Isahluko 9

UbuYuda—Iphulo Lokufuna UThixo NgeZibhalo Nangezithethe

1, 2. (a) Ayengoobani amanye amaYuda abalaseleyo aye anempembelelo ethile kwimbali nakwinkolelo engokwesithethe? (b) Nguwuphi umbuzo osenokuphakanyiswa ngabanye abantu?

UMOSES, uYesu, uMahler, uMarx, uFreud noEinstein—yintoni ababefana ngayo bonke aba? Bonke babengamaYuda, yaye ngeendlela ezahlukeneyo, bonke baye banempembelelo ethile kwimbali nakwinkolelo engokwesithethe yoluntu. Kuyinto ecace nakubani na ukuba amaYuda ebengabantu abaphawulekayo kangangamawaka eminyaka. NeBhayibhile iyakungqina oko.

² Ngokungafaniyo nezinye iinkonzo kwakunye neenkolelo zesithethe zamandulo, ubuYuda busekelwe kwimbali, kungekhona kwiintsomi. Ukanti, bambi basengabuza bathi: Ekubeni amaYuda eliqaqobana nje, elimalunga ne-18 lezigidi kwihlabathi elinabantu abangaphezu kwamawaka ama-5 ezigidi, kutheni le nto sifanele sibe nomdla kunqulo lwawo, ubuYuda?

Isizathu Sokuba Sifanele Sibe Nomdla KubuYuda

3, 4. (a) IZibhalo zesiHebhere ziqulethe ntoni? (b) Ziziphi ezinye izizathu zokuba sifanele siqwalasele unqulo lwamaYuda nemvelaphi yalo?

³ Esinye isizathu sikukuba imvelaphi yonqulo lwamaYuda ilandwa ukususela emva phayaa malunga nama-4 000 eminyaka embalini yaye ezinye iinkonzo eziphambili zixhomekeke kwiZibhalo zalo ngomkhamo omkhulu okanye omncinane. (Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 220.) UbuKristu, obasekwa nguYesu (Ye·shuʹaʽ, ngesiHebhere), umYuda wenkulungwane yokuqala, buchazwe imvelaphi yabo kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere. Ibe kwananjengokuba ukufunda nayiphi na inxalenye yeQur’ān kuya kubonisa, ubuSilamsi buye bazithaphulela kakhulu kwezo zibhalo. (iQur’ān, surah 2:49-57; 32:23, 24) Ngaloo ndlela, xa sihlolisisa unqulo lwamaYuda, sikwahlolisisa nemvelaphi yezinye iinkonzo namanye amahlelo amaninzi.

⁴ Isizathu sesibini nesibalulekileyo sikukuba unqulo lwamaYuda lubaluleke kakhulu kwiphulo loluntu lokufuna uThixo wenyaniso. Ngokutsho kweZibhalo zesiHebhere, uAbram, ubawomkhulu wamaYuda, wayesele enqula uThixo wenyaniso kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-4 000 eyadlulayo.a Ngokusengqiqweni, siyabuza ukuba, AmaYuda nonqulo lwawo avela njani?—Genesis 17:18.

AmaYuda Avela Njani?

5, 6. Ngokufutshane, iyintoni imbali yemvelaphi yamaYuda negama lawo?

⁵ Njengoko sisazi, abantu abangamaYuda bayinzala yamandulo, bangabomnombo wohlanga oluyinzala kaShem oluthetha isiHebhere. (Genesis 10:1, 21-32; 1 Kronike 1:17-28, 34; 2:1, 2) Malunga nama-4 000 eminyaka eyadlulayo, umawokhulu wabo uAbram wafuduka esuka kummandla omkhulu ochumileyo waseUre yamaKaledi kwelaseSumer waya kwilizwe lakwaKanan, lizwe elo uThixo awathi ngalo: “Eli lizwe ndiya kulinikela kwinzala yakho.”b (Genesis 11:31–12:7) KwiGenesis 14:13, kuthethwa ngaye ‘njengoAbram umHebhere,’ nangona igama lakhe latshintshwayo kamva laba nguAbraham. (Genesis 17:4-6) Kuye kuvela umnombo wamaYuda oqala kunyana wakhe uIsake nakumzukulwana wakhe uYakobi, ogama lakhe latshintshwa laba nguSirayeli. (Genesis 32:27-29) USirayeli wayenoonyana abali-12, abathi babumba izizwe ezili-12. Omnye wabo wayenguYuda, gama elo ekwathi kulo ekugqibeleni kwavela elithi “umYuda.”—2 Kumkani 16:6, JP.

⁶ Ekuhambeni kwexesha igama elithi “umYuda” lasetyenziswa kuwo onke amaSirayeli, kungekhona nje kuphela kwinzala kaYuda. (Estere 3:6; 9:20) Ngenxa yokuba iingxelo ezingomnombo wamaYuda zatshatyalaliswayo ngowama-70 C.E. xa amaRoma atshabalalisa iYerusalem, akakho umYuda namhlanje onokusichaza ngokuchanileyo isizwe ayinzala yaso. Sekunjalo, ukutyhubela amawaka eminyaka, unqulo lwamandulo lwamaYuda lwaye lwaphuculwa lwaza lwaguqulwa. Namhlanje ubuYuda buqheliselwa zizigidi zamaYuda kwiRiphabliki yakwaSirayeli nakweminye imimandla yehlabathi obusasazeke kuyo. Siyintoni isiseko solo nqulo?

UMoses, UMthetho Nohlanga

7. Sisiphi isifungo uThixo awasenza kuAbraham, ibe ngoba?

⁷ Ngowe-1943 B.C.E.,c uThixo wanyula uAbram ukuba abe ngumkhonzi wakhe okhethekileyo waza kamva wenza isifungo esiqinisekileyo kuye ngenxa yokunyaniseka kwakhe ekuvumeni ukunikela unyana wakhe uIsake njengedini, nakubeni elo dini lingazange lide lenziwe. (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:1-14) Kweso sifungo uThixo wathi: “Ndizifungile, itsho INKOSI [ngesiHebhere: יהוה, YHWH] isithi: Ngenxa yokuba ukwenzile oku yaye ungamgogotyanga unyana wakho, oyintonga yakho esekhosi, ndiya kuyithululela intsikelelo Yam phezu kwakho ndize ndiyandise inzala yakho ibe ngangeenkwenkwezi zezulu . . . Zonke iintlanga zomhlaba ziya kusikelelwa ngenzala [“ngembewu,” JP] yakho, ngenxa yokuba uwuthobele umyalelo Wam.” Esi sifungo saphindwa kunyana ka-Abraham nakumzukulwana wakhe, saza saphindwa nakwisizwe sikaYuda nakumnombo kaDavide. Le ngcamango yokukholelwa ngokupheleleyo kuThixo omnye kuphela oqhubana ngokungqalileyo nabantu yayibalasele kwihlabathi lamandulo, ibe yaba sisiseko sonqulo lwamaYuda.—Genesis 22:15-18; 26:3-5; 28:13-15; INdumiso 89:4, 5, 29, 30, 36, 37 (INdumiso 89:3, 4, 28, 29, 35, 36, IBhayibhile yesiXhosa).

8. Wayengubani uMoses, ibe waba nayiphi indima kuSirayeli?

⁸ Ukuze azalisekise amadinga Akhe kuAbraham, uThixo wasandlalela isiseko isizwe ngokwenza umnqophiso okhethekileyo kunye nenzala ka-Abraham. Lo mnqophiso wadluliselwa ngoMoses, inkokeli enkulu engumHebhere nengumlamleli phakathi kukaThixo noSirayeli. Wayengubani uMoses, yaye kutheni le nto ebaluleke kangaka kumaYuda? Ingxelo yeBhayibhile ekwiEksodus isixelela ukuba wazalelwa eYiputa (1593 B.C.E.) ngabazali abangamaSirayeli awayesekuthinjweni kunye naye wonke uSirayeli. Wayengulowo “INKOSI yamnyulayo” ukuba akhokele abantu Bayo ukubasa enkululekweni kwelaseKanan, iLizwe Ledinga. (Duteronomi 6:23; 34:10) Ukongezelela ekubeni ngumprofeti, ngumgwebi, yinkokeli nombhali-mbali, uMoses waphumeza indima ebalulekileyo yokuba ngumlamleli womnqophiso woMthetho owanikelwa nguThixo kuSirayeli.—Eksodus 2:1–3:22.

9, 10. (a) Nguwuphi uMthetho owadluliselwa ngoMoses? (b) Ziziphi iinkalo zobomi ezagutyungelwa yiMithetho Elishumi? (c) Yiyiphi imfanelo eyaziswa ngumnqophiso woMthetho kuSirayeli?

⁹ UMthetho owamkelwa nguSirayeli wawunaMazwi, okanye iMithetho Elishumi, nemithetho engaphezu kwama-600 eyabumba uludwe lwemimiselo nolwalathiso lwehambo yokuziphatha yemihla ngemihla. (Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 211.) Wawubandakanya izinto zasemhlabeni nezingcwele—iimfuno zokwenyama nemilinganiselo emihle yokuziphatha kwanonqulo lukaThixo.

¹⁰ Lo mnqophiso woMthetho, okanye ummiselo ongokonqulo, walwakha waza waluqinisa ukholo loosolusapho. Ngenxa yoko, inzala ka-Abraham yaba luhlanga oluzinikele ekukhonzeni uThixo. Ngaloo ndlela unqulo lwamaYuda lwaqalisa ukubonakala ngokucacileyo, yaye amaYuda aba luhlanga olulungelelaniselwe ukunqula nokukhonza uThixo walo. KwiEksodus 19:5, 6, uThixo wawathembisa oku: “Ukuba niya kundithobela ngokunyanisekileyo nize niwugcine umnqophiso Wam, . . . niya kuba ngababingeleli nohlanga Lwam olungcwele.” Ngaloo ndlela, amaSirayeli ayeza kuba ‘ngabantu abanyulelwe’ ukuphumeza iinjongo zikaThixo. Phofu ke, ukuzalisekisa amadinga omnqophiso kwakuxhomekeke kumyalelo othi “Ukuba niya kundithobela.” Ngoku olo hlanga luzinikeleyo lwalubophelelekile kuThixo walo. Ngenxa yoko, kwiminyaka eyalandelayo (ngenkulungwane yesibhozo Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo), uThixo wayenokuthi kumaYuda: “Nina ningamangqina Am—itsho INKOSI [ngesiHebhere: יהוה, YHWH]—ningumkhonzi Wam, endimnyulileyo.”—Isaya 43:10, 12.

Uhlanga Olunababingeleli, Abaprofeti Nookumkani

11. Udidi lwababingeleli nolookumkani lwavela njani?

¹¹ Ngoxa uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli lwalusesentlango lusinge kwiLizwe Ledinga, kwamiselwa udidi lwababingeleli kumnombo womntakwaboMoses, uAron. Intente enkulu ephathekayo, okanye umnquba, yaba sisazulu sonqulo lwamaSirayeli nesokunyusa amadini. (IEksodus, isahluko 26-28) Ekuhambeni kwexesha uhlanga lwakwaSirayeli lwada lwafika kwiLizwe Ledinga, eKanan, lwaza lwaboyisa abemi belo lizwe, kanye njengokuba uThixo wayalelayo. (Yoshuwa 1:2-6) Ekugqibeleni kwamiselwa udidi lookumkani basemhlabeni, yaye ngowe-1077 B.C.E., uDavide, womnombo wesizwe sikaYuda, waba ngukumkani. Ngexesha lokulawula kwakhe, udidi lookumkani nolwababingeleli lwamiselwa ngokuqinileyo kwisazulu esitsha sesizwe, iYerusalem.—1 Samuweli 8:7.

12. Liliphi idinga uThixo awayelenze kuDavide?

¹² Emva kokufa kukaDavide, unyana wakhe uSolomon wakha itempile ezukileyo eYerusalem, eyawuthabathel’ indawo umnquba. Ngenxa yokuba uThixo wayenze umnqophiso noDavide wokuba udidi lookumkani lwaluya kuhlala lulolomnombo wakhe ngonaphakade, kwakuqondakala ukuba uKumkani othanjisiweyo, uMesiya, wayeya kuthi ngeny’ imini avele kumnombo wenzala kaDavide. Isiprofeto sabonisa ukuba ngalo Kumkani unguMesiya, okanye “imbewu,” uSirayeli nazo zonke iintlanga zaziya kunandipha ulawulo olugqibeleleyo. (Genesis 22:18, JP) Eli themba laya lisendela ngakumbi, yaye iinkcukacha ezingoMesiya wonqulo lwamaYuda zacaciswa ngokuthe gca.—2 Samuweli 7:8-16; INdumiso 72:1-20; Isaya 11:1-10; Zekariya 9:9, 10.

13. Ngubani uThixo awamsebenzisayo ukuze alungise ukurhoxobisa kukaSirayeli? Nika umzekelo.

¹³ Noko ke, amaYuda aziyekela ukuba aphenjelelwe lunqulo lobuxoki lwabemi baseKanan nolwezinye iintlanga ezaziwangqongile. Ngenxa yoko, awaphula umnqophiso wolwalamano lwawo noThixo. Ukuze awalungise kwikhondo lawo aze awabuyisele endleleni efanelekileyo, uYehova wathumela ungcelele lwabaprofeti abanikela izigidimi zakhe ebantwini. Ngaloo ndlela, isiprofeto saba yenye inkalo ebalaseleyo yonqulo lwamaYuda yaye sigubungela inxalenye enkulu yeZibhalo zesiHebhere. Enyanisweni, iincwadi ezili-18 zeZibhalo zesiHebhere zibizwa ngamagama abaprofeti.—Isaya 1:4-17.

14. Iziganeko zabathethelela njani abaprofeti bakwaSirayeli?

¹⁴ Ababebalasele kubaprofeti abanjalo yayinguIsaya, uYeremiya noHezekile, abathi bonke balumkisa ngesohlwayo sikaYehova ekwakumbovu ukuba sifikele olo hlanga ngenxa yokunqula kwalo izithixo. Esi sohlwayo safika malunga nowama-607 B.C.E. xa, ngenxa yokuwexuka kukaSirayeli, uYehova wavumela iBhabhiloni, eyayiligunya elongamileyo lehlabathi ngelo xesha, ukuba ibhukuqe iYerusalem netempile yayo ize iluthimbe olo hlanga. Abaprofeti bangqineka benyanisile koko babekuxele kwangaphambili, yaye ukuthinjwa kukaSirayeli kangangama-70 eminyaka egubungela inxalenye enkulu yenkulungwane yesithandathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo kuyingxelo engokwembali.—2 Kronike 36:20, 21; Yeremiya 25:11, 12; Daniyeli 9:2.

15. (a) Lwavela njani uhlobo olutsha lonqulo phakathi kwamaYuda? (b) Izindlu zesikhungu zaba nawuphi umphumo kunqulo lwaseYerusalem?

¹⁵ Ngowama-539 B.C.E., uKoreshi ongumPersi wayoyisa iBhabhiloni waza wawavumela amaYuda ukuba abuyele kwilizwe lawo aze ayakhe kwakhona itempile eYerusalem. Nangona aba mbalwa awasabelayo, inkoliso yamaYuda yahlala iphantsi kwempembelelo yebutho lamaBhabhiloni. Kamva amaYuda aphenjelelwa yinkcubeko yamaPersi. Ngenxa yoko, amaYuda asasazeka kuMbindi-Mpuma nakwelaseMeditera. Ibutho ngalinye lawo lamisela uhlobo olutsha lonqulo olwaluquka indlu yesikhungu, eyayisisazulu sebandla lamaYuda kwidolophu nganye. Njengoko besinokulindela, eli lungiselelo lawenza alibala ngokwakhiwa kwakhona kwetempile eYerusalem. Enyanisweni ngeli thuba amaYuda ayesasazeke kuyo yonke indawo.—Ezra 2:64, 65.

UbuYuda Bamkela Impembelelo YamaGrike

16, 17. (a) Yiyiphi impembelelo entsha eyathi yafika kummandla weMeditera ngenkulungwane yesine Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo? (b) Ngubani owaba sisixhobo sokusasaza inkolelo engokwesithethe yamaGrike, yaye njani? (c) Ngaloo ndlela yaba njani imeko yobuYuda?

¹⁶ Ngenkulungwane yesine Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ibutho lamaYuda lalixengaxenga ibe ngaloo ndlela laba lixhoba lempembelelo yenkolelo engokwesithethe yezizwe ezingengomaYuda eyayigubungele wonke ummandla weMeditera kwanalowo ungaphesheya kwayo. Kwafika impembelelo enamandla yamaGrike, baza ubuYuda bayamkela.

¹⁷ Ngowama-332 B.C.E. injengele engumGrike uAlesandire Omkhulu waboyisa ngephanyazo abemi bommandla okuMbindi-Mpuma waza wamkelwa ngamaYuda xa wafika eYerusalem.d Amalandela ka-Alesandire ahamba ekhondweni lakhe lokumisela intanda-bulumko yamaGrike, ezalisa bonke ubukhosi babo ngentetho, ngenkolelo engokwesithethe nangentanda-bulumko yamaGrike. Ngenxa yoko, iinkolelo ezingokwesithethe zamaGrike nezamaYuda zaxubana nto leyo eyayiza kuvelisa imiphumo emangalisayo.

18. (a) Kutheni le nto yayiyimfuneko nje inguqulelo yesiGrike eyiSeptuagint yeZibhalo zesiHebhere? (b) Yiyiphi inkalo yenkolelo engokwesithethe yamaGrike eyawachaphazela ngokukhethekileyo amaYuda?

¹⁸ AmaYuda awayesasazekile aqalisa ukuthetha isiGrike endaweni yesiHebhere. Ngoko malunga nasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesithathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, inguqulelo yokuqala yeZibhalo zesiHebhere yasiwa kwisiGrike, eyayibizwa ngokuba yiSeptuagint, yaqaliswa, ibe ngayo, iiNtlanga ezininzi zaluhlonela zaza zaqhelana nonqulo lwamaYuda, ezinye zade zaguquka.e Kwelinye icala, amaYuda ayesiya eqhelana ngakumbi nengcamango yamaGrike yaye wambi ade aba zizithandi zobulumko, nto leyo eyayintsha ngokupheleleyo kumaYuda. Omnye ongumzekelo woku nguPhilo welakwa-Alesandire wenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, owazabalazela ukucacisa ubuYuda ngokwentanda-bulumko yamaGrike, ngokungathi omabini loo maqela ayegxininisa iinyaniso ezifanayo ezisisiseko.

19. Omnye umbhali ongumYuda walichaza njani ixesha lokuxubana kweenkolelo ezingokwesithethe zamaGrike namaYuda?

¹⁹ Xa eshwankathela eli xesha lokuxubana kweenkolelo ezingokwesithethe zamaGrike nezamaYuda, umbhali ongumYuda uMax Dimont uthi: “Bezaliswe yingcamango kaPlato, neka-Aristotle, kwanayinzululwazi kaEuclid, abaphengululi abangamaYuda bafakelela iingcamango ezintsha kwiTorah. . . . Baqhubeka befakela ingcamango yamaGrike kwisityhilelo samaYuda.” Iziganeko ezaziya kwenzeka phantsi kolawulo lwaseRoma, olwathi lwabangela ukutshatyalaliswa koBukhosi bamaGrike nokweYerusalem ngonyaka wama-63 B.C.E., zaziya kuhlahl’ indlela yeenguqulelo ezibalasele ngakumbi.

UbuYuda Phantsi Kolawulo LwaseRoma

20. Yayinjani imeko engokonqulo yamaYuda ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo?

²⁰ UbuYuda benkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo babukwimeko engaqhelekanga. UMax Dimont uthi babuphenjelelwa “yingcamango yamaGrike nangumoya wokulwa wamaRoma.” AmaYuda ayekulindele ngolangazelelo ukuza kukaMesiya ngenxa yengcinezelo yezobupolitika nengcaciso yeziprofeto ezingaye, ngokukodwa ezo zikaDaniyeli. AmaYuda ayahlulahlulwe aba ngamahlelo. AbaFarisi bagxininisa kumthetho ovakaliswa ngomlomo (bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 221) kunakumadini asetempileni. AbaSadusi babethelela ukubaluleka kwetempile nodidi lwababingeleli. Kwakukho namaEssene, amaZeloti namaHerode. Onke la mahlelo ayechasene ngokonqulo nangokwentanda-bulumko. Iinkokeli zamaYuda zazibizwa ngokuba ngoorabhi (iinkosi, abefundisi) abathi, ngenxa yolwazi ababenalo ngoMthetho, baduma kakhulu baza baba liqela elitsha leenkokeli zokomoya.

21. Ziziphi iziganeko ezawachaphazela kakhulu amaYuda ngeenkulungwane ezimbini zokuqala zeXesha Eliqhelekileyo?

²¹ Noko ke, iiyantlukwano ezazikho ngaphakathi nezazibonakala kubuYuda, zaqhubeka zikho, ngokukodwa kwilizwe lakwaSirayeli. Ekugqibeleni, ayivukela ngokuphandle iRoma, ibe ngowama-70 C.E., imikhosi yamaRoma yayingqinga iYerusalem, yasiphanzisa eso sixeko, yayitshisa yaluthuthu itempile yaso, yaza yabachithachitha abemi baso. Umphumo waba kukuba, iYerusalem yahluthwa ngokupheleleyo kumaYuda. Ekubeni babungenatempile, bungenalizwe, yaye nabantu babo besasazeke kubo bonke uBukhosi baseRoma, ubuYuda kwakufuneka bumisele unqulo olutsha ukuze bungabhangi.

22. (a) UbuYuda bachatshazelwa njani kukuphulukana kwabo netempile yaseYerusalem? (b) AmaYuda ayahlula njani iBhayibhile? (c) Iyintoni iTalmud, ibe yavela njani?

²² Ekutshatyalalisweni kwetempile, abaSadusi bathi shwaka, yaye umthetho ovakaliswa ngomlomo ababegxininisa kuwo abaFarisi waba ngundoqo kubuYuda obutsha booRabhi. Ufundisiso, umthandazo nemisebenzi yokuzinikela elunqulweni enzulu ngakumbi yawathabathel’ indawo amadini asetempileni nohambo lokuya kunqula kwiindawo ezingcwele. Ngaloo ndlela, ubuYuda babunokuqheliselwa naphi na, nangaliphi na ixesha, naphantsi kwayo nayiphi na imeko yenkolelo engokwesithethe. Oorabhi bayibhala phantsi le mithetho eyayivakaliswa ngomlomo, besongezelela kwezinye iingxelo ezininzi ezibhaliweyo, ezathi zonke xa zihlangene zaziwa njengeTalmud.—Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 220-1.

23. Yiyiphi inguqulelo eyathi yabakho kwizinto ezibalaseliswayo phantsi kwempembelelo yengcamango yamaGrike?

²³ Waba yintoni umphumo wezi mpembelelo zahlukahlukeneyo? Kwincwadi yakhe ethi Jews, God and History uMax Dimont uthi nangona abaFarisi babenolwazi ngengcamango nonqulo lwamaYuda, “olo lwazi lwaluveliswe zizithandi zobulumko zamaGrike.” Ngoxa inxalenye enkulu yeTalmud yayisekelwe ngokungqongqo kwimigaqo yokusesikweni, imizekeliso neengcaciso zayo zabonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba yayiphenjelelwe yintanda-bulumko yamaGrike. Ngokomzekelo, iingcamango ezingokonqulo zamaGrike, ezinjengokungafi komphefumlo, zazicaciswa ngendlela eyayiya kuqondwa lula ngamaYuda. Enyanisweni, ngelo xesha lokuqalisa kokuvela kooRabhi, amaYuda ayeyihlonela kakhulu iTalmud—ngelo xesha eyayisekelwe kwimigaqo yokusesikweni nakwintanda-bulumko yamaGrike—ada agqibela ngokuyihlonela ngakumbi ukodlula iBhayibhile, ebudeni bamaXesha Aphakathi.

UbuYuda Ebudeni BamaXesha Aphakathi

24. (a) Ngawaphi amabutho amabini aphambili awathi avela phakathi kwamaYuda ebudeni bamaXesha Aphakathi? (b) Abuphembelela njani ubuYuda?

²⁴ Ebudeni bamaXesha Aphakathi (ukususela malunga nowama-500 ukusa kowe-1500 C.E.), kwavela amabutho amabini awahlukeneyo amaYuda—amaYuda obuSephardi, awayesanda phantsi kolawulo lwamaSilamsi eSpeyin, namaYuda obuAshkenazi kuMbindi nakwiMpuma Yurophu. Omabini la mabutho avelisa abaphengululi abangooRabhi ezathi iincwadi neengcamango zabo zabumba isiseko sengcaciso engokonqulo yamaYuda ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, eneneni amasiko noqheliselo oluninzi lonqulo olukhoyo namhlanje kubuYuda lwaqala ebudeni bamaXesha Aphakathi.—Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 231.

25. Ekugqibeleni iCawa yamaKatolika yasabela njani kumaYuda aseYurophu?

²⁵ Ngenkulungwane ye-12, amaYuda aqalisa ukugxothwa kumazwe awahlukahlukeneyo. Kwaba njengokuba umbhali wakwaSirayeli uAbba Eban ecacisa kwincwadi ethi My People—The Story of the Jews: “Kulo naliphi na ilizwe . . . elinempembelelo yeCawa yobuKatolika, imeko iyafana: ayahlaziswa ngendlela eyoyikekayo, ayathuthunjiswa, ayabulawa, yaye ayagxothwa.” Ekugqibeleni, ngowe-1492, iSpeyin, eyayikhe ngaxa lithile yaba phantsi kolawulo lobuKatolika, yazeka-mzekweni yaza yayalela ukuba agxothwe onke amaYuda kummandla wayo. Ngoko ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-15, amaYuda ayesele enikwe uphum’ aphele phantse kulo lonke elaseNtshona Yurophu, abalekela kwiMpuma Yurophu nakumazwe akufuphi neMeditera.

26. (a) Yintoni eyakhokelela ekudaneni kwamaYuda? (b) Ngawaphi amahlelo aphambili awathi aqalisa ukuvela phakathi kwamaYuda?

²⁶ Ukutyhubela iinkulungwane zengcinezelo nentshutshiso, phakathi kwamaYuda kwavela abantu abaninzi ababezibanga bengooMesiya kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zehlabathi, yaye bonke babesamkelwa ngomkhamo othile, kodwa umphumo wawusiba kukudana xa kwakufunyaniswa ukuba babengengabokwenene. Ngenkulungwane ye-17, kwaye kwafuneka ukuba kuthatyathwe amanyathelo amatsha okuvuselela amaYuda nokuwakhupha kweli xesha lobumnyama. Phakathi kwinkulungwane ye-18, kwabonakala ngathi iimeko ziyathembisa noko kumaYuda awayephelelwe lithemba. Isicombululo sasibubuHasidism (bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 226), obukukudityaniswa kwezithethe noqheliselo lwempambano olungokonqulo okwakubonakaliswa kwindlela awayenqula ngayo nakwimisebenzi yemihla ngemihla. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, malunga nexesha elifanayo, umthandi wobulumko uMoses Mendelssohn, ongumYuda waseJamani, wanikela esinye isicombululo, indlela yeHaskala, okanye ukhanyiselo, eyayiza kukhokelela koko kwakugqalwa kwelo xesha lasembalini ‘njengobuYuda Banamhla.’

Ukusuka “Kukhanyiselo” Ukuya KubuZiyoni

27. (a) UMoses Mendelssohn wasiphembelela njani isimo sengqondo samaYuda? (b) Kutheni le nto amaYuda amaninzi eligatya ithemba loMesiya ongumntu?

²⁷ Ngokutsho kukaMoses Mendelssohn (1729-86), amaYuda ayeya kwamkelwa ukuba ayeya kuyishiya impembelelo yeTalmud aze aphile ngokuvisisana nenkolelo engokwesithethe yaseNtshona. Ngomhla wakhe, waba ngomnye wawona maYuda ahlonitshiweyo ngabeeNtlanga. Phofu ke, ukuvuka kwakhona kogonyamelo ngokuchasene namaYuda ngenkulungwane ye-19, ngokukodwa kwiRashiya “yobuKristu,” kwabadanisa abalandeli baloo mbutho, yaye ngoko abaninzi bazabalazela ukufumanela amaYuda ikhusi lezobupolitika. Bayigatya ingcamango yoMesiya ongumntu owayeya kukhokelela amaYuda emva kwaSirayeli aze aqalise ukumisela iLizwe lamaYuda ngokusebenzisa ezinye iindlela. Ngoko ke oku kwaba yingcamango yobuZiyoni: “ukwenziwa kobumesiya bobuYuda . . . bube bobehlabathi,” njengoko enye incwadi ikuchaza ngolo hlobo.

28. Ziziphi iziganeko zenkulungwane yama-20 eziye zachaphazela isimo sengqondo samaYuda?

²⁸ Ukubulawa kwamaYuda aseYurophu amalunga nezigidi ezithandathu kwiMbubhiso yamaNazi (1935-45) kwabenza banenzondelelo enkulu ngakumbi ubuZiyoni yaye izizwe zehlabathi jikelele zabonisa uvelwano olukhulu. Iphupha lamaZiyoni lazaliseka ngowe-1948 xa kwamiselwa iLizwe lakwaSirayeli, nto leyo esifikisa kubuYuda bomhla wethu nakumbuzo othi, AmaYuda anamhlanje akholelwa entwenini?

UThixo Mnye

29. (a) Ngamazwi nje alula, buyintoni ubuYuda banamhlanje? (b) Buphawulwa njani ubuYuda? (c) Yiyiphi eminye yemithendeleko namasiko amaYuda?

²⁹ Ngamazwi nje alula, ubuYuda bulunqulo lwabantu. Ngoko ke, lowo uguqukela kubo uba yinxalenye yabantu abangamaYuda kwanenxalenye yonqulo lwamaYuda. Bulunqulo olukholelwa kuThixo omnye ngokungqongqo yaye bukholelwa ukuba uThixo uyachaphazeleka kwimbali yabantu, ngokukodwa ngokuhlobene namaYuda. Unqulo lwamaYuda lubandakanya imithendeleko eliqela enyakeni namasiko awahlukahlukeneyo. (Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 230-1.) Nangona kungekho mimiselo okanye mithetho isisiseko eyamkelwayo ngawo onke amaYuda, ukuvuma kwawo ukuba kukho uThixo omnye kuphela njengoko kuboniswe kwiShema, engumthandazo osekelwe kwiDuteronomi 6:4 (JP), kuyila inxalenye eyintloko yonqulo lwendlu yesikhungu: “YIVA, SIRAYELI: INKOSI UTHIXO WETHU, YINKOSI INYE.”

30. (a) AmaYuda amjonga njani uThixo? (b) Indlela amaYuda amjonga ngayo uThixo ingqubana njani naleyo yeNgqobhoko?

³⁰ Le nkolelo yokuba kukho uThixo omnye yadluliselwa kubuKristu nakubuSilamsi. Kunjengokuba esitsho uGqr. J. H. Hertz, ongurabhi: “Esi sibhengezo sizukileyo sokuba kukho uThixo omnye kuphela sasikukuvakaliswa kwemfazwe ngokunxamnye nenkolelo kubukho boothixo abaninzi . . . Ngendlela efanayo, iShema yamkhuphela ecaleni ubathathu emnye wesivumo sokholo sobuKristu njengowaphula umgaqo-siseko wokuba Mnye kukaThixo.”f Kodwa ngoku makhe sihlolisise inkolelo yamaYuda kumbandela wobomi basemva kokufa.

Ukufa, Umphefumlo Novuko

31. (a) Imfundiso esisiseko yokungafi komphefumlo yangenelela njani kwimfundiso yamaYuda? (b) Imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yabangela yiphi ingxaki?

³¹ Enye yeenkolelo ezisisiseko zobuYuda banamhlanje yeyokuba umntu unomphefumlo ongafiyo oqhubeka uphila emva kokufa komzimba wakhe. Kodwa ngaba oku kuvela eBhayibhileni? IEncyclopaedia Judaica ivuma ngokuphandle esithi: “Kufanele ukuba loo mfundiso isisiseko yokungafi komphefumlo yayisuka kwimpembelelo yamaGrike ukuze ize kungena kubuYuda.” Noko ke, oku kwabangela ingxaki kwiimfundiso ezisisiseko, njengokuba kwalo mthombo mnye ubonisa: “Ngokusisiseko ezi nkolelo zimbini, eyovuko neyokungafi komphefumlo ziyangqubana. Le yokuqala ibhekisela ekuvukeni kwabantu kunye ekupheleni kwemihla, oko kukuthi, abafi abalele emhlabeni baza kuphuma emangcwabeni, ngoxa enye ibhekisela kwimeko yomphefumlo emva kokufa komzimba.” Le ngxaki yaconjululwa njani kwimfundiso yezakwalizwi yamaYuda? “Kwakubanjelelwe kwimfundiso yokuba xa umntu esifa umphefumlo wakhe wawuqhubeka uphila komnye ummandla (oku kwabangela ukuvela kwazo zonke iinkolelo eziphathelele izulu nesihogo) ngoxa umzimba wakhe usemangcwabeni ulinde ukuba uvuswe kuvuko lwabo bonke abafileyo apha emhlabeni.”

32. Ithini iBhayibhile ngabafi?

³² Umhlohli waseYunivesithi uArthur Hertzberg ubhala oku: “KwiBhayibhile [yesiHebhere] ikhaya lobomi bomntu lichazwa njengelikweli hlabathi. Akukho mfundiso isisiseko yezulu nesihogo, kuphela nje yingcamango eyandayo yovuko lokugqibela lwabafileyo ekupheleni kwemihla.” Leyo yingcaciso elula necacileyo yengcamango yeBhayibhile, yokuba, “abafileyo abazi nto . . . Kuba akukho kwenza, nakuqiqa, namfundo, nabulumko eSheol [ingcwaba eliqhelekileyo loluntu], apho uya khona wena.”—INtshumayeli 9:5, 10; Daniyeli 12:1, 2; Isaya 26:19.

33. Imfundiso esisiseko yovuko yayijongwa njani ngamaYuda ntlandlolo?

³³ Ngokutsho kwe-Encyclopaedia Judaica, “Ngexesha lokukhokela koorabhi imfundiso esisiseko yovuko lwabafileyo yayigqalwa njengenye yeemfundiso ezingundoqo zobuYuda” yaye “ifanele yahlulwe kwinkolelo . . . yokungafi komphefumlo.”g Noko ke, namhlanje, ngoxa ukungafi komphefumlo kusamkelwa ngawo onke amahlelo obuYuda, lona uvuko lwabafileyo alwamkelwa.

34. Ngokwahlukileyo kwimbono yeBhayibhile, iTalmud iwuchaza njani umphefumlo? Ababhali bamva nje bagqabaza ngokuthini?

³⁴ Ngokwahlukileyo eBhayibhileni, iTalmud, ephenjelelwe yintanda-bulumko yamaGrike, izaliswe yinkcazelo nangamabali kwanayingcaciso yomphefumlo ongafiyo. Kamva incwadi yentanda-bulumko yamaYuda, iKabbala, ide igabadele ukusa kwinqanaba lokufundisa ngokuzalwa ngokutsha (ukufuduswa kwemiphefumlo), ngokusisiseko okuyimfundiso yamaHindu amandulo. (Bona iSahluko 5.) KuSirayeli wanamhlanje, oku kwamkelwa ngokubanzi njengemfundiso yamaYuda, ibe kukwanendima ebalulekileyo kwiinkolelo nakwiincwadi zobuHasidic. Ngokomzekelo, kwincwadi yakhe ethi Tales of the Hasidim—The Later Masters, uMartin Buber uquka ibali elimayela nomphefumlo elivela kwimvaba kaElimelekh, urabhi waseLizhensk: “NgoMhla Wocamagushelo, xa uRabhi uAbraham Yehoshua wayecengceleza iAvodah, umthandazo ophindaphinda umsebenzi wombingeleli omkhulu kwiTempile yaseYerusalem, aze afike kwibinzana elithi: ‘Wenjenjalo ke ukuthetha,’ yena wayengatsho loo mazwi, kunoko wayesithi: ‘Ndenjenjalo ke ukuthetha.’ Kuba akalilibali ixesha laxa umphefumlo wakhe wawusemzimbeni wombingeleli omkhulu waseYerusalem.”

35. (a) UbuYuda Obuhlaziyiweyo buyigqala njani imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo? (b) Ithini imfundiso ecacileyo yeBhayibhile ngomphefumlo?

³⁵ UbuYuda Obuhlaziyiweyo bagabadela ukusa kwinqanaba lokugatya inkolelo yovuko. Ekubeni bulishenxisile elo gama kwiincwadi zemithandazo Zohlaziyo, buvuma kuphela inkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo. Hayi indlela ecace ngakumbi ngayo ingcamango yeBhayibhile njengoko kuboniswe kwiGenesis 2:7: “INKOSI uThixo yambumba umntu ngothuli lomhlaba, yaza yaphefumlela emathatheni akhe impefumlo yobomi; waza umntu waba ngumphefumlo ophilileyo.” (JP) Ukudibana komzimba kunye nomoya, okanye amandla obomi, kubumba “umphefumlo ophilileyo.”h (Genesis 2:7; 7:22; INdumiso 146:4) Ingcamango eyahlukileyo apha yeyokuba, xa umntu ongumoni esifa, ngoko umphefumlo uyafa. (Hezekile 18:4, 20) Ngaloo ndlela, xa umntu esifa akubikho nesuntswana eliphilayo. Amandla akhe obomi abuyela kuThixo owamnikayo. (INtshumayeli 3:19; 9:5, 10; 12:7) Ithemba lokwenyaniso leBhayibhile ngabafileyo luvuko—ngesiHebhere: techi·yathʹ ham·me·thimʹ, okanye “ukuvuswa kwabafileyo.”

36, 37. AmaHebhere athembekileyo awayephila ngexesha lokubhalwa kweBhayibhile ayekholelwa entwenini ngokubhekisele kubomi bekamva?

³⁶ Ngoxa namaYuda amaninzi enokothuswa sesi sigqibo, uvuko belulithemba lokwenene labanquli boThixo oyinyaniso kangangamawaka eminyaka. Malunga nama-3 500 eminyaka eyadlulayo, uYobhi othembekileyo nowayebandezelekile wathetha ngexesha elizayo laxa uThixo wayeya kumvusa eSheol, okanye engcwabeni. (Yobhi 14:14, 15) Umprofeti uDaniyeli naye wayeqinisekile ukuba wayeza kuvuswa “ekupheleni kwemihla.”—Daniyeli 12:2, 12 (13, JP; IBhayibhile yesiXhosa).

³⁷ Akukho siseko singokweZibhalo sokuthi loo maHebhere athembekileyo ayekholelwa ukuba ayenomphefumlo ongafiyo owawuya kuqhubeka uphila kwihlabathi lasemva kokufa. Ngokucacileyo ayenesizathu esaneleyo sokukholelwa ukuba iNkosi enguMongami, ebala ize ilawule iinkwenkwezi zendalo iphela, yayiya kuwakhumbula nawo ngexesha lovuko. Ayethembekile kuyo nakwigama layo. Nayo iya kuthembeka kuwo.—INdumiso 18:26 (25, IBhayibhile yesiXhosa); Nd 147:4; Isaya 25:7, 8; 40:25, 26.

UbuYuda Negama LikaThixo

38. (a) Yintoni eye yenzeka kwiinkulungwane ezidluleyo ngokubhekisele ekusetyenzisweni kwegama likaThixo? (b) Siyintoni isiseko segama likaThixo?

³⁸ UbuYuda bufundisa ukuba ngoxa igama likaThixo libhaliwe, lingcwele kakhulu ukuba lingabizwa.i Umphumo ube kukuba, kwiminyaka engama-2 000 edluleyo, kuye kwaphulukwana nendlela echanileyo yokulibiza. Kanti, oko bekungasoloko kunjalo ngamaYuda. Malunga nama 3 500 eminyaka eyadlulayo, uThixo wathetha kuMoses esithi: “Uze uthethe kumaSirayeli uthi: INKOSI [ngesiHebhere: יהוה, YHWH], uThixo wooyihlo, uThixo ka-Abraham, uThixo kaIsake noThixo kaYakobi, undithumile kuni: Eli iya kuba ligama Lam ngonaphakade, le yindlela eNdiya kubizwa ngayo kude kuse emaphakadeni.” (Eksodus 3:15; INdumiso 135:13) Liliphi elo gama wayebizwa ngalo? Umbhalo osemazantsi kwiTanakh uthi: “Igama elithi YHWH (ngokuqhelekileyo elifundeka ngokuthi Adonai “INKOSI”) apha linxulunyaniswe nengcambu yegama elithi hayah elithetha ukuba ‘yiyo nantoni na.’” Ngaloo ndlela, apha sinegama elingcwele likaThixo iTetragrammaton, engoonobumba abane besiHebhere abangaba YHWH (Yahweh) abathi ngokusuka kwisiLatini baziwa kangangeenkulungwane ngesiNgesi njengoJEHOVAH (UYEHOVA).

39. (a) Kutheni le nto igama likaThixo libalulekile? (b) Kutheni amaYuda ayekayo nje ukulibiza igama likaThixo?

³⁹ Ukutyhubela imbali, amaYuda ebesoloko elixabisa kakhulu igama lobuqu likaThixo, nangona ukugxininiswa kokusetyenziswa kwalo kwaye kwaguquka ngokwahluke mpela koko kwamaxesha amandulo. Kunjengokuba uGqr. A. Cohen esithi kwiEveryman’s Talmud: “Kwaye kwahlonelwa kakhulu ‘iGama lobuqu’ (Shem Hamephorash) loThixo Owathi wazityhila kubantu bakwaSirayeli, oko kukuthi itetragrammaton, JHVH.” Igama likaThixo lalihlonelwa ngenxa yokuba lalimela yaye liphawula ubuntu bukaThixo. Ngapha koko, nguThixo ngokwakhe owavakalisa igama lakhe waza waxelela abanquli bakhe ukuba balisebenzise. Oku kugxininiswa kukubonakala kwelo gama izihlandlo ezingama-6 828 kwiBhayibhile yesiHebhere. Noko ke, amaYuda azinikeleyo, avakalelwa kukuba kukungabi nantlonelo ukubiza igama lobuqu likaThixo.j

40. Ziye zathini ezinye iingcaphulo zamaYuda ngokuphathelele ukusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo?

⁴⁰ Ngokubhekisele kumyalelo ogunyazisayo woorabhi (abangekho ngokweZibhalo) bamandulo wokungalibizi elo gama, uA. Marmorstein, ongurabhi, wabhala oku kwincwadi yakhe ethi The Old Rabbinic Doctrine of God: “Kwakukho ixesha laxa esi salelo [sokusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo] sasingaziwa ngokupheleleyo ngamaYuda . . . EYiputa, naseBhabhiloni, amaYuda ayengawazi okanye engawugcini umthetho owalela ukusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo, iTetragrammaton, kwincoko okanye kwimibuliso eqhelekileyo. Kanti, ukususela ngenkulungwane yesithathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukuya kuthi ga kwinkulungwane yesithathu Emva kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo kwavela isalelo esinjalo saza sagcinwa ngabathile.” Ukusetyenziswa kwelo gama akuzange kuphelele nje ekubeni yinto evunyelweyo kumaxesha amandulo kodwa, njengokuba uGqr. Cohen esitsho: “Kwakukho ixesha laxa elo Gama lalisetyenziswa ngokukhululekileyo nangabantu nje abaqhelekileyo . . . Kuye kwaboniswa ukuba oko kwaye kwanconyelwa ngenjongo yokufuna ukwahlula amaSirayeli kwabo [bangengomaYuda].”

41. Ngokutsho komnye urabhi, yiyiphi impembelelo eyabangela ukubakho kwesalelo sokusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo?

⁴¹ Ngoko, yintoni eyabangela kubekho isalelo sokusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo? UGqr. Marmorstein uyaphendula: “Inkcaso eyaphenjelelwa ngamaGrike ngokunxamnye nonqulo lwamaYuda, ukuwexuka kwabefundisi neendwalutho, kwabangela ukuba kuveliswe kuze kumiselwe umthetho wokungayibizi iTetragrammaton kwiNgcwele [itempile yaseYerusalem].” Ngenxa yenzondelelo yawo egqithiseleyo yokuphepha ukulisebenzisela ilize igama likaThixo, ayeka ngokupheleleyo ukulisebenzisa kwincoko yawo yaye ayiphelisa aza ayisingela phantsi indlela yokufanisa uThixo wenyaniso. Ngenxa yengcinezelo yenkcaso engokonqulo nowexuko, amaYuda ayeka ngokupheleleyo ukulisebenzisa igama likaThixo.

42. Ibonisa ntoni ingxelo yeBhayibhile mayela nokusetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo?

⁴² Phofu ke, kunjengokuba uGqr. Cohen esithi: “Ngexesha lokubhalwa kweBhayibhile kubonakala ukuba kwakungekho mathandabuzo ngokunxamnye nokusetyenziswa [kwegama likaThixo] kwincoko yemihla ngemihla.” Usolusapho uAbraham “wakhunga egameni leNKOSI.” (Genesis 12:8) Inkoliso yababhali beBhayibhile besiHebhere balisebenzisa ngokukhululekileyo kodwa ngentlonelo elo gama ukuqhubeka ukuya kuthi ga ekubhalweni kwencwadi kaMalaki ngenkulungwane yesihlanu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.—Rute 1:8, 9, 17.

43. (a) Yintoni ecace nakuthathatha ngokubhekisele ekusebenziseni kwamaYuda igama likaThixo? (b) Nguwuphi omnye umphumo ongangqalanga wokuyeka kwamaYuda ukusebenzisa igama likaThixo?

⁴³ Icace nakuthathatha into yokuba amaHebhere amandulo ayelisebenzisa yaye ayelibiza igama likaThixo. Umfo kaMarmorstein uyayivuma inguqulelo eyathi yabakho kamva esithi: “Kuba ngeli xesha, kwisiqingatha sokuqala senkulungwane yesithathu [Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo], kuye kwaphawuleka inguqulelo enkulu ekusetyenzisweni kwegama likaThixo, nguqulelo leyo ethe yabangela utshintsho olukhulu kwimfundiso yezakwalizwi neyentanda-bulumko yamaYuda, ethe impembelelo yoko yanamandla ukuza kufikelela kulo mhla.” Omnye wemiphumo yokuphulukana nelo gama ukukuba ingcamango yokungabizwa kukaThixo ngegama iye yafak’ isandla ekulabalabeni kwemfundiso yezakwalizwi nto leyo eyabangela ukuba kube lula ngakumbi ukuvela kwemfundiso esisiseko kaBathathu Emnye weNgqobhoko.k—Eksodus 15:1-3.

44. Yiyiphi eminye imiphumo eyabangelwa kukusingelwa phantsi kwegama likaThixo?

⁴⁴ Ukwalelwa kokutsetyenziswa kwegama likaThixo kulusingela phantsi unqulo loThixo oyinyaniso. Kunjengokuba esinye isithethi sathi: “Ngelishwa, xa kuthethwa ngoThixo ‘njengeNkosi,’ elo binzana, nangona lichanile, alinamfutho ibe liyekeyeke . . . Ubani ufanele akhumbule ukuba ngokuguqulela uYHWH okanye uAdonay ngokuthi ‘Nkosi’ ufakelela kwizicatshulwa ezininzi zeTestamente Endala ibinzana elingelolabuqu, elingokwesithethe nelingangqalanga elingaqhelekanga kwaphela kumbhalo wamandulo.” (The Knowledge of God in Ancient Israel) Hayi indlela ekukubi ngayo ukubona igama elizukileyo nelibalulekileyo likaYahweh, okanye uYehova, lingekho kwiinguqulelo ezininzi zeBhayibhile ngoxa libonakala ngokucacileyo izihlandlo ezingamawakawaka kumbhalo wantlandlolo wesiHebhere!—Isaya 43:10-12.

Ngaba AmaYuda Asalindele UMesiya?

45. Sisiphi isizinzi esingokweBhayibhile sokukholelwa kuMesiya?

⁴⁵ Kukho iziprofeto ezininzi kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere ekuthe kuzo amaYuda ngaphezu kwama-2 000 eminyaka eyadlulayo afumana ithemba lawo elingoMesiya. Eyesibini kaSamuweli 7:11-16 yabonisa ukuba uMesiya wayeza kuba ngowomnombo kaDavide. UIsaya 11:1-10 waprofeta ukuba wayeza kuzisa ubulungisa noxolo kulo lonke uluntu. UDaniyeli 9:24-27 wanikela ubalo lwamaxesha olubonisa ukufika kukaMesiya nokubulawa kwakhe.

46, 47. (a) Luhlobo olunjani loMesiya owayelindelwe ngamaYuda awayephila phantsi kolawulo lwamaRoma? (b) Yiyiphi inguqulelo eyathi yabakho kumathemba amaYuda ngokubhekisele kuMesiya?

⁴⁶ Njengokuba iEncyclopaedia Judaica icacisa, ngenkulungwane yokuqala, uMesiya wayelindelwe ngamehl’ amnyama. Kwakulindelwe ukuba uMesiya abe “yinzala kaDavide eyinkokeli enegunya elingokobuthixo leyo amaYuda exesha lamaRoma ayekholelwa ukuba yayiza kuveliswa nguThixo ukuba yaphule idyokhwe yabahedeni ize ilawule kubukumkani obubuyiselweyo bakwaSirayeli.” Noko ke, uMesiya ongumphumi-mkhosi amaYuda awayemlindile akazange afike.

⁴⁷ Kanti, njengokuba iThe New Encyclopædia Britannica ibonisa, ithemba elingoMesiya lalingundoqo ekugcineni abantu abangamaYuda bemanyene ekuhlangabezaneni nezilingo ezininzi ezinzima ababeza kuthubeleza kuzo: “Ukusa kumlinganiselo omkhulu, alithandabuzeki elokuba ubuYuda babukufanelekele ukusinda, ngenxa yokuqina kokholo lwabo kwidinga likamesiya nelekamva.” Kodwa ekuveleni kobuYuda bakutshanje phakathi kwenkulungwane ye-18 neye-19, amaYuda amaninzi aphelelwa ngumdla ekulindeleni kwawo uMesiya. Ekugqibeleni, ngenxa yeMbubhiso yamaNazi, amaninzi aphelelwa ngumonde nalithemba. Aqalisa ukusijonga isigidimi esingoMesiya njengento engumqobo aza ke asichaza ngokutsha kuphela nje njengexesha elitsha lendyebo noxolo. Ukususela ngelo xesha, nangona ikho imbinana engenjalo, amaYuda xa ewonke akunakutshiwo kwaphela ukuba alindele uMesiya ongumntu.

48. Yiyiphi imibuzo enokuphakanyiswa ngokusengqiqweni mayela nobuYuda?

⁴⁸ Olu nqulo olwenze inguqulelo ngokuthi lungakholelwa kuMesiya luye lwabangela ukuba kuphakanyiswe imibuzo enzulu. Ngaba ubuYuda bebuphosakele kangangamawaka eminyaka ekukholelweni ukuba uMesiya wayeza kuba ngumntu? Luluphi uhlobo lobuYuda oluya kunceda ubani kwiphulo lokufuna uThixo? Ngaba bubuYuda bamandulo obabuphenjelelwe yintanda-bulumko yamaGrike? Okanye ngaba yinkqubo yobuYuda engakholelwayo kuMesiya eye yavela ebudeni bama-200 eminyaka edluleyo? Okanye ngaba kusekho enye inkqubo enikela ithemba elinyanisekileyo nelichanileyo elingoMesiya?

49. Sisiphi isimemo esidluliselwa kumaYuda anyanisekileyo?

⁴⁹ Ngoxa esacinga ngale mibuzo, sicebisa ukuba amaYuda anyanisekileyo awuhlolisise kwakhona lo mbandela ungoMesiya ngokuthi aphande ngamabango athi enziwe ngokuphathelele uYesu waseNazarete, kungekhona ngokwembono yeNgqobhoko, kodwa ngokwembono yababhali abangamaYuda beZibhalo zesiGrike. Kukho umahluko omkhulu. Iinkonzo zeNgqobhoko ziye zafak’ isandla ekugatyeni kwamaYuda uYesu ngemfundiso yazo esisiseko nengasekelwanga eBhayibhileni kaBathathu Emnye, ekucacileyo ukuba ayamkelwa nguye nawuphi na umYuda obambelele kwimfundiso enyulu yokuba “INKOSI UTHIXO WETHU, YINKOSI INYE.” (Duteronomi 6:4, JP) Ngoko ke, siyakumema ukuba ufunde isahluko esilandelayo unengqondo ephangaleleyo ukuze umazi uYesu ekuthethwa ngaye kwiZibhalo zesiGrike.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 217]

AmaYuda obuSephardi nawobuAshkenazi abumba amabutho amabini

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 211]

IMithetho Elishumi Yonqulo Neyehambo Yokuziphatha

Izigidi zabantu ziye zeva ngeMithetho Elishumi, kodwa bambalwa abakhe bayifunda. Ngenxa yoko, siye savelisa inxalenye ephambili yombhalo wayo apha.

▪ “Uze ungabi nathixo bambi ngaphandle Kwam.

▪ “Uze ungazenzeli umfanekiso oqingqiweyo, okanye wayo nantoni na emile okwento esemazulwini phezulu, okanye esemhlabeni phantsi, okanye esemanzini aphantsi komhlaba. Uze ungaqubudi kwezo zinto okanye uzikhonze. . . . [Ngalo mhla wamandulo, 1513 B.C.E., lo mthetho wawubalasele ekugatyeni kwawo unqulo lwezithixo.]

▪ “Uze ungafungi ubuxoki ngegama leNKOSI [NgesiHebhere: יהוה] uThixo wakho . . .

▪ “Khumbula umhla wesabatha uze uwungcwalise. . . . INKOSI iwusikelele umhla wesabatha yaza yawungcwalisa.

▪ “Hlonela uyihlo nonyoko . . .

▪ “Uze ungabulali.

▪ “Uze ungakrexezi.

▪ “Uze ungebi.

▪ “Uze ungangqini ubungqina bobuxoki ngommelwane wakho.

▪ “Uze ungawunqweneli umzi wommelwane wakho . . . umfazi . . . isicaka okanye isicakakazi . . . inkomo okanye iesile lakhe, okanye nantoni na eyeyommelwane wakho.”—Eksodus 20:3-14.

Nangona iyimithetho emine yokuqala kuphela enokuthanani ngokungqalileyo nenkolelo engokonqulo, eminye imithetho yayibonisa unxibelelwano phakathi kwehambo elungileyo nolwalamano olufanelekileyo kunye noMdali.

[Umfanekiso]

Phezu kwawo nje umthetho obalaseleyo owawuvela kuThixo, uSirayeli walandela unqulo lwethole olwaluqheliselwa ngabamelwane bakhe abangabahedeni (IThole legolide, eByblos)

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 220, 221]

Iincwadi Ezingcwele ZamaHebhere

Iincwadi Ezingcwele zamaHebhere zaqala “ngeTanakh.” Igama elithi “Tanakh” livela kumacandelo amathathu eBhayibhile yamaYuda yesiHebhere: ITorah (Umthetho), iNevi’im (Abaprofeti), neKethuvim (Iincwadi), kusetyenziswa unobumba wokuqala wecandelo ngalinye ukwakha igama elithi TaNaKh. Ezi ncwadi zabhalwa ngesiHebhere nangesiAramaic ukususela ngenkulungwane ye-16 ukusa kwinkulungwane ye-5 B.C.E.

AmaYuda akholelwa ukuba zabhalwa phantsi kwemilinganiselo eyahlukeneyo neya incipha ngokubalulekileyo yempefumlelo. Ngoko ke, azilandelelanisa ngale ndlela ngokokubaluleka kwazo:

ITorah—iincwadi ezintlanu zikaMoses, okanye iPentateuch (ngokusuka kwigama lesiGrike elithetha “imisongo emihlanu”), uMthetho, oyilwa yiGenesis, iEksodus, iLevitikus, iNumeri neDuteronomi. Noko ke, igama elithi “Torah” lisekwanokusetyenziswa ekubhekiseleni kwiBhayibhile yamaYuda iphela kwanakumthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo nakwiTalmud (bona iphepha elilandelayo).

INevi’im—abaProfeti, abasusela kuYoshuwa ukusa kubaprofeti abaphambili, uIsaya, uYeremiya noHezekile, kwanokuqhubeka ukuya kubaprofeti abali-12 “abangaphantsi” abasusela kuHoseya ukuya kuMalaki.

IKethuvim—iNcwadi, eyilwa yimibongo, IiNdumiso, IMizekeliso, UYobhi, INgoma Yazo Iingoma neZililo. Ukongezelela ikwaquka URute, INtshumayeli, UEstere, UDaniyeli, UEzra, UNehemiya, neziKronike zokuQala nezeSibini.

ITalmud

Ngokwembono yabeeNtlanga, i-“Tanakh,” okanye iBhayibhile yamaYuda, yeyona ibalulekileyo kwiincwadi zamaYuda. Phofu ke, imbono yamaYuda yahlukile. AmaYuda amaninzi ebeya kuvumelana namagqabaza ka-Adin Steinsaltz, ongurabhi: “Ukuba iBhayibhile isisiseko sobuYuda, ngoko iTalmud iyintsika eyintloko, esuka kwisiseko nexhasa isakhiwo esikhulu siphela esingokomoya nesingokwengqondo . . . Ayikho enye incwadi eyakhe yanempembelelo engako kwimfundiso nakuqheliselo lobomi bamaYuda.” (The Essential Talmud) Ngoko, iyintoni iTalmud?

AmaYuda obuOthodoki akakholelwa nje kuphela ukuba uThixo wanikela umthetho obhaliweyo, okanye iTorah, kuMoses kwiNtaba yeSinayi kodwa kwanokuba uThixo wamtyhilela iingcaciso ezingqalileyo ezingokwenza ngokuvisisana naloo Mthetho, yaye ezi ngcaciso zazimele zidluliselwe ngomlomo. Oku kwakubizwa ngokuba ngumthetho odluliselwe ngomlomo. Ngaloo ndlela, iTalmud ilushwankathelo olubhaliweyo, lwenkcazelo nengcaciso yamva, yaloo mthetho udluliselwe ngomlomo, eyabhalwa ngoorabhi ukususela ngenkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo ukusa kumaXesha Aphakathi.

ITalmud idla ngokwahlulwahlulwa ibe ngamacandelo amabini aphambili:

IMishnah: Ingqokelela yeenkcazelo ezongezelela kuMthetho weZibhalo, nkcazelo ezo ezisekelwe kwiingcaciso zoorabhi ababizwa ngokuba ziiTannaim (abefundisi). Yabhalwa malunga nasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibini nasekuqaleni kweyesithathu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo.

IGemara (ntlandlolo eyayibizwa ngokuba yiTalmud): Ingqokelela yeenkcazelo zeMishnah ebhalwe ngoorabhi bexesha lamva (ngenkulungwane yesithathu ukusa kweyesithandathu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo).

Ukongezelela kula macandelo mabini aphambili, iTalmud isekwanokuquka iinkcazelo ezikwiGemara zoorabhi bamaXesha Aphakathi. Owayebalasele kwaba yayingurabhi uRashi (uSolomon ben Isaac, 1040-1105), owenza ulwimi olunzima ebhalwe ngalo iTalmud lwaba loluqondakala ngakumbi, noRambam (uMoses ben Maimon, owaziwa kakuhle njengoMaimonides, 1135-1204), owayilungelelanisa ngokutsha iTalmud ukuba ibe luhlelo olufutshane (i-“Mishneh Torah”), ngaloo ndlela eyenza ukuba ifumaneke lula kuwo onke amaYuda.

[Imifanekiso]

Ngezantsi, yiTorah yamandulo koko kubizwa ngokuba liNgcwaba likaEstere, eIran; ekunene, yingoma yendumiso yesiHebhere nesiYiddish esekelwe kwiindinyana zeZibhalo

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 226, 227]

UbuYuda—Unqulo Oluneengcamango Ezininzi

Kukho iiyantlukwano ezinkulu phakathi kwamahlelo awahlukahlukeneyo obuYuda. Ngokwesithethe, ubuYuda bugxininisa kuqheliselo olungokonqulo. Iimpikiswano ngemibandela enjalo, endaweni yokuba kuxoxwe ngeenkolelo, ziye zabangela unxunguphalo olukhulu phakathi kwamaYuda yaye ziye zakhokelela ekumiselweni kwamahlelo amathathu aphambili obuYuda.

UBUYUDA BOBUOTHODOKI—Eli hlelo alamkeli nje kuphela ukuba i-“Tanakh” yesiHebhere isiSibhalo esiphefumlelweyo kodwa likwakholelwa ukuba uMoses wawufumana umthetho odluliselwe ngomlomo owawuvela kuThixo kwiNtaba yeSinayi ngexesha elinye nelo wafumana ngalo uMthetho obhaliweyo. AmaYuda obuOthodoki ayigcina ngokungqongqo imiyalelo yayo yomibini le mithetho. Akholelwa ukuba uMesiya useza kubonakala aze azise uSirayeli kwixesha elizukileyo. Ngenxa yokuba eli qela lobuOthodoki lineengcamango ezahlukeneyo, kuye kwavela amahlelo awahlukahlukeneyo. Omnye umzekelo woku bubuHasidic.

AmaHasidim (amaChasidim, gama elo elithetha “ozinikeleyo elunqulweni”)—Aba bagqalwa njengababambelele ngokugqithiseleyo kwisithethe. Ekubeni eli hlelo lasekwa nguIsrael ben Eliezer, owaziwa njengoBa‛al Shem Tov (“INkosi Enegama Elihle”), phakathi kwinkulungwane ye-18 eMpuma Yurophu, amalungu alo alandela imfundiso ebalaselisa umculo nomngqungqo, nto leyo ephumela kuvuyo olungokonqulo. Iinkolelo zawo ezininzi, kuquka ukuguquka komphefumlo ube sisidalwa esitsha, zisekelwe kwiincwadi ezintsonkothileyo zamaYuda ezaziwa njengeeKabbala (Cabala). Namhlanje akhokelwa ziirebbe (igama lesiYiddish loo-“rabhi”), okanye iizaddikim, ezigqalwa ngabalandeli bazo njengamadoda angamalungisa ngokugqithiseleyo okanye iingcwele.

AmaHasidim namhlanje afumaneka ngokuyintloko eUnited States nakwaSirayeli. Anxiba isambatho sohlobo olukhethekileyo lwaseMpuma Yurophu, esidla ngokuba mnyama, senkulungwane ye-18 neye-19, esiwenza aphawuleke msinya, ngokukodwa xa kuthelekiswa nendlela ekunxitywa ngayo kwizixeko zanamhlanje. Namhlanje ahlulahlulwe aba ngamahlelo alandela iirebbe ezahlukeneyo nezibalaseleyo. Elinye iqela elizimisele kakhulu leleeLubavitcher, elikhutheleyo ekutsaleleni amaYuda kulo. Wambi amaqela akholelwa ukuba nguMesiya kuphela onelungelo lokubuyisela uSirayeli njengohlanga lwamaYuda ibe ngoko ayayichasa inkqubo yehlabathi yoRhulumente wakwaSirayeli.

UBUYUDA OBUHLAZIYIWEYO (bukwaziwa ‘Njengobukhululekileyo’ ‘Nobunenkqubela’)—Eli qela laqala eNtshona Yurophu ngasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane ye-19. Lisekelwe kwiingcamango zikaMoses Mendelssohn, owayeyinkcuba-buchopho engumYuda yenkulungwane ye-18 eyayikholelwa ukuba amaYuda ayefanele amkele inkolelo engokwesithethe yaseNtshona kunokuba azahlule kwabeeNtlanga. AmaYuda Ahlaziyiweyo ayayiphikisa into yokuba iTorah yayiyinyaniso eyatyhilwa ngokobuthixo. Ayigqala imithetho yobuYuda engokutya, ukuzihlambulula nengesinxibo njengephelelwe lixesha. Akholelwa koko akubiza ngokuba “lixesha likaMesiya lobuzalwana Bazwenibanzi.” Kwiminyaka yakutshanje aye abuyela umva kubuYuda obungokwesithethe.

UBUYUDA OBUNGOKWESITHETHE—Eli hlelo laqala eJamani ngowe-1845 njengehlumelo lobuYuda Obuhlaziyiweyo, obabugqalwa njengobagatya uqheliselo oluninzi lwamaYuda olungokwesithethe. UbuYuda Obungokwesithethe abuyamkeli ingcamango yokuba umthetho odluliselwe ngomlomo wafunyanwa nguMoses uvela kuThixo kodwa bubambelela kwimbono yokuba oorabhi, ababezabalazela ukuhlengahlengisa ubuYuda ngokuvisisana nenkqubo entsha, bavelisa iTorah edluliselwa ngomlomo. AmaYuda Angokwesithethe ayayithobela imiyalelo yeBhayibhile nemithetho yooRabhi ukuba “iyavumelana nobomi banamhlanje bamaYuda.” (The Book of Jewish Knowledge) Asebenzisa isiHebhere nesiNgesi kunqulo lwawo ibe anemithetho engqongqo ephathelele ukutya (ikashruth). Amadoda nabafazi bayavunyelwa ukuba bahlale kunye ebudeni benkonzo, nto leyo engavunyelwayo bubuOthodoki.

[Imifanekiso]

Ekhohlo, amaYuda kwiWailing Wall eYerusalem yaye, ngasentla, ngumYuda ethandaza, ngasemva phayaa yiYerusalem

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 230, 231]

Eminye Imithendeleko Namasiko Abalulekileyo

Imithendeleko emininzi yamaYuda isekelwe eBhayibhileni ibe, ngokuqhelekileyo, yimithendeleko eyenziwa ngamaxesha athile onyaka ngokunxibelelene nezivuno ezahlukileyo okanye ihlobene neziganeko ezingokwembali.

▪ IShabbat (ISabatha)—Usuku lwesixhenxe lweveki yamaYuda (ukususela ekutshoneni kwelanga ngoLwesihlanu ukusa ekutshoneni kwelanga ngoMgqibelo) lugqalwa njengolungcwalisa iveki, yaye ukugcinwa kolu suku njengolukhethekileyo kuyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yonqulo. AmaYuda aya kwindlu yesikhungu ukuze kufundwe iTorah kuze kuthandazwe.—Eksodus 20:8-11.

▪ IYom Kippur—USuku Lokucamagusha, umthendeleko ongcwele ophawulwa ngokuzila nangohlolisiso lobuqu. Ngumthendeleko weeNtsuku Ezilishumi Zokuzila eziqala ngeRosh Hashanah, uNyaka Omtsha wamaYuda, oba ngoSeptemba ngokwekhalenda yehlabathi yamaYuda.—Levitikus 16:29-31; 23:26-32.

▪ ISukkot (ngasentla ekunene)—UMthendeleko Weminquba, okanye weTabanekile, okanye weSivuno. Kubhiyozelwa isivuno nokuphela kwenxalenye ebalaseleyo yonyaka wezolimo. Uqhutywa ngo-Oktobha.—Levitikus 23:34-43; Numeri 29:12-38; Duteronomi 16:13-15.

▪ IHanukkah—UMthendeleko Wokuzinikela. Umthendeleko othandwayo oqhutywa ngoDisemba osisikhumbuzo sokukhulula kwamaMakhabhi amaYuda kulawulo lwama-Asiriya nolwamaGrike nokunikelwa kwakhona kwetempile eYerusalem ngoDisemba 165 B.C.E. Udla ngokuphawulwa ngokukhanyiswa kwamakhandlela kangangeentsuku ezisibhozo.

▪ IPurim—UMthendeleko Wamaqashiso. Ubhiyozelwa ekupheleni kukaFebruwari okanye ekuqaleni kukaMatshi, njengesikhumbuzo sokuhlangulwa kwamaYuda ePersi ebudeni benkulungwane yesihlanu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo kuHaman nakwiyelenqe lakhe lokuwatshabalalisa.—Estere 9:20-28.

▪ IPesach—UMthendeleko WePasika. Wasungulelwa ukukhumbuza ukukhululwa kukaSirayeli ekuthinjweni eYiputa (1513 B.C.E.). Ngowona umkhulu nowona kudala wabakho kunayo yonke imithendeleko yamaYuda. Uqhutywa ngoNisan 14 (ngokwekhalenda yamaYuda), udla ngokuba sekupheleni kukaMatshi okanye ekuqaleni kuka-Aprili. Ntsapho nganye yamaYuda iyahlanganisana ukuze idle kunye isidlo sePasika, okanye iSeder. Ebudeni beentsuku ezisixhenxe ezilandelayo, akumele kutyiwe nayiphi na into enegwele. Esi sihlandlo sibizwa ngokuba nguMthendeleko Wezonka Ezingenagwele (IMatzot).—Eksodus 12:14-20, 24-27.

Amanye Amasiko AmaYuda

▪ Ulwaluko—Kumakhwenkwe amaYuda, lisiko elibalulekileyo elenziwa xa usana luneentsuku ezisibhozo ubudala. Ngokufuthi ubizwa ngokuba nguMnqophiso ka-Abraham, ekubeni ulwaluko lwalungumqondiso womnqophiso uThixo awawenza kunye naye. Amadoda aguqukela kubuYuda nawo amele aluswe.—Genesis 17:9-14.

▪ IBar Mitzvah (ngasezantsi)—Sesinye isithethe esibalulekileyo samaYuda, igama laso ngokoqobo lithetha “unyana womthetho,” “gama elo elibonisa ukufikelela kubudala obungokonqulo nobungokwasemthethweni kwanesihlandlo saxa amakhwenkwe efumene ilungelo lobo budala kwiminyaka eli-13 enosuku olunye.” Oku kwaba lisiko lamaYuda kuphela ngenkulungwane ye-15 C.E.—Encyclopaedia Judaica.

▪ IMezuzah (ngasentla)—Ngokufuthi kuba lula ukuliphawula ikhaya lomYuda ngenxa yemezuzah, okanye isingxobo somsongo, esiba kwicala langasekunene lomgubasi njengoko ubani engena. Ngokuqhelekileyo imezuzah zizintsu ezincinane ekuthi kuzo kubhalwe amagama acatshulwe kwiDuteronomi 6:4-9 nakwese–11:13-21. Zisongelwa phakathi kwisingxobo esincinane. Siyandula ke esi singxobo sincanyatheliswe elucangweni lwegumbi ngalinye ekuhlalwa kulo.

▪ IYarmulke (izigqubuthelo zeentloko zamadoda)—Ngokutsho kwe-Encyclopaedia Judaica: “KubuYuda bobuOthodoki . . . ukuthwala into entloko ngaphandle nangaphakathi kwendlu yesikhungu, kugqalwa njengomqondiso wokuxhasa isithethe samaYuda.” Ukuthwala into entloko ebudeni benkonzo akukhankanywanga naphi na kwiTanakh, ngaloo ndlela iTalmud ikukhankanya oku njengombandela wokuzikhethela okungokwesiko. Amabhinqa amaYuda angamaHasidic athwala isigqubuthelo sentloko ngamaxesha onke okanye achebe iinwele aze athwale iwigi.

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 206]

UAbram (uAbraham), umawokhulu wamaYuda, wanqula uYehova uThixo phantse kuma-4 000 eminyaka eyadlulayo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 208]

Inkwenkwezi kaDavide—umqondiso ongekho ngokwe-Zibhalo kaSirayeli nobuYuda

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 215]

Umbhali ongumYuda ukhuphela umbhalo wesiHebhere

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 222]

Intsapho yamaYuda angama-Hasidic ibhiyozela iSabatha

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 233]

AmaYuda azinikeleyo efake iiphylacteries, okanye izingxobo zemisongo yemithandazo, ezingalweni nasemabunzini