Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yesi-2—UEksodusi
Umlobi: UMose
Yalotshelwa: Ehlane
Ukuloba Kwaphela: 1512 B.C.E.
Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 1657-1512 B.C.E.
1. (a) Imaphi amaphuzu avelele encwadi kaEksodusi? (b) Iye yabizwa ngamaphi amagama incwadi kaEksodusi, futhi iqhubekisela phambili kuphi ukulandisa?
UKULANDISA okushukumisa umphefumulo ngezimpawu nangezimangaliso ezibalulekile uJehova azenza lapho ekhulula abantu begama lakhe ekuhluphekeni kwaseGibithe, ukuhlela kwakhe uIsrayeli njengempahla yakhe ekhethekile ‘engumbuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele,’ nokuqala komlando kaIsrayeli njengesizwe esingokwasezulwini—lokhu kungamaphuzu avelele encwadi yeBhayibheli uEksodusi. (Eks. 19:6) NgesiHeberu ibizwa ngokuthi Weʼelʹleh shemohthʹ, okusho ukuthi “Manje lawa amagama,” noma nje Shemohthʹ, “Amagama,” ngokwamazwi ayo okuqala. Leligama losuku lwanamuhla livela kuyiSeptuagint yesiGreki, lapho ibizwa khona ngokuthi uEʹxo·dos, eliye lenziwa isiLatini laba uExodus, elisho “Ukuhamba” noma “Ukufuduka.” Ukuthi incwadi kaEksodusi iwukuqhutshwa kokulandisa okukuGenesise kuboniswa yigama lokuqala elithi, “Manje” (NW) (ngokwezwi nezwi, “Futhi”), nawukuphindwa kohlu lwamagama amadodana kaJakobe, njengoba ethathwe emlandweni ophelele kaGenesise 46:8-27.
2. Yini incwadi kaEksodusi eyembulayo ngegama elithi JEHOVA?
2 Incwadi kaEksodusi yembula igama likaNkulunkulu elibabazekayo, elithi JEHOVA, ngakho konke ukukhanya kwenkazimulo nobungcwele balo. Njengoba aqhubeka ebonisa ukujula kwencazelo yegama lakhe, uNkulunkulu watshela uMose, “Nginguye enginguye,” futhi wanezela ukuthi kufanele atshele uIsrayeli, “uNgikhona [ngesiHeberu: אהיה, ʼEh·yehʹ, elivela esenzweni sesiHeberu esithi ha·yahʹ ] ungithumile.” Igama elithi JEHOVA (יהוה, YHWH) livela esenzweni sesiHeberu esihlobene nalo esithi ha·wahʹ, “yiba,” futhi eqinisweni lisho ukuthi “Ubangela Kube Khona.” Ngokuqinisekile izenzo zikaJehova zamandla nezesabekayo manje azenza ngenxa yabantu bakhe, uIsrayeli, zalikhulisa lelogama futhi zalembesa ngenkazimulo ekhazimulayo, zilenza libe isikhumbuzo “ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane,” igama okumelwe lihlonishwe phakade. Kuzuzisa ngaphezu kwezinto zonke ukuba sazi umlando omangalisayo ohlobene nalelogama nokuba sikhulekele uNkulunkulu weqiniso, Lowo othi, “NginguJehova.”a—Eks. 3:14, 15; 6:6.
3. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi uMose wayengumlobi wencwadi kaEksodusi? (b) Yalotshwa nini incwadi kaEksodusi, futhi ihlanganisa yiphi inkathi?
3 UMose ungumlobi wencwadi kaEksodusi, njengoba kuboniswa ukuba kwayo umqulu wesibili weziNcwadi Ezinhlanu. Yona ngokwayo lencwadi ikhuluma ngezikhathi ezintathu lapho uMose eloba umlando ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaJehova. (17:14; 24:4; 34:27) Ngokwezazi zeBhayibheli oWestcott noHort, uJesu kanye nabalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki bacaphuna noma babhekisela encwadini kaEksodusi izikhathi ezingaphezu kuka-100, njengalapho uJesu ethi: “UMose kaninikanga yini umthetho na?” Incwadi kaEksodusi yalotshelwa ehlane laseSinayi, ngonyaka ka-1512 B.C.E., esikhathini esiwunyaka ngemva kokuba abantwana bakwaIsrayeli bephumile eGibithe. Ihlanganisa inkathi yeminyaka engu-145, kusukela ekufeni kukaJosefa ngo-1657 B.C.E. kuya ekumisweni kwetabernakele lokukhulekelwa kukaJehova ngo-1512 B.C.E.—Joh. 7:19; Eks. 1:6; 40:17.
4, 5. Ibuphi ubufakazi babavubukuli obusekela ukulandisa kukaEksodusi?
4 Uma sicabangela ukuthi izenzakalo ezisencwadini kaEksodusi zenzeka cishe eminyakeni engu-3 500 edlule, kunobufakazi obuningi ngokumangalisayo bemivubukulo nobunye bangaphandle obufakazela ukunemba kwalomlando. Amagama aseGibithe asetshenziswe ngendlela efanele encwadini kaEksodusi, futhi iziqu eziphawuliwe zivumelana nemibhalo yaseGibithe eqoshiwe. Isayensi yemivubukulo ibonisa ukuthi kwakuyisiko labaseGibithe ukuvumela abantu bakwamanye amazwe bahlale eGibithe kodwa bangahlangani nabo. Amanzi eNayile ayesetshenziselwa ukugeza, okukhumbuza ngokuthi indodakazi kaFaro yayigeza lapho. Kuye kwatholakala izitini ezenziwe ngotshani obomile nezingenziwanga ngabo. Futhi, ngezinsuku zokudlondlobala kweGibithe abenzi bemilingo babevelele.—Eks. 8:22; 2:5; 5:6, 7, 18; 7:11.
5 Amatshe ezikhumbuzo abonisa ukuthi oFaro babezihola bona siqu izinqola zempi ukuya empini, futhi incwadi kaEksodusi ibonisa ukuthi uFaro wosuku lukaMose walandela lelisiko. Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwaba kukhulu kangakanani ukuthotshiswa kwakhe! Kodwa kwenzeka kanjani ukuba imibhalo yasendulo yaseGibithe ingabhekiseli ekugogobaleni kwamaIsrayeli ezweni lawo noma enhlekeleleni eyehlela iGibithe? Isayensi yemivubukulo iye yabonisa ukuthi kwakuyisiko lohlanga olusha lwamakhosi aseGibithe ukususa emibhalweni yangaphambili noma yini engalulethi udumo. Ayengakulobi phansi ukwehlulwa okudumazayo. Amagalelo konkulunkulu baseGibithe—njengonkulunkulu weNayile, unkulunkulu ixoxo, nonkulunkulu ilanga—ehlisa labonkulunkulu bamanga futhi abonisa ukuthi uJehova uphakeme, ayengeke afaneleke emibhalweni yaminyaka yonke yesizwe esiqhoshayo.—14:7-10; 15:4.b
6. Izindawo amaIsrayeli akanisa kuzo ekuqaleni ngokuvamile zibhekwa njengeziyiziphi izindawo?
6 Inkonzo kaMose yeminyaka engu-40 njengomalusi ngaphansi kukaJetiro yamjwayelanisa nezimo zokuphila kuleyondawo nezindawo okutholakala kuzo amanzi nokudla, kanjalo imenza akufanelekele kahle ukuhola uFuduko (Exodus). Indlela okuyiyona yona yoFuduko ayisenakulandelelwa ngokuqinisekile namuhla, njengoba izindawo ezihlukahlukene ezishiwo ekulandiseni zingasenakukhonjwa ngokuqiniseka. Nokho, iMara, enye yezindawo zokuqala okwakaniswa kuzo eNhlonhlweni yaseSinayi, ngokuvamile ibhekwa njengeyiʽEin Hawwara, engamakhilomitha angu-80 ukusuka eNingizimu yeNingizimu-mpumalanga yeSuez yanamuhla. IElimi, indawo yesibili okwakaniswa kuyo, ngokomlando ibhekwa njengeyiWadi Gharandel, engamakhilomitha angu-88 ukusuka eNingizimu yeNingizimu-mpumalanga yeSuez. Ngokuthakazelisayo, lendawo yanamuhla yaziwa njengendawo enamanzi enohlaza namasundu, okukhumbuza nge-Elimi yaseBhayibhelini, ‘eyayinemithombo eyishumi nambili yamanzi namasundu angamashumi ayisikhombisa.’c Nokho, ukuba yiqiniso kokulandisa kukaMose akuxhomekile ekuqinisekiseni kwabavubukuli izindawo ezihlukahlukene ezisendleleni okwakuhanjwa kuyo.—15:23, 27.
7. Ibuphi obunye ubufakazi, kuhlanganise nokwakhiwa kwetabernakele, obuqinisekisa ukuthi incwadi kaEksodusi iphefumlelwe?
7 Ukulandisa kokwakhiwa kwetabernakele emathafeni aphambi kweSinayi kuvumelana nezimo zakuleyondawo. Esinye isazi sathi: “Ngesimo, ngesakhiwo, nangezinto zokwakha, itabernakele lingelasehlane ngokuphelele. Ipulangwe elasetshenziswa kulesakhiwo litholakala lapho ngobuningi.”d Noma ngabe kusemkhakheni wamagama, wamasiko, wenkolo, wezindawo, wesimo sezwe, noma wezinto ezazisetshenziswa, ukunqwabelana kobufakazi bangaphandle kufakazela ukulandisa okuphefumlelwe kwencwadi kaEksodusi, manje osekuneminyaka engaba ngu-3 500 ubudala.
8. Kuboniswa kanjani ukuthi incwadi kaEksodusi ihlangene nayo yonke eminye imiBhalo njengephefumlelwe nenenzuzo?
8 Abanye abalobi beBhayibheli babebhekisela njalo encwadini kaEksodusi, bebonisa ukubaluleka kwayo okungokwesiprofetho. Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-900 kamuva, uJeremiya wabhala ‘ngogama lakhe linguNkulunkulu omkhulu oyiqhawe, uJehova-Sebawoti,’ owakhipha abantu bakhe, uIsrayeli, eGibithe “ngezibonakaliso nangezimangaliso, nangesandla esinamandla, nangengalo eyeluliweyo nangengebhe enkulu.” (Jer. 32:18-21) Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-1 500 kamuva, uStefanu wasekela obuningi bobufakazi obushukumisayo obaholela ekubulawelweni kwakhe ukholo ekwazisweni okusencwadini kaEksodusi. (IzE. 7:17-44) Ukuphila kukaMose sikuphawulelwe njengesibonelo sokholo kumaHeberu 11:23-29, futhi uPawulu ubhekisela kaningi encwadini kaEksodusi ekusinikeni izibonelo nezixwayiso namuhla. (IzE. 13:17; 1 Kor. 10:1-4, 11, 12; 2 Kor. 3:7-16) Konke lokhu kusisiza ukuba siqonde indlela izingxenye zeBhayibheli ezihlangene ngayo, ingxenye ngayinye ihlanganyela ngendlela ezuzisayo ekwambulweni kwenjongo kaJehova.
OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI KAEKSODUSI
9. UMose uzalwa futhi ukhulela ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo?
9 UJehova uthuma uMose, egcizelela iGama laKhe eliyiSikhumbuzo (1:1–4:31). Ngemva kokubala ngamagama amadodana kaIsrayeli ehlela eGibithe, incwadi kaEksodusi ngokulandelayo ilandisa ngokufa kukaJosefa. Ngemva kwesikhathi kuvela inkosi entsha eGibithe. Lapho ibona ukuthi amaIsrayeli ayaqhubeka ‘echuma, anda, eba maningi,’ isebenzisa izindlela zokucindezela, kuhlanganise nokugqilaza, futhi izama ukunciphisa inani labesilisa bakwaIsrayeli ngokuyala ukuba kubulawe bonke abantwana besilisa abasanda kuzalwa. (1:7) Kungaphansi kwalezizimo lapho umIsrayeli wendlu yakwaLevi ezalelwa khona indodana. Lomtwana ungowesithathu kulomkhaya. Lapho esenezinyanga ezintathu ubudala, unina umthukusa ebhokisaneni lebungu phakathi kwemihlanga ngasosebeni loMfula iNayile. Utholwa indodakazi kaFaro, emthandayo lomfanyana bese imthatha eba ngowayo. Unina wangempela walomfanyana uba umzanyana wakhe, futhi ngenxa yalokho, ukhulela ekhaya lamaIsrayeli. Kamuva ulethwa esigodlweni sikaFaro. Uqanjwa igama lokuthi uMose, okusho ukuthi “Wenyuliwe [okungukuthi, uhlengwe emanzini].”—Eks. 2:10; IzE. 7:17-22.
10. Iziphi izenzakalo eziholela ekuthunyweni kukaMose ukuba enze inkonzo ekhethekile?
10 LoMose unesithakazelo enhlalakahleni yamaIsrayeli akubo. Ubulala umGibithe ngokuphatha kabi umIsrayeli. Ngenxa yalokho, kumelwe abaleke, ngakho ufika ezweni lakwaMidiyani. Lapho ushada noSipora indodakazi kaJetiro, umpristi wakwaMidiyani. Ngemva kwesikhathi uMose uba nguyise wamadodana amabili, uGereshomu noEliyezeri. Khona-ke, lapho eseneminyaka engu-80 ubudala, ngemva kokuba esechithe iminyaka engu-40 ehlane, uMose uthunywa uJehova ukuba ayokwenza inkonzo ekhethekile engcwelisa igama likaJehova. Ngelinye ilanga lapho eluse imihlambi kaJetiro eduze neHorebe, ‘intaba kaNkulunkulu,’ uMose ubona isihlahla sameva sivutha kodwa singashi. Lapho eya kohlola, ukhulunyiswa ingelosi kaJehova, emtshela ngenjongo kaNkulunkulu ‘yokukhipha eGibithe abantu bakhe, abantwana bakwaIsrayeli.’ (Eks. 3:1, 10) UMose uzosetshenziswa njengethuluzi likaJehova ekukhululeni uIsrayeli ebugqilini baseGibithe.—IzE. 7:23-35.
11. UJehova manje ulenza laziwe ngamuphi umqondo okhethekile igama lakhe?
11 UMose ube esebuza ukuthi uzomchaza kanjani uNkulunkulu kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli. Kulapha, ngokokuqala, lapho uJehova azisa khona ngencazelo yangempela yegama lakhe, elihlanganisa nenjongo yakhe ekhethekile futhi elimisa ukuba libe isikhumbuzo. “Uzakusho njalo kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli, uthi: UNgikhona ungithumile . . . UJehova, uNkulunkulu wawoyihlo, uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama, noNkulunkulu kaIsaka, noNkulunkulu kaJakobe, ungithumile kini.” Igama lakhe, elithi Jehova, limchaza njengokunguye oyobangela ukuba ifezeke injongo yakhe ngokuqondene nabantu begama lakhe. Lababantu, inzalo ka-Abrahama, uyobanika izwe alithembisa okhokho babo, “izwe elichichima ubisi nezinyosi.”—Eks. 3:14, 15, 17.
12. Yini uJehova ayichazela uMose ngokuqondene nokukhululwa kwamaIsrayeli, futhi abantu bazamukela kanjani izibonakaliso?
12 UJehova uchazela uMose ukuthi inkosi yaseGibithe ngeke iwavumele amaIsrayeli ukuba ahambe ngokukhululeka kodwa kuzodingeka aqale ashaye iGibithe ngazo zonke izenzo zaKhe ezimangalisayo. UMose unikwa uAroni, umfowabo, ukuba abe umkhulumeli wakhe, futhi bamukela izibonakaliso ezintathu ukuba bazenze ukuze baqinisekise amaIsrayeli ukuthi beza ngegama likaJehova. Lapho besesendleleni beya eGibithe, indodana kaMose kudingeka isokwe ukuze kuvinjelwe ukufa emkhayeni, okukhumbuza uMose ngezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu. (Gen. 17:14) OMose noAroni baqoqa amadoda amadala kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli futhi bawatshela ngenjongo kaJehova yokubakhipha eGibithe nokubayisa eZweni Lesithembiso. Benza izibonakaliso, futhi abantu bayakholwa.
13. Uba yini umphumela wokuhlangana kokuqala kukaMose noFaro?
13 Amagalelo eGibithe (5:1–10:29). Manje oMose noAroni baya kuFaro futhi bamemezela ukuthi uJehova, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, uthe: “Bavumele abantu bami ukuba bahambe.” Ngezwi lokwedelela, uFaro oqhoshayo uyaphendula: “Ngubani uJehova ukuba ngilalele izwi lakhe, ngimyeke uIsrayeli ukuba ahambe na? Angimazi uJehova, futhi angiyikumvumela uIsrayeli ukuba ahambe.” (5:1, 2) Esikhundleni sokukhulula amaIsrayeli, uwathwesa imisebenzi enzima. Nokho, uJehova uvuselela isithembiso sakhe sokukhulula, ephinda futhi esihlanganisa nokungcweliswa kwegama lakhe: “NginguJehova . . . mina ngibe-nguNkulunkulu wenu . . . nginguJehova.”—6:6-8.
14. Abantu baseGibithe baphoqeleka kanjani ukuba baqaphele “umunwe kaNkulunkulu”?
14 Isibonakaliso uMose asenzayo phambi kukaFaro, ngokuba uAroni aphonse phansi induku yakhe ukuba iphenduke inyoka enkulu, silingiswa abapristi baseGibithe abenza imilingo. Nakuba izinyoka zabo zigwinywa inyoka ka-Aroni enkulu, inhliziyo kaFaro isalokhu ilukhuni. Manje uJehova uletha amagalelo anzima alandelanayo eGibithe. Okokuqala, umfula wabo iNayile nawo wonke amanzi aseGibithe kuphenduka igazi. Khona-ke bafikelwa inhlupho yamaxoxo. Lamagalelo amabili bayawalingisa abapristi abenza imilingo, kodwa igalelo lesithathu, lomiyane kubantu nezilwane liyabahlula. Abapristi baseGibithe kumelwe baqaphele ukuthi lona “umunwe kaNkulunkulu.” Nokho, uFaro akafuni ukuvumela amaIsrayeli ahambe.—8:19.
15. Imaphi amagalelo athinta abaseGibithe kuphela, futhi kungasiphi isizathu kuphela uJehova evumela uFaro ukuba aqhubeke?
15 Amagalelo amathathu okuqala afikela abaseGibithe namaIsrayeli ngokufanayo, kodwa kusukela kwelesine kuya phambili, kuhlupheka abaseGibithe kuphela, uIsrayeli ema ehlukile ngaphansi kwesivikelo sikaJehova. Igalelo lesine uswebezane olunzima lwezibawu. Khona-ke kulandela isifo kuyo yonke imfuyo yaseGibithe, esilandelwa amathumba anamabhamuza kubantu nasezilwaneni, kangangokuthi ngisho nabapristi abenza imilingo abakwazi ukuma phambi kukaMose. UJehova uyaphinda futhi uvumela inhliziyo kaFaro ukuba ibe lukhuni, ethi kuye ngoMose: “Kepha ngikumisé ngalokhu ukuba ngikubonise amandla ami, igama lami lishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke.” (9:16) UMose ube esememezela kuFaro igalelo elilandelayo, “isichotho esinzima kakhulu,” futhi lapha iBhayibheli likuphawula ngokokuqala ukuthi ezinye phakathi kwezinceku zikaFaro ziyalesaba izwi likaJehova futhi zenza njengokusho kwalo. Igalelo lesishiyagalombili nelesishiyagalolunye—ukuhlasela kwesikhonyane nobumnyama obukhulu—alandelana eduze, futhi uFaro onenkani, othukuthele usongela uMose ngokufa uma engazama ukubona ubuso bakhe futhi.—9:18.
16. Yini uJehova ayala ngayo ngokuqondene nePhasika nangoMkhosi Wezinkwa Ezingenamvubelo?
16 IPhasika nokubulawa kwamazibulo (11:1–13:16). Manje uJehova uthi, “Ngisezakuletha inhlupheko eyodwa kuFaro nakulo iGibithe”—ukufa kwamazibulo. (11:1) Uyala ukuba inyanga ka-Abib ibe inyanga yokuqala kwabakwaIsrayeli. Ngosuku lwe-10, kumelwe bathathe imvu noma imbuzi—eyeduna, enonyaka owodwa ubudala, engenasici—futhi ngosuku lwe-14, bayibulale. Ngalokho kuhlwa kumelwe bathathe igazi lalesosilwane balifafaze ezinsikeni ezimbili zomnyango nasekhothamweni lomnyango, khona-ke kumelwe bahlale ngaphakathi endlini badle lesilwane esosiwe, okungafanele kwephulwe ngisho nelilodwa ithambo laso. Akufanele kube khona mvubelo endlini, futhi kumelwe badle ngokujaha, begqokile futhi belungele ukuhamba. IPhasika kumelwe libe isikhumbuzo, umkhosi owenzelwa uJehova kuzo zonke izizukulwane zabo. Kumelwe lilandelwe uMkhosi Wesinkwa Esingenamvubelo wezinsuku eziyisikhombisa. Amadodana abo kumelwe afundiswe ngokugcwele ukuthi iyini incazelo yalokhu. (Kamuva uJehova unikeza ezinye iziyalezo ngokuqondene nalemikhosi, futhi uyala ukuthi onke amazibulo esilisa angawakwaIsrayeli, kokubili awabantu nawezilwane, kumelwe angcweliselwe yena.)
17. Isiphi isenzakalo esiphawula lobusuku njengobusuku bokukhunjulwa?
17 UIsrayeli wenza njengoba uJehova eyala. Khona-ke kufika inhlekelele! Phakathi kwamabili uJehova ubulala wonke amazibulo aseGibithe, kuyilapho edlula futhi esindisa amazibulo akwaIsrayeli. ‘Phumani kubantu bami,’ kumemeza uFaro. Futhi ‘abaseGibithe bayabacindezela abantu’ ukuba bahambe ngokushesha. (12:31, 33) AmaIsrayeli awahambi elambatha, ngoba acela izimpahla zesiliva negolide nezokugqoka kubantu baseGibithe futhi ayazithola. Aphuma eGibithe ehlelwe njengamaviyo empi, efinyelela enanini lamadoda anamandla angu-600 000, kanye nemindeni yawo neqembu elikhulu lengxubevange yabangewona amaIsrayeli, kanye nemfuyo eningi. Lokhu kuphawula ukuphela kweminyaka engu-430 kusukela ekuweleni kuka-Abrahama iEwufrathe ukuze angene ezweni laseKhanani. Ngempela lobu ubusuku bokukhunjulwa.—Eks. 12:40, umbhalo waphansi wesibili weNW; Gal. 3:17.
18. Ikuphi ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova okuwumvuthwandaba okwenzeka oLwandle Olubomvu?
18 Igama likaJehova liyangcweliswa oLwandle Olubomvu (13:17–15:21). Emini ebahola ngensika yefu ebusuku ngensika yomlilo, uJehova uhola uIsrayeli ngendlela yaseSukoti. UFaro uyaphinda futhi uba nenkani, ebasukela ngezinqola zakhe zempi futhi ebavimbezela, ngokucabanga kwakhe, oLwandle Olubomvu. UMose uqinisekisa abantu, ethi: “Ningesabi; qinani, nibone ukusindisa kukaJehova azakunenzela khona namuhla.” (14:13) UJehova ube esenza ukuba ulwandle luhlehle, akha indlela yokuphunyula uMose aholela ngayo abantwana bakwaIsrayeli ngokuphepha ogwini olusempumalanga. Izixuku zikaFaro ezinamandla ziyangena zibalandela, zingenela nje ukuvimbezeleka ziminze emanzini abuyayo. Yeka ukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova okungumvuthwandaba! Yeka isizathu esihle kakhulu sokujabula ngaye! Leyonjabulo ibe isivezwa engomeni yeBhayibheli yokuqala yokunqoba: “Ngizakuhlabelela kuJehova, ngokuba uphakeme kakhulu; ihashi nekweli yalo ukuphonsé elwandle. UJehova ungamandla ami nehubo lami; waba-yinsindiso kimi; . . . UJehova uyakubusa kuze kube-phakade.”—15:1, 2, 18.
19. Iziphi izenzakalo eziphawula uhambo oluya eSinayi?
19 UJehova wenza isivumelwano soMthetho eSinayi (15:22–34:35). Ezikhathini ezilandelayo, njengoba eqondiswa uJehova, uIsrayeli uya ngaseSinayi, intaba kaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Lapho abantu bekhononda ngamanzi ababayo aseMara, uJehova ubenzela wona abe mtoti. Nalapho bephinda bekhononda ngokuntuleka kwenyama nesinkwa, ubanika izigwaca ebusuku nemana elinambitheka sashukela, njengamazolo emhlabathini, ekuseni. Lelimana lizoba ukudla kwamaIsrayeli iminyaka engu-40 ezayo. Futhi, ngokokuqala emlandweni, uJehova uyala ukuba kugcinwe usuku lokuphumula, noma isabatha, eyala amaIsrayeli ukuba abuthe isilinganiso esiphindwe kabili semana ngosuku lwesithupha futhi alongele olwesikhombisa. Ubavezela amanzi eRefidimi futhi ubalwela nama-Amaleki, eyala uMose ukuba alobe phansi isahlulelo saKhe sokuthi ama-Amaleki ayoqothulwa ngokuphelele.
20. Kwenziwa kanjani ukuhlela okungcono?
20 Umukhwe kaMose, uJetiro, umlethela umkakhe namadodana amabili. Manje sesifikile isikhathi sokuba uIsrayeli ahlelwe kangcono, futhi uJetiro unikeza iseluleko esihle esiwusizo. Ululeka uMose ukuba angawuthwali yedwa umthwalo kodwa amise amadoda afanelekayo, asaba uNkulunkulu ukuba ahlulele abantu njengezinduna zezinkulungwane, ezamakhulu, ezamashumi amahlanu, nezamashumi. UMose uyakwenza lokhu, kangangokuthi manje kuza amacala anzima kuphela kuye.
21. Isiphi isithembiso uJehova asenzayo ngokulandelayo, kodwa ngamiphi imibandela?
21 Phakathi nezinyanga ezintathu kuqalwé uFuduko, uIsrayeli umisa ehlane laseSinayi. Lapha uJehova uyathembisa: “Kalokhu uma nilalela nokulalela izwi lami, ningcine isivumelwano sami, niyakuba-yigugu kimi kunazo zonke izizwe, ngokuba umhlaba wonke ungowami, nibe-ngumbuso wabapristi kimi, nesizwe esingcwele.” Abantu bayafunga: “Konke akukhulumileyo uJehova siyakukwenza.” (19:5, 6, 8) Ngemva kwenkathi yokungcweliswa kukaIsrayeli, uJehova wehlela entabeni ngosuku lwesithathu, eyibangela ukuba ishunqe futhi izamazame.
22. (a) Imiphi imiyalo equkethwe emiYalelweni Eyishumi? (b) Iziphi ezinye izinqumo zokwahlulela ezibekwa phambi kukaIsrayeli, futhi lesisizwe singeniswa kanjani esivumelwaneni soMthetho?
22 UJehova ube esenikeza imiYalelo Eyishumi, noma iMithetho Eyishumi. Lena igcizelela ukuzinikela okuphelele kuJehova, kuyilapho inqabela abanye onkulunkulu, ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe, nokuphatha ngeze igama likaJehova. AmaIsrayeli ayalwa ukuba asebenze izinsuku eziyisithupha abese egcina isabatha kuJehova, nokuba ahloniphe oyise nonina. Imithetho emelene nokubulala, ukuphinga, ukweba, ukufakaza amanga, nokuhaha iphelelisa iMiyalelo Eyishumi. UJehova ube eseqhubeka ebabekela izinqumo zokwahlulela, iziyalezo kulesizwe esisha, ezihlanganisa ubugqila, ukuhlasela umuntu, ukulimala, ukunxephezela, ukweba, ukonakalisa komlilo, ukukhulekela kwamanga, ukuyenga, ukuphathwa kabi kwabafelokazi nezintandane, ukubolekisa, nezinye izindaba eziningi. Kunikezwa imithetho yesabatha, futhi kuhlelwa imikhosi emithathu yaminyaka yonke yokukhulekela uJehova. UMose ube eseloba amazwi kaJehova, kunikelwa imihlatshelo, futhi ingxenye yegazi ifafazwa ealtare. Abantu bafundelwa incwadi yesivumelwano, futhi ngemva kokuba bephinde bazwakalisa ukuzimisela kwabo ukulalela, ingxenye esele yegazi ifafazwa encwadini nakubo bonke abantu. Kanjalo uJehova wenza isivumelwano soMthetho noIsrayeli ngomlamuleli, uMose.—Heb. 9:19, 20.
23. Imiphi imiyalo uJehova ayinika uMose entabeni?
23 Khona-ke uMose ukhuphukela kuJehova entabeni ukuyokwamukela uMthetho. Izinsuku nobusuku okungu-40, unikezwa iziyalezo eziningi ngokuqondene nezinto zokwakha itabernakele, imininingwane yezimpahla zalo zangaphakathi, izici ezincane zetabernakele ngokwalo, nesimo sezingubo zabapristi, kuhlanganise nongcwecwe wegolide elimsulwa, obhalwe ukuthi “Wahlukaniselwe uJehova,” esigqokweni sika-Aroni. Kunikezwa imininingwane yokumiswa kwabapristi neyenkonzo yabo, futhi uMose ukhunjuzwa ukuthi iSabatha liyoba uphawu phakathi kukaJehova nabantwana bakwaIsrayeli “kuze kube-phakade.” Khona-ke uMose unikwa izibhebhe ezimbili zobuFakazi zibhalwe “ngomunwe kaNkulunkulu.”—Eks. 28:36; 31:17, 18.
24. (a) Isiphi isono abantu abasenzayo, futhi uba yini umphumela? (b) UJehova ulambula kanjani ngokulandelayo igama lakhe nenkazimulo yakhe kuMose?
24 Phakathi nalesikhathi abantu baphelelwa ukubekezela futhi bacela uAroni ukuba enze unkulunkulu ozohamba phambi kwabo. UAroni uyakwenza lokhu, ebakhela ithole legolide, abantu abalikhulekelayo kulokho akubiza ngokuthi “umkhosi kaJehova.” (32:5) UJehova ukhuluma ngokuqothula uIsrayeli, kodwa uMose uyabalamulela, nakuba eziphihliza izibhebhe ngenxa yentukuthelo yakhe evuthayo. Manje amadodana kaLevi amelela uhlangothi lokukhulekela okuhlanzekile, ebulala abangu-3 000 ababezitika emkhosini. UJehova futhi ubashaya ngezinhlupho. Ngemva kokuba uMose enxuse uNkulunkulu ukuba aqhubeke ahole abantu bakhe, utshelwa ukuthi angase ayithi shazi inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu futhi uyalwa ukuba abaze ezinye izibhebhe ezimbili uJehova azophinde abhale kuzo iMiyalelo Eyishumi. Lapho uMose ekhuphukela entabeni okwesibili, uJehova umemezela kuye igama likaJehova njengoba edlula: “NguJehova! NguJehova! NguNkulunkulu ogcwele isihe, onomusa, ophuza ukuthukuthela, novamé ubumnene neqiniso, ogcinela abayizinkulungwane umusa.” (34:6, 7) Khona-ke ubeka imibandela yesivumelwano sakhe, futhi uMose usiloba njengoba sinaso namuhla encwadini kaEksodusi. Lapho uMose ehla eNtabeni iSinayi, isikhumba sobuso bakhe sikhipha imisebe ngenxa yenkazimulo kaJehova eyambuliwe. Ngenxa yalokho, kumelwe abeke isembozo ebusweni bakhe.—2 Kor. 3:7-11.
25. Umlando ulandisani ngokuqondene netabernakele nokubonakaliswa okuqhubekayo kwenkazimulo kaJehova?
25 Ukwakhiwa kwetabernakele (35:1–40:38). UMose ube esebutha uIsrayeli ndawonye futhi adlulisele kuye amazwi kaJehova, emtshela ukuthi abanezinhliziyo ezithandayo banelungelo lokunikelela ukwakhiwa kwetabernakele futhi abanezinhliziyo ezihlakaniphile banelungelo lokulakha. Ngokushesha kubikwa lokhu kuMose: “Abantu baletha okuningi kakhulu kunokwanele inkonzo yomsebenzi ayalile ngawo uJehova ukuba wenziwe.” (36:5) Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaMose izisebenzi ezigcwele umoya kaJehova zakha itabernakele nempahla yalo yangaphakathi futhi zenza zonke izambatho zabapristi. Ngemva konyaka uFuduko luqalile, itabernakele liyaphela futhi liyamiswa ethafeni eliphambi kweNtaba iSinayi. UJehova ubonisa ukwamukela kwakhe ngokumboza itende lokuhlangana ngefu lakhe nangokugcwalisa itabernakele ngenkazimulo yakhe, kangangokuthi uMose akakwazi ukungena etendeni. Lona lelifu emini kanye nomlilo ebusuku kuphawula ukuqondisa kukaJehova uIsrayeli kulo lonke uhambo lwakhe. Manje sekungunyaka ka-1512 B.C.E., futhi umlando kaEksodusi uyaphela, igama likaJehova lingcweliswa ngokukhazimulayo ngemisebenzi yakhe emangalisayo ayenzela uIsrayeli.
ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE ENENZUZO
26. (a) Incwadi kaEksodusi ilwakha kanjani ukholo kuJehova? (b) Ukubhekisela kwemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki encwadini kaEksodusi kulwandisa kanjani ukholo lwethu?
26 Ngaphezu kwakho konke, incwadi kaEksodusi yembula uJehova njengoMkhululi omkhulu noMhleli noMgcwalisi wezinjongo zakhe ezibabazekayo, futhi yakha ukholo lwethu kuye. Lolukholo luyanda njengoba sitadisha ukubhekisela okuningi encwadini kaEksodusi okusemiBhalweni YamaKristu YesiGreki, okubonisa ukugcwaliseka kwezici eziningi zesivumelwano soMthetho, ukuqinisekiswa kovuko, ilungeselelo likaJehova lokusekela abantu bakhe, izandulela zomsebenzi wobuKristu wokusizana, umyalo wokucabangela abazali, izimfuneko zokuzuza ukuphila, nendlela yokubheka ukwahlulela ngokulunga. Ekugcineni uMthetho wafushaniswa ngemiyalo emibili eqondene nokubonisa uthando ngoNkulunkulu nangomakhelwane.—Math. 22:32—Eks. 4:5; Joh. 6:31-35 neyesi-2 Kor. 8:15—Eks. 16:4, 18; Math. 15:4 neyabase-Efe. 6:2—Eks. 20:12; Math. 5:26, 38, 39—Eks. 21:24; Math. 22:37-40.
27. Umzuzisa ngani umKristu umlando osencwadini kaEksodusi?
27 KumaHeberu 11:23-29 sifunda ngokholo lukaMose nabazali bakhe. Ngokholo washiya iGibithe, ngokholo wagubha iPhasika, futhi ngokholo wahola amaIsrayeli wawaweza uLwandle Olubomvu. AmaIsrayeli abhapathizelwa kuMose futhi adla ukudla okungokomoya aphuza isiphuzo esingokomoya. Abheka phambili edwaleni elingokomoya, noma uKristu, kodwa noma kunjalo ayengenakho ukuvunyelwa uNkulunkulu, ngoba alinga uNkulunkulu futhi aba abakhulekeli bezithombe, izifebe, nezinkonondi. UPawulu uyachaza ukuthi lokhu kusebenza kumaKristu namuhla: “Kepha lezozinto zabehlela bona kube-yisibonelo; kulotshelwe ukusiyala thina, osekufikile kithi ukugcina kwezikhathi. Ngakho-ke osuka ethi umi, akaqaphele ukuba angawi.”—1 Kor. 10:1-12; Heb. 3:7-13.
28. Iye yagcwaliseka kanjani imifuziselo yoMthetho newundlu lePhasika?
28 Ukubaluleka okukhulu okungokomoya kwencwadi kaEksodusi, kanye nokusebenza kwayo okungokwesiprofetho, kunikezwe ezincwadini zikaPawulu, ikakhulukazi kumaHeberu izahluko 9 no-10. “Ngokuba lokhu umthetho unesithunzi sezinto ezinhle ezizayo, ungesiwo umfanekiso wazo uqobo, ungeze waba-namandla ngemihlatshelo enikelwa njalonjalo iminyaka ngeminyaka ukubenza baphelele labo abasondelayo.” (Heb. 10:1) Ngakho-ke, sinesithakazelo sokwazi isithunzi nesokuqonda okungokoqobo. UKristu ‘wanikela ngomhlatshelo waba-munye ngenxa yezono phakade.’ Uchazwa ngokuthi “iWundlu likaNkulunkulu.” Akukho nelilodwa ithambo ‘laleliWundlu’ elaphulwa, njengakwelingokoqobo. Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Nelethu iphasika lihlatshiwe, elinguKristu. Njalo-ke masigubhe umkhosi, kungabi-ngemvubelo endala, kungabi-ngemvubelo yokushinga neyobubi, kodwa kube-ngesinkwa esingenamvubelo sobuqotho neseqiniso.”—Heb. 10:12; Joh. 1:29 no-19:36—Eks. 12:46; 1 Kor. 5:7, 8—Eks. 23:15.
29. (a) Qhathanisa isivumelwano soMthetho nesivumelwano esisha. (b) Imiphi imihlatshelo manje amaIsrayeli angokomoya ayinikelayo kuNkulunkulu?
29 UJesu waba uMlamuleli wesivumelwano esisha, njengoba uMose ayengumlamuleli wesivumelwano soMthetho. Umehluko phakathi kwalezivumelwano ezimbili uchazwa kahle futhi umphostoli uPawulu, okhuluma ‘ngencwadi yemiyalo’ eyasuswa ngokufa kukaJesu esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. UJesu ovusiwe njengomPristi Omkhulu ‘uyisikhonzi sokungcwele nesetabernakele lempela elamiswa yiNkosi kungemuntu.’ Abapristi ngaphansi koMthetho ‘babekhonza okungumfanekiso nesithunzi sokwasezulwini’ ngokwendlela eyanikwa nguMose. “Kepha kalokhu [uJesu] unikiwe inkonzo enhle kakhulu, njengalokhu engumlamuleli wesivumelwano esihle kakhulu, esimisiwe ngokwezithembiso ezinhle kakhulu.” Isivumelwano esidala saba esingasebenzi futhi sasuswa njengomthetho oletha ukufa. LawomaJuda angakuqondi lokhu achazwa njengabantu abathuntubezwe ukuqonda kwabo, kodwa lawomakholwa aqondayo ukuthi uIsrayeli ongokomoya ungaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha “[angayibonakalisa, NW] ngobuso obambuliwe inkazimulo yeNkosi njengasesibukweni,” ekufanelekele kahle ukuba izikhonzi zayo. Ngonembeza abahlanziwe lawa ayakwazi ukunikela “umhlatshelo wokubonga, okungukuthi isithelo sezindebe ezivuma igama lakhe.”—Kol. 2:14; Heb. 8:1-6, 13; 2 Kor. 3:6-18; Heb. 13:15; Eks. 34:27-35.
30. Ukukhululwa kukaIsrayeli nokukhuliswa kwegama likaJehova eGibithe kwafanekiselani?
30 Incwadi kaEksodusi ikhulisa igama likaJehova nobukhosi bakhe, ikhomba phambili ekukhululweni kwesizwe samaKristu sikaIsrayeli ongokomoya, okuthiwa kuso: “Niluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abazuziweyo, ukuze nishumayele ubukhosi balowo owanibiza niphume ebumnyameni, ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo; ekade naningesiso isizwe, kepha manje niyisizwe sikaNkulunkulu.” Amandla kaJehova okwenza izimangaliso njengoba ebonakaliswa ekuqoqeni kwakhe ezweni uIsrayeli ongokomoya ukuze akhulise igama lakhe awangaphansi neze kwamandla awabonisa ngenxa yabantu bakhe eGibithe lasendulo. Ngokugcina uFaro ephila ukuze ambonise amandla aKhe nokuba igama laKhe limenyezelwe, uJehova wafanekisela kusengaphambili ubufakazi obukhulu kakhulu obabuzonikezwa ngoFakazi baKhe abangamaKristu.—1 Pet. 2:9, 10; Roma 9:17; IsAm. 12:17.
31. Yini incwadi kaEksodusi ekufanekiselayo ngokuqondene nombuso nokuba khona kukaJehova?
31 Ngakho, singasho ngokusuka emiBhalweni ukuthi isizwe esakhiwa ngaphansi kukaMose sakhomba phambili esizweni esisha ngaphansi kukaKristu nasembusweni ongasoze wanyakaziswa. Ngenxa yalokhu, sikhuthazwa ukuba ‘sikhonze uNkulunkulu ngokumhlonipha, nangokuthuthumela.’ Njengoba nje ukuba khona kukaJehova kwamboza itabernakele ehlane, uthembisa ukuba nabo phakade labo abamesabayo: “Bheka itabernakele likaNkulunkulu likubantu; uyakuhlala nabo, . . . Loba, ngokuba lawamazwi athembekile, aqinisile.” Ngempela incwadi kaEksodusi iyingxenye ebalulekile nezuzisayo yomlando weBhayibheli.—Eks. 19:16-19—Heb. 12:18-29; Eks. 40:34—IsAm. 21:3, 5.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Eksodusi 3:14, umbhalo waphansi weNW; Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 2, ikhasi 12.
b Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, amakhasi 532, 535; Archaeology and Bible History, 1964, J. P. Free, ikhasi 98.
c Insight on the Scriptures, Umq. 1, amakhasi 540-1.
d Exodus, 1874, F. C. Cook, ikhasi 247.