Incwadi YeBhayibhile 30—Amosi

Umbhali: NguAmosi

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: KwaYuda

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-804 B.C.E.

1. Wayengubani uAmosi?

WAYENGENGOMPROFETI, engenguye nonyana womprofeti kodwa wayengumalusi wezimvu nombuthi weziqhamo zomthombe—lo yayinguAmosi xa wathi wabizwa nguYehova waza wamthuma ukuba aprofete kungekuphela nje kuhlanga lwakowabo lwakwaYuda kodwa ngokukhethekileyo kubukumkani bangasentla bakwaSirayeli. Wayengomnye wabaprofeti ekuthethwa ngabo kweyesi-2 yooKumkani 17:13, 22, 23. Wayevela eTekowa kwaYuda, kwindawo emalunga neekhilomitha ezili-16 ngakumzantsi weYerusalem neyayimalunga nohambo losuku olunye ukusuka kumazantsi omda wobukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli.—Amosi 1:1; 7:14, 15.

2. Lisenokwaziwa njani ithuba lokuprofeta kuka-Amosi?

² Indinyana yokuqala yesiprofeto sakhe ichaza ukuba kwakusebudeni bemihla kaUziya ukumkani wakwaYuda noYarobheham II unyana kaYowashe, ukumkani wakwaSirayeli, xa wathi waqalisa umsebenzi wakhe njengomprofeti, kwiminyaka emibini ngaphambi konyikimo olukhulu nolwalungaqhelekanga. Oku kwenza ukuba esi siprofeto sibe phakathi kweminyaka engama-26 ukususela kowama-829 ukusa malunga nowama-804 B.C.E., ebudeni bethuba lokungena kolawulo lwaba kumkani babini. Umprofeti uZekariya ukhankanya unyikimo oloyikekayo ngemihla kaUziya, ngethuba abathi abantu babaleka ngenxa yokoyika. (Zek. 14:5) Umbhali-mbali ongumYuda uJosephus uchaza ukuba kwabakho unyikimo ngethuba awathi u-Uziya ngokugabadela walinga ukuqhumisa etempileni. Noko ke, kubonakala ukuba unyikimo olukhankanywe nguAmosi lwenzeka ngaphambilana kulawulo lukaUziya.

3. (a) Kutheni isigidimi sika-Amosi sikayeha sasisexesheni nje? (b) Walubalaselisa njani ulongamo lukaYehova?

³ Igama elithi Amosi lithetha “Ukuba Ngumthwalo” okanye “Ukuthwala Umthwalo.” Ngoxa wayephethe izigidimi ezazithwele ooyeha kuSirayeli nakuYuda (nakwiintlanga ezininzi zabahedeni), wayekwaphethe isigidimi sentuthuzelo ngokuphathelele ukubuyiswa kwabantu bakaYehova. Kwakukho izizathu ezivakalayo zokuvakalisa ooyeha kwaSirayeli. Impumelelo, ukuphila ubomi obutofotofo nokuzinikela ekwaneliseni iminqweno yenyama kwakuyinto yemihla ngemihla. Abantu babewulibele uMthetho kaYehova. Impumelelo yabo eyayibonakala yabamfamekisa kwisibakala sokuba njengesiqhamo esivuthwe kakhulu, babesele bekwinkqubo yokubola ekhokelela kwintshabalalo. UAmosi waprofeta ukuba kwiminyakana nje embalwa, ubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi babuza kuthinjelwa ngaphaya kweDamasko. Koku wayebalaselisa ubulungisa nolongamo lukaYehova, awabhekisa kuye kangangezihlandlo ezingama-21 ngokuthi “iNkosi [enguMongami].”—Amosi 1:8.

4. Yinzaliseko yaziphi iziprofeto engqina ubunyaniso bencwadi ka-Amosi?

⁴ Inzaliseko yesi nezinye iziprofeto ibubungqina bobunyaniso bencwadi ka-Amosi. Lo mprofeti wakwaxela kwangaphambili ukuba iintlanga eziziintshaba ezazingqonge uSirayeli—amaSiriya, amaFilisti, ezaseTire, amaEdom, ama-Amon namaMowabhi— zonke zaziza kudliwa ngumlilo wentshabalalo. Kuyangqinwa yimbali ukuba ngamnye kule mizi inqabileyo yeentshaba ekuhambeni kwexesha wahlekezwa. Iindlela zikaYuda nezikaSirayeli zazikwafanel’ ukukhalinyelwa ngakumbi, kuba bamshiya uYehova baza baqhelisela unqulo lobuxoki. Inqaba yokugqibela yakwaSirayeli, isixeko esinqatyisiweyo sakwaSamari, emva kokungqingwa ngumkhosi waseAsiriya phantsi kukaShalmaneser V, yawa ngonyaka wama-740 B.C.E. (2 Kum. 17:1-6) UYuda akazange afunde koko kwenzekayo kuhlanga olungudade wabo, yaye ngaloo ndlela watshatyalaliswa ngowama-607 B.C.E.

5. Ukumbiwa kwezinto zakudala kuyiqinisekisa njani ingxelo ekuAmosi?

⁵ UAmosi wamgweba uSirayeli ngenxa yokuphila kwakhe ubomi obutofotofo, kuba izityebi zaziqhatha amahlwempu ukuze zizakhele “izindlu zeempondo zendlovu,” ezazisithi kuzo zizifice ngokusela iwayini nokutya. (Amosi 3:15; 5:11, 12; 6:4-7) Abembi bezinto zakudala baye bavumbulula izinto ezibubungqina bobu butyebi. Izinto ezininzi ezenziwe ngeempondo zendlovu zafunyanwa ekuvunjululweni komhlaba kwindawo yakwaSamari. IEncyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land iyachaza: “Amaqela amabini aphambili anokubonwa kakuhle: 1. Imifanekiso ekrolelwe kwindawo ephezulu eludongeni, . . . 2. Imifanekiso ekrolelwe kwindawo esezantsi eludongeni, nehonjiswe ngokufakelwa kwamatye anqabileyo, iiglasi ezimibalabala, icwecwana legolide, njl. . . . Iimpondo zendlovu zigqalwa njengeziyimveliso ebubuchule basePhoenicia, yaye kunokwenzeka ukuba zazisetyenziswa njengezinto ezityhidiweyo ezazikwifanitshala eyayikwibhotwe lookumkani bakwaSirayeli. IBhayibhile ikhankanya ‘indlu yeempondo zendlovu’ eyakhiwa nguAhabhi (1 Kum. 22:39) yaye kumazwi okukhalimela ka-Amosi (6:4) ikhankanya ‘iimandlalo ezenziwe ngeempondo zendlovu,’ ezazingumqondiso wobomi obutofotofo obabuphilwa kwaSamari.”a

6. Yintoni engqinela ngokupheleleyo ubunyaniso bencwadi ka-Amosi?

⁶ Into yokuba incwadi ka-Amosi ikho kwimibhalo engcwele yeBhayibhile ayinakuthandatyuzwa. Into ebungqinela ngokupheleleyo ubunyaniso bayo kukucaphula kukaStefano amazwi eendinyana ezintathu kwiZenzo 7:42, 43 nasekuyicaphuleni kukaYakobi le ncwadi kwiZenzo 15:15-18.—Amosi 5:25-27; 9:11, 12.

OKUQULETHWE YEKA-AMOSI

7. UAmosi ulumkisa ngemigwebo kaYehova nxamnye naziphi iintlanga?

⁷ Imigwebo nxamnye neentlanga (1:1–2:3). “UYehova uyabharhula eZiyon.” (1:2) UAmosi uyaqhubeka elumkisa ngemigwebo Yakhe eyoyikekayo nxamnye neentlanga. IDamasko (iSiriya) ibhule iGiliyadi ngezibhulo zesinyithi. IGaza (iFilisti) neTire iye yathumela abathinjwa abangamaSirayeli kwaEdom. KwaEdom akuboniswanga nceba nothando lobuzalwana. UAmon uhlasela iGiliyadi. ElakwaMowabhi liye lawatshisa amathambo okumkani wakwaEdom aba yikalika. Isandla sikaYehova sinxamnye nazo zonke ezi ntlanga, kwaye uthi: “Andiyi kuyibuyisa umva le nto.”—1:3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13; 2:1.

8. Kutheni umgwebo kaYehova ukwavakaliswa nxamnye noYuda noSirayeli?

⁸ Umgwebo nxamnye noYuda noSirayeli (2:4-16). UYehova akayi kuwubuyisa umsindo wakhe nxamnye noYuda. Bakreqile “ngenxa yokuwucekisa kwabo umyalelo kaYehova.” (2:4) Kwaye kuthekani ngamaSirayeli? UYehova wawatshabalalisa ama-Amori awoyikekayo elungiselela wona waza wawanika ilizwe elihle. Wavelisa aBahlulwa nabaprofeti phakathi kwabo, kodwa benza ukuba aBahlulwa basaphule isifungo sabo baza babayalela oku abaprofeti: “Ize ningaprofeti.” (2:12) Ngoko ke uYehova wenza ukuba iziseko zabo zixengaxenge njengenqwelo ezele zizithungu. Amadoda abo angamagorha, aya kusaba eze.

9. Yintoni engqina ukuba uYehova uthethile, kwaye uAmosi uprofeta ngokukhethekileyo nxamnye nabani?

⁹ Ukuphenduliswa kukaSirayeli (3:1–6:14). Ngokusebenzisa kwakhe imizekeliso ebangel’ umdla, uAmosi ugxininisa ukuba isibakala sokuprofeta kwakhe, ngokwaso nje, sibubungqina bokuba uYehova uthethile. “Inene, ayikhe yenze into iNkosi uYehova ingathanga iluhlakaze ucweyo lwayo kubakhonzi bayo abaprofeti. . . . INkosi uYehova ithethile, ngubani na ongayi kuprofeta?” (3:7, 8) UAmosi uprofeta ngokukhethekileyo nxamnye nabaphangi abathanda ubomi obutofotofo abahlala kwaSamari. UYehova uya kubasusa kwizingqengqelo zabo eziyokoyoko, zaye ziya kutshabalala izindlu zabo zeempondo zendlovu.

10. UYehova umkhumbuza ngantoni uSirayeli, yaye nguwuphi umhla kayeha oza kufika?

¹⁰ UYehova uyaphinda akhankanye ukumcoca nokumlungisa kwakhe uSirayeli. Kangangezihlandlo ezihlanu umkhumbuza oku: “Anabuya nize kum noko.” Ngoko ke, Sirayeli, “zilungiselele ukuhlangabeza uThixo wakho.” (4:6-12) UAmosi wenza esi simbonono sibuprofeti: “Iwile, ayisayi kubuye ivuke intombi enguSirayeli, ikhahleleke emhlabeni, akukho uyiphakamisayo.” (5:2) Noko ke, uYehova, uMenzi wezinto ezimangalisayo ezulwini nasemhlabeni, uyaqhubeka embongoza uSirayeli ukuba amfune aze ahlale ephila. Ewe, “funani okulungileyo, ningafuni okubi, ukuze niphile.” (5:4, 6, 14) Kodwa iya kuthetha ntoni imini kaYehova kubo? Iya kuba yimini kayeha. Njengomthombo wamanzi iya kuwakhukulisela kwilizwe lokuthinjwa ngaphaya kweDamasko, yaye izindlu zabo ezakhiwe ngeempondo zendlovu abanabela kuzo ukudla izidlo ziya kuguqulelwa ekubeni ngamavithi nobutyobo.

11. Kungaliphi igunya athi uAmosi azingise ekuprofeteni nxamnye noSirayeli?

¹¹ UAmosi uyaprofeta phezu kwayo nje inkcaso (7:1-17). UYehova ubonisa umprofeti wakhe ilothe ebekwe esazulwini samaSirayeli. Ayiyi kubuya idlule. Uya kuzichitha iziganga zakwaSirayeli yaye uya kusukela phezulu nxamnye nendlu kaYarobheham II ngekrele. UAmatsiya umbingeleli waseBheteli uthumela kuYarobheham, esithi: “Ukucebile uAmosi.” (7:10) UAmatsiya uxelela uAmosi ukuba aye kuprofeta kwaYuda. UAmosi ulenza licace igunya analo, esithi: “UYehova wandithabatha ndisalusa umhlambi, uYehova wathi kum, Yiya uprofete kubantu bam amaSirayeli.” (7:15) Wandula ke uAmosi amxelele kwangaphambili uAmatsiya ngentlekele eza kumehlela yena nendlu yakhe.

12. Yiyiphi indlala exelwa kwangaphambili kwaSirayeli, kodwa esi siprofeto siqukumbela ngaliphi idinga elizukileyo?

¹² Ingcinezelo, isohlwayo nokubuyiselwa (8:1–9:15). UYehova ubonisa uAmosi ingobozi eneziqhamo zasehlotyeni. Uyamgweba uSirayeli ngokucinezela amahlwempu aze afunge ‘ngeqhayiya likaYakobi’ ukuba kuya kufuneka balile ngenxa yemisebenzi yabo emibi. “Yabonani, kuza imihla, itsho iNkosi uYehova, endiya kuthumela ukulamba kulo ilizwe, kungabi kuko ukulambela isonka, kungabi kuko ukunxanela amanzi; kube kukulambela ukuva amazwi kaYehova.” (8:7, 11) Baya kuwa bangabi savuka. Enoba bagqobhozela eSheol okanye bayenyuka besiya emazulwini, uYehova uya kubafumana. Abantu bakhe abangaboni baya kufa likrele. Kwandula ke, kubekho idinga eliqaqambileyo! “Ngaloo mini ndiya kuwuvusa umnquba kaDavide, lowo uwileyo, ndizivingce iintanda zawo . . . Ndiwakhe ube njengokwemihla yamandulo.” (9:11) Aba bathinjwa babuye bahlanganiswa baya kuba zizityebi kangangokuba umlimi uya kumfumana umvuni ngaphambi kokuba ahlanganise ukudla kwakhe. Iintsikelelo ezivela kuYehova ziya kuhlala zihleli!

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

13. Singangenelwa njani thina namhlanje kwizilumkiso zika-Amosi?

¹³ Abafundi beBhayibhile namhlanje banokungenelwa ngokuphawula isizathu sokunikelwa kwezilumkiso ezavakaliswa nguAmosi kuSirayeli, kuYuda nakubamelwane ababekufutshane. Abo bangawunanziyo umthetho kaYehova, abawaqhathayo nabawacinezelayo amahlwempu, ababawayo nabaziphethe kakubi, nabanqula izithixo abanakuyifumana inkoliseko kaYehova. Kodwa uYehova uyabaxolela abo babuyayo ezintweni ezinjalo baze baguquke, yaye ubonisa inceba kubo. Sizizilumko ukuba siyazahlula kunxulumano olonakalisayo kweli hlabathi libi size sithobele isiluleko sikaYehova: “Quqelani kum, niphile.”—5:4, 6, 14.

14. Ngaba amaYuda awayephila ngexesha likaStefano angenelwa kumazwi ka-Amosi?

¹⁴ Ngexesha lokufel’ ukholo kwakhe, uStefano wacaphula kwincwadi ka-Amosi. Wawakhumbuza amaYuda ukuba yayikukunqula kwamaSirayeli oothixo basemzini, abanjengoMoleki noRemfan, okwawabangela ukuba athinjwe. Ngaba loo maYuda angenelwa kukuva ukuphindwa kwamazwi ka-Amosi? Akunjalo! Enomsindo, amxuluba ngamatye wade wafa uStefano aza ngoko azichanaba kwintlekele ebhekele phaya ekutshatyalalisweni kweYerusalam, ngowama-70 C.E.—Amosi 5:25-27; IZe. 7:42, 43.

15. Ziziphi iziprofeto zokubuyiselwa ekuyingenelo ukuziqwalasela?

¹⁵ Kuyingenelo ukuqwalasela ukuzalisekiswa kweziprofeto ezininzi zika-Amosi, kungekuphela nje ezo zazalisekiswa ngokohlwaywa kwamaSirayeli, uYuda nezinye iintlanga kodwa kwaneziprofeto zokubuyiselwa. Ngokuvisisana nelizwi likaYehova ngoAmosi, abathinjwa bakwaSirayeli babuyiselwa ngowama-537 B.C.E. ukuba bakhe baze babe ngabemi kwizixeko zabo ezazitshatyalalisiwe baze batyale imidiliya nemiyezo yabo.—Amosi 9:14; Ezra 3:1.

16. UYakobi wakubonakalisa njani ukuzaliseka kuka-Amosi 9:11, 12 kwibandla lamaKristu?

¹⁶ Phofu ke, kwakukho inzaliseko ezukileyo neyakhayo kwisiprofeto sika-Amosi ngemihla yabapostile. Kwingxubusho yokuhlanganiswa kwabangengawo amaSirayeli kwibandla lamaKristu, uYakobi, ephefumlelwe, ukwenza kucace ukuba oku kwaxelwa kwangaphambili kwisiprofeto esikuAmosi 9:11, 12. Ubonisa ukuba ‘ukubuya kwakhiwe komnquba kaDavide lowo wawuwile’ kuzaliseka kwibandla lamaKristu, “okokuze amaqongqolo abantu ayifune iNkosi, zifune zonke iintlanga ezibizwe ngalo igama lam; itsho iNkosi.” Eneneni, le yindlela esaxhaswa ngayo ngokweZibhalo esi siganeko sitsha, njengoko sichazwa nguSimon Petros—ukuba uThixo kuzo zonke iintlanga wayelinyulela “abantu elakhe igama.”—IZe. 15:13-19.

17. Bubuphi ubutyebi nobunaphakade obuxelwa kwangaphambili nguAmosi ngokuphathelele uBukumkani bukaThixo?

¹⁷ UYesu Kristu, iNtloko yeli bandla lamaKristu, kuyo yonke indawo uchazwa ‘njengonyana kaDavide’ oyidla ilifa “itrone kaDavide, uyise,” aze alawule ngonaphakade. (Luka 1:32, 33; 3:31) Ngaloo ndlela isiprofeto sika-Amosi salatha phambili kwinzaliseko yomnqophiso wobukumkani owenziwa noDavide. Amazwi okugqibela ka-Amosi awaniki mbono emangalisayo nje kuphela yobutyebi obuphuphumayo ngethuba lokuvuswa ‘komnquba kaDavide’ kodwa akwabethelela into yokuba uBukumkani bukaThixo buya kuhlala buhleli: “Ndobatyala emhlabeni wabo, bangabi sanyothulwa emhlabeni wabo endabanikayo; utsho uYehova uThixo wakho.” Umhlaba uya kuzaliswa ziintsikelelo ezingunaphakade njengoko uYehova ewubuyisela ngokupheleleyo “umnquba kaDavide”!—Amosi 9:13-15.

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