Isahluko Sesine
Ukuvela Nokuwa Komfanekiso Omkhulu
1. Kutheni sifanele sibe nomdla kwinto eyenzeka kwiminyaka elishumi emva kokuba uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare ethimbe uDaniyeli nabanye?
SELE kudlule iminyaka elishumi uDaniyeli namanye “amadoda abalaseleyo elizwe” lakwaYuda ethinjelwe eBhabhiloni nguKumkani uNebhukadenetsare. (2 Kumkani 24:15) UDaniyeli oselula ukhonza ebhotwe xa kuvela imbambano ebeka ubomi bakhe esichengeni. Kutheni sifanele sibe nomdla kule mbambano? Kungenxa yokuba indlela uYehova uThixo angenelela ngayo kuyo ayaneli kusindisa ubomi bukaDaniyeli nabanye nje kuphela kodwa ikwasityebisela ngokulandelelana kwamagunya ehlabathi esiprofeto seBhayibhile ukuza kuthi ga kumaxesha ethu.
UKUMKANI UJAMELENE NESISHIQI SENTO
2. UNebhukadenetsare waliphupha nini iphupha lokuqala elingokwesiprofeto?
2 Umprofeti uDaniyeli wabhala: “Ngonyaka wesibini wobukumkani bukaNebhukadenetsare, uNebhukadenetsare waphupha amaphupha; awamtsho waphazamiseka emoyeni, waphelelwa nabubuthongo.” (Daniyeli 2:1) Lo mntu uphuphayo yayinguNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani woBukhosi baseBhabhiloni. Waba ngumlawuli wehlabathi ngokupheleleyo ngowama-607 B.C.E., xa uYehova uThixo wamvumela ukuba atshabalalise iYerusalem netempile yayo. Ngonyaka wesibini wolawulo lukaNebhukadenetsare njengomlawuli wehlabathi (606/605 B.C.E.), uThixo wabangela ukuba aphuphe iphupha eloyikekayo.
3. Ngoobani abangazange bakwazi ukulawula iphupha likakumkani, ibe wasabela njani uNebhukadenetsare?
3 Eli phupha lamkhathaza uNebhukadenetsare kangangokuba wayengasalali buhlayo. Ngokuzenzekelayo, wayekufuna ngamehl’ amnyama ukwazi intsingiselo yalo. Kodwa ke le ngangalala yokumkani yayililibele shici elo phupha! Ngoko wabiza abenzi bemilingo, abanobugqi nabakhafuli baseBhabhiloni, waza wathi mabachaze baze balawule elo phupha. Kodwa ke labakhohla. Ukusilela kwabo kwamcaphukisa uNebhukadenetsare kangangokuba wakhupha umyalelo wokuba “zitshatyalaliswe zonke izilumko zaseBhabhiloni.” Lo myalelo wawuza kwenza ukuba umprofeti uDaniyeli ajamelane nomphumezi wezigwebo zalapha. Kwakutheni? Kaloku yena noogxa bakhe abathathu abangamaHebhere—uHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya—babebalwa phakathi kwezilumko zaseBhabhiloni.—Daniyeli 2:2-14.
UDANIYELI UYANCEDA
4. (a) UDaniyeli walazi njani iphupha likaNebhukadenetsare nentsingiselo yalo? (b) Yintoni eyathethwa nguDaniyeli ukubonakalisa uxabiso kuYehova uThixo?
4 Akusiva isizathu sokuba uNebhukadenetsare akhuphe umyalelo ongqwabalala ngolo hlobo, “uDaniyeli waya kukumkani, wamcela ukuba amphe ixesha lokuba amchazele intsingiselo yalo.” Walinikwa ke ixesha elo. UDaniyeli wabuyela endlwini yakhe, waza yena noogxa bakhe abathathu abangamaHebhere bathandaza, becela “inceba kuThixo wezulu ngokuphathelele le mfihlelo.” Ngaloo ngokuhlwa kanye, uYehova wabonisa uDaniyeli umbono owawutyhila imfihlelo yelo phupha. Enombulelo, uDaniyeli wathi: “Malibongwe igama likaThixo ukususela kwixesha elingenammiselo ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo, kuba bobakhe ubulumko namandla. Yena utshintsha amaxesha namathuba, ushenxisa ookumkani amisele ookumkani, unika izilumko ubulumko, anike iingqondi ulwazi. Utyhila izinto ezinzulu nezinto ezifihlakeleyo, uyakwazi okusebumnyameni; nokukhanya kuhleli kuye.” UDaniyeli wamdumisa uYehova ngokumnika ingqiqo enjalo.—Daniyeli 2:15-23.
5. (a) Xa wayephambi kokumkani, uDaniyeli wayizisa njani indumiso kuYehova? (b) Kutheni ukulilawula kukaDaniyeli iphupha kubalulekile kuthi namhlanje?
5 Ngosuku olulandelayo, uDaniyeli waya kuAriyoki, umphathi wamafa-nankosi, owayemiselwe ukuba atshayele yonk’ intw’ esisilumko eBhabhiloni. Wathi uAriyoki akufumanisa ukuba uDaniyeli unako ukulilawula elo phupha, wasel’ enyathelela phezulu ukumsa kukumkani. Engazigwagwisi, uDaniyeli wamxelela oku uNebhukadenetsare: “Kukho uThixo emazulwini onguMtyhili weemfihlelo, yaye umazisile uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare okuya kwenzeka ekupheleni kwemihla.” UDaniyeli wayengalungelanga kutyhila ikamva loBukhosi baseBhabhiloni nje kuphela kodwa wayeza kuchaza iziganeko zehlabathi ukususela kumhla kaNebhukadenetsare ukuza kutsho kulo wethu de wadlula.—Daniyeli 2:24-30.
IPHUPHA—LIKHUNJULWE
6, 7. Lalisithini iphupha uDaniyeli awalichazela ukumkani?
6 UNebhukadenetsare wayeziindlebe wonke njengoko uDaniyeli wayechaza: “Wena, kumkani, ubone umfanekiso othile omkhulu kakhulu. Loo mfanekiso ubumi phambi kwakho, umkhulu kwaye uqaqambe ngokungaqhelekanga, nembonakalo yawo inkwantyisa. Intloko yaloo mfanekiso ibiyigolide ecwengileyo, isifuba sawo neengalo zawo ziyisilivere, isisu sawo namathanga awo ilubhedu, imilenze yawo iyintsimbi, iinyawo zawo ngokuyinxenye ziyintsimbi yaye ngokuyinxenye ziludongwe oluxonxiweyo. Kuthe usabukele njalo kwaqephuka ilitye kungengazandla, lawubetha umfanekiso lowo ezinyaweni zawo zentsimbi nodongwe oluxonxiweyo, lazityumza. Kwaza kwatyumka konke, intsimbi nodongwe oluxonxiweyo nobhedu nesilivere negolide, zaba njengomququ wesanda sasehlotyeni, kwafika umoya waziphephetha, awafunyanwa konke konke umkhondo wazo. Lasuka ilitye elabetha umfanekiso lowo, laba yintaba enkulu, lazalisa umhlaba uphela.”—Daniyeli 2:31-35.
7 Hayi indlela amele ukuba wayenemincili ngayo uNebhukadenetsare xa wayesiva uDaniyeli etyhila elo phupha! Kodwa khawume ke! Izilumko zaseBhabhiloni zaziya kuxolelwa kuphela ukuba uDaniyeli wayede walilawula elo phupha. Ethetha egameni lakhe nabahlobo bakhe abathathu abangamaHebhere, uDaniyeli wathi: “Lilo elo iphupha lakho kumkani; nantsi ke intsingiselo yalo.”—Daniyeli 2:36.
UBUKUMKANI OBUTSHATSHELEYO
8. (a) Ngubani okanye yintoni uDaniyeli awayitolika njengentloko yegolide? (b) Yaqalisa nini ukubakho intloko yegolide?
8 “Wena, kumkani, kumkani wookumkani, wena onikwe nguThixo wezulu ubukumkani, ukomelela, namandla nesidima, wena anikele esandleni sakhe elimiweyo liphela ukuze alawule uluntu, nezilo zasendle, nezidalwa ezinamaphiko zamazulu, uyintloko yegolide.” (Daniyeli 2:37, 38) La mazwi ayebhekisa kuNebhukadenetsare emva kokuba esetyenziswe nguYehova ukutshabalalisa iYerusalem, ngowama-607 B.C.E. Oku kungenxa yokuba ookumkani ababelawula eYerusalem babesuka kumnombo kaDavide, ukumkani owayethanjiswe nguYehova. IYerusalem yayilikomkhulu lakwaYuda, ubukumkani bukaThixo bokomfuziselo obabumela ulongamo lukaYehova emhlabeni. Sathi sakutshatyalaliswa eso sixeko ngowama-607 B.C.E., obu bukumkani bukaThixo bokomfuziselo baphela. (1 Kronike 29:23; 2 Kronike 36:17-21) Ngoku amagunya ehlabathi alandelayo nawayefuziselwa ngamalungu esinyithi omfanekiso ayenokudakasa ehlabathini engaphazanyiswa bubukumkani bokomfuziselo bukaThixo. Njengentloko yegolide, esona sinyithi sasinexabiso eliphakamileyo kwezazisaziwa mandulo, uNebhukadenetsare wayejizekwe ngelungelo elikhethekileyo lokububhukuqa obo bukumkani ngokutshabalalisa iYerusalem.—Bona umxholo othi “UKumkani Oligorha Wakha UBukhosi,” kwiphepha 63.
9. Yayimela ntoni intloko yegolide?
9 UNebhukadenetsare, owalawula iminyaka engama-43, wayengowokuqala kudederhu lwabalawuli boBukhosi baseBhabhiloni. Kolo dederhu kwakukho nomkhwenyana wakhe uNabonidus nenkulu yakhe, uEvili-merodaki. Olo lawulo lwaqhubeka kangangeminye iminyaka engama-43, de kwafa uBheleshatsare unyana kaNabonidus ngowama-539 B.C.E. (2 Kumkani 25:27; Daniyeli 5:30) Ngoko intloko yegolide yomfanekiso owabonakala ephupheni yayingameli uNebhukadenetsare kuphela kodwa yayimela bonke abalawuli baseBhabhiloni.
10. (a) Iphupha likaNebhukadenetsare labonisa njani ukuba iGunya Lehlabathi laseBhabhiloni laliza kuphelelwa? (b) Yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili ngumprofeti uIsaya ngalowo wayeza koyisa iBhabhiloni? (c) AmaMedi namaPersi aba ngaphantsi kuneBhabhiloni ngayiphi ingqiqo?
10 UDaniyeli wamxelela oku uNebhukadenetsare: “Emva kwakho kuya kuvela obunye ubukumkani obungaphantsi kobakho.” (Daniyeli 2:39) Ubukumkani obabufuziselwa sisifuba neengalo zesilivere zomfanekiso babuya kungena ezihlangwini zabalawuli abalandela uNebhukadenetsare. Kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-200 ngaphambilana, uIsaya wayesele eprofetile ngobu bukumkani, embize ngegama kwanaloo kumkani wabo woyisayo—uKoreshi. (Isaya 13:1-17; 21:2-9; 44:24–45:7, 13) Obu yayibuBukhosi bamaMedi namaPersi. Nangona amaMedi namaPersi athi alingana noBukhosi baseBhabhiloni ngempucuko, ubukumkani bawo bumelwa yisilivere, isinyithi esinexabiso elingaphantsi kwegolide. Babungaphantsi kuneGunya Lehlabathi laseBhabhiloni kuba abuzange buxhamle inyhweba yokubhukuqa uYuda, ubukumkani bukaThixo bokomfuziselo, nekomkhulu labo iYerusalem.
11. Yaphelelwa nini intloko yegolide yomfanekiso kaNebhukadenetsare?
11 Kwiminyaka emalunga nama-60 emva kokuba uDaniyeli elawule elo phupha, wazibonela ngawakhe amehlo isiphelo sabalawuli ababelandela uNebhukadenetsare. UDaniyeli wayekho ngobusuku bukaOktobha 5/6, 539 B.C.E., xa umkhosi wamaMedi namaPersi woyisa iBhabhiloni eyayibonakala ingenakoyiswa mntu waza wabulala uKumkani uBheleshatsare. Kwathi kwakufa uBheleshatsare, intloko yegolide yomfanekiso welo phupha—uBukhosi baseBhabhiloni—yathi shwaka.
UBUKUMKANI BUKHULULA ABATHINJWA
12. Umyalelo owawukhutshwe nguKoreshi ngowama-537 B.C.E. waba yingenelo njani kumaYuda awayethinjiwe?
12 AmaMedi namaPersi angena esikhundleni soBukhosi baseBhabhiloni njengegunya elilawula ihlabathi ngowama-539 B.C.E. Eneminyaka engama-62 ubudala, uDariyo umMedi waba ngumlawuli wokuqala wesixeko saseBhabhiloni esoyisiweyo. (Daniyeli 5:30, 31) Kangangethutyana, yena noKoreshi umPersi balawula kunye kuBukhosi bamaMedi namaPersi. Emva kokufa kukaDariyo, uKoreshi wakhonya yedwa kuBukhosi bamaPersi. KumaYuda awayeseBhabhiloni, ulawulo lukaKoreshi lwathetha ukukhululwa ekuthinjweni. Ngowama-537 B.C.E., uKoreshi wakhupha umyalelo owawuvumela amaYuda awayethinjwe eBhabhiloni ukuba abuyele kwilizwe lawo aze akhe iYerusalem netempile kaYehova. Noko ke, ubukumkani bukaThixo bokomfuziselo abuzange buphinde bumiselwe kwaYuda naseYerusalem.—2 Kronike 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1–2:2a.
13. Sasifuzisela ntoni isifuba neengalo zesilivere zomfanekiso wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare?
13 Isifuba neengalo zesilivere zomfanekiso wephupha zazifuzisela umnombo wookumkani bamaPersi ababeqala kuKoreshi Omkhulu. Abo balawuli baqhubeka iminyaka engaphezu kwama-200. Kucingelwa ukuba uKoreshi wafela edabini ngowama-530 B.C.E. Kookumkani abanokuba li-12 abalandela emva kwakhe kwisihlalo soBukhosi bamaPersi, ubuncinane babini abaqhubana kakuhle nabantu abanyuliweyo bakaYehova. Omnye yayinguDariyo I (umPersi), yaye omnye inguArtashashta I.
14, 15. Luluphi uncedo olwanikelwa nguDariyo Omkhulu noArtashashta I kumaYuda?
14 UDariyo I wayengowesithathu kuludwe lookumkani bamaPersi abalandela uKoreshi Omkhulu. Ababini ababengaphambi kwakhe yayinguCambyses II nomnakwabo uBardiya (okanye esinye seZazi zaseMpumalanga esabanga ubukumkani esigama linguGaumata). Wathi uDariyo I, owayekwaziwa ngokuba nguDariyo Omkhulu, eqalisa ukulawula ngowama-521 B.C.E., wabe sele uvaliwe umsebenzi wokwakha ngokutsha itempile eyayiseYerusalem. Wathi akufumana uxwebhu olwalunomyalelo kaKoreshi kwindawo yokulondoloza amaxwebhu abalulekileyo e-Ecbatana, uDariyo akanela nje ukususa loo miqathango ngowama-520 B.C.E. Wathumela nemali yasebukhosini waza wanikela ngayo ukuze kwakhiwe itempile.—Ezra 6:1-12.
15 Umlawuli ongumPersi owalandelayo ukuphos’ igade kwimizamo yamaYuda yokwakha ngokutsha yayinguArtashashta I, owangena ezihlangwini zikayise uAhaswerosi (uXerxes I) ngowama-475 B.C.E. Ifani ka-Artashashta yayinguLongimanus ngenxa yokuba isandla sakhe sasekunene sasiside kunesasekhohlo. Ebudeni bonyaka wama-20 wolawulo lwakhe, ngowama-455 B.C.E., wathwesa umngcamli wakhe ongumYuda uNehemiya njengebamba lakwaYuda waza wamthuma ukuba avuse iindonga zeYerusalem. Elo nyathelo laphawula ukuqala ‘kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe’ ezichazwe kwisahluko 9 sikaDaniyeli laza lamisela imihla yokubonakala nokufa kukaMesiya, okanye uKristu, uYesu waseNazarete.—Daniyeli 9:24-27; Nehemiya 1:1; 2:1-18.
16. Laphelelwa nini yaye ngawuphi ukumkani iGunya Lehlabathi lamaMedi namaPersi?
16 Owokugqibela kookumkani abathandathu abalandela uArtashashta I kwisihlalo soBukhosi bamaPersi yayinguDariyo III. Ulawulo lwakhe lwaphela ngesiquphe ngowama-331 B.C.E. xa woyiswa kabuhlungu nguAleksandire Omkhulu eGaugamela, kude kufuphi neNineve yamandulo. Olo loyiso lwakuphelisa ukukhonya kweGunya Lehlabathi lamaMedi namaPersi olwalufuziselwa yinxalenye eyisilivere yomfanekiso wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare. Igunya elalandelayo lalilikhulu ngendlela yalo, ngoxa lalinazo iindawo elalingaphantsi ngazo. Oku kucaca nangakumbi xa siphulaphula uDaniyeli ehlabela mgama nokutolika iphupha likaNebhukadenetsare.
UBUKUMKANI—BUKHULU KODWA BUNGAPHANTSI
17-19. (a) Isisu namathanga obhedu ayemela liphi igunya lehlabathi, yaye lwaluya kuba lukhulu kangakanani ulawulo lalo? (b) Yayingubani uAleksandire III? (c) Kwenzeka njani ukuba isiGrike esiqhelekileyo sibe lulwimi olusetyenziswa zizizwe ngezizwe, yaye yintoni esasiyifanelekele kakuhle?
17 UDaniyeli uxelela uNebhukadenetsare ukuba isisu namathanga alo mfanekiso omkhulu ayefuzisela “obunye ubukumkani obungaphantsi kobakho; kulandele nobesithathu ubukumkani, obobhedu, obuya kulawula umhlaba uphela.” (Daniyeli 2:32, 39) Obu bukumkani besithathu babuza kulandela iBhabhiloni namaMedi namaPersi. Ekubeni ubhedu lunexabiso elingaphantsi kwisilivere, eli gunya lehlabathi litsha laliza kuba ngaphantsi kumaMedi namaPersi ekubeni lalingenakujizekwa ngelungelo elinjengelokukhulula abantu bakaYehova. Noko ke, obu bukumkani bunjengobhedu babuza “kulawula umhlaba uphela,” nto leyo ebonisa ukuba babuza kuba bukhulu kuneBhabhiloni okanye amaMedi namaPersi. Imbali isixelela ntoni ngeli gunya lehlabathi?
18 Kamsinya nje emva kokuba ebuzuze njengelifa ubukumkani baseMakedoniya ngowama-336 B.C.E. eneminyaka engama-20 ubudala, uAleksandire III owayenamabhongo waqalisa iphulo lakhe lokoyisa. Ngenxa yempumelelo yomkhosi wakhe, wabizwa ngokuba nguAleksandire Omkhulu. Ekubeni wayegqugqisile esoyisa, waya engena kummandla owawulawulwa ngamaPersi. Xa woyisa uDariyo III kwidabi laseGaugamela ngowama-331 B.C.E., uBukhosi bamaPersi baqalisa ukuwa waza uAleksandire wamisela iGrisi njengegunya lehlabathi elitsha.
19 Emva koloyiso lwaseGaugamela, uAleksandire waqhubeka ethimba izixeko zamaPersi eziyiBhabhiloni, iSusa, iPersepolis ne-Ecbatana. Wathi akubuhlutha bonke uBukhosi bamaPersi, wenjenjeya ukugqugqisa esinge kwintshona yeIndiya. Amazwe oyisiweyo ayemiselwa njengamathanga aseGrisi. Ngaloo ndlela, ulwimi lwesiGrike nezithethe zawo zasasazeka kuwo onke loo mazwe. Phofu ke, uBukhosi bamaGrike baba bukhulu ngaphezu kwabo nabuphi na obabungaphambi kwabo. Njengoko uDaniyeli waxela kwangaphambili, ubukumkani bobhedu ‘balawula umhlaba uphela.’ Le yenye yezinto ezabangela ukuba isiGrike (isiKoine) sibe lulwimi olunxibelelanisa izizwe ngezizwe. Ekubeni silulwimi olutyebileyo, sangqineka sikufanelekela kakuhle ukusetyenziswa ekubhaleni iZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike nokusasaza iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo.
20. Kwenzeka ntoni kuBukhosi bamaGrike emva kokufa kuka-Aleksandire Omkhulu?
20 UAleksandire Omkhulu waphila iminyaka esibhozo kuphela engumlawuli wehlabathi. NgoJuni 13, 323 B.C.E., eseze ngobuso elizweni, uAleksandire owayeneminyaka engama-32 ubudala wagula waza wasutywa kukufa. Ethubeni, ubukhosi bakhe obukhulu bahlulwa baba yimimandla emine, ngamnye owawulawulwa yenye yeenjengele zakhe. Ngenxa yoko kobo bukumkani bukhulu bunye kwaphuma izikumkani ezine ezathi ekugqibeleni zabimbilizwa buBukhosi bamaRoma. Igunya lehlabathi elifana nobhedu laqhubeka de kwangowama-30 B.C.E., xa esokugqibela kwezi zikumkani zine—ungcelele lomnombo wooPtolemy ababelawula eYiputa—ekugqibeleni wagob’ uphondo kwiRoma.
UBUKUMKANI OBUTYUMZAYO NOBUQOBAYO
21. UDaniyeli wabuchaza njani “ubukumkani besine”?
21 UDaniyeli waqhubeka echaza lo mfanekiso wephupha: “Ke bona ubukumkani besine [emva kweBhabhiloni, amaMedi namaPersi neGrisi], buya komelela njengentsimbi. Njengoko intsimbi ityumza yaye isila yonke into, ngoko, njengentsimbi eqobayo, buya kuzityumza buze buziqobe zonke ezi.” (Daniyeli 2:40) Ekubeni lomelele yaye linamandla okutyumza, eli gunya lehlabathi laliza kuba njengentsimbi—libe namandla ngaphezu kobukhosi obabumelwe yigolide, isilivere, okanye ubhedu. Babunjalo ke ukuba namandla uBukhosi bamaRoma.
22. UBukhosi bamaRoma babufana njani nentsimbi?
22 IRoma yabutyumza yaza yabuqoba uBukhosi bamaGrike yaza yashwabadela nezo mvuthuluka ezazisasele zegunya lehlabathi lamaMedi namaPersi nelamaBhabhiloni. Ingabazele nto kwaphela uBukumkani bukaThixo obavakaliswa nguYesu Kristu, yambulala ngokumxhoma kwisibonda sentuthumbo ngowama-33 C.E. Izama ukutyumza ubuKristu bokwenyaniso, iRoma yabatshutshisa nabalandeli bakaYesu. Elokuqwela, amaRoma ayitshabalalisa iYerusalem netempile yayo ngowama-70 C.E.
23, 24. Ngaphandle koBukhosi bamaRoma, yintoni eyayifuziselwa yimilenze yomfanekiso?
23 Imilenze yentsimbi yephupha lomfanekiso likaNebhukadenetsare yayingafuziseli uBukhosi bamaRoma nje kuphela kodwa yayikwamela nobukhulu bayo kwezobupolitika. Khawucinge ngala mazwi abhalwe kwiSityhilelo 17:10 athi: “Kukho ookumkani abasixhenxe: abahlanu bawile, omnye ukho, omnye akakafiki, kodwa xa athe wafika umele ahlale ithuba elifutshane.” Xa umpostile uYohane wayebhala la mazwi, amaRoma ayemgxothele kwisiqithi sasePatmos. Ookumkani abahlanu ababewile, okanye amagunya ehlabathi, yayiyiYiputa, iAsiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMedi namaPersi neGrisi. Owesithandathu—uBukhosi bamaRoma—wayesalawula. Kodwa naye wayeza kuwa, ibe ukumkani wesixhenxe wayeza kuvumbuluka kweminye yemimandla eyayihluthwe ngamaRoma. Yayiza kuba leliphi igunya lehlabathi bethu?
24 IBritani yayikhe yayinxalenye ekumntla-ntshona yoBukhosi bamaRoma. Kodwa ngowe-1763, yaba buBukhosi baseBritani—iBritani eyayilawula iilwandle ezisixhenxe. Ngowe-1776, amathanga awo ali-13 aseMerika ayefumene uzimele-geqe aza ayila iUnited States of America. Noko ke, kwiminyaka ethile kamva, iBritani neUnited States zaba ngamaphuth’ ahlathinye ebumnandini nasebubini. Lwavela apho ke olu manyano lwamaNgesi namaMerika njengegunya lehlabathi lesixhenxe lesiprofeto seBhayibhile. NjengoBukhosi bamaRoma, luye lwazingqina ‘lomelele njengentsimbi,’ lunegunya elinjengentsimbi. Ngaloo ndlela imilenze yentsimbi yomfanekiso wephupha iquka uBukhosi bamaRoma negunya lehlabathi lamaNgesi namaMerika.
UMXUBE ONTLALUNTLALU
25. Yintoni eyathethwa nguDaniyeli ngeenyawo neenzwane zomfanekiso?
25 Emva koko uDaniyeli wamxelela oku uNebhukadenetsare: “Njengoko uzibonile iinyawo neenzwane ukuba ngokuyinxenye ziludongwe oluxonxiweyo lombumbi yaye ngokuyinxenye ziyintsimbi, ngoko ke obo bukumkani buya kwahlulelana, kodwa kuya kubakho ubulukhuni bentsimbi kubo, njengoko wabona intsimbi ixubene nodongwe olumanzi. Yaye njengokuba zona iinzwane zeenyawo ziyintsimbi ngokuyinxenye nodongwe oluxonxiweyo ngokuyinxenye, ubukumkani ngokuyinxenye buya komelela kwaye ngokuyinxenye buya kuba ethe-ethe. Njengoko intsimbi ixubene nodongwe olumanzi, ngoko ke baya kuxubana nenzala yoluntu; kodwa abayi kunamathelana, kanye njengoko nentsimbi ingaxubani nodongwe oluxonxiweyo.”—Daniyeli 2:41-43.
26. Lwabonakala nini ulawulo olwalufuziselwa ziinyawo neenzwane zomfanekiso?
26 Ukulandelelana kwamagunya ehlabathi amelwa ngamalungu ahlukeneyo omfanekiso wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare kwaqala entloko kwaya kutsho ezinyaweni. Ngokusengqiqweni ke, iinyawo neenzwane ‘eziyintsimbi exubene nodongwe olumanzi’ zaziya kufuzisela imbonakalo yolawulo lomntu lokugqibela oluya kube lukho ebudeni ‘bexesha lesiphelo.’—Daniyeli 12:4.
27. (a) Zifanekisela yiphi imeko iinyawo neenzwane zentsimbi exutywe nodongwe? (b) Zifuzisela ntoni iinzwane ezilishumi zomfanekiso?
27 Ngasebutsheni benkulungwane yama-20, uBukhosi baseBritani babulawula umntu omnye kwabane emhlabeni. Namanye amazwe aseYurophu ayelawula izigidi ezingakumbi zabantu. Kodwa iMfazwe Yehlabathi I yabangela ukuba kuvumbuluke amazwe aliqela endaweni yobukhosi. Olu tyekelo lwaba ngathi luthabath’ unyawo emva kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II. Njengoko umoya wobuzwe wawusiya uqatsela, inani lamazwe ehlabathi lantinga ngendlela ephawulekayo. Iinzwane ezilishumi zomfanekiso zifuzisela onke loo magunya noorhulumente abalawula ngexesha elinye, kuba maxa wambi eBhayibhileni ishumi linani elifuzisela ukuphelela kwezinto zasemhlabeni.—Thelekisa iEksodus 34:28; Mateyu 25:1; ISityhilelo 2:10.
28, 29. (a) Ngokutsho kukaDaniyeli, lumela ntoni udongwe? (b) Sazi ntoni ngomxube wentsimbi nodongwe?
28 Ngoku ekubeni siphila ‘kwixesha lesiphelo,’ sele sifikile ezinyaweni zaloo mfanekiso. Abanye boorhulumente abebefuziselwa ziinyawo neenzwane zentsimbi exutywe nodongwe banjengentsimbi—bangoozwilakhe. Abanye banjengodongwe. Njani? UDaniyeli wanxulumanisa udongwe “nenzala yoluntu.” (Daniyeli 2:43) Nangona udongwe, ebunjwe ngalo inzala yoluntu luethe-ethe, kwanabona zwilakhe banjengentsimbi baye banyanzeleka ukuba babaphulaphule abantu abaqhelekileyo, abafuna ukuba negalelo nabo kurhulumente obaphetheyo. (Yobhi 10:9) Kodwa ke oozwilakhe nabantu abaqhelekileyo bayimihlambi eyalanayo—kanye njengokuba ungenako ukudibanisa intsimbi nodongwe. Uya kuthi ubhanga lo mfanekiso, ihlabathi libe selahlulahlulwe laba ngamazwe ngamazwe!
29 Ngaba ukuba zintlaba-zahlukane kweenyawo neenzwane kuya kuwubhidliza wonke lo mfanekiso? Okanye ke ngaba uya kutshatyalaliswa yenye into engeyonxalenye yalo mfanekiso?
INCOPHO EBANGEL’ UMDLA!
30. Chaza incopho yephupha likaNebhukadenetsare.
30 Khawuqwalasele incopho yeli phupha. UDaniyeli wayexelele ukumkani oku: “Kuthe usabukele njalo kwaqephuka ilitye kungengazandla, lawubetha umfanekiso lowo ezinyaweni zawo zentsimbi nodongwe oluxonxiweyo, lazityumza. Kwaza kwatyumka konke, intsimbi nodongwe oluxonxiweyo nobhedu nesilivere negolide, zaba njengomququ wesanda sasehlotyeni, kwafika umoya waziphephetha, awafunyanwa konke konke umkhondo wazo. Lasuka ilitye elabetha umfanekiso lowo, laba yintaba enkulu, lazalisa umhlaba uphela.”—Daniyeli 2:34, 35.
31, 32. Yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili ngokuphathelele inxalenye yokugqibela yephupha likaNebhukadenetsare?
31 Sinikela inkcazelo ebhekele phaya, esi siprofeto siyaqhubeka: “Ngemihla yabo kumkani uThixo wezulu uya kumisa ubukumkani obungenakuze bonakaliswe. Yaye obo bukumkani abuyi kudluliselwa kubo nabaphi na abanye abantu. Buya kuzityumza buziphelise zonke ezi zikumkani, buze bona bume ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo; njengoko wabonayo ukuba entabeni kwaqephuka ilitye kungengazandla, laza latyumza intsimbi, ubhedu, udongwe oluxonxiweyo, isilivere negolide. UThixo Ozukileyo umazisile ukumkani okuya kwenzeka emva koku. Iphupha eli ke linokuthenjwa, nentsingiselo yalo inokuthenjwa.”—Daniyeli 2:44, 45.
32 Uthe akuqonda ukuba iphupha lakhe liye lakhunjulwa laza lalawulwa, uNebhukadenetsare wavuma ukuba uThixo kaDaniyeli ‘yiNkosi yookumkani noMtyhili weemfihlelo.’ Kwakhona lo kumkani wambeka kwisikhundla esiphezulu uDaniyeli noogxa bakhe abathathu abangamaHebhere. (Daniyeli 2:46-49) Noko ke, ibaluleke ngantoni namhlanje ‘intsingiselo enokuthenjwa’ kaDaniyeli?
‘INTABA IZALISA UMHLABA’
33. Yiyiphi le “ntaba” elaqephuka kuyo “ilitye,” ibe yenzeka nini yaye njani loo nto?
33 Xa “amaxesha amisiweyo eentlanga” aphela ngo-Oktobha 1914, “uThixo wezulu” waseka uBukumkani basezulwini ngokuthwesa uNyana wakhe othanjisiweyo, uYesu Kristu, ‘njengoKumkani wookumkani neNkosi yeenkosi.’a (Luka 21:24; ISityhilelo 12:1-5; 19:16) Ngoko ngamandla kaThixo, kungekhona izandla zabantu, abangela ukuba kuqephuke “ilitye” loBukumkani obungoMesiya lisuka ‘kwintaba’ elulongamo lukaYehova kwindalo iphela. Obu bukumkani basezulwini bulawulwa nguYesu Kristu, uThixo aye wamjizeka ukungafi. (Roma 6:9; 1 Timoti 6:15, 16) Kungoko obu “bukumkani beNkosi yethu [uThixo] nobukaKristu wayo”—imbonakaliso yokongama kukaYehova kwindalo iphela—bungayi kudluliselwa komnye umntu. Buya kuma ngonaphakade.—ISityhilelo 11:15.
34. Kwenzeka njani ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo buzalwe “ngemihla yabo kumkani”?
34 Obu Bukumkani bazalwa “ngemihla yabo kumkani.” (Daniyeli 2:44) Aba yayingengokumkani abafuziselwa ziinzwane ezilishumi zomfanekiso kuphela kodwa yayikwangabo babefuziselwe ngamalungu ayintsimbi, ubhedu, isilivere negolide. Nangona amaBhabhiloni, amaPersi, amaGrike namaRoma aphelelwa kudala njengamagunya ehlabathi, iintsalela zawo zazisekho ngowe-1914. Ngelo xesha uBukhosi baseTurkey babulawula ummandla waseBhabhiloni, noorhulumente babesaphethe ePersi (eIran) eGrisi naseRoma, eItali.
35. “Ilitye” liza kuwubetha nini umfanekiso, yaye umfanekiso uza kutshatyalaliswa njani ngokucokisekileyo?
35 Kungekudala uBukumkani bukaThixo bamazulu buza kuwubetha ezinyaweni umfanekiso wokomfuziselo. Yaye ke ngoko, buya kuzishiya ziziingceba zonke izikumkani ezifuziselwa nguloo mfanekiso, buziphelise zithi tu. Ngokwenene, “kwimfazwe yemini enkulu kaThixo uSomandla,” elo “litye” liya kutyumza kangangokuba loo mfanekiso ucoleke ube ngumgubo uze umoya woqhwithela lukaThixo uwuphephethele kude njengomququ wesanda. (ISityhilelo 16:14, 16) Bandule ke, njengelitye elakhula langangentaba laza lazalisa umhlaba, uBukumkani bukaThixo bube ngurhulumente onjengentaba oya kulawula “umhlaba uphela.”—Daniyeli 2:35.
36. Kutheni kunokutshiwo ukuba uBukumkani obungoMesiya bungurhulumente ozinzileyo?
36 Nangona uBukumkani obungoMesiya buya kube busezulwini, igunya labo liya kufikelela kumhlaba wethu kuze kusikelelwe wonke ummi othobelayo emhlabeni. Lo rhulumente uzinzileyo ‘akanakuze onakaliswe’ okanye ‘adluliselwe kubo nabaphi na abanye abantu.’ Ngokungafaniyo nobukumkani babalawuli abangabantu abaphela besifa, ‘bona buya kuma ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo,’ ngonaphakade. (Daniyeli 2:44) Ngamana unganelungelo lokuba ngomnye wabalawulwa bakhe ngokungenasiphelo.
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
a Bona iSahluko 6 sale ncwadi.
UZUZE NTONI?
• Ngawaphi amagunya ehlabathi amelwa ngamalungu ahlukahlukeneyo omfanekiso omkhulu wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare?
• Yiyiphi imeko yehlabathi efuziselwa ziinyawo neenzwane ezilishumi zentsimbi exutywe nodongwe?
• “Ilitye” laqephuka nini yaye lisuka kwiyiphi “intaba”?
• “Ilitye” liza kuwubetha nini umfanekiso?
[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 63-67]
UKUMKANI OLIGORHA WAKHA UBUKHOSI
INKOSANA eyindlalifa yaseBhabhiloni nomkhosi wayo bayiqob’ amandla imikhosi yaseYiputa kaFaro Neko eCarchemish, eSiriya. La maYiputa akatyisiweyo athi yaphuka xhongo ejongise ezantsi eYiputa, ibe amaBhabhiloni ayezizibhene emva kwawo. Kodwa isigidimi esivela eBhabhiloni sinyanzela le nkosana yoyisileyo ukuba ikhe ithi xhaa kweli phulo. Umphanga uthi uyise, uNabopolassar, usutywe kukufa. Eshiya imbopheleleko yokubuya nabathinjwa kunye nexhoba, uNebhukadenetsare wenza amatshe ukugoduka aze angene kwisihlalo sikayise esasisele sikhal’ ibhungane.
Ngaloo ndlela uNebhukadenetsare wangena esihlalweni eBhabhiloni ngowama-624 B.C.E., waza waba ngumlawuli wesibini woBukhosi beBhabhiloni Entsha. Ebudeni bolawulo lwakhe lweminyaka engama-43, wahlutha imihlaba eyayikhe yaphantsi kweGunya Lehlabathi laseAsiriya waza wandisa ulawulo lwakhe, ethabatha iSiriya ekumntla nePalestina esentshona ukuhla ukuya kutsho kumda weYiputa.—Bona imaphu.
Ngonyaka wesine wolawulo lwakhe (ngowama-620 B.C.E.), uNebhukadenetsare wenza elakwaYuda laba bubukumkani obungaphantsi kwakhe. (2 Kumkani 24:1) Kwiminyaka emithathu kamva, imvukelo eyayikwelakwaYuda yaba ngunozala wokungqingwa kweYerusalem ngamaBhabhiloni. UNebhukadenetsare wathimba uYehoyakin, uDaniyeli nabanye wabasa eBhabhiloni. Lo kumkani wathabatha nenye yempahla yetempile kaYehova. Wamisela ubawokazi kaYehoyakin, uZedekiya, njengebamba lakwaYuda.—2 Kumkani 24:2-17; Daniyeli 1:6, 7.
Ethubeni, noZedekiya waqhawul’ isitropu, ezakhela ubuhlobo neYiputa. UNebhukadenetsare waphinda wayingqinga iYerusalem ngowama-607 B.C.E., waludiliza udonga lwayo, wayitshisa itempile, waza wasitshabalalisa eso sixeko. Wababulal’ okweempukane bonke oonyana bakaZedekiya waza wamtyhaphaza amehlo uZedekiya, wamfak’ amakhamandela ukuze amzise eBhabhiloni njengebanjwa. UNebhukadenetsare wayithimba inkoliso yabantu waza wawanqa yonke intsalela yempahla yetempile eyisa eBhabhiloni. “Ngaloo ndlela uYuda wemka kumhlaba wakhe waya ekuthinjweni.”—2 Kumkani 24:18–25:21.
UNebhukadenetsare woyisa neTire ngokusingqinga eso sixeko—ungqingo olwathabatha iminyaka eli-13. Ebudeni bolo ngqingo, iintloko zamajoni akhe ‘zachetywa iinkqayi’ kukutyatyulwa zizigcina-ntloko, ibe amagxalaba awo ‘atyabuka’ kukuthwala izinto zokubiyela. (Hezekile 29:18) Ekugqibeleni, iTire yaxhom’ izandla kwimikhosi yaseBhabhiloni.
Kuyabonakala ukuba lo kumkani waseBhabhiloni wayeyingcungela kwezomkhosi. Ezinye iincwadi, ngokukodwa ezaseBhabhiloni, zikwamchaza njengokumkani owayethanda okusesikweni. Ngoxa iZibhalo zingalikhuphi litsole elokuba uNebhukadenetsare wayethanda okusesikweni, umprofeti uYeremiya wathi nangona uZedekiya wayevukele, wayeya kuphathwa ngokusesikweni ‘ukuba uthe waphuma waya kwiinkosana zokumkani waseBhabhiloni.’ (Yeremiya 38:17, 18) Yaye emva kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, uNebhukadenetsare wamphatha ngembeko uYeremiya. Ngokuphathelele uYeremiya, ukumkani wayalela oku: “Mthabathe uze umise amehlo akho kuye, ibe musa ukwenza nantoni na embi kuye konke konke. Kodwa kanye njengoko ethetha kuwe, uze ke wenjenjalo kuye.”—Yeremiya 39:11, 12; 40:1-4.
Njengomlawuli, uNebhukadenetsare wakhawuleza ukuzibona iimpawu nobugcisa bukaDaniyeli noogxa bakhe abathathu—uShadraki, uMeshaki noAbhednego—abamagama abo esiHebhere anguHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya. Ngoko ukumkani wababeka kwizikhundla eziphezulu ebukumkanini bakhe.—Daniyeli 1:6, 7, 19-21; 2:49.
UNebhukadenetsare wayemzondelele ukumnqula oku uMarduk, uthixo omkhulu waseBhabhiloni. Lonke olu loyiso lungaka lwalubangelwa nguMarduk ngokutsho kukakumkani. EBhabhiloni, wakha waza wahombisa iitempile zikaMarduk nezenye inkumbula yezithixo zaseBhabhiloni. Umfanekiso wegolide owawumiswe kwithafa laseDura usenokuba wawunikelwe kuMarduk. Yaye kubonakala ukuba uNebhukadenetsare wayethembele gqitha kwizanuse xa eceba indlela umkhosi wakhe oza kuhlasela ngayo.
Kwakhona uNebhukadenetsare wayezingomb’ isifuba ngokuphinda ayakhe iBhabhiloni, esona sixeko sasineendonga ezinkulu ngelo xesha. Ngokugqibezela iindonga ezazakhiwe zambini ezaziqaliswe nguyise, uNebhukadenetsare wenza eso sixeko sabonakala singenakuhlaseleka. Lo kumkani wahlaziya ibhotwe elidala elisembindini wesixeko waza wakha ibhotwe awayesithi zava kulo ehlotyeni malunga neekhilomitha ezimbini ukuya ngasemntla. Ukuze anelise nokumkanikazi wakhe owayengumMedi, owayekhumbula iinduli namahlathi akowabo, kuthiwa uNebhukadenetsare walima imiyezo elengalengayo—egqalwa njengenye yezinto ezisixhenxe ezazishiy’ amehlo mandulo phayaa.
“Asiyiyo na le iBhabhiloni Enkulu, leyo mna ngokwam endizakhele yona ngamandla am amakhulu ukuba ibe yindlu yasebukhosini, ngenxa yesidima sobungangamsha bam?” waqhayisa ngelitshoyo lo kumkani ngaminazan’ ithile xa wayehambahamba kwibhotwe laseBhabhiloni. “Uthe esathetha njalo ukumkani,” zathi hluthu iingqondo. Engenako ukulawula kangangeminyaka esixhenxe, watya utyani kanye njengokuba uDaniyeli wayexele kwangaphambili. Ekupheleni kwelo xesha, ubukumkani babuyiselwa kuNebhukadenetsare, owalawula de kwasa ekufeni kwakhe ngowama-582 B.C.E.—Daniyeli 4:30-36.
UZUZE NTONI?
Yintoni enokuthethwa ngoNebhukadenetsare
• njengengcungela yomkhosi?
• njengomlawuli?
• njengomnquli kaMarduk?
• njengomakhi?
[Imaphu]
(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)
UBUKHOSI BASEBHABHILONI
ULWANDLE OLUBOMVU
IYerusalem
UMlambo UmEfrati
UMlambo ITigris
INineve
ISusa
IBhabhiloni
IUre
[Umfanekiso]
IBhabhiloni, esona sixeko sasineendonga ezinkulu ngexesha laso
[Umfanekiso]
Le namba yayifuzisela uMarduk
[Umfanekiso]
Imiyezo elengalengayo yodumo yaseBhabhiloni
[Umzobo/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 56]
(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)
AMAGUNYA EHLABATHI ESIPROFETO SIKADANIYELI
Umfanekiso omkhulu (Daniyeli 2:31-45)
IBHABHILONI ukususela ngowama-607 B.C.E.
AMAMEDI NAMAPERSI ukususela ngowama-539 B.C.E.
IGRISI ukususela ngowama-331 B.C.E.
IROMA ukususela ngowama-30 B.C.E.
IGUNYA LEHLABATHI LAMANGESI NAMAMERIKA elisusela ngowe-1763 C.E.
IHLABATHI ELAHLULAHLULWE LABA NGAMAZWE ngexesha lesiphelo
[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 47]
[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 58]