Isahluko 4
Inokukholeleka Kangakanani “ITestamente Endala”?
Kwizahluko ezimbalwa ezilandelayo, siya kuxubusha ezinye zezityholo ebekwa zona iBhayibhile ngabahlalutyi bale mihla. Bambi bathi iBhayibhile iyaziphikisa ibe “ayichananga ngokwezenzululwazi,” yaye ezi zityholo zoxutyushwa kamva. Kodwa okokuqala, khawuqwalasele isityholo esenziwa ngokufuthi sokuba iBhayibhile iyingqokolela nje yeentsomi namabali. Ngaba abachasi beBhayibhile banezizathu ezivakalayo zokuyigxeka ngolo hlobo? Okokuqala nje, makhe sikhangele kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, ezo zifane zibizwe ngokuba yiTestamente Endala.
1, 2. Kwakunjani ukungqingwa kweYeriko, yaye yiyiphi imibuzo ephakamayo ngokunxulumene nako?
ISIXEKO samandulo singqingwe ngabahlaseli. Abahlaseli baso bawuwele belibubu uMlambo iYordan yaye ngoku bagxumeke iintente zabo ngaphambi kweendonga eziphakamileyo zesixeko. Kodwa ezinjani zona ukumangalisa iindlela zokulwa! Mhla ngamnye kangangemihla emithandathu, umkhosi ohlaselayo ube umatsha ujikeleza isixeko, uthe cwaka ngaphandle nje kweqela lababingeleli abawuphelekileyo abavuthela izigodlo. Ngoku, ngalo mhla wesixhenxe, ngokuthe cwaka umkhosi uyamatsha ujikeleza isixeko izihlandlo ezisixhenxe. Ngequbuliso ababingeleli bavuthela izigodlo zabo ngamandla abo onke. Umkhosi uyahlokoma ngomkhwazo omkhulu wedabi, yaye iindonga zesixeko ezingoorhec’ izulu ziwa bhuma zize zibe yingqushu yothuli, zisishiya isixeko sisenkangala.—Yoshuwa 6:1-21.
2 Le yindlela incwadi kaYoshuwa, incwadi yesithandathu yeZibhalo zesiHebhere, ekuchaza ngayo ukuwa kweYeriko okwenzeka malunga nama-3 500 eminyaka eyadlulayo. Kodwa ngaba kwenzeka ngokwenene? Ngokuqiniseka okukhulu abahlalutyi abaqatha abaninzi bebeya kuphendula bathi akuzange kwenzeke.a Bathi incwadi kaYoshuwa, kwakunye neencwadi ezintlanu zeBhayibhile eziyandulelayo, zibunjwe ngamabali nje awabhalwa kwiinkulungwane ezininzi emva kokuba zehlayo ezo ziganeko ekucingelwa ukuba zenzeka. Kwanabembi abaninzi bezinto zakudala bebeya kuphendula ngokuthi akuzange kwenzeke oko. Ngokutsho kwabo, xa amaSirayeli ayekwilizwe lakwaKanan, imele ukuba yayingazange ibekho kwaukubakho iYeriko.
3. Kutheni kubalulekile ukuxubusha enoba iBhayibhile iqulethe imbali yokwenyaniso okanye akunjalo kusini na?
3 Ezi zizityholo ezinzulu. Njengokuba uyifunda iBhayibhile, wophawula ukuba iimfundiso zayo zihlobene ngokuqinileyo nembali. UThixo uqhubana namadoda, nabafazi, neentsapho kwaneentlanga zokoqobo, yaye imithetho yakhe inikelwa kubantu ababephila ngokwembali. Abaphengululi bale mihla abakuthandabuzayo ukuchana kweBhayibhile ngokwembali bakwathandabuza ukubaluleka nokuthembeka kwesigidimi sayo. Ukuba iBhayibhile ngokwenene iliLizwi likaThixo, ngoko imbali yayo imele ukuba ithembekile yaye ayiqulathanga mabali nje neentsomi. Ngaba aba bahlalutyi banezizathu zokukucel’ umngeni ukunyaniseka kwayo okungokwembali?
Uhlalutyo Oluqatha—Lunokuthenjwa Kangakanani?
4-6. Ziziphi ezinye zeengcamango zikaWellhausen zohlalutyo oluqatha?
4 Ukuhlalutywa okuqatha kweBhayibhile kwaqalisa ngamandla ebudeni benkulungwane ye-18 neye-19. Kwinxalenye yokugqibela yenkulungwane ye-19, umhlalutyi weBhayibhile waseJamani uJulius Wellhausen wayenza yaduma ingcamango yokuba iincwadi zokuqala ezintandathu zeBhayibhile, kuquka ekaYoshuwa, zabhalwa kwinkulungwane yesihlanu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo—malunga newaka leminyaka emva kokwehla kweziganeko ezichazwe kuzo. Phofu ke, watsho ukuba ziqulethe umbandela owawubhalwe ngaphambilana kwelo xesha.1 Le ngcamango yashicilelwa kuhlelo lwe-11 lwe-Encyclopædia Britannica, eyapapashwa ngowe-1911, eyachazayo isithi: “IGenesis iyincwadi eyabhalwa emva kwexesha lokuthinjwa ekwayilwe ngokuphuma kwimithombo yababingeleli yasemva kwexesha lokuthinjwa kwanangokuphuma kwimithombo yangaphambilana engeyoyababingeleli eyahluke ngokuphawulekayo ngolwimi, ngesimbo sokubhala nangokuma okungokonqulo.”
5 Lo kaWellhausen nabalandeli bakhe bayijonga yonke le mbali ibhalwe kule nxalenye ingaphambilana yeZibhalo zesiHebhere “njengengeyiyo imbali yokoqobo, kodwa njengezizithethe ezidumileyo zexa elidluleyo.”2 Iingxelo zangaphambilana zazigqalwa ziyimbonakaliso nje yembali yamva yakwaSirayeli. Ngokomzekelo, kwachazwa ukuba ubutshaba obabuphakathi koYakobi noEsawu abuzange bubekho ngokwenene, kodwa babubonakalisa ubutshaba obabukho phakathi kwezizwe zakwaSirayeli namaEdom kumaxesha amva.
6 Ngokuvisisana noku, aba bahlalutyi baba noluvo lokuba uMoses akazange afumane nawuphi na umyalelo wokwenza ityeya yomnqophiso nolokuba umnquba, owawusisazulu sonqulo lwamaSirayeli entlango, awuzange ubekho kwaukubakho. Bakwakholelwa ukuba igunya lobubingeleli bendlu ka-Aron lamiselwa ngokupheleleyo kuphela kwiminyaka nje embalwa ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngamaBhabhiloni, siganeko eso aba bahlalutyi bakholelwa ukuba senzeka ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesithandathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.3
7, 8. Bubuphi “ubungqina” awayenabo uWellhausen ngeengcamango zakhe, yaye ngaba babuvakala?
7 Bubuphi “ubungqina” ababenabo obuxhasa ezi ngcamango? Abahlalutyi abaqatha bathi bayakwazi ukusahlula isibhalo seencwadi zangaphambili zeBhayibhile sibe liqela leencwadana ezahlukahlukeneyo. Umgaqo osisiseko abawusebenzisayo ngowokuthelekelela ukuba, xa sithetha nje ngokubanzi, nayiphi na indinyana yeBhayibhile esebenzisa igama lesiHebhere elimela uThixo (’Elo·himʹ) iyodwa nje yabhalwa ngumbhali omnye, ngoxa nayiphi na indinyana ebhekisela kuThixo ngegama lakhe, elithi Yehova, imele ukuba yabhalwa ngomnye—ngokungathi umbhali omnye ebengenakuwasebenzisa omabini la magama.4
8 Ngokukwanjalo, nanini na isiganeko esithile sibhalwa ngaphezu kwesihlandlo esinye encwadini, sithatyathwa njengobungqina bokuba loo ncwadi yabhalwa ngababhali abangaphezu komnye, nakubeni iincwadi zamandulo zezizwe eziyinzala kaShem zinemizekelo ekwanjalo yokuphindaphindwa kweziganeko. Ukongezelela, kuthelekelelwa ukuba nayiphi na inguqulelo kwisimbo sokubhala ithetha ukuba kwabhala omnye umbhali. Kanti, kwanababhali beelwimi zale mihla ngokufuthi babhala ngezimbo ezahlukahlukeneyo kumathuba awahlukahlukeneyo omsebenzi wabo wokubhala, okanye xa bebhala ngombandela owahlukileyo.b
9-11. Ziziphi iziphako ezithile ezibalaseleyo kuhlalutyo oluqatha lwale mihla?
9 Ngaba bukho nabuphi na ubungqina bokwenene bezi ngcamango? Nakanye. Omnye umgqabazi wathi: “Uhlalutyo, enoba belunezona zibakala zivakalayo, lungumbandela wentelekelelo yaye aluqinisekanga, luyinto esoloko ilungele ukuguqulwa okanye ingqinwe ibubuxoki kuze kufuneke ithatyathelwe indawo yenye. Lukukuxakekisa nje ingqondo kabani, nto leyo exhomekeke kuwo onke la mathandabuzo nakuqashiqashi osoloko ehambisana nokuzixakekisa okunjalo.”5 Ngokungakumbi, ukuhlalutywa okuqatha kweBhayibhile “kungumbandela wentelekelelo yaye akuqinisekanga” ngeyona ndlela igqithiseleyo.
10 UGleason L. Archer, Omnci., ubonisa esinye isiphako kwingqiqo yohlalutyo oluqatha. Uthi ingxaki ikukuba “iqela likaWellhausen laqalisa ngentelekelelo epheleleyo (elingekaze lizikhathaze ngokubonisa ubunyaniso bayo) yokuba unqulo lwamaSirayeli lwaluvela ebantwini njengalo naluphi na olunye unqulo, nokuba lwalunokuchazwa njengemveliso yendaleko.”6 Ngamanye amazwi, uWellhausen nabalandeli bakhe baqala ngokuthelekelela ukuba iBhayibhile yayililizwi nje lomntu, baza ke basusela apho ukuqiqa.
11 Emva phayaa ngowe-1909, iThe Jewish Encyclopedia yaphawula ezinye iziphako ezibini ezingakumbi kule ngcamango kaWellhausen: “Iingongoma aye lo kaWellhausen waphantse ukubeyisa ngazo bonke abahlalutyi beBhayibhile bale mihla zisekelwe kwiintelekelelo ezimbini: eyokuqala, sisibakala sokuba isithethe siba sesineenkcukacha ngakumbi njengoko unqulo lusanda; eyesibini, sisibakala sokuba imithombo emidala yenkcazelo ngalo lonke ixesha ixubusha amanqanaba okuqala okuvela kwesithethe. Intelekelelo yokuqala ichasene nobungqina bendlela ezaziphila ngayo izizwe zamandulo, yaye le yamva ayixhaswa bubungqina obungendlela yokwenziwa kwezithethe ezinjengezo zaseIndiya.”
12. Uhlalutyo oluqatha lwale mihla luthelekiseka njani nenzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala?
12 Ngaba ikho indlela yokuvavanya uhlalutyo oluqatha ukuze kubonwe enoba iingcamango zalo zichanile okanye azichananga kusini na? IThe Jewish Encyclopedia yahlabela mgama isithi: “Iimbono zikaWellhausen zisekelwe phantse ngokupheleleyo kuhlahlelo olungokoqobo, yaye kuya kufuneka zixhaswe ngokuthi kuhlolisiswe izinto ezivunjululwe ngamaziko okumbiwa kwezinto zakudala.” Njengoko iminyaka yaqengqelekayo, ngaba ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kwatyekela ekuzixhaseni nasekuzingqineleni iingcamango zikaWellhausen? IThe New Encyclopædia Britannica iphendula isithi: “Uhlalutyo oluvela ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala lutyekele ekuxhaseni ukuthembeka kweenkcukacha ezingokwembali zawona maxesha madala [embali yeBhayibhile] nokuyilahlela kude ingcamango yokuba iingxelo ezikwiincwadi ezintlanu zokuqala [iingxelo ezingokwembali ezikwiincwadi zokuqala zeBhayibhile] ziyimbonakaliso nje yeziganeko zexesha lamva.”
13, 14. Phezu kwazo nje iziseko zalo ezigungqayo, kutheni le nto uhlalutyo oluqatha lukaWellhausen lusamkelwa ngokubanzi nje?
13 Nakubeni luneziphako, kutheni le nto namhlanje uhlalutyo oluqatha luthandwa kangaka ngabo baziingqondi? Kungenxa yokuba lubaxelela izinto abathanda ukuziva. Omnye umphengululi wenkulungwane ye-19 wathi: “Mna ngokobuqu, ndiyayamkela le ncwadi kaWellhausen phantse ngaphezu kwayo nayiphi na enye; kuba ingxaki enzulu yembali yeTestamente Endala kum ibonakala ukuba ekugqibeleni iconjululwe ngendlela evisisana nomgaqo wendaleko yomntu nto leyo endinyanzelekileyo ukuyisebenzisa kwimbali yalo lonke unqulo.”7 Ngelicacileyo, uhlalutyo oluqatha lwavumelana nekhethe lakhe njengonondaleko. Yaye, eneneni, zombini ezi ngcamango ziphumeza injongo ekwanye. Kanye njengokuba indaleko ibiya kuyishenxisa imfuneko yokukholelwa kuMdali, ngoko nohlalutyo oluqatha lukaWellhausen beluya kuthetha ukuba akuyomfuneko ukuba ubani akholelwe ukuba iBhayibhile yaphefumlelwa nguThixo.
14 Kule nkulungwane yama-20 yabantu abakholose ngakumbi ngengqiqo yabo, intelekelelo yokuba iBhayibhile ayilolizwi likaThixo koko lelomntu ibonakala ithandwa gqitha ziingqondi.c Kulula ngakumbi ngazo ukukholelwa ukuba iziprofeto zabhalwa emva kokuba sezizalisekile kunokuzamkela njengezizezokwenene. Zikhetha ukuzichaza phosakeleyo iingxelo zeBhayibhile ezingemimangaliso njengeziziintsomi, ezingamabali, okanye eziziimbali zohlanga, kunokucinga ukuba kusenokwenzeka ukuba zenzeka ngokwenene. Kodwa imbono enjalo inekhethe yaye ayinikeli sizathu someleleyo sokuyicekisa iBhayibhile njengengeyonyaniso. Uhlalutyo oluqatha luneziphako ezinzulu, yaye ukuyihlasela kwalo iBhayibhile kusilele ukubonisa ukuba iBhayibhile ayililo iLizwi likaThixo.
Ngaba Ukumbiwa Kwezinto Zakudala Kuyayixhasa IBhayibhile?
15, 16. Bubukho bawuphi umlawuli wamandulo okhankanywe eBhayibhileni obuye bangqinelwa kukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala?
15 Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kuluhlolisiso olunesiseko esizinze ngakumbi kunokuba lunjalo uhlolisiso lohlalutyo oluqatha. Abembi bezinto zakudala, ngokumba phakathi kwamabhodlo eendawo zempucuko zexa elidluleyo, ngeendlela ezininzi, baye bakwandisa ukuqonda kwethu ubume bezinto kumaxesha amandulo. Ngenxa yoko, akumangalisi ukuba ingxelo engokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ivumelana ngokuphindaphindiweyo noko sikufunda eBhayibhileni. Maxa wambi, ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kude kwayithethelela iBhayibhile ngokuchasene nabahlalutyi bayo.
16 Ngokomzekelo, ngokwencwadi kaDaniyeli, umlawuli wokugqibela eBhabhiloni ngaphambi kokuba iwele kumaPersi wayebizwa ngokuba nguBheleshatsare. (Daniyeli 5:1-30) Ekubeni kwakubonakala ngathi akukho ndawo iyenye akhankanywe kuyo uBheleshatsare ngaphandle kwaseBhayibhileni, kwenziwa isityholo sokuba iBhayibhile yayiphosisile nokuba le ndoda ayizange ibekho kwaukubakho. Kodwa ebudeni benkulungwane ye-19, kwafunyanwa iqela leengqayana ezincinane ezikrolwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo kumabhodlo athile asemzantsi Iraq. Kwafunyaniswa ukuba ziquke nomthandazo wokuthandazela unyana omkhulu kaNabhonidus, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Lalingubani igama lalo nyana? LalinguBheleshatsare.
17. Sinokusichaza njani isibakala sokuba iBhayibhile imbiza uBheleshatsare ngokuba ngukumkani, ngoxa inkoliso yeencwadi ezikroliweyo imbiza ngokuba litshawe?
17 Ngoko wayekhe wakho uBheleshatsare! Phofu ke, ngaba weyengukumkani ngethuba lokuwa kweBhabhiloni? Inkoliso yamaxwebhu awafunyanwayo kamva, abhekisela kuye njengonyana wokumkani, itshawe. Kodwa uxwebhu olubhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo olubizwa ngokuthi “Umbongo Oyimbali kaNabhonidus” lwasikhanyisa ngakumbi isikhundla sokwenyaniso sikaBheleshatsare. Lwanikela le ngxelo: “Yena [uNabhonidus] wayiphathisa (unyana) wakhe omkhulu ‘iKampu,’ yonke imikhosi naphi na elizweni wayiyalela ukuba ibe ngaphantsi (kokuyalelwa) nguye. Wakhululela (yonke into) kuye, ubukumkani wabuphathisa yena.”8 Ngoko uBheleshatsare wayephathiswe ubukumkani. Ngokuqinisekileyo, ngaphandle kwawo nawaphi na amathandabuzo oko kwamenza wangukumkani!d Olu lwalamano phakathi koBheleshatsare noyise, uNabhonidus, lusenza sicace isizathu sokuba uBheleshatsare, ngethuba leso sihikahika sesidlo sokugqibela eBhabhiloni, wathembisa ngokwenza uDaniyeli umlawuli wesithathu kobo bukumkani. (Daniyeli 5:16) Ekubeni uNabhonidus wayengumlawuli oyintloko, yena uBheleshatsare wayengumlawuli wesibini waseBhabhiloni.
Obunye Ubungqina Obuxhasayo
18. Yiyiphi inkcazelo eveliswa kukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala engqinela uxolo nokuchuma okwaba ngumphumo wolawulo lukaDavide?
18 Ngokwenene, izinto ezininzi ezafunyanwayo ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala ziye zabonisa ukuchana okungokwembali kweBhayibhile. Ngokomzekelo, iBhayibhile inikela ingxelo yokuba emva kokuba uKumkani uSolomon ethabathe ubukumkani kuyise, uDavide, uSirayeli wanandipha ukuchuma okukhulu. Siyafunda: “AmaYuda namaSirayeli ebemaninzi, enjengentlabathi engaselwandle ukuba maninzi, esidla, esela, evuya.” (1 Kumkani 4:20) Ukuxhasa le nkcazelo, sifunda oku: “Ubungqina obungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala butyhila ukuba kwakukho ukwanda okugqithiseleyo kwabemi kwaYuda ebudeni kwanasemva kwenkulungwane yeshumi Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo xa uxolo nokuchuma okwabangelwa nguDavide kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukwakhiwa kweedolophu ezininzi ezintsha.”10
19. Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kunikela yiphi inkcazelo eyongezelelekileyo mayela nemfazwe eyayiphakathi kwamaSirayeli namaMowabhi?
19 Kamva, amaSirayeli namaYuda aba zizizwe ezibini, yaye amaSirayeli aloyisa ilizwe elisebumelwaneni lakwaMowabhi. Ngaxa lithile elakwaMowabhi, elalilawulwa nguKumkani uMesha, lavukela, laza elakwaSirayeli lamanyana nelakwaYuda kwanobukumkani obuselumelwaneni bakwaEdom ukuba liye kulwa nelakwaMowabhi. (2 Kumkani 3:4-27) Okuphawulekayo kukuba, ngowe-1868 eYordan, kwafunyanwa istela (isixwexwe selitye elikroliweyo) ekwakukrolwe kulo ngolwimi lwakwaMowabhi ingxelo yobuqu kaMesha engolu ngquzulwano.
20. Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kusixelela ntoni ngokutshatyalaliswa kwelakwaSirayeli ngama-Asiriya?
20 Kwathi ke, ngonyaka wama-740 B.C.E., uThixo wavumela ukuba ubukumkani bangasentla obunemvukelo bakwaSirayeli butshatyalaliswe ngama-Asiriya. (2 Kumkani 17:6-18) Ethetha ngengxelo yeBhayibhile engesi siganeko, ummbi wezinto zakudala uKathleen Kenyon ugqabaza esithi: “Ubani usenokukrokra ngelithi inxalenye yoku ingumbabazo.” Kodwa ngaba inguwo? Wongezelela esithi: “Ubungqina obungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala bokuwa kobukumkani bakwaSirayeli buphantse ukuba bobucace ngakumbi kunobo bukwingxelo yeBhayibhile. . . . Ukutshayelwa ngokupheleleyo kweedolophu zakwaSirayeli eziseSamariya naseHatsore nokutshatyalaliswa kweMegido okuhambisana noko kububungqina obunezibakala bokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala bokuba umbhali [weBhayibhile] wayengabaxi.”11
21. Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kusinika ziphi iinkcukacha ngokoyiswa nokucinezelwa kwelakwaYuda ngamaBhabhiloni?
21 Ngaxa lithile kamva, iBhayibhile isixelela ukuba iYerusalem eyayilawulwa nguKumkani uYehoyakin yangqingwa ngamaBhabhiloni yaza yoyiswa. Esi siganeko sibhalwe kwiMbali yaseBhabhiloni, ebhalwe kwicwecwe lelitye elikrolwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo, elafunyanwa ngabembi bezinto zakudala. Kweli cwecwe, sifunda oku: “Ukumkani waseAkkad [eBhabhiloni] . . . wasingqinga isixeko sakwaYuda (iahudu) yaye lo kumkani wasoyisa esi sixeko ngomhla wesibini wenyanga enguAddaru.”12 UYehoyakin wathatyathelwa eBhabhiloni waza wavalelwa entolongweni. Kodwa kamva, ngokutsho kweBhayibhile, wakhululwa entolongweni waza wanikwa umxhesho wokutya. (2 Kumkani 24:8-15; 25:27-30) Oku kuyaxhaswa ziincwadi ezingemicimbi yolawulo ezafunyanwa eBhabhiloni ezidwelisa imixhesho yokutya eyanikwa “uYaukîn, ukumkani wakwaYuda.”13
22, 23. Ngokubanzi, luluphi ulwalamano olukhoyo phakathi kokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala neengxelo ezingokwembali zeBhayibhile?
22 Ngokuphathelele ulwalamano olukhoyo phakathi kokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala neengxelo ezingokwembali zeBhayibhile, uNjingalwazi uDavid Noel Freedman wagqabaza esithi: “Phofu ke, ngokubanzi, ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kuye kwatyekela ekuxhaseni ubunyaniso obungokwembali bebali leBhayibhile. Ulwandlalo olubanzi olungokobalo-maxesha olususela koosolusapho ukwehlela kumaxesha e[Testamente Entsha] luyangqinelana nesicangca sexesha esifumaneke ngokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala. . . . Ngokunokwenzeka izinto eziya kufunyanwa kwixa elizayo ziya kukuxhasa ukuma okulungeleleneyo kwale mihla kokuba isithethe esingokweBhayibhile sendele ngokunzulu kwimbali, yaye sidluliselwe ngokunyanisekileyo, nangona singeyiyo imbali ngokwengqiqo yokuchaza zonke iinkcukacha okanye yenzululwazi.”
23 Ngoko, ngokuphathelele imigudu yabahlalutyi abaqatha yokunyelisa iBhayibhile, úthi: “Ekuzameni kwabaphengululi bale mihla ukubhala kwakhona imbali yeBhayibhile—ngokomzekelo, imbono kaWellhausen yokuba ixesha loosolusapho lafana lazenzekela nje kubukumkani obahluleleneyo; okanye ukucekiswa kwembali engoMoses nemfuduko nomphumo wokumiswa ngokutsha kwembali yakwaSirayeli nguNoth nabalandeli bakhe—abakhange bangqinelwe sisicangca sobalo-maxesha olungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kwanalibali leBhayibhile.”14
Ukuwa KweYeriko
24. IBhayibhile isinika yiphi inkcazelo ngokuwa kweYeriko?
24 Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kuvumelana neBhayibhile kuzo zonke iinkalo? Hayi, kukho iindawo ezininzi okungavumelaniyo nayo kuzo. Enye kukoyiswa okumangalisayo kweYeriko okuchazwe ekuqaleni kwesi sahluko. Ngokutsho kweBhayibhile, iYeriko yaba sisixeko sokuqala ukoyiswa nguYoshuwa njengoko wayekhokele amaSirayeli ukungena kwilizwe lakwaKanan. Ubalo-maxesha lweBhayibhile lubonisa ukuba esi sixeko sawa kwisiqingatha sokuqala senkulungwane ye-15 B.C.E. Emva kolo loyiso, iYeriko yatshiswa ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo yaza emva koko yashiywa ingenabemi kangangamakhulukhulu eminyaka.—Yoshuwa 6:1-26; 1 Kumkani 16:34.
25, 26. Ziziphi izigqibo ezibini ezahlukeneyo abaye bafikelela kuzo abembi bezinto zakudala ngenxa yokumbiwa kweYeriko?
25 Ngaphambi kwemfazwe yehlabathi yesibini, isiza ekukholelwa ukuba yayiseseYeriko sembiwa nguNjingalwazi uJohn Garstang. Wafumanisa ukuba eso sixeko sasisidala kakhulu yaye sasitshatyalalisiwe saza sabuye sakhiwa izihlandlo ezininzi. Lo kaGarstang wafumanisa ukuba ngethuba lesinye isihlandlo sokutshatyalaliswa kwaso, iindonga zawa ngokungathi zazidilizwe yinyikima yomhlaba, yaye isixeko sasitshiswe ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo. Lo kaGarstang wayekholelwa kwelokuba oku kwenzeka malunga nowama-1400 B.C.E., xesha elo elingekude kakhulu kwelo lalathwa yiBhayibhile njengelokutshatyalaliswa kweYeriko nguYoshuwa.15
26 Emva kwemfazwe, omnye ummbi wezinto zakudala olibhinqa, uKathleen Kenyon, wemba ngokubhekele phaya eYeriko. Wafikelela kwisigqibo sokuba iindonga eziwileyo ezazichazwe ngokaGarstang zazindala kangangamakhulukhulu eminyaka kunokuba wayecinga. Wakuchaza ukutshatyalaliswa okupheleleyo kweYeriko njengoko kwenzeka ngenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E. kodwa wathi kwakungekho sixeko kwindawo eyayimi kuyo iYeriko ngethuba lenkulungwane ye-15—thuba elo ethi iBhayibhile uYoshuwa wayehlasela ngalo elo lizwe. Uhlabela mgama enikela ingxelo ngezinto ezalatha ukuba kusenokwenzeka ukuba kukho enye intshabalaliso eyenzekayo kweso sixeko ngowe-1325 B.C.E. yaye ucebisa ngelithi: “Ukuba ukutshatyalaliswa kweYeriko kuza kunxulunyaniswa nokuhlasela okwakukhokelwa nguYoshuwa, ngulo mhla [wamva] ezibhekisele kuwo izinto ezafunyanwayo ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala.”16
27. Kutheni le nto ukungangqinelani phakathi kokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala neBhayibhile kungamele kusiphazamise ngokungafanelekanga?
27 Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba iBhayibhile iphosisile? Nakanye. Simele sikhumbule ukuba ngoxa ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kusikrobisa kwixa elidluleyo, oku sikubonayo akusoloko kucacile. Maxa wambi kuba mfiliba ngokugqithiseleyo. Kunjengokuba omnye umgqabazi waphawulayo: “Ngelishwa, ubungqina obungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala abuphelelanga, yaye ngenxa yoko bubobulinganiselweyo.”17 Oko kuyinyaniso ingakumbi ngokuphathelele kumathuba angaphambili embali yamaSirayeli, leyo ubungqina obungokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala bungayichazi ngokucacileyo. Ngokwenene, ubungqina buba bobungacacanga ngokude kwangakumbi eYeriko, ekubeni eso siza saye sakhukuliseka kakubi.
Ukusikelwa Umda Kokumbiwa Kwezinto Zakudala
28, 29. Ziziphi ezinye izinto ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala okusikelwe umda kuzo eziye zavunywa ngabaphengululi?
28 Abembi bezinto zakudala ngokwabo bayavuma ukuba inzululwazi yabo isikelwe umda. Ngokomzekelo, uYohanan Aharoni uyachaza: “Xa kufikelelwa kutoliko olungokwembali okanye olungokwembali ngokunxulumene nokuma komhlaba, ummbi wezinto zakudala akazichazi ngokuchane ngqo iziganeko ezingokwenzululwazi, yaye kufuneka axhomekeke ekuphicotheni izinto azivumbululeyo nakwingqikelelo ukuze afikelele kwinkcazelo epheleleyo engokwembali.”18 Ngokuphathelele imihla ekuthiwa zafunyanwa ngayo izinto ezahlukahlukeneyo, wongezelela esithi: “Ngenxa yoko simele sisoloko sikhumbula ukuba asiyiyo yonke imihla eqiniseke ncam yaye ukusa kwimilinganiselo eyahlukeneyo eminye ayinakuthenjwa,” nangona enoluvo lokuba abembi bezinto zakudala bale mihla banokuqiniseka ngakumbi xa besithi into ethile yenzeka ngonyaka othile kunokuba kwakunjalo kwixa elidluleyo.19
29 IThe World of the Old Testament ibuza lo mbuzo: “Iphangalele okanye ichane kangakanani ngokwenzululwazi le ndlela yokusebenzisa ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala?” Iyaphendula: “Abembi bezinto zakudala banengqondo evuleke ngakumbi xa bevumbulula emhlabeni izibakala kunaxa bezitolika. Kodwa iimbono abebesoloko benazo ziya kuzichaphazela neendlela abazisebenzisayo ‘kwanasekumbeni.’ Abanakukuphepha ukubutshabalalisa ubungqina ababufunayo njengokuba besimba besehla nzulu emhlabeni, ngoko abanakuze babuye balivavanye ‘ilinge’ labo ngokuliphinda. Oku kwenza ukuba inzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ibe yekhethekileyo phakathi kwezinye iinzululwazi. Ngaphezu koko, kwenza ukuba ukunikela ingxelo yezinto ezifunyenweyo ekumbiweni kwezinto zakudala kube ngowona msebenzi uqobayo noneempazamo eziliqela.”20
30. Abafundi beBhayibhile bakujonga njani ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala?
30 Ngoko ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kunokuba luncedo kakhulu, kodwa njengalo naliphi na ilinge lomntu, kuneempazamo zako. Ngoxa siziqwalasela ngomdla iingcamango ezingokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala, asimele sizijonge njengenyaniso engenakuphikiswa. Ukuba abembi bezinto zakudala batolika oko bakufumeneyo ngendlela ephikisana neBhayibhile, akumele kuthi ngokuzenzekelayo kucingwe ukuba iBhayibhile iphosisile bona abo bembi bezinto zakudala bachanile. Utoliko lwabo luye lwaguqulwa ngamathuba athile.
31. Yiyiphi ingcamango entsha eye yaveliswa kutshanje mayela nokuwa kweYeriko?
31 Kubangel’ umdla ukuphawula ukuba ngowe-1981 uNjingalwazi uJohn J. Bimson wabuya wakuhlolisisa ukutshatyalaliswa kweYeriko. Wakuhlolisisa ngenyameko ukutshatyalaliswa kweYeriko ngomlilo okwenzeka—ngokutsho kukaKathleen Kenyon—phakathi kwinkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E. Ngokutsho kwakhe, loo ntshabalaliso ayivisisani nje kuphela nengxelo yeBhayibhile yokutshatyalaliswa kweso sixeko nguYoshuwa kodwa umfanekiso welakwaKanan lilonke ongokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala uyifanela ncam inkcazelo engokweBhayibhile yelakwaKanan ngethuba lihlaselwa ngamaSirayeli. Ngenxa yoko, uthi ixesha elalathwa ngabembi bezinto zakudala alichananga yaye ucebisa ukuba oku kutshatyalaliswa kwenzeka ngokwenene phakathi nenkulungwane ye-15 B.C.E., ngethuba lokudla ubomi kukaYoshuwa.21
IBhayibhile Iyimbali Yokwenene
32. Luluphi utyekelo oluye lwaphawulwa kubaphengululi abathile?
32 Oku kubonisa isibakala sokuba ngokufuthi abembi bezinto zakudala bayahluka bona bebodwa nje. Ngoko, akumangalisi ukuba bambi abavumelani neBhayibhile ngoxa abanye bevumelana nayo. Sekunjalo, bambi abaphengululi bafikelela ekuyihloneleni yonke iBhayibhile njengaleyo ivisisanayo nembali, ukuba ayivisisani nayo ngazo zonke iinkcukacha. UWilliam Foxwell Albright wayevelisa enye inkalo yale ngcamango xa wabhala esithi: “Siye ngokubanzi sabuyela ekukuxabiseni ukuchana kwembali yonqulo lwakwaSirayeli, kokubini xa kujongwa nje ngokubanzi naxa kuqwalaselwa ngokwezibakala ezineenkcukacha. . . . Ngeliqukumbelayo, ngoku sinokubuya siyijonge iBhayibhile ukususela ekuqaleni ukusa ekupheleni njengencwadi enyanisekileyo yembali engokonqulo.”22
33, 34. Zona ngokwazo iZibhalo zesiHebhere zibunikela njani ubungqina bokuba zichanile ngokwembali?
33 Eneneni, kuyo ngokwayo iBhayibhile kukho ubungqina bembali echanileyo. Iziganeko zinxulunyaniswa namaxesha kwanemihla engqalileyo, ngokungafaniyo nezo zenkoliso yeentsomi namabali amandulo. Iziganeko ezininzi ezibhalwe eBhayibhileni zixhaswa yimibhalo ekroliweyo ebalwa ukususela kuloo maxesha. Xa kukho umahluko phakathi kweBhayibhile nomkrolo othile wamandulo, ngokufuthi oku kungangqinelani kunokubalelwa kubalawuli bamandulo ababekucaphukela ukubhala ingxelo yokoyiswa kwabo nomnqweno wabo wokubalaselisa impumelelo yabo.
34 Ngokwenene, ezininzi kwezo ncwadi zikroliweyo zamandulo aziyombali ngaphezu kokuba nje ziyinkcazelo yobumenemene yaseburhulumenteni. Ngokuchasene noko, ababhali beBhayibhile babonakalisa ukunyaniseka okungasoloko kubonakaliswa. Amadoda aziintloko kwisizukulwana soomawokhulu abanjengoMoses noAron atyhilwa nabo bonke ubuthathaka bawo kwanamandla awo. Kwaneentsilelo zokumkani omkhulu uDavide zityhilwe ngokunyanisekileyo. Iintsilelo zohlanga luphela zibhencwe ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Oku kunyaniseka kuyazincomela iZibhalo zesiHebhere njengezinyanisekileyo nezinokuthenjwa yaye oko kuxhasa amazwi kaYesu owathi, xa wayethandaza kuThixo, wenjenje: “Ilizwi lakho liyinyaniso.”—Yohane 17:17.
35. Yintoni eziye zasilela ukuyenza iinkcubabuchopho ezikholose ngengqiqo yazo, yaye abafundi beBhayibhile bakhangele entwenini ukuze bangqine ukuba iBhayibhile iphefumlelwe?
35 Lo ka-Albright wahlabela mgama esithi: “Enoba kuyini na iBhayibhile ibalasele ngaphezu kwalo naluphi na uncwadi lonqulo lwangaphambili ngokomongo; yaye ibalasele ngokuncamisileyo ngakumbi ngaphezu kwalo naluphi na olunye uncwadi lwamva ngesigidimi sayo esingqalileyo nesilula nangokuba neenkcukacha ezibanzi ekutsaleni umdla wabantu bonke kumazwe onke kwanangamaxesha onke.”23 Sesi ‘sigidimi sibalaseleyo,’ kunokuba ibe bubungqina babaphengululi, esingqinela ukuba iBhayibhile iphefumlelwe, njengokuba siya kubona kwizahluko ezilandelayo. Kodwa kule nkalo masiphawule ukuba iinkcubabuchopho zale mihla ezikholose ngengqiqo yazo ziye zasilela ukungqina ukuba iZibhalo zesiHebhere aziyombali yokwenyaniso, ngoxa ezi ncwadi ngokwazo zinikela bonke ubungqina bokuba zichanile. Ngaba kunokutshiwo ngolo hlobo nangeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike, “iTestamente Entsha”? Oku siya kukuqwalasela kwisahluko esilandelayo.
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a “Uhlalutyo oluqatha” (okanye “inkqubo yohlalutyo olungokwembali”) libinzana elisetyenziswa ukuchaza ufundisiso lweBhayibhile ngenjongo yokufumana iinkcukacha ezinjengababhali bayo, umthombo wenkcazelo kwanexesha eyaqulunqwa ngalo incwadi nganye yayo.
b Ngokomzekelo, imbongi eliNgesi uJohn Milton yabhala umbongo wayo omnandi kakhulu oyindumasiso othi “Paradise Lost” ngesimbo esahluke ngokupheleleyo kweso ibhale ngaso umbongo wayo othi “L’Allegro.” Yaye amaphecana ayo angemicimbi yezopolitiko abhalwa ngesinye isimbo esahluke kwaphela kwezo zibini.
c Namhlanje inkoliso yeengqondi ityekele ekukholoseni ngengqiqo yazo. Ngokutsho kwesichazi-magama ukuba ngubani okholose ngengqiqo yakhe kuthetha “ukukholosa ngengqiqo njengesiseko sokumisela inyaniso engokonqulo.” Abo bakholose ngengqiqo yabo bazama ukuchaza yonke into ngokwendlela abantu abanokuyichaza ngayo kunokuzisa engqalelweni isibakala sokuba ibisenokwenziwa nguThixo.
d Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, umfanekiso otyhidiweyo womlawuli wamandulo owafunyanwa kumntla welaseSiriya kwiminyaka yee-1970 wabonisa ukuba kwakungeyonto ingaziwayo ngomlawuli ukuba abizwe ngokuba ungukumkani ngoxa, eneneni, wayenesigxina esinganeno. Lo mfanekiso utyhidiweyo wawungowomlawuli waseGozan yaye wawukrolwe ngesiAsiriya nangesiAram. Umbhalo wesiAsiriya wawuyibiza le ndoda ngokuthi yirhuluneli yaseGozan, kodwa umbhalo ohambisana nalowo ongesiAram wayibiza ngokuthi ngukumkani.9 Ngoko bekungenakuba yinto yokuqala ngqa ngoBheleshatsare ukuba abizwe ngokuba litshawe kwimibhalo yaseburhulumenteni yaseBhabhiloni ngoxa kumbhalo kaDaniyeli wesiAram ebizwa ngokuba ngukumkani.
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 53]
Ngokungafaniyo neembali zehlabathi zamandulo, iBhayibhile izichaza ngokuphandle iintsilelo zabantu ababehlonelekile abanjengoMoses noDavide
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 44]
Ukuxabiseka Kokumbiwa Kwezinto Zakudala
“Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kunikela ithuba lokuhlolisiswa kwezixhobo zokusebenza neengqayi, iindonga nezakhiwo, izixhobo zokulwa nezinto zokuhomba zamandulo. Inkoliso yezi zinto inokucwangciswa ngokolandelelwano lwamaxesha ize ifaniswe ngokuqinisekileyo namabinzana nomongo ofanelekileyo ekuxutyushwa ngawo eBhayibhileni. Ngokwale ngqiqo iBhayibhile iye yayilondoloza ngokuchanileyo kwimo ebhaliweyo imekobume yayo yenkcubeko yamandulo. Iinkcukacha ezikumabali eBhayibhile aziyomveliso engeyonyaniso yentelekelelo yombhali kodwa kunoko ziziimbonakaliso zokwenyaniso zehlabathi ezenzeka kulo iziganeko ezibhaliweyo, ukususela kwezincinane ukusa kwezona zimangalisayo.”—The Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land.
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 50]
Oko Kunokwenziwa Noko Kungenakwenziwa Kukumbiwa Kwezinto Zakudala
“Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala akuze kuyingqinele okanye kuyingqine ibubuxoki iBhayibhile ngamazwi aqinisekileyo, kodwa kuneminye imisebenzi, ebaluleke ngokwenene. Ukusa kumlinganiselo othile kufikelela kwizinto ezazibumbe ihlabathi ekuthethwa ngalo eBhayibhileni. Makhe sithi, ukwazi izinto eyayakhiwe ngazo indlu, okanye indlela owawubonakala ngayo ‘ummandla ophakamileyo,’ kusenza sisiqonde ngakumbi eso sicatshulwa. Okwesibini, kuyayizalisa ingxelo engokwembali. Ngokomzekelo, iLitye lakwaMowabhi linikela elinye icala lebali ekuthethwe ngalo kweyesi-2 yooKumkani 3:4 neendinyana ezilandelayo . . . Okwesithathu, kutyhila ubomi nendlela ababecinga ngayo abamelwane bamaSirayeli amandulo—nto leyo eyeyomdla yona ngokwayo, yaye kukwasikhanyisela ngakumbi ngesiseko seengcamango zikaSirayeli wamandulo.”—Ebla—A Revelation in Archaeology.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 41]
UMilton wabhala ngezimbo ezahlukahlukeneyo, akabhalanga ngesinye nje kuphela. Ngaba abahlalutyi abaqatha bakholelwa ukuba incwadi yakhe iyimveliso yababhali abaliqela abahlukahlukeneyo?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 45]
“Umbongo Oyimbali kaNabhonidus” unikela ingxelo yokuba uNabhonidus wabuphathisa izibulo lakhe ubukumkani
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 46]
ILitye lakwa-Mowabhi linikela ingcaciso kaKumkani uMesha engongquzulwano olwaluphakathi kwamaMowabhi namaSirayeli
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 47]
Iingxelo zaseburhulumenteni zaseBhabhiloni zixhasa ingxelo yeBhayibhile engokuwa kweYerusalem