Ingabe Bewazi?

Wayesho ukuthini uJesu lapho ethi kuSawulu: “Ukuqhubeka ukhahlela izinkandi kwenza kube nzima kuwe”?—IzEnzo 26:14.

▪ Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, abalimi babesebenzisa izinkandi ukuze baqondise izilwane zabo ezithwalayo lapho zilima. Ukhandi lwaluyinduku ecijile, cishe engamamitha amabili nengxenye ubude. Isihloko sayo sasiba nensimbi ecijile. Uma isilwane sizigudla okhandini, sasingase silimale. Esinye isihloko sasiba nensingo emise okweshizolo eyayingase isetshenziselwe ukususa ukungcola, udaka noma izimpande ezibambelele egejeni.

Ngezinye izikhathi izinkandi zazisebenza njengezikhali. Umahluleli wakwa-Israyeli oyiqhawe uShamgari wabulala amaFilisti angu-600 “ngokhandi lwezinkomo.”—AbaHluleli 3:31.

ImiBhalo isebenzisa igama elithi izinkandi nangomqondo ongokomfanekiso. Ngokwesibonelo, iNkosi uSolomoni yathi amazwi omuntu ohlakaniphile angaba “njengezinkandi,” ashukumise umngane ukuba enze isinqumo esifanele.—UmShumayeli 12:11.

UJesu ovusiwe naye walisebenzisa ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso leli gama. Weluleka uSawulu, umshushisi wamaKristu, ukuba ayeke ‘ukukhahlela izinkandi.’ La mazwi asenza sicabange ngesilwane esinenkani esingafuni ukwenza okufunwa umniniso. USawulu wahlakanipha wasilalela isiyalo sikaJesu futhi washintsha indlela yakhe yokuphila, waba umphostoli uPawulu.

AmaJuda ekhulu lokuqala ayethola kanjani ukuthi ubani isikhathi uma sekuhlwile?

▪ AmaJuda angekhulu lokuqala C.E. ayesebenzisa iwashi lelanga ukuze abone ukuthi ubani isikhathi ngosuku olucwathile. Nokho, uma liguqubele noma sekuhlwile ayesebenzisa iwashi lamanzi elibizwa ngokuthi i-clepsydra. Akuwona amaJuda kuphela ayesebenzisa leli washi; abaseGibhithe lasendulo, ePheresiya, eGrisi naseRoma babelisebenzisa.

I-Jewish Encyclopedia ithi iMishnah neTalmud iyakhuluma ngewashi lamanzi futhi isebenzisa “amagama ahlukahlukene, cishe ukuze ihlukanise izinhlobo zawo nokwakhiwa kwawo okungefani, nokho, wonke ayefana ngento eyodwa; ayephuma amanzi kancane, ngesiGreki okuyincazelo yegama elithi ‘clepsydra.’”

Lalisebenza kanjani leli washi lamanzi? Amanzi ayeconsela kwesinye isitsha esuka esitsheni esibhotshozwe imbobo esinqeni. Umuntu wayebona ukuhamba kwesikhathi ngokubheka amanzi kuzo zombili izitsha ezibhalwe izilinganiso ngaphakathi.

Emakamu empi aseRoma kwakusetshenziswa amawashi anjalo ukuze kwaziwe imilindo yasebusuku. Ukudlula komlindo kwakuzwakala ngokushaywa kwecilongo. Noma ubani owayezwa icilongo wayengakwazi ukuthola ukuthi umlindo ngamunye emilindweni emine uqale futhi waphela nini.—Marku 13:35.