Incwadi YeBhayibheli Ye-14—2 IziKronike

Umlobi: UEzra

Yalotshelwa: EJerusalema (?)

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-460 B.C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 1037–537 B.C.E.

1. UEzra waqeda nini ukuloba incwadi yeziKronike, futhi enayiphi injongo?

NJENGOBA ngokusobala incwadi yeziKronike zokuQala nezesiBili ekuqaleni kwakuyincwadi eyodwa, amaphuzu avezwe esahlukweni esandulelayo ngokuqondene nesizinda, umlobi, isikhathi sokuloba, ukuba kwayo ingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli, nobuqiniso bayo asebenza kuzo zombili lezincwadi. Ngokobufakazi obethuliwe, uEzra waqeda ukuloba incwadi yeziKronike zesiBili cishe ngo-460 B.C.E., ngokunokwenzeka eJerusalema. Kwakuyinjongo kaEzra ukulondoloza imibhalo yomlando eyayisengozini yokulahleka. Usizo lomoya ongcwele, luhlangene nekhono lakhe njengesazi-mlando lokuthola nokuhlunga imininingwane, kwenza uEzra wakwazi ukuloba umlando onembile nohlala njalo. Wakulondolozela isikhathi esizayo lokho ayekubheka njengeqiniso elingokomlando. Umsebenzi kaEzra wenziwa ngesikhathi esifanele, njengoba manje kwakubalulekile ukuqoqela ndawonye yonke imibhalo yesiHeberu eyayilotshwe emakhulwini eminyaka adlulile.

2. Kungani singekho isizathu sokungabaza ukunemba kwencwadi yeziKronike?

² AmaJuda osuku lukaEzra azuza kakhulu ngombhalo kaEzra ophefumlelwe wezenzakalo zezinsuku. Wawulotshelwe injongo yokufundiswa kwawo nokukhuthaza ukukhuthazela. Ngenduduzo yemiBhalo, ayengaba nethemba. Amukela incwadi yeziKronike njengengxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Ayazi ukuthi ithembekile. Ayengayihlola ngeminye imibhalo ephefumlelwe nangemilando yezwe eminingi ephawulwe uEzra. Nakuba ayiyeka yanyamalala imilando yezwe engaphefumlelwe, ayilondoloza ngokunakekela incwadi yeziKronike. Abahumushi beSeptuagint bahlanganisa incwadi yeziKronike njengengxenye yeBhayibheli lesiHeberu.

3. Eminye imibhalo ikubonisa kanjani ukuthi incwadi yeziKronike iyiqiniso?

³ UJesu Kristu nabalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki bayamukela njengeyiqiniso nephefumlelwe. Ngokungangabazeki uJesu wayecabanga ngezehlakalo ezinjengaleso esilotshwe kwezesi-⁠2 IziKronike 24:​21 lapho elahla iJerusalema njengombulali nowakhanda ngamatshe abaprofethi nezinceku zikaJehova. (Math. 23:​35; 5:​12; 2 IziKr. 36:​16) Lapho uJakobe ebhekisela kuAbrahama ‘njengomhlobo kaJehova,’ mhlawumbe wayebhekisela emazwini kaEzra akwezesi-⁠2 IziKronike 20:⁠7. (Jak. 2:​23) Lencwadi futhi iqukethe iziprofetho ezagcwaliseka ngokungenaphutha.​—⁠2 IziKr. 20:​17, 24; 21:​14-19; 34:​23-28; 36:​17-⁠20.

4. Imuphi umvubukulo ofakazela ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi yeziKronike zesiBili?

⁴ Imivubukulo futhi iyakufakazela ukuba yiqiniso kwencwadi yeziKronike zesiBili. Ukumba endaweni okwakukhona kuyo iBabiloni lasendulo kuye kwavumbulula izibhebhe zobumba ezihlobene nenkathi yokubusa kukaNebukadinesari, esinye sazo esiphawula “uYaukin, inkosi yezwe lakwaYahud,” okungukuthi, “uJehoyakini, inkosi yezwe lakwaJuda.”a Lokhu kuvumelana kahle nokulandisa kweBhayibheli kokuthunjelwa kukaJehoyakini eBabiloni ngonyaka wesikhombisa wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari.

5. Iyiphi inkathi ehlanganiswe encwadini yeziKronike zesiBili, futhi kungani kuqokonyiswa umlando wakwaJuda kunowombuso wezizwe eziyishumi?

⁵ Umlando wencwadi yeziKronike zesiBili ulandela umkhondo wezenzakalo zakwaJuda kusukela ekubuseni kukaSolomoni, okuqala ngo-1037 B.C.E., kuya emyalweni kaKoresi wango-537 B.C.E. wokuba kwakhiwe kabusha indlu kaJehova eJerusalema. Kulomlando ohlanganisa iminyaka engu-500, umbuso wezizwe eziyishumi kubhekiselwa kuwo kuphela lapho uhileleka ezindabeni zakwaJuda, futhi ukubhujiswa kwalowombuso wasenyakatho ngo-740 B.C.E. akukhulunywa nakukhulunywa ngakho. Kungani kunjalo? Yingoba umpristi uEzra wayekhathalele ngokuyinhloko ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova endaweni yakho efanele, indlu yaKhe eJerusalema, nombuso wohlu lukaDavide, uJehova ayenze naye isivumelwano saKhe. Kanjalo, kusembusweni waseningizimu lapho uEzra egxilisa khona ukunakekela esekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso futhi elindele umbusi owayeyovela kwaJuda.​—⁠Gen. 49:⁠10.

6. Incwadi yeziKronike zesiBili ikhuthaza futhi iqabula kanjani?

⁶ UEzra uba nombono okhuthazayo. Ezahlukweni ezingu-36 zencwadi yeziKronike zesiBili, ezokuqala ezingu-⁠9 zigxile ekubuseni kukaSolomoni, futhi ezingu-6 zalezi zikhuluma ngokulungiselelwa nokunikezelwa kwendlu kaJehova kuphela. Umlando uyakweqa ukuhlubuka kukaSolomoni. Ezahlukweni ezingu-27 ezisele, ezingu-14 ziphathelene namakhosi amahlanu ngokuyisisekelo alandela isibonelo sikaDavide sokuzinikela ngokuphelele ekukhulekelweni kukaJehova: UAsa, uJehoshafati, uJothamu, uHezekiya, noJosiya. Ngisho nakwezinye izahluko ezingu-13, uEzra uyanakekela ukuba aveze izici ezinhle zamakhosi amabi. Ngaso sonke isikhathi ugcizelela izehlakalo eziphathelene nokubuyiselwa nokulondolozwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso. Yeka ukuthi kuqabula kanjani!

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YEZIKRONIKE ZESIBILI

7. UJehova umenza kanjani uSolomoni abe ‘mkhulu kakhulu’?

⁷ Inkazimulo yokubusa kukaSolomoni (1:⁠1–9:​31). Njengoba incwadi yeziKronike zesiBili iqala, sibona uSolomoni indodana kaDavide ekhula ngamandla ebukhosini. UJehova unaye futhi uyaqhubeka ‘emkhulisa kakhulu.’ Lapho uSolomoni enza umhlatshelo eGibeyoni, uJehova ubonakala kuye ebusuku, ethi: “Cela lokhu othanda ukuba ngikunike khona.” USolomoni ucela ulwazi nokuhlakanipha ukuze ababuse ngokufanele abantu bakaJehova. Ngenxa yalesicelo esingenabugovu, uNkulunkulu akathembisi ukunika uSolomoni ukuhlakanipha nolwazi kuphela kodwa futhi nengcebo nokuhlonipheka “angazange abe-nakho okungako amakhosi ayengaphambi kwakho, nalandelayo emva kwakho [angeke abe-nakho].” Ingcebo engena emzini iba-nkulu kangangokuthi ngemva kwesikhathi uSolomoni ‘wenza isiliva negolide kuvame eJerusalema njengamatshe.’​—⁠1:​1, 7, 12, 15.

8. Uqhubeka kanjani umsebenzi wethempeli, futhi imiphi eminye yemininingwane yokwakhiwa kwalo?

⁸ USolomoni ujuba izisebenzi emsebenzini wokwakha indlu kaJehova, futhi iNkosi yaseTire uHiramu ibambisana naye ngokuthumela izingodo nesisebenzi esinekhono. “Ngomnyaka wesine wokubusa [kukaSolomoni],” ukwakha kuyaqala, futhi kuphela eminyakeni eyisikhombisa nengxenye kamuva, ngo-1027 B.C.E. (3:⁠2) Phambi kwethempeli ngokwalo kukhona umpheme omkhulu oyizingalo ezingu-120 (53,4 m) ukuphakama. Phambi kompheme kumi izinsika ezimbili ezinkulu zethusi, enye ithiwa uJakini, okusho ukuthi “Sengathi [uJehova] Angamisa Ngokuqinile,” enye ithiwa uBowazi, ngokusobala okusho ukuthi “Ngamandla.” (3:​17) Indlu ngokwayo incane uma iqhathaniswa, njengoba iyizingalo ezingu-60 (26,7 m) ubude, ezingu-30 (13,4 m) ukuphakama, nezingu-20 (8,9 m) ububanzi, kodwa izindonga zayo nophahla ngaphakathi kunanyekwe ngegolide; igumbi layo elingaphakathi impela, iNgcwelengcwele, nalo lihlotshiswe kakhulu ngegolide. Phakathi kukhona namakherubi amabili egolide, elilodwa ohlangothini ngalunye lwekamelo, amaphiko awo avuleka aze ayohlangana phakathi nendawo.

9. Chaza izimpahla zasendlini kanye nezinto zokusebenza ezisegcekeni nezisethempelini.

⁹ Egcekeni elingaphakathi, kunealtare elikhulu lethusi eliyizingalo ezingu-20 (9 m) nxazonke nezingalo ezingu-10 (4,5 m) ukuphakama. Esinye isici esikhangayo egcekeni elingaphakathi wulwandle olubunjiweyo, isitsha esikhulukazi sethusi esihlezi emihlane yezinkabi zethusi ezingu-12 ezibheke ngaphandle, ezintathu zibheke ohlangothini ngalunye. Lolulwandle luthwala “amabhati ayizinkulungwane ezintathu” (66 000 l) amanzi, abapristi abageza ngawo. (4:⁠5) Okunye futhi okusegcekeni elingaphakathi imicengezi yethusi eyishumi ebekwe phezu kwezinsika zethusi ezifekethisiwe, futhi kulamanzi kugezwa izinto eziphathelene neminikelo yokushiswa. Igcwaliswa ngamanzi athathwa olwandle olubunjiweyo bese iqhutshwa iyiswa noma kuphi lapho amanzi edingeka khona. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kukhona izinti zezibani zegolide eziyishumi kanye nezinye izinto eziningi zokukhonza ethempelini, ezinye ezegolide, ezinye ezethusi.b

10. Kwenzekani lapho uMphongolo ungeniswa eNgcwelengcwele?

¹⁰ Ekugcineni, indlu kaJehova iyaphela, ngemva komsebenzi othathe iminyaka eyisikhombisa nengxenye. (1 AmaKh. 6:​1, 38) Usuku lokunikezelwa kwayo yisikhathi sokuletha uphawu lokuba khona kukaJehova egunjini eliphakathi impela lalesakhiwo esihle ngokubabazekayo. Abapristi baletha “umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yawo egumbini lendlu, indawo engcwelengcwele, phansi kwamaphiko amakherubi.” Khona-ke kwenzekani? Njengoba abahlabeleli abangamaLevi nababethi bezinsimbi zomculo bedumisa bebonga uJehova engomeni yobunye, indlu igcwala ifu, futhi abapristi abasakwazi ukuma benze inkonzo ngoba “inkazimulo kaJehova” igcwalisa indlu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso. (2 IziKr. 5:​7, 13, 14) Kanjalo uJehova ubonisa ukulamukela kwakhe ithempeli futhi unikeza uphawu lokuba khona kwakhe lapho.

11. USolomoni wenza muphi umthandazo, futhi yini ayinxusayo?

¹¹ Kwakhiwé indawo yokuma yethusi eyizingalo ezintathu (1,3 m) ukuphakama eyakhelwe lesehlakalo, futhi ibekwe egcekeni elingaphakathi eduze kwealtare lethusi. Ekulendawo ephakeme, uSolomoni angabonwa isixuku esikhulu esibuthene ekunikezelweni kwethempeli. Ngemva kokubonakaliswa okuyisimangaliso kokuba khona kukaJehova yifu lenkazimulo, uSolomoni uguqa phambi kwesixuku futhi wenza umthandazo oshukumisayo wokubonga nokudumisa, ohlanganisa nochungechunge lokucela ngentobeko intethelelo nesibusiso. Ekuphetheni, uyanxusa: “Ngalokho, Nkulunkulu wami, amehlo akho mawavulekele, nezindlebe zakho maziwulalele umkhuleko owenziwa kulendawo. Jehova Nkulunkulu, ungafulatheli ogcotshiweyo wakho; khumbula umusa wakho kuDavide inceku yakho.”​—⁠6:​40, 42.

12. UJehova uwuphendula kanjani umthandazo kaSolomoni, futhi umkhosi othatha izinsuku ezingu-15 uphela ngayiphi indlela ejabulisayo?

¹² Ingabe uJehova uyawuzwa lomthandazo kaSolomoni? Ngokushesha lapho uSolomoni eqeda ukuthandaza, kwehla umlilo uvela ezulwini futhi ushisa umnikelo wokushiswa nemihlatshelo, futhi “inkazimulo kaJehova” igcwalisa indlu. Lokhu kuholela abantu ekubeni bonke bakhothame futhi babonge uJehova, “ngokuba muhle nangokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade.” (7:​1, 3) Khona-ke kwenziwa umhlatshelo omkhulu kuJehova. Idili lokunikezela elithatha isonto lonke lilandelwa uMkhosi Wokubutha othatha isonto lonke nayisabatha lokungenzi msebenzi. Ngemva kwalomkhosi wokujabula, oqinisayo ngokomoya wezinsuku ezingu-15, uSolomoni uphindisela abantu emakhaya bejabula futhi beneme ezinhliziyweni. (7:​10) NoJehova uyajabula. Uphinda aqinisekise isivumelwano soMbuso noSolomoni, ngesikhathi esifanayo exwayisa ngemiphumela emibi yokungalaleli.

13. (a) Imuphi umsebenzi wokwakha olandela owokwakhiwa kwethempeli? (b) Yini eshiwo inkosikazi yaseSheba lapho ibona umbuso kaSolomoni?

¹³ Manje uSolomoni wenza umsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha yonke indawo embusweni wakhe, engazakheli nje kuphela isigodlo kodwa futhi wakha nemizi ebiyelweyo, imizi yokubekelela, imizi yezinqola, nemizi yabamahhashi, nakho konke afisa ukukwakha. Yinkathi yokuchuma okukhazimulayo nokuthula ngoba kokubili abantu nenkosi bayakuqaphela ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Ngisho nenkosikazi yaseSheba, kude endaweni eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-⁠1 900, iyezwa ngokuchuma nangokuhlakanipha kukaSolomoni futhi ithatha uhambo olude, nolunzima ukuze iyozibonela ngawayo. Ingabe iyadumala? Lutho neze, ngoba iyavuma: “Angikholwanga ngamazwi abo, ngaze ngafika, kwabona amehlo ami; bheka, angitshelwanga nanxenye yobukhulu bokuhlakanipha kwakho; uyadlula udumo engaluzwayo. Babusisiwe abantu bakho, zibusisiwe lezizinceku zakho.” (9:​6, 7) Awekho amanye amakhosi emhlabeni adlula uSolomoni ngengcebo nangokuhlakanipha. Ubusa iminyaka engu-40 eJerusalema.

14. Kungani uIsrayeli ephucwa inkazimulo yakhe ngokushesha kangaka?

¹⁴ Ukubusa kukaRehobowamu noAbiya (10:⁠1–13:​22). Ukubusa konya nokucindezelayo kwendodana kaSolomoni uRehobowamu kubangela ukuba izizwe eziyishumi ezisenyakatho ezingaphansi kukaJerobowamu zihlubuke ngo-997 B.C.E. Nokho, abapristi namaLevi basemibusweni yomibili bama ohlangothini lukaRehobowamu, bethembeka esivumelwaneni soMbuso kunasebuzweni. Ngokushesha uRehobowamu uyawushiya umthetho kaJehova, futhi iNkosi yaseGibithe uShishaki iyahlasela, ingena eJerusalema futhi ithatha amagugu endlu kaJehova. Yeka ukuthi kudabukisa kanjani ukuthi kungakapheli ngisho neminyaka engu-30 zakhiwe, lezizakhiwo ezihlotshiswe kahle kangaka zihlutshulwa inkazimulo yazo! Isizathu: Isizwe ‘siphambukile kuJehova.’ Ngomzuzu wokugcinga uRehobowamu uyazithoba, ngakho uJehova akasibhubhisi ngokuphelele lesisizwe.​—⁠12:⁠2.

15. Iziphi izimpi eziba khona ngemva kokufa kukaRehobowamu, futhi kungani uJuda emnqoba uIsrayeli?

¹⁵ Ekufeni kukaRehobowamu enye yamadodana akhe angu-28, uAbiya, yenziwa inkosi. Ukubusa kuka-Abiya kweminyaka emithathu kugcwele impi echitha igazi eliningi ayilwa noIsrayeli enyakatho. KwaJuda oyedwa umelene nababili, njengoba kunamasosha angu-400 000 ameleme nangu-800 000 angaphansi kukaJerobowamu. Phakathi nempi enkulu elandelayo, amabutho akwaIsrayeli ayancipha aba ngaphansi kwengxenye, futhi kubhujiswa abakhulekeli bethole abayingxenye yesigidi. Abantwana bakwaJuda bayanqoba ngoba bancika “kuJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise.”​—⁠13:⁠18.

16. UJehova uwuphendula kanjani umthandazo ka-Asa ophuthumayo?

¹⁶ UAsa iNkosi eyesaba uNkulunkulu (14:⁠1–16:​14). UAbiya ulandelwa yindodana yakhe uAsa. UAsa ungumlweli wokukhulekela kweqiniso. Uphuma umkhankaso wokususa ezweni ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe. Kodwa, bheka! UJuda usongelwa yimpi eyesabekayo yamaKhushe ayisigidi. UAsa uyathandaza: “Sisize, Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, ngokuba sencika kuwe, sifiké ngegama lakho kulesisixuku.” UJehova uphendula ngokumenza ukuba anqobe eqotha imbokodo nesisekelo.​—⁠14:⁠11.

17. UAsa ukhuthazwa kanjani ukuba aguqule ukukhulekela kwaJuda, kodwa yini asolwa ngayo?

¹⁷ Umoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kuka-Azariya ukuba atshele uAsa: “UJehova unani, uma ninaye; uma nimfuna, uyakufunyanwa yinina.” (15:⁠2) Ekhuthazeke kakhulu, uAsa wenza izinguquko ekukhulekeleni kwaJuda, futhi abantu benza isivumelwano sokuthi noma ubani ongeke amfune uJehova kufanele abulawe. Nokho, lapho uBahasha, inkosi yakwaIsrayeli, emisa imigoqo yokuvimbela ukungena kwamaIsrayeli kwaJuda, uAsa wenza iphutha elingathi sina ngokuqasha uBeni-Hadadi, inkosi yaseSiriya, ukuba alwe noIsrayeli, esikhundleni sokulindela usizo kuJehova. Ngalokhu uJehova uyamsola. Naphezu kwalokhu, inhliziyo ka-Asa iba ‘ngepheleleyo zonke izinsuku zakhe.’ (15:​17) Ufa onyakeni ka-41 wokubusa kwakhe.

18. (a) UJehoshafati ukukhankasela kanjani ukukhulekela kweqiniso, futhi iba yini imiphumela? (b) Isivumelwano sakhe sokuganiselana sicishe siholele kanjani enhlekeleleni?

¹⁸ Ukubusa okuhle kukaJehoshafati (17:⁠1–20:​37). Indodana ka-Asa uJehoshafati iyaqhubeka nokulwa nokukhulekelwa kwezithombe futhi iqalisa umkhankaso okhethekile wokufundisa, inabafundisi abahambela yonke imizi yakwaJuda, befundisa abantu ngencwadi yoMthetho kaJehova. Kulandela inkathi yokuchuma okukhulu nokuthula, futhi uJehoshafati uyaqhubeka ‘ekhula njalo, aze abe-mkhulu kakhulu.’ (17:​12) Kodwa futhi wenza isivumelwano sokuganiselana neNkosi embi yakwaIsrayeli uAhabi futhi uya komsiza ekulweni nombuso okhulayo waseSiriya, engamnaki umprofethi kaJehova uMikhaya futhi esinda ngokulambisa lapho uAhabi ebulawa empini eRamoti-Gileyadi. Umprofethi kaJehova uJehu usola uJehoshafati ngokuhambisana noAhabi omubi. Ngemva kwalokho uJehoshafati umisa abahluleli kulo lonke izwe, futhi ubayala ukuba benze imisebenzi yabo ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu.

19. Ekudlondlobaleni kokubusa kukaJehoshafati, impi iba kanjani ngekaNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Manje kufika umvuthwandaba wokubusa kukaJehoshafati. Amabutho ahlangene akwaMowabi, awakwa-Amoni, nawasezindaweni zaseSeyiri ezinezintaba ahlasela uJuda ngamandla amakhulu. Akhuphuka ngehlane lase-Eni-Gedi. Isizwe singenwa ingebhe. UJehoshafati noJuda wonke, “nezingane zabo, nawomkabo, namadodana abo,” bama phambi kukaJehova futhi bamfuna ngomthandazo. Umoya kaJehova ufika kuJahaziyeli umLevi, othi ezixukwini ezibuthene: “Yizwani nina nonke-bakwaJuda, nabakhileyo eJerusalema, nawe-nkosi Jehoshafati: usho kanje kini uJehova, uthi: Ningesabi, ningapheli amandla ngenxa yalesisixuku esikhulu, ngokuba impi ayisiyo eyenu, ngekaNkulunkulu. Yehlelani kubo kusasa . . . uJehova unani.” Evuka ekuseni kakhulu, uJuda uyaphuma kuhola abahlabeleli abangamaLevi. UJehoshafati uyabakhuthaza: “Kholwani nguJehova, . . . kholwani ngabaprofethi bakhe, niyakuphumelela.” Abahlabeleli badumisa uJehova ngenjabulo, “ngokuba umusa wakhe umi phakade.” (20:​13, 15-17, 20, 21) UJehova uwubonakalisa ngendlela emangalisayo umusa wakhe wothando, ewenzela ugibe amabutho ahlaselayo ukuze abhubhisane wodwa. Efika enqabeni yokulinda ehlane, amaJuda ajabulayo abona izidumbu kuphela. Ngempela, impi ngekaNkulunkulu! Kuze kube sekupheleni kokubusa kwakhe kweminyaka engu-⁠25, uJehoshafati uqhubeka ehamba ngokwethembeka phambi kukaJehova.

20. Ukubusa kukaJehoramu kugcwele ziphi izinhlekelele?

²⁰ Ukubusa okubi kukaJehoramu, uAhaziya, noAthaliya (21:⁠1–23:​21). UJehoramu indodana kaJehoshafati uqala kabi ngokubulala bonke abafowabo. Nokho, uJehova uyamyeka ngenxa yesivumelwano saKhe noDavide. UEdomi uqala ukuhlubuka. Esendaweni ethile uEliya uthumela incwadi, exwayisa uJehoramu ngokuthi uJehova uzoshaya indlu yakhe kanzima nokuthi uyofa kabi. (21:​12-15) Njengokwesiprofetho, amaFilisti nabase-Arabiya bahlasela futhi baphange iJerusalema, futhi inkosi ibulawa isifo esinyanyekayo samathumbu, ngemva kokubusa iminyaka eyisishiyagalombili.

21. Iziphi izinto ezimbi eziba umphumela wokubusa kuka-Athaliya kwaJuda, kodwa uJehoyada uphumelela kanjani ukubuyisela isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavide?

²¹ Indodana kaJehoramu okuwukuphela kwayo esele, uAhaziya (uJehowahazi), iyamlandela esikhundleni, kodwa ithonyelwa ebubini unina uAthaliya, indodakazi ka-Ahabi noJezabeli. Ukubusa kwayo kuqedwa ngemva konyaka wukushabalalisa kukaJehu indlu ka-Ahabi. Ngenxa yalokhu, uAthaliya ubulala abazukulu bakhe futhi ugabadela isihlalo sobukhosi. Nokho enye yamadodana ka-Ahaziya iyasinda. InguJowashi ononyaka owodwa, othukuswa endlini kaJehova ngubabekazi wakhe uJehoshabeyati. UAthaliya ubusa iminyaka eyisithupha, khona-ke umyeni kaJehoshabeyati, umpristi omkhulu uJehoyada, ngesibindi uthatha uJowashi omncane futhi umenza inkosi, njengenye ‘yamadodana kaDavide.’ Lapho efika endlini kaJehova, uAthaliya uklebhula izingubo zakhe futhi uyamemeza, “Ngugobe! Ngugobe!” Kodwa akusizi. UJehoyada uyala ukuba aphonswe ngaphandle kwethempeli futhi abulawe.​—⁠23:​3, 13-⁠15.

22. Kungayiphi indlela ukubusa kukaJowashi kuqala kahle kodwa kuphele kabi?

²² Ukubusa kukaJowashi, uAmasiya, noUziya kuqala kahle kodwa kuphela kabi (24:⁠1–26:​23). UJowashi ubusa iminyaka engu-40, futhi wenza okuhle ngesikhathi uJehoyada esaphila futhi eyithonya elihle. Uba ngisho nanesithakazelo endlini kaJehova futhi uyala ukuba ilungiswe. Nokho, lapho uJehoyada efa uJowashi uthonywa izikhulu zakwaJuda ukuba achezuke ekukhulekeleni uJehova akhonze oAshera nezithombe. Lapho umoya kaNkulunkulu ushukumisela uZakariya indodana kaJehoyada ukuba ayisole inkosi, uJowashi uyala ukuba lomprofethi akhandwe ngamatshe aze afe. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho kuhlasela ibutho elincane lempi yaseSiriya, futhi ibutho elikhulu kakhulu lakwaJuda liyahluleka ukulixosha ngoba “babemshiyile uJehova uNkulunkulu wawoyise.” (24:​24) Manje izinceku zikaJowashi ziyamvukela futhi ziyambulala.

23. Iyiphi indlela yokungathembeki uAmasiya ayilandelayo?

²³ UAmasiya ulandela uyise uJowashi esikhundleni. Ukuqala kahle ukubusa kwakhe kweminyaka engu-29 kodwa kamuva ulahlekelwa umusa kaJehova ngoba umisa futhi akhulekele izithombe zakwaEdomi. Umprofethi kaJehova uyamxwayisa: “UNkulunkulu unqumile ukukubhubhisa.” (25:​16) Nokho, uAmasiya uyaqhosha futhi ucela uIsrayeli enyakatho inselele. Njengokwezwi likaNkulunkulu, wehlulwa ngokuthobisayo ngamaIsrayeli. Ngemva kwalokho kwehlulwa, kuvuka ababophi bozungu futhi bayambulala.

24. Amandla kaUziya aba kanjani ubuthaka bakhe, futhi uba yini umphumela?

²⁴ U-Uziya indodana ka-Amasiya ulandela ezinyathelweni zikayise. Ubusa kahle ingxenye enkulu yeminyaka engu-52, ezuza udumo njengengcweti kwezempi, njengomakhi wemibhoshongo, ‘nanjengomthandi womhlabathi [wezolimo, NW].’ (26:​10) Wenzela amabutho izikhali nemishini. Nokho, amandla akhe aba ubuthaka bakhe. Uyaqhosha futhi uyagabadela wenza umsebenzi wabapristi wokunikela ngempepho ethempelini likaJehova. Ngalesizathu, uJehova umshaya ngochoko. Ngakho, kumelwe ahlale ngokwahlukana nabanye abantu, kude nendlu kaJehova nendlu yenkosi, lapho indodana yakhe uJothamu yahlulela khona abantu esikhundleni sakhe.

25. Kungani uJothamu ephumelela?

²⁵ UJothamu ukhonza uJehova (27:​1-⁠9). Ngokungafani noyise, uJothamu ‘akangeni ethempelini likaJehova.’ Kunalokho “wenza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova.” (27:⁠2) Phakathi nokubusa kwakhe kweminyaka engu-16, wenza imisebenzi eminingi yokwakha futhi ukuqeda ngokuphumelelayo ukuhlubuka kwama-Amoni.

26. Yibuphi ububi obabungakaze bubonwe uAhazi acwila kubo?

²⁶ INkosi embi uAhazi (28:​1-27). UAhazi indodana kaJothamu uba ngenye yamakhosi akhohlakele kunawo wonke emakhosini angu-21 akwaJuda. Ufinyelela ezingeni eledlulele lokunikela ngamadodana akhe njengemihlatshelo yokushiswa konkulunkulu bamaqaba. Ngenxa yalokho uJehova umyekelela emabuthweni aseSiriya, akwaIsrayeli, akwaEdomi, nawamaFilisti ngokulandelana. Kanjalo uJehova uthobisa uJuda ngoba uAhazi ‘uvumela ukuchanasa kwaJuda, futhi kukhona ukungathembeki okukhulu ngakuJehova.’ (28:​19, NW) Esuka kokubi eya kokubi ngokwedlulele, uAhazi wenza imihlatshelo konkulunkulu baseSiriya ngoba abaseSiriya baba namandla kunaye empini. Uvala iminyango yendlu kaJehova futhi ungenisa ukukhulekelwa konkulunkulu bamaqaba esikhundleni sokukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Ngesikhathi esifanele, ukubusa kuka-Ahazi kuyaphela ngemva kweminyaka engu-⁠16.

27. UHezekiya ukubonisa kanjani ukushisekela ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova?

²⁷ INkosi ethembekile uHezekiya (29:⁠1–32:​33). UHezekiya, indodana ka-Ahazi, ubusa iminyaka engu-29 eJerusalema. Isinyathelo sakhe sokuqala ukuvula nokulungisa iminyango yendlu kaJehova. Khona-ke ubutha abapristi namaLevi futhi ubanikeza imiyalo yokuba bahlanze ithempeli futhi balingcwelisele inkonzo kaJehova. Umemezela ukuthi ufuna ukwenza isivumelwano noJehova ukuze abuyisele emuva ulaka lwaKhe oluvuthayo. Ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuqaliswa kabusha ngendlela enhle kakhulu.

28. Iliphi idili elikhulu uHezekiya alenzayo eJerusalema, futhi abantu bayibonisa kanjani injabulo yabo?

²⁸ Kuhlelwa iPhasika elikhulu, kodwa njengoba singekho isikhathi sokulilungiselela ngenyanga yokuqala, kusetshenziswa ilungiselelo loMthetho, futhi ligujwa ngenyanga yesibili yonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kukaHezekiya. (2 IziKr. 30:​2, 3; Num. 9:​10, 11) Inkosi ayimemi nje kuphela uJuda wonke kodwa noIsrayeli, futhi nakuba abanye kwaEfrayimi, kwaManase, nakwaZebuloni besihleka usulu lesimemo, abanye bayazithoba futhi beza eJerusalema kanye noJuda wonke. Ngemva kwePhasika, kwenziwa uMkhosi Wezinkwa Ezingenamvubelo. Yeka umkhosi ojabulisayo wezinsuku eziyisikhombisa! Ngempela, ungowakhayo kangangokuthi lonke ibandla liwuqhuba ezinye izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. Kukhona “ukuthokoza okukhulu eJerusalema, ngokuba kusukela esikhathini sikaSolomoni indodana kaDavide, inkosi yakwaIsrayeli, akuzange kube-khona okunjalo eJerusalema.” (2 IziKr. 30:​26) Lababantu abavuselelwe ngokomoya baqalisa umkhankaso omkhulu wokususa kokubili kwaJuda nakwaIsrayeli ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe, ngesikhathi uHezekiya ebuyisela ukwenziwa kweminikelo yezinto ezibonakalayo yamaLevi nezinkonzo zasethempelini.

29. UJehova ukuvuza kanjani ukuthembela kukaHezekiya okuphelele kuYe?

²⁹ Khona-ke uSaneheribi inkosi yaseAsiriya uhlasela uJuda futhi usongela iJerusalema. UHezekiya uba nesibindi, uvuselela izivikelo zomuzi, futhi ubhekana nokuchukuluza kwesitha. Ethembela ngokuphelele kuJehova, ulokhu ethandaza ecela usizo. UJehova uwuphendula ngendlela emangalisayo lomthandazo wokholo. ‘Uthuma ingelosi enquma wonke amaqhawe anamandla, nabaholi nezinduna ekamu lenkosi yaseAsiriya.’ (32:​21) USaneheribi ubuyela ekhaya ehlazekile. Ngisho nonkulunkulu bakhe abamsizi ukuba alondoloze isithunzi sakhe, ngoba kamuva amadodana akhe siqu ambulalela ealtare labo. (2 AmaKh. 19:⁠7) UJehova wandisa ukuphila kukaHezekiya ngokuyisimangaliso, futhi uba nengcebo eningi nodumo olukhulu, wonke uJuda emhlonipha ekufeni kwakhe.

30. (a) UManase uphambukela kubuphi ububi, kodwa yini eyenzeka ngemva kokuphenduka kwakhe? (b) Ukubusa kuka-Amoni okufushane kugcweleni?

³⁰ UManase noAmoni babusa kabi (33:​1-25). UManase indodana kaHezekiya uphambukela endleleni embi kamkhulu wakhe uAhazi, enza okuphambene nakho konke okuhle okwenziwa phakathi nokubusa kukaHezekiya. Wakha izindawo eziphakeme, umisa oAshera, futhi wenza umhlatshelo ngisho nangamadodana akhe konkulunkulu bamanga. Ekugcineni, uJehova uletha inkosi yaseAsiriya ukuba ilwe noJuda, futhi uManase uthunjelwa eBabiloni. Lapho uyaphenduka ekwenzeni kwakhe okubi. Lapho uJehova embonisa umusa ngokumbuyisela ebukhosini, ulwela ukusiphula ukukhulekelwa kwamademoni nokubuyisela inkolo yeqiniso. Nokho, lapho uManase efa ngemva kokubusa kwesikhathi eside kweminyaka engu-55, indodana yakhe uAmoni ihlala esihlalweni sobukhosi futhi ngobubi iba iqhawe lokukhulekela kwamanga futhi. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, izinceku zayo ziyayibulala.

31. Iziphi izinto ezivelele ezenzeka ekubuseni kukaJosiya kwesibindi?

³¹ Ukubusa kukaJosiya kwesibindi (34:⁠1–35:​27). UJosiya osemncane, indodana ka-Amoni, wenza umzamo wesibindi wokubuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Udiliza ama-altare oBali nezithombe ezibaziweyo, futhi ulungisa indlu kaJehova, lapho kutholakala khona “incwadi yomthetho kaJehova eyalotshwa ngesandla sikaMose,” ngokungangabazeki ikhophi yokuqala. (34:​14) Nokho, uJosiya olungile utshelwa ukuthi kuyofika inhlekelele ezweni ngenxa yokungathembeki osekwenzekile kakade, kodwa hhayi ngosuku lwakhe. Ngonyaka ka-18 wokubusa kwakhe ulungiselela ukugujwa okukhulu kwePhasika. Ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-31, uJosiya ufa emzamweni ongaphumelelanga wokuvimbela amabutho aseGibithe ukuba angadabuli ezweni lakhe lapho eya e-Ewufrathe.

32. Amakhosi amane okugcina asiholela kanjani isizwe sakwaJuda esiphelweni saso esiyinhlekelele?

³² UJehowahazi, uJehoyakimi, uJehoyakini, uSedekiya, nokuchithwa kweJerusalema (36:​1-23). Ububi bamakhosi amane okugcina akwaJuda ngokushesha kuyisa isizwe ekupheleni kwaso okuyinhlekelele. Indodana kaJosiya uJehowahazi ibusa izinyanga ezintathu kuphela, isuswa esihlalweni sobukhosi uFaro Nekho waseGibithe. Esikhundleni sayo kungena umfowabo uEliyakimi, ogama lakhe liguqulwa libe nguJehoyakimi, okuthi phakathi nokubusa kwakhe uJuda abe ngaphansi kombuso wezwe omusha, iBabiloni. (2 AmaKh. 24:⁠1) Lapho uJehoyakimi ehlubuka, uNebukadinesari ukhuphukela eJerusalema ukuzomjezisa ngo-618 B.C.E., kodwa uJehoyakimi uyafa ngawo lonyaka, ngemva kokubusa iminyaka engu-11. Esikhundleni sakhe kungena indodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-18 uJehoyakini. Ngemva kokubusa okungaqedanga ngisho nezinyanga ezintathu, uJehoyakini uzinikela kuNebukadinesari futhi uthunjelwa eBabiloni. Manje uNebukadinesari ubeka indodana kaJosiya yesithathu, umalume kaJehoyakini uSedekiya, esihlalweni sobukhosi. USedekiya ubusa kabi iminyaka engu-11, enqaba ‘ukuzithoba phambi kukaJeremiya umprofethi womlomo kaJehova.’ (2 IziKr. 36:​12) Abapristi nabantu ngokufanayo bangcolisa indlu kaJehova ngezinga elikhulu.

33. (a) Iqala kanjani incithakalo yeminyaka engu-70, “ukuba ligcwaliseke izwi likaJehova”? (b) Isiphi isimemezelo esingokomlando esilotshwe emavesini amabili okugcina eziKronike zesiBili?

³³ Ekugcineni, uSedekiya uyahlubuka ejokeni laseBabiloni, futhi kulokhu uNebukadinesari akabonisi musa. Intukuthelo kaJehova iyavutha, futhi akukho ukwelapheka. IJerusalema liyawa, ithempeli lalo liyaphangwa futhi liyashiswa, futhi abasindile ekuvinjezelweni okuthathe izinyanga ezingu-18 bathunjelwa eBabiloni. Izwe lakwaJuda lisala liyincithakalo. Kanjalo, ngawo lonyaka ka-607 B.C.E., kuqala incithakalo “ukuba ligcwaliseke izwi likaJehova ngomlomo kaJeremiya . . . kuze kugcwaliswe iminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.” (36:​21) Khona-ke umlobi wezenzakalo zezinsuku uyaseqa lesikhala seminyaka ethi ayibe ngu-70 ukuze emavesini amabili okugcina alobe isimemezelo sikaKoresi esingokomlando ngo-537 B.C.E. Abathunjwa abangamaJuda bazokhululwa! IJerusalema kumelwe livuke futhi!

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

34. Yini egcizelelwayo ekukhetheni kukaEzra ukwaziswa akuloba, futhi lokhu kwakusizuzisa kanjani isizwe?

³⁴ Incwadi yeziKronike zesiBili yenezela ubufakazi bayo kobabanye ofakazi ngokuqondene nalenkathi enezigameko, esukela ku-1037-537 B.C.E. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inikeza ukwaziswa okubalulekile okwenezelayo okungatholakali kwezinye izincwadi zeBhayibheli, ngokwesibonelo, kwezesi-⁠2 IziKronike izahluko 19, 20, no-29 kuya ku-31. Ukukhetha kukaEzra ukwaziswa akuloba kwagcizelela izici eziyisisekelo nezihlala njalo emlandweni wesizwe, njengabapristi nenkonzo yabo, ithempeli, nesivumelwano soMbuso. Lokhu kwakunenzuzo ekugcineni isizwe sihlangene ekulindeleni uMesiya noMbuso wakhe.

35. Imaphi amaphuzu abalulekile afakazelwa emavesini okugcina eziKronike zesiBili?

³⁵ Amavesi okugcina eziKronike zesiBili (36:​17-23) anikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokugcwaliseka kukaJeremiya 25:​12, futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, abonisa ukuthi iminyaka engu-70 egcwele kumelwe ibalwe kusukela ekuchithweni kwezwe kuze kube sekubuyiselweni kokukhulekelwa kukaJehova eJerusalema ngo-537 B.C.E. Ngakho lencithakalo iqala ngo-607 B.C.E.c​—⁠Jer. 29:​10; 2 AmaKh. 25:​1-26; Ezra 3:​1-⁠6.

36. (a) Imuphi umyalo onamandla oqukethwe incwadi yeziKronike zesiBili? (b) Ikuqinisa kanjani esikulindele ngokuqondene noMbuso?

³⁶ IziKronike zesiBili ziqukethe iseluleko esinamandla kulabo abahamba ngokholo lobuKristu. Amaningi amakhosi akwaJuda aqala kahle kodwa abuye awela ezindleleni ezimbi. Yeka ukuthi lomlando ukubonisa ngokunamandla kanjani ukuthi ukuphumelela kuxhomeke ekuthembekeni kuNkulunkulu! Ngakho kumelwe sixwaye singabi “abokuhlehlela ekubhujisweni kodwa [sibe] ngabokukholwa, kuze kube-ngukusindiswa komphefumulo.” (Heb. 10:​39) Ngisho neNkosi ethembekile uHezekiya yakhukhumala lapho ilulama ekuguleni kwayo, futhi kungenxa nje yokuthi yazithoba ngokushesha ukuthi yakwazi ukugwema intukuthelo kaJehova. IziKronike zesiBili zikhulisa izimfanelo zikaJehova ezinhle futhi ziphakamisa igama lakhe nobukhosi bakhe. Wonke lomlando ulandiswa ngombono wokuzinikela kuJehova ngokuphelele. Njengoba ugcizelela uhlu lobukhosi lwakwaJuda, uqinisa ukulindela kwethu ukubona ukukhulekela okumsulwa kuphakanyiswa ngaphansi koMbuso oyohlala phakade kaJesu Kristu, “indodana kaDavide” ethembekile.​—⁠Math. 1:⁠1; IzE. 15:​16, 17.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]