Incwadi YeBhayibhile 11—1 Kumkani

Umbhali: NguYeremiya

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: EYerusalem nakwaYuda

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Ngowama-580 B.C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Malunga nowe-1040–911 B.C.E.

1. (a) Ukuphumelela okuqaqambileyo kwamaSirayeli konakaliswa njani? (b) Sekunjalo kutheni le nto eyokuQala yooKumkani inokuchazwa ‘njengephefumlelweyo neyingenelo’?

ULOYISO lukaDavide lwaye lwabandisa ubukhosi bakwaSirayeli bafikelela kwimida emiselwe nguThixo, ukususela kumlambo umEfrati emntla kuse kumlambo waseYiputa emzantsi. (2 Sam. 8:3; 1 Kum. 4:21) Ngexesha lokufa kukaDavide kwaye unyana wakhe uSolomon elawula esikhundleni sakhe, “amaYuda namaSirayeli ebemaninzi, enjengentlabathi engaselwandle ukuba maninzi, esidla, esela, evuya.” (1 Kum. 4:20) USolomon walawula ngobulumko obukhulu, ubulumko obabubodlula lee obo bamaGrike amandulo. Wakhela uYehova itempile entle. Noko ke, noSolomon wanqula oothixo bobuxoki. Ekufeni kwakhe ubukumkani bahlulwa kubini, kwaye ungcelele lookumkani abangendawo bobukumkani obabusukuzana bakwaSirayeli nobakwaYuda babangela umonakalo omkhulu, bezisa ukubandezeleka ebantwini, kanye njengokuba uSamuweli wayekuxelile kwangaphambili oko. (1 Sam. 8:10-18) Kookumkani abali-14 abalawula kwaYuda nakwaSirayeli emva kokufa kukaSolomon nanjengoko oko kuye kwachazwa kwincwadi yokuQala yooKumkani, babini kuphela abaphumelelayo ekwenzeni okulungileyo emehlweni kaYehova. Ngoko, ngaba le ngxelo ‘iphefumlelwe kwaye iyingenelo’? Ngokuqinisekileyo injalo, njengoko siza kubona ngokusuka kwizilumkiso zayo, kwiziprofeto nemifuziselo yayo nokuhlobana kwayo nomxholo oyintloko waso “sonke iSibhalo” obuBukumkani.

2. Kwenzeka njani ukuba ingxelo yeyokuQala neyesiBini yooKumkani ibe yimisongo emibini, ibe yabhalwa njani?

² Ekuqaleni incwadi yooKumkani yayingumsongo, okanye umqulu omnye, kwaye ngesiHebhere yayibizwa ngokuthi Mela·khimʹ (ooKumkani). Abaguquleli beSeptuagint bayibiza ngokuthi Ba·si·leiʹon, “iZikumkani,” kwaye baba ngabokuqala ukuyahlulahlula ibe yimisongo emibini ukuze isebenziseke lula. Kamva yabizwa ngokuba yeyesiThathu neyesiNe yooKumkani, njengoko isaqhubeka ibizwa njalo unanamhla kwiiBhayibhile zamaKatolika. Phofu ke, ngoku yaziwa ngokuqhelekileyo ngokuba yeyokuQala neyesiBini yooKumkani. Yahlukile kweyokuQala neyesiBini kaSamuweli ekuchazeni iingxelo zexesha elidlulileyo njengomthombo afumene kuwo inkcazelo umbhali wayo. Kuzo zombini ezi ncwadi, umbhali wazo ubhekisela ‘kwincwadi yemicimbi yemihla yookumkani bamaYuda’ izihlandlo ezili-15, ‘kwincwadi yemicimbi yemihla yookumkani bakwaSirayeli’ izihlandlo ezili-18 ‘kwanakwincwadi yemicimbi kaSolomon.’ (1 Kum. 15:7; 14:19; 11:41) Nangona ezinye zezi ngxelo zamandulo ziye zalahleka ngokupheleleyo, imibhalo ephefumlelweyo isele—ingxelo eyingenelo yeyokuQala neyesiBini yooKumkani.

3. (a) Ngubani ngokungathandabuzekiyo owabhala iincwadi zooKumkani, kwaye kutheni uphendula njalo nje? (b) Kwagqitywa nini ukubhalwa kwazo, ibe liliphi ixesha eligutyungelwa yeyokuQala yooKumkani?

³ Ngubani owabhala iincwadi zooKumkani? Ukugxininisa kwazo kumsebenzi wabaprofeti, ngokukodwa uEliya noElisha, kubonisa ukuba ngumprofeti kaYehova. Ukufana kolwimi, indlela ezibhalwe ngayo nesimbo sokubhala kubonisa ukuba zabhalwa kwangumbhali owabhala incwadi kaYeremiya. Amagama namabinzana amaninzi esiHebhere abonakala kuphela kweyooKumkani nakwekaYeremiya, kungekhona kwenye incwadi yeBhayibhile. Phofu ke, ukuba uYeremiya wabhala iincwadi zooKumkani, kutheni engakhankanywanga nje kuzo? Kwakungeyomfuneko oko, kuba umsebenzi wakhe wawusele ugutyungelwe kwincwadi enegama lakhe. Ngaphezu koko, iincwadi zooKumkani zabhalelwa ukuze kuzukiswe uYehova nonqulo Lwakhe, kungekhona ukongezelela kudumo lukaYeremiya. Eneneni, ubukhulu becala iincwadi zooKumkani nekaYeremiya ziyaphelelisana, nganye iphelelisa oko kushiyiweyo kwenye. Ukongezelela, kukho iingxelo ezifanayo, ngokomzekelo, eyesi-2 yooKumkani 24:18–25:30 noYeremiya 39:1-10; 40:7–41:10; 52:1-34. Ingxelo yamaYuda iyaqinisekisa ukuba uYeremiya wayengumbhali weyokuQala neyesiBini yooKumkani. Alithandabuzeki elokuba waqalisa ukuzibhala zombini ezi ncwadi eYerusalem, kwaye kuyabonakala ukuba incwadi yesibini yagqitywa eYiputa malunga nowama-580 B.C.E., ekubeni ekupheleni kwengxelo yakhe ebhekisela kwiziganeko ezenzeka ngaloo nyaka. (2 Kum. 25:27) EyokuQala yooKumkani iqalisa imbali yamaSirayeli ukususela ekupheleni kweyesiBini kaSamuweli ize iqhubeke nayo kuse kowama-911 B.C.E., ngexesha lokufa kukaYehoshafati.—1 Kum. 22:50.

4. Imbali yehlabathi nenzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala ziyingqinela njani eyokuQala yooKumkani?

⁴ EyokuQala yooKumkani ifanelekile kwimfundiso yeZibhalo eziNgcwele, njengoko isamkelwa ngabo bonke ababhali. Ngaphezu koko, iziganeko ezikweyokuQala yooKumkani ziyangqinelwa yimbali yehlabathi yaseYiputa neyaseAsiriya. Nenzululwazi yokumbiwa kwezinto zakudala iyawaxhasa amazwi amaninzi akule ncwadi. Ngokomzekelo, kweyoku-1 yooKumkani 7:45, 46 sifunda ukuba uHuram wenzela itempile kaSolomon iimpahla zobhedu “emmandleni weYordan, . . . phakathi kweSukoti neTsaretan.” Ukungqinisisa oko, xa bebesimba kwindawo eyayimi kuyo iSukoti yamandulo abembi bezinto zakudala baye bavumbulula izinto zokunyibilikisa ezazikho apho.a Ukongezelela, umfanekiso oseludongeni lwetempile eKarnak (iTebhetse yamandulo) obonisa ukuhlasela kokumkani waseYiputa, uSheshonki (uShishaki) elakwaYuda, kubhekiselwe kuwo kweyoku-1 yooKumkani 14:25, 26.b

5. Bubuphi ubungqina obuphefumlelweyo obungqinela ubunyaniso beyokuQala yooKumkani?

⁵ Iimbekiselo ezenziwa ngabanye ababhali beBhayibhile nokuzaliseka kweziprofeto kuxhasa ubunyaniso beyokuQala yooKumkani. UYesu wathetha ngeziganeko ezimayela noEliya nomhlolokazi waseTsarfati njengezenzeka ngokwenene embalini. (Luka 4:24-26) Ethetha ngoYohane uMbhaptizi, uYesu wathi: “Yena nguEliya, lo bekuthiwa uza kufika.” (Mat. 11:13, 14) Apha uYesu wayebhekisela kwisiprofeto sikaMalaki, naye owathetha oku ngomhla wexesha elizayo: “Yabonani, ndiya kuthumela kuni uEliya umprofeti, ingekafiki imini enkulu eyoyikekayo kaYehova.” (Mal. 4:5) UYesu wakuxhasa ngokubhekele phaya ukuba yinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele kweyokuQala yooKumkani ngokubhekisela koko kubhaliweyo kuloo ncwadi mayela noSolomon nokumkanikazi wasezantsi.—Mat. 6:29; 12:42; thelekisa eyoku-1 yooKumkani 10:1-9.

OKUQULETHWE YEYOKUQALA YOOKUMKANI

6. USolomon uba setroneni phantsi kwaziphi iimeko, kwaye umiselwa njani ngokuqinileyo ebukumkanini?

⁶ USolomon uba ngukumkani (1:1–2:46). Ingxelo yeyokuQala yooKumkani ivula ngoDavide sele eza kufa njengoko esondela ekupheleni kolawulo lwakhe lweminyaka engama-40. Encediswa nguYowabhi umthetheli-mkhosi noAbhiyatare umbingeleli, unyana wakhe uAdoniya wenza iyelenqe lokubuthabathela ezandleni zakhe ubukhosi. Umprofeti uNatan wazisa uDavide ngako oku kwaye ngokungangqalanga umkhumbuza ukuba sele etyumbe uSolomon ukuba abe ngukumkani ekufeni kwakhe. Ngoko ke uDavide uyalela uTsadoki umbingeleli ukuba athambise uSolomon njengokumkani, nakubeni abenzi beyelenqe bebhiyozela uAdoniya njengoya kungena ezihlangwini zakhe. Ngoku uDavide uyalela uSolomon ukuba omelele kwaye azingqine eyindoda nokuba ahambe ngeendlela zikaYehova uThixo wakhe, kwaye emva koko uDavide uyafa aze angcwatyelwe “eMzini kaDavide.” (2:10) Ekuhambeni kwexesha uSolomon ugxotha uAbhiyatare aze ababulale abaphembeleli benkathazo uAdoniya noYowabhi. Kamva, kubulawa uShimehi njengoko engabonisi ntlonelo ngelungiselelo lenceba elalenzelwe ukusindisa ubomi bakhe. Ngoku ubukumkani bumiselwe ngokuqinileyo ezandleni zikaSolomon.

7. Nguwuphi umthandazo kaSolomon awuphendulayo uYehova, kwaye uba yintoni umphumo kumaSirayeli?

⁷ Ulawulo lobulumko lukaSolomon (3:1–4:34). USolomon wenza isivumelwano somtshato neYiputa ngokutshata intombi kaFaro. Uthandazela ukuba uYehova amnike intliziyo ethobekileyo ukuze abagwebe ngokuqonda abantu bakaYehova. Ngenxa yokuba engaceli ubomi obude okanye ubutyebi, uYehova umthembisa ngokumnika intliziyo elumkileyo nenokuqonda kwanobutyebi nozuko. Kwasekuqaleni kolawulo lwakhe, uSolomon ubonisa ubulumko bakhe xa kuvela phambi kwakhe abafazi ababini bebangisana ngomntwana omnye. USolomon uyalela amadoda akhe ukuba ‘amcande kubini lo mntwana uhleliyo’ aze umfazi ngamnye anikwe isiqingatha sakhe. (3:25) Xa kulungelwe ukwenziwa oku unina wokwenene womntwana ubongoza ukuba ubomi bomntwana busindiswe, esithi makasel’ enikwa lo mfazi wesibini. Ngaloo ndlela uSolomon uthi aqonde ukuba nguwuphi na unina wokwenene, aze afumane umntwana wakhe. Ngenxa yobulumko uSolomon abunikwe nguThixo, onke amaSirayeli ayanda kwaye onwabile kwaye anqabisekile. Abantu abavela kumazwe amaninzi bayeza ukuza kuphulaphula iintetho zakhe zobulumko.

8. (a) USolomon uyakha njani itempile? Chaza ezinye zeenkalo zayo. (b) Luluphi ucwangciso lokwakha olungakumbi aluphumezayo?

⁸ Itempile kaSolomon (5:1–10:29). USolomon ukhumbula amazwi uYehova awawathetha kuyise, uDavide esithi: “Unyana wakho, endiya kumbeka esikhundleni sakho etroneni yakho, nguye oya kulakhela indlu igama lam.” (5:5) Ngoko ke uSolomon wenza amalungiselelo oku. UHiram ukumkani waseTire uncedisa ngokuthumela imithi yemisedare nemisipres evela eLebhanon nangokulungiselela abasebenzi abanobuchule. Aba, kunye nabasebenzi bakaSolomon, baqalisa ukusebenza endlwini kaYehova ngomnyaka wesine wokulawula kukaSolomon, ngonyaka wama-480 emva kokuba amaSirayeli ayishiyayo iYiputa. (6:1) Esakhiweni akusetyenziswa zando, mazembe okanye naziphi na izixhobo zesinyithi, njengoko onke amatye sele egqityiwe ukulungiswa kwindawo ambiwa kuyo ngaphambi kokuba eziswe kwisiza setempile ukuze ahlanganiswe. Wonke umphakathi wetempile, owakhiwe kuqala ngemisedare ezindongeni, waza ke wanomgangatho wemisipres, walekwe kakuhle ngegolide. Kwenziwe imifuziselo emibini yeekerubhi ngeminquma yasendle, ngamnye unomphakamo oziikubhite ezilishumi (iimitha ezisisi-4,5) neekubhite ezilishumi ukusuka kwincam yephiko ukusa kwenye incam yephiko, kwaye le mifuziselo ibekwa kwelona gumbi lingaphakathi. Ezinye iikerubhi, kunye namasundu neentyatyambo, zikrolwa kwiindonga zetempile. Ekugqibeleni, emva kweminyaka yomsebenzi engaphezu kwesixhenxe, itempile entle igqityiwe. USolomon uyaqhubeka nocwangciso lwakhe lokwakha: uzakhela indlu, Indlu Yehlathi laseLebhanon, Ivaranda Yeentsika, Ivaranda Yetrone nendlu yentombi kaFaro. Kwakhona wenza iintsika ezimbini ezinkulu zobhedu zevaranda yendlu kaYehova, ulwandle olutyhidiweyo lwentendelezo neenqwelana zobhedu, kunye nezitya zokuhlambela zobhedu nempahla yegolide.c

9. Yintoni eboniswa nguYehova kwaye nguwuphi umthandazo owenziwa nguSolomon ophawula ukuziswa kwetyeya yomnqophiso?

⁹ Ngoku kufika ixesha lokuba ababingeleli bazise ityeya yomnqophiso kaYehova baze bayibeke kwelona gumbi lingaphakathi, eYona Ngcwele, phantsi kwamaphiko eekerubhi. Njengoko ababingeleli bephuma, ‘ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova buzalisa indlu kaYehova,’ kangangokuba ababingeleli abasakwazi ukuma baze balungiselele. (8:11) USolomon uyalisikelela ibandla lamaSirayeli, kwaye ungcwalisa aze adumise uYehova. Egobile kwaye izandla zakhe ezolulele ezulwini, ngomthandazo uyavuma ukuba amazulu awo amazulu akamlingene uYehova, kungasathethwa ke ngale ndlu yasemhlabeni ayakhileyo. Uthandazela ukuba uYehova abaphulaphule bonke abo bamoyikayo njengoko bethandazela le ndlu, ewe, kwanomphambukeli ovela kwilizwe elikude, “ukuze zonke izizwe zomhlaba zilazi igama lakho, zikoyike njengabantu bakho amaSirayeli.”—8:43.

10. Liliphi idinga nesilumkiso esingokwesiprofeto awuphendula ngaso uYehova umthandazo kaSolomon?

¹⁰ Ebudeni bomsitho weentsuku ezili-14 othi ulandele, uSolomon ubingelela ngeenkomo ezingama-22 000 neegusha ezil-120 000. UYehova uxelela uSolomon ukuba uwuvile umthandazo wakhe nokuba uyingcwalisile itempile ngokulibeka kuyo ‘igama Lakhe kude kuse ephakadeni.’ Ngoku, ukuba uSolomon uza kuhamba ngokuthe tye phambi kukaYehova, itrone yobukumkani bakhe iya kuhlala ikho. Phofu ke, ukuba uSolomon noonyana bakhe emva kwakhe bayalushiya unqulo lukaYehova baze banqule abanye oothixo, ngoko, uYehova uthi, “Ndowanqamla amaSirayeli emhlabeni endiwanikileyo; nale ndlu, ndiyingcwalisele igama lam, ndoyilahla ebusweni bam, amaSirayeli abe ngumzekeliso nento yentsini ezizweni zonke. Nale ndlu iya kuba yimfumba yamabhodlo.”—9:3, 7, 8, NW.

11. Buba bukhulu kangakanani ubutyebi nobulumko bukaSolomon?

¹¹ Kuye kwamthabatha iminyaka engama-20 uSolomon ukugqiba ezi zindlu zombini, indlu kaYehova nendlu kakumkani. Ngoku wakha izixeko ezininzi kubo bonke ubukhosi bakhe, kwaneenqanawa zokusetyenziselwa ukurhweba namazwe akude. Ngoko ke ukumkanikazi waseShebha uthi eve ngobulumko obukhulu uYehova abunike uSolomon, kwaye uyeza ukuza kumlinga ngemibuzo edidayo. Emva kokuphulaphula kuye nokubona impumelelo nolonwabo lwabantu bakhe, udanduluka athi: “Bendingaxelelwanga nesiqingatha esi.” (10:7) Njengoko uYehova eqhubeka ebonisa ukuwathanda amaSirayeli, uSolomon uba ‘mkhulu ngaphezu kookumkani bonke behlabathi, ngobutyebi nangobulumko.’—10:23.

12. (a) Yintoni uSolomon asilelayo kuyo, kwaye yiyiphi imiphumo yemvukelo eqalisa ukubonakala? (b) Yintoni eprofetwa nguAhiya?

¹² Ukungathembeki nokufa kukaSolomon (11:1-43). Ngokuchasene nomyalelo kaYehova, uSolomon uzithabathela abafazi abaninzi kwezinye iintlanga—abafazi abangama-700 namashweshwe angama-300. (Dut. 17:17) Intliziyo yakhe ityekiselwa ekukhonzeni abanye oothixo. UYehova umxelela ukuba ubukumkani buya kuhluthwa kuye, kungekhona ngomhla wakhe, kodwa ngomhla wonyana wakhe. Sekunjalo, inxalenye yobukumkani, isizwe esinye ukongezelela kwesikaYuda, iya kulawulwa ngoonyana bakaSolomon. UThixo uqalisa ukumvelisela iintshaba uSolomon kwiintlanga ezingabamelwane, kwaye uYarobheham wesizwe sakwaEfrayim naye uyaziphakamisa nxamnye nokumkani. UAhiya umprofeti uxelela uYarobheham ukuba uya kuba ngukumkani kwizizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli, kwaye uYarobheham usabela eYiputa ukuze asindise ubomi bakhe. USolomon ufa emva kokulawula iminyaka engama-40, kwaye unyana wakhe uRehabheham uba ngukumkani ngomnyaka wama-997 B.C.E.

13. Bahlukana njani ubukumkani njengoko uRehabheham eqalisa ulawulo lwakhe, kwaye uYarobheham uzama njani ukunqabisa ubukhosi bakhe?

¹³ Ubukumkani buyahlulahlulwa (12:1–14:20). UYarobheham uyabuya eYiputa aze ahambe nabantu ukuya kucela kuRehabheham ukukhululwa kubo bonke ubunzima obabekwa phezu kwabo nguSolomon. Ephulaphula abafana kunokuba aphulaphule icebiso lobulumko lamadoda amakhulu akwaSirayeli, uRehabheham uyabandisa ubunzima. AmaSirayeli ayavukela aze amenze ukumkani uYarobheham kwizizwe ezilishumi zasentla. Esele kuphela nesizwe sikaYuda nesikaBhenjamin, uRehabheham uhlanganisa umkhosi wokulwa nabavukeli, kodwa uyarhoxa ngokomyalelo kaYehova. UYarobheham wakha iShekem njengekomkhulu lakhe, kodwa usaziva enganqabisekanga. Woyika ukuba abantu baya kubuyela eYerusalem ukuze banqule uYehova nokuba baya kuba phantsi kukaRehabheham kwakhona. Ukuze akuthintele oku, umisa amathole amabini egolide, elinye kwaDan kwaye elinye eBheteli, kwaye ukuze alathise indlela yokunqula, ukhetha ababingeleli, kungekhona esizweni sikaLevi, kodwa phakathi kwabantu ngokubanzi.d

14. Sisiphi isilumkiso esingokwesiprofeto esihlokonyiswa nxamnye nendlu kaYarobheham, kwaye ziziphi iinkathazo ezithi ziqalise?

¹⁴ Ngoxa uYarobheham enyusa idini esibingelelweni eBheteli, uYehova uthuma umprofeti wokumlumkisa ngokuba uya kuvelisa ukumkani kumnombo kaDavide, ogama linguYosiya, oya kwenza isenzo esiqatha nxamnye nesi sibingelelo sonqulo lobuxoki. Njengomqondiso woko kuya kwenzeka kuso, isibingelelo sikrazuka kubini ngoko nangoko. Yena umprofeti kamva ubulawa yingonyama ngenxa yokungathobeli umyalelo kaYehova wokungadli okanye asele ngoxa ephumeza uthumo lwakhe. Ngoku indlu kaYarobheham iqalisa ukuba neenkathazo. Umntwana wakhe uyafa njengoko oko kungumgwebo ovela kuYehova, kwaye umprofeti kaThixo uAhiya uxela kwangaphambili ukuba indlu kaYarobheham iya kunqanyulwa ngokupheleleyo ngenxa yesono sakhe esikhulu sokumisela oothixo bobuxoki kwaSirayeli. Emva kokulawula iminyaka engama-22, uYarobheham uyafa aze unyana wakhe uNadabhi abe ngukumkani esikhundleni sakhe.

15. Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzekayo ebudeni bolawulo lookumkani abathathu abalandelayo kwaYuda?

¹⁵ KwaYuda: URehabheham, uAbhiyam noAsa (14:21–15:24). Okweli thuba, phantsi kukaRehabheham, uYuda naye wenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova, eqhelisela unqulo lwezithixo. Ukumkani waseYiputa uyahlasela aze athimbe ubuncwane obuninzi betempile. Emva kokulawula iminyaka eli-17, uRehabheham uyafa, aze unyana wakhe uAbhiyam abe ngukumkani. Naye uyaqhubeka esenza isono kuYehova, kwaye ufa emva kokulawula iminyaka emithathu. Ngoku kulawula unyana wakhe uAsa kwaye, ngokwahlukileyo, ukhonza uYehova ngentliziyo epheleleyo aze azishenxise izithixo elizweni. Kusoloko kukho imfazwe phakathi kwamaSirayeli namaYuda. UAsa ufumana uncedo kwelakwaSiriya, kwaye amaSirayeli anyanzeleka ukuba arhoxe. UAsa ulawula kangangeminyaka engama-41 aze alandelwe ngunyana wakhe uYehoshafati.

16. Ziziphi iziganeko ezibangela isiphithiphithi ezenzekayo ngoku kwaSirayeli, kwaye ngoba?

¹⁶ KwaSirayeli: UNadabhi, uBhahesha, uEla, uZimri, uTibheni, uOmri noAhabhi (15:25–16:34). Abanjani bona ukuba ngendawo abantu! UBhahesha ubulala uNadabhi emva kokuba elawule iminyaka emibini kuphela aze alandelise ngokutshabalalisa yonke indlu kaYarobheham. Uyaqhubeka eqhelisela unqulo lobuxoki kwaye esilwa namaYuda. UYehova uxela kwangaphambili ukuba Yena uya kuyitshabalalisa indlu kaBhahesha, njengokuba enzile ngekaYarobheham. Emva kokulawula kukaBhahesha kangangeminyaka engama-24, ulandelwa ngunyana wakhe uEla, othi abulawe kwiminyaka emibini kamva ngumkhonzi wakhe uZimri. Akuba nje eyithabathile itrone, uZimri ubulala yonke indlu kaBhahesha. Bakukuva oku abantu, bamenza ukumkani uOmri, obekade engumthetheli-mkhosi, baze bahlasele iTirtsa, ikomkhulu likaZimri. Xa ebona ukuba utshelwe zizicheku, uZimri utshisa indlu kakumkani naye engaphakathi kuyo, ukuze afe. Ngoku uTibheni uzama ukulawula njengokumkani onemvukelo, kodwa emva kwethutyana elithile abalandeli bakaOmri bayamoyisa baze bambulale.

17. (a) Luphawuleka ngantoni ulawulo lukaOmri? (b) Kutheni le nto unqulo oluyinyaniso lulibaleke ngokupheleleyo ebudeni bolawulo luka-Ahabhi?

¹⁷ UOmri uthenga intaba yakwaSamari aze akhe kuyo isixeko sakwaSamari. Ulandela ekhondweni likaYarobheham, emona uYehova ngokunqula izithixo. Enyanisweni, ungoyena mbi kunabo bonke abanye abangaphambi kwakhe. Emva kokulawula iminyaka eli-12, uyafa aze unyana wakhe uAhabhi abe ngukumkani. UAhabhi utshata noIzebhele, intombi yokumkani waseTsidon, aze ke akhe isibingelelo sikaBhahali kwaSamari. Ubagqwesa bonke ngobungendawo abamandulelayo. Kungeli xesha athi uHiyeli waseBheteli aphinde asakhe isixeko saseYeriko ngokuncama ubomi bonyana wakhe olizibulo nonyana wakhe ongoyena mncinane. Unqulo lokwenyaniso lulityelwe ngokupheleleyo.

18. UEliya uqalisa umsebenzi wakhe wokuprofeta kwaSirayeli ngokuvakalisa ntoni, kwaye usibonisa njani isizathu sokwenene seenkathazo zamaSirayeli?

¹⁸ Umsebenzi kaEliya wokuprofeta kwaSirayeli (17:1–22:40). Ngequbuliso kuvela umthunywa kaYehova. NguEliya waseTishbhi.e Akhwankqisa ngokwenene amazwi akhe okuqala awaxelela uKumkani uAhabhi athi: “Ehleli nje uYehova uThixo wakwaSirayeli, endimi phambi kwakhe, akuyi kukha kubekho mbethe namvula le minyaka, kungengalo ilizwi lam.” (17:1) Ngequbuliso, ngolwalathiso lukaYehova, uEliya uzifihla kwintlambo esempuma yeYordan. Kubakho imbalela kwaSirayeli, kodwa uEliya wondliwa ngamahlungulu. Xa umlanjana usoma, uYehova umthumela lo mprofeti wakhe eTsarfati yaseTsidon ukuba ahlale khona. Ngenxa yobubele omnye umhlolokazi abenzela uEliya, ngendlela engummangaliso uYehova uyasilondoloza isixa esincinane somgubo neoli anayo ukuze yena nonyana wakhe bangafi yindlala. Kamva unyana wakhe uthi agule aze afe, kodwa ngokwesicelo sikaEliya uYehova umenza aphile kwakhona lo mntwana. Kwandula ke, ngonyaka wesithathu wembalela, kwakhona uYehova athumele uEliya kuAhabhi. UAhabhi utyhola uEliya ngokuba nguye obangele obu bubi kwaSirayeli, kodwa ngenkalipho uEliya uxelela uAhabhi oku: “Nguwe nendlu kayihlo” ngenxa yokuba niye nalandela ooBhahali.—18:18.

19. Izinziswa njani imbambano engokobuthixo, kwaye kubonakaliswa njani ukuba uYehova wongamile?

¹⁹ UEliya uyalela uAhabhi ukuba abahlanganisele kwiNtaba yeKarmele bonke abaprofeti bakaBhahali. Akusayi kwenzeka ukuba babe mbaxa. Imbambano yile: UYehova nxamnye noBhahali! Phambi kwabo bonke abantu, ababingeleli bakaBhahali abangama-450 balungisa inkunzi yenkomo, bayibeka kwiinkuni eziphezu kwesibingelelo, baze bathandazele ukuba kuhle umlilo uze ulidle idini. Ukususela ekuseni de kube semini emaqanda, babiza kuBhahali kodwa batsho phantsi, ibe noEliya ebenza intlekisa. Badanduluka ngezwi elikhulu kwaye bayazicenta nokuzicenta, kodwa akukho mpendulo! Ngokulandelayo, umprofeti omnye, uEliya, wakha isibingelelo egameni likaYehova aze alungise iinkuni nenkunzi yenkomo yokwenza idini. Uyalela abantu ukuba baligalele ngamanzi izihlandlo ezithathu eli dini neenkuni, andule ke ukuthandaza kuYehova athi: “Ndiphendule, Yehova, ndiphendule, bazi aba bantu ukuba wena Yehova unguThixo.” Kanye ngelo xesha, kuhla umlilo uvela ezulwini, ulidle idini, iinkuni, amatye esibingelelo, uthuli namanzi. Xa bonke abantu bekubona oku, ngokukhawuleza bawa ngobuso babo baze bathi: “UYehova nguye uThixo, uYehova nguye uThixo.” (18:37, 39) Abaprofeti bakaBhahali bayabulawa! UEliya ubabulala ngokwakhe, ukuze kungabikho namnye usindayo. Wandula ke uYehova anise imvula, ephelisa imbalela kwaSirayeli.

20. (a)UYehova ubonakala njani kuEliya eHorebhe, kwaye nguwuphi umyalelo nentuthuzelo amthuthuzela ngayo? (b) Sisiphi isono nolwaphulo-mthetho olwenziwa nguAhabhi?

²⁰ Xa iindaba zokuhlaziswa kukaBhahali zifikelela kuIzebhele, ufuna ukuba uEliya abulawe. Ngenxa yokoyika, uEliya nomkhonzi wakhe basabela entlango, kwaye uYehova umalathisela eHorebhe. Apho uYehova uyabonakala kuye—engekho moyeni okanye nyikimeni okanye mlilweni, kodwa “ngelizwi elizolileyo nelipholileyo.” (19:11, 12, NW) UYehova umxelela ukuba athambise uHazayeli njengokumkani waseSiriya, uYehu njengokumkani phezu kwamaSirayeli noElisha njengomprofeti esikhundleni sakhe. Uthuthuzela uEliya ngeendaba zokuba abangama-7 000 kwaSirayeli abaqubudanga kuBhahali. UEliya umthambisa ngoko nangoko uElisha ngokuphosa kuye ingubo yakhe yokwaleka. Ngoku uAhabhi uwoyisa kangangezihlandlo ezibini amaSiriya kodwa ukhalinyelwa nguYehova ngenxa yokuba enze umnqophiso nokumkani wawo kunokuba ambulale. Kwandula ke kubekho umbandela ongoNabhoti, onesidiliya asinqwenelayo uAhabhi. UIzebhele wenza ukuba uNabhoti angqinelwe ngobuxoki aze abulawe ukuze uAhabhi athabathe isidiliya. Olunjani lona ukungaxoleleki ulwaphulo-mthetho!

21. (a)Yiyiphi intshabalalo evakaliswa nguEliya kuAhabhi nakwindlu yakhe, nakuIzebhele? (b) Sisiphi isiprofeto esizalisekayo ekufeni kuka-Ahabhi?

²¹ Kwakhona kuvela uEliya. Uxelela uAhabhi ukuba apho afele khona uNabhoti, naye igazi lakhe loxhatshwa zizinja apho, nokuba indlu yakhe iya kutshatyalaliswa yonke njengoko kwenziwayo kwekaYarobheham nekaBhahesha. UIzebhele uya kudliwa zizinja kwisiqwenga somhlaba waseYizereli. “Kodwa bekungekho unjengoAhabhi, owazithengisela ukwenza okubi emehlweni kaYehova, owaxhokonxwayo nguIzebhele umkakhe.” (21:25) Noko ke, ngenxa yokuba uAhabhi ezithoba akuva amazwi kaEliya, uYehova uthi intlekele ayiyi kufika ngemihla yakhe kodwa iya kufika ngemihla yonyana wakhe. Ngoku uAhabhi uzimanyanisa noYehoshafati, ukumkani wakwaYuda, ekulweni namaSiriya, ibe ngokuchaseneyo necebiso lomprofeti kaYehova uMikaya, baya edabini. UAhabhi ubulawa ngamanxeba awafumene edabini. Njengoko inqwelo yakhe yokulwa ikhukuliseka emlanjeni wakwaSamari, izinja zixhapha igazi lakhe, kanye njengokuba uEliya wayeprofetile. UAhaziya unyana wakhe uba ngukumkani kwaSirayeli esikhundleni sakhe.

22. Luphawuleka ngantoni ulawulo lukaYehoshafati kwaYuda noluka-Ahaziya kwaSirayeli?

²² UYehoshafati ulawula kwaYuda (22:41-53). UYehoshafati, owapheleka uAhabhi ukuya kulwa namaSiriya, uthembekile kuYehova njengoAsa uyise, kodwa akazishenxisi kuthi tu iziganga zonqulo lobuxoki. Emva kokulawula kangangeminyaka engama-25, uyafa, aze uYehoram unyana wakhe abe ngukumkani. Emntla, kwaSirayeli, uAhaziya ulandela emanyathelweni kayise, esona uYehova ngokunqula kwakhe uBhahali.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

23. Sisiphi isiqinisekiso nokhuthazo olunikelwa yeyokuQala yooKumkani ngokuphathelele umthandazo?

²³ KweyokuQala yooKumkani kufumaneka ingenelo enkulu yemfundiso yobuthixo. Okokuqala, khawuqwalasele umbandela womthandazo, okhankanywa ngokufuthi kule ncwadi. Xa wayejongene nembopheleleko enkulu yokuba ngukumkani kwaSirayeli, uSolomon wathandaza ngokuzithoba kuYehova ngendlela enza ngayo umntwana. Wacela nje ukuqonda nentliziyo ethobekileyo, kodwa ukongezelela kubulumko obuninzi awayenabo, uYehova wakwamnika ubutyebi nozuko. (3:7-9, 12-14) Kwanga nathi namhlanje singaqiniseka ukuba imithandazo yokuzithoba yokucela ubulumko nolwalathiso kwinkonzo kaYehova iya kuphendulwa! (Yak. 1:5) Kwanga singasoloko sithandaza ngokunyanisekileyo ngokusuka entliziyweni, sinoxabiso olunzulu ngako konke ukulunga kukaYehova, njengoko uSolomon wenzayo ekunikezelweni kwetempile! (1 Kum. 8:22-53) Kwanga imithandazo yethu ingasoloko ibonisa ukukholosa nokuthembela ngokupheleleyo kuYehova, njengoko yayinjalo imithandazo kaEliya ngexesha lesilingo naxa wayejongene nohlanga olwalunqula iidemon! UYehova ubalungiselela ngokumangalisayo abo bamfunayo ngomthandazo.—1 Kum. 17:20-22; 18:36-40; 1 Yoh. 5:14.

24. Yiyiphi imizekelo esisilumkiso echazwe kweyokuQala yooKumkani, ibe kutheni le nto, ngokukodwa, abaveleli befanele bakuthabathele engqalelweni oku?

²⁴ Ngokubhekele phaya, sifanele silunyukiswe yimizekelo yabo bangazange bazithobe phambi kukaYehova. Hayi indlela ‘uThixo abachase ngayo abanekratshi abanjalo’! (1 Pet. 5:5) Kwakukho uAdoniya, owacinga ukuba wayenokungakuhoyi ukumiselwa nguYehova ngokolawulo lobuthixo (1 Kum. 1:5; 2:24, 25); uShimehi, owacinga ukuba wayenokuyitsiba imida aze abuyele kuyo kwakhona (2:37, 41-46); uSolomon kwiminyaka yakhe yamva, okwathi ukungathobeli kwakhe kwamzisela iintshaba ezabangelwa nguYehova (11:9-14, 23-26); nookumkani bakwaSirayeli, olwathi unqulo lwabo lobuxoki lwangqineka luyintlekele (13:33, 34; 14:7-11; 16:1-4). Ngaphezu koko, kwakukho uIzebhele ongendawo nowayelibawa, owayephembelala uAhabhi etroneni, omzekelo wakhe ombi wasetyenziswayo kwiwaka leminyaka kamva ekulunyukisweni kwebandla laseTiyatira ngokuthi: “Noko ke ndineendawana ngakuwe: ezi zokuba umvumela umfazi lowo uIzebhele, othi yena ungumprofetikazi, ukuba abafundise abalahlekise abakhonzi bam, ukuba benze umbulo, badle izinto ezibingelelwe izithixo.” (ISityhi. 2:20) Abaveleli bamele bawagcine amabandla ecocekile kwaye engenazimpembelelo zifana nezikaIzebhele!—Thelekisa IZenzo 20:28-30.

25. Ziziphi iziprofeto zeyokuQala yooKumkani eziye zazaliseka ngokuphawulekayo, kwaye ukuzikhumbula kunokusinceda njani namhlanje?

²⁵ Amandla esiprofeto sikaYehova aboniswe ngokucacileyo ngokuzaliseka kweziprofeto ezininzi ezikweyokuQala yooKumkani. Ngokomzekelo, kukho isiprofeto esiphawulekayo, esathethwa kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-300 ngaphambili, sokuba uYosiya ngulowo wayeza kusikrazula isibingelelo sikaYarobheham eBheteli. UYosiya wakwenza oko! (1 Kum. 13:1-3; 2 Kum. 23:15) Phofu ke, okona kubalaseleyo ziziprofeto ezihlobene nendlu kaYehova, eyakhiwa nguSolomon. UYehova waxelela uSolomon ukuba ukutyekela koothixo bobuxoki kwakuya kuphumela ekunqanyulweni kwamaSirayeli nguYehova phezu komhlaba nasekuyilahleni Kwakhe phambi Kwakhe indlu awayeyingcwalisele igama lakhe. (1 Kum. 9:7, 8) Kweyesi-2 yeziKronike 36:17-21 sifunda indlela esazaliseka ngokupheleleyo ngayo esi siprofeto. Ngaphezu koko, uYesu wabonisa ukuba itempile yamva eyakhiwa nguHerode Omkhulu kwakule ndawo inye yayiya kuhlelwa lishwangusha elifanayo kwangenxa yesizathu esifanayo. (Luka 21:6) Hayi indlela esazaliseka ngokuyinyaniso ngayo nesi isiprofeto. Sifanele sizikhumbule ezi ntlekele nezizathu ezazibangelayo, kwaye zifanele zisikhumbuze ukusoloko sihamba ngeendlela zoThixo oyinyaniso.

26. Nguwuphi umbono ochukumisayo oboniswa kwangaphambili wetempile noBukumkani bukaYehova onikelweyo kweyokuQala yooKumkani?

²⁶ Ukumkanikazi waseShebha wafika evela kwilizwe lakowabo elikude ukuza kubona ummangaliso wobulumko bukaSolomon, ukwanda kwabantu bakhe nokuzuka kobukumkani bakhe, kuquka nendlu kaYehova eqaqambileyo. Phofu ke, noSolomon wavuma kuYehova wathi: “Amazulu, amazulu awo amazulu, akakulingene; hina ke, yona le ndlu ndiyakhileyo!” (1 Kum. 8:27; 10:4-9) Kodwa kwiinkulungwane kamva uKristu Yesu wafika ukuza kuphumeza umsebenzi wokwakha ngokomoya ohlobene ngokukhethekileyo nokubuyiselwa konqulo oluyinyaniso kwitempile enkulu yokomoya kaYehova. (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:2-10, 23) Kulo, omkhulu kunoSolomon, lingqineka liyinyaniso idinga likaYehova elithi: “Ndoyimisa itrone yobukumkani bakho phezu kwamaSirayeli ngonaphakade.” (1 Kum. 9:5; Mat. 1:1, 6, 7, 16; 12:42; Luka 1:32) EyokuQala yooKumkani ibonisa kwangaphambili umbono ochukumisayo wokuzuka kwetempile yokomoya kaYehova nempumelelo, ukugcoba nolonwabo oluchulumancisayo lwabo bonke abezayo ukuza kuhlala phantsi kolawulo lobulumko loBukumkani bukaYehova obulawulwa nguKristu Yesu. Siya sikuqonda ngakumbi ukubaluleka konqulo oluyinyaniso nelungiselelo elimangalisayo likaYehova loBukumkani bakhe ngeMbewu!

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]