Isahluko Seshumi Elinesithathu
Ookumkani Ababini Abangquzulanayo
1, 2. Kutheni sifanele sibe nomdla kwisiprofeto esibhalwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 11?
OOKUMKANI ababini abayinyoka nesele babambene ngezihlwitha bejijisana ngolongamo. Njengoko iminyaka ihamba, iba ngulo okhonyayo, uthi usajonge leyo ibe ngomnye. Maxa wambi, kongama ukumkani abe mnye ngoxa omnye abukeleyo, ibe ngamanye amaxesha abangquzulani. Kuthi ke kusenjalo basuke bavunukelane, luqale apho beluphele khona olu ngquzulwano. Phakathi kwabo bebenenxaxheba kwezi ngxushungxushu bekukho uKumkani uSeleucus I Nicator waseSiriya, uKumkani uPtolemy Lagus waseYiputa, iTshawekazi laseSiriya elaba nguKumkanikazi uCleopatra I waseYiputa, abaLawuli baseRoma uAgasto noTibheriyo, noKumkanikazi uZenobia wasePalmyra. Ngasekupheleni kolu ngquzulwano, kuye kwangenelela neJamani yamaNazi, amazwe obuKomanisi, iGunya Lehlabathi lamaNgesi namaMerika, uManyano Lwezizwe neZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Kodwa ke akukho namnye kwaba rhulumente bezobupolitika owaziyo ukuba yozala nkomo ni na le nto. Ingelosi kaYehova yavakalisa esi siprofeto sibangel’ imincili kumprofeti uDaniyeli kwiminyaka emalunga nama-2 500 eyadlulayo.—Daniyeli, isahluko 11.
2 Hayi indlela uDaniyeli amele ukuba wachulumanca ngayo akuva ingelosi imtyebisela ngobutshaba obabuphakathi kwaba kumkani babini ababeseza kubonakala! Ezi ziganeko zibalulekile nakuthi, kuba kaloku ukujijisana kwaba kumkani babini ngegunya kufikelela nakule mihla yethu. Ukubona indlela imbali eye yayingqina iyinyaniso ngayo inxalenye yokuqala yesi siprofeto kuya kulomeleza ukholo nentembelo yethu size siqiniseke ukuba nenxalenye yokugqibela yesi siprofeto iza kuzaliseka. Ukunikela ingqalelo kwesi siprofeto kuya kusenza sibone kakuhle ukuba kungokunje kuxa sindawoni na kumsinga wamaxesha. Kwakhona kuya kusenza sizimisele ngakumbi ukuhlala singoondilele kolu ngquzulwano njengoko ngomonde silindele ukuba uThixo asihlangule. (INdumiso 146:3, 5) Ngoko masibaz’ iindlebe njengoko ingelosi kaYehova ithetha noDaniyeli.
NXAMNYE NOKUMKANI WASEGRISI
3. Ngubani owaxhaswa yingelosi “ngonyaka wokuqala kaDariyo umMedi”?
3 Ingelosi yathi: “Nam ke, ngonyaka wokuqala kaDariyo umMedi [539/538 B.C.E.], ndema njengomomelezi nanjengenqaba yakhe.” (Daniyeli 11:1) Itshoba lalisele lalala umbethe kuDariyo, kodwa le ngelosi ibhekisela kulawulo lwakhe njengesiqalo sesi sigidimi singokwesiprofeto. Yayingulo kumkani owayeyalele ukuba uDaniyeli akhutshwe kumhadi weengonyama. IkwanguDariyo owayeyalele abantu bakhe ukuba bamoyike uThixo kaDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 6:21-27) Noko ke, lo wayexhaswa yile ngelosi yayingengoDariyo umMedi, kodwa yayilidlelane lale ngelosi uMikayeli—inkosana yabantu bakuloDaniyeli. (Thelekisa uDaniyeli 10:12-14.) Ingelosi kaThixo yaxhasa uMikayeli xa wayesilwa nenkosana eyidemon yamaMedi namaPersi.
4, 5. Yayingoobani ookumkani abane basePersi ababexelwe kwangaphambili?
4 Ingelosi kaThixo yahlabela mgama isithi: “Khangela! Kuseza kubakho ookumkani abathathu abamela iPersi, yaye owesine uya kubodlula bonke abanye ngobutyebi. Uya kuthi akomelela ngobo butyebi bakhe, uya kuvusa yonk’ into ibe nxamnye nobukumkani baseGrisi.” (Daniyeli 11:2) Ngoobani kanye kanye aba balawuli basePersi?
5 Ookumkani abathathu bokuqala yayinguKoreshi Omkhulu, uCambyses II kunye noDariyo I. Ekubeni uBardiya (okanye mhlawumbi uGaumata owabanga isihlalo sobukhosi) walawula kangangeenyanga ezisixhenxe kuphela, esi siprofeto asilubali ulawulo lwakhe olufutshane. Ngowama-490 B.C.E., ukumkani wesithathu, uDariyo I, wenza ilinge lokuhlasela iGrisi okwesihlandlo sesibini. Kodwa ke, amaPersi abethwa athi saa eMarathon aza aya kuthi ncwaba eAsia Minor. Nangona uDariyo waqula lamuncu elungiselela ukuphinda alwe namaGrike, akazange akwazi ukukwenza oko de wasutywa kukufa kwiminyaka emine kamva. Ngoku icekwa lalilele nonyana wakhe owayeza kungena esihlalweni sakhe, ukumkani “wesine,” uXerxes I. Lo ke nguKumkani uAhaswerosi owatshata noEstere.—Estere 1:1; 2:15-17.
6, 7. (a) Ukumkani wesine ‘wayivusa njani yonk’ into yanxamnye nobukumkani baseGrisi’? (b) Waba yintoni umphumo wephulo likaXerxes nxamnye neGrisi?
6 Eneneni uXerxes I ‘wavusa yonk’ into yanxamnye nobukumkani baseGrisi,’ okanye amazwana azimeleyo aseGrisi njengeqela. Incwadi ethi The Medes and Persians—Conquerors and Diplomats, ithi “uXerxes wafunza umkhosi wakhe waselwandle nohamba emhlabeni entyontyelwa ngamaphakathi akhe awayezaliswe ngamabhongo.” Umbhali-mbali ongumGrike uHerodotus, wenkulungwane yesihlanu ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, ubhala athi “aluzange lubekho uhlaselo olunjalo nanini na.” Kwincwadi yakhe yembali uthi umkhosi waselwandle “wawunamadoda angama-517 610. Amajoni ahamba ngeenyawo ayesisi-1 700 000; akhwele amahashe engama-80 000; ukanti kwakukho nama-Arabhu awayekhwele iinkamela, namadoda aseLibhiya awayekhwele iinqwelo zokulwa, endiwaqikelela kuma-20 000. Ngoko ke, uwonke umkhosi ohamba emhlabeni noselwandle wawufikelela kumadoda azizi-2 317 610.”
7 Ezimisele ukuliphumelela ngokupheleleyo elo dabi, uXerxes I wafunza umkhosi wakhe omkhulu eGrisi ngowama-480 B.C.E. Elikrobele iqhinga lamaGrike lokuzilazila eThermopylae, amaPersi ayidlakaza iAthene. Noko ke, eSalamis abethwa athi saa. Kwakhona amaGrike oyisa ePlataea, ngowama-479 B.C.E. Akukho namnye kookumkani abasixhenxe abalandela uXerxes kwisihlalo soBukhosi basePersi kwiminyaka eli-143 owayihlaselayo iGrisi. Kodwa ke kwathi gqi ingangalala yokumkani kwelaseGrisi.
UBUKUMKANI OBUKHULU BUBA NGAMACANDELO AMANE
8. Nguwuphi “ukumkani oligorha” owemayo, ibe ‘walawula njani ngolawulo olukhulu’?
8 Ingelosi yathi: “Ukumkani oligorha uya kuma, alawule ngolawulo olukhulu, esenza unothanda.” (Daniyeli 11:3) UAleksandire owayeneminyaka engama-20 ubudala ‘wema’ njengokumkani waseMakedoni ngowama-336 B.C.E. Eneneni waba ‘ngukumkani onamandla’—uAleksandire Omkhulu. Ehlutshezwe ngamabhongo kayise, uPhilip II, wawathi hlasi amaphondo asePersi akuMbindi Mpuma. Amadoda akhe angama-47 000 enjenjeya ukunqumla umlambo umEfrati neTigris aza achithachitha amajoni kaDariyo III angama-250 000 eGaugamela. Emva koko, uDariyo wasaba waza wagwintwa, baba bayaphela ke abalawuli basePersi. Ngoku iGrisi yaba ligunya lehlabathi, ibe uAleksandire ‘walawula ngolawulo olukhulu waza wenza unothanda.’
9, 10. Sangqineka njani sinyanisile isiprofeto xa sasisithi ubukumkani buka-Aleksandire babungayi kudlulela kwizizukulwana zakhe?
9 Kodwa lwaluza kuba lufutshane ulawulo luka-Aleksandire ehlabathini, kuba ingelosi kaThixo yongezelela isithi: “Yaye akuba emile, ubukumkani bakhe buya kwaphulwa buze bahlulelwe emimoyeni yomine yamazulu, buncothulwe bube bobabanye, abangengabo abesizukulwana sakhe, yaye abayi kulawula ngendlela abelawula ngayo yena.” (Daniyeli 11:4) Uthe uAleksandire engekafiki nakwiminyaka engama-33 ubudala ngesiquphe wahlaselwa kukugula waza wamnabel’ uqaqaqa eseBhabhiloni ngowama-323 B.C.E.
10 Ubukhosi obukhulu buka-Aleksandire abuzange budlulele “kwizizukulwana zakhe.” Umninawa wakhe uPhilip III Arrhidaeus walawula iminyaka engaphantsi kwesixhenxe waza wagwintwa ngokomyalelo kaOlympias, unina ka-Aleksandire, ngowama-317 B.C.E. UAleksandire IV owayengunyana ka-Aleksandire walawula de kwangowama-311 B.C.E. apho wacinyw’ igama nguCassander, enye yeenjengele zikayise. Unyana ka-Aleksandire ongumgqakhwe uHeroklesi wangena esihlalweni sikayise kodwa wagwintwa ngowama-309 B.C.E. Waba uyaphela ngolo hlobo umnombo ka-Aleksandire, ‘ulawulo lwakhe’ lwasuswa entsatsheni yakhe.
11. Ubukumkani buka-Aleksandire ‘bahlulelwa njani emimoyeni emine yamazulu’?
11 Emva kokufa kuka-Aleksandire, ubukumkani bakhe ‘bahlulelwa emimoyeni emine.’ Iinjengele zakhe ezininzi zaxabana zibangisana ngemihlaba. UNjengele uAntigonus I owayeneliso elinye wada wazama ukubuwanqela kuye bonke ubukhosi buka-Aleksandire. Kodwa wabulawa kwidabi laseIpsus eFrigiya. Ngowama-301 B.C.E., iinjengele ezine zika-Aleksandire zazilawula umhlaba omkhulu owawuthinjwe yinkumanda yazo. UCassander wayelawula eMakedoni naseGrisi. ULysimachus ebambe iintambo eAsia Minor naseThrace. USeleucus I Nicator ezibambele iMesopotamiya neSiriya. Yaye iYiputa nePalestina zisezandleni zikaPtolemy Lagus. Ubukhosi obukhulu buka-Aleksandire bahlulwa baba zizikumkani ezine zamaGrike, laba lizaliseka ngaloo ndlela ke ilizwi lesiprofeto.
KUVELA OOKUMKANI ABABINI ABATHIYENEYO
12, 13. (a) Inani lezikumkani ezine zamaGrike lehla njani laya kutsho kwisibini? (b) Nguwuphi umnombo wookumkani owaqaliswa nguSeleucus eSiriya?
12 Kwiminyaka embalwa emva kokuba eqalise ukulawula, uCassander wasutywa kukufa, ibe ngowama-285 B.C.E., uLysimachus wayitsalela ngakuye inxalenye yaseYurophu yoBukhosi baseGrisi. Ngowama-281 B.C.E., uLysimachus wafela edabini xa wayequbisene noSeleucus I Nicator, waza uSeleucus wayiwanqela kuye inxalenye enkulu yemihlaba yaseAsia. Ngowama-276 B.C.E., uAntigonus II Gonatas, umzukulwana wenye yeenjengele zika-Aleksandire, walawula eMakedoni. Ethubeni, iMakedoni yaba phantsi kwephiko leRoma yaza yagqibela ngokuba liphondo lamaRoma ngowe-146 B.C.E.
13 Kookumkani bamaGrike abane ngoku babebabini kuphela ababekhonya—omnye inguSeleucus I Nicator yaye omnye inguPtolemy Lagus. USeleucus waqalisa umnombo wabalawuli abangooSeleucus baseSiriya. Phakathi kwezixeko awazakhayo kubalwa iAntiyokwe—ikomkhulu elitsha laseSiriya—nezibuko iSelukiya. Kamva umpostile uPawulos wafundisa kwa-Antiyokwe, indawo ekwaqalwa kuyo ukuba abalandeli bakaYesu babizwe ngokuba ngamaKristu. (IZenzo 11:25, 26; 13:1-4) USeleucus wagwintwa ngowama-281 B.C.E., kodwa umnombo wakhe waqhubeka ulawula de kwangowama-64 B.C.E. xa uNjengele uGnaeus Pompey waseRoma wenza iSiriya yaliphondo laseRoma.
14. Baqalisa nini ukubakho ooPtolemy eYiputa?
14 Obona bukumkani bamaGrike obalawula ixesha elide kwezi zine bobukaPtolemy Lagus, okanye uPtolemy I, owathweswa ubukumkani ngowama-305 B.C.E. Umnombo wooPtolemy awawusekayo walawula eYiputa de yoyiswa yiRoma ngowama-30 B.C.E.
15. Ngabaphi ookumkani ababini abanamandla abavela kwizikumkani ezine zamaGrike, yaye luluphi usukuzwano abaluqalisayo?
15 Ngaloo ndlela kwaba kumkani bane bamaGrike, kwavela ookumkani ababini abanamandla—uSeleucus I Nicator waseSiriya noPtolemy I waseYiputa. Iqale ngaba kumkani babini ke le ngxushungxushu ‘yokumkani wasemntla’ ‘nokumkani wasemzantsi,’ echazwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 11. Ingelosi kaYehova ayiwachazanga amagama aba kumkani, kuba kaloku aba kumkani babini kunye namazwe abo babeza kutshintshatshintsha ukutyhubela iinkulungwane. Le ngelosi yakhankanya abalawuli kunye neziganeko ezinento yokwenza nongquzulwano yaza yaziyeka ezinye iinkcukacha ezingenamsebenzi.
ZADIBAN’ EBEZIKADE ZIZONDANA
16. (a) Aba kumkani babekumntla nomzantsi wantoni? (b) Ngabaphi ookumkani ababa ngabokuqala ukuphumeza indima ‘yokumkani wasemntla’ ‘neyokumkani wasemzantsi’?
16 Yiva ke! Xa ichaza isiqalo solu ngquzulwano luthimb’ ingqondo, ingelosi kaYehova ithi: “Ukumkani wasemzantsi uya komelela, kwanenye yeenkosana zakhe [zika-Aleksandire]; yaye uya koyiswa ngokuqinisekileyo ngulowo [ukumkani wasemntla] uya nolawulo olukhulu kunolwakhe.” (Daniyeli 11:5) Izibizo ezithi “ukumkani wasemntla” nesithi “ukumkani wasemzantsi” zibhekisela kookumkani abasemntla nasemzantsi kubantu bakuloDaniyeli, ngelo xesha ababesele bekhululwe ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni baza babuyela kwilizwe lakwaYuda. Owokuqala “ukumkani wasemzantsi” yayinguPtolemy I waseYiputa. Enye yeenjengele zika-Aleksandire eyamoyisayo uPtolemy I yaza yalawula ‘ngolawulo olukhulu’ yayinguKumkani uSeleucus I Nicator waseSiriya. Yena waba ‘ngukumkani wasemntla.’
17. Ekuqaliseni kongquzulwano olwaluphakathi kokumkani wasemntla nokumkani wasemzantsi, elakwaYuda laliphantsi kolawulo lwawuphi?
17 Ekuqaleni kolu ngquzulwano, elakwaYuda laliphantsi kolawulo lokumkani wasemzantsi. Ukususela ngowama-320 B.C.E., uPtolemy I wathofiyela amaYuda ukuba aze kuzenzela amathanga eYiputa. AmaYuda enza iAlexandria, apho uPtolemy I wakha khona umzi wogcino-zincwadi wodumo, yalithanga lawo. AmaYuda elakwaYuda aqhubeka ephantsi kolawulo lweYiputa eyayilawulwa ngooPtolemy, ukumkani wasemzantsi, de kwangowe-198 B.C.E.
18, 19. Njengoko ixesha lalihamba, aba kumkani ababegxeleshene balenza njani ‘ilungiselelo lokudala imvisiswano’?
18 Ichaza ngaba kumkani babini, ingelosi yaprofeta isithi: “Ekupheleni kweminyaka ethile baya kumanyana, ibe yona kanye intombi kakumkani wasemzantsi iya kuza kukumkani wasemntla ukuze badale imvisiswano. Kodwa loo mvisiswano ayiyi kuba namandla; naye akayi kuma, nengalo leyo yakhe; kwaye iya kunikezelwa intombi leyo, nabo bayizisayo, nowayizalayo, nowayomelezayo ngaloo maxesha.” (Daniyeli 11:6) Yazaliseka njani ke le into?
19 Esi siprofeto asimbali unyana kaSeleucus I Nicator owangena esihlalweni sakhe, uAntiochus I, kuba kaloku akazange alwe dabi libonakalayo nokumkani wasemzantsi. Kodwa owalandela emva kwakhe, uAntiochus II, wajijisana uzungu lwento noPtolemy II, unyana kaPtolemy I. UAntiochus II waba ngukumkani wasemntla waza uPtolemy II waba ngukumkani wasemzantsi. UAntiochus II watshata noLaodice, ibe unyana wabo wabizwa ngokuba nguSeleucus II, ngoxa uPtolemy II wazala intombi egama linguBerenice. Ngowama-250 B.C.E., aba kumkani babini benza “ilungiselelo lokudala imvisiswano.” Ukuze aqinisekise ubuhlobo bakhe, uAntiochus II waqhawula umtshato noLaodice waza watshata uBerenice, “kanye intombi kakumkani wasemzantsi.” NgoBerenice, wazala unyana owaba yindlalifa yobukumkani baseSiriya kunokuba ibe ngoonyana bakaLaodice.
20. (a) “Ingalo” kaBerenice ayizange ime ngayiphi ingqiqo? (b) Wanikelwa njani uBerenice, ‘iimpelesi’ kunye ‘nalowo umomelezayo’? (c) Ngubani owaba ngukumkani waseSiriya emva kokuba uAntiochus II ephulukene ‘nengalo yakhe’ okanye amandla?
20 “Ingalo,” okanye amandla awayexhasa uBerenice yayinguyise uPtolemy II. Uthe akufa uyise ngowama-246 B.C.E., ‘ingalo yakhe ayabi namandla’ kumyeni wakhe. UAntiochus II wamala, waza waphinda watshata noLaodice, ebeka unyana wabo njengendlalifa yobukhosi. ULaodice wapheka iyelenqe, waza uBerenice nonyana wakhe bagwintwa. Bukho nobungqina obubonisa ukuba ‘iimpelesi’ ezazipheleke uBerenice ukusuka eYiputa ukuya eSiriya, zehlelwa yinto efanayo. ULaodice waqwela nangokumtyis’ ubuthi uAntiochus II, yaye ngaloo ndlela “ingalo yakhe,” okanye amandla, nawo akazange “eme.” Ngoko ke, uyise kaBerenice—‘owabangela ukuzalwa kwakhe’—kunye nomyeni wakhe ongumSiriya—‘owamomelezayo’ okwexeshana—baya kulala kobandayo. Waba ke uSeleucus II, owayezalwa nguLaodice, uba ngukumkani waseSiriya. Ngaba uPtolemy olandelayo uza kuyijonga njani yonke le nquleqhu?
UKUMKANI UPHINDEZELA IGAZI LIKADADEWABO
21. (a) Yayingubani ‘omnye ovela kwihlumelo leengcambu’ zikaBerenice, ibe ‘lema’ njani? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuba uPtolemy III “eze nxamnye nenqaba yokumkani wasemntla” aze amoyise?
21 Ingelosi yathi: “Uya kusuka omnye ongowehlumelo leengcambu zayo eme esikhundleni sakhe, aye emkhosini wamajoni aze ahlasele inqaba yokumkani wasemntla, amoyise.” (Daniyeli 11:7) “Omnye ongowehlumelo” labazali bakaBerenice, okanye ‘iingcambu,’ yayingumntakwabo. Wathi akufa uyise, ‘wema’ njengokumkani wasemzantsi, uFaro Ptolemy III waseYiputa. Zisuka nje wazimisela ukuliphindezela igazi likadadewabo. Efunze kuKumkani uSeleucus II waseSiriya, owayesetyenziswe nguLaodice ukubulala uBerenice nonyana wakhe, wagaleleka ‘kwinqaba yokumkani wasemntla.’ UPtolemy III wawuthi hlasi ummandla onqatyisiweyo wakwa-Antiyokwe waza wamcim’ igama uLaodice. Enyalasa ukusinga ngasempuma phakathi komhlaba wokumkani wasemntla, wayibamba ngobhongwana iBhabhiloni waza wenjenjeya ukusinga eIndiya.
22. Yintoni uPtolemy III awabuyela nayo eYiputa, ibe yintoni eyamenza ‘wamela mgama kukumkani wasemntla kangangeminyaka ethile’?
22 Kwenzeka ntoni ke emva koko? Ingelosi kaThixo ayisifihleli: “Uya kuthabatha bonke abathinjwa, noothixo babo, nemifanekiso yabo etyhidiweyo, nempahla yabo enqwenelekayo yesilivere neyegolide, aye nayo eYiputa. Kwaye uya kumela mgama kukumkani wasemntla kangangeminyaka ethile.” (Daniyeli 11:8) Kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-200 ngaphambilana, uKumkani uCambyses II wasePersi wayoyise iYiputa waza wemka noothixo baseYiputa, ‘imifanekiso yabo etyhidiweyo’ esiya nayo kowabo. Uthe uPtolemy III akuyingqula phantsi iSusa eyayifudula ilikomkhulu lobukhosi bamaPersi, wathabatha ezo zithixo waza ‘wazithimbela’ eYiputa. Kwakhona waziphakulela njengexhoba lemfazwe intaphane ‘yempahla enqwenelekayo yesilivere neyegolide.’ Ekubeni kwaye kwafuneka aye kunqanda imvukelo eyayiqhubeka emva ekhaya, uPtolemy III ‘wamela mgama kukumkani wasemntla,’ akaphinda amhlasele.
UKUMKANI WASESIRIYA UBUYIS’ IZITYA
23. Kwakutheni ukuze ukumkani wasemntla “abuyele emhlabeni wakhe” emva kokuza kummandla wokumkani wasemzantsi?
23 Wasabela njani ke ukumkani wasemntla? UDaniyeli waxelelwa oku: “Uya kusuka yena aye kuziphindezelela kukumkani wasemzantsi, aphinde abuyele emhlabeni wakhe.” (Daniyeli 11:9) Ukumkani wasemntla—uKumkani uSeleucus II waseSiriya—waphindisa. Wangena “ebukumkanini,” okanye emhlabeni wokumkani wasemzantsi waseYiputa kodwa ke waswantsuliswa kanobom. Enaloo mingqandandana yamadoda aseleyo omkhosi wakhe, uSeleucus II ‘wabuyela emhlabeni wakhe,’ eyokuzikhoth’ amanxeba kwa-Antiyokwe eyayilikomkhulu laseSiriya ngowama-242 B.C.E. Emva kokufa kwakhe, kwangena unyana wakhe uSeleucus III esihlalweni sakhe.
24. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni kuSeleucus III? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuba uKumkani uAntiochus III ongumSiriya ‘afike akhukule adlule’ kumhlaba wokumkani wasemzantsi?
24 Yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili ngenzala kaKumkani uSeleucus II waseSiriya? Ingelosi yaxelela uDaniyeli oku: “Ke kaloku bona oonyana bakhe, baya kuvuseleleka, baze bahlanganise umkhosi omkhulu wamajoni. Ekuzeni kwakhe uya kuvuthuza akhukulise adlule. Kodwa uya kubuya, aze afunzele enqabeni yakhe.” (Daniyeli 11:10) Ulawulo lukaSeleucus III lwaphela ngokugwintwa kwakhe kwisithuba esingaphantsi kweminyaka emithathu. Umntakwabo, uAntiochus III, wangena esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi saseSiriya. Lo nyana kaSeleucus II wahlanganisa umkhosi omkhulu elungiselela ukuhlasela ukumkani wasemzantsi, ngoku eyayisele inguPtolemy IV. Lo kumkani wasemntla mtsha ongumSiriya wayoyisa iYiputa waza waphinda walifumana izibuko iSelukiya, iphondo laseCoele-Syria, isixeko saseTire nesasePtolemaïs, needolophu ezikufutshane. Wawubhuqa umkhosi kaKumkani uPtolemy IV waza wazithabathela kuye izixeko ezininzi zelakwaYuda. Ngentwasahlobo yowama-217 B.C.E., uAntiochus III wayishiya iPtolemaïs waza wenjenjeya ukunyuka, “ukuya kutsho enqabeni yakhe” eSiriya. Kodwa ke izinto zaziza kuguquka kungekudala.
ISIKHUNI SIBUYA NOMKHWEZELI
25. UPtolemy IV waqubisana phi noAntiochus III, ibe yintoni ‘eyoyiswa’ ngukumkani wasemzantsi ongumYiputa?
25 NjengoDaniyeli, nathi siphulaphule ngenyameko njengoko ingelosi kaYehova ihlabela mgama iprofeta: “Uya kuthi ke ukumkani wasemzantsi asukele phezulu ngomsindo, aye kulwa naye, oko kukuthi, ukumkani wasemntla, oya kusuka yena ngokuqinisekileyo ahlanganise isihlwele esikhulu, kodwa sona siya koyiswa.” (Daniyeli 11:11) UPtolemy IV, ukumkani wasemzantsi, wafunza amajoni akhe angama-75 000 kutshaba lwakhe olusemntla. Ukumkani wasemntla ongumSiriya, uAntiochus III, wayehlanganise “umkhosi omkhulu” wamajoni angama-68 000 ukuze aqubisane naye. Kodwa ke loo “mkhosi” ‘woyiswa’ ngukumkani wasemzantsi xa kwakujijiswana ngesixeko saseRaphia esiselunxwemeni, cebu kuhle nomda waseYiputa.
26. (a) Nguwuphi ‘umkhosi’ owathwalwa ngukumkani wasemzantsi kwidabi laseRaphia, ibe yayisithini imiqathango yesivumelwano soxolo esenziwa apho? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuba uPtolemy IV ‘angawasebenzisi amandla akhe’? (c) Ngubani owaba ngukumkani wasemzantsi emva koko?
26 Esi siprofeto siyaqhubeka: “Ngokuqinisekileyo siya kuthwalelwa kude eso sihlwele. Iya kuphakama intliziyo yakhe, awise amashumi amawaka; kodwa akayi kuwasebenzisa amandla akhe.” (Daniyeli 11:12) UPtolemy IV, ukumkani wasemzantsi, ‘wathwalela kude’ amajoni ahamba ngeenyawo aseSiriya ali-10 000 nakhwele amahashe angama-300 ngokuwabulala waza wathimba angama-4 000 njengamabanjwa. Emva koko aba kumkani benza isivumelwano sokuba izibuko laseSiriya iSelukiya liqhubeke lilelika-Antiochus III kodwa angayifumani iFenike neCoele-Syria. Uthe akoyisa ngolu hlobo, ‘yaphakama’ intliziyo yokumkani wasemzantsi ongumYiputa, ngakumbi ngokunxamnye noYehova. ElakwaYuda laqhubeka liphantsi kukaPtolemy IV. Noko ke, ‘akazange awasebenzise amandla akhe’ ngokumgqibezela ukumkani wasemntla ongumSiriya. Kunoko, uPtolemy IV waphila ubomi boburheletyo, ibe unyana wakhe oneminyaka emihlanu, uPtolemy V, waba ngukumkani wasemzantsi olandelayo kwiminyaka eliqela ngaphambi kokufa kuka-Antiochus III.
UMXHAPHAZI UYABUYA
27. Ukumkani wasemntla wabuya njani “ekupheleni kwamaxesha” eze kuthabatha imihlaba eYiputa?
27 Ngenxa yoloyiso lwakhe, uAntiochus III waye wabizwa ngokuba nguAntiochus Omkhulu. Ithetha ngaye, ingelosi yathi: “Ukumkani wasemntla uya kubuya ahlanganise isihlwele esikhulu kunesokuqala; aze emva kweminyaka, ekupheleni kwamaxesha, abuye nehlokondiba lomkhosi wakhe wamajoni nempahla eninzi.” (Daniyeli 11:13) La “maxesha” yiminyaka eli-16 okanye engaphezulu emva kokuba amaYiputa eswantsulise amaSiriya eRaphia. Xa ityendyana elinguPtolemy V laba ngukumkani wasemzantsi, uAntiochus III ‘enomkhosi omkhulu ngaphezu kowokuqala’ waqalisa iphulo lokuya kuhlutha imihlaba eyayiphangwe ngukumkani wasemzantsi ongumYiputa. Ukuze aphumelele, wadibanis’ imikhosi noKumkani uPhilip V waseMakedoni.
28. Ziziphi iingxaki awayejamelene nazo ukumkani oselula wasemzantsi?
28 Lo kumkani wasemzantsi wayekwanazo nezidl’ umzi ebukumkanini bakhe. Ingelosi yathi: “Kwaye ngelo thuba baya kuba baninzi abaya kumvukela ukumkani wasemzantsi.” (Daniyeli 11:14a) Eneneni baba baninzi ‘abamvukelayo ukumkani wasemzantsi.’ Ngaphandle kokujongana ngezikhondo zamehlo noAntiochus III kunye nehlakani lakhe laseMakedoni, lo kumkani wasemzantsi useze ngobuso elizweni kwafuneka anqande amanzi engen’ endlwini eYiputa. Ngenxa yokuba umgcini wakhe uAgathocles, owayembambele, wayengawazi nokuba asisiciko sayiphi imbiza amaYiputa, amaninzi avukela. Ingelosi yongezelela isithi: “Baya kuba baninzi noonyana babaphangi besizwe sakowenu abaya kumvukela ngenjongo yokuzalisekisa amaphupha abo; kodwa baya kukhubeka.” (Daniyeli 11:14b) Kwanabanye kubantu bakuloDaniyeli baba ‘ngoonyana babaphangi,’ okanye abavukeli. Kodwa ke nawuphi na “umbono” awayenawo loo madoda angamaYuda wokuphelisa ulawulo lweeNtlanga elizweni lawo wawulilize, ibe ayeza kutsho phantsi, okanye ‘akhubeke.’
29, 30. (a) ‘Iingalo zasemzantsi’ zoyiswa njani luhlaselo olwaluvela emntla? (b) Ukumkani wasemntla ‘wema njani elizweni Eliligugu’?
29 Ingelosi kaYehova yahlabela mgama iprofeta: “Ukumkani wasemntla uya kuza, akhe umsele wokungqinga aze asithimbe isixeko esineenqaba. Ke yena owasemzantsi uya kuphelelwa ngamandla, zingabi nakuma iingalo zakhe, uwe umkhosi wakhe. Ngoko lowo umhlaselayo uya kufika enze unothanda, ibe akuyi kubakho umayo phambi kwakhe. Yaye uya kuma elizweni Eliligugu, atshabalalise ngesandla sakhe.”—Daniyeli 11:15, 16.
30 Umkhosi owawubhexeshwa nguPtolemy V, okanye ‘iingalo zasemzantsi,’ wagob’ uphondo kuhlaselo olwaluvela ngasemntla. EPaneas (eKesareya Filipi) uAntiochus III wadudula iNjengele yaseYiputa uScopas waya kuyitshonisa eSidon, “isixeko esineenqaba,” ikunye naloo madoda ayo anyuliweyo, okanye “akhethiweyo” ali-10 000. Apho uAntiochus III ‘wamisa umsele wokungqinga,’ waza walithimba elo zibuko laseFenike ngowe-198 B.C.E. Wenza “unothanda” ekubeni imikhosi yokumkani wasemzantsi ongumYiputa ingazange ikwazi ukumelana naye. Emva koko uAntiochus III wanyathelela phezulu esinge eYerusalem, ikomkhulu lakwaYuda, ‘ilizwe Eliligugu.’ Ngowe-198 B.C.E., iYerusalem nelakwaYuda layeka ukuba phantsi kokumkani wasemzantsi ongumYiputa laza lawela ezandleni zokumkani wasemntla ongumSiriya. Ibe uAntiochus III, ukumkani wasemntla, waqalisa ‘ukuma elizweni Eliligugu.’ ‘Wayewatshabalalisa ngesandla sakhe’ onke amaYuda namaYiputa amchasayo. Ngaba koda kube nini lo kumkani wasemntla esenza unothanda?
IROMA IMBOPHA IINYAWO NEZANDLA UMXHAPHAZI
31, 32. Kwakutheni ukuze ukumkani wasemntla agqibele ngokwenza “amalinge okudala imvisiswano” nokumkani wasemzantsi?
31 Ingelosi kaYehova iyasiphendula: “[Ukumkani wasemntla] uya kuzimisela ukuphuma ngamandla obukumkani bakhe buphela, enze amalinge okudala imvisiswano, kwaye uya kuphumelela. Nangokubhekisele kwintombi yoluntu, uya kunikwa ukuba ayonakalise. Kwaye ayiyi kuma, ingayi kuqhubeka iyeyakhe.”—Daniyeli 11:17.
32 Ukumkani wasemntla, uAntiochus III, ‘wazimisela’ ukuya eYiputa ukuze ayigagamele ‘enomkhosi wakhe uphela.’ Kodwa wagqibela ngokwenza “amalinge okudala imvisiswano” noPtolemy V, ukumkani wasemzantsi. Izinto ezazifunwa yiRoma zenza ukuba uAntiochus III axoze mphini wumbi. Xa yena noKumkani uPhilip V waseMakedoni badibanis’ imikhosi befunze kwityendyana lokumkani waseYiputa ukuze bahluthe imihlaba yalo, abagcini bakaPtolemy V baya kucela uncedo eRoma. Ixhamla elo cham njengethuba lokwandisa imihlaba yayo, iRoma yaqula yaligangatha.
33. (a) Sasisithini isivumelwano soxolo esasiphakathi kuka-Antiochus III noPtolemy V? (b) Yayiyintoni injongo yomtshato owawuphakathi kukaCleopatra I noPtolemy V, yaye yintoni eyenza ukuba elo qhinga lisilele?
33 Enyanzelwa yiRoma, uAntiochus III wenza isivumelwano soxolo nokumkani wasemzantsi. Kunokuba ayibuyisele kubaniniyo imihlaba awayeyithabathile, njengoko iRoma yayitshilo, uAntiochus III wapheka iqhinga lokuyinikela nje ngegama ngokunikela ngentombi yakhe uCleopatra I—“intombi yoluntu”—ukuba itshate noPtolemy V. Amaphondo aquka elakwaYuda, ‘ilizwe Eliligugu,’ ayeza kuba likhazi lale nzwakazi. Noko ke, ngexesha lomtshato ngowe-193 B.C.E., lo kumkani waseSiriya akazange awanikele la maphondo kuPtolemy V. Loo mtshato wawuliqhina lezobupolitika, wenziwe ukuze iYiputa iwe ngedolo kwiSiriya. Kodwa ke elo qhinga ladliwa yinja kuba uCleopatra I ‘akazange aqhubeke engowakhe,’ kuba kamva wema ngakwicala lomyeni wakhe. Kwathi kwakuqhambuk’ imfazwe phakathi kuka-Antiochus III namaRoma, iYiputa yaxhasa iRoma.
34, 35. (a) Ngawaphi ‘amazwe angaselunxwemeni’ ukumkani wasemntla awazimisela ukuwahlasela? (b) IRoma yayiphelisa njani ‘ingcikivo’ yokumkani wasemntla? (c) Wabulawa yintoni uAntiochus III, ibe ngubani owaba ngukumkani wasemntla emva kwakhe?
34 Ichaza indlela izinto ezamjikela ngayo ukumkani wasemntla, ingelosi yalek’ umsundulo isithi: “Uya kwandula [uAntiochus III] azimisele ukuya kuhlasela amazwe angaselunxwemeni aze okunene athimbe amaninzi. Kuya kuvela umphathi othile [iRoma], ayiphelise ingcikivo yakhe [iRoma], ukuze ingcikivo yakhe [uAntiochus III] ingabikho. Uya [iRoma] kuyibuyisela kuye. Kwaye [uAntiochus III] uya kusuka ajike, abuyele kwiinqaba zelizwe lakhe, afike, akhubeke, awe, kuphele ngaye.”—Daniyeli 11:18, 19.
35 La “mazwe angaselunxwemeni” yayiyiMakedoni, iGrisi kunye neAsia Minor. Ngowe-192 B.C.E., kwaqhambuka imfazwe eGrisi, ibe uAntiochus III wahendelwa ukuba aye eGrisi. Ilugcalagcala ngumsindo ngenxa yemigudu yalo kumkani waseSiriya yokuzicuntsulela imihlaba engakumbi apho, iRoma yathi makaphume kuqutyiswane. AmaRoma amoyisa eThermopylae. Emva kwesithuba esingangonyaka ephinde woyiswa eMagnesia ngowe-190 B.C.E., kwafuneka ayincame yonk’ into eyayiseGrisi, eAsia Minor nakwimimandla ekwintshona yeeNtaba zeTaurus. IRoma yamhlawulisa kanobom yaza yaqalisa ukumgagamela ukumkani wasemntla ongumSiriya. Ekubeni wayenikwe uphum’ aphele eGrisi naseAsia Minor yaye ephulukene nenkoliso yeenqanawa zakhe zemfazwe, uAntiochus III ‘wabuyela kwiinqaba zelizwe lakhe,’ iSiriya. AmaRoma ‘ayeyiphelisile ingcikivo yakhe.’ UAntiochus III wafa esazama ukuphanga itempile ethile yaseElymaïs, ePersi, ngowe-187 B.C.E. Ngaloo ndlela ‘wawa’ ngokufa kwaza esihlalweni sakhe kwangena unyana wakhe uSeleucus IV, ukumkani olandelayo wasemntla.
UNGQUZULWANO LUSAQHUBEKA
36. (a) Ukumkani wasemzantsi wazama njani ukuqhubeka nedabi, kodwa kwenzeka ntoni kuye? (b) Wawiswa yintoni uSeleucus IV, ibe ngubani owangena esihlalweni sakhe?
36 Njengokumkani wasemzantsi, uPtolemy V wazama ukulanda laa maphondo awayefanele eze kuye njengekhazi likaCleopatra, kodwa wadlisw’ ubuthi yaza yaphela yonke loo nto. Esihlalweni sakhe kwangena uPtolemy VI. Uphi uSeleucus IV ngelo xesha? Efuna imali yokuhlawula ityala lakhe eRoma, wathumela unondyebo wakhe uHeliodorus ukuba aye kuhlutha ubuncwane ezazisithi iimpukane eziluhlaza bufunjwe etempileni eYerusalem. Nanko uHeliodorus ebulala uSeleucus IV, phofu encwase isihlalo sobukhosi. Kwathi kanti uwuphosile umhlola, kuba uKumkani uEumenes wasePergamo nomntakwabo uAttalus bathwesa umninawa wokumkani owayebulewe uAntiochus IV.
37. (a) UAntiochus IV wazama njani ukuzibonakalisa enamandla ngaphezu kukaYehova uThixo? (b) Waba yintoni umphumo xa uAntiochus IV wahlambela itempile yaseYerusalem?
37 Lo kumkani wasemntla omtsha, uAntiochus IV, wazenza onamandla kunoThixo ngokuzimisela ukulitshayela ilungiselelo lonqulo lukaYehova. Etshikilela uYehova, wanikezela itempile yaseYerusalem kuZeyus, okanye uJupiter. NgoDisemba 167 B.C.E., kwakhiwa isibingelelo sabahedeni kanye phezu kwesibingelelo esikhulu kwintendelezo yetempile apho kwakunyuswa khona imibingelelo yemihla ngemihla eya kuYehova. Kwiintsuku ezilishumi kamva, kwenziwa idini elalisiya kuZeyus kweso sibingelelo sabahedeni. Oku kuhlambela kwabangela ukuba amaYuda avukele ekhokelwa ziiMaccabees. UAntiochus IV wajijisana nawo kangangeminyaka emithathu. Ngowe-164 B.C.E., ngosuku eyahlanjelwa ngalo, uJudas Maccabaeus waphinda wayinikezela kuYehova loo tempile ibe kwasekwa iHanukkah—umthendeleko wokunikezelwa kwayo.—Yohane 10:22.
38. Lwaphela njani ulawulo lweeMaccabees?
38 Mhlawumbi iiMaccabees zenza isivumelwano neRoma ngowe-161 B.C.E. zaza zamisela ubukumkani ngowe-104 B.C.E. Kodwa ke zaqhubeka zikrwempana nokumkani wasemntla ongumSiriya. Ekugqibeleni, kwacelwa iRoma ukuba ilamle. UNjengele uGnaeus Pompey waseRoma wayithimba iYerusalem ngowama-63 B.C.E. emva kokuyingqinga iinyanga ezintathu. Ngowama-39 B.C.E., iBhunga likaRhulumente waseRoma lamisela uHerode—owayengumEdom—ukuba alawule njengokumkani welakwaYuda. Ngowama-37 B.C.E., wazibamba iintambo eYerusalem lwaza lwaba luyaphela ke ulawulo lweeMaccabees.
39. Ungenelwe njani ngokuqwalasela uDaniyeli 11:1-19?
39 Hayi indlela ekubangel’ imincili ngayo ukubona inxalenye yokuqala yesiprofeto saba kumkani babini izaliseka ngokweenkcukacha! Ngokwenene, hayi indlela ekuchulumancisa ngayo ukubona imbali egubungela iminyaka emalunga nama-500 emva kokuba isigidimi esingokwesiprofeto sidluliselwe kuDaniyeli kwanokufaniswa kwabalawuli ababa ngukumkani wasemntla nokumkani wasemzantsi! Noko ke, ukufaniswa kwaba kumkani kuyaguquguquka njengoko idabi eliphakathi kwabo liqhubeka ukutyhubela ixesha uYesu Kristu awayephila ngalo emhlabeni ukuhla ukuza kutsho kumhla wethu. Ngokuthelekisa iziganeko zembali kunye nobuceducedu obubangel’ umdla obutyhilwe kwesi siprofeto, siya kukwazi ukubafanisa aba kumkani babini bayinyoka nesele.
UZUZE NTONI?
• Yiyiphi iminombo emibini yookumkani abanamandla eyavela kwizikumkani zamaGrike, ibe luluphi usukuzwano olwaqaliswa ngaba kumkani?
• Njengoko kwakuxelwe kwangaphambili kuDaniyeli 11:6, aba kumkani babini balenza njani “ilungiselelo lokudala imvisiswano”?
• Lwaqhubeka njani ungquzulwano phakathi
kukaSeleucus II noPtolemy III (Daniyeli 11:7-9)?
kuka-Antiochus III noPtolemy IV (Daniyeli 11:10-12)?
kuka-Antiochus III noPtolemy V (Daniyeli 11:13-16)?
• Yayiyintoni injongo yokutshata kukaCleopatra I noPtolemy V, ibe kutheni elo qhinga lingazange liphumelele (Daniyeli 11:17-19)?
• Ungenelwe njani ngokunikela ingqalelo kuDaniyeli 11:1-19?
[Isicangca/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 228]
OOKUMKANI ABAKUDANIYELI 11:5-19
UKumkani UKumkani
Wasemntla Wasemzantsi
Daniyeli 11:5 USeleucus I Nicator UPtolemy I
Daniyeli 11:7-9 USeleucus II UPtolemy III
Daniyeli 11:10-12 UAntiochus III UPtolemy IV
Daniyeli 11:13-19 UAntiochus III UPtolemy V
(intombi yakhe Ilandela:
uCleopatra I) UPtolemy VI
Amalandela:
USeleucus IV kunye
noAntiochus IV
[Umfanekiso]
Ingqekembe enomfanekiso kaPtolemy II nomkakhe
[Umfanekiso]
USeleucus I Nicator
[Umfanekiso]
UAntiochus III
[Umfanekiso]
UPtolemy VI
[Umfanekiso]
UPtolemy III namalandela akhe bakha le tempile kaHorus eIdfu, kuMntla Yiputa
[Imaphu/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 216, 217]
(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)
Izibizo ezithi “ukumkani wasemntla” nesithi “ukumkani wasemzantsi” zibhekisela kookumkani abasemntla nasemzantsi kubantu bakuloDaniyeli
IMAKEDONI
IGRISI
IASIA MINOR
KWASIRAYELI
ELIBHIYA
EYIPUTA
ETIYOPIYA
ISIRIYA
IBhabhiloni
ELAMA-ARABHU
[Umfanekiso]
UPtolemy II
[Umfanekiso]
UAntiochus Omkhulu
[Umfanekiso]
Ilitye elisicaba ekubhalwe kulo imiyalelo eyakhutshwa nguAntiochus Omkhulu
[Umfanekiso]
Ingqekembe enomfanekiso kaPtolemy V
[Umfanekiso]
ISango likaPtolemy III eKarnak, eYiputa
[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 210]
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 215]
USeleucus I Nicator
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 218]
UPtolemy I