Isahluko Sesixhenxe

Amagama Amane Awaguqula Ihlabathi

1. Aba nentsingiselelo enkulu kangakanani amagama amane awayebhalwe eludongeni mandulo phayaa?

YAYINGAMAGAMA amane nje awayebhalwe kudonga olutyatyekiweyo. Kodwa, loo magama mane othusa ingqangangqanga yomlawuli yanga ibone ishologu. Ayevakalisa ngokubhukuqwa kookumkani ababini, ukufa komnye wabo, nangesiphelo segunya lehlabathi elalinamandla. Loo mazwi akhokelela ekuhlazisweni kwehlelo lonqulo elalihlonelwa gqitha. Eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuba, aphakamisa unqulo lukaYehova aza aqinisekisa ngolongamo lwakhe ngexesha inkoliso yabantu eyayingalunanze nganto. Kaloku, loo magama ada akhanyisa nangeziganeko zehlabathi lanamhlanje! Kunokwenzeka njani ukuba amagama amane enze yonke loo nto? Makhe sibone.

2. (a) Yintoni eyenzeka eBhabhiloni emva kokufa kukaNebhukadenetsare? (b) Nguwuphi umlawuli owayebambe iintambo ngoko?

² Kwakudlule amashumi eminyaka zenzekile iziganeko ezichazwe kwisahluko 4 sencwadi kaDaniyeli. Ulawulo lwaseBhabhiloni lweminyaka engama-43 lukaKumkani uNebhukadenetsare owayenekratshi kunene lwaphela akusutywa kukufa ngowama-582 B.C.E. Kwalandela udederhu lwabalawuli abaphuma kwintsapho yakhe, kodwa ke ulawulo lwabo lwaluphela ngokufa beseze ngobuso ezweni okanye ngokugwintwa omny’ emva komnye. Ekugqibeleni, ndoda ithile egama linguNabonidus yasihlutha ngemvukelo eso sihlalo. UNabonidus wayengunyana wombingelelikazi omkhulu wothixo wenyanga uSin ibe wayengazalani nendlu yasebukhosini yaseBhabhiloni. Ezinye iingcungela zithi watshata intombi kaNebhukadenetsare ukuze ulawulo lwakhe lufaneleke, waza wenza unyana wakhe uBheleshatsare ibambela lakhe, waza waman’ ukumshiya elawula eBhabhiloni kangangeminyaka ethile. Ukuba kunjalo, uBheleshatsare ke umele ukuba wayengumzukulwana kaNebhukadenetsare. Ekubeni inyathi le ibuzwa kwabaphambili, ngaba wayefundile kuyisemkhulu ukuba uYehova nguThixo owOngamileyo, okwaziyo ukumthoba nawuphi na ukumkani? Nakancinane!—Daniyeli 4:37.

ITHEKO LIBA NGUMDUDO WAMASELE

3. Lalinjani itheko likaBheleshatsare?

³ Isahluko 5 sencwadi kaDaniyeli sivula ngengxikela yetheko. “UBheleshatsare ukumkani wenzela iwaka lezihandiba zakhe itheko elikhulu, wasela iwayini phambi kwazo.” (Daniyeli 5:1) Njengoko nawe unokuthelekelela, imele ukuba yayiluhehema lweholo olwalunokuhlala la madoda, kunye namaqadi namashweshwe kakumkani. Omnye umphengululi uthi: “Amatheko aseBhabhiloni ayesiba mahle, nangona ayephela sele kunxilwa. Itafile yayizala yiwayini, eyayifunyanwa kumazwe akude, kunye nayo yonk’ intw’ esisimuncumuncu. Kuloo holo kwakuxabana amavumba eziqholo; imilonji neemvumi zisonwabisa ezo ndwendwe zihlanganiseneyo.” Entla phayaa apho onke amehlo anokufika khona, kwakuhleli uBheleshatsare ezibambele eyakhe indebe—elandelis’ ithamo emva kwelinye.

4. (a) Kutheni isenokubonakala ingumnqa into yokuba amaBhabhiloni alibale litheko ngobusuku bukaOktobha 5/6, 539 B.C.E.? (b) Yintoni ekubonakala ukuba yayisenza amaBhabhiloni azithembe kwiintshaba ezaziwahlasela?

⁴ Iyamangalisa ke noko into yokuba amaBhabhiloni abe axhelelw’ eXhukwane kangaka ngobu busuku—ngo-Oktobha 5/6, 539 B.C.E. Kaloku ilizwe lawo lalisemfazweni, ibe izinto zazingalihambeli kakuhle. UNabonidus wayesandul’ ukuswantsuliswa kanobom yimikhosi eyayifun’ undikho yamaMedi namaPersi waza waya kugob’ ityholo eBorsippa, kumzantsi ntshona weBhabhiloni. Ibe ngoku imikhosi kaKoreshi yayifutha kanye emnyango eBhabhiloni. Kodwa ke, kuyabonakala ukuba uBheleshatsare neeham zakhe abazange bazikhathaze ngaloo nto. Ngapha koko, iBhabhiloni yabo yayisisixeko esingenakoyiswa mntu! Iindonga zayo eziluqilima zazingcotshe phezu kwemisele enzulu eyayizaliswe nguMlambo umEfrati omkhulu njengoko wawutyhutyha eso sixeko. Kwakudlule iminyaka eliwaka iBhabhiloni ingazange iqutyulwe lutshaba. Ke, babeza koyikiswa yintoni? Mhlawumbi ke le ndedeba inguBheleshatsare yayicinga ukuba ingxolo esuka kweso sisusa yayiya kubonisa iintshaba zabo ezazingaphandle indlela abazithembe ngayo kuze oko kuzityhafise.

5, 6. Wenza ntoni uBheleshatsare akunxila, yaye kutheni oko kwaba sisithuko esikhulu kuYehova?

⁵ Kuthe kungekabi phi, udl’ omdlayo wayityhutyha imithambo yentloko kaBheleshatsare. Nanjengokuba IMizekeliso 20:1 isitsho, “ingumgculeli iwayini.” Noko ke, ngesi sihlandlo intombi kaLudiza yarhwebeshela lo kumkani ekwenzeni eyona nto yakha yabubuhiba. Wayalela ukuba kuthatyathwe izitya ezingcwele etempileni kaYehova ziziswe kwelo theko. Ezi zitya, ezaziphangwe ebudeni boloyiso lukaNebhukadenetsare eYerusalem, zazimele zisetyenziselwe unqulo olunyulu kuphela. Kwanababingeleli abangamaYuda ababenikwe ilungelo lokuzisebenzisa etempileni eYerusalem ngaphambili balunyukiswa ukuba bazigcine behlambulukile.—Daniyeli 5:2; thelekisa uIsaya 52:11.

⁶ Noko ke, uBheleshatsare wayesenenye intlondi ayicingayo. “Wasela ngazo ukumkani nezihandiba zakhe namashweshwe akhe nabafazi bakhe baseqadini . . . basela iwayini, baza babadumisa oothixo begolide nabesilivere nabobhedu nabentsimbi nabomthi nabamatye.” (Daniyeli 5:3, 4) Ngoko uBheleshatsare wayezimisele ukuphakamisa oothixo bakhe bobuxoki ngaphezu kukaYehova! Kucacile ukuba, amaBhabhiloni ayefuzene okooqongqothwane xa kufikwa kulo mba. Abagculela ashiy’ alilibeleyo abathinjwa abangamaYuda, enyemba unqulo lwawo yaye engawaniki nelincinane ithemba lokuba oze abuyele kwilizwe lawo alithandayo. (INdumiso 137:1-3; Isaya 14:16, 17) Mhlawumbi ke lo kumkani owayesele erhurha kukunxila wayevakalelwa kukuba ukuhlekisa ngaba bathinjwa nokuthuka uThixo wabo kwakuya kwenza abafazi namagosa athi swii nguye, atsho abonakale enguphopho othile.a Kodwa ukuba ngokwenene uBheleshatsare wade waziva enguye ke loo phopho, yaba yinto yomzuzwana nje leyo.

UMBHALO OSELUDONGENI

7, 8. Laphazanyiswa yintoni itheko likaBheleshatsare, ibe loo nto yaba nawuphi umphumo kukumkani?

⁷ Ingxelo ephefumlelweyo ithi: “Kuthe kusenjalo kwasuka kwavela iminwe yesandla somntu phambi kwesiphatho sezibane, yabhala emtyabekweni wodonga lwebhotwe lokumkani, wawubona ukumkani umva wesandla esasibhala.” (Daniyeli 5:5) Onjani ukoyikeka umbono! Isandla sithi gqi nje esithubeni, sindanda emoyeni kufutshane nodonga oluthe qhekre kuhle zizibane. Khawuthelekelele indlela eyathi nqum ngayo loo ncoko kwelo theko njengoko iindwendwe zazisibukele sele zithe ca izisini. Esi sandla saqalisa ukubhala isishiqi sento kolo donga lutyatyekiweyo.b Esi sihlo saba sisimanga sezimanga saza asalibaleka kangangokuba nanamhl’ oku kukho intetho ethi “umbhalo useludongeni” esetyenziswa xa kulunyukiswa ngesihelegu ekusele kumbovu ukuba sihle.

⁸ Wafane wathini ke lo kumkani ubhuqwa likratshi owayezame ukuziphakamisa yena noothixo bakhe ngaphezu kukaYehova? “Wothuka ukumkani, latsho laguquka nebala lolusu lwakhe, axengaxenga amalungu akhe kasikrotyana, namadolo abethabethana.” (Daniyeli 5:6) UBheleshatsare wayecinge ukuba uza kubonakala ephakamile yaye enobungangamsha kubantu bakhe. Kunoko, wasuka waluloyiko lumntwisiwe—ubuso bakhe bathi phatsha, usikrotyana lo wayengathi ukhululwe kuye, nomzimba uphela waxhaxhazela kangangokuba amadolo akhe ayebethabethana ngendlela engalawulekiyo. Wayenyanisile ke uDavide xa wayevumela uYehova ingoma esithi: “Amehlo akho anxamnye nabo banekratshi, ukuze ubathobe.”—2 Samuweli 22:1, 28; thelekisa IMizekeliso 18:12.

9. (a) Kutheni uloyiko lukaBheleshatsare lwalungayelelanga kuloyiko lokuhlonel’ uThixo? (b) Sisiphi isithembiso esenziwa ngukumkani kwizilumko zaseBhabhiloni?

⁹ Ifanele iqondwe into yokuba uloyiko lukaBheleshatsare lwalungayelelanga nokuyelela ekoyikeni uThixo, ukumhlonela ngokunzulu uYehova, okusisiqalo sabo bonke ubulumko. (IMizekeliso 9:10) Kaloku le, yile nto kuthiwa kukutyhwatyhwa, ibe akuzange kumenze avul’ ingqondo loo kumkani wayephakuzela.c Kunokuba adomboze ecel’ ibuyambo kuThixo awayesandul’ ukumthuka, wakhwaza “abo banobugqi namaKhaledi nabavumisi ngeenkwenkwezi.” Wathi: “Umntu othe wanako ukuwufunda lo mbhalo, wayichaza nentsingiselo yawo, uya kwambeswa ngezimfusa, afakwe nentsimbi yomqala yegolide entanyeni yakhe, aze alawule njengowesithathu ebukumkanini.” (Daniyeli 5:7) Kaloku umlawuli wesithathu kobo bukumkani wayeya kuba negunya ngokwenene, ingookumkani ababini kuphela abangaphezu kwakhe, uNabonidus noBheleshatsare ngokwakhe. Ngokuqhelekileyo eso sikhundla sasimele sibekelwe inkulu kaBheleshatsare. Kodwa lo kumkani wayekufuna ngamehlw’ abomvu ukuchazwa kweso sigidimi singummangaliso!

10. Zaqhuba njani ke izilumko kwimizamo yazo yokutolika umbhalo wesandla owawuseludongeni?

¹⁰ Izilumko zadwela kuloo holo inkulu. Kaloku ezaseBhabhiloni zazingangoboya benja, kuba eso sixeko sasiyindawo yonqulo yaye sixhakwe ziitempile. Ngokuqinisekileyo amadoda awayezibanga ekwazi ukuchaza izimanga nokufunda imibhalo entsonkothileyo ayengangoboya benja. Imele ukuba yayingahlangani imilomo yezi zilumko luvuyo ngenxa yeli thuba zilinikiweyo. Kaloku zazinikwe ithuba lokuvez’ ubugcisa bazo phambi kweengcungcu ezimilomo mide, ithuba lokuzithandisa kukumkani nelokunyuselwa kwisikhundla esiphezulu segunya. Kodwa ke iqhinga lawo ladliwa yimpuku! ‘Ababanga nako ukuwufunda loo mbhalo nokumchazela ukumkani intsingiselo yawo.’d—Daniyeli 5:8.

11. Sisenokuba sasiyintoni isizathu sokuba izilumko zaseBhabhiloni zingakwazi ukuwufunda loo mbhalo?

¹¹ Asiqinisekanga nokuba ezi zilumko zaseBhabhiloni zafumanisa ukuba umbhalo lo—oonobumba ngokwabo—awufundeki kusini na. Ukuba kwakunjalo, aba dyakalashe bankone ngebabejije iqhinga baza bathetha nantoni na efike kuqala entloko, mhlawumbi into eyayiza kumenza achazeke ukumkani. Enye into esenokuba yenzeka kukuba abo nobumba babecacile. Kodwa ke, ngenxa yokuba iilwimi ezinjengesiAramiki nesiHebhere zazibhalwa ngaphandle kwezikhamiso, igama ngalinye lalinokuba neentsingiselo ezininzi. Ukuba kwakunjalo, ezo zilumko zazingenako ukuliqonda elona gama lililo. Kwanokuba babekwazile, babengayi kuyiqonda intsingiselo yaloo magama baze bakwazi ukuwatolika. Enoba sasiyintoni isizathu, inye into esiqiniseke ngayo: Izilumko zaseBhabhiloni zakatya—usizi lwento!

12. Ukusilela kwezo zilumko kwangqina ntoni?

¹² Kaloku le nto yenza ukuba ezi zilumko zigqalwe njengamamenemene, kwaye nehlelo lazo lonqulo lajongwa njengobuqhetseba. Hayi indlela ezaziyimpoxo ngayo! UBheleshatsare wathi akubona ukuba wayefane wachitha ngexesha lakhe ngokukholosa ngabo banquli, lwanga luza kuphuma ngomlomo uvalo, ubuso bakhe baya busithi phatsha nangakumbi, nezihandiba zakhe “zazididekile.”e—Daniyeli 5:9.

KUBIZWA INDODA ENENGQIQO

13. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze ukumkanikazi acebise ukuba kubizwe uDaniyeli? (b) Wayephila ubomi obunjani uDaniyeli?

¹³ Kuthe kwakunyembeleka ngolu hlobo kwangena ukumkanikazi—ekubonakala ukuba yayingunina kakumkani—kwiholo ekwakuqhutywa itheko kuyo. Wayevile ukuba kukho umbhodamo oqhubekayo ethekweni, ibe wayesazi ukuba ukho umntu onokuwufunda lo mbhalo useludongeni. Kumashumi athile eminyaka ngaphambili, uyise uNebhukadenetsare wayemisele uDaniyeli wangaphezu kwazo zonke izilumko zakhe. Lo kumkanikazi wakhumbula ukuba le ndoda ‘yayinomoya ongaqhelekanga nolwazi nengqiqo.’ Ekubeni kucaca ukuba uBheleshatsare wayengamazi uDaniyeli, kusenokwenzeka ukuba lo mprofeti waphulukana nesikhundla sakhe esiphezulu eburhulumenteni emva kokufa kukaNebhukadenetsare. Kodwa ke ukuba sezintweni kwakungabalulekanga kuDaniyeli. Mhlawumbi ngelo xesha wayesele engene kwiminyaka yama-90 ubudala, esamkhonza ngokuthembeka uYehova. Nangona kwakusele kudlule iminyaka engama-80 ethinjiwe eBhabhiloni, wayesabizwa ngegama lakhe lesiHebhere. Kwanokumkanikazi wambiza ngokuthi nguDaniyeli, kungekhona ngegama laseBhabhiloni awayekhe walithiywa. Eneneni, wambongoza ukumkani esithi: “Makabizwe uDaniyeli lowo, ukuze achaze intsingiselo yoku.”—Daniyeli 1:7; 5:10-12.

14. Yiyiphi ingxaki awaba kuyo uDaniyeli akubona umbhalo wesandla owawuseludongeni?

¹⁴ UDaniyeli wabizwa waza wema phambi kukaBheleshatsare. Kwakusele kunzima ngoku ukucela uncedo kwakulo mYudandini, ukumkani awayesandul’ ukuthuka uThixo wakhe. Sekunjalo, uBheleshatsare wazama ukumqaba ngentshongo emehlweni uDaniyeli, emthembisa ngomvuzo ofanayo—indawo yesithathu ebukumkanini—ukuba wayenokufunda aze acacise loo magama ayintsumantsumane. (Daniyeli 5:13-16) UDaniyeli wawuthi ntsho lo mbhalo useludongeni, yaye umoya oyingcwele wamnceda ukuba ayiqonde intsingiselo yawo. Wawusisigidimi esichaza ngentlekele eyayiza kubangelwa nguYehova uThixo! UDaniyeli wayeya kuyiqala ngaphi into yokumxelel’ esiva lo kumkani ungqondo iheshe-heshe ukuba uza kugwetywa kabuhlungu—nalaph’ ebantwini kukho abafazi bakhe nezihandiba zakhe zibukele? Khawuthelekelele nje ingxaki awayekuyo uDaniyeli! Ngaba amazwi kakumkani okumncoma nezithembiso zakhe zokumenza isityebi nokumwonga ngesikhundla esiphezulu amgungqisa? Ngaba lo mprofeti wayeza kusinonga ukuze sihle kamnandana noko isibhengezo sikaYehova?

15, 16. Sisipi isifundo esibalulekileyo embalini angazange asifunde uBheleshatsare, yaye ixhaphake kangakanani namhlanje loo nto?

¹⁵ UDaniyeli akazange afihle makhuba kulinywa, esithi: “Ungazidubi ngokundinika izipho, ungasuke uzinike abanye. Ke wona umbhalo lo, ndiza kumfundela ukumkani, ndimchazele nentsingiselo yawo.” (Daniyeli 5:17) Emva koko, uDaniyeli wamtyibela uNebhukadenetsare ngenxa yobukhulu bakhe, ukumkani owayenamandla kangangokuba akwazi ukubulala, abethe, aphakamise okanye athobe nabani na amkhethileyo. Noko ke, uDaniyeli wakhumbuza uBheleshatsare ukuba nguYehova, “Oyena Thixo Uphakamileyo,” owamenza mkhulu uNebhukadenetsare. NguYehova owamthobayo loo kumkani unamandla xa wakhukumalayo. Ewe, uNebhukadenetsare wanyanzeleka ukuba aqonde ukuba “Oyena Thixo Uphakamileyo unguMlawuli ebukumkanini babantu, yaye umisa nabani na kubo athanda ukummisa.”—Daniyeli 5:18-21.

¹⁶ UBheleshatsare ‘wayekwazi konke oko.’ Kodwa akazange afunde nto kokwenzeka ngaphambili. Enyanisweni, wayede wagqithisa kwisono sikaNebhukadenetsare sokuba nekratshi waza wanga umgalela ngenkovu emehlweni uYehova. UDaniyeli wasithi thaca elubala isono salo kumkani. Ngaphezu koko, phambi kwaloo nkumbula yabahedeni, ngenkalipho waxelela uBheleshatsare ukuba oothixo bobuxoki ‘ababoni kwanto okanye beve kwanto okanye bazi nento le.’ Lo mprofeti kaThixo ukhaliphileyo walek’ umsundulo esithi ngokungafaniyo nezo zifede zoothixo, uYehova nguThixo “esesandleni sakhe impefumlo yakho.” Nanamhlanje abantu basenza oothixo ngezinto ezingaphiliyo, benqula imali, umsebenzi, iwonga kwaneziyolo. Kodwa akukho nanye kwezi zinto enokunika ubomi. Ubomi bethu sonke buxhomekeke kuYehova kuphela, nguye osinika umoya esiwusezelayo.—Daniyeli 5:22, 23; IZenzo 17:24, 25.

IQHINA LICONJULULWE!

17, 18. Ngawaphi amagama amane awayebhalwe eludongeni, ibe athetha ntoni ngokoqobo?

¹⁷ Ngoku le nkonde yomprofeti iya kanye kwesi sisompothi sixake zonke izilumko zaseBhabhiloni. Yawufunda yaza yawutolika umbhalo owawuseludongeni. La magama ayesithi: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, nelithi PARSIN.” (Daniyeli 5:24, 25) Ayethetha ukuthini?

¹⁸ Xa efundwa ngengqiqo yokoqobo, la magama athetha ukuthi “imina, imina, ishekele, nesiqingatha seeshekele.” Ngalinye kula magama lalimela ingqekembe yemali, ibe zazilandelelaniswe ngokobukhulu bamaxabiso azo. Esinjani sona isishiqi! Kwanokuba izilumko zaseBhabhiloni zazikwazile ukubafunda abo nobumba, yayingayi kuba ngumnqa into yokuba zixakwe kukubatolika.

19. Latolikwa njani igama elithi “MENE”?

¹⁹ Eqhutywa ngumoya oyingcwele kaThixo, uDaniyeli wachaza: “Yiyo le intsingiselo yala magama: elithi MENE, lithetha ukuba uThixo uzibalile iintsuku zobukumkani bakho waza wabuphelisa.” (Daniyeli 5:26) Amaqabane egama lokuqala ayelivumela igama elithi “imina” negama lesiAramiki elithetha ukuthi “ibaliwe,” kuxhomekeka kwizikhamiso ezifakelelwa ngulowo ulifundayo. UDaniyeli wayesazi kakuhle ukuba lalisondele ixesha lokuba amaYuda akhululwe ekuthinjweni. Ekubeni kwakuxelwe kwangaphambili ukuba ayeya kuthinjwa iminyaka engama-70, kwakusele kudlule engama-68. (Yeremiya 29:10) UMgcini-xesha Obalaseleyo, uYehova, wayeyibalile imihla yolawulo lweBhabhiloni njengegunya lehlabathi, ibe isiphelo salo sasisondele ngaphezulu kunokuba nabani na owayekwisidlo sikaBheleshatsare wayecinga. Masithi, ixesha lalixhatshwe yinja—kungekhona kuBheleshatsare kuphela kodwa nakuyise, uNabonidus. Isenokuba yiloo nto ke eyadala ukuba igama elithi “MENE” libhalwe kabini—yayikukubhengeza isiphelo sabo bobabini aba kumkani.

20. Lachazwa njani igama elithi “TEKEL,” ibe lasebenza njani kuBheleshatsare?

²⁰ Kwelinye icala, igama elithi “TEKEL” labhalwa kanye yaye lalikwisinye. Oku kusenokubonisa ukuba lalibhekiswe ngokukhethekileyo kuBheleshatsare. Ibe oko kwakuya kufaneleka, kuba nguye kakade owayebonise ukungamhloneli kwaphela uYehova. Eli gama lithetha “ishekele,” kodwa amaqabane alo akwavuma ukuba libe ligama elithi “ilinganisiwe.” Ngenxa yoko, uDaniyeli wathi kuBheleshatsare: “Elithi TEKEL, lithetha ukuba ulinganiswe esikalini waza wafunyaniswa ulula.” (Daniyeli 5:27) Emehlweni kaYehova, iintlanga ziphela zilingana nje nesuntswana lothuli ezikalini. (Isaya 40:15) Azinakuze zikwazi ukuxaba endleleni yeenjongo zakhe. Ke, ebengubani ke yena lo kumkani mnye ubhuqwa likratshi? UBheleshatsare wayelinge ukuziphakamisa ngaphezu koMongami wendalo iphela. Olu dwayi lomntu lwaba nobuganga bokuthuka nokunyelisa unqulo lukaYehova olunyulu kodwa ke ‘lwafunyaniswa lulula.’ Ewe, uBheleshatsare wayewufanelekela ngokupheleleyo umgwebo owawusiza uxhabashile!

21. Ziziphi iintsingiselo ezintathu elalinazo igama elithi “PARSIN,” yaye eli gama latyhila ntoni ngekamva leBhabhiloni njengegunya lehlabathi?

²¹ Igama lokugqibela elaliseludongeni lalisithi “PARSIN.” UDaniyeli wasebenzisa isinye salo, esithi “PERES,” mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuba wayethetha nokumkani omnye yaye omnye engekho. Eli gama laqwela ukuliqinisa eli qhina libalaseleyo likaYehova ngokuba neentsingiselo ezintathu. Ngengqiqo yokoqobo, igama elithi “parsin” lithetha “isiqingatha seeshekele.” Kodwa oonobumba balo bakwavumela nezinye iintsingiselo—“izahlulo” nelithi “amaPersi.” Ngenxa yoko uDaniyeli waprofeta esithi: “Elithi PERES, lithetha ukuba ubukumkani bakho bahluliwe baza banikelwa kumaMedi namaPersi.”—Daniyeli 5:28.

22. Wasabela njani uBheleshatsare lakuconjululwa iqhina, yaye yintoni asenokuba wayeqamele ngayo?

²² Laba ke liyaconjululwa elo qhina. IBhabhiloni eyayinamandla yayiza kukhahlelwa phantsi yimikhosi yamaMedi namaPersi. Nangona ezi ndaba zazingumphanga kuBheleshatsare, wasigcina isithembiso sakhe. Wathi abakhonzi bakhe mabambese uDaniyeli ezimfusa, bamfake intsimbi yomqala yegolide, baze bamemeze besithi ungumlawuli wesithathu kobo bukumkani. (Daniyeli 5:29) UDaniyeli wavuma ukuzukiswa, eqonda ukuba olo zuko lwalusiya kuYehova. Kodwa ke, kusenokwenzeka ukuba uBheleshatsare wayecinga ukuba uyawudambisa umgwebo kaYehova ngokuzukisa umprofeti Wakhe. Ukuba kwakunjalo, wayesele eshiywe lixesha.

UKUWA KWEBHABHILONI

23. Sisiphi isiprofeto samandulo esasizaliseka ngoxa kwakuqhubeka itheko likaBheleshatsare?

²³ Ngeli xesha uBheleshatsare namaphakathi akhe babesela utywala egameni loothixo babo yaye benyelisa uYehova, kwakusenzek’ izinto zamehlo kwintsunguzi yobumnyama ngaphandle kwebhotwe. Isiprofeto esasidluliselwe nguIsaya malunga neenkulungwane ezimbini ngaphambilana sasizaliseka. Ethetha ngeBhabhiloni, uYehova wayexele kwangaphambili esithi: “Ndikuyekisile konke ukuncwina okungenxa yakhe.” Ewe, yonke ingcinezelo ababejamelene nayo abantu bakaThixo abanyuliweyo kweso sixeko sinezothe yayiza kuphela. Njani? Kwaesi siprofeto sinye sithi: “Nyuka, Elam! Ngqinga, Medi!” ElakwaElam laba yinxalenye yePersi emva kwemihla yomprofeti uIsaya. Liqhubeka nje itheko likaBheleshatsare, nalo elalixelwe kwangaphambili kwesi siprofeto sinye sikaIsaya, iPersi neMedi zazidibanise imikhosi ukuze ‘zinyuke’ zize ‘zingqinge’ iBhabhiloni.—Isaya 21:1, 2, 5, 6.

24. Ziziphi iinkcukacha zokuwa kweBhabhiloni ezanikelwa sisiprofeto sikaIsaya?

²⁴ Enyanisweni, kwaigama lenkumanda yale mikhosi lalixelwe kwangaphambili, kunye neenkcukacha eziyintloko zendlela eyayiza kuhlasela ngayo. Kwiminyaka emalunga nama-200 ngaphambili, uIsaya wayeprofete esithi uYehova wayeya kuthambisa mntu uthile ogama linguKoreshi ukuze ayigagamele iBhabhiloni. Ebudeni bolo hlaselo lwakhe, kwakungayi kubakho mqobo umayo phambi kwakhe. Amanzi aseBhabhiloni ayeza ‘koma,’ namasango ayo omeleleyo ashiywe ethe genge. (Isaya 44:27–45:3) Kwaba njalo kanye. Imikhosi kaKoreshi yawajika amanzi oMlambo umEfrati, wehla umthamo wawo waza wakwazi ukuwela kuloo misele. Amasango odonga lwaseBhabhiloni ayeshiywe evuliwe ngabalindi abangakhathaliyo. Nababhali-mbali behlabathi bayavuma ukuba eso sixeko sahlaselwa abemi baso besalibele yimithayi. IBhabhiloni yoyiswa ingakhange ixhomoloze nakancinane. (Yeremiya 51:30) Noko ke, ubuncinane mnye umntu obalulekileyo ekuthiwa wafa. UDaniyeli wachaza: “Ngabo kanye obo busuku wabulawa uBheleshatsare ukumkani wamaKhaledi, baza ubukumkani bathatyathwa nguDariyo umMedi, eneminyaka emalunga namashumi amathandathu anesibini ubudala.”—Daniyeli 5:30, 31.

UKUFUNDA KUMBHALO OWAWUSELUDONGENI

25. (a) Kutheni iBhabhiloni yamandulo iyifuzisela kakuhle inkqubo yanamhlanje yonqulo lobuxoki? (b) Baye bathinjwa ngayiphi ingqiqo abakhonzi bakaThixo bale mihla eBhabhiloni?

²⁵ Ingxelo ephefumlelweyo ekwisahluko 5 sikaDaniyeli ibaluleke gqitha kuthi. Njengesazulu sonqulo lobuxoki, iBhabhiloni yamandulo ibufuzisela kakuhle ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki. Ekubeni ISityhilelo siyifanisa nehenyukazi elinxanelw’ igazi, le ntlanganisela yobuqhophololo obusehlabathini ibizwa ngokuba ‘yiBhabhiloni Enkulu.’ (ISityhilelo 17:5) Ingafuni nokuva yakulunyukiswa ngeemfundiso noqheliselo lwayo lobuxoki lokungahloneli Thixo, iye yabatshutshisa abo bashumayela inyaniso yeLizwi likaThixo. Njengabemi bamandulo beYerusalem nelakwaYuda, intsalela ethembekileyo yamaKristu athanjisiweyo yathinjwa ngokoqobo ‘yiBhabhiloni Enkulu’ xa intshutshiso eyayintyontyelwa ngabefundisi yadala ukuba uvalwe umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani ngowe-1918.

26. (a) “IBhabhiloni Enkulu” yawa njani ngowe-1919? (b) Sisiphi isilumkiso esifanele nathi sisithobele size silumkise nabanye ngaso?

²⁶ Noko ke, “iBhabhiloni Enkulu” yangquleka phantsi ngesiquphe! Kaloku, ayizange ibe savakala naxa isiwa—kanye njengokuba iBhabhiloni yamandulo yawa phantse kungakhange kuvakale nento le, ngowama-539 B.C.E. Noko ke, ukuwa kwayo kokomfuziselo kwakutshabalalisa. Yawa ngowe-1919 C.E. xa abantu bakaYehova bakhululwa ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni baza basikelelwa ngokuzuza inkoliseko kaThixo. Oku kwayenza “iBhabhiloni Enkulu” yaphelelwa ligunya kubantu bakaThixo yaza yaqaliswa ukubhencwa elubala njengeqhophololo elingamele kuthenjwa mntu. Ayizange iphinde ikwazi ukuphakama, ibe kungekudala iza kutshatyalaliswa ngokusisigxina. Ngenxa yoko abakhonzi bakaYehova bebephindaphinda esi silumkiso: “Phumani kuyo, bantu bam, ukuze ningabelani nayo ngezono zayo.” (ISityhilelo 18:4) Ngaba sele usithobele eso silumkiso? Ngaba uyabalumkisa nabanye?f

27, 28. (a) Yiyiphi inyaniso engundoqo engazange imsithele uDaniyeli? (b) Bubuphi ubungqina esinabo bokuba sele kumbovu ukuba uYehova athabathe amanyathelo nxamnye nehlabathi elingendawo lanamhlanje?

²⁷ Ngoko umbhalo useludongeni nanamhlanje—kodwa awubhalelwanga “iBhabhiloni Enkulu” yodwa. Khumbula eyona nyaniso ingundoqo kwincwadi kaDaniyeli: UYehova unguMongami Wendalo Iphela. Nguye, yena yedwa jwi, onelungelo lokumisa umlawuli wokulawula uluntu. (Daniyeli 4:17, 25; 5:21) Nantoni na echasene neenjongo zikaYehova iya kushenxiswa. Into eseleyo nje kukufika kwexesha uYehova aya kuthabatha amanyathelo ngalo. (Habhakuki 2:3) KuDaniyeli, elo xesha lafika sele eneminyaka eli-100 ephila. Ngoko wabukela uYehova eshenxisa igunya lehlabathi—igunya elabaphilis’ ubomi bentshontsho abantu bakaThixo ukususela ngoxa uDaniyeli wayeselula.

²⁸ Bukho ubungqina obungenakuphikiswa bokuba uYehova uThixo sele ethwese uMlawuli woluntu kwitrone yasezulwini. Ukungamnanzi nganto kwehlabathi lo Kumkani nokuchasa kwalo ulawulo lwakhe kububungqina obuqinisekileyo bokuba kungekudala uYehova uza kubatshayela bonke abachasi bolawulo loBukumkani. (INdumiso 2:1-11; 2 Petros 3:3-7) Ngaba ikho into oyenzayo ukuze ubonakalise intembelo yakho kuBukumkani bukaThixo ekubeni ukubonile ukungxamiseka kwala maxesha? Ukuba kunjalo, kuthe kanti ufunde nto ithile kumbhalo owawuseludongeni!

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

UZUZE NTONI?

• Laphazanyiswa yintoni itheko likaBheleshatsare ngo-Oktobha 5/6, 539 B.C.E.?

• Watolikwa njani umbhalo wesandla owawuseludongeni?

• Sisiphi isiprofeto esingeBhabhiloni esasizaliseka ngoxa itheko likaBheleshatsare laliqhubeka?

• Inayiphi intsingiselo kumhla wethu ingxelo yombhalo wesandla owawuseludongeni?

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 98]

[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 103]