Isahluko 9

UbuJuda—Bufuna UNkulunkulu NgemiBhalo Nangamasiko

1, 2. (a) Angobani amanye amaJuda adumile aye athinta umlando nempucuko? (b) Yimuphi umbuzo ongase uphakanyiswe abantu abathile?

UMOSE, uJesu, uMahler, uMarx, uFreud, noEinstein—yini efanayo ababenayo bonke laba? Bonke babengamaJuda, futhi ngezindlela ezihlukene, bonke baye bathinta umlando nempucuko yesintu. Ngokusobala kakhulu amaJuda asenezinkulungwane zeminyaka ephawuleka. IBhayibheli ngokwalo liwubufakazi balokho.

² Ngokungafani nezinye izinkolo nezimpucuko zasendulo, ubuJuda bugxile emlandweni, hhayi ezinganekwaneni. Nokho, abanye bangase babuze: AmaJuda ayisizwe esincane kakhulu, cishe izigidi ezingu-18 emhlabeni onabantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-5, kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo enkolweni yawo, ubuJuda?

Isizathu Sokuba UbuJuda Busithakazelise

3, 4. (a) Iquketheni imiBhalo YesiHeberu? (b) Ziyini ezinye zezizathu zokuba sicabangele inkolo yamaJuda nemisuka yayo?

³ Esinye isizathu siwukuthi imisuka yenkolo yobuJuda ihlehlela emuva eminyakeni engu-4 000 emlandweni futhi ezinye izinkolo ezinkulu kufanele zibonge ngemiBhalo yayo ngokwezinga elikhulu noma elincane. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 220.) UbuKristu, obasungulwa uJesu (ngesiHeberu, Ye·shuʹa‛), umJuda wekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, imisuka yabo isemiBhalweni YesiHeberu. Futhi njengoba ukufunda noma iyiphi ingxenye yeQur’ān kungabonisa, ubuIslām nabo kufanele bubonge kakhulu ngaleyomibhalo. (Qur’ān, surah 2:49-57; 32:23, 24) Ngakho, lapho sihlola inkolo yobuJuda, sihlola futhi nemisuka yamakhulu ezinye izinkolo namahlelo.

⁴ Isizathu sesibili nesibalulekile siwukuthi inkolo yobuJuda inikeza iketanga elibalulekile ekufuneni kwesintu uNkulunkulu weqiniso. NgokwemiBhalo YesiHeberu, uAbrama, ukhokho wamaJuda, kakade wayekhulekela uNkulunkulu weqiniso cishe eminyakeni engu-4 000 edlule.a Ngokunengqondo, siyabuza, AmaJuda nokholo lwawo kwaqala kanjani?—Genesise 17:18.

AmaJuda Aqala Kanjani?

5, 6. Ngamafuphi, uyini umlando womsuka wamaJuda negama lawo?

⁵ Ngomqondo ovamile, abantu abangamaJuda bayinzalo yophiko lwasendulo lohlanga lukaShemi lwabantu ababekhuluma isiHeberu. (Genesise 10:1, 21-32; 1 IziKronike 1:17-28, 34; 2:1, 2) Cishe eminyakeni engu-4 000 edlule, ukhokho wawo uAbrama wathutha esuka edolobheni elixube izinhlanga elichumayo laseUri lamaKaledi eSumer waya ezweni laseKhanani, uNkulunkulu ayethe ngalo: “Ngiyakwabela lelizwe inzalo yakho.”b (Genesise 11:31–12:7) Kukhulunywa ngaye ngokuthi “uAbrama umHeberu” kuGenesise 14:13, nakuba igama lakhe kamuva lashintshwa laba uAbrahama. (Genesise 17:4-6) AmaJuda aluthola kuye uhlu lozalo lwawo oluqala ngendodana yakhe uIsaka nangomzukulu wakhe uJakobe, ogama lakhe lashintshwa laba uIsrayeli. (Genesise 32:27-29) UIsrayeli wayenamadodana angu-12, aba obaba bezizwe ezingu-12. Enye yalawomadodana yayinguJuda, okuyigama okwathi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwasuselwa kulo igama elithi “umJuda.”—2 AmaKhosi 16:6, JP.

⁶ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi igama elithi “umJuda” lasetshenziselwa wonke amaIsrayeli, hhayi inzalo kaJuda kuphela. (Esteri 3:6; 9:20) Ngenxa yokuthi imibhalo yohlu lozalo lwamaJuda yabhujiswa ngo-70 C.E. lapho amaRoma ebhuqa iJerusalema, akekho umJuda namuhla ongasho ngokunembile ukuthi yena uvela kusiphi isizwe. Noma kunjalo, phakathi nezinkulungwane zeminyaka, inkolo yamaJuda yasendulo iye yakhula futhi yashintsha. Namuhla ubuJuda buqhutshwa izigidi zamaJuda eRepublic YakwaIsrayeli nalawo ahlakazeke emhlabeni wonke. Siyini isisekelo saleyonkolo?

UMose, UMthetho, Nesizwe

7. Yisiphi isifungo uNkulunkulu asenza kuAbrahama, futhi ngani?

⁷ Ngo-1943 B.C.E.,c uNkulunkulu wakhetha uAbrama ukuba abe inceku yakhe ekhethekile futhi kamuva wenza isifungo esingathi sína kuye ngenxa yokwethembeka kwakhe ngokuzimisela ukunikela ngendodana yakhe uIsaka njengomhlatshelo, ngisho nakuba lowomhlatshelo ungazange upheleliswe. (Genesise 12:1-3; 22:1-14) Kulesosifungo uNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngiyazifunga Mina, kusho INKOSI [ngesiHeberu: יהוה, YHWH]: Ngenxa yokuthi ukwenzile lokhu futhi awuzange ugodle indodana yakho, othandekayo wakho, ngizothululela isibusiso saMi phezu kwakho futhi ngenze inzalo yakho ibe ningi ngangezinkanyezi zezulu . . . Zonke izizwe zomhlaba ziyozibusisa ngenzalo [“imbewu,” JP] yakho, ngoba ulalele umyalo waMi.” Lesifungo saphindwa endodaneni ka-Abrahama nakumzukulu wakhe, khona-ke saqhutshekiselwa esizweni sakwaJuda nasohlwini lukaDavide. Lomqondo wokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela onobuqu owayesebenzelana ngokuqondile nabantu wawuyingqayizivele kulelozwe lasendulo, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wakha isisekelo senkolo yamaJuda.—Genesise 22:15-18; 26:3-5; 28:13-15; IHubo 89:4, 5, 29, 30, 36, 37 (IHubo 89:3, 4, 28, 29, 35, 36, eBhayibhelini lesiZulu elivamile).

8. Wayengubani uMose, futhi iyiphi indima ayifeza kwaIsrayeli?

⁸ Ukuze afeze izithembiso zaKhe kuAbrahama, uNkulunkulu wabeka isisekelo sesizwe ngokumisa isivumelwano esikhethekile nenzalo ka-Abrahama. Lesivumelwano samiswa ngoMose, umholi omkhulu ongumHeberu nomlamuleli phakathi kukaNkulunkulu noIsrayeli. Wayengubani uMose, futhi kungani ebaluleke kangaka kumaJuda? Ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuEksodusi kusitshela ukuthi wazalelwa eGibithe (ngo-1593 B.C.E.) ngabazali abangamaIsrayeli ababeyizigqila ekuthunjweni kanye namanye amaIsrayeli. Nguye “INKOSI eyamkhetha” ukuba aholele abantu baYo enkululekweni eKhanani, iZwe Lesithembiso. (Duteronomi 6:23; 34:10) UMose wayigcwalisa lendima ebalulekile yokuba umlamuleli wesivumelwano soMthetho esanikezwa uNkulunkulu kuIsrayeli, ngaphezu kokuba kwakhe umprofethi, umahluleli, umholi, nesazi-mlando.—Eksodusi 2:1–3:22.

9, 10. (a) Wawuyini uMthetho owadluliselwa ngoMose? (b) Yiziphi izici zokuphila ezazihlanganiswa iMiyalo Eyishumi? (c) Yisiphi isibopho isivumelwano soMthetho esasiletha kuIsrayeli?

⁹ UMthetho uIsrayeli awamukela wawuqukethe amaZwi Ayishumi, noma iMiyalo, nemithetho engaphezu kuka-600 eyayifana nencwadi yeziyalezo neziqondiso zokuziphatha kwansuku zonke ehlanganisa izici eziningi. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 211.) Wawuhlanganisa izinto ezingokwezwe nezingcwele—izimfuneko ezingokwenyama nezokuziphatha kuhlanganise nokukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu.

¹⁰ Lesivumelwano soMthetho, noma umthetho-sisekelo ongokwenkolo, sanikeza ukholo lwezinzalamizi isizinda. Ngenxa yalokho, inzalo ka-Abrahama yaba isizwe esizinikezele enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho inkolo yamaJuda yaqala ukuba nesimo esithile esiqondile, futhi amaJuda aba isizwe esasihlelelwe ukukhulekelwa nokukhonzwa kukaNkulunkulu waso. KuEksodusi 19:5, 6, uNkulunkulu wawathembisa: “Uma nizongilalela ngokwethembeka futhi nigcine isivumelwano saMi, . . . kiMi nizoba umbuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele.” Ngakho, amaIsrayeli ayeyokuba ‘abantu abakhethiweyo’ ukuba basebenzele izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Nokho, ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zesivumelwano kwakuxhomeke kulombandela “Uma nizongilalela.” Lesosizwe esizinikezele manje sasizibophile kuNkulunkulu waso. Ngakho, osukwini lwakamuva (ekhulwini lesishiyagalombili leminyaka B.C.E.), uNkulunkulu wayengathi kumaJuda: “Ofakazi bami yinina—kusho INKOSI [ngesiHeberu: יהוה, YHWH]—inceku yaMi, engiyikhethileyo.”—Isaya 43:10, 12.

Isizwe Sabapristi, Abaprofethi, Namakhosi

11. Ubupristi nobukhosi kwaqala kanjani?

¹¹ Lapho isizwe sakwaIsrayeli sisesogwadule futhi silibangise eZweni Lesithembiso, kwamiswa ubupristi ohlwini lozalo lomfowabo kaMose, uAroni. Ithende elikhulu elithwalekayo, noma itabernakele, laba isikhungo sokukhulekela kwamaIsrayeli nemihlatshelo. (Eksodusi, izahluko 26-28) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi isizwe samaIsrayeli safika eZweni Lesithembiso, eKhanani, futhi salinqoba, njengoba nje uNkulunkulu ayeyalile. (Joshuwa 1:2-6) Ekugcineni kwamiswa ubukhosi basemhlabeni, futhi ngo-1077 B.C.E., uDavide, owayengowesizwe sakwaJuda, waba iNkosi. Ngokubusa kwakhe, kokubili ubukhosi nobupristi kwamiswa ngokugxilile esikhungweni esisha sesizwe sonke, iJerusalema.—1 Samuweli 8:7.

12. Yisiphi isithembiso uNkulunkulu ayesenze kuDavide?

¹² Ngemva kokufa kukaDavide, indodana yakhe uSolomoni yakha ithempeli elihle ngokubabazekayo eJerusalema, elathatha indawo yetabernakele. Ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wayenze isivumelwano noDavide sokuba ubukhosi buhlale ohlwini lwakhe phakade, kwaqondwa ukuthi iNkosi egcotshiwe, uMesiya, ngolunye usuku yayizovela ohlwini lozalo lukaDavide. Iziprofetho zabonisa ukuthi ngaleNkosi yobuMesiya, noma “imbewu,” uIsrayeli nazo zonke izizwe babeyojabulela ububusi obuphelele. (Genesise 22:18, JP) Lelithemba lagxila, futhi isimo sobuMesiya senkolo yamaJuda sabumbeka ngokucacile.—2 Samuweli 7:8-16; IHubo 72:1-20; Isaya 11:1-10; Zakariya 9:9, 10.

13. Obani uNkulunkulu abasebenzisa ukuze alungise ukuhlehla kwamaIsrayeli? Nikeza isibonelo.

¹³ Nokho, amaJuda azivumela ukuba athonywe inkolo yamanga yamaKhanani nezinye izizwe ezaziwazungezile. Ngenxa yalokho, aphula ubuhlobo bawo besivumelwano noNkulunkulu. Ukuze awaqondise futhi awabuyisele kuye, uJehova wathuma uhide lwabaprofethi abayisa izigijimi zakhe kubantu. Ngakho, isiprofetho saba esinye isici esiyingqayizivele senkolo yamaJuda futhi sakha eminingi yemiBhalo YesiHeberu. Eqinisweni, izincwadi ezingu-18 zemiBhalo YesiHeberu zibizwa ngamagama abaprofethi.—Isaya 1:4-17.

14. Izenzakalo zabafakazela kanjani abaprofethi kwaIsrayeli?

¹⁴ Abavelele phakathi kwabaprofethi abanjalo kwakunguIsaya, uJeremiya, noHezekeli, bonke abaxwayisa ngokujezisa kukaJehova isizwe okwakuseduze ngenxa yokukhulekela kwaso izithombe. Lesijeziso safika ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho, ngenxa yokuhlubuka kukaIsrayeli, uJehova evumela iBabiloni, umbuso wezwe owawubusa ngalesosikhathi, ukuba ugumbuqele iJerusalema nethempeli lalo futhi uyise isizwe ekuthunjweni. Abaprofethi baboniswa beqinisile kulokho ababekubikezele, futhi ukudingiswa kwamaIsrayeli iminyaka engu-70 engxenyeni enkulu yekhulu lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E., kuyindaba yombhalo ogciniwe ongokomlando.—2 IziKronike 36:20, 21; Jeremiya 25:11, 12; Daniyeli 9:2.

15. (a) Uhlobo olusha lokukhulekela lwagxila kanjani phakathi kwamaJuda? (b) Yimuphi umphumela amasinagoge aba nawo ekukhulekeleni kwaseJerusalema?

¹⁵ Ngo-539 B.C.E., uKoresi umPheresiya wanqoba iBabiloni futhi wavumela amaJuda ukuba abuyele ezweni lawo futhi alakhe kabusha ithempeli eJerusalema. Nakuba insali yasabela, iningi lamaJuda lasala ngaphansi kwethonya lomphakathi wabaseBabiloni. AmaJuda kamuva athonywa impucuko yamaPheresiya. Ngenxa yalokho, kwavela izindawo ezihlala amaJuda eMpumalanga Ephakathi nasezindaweni ezizungeze iMedithera. Emphakathini ngamunye kwaba nohlobo olusha lokukhulekela olwaluhlanganisa isinagoge, isikhungo sebandla samaJuda emuzaneni ngamunye. Ngokuvamile, lelilungiselelo lanciphisa ukubaluleka kwethempeli elalakhiwe kabusha eJerusalema. AmaJuda ayesemajukujukwini manje ayehlakazekile ngempela.—Ezra 2:64, 65.

UbuJuda Buvela Bufake Imvunulo YamaGreki

16, 17. (a) Yiliphi ithonya elisha elalikhukhula izwe elingaseMedithera ekhulwini lesine leminyaka B.C.E.? (b) Obani ababewusizo ekusakazeni impucuko yamaGreki, futhi kanjani? (c) Ngakho-ke, ubuJuda bavela bukusiphi isimo endaweni yasemhlabeni?

¹⁶ Ekhulwini lesine leminyaka B.C.E., umphakathi wamaJuda wawusesimweni sokuguquguquka futhi kanjalo waba isisulu samagagasi empucuko engeyona eyobuJuda eyayisibekela izwe laseMedithera nangaphesheya. Lamanzi ayevela eGrisi, futhi ubuJuda bavela kuwo bufake imvunulo yobuGreki.

¹⁷ Ngo-332 B.C.E., ujenene ongumGreki uAlexander Omkhulu wathatha iMpumalanga Ephakathi ekunqobeni okwenzeka ngokuphazima kweso futhi wamukelwa amaJuda lapho efika eJerusalema.d Abalandela uAlexander esikhundleni baliqhubekisela phambili icebo lakhe lokuguqula izizwe zibe ngamaGreki, bafunza zonke izingxenye zombuso ngolimi lwesiGreki, impucuko, nefilosofi. Ngenxa yalokho, izimpucuko zamaGreki namaJuda zadlula enqubweni yokuthakwa eyayizokuba nemiphumela emangalisayo.

18. (a) Kungani inguqulo yeSeptuagint yesiGreki yemiBhalo YesiHeberu yayidingeka? (b) Yisiphi isici sempucuko yamaGreki esawathinta ngokukhethekile amaJuda?

¹⁸ AmaJuda ayehlakazekile aqala ukukhuluma isiGreki esikhundleni sesiHeberu. Ngakho ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu leminyaka B.C.E., kwaqaliswa inguqulo yokuqala yemiBhalo YesiHeberu ehunyushelwe esiGrekini, ebizwa ngokuthi iSeptuagint, futhi ngayo, abaningi babeZizwe baqala ukuhlonipha nokujwayelana nenkolo yamaJuda, abanye baze baguquka ngisho nokuguquka.e Ngakolunye uhlangothi, amaJuda ayeqala ukujwayelana nomqondo wamaGreki futhi amanye awo aze aba izazi zefilosofi, okwakuyinto entsha ngokuphelele kumaJuda. Isibonelo salokhu singuPhilo waseAlexandria wekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E., owazama ukuchaza ubuJuda ngamazwi efilosofi yamaGreki, njengokungathi lokhu kokubili kuveza amaqiniso afanayo ayisisekelo.

19. Omunye umlobi ongumJuda uyichaza kanjani inkathi yokuhlanganiswa kwezimpucuko zamaGreki namaJuda?

¹⁹ Efingqa lenkathi yokuthekelana phakathi kwezimpucuko zamaGreki namaJuda, umlobi ongumJuda uMax Dimont uthi: “Zicetshiswe umqondo kaPlato, umqondo ka-Aristotle, nesayensi kaEuclid, izazi zamaJuda zahlasela iTorah ngamathuluzi amasha. . . . Zaqhubeka zinezela izincazelo zobuGreki esambulweni samaJuda.” Izenzakalo ezaziyokwenzeka ngaphansi kokubusa kwamaRoma, okwadla uMbuso wamaGreki bese kuba iJerusalema ngonyaka ka-63 B.C.E., zaziyohlahla indlela yezinguquko ezazibaluleke ngisho nangokwengeziwe.

UbuJuda Ngaphansi Kokubusa KwamaRoma

20. Sasiyini isimo esingokwenkolo phakathi kwamaJuda ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka C.E.?

²⁰ UbuJuda bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka leSikhathi Esivamile babusebangeni eliyingqayizivele. UMax Dimont uthi babumi phakathi “komqondo weGrisi nomkhonto weRoma.” Amathemba amaJuda ayephakeme ngenxa yokucindezeleka ngokwezombangazwe nangenxa yezincazelo zeziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya, ikakhulukazi lezo zikaDaniyeli. AmaJuda ayehlukene aba amaqembu. AbaFarisi babegcizelela umthetho owanikezwa ngomlomo (bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 221) kunemihlatshelo yasethempelini. AbaSadusi bagcizelela ukubaluleka kwethempeli nobupristi. Khona-ke kwakunamaEssene, amaZealot, nabalandeli bakaHerode. Bonke babephikisana ngokwenkolo nangokwefilosofi. Abaholi bamaJuda babebizwa ngokuthi orabi (abaphathi, abafundisi) labo, ngenxa yolwazi lwabo ngoMthetho, abazuza isikhundla futhi baba uhlobo olusha lomholi ongokomoya.

21. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezawathinta ngokungathi sína amaJuda emakhulwini amabili okuqala eminyaka C.E.?

²¹ Nokho, ukwahlukana kwangaphakathi nangaphandle kwaqhubeka ebuJudeni, ikakhulukazi ezweni lakwaIsrayeli. Ekugcineni, kwagqashuka ukuhlubuka okungokoqobo ngokumelene neRoma, futhi ngo-70 C.E., amabutho amaRoma avimbezela iJerusalema, enza umuzi waba yincithakalo, ashisa ithempeli lawo lalotha, futhi ahlakaza izakhamuzi zawo. Ekugcineni, iJerusalema lamenyezelwa njengelingasekho ngokuphelele ezandleni zamaJuda. Ngaphandle kwethempeli, ngaphandle kwezwe, abantu babo behlakazekele kuwo wonke uMbuso WamaRoma, ubuJuda babudinga indlela entsha yokuzibonakalisa ngokwenkolo ukuze buqhubeke bukhona.

22. (a) UbuJuda bathinteka kangakanani ngokulahlekelwa ithempeli eJerusalema? (b) AmaJuda alihlukanisa kanjani iBhayibheli? (c) Iyini iTalmud, futhi yaba khona kanjani?

²² Ngokubhujiswa kwethempeli, abaSadusi banyamalala, futhi umthetho owanikezwa ngomlomo abaFarisi ababewusekele waba umnyombo wobuJuda obusha, bawoRabi. Ukutadisha ngokujulile, ukuthandaza, nemisebenzi yokwethembeka kwathatha isikhundla semihlatshelo yasethempelini nohambo lokuyokhulekela. Kanjalo, ubuJuda babungaqhutshwa nomaphi, noma nini, kunoma iyiphi impucuko ezungezile. Orabi bawubhala phansi lomthetho owanikezwa ngomlomo, ngaphezu kokubhala amazwi okuwukhulumela, bese kuba amazwi ayekhulumela amazwi okuwukhulumela, konke uma sekuhlangene okwaziwa ngokuthi iTalmud.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 220-1.

23. Yiluphi ushintsho ekugcizeleleni olwenzeka ngaphansi kwethonya lokucabanga kwamaGreki?

²³ Waba yini umphumela walamathonya ahlukahlukene? UMax Dimont encwadini yakhe ethi Jews, God and History uthi nakuba abaFarisi baqhubekisela phambili ubhaqa lwemibono nenkolo yamaJuda, “lolubhaqa ngokwalo lwalokhelwe izazi zefilosofi zamaGreki.” Nakuba okuningi kweTalmud kwakuvumelekile kakhulu ngokomthetho, imifanekiso nezincazelo zayo zabonisa ithonya elisobala lefilosofi yamaGreki. Ngokwesibonelo, imiqondo yamaGreki engokwenkolo, njengomphefumulo ongafi, yachazwa ngendlela yamaJuda. Ngempela, kuleyonkathi entsha yawoRabi, ukuhlonishwa kweTalmud—ngalesosikhathi eyayiwukuxutshwa kwefilosofi esemthethweni neyamaGreki—kwakhula phakathi kwamaJuda kwaze kwaba yilapho, eNkathini Ephakathi, iTalmud iba ehlonishwa amaJuda ngaphezu kweBhayibheli ngokwalo.

UbuJuda Phakathi NeNkathi Ephakathi

24. (a) Yimiphi imiphakathi emibili emikhulu eyavela phakathi kwamaJuda phakathi neNkathi Ephakathi? (b) Yabuthonya kanjani ubuJuda?

²⁴ Phakathi neNkathi Ephakathi (kusukela cishe ngo-500 kuya ku-1500 C.E.), kwavela imiphakathi emibili ehlukile yamaJuda—amaJuda obuSephardi, achuma ngaphansi kokubusa kwamaMuslim eSpain, namaJuda obuAshkenazi eYurophu ePhakathi neseMpumalanga. Yomibili lemiphakathi yaveza izazi zawoRabi ezimibhalo yazo nemiqondo kwakha isisekelo sencazelo yamaJuda engokwenkolo kuze kube namuhla. Ngokuthakazelisayo, okuningi kwamasiko nemikhuba engokwenkolo kobuJuda okukhona namuhla empeleni kwathola isiqalo sakho phakathi neNkathi Ephakathi.—Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 231.

25. ISonto lamaKatolika ekugcineni lasabela kanjani kumaJuda eYurophu?

²⁵ Ekhulwini le-12 leminyaka, kwaqala igagasi lokuxoshwa kwamaJuda emazweni ahlukahlukene. Njengoba umlobi waseIsrayeli uAbba Eban echaza kwethi My People—The Story of the Jews: “Kunoma yiliphi izwe . . . elaba ngaphansi kwethonya elimkhakha munye leSonto lamaKatolika, indaba ingefanayo: ukwehliswa okushaqisayo, ukuhlushwa, ukubulawa, nokuxoshwa.” Ekugcineni, ngo-1492, iSpain, eyayisiphinde futhi yaba ngaphansi kokubusa kobuKatolika, nayo yalandela futhi yayaleza ukuxoshwa kwawo wonke amaJuda endaweni yayo. Ngakho ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-15 leminyaka, amaJuda ayesexoshiwe cishe kuyo yonke iYurophu eseNtshonalanga, abalekela eYurophu eseMpumalanga nasemazweni azungeze iMedithera.

26. (a) Yini eyaholela ekudumazekeni phakathi kwamaJuda? (b) Yiziphi izigaba ezinkulu ezaqala ukuvela phakathi kwamaJuda?

²⁶ Kuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka okucindezelwa nokushushiswa, oMesiya abaningi bokuzisholo bavela phakathi kwamaJuda ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zomhlaba, bonke bamukelwa ngokwezinga elithile, kodwa kwaphela ngokudumazeka. Ngasekhulwini le-17 leminyaka, kwakudingeka izinyathelo ezintsha ukuze kuvuselelwe amaJuda futhi akhishwe kulenkathi yobumnyama. Phakathi nekhulu le-18 leminyaka, kwavela impendulo osizini olwaluzwiwa abantu abangamaJuda. KwakuwubuHasid (bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 226), inhlanganisela yokukhulekela okuyimfihlakalo nokuthatheka ngokwenkolo okwakubonakaliswa ekuzinikeleni nasemisebenzini yansuku zonke. Ngokuphambene, cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo, isazi sefilosofi uMoses Mendelssohn, umJuda waseJalimane, wasikisela elinye ikhambi, indlela yeHaskala, noma ukukhanyiselwa, eyayizoholela kulokho ngokomlando okubhekwa ngokuthi “ubuJuda Banamuhla.”

Ukusuka “Ekukhanyiselweni” Kuya KubuZionism

27. (a) UMoses Mendelssohn wazithonya kanjani izimo zengqondo zamaJuda? (b) Kungani amaJuda amaningi alenqaba ithemba likaMesiya ongumuntu?

²⁷ NgokukaMoses Mendelssohn (1729-86), amaJuda ayeyokwamukeleka ukuba ayengaphuma emigoqweni yeTalmud futhi azivumelanise nempucuko yaseNtshonalanga. Osukwini lwakhe, waba omunye wamaJuda ayehlonishwa kakhulu ezweni labeZizwe. Nokho, ukuqhuma okuvuselelwe kwezinhlangano ezimelene namaJuda ezinobudlova ekhulwini le-19 leminyaka, ikakhulukazi eRussia “yobuKristu,” kwadumaza abalandeli balenhlangano, futhi abaningi ngalesosikhathi bagxila ekutholeni isiphephelo sezombangazwe samaJuda. Bawenqaba umqondo kaMesiya ongumuntu owayeyohola amaJuda aphindele kwaIsrayeli futhi baqala ukusebenzela ukumisa uMbuso WobuJuda ngezinye izindlela. Ngakho lokhu kwaba umqondo wenhlangano yeZionism: “Ukususa izici ezingokwenkolo . . . enkolelweni yamaJuda ngoMesiya,” njengoba esinye isazi sikubeka.

28. Yiziphi izenzakalo ekhulwini lama-20 leminyaka eziye zathinta izimo zengqondo zamaJuda?

²⁸ Ukubulawa kwamaJuda aseYurophu acishe afinyelele izigidi eziyisithupha ekuQothulweni Kwesizwe okwakugqugquzelwe ubuNazi (ngo-1935-45) kwanikeza inhlangano yeZionism umfutho wayo wokugcina futhi kwayizuzela uzwela olukhulu ezweni kabanzi. Iphupho lenhlangano yeZionism lazihlonza ngo-1948 ngokumiswa koMbuso WakwaIsrayeli, lowo osiletha ebuJudeni bosuku lwethu nasembuzweni othi, Yini amaJuda osuku lwanamuhla ayikholelwayo?

UNkulunkulu Munye

29. (a) Kalula nje, buyini ubuJuda banamuhla? (b) Ichazwa kanjani indlela ubuJuda obubonakala ngayo? (c) Imiphi eminye imikhosi yamaJuda namasiko?

²⁹ Kalula nje, ubuJuda buyinkolo yabantu. Ngakho-ke, umuntu oguqukela ebuJudeni uba yingxenye yabantu abangamaJuda kuhlanganise nenkolo yamaJuda. Buyinkolo ekholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa ngomqondo ophelele futhi bubambelela ekutheni uNkulunkulu uyangenela emlandweni wabantu, ikakhulukazi ngokuphathelene namaJuda. Ukukhulekela kwamaJuda kuhlanganisa imikhosi eminingana yaminyaka yonke namasiko ahlukahlukene. (Bheka ibhokisi, emakhasini 230-1.) Nakuba zingekho izivumo zokholo noma izimfundiso ezingenakuphikiswa ezamukelwa yiwo wonke amaJuda, ukuvuma ukuba munye kukaNkulunkulu njengoba kuboniswa kuyiShema, umthandazo osekelwe kuDuteronomi 6:4 (JP), kwakha ingxenye engumnyombo wokukhulekela kwasesinagogeni: “YIZWA, O ISRAYELI: INKOSI UNKULUNKULU WETHU, INKOSI YINYE.”

30. (a) AmaJuda amqonda kanjani uNkulunkulu? (b) Umbono wamaJuda ngoNkulunkulu ushayisana kanjani nalowo weLobukholwa?

³⁰ Lenkolelo yokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa yadluliselwa ebuKristwini nakubuIslām. NgokukaDkt. J. H. Hertz, ongurabi: “Lesimemezelo esiphakeme sokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu oyedwa ngokuphelele sasiyisimemezelo sempi ngokumelene nakho konke ukukholelwa konkulunkulu abaningi . . . Ngendlela efanayo, iShema imkhiphela ngaphandle uziqu-zintathu wesivumo sokholo samaKristu njengokwephulwa koBunye BukaNkulunkulu.”f Kodwa manje ake sibuyele ezinkolelweni zamaJuda ngokuphila kwangemva kokufa.

Ukufa, Umphefumulo, Novuko

31. (a) Imfundiso yomphefumulo ongafi yangena kanjani emfundisweni yamaJuda? (b) Yisiphi isimo esibucayi imfundiso yokungafi komphefumulo eyasidala?

³¹ Enye yezinkolelo eziyisisekelo zobuJuda banamuhla iwukuthi umuntu unomphefumulo ongafi oqhubeka uphila ngemva kokufa komzimba. Kodwa ingabe lokhu kuvela eBhayibhelini? IEncyclopaedia Judaica ivuma ngokungagunci: “Cishe kwakungaphansi kwethonya lamaGreki lapho lenkolo yokungafi komphefumulo yangena khona ebuJudeni.” Nokho, lokhu kwadala isimo esibucayi ngokwezimfundiso, njengoba lencwadi efanayo isho: “Ngokuyisisekelo lezinkolelo ezimbili zovuko nokungafi komphefumulo ziyaphikisana. Enye ibhekisela ovukweni oluhlanganisa bonke abantu ekupheleni kwezinsuku, okungukuthi, abafileyo abalele emhlabeni bayovuka ethuneni, kuyilapho enye ibhekisela esimweni somphefumulo ngemva kokufa komzimba.” Lesimo esibucayi saxazululwa kanjani emfundisweni yenkolo yamaJuda? “Kwacatshangwa ukuthi lapho umuntu efa umphefumulo uyaqhubeka uphila kwenye indawo (lokho kwaveza zonke izinkolelo eziphathelene nezulu nesihogo) kuyilapho umzimba wakhe ulele ethuneni ukuze ulindele uvuko olungokoqobo lwabo bonke abafileyo lapha emhlabeni.”

32. IBhayibheli lithini ngabafileyo?

³² Umfundisi waseYunivesithi uArthur Hertzberg uyabhala: “EBhayibhelini [lesiHeberu] ngokwalo indawo yokuphila komuntu iyilomhlaba. Ayikho imfundiso yezulu nesihogo, kuphela kunomqondo okhulayo wovuko lwabafileyo ekupheleni kwezinsuku.” Lokho kuyincazelo elula nenembile yomqondo ongokweBhayibheli, okungukuthi, “abafileyo abazi-lutho . . . Ngoba akukho kunyakaza, nakucabanga, nakufunda, nakuhlakanipha eSheol [ithuna elivamile lesintu], lapho uya khona.”—UmShumayeli 9:5, 10; Daniyeli 12:1, 2; Isaya 26:19.

33. Ekuqaleni amaJuda ayibheka kanjani imfundiso yovuko?

³³ Ngokwe-Encyclopaedia Judaica, “Enkathini yaworabi imfundiso yovuko lwabafileyo ibhekwa njengenye yezimfundiso eziyisisekelo zobuJuda” futhi “kumelwe ihlukaniswe ekukholelweni . . . ekungafini komphefumulo.”g Nokho, nakuba namuhla ukungafi komphefumulo kwamukelwa yiwo wonke amaqembu obuJuda, akunjalo ngovuko lwabafileyo.

34. Ngokuphambene nombono weBhayibheli, iTalmud iwuchaza kanjani umphefumulo? Abalobi bakamuva bathini?

³⁴ Ngokuphambene neBhayibheli, iTalmud, ethonywe ukuguqulelwa kwabantu ebuGrekini, igcwele izincazelo nezindaba ngisho nanezinhlobo zomphefumulo ongafi. Imibhalo yamuva yamaJuda eyindida, okuthiwa iKabbala, ize ifundise ngisho nanokuphind’ ukuzalwa (ukuthutha kwemiphefumulo), ngokuyisisekelo okuyimfundiso yamaHindu yasendulo. (Bheka iSahluko 5.) KwaIsrayeli namuhla, lokhu kwamukelwa kabanzi njengemfundiso yamaJuda, futhi kufeza ingxenye ebalulekile ezinkolelweni nasezincwadini zamaHasid. Ngokwesibonelo, uMartin Buber encwadini yakhe ethi Tales of the Hasidim—The Later Masters uhlanganisa nenganekwane ngomphefumulo welinye lamalungu eqembu likaElimelekh, urabi waseLizhensk: “NgoSuku Lokubuyisana, lapho uRabbi Abraham Yehoshua esho iAvodah, umthandazo owawuphindaphinda inkonzo yompristi omkhulu eThempelini laseJerusalema, abese efika endimeni ethi: ‘Futhi kanjalo wakhuluma,’ wayengalokothi awasho lawomazwi, kodwa kunalokho wayethi: ‘Futhi kanjalo ngakhuluma.’ Ngoba wayengakasilibali isikhathi lapho umphefumulo wakhe wawusemzimbeni wompristi omkhulu eJerusalema.”

35. (a) Yisiphi isimo esiye sathathwa ubuJuda beziNguquko emfundisweni yomphefumulo ongafi? (b) Iyini imfundiso yeBhayibheli ecacile ngomphefumulo?

³⁵ UbuJuda beziNguquko sebuhambe kangangokuthi sebuye benqaba ukukholelwa ovukweni. Njengoba buye balisusa lelogama ezincwadini zomthandazo zeziNguquko, buqaphela kuphela ukukholelwa emphefumulweni ongafi. Yeka ukuthi ucace kangakanani umqondo weBhayibheli njengoba uboniswe kuGenesise 2:7: “INKOSI uNkulunkulu yenza umuntu ngothuli lwenhlabathi, futhi yaphefumlela emakhaleni akhe umoya wokuphila; futhi umuntu waba umphefumulo ophilayo.” (JP) Inhlanganisela yomzimba nomoya, noma amandla okuphila, yakha “umphefumulo ophilayo.”h (Genesise 2:7; 7:22; IHubo 146:4) Ngokuhlukile, lapho isoni esingumuntu sifa, khona-ke nomphefumulo uyafa. (Hezekeli 18:4, 20) Ngakho, ekufeni umuntu uyayeka ukuba nokuphila okunengqondo. Amandla akhe okuphila abuyela kuNkulunkulu owawanikayo. (UmShumayeli 3:19; 9:5, 10; 12:7) Ithemba langempela leBhayibheli ngabafileyo liwuvuko—ngesiHeberu: techi·yathʹ ham·me·thimʹ, noma “ukuvuselelwa kwabafileyo.”

36, 37. Yini amaHeberu athembekile ezikhathi zeBhayibheli ayeyikholelwa ngokuphila kwesikhathi esizayo?

³⁶ Nakuba lesiphetho singase simangaze ngisho namaJuda amaningi, sekunezinkulungwane zeminyaka uvuko luyithemba elingokoqobo labakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu beqiniso. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-3 500 edlule, uJobe othembekile, owayehlupheka wakhuluma ngesikhathi esizayo lapho uNkulunkulu ayeyomvusa khona eSheol, noma ethuneni. (Jobe 14:14, 15) Umprofethi uDaniyeli naye futhi waqinisekiswa ngokuthi wayeyovuswa “ekupheleni kwezinsuku.”—Daniyeli 12:2, 12 (13, JP; IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile).

³⁷ Asikho isisekelo emBhalweni sokuthi lawomaHeberu athembekile ayekholelwa ukuthi anomphefumulo ongafi owawuyoqhubeka uphila ezweni langemva kokufa. Ngokucacile ayenesizathu esanele sokukholelwa ukuthi iNkosi enguMbusi, ebala futhi ilawule izinkanyezi ezisendaweni yonke, yayizowakhumbula ngesikhathi sovuko. Ayeye athembeka kuye nasegameni lakhe. Wayeyothembeka kuwo.—IHubo 18:26 (25, eBhayibhelini lesiZulu elivamile); 147:4; Isaya 25:7, 8; 40:25, 26.

UbuJuda NeGama LikaNkulunkulu

38. (a) Yini eye yenzeka emakhulwini eminyaka ngokuphathelene nokusetshenziswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu? (b) Siyini isisekelo segama likaNkulunkulu?

³⁸ UbuJuda bufundisa ukuthi nakuba igama likaNkulunkulu likhona ezincwadini, lingcwele kakhulu ukuba liphinyiselwe.i Umphumela uye waba ukuthi, phakathi neminyaka engu-2 000 edlule, ukuphinyiselwa okuqondile kuye kwalahleka. Nokho, lokho bekungesona isimo samaJuda ngaso sonke isikhathi. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-3 500 edlule, uNkulunkulu wakhuluma noMose, ethi: “Uyakukhuluma kanjalo kumaIsrayeli: INKOSI [ngesiHeberu: יהוה, YHWH], uNkulunkulu woyihlo, uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, uNkulunkulu kaIsaka, noNkulunkulu kaJakobe, ungithumile kini: Leli kuyakuba igama laMi phakade, kube isiqu saMi kuze kube-phakade.” (Eksodusi 3:15; IHubo 135:13) Laliyini lelogama nalesosiqu? Umbhalo waphansi weTanakh uthi: “Igama elithi YHWH (ngokuvamile elifundwa ngokuthi Adonai “INKOSI”) lapha lihlanganiswa nomsuka othi hayah osho ‘ukuba khona.’” Ngakho, lapha sinegama likaNkulunkulu elingcwele, iTetragrammaton, ongwaqa besiHeberu abane YHWH (Yahweh) labo uma bebhalwa ngesiLatin abaye baziwa amakhulu eminyaka ngesiNgisi ngokuthi JEHOVAH (ngesiZulu, JEHOVA).

39. (a) Kungani igama laphezulu libalulekile? (b) Kungani amaJuda ayeka ukuphimisela igama laphezulu?

³⁹ Kuwo wonke umlando, amaJuda abelokhu ebheka igama likaNkulunkulu siqu njengelibaluleke kakhulu, nakuba ukugcizelela ukusetshenziswa kwalo kuye kwashintsha kakhulu kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo. Njengoba uDkt. A. Cohen esho kuyiEveryman’s Talmud: “Inhlonipho ekhethekile [yayi]hlanganiswe ‘neGama elihlukanisayo’ (Shem Hamephorash) likaNkulunkulu aye walembulela abantu bakwaIsrayeli, okungukuthi, itetragrammaton, JHVH.” Igama laphezulu lalihlonishwa ngoba lalimelele futhi lihlukanisa uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. Kakade, kwakunguNkulunkulu ngokwakhe owazisa igama lakhe futhi watshela abakhulekeli bakhe ukuba balisebenzise. Lokhu kugcizelelwa ukuvela kwaleligama eBhayibhelini lesiHeberu izikhathi ezingu-6 828. Nokho, amaJuda azinikele anomuzwa wokuthi kuwukwedelela ukuphimisela igama likaNkulunkulu siqu.j

40. Iziphathimandla ezithile ezingamaJuda ziye zathini ngokuphathelene nokusetshenziswa kwegama laphezulu?

⁴⁰ Ngokuqondene nesiyalezo sasendulo saworabi (hhayi seBhayibheli) ngokumelene nokuphinyiselwa kwaleligama, uA. Marmorstein, urabi, wabhala encwadini yakhe iOld Rabbinic Doctrine of God: “Kwakunesikhathi lapho lokhu kwenqatshelwa [kokusetshenziswa kwegama laphezulu] kwakungaziwa nhlobo phakathi kwamaJuda . . . Ngisho naseGibithe, noma eBabiloni, amaJuda ayengawazi noma ayengawugcini umthetho owawunqabela ukusetshenziswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu iTetragrammaton, ezingxoxweni ezivamile noma ekubingelelaneni. Nokho, kusukela ekhulwini lesithathu leminyaka B.C.E. kuze kube sekhulwini lesithathu leminyaka A.C.E. ukunqatshelwa okunjalo kwaba khona futhi kwakugcinwa ngokwengxenye.” Akukhona kuphela ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kwaleligama kwakuvunyelwe ezikhathini zakuqala kodwa, njengoba uDkt. Cohen esho: “Kwakunesikhathi lapho ukusetshenziswa kwaleliGama obala nangokukhululeka ngisho nangabantu abavamile kwakutuswa khona . . . Kuye kwasikiselwa ukuthi lokhu kutusa kwakusekelwe esifisweni sokuhlukanisa umIsrayeli kumuntu [ongeyena umJuda].”

41. Ngokukarabi othile, imaphi amathonya abangela ukunqatshelwa kokusetshenziswa kwegama likaNkulunkulu?

⁴¹ Khona-ke, yini eyenza ukuba kube nokuvinjelwa kokusetshenziswa kwegama laphezulu? UDkt. Marmorstein uyaphendula: “Ukuphikisa kwamaHellenist [okuthonywe amaGreki] inkolo yamaJuda, ukuhlubuka kwabapristi nezikhulu, kwangenisa futhi kwagxilisa umthetho wokungaphimiseli iTetragrammaton eNdlini Engcwele [ithempeli eliseJerusalema].” Entshisekweni yawo eyeqile yokugwema ukuphatha ngeze igama laphezulu, akugwema ngokuphelele ukusetshenziswa kwalo enkulumweni futhi aphendukezela aphinde alulaza lokho uNkulunkulu weqiniso ayikho. Ngaphansi kokucindezela okuhlangene kokuphikisa okungokwenkolo nokuhlubuka, igama laphezulu langena esimweni sokungasetshenziswa phakathi kwamaJuda.

42. Umbhalo ogciniwe weBhayibheli ubonisani ngokusetshenziswa kwegama laphezulu?

⁴² Nokho, njengoba uDkt. Cohen esho: “Enkathini yeBhayibheli kubonakala kungekho simiso esimelene nokusetshenziswa [kwegama laphezulu] enkulumweni yansuku zonke.” Inzalamizi uAbrahama “yanxusa iNKOSI ngegama.” (Genesise 12:8) Abaningi babalobi beBhayibheli lesiHeberu balisebenzisa leligama ngokukhululeka kodwa ngenhlonipho kwaze kwaba sekulotshweni kukaMalaki ekhulwini lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E.—Ruthe 1:8, 9, 17.

43. (a) Yini ekhanya bhá mayelana nokusebenzisa kwamaJuda igama laphezulu? (b) Yimuphi omunye umphumela oseceleni wokuyeka kwamaJuda ukusebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu?

⁴³ Kukhanya bhá ukuthi amaHeberu asendulo alisebenzisa futhi aliphimisela igama laphezulu. UMarmorstein uyavuma ngokuphathelene noshintsho olweza kamuva: “Ngoba ngalesikhathi, engxenyeni yokuqala yekhulu lesithathu leminyaka [B.C.E.], kumelwe kuphawulwe ukuthi kwaba khona ushintsho olukhulu ekusetshenzisweni kwegama likaNkulunkulu, okwaletha ushintsho oluningi olwazini lwemfundiso yenkolo yamaJuda nolwefilosofi, amathonya alo asazwakala kuze kube namuhla.” Omunye wemiphumela yokulahleka kwaleligama uwukuthi umqondo kaNkulunkulu ongaziwa wasiza ekudaleni isikhala esingokwemfundiso yenkolo okwakhuliswa kusona kalula nangokwengeziwe imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu weLobukholwa.k—Eksodusi 15:1-3.

44. Yimiphi eminye imiphumela eye yabangelwa ukufihlwa kwegama likaNkulunkulu?

⁴⁴ Ukwenqaba ukusebenzisa igama laphezulu kunciphisa ukukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Njengoba omunye umhlaziyi asho: “Ngokudabukisayo, lapho kukhulunywa ngoNkulunkulu ngokuthi ‘iNkosi,’ leligama, nakuba liqondile, kodwa alisho lutho futhi alikhangi . . . Umuntu kudingeka akhumbule ukuthi ngokuhumusha izinhlamvu ezithi YHWH noma elithi Adonay ngokuthi ‘iNkosi’ usuka engenisa ezindimeni eziningi zeTestamente Elidala isici sokungabi ngokoqobo, ukuba nje umthetho nokuqhela okungeyona ngokuphelele ingxenye yombhalo wakuqala.” (The Knowledge of God in Ancient Israel) Yeka ukuthi kudabukisa kanjani ukubona igama eliphakeme nelibalulekile elithi Yahweh, noma Jehova, lingekho ezinguqulweni eziningi zeBhayibheli kuyilapho livela ngokucacile izinkulungwane zezikhathi embhalweni wokuqala wesiHeberu!—Isaya 43:10-12.

Ingabe AmaJuda Asalindele UMesiya?

45. Yisiphi isisekelo esingokweBhayibheli esikhona sokukholelwa kuMesiya?

⁴⁵ Kuneziprofetho eziningi emiBhalweni YesiHeberu amaJuda athatha kuzona ithemba lawo ngoMesiya eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-2 000 edlule. USamuweli weSibili 7:11-16 wabonisa ukuthi uMesiya wayeyoba owohlu lukaDavide. UIsaya 11:1-10 waprofetha ukuthi wayeyoletha ukulunga nokuthula kuso sonke isintu. UDaniyeli 9:24-27 wanikeza uhlu lokulandelana kwezenzakalo zokuvela kukaMesiya nokunqunywa kwakhe ekufeni.

46, 47. (a) Luhlobo luni lukaMesiya amaJuda ayephila ngaphansi kokubusa kwamaRoma ayelulindele? (b) Yiluphi ushintsho oluye lwenzeka ezifisweni zamaJuda ngokuphathelene noMesiya?

⁴⁶ Njengoba iEncyclopaedia Judaica ichaza, ngasekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka, amathemba ngoMesiya ayephakeme kakhulu. Kwakulindeleke ukuba uMesiya abe “inzalo kaDavide eyayinikezwe amandla okwenza imilingo amaJuda enkathi yamaRoma ayekholelwa ukuthi yayiyomiswa uNkulunkulu ukuba iphule ijoka labahedeni futhi ibuse phezu kombuso wakwaIsrayeli obuyiselwe.” Nokho, uMesiya owayezohileleka kwezempi amaJuda ayemlindele wayengabonakali efika.

⁴⁷ Nokho, njengoba iNew Encyclopædia Britannica iphawula, ithemba ngoMesiya lalibalulekile ekugcineni abantu abangamaJuda behlangene kukho konke okuhlangenwe nakho kwabo okuningi okubuhlungu: “UbuJuda ngokungangabazeki bukweleta ukuqhubeka kwabo bukhona, ngokwezinga elikhulu, okholweni lwabo olugxilile esithembisweni ngoMesiya nangekusasa.” Kodwa ngokudlondlobala kobuJuda banamuhla phakathi kwekhulu le-18 nele-19 leminyaka, amaJuda amaningi apheza ukulindela kwawo uMesiya engenzi lutho. Ekugcineni, ngokuQothulwa Kwesizwe okugqugquzelwe ubuNazi, amaningi aphelelwa isineke sawo nethemba. Aqala ukubheka isigijimi ngoMesiya njengesikhubekiso futhi kanjalo asichaza kabusha njengesimane nje siyinkathi entsha yokuchuma nokuthula. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi, nakuba ekhona ahlukayo, amaJuda esewonke akunakushiwo ukuthi alindele uMesiya ongumuntu.

48. Yimiphi imibuzo engaphakanyiswa ngokunengqondo ngokuphathelene nobuJuda?

⁴⁸ Lokhu kushintshela enkolweni engenaye uMesiya kuphakamisa imibuzo engathi sína. Ingabe ubuJuda ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka babunephutha ngokukholelwa ukuthi uMesiya wayezoba umuntu ongokoqobo? UbuJuda baluphi uhlobo obuzosiza umuntu ekufuneni uNkulunkulu? Ingabe ubuJuda basendulo nemihlobiso yabo yefilosofi yamaGreki? Noma ingabe olunye lwezinhlobo zobuJuda ezingenaye uMesiya ezaba khona phakathi neminyaka engu-200 edlule? Noma ingabe ikhona enye indlela elondoloza ithemba ngoMesiya ngokwethembeka nangokuqondile?

49. Yisiphi isimemo esenziwa kumaJuda aqotho?

⁴⁹ Enalemibuzo engqondweni, sisikisela ukuba amaJuda aqotho ahlole kabusha indaba ngoMesiya ngokuhlolisisa lokho okushiwoyo ngokuphathelene noJesu waseNazaretha, hhayi njengoba eLobukholwa limveza, kodwa ngendlela ababhali abangamaJuda bemiBhalo YesiGreki abamveza ngayo. Kunomehluko omkhulu. Izinkolo zeLobukholwa ziye zaba nesandla ekwenqabeni kwamaJuda uJesu ngemfundiso yazo kaZiqu-zintathu engekho eBhayibhelini, leyo ngokucacile engamukeleki kunoma yimuphi umJuda oyazisayo imfundiso ehlanzekile yokuthi “INKOSI UNKULUNKULU WETHU, INKOSI YINYE.” (Duteronomi 6:4, JP) Ngakho-ke, siyanimema ukuba nifunde isahluko esilandelayo ninomqondo ovulekile ukuze nazi uJesu wemiBhalo YesiGreki.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 217]

AmaJuda obuSephardi nobuAshkenazi akha imiphakathi emibili

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 211]

IMiyalo Eyishumi Yokukhulekela Nokuziphatha

Izigidi zabantu ziye zezwa ngeMiyalo Eyishumi, kodwa bambalwa abake bayifunda. Ngakho-ke, sinikeza kabusha ingxenye enkulu yombhalo wayo lapha.

▪ “Awuyikuba nabanye onkulunkulu ngaphandle kwaMi.

▪ “Awuyikuzenzela isithombe esibaziweyo, noma yini efana nokusezulwini phezulu, noma okusemhlabeni ngaphansi, noma okusemanzini ngaphansi komhlaba. Awuyikukukhothamela noma ukukhonze. . . . [Kulesikhathi samandulo, ngo-1513 B.C.E., lomyalo yiwo wodwa owawenqabela ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe.]

▪ “Awuyikufunga ngamanga ngegama leNKOSI [ngesiHeberu: יהוה] uNkulunkulu wakho . . .

▪ “Khumbula usuku lwesabatha futhi ulugcine lungcwele. . . . INKOSI yalubusisa usuku lwesabatha futhi yalungcwelisa.

▪ “Hlonipha uyihlo nonyoko . . .

▪ “Awuyikubulala.

▪ “Awuyikuphinga.

▪ “Awuyikweba.

▪ “Awuyikufakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakho.

▪ “Awuyikufisa indlu yomakhelwane wakho . . . umkakhe . . . isigqila sakhe noma isigqilakazi . . . inkabi noma imbongolo yakhe, noma yini okungokukamakhelwane wakho.”—Eksodusi 20:3-14.

Nakuba kuyimiyalo emine yokuqala kuphela ephathelene ngokuqondile nenkolelo nokukhulekela okungokwenkolo, eminye imiyalo yabonisa ukuhlobana phakathi kokuziphatha ngokufanele nobuhlobo obufanele noMdali.

[Isithombe]

Naphezu komthetho oyingqayizivele ovela kuNkulunkulu, uIsrayeli walingisa ukukhulekela ithole komakhelwane bakhe abangamaqaba (Ithole legolide, Byblos)

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 220, 221]

Imibhalo Engcwele YamaHeberu

Imibhalo engcwele yamaHeberu yaqala nge“Tanakh.” Igama elithi “Tanakh” livela ezingxenyeni ezintathu zeBhayibheli lamaJuda ngesiHeberu: iTorah (UMthetho), iNevi’im (AbaProfethi), neKethuvim (ImiBhalo), ngokusebenzisa uhlamvu lokuqala lwengxenye ngayinye ukuze kwakhiwe igama elithi TaNaKh. Lezincwadi zalotshwa ngesiHeberu nangesiAramu kusukela ekhulwini leminyaka le-16 kuye kwelesihlanu B.C.E.

AmaJuda akholelwa ukuthi zalotshwa ngaphansi kwamazinga okuphefumlelwa ahlukahlukene ayeya njalo encipha. Ngakho-ke, azihlela ngaloluhlelo lokubaluleka:

Torah—izincwadi eziyisihlanu zikaMose, noma iPentateuch (elivela egameni lesiGreki elisho “imiqulu eyisihlanu”), uMthetho, oqukethe uGenesise, uEksodusi, uLevitikusi, uNumeri, noDuteronomi. Nokho, igama elithi “Torah” lingase futhi lisetshenziswe ekubhekiseleni eBhayibhelini lamaJuda lilonke kanye nasemthethweni owanikezwa ngomlomo nakuyiTalmud (bheka ikhasi elilandelayo).

Nevi’im—AbaProfethi, ehlanganisa kusukela kuJoshuwa kuya kubaprofethi abakhulu, oIsaya, uJeremiya, noHezekeli, bese idlulela nakubaprofethi abangu-12 “abancane” kusukela kuHoseya kuya kuMalaki.

Kethuvim—imiBhalo, equkethe izincwadi ezisazinkondlo, amaHubo, izAga, uJobe, isiHlabelelo Sezihlabelelo, nesiLilo. Ngaphezu kwalokho ihlanganisa noRuthe, umShumayeli, uEsteri, uDaniyeli, uEzra, uNehemiya, neziKronike zokuQala nezeSibili.

ITalmud

Ngokombono wabeZizwe, i“Tanakh,” noma iBhayibheli lamaJuda, ingebaluleke kakhulu emibhalweni yamaJuda. Nokho, amaJuda anombono ohlukile. AmaJuda amaningi angavumelana nokwashiwo uAdin Steinsaltz, urabi: “Uma iBhayibheli liyitshe legumbi lobuJuda, khona-ke iTalmud iyinsika ephakathi, esukela ezisekelweni futhi ephasa sonke isakhiwo esingokomoya nesingokwengqondo . . . Ayikho enye incwadi eye yaba nethonya elifana nayo embonweni nasemkhubeni wokuphila kwamaJuda.” (The Essential Talmud) Khona-ke, iyini iTalmud?

AmaJuda obuOrthodox awakholelwa nje kuphela ekutheni uNkulunkulu wanikeza umthetho olotshiwe, noma iTorah, kuMose eNtabeni yaseSinayi kodwa nasekutheni uNkulunkulu wamembulela izincazelo eziqondile zendlela lowoMthetho okwakumelwe ufezwe ngayo, nokuthi lezi kwakumelwe zidluliselwe ngomlomo. Lokhu kwabizwa ngokuthi umthetho owanikezwa ngomlomo. Ngakho, iTalmud iwukuhlaziywa okulotshiwe, okunokukhulunyelwa nezincazelo zakamuva, zalowomthetho owadluliselwa ngomlomo, okwalotshwa orabi kusukela ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka C.E. kuya eNkathini Ephakathi.

ITalmud ngokuvamile ihlukaniswa izingxenye ezimbili ezisemqoka:

IMishnah: Iqoqo lokukhulumela okuthasisela uMthetho ongokomBhalo, okusekelwe ezincazelweni zorabi ababizwa ngokuthi amaTanna (abafundisi). Yabhalwa ekupheleni kwekhulu lesibili leminyaka nasekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithathu C.E.

IGemara (ekuqaleni eyayibizwa ngokuthi iTalmud): Iqoqo lokukhulunyelwa kweMishnah okwenziwa orabi benkathi yakamuva (ekhulwini lesithathu leminyaka kuya kwelesithupha C.E.).

Ngaphezu kwalezingxenye ezimbili ezisemqoka, iTalmud ingase futhi ihlanganise nokukhulunyelwa kweGemara okwenziwa orabi okufinyelela eNkathini Ephakathi. Abavelele phakathi kwalaba kwakungorabi uRashi (uSolomon ben Isaac, owaphila ngo-1040-1105), owenza ulimi olulukhuni lweTalmud lwaba oluqondakala kangcono kakhulu, noRambam (Moses ben Maimon, owaziwa kakhulu ngokuthi uMaimonides, owaphila ngo-1135-1204), owayihlela kabusha iTalmud yaba inguqulo emfushane ecacile (“Mishneh Torah”), kanjalo enza ukuba itholakale kuwo wonke amaJuda.

[Izithombe]

Ngezansi, iTorah yasendulo kulokho okwaziwa ngokuthi iThuna likaEsteri, eIran; ngakwesokudla, iculo lokudumisa lesiHeberu nesiYiddish elisekelwe emavesini angokomBhalo

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 226, 227]

UbuJuda—Inkolo Enezici Eziningi

Kunokwahlukana okukhulu phakathi kwamaqembu ahlukahlukene obuJuda. Ngokwesiko, ubuJuda bugcizelela imikhuba engokwenkolo. Ukuphikisana ngezindaba ezinjalo, kunangezinkolelo, kwadala isimo esishubile esingathi sína phakathi kwamaJuda futhi kuye kwaholela ekwakhekeni kwamaqembu amathathu amakhulu obuJuda.

UBUJUDA BOBUORTHODOX—Lengxenye ayamukeli nje kuphela ukuthi i“Tanakh” yesiHeberu iwumBhalo ophefumlelwe kodwa futhi ikholelwa ukuthi uMose wamukela umthetho onikezwe ngomlomo ovela kuNkulunkulu eNtabeni yaseSinayi ngesikhathi esifanayo naleso amukela ngaso uMthetho olotshiwe. AmaJuda obuOrthodox ayigcina ngokuqikelela imiyalo yalemithetho yomibili. Akholelwa ukuthi uMesiya usazovela futhi alethe uIsrayeli enkathini yokuchuma nenjabulo. Ngenxa yokwahlukahlukana kombono phakathi kwaleliqembu lobuOrthodox, kuye kwavela amaqembu ahlukahlukene. Isibonelo esisodwa salokhu iHasidism.

AmaHasid (Chasidim, okusho “abathembekileyo”)—Laba babhekwa njengobuorthodox obuphakeme kakhulu kunobuorthodox obuvamile. Basungulwa uIsrael ben Eliezer, owaziwa ngokuthi uBaʽal Shem Tov (“UMphathi weGama Elihle”), phakathi nekhulu le-18 leminyaka eMpumalanga Yurophu, balandela imfundiso eqokomisa umculo nokusina, okuphumela enjabulweni eyimfihlakalo. Eziningi zezinkolelo zabo, kuhlanganise neyokuphind’ ukuzalwa, zisekelwe ezincwadini zamaJuda eziyimfihlakalo ezaziwa ngokuthi iKabbala (Cabala). Namuhla baholwa orebe (igama lesiYiddish elisho “orabi”), noma amazaddik, abhekwa abalandeli bawo njengamadoda alungile kakhulu noma osanta.

AmaHasid namuhla atholakala ikakhulukazi eUnited States nakwaIsrayeli. Agqoka uhlobo oluthile lwezambatho zaseMpumalanga Yurophu, ikakhulukazi ezimnyama, zekhulu le-18 nele-19 leminyaka, eziwenza ukuba avelele kakhulu, ikakhulukazi endaweni yasedolobheni lanamuhla. Namuhla ahlukaniswe aba amahlelo alandela orebe abahlukahlukene abadumile. Elinye iqembu elinjalo elishisekayo lingamaLubavitcher, aguqulela abantu enkolweni yawo ngenkuthalo phakathi kwamaJuda. Amanye amaqembu akholelwa ukuthi uMesiya kuphela onelungelo lokubuyisela uIsrayeli njengesizwe samaJuda ngakho amelene noMbuso wezwe WakwaIsrayeli.

UBUJUDA BEZINGUQUKO (obaziwa futhi ngokuthi “Obukhululekile” nangokuthi “Obuthuthukayo”)—Lenhlangano yaqala eNtshonalanga Yurophu ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu le-19 leminyaka. Isekelwe emiqondweni kaMoses Mendelssohn, isihlakaniphi esingumJuda sekhulu le-18 leminyaka esasikholelwa ukuthi amaJuda kwakufanele amukele impucuko yaseNtshonalanga esikhundleni sokuzehlukanisa kwabeZizwe. AmaJuda ezinguquko ayakwenqaba ukuthi iTorah yayiyiqiniso elembulwe ngokwaphezulu. Abheka imithetho yamaJuda ephathelene nokudla, ubumsulwa, nokugqoka njengeyisidala. Akholelwa kulokho akubiza ngokuthi “inkathi kaMesiya yobuzalwane beNdawo Yonke.” Eminyakeni yamuva aye abuyela emuva ngokwengeziwe ebuJudeni obungokwesiko.

UBUJUDA OBUSADLA NGOLUDALA—Lobu baqala eJalimane ngo-1845 njengehlumela lobuJuda Bezinguquko, lobo okwakunomuzwa wokuthi babulahle imikhuba yamaJuda engokwesiko eminingi kakhulu. UbuJuda obusadla ngoludala abukwamukeli ukuthi umthetho owanikezwa ngomlomo wamukelwa nguMose kuNkulunkulu kodwa bubambelela ekutheni orabi abaqamba iTorah edluliselwa ngomlomo, befuna ukufanelanisa ubuJuda nenkathi entsha. AmaJuda asadla ngoludala azithoba emithethweni engokweBhayibheli nasemthethweni waworabi kuphela uma “ivumelana nezimfuneko zanamuhla zokuphila kwamaJuda.” (The Book of Jewish Knowledge) Asebenzisa isiHeberu nesiNgisi ezinkonzweni zawo futhi alondoloza imithetho eqinile ephathelene nokudla (kashruth). Amadoda nabesifazane bavunyelwe ukuba bahlale ndawonye ngesikhathi sokukhulekela, okuyinto engavunyelwa ubuOrthodox.

[Izithombe]

Ngakwesobunxele, amaJuda oDongeni Lokulila eJerusalema kanti ngenhla, umJuda uyathandaza, efulathele iJerusalema

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 230, 231]

Eminye Imikhosi Ebalulekile Namasiko

Iningi lemikhosi yamaJuda lisekelwe eBhayibhelini futhi, ngokuvamile, iyimikhosi eyenziwa ngezikhathi ezithile zonyaka ngokuphathelene nezivuno ezihlukahlukene noma ihlobene nezenzakalo ezingokomlando.

▪ Shabbat (ISabatha)—Usuku lwesikhombisa ngokwesonto lamaJuda (oluqala ekushoneni kwelanga ngoLwesihlanu kuya ekushoneni kwelanga ngoMgqibelo) lubhekwa njengolungcwelisa isonto, futhi ukugcinwa kwalolusuku ngokukhethekile kuyingxenye ebalulekile yokukhulekela. AmaJuda aya esinagogeni ukuyolalela ukufundwa kweTorah nemithandazo.—Eksodusi 20:8-11.

▪ Yom Kippur—USuku Lokubuyisana, umkhosi ozothile ophawulwa ukuzila nokuzihlola. Uphelelisa iziNsuku Eziyishumi Zokuzisola eziqala ngoRosh Hashanah, uNyaka Omusha wamaJuda, oba ngoSeptember ngokwekhalenda yamaJuda yezwe.—Levitikusi 16:29-31; 23:26-32.

▪ Sukkot (Phezulu, ngakwesokudla)—UMkhosi WamaDokodo, noma wamaTabernakele noma wokuVuna. Ugubha isivuno nokuphela kwengxenye enkulu yonyaka wezolimo. Wenziwa ngo-October.—Levitikusi 23:34-43; Numeri 29:12-38; Duteronomi 16:13-15.

▪ Hanukkah—UMkhosi Wokuzinikezela. Umkhosi othandwa kakhulu owenziwa ngoDecember wokukhumbula ukubuyisela kwamaMaccabees ukukhululeka kwamaJuda ekubusweni amaSiriya namaGreki nokunikezelwa kabusha kwethempeli eliseJerusalema ngoDecember 165 B.C.E. Ngokuvamile ubonakala ngokukhanyiswa kwamakhandlela izinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili.

▪ Purim—UMkhosi Wezinkatho. Ugujwa ngasekupheleni kukaFebruary noma ekuqaleni kukaMarch, ekukhumbuleni ukukhululwa kwamaJuda ePheresiya phakathi nekhulu lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E. kuHamani nozungu lwakhe lokubulala isizwe.—Esteri 9:20-28.

▪ Pesach—UMkhosi WePhasika. Wamiswa ukuze kukhunjulwe ukukhululwa kwamaIsrayeli ekuthunjweni eGibithe (ngo-1513 B.C.E.). Uwumkhosi wamaJuda omkhulu nomdala kunayo yonke. Wenziwa ngoNisan 14 (ngokwekhalenda yamaJuda), ngokuvamile uba sekupheleni kukaMarch noma ekuqaleni kuka-April. Umkhaya ngamunye wamaJuda uhlangana ndawonye ukuze uhlanganyele isidlo sePhasika, noma iSeder. Phakathi nezinsuku ezilandelayo eziyisikhombisa, akukho mvubelo okumelwe idliwe. Lenkathi ibizwa ngokuthi uMkhosi Wezinkwa Ezingenamvubelo (Matzot).—Eksodusi 12:14-20, 24-27.

Amanye Amasiko ObuJuda

▪ Ukusoka—Okwabafana abangamaJuda, kuwumcimbi obalulekile owenziwa lapho umntwana enezinsuku eziyisishiyagalombili ubudala. Ngokuvamile ubizwa ngokuthi iSivumelwano Sika-Abrahama, njengoba ukusoka kwakuwuphawu lwesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu naye. Amadoda aphendukela okholweni lobuJuda nawo futhi kumelwe asokwe.—Genesise 17:9-14.

▪ Bar Mitzvah (ngezansi)—Omunye umkhuba onemicikilisho wamaJuda obaluleke kakhulu, lowo ngokwezwi nezwi osho ukuthi “indodana yomyalo,” “igama elichaza kokubili ukufinyelelwa kokuvuthwa okungokwenkolo nokungokomthetho kanye nesikhathi abafana bobudala beminyaka engu-13 nosuku olulodwa okucatshangelwa ukuthi babefinyelela lesosikhundla ngaso ngokomthetho.” Waba isiko lamaJuda kuphela ekhulwini le-15 leminyaka C.E.—Encyclopaedia Judaica.

▪ Mezuzah (ngenhla)—Ngokuvamile kulula ukubona ikhaya lomJuda ngenxa yemezuzah, noma ibhokisi lomqulu, ngakwesokudla sensika yomnyango njengoba umuntu engena. Eqinisweni imezuzah iyisikhumba esincane okulotshwe kuso amazwi acashunwe kuDuteronomi 6:4-9 no–11:13-21. Lesi siyasongwa sifakwe ebhokisaneni elincane. Lelibhokisana bese linanyathiselwa emnyango ngamunye wekamelo elisetshenziswayo.

▪ Yarmulke (isigqoko samadoda esinamathelayo)—Ngokwe-Encyclopaedia Judaica: “AmaJuda obuOrthodox . . . abheka isembozo sekhanda kokubili ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwesinagoge, njengophawu lokwethembeka esikweni lamaJuda.” Ukumboza ikhanda ngesikhathi sokukhulekela akuphawulwanga ndawo kuyiTanakh, ngakho iTalmud iphawula lokhu njengendaba yokuzikhethela yamasiko. Abesifazane bamaJuda obuHasid bathwala isembozo sekhanda ngazo zonke izikhathi noma baphuce amakhanda abo bese begqoka iwigi.

[Isithombe ekhasini 206]

UAbrama (uAbrahama), ukhokho wamaJuda, wakhulekela uJehova uNkulunkulu cishe eminyakeni engu-4 000 edlule

[Isithombe ekhasini 208]

INkanyezi kaDavide—uphawu lwamaIsrayeli nobuJuda olungelona olungokwe-Bhayibheli

[Isithombe ekhasini 215]

Umbhali ongumJuda ekopisha umbhalo wesiHeberu

[Isithombe ekhasini 222]

Umkhaya wamaJuda obuHasid ugubha iSabatha

[Isithombe ekhasini 233]

AmaJuda azinikele abophe amafilakteriyu, noma amabhokisana anemiqulu yemithandazo, engalweni nasebunzini