Isahluko Sesithathu
Bayavavanywa—Kodwa Bafunyaniswa Benyanisekile KuYehova!
1, 2. Ziziphi iziganeko ezibalulekileyo ezazitshayelela ingxelo kaDaniyeli?
INCWADI yesiprofeto kaDaniyeli siyibamba kanye ngexesha leenguqu ezinkulu kumazwe ngamazwe. IAsiriya yayisandul’ ukuphulukana nekomkhulu layo, iNineve. IYiputa yayithotywe yangunomgogwana okumzantsi welizwe lakwaYuda. Ibe iBhabhiloni yayikhula ngokukhawuleza njengegunya eliphambili kukruthakruthwano lokufuna ukulawula ihlabathi.
2 Ngowe-625 B.C.E., uFaro Neko waseYiputa waxomoloza okokugqibela ezama ukuthintela ukukhonya kweBhabhiloni emzantsi. Ngenxa yoko, wafunza umkhosi wakhe eCarchemish, eyayiphezu komntla woMlambo umEfrati. Idabi laseCarchemish, njengoko laye labizwa njalo, laba sisiganeko esizicaceleyo nesibalulekileyo embalini. Umkhosi waseBhabhiloni, owawukhokelwa yiNkosana Eyindlalifa uNebhukadenetsare, washiya kufe ilitye nembokothwe kwimikhosi kaFaro Neko. (Yeremiya 46:2) Esahlutshezwe luloyiso lwakhe, uNebhukadenetsare wasuk’ amadlu etshayela eSiriya nasePalestina waza, ngezizathu eziqondakalayo, walutshayela lwathi tu ulawulo lwamaYiputa kuloo mmandla. Yaba kukufa kukayise, uNabopolassar, okwamenza akhe athi xhaa okwexeshana neli phulo lakhe.
3. Waba yintoni umphumo wephulo lokuqala likaNebhukadenetsare lokuhlasela iYerusalem?
3 Ngonyaka olandelayo, uNebhukadenetsare—ngoku owayesele ethweswe ubukumkani baseBhabhiloni—waqala apho wayeyeke khona namaphulo akhe omkhosi kwelaseSiriya nelasePalestina. Kusebudeni beli xesha ke aweza eYerusalem okokuqala. IBhayibhile ithi: “Ngemihla yakhe kwenyuka uNebhukadenetsare ukumkani waseBhabhiloni, yaye uYehoyakim waba ngumkhonzi wakhe iminyaka emithathu. Noko ke, wajika waza wamvukela.”—2 Kumkani 24:1.
UNEBHUKADENETSARE EYERUSALEM
4. Limele liqondwe njani ibinzana elithi “ngonyaka wesithathu wobukumkani bukaYehoyakim” elikuDaniyeli 1:1?
4 Eyona nto sinomdla okhethekileyo kuyo libinzana elithi “iminyaka emithathu,” kuba amazwi okuqala kaDaniyeli afundeka ngolu hlobo: “Ngonyaka wesithathu wobukumkani bukaYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda, kweza uNebhukadenetsare ukumkani waseBhabhiloni eYerusalem, wayingqinga.” (Daniyeli 1:1) Ngonyaka wesithathu uYehoyakim engukumkani ozimeleyo, owayelawula ngowama-628 ukusa kowama-618 B.C.E., uNebhukadenetsare wayengekabi ‘ngukumkani waseBhabhiloni’ kodwa wayeyinkosana eyindlalifa. Ngowama-620 B.C.E., uNebhukadenetsare wanyanzela uYehoyakim ukuba ahlawule umnikelo. Kodwa emva kweminyaka emalunga nemithathu, uYehoyakim wabhokoda. Ngaloo ndlela, kwakungowama-618 B.C.E., okanye ngonyaka wesithathu wobukumkani bukaYehoyakim obabuphantsi kweBhabhiloni, awathi uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare wagaleleka eYerusalem okwesibini, eze kohlwaya lo mvukeli unguYehoyakim.
5. Waba yintoni umphumo wephulo lesibini likaNebhukadenetsare lokuhlasela iYerusalem?
5 Umphumo woku kungqingwa waba kukuba “ekuhambeni kwexesha uYehova wanikela esandleni sakhe uYehoyakim ukumkani wakwaYuda nenxalenye yempahla yendlu kaThixo.” (Daniyeli 1:2) UYehoyakim umele ukuba wafa, mhlawumbi ngokugetyengwa okanye ebudeni bemvukelo ngasekuqaleni kolo ngqingo. (Yeremiya 22:18, 19) Ngowe-618 B.C.E., unyana wakhe owayeneminyaka eli-18, uYehoyakin wangena esihlalweni sakhe njengokumkani. Kodwa ulawulo lukaYehoyakin lwathabatha iinyanga ezintathu ezineentsuku ezilishumi kuphela, waza wanikezela ngowama-617 B.C.E.—Thelekisa eyesi-2 yooKumkani 24:10-15.
6. Wenza ntoni uNebhukadenetsare ngeempahla ezingcwele ezazisetempileni eYerusalem?
6 UNebhukadenetsare waziphakulela kwimpahla engcwele yetempile yaseYerusalem waza “wayisa ezweni laseShinare endlwini yothixo wakhe; zona izitya wazisa endlwini yobuncwane bothixo wakhe,” uMarduk okanye uMerodaki ngesiHebhere. (Daniyeli 1:2; Yeremiya 50:2) Kuye kwafunyanwa umbhalo waseBhabhiloni ochaza uNebhukadenetsare njengothetha enjenje ngetempile kaMarduk: “Ngaphakathi ndifumbe isilivere negolide namatye anqabileyo . . . ndayibeka kwindlu yobuncwane bobukumkani bam.” Siza kufunda ngezi mpahla zingcwele kwimihla kaKumkani uBheleshatsare.—Daniyeli 5:1-4.
ULUTSHA OLUNGAMAQHAWE LWASEYERUSALEM
7, 8. Ngokusuka kuDaniyeli 1:3, 4, 6, sisiphi isigqibo ekunokufikelelwa kuso ngemvelaphi kaDaniyeli noogxa bakhe abathathu?
7 Ayizange ibe bubuncwane betempile kaYehova kuphela obathwalelwa eBhabhiloni. Ingxelo ithi: “Ngoko ukumkani wathi kuAshpenazi igosa lakhe eliyintloko lenkundla makazise abanye boonyana bakaSirayeli nabenzala yasebukhosini nabezidwangube, abantwana ababengenasiphene konke konke, iinzwana ezilumkileyo nezikrelekrele, ezinolwazi nezikufanelekeleyo ukuma ebhotweni lokumkani.”—Daniyeli 1:3, 4.
8 Ngoobani abakhethwayo? Siyaxelelwa: “Ke phakathi kwabo kwakukho abanye boonyana bakwaYuda, uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya.” (Daniyeli 1:6) Oku kusenza sikhanyelwe ngemvelaphi ebusithela kaDaniyeli noogxa bakhe. Ngokomzekelo, sifumanisa ukuba ‘babengoonyana bakwaYuda,’ isizwe sasebukhosini. Enoba babengabantwana begazi okanye akunjalo, kusengqiqweni ukucinga ukuba ubuncinane babevela kwiintsapho ezaziwayo nezazinefuthe. Ngaphezu kokuba babephilile engqondweni nasemzimbeni, bekrelekrele, benobulumko, benolwazi, yaye benengqiqo—bonke bekubudala obabufanele ukuba babizwe ngokuba “ngabantwana,” mhlawumbi besandul’ ukungena kwishumi elivisayo. UDaniyeli noogxa bakhe bamele ukuba babebalasele—bengoomanqanqa—kulutsha lwaseYerusalem.
9. Kutheni kubonakala kuyinto eqinisekileyo ukuba abazali bakaDaniyeli naboogxa bakhe abathathu babemhlonela uThixo?
9 Ingxelo ayisixeleli ukuba babezalwa ngoobani na aba bafana. Noko ke, kuyacaca ukuba babezelwe ngabantu ababehlonel’ uThixo yaye bezithabatha nzulu iimbopheleleko zabo njengabazali. Xa ucinga ngokuwohloka kwemilinganiselo yokuziphatha nengokomoya okwakugquba eYerusalem ngelo xesha, ngokukodwa ‘kwinzala yasebukhosini neyezidwangube,’ kuyacaca ukuba iimpawu ezintle ezifumaneka kuDaniyeli nakoogxa bakhe abathathu azizange zivele ngamabona-ndenzile. Alithandabuzeki elokuba, iintliziyo zabo bazali zazilihlwili njengoko babebukele abantwana babo besiwa kwilizwe elikude. Ukuba nje babeyazile ukuba loo nto yozala nkomo ni na, hayi indlela ababeya kuba nelunda ngayo! Hayi indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuba abazali bakhulise abantwana babo “kwingqeqesho nasekweyiselweni kwengqondo kuYehova”!—Efese 6:4.
UVAVANYO LOBUKRELEKRELE
10. Bafundiswa ntoni aba bafana bangamaHebhere, ibe yayiyintoni injongo yoku?
10 Kungekudala, kwaqalisa uvavanyo lobukrelekrele kwaba bathinjwa baselula. Ukuze aqiniseke ukuba la makhwenkwe amaHebhere axonxwa aze angene gingci kwinkqubo yaseBhabhiloni, uNebhukadenetsare wayalela ukuba amagosa akhe ‘awafundise iincwadi nolwimi lwamaKhaledi.’ (Daniyeli 1:4) Le yayingeyomfundo nje iqhelekileyo. IThe International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ichaza isithi “yayiquka ukufunda isiSumeri, isiAkadi, isiAramiki . . . , nezinye iilwimi, kunye noncwadi oluninzi olubhalwe ngezo lwimi.” ‘Uncwadi oluninzi’ lwaluquka imbali, izibalo, inzululwazi ngeenkwenkwezi, nezinye. Noko ke, “imibhalo yonqulo enxulumene nezi zifundo, imiqondiso nokuvumisa ngeenkwenkwezi . . . , zazinendima ephambili.”
11. Ngawaphi amanyathelo awathatyathwayo ukuqinisekisa ukuba olu lutsha lwamaHebhere luyaqhelana nobomi bebhotwe laseBhabhiloni?
11 Ukuze olu lutsha lungamaHebhere luzamkele ngokupheleleyo izithethe nenkcubeko yobomi bebhotwe laseBhabhiloni, “ukumkani wayalela ukuba banikwe mihla le ekudleni okuluncuthu kokumkani nasewayinini yakhe, kwanokuba bondliwe iminyaka emithathu, baze ekupheleni kwayo baziswe phambi kokumkani.” (Daniyeli 1:5) Ukongezelela, “igosa eliyintloko lenkundla labathiya amagama. UDaniyeli wabizwa ngokuba nguBheleteshatsare; uHananiya ngokuba nguShadraki; uMishayeli ngokuba nguMeshaki; uAzariya ngokuba nguAbhednego.” (Daniyeli 1:7) Ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile kwakuyinto eqhelekileyo ukuba umntu athiywe igama elitsha ukuphawula isiganeko esibalulekileyo ebomini bakhe. Ngokomzekelo, uYehova wamthiya elinye igama uAbram noSarayi wanguAbraham noSara. (Genesis 17:5, 15, 16) Ukumthiya elinye igama umntu kukumbonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba unegunya okanye uyamlawula. Xa uYosefu waba ngumphathi wokutya eYiputa, uFaro wamthiya igama elinguTsafenati-paneha.—Genesis 41:44, 45; thelekisa eyesi-2 yooKumkani 23:34; 24:17.
12, 13. Kutheni kunokutshiwo ukuba ukutshintshwa kwamagama aba bafana bamaHebhere kwakulilinge lokutshayela ukholo lwabo?
12 Kwimeko kaDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe abathathu abangamaHebhere, ukutshintshwa kwamagama kwakungeyonto incinane. Amagama ababewathiywe ngabazali babo ayenento yokwenza nokunqula uYehova. “UDaniyeli” uthetha “Umgwebi Wam NguThixo.” Ukanti “uHananiya” uthetha “UYehova Ukholisiwe.” Kusenokwenzeka ukuba “uMishayeli” uthetha ukuthi “Ngubani OnjengoThixo?” “UAzariya” yena uthetha “UYehova Uncedile.” Alithandabuzeki elokuba abazali babo babehleli ethembeni lokuba oonyana babo babeza kukhula phantsi kolwalathiso lukaYehova uThixo baze babe ngabakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo nabanyanisekileyo.
13 Noko ke, onke amagama amatsha awanikwa la maHebhere mane ayenento yokwenza noothixo bobuxoki, nto leyo eyayithetha ukuba uThixo wokwenyaniso wayoyisiwe zezo zithixo. Elinjani ukuba mdaka lona ilinge lokutshayela ukholo lwaba bafana!
14. Ayenayiphi intsingiselo amagama amatsha awanikwa uDaniyeli noogxa bakhe abathathu?
14 Igama likaDaniyeli latshintshwa laba nguBheleteshatsare, othetha ukuthi “Khusela Ubomi BukaKumkani.” Kuyabonakala ukuba, esi yayisisikhungo esifutshane sikaBel, okanye uMarduk, uthixo omkhulu waseBhabhiloni. Enoba uNebhukadenetsare wafak’ isandla ekuthiyeni uDaniyeli eli gama okanye akunjalo, wayezidla ngento yokuba ‘lalingokwegama lothixo wakhe.’ (Daniyeli 4:8) UHananiya kwathiwa nguShadraki, abanye abacinga ukuba ligama elinye elithetha ukuthi “Umyalelo Ka-Aku.” Okubangel’ umdla kukuba uAku yayiligama lothixo wamaSumeri. UMishayeli kwathiwa nguMeshaki (ngokunokwenzeka, uMi·sha·aku), ekubonakala ukuba kwakudlalwa ngamagama kugqwethwa intsingiselo ethi “Ngubani OnjengoThixo?” yaba yethi “Ngubani Okoko UAku Akuko?” Igama laseBhabhiloni lika-Azariya yayinguAbhede-nego, mhlawumbi elithetha “Umkhonzi KaNego.” Yaye “uNego” lelinye igama “likaNebo,” isithixo ababethiywe ngaso nabanye abalawuli abaninzi baseBhabhiloni.
UKUZIMISELA UKUHLALA BENYANISEKILE KUYEHOVA
15, 16. Ziziphi iingozi ngoku ababejamelene nazo uDaniyeli noogxa bakhe, yaye basabela njani?
15 Amagama aseBhabhiloni, inkqubo yokubafundisa ngokutsha nokutya okukhethekileyo—zonke ezo zinto zazingenzelwa kuphela ukuqhelanisa uDaniyeli namanye amaHebhere aselula amathathu nendlela yokuphila yaseBhabhiloni kodwa zazenzelwe ukuwenza atyeshele uThixo wawo, uYehova, nemfundiso kunye nemvelaphi yawo yonqulo. Ibe aba bafana babeza kuyiqala phi yonke le ngcinezelo nezilingo ababejamelene nazo?
16 Ingxelo ephefumlelweyo ithi: “UDaniyeli wazimisela entliziyweni yakhe ukuba angazingcolisi ngokutya okuluncuthu kokumkani nangewayini yakhe.” (Daniyeli 1:8a) Nangona inguDaniyeli yedwa okhankanywa ngegama, okwenzeka kamva kubonisa ukuba noogxa bakhe basixhasa isigqibo sakhe. Amazwi athi “wazimisela entliziyweni yakhe” abonisa ukuba imfundiso eyayidluliselwe ngabazali bakaDaniyeli nabanye emva ekhaya yayiyifikelele intliziyo yakhe. Ngokuqinisekileyo namanye amaHebhere amathathu ayekhokelwa yimfundiso efanayo ekwenzeni izigqibo. Oku kuyenza ibonakale kakuhle imbaluleka yokufundisa abantwana bethu, kwanokuba babonakala bebancinane gqitha ukuba baqonde.—IMizekeliso 22:6; 2 Timoti 3:14, 15.
17. Kwakutheni ukuze uDaniyeli noogxa bakhe bangakwamkeli ukutya kwemihla ngemihla kukakumkani kuphela baze bangawachasi amanye amalungiselelo?
17 Kwakutheni ukuze la maHebhere aselula achase ukutya okuluncuthu newayini kuphela kodwa awamkele amanye amalungiselelo? Indlela awaqiqa ngayo uDaniyeli isenza sicace isizathu: “Ukuba angazingcolisi.” Ukufunda “iincwadi nolwimi lwamaKhaledi” nokuthiywa igama laseBhabhiloni, nangona oku kusenokungaginyeki, kwakungayi kumngcolisa umntu. Khawucinge ngomzekelo kaMoses, kwiminyaka emalunga ne-1 000 ngaphambili. Nangona “wafundiswa bonke ubulumko bamaYiputa,” wahlala enyanisekile kuYehova. Ukukhuliswa kwakhe ngabazali bakhe ncam kwamakhela isiseko esiluqilima. Ekugqibeleni, “ngokholo uMoses, xa wayekhulile, wala ukubizwa ngokuba ungunyana wentombi kaFaro, enyula ukuphathwa kabuhlungu kunye nabantu bakaThixo kunokuziyolisa ngesono okwexeshana.”—IZenzo 7:22; Hebhere 11:24, 25.
18. Ukutya kukakumkani kwakuza kuwangcolisa ngaziphi iindlela la maHebhere aselula?
18 Amalungiselelo okumkani waseBhabhiloni ayenokubangcolisa njani aba bafana? Okokuqala, kusenokwenzeka ukuba ukutya okuluncuthu kwakuquka ukutya okuyinqambi ngokoMthetho kaMoses. Ngokomzekelo, amaBhabhiloni ayesitya izilwanyana ezingahlambulukanga, ezazingatyiwa ngamaSirayeli phantsi koMthetho. (Levitikus 11:1-31; 20:24-26; Duteronomi 14:3-20) Okwesibini, amaBhabhiloni ayengazophisi izilwanyana ezixheliweyo ngaphambi kokutya inyama yazo. Ukutya inyama engophiswanga kwakuya kuba kukuwaphula ngokungqalileyo umthetho kaYehova wegazi. (Genesis 9:1, 3, 4; Levitikus 17:10-12; Duteronomi 12:23-25) Okwesithathu, kwakusisithethe sabanquli boothixo bobuxoki ukubingelela ukutya kwabo kwizithixo ngaphambi kokutya kunye. Abakhonzi bakaYehova babengenakuyenza loo nto! (Thelekisa eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 10:20-22.) Okokugqibela, ukuzifica ngokutya okunamafutha uze ulandelise ngodl’ omdlayo imihla ngemihla kwakungayi kuyilungela impilo yakhe nabani na, singasathethi ke ngabaselula.
19. Ngelwaluqiqe ngelithini ulutsha olungamaHebhere, kodwa yintoni eyaluncedayo lwafikelela kwisigqibo esichanileyo?
19 Kulula ukwazi into omawuyenze, kodwa ke kuthetha enye into ukuba nenkalipho yokuyenza uphantsi kwengcinezelo okanye isilingo. UDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe abathathu ngebabeqiqe ngelithi babekude nabazali nabahlobo babo, ibe babengenakuyazi into abayenzileyo. Kwakhona ngebabedungudelise ngokuthi oko kwakungumyalelo kakumkani ibe kwakungekho ndlela-mbini. Ukongezelela, ngokuqinisekileyo abanye abaselula balamkela ngezandl’ ezishushu elo lungiselelo baza bakugqala njengelungelo ukuba nenxaxheba kulo kunokuba bakujonge njengobunzima. Kodwa kwakunokuba lula ukuba iingcamango ezijijeke ngolo hlobo zikhokelele kwisono sasemfihlakalweni, nto leyo engumgibe kulutsha oluninzi. Ulutsha olungamaHebhere lwalusazi ukuba “amehlo kaYehova akuzo zonke iindawo” nokuba “uThixo oyinyaniso uya kuzisa ekugwetyweni lonke uhlobo lomsebenzi ngokuphathelele yonke into efihlakeleyo, enoba ilungile okanye imbi.” (IMizekeliso 15:3; INtshumayeli 12:14) Sonke simele sifunde isifundo kwikhondo laba bafana bathembekileyo.
INKALIPHO NENZONDELELO ZABA NOMVUZO
20, 21. Yintoni eyenziwa nguDaniyeli, ibe waba yintoni umphumo?
20 Ekubeni wayegqibile entliziyweni yakhe ukuba uza kuzixhathisa iimpembelelo ezonakalisayo, uDaniyeli waqhubeka esenza ngokuvisisana nesigqibo sakhe. “Wazingisa ecela kwigosa eliyintloko lenkundla ukuba angazingcolisi.” (Daniyeli 1:8b) “Wazingisa ecela”—lawo ngamazwi aphawulekayo. Ngokufuthi, kuye kufuneke inzondelelo xa sifuna ukuphumelela ekuxhathiseni izilingo okanye ukoyisa ubuthathaka obuthile.—Galati 6:9.
21 Kwimeko kaDaniyeli, ukuba nenzondelelo kwaba nembuyekezo. “Ngoko uThixo oyinyaniso wenza ukuba igosa eliyintloko lenkundla libe nobubele bothando nenceba kuDaniyeli.” (Daniyeli 1:9) Yayingekokuthandeka nobukrelekrele bukaDaniyeli noogxa bakhe okwabangela ukuba izinto ziphele sezibahambela kakuhle. Kunoko, oko kwabangelwa yintsikelelo kaYehova. Alithandabuzeki elokuba uDaniyeli wakhumbula umzekeliso wesiHebhere othi: “Kholosa ngoYehova ngayo yonke intliziyo yakho, ungayami ngokwakho ukuqonda. Uze umgqale yena ezindleleni zakho zonke, kwaye uya kuwenza uthi tye umendo wakho.” (IMizekeliso 3:5, 6) Ngokwenene ukulandela elo cebiso kwazal’ amaduna namathokazi.
22. Sisiphi isizathu esivakalayo esabangela igosa lenkundla liyibhebhethe loo nto?
22 Ekuqaleni, igosa eliyintloko lenkundla labhebhetha lisithi: “Ndiyayoyika inkosi yam ukumkani, ethe ngokwayo yayalela ngento emaniyitye nemaniyisele. Ndoba yintoni na ke xa inokububona ubuso benu bumatshekile, bungafani noboontanga benu; yini na ukuba niyizisele ityala elingaka intloko yam kukumkani?” (Daniyeli 1:10) Wayefanele ke bethu ukuyibhebhetha nokuyoyika le nto. Kaloku ukungathobeli uKumkani uNebhukadenetsare kwakufana nokuphatha ingwe emsileni, ibe eli gosa laliqonda ukuba “intloko” yalo yayisengozini ukuba lalinokwenza into enxamnye nemiyalelo kakumkani. Wayeza kuyithini ke leyo uDaniyeli?
23. UDaniyeli wabonisa njani ukuba unengqiqo nobulumko ngekhondo awalithabathayo?
23 Kulapho ke awazibonakalisa enengqiqo nobulumko. Ngokuqinisekileyo eli tyendyana linguDaniyeli lakhumbula umzekeliso othi: “Impendulo, xa inobulali, isusa umsindo, kodwa ilizwi elibangela intlungu linyusa umsindo.” (IMizekeliso 15:1) Kunokuqinis’ intamo afune le ayifunayo aze azinqikele olunenkume, uDaniyeli wawuxhoma lo mba. Ngexesha elifanelekileyo, wasondela “kumlindi,” mhlawumbi owayekulungele ngakumbi ukujija iqhinga kuba ingenguye owayeza kuphendula kukumkani.—Daniyeli 1:11.
KWENZIWA ISICELO SOVAVANYO LWEENTSUKU EZILISHUMI
24. Luluphi uvavanyo olwacetyiswa nguDaniyeli?
24 Kumlindi, uDaniyeli wacela ukuba benze uvavanyo, esithi: “Khawuncede ubavavanye abakhonzi bakho iintsuku ezilishumi, usityise imifuno kuphela, sisele namanzi; uze uthelekise inkangeleko yethu naleyo yabantwana abatya ukutya okuluncuthu kokumkani, wandule ke wenze kubakhonzi bakho ngokokubona kwakho.”—Daniyeli 1:12, 13.
25. Yintoni ekusenokwenzeka ukuba yayiqukiwe ‘kwimifuno’ eyayityiwa nguDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe abathathu?
25 Ishumi lonke leentsuku bephila ‘ngemifuno namanzi’—ngaba babeza ‘kukhangeleka bedakumbile’ xa bethelekiswa nabanye? Igama elithi “imifuno” liguqulelwe kwigama lesiHebhere ngokuyintloko elithetha “imbewu.” Bambi abaguquleli beBhayibhile baliguqulela eli gama ngokuthi “iinkozo,” ezichazwa ngokuba “ziimbewu ezityiwayo zezilimo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezinemidumba (ezinjengee-ertyisi, iimbotyi okanye iilentile).” Bambi abaphengululi bavakalelwa kukuba umongo ubonisa ukuba babengatyi iimbewu ezityiwayo kuphela. Enye incwadi ithi: “Into eyayicelwa nguDaniyeli noogxa bakhe yayikukutya okunemifuno okwakutyiwa ngabantu abaqhelekileyo kunokutya okunenyama emuncis’ iintupha kwasebhotwe.” Ngaloo ndlela, le mifuno isenokuba yayiquka ukutya okunesondlo okwakuquka iimbotyi, iicucumber, igarlic, iileeks, iilentile, iivatala, amatswele nesonka esenziwe ngemigubo eyahlukeneyo. Ngokuqinisekileyo akakho umntu owayenokuthi ulele engatyanga etye ukutya okunjalo. Kuyabonakala ukuba lo mlindi wayifumana ingongoma. “Ekugqibeleni wabaphulaphula kulo mbandela waza wabavavanya iintsuku ezilishumi.” (Daniyeli 1:14) Waba yintoni ke umphumo?
26. Waba yintoni umphumo wovavanyo lweentsuku ezilishumi, ibe yintoni eyabangela izinto zihambe ngolo hlobo?
26 “Ekupheleni kweentsuku ezilishumi babekhangeleka bebahle yaye bondlekile kunabo bonke abantwana ababesidla ukutya okuluncuthu kokumkani.” (Daniyeli 1:15) Oku akumele kugqalwe njengobungqina bokuba ukutya imifuno kubhetele kunokutya okutyebileyo, okunenyama. Iintsuku ezilishumi zimbalwa gqitha ukuba kungade nakuphi na ukutya kube nemiphumo ecacileyo, kodwa azimbalwa kuYehova xa ephumeza injongo yakhe. ILizwi lakhe lithi: “Intsikelelo kaYehova—yiyo etyebisayo, yaye akongezi ntlungu kuyo.” (IMizekeliso 10:22) La maHebhere mane aselula aba nokholo aza akholosa ngoYehova, ibe akazange awashiye. Kwiinkulungwane kamva, uYesu Kristu waphila iintsuku ezingama-40 engafaki nentwana le phantsi kwempumlo. Ngokuphathelele lo mba, wacaphula amazwi afumaneka kwiDuteronomi 8:3, afundeka ngolu hlobo: “Akaphili ngasonka sodwa umntu kodwa umntu uphila ngamazwi onke aphuma emlonyeni kaYehova.” Okwenzeka kuDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe kungumzekelo ongayi kulibaleka woko.
INGQIQO NOBULUMKO KUNEZIMUNCUMUNCU NEWAYINI
27, 28. Kungayiphi indlela olwathi uluhlu lwemithetho olwaluthotyelwa nguDaniyeli noogxa bakhe abathathu lwabalungiselela izinto ezinkulu ababeseza kugagana nazo?
27 Iintsuku ezilishumi zaziluvavanyo nje, kodwa imiphumo yatsho akwamila ngca. “Ukususela ngoko umlindi wabanika imifuno endaweni yokutya kwabo okuluncuthu newayini yabo.” (Daniyeli 1:16) Kulula ukuthelekelela oko olunye ulutsha olwalukule nkqubo yokufundiswa lwalukucinga ngoDaniyeli noogxa bakhe. Lumele ukuba lwalubagqala njengoothonqo kuba bengavumanga ukutya izimuncumuncu zikakumkani baza batya imifuno. Kodwa kungekudala kwakuza kufika iimvavanyo nezilingo ezinkulu, ibe zaziza kufuna la maHebhere aselula aphaphe yaye athi qwa ukuze aziphumelele. Ngaphezu kwako konke, yayilukholo nokukholosa kwawo ngoYehova okwakuya kuwaweza kwezo mvavanyo zokholo.—Thelekisa uYoshuwa 1:7.
28 Ubungqina bokuba uYehova wayenabo aba bafana bunokubonwa kula mazwi alandelayo: “Aba bantwana bane ke, uThixo oyinyaniso wabanika ulwazi, nokuziqonda zonke iincwadi, nobulumko; yaye uDaniyeli yena wayeyiqonda yonke imibono namaphupha.” (Daniyeli 1:17) Ukuze bahlangabezane namanzithinzithi awayesiza, babefuna okungaphaya kwamandla omzimba nokuba sempilweni. “Xa ubulumko bungena entliziyweni yakho nolwazi luthandeka emphefumlweni wakho, amandla okucinga aya kukulinda, ukuqonda kuya kukulondoloza, ukuze kukuhlangule endleleni embi.” (IMizekeliso 2:10-12) UYehova wabavava ngaloo nto kanye aba bafana bane bathembekileyo ukuze baxhobele izinto ababeza kugagana nazo.
29. Yintoni eyayisenza uDaniyeli ‘ayiqonde yonke imibono namaphupha’?
29 Kuthiwa uDaniyeli “wayeyiqonda yonke imibono namaphupha.” Oku yayingekokuf’ okumhlophe. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, nangona uDaniyeli egqalwa njengomnye wabaprofeti ababalaseleyo abangamaHebhere, akazange aphefumlelwe ukuba athethe amazwi anjengathi “itsho iNkosi enguMongami uYehova ukuthi” okanye “utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi.” (Isaya 28:16; Yeremiya 6:9) Ukanti yayingumoya oyingcwele kaThixo owabangela uDaniyeli akwazi ukuqonda nokulawula imibono namaphupha awayetyhila iinjongo zikaYehova.
EKUGQIBELENI, UVAVANYO LWAMANQAM
30, 31. Ikhondo elalilandelwe nguDaniyeli noogxa bakhe langqineka liyingenelo ngayiphi indlela?
30 Iminyaka emithathu yokufundiswa ngokutsha nokuxonxwa yaphela. Kwandula ke kwalandela uvavanyo lwamanqam—udliwano ndlebe nokumkani. “Ekupheleni kweentsuku ezo zazimiswe ngukumkani, igosa eliyintloko lenkundla labangenisa phambi kukaNebhukadenetsare.” (Daniyeli 1:18) Kwakufike ixesha lokuba aba bafana bane baziphendulele. Ngaba ukunamathela kwabo kwimithetho kaYehova kunokugob’ uphondo kwiindlela zaseBhabhiloni kwakuya kungqineka kuyingenelo kubo?
31 “Wathi akuthetha nabo ukumkani, wafumanisa ukuba akukho namnye kubo owayekumgangatho kaDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya; baza bona baqhubeka besima phambi kokumkani.” (Daniyeli 1:19) Hayi indlela oku okwalithethelela ngayo ikhondo ababelibambe ukutyhubela iminyaka emithathu edluleyo! Babengashiywa ziingqondo xa babenamathele kuluhlu lwemithetho olwaluyalelwa lunqulo nasisazela sabo. Ngenxa yokuthembeka koko kusenokubonakala kukuncinane, uDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe basikelelwa ngezinto ezinkulu. Ilungelo ‘lokuma phambi kokumkani’ lalilusukelo lakhe wonke umfana owayekule nkqubo yemfundo. IBhayibhile ayisixeleli enoba yayingaba bafana bane bangamaHebhere kuphela abakhethwayo. Kodwa ke, ngokwenene ikhondo labo lokuthembeka labazisela “umvuzo omkhulu.”—INdumiso 19:11.
32. Kutheni kunokutshiwo ukuba uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya bafumana ilungelo elingaphezulu lee kunokuba kwibhotwe likakumkani?
32 IZibhalo zithi: “Uyambona na umntu onobuchule emsebenzini wakhe? Uya kuma phambi kookumkani.” (IMizekeliso 22:29) Ngenxa yoko, uDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya banyulwa nguNebhukadenetsare ukuba beme phambi kokumkani, ngamany’ amazwi, babe yinxalenye yentsapho yasebhotwe. Kuyo yonke le nto, sinokubona ukuba sisandla sikaYehova esasilungelelanise imicimbi ukuze aba bafana—ngakumbi uDaniyeli—bazise iinkalo ezibalulekileyo zenjongo kaThixo. Nangona ukukhethwa ukuze ube yinxalenye yentsapho yebhotwe likaNebhukadenetsare kwakuliqhuzu, lalide lalikhulu ngakumbi iqhuzu lokusetyenziswa ngendlela ezuke kangako nguKumkani onguMongami, uYehova.
33, 34. (a) Yintoni eyayibangela ukumkani achukumiseke ngala maHebhere aselula? (b) Yintoni esiyifundayo kweli bali lamaHebhere amane?
33 Kungekudala uNebhukadenetsare wafumanisa ukuba ubulumko nengqiqo uYehova awayejizeke ngayo aba bafana bane bamaHebhere yayiyigqitha lee ababenayo abacebisi nezilumko zenkundla yakhe. “Ngayo yonke imibandela yobulumko nokuqonda awababuza yona ukumkani, wafumanisa ukuba babebodlula izihlandlo ezilishumi bonke ababingeleli abaqhelisela imilingo nabanobugqi ababekuwo wonke ummandla wakhe wasebukhosini.” (Daniyeli 1:20) Ngaba ikho phofu enye into wena obunokuyilindela? Kaloku aba “babingeleli abaqhelisela imilingo nabanobugqi” babethembele kwimfundo engaxeliyo nokuba kuyasa okanye kuyahlwa nakwiinkolelo zaseBhabhiloni, ngoxa uDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe babekholose ngobulumko obuvela phezulu. Abazange basondele nakancinane kwaba bafana—kunani ukuba baxomoloze!
34 Eneneni izinto azitshintshanga kangako ukutyhubela iminyaka. Ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, xa kwakugqugqise intandabulumko yamaGrike nomthetho wamaRoma, umpostile uPawulos waphefumlelwa ukuba abhale athi: “Ubulumko beli hlabathi bubudenge kuThixo; kuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa: ‘Ubambisa izilumko kubuqhokolo bazo.’ Yaye kwakhona kwathiwa: ‘UYehova uyazi ukuba ukuqiqa kwabantu abazizilumko kuphuthile.’ Ngoko ke makungabikho nabani na uqhayisa ngabantu.” (1 Korinte 3:19-21) Namhlanje, kufuneka sibambelele ngokuthe nkqi koko uYehova asifundise kona size singagungqiswa lula bubuqheleqhele nobuyokoyoko beli hlabathi.—1 Yohane 2:15-17.
BATHEMBEKA KWADA KWASEKUPHELENI
35. Kungakanani esikuxelelwayo kwakhona ngoogxa bakaDaniyeli abathathu?
35 Ukholo olomeleleyo lukaHananiya, uMishayeli noAzariya luchazwe kakuhle kuDaniyeli isahluko 3, esiphathelele umfanekiso wegolide kaNebhukadenetsare owawukwithafa laseDura novavanyo lwedike elivutha umlilo. Alithandabuzeki elokuba la maHebhere awayesoyika uThixo ahlala ethembekile kuYehova de kwasa ekufeni. Siyayazi loo nto kuba ngokuqinisekileyo umpostile uPawulos wayegudle wona xa wabhala ngabo “bathi ngokholo . . . baphelisa amandla omlilo.” (Hebhere 11:33, 34) Bayimizekelo ebalaseleyo yokuxeliswa ngabakhonzi bakaYehova, abaselula nabadala.
36. Nguwuphi umsebenzi obalaseleyo awaqhubeka ewenza uDaniyeli?
36 Xa ithetha ngoDaniyeli, indinyana yokugqibela yesahluko 1 ithi: “UDaniyeli waqhubeka kwade kwangunyaka wokuqala kaKoreshi ukumkani.” Imbali isixelela ukuba uKoreshi wayibhukuqa iBhabhiloni ngobusuku obunye, ngowama-539 B.C.E. Kuyabonakala ukuba ngenxa yegama elihle nendili awayenayo, uDaniyeli waqhubeka ekhonza kwinkundla kaKoreshi. Eneneni, uDaniyeli 10:1 usixelela ukuba “ngonyaka wesithathu kaKoreshi ukumkani wasePersi,” uYehova watyhila into ethile ebalulekileyo kuDaniyeli. Ukuba wayekwishumi elivisayo ukufika kwakhe eBhabhiloni ngowama-617 B.C.E., umele ukuba wayesondele kwiminyaka eli-100 ubudala ukubona kwakhe loo mbono wokugqibela. Hayi indlela eyayinde neyayizaliswe ziintsikelelo ngayo inkonzo yakhe yokuthembeka kuYehova!
37. Yintoni esiyifundileyo ngokuqwalasela isahluko 1 sikaDaniyeli?
37 Isahluko sokuqala sencwadi kaDaniyeli asaneli kusixelela ngebali labafana abane abathembekileyo nabajamelana ngokuphumelelayo novavanyo lokholo kuphela. Ikwasibonisa indlela uYehova anokumsebenzisa ngayo nabani na afuna ukuphumeza injongo yakhe ngaye. Le ngxelo ibonisa ukuba xa uYehova evuma, oko kunokubonakala kuyintlekele kusenokuphumeza injongo eluncedo. Kwaye isixelela ukuba ukuthembeka kwizinto ezincinane kuzisa umvuzo omkhulu.
UZUZE NTONI?
• Kunokuthiwani ngemvelaphi kaDaniyeli nabahlobo bakhe abathathu abaselula?
• Yavavanywa njani ingqeqesho entle yabafana abane abangamaHebhere eBhabhiloni?
• UYehova wawavuza njani la maHebhere mane ngenxa yokuma kwawo ngenkalipho?
• Yintoni enokufundwa ngabakhonzi bakaYehova bale mihla kuDaniyeli nakoogxa bakhe abathathu?
[Umfanekiso ozalise iphepha, kwiphepha 30]