Umthetho Ngaphambi KukaKristu

“Ngiyawuthanda umthetho wakho kangaka. Usuku lonke ngizindla ngawo.”—IHUBO 119:97.

1. Yini ebusa ukuhamba kwezindikimba zasezulwini?

KUSUKELA ebuntwaneni, kungenzeka ukuthi uJobe wayegqolozela izinkanyezi ebambe ongezansi. Kungenzeka ukuthi abazali bakhe babemfundise amagama amaqoqo ezinkanyezi amakhulu nalokho ababekwazi ngemithetho ebusa ukuhamba kwawo esibhakabhakeni. Phela, ezikhathini zasendulo abantu babesebenzisa ukuhamba kwalamaqoqo ezinkanyezi amakhulu nabukeka kahle ukuze babone ukushintsha kwezinkathi zonyaka. Kodwa ngazo zonke izikhathi ayebheka ngazo ngokuthuthumela, uJobe wayengawazi amandla ayehlanganisa lezi zinkanyezi. Ngakho, inkukhu yanqunywa umlomo lapho uJehova uNkulunkulu embuza: “Ingabe uye wayiqonda imithetho yasemkhathini?” (Jobe 38:31-33, The New Jerusalem Bible) Yebo, izinkanyezi zibuswa imithetho—imithetho enembile neyinkimbinkimbi kangangokuba izazi zesayensi zanamuhla aziyiqondi ngokugcwele.

2. Kungani kungase kushiwo ukuthi yonke indalo ibuswa umthetho?

² UJehova unguMniki-mthetho Ophakeme endaweni yonke. Yonke imisebenzi yakhe ibuswa umthetho. INdodana yakhe ethandekayo, “izibulo layo yonke indalo,” yayilalela umthetho kaYise ngokukholeka ngaphambi kokuba indawo yonke ebonakalayo ibe khona! (Kolose 1:15) Nezingelosi ziqondiswa umthetho. (IHubo 103:20) Ngisho nezilwane zibuswa umthetho njengoba zilalela lokho ezikutshelwa umzwelo uMdali wazo awufaka kuzo.—IzAga 30:24-28; Jeremiya 8:7.

3. (a) Kungani isintu sidinga imithetho? (b) UJehova wasibusa ngani isizwe sakwa-Israyeli?

³ Kuthiwani ngesintu? Nakuba sibusiswe ngezipho ezinjengokuhlakanipha, izimiso zokuziphatha, nengokomoya, sisasidinga isilinganiso esithile somthetho waphezulu wokusiqondisa ekusebenziseni lamakhono. Abazali bethu bokuqala, u-Adamu no-Eva, babephelele, ngakho kwakudingeka imithetho embalwa nje kuphela yokubaqondisa. Uthando ngoYise wasezulwini kufanele ngabe lwabanikeza isizathu esanele sokulalela ngenjabulo. Kodwa abalalelanga. (Genesise 1:26-28; 2:15-17; 3:6-19) Ngenxa yalokho, inzalo yabo yaba izidalwa ezinesono ezazidinga imithetho eminingi kakhulu yokuziqondisa. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wasigcwalisa ngothando lesi sidingo. Wanikeza uNowa imithetho eqondile okwakumelwe ayidlulisele emkhayeni wakhe. (Genesise 9:1-7) Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, ngoMose, uNkulunkulu wanikeza isizwe esisha sakwa-Israyeli isimiso soMthetho esiningiliziwe, esibhalwe phansi. UJehova wayeqala ngqá ukubusa sonke isizwe ngomthetho waphezulu. Ukuhlola lowo Mthetho kuyosisiza ukuba siqonde indima ebalulekile efezwa yilowo mthetho ekuphileni kwamaKristu namuhla.

UMthetho KaMose—Injongo Yawo

4. Kungani kwakuyoba inselele ngenzalo ka-Abrahama ekhethiwe ukuba iveze iNzalo ethenjisiwe?

⁴ Umphostoli uPawulu, owayenolwazi olunzulu loMthetho, wabuza: “Khona-ke, kungani kwaba khona uMthetho?” (Galathiya 3:19) Ukuze siphendule, kudingeka sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova wathembisa umngane wakhe u-Abrahama ukuthi uhlu lomndeni wakhe lwaluyoveza iNzalo eyayizoletha izibusiso ezinkulu kuzo zonke izizwe. (Genesise 22:18) Kodwa kwakunenselele kulokhu: Inzalo ka-Abrahama eyayikhethiwe, ama-Israyeli, yayingamthandi yonke uJehova. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iningi layo labonakala lintamo-lukhuni, lihlubuka—abanye babengabuseki! (Eksodusi 32:9; Duteronomi 9:7) Kulabo, ukuba phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumane kuyindaba yozalo, hhayi yokuzikhethela.

5. (a) UJehova wawafundisani ama-Israyeli ngoMthetho kaMose? (b) UMthetho wawenziwe kanjani ukuba uthonye ukuziphatha kwabalandeli bawo?

⁵ Abantu abanjalo babengayiveza kanjani iNzalo ethenjisiwe futhi ibazuzise? Kunokubalawula njengamarobhothi, uJehova wabafundisa ngomthetho. (IHubo 119:33-35; Isaya 48:17) Empeleni, igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umthetho,” elithi toh·rahʹ, lisho “ukufundisa.” Wawufundisani? Ngokuyinhloko wawufundisa ama-Israyeli ngesidingo sawo sikaMesiya, owayezowahlenga esimweni sawo sokona. (Galathiya 3:24) UMthetho wawufundisa nokwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kanye nokulalela. Ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sika-Abrahama, ama-Israyeli ayezokhonza njengofakazi bakaJehova kuzo zonke ezinye izizwe. Ngakho uMthetho kwakumelwe uwafundise isimiso sokuziphatha esiphakeme esasizomelela kahle uJehova; wawuzosiza u-Israyeli ukuba azigcine ekude nemikhuba eyonakele yezizwe ezazimzungezile.—Levitikusi 18:24, 25; Isaya 43:10-12.

6. (a) Ingaba mingaki imithetho equkethwe uMthetho kaMose, futhi kungani lokho kungafanele kucatshangelwe njengokweqile? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) (b) Yini esingayiqonda ngokuhlola uMthetho kaMose?

⁶ Khona-ke, akumangalisi ukuthi uMthetho kaMose unemithetho eminingi—engaphezu kuka-600.a Loluhlu lwemithetho olulotshiwe lwalulawula izindawo zokukhulekela, uhulumeni, ukuziphatha, ubulungisa, ngisho nokudla kanye nokuhlanzeka. Nokho, ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi uMthetho wawumane nje uyinqwaba yezimiso ezingenaluzwela nemiyalo engadingekile? Phinde! Ukuhlola loluhlu loMthetho kusenza sibuqonde ngokugcwele ubuntu bukaJehova bothando. Cabangela ezinye izibonelo.

UMthetho Owawubonisa Isihe Nobubele

7, 8. (a) UMthetho wasigcizelela kanjani isihe nobubele? (b) UJehova wawusebenzisa kanjani uMthetho ngesihe endabeni kaDavide?

⁷ UMthetho wawugcizelela isihe nobubele, ikakhulukazi kubantu abaphansi, noma abangenakuzisekela. Abafelokazi nezintandane baphawulwa ngokuqondile ukuze bavikelwe. (Eksodusi 22:22-24) Izilwane zokusebenza zazivikelwa ekuphathweni ngonya. Amalungelo empahla ayisisekelo ayehlonishwa. (Duteronomi 24:10; 25:4) Nakuba uMthetho wawufuna kukhishwe isijeziso sokufa ngenxa yokubulala, wenza isihe satholakala emacaleni okubulala ngengozi. (Numeri 35:11) Ngokusobala, abahluleli abangama-Israyeli babenemvume yokunquma isijeziso emacaleni athile, kuye ngesimo sengqondo somenzi wobubi.—Qhathanisa no-Eksodusi 22:7 kanye noLevitikusi 6:1-7.

⁸ UJehova wababekela isibonelo abahluleli ngokuqina ekusebenziseni uMthetho lapho kudingeke khona kodwa abe nesihe lapho kungenzeka khona. INkosi uDavide, eyayiphingile yabe isibulala, yaboniswa isihe. Akukhona ukuthi ayijeziswanga, ngoba uJehova akazange ayivikele emiphumeleni emibi eyabangelwa isono sayo. Nokho, ngenxa yesivumelwano soMbuso nangenxa yokuthi uDavide wayeyindoda enesihe ngokwemvelo futhi enesimo sengqondo sokuphenduka okusuka ekujuleni kwenhliziyo, akazange abulawe.—1 Samuweli 24:4-7; 2 Samuweli 7:16; IHubo 51:1-4; Jakobe 2:13.

9. Uthando lwalunayiphi ingxenye eMthethweni kaMose?

⁹ Ngaphezu kwalokho, uMthetho kaMose wawugcizelela uthando. Cabanga ngesinye sezizwe zanamuhla sinohlu lwemithetho oludinga uthando! Ngakho, uMthetho kaMose awuzange unqabele ukubulala nje kuphela; wayala: “Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.” (Levitikusi 19:18) Awuzange nje unqabele ukuphathwa ngokungenabulungisa komfokazi; wayala: “Umthande njengalokhu uzithanda wena, ngokuba naningabafokazi ezweni laseGibithe.” (Levitikusi 19:34) Awuzange nje uvimbele ukuphinga; wayala indoda ukuba ithokozise umkayo! (Duteronomi 24:5) Encwadini kaDuteronomi iyodwa, amagama esiHeberu abonisa imfanelo yothando asetshenziswe izikhathi ezingaba ngu-20. UJehova waqinisekisa ama-Israyeli ngothando lwakhe siqu—lwesikhathi esidlule, lwamanje, nolwesikhathi esizayo. (Duteronomi 4:37; 7:12-14) Ngempela, umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke eMthethweni kaMose wawuthi: “Wothanda uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho, nangawo onke amandla akho.” (Duteronomi 6:5) UJesu wathi wonke uMthetho uncike kulomyalo, kanye nasemyalweni wokuthanda umakhelwane. (Levitikusi 19:18; Mathewu 22:37-40) Akumangalisi ukuthi umhubi wabhala: “Ngiyawuthanda umthetho wakho kangaka. Usuku lonke ngizindla ngawo.”—IHubo 119:97.

Ukusetshenziswa Kabi KoMthetho

10. Iningi lamaJuda lawuphatha kanjani uMthetho kaMose?

¹⁰ Khona-ke, yeka indlela okudabukisa ngayo ukuthi iningi lama-Israyeli lantula ukwazisa ngoMthetho kaMose! Abantu abazange bawulalele uMthetho, bawushaya indiva, noma bawukhohlwa. Bangcolisa ukukhulekela okumsulwa ngemikhuba yenkolo enyanyekayo yezinye izizwe. (2 AmaKhosi 17:16, 17; IHubo 106:13, 35-38) Futhi abazange bathembeke eMthethweni nangezinye izindlela.

11, 12. (a) Amaqembu abaholi benkolo awenza kanjani umonakalo ngemva kwezinsuku zika-Ezra? (Bheka ibhokisi.) (b) Kungani orabi basendulo baba nomuzwa wokuthi kudingeka ‘babiyele uMthetho ngothango’?

¹¹ Okunye ukoniwa koMthetho okubi kakhulu kwenziwa yilabo kanye ababethi bayawufundisa futhi bayawuvikela. Lokhu kwenzeka ngemva kwezinsuku zombhali okholekile wekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E., u-Ezra. U-Ezra walwa kanzima namathonya onakalisayo ezinye izizwe futhi wagcizelela ukufundwa nokufundiswa koMthetho. (Ezra 7:10; Nehemiya 8:5-8) Abanye abafundisi boMthetho babethi balandela ezinyathelweni zika-Ezra futhi bakha lokho okwabizwa ngokuthi “iSinagoge Elikhulu.” Phakathi kwezisho zabo kwakunalesi siqondiso: “Biyela uMthetho ngothango.” Laba bafundisi babethi uMthetho unjengensimu eyigugu. Ukuze kungabikho ofohla kulensimu ngokweqa imithetho yayo, benza imithetho eyengeziwe, “uMthetho Odluliselwa Ngomlomo,” ukuze abantu bangaweqi ngephutha uMthetho.

¹² Abanye bangase bathi kwakufanele ukuba abaholi bamaJuda bazizwe ngalendlela. Ngemva kosuku luka-Ezra amaJuda ayebuswa imibuso yabezizwe, ikakhulukazi iGrisi. Ukuze kuvinjelwe ithonya lefilosofi nesiko lamaGreki, kwavela amaqembu abaholi benkolo phakathi kwamaJuda. (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 10.) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi amanye alamaqembu aba yizimbangi zobupristi bamaLevi aze aba namandla ngaphezu kwabo njengabafundisi boMthetho. (Qhathanisa noMalaki 2:7.) Ngo-200 B.C.E., umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo wawuqala ukuba nethonya ekuphileni kwamaJuda. Ekuqaleni lemithetho yayingezukubhalwa phansi, ngoba yayingase ibhekwe njengelinganayo noMthetho obhalwe phansi. Kodwa kancane kancane, ukucabanga komuntu kwabekwa ngaphambi kokwaphezulu, kwase kuthi ekugcineni lolu “thango” lonakalisa yona kanye “insimu” okwakumelwe luyivikele.

Ukungcola KobuFarisi

13. Abanye abaholi benkolo bamaJuda bakuthethelela kanjani ukwenziwa kwemithetho eminingi?

¹³ Orabi babethi njengoba iTorah, noma uMthetho kaMose, yayiphelele, kumelwe ibe nempendulo kuyo yonke imibuzo engase iphakame. Lomqondo wawungayibonisi ngempela inhlonipho. Empeleni wanikeza orabi inkululeko yokusebenzisa ukucabanga komuntu kobuqili, wenza kwabonakala sengathi iZwi likaNkulunkulu liyisisekelo semithetho kuzo zonke izindaba—ezomuntu siqu, neziwubala nje.

14. (a) Abaholi benkolo bamaJuda beqisa kanjani esimisweni esingokomBhalo sokuzehlukanisa nezizwe basenza sangaba esingokomBhalo? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi imithetho yorabi yehluleka ukuvikela abantu abangamaJuda emathonyeni obuqaba?

¹⁴ Ngokuphindaphindiwe, abaholi benkolo babethatha izimiso ezingokomBhalo bese beyeqisa kuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uMthetho kaMose wawukhuthaza ukuzihlukanisa nezizwe, kodwa orabi babeshumayela ngohlobo oluthile lokwenyanya okungenangqondo yonke into engebona ubuJuda. Bafundisa ukuthi umJuda akumelwe ashiye izinkomo zakhe endlini yezihambi yabeZizwe, ngoba abeZizwe “basolwa ngokuthi balala nezilwane.” Owesifazane ongumJuda wayengavunyelwe ukusiza owesifazane weZizwe lapho ebeletha ngoba ngokwenza kanjalo wayeyobe “enesandla ekuzalweni kwengane yokukhonza izithombe.” Njengoba kwakufanelekile ukuba bangazethembi izindawo zokuvivinya umzimba zamaGreki, orabi benqabela lonke uhlobo lokuzivocavoca. Umlando ubonisa ukuthi konke lokhu akuzange kuwavikele amaJuda ezinkolelweni zabeZizwe. Eqinisweni abaFarisi ngokwabo bafundisa imfundiso yamaGreki yobuqaba yokungafi komphefumulo!—Hezekeli 18:4.

15. Abaholi benkolo bamaJuda bayihlanekezela kanjani imithetho yokuhlanzwa neyokulala nesihlobo?

¹⁵ AbaFarisi babuye bahlanekezela imithetho yokuhlanzwa. Kwakuthiwa abaFarisi babengahlanza nelanga ngokwalo uma benganikezwa ithuba. Umthetho wabo wawuthi ukwephuza “ukuzikhulula” kungamngcolisa umuntu! Ukugeza izandla kwaba isiko eliyinkimbinkimbi, elinemithetho yokuthi yisiphi isandla okufanele sigezwe kuqala futhi kanjani. Abesifazane babebhekwa njengabangahlanzekile ngokukhethekile. Ngesisekelo somyalo ongokomBhalo ‘wokungasondeli’ kunoma yisiphi isihlobo esingokwenyama (eqinisweni umthetho omelene nokulala nesihlobo), orabi banquma ukuthi indoda kwakungamelwe ihambe ngemva komkayo; futhi akufanele ixoxe naye esigcawini.—Levitikusi 18:6.

16, 17. Umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo wanezela kanjani emyalweni wokugcina iSabatha lamasonto onke, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁶ Okunedumela elibi yinhlekisa engokomoya umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo owayenza ngomthetho weSabatha. UNkulunkulu wanika u-Israyeli umyalo olula: Ningenzi noma yimuphi umsebenzi ngosuku lwesikhombisa lwesonto. (Eksodusi 20:8-11) Nokho, umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo wabe usuchaza izinhlobo ezihlukene ezingaba ngu-39 zomsebenzi onqatshelwe, kuhlanganise nokubopha noma ukuqaqa ifindo, ukwenza imithungo emibili, ukubhala izinhlamvu zesiHeberu ezimbili, njalo njalo. Ngayinye yalezi zinhlobo yabe isidinga eminye imithetho engapheli. Yimaphi amafindo ayenqatshelwe nayevunyelwe? Umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo waphendula ngokwenza imithetho engasekelwe ndawo. Ukwelapha kwabhekwa njengomsebenzi owenqatshelwe. Ngokwesibonelo, kwakwenqatshelwe ukulungisa isitho somzimba esiphukile ngeSabatha. Umuntu oqaqanjelwa yizinyo wayengawusebenzisa uviniga ukuze ayolise ukudla kwakhe, kodwa angawumunci ngamazinyo. Lokho kwakungase kulipholise izinyo lakhe!

¹⁷ Ngakho njengoba wawugubuzelwe amakhulu emithetho eyenziwe abantu, umthetho weSabatha walahlekelwa incazelo yawo engokomoya kumaJuda amaningi. Lapho uJesu Kristu, “iNkosi yesabatha,” enza izimangaliso ezihlaba umxhwele nezijabulisayo ngeSabatha, akuzange kuthi díki kubabhali nabaFarisi. Okuwukuphela kwento ababeyinakile ukuthi kwakubonakala sengathi akayigqizi qakala imithetho yabo.—Mathewu 12:8, 10-14.

Ukufunda Ebuwuleni BabaFarisi

18. Waba yini umphumela wokunezela imithetho edluliselwa ngomlomo namasiko eMthethweni kaMose? Bonisa.

¹⁸ Ngamafuphi, singase sithi lemithetho eyengeziwe kanye namasiko yanamathela eMthethweni kaMose njengoba nje izimbambelela zinamathela emzimbeni womkhumbi. Umnini-mkhumbi wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze asuse lezi zilwanyana ezihluphayo emkhunjini wakhe ngoba ziwenza uhambe kancane futhi zonakalise upende wakhe ovimbela ukugqwala. Ngokufanayo, imithetho edluliselwa ngomlomo kanye namasiko kwenza ukuba uMthetho ube nzima futhi uphathwe kabi ngendlela egqwalisayo. Nokho, esikhundleni sokususa leyo mithetho eyengeziwe, orabi babelokhu benezela eminye. Ngesikhathi uMesiya efika ezogcwalisa uMthetho, ‘lomkhumbi’ wawugcwele “izimbambelela” kangangokuthi wase usengozini yokucwila! (Qhathanisa nezAga 16:25.) Kunokuba bavikele isivumelwano soMthetho, laba baholi benkolo benza ubuwula bokusephula. Nokho, kungani “uthango” lwabo lwemithetho lwahluleka?

19. (a) Kungani ‘uthango olubiyele uMthetho’ lwahluleka? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi abaholi benkolo bamaJuda babentula ukholo lweqiniso?

¹⁹ Abaholi beNkolo YobuJuda bahluleka ukuqonda ukuthi impi emelene nokonakala ilwiwa enhliziyweni hhayi emakhasini ezincwadi zomthetho. (Jeremiya 4:14) Isihluthulelo sokunqoba uthando—uthando ngoJehova, umthetho wakhe, nezimiso zokulunga. Uthando olunjalo luveza inzondo efanayo ngalokho uJehova akuzondayo. (IHubo 97:10; 119:104) Ngakho labo abanhliziyo zabo zigcwele uthando bahlala bekholekile emithethweni kaJehova kulelizwe elonakele. Abaholi benkolo bamaJuda babenelungelo elikhulu lokufundisa abantu ukuze bakhuthaze uthando olunjalo. Kungani bahluleka ukwenza kanjalo? Ngokusobala babentula ukholo. (Mathewu 23:23, umbhalo waphansi we-NW) Uma babebe nokholo lokuthi amandla omoya kaJehova ayeyosebenza ezinhliziyweni zabantu abakholekile, babengeke basizwe isidingo sokulawula ngesandla esiqinile ukuphila kwabanye. (Isaya 59:1; Hezekeli 34:4) Njengoba babentula ukholo, abazange badlulisele ukholo kwabanye; bacindezela abantu ngemiyalo eyenziwe abantu.—Mathewu 15:3, 9; 23:4.

20, 21. (a) Isimo sengqondo sokuthambekela emasikweni saba namuphi umphumela eNkolweni YobuJuda iyonke? (b) Yisiphi isifundo esisitholayo kulokho okwenzeka eNkolweni YobuJuda?

²⁰ Labo baholi bamaJuda abazange bakhuthaze uthando. Amasiko abo aveza inkolo egxile ekubonakaleni kwangaphandle, ekulaleleni kokugcina icala ukuze kubukiswe—isidleke sobuzenzisi. (Mathewu 23:25-28) Imithetho yabo yaveza izizathu eziningi zokwahlulela abanye. Ngakho abaFarisi abaqhoshayo nabangomashiqela baba nomuzwa wokuthi banelungelo lokugxeka uJesu Kristu ngokwakhe. Balahlekelwa umbono wenjongo eyinhloko yoMthetho futhi benqaba okuwukuphela kukaMesiya weqiniso. Ngenxa yalokhu, kwadingeka atshele isizwe samaJuda: “Bhekani! indlu yenu ishiywa nani.”—Mathewu 23:38; Galathiya 3:23, 24.

²¹ Yisiphi isifundo esisitholayo? Ngokusobala isimo sengqondo sokuba nesandla esiqinile, nesithambekele esikweni asikukhuthazi ukukhulekela uJehova okumsulwa! Kodwa ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi abakhulekeli bakaJehova namuhla akumelwe babe nanoma yimiphi imithetho ngaphandle uma ishiwo ngokuqondile emBhalweni Ongcwele? Cha. Ukuze sithole impendulo ephelele, ngokulandelayo ake sicabangele indlela uJesu Kristu awushintsha ngayo uMthetho kaMose wafaka umthetho omusha nongcono.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ungachaza?

◻ Indalo yonke ibuswa kanjani umthetho waphezulu?

◻ Yayiyini injongo eyinhloko yoMthetho kaMose?

◻ Yini ebonisa ukuthi uMthetho kaMose wawugcizelela isihe nobubele?

◻ Kungani abaholi benkolo bamaJuda banezela imithetho eminingi eMthethweni kaMose, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 10]

Abaholi Benkolo Yobujuda

Ababhali: Babezibheka njengabalandela u-Ezra esikhundleni nanjengabachazi boMthetho. Ngokwencwadi ethi A History of the Jews, “kwakungebona bonke ababhali abaphakeme, futhi imizamo yabo yokuveza izincazelo zomthetho ezifihlekile yayivame ukubhuntsha ibe amazwi angenangqondo nemingcele yobuwula. Lokhu kwaqiniswa isiko, ngokushesha elaba umashiqela.”

AmaHasid: Leli gama lisho ukuthi “abathembekileyo” noma “osanta.” Njengoba kwaqalwa ukukhulunywa ngawo njengesigaba ngawo-200 B.C.E., ayenamandla kwezombangazwe, engabavikeli abashisekayo bobumsulwa boMthetho ekubusweni ngonya ithonya lamaGreki. AmaHasid ahlukana aba amaqembu amathathu: abaFarisi, abaSadusi, nama-Essene.

AbaFarisi: Ezinye izazi zikholelwa ukuthi leli gama lisuselwe emagameni asho “Abahlukanisiweyo,” noma “Abazehlukanisayo.” Ngempela babeshiseka emzamweni wabo wokuhluka kwabeZizwe, kodwa futhi babebheka iqembu labo njengelihlukile—neliphakeme—kunabantu abavamile abangamaJuda, ababengayazi imicikilisho yomthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo. Esinye isazi-mlando sathi ngabaFarisi: “Bebonke, babephatha abantu njengezingane, bechaza futhi benza umthetho ngemininingwane emincane yemikhuba engamasiko.” Esinye isazi sathi: “UbuFarisi baveza inqwaba yemithetho ehlanganisa zonke izimo, umphumela waba ukwenza izinto eziyize zaba ezibalulekile futhi ngokwenza kanjalo benza ezibalulekile zaba yize (Math. 23:23).”

AbaSadusi: Iqembu elalisondelene kakhulu nezikhulu nobupristi. Babephikisana kakhulu nababhali nabaFarisi, bethi umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo wawungenawo amandla alingana nawoMthetho olotshiwe. Ukuthi abazange baphumelele kulempikiswano kuboniswa iMishnah ngokwayo: “[Ukugcinwa] kwamazwi abaBhali kunamandla kakhulu [kunokugcinwa] kwamazwi oMthetho [olotshiwe].” ITalmud, eyayihlaziya umthetho odluliselwa ngomlomo ngokwenabile, kamuva yaze yathi: “Amazwi ababhali . . . athandeka kakhulu kunamazwi eTorah.”

Ama-Essene: Iqembu labantu abazilayo elaliziqembula libe imiphakathi ezihlukanisile. Ngokwe-Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, ama-Essene ayekhetheke ngisho nangaphezu kwabaFarisi futhi “ngezinye izikhathi ayedlula nabaFarisi ngokwabo ngobuFarisi.”

[Isithombe ekhasini 8]

Kungenzeka ukuthi abazali bakaJobe bamfundisa imithetho ebusa amaqoqo ezinkanyezi