Labhujiswa Nini IJerusalema Lasendulo?—Ingxenye Yokuqala

Isizathu Sokuba Kubaluleke, Lokho Okwembulwa Ubufakazi

Lesi yisihloko sokuqala kwezimbili ezizolandelana kulo magazini INqabayokulinda futhi kuzodingidwa imibuzo yezazi mayelana nonyaka iJerusalema lasendulo elabhujiswa ngawo. Lolu chungechunge olunezihloko ezimbili luzoba nemibuzo nezimpendulo ezicwaningisisiwe ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini eziye zadida abafundi abathile.

“Izazi-mlando nabavubukuli abaningi babheka unyaka ka-586 noma ka-587 B.C.E. njengonyaka iJerusalema elabhujiswa ngawo.a Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bethi labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E.? Lo nyaka niwusekela kuphi?”

WABHALA kanjalo omunye umfundi walo magazini. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo onyakeni othé ngqo inkosi yaseBhabhiloni uNebukhadinezari II eyabhubhisa ngawo umuzi waseJerusalema? Okokuqala, kungenxa yokuthi lesi senzakalo sasho inguquko enkulu emlandweni wabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Isazi-mlando esithile sathi lesi senzakalo saholela “enhlekeleleni, enhlekeleleni enkulu ngempela.” Lo nyaka washo ukuphela kwethempeli elaliyisizinda sokukhulekelwa kukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke iminyaka engaphezu kuka-400. Umhubi waseBhayibhelini walila: ‘O Nkulunkulu, zihlambalazé ithempeli lakho elingcwele; zishiye iJerusalema liyincithakalo.’—IHubo 79:1, God’s Word Bible.b

Okwesibili, ukwazi unyaka othé ngqo le ‘nhlekelele enkulu’ eyaqala ngawo nokuqonda ukuthi ukubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema kwasigcwalisa kanjani isiprofetho esithile seBhayibheli, kuyokwenza ulethembe iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Pho kungani oFakazi BakaJehova bekholelwa onyakeni ohlukile kulowo iningi elikholelwa kuwo futhi osemuva ngeminyaka engu-20? Ngamafuphi nje, kungenxa yobufakazi obuseBhayibhelini.

‘Iminyaka Engu-70’ Ibhekisele Kuphi?

Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambi kwembubhiso, umprofethi ongumJuda uJeremiya wanikeza isici esibalulekile ngokuqondene nesikhathi esishiwo iBhayibheli. Waxwayisa ‘bonke abahlala eJerusalema,’ wathi: “Lonke leli zwe liyoba yindawo ebhuqiwe, . . . futhi lezi zizwe kuyodingeka zikhonze inkosi yaseBhabhiloni iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.” (Jeremiya 25:1, 2, 11) Kamuva, lo mprofethi wanezela: “Yilokhu uJehova akushilo, ‘Ngiyoninaka ngokuvumelana nokuphelela kweminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa eBhabhiloni, futhi ngiyoqinisa kini izwi lami elihle ngokunibuyisela kule ndawo.’” (Jeremiya 29:10) Ibaluleke ngani iminyaka “engamashumi ayisikhombisa”? Le nkathi yesikhathi isisiza kanjani ukuba sithole unyaka iJerusalema elabhujiswa ngawo?

Kunokuba zithi iminyaka engu-70 “eBhabhiloni,” izinguqulo eziningi zithi “yeBhabhiloni.” Ngakho-ke, ezinye izazi-mlando zithi iminyaka engu-70 ibhekisela eMbusweni WaseBhabhiloni. Ngokusho kohlelo lwezikhathi, abaseBhabhiloni babusa izwe lakwaJuda wasendulo neJerusalema iminyaka engaba ngu-70, cishe kusukela ngo-609 B.C.E. kuya ku-539 B.C.E. lapho kuthunjwa inhloko-dolobha yaseBhabhiloni.

Nokho, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi iminyaka engu-70 yayiyoba yinkathi yesijeziso esikhulu esivela kuNkulunkulu—esasibhekiswe ngokuqondile kubantu bakwaJuda naseJerusalema, ababenze isivumelwano sokulalela uNkulunkulu. (Eksodusi 19:3-6) Lapho benqaba ukuphenduka ezindleleni zabo ezimbi, uNkulunkulu wathi: ‘Ngizothumela uNebukhadinezari inkosi yaseBhabhiloni ngokumelene naleli zwe nangokumelene nabakhileyo kulo nangokumelene nazo zonke lezi zizwe ezinxazonke.’ (Jeremiya 25:4, 5, 8, 9) Nakuba izizwe ezingomakhelwane zaziyothola amachaphazelo olaka lweBhabhiloni, ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema neminyaka engu-70 yokudingiswa okwalandela, kwabizwa uJeremiya ngokuthi “isijeziso sabantu bami,” ngoba iJerusalema ‘lalone kakhulu.’—IsiLilo 1:8; 3:42; 4:6.

Ngakho, ngokweBhayibheli, iminyaka engu-70 yayiyinkathi yokujeziswa kwezwe lakwaJuda okubuhlungu, futhi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa abaseBhabhiloni. Noma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu watshela amaJuda: ‘Lapho kuphela iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa ngiyonibuyisela kule ndawo’—izwe lakwaJuda naseJerusalema.—Jeremiya 29:10.

Yaqala Nini “Iminyaka Engamashumi Ayisikhombisa”?

Isazi-mlando esiphefumulelwe u-Ezra esaphila ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 kugcwaliseke isiprofetho sikaJeremiya, sabhala lokhu ngeNkosi uNebukhadinezari: “Yathumba abaseleyo enkembeni yabayisa eBhabhiloni, baba yizinceku zayo nezabantwana bayo kwaze kwaqala ubukhosi basePheresiya. Izwe laba nokuphumula kwamasabatha; laphumula phakathi naso sonke isikhathi sokuba kwalo yincithakalo, kwaze kwaba yilapho kuphela iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa futhi kugcwaliseka izwi LENKOSI ngomlomo kaJeremiya.”—2 IziKronike 36:20, 21, New International Version.

Ngakho, iminyaka engu-70 yayiyoba inkathi yokuba izwe lakwaJuda neJerusalema lithole ‘ukuphumula kwamasabatha.’ Lokhu kusho ukuthi izwe lalingeke lilinywe—kwakungeke kuhlwanyelwe imbewu noma kuthenwe imivini. (Levitikusi 25:1-5) Ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu, okungenzeka ukuthi kwakuhlanganisa ukungayigcini yonke iminyaka yeSabatha, babeyojeziswa ngokuba izwe labo lingalinywa futhi linganakwa iminyaka engu-70.—Levitikusi 26:27, 32-35, 42, 43.

Izwe lakwaJuda laqala nini ukuba yincithakalo nokuba lingalinywa? Eqinisweni, beholwa uNebukhadinezari, abaseBhabhiloni balihlasela kabili iJerusalema futhi kwakudlula iminyaka ethile phakathi nokuhlasela ngakunye. Yaqala nini iminyaka engu-70? Ngokuqinisekile, ayiqalanga ngenkathi uNebukhadinezari eqamekela iJerusalema okokuqala. Kungani sisho kanjalo? Nakuba uNebukhadinezari athumba abantu abaningi baseJerusalema ngaleso sikhathi wabayisa eBhabhiloni, kunabathile abashiya ezweni. Umuzi nawo akawucoboshisanga. Iminyaka eminingi ngemva kokuthunjwa kwabathile, labo ababesele kwaJuda, “abantu bezwe besigaba esiphansi” babeziphilisa ngokulima. (2 AmaKhosi 24:8-17) Kodwa izinto zashintsha isigubhukane.

Lapho amaJuda evukela iBhabhiloni labuyela eJerusalema layohlasela. (2 AmaKhosi 24:20; 25:8-10) Labhubhisa umuzi kanye nethempeli elingcwele, futhi lathumba izakhamuzi zawo eziningi zayiswa eBhabhiloni. Ngezinyanga ezimbili nje, “bonke abantu [ababesele ezweni], kusukela komncane kuya komkhulu, nezinduna zamabutho empi [babalekela] eGibhithe; ngoba base besaba ngenxa [yabaseBhabhiloni].” (2 AmaKhosi 25:25, 26) Ngemva kokuba kwenzeke lokhu, ngalowo nyaka ngenyanga yamaJuda yesi-7 uTishri (September/October), kwase kungashiwo ukuthi izwe lase liyincithakalo futhi lingalinywa, futhi ukuphumula kweSabatha kwaqala. Esebenzisa uJeremiya, uNkulunkulu washo lokhu kubabaleki abangamaJuda: “Nizibonele ngokwenu yonke inhlekelele engiyilethé phezu kweJerusalema naphezu kwayo yonke imizi yakwaJuda. Bhekani namuhla iyincithakalo, futhi akukho muntu ohlala kuyo.” (Jeremiya 44:1, 2, English Standard Version) Kusobala ukuthi lesi senzakalo sasho ukuqala kweminyaka engu-70. Senzeka ngamuphi unyaka? Ukuze siphendule lo mbuzo, kudingeka sithole ukuthi le nkathi yaphela nini.

Yaphela Nini “Iminyaka Engamashumi Ayisikhombisa”?

Umprofethi uDaniyeli, owaphila kwaze kwaba yilapho “umbuso wasePheresiya uqala ukubusa,” wayekhona eBhabhiloni futhi wabala ukuthi iminyaka engu-70 yayiyophela nini. Wabhala: “Mina Daniyeli, ngaqonda ngezincwadi isibalo seminyaka, ngokusho kwezwi LENKOSI elalifike kuJeremiya umprofethi, okufanele idlule ngaphambi kokwenziwa kweJerusalema incithakalo, okungukuthi, iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.”—Daniyeli 9:1, 2, ESV.

U-Ezra wazindla ngeziprofetho zikaJeremiya futhi wahlanganisa ukuphela ‘kweminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa nesikhathi lapho INKOSI ithinta inhliziyo kaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya ukuba ikhiphe isimemezelo.’ (2 IziKronike 36:21, 22, NIV) Lokhu kwenzeka ngonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kukaKoresi ngemva kokunqoba kwakhe umuzi waseBhabhiloni ngo-539 B.C.E. Akhululwa nini amaJuda? Umyalo wokukhululwa kwawo wakhishwa “ngonyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi yasePheresiya.” (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Unyaka Obalulekile Emlandweni.”) Ngakho-ke, ekwindla lika-537 B.C.E. amaJuda ayesebuyele eJerusalema ukuze abuyisele ukukhulekela kweqiniso.—Ezra 1:1-5; 2:1; 3:1-5.

Ngakho, ngokohlelo lweBhayibheli lwezikhathi, iminyaka engu-70 iyinkathi engokoqobo eyaphela ngo-537 B.C.E. Uma sibala sibuyela emuva eminyakeni engu-70, le nkathi yaqala ngo-607 B.C.E.

Kodwa uma ubufakazi obusemiBhalweni ephefumulelwe bubonisa ngokuqondile ukuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E., kungani izazi eziningi zithi labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E.? Zisekela lokhu emithonjeni yokwaziswa emibili—ezincwadini zezazi zakudala nasohlwini lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy. Ingabe le mithombo ithembeke ngaphezu kwemiBhalo? Ake sibone.

Zinembe Kangakanani Izincwadi Zezazi Zakudala?

Izazi-mlando ezaziphila eduze nesikhathi iJerusalema elabhujiswa ngaso zinikeza ukwaziswa okungqubuzanayo ngamakhosi aseBhabhiloni Elisha.c (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Amakhosi AseBhabhiloni Elisha.”) Ukulandelana kwezenzakalo okusekelwe ekwazisweni kwazo kwezikhathi kuyaphikisana nalokho okuseBhayibhelini. Ithembeke kangakanani imibhalo yazo?

Esinye isazi-mlando esaphila ngasenkathini yeBhabhiloni Elisha kwakunguBerossus, “umpristi kaBel” waseBhabhiloni. Incwadi yakhe i-Babyloniaca, eyabhalwa cishe ngo-281 B.C.E., yalahleka futhi kusele izingxenyana nje zayo ezigcinwe kwezinye izincwadi zezazi-mlando. UBerossus wathi wasebenzisa “izincwadi ezazigcinwe kahle eBhabhiloni.”¹ Ingabe uBerossus wayeyisazi-mlando esinembile ngempela? Ake sicabangele isibonelo esisodwa.

UBerossus wabhala ukuthi inkosi yase-Asiriya uSaneheribi yalandela “umfowabo ebukhosini”; “ngemva kwayo kwabusa indodana yayo u-Esarhaddon eyabusa iminyaka engu-8; futhi ngemva kwayo kwabusa uSammuges [uShamash-shuma-ukin] iminyaka engu-21.” (III, 2.1, 4) Nokho, izincwadi zomlando zaseBhabhiloni ezabhalwa kudala kakhulu ngaphambi kwesikhathi sikaBerossus zithi uSaneheribi wabusa ngemva kukayise, uSarigoni II, hhayi umfowabo; u-Esarhaddon yena wabusa iminyaka engu-12, hhayi engu-8; futhi uShamash-shuma-ukin wabusa iminyaka engu-20, hhayi engu-21. Nakuba sivuma ukuthi uBerossus wazihlola izincwadi zomlando waseBhabhiloni, isazi uR. J. van der Spek, sabhala: “Lokho akumvimbanga ukuba anezele ukwaziswa okungokwakhe futhi abhale ngendlela yena abona ngayo.”²

Ezinye izazi zimbheka kanjani uBerossus? US. M. Burstein owatadishisisa izincwadi zikaBerossus, uthi: “Ngaphambili, uBerossus wayebhekwa njengesazi-mlando.” Kodwa waphetha ngala mazwi: “Yize ayebhekwa ngaleyo ndlela, kufanele sisho ukuthi imisebenzi yakhe yayingefani neyesazi-mlando. Nakuba kusele izingxenyana nje ze-Babyloniaca nazo zinamaphutha amaningi amangazayo . . . Akwamukeleki nhlobo ngesazi-mlando ukwenza amaphutha amabi kangaka, kodwa-ke uBerossus wayengabhali ngenjongo yokugcina umlando.”³

Ngokwalokho esesikhulume ngakho, wena ucabangani? Ingabe ukubala kukaBerossus kufanele ngaso sonke isikhathi kubhekwe njengokunembile? Kuthiwani ngezinye izazi-mlando zakudala ezasekela ingxenye enkulu yohlelo lwazo lwezikhathi emibhalweni kaBerossus? Singathembela yini eziphethweni zazo ezingokomlando?

Uhlu Lwezincwadi LukaPtolemy

Uhlu lwezincwadi zasebukhosini lukaClaudius Ptolemy, isazi sezinkanyezi sangekhulu lesibili C.E., nalo lusetshenziselwa ukusekela unyaka ka-587 B.C.E. Uhlu lwamakhosi lukaPtolemy lubhekwa njengomgogodla wokubalwa kwezikhathi zasendulo, kuhlanganise nenkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha.

UPtolemy wenza uhlu lwakhe eminyakeni engaba ngu-600 ngemva kokuba kuphele inkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha. Wawuthola kanjani unyaka inkosi yokuqala ohlwini lwakhe eyaqala ngawo ukubusa? UPtolemy wathi ngokusebenzisa isayensi yezinkanyezi, esekelwe ngokwengxenye ezenzakalweni zokusitheka kwelanga noma inyanga (eclipses), “siye sakwazi ukubala nokuthola ukuthi waqala nini ukubusa uNabonassar,” inkosi yokuqala ohlwini lwakhe.⁴ Yingakho uChristopher Walker waseBritish Museum ethi uhlu lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy “alulona iqiniso futhi lwaluklanyelwe ukunikeza izazi zezinkanyezi uhlelo lwezikhathi olungaguquguquki.” Wathi lwalungaklanyelwe “ukunikeza izazi-mlando ukwaziswa okunembile ngesikhathi amakhosi aqala ngaso ukubusa nesikhathi afa ngaso.”⁵

ULeo Depuydt, omunye wabalweli abakhulu bakaPtolemy wabhala: “Sekuyisikhathi eside kwaziwa ukuthi uHlelo Lwezincwadi lunembile ngokwesayensi yezinkanyezi, kodwa lokho akusho ukuthi lunembile ngokomlando.” Ngokuqondene nalolu hlu lwamakhosi, uProfesa Depuydt uyanezela: “Mayelana nababusi bokuqala [ababehlanganisa amakhosi aseBhabhiloni Elisha], kungadingeka uHlu Lwezincwadi luqhathaniswe nombhalo we-cuneiform ukuze kutholakale isikhathi sokubusa kwenkosi ngayinye.”⁶

Uyini lo ‘mbhalo we-cuneiform’ osisiza ukuba sithole ukunemba ngokomlando kohlu lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy? Uhlanganisa imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni (chronicles), uhlu lwamakhosi nezibhebhe zezomnotho—imibhalo ye-cuneiform eyabhalwa ababhali ababephila ngesikhathi seBhabhiloni Elisha noma eduze naso.⁷

Lunjani uhlu lukaPtolemy uma luqhathaniswa nalowo mbhalo we-cuneiform? Ibhokisi elithi “Lunjani Uhlu Lwezincwadi LukaPtolemy Uma Luqhathaniswa Nezibhebhe Zasendulo?” (bheka ngezansi) libonisa ingxenye yohlu yezincwadi futhi liyiqhathanisa nombhalo we-cuneiform wasendulo. Phawula ukuthi uPtolemy ubala amakhosi amane kuphela phakathi kwababusi baseBhabhiloni uKandalanu noNabonidasi. Nokho, uHlu Lwamakhosi Lwase-Uruk—ingxenye yombhalo we-cuneiform—lwembula ukuthi kunamakhosi angu-7 abusa phakathi kwabo. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi abusa isikhathi esifushane kakhulu noma ukuthi ukubusa kwawo akuzange kudume? Ngokusho kwezibhebhe zezomnotho ze-cuneiform, enye yawo yabusa iminyaka engu-7.⁸

Kukhona nobufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bemibhalo ye-cuneiform obubonisa ukuthi ngaphambi kokubusa kukaNabopolassar (inkosi yokuqala yenkathi yeBhabhiloni Elisha), enye inkosi (u-Ashur-etel-ilani) yabusa iminyaka emine eBhabhiloni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akuzange kube nankosi ezweni isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka.⁹ Kodwa konke lokhu akukho ohlwini lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy.

Kungani uPtolemy engawabalanga amanye amakhosi? Kusobala ukuthi wayengawabheki njengababusi bangempela baseBhabhiloni.¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo, akambalanga uLabashi-Marduk, inkosi yaseBhabhiloni Elisha. Kodwa imibhalo ye-cuneiform ithi amakhosi uPtolemy angawabalanga empeleni abusa eBhabhiloni.

Ngokuvamile, uhlu lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy lubhekwa njengolunembile. Kodwa uma sicabangela ukuthi kunezinto ezingekho kulo, ingabe kufanele ngempela lusetshenziswe njengesisekelo esinembile sokubalwa kwezikhathi zasendulo?

Isiphetho Esisekelwe Kulobu Bufakazi

Ake siyigoqe le ndaba: IBhayibheli lisho ngokucacile ukuthi kunabantu abadingiswa iminyaka engu-70. Kunobufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda—futhi izazi eziningi ziyavumelana—bokuthi amaJuda ayesekudingisweni ayesebuyele ezweni lawo ngo-537 B.C.E. Uma sibala sibuyela emuva kusukela kulowo nyaka, kusho ukuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E. Nakuba izazi-mlando zakudala zingavumelani nalo nyaka njengoba nohlu lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy lungavumelani, kunemibuzo efanele engase ibuzwe mayelana nokunemba kwemibhalo yazo. Empeleni lobo bufakazi obubili abusona isizathu sokuba sithi ukubala kweBhayibheli yikona okunganembile.

Nokho, kuseneminye imibuzo. Ingabe abukho ngempela ubufakazi obungokomlando obusekela unyaka ka-607 B.C.E. oshiwo yiBhayibheli? Yibuphi ubufakazi obembulwa imibhalo ye-cuneiform eneminyaka enembile, eminingi yayo eyabhalwa ofakazi bokuzibonela? Sizophendula le mibuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 28]

UNYAKA OBALULEKILE EMLANDWENI

Unyaka ka-539 B.C.E. uKoresi II anqoba ngawo iBhabhiloni ubalwa kusetshenziswa lobu bufakazi:

▪ Imithombo yasendulo nezibhebhe ze-cuneiform: UDiodorus wase- Sicily (cishe wango-80 kuya ku-20 B.C.E.) wabhala ukuthi uKoresi waba inkosi yasePheresiya “ekuqaleni konyaka wama-55 Wama-Olympic.” (Historical Library, Book IX, 21) Lowo nyaka kwakungu-560 B.C.E. Isazi-mlando esingumGreki uHerodotus (cishe sango-485 kuya ku-425 B.C.E.) sathi uKoresi wabulawa “ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-29,” okusho ukuthi wafa onyakeni wakhe wama-30, ngo-530 B.C.E. (Histories, Book I, Clio, 214). Izibhebhe ze-cuneiform zibonisa ukuthi uKoresi wabusa iBhabhiloni iminyaka engu-9 ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe. Ngakho, iminyaka engu-9 ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe ngo-530 B.C.E. isibuyisela emuva ku-539 B.C.E. njengonyaka anqoba ngawo iBhabhiloni.

▪ Isiqinisekiso esisesibhebheni se-cuneiform: Isibhebhe sobumba saseBhabhiloni sokufundwa kwezinkanyezi (BM 33066) siqinisekisa unyaka wokufa kukaKoresi ngo-530 B.C.E. Nakuba lesi sibhebhe sinamaphutha athile mayelana nokuthi izinkanyezi nezinye izindikimba ezisemkhathini zazimi kanjani ngaleso sikhathi, sinezincazelo ezimbili zokusitheka kwenyanga esithi kwenzeka onyakeni wesi-7 kaCambyses II, indodana kaKoresi eyamlandela esikhundleni. Lokhu kubonakala ngoku-sitheka kwenyanga okwabonakala eBhabhiloni ngo-July 16, 523 B.C.E., nango-January 10, 522 B.C.E., okusho ukuthi unyaka wesi-7 kaCambyses waqala ngentwasahlobo ka-523 B.C.E., okungase kusho ukuthi waqala ukubusa ngo-529 B.C.E. Lokho kusho ukuthi unyaka wokugcina kaKoresi kwakungu-530 B.C.E., okwenza unyaka ka-539 B.C.E. ube unyaka aqala ngawo ukubusa iBhabhiloni.

[Umthombo]

Tablet: © The Trustees of the British Museum

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 31]

UKUBUKEZA OKUFUSHANE

▪ Izazi-mlando zezwe zivame ukuthi iJerusalema labhujiswa ngo-587 B.C.E.

▪ Uhlelo lokulandelana kwezenzakalo zeBhayibheli lubonisa ngokuqinile ukuthi labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E.

▪ Izazi-mlando zezwe zisekela ngokuyinhloko iziphetho zazo emibhalweni yezazi-mlando zakudala nasohlwini lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy.

▪ Imibhalo yezazi-mlando zakudala inamaphutha aphawulekayo futhi ayivumelani njalo nemibhalo esezibhebheni zobumba.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 31]

Amaphuzu

1. Babyloniaca, (Chaldaeorum Historiae), Book One, 1.1.

2. Studies in Ancient Near Eastern World View and Society, ikhasi 295.

3. Babyloniaca of Berossus, ikhasi 8.

4. I-Almagest, III, 7, eyahunyushwa ngu-G. J. Toomer, kuyi-Ptolemy’s Almagest, yanyatheliswa ngo-1998, ikhasi 166. UPtolemy wayazi ukuthi izazi zezinkanyezi zaseBhabhiloni zazisebenzisa izindlela ezithile zokubala ukuze zithole izikhathi zokusitheka kwelanga nokusitheka kwenyanga (eclipses) kwangesikhathi esedlule nesizayo ngoba zathola ukuthi ukusitheka kwelanga nokusitheka kwenyanga okufanayo kwenzeka njalo ngemva kweminyaka engu-18.—Almagest, IV, 2.

5. Mesopotamia and Iran in the Persian Period, ikhasi 17-18.

6. Journal of Cuneiform Studies, uMqulu 47, 1995, amakhasi 106-107.

7. I-cuneiform wuhlobo oluthile lokubhala. Umbhali wayecindezela izimpawu ezihlukahlukene esibhebheni sobumba oluthambile esebenzisa ithuluzi lokubhala elibukhali elinesihloko esime njengonxantathu.

8. USin-sharra-ishkun wabusa iminyaka engu-7, futhi izibhebhe zakhe zezomnotho ezingu-57 ezangesikhathi eqala ukubusa kuze kube sonyakeni wesi-7. Bheka i- Journal of Cuneiform Studies, uMqulu 35, 1983, amakhasi 54-59.

9. Isibhebhe sezomnotho iC.B.M. 2152 sonyaka wesine wokubusa kuka-Ashur-etel-ilani. (Legal and Commercial Transactions Dated in the Assyrian, I-Neo-Babylonian and Persian Periods—Chiefly From Nippur, ka-A.T. Clay, 1908, ikhasi 74.) ImiBhalo Eqoshiwe YaseHarran kaNabonidasi, (H1B), I, umusho 30, imbeka ngaphambi nje kukaNabopolassar. (Anatolian Studies, uMq. VIII, 1958, amakhasi 35, 47.) Ukuze uthole inkathi eyayingenankosi, bheka i-Chronicle 2, umusho 14, kuyi-Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles, amakhasi 87-88.

10. Ezinye izazi zimi kwelokuthi kunamakhosi athile uPtolemy angawabalanga—zithi wabala kuphela amakhosi aseBhabhiloni—ngoba ayebizwa ngesiqu esithi “iNkosi Yase-Asariya.” Nokho, njengoba uzobona ebhokisini elisekhasini 30, amakhosi amaningana asohlwini lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy nawo ayebizwa ngesiqu esithi “iNkosi Yase-Asiriya.” Izibhebhe zezomnotho, izincwadi ze-cuneiform nemibhalo eqoshiwe kwembula ngokucacile ukuthi inkosi u-Ashur-etel-ilani, uSin-shumu-lishir noSin-sharra-ishkun balibusa iBhabhiloni.

[Ishadi/Isithombe ekhasini 29]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

AMAKHOSI ASEBHABHILONI ELISHA

Uma lezi zazi-mlando zinembile, kungani ziphikisana?

Amakhosi

Isikhathi sokubusa kwenkosi (iminyaka) ngokusho kwezazi-mlando zakudala

[Umthombo]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum

[Ishadi/Izithombe ekhasini 30]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

LUNJANI UHLU LWEZINCWADI LUKAPTOLEMY UMA LUQHATHANISWA NEZIBHEBHE ZASENDULO?

Kunamakhosi uPtolemy angawabalanga ohlwini lwakhe. Kungani?

UHLU LWEZINCWADI LUKAPTOLEMY

UNabonassar

UNabu-nadin-zeri (uNadinu)

UMukin-zeri noPul

UMerodakhi-bhaladani

USarigoni II “iNkosi Yase-Asiriya”

Inkathi Yokuqala Engenankosi

UBel-ibni

U-Ashur-nadin-shumi

UNergal-ushezib

UMushezib-Marduk

Inkathi Yesibili Engenankosi UHLU LUKA-URUK

U-Esarhaddon “iNkosi Yase-Asiriya” LWAMAKHOSI OLUSEZIBHEBHENI

UShamash-shuma-ukin ZASENDULO

UKandalanu UKandalanu

USin-shumu-lishir

USin-sharra-ishkun

UNabopolassar UNabopolassar

UNebukhadinezari UNebukhadinezari

U-Amel-Marduk U-Amel-Marduk

UNeriglissar UNeriglissar

ULabashi-Marduk

UNabonidasi UNabonidasi

UKoresi

UCambyses

[Isithombe]

Imibhalo yaseBhabhiloni iyingxenye yomlando we-“cuneiform” esisiza ukuba sithole ukunemba kohlu lwezincwadi lukaPtolemy

[Umthombo]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 31]

Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum