Isahluko Sesibini

Incwadi KaDaniyeli—Iyamangalelwa

1, 2. Incwadi kaDaniyeli imangalelwe ngayiphi ingqiqo, yaye kutheni ucinga ukuba kubalulekile ukuqwalasela ubungqina obuyithethelelayo?

YIBA nombono wakho usenkundleni, uphulaphule ityala elibalulekileyo. Kukho ndoda ithile etyholwa ngokukhohlisa. Umtshutshisi ungqisha ngonyawo phantsi esithi le ndoda inetyala. Kodwa ummangalelwa lo, waziwa kude kudala njengendoda ethembekileyo. Ngaba ubungethandi ukuzivela ubungqina obuyithethelelayo?

² Incwadi yeBhayibhile kaDaniyeli ikubeka kwimeko efanayo. Umbhali wayo wayeyindoda eyayidume ngokuthembeka. Incwadi ebizwa ngegama layo ibihlonelwa kangangamawaka eminyaka. Izichaza iyincwadi echanileyo yembali, ebhalwe nguDaniyeli, umprofeti ongumHebhere owayephila ngenkulungwane yesixhenxe neyesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo. Ubalo-maxesha oluchanileyo lweBhayibhile lubonisa ukuba le ncwadi yagubungela ixesha elisusela malunga nowama-618 ise kowama-536 B.C.E. yaza yagqitywa kwangaloo nyaka. Kodwa ke le ncwadi imangalelwe. Ezinye iintyila-lwazi kunye nezinye iincwadi ziyithi thsuphe okanye zide ziliqavise elokuba inenkohliso.

3. Ithini iThe New Encyclopædia Britannica ngokuthenjwa kwencwadi kaDaniyeli?

³ Ngokomzekelo, iThe New Encyclopædia Britannica iyavuma ukuba incwadi kaDaniyeli yakha “yagqalwa ngumntu wonke njengembali echanileyo, equlethe isiprofeto esiyinyaniso.” Noko ke, iBritannica ithi, eneneni incwadi kaDaniyeli “yabhalwa kamva ngexesha isizwe sasijamelene namanqam—amaYuda ephethelw’ imbengwana [nguKumkani waseSiriya] uAntiochus IV Epiphanes owayewatshutshisa.” Le ntyila-lwazi ithi le ncwadi yabhalwa phakathi kowe-167 nowe-164 B.C.E. Kwale ntyila-lwazi inye ithi umbhali wencwadi kaDaniyeli akaprofeti ngekamva kodwa ubalisa nje “ngeziganeko zexesha elidluleyo ngokungathi ziziprofeto zezinto eziza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo.”

4. Yaqalisa nini ukugxekwa incwadi kaDaniyeli, ibe yintoni eyabangela ukugxekwa okufanayo kwiinkulungwane zamvanje?

⁴ Zivela phi iingcamango ezilolu hlobo? Incwadi kaDaniyeli ayiqali kugxekwa. Yaqalwa sisithandi sobulumko uPorphyry emva phayaa ngenkulungwane yesithathu yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo. Wayeziva esongelwa yimpembelelo yobuKristu njengabanye abaninzi ababekuBukhosi bamaRoma. Wabhala iincwadi ezili-15 ezazinyemba olu nqulo “lutsha.” Eye-12 yayijoliswe kanye kwincwadi kaDaniyeli. UPorphyry wathi le ncwadi ingumgunyathi, ibhalwe ngumYuda owayephila ngenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Yaphinda yahlaselwa ngendlela efanayo ngenkulungwane ye-18 neye-19. Ngokwembono yabahlalutyi abaqatha kunye nabo basoloko befuna ubungqina ngezinto, ukuprofeta—ukuxela kusengaphambili ngeziganeko zexesha elizayo—kuyinto engenakwenzeka. Hayi ke babekhwela bezehlela kule ncwadi kaDaniyeli. Ngenxa yoko, kwaba ngathi uDaniyeli nencwadi yakhe wayemangalelwe. Aba bagxeki babesithi banobungqina obubambekayo bokuba le ncwadi ayizange ibhalwe nguDaniyeli ebudeni bokuthinjwa kwamaYuda eBhabhiloni, kodwa yabhalwa ngomnye umntu kwiinkulungwane ezithile kamva.a Ezi ntlaselo zeza ziluthotho kangangokuba omnye umbhali wada wayithethelela kwincwadi yakhe ethi Daniel in the Critics’ Den.

5. Kutheni ubaluleke kangaka umbandela ongokuthenjwa kwencwadi kaDaniyeli?

⁵ Ngaba phofu zinesihlahla ezi zinto zithethwa ngaba bagxeki? Okanye ke ngaba ubungqina buyabaxhasa abo bayithethelelayo? Lo mbandela untununtunu. Apha akubandakanyekanga kuphela nje indlela esiyijonga ngayo le ncwadi yamandulo kodwa kwanekamva lethu liyachaphazeleka. Ukuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inenkohliso, amadinga ewathembisa uluntu ayintshwaqane nje elilize. Kodwa ukuba iqulethe iziprofeto eziyinyaniso, alithandabuzeki elokuba uya kukulangazelela ukufunda ngentsingiselo yazo kule mihla. Sinezo zibakala ezingqondweni zethu, makhe siqwalasele ezinye zeentlaselo ezijoliswe kwincwadi kaDaniyeli.

6. Sisiphi isityholo maxa wambi ebekwa sona imbali yencwadi kaDaniyeli?

⁶ Ngokomzekelo, makhe siqwalasele isityholo esenziwe yiThe Encyclopedia Americana esithi: “Inkoliso yeenkcukacha zamandulo [ezinjengokuthinjwa eBhabhiloni] ziye zagqwethwa kanobom” kwincwadi kaDaniyeli. Ngaba yinyaniso leyo? Makhe siphicothe iimpazamo ezintathu etyholwa ngazo, sibambe ibe nye ngexesha.

UMBANDELA KAKUMKANI ONGAZIWAYO

7. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze abagxeki beBhayibhile bamvuyele uDaniyeli xa ebhekisela kuBheleshatsare? (b) Kwenzeke ntoni kwingcamango yokuba uBheleshatsare wayengumntu wasentsomini?

⁷ UDaniyeli wabhala esithi uBheleshatsare, ‘unyana’ kaNebhukadenetsare, wayelawula njengokumkani eBhabhiloni xa yabhukuqwayo. (Daniyeli 5:1, 11, 18, 22, 30) Kudala ke abagxeki bebambelele kweli solotya, kuba igama likaBheleshatsare lalingafunyanwa kwezinye iincwadi ngaphandle kweBhayibhile. Kunoko, ababhali-mbali baye balatha kuNabonidus, owangena ezihlangwini zikaNebhukadenetsare, njengokumkani wokugqibela waseBhabhiloni. Ngenxa yoko, ngowe-1850, uFerdinand Hitzig wathi izicacele into yokuba uBheleshatsare ngumntu nje owayeyilwe ngumbhali. Kodwa ngaba akucingi ukuba lo kaHitzig wawusukela ngeenyawo ezinkulu lo mba? Ngapha koko, ngaba ngokwenene ukungabikho kwegama lalo kumkani—ngokukodwa ngexesha ekwaziwayo ukuba iingxelo zembali zazingekho mgangathweni—kunokungqina ukuba akazange abekho? Phofu ke, ngowe-1854 kwavunjululwa amacwecwe amancinane omdongwe kumabhodlo esixeko seBhabhiloni yamandulo iUre kumzantsi woko namhlanje kuyi-Iraq. La maxwebhu abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo awayevela kuKumkani uNabonidus ayequka umthandazo owawusenzelwa “uBel-sar-ussur, inkulu yam.” Kwanabagxeki banyanzeleka ukuba bawaginye: Lowo yayinguBheleshatsare ekuthethwa ngaye kwincwadi kaDaniyeli.

8. Iye yangqineka njani iyinyaniso indlela uDaniyeli achaza ngayo uBheleshatsare njengokumkani?

⁸ Kodwa, aba bagxeki babesenesikrokro. Omnye ogama linguH. F. Talbot wabhala: “Ayithethi nto tu loo nto.” Wema ngelithi kunokwenzeka ukuba unyana ekwakubhekiswa kuye kuloo mbhalo yayingumntwana nje, ukanti uDaniyeli yena uthi wayengukumkani owayelawula. Noko ke, emva konyaka nje epapashiwe amagqabaza kaTalbot, kwavunjululwa amanye amacwecwe abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo awayesithi uBheleshatsare wayenoonobhala namagosa asebenza kwindlu yakhe. Soze kuthi kanti yayingumntwana lo! Ekugqibeleni, kwafumaneka amanye amacwecwe awayisongayo le nyewe, esithi uNabonidus wayekhe maxa wambi ahambe kangangeminyaka eBhabhiloni. La macwecwe akwabonisa ukuba ngaloo maxesha, “wayeshiya ubukumkani” baseBhabhiloni ezandleni zenkulu yakhe (uBheleshatsare). Ngaloo maxesha ke, uBheleshatsare awayesiba ngukumkani—elibamba likayise.b

9. (a) Kungayiphi ingqiqo asenokuba uDaniyeli wabhekisela kuBheleshatsare njengonyana kaNebhukadenetsare? (b) Kutheni abagxeki bewuphosile umhlola xa besithi uDaniyeli akathethi kwaukuthetha ngobukho bukaNabonidus?

⁹ Bengekaneliseki, bambi abagxeki bakhala ngelithi iBhayibhile ayithi uBheleshatsare wayengunyana kaNabonidus, kodwa ithi wayengunyana kaNebhukadenetsare. Bambi bathetha kom’ amathe besithi uDaniyeli akathethi kwaukuthetha ngoNabonidus. Noko ke, zombini ezi zityholo azibi nasihlahla xa uziphicotha. Kubonakala ngathi uNabonidus watshata intombi kaNebhukadenetsare. Loo nto yayiza kwenza uBheleshatsare abe ngumzukulwana kaNebhukadenetsare. Kulwimi lwesiHebhere nolwesiAramiki alikho igama elithi “bawomkhulu” okanye elithi “mzukulwana”; ibinzana elithi “unyana kazibaningeshe” linokuthetha “umzukulwana kazibaningeshe” okanye “inzala kanantsi.” (Thelekisa uMateyu 1:1.) Ukongezelela koko, ingxelo yeBhayibhile iyavuma ukuba kuthiwe uBheleshatsare wayengunyana kaNabonidus. Xa wayesoyikiswa sisimanga sombhalo wesandla owawuseludongeni, uBheleshatsare owayesele omelwe ngumq’ ephinini wathembisa ngokumnika isikhundla sesithathu ebukumkanini nabani na onokutyhila loo mazwi. (Daniyeli 5:7) Kwakutheni ukuze athembise ngesesithathu engamniki esesibini? Esi sithembiso sibonisa ukuba isikhundla sokuqala nesesibini zazisele zinabantu bazo. Eneneni—zazizezikaNabonidus nonyana wakhe, uBheleshatsare.

10. Kutheni ingxelo kaDaniyeli ngobukumkani baseBhabhiloni ineenkcukacha ezininzi ngaphezu kwezabanye ababhali-mbali bamandulo?

¹⁰ Ngoko ukukhankanya kukaDaniyeli uBheleshatsare akubobungqina bembali ‘egqwethwe kanobom.’ Kunoko, uDaniyeli—nangona wayengabhali imbali yaseBhabhiloni—usinika iinkcukacha ezingakumbi zobukumkani baseBhabhiloni kunababhali-mbali abanjengoHerodotus, uXenophon noBerossus. Kwenzeka njani ukuba uDaniyeli akwazi ukubhala izinto abangazange bazazi? Kungokuba wayesemsini kanye eBhabhiloni. Incwadi yakhe yayibhalwe ngumntu owazibonela ngawakhe amehlo, kungekhona iqotha-qikili elaliphila kwiinkulungwane ezithile kamva.

WAYENGUBANI UDARIYO UMMEDI?

11. Ngokutsho kukaDaniyeli, wayengubani uDariyo umMedi, kodwa yintoni eye yathethwa ngaye?

¹¹ UDaniyeli ubalisa esithi xa iBhabhiloni yabhukuqwayo, ukumkani ogama ‘linguDariyo, umMedi’ wathabatha iintambo. (Daniyeli 5:31) Igama likaDariyo umMedi alikafunyanwa kwiincwadi zembali okanye kwizinto zakudala ezimbiweyo. Ngenxa yoko, iThe New Encyclopædia Britannica igqiba ngelithi uDariyo “ngumntu wasentsomini.”

12. (a) Kutheni abagxeki beBhayibhile befanele bakulumkele ukuqiniseka xa besithi uDariyo umMedi akazange abekho? (b) Yiyiphi enye indlela esenokuba ichanile yokufanisa uDariyo umMedi, yaye bubuphi ubungqina obuyixhasayo?

¹² Abanye abaphengululi baye bawuvundlela lo mbandela. Kaloku, abagxeki babethe noBheleshatsare ngumntu “wasentsomini.” Alithandabuzeki elokuba, kuza kwenzeka esezolo nakwimeko kaDariyo. Sithetha nje, sele kufunyenwe amacwecwe abhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo ababonisa ukuba uKoreshi umPersi akazange amkele isikhahlelo sokuba “nguKumkani waseBhabhiloni” emva nje koloyiso lwakhe. Omnye umphengululi uthi: “Enoba ngubani na owayebizwa ngokuba ‘nguKumkani waseBhabhiloni’ yayingengoKoreshi ngokwakhe kodwa yayingumntu owayebekwe nguKoreshi kwelo qhuzu lokuba ngukumkani.” Ngaba uDariyo yayiligama, okanye isikhahlelo, segosa elingumMedi elaliphethe iBhabhiloni? Bambi bathi kusenokwenzeka ukuba uDariyo wayeyindoda egama linguGubaru. UKoreshi wamisela uGubaru njengebamba eBhabhiloni, ibe iincwadi zembali zibonisa ukuba wayenegunya elibonakalayo apho. Elinye icwecwe elibhalwe ngoonobumba abatsobhileyo lithi wamisela amanye amabamba angaphantsi kwakhe eBhabhiloni. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba uDaniyeli uthi uDariyo wamisela iirhuluneli ezili-120 ezaziza kulawula kubukumkani baseBhabhiloni.—Daniyeli 6:1.

13. Sisiphi isizathu esivakalayo sokuba uDariyo umMedi akhankanywe kwincwadi kaDaniyeli kodwa angaveli nangetshengele kwiincwadi zembali?

¹³ Ekuhambeni kwexesha, busenokuvela ubungqina obungqale nobudandalaze nangakumbi obuchaza lo kumkani. Kodwa ke, ukunqongophala kobungqina bezinto zakudala ezimbiweyo kulo mbandela akusiniki sizathu sakuthi uDariyo ngumntu “wasentsomini,” kungasathethwa ke ngokuyigxibha incwadi kaDaniyeli njengezaliswe yinkohliso. Kusengqiqweni ukugqala ingxelo kaDaniyeli njengobungqina obusuka kumntu owazibonela ngawakhe amehlo nochaza iinkcukacha ezingakumbi kuneencwadi zembali ezasindayo.

ULAWULO LUKAYEHOYAKIM

14. Kutheni kungekho kuphikisana phakathi kukaDaniyeli noYeremiya ngokuphathelele iminyaka yolawulo lukaKumkani uYehoyakim?

¹⁴ UDaniyeli 1:1 ufundeka ngolu hlobo: “Ngonyaka wesithathu wobukumkani bukaYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda, kweza uNebhukadenetsare ukumkani waseBhabhiloni eYerusalem, wayingqinga.” Abahlalutyi baye bacholachola amakhwiniba kwesi sibhalo kuba sibonakala singayi cala-nye noYeremiya, othi unyaka wesine kaYehoyakim wawungunyaka wokuqala kaNebhukadenetsare. (Yeremiya 25:1; 46:2) Ngaba uDaniyeli wayephikisa uYeremiya? Xa unenkcazelo engakumbi, lo mbandela usompeka lula nje. Xa wathweswa njengokumkani okokuqala nguFaro Neko ngowe-628 B.C.E., uYehoyakim waba nguthoba-sikutyele waloo mlawuli waseYiputa. Oku kwenzeka malunga neminyaka emithathu uNebhukadenetsare engene esihlalweni sikayise eBhabhiloni, ngowama-624 B.C.E. Kungekudala emva koko (ngowama-620 B.C.E.), uNebhukadenetsare walihlasela elakwaYuda waza wenza uYehoyakim njengebamba leBhabhiloni. (2 Kumkani 23:34; 24:1) KumYuda owayehlala eBhabhiloni, ‘umnyaka wesithathu’ kaYehoyakim wawungumnyaka wesithathu wenkonzo yaloo kumkani uphethwe yiBhabhiloni. Wayenaloo nto ke engqondweni uDaniyeli xa wayebhala. Noko ke, uYeremiya wabhala ngendlela izinto ezazibonakala ngayo kumaYuda awayeseYerusalem. Ngoko wabhekisela kubukumkani bukaYehoyakim njengobaqalisa xa uFaro Neko wamthwesa njengokumkani.

15. Kutheni le nto kuf’ amanqe nje ukuphikiswa konyaka ofumaneka kuDaniyeli 1:1?

¹⁵ Phofu ke, esi sityholo sokungangqinelani sisuke sixhase ubungqina bokuba uDaniyeli wayibhala incwadi yakhe eseBhabhiloni ekunye nabathinjwa abangamaYuda. Kodwa ke kukho amakhwiniba asalayo kwesi sityholo ityatyekwa ngaso incwadi kaDaniyeli. Khumbula ukuba kumbhali wencwadi kaDaniyeli yayifumaneka lula incwadi kaYeremiya wada wabhekisela kuyo. (Daniyeli 9:2) Ukuba lo mbhali wencwadi kaDaniyeli wayenguqhina kaqhonono omaqhinga, njengoko abagxeki besitsho, ngaba wayenokuba nabo ubuganga bokuphikisa incwadi eyayihlonelwa njengekaYeremiya—aze oko akwenze kwindinyana yokuqala yencwadi yakhe? Unotshe!

IINKCUKACHA EZISITYEBISELAYO

16, 17. Ubungqina bezinto zakudala ezimbiweyo buyixhasa njani ingxelo kaDaniyeli (a) ngokumisa kukaNebhukadenetsare umfanekiso wonqulo ukuze bonke abantu baqubude kuwo? (b) ngokuthanda ukuqhayisa kukaNebhukadenetsare ngezakhiwo awazakhayo eBhabhiloni?

¹⁶ Ngoku makhe sibashiye abagxeki sithethe ngezinto ezakhayo. Makhe siqwalasele ezinye iinkcukacha kwincwadi kaDaniyeli ezibonisa ukuba umbhali wayo wazibonela ngawakhe amehlo izinto awazibhalayo.

¹⁷ Ukwazi kukaDaniyeli iinkcukacha ezibusithela zeBhabhiloni yamandulo kububungqina obubambekayo bokuchana kwengxelo yakhe. Ngokomzekelo, uDaniyeli 3:1-6 uthi uNebhukadenetsare wamisa umfanekiso omkhulu ukuze bonke abantu bawunqule. Abembi bezinto zakudala baye bafumana obunye ubungqina bokuba lo kumkani wayefuna abantu bakhe babandakanyeke nangakumbi kwizinto zesizwe nezonqulo. Ngendlela efanayo, uDaniyeli ubhala ngokuqhayisa kukaNebhukadenetsare ngezakhiwo ezininzi awayezakhile. (Daniyeli 4:30) Abembi bezinto zakudala baye bayiqinisekisa kule mihla into yokuba yayinguNebhukadenetsare owayakhe inkoliso yezakhiwo zaseBhabhiloni. Xa kufikwa kwinkqayiso—kaloku, le ndedeba yade yakrola igama layo kwakwezo zitena! Abo bagxeka incwadi kaDaniyeli abakwazi kucacisa ukuba lo mntu babesithi ngusomaqhingana owayephila ngexesha leeMaccabees (167-63 B.C.E.) wayenokuzazi njani na ezo zakhiwo—kwiinkulungwane ezimalunga nezine emva kokuba zakhiwe nakwiminyaka ngaphambi kokuba abembi bezinto zakudala bazivumbulule.

18. Ukuchana kwengxelo kaDaniyeli kubonakala njani kwiintlobo ezahlukeneyo zesohlwayo phantsi kolawulo lwamaBhabhiloni nolawulo lwamaPersi?

¹⁸ Incwadi kaDaniyeli ikwachaza nomahluko owawuphakathi kwemithetho yamaBhabhiloni neyamaMedi namaPersi. Ngokomzekelo, phantsi komthetho waseBhabhiloni amaqabane amathathu kaDaniyeli aphoswa edikeni lomlilo ngenxa yokungavumi ukuthobela umyalelo kakumkani. Kumashumi eminyaka kamva, uDaniyeli waphoswa emhadini weengonyama ngenxa yokungavumi ukuthobela umthetho wamaPersi owawungquzulana nesazela sakhe. (Daniyeli 3:6; 6:7-9) Bambi baye bathi le ngxelo yedike elivutha umlilo yintsomi, kodwa abembi bezinto zakudala baye bayifumana ileta yeBhabhiloni yamandulo esikhankanya ngokukhethekileyo eso sohlwayo. Noko ke, amaMedi namaPersi ayegqala umlilo njengento engcwele. Ngoko asebenzisa ezawo iindlela eziqatha zokohlwaya. Kungoko umhadi weengonyama ungeyonto imangalisayo.

19. Nguwuphi umahluko owawuphakathi kwenkqubo yomthetho waseBhabhiloni nowamaMedi namaPersi ocaciswa yincwadi kaDaniyeli?

¹⁹ Ukanti kusekho nomnye umahluko oveliswayo. UDaniyeli ubonisa ukuba uNebhukadenetsare wayenako ukuwisa aze aguqule umthetho nanini na ethanda. UDariyo wayengenako ukuwuguqula ‘umthetho wamaMedi namaPersi’—kwanokuba wawuwiswe nguye! (Daniyeli 2:5, 6, 24, 46-49; 3:10, 11, 29; 6:12-16) Umbhali-mbali uJohn C. Whitcomb ubhala enjenje: “Imbali yamandulo iwenza ucace nangakumbi umahluko phakathi kwamaBhabhiloni, awayenemithetho elawulwa ngukumkani, namaMedi namaPersi, awayenokumkani owayelawulwa ngumthetho.”

20. Ziziphi iinkcukacha eziphathelele itheko likaBheleshatsare ezibonisa ukuba uDaniyeli wayezazi izithethe zaseBhabhiloni?

²⁰ Ingxelo ebangel’ imincili yetheko likaBheleshatsare, ebhalwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 5, inenkcazelo eninzi. Kuyacaca ukuba, kweli theko abantu bazifikisela kanobom ekutyeni nasewayinini kwazisuka nje, kuba iwayini le ikhankanywa izihlandlo eziliqela. (Daniyeli 5:1, 2, 4) Imizobo ekroliweyo yamatheko afanayo ibonisa iwayini njengekuphela kwento eyayiselwa. Ngoko, kuyabonakala ukuba yayitshatshele ngokwenene intombi kaLudiza kwizisusa ezinjalo. Kwakhona uDaniyeli ukhankanya into yokuba kwakukho namabhinqa kwesi sidlo—abafazi namashweshwe kakumkani. (Daniyeli 5:3, 23) Izinto zakudala ezimbiweyo ziyalixhasa eli solotya lesithethe saseBhabhiloni. Into yokuba amadoda abuthe nabafazi emathekweni yayingaginywa kwaphela ngamaYuda namaGrike exesha leeMaccabees. Mhlawumbi kungoko iinguqulelo ezingaphambilana zencwadi kaDaniyeli ezazikwiSeptuagint yesiGrike zingazange zilikhankanye eli solotya lamabhinqa.c Ukanti, lo mfo utyholwa ngokuvelisa ngomgunyathi incwadi kaDaniyeli umele ukuba wayephila phantsi kwempembelelo efanayo yamaGrike, ibe mhlawumbi wayephila kwangelo xesha lokuveliswa kweSeptuagint!

21. Yiyiphi eyona ndlela isengqiqweni yokuchaza isizathu sokuba uDaniyeli abe nolwazi olungaka ngamaxesha nangezithethe ezazisenziwa xa wayethinjwe eBhabhiloni?

²¹ Ngenxa yezi nkcukacha, kubonakala kungumnqa ukuba iBritannica imchaze umbhali wencwadi kaDaniyeli njengonolwazi “oluqotyolweyo nolungachananga” lwamaxesha okuthinjwa. Kwakunokwenzeka njani ukuba iqili elaliphila kwiinkulungwane zamva lizicule ngentloko olo hlobo izithethe zamaBhabhiloni namaPersi amandulo? Kwakhona ukhumbule ukuba omabini la magunya kwakukudala aphuthayo ngenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Kucacile ukuba babengekho abembi bezinto zakudala ngoko; kananjalo namaYuda elo xesha ayengenamdla wokwazi ngezithethe nembali yezinye iintlanga. Kuphela ngumprofeti uDaniyeli, ingqina lokuzibonela lamaxesha neziganeko awazichazayo, omele ukuba wabhala le ncwadi yeBhayibhile ibizwa ngegama lakhe.

NGABA ZIKHO EZINYE IZINTO NGAPHANDLE KOMONGO WAYO EZINGQINA UKUBA INCWADI KADANIYELI INGUMGUNYATHI?

22. Liliphi ibango elenziwa ngabagxeki ngendawo ekuyo incwadi kaDaniyeli kwimibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere?

²² Elinye lawona mabango aqhelekileyo kwanxamnye nencwadi kaDaniyeli leliphathelele indawo yayo kwimibhalo engcwele yeZibhalo zesiHebhere. Oorabhi bamandulo bahlahlela iZibhalo zesiHebhere zaba ngamaqela amathathu: iincwadi zoMthetho, zabaProfeti neMibhalo. Incwadi kaDaniyeli abazange bayidwelise kwezabaProfeti, bayifaka kwiMibhalo. Abagxeki bathi oku kuthetha ukuba le ncwadi yayingaziwa xa kwakuqokelelwa iincwadi zabanye abaprofeti. Yafakwa phakathi kweMibhalo kuba ngokutsho kwabo yona yaqokelelwa mva.

23. AmaYuda amandulo ayijonga njani incwadi kaDaniyeli, yaye sikwazi njani oku?

²³ Noko ke, asingabo bonke abaphengululi beBhayibhile abavumayo ukuba oorabhi bamandulo bayihlahlela ngqongqo ngolo hlobo imibhalo engcwele okanye bayikhupha incwadi kaDaniyeli kwiincwadi zabaProfeti. Kodwa kwanokuba oorabhi bayifaka kwiMibhalo incwadi kaDaniyeli, ngaba oku kwakuya kungqina ukuba ibhalwe mva? Akunjalo. Abaphengululi abaziwayo baye baveza izizathu eziliqela zokuba oorabhi bayikhuphe incwadi kaDaniyeli kwiincwadi zabaProfeti. Ngokomzekelo, le ncwadi isenokuba yayibacaphukisa okanye ke babegqala uDaniyeli njengomprofeti owayengafani nabanye kuba yena wayebambe iqhuzu kwilizwe lasemzini. Enoba sasiyintoni na isizathu, eyona nto ibalulekileyo yile: AmaYuda amandulo ayeyihlonela incwadi kaDaniyeli yaye eyigqala njengencwadi ephefumlelweyo. Ngaphezu koko, ubungqina bubonisa ukuba uludwe lweZibhalo zesiHebhere lwagqitywa kwakude kudala phambi kwenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Iincwadi ezeza kamva azizange zamkelwe, kuquka ezinye zeencwadi ezabhalwa ngenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.

24. Iye yasetyenziswa njani incwadi engaphefumlelwayo ye-Ecclesiasticus nxamnye nencwadi kaDaniyeli, yaye yintoni ebonisa ukuba le ngqiqo ibubuvuvu?

²⁴ Into efik’ ixake ke kukuba, enye yezi ncwadi zakhatywayo iye yasetyenziswa kumabango anxamnye nencwadi kaDaniyeli. Kuyabonakala ukuba incwadi engaphefumlelwanga ye-Ecclesiasticus, kaJesus Ben Sirach, yabhalwa malunga nowe-180 B.C.E. Abagxeki bayathanda ukubambelela kwinto yokuba igama likaDaniyeli alikho kuludwe olude lwamadoda awayengamalungisa. Bathi uDaniyeli umele ukuba wayengaziwa ngelo xesha. Inkoliso yabaphengululi iyavumelana neli bango. Kodwa ke nantsi into: Kwakolu ludwe lunye akakho uEzra noModekayi (bobabini ababengamaqhawe amaxesha angaphambi kokuthinjwa kwamaYuda), uKumkani owayelilungisa uYehoshafati, nendoda eyayigqibelele uYobhi; kubo bonke abagwebi, nguSamuweli kuphela ovelayo.d Ke, ngaba ngenxa nje yokuba loo madoda engaveli kuludwe oluzicaceleyo ukuba aluphelelanga, noluthatyathwe kwincwadi engaphefumlelwanga, simele sisuk’ amadlu sisithi angabantu basentsomini? Kwalona nje eli bango linuk’ ukutsha.

UBUNGQINA OBUVELA NGAPHANDLE BUNGQINELA INCWADI KADANIYELI

25. (a) UJosephus wangqina njani ukuba ingxelo kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa? (b) Ingxelo kaJosephus engoAleksandire Omkhulu nencwadi kaDaniyeli ivisisana njani nembali eyaziwayo? (Bona umbhalo osemazantsi wesibini.) (c) Ubungqina bolwimi olusetyenzisiweyo buyixhasa njani incwadi kaDaniyeli? (Bona iphepha 26.)

²⁵ Kwakhona makhe sinamathele kwizinto ezakhayo. Kuthiwa ayikho incwadi yeZibhalo zesiHebhere eye yangqinelwa njengekaDaniyeli. Ngokomzekelo: Umbhali-mbali wodumo ongumYuda uJosephus uyangqina ukuba inokuthenjwa. Uthi xa uAleksandire Omkhulu wayesilwa nePersi ngenkulungwane yesine ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, waya eYerusalem, apho ababingeleli bafika bambonisa umbhalo wencwadi kaDaniyeli. UAleksandire wavuma esithi amazwi esiprofeto sikaDaniyeli awayebhekisa kuye ayethetha ngohlaselo lomkhosi wakhe kumaPersi.e Oku kumele ukuba kwenzeka malunga nenkulungwane enesiqingatha ngaphambi kokubhalwa koko abagxeki bafane bathi “ngumgunyathi.” Kakade ke, aba bagxeki baye bahlasela kwaJosephus lowo ngenxa yala mazwi. Bamhlasela nangenxa yokuba esithi ezinye zeziprofeto zencwadi kaDaniyeli zazizalisekile. Ukanti, njengoko umbhali-mbali uJoseph D. Wilson wagqabazayo, “ngokuqinisekileyo [uJosephus] wayesazi bhetele ngalo mba kunabo bonke abagxeki beli hlabathi.”

26. IMisongo Yolwandle Olufileyo isixhasa njani isibakala sokuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa?

²⁶ Ukuchana kwencwadi kaDaniyeli kwaxhaswa nangakumbi yiMisongo Yolwandle Olufileyo eyafunyanwa kwimiqolomba yaseQumran, kwaSirayeli. Okumangalisayo kukuba uninzi lwezinto ezafunyanwa ngowe-1952 yimisongo neziqwenga zencwadi kaDaniyeli. Owona mdala ususela ngasesiphelweni senkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngoko ke, incwadi kaDaniyeli yayisaziwa yaye ihlonelwa kwamhlamnene. IThe Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible ithi: “Ngoku imele iphele into yokuba kuthiwe incwadi kaDaniyeli yabhalwa ngexesha leeMaccabees, kuba beliya kuba lincinane gqitha ixesha eliphakathi kokushicilelwa kwencwadi kaDaniyeli nelokubonakala kwemibhalo yayo kumzi wogcino-zincwadi wehlelo lonqulo lweeMaccabees.”

27. Bubuphi obona bungqina budala bokuba uDaniyeli wayengumntu owaziwayo ebudeni bexesha lokuthinjwa eBhabhiloni?

²⁷ Noko ke, bukho ubungqina obudala nobunokuthenjwa nangakumbi obuxhasa incwadi kaDaniyeli. Omnye wabantu ababephila ngexesha likaDaniyeli yayingumprofeti uHezekile. Naye wakhonza njengomprofeti ebudeni bokuthinjwa eBhabhiloni. Incwadi kaHezekile ilikhankanya izihlandlo eziliqela igama likaDaniyeli. (Hezekile 14:14, 20; 28:3) Ezi mbekiselo zibonisa ukuba kwanangexesha lokudla kwakhe amazimba, ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uDaniyeli wayesaziwa kakade njengendoda elilungisa nesisilumko, ekufanelekelayo ukubotshwa ngabande linye noNowa noYobhi ababesoyika uThixo.

ELONA NGQINA LIBALASELEYO

28, 29. (a) Bubuphi obona bungqina boyisayo bokuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa? (b) Kutheni sifanele sibamkele ubungqina bukaYesu?

²⁸ Noko ke, masiqwele ngokuqwalasela oko kuthethwa lelona ngqina libalaseleyo lokuthembeka kwencwadi kaDaniyeli—alikho elinye ngaphandle kukaYesu Kristu. Xa exubusha ngemihla yokugqibela, uYesu ubhekisela ‘kumprofeti uDaniyeli’ nakwesinye seziprofeto zikaDaniyeli.—Mateyu 24:15; Daniyeli 11:31; 12:11.

²⁹ Ngoko ukuba ichanile ingcamango yabagxeki yokuba le ncwadi yabhalwa ngexesha leeMaccabees, kumele ukuba kwenzeka enye yezi zinto zimbini zilandelayo. UYesu umele ukuba wabhanxwa yile ncwadi ingumgunyathi okanye ke akazange awathethe amazwi uMateyu athi wawathetha. Zombini ezi zinto zazingenakwenzeka. Ukuba asiyithembi ingxelo yeVangeli kaMateyu, sisazithembela ntoni ke ezinye iinxalenye zeBhayibhile? Ukuba siyazikhupha ezo zivakalisi, ngawaphi amanye amagama esiza kulandelisa ngokuwashenxisa kwiZibhalo Ezingcwele? Umpostile uPawulos wabhala: “Sonke iSibhalo siphefumlelwe nguThixo kwaye siyingenelo ekufundiseni, . . . ekulungelelaniseni izinto.” (2 Timoti 3:16) Ngoko ukuba uDaniyeli wayengumkhohlisi, noPawulos wayenguye! Ngaba kwakunokwenzeka ukuba uYesu abhanxwe? Nakanye. Wayephila ezulwini xa kwakubhalwa incwadi kaDaniyeli. UYesu wada wathi: “Ngaphambi kokuba uAbraham abekho, bendikho.” (Yohane 8:58) Kubo bonke abantu abakha baphila, nguYesu onokusixelela ngokuchana kwencwadi kaDaniyeli. Kodwa akuyomfuneko nokuba sibuze. Kuba sele sibuvile ubungqina bakhe, singaba asiyazi into esiyifunayo.

30. UYesu wangqina njani kwakhona ukuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa?

³⁰ Kwakhona uYesu wakungqina ukuchana kwencwadi kaDaniyeli mhla wabhaptizwa. Ngaloo mhla waba nguMesiya, ezalisekisa isiprofeto esikwincwadi kaDaniyeli seeveki zeminyaka ezingama-69. (Daniyeli 9:25, 26; bona iSahluko 11 sale ncwadi.) Kwanokuba bekuyinyaniso oko kunokubizwa ngokuba yingcamango yokuba le ncwadi yabhalwa kwiminyaka yamva, umbhali wencwadi kaDaniyeli wayezazi izinto ezaziza kwenzeka kwiminyaka engama-200 ezayo. Kakade ke, uThixo wayengenakuphefumlela iqhetseba lomntu ukuba livakalise iziprofeto eziyinyaniso lizibiza ngegama lobuxoki. Ewe, ubungqina bukaYesu bamkelwa ngezandl’ ezishushu ngabantu abathembekileyo kuThixo. Kwanokuba zonke iingcali, nabo bonke abagxeki abasehlabathini, bebenokudibanisa iintloko bechasa incwadi kaDaniyeli, ubungqina bukaYesu bebuya kubonisa ukuba bayawuphosa umhlola, kuba ‘ulingqina elithembekileyo neliyinyaniso.’—ISityhilelo 3:14.

31. Kutheni inkoliso yabagxeki beBhayibhile ingekayamkeli into yokuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa?

³¹ Abagxeki beBhayibhile abakaneliswa nabobu ubungqina. Emva kokuwuhlolisisa ngenyameko lo mbandela, ubani usenokuzibuza ukuba ngaba phofu ukho umlinganiselo wobungqina onokuze ubeyise. Omnye unjingalwazi weOxford University wabhala: “Soze uhambele ndawo kwimizamo yokuphendula ezi zikrokro, kusekho ingcambu yazo, ethi ‘asinakuze sibekho isiprofeto esisuka kumandla angaphezu kwawemvelo.’” Ngoko yile ngcambu le ibamfamekisayo. Kodwa ke oxhel’ eyakhe akabuzwa—bazibetha ngolukaBhenya.

32. Yintoni esiza kuyizuza kufundisiso lwethu lwencwadi kaDaniyeli?

³² Kuthekani ngawe? Ukuba uyaphawula ukuba akukho nto ityhulu ngokuthenjwa kwencwadi kaDaniyeli, uya kuba ululungele olu phando lubangel’ imincili. Uza kuwafumanisa emnandi amabali kaDaniyeli, neziprofeto zakhe zichulumancisa. Okubaluleke nangakumbi, isahluko ngasinye siza kulushiya ukholo lwakho lomelele nangakumbi. Akunakuze uzisole ngokunikela ingqalelo ngenyameko kwisiprofeto sikaDaniyeli!

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

UZUZE NTONI?

• Yintoni le imangalelwa ngayo incwadi kaDaniyeli?

• Kutheni izinto ezisetyenziswa ngabagxeki ukuhlasela incwadi kaDaniyeli zingenasihlahla?

• Bubuphi ubungqina obuxhasa isibakala sokuba iingxelo zencwadi kaDaniyeli zinokuthenjwa?

• Bubuphi obona bungqina beyisayo bokuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa?

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 26]

Ulwimi

INCWADI kaDaniyeli yagqitywa ukubhalwa malunga nowama-536 B.C.E. Yabhalwa ngesiHebhere nangesiAramiki, kwaza kwafakelwa namagama ambalwa esiGrike nesiPersi. Le ngxubevange yeelwimi ayiqhelekanga kodwa ke ayinqabanga kwiZibhalo. Nencwadi yeBhayibhile kaEzra yabhalwa ngesiHebhere nesiAramiki. Ukanti, abanye abagxeki bathi umbhali wencwadi kaDaniyeli wasebenzisa ezi lwimi ngendlela apha ebonisa ukuba ibhalwe mva kunowama-536 B.C.E. Omnye umgxeki udla ngokucatshulwa esithi ukusetyenziswa kwamagama esiGrike kwincwadi kaDaniyeli kunyanzelisa ukuba kwamkelwe into yokuba yashicilelwa ngonyaka wamva. Uyangqina ukuba isiHebhere siyayixhasa loo ngcamango kwaye nesiAramiki siyavumelana nalo nyaka wamva—kwanalo wamva wenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.

Noko ke, asingabo bonke abaphengululi beelwimi abavumayo. Abanye oomakhwekhwetha baye bathi isiHebhere sikaDaniyeli siyafana nesikaHezekile nesikaEzra kodwa asifani neseencwadi ezingaphefumlelwanga zamva ezinjenge-Ecclesiasticus. Kumbandela wokusebenzisa kukaDaniyeli isiAramiki, masiqwalasele amaxwebhu amabini afumaneke kwiMisongo Yolwandle Olufileyo. Nawo abhalwe ngesiAramiki yaye asusela ngenkulungwane yokuqala neyesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo—kungekudala emva koko kubizwa kwencwadi kaDaniyeli njengomgunyathi. Kodwa abaphengululi baye baphawula umahluko omkhulu phakathi kwesiAramiki sala maxwebhu nesencwadi kaDaniyeli. Ngaloo ndlela, bambi bathi incwadi kaDaniyeli imele ukuba yabhalwa kwiinkulungwane ezithile ngaphambi kwexesha abagxeki bayo abathi yabhalwa ngalo.

Kuthekani ngamagama esiGrike “axakayo” akwincwadi kaDaniyeli? Kuthe kanti amanye awo akasosiGrike, kodwa ngawesiPersi! Ekuphela kwamagama ekucingelwa ukuba ngawesiGrike ngamagama ezixhobo zokudlala umculo ezintathu. Ngaba ngokwenene ubukho bala magama mathathu kuyasinyanzela ukuba sithi incwadi kaDaniyeli yabhalwa kamva? Akunjalo. Abembi bezinto zakudala baye bafumanisa ukuba inkcubeko yamaGrike yayinempembelelo kwakwiinkulungwane ngaphambi kokuba iGrisi ibe ligunya lehlabathi. Ukongezelela koko, ukuba incwadi kaDaniyeli yayishicilelwe ngenkulungwane yesibini ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo xa inkcubeko nolwimi lwamaGrike zazigqugqisile, ngaba ebeya kuba mathathu kuphela amagama esiGrike ewaquletheyo? Ibiya kuba ngumnqa loo nto. Ngokunokwenzeka ibiya kuba namagama angakumbi. Ngoko ubungqina bolwimi buxhasa isibakala sokuba incwadi kaDaniyeli inokuthenjwa.

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 12]

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 20]

(Ngezantsi) Igama likaKumkani uNabonidus nelonyana wakhe uBheleshatsare afumaneka kumqulu wetempile yaseBhabhiloni

(Ngasentla) Kulo mbhalo kukho amazwi kaNebhukadenetsare okuqhayisa ngezakhiwo zakhe

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 21]

Ngokutsho kweNcwadi Yeziganeko kaNabonidus, umkhosi kaKoreshi wangena eBhabhiloni ungazange ulwe

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 22]

(Ekunene) I-“Verse Account of Nabonidus” ithi uNabonidus washiya ulawulo ezandleni zenkulu yakhe

(Ekhohlo) Ingxelo yaseBhabhiloni engokuhlasela kukaNebhukadenetsare elakwaYuda