabantu ngokubanzi? Ngamafutshane, kungenxa yobungqina obuseBhayibhileni.

Yeyantoni Le “Minyaka Ingamashumi Asixhenxe”?

Kwiminyaka engaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kwayo, umprofeti womYuda uYeremiya wachaza into ebalulekileyo ngokobalo maxesha oluseBhayibhileni. Walumkisa “Abantu bonke bakwaYuda” esithi: “Eli lizwe lonke liya kubharha, kube senkangala kuyo; ezi ntlanga zimkhonze ukumkani waseBhabheli iminyaka emashumi asixhenxe.” (Yeremiya 25:1, 2, 11, iBhayibhile yesiXhosa) Kamva lo mprofeti wolek’ umsundulo wathi: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, ‘Ngokuvisisana nokuzaliseka kweminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe eBhabhiloni ndiya kuphethulela ingqalelo yam kuni, kwaye ndiya kulimisela kuni ilizwi lam elilungileyo ngokunibuyisela kule ndawo.’” (Yeremiya 29:10) Inayiphi intsingiselo ‘iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe’? Eli xesha lisinceda njani siqonde umhla eyatshatyalaliswa ngawo iYerusalem?

Kunokuba zithi iminyaka engama-70 “eBhabhiloni,” ezinye iinguqulelo zisuka sithi “yeBhabhiloni.” (NIV) Abanye abaphengululi bathi le minyaka ingamashumi asixhenxe ibhekisela kwiminyaka yokuLawula kweBhabhiloni. Ngokutsho kobalo maxesha lwehlabathi, amaBhabhiloni alawula ilizwe lamandulo lakwaYuda neYerusalem iminyaka engama-70, malunga nowama-609 B.C.E. de kwangowama-539 B.C.E. ekuthinjweni kwekomkhulu laseBhabhiloni.

Noko ke, iBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba iminyaka engama-70 yayiza kuba sisohlwaywo esiqatha esivela kuThixo—esijoliswe kubantu bakwaYuda nabaseYerusalem, ababenze umnqophiso wokumthobela. (Eksodus 19:3-6) Bathi bakungavumi ukujika kwiindlela zabo ezimbi, uThixo wathi: “Ndithumela . . . uNebhukadenetsare ukumkani waseBhabheli . . . phezu kweli lizwe naphezu kwabemi balo naphezu kwezi ntlanga zonke.” (Yeremiya 254, 5, 8, 9, NIV) Ngoxa nazo ezo ntlanga zingabamelwane zaziza kohlwaywa yiBhabhiloni, ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem nokuthinjwa kwayo iminyaka engama-70 okwakuza kulandela kwakuchazwe nguYeremiya ‘njengesohlwayo sabantu bam,’ kuba iYerusalem “yone ngokugqithiseleyo.”—Izililo 1:8; 3:42; 4:6, NIV.

Ngokutsho kweBhayibhile, iminyaka engama-70 yayilixesha lokohlwaywa kukaYuda, yaye uThixo wasebenzisa amaBhabhiloni njengesixhobo sokuwohlwaya. Nakuba kunjalo uThixo waxelela amaYuda ukuba: “Yakuba izalisekile . . . iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe, . . . ndisifezekise isithembiso sokunibuyisela kule ndawo”—kumhlaba wakwaYuda naseYerusalem.—Yeremiya 29:10, iBhayibhile yesiXhosa yowe-1996.

Yaqala Nini “Iminyaka Engamashumi Asixhenxe”?

Umbhali-mbali ophefumlelweyo uEzra, owayephila emva kweminyaka engama-70 yesiprofeto sikaYeremiya, wabhala ngoKumkani uNebhukadinetsare wathi: “Wabafudusela eBhabheli abasindileyo ekreleni; baba ngabakhonzi kuye nakoonyana bakhe, bada bangena ubukumkani bamaPersi; ukuba lizaliseke ilizwi likaYehova ngomlomo kaYeremiya, lide ilizwe lanele ziisabatha zalo; ngayo yonke imihla yokuba senkangala kwalo, laphumla, ukuba kuzaliswe iminyaka emashumi asixhenxe.”—2 Kronike 36:20, 21 iBhayibhile yesiXhosa.

Ngaloo ndlela, iminyaka engama-70 yayiza kuba lixesha lokuba ilizwe lakwaYuda neYerusalem libe ‘nesabatha.’ Loo nto yayithetha ukuba ilizwe lalingazukulinywa—kwakungazukuhlwayelwa mbewu okanye kuthenwe izidiliya. (Levitikus 25:1-5) Ngenxa yokungathobeli kwabantu bakaThixo, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba izono zabo zaziquka ukungayigcini yonke iminyaka yeSabatha, babeza kohlwaywa ngokuba umhlaba wabo ungasetyenzwa iminyaka engama-70.—Levitikus 26:27, 32-35, 42, 43.

Umhlaba wakwaYuda waba yinkangala nini waza awasetyenzwa? IBhabhiloni ngaphantsi kukaNebhukadenetsare yayihlasela kabini iYerusalem ngamaxesha awahlukeneyo. Yaqala nini ke iminyaka engama-70? Ngokuqinisekileyo ayizange iqale xa uNebhukadenetsare wahlasela iYerusalem isihlandlo sokuqala. Kutheni sisitsho? Nangona uNebhukadenetsare wathimba abantu abaninzi eYerusalem wabasa eBhabhiloni, abanye wabashiya ngasemva. Nesixeko akazange asitshabalalise. Kangangeminyaka emva kolu hlaselo lokuqala, abo babesele kwaYuda, “udidi olusweleyo lwabantu,” babelima umhlaba. (2 Kumkani 24:8-17) Kodwa izinto zatshintsha ngesiquphe.

Imvukelo yamaYuda yabangela ukuba amaBhabhiloni aphinde abuyele eYerusalem. (2 Kumkani 24:20; 25:8-10) Asitshabalalisa isixeko, kuquka netempile yaso baza bathimbela eBhabhiloni abantu abaninzi. Ngenyanga nje ezimbini, “Bonke abantu, [ababesasele ngasemva] bethabathela komncinane bezisa komkhulu, nabathetheli bemikhosi, baya eYiputa ngokuba babewoyika amaKhaledi.” (2 Kumkani 25:25, 26) Kuphela kwakusemva koko, kwinyanga yesixhenxe yamaYuda, uTishri (Septemba/Oktobha) waloo nyaka ekwakunokuthiwa, umhlaba usenkangala awusetyenzwa, waqalisa iSabatha yawo. Kwiimbacu zakwaYuda ezaziseYiputa, uThixo wathi ngomprofeti uYeremiya: “Nibubonile ububi bonke endayizisela bona iYerusalem, nemizi yonke yakwaYuda. Niyabona, ingamanxuwa ngayo le mini, akukho umiyo kuyo.” (Yeremiya 44:1, 2) Kubonakala ukuba yaqala ngeli xesha iminyaka engama-70. Yayinguwuphi loo nyaka? Ukuze siwuphendule loo mbuzo kufuneka sazi ukuba yaphela nini loo minyaka.

Yaphela Nini “Iminyaka Engamashumi Asixhenxe”?

Umprofeti uDaniyeli owaphila bada “bangena ubukumkani bamaPersi,” wayeseBhabhiloni wabala ixesha eyayiza kuphela ngalo iminyaka engama-70. Wabhala wathi: “Mna Daniyeli, ndaqonda ngazo iincwadi inani leminyaka, elafikayo ngayo ilizwi likaYehova kuYeremiya umprofeti, ukuba kuzaliswe iminyaka emashumi asixhenxe ngokusingisele kumanxuwa eYerusalem.”—Daniyeli 9:1, 2, iBhayibhile yesiXhosa.

UEzra wacamngca ngesiprofeto sikaYeremiya waza wasinxibelelanisa nokuphela ‘kweminyaka emashumi asixhenxe’ xa ‘uYehova waxhokonxa umoya kaKoreshi ukumkani wasePersi wahambisa ilizwi.’ (2 Kronike 36:21, 22 iBhayibhile yesixhosa) Akhululwa nini amaYuda? Kwakhutshwa ilizwi eliphelisa ukuthinjwa kwawo ‘ngonyaka wokuqala kaKoreshi ukumkani wasePersi.’ (Funda ibhokisi ethi “Umhla Obalulekileyo Embalini.”) Ngaloo ndlela, ngasekupheleni kowama-537 B.C.E., amaYuda abuyela eYerusalem ukuze abuyisele unqulo lokwenyaniso.—Ezra 1:1-5; 2:1; 3:1-5.

Ngokobalo maxesha lweBhayibhile, iminyaka engama-70 yayiyiminyaka yokoqobo eyaphela ngowama-537 B.C.E. Xa ubala ubuya umva iminyaka engama-70, iqala ngowama-607 B.C.E.

Ukuba ubungqina beZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo balatha kunyaka wama-607 B.C.E. njengonyaka wokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, kutheni abanye abaphengululi bebambelele kowama-587 B.C.E.? Basebenzisa imithombo emibini—imibhalo yababhali-mbali bamandulo noluhlu lukaPtolemy. Ngaba le mithombo ithembekile kuneZibhalo? Makhe sibone.

Izazi Ngembali Zamandulo Zichane Kangakanani?

Izazi ngembali ezaziphila malunga nexesha eyatshatyalaliswa ngalo iYerusalem zineembono ezibethabethanayo ngookumkani baseBhabhiloni.c (Funda ibhokisi ethi “Ookumkani BaseBhabhiloni.”) Ubalo xesha lwabo olusekelwe kwinkcazelo abanayo iyangqubana naleyo yeBhayibhile. Kodwa inokuthenjwa kangakanani imibhalo yabo?

Esinye isazi ngembali esasiphila ngexesha lokulawula kweBhabhiloni yayinguBerossus “umbingeleli kaBhele” eBhabhiloni. Incwadi yakhe yokuqala ethi: Babyloniaca, eyabhalwa malunga nowama-281 B.C.E., yalahleka yaye ziziqwengana zayo kuphela ezisagcinwe zezinye izazi ngembali. UBerossus wathi wasebenzisa “iincwadi ezazigcinwe ngononophelo olukhulu eBhabhiloni.”¹ Ngaba uBerossus wayengumbhali-mbali onokuthenjwa? Khawucinge ngalo mzekelo.

UBerossus wabhala ukuba uKumkani waseAsiriya uSenakheribhe “walandela emva komntakwabo”, kwaze “emva kwakhe kwalandela unyana wakhe [uEsar-hadon owalawula] iminyaka esi-8; kwaze emva kwakhe kwalandela uSammuges [Shamash-shuma-ukin] iminyaka engama-21.” (III, 2.1, 4) Noko ke, amaxwebhu aseBhabhiloni awayebhalwe ngaphambi kwexesha likaBerossus athi uSenakheribhe walawula emva kukayise uSargon II, kungekhona umntakwabo, uEsar-hadon walawula iminyaka eli-12, kungekhona esi-8 waza yena uShamash-shuma-ukin walawula iminyaka engama-20 kungekhona engama-21. Umphengululi uR. J. van der Spek, nangona evuma ukuba uBerossus wasebenzisa imiqulu yaseBhabhiloni, wabhala wathi: “Loo nto ayizange imthintele ekubhaleni iimbono zakhe.”²

Bamjonga njani abanye abaphengululi uBerossus? US. M. Burstein owazifunda ngokucokisekileyo iincwadi zikaBerossus uthi: “Kwimihla yangaphambili uBerossus wayekade egqalwa njengesazi sembali.” Sekunjalo, waqukumbela ngelithi: “Umsebenzi wakhe njengesazi-mbali uyalambatha. Kwanakuloo ncwadi yakhe iBabyloniaca enenkcazelo engaphelelanga ineempazamo ezinokubonakala nakuthathatha . . . Kumbhali-mbali impazamo ezinjalo azamkelekanga, kodwa lo msebenzi kaBerossus wawungenguwo owesazi-mbali.”³

Ngokuvisisana nezi zibakala uthini wena? Ngaba kufanele kuthenjelwe kubalo maxesha lukaBerossus? Kuthekani ngabanye ababhali-mbali bamandulo abasebenzisa iincwadi zikaBerossus? Ngaba izigqibo abafikelela kuzo zinokuthenjwa?

Uluhlu lukaPtolemy

ULuhlu lwaseBukhosini lukaClaudius Ptolemy, isazi ngeenkwenkwezi senkulungwane yesibini Yexesha Eliqhelekileyo, nalo luyasetyenziswa ukuxhasa umhla wowama-587 B.C.E. Olu luhlu lookumkani lujongwa njengondoqo wobalo maxesha lwamandulo, kuquka ixesha lamaBhabhiloni.

Olu luhlu lwakhe uPtolemy waluqulunqa malunga neminyaka engama-600 emva kolawulo lwamaBhabhiloni. Wawazi njani umhla aqalisa ngawo ukulawula ukumkani wokuqala kuluhlu lwakhe? UPtolemy wacacisa wathi esebenzisa iinkwenkwezi, olwalusekelwe kumnyama, “siye sakwazi ukubala ixesha lokuqalisa kolawulo lukaNabhonasare,” ukumkani wokuqala kuluhlu lwakhe.⁴ Ngeso sizathu, uChristopher Walker weMyuziyam yaseBritani uthi uluhlu lukaPtolemy “yayiliqhinga elalenzelwe ukunceda izazi ngeenkwenkwezi ukuze zazi ukulandelelana kookumkani” yaye “lwalungenzelwanga ukunceda izazi ngembali zibe nengxelo echanileyo yokuqalisa ukulawula neyokufa kookumkani.”⁵

ULeo Depuydt ongomnye wabathetheleli bakaPtolemy abaphambili ubhala athi: “Kudala kwaziwa ukuba olu Luhlu lunokuthenjwa zizazi ngeenkwenkwezi kodwa loo nto ayithethi ukuba lunokuthenjwa zizazi ngembali.” Ngokuphathelele olu luhlu lookumkani, uNjingalwazi Depuydt woleka athi: “Ngokubhekisele kubalawuli bokuqala [abaquka abalawuli baseBhabhiloni], olo luhlu bekuya kufuneka luthelekiswe neengxelo zaseBhabhiloni zolawulo lookumkani.”⁶

Yiyiphi le “ngxelo yoonobumba abatsobhileyo” abasenza sikwazi ukungqamanisa ukuchana koluhlu lwembali lukaPtolemy? Iquka uluhlu lwaseBhabhiloni, uludwe lookumkani amacwecwe ezoqoqosho—amaxwebhu abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo abhalwe ngababhali ababephila ebudeni bamaxesha aseBhabhiloni okanye malunga nawo.⁷

Lunjani uluhlu lukaPtolemy xa luthelekiswa naloo ngxelo? Ibhokisi ethi: “Lunjani Uluhlu LukaPtolemy Xa Luthelekiswa Namacwecwe Amandulo?” (bona apha ngezantsi) ibonisa inxalenye yolu luhlu ize iluthelekise noxwebhu lwamandulo olubhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo. Phawula ukuba uPtolemy udwelisa ookumkani abane kuphela phakathi kwabalawuli baseBhabhiloni uKandalanu noNabonidus. Noko ke, uLuhlu looKumkani lweUruk—inxalenye yengxelo yoonobumba abatsobhileyo—lubonisa ukuba basixhenxe ookumkani abalawulayo phakathi kwaba kumkani. Ngaba ulawulo lwabo lwalulufutshane yaye lungabalulekanga? Ngokwamacwecwe ezoqoqosho, abhalwe ngonobumba abatsobhileyo, omnye wabo walawula iminyaka esixhenxe.⁸

Kwakhona kukho ubungqina obunamandla obuvela kumaxwebhu abhalwe ngonobumba abatsobhileyo obubonisa ukuba ngaphambi kolawulo lukaNabopolassar (ukumkani wokuqala waseBhabhiloni), omnye ukumkani (uAshur-etel-ilani) walawula iminyaka emine eBhabhiloni. Kwakhona ngaphezu kwesithuba sonyaka kwakungekho kumkani eBhabhiloni.⁹ Kodwa zishiyiwe ezi nkcukacha kuluhlu lukaPtolemy.

Kwakutheni ukuze uPtolemy abashiye abanye abalawuli? Kubonakala ukuba, wayengabagqali njengabalawuli baseBhabhiloni. ¹⁰ Ngokomzekelo, akazange amquke uLabashi-Marduk, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Ngokutsho, kwamaxwebhu abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo, ookumkani angazange uPtolemy abaquke balawula eBhabhiloni.

Xa lulonke uluhlu lukaPtolemy luthathwa njengoluchanileyo. Kodwa ngenxa yezinto azishiyelelayo, ngaba ngokwenene lufanele lusetyenziswe xa kubhalwa imbali?

Isigqibo Esifanele Sifikelele Kuso Ngenxa Yobu Bungqina

Ukuyishwankathela: IBhayibhile ibonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba abantu bathinjwa iminyaka engama-70. Kukho ubungqina obunamandla—yaye inkoliso yabaphengululi iyavumelana nabo—obubonisa ukuba amaYuda athinjwayo abuyela elizweni lawo ngowama-537 B.C.E. Xa ubala ubuyela umva ususela kuloo nyaka, ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem kwaba ngowama-607 B.C.E. Nangona izazi ngembali zamandulo noluhlu lukaPtolemy lungavumelani nolu suku, kunokuphakama imibuzo ngokuchana kwemibhalo yabo. Enyanisweni, ezo zivakalisi zibini zobungqina azinakukwazi ukuphikisa ubalo maxesha lweBhayibhile.

Noko ke, kukho imibuzo engekaphenduleki. Ngaba ngokwenene abukho ubungqina obungokwembali obuxhasa umhla omiselwe eBhayibhileni wowama-607 B.C.E.? Amaxwebhu abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo anobuphi ubungqina, amanye awo ayebhalwe ngamangqina okuzibonela? Le mibuzo siza kuyiphendula kwinkupho elandelayo.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 28]

UMHLA OBALULEKILEYO EMBALINI

Umhla wowama-539 B.C.E. xa uKoreshi II woyisa iBhabhiloni ubalwa kusetyenziswa obu bungqina:

▪ Imithombo yembali yamandulo namaxwebhu abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo: UDiodorus waseSisili (c. 80-20 B.C.E.) wabhala wathi uKoreshi waba ngukumkani wasePersi “ngonyaka weOlimpiki yamashumi amahlanu anesihlanu.” (Historical Library, iNcwadi IX, 21) Loo nyaka yayingowama-560 B.C.E. Umbhali-mbali ongumGrike uHerodotus (c. 485-425 B.C.E.) wathi uKoreshi wabulawa “emva kokulawula iminyaka engamashumi amabini anesithoba,” nto leyo ethetha ukuba wabulawa ebudeni bonyaka wakhe wokulawula wama-30, ngowama-530 B.C.E. (Histories, iNcwadi I, Clio, 214) Amacwecwe abhalwe ngonobumba abatsobhileyo abonisa ukuba uKoreshi walawula eBhabhiloni iminyaka elithoba ngaphambi kokuba afe. Ngaloo ndlela iminyaka elithoba ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe ngowama-530 B.C.E. isibuyisela kowama-539 B.C.E. njengonyaka wokoyisa kukaKoreshi iBhabhiloni.

Isiqinisekiso secwecwe elibhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo: Icwecwe lodongwe lwezazi ngeenkwenkwezi zaseBhabhiloni (BM 33066) liyawuqinisekisa umhla wokufa kukaKoreshi ngowama-530 B.C.E. Nangona eli cwecwe lineempazamo ngokuma kweenkwenkwezi, lithetha ngeminyama emibini eli xwebhu yenzeka ngonyaka wesixhenxe wolawulo lukaCambyses II, unyana nowangena ezihlangwini zikaKoreshi. Le minyama eyabonakala eBhabhiloni ngoJulayi 16, 523 B.C.E., nangoJanuwari 10, 522 B.C.E., yalatha kwintwasahlobo yowama-523 B.C.E. njengokuqala konyaka wesixhenxe wolawulo lukaCambyses. Loo nto yenza unyaka wakhe wokuqalisa ulawulo ibe ngowama-529 B.C.E. Ngaloo ndlela unyaka wokugqibela wolawulo lukaKoreshi ibiya kuba ngowama-530 B.C.E., aze unyaka wama-539 B.C.E. ibe ngunyaka wakhe wokuqalisa ukulawula eBhabhiloni.

[Inkcazelo]

Tablet: © The Trustees of the British Museum

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 31]

USHWANKATHELO OLUFUTSHANE

▪ Ababhali-mbali behlabathi ngokuqhelekileyo bathi iYerusalem yatshatyalaliswa ngowama-587 B.C.E.

▪ Ubalo maxesha lweBhayibhile lubonisa ukuba iYerusalem yatshatyalaliswa ngowama-607 B.C.E.

▪ Ubukhulu becala ababhali-mbali behlabathi izigqibo bazisekela kwimibhalo yababhali-mbali bamandulo kuluhlu lukaPtolemy.

▪ Imibhalo yababhali-mbali bamandulo ineempazamo yaye ayisoloko ivisisana neengxelo ezikumacwecwe odongwe.

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 31]

Amanqaku

1. IBabyloniaca (Chaldaeorum Historiae), Incwadi yokuqala, 1.1.

2. IStudies in Ancient Near Eastern World View and Society, iphepha 295.

3. IThe Babyloniaca of Berossus, iphepha 8.

4. IAlmagest, III, 7, iguqulelwe nguG. J. Toomer, kwiPtolemy’s Almagest, yapapashwa ngowe-1998, iphepha 166. UPtolemy wayesazi ukuba izazi ngeenkwenkwezi zaseBhabhiloni zazisebenzisa izibalo ukuze “zazi” amaxesha adluleyo nasezayo omnyama kuba zafumanisa ukuba iminyama ethile iphinda yenzeke emva kweminyaka eli-18.—IAlmagest, IV, 2.

5. IMesopotamia and Iran in the Persian Period, iphepha 17-18.

6. IJournal of Cuneiform Studies, Umqulu 47, 1995, iphepha 106-107.

7. Uhlobo lonobumba abatsobhileyo lokubhala yindlela yokubhala apho ababhali bakhuphela imifanekiso kucwecwe lodongwe oluthambileyo besebenzisa uluthi olubaziweyo.

8. USin-sharra-ishkun walawula iminyaka esixhenxe, yaye amacwecwe ezoqoqosho angama-57 ale kumkani abala ukususela ekuqaliseni kolawulo lwakhe ukusa kunyaka wesixhenxe. Funda iJournal of Cuneiform Studies, uMqulu 35, 1983, iphepha 54-59.

9. Icwecwe lezoqoqosho C.B.M. 2152 labhalwa ngonyaka wesine wolawulo luka-Ashur-etel-ilani. (ILegal and Commercial Transactions Dated in the Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian and Persian Periods—Chiefly From Nippur, ebhalwe nguA.T. Clay, 1908, iphepha 74.) neHarran Inscriptions of Nabonidus, (H1B), I, umgca wama-30, nayo imdwelisa ngaphambi kukaNabopolassar. (Anatolian Studies, uMqu. VIII 1958, iphepha 35, 47.) Ukuze ufumane ixesha ekwakungekho kumkani ngalo, funda iChronicle 2, umgca 14, weAssyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, iphepha 87-88

10. Abanye abaphengululi bathi bambi ookumkani bashiyelelwa nguPtolemy—ekuthiwa wabhala uluhlu lookumkani baseBhabhiloni kuphela—kuba aba babebizwa ngesibizo esithi “Kumkani waseAsiriya.” Noko ke, njengokuba uza kubona kwibhokisi ekwiphepha 30, baliqela ookumkani abaqukayo uPtolemy kuluhlu lwakhe ababebizwa ngokuba “nguKumkani waseAsiriya.” Amaxwebhu Ezoqoqosho, iileta ezazibhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo, nemibhalo ekroliweyo ibonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba ukumkani uAshur-etel-ilani, uSin-shumu-lishir noSin-sharra-ishkun babelawula eBhabhiloni.

[Isicangca/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 29]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

OOKUMKANI BASEBHABHILONI

Ukuba ezi zazi ngembali zinokuthenjwa, kutheni zingavumelani?

UBEROSSUS UPOLYHISTOR UJOSEPHUS UPTOLEMY

Ookumkani

UNabopolasare 21 20 — 21

UNebhukadinetsare II 43 43 43 43

UAmel-Marduk 2 12 18 2

UNeriglissar 4 4 40 4

ULabashi-Marduk 9 iinyanga — 9 iinyanga —

UNabonidas 17 17 17 17

Ubude bolawulo lukakumkani (iminyaka) ngokutsho kwezazi ngembali zamandulo

[Inkcazelo]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum

[Isicangca/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 30]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

LUNJANI ULUHLU LUKAPTOLEMY XA LUTHELEKISWA NAMACWECWE AMANDULO?

UPtolemy uyabashiya abanye ookumkani kuluhlu lwakhe. Kutheni?

ULUHLU LUKAPTOLEMY

UNabonassar

UNabu-nadin-zeri (Nadinu)

UMukin-zeri and Pul

UMerodach-baladan

USargon II “uKumkani waseAsiriya”

Ixesha Lokuqalisa Kokungabikho Kookumkani

UBel-ibni

UAshur-nadin-shumi

UNergal-ushezib

UMushezib-Marduk

Ixesha Lesibini Lokuqalisa Kokungabikho KooKumkani ULUHLU LOOKUMKANI

UEsarhaddon “uKumkani waseAsiriya” LWEURUK NJENGOKO

UKandalanu UKandalanu

USin-shumu-lishir

USin-sharra-ishkun

UNabopolassare UNabopolassar

Nebhukadenetsare Nebhukadenetsare

UAmel-Marduk UAmel-Marduk

UNeriglissar UNeriglissar

ULabashi-Marduk

UNabonidus UNabonidus

UKoreshi

UCambyses

[Umfanekiso]

Imiqulu yaseBhabhiloni yinxalenye yengxelo yoonobumba abatsobhe amazantsi esinceda sikwazi ukungqamanisa ukuchana koluhlu lukaPtolemy

[Inkcazelo]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum

[Inkcazelo Ngomfanekiso okwiphepha 31]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum