Amabalazwe Aqinisekisa Izenzakalo ZeBhayibheli

“KUBONAKALA sengathi liyana,” kwasho isivakashi esiyiNgisi esasithathekile kwaIsrayeli, silunguza amafu ambalwa ngefasitela lebhasi. Lapho umhambisi wezivakashi walapho ezwa lokho, wahleka wanikina ikhanda. “Alinakulokotha line kwaIsrayeli ngalesikhathi sonyaka. Awukho eNgilandi manje.”

Yeka indlela okulula ngayo ukuqhathanisa amazwe eBhayibheli ngezwe lakithi ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwethu, ikakhulukazi uma singakaze sivakashele eMpumalanga ePhakathi! Ngokungazi, singase silahlekelwe okuningi lapho sifunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngenxa nje yokuba singenaso isizinda. Nokho, ngokuthola okwengeziwe ngemikhuba nezindlela zabantu namazwe ababehlala kuwona, singazuza ukwazisa okujulile ngezehlakalo eziningi ezibhalwe eBhayibhelini.

Amabalazwe anengxenye ebalulekile ekudluliseleni lokhu kwaziswa kithina, futhi ngezindlela eziningi akhuluma ngokucacile kunamazwi. Nokho abanye abantu bakuthola kunzima ukufunda nokuzwisisa amabalazwe. Isikhathi esincane esisetshenziselwa ukujwayelana namabalazwe, imifanekiso yawo nemidwa, nencazelo yemibala ehlukahlukene, kuyosiza ngokuthi siyozuza lapho siwasebenzisa njengethuluzi ekufundeni kwethu. Amabalazwe akumelwe asetshenziselwe ukuthola nje izindawo. Ngokwamazwi esazi sokuma kwezindawo zeBhayibheli uDenis Baly, njengoba sesiyitholile indawo esiyifunayo, “umuntu kumelwe azi futhi, okungenani kancane, indlela ehlobene ngayo nokuma kwezwe ngokwalo, izigodi, izintaba, imifula namathafa.”

Khona-ke yilapho siqala khona ukuba nombono, futhi uma lokho kwenezelwa ezithombeni zangempela zohlobo lwendawo ehilelekile, umfanekiso uyagcizeleleka. Njengoba sifunda umlando weBhayibheli, yeka indlela okuba lula ngayo ngathi ukubeka abantu abachaziwe kuleyondawo, njengokungathi nje sasilapho sibuka kwenzeka! Ngokubheka izibonelo ezimbalwa, kuyokwenzeka ukukhanyisa lokhu kusetshenziswa kwamabalazwe eBhayibheli.

UKUBALEKELA KUKADAVIDE INKOSI USAWULE

Ngemva kokubulala umdondoshiya uGoliyati, uDavide omncane waya konqoba amaFilisti. Waduma kakhulu kwaIsrayeli kangangokuba abesifazane bahalalisela ukunqoba kwakhe ngokuhlabelela nangokusina, beqhathanisa izinkulungwane ezanqotshwa yiNkosi uSawule namashumi ezinkulungwane anqotshwa uDavide. Yeka indlela uSawule athukuthela ngayo uma ezwa lokho! Ukuthandeka kwaba yinzondo, kangangokuba wazama ukubhujela uDavide odongeni ngomkhonto wakhe. Ukuphumelela kukaDavide okuqhubekayo kwenza izindaba zaba zimbi, futhi uSawule “wayesemesaba uDavide kakhulu; uSawule wayeyisitha sikaDavide sonke isikhathi.”—1 Samuweli 18:6-29.

Naphezu kosizo oluvela endodaneni kaSawule uJonathani nomkakhe uMikali, uDavide waqaphela ukuthi, njengoba ekubeka: “Kukhona isinyathelo esisodwa nje phakathi kwami nokufa!” (1 Samuweli 20:3) Ekugcineni wabalekela emhumeni wase-Adulamu, ongaseningizimu-ntshonalanga neJerusalema lapho izintaba zakwaJuda zehlela ngasethafeni lwasogwini. Kulesifundazwe esingafinyeleleki kalula kunemihume yamadwala eminingana futhi lapha kwabuthana amakhulu athile abantu kuDavide. (1 Samuweli 22:1, 2) Kodwa ngemva kokuxwayiswa uJehova ukuthi abantu baseKeyila, eduzane naseAdulamu, babeyokhaphela uDavide ezandleni zikaSawule, wafuna isiphephelo esilondekile.—1 Samuweli 23:6-13.

Ihlane lakwaJuda laliyindawo yokucasha. Eminyakeni engamakhulu athile uJesu Kristu wachitha izinsuku ezingama-40 lapha evikelwe yizingelosi ezilwaneni zasendle—izingwemabala, izimpungushe nezimpisi. (Marku 1:12, 13) Osukwini lwethu kuye kwavubukulwa izinto ezihlasimulisayo kweminye yemihume yalo eyizinkulungwane. Imiqulu yasendulo yeBhayibheli enosuku oluhlehlela eminyakeni ethile eyizi-2 000 iye yatholwa, yalondolozwa isimo sezulu esome ngokukhethekile. Kude buduze kukhona omunye umhume onezinto ezasala ngokudlubulunda kwesibili kwamaJuda kumaRoma ngo-132-135 C.E. Kungani umholi wawo, uBar Kokhba, abalekela kulesifundazwe, futhi kungani lemiqulu yasala ifihlekile isikhathi eside kangaka? Isizathu siyefana nesikaDavide o“wahlala ehlane ezinqabeni [ezindaweni okunzima ukuzifinyelela, NW], wahlala ezintabeni ezisehlane laseZifi.”—1 Samuweli 23:14, 15.

Ihlane laseZifi nelaseMahoni eliseduze enza ingxenye ephakathi ephakeme yehlane lakwaJuda. (1 Samuweli 23:24) Lapho sibuka ibalazwe, lelihlane singalibona lingaseningizimu neJerusalema, ligudla uLwandle Olufile ngasentshonalanga yalo, namadolobha amathathu aseJerusalema, iBethlehema neHebroni cishe akha omunye umngcele walo. Futhi, siqaphela izigodi eziningana, noma imifula eshile, izombeza kusuka entshonalanga kuya empumalanga, yenza uhambo olusuka enyakatho kuya eningizimu olucishe lube nzima kakhulu.

Uma umuntu ehamba ngezinyawo ehlisa isigodi saseKidroni maduze nentaba yethempeli eJerusalema, ngokushesha umuntu uphuma edolobheni elimatasa, futhi ngokwamazwi omvubukuli ongumIsrayeli uYohanan Aharoni, ungenela le“lihlane elithusayo.” Okulandela lesigodi ngohambo, i“Wadi en-Nar (“isihosha esiwumlilo”), esingaphansi kogu loLwandle Olubomvu ngamamitha ayi-900 siba yisihosha esijulile noma udonga lomfula kanye namagquma anamawa anyuka ngamamitha angaphezu kwangama-60 nhlangothi zombili. Ukuhamba eceleni kwesiqu somfula ebusika kusho ukuba sengozini yokukhukhulwa ngokuzumayo isikhukhula samanzi esigelezela esihosheni esomile ngemva kwemvula esheshayo. Ehlobo ukushisa kungabulala. Isihosha ngasinye esifundazweni siveza izinkinga ezifanayo.

Akumangalisi ukuthi uDavide wathola lendawo iyisiphephelo esilondekile! Ngisho nebutho labantu abayizi-3 000, kwakunzima ngeNkosi uSawule ukuba ifune emihumeni eminingana enezikhoxe zezintatshana zamatshe, eziningi zazo ezingafinyelelwa kuphela ngezintambo. Yena nabantu bakhe kamuva bezwa umbiko wokuthi uDavide uye e-Eni-Gedi, umthombo wamanzi eduze nogu loLwandle Olufile, futhi uSawule waya komfuna “emaDwaleni amagogo.” Ezifihle ngemuva ngaphakathi endaweni emnyama yomunye wemihume, uDavide wayenethuba elihle lokubulala uSawule, kodwa wayengenakumthinta ogcotshiweyo kaJehova.—1 Samuweli 24:1-15.

Kwesinye isehlakalo, lapho ayenethuba lokubulala inkosi elele ekamu layo, uDavide wamane nje wathatha umkhonto wokuzingela nesigubhu samanzi eceleni kwayo, wabe esema ngakolunye uhlangothi lwesihosha ebonisa ukwehluleka kwamadoda kaSawule ukuvikela inkosi yawo. Izwi lakhe lazwakala ezintabeni ezingenalutho, uDavide wamemeza, ebuza ukuthi wayenzeni ebangela ukuba uSawule amxoshe “njengalokhu kuzingelwa intendele ezintabeni.”—1 Samuweli 26:1-20.

Yeka ukuthi lomfanekiso ungobaluleke kanjani uma sicabangela okuningi ukukhalela usizo kukaDavide kumaHubo! Nakuba ayengase alingeke ukuba acabange ngamawa angokoqobo namadwala—yebo, izintaba eziphakeme—zaziyisivikelo sakhe, nokho ngaso sonke isikhathi wayezikhumbuza ukuthi uJehova wayengumvikeli wakhe wangempela nokusindiswa kwakhe. Njengomalusi, uDavide wayejwayelene nezintaba. Wayekwazi ukuhamba ngokushesha futhi enejubane elinjengelezimbuzi zasezintabeni ezinezimpondo ezinde, noma i“ibex.” Nokho kwakunguJehova owayegcina unyawo lwakhe lungasheleli endleleni encane. (IHubo 18:1-3, 31-33) Ngenkathi ekhashelwa abantu baseZifi futhi efunwa izitha zakhe ezazimbekele ugibe, inhliziyo kaDavide yayilokhu ithembele ngokuqinile kuJehova, futhi wayeshaya ihabhu lakhe ehambisana nengoma phakathi kwezintaba ezingenalutho nezihosha. (IHubo 54, 57) Ngisho nalapho ukucindezela okwakuvela ezitheni zikaDavide kumlethela isimo sokucindezeleka, wayelokhu ekhuluma noJehova futhi ebheka kuYena ngokukhululwa. (IHubo 142) Ingabe siyakwazi ukwenza lokho lapho izimo ezinzima zisehlela? Singenze njalo uma sakhela ukholo lwethu kuNkulunkulu.

UKUHLASELA KUKAJUDA

Ngenkathi uJehoshafati eyinkosi phezu kukaJuda ekhulwini le-10 B.C.E., wezwa izindaba ezithile eziphazamisayo. Ibutho lezizwe ezivela empumalanga, ezakhe kwaMowabi, kwa-Amoni nezaseSeyiri, kwabikwa ukuthi zaziza kwaJuda zivela “phesheya kolwandle iAramu; [kwaEdomi,] bheka, sebeseHasasoni-Tamari eliyi-Eni-Gedi.” (2 IziKronike 20:1, 2, 10, 11) Uma sibuka ibalazwe lethu, kakade i-Eni-Gedi isijwayelekile kithi, futhi ngokushesha siyakwazi ukuthola indawo yakwaMowabi, kwa-Amoni nakwaEdomi. Kodwa singase sithambekele ukubuza: Lelibutho lakwazi kanjani ukuya e-Eni-Gedi, futhi kungani lahamba ngaleyondlela?

Inkosi yakuqala yakwaJuda, uRehobowami, wayakhe uchungechunge lwemizi eyizinqaba ezinesimo esiphambayo. Ibalazwe lethu liveza ezaseBetlehema, iEtamu, iThekhowa, iBeti-Suri, iHebroni neZifi njengezivikela impumalanga yakwaJuda. (2 IziKr. 11:5-12) Ukuze siphumelele, isitha kwakudingeka sibe nendlela yokwethusa, futhi ngokunokwenzeka bacabanga ukuthi ihlane lakwaJuda elalivulekile nelingenalutho laliyoba indawo enhle yokuhlasela ngayo. Kungenzeka bajikeleza ngasengxenyeni eseningizimu yoLwandle Olufile. Noma bahamba ngezinyawo benqamula enhlonhlweni yaseLisan, bewela uLwandle Olufile, ezibukweni lalo elincane kunawo wonke (cishe elingamakhilomitha ama-3, ngokwezibuko elingashonile kangako lasendulo abafundi abathile abathi lalikhona.) Khona-ke ngokudlula idwala elikhulu laseMasada, bafinyelela i-Eni-Gedi ngaphandle kokubonwa, mhlawumbe umlindi ekwenye yezinqaba ngenhla.

Lokhu kwanikeza uJehoshafati isikhathi esincane, ngoba isitha sasiseduze neJerusalema ngohambo lwezinyawo olungathatha usuku. NjengoDavide, wathembela kuJehova futhi wakhalela kuyena ngosizo. Impendulo yayiwukuthi: “Impi ayisiyo eyenu, ngekaNkulunkulu.” Watshelwa ukuba amise amadoda akhe ngaphansana nje kweThekhowa ngasekupheleni kwesigodi sezikhukhula, ngoba amabutho aye“khuphuka ngommango waseZizi.” Lokhu kwenziwa uJehoshafati, emise ngaphambili abahlabeleli.—2 IziKronike 20:3-21.

Ummango noma igquma laseZizi lalingasenyakatho-ntshonalanga ukusuka eduzane nase-Eni-Gedi, okokuqala wenyuka ngamamitha angama-390 ngendlela ezombeza iya emuva naphambili enyuka kakhulu. Khona-ke yayiwelela ngasethafeni elinezintaba ilandelwa umgwaqo ozungezayo onyukela ngaseThekhowa cishe ngokuphakama okungaphezu kogu lolwandle kwamamitha angama-820. Yeka ukuthi ukunyuka okunjani, okwehla kwenyuka njengoba umgwaqo unqamula izihosha zemifula eshile ezincane nemingenela yemifula! Njengoba ngokunokwenzeka isitha sasikhathele futhi sizwa ukushisa sasingathembela ukuba siphumule singabonwa lena ngaphezulu. Kodwa phinde! Baficwa futhi bazunywa. Yeka ukuthi badideka kanjani njengoba bemangala ukuthi bazunywe kanjani, bengaqapheli ukuthi uJehova wayesiza uJuda! Njengoba izintaba zazwakalisa umculo wokudumisa wakwaJuda, abahlaseli bacabanga ukuthi amasosha abo yiwona anecala. Kwagqashuka ukungezwani, futhi aqala ukulwisana wodwa kwaze kwaba yilapho lonke ibutho liphela futhi libhujiswa. Ingabe siyakubona yini futhi sikuzwa lokho kulwa kuzwakala maphakathi nalokho kuphakama kwamagquma angenalutho, nezingoma zokudumisa zizwakala ngaphesheya kwezintaba nakuyo yonke indawo? Yeka indlela uJuda abonga ngayo uJehova ngokunqoba kwakhe okukhulu!—2 IziKronike 20:22-30.

UMSAMARIYA OLUNGILEYO

Umfanekiso kaJesu owaziwa kakhulu womSamariya owasiza indoda eyayihlaselwe yizigebengu wafanekiswa ngasemgwaqweni ongasenyakatho nje yehlane lakwaJuda, noma eJudiya. Esikhathini esingaphezu kwesisodwa, umlando ugcizelela iqiniso lokuthi labo abahamba ngomgwaqo osuka eJerusalema uya eJeriko babe“hla.” (Luka 10:29-37) Yeka indlela uJesu ayewazi kahle ngayo umgwaqo! Futhi nanamuhla cishe singahamba emgwaqweni ofanayo. Bheka ibalazwe, futhi uqaphele ukuthi wehla ngamamitha angaphezu kwangama-914 ibanga elingamakhilomitha angama-23 ukusuka eJerusalema kuya eJeriko. Njengoba ugudla ihlane cishe ibanga elide, ungaphansi kogu lolwandle ibanga elide impela. Njengoba bembalwa abakhile kulomgwaqo, yeka indlela lomgwaqo ongaba nesizungu ngayo futhi ushise, yeka futhi ukuthi kulula kanjani ngezigebengu ukuba zizifihle emagqumeni aseduzane noma emadwaleni zilindele isihambi esingasoli lutho!

Akukhona ukuthi kwakungenanjongo ukusebenzisa kukaJesu lendawo emfanekisweni. Abaningi ezilalelini zakhe babewazi lomgwaqo, futhi babekwazi ukuwubona ngeso lengqondo. Babe“ngabona” okwakwenzeka, futhi babengaba nawo umbono womSamariya olungileyo esho iziyalezo ezithile endlini yezihambi engayodwa. Ingabe nathi sinawo umfanekiso walokho, njengoba sifunda umlando?

UKUSEBENZISA AMABALAZWE EBHAYIBHELI

Izibonelo ezicatshangelwe lapha zibonisa indlela esingasebenzisa ngayo amabalazwe amazwe eBhayibheli. Uma kudingeka imininingwane, zitholele ibalazwe elikhulukazi lendawo. Buka izindawo ezishiwoyo, bese ubheka imigqa yemingcele enemibala ehlukahlukene ebonakala emabalazweni athile, uqaphele imifula, imigwaqo emikhulu noma imincele yalapho. Zama ukuba nombono wesifundazwe ukhumbula engqondweni ukuthi imigqa eminingi nemigqa ezombezayo nemibala eguquguqukayo ibonisa amagquma amaningi nezigodi, kuyilapho imigqa ehlukaniseke kakhulu futhi ebonakala kahle, esebenzisa owodwa noma emibili kuphela imibala, ibonisa amathafa nezindawo ezehla zenyuka njengamagagasi. Uma ungase ukwazi ukuzitholela ezinye zezithombe zendawo, lezi ziyokwenezela embonweni wakho.

Amabalazwe amancane angaba usizo ekulandeleni umkhondo wemigwaqo emide, njengohambo lukaPawulu, lapho imininingwane ingeyona ebaluleke kangako. Ngokwesibonelo, buka ibalazwe elisekhasini lokugcina leNew World Translation. Kodwa uma ibalazwe lilincane, cishe aliwaqukethe wonke amagama ongawadinga, futhi nezindawo zawo ziyoba ukucabangela nje kuphela. Futhi, amabalazwe ngokuvamile ahlobene nezikhathi ezithile ezikhethekile zomlando, ngoba amagama ezindawo avamise ukushintsha njalo. Amanye amabalazwe alusizo atholakala encwadini ethi Aid to Bible Understanding.a

Nakuba kungenzeka awukaze ube nalo ithuba lokuvakashela amazwe eBhayibheli, yazana nawo ngokusebenzisa amabalazwe. Yenza ukuba ukufunda kwakho imiBhalo ENgcwele kube nenjongo ngokungaphezulu ngokuba nombono engqondweni yakho. Khona-ke kuyonamathela futhi kukusize ukuba ukhumbule isehlakalo seBhayibheli kalula kakhulu.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Igrafu esekhasini 12]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi kumi kanjani, bheka encwadini)

FITHI

3000

EJERUSALEMA

2000

1000

0

EJERIKO

−1000

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 11]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi kumi kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IJeriko

Umf. iJordani

Kwa-Amoni

KwaMowabi

ILISAN

IEdomi

izibuko?

IHLANE LAKWAJUDA

IMasada

IEni-Gedi

Ihlane LaseZifi NelaseMahoni

IZifi

IHebroni,

Ummango waseZizi

Ebeti-Suri

IThekhowa

IEtamu

IBetlehema

IWadi en-Nar

IQumran

IJERUSALEMA

ULwandle Olufile

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 12]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi kumi kanjani, bheka encwadini)

IJERIKO

ULwandle Olufile

IBhethaniya

EBetfage

IJERUSALEMA

[Izithombe ekhasini 9]

Imihume yasehlane laseJudiya

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Ngasemngceleni ongaseningizimu woLwandle Olufile, uma uwubheka use-Eni-Gedi

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

‘Ukwehla’ uya eJeriko—wehla ngama-914 m.