Isahluko Sesithandathu
Ukutyhila Imfihlelo Yomthi Omkhulu
1. Yintoni eyenzeka kuKumkani uNebhukadenetsare, yaye iphakamisa yiphi imibuzo?
UYEHOVA wavumela uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare ukuba abe ngumlawuli wehlabathi. Nanjengokumkani waseBhabhiloni, waba nobutyebi obuninzi, esitya into ayithandayo, enebhotwe elinobuqhele-qhele—yonk’ intw’ ayifunayo ilapho. Kodwa ngephanyazo nje wahlaziswa. Eshiywa ziingqondo, uNebhukadenetsare wenza izinto njengesilo sasendle! Nanko eshiya izimuncumuncu nezindlu zokuhlala zasebhotwe, esiya kuhlala endle yaye esitya ingca exel’ inkunzi yenkomo. Kwakonakele phi ke ngoku? Yaye kutheni sifanele sizikhathaze ngale nto?—Thelekisa uYobhi 12:17-19; INtshumayeli 6:1, 2.
UKUMKANI UZUKISA OYENA UPHAKAMILEYO
2, 3. Yintoni ukumkani waseBhabhiloni awayeyinqwenelela abantu bakhe, ibe wayemgqala njani Oyena Thixo Uphakamileyo?
2 Emva nje kokuba zibuyile iingqondo, uNebhukadenetsare wathumela ingxelo yesi sihelegu kulo lonke ulawulo lwakhe. UYehova waphefumlela umprofeti uDaniyeli ukuba agcine ingxelo echanileyo yezi ziganeko. Iqala ngala mazwi: “UNebhukadenetsare ukumkani, kuzo zonke izizwana, namaqela eentlanga, neelwimi ezihlala kuwo wonke umhlaba: Ngamana uxolo lwenu lungakhula. Imiqondiso nemimangaliso ayenzileyo kum Oyena Thixo Uphakamileyo, kubonakele kulungile kum ukuyivakalisa. Hayi indlela ezuke ngayo imiqondiso yakhe, yaye hayi indlela enamandla ngayo imimangaliso yakhe! Ubukumkani bakhe bubukumkani ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo, nolawulo lwakhe lukwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana.”—Daniyeli 4:1-3.
3 Abantu ababelawulwa nguNebhukadenetsare ‘babehlala kuwo wonke umhlaba’—ubukhosi bakhe babulawula inkoliso yamazwe ekuthethwa ngawo eBhayibhileni. Ethetha ngoThixo kaDaniyeli, ukumkani wathi: “Ubukumkani bakhe bubukumkani ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” Hayi indlela loo mazwi awayemzukisa ngayo uYehova kubo bonke uBukhosi baseBhabhiloni! Ngaphezu koko, kwakusisihlandlo sesibini uNebhukadenetsare eboniswa ukuba yayibuBukumkani bukaThixo kuphela obungenasiphelo, nobabuya kuma “ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.”—Daniyeli 2:44.
4. Yaqalisa nini “imiqondiso nemimangaliso” kaYehova ngokuphathelele uNebhukadenetsare?
4 Yiyiphi le “miqondiso nemimangaliso” eyenziwa ‘ngOyena Thixo Uphakamileyo’? Kaloku yaqala ngento eyenzeka kukumkani ngenkqu ayibalisa enjenje: “Mna, Nebhukadenetsare, ndandihleli ngokukhululeka endlwini yam yaye ndichumile ebhotweni lam. Ndabona iphupha, landoyikisa. Ndathi ndisemandlalweni wam ndanemifanekiso-ngqondweni nemibono yentloko yam eyandothusayo.” (Daniyeli 4:4, 5) Wathini ke lo kumkani waseBhabhiloni akuphupha esi sishiqi sephupha?
5. UNebhukadenetsare wayemgqala njani uDaniyeli, yaye ngoba?
5 UNebhukadenetsare wabiza izilumko zaseBhabhiloni waza waziphakela ngelo phupha. Kodwa ke zatshonelwa lilanga emini! Kwaba ngathi zibuzwa ukwenda koonina xa kusithiwa mazilitolike. Le ngxelo yalek’ umsundulo isithi: “Ekugqibeleni ke kwafika kum uDaniyeli, ogama lakhe linguBheleteshatsare ngokwegama lothixo wam nonomoya woothixo abangcwele; ndamchazela iphupha elo.” (Daniyeli 4:6-8) Igama lasebukhosini likaDaniyeli yayinguBheleteshatsare, ibe kusenokwenzeka ukuba lo thixo wobuxoki ukumkani awayesithi ‘nguthixo wam’ yayinguBel okanye uNebo okanye ke uMarduk. Ekubeni uNebhukadenetsare wayekholelwa ekunquleni oothixo abaninzi, wamgqala uDaniyeli ‘njengowayenomoya woothixo abangcwele.’ Yaye ngenxa yesikhundla sikaDaniyeli njengomthetheli wazo zonke izilumko zaseBhabhiloni, lo kumkani wambiza ngokuthi “yintloko yababingeleli abaqhelisela imilingo.” (Daniyeli 2:48; 4:9; thelekisa uDaniyeli 1:20.) Kakade ke, uDaniyeli owayethembekile akazange ashiye unqulo lukaYehova aze aqhelisele imilingo.—Levitikus 19:26; Duteronomi 18:10-12.
UMTHI OMKHULU
6, 7. Ubunokukuchaza njani oko kwabonwa nguNebhukadenetsare ephupheni lakhe?
6 Lalisithini ke eli phupha loyikekayo lokumkani waseBhabhiloni? UNebhukadenetsare wathi: “Ndathi ndisemandlalweni wam ndabona embonweni umthi usesazulwini somhlaba, ukuphakama kwawo kwakukukhulu kakhulu. Umthi wakhula waza womelela, ukuphakama kwawo kwafikelela emazulwini, yaye wawubonakala naseziphelweni zomhlaba. Amahlamvu awo ayemahle, unentabalala yeziqhamo ezanela bonke abantu. Phantsi kwawo izilo zasendle zazifuna umthunzi, neentaka zamazulu zazihlala emasebeni awo, yaye wawusondla zonke iindidi zezidalwa.” (Daniyeli 4:10-12) Kuthiwa kaloku, uNebhukadenetsare wayengaziva ngemisedare emikhulu yaseLebhanon, wayedla ngokuya kuyibuka aze azithathele eminye egawuliweyo ayise eBhabhiloni. Kodwa lo mthi wayewubona ephupheni noko wayewuzibula. Wawusesikhundleni esiphezulu “esazulwini somhlaba,” ubonwa kuzo zonke iindawo zomhlaba yaye uxakathe iziqhamo ezazisondla yonke intw’ ephilayo.
7 Lalingekapheleli eli phupha, kuba uNebhukadenetsare wongezelela esithi: “Kuthe kusenjalo, ndisesemandlalweni wam, ndabona umlindi, lowo ungcwele, esihla evela emazulwini. Wadanduluka ngamandla wathi: ‘Wugawuleni umthi lowo, niwunqumle amasebe awo. Wavuthululeni amahlamvu awo, nizichithachithe iziqhamo zawo. Izilo mazisabe phantsi kwawo, neentaka emasebeni awo. Kodwa sona isiphunzi sawo sishiyeni emhlabeni, nisibophe ngentsimbi nangobhedu, phakathi kwengca yasendle; yaye masibe manzi ngumbethe wezulu, size sahlulelane nezilo ngotyani bomhlaba.’”—Daniyeli 4:13-15.
8. Yayingubani “umlindi”?
8 Unqulo lwamaBhabhiloni lwalunezidalwa olwaluzigqala njengezilungileyo nezithwala imimoya engendawo. Kodwa ke yayingubani lo “mlindi,” okanye ukhala, owayevela ezulwini? Ekubeni ebizwa ngokuthi “lowo ungcwele,” wayeyingelosi elilungisa eyayithunywe nguThixo. (Thelekisa INdumiso 103:20, 21.) Khawuthelekelele nje imibuzo emele ukuba yayimphek’ imophula uNebhukadenetsare! Wawubangiswa ntoni lo mthi ngokugawulwa? Sasiya kunceda ngantoni isiphunzi esibotshwe ngentsimbi nangobhedu ukuze singakhuli? Phofu ke, yintoni umntu anokuyenza ngesikhondo somthi?
9. Yintoni kanye kanye le yayithethwa ngulo mlindi, ibe yiyiphi imibuzo ephakamayo?
9 UNebhukadenetsare umele ukuba lamkhohla nangakumbi njengoko wayephulaphule lo mlindi ehlabela mgama: “Intliziyo yaso mayitshintshwe ingabi yeyabantu, sinikwe intliziyo yesilo, kude kudlule amaxesha asixhenxe phezu kwaso. Lowo ke ngummiselo wabalindi, nesicelo sabangcwele, ukuze abantu abaphilayo bazi ukuba Oyena Uphakamileyo unguMlawuli ebukumkanini babantu yaye ubunika lowo athanda ukumnika, nkqu noyena uphantsi ebantwini.” (Daniyeli 4:16, 17) Kodwa ke noko isiphunzi somthi asinayo intliziyo yomntu. Phofu, inokwenzeka njani kwaeyokuba isiphunzi somthi sinikwe intliziyo yesilo? ‘Ngamaxesha asixhenxe’ abetheni kakade la? Kwaye konke oku kudibana njani nolawulo ‘lobukumkani boluntu’? Alithandabuzeki elokuba uNebhukadenetsare wayenxanelw’ ukuzazi ezi zinto.
IINDABA EZIMBI KUKUMKANI
10. (a) KwiZibhalo, inokufuzisela ntoni imithi? (b) Ufuzisela ntoni umthi omkhulu?
10 Wathi akuliva eli phupha uDaniyeli, wakha wakhwankqiswa okomzuzwana, hay’ ke emva koko wanentaka. Ebongozwa nguNebhukadenetsare ukuba alilawule, lo mprofeti wathi: “Owu nkosi yam, akwaba eli phupha belibhekisela kwabo bakuthiyileyo, nakwiintshaba zakho. Umthi owubonileyo, owakhulayo, womelela . . . , nguwe lowo, kumkani, ngenxa yokuba uye wakhula waza womelela, ubukhulu bakho bafikelela emazulwini, nolawulo lwakho esiphelweni somhlaba.” (Daniyeli 4:18-22) KwiZibhalo, imithi inokufuzisela abantu, abalawuli nezikumkani. (INdumiso 1:3; Yeremiya 17:7, 8; Hezekile, isahluko 31) Njengomlawuli wegunya lehlabathi, uNebhukadenetsare ‘wayekhule waza womelela’ njengomthi wephupha lakhe. Kodwa lo mthi mkhulu ufuzisela ‘ulawulo olufikelela eziphelweni zomhlaba,’ noluquka ubukumkani boluntu buphela. Ngoko ufuzisela ulongamo lukaYehova kwindalo iphela, ngokukodwa ngokuphathelele umhlaba.—Daniyeli 4:17.
11. Iphupha likakumkani labonisa njani ukuba izinto zaziza kumjikela kabuhlungu?
11 Kungekudala izinto zaziza kumjikela ngendlela emthob’ isidima uNebhukadenetsare. Ephuhlisa loo nto kanye, uDaniyeli wongezelela: “Yaye njengoko ukumkani wabona umlindi, lowo ungcwele, esihla evela emazulwini, wathi: ‘Wugawuleni umthi, nize niwonakalise. Noko ke, sishiyeni emhlabeni isiphunzi sawo, kodwa nisibophe ngentsimbi nangobhedu, phakathi kwengca yasendle, sibe manzi ngumbethe wamazulu, size isahlulo sawo sibe kunye nezilo zasendle de kudlule amaxesha asixhenxe phezu kwaso,’ yiyo ke le intsingiselo yoko, kumkani, okuya kuthi kuyehlele inkosi yam ukumkani, ngokommiselo wOyena Uphakamileyo.” (Daniyeli 4:23, 24) Ngokuqinisekileyo kwakufuneka inkalipho ukuze uxelele loo ngangalala yokumkani into enjalo!
12. Yintoni eyayiza kwenzeka kuNebhukadenetsare?
12 Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni kuNebhukadenetsare? Khawuthelekelele nje indlela awasabela ngayo njengoko uDaniyeli wayesongezelela esithi: “Uya kugxothwa ebantwini, uhlale nezilo zasendle, udliswe utyani njengeenkunzi zeenkomo; uya kuwa phezu kwakho umbethe wamazulu, kudlule amaxesha asixhenxe phezu kwakho, ude wazi ukuba Oyena Uphakamileyo unguMlawuli ebukumkanini babantu, yaye ubunika lowo athanda ukumnika.” (Daniyeli 4:25) Kuyabonakala ukuba kwanamagosa ebhotwe likaNebhukadenetsare ayeya ‘kumgxotha ebantwini.’ Kodwa ke ngaba nabalusi aba bembala babengayi kuba nosizi baze bamnyamekele? Unotshe, kaloku uThixo wayeyalele ukuba uNebhukadenetsare ahlale “nezilo zasendle,” esitya utyani.
13. Iphupha lomthi labonisa ukuba kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni kwisikhundla sikaNebhukadenetsare njengomlawuli wehlabathi?
13 Kanye njengokuba umthi wagawulwayo, uNebhukadenetsare wayeza kubhukuqwa kulawulo lwehlabathi—kodwa oko kwakuya kuba yinto yexesha elithile. UDaniyeli wachaza: “Njengoko bathi masishiywe isiphunzi somthi, ubukumkani bakho buya kuqiniseka kuwe emva kokuba wazile ukuba amazulu ayalawula.” (Daniyeli 4:26) Kweli phupha likaNebhukadenetsare isiphunzi, okanye isikhondo, somthi ogawuliweyo savunyelwa ukuba siqhubeke sikho, nangona sasibotshiwe ukuze singakhuli. Ngokufanayo, “isiphunzi” sokumkani waseBhabhiloni sasiya kuhlala sikho, nangona sasibotshiwe ukuze singakhuli de kudlule “amaxesha asixhenxe.” Isikhundla sakhe njengomlawuli wehlabathi sasiya kuba njengesikhondo somthi esibotshiweyo. Sasiya kugcinwa sikhuselekile de kudlule amaxesha asixhenxe. UYehova wayeya kuqiniseka ukuba ebudeni belo xesha akukho mntu ungena esikhundleni sikaNebhukadenetsare njengomlawuli oyintloko waseBhabhiloni, nangona unyana wakhe ogama linguEvili-merodaki esenokuba wambambela njengomlawuli.
14. UDaniyeli wambongoza ukuba enze ntoni uNebhukadenetsare?
14 Ngenxa yoko kwakusele kuxelwe kwangaphambili ngoNebhukadenetsare, ngenkalipho uDaniyeli wambongoza: “Ngoko ke, kumkani, ngamana icebo lam lingabonakala lilungile kuwe, uze uzisuse izono zakho ngobulungisa, nobugwenxa bakho ngokubenzela inceba abo bangamahlwempu. Mhlawumbi iya kwandiswa impumelelo yakho.” (Daniyeli 4:27) Ukuba uNebhukadenetsare wayenokulishiya eli khondo lakhe lokona ngokucinezela abantu nokuba nekratshi, mhlawumbi izinto zazingasayi kumhambela ngale ndlela. Ngapha koko, malunga neenkulungwane ezimbini ngaphambilana, uYehova wayegqibe kwelokuba abacim’ igama abemi bekomkhulu laseAsiriya, iNineve, kodwa akazange ayenze loo nto ngenxa yokuguquka kokumkani walapho nabantu bakhe. (Yona 3:4, 10; Luka 11:32) Wayeza kuthini ke yena uNebhukadenetsare owayephethwe likratshi? Ngaba wayeza kuliguqula ikhondo lakhe?
INZALISEKO YOKUQALA YELO PHUPHA
15. (a) Sisiphi isimo sengqondo awaqhubeka enaso uNebhukadenetsare? (b) Yintoni etyhilwa yimibhalo ngemisebenzi kaNebhukadenetsare?
15 UNebhukadenetsare waqhubeka ethe nqi impumlo. Endolosa kuphahla lwebhotwe emva kweenyanga ezili-12 ephuphe ngomthi, wazigwagwisa esithi: “Asiyiyo na le iBhabhiloni Enkulu, endizakhele yona ngamandla am amakhulu ukuba ibe yindlu yasebukhosini, ngenxa yesidima sobungangamsha bam?” (Daniyeli 4:28-30) UNimrodi wayiqala phantsi iBhabhiloni (iBhabheli), kodwa nguNebhukadenetsare owayitsho yanobo bungangamsha. (Genesis 10:8-10) Kweminye yemibhalo yoonobumba abatsobhileyo, uqhayisa esithi: “Mna Nebhukadenetsare, uKumkani waseBhabhiloni, umhlaziyi we-Esagila ne-Ezida, ithol’ eliduna likaNabopolassar. . . . Ndim lo onqabise iEsagila ndaza ndomeleza iBhabhiloni I kwaye ndiliphakamisile igama lolawulo lwam ukusa emaphakadeni.” (Archaeology and the Bible, ebhalwe nguGeorge A. Barton, ngowe-1949, iphepha 478-9) Omnye umbhalo uthetha ngeetempile ezimalunga nama-20 awazihlaziyayo okanye wazakha ngokutsha. IThe World Book Encyclopedia ithi: “Xa iBhabhiloni yayiphantsi kolawulo lukaNebhukadenetsare, yaba sesinye sezixeko ezihle zamandulo. Kwiincwadi zakhe, akunakufane umve ethetha ngamadabi omkhosi wakhe, kodwa wayebhala ebhalile ngezakhiwo nangengqalelo awayeyinikela koothixo baseBhabhiloni. Mhlawumbi nguNebhukadenetsare owakha Imiyezo Elengalengayo yaseBhabhiloni, eyayibalwa phakathi kweZinto Ezisixhenxe Ezazibalasele Ngobuhle Zamandulo.”
16. Wayeza kuhlaziswa njani uNebhukadenetsare?
16 Eqhayisa enjalo, lo Nebhukadenetsare wayesifa likratshi wayeza kuhlazwa kungekudala. Ingxelo ephefumlelweyo ithi: “Uthe esathetha njalo ukumkani, kwavakala ilizwi emazulwini lisithi: ‘Kuthiwa kuwe, Nebhukadenetsare kumkani, “Ubukumkani bumkile kuwe, uya kugxothwa ebantwini, uhlale nezilo zasendle. Uya kudliswa utyani kanye njengeenkunzi zeenkomo, kudlule phezu kwakho amaxesha asixhenxe, ude wazi ukuba Oyena Uphakamileyo unguMlawuli ebukumkanini babantu, yaye ubunika lowo athanda ukumnika.”’”—Daniyeli 4:31, 32.
17. Yintoni eyenzeka kuNebhukadenetsare owayezele likratshi, yaye ziziphi iimeko awazifumana sele egaxeleke kuzo kungekudala?
17 Zathi hluthu ngoko nangoko iingqondo kuNebhukadenetsare. Wagxothwa eluntwini waza watya utyani “kanye njengeenkunzi zeenkomo.” Ekude lee phakathi kwezilo zasendle, ngokuqinisekileyo wayengangqendevanga kamnandi ngokungathi useparadesi, esezela impepho emyoli imihla ngemihla. Kwi-Iraq yale mihla, apho akhoyo amabhodlo eBhabhiloni, amaqondo obushushu aye abethe kuma-50 ngokukaCelsius ngeenyanga zehlobo aze ahle aye kutsho ngaphantsi kwelomkhenkce ebusika. Ekubeni zazingasahoywanga yaye zichanabeke kuloo mozulu, iinwele ezinde neziphitheneyo zikaNebhukadenetsare zafana neentsiba zokhozi ibe iinzipho zakhe ezazingasachetywa zaba njengezentaka. (Daniyeli 4:33) Hayi indlela awayehlazeke ngayo lo mlawuli wehlabathi owayebhuqwa likratshi!
18. Ebudeni bamaxesha asixhenxe, kwenzeka ntoni kwisihlalo sobukhosi saseBhabhiloni?
18 Kwiphupha likaNebhukadenetsare, umthi omkhulu wagawulwa saza isiphunzi sawo sabotshwa ukuze singakhuli de kudlule amaxesha asixhenxe. Ngendlela efanayo, uNebhukadenetsare “wahliswa etroneni yobukumkani bakhe” xa uYehova wambetha ngokumenza ashiywe ziingqondo. (Daniyeli 5:20) Loo nto yenza ukuba intliziyo yalo kumkani ingabi yeyomntu kodwa ibe yeyenkunzi yenkomo. Kodwa ke, uThixo wasigcina isihlalo sikaNebhukadenetsare de kwadlula amaxesha asixhenxe. Ekubeni uEvili-merodaki esenokuba waba yintloko yoburhulumente yexeshana, uDaniyeli wakhonza ‘njengomlawuli waso sonke isithili esilawulayo saseBhabhiloni nomthetheli oyintloko wabo bonke abantu abazizilumko baseBhabhiloni.’ Oogxa bakhe abathathu abangamaHebhere baqhubeka benegalelo ekulawuleni izinto zeso sithili. (Daniyeli 1:11-19; 2:48, 49; 3:30) Aba bathinjwa bane balinda ukubuya kukaNebhukadenetsare etroneni sele ephile qete yaye eyibonile into yokuba “Oyena Uphakamileyo unguMlawuli ebukumkanini babantu, yaye ubunika lowo athanda ukumnika.”
UKUBUYISELWA KUKANEBHUKADENETSARE
19. Yintoni awayiqondayo uNebhukadenetsare ukumkani waseBhabhiloni emva kokuba uYehova embuyisele ezingqondweni?
19 UYehova wazibuyisa iingqondo zikaNebhukadenetsare ekupheleni kwamaxesha asixhenxe. Wandula ke ezithoba kOyena Thixo Uphakamileyo, lo kumkani wathi: “Emva kwaloo mihla, mna Nebhukadenetsare, ndawaphakamisela emazulwini amehlo am, ndaza ndabuyela ezingqondweni; ndambonga Oyena Uphakamileyo, ndamdumisa Lowo uphilayo ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo, ndamzukisa, ngenxa yokuba ulawulo lwakhe lulawulo lwexesha elingenammiselo nobukumkani bakhe bukwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana. Bonke abemi bomhlaba abanto yanto xa bethelekiswa naye, yaye wenza ngokokuthanda kwakhe kwimikhosi yezulu nakubemi bomhlaba. Akukho nabani unokusithintela isandla sakhe okanye unokuthi kuye, ‘Yintoni le uyenzileyo?’” (Daniyeli 4:34, 35) Ewe, yada yathi thaa engqondweni kaNebhukadenetsare into yokuba ngokwenene Oyena Uphakamileyo unguMlawuli Owongamileyo kubukumkani boluntu.
20, 21. (a) Oko kwakufuziselwa kukukhululwa kwentsimbi eyayibophe isiphunzi somthi wephupha kwazaliseka njani kuNebhukadenetsare? (b) Yintoni eyavunywa nguNebhukadenetsare, ibe ngaba oko kwamenza umnquli kaYehova?
20 Xa uNebhukadenetsare wabuyela esihlalweni sakhe, kwaba ngathi ikhululwe intsimbi nobhedu esasibotshwe ngazo isiphunzi somthi wephupha. Ethetha ngokubuyiselwa kwakhe, wathi: “Ndakuba ndibuyele ezingqondweni, satsho sabuya isidima sobukumkani bam nobungangamsha bam nokuqaqamba kwam; kwanamagosa am aphakamileyo asebukhosini nezihandiba zam zandifuna ngentumekelelo, ndaza ndamiselwa kwakhona ebukumkanini bam, kongezelelwa nobukhulu obungaqhelekanga kum.” (Daniyeli 4:36) Ukuba nawaphi na kumagosa enkundla ayeye amgculela lo kumkani xa wayeshiywe ziingqondo, ngoku ‘ayemfuna ngentumekelelo’ ethobeke aziimvoco.
21 Hayi ubukhulu bale “miqondiso nemimangaliso” eyenziwa ngOyena Thixo Uphakamileyo! Ayifanele kusimangalisa into yokuba lo kumkani ubuyiselweyo waseBhabhiloni athi: “Ke kaloku, mna Nebhukadenetsare, ndiyamdumisa ndimphakamisa kwaye ndimzukisa uKumkani wamazulu, ngenxa yokuba yonke imisebenzi yakhe iyinyaniso neendlela zakhe zisesikweni, nangenxa yokuba abo bahamba ngekratshi unako ukubathoba.” (Daniyeli 4:2, 37) Noko ke, oku kuzithoba kukaNebhukadenetsare kwakungathethi kuthi ungumnquli kaYehova weeNtlanga.
NGABA BUKHO UBUNGQINA OBUVELA KWEMINYE IMITHOMBO?
22. Bambi baye bayifanisa nasiphi isifo impambano kaNebhukadenetsare, kodwa yintoni esifanele siyiqonde ngonobangela wokushiywa ziingqondo kwakhe?
22 Bambi baye bafanisa ukushiywa ziingqondo kukaNebhukadenetsare nelycanthropy. Esinye isichazi-magama sezamayeza sithi: “I-LYCANTHROPY . . . igama elisuka kwelithi [lyʹkos], lupus, ingcuka; nelithi [anʹthro·pos], elithi homo, umntu. Eli yayiligama lesifo sabantu ababecinga ukuba bajike bazizilwanyana, nababexelisa amazwi okanye izikhalo, indlela ezimile ngayo nemikhwa yezo zilwanyana. Aba bantu badla ngokucinga ukuba bajike baba yingcuka, inja okanye ikati; maxa wambi kwanenkunzi yenkomo, njengakwimeko kaNebhukadenetsare.” (Dictionnaire des sciences médicales, par une société de médicins et de chirurgiens, Paris, 1818, Umqulu 29, iphepha 246) Iimpawu zesi sifo ziyafana nezempambano kaNebhukadenetsare. Noko ke, ekubeni impambano yakhe yayibangelwe nguThixo, ayinakunxulunyaniswa nesifo esithile esaziwayo.
23. Bubuphi ubungqina obuvela kweminye imithombo bokushiywa ziingqondo kukaNebhukadenetsare?
23 Umphengululi uJohn E. Goldingay ucaphula intaphane yezinto ezingqinela ukushiywa ziingqondo nokuphiliswa kukaNebhukadenetsare. Ngokomzekelo, uthi: “Kukho umbhalo oziingceba woonobumba abatsobhileyo ekubonakala ukuba ubhekisela ekushiyweni ziingqondo kukaNebhukadenetsare, mhlawumbi okwabangela ukuba ayityeshele aze ashiye iBhabhiloni.” UGoldingay ucaphula uxwebhu olubizwa ngokuthi “Incwadi KaYobhi YaseBhabhiloni” aze athi “iyangqina ukuba wohlwaywa nguThixo, wagula, wahlaziswa, wafuna ukutolikelwa iphupha eloyikekayo, wakhahlelwa phantsi njengomthi, wakhutshelwa phandle, wadla ingca, washiywa ziingqondo, wafana nenkunz’ enkomo, waniselwa imvula nguMarduk, wonakalelwa ziinzipho, wanesihlwitha seenwele waza wabotshwa ngamatyathanga, waza wabuyiselwa edumisa uthixo ngenxa yoko.”
AMAXESHA ASIXHENXE ASICHAPHAZELAYO
24. (a) Yintoni eyayifuziselwa ngumthi omkhulu wephupha? (b) Yintoni eyabotshwa de kwadlula amaxesha asixhenxe, ibe yazaliseka njani loo nto?
24 UNebhukadenetsare wayefanekisela ulawulo lwehlabathi olwalufuziselwa ngumthi omkhulu. Kodwa ke ukhumbule ukuba, lo mthi wawumela ulawulo nolongamo oluzuke ngaphezulu lee kunolwaloo kumkani waseBhabhiloni. Wawufuzisela ulongamo lukaYehova, “uKumkani wamazulu,” kwindalo iphela, ngokukodwa ngokuphathelele umhlaba. Ngaphambi kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngamaBhabhiloni, ubukumkani obabuzinze kweso sixeko awathi uDavide neendlalifa zakhe bahlala “etroneni kaYehova,” babumela ulongamo lukaThixo emhlabeni. (1 Kronike 29:23) UThixo ngokwakhe wayalela ukuba olo longamo lugawulwe luze lubotshwe ngowama-607 B.C.E. xa wasebenzisa uNebhukadenetsare ukuba atshabalalise iYerusalem. Ukuqheliselwa kolongamo lukaThixo emhlabeni okwakusenziwa ngookumkani bomnombo kaDavide kwanqunyanyiswa de kwadlula amaxesha asixhenxe. Ayethabatha ithuba elingakanani la maxesha asixhenxe? Aqalisa nini, ibe yintoni eyabonisa ukuba aphelile?
25, 26. (a) Kwimeko kaNebhukadenetsare, athabatha ithuba elide kangakanani “amaxesha asixhenxe,” yaye kutheni usitsho nje? (b) Kwinzaliseko eyintloko, aqalisa nini yaye njani “amaxesha asixhenxe”?
25 Xa uNebhukadenetsare wayesashiywe ziingqondo, “iinwele zakhe zakhula zaba nde njengeentsiba zeenkozi, neenzipho zakhe zanjengezeentaka.” (Daniyeli 4:33) Oku kwathabatha ixesha elide kuneentsuku ezisixhenxe okanye iiveki ezisixhenxe. Iinguqulelo ezahlukahlukeneyo ziwachaza ngokuthi “amaxesha asixhenxe,” ngoxa ezinye zisithi “amaxesha amiselweyo (asisigxina)” okanye “izihlandlo zamaxesha.” (Daniyeli 4:16, 23, 25, 32) Olunye uhlelo (lweSeptuagint) yesiGrike Esidala luthi “iminyaka esixhenxe.” Umbhali-mbali ongumYuda wenkulungwane yokuqala uJosephus wawagqala la “maxesha asixhenxe” ‘njengeminyaka esixhenxe.’ (Antiquities of the Jews, Incwadi 10, Isahluko 10, isiqendu 6) Kwaye nabaphengululi abathile abangamaHebhere baye bawagqala la “maxesha” ‘njengeminyaka.’ IAn American Translation, iToday’s English Version, nenguqulelo kaJames Moffatt zithi “iminyaka esixhenxe.”
26 Kuyabonakala ukuba, “amaxesha asixhenxe” kaNebhukadenetsare ayiminyaka esixhenxe. Ngokwesiprofeto, unyaka unomlinganiselo weentsuku ezingama-360, okanye iinyanga ezili-12 nganye eneentsuku ezingama-30. (Thelekisa ISityhilelo 12:6, 14.) Ngoko “amaxesha asixhenxe” alo kumkani, okanye iminyaka esixhenxe, yayiziintsuku ezingama-360 eziphindaphindwe kasi-7, okanye ke iintsuku ezingama-2 520. Kodwa ke kuthekani ngenzaliseko eyintloko yephupha lakhe? “Amaxesha asixhenxe” ekwakuprofetwe ngawo adlulela ngaphaya kweentsuku ezingama-2 520. Oku kwaboniswa ngamazwi kaYesu athi: ‘IYerusalem iya kunyathelwa ziintlanga, ade azaliseke amaxesha amisiweyo eentlanga.’ (Luka 21:24) Oko “kunyathelwa” kwaqaliswa ngowama-607 B.C.E. xa iYerusalem yatshatyalaliswayo baza ubukumkani bokomfuziselo bukaThixo babhanga kwelakwaYuda. Kwakuya kuphela nini oko kunyathelwa kwayo? Kwakuya kuphela “ngamaxesha okubuyiselwa kwezinto zonke,” xa ulongamo lukaThixo luya kuphinda lubonakaliswe emhlabeni ngeYerusalem yokomfuziselo, uBukumkani bukaThixo.—IZenzo 3:21.
27. Kutheni unokutsho ukuba “amaxesha asixhenxe” awaqalisa ngowama-607 B.C.E. akazange aphele emva kweentsuku zokoqobo ezingama-2 520?
27 Ukuba besinokubala iintsuku zokoqobo ezingama-2 520 ukususela ekutshatyalalisweni kweYerusalem ngowama-607 B.C.E., besinokuya kufika kowama-600 B.C.E., unyaka ekungathethwa nto ngawo kwiZibhalo. Kwanangowama-537 B.C.E., xa amaYuda abuyela kwelakwaYuda, ulongamo lukaYehova aluzange lubonakaliswe emhlabeni. Oko kwenzeka kuba uZerubhabheli, indlalifa yetrone kaDavide, akazange enziwe ukumkani kodwa wenziwa ibamba lelakwaYuda elaliliphondo lamaPersi.
28. (a) Nguwuphi umgaqo omele usetyenziswe kwiintsuku ezingama-2 520 ‘zamaxesha asixhenxe’ angokwesiprofeto? (b) Athabatha ithuba elide kangakanani “amaxesha asixhenxe” angokwesiprofeto, ibe aqala aze aphela ngayiphi imihla?
28 Ekubeni la “maxesha asixhenxe” engokwesiprofeto, kwezi ntsuku zingama-2 520 kuza kufuneka sisebenzise umgaqo weZibhalo othi: “Usuku lube ngunyaka.” Lo mgaqo wasetyenziswa kwisiprofeto esasingokungqingwa kweYerusalem yiBhabhiloni. (Hezekile 4:6, 7; thelekisa iNumeri 14:34.) Ngoko “amaxesha asixhenxe” okulawulwa komhlaba ngamagunya eeNtlanga ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa buBukumkani bukaThixo athabatha iminyaka engama-2 520. Aqalisa ngokuphanziswa kwelakwaYuda neYerusalem ngenyanga yesixhenxe (nge-15 kuTishri) yowama-607 B.C.E. (2 OoKumkani 25:8, 9, 25, 26) Xa ubala ukususela ngelo xesha ukuya kutsho ngo-1 B.C.E., yiminyaka engama-606. Iminyaka eseleyo eli-1 914 isusela ngoko iye kutsho kowe-1914 C.E. Ngaloo ndlela, “amaxesha asixhenxe,” okanye iminyaka engama-2 520, aphela nge-15 kuTishri, okanye ngo-Oktobha 4/5, 1914 C.E.
29. Ngubani “oyena uphantsi eluntwini,” ibe yintoni eyenziwa nguYehova ukuze ambeke etroneni?
29 Ngaloo nyaka “amaxesha amiselweyo eentlanga” azaliseka, ibe uThixo wadlulisela ulawulo ‘koyena uphantsi eluntwini’—uYesu Kristu—owadelwa ziintshaba zakhe kangangokuba zide zimbethelele emthini wentuthumbo. (Daniyeli 4:17) Ukuze abeke uKumkani onguMesiya etroneni, uYehova wayikhulula intsimbi nobhedu olwalubophe “isiphunzi” solongamo lwakhe. Ngaloo ndlela Oyena Thixo Uphakamileyo wavumela ‘ihlumela’ lasebukhosini lakhula laba yimbonakaliso yolongamo lukaThixo emhlabeni ngoBukumkani bamazulu obuphantsi kweyona Ndlalifa inkulu kaDavide, uYesu Kristu. (Isaya 11:1, 2; Yobhi 14:7-9; Hezekile 21:27) Hayi indlela esimbulela ngayo uYehova ngendlela izinto eziye zahamba kakuhle ngayo nangokutyhilwa kwale mfihlelo yomthi omkhulu!
UZUZE NTONI?
• Wawufuzisela ntoni umthi omkhulu wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare?
• Yintoni eyenzeka kuNebhukadenetsare kwinzaliseko yokuqala yephupha lakhe lomthi?
• Emva kokuba lizalisekile iphupha lakhe, yintoni awayivumayo uNebhukadenetsare?
• Kwinzaliseko eyintloko yephupha lomthi wesiprofeto, ayeza kuthabatha ithuba elingakanani “amaxesha asixhenxe,” ibe aqala aza aphela nini?
[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 83]
[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 91]