Ukukhonza “Engxenyeni Yokugcina Yezinsuku”

1, 2. (a) Yimuphi umbono uJeremiya awubona owendlalela izimemezelo zakhe eziyisiprofetho? (b) Kungani kufanele usinake isigijimi sikaJeremiya?

UNKULUNKULU wabuza umprofethi ayesanda kummisa: “Ubonani?” “Ngibona imbiza yokupheka enomlomo obanzi ivuthelelwa, futhi umlomo wayo ufulathele inyakatho,” kuphendula uJeremiya osemncane. Lowo mbono waba isendlalela sezimemezelo uJeremiya ayezozimemezela. (Funda uJeremiya 1:13-16.) Le mbiza engokomfanekiso yayingapholiswa kodwa kwakuvuthelwa umlilo. Yebo, uJehova wayebikezela inhlekelele eyayizokwehlela izwe lakwaJuda enjengamanzi abilayo aphuma kule mbiza ngenxa yokwanda kokungathembeki. Ucabanga ukuthi kungani umlomo wembiza wawutshekele eningizimu? Kwakusho ukuthi inhlekelele yayizoqhamuka enyakatho—iBhabhiloni lalizoqhamuka ngakhona. Nebala kwaba njalo. Phakathi neminyaka yakhe yokuprofetha, uJeremiya wayibona le mbiza ebilayo ithulula izinhlekelele zilandelana, okwafinyelela umvuthwandaba ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema.

² IBhabhiloni alisekho, kodwa unaso isizathu sokunaka izigijimi zikaJeremiya eziyiziprofetho. Ngani? Ngoba uphila “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku” lapho abaningi bezisholo ukuthi bangamaKristu; kepha bona namasonto abo bebe bengamukelwa uNkulunkulu. (Jer. 23:20) Ngokungafani nabo, njengoJeremiya, wena nabafowenu abangoFakazi nishumayela isigijimi okungesona esesahlulelo nje kuphela kodwa nesethemba.

3. (a) Ihlelwe kanjani incwadi yeBhayibheli kaJeremiya? (b) Iyini injongo yeSahluko 2 sale ncwadi?

³ Cishe ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo yakhe yokuprofetha uJeremiya wabizela unobhala wakhe izinto ezazenzekile, kunokuba azilobe ngesikhathi zenzeka. (Jer. 25:1-3; 36:1, 4, 32) Le ncwadi ayihleliwe ngokulandelana kwezenzakalo ngoba uJeremiya wahlela izingxenye zayo eziningi ngokomongo. Ngakho kuzokusiza ukwazi umlando wencwadi kaJeremiya neyesiLilo nendlela izenzakalo ezalandelana ngayo. Bheka ishadi ekhasini 19. Ukwazi ukuthi ubani owayebusa kwaJuda futhi ngasiphi isikhathi, nokwazi ukuthi kwakwenzekani khona nasezindaweni ezingomakhelwane kuzokusiza ukuqonde kahle okwashiwo noma kwenziwa uJeremiya. Futhi uyokulungela kangcono ukuzuza ezigijimini uNkulunkulu azinika abantu bakhe ngoJeremiya.

UMLANDO KAJEREMIYA

4-6. Sasinjani isimo sabantu bakaNkulunkulu basendulo eminyakeni yangaphambi kokuprofetha kukaJeremiya?

⁴ UJeremiya waprofetha phakathi nenkathi yezinguquko ezineziyaluyalu. Kwakuyisikhathi sokuqhubukushana kwe-Asiriya, iBhabhiloni neGibhithe. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-93 ngaphambi kokuba uJeremiya aqale ukuprofetha, i-Asiriya lanqoba umbuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi enyakatho futhi lathumba izakhamuzi zakhona eziningi. Ngaleso sikhathi, uJehova walivikela iJerusalema nenkosi yakhona ethembekile, uHezekiya, ekuhlaseleni kwe-Asiriya. Uzokhumbula indlela uNkulunkulu abulala ngayo ngokuyisimangaliso amasosha esitha angu-185 000. (2 AmaKh. 19:32-36) Enye yamadodana kaHezekiya kwakunguManase. Cishe uJeremiya wazalwa phakathi nokubusa kukaManase kweminyaka engu-55, isikhathi uJuda abuswa ngaso i-Asiriya.—2 IziKr. 33:10, 11.

⁵ UJeremiya wabhala incwadi yoku-1 neyesi-2 yamaKhosi, esifunda kuzo ukuthi uManase wakha kabusha izindawo eziphakeme uyise ayezibhidlizile. Wakhela uBhali namabutho asezulwini ama-altare, wawakha nasethempelini likaJehova imbala. Wabuye wachitha igazi eliningi labangenacala, wanikela nangeyakhe indodana kunkulunkulu wamanga njengomnikelo wokushiswa. Ngamafuphi, “wenza okubi emehlweni kaJehova ngezinga elikhulu.” Ngenxa yabo bonke lobu bubi, uNkulunkulu wabikezela ukuthi iJerusalema noJuda kuzokwehlelwa inhlekelele, njengoba kwase kunjalo ngeSamariya no-Israyeli. (2 AmaKh. 21:1-6, 12-16) Ngemva kokufa kukaManase, indodana yakhe u-Amoni yaqhubeka nemikhuba kayise yokukhonza izithombe, kodwa ngokushesha izinto zazizoshintsha. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili u-Amoni wabulawa, indodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-8, uJosiya, yaqala ukubusa ngo-659 B.C.E.

⁶ Phakathi nokubusa kukaJosiya kweminyaka engu-31, iBhabhiloni laqala ukudlondlobala ngaphezu kwe-Asiriya. UJosiya wabona ithuba lokuba uJuda abuye akhululeke ekubusweni eminye imibuso. Ngokungefani noyise noyisemkhulu, wakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka futhi wenza izinguquko ezinkulu enkolweni. (2 AmaKh. 21:19–22:2) Ngonyaka we-12 ebusa, wabhidliza izindawo eziphakeme, izigxobo ezingcwele nemifanekiso yenkolo yamanga embusweni wakhe, ngemva kwalokho wayala ukuba kulungiswe ithempeli likaJehova. (Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 34:1-8.) Ngokuthakazelisayo, kwakungunyaka we-13 wokubusa kukaJosiya (ngo-647 B.C.E.) lapho uJeremiya ethunywa uNkulunkulu njengomprofethi.

7, 8. (a) Ukubusa kweNkosi uJosiya kwakuhluke kanjani kokwabamandulela, uManase no-Amoni? (b) Wayengumuntu onjani uJosiya? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 20.)

⁷ Ngesikhathi kulungiswa ithempeli ngonyaka we-18 wokubusa kwenkosi elungile uJosiya, umpristi omkhulu wathola “yona kanye incwadi yomthetho.” Inkosi yathi unobhala wayo akayifundele. UJosiya wawabona amaphutha abantu bakubo, wafuna isiqondiso sikaJehova ngomprofethikazi uHulida, wayesenxusa abantu bakhe ukuba bagcine imiyalo kaNkulunkulu. UHulida watshela uJosiya ukuthi uJehova wayezoletha “inhlekelele” kubantu baseJudiya ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo. Nokho, ngenxa yesimo sengqondo esihle sikaJosiya ngokukhulekela okumsulwa, leyo nhlekelele yayingeke ifike esaphila.—2 AmaKh. 22:8, 14-20.

⁸ INkosi uJosiya yaphinde yazama ukuqeda yonke iminonjana yokukhulekela izithombe. Ngenxa yentshiseko yayo, yaze yayofika endaweni eyayike yaba eyombuso wakwa-Israyeli enyakatho iyodiliza indawo ephakeme ne-altare eBhethele. Yahlela nokuba kube nomkhosi wePhasika oyingqopha-mlando. (2 AmaKh. 23:4-25) Cabanga indlela okumelwe ukuba kwamjabulisa ngayo uJeremiya lokhu! Nokho, kwakuwumqansa ukwenza abantu bashintshe izindlela zabo. UManase no-Amoni babefake abantu ekukhulekeleni izithombe okonakele, ngakho ingokomoya labo lalifile. Naphezu kwezinguquko ezenziwa uJosiya, uNkulunkulu wenza ukuba uJeremiya aveze ukuthi onkulunkulu babantu baseJudiya babebaningi kangangemizi yabo. Abantu bakubo babenjengomfazi ongathembekile—babeshiye uJehova bafeba nonkulunkulu bezizwe. UJeremiya wathi: “Ama-altare amaningi kangangezitaladi zaseJerusalema niwabekele into eyihlazo, ama-altare okushunqisela uBhali umusi womhlatshelo.”—Funda uJeremiya 11:1-3, 13.

9. Eminyakeni yokugcina yokubusa kukaJosiya yini eyayenzeka emazweni angaphandle?

⁹ Njengoba nje ukumemezela kukaJeremiya izigijimi ezinjalo kungazange kuwashintshe amaJuda, akulishintshanga neqiniso lokuthi izizwe ezingomakhelwane zaziqhubukushana zibanga ukubusa. Ngo-632 B.C.E., amabutho aseBhabhiloni nawamaMede aliqumba phansi iNineve, inhloko-dolobha yase-Asiriya. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu, uFaro Nekho waseGibhithe wahola ibutho lakhe baya enyakatho beyosiza abase-Asiriya okwakungabahambeli kahle. Ngazizathu zimbe ezingashiwongo eBhayibhelini, uJosiya wazama ukuxosha amabutho aseGibhithe eMegido, kodwa wafela khona lapho. (2 IziKr. 35:20-24) Lesi simo esidabukisayo sasiyoletha luphi ushintsho kwezombusazwe nakwezenkolo kwaJuda? Futhi yiziphi izinselele ezintsha uJeremiya ayezobhekana nazo?

USHINTSHO ENKOLWENI

10. (a) Izikhathi ezalandela ukufa kukaJosiya zifana kanjani nezethu? (b) Ungazuza kanjani ngokuhlola inkambo kaJeremiya?

¹⁰ Cabanga indlela okumelwe ukuba uJeremiya wazizwa ngayo lapho ezwa ngokufa kukaJosiya! Walilela inkosi ngenxa yosizi. (2 IziKr. 35:25) Kakade abantu babekhathazekile futhi izinxushunxushu zakweminye imibuso zazilicindezela elakwaJuda. Imibuso eyizimbangi—iGibhithe, i-Asiriya neBhabhiloni—yayikufuna la ukubusa le ndawo. Futhi inkolo kwaJuda yayisishintshile ngemva kokufa kukaJosiya. Waphela ngaleso sikhathi umbuso owawungawuxwayi umsebenzi kaJeremiya, kwaqala owawungawufuni nakuwubona. Abafowethu abaningi namuhla babhekana noshintsho olufanayo, baphelelwa inkululeko yokukhulekela, bashushiswe futhi bavinjelwe. Kwazi bani ukuthi bangaki kithi abangase babhekane nezimo ezifanayo maduze? Kungasithinta kanjani lokhu? Yini okungase kudingeke siyenze ukuze silondoloze ubuqotho bethu? Sinaleyo mibuzo engqondweni, kuzosikhuthaza ukufunda ngezinselele uJeremiya abhekana nazo ngokuphumelelayo.

11. Kwenzekani kwaJuda ngemva kokufa kukaJosiya?

¹¹ Izakhamuzi zakwaJuda zabeka indodana kaJosiya uJehowahazi yaba inkosi eJerusalema. UJehowahazi, owaziwa nangokuthi uShalumi, wabusa izinyanga ezintathu kuphela. Ngesikhathi uFaro Nekho ebuyela eningizimu ngemva kokulwa nabaseBhabhiloni, wasusa le nkosi entsha wayiyisa eGibhithe futhi uJeremiya wabikezela ukuthi uJehowahazi ‘wayengeke esabuya.’ (Jer. 22:10-12; 2 IziKr. 36:1-4) Esikhundleni sikaJehowahazi, uNekho wabeka uJehoyakimi, enye yamadodana kaJosiya. UJehoyakimi akasilandelanga isibonelo esihle sikayise. Kunokuba aqhubeke nezinguquko zikayise, wakhulekela izithombe.—Funda eyesi-2 AmaKhosi 23:36, 37.

12, 13. (a) Lapho uJehoyakimi eqala ukubusa, sasinjani isimo senkolo? (b) Abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda bamphatha kanjani uJeremiya?

¹² Ekuqaleni kokubusa kukaJehoyakimi, uJehova watshela uJeremiya ukuba aye ethempelini ayodalula ububi babantu baseJudiya. Babebheka ithempeli likaJehova njengeliyinto ezobavikela. Kepha uma babengakuyeki “ukweba, ukubulala nokuphinga nokufunga amanga nokushunqisela uBhali umusi womhlatshelo nokulandela abanye onkulunkulu,” uJehova wayeyolishiya ithempeli lakhe. Wayengeke abayeke nabazenzisi ababekhulekela kulo, njengoba nje alishiya netabernakele eShilo ngezinsuku zomPristi Omkhulu u-Eli. Izwe lakwaJuda ‘laliyoba indawo ebhuqiwe nje kuphela.’ (Jer. 7:1-15, 34; 26:1-6)a Cabanga ngesibindi uJeremiya ayesidinga ukuze amemezele leso sigijimi! Cishe wasimemezela obala kubantu abayizicukuthwane nabanegama. Abanye abafowethu nodadewethu namuhla nabo baye baba nomuzwa wokuthi badinga isibindi ukuze bahlanganyele emsebenzini wasemgwaqweni noma ukuze bashumayeze izigwili nezicukuthwane. Nokho, nakhu esingaqiniseka ngakho: UNkulunkulu uyosisekela nakanjani njengoba nje asekela uJeremiya.—Heb. 10:39; 13:6.

¹³ Uma ucabanga ngesimo senkolo nesezombusazwe esasikhona kwaJuda, babezosabela kanjani abaholi benkolo esigijimini sikaJeremiya? Ngokwalokho okushiwo yilo mprofethi, “abapristi nabaprofethi nabo bonke abantu [bangibamba], bathi: ‘Uzokufa nokufa.’” Babethukuthele bevutha, bethi: “Lo muntu ufanelwe isahlulelo sokufa.” (Funda uJeremiya 26:8-11.) Noma kunjalo, izitha zikaJeremiya azikwazanga ukumbulala. UJehova wayenaye lo mprofethi wakhe ukuze amophule. UJeremiya naye akazange avumele ukwesabeka kwabaphikisi noma ubuningi babo ukuba kumethuse. Nawe ungakuvumeli.

‘LOBA ONKE AMAZWI’

14, 15. (a) UJeremiya nonobhala wakhe uBharuki baqala msebenzi muni ngonyaka wesine wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi? (b) Wayengumuntu onjani uJehoyakimi? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 25.)

¹⁴ Ngonyaka wesine wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi, uJehova watshela uJeremiya ukuba alobe wonke amazwi uJehova ayemtshele wona kusukela ezinsukwini zikaJosiya. Ngakho uJeremiya wabizela unobhala wakhe uBharuki konke lokho uNkulunkulu ayemtshele kona eminyakeni engu-23 ngaphambili. Izigijimi zakhe zesahlulelo zazithinta amakhosi nemibuso engaba ngu-20. UJeremiya wathuma uBharuki ukuba afunde lo mqulu ngokuzwakalayo endlini kaJehova. Ngayiphi injongo? “Mhlawumbe labo bendlu kaJuda bazoyilalela yonke le nhlekelele engicabanga ukuyenza kubo,” kusho uJehova, “ukuze babuye, yilowo nalowo endleleni yakhe embi, futhi impela ngithethelele isiphambeko sabo nesono sabo.”—Jer. 25:1-3; 36:1-3.

¹⁵ Lapho isikhulu segceke sifundela uJehoyakimi umqulu, le nkosi yawudabula yawushisa. Yayisiyala ukuba uJeremiya noBharuki balethwe kuyo. “Kodwa uJehova wabagcina befihlekile.” (Funda uJeremiya 36:21-26.) Ngenxa yokwedelela kukaJehoyakimi, uJehova wamemezela ngomprofethi wakhe ukuthi le nkosi ‘iyongcwatshwa njengembongolo yeduna. Iyohudulwa itshingwe kude, ngalé kwamasango aseJerusalema.’ (Jer. 22:13-19) Ingabe ucabanga ukuthi lesi siprofetho esinyantisayo sasingavele sichilizwe kuthiwe uJeremiya wenza ihaba?

16. Isiphi isigijimi esihle uJeremiya asimemezela?

¹⁶ Nakuba kwakufanele amemezele izigijimi zesahlulelo, uJeremiya akagcinanga ngokubikezela okubi. Wamemezela nesigijimi sethemba. UJehova wayeyokhulula insali ka-Israyeli ezitheni zayo ayibuyisele ezweni layo, lapho yayiyohlala khona ngokulondeka. Wayeyokwenza isivumelwano “esisha” ‘nesimi kuze kube nini nanini’ nabantu bakhe futhi alobe umthetho wakhe ezinhliziyweni zabo. Wayeyobathethelela iziphambeko zabo, angazikhumbuli nezono zabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inzalo kaDavide ‘yayiyokhipha ubulungisa nokulunga ezweni.’ (Jer. 31:7-9; 32:37-41; 33:15) Lezi ziprofetho zaziyogcwaliseka eminyakeni eminingi eyayizolandela, zize zithinte ngisho nokuphila kwethu futhi zenze ikusasa lethu laphakade liqhakaze. Kodwa osukwini lukaJeremiya, izitha zikaJuda zaziqhubeka zingquzulana.—Funda uJeremiya 31:31, 33, 34; amaHebheru 8:7-9; 10:14-18.

UKUDLONDLOBALA KWEBHABHILONI

17, 18. Iziphi izenzakalo zangaphandle ezaphawula iminyaka yokugcina yokubusa kukaJehoyakimi nokukaZedekiya?

¹⁷ Ngo-625 B.C.E., abaseBhabhiloni nabaseGibhithe balwa impi ewumnqamula-juqu eKharikemishi, eduze koMfula i-Ewufrathe osendaweni engamakhilomitha angaba ngu-600 enyakatho yeJerusalema. INkosi uNebukhadinezari yaqotha imbokodo nesisekelo emabuthweni kaFaro Nekho, kwaphela kanjalo ukubusa kweGibhithe kule ndawo. (Jer. 46:2) UNebukhadinezari wabe esebusa uJuda, uJehoyakimi waphoqeleka ukuba abe inceku yakhe. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu eyinkosi ekhonza ngaphansi kukaNebukhadinezari, uJehoyakimi wavusa umhlwenga. (2 AmaKh. 24:1, 2) Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-618 B.C.E. uNebukhadinezari waphaka impi waya kwaJuda wafike wahaqa iJerusalema. Zama ukubona ngeso lengqondo ukuthi kwakuyisikhathi seziyaluyalu kanjani leso, ngisho nakumprofethi kaNkulunkulu uJeremiya. Cishe uJehoyakimi wafa phakathi nalokho kuvinjezelwa.b Indodana yakhe uJehoyakini yacela umaluju kwabaseBhabhiloni ngemva kokubusa izinyanga ezintathu kuphela kwaJuda. UNebukhadinezari waphundla ingcebo yaseJerusalema wathumba uJehoyakini, imindeni yasebukhosini, izicukuthwane zakwaJuda, amaqhawe esizwe nezisebenzi eziyizingcweti. Phakathi kwabathunjwa kwakunoDaniyeli, uHananiya, uMishayeli no-Azariya.—2 AmaKh. 24:10-16; Dan. 1:1-7.

¹⁸ UNebukhadinezari wabeka uZedekiya, enye yamadodana kaJosiya, waba inkosi kwaJuda. Wayezoba inkosi yokugcina yasemhlabeni yohlu lukaDavide. Ukubusa kwakhe kwaphela lapho iJerusalema nethempeli lalo libhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E. (2 AmaKh. 24:17) Nokho, ukubusa kukaZedekiya kweminyaka engu-11 kwaphawulwa imibango emphakathini nakwezombusazwe kwaJuda. Kuyacaca ukuthi uJeremiya kwakudingeka athembele ngokuphelele kuLowo owayemthume ukuba abe umprofethi.

19. Abantu besikhathi sikaJeremiya basabela kanjani esigijimini sakhe, futhi kungani kufanele kukuthakazelise lokho?

¹⁹ Zibeke esimweni sikaJeremiya. Kusukela ngesikhathi sikaJosiya, uJeremiya wayebone iziyaluyalu kwezombusazwe nokufa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngokomoya. Nokho, wayazi ukuthi izinto zaziyoba zimbi nakakhulu. Abantu bakubo bamtshela: “Akumelwe uprofethe egameni likaJehova, ukuze ungafi ngesandla sethu.” (Jer. 11:21) Ngisho nalapho iziprofetho zikaJeremiya zigcwaliseka, amaJuda athi: “Ngokuqondene nezwi olikhulume kithi egameni likaJehova, ngeke sikulalele.” (Jer. 44:16) Noma kunjalo, ukuphila kwabantu kwakusengozini, njengoba kunjalo nanamuhla. Isigijimi osimemezelayo sivela kuJehova njengesikaJeremiya. Ngakho ungayifaka umfutho inkonzo yakho ngokuhlola indlela uJehova avikela ngayo umprofethi wakhe phakathi nenkathi eyaholela ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema.

IZINSUKU ZOKUGCINA ZOMBUSO

20. Yini eyenza ukubusa kukaZedekiya kwaba nzima ngokukhethekile kuJeremiya? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 29.)

²⁰ Mhlawumbe iminyaka eyaba nzima kakhulu enkonzweni kaJeremiya yokuprofetha yayingenkathi kubusa uZedekiya. Njengamakhosi amaningi amandulela, uZedekiya “waqhubeka enza okubi emehlweni kaJehova.” (Jer. 52:1, 2) Wayeyisikhonzi sabaseBhabhiloni futhi uNebukhadinezari wamenzisa isifungo egameni likaJehova esambopha ukuba azithobe enkosini yaseBhabhiloni. Noma kunjalo, ekugcineni uZedekiya wavusa umhlwenga. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, izitha zikaJeremiya zazimcindezela ukuba asekele lokhu kudlubulunda.—2 IziKr. 36:13; Hez. 17:12, 13.

21-23. (a) Kwaba namaphi amaqembu kwaJuda ngenkathi kubusa uZedekiya? (b) Waphathwa kanjani uJeremiya ngenxa yesigijimi sakhe, futhi kungani lokhu kufanele kukuthakazelise?

²¹ Kubonakala sengathi ekuqaleni kokubusa kukaZedekiya kwafika izithunywa eJerusalema zivela emakhosini akwa-Edomi, kwaMowabi, kwa-Amoni, eThire naseSidoni. Kungenzeka zazihlose ukufaka uZedekiya kulo mfelandawonye wokulwa noNebukhadinezari. Nokho, uJeremiya wanxusa uZedekiya ukuba azithobe eBhabhiloni. Ngokuvumelana nalokho, uJeremiya wanika lezi zithunywa imigoqo yejoka ukuze afanekise ukuthi imibuso yazo nayo kwakufanele ikhonze abaseBhabhiloni. (Jer. 27:1-3, 14)c Akuzange kuthandeke lokhu futhi umsebenzi kaJeremiya njengomprofethi omemezela isigijimi esingafunwa wenziwa waba nzima nakakhulu uHananiya. Wayengumprofethi wamanga owayegomela obala ngegama likaNkulunkulu ethi ijoka laseBhabhiloni liyokwephulwa. Kodwa izwi likaJehova ngoJeremiya lalithé umkhohlisi uHananiya wayezofa phakathi nalowo nyaka. Yilokho kanye okwenzeka.—Jer. 28:1-3, 16, 17.

²² UJuda wayeseqembukelene manje—kukhona ababefuna ukuzithoba eBhabhiloni nalabo ababegqugquzela ukuhlubuka kulo. Ngo-609 B.C.E., uZedekiya wadlubulunda ngokufuna usizo lwebutho laseGibhithe. Ngenxa yalokho, uJeremiya kwadingeka abhekane nodlame olwalubangelwa ababesekela ukuhlubuka. (Jer. 52:3; Hez. 17:15) UNebukhadinezari namabutho akhe babuyela kwaJuda beyoqeda leso siyaluyalu, banqoba yonke imizi yakwaJuda baphinde balivimbezela iJerusalema. Isigijimi sikaJeremiya esasiya kuZedekiya nezikhonzi zakhe kulesi sikhathi esibucayi sasithi abaseBhabhiloni babezolinqoba iJerusalema. Labo abasala khona babelindelwe ukufa. Labo abahlubukela kumaKhaledi babezosinda.—Funda uJeremiya 21:8-10; 52:4.

²³ Izikhulu zakwaJuda zazithi uJeremiya uchema nabaseBhabhiloni. Lapho ekhuluma iqiniso, zamshaya zamfaka endlini eyitilongo. (Jer. 37:13-15) Noma kunjalo uJeremiya akazange asithambise isigijimi sikaJehova. Ngakho-ke izikhulu zacela kuZedekiya ukuba abulawe. Zamfaka emthonjeni ongenamanzi lapho ayengase abishe khona odakeni afe. Kodwa u-Ebhedi-meleki, umTopiya owayekhonza endlini yenkosi, wamkhipha uJeremiya. (Jer. 38:4-13) Yeka ukuthi kuvame kangakanani ukuba abantu bakaJehova namuhla babe sengozini ngoba benqaba ukuzigaxa kwezombusazwe ngenxa kanembeza! Ngokusobala, okwenzeka kuJeremiya kungakunika amandla okubhekana nezilingo futhi uzinqobe.

24. Chaza okwenzeka ngo-607 B.C.E.

²⁴ Ngo-607 B.C.E., abaseBhabhiloni bagcina bezibhodlozile izindonga zaseJerusalema, umuzi wawa. Amabutho kaNebukhadinezari ashisa ithempeli likaJehova, acekela phansi izindonga zomuzi ayesebulala izicukuthwane zakwaJuda. UZedekiya wazama ukubaleka kodwa wabanjwa walethwa kuNebukhadinezari. Amadodana kaZedekiya anqunywa ewabhekile, uNebukhadinezari wayala ukuba uZedekiya akopolotwe amehlo, aboshwe futhi ayiswe eBhabhiloni. (Jer. 39:1-7) Yebo, amazwi kaJeremiya ngoJuda neJerusalema ayesegcwalisekile. Kunokuba ajabule, lo mprofethi kaNkulunkulu walila ngenxa yenhlekelele eyayehlele abantu bakubo. Singafunda indlela azizwa ngayo encwadini yeBhayibheli yesiLilo. Kufanele sithinteke ngokujulile lapho sifunda leyo ncwadi.

OKWAKWENZEKA ENSALINI YAKWAJUDA

25, 26. (a) Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka ngemva kokuwa kweJerusalema? (b) Abantu besikhathi sikaJeremiya basabela kanjani esigijimini sakhe ngemva kokuwa kweJerusalema?

²⁵ Yini eyayenzeka kuJeremiya phakathi nazo zonke lezi zigigaba? Izikhulu zaseJerusalema zazimbophile kodwa abanqobi baseBhabhiloni bamphatha ngomusa, bamkhulula. Kamuva, uJeremiya wathatheka ngephutha namaJuda athile ayethunjiwe, kodwa wakhululwa. Kwakusekuningi okwakumelwe akwenze enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu; kwakusenomsebenzi okwakumelwe awenze phakathi kwabasindile. UNebukhadinezari wamisa uGedaliya ukuba abuse izwe elalinqotshiwe, wathembisa abaseJudiya ababesele ukuthula uma nje besamkhonza, yena nkosi yaseBhabhiloni. Kepha amanye amaJuda ayenganelisekile ambulala uGedaliya. (Jer. 39:13, 14; 40:1-7; 41:2) UJeremiya wancenga insali yamaJuda ukuba iqhubeke ihleli ezweni, ingayesabi inkosi yaseBhabhiloni. Nokho, obhongoza bayo bathi uJeremiya uqamba amanga, babalekela eGibhithe, bathatha uJeremiya noBharuki bahamba nabo ngenkani. Kodwa uJeremiya waprofetha ukuthi uNebukhadinezari wayezolihlasela futhi alinqobe kwalona lelo zwe, alethe usizi kubabaleki baseJudiya.—Jer. 42:9-11; 43:1-11; 44:11-13.

²⁶ Nakulokhu futhi, abantu bakubo kaJeremiya abazange bamlalele umprofethi weqiniso kaNkulunkulu. Ngani? Bathi: “Kusukela esikhathini esayeka ngaso ukushunqisela ‘indlovukazi yamazulu’ umusi womhlatshelo nokuyithululela iminikelo yokuphuzwayo siye santula yonke into, futhi siphelile ngenkemba nangendlala.” (Jer. 44:16, 18) Yeka isimo esingokomoya esidabukisayo sabantu besikhathi sikaJeremiya! Ngakolunye uhlangothi, yeka indlela okufanele kusikhuthaze ngayo ukwazi ukuthi umuntu ongaphelele angahlala ethembekile kuJehova yize ezungezwe abantu abangenalukholo!

27. Yini esiyaziyo ngeminyaka yokugcina yenkonzo kaJeremiya yokuprofetha?

²⁷ Isenzakalo sokugcina uJeremiya asiloba—ukukhululwa kukaJehoyakini etilongweni ekhululwa u-Evili-merodaki owabusa ngemva kukaNebukhadinezari—senzeka ngo-580 B.C.E. (Jer. 52:31-34) Kumelwe ukuba manje uJeremiya wayeseneminyaka engaba ngu-90. Asazi kahle-hle ukuthi kwenzekani ngasekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe. Cishe iminyaka yokugcina wayiphila eGibhithe futhi wafela khona ethembekile ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-67 esenkonzweni ekhethekile kaJehova. Wakhonza phakathi neminyaka okwakukhuthazwa ngayo ukukhulekela kweqiniso naphakathi kweminyaka eminingi okwakubhidlange ngayo ukuhlubuka. Bakhona abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu abamlalela. Kepha iningi lazenqaba izigijimi zakhe, laze lenza nezenzo ezibonisa ubutha. Ingabe lokho kwamenza isehluleki? Lutho! Kwasekuqaleni uJehova wayemtshelile: “Ngokuqinisekile bazolwa nawe, kodwa ngeke bakunqobe, ngoba ‘mina nginawe.’” (Jer. 1:19) Nathi njengoFakazi BakaJehova sithunywe umsebenzi ofana nokaJeremiya. Ngakho singalindela ukuphathwa ngendlela efanayo. (Funda uMathewu 10:16-22.) Yiziphi-ke izifundo esingazifunda kuJeremiya, futhi kufanele siyibheke kanjani inkonzo yethu? Ake sicabangele le mibuzo.