Iimbekiselo Zencwadi Yobomi BamaKristu Nomsebenzi Wokushumayela
JANUWARI 4-10
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | LEVITIKUS 18-19
“Ungayeki Ukuziphatha Kakuhle”
Indlela Esinokuzikhusela Ngayo Kwiqhinga LikaSathana
UYehova waxelela amaSirayeli izinto ezimbi ezazisenziwa ngabantu beentlanga, waza wathi kuwo: “Ningenzi ngokokwenza kwelizwe lakwaKanan, endinisa kulo. . . . Ilizwe eli alihlambulukanga, yaye ndiya kulohlwaya ngesiphoso salo.” Kuba uYehova enguThixo ongcwele, wathi akubona indlela awayephila ngayo amaKanan, wathi iLizwe lawo limdaka.—Lev. 18:3, 25
NguYehova Okhokela Abantu Bakhe
13 Aba kumkani bathembekileyo babahluke kakhulu kwiinkokeli zezinye iintlanga, amadoda awayekhokelwa bubulumko babantu nangamacebo angawasi ndawo! Iinkokeli zamaKanan zazibayeka abantu bazo ukuba benze izinto ezilizothe ezinjengokulalana kwabantu abazalanayo, ubufanasini, ukulala nezilwanyana, ukubingelela ngabantwana nonqulo-zithixo. (Lev. 18:6, 21-25) Kanti neenkokeli zamaBhabhiloni nezamaYiputa zazingenayo imiyalelo yococeko ehambisana nolwazi lwale mihla uThixo awayeyinike amaSirayeli. (Num. 19:13) Yavela yazicacela kubantu bakaThixo bamandulo into yokuba iinkokeli zabo zazikhuthaza ukunqula nokuziphatha ngendlela ecocekileyo, kunye nokucoceka emzimbeni. Asithandabuzi ukuba nguYehova owayebakhokela.
Uza Kwenza Ntoni UThixo Ngobubi?
Kuza kwenzeka ntoni kwabo bangavumiyo ukutshintsha iindlela zabo, abafuna ukwenza okubi? Khawuve ukuba esi sithembiso sikuchaza njani oku: Kuphela ‘ngabathe tye abaya kuhlala emhlabeni, nabangenakusoleka baya kusala kuwo. Bona ke abangendawo, baya kunqunyulwa emhlabeni; ke wona amaqhophololo, aya kuncothulwa kuwo.’ (IMizekeliso 2:21, 22) Iya kube ingasekho impembelelo yabantu abangendawo. Phantsi kwezi meko zoxolo, abantu abathobelayo baya kukhululeka kwilifa lokungafezeki.—Roma 6:17, 18; 8:21.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
“Hayi Indlela Endiwuthanda Ngayo Umthetho Wakho!”
11 Inkalo yesibini yoMthetho kaMoses eyayibonisa inkxalabo kaThixo ngentlalo-ntle yabantu bakhe lilungiselelo lokubhikica. UYehova wayalela ukuba xa umlimi ongumSirayeli evuna intsimi yakhe, abavuni bafanele bashiye okuthile ukuze kubuthwe ngabo basweleyo. Abalimi babengamele bavune ngokupheleleyo ekupheleni kwentsimi yaye babengamele baziqokelele iidiliya okanye iminquma eseleyo. Babengamele babuye baye kulanda izithungu abazilibele emasimini. Eli lungiselelo lothando lalinceda amahlwempu, abaphambukeli, iinkedama nabahlolokazi. Liyinyaniso elokuba aba bantu kwakufuneka basebenze nzima xa bebhikica kodwa oko kwakubanceda bangahambi bengqiba.—Levitikus 19:9, 10; Duteronomi 24:19-22; INdumiso 37:25.
JANUWARI 11-17
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | LEVITIKUS 20-21
“UYehova Ufuna Abantu Bakhe Bohluke”
Ngaba Unesizathu Sokuba Nethemba Lokuphila Eparadesi?
12 Sekunjalo, kukho into esingamele siyilibale. UThixo wawaxelela oku amaSirayeli: “Nize niwugcine wonke umyalelo endiniyalela wona namhlanje, ukuze nomelele, ningene, nilidle ilifa ilizwe elo niwelela kulo ukuba nilihluthe.” (Duteronomi 11:8) KuLevitikus 20:22, 24, kuthethwa kwangelo lizwe kusithiwa: “Nize niyigcine imimiselo yam yonke nezigwebo zam zonke, nizenze, ukuze linganihlanzi niphume ilizwe elo ndinisa kulo ukuba nihlale kulo. Ngako oko ndathi kuni: ‘Nina, niya kulidla ilifa ilizwe lazo, ndoninika mna ukuba libe lilifa kuni, ilizwe eliqukuqela ubisi nobusi.’” Ewe, ukuze ubani ahlale kwiLizwe Lesithembiso kwakufuneka abe nolwalamano oluhle noYehova uThixo. UThixo wawayekela amaSirayeli ukuba athinjwe ngamaBhabhiloni aze ashenxiswa kwindawo awayehlala kuyo ngenxa yokungamthobeli kwawo.
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Ilifa
Ilifa zizinto zomntu oswelekileyo ezifunyanwa ngomnye umntu. Indlalifa idla ngokuba ngabantwana baloo mntu uswelekileyo okanye omnye umntu onelungelo lokufumana ilifa. Igama lesiHebhere elithetha ukufumana ilifa lithi na·chalʹ (kanti igama lesiHebhere elithetha ilifa lithi na·chalahʹ). Ngokuqhelekileyo, linento yokwenza nokufumana okanye ukunika umntu ilifa ngendlela efanelekileyo. (Num 26:55; Hez 46:18) Igama elithi ya·rashʹ likhe lisetyenziswe xa kuthethwa ‘ngokuba yindlalifa,’ kodwa ixesha elininzi lisetyenziswa xa kuthethwa ‘ngokuthatha’ into nangona ungeyondlalifa. (Ge 15:3; Le 20:24) Kwaeli gama lithi ya·rashʹ lisenokuthetha ‘ukutshabalalisa okanye ukuthatha’ into okanye indawo ngokulwa. (Dut 2:12; 31:3) Amagama esiGrike anento yokwenza nelifa ayafana negama elithi kleʹros. Eli gama laqala lathetha “amaqashiso” emva koko lathetha “isabelo” ekugqibeleni lathetha “ilifa.”—Mat 27:35; IZe 1:17; 26:18.
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Iintaka
Kwizilwanyana awanikela ngazo uNowa emva koMkhukula womhlaba, kwakukho “iintaka ezicocekileyo.” (Gen 8:18-20) Emva koko, uThixo wabavumela abantu ukuba bazitye iintaka, kodwa bangalityi igazi lazo. (Gen 9:1-4; jonga neLevitikus 7:26; 17:13.) ‘Ukucoceka’ kweentaka ezithile kwakubonisa ukuba uThixo uza kuzamkela xa kusenziwa imibingelelo ngazo. IBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba njengokuba iintaka zazityiwa, azikho ekwakuthiwa ‘azicocekanga’ de kwaqalisa uMthetho kaMoses. (Lev 11:13-19, 46, 47; 20:25; Dut 14:11-20) Azichazwanga ngokungqalileyo izinto ezibonisa ukuba zeziphi iintaka ‘ezingacocekanga’ eBhayibhileni. Kodwa ezinye iintaka ezitya inyama zazingacocekanga. (Jonga indawo ethi HOOPOE.) Loo mthetho wokuba azicocekanga wapheliswa xa saqala ukusebenza isivumelwano esitsha, le nto uThixo wayenza yacaca kumbono kaPetros.—IZe 10:9-15.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-1-E 563
Ukuzisika
UMthetho kaThixo wawungabavumeli abantu ukuba bazisike emzimbeni kuba besenzela abantu abafileyo. (Lev 19:28; 21:5; Dut 14:1) Isizathu sikukuba amaSirayeli ayengcwele ibe ekhethekile kuYehova. (Dut 14:2) AmaSirayeli ayengavumelekanga ukuba enze nantoni na edibene nezithixo. Yiloo nto ukuzila okude kuphumele ekubeni umntu azisike inyama kwakungafanelekanga nangakumbi kubantu ababeyazi kakuhle imeko yabantu abaswelekileyo nababenethemba lovuko. (Dan 12:13; Heb 11:19) Lo Mthetho wawunceda amaSirayeli ukuba ahlonele indalo kaThixo, umzimba.
JANUWARI 18-24
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | LEVITIKUS 22-23
“Izinto Esinokuzifunda Kumatheko Akudala”
it-1-E 826-827
ITheko Lezonka Ezingenagwele
Ngosuku lokuqala lweTheko Lezonka Ezingenagwele kwakuza kubakho indibano nesabatha. Ngosuku lwesibini olwaluba ngoNisan 16, kwakuziswa isithungu sesivuno sokuqala serhasi kumbingeleli, esasivuthwa kuqala ePalestina. Ngaphambi kokuba kwenziwe eli theko, kwakungavumelekanga ukutyiwa kwezonka neenkozo ezigcadiweyo okanye ezintsha zesivuno esitsha. Umbingeleli wayenikela kuYehova ngokutshangatshangisa isithungu senkozo, ngoxa inkunzi yegusha ephilileyo enonyaka omnye kwakunikelwa ngayo ukuze kwenziwe umbingelelo otshiswayo kunye nomnikelo wenkozo ezixutywe neoli nomnikelo oselwayo. (Lev 23:6-14) Kwakungekho myalelo uthi makutshiswe iinkozo okanye umgubo wazo esibingelelweni, nangona ababingeleli babesenza njalo emva kwexesha. Wonke umntu wayefanele enze umnikelo wesivuno sokuqala ibe mntu ngamnye owayenezinto kwaSirayeli wayenokwenza umbingelelo wombulelo ngexesha leli Theko.—Eks 23:19; Dut 26:1, 2; jonga nendawo ethi FIRSTFRUITS.
Ukubaluleka kweli Theko. IEksodus 12:14-20 inemiyalelo uMoses awayinikwa nguYehova ngokutya izonka ezingenagwele ngexesha leli theko. Kwezi vesi, kukho umyalelo ongqalileyo kwivesi 19 othi: “Makungafunyanwa gwele ezindlini zenu iintsuku ezisixhenxe.” KwiDuteronomi 16:3 izonka ezingenagwele kuthiwa sisonka “sentlungu,” ibe qho ngonyaka zazikhumbuza amaYuda indlela awaphuma ngokungxama ngayo kwilizwe laseYiputa (ngaloo mini babengenalo ixesha lokufaka igwele kwintlama yabo [Eks 12:34]). AmaSirayeli ayekhumbula intlungu nokuphathwa kakubi awakhululwa kuyo eYiputa, uYehova wade wathi, “Le nto umele uyenze ukuze uhlale uyikhumbula imini owaphuma ngayo kwilizwe laseYiputa.” Xa amaSirayeli ebona ukuba akhululekile njengohlanga, ibe evuma ukuba uYehova nguMsindisi wawo, loo nto yayiwenza alungele amatheko amathathu abalulekileyo.—Dut 16:16.
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IPentekoste
Isivuno sokuqala sengqolowa sasisetyenziswa ngokwahlukileyo kunesivuno sokuqala serhasi. Izishumi ezimbini ze-efa yomgubo wengqolowa ecoliweyo negwele zazibhakwa zibe zizonka ezimbini. Ezi zonka kwakufuneka zisuke ‘kwiindawo abahlala kuzo’ kuba kwakungafunekanga zifane nezonka ezazisetyenziselwa izinto ezingcwele. (Lev 23:17) NgePentekoste kwakusenziwa umnikelo otshiswayo nowesono kunye nowobuhlobo oneegusha ezimbini. Umbingeleli wayetshangatshangisa izonka neegusha phambi kukaYehova ngokubeka izandla zakhe ngaphantsi kwazo aze azitshangatshangise nto leyo eyayibonisa ukuba uzinikela kuYehova. Emva kokuba izonka neegusha zinikelwe zaziba ngumnikelo wobuhlobo kuba zazityiwa ngumbingeleli.—Lev 23:18-20.
Ngaba Uhambisana Nentlangano KaYehova?
11 Intlangano kaYehova isikhuthaza ukuba siphulaphule esi siluleko sikaPawulos: “Masinyamekelane, sivuselelane eluthandweni nasemisebenzini emihle, singakutyesheli ukuhlanganisana kwethu ndawonye, njengoko kulisiko labathile ukwenjenjalo, kodwa masikhuthazane, ngokungakumbi njengoko nibona ukuba imini iyasondela.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Ukholo lwamaSirayeli lwalusomelezwa yimithendeleko eyayisenziwa minyaka le nazezinye iindibano zokunqula uThixo. Ngaphezu koko, izihlandlo ezinjengoMthendeleko Weminquba ngemihla kaNehemiya zazisonwabisa. (Eks. 23:15, 16; Neh. 8:9-18) Kuba njalo nakuthi xa siye kwiintlanganiso nakwiindibano zethu. Ngamana singawaxhakamfula ngazo zozibini la mathuba asinceda sisondele kuYehova size sihlale sonwabile.—Tito 2:2.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Hlala Uthembekile!
3 Xa kubhekiswa kuthi bakhonzi bakaThixo, ukuthembeka kuthetha ukumthanda uYehova ngentliziyo yethu yonke size sizinikele ngokupheleleyo kuye. Loo nto ikwathetha ukubeka ukuthanda kwakhe kuqala xa sisenza izigqibo. Makhe sithethe ngendlela elisetyenziswa ngayo eli gama eBhayibhileni. EBhayibhileni, igama lesiHebhere eliguqulelwe ngokuthi “ukugqibelela [okanye ukuthembeka]” linokuthetha into epheleleyo okanye ephilileyo. Ngokomzekelo, amaSirayeli ayenikela ngezilwanyana kuYehova ibe uMthetho wawusithi kufuneka ibe zeziphilileyo. (Lev. 22:21, 22) Abantu bakaThixo babengavumelekanga ukuba banikele ngesilwanyana esasingenamlenze, indlebe okanye ilihlo. Babengavumelekanga ukunikela nangesilwanyana esigulayo. Kwakubalulekile kuYehova ukuba isilwanyana siphile okanye siphelele. (Mal. 1:6-9) Siyaqondakala isizathu sokuba uYehova afune into eza kuye iphile ize iphelele. Xa sithenga into, mhlawumbi isiqhamo, incwadi okanye isixhobo, asiyifuni enemingxuma emikhulu okanye engaphelelanga. Sifuna epheleleyo. NoYehova ufuna simthande ngokupheleleyo size sithembeke kuye.
JANUWARI 25-31
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | LEVITIKUS 24-25
“Unyaka Wenkululeko Nenkululeko Yethu Ezayo”
it-1-E 871
Inkululeko
UThixo weNkululeko. UYehova nguThixo wenkululeko. Wakhulula amaSirayeli xa ayesenziwa amakhoboka eYiputa. Wawaxelela ukuba aza kufumana yonke inkululeko ukuba nje athobela imiyalelo yakhe. (Dut 15:4, 5) UDavide wathetha ngokuba kuza “kukhuseleka” ngaphakathi kweenqaba zaseYerusalem. (Nd 122:6, 7) Sekunjalo, uMthetho wawusithi ukuba kukho indoda eba lihlwempu, yayinokuzithengisela ebukhobokeni ukuze ihoye yona nentsapho yayo. Kodwa uMthetho wawusithi loo mHebhere uzithengisele ebukhobokeni uza kukhululwa ngonyaka wesixhenxe. (Eks 21:2) Ngonyaka weNkululeko owawubakho qho ngonyaka we-50, bonke abantu babefumana inkululeko yelizwe labo. MHebhere ngamnye wayekhululwa ebukhobokeni, aze abuyele elifeni lakhe.—Lev 25:10-19.
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Ilifa
Umhlaba wayengakwazi ukuthengiselwa omnye umntu ngokupheleleyo kuba wawuhlala ulilifa lentsapho enye iminyaka emininzi. Ngenxa yaloo nto kwakufana ingathi lowo uthenge loo mhlaba uwubolekiwe kangangexesha elithile kuba ekuphela kwento awayenokuyifumana zizinto azilime kulo mhlaba kuphela. Ixabiso laloo mhlaba lalixhomekeka kwiminyaka eshiyekileyo ngaphambi koNyaka Wenkululeko ezayo. Xa uNyaka Wenkululeko ufike umnikazi womhlaba wokuqala engekakwazi ukuwuthenga, kwakuye kufuneke awubuyiselwe loo mhlaba. (Lev 25:13, 15, 23, 24) Le nto yayisenziwa nakwizindlu ezikwiidolophana ezingabiyelwanga ngodonga ezazijongwa njengeziyinxalenye yentsimi yasekuhlaleni. Kodwa indlu esesixekweni esibiyelwe ngodonga yayisiba yeyaloo mntu uyithengileyo ukuba umnikazi wayo wokuqala akakwazanga ukuphinda ayithenge kunyaka nje omnye. AbaLevi babengenalifa elizweni ngoko izindlu zabo zazinokuthengwa nanini na.—Lev 25:29-34.
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UNyaka Wenkululeko
UMthetho weNkululeko wawukhusela abantu abawuthobelayo kwiimeko ezibuhlungu esizibonayo namhlanje apho kukho abantu abazizityebi kakhulu nabasokola kakhulu. Lo Mthetho wawuluqinisa uhlanga kuba wonke umntu wayekwazi ukuncedisa ngemali noba iimeko zakhe zazisithini aze asebenzise iitalente zakhe ukuze ancede ilizwe. Xa uSirayeli wayethobela, wayenokonwabela ukuba phantsi korhulumente ogqibeleleyo aze afumane uxolo kuba ekhonza uYehova yaye uThixo wayeza kuwasikelela ngesivuno sentsimi aphinde awafundise izinto ezibalulekileyo.—Isa 33:22.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Xa Ucatshukisiwe
Ukuba umSirayeli wayebethe omnye waza wamkhupha iliso, uMthetho wawusithi makohlwaywe ngokwesono sakhe. Noko ke, ixhoba lalingafanelanga liwuthabathele ezandleni zalo umthetho. UMthetho wawufuna ukuba ityala lilise kubagwebi abamiselweyo ukuze ligwetywe ngabo. Ukwazi komoni ukuba wayeza kwenziwa kanye le nto ayenze komnye kwakumenza oyike ukuziphindezela. Kodwa ke akuphelelanga apho.
FEBRUWARI 1-7
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | LEVITIKUS 26-27
“Iindlela Zokufumana Iintsikelelo ZikaYehova”
Zilumle ‘Kwizinto Ezingenaxabiso’
8 Inokwenzeka njani into yokuba ‘ubuTyebi’ bube nguthixo? Umzekelo woko unokuwenza ngelitye odibana nalo nje esithubeni kwaSirayeli mandulo. Elo litye lalinokucholwa kwakhiwe ngalo indlu okanye udonga. Kodwa xa limisiwe laba “yintsika engcwele” okanye “umboniso,” elo litye lalijika libe sisikhubekiso kubantu bakaYehova. (Lev. 26:1) Ibaluleke ngolo hlobo ke nemali xa isetyenziswa ngendlela efanelekileyo. Sifuna nje ukuthenga izinto zokuphila ngayo, size siyisebenzise nasekukhonzeni uYehova. (INtshu. 7:12; Luka 16:9) Kodwa xa eyona nto iphambili ikukusukelana nayo ngaphezu kokukhonza uThixo, imali ijika ibe nguthixo wethu. (Funda eyoku-1 kuTimoti 6:9, 10.) Kweli hlabathi, apho abantu bathe mbende emva kwemali, kufuneka siqinisekise ukuba sihlala silungelelene kulo mba.—1 Tim. 6:17-19.
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Intlonelo
UMoses wayebonakala enamandla kakhulu kubantu bakaThixo ngenxa yendlela uYehova awayemsebenzisa ngayo. (Dut 34:10, 12; Eks 19:9) Abantu ababenokholo babeloyika igunya likaMoses kuba babeyiqonda ukuba uYehova usebenzisa yena xa ethetha nabo. AmaSirayeli ayeyihlonela kakhulu nendawo kaYehova. (Lev 19:30; 26:2) Ukuyihlonela kwabo indawo engcwele kwakufuneka kubaqhubele ekubeni bakhonze uYehova ngendlela afuna ukukhonzwa ngayo baze baziphathe ngendlela ayalela ngayo.
“Uxolo LukaThixo” Maluyilondoloze Intliziyo Yakho
10 UYehova waluxelela oku olo hlanga: “Ukuba nithe nahamba emimiselweni yam, nayigcina imithetho yam, nayenza, ndoninika iziphango zenu ngexesha lazo; ilizwe lininike indyebo yalo, nemithi yentsimi ivelise iziqhamo zayo; ndoninika uxolo ezweni elo, nilale; kungabikho bani unigubhisayo, ndilisuse irhamncwa ezweni elo, ikrele lingahambi ezweni lenu; ndohamba phakathi kwenu, ndibe nguThixo wenu, nina nibe ngabantu bam.” (Levitikus 26:3, 4, 6, 12) USirayeli wayenokunandipha uxolo ngenxa yokuba wayenqabisekile kwiintshaba zakhe, wayenentabalala yezinto eziphathekayo nolwalamano olusondeleyo noYehova. Kodwa oku kwakuza kuxhomekeka ekunamatheleni kwakhe eMthethweni kaYehova.—INdumiso 119:165.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-2-E 617
Isifo Esingubhubhani
Esenziwa Kukungathobeli UMthetho kaThixo. AmaSirayeli ayelumkisiwe ukuba xa enokwaphula isivumelwano sawo noThixo wayeza ‘kuthumela izifo kuwo.’ (Lev 26:14-16, 23-25; Dut 28:15, 21, 22) EBhayibhileni xa kuthethwa ngokubasempilweni nangaluphi na uhlobo loo nto idityaniswa nentsikelelo kaYehova, (Dut 7:12, 15; Nd 103:1-3; IMi 3:1, 2, 7, 8; 4:21, 22; ISi 21:1-4) kanti zona izifo zidityaniswa nokungafezeki nesono. (Eks 15:26; Dut 28:58-61; Isa 53:4, 5; Mat 9:2-6, 12; Yoh 5:14) Ewe kona uYehova wayekhe wabangela uMiriyam, uUziya noGehazi ukuba babe neqhenqa (Num 12:10; 2Kr 26:16-21; 2Ku 5:25-27), kodwa amaxesha amaninzi izifo ezingubhubhani zazibangelwa kukungathobeli naxa abantu benze isono. Babevuna oko bakutyalileyo, ibe nemizimba yabo yayiba sengxakini ngenxa yokuziphatha kwabo kakubi. (Gal 6:7, 8) Umpostile uthi ngabo baziphatha kakubi ngokwesondo, ‘uThixo uye wabayeka benza izinto ezingacocekanga nezihlazisa imizimba yabo . . . bazibizela isohlwayo esipheleleyo, esibafaneleyo ngenxa yesono sabo.’—Rom 1:24-27.
FEBRUWARI 8-14
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NUMERI 1-2
“UYehova Ubahlalisa Kakuhle Abantu Bakhe”
Indawo Efanelekileyo Yonqulo LukaYehova Kubomi Bethu
4 Ukuba wawunokubukela kwinkampu yamaSirayeli entlango uphezulu, ngewawubone ntoni? Iintente ezininzi, kodwa ezilungeleleneyo, mhlawumbi ezazihlala abantu abazizigidi ezithathu okanye ngaphezulu, belungelelaniswe bangamaqela ezizwe ezithathu lilinye entla, ezantsi, empuma, nasentshona. Xa usondela, wawuya kuphawula nelinye iqela kufutshane nesazulu senkampu. La maqela mane mancinane eentente ayehlala iintsapho zesizwe sakwaLevi. Embindini wenkampu, kummandla owahlulwe ludonga lwelaphu, kwakukho isakhiwo esahlukileyo. Esi ‘yayiyintente yokuhlangana,’ okanye umnquba, amaSirayeli ‘anentliziyo elumkileyo’ ayeyakhe ngendlela uYehova awayefuna ngayo.—Numeri 1:52, 53; 2:3, 10, 17, 18, 25; Eksodus 35:10.
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Inkampu
Inkampu yakwaSirayeli yayinkulu kakhulu. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abantu babengaphezu kwe-3 000 000 kuba kwakukho amadoda ayi-603 550 awayebhalisiwe, abafazi nabantwana, abakhulileyo nabaneziphene, abaLevi abayi-22 000 ‘neqela elikhulu elixubeneyo labantu.’ (Eks 12:38, 44; Num 3:21-34, 39) Ngenxa yobukhulu bayo le nkampu akude kuqinisekwe ncam ukuba yayingakanani. Xa inkampu yayiphambi kweYeriko kwintlango yakwaMowabhi, kwakusithiwa ‘yayisusela eBhete-yeshimoti ukuya kutsho eAbheli-shitim.’—Num 33:49.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
it-2-E 764
Ukubhalisa
Xa kubhaliswa kusetyenziswa igama labantu ngokohlanga lwabo okanye ikhaya. Oku kwakungaquki nje ukubalwa kwabantu. Ukubhaliswa kohlanga ekuthethwa ngako eBhayibhileni kwakunceda kwizinto ezininzi njengokubhatalwa kwerhafu, ukwabiwa kwemisebenzi yasemfazweni okanye, ukunikwa eminye imisebenzi kwingcwele (kwabanye abaLevi).
FEBRUWARI 15-21
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NUMERI 3-4
“Umsebenzi WabaLevi”
it-2-E 683 ¶3
Umbingeleli
Phantsi Kwesivumelwano soMthetho. Xa amaSirayeli ayengamakhoboka eYiputa, uYehova wabakhusela oonyana bawo abangamazibulo, kodwa wona amazibulo amaYiputa wawabulala ngesibetho seshumi. (Eks 12:29; Num 3:13) La mazibulo ayengakaYehova, ibe kwakufuneka amsebenzele ngokukhethekileyo. UThixo wayenokuwasebenzisa la mazibulo ukuze abe ngababingeleli okanye agade ingcwele kodwa zange enze njalo. Kunoko, wakhetha abaLevi kuba loo nto yayiza kuphumeza injongo yakhe. Ngenxa yeso sizathu, wathi mayibe ngabaLevi abenza imisebenzi endaweni yoonyana abangamazibulo beentlanga eziyi-12 (iintlanga ezimbini izezoonyana bakaYosefu uEfrayim noManase). Xa kwakubhaliswa onke amazibulo anenyanga enye nangaphezulu, kwafumaniseka ukuba amazibulo amaSirayeli maninzi nge-273 kunawabaLevi. Ngenxa yaloo nto, uThixo wathi izibulo ngalinye malibhatale iishekele ezintlanu ize loo mali inikwe uAron noonyana bakhe. (Num 3:11-16, 40-51) Nangaphambi kokuba kubhatalwe ezi shekele, uYehova wayesele emisele uAron noonyana bakhe ukuze babe ngababingeleli.—Num 1:1; 3:6-10.
it-2-E 241
AbaLevi
Imisebenzi Ababeyenza. Kwakukho iintsapho zabaLevi ezintathu ezazisuka koonyana bakaLevi abathathu uGershon (Gershom), uKohati noMerari. (Gen 46:11; 1Kr 6:1, 16) Zonke ezi ntsapho zazinikwe indawo yokuhlala ngakwintente engcwele entlango. Intsapho ka-Aron yamaKohati yayimise iinkampu ngasempuma phambi kwentente engcwele. Amanye amaKohati ayemise iinkampu kwicala lasemzantsi, amaGershon wona ayengasentshona, kanti amaMerari ayengasemntla. (Num 3:23, 29, 35, 38) Umsebenzi wabaLevi yayikukulungisa intente engcwele ukuze akwazi ukuyibeka, ukuyichitha nokuyithwala. Xa yayilixesha lokufuduka, uAron noonyana bakhe babethatha ikhethini eyayisohlula iNgcwele kweYona Ngcwele baze bagqume ityeya yobungqina. Babethatha nezibingelelo nezinye izinto ezingcwele ezazisetyenziswa kwintente engcwele. Zonke ezi zinto zazithwalwa ngamaKohati. AmaGershon ayehamba namalaphu entente, iikhethini zeyadi, imikhusane kunye neentambo zentente. AmaMerari ayehamba neefreyimi, iintsika, iziseko, izikhonkwane neentambo ezazijikeleze intente engcwele.—Num 1:50, 51; 3:25, 26, 30, 31, 36, 37; 4:4-33; 7:5-9.
it-2-E 241
AbaLevi
Ngemihla kaMoses, yayiba ngumLevi ona-30 owayesenza yonke imisebenzi enjengokuphatha intente engcwele nezinto zayo xa isiwa kwenye indawo. (Num 4:46-49) Ewe kona, eminye imisebenzi yayinokwenziwa ngumLevi oneminyaka eyi-25 kodwa imisebenzi enzima enjengokuphatha intente engcwele wayengenokuyenza. (Num 8:24) Ngexesha likaKumkani uDavide, umLevi oneminyaka eyi-20 wayenokwenza eminye imisebenzi. Le minyaka yancitshiswa kuba kaloku uDavide wathi intente engcwele (ngoku eyayiza kuba yitempile) yayingazukumane ithathwa isiwa kwenye indawo. AbaLevi babeyekiswa ukwenza imisebenzi xa beneminyaka eyi-50. (Num 8:25, 26; 1Kr 23:24-26; jonga indawo ethi AGE.) AbaLevi kwakufuneka bawazi kakuhle uMthetho, kuba amaxesha amaninzi babedla ngokuwufundela abantu kwizixeko ngezixeko.—1Kr 15:27; 2Kr 5:12; 17:7-9; Neh 8:7-9.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Yiba Sisilumko—Woyike UThixo!
13 Ukuncedwa nguYehova kumaxesha anzima kwenza uDavide wamoyika ngakumbi uThixo waza wathembela ngakumbi kuye. (INdumiso 31:22-24) Noko ke, kukho izihlandlo ezithathu apho, uDavide angazange amoyike uThixo nto leyo yamzisela intlekele. Kwisihlandlo sokuqala walungiselela ukuba ityeya yomnqophiso kaYehova ilayishwe kwinqwelo iziswe eYerusalem kunokuba ithwalwe emagxeni ngabaLevi, ngokomyalelo kaThixo. U-Uza owayehamba phambi kwaloo nqwelo, wathi akubamba iTyeya ezama ukuba ingawi wafela kanye apho ngenxa ‘yesenzo sokungoyiki kwakhe uThixo.’ Ewe, yena u-Uza wenza isono esinzulu, kodwa enyanisweni nguDavide ongazange ahlonele uMthetho kaThixo kwaza oko kwazisa loo ntlekele. Ukoyika uThixo kuthetha ukwenza izinto ngendlela athanda ngayo.—2 Samuweli 6:2-9; Numeri 4:15; 7:9.
FEBRUWARI 22-28
UBUTYEBI OBUPHUMA ELIZWINI LIKATHIXO | NUMERI 5-6
“Ungawalinganisa Njani AmaNaziri?”
it-2-E 477
AmaNaziri
Umntu ongumNaziri wayengavumelekanga ukuba enze ezi zinto zilandelayo: (1) Wayengafanelanga asele nantoni na enxilisayo; angatyi nantoni na eyenziwe ngeediliya, nokuba ziidiliya ezingekavuthwa, nokuba ngamaxolo, nokuba sisiselo sazo esineviniga. (2) Wayengamele ayichebe intloko yakhe. (3) Angasibambi isidumbu somntu oswelekileyo, nokuba sesomntu azalana naye—nokuba kunokufa utata wakhe, umama wakhe, umntakwabo okanye udadewabo.—Num 6:1-7.
Izifungo Ezikhethekileyo. Umntu owenza esi sifungo sikhethekileyo “sokuba ngumNaziri [okuthetha ukuzinikela] kuYehova” wayengamele azenze ngathi uzinikele ukuze anconywe ngabantu. Kunoko, “loo mntu ungcwele kuYehova yonke imihla engumNaziri.”—Num 6:2, 8; jonga neGenesis 49:26, umbhalo osemazantsi.
Izinto ezazifuneka kumaNaziri zazikhethekile ibe zazibalulekile kwindlela akhonzwa ngayo uYehova. Njengokuba umbingeleli omkhulu wayengavumelekanga ukuba aphathe isidumbu somntu ofileyo nokuba uzalana naye ngenxa yemisebenzi yakhe ebalulekileyo awayeyenza, namaNaziri ngokunjalo ayengavumelekanga. Umbingeleli omkhulu nabanye ababingeleli babengavumelekanga ukuba basele nantoni na enxilisayo xa besenza imisebenzi engcwele kuYehova, kuba imisebenzi yabo yayibaluleke kakhulu.—Lev 10:8-11; 21:10, 11.
Enye into, umNaziri “ufanele ahlale engcwele ngokuthi aziyeke iinwele zentloko yakhe,” ibe loo nto yayiza kwenza wonke umntu akhawuleze aqonde ukuba loo mntu ngumNaziri ongcwele. (Nu 6:5) Kwaeli gama linye lesiHebhere lithi na·zirʹ lalisetyenziswa xa kuthethwa ngediliya “engathenwanga” ngexesha leSabatha engcwele nangeminyaka yeNkululeko. (Lev 25:5, 11) Enye into ebangela umdla kukuba, iqhiya yombingeleli omkhulu eyayibhalwa “BobukaYehova ubungcwele” ngaphambili, kwakuthiwa ‘ingumqondiso ongcwele wokuzinikela.’ (Eks 39:30, 31) Kwakhona, ookumkani abathanjisiweyo bakwaSirayeli babenxiba izithsaba entloko ezazinegama elithi neʹzer. (2Sa 1:10; 2Ku 11:12; jonga indawo ethi CROWN; nethi DEDICATION.) Kwibandla lamaKristu, umpostile uPawulos wathi umfazi yena unikwa iinwele ezinde ukuze zibe yinto yokuthwala. Le nto inceda umfazi ahlale ekhumbula ukuba akafani nendoda; yena ufanele abonise intlonelo phantsi kwelungiselelo likaThixo. Ngoko izinto ezazilindileke kumNaziri ozinikeleyo ezinjengokungachebi (okungaqhelekanga endodeni), ukungayiseli tu iwayini, nokuhlala ecocekile zaziluncedo kuye. Zazimbonisa indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo nokuphilela ukwenza intando kaYehova kuneyakhe siqu.—1Ko 11:2-16; jonga indawo ethi HAIR; nethi HEAD COVERING; kunye nethi NATURE.
Ubuncwane ObuseBhayibhileni
Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi
Noko ke, uSamson wayengumNaziri ngendlela eyahlukileyo. Ngaphambi kokuba uSamson azalwe, ingelosi kaYehova yathi kunina: “Khangela! uya kumitha, kwaye ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuzala unyana, yaye incakuba ayiyi kufika entlokweni yakhe, ngenxa yokuba umntwana lowo uya kuba ngumNaziri kaThixo ekuphumeni kwakhe esiswini; yaye nguye oya kukhokela ekusindiseni uSirayeli esandleni samaFilisti.” (ABagwebi 13:5) USamson akazange enze isifungo sokuba ngumNaziri. Wamiselwa nguThixo njengomNaziri, yaye wayeza kuba ngumNaziri lo gama nje esaphila. Umqathango wokungasichukumisi isidumbu wawungasebenzi kuye. Ukuba wawusebenza aze ngengozi achukumise isidumbu, wayenokubuqala njani ubuNaziri bakhe obabuza kuqhubeka ubomi bakhe bonke nobaqalisa ukuzalwa kwakhe? Ngoko ke, oko kwakulindelekile kwabo babengamaNaziri ubomi babo bonke ngeendlela ezithile kwakwahlukile kwabo babezikhethele ukuba ngamaNaziri.