Isahluko 2
Umxholo Obalaseleyo WeBhayibhile
Ukucacisa iZibhalo Iimfihlelo ezikwincwadi yeSityhilelo kudala zixake abafundi abazimisele ukwazi iBhayibhile. Ngexesha likaThixo elifanelekileyo, ezo mfihlelo kwafuneka zityhilwe, kodwa zityhilwe njani, nini yaye zityhilelwe oobani? Kuphela ngumoya kaThixo owawunokuyicacisa intsingiselo njengoko ixesha elimisiweyo lalisondela. (ISityhilelo 1:3) Ezo mfihlelo zingcwele zaziya kutyhilelwa abakhonzi bakaThixo abanenzondelelo emhlabeni ukuze bomelezelwe ukwazisa imigwebo yakhe. (Mateyu 13:10, 11) Akutshiwo ukuba iingcaciso ezikule mpapasho azinakuphazama. NjengoYosefu wakudala, sithi: “AsikokukaThixo na ukutolika?” (Genesis 40:8) Noko ke, kwangaxeshanye, sikholelwa ngamandla ukuba iingcaciso ezandlalwe apha zivisisana nayo yonke iBhayibhile, zibonisa indlela isiprofeto sikaThixo esiye sazaliseka ngayo ngokuphawulekayo kwiziganeko zehlabathi zamaxesha ethu anentlekele.
1. Iyintoni injongo kaYehova ezukileyo?
UMZEKELISO weBhayibhile uthi: “Kulunge ngakumbi ukuphela kombandela kunokuqalwa kwawo.” (INtshumayeli 7:8) Kwincwadi yeSityhilelo sifunda ngencopho echukumisayo yenjongo kaYehova ezukileyo yokungcwalisa igama lakhe kuyo yonke indalo. Kunjengokuba uThixo wavakalisa ngokuphindaphindiweyo ngomnye wabaprofeti bakhe bokuqala esithi: “Baya kwazi ukuba ndinguYehova.”—Hezekile 25:17; 38:23.
2. ISityhilelo kwaneencwadi zeBhayibhile ezingaphambi kwaso, zisinceda ukuba sifumane luphi ulwazi olwanelisayo?
2 Kanye njengokuba iSityhilelo sicacisa ngesiphelo sezinto, zona iincwadi zeBhayibhile ezingaphambi kwaso zichaza isiqalo sazo. Ngokuhlolisisa le ngxelo, sitsho sikwazi ukuyiqonda imbambano ebandakanyekileyo size sibe nembono ephangaleleyo yenjongo kaThixo. Hayi indlela okwanelisa ngayo oku! Ngokungakumbi, oku kumele kusishukumisele ukuba sithabathe inyathelo, ukuze sibe nesabelo kwikamva elimangalisayo loluntu. (INdumiso 145:16, 20) Kweli nqanaba, kubonakala kufanelekile ukuxubusha ngemvelaphi nomxholo wayo yonke iBhayibhile, ukuze sicinge ngeyona mbambano inkulu ngoku ejongene noluntu lonke, kwanenjongo kaThixo ayichaze ngokucacileyo yokuzinzisa loo mbambano.
3. Sisiphi isiprofeto esikwincwadi yeGenesis osekelwe kuso umxholo weBhayibhile, kuquka iSityhilelo?
3 Incwadi yokuqala yeBhayibhile, iGenesis, ithetha ‘ngesiqalo’ ize ichaze ngemisebenzi kaThixo yokudala, kuquka isidalwa sakhe sasemhlabeni esiphakamileyo, umntu. Kwakhona iGenesis ithetha ngesiprofeto sokuqala sobuthixo, esavakaliswa nguThixo ngokwakhe kumyezo wase-Eden kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-6 000 eyadlulayo. Kwakusandul’ ukusetyenziswa inyoka ukukhohlisa umfazi wokuqala uEva, waza yena waphembelela indoda yakhe uAdam, ukuba imthelele ekwaphuleni umthetho kaYehova ngokudla ‘kumthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi.’ Xa wayedlulisa isigwebo kwesi sibini singaboni, uThixo wathi kwinyoka: “Ndiya kubeka ubutshaba phakathi kwakho nomfazi naphakathi kwembewu yakho nembewu yakhe. Yona iya kukutyumza intloko uze wena uyityumze isithende.” (Genesis 1:1; 2:17; 3:1-6, 14, 15) Umxholo weBhayibhile, kuquka iSityhilelo, usekelwe kweso siprofeto.
4. (a) Emva kokuba uThixo evakalise isiprofeto sokuqala, kwenzeka ntoni kubazali bethu bokuqala? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo ephakamayo ngokubhekisele kwisiprofeto sokuqala, yaye kutheni le nto kufuneka sizazile iimpendulo?
4 Emva nje kokuba evakalise esi siprofeto, uThixo wabagxotha abazali bethu bokuqala e-Eden. Babengasayi kukhangela phambili kubomi obungunaphakade eParadesi; kwakuya kufuneka baphile ngaphandle kumhlaba ongalungiswanga. Bephantsi kwesigwebo sokufa, babeya kuvelisa abantwana abanesono. (Genesis 3:23–4:1; Roma 5:12) Noko ke, sithetha ukuthini isiprofeto esavakaliswa e-Eden? Ngoobani ababandakanyekileyo kuso? Sidibana njani neSityhilelo? Sisichaphazela njani thina namhlanje? Ukuze sikhululeke kwimiphumo yesiganeko esiyintlekele esakhokelela ekuvakaliseni kukaYehova eso siprofeto, kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sizazi iimpendulo zale mibuzo.
Abantu Abaphambili Kwesi Siprofeto
5. Xa inyoka yakhohlisa uEva, kwenzeka ntoni kulongamo lukaThixo nakwigama lakhe, yaye iya kuconjululwa njani impikiswano?
5 Isiprofeto seGenesis 3:15 sasibhekiswa kwinyoka eyayixokise uEva, isithi akayi kufa ngenxa yokungathobeli kwakhe, kodwa uya kuzilawula abe nguthixokazi. Ngaloo ndlela inyoka yavakalisa ukuba uYehova ulixoki yaza yabonisa ukuba abantu babenokuyiphucula imeko yabo ngokugatya ulawulo Lwakhe oluphakamileyo. (Genesis 3:1-5) Ulongamo lukaYehova lwacelw’ umngeni kwaza kwangcoliswa negama lakhe elilungileyo. Incwadi yeSityhilelo ichaza indlela uMgwebi olilungisa, uYehova, alusebenzisa ngayo ulawulo loBukumkani loNyana wakhe uYesu Kristu, ukuze athethelele ulongamo lwakhe nokuze ashenxise lonke ungcikivo kwigama lakhe.—ISityhilelo 12:10; 14:7.
6. ISityhilelo sithi ngubani lo wathetha noEva ngenyoka?
6 Ngaba igama elithi “inyoka,” libhekisela kuphela kwinyoka yokoqobo? Akunjalo konke konke! ISityhilelo sisichazela ngesidalwa sokomoya esidume kakubi esathetha ngokusebenzisa loo nyoka. ‘Sasiyinamba enkulu, inyoka yantlandlolo, leyo ibizwa ngokuba nguMtyholi, noSathana, lowo ulahlekisa umhlaba omiweyo uphela,’ ‘eyalukuhla uEva ngobuqhokolo bayo.’—ISityhilelo 12:9; 2 Korinte 11:3.
7. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba umfazi weGenesis 3:15 ungowommandla womoya?
7 Emva koko iGenesis 3:15 ithetha ‘ngomfazi.’ Ngaba lo mfazi yayinguEva? Mhlawumbi wayecinga ukuba kubhekiswa kuye. (Thelekisa iGenesis 4:1.) Kodwa ekubeni obu butshaba babuza kuba bobexesha elide, kwakungenakwenzeka ukuba bube phakathi kukaEva noSathana, kuba uEva wafa kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-5 000 eyadlulayo. Ngokubhekele phaya, ekubeni iNyoka awathetha nayo uYehova ingumoya ongabonakaliyo, simele silindele ukuba umfazi naye ungowommandla womoya. ISityhilelo 12:1, 2 siyakuqinisekisa oku, sibonisa ukuba lo mfazi wokomfuziselo uyintlangano kaYehova yasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya.—Bona kwanoIsaya 54:1, 5, 13.
Ukuchasana Kweembewu Ezimbini
8. Kutheni le nto simele sibe nomdla wokwenene koko kuthethwayo ngeembewu ezimbini?
8 Ngokulandelayo kuthethwa ngeembewu ezimbini kwiGenesis 3:15. Simele sibe nomdla wokwenene kwezi mbewu, kuba zihlobene nembambano enkulu yofanele ukongamela umhlaba. Oku kuquka ngamnye wethu, enoba siselula okanye sikhulile. Yiyiphi kwezi mbewu oyikhethayo?
9. Imbewu yeNyoka ngokuqinisekileyo iquka ntoni?
9 Okokuqala, kukho imbewu, okanye inzala yeNyoka. Iyintoni le mbewu? Ngokuqinisekileyo iquka ezinye izidalwa zomoya ezathelela uSathana kwimvukelo yakhe nezathi ekugqibeleni ‘zaphoswa phantsi kunye naye’ kummandla womhlaba. (ISityhilelo 12:9) Ekubeni uSathana, okanye uBhelezebhubhe, ‘engumlawuli weedemon,’ kucacile ukuba zona zibumba intlangano yakhe engabonakaliyo.—Marko 3:22; Efese 6:12.
10. IBhayibhile ibonisa njani ukuba abanye bayinxalenye yembewu kaSathana?
10 Ngokubhekele phaya, uYesu wazixelela oku iinkokeli zonqulo zamaYuda zomhla wakhe: “Nina niphuma kuyihlo uMtyholi, yaye nithanda ukwenza ngokweminqweno kayihlo.” (Yohane 8:44) Ngokuchasa kwazo uNyana kaThixo onguYesu, ezo nkokeli zonqulo zabonisa ukuba nazo ziyinzala kaSathana. Ziyinxalenye yembewu kaSathana, zimkhonza njengoyise wokomfuziselo. Nabanye abantu abaninzi kuyo yonke imbali ngokufanayo baye bazibonakalisa bengabanjalo ngokwenza ukuthanda kukaSathana, ingakumbi ngokuchasa nangokutshutshisa abafundi bakaYesu. Bebonke, aba bantu banokuchazwa njengababumba intlangano kaSathana ebonakalayo yasemhlabeni.—Bona uYohane 15:20; 16:33; 17:15.
Imbewu Yomfazi Iyachazwa
11. Kwiinkulungwane ezidluleyo, yintoni eyatyhilwa nguThixo ngembewu yomfazi?
11 Isiprofeto esikwiGenesis 3:15 ekugqibeleni sibhekisela kwimbewu yomfazi. Ngoxa uSathana wayevelisa eyakhe imbewu, uYehova wayelungiselela ukuba ‘umfazi’ wakhe, okanye intlangano yaphezulu ebumfazi, ivelise imbewu. Kangangeminyaka enokuba ngama-4 000, uYehova wabatyhilela ngokuthe ngcembe abantu abathobekileyo naboyika uThixo iinkcukacha ezihlobene nokuza kwembewu. (Isaya 46:9, 10) Ngaloo ndlela uAbraham, uIsake, uYakobi nabanye bakwazi ukwakha ukholo kwisithembiso sokuba imbewu yayiya kuvela kwinzala yabo. (Genesis 22:15-18; 26:4; 28:14) USathana nabalandeli bakhe babesoloko bebatshutshisa abakhonzi bakaYehova ababenokholo olungaxengaxengiyo kweso sithembiso.—Hebhere 11:1, 2, 32-38.
12. (a) Inxalenye eyintloko yembewu yomfazi yafika nini ibe kwenzeka siphi isiganeko? (b) UYesu wathanjiselwa yiphi injongo?
12 Ekugqibeleni, ngonyaka wama-29 weXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, uYesu owayengumntu ofezekileyo waya kuMlambo iYordan waza wabhaptizwa. Ngelo thuba uYehova wathambisa uYesu ngomoya oyingcwele, esithi: “Lo nguNyana wam, oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye.” (Mateyu 3:17) Apho uYesu wachazwa njengalowo wayethunyiwe evela kwintlangano kaThixo yokomoya ezulwini. Kwakhona wathanjiswa njengoKumkani Otyunjiweyo woBukumkani basezulwini owayeya kubuyisela ulawulo lukaYehova emhlabeni, ngaloo ndlela eyizinzisa ngonaphakade imbambano ebandakanya urhulumente, okanye ulongamo lwakhe. (ISityhilelo 11:15) Ngoko, uYesu uyintloko yembewu yomfazi, uMesiya owaxelwa kwangaphambili.—Thelekisa abaseGalati 3:16; Daniyeli 9:25.
13, 14. (a) Kutheni le nto kungamele kusimangalise ukufunda ukuba imbewu yomfazi yayingayi kuba ngumntu omnye odumileyo? (b) Bangaphi abakhethwe nguThixo ebantwini ukuze babe yinxalenye yesibini yembewu, yaye babumba luhlobo luni lwentlangano? (c) Ngoobani abanye abakhonza ngokumanyene nale mbewu?
13 Ngaba imbewu yomfazi yayiya kuba ngumntu nje omnye odumileyo? Kuthekani ngembewu kaSathana? IBhayibhile ichaza imbewu kaSathana njengequka iingelosi ezingendawo nabantu abanyelisa uThixo. Ngoko, akumele kusimangalise ukufunda ngenjongo kaThixo yokukhetha abagcini bengqibelelo abali-144 000 abaphuma ebantwini ukuze babe ngabalawuli abangababingeleli abakunye neMbewu enguMesiya, uYesu Kristu. ISityhilelo sibhekisela kwaba bantu xa sisithi uMtyholi, ngenxa yobutshaba anabo ngentlangano kaThixo ebumfazi, ‘wemka waya kulwa nabaseleyo bembewu yakhe.’—ISityhilelo 12:17; 14:1-4.
14 EBhayibhileni amaKristu athanjisiweyo abizwa ngokuba ngabazalwana bakaYesu, ibe njengabazalwana bakhe, anoYise nonina omnye. (Hebhere 2:11) UYise nguYehova uThixo. Ngenxa yoko, unina umele abe ‘ngumfazi,’ intlangano kaThixo yaphezulu ebumfazi. Ayinxalenye yesibini yembewu, ekubeni uKristu Yesu eyinxalenye eyintloko. Ibandla lala maKristu azelwe ngomoya asemhlabeni liyintlangano kaThixo ebonakalayo ekhonza phantsi kwentlangano yakhe ebumfazi esemazulwini, apho aya kumanyana khona noKristu Yesu ekuvusweni kwawo. (Roma 8:14-17; Galati 3:16, 29) Nangona zingeyiyo inxalenye yembewu, izigidi zabezinye izimvu eziphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga ziyamanyaniswa ukuze zikhonze nentlangano kaThixo esemhlabeni. Ngaba ungomnye waba bezinye izimvu? Ngoko ithemba lakho elonwabisayo libubomi obungunaphakade kumhlaba oyiparadesi.—Yohane 10:16; 17:1-3.
Indlela Obaqala Ngayo Ubutshaba
15. (a) Khawuchaze indlela eyavela ngayo imbewu kaSathana engabantu neziziingelosi. (b) Kwenzeka ntoni kwimbewu kaSathana ngoNogumbe womhla kaNowa?
15 Imbewu kaSathana engabantu yaqala ukubonakala ekuqaleni kwembali yoluntu. Ngokomzekelo, kwakukho uKayin, umntu wokuqala ukuzalwa, ‘owaphuma kulowo ungendawo waza wambulala ngogonyamelo umntakwabo’ uAbheli. (1 Yohane 3:12) Kamva, uEnoki wathetha ngokuza kukaYehova ‘namashumi amawaka akhe angcwele, ukuza kuphumeza umgwebo nxamnye nabo bonke, nokuza kubafumanisa benetyala bonke abangenabuthixo ngokuphathelele zonke izenzo zabo ezingezozabuthixo abazenzayo ngendlela engeyoyabuthixo, nangokuphathelele zonke izinto ezothusayo aboni abangenabuthixo abazithetha nxamnye naye.’ (Yude 14, 15) Ngaphezu koko, iingelosi ezavukelayo zazimanya noSathana zaza zaba yinxalenye yembewu yakhe. Ezi ngelosi “zayishiya indawo yazo efanelekileyo yokuhlala” emazulwini ukuze zizambathise imizimba yenyama zize zitshate iintombi zabantu. Zavelisa iingxilimbela ezinamandla angaphaya kwawemvelo ezazixhaphaza abanye. Elo hlabathi lazaliswa lugonyamelo nabubungendawo, kangangokuba uThixo walitshabalalisa ngoNogumbe, waza wasindisa uNowa othembekileyo nentsapho yakhe kuphela. Iingelosi ezingazange zithobele—ngoku eziziidemon ezilawulwa nguSathana—kwanyanzeleka ukuba zibashiye abafazi bazo abangabantu abagwetyelwe intshabalalo nabantwana bazo abaziingxilimbela. Zalahla imizimba yazo yenyama, zabuyela kummandla womoya apho zilindele umgwebo kaThixo oza ngokukhawuleza noya kuphunyezwa kuSathana nembewu yakhe.—Yude 6; Genesis 6:4-12; 7:21-23; 2 Petros 2:4, 5.
16. (a) Nguwuphi umlawuli okhohlakeleyo owabakho emva koNogumbe, ibe wabonisa njani ukuba wayeyinxalenye yembewu kaSathana? (b) UThixo wabathintela njani abantu ababefuna ukwakha inqaba yaseBhabhiloni?
16 Kungekudala emva koNogumbe omkhulu, emhlabeni kwabakho umlawuli okhohlakeleyo ogama linguNimrodi. IBhayibhile imchaza ‘njengomzingeli onamandla ngokuchasene noYehova’—ngokwenyaniso wayeyinxalenye yembewu yeNyoka. NjengoSathana, wabonisa umoya wemvukelo waza wakha isixeko saseBhabheli, okanye saseBhabhiloni, ukuze achase injongo kaYehova yokuba uluntu lusasazeke luzalise umhlaba. EBhabhiloni kwakuza kubakho inqaba enkulu “encopho yayo ifikelela emazulwini.” UThixo wabathintela abo bantu babefuna ukwakha loo nqaba. Waphixanisa ulwimi lwabo waza “wabachithachitha bathi saa emhlabeni wonke,” kodwa wayivumela iBhabhiloni ukuba ihlale ikho.—Genesis 9:1; 10:8-12; 11:1-9.
Ukuvela Kwamagunya Obupolitika
17. Njengoko uluntu lwalusanda, yintoni eyavelayo kwibutho labantu, ibe ngenxa yoko, bubukhosi bawaphi amazwe obathi bavela?
17 Kwibutho labantu baseBhabhiloni kwavela izinto ezabangela ukuba kujongelwe phantsi ulongamo lukaYehova. Enye yezi zinto yayizezobupolitika. Njengoko uluntu lwalusanda, abanye abantu abanamabhongo balandela umzekelo kaNimrodi ngokuthi babe ngabalawuli. Umntu waqalisa ukulawula omnye umntu kwaza oko kwaba kukwenzakala kwakhe. (INtshumayeli 8:9) Ngokomzekelo, ebudeni bemihla ka-Abraham, iSodom, iGomora nezixeko ezazikufuphi nazo zaba phantsi kolawulo lookumkani baseShinare nolwabanye bamazwe akude. (Genesis 14:1-4) Ekugqibeleni, iinkcuba-buchopho zomkhosi nolungelelwano zaziqulunqela ubukhosi obunamandla ukuze iyileyo naleyo ifumane ubutyebi nozuko lwayo. IBhayibhile ibhekisela kobunye bobo bukhosi, obuquka iYiputa, iAsiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMedi namaPersi, iGrisi neRoma.
18. (a) Sisiphi isimo sengqondo abantu bakaThixo abanaso ngabalawuli bobupolitika? (b) Maxa wambi amagosa obupolitika aye aba luncedo njani ekuphunyezweni kweenjongo zikaThixo? (c) Abalawuli abaninzi bazibonise njani beyinxalenye yembewu yeNyoka?
18 UYehova wabunyamezela ubukho baloo magunya obupolitika, ibe abantu bakhe bawathobela ngomlinganiselo othile xa babehlala emazweni awayelawulwa ngawo. (Roma 13:1, 2) Maxa wambi, amagosa obupolitika ayede abe luncedo ekuhambiseleni phambili iinjongo zikaThixo okanye ekukhuseleni abantu bakhe. (Ezra 1:1-4; 7:12-26; IZenzo 25:11, 12; ISityhilelo 12:15, 16) Sekunjalo, abalawuli abaninzi bobupolitika baye baluchasa ngokukrakra unqulo lokwenyaniso, bezibonisa ukuba bayinxalenye yembewu yeNyoka.—1 Yohane 5:19.
19. Amagunya ehlabathi achazwa njani kwincwadi yeSityhilelo?
19 Ubukhulu becala, ulawulo lomntu lusilele ngokulusizi ukuzisa ulonwabo kuthi okanye ekucombululeni iingxaki zethu thina bantu. UYehova uvumele uluntu ukuba lulinge lonke uhlobo lorhulumente, kodwa akakholiswa kukonakala okanye yindlela oorhulumente abaye babalawula kakubi ngayo abantu. (IMizekeliso 22:22, 23) ISityhilelo sichaza amagunya ehlabathi acinezelayo njengabumba irhamncwa elinekratshi neloyikekayo.—ISityhilelo 13:1, 2.
Abarhwebi Abazingcayo
20, 21. Liliphi iqela lesibini elimele liqukwe ‘kubaphathi-mikhosi nabantu abomeleleyo’ njengeliyimbewu engendawo kaSathana, yaye ngoba?
20 Abanye abazimanya neenkokeli zobupolitika yayingabarhwebi abanganyanisekanga ababethengisa izinto eziphathekayo. Iingxelo ezavunjululwa kumabhodlo eBhabhiloni yamandulo zibonisa ukuba ushishino olwaluxhaphaza abantu abangamahlwempu lwaluthandwa gqitha emva apho. Abarhwebi behlabathi baye baqhubeka besebenzela ezabo izisu ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla, njengoko emazweni amaninzi abambalwa baye baba zizityebi ngokugqithiseleyo ngoxa abemi abaninzi baloo mazwe bentyumpantyumpeka kubuhlwempu. Kweli xesha lenkqubela kwezoshishino, abarhwebi nabezoshishino baye bazuza kanobom ngokuxhasa amagunya obupolitika ngemfumba yezixhobo zomkhosi zokutshabalalisa, kuquka izixhobo ezinokubhubhisa izihlwele zabantu, nto leyo ebangela inkxalabo kakhulu. Oosomashishini ababawa ngolo hlobo nabanye abafana nabo bamele baqukwe kunye ‘nabaphathi-mikhosi nabantu abomeleleyo’ abayimbewu kaSathana. Bonke bayinxalenye yentlangano yasemhlabeni uThixo noKristu abayigwebayo njengefanele ukutshatyalaliswa.—ISityhilelo 19:18.
21 Kwiipolitiki ezonakeleyo norhwebo olubawayo kumele kongezelelwe into yesithathu yebutho labantu efanelwe ngumgwebo kaThixo oqatha. Yintoni leyo? Usenokothuswa koko kuthethwa siSityhilelo ngale nto idume kwihlabathi lonke.
IBhabhiloni Enkulu
22. Hlobo luni lonqulo olwathi lwabakho kwiBhabhiloni yamandulo?
22 Ukwakhiwa kweBhabhiloni yamandulo kwakuthetha okungakumbi kunomcimbi wobupolitika. Ekubeni eso sixeko samiselwa ngenjongo yokujongela phantsi ulongamo lukaYehova, unqulo lwalubandakanyekile. Ngenene, iBhabhiloni yamandulo yaba ngumthombo wokunqulwa kwezithixo. Ababingeleli bayo babefundisa iimfundiso ezinyelisa uThixo, njengokungafi komphefumlo womntu nokuthuthunjiswa kwabafileyo ngonaphakade kwindawo elawulwa ziidemon. Babekhuthaza ukunqulwa kwezidalwa nokunqulwa koothixo noothixokazi abaninzi. Bayila iintsomi ukuze bacacise imvelaphi yomhlaba nomntu ophezu kwawo baza benza izithethe namadini athob’ isidima, ekuthelekelelwa ukuba ezo zinto zazisenzelwa ukuqinisekisa impumelelo ekuzalweni kwabantwana nasekuchumeni kokudla okulinyiweyo nokoyisa emfazweni.
23. (a) Ekusasazekeni kwabo besuka eBhabhiloni, abantu bahamba nantoni, ibe ngawuphi umphumo? (b) ISityhilelo sibubiza njani ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki? (c) Unqulo lobuxoki belusoloko lusilwa nantoni?
23 Njengoko abantu abangamaqela athetha iilwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo ababevela eBhabhiloni basasazeka kuwo wonke umhlaba, bahamba nonqulo lwaseBhabhiloni. Ngaloo ndlela, izithethe neenkolelo zeBhabhiloni yamandulo zasasazeka kubemi bamandulo baseYurophu, eAfrika, eMerika, kwiMpuma Ekude nakwiiLwandle eziseMazantsi; ibe uninzi lwezi nkolelo lusekho ukuza kuthi ga namhlanje. Ngoko, ngokufanelekileyo iSityhilelo sibhekisela kubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki njengesixeko esiyiBhabhiloni Enkulu. (ISityhilelo, isahluko 17, 18) Naphi na apho luhlwayelwe khona, unqulo lobuxoki luvelise ababingeleli abacinezelayo, iinkolelo, ukungazi nokuziphatha okubi. Lube sisixhobo esinamandla esisetyenziswa nguSathana. IBhabhiloni Enkulu ibisoloko isilwa ngengcwangu nonqulo lokwenyaniso lweNkosi enguMongami uYehova.
24. (a) INyoka yakwazi njani ukutyumza iMbewu yomfazi ‘esithendeni’? (b) Kutheni le nto ukutyunyuzwa kwembewu yomfazi kuchazwa njengenxeba nje elisesithendeni?
24 Ababhali nabaFarisi bobuYuda benkulungwane yokuqala, abayeyona nxalenye ibekek’ ityala yembewu yeNyoka, bakhokela ekutshutshiseni ummeli oyintloko wembewu yomfazi baza ekugqibeleni bambulala. Ngaloo ndlela, iNyoka ‘yayityumza isithende imbewu.’ (Genesis 3:15; Yohane 8:39-44; IZenzo 3:12, 15) Kutheni le nto kusithiwa linxeba nje elisesithendeni? Kungenxa yokuba eli nxeba layichaphazela nje kancinane apha emhlabeni. Yayingeyonto iza kuhlala ngokusisigxina kuba uYehova wamvusa uYesu ngosuku lwesithathu waza wamphakamisela kubomi bomoya.—IZenzo 2:32, 33; 1 Petros 3:18.
25. (a) UYesu ozukisiweyo sele elithabathe njani inyathelo nxamnye noSathana neengelosi zakhe? (b) Iya kushenxiswa nini imbewu kaSathana esemhlabeni? (c) Yintoni eya kwenzeka xa iMbewu yomfazi kaThixo ityumza “intloko” yenyoka enguSathana?
25 Ngoku uYesu Kristu ozukisiweyo ungasekunene kukaThixo, yaye ugweba iintshaba zikaYehova. Sele ethabathe inyathelo nxamnye noSathana neengelosi zakhe, ngokubaphosa phantsi waza wenza ukuba umsebenzi wabo uphelele kulo mhlaba—nto leyo ebangela ukwanda kooyeha kweli xesha siphila kulo. (ISityhilelo 12:9, 12) Kodwa njengoko kwaxelwa kwangaphambili imbewu kaSathana yasemhlabeni iya kushenxiswa xa uThixo egweba iBhabhiloni Enkulu nazo zonke ezinye iinxalenye zentlangano kaSathana esemhlabeni. Ekugqibeleni iMbewu yomfazi kaThixo, uYesu Kristu, iya kutyumza “intloko” yenyoka yakudala enobuqhophololo enguSathana, yaye oko kuya kuthetha ukutshatyalaliswa nokushenxiswa kwakhe ngokupheleleyo kwimicimbi yoluntu.—Roma 16:20.
26. Kutheni kubalulekile ukuhlolisisa isiprofeto esikwiSityhilelo?
26 Kuya kwenzeka njani konke oku? Oko koko sikutyhilelwayo kwincwadi yeBhayibhile yeSityhilelo. Sikutyhilelwa ngongcelele lwemibono ebalaseliswa ngemiqondiso nangemifuziselo ephawulekayo. Masisihlolisise ngolangazelelo esi siprofeto sinamandla. Hayi indlela esinoyolo ngokwenene ngayo ukuba siyaweva size siwagcine amazwi eSityhilelo! Ngokwenjenjalo, siya kuba nesabelo ekuziseni imbeko kwigama leNkosi enguMongami uYehova size sizuze iintsikelelo ezingunaphakade ezivela kuye. Qhubeka ufunda uze ukusebenzise ngobulumko oko ukufundayo. Kunokuthetha ukusindiswa kwakho kweli xesha lencopho yembali yoluntu.
[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 13]
Iingxelo zemicimbi yoshishino lwamandulo ezibhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo
Incwadi ethi Ancient Near Eastern Texts, ehlelwe nguJames B. Pritchard, idwelisa imithetho ephantse ibe ngama-300 eyaqulunqwa nguHammurabi kumaxesha okubakho kweBhabhiloni. Le mithetho ibonisa ukuba kwakuyimfuneko ukuthintela ukunganyaniseki ekubonakala ukuba kwakuxhaphakile kwezorhwebo ngaloo mihla. Ngokomzekelo: “Ukuba umnini-mhlaba uye wathenga okanye wagciniswa isilivere okanye igolide okanye ikhoboka eliyindoda okanye ikhoboka elilibhinqa okanye inkabi yenkomo okanye igusha okanye iesile okanye nayiphi na into ngunyana wakhe okanye likhoboka lakhe ngaphandle kwamangqina okanye kwezivumelwano ezibhaliweyo, ulisela, yaye umele abulawe.”