Izikhombo Ze-Ncwajana YoMhlangano Wokuphila Nenkonzo
JANUWARI 4-10
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | LEVITIKUSI 18-19
“Zigcine Uhlanzekile Ngokokuziphatha”
Indlela Yokuzivikela Esicuphweni SikaSathane
Ekhuluma ngemikhuba ehlanekezelwe yezizwe, uJehova wathi kuma-Israyeli: “Akumelwe nenze izenzo zezwe laseKhanani enginiletha kulo . . . Izwe lingcolile, futhi ngiyoletha isijeziso phezu kwalo ngenxa yesiphambeko salo.” KuNkulunkulu wama-Israyeli ongcwele, indlela yokuphila yamaKhanani yayingcolile kangangokuthi ngisho nezwe ayehlala kulo lase lingcolile.—Lev. 18:3, 25.
UJehova Uhola Abantu Bakhe
Yeka indlela lawo makhosi athembekile ayehluke ngayo kubaholi bezinye izizwe, abantu ababeqondiswa ukuhlakanipha namacebo abantu! Ngaphansi kokuhola kwamaKhanani, abantu babenza izinto ezinyanyekayo ezazihlanganisa ukulalana kwezihlobo, ukulalana kwabantu bobulili obufanayo, ukulala nezilwane, ukwenza umhlatshelo ngezingane kanye nokukhulekela izithombe. (Lev. 18:6, 21-25) Ngaphezu kwalokho, abaholi baseBhabhiloni nabaseGibhithe babengazilandeli izinqubo zenhlanzeko ezifakazelwa ezesayensi uNkulunkulu ayezinikeze ama-Israyeli. (Num. 19:13) Ngokuphambene nalokho, abantu bakaNkulunkulu basendulo, babona indlela abaholi babo abathembekile abathuthukisa ngayo ukuhlanzeka ngokomoya, ngokokuziphatha nangokomzimba. Kusobala ukuthi babeholwa uJehova.
Lokho UNkulunkulu Azokwenza Ngobubi
Kuthiwani ngalabo abanenkani abangafuni ukushintsha izindlela zabo, abaphikelela ekwenzeni izinto ezimbi? Cabanga ngalesi sithembiso esingagunci: “Ngabaqotho abayohlala emhlabeni, futhi ngabangasoleki abayosala kuwo. Kepha ababi bayonqunywa emhlabeni; abakhohlisayo bona, bayosishulwa kuwo.” (IzAga 2:21, 22) Ithonya labantu ababi liyobe lingasekho. Lapho sebephila emhlabeni onokuthula, abantu abalalelayo bayokhululwa kancane kancane ekungaphelelini abakuzuze njengefa.—Roma 6:17, 18; 8:21.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
“Yeka Indlela Engiwuthanda Ngayo Umthetho Wakho!”
Isici sesibili soMthetho KaMose esasibonisa ukukhathalela kukaNkulunkulu inhlalakahle yabantu bakhe kwakuyilungelo lokukhothoza. UJehova wabeka umyalo othi lapho umlimi ongumIsrayeli evuna emasimini akhe, abampofu kufanele bavunyelwe ukuba babuthe lokho okushiywe abavuni. Abalimi kwakufanele bangavuni ngokuphelele emaphethelweni amasimu abo, futhi kwakufanele bangazibuthi izinsalela zamagilebhisi noma zomnqumo. Izithungu zokusanhlamvu ezazisale ngephutha emasimini kwakungafanele zilandwe. Leli kwakuyilungiselelo lothando lokusiza abampofu, abafokazi, izintandane nabafelokazi. Nakuba kwakudingeka basebenze kanzima lapho bekhothoza, leli lungiselelo lalibenza bakwazi ukugwema ukuba izinxibi.—Levitikusi 19:9, 10; Duteronomi 24:19-22; IHubo 37:25.
JANUWARI 11-17
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | LEVITIKUSI 20-21
“UJehova Ubenza Bahluke Abantu Bakhe”
IPharadesi—Ingabe Ungalifinyelela?
Nokho, kukhona into okungamelwe siyishalazele. UNkulunkulu watshela ama-Israyeli: “Kumelwe niwugcine wonke lo myalo enginiyala ngawo namuhla, ukuze nibe namandla futhi impela ningene nilidle izwe.” (Duteronomi 11:8) KuLevitikusi 20:22, 24, kukhulunywa ngalo lelo zwe: “Kumelwe nigcine zonke izimiso zami nazo zonke izinqumo zami zokwahlulela futhi nizenze, ukuze izwe enginiletha kulo ukuba nihlale kulo linganihlanzi linikhiphe. Yingakho ngithé kini: ‘Nina, niyodla ifa lomhlabathi wabo, futhi mina, ngiyowunika nina ukuba nidle ifa lawo, izwe eligeleza ubisi noju.’” Yebo, ukudla iZwe Lesithembiso kwakuxhomeke ebuhlotsheni obuhle noJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi ama-Israyeli awamlalelanga uNkulunkulu, wavumela abaseBhabhiloni ukuba bawanqobe futhi bawasuse endaweni yawo.
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Ifa
Lokhu kuyinoma iyiphi impahla edluliselwa kulowo oyindlalifa noma kulabo okufanele banikwe yona lapho umniniyo efa; noma yini edluliselwa komunye ivela ozalweni noma kobesesikhundleni. Kusetshenziswe isenzo sesiHebheru esithi na·chalʹ (ibizo, na·chalahʹ). Ngokuvamile sisho ukwamukela noma ukudlulisela ifa kolandelayo. (Num 26:55; Hez 46:18) Ngezinye izikhathi kusetshenziswa isenzo esithi ya·rashʹ lapho kukhulunywa ‘ngokulandela njengendlalifa,’ futhi kuvame kakhulu ukuba sisetshenziswe lapho ‘kuthathwa into ibe ngeyakho njengefa’ hhayi ngenxa yokuthi ulandela umuntu esikhundleni. (Gen 15:3; Lev 20:24) Libuye lisho “ukuthathela; ukuxosha,” lapho kukhulunywa ngempi. (Dut 2:12; 31:3) Amagama esiGreki aphathelene nefa athathelwa kwelithi kleʹros, elalisho “inkatho” elaqale laqondwa njengelisho “ukuhlukaniselana,” lagcina selaziwa ngokuthi “ifa.”—Math 27:35; IzE 1:17; 26:18.
it-1-E 317 ¶2
Izinyoni
Ngemva kukaZamcolo womhlaba wonke, uNowa wanikela ‘ngezilwane ezindizayo ezihlanzekile’ kanye nezinye izilwane. (Gen 8:18-20) Kamuva, uNkulunkulu wathi abantu bangazidla izinyoni, uma nje bengeke balidle igazi lazo. (Gen 9:1-4; qhathanisa noLev 7:26; 17:13.) Ngakho-ke, ngaleso sikhathi izinyoni ezithile kwakuthiwa ‘zihlanzekile’ ngokuqondene nokuthi ziyamukeleka yini ukuba kunganikelwa ngazo; iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi yayingekho inyoni okwakungafanele idliwe ngoba nje ‘ingahlanzekile,’ kwaze kwaba yilapho kuqala uMthetho KaMose. (Lev 11:13-19, 46, 47; 20:25; Dut 14:11-20) IBhayibheli alisho ngokuqondile ukuthi yiziphi izinto ezazenza ezinye izinyoni zibe ‘ezingahlanzekile’ kuNkulunkulu. Nakuba eziningi zezinyoni okwakuthiwa azihlanzekile kwakuyilezo ezidla udoti noma inyama, akuzona zonke ezazinjalo. (Bheka esithi HOOPOE.) Ukungadliwa kwezilwane ezingahlanzekile kwaphela lapho kumiswa isivumelwano esisha, njengoba uNkulunkulu acacisela uPetru ngombono.—IzE 10:9-15.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
it-1-E 563
Ukuzisika
UMthetho kaNkulunkulu wawungabavumeli abantu ukuba bazisike emzimbeni lapho beshonelwe. (Lev 19:28; 21:5; Dut 14:1) Isizathu salokhu ukuthi ama-Israyeli ayengabantu abangcwele kuJehova, eyimpahla ekhethekile. (Dut 14:2) Ngenxa yalokho, kwakungafanele akhonze izithombe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukulila ngokuzisika emzimbeni kwakungafaneleki kubantu abasazi kahle isimo sabantu abafile nabanethemba lovuko. (Dan 12:13; Heb 11:19) Umthetho owenqabela ukuzisika wawubuye ugcizelele kuma-Israyeli inhlonipho efanele ngendalo kaNkulunkulu ewumzimba womuntu.
JANUWARI 18-24
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | LEVITIKUSI 22-23
“Esikufunda Emikhosini Yangezikhathi Ezithile”
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UMkhosi Wamaqebelengwane Angenamvubelo
Ngosuku lokuqala loMkhosi Wamaqebelengwane Angenamvubelo kwakuba umbuthano ohloniphekile, futhi uyisabatha. Ngosuku lwesibili, ngoNisani 16, kwakulethwa kupristi ulibo lwesivuno sebhali, okwakuyisivuno sokuqala ePhalestina. Ngaphambi kwalo mkhosi kwakungafanele sidliwe isivuno esisha sokusanhlamvu, isinkwa noma okusanhlamvu okuthosiwe. Umpristi wayenikela lolu libo kuJehova ngokomfanekiso ngokuzulisa isithungo sokusanhlamvu, kwenziwe nomnikelo oshishwayo ngemvu ephilile enonyaka owodwa kanye nokusanhlamvu okuthanjiswe ngamafutha nomnikelo ophuzwayo. (Lev 23:6-14) Wawungekho umyalo wokuba okusanhlamvu noma ufulawa wako kushiswe e-altare, njengoba kwase kwenziwa abapristi kamuva. Kwakungagcini ngokuba iminikelo yolibo yenziwe emphakathini noma yenziwe isizwe, kodwa kwakunelungiselelo lokuba umndeni ngamunye nomuntu ngamunye onendawo kwa-Israyeli enze umnikelo wokubonga phakathi naleso sikhathi somkhosi.—Eks 23:19; Dut 26:1, 2; bheka esithi FIRSTFRUITS.
Okwenza Ubaluleke. Ukudliwa kwamaqebelengwane angenamvubelo ngaleso sikhathi kwakuvumelana nemiyalo uJehova ayinika uMose, elotshwe ku-Eksodusi 12:14-20, ehlanganisa nomyalo osevesini 19 othi: “Akukho nhlama ebilisiwe okumelwe itholakale ezindlini zenu izinsuku eziyisikhombisa” KuDuteronomi 16:3 amaqebelengwane angenamvubelo abizwa ngokuthi “isinkwa sokuhlupheka,” futhi ayekhumbuza amaJuda unyaka ngamunye ngokuphuma kwawo ngokushesha ezweni laseGibhithe (engasenaso isikhathi sokubilisa inhlama yawo [Eks 12:34]). Ngokwenza lokho, ama-Israyeli ayekhumbula ukuhlupheka nobugqila akhululwa kubo, njengoba nje uJehova ngokwakhe asho ukuthi, “ukuze ukhumbule usuku owaphuma ngalo ezweni laseGibhithe zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakho.” Ukuqaphela kwesizwe ukuthi sase sikhululekile nokuthi uJehova unguMkhululi waso kwakwenza singene kahle emkhosini wokuqala wemikhosi yama-Israyeli emithathu emikhulu yaminyaka yonke.—Dut 16:16.
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IPentekhoste
Isivuno esivunwe kuqala sikakolweni sasisetshenziswa ngokuhlukile esivunweni sokuqala sebhali. Okweshumi okubili kwe-efa likafulawa ocolekile (amalitha angu-4,4) kuhlanganise nemvubelo kwakufanele kubhakwe kube yizinkwa ezimbili. Lezi zinkwa ‘kwakufanele zivele ezindaweni okuhlalwa kuzo,’ okusho ukuthi kwakufanele kube yizinkwa ezifana nalezo ezenziwa ekhaya kungabi ezenziwe ngenjongo yokunikela. (Lev 23:17) Leso sinkwa sasifakwa nasemnikelweni wokushiswa nasemnikelweni wesono. Lapho kwenziwa umnikelo ohlanganyelwayo kwakufakwa namawundlu amaduna amabili. Umpristi wayezulisa izinkwa kanye namawundlu amaduna phambi kukaJehova ngokufaka isandla sakhe phansi kwezinkwa namaqatha enyama yewundlu akuzulise ekusa phambili nasemuva, ebonisa ukuthi kulethwe phambi kukaJehova. Ngemva kokuba izinkwa namawundlu sekunikeliwe, kwakuba okompristi, akudle njengomnikelo ohlanganyelwayo.—Lev 23:18-20.
Ingabe Uhambisana Nenhlangano KaJehova?
Inhlangano kaJehova ikhathalela inhlalakahle yethu lapho isikhuthaza ukuba silalele iseluleko somphostoli uPawulu: “Masicabangelane ukuze sivuselelane uthando nemisebenzi emihle, singakuyeki ukuhlangana kwethu ndawonye, njengoba kungumkhuba wabanye, kodwa sikhuthazane, futhi ikakhulu njengoba nibona usuku lusondela.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Imikhosi yaminyaka yonke neminye imibuthano yokukhulekela yawakha ama-Israyeli ngokomoya. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, izenzakalo ezinjengoMkhosi Wamadokodo okhethekile wangosuku lukaNehemiya zaziyizikhathi ezijabulisayo. (Eks. 23:15, 16; Neh. 8:9-18) Sithola izinzuzo ezifanayo emihlanganweni yethu yebandla, yesifunda neyesigodi. Masiwasebenzise ngokugcwele la malungiselelo enzelwe ukuqinisa ingokomoya lethu nokwandisa injabulo yethu.—Thithu 2:2.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Hlala Uqotho!
Kithi njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu, ukuba qotho kusho ukuthanda uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke nokuzinikela kuye ngokuphelele ukuze senze izinqumo ezivumelana nentando yakhe. Ake sihlaziye leli gama. Igama elithi “ubuqotho” eliseBhayibhelini lisho into ephelele, ephilile, engenasici. Ngokwesibonelo, ama-Israyeli ayenikela ngezilwane kuJehova njengemihlatshelo futhi uMthetho wawuthi kumelwe anikele ngezilwane eziphilile. (Lev. 22:21, 22) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengavumelekile ukunikela ngesilwane esingenamlenze, indlebe, iso noma esigulayo. Kwakubalulekile kuJehova ukuba isilwane sibe esiphelele, esiphilile noma esingenasici. (Mal. 1:6-9) Siyaqonda ukuthi kungani uJehova efuna simkhonze ngenhliziyo ephelele. Lapho sithenga okuthile, kungaba isithelo, incwadi noma ithuluzi, asifuni okonakele, okushodayo noma okuphukile. Sifuna ukuthenga into ephelele, ephilile, engenasici. UJehova uzizwa ngendlela efanayo ngothando lwethu nangendlela esiqotho ngayo kuye. Kumelwe kuphelele, kuphile futhi kungabi nasici.
JANUWARI 25-31
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | LEVITIKUSI 24-25
“Unyaka WeJubili Nenkululeko Yangesikhathi Esizayo”
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Inkululeko
UNkulunkulu Wenkululeko. UJehova unguNkulunkulu wenkululeko. Wakhulula ama-Israyeli ebugqilini eGibhithe. Wawatshela ukuthi uma nje elalela imiyalo yakhe ayengeke aswele lutho. (Dut 15:4, 5) UDavide wakhuluma “ngokulondeka” ngaphakathi kwezindonga zeJerusalema. (IHu 122:6, 7) Noma kunjalo, uMthetho wawuthi uma indoda iba mpofu kakhulu yayingazithengisela ebugqilini ukuze ikwazi ukuzinakekela yona nomndeni wayo. UMthetho wawuthi isigqila esingumHebheru sasingaba isigqila iminyaka eyisithupha, bese siyakhululwa ngonyaka wesikhombisa. (Eks 21:2) Ngonyaka weJubili (owawuba njalo ngonyaka wesi-50), inkululeko yayimenyezelwa kulo lonke izwe njengoba kwakuyinkululeko kuwo wonke umuntu ohlala ezweni. Wonke amaHebheru ayekhululeka ebugqilini futhi wonke umuntu wayebuyela endaweni eyifa lakhe.—Lev 25:10-19.
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Ifa
Njengoba indawo kwakufanele kube eyomndeni ofanayo isizukulwane ngesizukulwane, kwakungenakwenzeka ukuthi idayiswe unomphela. Ukudayiswa kwezwe, empeleni kwakuwukuliqashisa ngenani lesivuno esasizotholakala ensimini. Lesi kwakuyoba isivuno seminyaka esasele ngaphambi kokuba kube iJubili, ngoba ngeJubili zonke izindawo zazibuyela kubanikazi bazo. (Lev 25:13, 15, 23, 24) Lo mthetho wawuhlanganisa nemizi esemadolobheni angabiyelwe, eyayibhekwa njengengxenye yaleyo ndawo evulekile eyakhiwe kuyo. Lapho kuthengiswa indlu esedolobheni elibiyelwe, yayiba eyomthengi unyaka owodwa kuphela. Ngokuphathelene nemizi esemadolobheni amaLevi, yayingathengwa ihlale kumthengi unompela ngoba amaLevi ayengenayo indawo eyifa lawo.—Lev 25:29-34.
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IJubili
Ukugcinwa komthetho weJubili wawenza isizwe singagcini sisesimweni esidabukisayo esisibona emazweni amaningi namuhla, lapho kukhona izigaba ezimbili kuphela, okungabacebe kakhulu nabampofu kakhulu. Izinzuzo ezazitholwa abantu ngabanye zazenza isizwe ziqine, ngenxa yokuthi wayengekho owayezogcina eswele futhi engakwazi kwenza lutho ngenxa yesimo esibucayi sezomnotho. Kunalokho, wonke umuntu wayengakwazi ukunikela ngamakhono akhe nangalokho akwazi ukukwenza ukuze kusizakale izwe lonke. Njengoba uJehova ayebusisa isivuno sezwe, afundise nabantu, lapho u-Israyeli elalela, wayengaba nababusi abakahle kakhulu futhi achume ngendlela eyayingenzeka kuphela kubantu ababuswa uNkulunkulu.—Isaya 33:22.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Kulungile Yini Ukuziphindiselela?
Uma umIsrayeli ayeshaya omunye umIsrayeli amkhiphe iso, uMthetho wawuthi makukhishwe isijeziso esinobulungisa. Kodwa kwakungashiyelwa neze kulowo oyisisulu ukuba azilungisele indaba ngokuthi ajezise lowo omshayile noma elinye ilungu lomndeni wakhe. UMthetho wawuthi kumelwe ayise indaba kwabaphethe—abahluleli abamisiwe—ukuze bona balungise indaba ngendlela efanele. Ukwazi ukuthi ukwenza into embi ngamabomu noma ukulimaza omunye kungasho ukujeziswa ngendlela efanayo kwakusiza ekuvimbeleni ukuziphindiselela. Kodwa kwakungagcini lapho.
FEBHUWARI 1-7
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | LEVITIKUSI 26-27
“Esingakwenza Ukuze UJehova Asibusise”
Zilahle “Izinto Ezingasizi Ngalutho”
‘INgcebo’ ingafana kanjani nonkulunkulu? Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngetshe esigangeni kwa-Israyeli wasendulo. Lelo tshe lalingase lisetshenziswe ekwakheni indlu noma udonga. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uma lalimiswa ‘njengensika engcwele’ noma “njengombukiso,” laliba isikhubekiso kubantu bakaJehova. (Lev. 26:1) Ngokufanayo, imali ifeza indima ethile. Siyayidinga ukuze siphile, futhi singayisebenzisa kahle enkonzweni kaJehova. (UmSh. 7:12; Luka 16:9) Kodwa uma siyiphishekela ngaphezu kwenkonzo yethu yobuKristu, empeleni iba unkulunkulu kithi. (Funda eyoku-1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10.) Kuleli zwe elinabantu abakubheka njengokubaluleke kakhulu ukuphishekela ingcebo, kufanele siqiniseke ukuthi sihlala sinombono onokulinganisela kule ndaba.—1 Tim. 6:17-19.
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Ukwesaba
Ngenxa yendlela uJehova asebenzelana ngayo noMose nendlela ayemsebenzisa ngayo, uMose wayesabeka kakhulu (Heb., moh·raʼʹ) phambi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Dut 34:10, 12; Eks 19:9) Labo ababenokholo babelesaba noma belihlonipha ngendlela enempilo igunya likaMose. Babebona ukuthi uJehova wayekhuluma nabo esebenzisa yena. Ngokuphathelene nendlu kaJehova engcwele, ama-Israyeli kwakufanele ayesabe. (Lev 19:30; 26:2) Okusho ukuthi ayeyobonisa ukuyihlonipha ngempela indlu kaNkulunkulu engcwele, akhonze uJehova ngendlela athi awamkhonze ngayo futhi aziphathe ngokuvumelana nayo yonke imiyalo yakhe.
“Ukuthula KukaNkulunkulu” Makulondoloze Inhliziyo Yakho
UJehova watshela lesisizwe: “Uma nihamba ngezimiso zami, nigcine imiyalo yami, niyenze, ngiyakuninika imvula ngesikhathi sayo, izwe lithele ukudla kwalo, imithi yasendle ithele izithelo zayo. Ngiyakunika ukuthula ezweni, nilale phansi ningesatshiswa-muntu; ngiyakuqothula izilwane ezimbi ezweni, nenkemba ayiyikudabula ezweni lakini. Ngiyakuhamba phakathi kwenu, ngibe-nguNkulunkulu wenu, nibe-ngabantu bami.” (Levitikusi 26:3, 4, 6, 12) UIsrayeli wayengajabulela ukuthula ngoba wayelondekile ezitheni zakhe, enenala yezinto ezibonakalayo, futhi enobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. Kodwa lokhu kwakuyoxhomeka ekubambeleleni kwakhe eMthethweni kaJehova.—IHubo 119:165.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
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Isifo Esiwumshayabhuqe
Esabangelwa ukulahla uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli saxwayiswa ngokuthi uma singafuni ukugcina isivumelwano saso noNkulunkulu, lokho kwakuyokwenza ukuba uNkulunkulu ‘awalethele isifo esiwumshayabhuqe.’ (Lev 26:14-16, 23-25; Dut 28:15, 21, 22) Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, ukuba nempilo enhle, ngokwenyama noma ngokomoya kuhlotshaniswa nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu (Dut 7:12, 15; IHu 103:1-3; IzA 3:1, 2, 7, 8; 4:21, 22; IsAm 21:1-4), kanti isifo sihlotshaniswa nesono nokungapheleli. (Eks 15:26; Dut 28:58-61; Isaya 53:4, 5; Math 9:2-6, 12; Joh 5:14) Nokho, nakuba kokunye uJehova wabashaya ngokuqondile ngesifo abathile, njengoba ashaya ngochoko uMiriyamu, u-Uziya noGehazi. (Num 12:10; 2Kro 26:16-21; 2Kho 5:25-27), kubonakala sengathi ezimweni eziningi izifo eziwumshayabhuqe zaziyimiphumela yesono esenziwa umuntu noma izizwe futhi zazingenakugwemeka. Babemane nje bevuna abakuhlwanyelile; bahlupheka ngenxa yezindlela zabo ezimbi. (Gal 6:7, 8) Ngokuphathelene nalabo abaziphatha kabi ngokocansi, umphostoli uthi, uNkulunkulu “wabanikela ekungcoleni, ukuze imizimba yabo ihlaziswe phakathi kwabo . . . bamukela kubo ngokwabo isijeziso esigcwele, esasifanele isiphambeko sabo.”—Roma 1:24-27.
FEBHUWARI 8-14
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | NUMERI 1-2
“UJehova Ubenza Bahleleke Abantu Bakhe”
Indawo Efanele Yokukhulekelwa KukaJehova Ekuphileni Kwethu
Uma wawungabuka u-Israyeli ekanise ehlane ukwelenyoni, wawuyobonani? Uhele lwamatende amaningi, kodwa oluhlelekile oluhlalisa cishe abantu abayizigidi ezintathu noma ngaphezulu, oluhlelwe ngokwezigaba zezizwe ezintathu ngasenyakatho, eningizimu, empumalanga, nangasentshonalanga. Uma ubhekisisa, wawuyoqaphela okunye futhi ukuhlelwa ngamaqembu eduze kwendawo ephakathi nekamu. Lamaqoqo amancane amane amatende ayehlalisa imikhaya yesizwe sakwaLevi. Khona kanye enkabeni yekamu, endaweni eyayihlukaniswe ngesihenqo sendwangu, kwakunesakhiwo esiyingqayizivele. Lesisakhiwo ‘sasiyitende lokuhlangana,’ noma itabernakele, ama-Israyeli “ahlakaniphile ngenhliziyo” ayelakhe ngokuvumelana nohlelo lukaJehova.—Numeri 1:52, 53; 2:3, 10, 17, 18, 25; Eksodusi 35:10.
it-1-E 397 ¶4
Ikamu
Ikamu lama-Israyeli lalilikhulu kakhulu. Ngenhla, abantu ababhalisiwe kwakungamadoda empi angu-603 550, bese kuba abesifazane nezingane, nasebekhulile nabakhubazekile namaLevi angu-22 000 ‘neqembu elikhulu elixubile’ labezinye izizwe—mhlawumbe sebebonke babengu-3 000 000 noma ngaphezulu. (Eks 12:38, 44; Num 3:21-34, 39) Asikho isiqiniseko sokuthi leli kamu lalithathe indawo engakanani; izilinganiso ezicatshangelwayo zihluka kakhulu. Lapho bekanise maqondana neJeriko eMathafeni akwaMowabi, kuthiwa leli kamu ‘lalisukela eBeti-jeshimoti kuze kuyofika e-Abela-shithimi.’—Num 33:49.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
it-2-E 764
Ukubhalisa
Ukubhalisa, ngokuvamile kwakwenziwa ngokubhala amagama abantu nohlu lozalo ngokwezizwe nemindeni yabo. Kwakungekhona ukubalwa kwabantu okuvamile nje. Ukubhaliswa kwabantu bezwe okukhulunywa ngakho eBhayibhelini kwakwenzelwa izizathu ezihlukahlukene, ezinjengokukhokhiswa kwentela, ukubuthelwa empini noma (kumaLevi kwakuhlanganisa) ukwabelwa imisebenzi endaweni engcwele.
FEBHUWARI 15-21
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | NUMERI 3-4
“Umsebenzi WamaLevi”
it-2-E 683 ¶3
Umpristi
Ngaphansi KoMthetho Wesivumelwano. Lapho ama-Israyeli esebugqilini eGibhithe, ngesikhathi uJehova ebulala amazibulo abaseGibhithe ngesishayo seshumi, wazingcwelisela indodana ngayinye yama-Israyeli eyizibulo. (Eks 12:29; Num 3:13) Lawo mazibulo abe eseba ngakaJehova, futhi ayezosetshenziselwa ukumenzela inkonzo ekhethekile. UNkulunkulu wayengamisa wonke lawo mazibulo esilisa ama-Israyeli abe abapristi futhi anakekele indlu yakhe engcwele. Kunalokho, wabona izofezeka kahle injongo yakhe uma ethatha abesilisa besizwe samaLevi ukuba benze leyo nkonzo. Lokho wakwenza ngokuvumela ukuba isizwe sifake abesilisa bamaLevi esikhundleni samazibulo alezi ezinye izizwe ezingu-12 (inzalo yamadodana kaJosefa, u-Efrayimi noManase abalwa njengezizwe ezimbili). Lapho kubalwa kwatholakala ukuthi amazibulo ezizwe ezingewona amaLevi ayengaphezulu ngo-273 kwabesilisa abangamaLevi abanenyanga eyodwa ukuya phezulu. Ngakho uNkulunkulu wathi kufanele kukhishwe isihlengo esingamashekeli amahlanu (R194.88) umuntu ngamunye kulabo abangu-273, bese leyo mali inikezwa u-Aroni namadodana akhe. (Num 3:11-16, 40-51) Lokhu kwenziwa uJehova esebahlukanisile kakade abesilisa bomndeni ka-Aroni besizwe samaLevi ukuba babe abapristi bama-Israyeli.—Num 1:1; 3:6-10.
it-2-E 241
AmaLevi
Imisebenzi. AmaLevi ayeyimindeni emithathu, ayevela emadodaneni kaLevi uGereshoni (uGereshomu), uKohati noMerari. (Gen 46:11; 1Kro 6:1, 16) Le mindeni yayabelwe indawo eseduze kwetabernakele ehlane. Umndeni wamaKohati wozalo luka-Aroni wawugxumeka amatende phambi kwetabernakele ngasempumalanga. Amanye amaKohati ayegxumeka amatende endaweni eseningizimu, amaGereshoni wona abe sentshonalanga kuthi abakwaMerari babe senyakatho. (Num 3:23, 29, 35, 38) Ukumisa itabernakele, ukulisusa nokulithwala kwakuwumsebenzi wamaLevi. Uma sekuyisikhathi sokuba kuthuthwe, u-Aroni namadodana akhe babelehlisa ikhethini elihlukanisa iNgcwele neNgcwelengcwele bamboze umphongolo wesivumelwano, ama-altare nenye ifenisha engcwele nezitsha. AmaKohati ayebe esekuthwala konke lokhu. AmaGereshoni ayethwala izindwangu zamatende, izembozo, amakhethini, amakhethini alengiswa egcekeni nezintambo zetende (kuyacaca ukuthi kushiwo izintambo zetabernakele). AbakwaMerari babethwala izinhlaka zamapulangwe, izinsika, izisekelo ezinezimbobo, izikhonkwane zetende nezintambo (izintambo zasegcekeni elizungeze itabernakele).—Num 1:50, 51; 3:25, 26, 30, 31, 36, 37; 4:4-33; 7:5-9.
it-2-E 241
AmaLevi
Ezinsukwini zikaMose, lapho umLevi eba neminyaka engu-30, wayeqala ukwenza yonke imisebenzi yamaLevi, njengokuthwala itabernakele nezinto zalo lapho kuthuthwa. (Num 4:46-49) Wayengayenza eminye imisebenzi lapho eba neminyaka engu-25, kodwa hhayi eminye enjengokuthwala itabernakele. (Num 8:24) Lapho sekubusa iNkosi uDavide le minyaka yehliswa yaba ngu-20. Isizathu salokhu kwakuwukuthi itabernakele (elase lizothathelwa isikhundla yithempeli) lalingeke lisathwalwa. Lapho umuntu eba neminyaka engu-50, wayengasaphoqelekile ukuba enze imisebenzi yamaLevi. (Num 8:25, 26; 1Kro 23:24-26; bheka esithi AGE.) AmaLevi kwakudingeka awazi kahle uMthetho. Ayevame ukubizwa ukuba azowufunda phambi kwabantu futhi afundise abantu ngawo.—1Kro 15:27; 2Kro 5:12; 17:7-9; Neh 8:7-9.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Hlakanipha—Yesaba UNkulunkulu!
Ukuthola kukaDavide usizo lukaJehova ngesikhathi ecindezelekile kwajulisa kuye ukwesaba uNkulunkulu futhi kwaqinisa nokuthembela kwakhe kuye. (IHubo 31:22-24) Nokho, ngezikhathi ezintathu eziphawulekayo, ukwesaba kukaDavide uNkulunkulu kwancipha, kwaholela emiphumeleni emibi kakhulu. Esokuqala siphathelene nokuhlela ukuba umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova uyiswe eJerusalema ngenqola esikhundleni sokuba amaLevi awutshathe emahlombe, njengokwesiqondiso soMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Lapho u-Uza, owayehola inqola, ebamba uMphongolo ngoba efuna ukuwusekela ukuze ungawi, wafa ngaso leso sikhathi ngenxa ‘yesenzo sakhe sokungahloniphi.’ Yebo, u-Uza wayenze isono esibi, kodwa empeleni kwakuwukwehluleka kukaDavide ukulondoloza inhlonipho efanele ngoMthetho kaNkulunkulu okwabangela lowo mphumela odabukisayo. Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kusho ukwenza izinto ngokuvumelana nelungiselelo lakhe.—2 Samuweli 6:2-9; Numeri 4:15; 7:9.
FEBHUWARI 22-28
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | NUMERI 5-6
“Ungawalingisa Kanjani AmaNarizi?”
it-2-E 477
AmaNaziri
Zazintathu izinto abantu ababefunga ukuba amaNaziri ababenqatshelwe ukuzenza ngokuyinhloko: (1) Kwakungamelwe baphuze uphuzo oludakayo; kwakungamelwe badle noma yimuphi umkhiqizo wamagilebhisi, kungaba angavuthiwe, avuthiwe noma onyisiwe futhi kwakungafanele baphuze noma yisiphi isiphuzo esenziwe ngawo, kungaba isiphuzo esisanda kwenziwa, esibiliswe ngokuvubela noma esiwuviniga. (2) Kwakungamelwe bagunde amakhanda abo. (3) Kwakungamelwe bathinte isidumbu, ngisho esesihlobo esiseduze—kungaba esikababa, esikamama, esomfowabo noma udadewabo.—Num 6:1-7.
Izifungo Ezikhethekile. Umuntu owayenza lesi sifungo kwakumelwe ‘aphile njengomNaziri kuJehova’ okuwukuthi, azinikezele, azihlukanisele uJehova, angaphileli ukujabulisa abantu ngokubukisa ngokuthi kunezinto angazenzi. Kunalokho, “zonke izinsuku zobuNaziri bakhe ungcwele kuJehova.”—Num 6:2, 8; qhathanisa noGen 49:26, umbhw.
Izimfuneko zokuba umNaziri zaziwuphawu nencazelo ekhethekile ekukhonzeni uJehova. Umpristi ophakeme kwakungafanele athinte isidumbu, ngisho nesesihlobo sakhe esiseduze, ngenxa yesikhundla sakhe esingcwele. Ngendlela efanayo nomNaziri kwakungafanele athinte isidumbu. Umpristi ophakeme kanye nabapristi ababekhonza ngaphansi kwakhe babenqatshelwe ukuphuza iwayini nanoma yiluphi uphuzo oludakayo lapho benza imisebenzi yabo engcwele phambi kukaJehova ngoba izinto okwakufanele bazenze njengabapristi zazibalulekile.—Lev 10:8-11; 21:10, 11.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, umNaziri (ngesiHebheru na·zirʹ) “kufanele abe ngcwele ngokuyeka izinwele zekhanda lakhe zikhule.” Zaziba njengomqhele owawuyokwenza bonke abantu basheshe babone isikhundla sakhe esingcwele sobuNaziri. (Num 6:5) Igama elifanayo lesiHebheru elithi na·zirʹ lalisetshenziswa lapho kukhulunywa ngesihlahla samagilebhisi ‘esingatheniwe’ ngesikhathi seSabatha noma ngeminyaka yeJubili. (Lev 25:5, 11) Kuyaphawuleka nokuthi ucwecwe lwegolide olwaluphambi komshuqulo wompristi ophakeme, owawuqoshwe amazwi athi “Ubungcwele bungobukaJehova,” lwalubizwa ngokuthi “uphawu olungcwele lokuzinikezela [ngeHebheru neʹzer, okuyigama elithathelwe egameni elifanayo elithi na·zirʹ].” (Eks 39:30, 31) Ngendlela efanayo, into esemthethweni eyayigqokwa ekhanda amakhosi akwa-Israyeli agcotshiwe, noma umqhele, nayo yayibizwa ngokuthi i-neʹzer. (2Sam 1:10; 2Kho 11:12; bheka esithi CROWN; DEDICATION.) Umphostoli uthi izinwele ezinde zowesifazane zimelela umshuqulo ebandleni lamaKristu. Ziyisikhumbuzo kuye sokuthi unesikhundla esingafani nesendoda; kufanele akhumbule ukuthi kumelwe azithobe ngaphansi kwelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu. Ngakho lezi zimfuneko—ukungagundwa kwezinwele (okungeyona into engokwemvelo endodeni), ukungaliphuzi nhlobo iwayini kanye nesidingo sokuhlanzeka ngokuphelele—zazigcizelela kumaNaziri ukubaluleka kokuzidela nokuzithoba ngokuphelele ekwenzeni intando kaJehova.—1Ko 11:2-16; bheka esithi HAIR; HEAD COVERING; NATURE.
Ingcebo Engokomoya
Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi
Nokho, uSamsoni wayengumNaziri ngomqondo ohlukile. Ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaSamsoni, ingelosi kaJehova yatshela unina: “Bheka! uzokhulelwa, ngokuqinisekile uzozala indodana, futhi akukho nsingo okufanele ithinte ikhanda layo, ngoba lo mntwana uyoba umNaziri kaNkulunkulu lapho ephuma esiswini; nguye oyohola ekusindiseni u-Israyeli esandleni samaFilisti.” (AbaHluleli 13:5) USamsoni akasenzanga isifungo sobuNaziri. Wamiswa uNkulunkulu njengomNaziri, futhi wayezoba umNaziri ukuphila kwakhe konke. Umthetho onqabela ukuthinta isidumbu wawungenakusebenza kuye. Ukube wawusebenza abese ethinta isidumbu ngephutha, wayengabuqala kanjani phansi ubuNaziri obaqala ekuzalweni kwakhe? Ngakho kusobala ukuthi izimfuneko zobuNaziri bokuphila konke zazingafani ngezindlela ezithile nezimfuneko zobuNaziri bokuzithandela.