Ingabe U-Abrahama Wayenawo Ngempela Amakamela?
IBHAYIBHELI libala namakamela phakathi kwezilwane ezifuywayo u-Abrahama azinikwa uFaro. (Gen. 12:16) Ngesikhathi inceku ka-Abrahama ithatha uhambo olude oluya eMesophothamiya “yathatha amakamela ayishumi emakamelini enkosi yayo.” Ngakho, iBhayibheli lisho ngokucacile ukuthi u-Abrahama wayenamakamela ngasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesibili yeminyaka B.C.E.—Gen. 24:10.
Abanye abavumelani nalokhu. I-New International Version Archaeological Study Bible iyabika: “Izazi ziye zaphikisana ngokuba iqiniso ngokomlando kwalokhu kukhuluma ngamakamela ngoba eziningi zazo zikholelwa ukuthi lezi zilwane zazingafuywa ezindaweni eziningi kwaze kwaba cishe ngo-1200 B.C., ngemva kwesikhathi eside u-Abrahama afa.” Ngakho-ke, noma ikuphi ukukhuluma kweBhayibheli ngamakamela kwangaphambi kwaleso sikhathi bekuyobhekwa njengomniningwane onganembile ngokomlando, noma ongavumelani nesikhathi sawo.
Nokho, ezinye izazi zithi nakuba ukufuywa kwamakamela kwaba into ebalulekile ngasekupheleni kwenkulungwane yesibili, lokho akusho ukuthi amakamela ayengasetshenziswa ngaphambi kwalokho. Incwadi ethi Civilizations of the Ancient Near East ithi: “Ucwaningo lwamuva luye lwasikisela ukuthi ukufuywa kwamakamela eningizimu-mpumalanga ye-Arabhiya kwaqala cishe enkulungwaneni yesithathu [B.C.E.]. Kungenzeka ukuthi ekuqaleni ayefuyelwa ubisi, uboya, isikhumba nenyama yawo, kodwa kumelwe ukuba akuthathanga isikhathi eside ukuba abantu babone ukuthi angasetshenziswa njengezilwane ezithwalayo.” Ukubheka ukufuywa kwamakamela njengokwakwenziwa ngaphambi kwesikhathi sika-Abrahama kubonakala kusekelwa izinsalela zamathambo nezeminye imivubukulo.
Kukhona nobufakazi obubhaliwe. Incwadi efanayo ithi: “EMesophothamiya, izinhlu zemibhalo ye-cuneiform ziyakhuluma ngalesi sidalwa [ikamela] futhi izimpawu eziningana zinomfanekiso waso, okubonisa ukuthi lesi silwane kungenzeka safika eMesophothamiya ngasekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesibili yeminyaka,” okuwukuthi, ngesikhathi sika-Abrahama.
Ezinye izazi zikholelwa ukuthi abathengisi baseNingizimu Arabhiya ababehileleke ekuhwebeni ngempepho babesebenzisa amakamela ukuze bayise imikhiqizo yabo enyakatho benqamula ogwadule, beya ezindaweni ezinjengeGibhithe neSiriya, ngaleyo ndlela befika okokuqala namakamela kulezo zindawo. Lolu hlobo lokuhweba cishe lwase luvamile ngawo-2000 B.C.E. Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi uGenesise 37:25-28 ukhuluma ngabathengisi bakwa-Ishmayeli ababesebenzisa amakamela ukuze bayise impepho eGibhithe cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu u-Abrahama afa.
Mhlawumbe amakamela ayengasetshenziswa kabanzi eMpumalanga Eseduze yasendulo ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesibili yeminyaka B.C.E., kodwa ubufakazi bubonakala buqinisekisa ukuthi akukhona ukuthi ayengaziwa nhlobo. Ngakho-ke, i-International Standard Bible Encyclopedia iyaphetha: “Akusadingeki ukuba sibheke ukukhuluma ngamakamela emlandweni wezinzalamizi njengemininingwane enganembile ngokomlando, njengoba kunobufakazi bemivubukulo obanele bokuthi amakamela ayefuywa ngaphambi kwezikhathi zezinzalamizi.”