Isahluko 9
Iziprofeto Ezaba Yinyaniso
Abantu abanakuze bakuxele kwangaphambili oko kuya kwenzeka kwikamva ngako nakuphi na ukuqiniseka. Ngokufuthi imigudu yabo yokuxela kwangaphambili iziganeko isilela ngokulusizi. Ngoko incwadi yeziprofeto ezathi zaba yinyaniso imele itsale ingqalelo yethu. Loo ncwadi yiBhayibhile.
1. (Quka intshayelelo.) Yintoni engqinwa sisibakala sokuba iBhayibhile inengxelo yeziprofeto ezaba yinyaniso?
IZIPROFETO zeBhayibhile ezininzi ziye zaba yinyaniso ngokweenkcukacha kangangokuba abahlalutyi bathi zabhalwa emva kokuba sele zizalisekile. Kodwa oko akuyonyaniso. UThixo, ekubeni engusomandla, unako ngokupheleleyo ukuprofeta. (Isaya 41:21-26; 42:8, 9; 46:8-10) Iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ezaba yinyaniso zibubungqina bokuphefumlelwa kwayo nguThixo, kungebubo ubungqina bokuba zabhalwa emva kokuzaliseka kwazo. Ngoku siza kukhe sihlolisise ezinye zeziprofeto ezibalaseleyo ezaba yinyaniso—nto leyo enikela ubungqina obongezelelekileyo bokuba iBhayibhile ililizwi likaThixo, kungelilo nje elomntu.
Ukuthinjelwa EBhabhiloni
2, 3. Yintoni eyakhokelela uKumkani uHezekiya ukuba abonise bonke ubuncwane bendlu yakhe nobobukumkani bakhe kubathunywa ababevela eBhabhiloni?
2 UHezekiya wayengukumkani eYerusalem kangangama-30 eminyaka. Ngowama-740 B.C.E. wazibonela ngamehlo xa ama-Asiriya ayetshabalalisa uSirayeli owayeselumelwaneni kummandla ongasentla. Ngowama-732 B.C.E. wawabona amandla kaThixo okusindisa, xa lasilelayo ilinge lama-Asiriya lokuthimba iYerusalem, nto leyo eyaba nemiphumo eyintlekele kwabo bahlaseli.—Isaya 37:33-38.
3 Ngoku, uHezekiya wamkela igqiza labathunywa abavela kuMerodaki-bhaladan, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni. Xa izinto zikhiwa nje phezulu, aba bathunywa bazele ukuza kuvuyisana noHezekiya ngokuchacha kwakhe kwisifo sakhe esibi. Kambe ke, kunokwenzeka ukuba uMerodaki-bhaladan umjonga uHezekiya njengalowo usenokuba ngumncedisi wakhe ekulweni negunya lehlabathi laseAsiriya. UHezekiya akenzi nto ukubhebhetha ingcamango enjalo xa ebonisa la maBhabhiloni atyeleleyo bonke ubuncwane bendlu yakhe nobobukumkani bakhe. Mhlawumbi, naye ukwafuna abancedisi ekulweni nama-Asiriya asenokuphinda abuye.—Isaya 39:1, 2.
4. Nguwuphi umphumo oyintlekele wempazamo kaHezekiya awaprofeta ngawo uIsaya?
4 UIsaya ungumprofeti obalaseleyo welo xesha, yaye ngokukhawuleza uyabuqonda ubutyhakala bukaHezekiya. Uyazi ukuba ekuphela komntu onokumkhusela ngokuqinisekileyo uHezekiya nguYehova, kungeyiyo iBhabhiloni, aze amxelele ukuba isenzo sakhe sokubonisa amaBhabhiloni ubuncwane bakhe siya kukhokelela kwintlekele. UIsaya uthi: “Kuza imihla, eya kuthi yonke into esendlwini yakho, nento abayiqwebayo ooyihlo, kwada kwayile mini, ithwalelwe eBhabheli.” UYehova wavakalisa esithi: “Kungasali nto.”—Isaya 39:5, 6.
5, 6. (a) Wathini uYeremiya ngelingqinela isiprofeto sikaIsaya? (b) Sazaliseka ngayiphi indlela isiprofeto sikaIsaya noYeremiya?
5 Emva phayaa ngenkulungwane yesibhozo Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, kwakusenokubonakala kuyinto engenakwenzeka ngeso siprofeto ukuba sizaliseke. Phofu ke, kwikhulu leminyaka kamva, imeko yaguquka. ElaseBhabhiloni lalithabathela indawo elaseAsiriya njengegunya eligqugqisayo lehlabathi, ngoxa elakwaYuda lazithoba isidima ngokugqithiseleyo, xa sithetha ngokonqulo, kangangokuba uThixo wayirhoxisa intsikelelo yakhe. Ngoku, omnye umprofeti, uYeremiya, waphefumlelwa ukuba abuye avakalise isilumkiso sikaIsaya. UYeremiya wavakalisa esithi: ‘Ndiya kuthumela amaBhabhiloni phezu kweli lizwe, naphezu kwabemi balo. Eli lizwe lonke liya kubharha, libe senkangala; ezi ntlanga zimkhonze ukumkani waseBhabheli iminyaka emashumi asixhenxe.’—Yeremiya 25:9, 11.
6 Malunga neminyaka emine emva kokuba uYeremiya evakalise eso siprofeto, amaBhabhiloni alenza elakwaYuda layinxalenye yobukhosi bawo. Kwiminyaka emithathu kamva, athabatha abathinjwa abathile abangamaYuda, kuquka nobuncwane obuthile betempile yaseYerusalem, abusa eBhabhiloni. Kwiminyaka esibhozo kamva, elakwaYuda lavukela yaye lahlaselwa kwakhona ngukumkani waseBhabhiloni, uNebhukadenetsare. Ngeli xesha, isixeko netempile yaso zazitshatyalalisiwe. Bonke ubutyebi baso, namaYuda ngokwawo, bathinjelwa kwiBhabhiloni ekude, kanye njengokuba uIsaya noYeremiya babexele kwangaphambili.—2 Kronike 36:6, 7, 12, 13, 17-21.
7. Inzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ikungqinela njani ukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaIsaya noYeremiya ngokuphathelele iYerusalem?
7 IThe Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land iphawula ukuba emva kokuba idlule intlaselo yamaBhabhiloni, “isixeko [saseYerusalem] sasitshatyalalisiwe ngokupheleleyo.”1 Ummbi wezinto zakudala uW. F. Albright uchaza oku: “Ukumbiwa kwamabhodlo akudala nokuhlolwa kwembonakalo yangaphezulu yelizwe lakwaYuda kuye kwangqinela ukuba iidolophu zelizwe lakwaYuda azizange nje kuphela zitshatyalaliswe ngokupheleleyo ngamaKaledi kwiintlaselo zawo ezimbini, kodwa azizange zibuye zimiwe kangangezizukulwana ngezizukulwana—ngokufuthi azizange zibuye zimiwe kwakhona embalini.”2 Ngaloo ndlela, inzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ingqinela inzaliseko eyothusayo yesi siprofeto.
Ishwangusha LeTire
8, 9. Sisiphi isiprofeto esavakaliswa nguHezekile nxamnye neTire?
8 UHezekile wayengomnye umbhali wamandulo owabhala iziprofeto ezaziphefumlelwe nguThixo. Waprofeta ukususela ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesixhenxe Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukuya kufikelela kweyesithandathu—oko kukuthi, ebudeni beminyaka eyayisandulela ukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem nasebudeni bamashumi okuqala eminyaka yokuthinjelwa kwamaYuda eBhabhiloni. Kwanabahlalutyi bale mihla bayavuma ukuba le ncwadi phants’ ukuba yabhalwa ngeli xesha.
9 UHezekile wabhala isiprofeto esichukumisayo esingokutshatyalaliswa kommelwane wangasentla welakwaSirayeli, iTire, eyayingasenabuhlobo nabantu bakaThixo yaza yaba lutshaba lwabo. (1 Kumkani 5:1-9; INdumiso 83:2-8) Wabhala: “Itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi, Yabona, ndikuchasile, Tire. Ndiya kukunyusela iintlanga ezininzi, njengokuba ulwandle lunyusa amaza alo; ziziqhuqhe iindonga zaseTire, zizigungxule iinqaba zakho ezinde. Ndolutshayela uthuli lwayo kuyo, ndiyenze ibe yingxondorha ebalelelwe lilanga. . . . Bawatshonise emanzini amatye akho, nemithi yakho, nothuli lwakho.”—Hezekile 26:3, 4, 12.
10-12. Isiprofeto sikaHezekile sazaliseka nini ekugqibeleni, yaye njani?
10 Ngaba oku kwenzeka ngokwenene? Kaloku, kwiminyaka embalwa emva kokuba uHezekile evakalise eso siprofeto, uNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, wayingqinga iTire. (Hezekile 29:17, 18) Phofu ke, olo yayingelongqingo lulula. Ngokuyinxenye iTire yayakhiwe kummandla ongaphakathi welizwe (inxalenye ebizwa ngokuba yiTire Endala). Kodwa enye inxalenye yesixeko yayimi kwisiqithi esasikumgama omalunga nama-800 eemitha ukusuka elunxwemeni. UNebhukadenetsare wasingqinga eso siqithi kangangeminyaka eli-13 ngaphambi kokuba ekugqibeleni sinikezele kuye.
11 Phofu ke, kwaba ngonyaka wama-332 B.C.E. esathi isiprofeto sikaHezekile ekugqibeleni sazaliseka ngokweenkcukacha zaso zonke. Ngelo xesha, uAlesandire Omkhulu, umoyisi owayephuma kwelaseMakedoni, wayehlasela elaseAsiya. ITire, eyayinqabisekile kwindawo eyayimi kuyo esiqithini, yamxhathisa ngamandla. UAlesandire wayengafuni kushiya emva kwakhe nabani na owayesenokuba lutshaba lwakhe, kodwa wayengafuni kuchitha minyaka mininzi engqinge iTire, njengokuba wayenjenjalo uNebhukadenetsare.
12 Wayicombulula njani le ngxaki yayijamelene nomkhosi wakhe? Wakha ibhulorho yomhlaba, okanye udonga olungena elwandle, lunqumla ukuya kufika kweso siqithi, ukuze amajoni akhe angqishe enqumla ukuya kuhlasela eso sixeko sisisiqithi. Noko ke, phawula oko wakusebenzisayo ukwakha olo donga lungena elwandle. IThe Encyclopedia Americana inikela le ngxelo: “Esebenzisa iingceba zenxalenye yesixeko esasingaphakathi elizweni, awayesitshabalalisile, wakha ibhulorho enkulu engena elwandle ngowama-332 ukuze adibanise eso siqithi nenxalenye engaphakathi yelizwe.” Emva kongqingo olwalulufutshane ngentelekiso, isixeko esisisiqithi satshatyalaliswa. Ukongezelela, isiprofeto sikaHezekile sazaliseka ngokweenkcukacha zaso zonke. ‘Kwanamatye, imithi nothuli’ lweTire Endala ‘zatshoniswa emanzini.’
13. Umkhenkethi wenkulungwane ye-19 wayichaza njani indawo eyayimi kuyo iTire yamandulo?
13 Umkhenkethi wenkulungwane ye-19 wagqabaza ngoko kwakusele kwiTire yamandulo ngomhla wakhe, esithi: “Akukho nempunde eyasalayo kwiTire yantlandlolo yomhla kaSolomon nabaprofeti bakwaSirayeli, ngaphandle kwamangcwaba ayo axholwe emaweni kumathambeka entaba, naselulwalweni . . . Kwanesiqithi, eso uAlesandire Omkhulu, ekusingqingeni kwakhe isixeko, wasiguqulela ukuba sibe liphondo elingena elwandle ngokuwadiba amanzi aphakathi kwaso nenxalenye engaphakathi yelizwe, asinazintsalela zinokufaniswa zemihla yangaphambi kwaleyo yemihla yeeMfazwe Zomnqamlezo. Idolophu yale mihla, yonke eyakhiwe kutshanje ngentelekiso, imi kwisiqingatha sangasentla soko kwakukhe kwasisiqithi, ngoxa phantse yonke inxalenye eseleyo yomphezulu walo mhlaba igutyungelwe ngamanxuwa angamabhodlo angenakufaniseka kakuhle.”3
Izinto Ziyayiguqukela IBhabhiloni
14, 15. Ziziphi iziprofeto uIsaya noYeremiya abazibhalayo nxamnye neBhabhiloni?
14 Emva phayaa ngenkulungwane yesibhozo Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uIsaya, umprofeti owayelumkise amaYuda ngokoyiswa kwawo yiBhabhiloni okwakuza kuwafikela, wakwaxela kwangaphambili ntw’ ithile ekhwankqisayo: ukucinyw’ igama ngokupheleleyo kweBhabhiloni ngokwayo. Oku wakuxela kwangaphambili ngeenkcukacha ezicace gca: “Yabona, ndibaxhoxhela amaMedi . . . IBhabheli, ikhazikhazi lezikumkani, isihombo sekratshi lamaKaledi, iya kuba njengokubhukuqa kukaThixo iSodom neGomora. Ayi kumiwa naphakade, ayi kuza ihlalwe ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwana.”—Isaya 13:17-20.
15 Umprofeti uYeremiya naye wakuxela kwangaphambili ukuwa kweBhabhiloni, okwakuya kwenzeka kwiminyaka emininzi kamva. Yaye waquka ezi nkcukacha zibangel’ umdla: “Ukubalela makuwafikele amanzi ayo, ukuba atshe. . . . Amagorha aseBhabheli ayekile ukulwa, ahleli ezimboniselweni; ubugorha bawo buthe qoko.”—Yeremiya 50:38; 51:30.
16. Yoyiswa nini iBhabhiloni, isoyiswa ngubani?
16 Ngowama-539 B.C.E., lafikelela esiphelweni ixesha lokulawula kweBhabhiloni njengegunya elitshatsheleyo lehlabathi xa umlawuli ongwanyalala wamaPersi uKoreshi, ephelekwa ngumkhosi wamaMedi, wahlasela eso sixeko. Phofu ke, awakufumanisayo uKoreshi kwakuqhiphul’ umbilini. IBhabhiloni yayirhanqwe ziindonga ezinkulu ezazibonakala zingenakuqhekezwa bani. Kwakhona, umlambo omkhulu umEfrati wawuqukuqela unqumla phakathi esixekweni yaye wawufak’ isandla kakhulu ekukhuseleni eso sixeko.
17, 18. (a) Kwabakho ngayiphi indlela ‘ukubalela phezu kwamanzi [aseBhabhiloni]’? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze ‘amagorha’ aseBhabhiloni ‘ayeke ukulwa’?
17 Umbhali-mbali ongumGrike uHerodotus uchaza indlela uKoreshi awayisingatha ngayo le ngxaki: “Wabeka inxalenye ethile yomkhosi wakhe kwindawo apho umlambo ungena khona esixekweni, waza elinye iqela walibeka ngemva kwindawo apho umlambo uphuma khona esixekweni, ewayalela la maqela ukuba maze angene edolophini ngentsele yomfula, zisuka nje akuba amanzi eqalisile ukuwutha ngokwaneleyo . . . Wawujika umEfrati ngomjelo wamanzi wawukhokelela kwichibi [elalembiwe ngumlawuli wangaphambili waseBhabhiloni], ngelo xesha elalingumgxobhozo, owathi umlambo wakungena kulo amanzi awo afunxeka kangangokuba kwakunokuhambeka kwintsele yomfula. Kwathi kwakuba njalo amaPersi awayeshiyelwe injongo ekhethekileyo eBhabhiloni ngaselunxwemeni lomlambo angena ngentsele yomfula, ngoku owawuwuthe ukusa kumphakamo ofikelela emathangeni endoda, aza ngaloo ndlela angena edolophini.”4
18 Le yindlela esawa ngayo isixeko, kanye njengokuba uYeremiya noIsaya babelumkisile. Kodwa phawula indlela esazaliseka ngayo ngokweenkcukacha isiprofeto. Ngokoqobo kwabakho ‘ukubalela [kwentshabalalo] phezu kwamanzi ayo, yaye atsha.’ Yaba kukuwutha kwamanzi omEfrati okwabangela uKoreshi akwazi ukungena esixekweni. Ngaba ‘amagorha aseBhabhiloni ayeka ukulwa,’ njengokuba uYeremiya wayelumkisile? IBhayibhile—nababhali-mbali bamaGrike uHerodotus noXenophon—inikela ingxelo yokuba eneneni amaBhabhiloni ayenesihikahika sesidlo ngethuba awahlasela ngalo amaPersi.5 IMbali kaNabhonidus, umbhalo waseburhulumenteni okrolwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo, uthi imikhosi kaKoreshi yangena eBhabhiloni “kungakhange kubekho dabi,” nto leyo ngokunokwenzeka ethetha ukuba kungakhange kubekho dabi likhulu lakubambana ngezihlwitha kwamajoni.6 Ngelicacileyo, amagorha aseBhabhiloni akazange enze nto kangako ukuyikhusela.
19. Ngaba sazaliseka isiprofeto sokuba iBhabhiloni ‘yayingasayi kubuya imiwe naphakade’? Cacisa.
19 Kuthekani ngoko kwaxelwa kwangaphambili okukukuba iBhabhiloni ‘yayingasayi kubuya imiwe naphakade’? Oko akuzange kuzaliseke kwangoko ngowama-539 B.C.E. Kodwa ngokungaphazamiyo eso siprofeto saba yinyaniso. Emva kokuwa kwayo, iBhabhiloni yaba sisazulu seemvukelo eziliqela, de kwangowama-478 B.C.E. xa yatshatyalaliswayo nguXerxes. Ekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesine, uAlesandire Omkhulu waceba ukubuye ayakhe, kodwa wafa ungekaqhubeli phambili kuyaphi loo msebenzi. Ukususela ngoko ukusa phambili, eso sixeko sasuka nje sawohloka. Babesekho abantu ababehlala apho kwinkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, kodwa namhlanje ekuphela kwento eseleyo kwiBhabhiloni yamandulo yimfumba yamabhodlo akwelaseIraq. Enoba amanxuwa ayo ebenokubuya akhiwe ngokuyinxenye, iBhabhiloni ibiya kuba yindawo nje yokubonisa abakhenkethi, kungekhona isixeko esiphilileyo nesidlamkileyo. Isiza sayo esibharhileyo sinikela ubungqina kwinzaliseko yokugqibela yeziprofeto eziphefumlelweyo ezavakaliswa nxamnye nayo.
Ukutshintshana Kwamagunya Ehlabathi
20, 21. Sisiphi isiprofeto uDaniyeli awasibonayo esingokutshintshana kwamagunya ehlabathi, yaye esi sazaliseka njani?
20 Kwinkulungwane yesithandathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ebudeni bokuthinjelwa kwamaYuda eBhabhiloni, omnye umprofeti, uDaniyeli, waphefumlelwa ukuba abhale phantsi eminye yemibono emangalisayo eyayixela kwangaphambili ikhondo lexa elizayo leziganeko zehlabathi. Komnye waloo mibono, uDaniyeli uchaza iqela lezilwanyana zokomfuziselo ezishenxisanayo ehlabathini. Isithunywa sezulu siyachaza ukuba ezi zilwanyana zifuzisela kwangaphambili ukutshintshana kwamagunya ehlabathi ukususela kwelo xesha ukusa phambili. Ethetha ngamarhamncwa amabini okugqibela, uthi: “Inkunzi yegusha oyibonileyo ineempondo ezimbini, ngookumkani bamaMedi nabamaPersi; nenkunzi yebhokhwe exhonti ngukumkani wakwaYavan [iGrisi]; uphondo olukhulu oluphakathi kwamehlo ngukumkani wokuqala. Ukwaphuka oku, kume zibe ne esikhundleni salo, kukuthi, kuya kusuka kume izikumkani ezine eluhlangeni, kungabi ngamandla alo ke.”—Daniyeli 8:20-22.
21 Lo mbono ubuprofeti wakwangaphambili wazaliseka ngokuchane ncam. UBukhosi baseBhabhiloni babhukuqwa ngamaMedi namaPersi, bukhosi obo obathi, kuma-200 eminyaka kamva, badedela igunya lehlabathi laseGrisi. UBukhosi baseGrisi babukhokelwa nguAlesandire Omkhulu, “uphondo olukhulu.” Phofu ke, emva kokufa kuka-Alesandire, iinjengele zakhe zalwisana zisukuzanela ukufumana igunya, yaye ekugqibeleni obu bukhosi obabuye bafikelela nakwiindawo ezikude baqhekeka bayimimandla yolawulo emine emincinanana, “izikumkani ezine.”
22. Kwisiprofeto esinxulumene neso sokutshintshana kwamagunya ehlabathi, liliphi igunya lehlabathi elongezelelekileyo ekwaprofetwa ngalo?
22 KuDaniyeli isahluko 7, umbono ophants’ ukuba njalo wakwabonakala kude lee kwikamva. Igunya lehlabathi laseBhabhiloni lafanekiselwa yingonyama, elamaPersi yibhere, yaye elaseGrisi yingwe enamaphiko amane emhlana neneentloko ezine. Emva koko, uDaniyeli ubona elinye irhamncwa, “eloyikekayo, elomeleleyo, elincamisileyo ngamandla . . . lineempondo ezilishumi.” (Daniyeli 7:2-7) Eli rhamncwa lesine lalifanekisela kwangaphambili uBukhosi baseRoma obunamandla, obaqalisa ukubakho malunga neenkulungwane ezintathu emva kokuba uDaniyeli wasibhalayo esi siprofeto.
23. Irhamncwa lesine lesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli ‘lalingafani’ ngayiphi indlela ‘nazo zonke ezinye izikumkani’?
23 Isithunywa sezulu sanikela esi siprofeto ngokuphathelele iRoma: “Irhamncwa lesine ke: kuya kubakho ubukumkani besine ehlabathini, obungafaniyo bona nezikumkani zonke, bulidle ihlabathi lonke, bulinyathele, bulicole.” (Daniyeli 7:23) UH. G. Wells, kwincwadi yakhe ethi A Pocket History of the World, uthi: “Eli gunya litsha lamaRoma elavelayo ukuba longamele ihlabathi lasentshona ngethuba lenkulungwane yesibini neyokuqala Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo laliyinto eyahluke ngeenkalo eziliqela kunabo nabuphi na ubukhosi obukhulu obabukhe bakho kulo lonke ihlabathi eliphucukileyo langaphambi koko.”7 Laqalisa njengeriphabliki laza laqhubeka njengolawulo lookumkani. Ngokungafaniyo nobukhosi bangaphambili, lalingaveliswanga ngumoyisi omnye kodwa lakhula ngamandla ukutyhubela iinkulungwane. Lahlala ithuba elide ngakumbi laza lalawula ummandla omkhulu ngakumbi kunabo nabuphi na ubukhosi bexa langaphambili.
24, 25. (a) Zavela njani iimpondo ezilishumi zerhamncwa? (b) Kukuphi ukusukuzana phakathi kweempondo zerhamncwa awakubona kwangaphambili uDaniyeli?
24 Noko ke, kuthekani ngeempondo ezilishumi zeli rhamncwa likhulu? Isithunywa sezulu sathi: “Iimpondo ezilishumi ke: kuya kusuka kume kobo bukumkani ookumkani abalishumi, kusuke omnye emva kwabo; lowo akayi kufana nabaphambili; uya kuthoba ookumkani abathathu.” (Daniyeli 7:24) Kwazaliseka njani oku?
25 Kaloku, xa uBukhosi baseRoma baqalisa ukuwohloka kwinkulungwane yesihlanu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, abuzange buthatyathelwe indawo kwaoko lelinye igunya lehlabathi. Kunoko, bawohloka baba zizikumkani eziliqela, “ookumkani abalishumi.” Ekugqibeleni, uBukhosi beBritani baboyisa oorhulumente abathathu ababesukuzana nabo, owaseSpeyin, owaseFransi nowaseNetherlands ukuze bube ligunya lehlabathi elikhulu. Kungaloo ndlela olwathi olu ‘phondo’ lusandul’ ukufika lwabathoba ngayo “ookumkani abathathu.”
Iziprofeto ZikaDaniyeli—Ngaba Zabhalwa Emva Kokuba Zazalisekayo?
26. Abahlalutyi bathi incwadi kaDaniyeli yabhalwa nini, yaye ngoba?
26 IBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba incwadi kaDaniyeli yabhalwa ebudeni benkulungwane yesithandathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Phofu ke, ukuzaliseka kweziprofeto zayo kuchane kangangokuba abahlalutyi bathi imele ukuba yabhalwa malunga nowe-165 B.C.E., xa iziprofeto eziliqela zazisele zizalisekile.8 Phezu kwaso nje isibakala sokuba ekuphela kwesizathu sokwenene sokutsho njalo sikukuba iziprofeto zikaDaniyeli zazaliseka, lo nyaka ekuthiwa incwadi kaDaniyeli yabhalwa ngawo unikelwa njengesibakala esimiselweyo kwiincwadi ezininzi zeembekiselo.
27, 28. Ziziphi ezinye zezibakala ezingqinela ukuba uDaniyeli akazange abhalwe ngowe-165 B.C.E.?
27 Noko ke, nxamnye nengcamango enjalo, kufuneka sihlolisise ezi zibakala zilandelayo. Okokuqala, le ncwadi kwabhekiselwa kuyo kwiincwadi zamaYuda ezaveliswa ebudeni benkulungwane yesibini Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, njengencwadi yokuqala yamaMaccabees. Kwakhona, yaqukwa kwinguqulelo yesiGrike eyiSeptuagint, kuguqulelwa kwayo oko okwaqalisa ngenkulungwane yesithathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.9 Okwesithathu, iziqwengana zemibhalo yencwadi kaDaniyeli zaziphakathi kwemibhalo eyayifunyanwa ngokuthe rhoqo kwiMisongo yoLwandle Olufileyo—yaye ezi ziqwengana kukholelwa ukuba zabhalwa malunga nowe-100 B.C.E.10 Ngelicacileyo, kungekudala emva kwelo thuba ekucingelwa ukuba yabhalwa ngalo incwadi kaDaniyeli, yayisele isaziwa ngokubanzi yaye ihlonelwa: nto leyo ebubungqina obunamandla bokuba yaveliswa kude kudala ngaphambi kwelo xesha abathi abahlalutyi yabhalwa ngalo.
28 Ngokubhekele phaya, uDaniyeli uqulethe iinkcukacha ezingokwembali ezazingenakwaziwa ngumbhali wenkulungwane yesibini. Okubalaseleyo ngumbandela othetha ngoBheleshatsare, umlawuli waseBhabhiloni owabulawayo xa iBhabhiloni yawayo ngowama-539 B.C.E. Imithombo eyintloko engeyoyaBhayibhile esinika ulwazi esinalo ngokuwa kweBhabhiloni nguHerodotus (wenkulungwane yesihlanu), nguXenophon (wenkulungwane yesihlanu neyesine) noBerossus (wenkulungwane yesithathu). Akukho namnye kwaba owayesazi ngoBheleshatsare.11 Enjani indlela ekwakungenakwenzeka ngayo ukuba umbhali wenkulungwane yesibini abe wayenokuba nenkcazelo eyayingafumanekanga kwaba babhali bexesha langaphambilana! Ingxelo ekuDaniyeli isahluko 5 ephathelele uBheleshatsare ibubungqina obunamandla bokuba uDaniyeli wayibhala incwadi yakhe ngaphambi kokuba abanye ababhali aba babhale ezabo iincwadi.a
29. Kutheni le nto kungenakwenzeka ukuba incwadi kaDaniyeli yabhalwa emva kokuzaliseka kweziprofeto ezikuyo?
29 Ekugqibeleni, kukho iziprofeto eziliqela ezikuDaniyeli ezazaliseka kwiminyaka emininzi emva kowe-165 B.C.E. Esinye sezi yayisisiprofeto esingoBukhosi baseRoma, obukhankanywe ngaphambilana. Esinye sisiprofeto esiphawulekayo esixela kwangaphambili ngokufika kukaYesu, uMesiya.
Ukufika KoMthanjiswa
30, 31. (a) Sisiphi isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli esaxela kwangaphambili ixesha lokuvela kukaMesiya? (b) Ngokusekelwe kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli, sinokuwubala njani unyaka awayeza kuvela ngawo uMesiya?
30 Esi siprofeto sibhalwe kuDaniyeli isahlulo 9, yaye sifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Bamiselwe iiveki ezimashumi asixhenxe [zeminyaka, okanye amakhulu amane anamashumi asithoba eminyaka] abantu bakowenu, nomzi wakowenu ongcwele.”b (Daniyeli 9:24, The Amplified Bible) Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni ebudeni baloo ma-490 eminyaka? Siyafunda: “Kuthabathela ekuphumeni kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiswe yakhiwe iYerusalem, kuse [ekuzeni] komthanjiswa oyinganga, ziiveki ezisixhenxe [zeminyaka], ziiveki ezimashumi mathandathu anambini [eminyaka].” (Daniyeli 9:25, AB) Ngoko esi siprofeto sithetha ngexesha lokufika ‘komthanjiswa,’ uMesiya. Sazaliseka njani?
31 Umyalelo wokubuyiswa nokwakhiwa kweYerusalem ‘waphuma’ “ngonyaka wamashumi amabini ka-Artashashta ukumkani” wasePersi, oko kukuthi, ngowama-455 B.C.E. (Nehemiya 2:1-9) Ngasekupheleni kwama-49 eminyaka (iiveki ezisi-7 zeminyaka), inkoliso yozuko lwaseYerusalem yayisele ibuyiselwe. Yaye ke ngoko, xa sibala ama-483 azeleyo eminyaka (isi-7 esidibene nama-62 eeveki zeminyaka) ukususela ngowama-455 B.C.E., sifikelela kowama-29 C.E. Eneneni, lowo ‘yayingumnyaka weshumi elinantlanu wokulawula kukaTibheriyo Kesare,’ nyaka lowo awabhaptizwa ngawo uYesu nguYohane uMbhaptizi. (Luka 3:1) Ngelo xesha, uYesu wafaniswa ekuhleni njengoNyana kaThixo waza waqalisa ubulungiseleli bakhe bokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kuhlanga lwamaYuda. (Mateyu 3:13-17; 4:23) Waba ‘ngumthanjiswa,’ okanye uMesiya.
32. Ngokwesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli, ubulungiseleli bukaYesu basemhlabeni babuya kuba bude kangakanani, yaye kwakuya kwenzeka ntoni ekupheleni kwabo?
32 Isiprofeto songezelela sisithi: “Emveni ke kweeveki [zeminyaka] ezimashumi mathandathu anambini uya kunqunyulwa umthanjiswa.” Sikwathi: “Abaninzi yobaqinisela umnqophiso iveki enye [iminyaka esixhenxe]; ngesiqingatha seveki iphelise imibingelelo neminikelo yokudla.” (Daniyeli 9:26, 27, AB) Ngokuvisisana noku, uYesu waya ngokukhethekileyo ‘kwabaninzi,’ amaYuda okwenyama. Ngasihlandlo sithile, wakwashumayela kumaSamariya, awayeyikholelwa inxalenye ethile yeZibhalo kodwa awayebumbe ihlelo elalahlukile kubuYuda ngokubanzi. Kwathi ke, ‘kwisiqingatha seveki,’ emva kweminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha yokushumayela, wabuncama ubomi bakhe njengedini waza ngaloo ndlela ‘wanqunyulwa.’ Oku kwathetha ukupheliswa koMthetho kaMoses owawuhambisana nemibingelelo kunye neminikelo yokudla. (Galati 3:13, 24, 25) Ngenxa yoko, ngokufa kwakhe, uYesu wabangela ‘ukupheliswa kwemibingelelo neminikelo yokudla.’
33. UYehova wayeya kuqhubana ngokukhethekileyo namaYuda ithuba elide kangakanani, yaye sisiphi isiganeko esaphawula ukuphela kweli thuba?
33 Sekunjalo, kangangeminye iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha ibandla lamaKristu elalisandul’ ukuzalwa lanikela ubungqina kuphela kumaYuda yaye, kamva, kumaSamariya awayelamene nawo. Phofu ke, ngowama-36 C.E., ekupheleni kweeveki zeminyaka ezingama-70, umpostile uPetros wakhokelelwa ukuya kushumayela komnye waseziNtlangeni, uKorneli. (IZenzo 10:1-48) Ngoku, ‘umnqophiso nabaninzi’ wawungasapheleliselwanga kumaYuda. Usindiso lwalushunyayelwa nakwiiNtlanga ezingalukileyo.
34. Ngokuvisisana nesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli, kwenzeka ntoni kuSirayeli wokwenyama ngenxa yokuba wacekisa uMesiya?
34 Ngenxa yokuba uhlanga lwakwaYuda lwamcekisayo uYesu lwaza lwenza iyelenqe lokuba abulawe, uYehova akazange alukhusele xa amaRoma eza aza atshabalalisa iYerusalem ngowama-70 C.E. Ngaloo ndlela, amazwi angakumbi kaDaniyeli azaliseka: “Umzi nengcwele uya kutshatyalaliswa ngabantu benganga eya kuza; ukuphela kwayo kuya kuba ngomkhukula. Kude ke kuse ekupheleni, kuya kuba yimfazwe.” (Daniyeli 9:26b) Le, “nganga” yesibini yayinguTitus, injengele engumRoma eyatshabalalisa iYerusalem ngowama-70 C.E.
Isiprofeto Esaphefumlelwayo
35. Ziziphi iziprofeto ezongezelelekileyo ezingoYesu ezaba yinyaniso?
35 Ngale ndlela, isiprofeto sikaDaniyeli seeveki ezingama-70 sazaliseka ngendlela echane ngokumangalisayo. Ngokwenene, iziprofeto ezininzi ezabhalwa kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere zazaliseka ebudeni benkulungwane yokuqala, yaye eziliqela kwezi zazinokuthanani noYesu. Indawo awazalelwa kuyo uYesu, inzondelelo yakhe ngendlu kaThixo, umsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela, ukungcatshwa kwakhe ngenxa yeengqekembe zesilivere ezingama-30, indlela awafa ngayo, isibakala sokuba kwenziwa amaqashiso ngeempahla zakhe—zonke ezi nkcukacha kwakuprofetwe ngazo kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere. Ukuzaliseka kwazo kwakungqinela ngokungenakuthandatyuzwa ukuba uYesu wayenguMesiya, yaye kwakwabonisa ukuba ezo ziprofeto zaziphefumlelwe.—Mika 5:2; Luka 2:1-7; Zekariya 11:12; 12:10; Mateyu 26:15; 27:35; INdumiso 22:18; 34:20; Yohane 19:33-37.
36, 37. Sifunda ntoni kwisibakala sokuba iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ziye zaba yinyaniso, yaye olu lwazi lusinika yiphi intembelo?
36 Eneneni, zonke iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ezazimele zizaliseke ziye zaba yinyaniso. Izinto zenzeka kanye ngendlela iBhayibhile eyayithe zaziya kwenzeka ngayo. Obu bubungqina obunamandla bokuba iBhayibhile iliLizwi likaThixo. Kumele ukuba bekukho ubulumko obungaphezu kobabantu obabubangele ukuvakaliswa kwezo ziprofeto ukuze zibe zaziya kuchana ngolo hlobo.
37 Kodwa kukho ezinye izinto ezixelwe kwangaphambili eBhayibhileni ezingazange zizaliseke kuloo maxesha. Kwakutheni? Kungenxa yokuba zazimele zizaliseke kumhla wethu, kwanakwikamva lethu. Ukuthembeka kwezo ziprofeto zamandulo kusenza sibe nentembelo yokuba nezinye izinto ezi zixelwe kwangaphambili ziya kwenzeka ngokungenakusilela. Njengoko siya kubona kwisahluko esilandelayo, ngokwenene oku kunjalo.
[Imibhalo esemazantsi]
a Bona Isahluko 4 esithi, “Inokukholeleka Kangakanani ‘ITestamente Endala’?” isiqendu 16 nese-17.
b Kule nguqulelo, amazwi akwizibiyeli aye ongezelelwa ngumguquleli ukuze acacise intsingiselo.
[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 133]
Zonke iziprofeto ezazimele zizaliseke zaba yinyaniso. Izinto zenzeka ngendlela kanye iBhayibhile eyayithe zaziya kwenzeka ngayo
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 118]
Abembi bezinto zakudala bafumanise ukuba uNebhu-kadenetsare wayitshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo iYerusalem
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 121]
Umfanekiso weTire yale mihla. Phants’ ukuba akusalanga nempunde kwiTire yomhla wabaprofeti bakwaSirayeli
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 123]
Abakhenkethi abatyelela indawo eyayimi kuyo iBhabhiloni yamandulo bangamangqina okuzaliseka kweziprofeto ezazinxamnye neso sixeko
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 126]
Iziprofeto zikaDaniyeli zokutshi-ntshana kwamagunya ehlabathi zazaliseka ngokuchane kanga-ngokuba abahlalutyi bale mihla bacinga ukuba zabhalwa emva kokuba zazalisekayo
IBHABHILONI
IPERSI
IGRISI
IROMA
IBRITANI
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 130]
UDaniyeli waprofeta ngexesha elichane ncam awayeya kuvela ngalo uMesiya kwaSirayeli